Impact of L-carnitine and selenium treatment on testicular apoptosis in rats exposed to 2.45 GHz microwave energy

Objective: It has been suggested that electromagnetic radiation (EMR) by wireless devices (2.45 GHz) induces testicular apoptosis. We investigated if supplemental selenium (Se) and L-carnitine may reduce this adverse effect. Material: Twelve-week old maleWistar albino rats were used in this study. Twenty-four rats were equally divided into four groups which were named as: sham group, EMR-only, EMR+L-carnitine (1.5 mg L-carnitine/ kg/day) and EMR+Se (1.5 mg Se/kg/ every other day). Results: The level of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and -8 were compared and a significant difference was found between the sham and EMR-only groups (p < 0.05), and Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and -8 expressions increased in the EMR-only group. The level of Bcl-2, Bax, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), caspase- 3 and -8 were compared and a significant difference was found between the sham and EMR+L-carnitine groups (p < 0.05) and Bcl-2, Bax, TNF-α, caspase-3 and -8 expressions increased in the EMR+L-carnitine group. The level of Bcl-2, Bax, TNF-α, caspase-3 and -8 were compared and a significant difference was found between the sham and EMR+Se groups (p < 0.05) and Bcl-2, Bax, TNF-α, caspase-3 and -8 expressions increased in the EMR+Se group. When the expression of caspase-8 was compared, a significant difference was found between the EMR-only and EMR+Se groups (p < 0.05). Caspase-8 expression decreased in EMR+Se group compared with EMR-only group. Conclusion: Electromagnetic radiation exposure resulted in testicular apoptosis in rats, mainly by the intrinsic pathways by down-regulated expression of caspase-8. Reduction in the activation of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis was found higher with selenium administration compared with L-carnitine administration

Point-light biological motion perception activates human premotor cortex

Motion cues can be surprisingly powerful in defining objects and events. Specifically, a handful of point-lights attached to the joints of a human actor will evoke a vivid percept of action when the body is in motion. The perception of point-light biological motion activates posterior cortical areas of the brain. On the other hand, observation of others' actions is known to also evoke activity in motor and premotor areas in frontal cortex. In the present study, we investigated whether point-light biological motion animations would lead to activity in frontal cortex as well. We performed a human functional magnetic resonance imaging study on a high-field-strength magnet and used a number of methods to increase signal, as well as cortical surface-based analysis methods. Areas that responded selectively to point-light biological motion were found in lateral and inferior temporal cortex and in inferior frontal cortex. The robust responses we observed in frontal areas indicate that these stimuli can also recruit action observation networks, although they are very simplified and characterize actions by motion cues alone. The finding that even point-light animations evoke activity in frontal regions suggests that the motor system of the observer may be recruited to "fill in" these simplified displays

Enamel Factors Regulate Expression of Genes Associated With Cementoblasts

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141313/1/jper1829.pd

Towards trajectory anonymization: A generalization-based approach

Trajectory datasets are becoming,popular,due,to the massive,usage,of GPS and,location- based services. In this paper, we address privacy issues regarding the identification of individuals in static trajectory datasets. We first adopt the notion of k-anonymity,to trajectories and propose,a novel generalization-based approach,for anonymization,of trajectories. We further show,that releasing anonymized,trajectories may,still have,some,privacy,leaks. Therefore we propose,a randomization based,reconstruction,algorithm,for releasing anonymized,trajectory data and,also present how,the underlying,techniques,can be adapted,to other anonymity,standards. The experimental,results on real and,synthetic trajectory datasets show,the effectiveness of the proposed,techniques