Viral Vector-based Improvement of Optic Nerve Regeneration: Characterization of Individual Axons\u27 Growth Patterns and Synaptogenesis in a Visual Target

Lack of axon growth ability in the central nervous system poses a major barrier to achieving functional connectivity after injury. Thus, a non-transgenic regenerative approach to reinnervating targets has important implications in clinical and research settings. Previous studies using knockout (KO) mice have demonstrated long distance axon regeneration. Using an optic nerve injury model, here we evaluate the efficacy of viral, RNAi and pharmacological approaches that target the PTEN and STAT3 pathways to improve long distance axon regeneration in wild type (WT) mice. Our data show that adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against PTEN (shPTEN) enhances retinal ganglion cell axon regeneration after crush injury. However, compared to the previous data in PTEN KO mice, AAV-shRNA results in a lesser degree of regeneration, likely due to incomplete gene silencing inherent to RNAi. In comparison, an extensive enhancement in regeneration is seen when AAV-shPTEN is coupled to AAV encoding ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and to a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) analogue, allowing axons to travel long distances and reach their target. We apply whole tissue imaging that facilitates three-dimensional visualization of single regenerating axons and document heterogeneous terminal patterns in the targets. This shows that some axonal populations generate extensive arbors and make synapses with the target neurons. Collectively, we show a combinatorial viral RNAi and pharmacological strategy that improves long distance regeneration in WT animals and provide single fiber projection data that indicates a degree of preservation of target recognition

The manifest association structure of the single-factor model: insights from partial correlations

The association structure between manifest variables arising from the single-factor model is investigated using partial correlations. The additional insights to the practitioner provided by partial correlations for detecting a single-factor model are discussed. The parameter space for the partial correlations is presented, as are the patterns of signs in a matrix containing the partial correlations that are not compatible with a single-factor model

A Novel Approach To Classify Cloud Entities: Universal Cloud Classification (UCC)

One of the fundamental requirements of Cloud Computing is the capability to provide scalable, transparent and isolated networks. This is achieved by using L2 segmentation via 802.1Q VLANs or overlay approaches such as 802.1ad, VxLAN, ”Stateless Transport Tunneling” (STT) or ”Network Virtualization using Generic Routing Encapsulation” (NVGRE). All of these technologies struggle to provide the required level of scalability, flexibility, performance and network isolation within a Data Center. Research efforts in the area of classification have fundamentally approached these challenges by introducing identifiers for segmentation or providing overlay solutions to tunnel traffic. However, these research approaches are too specific without tackling the actual Cloud Computing classification challenges. Here, we investigate classification approaches with the goal of introducing a scalable, optional, hierarchical, end-to-end and transparent Layer 3 provider, service and tenant isolation scheme. This proposal addresses major challenges and limitations of current cloud classification schemes by offering these five advantages: (1) hierarchical endto-end classification, (2) transparency to upper-layer protocols, (3) optional for en-route and endpoint evaluation, (4) flexibility, and (5) improved performance over current overlay technologies. The solution proposal will be implemented and evaluated based on its feasibility, functionality, performance and usability in cloud-related use-cases

Towards cloud-aware policy enforcement with universal cloud classification as a service (UCCaaS) in software defined networks

Network services are a critical component of today's networks. They apply critical functions (e.g. security, routing or quality of service) to traffic to enhance the network operators and application consumers experience. Today these services are inserted physically on the data-forwarding plane without providing much flexibility to deal with different traffic types or affiliations. Cloud Computing, however, demands policy enforcement on a per-Provider, per-Service and/or per-Tenant basis. In addition, there is an increasing need for dynamic transparent network chaining independent of the underlying transport infrastructure. We first introduce the concept of Universal Cloud Classification as a Service (UCCaaS). Followed by highlighting how it can be leveraged in conjunction with Network Service Headers (NSH) to address above challenges. UCC provides an addressing scheme to isolate traffic streams on a per-provider, per-service and/or per-tenant basis. To enable bi-directional policy enforcement in network functions we extend the UCC proposal by adding source and destination support. NSH is a way to steer network traffic dynamically across a set of network functions. We demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of our UCCaaS + NSH proposal with an example application, where a service chain defines Access Control Lists and traffic rate limiting on a per-Service and per-Tenant basis. Our proposal opens a door for a wide range of cloud-aware network services and functions

Diatoms as a paleoproductivity proxy in the NW Iberian coastal upwelling system (NE Atlantic)

The objective of the current work is to improve our understanding of how water column diatom's abundance and assemblage composition is seasonally transferred from the photic zone to seafloor sediments. To address this, we used a dataset derived from water column, sediment trap and surface sediment samples recovered in the NW Iberian coastal upwelling system. Diatom fluxes (2.2 (+/- 5.6) 10(6) valves m(-2) d(-1)) represented the majority of the siliceous microorganisms sinking out from the photic zone during all studied years and showed seasonal variability. Contrasting results between water column and sediment trap diatom abundances were found during downwelling periods, as shown by the unexpectedly high diatom export signals when diatom- derived primary production achieved their minimum levels. They were principally related to surface sediment remobilization and intense Minho and Douro river discharge that constitute an additional source of particulate matter to the inner continental shelf. In fact, contributions of allochthonous particles to the sinking material were confirmed by the significant increase of both benthic and freshwater diatoms in the sediment trap assemblage. In contrast, we found that most of the living diatom species blooming during highly productive upwelling periods were dissolved during sinking, and only those resistant to dissolution and the Chaetoceros and Leptocylindrus spp. resting spores were susceptible to being exported and buried. Fur-thermore, Chaetoceros spp. dominate during spring-early summer, when persistent northerly winds lead to the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters on the shelf, while Leptocylindrus spp. appear associated with late-summer upwelling relaxation, characterized by water column stratification and nutrient depletion. These findings evidence that the contributions of these diatom genera to the sediment's total marine diatom assemblage should allow for the reconstruction of different past upwelling regimes.CAIBEX [CTM2007-66408-C02-01/MAR]; REIMAGE [CTM2011-30155-C03-03]; Spanish Government, EXCAPA project [10MDS402013PR]; Xunta de Galicia; EU FEDER [INTERREG 2009/2011-0313/RAIA/E]; RAIA. co [INTERREG2011/2013-052/RAIA.co/1E]; CALIBERIA project [PTDC/MAR/102045/2008]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT-Portugal) [COMPETE/FEDER-FCOMP01-0124-FEDER-010599]; Xunta de Galicia (Spain) [SFRH/BPD/111433/2015]; FCT (Portugal) [SFRH/BPD/111433/2015]; [SFRH/BD/88439/2012

How does economic crisis impact on family vacations?

PURPOSE: This study aims at improving the understanding of the behavior of Portuguese consumers regarding vacations in a severe recessionary context, as well as providing knowledge contributing to the consumer behavior field of research as far as the hospitality industry is concerned. DESIGN: Having that purpose in mind, a quantitative study was conducted using data gathered by questionnaire involving a sample of 450 respondents. Results of the quantitative analysis were further complemented with the information previously collected using Netnography. FINDINGS: The overall analysis suggests that the impact of the crisis on the household financial situation throughout the last couple of years influences decisions towards family vacations. When referring to attitudes toward money and expenses, the perception consumers have of how much their purchase and consumption behavior was affected by the crisis has a clear impact to the maximum amount spent on holidays, travel and tourism by the household. Indeed, nowadays customers better ponder every purchase they make, and they often imagine what they would do if they had more money – and, specifically, regarding tourism products. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: There is evidence of a significant relationship between the change in holiday plans and how much the household was affected by the crisis. Also, it is important to note that the main sources of information chosen by customers to base their decisions regarding changing holiday’s plans reflects their change in behavior, since the cheapest strategies to communicate and gather information are the ones most used: e-word of mouth and digital platforms.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Users' participation in facebook brand pages and its influence on word-of-mouth: the role of brand knowledge and brand relationship

Due to the development of social media, brands have integrated Social Networking Sites (SNS) as an important part of their communication mix. This change calls for studies that help to understand the role of SNS in the communication mix, through further investigating their effects for brands and acknowledging their influencing triggers. Concerning that, previous studies have associated the use of SNS to effects on WoM, with SNS contributing as a tool skilled for generating conversations about the brand. The current study focuses on investigating the triggers of these effects. In previous research, WoM was accepted as being triggered by constructs related to the effects of SNS on increasing users´ knowledge about the brand and improving perceived relationship value. Despite their relevance, studies in SNS so far have not yet explored these approaches in an integrative manner. So researchers and managers could understand how these dimensions behave in relation to each other in triggering WoM. The current study addresses this research gap, proposing an integrative perspective that combines brand knowledge and brand relationship constructs while investigating the effects on WoM. Direct and indirect effects are proposed with mediating relations being supported by the Theory of Reason Action (TRA) and Social Exchange (SET). Two surveys were implemented, with 218 and 550 valid responses obtained. Results were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings support the relevance of brand relationship variables (trust and affective commitment) in influencing WoM, with trust assuming a pivotal role. Moreover, triggers related to brand knowledge also influence the effects, with brand awareness and attitude driving significant effects. Managerial and theoretical implications are discussedinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Modelling the Recoherence of Mesoscopic Superpositions in Dissipative Environments

A model is presented to describe the recently proposed experiment (J. Raimond, M. Brune and S. Haroche Phys. Rev. Lett {\bf 79}, 1964 (1997)) where a mesoscopic superposition of radiation states is prepared in a high-Q cavity which is coupled to a similar resonator. The dynamical coherence loss of such state in the absence of dissipation is reversible and can in principle be observed. We show how this picture is modified due to the presence of the environmental couplings. Analytical expressions for the experimental conditional probabilities and the linear entropy are given. We conclude that the phenomenon can still be observed provided the ratio between the damping constant and the inter-cavities coupling does not exceed about a few percent. This observation is favored for superpositions of states with large overlap.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Magnetic phase transitions in Gd64Sc36 studied using non-contact ultrasonics

The speed and attenuation of ultrasound propagation can be used to determine material properties and identify phase transitions. Standard ultrasonic contact techniques are not always convenient due to the necessity of using couplant; however, recently reliable non-contact ultrasonic techniques involving electromagnetic generation and detection of ultrasound with electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) have been developed for use on electrically conducting and/or magnetic materials. We present a detailed study of magnetic phase transitions in a single crystal sample of Gd64Sc36 magnetic alloy using contact and non-contact ultrasonic techniques for two orientations of external magnetic field. Phase diagrams are constructed based on measurements of elastic constant C33, the attenuation and the efficiency of generation when using an EMAT. The EMATs are shown to provide additional information related to the magnetic phase transitions in the studied sample, and results identify a conical helix phase in Gd64Sc36 in the magnetic field orientation