Effects of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation on expression of growth-associated genes by corticospinal neurons

Background: Inflammation around cell bodies of primary sensory neurons and retinal ganglion cells enhances expression of neuronal growth-associated genes and stimulates axonal regeneration. We have asked if inflammation would have similar effects on corticospinal neurons, which normally show little response to spinal cord injury. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was applied onto the pial surface of the motor cortex of adult rats with or without concomitant injury of the corticospinal tract at C4. Inflammation around corticospinal tract cell bodies in the motor cortex was assessed by immunohistochemistry for OX42 ( a microglia and macrophage marker). Expression of growth-associated genes c-jun, ATF3, SCG10 and GAP-43 was investigated by immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridisation.Results: Application of LPS induced a gradient of inflammation through the full depth of the motor cortex and promoted c-Jun and SCG10 expression for up to 2 weeks, and GAP-43 upregulation for 3 days by many corticospinal neurons, but had very limited effects on neuronal ATF3 expression. However, many glial cells in the subcortical white matter upregulated ATF3. LPS did not promote sprouting of anterogradely labelled corticospinal axons, which did not grow into or beyond a cervical lesion site.Conclusion: Inflammation produced by topical application of LPS promoted increased expression of some growth-associated genes in the cell bodies of corticospinal neurons, but was insufficient to promote regeneration of the corticospinal tract

Performance of a V-trough photovoltaic/thermal concentrator

The idea of concentrating solar energy to increase the output of photovoltaic and solar thermal collectors is an area that has received significant attention. In this study, a design model for a V-trough concentrating photovoltaic/thermal solar collector was theoretically analysed and validated with experimental data. The results showed that the V-trough offered improved electrical yields from both concentrating radiation onto the photovoltaic cells and also by actively cooling them. Also, it was shown that the V-trough could be made of a durable (long life) stainless steel, rather than the more reflective aluminium, while still offering a 25% increase in incident radiation over a typical year. However it was noted that modifications would be needed to improve cooling and to increase the thermal efficiency by reducing heat losses

Studies of control strategies for building integrated solar energy system

Research and development work on Building Integrated Solar Energy Systems (BISES) has become an area of growing interest, not only in New Zealand (NZ) but worldwide. This interest has led to a significant growth in the use of solar energy to provide heating and electricity generation. This paper presents the theoretical and experimental results of a novel building integrated solar hot water system developed using commercial long run roofing materials. This work shows that it is possible to achieve effective integration that maintains the aesthetics of the building and also provides useful thermal energy. The results of a 6.73m2 glazed domestic hot water systems are presented. The key design parameters of the Building Integrated Thermal (BIT) system were identified and implemented in a TRansient SYstem Simulation (TRNSYS) model. Validation results comparing the simulation in TRNSYS and real experimentation show that experimental and simulation responses are close to each other. The coupling of TRNSYS and Matlab/Simulink shows the possibility to use Matlab/Simulink for developing appropriate control strategies for BIT roofing systems. Preliminary Fuzzy Logic (FL) intelligent controller was implemented in a Fuzzy Integrated System (FIS) toolbox in a Matlab/Simulink model and linked into TRNSYS model. Further work is needed to identify and design advanced predictive control strategies for the Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal (BIPVT) solar system and determine how the performance can be optimized

Zeno’s paradox in decision making

Classical probability theory has been influential in modeling decision processes, despite empirical findings that have been persistently paradoxical from classical perspectives. For such findings, some researchers have been successfully pursuing decision models based on quantum theory. One unique feature of quantum theory is the collapse postulate, which entails that measurements (or in decision making, judgments) reset the state to be consistent with the measured outcome. If there is quantum structure in cognition, then there has to be evidence for the collapse postulate. A striking, a priori prediction, is that opinion change will be slowed down (under idealized conditions frozen) by continuous judgments. In physics, this is the quantum Zeno effect. We demonstrate a quantum Zeno effect in decision making in humans and so provide evidence that advocates the use of quantum principles in decision theory, at least in some cases

Rural Pharmacy not delivering on its health promotion potential

Objective: To investigate the level and perceived quality of health promotion advice received from rural pharmacists.Design: Self-administered written survey on access to and quality of pharmacy services in rural Western Australia completed by rural residents.Setting: Rural Pharmacy.Participants: Four hundred and eighty-three respondents who regularly used a pharmacy.Outcome measures: Items in the survey included frequency of receiving prevention advice and satisfaction ratings on health and pharmacy services.Results: Eighty-eight per cent of respondents had never discussed exercise or diet with their pharmacist and 65% had never discussed preventing health problems. Receiving good prevention advice predicted satisfaction with health services in general but not satisfaction with pharmacy services.Conclusion: Pharmacies are being underutilised with respect to their capacity to deliver heath prevention advice and ways to capitalise on this potential need to be investigated

Endocardial ablation of ventricular ectopic beats arising from the basal inferoseptal process of the left ventricle

Background Idiopathic ventricular ectopy (VE) shows predilection to sites within the left ventricular (LV) base such as the outflow tract/aortic sinuses, LV summit, and areas adjacent to the aortomitral continuity. We characterize VE arising from the inferior septum of the LV base that was successfully managed by LV endocardial ablation from the inferoseptal recess of the LV. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, electrocardiographic (ECG) findings, electrophysiological findings, and anatomical features associated with VE arising from the basal inferoseptal process of the LV (ISP-LV) ablated using an LV endocardial approach via the inferoseptal recess of the LV. Methods A total of 425 consecutive patients undergoing VE ablation between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016 at 3 centers were evaluated. Demographic characteristics, ECG findings, and procedural data were analyzed for patients with ISP-LV VEs. Results Seven (1.5%) had a site of origin from the ISP-LV. Common ECG findings were a right bundle branch block concordant pattern or an atypical left bundle branch block early transition pattern, suggestive of a basal origin with a left superior axis, a biphasic QRS complex in lead aVR, and a small s wave in lead V6. Earliest activation was seen in an area below the outflow tract accessed from the inferoseptal recess inferior to the His bundle. In 3 cases, transient junctional rhythm was seen during ablation. All cases were ablated successfully with no complications. Conclusion VE arising from the ISP-LV represents a distinct subset of idiopathic arrhythmia and can be successfully treated by endocardial catheter ablation from the inferoseptal recess. They share common surface ECG and electrophysiological findings with special anatomical features that need recognition for successful catheter ablation

Screening families of patients with premature coronary heart disease to identify avoidable cardiovascular risk: a cross-sectional study of family members and a general population comparison group

<b>Background:</b> Primary prevention should be targeted at individuals with high global cardiovascular risk, but research is lacking on how best to identify such individuals in the general population. Family history is a good proxy measure of global risk and may provide an efficient mechanism for identifying high risk individuals. The aim was to test the feasibility of using patients with premature cardiovascular disease to recruit family members as a means of identifying and screening high-risk individuals. <b>Findings:</b> We recruited family members of 50 patients attending a cardiology clinic for premature coronary heart disease (CHD). We compared their cardiovascular risk with a general population control group, and determined their perception of their risk and current level of screening. 103 (36%) family members attended screening (27 siblings, 48 adult offspring and 28 partners). Five (5%) had prevalent CHD. A significantly higher percentage had an ASSIGN risk score >20% compared with the general population (13% versus 2%, p < 0.001). Only 37% of family members were aware they were at increased risk and only 50% had had their blood pressure and serum cholesterol level checked in the previous three years. <b>Conclusions:</b> Patients attending hospital for premature CHD provide a mechanism to contact family members and this can identify individuals with a high global risk who are not currently screened

Estimating Small Area Income Deprivation: An Iterative Proportional Fitting Approach

Small area estimation and in particular the estimation of small area income deprivation has potential value in the development of new or alternative components of multiple deprivation indices. These new approaches enable the development of income distribution threshold based as opposed to benefit count based measures of income deprivation and so enable the alignment of regional and national measures such as the Households Below Average Income with small area measures. This paper briefly reviews a number of approaches to small area estimation before describing in some detail an iterative proportional fitting based spatial microsimulation approach. This approach is then applied to the estimation of small area HBAI rates at the small area level in Wales in 2003-5. The paper discusses the results of this approach, contrasts them with contemporary ‘official’ income deprivation measures for the same areas and describes a range of ways to assess the robustness of the results

New mobilities across the lifecourse: A framework for analysing demographically-linked drivers of migration

Date of acceptance: 17/02/2015Taking the life course as the central concern, the authors set out a conceptual framework and define some key research questions for a programme of research that explores how the linked lives of mobile people are situated in time–space within the economic, social, and cultural structures of contemporary society. Drawing on methodologically innovative techniques, these perspectives can offer new insights into the changing nature and meanings of migration across the life course.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Protein interactions in Xenopus germ plasm RNP particles

Hermes is an RNA-binding protein that we have previously reported to be found in the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles of Xenopus germ plasm, where it is associated with various RNAs, including that encoding the germ line determinant Nanos1. To further define the composition of these RNPs, we performed a screen for Hermes-binding partners using the yeast two-hybrid system. We have identified and validated four proteins that interact with Hermes in germ plasm: two isoforms of Xvelo1 (a homologue of zebrafish Bucky ball) and Rbm24b and Rbm42b, both RNA-binding proteins containing the RRM motif. GFP-Xvelo fusion proteins and their endogenous counterparts, identified with antisera, were found to localize with Hermes in the germ plasm particles of large oocytes and eggs. Only the larger Xvelo isoform was naturally found in the Balbiani body of previtellogenic oocytes. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) experiments confirmed that Hermes and the Xvelo variants interact in germ plasm, as do Rbm24b and 42b. Depletion of the shorter Xvelo variant with antisense oligonucleotides caused a decrease in the size of germ plasm aggregates and loosening of associated mitochondria from these structures. This suggests that the short Xvelo variant, or less likely its RNA, has a role in organizing and maintaining the integrity of germ plasm in Xenopus oocytes. While GFP fusion proteins for Rbm24b and 42b did not localize into germ plasm as specifically as Hermes or Xvelo, BiFC analysis indicated that both interact with Hermes in germ plasm RNPs. They are very stable in the face of RNA depletion, but additive effects of combinations of antisense oligos suggest they may have a role in germ plasm structure and may influence the ability of Hermes protein to effectively enter RNP particles