Slow in Motion but Smart in Learning and Memory: Behavioral Changes in Adult NR3A Knockout Mice

The expression of NMDA receptor subunit NR3A is high in the neonatal brain but low in adults. However, its functional role in the adult brain is obscure. Using wild-type (WT) and NR3A knockout (KO) mice, we show here that NR3A plays imperative roles in multiple behavioral functions in adults. NR3A deletion produced a slow locomotor phenotype with enhanced memory capacities. Hippocampal slices from juvenile and adult NR3A KO mice showed greater long-term potentiation (LTP) compared to WT slices. NR3A deletion resulted in increased expression and phosphorylation of calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII). CaMKII inhibition abrogated the enhanced LTP in NR3A KO slices. NR3A KO mice were also more sensitive to acute and chronic pain. These data reveal for the first time that NR3A, despite its low expression, plays several critical roles in behavioral activities in adults and may be a therapeutic target for modulating behaviors under normal and pathological conditions

Charmless Two-body B(Bs)→VPB(B_s)\to VP decays In Soft-Collinear-Effective-Theory

We provide the analysis of charmless two-body $B\to VP$ decays under the framework of the soft-collinear-effective-theory (SCET), where $V(P)$ denotes a light vector (pseudoscalar) meson. Besides the leading power contributions, some power corrections (chiraly enhanced penguins) are also taken into account. Using the current available $B\to PP$ and $B\to VP$ experimental data on branching fractions and CP asymmetry variables, we find two kinds of solutions in $\chi^2$ fit for the 16 non-perturbative inputs which are essential in the 87 $B\to PP$ and $B\to VP$ decay channels. Chiraly enhanced penguins can change several charming penguins sizably, since they share the same topology. However, most of the other non-perturbative inputs and predictions on branching ratios and CP asymmetries are not changed too much. With the two sets of inputs, we predict the branching fractions and CP asymmetries of other modes especially $B_s\to VP$ decays. The agreements and differences with results in QCD factorization and perturbative QCD approach are analyzed. We also study the time-dependent CP asymmetries in channels with CP eigenstates in the final states and some other channels such as $\bar B^0/B^0\to\pi^\pm\rho^\mp$ and $\bar B_s^0/B_s^0\to K^\pm K^{*\mp}$. In the perturbative QCD approach, the $(S-P)(S+P)$ penguins in annihilation diagrams play an important role. Although they have the same topology with charming penguins in SCET, there are many differences between the two objects in weak phases, magnitudes, strong phases and factorization properties.Comment: 34 pages, revtex, 2 figures, published at PR

A novel MPP-NSGA algorithm and its application in optimization for radiated noises in the aircraft cabin

The paper used the AML method to compute transmission loss of aircraft panels and verifies correctness of the numerical simulation model by experimental test. Finally, this paper used an improved genetic algorithm to conduct a multi-objective optimization for the cabin noise. When the analyzed frequency is less than 250 Hz, transmission loss decreased rapidly with the increased analysis frequency, and decreased from the maximum 63.2 dB to 18.5 dB. Within 250 Hz-4000 Hz, the transmission loss gradually increased with the increased analysis frequency. At 250 Hz, the transmission loss had an obvious valley value. Sound radiation power was then computed based on boundary element method, and panel contribution analysis was conducted to find those panels which had an obvious impact on the cabin noise. Therefore, a multi-objective optimization was conducted on these panels and reinforced ribs. In order to further verify effectiveness of the MPP-NSGA method, it was compared with the traditional GA model and NSGA model. Optimization accuracy using MPP-NSGA model is increased, and optimization time is reduced. Through optimization with traditional GA method, the maximum sound power level decreased by 15.4 %, and the total sound power level decreased by 21.9 %. Through optimization with the NSGA method, the maximum sound power level decreased by 21.7 %, and the total sound power level decreased by 29.0 %. Through optimization with the MPP-NSGA method, the maximum sound power level decreased by 46.3 %, and the total sound power level decreased by 36.0 %. Therefore, compared with other two kinds of genetic algorithms, the MPP-NSGA method is obviously superior in noise optimization in the cabin. In the whole analysis frequency band, noise of the optimized cabin panel at each frequency point was smaller than that of the original structure, fully verifying feasibility of the optimization algorithm proposed in the paper. In addition, in the optimized structure, no panel made obvious contributions to the cabin noise, and each panel showed an equivalent contribution level. Transmission loss of the optimized cabin panel was obviously improved. However, the sound insulation valley still appeared at 250 Hz, but it was not so obvious like the original structure. After optimization, the sound insulation valley was 31.6 dB. The sound insulation valley of the original structure was 18.5 dB. Obviously, the sound insulation valley value of the optimized structure was increased by double compared with the original structure. This paper provided a valuable reference for noise reduction in the aircraft cabin

High and Increasing Oxa-51 DNA Load Predict Mortality in Acinetobacter baumannii Bacteremia: Implication for Pathogenesis and Evaluation of Therapy

BACKGROUND: While quantification of viral loads has been successfully employed in clinical medicine and has provided valuable insights and useful markers for several viral diseases, the potential of measuring bacterial DNA load to predict outcome or monitor therapeutic responses remains largely unexplored. We tested this possibility by investigating bacterial loads in Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia, a rapidly increasing nosocomial infection characterized by high mortality, drug resistance, multiple and complicated risk factors, all of which urged the need of good markers to evaluate therapeutics. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We established a quantitative real-time PCR assay based on an A. baumannii-specific gene, Oxa-51, and conducted a prospective study to examine A. baumannii loads in 318 sequential blood samples from 51 adults patients (17 survivors, 34 nonsurvivors) with culture-proven A. baumannii bacteremia in the intensive care units. Oxa-51 DNA loads were significantly higher in the nonsurvivors than survivors on day 1, 2 and 3 (P=0.03, 0.001 and 0.006, respectively). Compared with survivors, nonsurvivors had higher maximum Oxa-51 DNA load and a trend of increase from day 0 to day 3 (P<0.001), which together with Pitt bacteremia score were independent predictors for mortality by multivariate analysis (P=0.014 and 0.016, for maximum Oxa-51 DNA and change of Oxa-51 DNA, respectively). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significantly different survival curves in patients with different maximum Oxa-51 DNA and change of Oxa-51 DNA from day 0 to day 3. CONCLUSIONS: High Oxa-51 DNA load and its initial increase could predict mortality. Moreover, monitoring Oxa-51 DNA load in blood may provide direct parameters for evaluating new regimens against A. baumannii in future clinical studies

Shear and combined bending and shear behavior of web elements with openings

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this phase of the research project has been to investigate the behavior of a single web with web openings when subjected to either a constant shear force or a combined shear force and bending. The literature indicates that the main parameter that appears to effect the shear capacity is the ratio of web opening depth to web depth, a/h. Thus, the objective for this phase of the investigation was to experimentally determine the shear strength, and compare the tested shear strength with the computed shear strength as given by the AISI Specification for solid webs. The experimental results are also compared to a shear reduction equation derived by Davis and Yu (3) for circular holes with certain limitations. The interaction between shear forces and bending moments on the ultimate capacity of the web elements was experimentally investigated. The test results are compared with the interaction equations as given in the AISI Specification for solid webs. This report summarizes the test procedure, the test results, and the evaluation for the results for this study. Based on the findings of this study, design equations have been developed and are presented herein