A fluorescent nanosensor paint detects dopamine release at axonal varicosities with high spatiotemporal resolution

The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) controls multiple behaviors and is perturbed in several major brain diseases. DA is released from large populations of specialized structures called axon varicosities. Determining the DA release mechanisms at such varicosities is essential for a detailed understanding of DA biology and pathobiology but has been limited by the low spatial resolution of DA detection methods. We used a near-infrared fluorescent DA nanosensor paint, adsorbed nanosensors detecting release of dopamine (AndromeDA), to detect DA secretion from cultured murine dopaminergic neurons with high spatial and temporal resolution. We found that AndromeDA detects discrete DA release events and extracellular DA diffusion and observed that DA release varies across varicosities. To systematically detect DA release hotspots, we developed a machine learning–based analysis tool. AndromeDA permitted the simultaneous visualization of DA release for up to 100 dopaminergic varicosities, showing that DA release hotspots are heterogeneous and occur at only ∼17% of all varicosities, indicating that many varicosities are functionally silent. Using AndromeDA, we determined that DA release requires Munc13-type vesicle priming proteins, validating the utility of AndromeDA as a tool to study the molecular and cellular mechanism of DA secretion

Acoustic emission method for defect detection and identification in carbon steel welded joints.

Detecting welding defects in industrial equipment (welded joints and built-up structures) is a key aspect in evaluating the probability of failure in different situations. Acoustic emission (AE) is an effective non-destructive detecting technique, and can be a promising application for welding defect detection. This work presents a systematic experimental investigation on using AE technique for detecting and classifying different weld defects in carbon steel joint material. Four certified carbon steel samples were used in this study. A defect free control sample was used as the reference and three samples with induced defects, namely slag, porosity and crack. A pencil lead break (PLB) test was used to generate simulated AE sources on one side of the joint whereas the AE sensor was mounted on the other side to capture AE signals. A total of four experimental arrangements were used to investigate the effect of propagating distance (sensor to source distance) on the ability of AE to detect and identify defects in welds. For each of these arrangements, AE features such as peak amplitude, rise time, decay time, duration, and count numbers along with statistical features such as AE energy, root mean square (RMS) were extracted and analysed. Also, frequency analysis using FFT and wavelet transform were investigated for each weld test specimen for all arrangements. The results show that AE energy, peak amplitude and RMS value can be used to automatically detect and identify the presence of a defect in carbon steel welds. It is concluded that AE has a considerable potential in use in welding inspection to assess the overall structural health and identify defects that can significantly reduce the strength and reliability of welded material and consequently reduce the risk of component's failure

Synapsin condensation controls synaptic vesicle sequestering and dynamics

Neuronal transmission relies on the regulated secretion of neurotransmitters, which are packed in synaptic vesicles (SVs). Hundreds of SVs accumulate at synaptic boutons. Despite being held together, SVs are highly mobile, so that they can be recruited to the plasma membrane for their rapid release during neuronal activity. However, how such confinement of SVs corroborates with their motility remains unclear. To bridge this gap, we employ ultrafast single-molecule tracking (SMT) in the reconstituted system of native SVs and in living neurons. SVs and synapsin 1, the most highly abundant synaptic protein, form condensates with liquid-like properties. In these condensates, synapsin 1 movement is slowed in both at short (i.e., 60-nm) and long (i.e., several hundred-nm) ranges, suggesting that the SV-synapsin 1 interaction raises the overall packing of the condensate. Furthermore, two-color SMT and super-resolution imaging in living axons demonstrate that synapsin 1 drives the accumulation of SVs in boutons. Even the short intrinsically-disordered fragment of synapsin 1 was sufficient to restore the native SV motility pattern in synapsin triple knock-out animals. Thus, synapsin 1 condensation is sufficient to guarantee reliable confinement and motility of SVs, allowing for the formation of mesoscale domains of SVs at synapses in vivo

Investigating maturity state and internal properties of fruits using non-destructive techniques-a review

The evaluation of internal condition of the fruit via destructive techniques mostly damaged the internal and external fruit structure. However, there are several non-destructive techniques available could be applied in the agricultural industry, specifically for observing internal fruit conditions. Different kinds of internal conditions of fruits are evaluated in terms of their quality and ripeness levels. These non-destructive techniques include fruit evaluation via ultrasonic measurement techniques, light spectroscopy, imaging via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and X-Ray, computer vision, electric nose and also vibration. The capabilities and the effectiveness of these techniques towards fruit monitoring are thoroughly discussed. Besides, the drawback of these non-destructive technique has been analysed

A case of distal extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with two positive resection margins

Cholangiocarcinoma is an uncommon primary malignancy of the biliary tract that is challenging to diagnose and treat effectively due to its relatively silent and late clinical presentation. The present study reports a case of a 60-year-old male with distal extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with a 3-week history of painless obstructive jaundice symptoms and subjective weight loss. Imaging revealed an obstructing lesion in the common bile duct, just distal to the entrance of the cystic duct. Pathology revealed moderately differentiated cholangiocarcinoma with two positive proximal resection margins. The two positive resection margins presented a challenge during surgery and points to an urgent need for further studies to better illuminate diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with similar clinicopathological presentation

Substantial consequences and factors leading towards construction project success and failure

The phenomenon on the incompletion of construction projects in Malaysia is something very common at the moment. But to a more positive note, there are also successful projects which has been established in a large scale over the years. When there is an existence of such success, yet the project failures are yet to be apprehended as well. Whether the most appropriate measures have been taken in curbing this problem is yet to be sure off, looking at the existence of project failures. Therefore, this paper gives an outlook on the current situation of abandoned projects in Malaysia, and also takes a look on the factors on both success and failures of projects, where the essential information on this was obtained from statistics provided by Ministry of Housing and Local Government, and also based on the comparison matrix that was established from the causes identified by researches from other countries, including Malaysia itself. Some of the information that was able to gather from this was the types of causes with its ranking from the most to the least, and other underlying factors and driving keys on the successful completion of projects. The outlook on the failures and success of a project could be an absolute strategy that could be implemented in the effort towards restoration of abandoned projects in Malaysia, and in other countries as well which are also experiencing the same adverse situation

TETANUS IMMUNIZATION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN: COVERAGE RATE AND RATE OF PROTECTION AT TIME OF DELIVERY

Objective: Even though attempts have been effectively applied to eradicate the neonatal tetanus through widespread childhood vaccination and improved conditions at delivery, it remains major cause of infant mortality and continues a problem of public health in developing countries including Yemen.  The aims of this study were to determine the tetanus immunization status, the association between the risk factors and failure of protection in pregnant women at time of delivery. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 476 women seeking care for delivery at Al Thawra Modern General Hospital and Al Sabain Hospital, women age ranged from 16-49 years old. Immunization information and factors affecting it were obtained through a standard questionnaire. Serum samples were collected and level of IgG antibody against Clostridium tetani was measured by ELISA technique. Protected women were defined as those with serum antibody levels >or=0.6 IU/ml. Results: The total vaccine covering rate of tetanus was 87%, and maternal vaccine rate was 33.6%, the protective rate at time of delivery was 68.5%. There were significant association between unvaccinated (OR=18.6), older ages (OR=1.7), rural residency (OR=34) and malaria infection during pregnancy (OR=2.9); with protection failure in pregnant women at time of delivery. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the total vaccine coverage rate and antenatal tetanus vaccine rate were insufficient. In addition, the protective rate at time of delivery was low and large numbers of neonate are susceptible to neonatal tetanus and death. Vaccinating every pregnant woman with at least one dose of TT would be an affordable and effective way to protect against neonatal tetanus, and would be a step toward eliminating the deaths that continue to occur due to this preventable disease in Yemen.                                           Peer Review History: Received 2 February 2018;   Revised 21 February; Accepted 1 March, Available online 15 March 2019 Academic Editor: Dr. Marwa A. A. Fayed, University of Sadat City, Egypt, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Ahmad Abdelsattar El-Ebiary, Tanta University Hospitals, Tanta, Egypt, [email protected] Dr. George Zhu, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, [email protected] Comments of reviewer(s):  Similar Articles: THE PREVALENCE OF VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS IN PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING SEVERAL HOSPITALS IN SANA’A, YEMEN PREVALENCE OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IGG ANTIBODIES, POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS AND AWARENESS OF CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AMONG FEMALE DOCTOR

Acute Myocardial Infarction in Autoimmune Rheumatologic Disease : A Nationwide Analysis of Clinical outcomes and Predictors of Management Strategy

Funding M.O.M is funded by an unrestricted educational PhD studentship from Medtronic Ltd. Medtronic Ltd was not involved in the conceptualization or design of the present study. C.M. is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research (West Midlands), the NIHR School for Primary Care Research and an NIHR Research Professorship in General Practice (NIHR-RP-2014-04-026). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, our funding bodies or the Department of Health and Social Care.Peer reviewedPostprin