Change in hippocampal theta oscillation associated with multiple lever presses in a bimanual two-lever choice task for robot control in rats.

Hippocampal theta oscillations have been implicated in working memory and attentional process, which might be useful for the brain-machine interface (BMI). To further elucidate the properties of the hippocampal theta oscillations that can be used in BMI, we investigated hippocampal theta oscillations during a two-lever choice task. During the task body-restrained rats were trained with a food reward to move an e-puck robot towards them by pressing the correct lever, ipsilateral to the robot several times, using the ipsilateral forelimb. The robot carried food and moved along a semicircle track set in front of the rat. We demonstrated that the power of hippocampal theta oscillations gradually increased during a 6-s preparatory period before the start of multiple lever pressing, irrespective of whether the correct lever choice or forelimb side were used. In addition, there was a significant difference in the theta power after the first choice, between correct and incorrect trials. During the correct trials the theta power was highest during the first lever-releasing period, whereas in the incorrect trials it occurred during the second correct lever-pressing period. We also analyzed the hippocampal theta oscillations at the termination of multiple lever pressing during the correct trials. Irrespective of whether the correct forelimb side was used, the power of hippocampal theta oscillations gradually decreased with the termination of multiple lever pressing. The frequency of theta oscillation also demonstrated an increase and decrease, before and after multiple lever pressing, respectively. There was a transient increase in frequency after the first lever press during the incorrect trials, while no such increase was observed during the correct trials. These results suggested that hippocampal theta oscillations reflect some aspects of preparatory and cognitive neural activities during the robot controlling task, which could be used for BMI

Correction: Biswas, M.S. et al. Inactivation of Carbonyl-Detoxifying Enzymes by H₂O₂ Is a Trigger to Increase Carbonyl Load for Initiating Programmed Cell Death in Plants. <i>Antioxidants</i> 2020, <i>9</i>, 141

The author wishes to make the following correction to this paper [...

Kinetic pH Titration to Predict the Acid and Hydrothermal Conditions for the Hydrolysis of Disaccharides: Use of a Microcapillary System

The hydrolysis of disaccharides was conducted using a microcapillary system under hydrothermal conditions (up to 190°C at 10 MPa and pH 4–11). The hydrolysis reaction showed a sigmoidal progression with time, especially under alkaline conditions. Analysis using a kinetic model yielded the reaction induction period. The specific pH value (pHamb) at the induction time, which is the pH value corresponding to the progression of disaccharide hydrolysis, was peculiar to each disaccharide. Finally, the calculation of the electron density around the oxygen atom of the glycosidic bond between saccharides was found to roughly predict the pHamb value required for the progression of hydrolysis

Weekly Averaged Blood Pressure Is More Important than a Single-Point Blood Pressure Measurement in the Risk Stratification of Dialysis Patients

Background and objectives: With regard to monitoring blood pressure in hemodialysis patients, it is important to define clearly the time point at which the blood pressure is measured, because the blood pressure of hemodialysis patients varies with each hemodialysis session as a result of loss of excess fluid

Superhydrophobic polycarbosilane membranes for purification of solar hydrogen

International audienceSuperhydrophobic membranes composed of an organic-inorganic hybrid polymer, namely polycarbosilane (PCS) with Mw of 4-8.9 ×10 3 , were formed on a mesoporous γ-Al 2O3-modified α-Al2O3 porous support. Under dry condition at 50 • C, the supported PCS membranes exhibited H2 permeance of 1.1-1.6 ×10 −6 mol⋅m −2 ⋅s −1 ⋅Pa −1 and H2/N2 selectivity of 9.7-12.6 together with unique H2/He selectivity of 1.4-1.6. Even under saturated humidity at 50 • C, H2 permeance remained at 7.7 ×10 −8 mol −1 m −2 s −1 Pa −1 with improved H2/N2 selectivity of 26. Moreover, when the measurements were performed using a H2-N2 (2:1) mixed feed gas as a simulated syngas produced by novel solar hydrogen production systems, the H2 permeance almost unchanged, while the N2 permeance was below the limit of detection. These results revealed a great potential of PCSs to develop novel H 2selective membranes for purifying solar hydrogen under high-humidity conditions around 50 • C. Further study on the gas permeation behaviors of He, H2 and N2 suggested that the enhanced H2/N2 selectivity under the highhumidity conditions could be explained by the synergistic effect of preferential H 2 permeation through the dense PCS network governed by the solid state diffusion mechanism and blockage of N 2 permeation through micropore channels within the PCS network by the permeate H2O-induced plugging at around the hetero interface between the superhydrophobic PCS and highly hydrophilic γ-Al 2O3

Coronary Artery Calcification, ADMA, and Insulin Resistance in CKD Patients

Background and objectives: It is known that coronary artery calcification (CAC) develops in chronic kidney disease (CKD) before initiation of renal replacement therapy, and factors associated with CKD mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBDs) are involved. However, little information is available about any association between plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), insulin resistance, and CAC

Operational and structural factors influencing enrolment in community-based health insurance schemes: an observational study using 12 waves of nationwide panel data from Senegal

International audienceAbstract Community-based health insurance (CBHI) has been implemented in many low- and middle-income countries to increase financial risk protection in populations without access to formal health insurance. While the design of such social programmes is fundamental to ensuring equitable access to care, little is known about the operational and structural factors influencing enrolment in CBHI schemes. In this study, we took advantage of newly established data monitoring requirements in Senegal to explore the association between the operational capacity and structure of CBHI schemes—also termed ‘mutual health organizations’ (MHO) in francophone countries—and their enrolment levels. The dataset comprised 12 waves of quarterly data over 2017–2019 and covered all 676 MHOs registered in the country. Primary analyses were conducted using dynamic panel data regression analysis. We found that higher operational capacity significantly predicted higher performance: enrolment was positively associated with the presence of a salaried manager at the MHO level (12% more total enrolees, 23% more poor members) and with stronger cooperation between MHOs and local health posts (for each additional contract signed, total enrolees and poor members increased by 7% and 5%, respectively). However, higher operational capacity was only modestly associated with higher sustainability proxied by the proportion of enrolees up to date with premium payment. We also found that structural factors were influential, with MHOs located within a health facility enrolling fewer poor members (−16%). Sensitivity analyses showed that these associations were robust. Our findings suggest that policies aimed at professionalizing and reinforcing the operational capacity of MHOs could accelerate the expansion of CBHI coverage, including in the most impoverished populations. However, they also suggest that increasing operational capacity alone may be insufficient to make CBHI schemes sustainable over time

Hydrogen Selective SiCH Inorganic−Organic Hybrid/γ-Al₂O₃ Composite Membranes

Solar hydrogen production via the photoelectrochemical water-splitting reaction is attractive as one of the environmental-friendly approaches for producing H₂. Since the reaction simultaneously generates H₂ and O₂, this method requires immediate H₂ recovery from the syngas including O₂ under high-humidity conditions around 50 °C. In this study, a supported mesoporous γ-Al₂O₃ membrane was modified with allyl-hydrido-polycarbosilane as a preceramic polymer and subsequently heat-treated in Ar to deliver a ternary SiCH organic–inorganic hybrid/γ-Al₂O₃ composite membrane. Relations between the polymer/hybrid conversion temperature, hydrophobicity, and H₂ affinity of the polymer-derived SiCH hybrids were studied to functionalize the composite membranes as H₂-selective under saturated water vapor partial pressure at 50 °C. As a result, the composite membranes synthesized at temperatures as low as 300–500 °C showed a H₂ permeance of 1.0–4.3 × 10⁻⁷ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹ with a H₂/N₂ selectivity of 6.0–11.3 under a mixed H₂-N₂ (2:1) feed gas flow. Further modification by the 120 °C-melt impregnation of low molecular weight polycarbosilane successfully improved the H₂-permselectivity of the 500 °C-synthesized composite membrane by maintaining the H₂ permeance combined with improved H₂/N₂ selectivity as 3.5 × 10⁻⁷ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹ with 36. These results revealed a great potential of the polymer-derived SiCH hybrids as novel hydrophobic membranes for purification of solar hydrogen

Hydrogen Selective SiCH Inorganic–Organic Hybrid/γ-Al2O3 Composite Membranes

International audienceSolar hydrogen production via the photoelectrochemical water-splitting reaction is attractive as one of the environmental-friendly approaches for producing H 2. Since the reaction simultaneously generates H 2 and O 2 , this method requires immediate H 2 recovery from the syngas including O 2 under high-humidity conditions around 50 • C. In this study, a supported mesoporous γ-Al 2 O 3 membrane was modified with allyl-hydrido-polycarbosilane as a preceramic polymer and subsequently heat-treated in Ar to deliver a ternary SiCH organic-inorganic hybrid/γ-Al 2 O 3 composite membrane. Relations between the polymer/hybrid conversion temperature, hydrophobicity, and H 2 affinity of the polymer-derived SiCH hybrids were studied to functionalize the composite membranes as H 2-selective under saturated water vapor partial pressure at 50 • C. As a result, the composite membranes synthesized at temperatures as low as 300-500 • C showed a H 2 permeance of 1.0-4.3 × 10 −7 mol m −2 s −1 Pa −1 with a H 2 /N 2 selectivity of 6.0-11.3 under a mixed H 2-N 2 (2:1) feed gas flow. Further modification by the 120 • C-melt impregnation of low molecular weight polycarbosilane successfully improved the H 2-permselectivity of the 500 • C-synthesized composite membrane by maintaining the H 2 permeance combined with improved H 2 /N 2 selectivity as 3.5 × 10 −7 mol m −2 s −1 Pa −1 with 36. These results revealed a great potential of the polymer-derived SiCH hybrids as novel hydrophobic membranes for purification of solar hydrogen