Impulsivity and novel object recognition test of rat model for vascular cognitive impairment after antipsychotics treatment

ABSTRACTVascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a common condition in which no standard treatment has been approved. VCI is often accompanied by behavioral problems which require psychiatric interventions. The common therapeutic agent used for the acute management is antipsychotic injections. Current findings showed that atypical antipsychotic possess better safety profile for treating behavioral problems related to VCI compared to typical antipsychotic. In this study, we induced VCI in Sprague Dawley rats between 6-8 weeks old using bilateral carotid communist artery occlusion technique. The subjects were divided into 4 treatment groups: sham, olanzapine, haloperidol, and risperidone groups. Subjects received intramuscular injections of subsequent drugs for 3 days post VCI induction. Impulsive behavior and object recognition were examined using cliff jumping test and novel object recognition test. The analyses results showed that impulsive behavior was lower in the olanzapine and haloperidol groups compared to sham group, although it was not statistically significant (p = 0.651). The results also showed that there were no significant differences in the time spent exploring old and novel objects in all groups (p = 0.945;0.637 respectively). In conclusion, antipsychotic injection might not be effective to control impulsive behavior post VCI induction

RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM GREENHOUSE PADA MEDIA TANAM AEROPONIK DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN ARDUINO DAN SINGLE BOARD COMPUTER

Aeroponics is a method of growing plants in a hanging root position and providing water and nutrients by misting the roots of the plants. In this research the authors designed a system that can condition the environment in a greenhouse using aeroponic growing media with parameters of air temperature, air humidity, and light intensity. In this design, the DS18B20 sensor is used as a temperature detector, the DHT11 sensor as a humidity detector, and the LDR sensor as a light intensity detector. The results of the DHT11 sensor test compared to the HTC-2 thermometer obtained an average error of 2.77%, the DS18B20 sensor test compared to the HTC-2 thermometer obtained an average error of 3.34%, the LDR sensor test compared to the AS803 luxmeter obtained errors that vary each test. The measurements results from the sensor will be processed by Arduino Uno and Single Board Computer to control the actuator connected to the relay. In this system to condition the environment, there are air temperature parameters controlled using a DC fan, air humidity controlled using a mistmaker and lighting controlled using an LED grow light. This environmental conditioning system is capable of lowering the temperature by 0.5°C with an average length of time of 2:18 minutes, increasing the air humidity by 5% RH with an average length of time of 4:20 minutes, and turning on the LED growlight when the light intensity is low. of 50lux according to the program. The automatic watering system in the form of mist uses an Arduino Uno timer with a water pump and a 0.3mm nozzle. From the results of sensor testing and the results of testing the environmental conditioning system, it shows that the designed system can work well according to the expected design. Keywords: Aeroponics, greenhouse, lighting, temperature, humidity, waterin

Does the threat of takeover affect default risk?

We examine the impact of the threat of takeovers on default risk. Using a sample of 50,189 firm-year observations for US firms over the period 1990–2015, we find that the threat of takeovers has a negative relation with default risk. We use difference-in-difference analysis to address potential endogeneity concerns and propensity score matching to control for self-selection bias. The results are robust to alternative measures of default risk and exclusion of the dot com and financial crisis periods. Our results also hold after controlling for Governance Index and Entrenchment Index. We identify improvement in performance and earnings quality in response to the threat of takeovers as channels underlying our main result. The effect of the threat of takeovers on default risk is more pronounced for firms with opaque information environment and low institutional ownership. Our findings provide important insights for the market for corporate control as a disciplining mechanism in reducing default risk

Development of GPU-based visual environment for metamaterials design

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have become increasingly popular nowadays, giving exciting computational resources for the low-cost gaming gadgets. GPUs are also well suited for scientific applications, allowing researchers to accelerate computations and to improve the precision of mathematical methods. Paper describes a new version of Visual Environment for Metamaterials Modelling (VEM2), which implements algorithms of computation of physical properties of metamaterials using GPUs of a desktop computer. This allows VEM2’ users to make intensive calculations with cheap hardware equipment instead of expensive supercomputers and significantly increase the effectiveness of metamaterials design

Pengaruh Iklan Politik di Televisi terhadap Sikap Pemilih Pemula pada Pemilihan Umum

This research has a purpose to know the political advertisement's influence on television to the beginner elector's attention in 2014 general elections (research on XI grade of student of Senior High School 1 Seputih Raman). The method used in this research is correlational descriptive method with ex post facto research type. The research samples are 28 participants. This research uses questioner as the measurement's instrument. While data analysis uses interval formula, presentation and continues with bifilar linear regression analysis. The result from data analysis by using bifilar linear regression partially shows that the message of political advertisement's variable, the structure of political advertisement's message, the source of political advertisement's message are not significantly affected the beginner elector's attention. All of those three variables affect simultaneously insignificant to the political advertisement on television.Studi ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh iklan politik di televisi terhadap sikap pemilih pemula pada pemilu 2014 (studi siswa kelas XI SMA Negeri 1 Seputih Raman). metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini metode deskriptif korelasional dengan jenis penelitian ex post facto. Sampel penelitian berjumlah 28 responden. Penelitian ini menggunakan kuesioner sebagai instrument pengukuran. Sementara analisis data dengan rumus interval, presentasi dan dilanjutkan analisis regresi linier berganda. Hasil dari analisis data dengan menggunakan regresi linier berganda secara parsial menunjukan bahwa variabel isi pesan iklan politik, struktur pesan iklan politik, sumber pesan iklan politik berpengaruh tidak signifikan terhadap sikap pemilih pemula. Ketiga variabel berpengaruh secara simultan tidak signifikan terhadap iklan politik di televisi

Endothelial-Derived Endothelin-1 Promotes Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling in Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) induces pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmonary fibrosis. Given that endothelial cells are the main source of ET-1 and ET-1 from other cells may encounter difficulty penetrating vascular compartments, we hypothesize that endothelial-derived ET-1 promotes vascular remodeling secondary to pulmonary fibrosis. We used vascular endothelial ET-1 knock-out (VEETKO) and Wild type mice for this research. They were given intratracheal bleomycin and euthanized at day 28. We quantified pulmonary fibrosis, measured lung ET-1 and its receptors’ expression, and assessed pulmonary vascular remodeling by calculating medial wall index, muscularization index, adventitial collagen and adventitial fibroblast and macrophage accumulation. Right ventricle remodeling was also assessed. Both VEETKO and Wild type mice developed comparable pulmonary fibrosis and similar fibrosis-related gene expression. Compared to Wild type mice, bleomycin-induced VEETKO mice had lower ET-1 peptide levels (15.4 pg/mg vs. 31.2 pg/mg, p&lt;0.01). Expression of both ET-1 receptors mRNAs were increased in fibrosis models. Bleomycin-induced fibrosis VEETKO mice had significantly less muscularized arterioles, lower muscularization index and attenuated adventitial collagen, fibroblast and macrophage accumulation as compared to that of Wild type mice. Right ventricular pressure, hypertrophy and fibrosis did not increase both in VEETKO and Wild type mice despite the more enhanced vascular remodeling in Wild type. In conclusion, endothelial-derived endothelin-1 promotes pulmonary vascular remodeling secondary to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.</jats:p

Statin and anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD): an experimental study

Anemia is a common feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The current management of patients with anemia in CKD is controversial. These make anemia is one of the leading causes poor outcome in CKD patients. Our study focus to assess the effect of statin on hemoglobin level with an experimental model of CKD. We perform the animal model of CKD by subtotal nephrectomy procedure. A total of 20 male swiss was used in these study. All the animal divided into 4 groups: sham group (S), nephrectomy (Nx), simvastatin group 5 mg/kgBB (SV5), and simvastatin group 10 mg/kgBB (SV10). Hematological parameters (hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)), and serum creatinine are measured at the end of the study. The hemoglobin levels in the Ux group decreased significantly compared with the S group (11.02 ± 0.46 vs 14.3 ± 0.15, p<0.0001). While in the SV group, statin administration led to an increase in hemoglobin levels compared with the Ux group but not statistically significant (SV5: 13.26±0.34; Sv10: 12.68±0.26). These results suggest that administration of statins in CKD may improve the condition of anemia by an unknown mechanism, while still requiring other treatment options to maximize the effect of therapy

Statin and anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD): an experimental study

Anemia is a common feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The current management of patients with anemia in CKD is controversial. These make anemia is one of the leading causes poor outcome in CKD patients. Our study focus to assess the effect of statin on hemoglobin level with an experimental model of CKD. We perform the animal model of CKD by subtotal nephrectomy procedure. A total of 20 male swiss was used in these study. All the animal divided into 4 groups: sham group (S), nephrectomy (Nx), simvastatin group 5 mg/kgBB (SV5), and simvastatin group 10 mg/kgBB (SV10). Hematological parameters (hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)), and serum creatinine are measured at the end of the study. The hemoglobin levels in the Ux group decreased significantly compared with the S group (11.02 ± 0.46 vs 14.3 ± 0.15, p<0.0001). While in the SV group, statin administration led to an increase in hemoglobin levels compared with the Ux group but not statistically significant (SV5: 13.26±0.34; Sv10: 12.68±0.26). These results suggest that administration of statins in CKD may improve the condition of anemia by an unknown mechanism, while still requiring other treatment options to maximize the effect of therapy

Heparanase Expression in Renal Interstitial May Contribute to Epithelial and Endothelial Cells Injuries After Kidney Ischemic/ Reperfusion Episode in Mice

Kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) is the most frequent cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). It had been reported that epithelial and endothelial injuries occurred during kidney I/R injury. Heparanase is an enzyme that degrades glycocalyx and contributes to I/R injury in the heart and liver. This study is to elucidate the association between heparanase expression and cell injuries in kidney I/R injury. We performed kidney I/R injury model in mice using renal pedicle clamping for 30 minutes and sacrificed the mice in day 1 (n=6) after operation. Sham-operation procedure (SO, n=5) was used as control. PAS staining was used to quantify tubular injury score. Serum creatinine was measured from orbital venous. Heparanase expression was quantified using western blot and real-time PCR. Heparanase localization and endothelial injury were shown by immunostaining of heparanase and double glycocalyx-von Willebrand factor. Kidney I/R induced an increase of serum creatinine level that was accompanied by elevation of tubular injury score and glycocalyx damage. Glycocalyx damage was identified using immunofluorescent staining that revealed a disruption of glycocalyx or lectin layer in the endothelial cells of intra-renal artery. This finding was associated with significant elevation of heparanase mRNA and protein level expression. We found that heparanase was expressed in the renal epithelial and interstitial cells. In conclusion, heparanase may induce endothelial and epithelial injury in the kidney I/R episode. Using heparanase expression as a early marker of AKI may possibly promising

Vitamin D Upregulates Endothelin-1, ETBR, eNOS mRNA Expression and Attenuates Vascular Remodelling and Ischemia in Kidney Fibrosis Model in Mice Vitamin D Upregulates Endothelin-1, ETBR, eNOS mRNA Expression and Attenuates Vascular Remodelling and Ischemia in Kidney Fibrosis Model in Mice

We examined the upregulation of ET-1/ETBR/eNOS signaling in renoprotective effect of vitamin D in kidney fibrosis model in mice using unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). One group was treated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.125 mg/kg of Calcitriol (UUO+VD). Vascular remodeling was quantified based on lumen area and lumen/wall area ratio (LWAR) of intrarenal arteries using Sirius Red staining. ET-1, ETBR, eNOS, CD31 and VEGF mRNA expressions were quantified using qRT-PCR. Focusing on endothelin-1 (ET-1) signaling in endothelial cells (EC), siRNA of ET-1 was performed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) for reducing ET-1 expression. Then HUVECs were treated with and without 100 nM Calcitriol treatment in hypoxic and normoxic conditions to elucidate ET-1/eNOS signaling. Our in vivo study revealed vascular remodeling and renal ischemia attenuation after Calcitriol treatment. Vascular remodeling was attenuated in the UUO+VD group as shown by increasing lumen areas and LWAR in intrarenal arteries. These findings were associated with significant higher CD31 and VEGF mRNA expression compared to the UUO group. Vitamin D treatment also increased ET-1, ETBR and eNOS mRNA expressions. Our in vitro study demonstrated Calcitriol induced ET-1 and eNOS mRNA expressions upregulation in HUVEC under normoxic and hypoxic condition. Meanwhile, siRNA for ET-1 inhibited the upregulation of eNOS mRNA expression after Calcitriol treatment. Vitamin D ameliorates kidney fibrosis through attenuating vascular remodeling and ischemia with upregulating ET-1/ETBR and eNOS expression.</jats:p