Detecting the subtle shape differences in hemodynamic responses at the group level

The nature of the hemodynamic response (HDR) is still not fully understood due to the multifaceted processes involved. Aside from the overall amplitude, the response may vary across cognitive states, tasks, brain regions, and subjects with respect to characteristics such as rise and fall speed, peak duration, undershoot shape, and overall duration. Here we demonstrate that the fixed-shape or adjusted-shape methods may fail to detect some shape subtleties. In contrast, the estimated-shape method (ESM) through multiple basis functions can provide the opportunity to identify some subtle shape differences and achieve higher statistical power at both individual and group levels. Previously, some dimension reduction approaches focused on the peak magnitude, or made inferences based on the area under the curve or interaction, which can lead to potential misidentifications. By adopting a generic framework of multivariate modeling (MVM), we showcase a hybrid approach that is validated by simulations and real data. Unlike the few analyses that were limited to main effect, two- or three-way interactions, we extend the approach to an inclusive platform that is more adaptable than the conventional GLM, achieving a practical equipoise among representation, false positive control, statistical power, and modeling flexibility

Histological Assessment of the Effects of Derma + Flex®, versus Black Silk Suture on Oral Mucosal Primary Wound Healing in Rabbits

Aims: The objective of this study was to compare wound healing potential between black silk suture and bioadhesive glue after induced surgical intraoral mucosal incisions in rabbits and assessed histologically. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on (18) male New Zealand rabbits, randomly divided into two groups (9 animals per group) according to the healing periods (1st,3rd, and 7th) days. Two incisions were made on the buccal mucosa of each rabbit bilaterally. For the first group, the defect was sutured with black silk suture, and adhesive glue Derma + Flex for the second group applied post operatively. Three rabbits were randomly selected from each group at the (1st,3rd, 7th) days, and biopsies were taken. The biopsy specimens were subjected to histological assessment to assess the healing parameters of the primary wound healing process. Results: Inflammatory cell infiltration grading in day 1and day 3 group I was the highest and on day 7 was the lowest in both groups. Granulation tissue formation in day 1 and day 3 was the same but high in group II day 7. Re-epithelization scoring was highest at day 7 for both groups. According to the time period, there were no significant differences in group versus group (within the same day). Conclusions: Use of bioadhesive Derma+Flex® glue for closure of primary wounds gave a satisfied result for better healing and isolation to avoid of infection in appropriate time with less equipment’s in comparison with black silk suture

C16-Ceramide Analog Combined with Pc 4 Photodynamic Therapy Evokes Enhanced Total Ceramide Accumulation, Promotion of DEVDase Activation in the Absence of Apoptosis, and Augmented Overall Cell Killing

Because of the failure of single modality approaches, combination therapy for cancer treatment is a promising alternative. Sphingolipid analogs, with or without anticancer drugs, can improve tumor response. C16-pyridinium ceramide analog LCL30, was used in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT), an anticancer treatment modality, to test the hypothesis that the combined treatment will trigger changes in the sphingolipid profile and promote cell death. Using SCCVII mouse squamous carcinoma cells, and the silicone phthalocyanine Pc 4 for PDT, we showed that combining PDT with LCL30 (PDT/LCL30) was more effective than individual treatments in raising global ceramide levels, as well as in reducing dihydrosphingosine levels. Unlike LCL30, PDT, alone or combined, increased total dihydroceramide levels. Sphingosine levels were unaffected by LCL30, but were abolished after PDT or the combination. LCL30-triggered rise in sphingosine-1-phosphate was reversed post-PDT or the combination. DEVDase activation was evoked after PDT or LCL30, and was promoted post- PDT/LCL30. Neither mitochondrial depolarization nor apoptosis were observed after any of the treatments. Notably, treatment with the combination resulted in augmented overall cell killing. Our data demonstrate that treatment with PDT/LCL30 leads to enhanced global ceramide levels and DEVDase activation in the absence of apoptosis, and promotion of total cell killing

Three-dimensional digital template atlas of the Macaque brain

We present a new 3D template atlas of the anatomical subdivisions of the macaque brain, which is based on and aligned to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data set and histological sections of the Saleem and Logothetis atlas. We describe the creation and validation of the atlas that, when registered with macaque structural or functional MRI scans, provides a straightforward means to estimate the boundaries between architectonic areas, either in a 3D volume with different planesof sections, or on an inflated brain surface (cortical flat map). As such, this new template atlas is intended for use as a reference standard for macaque brain research. Atlases and templates are available as both volumes and surfaces in standard NIFTI and GIFTI formats

Integrated Stirred-Tank Bioreactor with Internal Adsorption for the Removal of Ammonium to Enhance the Cultivation Performance of gdhA Derivative Pasteurella multocida B:2

Growth of mutant gdhA Pasteurella multocida B:2 was inhibited by the accumulation of a by-product, namely ammonium in the culture medium during fermentation. The removal of this by-product during the cultivation of mutant gdhA P. multocida B:2 in a 2 L stirred-tank bioreactor integrated with an internal column using cation-exchange adsorption resin for the improvement of cell viability was studied. Different types of bioreactor system (dispersed and internal) with resins were successfully used for ammonium removal at different agitation speeds. The cultivation in a bioreactor integrated with an internal column demonstrated a significant improvement in growth performance of mutant gdhA P. multocida B:2 (1.05 × 1011 cfu/mL), which was 1.6-fold and 8.4-fold as compared to cultivation with dispersed resin (7.2 × 1010 cfu/mL) and cultivation without resin (1.25 × 1010 cfu/mL), respectively. The accumulation of ammonium in culture medium without resin (801 mg/L) was 1.24-fold and 1.37-fold higher than culture with dispersed resin (642.50 mg/L) and culture in the bioreactor integrated with internal adsorption (586.50 mg/L), respectively. Results from this study demonstrated that cultivation in a bioreactor integrated with the internal adsorption column in order to remove ammonium could reduce the inhibitory effect of this by-product and improve the growth performance of mutant gdhA P. multocida B:2

Loss of inhibition in sensorimotor networks in focal hand dystonia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate GABA-ergic receptor density and associated brain functional and grey matter changes in focal hand dystonia (FHD). METHODS: 18 patients with FHD of the right hand and 18 age and gender matched healthy volunteers (HV) participated in this study. We measured the density of GABA-A receptors using [11C] Flumazenil and perfusion using [15O] H2O. Anatomical images were also used to measure grey matter volume with voxel-based morphometry (VBM). RESULTS: In FHD patients compared to HV, the vermis VI of the right cerebellum and the left sensorimotor cortex had a decrease of Flumazenil binding potential (FMZ-BP), whereas the striatum and the lateral cerebellum did not show significant change. Bilateral inferior prefrontal cortex had increased FMZ-BP and an increase of perfusion, which correlated negatively with disease duration. Only the left sensorimotor cortex showed a decrease of grey matter volume. INTERPRETATION: Impairments of GABAergic neurotransmission in the cerebellum and the sensorimotor cortical areas could explain different aspects of loss of inhibitory control in FHD, the former being involved in maladaptive plasticity, the latter in surround inhibition. Reorganization of the inferior prefrontal cortices, part of the associative network, might be compensatory for the loss of inhibitory control in sensorimotor circuits. These findings suggest that cerebellar and cerebral GABAergic abnormalities could play a role in the functional imbalance of striato-cerebello-cortical loops in dystonia