Glucokinase activity in the arcuate nucleus regulates glucose intake

PubMed Central

Hussain, Syed; Richardson, Errol; Ma, Yue; Holton, Christopher; De Backer, Ivan; Buckley, Niki; Dhillo, Waljit; Bewick, Gavin; Zhang, Shuai; Carling, David; Bloom, Steve; Gardiner, James

2014-01-01

The brain relies on a constant supply of glucose, its primary fuel, for optimal function. A taste-independent mechanism within the CNS that promotes glucose delivery to the brain has been postulated to maintain glucose homeostasis; however, evidence for such a mechanism is lacking. Here, we determined that glucokinase activity within the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus is involved in regulation of dietary glucose intake. In fasted rats, glucokinase activity was specifically increased in the arcuate nucleus but not other regions of the hypothalamus. Moreover, pharmacologic and genetic activation of glucokinase in the arcuate nucleus of rodent models increased glucose ingestion, while decreased arcuate nucleus glucokinase activity reduced glucose intake. Pharmacologic targeting of potential downstream glucokinase effectors revealed that ATP-sensitive potassium channel and P/Q calcium channel activity are required for glucokinase-mediated glucose intake. Additionally, altered glucokinase activity affected release of the orexigenic neurotransmitter neuropeptide Y in response to glucose. Together, our results suggest that glucokinase activity in the arcuate nucleus specifically regulates glucose intake and that appetite for glucose is an important driver of overall food intake. Arcuate nucleus glucokinase activation may represent a CNS mechanism that underlies the oft-described phenomena of the “sweet tooth” and carbohydrate craving. PMID:25485685

An interpretation of the tectonostratigraphic framework of the Murray Basin region of southeastern Australia, based on an examination of airborne magnetic patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, C. M.; Tucker, D. H.; Anfiloff, V.

1988-11-01

New pixel map representations of regional total magnetic intensity data reveal previously unknown characteristics of the basement concealed beneath thin Cainozoic sediments of the Murray Basin in southeastern Australia. Interpretations of magnetic patterns in terms of structural features allow a revised interpretation of the nature of the tectonostratigraphic framework underlying and flanking the basin. The magnetic data indicate that arcuate or curvilinear structural trends under the Murray Basin do not conform with those of the exposed Lachlan Fold Belt to the east and suggest that the basement concealed beneath the basin, together with that exposed in the Victorian Highlands to the south, forms a distinct composite tectonostratigraphic terrane. Beneath the southwestern Murray Basin ?Proterozoic-Lower Cambrian metasediments of the Padthaway Ridge of the Kanmantoo Fold Belt display a northwesterly trending structural grain and a previously unsuspected continuity of structural trend with Adelaidean-Cambrian rocks of the Mount Lofty Ranges to the west. In the south, Cambrian volcanics of the Black Range and Stavely greenstone belts have similar magnetic response and appear to be components of a single elongate and strongly magnetic domain which extends to the northwest for at least 400 km (Stavely Belt). To the north a similar but entirely concealed northeasterly trending magnetic domain can also be interpreted as volcanics (Lake Wintlow Belt). Together these two magnetic domains appear to form an arcuate zone of volcanics, with a concave-to-the-east configuration, located at a possible suture between the Lachlan and Kanmantoo Fold Belts beneath the western Murray Basin. In the south the magnetic imagery indicates that metasediments of the ?Cambro-Ordovician Stawell Belt produce magnetic patterns distinct from those produced by the metasediments of the adjacent Ordovician Bendigo Belt, which can itself be subdivided into a number of areas of distinct magnetic pattern. Magnetic domains can be interpreted in terms of concealed Proterozoic and Palaeozoic structural belts and tectonostratigraphic terranes. Reconstructions suggest that much of the Murray Basin may be underlain by a former microcontinental block or rifted marginal plateau of Precambrian crust, now welded to the Precambrian craton to the west. Deformation of the Kanmantoo and Adelaide Fold Belts adjacent to and beneath the western and southwestern margins of the basin, can be attributed to Late Cambrian-Early Ordovician convergence between the microcontinental block and the craton. Volcanics of the arcuate Stavely and Lake Wintlow Belts are interpreted to be located at the suture between the microcontinental block and the craton. In addition, the presence of concave-to-the-east, curvilinear magnetic trends in the Cambro-Ordovician metasedimentary belts beneath the Murray Basin suggests that these successions, as well as the volcanics of the Heathcote and Mount Wellington Belts, may form allochthonous sheets. These were possibly emplaced from the east during Late Ordovician-Devonian deformation, possibly related to convergence of a further microcontinental block underlying the adjacent Lachlan Fold Belt to the east of the Murray Basin.

Anatomical Variant of Atlas : Arcuate Foramen, Occpitalization of Atlas, and Defect of Posterior Arch of Atlas.

PubMed

Kim, Myoung Soo

2015-12-01

We sought to examine anatomic variations of the atlas and the clinical significance of these variations. We retrospectively reviewed 1029 cervical 3-dimensional (3D) CT images. Cervical 3D CT was performed between November 2011 and August 2014. Arcuate foramina were classified as partial or complete and left and/or right. Occipitalization of the atlas was classified in accordance with criteria specified by Mudaliar et al. Posterior arch defects of the atlas were classified in accordance with criteria specified by Currarino et al. One hundred and eight vertebrae (108/1029, 10.5%) showed an arcuate foramen. Bilateral arcuate foramina were present in 41 of these vertebrae and the remaining 67 arcuate foramina were unilateral (right 31, left 36). Right-side arcuate foramina were partial on 18 sides and complete on 54 sides. Left-side arcuate foramina were partial on 24 sides and complete on 53 sides. One case of atlas assimilation was found. Twelve patients (12/1029, 1.17%) had a defect of the atlantal posterior arch. Nine of these patients (9/1029, 0.87%) had a type A posterior arch defect. We also identified one type B, one type D, and one type E defect. Preoperative diagnosis of occipitalization of the atlas and arcuate foramina using 3D CT is of paramount importance in avoiding neurovascular injury during surgery. It is important to be aware of posterior arch defects of the atlas because they may be misdiagnosed as a fracture.

Vector Analysis of Corneal Astigmatism After Combined Femtosecond-Assisted Phacoemulsification and Arcuate Keratotomy.

PubMed

Chan, Tommy C Y; Cheng, George P M; Wang, Zheng; Tham, Clement C Y; Woo, Victor C P; Jhanji, Vishal

2015-08-01

To evaluate the outcomes of femtosecond-assisted arcuate keratotomy combined with cataract surgery in eyes with low to moderate corneal astigmatism. Retrospective, interventional case series. This study included patients who underwent combined femtosecond-assisted phacoemulsification and arcuate keratotomy between March 2013 and August 2013. Keratometric astigmatism was evaluated before and 2 months after the surgery. Vector analysis of the astigmatic changes was performed using the Alpins method. Overall, 54 eyes of 54 patients (18 male and 36 female; mean age, 68.8 ± 11.4 years) were included. The mean preoperative (target-induced astigmatism) and postoperative astigmatism was 1.33 ± 0.57 diopters (D) and 0.87 ± 0.56 D, respectively (P < .001). The magnitude of error (difference between surgically induced and target-induced astigmatism) (-0.13 ± 0.68 D), as well as the correction index (ratio of surgically induced and target-induced astigmatism) (0.86 ± 0.52), demonstrated slight undercorrection. The angle of error was very close to 0, indicating no significant systematic error of misaligned treatment. However, the absolute angle of error showed a less favorable range (17.5 ± 19.2 degrees), suggesting variable factors such as healing or alignment at an individual level. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Combined phacoemulsification with arcuate keratotomy using femtosecond laser appears to be a relatively easy and safe means for management of low to moderate corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery candidates. Misalignment at an individual level can reduce its effectiveness. This issue remains to be elucidated in future studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Aging-Resilient Associations between the Arcuate Fasciculus and Vocabulary Knowledge: Microstructure or Morphology?

PubMed Central

Vaden, Kenneth I.; Cute, Stephanie L.; Yeatman, Jason D.; Dougherty, Robert F.

2016-01-01

Vocabulary knowledge is one of the few cognitive functions that is relatively preserved in older adults, but the reasons for this relative preservation have not been well delineated. We tested the hypothesis that individual differences in vocabulary knowledge are influenced by arcuate fasciculus macrostructure (i.e., shape and volume) properties that remain stable during the aging process, rather than white matter microstructure that demonstrates age-related declines. Vocabulary was not associated with age compared to pronounced age-related declines in cognitive processing speed across 106 healthy adults (19.92–88.29 years) who participated in this neuroimaging experiment. Fractional anisotropy in the left arcuate fasciculus was significantly related to individual variability in vocabulary. This effect was present despite marked age-related differences in a T1-weighted/T2-weighted ratio (T1w/T2w) estimate of myelin that were observed throughout the left arcuate fasciculus and associated with age-related differences in cognitive processing speed. However, atypical patterns of arcuate fasciculus morphology or macrostructure were associated with decreased vocabulary knowledge. These results suggest that deterioration of tissue in the arcuate fasciculus occurs with normal aging, while having limited impact on tract organization that underlies individual differences in the acquisition and retrieval of lexical and semantic information. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Vocabulary knowledge is resilient to widespread age-related declines in brain structure that limit other cognitive functions. We tested the hypothesis that arcuate fasciculus morphology, which supports the development of reading skills that bolster vocabulary, could explain this relative preservation. We disentangled (1) the effects of age-related declines in arcuate microstructure (mean diffusivity; myelin content estimate) that predicted cognitive processing speed but not vocabulary, from (2) relatively stable arcuate macrostructure (shape/volume) that explained significant variance in an age-independent association between fractional anisotropy and vocabulary. This latter result may reflect differences in fiber trajectory and organization that are resilient to aging. We propose that developmental sculpting of the arcuate fasciculus determines acquisition, storage, and access of lexical information across the adult lifespan. PMID:27383595

Reduced Volume of the Arcuate Fasciculus in Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Conditions

PubMed Central

Moseley, Rachel L.; Correia, Marta M.; Baron-Cohen, Simon; Shtyrov, Yury; Pulvermüller, Friedemann; Mohr, Bettina

2016-01-01

Atypical language is a fundamental feature of autism spectrum conditions (ASC), but few studies have examined the structural integrity of the arcuate fasciculus, the major white matter tract connecting frontal and temporal language regions, which is usually implicated as the main transfer route used in processing linguistic information by the brain. Abnormalities in the arcuate have been reported in young children with ASC, mostly in low-functioning or non-verbal individuals, but little is known regarding the structural properties of the arcuate in adults with ASC or, in particular, in individuals with ASC who have intact language, such as those with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome. We used probabilistic tractography of diffusion-weighted imaging to isolate and scrutinize the arcuate in a mixed-gender sample of 18 high-functioning adults with ASC (17 Asperger syndrome) and 14 age- and IQ-matched typically developing controls. Arcuate volume was significantly reduced bilaterally with clearest differences in the right hemisphere. This finding remained significant in an analysis of all male participants alone. Volumetric reduction in the arcuate was significantly correlated with the severity of autistic symptoms as measured by the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. These data reveal that structural differences are present even in high-functioning adults with ASC, who presented with no clinically manifest language deficits and had no reported developmental language delay. Arcuate structural integrity may be useful as an index of ASC severity and thus as a predictor and biomarker for ASC. Implications for future research are discussed. PMID:27242478

The arcuate nucleus of the C57BL/6J mouse hindbrain is a displaced part of the inferior olive.

PubMed

Fu, Yu Hong; Watson, Charles

2012-01-01

The arcuate nucleus is a prominent cell group in the human hindbrain, characterized by its position on the pial surface of the pyramid. It is considered to be a precerebellar nucleus and has been implicated in the pathology of several disorders of respiration. An arcuate nucleus has not been convincingly demonstrated in other mammals, but we have found a similarly positioned nucleus in the C57BL/6J mouse. The mouse arcuate nucleus consists of a variable group of neurons lying on the pial surface of the pyramid. The nucleus is continuous with the ventrolateral part of the principal nucleus of the inferior olive and both groups are calbindin positive. At first we thought that this mouse nucleus was homologous with the human arcuate nucleus, but we have discovered that the neurons of the human nucleus are calbindin negative, and are therefore not olivary in nature. We have compared the mouse arcuate neurons with those of the inferior olive in terms of molecular markers and cerebellar projection. The neurons of the arcuate nucleus and of the inferior olive share three major characteristics: they both contain neurons utilizing glutamate, serotonin or acetylcholine as neurotransmitters; they both project to the contralateral cerebellum, and they both express a number of genes not present in the major mossy fiber issuing precerebellar nuclei. Most importantly, both cell groups express calbindin in an area of the ventral hindbrain almost completely devoid of calbindin-positive cells. We conclude that the neurons of the hindbrain mouse arcuate nucleus are a displaced part of the inferior olive, possibly separated by the caudal growth of the pyramidal tract during development. The arcuate nucleus reported in the C57BL/6J mouse can therefore be regarded as a subgroup of the rostral inferior olive, closely allied with the ventral tier of the principal nucleus. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Vocabulary growth rate from preschool to school-age years is reflected in the connectivity of the arcuate fasciculus in 14-year-old children.

PubMed

Su, Mengmeng; Thiebaut de Schotten, Michel; Zhao, Jingjing; Song, Shuang; Zhou, Wei; Gong, Gaolang; McBride, Catherine; Ramus, Franck; Shu, Hua

2018-02-06

The acquisition of language involves the functional specialization of several cortical regions. Connectivity between these brain regions may also change with the development of language. Various studies have demonstrated that the arcuate fasciculus was essential for language function. Vocabulary learning is one of the most important skills in language acquisition. In the present longitudinal study, we explored the influence of vocabulary development on the anatomical properties of the arcuate fasciculus. Seventy-nine Chinese children participated in this study. Between age 4 and age 10, they were administered the same vocabulary task repeatedly. Following a previous study, children's vocabulary developmental trajectories were clustered into three subgroups (consistently good, catch-up, consistently poor). At age 14, diffusion tensor imaging data were collected. Using ROI-based tractography, the anterior, posterior and direct segments of the bilateral arcuate fasciculus were delineated in each child's native space. Group comparisons showed a significantly reduced fractional anisotropy in the left arcuate fasciculus of children in the consistently poor group, in particular in the posterior and direct segments of the arcuate fasciculus. No group differences were observed in the right hemisphere, nor in the left anterior segment. Further regression analyses showed that the rate of vocabulary development, rather than the initial vocabulary size, was a specific predictor of the left arcuate fasciculus connectivity. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A Combined fMRI and DTI Examination of Functional Language Lateralization and Arcuate Fasciculus Structure: Effects of Degree versus Direction of Hand Preference

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Propper, Ruthe E.; O'Donnell, Lauren J.; Whalen, Stephen; Tie, Yanmei; Norton, Isaiah H.; Suarez, Ralph O.; Zollei, Lilla; Radmanesh, Alireza; Golby, Alexandra J.

2010-01-01

The present study examined the relationship between hand preference degree and direction, functional language lateralization in Broca's and Wernicke's areas, and structural measures of the arcuate fasciculus. Results revealed an effect of degree of hand preference on arcuate fasciculus structure, such that consistently-handed individuals,…

Corneal Astigmatism and Aberrations After Combined Femtosecond-Assisted Phacoemulsification and Arcuate Keratotomy: Two-Year Results.

PubMed

Chan, Tommy C Y; Ng, Alex L K; Cheng, George P M; Wang, Zheng; Woo, Victor C P; Jhanji, Vishal

2016-10-01

To investigate the stability of corneal astigmatism and higher-order aberrations after combined femtosecond-assisted phacoemulsification and arcuate keratotomy. Retrospective, interventional case series. Surgery was performed using a VICTUS (Bausch & Lomb Inc, Dornach, Germany) platform. A single, 450-μm deep, arcuate keratotomy was paired at the 8-mm zone with the main phacoemulsification incision in the opposite meridian. The keratotomy incisions were not opened. Corneal astigmatism and higher-order aberration measurements obtained preoperatively and at 2 months and 2 years postoperatively were analyzed. Fifty eyes of 50 patients (mean age 66.2 ± 10.5 years) were included. The mean preoperative corneal astigmatism was 1.35 ± 0.48 diopters (D). This was reduced to 0.67 ± 0.54 D at 2 months and 0.74 ± 0.53 D at 2 years postoperatively (P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference between postoperative corneal astigmatism over 2 years (P = .392). Both magnitude of error and absolute angle of error were comparable between the 2 postoperative time points (P > .283). At postoperative 2 months and 2 years, 72% and 70% of eyes were within 15 degrees of preoperative meridian of astigmatism, respectively. All wavefront measurements increased significantly at 2 months and 2 years (P < .007), except spherical aberration (P > .150). There was no significant difference in higher-order aberrations between 2 months and 2 years postoperatively (P > .486). Our study showed the stability of femtosecond-assisted arcuate keratotomy. Further studies using other platforms and nomograms are needed to corroborate the findings of this study. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nematodes from galls on Myrtaceae. VII. Fergusobia from 'leafy' leaf bud galls in Australia, with re-description of Fergusobia tumifaciens (Currie 1937) Wachek 1955 and descriptions of Fergusobia planchonianae n. sp. and Fergusobia viminalisae n. sp.

PubMed

Davies, Kerrie A; Ye, Weimin; Giblin-Davis, Robin M; Taylor, Gary S; Hodda, Mike; Thomas, W Kelley

2014-08-26

Fergusobia tumifaciens (Currie 1937) Wachek 1955, the type species for the genus Fergusobia, is re-described from specimens collected from 'leafy' leaf bud galls on Eucalyptus bridgesiana near Albury in New South Wales, Australia. It is morphologically characterized by the combination of an open C-shaped parthenogenetic female with a small broadly conoid tail, a C-shaped infective female with a bluntly rounded tail tip, and an arcuate to J-shaped male with angular spicules, not heavily sclerotised, and short to mid-length peloderan bursa. Two new species of Fergusobia, collected from 'leafy' leaf bud galls on, respectively, Eucalyptus planchoniana in Queensland, and E. viminalis in South Australia, Australia, are described. Fergusobia planchonianae Davies n. sp. is characterised by the combination of a C-shaped parthenogenetic female with a conoid tail, an arcuate infective female with an hemispherical tail tip, and an almost straight to arcuate to C-shaped male with an angular spicule, a long peloderan bursa and a narrow tail. Fergusobia viminalisae Davies n. sp. is characterised by the combination of an open C-shaped parthenogenetic female with a broadly conoid tail, a C-shaped infective female with a bluntly rounded tail tip, and an arcuate to J-shaped male with an angular (not heavily sclerotised) spicule and short to mid-length peloderan bursa. The shield morphologies of the fly larvae associated with the 'leafy' leaf bud galls and their possible relationships are outlined. Possible evolutionary relationships of the Fergusobia nematodes from these galls are discussed, considering their morphology, DNA sequences, and the relationships of the associated Fergusonina flies and host plants. 

Role of Arcuate Nucleus in the Regulation of Feeding Behavior in the Process of Altitude Acclimatization in Rats.

PubMed

Liu, Xiang-Wen; Yin, Jie; Ma, Qi-Sheng; Qi, Chu-Chu; Mu, Ji-Ying; Zhang, Lang; Gao, Li-Ping; Jing, Yu-Hong

2017-09-01

Liu, Xiang-Wen, Jie Yin, Qi-Sheng Ma, Chu-Chu Qi, Ji-Ying Mu, Lang Zhang, Li-Ping Gao, and Yu-Hong Jing. Role of arcuate nucleus in the regulation of feeding behavior in the process of altitude acclimatization in rats. High Alt Med Biol. 18:234-241, 2017.-Highly efficient energy utilization and metabolic homeostasis maintenance rely on neuromodulation. Altitude exposure is known to stimulate neuroendocrine systems to respond to acute hypoxia and adaptive acclimatization. However, limited data on how the adaptive regulation of the arcuate nucleus performs in the process of altitude acclimatization are available. In the present study, male Sprague Dawley rats were transported to Huashixia, Qinghai (with an altitude of 4400 m) from Xian (with an altitude of 300 m) by air; rats were consistently raised in Xian as control. Food uptake and body weight were measured consecutively after being subjected to high-altitude condition. Contents of plasma leptin and ghrelin were analyzed by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kits. Brain coronal sections were obtained, and neuropeptide Y (NPY), proopiomelanocotin (POMC), and c-fos immunoreactivity in arcuate nucleus were observed. Arcuate nucleus was isolated from the hypothalamus, and the mRNA of NPY and POMC were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our results showed both food consumption and body weight decreased in the high plateau compared with rats raised in the low-altitude condition. Plasma leptin increased at the early stage, and ghrelin decreased at a later stage after reaching the high plateau. The peak of c-fos immunoreactivity in the arcuate nucleus was at day 3 after reaching the high plateau. The expression level of NPY increased, and POMC decreased in the arcuate nucleus at day 7 after reaching the high plateau compared with the plain control group. These results indicate that the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus performs an important function in regulating feeding behavior during altitude acclimatization. Our study suggested that altitude acclimation is regulated by the hypothalamus that received leptin and ghrelin signals to response by its microcircuit, including NPY- and POMC-neurons in the arcuate nucleus.

Apparatus for electrical-assisted incremental forming and process thereof

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roth, John; Cao, Jian

A process and apparatus for forming a sheet metal component using an electric current passing through the component. The process can include providing an incremental forming machine, the machine having at least one arcuate tipped tool and at least electrode spaced a predetermined distance from the arcuate tipped tool. The machine is operable to perform a plurality of incremental deformations on the sheet metal component using the arcuate tipped tool. The machine is also operable to apply an electric direct current through the electrode into the sheet metal component at the predetermined distance from the arcuate tipped tool while themore » machine is forming the sheet metal component.« less

Transition duct system with arcuate ceramic liner for delivering hot-temperature gases in a combustion turbine engine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wiebe, David J.

A transition duct system (10) for delivering hot-temperature gases from a plurality of combustors in a combustion turbine engine is provided. The system includes an exit piece (16) for each combustor. The exit piece may include an arcuate connecting segment (36). An arcuate ceramic liner (60) may be inwardly disposed onto a metal outer shell (38) along the arcuate connecting segment of the exit piece. Structural arrangements are provided to securely attach the ceramic liner in the presence of substantial flow path pressurization. Cost-effective serviceability of the transition duct systems is realizable since the liner can be readily removed andmore » replaced as needed.« less

Visualization of Penile Suspensory Ligamentous System Based on Visible Human Data Sets

PubMed Central

Chen, Xianzhuo; Wu, Yi; Tao, Ling; Yan, Yan; Pang, Jun; Zhang, Shaoxiang; Li, Shirong

2017-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to use a three-dimensional (3D) visualization technology to illustrate and describe the anatomical features of the penile suspensory ligamentous system based on the Visible Human data sets and to explore the suspensory mechanism of the penis for the further improvement of the penis-lengthening surgery. Material/Methods Cross-sectional images retrieved from the first Chinese Visible Human (CVH-1), third Chinese Visible Human (CVH-3), and Visible Human Male (VHM) data sets were used to segment the suspensory ligamentous system and its adjacent structures. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of this system were studied and compared with those from the Visible Human data sets. The 3D models reconstructed from the Visible Human data sets were used to provide morphological features of the penile suspensory ligamentous system and its related structures. Results The fundiform ligament was a superficial, loose, fibro-fatty tissue which originated from Scarpa’s fascia superiorly and continued to the scrotal septum inferiorly. The suspensory ligament and arcuate pubic ligament were dense fibrous connective tissues which started from the pubic symphysis and terminated by attaching to the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa. Furthermore, the arcuate pubic ligament attached to the inferior rami of the pubis laterally. Conclusions The 3D model based on Visible Human data sets can be used to clarify the anatomical features of the suspensory ligamentous system, thereby contributing to the improvement of penis-lengthening surgery. PMID:28530218

Visualization of Penile Suspensory Ligamentous System Based on Visible Human Data Sets.

PubMed

Chen, Xianzhuo; Wu, Yi; Tao, Ling; Yan, Yan; Pang, Jun; Zhang, Shaoxiang; Li, Shirong

2017-05-22

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to use a three-dimensional (3D) visualization technology to illustrate and describe the anatomical features of the penile suspensory ligamentous system based on the Visible Human data sets and to explore the suspensory mechanism of the penis for the further improvement of the penis-lengthening surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cross-sectional images retrieved from the first Chinese Visible Human (CVH-1), third Chinese Visible Human (CVH-3), and Visible Human Male (VHM) data sets were used to segment the suspensory ligamentous system and its adjacent structures. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of this system were studied and compared with those from the Visible Human data sets. The 3D models reconstructed from the Visible Human data sets were used to provide morphological features of the penile suspensory ligamentous system and its related structures. RESULTS The fundiform ligament was a superficial, loose, fibro-fatty tissue which originated from Scarpa's fascia superiorly and continued to the scrotal septum inferiorly. The suspensory ligament and arcuate pubic ligament were dense fibrous connective tissues which started from the pubic symphysis and terminated by attaching to the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa. Furthermore, the arcuate pubic ligament attached to the inferior rami of the pubis laterally. CONCLUSIONS The 3D model based on Visible Human data sets can be used to clarify the anatomical features of the suspensory ligamentous system, thereby contributing to the improvement of penis-lengthening surgery.

Method of fabricating a prestressed cast iron vessel

DOEpatents

Lampe, Robert F.

1982-01-01

A method of fabricating a prestressed cast iron vessel wherein double wall cast iron body segments each have an arcuate inner wall and a spaced apart substantially parallel outer wall with a plurality of radially extending webs interconnecting the inner wall and the outer wall, the bottom surface and the two exposed radial side surfaces of each body segment are machined and eight body segments are formed into a ring. The top surfaces and outer surfaces of the outer walls are machined and keyways are provided across the juncture of adjacent end walls of the body segments. A liner segment complementary in shape to a selected inner wall of one of the body segments is mounted to each of the body segments and again formed into a ring. The liner segments of each ring are welded to form unitary liner rings and thereafter the cast iron body segments are prestressed to complete the ring assembly. Ring assemblies are stacked to form the vessel and adjacent unitary liner rings are welded. A top head covers the top ring assembly to close the vessel and axially extending tendons retain the top and bottom heads in place under pressure.

Management of postkeratoplasty astigmatism by paired arcuate incisions with compression sutures.

PubMed

Fares, Usama; Mokashi, Aashish A; Al-Aqaba, Mouhamed Ali; Otri, Ahmad Muneer; Miri, Ammar; Dua, Harminder Singh

2013-04-01

To analyse the efficacy of paired arcuate incisions and compression sutures technique in the management of post penetrating keratoplasty (PK) astigmatism. A paired arcuate incision with compression sutures procedure was used to treat 26 eyes with post-PK astigmatism ranging from 6.00 to 16.50 dioptres (D). The incisions were placed at the 7.0 mm optical zone inside the graft-host junction at a depth of 80% of corneal thickness. A 45° paired arc length was planned for eyes with preoperative astigmatism between 6D and 9D, and a 60° paired arc length was planned for eyes with preoperative astigmatism of >9D. At 3 months, corneal topography and refraction was performed and suture(s) removed if indicated. Net and vector astigmatism changes were calculated to determine the efficacy of the procedure. The indications for PK included keratoconus, Fuch's endothelial dystrophy, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy and corneal scar. There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean magnitude of astigmatism from 9.66 ± 2.90D preoperatively to 4.37 ± 2.53D postoperatively in the whole group. The mean decrease in the astigmatism was 4.37 ± 2.05D (58.4%) and 6.23 ± 3.63D (52.6%) in patients with 6-9D and >9D, respectively. Vector power calculations also showed a significant astigmatism reduction in all groups. The safety and efficacy indices were 1.40 and 0.28, respectively. Manual astigmatic keratotomy is a viable technique with relatively good safety and efficacy outcomes. Based on the results we propose that increasing the arc length to a minimum of 60° for astigmatism of 6-9D, and to 75° for astigmatism >9D, is likely to have a greater beneficial effect.

Diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion tensor imaging-fibre tractograph depict the mechanisms of Broca-like and Wernicke-like conduction aphasia.

PubMed

Song, Xinjie; Dornbos, David; Lai, Zongli; Zhang, Yumei; Li, Tieshan; Chen, Hongyan; Yang, Zhonghua

2011-06-01

Conduction aphasia is usually considered a result of damage of the arcuate fasciculus, which is subjacent to the parietal portion of the supra-marginal gyrus and the upper part of the insula. It is important to stress that many features of conduction aphasia relate to a cortical deficit, more than a pure disconnection mechanism. In this study, we explore the mechanism of Broca-like and Wernicke-like conduction aphasia by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor imaging-fibre tractograph (DT-FT). We enrolled five Broca-like conduction aphasia cases, five Wernicke-like aphasia conduction cases and 10 healthy volunteers residing in Beijing and speaking Mandarin. All are right handed. We analyzed the arcuate fasciculus, Broca's areas and Wernicke's areas by DTI and measured fractional anisotrogy (FA). The results of left and right hemispheres were compared in both conduction aphasia cases and volunteers. Then the results of the conduction aphasia cases were compared with those of volunteers. The fibre construction of Broca's and Wernicke's areas was also compared by DTI-FT. The FA occupied by the identified connective pathways (Broca's area, Wernicke's area and the arcuate fasciculus) in the left hemisphere was larger than that in the right hemisphere in the control group (P<0.05). Among Broca-like conduction aphasia cases, the FA of the left Broca's area was smaller than that of the right mirror side (P<0.05), and the FA of the left anterior segment of the arcuate fasciculus was smaller than that of right mirror side (P<0.05). On the other hand, among Wernicke-like conduction aphasia patients, the FA of the left Wernicke's area was smaller than that of right mirror side (P<0.05), and the FA of left posterior segment of arcuate fasciculus was smaller than that of right mirror side (P<0.05). Conduction aphasia results from not only arcuate fasciculus destruction, but also from disruption of the associated cortical areas. Along different segments of the arcuate fasciculus, the characteristics of language disorders of conduction aphasia were different. A lesion involving Broca's area and the anterior segments of the arcuate fasciculus would lead to Broca-like conduction aphasia, whereas a lesion involved Wernicke's area and posterior segments of the arcuate fasciculus would lead to Wernicke-like conduction aphasia.

Penetrating and Intrastromal Corneal Arcuate Incisions in Rabbit and Human Cadaver Eyes: Manual Diamond Blade and Femtosecond Laser-Created Incisions.

PubMed

Gray, Brad; Binder, Perry S; Huang, Ling C; Hill, Jim; Salvador-Silva, Mercedes; Gwon, Arlene

2016-07-01

To compare morphologic differences between freehand diamond or femtosecond laser-assisted penetrating and intrastromal arcuate incisions. Freehand diamond blade, corneal arcuate incisions (180° apart, 60° arc lengths) and 150 kHz femtosecond laser (80% scheimpflug pachymetry depth corneal thickness) arcuate incisions were performed in rabbits. Intrastromal arcuate incisions (100 μm above Descemet's membrane, 100 μm below epithelium) were performed in rabbit corneas (energy 1.2 μJ, spot line separation 3 × 3 μm, 90° side cut angle). Eyes were examined by slit lamp and light microscopy up to 47 days post-procedure. Freehand diamond blade penetrating incisions, and femtosecond laser penetrating and intrastromal arcuate incisions (energy 1.8 μJ, spot line separation 2 × 2 μm) were performed in cadaver eyes. Optical coherence tomography was performed immediately after surgery and the corneas were fixed for light scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The rabbit model showed anterior stromal inflammation with epithelial hyperplasia in penetrating blade and laser penetrating wounds. The laser intrastromal and penetrating incisions showed localized constriction of the stromal layers of the cornea near the wound. In cadaver eyes, penetrating wound morphology was similar between blade and laser whereas intrastromal wounds did not affect the cornea above or below incisions. Penetrating femtosecond laser arcuate incisions have more predictable and controlled outcomes shown by less post-operative scarring than incisions performed with a diamond blade. Intrastromal incisions do not affect uncut corneal layers as demonstrated by histopathology. The femtosecond laser has significant advantages in its ability to make intrastromal incisions which are not achievable by traditional freehand or mechanical diamond blades.

The effects of anterior arcuate and dorsomedial frontal cortex lesions on visually guided eye movements: 2. Paired and multiple targets.

PubMed

Schiller, P H; Chou, I

2000-01-01

This study examined the effects of anterior arcuate and dorsomedial frontal cortex lesions on the execution of saccadic eye movements made to paired and multiple targets in rhesus monkeys. Identical paired targets were presented with various temporal asynchronies to determine the temporal offset required to yield equal probability choices to either target. In the intact animal equal probability choices were typically obtained when the targets appeared simultaneously. After unilateral anterior arcuate lesions a major shift arose in the temporal offset required to obtain equal probability choices for paired targets that necessitated presenting the target in the hemifield contralateral to the lesion more than 100 ms prior to the target in the ipsilateral hemifield. This deficit was still pronounced 1 year after the lesion. Dorsomedial frontal cortex lesions produced much smaller but significant shifts in target selection that recovered more rapidly. Paired lesions produced deficits similar to those observed with anterior arcuate lesions alone. Major deficits were also observed on a multiple target temporal discrimination task after anterior arcuate but not after dorsomedial frontal cortex lesions. These results suggest that the frontal eye fields that reside in anterior bank of the arcuate sulcus play an important role in temporal processing and in target selection. Dorsomedial frontal cortex, that contains the medial eye fields, plays a much less important role in the execution of these tasks.

Orbiter escape pole

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goodrich, Winston D. (Inventor); Wesselski, Clarence J. (Inventor); Pelischek, Timothy E. (Inventor); Becker, Bruce H. (Inventor); Kahn, Jon B. (Inventor); Grimaldi, Margaret E. (Inventor); McManamen, John P. (Inventor); Castro, Edgar O. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

A Shuttle type of aircraft (10) with an escape hatch (12) has an arcuately shaped pole housing (16) attachable to an interior wall and ceiling with its open end adjacent to the escape hatch. The pole housing 16 contains a telescopically arranged and arcuately shaped primary pole member (22) and extension pole member (23) which are guided by roller assemblies (30,35). The extension pole member (23) is slidable and extendable relative to the primary pole member (22). For actuation, a spring actuated system includes a spring (52) in the pole housing. A locking member (90) engages both pole members (22,23) through notch portions (85,86) in the pole members. The locking member selectively releases the extension pole member (23) and the primary pole member (22). An internal one-way clutch or anti-return mechanism prevents retraction of the extension pole member from an extended position. Shock absorbers (54)(150,152) are for absoring the energy of the springs. A manual backup deployment system is provided which includes a canted ring (104) biased by a spring member (108). A lever member (100) with a slot and pin connection (102) permits the mechanical manipulation of the canted ring to move the primary pole member. The ring (104) also prevents retraction of the main pole. The crew escape mechanism includes a magazine (60) and a number of lanyards (62), each lanyard being mounted by a roller loop (68) over the primary pole member (22). The strap on the roller loop has stitching for controlled release, a protection sheath (74) to prevent tangling and a hook member (69) for attachment to a crew harness.

[Role of estrogen-sensitive neurons in the arcuate region of the hypothalamus in the mechanism of luteinizing hormone release].

PubMed

Babichev, V N; Ignatkov, V Ia

1978-01-01

Experiments were conducted on rats; estradiol brought to the arcuate region of the hypothalamus by means of microionophoresis led to the increase of the region of the hypothalamus by means of microionophoresis led to the increase of the blood luteinizing hormone (LH) level during the following stages of the estral cycle-diestrus 1, diestrus 2, and the first half day of the proestrus; as to the second half of the proestrus day--estradiol decreased its level. Changes in the LH level in the hypophysis under the influence of the microionophoretic introduction of estradiol into the arcuate region occurred during the second half of the day of diestrus 2 (reduction), and during the estrus (elevation). In the majority of cases a rise of the blood level was combined with the neuron activation in the arcuate region under the influence of estradiol.

An anatomical study of arcuate foramen and its clinical implications: a case report.

PubMed

Afsharpour, Salman; Hoiriis, Kathryn T; Fox, R Bruce; Demons, Samuel

2016-01-01

The objective of this paper is to describe the relationship of the vertebral artery (VA) to the Atlas (C1) in the sub-occipital region in the presence of arcuate foramen; and discuss the clinical implications related to manual therapies and surgical implications related to screw placement. This study is an anatomical cadaveric case report of symmetrical bilateral lateral and dorsal arcuate foramina on the C1 dorsal arch. Out of 40 cadavers that were available for use in teaching anatomy in the university setting, three presented with anomalies of the C1 dorsal arch. The sub-occipital regions were skillfully prosected to preserve related structures, especially VAs, sub-occipital and greater occipital nerves. Visual observations, photographs, measurements, and radiographic examinations were performed between January 15, 2014 and August 25, 2014. One cadaver (Specimen A) presented with complete bilateral ossified arcuate foramina, and two presented with partial ossification of the atlanto-occipital membrane. Specimen A presented the bilateral anomaly which is almost symmetrical. The VAs were found passing through double foramina (lateral and dorsal) on each side. Arcuate foramina have been shown to be commonly found anomalies with highly variable shapes and sizes, even in the same individual with a bilateral condition. This study found a rare type of the anomaly associated with the C1 dorsal arch, which protected the VA against manual pressure. However, VA, in this case, would be more susceptible to dissection. The presence of the arcuate foramen would also complicate screw placement during surgery. Clinical pre-screening for signs of vertebrobasilar insufficiency is important for chiropractic and manual therapies.

Impairment of speech production predicted by lesion load of the left arcuate fasciculus.

PubMed

Marchina, Sarah; Zhu, Lin L; Norton, Andrea; Zipse, Lauryn; Wan, Catherine Y; Schlaug, Gottfried

2011-08-01

Previous studies have suggested that patients' potential for poststroke language recovery is related to lesion size; however, lesion location may also be of importance, particularly when fiber tracts that are critical to the sensorimotor mapping of sounds for articulation (eg, the arcuate fasciculus) have been damaged. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that lesion loads of the arcuate fasciculus (ie, volume of arcuate fasciculus that is affected by a patient's lesion) and of 2 other tracts involved in language processing (the extreme capsule and the uncinate fasciculus) are inversely related to the severity of speech production impairments in patients with stroke with aphasia. Thirty patients with chronic stroke with residual impairments in speech production underwent high-resolution anatomic MRI and a battery of cognitive and language tests. Impairment was assessed using 3 functional measures of spontaneous speech (eg, rate, informativeness, and overall efficiency) as well as naming ability. To quantitatively analyze the relationship between impairment scores and lesion load along the 3 fiber tracts, we calculated tract-lesion overlap volumes for each patient using probabilistic maps of the tracts derived from diffusion tensor images of 10 age-matched healthy subjects. Regression analyses showed that arcuate fasciculus lesion load, but not extreme capsule or uncinate fasciculus lesion load or overall lesion size, significantly predicted rate, informativeness, and overall efficiency of speech as well as naming ability. A new variable, arcuate fasciculus lesion load, complements established voxel-based lesion mapping techniques and, in the future, may potentially be used to estimate impairment and recovery potential after stroke and refine inclusion criteria for experimental rehabilitation programs.

Diffusion tensor imaging depicting damage to the arcuate fasciculus in patients with conduction aphasia: a study of the Wernicke-Geschwind model.

PubMed

Zhang, Yumei; Wang, Chunxue; Zhao, Xingquan; Chen, Hongyan; Han, Zaizhu; Wang, Yongjun

2010-09-01

In contrast with disorders of comprehension and spontaneous expression, conduction aphasia is characterized by poor repetition, which is a hallmark of the syndrome. There are many theories on the repetition impairment of conduction aphasia. The disconnection theory suggests that a damaged in the arcuate fasciculus, which connects Broca's and Wernicke's area, is the cause of conduction aphasia. In this study, we examined the disconnection theory. We enrolled ten individuals with conduction aphasia and ten volunteers, and analysed their arcuate fasciculus using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and obtained fractional anisotropy (FA) values. Then, the results of the left hemisphere were compared with those of the right hemisphere, and the results of the conduction aphasia cases were compared with those of the volunteers. There were significant differences in the FA values between the left and right hemispheres of volunteers and conduction cases. In volunteers, there was an increase in fiber in the left hemisphere compared with the right hemisphere, whereas there was an increase in fiber in the right hemisphere compared with the left hemisphere in conduction aphasia patients. The results of diffusion tensor tractography suggested that the configuration of the arcuate fasciculus was different between conduction aphasia patients and volunteers, suggesting that there was damage to the arcuate fasciculus of conduction aphasia cases. The damage seen in the arcuate fasciculus of conduction aphasia cases in this study supports the Wernicke-Geschwind disconnection theory. A disconnection between Broca's area and Wernicke's area is likely to be one mechanism of conduction aphasia repetition impairment.

System for sterilizing objects. [cleaning space vehicle systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bryan, C. J.; Wright, E. E., Jr.; Moyers, C. V. (Inventor)

1981-01-01

A system for producing a stream of humidified sterilizing gas for sterilizing objects such as the water systems of space vehicles and the like includes a source of sterilant gas which is fed to a mixing chamber which has inlet and outlet ports. The level of the water only partially fills the mixing chamber so as to provide an empty space adjacent the top of the chamber. A heater is provided for heating the water in the chamber so as to produce a humidified atmosphere. The sterilant gas is fed through an arcuate shaped tubular member connected to the inlet port of the mixing chamber for producing a vortex type of flow of sterilant gas into the chamber for humidification. A tubular member extends from the mixing chamber for supplying the humidified sterilant gas to the object for being sterilized. Scrubbers are provided for removing the sterilant gas after use.

Histopathology of human superficial herpes simplex keratitis.

PubMed Central

Maudgal, P. C.; Missotten, L.

1978-01-01

In vivo corneal replicas were made in 20 cases of patients with superficial dendritic ulcers of the cornea. Histopathological study of the replicas and superficial epithelial cells showed that the dendrites are composed of rounded epithelial cells and variable sized syncytia containing bizarre shaped nuclei. Pseudopodia-like processes containing DNA and some RNA extend from the syncytia into the surrounding epithelial cells, which on coming into contact with these processes become rounded and liquefied to give rise to another syncytium. The epithelial cells adjacent to the dendrite and elongated and usually orientated parallel to the long axis of the lesion. Surrounding the terminal bulbs, they are disposed in an arcuate fashion. These cells show C-mitotic lesions, intranuclear and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies, and polykaryocyte formation. Microscopic examination of the corneal replicas shows the intranuclear lesions and rounding of cells up to about 2 mm away from the dendritic ulcers. These areas appear normal on clinical examination. Images PMID:629910

Erection of Ceratonova n. gen. (Myxosporea: Ceratomyxidae) to encompass freshwater species C. gasterostea n. sp. from threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and C. shasta n. comb. from salmonid fishes.

PubMed

Atkinson, S D; Foott, J S; Bartholomew, J L

2014-10-01

Ceratonova gasterostea n. gen. n. sp. is described from the intestine of freshwater Gasterosteus aculeatus L. from the Klamath River, California. Myxospores are arcuate, 22.4 ± 2.6 μm thick, 5.2 ± 0.4 μm long, posterior angle 45° ± 24°, with 2 sub-spherical polar capsules, diameter 2.3 ± 0.2 μm, which lie adjacent to the suture. Its ribosomal small subunit sequence was most similar to an intestinal parasite of salmonid fishes, Ceratomyxa shasta (97%, 1,671/1,692 nucleotides), and distinct from all other Ceratomyxa species (<85%), which are typically coelozoic parasites in the gall bladder or urinary system of marine fishes. We propose erection of genus Ceratonova to contain both intestinal, freshwater species and reassign the salmonid parasite as Ceratonova shasta n. comb.

Direct drive field actuator motors

DOEpatents

Grahn, Allen R.

1998-01-01

A positive-drive field actuator motor including a stator carrying at least one field actuator which changes in dimension responsive to application of an energy field, and at least one drive shoe movable by the dimensional changes of the field actuator to contact and move a rotor element with respect to the stator. Various embodiments of the motor are disclosed, and the rotor element may be moved linearly or arcuately.

Alterations of arcuate nucleus neuropeptidergic development in contactin-deficient mice: comparison with anorexia and food-deprived mice.

PubMed

Fetissov, Sergueï O; Bergström, Ulrika; Johansen, Jeanette E; Hökfelt, Tomas; Schalling, Martin; Ranscht, Barbara

2005-12-01

A mutation in the Contactin-1 gene results in an ataxic and anorectic phenotype that is apparent by postnatal day 10 and lethal by postnatal day 19 [Berglund et al. (1999) Neuron 24, 739-750]. The resemblance of this phenotype with the anorexia (anx/anx) mouse mutation prompted us to investigate the hypothalamic neurochemistry of Contactin knock-out (KO) mice. Contactin was expressed in the hypothalamic neuropil of wild-type (WT) but not Contactin KO mice. In the KO condition, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) immunoreactivity (IR) accumulated in the somata of arcuate nucleus neurons, whereas IR for these neuropeptides as well as for alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) decreased in the corresponding axon projections. These changes in the pattern of neuropeptide expression in the Contactin-deficient hypothalamus were similar but more pronounced than those found in anx/anx mice. Increased levels of NPY and AgRP and decreased concentrations of pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA in arcuate neurons accompanied these changes. In relating these alterations a 24-h food deprivation period, we observed in 3-week-old WT mice an elevation of NPY- and AgRP-IR in the perikarya of arcuate neurons without notable reduction of NPY- or AgRP-IR in nerve fibers, suggesting that the decrease of arcuate projections can be associated with postnatal anorectic phenotype. Our data implicate Contactin in the postnatal development of the NPY/AgRP and alpha-MSH arcuate neurons and suggest that similar to anx/anx mutant mice, compromised orexigenic signaling via NPY/AgRP neurons may contribute to reduced food intake by the Contactin-mutant animals.

Assessment of Different Sampling Methods for Measuring and Representing Macular Cone Density Using Flood-Illuminated Adaptive Optics.

PubMed

Feng, Shu; Gale, Michael J; Fay, Jonathan D; Faridi, Ambar; Titus, Hope E; Garg, Anupam K; Michaels, Keith V; Erker, Laura R; Peters, Dawn; Smith, Travis B; Pennesi, Mark E

2015-09-01

To describe a standardized flood-illuminated adaptive optics (AO) imaging protocol suitable for the clinical setting and to assess sampling methods for measuring cone density. Cone density was calculated following three measurement protocols: 50 × 50-μm sampling window values every 0.5° along the horizontal and vertical meridians (fixed-interval method), the mean density of expanding 0.5°-wide arcuate areas in the nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior quadrants (arcuate mean method), and the peak cone density of a 50 × 50-μm sampling window within expanding arcuate areas near the meridian (peak density method). Repeated imaging was performed in nine subjects to determine intersession repeatability of cone density. Cone density montages could be created for 67 of the 74 subjects. Image quality was determined to be adequate for automated cone counting for 35 (52%) of the 67 subjects. We found that cone density varied with different sampling methods and regions tested. In the nasal and temporal quadrants, peak density most closely resembled histological data, whereas the arcuate mean and fixed-interval methods tended to underestimate the density compared with histological data. However, in the inferior and superior quadrants, arcuate mean and fixed-interval methods most closely matched histological data, whereas the peak density method overestimated cone density compared with histological data. Intersession repeatability testing showed that repeatability was greatest when sampling by arcuate mean and lowest when sampling by fixed interval. We show that different methods of sampling can significantly affect cone density measurements. Therefore, care must be taken when interpreting cone density results, even in a normal population.

Assessment of Different Sampling Methods for Measuring and Representing Macular Cone Density Using Flood-Illuminated Adaptive Optics

PubMed Central

Feng, Shu; Gale, Michael J.; Fay, Jonathan D.; Faridi, Ambar; Titus, Hope E.; Garg, Anupam K.; Michaels, Keith V.; Erker, Laura R.; Peters, Dawn; Smith, Travis B.; Pennesi, Mark E.

2015-01-01

Purpose To describe a standardized flood-illuminated adaptive optics (AO) imaging protocol suitable for the clinical setting and to assess sampling methods for measuring cone density. Methods Cone density was calculated following three measurement protocols: 50 × 50-μm sampling window values every 0.5° along the horizontal and vertical meridians (fixed-interval method), the mean density of expanding 0.5°-wide arcuate areas in the nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior quadrants (arcuate mean method), and the peak cone density of a 50 × 50-μm sampling window within expanding arcuate areas near the meridian (peak density method). Repeated imaging was performed in nine subjects to determine intersession repeatability of cone density. Results Cone density montages could be created for 67 of the 74 subjects. Image quality was determined to be adequate for automated cone counting for 35 (52%) of the 67 subjects. We found that cone density varied with different sampling methods and regions tested. In the nasal and temporal quadrants, peak density most closely resembled histological data, whereas the arcuate mean and fixed-interval methods tended to underestimate the density compared with histological data. However, in the inferior and superior quadrants, arcuate mean and fixed-interval methods most closely matched histological data, whereas the peak density method overestimated cone density compared with histological data. Intersession repeatability testing showed that repeatability was greatest when sampling by arcuate mean and lowest when sampling by fixed interval. Conclusions We show that different methods of sampling can significantly affect cone density measurements. Therefore, care must be taken when interpreting cone density results, even in a normal population. PMID:26325414

Differential response of arcuate proopiomelanocortin- and neuropeptide Y-containing neurons to the lesion produced by gold thioglucose administration.

PubMed

Homma, Akiko; Li, Hong-Peng; Hayashi, Kaori; Kawano, Yukari; Kawano, Hitoshi

2006-11-01

The effect of gold thioglucose (GTG) administration on neurons containing feeding-related peptides in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus was examined in mice. Intraperitoneal GTG injection increased the body weight and produced a hypothalamic lesion that extended from the ventral part of the ventromedial nucleus to the dorsal part of the arcuate nucleus. Neurons containing proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) present in the dorsal part of the arcuate nucleus were destroyed by GTG. In addition, the peptide-containing fibers that extended from the remaining arcuate neurons were degenerated at the lesion site. The number of POMC-containing fibers in the paraventricular nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus, and lateral hypothalamus was found to have decreased significantly when examined at 2 days and 2 weeks after the GTG treatment. In contrast, the number of NPY-containing fibers in the lateral hypothalamus remained unchanged after the GTG treatment, probably because of the presence of an unaffected NPY-containing fiber pathway passing through the tuberal region and projecting onto the lateral hypothalamus. The number of NPY-immunoreactive fibers in the paraventricular and dorsomedial nuclei showed a moderate but significant decrease at 2 days after the GTG treatment, but it recovered to the normal levels 2 weeks later. The NPY-containing fibers were found to have regenerated across the lesion site 2 weeks later, and this might contribute to the recovery of the NPY-immunoreactive fibers in these regions. The present results first demonstrate that POMC- and NPY-containing neurons in the arcuate nucleus respond differently to the lesion produced by the GTG treatment. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Landslide Deposits, Cookie Bites, and Crescentic Fracturing Along the Northern Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands Margin: Implications for Potential Tsunamigenesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hearne, M. E.; Grindlay, N. R.; Mann, P.

2003-12-01

The seismogenic North America-Caribbean oblique-slip plate boundary forms the 8-km-deep Puerto Rico trench north of the densely populated islands of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands (combined population of just over 4 million people). The southern slope of the Puerto Rico trench adjacent to the Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands (PRVI) carbonate platform is characterized by frequent seismicity, rapid trenchward tilting, oversteepened slopes, and mass wasting. We present high-resolution bathymetry, HMR1 sidescan imagery, and single-channel seismic data to document extensive landslide deposits that we infer to have been the result of multiple slide events capable of producing prehistoric tsunamis along the coasts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Landslide deposits can be traced upslope to two, 45-55 km-wide arcuate-shaped embayments or "cookie bites" carved out of the PRVI platform. Three-dimensional visualization of the debris field and the slope of the largest of the arcuate-shaped embayments centered at 66° 40' constrain volume removal to 1.1 km3 of the PRVI carbonate platform and underlying volcanic and volcaniclastic basement. Sidescan sonar and single-channel seismic data reveal crescentic cracks in the seafloor of the PRVI platform 35-45 km in length located 35 km offshore the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico. These cracks, interpreted to represent the sites of future breakaway scarps and landslides, are similar in shape and length to the head wall scarps of the amphitheaters to the east. An ˜500 km2 section of the PRVI platform (750 m thick) has begun to detach and slump trenchward along the larger of these cracks. Investigation of the existing arcuate-shaped embayments is essential because massive (tens to hundreds of km3) and instantaneous slope failure has the potential to be tsunamigenic. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were inundated by tsunamis in 1867 (mainly affecting St. Thomas and St. Croix, 7 m of runup, casualties in the hundreds) and 1918 (mainly affecting western and northwestern Puerto Rico; 6 m of runup, 120 casualties). Calculation of the potential volume, runout extent, and triggering mechanisms of past submarine landslides will better constrain the tsunamigenic potential of the newly discovered crescentic faults.

Pediatric traumatic brain injury: language outcomes and their relationship to the arcuate fasciculus.

PubMed

Liégeois, Frédérique J; Mahony, Kate; Connelly, Alan; Pigdon, Lauren; Tournier, Jacques-Donald; Morgan, Angela T

2013-12-01

Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) may result in long-lasting language impairments alongside dysarthria, a motor-speech disorder. Whether this co-morbidity is due to the functional links between speech and language networks, or to widespread damage affecting both motor and language tracts, remains unknown. Here we investigated language function and diffusion metrics (using diffusion-weighted tractography) within the arcuate fasciculus, the uncinate fasciculus, and the corpus callosum in 32 young people after TBI (approximately half with dysarthria) and age-matched healthy controls (n=17). Only participants with dysarthria showed impairments in language, affecting sentence formulation and semantic association. In the whole TBI group, sentence formulation was best predicted by combined corpus callosum and left arcuate volumes, suggesting this "dual blow" seriously reduces the potential for functional reorganisation. Word comprehension was predicted by fractional anisotropy in the right arcuate. The co-morbidity between dysarthria and language deficits therefore seems to be the consequence of multiple tract damage. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Dorsal Rather than Ventral Pathway Better Reflects Individual Syntactic Abilities in Second Language

PubMed Central

Yamamoto, Kayako; Sakai, Kuniyoshi L.

2016-01-01

The left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) has been reported to be critically involved in syntactic processing, not only in first language (L1), but in second language (L2). Indeed, the leftward lateralization of the IFG has been shown to be correlated with the performance of a syntactic task in L2. Given that posterior language-related regions are systematically connected with the left IFG, the next question is which of the dorsal and ventral pathways is more critical to the individual syntactic abilities in L2. Here we used diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and tractography with newly developed semi-automatic methods of defining seeds and selecting regions of interest (ROIs). We calculated mean thickness and fractional anisotropy (FA) in each ROI for the arcuate fasciculus (Arcuate) of the dorsal pathway, as well as for the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF) of the ventral pathway. In Experiment I, we performed partial correlation analyses between FA and the accuracy of the syntactic task, removing the effects of the accuracy of a spelling task, gender, and handedness. Among the two pathways in each hemisphere, only FA of the left Arcuate was significantly correlated with individual accuracy of the syntactic task. In Experiment II, we recruited monozygotic twins and examined to what extent their L2 abilities and their structural properties were similar. Within twin pairs, the highest significant correlation was observed for reaction times of the spelling task, while the correlation for the accuracy of the syntactic task was marginal; these two correlation coefficients were significantly different. Moreover, the thickness of the left Arcuate was highly correlated within pairs, while its FA, as well as the thickness/FA in the ventral pathways, was not significantly correlated. The correlation coefficient for the thickness of the left Arcuate was significantly larger than that of the left IFOF. These results suggest that the thickness of the left Arcuate is more associated with the shared genetic/environmental factors, whereas both of mutually correlated FA in the left Arcuate and individual syntactic abilities in L2 may be less prone to these shared factors. PMID:27378889

Direct-drive field actuator motors

DOEpatents

Grahn, Allen R.

1995-01-01

A high-torque, low speed, positive-drive field actuator motor including a stator carrying at least one field actuator which changes in dimension responsive to application of an energy field, and at least one drive shoe movable by the dimensional changes of the field actuator to contact and move a rotor element with respect to the stator. Various embodiments of the motor are disclosed, and the rotor element may be moved linearly or arcuately.

Regenerator seal design

DOEpatents

Eckart, Francis H.

1982-01-01

A rotary regenerator disc matrix has a face seal with a cross arm and arcuate rim segments joined by prestress clamps to prestrain the arcuate rim seals so as to compensate seal rim twisting or coning and resultant disc face seal leakage as produced by operating thermal gradients across the seal.

The Role of the Arcuate Fasciculus in Conduction Aphasia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bernal, Byron; Ardila, Alfredo

2009-01-01

In aphasia literature, it has been considered that a speech repetition defect represents the main constituent of conduction aphasia. Conduction aphasia has frequently been interpreted as a language impairment due to lesions of the arcuate fasciculus (AF) that disconnect receptive language areas from expressive ones. Modern neuroradiological…

Age-Related Differences and Heritability of the Perisylvian Language Networks.

PubMed

Budisavljevic, Sanja; Dell'Acqua, Flavio; Rijsdijk, Frühling V; Kane, Fergus; Picchioni, Marco; McGuire, Philip; Toulopoulou, Timothea; Georgiades, Anna; Kalidindi, Sridevi; Kravariti, Eugenia; Murray, Robin M; Murphy, Declan G; Craig, Michael C; Catani, Marco

2015-09-16

Acquisition of language skills depends on the progressive maturation of specialized brain networks that are usually lateralized in adult population. However, how genetic and environmental factors relate to the age-related differences in lateralization of these language pathways is still not known. We recruited 101 healthy right-handed subjects aged 9-40 years to investigate age-related differences in the anatomy of perisylvian language pathways and 86 adult twins (52 monozygotic and 34 dizygotic) to understand how heritability factors influence language anatomy. Diffusion tractography was used to dissect and extract indirect volume measures from the three segments of the arcuate fasciculus connecting Wernicke's to Broca's region (i.e., long segment), Broca's to Geschwind's region (i.e., anterior segment), and Wernicke's to Geschwind's region (i.e., posterior segment). We found that the long and anterior arcuate segments are lateralized before adolescence and their lateralization remains stable throughout adolescence and early adulthood. Conversely, the posterior segment shows right lateralization in childhood but becomes progressively bilateral during adolescence, driven by a reduction in volume in the right hemisphere. Analysis of the twin sample showed that genetic and shared environmental factors influence the anatomy of those segments that lateralize earlier, whereas specific environmental effects drive the variability in the volume of the posterior segment that continues to change in adolescence and adulthood. Our results suggest that the age-related differences in the lateralization of the language perisylvian pathways are related to the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effects specific to each segment. Our study shows that, by early childhood, frontotemporal (long segment) and frontoparietal (anterior segment) connections of the arcuate fasciculus are left and right lateralized, respectively, and remain lateralized throughout adolescence and early adulthood. In contrast, temporoparietal (posterior segment) connections are right lateralized in childhood, but become progressively bilateral during adolescence. Preliminary twin analysis suggested that lateralization of the arcuate fasciculus is a heterogeneous process that depends on the interplay between genetic and environment factors specific to each segment. Tracts that exhibit higher age effects later in life (i.e., posterior segment) appear to be influenced more by specific environmental factors. Copyright © 2015 Budisavljevic et al.

Age-Related Differences and Heritability of the Perisylvian Language Networks

PubMed Central

Dell'Acqua, Flavio; Rijsdijk, Frühling V.; Kane, Fergus; Picchioni, Marco; McGuire, Philip; Toulopoulou, Timothea; Georgiades, Anna; Kalidindi, Sridevi; Kravariti, Eugenia; Murray, Robin M.; Murphy, Declan G.; Craig, Michael C.

2015-01-01

Acquisition of language skills depends on the progressive maturation of specialized brain networks that are usually lateralized in adult population. However, how genetic and environmental factors relate to the age-related differences in lateralization of these language pathways is still not known. We recruited 101 healthy right-handed subjects aged 9–40 years to investigate age-related differences in the anatomy of perisylvian language pathways and 86 adult twins (52 monozygotic and 34 dizygotic) to understand how heritability factors influence language anatomy. Diffusion tractography was used to dissect and extract indirect volume measures from the three segments of the arcuate fasciculus connecting Wernicke's to Broca's region (i.e., long segment), Broca's to Geschwind's region (i.e., anterior segment), and Wernicke's to Geschwind's region (i.e., posterior segment). We found that the long and anterior arcuate segments are lateralized before adolescence and their lateralization remains stable throughout adolescence and early adulthood. Conversely, the posterior segment shows right lateralization in childhood but becomes progressively bilateral during adolescence, driven by a reduction in volume in the right hemisphere. Analysis of the twin sample showed that genetic and shared environmental factors influence the anatomy of those segments that lateralize earlier, whereas specific environmental effects drive the variability in the volume of the posterior segment that continues to change in adolescence and adulthood. Our results suggest that the age-related differences in the lateralization of the language perisylvian pathways are related to the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effects specific to each segment. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Our study shows that, by early childhood, frontotemporal (long segment) and frontoparietal (anterior segment) connections of the arcuate fasciculus are left and right lateralized, respectively, and remain lateralized throughout adolescence and early adulthood. In contrast, temporoparietal (posterior segment) connections are right lateralized in childhood, but become progressively bilateral during adolescence. Preliminary twin analysis suggested that lateralization of the arcuate fasciculus is a heterogeneous process that depends on the interplay between genetic and environment factors specific to each segment. Tracts that exhibit higher age effects later in life (i.e., posterior segment) appear to be influenced more by specific environmental factors. PMID:26377454

Paleomagnetism and tectonics of the Jura arcuate mountain belt in France and Switzerland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gehring, Andreas U.; Keller, Peter; Heller, Friedrich

1991-02-01

Goethite and hematite in ferriferous oolitic beds of Callovian age from the Jura mountains (Switzerland, France) carry either pre- and/or post-tectonic magnetization. The frequent pre-tectonic origin of goethite magnetization indicates a temperature range during formation of the arcuate Jura mountain belt below the goethite Néel temperature of about 100°C. The scatter of the pre-tectonic paleomagnetic directions ( D = 11.5° E, I = 55.5°; α95 = 4.7) which reside both in goethite and hematite, provides strong evidence that the arcuate mountain belt was shaped without significant rotation. The paleomagnetic results support tectonic thin-skinned models for the formation of the Jura mountain belt.

Anatomical Properties of the Arcuate Fasciculus Predict Phonological and Reading Skills in Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yeatman, Jason D.; Dougherty, Robert F.; Rykhlevskaia, Elena; Sherbondy, Anthony J.; Deutsch, Gayle K.; Wandell, Brian A.; Ben-Shachar, Michal

2011-01-01

For more than a century, neurologists have hypothesized that the arcuate fasciculus carries signals that are essential for language function; however, the relevance of the pathway for particular behaviors is highly controversial. The primary objective of this study was to use diffusion tensor imaging to examine the relationship between individual…

Direct drive field actuator motors

DOEpatents

Grahn, A.R.

1998-03-10

A positive-drive field actuator motor is described which includes a stator carrying at least one field actuator which changes in dimension responsive to application of an energy field, and at least one drive shoe movable by the dimensional changes of the field actuator to contact and move a rotor element with respect to the stator. Various embodiments of the motor are disclosed, and the rotor element may be moved linearly or arcuately. 62 figs.

Direct-drive field actuator motors

DOEpatents

Grahn, A.R.

1995-07-11

A high-torque, low speed, positive-drive field actuator motor is disclosed including a stator carrying at least one field actuator which changes in dimension responsive to application of an energy field, and at least one drive shoe movable by the dimensional changes of the field actuator to contact and move a rotor element with respect to the stator. Various embodiments of the motor are disclosed, and the rotor element may be moved linearly or arcuately. 37 figs.

Curvilinear ridges and related features in southwest Cydonia Mensae, Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, Timothy J.; Schneeberger, Dale M.; Pieri, David C.; Saunders, R. Stephen

1987-01-01

Examined is a region on Mars in southwest Cydonia Mensae (32 deg lat., 17 deg long.) just northwest of the lowland/upland boundary escarpment. The dominant morphological features in this region are the clusters of large massifs and plateau outliers (PI), knobby material (K), and smooth lowland plains (Ps). Surrounding the clusters and linking many isolated knobs is a system of curvilinear ridges and arcuate terrain boundaries which tend to separate the massifs and knobs from the smooth plains. Curvilinear ridges are arcuate to nearly linear and smoother in plan than wrinkle ridges and show no apparent correlation with regional structural grain. They are typically 5 to 10 km long but can range from as little as 2 or 3 km to greater than 50 km long. The widths vary from about 100 m to as much as 2 km. Curvilinear ridges are most numerous within 100 km of the lowland/upland boundary escarpment and are associated with massifs and knobby terrain. Arcuate terrain boundaries appear between units of different apparent albedo or arcuate breaks in slope.

Changes in neuropeptide Y receptors and pro-opiomelanocortin in the anorexia (anx/anx) mouse hypothalamus.

PubMed

Broberger, C; Johansen, J; Brismar, H; Johansson, C; Schalling, M; Hökfelt, T

1999-08-15

The pro-opiomelanocortinergic (POMCergic) system originating in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus extends projections widely over the brain and has been shown to be intricately linked and parallel to the arcuate neuropeptide Y (NPY) system. Both NPY and POMC-derived peptides (melanocortins) have been strongly implicated in the control of feeding behavior, with the former exerting orexigenic effects and the latter having anorexigenic properties. Mice homozygous for the lethal anorexia (anx) mutation are hypophagic, emaciated, and exhibit anomalous processing of NPY exclusively in the arcuate nucleus, providing an interesting model to study NPY-POMC interactions. In the present study, several morphological markers were used to investigate the histochemistry and morphology of the POMC system in anx/anx mice. In situ hybridization demonstrated decreased numbers of POMC mRNA-expressing neurons in the anx/anx arcuate nucleus. In parallel, mRNA levels for both the NPY Y1 and Y5 receptors, which are expressed in POMC neurons, were decreased. Also, expression of the NPY Y2 autoreceptor was attenuated. Immunohistochemistry using antibodies against adrenocorticotropic hormone to demonstrate POMC cell bodies, against alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone to demonstrate axonal projections and against the NPY Y1 receptor to demonstrate dendritic arborizations, showed strikingly decreased immunoreactivities for all these markers. The present data suggest that degeneration of the arcuate POMC system is a feature characteristic of the anx/anx mouse. The possible relationship to the NPYergic phenotype of this animal is discussed.

Diffusion tensor tractography of the arcuate fasciculus in patients with brain tumors: Comparison between deterministic and probabilistic models

PubMed Central

Li, Zhixi; Peck, Kyung K.; Brennan, Nicole P.; Jenabi, Mehrnaz; Hsu, Meier; Zhang, Zhigang; Holodny, Andrei I.; Young, Robert J.

2014-01-01

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the deterministic and probabilistic tracking methods of diffusion tensor white matter fiber tractography in patients with brain tumors. Materials and Methods We identified 29 patients with left brain tumors <2 cm from the arcuate fasciculus who underwent pre-operative language fMRI and DTI. The arcuate fasciculus was reconstructed using a deterministic Fiber Assignment by Continuous Tracking (FACT) algorithm and a probabilistic method based on an extended Monte Carlo Random Walk algorithm. Tracking was controlled using two ROIs corresponding to Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. Tracts in tumoraffected hemispheres were examined for extension between Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, anterior-posterior length and volume, and compared with the normal contralateral tracts. Results Probabilistic tracts displayed more complete anterior extension to Broca’s area than did FACT tracts on the tumor-affected and normal sides (p < 0.0001). The median length ratio for tumor: normal sides was greater for probabilistic tracts than FACT tracts (p < 0.0001). The median tract volume ratio for tumor: normal sides was also greater for probabilistic tracts than FACT tracts (p = 0.01). Conclusion Probabilistic tractography reconstructs the arcuate fasciculus more completely and performs better through areas of tumor and/or edema. The FACT algorithm tends to underestimate the anterior-most fibers of the arcuate fasciculus, which are crossed by primary motor fibers. PMID:25328583

Alignment positioning mechanism

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fantasia, Peter M. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

An alignment positioning mechanism for correcting and compensating for misalignment of structures to be coupled is disclosed. The mechanism comprises a power screw with a base portion and a threaded shank portion. A mounting fixture is provided for rigidly coupling said base portion to the mounting interface of a supporting structure with the axis of the screw perpendicular thereto. A traveling ball nut threaded on the power screw is formed with an external annular arcuate surface configured in the form of a spherical segment and enclosed by a ball nut housing with a conforming arcuate surface for permitting gimballed motion thereon. The ball nut housing is provided with a mounting surface which is positionable in cooperable engagement with the mounting interface of a primary structure to be coupled to the supporting structure. Cooperative means are provided on the ball nut and ball nut housing, respectively, for positioning the ball nut and ball nut housing in relative gimballed position within a predetermined range of relative angular relationship whereby severe structural stresses due to unequal loadings and undesirable bending moments on the mechanism are avoided.

Runner hub construction for propeller type turbine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eyster, P.J.; Yanek, E.J.

1976-08-10

A runner hub is described for a propeller type hydraulic turbine wherein the hub is constructed of at least a pair of arcuate segments. When the arcuate segments are assembled together, they form a hollow hub. Turnbuckles are provided within the hub attached to opposite hub segments and are adjustable to forcibly hold the hub segments in the assembled position.

Serotonin 2C receptor activates a distinct population of arcuate pro-opiomelanocortin neurons via TRPC channels

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Serotonin 2C receptors (5-HT2CRs) expressed by pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus regulate food intake, energy homeostasis ,and glucose metabolism. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the effects of 5-HT to regulate POMC neuronal activity via 5-HT2CRs have no...

Thermal control system. [removing waste heat from industrial process spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hewitt, D. R. (Inventor)

1983-01-01

The temperature of an exothermic process plant carried aboard an Earth orbiting spacecraft is regulated using a number of curved radiator panels accurately positioned in a circular arrangement to form an open receptacle. A module containing the process is insertable into the receptacle. Heat exchangers having broad exterior surfaces extending axially above the circumference of the module fit within arcuate spacings between adjacent radiator panels. Banks of variable conductance heat pipes partially embedded within and thermally coupled to the radiator panels extend across the spacings and are thermally coupled to broad exterior surfaces of the heat exchangers by flanges. Temperature sensors monitor the temperature of process fluid flowing from the module through the heat exchanges. Thermal conduction between the heat exchangers and the radiator panels is regulated by heating a control fluid within the heat pipes to vary the effective thermal length of the heat pipes in inverse proportion to changes in the temperature of the process fluid.

Valles Marineris

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-06-08

A color image of Valles Marineris, the great canyon of Mars; north toward top. The scene shows the entire canyon system, over 3,000 km long and averaging 8 km deep, extending from Noctis Labyrinthus, the arcuate system of graben to the west, to the chaotic terrain to the east. This image is a composite of Viking medium-resolution images in black and white and low-resolution images in color; Mercator projection. The image extends from latitude 0 degrees to 20 degrees S. and from longitude 45 degrees to 102.5 degrees. The connected chasma or valleys of Valles Marineris may have formed from a combination of erosional collapse and structural activity. Layers of material in the eastern canyons might consist of carbonates deposited in ancient lakes. Huge ancient river channels began from Valles Marineris and from adjacent canyons and ran north. Many of the channels flowed north into Chryse Basin, which contains the site of the Viking 1 Lander and the future site of the Mars Pathfinder Lander. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00422

The kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) cell population of the arcuate nucleus: sex differences and effects of prenatal testosterone in sheep.

PubMed

Cheng, Guanliang; Coolen, Lique M; Padmanabhan, Vasantha; Goodman, Robert L; Lehman, Michael N

2010-01-01

Recent work in sheep has identified a neuronal subpopulation in the arcuate nucleus that coexpresses kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin (referred to here as KNDy cells) and that mediate the negative feedback influence of progesterone on GnRH secretion. We hypothesized that sex differences in progesterone negative feedback are due to sexual dimorphism of KNDy cells and compared neuropeptide and progesterone receptor immunoreactivity in this subpopulation between male and female sheep. In addition, because sex differences in progesterone negative feedback and neurokinin B are due to the influence of testosterone (T) during fetal life, we determined whether prenatal T exposure would mimic sex differences in KNDy cells. Adult rams had nearly half the number of kisspeptin, neurokinin B, dynorphin, and progesterone receptor-positive cells in the arcuate nucleus as did females, but the percentage of KNDy cells colocalizing progesterone receptors remained high in both sexes. Prenatal T treatment also reduced the number of dynorphin, neurokinin B, and progesterone receptor-positive cells in the female arcuate nucleus; however, the number of kisspeptin cells remained high and at levels comparable to control females. Thus, sex differences in kisspeptin in the arcuate nucleus, unlike that of dynorphin and neurokinin B, are not due solely to exposure to prenatal T, suggesting the existence of different critical periods for multiple peptides coexpressed within the same neuron. In addition, the imbalance between inhibitory (dynorphin) and stimulatory (kisspeptin) neuropeptides in this subpopulation provides a potential explanation for the decreased ability of progesterone to inhibit GnRH neurons in prenatal T-treated ewes.

Femtosecond-Assisted Arcuate Keratotomy for the Correction of Postkeratoplasty Astigmatism: Vector Analysis and Accuracy of Laser Incisions.

PubMed

Loriaut, Patrick; Borderie, Vincent M; Laroche, Laurent

2015-09-01

To assess the clinical and refractive outcomes of femtosecond-assisted arcuate keratotomy in postkeratoplasty patients, and the accuracy of the incisions, using optical coherence tomography. This is a retrospective study of patients with high postkeratoplasty astigmatism. Patients with a minimum of 4 diopters (D) of postkeratoplasty regular astigmatism were included. The main outcome measures were corrected distance visual acuity, keratometry, corneal topography, and the depth of corneal incisions. Arcuate keratotomy procedures were performed using the IntraLase Femtosecond laser. The depth of keratotomies was set to 75% of the thinnest pachymetry. Twenty eyes of 20 patients were recruited in this study. The mean age at surgery was 51 years, and the mean follow-up period was 17 ± 7.9 months. The corrected distance visual acuity improved significantly from 20/60 preoperatively to 20/41 after surgery (P = 0.004). The mean preoperative and postoperative spherical equivalents were -4.34 ± 2.91 D and -4.44 ± 3.64 D, respectively (P = 0.49). The mean keratometric cylinder decreased from 9.45 ± 2.97 D (range, 4.2-15.2 D) to 4.64 ± 2.79 D (range, 1.4-11.8 D) (P < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between the mean surgical-induced astigmatism and the mean target-induced astigmatism (P = 0.313). The mean difference between the scheduled and actual incision depth was 10.5 ± 22.2 μm (P = 0.057). No complications occurred during the procedures. Femtosecond-assisted keratotomy seems to be a safe and efficient technique for the reduction of large amounts of corneal astigmatism. Although overcorrection and undercorrection may occur, the visual outcome is satisfactory. Optical coherence tomography analysis reports a good predictability of the depth of incisions.

Insertion of a straight peritoneal catheter in an arcuate subcutaneous tunnel by a tunneler: long-term experience.

PubMed

Favazza, A; Petri, R; Montanaro, D; Boscutti, G; Bresadola, F; Mioni, G

1995-01-01

This study describes the results of the insertion of a straight Tenckhoff peritoneal catheter (PC) in an arcuate, caudally concave tunnel using a tunneler designed by the authors. It has a semicircular shape and a bending radius of 4.5 cm. A hospital renal unit. From June 1988 to February 1994, 112 straight Tenckhoff PCs, 62 with one deep cuff (single-cuff PC) and 50 with two cuffs (double-cuff PC), were inserted as first catheters in 112 patients (mean age 62 +/- 13 years), who underwent continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The follow-up was 1099 months (mean 18 +/- 13 months) for single-cuff PCs and 1264 months (mean 25 +/- 15 months) for double-cuff PCs, respectively. After intraperitoneal placement of the PCs by median laparotomy, a 180 degrees arc bend tunnel, with both external and peritoneal exits directed downwards, was created by means of the tunneler. The rate of exit-site infection (ESI) was 0.27 episodes/year (epis/year). The probability of remaining ESI-free was 76%, 60%, and 55% at 1, 2, and 3 years. The rate of tunnel infection (TI) was 0.046 epis/year. The incidence of the double-cuff PC-related ESI and TI tended to be lower than the incidence observed with the single-cuff PC. Episodes of peritonitis were 60 (0.30 epis/year), where 6 were subsequent to ESI and/or TI. Two PCs were lost due to ESI, 3 due to TI, and 11 due to peritonitis. Drainage failure, due to displacement of the PC caused by straightening, involved 3 PCs; 2 were lost. PC survival was 92%, 82%, and 74% at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. By an easily used semicircular tunneler, the standard straight Tenckhoff PC can be stably positioned in an arcuate tunnel with both inner and outer exits directed downwards. This tunnel shape, as already suggested by some authors, appears to be an effective technical solution to reducing the PC-related complication rates.

Crustal structure of the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau from the Songpan-Ganzi terrane to the Ordos basin

USGS Publications Warehouse

Liu, M.; Mooney, W.D.; Li, S.; Okaya, N.; Detweiler, S.

2006-01-01

The 1000-km-long Darlag-Lanzhou-Jingbian seismic refraction profile is located in the NE margin of the Tibetan plateau. This profile crosses the northern Songpan-Ganzi terrane, the Qinling-Qilian fold system, the Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region, and the stable Ordos basin. The P-wave and S-wave velocity structure and Poisson's ratios reveal many significant characteristics in the profile. The crustal thickness increases from northeast to southwest. The average crustal thickness observed increases from 42??km in the Ordos basin to 63??km in the Songpan-Ganzi terrane. The crust becomes obviously thicker south of the Haiyuan fault and beneath the West-Qinlin Shan. The crustal velocities have significant variations along the profile. The average P-wave velocities for the crystalline crust vary between 6.3 and 6.4??km/s. Beneath the Songpan-Ganzi terrane, West-Qinling Shan, and Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region P-wave velocities of 6.3??km/s are 0.15??km/s lower than the worldwide average of 6.45??km/s. North of the Kunlun fault, with exclusion of the Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region, the average P-wave velocity is 6.4??km/s and only 0.5??km/s lower than the worldwide average. A combination of the P-wave velocity and Poisson's ratio suggests that the crust is dominantly felsic in composition with an intermediate composition at the base. A mafic lower crust is absent in the NE margin of the Tibetan plateau from the Songpan-Ganzi terrane to the Ordos basin. There are low velocity zones in the West-Qinling Shan and the Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region. The low velocity zones have low S-wave velocities and high Poisson's ratios, so it is possible these zones are due to partial melting. The crust is divided into two layers, the upper and the lower crust, with crustal thickening mainly in the lower crust as the NE Tibetan plateau is approached. The results in the study show that the thickness of the lower crust increases from 22 to 38??km as the crustal thickness increases from 42??km in the Ordos basin to 63??km in the Songpan-Ganzi terrane south of the Kunlun fault. Both the Conrad discontinuity and Moho in the West-Qinling Shan and in the Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region are laminated interfaces, implying intense tectonic activity. The arcuate faults and large earthquakes in the Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region are the result of interaction between the Tibetan plateau and the Sino-Korean and Gobi Ala Shan platforms. ?? 2006.

Leptin and insulin stimulation of signalling pathways in arcuate nucleus neurones: PI3K dependent actin reorganization and KATP channel activation

PubMed Central

Mirshamsi, Shirin; Laidlaw, Hilary A; Ning, Ke; Anderson, Erin; Burgess, Laura A; Gray, Alexander; Sutherland, Calum; Ashford, Michael LJ

2004-01-01

Background Leptin and insulin are long-term regulators of body weight. They act in hypothalamic centres to modulate the function of specific neuronal subtypes, by altering transcriptional control of releasable peptides and by modifying neuronal electrical activity. A key cellular signalling intermediate, implicated in control of food intake by these hormones, is the enzyme phosphoinositide 3-kinase. In this study we have explored further the linkage between this enzyme and other cellular mediators of leptin and insulin action on rat arcuate nucleus neurones and the mouse hypothalamic cell line, GT1-7. Results Leptin and insulin increased the levels of various phosphorylated signalling intermediates, associated with the JAK2-STAT3, MAPK and PI3K cascades in the arcuate nucleus. Inhibitors of PI3K were shown to reduce the hormone driven phosphorylation through the PI3K and MAPK pathways. Using isolated arcuate neurones, leptin and insulin were demonstrated to increase the activity of KATP channels in a PI3K dependent manner, and to increase levels of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3. KATP activation by these hormones in arcuate neurones was also sensitive to the presence of the actin filament stabilising toxin, jasplakinolide. Using confocal imaging of fluorescently labelled actin and direct analysis of G- and F-actin concentration in GT1-7 cells, leptin was demonstrated directly to induce a re-organization of cellular actin, by increasing levels of globular actin at the expense of filamentous actin in a PI3-kinase dependent manner. Leptin stimulated PI3-kinase activity in GT1-7 cells and an increase in PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 could be detected, which was prevented by PI3K inhibitors. Conclusions Leptin and insulin mediated phosphorylation of cellular signalling intermediates and of KATP channel activation in arcuate neurones is sensitive to PI3K inhibition, thus strengthening further the likely importance of this enzyme in leptin and insulin mediated energy homeostasis control. The sensitivity of leptin and insulin stimulation of KATP channel opening in arcuate neurones to jasplakinolide indicates that cytoskeletal remodelling may be an important contributor to the cellular signalling mechanisms of these hormones in hypothalamic neurones. This hypothesis is reinforced by the finding that leptin induces actin filament depolymerization, in a PI3K dependent manner in a mouse hypothalamic cell line. PMID:15581426

Homologous upregulation of sst2 somatostatin receptor expression in the rat arcuate nucleus in vivo.

PubMed

Tannenbaum, G S; Turner, J; Guo, F; Videau, C; Epelbaum, J; Beaudet, A

2001-07-01

In vitro studies using various cell systems have provided conflicting results regarding homologous regulation of somatostatin (SRIH) receptors, and information on whether SRIH regulates the expression of its own receptors in vivo is lacking. In the present study we examined, by in situ hybridization, the effects of pretreatment with the sst2-preferring SRIH analog, octreotide, in vivo, on mRNA levels of two SRIH receptor subtypes, sst1 and sst2, in rat brain and pituitary. (125)I-[DTrp(8)]-SRIH binding was also measured in these regions. Three hours after the iv injection of 50 microg octreotide to conscious adult male rats, there was a 46% increase (p < 0.01) in the labeling density of sst2 mRNA-expressing cells in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus compared to normal saline-pretreated controls, but not in any of the other brain regions examined. Computer-assisted image analysis revealed that 3 h exposure to octreotide significantly (p < 0.01) augmented both the number and labeling density of sst2 mRNA-expressing cells in the arcuate nucleus, compared to those in saline-treated controls. By contrast, within the anterior pituitary gland, in vivo exposure to octreotide did not affect the expression of sst2 mRNA. No changes in sst1 mRNA-expressing cells were observed after octreotide treatment in any of the regions measured, indicating that the observed effects were homologous, i.e. specific of the receptor subtype stimulated. Octreotide pretreatment was also without effect on the density of (125)I-[DTrp(8)]-SRIH binding in either the arcuate nucleus or pituitary. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that SRIH preexposure in vivo upregulates the expression of a subtype of its own receptors, sst2, within the central nervous system. They further suggest that pretreatment with SRIH in vivo does not cause sst2 receptor desensitization in arcuate nucleus and pituitary. Such homologous regulatory mechanisms may play an important role in the neuroendocrine control of growth hormone (GH) secretion by the arcuate nucleus. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

Altered integrity of the right arcuate fasciculus as a trait marker of schizophrenia: a sibling study using tractography-based analysis of the whole brain.

PubMed

Wu, Chen-Hao; Hwang, Tzung-Jeng; Chen, Yu-Jen; Hsu, Yun-Chin; Lo, Yu-Chun; Liu, Chih-Min; Hwu, Hai-Gwo; Liu, Chen-Chung; Hsieh, Ming H; Chien, Yi Ling; Chen, Chung-Ming; Tseng, Wen-Yih Isaac

2015-03-01

Trait markers of schizophrenia aid the dissection of the heterogeneous phenotypes into distinct subtypes and facilitate the genetic underpinning of the disease. The microstructural integrity of the white matter tracts could serve as a trait marker of schizophrenia, and tractography-based analysis (TBA) is the current method of choice. Manual tractography is time-consuming and limits the analysis to preselected fiber tracts. Here, we sought to identify a trait marker of schizophrenia from among 74 fiber tracts across the whole brain using a novel automatic TBA method. Thirty-one patients with schizophrenia, 31 unaffected siblings and 31 healthy controls were recruited to undergo diffusion spectrum magnetic resonance imaging at 3T. Generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA), an index reflecting tract integrity, was computed for each tract and compared among the three groups. Ten tracts were found to exhibit significant differences between the groups with a linear, stepwise order from controls to siblings to patients; they included the right arcuate fasciculus, bilateral fornices, bilateral auditory tracts, left optic radiation, the genu of the corpus callosum, and the corpus callosum to the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, bilateral temporal poles, and bilateral hippocampi. Posthoc between-group analyses revealed that the GFA of the right arcuate fasciculus was significantly decreased in both the patients and unaffected siblings compared to the controls. Furthermore, the GFA of the right arcuate fasciculus exhibited a trend toward positive symptom scores. In conclusion, the right arcuate fasciculus may be a candidate trait marker and deserves further study to verify any genetic association. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Femtosecond Laser-assisted Arcuate Keratotomy Versus Toric IOL Implantation for Correcting Astigmatism.

PubMed

Yoo, Aeri; Yun, Samyoung; Kim, Jae Yong; Kim, Myoung Joon; Tchah, Hungwon

2015-09-01

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomy (FS-AK) versus toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for correcting astigmatism in patients with cataract. A retrospective chart review was performed. All patients had senile cataracts with corneal astigmatism (range: +1.00 to +3.00 diopters [D]) before cataract surgery. Twenty-five patients agreed to undergo toric IOL implantation (the toric IOL group). Twenty-three patients did not agree to undergo toric IOL implantation despite astigmatism; however, these patients were not satisfied with their remaining astigmatism following cataract surgery and requested astigmatism correction using FS-AK (the FS-AK group). Visual acuity and intraocular pressure were evaluated, and automated refraction, keratometry, and slit-lamp examinations were performed at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 5 months after surgery. Refractive astigmatism decreased in both groups. The mean preoperative and postoperative refractive cylinders were 1.71 ± 1.15 and 0.78 ± 1.06 D, respectively, in the FS-AK group (P < .001) and 1.67 ± 0.13 and 0.83 ± 0.097 D, respectively, in the toric IOL group (P < .001). There were no statistically significant differences between groups at any time during the follow-up period. FS-AK is a fast, customizable, adjustable, precise, and safe procedure for reducing refractive errors in patients with residual astigmatism after cataract surgery. The results of this procedure are comparable to the toric IOL. Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.

Hungry for Life: How the arcuate nucleus and neuropeptide Y may play a critical role in mediating the benefits of calorie restriction

PubMed Central

Minor, Robin K.; Chang, Joy W.; de Cabo, Rafael

2009-01-01

Laboratory studies consistently demonstrate extended lifespan in animals on calorie restriction (CR), where total caloric intake is reduced by 10–40% but adequate nutrition is otherwise maintained. CR has been further shown to delay the onset and severity of chronic diseases associated with aging such as cancer, and to extend the functional health span of important functions including cognition. Less understood are the underlying mechanisms through which CR might act to induce such alterations. One theory postulates that CR’s beneficial effects are intimately tied to the neuroendocrine response to low energy availability, of which the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus plays a pivotal role. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a neurotransmitter in the front line of the arcuate response to low energy availability, is the primary hunger signal affected by CR and therefore may be a critical mechanism for lifespan extension. PMID:19041366

Hungry for life: How the arcuate nucleus and neuropeptide Y may play a critical role in mediating the benefits of calorie restriction.

PubMed

Minor, Robin K; Chang, Joy W; de Cabo, Rafael

2009-02-05

Laboratory studies consistently demonstrate extended lifespan in animals on calorie restriction (CR), where total caloric intake is reduced by 10-40% but adequate nutrition is otherwise maintained. CR has been further shown to delay the onset and severity of chronic diseases associated with aging such as cancer, and to extend the functional health span of important faculties like cognition. Less understood are the underlying mechanisms through which CR might act to induce such alterations. One theory postulates that CR's beneficial effects are intimately tied to the neuroendocrine response to low energy availability, of which the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus plays a pivotal role. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a neurotransmitter in the front line of the arcuate response to low energy availability, is the primary hunger signal affected by CR and therefore may be a critical mechanism for lifespan extension.

Glucose level determines excitatory or inhibitory effects of adiponectin on arcuate POMC neuron activity and feeding.

PubMed

Suyama, Shigetomo; Maekawa, Fumihiko; Maejima, Yuko; Kubota, Naoto; Kadowaki, Takashi; Yada, Toshihiko

2016-08-09

Adiponectin regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, acting against metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis. Accumulating evidence suggest that adiponectin acts on the brain including hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), where proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons play key roles in feeding regulation. Several studies have examined intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of adiponectin and reported opposite effects, increase or decrease of food intake. These reports used different nutritional states. The present study aimed to clarify whether adiponectin exerts distinct effects on food intake and ARC POMC neurons depending on the glucose concentration. Adiponectin was ICV injected with or without glucose for feeding experiments and administered to ARC slices with high or low glucose for patch clamp experiments. We found that adiponectin at high glucose inhibited POMC neurons and increased food intake while at low glucose it exerted opposite effects. The results demonstrate that glucose level determines excitatory or inhibitory effects of adiponectin on arcuate POMC neuron activity and feeding.

A review of conduction aphasia.

PubMed

Ardila, Alfredo

2010-11-01

In this paper, a historical overview of the interpretation of conduction aphasia is initially presented. It is emphasized that the name conduction aphasia was proposed by Wernicke and was interpreted as a disconnection between the temporal and frontal brain language areas; this interpretation was re-taken by Geschwind, attributing the arcuate fasciculus the main role in speech repetition disturbances and resulting in the so-called Wernicke-Geschwind model of language. With the introduction of contemporary neuroimaging techniques, this interpretation of conduction aphasia as a disconnection syndrome due to an impairment of the arcuate fasciculus has been challenged. It has been disclosed that the arcuate fasciculus does not really connect Wernicke's and Broca's areas, but Wernicke's and motor/premotor frontal areas. Furthermore, conduction aphasia can be found in cases of cortical damage without subcortical extension. It is concluded that conduction aphasia remains a controversial topic not only from the theoretic point of view, but also from the understanding of its neurologic foundations.

Assessment of uterine artery and arcuate artery blood flow by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration as predictors of pregnancy in an in vitro fertilization program.

PubMed

Ivanovski, M; Damcevski, N; Radevska, B; Doicev, G

2012-01-01

To investigate whether success rates of IVF/ICSI could be predicted by using the Color Doppler technique by measuring the uterine artery and arcuate artery pulsatility (PI), resistance (RI), and velocity (Vs) indices on the day of hCG injection. This was a prospective observational study at the St Lazar Hospital, Skopje; 106 patients with an indication for IVF or ICSI according to departmental protocol underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation followed by IVF/ICSI and embryo transfer. Using Color Doppler in the two-dimensional (2D) mode, flow velocity waveforms were obtained from the ascending main branch of the uterine artery on the right and left sides of the cervix in a longitudinal plane and arcuate arteries, before they entered the uterus. The PI, RI and peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the uterine arteries and arcuate arteries were calculated electronically when similar consecutive waveforms of good quality were obtained and results were compared between patients who conceived and those who did not. In total, 106 patients, aged 24-42 years were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to successful outcome, defined as pregnancy and failure of implantation, where no pregnancy was detected. A total of 40 pregnancies resulted; a crude pregnancy rate was 40/106 (37.7%). There were no significant differences between either group in patients' age, type and duration of infertility; basal levels of FSH, LH and E2; number of gonadotropin ampoules used for ovulation induction; number of retrieved oocytes and number of transferred embryos. No cycle was canceled after initiation of gonadotropin stimulation. In our results, there were statistically significant lower mean uterine artery PI and RI in the pregnant group than in the non-pregnant group (P < 0.05). Arcuate artery PI value was lower in the pregnant group than in the non-pregnant group, but this did not reach statistical significance. Peak systolic velocity (Vs) values in both the mean uterine artery and arcuate artery were higher in the pregnant group than in the non-pregnant group; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Vascular impedance was calculated with PI, RI, and Vs values, among which PI was found to be the most important. Optimal uterine receptivity can be accomplished by reduced vascular resistance and increased blood flow, which will improve pregnancy success. We suggest the use of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography to measure the blood flow in uterine arteries and arcuate arteries before hCG in IVF cycles.

Bidirectional iterative parcellation of diffusion weighted imaging data: Separating cortical regions connected by the arcuate fasciculus and extreme capsule

PubMed Central

Patterson, Dianne K.; Van Petten, Cyma; Beeson, Pélagie M.; Rapcsak, Steven Z.; Plante, Elena

2014-01-01

This paper introduces a Bidirectional Iterative Parcellation (BIP) procedure designed to identify the location and size of connected cortical regions (parcellations) at both ends of a white matter tract in diffusion weighted images. The procedure applies the FSL option “probabilistic tracking with classification targets” in a bidirectional and iterative manner. To assess the utility of BIP, we applied the procedure to the problem of parcellating a limited set of well-established gray matter seed regions associated with the dorsal (arcuate fasciculus/superior longitudinal fasciculus) and ventral (extreme capsule fiber system) white matter tracts in the language networks of 97 participants. These left hemisphere seed regions and the two white matter tracts, along with their right hemisphere homologues, provided an excellent test case for BIP because the resulting parcellations overlap and their connectivity via the arcuate fasciculi and extreme capsule fiber systems are well studied. The procedure yielded both confirmatory and novel findings. Specifically, BIP confirmed that each tract connects within the seed regions in unique, but expected ways. Novel findings included increasingly left-lateralized parcellations associated with the arcuate fasciculus/superior longitudinal fasciculus as a function of age and education. These results demonstrate that BIP is an easily implemented technique that successfully confirmed cortical connectivity patterns predicted in the literature, and has the potential to provide new insights regarding the architecture of the brain. PMID:25173414

Diffusion tensor MRI tractography reveals increased fractional anisotropy (FA) in arcuate fasciculus following music-cued motor training.

PubMed

Moore, Emma; Schaefer, Rebecca S; Bastin, Mark E; Roberts, Neil; Overy, Katie

2017-08-01

Auditory cues are frequently used to support movement learning and rehabilitation, but the neural basis of this behavioural effect is not yet clear. We investigated the microstructural neuroplasticity effects of adding musical cues to a motor learning task. We hypothesised that music-cued, left-handed motor training would increase fractional anisotropy (FA) in the contralateral arcuate fasciculus, a fibre tract connecting auditory, pre-motor and motor regions. Thirty right-handed participants were assigned to a motor learning condition either with (Music Group) or without (Control Group) musical cues. Participants completed 20minutes of training three times per week over four weeks. Diffusion tensor MRI and probabilistic neighbourhood tractography identified FA, axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivity before and after training. Results revealed that FA increased significantly in the right arcuate fasciculus of the Music group only, as hypothesised, with trends for AD to increase and RD to decrease, a pattern of results consistent with activity-dependent increases in myelination. No significant changes were found in the left ipsilateral arcuate fasciculus of either group. This is the first evidence that adding musical cues to movement learning can induce rapid microstructural change in white matter pathways in adults, with potential implications for therapeutic clinical practice. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Monosodium glutamate-induced arcuate nucleus damage affects both natural torpor and 2DG-induced torpor-like hypothermia in Siberian hamsters.

PubMed

Pelz, Kimberly M; Routman, David; Driscoll, Joseph R; Kriegsfeld, Lance J; Dark, John

2008-01-01

Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) have the ability to express daily torpor and decrease their body temperature to approximately 15 degrees C, providing a significant savings in energy expenditure. Daily torpor in hamsters is cued by winterlike photoperiods and occurs coincident with the annual nadirs in body fat reserves and chronic leptin concentrations. To better understand the neural mechanisms underlying torpor, Siberian hamster pups were postnatally treated with saline or MSG to ablate arcuate nucleus neurons that likely possess leptin receptors. Body temperature was studied telemetrically in cold-acclimated (10 degrees C) male and female hamsters moved to a winterlike photoperiod (10:14-h light-dark cycle) (experiments 1 and 2) or that remained in a summerlike photoperiod (14:10-h light-dark cycle) (experiment 3). In experiment 1, even though other photoperiodic responses persisted, MSG-induced arcuate nucleus ablations prevented the photoperiod-dependent torpor observed in saline-treated Siberian hamsters. MSG-treated hamsters tended to possess greater fat reserves. To determine whether reductions in body fat would increase frequency of photoperiod-induced torpor after MSG treatment, hamsters underwent 2 wk of food restriction (70% of ad libitum) in experiment 2. Although food restriction did increase the frequency of torpor in both MSG- and saline-treated hamsters, it failed to normalize the proportion of MSG-treated hamsters undergoing photoperiod-dependent torpor. In experiment 3, postnatal MSG treatments reduced the proportion of hamsters entering 2DG-induced torpor-like hypothermia by approximately 50% compared with saline-treated hamsters (38 vs. 72%). In those MSG-treated hamsters that did become hypothermic, their minimum temperature during hypothermia was significantly greater than comparable saline-treated hamsters. We conclude that 1) arcuate nucleus mechanisms mediate photoperiod-induced torpor, 2) food-restriction-induced torpor may also be reduced by MSG treatments, and 3) arcuate nucleus neurons make an important, albeit partial, contribution to 2DG-induced torpor-like hypothermia.

The synganglion of the jumping spider Marpissa muscosa (Arachnida: Salticidae): Insights from histology, immunohistochemistry and microCT analysis.

PubMed

Steinhoff, Philip O M; Sombke, Andy; Liedtke, Jannis; Schneider, Jutta M; Harzsch, Steffen; Uhl, Gabriele

2017-03-01

Jumping spiders are known for their extraordinary cognitive abilities. The underlying nervous system structures, however, are largely unknown. Here, we explore and describe the anatomy of the brain in the jumping spider Marpissa muscosa (Clerck, 1757) by means of paraffin histology, X-ray microCT analysis and immunohistochemistry as well as three-dimensional reconstruction. In the prosoma, the CNS is a clearly demarcated mass that surrounds the esophagus. The anteriormost neuromere, the protocerebrum, comprises nine bilaterally paired neuropils, including the mushroom bodies and one unpaired midline neuropil, the arcuate body. Further ventrally, the synganglion comprises the cheliceral (deutocerebrum) and pedipalpal neuropils (tritocerebrum). Synapsin-immunoreactivity in all neuropils is generally strong, while allatostatin-immunoreactivity is mostly present in association with the arcuate body and the stomodeal bridge. The most prominent neuropils in the spider brain, the mushroom bodies and the arcuate body, were suggested to be higher integrating centers of the arthropod brain. The mushroom body in M. muscosa is connected to first and second order visual neuropils of the lateral eyes, and the arcuate body to the second order neuropils of the anterior median eyes (primary eyes) through a visual tract. The connection of both, visual neuropils and eyes and arcuate body, as well as their large size corroborates the hypothesis that these neuropils play an important role in cognition and locomotion control of jumping spiders. In addition, we show that the architecture of the brain of M. muscosa and some previously investigated salticids differs significantly from that of the wandering spider Cupiennius salei, especially with regard to structure and arrangement of visual neuropils and mushroom body. Thus, we need to explore the anatomical conformities and specificities of the brains of different spider taxa in order to understand evolutionary transformations of the arthropod brain. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

VGF is required for obesity induced by diet, gold thioglucose treatment, and agouti and is differentially regulated in pro-opiomelanocortin- and neuropeptide Y-containing arcuate neurons in response to fasting.

PubMed

Hahm, Seung; Fekete, Csaba; Mizuno, Tooru M; Windsor, Joan; Yan, Hai; Boozer, Carol N; Lee, Charlotte; Elmquist, Joel K; Lechan, Ronald M; Mobbs, Charles V; Salton, Stephen R J

2002-08-15

Targeted deletion of the gene encoding the neuronal and neuroendocrine secreted polypeptide VGF (nonacronymic) produces a lean, hypermetabolic mouse. Consistent with this phenotype, VGF mRNA levels are regulated in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in response to fasting. To gain insight into the site(s) and mechanism(s) of action of VGF, we further characterized VGF expression in the hypothalamus. Double-label studies indicated that VGF and pro-opiomelanocortin were coexpressed in lateral arcuate neurons in the fed state, and that VGF expression was induced after fasting in medial arcuate neurons that synthesize neuropeptide Y (NPY). Like NPY, VGF mRNA induction in this region of the hypothalamus in fasted mice was inhibited by exogenous leptin. In leptin-deficient ob/ob and receptor-mutant db/db mice, VGF mRNA levels in the medial arcuate were elevated. To identify neural pathways that are functionally compromised by Vgf ablation, VGF mutant mice were crossed with obese A(y)/a (agouti) and ob/ob mice. VGF deficiency completely blocked the development of obesity in A(y)/a mice, whereas deletion of Vgf in ob/ob mice attenuated weight gain but had no impact on adiposity. Hypothalamic levels of NPY and agouti-related polypeptide mRNAs in both double-mutant lines were dramatically elevated 10- to 15-fold above those of wild-type mice. VGF-deficient mice were also found to resist diet- and gold thioglucose-induced obesity. These data and the susceptibility of VGF mutant mice to monosodium glutamate-induced obesity are consistent with a role for VGF in outflow pathways, downstream of hypothalamic and/or brainstem melanocortin 4 receptors, that project via the autonomic nervous system to peripheral metabolic tissues and regulate energy homeostasis.

Geology and ore deposits of the McDermitt Caldera, Nevada-Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rytuba, James J.

1976-01-01

The McDermitt caldera is a Miocene collapse structure along the Nevada-Oregon border. The oval-shaped caldera is bounded by arcuate normal faults on the north and south and by rhyolite ring domes on the west. Precollapse ash-flow tuffs exposed within the south caldera rim consist of three cooling units and are peralkaline in composition. Refractive indexes of nonhydrated glasses from basal vitrophyres of the. units range from 1.493 to 1.503 and are typical of comendites. Post-collapse intracaldera rocks consist of tuffaceous lake sediments, rhyolite flows and domes, and ash-flow tuffs. Within the caldera are the mercury mines of Bretz, Cordero, McDermitt, Opalite, and Ruja and the Moonlight uranium mine. The mercury mines are adjacent to ring fracture faults, and the uranium mine and other uranium occurrences are located within rhyolite ring domes. Fluid inclusions in quartz indicate a deposition temperature of 340?C for the uranium deposit and 200?C for the mercury deposits. The mercury deposits formed at shallow depth by replacement of lakebed sediments and volcanic rocks.

A novel nomogram for the treatment of astigmatism with femtosecond-laser arcuate incisions at the time of cataract surgery.

PubMed

Baharozian, Connor J; Song, Christian; Hatch, Kathryn M; Talamo, Jonathan H

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine an arcuate incision (AI) nomogram to treat astigmatism during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. This is a retrospective, cohort study. Femtosecond laser (FSL)-assisted transepithelial AIs were created at a 9.0 mm optical zone, 80% depth, centered on the limbus. We modified the manual Donnenfeld limbal relaxing incision nomogram to 70% for with-the-rule (WTR), 80% for oblique (OBL), and 100% for against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism. The correction index (CI) equaled AI-induced astigmatism/target-induced astigmatism. Measures included preoperative keratometric corneal cylinder (Pre Kcyl), postoperative Kcyl (Post Kcyl), and postoperative residual refractive astigmatism (Post RRA). Mean Pre Kcyl and 1-2 months Post RRA in 161 eyes of 116 patients were 0.626±0.417 diopters (D) (range 0.5-2 D), and 0.495±0.400 D (range 0-1.5 D), respectively. Mean absolute astigmatic changes (Pre Kcyl-Post Kcyl) without accounting for axis change in the WTR, ATR, and OBL groups were 0.165±0.383 D ( P <0.001), 0.374±0.536 D ( P <0.001), and 0.253±0.416 D ( P =0.02), respectively. Mean absolute astigmatic changes using RRA as the postoperative measurement (Pre Kcyl-Post RRA) without accounting for axis change were 0.440±0.461 D ( P <0.001), 0.238±0.571 D ( P <0.05), 0.154±0.450 ( P =0.111) in WTR, ATR, and OBL groups, respectively. CIs for WTR, ATR, and OBL were 0.53, 1.01, and 0.95, respectively. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications related to the AIs. Transepithelial FSL-AIs using the modified Donnenfeld nomogram show potential for management of mild to moderate corneal astigmatism. An increase in the magnitude or reduction of the optical zone size for the treatment of WTR and ATR astigmatism for this nomogram may further improve refractive accuracy.

Arcuate fasciculus laterality by diffusion tensor imaging correlates with language laterality by functional MRI in preadolescent children.

PubMed

Sreedharan, Ruma Madhu; Menon, Amitha C; James, Jija S; Kesavadas, Chandrasekharan; Thomas, Sanjeev V

2015-03-01

Language lateralization is unique to humans. Functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) enable the study of language areas and white matter fibers involved in language, respectively. The objective of this study was to correlate arcuate fasciculus (AF) laterality by diffusion tensor imaging with that by fMRI in preadolescent children which has not yet been reported. Ten children between 8 and 12 years were subjected to fMRI and DTI imaging using Siemens 1.5 T MRI. Two language fMRI paradigms--visual verb generation and word pair task--were used. Analysis was done using SPM8 software. In DTI, the fiber volume of the arcuate fasciculus (AFV) and fractional anisotropy (FA) was measured. The fMRI Laterality Index (fMRI-LI) and DTI Laterality Index (DTI-LI) were calculated and their correlation assessed using the Pearson Correlation Index. Of ten children, mean age 10.6 years, eight showed left lateralization while bilateral language lateralization was seen in two. AFV by DTI was more on the left side in seven of the eight children who had left lateralization by fMRI. DTI could not trace the AF in one child. Of the two with bilateral language lateralization on fMRI, one showed larger AFV on the right side while the other did not show any asymmetry. There was a significant correlation (p < 0.02) between fMRI-LI and DTI-LI. Group mean of AFV by DTI was higher on the left side (2659.89 ± 654.75 mm(3)) as compared to the right (1824.11 ± 582.81 mm(3)) (p < 0.01). Like fMRI, DTI also reveals language laterality in children with a high degree of correlation between the two imaging modalities.

Effects of flexible ureteroscopy on renal blood flow: a prospective evaluation.

PubMed

Sener, Tarik Emre; Tanidir, Yiloren; Bin Hamri, Saeed; Sever, Ibrahim Halil; Ozdemir, Burcu; Al-Humam, Abdulla; Traxer, Olivier

2018-02-20

This study aimed to investigate the effects of flexible ureteroscopy (F-URS) on renal blood flow using renal Doppler ultrasound (US). Patients undergoing F-URS were scheduled for Doppler US preoperatively and postoperatively. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were reported. Technical details, operation time, stone characteristics and complications were recorded. Patients were grouped as 9.5/11.5-Flex-X2, 10/12-Flex-X2, 10/12-Flex-XC, 12/14-Flex-X2 and 12/14-Flex-XC, with 28, six, three, seven and two patients in each group, respectively. Forty-six patients with a mean age of 41.24 years and stone volume of 1685 mm³ were enrolled. The PSV, EDV, PI and RI of renal arteries in all groups in preoperative and postoperative periods were similar. Arcuate artery measurements in all groups were also similar in preoperative and postoperative periods, without any significant difference except in two parameters: RI in the 9.5/11.5-Flex-X2 group and PSV in the 12/14-Flex-X2 group. The resistive index in the arcuate artery of the 9.5/11.5-Flex-X2 group was increased from 0.59 to 0.62 cm/sec postoperatively. The PSV in the arcuate artery of the 12/14-Flex-X2 group was decreased from 30.9 to 27.2 cm/sec. Three patients had urinary tract infections postoperatively and two had sepsis. This study suggests that compatible ureteroscope-ureteral access sheath combinations with a lumen difference of more than 1.5 Fr can provide safe outcomes in terms of renal blood flow. F-URS can safely be performed in terms of renal perfusion and complication rates with appropriate equipment and instruments.

Structural development and stress evolution of an arcuate fold-and-thrust system, southwestern Greater Caucasus, Republic of Georgia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tibaldi, A.; Bonali, F. L.; Russo, E.; Pasquarè Mariotto, F. A.

2018-05-01

The southern front of the Greater Caucasus is quite rectilinear in plan view, with the exception of part of the Rioni Basin, where marine and continental deposits of Cretaceous-Neogene age were locally folded and uplifted; this resulted in the formation of an arcuate fold-and-thrust system that extends 45 km into the foreland. Although previous studies suggested that this system has developed only since Miocene times, our new detailed and systematic field measurements of brittle and ductile structures show a very complex history, consisting in four main phases of brittle deformation and folding, dated from Eocene to Quaternary times. We collected microtectonic data at 248 faults, and calculated the related paleostress tensors. The first two phases which we document here, predated folding and were characterised by dominant transcurrent faulting and subordinate reverse motions; the greatest principal stress σ1 was perpendicular and later parallel to the mountain belt. Afterwards, NW-SE, E-W and NE-SW trending, south-vergent asymmetrical folds started to form. In the western sector of the study area, folds are sinuous in plan view, whereas to the east they show a left-stepping, en-échelon geometry. Another two, brittle deformation phases took place after the folding, due to the activity of a set of right-lateral, strike-slip faults that strike NW-SE and NE-SW, respectively, as well as by left-lateral strike-slip faults, mostly striking NW-SE, NE-SW and NNE-SSW. These two additional phases were produced by a NE-SW to N-S trending σ1. The arcuate belt is marked by along-strike variations in the tectonic regime and deformation geometry, plus belt-parallel stretching. Based on our field data, integrated with published analogue models, we suggest a possible explanation for the Rioni structure, in terms of the oblique, asymmetric indentation of an upper crustal blocks moving to the SSW.

Grasp Assist Device with Shared Tendon Actuator Assembly

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ihrke, Chris A. (Inventor); Bergelin, Bryan J. (Inventor); Bridgwater, Lyndon (Inventor)

2015-01-01

A grasp assist device includes a glove with first and second tendon-driven fingers, a tendon, and a sleeve with a shared tendon actuator assembly. Tendon ends are connected to the respective first and second fingers. The actuator assembly includes a drive assembly having a drive axis and a tendon hook. The tendon hook, which defines an arcuate surface slot, is linearly translatable along the drive axis via the drive assembly, e.g., a servo motor thereof. The flexible tendon is routed through the surface slot such that the surface slot divides the flexible tendon into two portions each terminating in a respective one of the first and second ends. The drive assembly may include a ball screw and nut. An end cap of the actuator assembly may define two channels through which the respective tendon portions pass. The servo motor may be positioned off-axis with respect to the drive axis.

Glucose level determines excitatory or inhibitory effects of adiponectin on arcuate POMC neuron activity and feeding

PubMed Central

Suyama, Shigetomo; Maekawa, Fumihiko; Maejima, Yuko; Kubota, Naoto; Kadowaki, Takashi; Yada, Toshihiko

2016-01-01

Adiponectin regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, acting against metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis. Accumulating evidence suggest that adiponectin acts on the brain including hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), where proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons play key roles in feeding regulation. Several studies have examined intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of adiponectin and reported opposite effects, increase or decrease of food intake. These reports used different nutritional states. The present study aimed to clarify whether adiponectin exerts distinct effects on food intake and ARC POMC neurons depending on the glucose concentration. Adiponectin was ICV injected with or without glucose for feeding experiments and administered to ARC slices with high or low glucose for patch clamp experiments. We found that adiponectin at high glucose inhibited POMC neurons and increased food intake while at low glucose it exerted opposite effects. The results demonstrate that glucose level determines excitatory or inhibitory effects of adiponectin on arcuate POMC neuron activity and feeding. PMID:27503800

Muscimol microinjected in the arcuate nucleus affects metabolism, body temperature & ventilation.

PubMed

Schlenker, Evelyn H

2016-06-15

Effects of microinjection of 2 doses of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor agonist, muscimol (M), into the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus on oxygen consumption and control of ventilation over time and body temperature (BT) at the end of the experiment were compared in adult male and female rats. Relative to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, 0 nmol), BT was decreased only in male rats with both doses of M, while in female rats, the 5 nmol dose depressed oxygen consumption. Ventilation was depressed by 5 nmol M in male and 10 nmol M in female rats by decreasing tidal volume. M did not affect the ventilatory response of male or female rats to hypoxia, whereas in females 5 and 10 nmol M and in males 10 nmol M depressed the ventilatory response to hypercapnia. Thus, in rats GABAA receptors in the arcuate nucleus modulate BT, oxygen consumption, and ventilation in air and in response to hypercapnia in a sexually dimorphic manner. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reply to: Terry, J. and Goff, J. comment on “Late Cenozoic sea level and the rise of modern rimmed atolls” by Toomey et al. (2016), Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 4 51: 73–83.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Toomey, Michael; Ashton, Andrew; Raymo, Maureen E.; Perron, J. Taylor

2017-01-01

We appreciate Terry and Goff's thoughtful comment in response to our proposed atoll development model. Flank collapse of reef-built slopes likely does affect plan-form atoll morphology in some locations and potentially poses a tsunami hazard to low-lying Pacific islands (Terry and Goff, 2013). However, given the often rapid rates of lagoon infill (> 1 mm/yr; Montaggioni, 2005), such failure events would likely need to be frequent and widespread in order to leave a morphologic imprint on modern western Pacific atoll lagoon depths. Few atoll flank collapse features have been dated but many of the arcuate bight-like structures (ABLS) identified could be inherited from scars incised into the initial volcanic edifice (e.g. Terry and Goff, 2013 and refs. therein) — submarine mass wasting has been extensively documented on young hotspot islands (e.g. Hawaiian Islands: Moore et al., 1989; Reunion: Oehler et al., 2008). Atolls in the Marshall Islands, where our main study site Enewetak Atoll is located, are likely ~ 50–100 million years old (Larson et al., 1995) and dating of adjacent deep-water turbidite aprons in the Nauru Basin (DSDP Site 462; Schlanger and Silva, 1986) suggests that large atoll flank collapse events have been relatively infrequent there since the mid-Miocene (< 11 Ma). In our simple, 1D atoll development model (Toomey et al., 2016a), we included the minimum set of processes (vertical accretion, dissolution, and lagoonal infilling) required to accurately simulate Enewetak's ‘recent’ depositional history (8.5–0 Ma) and explain basic differences in lagoon depth among western Pacific atolls.We agree future development of a model incorporating the wider range of processes impacting connectivity between reef-bound lagoons and the ocean (e.g. Ouillon et al., 2004; Toomey et al., 2016b), including stochastic mass wasting events, will be essential for exploring the plan-form and 3D shapes of atolls. To our knowledge, no quantitative model of long-term atoll development has explicitly linked lagoon restriction/sedimentation to episodic flank collapse events (e.g. Montaggioni et al., 2015; Paterson et al., 2006; Quinn, 1991; Warrlich et al., 2002). Testing Terry and Goff's proposed conceptual model for how rim failure processes affect atoll morphology in a numerical context will require deep drilling along arcuate bight-like structures, as well as adjacent, unaffected, rim and lagoon areas, in order quantify how often failures occur and how quickly the rim/lagoon is rebuilt afterwards. The model we present here provides a general framework capable of integrating atoll flank collapse processes once they are sufficiently constrained by such observational datasets.

Nematodes from galls on Myrtaceae. IV. Fergusobia from flat leaf galls on Eucalyptus and Corymbia, with descriptions of two new species.

PubMed

Davies, Kerrie A; Giblin-Davis, Robin M; Ye, Weimin; Taylor, Gary S; Thomas, W Kelley

2013-11-26

Two new species of Fergusobia are described. Both were collected from flat leaf galls from South Australia, one on Eucalyptus microcarpa and the other on E. porosa. Fergusobia microcarpae n. sp. Davies is characterised by the combination of a C-shaped parthenogenetic female with a short, broadly rounded conoid tail, an arcuate to open C-shaped infective female with an hemispherical tail tip, and arcuate to J-shaped males with angular spicules and short peloderan bursa. Fergusobia porosae n. sp. Davies is similar in having an arcuate to C-shaped parthenogenetic female with a small conoid tail, an almost straight to arcuate infective female with an hemispherical tail tip, and males that are almost straight to barely J-shaped with angular spicules and short peloderan bursa. They differ in that the bodies of parthenogenetic and infective females of F. microcarpae n. sp. are more curved than in F. porosae n. sp. Other known similar forms of Fergusobia/Fergusonina galls are outlined and the larval shield morphologies of their associated mutualistic Fergusonina fly species are discussed where known. An inventory of all known Fergusobia/Fergusonina associations from flat leaf galls from Corymbia spp. and Eucalyptus spp. is presented. Relationships of Fergusobia nematodes were inferred from analysis of sequences of 28S rDNA D2/D3 domains and a portion of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI). Nematodes from flat leaf galls appeared in two clades. 

Hypodense regions (holes) in the retinal nerve fiber layer in frequency-domain OCT scans of glaucoma patients and suspects.

PubMed

Xin, Daiyan; Talamini, Christine L; Raza, Ali S; de Moraes, Carlos Gustavo V; Greenstein, Vivienne C; Liebmann, Jeffrey M; Ritch, Robert; Hood, Donald C

2011-09-09

To better understand hypodense regions (holes) that appear in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (fdOCT) scans of patients with glaucoma and glaucoma suspects. Peripapillary circle (1.7-mm radius) and cube optic disc fdOCT scans were obtained on 208 eyes from 110 patients (57.4 ± 13.2 years) with glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) and 45 eyes of 45 controls (48.0 ± 12.6 years) with normal results of fundus examination. Holes in the RNFL were identified independently by two observers on the circle scans. Holes were found in 33 (16%) eyes of 28 (25%) patients; they were not found in any of the control eyes. Twenty-four eyes had more than one hole. Although some holes were relatively large, others were small. In general, the holes were located adjacent to blood vessels; only three eyes had isolated holes that were not adjacent to a vessel. The holes tended to be in the regions that are thickest in healthy controls and were associated with arcuate defects in patients. Holes were not seen in the center of the temporal disc region. They were more common in the superior (25 eyes) than in the inferior (15 eyes) disc. Of the 30 eyes with holes with reliable visual fields, seven were glaucoma suspect eyes with normal visual fields. The holes in the RNFL seen in patients with GON were probably due to a local loss of RNFL fibers and can occur in the eyes of glaucoma suspects with normal visual fields.

Strength of Temporal White Matter Pathways Predicts Semantic Learning.

PubMed

Ripollés, Pablo; Biel, Davina; Peñaloza, Claudia; Kaufmann, Jörn; Marco-Pallarés, Josep; Noesselt, Toemme; Rodríguez-Fornells, Antoni

2017-11-15

Learning the associations between words and meanings is a fundamental human ability. Although the language network is cortically well defined, the role of the white matter pathways supporting novel word-to-meaning mappings remains unclear. Here, by using contextual and cross-situational word learning, we tested whether learning the meaning of a new word is related to the integrity of the language-related white matter pathways in 40 adults (18 women). The arcuate, uncinate, inferior-fronto-occipital and inferior-longitudinal fasciculi were virtually dissected using manual and automatic deterministic fiber tracking. Critically, the automatic method allowed assessing the white matter microstructure along the tract. Results demonstrate that the microstructural properties of the left inferior-longitudinal fasciculus predict contextual learning, whereas the left uncinate was associated with cross-situational learning. In addition, we identified regions of special importance within these pathways: the posterior middle temporal gyrus, thought to serve as a lexical interface and specifically related to contextual learning; the anterior temporal lobe, known to be an amodal hub for semantic processing and related to cross-situational learning; and the white matter near the hippocampus, a structure fundamental for the initial stages of new-word learning and, remarkably, related to both types of word learning. No significant associations were found for the inferior-fronto-occipital fasciculus or the arcuate. While previous results suggest that learning new phonological word forms is mediated by the arcuate fasciculus, these findings show that the temporal pathways are the crucial neural substrate supporting one of the most striking human abilities: our capacity to identify correct associations between words and meanings under referential indeterminacy. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The language-processing network is cortically (i.e., gray matter) well defined. However, the role of the white matter pathways that support novel word learning within this network remains unclear. In this work, we dissected language-related (arcuate, uncinate, inferior-fronto-occipital, and inferior-longitudinal) fasciculi using manual and automatic tracking. We found the left inferior-longitudinal fasciculus to be predictive of word-learning success in two word-to-meaning tasks: contextual and cross-situational learning paradigms. The left uncinate was predictive of cross-situational word learning. No significant correlations were found for the arcuate or the inferior-fronto-occipital fasciculus. While previous results showed that learning new phonological word forms is supported by the arcuate fasciculus, these findings demonstrate that learning new word-to-meaning associations is mainly dependent on temporal white matter pathways. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/3711102-13$15.00/0.

Cortical and subcortical mapping of language areas: correlation of functional MRI and tractography in a 3T scanner with intraoperative cortical and subcortical stimulation in patients with brain tumors located in eloquent areas.

PubMed

Jiménez de la Peña, M; Gil Robles, S; Recio Rodríguez, M; Ruiz Ocaña, C; Martínez de Vega, V

2013-01-01

To describe the detection of cortical areas and subcortical pathways involved in language observed in MRI activation studies and tractography in a 3T MRI scanner and to correlate the findings of these functional studies with direct intraoperative cortical and subcortical stimulation. We present a series of 14 patients with focal brain tumors adjacent to eloquent brain areas. All patients underwent neuropsychological evaluation before and after surgery. All patients underwent MRI examination including structural sequences, perfusion imaging, spectroscopy, functional imaging to determine activation of motor and language areas, and 3D tractography. All patients underwent cortical mapping through cortical and subcortical stimulation during the operation to resect the tumor. Postoperative follow-up studies were done 24 hours after surgery. The correlation of motor function and of the corticospinal tract determined by functional MRI and tractography with intraoperative mapping of cortical and subcortical motor areas was complete. The eloquent brain areas of language expression and reception were strongly correlated with intraoperative cortical mapping in all but two cases (a high grade infiltrating glioma and a low grade glioma located in the frontal lobe). 3D tractography identified the arcuate fasciculus, the lateral part of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, the subcallosal fasciculus, the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and the optic radiations, which made it possible to mark the limits of the resection. The correlation with the subcortical mapping of the anatomic arrangement of the fasciculi with respect to the lesions was complete. The best treatment for brain tumors is maximum resection without associated deficits, so high quality functional studies are necessary for preoperative planning. Copyright © 2011 SERAM. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Right arcuate fasciculus abnormality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

PubMed

Zeineh, Michael M; Kang, James; Atlas, Scott W; Raman, Mira M; Reiss, Allan L; Norris, Jane L; Valencia, Ian; Montoya, Jose G

2015-02-01

To identify whether patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have differences in gross brain structure, microscopic structure, or brain perfusion that may explain their symptoms. Fifteen patients with CFS were identified by means of retrospective review with an institutional review board-approved waiver of consent and waiver of authorization. Fourteen age- and sex-matched control subjects provided informed consent in accordance with the institutional review board and HIPAA. All subjects underwent 3.0-T volumetric T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, with two diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) acquisitions and arterial spin labeling (ASL). Open source software was used to segment supratentorial gray and white matter and cerebrospinal fluid to compare gray and white matter volumes and cortical thickness. DTI data were processed with automated fiber quantification, which was used to compare piecewise fractional anisotropy (FA) along 20 tracks. For the volumetric analysis, a regression was performed to account for differences in age, handedness, and total intracranial volume, and for the DTI, FA was compared piecewise along tracks by using an unpaired t test. The open source software segmentation was used to compare cerebral blood flow as measured with ASL. In the CFS population, FA was increased in the right arcuate fasciculus (P = .0015), and in right-handers, FA was also increased in the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) (P = .0008). In patients with CFS, right anterior arcuate FA increased with disease severity (r = 0.649, P = .026). Bilateral white matter volumes were reduced in CFS (mean ± standard deviation, 467 581 mm(3) ± 47 610 for patients vs 504 864 mm(3) ± 68 126 for control subjects, P = .0026), and cortical thickness increased in both right arcuate end points, the middle temporal (T = 4.25) and precentral (T = 6.47) gyri, and one right ILF end point, the occipital lobe (T = 5.36). ASL showed no significant differences. Bilateral white matter atrophy is present in CFS. No differences in perfusion were noted. Right hemispheric increased FA may reflect degeneration of crossing fibers or strengthening of short-range fibers. Right anterior arcuate FA may serve as a biomarker for CFS. (©) RSNA, 2014.

Remodeling and angiotensin II responses of the uterine arcuate arteries of pregnant rats are altered by low- and high-sodium intake.

PubMed

St-Louis, Jean; Sicotte, Benoît; Beauséjour, Annie; Brochu, Michèle

2006-02-01

Lowering and increasing sodium intake in pregnant rats evoke opposite changes in renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity and are associated with alterations of blood volume expansion. As augmented uterine blood flow during gestation is linked to increased circulatory volume, we wanted to determine if low- and high-sodium intakes affect the mechanical properties and angiotensin II (AngII) responses of the uterine vasculature. Non-pregnant and pregnant rats received a normal sodium (0.22% Na+) diet. On the 15th day of gestation some animals were moved to a low-sodium (0.03%) diet, whereas others were given NaCl supplementation as beverage (saline, 0.9% or 1.8%) for 7 days. All rats were killed after 7 days of treatment (eve of parturition). Uterine arcuate arteries (>100 microm) were set up in wire myographs under a tension equivalent to 50 mmHg transmural pressure. The pregnancy-associated increase in diameter of the uterine arteries was significantly attenuated on the low-sodium diet and 1.8% NaCl supplementation. The arcuate arteries of non-pregnant rats on the low-sodium diet showed markedly increased responses to AngII and phenylephrine (Phe). Pregnancy also resulted in heightened responses to AngII and Phe that were significantly reduced for the former agent in rats on the low-sodium diet. Sodium supplementation of non-pregnant rats did not affect the reactivity of the uterine arteries to AngII, but significantly reduced the effect of Phe (1 micromol/l). High salt also significantly diminished the elevated responses to AngII in the arteries of pregnant animals. It was observed that altered sodium intake affects the mechanical and reactive properties of the uterine arcuate arteries more importantly in pregnant than in non-pregnant rats. Low-salt intake similarly affected the reactivity of the uterine arcuate arteries to AngII and Phe, whereas high-salt intake more specifically affected AngII responses. These results showed that perturbations of sodium intake have major impacts on the structure and functions of the uterine arterial circulation, indicating RAAS involvement in uterine vascular remodeling and function during gestation.

Approaching the Atrium Through the Intraparietal Sulcus: Mapping the Sulcal Morphology and Correlating the Surgical Corridor to Underlying Fiber Tracts.

PubMed

Koutsarnakis, Christos; Liakos, Faidon; Kalyvas, Aristotelis V; Liouta, Evangelia; Emelifeonwu, John; Kalamatianos, Theodosis; Sakas, Damianos E; Johnson, Elizabeth; Stranjalis, George

2017-08-01

Although the operative corridor used during the intraparietal transsulcal approach to the atrium has been previously investigated, most anatomical studies focus on its relationship to the optic radiations. To study the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) morphology and to explore the subcortical anatomy with regard to the surgical trajectory used during the intraparietal transsulcal tranventricular approach. Twenty-five adult, formalin fixed, cerebral hemispheres were investigated. Fifteen underwent the Klingler procedure and were dissected in a lateromedial direction using the fiber microdissection technique. The trajectory of the dissection resembled that of real operative settings. The remaining 10 hemispheres were cut along the longitudinal axis of the sulcus in order to correlate its surface anatomy to corresponding parts of the ventricular system. IPS demonstrated an interrupted course in 36% of the specimens while its branching pattern was variable. The sulcus anterior half was found to overly the atrium in all occasions. Four discrete, consecutive white matter layers were identified en route to the atrium, ie, the arcuate fibers, the arcuate segment of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, the corona radiata and tapetum, with the arcuate segment being near to the dissection trajectory. Given the angle of brain transgression during the intraparietal approach, we found the optimal dissection area to be the very middle of the sulcus. The IPS-postcentral sulcus meeting point, in contrast to previous thought, proved to risk potential injury to the arcuate segment of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, thus affecting surgical outcome. Copyright © 2017 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons

Moderate caloric restriction during gestation results in lower arcuate nucleus NPY- and alphaMSH-neurons and impairs hypothalamic response to fed/fasting conditions in weaned rats.

PubMed

García, A P; Palou, M; Priego, T; Sánchez, J; Palou, A; Picó, C

2010-05-01

We aimed to characterize the developmental programming effects of moderate caloric restriction during early pregnancy on factors involved in hypothalamic control of energy balance. Twenty-five-days-old offspring Wistar rats from 20% caloric restricted dams (from 1 to 12 days of pregnancy) (CR) and from control dams were studied under fed and 12 h fasting conditions. Morphometric studies on arcuate nucleus (ARC) and determinations of circulating parameters and hypothalamic levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), long-form leptin receptor (ObRb), insulin receptor (InsR) and suppressor of cytokine signalling-3 (SOCS-3) mRNA were performed. CR animals did not show different body weight with respect to their controls, but presented higher food intake. They exhibited lower neuropeptide Y- and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-neurons (decreases of 18 and 13% in males, and 10 and 18% in females respectively) and lower total cells (decrease of 3% in males and 18% in females) in ARC. Under fed conditions, CR animals presented lower circulating leptin and ghrelin levels (decreases of 37 and 43% in males, and 15 and 34% in females respectively); furthermore, hypothalamic POMC, NPY (only in females), ObRb and InsR mRNA levels were reduced (39, 16 and 26% in males, and 112, 33, 61 and 56% in females), and those of SOCS-3 were increased (86% in males and 74% in females). Unlike control animals, under fasting conditions, ObRb, InsR and POMC mRNA levels did not decrease in CR females, and NPY mRNA decreased instead of increase in CR males. Moderate caloric restriction during gestation affects offspring hypothalamic structure and function, impairing its response to fed/fasting conditions, which suggests a predisposition to insulin and leptin resistance.

Dynamics, rate and nature of retreat of the British Irish Ice-Sheet offshore of NW Ireland following the Last Glacial Maximum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weilbach, K.; O'Cofaigh, C.; Lloyd, J. M.; Benetti, S.; Dunlop, P.

2016-12-01

Recent studies of the British and Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) have identified evidence of ice extending to the continental shelf edge along the western margin of the ice sheet off NW Ireland. While this advance is assumed to have occurred during the LGM, exact timing of maximum advance, and the timing and nature of the subsequent retreat is not well constrained. The location of the north-western sector of the BIIS adjacent to the North Atlantic makes this area ideal to study the ice sheet dynamics of a major marine terminating ice sheet, and the rate and nature of its retreat following the LGM. High resolution swath bathymetry and sub-bottom profiler (SBP) data along with sedimentological, micropalaeontological and geochronological investigations of sediment cores, collected across the NW Irish shelf, have been used to establish the extent, timing and nature of retreat of this sector of the BIIS. Swath bathymetry show glacial landforms on the shelf, and SBP-data along with twenty seven vibro-cores were collected in east-west oriented transects across a series of arcuate recessional moraines stretching from the shelf edge to Donegal Bay. These moraines record progressive still stands of a lobate ice margin during its retreat from the shelf edge, and are therefore ideal for the investigation of ice-sheet dynamics and chronology during retreat. Twenty two radiocarbon dates from foraminifera and macrofossils, sampled from the sediment cores, indicate that maximum ice sheet extent occurred around 26200 y cal BP, with an initial rapid retreat across the shelf. Visual logging, X-ray imagery, MSCL data and palaeoenvironmental analyses of the sediment cores, indicate that retreat happened in a glacimarine environment, and was punctuated by multiple stillstands and possible readvances across the mid and inner shelf, forming the arcuate moraines. The radiocarbon dates suggest that final retreat occurred after 17857 y. cal BP, which is consistent with onshore cosmogenic exposure ages from NW Ireland, showing de-glaciation around 17400 y cal BP.

Hypothyroidism Compromises Hypothalamic Leptin Signaling in Mice

PubMed Central

Groba, Claudia; Mayerl, Steffen; van Mullem, Alies A.; Visser, Theo J.; Darras, Veerle M.; Habenicht, Andreas J.

2013-01-01

The impact of thyroid hormone (TH) on metabolism and energy expenditure is well established, but the role of TH in regulating nutritional sensing, particularly in the central nervous system, is only poorly defined. Here, we studied the consequences of hypothyroidism on leptin production as well as leptin sensing in congenital hypothyroid TRH receptor 1 knockout (Trhr1 ko) mice and euthyroid control animals. Hypothyroid mice exhibited decreased circulating leptin levels due to a decrease in fat mass and reduced leptin expression in white adipose tissue. In neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, hypothyroid mice showed increased leptin receptor Ob-R expression and decreased suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 transcript levels. In order to monitor putative changes in central leptin sensing, we generated hypothyroid and leptin-deficient animals by crossing hypothyroid Trhr1 ko mice with the leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. Hypothyroid Trhr1/ob double knockout mice showed a blunted response to leptin treatment with respect to body weight and food intake and exhibited a decreased activation of phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 as well as a up-regulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 upon leptin treatment, particularly in the arcuate nucleus. These data indicate alterations in the intracellular processing of the leptin signal under hypothyroid conditions and thereby unravel a novel mode of action by which TH affects energy metabolism. PMID:23518925

Apparatus and method for in Situ installation of underground containment barriers under contaminated lands

DOEpatents

Carter, Jr., Ernest E.; Sanford, Frank L.; Saugier, R. Kent

1999-09-28

An apparatus for constructing a subsurface containment barrier under a waste site disposed in soil is provided. The apparatus uses a reciprocating cutting and barrier forming device which forms a continuous elongate panel through the soil having a defined width. The reciprocating cutting and barrier forming device has multiple jets which eject a high pressure slurry mixture through an arcuate path or transversely across the panel being formed. A horizontal barrier can be formed by overlapping a plurality of such panels. The cutting device and barrier forming device is pulled through the soil by two substantially parallel pulling pipes which are directionally drilled under the waste site. A tractor or other pulling device is attached to the pulling pipes at one end and the cutting and barrier forming device is attached at the other. The tractor pulls the cutting and barrier forming device through the soil under the waste site without intersecting the waste site. A trailing pipe, attached to the cutting and barrier forming device, travels behind one of the pulling pipes. In the formation of an adjacent panel the trailing pipe becomes one of the next pulling pipes. This assures the formation of a continuous barrier.

Apparatus for in situ installation of underground containment barriers under contaminated lands

DOEpatents

Carter, Jr., Ernest E.; Sanford, Frank L.; Saugier, R. Kent

1998-06-16

An apparatus for constructing a subsurface containment barrier under a waste site disposed in soil is provided. The apparatus uses a reciprocating cutting and barrier forming device which forms a continuous elongate panel through the soil having a defined width. The reciprocating cutting and barrier forming device has multiple jets which eject a high pressure slurry mixture through an arcuate path or transversely across the panel being formed. A horizontal barrier can be formed by overlapping a plurality of such panels. The cutting device and barrier forming device is pulled through the soil by two substantially parallel pulling pipes which are directionally drilled under the waste site. A tractor or other pulling device is attached to the pulling pipes at one end and the cutting and barrier forming device is attached at the other. The tractor pulls the cutting and barrier forming device through the soil under the waste site without intersecting the waste site. A trailing pipe, attached to the cutting and barrier forming device, travels behind one of the pulling pipes. In the formation of an adjacent panel the trailing pipe becomes one of the next pulling pipes. This assures the formation of a continuous barrier.

Neuromedin B and gastrin releasing peptide excite arcuate nucleus neuropeptide Y neurons in a novel transgenic mouse expressing strong renilla GFP in NPY neurons

PubMed Central

van den Pol, Anthony N.; Yao, Yang; Fu, Li-Ying; Foo, Kylie; Huang, Hao; Coppari, Roberto; Lowell, Brad; Broberger, Christian

2009-01-01

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most widespread neuropeptides in the brain. Transgenic mice were generated that expressed bright renilla GFP in most or all of the known NPY cells in the brain, which otherwise were not identifiable. GFP expression in NPY cells was confirmed with immunocytochemistry and single cell RT-PCR. NPY neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus play an important role in energy homeostasis and endocrine control. Whole cell patch clamp recording was used to study identified arcuate NPY cells. Primary agents that regulate energy balance include melanocortin receptor agonists, AgRP, and cannabinoids; none of these substances substantially influenced electrical properties of NPY neurons. In striking contrast, neuropeptides of the bombesin family, including gastrin releasing peptide and neuromedin B which are found in axons in the arcuate nucleus and may also be released from the gut to signal the brain, showed strong direct excitatory actions at nanomolar levels on the NPY neurons, stronger than the actions of ghrelin and hypocretin/orexin. Bombesin-related peptides reduced input resistance and depolarized the membrane potential. The depolarization was attenuated by several factors: substitution of choline for sodium, extracellular Ni2+, inclusion of BAPTA in the pipette, KB-R7943 and SKF96365. Reduced extracellular calcium enhanced the current, which reversed around − 20 mV. Together, these data suggest two mechanisms, activation of non-selective cation channels and the sodium/calcium exchanger. Since both NPY and POMC neurons, which we also studied, are similarly directly excited by bombesin-like peptides, the peptides may function to initiate broad activation, rather than the cell-type selective activation or inhibition reported for many other compounds that modulate energy homeostasis. PMID:19357287

Differential effects of centrally-administered oestrogen antagonist ICI-182,780 on oestrogen-sensitive functions in the hypothalamus.

PubMed

Steyn, F J; Anderson, G M; Grattan, D R

2007-01-01

Oestrogen actions within the hypothalamus are essential for a range of reproductive functions. In this study, we sought to develop a method for suppressing central oestrogen action without affecting peripheral oestrogenic effects. We administered the oestrogen receptor antagonist ICI-182,780 (ICI) via crystalline implants into the left lateral ventricle or the arcuate nucleus and measured the effectiveness of this drug on three endpoints known to be regulated by oestrogen: gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse frequency, progesterone receptor expression and the generation of a sustained prolactin surge during late pregnancy. To confirm that central ICI administration had no effect on peripheral actions of oestrogen, we monitored changes in uterine weight. Intracerebroventricular ICI treatment reversed the inhibitory effects of oestrogen on GnRH pulse frequency, as measured by plasma luteinising hormone pulse frequency. No effect on the oestrogenic induction of progesterone receptors within the arcuate nucleus or ventromedial hypothalamus was observed; however, a small yet significant reduction in progesterone receptor expression within dopaminergic neurones in the arcuate nucleus was observed. Intracerebroventricular or direct crystalline ICI administration to the arcuate nucleus did not change the serum prolactin level during late pregnancy. Central administration of ICI did not affect uterine weight, and thus did not have a peripheral effect. These data suggest that central administration of ICI can overcome some actions of oestrogen in the brain, such as GnRH pulse frequency, but does not affect other oestrogen mediated actions, including the induction of progesterone receptors or the antepartum prolactin surge. Thus, it appears that there is a differential sensitivity to the inhibition of central oestrogen actions by ICI.

A novel nomogram for the treatment of astigmatism with femtosecond-laser arcuate incisions at the time of cataract surgery

PubMed Central

Baharozian, Connor J; Song, Christian; Hatch, Kathryn M; Talamo, Jonathan H

2017-01-01

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine an arcuate incision (AI) nomogram to treat astigmatism during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. Methods This is a retrospective, cohort study. Femtosecond laser (FSL)-assisted transepithelial AIs were created at a 9.0 mm optical zone, 80% depth, centered on the limbus. We modified the manual Donnenfeld limbal relaxing incision nomogram to 70% for with-the-rule (WTR), 80% for oblique (OBL), and 100% for against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism. The correction index (CI) equaled AI-induced astigmatism/target-induced astigmatism. Measures included preoperative keratometric corneal cylinder (Pre Kcyl), postoperative Kcyl (Post Kcyl), and postoperative residual refractive astigmatism (Post RRA). Results Mean Pre Kcyl and 1–2 months Post RRA in 161 eyes of 116 patients were 0.626±0.417 diopters (D) (range 0.5–2 D), and 0.495±0.400 D (range 0–1.5 D), respectively. Mean absolute astigmatic changes (Pre Kcyl–Post Kcyl) without accounting for axis change in the WTR, ATR, and OBL groups were 0.165±0.383 D (P<0.001), 0.374±0.536 D (P<0.001), and 0.253±0.416 D (P=0.02), respectively. Mean absolute astigmatic changes using RRA as the postoperative measurement (Pre Kcyl–Post RRA) without accounting for axis change were 0.440±0.461 D (P<0.001), 0.238±0.571 D (P<0.05), 0.154±0.450 (P=0.111) in WTR, ATR, and OBL groups, respectively. CIs for WTR, ATR, and OBL were 0.53, 1.01, and 0.95, respectively. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications related to the AIs. Conclusion Transepithelial FSL-AIs using the modified Donnenfeld nomogram show potential for management of mild to moderate corneal astigmatism. An increase in the magnitude or reduction of the optical zone size for the treatment of WTR and ATR astigmatism for this nomogram may further improve refractive accuracy. PMID:29075096

GAUGING APPARATUS

DOEpatents

Ruggles, C.A.

1957-08-27

A swinging arm gage designed to measure radial angles, tapering, sloping, or arcuate concave surfaces is described. The principle of the swinging arm gage is that in any spherical system, radii and radial lines established by them pass through the center of the sphere. Thus if an arm be made to pivot at the sphere center, the path of the swinging end can be guided by a can so set as to establish the proper center angle, and dial indicators on the arm can be zeroed on a master object, angular and dimensional manufacturing errors can be determined on a duplicate object. This device makes possible a considerable saving of time in measuring complex arcuate contours.

PCR localization of C-type natriuretic peptide and B-type receptor mRNAs in rat nephron segments.

PubMed

Terada, Y; Tomita, K; Nonoguchi, H; Yang, T; Marumo, F

1994-08-01

The present study was undertaken to investigate the presence of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) mRNA and its receptor, natriuretic peptide B-type receptor (ANPR-B) mRNA, in rat renal structures. The microlocalization of mRNAs coding for CNP and ANPR-B was carried out in the rat kidney, using an assay of reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in individual microdissected renal tubule segments, glomeruli, vasa recta bundle, and arcuate arteries. The PCR signal for CNP was detected in glomerulus, vasa recta bundle, and arcuate artery. The PCR product of ANPR-B was widely present in renal structures. Relatively large amounts of ANPR-B PCR product were detected in glomerulus, vasa recta bundle, arcuate artery, and distal nephron segments. A relatively high concentration of CNP (10(-7) M) stimulated guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate accumulation in glomerulus, medullary thick ascending limb, cortical collecting duct, and inner medullary collecting duct. Our data demonstrate that CNP can be produced locally in the glomerulus and renal vascular system and that ANPR-B is widely distributed in renal structures. Thus CNP may influence renal function and act in autocrine and paracrine fashions in the kidney.

Chronic methamphetamine exposure significantly decreases microglia activation in the arcuate nucleus.

PubMed

Lloyd, Steven A; Corkill, Beau; Bruster, Matthew C; Roberts, Rick L; Shanks, Ryan A

2017-07-01

Methamphetamine is a powerful psychostimulant drug and its use and abuse necessitates a better understanding of its neurobiobehavioral effects. The acute effects of binge dosing of methamphetamine on the neurons in the CNS are well studied. However, the long-term effects of chronic, low-dose methamphetamine are less well characterized, especially in other cell types and areas outside of the major dopamine pathways. Mice were administered 5mg/kg/day methamphetamine for ten days and brain tissue was analyzed using histochemistry and image analysis. Increased microglia activity in the striatum confirmed toxic effects of methamphetamine in this brain region using this dosing paradigm. A significant decrease in microglia activity in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus was observed with no effect noted on dopamine neurons in the arcuate nucleus. Given the importance of this area in homeostatic and neuroendocrine regulation, the current study highlights the need to more fully understand the systemic effects of chronic, low-dose methamphetamine use. The novel finding of microglia downregulation after chronic methamphetamine could lead to advances in understanding neuroinflammatory responses towards addiction treatment and protection from psychostimulant-induced neurotoxicity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Does the use of an acellular dermal graft in abdominal closure after rectus flap harvest impact the occurrence of post-operative hernia?

PubMed

Saman, Masoud; Kadakia, Sameep; Ducic, Yadranko

2015-12-01

Patients with rectus free flap harvest extending below the arcuate line are predisposed to postoperative hernia formation. As such, many authors have advocated the use of closure adjuncts to increase the integrity of the closure and prevent hernia or abdominal wall bulging. Busy level 1 public trauma center in metropolitan Fort Worth, Texas Following harvest of the rectus free flap, 48 patients underwent primary closure; 24 of these patients had defects extending below the arcuate line. Forty patients were closed with an acellular dermal graft; 22 of these patients had defects extending below the arcuate line. Postoperative hernia formation and local infection rate were examined in a minimum follow-up period of 1 year. Regardless of closure method, no hernias were observed in the postoperative period. Using an unpaired t test and an alpha value of 0.05, there was no statistically significant difference in the infection rate between the two groups. Following rectus abdominis myocutaneous free flap harvest, the use of an acellular dermal graft in abdominal wall closure may not be of any further advantage in the prevention of hernia. Retrospective (Level III).

Kv channel subunits that contribute to voltage-gated K+ current in renal vascular smooth muscle.

PubMed

Fergus, Daniel J; Martens, Jeffrey R; England, Sarah K

2003-03-01

The rat renal arterial vasculature displays differences in K(+) channel current phenotypes along its length. Small arcuate to cortical radial arteries express a delayed rectifier phenotype, while the predominant Kv current in larger arcuate and interlobar arteries is composed of both transient and sustained components. We sought to determine whether Kvalpha subunits in the rat renal interlobar and arcuate arteries form heterotetramers, which may account for the unique currents, and whether modulatory Kvbeta subunits are present in renal vascular smooth muscle cells. RT-PCR indicated the presence of several different Kvalpha subunit isoform transcripts. Co-immunoprecipitation with immunoblotting and immunohistochemical evidence suggests that a portion of the K(+) current phenotype is a heteromultimer containing delayed-rectifier Kv1.2 and A-type Kv1.4 channel subunits. RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses also demonstrated the presence of both Kvbeta1.2 and Kvbeta1.3 in renal arteries. These results suggest that heteromultimeric formation of Kvalpha subunits and the presence of modulatory Kvbeta subunits are important factors in mediating Kv currents in the renal microvasculature and suggest a potentially critical role for these channel subunits in blood pressure regulation.

Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptor Immunoreactivities in the Arcuate-Median Eminence Complex and their Link to the Tubero-Infundibular Dopamine Neurons

PubMed Central

Romero-Fernandez, W.; Borroto-Escuela, D.O.; Vargas-Barroso, V.; Narváez, M.; Di Palma, M.; Agnati, L.F.; Sahd, J. Larriva

2014-01-01

Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor immunohistochemistry and Golgi techniques were used to study the structure of the adult rat arcuate-median eminence complex, and determine the distribution of the dopamine D1 and D2 receptor immunoreactivities therein, particularly in relation to the tubero-infundibular dopamine neurons. Punctate dopamine D1 and D2 receptor immunoreactivities, likely located on nerve terminals, were enriched in the lateral palisade zone built up of nerve terminals, while the densities were low to modest in the medial palisade zone. A codistribution of dopamine D1 receptor or dopamine D2 receptor immunoreactive puncta with tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive nerve terminals was demonstrated in the external layer. Dopamine D1 receptor but not dopamine D2 receptor immnunoreactivites nerve cell bodies were found in the ventromedial part of the arcuate nucleus and in the lateral part of the internal layer of the median eminence forming a continuous cell mass presumably representing neuropeptide Y immunoreactive nerve cell bodies. The major arcuate dopamine/ tyrosine hydroxylase nerve cell group was found in the dorsomedial part. A large number of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive nerve cell bodies in this region demonstrated punctate dopamine D1 receptor immunoreactivity but only a few presented dopamine D2 receptor immunoreactivity which were mainly found in a substantial number of tyrosine hydroxylase cell bodies of the ventral periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, also belonging to the tuberoinfundibular dopamine neurons. Structural evidence for projections of the arcuate nerve cells into the median eminence was also obtained. Distal axons formed horizontal axons in the internal layer issuing a variable number of collaterals classified into single or multiple strands located in the external layer increasing our understanding of the dopamine nerve terminal networks in this region. Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors may therefore directly and differentially modulate the activity and/or Dopamine synthesis of substantial numbers of tubero-infundibular dopamine neurons at the somatic and terminal level. The immunohistochemical work also gives support to the view that dopamine D1 receptors and/or dopamine D2 receptors in the lateral palisade zone by mediating dopamine volume transmission may contribute to the inhibition of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone release from nerve terminals in this region. PMID:25308843

Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor immunoreactivities in the arcuate-median eminence complex and their link to the tubero-infundibular dopamine neurons.

PubMed

Romero-Fernandez, W; Borroto-Escuela, D O; Vargas-Barroso, V; Narváez, M; Di Palma, M; Agnati, L F; Larriva Sahd, J; Fuxe, K

2014-07-18

Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor immunohistochemistry and Golgi techniques were used to study the structure of the adult rat arcuate-median eminence complex, and determine the distribution of the dopamine D1 and D2 receptor immunoreactivities therein, particularly in relation to the tubero-infundibular dopamine neurons. Punctate dopamine D1 and D2 receptor immunoreactivities, likely located on nerve terminals, were enriched in the lateral palisade zone built up of nerve terminals, while the densities were low to modest in the medial palisade zone. A codistribution of dopamine D1 receptor or dopamine D2 receptor immunoreactive puncta with tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive nerve terminals was demonstrated in the external layer. Dopamine D1 receptor but not dopamine D2 receptor immnunoreactivites nerve cell bodies were found in the ventromedial part of the arcuate nucleus and in the lateral part of the internal layer of the median eminence forming a continuous cell mass presumably representing neuropeptide Y immunoreactive nerve cell bodies. The major arcuate dopamine/ tyrosine hydroxylase nerve cell group was found in the dorsomedial part. A large number of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive nerve cell bodies in this region demonstrated punctate dopamine D1 receptor immunoreactivity but only a few presented dopamine D2 receptor immunoreactivity which were mainly found in a substantial number of tyrosine hydroxylase cell bodies of the ventral periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, also belonging to the tubero-infundibular dopamine neurons. Structural evidence for projections of the arcuate nerve cells into the median eminence was also obtained. Distal axons formed horizontal axons in the internal layer issuing a variable number of collaterals classified into single or multiple strands located in the external layer increasing our understanding of the dopamine nerve terminal networks in this region.  Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors may therefore directly and differentially modulate the activity and /or Dopamine synthesis of substantial numbers of tubero-infundibular dopamine neurons at the somatic and terminal level. The immunohistochemical work also gives support to the view that dopamine D1 receptors and/or dopamine D2 receptors in the lateral palisade zone by mediating dopamine volume transmission may contribute to the inhibition of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone release from nerve terminals in this region.

Development of an arcuate fold-thrust belt as a result of basement configuration: an example from the Rocky Mountain Front Range, Montana

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burberry, C. M.; Cannon, D. L.; Engelder, T.; Cosgrove, J. W.

2010-12-01

The Sawtooth Range forms part of the Montana Disturbed Belt in the Front Ranges of the Rocky Mountains, along strike from the Alberta Syncline in the Canadian Rockies. The belt developed in the footwall to the Lewis Thrust during the Sevier orogeny and is similar in deformation style to the Canadian Foothills, with a series of stacked thrust sheets carrying Palaeozoic carbonates. The Sawtooth Range can be divided into an inner and outer deformed belt, separated by exposed fold structures in the overlying clastic sequence. Structures in the deformed belts plunge into the culmination of the NE-trending Scapegoat-Bannatyne trend, part of the Great Falls Tectonic Zone (GFTZ). Other mapped faults, including the Pendroy fault zone to the north, parallel this trend. A number of mechanisms have been proposed for the development of primary arcs in fold-thrust belts, including linkage of two thrust belts with different strikes, differential transport of segments of the belt, the geometry of the indentor, local plate heterogeneity and pre-existing basement configuration. Arcuate belts may also develop as a result of later bending of an initially straight orogen. In the Swift Dam area, part of the outer belt of the Sawtooth Range, the strike of the belt changes from 165 to 150. This apparent change in strike is accommodated by a sinistral lateral ramp in the Swift Dam Thrust. In addition, this outer belt becomes broader to the north in the Swift Dam region. However, the outer belt becomes extremely narrow in the Teton Canyon region to the south, and the deformation front is characterised by an intercutaneous wedge structure, rather than the trailing-edge imbricate fan seen to the north. A similar imbricate fan structure is seen to the south, in the Sun River Canyon region, corresponding well to the classic model of a deformation belt governed by a dominant thrust sheet, after Boyer & Elliot. The Sawtooth Range can be described as an active-roof duplex in the footwall to the dominant Lewis thrust slab. Analysis of the transport directions of the thrust sheets in the Range implies that the inner arcuate belt is a secondary arc, but that the later, outer arcuate belt formed by divergent transport. This two-stage development model is strongly influenced by the basement configuration. The deformation front of the outer arc is governed by NNW-striking Proterozoic normal fault structures. The entire Sawtooth Range duplex is uplifted over an earlier, NE-trending basement structure (the GFTZ), forming a termination in the Lewis slab. The interaction of these two fault trends allows the development of a linear deformation front in the foreland Jurassic-Cretaceous sequence, but an arcuate belt in the Palaeozoic carbonate sheets. Thus, the width and style of the outer arcuate belt also varies along the strike of the belt.

Peripherally administered baclofen reduced food intake and body weight in db/db as well as diet-induced obese mice.

PubMed

Sato, Ikuko; Arima, Hiroshi; Ozaki, Noriyuki; Ozaki, Nobuaki; Watanabe, Minemori; Goto, Motomitsu; Shimizu, Hiroshi; Hayashi, Masayuki; Banno, Ryouichi; Nagasaki, Hiroshi; Oiso, Yutaka

2007-10-16

Peripheral administration of baclofen significantly reduced food intake and body weight increase in both diabetic (db/db) and diet-induced obese mice for 5 weeks, whereas it had no significant effects on energy balance in their lean control mice. Despite the decreased body weight, neuropeptide Y expression in the arcuate nucleus was significantly decreased, whereas pro-opiomelanocortin expression was significantly increased by baclofen treatment. These data demonstrate that the inhibitory effects of baclofen on body weight in the obese mice were mediated via the arcuate nucleus at least partially, and suggest that GABA(B) agonists could be a new therapeutic reagent for obesity.

Celiac Plexus Block as a Predictor of Surgical Outcome for Sympathetically Mediated Abdominal Pain in a Case of Suspected Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome: A Case Report.

PubMed

Sun, Zhuo; Fritz, David A; Turner, Suzanne; Hardy, David M; Meiler, Steffen E; Martin, Dan C; Dua, Anterpreet

2018-02-14

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), also known as celiac artery compression syndrome, is an uncommon condition classically characterized by chronic abdominal pain, weight loss, and abdominal bruit. Chronic mesenteric ischemia caused by intermittent compression of the celiac artery by the MAL provokes upper abdominal pain that is sympathetically mediated via the celiac plexus. Because it is a diagnosis of exclusion, diagnosis of MALS in the clinical setting is typically challenging. We present an atypical case which highlights the utility of celiac plexus block as both an assistant diagnostic tool and a predictor of surgical outcomes for suspected MALS.

Pixelated gamma detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dolinsky, Sergei Ivanovich; Yanoff, Brian David; Guida, Renato

2016-12-27

A pixelated gamma detector includes a scintillator column assembly having scintillator crystals and optical transparent elements alternating along a longitudinal axis, a collimator assembly having longitudinal walls separated by collimator septum, the collimator septum spaced apart to form collimator channels, the scintillator column assembly positioned adjacent to the collimator assembly so that the respective ones of the scintillator crystal are positioned adjacent to respective ones of the collimator channels, the respective ones of the optical transparent element are positioned adjacent to respective ones of the collimator septum, and a first photosensor and a second photosensor, the first and the secondmore » photosensor each connected to an opposing end of the scintillator column assembly. A system and a method for inspecting and/or detecting defects in an interior of an object are also disclosed.« less

Hypothalamic Vitamin D Improves Glucose Homeostasis and Reduces Weight

PubMed Central

Arble, Deanna M.; Chambers, Adam P.; Gutierrez-Aguilar, Ruth; He, Yanlin; Xu, Yong; Gardner, David; Moore, David D.; Seeley, Randy J.; Sandoval, Darleen A.

2016-01-01

Despite clear associations between vitamin D deficiency and obesity and/or type 2 diabetes, a causal relationship is not established. Vitamin D receptors (VDRs) are found within multiple tissues, including the brain. Given the importance of the brain in controlling both glucose levels and body weight, we hypothesized that activation of central VDR links vitamin D to the regulation of glucose and energy homeostasis. Indeed, we found that small doses of active vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) (calcitriol), into the third ventricle of the brain improved glucose tolerance and markedly increased hepatic insulin sensitivity, an effect that is dependent upon VDR within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. In addition, chronic central administration of 1,25D3 dramatically decreased body weight by lowering food intake in obese rodents. Our data indicate that 1,25D3-mediated changes in food intake occur through action within the arcuate nucleus. We found that VDR colocalized with and activated key appetite-regulating neurons in the arcuate, namely proopiomelanocortin neurons. Together, these findings define a novel pathway for vitamin D regulation of metabolism with unique and divergent roles for central nervous system VDR signaling. Specifically, our data suggest that vitamin D regulates glucose homeostasis via the paraventricular nuclei and energy homeostasis via the arcuate nuclei. PMID:27217488

Tractography for Optic Radiation Preservation in Transcortical Approaches to Intracerebral Lesions.

PubMed

Agarwal, Vijay; Malcolm, James G; Pradilla, Gustavo; Barrow, Daniel L

2017-09-28

We present a case of intraventricular meningioma resected via a transcortical approach using tractography for optic radiation and arcuate fasciculus preservation. We include a review of the literature. A 54-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer presented with gait imbalance. Workup revealed a mass in the atrium of the left lateral ventricle consistent with a meningioma. Whole brain automated diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to plan a transcortical resection while sparing the optic radiations and arcuate fasciculus. A left posterior parietal craniotomy was performed using the Synaptive BrightMatter™ frameless navigation (Synaptive Medical, Toronto, Canada) to minimally disrupt the white matter pathways. A gross total resection was achieved. Postoperatively, the patient had temporary right upper extremity weakness, which improved, and her visual fields and speech remained intact. Pathology confirmed a World Health Organization (WHO) Grade I meningothelial meningioma. While a thorough understanding of cortical anatomy is essential for safe resection of eloquent or deep-seated lesions, significant variability in fiber bundles, such as optic radiations and the arcuate fasciculus, necessitates a more individualized understanding of a patient's potential surgical risk. The addition of enhanced DTI to the neurosurgeon's armamentarium may allow for more complete resections of difficult intracerebral lesions while minimizing complications, such as visual deficit.

Learning Non-Adjacent Regularities at Age 0 ; 7

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gervain, Judit; Werker, Janet F.

2013-01-01

One important mechanism suggested to underlie the acquisition of grammar is rule learning. Indeed, infants aged 0 ; 7 are able to learn rules based on simple identity relations (adjacent repetitions, ABB: "wo fe fe" and non-adjacent repetitions, ABA: "wo fe wo", respectively; Marcus et al., 1999). One unexplored issue is…

Lowering glucose level elevates [Ca2+]i in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus NPY neurons through P/Q-type Ca2+ channel activation and GSK3β inhibition

PubMed Central

Chen, Yu; Zhou, Jun; Xie, Na; Huang, Chao; Zhang, Jun-qi; Hu, Zhuang-li; Ni, Lan; Jin, You; Wang, Fang; Chen, Jian-guo; Long, Li-hong

2012-01-01

Aim: To identify the mechanisms underlying the elevation of intracellular Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) induced by lowering extracellular glucose in rat hypothalamic arcuate nucleus NPY neurons. Methods: Primary cultures of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) neurons were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats. NPY neurons were identified with immunocytochemical method. [Ca2+]i was measured using fura-2 AM. Ca2+ current was recorded using whole-cell patch clamp recording. AMPK and GSK3β levels were measured using Western blot assay. Results: Lowering glucose level in the medium (from 10 to 1 mmol/L) induced a transient elevation of [Ca2+]i in ARC neurons, but not in hippocampal and cortical neurons. The low-glucose induced elevation of [Ca2+]i in ARC neurons depended on extracellular Ca2+, and was blocked by P/Q-type Ca2+channel blocker ω-agatoxin TK (100 nmol/L), but not by L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine (10 μmol/L) or N-type Ca2+channel blocker ω-conotoxin GVIA (300 nmol/L). Lowering glucose level increased the peak amplitude of high voltage-activated Ca2+ current in ARC neurons. The low-glucose induced elevation of [Ca2+]i in ARC neurons was blocked by the AMPK inhibitor compound C (20 μmol/L), and enhanced by the GSK3β inhibitor LiCl (10 mmol/L). Moreover, lowering glucose level induced the phosphorylation of AMPK and GSK3β, which was inhibited by compound C (20 μmol/L). Conclusion: Lowering glucose level enhances the activity of P/Q type Ca2+channels and elevates [Ca2+]i level in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus neurons via inhibition of GSK3β. PMID:22504905

Hypothalamic interactions between neuropeptide Y, agouti-related protein, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in vitro in male rats.

PubMed

Dhillo, W S; Small, C J; Stanley, S A; Jethwa, P H; Seal, L J; Murphy, K G; Ghatei, M A; Bloom, S R

2002-09-01

A number of neuropeptides implicated in the hypothalamic regulation of appetite are synthesized in the arcuate nucleus (Arc). Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (Agrp) are orexigenic. The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) product alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is anorectic. Intracerebroventricular administration of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) decreases food intake. However, recent results show that CART is orexigenic when injected into discrete hypothalamic nuclei. There is almost complete coexpression of NPY and Agrp mRNA in Arc neurones, and the majority of CART-containing neurones in the Arc also contain POMC mRNA. We investigated possible interactions between these neuropeptides in vitro using a rat hypothalamic explant system. Administration of 1, 10 and 100 nm of NPY to hypothalamic explants significantly increased release of Agrp(83-132)-immunoreactivity (IR). NPY (10 and 100 nm) significantly increased the release of CART(55-102)-IR and alpha-MSH-IR from hypothalamic explants. Agrp(83-132) (10 nm) administered to hypothalamic explants significantly increased the release of NPY-IR. Agrp(83-132) (10 and 100 nm) significantly decreased the release of CART(55-102)-IR from hypothalamic explants. Administration of 1, 10 and 100 nm CART(55-102) to hypothalamic explants resulted in a significant increase in NPY-IR release. Administration of 10 nm CART(55-102) to hypothalamic explants significantly increased the release of Agrp(83-132)-IR. NDP-MSH (10 nm) administered to hypothalamic explants significantly increased the release of NPY-IR. NDP-MSH (10 and 100 nm) significantly increased the release of Agrp(83-132)-IR from hypothalamic explants. These data suggest that orexigenic neuropeptides in the arcuate nucleus stimulate the release of each other, perhaps reinforcing orexigenic behaviour via a positive-feedback loop. Our results are also in keeping with the possibility that the melanocortin-3 receptor in the arcuate nucleus may influence the release of arcuate neuropeptides.

Petrology, geochronology and emplacement model of the giant 1.37 Ga arcuate Lake Victoria Dyke Swarm on the margin of a large igneous province in eastern Africa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mäkitie, Hannu; Data, Gabriel; Isabirye, Edward; Mänttäri, Irmeli; Huhma, Hannu; Klausen, Martin B.; Pakkanen, Lassi; Virransalo, Petri

2014-09-01

A comprehensive description of the petrography, geochemical composition, Sm-Nd data and intrinsic field relationships of a giant arcuate Mesoproterozoic mafic dyke swarm in SW Uganda is presented for the first time. The swarm is ∼100 km wide and mainly hosted in the Palaeoproterozoic Rwenzori Belt between the Mesoproterozoic Karagwe-Ankole Belt and the Archaean Uganda Block. The dykes trend NW-SE across Uganda, but can be correlated across Lake Victoria to another set of arcuate aeromagnetic anomalies that continue southwards into Tanzania, resulting in a remarkably large semi-circular swarm with an outer diameter of ∼500 km. We propose that this unique giant dyke structure be named the Lake Victoria Dyke Swarm (LVDS). The dykes are tholeiites with Mg numbers between 0.69 and 0.44, and with inherited marked negative Nb and P anomalies in spider diagrams. Two dykes provide Sm-Nd mineral ages of 1368 ± 41 Ma and 1374 ± 42 Ma, with initial εNd values of -2.3 and -3.2, and 87Sr/86Sr ratios of ∼0.706-0.709. Geotectonic discrimination diagrams for the swarm exhibit more arc type than within-plate tectonic signatures, but this is in accordance with systematic enrichments in LREE, U and Th in the dolerites, more likely due to the involvement of the continental lithosphere during their petrogenesis. The LVDS is coeval with a regional ∼1375 Ma bimodal magmatic event across nearby Burundi, Rwanda and NW Tanzania, which can collectively be viewed as a large igneous province (LIP). It also indicates that the nearby Karagwe-Ankole Belt sequences - bracketed between 1.78 and 1.37 Ga and assumed by some to have been deposited within intracratonic basins - were capped by flood basalts that have subsequently been removed by erosion. Different geochemical signatures (e.g. LaN/SmN) suggest that most of the arcuate swarm was derived from an enriched SCLM, whereas related intrusions in the centre of this semi-circular segment have more or less enriched asthenospheric mantle source signatures. A model of how the LIP configuration formed, and especially its giant arcuate swarm, requires fortuitous pre-existing structures, an unusually large sub-crustal magma chamber, and/or some very intrinsic rift process. The LIP is apparently related to a global 1.4-1.2 Ga rifting event that led to the break-up of the Columbia/Nuna supercontinent.

Open-door laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy resulting from adjacent-segment disease in patients with previous anterior cervical decompression and fusion.

PubMed

Matsumoto, Morio; Nojiri, Kenya; Chiba, Kazuhiro; Toyama, Yoshiaki; Fukui, Yasuyuki; Kamata, Michihiro

2006-05-20

This is a retrospective study of patients with cervical myelopathy resulting from adjacent-segment disease who were treated by open-door expansive laminoplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy resulting from adjacent-segment disease. Adjacent-segment disease is one of the problems associated with anterior cervical decompression and fusion. However, the optimal surgical management strategy is still controversial. Thirty-one patients who underwent open-door expansive laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy resulting from adjacent-segment disease and age- and sex-matched 31 patients with myelopathy who underwent laminoplasty as the initial surgery were enrolled in the study. The pre- and postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association scores (JOA scores) and the recovery rate were compared between the two groups. The average JOA scores in the patients with adjacent-segment disease and the controls were 9.2 +/- 2.6 and 9.4 +/- 2.3 before the expansive laminoplasty and 11.9 +/- 2.8 and 13.3 +/- 1.7 at the follow-up examination, respectively; the average recovery rates in the two groups were 37.1 +/- 22.4% and 50.0 +/- 21.3%, respectively (P = 0.04). The mean number of segments covered by the high-intensity lesions on the T2-weighted magnetic resonance images was 1.87 and 0.9, respectively (P = 0.001). Moderate neurologic recovery was obtained after open-door laminoplasty in patients with cervical myelopathy resulting from adjacent-segment disc disease, although the results were not as satisfactory as those in the control group. This may be attributed to the irreversible damage of the spinal cord caused by persistent compression at the adjacent segments.

The serotonergic anatomy of the developing human medulla oblongata: implications for pediatric disorders of homeostasis.

PubMed

Kinney, Hannah C; Broadbelt, Kevin G; Haynes, Robin L; Rognum, Ingvar J; Paterson, David S

2011-07-01

The caudal serotonergic (5-HT) system is a critical component of a medullary "homeostatic network" that regulates protective responses to metabolic stressors such as hypoxia, hypercapnia, and hyperthermia. We define anatomically the caudal 5-HT system in the human medulla as 5-HT neuronal cell bodies located in the raphé (raphé obscurus, raphé magnus, and raphé pallidus), extra-raphé (gigantocellularis, paragigantocellularis lateralis, intermediate reticular zone, lateral reticular nucleus, and nucleus subtrigeminalis), and ventral surface (arcuate nucleus). These 5-HT neurons are adjacent to all of the respiratory- and autonomic-related nuclei in the medulla where they are positioned to modulate directly the responses of these effector nuclei. In the following review, we highlight the topography and development of the caudal 5-HT system in the human fetus and infant, and its inter-relationships with nicotinic, GABAergic, and cytokine receptors. We also summarize pediatric disorders in early life which we term "developmental serotonopathies" of the caudal (as well as rostral) 5-HT domain and which are associated with homeostatic imbalances. The delineation of the development and organization of the human caudal 5-HT system provides the critical foundation for the neuropathologic elucidation of its disorders directly in the human brain. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Serotonergic Anatomy of the Developing Human Medulla Oblongata: Implications for Pediatric Disorders of Homeostasis

PubMed Central

Kinney, Hannah C.; Broadbelt, Kevin G.; Haynes, Robin L.; Rognum, Ingvar J.; Paterson, David S.

2011-01-01

The caudal serotonergic (5-HT) system is a critical component of a medullary “homeostatic network” that regulates protective responses to metabolic stressors such as hypoxia, hypercapnia, and hyperthermia. We define anatomically the caudal 5-HT system in the human medulla as 5-HT neuronal cell bodies located in the raphé (raphé obscurus, raphé magnus, and raphé pallidus), extra-raphé (gigantocellularis, paragigantocellularis lateralis, intermediate reticular zone, lateral reticular nucleus, and nucleus subtrigeminalis), and ventral surface (arcuate nucleus). These 5-HT neurons are adjacent to all of the respiratory- and autonomic-related nuclei in the medulla where they are positioned to modulate directly the responses of these effector nuclei. In the following review, we highlight the topography and development of the caudal 5-HT system in the human fetus and infant, and its inter-relationships with nicotinic, GABAergic, and cytokine receptors. We also summarize pediatric disorders in early life which we term “developmental serotonopathies” of the caudal (as well as rostral) 5-HT domain and which are associated with homeostatic imbalances. The delineation of the development and organization of the human caudal 5-HT system provides the critical foundation for the neuropathologic elucidation of its disorders directly in the human brain. PMID:21640183

Widespread loess-like deposit in the Martian northern lowlands identifies Middle Amazonian climate change

USGS Publications Warehouse

Skinner, James A.; Tanaka, Kenneth L.; Platz, Thomas

2014-01-01

Consistently mappable units critical to distinguishing the style and interplay of geologic processes through time are sparse in the Martian lowlands. This study identifies a previously unmapped Middle Amazonian (ca. 1 Ga) unit (Middle Amazonian lowland unit, mAl) that postdates the Late Hesperian and Early Amazonian lowland plains by >2 b.y. The unit is regionally defined by subtle marginal scarps and slopes, has a mean thickness of 32 m, and extends >3.1 × 106 km2 between lat 35°N and 80°N. Pedestal-type craterforms and nested, arcuate ridges (thumbprint terrain) tend to occur adjacent to unit mAl outcrops, suggesting that current outcrops are vestiges of a more extensive deposit that previously covered ∼16 × 106 km2. Exposed layers, surface pits, and the draping of subjacent landforms allude to a sedimentary origin, perhaps as a loess-like deposit emplaced rhythmically through atmospheric fallout. We propose that unit mAl accumulated coevally with, and at the expense of, the erosion of the north polar basal units, identifying a major episode of Middle Amazonian climate-driven sedimentation in the lowlands. This work links ancient sedimentary processes to climate change that occurred well before those implied by current orbital and spin axis models.

Optogenetic Stimulation of Arcuate Nucleus Kiss1 Neurons Reveals a Steroid-Dependent Glutamatergic Input to POMC and AgRP Neurons in Male Mice

PubMed Central

Nestor, Casey C; Qiu, Jian; Padilla, Stephanie L.; Zhang, Chunguang; Bosch, Martha A.; Fan, Wei; Aicher, Sue A.; Palmiter, Richard D.

2016-01-01

Kisspeptin (Kiss1) neurons are essential for reproduction, but their role in the control of energy balance and other homeostatic functions remains unclear. Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons, located in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus, integrate numerous excitatory and inhibitory inputs to ultimately regulate energy homeostasis. Given that POMC and AgRP neurons are contacted by Kiss1 neurons in the ARC (Kiss1ARC) and they express androgen receptors, Kiss1ARC neurons may mediate the orexigenic action of testosterone via POMC and/or AgRP neurons. Quantitative PCR analysis of pooled Kiss1ARC neurons revealed that mRNA levels for Kiss1 and vesicular glutamate transporter 2 were higher in castrated male mice compared with gonad-intact males. Single-cell RT-PCR analysis of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) ARC neurons harvested from males injected with AAV1-EF1α-DIO-ChR2:YFP revealed that 100% and 88% expressed mRNAs for Kiss1 and vesicular glutamate transporter 2, respectively. Whole-cell, voltage-clamp recordings from nonfluorescent postsynaptic ARC neurons showed that low frequency photo-stimulation (0.5 Hz) of Kiss1-ChR2:YFP neurons elicited a fast glutamatergic inward current in POMC and AgRP neurons. Paired-pulse, photo-stimulation revealed paired-pulse depression, which is indicative of greater glutamate release, in the castrated male mice compared with gonad-intact male mice. Group I and group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists depolarized and hyperpolarized POMC and AgRP neurons, respectively, which was mimicked by high frequency photo-stimulation (20 Hz) of Kiss1ARC neurons. Therefore, POMC and AgRP neurons receive direct steroid- and frequency-dependent glutamatergic synaptic input from Kiss1ARC neurons in male mice, which may be a critical pathway for Kiss1 neurons to help coordinate energy homeostasis and reproduction. PMID:27093227

Changes in language white matter tract microarchitecture associated with cognitive deficits in patients with presumed low-grade glioma.

PubMed

Incekara, Fatih; Satoer, Djaina; Visch-Brink, Evy; Vincent, Arnaud; Smits, Marion

2018-06-08

OBJECTIVE The authors conducted a study to determine whether cognitive functioning of patients with presumed low-grade glioma is associated with white matter (WM) tract changes. METHODS The authors included 77 patients with presumed low-grade glioma who underwent awake surgery between 2005 and 2013. Diffusion tensor imaging with deterministic tractography was performed preoperatively to identify the arcuate, inferior frontooccipital, and uncinate fasciculi and to obtain the mean fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity per tract. All patients were evaluated preoperatively using an extensive neuropsychological protocol that included assessments of the language, memory, and attention/executive function domains. Linear regression models were used to analyze each cognitive domain and each diffusion tensor imaging metric of the 3 WM tracts. RESULTS Significant correlations (corrected for multiple testing) were found between FA of the arcuate fasciculus and results of the repetition test for the language domain (β = 0.59, p < 0.0001) and between FA of the inferior frontooccipital fasciculus and results of the imprinting test for the memory domain (β = -0.55, p = 0.002) and the attention test for the attention and executive function domain (β = -0.62, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS In patients with glioma, language deficits in repetition of speech, imprinting, and attention deficits are associated with changes in the microarchitecture of the arcuate and inferior frontooccipital fasciculi.

Mapping Vesta Mid-Latitude Quadrangle V-12EW: Mapping the Edge of the South Polar Structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoogenboom, T.; Schenk, P.; Williams, D. A.; Hiesinger, H.; Garry, W. B.; Yingst, R.; Buczkowski, D.; McCord, T. B.; Jaumann, R.; Pieters, C. M.; Gaskell, R. W.; Neukum, G.; Schmedemann, N.; Marchi, S.; Nathues, A.; Le Corre, L.; Roatsch, T.; Preusker, F.; White, O. L.; DeSanctis, C.; Filacchione, G.; Raymond, C. A.; Russell, C. T.

2011-12-01

NASA's Dawn spacecraft arrived at the asteroid 4Vesta on July 15, 2011, and is now collecting imaging, spectroscopic, and elemental abundance data during its one-year orbital mission. As part of the geological analysis of the surface, a series of 15 quadrangle maps are being produced based on Framing Camera images (FC: spatial resolution: ~65 m/pixel) along with Visible & Infrared Spectrometer data (VIR: spatial resolution: ~180 m/pixel) obtained during the High-Altitude Mapping Orbit (HAMO). This poster presentation concentrates on our geologic analysis and mapping of quadrangle V-12EW. This quadrangle is dominated by the arcuate edge of the large 460+ km diameter south polar topographic feature first observed by HST (Thomas et al., 1997). Sparsely cratered, the portion of this feature covered in V-12EW is characterized by arcuate ridges and troughs forming a generalized arcuate pattern. Mapping of this terrain and the transition to areas to the north will be used to test whether this feature has an impact or other (e.g., internal) origin. We are also using FC stereo and VIR images to assess whether their are any compositional differences between this terrain and areas further to the north, and image data to evaluate the distribution and age of young impact craters within the map area. The authors acknowledge the support of the Dawn Science, Instrument and Operations Teams.

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome: A Single-Center Experience with 23 Patients

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nasr, Layla A.; Faraj, Walid G.; Al-Kutoubi, Aghiad

BackgroundMedian arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare entity that occurs when the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm is low-lying, causing a compression to the underlying celiac trunk. We reviewed the vascular changes associated with MALS in an effort to emphasize the seriousness of this disease and the complications that may result.MethodsThis is a retrospective descriptive analysis of 23 consecutive patients diagnosed with MALS between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015 at a tertiary medical center. Computed tomographic (CT) scans, medical records, and patient follow-up were reviewed.ResultsThe number of patients included herein was 23. The median age wasmore » 56 years (17–83). Sixteen patients (69.6%) had a significant arterial collateral circulation. Eleven patients (47.8%) were found to have visceral artery aneurysms; 4 patients (36.4%) bled secondary to aneurysm rupture. All ruptured aneurysms were treated with endovascular approach. The severity of the hemodynamic changes appears to be greater with complete occlusion,ConclusionsMALS causes pathological hemodynamic changes within the abdominal vasculature. Follow-up is advised for patients who develop a collateral circulation. Resulting aneurysms should preferably be treated when the size ratio approaches three. Treatment of these aneurysms can be done via an endovascular approach coupled with possible celiac artery decompression to restore physiologic blood flow.« less

Glut2-dependent glucose-sensing controls thermoregulation by enhancing the leptin sensitivity of NPY and POMC neurons.

PubMed

Mounien, Lourdes; Marty, Nell; Tarussio, David; Metref, Salima; Genoux, David; Preitner, Frédéric; Foretz, Marc; Thorens, Bernard

2010-06-01

The physiological contribution of glucose in thermoregulation is not completely established nor whether this control may involve a regulation of the melanocortin pathway. Here, we assessed thermoregulation and leptin sensitivity of hypothalamic arcuate neurons in mice with inactivation of glucose transporter type 2 (Glut2)-dependent glucose sensing. Mice with inactivation of Glut2-dependent glucose sensors are cold intolerant and show increased susceptibility to food deprivation-induced torpor and abnormal hypothermic response to intracerebroventricular administration of 2-deoxy-d-glucose compared to control mice. This is associated with a defect in regulated expression of brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein I and iodothyronine deiodinase II and with a decreased leptin sensitivity of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, as observed during the unfed-to-refed transition or following i.p. leptin injection. Sites of central Glut-2 expression were identified by a genetic tagging approach and revealed that glucose-sensitive neurons were present in the lateral hypothalamus, the dorsal vagal complex, and the basal medulla but not in the arcuate nucleus. NPY and POMC neurons were, however, connected to nerve terminals from Glut2-expressing neurons. Thus, our data suggest that glucose controls thermoregulation and the leptin sensitivity of NPY and POMC neurons through activation of Glut2-dependent glucose-sensing neurons located outside of the arcuate nucleus.

Hypothalamic Vitamin D Improves Glucose Homeostasis and Reduces Weight.

PubMed

Sisley, Stephanie R; Arble, Deanna M; Chambers, Adam P; Gutierrez-Aguilar, Ruth; He, Yanlin; Xu, Yong; Gardner, David; Moore, David D; Seeley, Randy J; Sandoval, Darleen A

2016-09-01

Despite clear associations between vitamin D deficiency and obesity and/or type 2 diabetes, a causal relationship is not established. Vitamin D receptors (VDRs) are found within multiple tissues, including the brain. Given the importance of the brain in controlling both glucose levels and body weight, we hypothesized that activation of central VDR links vitamin D to the regulation of glucose and energy homeostasis. Indeed, we found that small doses of active vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) (calcitriol), into the third ventricle of the brain improved glucose tolerance and markedly increased hepatic insulin sensitivity, an effect that is dependent upon VDR within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. In addition, chronic central administration of 1,25D3 dramatically decreased body weight by lowering food intake in obese rodents. Our data indicate that 1,25D3-mediated changes in food intake occur through action within the arcuate nucleus. We found that VDR colocalized with and activated key appetite-regulating neurons in the arcuate, namely proopiomelanocortin neurons. Together, these findings define a novel pathway for vitamin D regulation of metabolism with unique and divergent roles for central nervous system VDR signaling. Specifically, our data suggest that vitamin D regulates glucose homeostasis via the paraventricular nuclei and energy homeostasis via the arcuate nuclei. © 2016 by the American Diabetes Association.

Language Dysfunction After Stroke and Damage to White Matter Tracts Evaluated Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging

PubMed Central

Breier, J.I.; Hasan, K.M.; Zhang, W.; Men, D.; Papanicolaou, A.C.

2011-01-01

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Knowledge of the anatomic basis of aphasia after stroke has both theoretic and clinical implications by informing models of cortical connectivity and providing data for diagnosis and prognosis. In this study we use diffusion tensor imaging to address the relationship between damage to specific white matter tracts and linguistic deficits after left hemisphere stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty patients aged 38–77 years with a history of stroke in the left hemisphere underwent diffusion tensor imaging, structural MR imaging, and language testing. All of the patients were premorbidly right handed and underwent imaging and language testing at least 1 month after stroke. RESULTS Lower fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the superior longitudinal and arcuate fasciculi of the left hemisphere, an indication of greater damage to these tracts, were correlated with decreased ability to repeat spoken language. Comprehension deficits after stroke were associated with lower FA values in the arcuate fasciculus of the left hemisphere. The findings for repetition were independent of MR imaging ratings of the degree of damage to cortical areas of the left hemisphere involved in language function. There were no findings for homotopic tracts in the right hemisphere. CONCLUSION This study provides support for a specific role for damage to the superior longitudinal and arcuate fasciculi in the left hemisphere in patients with deficits in repetition of speech in aphasia after stroke. PMID:18039757

Immunohistochemical characterization of the arcuate kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) and preoptic kisspeptin neuronal populations in the hypothalamus during the estrous cycle in heifers

PubMed Central

HASSANEEN, A; NANIWA, Yousuke; SUETOMI, Yuta; MATSUYAMA, Shuichi; KIMURA, Koji; IEDA, Nahoko; INOUE, Naoko; UENOYAMA, Yoshihisa; TSUKAMURA, Hiroko; MAEDA, Kei-ichiro; MATSUDA, Fuko; OHKURA, Satoshi

2016-01-01

Elucidating the physiological mechanisms that control reproduction is an obvious strategy for improving the fertility of cattle and developing new agents to control reproductive functions. The present study aimed to identify kisspeptin neurons in the bovine hypothalamus, clarifying that a central mechanism is also present in the cattle brain, as kisspeptin is known to play an important role in the stimulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/gonadotropin secretion in other mammals. To characterize kisspeptin neurons in the bovine hypothalamus, the co-localizations of kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) or kisspeptin and dynorphin A (Dyn) were examined. Hypothalamic tissue was collected from Japanese Black or Japanese Black × Holstein crossbred cows during the follicular and luteal phases. Brain sections, including the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the preoptic area (POA), were dual immunostained with kisspeptin and either NKB or Dyn. In the ARC, both NKB and Dyn were co-localized in kisspeptin neurons during both the follicular and luteal phases, demonstrating the presence of kisspeptin/NKB/Dyn-containing neurons, referred to as KNDy neurons, in cows. In the POA, no co-localization of kisspeptin with either NKB or Dyn was detected. Kisspeptin expression in the follicular phase was higher than that in the luteal phase, suggesting that kisspeptin expression in the POA is positively controlled by estrogen in cows. The kisspeptin neuronal populations in the ARC and POA likely play important roles in regulating the GnRH pulse and surge, respectively, in cows. PMID:27349533

Postnatal Ablation of POMC Neurons Induces an Obese Phenotype Characterized by Decreased Food Intake and Enhanced Anxiety-Like Behavior

PubMed Central

Greenman, Yona; Drori, Yonat; Asa, Sylvia L.; Navon, Inbal; Forkosh, Oren; Gil, Shosh; Stern, Naftali

2013-01-01

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus are central components of systems regulating appetite and energy homeostasis. Here we report on the establishment of a mouse model in which the ribonuclease III ribonuclease Dicer-1 has been specifically deleted from POMC-expressing neurons (POMCΔDCR), leading to postnatal cell death. Mice are born phenotypically normal, at the expected genetic ratio and with normal hypothalamic POMC-mRNA levels. At 6 weeks of age, no POMC neurons/cells could be detected either in the arcuate nucleus or in the pituitary of POMCΔDCR mice. POMCΔDCR develop progressive obesity secondary to decreased energy expenditure but unrelated to food intake, which was surprisingly lower than in control mice. Reduced expression of AgRP and ghrelin receptor in the hypothalamus and reduced uncoupling protein 1 expression in brown adipose tissue can potentially explain the decreased food intake and decreased heat production, respectively, in these mice. Fasting glucose levels were dramatically elevated in POMCΔDCR mice and the glucose tolerance test revealed marked glucose intolerance in these mice. Secondary to corticotrope ablation, basal and stress-induced corticosterone levels were undetectable in POMCΔDCR mice. Despite this lack of activation of the neuroendocrine stress response, POMCΔDCR mice exhibited an anxiogenic phenotype, which was accompanied with elevated levels of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor and arginine-vasopressin transcripts. In conclusion, postnatal ablation of POMC neurons leads to enhanced anxiety and the development of obesity despite decreased food intake and glucocorticoid deficiency. PMID:23676213

The TRH neuron: a hypothalamic integrator of energy metabolism.

PubMed

Lechan, Ronald M; Fekete, Csaba

2006-01-01

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) has an important role in the regulation of energy homeostasis not only through effects on thyroid function orchestrated through hypophysiotropic neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), but also through central effects on feeding behavior, thermogenesis, locomotor activation and autonomic regulation. Hypophysiotropic TRH neurons are located in the medial and periventricular parvocellular subdivisions of the PVN and receive direct monosynaptic projections from two, separate, populations of leptin-responsive neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus containing either alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), peptides that promote weight loss and increase energy expenditure, or neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AGRP), peptides that promote weight gain and reduce energy expenditure. During fasting, the reduction in TRH mRNA in hypophysiotropic neurons mediated by suppression of alpha-MSH/CART simultaneously with an increase in NPY/AGRP gene expression in arcuate nucleus neurons contributes to the fall in circulating thyroid hormone levels, presumably by increasing the sensitivity of the TRH gene to negative feedback inhibition by thyroid hormone. Endotoxin administration, however, has the paradoxical effect of increasing circulating levels of leptin and melanocortin signaling and CART gene expression in arcuate nucleus neurons, but inhibiting TRH gene expression in hypophysiotropic neurons. This may be explained by an overriding inhibitory effect of endotoxin to increase type 2 iodothyroine deiodinase (D2) in a population of specialized glial cells, tanycytes, located in the base and infralateral walls of the third ventricle. By increasing the conversion of T4 into T3, tanycytes may increase local tissue concenetrations of thyroid hormone, and thereby induce a state of local tissue hyperthyroidism in the region of hypophysisotrophic TRH neurons. Other regions of the brain may also serve as metabolic sensors for hypophysiostropic TRH neurons including the ventrolateral medulla and dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus that have direct monosynaptic projections to the PVN. TRH also exerts a number of effects within the central nervous system that may contribute to the regulation of energy homeostasis. Included are an increase in core body temperature mediated through neurons in the anterior hypothalamic-preoptic area that coordinate a variety of autonomic responses; arousal and locomotor activation through cholinergic and dopaminergic mechanisms on the septum and nucleus accumbens, respectively; and regulation of the cephalic phase of digestion. While the latter responses are largely mediated through cholinergic mechanisms via TRH neurons in the brainstem medullary raphe and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, effects of TRH on autonomic loci in the hypothalamic PVN may also be important. Contrary to the actions of T3 to increase appetite, TRH has central effects to reduce food intake in normal, fasting and stressed animals. The precise locus where TRH mediates this response is unknown. However, evidence that an anatomically separate population of nonhypophysiotropic TRH neurons in the anterior parvocellular subdivision of the PVN is integrated into the leptin regulatory control system by the same arcuate nucleus neuronal populations that innervate hypophysiotropic TRH neurons, raises the possibility that anterior parvocellular TRH neurons may be involved, possibly through interactions with the limbic nervous system.

Segmented inlet nozzle for gas turbine, and methods of installation

DOEpatents

Klompas, Nicholas

1985-01-01

A gas turbine nozzle guide vane assembly is formed of individual arcuate nozzle segments. The arcuate nozzle segments are elastically joined to each other to form a complete ring, with edges abutted to prevent leakage. The resultant nozzle ring is included within the overall gas turbine stationary structure and secured by a mounting arrangement which permits relative radial movement at both the inner and outer mountings. A spline-type outer mounting provides circumferential retention. A complete rigid nozzle ring with freedom to "float" radially results. Specific structures are disclosed for the inner and outer mounting arrangements. A specific tie-rod structure is also disclosed for elastically joining the individual nozzle segments. Also disclosed is a method of assembling the nozzle ring subassembly-by-subassembly into a gas turbine employing temporary jacks.

POMC Neurons: From Birth to Death

PubMed Central

Toda, Chitoku; Santoro, Anna; Kim, Jung Dae

2017-01-01

The hypothalamus is an evolutionarily conserved brain structure that regulates an organism’s basic functions, such as homeostasis and reproduction. Several hypothalamic nuclei and neuronal circuits have been the focus of many studies to understand their role in regulating these basic functions. Within the hypothalamic neuronal populations, the arcuate melanocortin system plays a major role in controlling homeostatic functions. The arcuate pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in particular have been shown to be critical regulators of metabolism and reproduction because of their projections to several brain areas both in and outside of the hypothalamus, such as autonomic regions of the brain stem and spinal cord. Here, we review and discuss the current understanding of POMC neurons from their development and intracellular regulators to their physiological functions and pathological dysregulation. PMID:28192062

Scroll bar growth on the coastal Trinity River, TX, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mason, J.; Hassenruck-Gudipati, H. J.; Mohrig, D. C.

2017-12-01

The processes leading to the formation and growth of scroll bars remain relatively mysterious despite how often they are referenced in fluvial literature. Their definition is descriptive; they are characterized as arcuate topographic highs present on the inner banks of channel bends on meandering rivers, landward of point bars. Often, they are used as proxies for previous positions of point bars. This assumption of a one-to-one correspondence between point bars and scroll bars should be reconsidered as 1) planform curvature for scroll bars is consistently smaller than the curvature for adjacent point bars, and 2) deposition on the scroll bar is typically distinct and disconnected from the adjacent point bar deposition. Results from time-lapse airborne lidar data as well as from trenches through five separate scroll bar - point bar pairings on the Trinity River in east TX, USA, will be discussed in relation to formative scroll bar processes and their connection to point bars. On the lidar difference map, scroll bar growth appears as a strip of increased deposition flanked on both the land- and channel-ward sides by areas with no or limited deposition. Trenches perpendicular to these scrolls typically show a base of dune-scale cross stratification interpreted to be associated with a previous position of the point bar. These dune sets are overlain by sets of climbing-ripple cross-strata that form the core of the modern scroll bar and preserve a record of multiple transport directions (away from, towards, and parallel to the channel). Preliminary Trinity River grain-size analyses show that the constructional scrolls are enriched in all grain sizes less than 250 microns in diameter, while point bars are enriched in all grain sizes above this cut off. Scroll bars are hypothesized to be akin to levees along the inner banks of channels-flow expansion caused by the presence of point bars induces deposition of suspended sediment that defines the positions of the scroll bars.

Sphaeromyxids form part of a diverse group of myxosporeans infecting the hepatic biliary systems of a wide range of host organisms.

PubMed

Kristmundsson, Arni; Freeman, Mark A

2013-03-01

Approximately 40 species of Sphaeromyxa have been described, all of which are coelozoic parasites from gall bladders of marine fish. They are unique amongst the myxosporeans as they have polar filaments that are flat and folded instead of being tubular and spirally wound. This unusual feature was used as a subordinal character to erect the suborder Sphaeromyxina, which contains one family, the Sphaeromyxidae, and a single genus Sphaeromyxa. In the present study, we examine eelpout from the genus Lycodes from Iceland for the presence of myxosporean parasites in the gall bladder and perform morphological and DNA studies. A novel myxosporean, Sphaeromyxa lycodi n. sp., was identified in the gall bladders of five of the six species of Lycodes examined, with a prevalence ranging from 29 - 100%. The coelozoic plasmodia are large, polysporous and contain disporic pansporoblasts and mature spores which are arcuate. The pyriform polar capsules encase long and irregularly folded ribbon-like polar filaments. Each spore valve has two distinct ends and an almost 180° twist along the relatively indistinct suture line. The single sporoplasm is granular with two nuclei. Sphaeromyxa lycodi is phylogenetically related to other arcuate sphaeromyxids and is reproducibly placed with all known sphaeromyxids and forms part of a robustly supported clade of numerous myxosporean genera which infect the hepatic biliary systems of a wide range of hosts. Sphaeromyxa lycodi is a common gall bladder myxosporean in eelpout of the genus Lycodes from Northern Iceland. It has characteristics typical of the genus and develops arcuate spores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirm that sphaeromyxids form a monophyletic group, subdivided into straight and arcuate spore forms, within the hepatic biliary clade that infect a wide range of freshwater associated animals. The ancestral spore form for the hepatic biliary clade was probably a Chloromyxum morphotype; however, sphaeromyxids have more recently evolved from an ancestor with a spindle-shaped Myxidium spore form. We recommend that the suborder Sphaeromyxina is suppressed; however, we retain the family Sphaeromyxidae and place it in the suborder Variisporina.

Sphaeromyxids form part of a diverse group of myxosporeans infecting the hepatic biliary systems of a wide range of host organisms

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Approximately 40 species of Sphaeromyxa have been described, all of which are coelozoic parasites from gall bladders of marine fish. They are unique amongst the myxosporeans as they have polar filaments that are flat and folded instead of being tubular and spirally wound. This unusual feature was used as a subordinal character to erect the suborder Sphaeromyxina, which contains one family, the Sphaeromyxidae, and a single genus Sphaeromyxa. Methods In the present study, we examine eelpout from the genus Lycodes from Iceland for the presence of myxosporean parasites in the gall bladder and perform morphological and DNA studies. Results A novel myxosporean, Sphaeromyxa lycodi n. sp., was identified in the gall bladders of five of the six species of Lycodes examined, with a prevalence ranging from 29 - 100%. The coelozoic plasmodia are large, polysporous and contain disporic pansporoblasts and mature spores which are arcuate. The pyriform polar capsules encase long and irregularly folded ribbon-like polar filaments. Each spore valve has two distinct ends and an almost 180° twist along the relatively indistinct suture line. The single sporoplasm is granular with two nuclei. Sphaeromyxa lycodi is phylogenetically related to other arcuate sphaeromyxids and is reproducibly placed with all known sphaeromyxids and forms part of a robustly supported clade of numerous myxosporean genera which infect the hepatic biliary systems of a wide range of hosts. Conclusions Sphaeromyxa lycodi is a common gall bladder myxosporean in eelpout of the genus Lycodes from Northern Iceland. It has characteristics typical of the genus and develops arcuate spores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirm that sphaeromyxids form a monophyletic group, subdivided into straight and arcuate spore forms, within the hepatic biliary clade that infect a wide range of freshwater associated animals. The ancestral spore form for the hepatic biliary clade was probably a Chloromyxum morphotype; however, sphaeromyxids have more recently evolved from an ancestor with a spindle-shaped Myxidium spore form. We recommend that the suborder Sphaeromyxina is suppressed; however, we retain the family Sphaeromyxidae and place it in the suborder Variisporina. PMID:23452895

Arcuate Fratures

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-10-22

This image from NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft of Daedalia Planum shows the termination or end of a single flow. In this case it is the end of the brighter/rougher flow on the right side of the image.

The arcuate fasciculus and the disconnection theme in language and aphasia: History and current state

PubMed Central

Catani, Marco; Mesulam, Marsel

2009-01-01

Few themes have been more central to neurological models of aphasia than the disconnection paradigm and the role of the arcuate fasciculus. Introduced by luminaries of 19th Century neurology and resurrected by the charismatic work of Norman Geschwind, the disconnection theme has triggered spectacular advances of modern understanding of language and aphasia. But the disconnection paradigm had alternate fortunes, ranging from irrational exuberance to benign neglect, and its followers have not always shared the same view on its functional consequences and anatomical correlates. Our goal in this paper is, first, to survey the 19th Century roots of the connectionist approach to aphasia and, second, to describe emerging imaging technologies based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) that promise to consolidate and expand the disconnection approach to language and its disorders. PMID:18614162

The arcuate fasciculus and the disconnection theme in language and aphasia: history and current state.

PubMed

Catani, Marco; Mesulam, Marsel

2008-09-01

Few themes have been more central to neurological models of aphasia than the disconnection paradigm and the role of the arcuate fasciculus. Introduced by luminaries of 19th Century neurology and resurrected by the charismatic work of Norman Geschwind, the disconnection theme has triggered spectacular advances of modern understanding of language and aphasia. But the disconnection paradigm had alternate fortunes, ranging from irrational exuberance to benign neglect, and its followers have not always shared the same view on its functional consequences and anatomical correlates. Our goal in this paper is, first, to survey the 19th Century roots of the connectionist approach to aphasia and, second, to describe emerging imaging technologies based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) that promise to consolidate and expand the disconnection approach to language and its disorders.

Lower- and higher-order aberrations predicted by an optomechanical model of arcuate keratotomy for astigmatism.

PubMed

Navarro, Rafael; Palos, Fernando; Lanchares, Elena; Calvo, Begoña; Cristóbal, José A

2009-01-01

To develop a realistic model of the optomechanical behavior of the cornea after curved relaxing incisions to simulate the induced astigmatic change and predict the optical aberrations produced by the incisions. ICMA Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. A 3-dimensional finite element model of the anterior hemisphere of the ocular surface was used. The corneal tissue was modeled as a quasi-incompressible, anisotropic hyperelastic constitutive behavior strongly dependent on the physiological collagen fibril distribution. Similar behaviors were assigned to the limbus and sclera. With this model, some corneal incisions were computer simulated after the Lindstrom nomogram. The resulting geometry of the biomechanical simulation was analyzed in the optical zone, and finite ray tracing was performed to compute refractive power and higher-order aberrations (HOAs). The finite-element simulation provided new geometry of the corneal surfaces, from which elevation topographies were obtained. The surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) of the simulated incisions according to the Lindstrom nomogram was computed by finite ray tracing. However, paraxial computations would yield slightly different results (undercorrection of astigmatism). In addition, arcuate incisions would induce significant amounts of HOAs. Finite-element models, together with finite ray-tracing computations, yielded realistic simulations of the biomechanical and optical changes induced by relaxing incisions. The model reproduced the SIA indicated by the Lindstrom nomogram for the simulated incisions and predicted a significant increase in optical aberrations induced by arcuate keratotomy.

Neuroglial metabolic compartmentation underlying leptin deficiency in the obese ob/ob mice as detected by magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy methods

PubMed Central

Delgado, Teresa C; Violante, Inês R; Nieto-Charques, Laura; Cerdán, Sebastián

2011-01-01

Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MEMRI), 1H and 13C High-Resolution-Magic Angle Spinning (HR-MAS) Spectroscopy, and genomic approaches were used to compare cerebral activation and neuronal and glial oxidative metabolism in ad libitum fed C57BL6/J leptin-deficient, genetically obese ob/ob mice. T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance Images across the hypothalamic Arcuate and the Ventromedial nuclei were acquired kinetically after manganese infusion. Neuroglial compartmentation was investigated in hypothalamic biopsies after intraperitoneal injections of [1-13C]glucose or [2-13C]acetate. Total RNA was extracted to determine the effects of leptin deficiency in the expression of representative genes coding for regulatory enzymes of hypothalamic energy pathways and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging revealed enhanced cerebral activation in the hypothalamic Arcuate and Ventromedial nuclei of the ob/ob mice. 13C HR-MAS analysis showed increased 13C accumulation in the hypothalamic glutamate and glutamine carbons of ob/ob mice after the administration of [1-13C]glucose, a primarily neuronal substrate. Hypothalamic expression of the genes coding for glucokinase, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and glutamine synthase was not significantly altered while pyruvate kinase expression was slightly upregulated. In conclusion, leptin deficiency associated with obesity led to increased cerebral activation in the hypothalamic Arcuate and Ventromedial nuclei, concomitant with significant increases in neuronal oxidative metabolism and glutamatergic neurotransmission. PMID:21971349

Preoperative imaging and prediction of oesophageal conduit necrosis after oesophagectomy for cancer.

PubMed

Lainas, P; Fuks, D; Gaujoux, S; Machroub, Z; Fregeville, A; Perniceni, T; Mal, F; Dousset, B; Gayet, B

2017-09-01

Oesophageal conduit necrosis following oesophagectomy is a rare but life-threatening complication. The present study aimed to assess the impact of coeliac axis stenosis on outcomes after oesophagectomy for cancer. The study included consecutive patients who had an Ivor Lewis procedure with curative intent for middle- and lower-third oesophageal cancer at two tertiary referral centres. All patients underwent preoperative multidetector CT with arterial phase to detect coeliac axis stenosis. The coeliac artery was classified as normal, with extrinsic stenosis due to a median arcuate ligament or with intrinsic stenosis caused by atherosclerosis. Some 481 patients underwent an Ivor Lewis procedure. Of these, ten (2·1 per cent) developed oesophageal conduit necrosis after surgery. Coeliac artery evaluation revealed a completely normal artery in 431 patients (91·5 per cent) in the group without conduit necrosis and in one (10 per cent) with necrosis (P < 0·001). Extrinsic stenosis of the coeliac artery due to a median arcuate ligament was found in two patients (0·4 per cent) without conduit necrosis and five (50 per cent) with necrosis (P < 0·001). Intrinsic stenosis of the coeliac artery was found in 11 (2·3 per cent) and eight (80 per cent) patients respectively (P < 0·001). Eight patients without (1·7 per cent) and five (50 per cent) with conduit necrosis had a single and thin left gastric artery (P < 0·001). This study suggests that oesophageal conduit necrosis after oesophagectomy for cancer may be due to pre-existing coeliac axis stenosis. © 2017 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Arcuate Na+,K+-ATPase senses systemic energy states and regulates feeding behavior through glucose-inhibited neurons.

PubMed

Kurita, Hideharu; Xu, Kai Y; Maejima, Yuko; Nakata, Masanori; Dezaki, Katsuya; Santoso, Putra; Yang, Yifei; Arai, Takeshi; Gantulga, Darambazar; Muroya, Shinji; Lefor, Alan K; Kakei, Masafumi; Watanabe, Eiju; Yada, Toshihiko

2015-08-15

Feeding is regulated by perception in the hypothalamus, particularly the first-order arcuate nucleus (ARC) neurons, of the body's energy state. However, the cellular device for converting energy states to the activity of critical neurons in ARC is less defined. We here show that Na(+),K(+)-ATPase (NKA) in ARC senses energy states to regulate feeding. Fasting-induced systemic ghrelin rise and glucose lowering reduced ATP-hydrolyzing activity of NKA and its substrate ATP level, respectively, preferentially in ARC. Lowering glucose concentration (LG), which mimics fasting, decreased intracellular NAD(P)H and increased Na(+) concentration in single ARC neurons that subsequently exhibited [Ca(2+)]i responses to LG, showing that they were glucose-inhibited (GI) neurons. Third ventricular injection of the NKA inhibitor ouabain induced c-Fos expression in agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons in ARC and evoked neuropeptide Y (NPY)-dependent feeding. When injected focally into ARC, ouabain stimulated feeding and mRNA expressions for NPY and AgRP. Ouabain increased [Ca(2+)]i in single NPY/AgRP neurons with greater amplitude than in proopiomelanocortin neurons in ARC. Conversely, the specific NKA activator SSA412 suppressed fasting-induced feeding and LG-induced [Ca(2+)]i increases in ARC GI neurons. NPY/AgRP neurons highly expressed NKAα3, whose knockdown impaired feeding behavior. These results demonstrate that fasting, via ghrelin rise and LG, suppresses NKA enzyme/pump activity in ARC and thereby promotes the activation of GI neurons and NPY/AgRP-dependent feeding. This study identifies ARC NKA as a hypothalamic sensor and converter of metabolic states to key neuronal activity and feeding behaviour, providing a new target to treat hyperphagic obesity and diabetes. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

Maternal nicotine exposure during lactation alters food preference, anxiety-like behavior and the brain dopaminergic reward system in the adult rat offspring.

PubMed

Pinheiro, C R; Moura, E G; Manhães, A C; Fraga, M C; Claudio-Neto, S; Younes-Rapozo, V; Santos-Silva, A P; Lotufo, B M; Oliveira, E; Lisboa, P C

2015-10-01

The mesolimbic reward pathway is activated by drugs of abuse and palatable food, causing a sense of pleasure, which promotes further consumption of these substances. Children whose parents smoke are more vulnerable to present addictive-like behavior to drugs and food.We evaluated the association between maternal nicotine exposure during lactation with changes in feeding, behavior and in the dopaminergic reward system. On postnatal day (PN) 2,Wistar rat dams were implanted with minipumps releasing nicotine (N; 6 mg/kg/day, s.c.) or saline (C) for 14 days. On PN150 and PN160, offspring were divided into 4 groups for a food challenge: N and C that received standard chow(SC); and N and C that could freely self-select (SSD) between high-fat and high-sugar diets (HFD and HSD, respectively). Offspring were tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field (OF) arena on PN152–153. On PN170, offspring were euthanized for central dopaminergic analysis. SSD animals showed an increased food intake compared to SC ones and a preference for HFD. However, N-SSD animals consumed relatively more HSD than C-SSD ones. Regarding behavior, N animals showed an increase in the time spent in the EPM center and a reduction in relative activity in the OF center. N offspring presented lower dopamine receptor (D2R) and transporter (DAT) contents in the nucleus accumbens, and lower D2R in the arcuate nucleus. Postnatal exposure to nicotine increases preference for sugar and anxiety levels in the adult progeny possibly due to a decrease in dopaminergic action in the nucleus accumbens and arcuate nucleus.

Plasticity of white matter connectivity in phonetics experts.

PubMed

Vandermosten, Maaike; Price, Cathy J; Golestani, Narly

2016-09-01

Phonetics experts are highly trained to analyze and transcribe speech, both with respect to faster changing, phonetic features, and to more slowly changing, prosodic features. Previously we reported that, compared to non-phoneticians, phoneticians had greater local brain volume in bilateral auditory cortices and the left pars opercularis of Broca's area, with training-related differences in the grey-matter volume of the left pars opercularis in the phoneticians group (Golestani et al. 2011). In the present study, we used diffusion MRI to examine white matter microstructure, indexed by fractional anisotropy, in (1) the long segment of arcuate fasciculus (AF_long), which is a well-known language tract that connects Broca's area, including left pars opercularis, to the temporal cortex, and in (2) the fibers arising from the auditory cortices. Most of these auditory fibers belong to three validated language tracts, namely to the AF_long, the posterior segment of the arcuate fasciculus and the middle longitudinal fasciculus. We found training-related differences in phoneticians in left AF_long, as well as group differences relative to non-experts in the auditory fibers (including the auditory fibers belonging to the left AF_long). Taken together, the results of both studies suggest that grey matter structural plasticity arising from phonetic transcription training in Broca's area is accompanied by changes to the white matter fibers connecting this very region to the temporal cortex. Our findings suggest expertise-related changes in white matter fibers connecting fronto-temporal functional hubs that are important for phonetic processing. Further studies can pursue this hypothesis by examining the dynamics of these expertise related grey and white matter changes as they arise during phonetic training.

Activation of reciprocal pathways between arcuate nucleus and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray during electroacupuncture: involvement of VGLUT3

PubMed Central

Guo, Zhi-Ling; Longhurst, John C.

2010-01-01

Electroacupuncture (EA) at the Jianshi-Neiguan acupoints (P5-P6, overlying the median nerve) attenuates sympathoexcitatory responses through activation of the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG). Activation of the ARC or vlPAG respectively leads to neuronal excitation of the both nuclei during EA. However, direct projections between these two nuclei that could participate in central neural processing during EA have not been identified. The vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT3) marks glutamatergic neurons. Thus, the present study evaluated direct neuronal projections between the ARC and vlPAG during EA, focusing on neurons containing VGLUT3. Seven to ten days after unilateral microinjection of a rodamine-conjugated microsphere retrograde tracer (100 nl) into the vlPAG or ARC, rats were subjected to EA or served as a sham-operated control. Low frequency (2 Hz) EA was performed bilaterally for 30 min at the P5-P6 acupoints. Perikarya containing the microsphere tracer were found in the ARC and vlPAG of both groups. Compared to controls (needle placement without electrical stimulation), c-Fos immunoreactivity and neurons double-labeled with c-Fos, an immediate early gene and the tracer were increased significantly in the ARC and vlPAG of EA-treated rats (both P<0.01). Moreover, some neurons were triple-labeled with c-Fos, the retrograde tracer and VGLUT3 in the two nuclei following EA stimulation (P<0.01, both nuclei). These results suggest that direct reciprocal projections between the ARC and vlPAG are available to participate in prolonged modulation by EA of sympathetic activity and that VGLUT3-containing neurons are an important neuronal phenotype involved in this process. PMID:20836994

Multijunction photovoltaic device and method of manufacture

DOEpatents

Arya, Rejeewa R.; Catalano, Anthony W.; Bennett, Murray

1995-04-04

A multijunction photovoltaic device includes first, second, and third amorphous silicon p-i-n photovoltaic cells in a stacked arrangement. The intrinsic layers of the second and third cells are formed of a-SiGe alloys with differing ratios of Ge such that the bandgap of the intrinsic layers respectively decrease from the first uppermost cell to the third lowermost cell. An interface layer, composed of a doped silicon compound, is disposed between the two cells and has a lower bandgap than the respective n- and p-type adjacent layers of the first and second cells. The interface layer forms an ohmic contact with the one of the adjacent cell layers of the same conductivity type, and a tunnel junction with the other of the adjacent cell layers.

Composition profiles and health risk of PCDD/F in outdoor air and fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration and adjacent villages in East China.

PubMed

Li, Jiafu; Dong, Han; Sun, Jie; Nie, Jihua; Zhang, Shuyu; Tang, Jinshun; Chen, Zhihai

2016-11-15

In present study, composition profiles and health risk of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in outdoor air and fly ash from domestic waste treatment center (DWTC) were studied. In addition, the composition profiles and health risk of PCDD/F in outdoor air from adjacent villages were researched and used to quantitatively analyze the difference between onsite workers and adjacent villagers. Moreover, the difference between old intake method and new inhalation dosimetry method in the process of assessing the health risk of PCDD/Fs in outdoor air was quantitatively compared and analyzed. The results of this study were summarized as follows. (1) The 95th percentile carcinogenic risk (CR) and non-carcinogenic risk (non-CR) for onsite workers and adjacent villagers were much lower than the threshold values of 10(-6) and 1.0, respectively, suggesting no potential health risk. (2) The 95th percentile CR for onsite workers was 1.27×10(-8) and was 64.8 times higher than that of adjacent villagers (1.99×10(-10)). (3) The 95th percentile non-CR for onsite workers and adjacent villagers were 1.37×10(-4) and 1.31×10(-7), respectively. (3) Accidental ingestion of fly ash was the largest contributor to CR and non-CR for onsite workers, contributing 62.98% and 64.04% to CR and non-CR, respectively. (4) The CR and non-CR of PCDD/Fs in outdoor air for onsite workers and adjacent villagers which calculated by old intake method was much higher than the results from new inhalation dosimetry method. The results quantitatively showed the levels and potential risks of PCDD/Fs posed by a DWTC site, which can be helpful to predict the influence from DWTC sites and promote the management of DWTC in China. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Passive magnetic bearing for a horizontal shaft

DOEpatents

Post, Richard F.

2003-12-02

A passive magnetic bearing is composed of a levitation element and a restorative element. The levitation element is composed of a pair of stationary arcuate ferromagnetic segments located within an annular radial-field magnet array. The magnet array is attached to the inner circumference of a hollow shaft end. An attractive force between the arcuate segments and the magnet array acts vertically to levitate the shaft, and also in a horizontal transverse direction to center the shaft. The restorative element is comprised of an annular Halbach array of magnets and a stationary annular circuit array located within the Halbach array. The Halbach array is attached to the inner circumference of the hollow shaft end. A repulsive force between the Halbach array and the circuit array increases inversely to the radial space between them, and thus acts to restore the shaft to its equilibrium axis of rotation when it is displaced therefrom.

The arcuate nucleus and NPY contribute to the antitumorigenic effect of calorie restriction

PubMed Central

Minor, Robin K.; López, Miguel; Younts, Caitlin M.; Jones, Bruce; Pearson, Kevin J.; Anson, R. Michael; Diéguez, Carlos; de Cabo, Rafael

2011-01-01

Summary Calorie restriction (CR) is known to have profound effects on tumor incidence. A typical consequence of CR is hunger, and we hypothesized that the neuroendocrine response to CR might in part mediate CR's antitumor effects. We tested CR under appetite suppression using two models: neuropeptide Y (NPY) knockout mice and monosodium glutamate (MSG)-injected mice. While CR was protective in control mice challenged with a two-stage skin carcinogenesis model, papilloma development was neither delayed nor reduced by CR in the MSG-treated and NPY knockout mice. Adiponectin levels were also not increased by CR in the appetite-suppressed mice. We propose that some of CR’s beneficial effects cannot be separated from those imposed on appetite, and that NPY neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) are involved in the translation of reduced intake to downstream physiological and functional benefits. PMID:21385308

Mariner 10 data analysis. 1: Scarps, ridges, troughs, and other lineaments on Mercury. 2: Geologic significance of photometric variations on Mercury. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dzurisin, D.

1977-01-01

Volcanic and tectonic implications of the surface morphology of Mercury are discussed. Mercurian scarps, ridges, troughs, and other lineaments are described and classified as planimetrically linear, arcuate, lobate, or irregular. A global pattern of lineaments is interpreted to reflect modification of linear crustal joints formed in response to stresses induced by tidal spindown. Large arcuate scarps on Mercury most likely record a period of compressional tectonism near the end of heavy bombardment. Shrinkage owing to planetary cooling is the mechanism preferred for their production. Measurements of local normal albedo are combined with computer-generated photometric maps of Mercury to provide constraints on the nature of surface materials and processes. If the mercurian surface obeys the average lunar photometric function, its normal albedo at 554 nm is .16 + or - .03.

Hypothalamic CART is a new anorectic peptide regulated by leptin.

PubMed

Kristensen, P; Judge, M E; Thim, L; Ribel, U; Christjansen, K N; Wulff, B S; Clausen, J T; Jensen, P B; Madsen, O D; Vrang, N; Larsen, P J; Hastrup, S

1998-05-07

The mammalian hypothalamus strongly influences ingestive behaviour through several different signalling molecules and receptor systems. Here we show that CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript), a brain-located peptide, is a satiety factor and is closely associated with the actions of two important regulators of food intake, leptin and neuropeptide Y. Food-deprived animals show a pronounced decrease in expression of CART messenger RNA in the arcuate nucleus. In animal models of obesity with disrupted leptin signalling, CART mRNA is almost absent from the arcuate nucleus. Peripheral administration of leptin to obese mice stimulates CART mRNA expression. When injected intracerebroventricularly into rats, recombinant CART peptide inhibits both normal and starvation-induced feeding, and completely blocks the feeding response induced by neuropeptide Y. An antiserum against CART increases feeding in normal rats, indicating that CART may be an endogenous inhibitor of food intake in normal animals.

Involvement of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus in interleukin-1-induced anorexia.

PubMed

Reyes, Teresa M; Sawchenko, Paul E

2002-06-15

Cytokine-mediated anorexia is a component of "sickness behavior" and presents a significant obstacle in the treatment of chronic illnesses. We hypothesized an involvement of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARH) in mediating the anorexic effects of a systemic interleukin-1 (IL-1) challenge based on its content of peptidergic neurons involved in feeding, its expression of IL-1 receptors and its sensitivity to systemic IL-1. IL-1 (6 microg/kg, i.v.) was found to induce Fos expression in both pro-opiomelanocortin- and neuropeptide Y-expressing neurons in and around the ARH. Contrary to expectations, rats that had sustained lesions of the arcuate nucleus, produced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment, displayed a more pronounced suppression (by 25%) of food intake than nonlesioned controls when treated with IL-1 after a 20 hr fast. To confirm and further characterize this unexpected result, a second ablation method was used in a similar paradigm. Animals bearing knife cuts designed to sever major ARH projections displayed an even more accentuated loss of appetite (by 60%, relative to controls) in response to systemic IL-1. This effect exhibited at least some degree of specificity, because the knife cuts did not alter either IL-1 effects on another centrally mediated acute phase response (fever) or the anorexia produced by an alternate agent, fenfluramine. These results fail to support the hypothesized ARH mediation of IL-1-induced anorexia and may suggest rather that the net output of this cell group may serve normally to restrain cytokine-induced reductions in food intake.

A review of the arcuate structures in the Iberian Variscides; constraints and genetic models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dias, R.; Ribeiro, A.; Romão, J.; Coke, C.; Moreira, N.

2016-06-01

The main Ibero-Armorican Arc (IAA) is essentially defined by a predominant NW-SE trend in the Iberian branch and an E-W trend in the Brittany one. However, in northern Spain it presents a 180° rotation, sometimes known as the Cantabrian Arc (CA). The relation between both arcs is controversial, being considered either as a single arc due to one tectonic event, or as the result of a polyphasic process. According to the last assumption, there is a later arcuate structure (CA), overlapping a previous major one (IAA). Whatever the models, they must be able to explain the presence of a Variscan sinistral transpression in Iberia and a dextral one in Armorica, and a deformation spanning from the Devonian to the Upper Carboniferous. Another arcuate structure, in continuity with the CA, the Central-Iberian Arc (CIA) was recently proposed mainly based upon on magnetic anomalies, geometry of major folds and Ordovician paleocurrents. The critical review of the structural, stratigraphic and geophysical data supports both the IAA and the CA, but as independent structures. However, the presence of a CIA is highly questionable and could not be supported. The complex strain pattern of the IAA and the CA could be explained by a Devonian - Carboniferous polyphasic indentation of a Gondwana promontory. In this model the CA is essentially a thin-skinned arc, while the IAA has a more complex and longer evolution that has led to a thick-skinned first order structure. Nevertheless, both arcs are essentially the result of a lithospheric bending process during the Iberian Variscides.

An Intact Dorsomedial Posterior Arcuate Nucleus is Not Necessary for Photoperiodic Responses in Siberian Hamsters1

PubMed Central

Teubner, Brett J.W.; Leitner, Claudia; Thomas, Michael A.; Ryu, Vitaly; Bartness, Timothy J.

2015-01-01

Seasonal responses of many animal species are triggered by changes in daylength and its transduction into a neuroendocrine signal by the pineal gland through the nocturnal duration of melatonin (MEL) release. The precise central sites necessary to receive, transduce, and relay the short day (SD) fall-winter MEL signals into seasonal responses and changes in physiology and behavior are unclear. In Siberian hamsters, SDs trigger decreases in body and lipid mass, testicular regression and pelage color changes. Several candidate genes and their central sites of expression have been proposed as components of the MEL transduction system with considerable recent focus on the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and its component, the dorsomedial posterior arcuate nucleus (dmpARC). This site has been postulated as a critical relay of SD information through the modulation of a variety of neurochemicals/receptors important for the control of energy balance. Here the necessity of an intact dmpARC for SD responses was tested by making electrolytic lesions of the Siberian hamster dmpARC and then exposing them to either long days (LD) or SDs for 12 weeks. The SD typical decreases in body and fat mass, food intake, testicular volume, serum testosterone concentrations, pelage color change and increased UCP-1 protein expression (a proxy for brown adipose tissue thermogenesis) all occurred despite the lack of an intact dmpARC. Although the Siberian hamster dmpARC contains photoperiod-modulated constituents, these data demonstrate that an intact dmpARC is not necessary for SD responses and not integral to the seasonal energy- and reproductive-related responses measured here. PMID:25647158

Hybrid (laparoscopy + stent) treatment of celiac trunk compression syndrome (Dunbar syndrome, median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS))

PubMed Central

Michalik, Maciej; Lech, Paweł; Majda, Kaja; Gutowski, Piotr

2016-01-01

Introduction Celiac trunk (CT) compression syndrome caused by the median arcuate ligament (MAL) is a rarely diagnosed disease because of its nonspecific symptoms, which cause a delay in the correct diagnosis. Intestinal ischemia occurs, which causes symptoms of abdominal angina. One method of treatment for this disease is surgical release of the CT – the intersection of the MAL. Laparoscopy is the first step of the hybrid technique combined with percutaneous angioplasty and stenting of the CT. Aim To demonstrate the usefulness and advantages of the laparoscopic approach in the treatment of Dunbar syndrome. Material and methods Between 2013 and 2016 in the General and Minimally Invasive Surgery Department of the Medical Sciences Faculty of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 6 laparoscopic procedures were performed because of median arcuate ligament syndrome. During the laparoscopy the MAL was cut with a harmonic scalpel. One month after laparoscopy 5 patients had Doppler percutaneous angioplasty of the CT with stent implantation in the Vascular Surgery Department in Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. Results In one case, there was a conversion of laparoscopic surgery to open due to unmanageable intraoperative bleeding. In one case, postoperative ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity demonstrated the presence of a large hematoma in the retroperitoneal space. All patients reported relief of symptoms in the first days after the operation. Conclusions The hybrid method, combining laparoscopy and angioplasty, seems to be a long-term solution, which increases the comfort of the patient, brings the opportunity for normal functioning and minimizes the risk of restenosis. PMID:28194242

Hybrid (laparoscopy + stent) treatment of celiac trunk compression syndrome (Dunbar syndrome, median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS)).

PubMed

Michalik, Maciej; Dowgiałło-Wnukiewicz, Natalia; Lech, Paweł; Majda, Kaja; Gutowski, Piotr

2016-01-01

Celiac trunk (CT) compression syndrome caused by the median arcuate ligament (MAL) is a rarely diagnosed disease because of its nonspecific symptoms, which cause a delay in the correct diagnosis. Intestinal ischemia occurs, which causes symptoms of abdominal angina. One method of treatment for this disease is surgical release of the CT - the intersection of the MAL. Laparoscopy is the first step of the hybrid technique combined with percutaneous angioplasty and stenting of the CT. To demonstrate the usefulness and advantages of the laparoscopic approach in the treatment of Dunbar syndrome. Between 2013 and 2016 in the General and Minimally Invasive Surgery Department of the Medical Sciences Faculty of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 6 laparoscopic procedures were performed because of median arcuate ligament syndrome. During the laparoscopy the MAL was cut with a harmonic scalpel. One month after laparoscopy 5 patients had Doppler percutaneous angioplasty of the CT with stent implantation in the Vascular Surgery Department in Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. In one case, there was a conversion of laparoscopic surgery to open due to unmanageable intraoperative bleeding. In one case, postoperative ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity demonstrated the presence of a large hematoma in the retroperitoneal space. All patients reported relief of symptoms in the first days after the operation. The hybrid method, combining laparoscopy and angioplasty, seems to be a long-term solution, which increases the comfort of the patient, brings the opportunity for normal functioning and minimizes the risk of restenosis.

Transgenic Mice Overexpressing Amyloid Precursor Protein Exhibit Early Metabolic Deficits and a Pathologically Low Leptin State Associated with Hypothalamic Dysfunction in Arcuate Neuropeptide Y Neurons

PubMed Central

Ishii, Makoto; Wang, Gang; Racchumi, Gianfranco; Dyke, Jonathan P.

2014-01-01

Weight loss is a prominent early feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that often precedes the cognitive decline and clinical diagnosis. While the exact pathogenesis of AD remains unclear, accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the brain is thought to lead to the neuronal dysfunction and death underlying the dementia. In this study, we examined whether transgenic mice overexpressing the Swedish mutation of APP (Tg2576), recapitulating selected features of AD, have hypothalamic leptin signaling dysfunction leading to early body weight deficits. We found that 3-month-old Tg2576 mice, before amyloid plaque formation, exhibit decreased weight with markedly decreased adiposity, low plasma leptin levels, and increased energy expenditure without alterations in feeding behavior. The expression of the orexigenic neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the hypothalamus to the low leptin state was abnormal at basal and fasting conditions. In addition, arcuate NPY neurons exhibited abnormal electrophysiological responses to leptin in Tg2576 hypothalamic slices or wild-type slices treated with Aβ. Finally, the metabolic deficits worsened as Tg2576 mice aged and amyloid burden increased in the brain. These results indicate that excess Aβ can potentially disrupt hypothalamic arcuate NPY neurons leading to weight loss and a pathologically low leptin state early in the disease process that progressively worsens as the amyloid burden increases. Collectively, these findings suggest that weight loss is an intrinsic pathological feature of Aβ accumulation and identify hypothalamic leptin signaling as a previously unrecognized pathogenic site of action for Aβ. PMID:24990930

Nerve Fiber Flux Analysis Using Wide-Field Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography.

PubMed

Tan, Ou; Liu, Liang; Liu, Li; Huang, David

2018-02-01

To devise a method to quantify nerve fibers over their arcuate courses over an extended peripapillary area using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Participants were imaged with 8 × 8-mm volumetric OCT scans centered at the optic disc. A new quantity, nerve fiber flux (NFF), represents the cross-sectional area transected perpendicular to the nerve fibers. The peripapillary area was divided into 64 tracks with equal flux. An iterative algorithm traced the trajectory of the tracks assuming that the relative distribution of the NFF was conserved with compensation for fiber connections to ganglion cells on the macular side. Average trajectory was averaged from normal eyes and use to calculate the NFF maps for glaucomatous eyes. The NFF maps were divided into eight sectors that correspond to visual field regions. There were 24 healthy and 10 glaucomatous eyes enrolled. The algorithm converged on similar patterns of NFL tracks for all healthy eyes. In glaucomatous eyes, NFF correlated with visual field sensitivity in the arcuate sectors (Spearman ρ = 0.53-0.62). Focal nerve fiber loss in glaucomatous eyes appeared as uniform tracks of NFF defects that followed the expected arcuate fiber trajectory. Using an algorithm based on the conservation of flux, we derived nerve fiber trajectories in the peripapillary area. The NFF map is useful for the visualization of focal defects and quantification of sector nerve fiber loss from wide-area volumetric OCT scans. NFF provides a cumulative measure of volumetric loss along nerve fiber tracks and could improve the detection of focal glaucoma damage.

Geologic framework of the Aleutian arc, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Vallier, Tracy L.; Scholl, David W.; Fisher, Michael A.; Bruns, Terry R.; Wilson, Frederic H.; von Huene, Roland E.; Stevenson, Andrew J.

1994-01-01

The Aleutian arc is the arcuate arrangement of mountain ranges and flanking submerged margins that forms the northern rim of the Pacific Basin from the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia) eastward more than 3,000 km to Cooke Inlet (Fig. 1). It consists of two very different segments that meet near Unimak Pass: the Aleutian Ridge segment to the west and the Alaska Peninsula-the Kodiak Island segment to the east. The Aleutian Ridge segment is a massive, mostly submerged cordillera that includes both the islands and the submerged pedestal from which they protrude. The Alaska Peninsula-Kodiak Island segment is composed of the Alaska Peninsula, its adjacent islands, and their continental and insular margins. The Bering Sea margin north of the Alaska Peninsula consists mostly of a wide continental shelf, some of which is underlain by rocks correlative with those on the Alaska Peninsula.There is no pre-Eocene record in rocks of the Aleutian Ridge segment, whereas rare fragments of Paleozoic rocks and extensive outcrops of Mesozoic rocks occur on the Alaska Peninsula. Since the late Eocene, and possibly since the early Eocene, the two segments have evolved somewhat similarly. Major plutonic and volcanic episodes, however, are not synchronous. Furthermore, uplift of the Alaska Peninsula-Kodiak Island segment in late Cenozoic time was more extensive than uplift of the Aleutian Ridge segment. It is probable that tectonic regimes along the Aleutian arc varied during the Tertiary in response to such factors as the directions and rates of convergence, to bathymetry and age of the subducting Pacific Plate, and to the volume of sediment in the Aleutian Trench.The Pacific and North American lithospheric plates converge along the inner wall of the Aleutian trench at about 85 to 90 mm/yr. Convergence is nearly at right angles along the Alaska Peninsula, but because of the arcuate shape of the Aleutian Ridge relative to the location of the plates' poles of rotation, the angle of convergence lessens to the west (Minster and Jordan, 1978). Along the central Aleutian Ridge, underthrusting is about 30° from normal to the volcanic axis. Motion between plates is approximately parallel along the western Aleutian Ridge.In this paper we briefly describe and interpret the Cenozoic evolution of the Aleutian arc by focusing on the onshore and offshore geologic frameworks in four of its sectors, two sectors each from the Aleutian Ridge and Alaska Peninsula-Kodiak Island segments (Fig. 1). We compare the geologic evolution of the segments and comment on the implications of some new, previously unpublished data.

Dopamine/Tyrosine Hydroxylase Neurons of the Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus Release GABA, Communicate with Dopaminergic and Other Arcuate Neurons, and Respond to Dynorphin, Met-Enkephalin, and Oxytocin

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xiaobing

2015-01-01

We employ transgenic mice with selective expression of tdTomato or cre recombinase together with optogenetics to investigate whether hypothalamic arcuate (ARC) dopamine/tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) neurons interact with other ARC neurons, how they respond to hypothalamic neuropeptides, and to test whether these cells constitute a single homogeneous population. Immunostaining with dopamine and TH antisera was used to corroborate targeted transgene expression. Using whole-cell recording on a large number of neurons (n = 483), two types of neurons with different electrophysiological properties were identified in the dorsomedial ARC where 94% of TH neurons contained immunoreactive dopamine: bursting and nonbursting neurons. In contrast to rat, the regular oscillations of mouse bursting neurons depend on a mechanism involving both T-type calcium and A-type potassium channel activation, but are independent of gap junction coupling. Optogenetic stimulation using cre recombinase-dependent ChIEF-AAV-DJ expressed in ARC TH neurons evoked postsynaptic GABA currents in the majority of neighboring dopamine and nondopamine neurons, suggesting for the first time substantial synaptic projections from ARC TH cells to other ARC neurons. Numerous met-enkephalin (mENK) and dynorphin-immunoreactive boutons appeared to contact ARC TH neurons. mENK inhibited both types of TH neuron through G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium currents mediated by δ and μ opioid receptors. Dynorphin-A inhibited both bursting and nonbursting TH neurons by activating κ receptors. Oxytocin excited both bursting and nonbursting neurons. These results reveal a complexity of TH neurons that communicate extensively with neurons within the ARC. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Here, we show that the great majority of mouse hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) neurons that synthesize TH in the dorsomedial ARC also contain immunoreactive dopamine, and show either bursting or nonbursting electrical activity. Unlike rats, the mechanism underlying bursting was not dependent on gap junctions but required T-type calcium and A-type potassium channel activation. Neuropeptides dynorphin and met-enkephalin inhibited dopamine neurons, whereas oxytocin excited them. Most ventrolateral ARC TH cells did not contain dopamine and did not show bursting electrical activity. TH-containing neurons appeared to release synaptic GABA within the ARC onto dopamine neurons and unidentified neurons, suggesting that the cells not only control pituitary hormones but also may modulate nearby neurons. PMID:26558770

On the Circulation Manifold for Two Adjacent Lifting Sections

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zannetti, Luca; Iollo, Angelo

1998-01-01

The circulation functional relative to two adjacent lifting sections is studied for two cases. In the first case we consider two adjacent circles. The circulation is computed as a function of the displacement of the secondary circle along the axis joining the two centers and of the angle of attack of the secondary circle, The gradient of such functional is computed by deriving a set of elliptic functions with respect both to their argument and to their Period. In the second case studied, we considered a wing-flap configuration. The circulation is computed by some implicit mappings, whose differentials with respect to the variation of the geometrical configuration in the physical space are found by divided differences. Configurations giving rise to local maxima and minima in the circulation manifold are presented.

ESHRE/ESGE female genital tract anomalies classification system-the potential impact of discarding arcuate uterus on clinical practice.

PubMed

Knez, J; Saridogan, E; Van Den Bosch, T; Mavrelos, D; Ambler, G; Jurkovic, D

2018-04-01

What would be a potential impact of implementing the new ESHRE/European Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE) female genital anomalies classification system on the management of women with previous diagnosis of arcuate uteri based on the modified American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) criteria? A significant number of women with previous diagnosis of arcuate uteri are reclassified as having partial septate uteri according to the new ESHRE/ESGE classification system which may increase the number of remedial surgical procedures. The ESHRE/ESGE classification system has defined measurement techniques, reference points and specific cut-offs to facilitate the differentiation between normal and septate uteri. These criteria have been arbitrarily defined and they rely on the measurement of uterine wall thickness and depth of distortion of uterine fundus. This was a retrospective cohort study. We searched our ultrasound clinic database from January 2011 to December 2014 to identify all women diagnosed with arcuate uterus on three-dimensional ultrasound according to the modified ASRM criteria. For each woman, the ultrasound images were stored in our clinical database and they were re-examined according to ESHRE/ESGE specifications. The presence and location of all acquired uterine anomalies, such as fibroids or adenomyosis was noted. We applied the two diagnostic approaches as specified by the ESHRE/ESGE classification: the main option (MO) and the alternative option (AO). We used the Kappa statistic to quantify the agreement between the two approaches. We also compared the number of previous miscarriages in women with normal and partial septate uteri according to the ESHRE/ESGE classification. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for the analyses and receiver-operating characteristic curves were constructed to assess the predictive values of the calculated uterine distortion indices for the detection of women at risk of suffering multiple pregnancy losses. We included 270 women diagnosed with arcuate uterus in the study. In all, 77 women (28.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 23.1-33.9) had evidence of fibroids or adenomyosis. These abnormalities precluded the application of either proposed ESHRE/ESGE techniques to assess uterine morphology in 25 women (9.3%, 95% CI 5.8-12.7). When using the MO, 138/237 (58.2%, 95% CI 51.9-64.3) women were diagnosed with partial septate uterus compared to 61/230 (26.5%, 95% CI 21.2-32.6) women when using the AO. In 222 women in whom we were able to apply both MO and AO, there was agreement in the diagnosis of septate uterus between the two techniques in 146/222 cases (65.8%, 95% CI 59.3-71.7; Kappa 0.42, 95%CI 0.35-0.5). There was no statistical difference in the proportion of women with history of previous multiple miscarriages between those diagnosed with normal or partial septate uteri using either MO (6.2%, 95% CI 2.9-12.9 vs. 9.5%, 95% CI 5.6-15.6; P = 0.47) or AO (7.2%, 95% CI 4.2-12.1 vs. 11.7%, 95% CI 5.8-22.2; P = 0.29). This study was retrospective in nature and the definition of arcuate uterus used in the study is not universally accepted. The reproductive history data were collected retrospectively and therefore may be prone to bias. There are methodological weaknesses in the new ESHRE/ESGE classification system which would need to be addressed in future revisions. There was no significant difference in the past reproductive outcomes between women diagnosed with normal and anomalous uteri and the clinicians should exercise caution when offering surgical correction to women diagnosed with partial septate uteri using the new ESHRE/ESGE classification. No study funding was received and no competing interests are present. N/A.

Reuyl Crater Dust Avalanches

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-04

The rugged, arcuate rim of the 90 km crater Reuyl dominates this NASA Mars Odyssey image. Reuyl crater is at the southern edge of a region known to be blanketed in thick dust based on its high albedo brightness and low thermal inertia values.

Longwall mining installation having stable-hole plough

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hauschopp, A.

1981-07-21

A longwall mineral mining installation has a longwall conveyor, a plough guide attached to the face-side of the conveyor, and a main plough movable to and fro along the guide. A respective stable-hole plough is movable to and fro along portions of the plough guide adjacent to each end of the conveyor. Each stablehole plough is driven by means of a respective endless drive chain which passes round two end sprockets. One end sprocket of each stable-hole plough is positioned at the face-side of the conveyor part way therealong. The other end sprocket of each stable-hole plough is positioned atmore » the adjacent end of the conveyor on the goaf-side thereof. Each drive chain passes round a direction-changing unit positioned at the adjacent end of the conveyor.« less

Elucidation of the anatomy of a satiety network: Focus on connectivity of the parabrachial nucleus in the adult rat.

PubMed

Zséli, Györgyi; Vida, Barbara; Martinez, Anais; Lechan, Ronald M; Khan, Arshad M; Fekete, Csaba

2016-10-01

We hypothesized that brain regions showing neuronal activation after refeeding comprise major nodes in a satiety network, and tested this hypothesis with two sets of experiments. Detailed c-Fos mapping comparing fasted and refed rats was performed to identify candidate nodes of the satiety network. In addition to well-known feeding-related brain regions such as the arcuate, dorsomedial, and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei, lateral hypothalamic area, parabrachial nucleus (PB), nucleus of the solitary tract and central amygdalar nucleus, other refeeding activated regions were also identified, such as the parastrial and parasubthalamic nuclei. To begin to understand the connectivity of the satiety network, the interconnectivity of PB with other refeeding-activated neuronal groups was studied following administration of anterograde or retrograde tracers into the PB. After allowing for tracer transport time, the animals were fasted and then refed before sacrifice. Refeeding-activated neurons that project to the PB were found in the agranular insular area; bed nuclei of terminal stria; anterior hypothalamic area; arcuate, paraventricular, and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei; lateral hypothalamic area; parasubthalamic nucleus; central amygdalar nucleus; area postrema; and nucleus of the solitary tract. Axons originating from the PB were observed to closely associate with refeeding-activated neurons in the agranular insular area; bed nuclei of terminal stria; anterior hypothalamus; paraventricular, arcuate, and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei; lateral hypothalamic area; central amygdalar nucleus; parasubthalamic nucleus; ventral posterior thalamic nucleus; area postrema; and nucleus of the solitary tract. These data indicate that the PB has bidirectional connections with most refeeding-activated neuronal groups, suggesting that short-loop feedback circuits exist in this satiety network. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:2803-2827, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Role of the Suprachiasmatic and Arcuate Nuclei in Diurnal Temperature Regulation in the Rat.

PubMed

Guzmán-Ruiz, Mara Alaide; Ramirez-Corona, Arlen; Guerrero-Vargas, Natali Nadia; Sabath, Elizabeth; Ramirez-Plascencia, Oscar Daniel; Fuentes-Romero, Rebecca; León-Mercado, Luis Abel; Basualdo Sigales, MariCarmen; Escobar, Carolina; Buijs, Ruud Marinus

2015-11-18

In mammals, daily changes in body temperature (Tb) depend on the integrity of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Fasting influences the Tb in the resting period and the presence of the SCN is essential for this process. However, the origin of this circadian/metabolic influence is unknown. We hypothesized that, not only the SCN but also the arcuate nucleus (ARC), are involved in the Tb setting through afferents to the thermoregulatory median preoptic nucleus (MnPO). Therefore, we investigated by neuronal tracing and microdialysis experiments the possible targeting of the MnPO by the SCN and the ARC in male Wistar rats. We observed that vasopressin release from the SCN decreases the temperature just before light onset, whereas α-melanocyte stimulating hormone release, especially at the end of the dark period, maintains high temperature. Both peptides have opposite effects on the brown adipose tissue activity through thermoregulatory nuclei such as the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus and the dorsal raphe nucleus. The present study indicates that the coordination between circadian and metabolic signaling within the hypothalamus is essential for an adequate temperature control. When circadian and metabolic systems are not well synchronized, individuals may develop metabolic diseases. The underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the balance between the releases of neuropeptides derived from the biological clock and from a metabolic sensory organ as the arcuate nucleus, are essential for an adequate temperature control. These observations show that brain areas involved in circadian and metabolic functions of the body need to interact to produce a coherent arrangement of physiological processes associated with temperature control. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/3515419-11$15.00/0.

The Decline in Pulsatile GnRH Release, as Reflected by Circulating LH Concentrations, During the Infant-Juvenile Transition in the Agonadal Male Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) Is Associated With a Reduction in Kisspeptin Content of KNDy Neurons of the Arcuate Nucleus in the Hypothalamus

PubMed Central

Ramaswamy, Suresh; Dwarki, Karthik; Ali, Barkat; Gibbs, Robert B.

2013-01-01

Puberty in primates is timed by 2 hypothalamic events: during late infancy a decline in pulsatile GnRH release occurs, leading to a hypogonadotropic state that maintains quiescence of the prepubertal gonad; and in late juvenile development, pulsatile GnRH release is reactivated and puberty initiated, a phase of development that is dependent on kisspeptin signaling. In the present study, we determined whether the arrest of GnRH pulsatility in infancy was associated with a change in kisspeptin expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH). Kisspeptin was determined using immunohistochemistry in coronal hypothalamic sections from agonadal male rhesus monkeys during early infancy when GnRH release as reflected by circulating LH concentrations was robust and compared with that in juveniles in which GnRH pulsatility was arrested. The distribution of immunopositive kisspeptin neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the MBH of infants was similar to that previously reported for adults. Kisspeptin cell body number was greater in infants compared with juveniles, and at the middle to posterior level of the arcuate nucleus, this developmental difference was statistically significant. Neurokinin B in the MBH exhibited a similar distribution to that of kisspeptin and was colocalized with kisspeptin in approximately 60% of kisspeptin perikarya at both developmental stages. Intensity of GnRH fiber staining in the median eminence was robust at both stages. These findings indicate that the switch that shuts off pulsatile GnRH release during infancy and that guarantees the subsequent quiescence of the prepubertal gonad involves a reduction in a stimulatory kisspeptin tone to the GnRH neuronal network. PMID:23525220

Structural and Diffusion Property Alterations in Unaffected Siblings of Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

PubMed Central

Shi, Changzheng; Miao, Guodong; Yang, Qiong; Gao, Wei; Wolff, Jason J.; Chan, Raymond C. K.; Shen, Dinggang

2014-01-01

Disrupted white matter integrity and abnormal cortical thickness are widely reported in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the relationship between alterations in white matter connectivity and cortical thickness in OCD is unclear. In addition, the heritability of this relationship is poorly understood. To investigate the relationship of white matter microstructure with cortical thickness, we measure fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter in 30 OCD patients, 19 unaffected siblings and 30 matched healthy controls. Then, we take those regions of significantly altered FA in OCD patients compared with healthy controls to perform fiber tracking. Next, we calculate the fiber quantity in the same tracts. Lastly, we compare cortical thickness in the target regions of those tracts. Patients with OCD exhibited decreased FA in cingulum, arcuate fibers near the superior parietal lobule, inferior longitudinal fasciculus near the right superior temporal gyrus and uncinate fasciculus. Siblings showed reduced FA in arcuate fibers near the superior parietal lobule and anterior limb of internal capsule. Significant reductions in both fiber quantities and cortical thickness in OCD patients and their unaffected siblings were also observed in the projected brain areas when using the arcuate fibers near the left superior parietal lobule as the starting points. Reduced FA in the left superior parietal lobule was observed not only in patients with OCD but also in their unaffected siblings. Originated from the superior parietal lobule, the number of fibers was also found to be decreased and the corresponding cortical regions were thinner relative to controls. The linkage between disrupted white matter integrity and the abnormal cortical thickness may be a vulnerability marker for OCD. PMID:24489665

Hemispheric asymmetries in dorsal language pathway white-matter tracts: A magnetic resonance imaging tractography and functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

PubMed

Silva, Guilherme; Citterio, Alberto

2017-10-01

Introduction Previous studies have shown that the arcuate fasciculus has a leftward asymmetry in right-handers that could be correlated with the language lateralisation defined by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Nonetheless, information about the asymmetry of the other fibres that constitute the dorsal language pathway is scarce. Objectives This study investigated the asymmetry of the white-matter tracts involved in the dorsal language pathway through the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technique, in relation to language hemispheric dominance determined by task-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods We selected 11 patients (10 right-handed) who had been studied with task-dependent fMRI for language areas and DTI and who had no language impairment or structural abnormalities that could compromise magnetic resonance tractography of the fibres involved in the dorsal language pathway. Laterality indices (LI) for fMRI and for the volumes of each tract were calculated. Results In fMRI, all the right-handers had left hemispheric lateralisation, and the ambidextrous subject presented right hemispheric dominance. The arcuate fasciculus LI was strongly correlated with fMRI LI ( r = 0.739, p = 0.009), presenting the same lateralisation of fMRI in seven subjects (including the right hemispheric dominant). It was not asymmetric in three cases and had opposite lateralisation in one case. The other tracts presented predominance for rightward lateralisation, especially superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) II/III (nine subjects), but their LI did not correlate (directly or inversely) with fMRI LI. Conclusion The fibres that constitute the dorsal language pathway have an asymmetric distribution in the cerebral hemispheres. Only the asymmetry of the arcuate fasciculus is correlated with fMRI language lateralisation.

Neuromedin B and gastrin-releasing peptide excite arcuate nucleus neuropeptide Y neurons in a novel transgenic mouse expressing strong Renilla green fluorescent protein in NPY neurons.

PubMed

van den Pol, Anthony N; Yao, Yang; Fu, Li-Ying; Foo, Kylie; Huang, Hao; Coppari, Roberto; Lowell, Bradford B; Broberger, Christian

2009-04-08

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most widespread neuropeptides in the brain. Transgenic mice were generated that expressed bright Renilla green fluorescent protein (GFP) in most or all of the known NPY cells in the brain, which otherwise were not identifiable. GFP expression in NPY cells was confirmed with immunocytochemistry and single-cell reverse transcription-PCR. NPY neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus play an important role in energy homeostasis and endocrine control. Whole-cell patch clamp recording was used to study identified arcuate NPY cells. Primary agents that regulate energy balance include melanocortin receptor agonists, AgRP, and cannabinoids; none of these substances substantially influenced electrical properties of NPY neurons. In striking contrast, neuropeptides of the bombesin family, including gastrin-releasing peptide and neuromedin B, which are found in axons in the mediobasal hypothalamus and may also be released from the gut to signal the brain, showed strong direct excitatory actions at nanomolar levels on the NPY neurons, stronger than the actions of ghrelin and hypocretin/orexin. Bombesin-related peptides reduced input resistance and depolarized the membrane potential. The depolarization was attenuated by several factors: substitution of choline for sodium, extracellular Ni(2+), inclusion of BAPTA in the pipette, KB-R7943, and SKF96365. Reduced extracellular calcium enhanced the current, which reversed around -20 mV. Together, these data suggest two mechanisms, activation of nonselective cation channels and the sodium/calcium exchanger. Since both NPY and POMC neurons, which we also studied, are similarly directly excited by bombesin-like peptides, the peptides may function to initiate broad activation, rather than the cell-type selective activation or inhibition reported for many other compounds that modulate energy homeostasis.

Effect of antihypertensive therapy on renal artery structure in type 2 diabetic rats with hypertension.

PubMed

Reddi, A S; Nimmagadda, V R; Arora, R

2001-05-01

We have previously demonstrated that antihypertensive treatment with doxazosin (DZN), an alpha-adrenergic blocker, and lisinopril (LIS), an ACE inhibitor, reverse glomerular sclerosis in corpulent spontaneously hypertensive rats with type 2 diabetes. In this study, we examined the effects of the above-mentioned antihypertensive drugs alone and in combination on the structure of interlobular and arcuate arteries in these rats. Both male and female rats aged 6 months were treated with antihypertensive drugs for 16 weeks. Various structural parameters were evaluated by light microscopy, with the use of digital image analysis, in kidney sections stained with periodic acid-SCHIFF: Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in treated than in untreated rats. Untreated diabetic rats had a significantly higher media/lumen ratio (smaller luminal diameter) of both arteries compared with the ratio in treated rats (for interlobular artery, 0.72+/-0.06 [no treatment], 0.49+/-0.03 [DZN treatment], 0.54+/-0.06 [LIS treatment], and 0.52+/-0.04 [combination therapy], P<0.05 to <0.001 for no treatment versus treatment; for arcuate artery, 0.66+/-0.11 [no treatment], 0.40+/-0.02 [DZN treatment], 0.39+/-0.04 [LIS treatment], and 0.40+/-0.03 [combination therapy], P<0.05 for no treatment versus treatment). Antihypertensive treatment caused significant increases in total arterial cross-sectional area, internal and external diameters, luminal and medial cross-sectional area, and medial thickness in both interlobular and arcuate arteries. The improvement in arterial structure after antihypertensive treatment was due to remodeling and growth of the vessels. Both DZN and LIS were equally efficacious, and combination therapy had no additive or synergistic effect.

Multijunction photovoltaic device and fabrication method

DOEpatents

Arya, Rajeewa R.; Catalano, Anthony W.

1993-09-21

A multijunction photovoltaic device includes first and second amorphous silicon PIN photovoltaic cells in a stacked arrangement. An interface layer, composed of a doped silicon compound, is disposed between the two cells and has a lower bandgap than the respective n- and p-type adjacent layers of the first and second cells. The interface layer forms an ohmic contact with the one or the adjacent cell layers of the same conductivity type, and a tunnel junction with the other of the adjacent cell layers. The disclosed device is fabricated by a glow discharge process.

Modular shield

DOEpatents

Snyder, Keith W.

2002-01-01

A modular system for containing projectiles has a sheet of material including at least a polycarbonate layer held by a metal frame having a straight frame member corresponding to each straight edge of the sheet. Each frame member has a U-shaped shield channel covering and holding a straight edge of the sheet and an adjacent U-shaped clamp channel rigidly held against the shield channel. A flexible gasket separates each sheet edge from its respective shield channel; and each frame member is fastened to each adjacent frame member only by clamps extending between adjacent clamp channels.

Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Minimally Affects Adjacent Lumbar Segment Motion: A Finite Element Study

PubMed Central

Kiapour, Ali; Yerby, Scott A.; Goel, Vijay K.

2015-01-01

Background Adjacent segment disease is a recognized consequence of fusion in the spinal column. Fusion of the sacroiliac joint is an effective method of pain reduction. Although effective, the consequences of sacroiliac joint fusion and the potential for adjacent segment disease for the adjacent lumbar spinal levels is unknown. The objective of this study was to quantify the change in range of motion of the sacroiliac joint and the adjacent lumbar spinal motion segments due to sacroiliac joint fusion and compare these changes to previous literature to assess the potential for adjacent segment disease in the lumbar spine. Methods An experimentally validated finite element model of the lumbar spine and pelvis was used to simulate a fusion of the sacroiliac joint using three laterally placed triangular implants (iFuse Implant System, SI-BONE, Inc., San Jose, CA). The range of motion of the sacroiliac joint and the adjacent lumbar spinal motion segments were calculated using a hybrid loading protocol and compared with the intact range of motion in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Results The range of motions of the treated sacroiliac joints were reduced in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, by 56.6%, 59.5%, 27.8%, and 53.3%, respectively when compared with the intact condition. The stiffening of the sacroiliac joint resulted in increases at the adjacent lumbar motion segment (L5-S1) for flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, of 3.0%, 3.7%, 1.1%, and 4.6%, respectively. Conclusions Fusion of the sacroiliac joint resulted in substantial (> 50%) reductions in flexion, extension, and axial rotation of the sacroiliac joint with minimal (< 5%) increases in range of motion in the lumbar spine. Although the predicted increases in lumbar range of motion are minimal after sacroiliac joint fusion, the long-term clinical results remain to be investigated. PMID:26767156

Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Minimally Affects Adjacent Lumbar Segment Motion: A Finite Element Study.

PubMed

Lindsey, Derek P; Kiapour, Ali; Yerby, Scott A; Goel, Vijay K

2015-01-01

Adjacent segment disease is a recognized consequence of fusion in the spinal column. Fusion of the sacroiliac joint is an effective method of pain reduction. Although effective, the consequences of sacroiliac joint fusion and the potential for adjacent segment disease for the adjacent lumbar spinal levels is unknown. The objective of this study was to quantify the change in range of motion of the sacroiliac joint and the adjacent lumbar spinal motion segments due to sacroiliac joint fusion and compare these changes to previous literature to assess the potential for adjacent segment disease in the lumbar spine. An experimentally validated finite element model of the lumbar spine and pelvis was used to simulate a fusion of the sacroiliac joint using three laterally placed triangular implants (iFuse Implant System, SI-BONE, Inc., San Jose, CA). The range of motion of the sacroiliac joint and the adjacent lumbar spinal motion segments were calculated using a hybrid loading protocol and compared with the intact range of motion in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. The range of motions of the treated sacroiliac joints were reduced in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, by 56.6%, 59.5%, 27.8%, and 53.3%, respectively when compared with the intact condition. The stiffening of the sacroiliac joint resulted in increases at the adjacent lumbar motion segment (L5-S1) for flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, of 3.0%, 3.7%, 1.1%, and 4.6%, respectively. Fusion of the sacroiliac joint resulted in substantial (> 50%) reductions in flexion, extension, and axial rotation of the sacroiliac joint with minimal (< 5%) increases in range of motion in the lumbar spine. Although the predicted increases in lumbar range of motion are minimal after sacroiliac joint fusion, the long-term clinical results remain to be investigated.

Force-related neuronal activity in two regions of the primate ventral premotor cortex.

PubMed

Hepp-Reymond, M C; Hüsler, E J; Maier, M A; Ql, H X

1994-05-01

Neuronal activity was recorded in the ventral premotor cortex of one monkey (Macaca fascicularis) trained to exert finely graded forces with thumb and index finger on a force sensor in a visuomotor step-tracking paradigm. Trials with two or three consecutive ramp-and-hold force steps were presented randomly. Most neurons displayed similar discharge patterns in the two- and three-step trials and were assigned to one of the following classes: phasic, phasic-tonic, tonic, decreasing, and mixed. For more than 50% of the neurons with tonic activity, positive or negative correlations between firing rate and force were statistically significant. The indices of force sensitivity were on average higher for the two-step than for the three-step trials, indicating that the correlations yielded linearity over only a limited force range. The force-related cells were located in two regions of the ventral premotor cortex. One group was ying rostrally within the inferior limb of the arcuate sulcus, from which microstimulation elicited movements of fingers and hand. In the other more caudal region, adjacent to the finger region of primary motor cortex, microstimulation was rarely effective, but all neurons had clear peripheral receptive fields on finger and hand. The data indicate that two populations of neurons, located in the ventral premotor cortex, are related to movement execution. Effective microstimulation also suggests that one of the populations has fairly direct access to the spinal motor apparatus.

Anatomy of the Temporal Lobe

PubMed Central

Kiernan, J. A.

2012-01-01

Only primates have temporal lobes, which are largest in man, accommodating 17% of the cerebral cortex and including areas with auditory, olfactory, vestibular, visual and linguistic functions. The hippocampal formation, on the medial side of the lobe, includes the parahippocampal gyrus, subiculum, hippocampus, dentate gyrus, and associated white matter, notably the fimbria, whose fibres continue into the fornix. The hippocampus is an inrolled gyrus that bulges into the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle. Association fibres connect all parts of the cerebral cortex with the parahippocampal gyrus and subiculum, which in turn project to the dentate gyrus. The largest efferent projection of the subiculum and hippocampus is through the fornix to the hypothalamus. The choroid fissure, alongside the fimbria, separates the temporal lobe from the optic tract, hypothalamus and midbrain. The amygdala comprises several nuclei on the medial aspect of the temporal lobe, mostly anterior the hippocampus and indenting the tip of the temporal horn. The amygdala receives input from the olfactory bulb and from association cortex for other modalities of sensation. Its major projections are to the septal area and prefrontal cortex, mediating emotional responses to sensory stimuli. The temporal lobe contains much subcortical white matter, with such named bundles as the anterior commissure, arcuate fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus, and Meyer's loop of the geniculocalcarine tract. This article also reviews arterial supply, venous drainage, and anatomical relations of the temporal lobe to adjacent intracranial and tympanic structures. PMID:22934160

Transparent model of temporal bone and vestibulocochlear organ made by 3D printing.

PubMed

Suzuki, Ryoji; Taniguchi, Naoto; Uchida, Fujio; Ishizawa, Akimitsu; Kanatsu, Yoshinori; Zhou, Ming; Funakoshi, Kodai; Akashi, Hideo; Abe, Hiroshi

2018-01-01

The vestibulocochlear organ is composed of tiny complex structures embedded in the petrous part of the temporal bone. Landmarks on the temporal bone surface provide the only orientation guide for dissection, but these need to be removed during the course of dissection, making it difficult to grasp the underlying three-dimensional structures, especially for beginners during gross anatomy classes. We report herein an attempt to produce a transparent three-dimensional-printed model of the human ear. En bloc samples of the temporal bone from donated cadavers were subjected to computed tomography (CT) scanning, and on the basis of the data, the surface temporal bone was reconstructed with transparent resin and the vestibulocochlear organ with white resin to create a 1:1.5 scale model. The carotid canal was stuffed with red cotton, and the sigmoid sinus and internal jugular vein were filled with blue clay. In the inner ear, the internal acoustic meatus, cochlea, and semicircular canals were well reconstructed in detail with white resin. The three-dimensional relationships of the semicircular canals, spiral turns of the cochlea, and internal acoustic meatus were well recognizable from every direction through the transparent surface resin. The anterior semicircular canal was obvious immediately beneath the arcuate eminence, and the topographical relationships of the vestibulocochlear organ and adjacent great vessels were easily discernible. We consider that this transparent temporal bone model will be a very useful aid for better understanding of the gross anatomy of the vestibulocochlear organ.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging Studies on Arcuate Fasciculus in Stroke Patients: A Review

PubMed Central

Jang, Sung Ho

2013-01-01

Aphasia is one of the most common and devastating sequelae of stroke. The arcuate fasciculus (AF), an important neural tract for language function, connects Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. In this review article, previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies on the AF in stroke patients were reviewed with regard to the usefulness for diagnosis (seven studies), prediction of prognosis (two studies), and recovery of aphasia (three studies). Although scant studies on this topic have been conducted in stroke patients, DTI for the AF appears to provide useful information on the presence or severity of injury of the AF, prognosis prediction of aphasia, and recovery mechanisms of aphasia in stroke patients. Therefore, further DTI studies on these topics should be encouraged, especially studies on prognosis prediction and recovery mechanisms of aphasia. In addition, research on other neural tracts known to be involved in aphasia as well as the AF in both hemispheres should be encouraged. PMID:24198780

A Molecular Census of Arcuate Hypothalamus and Median Eminence Cell Types

PubMed Central

Campbell, John N.; Macosko, Evan Z.; Fenselau, Henning; Pers, Tune H.; Lyubetskaya, Anna; Tenen, Danielle; Goldman, Melissa; Verstegen, Anne M.J.; Resch, Jon M.; McCarroll, Steven A.; Rosen, Evan D.; Lowell, Bradford B.; Tsai, Linus

2017-01-01

The hypothalamic arcuate-median eminence complex (Arc-ME) controls energy balance, fertility, and growth through molecularly distinct cell types, many of which remain unknown. To catalog cell types in an unbiased way, we profiled gene expression in 20,921 individual cells in and around the adult mouse Arc-ME using Drop-seq. We identify 50 transcriptionally distinct Arc-ME cell populations, including a rare tanycyte population at the Arc-ME diffusion barrier, a novel leptin-sensing neuronal population, multiple AgRP and POMC subtypes, and an orexigenic somatostatin neuronal population. We extended Drop-seq to detect dynamic expression changes across relevant physiological perturbations, revealing cell type-specific responses to energy status, including distinctly responsive subtypes of AgRP and POMC neurons. Finally, integrating our data with human GWAS data implicates two previously unknown neuronal subtypes in the genetic control of obesity. This resource will accelerate biological discovery by providing insights into molecular and cell type diversity from which function can be inferred. PMID:28166221

Arcuate AgRP neurons mediate orexigenic and glucoregulatory actions of ghrelin★

PubMed Central

Wang, Qian; Liu, Chen; Uchida, Aki; Chuang, Jen-Chieh; Walker, Angela; Liu, Tiemin; Osborne-Lawrence, Sherri; Mason, Brittany L.; Mosher, Christina; Berglund, Eric D.; Elmquist, Joel K.; Zigman, Jeffrey M.

2013-01-01

The hormone ghrelin stimulates eating and helps maintain blood glucose upon caloric restriction. While previous studies have demonstrated that hypothalamic arcuate AgRP neurons are targets of ghrelin, the overall relevance of ghrelin signaling within intact AgRP neurons is unclear. Here, we tested the functional significance of ghrelin action on AgRP neurons using a new, tamoxifen-inducible AgRP-CreERT2 transgenic mouse model that allows spatiotemporally-controlled re-expression of physiological levels of ghrelin receptors (GHSRs) specifically in AgRP neurons of adult GHSR-null mice that otherwise lack GHSR expression. AgRP neuron-selective GHSR re-expression partially restored the orexigenic response to administered ghrelin and fully restored the lowered blood glucose levels observed upon caloric restriction. The normalizing glucoregulatory effect of AgRP neuron-selective GHSR expression was linked to glucagon rises and hepatic gluconeogenesis induction. Thus, our data indicate that GHSR-containing AgRP neurons are not solely responsible for ghrelin's orexigenic effects but are sufficient to mediate ghrelin's effects on glycemia. PMID:24567905

Arcuate AgRP neurons mediate orexigenic and glucoregulatory actions of ghrelin.

PubMed

Wang, Qian; Liu, Chen; Uchida, Aki; Chuang, Jen-Chieh; Walker, Angela; Liu, Tiemin; Osborne-Lawrence, Sherri; Mason, Brittany L; Mosher, Christina; Berglund, Eric D; Elmquist, Joel K; Zigman, Jeffrey M

2014-02-01

The hormone ghrelin stimulates eating and helps maintain blood glucose upon caloric restriction. While previous studies have demonstrated that hypothalamic arcuate AgRP neurons are targets of ghrelin, the overall relevance of ghrelin signaling within intact AgRP neurons is unclear. Here, we tested the functional significance of ghrelin action on AgRP neurons using a new, tamoxifen-inducible AgRP-CreER(T2) transgenic mouse model that allows spatiotemporally-controlled re-expression of physiological levels of ghrelin receptors (GHSRs) specifically in AgRP neurons of adult GHSR-null mice that otherwise lack GHSR expression. AgRP neuron-selective GHSR re-expression partially restored the orexigenic response to administered ghrelin and fully restored the lowered blood glucose levels observed upon caloric restriction. The normalizing glucoregulatory effect of AgRP neuron-selective GHSR expression was linked to glucagon rises and hepatic gluconeogenesis induction. Thus, our data indicate that GHSR-containing AgRP neurons are not solely responsible for ghrelin's orexigenic effects but are sufficient to mediate ghrelin's effects on glycemia.

Medial arcuate ligament: a new anatomic landmark facilitates the location of the renal artery in retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal surgery.

PubMed

Cai, Wei; Li, Hong Zhao; Zhang, Xu; Song, Yong; Ma, Xin; Dong, Jun; Chen, Wenzheng; Chen, Guang-Fu; Xu, Yong; Lu, Jin Shan; Wang, Bao-Jun; Shi, Tao-Ping

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to introduce a new method for locating the renal artery during retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal surgery. The medial arcuate ligament (MAL) is a tendinous arch in the fascia under the diaphragm that arches across the psoas major muscle and is attached medially to the side of the first or the second lumbar vertebra. The renal artery arises at the level of the intervertebral disc between the L1 and L2 vertebrae. We evaluate the role of the MAL that serves as an anatomic landmark for locating the renal artery during retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal surgery. There is a reproducible consistent anatomic relationship between MAL and the renal artery in 210 cases of retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal surgery. Two main types of the MAL, the "narrow arch" and the "fascial band" types, can be observed. MAL can serve as an accurate and reproducible anatomic landmark for the identification of the renal artery during retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal surgery.

Brain innate immunity regulates hypothalamic arcuate neuronal activity and feeding behavior.

PubMed

Reis, Wagner L; Yi, Chun-Xia; Gao, Yuanqing; Tschöp, Mathias H; Stern, Javier E

2015-04-01

Hypothalamic inflammation, involving microglia activation in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), is proposed as a novel underlying mechanism in obesity, insulin and leptin resistance. However, whether activated microglia affects ARC neuronal activity, and consequently basal and hormonal-induced food intake, is unknown. We show that lipopolysaccharide, an agonist of the toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), which we found to be expressed in ARC microglia, inhibited the firing activity of the majority of orexigenic agouti gene-related protein/neuropeptide Y neurons, whereas it increased the activity of the majority of anorexigenic proopiomelanocortin neurons. Lipopolysaccharide effects in agouti gene-related protein/neuropeptide Y (but not in proopiomelanocortin) neurons were occluded by inhibiting microglia function or by blocking TLR4 receptors. Finally, we report that inhibition of hypothalamic microglia altered basal food intake, also preventing central orexigenic responses to ghrelin. Our studies support a major role for a TLR4-mediated microglia signaling pathway in the control of ARC neuronal activity and feeding behavior.

Structural changes in white matter are uniquely related to children’s reading development

PubMed Central

Myers, Chelsea A.; Vandermosten, Maaike; Farris, Emily A.; Hancock, Roeland; Gimenez, Paul; Black, Jessica M.; Casto, Brandi; Drahos, Miroslav; Tumber, Mandeep; Hendren, Robert L.; Hulme, Charles; Hoeft, Fumiko

2014-01-01

This study examined whether variations in brain development between kindergarten and Grade 3 predicted individual differences in reading ability at the latter time point. Structural MRI measurements indicated that increases in volume of two left temporo-parietal white matter clusters are unique predictors of reading outcome at Grade 3. Using diffusion MRI, the larger of these two clusters was identified as a location where fibers of the long segment of arcuate fasciculus and superior corona radiata intersect, and the smaller cluster as the posterior arcuate fasciculus. Bias-free regression analyses using regions-of-interest from prior literature revealed white matter volume changes in temporo-parietal white matter, together with preliteracy measures, predicted 56% of the variance in reading outcomes. Our findings demonstrate the important contribution of developmental differences in areas of left dorsal white matter, often implicated in phonological processing, as a sensitive early biomarker for later reading abilities, and by extension, reading difficulties. PMID:25212581

Pediatric Chronic Abdominal Pain and Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome: A Review and Psychosocial Comparison.

PubMed

Mak, Grace Zee; Lucchetti, Amanda R; Drossos, Tina; Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E; Accurso, Erin C; Stiles-Shields, Colleen; Newman, Erika A; Skelly, Christopher L

2016-07-01

Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) occurs in children and adolescents with a reported prevalence of 4% to 41% with significant direct and indirect costs to the child, family, and society. Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a vascular compression syndrome of the celiac artery that may cause symptoms of epigastric pain and weight loss and is a frequently overlooked cause of CAP in the pediatric population. We have observed that the psychosocial presentation of patients with MALS is notable for various psychiatric comorbidities. In this article, we review MALS as well as our study results of the psychosocial profile of 30 MALS patients. Our data suggest that children and adolescents with MALS have similar psychosocial profiles to children with other gastrointestinal disorders resulting in CAP. The overlap of physical and psychosocial symptoms of patients who have MALS with other CAP disorders leads us to recommend that patients with CAP should be evaluated for MALS. [Pediatr Ann. 2016;45(7):e257-e264.]. Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.

GHRELIN ACTIVATES HYPOPHYSIOTROPIC CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTOR NEURONS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE ARCUATE NUCLEUS

PubMed Central

Cabral, Agustina; Portiansky, Enrique; Sánchez-Jaramillo, Edith; Zigman, Jeffrey M.; Perello, Mario

2016-01-01

Previous work has established that the hormone ghrelin engages the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal neuroendocrine axis via activation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). The neuronal circuitry that mediates this effect of ghrelin is currently unknown. Here, we show that ghrelin-induced activation of PVN CRF neurons involved inhibition of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inputs, likely via ghrelin binding sites that were localized at GABAergic terminals within the PVN. While ghrelin activated PVN CRF neurons in the presence of neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor antagonists or in arcuate nucleus (ARC)-ablated mice, it failed to do it so in mice with ghrelin receptor expression limited to ARC agouti gene related protein (AgRP)/NPY neurons. These data support the notion that ghrelin activates PVN CRF neurons via inhibition of local GABAergic tone, in an ARC-independent manner. Furthermore, these data suggest that the neuronal circuits mediating ghrelin’s orexigenic action vs. its role as a stress signal are anatomically dissociated. PMID:26874559

Neural mechanism of electroacupuncture's hypotensive effects

PubMed Central

Li, Peng; Longhurst, John C.

2010-01-01

EA at P 5–6 and S 36–37 using low current and low frequency may be able to reduce elevated blood pressure in a subset of patients (~70%) with mild to moderate hypertension. The effect is slow in onset but is long-lasting. Experimental studies have shown that EA inhibition of cardiovascular sympathetic neurons that have been activated through visceral reflex stimulation is through activation of neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, vlPAG in the midbrain and NRP in the medulla, which, in turn, inhibit the activity of premotor sympathetic neurons in the rVLM. The arcuate also provides direct projections to the rVLM that contain endorphins. Glutamate, acetylcholine, opioids, GABA, nociceptin, serotonin and endocannabinoids all appear to participate in the EA hypotensive response although their importance varies between nuclei. Thus, a number of mechanisms underlying the long-lasting effect of EA on cardiovascular function have been identified but clearly further investigation is warranted. PMID:20444652

An evaluation of Skylab (EREP) remote sensing techniques applied to investigations of crustal structure. [southwestern USA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bechtold, I. C. (Principal Investigator); Reynolds, J. T.; Archer, R. L.; Wagner, C. G.

1975-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Film positives (70mm) from all six S190A multispectral photographic camera stations for any one scene can be registered and analyzed in a color additive viewer. Using a multispectral viewer, S190A and B films can be projected directly onto published geologic and topographic maps at scales as large as 1:62,500 and 1:24,000 without significant loss of detail. S190A films and prints permit the detection of faults, fractures, and other linear features not visible in any other space imagery. S192 MSS imagery can be useful for rock-type discrimination studies and delineation of linear patterns and arcuate anomalies. Anomalous color reflectances and arcuate color patterns revealed mineralized zones, copper deposits, vegetation, and volcanic rocks in various locations such as Panamint Range (CA), Greenwater (Death Valley), Lava Mountains (CA), northwestern Arizona, and Coso Hot Springs (CA).

Integrated axial and tangential serpentine cooling circuit in a turbine airfoil

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Ching-Pang; Jiang, Nan; Marra, John J

2015-05-05

A continuous serpentine cooling circuit forming a progression of radial passages (44, 45, 46, 47A, 48A) between pressure and suction side walls (52, 54) in a MID region of a turbine airfoil (24). The circuit progresses first axially, then tangentially, ending in a last radial passage (48A) adjacent to the suction side (54) and not adjacent to the pressure side (52). The passages of the axial progression (44, 45, 46) may be adjacent to both the pressure and suction side walls of the airfoil. The next to last radial passage (47A) may be adjacent to the pressure side wall andmore » not adjacent to the suction side wall. The last two radial passages (47A, 48A) may be longer along the pressure and suction side walls respectively than they are in a width direction, providing increased direct cooling surface area on the interiors of these hot walls.« less

HIGH CURRENT COAXIAL PHOTOMULTIPLIER TUBE

DOEpatents

Glass, N.W.

1960-01-19

A medium-gain photomultiplier tube having high current output, fast rise- time, and matched output impedance was developed. The photomultiplier tube comprises an elongated cylindrical envelope, a cylindrical anode supported at the axis of the envelope, a plurality of elongated spaced opaque areas on the envelope, and a plurality of light admitting windows. A photo-cathode is supported adjacent to each of the windows, and a plurality of secondary emissive dynodes are arranged in two types of radial arrays which are alternately positioned to fill the annular space between the anode and the envelope. The dynodes are in an array being radially staggered with respect to the dynodes in the adjacent array, the dynodes each having a portion arranged at an angle with respect to the electron path, such that electrons emitted by each cathode undergo multiplication upon impingement on a dynode and redirected flight to the next adjacent dynode.

Evidence of stratabound liquefaction in the formation of fractured topographic margins, cone chains and pit catenas along the Martian Dichotomy Boundary and in Isidis Planitia, Mars.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallagher, C.; Balme, M. R.

2012-04-01

On the low-lying plains along much of the Martian Dichotomy Boundary (MDB) and in the Isidis impact basin, cones and curving chains of cones, referred to as thumbprint terrain (TPT), are common. In the same settings, pit chains (catenas) occur in orthogonal to curving and conchoidal fracture sets between mesa-like crustal blocks, generally at or near topographic margins. Many of the fractures consist of linked pits rather than simple propagated cracks. These assemblages are often associated with the more disaggregated populations of blocks comprising chaos terrain. We show that the local planimetric arrangement of the cone chains, fractures and pit catenas is strikingly similar in both shape and scale, including lateral separation, length, longitudinal slope and radius of curvature. The summits of cones tend to be closely accordant along individual cone chains. Neighbouring cone chains tend to be mutually accordant on low gradient basin surfaces but generally stepped en echelon closer to the fractured basin margins. Similarly, the crustal blocks (including very isolated block sets) are often mutually stepped, and fractures between these en echelon blocks tend to be very close to horizontal. Hence, many cone chains, fractures and pit catenas in fractures share the property of being arranged along strike. They diverge morphologically by the cone chains being positive forms separated by narrow gulfs but the pit catenas being negative forms separated by planar blocks. All of these characteristics point to the possibility that the arcuate cone chains and the arcuate pit catenas have a common origin. In particular, we hypothesise that the cone chains characteristic of TPT along the MDB and in Isidis are filled, indurated and then exhumed pit catenas revealed by the stripping-away of intervening blocks [cf. 1]. Many other surfaces on Mars are pervaded by pits and pit catenas, with evidence of former water flow through the catenas suggesting that ground-ice thaw played a role in at least one mode of catena formation [2]. As well as presenting the morphological evidence for a genetic association between TPT and pit catenas, we present corroborative evidence that fluvial channel networks on Mars have in places increased in complexity through the linking of pits arranged in linear to arcuate arrays, culminating in a pseudo-branching channel network. Such systems do not occur at topographic margins and did not disintegrate into stepped crustal blocks. However, the scale of these channels and the volumes of liquid intermittently impounded in craters along these channel systems indicate that pit chains are associated with significant excess groundwater production leading to channelized flow, including catastrophic discharges when crater-impounded lakes along-flow were breached. Are the MDB and Isidis cone chains exhumed pit catenas and are the pits the surface expression of more deep-seated conduits? Do pit catenas indicate excess pore-water production, sufficient to link individual pits and dissect crustal blocks? Together, do these assemblages reflect the degradation of the MDB and Isidis margins and the subsequent stripping of adjacent low-lying plains? The crucial observations presented in this research (cone chains lying between crustal blocks, together with the morphometric similarities) are consistent with the interpretation of the cones and catenas having a common origin. Consequently, we hypothesise that the translated, back-rotated, tilted and capsized disposition of en echelon blocks is very reminiscent of the morphology produced during lateral spreading [3] associated with stratabound liquefaction below a low-gradient, rigid, insensitive surface. Significantly, such liquefaction events cause extensive, arcuate ground fractures along with the discharge of sediment-laden groundwater from the liquefiable substratum to the surface through pipes and conical boils confined within inter-block fractures. These conduits and their injectite are frequently indurated by secondary mineralisation, often making them more competent and less erodible than the confining material. Most often, lateral spreads occur at coastlines, with basin-ward normal faulting and extension of the original surface. Generally, seismic shaking of susceptible materials is responsible for lateral spreading but pore-water pressure changes, e.g. due to rapid marine recession and drawdown, may also play a role. Given the basin-and-margin setting of the martian cone, pit and block assemblages described in this research, we speculate that all three broad morphological types reflect the degradation of extensive marine margins and the deflation of the interiors of marine basins during long-term marine recession. [1] Williams et al. (2007) in Willis et al. (eds), Utah Geological Association Publication 36. [2] Weitz et al. (2006) Icarus 184, 436-451. [3] Wang et al. (2005) Icarus 175, 551-555.

White matter tracts of speech and language.

PubMed

Smits, Marion; Jiskoot, Lize C; Papma, Janne M

2014-10-01

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been used to investigate the white matter (WM) tracts underlying the perisylvian cortical regions known to be associated with language function. The arcuate fasciculus is composed of 3 segments (1 long and 2 short) whose separate functions correlate with traditional models of conductive and transcortical motor or sensory aphasia, respectively. DTI mapping of language fibers is useful in presurgical planning for patients with dominant hemisphere tumors, particularly when combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging. DTI has found damage to language networks in stroke patients and has the potential to influence poststroke rehabilitation and treatment. Assessment of the WM tracts involved in the default mode network has been found to correlate with mild cognitive impairment, potentially explaining language deficits in patients with apparently mild small vessel ischemic disease. Different patterns of involvement of language-related WM structures appear to correlate with different clinical subtypes of primary progressive aphasias. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Position indicator

DOEpatents

Tanner, David E.

1981-01-01

A nuclear reactor system is described in which a position indicator is provided for detecting and indicating the position of a movable element inside a pressure vessel. The movable element may be a valve element or similar device which moves about an axis. Light from a light source is transmitted from a source outside the pressure vessel to a first region inside the pressure vessel in alignment with the axis of the movable element. The light is redirected by a reflector prism to a second region displaced radially from the first region. The reflector prism moves in response to movement of the movable element about its axis such that the second region moves arcuately with respect to the first region. Sensors are arrayed in an arc corresponding to the arc of movement of the second region and signals are transmitted from the sensors to the exterior of the reactor vessel to provide indication of the position of the movable element.

Cross-talk between metabolism and reproduction: The role of POMC and SF1 neurons

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Energy homeostasis and reproduction require tight coordination, but the mechanisms underlying their interaction are not fully understood. Two sets of hypothalamic neurons, namely pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus and steroidogenic factor-1 (SF1) neurons in the ventromedial h...

Anatomy of Meckel's cave and the trigeminal ganglion: anatomical landmarks for a safer approach to them.

PubMed

Arslan, Mehmet; Deda, Haluk; Avci, Emel; Elhan, Alaittin; Tekdemir, Ibrahim; Tubbs, R Shane; Silav, Gokalp; Yilmaz, Erdal; Baskaya, Mustafa Kemal

2012-01-01

Surgical approaches to Meckel's cave (MC) are often technically difficult and sometimes associated with postoperative morbidity. The relationship of surgical landmarks to relevant anatomy is important. Therefore, we attempted to delineate quantitatively their anatomy and the relationships between MC and surrounding structures. With the aid of a surgical microscope, MC and its contents were studied in 15 formalin-fixed cadaver head specimens. Measurements were made and their relationships were observed. The distance from the zygomatic arch and the lateral end of the petrous ridge to MC was 26.5 and 34.4 mm, respectively. The distance from the arcuate eminence, the facial nerve hiatus, and the foramen spinosum to MC was 16.6, 12.8 and 7.46 mm respectively. The TG lay 5.81 mm posterior to the foramen ovale. The distance from the abducens, trochlear and oculomotor nerves to the trigeminal ganglion was 1.87, 5.53 and 6.57 mm respectively. The distance from the posterior and the anterior walls of the sigmoid sinus to the trigeminal porus was 43.6 and 33.1 mm respectively. The trigeminal porus was on average 7.19 mm from the anterior wall of the internal acoustic meatus. The anatomical landmarks as presented herein regarding MC may be used for a safer skull base approach to the region.

Interstellar PAH Emission in the 11-14 micron Region: New Insights and a Tracer of Ionized PAHs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hudgins, Douglas M.; Allamandola, Louis J.; Mead, Susan (Technical Monitor)

1999-01-01

The Ames infrared spectral database of isolated, neutral and ionized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) shows that aromatic CH out-of-plane bending frequencies are significantly shifted upon ionization. For non-adjacent and doubly-adjacent CH groups, the shift is pronounced and consistently toward higher frequencies. The non-adjacent modes are blueshifted by an average of 27 per cm and the doubly-adjacent modes by an average of 17 per cm. For triply- and quadruply-adjacent CH out-of-plane modes the ionization shifts are more erratic and typically more modest. As a result of these ionization shifts, both the non-adjacent and doubly-adjacent CH out-of-plane modes move out of the regions classically associated with their respective vibrations in neutral PAHs. The doubly-adjacent modes of ionized PAHs tend to fall into the frequency range traditionally associated with the non-adjacent modes, while the non-adjacent modes are shifted to frequencies above those normally attributed to out-of-plane bending vibrations. Consequently, the origin of the interstellar infrared emission feature near 11.2 microns, traditionally attributed to the out-of-plane bending of non-adjacent CH groups on PAHs is rendered ambiguous. Instead, this feature likely reflects contributions from both non-adjacent CH units in neutral PAHs and doubly-adjacent CH units in PAH cations, the dominant charge state in the most energetic emission regions. This greatly relieves the structural constraints placed on the interstellar PAH population by the dominance of the 11.2 micron band in this region and eliminates the necessity to invoke extensive dehydrogenation of the emitting species. Furthermore, these results indicate that the emission between 926 and 904 per cm (10.8 and 11.1 microns) observed in many sources can be unambiguously attributed to the non-adjacent CH out-of-plane bending modes of moderately-sized (fewer than 50 carbon atom) PAH cations making this emission an unequivocal tracer of ionized interstellar PAHs.

Arthropod consumption by small mammals on prairie dog colonies and adjacent ungrazed mixed grass prairie in western South Dakota

Treesearch

W. Agnew; Daniel W. Uresk; R. M. Hansen

1988-01-01

The percentage of arthropods and plants in the diets of seven small rodents captured on prairie dog colonies and adjacent mixed grasslands were estimated by microhistological techniques. Arthropod composition over the two year study averaged 51% and 37% on prairie dog colonies and mixed grasslands, respectively. Composition of arthropods on prairie dog colonies was...

Morphometric Modifications in Canthon quinquemaculatus Castelnau 1840 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae): Sublethal Effects of Transgenic Maize?

PubMed Central

Alves, Victor Michelon; Hernández, Malva Isabel Medina

2017-01-01

The effects of transgenic compounds on non-target organisms remain poorly understood, especially in native insect species. Morphological changes (e.g., changes in body size and shape) may reflect possible responses to environmental stressors, like transgenic toxins. The dung beetle Canthon quinquemaculatus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) is a non-target species found in transgenic crops. We evaluated whether C. quinquemaculatus individuals inhabiting corn fields cultivated with different seed types (conventional, creole and transgenic) present modifications in body shape compared to individuals inhabiting adjacent native forest fragments. We collected C. quinquemaculatus specimens across an agricultural landscape in southern Brazil, during the summer of 2015. Six populations were sampled: three maize crop populations each under a different seed type, and three populations of adjacent forests. After sampling, specimens were subjected to morphometric analyses to discover differences in body shape. We chose fifteen landmarks to describe body shape, and morphometric data were tested with Procrustes ANOVA and Discriminant Analysis. We found that body shape did not differ between individuals collected in conventional and creole crops with their respective adjacent forests (p > 0.05); however, transgenic crop populations differed significantly from those collected in adjacent forests (p < 0.05). Insects in transgenic maize are more oval and have a retraction in the abdominal region, compared with the respective adjacent forest, this result shows the possible effect of transgenic crops on non-target species. This may have implications for the ecosystem service of organic matter removal, carried out by these organisms. PMID:29065452

Beyond the Arcuate Fasciculus: Consensus and Controversy in the Connectional Anatomy of Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dick, Anthony Steven; Tremblay, Pascale

2012-01-01

The growing consensus that language is distributed into large-scale cortical and subcortical networks has brought with it an increasing focus on the connectional anatomy of language, or how particular fibre pathways connect regions within the language network. Understanding connectivity of the language network could provide critical insights into…

How the Ventral Pathway Got Lost--And What Its Recovery Might Mean

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiller, Cornelius; Bormann, Tobias; Saur, Dorothee; Musso, Mariachristina; Rijntjes, Michel

2011-01-01

Textbooks dealing with the anatomical representation of language in the human brain display two language-related zones, Broca's area and Wernicke's area, connected by a single dorsal fiber tract, the arcuate fascicle. This classical model is incomplete. Modern imaging techniques have identified a second long association tract between the temporal…

Energy balance affects luteinizing hormone pulses and expression of neurokinin B in the hypothalamus of ovariectomized gilts

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The pubertal transition of gonadotropin secretion in pigs is metabolically gated, but the mechanisms that underpin this regulation are unknown. Kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) are coexpressed in neurons within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) and are thought to play an important role ...

A Tractography Study in Dyslexia: Neuroanatomic Correlates of Orthographic, Phonological and Speech Processing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vandermosten, Maaike; Boets, Bart; Poelmans, Hanne; Sunaert, Stefan; Wouters, Jan; Ghesquiere, Pol

2012-01-01

Diffusion tensor imaging tractography is a structural magnetic resonance imaging technique allowing reconstruction and assessment of the integrity of three dimensional white matter tracts, as indexed by their fractional anisotropy. It is assumed that the left arcuate fasciculus plays a crucial role for reading development, as it connects two…

Pre-coding method and apparatus for multiple source or time-shifted single source data and corresponding inverse post-decoding method and apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yeh, Pen-Shu (Inventor)

1997-01-01

A pre-coding method and device for improving data compression performance by removing correlation between a first original data set and a second original data set, each having M members, respectively. The pre-coding method produces a compression-efficiency-enhancing double-difference data set. The method and device produce a double-difference data set, i.e., an adjacent-delta calculation performed on a cross-delta data set or a cross-delta calculation performed on two adjacent-delta data sets, from either one of (1) two adjacent spectral bands coming from two discrete sources, respectively, or (2) two time-shifted data sets coming from a single source. The resulting double-difference data set is then coded using either a distortionless data encoding scheme (entropy encoding) or a lossy data compression scheme. Also, a post-decoding method and device for recovering a second original data set having been represented by such a double-difference data set.

Pre-coding method and apparatus for multiple source or time-shifted single source data and corresponding inverse post-decoding method and apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yeh, Pen-Shu (Inventor)

1998-01-01

A pre-coding method and device for improving data compression performance by removing correlation between a first original data set and a second original data set, each having M members, respectively. The pre-coding method produces a compression-efficiency-enhancing double-difference data set. The method and device produce a double-difference data set, i.e., an adjacent-delta calculation performed on a cross-delta data set or a cross-delta calculation performed on two adjacent-delta data sets, from either one of (1) two adjacent spectral bands coming from two discrete sources, respectively, or (2) two time-shifted data sets coming from a single source. The resulting double-difference data set is then coded using either a distortionless data encoding scheme (entropy encoding) or a lossy data compression scheme. Also, a post-decoding method and device for recovering a second original data set having been represented by such a double-difference data set.

Apolipoprotein A-IV interacts synergistically with melanocortins to reduce food intake.

PubMed

Gotoh, Koro; Liu, Min; Benoit, Stephen C; Clegg, Deborah J; Davidson, W Sean; D'Alessio, David; Seeley, Randy J; Tso, Patrick; Woods, Stephen C

2006-01-01

Apolipoprotein (apo) A-IV is an anorexigenic gastrointestinal peptide that is also synthesized in the hypothalamus. The goal of these experiments was to determine whether apo A-IV interacts with the central melanocortin (MC) system in the control of feeding. The third ventricular (i3vt) administration of a subthreshold dose of apo A-IV (0.5 microg) potentiated i3vt MC-induced (metallothionein-II, 0.03 nmol) suppression of 30-min feeding in Long-Evans rats. A subthreshold dose of the MC antagonist (SHU9119, 0.1 nmol, i3vt) completely attenuated the anorectic effect of i3vt apo A-IV (1.5 microg). The i3vt apo A-IV significantly elevated the expression of c-Fos in neurons of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, but not in the arcuate nucleus or median eminence. In addition, c-Fos expression was not colocalized with proopiomelanocortin-positive neurons. These data support a synergistic interaction between apo A-IV and melanocortins that reduces food intake by acting downstream of the arcuate.

Dlx1/2 and Otp coordinate the production of hypothalamic GHRH- and AgRP-neurons.

PubMed

Lee, Bora; Kim, Janghyun; An, Taekyeong; Kim, Sangsoo; Patel, Esha M; Raber, Jacob; Lee, Soo-Kyung; Lee, Seunghee; Lee, Jae W

2018-05-23

Despite critical roles of the hypothalamic arcuate neurons in controlling the growth and energy homeostasis, the gene regulatory network directing their development remains unclear. Here we report that the transcription factors Dlx1/2 and Otp coordinate the balanced generation of the two functionally related neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, GHRH-neurons promoting the growth and AgRP-neurons controlling the feeding and energy expenditure. Dlx1/2-deficient mice show a loss-of-GHRH-neurons and an increase of AgRP-neurons, and consistently develop dwarfism and consume less energy. These results indicate that Dlx1/2 are crucial for specifying the GHRH-neuronal identity and, simultaneously, for suppressing AgRP-neuronal fate. We further show that Otp is required for the generation of AgRP-neurons and that Dlx1/2 repress the expression of Otp by directly binding the Otp gene. Together, our study demonstrates that the identity of GHRH- and AgRP-neurons is synchronously specified and segregated by the Dlx1/2-Otp gene regulatory axis.

The pectinate zone is stiff and the arcuate zone determines passive basilar membrane mechanics in the gerbil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Hongyi; Steele, Charles R.; Puria, Sunil

2018-05-01

The gerbil basilar membrane (BM) differs from other mammalian BMs in that the lower collagen-fiber layer of the pectinate zone (PZ) forms an arch, the upper fiber layer is flat, and ground substance separates the two layers. The role of this arch has been unknown, but can be elucidated by models. In the standard simple beam model (SBM), the upper and lower collagen-fiber layers of the BM are represented as a single layer in both the PZ and the arcuate zone (AZ). In our new arch-beam model (ABM), the upper fiber layer is flat, the lower layer forms an arch in the PZ, and the two layers combine to form the flat portion of the BM in the AZ. This design is incorporated into a 3D finite-element tapered-box model of the cochlea with viscous fluid. We find in the model that the PZ rotates as a rigid body, so its specific properties have little influence, while the AZ thickness and collagen volume fraction primarily determine passive BM mechanics.

The Decreasing Prevalence of the Arcuate Foramen.

PubMed

Sanchis-Gimeno, Juan A; Llido, Susanna; Miquel-Feutch, Marcos; Quiles-Guinau, Laura; Rios, Luis; Murillo-Llorente, Mayte; Perez-Bermejo, Marcelino; Nalla, Shahed

2018-02-01

The arcuate foramen (AF), or ponticulus posticus, is an anatomic variant of the first cervical vertebra that consists of a complete or partial osseous bridge over the groove for the vertebral artery and extends from the posterior aspect of the superior articular facet to the superior lateral border of the posterior arch. The AF has been associated with clinical symptoms, such as headache, migraine, neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, and vertebral artery dissection. We aimed to test whether the prevalence of the AF has decreased in the modern human population over the past centuries as a result of reduction in inbreeding and endogamy. Possible reduction in the prevalence of the AF was assessed by comparing a 17th century rural sample (n = 108) with a 20th century modern urban sample (n = 192). When comparing the 17th and the 20th century samples, we found a statistically significant (P = 0.003) reduction of 14.5% (95% confidence interval 4.5-24.5) in the prevalence of the AF. Prevalence of the AF has been decreasing over the past centuries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Differential gene regulation of GHSR signaling pathway in the arcuate nucleus and NPY neurons by fasting, diet-induced obesity, and 17β-estradiol

PubMed Central

Yasrebi, Ali; Hsieh, Anna; Mamounis, Kyle J.; Krumm, Elizabeth A.; Yang, Jennifer A.; Magby, Jason; Hu, Pu; Roepke, Troy A.

2015-01-01

Ghrelin’s receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), is highly expressed in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and in neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons. Fasting, diet-induced obesity (DIO), and 17β-estradiol (E2) influence ARC Ghsr expression. It is unknown if these effects occur in NPY neurons. Therefore, we examined the expression of Npy, Agrp, and GHSR signaling pathway genes after fasting, DIO, and E2 replacement in ARC and pools of NPY neurons. In males, fasting increased ARC Ghsr and NPY Foxo1 but decreased NPY Ucp2. In males, DIO decreased ARC and NPY Ghsr and Cpt1c. In fed females, E2 increased Agrp, Ghsr, Cpt1c, and Foxo1 in ARC. In NPY pools, E2 decreased Foxo1 in fed females but increased Foxo1 in fasted females. DIO in females suppressed Agrp and augmented Cpt1c in NPY neurons. In summary, genes involved in GHSR signaling are differentially regulated between the ARC and NPY neurons in a sex-dependent manner. PMID:26577678

Effect of intermittent hypoxia on arcuate nucleus in the leptin-deficient rat.

PubMed

Ciriello, John; Moreau, Jason M; McCoy, Aaron; Jones, Douglas L

2016-07-28

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is a major pathophysiological consequence of obstructive sleep apnea. Recently, it has been shown that IH results in changes in body energy balance, leptin secretion and concomitant alterations in arcuate nucleus (ARC). In this study, the role of leptin on these changes was investigated in leptin-deficient rats exposed to IH or normoxic control conditions. Body weights, consumatory and locomotor behaviours, and protein signaling in ARC were assessed immediately after IH exposure. Compared to normoxia, IH altered body weight, food intake, locomotor pattern, and the plasma concentration of leptin and angiotensin II in the wild-type rat. However, these changes were not observed in the leptin-deficient rat. Within ARC of wild-type animals, IH increased phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and pro-opiomelanocortin protein expression, but not in the leptin-deficient rat. The long-form leptin receptor protein expression was not altered following IH in either rat strain. These data suggest that leptin is involved in mediating the alterations to body energy balance and ARC activity following IH. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Relationship of epithermal gold deposits to large-scale fractures in northern Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ponce, D.A.; Glen, J.M.G.

2002-01-01

Geophysical maps of northern Nevada reveal at least three and possibly six large-scale arcuate features, one of which corresponds to the northern Nevada rift that possibly extends more than 1,000 km from the Oregon- Idaho border to southern Nevada. These features may reflect deep discontinuities within the earth's crust, possibly related to the impact of the Yellowstone hot spot. Because mid-Miocene epithermal gold deposits have been shown to correlate with the northern Nevada rift, we investigate the association of other epithermal gold deposits to other similar arcuate features in northern Nevada. Mid-Miocene and younger epithermal gold- silver deposits also occur along two prominent aeromagnetic anomalies west of the northern Nevada rift. Here, we speculate that mid-Miocene deposits formed along deep fractures in association with mid-Miocene rift- related magmatism and that younger deposits preferentially followed these preexisting features. Statistical analysis of the proximity of epithermal gold deposits to these features suggests that epithermal gold deposits in northern Nevada are spatially associated with large-scale crustal features interpreted from geophysical data.

Directional spectral emissivity measurement system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halyo, Nesim (Inventor); Pandey, Dhirendra K. (Inventor)

1992-01-01

Apparatus and process for determining the emissivity of a test specimen including an integrated sphere having two concentric walls with a coolant circulating therebetween, and disposed within a chamber which may be under ambient, vacuum or inert gas conditions. A reference sample is disposed within the sphere with a monochromatic light source in optical alignment therewith. A pyrometer is in optical alignment with the test sample for obtaining continuous test sample temperature measurements during a test. An arcuate slit port is provided through the spaced concentric walls of the integrating sphere with a movable monochromatic light source extending through and movable along the arcuate slit port. A detector system extends through the integrating sphere for continuously detecting an integrated signal indicative of all radiation within its field of view, as a function of the emissivity of the test specimen at various temperatures and various angle position of the monochromatic light source. A furnace for heating the test sample to approximately 3000 K. and control mechanism for transferring the heated sample from the furnace to the test sample port in the integrating sphere is also contained within the chamber.

Structural white matter asymmetries in relation to functional asymmetries during speech perception and production.

PubMed

Ocklenburg, Sebastian; Hugdahl, Kenneth; Westerhausen, René

2013-12-01

Functional hemispheric asymmetries of speech production and perception are a key feature of the human language system, but their neurophysiological basis is still poorly understood. Using a combined fMRI and tract-based spatial statistics approach, we investigated the relation of microstructural asymmetries in language-relevant white matter pathways and functional activation asymmetries during silent verb generation and passive listening to spoken words. Tract-based spatial statistics revealed several leftward asymmetric clusters in the arcuate fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus that were differentially related to activation asymmetries in the two functional tasks. Frontal and temporal activation asymmetries during silent verb generation were positively related to the strength of specific microstructural white matter asymmetries in the arcuate fasciculus. In contrast, microstructural uncinate fasciculus asymmetries were related to temporal activation asymmetries during passive listening. These findings suggest that white matter asymmetries may indeed be one of the factors underlying functional hemispheric asymmetries. Moreover, they also show that specific localized white matter asymmetries might be of greater relevance for functional activation asymmetries than microstructural features of whole pathways. © 2013.

Neuropeptide Y and peptide YY: important regulators of energy metabolism.

PubMed

Nguyen, Amy D; Herzog, Herbert; Sainsbury, Amanda

2011-02-01

An overview of recent developments documenting the neuropeptide Y (NPY) family's role in energy metabolism. Specifically focusing on site-specific functions of NPY and increasing evidence of peptide YY (PYY) as a weight loss therapeutic. Studying the NPY family in hypothalamic nuclei, other than the arcuate and paraventricular nuclei, is a recent shift in metabolic research. NPY overexpression in the dorsomedial hypothalamus increases food intake whereas its ablation in this area reduces hyperphagia and obesity. Similarly, NPY exerts orexigenic effects in the ventromedial nucleus. However, specific arcuate Y2 receptor ablation leads to positive energy balance, suggesting the NPY family demonstrates location-specific functions. Peripherally, dual blockade of cannabinoid and NPY pathways has synergistic effects on weight loss, as does combined administration of PYY3-36 and oxyntomodulin in reducing food intake, perhaps due to the recently discovered role of PYY in mediating intestinal Gpr119 activity and controlling glucose tolerance. Conditional Y receptor knockout models have provided deeper insights on NPY's functions according to location. Further study of PYY appears vital, due to recent evidence of its role in intestinal motility, with exercise positively influencing PYY levels.

A white matter tract mediating awareness of speech.

PubMed

Koubeissi, Mohamad Z; Fernandez-Baca Vaca, Guadalupe; Maciunas, Robert; Stephani, Caspar

2016-01-12

To investigate the effects of extraoperative electrical stimulation of fiber tracts connecting the language territories. We describe results of extraoperative electrical stimulation of stereotactic electrodes in 3 patients with epilepsy who underwent presurgical evaluation for epilepsy surgery. Contacts of these electrodes sampled, among other structures, the suprainsular white matter of the left hemisphere. Aside from speech disturbance and speech arrest, subcortical electrical stimulation of white matter tracts directly superior to the insula representing the anterior part of the arcuate fascicle, reproducibly induced complex verbal auditory phenomena including (1) hearing one's own voice in the absence of overt speech, and (2) lack of perception of arrest or alteration in ongoing repetition of words. These results represent direct evidence that the anterior part of the arcuate fascicle is part of a network that is important in the mediation of speech planning and awareness likely by linking the language areas of the inferior parietal and posterior inferior frontal cortices. More specifically, our observations suggest that this structure may be relevant to the pathophysiology of thought disorders and auditory verbal hallucinations. © 2015 American Academy of Neurology.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) blunt the response of Neuropeptide Y/Agouti-related peptide (NPY/AgRP) glucose inhibited (GI) neurons to decreased glucose

PubMed Central

Hao, Lihong; Sheng, Zhenyu; Potian, Joseph; Deak, Adam; Rohowsky-Kochan, Christine; Routh, Vanessa H.

2016-01-01

A population of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons which co-express Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) are inhibited at physiological levels of brain glucose and activated when glucose levels decline (e.g. glucose-inhibited or GI neurons). Fasting enhances the activation of NPY/AgRP-GI neurons by low glucose. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibits the enhanced activation of NPY/AgRP-GI neurons by low glucose following a fast. Mice which express green fluorescent protein (GFP) on their NPY promoter were used to identify NPY/AgRP neurons. Fasting for 24 hours and LPS injection decreased blood glucose levels. As we have found previously, fasting increased c-fos expression in NPY/AgRP neurons and increased the activation of NPY/AgRP-GI neurons by decreased glucose. As we predicted, LPS blunted these effects of fasting at the 24 hour time point. Moreover, the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) blocked the activation of NPY/AgRP-GI neurons by decreased glucose. These data suggest that LPS and TNFα may alter glucose and energy homeostasis, in part, due to changes in the glucose sensitivity of NPY/AgRP neurons. Interestingly, our findings also suggest that NPY/AgRP-GI neurons use a distinct mechanism to sense changes in extracellular glucose as compared to our previous studies of GI neurons in the adjacent ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. PMID:27473896

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) blunt the response of Neuropeptide Y/Agouti-related peptide (NPY/AgRP) glucose inhibited (GI) neurons to decreased glucose.

PubMed

Hao, Lihong; Sheng, Zhenyu; Potian, Joseph; Deak, Adam; Rohowsky-Kochan, Christine; Routh, Vanessa H

2016-10-01

A population of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons which co-express Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) are inhibited at physiological levels of brain glucose and activated when glucose levels decline (e.g. glucose-inhibited or GI neurons). Fasting enhances the activation of NPY/AgRP-GI neurons by low glucose. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibits the enhanced activation of NPY/AgRP-GI neurons by low glucose following a fast. Mice which express green fluorescent protein (GFP) on their NPY promoter were used to identify NPY/AgRP neurons. Fasting for 24h and LPS injection decreased blood glucose levels. As we have found previously, fasting increased c-fos expression in NPY/AgRP neurons and increased the activation of NPY/AgRP-GI neurons by decreased glucose. As we predicted, LPS blunted these effects of fasting at the 24h time point. Moreover, the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) blocked the activation of NPY/AgRP-GI neurons by decreased glucose. These data suggest that LPS and TNFα may alter glucose and energy homeostasis, in part, due to changes in the glucose sensitivity of NPY/AgRP neurons. Interestingly, our findings also suggest that NPY/AgRP-GI neurons use a distinct mechanism to sense changes in extracellular glucose as compared to our previous studies of GI neurons in the adjacent ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Expression of NF-κB and PTEN in osteosarcoma and its clinical significance

PubMed Central

Gong, Teng; Su, Xuetao; Xia, Qun; Wang, Jinggui; Kan, Shilian

2017-01-01

We investigated the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome 10 (PTEN) in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma and its relationship with prognosis. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of NF-κB and PTEN in osteosarcoma and adjacent tissues. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of NF-κB and PTEN mRNA in osteosarcoma and adjacent tissues. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of NF-κB and PTEN in osteosarcoma and adjacent tissues and compare their differences. The expression of NF-κB and PTEN was detected in osteosarcoma and adjacent tissues. The positive rate of NF-κB was 75.3 and 32.9%, respectively; while the positive rate of PTEN was 67.1 and 90.4%, respectively. The positive expression of NF-κB and PTEN was statistically significant. There was a negative correlation between NF-κB and PTEN expression (r=−0.502, p<0.05). The positive and negative expression of NF-κB and PTEN was statistically significant for the five-year survival (p<0.05). At gene and protein level, osteosarcoma tissues had higher expression of NF-κB, and lower expression of PTEN, which was significantly different from the adjacent tissues. In osteosarcoma, NF-κB is highly expressed, but PTEN is expressed at low level, and the two are negatively correlated. This is of great significance for the early diagnosis of osteosarcoma and prognosis. PMID:29151913

Relationship between screw sagittal angle and stress on endplate of adjacent segments after anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion with internal fixation: a Chinese finite element study.

PubMed

Zhang, Yu; Tang, Yibo; Shen, Hongxing

2017-12-01

In order to reduce the incidence of adjacent segment disease (ASD), the current study was designed to establish Chinese finite element models of normal 3rd~7th cervical vertebrae (C3-C7) and anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) with internal fixation , and analyze the influence of screw sagittal angle (SSA) on stress on endplate of adjacent cervical segments. Mimics 8.1 and Abaqus/CAE 6.10 softwares were adopted to establish finite element models. For C4 superior endplate and C6 inferior endplate, their anterior areas had the maximum stress in anteflexion position, and their posterior areas had the maximum stress in posterior extension position. As SSA increased, the stress reduced. With an increase of 10° in SSA, the stress on anterior areas of C4 superior endplate and C6 inferior endplate reduced by 12.67% and 7.99% in anteflexion position, respectively. With an increase of 10° in SSA, the stress on posterior areas of C4 superior endplate and C6 inferior endplate reduced by 9.68% and 10.22% in posterior extension position, respectively. The current study established Chinese finite element models of normal C3-C7 and ACCF with internal fixation , and demonstrated that as SSA increased, the stress on endplate of adjacent cervical segments decreased. In clinical surgery, increased SSA is able to play important role in protecting the adjacent cervical segments and reducing the incidence of ASD.

Solare Cell Roof Tile And Method Of Forming Same

DOEpatents

Hanoka, Jack I.; Real, Markus

1999-11-16

A solar cell roof tile includes a front support layer, a transparent encapsulant layer, a plurality of interconnected solar cells and a backskin layer. The front support layer is formed of light transmitting material and has first and second surfaces. The transparent encapsulant layer is disposed adjacent the second surface of the front support layer. The interconnected solar cells has a first surface disposed adjacent the transparent encapsulant layer. The backskin layer has a first surface disposed adjacent a second surface of the interconnected solar cells, wherein a portion of the backskin layer wraps around and contacts the first surface of the front support layer to form the border region. A portion of the border region has an extended width. The solar cell roof tile may have stand-offs disposed on the extended width border region for providing vertical spacing with respect to an adjacent solar cell roof tile.

Reading Impairment in a Patient with Missing Arcuate Fasciculus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rauschecker, Andreas M.; Deutsch, Gayle K.; Ben-Shachar, Michal; Schwartzman, Armin; Perry, Lee M.; Dougherty, Robert F.

2009-01-01

We describe the case of a child ("S") who was treated with radiation therapy at age 5 for a recurrent malignant brain tumor. Radiation successfully abolished the tumor but caused radiation-induced tissue necrosis, primarily affecting cerebral white matter. "S" was introduced to us at age 15 because of her profound dyslexia. We assessed cognitive…

Serpentine metal gasket

DOEpatents

Rothgeb, Timothy Moore [Norfolk, VA; Reece, Charles Edwin [Yorktown, VA

2009-06-02

A metallic seal or gasket for use in the joining of cryogenic fluid conduits, the seal or gasket having a generally planar and serpentine periphery defining a central aperture. According to a preferred embodiment, the periphery has at least two opposing elongated serpentine sides and two opposing arcuate ends joining the opposing elongated serpentine sides and is of a hexagonal cross-section.

Variation in gene expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of gilts with differences in pubertal status and subjected to dietary energy restriction

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

One of the earliest indicators of sow reproductive longevity is the age at which a gilt expresses puberty. Genetic variants and nutrition could contribute to differences in puberty onset and reproductive longevity. Some of the regulatory sequence variants responsible for the differences in gene expr...

Apolipoprotein A-IV inhibits AgRP/NPY neurons and activates POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) in the brain potently suppresses food intake. However the mechanisms underlying its anorexigenic effects remain to be identified. We first examined the effects of apoA-IV on cellular activities in hypothalamic neurons that co-express agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and ne...

Proton Beam Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Located Adjacent to the Alimentary Tract;Proton beam therapy; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Gastrointestinal bleeding

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nakayama, Hidetsugu; Sugahara, Shinji; Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo

2011-07-15

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of proton beam therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) located adjacent to the alimentary tract. Patients and Methods: Forty-seven patients (median age, 69 years; range, 43-82 years) who had HCC located within 2 cm of the alimentary tract underwent proton beam therapy. Liver damage according to the Child-Pugh classification was Class A in 35 patients, Class B in 9, and Class C in 3. Treatment protocols of the early 16 patients and the late 31 patients were 72.6 GyE in 22 fractions and 77 GyE in 35 fractions, respectively. Results: During the median follow-upmore » period of 23 months, 24 patients died; the remaining 23 patients were alive until September 2008. The median overall survival was 33.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.8-57.0 months). Actuarial overall and local progression-free survival rates at 3 years were 50.0% and 88.1%, respectively. Grade 2 and 3 alimentary tract hemorrhage was observed in 3 (6.4%) and 1 (2.1%) patients, respectively. Conclusions: Our proton beam therapy strategy for HCC located adjacent to the alimentary tract seems to be effective but should be performed with caution.« less

Tone-deafness – a new disconnection syndrome?

PubMed Central

Loui, Psyche; Alsop, David; Schlaug, Gottfried

2009-01-01

Communicating with one’s environment requires efficient neural interaction between action and perception. Neural substrates ofsound perception and production are connected by the arcuate fasciculus (AF). While AF is known to be involved in language, its roles in non-linguistic functions are unexplored. Here we show that tone-deaf people, with impaired sound perception and production, have reduced AF connectivity. Diffusion tensor tractography and psychophysics were assessed in tone-deaf individuals and matched controls. Abnormally-reduced AF connectivity was observed in the tone-deaf. Furthermore, we observed relationships between AF and auditory-motor behavior: superior and inferior AF branches predict psychophysically-assessed pitch-discrimination and sound production-perception abilities respectively. This neural abnormality suggests that tone-deafness leads to a reduction in connectivity resulting in pitch-related impairments. Results support a dual-stream anatomy of sound production and perception implicated in vocal communications. By identifying white-matter differences and their psychophysical correlates, results contribute to our understanding of how neural connectivity subserves behavior. PMID:19692596

[The clinical study of percutaneous transhepatic radiofrequency ablation combined with tumor edge of percutaneous absolute ethanol injection on liver cancer adjacent to major blood vessels].

PubMed

Du, Jun-dong; Liu, Rong; Jiao, Hua-bo; Xiang, De-dong; Yin, Hui-nan; Li, Zhen-cai; Li, Tao; Zhu, Zi-man; Li, Zhan-liang

2011-05-01

To explore the effects of percutaneous transhepatic radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) combined with tumor edge of percutaneous absolute ethanol injection (PEI) on liver cancer adjacent to major blood vessels. Seventy five patients with liver cancer adjacent to major blood vessels were randomly divided into two groups: PRFA+PEI therapy group (38 cases) and PRFA control group (37 cases). Tumor necrosis rate, AFP levels, local recurrence rate, median for survival time and cum survival were used as the evaluation index to evaluate the efficacies of the two methods. Tumor necrosis rates of the therapy group and the control group were 84.2% and 54.1% (P < 0.01), respectively; AFP levels of therapy group and control group at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment were (105.0 ± 35.5) μg/L, (28.4 ± 4.3) μg/L, (58.6 ± 6.7) μg/L, (89.5 ± 12.5) μg/L and (137.2 ± 34.6) μg/L, (84.2 ± 18.4) μg/L, (106.6 ± 20.3) μg/L, (173.7 ± 32.0) μg/L, respectively. The rates of therapy group was significantly lower than of control group. Local recurrence rates of the therapy group and control group were 2.6%, 7.9%, 13.2% and 31.6% vs 10.8%, 21.6% , 40.5% and 62.1% (P < 0.05) at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment, respectively. Median for survival time of the therapy group and control group were 28.0 ± 2.8 months and 19.0 ± 3.6 months, respectively. Cum survival of the therapy group and control group were 84.2%, 78.9%, 60.5% and 31.6% vs 78.4%, 67.6%, 37.8% and 8.1% (P < 0.05) at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after treatment, respectively. PEI as a supplementary treatment of PRFA can effectively improve the treatment of liver cancer adjacent to major blood vessels and significantly reduce the local recurrence rate and improve long-term survival rates.

Microwave treatment of renal cell carcinoma adjacent to renal sinus.

PubMed

Gao, Yongyan; Liang, Ping; Yu, Xiaoling; Yu, Jie; Cheng, Zhigang; Han, Zhiyu; Duan, Shaobo; Huang, Hui

2016-11-01

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) adjacent to renal sinus. This retrospective study included 41 patients who underwent US-guided percutaneous MWA of 41 RCCs adjacent to the renal sinus from April 2006 to December 2015. Contrast-enhanced images of US and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were performed at pre-ablation and 1day, 1 month, 3 months, and every 6 months after ablation. Initial ablation success (IAS), disease-free survival (DFS), RCC-related survival (RRS), and overall survival (OS) were recorded at the follow-up visits. IAS was achieved in 92.7% (38/41) of the study subjects. The IAS significantly differed between patients with RCCs ≤4cm (100%, 29/29) and RCCs >4cm (75%, 9/12, p=0.021). During the median follow-up of 37.6 (range, 3.0-97.3) months, the estimated 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS of patients with an initial tumor of ≤4cm were 100%, 89.7%, and 81.5%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year RRS were 100%, 93.3%, and 93.3%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS were 97.1%, 87.8%, and 83.6%, respectively. The multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model revealed no independent predictor of recurrence among all the variables. There were no MWA-related deaths among the study subjects. One patient developed a retroperitoneal abscess after ablation. US-guided percutaneous MWA appears to be a promising method for RCCs adjacent to renal sinus, especially for tumors ≤4cm. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cryopreserved embryo transfer: adjacent or non-adjacent to failed fresh long GnRH-agonist protocol IVF cycle.

PubMed

Volodarsky-Perel, Alexander; Eldar-Geva, Talia; Holzer, Hananel E G; Schonberger, Oshrat; Reichman, Orna; Gal, Michael

2017-03-01

The optimal time to perform cryopreserved embryo transfer (CET) after a failed oocyte retrieval-embryo transfer (OR-ET) cycle is unknown. Similar clinical pregnancy rates were recently reported in immediate and delayed CET, performed after failed fresh OR-ET, in cycles with the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol. This study compared outcomes of CET performed adjacently (<50 days, n = 67) and non-adjacently (≥50 to 120 days, n = 62) to the last OR-day of cycles with the GnRH agonist down-regulation protocol. Additional inclusion criteria were patients' age 20-38 years, the transfer of only 1-2 cryopreserved embryos, one treatment cycle per patient and artificial preparation for CET. Significantly higher implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were found in the non-adjacent group than in the adjacent group: 30.5% versus 11.3% (P = 0.001), 41.9% versus 17.9% (P = 0.003) and 32.3% versus 13.4% (P = 0.01), respectively. These results support the postponement of CET after a failed OR-ET for at least one menstrual cycle, when a preceding long GnRH-agonist protocol is used. Copyright © 2016 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interacting Effects Induced by Two Neighboring Pits Considering Relative Position Parameters and Pit Depth

PubMed Central

Huang, Yongfang; Gang, Tieqiang; Chen, Lijie

2017-01-01

For pre-corroded aluminum alloy 7075-T6, the interacting effects of two neighboring pits on the stress concentration are comprehensively analyzed by considering various relative position parameters (inclination angle θ and dimensionless spacing parameter λ) and pit depth (d) with the finite element method. According to the severity of the stress concentration, the critical corrosion regions, bearing high susceptibility to fatigue damage, are determined for intersecting and adjacent pits, respectively. A straightforward approach is accordingly proposed to conservatively estimate the combined stress concentration factor induced by two neighboring pits, and a concrete application example is presented. It is found that for intersecting pits, the normalized stress concentration factor Ktnor increases with the increase of θ and λ and always reaches its maximum at θ = 90°, yet for adjacent pits, Ktnor decreases with the increase of λ and the maximum value appears at a slight asymmetric location. The simulations reveal that Ktnor follows a linear and an exponential relationship with the dimensionless depth parameter Rd for intersecting and adjacent cases, respectively. PMID:28772758

Nuclear qualified in-containment electrical connectors and method of connecting electrical conductors

DOEpatents

Powell, J. G.

1991-01-01

A nuclear qualified in-containment electrical connection comprises an insulated, sheathed instrument lead having electrical conductors extending from one end thereof to provide two exposed lead wires, a watertight cable having electrical conducting wires therein and extending from one end of the cable to provide two lead wires therefrom, two butt splice connectors each connecting the ends of respective ones of the lead wires from the instrument lead and cable, a length of heat shrinkable plastic tubing positioned over each butt splice connector and an adjacent portion of a respective lead wire from the cable and heat shrunk into position, a length of heat shrinkable plastic tubing on the end portion of the instrument lead adjacent the lead wires therefrom and heat shrunk thereon and a length of outer heat shrinkable plastic tubing extending over the end portion of the instrument lead and the heat shrinkable tubing thereon and over the butt splice connectors and a portion of the cable adjacent the cable lead lines, the outer heat shrinkable tubing being heat shrunk into sealing position on the instrument lead and cable.

Integration of gene expression profiling of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus with genome-wide associations to discover functional variants associated with age at puberty in gilts

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Age at puberty (AP) in gilts is a moderately heritable trait (h2 = 0.37) and the earliest indicator of sow reproductive longevity. Therefore, quantifying the pleiotropic sources that influence both AP and reproductive longevity is important in understanding the differences in sow fertility. In this ...

Effect of progesterone on kisspeptin and neurokinin B cell numbers in the arcuate nucleus of the female pig

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Progesterone acts at the hypothalamus to inhibit LH secretion in the pig, but the mechanism for this is unknown. Kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) have both been shown to influence GnRH/LH secretion and mediate steroid negative feedback in several species and to be critical for normal reproductive f...

Palmitic acid mediates hypothalamic insulin resistance by altering PKC-theta subcellular localization in rodents.

PubMed

Benoit, Stephen C; Kemp, Christopher J; Elias, Carol F; Abplanalp, William; Herman, James P; Migrenne, Stephanie; Lefevre, Anne-Laure; Cruciani-Guglielmacci, Céline; Magnan, Christophe; Yu, Fang; Niswender, Kevin; Irani, Boman G; Holland, William L; Clegg, Deborah J

2009-09-01

Insulin signaling can be modulated by several isoforms of PKC in peripheral tissues. Here, we assessed whether one specific isoform, PKC-theta, was expressed in critical CNS regions that regulate energy balance and whether it mediated the deleterious effects of diets high in fat, specifically palmitic acid, on hypothalamic insulin activity in rats and mice. Using a combination of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we found that PKC-theta was expressed in discrete neuronal populations of the arcuate nucleus, specifically the neuropeptide Y/agouti-related protein neurons and the dorsal medial nucleus in the hypothalamus. CNS exposure to palmitic acid via direct infusion or by oral gavage increased the localization of PKC-theta to cell membranes in the hypothalamus, which was associated with impaired hypothalamic insulin and leptin signaling. This finding was specific for palmitic acid, as the monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, neither increased membrane localization of PKC-theta nor induced insulin resistance. Finally, arcuate-specific knockdown of PKC-theta attenuated diet-induced obesity and improved insulin signaling. These results suggest that many of the deleterious effects of high-fat diets, specifically those enriched with palmitic acid, are CNS mediated via PKC-theta activation, resulting in reduced insulin activity.

[Concentration of monoamines and activity of several enzymes in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus in young and aging rats during the estrous cycle].

PubMed

Grantyn', V A

1976-07-01

The arcuate nucleus (AN) and the median eminence (ME) of the hypothalamus were investigated in young and ageing female rats. During the estral cycle (EC) the monoamine (MA) content, the monoaminoxidase (MAO), NADP and NAD-diaphorase activities were determined in the AN, and the MA content and the activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) -- in the ME. In young rats in the proestrus-estrus there was an increase in the activity of the NADP and NAD-diaphorase and of the MA content, but a decrease of the MAO activity. This indicated an intensified function of the nucleus at these stages of the EC. Accumulation of the MA in the ME was noted in the diestrus, while in the proestrus their concentration sharply fell; on the other hand, the activity of the AP was considerably increased. In the ageing rats the dynamics of the indices under study during the EC were largely unchanged. However, the functional activity of the AN proved to increase, and in the ME and elevation of the MA concentration and disturbance of its release from the nerve terminals was seen.

High-frequency stimulation-induced peptide release synchronizes arcuate kisspeptin neurons and excites GnRH neurons

PubMed Central

Qiu, Jian; Nestor, Casey C; Zhang, Chunguang; Padilla, Stephanie L; Palmiter, Richard D

2016-01-01

Kisspeptin (Kiss1) and neurokinin B (NKB) neurocircuits are essential for pubertal development and fertility. Kisspeptin neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Kiss1ARH) co-express Kiss1, NKB, dynorphin and glutamate and are postulated to provide an episodic, excitatory drive to gonadotropin-releasing hormone 1 (GnRH) neurons, the synaptic mechanisms of which are unknown. We characterized the cellular basis for synchronized Kiss1ARH neuronal activity using optogenetics, whole-cell electrophysiology, molecular pharmacology and single cell RT-PCR in mice. High-frequency photostimulation of Kiss1ARH neurons evoked local release of excitatory (NKB) and inhibitory (dynorphin) neuropeptides, which were found to synchronize the Kiss1ARH neuronal firing. The light-evoked synchronous activity caused robust excitation of GnRH neurons by a synaptic mechanism that also involved glutamatergic input to preoptic Kiss1 neurons from Kiss1ARH neurons. We propose that Kiss1ARH neurons play a dual role of driving episodic secretion of GnRH through the differential release of peptide and amino acid neurotransmitters to coordinate reproductive function. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.16246.001 PMID:27549338

Differential gene regulation of GHSR signaling pathway in the arcuate nucleus and NPY neurons by fasting, diet-induced obesity, and 17β-estradiol.

PubMed

Yasrebi, Ali; Hsieh, Anna; Mamounis, Kyle J; Krumm, Elizabeth A; Yang, Jennifer A; Magby, Jason; Hu, Pu; Roepke, Troy A

2016-02-15

Ghrelin's receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), is highly expressed in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and in neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons. Fasting, diet-induced obesity (DIO), and 17β-estradiol (E2) influence ARC Ghsr expression. It is unknown if these effects occur in NPY neurons. Therefore, we examined the expression of Npy, Agrp, and GHSR signaling pathway genes after fasting, DIO, and E2 replacement in ARC and pools of NPY neurons. In males, fasting increased ARC Ghsr and NPY Foxo1 but decreased NPY Ucp2. In males, DIO decreased ARC and NPY Ghsr and Cpt1c. In fed females, E2 increased Agrp, Ghsr, Cpt1c, and Foxo1 in ARC. In NPY pools, E2 decreased Foxo1 in fed females but increased Foxo1 in fasted females. DIO in females suppressed Agrp and augmented Cpt1c in NPY neurons. In summary, genes involved in GHSR signaling are differentially regulated between the ARC and NPY neurons in a sex-dependent manner. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system in insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Abstract Obesity and its consequent complications such as hypertension and metabolic syndrome are increasing in incidence in almost all countries. Insulin resistance is common in obesity. Renin– angiotensin system (RAS) is an important target in the treatment of hypertension and drugs that act on RAS improve insulin resistance and decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, explaining the close association between hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. RAS influences food intake by modulating the hypothalamic expression of neuropeptide Y and orexins via AMPK dephosphorylation. Estrogen reduces appetite by its action on the brain in a way similar to leptin, an anorexigenic action that seems to be mediated via hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus and synaptic plasticity in the arcuate nucleus similar to leptin. Estrogen stimulates lipoxin A4, a potent vasodilator and platelet anti-aggregator. Since both RAS and estrogen act on the hypothalamic neuropeptides and regulate food intake and obesity, it is likely that RAS modulates LXA4 synthesis. Thus, it is proposed that Angiotensin-II receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzymes and angiotensin-II antagonists may have the ability to augment LXA4 synthesis and thus bring about their beneficial actions. PMID:28191524

Lunar crater arcs. [origins, distribution and age classification of Pre-Imbrian families

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaffe, L. D.; Bulkley, E. O.

1976-01-01

An analysis has been made of the tendency of large lunar craters to lie along circles. A catalog of the craters at least 50 km in diameter was prepared first, noting position, diameter, rim sharpness and completion, nature of underlying surface, and geological age. The subset of those craters 50-400 km in diameter was then used as input to computer programs which identified each 'family' of four or more craters of selected geological age lying on a circular arc. For comparison, families were also identified for randomized crater models in which the crater spatial density was matched to that on the moon, either overall or separately for mare and highland areas. The observed frequency of lunar arcuate families was statistically highly significantly greater than for the randomized models, for craters classified as either late-pre-Imbrian (Nectarian), middle pre-Imbrian, or early pre-Imbrian, as well as for a number of larger age-classes. The lunar families tend to center in specific areas of the moon; these lie in highlands rather than maria and are different for families of Nectarian craters than for pre-Nectarian. The origin of the arcuate crater groupings is not understood.

Driver's side curtain air bag-related globe rupture.

PubMed

Porter, Ashley J; Hayes, Rylan; Lee, Lawrence; O'Hagan, Stephen

2018-06-04

A 35-year-old man presented after a high-speed motor vehicle accident and the driver's side curtain air bag causing blunt force trauma rupturing his right globe. The tangential force of the air bag resulted in an unusual arcuate horseshoe-shaped rupture through the lateral rectus insertion, causing avulsion of the muscle and tearing the sclera, with the apices of the tear extending anteriorly towards the limbus. Repair of the globe rupture was undertaken, and secondary vitrectomy revealed that the scleral tear had not involved the retina abutting the ora serrata. Silicone oil tamponade was used to fill the globe and the postoperative best corrected vision was 6/9. This is the first reported case of a ruptured globe caused by a side curtain air bag, resulting in a uniquely shaped arcuate scleral wound combined with lateral rectus avulsion, not associated with rhegmatogenous retinal damage, and is the first air bag-related globe rupture with scleral involvement to report a final best-corrected visual acuity better than 6/60. © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Neural systems for speech and song in autism

PubMed Central

Pantazatos, Spiro P.; Schneider, Harry

2012-01-01

Despite language disabilities in autism, music abilities are frequently preserved. Paradoxically, brain regions associated with these functions typically overlap, enabling investigation of neural organization supporting speech and song in autism. Neural systems sensitive to speech and song were compared in low-functioning autistic and age-matched control children using passive auditory stimulation during functional magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging. Activation in left inferior frontal gyrus was reduced in autistic children relative to controls during speech stimulation, but was greater than controls during song stimulation. Functional connectivity for song relative to speech was also increased between left inferior frontal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus in autism, and large-scale connectivity showed increased frontal–posterior connections. Although fractional anisotropy of the left arcuate fasciculus was decreased in autistic children relative to controls, structural terminations of the arcuate fasciculus in inferior frontal gyrus were indistinguishable between autistic and control groups. Fractional anisotropy correlated with activity in left inferior frontal gyrus for both speech and song conditions. Together, these findings indicate that in autism, functional systems that process speech and song were more effectively engaged for song than for speech and projections of structural pathways associated with these functions were not distinguishable from controls. PMID:22298195

True polar wander on Europa from global-scale small-circle depressions.

PubMed

Schenk, Paul; Matsuyama, Isamu; Nimmo, Francis

2008-05-15

The tectonic patterns and stress history of Europa are exceedingly complex and many large-scale features remain unexplained. True polar wander, involving reorientation of Europa's floating outer ice shell about the tidal axis with Jupiter, has been proposed as a possible explanation for some of the features. This mechanism is possible if the icy shell is latitudinally variable in thickness and decoupled from the rocky interior. It would impose high stress levels on the shell, leading to predictable fracture patterns. No satisfactory match to global-scale features has hitherto been found for polar wander stress patterns. Here we describe broad arcuate troughs and depressions on Europa that do not fit other proposed stress mechanisms in their current position. Using imaging from three spacecraft, we have mapped two global-scale organized concentric antipodal sets of arcuate troughs up to hundreds of kilometres long and 300 m to approximately 1.5 km deep. An excellent match to these features is found with stresses caused by an episode of approximately 80 degrees true polar wander. These depressions also appear to be geographically related to other large-scale bright and dark lineaments, suggesting that many of Europa's tectonic patterns may also be related to true polar wander.

Biomechanical performance of rigid compared to dynamic anterior cervical plating: analysis of adjacent upper and lower level compressive forces.

PubMed

Connor, David E; Shamieh, Khader Samer; Ogden, Alan L; Mukherjee, Debi P; Sin, Anthony; Nanda, Anil

2012-12-01

Dynamic anterior cervical plating is well established as a means of enhancing graft loading and subsequent arthrodesis. Current concerns center on the degree of adjacent-level stress induced by these systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the load transferred to adjacent levels for single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion utilizing rigid compared to dynamic anterior plating systems. Nine cadaveric adult human cervical spine specimens were subjected to range-of-motion testing prior to and following C5-C6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures. Interbody grafting was performed with human fibula tissue. Nondestructive biomechanical testing included flexion/extension and lateral bending loading modes. A constant displacement of 5mm was applied in each direction and the applied load was measured in newtons (N). Specimens were tested in the following order: intact, following discectomy, after rigid plating, then after dynamic plating. Adjacent level (C4-C5 [L(S)] and C6-C7 [L(I)]) compressive forces were measured using low profile load cells inserted into each disc space. The measured load values for plating systems were then normalized using values measured for the intact specimens. Mean loads transferred to L(S) and L(I) during forced flexion in specimens with rigid plating were 23.47 N and 8.76 N, respectively; while the corresponding values in specimens with dynamic plating were 18.55 N and 1.03 N, respectively. Dynamic plating yielded no significant change at L(I) and a 21.0% decrease in load at L(S) when compared with rigid plating, although the difference was not significant. The observed trend suggests that dynamic plating may diminish superior adjacent level compressive stresses. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

World cup soccer players tend to be born with sun and moon in adjacent zodiacal signs

PubMed Central

Verhulst, J

2000-01-01

The ecliptic elongation of the moon with respect to the sun does not show uniform distribution on the birth dates of the 704 soccer players selected for the 1998 World Cup. However, a uniform distribution is expected on astronomical grounds. The World Cup players show a very pronounced tendency (p = 0.00001) to be born on days when the sun and moon are in adjacent zodiacal signs. Key Words: soccer; World Cup; astrology; moon PMID:11131239

Expression of regulatory neuropeptides in the hypothalamus of red deer (Cervus elaphus) reveals anomalous relationships in the seasonal control of appetite and reproduction.

PubMed

Barrell, G K; Ridgway, M J; Wellby, M; Pereira, A; Henry, B A; Clarke, I J

2016-04-01

Red deer are seasonal with respect to reproduction and food intake, so we tested the hypothesis that their brains would show seasonal changes in numbers of cells containing hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate these functions. We examined the brains of male and female deer in non-breeding and breeding seasons to quantify the production of kisspeptin, gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and γ-melanocyte stimulating hormone (γ-MSH - an index of pro-opiomelanocortin production), using immunohistochemistry. These neuropeptides are likely to be involved in the regulation of reproductive function and appetite. During the annual breeding season there were more cells producing kisspeptin in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus than during the non-breeding season in males and females whereas there was no seasonal difference in the expression of GnIH. There were more cells producing the appetite stimulating peptide, NPY, in the arcuate/median eminence regions of the hypothalamus of females during the non-breeding season whereas the levels of an appetite suppressing peptide, γ-MSH, were highest in the breeding season. Male deer brains exhibited the converse, with NPY cell numbers highest in the breeding season and γ-MSH levels highest in the non-breeding season. These results support a role for kisspeptin as an important stimulatory regulator of seasonal breeding in deer, as in other species, but suggest a lack of involvement of GnIH in the seasonality of reproduction in deer. In the case of appetite regulation, the pattern exhibited by females for NPY and γ-MSH was as expected for the breeding and non-breeding seasons, based on previous studies of these peptides in sheep and the seasonal cycle of appetite reported for various species of deer. An inverse result in male deer most probably reflects the response of appetite regulating cells to negative energy balance during the mating season. Differences between the sexes in the seasonal changes in appetite regulating peptide cells of the hypothalamus present an interesting model for future studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Joint angle affects volitional and magnetically-evoked neuromuscular performance differentially.

PubMed

Minshull, C; Rees, D; Gleeson, N P

2011-08-01

This study examined the volitional and magnetically-evoked neuromuscular performance of the quadriceps femoris at functional knee joint angles adjacent to full extension. Indices of volitional and magnetically-evoked neuromuscular performance (N=15 healthy males, 23.5 ± 2.9 years, 71.5 ± 5.4 kg, 176.5 ± 5.5 cm) were obtained at 25°, 35° and 45° of knee flexion. Results showed that volitional and magnetically-evoked peak force (PF(V) and P(T)F(E), respectively) and electromechanical delay (EMD(V) and EMD(E), respectively) were enhanced by increased knee flexion. However, greater relative improvements in volitional compared to evoked indices of neuromuscular performance were observed with increasing flexion from 25° to 45° (e.g. EMD(V), EMD(E): 36% vs. 11% improvement, respectively; F([2,14])=6.8, p<0.05). There were no significant correlations between EMD(V) and EMD(E) or PF(V) and P(T)F(E), at analogous joint positions. These findings suggest that the extent of the relative differential between volitional and evoked neuromuscular performance capabilities is joint angle-specific and not correlated with performance capabilities at adjacent angles, but tends to be smaller with increased flexion. As such, effective prediction of volitional from evoked performance capabilities at both analogous and adjacent knee joint positions would lack robustness. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Different alterations in brain functional networks according to direct and indirect topological connections in patients with schizophrenia.

PubMed

Park, Chang-Hyun; Lee, Seungyup; Kim, Taewon; Won, Wang Yeon; Lee, Kyoung-Uk

2017-10-01

Schizophrenia displays connectivity deficits in the brain, but the literature has shown inconsistent findings about alterations in global efficiency of brain functional networks. We supposed that such inconsistency at the whole brain level may be due to a mixture of different portions of global efficiency at sub-brain levels. Accordingly, we considered measuring portions of global efficiency in two aspects: spatial portions by considering sub-brain networks and topological portions by considering contributions to global efficiency according to direct and indirect topological connections. We proposed adjacency and indirect adjacency as new network parameters attributable to direct and indirect topological connections, respectively, and applied them to graph-theoretical analysis of brain functional networks constructed from resting state fMRI data of 22 patients with schizophrenia and 22 healthy controls. Group differences in the network parameters were observed not for whole brain and hemispheric networks, but for regional networks. Alterations in adjacency and indirect adjacency were in opposite directions, such that adjacency increased, but indirect adjacency decreased in patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, over connections in frontal and parietal regions, increased adjacency was associated with more severe negative symptoms, while decreased adjacency was associated with more severe positive symptoms of schizophrenia. This finding indicates that connectivity deficits associated with positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia may involve topologically different paths in the brain. In patients with schizophrenia, although changes in global efficiency may not be clearly shown, different alterations in brain functional networks according to direct and indirect topological connections could be revealed at the regional level. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of vocal training in a musicophile with congenital amusia.

PubMed

Wilbiks, Jonathan M P; Vuvan, Dominique T; Girard, Pier-Yves; Peretz, Isabelle; Russo, Frank A

2016-12-01

Congenital amusia is a condition in which an individual suffers from a deficit of musical pitch perception and production. Individuals suffering from congenital amusia generally tend to abstain from musical activities. Here, we present the unique case of Tim Falconer, a self-described musicophile who also suffers from congenital amusia. We describe and assess Tim's attempts to train himself out of amusia through a self-imposed 18-month program of formal vocal training and practice. We tested Tim with respect to music perception and vocal production across seven sessions including pre- and post-training assessments. We also obtained diffusion-weighted images of his brain to assess connectivity between auditory and motor planning areas via the arcuate fasciculus (AF). Tim's behavioral and brain data were compared to that of normal and amusic controls. While Tim showed temporary gains in his singing ability, he did not reach normal levels, and these gains faded when he was not engaged in regular lessons and practice. Tim did show some sustained gains with respect to the perception of musical rhythm and meter. We propose that Tim's lack of improvement in pitch perception and production tasks is due to long-standing and likely irreversible reduction in connectivity along the AF fiber tract.

Under trees and water at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Robinson, Joel E.; Bacon, Charles R.; Wayne, Chris

2012-01-01

Crater Lake partially fills the caldera that formed approximately 7,700 years ago during the eruption of a 12,000-ft-high volcano known as Mount Mazama. The caldera-forming, or climactic, eruption of Mount Mazama devastated the surrounding landscape, left a thick deposit of pumice and ash in adjacent valleys, and spread a blanket of volcanic ash as far away as southern Canada. Prior to the climactic event, Mount Mazama had a 400,000-year history of volcanic activity similar to other large Cascade volcanoes such as Mounts Shasta, Hood, and Rainier. Since the caldera formed, many smaller, less violent eruptions occurred at volcanic vents below Crater Lake's surface, including Wizard Island. A survey of Crater Lake National Park with airborne LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) resulted in a digital elevation map of the ground surface beneath the forest canopy. The average resolution is 1.6 laser returns per square meter yielding vertical and horizontal accuracies of ±5 cm. The map of the floor beneath the surface of the 1,947-ft-deep (593-m-deep) Crater Lake was developed from a multibeam sonar bathymetric survey and was added to the map to provide a continuous view of the landscape from the highest peak on Mount Scott to the deepest part of Crater Lake. Four enlarged shaded-relief views provide a sampling of features that illustrate the resolution of the LiDAR survey and illustrate its utility in revealing volcanic landforms and subtle features of the climactic eruption deposits. LiDAR's high precision and ability to "see" through the forest canopy reveal features that may not be easily recognized-even when walked over-because their full extent is hidden by vegetation, such as the 1-m-tall arcuate scarp near Castle Creek.

Evidence for slip partitioning and bimodal slip behavior on a single fault: Surface slip characteristics of the 2013 Mw7.7 Balochistan, Pakistan earthquake

USGS Publications Warehouse

Barnhart, William; Briggs, Richard; Reitman, Nadine G.; Gold, Ryan D.; Hayes, Gavin

2015-01-01

Deformation is commonly accommodated by strain partitioning on multiple, independent strike-slip and dip-slip faults in continental settings of oblique plate convergence. As a corollary, individual faults tend to exhibit one sense of slip – normal, reverse, or strike-slip – until whole-scale changes in boundary conditions reactivate preexisting faults in a new deformation regime. In this study, we show that a single continental fault may instead partition oblique strain by alternatively slipping in a strike-slip or a dip-slip sense during independent fault slip events. We use 0.5 m resolution optical imagery and sub-pixel correlation analysis of the 200+ km 200+km"> 2013 Mw7.7 Balochistan, Pakistan earthquake to document co-seismic surface slip characteristics and Quaternary tectonic geomorphology along the causative Hoshab fault. We find that the 2013 earthquake, which involved a ∼6:1 strike-slip to dip-slip ratio, ruptured a structurally segmented fault. Quaternary geomorphic indicators of gross fault-zone morphology reveal both reverse-slip and strike-slip deformation in the rupture area of the 2013 earthquake that varies systematically along fault strike despite nearly pure strike-slip motion in 2013. Observations of along-strike variations in range front relief and geomorphic offsets suggest that the Hoshab fault accommodates a substantial reverse component of fault slip in the Quaternary, especially along the southern section of the 2013 rupture. We surmise that Quaternary bimodal slip along the Hoshab fault is promoted by a combination of the arcuate geometry of the Hoshab fault, the frictional weakness of the Makran accretionary prism, and time variable loading conditions from adjacent earthquakes and plate interactions.

Localization of connexin 43 gap junctions and hemichannels in tanycytes of adult mice.

PubMed

Szilvásy-Szabó, Anett; Varga, Edina; Beliczai, Zsuzsa; Lechan, Ronald M; Fekete, Csaba

2017-10-15

Tanycytes are specialized glial cells lining the lateral walls and the floor of the third ventricle behind the optic chiasm. In addition to functioning as barrier cells, they also have an important role in the regulation of neuroendocrine axes and energy homeostasis. To determine whether tanycytes communicate with each other via Connexin 43 (Cx43) gap junctions, individual tanycytes were loaded with Lucifer yellow (LY) through a patch pipette. In all cases, LY filled a larger group of tanycytes as well as blood vessels adjacent to tanycyte processes. The Cx43-blocker, carbenoxolone, inhibited spreading of LY. The greatest density of Cx43-immunoreactive spots was observed in the cell membrane of α-tanycyte cell bodies. Cx43-immunoreactivity was also present in the membrane of β-tanycyte cell bodies, but in lower density. Processes of both types of tanycytes also contained Cx43-immunoreactivity. At the ultrastructural level, Cx43-immunoreactivity was present in the cell membrane of all types of tanycytes including their ventricular surface, but gap junctions were more frequent among α-tanycytes. Cx43-immunoreactivity was also observed in the cell membrane between contacting tanycyte endfeet processes, and between tanycyte endfeet process and axon varicosities in the external zone of the median eminence and capillaries in the arcuate nucleus and median eminence. These results suggest that gap junctions are present not only among tanycytes, but also between tanycytes and the axons of hypophysiotropic neurons. Cx43 hemichannels may also facilitate the transport between tanycytes and extracellular fluids, including the cerebrospinal fluid, extracellular space of the median eminence and bloodstream. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evidence for slip partitioning and bimodal slip behavior on a single fault: Surface slip characteristics of the 2013 Mw7.7 Balochistan, Pakistan earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnhart, W. D.; Briggs, R. W.; Reitman, N. G.; Gold, R. D.; Hayes, G. P.

2015-06-01

Deformation is commonly accommodated by strain partitioning on multiple, independent strike-slip and dip-slip faults in continental settings of oblique plate convergence. As a corollary, individual faults tend to exhibit one sense of slip - normal, reverse, or strike-slip - until whole-scale changes in boundary conditions reactivate preexisting faults in a new deformation regime. In this study, we show that a single continental fault may instead partition oblique strain by alternatively slipping in a strike-slip or a dip-slip sense during independent fault slip events. We use 0.5 m resolution optical imagery and sub-pixel correlation analysis of the 200 + km 2013 Mw7.7 Balochistan, Pakistan earthquake to document co-seismic surface slip characteristics and Quaternary tectonic geomorphology along the causative Hoshab fault. We find that the 2013 earthquake, which involved a ∼6:1 strike-slip to dip-slip ratio, ruptured a structurally segmented fault. Quaternary geomorphic indicators of gross fault-zone morphology reveal both reverse-slip and strike-slip deformation in the rupture area of the 2013 earthquake that varies systematically along fault strike despite nearly pure strike-slip motion in 2013. Observations of along-strike variations in range front relief and geomorphic offsets suggest that the Hoshab fault accommodates a substantial reverse component of fault slip in the Quaternary, especially along the southern section of the 2013 rupture. We surmise that Quaternary bimodal slip along the Hoshab fault is promoted by a combination of the arcuate geometry of the Hoshab fault, the frictional weakness of the Makran accretionary prism, and time variable loading conditions from adjacent earthquakes and plate interactions.

Apparatus and method for controlling heat transfer between a fluidized bed and tubes immersed therein

DOEpatents

Hodges, James L.; Cerkanowicz, Anthony E.

1983-01-01

In a fluidized bed of solid particles having one or more heat exchange tubes immersed therein, the rate of heat transfer between the fluidized particles and a fluid flowing through the immersed heat exchange tubes is controlled by rotating an arcuate shield apparatus about each tube to selectively expose various portions of the tube to the fluidized particles.

Apparatus and method for controlling heat transfer between a fluidized bed and tubes immersed therein

DOEpatents

Hodges, James L.; Cerkanowicz, Anthony E.

1982-01-01

In a fluidized bed of solid particles having one or more heat exchange tubes immersed therein, the rate of heat transfer between the fluidized particles and a fluid flowing through the immersed heat exchange tubes is controlled by rotating an arcuate shield apparatus about each tube to selectively expose various portions of the tube to the fluidized particles.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guiochon, Georges A; Shalliker, R. Andrew

An algorithm was developed for 2DHPLC that automated the process of peak recognition, measuring their retention times, and then subsequently plotting the information in a two-dimensional retention plane. Following the recognition of peaks, the software then performed a series of statistical assessments of the separation performance, measuring for example, correlation between dimensions, peak capacity and the percentage of usage of the separation space. Peak recognition was achieved by interpreting the first and second derivatives of each respective one-dimensional chromatogram to determine the 1D retention times of each solute and then compiling these retention times for each respective fraction 'cut'. Duemore » to the nature of comprehensive 2DHPLC adjacent cut fractions may contain peaks common to more than one cut fraction. The algorithm determined which components were common in adjacent cuts and subsequently calculated the peak maximum profile by interpolating the space between adjacent peaks. This algorithm was applied to the analysis of a two-dimensional separation of an apple flesh extract separated in a first dimension comprising a cyano stationary phase and an aqueous/THF mobile phase as the first dimension and a second dimension comprising C18-Hydro with an aqueous/MeOH mobile phase. A total of 187 peaks were detected.« less

Nuclear qualified in-containment electrical connectors and methods of connecting electrical conductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, J. G.

1990-07-01

A nuclear qualified in-containment electrical connection is presented that comprises: (1) an insulated, sheathed instrument lead having electrical conductors extending from one end thereof to provide two exposed lead wires; (2) a watertight cable having electrical conducting wires therein and extending from one end of the cable to provide two lead wires therefrom; (3) two butt splice connectors each connecting the ends of respective ones of the lead wires from the instrument lead and cable; (4) a length of heat shrinkable plastic tubing positioned over each butt splice connector and an adjacent portion of a respective lead wire from the cable and heat shrunk into position; and (5) a length of heat shrinkable plastic tubing on the end portion of the instrument lead adjacent the lead wires therefrom, heat shrunk thereon, with a length of outer heat shrinkable plastic tubing. The plastic tubing extends over the end portion of the instrument lead and the heat shrinkable tubing and over the butt splice connectors and a portion of the cable adjacent the cable lead lines. The outer heat shrinkable tubing is heat shrunk into sealing position on the instrument lead and cable.

Biomechanical effects of hybrid stabilization on the risk of proximal adjacent-segment degeneration following lumbar spinal fusion using an interspinous device or a pedicle screw-based dynamic fixator.

PubMed

Lee, Chang-Hyun; Kim, Young Eun; Lee, Hak Joong; Kim, Dong Gyu; Kim, Chi Heon

2017-12-01

OBJECTIVE Pedicle screw-rod-based hybrid stabilization (PH) and interspinous device-based hybrid stabilization (IH) have been proposed to prevent adjacent-segment degeneration (ASD) and their effectiveness has been reported. However, a comparative study based on sound biomechanical proof has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical effects of IH and PH on the transition and adjacent segments. METHODS A validated finite element model of the normal lumbosacral spine was used. Based on the normal model, a rigid fusion model was immobilized at the L4-5 level by a rigid fixator. The DIAM or NFlex model was added on the L3-4 segment of the fusion model to construct the IH and PH models, respectively. The developed models simulated 4 different loading directions using the hybrid loading protocol. RESULTS Compared with the intact case, fusion on L4-5 produced 18.8%, 9.3%, 11.7%, and 13.7% increments in motion at L3-4 under flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, respectively. Additional instrumentation at L3-4 (transition segment) in hybrid models reduced motion changes at this level. The IH model showed 8.4%, -33.9%, 6.9%, and 2.0% change in motion at the segment, whereas the PH model showed -30.4%, -26.7%, -23.0%, and 12.9%. At L2-3 (adjacent segment), the PH model showed 14.3%, 3.4%, 15.0%, and 0.8% of motion increment compared with the motion in the IH model. Both hybrid models showed decreased intradiscal pressure (IDP) at the transition segment compared with the fusion model, but the pressure at L2-3 (adjacent segment) increased in all loading directions except under extension. CONCLUSIONS Both IH and PH models limited excessive motion and IDP at the transition segment compared with the fusion model. At the segment adjacent to the transition level, PH induced higher stress than IH model. Such differences may eventually influence the likelihood of ASD.

Floating nut retention system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Charles, J. F.; Theakston, H. A. (Inventor)

1980-01-01

A floating nut retention system includes a nut with a central aperture. An inner retainer plate has an opening which is fixedly aligned with the nut aperture. An outer retainer member is formed of a base plate having an opening and a surface adjacent to a surface of the inner retainer plate. The outer retainer member includes a securing mechanism for retaining the inner retainer plate adjacent to the outer retainer member. The securing mechanism enables the inner retainer plate to float with respect to the outer retainer number, while simultaneously forming a bearing surface for inner retainer plate.

Bilateral arcuate foramen associated with partial defect of the posterior arch of the atlas in a medieval skeleton: case report and review of the literature. Looking backward to go forward.

PubMed

Travan, Luciana; Saccheri, Paola; Sabbadini, Gastone; Crivellato, Enrico

2011-08-01

We observed a complex atlas (C1) dysmorphism in a human medieval skeleton dug up from the sixth to the seventh century necropolis located in the north-eastern Italy. We analyzed such a dysmorphism in the light of pertinent literature and discussed the functional and clinical implications related to this type of C1 structural malformation. Macroscopical and CT-SCAN examinations of the atlas were carried out. Bone findings consisted of partial aplasia of the posterior arch of the C1 accompanied by a bilateral arcuate foramen. In addition, the spinous processes of C7 and T1 were found to be bifid. Although such abnormalities are supposed to be clinically inconspicuous, yet they may become challenging or even dangerous in the context of trauma. They may even complicate specific diagnostic or surgical procedures. In addition, they may cause a great number of symptoms, ranging from headache and neck pain to loss of postural muscle tone and consciousness, due to the close and complex relationship of bone structures with nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and ligaments. As a result, radiologists, clinicians, surgeons, and chiropractors should consider in their clinical reasoning the possibility that atlas dysmorphisms may occur.

Recovery of injured arcuate fasciculus in the dominant hemisphere in a patient with an intracerebral hemorrhage.

PubMed

Jang, Sung Ho; Lee, Han Do

2014-12-01

This study reports on a patient with an intracerebral hemorrhage who showed recovery of an injured arcuate fasciculus (AF) in the dominant hemisphere, using follow-up diffusion tensor tractography. A 43-year-old right-handed man presented with severe aphasia and hemiparesis resulting from a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in the left parietotemporal lobes. The patient showed severe aphasia at 1 month after onset, with an aphasia quotient of 5% on the Korean-Western Aphasia Battery. He underwent comprehensive rehabilitative therapy until 22 months after onset and his aphasia showed improvement, with an aphasia quotient of 58% on the Korean-Western Aphasia Battery. On 1-month diffusion tensor tractography, only the thin ascending part of the left AF from the Wernicke area remained. In contrast, on 16-month diffusion tensor tractography, the injured left AF was thickened and elongated to around the left Broca area; however, discontinuation of the left AF was observed around the left Broca area, and this continuation was elongated to the left Broca area on 22-month diffusion tensor tractography. This study reports on a patient who showed recovery from injury of the left AF along with improvement of aphasia. Recovery of the injured AF in the dominant hemisphere appears to be one of the mechanisms for recovery from aphasia.

Intracerebroventricular Catalase Reduces Hepatic Insulin Sensitivity and Increases Responses to Hypoglycemia in Rats.

PubMed

Pauliina Markkula, S; Lyons, David; Yueh, Chen-Yu; Riches, Christine; Hurst, Paul; Fielding, Barbara; Heisler, Lora K; Evans, Mark L

2016-12-01

Specialized metabolic sensors in the hypothalamus regulate blood glucose levels by influencing hepatic glucose output and hypoglycemic counterregulatory responses. Hypothalamic reactive oxygen species (ROS) may act as a metabolic signal-mediating responses to changes in glucose, other substrates and hormones. The role of ROS in the brain's control of glucose homeostasis remains unclear. We hypothesized that hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), a relatively stable form of ROS, acts as a sensor of neuronal glucose consumption and availability and that lowering brain H 2 O 2 with the enzyme catalase would lead to systemic responses increasing blood glucose. During hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps in rats, intracerebroventricular catalase infusion resulted in increased hepatic glucose output, which was associated with reduced neuronal activity in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Electrophysiological recordings revealed a subset of arcuate nucleus neurons expressing proopiomelanocortin that were inhibited by catalase and excited by H 2 O 2 . During hypoglycemic clamps, intracerebroventricular catalase increased glucagon and epinephrine responses to hypoglycemia, consistent with perceived lower glucose levels. Our data suggest that H 2 O 2 represents an important metabolic cue, which, through tuning the electrical activity of key neuronal populations such as proopiomelanocortin neurons, may have a role in the brain's influence of glucose homeostasis and energy balance.

Palmitic acid mediates hypothalamic insulin resistance by altering PKC-θ subcellular localization in rodents

PubMed Central

Benoit, Stephen C.; Kemp, Christopher J.; Elias, Carol F.; Abplanalp, William; Herman, James P.; Migrenne, Stephanie; Lefevre, Anne-Laure; Cruciani-Guglielmacci, Céline; Magnan, Christophe; Yu, Fang; Niswender, Kevin; Irani, Boman G.; Holland, William L.; Clegg, Deborah J.

2009-01-01

Insulin signaling can be modulated by several isoforms of PKC in peripheral tissues. Here, we assessed whether one specific isoform, PKC-θ, was expressed in critical CNS regions that regulate energy balance and whether it mediated the deleterious effects of diets high in fat, specifically palmitic acid, on hypothalamic insulin activity in rats and mice. Using a combination of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we found that PKC-θ was expressed in discrete neuronal populations of the arcuate nucleus, specifically the neuropeptide Y/agouti-related protein neurons and the dorsal medial nucleus in the hypothalamus. CNS exposure to palmitic acid via direct infusion or by oral gavage increased the localization of PKC-θ to cell membranes in the hypothalamus, which was associated with impaired hypothalamic insulin and leptin signaling. This finding was specific for palmitic acid, as the monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, neither increased membrane localization of PKC-θ nor induced insulin resistance. Finally, arcuate-specific knockdown of PKC-θ attenuated diet-induced obesity and improved insulin signaling. These results suggest that many of the deleterious effects of high-fat diets, specifically those enriched with palmitic acid, are CNS mediated via PKC-θ activation, resulting in reduced insulin activity. PMID:19726875

Arcuate hypothalamic AgRP and putative POMC neurons show opposite changes in spiking across multiple timescales

PubMed Central

Mandelblat-Cerf, Yael; Ramesh, Rohan N; Burgess, Christian R; Patella, Paola; Yang, Zongfang; Lowell, Bradford B; Andermann, Mark L

2015-01-01

Agouti-related-peptide (AgRP) neurons—interoceptive neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC)—are both necessary and sufficient for driving feeding behavior. To better understand the functional roles of AgRP neurons, we performed optetrode electrophysiological recordings from AgRP neurons in awake, behaving AgRP-IRES-Cre mice. In free-feeding mice, we observed a fivefold increase in AgRP neuron firing with mounting caloric deficit in afternoon vs morning recordings. In food-restricted mice, as food became available, AgRP neuron firing dropped, yet remained elevated as compared to firing in sated mice. The rapid drop in spiking activity of AgRP neurons at meal onset may reflect a termination of the drive to find food, while residual, persistent spiking may reflect a sustained drive to consume food. Moreover, nearby neurons inhibited by AgRP neuron photostimulation, likely including satiety-promoting pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, demonstrated opposite changes in spiking. Finally, firing of ARC neurons was also rapidly modulated within seconds of individual licks for liquid food. These findings suggest novel roles for antagonistic AgRP and POMC neurons in the regulation of feeding behaviors across multiple timescales. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.07122.001 PMID:26159614

Intraoperative Subcortical Fiber Mapping with Subcortico-Cortical Evoked Potentials.

PubMed

Enatsu, Rei; Kanno, Aya; Ohtaki, Shunya; Akiyama, Yukinori; Ochi, Satoko; Mikuni, Nobuhiro

2016-02-01

During brain surgery, there are difficulties associated with identifying subcortical fibers with no clear landmarks. We evaluated the usefulness of cortical evoked potentials with subcortical stimuli (subcortico-cortical evoked potential [SCEP]) in identifying subcortical fibers intraoperatively. We used SCEP to identify the pyramidal tract in 4 patients, arcuate fasciculus in 1 patient, and both in 2 patients during surgical procedures. After resection, a 1 × 4-electrode plate was placed on the floor of the removal cavity and 1-Hz alternating electrical stimuli were delivered to this electrode. A 4 × 5 recording electrode plate was placed on the central cortical areas to map the pyramidal tract and temporoparietal cortical areas for the arcuate fasciculus. SCEPs were obtained by averaging electrocorticograms time locked to the stimulus onset. The subcortical stimulation within 15 mm of the target fiber induced cortical evoked potentials in the corresponding areas, whereas the stimulation apart from 20 mm did not. Five patients showed transient worsening of neurologic symptoms after surgery. However, all patients recovered. SCEP was useful for identifying subcortical fibers and confirmed the preservation of these fibers. This technique is expected to contribute to the effectiveness and safety of resective surgery in patients with lesions close to eloquent areas. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

MCT2 Expression and Lactate Influx in Anorexigenic and Orexigenic Neurons of the Arcuate Nucleus

PubMed Central

Cortes-Campos, Christian; Elizondo, Roberto; Carril, Claudio; Martínez, Fernando; Boric, Katica; Nualart, Francisco; Garcia-Robles, Maria Angeles

2013-01-01

Hypothalamic neurons of the arcuate nucleus control food intake, releasing orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides in response to changes in glucose concentration. Several studies have suggested that the glucosensing mechanism is governed by a metabolic interaction between neurons and glial cells via lactate flux through monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). Hypothalamic glial cells (tanycytes) release lactate through MCT1 and MCT4; however, similar analyses in neuroendocrine neurons have yet to be undertaken. Using primary rat hypothalamic cell cultures and fluorimetric assays, lactate incorporation was detected. Furthermore, the expression and function of MCT2 was demonstrated in the hypothalamic neuronal cell line, GT1-7, using kinetic and inhibition assays. Moreover, MCT2 expression and localization in the Sprague Dawley rat hypothalamus was analyzed using RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and Western blot analyses. Confocal immunohistochemistry analyses revealed MCT2 localization in neuronal but not glial cells. Moreover, MCT2 was localized to ∼90% of orexigenic and ∼60% of anorexigenic neurons as determined by immunolocalization analysis of AgRP and POMC with MCT2-positives neurons. Thus, MCT2 distribution coupled with lactate uptake by hypothalamic neurons suggests that hypothalamic neurons control food intake using lactate to reflect changes in glucose levels. PMID:23638108

Hypothalamic circuits regulating appetite and energy homeostasis: pathways to obesity

PubMed Central

Timper, Katharina; Brüning, Jens C.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The ‘obesity epidemic’ represents a major global socioeconomic burden that urgently calls for a better understanding of the underlying causes of increased weight gain and its associated metabolic comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Improving our understanding of the cellular basis of obesity could set the stage for the development of new therapeutic strategies. The CNS plays a pivotal role in the regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis. Distinct neuronal cell populations, particularly within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, sense the nutrient status of the organism and integrate signals from peripheral hormones including pancreas-derived insulin and adipocyte-derived leptin to regulate calorie intake, glucose metabolism and energy expenditure. The arcuate neurons are tightly connected to other specialized neuronal subpopulations within the hypothalamus, but also to various extrahypothalamic brain regions, allowing a coordinated behavioral response. This At a Glance article gives an overview of the recent knowledge, mainly derived from rodent models, regarding the CNS-dependent regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis, and illustrates how dysregulation of the neuronal networks involved can lead to overnutrition and obesity. The potential impact of recent research findings in the field on therapeutic treatment strategies for human obesity is also discussed. PMID:28592656

Hypothalamic circuits regulating appetite and energy homeostasis: pathways to obesity.

PubMed

Timper, Katharina; Brüning, Jens C

2017-06-01

The 'obesity epidemic' represents a major global socioeconomic burden that urgently calls for a better understanding of the underlying causes of increased weight gain and its associated metabolic comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Improving our understanding of the cellular basis of obesity could set the stage for the development of new therapeutic strategies. The CNS plays a pivotal role in the regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis. Distinct neuronal cell populations, particularly within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, sense the nutrient status of the organism and integrate signals from peripheral hormones including pancreas-derived insulin and adipocyte-derived leptin to regulate calorie intake, glucose metabolism and energy expenditure. The arcuate neurons are tightly connected to other specialized neuronal subpopulations within the hypothalamus, but also to various extrahypothalamic brain regions, allowing a coordinated behavioral response. This At a Glance article gives an overview of the recent knowledge, mainly derived from rodent models, regarding the CNS-dependent regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis, and illustrates how dysregulation of the neuronal networks involved can lead to overnutrition and obesity. The potential impact of recent research findings in the field on therapeutic treatment strategies for human obesity is also discussed. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

The interaction of fasting, caloric restriction, and diet-induced obesity with 17β-estradiol on the expression of KNDy neuropeptides and their receptors in the female mouse.

PubMed

Yang, Jennifer A; Yasrebi, Ali; Snyder, Marisa; Roepke, Troy A

2016-12-05

Arcuate neurons that coexpress kisspeptin (Kiss1), neurokinin B (Tac2), and dynorphin (Pdyn) mediate negative feedback of 17β-estradiol (E2) on the HPG axis. Previous studies report that fasting and caloric restriction reduce arcuate Kiss1 expression. The objective of this study was to determine the interactions of E2 with fasting, caloric restriction, and diet-induced obesity on KNDy gene and receptor expression. Ovariectomized female mice were separated into control and estradiol benzoate (E2B)-treated groups. E2B decreased Kiss1 and the tachykinin 2 receptor, Tac3r, in ARC tissue and Tac2 in Tac2 neurons. Diet-induced obesity decreased Kiss1 in oil-treated animals and the kisspeptin receptor, Kiss1r and Tac3r in the ARC of E2B-treated animals. Chronic caloric (30%) restriction reduced all three neuropeptides in oil-treated females and Kiss1r by E2B in CR animals. Taken together, our experiments suggest that steroidal environment and energy state negatively regulate KNDy gene expression in both ARC and Tac2 neurons. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Swedish Plectida (Nematoda). Part 9. The genus Leptolaimoides Vitiello, 1971.

PubMed

Holovachov, Oleksandr

2015-05-01

Three known and two new species of Leptolaimoides are described from bottom sediments collected in Skagerrak off the west coast of Sweden. The following known species are redescribed: Leptolaimoides haploopis Jensen, 1978, L. tubulosus Vitiello, 1971 and L. hexatubulosus Hoang Lai-Phu et al., 2009. Leptolaimoides filicaudatus sp. n. is characterised by the 431-543 µm long body; cephalic sensilla papilliform; amphid 23-26 µm long, located 9-10 µm from anterior end; first body pore located 35-37 µm from anterior end; lateral field simple along most of body, areolated on tail, arising 36-40 µm from anterior end; female without supplements, vagina without pars refringens, vulva midventral; male without tubular and without alveolar supplements; spicules arcuate and 16 µm long. Leptolaimoides leptomicron sp. n. is characterised by the 776-847 µm long body; cephalic sensilla papilliform; amphid 15-17 µm long, located 9-13 µm from anterior end; first body pore located 40-46 µm from anterior end; lateral field areolated, arising 26-28 µm from anterior end; female without supplements, vagina without pars refringens, vulva midventral; male with three tubular and without alveolar supplements, spicules arcuate and 28-29 µm long. The diagnosis of the genus Leptolaimoides is emended and a tabular compendium and dichotomous identification key to species of the genus Leptolaimoides are provided.

47 CFR 27.1206 - Geographic Service Area.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... station's reference coordinates, which was the previous PSA entitled to incumbent licensees prior to... previous 35 mile PSA and those of respective adjacent market, co-channel licensees; or: (2) The BTA that is...

Heat exchange assembly

DOEpatents

Lowenstein, Andrew; Sibilia, Marc; Miller, Jeffrey; Tonon, Thomas S.

2004-06-08

A heat exchange assembly comprises a plurality of plates disposed in a spaced-apart arrangement, each of the plurality of plates includes a plurality of passages extending internally from a first end to a second end for directing flow of a heat transfer fluid in a first plane, a plurality of first end-piece members equaling the number of plates and a plurality of second end-piece members also equaling the number of plates, each of the first and second end-piece members including a recessed region adapted to fluidly connect and couple with the first and second ends of the plate, respectively, and further adapted to be affixed to respective adjacent first and second end-piece members in a stacked formation, and each of the first and second end-piece members further including at least one cavity for enabling entry of the heat transfer fluid into the plate, exit of the heat transfer fluid from the plate, or 180.degree. turning of the fluid within the plate to create a serpentine-like fluid flow path between points of entry and exit of the fluid, and at least two fluid conduits extending through the stacked plurality of first and second end-piece members for providing first fluid connections between the parallel fluid entry points of adjacent plates and a fluid supply inlet, and second fluid connections between the parallel fluid exit points of adjacent plates and a fluid discharge outlet so that the heat transfer fluid travels in parallel paths through each respective plate.

Hear Exchange Assembly

DOEpatents

Lowenstein, Andrew; Sibilia, Marc; Miller, Jeffrey; Tonon, Thomas S.

2003-05-27

A heat exchange assembly comprises a plurality of plates disposed in a spaced-apart arrangement, each of the plurality of plates includes a plurality of passages extending internally from a first end to a second end for directing flow of a heat transfer fluid in a first plane, a plurality of first end-piece members equaling the number of plates and a plurality of second end-piece members also equaling the number of plates, each of the first and second end-piece members including a recessed region adapted to fluidly connect and couple with the first and second ends of the plate, respectively, and further adapted to be affixed to respective adjacent first and second end-piece members in a stacked formation, and each of the first and second end-piece members further including at least one cavity for enabling entry of the heat transfer fluid into the plate, exit of the heat transfer fluid from the plate, or 180.degree. turning of the fluid within the plate to create a serpentine-like fluid flow path between points of entry and exit of the fluid, and at least two fluid conduits extending through the stacked plurality of first and second end-piece members for providing first fluid connections between the parallel fluid entry points of adjacent plates and a fluid supply inlet, and second fluid connections between the parallel fluid exit points of adjacent plates and a fluid discharge outlet so that the heat transfer fluid travels in parallel paths through each respective plate.

Quantitative angiographic anatomy of the renal arteries and adjacent aorta in the swine for preclinical studies of intravascular catheterization devices.

PubMed

Sakaoka, Atsushi; Koshimizu, Masafumi; Nakamura, Shintaro; Matsumura, Kiyoshi

2018-05-10

Swine are the most common animal model in preclinical studies of cardiovascular devices. Because of the recent trend for development of new devices for percutaneous catheterization, especially for the renal arteries (RAs), we examined the quantitative anatomical dimensions of the RAs and adjacent aorta in swine. Angiographic images were analyzed in 66 female Yorkshire/Landrace crossbred swine. The diameter of both the right and left main RA was 5.4 ± 0.6 mm. The length of the right main RA was significantly longer than that of the left (29.8 ± 7.5 mm vs. 20.6 ± 5.4 mm, respectively; P<0.001). The diameter of both the right and left branch RA with diameters ≥3 mm (the target vessel diameter of recently developed devices) was 3.8 ± 0.5 mm. The right branch RA was significantly longer than that of the left (18.9 ± 7.8 mm vs. 16.4 ± 7.4 mm, respectively; P<0.05). The branching angle of the right RA from the aorta was significantly smaller than that of the left (91 ± 12° vs. 103 ± 15°, respectively; P<0.001). The diameters of the suprarenal and infrarenal aorta were 10.6 ± 1.1 mm and 9.7 ± 0.9 mm, respectively. In conclusion, because of their similar dimensions to human, swine are an appropriate animal model for assessing the safety of, and determining optimal design of, catheter devices for RAs in simulated clinical use. However, there were species differences in the branching angle and adjacent aorta diameter, suggesting that swine models alone are inadequate to assess the delivery performance of catheter devices for RAs.

Quantitative angiographic anatomy of the renal arteries and adjacent aorta in the swine for preclinical studies of intravascular catheterization devices

PubMed Central

Sakaoka, Atsushi; Koshimizu, Masafumi; Nakamura, Shintaro; Matsumura, Kiyoshi

2018-01-01

Swine are the most common animal model in preclinical studies of cardiovascular devices. Because of the recent trend for development of new devices for percutaneous catheterization, especially for the renal arteries (RAs), we examined the quantitative anatomical dimensions of the RAs and adjacent aorta in swine. Angiographic images were analyzed in 66 female Yorkshire/Landrace crossbred swine. The diameter of both the right and left main RA was 5.4 ± 0.6 mm. The length of the right main RA was significantly longer than that of the left (29.8 ± 7.5 mm vs. 20.6 ± 5.4 mm, respectively; P<0.001). The diameter of both the right and left branch RA with diameters ≥3 mm (the target vessel diameter of recently developed devices) was 3.8 ± 0.5 mm. The right branch RA was significantly longer than that of the left (18.9 ± 7.8 mm vs. 16.4 ± 7.4 mm, respectively; P<0.05). The branching angle of the right RA from the aorta was significantly smaller than that of the left (91 ± 12° vs. 103 ± 15°, respectively; P<0.001). The diameters of the suprarenal and infrarenal aorta were 10.6 ± 1.1 mm and 9.7 ± 0.9 mm, respectively. In conclusion, because of their similar dimensions to human, swine are an appropriate animal model for assessing the safety of, and determining optimal design of, catheter devices for RAs in simulated clinical use. However, there were species differences in the branching angle and adjacent aorta diameter, suggesting that swine models alone are inadequate to assess the delivery performance of catheter devices for RAs. PMID:29353822

Decreased hepatocyte membrane potential differences and GABAA-beta3 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

PubMed

Minuk, Gerald Y; Zhang, Manna; Gong, Yuewen; Minuk, Leonard; Dienes, Hans; Pettigrew, Norman; Kew, Michael; Lipschitz, Jeremy; Sun, Dongfeng

2007-03-01

To determine whether hepatocyte membrane potential differences (PDs) are depolarized in human HCC and whether depolarization is associated with changes in GABAA receptor expression, hepatocyte PDs and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression were documented in HCC tissues via microelectrode impalement, real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis, respectively. HCC tissues were significantly depolarized (-19.8+/-1.3 versus -25.9+/-3.2 mV, respectively [P<0.05]), and GABAA-beta3 expression was down-regulated (GABAA-beta3 mRNA and protein expression in HCC; 5,693+/-1,385 and 0.29+/-0.11 versus 11,046+/-4,979 copies/100 mg RNA and 0.62+/-0.16 optical density in adjacent tumor tissues, respectively [P=0.002 and P<0.0001, respectively]) when compared with adjacent nontumor tissues. To determine the physiological relevance of the down-regulation, human malignant hepatocytes deficient in GABAA-beta3 receptor expression (Huh-7 cells) were transfected with GABAA-beta3 complementary DNA (cDNA) or vector alone and injected into nu/nu nude mice (n=16-17 group). Tumors developed after a mean (+/-SD) of 51+/-6 days (range: 41-60 days) in 7/16 (44%) mice injected with vector-transfected cells and 70+/-12 days (range: 59-86 days) in 4/17 (24%) mice injected with GABAA-beta3 cDNA-transfected cells (P<0.005). The results of this study indicate that (1) human HCC tissues are depolarized compared with adjacent nontumor tissues, (2) hepatic GABAA-beta3 receptor expression is down-regulated in human HCC, and (3) restoration of GABAA-beta3 receptor expression results in attenuated in vivo tumor growth in nude mice.

Similarity-balanced discriminant neighbor embedding and its application to cancer classification based on gene expression data.

PubMed

Zhang, Li; Qian, Liqiang; Ding, Chuntao; Zhou, Weida; Li, Fanzhang

2015-09-01

The family of discriminant neighborhood embedding (DNE) methods is typical graph-based methods for dimension reduction, and has been successfully applied to face recognition. This paper proposes a new variant of DNE, called similarity-balanced discriminant neighborhood embedding (SBDNE) and applies it to cancer classification using gene expression data. By introducing a novel similarity function, SBDNE deals with two data points in the same class and the different classes with different ways. The homogeneous and heterogeneous neighbors are selected according to the new similarity function instead of the Euclidean distance. SBDNE constructs two adjacent graphs, or between-class adjacent graph and within-class adjacent graph, using the new similarity function. According to these two adjacent graphs, we can generate the local between-class scatter and the local within-class scatter, respectively. Thus, SBDNE can maximize the between-class scatter and simultaneously minimize the within-class scatter to find the optimal projection matrix. Experimental results on six microarray datasets show that SBDNE is a promising method for cancer classification. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Adjacent vertebral body fracture following vertebroplasty with polymethylmethacrylate or calcium phosphate cement: biomechanical evaluation of the cadaveric spine.

PubMed

Nouda, Shinya; Tomita, Seiji; Kin, Akihiro; Kawahara, Kunihiko; Kinoshita, Mitsuo

2009-11-15

A biomechanical study using human cadaveric thoracolumbar spinal columns. To compare the effect of treatment by vertebroplasty (VP) with polymethylmethacrylate cement and VP with calcium phosphate cement on the creation of adjacent vertebral body fracture following VP. Adjacent vertebral body fractures have been reported as a complication following VP. Twenty-four spinal columns (T10-L2) from human cadavers were subjected to dual energy radiograph absorptiometry to assess bone mineral density. They were divided into the P group and C group, and experimental vertebral compression fractures were created at T12 vertebrae. T12 vertebrae were augmented with polymethylmethacrylate and calcium phosphate cement in the P group and C group, respectively. Each spinal column was compressed until a new fracture occurred at any vertebra, and the location of newly fractured vertebra and failure load was investigated. There was no significant difference in bone mineral density at each level within each group. In the P group, a new fracture occurred at T10 in 2 specimens, T11 in 8, and L1 in 2. In the C group, it occurred at T10 in 1 specimen, T11 in 2, L1 in 1, and T12 (treated vertebra) in 8. The failure loads of the spinal column were 1774.8+/-672.3 N and 1501.2+/-556.5 N in the P group and C group, respectively. There was no significant difference in the failure load of the spinal column between each group. New vertebral fractures occurred at the vertebra adjacent to augmented vertebrae in the P group and in the augmented vertebrae in the C group. The difference in the fractured site may be because of the difference in strength between the 2 bone filler materials. Therefore, the strength of bone filler materials is considered a risk factor in developing adjacent vertebral body fractures after VP.

Moisture separator reheater with round tube bundle

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Byerley, W. M.

1984-11-27

A moisture separator reheater having a central chamber with cylindrical wall protions and a generally round tube bundle, the tube bundle having arcuate plates disposed on each side of the bundle which form a wrapper on each side of the bundle and having a tongue and groove juncture between the wrapper and cylindrical wall portions to provide a seal therebetween and a track for installing and removing the tube bundle from the central chamber.

Rectus sheath catheters for continuous analgesia after upper abdominal surgery.

PubMed

Cornish, Philip; Deacon, Alf

2007-01-01

The segmental nerves T6-T11 pass through and innervate the rectus abdominis muscle and overlying skin. The arcuate lines compartmentalize the rectus, but they are deficient posteriorly and hence a catheter tunnelled into the posterior sheath can be used to achieve an effective continuous analgesic block. Volume is important to fill the compartment. It is a simple surgical procedure that has several advantages and appears a viable alternative to epidural analgesia.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Conduction Aphasia from a Close Proximity Blast Resulting in Arcuate Fasciculus Damage Diagnosed on DTI Tractography

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-11-01

communication which are described below as conduction aphasia and neurogenic stuttering secondary to the aphasia. Also, his family felt that his personality... stuttering , and “mumbling” speech. In continued evaluation, estimated premorbid intellectual ability was at least in the average range. Speech...language production resulted in mild neurogenic stuttering . There was also some evidence of visuoconstructional dysfunction. In addition there was

Peak picking and the assessment of separation performance in two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Stevenson, Paul G; Mnatsakanyan, Mariam; Guiochon, Georges; Shalliker, R Andrew

2010-07-01

An algorithm was developed for 2DHPLC that automated the process of peak recognition, measuring their retention times, and then subsequently plotting the information in a two-dimensional retention plane. Following the recognition of peaks, the software then performed a series of statistical assessments of the separation performance, measuring for example, correlation between dimensions, peak capacity and the percentage of usage of the separation space. Peak recognition was achieved by interpreting the first and second derivatives of each respective one-dimensional chromatogram to determine the 1D retention times of each solute and then compiling these retention times for each respective fraction 'cut'. Due to the nature of comprehensive 2DHPLC adjacent cut fractions may contain peaks common to more than one cut fraction. The algorithm determined which components were common in adjacent cuts and subsequently calculated the peak maximum profile by interpolating the space between adjacent peaks. This algorithm was applied to the analysis of a two-dimensional separation of an apple flesh extract separated in a first dimension comprising a cyano stationary phase and an aqueous/THF mobile phase as the first dimension and a second dimension comprising C18-Hydro with an aqueous/MeOH mobile phase. A total of 187 peaks were detected.

Adjacent segment degeneration and disease following cervical arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Shriver, Michael F; Lubelski, Daniel; Sharma, Akshay M; Steinmetz, Michael P; Benzel, Edward C; Mroz, Thomas E

2016-02-01

Cervical arthroplasty is an increasingly popular alternative for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy. This technique preserves motion at the index and adjacent disc levels, avoiding the restraints of fusion and potentially minimizing adjacent segment pathology onset during the postoperative period. This study aimed to identify all prospective studies reporting adjacent segment pathology rates for cervical arthroplasty. Systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out. Studies reporting adjacent segment degeneration (ASDegeneration) and adjacent segment disease (ASDisease) rates in patients who underwent cervical arthroplasty comprised the patient sample. Outcomes of interest included reported ASDegeneration and ASDisease events after cervical arthroplasty. We conducted a MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science search for studies reporting ASDegeneration or ASDisease following cervical arthroplasty. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate effect summary values, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), Q values, and I(2) values. Forest plots were constructed for each analysis group. Of the 1,891 retrieved articles, 32 met inclusion criteria. The patient incidence of ASDegeneration and ASDisease was 8.3% (95% CI 3.8%-12.7%) and 0.9% (95% CI 0.1%-1.7%), respectively. The rate of ASDegeneration and ASDisease at individual levels was 10.5% (95% CI 6.1%-14.9%) and 0.2% (95% CI -0.1% to 0.5%), respectively. Studies following patients for 12-24 months reported a 5.1% (95% CI 2.1%-8.1%) incidence of ASDegeneration and 0.2% (95% CI 0.1%-0.2%) incidence of ASDisease. Conversely, studies following patients for greater than 24 months reported a 16.6% (5.8%-27.4%) incidence of ASDegeneration and 2.6% (95% CI 1.0%-4.2%) of ASDisease. This identified a statistically significant increase in ASDisease diagnosis with lengthier follow-up. Additionally, 1- and 2-level procedures resulted in a 7.4% (95% CI 3.3%-11.4%) and15.6% (95 CI-9.2% to 40.4%) incidence of ASDegeneration, respectively. Although there was an 8.2% increase in ASDegeneration following 2-level operations (relative to 1-level), it did not reach statistical significance. We were unable to analyze ASDisease incidence following 2-level arthroplasty (too few cases), but 1-level operations resulted in an ASDisease incidence of 0.8% (95% CI 0.1%-1.5%). This review represents a comprehensive estimation of the actual incidence of ASDegeneration and ASDisease across a heterogeneous group of surgeons, patients, and arthroplasty techniques. Our investigation should serve as a framework for individual surgeons to understand the impact of various cervical arthroplasty techniques, follow-up duration, and surgical levels on the incidence of ASDegeneration and ASDisease during the postoperative period. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A programmable DNA origami nanospring that reveals force-induced adjacent binding of myosin VI heads

PubMed Central

Iwaki, M.; Wickham, S. F.; Ikezaki, K.; Yanagida, T.; Shih, W. M.

2016-01-01

Mechanosensitive biological nanomachines such as motor proteins and ion channels regulate diverse cellular behaviour. Combined optical trapping with single-molecule fluorescence imaging provides a powerful methodology to clearly characterize the mechanoresponse, structural dynamics and stability of such nanomachines. However, this system requires complicated experimental geometry, preparation and optics, and is limited by low data-acquisition efficiency. Here we develop a programmable DNA origami nanospring that overcomes these issues. We apply our nanospring to human myosin VI, a mechanosensory motor protein, and demonstrate nanometre-precision single-molecule fluorescence imaging of the individual motor domains (heads) under force. We observe force-induced transitions of myosin VI heads from non-adjacent to adjacent binding, which correspond to adapted roles for low-load and high-load transport, respectively. Our technique extends single-molecule studies under force and clarifies the effect of force on biological processes. PMID:27941751

A programmable DNA origami nanospring that reveals force-induced adjacent binding of myosin VI heads.

PubMed

Iwaki, M; Wickham, S F; Ikezaki, K; Yanagida, T; Shih, W M

2016-12-12

Mechanosensitive biological nanomachines such as motor proteins and ion channels regulate diverse cellular behaviour. Combined optical trapping with single-molecule fluorescence imaging provides a powerful methodology to clearly characterize the mechanoresponse, structural dynamics and stability of such nanomachines. However, this system requires complicated experimental geometry, preparation and optics, and is limited by low data-acquisition efficiency. Here we develop a programmable DNA origami nanospring that overcomes these issues. We apply our nanospring to human myosin VI, a mechanosensory motor protein, and demonstrate nanometre-precision single-molecule fluorescence imaging of the individual motor domains (heads) under force. We observe force-induced transitions of myosin VI heads from non-adjacent to adjacent binding, which correspond to adapted roles for low-load and high-load transport, respectively. Our technique extends single-molecule studies under force and clarifies the effect of force on biological processes.

High Density Faraday Cup Array or Other Open Trench Structures and Method of Manufacture Thereof

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gilchrist, Kristin Hedgepath (Inventor); Bower, Christopher A. (Inventor); Stoner, Brian R. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A detector array and method for making the detector array. The detector array includes a substrate including a plurality of trenches formed therein, and a plurality of collectors electrically isolated from each other, formed on the walls of the trenches, and configured to collect charged particles incident on respective ones of the collectors and to output from the collectors signals indicative of charged particle collection. In the detector array, adjacent ones of the plurality of trenches are disposed in a staggered configuration relative to one another. The method forms in a substrate a plurality of trenches across a surface of the substrate such that adjacent ones of the trenches are in a staggered sequence relative to one another, forms in the plurality of trenches a plurality of collectors, and connects a plurality of electrodes respectively to the collectors.

Hybrid Method of Transvertebral Foraminotomy Combined with Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion for Multilevel Cervical Disease.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Yu; Hara, Masahito; Nishimura, Yusuke; Haimoto, Shoichi; Wakabayashi, Toshihiko

2018-03-15

Transvertebral foraminotomy (TVF) combined with anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) can be used to treat multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy; however, the radiological outcomes and effectiveness of this hybrid procedure are unknown. We retrospectively assessed 22 consecutive patients treated with combined TVF and ACDF between January 2007 and May 2016. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and Odom's criteria were analyzed. Radiological assessment included the C2-7 sagittal Cobb angle (CA) and range of motion (ROM). The tilting angle (TA), TA ROM, and disc height (DH) of segments adjacent to the ACDF were also measured. Adjacent segment degeneration, which includes disc degeneration, was evaluated. The mean postoperative follow-up was 41.7 months. All surgeries were performed at two adjacent segments, with ACDF and TVF of the upper and lower segments, respectively. The JOA scores significantly improved. There were no significant differences in the C2-7 CA, C2-7 ROM, TA, and TA ROM, but there was a statistically significant decrease in DH of the lower adjacent segment to ACDF. Progression of disc degeneration was identified in two patients, with no progression in the criterion of adjacent segment degeneration over the follow-up. The TVF combined with ACDF produced excellent clinical results and maintained spinal alignment, albeit with a reduction in DH. TVF was safely performed at the lower segment adjacent to the ACDF, although this might result in earlier degeneration. In conclusion, this hybrid method is less invasive and beneficial for reduction of the number of fused levels.

Damage to the anterior arcuate fasciculus predicts non-fluent speech production in aphasia.

PubMed

Fridriksson, Julius; Guo, Dazhou; Fillmore, Paul; Holland, Audrey; Rorden, Chris

2013-11-01

Non-fluent aphasia implies a relatively straightforward neurological condition characterized by limited speech output. However, it is an umbrella term for different underlying impairments affecting speech production. Several studies have sought the critical lesion location that gives rise to non-fluent aphasia. The results have been mixed but typically implicate anterior cortical regions such as Broca's area, the left anterior insula, and deep white matter regions. To provide a clearer picture of cortical damage in non-fluent aphasia, the current study examined brain damage that negatively influences speech fluency in patients with aphasia. It controlled for some basic speech and language comprehension factors in order to better isolate the contribution of different mechanisms to fluency, or its lack. Cortical damage was related to overall speech fluency, as estimated by clinical judgements using the Western Aphasia Battery speech fluency scale, diadochokinetic rate, rudimentary auditory language comprehension, and executive functioning (scores on a matrix reasoning test) in 64 patients with chronic left hemisphere stroke. A region of interest analysis that included brain regions typically implicated in speech and language processing revealed that non-fluency in aphasia is primarily predicted by damage to the anterior segment of the left arcuate fasciculus. An improved prediction model also included the left uncinate fasciculus, a white matter tract connecting the middle and anterior temporal lobe with frontal lobe regions, including the pars triangularis. Models that controlled for diadochokinetic rate, picture-word recognition, or executive functioning also revealed a strong relationship between anterior segment involvement and speech fluency. Whole brain analyses corroborated the findings from the region of interest analyses. An additional exploratory analysis revealed that involvement of the uncinate fasciculus adjudicated between Broca's and global aphasia, the two most common kinds of non-fluent aphasia. In summary, the current results suggest that the anterior segment of the left arcuate fasciculus, a white matter tract that lies deep to posterior portions of Broca's area and the sensory-motor cortex, is a robust predictor of impaired speech fluency in aphasic patients, even when motor speech, lexical processing, and executive functioning are included as co-factors. Simply put, damage to those regions results in non-fluent aphasic speech; when they are undamaged, fluent aphasias result.

Damage to the anterior arcuate fasciculus predicts non-fluent speech production in aphasia

PubMed Central

Guo, Dazhou; Fillmore, Paul; Holland, Audrey; Rorden, Chris

2013-01-01

Non-fluent aphasia implies a relatively straightforward neurological condition characterized by limited speech output. However, it is an umbrella term for different underlying impairments affecting speech production. Several studies have sought the critical lesion location that gives rise to non-fluent aphasia. The results have been mixed but typically implicate anterior cortical regions such as Broca’s area, the left anterior insula, and deep white matter regions. To provide a clearer picture of cortical damage in non-fluent aphasia, the current study examined brain damage that negatively influences speech fluency in patients with aphasia. It controlled for some basic speech and language comprehension factors in order to better isolate the contribution of different mechanisms to fluency, or its lack. Cortical damage was related to overall speech fluency, as estimated by clinical judgements using the Western Aphasia Battery speech fluency scale, diadochokinetic rate, rudimentary auditory language comprehension, and executive functioning (scores on a matrix reasoning test) in 64 patients with chronic left hemisphere stroke. A region of interest analysis that included brain regions typically implicated in speech and language processing revealed that non-fluency in aphasia is primarily predicted by damage to the anterior segment of the left arcuate fasciculus. An improved prediction model also included the left uncinate fasciculus, a white matter tract connecting the middle and anterior temporal lobe with frontal lobe regions, including the pars triangularis. Models that controlled for diadochokinetic rate, picture-word recognition, or executive functioning also revealed a strong relationship between anterior segment involvement and speech fluency. Whole brain analyses corroborated the findings from the region of interest analyses. An additional exploratory analysis revealed that involvement of the uncinate fasciculus adjudicated between Broca’s and global aphasia, the two most common kinds of non-fluent aphasia. In summary, the current results suggest that the anterior segment of the left arcuate fasciculus, a white matter tract that lies deep to posterior portions of Broca’s area and the sensory-motor cortex, is a robust predictor of impaired speech fluency in aphasic patients, even when motor speech, lexical processing, and executive functioning are included as co-factors. Simply put, damage to those regions results in non-fluent aphasic speech; when they are undamaged, fluent aphasias result. PMID:24131592

Atomizing nozzle and process

DOEpatents

Anderson, I.E.; Figliola, R.S.; Molnar, H.M.

1993-07-20

High pressure atomizing nozzle includes a high pressure gas manifold having a divergent expansion chamber between a gas inlet and arcuate manifold segment to minimize standing shock wave patterns in the manifold and thereby improve filling of the manifold with high pressure gas for improved melt atomization. The atomizing nozzle is especially useful in atomizing rare earth-transition metal alloys to form fine powder particles wherein a majority of the powder particles exhibit particle sizes having near-optimum magnetic properties.

Atomizing nozzle and process

DOEpatents

Anderson, Iver E.; Figliola, Richard S.; Molnar, Holly M.

1992-06-30

High pressure atomizing nozzle includes a high pressure gas manifold having a divergent expansion chamber between a gas inlet and arcuate manifold segment to minimize standing shock wave patterns in the manifold and thereby improve filling of the manifold with high pressure gas for improved melt atomization. The atomizing nozzle is especially useful in atomizing rare earth-transition metal alloys to form fine powder particles wherein a majority of the powder particles exhibit particle sizes having near-optimum magnetic properties.

Long-term follow-up of astigmatic keratotomy for corneal astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty.

PubMed

Böhringer, Daniel; Dineva, Nina; Maier, Philip; Birnbaum, Florian; Kirschkamp, Thomas; Reinhard, Thomas; Eberwein, Philipp

2016-11-01

To report the long-term stability of paired arcuate corneal keratotomies (AKs) in patients with high regular postpenetrating keratoplasty astigmatism. Retrospective chart review of best-corrected visual acuity, refraction and keratometric values of 41 eyes with AK between 2003 and 2012. Magnitude of median target induced astigmatism vector was 9.2 dioptres (Dpt). We reached a median magnitude of surgically induced astigmatism vector of 9.81 Dpt and a median magnitude of difference vector of 5.5 Dpt. In keratometry, we achieved a net median astigmatism reduction by 3.3 Dpt. The average correction index was 1.14, showing a slight overcorrection. Irregularity of keratometric astigmatism increased by 0.6 Dpt, and spherical equivalent changed by 1.75 Dpt. Monocular best spectacle corrected visual acuity increased from preoperatively 20/63 (0.5 logMAR) to 20/40 (0.3 logMAR) postoperatively. Median gain on the ETDRS chart was two lines. Long-term follow-up showed a median keratometric astigmatic increase by 0.3 Dpt per year. Arcuate corneal keratotomies is a safe and effective method to reduce high regular corneal astigmatism following penetrating keratoplasty but has limited predictability. The long-term follow-up shows an increase of keratometric astigmatism by 0.3 Dpt/year, equalizing the surgical effect after 10 years. © 2016 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The arcuate line hernia: operative treatment and a review of the literature.

PubMed

Montgomery, A; Petersson, U; Austrums, E

2013-06-01

An arcuate line hernia (ALH) is a rare diagnosis with no consensus on how to deal with this condition either when symptomatic or when found accidentally. Suggestions for laparoscopic and open operative techniques are given together with a review of the literature and a presentation of three new cases. The PubMed database was searched for publications on ALH. Identified cases, including three from our department, are reported. Five males and two females, with a median age of 53 years were identified. Three patients were correctly diagnosed on a preoperative CT scan and the rest at surgery. Two patients had bilateral ALHs and four had other concomitant hernias repaired. Small bowel was present in the hernia in three cases and sigmoid colon in one. In one case, an emergency operation was performed due to bowel incarceration. Five patients had laparoscopic repairs, three with mesh and two without. Two patients, one converted from laparoscopic to open operation, had open mesh repairs. The postoperative course was uneventful in all cases, and no recurrences have been reported at a median follow-up of 6 months. A laparoscopic approach is recommended for diagnostic purposes, for pre-peritoneal mesh placement and for repair of concomitant hernias in both elective and emergency settings. Highlighting its existence might help general surgeons in interpreting an unusual finding on a CT scan or at operation.

Duplex thrusting in the South Dabashan arcuate belt, central China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Wangpeng; Liu, Shaofeng; Wang, Yi; Qian, Tao; Gao, Tangjun

2017-10-01

Due to later tectonic superpositioning and reworking, the South Dabashan arcuate belt extending NW to SE has experienced several episodes of deformation. The earlier deformational style and formation mechanism of this belt remain controversial. Seismic interpretations and fieldwork show that the curved orogen can be divided into three sub-belts perpendicular to the strike of the orogen, the imbricate thrust fault belt, the detachment fold belt and the frontal belt from NE to SW. The imbricate thrust fault belt is characterized by a series of SW-directed thrust faults and nappes. Two regional detachment layers at different depths have been recognized in the detachment fold and frontal belts, and these detachment layers divide the sub-belts into three structural layers: the lower, middle, and upper structural layers. The middle structural layer is characterized by a passive roof duplex structure, which is composed of a roof thrust at the top of the Sinian units, a floor thrust in the upper Lower Triassic units, and horses in between. Apatite fission track dating results and regional structural analyses indicate that the imbricate thrust fault belt may have formed during the latest Early Cretaceous to earliest Paleogene and that the detachment fold belt may have formed during the latest Late Cretaceous to earliest Neogene. Our findings provide important reference values for researching intra-continental orogenic and deformation mechanisms in foreland fold-thrust belts.

Sonographic Evaluation of Clinically Significant Perigraft Hematomas in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

PubMed

Fananapazir, Ghaneh; Rao, Rajiv; Corwin, Michael T; Naderi, Sima; Santhanakrishnan, Chandrasekar; Troppmann, Christoph

2015-10-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity of ultrasound in evaluating peritransplant hematomas that require surgical evacuation in recipients of kidney transplants. Thirty-four patients who underwent 37 hematoma evacuations underwent ultrasound examinations in the 24 hours before surgical evacuation. The operative reports were evaluated for presence and size of collection, presence of active bleeding at operation, and composition of the hematoma. The clinical findings leading to the ultrasound examination were recorded. Ultrasound examinations were evaluated in consensus by two board-certified and fellowship-trained abdominal radiologists for the presence, size, and echogenicity of the collection; subjective perfusion visualized with color and power Doppler ultrasound; velocities of the renal arteries; and arcuate artery resistive indexes. Ten of the 37 imaged hematomas (27%) had either no or small (< 50 mL) fluid collections on ultrasound examination. With sonographic volumetry, the reported intraoperative volumes were underestimated by 46%. The mean arcuate artery resistive index was 0.82 in the superior pole, 0.81 in the mid pole, and 0.78 in the inferior pole of the kidney. A decrease in hemoglobin level was the most sensitive clinical finding for determining the presence of perigraft hematomas. Our results suggest that gray-scale sonography alone appears to have limited sensitivity in detecting clinically significant peritransplant hematomas and that its use may result in overall underestimates of hematomas.

Novel hypophysiotropic AgRP2 neurons and pineal cells revealed by BAC transgenesis in zebrafish.

PubMed

Shainer, Inbal; Buchshtab, Adi; Hawkins, Thomas A; Wilson, Stephen W; Cone, Roger D; Gothilf, Yoav

2017-03-20

The neuropeptide agouti-related protein (AgRP) is expressed in the arcuate nucleus of the mammalian hypothalamus and plays a key role in regulating food consumption and energy homeostasis. Fish express two agrp genes in the brain: agrp1, considered functionally homologous with the mammalian AgRP, and agrp2. The role of agrp2 and its relationship to agrp1 are not fully understood. Utilizing BAC transgenesis, we generated transgenic zebrafish in which agrp1- and agrp2-expressing cells can be visualized and manipulated. By characterizing these transgenic lines, we showed that agrp1-expressing neurons are located in the ventral periventricular hypothalamus (the equivalent of the mammalian arcuate nucleus), projecting throughout the hypothalamus and towards the preoptic area. The agrp2 gene was expressed in the pineal gland in a previously uncharacterized subgroup of cells. Additionally, agrp2 was expressed in a small group of neurons in the preoptic area that project directly towards the pituitary and form an interface with the pituitary vasculature, suggesting that preoptic AgRP2 neurons are hypophysiotropic. We showed that direct synaptic connection can exist between AgRP1 and AgRP2 neurons in the hypothalamus, suggesting communication and coordination between AgRP1 and AgRP2 neurons and, therefore, probably also between the processes they regulate.

Prevention of reflex natriuresis after acute unilateral nephrectomy by neonatal administration of MSG

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, S.Y.; Wiedemann, E.; Deschepper, C.F.

1987-02-01

Acute unilateral nephrectomy (AUN) results in natriuresis from the remaining kidney through reflex pathways involving the central nervous system and requiring an intact pituitary gland. The natriuresis is accompanied by an increase in the plasma concentration of a peptide or peptides derived from the N-terminal fragment (NTF) of proopiomelanocortin. The authors measured plasma immunoreactive NTF-like material (IR-NTF) by radioimmunoassay, before and after AUN in control rats and rats treated neonatally with monosodium glutamate (MSG), a procedure that produces neuroendocrine dysfunction by destroying cell bodies in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, median eminence, and other brain regions. In control rats, IR-NTF increasedmore » from 85.8 +/- 54.9 (SD) to 207 +/- 98.1 fmol/ml after AUN as sodium excretion (U/sub Na/V) doubled. In MSG-treated rats, AUN produced no change in plasma IR-NTF concentration, nor did U/sub Na/V increase. Tissue content of IR-NTF was reduced in the arcuate nucleus and anterior lobe of pituitaries from MSG-treated rats compared with controls, but was no different in the neurointermediate lobe. These results indicate that the hypothalamic lesion produced by neonatal administration of MSG prevents both the increase in plasma IR-NTF concentration and the natruiuresis after AUN, and therefore lend further support to the concept of a casual relationship between these two consequences of AUN.« less

Loss of polyubiquitin gene Ubb leads to metabolic and sleep abnormalities in mice

PubMed Central

Ryu, K.-Y.; Fujiki, N.; Kazantzis, M.; Garza, J. C.; Bouley, D. M.; Stahl, A.; Lu, X.-Y.; Nishino, S.; Kopito, R. R.

2010-01-01

Aims Ubiquitin performs essential roles in a myriad of signalling pathways required for cellular function and survival. Recently, we reported that disruption of the stress-inducible ubiquitin-encoding gene Ubb reduces ubiquitin content in the hypothalamus and leads to adult-onset obesity coupled with a loss of arcuate nucleus neurones and disrupted energy homeostasis in mice. Neuropeptides expressed in the hypothalamus control both metabolic and sleep behaviours. In order to demonstrate that the loss of Ubb results in broad hypothalamic abnormalities, we attempted to determine whether metabolic and sleep behaviours were altered in Ubb knockout mice. Methods Metabolic rate and energy expenditure were measured in a metabolic chamber, and sleep stage was monitored via electroencephalographic/electromyographic recording. The presence of neurodegeneration and increased reactive gliosis in the hypothalamus were also evaluated. Results We found that Ubb disruption leads to early-onset reduced activity and metabolic rate. Additionally, we have demonstrated that sleep behaviour is altered and sleep homeostasis is disrupted in Ubb knockout mice. These early metabolic and sleep abnormalities are accompanied by persistent reactive gliosis and the loss of arcuate nucleus neurones, but are independent of neurodegeneration in the lateral hypothalamus. Conclusions Ubb knockout mice exhibit phenotypes consistent with hypothalamic dysfunction. Our data also indicate that Ubb is essential for the maintenance of the ubiquitin levels required for proper regulation of metabolic and sleep behaviours in mice. PMID:20002312

Weaning stage hyperglycemia induces glucose-insensitivity in arcuate POMC neurons and hyperphagia in type 2 diabetic GK rats.

PubMed

Ando, A; Gantulga, D; Nakata, M; Maekawa, F; Dezaki, K; Ishibashi, S; Yada, T

2018-04-01

Hyperphagia triggers and accelerates diabetes, and prevents proper dietary control of glycemia. Inversely, the impact of hyperglycemia on hyperphagia and possible mechanistic cause common for these two metabolic disorders in type 2 diabetes are less defined. The present study examined the precise developmental process of hyperglycemia and hyperphagia and explored the alterations in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), the primary feeding and metabolic center, in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with type 2 diabetes and nearly normal body weight. At mid 3 to 4 weeks of age, GK rats first exhibited hyperglycemia, and then hyperphagia and reduced mRNA expressions for anorexigenic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and glucokinase in ARC. Furthermore, [Ca 2+ ]i responses to high glucose in ARC POMC neurons were impaired in GK rats at 4 weeks. Treating GK rats from early 3 to mid 6 weeks of age with an anti-diabetic medicine miglitol not only suppressed hyperglycemia but ameliorated hyperphagia and restored POMC mRNA expression in ARC. These results suggest that the early hyperglycemia occurring in weaning period may lead to impaired glucose sensing and neuronal activity of POMC neurons, and thereby induce hyperphagia in GK rats. Correction of hyperglycemia in the early period may prevent and/or ameliorate the progression of hyperphagia in type 2 diabetes. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Anxiety-like behavior in transgenic mice with brain expression of neuropeptide Y.

PubMed

Inui, A; Okita, M; Nakajima, M; Momose, K; Ueno, N; Teranishi, A; Miura, M; Hirosue, Y; Sano, K; Sato, M; Watanabe, M; Sakai, T; Watanabe, T; Ishida, K; Silver, J; Baba, S; Kasuga, M

1998-01-01

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), one of the most abundant peptide transmitters in the mammalian brain, is assumed to play an important role in behavior and its disorders. To understand the long-term modulation of neuronal functions by NPY, we raised transgenic mice created with a novel central nervous system (CNS) neuron-specific expression vector of human Thy- gene fragment linked to mouse NPY cDNA. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated transgene-derived NPY expression in neurons (e.g., in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus) in the transgenic mice. The modest increase of NPY protein in the brain was demonstrated by semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis and by radioreceptor assay (115% in transgenic mice compared to control littermates). Double-staining experiments indicated colocalization of the transgene-derived NPY message and NPY protein in the same neurons, such as in the arcuate nucleus. The transgenic mice displayed behavioral signs of anxiety and hypertrophy of adrenal zona fasciculata cells, but no change in food intake was observed. The anxiety-like behavior of transgenic mice was reversed, at least in part, by administration of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) antagonists, alpha-helical CRF9-41, into the third cerebral ventricle. These results suggest that NPY has a role in anxiety and behavioral responses to stress partly via the CRF neuronal system. This genetic model may provide a unique opportunity to study human anxiety and emotional disorders.

Lateralization of the arcuate fasciculus and its differential correlation with reading ability between young learners and experienced readers: a diffusion tensor tractography study in a Chinese cohort.

PubMed

Qiu, Deqiang; Tan, Li-Hai; Siok, Wai-Ting; Zhou, Ke; Khong, Pek-Lan

2011-12-01

As Chinese reading engages a different neural network from alphabetic language reading, we investigate whether leftward lateralization of the arcuate fasciculus (AF), as observed in the Western population, is also present in the Chinese population and if it does, whether it is associated with better reading ability. Diffusion tensor tractography analysis on 75 Chinese subjects of three age groups (first graders, fourth graders, and college students) showed that 70-83% of them had leftward lateralization of the AF. The pattern of lateralization did not differ significantly among the three groups, suggesting that lateralization of the AF is formed at an early age and before one enters first grade. Among the first graders, who had just started to learn to read, subjects with strongly leftward lateralized AF scored significantly higher than those with other defined lateralization patterns in Chinese (P = 0.001) and English (P = 0.036) reading tasks. This association was not observed among the fourth graders and college students who were experienced Chinese readers. Among the fourth graders, females were found to obtain significantly higher Chinese (P = 0.033) and English reading scores than males (P = 0.002). Our study suggests a differential effect of leftward lateralization of the AF on reading ability at different stages of reading development in the Chinese population. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Donor-Site Complications and Remnant of Rectus Abdominis Muscle Status after Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous Flap Reconstruction

PubMed Central

Chirappapha, Prakasit; Trikunagonvong, Noppadol; Rongthong, Sasiprapa; Lertsithichai, Panuwat; Sukarayothin, Thongchai; Leesombatpaiboon, Monchai; Panawattanakul, Rujira; Thaweepworadej, Panya

2017-01-01

Background: Transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap reconstruction after mastectomy in breast cancer patients has become one of the milestones in breast reconstruction. There are several techniques that have been used in an attempt to minimize untoward complications. We present the whole muscle with partial sheath-sparing technique that focuses on the anatomy of arcuate line and the closure of the anterior abdominal wall techniques with mesh and determine factors associated with its complications and outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively and prospectively review the results of 30 pedicled TRAM flaps that were performed between November 2013 and March 2016, focusing on outcomes and complications. Results: Among the 30 pedicled TRAM flap procedures in 30 patients, there were complications in 5 patients (17%). Most common complications were surgical-site infection (7%). After a median follow-up time of 15 months, no patient developed abdominal wall hernia or bulging in daily activities in our study, but 6 patients (20%) had asymptomatic abdominal wall bulging when exercised. Significant factors related to asymptomatic exercised abdominal wall bulging included having a body mass index of more than 23 kg/m2. Conclusion: Pedicled TRAM flap by using the technique of the whole muscle with partial sheath-sparing technique combined with reinforcement above the arcuate line with mesh can reduce the occurrence of abdominal bulging and hernia. PMID:28740793

Molecular and behavioral profiling of Dbx1-derived neurons in the arcuate, lateral and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei.

PubMed

Sokolowski, Katie; Tran, Tuyen; Esumi, Shigeyuki; Kamal, Yasmin; Oboti, Livio; Lischinsky, Julieta; Goodrich, Meredith; Lam, Andrew; Carter, Margaret; Nakagawa, Yasushi; Corbin, Joshua G

2016-05-21

Neurons in the hypothalamus function to regulate the state of the animal during both learned and innate behaviors, and alterations in hypothalamic development may contribute to pathological conditions such as anxiety, depression or obesity. Despite many studies of hypothalamic development and function, the link between embryonic development and innate behaviors remains unexplored. Here, focusing on the embryonically expressed homeodomain-containing gene Developing Brain Homeobox 1 (Dbx1), we explored the relationship between embryonic lineage, post-natal neuronal identity and lineage-specific responses to innate cues. We found that Dbx1 is widely expressed across multiple developing hypothalamic subdomains. Using standard and inducible fate-mapping to trace the Dbx1-derived neurons, we identified their contribution to specific neuronal subtypes across hypothalamic nuclei and further mapped their activation patterns in response to a series of well-defined innate behaviors. Dbx1-derived neurons occupy multiple postnatal hypothalamic nuclei including the lateral hypothalamus (LH), arcuate nucleus (Arc) and the ventral medial hypothalamus (VMH). Within these nuclei, Dbx1 (+) progenitors generate a large proportion of the Pmch-, Nesfatin-, Cart-, Hcrt-, Agrp- and ERα-expressing neuronal populations, and to a lesser extent the Pomc-, TH- and Aromatase-expressing populations. Inducible fate-mapping reveals distinct temporal windows for development of the Dbx1-derived LH and Arc populations, with Agrp(+) and Cart(+) populations in the Arc arising early (E7.5-E9.5), while Pmch(+) and Hcrt(+) populations in the LH derived from progenitors expressing Dbx1 later (E9.5-E11.5). Moreover, as revealed by c-Fos labeling, Dbx1-derived cells in male and female LH, Arc and VMH are responsive during mating and aggression. In contrast, Dbx1-lineage cells in the Arc and LH have a broader behavioral tuning, which includes responding to fasting and predator odor cues. We define a novel fate map of the hypothalamus with respect to Dbx1 expression in hypothalamic progenitor zones. We demonstrate that in a temporally regulated manner, Dbx1-derived neurons contribute to molecularly distinct neuronal populations in the LH, Arc and VMH that have been implicated in a variety of hypothalamic-driven behaviors. Consistent with this, Dbx1-derived neurons in the LH, Arc and VMH are activated during stress and other innate behavioral responses, implicating their involvement in these diverse behaviors.

Diurnal fluctuations in HPA and neuropeptide Y-ergic systems underlie differences in vulnerability to traumatic stress responses at different zeitgeber times.

PubMed

Cohen, Shlomi; Vainer, Ella; Matar, Michael A; Kozlovsky, Nitsan; Kaplan, Zeev; Zohar, Joseph; Mathé, Aleksander A; Cohen, Hagit

2015-02-01

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis displays a characteristic circadian pattern of corticosterone release, with higher levels at the onset of the active phase and lower levels at the onset of the inactive phase. As corticosterone levels modify the response to stress and influence the susceptibility to and/or severity of stress-related sequelae, we examined the effects of an acute psychological trauma applied at different zeitgeber times (ZTs) on behavioral stress responses. Rats were exposed to stress either at the onset of the inactive-(light) phase (ZT=0) or at the onset of the active-(dark) phase (ZT=12). Their behavior in the elevated plus-maze and acoustic startle response paradigms were assessed 7 days post exposure for retrospective classification into behavioral response groups. Serum corticosterone levels and the dexamethasone suppression test were used to assess the stress response and feedback inhibition of the HPA axis. Immunoreactivity for neuropeptide Y (NPY) and NPY-Y1 receptor (Y1R) in the paraventricular (PVN) and arcuate (ARC) hypothalamic nuclei, hippocampus, and basolateral amygdala were measured. The behavioral effects of NPY/Y1R antagonist microinfused into the PVN 30 min before stress exposure during the inactive or active phase, respectively, were evaluated. PVN immunoreactivity for NPY and Y1R was measured 1 day after the behavioral tests. The time of day of the traumatic exposure markedly affected the pattern of the behavioral stress response and the prevalence of rats showing an extreme behavioral response. Rats exposed to the stressor at the onset of their inactive phase displayed a more traumatic behavioral response, faster post-exposure corticosterone decay, and a more pronounced stress-induced decline in NPY and Y1R expression in the PVN and arcuate hypothalamic nuclei. Blocking PVN Y1R before stress applied in the active phase, or administering NPY to the PVN before stress applied in the inactive phase, had a resounding behavioral effect. The time at which stress occurred significantly affected the behavioral stress response. Diurnal variations in HPA and NPY/Y1R significantly affect the behavioral response, conferring more resilience at the onset of the active phase and more vulnerability at the onset of the inactive phase, implying that NPY has a significant role in conferring resilience to stress-related psychopathology.

Diurnal Fluctuations in HPA and Neuropeptide Y-ergic Systems Underlie Differences in Vulnerability to Traumatic Stress Responses at Different Zeitgeber Times

PubMed Central

Cohen, Shlomi; Vainer, Ella; Matar, Michael A; Kozlovsky, Nitsan; Kaplan, Zeev; Zohar, Joseph; Mathé, Aleksander A; Cohen, Hagit

2015-01-01

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis displays a characteristic circadian pattern of corticosterone release, with higher levels at the onset of the active phase and lower levels at the onset of the inactive phase. As corticosterone levels modify the response to stress and influence the susceptibility to and/or severity of stress-related sequelae, we examined the effects of an acute psychological trauma applied at different zeitgeber times (ZTs) on behavioral stress responses. Rats were exposed to stress either at the onset of the inactive-(light) phase (ZT=0) or at the onset of the active-(dark) phase (ZT=12). Their behavior in the elevated plus-maze and acoustic startle response paradigms were assessed 7 days post exposure for retrospective classification into behavioral response groups. Serum corticosterone levels and the dexamethasone suppression test were used to assess the stress response and feedback inhibition of the HPA axis. Immunoreactivity for neuropeptide Y (NPY) and NPY-Y1 receptor (Y1R) in the paraventricular (PVN) and arcuate (ARC) hypothalamic nuclei, hippocampus, and basolateral amygdala were measured. The behavioral effects of NPY/Y1R antagonist microinfused into the PVN 30 min before stress exposure during the inactive or active phase, respectively, were evaluated. PVN immunoreactivity for NPY and Y1R was measured 1 day after the behavioral tests. The time of day of the traumatic exposure markedly affected the pattern of the behavioral stress response and the prevalence of rats showing an extreme behavioral response. Rats exposed to the stressor at the onset of their inactive phase displayed a more traumatic behavioral response, faster post-exposure corticosterone decay, and a more pronounced stress-induced decline in NPY and Y1R expression in the PVN and arcuate hypothalamic nuclei. Blocking PVN Y1R before stress applied in the active phase, or administering NPY to the PVN before stress applied in the inactive phase, had a resounding behavioral effect. The time at which stress occurred significantly affected the behavioral stress response. Diurnal variations in HPA and NPY/Y1R significantly affect the behavioral response, conferring more resilience at the onset of the active phase and more vulnerability at the onset of the inactive phase, implying that NPY has a significant role in conferring resilience to stress-related psychopathology. PMID:25241802

Scaling and validation of breakaway connection for multi-post ground signs.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-11-01

Multi-post ground signs installed adjacent to Florida roadways must be designed for both hurricane wind loading and vehicle : collision loading. With respect to hurricanes, all structural sign components must be designed to survive applicable code-sp...

Anterior cement augmentation of adjacent levels after vertebral body replacement leads to superior stability of the corpectomy cage under cyclic loading-a biomechanical investigation.

PubMed

Oberkircher, Ludwig; Krüger, Antonio; Hörth, Dominik; Hack, Juliana; Ruchholtz, Steffen; Fleege, Christoph; Rauschmann, Michael; Arabmotlagh, Mohammad

2018-03-01

In the operative treatment of osteoporotic vertebral body fractures, a dorsal stabilization in combination with a corpectomy of the fractured vertebral body might be necessary with respect to the fracture morphology, whereby the osteoporotic bone quality may possibly increase the risk of implant failure. To achieve better stability, it is recommended to use cement-augmented screws for dorsal instrumentation. Besides careful end plate preparation, cement augmentation of the adjacent end plates has also been reported to lead to less reduction loss. The aim of the study was to evaluate biomechanically under cyclic loading whether an additional cement augmentation of the adjacent end plates leads to improved stability of the inserted cage. Methodical cadaver study. Fourteen fresh frozen human thoracic spines with proven osteoporosis were used (T2-T7). After removal of the soft tissues, the spine was embedded in Technovit (Kulzer, Germany). Subsequently, a corpectomy of T5 was performed, leaving the dorsal ligamentary structures intact. After randomization with respect to bone quality, two groups were generated: Dorsal instrumentation (cemented pedicle screws, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA)+cage implantation (CAPRI Corpectomy Cage, K2M, Leesburg, VA, USA) without additional cementation of the adjacent endplates (Group A) and dorsal instrumentation+cage implantation with additional cement augmentation of the adjacent end plates (Group B). The subsequent axial and cyclic loading was performed at a frequency of 1 Hz, starting at 400 N and increasing the load within 200 N after every 500 cycles up to a maximum of 2,200 N. Load failure was determined when the cages sintered macroscopically into the end plates (implant failure) or when the maximum load was reached. One specimen in Group B could not be clamped appropriately into the test bench for axial loading because of a pronounced scoliotic misalignment and had to be excluded. The mean strength for implant failure was 1,000 N±258.2 N in Group A (no cement augmentation of the adjacent end plates, n=7); on average, 1,622.1±637.6 cycles were achieved. In Group B (cement augmentation of the adjacent end plates, n=6), the mean force at the end of loading was 1,766.7 N±320.4 N; an average of 3,572±920.6 cycles was achieved. Three specimens reached a load of 2,000 N. The differences between the two groups were significant (p=.006 and p=.0047) regarding load failure and number of cycles. Additional cement augmentation of the adjacent end plates during implantation of a vertebral body replacement in osteoporotic bone resulted in a significant increased stability of the cage in the axial cyclic loading test. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Stepped electrophoresis for movement and concentration of DNA

DOEpatents

Miles, Robin R.; Wang, Amy Wei-Yun; Mariella, Jr., Raymond P.

2005-03-15

A fluidic channel patterned with a series of thin-film electrodes makes it possible to move and concentrate DNA in a fluid passing through the fluidic channel. The DNA has an inherent negative charge and by applying a voltage between adjacent electrodes the DNA is caused to move. By using a series of electrodes, when one electrode voltage or charge is made negative with respect to adjacent electrodes, the DNA is repelled away from this electrode and attached to a positive charged electrode of the series. By sequentially making the next electrode of the series negative, the DNA can be moved to and concentrated over the remaining positive electrodes.

Wavy flow cooling concept for turbine airfoils

DOEpatents

Liang, George

2010-08-31

An airfoil including an outer wall and a cooling cavity formed therein. The cooling cavity includes a leading edge flow channel located adjacent a leading edge of the airfoil and a trailing edge flow channel located adjacent a trailing edge of the airfoil. Each of the leading edge and trailing edge flow channels define respective first and second flow axes located between pressure and suction sides of the airfoil. A plurality of rib members are located within each of the flow channels, spaced along the flow axes, and alternately extending from opposing sides of the flow channels to define undulating flow paths through the flow channels.

Transcriptional expression analysis of survivin splice variants reveals differential expression of survivin-3α in breast cancer.

PubMed

Moniri Javadhesari, Solmaz; Gharechahi, Javad; Hosseinpour Feizi, Mohammad Ali; Montazeri, Vahid; Halimi, Monireh

2013-04-01

Survivin, which is a novel member of the inhibitor of apoptosis family proteins, is known to play an important role in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. Differential expression of survivin in tumor tissues introduces it as a new candidate molecular marker for cancer. Here we investigated the expression of survivin and its splice variants in breast tumors, as well as normal adjacent tissues obtained from the same patients. Thirty five tumors and 17 normal adjacent tissues from women diagnosed with breast cancer were explored in this study. Differential expression of different survivin splice variants was detected and semiquantitatively analyzed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results showed that survivin and its splice variants were differentially expressed in tumor specimens compared with normal adjacent tissues. The expression of survivin-3B and survivin-3α was specifically detected in tumor tissues compared with normal adjacent ones (53% in tumor tissues compared to 5% in normal adjacent for survivin-3B and 65% in tumor tissues and 0.0% in normal adjacent tissues for survivin-3α). Statistical analysis showed that survivin and survivin-ΔEx3 were upregulated in benign (90%, p<0.034) and malignant (76%, p<0.042) tumors, respectively. On the other hand, our results showed that survivin-2α (100% of the cases) was the dominant expressed variant of survivin in breast cancer. The data presented here showed that survivin splice variants were differentially expressed in benign and malignant breast cancer tissues, suggesting their potential role in breast cancer development. Differential expression of survivin-2α and survivin-3α splice variants highlights their usefulness as new candidate markers for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Regional imbalanced activation of the calcineurin/BAD apoptotic pathway and the PI3K/Akt survival pathway after myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Li, Tieluo; Kilic, Ahmet; Wei, Xufeng; Wu, Changfu; Schwartzbauer, Gary; Yankey, G Kwame; DeFilippi, Christopher; Bond, Meredith; Wu, Zhongjun J; Griffith, Bartley P

2013-06-05

The underlying molecular mechanisms of the remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of a survival pathway (PI3K/Akt) and an apoptosis pathway (calcineurin/BAD) in the remodeling after MI in a large animal model. Ten Dorset hybrid sheep underwent 25% MI in the left ventricle (LV, n=10). Five sheep were used as sham control. The regional strain was calculated from sonomicrometry. Apoptosis and the activation of the PI3K/Akt and calcineurin/BAD pathways were evaluated in the non-ischemic adjacent zone and the remote zone relative to infarct by immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence staining. Dilation and dysfunction of LV were present at 12 weeks after MI. The regional strain in the adjacent zone was significantly higher than in the remote zone at 12 weeks (36.6 ± 4.0% vs 9.5 ± 3.6%, p<0.05). Apoptosis was more severe in the adjacent zone than in the remote zone. The PI3K/Akt and calcineurin/BAD pathways were activated in the adjacent zone. Dephosphorylation and translocation of BAD were evident in the adjacent zone. Regional correlation between the strain and the expression of calcineurin/BAD indicated that the activation was strain-related (R(2)=0.46, 0.48, 0.39 for calcineurin, BAD, mitochondrial BAD, respectively, p<0.05). The PI3K/Akt survival and calcineurin/BAD apoptotic pathways were concomitantly activated in the non-ischemic adjacent zone after MI. The calcineurin/BAD pathway is strain related and its imbalanced activation may be one of the causes of progressive remodeling after MI. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Regional imbalanced activation of the calcineurin/BAD apoptotic pathway and the PI3K/Akt survival pathway after myocardial infarction

PubMed Central

Li, Tieluo; Kilic, Ahmet; Wei, Xufeng; Wu, Changfu; Schwartzbauer, Gary; Yankey, G. Kwame; DeFilippi, Christopher; Bond, Meredith; Wu, Zhongjun J; Griffith, Bartley P

2011-01-01

Background The underlying molecular mechanisms of the remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of a survival pathway (PI3K/Akt) and an apoptosis pathway (calcineurin/BAD) in the remodeling after MI in a large animal model. Methods Ten Dorset hybrid sheep underwent 25% MI in the left ventricle (LV, n=10). Five sheep were used as sham control. The regional strain was calculated from sonomicrometry. Apoptosis and the activation of the PI3K/Akt and calcineurin/BAD pathways were evaluated in the non-ischemic adjacent zone and the remote zone relative to infarct by immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence staining. Results Dilation and dysfunction of LV were present at 12 weeks after MI. The regional strain in the adjacent zone was significantly higher than in the remote zone at 12 weeks (36.6 ± 4.0% vs 9.5 ± 3.6%, p < 0.05). Apoptosis was more severe in the adjacent zone than in the remote zone. The PI3K/Akt and calcineurin/BAD pathways were activated in the adjacent zone. Dephosphorylation and translocation of BAD were evident in the adjacent zone. Regional correlation between the strain and the expression of calcineurin/BAD indicated that the activation was strain-related (R2 = 0.46, 0.48, 0.39 for calcineurin, BAD, mitochondrial BAD, respectively, p < 0.05). Conclusions The PI3K/Akt survival and calcineurin/BAD apoptotic pathways were concomitantly activated in the non-ischemic adjacent zone after MI. The calcineurin/BAD pathway is strain related and its imbalanced activation may be one of the causes of progressive remodeling after MI. PMID:22088220

Altered expression of genes involved in progesterone biosynthesis, metabolism and action in endometrial cancer.

PubMed

Sinreih, Maša; Hevir, Neli; Rižner, Tea Lanišnik

2013-02-25

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies worldwide. It is associated with prolonged exposure to estrogens that is unopposed by the protective effects of progesterone, which suggests that altered progesterone biosynthesis, metabolism and actions might be implicated in the development of EC. Our aim was to evaluate these processes through quantitative real-time PCR expression analysis in up to 47 pairs of EC tissue and adjacent control endometrium. First, we examined the expression of genes encoding proteins associated with progesterone biosynthesis: steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR); a side chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1); and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/ketosteroid isomerase (HSD3B). There were 1.9- and 10.0-fold decreased expression of STAR and CYP11A1, respectively, in EC versus adjacent control endometrium, with no significant differences in the expression of HSD3B1 and HSD3B2. Next, we examined expression of genes encoding five progesterone metabolizing enzymes: the 3-keto and 20-ketosteroid reductases (AKR1C1-AKR1C3) and 5α-reductases (SRD5A1 and SRD5A2); and the opposing 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD17B2). These genes are expressed in EC and adjacent control endometrium. No statistically significant differences were seen in mRNA levels of AKR1C1, AKR1C2, AKR1C3 and SRD5A1. Expression of HSD17B2 was 3.0-fold increased, and expression of SRD5A2 was 3.7-fold decreased, in EC versus adjacent control endometrium. We also examined mRNA levels of progesterone receptors A and B (PGR), and separately the expression of progesterone receptor B (PR-B). Here we saw 1.8- and 2.0-fold lower mRNA levels of PGR and PR-B, respectively, in EC versus adjacent control endometrium. This down-regulation of STAR, CYP11A1 and PGR in endometrial cancer may lead to decreased progesterone biosynthesis and actions although the effects on progesterone levels should be further studied. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Flow and transport within a coastal aquifer adjacent to a stratified water body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oz, Imri; Yechieli, Yoseph; Eyal, Shalev; Gavrieli, Ittai; Gvirtzman, Haim

2016-04-01

The existence of a freshwater-saltwater interface and the circulation flow of saltwater beneath the interface is a well-known phenomenon found at coastal aquifers. This flow is a natural phenomenon that occurs due to density differences between fresh groundwater and the saltwater body. The goals of this research are to use analytical, numerical, and physical models in order to examine the configuration of the freshwater-saltwater interface and the density-driven flow patterns within a coastal aquifer adjacent to long-term stratified saltwater bodies (e.g. meromictic lake). Such hydrological systems are unique, as they consist of three different water types: the regional fresh groundwater, and low and high salinity brines forming the upper and lower water layers of the stratified water body, respectively. This research also aims to examine the influence of such stratification on hydrogeological processes within the coastal aquifer. The coastal aquifer adjacent to the Dead Sea, under its possible future meromictic conditions, serves as an ideal example to examine these processes. The results show that adjacent to a stratified saltwater body three interfaces between three different water bodies are formed, and that a complex flow system, controlled by the density differences, is created, where three circulation cells are developed. These results are significantly different from the classic circulation cell that is found adjacent to non-stratified water bodies (lakes or oceans). In order to obtain a more generalized insight into the groundwater behavior adjacent to a stratified water body, we used the numerical model to perform sensitivity analysis. The hydrological system was found be sensitive to three dimensionless parameters: dimensionless density (i.e. the relative density of the three water bodies'); dimensionless thickness (i.e. the ratio between the relative thickness of the upper layer and the whole thickness of the lake); and dimensionless flux. The results also show that this configuration of three interfaces and three circulation cells, which is expected to develop adjacent to the stratified Dead Sea, is expected to decrease the dissolution rates of salt layer that is located within the adjacent aquifer, by one order of magnitude in comparison to the dissolution rates today. Therefore, the processes of salt dissolution and sinkhole formation adjacent to the Dead Sea will be relatively restrained.

Mass counts: ERP correlates of non-adjacent dependency learning under different exposure conditions.

PubMed

Citron, Francesca M M; Oberecker, Regine; Friederici, Angela D; Mueller, Jutta L

2011-01-10

Miniature language learning can serve to model real language learning as high proficiency can be reached after very little exposure. In a previous study by Mueller et al. [18] German participants acquired non-adjacent syntactic dependencies by mere exposure to correct Italian sentences, but their ERP pattern differed from the one shown by native speakers. The present study follows up on that experiment using a similar design and material and is focused on two important issues: the influence of acoustic cues in the material and the impact of the learning procedure. With respect to the latter we compared alternating learning and test phases to a continuous learning and test phase. In addition, a splicing procedure eliminated prosodic cues in order to ensure that non-adjacent dependencies were learned instead of adjacent ones. Results for the continuous phase design showed a native-like biphasic ERP pattern, an N400 followed by a left-focused positivity. In the alternating design behavioural accuracy was lower and only an N400 was found. The results suggest an advantage of continuous learning phases for adult learners, possibly due to the absence of ungrammatical items present in the test phases in the alternating learning procedure. Furthermore, the replication of the earlier study with prosodically controlled material adds evidence to the general finding that syntactic non-adjacent dependencies can be learned from mere exposure to correct examples. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

RASSF1A promoter methylation in high-grade serous ovarian cancer: A direct comparison study in primary tumors, adjacent morphologically tumor cell-free tissues and paired circulating tumor DNA.

PubMed

Giannopoulou, Lydia; Chebouti, Issam; Pavlakis, Kitty; Kasimir-Bauer, Sabine; Lianidou, Evi S

2017-03-28

The RASSF1A promoter is frequently methylated in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC). We examined RASSF1A promoter methylation in primary tumors, adjacent morphologically tumor cell-free tissues and corresponding circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) samples of patients with HGSC, using a real-time methylation specific PCR (real-time MSP) and a methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting analysis (MS-HRMA) assay for the detection and semi-quantitative estimation of methylation, respectively. Two groups of primary HGSC tumor FFPE samples were recruited (Group A n=67 and Group B n=61), along with matched adjacent morphologically tumor cell-free tissues (n=58) and corresponding plasma samples (n=59) for group B. Using both assays, RASSF1A promoter was found highly methylated in primary tumors of both groups, and at lower percentages in the adjacent morphologically tumor cell-free tissues. Interestingly, RASSF1A promoter methylation was also observed in ctDNA by real-time MSP. Overall survival (OS) was significantly associated with RASSF1A promoter methylation in primary tumor samples using MS-HRMA (P=0.023). Our results clearly indicate that RASSF1A promoter is methylated in adjacent tissue surrounding the tumor in HGSC patients. We report for the first time that RASSF1A promoter methylation provides significant prognostic information in HGSC patients.

RASSF1A promoter methylation in high-grade serous ovarian cancer: A direct comparison study in primary tumors, adjacent morphologically tumor cell-free tissues and paired circulating tumor DNA

PubMed Central

Giannopoulou, Lydia; Chebouti, Issam; Pavlakis, Kitty; Kasimir-Bauer, Sabine; Lianidou, Evi S.

2017-01-01

The RASSF1A promoter is frequently methylated in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC). We examined RASSF1A promoter methylation in primary tumors, adjacent morphologically tumor cell-free tissues and corresponding circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) samples of patients with HGSC, using a real-time methylation specific PCR (real-time MSP) and a methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting analysis (MS-HRMA) assay for the detection and semi-quantitative estimation of methylation, respectively. Two groups of primary HGSC tumor FFPE samples were recruited (Group A n=67 and Group B n=61), along with matched adjacent morphologically tumor cell-free tissues (n=58) and corresponding plasma samples (n=59) for group B. Using both assays, RASSF1A promoter was found highly methylated in primary tumors of both groups, and at lower percentages in the adjacent morphologically tumor cell-free tissues. Interestingly, RASSF1A promoter methylation was also observed in ctDNA by real-time MSP. Overall survival (OS) was significantly associated with RASSF1A promoter methylation in primary tumor samples using MS-HRMA (P=0.023). Our results clearly indicate that RASSF1A promoter is methylated in adjacent tissue surrounding the tumor in HGSC patients. We report for the first time that RASSF1A promoter methylation provides significant prognostic information in HGSC patients. PMID:28206954

Mounting apparatus for a nozzle guide vane assembly

DOEpatents

Boyd, G.L.; Shaffer, J.E.

1995-09-12

The present invention provides a ceramic nozzle guide assembly with an apparatus for mounting it to a metal nozzle case that includes an intermediate ceramic mounting ring. The mounting ring includes a plurality of projections that are received within a plurality of receptacles formed in the nozzle case. The projections of the mounting ring are secured within the receptacles by a ceramic retainer that allows contact between the two components only along arcuate surfaces thus eliminating sliding contact between the components. 8 figs.

Mounting apparatus for a nozzle guide vane assembly

DOEpatents

Boyd, Gary L.; Shaffer, James E.

1995-01-01

The present invention provides a ceramic nozzle guide assembly with an apparatus for mounting it to a metal nozzle case that includes an intermediate ceramic mounting ring. The mounting ring includes a plurality of projections that are received within a plurality of receptacles formed in the nozzle case. The projections of the mounting ring are secured within the receptacles by a ceramic retainer that allows contact between the two components only along arcuate surfaces thus eliminating sliding contact between the components.

Recirculating wedges for metal-vapor plasma tubes

DOEpatents

Hall, Jerome P.; Sawvel, Robert M.; Draggoo, Vaughn G.

1994-01-01

A metal vapor laser is disclosed that recycles condensed metal located at the terminal ends of a plasma tube back toward the center of the tube. A pair of arcuate wedges are incorporated on the bottom of the plasma tube near the terminal ends. The wedges slope downward toward the center so that condensed metal may be transported under the force of gravity away from the terminal ends. The wedges are curved to fit the plasma tube to thereby avoid forming any gaps within the tube interior.

New horizons mapping of Europa and Ganymede.

PubMed

Grundy, W M; Buratti, B J; Cheng, A F; Emery, J P; Lunsford, A; McKinnon, W B; Moore, J M; Newman, S F; Olkin, C B; Reuter, D C; Schenk, P M; Spencer, J R; Stern, S A; Throop, H B; Weaver, H A

2007-10-12

The New Horizons spacecraft observed Jupiter's icy satellites Europa and Ganymede during its flyby in February and March 2007 at visible and infrared wavelengths. Infrared spectral images map H2O ice absorption and hydrated contaminants, bolstering the case for an exogenous source of Europa's "non-ice" surface material and filling large gaps in compositional maps of Ganymede's Jupiter-facing hemisphere. Visual wavelength images of Europa extend knowledge of its global pattern of arcuate troughs and show that its surface scatters light more isotropically than other icy satellites.

The Achilles Tendon Insertion is Crescent-shaped: An In Vitro Anatomic Investigation

PubMed Central

Arentz, Sabine; Nauck, Tanja; Dorn-Lange, Nadja V.; Konerding, Moritz A.

2008-01-01

Anatomic and operative textbooks and current literature do not clearly describe the Achilles tendon interface to the calcaneal tuberosity. We dissected 51 specimens to identify the detailed anatomy of the Achilles tendon insertion. Achilles tendon fascicles expanded from the anterior aspect of the distal Achilles tendon over the retrocalcaneal bursa to the anterior part of the Haglund’s tuberosity in nearly half of the specimens. The insertion of the transverse section of the Achilles tendon regularly had a crescent-shape corresponding to the posterior calcaneal prominence. In transverse sections, all specimens had a curved appearance with a radius of curvature ranging from 13.8 mm to 43.6 mm (mean, 20.4 mm) and Achilles tendon extensions to the lateral and medial calcaneal surfaces reached 1.0 mm (mean) and 3.5 mm (mean) anterior in relation to the most posterior point of the calcaneal tuberosity. Knowledge of the arcuate configuration and of the medial and lateral extensions of the plantaris and the Achilles tendon insertion with respect to the transverse plane is important to avoid iatrogenic complications during resection of Haglund’s tuberosity. PMID:18506561

Exploring the Early Organization and Maturation of Linguistic Pathways in the Human Infant Brain.

PubMed

Dubois, Jessica; Poupon, Cyril; Thirion, Bertrand; Simonnet, Hina; Kulikova, Sofya; Leroy, François; Hertz-Pannier, Lucie; Dehaene-Lambertz, Ghislaine

2016-05-01

Linguistic processing is based on a close collaboration between temporal and frontal regions connected by two pathways: the "dorsal" and "ventral pathways" (assumed to support phonological and semantic processing, respectively, in adults). We investigated here the development of these pathways at the onset of language acquisition, during the first post-natal weeks, using cross-sectional diffusion imaging in 21 healthy infants (6-22 weeks of age) and 17 young adults. We compared the bundle organization and microstructure at these two ages using tractography and original clustering analyses of diffusion tensor imaging parameters. We observed structural similarities between both groups, especially concerning the dorsal/ventral pathway segregation and the arcuate fasciculus asymmetry. We further highlighted the developmental tempos of the linguistic bundles: The ventral pathway maturation was more advanced than the dorsal pathway maturation, but the latter catches up during the first post-natal months. Its fast development during this period might relate to the learning of speech cross-modal representations and to the first combinatorial analyses of the speech input. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

A study on quantitative analysis of field size and dose by using gating system in 4D conformal radiation treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Youn-Sang; Dong, Kyung-Rae; Kim, Chang-Bok; Chung, Woon-Kwan; Cho, Jae-Hwan; Lee, Hae-Kag

2012-10-01

This study evaluated the gating-based 4-D conformal radiation therapy (4D-CT) treatment planning by a comparison with the common 3-D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CT) treatment planning and examined the change in treatment field size and dose to the tumors and adjacent normal tissues because an unnecessary dose is also included in the 3-D treatment planning for the radiation treatment of tumors in the chest and abdomen. The 3D-CT and gating-based 4D-CT images were obtained from patients who had undergone radiation treatment for chest and abdomen tumors in the oncology department. After establishing a treatment plan, the CT treatment and planning system were used to measure the change in field size for analysis. A dose volume histogram (DVH) was used to calculate the appropriate dose to planning target volume (PTV) tumors and adjacent normal tissue. The difference in the treatment volume of the chest was 0.6 and 0.83 cm on the X- and Y-axis, respectively, for the gross tumor volume (GTV). Accordingly, the values in the 4D-CT treatment planning were smaller and the dose was more concentrated by 2.7% and 0.9% on the GTV and clinical target volume (CTV), respectively. The normal tissues in the surrounding normal tissues were reduced by 3.0%, 7.2%, 0.4%, 1.7%, 2.6% and 0.2% in the bronchus, chest wall, esophagus, heart, lung and spinal cord, respectively. The difference in the treatment volume of the abdomen was 0.72 cm on the X-axis and 0.51 cm on the Y-axis for the GTV; and 1.06 cm on the X-axis and 1.85 cm on the Y-axis for the PTV. Therefore, the values in the 4D-CT treatment planning were smaller. The dose was concentrated by 6.8% and 4.3% on the GTV and PTV, respectively, whereas the adjacent normal tissues in the cord, Lt. kidney, Rt. kidney, small bowels and whole liver were reduced by 3.2%, 4.2%, 1.5%, 6.2% and 12.7%, respectively. The treatment field size was smaller in volume in the case of the 4D-CT treatment planning. In the DVH, the 4D-CT treatment planning showed a higher dose concentration on the part to be treated than the 3D-CT treatment planning with a lower dose to the adjacent normal tissues. Overall, the gating-based 4D-CT treatment planning is believed to be more helpful than the 3D-CT treatment planning.

Activation of Neurokinin 3 Receptors in the Median Preoptic Nucleus Decreases Core Temperature in the Rat

PubMed Central

Dacks, Penny A.; Krajewski, Sally J.

2011-01-01

Estrogens have pronounced effects on thermoregulation, as illustrated by the occurrence of hot flushes secondary to estrogen withdrawal in menopausal women. Because neurokinin B (NKB) gene expression is markedly increased in the infundibular (arcuate) nucleus of postmenopausal women, and is modulated by estrogen withdrawal and replacement in multiple species, we have hypothesized that NKB neurons could play a role in the generation of flushes. There is no information, however, on whether the primary NKB receptor [neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R)] modulates body temperature in any species. Here, we determine the effects of microinfusion of a selective NK3R agonist (senktide) into the rat median preoptic nucleus (MnPO), an important site in the heat-defense pathway. Senktide microinfusion into the rat MnPO decreased core temperature in a dose-dependent manner. The hypothermia induced by senktide was similar in ovariectomized rats with and without 17β-estradiol replacement. The hypothermic effect of senktide was prolonged in rats exposed to an ambient temperature of 29.0 C, compared with 21.5 C. Senktide microinfusion also altered tail skin vasomotion in rats exposed to an ambient temperature of 29.0 but not 21.5 C. Comparisons of the effects of senktide at different ambient temperatures indicated that the hypothermia was not secondary to thermoregulatory failure or a reduction in cold-induced thermogenesis. Other than a very mild increase in drinking, senktide microinfusion did not affect behavior. Terminal fluorescent dextran microinfusion showed targeting of the MnPO and adjacent septum, and immunohistochemical studies revealed that senktide induced a marked increase in Fos-activation in the MnPO. Because MnPO neurons expressed NK3R-immunoreactivity, the induction of MnPO Fos by senktide is likely a direct effect. By demonstrating that NK3R activation in the MnPO modulates body temperature, these studies support the hypothesis that hypothalamic NKB neurons could be involved in the generation of menopausal flushes. PMID:22028440

Fragment capture device

DOEpatents

Payne, Lloyd R.; Cole, David L.

2010-03-30

A fragment capture device for use in explosive containment. The device comprises an assembly of at least two rows of bars positioned to eliminate line-of-sight trajectories between the generation point of fragments and a surrounding containment vessel or asset. The device comprises an array of at least two rows of bars, wherein each row is staggered with respect to the adjacent row, and wherein a lateral dimension of each bar and a relative position of each bar in combination provides blockage of a straight-line passage of a solid fragment through the adjacent rows of bars, wherein a generation point of the solid fragment is located within a cavity at least partially enclosed by the array of bars.

Double-driven shield capacitive type proximity sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vranish, John M. (Inventor)

1993-01-01

A capacity type proximity sensor comprised of a capacitance type sensor, a capacitance type reference, and two independent and mutually opposing driven shields respectively adjacent to the sensor and reference and which are coupled in an electrical bridge circuit configuration and driven by a single frequency crystal controlled oscillator is presented. The bridge circuit additionally includes a pair of fixed electrical impedance elements which form adjacent arms of the bridge and which comprise either a pair of precision resistances or capacitors. Detection of bridge unbalance provides an indication of the mutual proximity between an object and the sensor. Drift compensation is also utilized to improve performance and thus increase sensor range and sensitivity.

The neuroendocrine genesis of polycystic ovary syndrome: A role for arcuate nucleus GABA neurons.

PubMed

Moore, Aleisha M; Campbell, Rebecca E

2016-06-01

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent and distressing endocrine disorder lacking a clearly identified aetiology. Despite its name, PCOS may result from impaired neuronal circuits in the brain that regulate steroid hormone feedback to the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. Ovarian function in all mammals is controlled by the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, a small group of neurons that reside in the pre-optic area of the hypothalamus. GnRH neurons drive the secretion of the gonadotropins from the pituitary gland that subsequently control ovarian function, including the production of gonadal steroid hormones. These hormones, in turn, provide important feedback signals to GnRH neurons via a hormone sensitive neuronal network in the brain. In many women with PCOS this feedback pathway is impaired, resulting in the downstream consequences of the syndrome. This review will explore what is currently known from clinical and animal studies about the identity, relative contribution and significance of the individual neuronal components within the GnRH neuronal network that contribute to the pathophysiology of PCOS. We review evidence for the specific neuronal pathways hypothesised to mediate progesterone negative feedback to GnRH neurons, and discuss the potential mechanisms by which androgens may evoke disruptions in these circuits at different developmental time points. Finally, this review discusses data providing compelling support for disordered progesterone-sensitive GABAergic input to GnRH neurons, originating specifically within the arcuate nucleus in prenatal androgen induced forms of PCOS. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kisspeptin expression features in the arcuate and anteroventral periventricular nuclei of hypothalamus of letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in rats.

PubMed

Aliabadi, Elham; Namavar, Mohammad Reza; Mortezaee, Keywan; Toolee, Heidar; Keshtgar, Sara; Mirkhani, Hossein; Akbari, Mohammad; Rastegar, Tayebeh; Solhjoo, Somayeh

2017-11-01

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder of the reproductive system characterized by polycystic ovaries and androgen excess. Letrozole is a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor that is used in experimental research to induce PCOS. Kisspeptin is an essential protein in regulation of cyclicity. Kisspeptin receptor is expressed in the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, and kisspeptin containing neurons are affected from sex steroid hormones. We aimed to investigate the number of kisspeptin-positive cells in the arcuate (Arc) and anteroventral periventricular nuclei (AVPV) of hypothalamus in the letrozole-induced PCOS. 40 female Wistar rats were divided into the proestrus control, diestrus control, proestrus vehicle, diestrus vehicle and letrozole. Animals were sacrificed after 3 weeks, and sera, ovary and brain samples were harvested for further evaluations. Letrozole group had high weight gain, high numbers of ovarian follicular cysts, high levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone and increase number of kisspeptin-positive cells in the Arc nucleus, as compared with the control groups (P ≤ 0.05 vs. proestrus control and proestrus vehicle). Letrozole group showed a decrease in the number of kisspeptin-positive cells in the AVPV nucleus (P ≤ 0.05 vs. proestrus control and proestrus vehicle). Our findings show that the number of kisspeptin-positive cells may be affected from letrozole, and that the changes in the number of these cells may be in favor of the appearance of PCOS features in this group.

Induction of Fos expression in the rat forebrain after intragastric administration of monosodium L-glutamate, glucose and NaCl.

PubMed

Otsubo, H; Kondoh, T; Shibata, M; Torii, K; Ueta, Y

2011-11-24

l-glutamate, an umami taste substance, is a key molecule coupled to a food intake signaling pathway. Furthermore, recent studies have unveiled new roles for dietary glutamate on gut-brain axis communication via activation of gut glutamate receptors and subsequent vagus nerve. In the present study, we mapped activation sites of the rat forebrain after intragastric load of 60 mM monosodium l-glutamate (MSG) by measurement of Fos protein, a functional marker of neuronal activation. The same concentration of d-glucose (sweet) and NaCl (salty) was used as controls. MSG administration exclusively produced enhanced Fos expression in four hypothalamic regions (the medial preoptic area, lateral hypothalamic area, dorsomedial nucleus, and arcuate nucleus). On the other hand, glucose administration exclusively enhanced Fos induction in the nucleus accumbens. Both MSG and glucose enhanced Fos induction in three brain regions (the habenular nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, and central nucleus of the amygdala). However, MSG induced Fos inductions were more potent than those of glucose in the habenular nucleus and paraventricular nucleus. Importantly, the present study identified for the first time two brain areas (the paraventricular and arcuate hypothalamic nuclei) that are more potently activated by intragastric MSG loads compared with glucose and NaCl. Overall, our results suggest significant activation of a neural network comprising the habenular nucleus, amygdala, and the hypothalamic subnuclei following intragastric load with glutamate. Copyright © 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

ROCK1 in AgRP neurons regulates energy expenditure and locomotor activity in male mice.

PubMed

Huang, Hu; Lee, Seung Hwan; Ye, Chianping; Lima, Ines S; Oh, Byung-Chul; Lowell, Bradford B; Zabolotny, Janice M; Kim, Young-Bum

2013-10-01

Normal leptin signaling is essential for the maintenance of body weight homeostasis. Proopiomelanocortin- and agouti-related peptide (AgRP)-producing neurons play critical roles in regulating energy metabolism. Our recent work demonstrates that deletion of Rho-kinase 1 (ROCK1) in the AgRP neurons of mice increased body weight and adiposity. Here, we report that selective loss of ROCK1 in AgRP neurons caused a significant decrease in energy expenditure and locomotor activity of mice. These effects were independent of any change in food intake. Furthermore, AgRP neuron-specific ROCK1-deficient mice displayed central leptin resistance, as evidenced by impaired Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 activation in response to leptin administration. Leptin's ability to hyperpolarize and decrease firing rate of AgRP neurons was also abolished in the absence of ROCK1. Moreover, diet-induced and genetic forms of obesity resulted in reduced ROCK1 activity in murine arcuate nucleus. Of note, high-fat diet also impaired leptin-stimulated ROCK1 activity in arcuate nucleus, suggesting that a defect in hypothalamic ROCK1 activity may contribute to the pathogenesis of central leptin resistance in obesity. Together, these data demonstrate that ROCK1 activation in hypothalamic AgRP neurons is required for the homeostatic regulation of energy expenditure and adiposity. These results further support previous work identifying ROCK1 as a key regulator of energy balance and suggest that targeting ROCK1 in the hypothalamus may lead to development of antiobesity therapeutics.

The allometry of the arcuate body in the postembryonic development of the giant house spider Eratigena atrica.

PubMed

Napiórkowska, Teresa; Kobak, Jarosław

2018-03-10

The brain of arachnids contains a special neuropil area called the arcuate body (AB), whose function has been widely discussed. Its growth and proportion in the brain volume during postembryogenesis have been investigated only in several spider species. Our allometric study is aimed at determining to what extent the development of the AB in Eratigena atrica, a spider with unique biology and behaviour, is similar to the development of this body in other species. We put forward a hypothesis of allometric growth of this body in relation to the volume of the central nervous system (CNS) and its neuropil as well as in relation to the volume of the brain and its neuropil. The analysis of paraffin embedded, H + E stained histological preparations confirmed our hypothesis. The AB developed more slowly than the CNS and the neuropil of both the brain and the CNS. In contrast, it exhibited positive allometry in relation to the volume of the brain. This body increased more than nine times within the postembryonic development. Its proportion in the brain volume varied; the lowest was recorded in larvae and nymphs I; then, it increased in nymphs VI and decreased to 2.93% in nymphs X. We conclude that in Eratigena atrica, the AB develops differently that in orb-weaver and wandering spiders. There is no universal model of the AB development, although in adult spiders, regardless of their behaviour, the proportion of this area in the brain volume is similar.

Role of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in cardiovascular regulation

PubMed Central

Sapru, Hreday N.

2012-01-01

Recently the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Arc) has been implicated in cardiovascular regulation. Both pressor and depressor responses can be elicited by the chemical stimulation of the Arc. The direction of cardiovascular responses (increase or decrease) elicited from the Arc depends on the baseline blood pressure. The pressor responses are mediated via increase in sympathetic nerve activity and involve activation of the spinal ionotropic glutamate receptors. Arc-stimulation elicits tachycardic responses which are mediated via inhibition of vagal input and excitation of sympathetic input to the heart. The pathways within the brain mediating the pressor and tachycardic responses elicited from the Arc have not been delineated. The depressor responses to the Arc-stimulation are mediated via the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Gamma aminobutyric acid type A receptors, neuropeptide Y1 receptors, and opiate receptors in the PVN mediate the depressor responses elicited from the Arc. Some circulating hormones (e.g., leptin and insulin) may reach the Arc via the leaky blood-brain barrier and elicit their cardiovascular effects. Although the Arc is involved in mediating the cardiovascular responses to intravenously injected angiotensin II and angiotensin-(1-12), these effects may not be due to leakage of these peptides across the blood-brain barrier in the Arc; instead, circulating angiotensins may act on neurons in the SFO and mediate cardiovascular actions via the projections of SFO neurons to the Arc. Cardiovascular responses elicited by acupuncture have been reported to be mediated by direct and indirect projections of the Arc to the RVLM. PMID:23260431

The SCHEIE Visual Field Grading System

PubMed Central

Sankar, Prithvi S.; O’Keefe, Laura; Choi, Daniel; Salowe, Rebecca; Miller-Ellis, Eydie; Lehman, Amanda; Addis, Victoria; Ramakrishnan, Meera; Natesh, Vikas; Whitehead, Gideon; Khachatryan, Naira; O’Brien, Joan

2017-01-01

Objective No method of grading visual field (VF) defects has been widely accepted throughout the glaucoma community. The SCHEIE (Systematic Classification of Humphrey visual fields-Easy Interpretation and Evaluation) grading system for glaucomatous visual fields was created to convey qualitative and quantitative information regarding visual field defects in an objective, reproducible, and easily applicable manner for research purposes. Methods The SCHEIE grading system is composed of a qualitative and quantitative score. The qualitative score consists of designation in one or more of the following categories: normal, central scotoma, paracentral scotoma, paracentral crescent, temporal quadrant, nasal quadrant, peripheral arcuate defect, expansive arcuate, or altitudinal defect. The quantitative component incorporates the Humphrey visual field index (VFI), location of visual defects for superior and inferior hemifields, and blind spot involvement. Accuracy and speed at grading using the qualitative and quantitative components was calculated for non-physician graders. Results Graders had a median accuracy of 96.67% for their qualitative scores and a median accuracy of 98.75% for their quantitative scores. Graders took a mean of 56 seconds per visual field to assign a qualitative score and 20 seconds per visual field to assign a quantitative score. Conclusion The SCHEIE grading system is a reproducible tool that combines qualitative and quantitative measurements to grade glaucomatous visual field defects. The system aims to standardize clinical staging and to make specific visual field defects more easily identifiable. Specific patterns of visual field loss may also be associated with genetic variants in future genetic analysis. PMID:28932621

The lateralized arcuate fasciculus in developmental pitch disorders among mandarin amusics: left for speech and right for music.

PubMed

Chen, Xizhuo; Zhao, Yanxin; Zhong, Suyu; Cui, Zaixu; Li, Jiaqi; Gong, Gaolang; Dong, Qi; Nan, Yun

2018-05-01

The arcuate fasciculus (AF) is a neural fiber tract that is critical to speech and music development. Although the predominant role of the left AF in speech development is relatively clear, how the AF engages in music development is not understood. Congenital amusia is a special neurodevelopmental condition, which not only affects musical pitch but also speech tone processing. Using diffusion tensor tractography, we aimed at understanding the role of AF in music and speech processing by examining the neural connectivity characteristics of the bilateral AF among thirty Mandarin amusics. Compared to age- and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched controls, amusics demonstrated increased connectivity as reflected by the increased fractional anisotropy in the right posterior AF but decreased connectivity as reflected by the decreased volume in the right anterior AF. Moreover, greater fractional anisotropy in the left direct AF was correlated with worse performance in speech tone perception among amusics. This study is the first to examine the neural connectivity of AF in the neurodevelopmental condition of amusia as a result of disrupted music pitch and speech tone processing. We found abnormal white matter structural connectivity in the right AF for the amusic individuals. Moreover, we demonstrated that the white matter microstructural properties of the left direct AF is modulated by lexical tone deficits among the amusic individuals. These data support the notion of distinctive pitch processing systems between music and speech.

Increased intake of energy-dense diet and negative energy balance in a mouse model of chronic psychosocial defeat.

PubMed

Coccurello, Roberto; Romano, Adele; Giacovazzo, Giacomo; Tempesta, Bianca; Fiore, Marco; Giudetti, Anna Maria; Marrocco, Ilaria; Altieri, Fabio; Moles, Anna; Gaetani, Silvana

2018-06-01

Chronic exposure to stress may represent a risk factor for developing metabolic and eating disorders, mostly driven by the overconsumption of easily accessible energy-dense palatable food, although the mechanisms involved remain still unclear. In this study, we used an ethologically oriented murine model of chronic stress caused by chronic psychosocial defeat (CPD) to investigate the effects of unrestricted access to a palatable high fat diet (HFD) on food intake, body weight, energy homeostasis, and expression of different brain neuropeptides. Our aim was to shed light on the mechanisms responsible for body weight and body composition changes due to chronic social stress. In our model of subordinate (defeated), mice (CPD) cohabitated in constant sensory contact with dominants, being forced to interact on daily basis, and were offered ad libitum access either to an HFD or to a control diet (CD). Control mice (of the same strain as CPD mice) were housed in pairs and left unstressed in their home cage (UN). In all these mice, we evaluated body weight, different adipose depots, energy metabolism, caloric intake, and neuropeptide expression. CPD mice increased the intake of HFD and reduced body weight in the presence of enhanced lipid oxidation. Resting energy expenditure and interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) were increased in CPD mice, whereas epididymal adipose tissue increased only in HFD-fed unstressed mice. Propiomelanocortin mRNA levels in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus increased only in HFD-fed unstressed mice. Oxytocin mRNA levels in the paraventricular nucleus and neuropeptide Y mRNA levels within the arcuate were increased only in CD-fed CPD mice. In the arcuate, CART was increased in HFD-fed UN mice and in CD-fed CPD mice, while HFD intake suppressed CART increase in defeated animals. In the basolateral amygdala, CART expression was increased only in CPD animals on HFD. CPD appears to uncouple the intake of HFD from energy homeostasis causing higher HFD intake, larger iBAT accumulation, increased energy expenditure and lipid oxidation, and lower body weight. Overall, the present study confirms the notion that the chronic activation of the stress response can be associated with metabolic disorders, altered energy homeostasis, and changes of orexigenic and anorexigenic signaling. These changes might be relevant to better understand the etiology of stress-induced obesity and eating disorders and might represent a valid therapeutic approach for the development of new therapies in this field.

Temporal and regional onset of leptin resistance in diet-induced obese mice.

PubMed

Rizwan, M Z; Mehlitz, S; Grattan, D R; Tups, A

2017-10-01

In common forms of obesity, leptin fails to convey its regulatory effect. This so called "leptin resistance" is not well understood, and solving this puzzle is a key to understanding how obesity develops. In the present study, we investigated the temporal and regional onset of leptin resistance in response to a diet enriched with long-chain saturated fatty acids (high-fat diet; HFD) in mice. Mice were exposed to either a low-fat diet (LFD) or a HFD for 4 hours, 24 hours, 10 days and 28 days. Mice in each group received an i.p. injection of either phosphate-buffered saline or leptin and the number of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (pSTAT3) immunoreactive (-IR) cells in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) and dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (DMH) was analysed 30 or 120 minutes after treatment. In the ARC, as soon as 24 hours of HFD, the molecular leptin response was reduced by 40% (P≤.01). Compared to at 24 hours, after 10 days, the number of leptin-induced pSTAT3-IR cells was elevated after 120 minutes, suggesting a sustained response and a partial return of leptin sensitivity. After 28 days, leptin failed to induce the number of pSTAT3-IR over control levels, suggesting a markedly reduced sensitivity to leptin. In the VMH after 24 hours, we observed a 50% reduction in leptin-induced pSTAT-3-IR cells, followed by a further decline after 10 days. However, after 28 days, there was a significant increase in pSTAT-3-IR cells (P≤.05), indicating partial recovery of leptin sensitivity. By contrast to these two regions, in the DMH, no loss of leptin sensitivity was observed at any time-point. These findings demonstrate that a loss of sensitivity to leptin occurs rapidly after exposure to HFD in the ARC and VMH but not the DMH. However, there appears to be a biphasic pattern of leptin responsiveness, with a partial return of leptin sensitivity occurring after 10 days in the arcuate nucleus, and after 28 days in the VMH. By 28 days, the response to leptin in the arcuate nucleus was completely lost. These findings suggest that the molecular responses to leptin are altered after high-fat feeding in a time- and region-specific manner. © 2017 British Society for Neuroendocrinology.

Dump assembly

DOEpatents

Goldmann, Louis H.

1986-01-01

A dump assembly having a fixed conduit and a rotatable conduit provided with overlapping plates, respectively, at their adjacent ends. The plates are formed with openings, respectively, normally offset from each other to block flow. The other end of the rotatable conduit is provided with means for securing the open end of a filled container thereto. Rotation of the rotatable conduit raises and inverts the container to empty the contents while concurrently aligning the conduit openings to permit flow of material therethrough.

Design Matters: How School Environment Affects Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hebert, Elizabeth A.

1998-01-01

The organization of space profoundly affects learning. Students feel better connected to a building that anticipates their needs and respects them as individuals. Built in 1971, Crow Island School, in Winnetka, Illinois, is a prize-winning facility that has provided generations of children with windowed classrooms, skylights, adjacent workrooms,…

33 CFR 2.30 - Exclusive Economic Zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Exclusive Economic Zone. 2.30... JURISDICTION Jurisdictional Terms § 2.30 Exclusive Economic Zone. (a) With respect to the United States... States exercises sovereignty, exclusive economic zone means the zone seaward of and adjacent to the...

33 CFR 2.30 - Exclusive Economic Zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Exclusive Economic Zone. 2.30... JURISDICTION Jurisdictional Terms § 2.30 Exclusive Economic Zone. (a) With respect to the United States... States exercises sovereignty, exclusive economic zone means the zone seaward of and adjacent to the...

33 CFR 2.30 - Exclusive Economic Zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Exclusive Economic Zone. 2.30... JURISDICTION Jurisdictional Terms § 2.30 Exclusive Economic Zone. (a) With respect to the United States... States exercises sovereignty, exclusive economic zone means the zone seaward of and adjacent to the...

33 CFR 2.30 - Exclusive Economic Zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Exclusive Economic Zone. 2.30... JURISDICTION Jurisdictional Terms § 2.30 Exclusive Economic Zone. (a) With respect to the United States... States exercises sovereignty, exclusive economic zone means the zone seaward of and adjacent to the...

33 CFR 2.30 - Exclusive Economic Zone.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Exclusive Economic Zone. 2.30... JURISDICTION Jurisdictional Terms § 2.30 Exclusive Economic Zone. (a) With respect to the United States... States exercises sovereignty, exclusive economic zone means the zone seaward of and adjacent to the...

47 CFR 73.807 - Minimum distance separation between stations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... and the right-hand column lists (for informational purposes only) the minimum distance necessary for...) Within 320 km of the Mexican border, LP100 stations must meet the following separations with respect to any Mexican stations: Mexican station class Co-channel (km) First-adjacent channel (km) Second-third...

CHARACTERIZATION OF PARTICULATE EMISSIONS FROM CONTROLLED CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES: MUD/DIRT CARRYOUT

EPA Science Inventory

The report describes a field study of PM-2.5 and PM-10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 and 10 micrometers, respectively) emissions from a public paved road in Overland Park, Kansas, adjacent to a 200-acre construction site which will ultimately have 4 ...

Residential proximity to major roads and term low birth weight: the roles of air pollution, heat, noise, and road-adjacent trees.

PubMed

Dadvand, Payam; Ostro, Bart; Figueras, Francesc; Foraster, Maria; Basagaña, Xavier; Valentín, Antònia; Martinez, David; Beelen, Rob; Cirach, Marta; Hoek, Gerard; Jerrett, Michael; Brunekreef, Bert; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J

2014-07-01

Maternal residential proximity to roads has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, there is no study investigating mediators or buffering effects of road-adjacent trees on this association. We investigated the association between mothers' residential proximity to major roads and term low birth weight (LBW), while exploring possible mediating roles of air pollution (PM(2.5), PM(2.5-10), PM(10), PM(2.5) absorbance, nitrogen dioxide, and nitrogen oxides), heat, and noise and buffering effect of road-adjacent trees on this association. This cohort study was based on 6438 singleton term births in Barcelona, Spain (2001-2005). Road proximity was measured as both continuous distance to and living within 200 m from a major road. We assessed individual exposures to air pollution, noise, and heat using, respectively, temporally adjusted land-use regression models, annual averages of 24-hour noise levels across 50 m and 250 m, and average of satellite-derived land-surface temperature in a 50-m buffer around each residential address. We used vegetation continuous fields to abstract tree coverage in a 200-m buffer around major roads. Living within 200 m of major roads was associated with a 46% increase in term LBW risk; an interquartile range increase in heat exposure with an 18% increase; and third-trimester exposure to PM(2.5), PM(2.5-10), and PM10 with 24%, 25%, and 26% increases, respectively. Air pollution and heat exposures together explained about one-third of the association between residential proximity to major roads and term LBW. Our observations on the buffering of this association by road-adjacent trees were not consistent between our 2 measures of proximity to major roads. An increased risk of term LBW associated with proximity to major roads was partly mediated by air pollution and heat exposures.

The microbiota of traumatic, open fracture wounds is associated with mechanism of injury.

PubMed

Bartow-McKenney, Casey; Hannigan, Geoffrey D; Horwinski, Joseph; Hesketh, Patrick; Horan, Annamarie D; Mehta, Samir; Grice, Elizabeth A

2018-05-26

Open fractures are characterized by disruption of the skin and soft tissue, which allows for microbial contamination and colonization. Preventing infection-related complications of open fractures and other acute wounds remains an evolving challenge due to an incomplete understanding of how microbial colonization and contamination influence healing and outcomes. Culture-independent molecular methods are now widely used to study human-associated microbial communities without introducing culture biases. Using such approaches, the objectives of this study were to 1) define the long-term temporal microbial community dynamics of open fracture wounds and 2) examine microbial community dynamics with respect to clinical and demographic factors. Fifty-two subjects with traumatic open fracture wounds (32 blunt and 20 penetrating injuries) were enrolled prospectively and sampled longitudinally from presentation to the emergency department and at each subsequent inpatient or outpatient encounter. Specimens were collected from both the wound center and adjacent skin. Culture-independent sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was employed to identify and characterize microbiota. Upon presentation to the emergency department and time points immediately following, sample collection site (wound or adjacent skin) was the most defining feature discriminating microbial profiles. Microbial composition of adjacent skin and wound center converged over time. Mechanism of injury most strongly defined the microbiota after initial convergence. Further analysis controlling for race, gender, and age revealed that mechanism of injury remained a significant discriminating feature throughout the continuum of care. We conclude that the microbial communities associated with open fracture wounds are dynamic in nature until eventual convergence with the adjacent skin community during healing, with mechanism of injury as an important feature affecting both diversity and composition of the microbiota. A more complete understanding of the factors influencing microbial contamination and/or colonization in open fractures is a critical foundation for identifying markers indicative of outcome and deciphering their respective contributions to healing and/or complication. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2018 by the Wound Healing Society.

Appetite and cancer-associated anorexia: a review.

PubMed

Davis, Mellar P; Dreicer, Robert; Walsh, Declan; Lagman, Ruth; LeGrand, Susan B

2004-04-15

Appetite is governed by peripheral hormones and central neurotransmitters that act on the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and nucleus tactus solitarius of the brainstem. Cancer anorexia appears to be the result of an imbalance between neuropeptide-Y and pro-opiomelanocortin signals favoring pro-opiomelanocortin. Many of the appetite stimulants redress this imbalance. Most of our understanding of appetite neurophysiology and tumor-associated anorexia is derived from animals and has not been verified in humans. There have been few clinical trials and very little translational research on anorexia despite its prevalence in cancer.

Biomechanical modeling of reconstructive intervention on the thoracolumbar transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donnik, A. M.; Kirillova, I. V.; Kossovich, L. Yu.; Zaretskov, V. V.; Lykhachev, S. V.; Norkin, I. A.

2018-05-01

A finite-element model is presented for a healthy person and for a person with an injury in this section of the spine. The mechanical parameters of the bone tissue of the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, arcuate joints, and ligaments, are modeled on the basis of data from literature sources. Elements of the transitional thoracolumbar spine are considered as isotropic, homogeneous and linearly elastic material. The obtained models allow for a comparative analysis of the spine of a healthy person and the presence of injure in the transitional thoracolumbar spine.

Method of mounting a PC board to a hybrid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

O'Coin, James R. (Inventor)

1999-01-01

A system for mounting a hybrid electronic component to a PC board is disclosed. The system includes a set of brackets for mutually engaging a first surface of the PC board and a cover surface of the hybrid electronic component, wherein the cover surface has an arcuate shape when in a vacuum environment. The brackets are designed with legs having lengths and thicknesses for providing clearance between the cover surface of the hybrid and the first surface of the PC board for use when the hybrid electronic component is in a vacuum environment.

Ballistic impulse gauge

DOEpatents

Ault, Stanley K.

1993-01-01

A gauge for detecting the impulse generated in sample materials by X-rays or other impulse producing mechanisms utilizes a pair of flat annular springs to support a plunger relative to a housing which may itself be supported by a pair of flat annular springs in a second housing. The plunger has a mounting plate mounted on one end and at the other, a position or velocity transducer is mounted. The annular springs consist of an outer ring and an inner ring with at least three arcuate members connecting the outer ring with the inner ring.

Ballistic impulse gauge

DOEpatents

Ault, S.K.

1993-12-21

A gauge for detecting the impulse generated in sample materials by X-rays or other impulse producing mechanisms utilizes a pair of flat annular springs to support a plunger relative to a housing which may itself be supported by a pair of flat annular springs in a second housing. The plunger has a mounting plate mounted on one end and at the other, a position or velocity transducer is mounted. The annular springs consist of an outer ring and an inner ring with at least three arcuate members connecting the outer ring with the inner ring. 4 figures.

Recirculating wedges for metal-vapor plasma tubes

DOEpatents

Hall, J.P.; Sawvel, R.M.; Draggoo, V.G.

1994-06-28

A metal vapor laser is disclosed that recycles condensed metal located at the terminal ends of a plasma tube back toward the center of the tube. A pair of arcuate wedges are incorporated on the bottom of the plasma tube near the terminal ends. The wedges slope downward toward the center so that condensed metal may be transported under the force of gravity away from the terminal ends. The wedges are curved to fit the plasma tube to thereby avoid forming any gaps within the tube interior. 8 figures.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

NASA Image and Video Library

1996-01-20

STS072-727-085 (11-20 Jan. 1996) --- The northern third of the Great Barrier Reef stretches 650 kilometers (km) along the coast of Queensland from south of Cairns to past Princess Charlotte Bay at the base of the Cape York Peninsula. The predominant westerly waves of the ocean create shallower (lighter-colored) convex-eastward rims to coral atolls along the outer edge of the barrier reef. In contrast, islands within the lagoon show the effect of predominant southerly, more-or-less offshore winds. Arcuate clouds suggest that winds were offshore at the time the photograph was taken.

Effects of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and pentobarbital on a cortical response evoked during conditioning.

PubMed

Boyd, E S; Boyd, E H; Brown, L E

1976-05-05

A surface-negative wave, evoked by tone cues, appeared in monkey post-arcuate cortex as the monkey learned that the cue signaled the availability of reward. This evoked activity was depressed, concomitantly with changes in the animal's behavioral responding, by doses of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) as low as 0.032 mg/kg and of pentobarbital as low as 4 mg/kg. Pentobarbital tended to increase the latency of the evoked wave, an effect not seen with delta9-THC.

Investigating Musical Disorders with Diffusion Tensor Imaging: a Comparison of Imaging Parameters

PubMed Central

Loui, Psyche; Schlaug, Gottfried

2009-01-01

The Arcuate Fasciculus (AF) is a bundle of white matter traditionally thought to be responsible for language function. However, its role in music is not known. Here we investigate the connectivity of the AF using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and show that musically tone-deaf individuals, who show impairments in pitch discrimination, have reduced connectivity in the AF relative to musically normal-functioning control subjects. Results were robust to variations in imaging parameters and emphasize the importance of brain connectivity in para-linguistic processes such as music. PMID:19673766

Segmented ceramic liner for induction furnaces

DOEpatents

Gorin, Andrew H.; Holcombe, Cressie E.

1994-01-01

A non-fibrous ceramic liner for induction furnaces is provided by vertically stackable ring-shaped liner segments made of ceramic material in a light-weight cellular form. The liner segments can each be fabricated as a single unit or from a plurality of arcuate segments joined together by an interlocking mechanism. Also, the liner segments can be formed of a single ceramic material or can be constructed of multiple concentric layers with the layers being of different ceramic materials and/or cellular forms. Thermomechanically damaged liner segments are selectively replaceable in the furnace.

Segmented ceramic liner for induction furnaces

DOEpatents

Gorin, A.H.; Holcombe, C.E.

1994-07-26

A non-fibrous ceramic liner for induction furnaces is provided by vertically stackable ring-shaped liner segments made of ceramic material in a light-weight cellular form. The liner segments can each be fabricated as a single unit or from a plurality of arcuate segments joined together by an interlocking mechanism. Also, the liner segments can be formed of a single ceramic material or can be constructed of multiple concentric layers with the layers being of different ceramic materials and/or cellular forms. Thermomechanically damaged liner segments are selectively replaceable in the furnace. 5 figs.

Delayed Development of Multiple Pancreaticoduodenal Arcade Pseudoaneurysms after Abdominal Trauma.

PubMed

Prosper, Ashley; Saremi, Farhood

2016-10-01

This case report demonstrates development and progressive enlargement of multiple pancreaticoduodenal arcade pseudoaneurysms using computed tomography angiographies over a period of 5 weeks after abdominal trauma. The mechanism of pseudoaneurysm formation, as shown by serial imaging, attributed to preexisting celiac axis stenosis by the median arcuate ligament, posttraumatic celiac artery dissection, and secondary occlusion of proper hepatic artery resulting in elevation of pressure and flow in the pancreaticoduodenal arcade and rupture of small arterial branches. Successful pseudoaneurysm occlusion was achieved through arterial embolization. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Biomechanical Analysis of Cervical Disc Replacement and Fusion Using Single Level, Two Level, and Hybrid Constructs.

PubMed

Gandhi, Anup A; Kode, Swathi; DeVries, Nicole A; Grosland, Nicole M; Smucker, Joseph D; Fredericks, Douglas C

2015-10-15

A biomechanical study comparing arthroplasty with fusion using human cadaveric C2-T1 spines. To compare the kinematics of the cervical spine after arthroplasty and fusion using single level, 2 level and hybrid constructs. Previous studies have shown that spinal levels adjacent to a fusion experience increased motion and higher stress which may lead to adjacent segment disc degeneration. Cervical arthroplasty achieves similar decompression but preserves the motion at the operated level, potentially decreasing the occurrence of adjacent segment disc degeneration. 11 specimens (C2-T1) were divided into 2 groups (BRYAN and PRESTIGE LP). The specimens were tested in the following order; intact, single level total disc replacement (TDR) at C5-C6, 2-level TDR at C5-C6-C7, fusion at C5-C6 and TDR at C6-C7 (Hybrid construct), and lastly a 2-level fusion. The intact specimens were tested up to a moment of 2.0 Nm. After each surgical intervention, the specimens were loaded until the primary motion (C2-T1) matched the motion of the respective intact state (hybrid control). An arthroplasty preserved motion at the implanted level and maintained normal motion at the nonoperative levels. Arthrodesis resulted in a significant decrease in motion at the fused level and an increase in motion at the unfused levels. In the hybrid construct, the TDR adjacent to fusion preserved motion at the arthroplasty level, thereby reducing the demand on the other levels. Cervical disc arthroplasty with both the BRYAN and PRESTIGE LP discs not only preserved the motion at the operated level, but also maintained the normal motion at the adjacent levels. Under simulated physiologic loading, the motion patterns of the spine with the BRYAN or PRESTIGE LP disc were very similar and were closer than fusion to the intact motion pattern. An adjacent segment disc replacement is biomechanically favorable to a fusion in the presence of a pre-existing fusion.

Fragment capture device

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Payne, Lloyd R.; Cole, David L.

2010-03-30

A fragment capture device for use in explosive containment. The device comprises an assembly of at least two rows of bars positioned to eliminate line-of-sight trajectories between the generation point of fragments and a surrounding containment vessel or asset. The device comprises an array of at least two rows of bars, wherein each row is staggered with respect to the adjacent row, and wherein a lateral dimension of each bar and a relative position of each bar in combination provides blockage of a straight-line passage of a solid fragment through the adjacent rows of bars, wherein a generation point ofmore » the solid fragment is located within a cavity at least partially enclosed by the array of bars.« less

Authigenic vivianite in Potomac River sediments: control by ferric oxy-hydroxides.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hearn, P.P.; Parkhurst, D.L.; Callender, E.

1983-01-01

Sand-size aggregates of vivianite crystals occur in the uppermost sediments of the Potomac River estuary immediately downstream from the outfall of a sewage treatment plant at the southernmost boundary of the District of Columbia, USA. They are most abundant in a small area of coarse sand (dredge spoil) which contrasts with the adjacent, much finer sediments. The sewage outfall supplies both reducing conditions and abundant phosphate. Analyses and calculations indicate that the pore waters in all the adjacent sediments are supersaturated with respect to vivianite. Its concentration in the coarse sand is attributed to the absence there of amorphous ferric oxyhydroxides, which are present in the finer sediments and preferentially absorb the phosphate ion. -H.R.B.

Interior noise reduction by alternate resonance tuning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bliss, Donald B.; Gottwald, James A.; Bryce, Jeffrey W.

1987-01-01

Existing interior noise reduction techniques for aircraft fuselages perform reasonably well at higher frequencies, but are inadequate at low frequencies, particularly with respect to the low blade passage harmonics with high forcing levels found in propeller aircraft. A method is studied which considers aircraft fuselages lined with panels alternately tuned to frequencies above and below the frequency that must be attenuated. Adjacent panel would oscillate at equal amplitude, to give equal acoustic source strength, but with opposite phase. Provided these adjacent panels are acoustically compact, the resulting cancellation causes the interior acoustic modes to be cut off, and therefore be nonpropagating and evanescent. This interior noise reduction method, called Alternate Resonance Tuning (ART), is being investigated theoretically and experimentally. Progress to date is discussed.

Dump assembly

DOEpatents

Goldmann, L.H.

1984-12-06

This is a claim for a dump assembly having a fixed conduit and a rotatable conduit provided with overlapping plates, respectively, at their adjacent ends. The plates are formed with openings, respectively, normally offset from each other to block flow. The other end of the rotatable conduit is provided with means for securing the open end of a filled container thereto. Rotation of the rotatable conduit raises and inverts the container to empty the contents while concurrently aligning the conduit openings to permit flow of material therethrough. 4 figs.

Limited fiber type grouping in self-reinnervation cat tibialis anterior muscles.

PubMed

Unguez, G A; Roy, R R; Bodine-Fowler, S; Edgerton, V R

1996-10-01

The percent and distribution patterns of three immunohistochemically identified fiber types within the anterior compartment of the cat tibialis anterior were determined 6 months after denervation and self-reinnervation. After self-reinnervation, mean frequencies of slow (9%) and fast (91%) fibers were similar to those in control (12% and 88%, respectively) muscles. However, a lower proportion of fast-1 (26%) and a higher proportion of fast-2 (65%) fibers were observed in self-reinnervated than control (32% and 56%) muscles. Quantitation of adjacencies between fibers of similar myosin heavy chain (MHC) phenotype, a measure of type grouping, revealed that the frequencies of two slow or two fast-1 fibers being adjacent in self-reinnervated muscles were similar to control. In contrast, the frequency of fast-2/fast-2 fiber adjacencies found in self-reinnervated muscles (45%) was significantly higher than in control muscles (37%). In both groups, the frequency of adjacencies between slow, fast-1, or fast-2 fibers was largely attributable to the number of each fiber type present. These data show that the incidence of grouping within each fiber type present was not altered after 6 months of self-reinnervation. Minimal changes in the spatial distribution of fiber types following self-reinnervation in adults suggests a limited degree of conversion of muscle fibers to a MHC phenotype matching the motoneuron characteristics.

Differentially-charged and sequentially-switched square-wave pulse forming network

DOEpatents

North, George G. [Stockton, CA; Vogilin, George E. [Livermore, CA

1980-04-01

A pulse forming network for delivering a high-energy square-wave pulse to a load, including a series of inductive-capacitive sections wherein the capacitors are differentially charged higher further from the load. Each charged capacitor is isolated from adjacent sections and the load by means of a normally open switch at the output of each section. The switch between the load and the closest section to the load is closed to begin discharge of the capacitor in that section into the load. During discharge of each capacitor, the voltage thereacross falls to a predetermined potential with respect to the potential across the capacitor in the next adjacent section further from the load. When this potential is reached, it is used to close the switch in the adjacent section further from the load and thereby apply the charge in that section to the load through the adjacent section toward the load. Each successive section further from the load is sequentially switched in this manner to continuously and evenly supply energy to the load over the period of the pulse, with the differentially charged capacitors providing higher potentials away from the load to compensate for the voltage drop across the resistance of each inductor. This arrangement is low in cost and yet provides a high-energy pulse in an acceptable square-wave form.

Differentially-charged and sequentially-switched square-wave pulse forming network

DOEpatents

North, G.G.; Vogilin, G.E.

1980-04-01

Disclosed is a pulse forming network for delivering a high-energy square-wave pulse to a load, including a series of inductive-capacitive sections wherein the capacitors are differentially charged higher further from the load. Each charged capacitor is isolated from adjacent sections and the load by means of a normally open switch at the output of each section. The switch between the load and the closest section to the load is closed to begin discharge of the capacitor in that section into the load. During discharge of each capacitor, the voltage thereacross falls to a predetermined potential with respect to the potential across the capacitor in the next adjacent section further from the load. When this potential is reached, it is used to close the switch in the adjacent section further from the load and thereby apply the charge in that section to the load through the adjacent section toward the load. Each successive section further from the load is sequentially switched in this manner to continuously and evenly supply energy to the load over the period of the pulse, with the differentially charged capacitors providing higher potentials away from the load to compensate for the voltage drop across the resistance of each inductor. This arrangement is low in cost and yet provides a high-energy pulse in an acceptable square-wave form. 5 figs.

A high incidence of adjacent-1 meiotic segregation pattern, revealed by multicolor sperm FISH, in a carrier boar of a new reciprocal translocation t(6;16)(p13;q23).

PubMed

Kociucka, B; Szczerbal, I; Bugaj, S; Orsztynowicz, M; Switonski, M

2014-01-01

Reciprocal translocations pose a serious problem in pig breeding due to the reduced fertility of the carriers. This paper presents a new reciprocal translocation in a phenotypically normal, but hypoprolific (20% reduction) boar. Chromosome banding as well as the FISH technique with the use of BAC and telomeric probes was applied for a detailed characterization of this chromosome rearrangement. The karyotype of the studied boar was described as 38,XY,t(6;16)(p13;q23). The meiotic segregation of the quadrivalent was studied in 1,071 sperms by multicolor FISH. The most frequent segregation patterns were alternate (47.5%) and adjacent 1 (41.9%), while adjacent 2 and 3:1 were less frequent at 1.2 and 9.2%, respectively. Surprisingly, the frequency of the adjacent-1 segregation appeared to be relatively high, when compared with human and pig reciprocal translocations studied by sperm FISH. Our study, along with a review of the literature, shows that a reduction of fertility in the carriers and the incidence of different segregation patterns of the quadrivalent may vary within a broad range, and both aspects seem to be unrelated. A need for obligatory karyotype screening programs of artificial insemination boars is emphasized. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Hermetically sealed electrical feedthrough for high temperature secondary cells

DOEpatents

Knoedler, R.; Nelson, P.A.; Shimotake, H.; Battles, J.E.

1983-07-26

A passthrough seal is disclosed for electrically isolating the terminal in a lithium/metal sulfide cell from the structural cell housing. The seal has spaced upper and lower insulator rings fitted snuggly between the terminal and an annularly disposed upstanding wall, and outwardly of a powdered insulator also confined between the upstanding wall and terminal. The adjacent surfaces of the upper insulator ring and the respective upstanding wall and terminal are conically tapered, diverging in the axial direction away from the cell interior, and a sealing ring is located between each pair of the adjacent surfaces. The components are sized so that upon appropriate movement of the upper insulator ring toward the lower insulator ring the powdered insulator and sealing rings are each compressed to a high degree. This compacts the powdered insulator thereby rendering the same highly impervious and moreover fuses the sealing rings to and between the adjacent surfaces. The upper and lower insulator rings might be formed of beryllium oxide and/or alumina, the powdered insulator might be formed of boron nitride, and the sealing rings might be formed of aluminum.

Hermetically sealed electrical feedthrough for high temperature secondary cells

DOEpatents

Knoedler, Reinhard; Nelson, Paul A.; Shimotake, Hiroshi; Battles, James E.

1985-01-01

A passthrough seal is disclosed for electrically isolating the terminal in a lithium/metal sulfide cell from the structural cell housing. The seal has spaced upper and lower insulator rings fitted snuggly between the terminal and an annularly disposed upstanding wall, and outwardly of a powdered insulator also confined between the upstanding wall and terminal. The adjacent surfaces of the upper insulator ring and the respective upstanding wall and terminal are conically tapered, diverging in the axial direction away from the cell interior, and a sealing ring is located between each pair of the adjacent surfaces. The components are sized so that upon appropriate movement of the upper insulator ring toward the lower insulator ring the powdered insulator and sealing rings are each compressed to a high degree. This compacts the powdered insulator thereby rendering the same highly impervious and moreover fuses the sealing rings to and between the adjacent surfaces. The upper and lower insulator rings might be formed of beryllium oxide and/or alumina, the powdered insulator might be formed of boron nitride, and the sealing rings might be formed of aluminum.

A regional ionospheric TEC mapping technique over China and adjacent areas on the basis of data assimilation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aa, Ercha; Huang, Wengeng; Yu, Shimei; Liu, Siqing; Shi, Liqin; Gong, Jiancun; Chen, Yanhong; Shen, Hua

2015-06-01

In this paper, a regional total electron content (TEC) mapping technique over China and adjacent areas (70°E-140°E and 15°N-55°N) is developed on the basis of a Kalman filter data assimilation scheme driven by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data from the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China and International GNSS Service. The regional TEC maps can be generated accordingly with the spatial and temporal resolution being 1°×1° and 5 min, respectively. The accuracy and quality of the TEC mapping technique have been validated through the comparison with GNSS observations, the International Reference Ionosphere model values, the global ionosphere maps from Center for Orbit Determination of Europe, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Automated Processing of GPS TEC data from Madrigal database. The verification results indicate that great systematic improvements can be obtained when data are assimilated into the background model, which demonstrates the effectiveness of this technique in providing accurate regional specification of the ionospheric TEC over China and adjacent areas.

Simultaneous enhancement of Chlorella vulgaris growth and lipid accumulation through the synergy effect between light and nitrate in a planar waveguide flat-plate photobioreactor.

PubMed

Liao, Qiang; Sun, Yahui; Huang, Yun; Xia, Ao; Fu, Qian; Zhu, Xun

2017-11-01

Interval between adjacent planar waveguides and light intensity emitted from waveguide surface were the primary two factors affecting light distribution characteristics in the planar waveguide flat-plate photobioreactor (PW-PBR). In this paper, the synergy effect between light and nitrate in the PW-PBR was realized to simultaneously enhance microalgae growth and lipid accumulation. Under an interval of 10mm between adjacent planar waveguides, 100% of microalgae cells in regions between adjacent waveguides could be illuminated. Chlorella vulgaris growth and lipid accumulation were synchronously elevated as light intensities emitted from planar waveguide surface increasing. With an identical initial nitrate concentration of 18mM, the maximum lipid content (41.66% in dry biomass) and lipid yield (2200.25mgL -1 ) were attained under 560μmolm -2 s -1 , which were 86.82% and 133.56% higher relative to those obtained under 160μmolm -2 s -1 , respectively. The PW-PBR provides a promising way for microalgae lipid production. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stress-induced suppression of neuropeptide Y-induced hunger in anorexic chicks involves corticotrophin-releasing factor signalling and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.

PubMed

Wang, J; Yi, J; Siegel, P B; Cline, M A; Gilbert, E R

2017-12-01

The Virginia lines of chickens have been selected for low (LWS) or high (HWS) juvenile body weight and have different severities of anorexia and obesity, respectively. The LWS that are exposed to stressors at hatch are refractory to neuropeptide Y (NPY)-induced food intake and the objective of the present study was to determine the underlying mechanisms. Chicks were exposed to a stressor (-20°C for 6 minutes and 22°C and delayed access to food for 24 hours) after hatching and the hypothalamic nuclei, including the lateral hypothalamus (LH), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and arcuate nucleus (ARC), were collected 5 days later. In LWS but not HWS, stress exposure up-regulated corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), CRF receptor subtypes 1 and 2 (CRFR1 and CRFR2, respectively), melanocortin receptor 4 and urocortin 3 in the PVN, as well as CRFR2 mRNA in the VMH and ARC. In LWS, stress exposure was also associated with greater NPY and NPY receptor subtype 5 mRNA in the ARC and PVN, respectively, as well as decreased agouti-related peptide mRNA in the ARC. In HWS, stress exposure was associated with increased CRFR1 and decreased cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript in the ARC and PVN, respectively. Refractoriness of the food intake response to NPY in LWS may thus result from the over-riding anorexigenic tone in the PVN associated with CRF signalling. Indeed, the orexigenic effect of NPY was restored when LWS were injected with a CRF receptor antagonist, astressin, before stress exposure. The results of the present study provide insights into the molecular basis of eating disorders and suggest that CRF signalling in the PVN may exacerbate the anorexic phenotype in the presence of environmental stressors. © 2017 British Society for Neuroendocrinology.

33 CFR 2.22 - Territorial sea.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Territorial sea. 2.22 Section 2... Jurisdictional Terms § 2.22 Territorial sea. (a) With respect to the United States, the following apply— (1) Territorial sea means the waters, 12 nautical miles wide, adjacent to the coast of the United States and...

33 CFR 2.22 - Territorial sea.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Territorial sea. 2.22 Section 2... Jurisdictional Terms § 2.22 Territorial sea. (a) With respect to the United States, the following apply— (1) Territorial sea means the waters, 12 nautical miles wide, adjacent to the coast of the United States and...

33 CFR 2.22 - Territorial sea.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Territorial sea. 2.22 Section 2... Jurisdictional Terms § 2.22 Territorial sea. (a) With respect to the United States, the following apply— (1) Territorial sea means the waters, 12 nautical miles wide, adjacent to the coast of the United States and...

33 CFR 2.22 - Territorial sea.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Territorial sea. 2.22 Section 2... Jurisdictional Terms § 2.22 Territorial sea. (a) With respect to the United States, the following apply— (1) Territorial sea means the waters, 12 nautical miles wide, adjacent to the coast of the United States and...

33 CFR 2.22 - Territorial sea.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Territorial sea. 2.22 Section 2... Jurisdictional Terms § 2.22 Territorial sea. (a) With respect to the United States, the following apply— (1) Territorial sea means the waters, 12 nautical miles wide, adjacent to the coast of the United States and...

Temporal and spatial distribution of red tide outbreaks in the Yangtze River Estuary and adjacent waters, China.

PubMed

Liu, Lusan; Zhou, Juan; Zheng, Binghui; Cai, Wenqian; Lin, Kuixuan; Tang, Jingliang

2013-07-15

Between 1972 and 2009, evidence of red tide outbreaks in the Yangtze River Estuary and adjacent waters was collected. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to analyze the temporal and spatial distribution of these red tides, and it was subsequently used to map the distribution of these events. The results show that the following findings. (1) There were three red tide-prone areas: outside the Yangtze River Estuary and the eastern coast of Sheshan, the Huaniaoshan-Shengshan-Gouqi waters, and the Zhoushan areas and eastern coast of Zhujiajian. In these areas, red tides occurred 174 total times, 25 of which were larger than 1000 km(2) in areal extent. After 2000, the frequency of red tide outbreaks increased significantly. (2) During the months of May and June, the red tide occurrence in these areas was 51% and 20%, respectively. (3) Outbreaks of the dominant red tide plankton species Prorocentrum dong-haiense, Skeletonema costatum, Prorocentrum dantatum, and Noctiluca scientillan occurred 38, 35, 15, and 10 times, respectively, during the study interval. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bioreactor for acid mine drainage control

DOEpatents

Zaluski, Marek H.; Manchester, Kenneth R.

2001-01-01

A bioreactor for reacting an aqueous heavy metal and sulfate containing mine drainage solution with sulfate reducing bacteria to produce heavy metal sulfides and reduce the sulfuric acid content of the solution. The reactor is an elongated, horizontal trough defining an inlet section and a reaction section. An inlet manifold adjacent the inlet section distributes aqueous mine drainage solution into the inlet section for flow through the inlet section and reaction section. A sulfate reducing bacteria and bacteria nutrient composition in the inlet section provides sulfate reducing bacteria that with the sulfuric acid and heavy metals in the solution to form solid metal sulfides. The sulfate reducing bacteria and bacteria nutrient composition is retained in the cells of a honeycomb structure formed of cellular honeycomb panels mounted in the reactor inlet section. The honeycomb panels extend upwardly in the inlet section at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal. The cells defined in each panel are thereby offset with respect to the honeycomb cells in each adjacent panel in order to define a tortuous path for the flow of the aqueous solution.

Relevance of adjacent joint imaging in the evaluation of ankle fractures.

PubMed

Antoci, Valentin; Patel, Shaun P; Weaver, Michael J; Kwon, John Y

2016-10-01

Routinely obtaining adjacent joint radiographs when evaluating patients with ankle fractures may be of limited clinical utility and an unnecessary burden, particularly in the absence of clinical suspicion for concomitant injuries. One thousand, three hundred and seventy patients who sustained ankle fractures over a 5-year period presenting to two level 1 trauma centers were identified. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for demographics, physical examination findings, and radiographic information. Analyses included descriptive statistics along with sensitivity and predictive value calculations for the presence of adjacent joint fracture. Adjacent joint imaging (n=1045 radiographs) of either the knee or foot was obtained in 873 patients (63.7%). Of those, 75/761 patients (9.9%) demonstrated additional fractures proximal to the ankle joint, most commonly of the proximal fibula. Twenty-two of 284 (7.7%) demonstrated additional fractures distal to the ankle joint, most commonly of the metatarsals. Tenderness to palpation demonstrated sensitivities of 0.92 and 0.77 and positive predictive values of 0.94 and 0.89 for the presence of proximal and distal fractures, respectively. Additionally, 19/22 (86.4%) of patients sustaining foot fractures had their injury detectable on initial ankle X-rays. Overall, only 5.5% (75/1370) of patients sustained fractures proximal to the ankle and only 0.2% (3/1370) of patients had additional foot fractures not evident on initial ankle X-rays. The addition of adjacent joint imaging for the evaluation of patients sustaining ankle fractures is low yield. As such, patient history, physical examination, and clinical suspicion should direct the need for additional X-rays. Level IV. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of cervical spine kinematics using a fluoroscopic model for adjacent segment degeneration. Invited submission from the Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2007.

PubMed

Cheng, Joseph S; Liu, Fei; Komistek, Richard D; Mahfouz, Mohamed R; Sharma, Adrija; Glaser, Diana

2007-11-01

In this cervical spine kinematics study the authors evaluate the motions and forces in the normal, degenerative, and fused states to assess how alteration in the cervical motion segment affects adjacent segment degeneration and spondylosis. Fluoroscopic images obtained in 30 individuals (10 in each group with disease at C5-6) undergoing flexion/extension motions were collected. Kinematic data were obtained from the fluoroscopic images and analyzed with an inverse dynamic mathematical model of the cervical spine that was developed for this analysis. During 20 degrees flexion to 15 degrees extension, average relative angles at the adjacent levels of C6-7 and C4-5 in the fused patients were 13.4 degrees and 8.8 degrees versus 3.7 degrees and 4.8 degrees in the healthy individuals. Differences at C3-4 averaged only about 1 degrees. Maximum transverse forces in the fused spines were two times the skull weight at C6-7 and one times the skull weight at C4-5, compared with 0.2 times the skull weight and 0.3 times the skull weight in the healthy individuals. Vertical forces ranged from 1.6 to 2.6 times the skull weight at C6-7 and from 1.2 to 2.5 times the skull weight at C4-5 in the patients who had undergone fusion, and from 1.4 to 3.1 times the skull weight and from 0.9 to 3.3 times the skull weight, respectively, in the volunteers. Adjacent-segment degeneration may occur in patients with fusion due to increased motions and forces at both adjacent levels when compared with healthy individuals in a comparable flexion and extension range.

RUNX3 methylation in normal surrounding urothelium of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: potential role in the prediction of tumor progression.

PubMed

Jeong, P; Min, B D; Ha, Y S; Song, P H; Kim, I Y; Ryu, K H; Kim, J H; Yun, S J; Kim, W J

2012-11-01

Previously, we reported a causal relationship between RUNX3 methylation and bladder tumor development. Thus, in order to clarify its role in tumorigenesis, this study aims to identify the function of RUNX3 methylation in normal adjacent urothelium of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Tumor tissue and donor-matched normal adjacent tissue from 55 patients who underwent transurethral resection (TUR) were selected for the study, and RUNX3 promoter methylation was assessed using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR). RUNX3 promoter methylation occurred more frequently in tumor samples than in histologically normal urothelium in patients with NMIBC (P = 0.02). The methylation rates for the RUNX3 promoter in normal adjacent urothelium and tumor tissue were 47% and 69%, respectively. Interestingly, RUNX3 methylation in normal adjacent urothelium was associated with tumor number (P = 0.022) and progression (P = 0.035). Kaplan-Meier estimates revealed that RUNX3 methylation in normal urothelium showed a significant association with time to progression (P = 0.017) in NMIBC patients. Stratifying the patients into 'both methylation', 'one methylation' and 'no methylation' groups for tumors and normal urothelium revealed that no progression occurred in the 'no methylation' group during follow-up. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that RUNX3 methylation in normal urothelium [hazards ratio (HR): 5.692, P = 0.042] was an independent predictor of progression. RUNX3 methylation was associated with transition from normal urothelium to bladder tumor. More importantly, RUNX3 methylation in normal adjacent urothelium may predict progression in NMIBC patients who have undergone TUR. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

What Is the Impact of Impatiens parviflora on Diversity and Composition of Herbal Layer Communities of Temperate Forests?

PubMed Central

Hejda, Martin

2012-01-01

The aim was to estimate the impacts of invasive Impatiens parviflora on forests’ herbal layer communities. A replicated Before-After-Control-Impact field experiment and comparisons with adjacent uninvaded plots were used. The alien’s impact on species richness was tested using hierarchical generalized mixed effect models with Poisson error structure. Impact on species composition was tested using multivariate models (DCA, CCA, RDA) and Monte-Carlo permutation tests. Removal plots did not differ in native species richness from neither invaded nor adjacent uninvaded plots, both when the treatment’s main effect or its interaction with sampling time was tested (Chi2 = 0.4757, DF = 2, p = 0.7883; Chi2 = 7.229, DF = 8, p = 0.5121 respectively). On the contrary, ordination models revealed differences in the development of plots following the treatments (p = 0.034) with the invaded plots differing from the adjacent uninvaded (p = 0.002). Impatiens parviflora is highly unlikely to impact native species richness of invaded communities, which may be associated with its limited ability to create a dense canopy, a modest root system or the fact the I. parviflora does not represent a novel and distinctive dominant to the invaded communities. Concerning its potential impacts on species composition, the presence of native clonal species (Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris filix-mas, Fragaria moschata, Luzula luzuloides, Poa nemoralis) on the adjacent uninvaded plots likely makes them different from the invaded plots. However, these competitive and strong species are more likely to prevent the invasion of I. parviflora on the adjacent uninvaded plots rather than being themselves eliminated from the invaded communities. PMID:22768091

Expression and clinical significance of ATM and PUMA gene in patients with colorectal cancer.

PubMed

Xiong, Hui; Zhang, Jiangnan

2017-12-01

The expression of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) genes in patients with colorectal cancer were investigated, to explore the correlation between the expression of ATM and PUMA and tumor development, to evaluate the clinical significance of ATM and PUMA in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of ATM and PUMA in tumor tissue and adjacent healthy tissue of 67 patients with colorectal cancer and in normal colorectal tissue of 33 patients with colorectal polyps at mRNA level. The expression level of ATM mRNA in colorectal cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in normal mucosa tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissue (P≤0.05), while no significant differences in expression level of ATM mRNA were found between normal mucosa tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissue (P=0.07). There was a negative correlation between the expression of ATM mRNA and the degree of differentiation of colorectal cancer (r= -0.312, P=0.013), while expression level of ATM mRNA was not significantly correlated with the age, sex, tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis or clinical stage (P>0.05). Expression levels of PUMA mRNA in colorectal cancer tissues, adjacent noncancerous tissue and normal tissues were 0.68±0.07, 0.88±0.04 and 1.76±0.06, respectively. Expression level of PUMA mRNA in colorectal cancer tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissue was significantly lower than that in normal colorectal tissues (P<0.05). The results showed that ATM mRNA is expressed abnormally in colorectal cancer tissues. Expression of PUMA gene in colorectal carcinoma is downregulated, and is negatively correlated with the occurrence of cancer.

Agouti-related protein increases food hoarding more than food intake in Siberian hamsters.

PubMed

Day, Diane E; Bartness, Timothy J

2004-01-01

Agouti-related protein (AgRP), an endogenous melanocortin 3/4 receptor antagonist, appears to play an important role in the control of food intake and energy balance because exogenous administration in rats and overexpression in mice result in hyperphagia and body mass gain. Furthermore, arcuate nucleus AgRP mRNA is increased with fasting in laboratory rats and mice and is decreased with refeeding. In Siberian hamsters, fasting also increases arcuate nucleus AgRP mRNA, but these animals increase food hoarding, rather than food intake with refeeding. Therefore, we tested whether exogenous AgRP increased food hoarding in this species. Hamsters were trained in a hoarding/foraging apparatus to run a programmed number of wheel revolutions to earn food pellets. Four doses of AgRP-(83-132) or vehicle were injected into the third ventricle at the beginning of the dark phase, and food hoarding, food intake, and foraging were measured at various time points subsequently. Overall, food hoarding was stimulated as much as 10 times more than food intake, and both responses occurred as early as 1 h after injection. Food hoarding was increased the greatest at the lowest dose (0.1 nmol), whereas food intake was increased the greatest at the second lowest dose (1 nmol). Food intake and especially food hoarding were increased up to seven days after the AgRP injections. Foraging was increased at all AgRP doses except the highest dose (100 nmol). These results suggest that AgRP triggers the search for food in this species, and once they find it, hoarding predominates over eating.

Reduction in the number of astrocytes and their projections is associated with increased synaptic protein density in the hypothalamus of poorly controlled diabetic rats.

PubMed

Lechuga-Sancho, Alfonso M; Arroba, Ana I; Frago, Laura M; García-Cáceres, Cristina; de Célix, Arancha Delgado-Rubín; Argente, Jesús; Chowen, Julie A

2006-11-01

Processes under hypothalamic control, such as thermogenesis, feeding behavior, and pituitary hormone secretion, are disrupted in poorly controlled diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Because glial cells regulate neurosecretory neurons through modulation of synaptic inputs and function, we investigated the changes in hypothalamic glia in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Hypothalamic glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels decreased significantly 6 wk after diabetes onset. This was coincident with decreased GFAP immunoreactive surface area, astrocyte number, and the extension of GFAP immunoreactive processes/astrocyte in the arcuate nucleus. Cell death, analyzed by terminal deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate nick-end labeling and ELISA, increased significantly at 4 wk of diabetes. Proliferation, measured by Western blot for proliferating cell nuclear antigen and immunostaining for phosphorylated histone H-3, decreased in the hypothalamus of diabetic rats throughout the study, becoming significantly reduced by 8 wk. Both proliferation and death affected astroctyes because both phosphorylated histone H-3- and terminal deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate nick-end labeling-labeled cells were GFAP positive. Western blot analysis revealed that postsynaptic density protein 95 and the presynaptic proteins synapsin I and synaptotagmin increased significantly at 8 wk of diabetes, suggesting increased hypothalamic synaptic density. Thus, in poorly controlled diabetic rats, there is a decrease in the number of hypothalamic astrocytes that is correlated with modifications in synaptic proteins and possibly synaptic inputs. These morphological changes in the arcuate nucleus could be involved in neurosecretory and metabolic changes seen in diabetic animals.

Male sexual behavior and catecholamine levels in the medial preoptic area and arcuate nucleus in middle-aged rats.

PubMed

Chen, Joyce C; Tsai, Houng-Wei; Yeh, Kuei-Ying; Tai, Mei-Yun; Tsai, Yuan-Feen

2007-12-12

The correlation between male sexual behavior and catecholamine levels in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and arcuate nucleus (ARN) was studied in middle-aged rats. Male rats (18-19 months) were assigned to three groups: (1) Group MIE, consisting of rats showing mounts, intromissions, and ejaculations; (2) Group MI, consisting of rats showing mounts and intromissions, but no ejaculation; and (3) Group NC, consisting of non-copulators showing no sexual behavior. Young adult rats (4-5 months) displaying complete copulatory behavior were used as the control group. Dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) tissue levels in the MPOA and ARN were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. There were no differences between MIE rats and young controls in DA or NE tissue levels in these two brain areas. Furthermore, no differences were found between the MI and NC groups in DA or NE tissue levels in either the MPOA or ARN. DA tissue levels in the MPOA and ARN in the MI and NC groups were significantly lower than those in the MIE group. NE tissue levels in the MPOA of the NC group were significantly lower than those in the MIE group, but no differences in NE tissue levels in the ARN were seen between the four groups. These results suggest that, in male rats, complete male sexual performance is related to tissue levels of DA, but not of NE, in the MPOA and/or ARN. Furthermore, ejaculatory behavior might be associated with critical DA tissue levels in the MPOA and/or ARN in middle-aged rats.

Diffusion tensor imaging--arcuate fasciculus and the importance for the neurosurgeon.

PubMed

Hana, Ardian; Dooms, Georges; Boecher-Schwarz, Hans; Hertel, Frank

2015-05-01

Tumors in eloquent areas of the brain like Broca or Wernicke might have disastrous consequences for patients. We intended to visualize the arcuate fasciculus (AF) and to demonstrate his relation with the corticospinal tract and the visual pathway using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We depicted between 2012 and 2014 the AF in 71 patients. Men and women of all ages were included. Eleven patients had postoperative controls also. We used a 3DT1-sequence for the navigation. Furthermore T2- and DTI-sequences were performed. The FOV was 200 × 200 mm(2), slice thickness 2mm, and an acquisition matrix of 96 × 96 yielding nearly isotropic voxels of 2 × 2 × 2 mm. 3-Tesla-MRI was carried out strictly axial using 32 gradient directions and one b0-image. We used Echo-Planar-Imaging (EPI) and ASSET parallel imaging with an acceleration factor of 2. b-Value was 800 s/mm(2). Additional scanning time was less than 9 min. AF was portrayed in 63 patients bilaterally. In one glioblastoma patient it was impossible to visualize the left AF and in seven other patients we could not portray the right one. The lesions affected AF by disrupting or displacing the fibers. DTI might be a useful tool to portray AF. It is time-saving and can be used to preserve morbidity in patients with lesions in eloquent brain areas. It might give deeper insights of the white matter and the reorganization of AF-fibers postoperatively. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Words are not enough: nonword repetition as an indicator of arcuate fasciculus integrity during brain tumor resection.

PubMed

Sierpowska, Joanna; Gabarrós, Andreu; Fernandez-Coello, Alejandro; Camins, Àngels; Castañer, Sara; Juncadella, Montserrat; Morís, Joaquín; Rodríguez-Fornells, Antoni

2017-02-01

OBJECTIVE Subcortical electrical stimulation during brain surgery may allow localization of functionally crucial white matter fibers and thus tailoring of the tumor resection according to its functional limits. The arcuate fasciculus (AF) is a white matter bundle connecting frontal, temporal, and parietal cortical areas that is often disrupted by left brain lesions. It plays a critical role in several cognitive functions related to phonological processing, but current intraoperative monitoring methods do not yet allow mapping of this tract with sufficient precision. In the present study the authors aimed to test a new paradigm for the intraoperative monitoring of the AF. METHODS In this report, the authors studied 12 patients undergoing awake brain surgery for tumor resection with a related risk of AF damage. To preserve AF integrity and the cognitive processes sustained by this tract in the intraoperative context, the authors used real word repetition (WR) and nonword repetition (NWR) tasks as complements to standard picture naming. RESULTS Compared with the errors identified by WR or picture naming, the NWR task allowed the detection of subtle errors possibly related to AF alterations. Moreover, only 3 patients demonstrated phonological paraphasias in standard picture naming, and in 2 of these patients the paraphasias co-occurred with the total loss of WR and NWR ability. Before surgery, lesion volume predicted a patient's NWR performance. CONCLUSIONS The authors suggest that monitoring NWR intraoperatively may complement the standard naming tasks and could permit better preservation of the important language production functions subserved by the AF.

The Arcuate Nucleus: A Site of Fast Negative Feedback for Corticosterone Secretion in Male Rats

PubMed Central

Kawata, Mitsuhiro; Escobar, Carolina

2017-01-01

Abstract Variations in circulating corticosterone (Cort) are driven by the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), mainly via the sympathetic autonomic nervous system (ANS) directly stimulating Cort release from the adrenal gland and via corticotropin-releasing hormone targeting the adenohypophysis to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Cort feeds back through glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). Here we show in male Wistar rats that PVN neurons projecting to the adrenal gland do not express GRs, leaving the question of how the ANS in the PVN gets information about circulating Cort levels to control the adrenal. Since the arcuate nucleus (ARC) shows a less restrictive blood–brain barrier, expresses GRs, and projects to the PVN, we investigated whether the ARC can detect and produce fast adjustments of circulating Cort. In low Cort conditions (morning), local microdialysis in the ARC with type I GR antagonist produced a fast and sustained increase of Cort. This was not observed with a type II antagonist. At the circadian peak levels of Cort (afternoon), a type II GR antagonist, but not a type I antagonist, increased Cort levels but not ACTH levels. Antagonist infusions in the PVN did not modify circulating Cort levels, demonstrating the specificity of the ARC to give Cort negative feedback. Furthermore, type I and II GR agonists in the ARC prevented the increase of Cort after stress, demonstrating the role of the ARC as sensor to modulate Cort release. Our findings show that the ARC may be essential to sense blood levels of Cort and adapt Cort secretion depending on such conditions as stress or time of day. PMID:28275717

Sustained alterations of hypothalamic tanycytes during posttraumatic hypopituitarism in male mice.

PubMed

Osterstock, Guillaume; El Yandouzi, Taoufik; Romanò, Nicola; Carmignac, Danielle; Langlet, Fanny; Coutry, Nathalie; Guillou, Anne; Schaeffer, Marie; Chauvet, Norbert; Vanacker, Charlotte; Galibert, Evelyne; Dehouck, Bénédicte; Robinson, Iain C A F; Prévot, Vincent; Mollard, Patrice; Plesnila, Nikolaus; Méry, Pierre-François

2014-05-01

Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of hypopituitarism, which compromises patients' recovery, quality of life, and life span. To date, there are no means other than standardized animal studies to provide insights into the mechanisms of posttraumatic hypopituitarism. We have found that GH levels were impaired after inducing a controlled cortical impact (CCI) in mice. Furthermore, GHRH stimulation enhanced GH to lower level in injured than in control or sham mice. Because many characteristics were unchanged in the pituitary glands of CCI mice, we looked for changes at the hypothalamic level. Hypertrophied astrocytes were seen both within the arcuate nucleus and the median eminence, two pivotal structures of the GH axis, spatially remote to the injury site. In the arcuate nucleus, GHRH neurons were unaltered. In the median eminence, injured mice exhibited unexpected alterations. First, the distributions of claudin-1 and zonula occludens-1 between tanycytes were disorganized, suggesting tight junction disruptions. Second, endogenous IgG was increased in the vicinity of the third ventricle, suggesting abnormal barrier properties after CCI. Third, intracerebroventricular injection of a fluorescent-dextran derivative highly stained the hypothalamic parenchyma only after CCI, demonstrating an increased permeability of the third ventricle edges. This alteration of the third ventricle might jeopardize the communication between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. In conclusion, the phenotype of CCI mice had similarities to the posttraumatic hypopituitarism seen in humans with intact pituitary gland and pituitary stalk. It is the first report of a pathological status in which tanycyte dysfunctions appear as a major acquired syndrome.

Neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment counteracts circadian arrhythmicity induced by phase shifts of the light-dark cycle in female and male Siberian hamsters

PubMed Central

Prendergast, Brian J.; Onishi, Kenneth G.; Zucker, Irving

2013-01-01

Studies of rats and voles suggest that distinct pathways emanating from the anterior hypothalamic-retrochiasmatic area and the mediobasal hypothalamic arcuate nucleus independently generate ultradian rhythms (URs) in hormone secretion and behavior. We evaluated the hypothesis that destruction of arcuate nucleus (ARC) neurons, in concert with dampening of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) circadian rhythmicity, would compromise the generation of ultradian rhythms (URs) of locomotor activity. Siberian hamsters of both sexes treated neonatally with monosodium glutamate (MSG) that destroys ARC neurons were subjected in adulthood to a circadian disrupting phase-shift protocol (DPS) that produces SCN arrhythmia. MSG treatments induced hypogonadism and obesity, and markedly reduced the size of the optic chiasm and primary optic tracts. MSG-treated hamsters exhibited normal entrainment to the light-dark cycle, but MSG treatment counteracted the circadian arrhythmicity induced by the DPS protocol: only 6% of MSG-treated hamsters exhibited circadian arrhythmia, whereas 50% of control hamsters were circadian disrupted. In MSG-treated hamsters that retained circadian rhythmicity after DPS treatment, quantitative parameters of URs appeared normal, but in the 2 MSG-treated hamsters that became circadian arrhythmic after DPS, both dark-phase and light-phase URs were abolished. Although preliminary, these data are consistent with reports in voles suggesting that the combined disruption of SCN and ARC function impairs the expression of behavioral URs. The data also suggest that light thresholds for entrainment of circadian rhythms may be lower than those required to disrupt circadian organization. PMID:23701725

Quantification of VGF- and pro-SAAS-derived peptides in endocrine tissues and the brain, and their regulation by diet and cold stress.

PubMed

Chakraborty, Tandra R; Tkalych, Oleg; Nanno, Daniela; Garcia, Angelo L; Devi, Lakshmi A; Salton, Stephen R J

2006-05-17

Two novel granin-like polypeptides, VGF and pro-SAAS, which are stored in and released from secretory vesicles and are expressed widely in nervous, endocrine, and neuroendocrine tissues, play roles in the regulation of body weight, feeding, and energy expenditure. Both VGF and pro-SAAS are cleaved into peptide fragments, several of which are biologically active. We utilized a highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) to immunoreactive, pro-SAAS-derived PEN peptides, developed another against immunoreactive, VGF-derived AQEE30 peptides, and quantified these peptides in various mouse tissues and brain regions. Immunoreactive AQEE30 was most abundant in the pituitary, while brain levels were highest in hypothalamus, striatum, and frontal cortex. Immunoreactive PEN levels were highest in the pancreas and spinal cord, and in brain, PEN was most abundant in striatum, hippocampus, pons and medulla, and cortex. Since both peptides were expressed in hypothalamus, a region of the brain that controls feeding and energy expenditure, double label immunofluorescence studies were employed. These demonstrated that 42% of hypothalamic arcuate neurons coexpress VGF and SAAS peptides, and that the intracellular distributions of these peptides in arcuate neurons differed. By RIA, cold stress increased immunoreactive AQEE30 and PEN peptide levels in female but not male hypothalamus, while a high fat diet increased AQEE30 and PEN peptide levels in female but not male hippocampus. VGF and SAAS-derived peptides are therefore widely expressed in endocrine, neuroendocrine, and neural tissues, can be accurately quantified by RIA, and are differentially regulated in the brain by diet and cold stress.

Immunocytochemical localization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in the nervus terminalis and brain of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus.

PubMed

Oelschläger, H A; Northcutt, R G

1992-01-15

Little is known about the immunohistochemistry of the nervous system in bats. This is particularly true of the nervus terminalis, which exerts strong influence on the reproductive system during ontogeny and in the adult. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) was visualized immunocytochemically in the nervus terminalis and brain of juvenile and adult big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). The peripheral LHRH-immunoreactive (ir) cells and fibers (nervus terminalis) are dispersed along the basal surface of the forebrain from the olfactory bulbs to the prepiriform cortex and the interpeduncular fossa. A concentration of peripheral LHRH-ir perikarya and fibers was found at the caudalmost part of the olfactory bulbs, near the medioventral forebrain sulcus; obviously these cells mediate between the bulbs and the remaining forebrain. Within the central nervous system (CNS), LHRH-ir perikarya and fibers were distributed throughout the olfactory tubercle, diagonal band, preoptic area, suprachiasmatic and supraoptic nuclei, the bed nuclei of stria terminalis and stria medullaris, the anterior lateral and posterior hypothalamus, and the tuber cinereum. The highest concentration of cells was found within the arcuate nucleus. Fibers were most concentrated within the median eminence, infundibular stalk, and the medial habenula. The data obtained suggest that this distribution of LHRH immunoreactivity may be characteristic for microchiropteran (insectivorous) bats. The strong projections of LHRH-containing nuclei in the basal forebrain (including the arcuate nucleus) to the habenula, may indicate close functional contact between these brain areas via feedback loops, which could be important for the processing of thermal and other environmental stimuli correlated with hibernation.

Shape analysis of the cingulum, uncinate and arcuate fasciculi in patients with bipolar disorder

PubMed Central

Sun, Zhong Yi; Houenou, Josselin; Duclap, Delphine; Sarrazin, Samuel; Linke, Julia; Daban, Claire; Hamdani, Nora; d’Albis, Marc-Antoine; Le Corvoisier, Philippe; Guevara, Pamela; Delavest, Marine; Bellivier, Frank; Almeida, Jorge; Versace, Amelia; Poupon, Cyril; Leboyer, Marion; Phillips, Mary; Wessa, Michèle; Mangin, Jean-François

2017-01-01

Background Abnormal maturation of brain connectivity is supposed to underlie the dysfunctional emotion regulation in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). To test this hypothesis, white matter integrity is usually investigated using measures of water diffusivity provided by MRI. Here we consider a more intuitive aspect of the morphometry of the white matter tracts: the shape of the fibre bundles, which is associated with neurodevelopment. We analyzed the shape of 3 tracts involved in BD: the cingulum (CG), uncinate fasciculus (UF) and arcuate fasciculus (AF). Methods We analyzed diffusion MRI data in patients with BD and healthy controls. The fibre bundles were reconstructed using Q-ball–based tractography and automated segmentation. Using Isomap, a manifold learning method, the differences in the shape of the reconstructed bundles were visualized and quantified. Results We included 112 patients and 82 controls in our analysis. We found the left AF of patients to be further extended toward the temporal pole, forming a tighter hook than in controls. We found no significant difference in terms of shape for the left UF, the left CG or the 3 right fasciculi. However, in patients compared with controls, the ventrolateral branch of the left UF in the orbitofrontal region had a tendency to be larger, and the left CG of patients had a tendency to be smaller in the frontal lobe and larger in the parietal lobe. Limitations This was a cross-sectional study. Conclusion Our results suggest neurodevelopmental abnormalities in the left AF in patients with BD. The statistical tendencies observed for the left UF and left CG deserve further study. PMID:28234596

Shape analysis of the cingulum, uncinate and arcuate fasciculi in patients with bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Sun, Zhong Yi; Houenou, Josselin; Duclap, Delphine; Sarrazin, Samuel; Linke, Julia; Daban, Claire; Hamdani, Nora; d'Albis, Marc-Antoine; Le Corvoisier, Philippe; Guevara, Pamela; Delavest, Marine; Bellivier, Frank; Bellivier, Frank; Almeida, Jorge; Versace, Amelia; Poupon, Cyril; Leboyer, Marion; Phillips, Mary; Wessa, Michèle; Mangin, Jean-François

2017-01-01

Abnormal maturation of brain connectivity is supposed to underlie the dysfunctional emotion regulation in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). To test this hypothesis, white matter integrity is usually investigated using measures of water diffusivity provided by MRI. Here we consider a more intuitive aspect of the morphometry of the white matter tracts: the shape of the fibre bundles, which is associated with neurodevelopment. We analyzed the shape of 3 tracts involved in BD: the cingulum (CG), uncinate fasciculus (UF) and arcuate fasciculus (AF). We analyzed diffusion MRI data in patients with BD and healthy controls. The fibre bundles were reconstructed using Q-ball-based tractography and automated segmentation. Using Isomap, a manifold learning method, the differences in the shape of the reconstructed bundles were visualized and quantified. We included 112 patients and 82 controls in our analysis. We found the left AF of patients to be further extended toward the temporal pole, forming a tighter hook than in controls. We found no significant difference in terms of shape for the left UF, the left CG or the 3 right fasciculi. However, in patients compared with controls, the ventrolateral branch of the left UF in the orbitofrontal region had a tendency to be larger, and the left CG of patients had a tendency to be smaller in the frontal lobe and larger in the parietal lobe. This was a cross-sectional study. Our results suggest neurodevelopmental abnormalities in the left AF in patients with BD. The statistical tendencies observed for the left UF and left CG deserve further study.

Vascular reactivity of rabbit isolated renal and femoral resistance arteries in renal wrap hypertension.

PubMed

Khammy, Makhala M; Angus, James A; Wright, Christine E

2016-02-15

In rabbits with cellophane renal wrap hypertension, hindquarter and total vascular resistance changes to pressor and depressor agents are amplified compared to those of normotensive rabbits. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro pharmacodynamics of hypertensive and normotensive rabbit small artery segments isolated from the renal and hindquarter vascular beds. Using wire myography, the full range (Emax) and sensitivity (EC50) to a range of agonists of segments of renal interlobar (≈ 600 µm i.d.), renal arcuate (≈ 250 µm i.d.) and deep femoral branch (≈ 250 µm i.d.) arteries were assessed under normalised conditions of passive tension. Interlobar arteries from hypertensive rabbits were more sensitive (EC50) than those from normotensive rabbits to noradrenaline (6-fold), methoxamine (3-fold) and angiotensin II (3-fold). Arcuate artery reactivity was largely unaffected by hypertension. Deep femoral arteries from hypertensive rabbits had enhanced sensitivity only to noradrenaline (2-fold) and methoxamine (4-fold). Sensitivity to relaxation by acetylcholine was unaffected by hypertension in all arteries. Deep femoral arteries from hypertensive rabbits were more sensitive to sodium nitroprusside than normotensive counterparts. Adenosine caused little relaxation in renal arteries, but full relaxation in deep femoral arteries, unaltered by hypertension. This study found substantial heterogeneity in the pharmacodynamic profile of vessels isolated from different vascular beds and between arterial segments within the kidney. These profiles were differentially affected by hypertension suggesting that hypertension per se is not a resultant of general vascular dysfunction. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dysfunction of intraflagellar transport-A causes hyperphagia-induced obesity and metabolic syndrome

PubMed Central

Jacobs, Damon T.; Silva, Luciane M.; Allard, Bailey A.; Schonfeld, Michael P.; Chatterjee, Anindita; Talbott, George C.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Primary cilia extend from the plasma membrane of most vertebrate cells and mediate signaling pathways. Ciliary dysfunction underlies ciliopathies, which are genetic syndromes that manifest multiple clinical features, including renal cystic disease and obesity. THM1 (also termed TTC21B or IFT139) encodes a component of the intraflagellar transport-A complex and mutations in THM1 have been identified in 5% of individuals with ciliopathies. Consistent with this, deletion of murine Thm1 during late embryonic development results in cystic kidney disease. Here, we report that deletion of murine Thm1 during adulthood results in obesity, diabetes, hypertension and fatty liver disease, with gender differences in susceptibility to weight gain and metabolic dysfunction. Pair-feeding of Thm1 conditional knock-out mice relative to control littermates prevented the obesity and related disorders, indicating that hyperphagia caused the obese phenotype. Thm1 ablation resulted in increased localization of adenylyl cyclase III in primary cilia that were shortened, with bulbous distal tips on neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, an integrative center for signals that regulate feeding and activity. In pre-obese Thm1 conditional knock-out mice, expression of anorexogenic pro-opiomelanocortin (Pomc) was decreased by 50% in the arcuate nucleus, which likely caused the hyperphagia. Fasting of Thm1 conditional knock-out mice did not alter Pomc nor orexogenic agouti-related neuropeptide (Agrp) expression, suggesting impaired sensing of changes in peripheral signals. Together, these data indicate that the Thm1-mutant ciliary defect diminishes sensitivity to feeding signals, which alters appetite regulation and leads to hyperphagia, obesity and metabolic disease. PMID:27482817

Leptin-sensitive neurons in the arcuate nuclei contribute to endogenous feeding rhythms

PubMed Central

Wiater, Michael F.; Oostrom, Marjolein T.; Smith, Bethany R.; Wang, Qing; Dinh, Thu T.; Roberts, Brandon L.; Jansen, Heiko T.; Ritter, Sue

2012-01-01

Neural sites that interact with the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) to generate rhythms of unrestricted feeding remain unknown. We used the targeted toxin, leptin conjugated to saporin (Lep-SAP), to examine the importance of leptin receptor-B (LepR-B)-expressing neurons in the arcuate nucleus (Arc) for generation of circadian feeding rhythms. Rats given Arc Lep-SAP injections were initially hyperphagic and rapidly became obese (the “dynamic phase” of weight gain). During this phase, Lep-SAP rats were arrhythmic under 12:12-h light-dark (LD) conditions, consuming 59% of their total daily intake during the daytime, compared with 36% in blank-SAP (B-SAP) controls. Lep-SAP rats were also arrhythmic in continuous dark (DD), while significant circadian feeding rhythms were detected in all B-SAP controls. Approximately 8 wk after injection, Lep-SAP rats remained obese but transitioned into a “static phase” of weight gain marked by attenuation of their hyperphagia and rate of weight gain. In this phase, Arc Lep-SAP rats exhibited circadian feeding rhythms under LD conditions, but were arrhythmic in continuous light (LL) and DD. Lep-SAP injections into the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus did not cause hyperphagia, obesity, or arrhythmic feeding in either LD or DD. Electrolytic lesion of the SCN produced feeding arrhythmia in DD but not hyperphagia or obesity. Results suggest that both Arc Lep-SAP neurons and SCN are required for generation of feeding rhythms entrained to photic cues, while also revealing an essential role for the Arc in maintaining circadian rhythms of ad libitum feeding independent of light entrainment. PMID:22492818

Reconstruction of the arcuate fasciculus for surgical planning in the setting of peritumoral edema using two-tensor unscented Kalman filter tractography.

PubMed

Chen, Zhenrui; Tie, Yanmei; Olubiyi, Olutayo; Rigolo, Laura; Mehrtash, Alireza; Norton, Isaiah; Pasternak, Ofer; Rathi, Yogesh; Golby, Alexandra J; O'Donnell, Lauren J

2015-01-01

Diffusion imaging tractography is increasingly used to trace critical fiber tracts in brain tumor patients to reduce the risk of post-operative neurological deficit. However, the effects of peritumoral edema pose a challenge to conventional tractography using the standard diffusion tensor model. The aim of this study was to present a novel technique using a two-tensor unscented Kalman filter (UKF) algorithm to track the arcuate fasciculus (AF) in brain tumor patients with peritumoral edema. Ten right-handed patients with left-sided brain tumors in the vicinity of language-related cortex and evidence of significant peritumoral edema were retrospectively selected for the study. All patients underwent 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including a diffusion-weighted dataset with 31 directions. Fiber tractography was performed using both single-tensor streamline and two-tensor UKF tractography. A two-regions-of-interest approach was applied to perform the delineation of the AF. Results from the two different tractography algorithms were compared visually and quantitatively. Using single-tensor streamline tractography, the AF appeared disrupted in four patients and contained few fibers in the remaining six patients. Two-tensor UKF tractography delineated an AF that traversed edematous brain areas in all patients. The volume of the AF was significantly larger on two-tensor UKF than on single-tensor streamline tractography (p < 0.01). Two-tensor UKF tractography provides the ability to trace a larger volume AF than single-tensor streamline tractography in the setting of peritumoral edema in brain tumor patients.

Structure-function correlations in glaucoma using matrix and standard automated perimetry versus time-domain and spectral-domain OCT devices.

PubMed

Pinto, Luciano Moreira; Costa, Elaine Fiod; Melo, Luiz Alberto S; Gross, Paula Blasco; Sato, Eduardo Toshio; Almeida, Andrea Pereira; Maia, Andre; Paranhos, Augusto

2014-04-10

We examined the structure-function relationship between two perimetric tests, the frequency doubling technology (FDT) matrix and standard automated perimetry (SAP), and two optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices (time-domain and spectral-domain). This cross-sectional study included 97 eyes from 29 healthy individuals, and 68 individuals with early, moderate, or advanced primary open-angle glaucoma. The correlations between overall and sectorial parameters of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) measured with Stratus and Spectralis OCT, and the visual field sensitivity obtained with FDT matrix and SAP were assessed. The relationship also was evaluated using a previously described linear model. The correlation coefficients for the threshold sensitivity measured with SAP and Stratus OCT ranged from 0.44 to 0.79, and those for Spectralis OCT ranged from 0.30 to 0.75. Regarding FDT matrix, the correlation ranged from 0.40 to 0.79 with Stratus OCT and from 0.39 to 0.79 with Spectralis OCT. Stronger correlations were found in the overall measurements and the arcuate sectors for both visual fields and OCT devices. A linear relationship was observed between FDT matrix sensitivity and the OCT devices. The previously described linear model fit the data from SAP and the OCT devices well, particularly in the inferotemporal sector. The FDT matrix and SAP visual sensitivities were related strongly to the RNFL thickness measured with the Stratus and Spectralis OCT devices, particularly in the overall and arcuate sectors. Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.

Relationship between Surgically Treated Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome and Body Mass Index.

PubMed

Jan, Taha A; Cheng, Yew Song; Landegger, Lukas D; Lin, Brian M; Srikanth, Priya; Niesten, Marlien E F; Lee, Daniel J

2017-04-01

Objective Examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and superior canal dehiscence (SCD) among patients who have undergone surgical repair for superior canal dehiscence. Study Design Retrospective comparison study. Setting Neurotology tertiary care center. Subjects and Methods Retrospective review of consecutive adult patients evaluated at our institution for SCD syndrome between November 2006 and August 2015. A control group who underwent imaging within the same period for reasons other than SCD was also included. Patient demographics, weight, and height were examined. We performed multiple subgroup analyses to investigate the relationship of BMI, surgery vs no surgery, and correlation between patient BMI and SCD size. Results Of the 268 patients with SCD, 99 underwent surgery; 96 of these patients had complete medical records and were eligible for inclusion. Eighty-eight patients were noted to have arcuate eminence defects, and the mean BMI of this surgical cohort was 28.09 ± 5.26 kg/m 2 . Nonsurgically treated patients with SCD with available data (n = 94) had a mean BMI of 27.97 ± 6.95 kg/m 2 . A control group of 204 patients who underwent computed tomography for non-SCD-related causes was analyzed, of whom 155 had available data with a mean BMI of 27.91 ± 6.38 kg/m 2 . Conclusion We demonstrate that adult patients who undergo surgery for SCD are not obese (mean BMI <30), and size of dehiscence poorly correlates with BMI. Our observations call into question the proposed theory that patient weight is a risk factor for the development of symptomatic SCD involving the arcuate eminence.

Endoscopic cubital tunnel release using the Hoffmann technique.

PubMed

Hoffmann, Reimer; Lubahn, John

2013-06-01

Endoscopic cubital tunnel release was originally described in 1989 by Tsai, and his technique has been modified by other surgeons including Mirza and Cobb. In 2006, Hoffmann and Siemionow described an endoscopic technique quite different from Tsai's original description. Instead of working from the "inside out," Hoffmann's technique is performed through an incision similar to that which would be used for an in situ release of the ulnar nerve. The main difference being that the nerve can be explored and decompressed 10 cm proximal and distal to the arcuate ligament as the surgeon looks down on the nerve and the surrounding tissues while viewing the anatomy through a camera attached to a soft tissue endoscope that is inserted in the wound. The arcuate (Osborne's) ligament is released under direct vision much like a standard in situ decompression. Using a blunt dissection instrument, a workspace is created proximally and distally to the cubital tunnel. Next an illuminated speculum is introduced, the nerve is directly visualized between 4 and 5 cm proximal and distal to the cubital tunnel, and potential compressive forearm fasciae or fibrous bands are released. Finally, a 15-cm, 30° soft tissue endoscope is introduced into the incision, and viewing the internal anatomy on a video monitor, the decompression continues using longer scissors. Any potential bleeding is controlled with a long bayonet bipolar cautery. The authors discuss indications, contraindications, and the surgical technique. Postoperative management and associated complications are also discussed. Copyright © 2013 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Occurrence of pesticides in transboundary aquifers of North-eastern Greece.

PubMed

Vryzas, Zisis; Papadakis, Emmanuel N; Vassiliou, George; Papadopoulou-Mourkidou, Euphemia

2012-12-15

A five-year groundwater monitoring program undertaken in Evros (north-east Greece), showed a diversification in the levels of pesticide residues detected in adjacent transboundary aquifers. During the first two years 37 wells, including irrigation, drinking water and artesian wells were monitored while the next three years the survey was focused on the 11 most contaminated wells. The presence of pesticide residues was also monitored in the phreatic horizon (shallow groundwater) of four experimental boreholes drilled in the respective margins of four fields. Among the compounds found alachlor, metolachlor, atrazine, desethylatrazine (DEA), desisopropylatrazine (DIA) and caffeine were constantly detected. Pesticide concentrations were much lower (up to 1.54 μg/L) in the water of the monitored drinking water wells (deep groundwater aquifers) compared to those found in the phreatic horizon (experimental boreholes) of the respective areas (up to 5.20 μg/L). DEA to atrazine concentration ratios (DAR) determined for the phreatic horizon of the three boreholes and respective wells were lower than 1, indicating that preferential flow was the cause of the fast downward movement of atrazine to the phreatic horizon. In contrast the DAR for the fourth borehole and the adjacent well were greater than 1 indicating the absence of preferential flow of atrazine. Catabolic processes of the soil converted atrazine to DEA which is more mobile than atrazine itself through chromatographic (darcian) flow. This differential behavior of pesticides in adjacent aquifers (3 km) was further investigated by determining the apparent age of water in the two wells. The apparent age of the water present in the first aquifer was 21.7 years whereas the apparent age of that in the second aquifer was approximately 1.2 years. The faster replenishing rate of the latter is an indication that this aquifer is very vulnerable to contamination with pollutants present in the infiltrated soil water. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Time of correlation of low-frequency fluctuations in the regional laser Doppler flow signal from human skin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Folgosi-Correa, M. S.; Nogueira, G. E. C.

2012-06-01

The laser Doppler flowmetry allows the non-invasive assessment of the skin perfusion in real-time, being an attractive technique to study the human microcirculation in clinical settings. Low-frequency oscillations in the laser Doppler blood flow signal from the skin have been related to the endothelial, endothelial-metabolic, neurogenic and myogenic mechanisms of microvascular flow control, in the range 0.005-0.0095 Hz, 0.0095-0.021 Hz, 0.021-0.052 Hz and 0.052- 0.145 Hz respectively. The mean Amplitude (A) of the periodic fluctuations in the laser Doppler blood flow signal, in each frequency range, derived from the respective wavelet-transformed coefficients, has been used to assess the function and dysfunctions of each mechanism of flow control. Known sources of flow signal variances include spatial and temporal variability, diminishing the discriminatory capability of the technique. Here a new time domain method of analysis is proposed, based on the Time of Correlation (TC) of flow fluctuations between two adjacent sites. Registers of blood flow from two adjacent regions, for skin temperature at 32 0C (basal) and thermally stimulated (42 0C) of volar forearms from 20 healthy volunteers were collected and analyzed. The results obtained revealed high time of correlation between two adjacent regions when thermally stimulated, for signals in the endothelial, endothelial-metabolic, neurogenic and myogenic frequency ranges. Experimental data also indicate lower variability for TC when compared to A, when thermally stimulated, suggesting a new promising parameter for assessment of the microvascular flow control.

Voltage balanced multilevel voltage source converter system

DOEpatents

Peng, Fang Zheng; Lai, Jih-Sheng

1997-01-01

A voltage balanced multilevel converter for high power AC applications such as adjustable speed motor drives and back-to-back DC intertie of adjacent power systems. This converter provides a multilevel rectifier, a multilevel inverter, and a DC link between the rectifier and the inverter allowing voltage balancing between each of the voltage levels within the multilevel converter. The rectifier is equipped with at least one phase leg and a source input node for each of the phases. The rectifier is further equipped with a plurality of rectifier DC output nodes. The inverter is equipped with at least one phase leg and a load output node for each of the phases. The inverter is further equipped with a plurality of inverter DC input nodes. The DC link is equipped with a plurality of rectifier charging means and a plurality of inverter discharging means. The plurality of rectifier charging means are connected in series with one of the rectifier charging means disposed between and connected in an operable relationship with each adjacent pair of rectifier DC output nodes. The plurality of inverter discharging means are connected in series with one of the inverter discharging means disposed between and connected in an operable relationship with each adjacent pair of inverter DC input nodes. Each of said rectifier DC output nodes are individually electrically connected to the respective inverter DC input nodes. By this means, each of the rectifier DC output nodes and each of the inverter DC input nodes are voltage balanced by the respective charging and discharging of the rectifier charging means and the inverter discharging means.

Voltage balanced multilevel voltage source converter system

DOEpatents

Peng, F.Z.; Lai, J.S.

1997-07-01

Disclosed is a voltage balanced multilevel converter for high power AC applications such as adjustable speed motor drives and back-to-back DC intertie of adjacent power systems. This converter provides a multilevel rectifier, a multilevel inverter, and a DC link between the rectifier and the inverter allowing voltage balancing between each of the voltage levels within the multilevel converter. The rectifier is equipped with at least one phase leg and a source input node for each of the phases. The rectifier is further equipped with a plurality of rectifier DC output nodes. The inverter is equipped with at least one phase leg and a load output node for each of the phases. The inverter is further equipped with a plurality of inverter DC input nodes. The DC link is equipped with a plurality of rectifier charging means and a plurality of inverter discharging means. The plurality of rectifier charging means are connected in series with one of the rectifier charging means disposed between and connected in an operable relationship with each adjacent pair of rectifier DC output nodes. The plurality of inverter discharging means are connected in series with one of the inverter discharging means disposed between and connected in an operable relationship with each adjacent pair of inverter DC input nodes. Each of said rectifier DC output nodes are individually electrically connected to the respective inverter DC input nodes. By this means, each of the rectifier DC output nodes and each of the inverter DC input nodes are voltage balanced by the respective charging and discharging of the rectifier charging means and the inverter discharging means. 15 figs.

Automated Whole Brain Tractography Affects Preoperative Surgical Decision Making.

PubMed

Zakaria, Hesham; Haider, Sameah; Lee, Ian

2017-09-06

Surgery in and around eloquent brain structures poses a technical challenge when the goal of surgery is maximal safe resection. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, but tractography still remains limited in terms of utility because of the requisite manual labor and time required combined with the high risk of bias and inaccuracy. Automated whole brain tractography (AWBT) has simplified this workflow, overcoming historical barriers, and allowing for integration into modern neuronavigation. However, current literature showing the usefulness of this new technology is limited. In this study, we aimed to illustrate the utility of AWBT during cranial surgery and its ability to affect presurgical and intraoperative clinical decision making. We performed a retrospective chart review of cases that underwent AWBT for one year from July 2016 to July 2017. All patients underwent conventional anatomic MRI with and without contrast sequences, in addition to diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) on a 3 Tesla MRI scanner (Ingenia 3.0T, Philips, Amsterdam NL). Post-hoc AWBT processing was performed on a separate workstation. Patients were subsequently grouped into those that had undergone either language or motor mapping and those that did not. We compared both sets of patients to see any differences in patient age, sex, laterality of surgery, depth of resection from cortical surface, and smallest distance between the lesion and adjacent eloquent white matter tracts. We identified illustrative cases which demonstrated the ability of AWBT to affect surgical decision making. In this single-center series, we identified 73 total patients who underwent AWBT for intracranial surgery, of which 28 patients underwent either speech or language mapping. When comparing mapping to non-mapping patients, we found no difference with respect to age, gender, laterality of surgery, or whether the surgery was a revision. The distance between the lesion and eloquent white matter tracts demonstrated a statistically significant difference between mapping and non-mapping patients, namely in the corticospinal tract (p < 0.0001), the superior longitudinal fasciculus (p < 0.0001), and the arcuate fasciculus (p < 0.004). Patients who underwent mapping were at equal risk for having a postoperative deficit (p = 0.772) but had an improved chance of recovery (p = 0.041) after surgery. We believe this phenomenon is related to increased awareness and avoidance of functional tissue during surgery, which occurs due to the combination of preoperatively identifying white matter tracts with AWBT and intraoperatively testing margins with mapping. We provide two illustrative cases that show the impact of AWBT on patient outcomes. In conclusion, AWBT is relatively simple to perform and provides vital information for surgeons about eloquent white matter tracts that can be used to help improve patient outcomes.

Is the behavior of disc replacement adjacent to fusion affected by the location of the fused level in hybrid surgery?

PubMed

Wu, Ting-Kui; Meng, Yang; Wang, Bei-Yu; Hong, Ying; Rong, Xin; Ding, Chen; Chen, Hua; Liu, Hao

2018-04-27

Hybrid surgery (HS), consisting of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) at the mobile level, along with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at the spondylotic level, could be a promising treatment for patients with multilevel cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD). An advantage of this technique is that it uses an optimal procedure according to the status of each level. However, information is lacking regarding the influence of the relative location of the replacement and the fusion segment in vivo. We conducted the present study to investigate whether the location of the fusion affected the behavior of the disc replacement and adjacent segments in HS in vivo. This is an observational study. The numbers of patients in the arthroplasty-fusion (AF) and fusion-arthroplasty (FA) groups were 51 and 24, respectively. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were evaluated. Global and segmental lordosis, the range of motion (ROM) of C2-C7, and the operated and adjacent segments were measured. Fusion rate and radiological changes at adjacent levels were observed. Between January 2010 and July 2016, 75 patients with cervical DDD at two contiguous levels undergoing a two-level HS were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into AF and FA groups according to the locations of the disc replacement. Clinical outcomes were evaluated according to the JOA, NDI, and VAS scores. Radiological parameters, including global and segmental lordosis, the ROM of C2-C7, the operated and adjacent segments, and complications, were also evaluated. Although the JOA, NDI, and VAS scores were improved in both the AF and the FA groups, no significant differences were found between the two groups at any follow-up point. Both groups maintained cervical lordosis, but no difference was found between the groups. Segmental lordosis at the fusion segment was significantly improved postoperatively (p<.001), whereas it was maintained at the arthroplasty segment. The ROM of C2-C7 was significantly decreased in both groups postoperatively (AF p=.001, FA p=.014), but no difference was found between the groups. The FA group exhibited a non-significant improvement in ROM at the arthroplasty segment. The ROM adjacent to the arthroplasty segment was increased, although not significantly, whereas the ROM adjacent to the fusion segment was significantly improved after surgery in both groups (p<.001). Fusion was achieved in all patients. No significant difference in complications was found between the groups. In HS, cephalic or caudal fusion segments to the arthroplasty segment did not affect the clinical outcomes and the behavior of CDA. However, the ROM of adjacent segments was affected by the location of the fusion segment; segments adjacent to fusion segments had greater ROMs than segments adjacent to arthroplasty segments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Vibration detecting apparatus for multi-rotor rotary piston engines

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fujimoto, Y.; Sasaki, H.; Karimata, Y.

1987-04-28

A multi-rotor rotary piston engine is described comprising rotor housings each having an inner wall surface of a two-lobe trochoidal form, an intermediate housing having opposite side surfaces and located between two adjacent ones of the rotor housings, a pair of side housings attached to outer surfaces of outermost rotor housings, rotors which are disposed in respective ones of the rotor housings and carried by an eccentric shaft, adjacent rotors each having a side surface adapted for sliding engagement with the side surfaces of the intermediate housing, vibration detecting means mounted on the intermediate housing for detecting engine vibrations, themore » vibration detecting means being oriented so that it has a sensitivity in the direction substantially perpendicular to the side surface of the intermediate housing.« less

Read/write head having a GMR sensor biased by permanent magnets located between the GMR and the pole shields

DOEpatents

Yuan, Samuel W.; Rottmayer, Robert Earl; Carey, Matthew J.

1999-01-01

A compact read/write head having a biased giant magnetoresistive sensor. Permanent magnet films are placed adjacent to the giant magnetoresistive sensor operating in the current-perpendicular-to the-plane (Cpp) mode and spaced with respect to the sensor by conducting films. These permanent magnet films provide a magnetic bias. The bias field is substantial and fairly uniform across sensor height. Biasing of the giant magnetoresistive sensor provides distinguishable response to the rising and falling edges of a recorded pulse on an adjacent recording medium, improves the linearity of the response, and helps to reduce noise. This read/write head is much simpler to fabricate and pattern and provides an enhanced uniformity of the bias field throughout the sensor.

Turbine seal assembly

DOEpatents

Little, David A.

2013-04-16

A seal assembly that limits gas leakage from a hot gas path to one or more disc cavities in a turbine engine. The seal assembly includes a seal apparatus that limits gas leakage from the hot gas path to a respective one of the disc cavities. The seal apparatus comprises a plurality of blade members rotatable with a blade structure. The blade members are associated with the blade structure and extend toward adjacent stationary components. Each blade member includes a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge of each blade member being located circumferentially in front of the blade member's corresponding trailing edge in a direction of rotation of the turbine rotor. The blade members are arranged such that a space having a component in a circumferential direction is defined between adjacent circumferentially spaced blade members.

Non-classical logic inverter coupling a ZnO nanowire-based Schottky barrier transistor and adjacent Schottky diode.

PubMed

Hosseini Shokouh, Seyed Hossein; Raza, Syed Raza Ali; Lee, Hee Sung; Im, Seongil

2014-08-21

On a single ZnO nanowire (NW), we fabricated an inverter-type device comprising a Schottky diode (SD) and field-effect transistor (FET), aiming at 1-dimensional (1D) electronic circuits with low power consumption. The SD and adjacent FET worked respectively as the load and driver, so that voltage signals could be easily extracted as the output. In addition, NW FET with a transparent conducting oxide as top gate turned out to be very photosensitive, although ZnO NW SD was blind to visible light. Based on this, we could achieve an array of photo-inverter cells on one NW. Our non-classical inverter is regarded as quite practical for both logic and photo-sensing due to its performance as well as simple device configuration.

Fructose:Glucose Ratios—A Study of Sugar Self-Administration and Associated Neural and Physiological Responses in the Rat

PubMed Central

Levy, AnneMarie; Marshall, Paul; Zhou, Yan; Kreek, Mary Jeanne; Kent, Katrina; Daniels, Stephen; Shore, Ari; Downs, Tiana; Fernandes, Maria Fernanda; Mutch, David M.; Leri, Francesco

2015-01-01

This study explored whether different ratios of fructose (F) and glucose (G) in sugar can engender significant differences in self-administration and associated neurobiological and physiological responses in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In Experiment 1, animals self-administered pellets containing 55% F + 45% G or 30% F + 70% G, and Fos immunoreactivity was assessed in hypothalamic regions regulating food intake and reward. In Experiment 2, rats self-administered solutions of 55% F + 42% G (high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)), 50% F + 50% G (sucrose) or saccharin, and mRNA of the dopamine 2 (D2R) and mu-opioid (MOR) receptor genes were assessed in striatal regions involved in addictive behaviors. Finally, in Experiment 3, rats self-administered HFCS and sucrose in their home cages, and hepatic fatty acids were quantified. It was found that higher fructose ratios engendered lower self-administration, lower Fos expression in the lateral hypothalamus/arcuate nucleus, reduced D2R and increased MOR mRNA in the dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens core, respectively, as well as elevated omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver. These data indicate that a higher ratio of fructose may enhance the reinforcing effects of sugar and possibly lead to neurobiological and physiological alterations associated with addictive and metabolic disorders. PMID:26007337

Fructose:glucose ratios--a study of sugar self-administration and associated neural and physiological responses in the rat.

PubMed

Levy, AnneMarie; Marshall, Paul; Zhou, Yan; Kreek, Mary Jeanne; Kent, Katrina; Daniels, Stephen; Shore, Ari; Downs, Tiana; Fernandes, Maria Fernanda; Mutch, David M; Leri, Francesco

2015-05-22

This study explored whether different ratios of fructose (F) and glucose (G) in sugar can engender significant differences in self-administration and associated neurobiological and physiological responses in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In Experiment 1, animals self-administered pellets containing 55% F + 45% G or 30% F + 70% G, and Fos immunoreactivity was assessed in hypothalamic regions regulating food intake and reward. In Experiment 2, rats self-administered solutions of 55% F + 42% G (high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)), 50% F + 50% G (sucrose) or saccharin, and mRNA of the dopamine 2 (D2R) and mu-opioid (MOR) receptor genes were assessed in striatal regions involved in addictive behaviors. Finally, in Experiment 3, rats self-administered HFCS and sucrose in their home cages, and hepatic fatty acids were quantified. It was found that higher fructose ratios engendered lower self-administration, lower Fos expression in the lateral hypothalamus/arcuate nucleus, reduced D2R and increased MOR mRNA in the dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens core, respectively, as well as elevated omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver. These data indicate that a higher ratio of fructose may enhance the reinforcing effects of sugar and possibly lead to neurobiological and physiological alterations associated with addictive and metabolic disorders.

The role of plantation forests in rehabilitating degraded tropical ecosystems

Treesearch

1992-01-01

Plantations of multi-purpose tree species can play an important role in restoring productivity, ecosyste~ 2n stability, and biological diversity to degraded tropical lands. The present study, conducted at a degraded coastal pasture site in Puerto Rico, compares 4.5-year-old Aibizia lebbek (L.) Benth. plantation stands and adjacent control areas with respect to biomass...

Brain activation during a linguistic task in conduction aphasia.

PubMed

Demeurisse, G; Capon, A

1991-06-01

In order to investigate functional cortical reorganization during recovery from conduction aphasia, regional cerebral blood flows (rCBF) were measured by the two-dimensional 133 Xenon inhalation method in ten stroke patients. rCBF measurements were performed at rest and during the performance of a linguistic task, one month and three months after onset. The analysis of flow changes from rest to test condition indicates an increasing contribution of the right hemisphere as time goes on. The absence of flow increase in Broca's region suggests that this region is definitively disconnected from posterior language "centers" by the arcuate fasciculus lesion.

Inner shell radial pin geometry and mounting arrangement

DOEpatents

Leach, David; Bergendahl, Peter Allen

2002-01-01

Circumferentially spaced arrays of support pins are disposed through access openings in an outer turbine shell and have projections received in recesses in forward and aft sections of an inner turbine shell supported from the outer shell. The projections have arcuate sides in a circumferential direction affording line contacts with the side walls of the recesses and are spaced from end faces of the recesses, enabling radial and axial expansion and contraction of the inner shell relative to the outer shell. All loads are taken up in a tangential direction by the outer shell with the support pins taking no radial loadings.

Marked Increase in Flow Velocities During Deep Expiration: A Duplex Doppler Sign of Celiac Artery Compression Syndrome

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Erden, Ayse; Yurdakul, Mehmet; Cumhur, Turhan

1999-07-15

Symptoms of chronic mesenteric ischemia develop when the celiac artery is constricted by the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm. Lateral aortography is the primary modality for diagnosing ligamentous compression of the celiac artery. However, duplex Doppler sonography performed during deep expiration can cause a marked increase in flow velocities at the compressed region of the celiac artery and suggest the diagnosis of celiac arterial constriction due to the diaphragmatic ligament. RID='''' ID='''' Correspondence to: A. Erden, M.D., Hafta sokak. 23/6, Gaziosmanpasa, 06700 Ankara, Turkey.

Myelination progression in language-correlated regions in brain of normal children determined by quantitative MRI assessment.

PubMed

Su, Peijen; Kuan, Chen-Chieh; Kaga, Kimitaka; Sano, Masaki; Mima, Kazuo

2008-12-01

To investigate the myelination progression course in language-correlated regions of children with normal brain development by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis compared with histological studies. The subjects were 241 neurologically intact neonates, infants and young children (128 boys and 113 girls) who underwent MRI between 2001 and 2007 at the University of Tokyo Hospital, ranging in age from 0 to 429 weeks corrected by postnatal age. To compare their data with adult values, 25 adolescents and adults (14 men and 11 women, aged from 14 to 83 years) were examined as controls. Axial T2-weighted images were obtained using spin-echo sequences at 1.5 T. Subjects with a history of prematurity, birth asphyxia, low Apgar score, seizures, active systemic disease, congenital anomaly, delayed development, infarcts, hemorrhages, brain lesions, or central nervous system malformation were excluded from the analysis. Seven regions of interest in language-correlated areas, namely Broca's area, Wernicke's area, the arcuate fasciculus, and the angular gyrus, as well as their right hemisphere homologous regions, and the auditory cortex, the motor cortex, and the visual cortex were examined. Signal intensity obtained by a region-of-interest methodology progresses from hyper- to hypointensity during myelination. We chose the inferior cerebellar peduncle as the internal standard of maturation. Myelination in all these seven language-correlated regions examined in this study shared the same curve pattern: no myelination was observed at birth, it reached maturation at about 1.5 years of age, and it continued to progress slowly thereafter into adult life. On the basis of scatter plot results, we put these areas into three groups: Group A, which included the motor cortex, the auditory cortex, and the visual cortex, myelinated faster than Group B, which included Broca's area, Wernicke's area, and the angular gyrus before 1.5 years old; Group C, consisting of the arcuate fasciculus, has similar degree of myelination as Group B before 1.5 years but then myelinated more slowly after 3 years of age. No gender or left-right differences between homologous regions were found. In this study, we determined the sequence of myelination of language-correlated regions in infants and children by quantitative MRI assessment. The higher cortical areas matured later than the primary cortical areas, and the arcuate fasciculus matured last. The observation that myelination reaches maturity after 18 months suggests that myelination may be a reason for the acceleration in vocabulary acquisition observed in children from that age. The slow pace of myelination also suggested the possibility of language development's continuation into early adult life. Myelination assessed by MRI was at least 1 month behind that assessed by histological staining. No gender or left-right hemisphere differences in myelination were noted.

Experimental verification of the Acuros XB and AAA dose calculation adjacent to heterogeneous media for IMRT and RapidArc of nasopharygeal carcinoma.

PubMed

Kan, Monica W K; Leung, Lucullus H T; So, Ronald W K; Yu, Peter K N

2013-03-01

To compare the doses calculated by the Acuros XB (AXB) algorithm and analytical anisotropic algorithm (AAA) with experimentally measured data adjacent to and within heterogeneous medium using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and RapidArc(®) (RA) volumetric arc therapy plans for nasopharygeal carcinoma (NPC). Two-dimensional dose distribution immediately adjacent to both air and bone inserts of a rectangular tissue equivalent phantom irradiated using IMRT and RA plans for NPC cases were measured with GafChromic(®) EBT3 films. Doses near and within the nasopharygeal (NP) region of an anthropomorphic phantom containing heterogeneous medium were also measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) and EBT3 films. The measured data were then compared with the data calculated by AAA and AXB. For AXB, dose calculations were performed using both dose-to-medium (AXB_Dm) and dose-to-water (AXB_Dw) options. Furthermore, target dose differences between AAA and AXB were analyzed for the corresponding real patients. The comparison of real patient plans was performed by stratifying the targets into components of different densities, including tissue, bone, and air. For the verification of planar dose distribution adjacent to air and bone using the rectangular phantom, the percentages of pixels that passed the gamma analysis with the ± 3%/3mm criteria were 98.7%, 99.5%, and 97.7% on the axial plane for AAA, AXB_Dm, and AXB_Dw, respectively, averaged over all IMRT and RA plans, while they were 97.6%, 98.2%, and 97.7%, respectively, on the coronal plane. For the verification of planar dose distribution within the NP region of the anthropomorphic phantom, the percentages of pixels that passed the gamma analysis with the ± 3%/3mm criteria were 95.1%, 91.3%, and 99.0% for AAA, AXB_Dm, and AXB_Dw, respectively, averaged over all IMRT and RA plans. Within the NP region where air and bone were present, the film measurements represented the dose close to unit density water in a heterogeneous medium, produced the best agreement with the AXB_Dw. For the verification of point doses within the target using TLD in the anthropomorphic phantom, the absolute percentage deviations between the calculated and measured data when averaged over all IMRT and RA plans were 1.8%, 1.7%, and 1.8% for AAA, AXB_Dm and AXB_Dw, respectively. From all the verification results, no significant difference was found between the IMRT and RA plans. The target dose analysis of the real patient plans showed that the discrepancies in mean doses to the PTV component in tissue among the three dose calculation options were within 2%, but up to about 4% in the bone content, with AXB_Dm giving the lowest values and AXB_Dw giving the highest values. In general, the verification measurements demonstrated that both algorithms produced acceptable accuracy when compared to the measured data. GafChromic(®) film results indicated that AXB produced slightly better accuracy compared to AAA for dose calculation adjacent to and within the heterogeneous media. Users should be aware of the differences in calculated target doses between options AXB_Dm and AXB_Dw, especially in bone, for IMRT and RA in NPC cases.

Intraoperative monopolar mapping during 5-ALA-guided resections of glioblastomas adjacent to motor eloquent areas: evaluation of resection rates and neurological outcome.

PubMed

Schucht, Philippe; Seidel, Kathleen; Beck, Jürgen; Murek, Michael; Jilch, Astrid; Wiest, Roland; Fung, Christian; Raabe, Andreas

2014-12-01

Resection of glioblastoma adjacent to motor cortex or subcortical motor pathways carries a high risk of both incomplete resection and postoperative motor deficits. Although the strategy of maximum safe resection is widely accepted, the rates of complete resection of enhancing tumor (CRET) and the exact causes for motor deficits (mechanical vs vascular) are not always known. The authors report the results of their concept of combining monopolar mapping and 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-guided surgery in patients with glioblastoma adjacent to eloquent tissue. The authors prospectively studied 72 consecutive patients who underwent 5-ALA-guided surgery for a glioblastoma adjacent to the corticospinal tract (CST; < 10 mm) with continuous dynamic monopolar motor mapping (short-train interstimulus interval 4.0 msec, pulse duration 500 μsec) coupled to an acoustic motor evoked potential (MEP) alarm. The extent of resection was determined based on early (< 48 hours) postoperative MRI findings. Motor function was assessed 1 day after surgery, at discharge, and at 3 months. Five patients were excluded because of nonadherence to protocol; thus, 67 patients were evaluated. The lowest motor threshold reached during individual surgery was as follows (motor threshold, number of patients): > 20 mA, n = 8; 11-20 mA, n = 13; 6-10 mA, n = 10; 4-5 mA, n = 13; and 1-3 mA, n = 23. Motor deterioration at postsurgical Day 1 and at discharge occurred in 30% (n = 20) and 10% (n = 7) of patients, respectively. At 3 months, 3 patients (4%) had a persisting postoperative motor deficit, 2 caused by vascular injury and 1 by mechanical injury. The rates of intra- and postoperative seizures were 1% and 0%, respectively. Complete resection of enhancing tumor was achieved in 73% of patients (49/67) despite proximity to the CST. A rather high rate of CRET can be achieved in glioblastomas in motor eloquent areas via a combination of 5-ALA for tumor identification and intraoperative mapping for distinguishing between presumed and actual motor eloquent tissues. Continuous dynamic mapping was found to be a very ergonomic technique that localizes the motor tissue early and reliably.

Zinc finger protein 139 expression in gastric cancer and its clinical significance.

PubMed

Li, Yong; Zhao, Qun; Fan, Li-Qiao; Wang, Li-Li; Tan, Bi-Bo; Leng, Yan-Li; Liu, Yu; Wang, Dong

2014-12-28

To investigate the expression of zinc finger protein 139 (ZNF139) in gastric cancer (GC), and to analyze its clinical significance. A total of 108 patients who were diagnosed with GC and underwent surgery between January 2005 and March 2007 were enrolled in this study. Gastric tumor specimens and paired tumor-adjacent tissues were collected and paraffin-embedded, and the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis were recorded. The expression of ZNF139, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 were determined by immunohistochemistry, and apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling. SPSS 13.0 software was used for data processing and analyses, and significance was determined at P < 0.05. The expression of ZNF139 was stronger in tumors than in tumor-adjacent tissues (66.67% vs 44.44%; P < 0.01). Overexpression of ZNF139 correlated with tumor differentiation, invasion depth, clinical stage, lymphatic metastasis, and blood vessel invasion (all Ps < 0.05). Patients with overexpression of ZNF139 had a poorer prognosis (P < 0.01), and overexpression of ZNF139 was an independent factor for the prognosis of GC patients by a Cox survival analysis (P = 0.02). A negative relationship between ZNF139 and the apoptosis index was observed (r = -0.686; P < 0.01). The expression of Bcl-2 in GC was stronger than in tumor-adjacent tissues (66.67% vs 41.67%), whereas the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 were lower in primary tumors (54.63% and 47.22%, respectively) than in tumor-adjacent tissues (73.15% and 73.15%, respectively) (all Ps < 0.05). The expression of ZNF139 negatively correlated with caspase-3 (r = -0.370; P < 0.01). The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were also negatively correlated (r = -0.231; P = 0.02). The expressions of caspase-3 and Bax protein were positively correlated (r = 0.217; P = 0.024). ZNF139 is related to clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of GC. Furthermore, it is overexpressed and involved in apoptosis in GC tissues by regulating caspase-3.

Contributions of flumequine and nitroarenes to the genotoxicity of river and ground waters.

PubMed

Ma, Fujun; Yuan, Guanxiang; Meng, Liping; Oda, Yoshimitsu; Hu, Jianying

2012-07-01

The SOS/umuC assay was performed in conjunction with analytical measurements to identify potential genotoxins in river and adjacent ground waters in the Jialu River basin, China. The major genotoxic activities of the river and adjacent ground waters occurred in the same two fractions (F4 and F11) when assayed using the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA1535/pSK1002. This indicates that ground water near the Jialu River was influenced by the river water. LC-MS/MS analysis indicated that flumequine accounted for 86% and 76% of the genotoxicity in fraction F11 of the river and adjacent ground waters, respectively. When HPLC fractions were tested using the strain NM3009, three fractions showed genotoxic activities for river water sample, while no fractions from ground water samples elicited genotoxic activities. The specific response to the strain NM3009 in one fraction compared with the strain TA1535/pSK1002 suggested the presence of nitroarenes. However, we failed to identify the exact nitroarenes when GC-MS analysis was used to analyze nitroarenes which are well detected in air and soil samples in previous papers. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Expression and Significance of Cyclophilin J in Primary Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

PubMed

Gong, Zhaohua; Mu, Yuling; Chen, Jian; Chu, Hongjin; Lian, Peiwen; Wang, Congcong; Wang, Jiahui; Jiang, Lixin

2017-08-01

Biomarkers are essential in early diagnosis and understanding of the molecular mechanism of human cancer. The expression of cyclophilin J, a novel member of the cyclophilin family, was investigated in primary gastric adenocarcinoma. Western blot analysis was carried out on 36 paired tumor and normal tissue samples; immunohistochemical analysis was carried out on 120 gastric carcinoma tissues and normal adjacent tissue. Cyclophilin J protein was overexpressed in 72.2% of gastric carcinoma tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that cyclophilin J was overexpressed in 49.2% (59/120) and 23.3% (28/120) of gastric carcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues, respectively (p<0.05). Expression of cyclophilin J was associated with the degree of differentiation, but not with lymph node metastasis, gender or depth of tumor infiltration. The overall survival of patients showed no association with the overexpression of cyclophilin J protein. Cyclophilin J expression was up-regulated in gastric carcinoma compared to normal gastric tissues. However, in order to confirm its association with the survival of patients with gastric cancer, more cases need to be studied. Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

Biomechanical advantages of robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation in posterior lumbar interbody fusion compared with freehand technique in a prospective randomized controlled trial-perspective for patient-specific finite element analysis.

PubMed

Kim, Ho-Joong; Kang, Kyoung-Tak; Park, Sung-Cheol; Kwon, Oh-Hyo; Son, Juhyun; Chang, Bong-Soon; Lee, Choon-Ki; Yeom, Jin S; Lenke, Lawrence G

2017-05-01

There have been conflicting results on the surgical outcome of lumbar fusion surgery using two different techniques: robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation and conventional freehand technique. In addition, there have been no studies about the biomechanical issues between both techniques. This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical properties in terms of stress at adjacent segments using robot-assisted pedicle screw insertion technique (robot-assisted, minimally invasive posterior lumbar interbody fusion, Rom-PLIF) and freehand technique (conventional, freehand, open approach, posterior lumbar interbody fusion, Cop-PLIF) for instrumented lumbar fusion surgery. This is an additional post-hoc analysis for patient-specific finite element (FE) model. The sample is composed of patients with degenerative lumbar disease. Intradiscal pressure and facet contact force are the outcome measures. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo an instrumented PLIF procedure using a Rom-PLIF (37 patients) or a Cop-PLIF (41), respectively. Five patients in each group were selected using a simple random sampling method after operation, and 10 preoperative and postoperative lumbar spines were modeled from preoperative high-resolution computed tomography of 10 patients using the same method for a validated lumbar spine model. Under four pure moments of 7.5 Nm, the changes in intradiscal pressure and facet joint contact force at the proximal adjacent segment following fusion surgery were analyzed and compared with preoperative states. The representativeness of random samples was verified. Both groups showed significant increases in postoperative intradiscal pressure at the proximal adjacent segment under four moments, compared with the preoperative state. The Cop-PLIF models demonstrated significantly higher percent increments of intradiscal pressure at proximal adjacent segments under extension, lateral bending, and torsion moments than the Rom-PLIF models (p=.032, p=.008, and p=.016, respectively). Furthermore, the percent increment of facet contact force was significantly higher in the Cop-PLIF models under extension and torsion moments than in the Rom-PLIF models (p=.016 under both extension and torsion moments). The present study showed the clinical application of subject-specific FE analysis in the spine. Even though there was biomechanical superiority of the robot-assisted insertions in terms of alleviation of stress increments at adjacent segments after fusion, cautious interpretation is needed because of the small sample size. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Rapid Assessment of Logging-Associated Sediment-Delivery Pathways in an Intensively-Managed Forested Watershed in the Southern Cascades, Northern California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coe, D. B.; Wopat, M. A.; Lindsay, D.; Stanish, S.; Boone, M.; Beck, B.; Wyman, A.; Bull, J.

2012-12-01

The potential for water-quality impacts in intensively-managed forested watersheds depends partly upon the frequency of overland flow paths linking logging-related hillslope sediment sources to the channel network, as well as the volume of sediment delivered along these flow paths. In response to public concerns over perceived water-quality impacts from clearcut timber harvesting, the Battle Creek Task Force, composed of subject-matter experts from 4 different state agencies, performed a rapid assessment for visible evidence of sediment delivery pathways from multiple logging-associated features in the upper Battle Creek watershed - an area underlain predominantly by Holocene- and Late Pleistocene-aged volcanic rock types, with highly permeable soils, and relatively few streams. Logging-associated features were selected for assessment based on erosion potential and proximity to stream channels. Identified sediment-delivery pathways were then characterized by dominant erosion process and the relative magnitude of sediment delivery (i.e., low, moderate, and high) was estimated. Approximately 26 km of stream buffers adjacent to 55 clearcut harvest units were assessed, and the single detected instance of sediment delivery was found to be of low magnitude and the result of illegal encroachment by logging equipment into a 5-m wide stream-adjacent equipment-limitation zone. The proportion of sampled sites delivering sediment was found to be highest for tractor-stream crossings, followed by road-stream crossings, stream-adjacent road segments, stream-adjacent landings, and clearcut harvest units, respectively. All 5 tractor-stream crossings delivered sediment, but were generally delivering a low magnitude of sediment derived from sheetwash and rilling. Road-stream crossings (n=39) and stream-adjacent road segments (n=24) delivered observable sediment 69 and 67 percent of the time, respectively. The highest magnitudes of sediment delivery from roads were associated with substandard design or maintenance practices (e.g., poor road drainage) and/or poor location (e.g., roads less than 15 m from a stream), but the magnitude of sediment delivery was generally low or unobservable where Best Management Practices (BMPs) had been implemented. Conceptually, water-quality impacts are limited by the low density of streams in the watershed, relatively low hillslope gradients, relatively high permeability of the soils, and the implementation of BMPs. Assessment results suggest that direct water-quality impacts from overland flow paths in these types of watersheds are best minimized by disconnecting flow paths linking roads to streams, and by implementing BMPs.

Does hybrid fixation prevent junctional disease after posterior fusion for degenerative lumbar disorders? A minimum 5-year follow-up study.

PubMed

Baioni, Andrea; Di Silvestre, Mario; Greggi, Tiziana; Vommaro, Francesco; Lolli, Francesco; Scarale, Antonio

2015-11-01

Medium- to long-term retrospective evaluation of clinical and radiographic outcome in the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases with hybrid posterior fixation. Thirty patients were included with the mean age of 47.8 years (range 35 to 60 years). All patients underwent posterior lumbar instrumentation using hybrid fixation for lumbar stenosis with instability (13 cases), degenerative spondylolisthesis Meyerding grade I (6 cases), degenerative disc disease of one or more adjacent levels in six cases and mild lumbar degenerative scoliosis in five patients. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using Oswestry disability index (ODI), Roland and Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), and the visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores. All patients were assessed by preoperative, postoperative and follow-up standing plain radiographs and lateral X-rays with flexion and extension. Adjacent disc degeneration was also evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at follow-up. At a mean follow-up of 6.1 years, we observed on X-rays and/or MRI 3 cases of adjacent segment disease (10.0 %): two of them (6.6 %) presented symptoms and recurred a new surgery. The last patient (3.3 %) developed asymptomatic retrolisthesis of L3 not requiring revision surgery. The mean preoperative ODI score was 67.6, RMDQ score was 15.1, VAS back pain score was 9.5, and VAS leg pain score was 8.6. Postoperatively, these values improved to 28.1, 5.4, 3.1, and 2.9, respectively, and remained substantially unchanged at the final follow-up: (27.7, 5.2, 2.9, and 2.7, respectively). After 5-year follow-up, hybrid posterior lumbar fixation presented satisfying clinical outcomes in the treatment of degenerative disease.

Disturbance of Dabao highway construction on plant species and soil nutrients in Longitudinal Range Gorge Region (LRGR) of Southwestern China.

PubMed

Cui, Baoshan; Zhao, Shuqing; Zhang, Kejiang; Li, Shaocai; Dong, Shikui; Bai, Junhong

2009-11-01

The disturbance of highway construction upon surrounding vulnerable ecosystems is a common threat in the Longitudinal Range Gorge Region of southwestern China. We evaluated the disturbance of highway on plant species richness and diversity and soil nutrients from adjacent to the highway to 300 m upslope and 100 m downslope in forests and grasslands by setting 12 belt transects in forests and grasslands (six belt transects and six control belt transects, respectively). The results showed that there were some significant variances in belt transects with respective control belt transects for species richness and diversity in both forests and grasslands. Species richness and diversity of trees were lower within a 50-m distance from the highway and more noticeable on the downslope portion. Species richness and diversity of shrubs and herbs appeared higher near highway edge. Both species richness and diversity of herbs were similar in forests. In addition, exotic species, such as Eupatorium adenophorum, were further from the road and more widely dispersed in grasslands. Soil nutrients except total potassium (TK) were lower in the downslope area adjacent to highway edge and showed a significant increase with increasing distance from the highway in both forests and grasslands. This indicates that grasslands acted as microhabitats for exotic species and are more easily to be invaded than forests, especially if disturbed. Once destroyed, plant species and soil nutrients will require a significant amount of time to be restored to control levels. This work illustrates that the effects extend considerably to distances upslope and downslope from the construction site. Given that these changes occurred relatively quickly, the study suggests that the environmental "footprint" grows far beyond the road and adjacent zone of disruption.

Aeolian transport of seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) beach-cast to terrestrial systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiménez, Maria A.; Beltran, Rafel; Traveset, Anna; Calleja, Maria Ll; Delgado-Huertas, Antonio; Marbà, Núria

2017-09-01

The annual export of the Mediterranean seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) litter to adjacent beaches and coastal dunes was quantified by examining the fortnight evolution of seagrass beach-cast volume on two beaches in the NW Mediterranean (Son Real and Es Trenc, Mallorca Island, Spain) for two years and analyzing the wind speed and direction obtained from the closest Meteorological Spanish Agency surface weather stations. The decomposition stage of the deposits was examined by analyzing the total hydrolysable amino acids, its percentage distribution and derived degradation indexes. Prevalent winds exceeding 6 m s-1, the coastline morphology and type of terrestrial vegetation determine the annual dynamics of the seagrass beach-cast. In the most protected beach (Son Real) the seagrass beach-cast remained nearly stationary during the two studied years while it exhibited wide annual fluctuations in the less protected one (Es Trenc). The amounts of P. oceanica wrack washed on Son Real and Es Trenc beaches, respectively, were estimated at 309 kg DW m coastline-1 yr-1 and 1359 kg DW m coastline-1 yr-1. They supplied between 20 kg CaCO3 m coastline-1 yr-1 and 47 kg CaCO3 m coastline-1 yr-1. Between 54% (Son Real) and 70% (Es Trenc) of seagrass beach-cast, respectively accounting for 1.5 kg N m coastline-1 yr-1 and 8.6 kg N m coastline-1 yr-1, were annually exported from the beaches to adjacent dune systems. Our results reveal that Mediterranean seagrass meadows might be an important source of materials, including sand and nutrients, for adjacent terrestrial systems, able to support their functioning.

33 CFR 100.501 - Special Local Regulations; Marine Events in the Fifth Coast Guard District.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... and times of the effective period of the regulation with respect to each event, the geographical area... the event, or the operation of any vessel participating in the event, at any time it is deemed... Crystal Coast Grand Prix North Carolina East Sports, Inc. N/P The waters of Bogue Sound, adjacent to...

76 FR 4380 - Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-541)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-25

... written data, comments, or views with respect to this permit application by February 24, 2011. This... Southern Marine Mammals and Birds) which have been carried out in Tierra del Fuego since 1976. Skeletons... Peninsula and adjacent islands. Dates March 1, 2011 to March 1, 2016. 1. Applicant: R. Natalie P. Goodall...

Coniferous Understory Influences Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum Marsh.) Sap Production

Treesearch

Russell S. Walters

1978-01-01

Sap and maple syrup equivalent production increased after a coniferous understory was removed from a sugarbush in northwestern Vermont. These increases, which became apparent the sixth year after treatment, were 14 and 17 percent for sap and syrup respectively, relative to the yields from an adjacent open sugarbush. The open sugarbush yields were used as the control in...

Implicit Learning of Nonlocal Musical Rules: A Comment on Kuhn and Dienes (2005)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Desmet, Charlotte; Poulin-Charronnat, Benedicte; Lalitte, Philippe; Perruchet, Pierre

2009-01-01

In a recent study, G. Kuhn and Z. Dienes (2005) reported that participants previously exposed to a set of musical tunes generated by a biconditional grammar subsequently preferred new tunes that respected the grammar over new ungrammatical tunes. Because the study and test tunes did not share any chunks of adjacent intervals, this result may be…

Apparatus for integrating a rigid structure into a flexible wall of an inflatable structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Christopher J. (Inventor); Patterson, Ross M. (Inventor); Spexarth, Gary R. (Inventor)

2009-01-01

For an inflatable structure having a flexible outer shell or wall structure having a flexible restraint layer comprising interwoven, load-bearing straps, apparatus for integrating one or more substantially rigid members into the flexible shell. For each rigid member, a corresponding opening is formed through the flexible shell for receiving the rigid member. A plurality of connection devices are mounted on the rigid member for receiving respective ones of the load-bearing straps. In one embodiment, the connection devices comprise inner connecting mechanisms and outer connecting mechanisms, the inner and outer connecting mechanisms being mounted on the substantially rigid structure and spaced along a peripheral edge portion of the structure in an interleafed array in which respective outer connecting mechanisms are interposed between adjacent pairs of inner connecting mechanisms, the outer connecting mechanisms projecting outwardly from the peripheral edge portion of the substantially rigid structure beyond the adjacent inner connecting mechanisms to form a staggered array of connecting mechanisms extending along the panel structure edge portion. In one embodiment, the inner and outer connecting mechanisms form part of an integrated, structure rotatably mounted on the rigid member peripheral edge portion.

Relation between aphasia and arcuate fasciculus in chronic stroke patients

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background The role of the arcuate fasciculus (AF) in the dominant hemisphere in stroke patients with aphasia has not been clearly elucidated. We investigated the relation between language function and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) findings for the left AF in chronic stroke patients with aphasia. Method Twenty five consecutive right-handed stroke patients with aphasia following lesions in the left hemisphere were recruited for this study. The aphasia quotient (AQ) of Korean-Western Aphasia Battery was used for assessment of language function. We measured values of fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), voxel number of the left AF. We classified patients into three groups: type A - the left AF was not reconstructed, type B - the left AF was discontinued between Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas, and type C – the left AF was preserved around the stroke lesion. Results Moderate positive correlation was observed between AQ and voxel number of the left AF (r = 0.471, p < 0.05). However, no correlation was observed between AQ and FA (r = 0.275, p > 0.05) and ADC values (r = -0.286, p > 0.05). Significant differences in AQ scores were observed between the three types (p < 0.05); the AQ score of type C was higher than those of type A and B, and that of type B was also higher than that of type A (p < 0.05). Conclusion According to our findings, the remaining volume of the left AF, irrespective of directionality and diffusivity, showed moderate positive correlation with language function in chronic stroke patients with aphasia. Discontinuation or non-construction of the left AF was also an important factor for language function. PMID:24607148

Differential response of TRHergic neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in female animals submitted to food-restriction or dehydration-induced anorexia and cold exposure.

PubMed

Jaimes-Hoy, Lorraine; Joseph-Bravo, Patricia; de Gortari, Patricia

2008-02-01

TRH neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), regulate pituitary-thyroid axis (HPT). Fasting activates expression of orexigenic peptides from the arcuate nucleus, increases corticosterone while reduces leptin, and pro-TRH mRNA levels despite low serum thyroid hormone concentration (tertiary hypothyroidism). TRH synthesis is positively regulated by anorexigenic peptides whose expression is reduced in fasting. The model of dehydration-induced anorexia (DIA) leads to decreased voluntary food intake but peptide expression in the arcuate is similar to forced-food restriction (FFR), where animals remain hungered. We compared the response of HPT axis of female Wistar rats submitted to DIA (2.5% saline solution, food ad libitum, 7 days) with FFR (provided with the amount of food ingested by DIA) and naïve (N) group fed ad libitum, as well as their response to acute cold exposure. Pro-TRH and pro-CRH mRNA levels in the PVN were measured by RT-PCR, TRH content, serum concentration of TSH and thyroid hormones by radioimmunoassay. DIA rats reduced 80% their food consumption compared to N, decreased PVN pro-CRH expression, serum estradiol and leptin levels, increased corticosterone similar to FFR. HPT axis of DIA animals failed to adapt: FFR presented tertiary hypothyroidism and DIA, primary. Response to cold stimulation leading to increased pro-TRH mRNA levels and TRH release was preserved under reduced energy availability in FFR rats but not in DIA, although the dynamics of hormonal release differed: TSH release augmented only in naïve; thyroxine in all but highest in DIA, and triiodothyronine in FFR and DIA suggesting a differential regulation of deiodinases.

Activation of anorexigenic pro-opiomelanocortin neurones during refeeding is independent of vagal and brainstem inputs.

PubMed

Fekete, C; Zséli, G; Singru, P S; Kádár, A; Wittmann, G; Füzesi, T; El-Bermani, W; Lechan, R M

2012-11-01

After fasting, satiety is observed within 2 h after reintroducing food, accompanied by activation of anorexigenic, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-synthesising neurones in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), indicative of the critical role that α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone has in the regulation of meal size during refeeding. To determine whether refeeding-induced activation of POMC neurones in the arcuate is dependent upon the vagus nerve and/or ascending brainstem pathways, bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy or transection of the afferent brainstem input to one side of the ARC was performed. One day after vagotomy or 2 weeks after brain surgery, animals were fasted and then refed for 2 h. Sections containing the ARC from vagotomised animals or animals with effective transection were immunostained for c-Fos and POMC to detect refeeding-induced activation of POMC neurones. Quantitative analyses of double-labelled preparations demonstrated that sham-operated and vagotomised animals markedly increased the number of c-Fos-immunoreactive (-IR) POMC neurones with refeeding. Furthermore, transection of the ascending brainstem pathway had no effect on diminishing c-Fos-immunoreactivity in POMC neurones on either side of the ARC, although it did diminish activation in a separate, subpopulation of neurones in the dorsomedial posterior ARC (dmpARC) on the transected side. We conclude that inputs mediated via the vagus nerve and/or arising from the brainstem do not have a primary role in refeeding-induced activation of POMC neurones in the ARC, and propose that these neurones may be activated solely by direct effects of circulating hormones/metabolites during refeeding. Activation of the dmpARC by refeeding indicates a previously unrecognised role for these neurones in appetite regulation in the rat. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Neuroendocrinology © 2012 British Society for Neuroendocrinology.

Rikkunshito and isoliquiritigenin counteract 5-HT-induced 2C receptor-mediated activation of pro-opiomelanocortin neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus.

PubMed

Arai, Takeshi; Maejima, Yuko; Muroya, Shinji; Yada, Toshihiko

2013-08-01

Anorexia deteriorates the quality of life in patients with anorexia nervosa, stress disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer. Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), serotonin (5-HT) and its 2C receptor (5-HT2CR) are implicated in anorexia. Rikkunshito, a traditional Japanese medicine, has been used to treat anorexia and gastrointestinal disorders. The present study aimed to clarify whether rikkunshito influences the 5-HT action on ARC POMC neurons. We isolated single neurons from the ARC of adult rats and measured cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺](i)) by fura-2 microfluorometry combined with immunocytochemical identification of POMC neurons. Administration of 5-HT increased [Ca²⁺](i) in ARC neurons, and 80% of the 5-HT-responsive neurons were immunoreactive to POMC. Rikkunshito concentration-dependently and 5-HT2CR antagonist SB242084 significantly suppressed 5-HT-induced [Ca²⁺](i) increases. The rikkunshito-suppressed neurons highly overlapped SB242084-suppressed neurons. Isoliquiritigenin, an ingredient of rikkunshito, suppressed 5-HT-induced [Ca²⁺](i) increases to a lesser extent than rikkunshito. These results demonstrate that rikkunshito counteracts 5-HT-induced 5-HT2CR-mediated Ca²⁺ signaling in ARC POMC neurons, and that isoliquiritigenin may serve as an active component of rikkunshito. The ability of rikkunshito to antagonize 5-HT action in ARC POMC neurons could underlie the rikkunshito's action to attenuate anorexia induced by excessive 5-HT release and/or action associated with psychiatric diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, and anti-cancer medicines. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Involvement of the Beta-Endorphin Neurons of the Hypothalamic Arcuate Nucleus in Ethanol-Induced Place Preference Conditioning in Mice

PubMed Central

Pastor, Raúl; Font, Laura; Miquel, Marta; Phillips, Tamara J.; Aragon, Carlos M.G.

2014-01-01

Background Increasing evidence indicates that mu- and delta-opioid receptors are decisively involved in the retrieval of memories underlying conditioned effects of ethanol. The precise mechanism by which these receptors participate in such effects remains unclear. Given the important role of the proopiomelanocortin (POMc)-derived opioid peptide beta-endorphin, an endogenous mu- and delta-opioid receptor agonist, in some of the behavioral effects of ethanol, we hypothesized that beta-endorphin would also be involved in ethanol conditioning. Methods In the present study we treated female Swiss mice with estradiol valerate (EV), which induces a neurotoxic lesion of the beta-endorphin neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ArcN). These mice were compared to saline-treated controls to investigate the role of beta-endorphin in the acquisition, extinction and reinstatement of ethanol (0 or 2 g/kg; i.p.)-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Results Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed a decreased number of POMc-containing neurons of the ArcN with EV treatment. EV did not affect the acquisition or reinstatement of ethanol-induced CPP, but facilitated its extinction. Behavioral sensitization to ethanol, seen during the conditioning days, was not present in EV-treated animals. Conclusions The present data suggest that ArcN beta-endorphins are involved in the retrieval of conditioned memories of ethanol, and are implicated in the processes that underlie extinction of ethanol-cue associations. Results also reveal a dissociated neurobiology supporting behavioral sensitization to ethanol and its conditioning properties, as a beta-endorphin deficit affected sensitization to ethanol, while leaving acquisition and reinstatement of ethanol-induced CPP unaffected. PMID:22014186

Arcuate keratotomy on post-keratoplasty astigmatism is unpredictable and frequently needs repeat procedures to increase its success rate.

PubMed

Bayramlar, Huseyin; Karadag, Remzi; Cakici, Ozgur; Ozsoy, Isilay

2016-06-01

To evaluate the effectiveness and predictability of arcuate keratotomy (AK) for post-keratoplasty astigmatism and to present the complications and rate of repeat procedures. Sixteen eyes from 14 patients were included. Paired 70-80° arc length AKs centred on the steep axis were carried out 0.5 mm within the graft-host junction. The depth of the AKs was set at approximately 80-90% of the depth of the cornea, based on a topographic pachymeter at the incision location. The outcome measures included preoperative and postoperative topographic astigmatism, uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, surgical complications and repeat procedures. In 12 of the 16 eyes (75%), at least one additional surgical procedure was required to obtain the desired result: suturing for overcorrection or wound gape in six eyes (38%), lengthening of the incisions for undercorrection in four eyes (25%) and additional AKs for marked astigmatic axis displacement in three eyes (19%). The mean preoperative astigmatism was 10.45±3.82 dioptres (D); the postoperative astigmatism at the last visit was 2.99±1.14 D (in a mean follow-up of 17.6±5.55 months). The efficacy index was 0.83 and the safety index was 1.68. In treatment of post-keratoplasty astigmatism, AK does not have a good predictability. Additional procedures such as lengthening of the AK incisions for undercorrection or using compression sutures for overcorrection with significantly gaping wounds are frequently required to improve the final outcome. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

A dense, intersecting array of normal faults on the outer shelf off Southern Costa Rica, associated with subducting Quepos ridge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silver, E. A.; Kluesner, J. W.; Gibson, J. C.; Bangs, N. L.; McIntosh, K. D.; von Huene, R.; Orange, D.; Ranero, C. R.

2012-12-01

Use of narrow, fixed swath multibeam data with high sounding densities has allowed order of magnitude improvement in image resolution with EM122 multibeam and backscatter data, as part of a 3D seismic study west of the Osa Peninsula. On the outer shelf, along the projection of the subducting Quepos Ridge, we mapped a dense array of faults cutting an arcuate, well-layered set of outcropping beds in the backscatter imagery (mosaicked at 2 m), with roughly N-S and E-W trends. The N-S trends dominate, and show inconsistent offsets, implying that the faults are normal and not strike-slip. The faults also show normal displacement in the 3D seismic data, consistent with the surface interpretation. The outcropping beds (of late Pleistocene age, based on Expedition 334 drilling), may have been truncated during the late Pleistocene low sea-level stand. The outermost shelf (edged by arcuate bathymetric contours) does not show these folded beds, as it was below wave base and buried by a thin sediment layer. However, narrow lines of small pockmarks and mounds follow the fault trends exactly, indicating that fluid flow through the faults is expressed at the surface, including a gas plume that extends to the sea-surface. The almost unprecedented increase in resolution of the EM122 data allows us to infer that the N-S, E-W grid of faults overlying the NE-trending Quepos Ridge projection (and NE directed subduction) formed by extensional arching above the ridge, not by collisional slip lines at a rigid indenter (as proposed earlier based on sandbox models). The extensional fault pattern also facilitates fluid and gas flow through the sedimentary section.

Activation of Estrogen Response Element–Independent ERα Signaling Protects Female Mice From Diet-Induced Obesity

PubMed Central

Yasrebi, Ali; Rivera, Janelle A.; Krumm, Elizabeth A.; Yang, Jennifer A.

2017-01-01

17β-estradiol (E2) regulates central and peripheral mechanisms that control energy and glucose homeostasis predominantly through estrogen receptor α (ERα) acting via receptor binding to estrogen response elements (EREs). ERα signaling is also involved in mediating the effects of E2 on diet-induced obesity (DIO), although the roles of ERE-dependent and -independent ERα signaling in reducing the effects of DIO remain largely unknown. We hypothesize that ERE-dependent ERα signaling is necessary to ameliorate the effects of DIO. We addressed this question using ERα knockout (KO) and ERα knockin/knockout (KIKO) female mice, the latter expressing an ERα that lacks a functional ERE binding domain. Female mice were ovariectomized, fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or a high-fat diet (HFD), and orally dosed with vehicle or estradiol benzoate (EB) (300 μg/kg). After 9 weeks, body composition, glucose and insulin tolerance, peptide hormone and inflammatory cytokine levels, and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and liver gene expression were assessed. EB reduced body weight and body fat in wild-type (WT) female mice, regardless of diet, and in HFD-fed KIKO female mice, in part by reducing energy intake and feeding efficiency. EB reduced fasting glucose levels in KIKO mice fed both diets but augmented glucose tolerance only in HFD-fed KIKO female mice. Plasma insulin and interleukin 6 were elevated in KIKO and KO female mice compared with LFD-fed WT female mice. Expression of arcuate neuropeptide and receptor genes and liver fatty acid biosynthesis genes was altered by HFD and by EB through ERE-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Therefore, ERE-independent signaling mechanisms in both the brain and peripheral organs mediate, in part, the effects of E2 during DIO. PMID:27901601

White matter properties associated with pre-reading skills in 6-year-old children born preterm and at term.

PubMed

Dodson, Cory K; Travis, Katherine E; Borchers, Lauren R; Marchman, Virginia A; Ben-Shachar, Michal; Feldman, Heidi M

2018-05-03

To assess associations between white matter properties and pre-reading skills (phonological awareness and receptive and expressive language) in children born preterm and at term at the onset of reading acquisition. Six-year-old children born preterm (n=36; gestational age 22-32wks) and at term (n=43) underwent diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and behavioural assessments. Tracts were selected a priori based on findings from a study of 6-year-old children born at term: the left-hemisphere arcuate fasciculus and superior longitudinal fasciculus, and right-hemisphere uncinate fasciculus. Using linear regression, we assessed associations between fractional anisotropy of tracts and phonological awareness and receptive and expressive language scores. We investigated whether associations were moderated by prematurity. Fractional anisotropy of the left-hemisphere arcuate fasciculus contributed unique variance to phonological awareness across birth groups. The association between fractional anisotropy of the right-hemisphere uncinate fasciculus and receptive and expressive language was significantly moderated by prematurity. A left-hemisphere tract was associated with phonological awareness in both birth groups. A right-hemisphere tract was associated with language only in the term group, suggesting that expressive and receptive language is mediated by different white matter pathways in 6-year-old children born preterm. These findings provide novel insights into similarities and differences of the neurobiology of pre-reading skills between children born preterm and at term at reading onset. White matter properties and pre-reading abilities were associated in children born preterm at the onset of reading. The neurobiology of phonological awareness was similar in children born preterm versus children born at term at 6 years. The neurobiology of language was different in children born preterm versus children born at term at 6 years. © 2018 Mac Keith Press.

Fault Slip and GPS Velocities Across the Shan Plateau Define a Curved Southwestward Crustal Motion Around the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Xuhua; Wang, Yu; Sieh, Kerry; Weldon, Ray; Feng, Lujia; Chan, Chung-Han; Liu-Zeng, Jing

2018-03-01

Characterizing the 700 km wide system of active faults on the Shan Plateau, southeast of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, is critical to understanding the geodynamics and seismic hazard of the large region that straddles neighboring China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Here we evaluate the fault styles and slip rates over multi-timescales, reanalyze previously published short-term Global Positioning System (GPS) velocities, and evaluate slip-rate gradients to interpret the regional kinematics and geodynamics that drive the crustal motion. Relative to the Sunda plate, GPS velocities across the Shan Plateau define a broad arcuate tongue-like crustal motion with a progressively northwestward increase in sinistral shear over a distance of 700 km followed by a decrease over the final 100 km to the syntaxis. The cumulative GPS slip rate across the entire sinistral-slip fault system on the Shan Plateau is 12 mm/year. Our observations of the fault geometry, slip rates, and arcuate southwesterly directed tongue-like patterns of GPS velocities across the region suggest that the fault kinematics is characterized by a regional southwestward distributed shear across the Shan Plateau, compared to more block-like rotation and indentation north of the Red River fault. The fault geometry, kinematics, and regional GPS velocities are difficult to reconcile with regional bookshelf faulting between the Red River and Sagaing faults or localized lower crustal channel flows beneath this region. The crustal motion and fault kinematics can be driven by a combination of basal traction of a clockwise, southwestward asthenospheric flow around the eastern Himalayan syntaxis and gravitation or shear-driven indentation from north of the Shan Plateau.

Central inhibition of IKKβ/NF-κB signaling attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance.

PubMed

Benzler, Jonas; Ganjam, Goutham K; Pretz, Dominik; Oelkrug, Rebecca; Koch, Christiane E; Legler, Karen; Stöhr, Sigrid; Culmsee, Carsten; Williams, Lynda M; Tups, Alexander

2015-06-01

Metabolic inflammation in the central nervous system might be causative for the development of overnutrition-induced metabolic syndrome and related disorders, such as obesity, leptin and insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Here we investigated whether nutritive and genetic inhibition of the central IκB kinase β (IKKβ)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway in diet-induced obese (DIO) and leptin-deficient mice improves these metabolic impairments. A known prominent inhibitor of IKKβ/NF-κB signaling is the dietary flavonoid butein. We initially determined that oral, intraperitoneal, and intracerebroventricular administration of this flavonoid improved glucose tolerance and hypothalamic insulin signaling. The dose-dependent glucose-lowering capacity was profound regardless of whether obesity was caused by leptin deficiency or high-fat diet (HFD). To confirm the apparent central role of IKKβ/NF-κB signaling in the control of glucose and energy homeostasis, we genetically inhibited this pathway in neurons of the arcuate nucleus, one key center for control of energy homeostasis, via specific adeno-associated virus serotype 2-mediated overexpression of IκBα, which inhibits NF-κB nuclear translocation. This treatment attenuated HFD-induced body weight gain, body fat mass accumulation, increased energy expenditure, and reduced arcuate suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 expression, indicative for enhanced leptin signaling. These results reinforce a specific role of central proinflammatory IKKβ/NF-κB signaling in the development and potential treatment of DIO-induced comorbidities. © 2015 by the American Diabetes Association. Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered.

Overexpression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 in the arcuate nucleus of juvenile Phodopus sungorus alters seasonal body weight changes.

PubMed

Ganjam, Goutham K; Benzler, Jonas; Pinkenburg, Olaf; Boucsein, Alisa; Stöhr, Sigrid; Steger, Juliane; Culmsee, Carsten; Barrett, Perry; Tups, Alexander

2013-12-01

The profound seasonal cycle in body weight exhibited by the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) is associated with the development of hypothalamic leptin resistance during long day photoperiod (LD, 16:8 h light dark cycle), when body weight is elevated relative to short day photoperiod (SD, 8:16 h light dark cycle). We previously have shown that this seasonal change in physiology is associated with higher levels of mRNA for the potent inhibitor of leptin signaling, suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3), in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of LD hamsters relative to hamsters in SD. The alteration in SOCS3 gene expression preceded the body weight change suggesting that SOCS3 might be the molecular switch of seasonal body weight changes. To functionally characterize the role of SOCS3 in seasonal body weight regulation, we injected SOCS3 expressing recombinant adeno-associated virus type-2 (rAAV2-SOCS3) constructs into the ARC of leptin sensitive SD hamsters immediately after weaning. Hamsters that received rAAV2 expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (rAAV2-EGFP) served as controls. ARC-directed SOCS3 overexpression led to a significant increase in body weight over a period of 12 weeks without fully restoring the LD phenotype. This increase was partially due to elevated brown and white adipose tissue mass. Gene expression of pro-opiomelanocortin was increased while thyroid hormone converting enzyme DIO3 mRNA levels were reduced in SD hamsters with SOCS3 overexpression. In conclusion, our data suggest that ARC-directed SOCS3 overexpression partially overcomes the profound seasonal body weight cycle exhibited by the hamster which is associated with altered pro-opiomelanocortin and DIO3 gene expression.

Astigmatism reduction clinical trial: a multicenter prospective evaluation of the predictability of arcuate keratotomy. Evaluation of surgical nomogram predictability. ARC-T Study Group.

PubMed

Price, F W; Grene, R B; Marks, R G; Gonzales, J S

1995-03-01

To determine the accuracy of the Lindstrom surgical nomogram for astigmatism. A prospective multicenter study. One hundred sixty eyes of 95 patients underwent astigmatic keratotomy in eight centers by nine surgeons. Inclusion criteria for the study included age of at least 18 years with 1 to 6 diopters (D) of naturally occurring corneal astigmatism and less than 1 D of lenticular astigmatism. A standardized astigmatic keratotomy surgical technique was performed on each eye. Surgical measurements were determined using the Lindstrom surgical nomogram for astigmatism. The Holladay, Cravy, Koch vector analysis method was used to determine the change in refractive cylinder results. Refractive changes also are presented without vector analysis merely using the absolute change in refractive cylinder and axis. Multiple regression analysis was used to develop a mathematical model determining the factors predictive of the change in refractive cylinder. The significant predictors for the amount of astigmatic correction achieved were, in order of decreasing importance, the following: number of incisions (R2 = 30%), incision length (R2 = 16%), age (R2 = 8%), and gender (R2 = 2%). Astigmatism is a two-dimensional measurement of both quantity and direction that is most appropriately analyzed with vector analysis. The original Lindstrom surgical nomogram for arcuate keratotomy used in this study is still quite useful although it tended to underpredict results for many patients, especially those having two incisional surgeries. Some older subjects having minimal surgery achieved greater correction than predicted by the original nomogram. The most important factors predictive of greater astigmatic keratotomy surgical effect are incision number, incision length, older age, and male gender.

Reduced integrity of the left arcuate fasciculus is specifically associated with auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia.

PubMed

McCarthy-Jones, Simon; Oestreich, Lena K L; Whitford, Thomas J

2015-03-01

Schizophrenia patients with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) have reduced structural integrity in the left arcuate fasciculus (AFL) compared to healthy controls. However, it is neither known whether these changes are specific to AVH, as opposed to hallucinations or schizophrenia per se, nor how radial and/or axial diffusivity are altered. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that reductions to the structural integrity of the AFL are specifically associated with AVH in schizophrenia. Diffusion tensor imaging scans and clinical data were obtained from the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank for 39 schizophrenia patients with lifetime AVH (18 current, 21 remitted), 74 schizophrenia patients with no lifetime AVH (40 with lifetime hallucinations in other modalities, 34 no lifetime hallucinations) and 40 healthy controls. Fractional anisotropy was significantly reduced in the AFL of patients with lifetime AVH compared to both healthy controls (Cohen's d=1.24) and patients without lifetime AVH (d=.72), including compared to the specific subsets of patients without AVH who either had hallucinations in other modalities (d=.69) or no history of any hallucinations (d=.73). Radial, but not axial, diffusivity was significantly increased in patients with lifetime AVH compared to both healthy controls (d=.89) and patients without lifetime AVH (d=.39). Evidence was found for a non-linear relation between fractional anisotropy in the AFL and state AVH. Reduced integrity of the AFL is specifically associated with AVH, as opposed to schizophrenia in general or hallucinations in other modalities. Increased radial diffusivity suggests dysmyelination or demyelination of the AFL may play a role in AVH. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Leptin-sensitive neurons in the arcuate nucleus integrate activity and temperature circadian rhythms and anticipatory responses to food restriction

PubMed Central

Li, Ai-Jun; Dinh, Thu T.; Jansen, Heiko T.; Ritter, Sue

2013-01-01

Previously, we investigated the role of neuropeptide Y and leptin-sensitive networks in the mediobasal hypothalamus in sleep and feeding and found profound homeostatic and circadian deficits with an intact suprachiasmatic nucleus. We propose that the arcuate nuclei (Arc) are required for the integration of homeostatic circadian systems, including temperature and activity. We tested this hypothesis using saporin toxin conjugated to leptin (Lep-SAP) injected into Arc in rats. Lep-SAP rats became obese and hyperphagic and progressed through a dynamic phase to a static phase of growth. Circadian rhythms were examined over 49 days during the static phase. Rats were maintained on a 12:12-h light-dark (LD) schedule for 13 days and, thereafter, maintained in continuous dark (DD). After the first 13 days of DD, food was restricted to 4 h/day for 10 days. We found that the activity of Lep-SAP rats was arrhythmic in DD, but that food anticipatory activity was, nevertheless, entrainable to the restricted feeding schedule, and the entrained rhythm persisted during the subsequent 3-day fast in DD. Thus, for activity, the circuitry for the light-entrainable oscillator, but not for the food-entrainable oscillator, was disabled by the Arc lesion. In contrast, temperature remained rhythmic in DD in the Lep-SAP rats and did not entrain to restricted feeding. We conclude that the leptin-sensitive network that includes the Arc is required for entrainment of activity by photic cues and entrainment of temperature by food, but is not required for entrainment of activity by food or temperature by photic cues. PMID:23986359

Defining Subpopulations of Arcuate Nucleus GABA Neurons in Male, Female, and Prenatally Androgenized Female Mice.

PubMed

Marshall, Christopher J; Desroziers, Elodie; McLennan, Timothy; Campbell, Rebecca E

2017-01-01

Arcuate nucleus (ARN) γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons are implicated in many critical homeostatic mechanisms, from food intake to fertility. To determine the functional relevance of ARN GABA neurons, it is essential to define the neurotransmitters co-expressed with and potentially co-released from ARN GABA neurons. The present study investigated the expression of markers of specific signaling molecules by ARN GABA neurons in brain sections from male, female, and, in some cases, prenatally androgen-treated (PNA) female, vesicular GABA transporter (VGaT)-ires-Cre/tdTomato reporter mice. Immunofluorescence for kisspeptin, β-endorphin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was detected by confocal microscopy, and co-localization with tdTomato VGaT reporter expression throughout the ARN was quantified. GABA neurons rarely co-localized with kisspeptin (<2%) or β-endorphin (<1%), and only a small proportion of kisspeptin (∼10%) or β-endorphin (∼3%) neurons co-localized with VGaT in male and female mice. In contrast, one-third of ARN GABA neurons co-localized with NPY, and nearly all NPY neurons (>95%) co-localized with VGaT across groups. Both TH and nNOS labeling was co-localized with ∼10% of ARN GABA neurons. The proportion of TH neurons co-localized with VGaT was significantly greater in males than either control or PNA females, and the proportion of nNOS neurons co-localizing VGaT was higher in control and PNA females compared with males. These data highlight NPY as a significant subpopulation of ARN GABA neurons, demonstrate no significant impact of PNA on signal co-expression, and, for the first time, show sexually dimorphic co-expression patterns of TH and nNOS with ARN GABA neurons. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

A cadaveric study of the anatomical variation of the origins of the celiac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery: a role in median arcuate ligament syndrome?

PubMed

Katz-Summercorn, Annalise; Bridger, John

2013-11-01

Gray's Anatomy states, "the celiac trunk is the first anterior branch of the abdominal aorta and arises just below the aortic hiatus. The superior mesenteric artery originates from the aorta c1.0 cm below the celiac trunk." (Standring, 2008a, Gray's Anatomy. 40th Ed. London: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, p. 1073-1074). During dissection classes with medical students we found this not to be the case. We have re-evaluated the anatomy of the origins of the celiac trunk (CT) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the relationship of the CT to the median arcuate ligament (MAL) in 99 cadavers. We have found the external distance between the CT and SMA to range from 0 to 20 mm (mean 3.4 mm, SD 5.17 mm), with the two in direct apposition in 57.6% (n = 99) of cases: a higher figure than previously documented. However, the internal distance between the CT and SMA ranged from 10 to 30 mm (mean 18.9 mm, SD 4.09 mm). There was no distance measurable between the MAL and the CT in 88 cadavers (92.6%, n = 95) and, of these, 32 (33.7%) showed evidence of compression or kinking of the CT. We suspect that the MAL is responsible for the approximation of the CT to the SMA in these cadavers, and that the high incidence of kinking of the CT (33.7% of cases) may have implications with regard to its role in MAL syndrome. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Food restriction-induced hyperactivity: addiction or adaptation to famine?

PubMed

Duclos, Martine; Ouerdani, Amel; Mormède, Pierre; Konsman, Jan Pieter

2013-06-01

Increased physical activity is present in 30-80% of anorexia nervosa patients. To explain the paradox of low food intake and excessive exercise in humans and other animals, it has been proposed that increased physical activity along with food restriction activates brain reward circuits and is addictive. Alternatively, the fleeing-famine hypothesis postulates that refusal of known scarce energy-low food sources and hyperactivity facilitate migration towards new habitats that potentially contain new energy-rich foodstuffs. The use of rewarding compounds that differ in energy density, such as the energy-free sweetener saccharin and the energy rich sucrose makes it possible to critically test the reward-addiction and fleeing-famine hypotheses. The aims of the present work were to study if sucrose and/or saccharin could attenuate food restriction-induced hyperactivity, weight loss, increased plasma corticosterone, and activation of brain structures involved in neuroendocrine control, energy balance, physical activity, and reward signaling in rats. Its major findings are that access to sucrose, but not to saccharin, attenuated food restriction-induced running wheel activity, weight loss, rises in plasma corticosterone, and expression of the cellular activation marker c-Fos in the paraventricular and arcuate hypothalamus and in the nucleus accumbens. These findings suggest that the energy-richness and easy availability of sucrose interrupted a fleeing-famine-like hyperactivity response. Since corticosterone mediates food restriction-induced wheel running (Duclos et al., 2009), we propose that the attenuating effect of sucrose consumption on plasma corticosterone plays a role in reduced wheel running and weight loss by lowering activation of the nucleus accumbens and arcuate hypothalamus in these animals. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Long-Term Recordings of Arcuate Nucleus Kisspeptin Neurons Reveal Patterned Activity That Is Modulated by Gonadal Steroids in Male Mice.

PubMed

Vanacker, Charlotte; Moya, Manuel Ricu; DeFazio, R Anthony; Johnson, Michael L; Moenter, Suzanne M

2017-10-01

Pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is key to fertility. Pulse frequency is modulated by gonadal steroids and likely arises subsequent to coordination of GnRH neuron firing activity. The source of rhythm generation and the site of steroid feedback remain critical unanswered questions. Arcuate neurons that synthesize kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin (KNDy) may be involved in both of these processes. We tested the hypotheses that action potential firing in KNDy neurons is episodic and that gonadal steroids regulate this pattern. Targeted extracellular recordings were made of green fluorescent protein-identified KNDy neurons in brain slices from adult male mice that were intact, castrated, or castrated and treated with estradiol or dihydrotestosterone (DHT). KNDy neurons exhibited marked peaks and nadirs in action potential firing activity during recordings lasting 1 to 3.5 hours. Peaks, identified by Cluster analysis, occurred more frequently in castrated than intact mice, and either estradiol or DHT in vivo or blocking neurokinin type 3 receptor in vitro restored peak frequency to intact levels. The frequency of peaks in firing rate and estradiol regulation of this frequency is similar to that observed for GnRH neurons, whereas DHT suppressed firing in KNDy but not GnRH neurons. We further examined the patterning of action potentials to identify bursts that may be associated with increased neuromodulator release. Burst frequency and duration are increased in castrated compared with intact and steroid-treated mice. The observation that KNDy neurons fire in an episodic manner that is regulated by steroid feedback is consistent with a role for these neurons in GnRH pulse generation and regulation. Copyright © 2017 Endocrine Society.

Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea due to increased CRH tone in melanocortin receptor 2-deficient mice.

PubMed

Matsuwaki, Takashi; Nishihara, Masugi; Sato, Tsuyoshi; Yoda, Tetsuya; Iwakura, Yoichiro; Chida, Dai

2010-11-01

Exposure to chronic stressors results in dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and a disruption in reproduction. CRH, the principal regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis induces the secretion of ACTH from the pituitary, which stimulates adrenal steroidogenesis via the specific cell-surface melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R). Previously, we demonstrated that MC2R(-/-) mice had undetectable levels of corticosterone despite high ACTH levels. Here, we evaluated the reproductive functions of female MC2R(-/-) mice and analyzed the mechanism of the disrupted cyclicity of these mice. The expression of CRH in the paraventricular nucleus was significantly increased in MC2R(-/-) mice under nonstressed conditions. Although MC2R(-/-) females were fertile, they showed a prolonged estrous cycle. After hormonal stimulation, MC2R(-/-) females produced nearly-normal numbers of eggs, but slightly less than MC2R(+/-) females, and showed near-normal ovarian histology. During diestrus, the number of GnRH-positive cells in the medial preoptic area was significantly reduced in MC2R(-/-) females. CRH type 1 receptor antagonist restored estrous cyclicity in MC2R(-/-) females. Kisspeptin-positive areas in the arcuate nucleus were comparable, whereas kisspeptin-positive areas in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus in MC2R(-/-) females were significantly reduced compared with MC2R(+/-) females, suggesting that arcuate nucleus kisspeptin is not involved, but anteroventral periventricular nucleus kisspeptin may be involved, in the maintenance of estrous cyclicity. Our findings show that high levels of hypothalamic CRH disturb estrous cyclicity in the female animals and that the MC2R(-/-) female is a unique animal model of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Neuroanatomical Relationship of nNOS to GnRH and Kisspeptin Neurons in Adult Female Sheep and Primates.

PubMed

Bedenbaugh, Michelle; McCosh, Rick; Lopez, Justin; Connors, John; Goodman, Robert L; Hileman, Stan

2018-06-21

Background: Neuronal intermediates that communicate estrogen and progesterone feedback to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons are essential for modulating reproductive cyclicity. Individually, kisspeptin and nitric oxide (NO) influence GnRH secretion. However, it is possible these two neuronal intermediates interact with one another to affect reproductive cyclicity. We investigated the neuroanatomical relationship of one isoform of the enzyme that synthesizes NO, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), to kisspeptin and GnRH in adult female rhesus monkeys and sheep using dual-label immunofluorescence. Additionally, we evaluated if the phase of the reproductive cycle would affect these relationships. Overall, no effect of stage of cycle was observed for any variable in this study. In the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of sheep, 98.8±3.5% of kisspeptin neurons colocalized with nNOS, and kisspeptin close-contacts were observed onto nNOS neurons. In contrast to ewes, no colocalization was observed between kisspeptin and nNOS in the infundibular arcuate nucleus (INF ARC) of primates, but kisspeptin fibers were apposed to nNOS neurons. In the preoptic area (POA) of ewes, 15.0±4.2% of GnRH neurons colocalized with nNOS. In primates, 38.8±10.1% of GnRH neurons in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) colocalized with nNOS, and GnRH close-contacts were observed onto nNOS neurons in both sheep and primates. Although species differences were observed, this work establishes a neuroanatomical framework between nNOS and kisspeptin and nNOS and GnRH in adult female nonhuman primates and sheep.
. ©2018S. Karger AG, Basel.

Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma in key neuronal subsets regulating glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis.

PubMed

Sarruf, David A; Yu, Fang; Nguyen, Hong T; Williams, Diana L; Printz, Richard L; Niswender, Kevin D; Schwartz, Michael W

2009-02-01

In addition to increasing insulin sensitivity and adipogenesis, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonists cause weight gain and hyperphagia. Given the central role of the brain in the control of energy homeostasis, we sought to determine whether PPARgamma is expressed in key brain areas involved in metabolic regulation. Using immunohistochemistry, PPARgamma distribution and its colocalization with neuron-specific protein markers were investigated in rat and mouse brain sections spanning the hypothalamus, the ventral tegmental area, and the nucleus tractus solitarius. In several brain areas, nuclear PPARgamma immunoreactivity was detected in cells that costained for neuronal nuclei, a neuronal marker. In the hypothalamus, PPARgamma immunoreactivity was observed in a majority of neurons in the arcuate (including both agouti related protein and alpha-MSH containing cells) and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei and was also present in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, the lateral hypothalamic area, and tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons in the ventral tegmental area but was not expressed in the nucleus tractus solitarius. To validate and extend these histochemical findings, we generated mice with neuron-specific PPARgamma deletion using nestin cre-LoxP technology. Compared with littermate controls, neuron-specific PPARgamma knockout mice exhibited dramatic reductions of both hypothalamic PPARgamma mRNA levels and PPARgamma immunoreactivity but showed no differences in food intake or body weight over a 4-wk study period. We conclude that: 1) PPARgamma mRNA and protein are expressed in the hypothalamus, 2) neurons are the predominant source of PPARgamma in the central nervous system, although it is likely expressed by nonneuronal cell types as well, and 3) arcuate nucleus neurons that control energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism are among those in which PPARgamma is expressed.

Hippocampal Ghrelin-positive neurons directly project to arcuate hypothalamic and medial amygdaloid nuclei. Could they modulate food-intake?

PubMed

Russo, Cristina; Russo, Antonella; Pellitteri, Rosalia; Stanzani, Stefania

2017-07-13

Feeding is a process controlled by a complex of associations between external and internal stimuli. The processes that involve learning and memory seem to exert a strong control over appetite and food intake, which is modulated by a gastrointestinal hormone, Ghrelin (Ghre). Recent studies claim that Ghre is involved in cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms that underlie the conditioning of eating behaviors. The expression of Ghre increases in anticipation of food intake based on learned behaviors. The hippocampal Ghre-containing neurons neurologically influence the orexigenic hypothalamus and consequently the learned feeding behavior. The CA1 field of Ammon's horn of the hippocampus (H-CA1) constitutes the most important neural substrate to control both appetitive and ingestive behavior. It also innervates amygdala regions that in turn innervate the hypothalamus. A recent study also implies that Ghre effects on cue-potentiated feeding behavior occur, at the least, via indirect action on the amygdala. In the present study, we investigate the neural substrates through which endogenous Ghre communicates conditioned appetite and feeding behavior within the CNS. We show the existence of a neural Ghre dependent pathway whereby peripherally-derived Ghre activates H-CA1 neurons, which in turn activate Ghre-expressing hypothalamic and amygdaloid neurons to stimulate appetite and feeding behavior. To highlight this pathway, we use two fluorescent retrograde tracers (Fluoro Gold and Dil) and immunohistochemical detection of Ghre expression in the hippocampus. Triple fluorescent-labeling has determined the presence of H-CA1 Ghre-containing collateralized neurons that project to the hypothalamus and amygdala monosynaptically. We hypothesize that H-Ghre-containing neurons in H-CA1 modulate food-intake behavior through direct pathways to the arcuate hypothalamic nucleus and medial amygdaloid nucleus. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sensory-to-motor integration during auditory repetition: a combined fMRI and lesion study

PubMed Central

Parker Jones, ‘Ōiwi; Prejawa, Susan; Hope, Thomas M. H.; Oberhuber, Marion; Seghier, Mohamed L.; Leff, Alex P.; Green, David W.; Price, Cathy J.

2014-01-01

The aim of this paper was to investigate the neurological underpinnings of auditory-to-motor translation during auditory repetition of unfamiliar pseudowords. We tested two different hypotheses. First we used functional magnetic resonance imaging in 25 healthy subjects to determine whether a functionally defined area in the left temporo-parietal junction (TPJ), referred to as Sylvian-parietal-temporal region (Spt), reflected the demands on auditory-to-motor integration during the repetition of pseudowords relative to a semantically mediated nonverbal sound-naming task. The experiment also allowed us to test alternative accounts of Spt function, namely that Spt is involved in subvocal articulation or auditory processing that can be driven either bottom-up or top-down. The results did not provide convincing evidence that activation increased in either Spt or any other cortical area when non-semantic auditory inputs were being translated into motor outputs. Instead, the results were most consistent with Spt responding to bottom up or top down auditory processing, independent of the demands on auditory-to-motor integration. Second, we investigated the lesion sites in eight patients who had selective difficulties repeating heard words but with preserved word comprehension, picture naming and verbal fluency (i.e., conduction aphasia). All eight patients had white-matter tract damage in the vicinity of the arcuate fasciculus and only one of the eight patients had additional damage to the Spt region, defined functionally in our fMRI data. Our results are therefore most consistent with the neurological tradition that emphasizes the importance of the arcuate fasciculus in the non-semantic integration of auditory and motor speech processing. PMID:24550807

Bisphenol S Alters the Lactating Mammary Gland and Nursing Behaviors in Mice Exposed During Pregnancy and Lactation.

PubMed

LaPlante, Charlotte D; Catanese, Mary C; Bansal, Ruby; Vandenberg, Laura N

2017-10-01

High doses of estrogenic pharmaceuticals were once prescribed to women to halt lactation. Yet, the effects of low-level xenoestrogens on lactation remain poorly studied. We investigated the effects of bisphenol S (BPS), an estrogen receptor (ER) agonist, on the lactating mammary gland; the arcuate nucleus, a region of the hypothalamus important for neuroendocrine control of lactational behaviors; and nursing behavior in CD-1 mice. Female mice were exposed to vehicle, 2 or 200 µg BPS/kg/d from pregnancy day 9 until lactational day (LD) 20, and tissues were collected on LD21. Tissues were also collected from a second group at LD2. BPS exposure significantly reduced the fraction of the mammary gland comprised of lobules, the milk-producing units, on LD21, but not LD2. BPS also altered expression of Esr1 and ERα in the mammary gland at LD21, consistent with early involution. In the arcuate nucleus, no changes were observed in expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, a marker of prolactin signaling, or ERα, suggesting that BPS may act directly on the mammary gland. However, observations of nursing behavior collected during the lactational period revealed stage-specific effects on both pup and maternal nursing behaviors; BPS-treated dams spent significantly more time nursing later in the lactational period, and BPS-treated pups were less likely to initiate nursing. Pup growth and development were also stunted. These data indicate that low doses of BPS can alter lactational behaviors and the maternal mammary gland. Together, they support the hypothesis that pregnancy and lactation are sensitive to low-dose xenoestrogen exposures. Copyright © 2017 Endocrine Society.

Comparison of diffusion tensor imaging tractography of language tracts and intraoperative subcortical stimulations.

PubMed

Leclercq, Delphine; Duffau, Hugues; Delmaire, Christine; Capelle, Laurent; Gatignol, Peggy; Ducros, Mathieu; Chiras, Jacques; Lehéricy, Stéphane

2010-03-01

Diffusion tensor (DT) imaging tractography is increasingly used to map fiber tracts in patients with surgical brain lesions to reduce the risk of postoperative functional deficit. There are few validation studies of DT imaging tractography in these patients. The aim of this study was to compare DT imaging tractography of language fiber tracts by using intraoperative subcortical electrical stimulations. The authors included 10 patients with low-grade gliomas or dysplasia located in language areas. The MR imaging examination included 3D T1-weighted images for anatomical coregistration, FLAIR, and DT images. Diffusion tensors and fiber tracts were calculated using in-house software. Four tracts were reconstructed in each patient including the arcuate fasciculus, the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, and 2 premotor fasciculi (the subcallosal medialis fiber tract and cortical fibers originating from the medial and lateral premotor areas). The authors compared fiber tracts reconstructed using DT imaging with those evidenced using intraoperative subcortical language mapping. Seventeen (81%) of 21 positive stimulations were concordant with DT imaging fiber bundles (located within 6 mm of a fiber tract). Four positive stimulations were not located in the vicinity of a DT imaging fiber tract. Stimulations of the arcuate fasciculus mostly induced articulatory and phonemic/syntactic disorders and less frequently semantic paraphasias. Stimulations of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus induced semantic paraphasias. Stimulations of the premotor-related fasciculi induced dysarthria and articulatory planning deficit. There was a good correspondence between positive stimulation sites and fiber tracts, suggesting that DT imaging fiber tracking is a reliable technique but not yet optimal to map language tracts in patients with brain lesions. Negative tractography does not rule out the persistence of a fiber tract, especially when invaded by the tumor. Stimulations of the different tracts induced variable language disorders that were specific to each fiber tract.

COMPUTERIZED EXPERT SYSTEM FOR EVALUATION OF AUTOMATED VISUAL FIELDS FROM THE ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY DECOMPRESSION TRIAL: METHODS, BASELINE FIELDS, AND SIX-MONTH LONGITUDINAL FOLLOW-UP

PubMed Central

Feldon, Steven E

2004-01-01

ABSTRACT Purpose To validate a computerized expert system evaluating visual fields in a prospective clinical trial, the Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial (IONDT). To identify the pattern and within-pattern severity of field defects for study eyes at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Design Humphrey visual field (HVF) change was used as the outcome measure for a prospective, randomized, multi-center trial to test the null hypothesis that optic nerve sheath decompression was ineffective in treating nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and to ascertain the natural history of the disease. Methods An expert panel established criteria for the type and severity of visual field defects. Using these criteria, a rule-based computerized expert system interpreted HVF from baseline and 6-month visits for patients randomized to surgery or careful follow-up and for patients who were not randomized. Results A computerized expert system was devised and validated. The system was then used to analyze HVFs. The pattern of defects found at baseline for patients randomized to surgery did not differ from that of patients randomized to careful follow-up. The most common pattern of defect was a superior and inferior arcuate with central scotoma for randomized eyes (19.2%) and a superior and inferior arcuate for nonrandomized eyes (30.6%). Field patterns at 6 months and baseline were not different. For randomized study eyes, the superior altitudinal defects improved (P = .03), as did the inferior altitudinal defects (P = .01). For nonrandomized study eyes, only the inferior altitudinal defects improved (P = .02). No treatment effect was noted. Conclusions A novel rule-based expert system successfully interpreted visual field defects at baseline of eyes enrolled in the IONDT. PMID:15747764

Hypothalamic gliosis associated with high-fat diet feeding is reversible in mice: a combined immunohistochemical and magnetic resonance imaging study.

PubMed

Berkseth, Kathryn E; Guyenet, Stephan J; Melhorn, Susan J; Lee, Donghoon; Thaler, Joshua P; Schur, Ellen A; Schwartz, Michael W

2014-08-01

Gliosis, the activation of astrocyte and microglial cell populations, is a hallmark of central nervous system injury and is detectable using either immunohistochemistry or in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Obesity in rodents and humans is associated with gliosis of the arcuate nucleus, a key hypothalamic region for the regulation of energy homeostasis and adiposity, but whether this response is permanent or reversible is unknown. Here we combine terminal immunohistochemistry analysis with serial, noninvasive MRI to characterize the progression and reversibility of hypothalamic gliosis in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. The effects of HFD feeding for 16 weeks to increase body weight and adiposity relative to chow were nearly normalized after the return to chow feeding for an additional 4 weeks in the diet-reversal group. Mice maintained on the HFD for the full 20-week study period experienced continued weight gain associated with the expected increases of astrocyte and microglial activation in the arcuate nucleus, but these changes were not observed in the diet-reversal group. The proopiomelanocortin neuron number did not differ between groups. Although MRI demonstrated a positive correlation between body weight, adiposity, and the gliosis-associated T2 signal in the mediobasal hypothalamus, it did not detect the reversal of gliosis among the HFD-fed mice after the return to chow diet. We conclude that hypothalamic gliosis associated with 16-week HFD feeding is largely reversible in rodents, consistent with the reversal of the HFD-induced obesity phenotype, and extend published evidence regarding the utility of MRI as a tool for studying obesity-associated hypothalamic gliosis in vivo.

Reduced AgRP activation in the hypothalamus of cows with high extent of fat mobilization after parturition.

PubMed

Börner, Sabina; Albrecht, Elke; Schäff, Christine; Hacke, Sandra; Kautzsch, Ulrike; Derno, Michael; Hammon, Harald M; Röntgen, Monika; Sauerwein, Helga; Kuhla, Björn

2013-11-01

Agouti-related protein (AgRP), produced by neurons located in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus stimulates feed intake. During early lactation dairy cows increase their feed intake and additionally mobilize their fat reserves leading to increased plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations. Since cows with a higher extent of fat mobilization exhibit the lower feed intake, it seems that high NEFA concentrations confine hyperphagia. To test the involvement of AgRP neurons, we investigated 18 cows from parturition until day 40 postpartum (pp) and assigned the cows according to their NEFA concentration on day 40pp to either group H (high NEFA) or L (low NEFA). Both groups had comparable feed intake, body weight, milk yield, energy balance, plasma amino acids and leptin concentrations. Studies in respiratory chambers revealed the higher oxygen consumption and the lower respiratory quotient (RQ) in H compared to L cows. mRNA abundance of neuropeptide Y, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, AMP-activated protein kinase, and leptin receptor in the arcuate nucleus were comparable between groups. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the same number of AgRP neurons in H and L cows. AgRP neurons were co-localized with phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase without any differences between groups. The percentage of cFOS-activated AgRP neurons per total AgRP cells was lower in H cows and correlated negatively with oxygen consumption and NEFA, positively with RQ, but not with feed intake. We conclude that AgRP activation plays a pivotal role in the regulation of substrate utilization and metabolic rate in high NEFA dairy cows during early lactation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

IL-10 gene transfer upregulates arcuate POMC and ameliorates hyperphagia, obesity and diabetes by substituting for leptin.

PubMed

Nakata, M; Yamamoto, S; Okada, T; Gantulga, D; Okano, H; Ozawa, K; Yada, T

2016-03-01

Obesity and metabolic syndrome are the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Obesity is caused by increased food intake and/or decreased energy expenditure. Leptin potently inhibits food intake and promotes energy expenditure. These effects of leptin involve the activation of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamus arcuate nucleus (ARC). Disruption of leptin signaling in POMC neuron is considered one of the major causes for obesity. The present study aimed to examine whether overexpression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) could substitute for the leptin action and ameliorate obesity in leptin-deficient Lep(ob/ob) mice. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing murine IL-10 (AAV-mIL-10) was injected into the skeletal muscle to overexpress IL-10 in mice. These mice were subsequently subjected to analysis of body weight, food intake, glucose metabolism and underlying mechanisms. In Lep(ob/ob) mice, AAV-IL-10 ameliorated hyperphagia, obesity, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, as well as attenuated tumor necrosis factor-α expression. The IL-10 treatment also improved glucose-induced insulin release. Furthermore, IL-10 treatment increased POMC mRNA expression in ARC and phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) in ARC and white adipose tissue (WAT). In neuron-specific STAT3-null mice that exhibited obesity and hyperphagia, AAV-mIL-10 administration failed to affect food intake, body weight and phosphorylation of STAT3 in WAT. These results demonstrate that peripheral overexpression of IL-10 induces STAT3 phosphorylation in ARC POMC neurons, and thereby ameliorates hyperphagia and obesity caused by leptin deficiency. IL-10 gene transfer may provide an effective approach for preventing progression of metabolic syndrome due to leptin resistance.

Dysfunction of intraflagellar transport-A causes hyperphagia-induced obesity and metabolic syndrome.

PubMed

Jacobs, Damon T; Silva, Luciane M; Allard, Bailey A; Schonfeld, Michael P; Chatterjee, Anindita; Talbott, George C; Beier, David R; Tran, Pamela V

2016-07-01

Primary cilia extend from the plasma membrane of most vertebrate cells and mediate signaling pathways. Ciliary dysfunction underlies ciliopathies, which are genetic syndromes that manifest multiple clinical features, including renal cystic disease and obesity. THM1 (also termed TTC21B or IFT139) encodes a component of the intraflagellar transport-A complex and mutations in THM1 have been identified in 5% of individuals with ciliopathies. Consistent with this, deletion of murine Thm1 during late embryonic development results in cystic kidney disease. Here, we report that deletion of murine Thm1 during adulthood results in obesity, diabetes, hypertension and fatty liver disease, with gender differences in susceptibility to weight gain and metabolic dysfunction. Pair-feeding of Thm1 conditional knock-out mice relative to control littermates prevented the obesity and related disorders, indicating that hyperphagia caused the obese phenotype. Thm1 ablation resulted in increased localization of adenylyl cyclase III in primary cilia that were shortened, with bulbous distal tips on neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, an integrative center for signals that regulate feeding and activity. In pre-obese Thm1 conditional knock-out mice, expression of anorexogenic pro-opiomelanocortin (Pomc) was decreased by 50% in the arcuate nucleus, which likely caused the hyperphagia. Fasting of Thm1 conditional knock-out mice did not alter Pomc nor orexogenic agouti-related neuropeptide (Agrp) expression, suggesting impaired sensing of changes in peripheral signals. Together, these data indicate that the Thm1-mutant ciliary defect diminishes sensitivity to feeding signals, which alters appetite regulation and leads to hyperphagia, obesity and metabolic disease. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Hyperphagia induced by sucrose: relation to circulating and CSF glucose and corticosterone and orexigenic peptides in the arcuate nucleus.

PubMed

Gaysinskaya, V A; Karatayev, O; Shuluk, J; Leibowitz, S F

2011-01-01

Sucrose-rich diets compared to starch-rich diets are known to stimulate overeating under chronic conditions. The present study in normal-weight rats established an acute "preload-to-test meal" paradigm for demonstrating sucrose-induced hyperphagia and investigating possible mechanisms that mediate this behavioral phenomenon. In this acute paradigm, the rats were first given a small (15 kcal) sucrose preload (30% sucrose) for 30 min compared to an equicaloric, starch preload (25% starch with 5% sucrose) and then allowed to freely consume a subsequent test meal of lab chow. The sucrose preload, when compared to a starch preload equal in energy density and palatability, consistently increased food intake in the subsequent test meal occurring between 60 and 120 min after the end of the preload. Measurements of hormones, metabolites and hypothalamic peptides immediately preceding this hyperphagia revealed marked differences between the sucrose vs starch groups that could contribute to the increase in food intake. Whereas the sucrose group compared to the starch group immediately after the preload (at 10 min) had elevated levels of glucose in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) along with reduced expressions of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), the subsequent effects (at 30-60 min) just preceding the test meal hyperphagia were the reverse. Along with lower levels of glucose, they included markedly elevated serum and CSF levels of corticosterone and mRNA levels of NPY and AgRP in the ARC. In addition to establishing an animal model for sucrose-induced hyperphagia, these results demonstrate peripheral and central mechanisms that may mediate this behavioral phenomenon. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

HYPERPHAGIA INDUCED BY SUCROSE: RELATION TO CIRCULATING AND CSF GLUCOSE AND CORTICOSTERONE AND OREXIGENIC PEPTIDES IN THE ARCUATE NUCLEUS

PubMed Central

Gaysinskaya, V. A.; Karatayev, O.; Shuluk, J.; Leibowitz, S. F.

2010-01-01

Sucrose-rich diets compared to starch-rich diets are known to stimulate overeating under chronic conditions. The present study in normal-weight rats established an acute “preload-to-test meal” paradigm for demonstrating sucrose-induced hyperphagia and investigating possible mechanisms that mediate this behavioral phenomenon. In this acute paradigm, the rats were first given a small (15 kcals) sucrose preload (30% sucrose) for 30 min compared to an equicaloric, starch preload (25% starch with 5% sucrose) and then allowed to freely consume a subsequent test meal of lab chow. The sucrose preload, when compared to a starch preload equal in energy density and palatability, consistently increased food intake in the subsequent test meal occurring between 60–120 min after the end of the preload. Measurements of hormones, metabolites and hypothalamic peptides immediately preceding this hyperphagia revealed marked differences between the sucrose vs starch groups that could contribute to the increase in food intake. Whereas the sucrose group compared to starch group immediately after the preload (at 10 min) had elevated levels of glucose in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) along with reduced expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), the subsequent effects (at 30–60 min) just preceding the test meal hyperphagia were the reverse. Along with lower levels of glucose, they included markedly elevated serum and CSF levels of corticosterone and mRNA levels of NPY and AgRP in the ARC. In addition to establishing an animal model for sucrose-induced hyperphagia, these results demonstrate peripheral and central mechanisms that may mediate this behavioral phenomenon. PMID:21036188

Predicting early signs of dyslexia at a preliterate age by combining behavioral assessment with structural MRI.

PubMed

Kraft, Indra; Schreiber, Jan; Cafiero, Riccardo; Metere, Riccardo; Schaadt, Gesa; Brauer, Jens; Neef, Nicole E; Müller, Bent; Kirsten, Holger; Wilcke, Arndt; Boltze, Johannes; Friederici, Angela D; Skeide, Michael A

2016-12-01

Recent studies suggest that neurobiological anomalies are already detectable in pre-school children with a family history of developmental dyslexia (DD). However, there is a lack of longitudinal studies showing a direct link between those differences at a preliterate age and the subsequent literacy difficulties seen in school. It is also not clear whether the prediction of DD in pre-school children can be significantly improved when considering neurobiological predictors, compared to models based on behavioral literacy precursors only. We recruited 53 pre-reading children either with (N=25) or without a family risk of DD (N=28). Quantitative T1 MNI data and literacy precursor abilities were assessed at kindergarten age. A subsample of 35 children was tested for literacy skills either one or two years later, that is, either in first or second grade. The group comparison of quantitative T1 measures revealed significantly higher T1 intensities in the left anterior arcuate fascicle (AF), suggesting reduced myelin concentration in preliterate children at risk of DD. A logistic regression showed that DD can be predicted significantly better (p=.024) when neuroanatomical differences between groups are used as predictors (80%) compared to a model based on behavioral predictors only (63%). The Wald statistic confirmed that the T1 intensity of the left AF is a statistically significant predictor of DD (p<.05). Our longitudinal results provide evidence for the hypothesis that neuroanatomical anomalies in children with a family risk of DD are related to subsequent problems in acquiring literacy. Particularly, solid white matter organization in the left anterior arcuate fascicle seems to play a pivotal role. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Functional potentiation of leptin-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling by the androgen receptor.

PubMed

Fan, WuQiang; Yanase, Toshihiko; Nishi, Yoshihiro; Chiba, Seiichi; Okabe, Taijiro; Nomura, Masatoshi; Yoshimatsu, Hironobu; Kato, Shigeaki; Takayanagi, Ryoichi; Nawata, Hajime

2008-12-01

Hypogonadism is associated with increased fat mass and dysregulation of metabolic homeostasis in men. Our previous study revealed that androgen receptor (AR)-null male mice (ARL-/Y) develop late-onset obesity and are leptin-resistant. The present study evaluated how hypothalamic AR contributes to central leptin-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. We evaluated leptin action in wild-type and ARL-/Y mice, the anatomic co-relationship between AR and leptin signaling in the hypothalamus, and the effects of AR on leptin-mediated STAT3 transactivation and nuclear translocation. AR deletion in male mice results in a weaker leptin-induced suppression of food intake and body weight drop even before the onset of overt obesity. In wild-type male but not female mice, AR was highly expressed in various hypothalamic nuclei that also expressed the long-form leptin receptor (OBRB) and co-resided with OBRB directly in the arcuate neurons. In vitro, AR significantly enhanced STAT3-mediated transcription of leptin target genes including POMC and SOCS3. This effect relied on the AR N-terminal activation function-1 (AF-1) domain and was specific to AR in that none of the other sex steroid hormone receptors tested showed similar effects. AR enhanced the low concentrations of leptin-induced STAT3 nuclear translocation in vitro, and ARL-/Y mice receiving leptin had impaired STAT3 nuclear localization in the arcuate neurons. These findings indicate that AR in the hypothalamus functions as a regulator of central leptin-OBRB-STAT3 signaling and has a physiological role in energy homeostasis and metabolic regulation in male mice.

Identification of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus-specific enhancer region of Kiss1 gene in mice.

PubMed

Goto, Teppei; Tomikawa, Junko; Ikegami, Kana; Minabe, Shiori; Abe, Hitomi; Fukanuma, Tatsuya; Imamura, Takuya; Takase, Kenji; Sanbo, Makoto; Tomita, Koichi; Hirabayashi, Masumi; Maeda, Kei-ichiro; Tsukamura, Hiroko; Uenoyama, Yoshihisa

2015-01-01

Pulsatile secretion of GnRH plays a pivotal role in follicular development via stimulating tonic gonadotropin secretion in mammals. Kisspeptin neurons, located in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), are considered to be an intrinsic source of the GnRH pulse generator. The present study aimed to determine ARC-specific enhancer(s) of the Kiss1 gene by an in vivo reporter assay. Three green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter constructs (long, medium length, and short) were generated by insertion of GFP cDNA at the Kiss1 locus. Transgenic female mice bearing the long and medium-length constructs showed apparent GFP signals in kisspeptin-immunoreactive cells in both the ARC and anteroventral periventricular nucleus, in which another population of kisspeptin neurons are located. On the other hand, transgenic mice bearing 5'-truncated short construct showed few GFP signals in the ARC kisspeptin-immunoreactive cells, whereas they showed colocalization of GFP- and kisspeptin-immunoreactivities in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation and chromosome conformation capture assays revealed recruitment of unoccupied estrogen receptor-α in the 5'-upstream region and intricate chromatin loop formation between the 5'-upstream and promoter regions of Kiss1 locus in the ARC. Taken together, the present results indicate that 5'-upstream region of Kiss1 locus plays a critical role in Kiss1 gene expression in an ARC-specific manner and that the recruitment of estrogen receptor-α and formation of a chromatin loop between the Kiss1 promoter and the 5' enhancer region may be required for the induction of ARC-specific Kiss1 gene expression. These results suggest that the 5'-upstream region of Kiss1 locus functions as an enhancer for ARC Kiss1 gene expression in mice.

Photogrammetry of the Human Brain: A Novel Method for Three-Dimensional Quantitative Exploration of the Structural Connectivity in Neurosurgery and Neurosciences.

PubMed

De Benedictis, Alessandro; Nocerino, Erica; Menna, Fabio; Remondino, Fabio; Barbareschi, Mattia; Rozzanigo, Umberto; Corsini, Francesco; Olivetti, Emanuele; Marras, Carlo Efisio; Chioffi, Franco; Avesani, Paolo; Sarubbo, Silvio

2018-04-13

Anatomic awareness of the structural connectivity of the brain is mandatory for neurosurgeons, to select the most effective approaches for brain resections. Although standard microdissection is a validated technique to investigate the different white matter (WM) pathways and to verify the results of tractography, the possibility of interactive exploration of the specimens and reliable acquisition of quantitative information has not been described. Photogrammetry is a well-established technique allowing an accurate metrology on highly defined three-dimensional (3D) models. The aim of this work is to propose the application of the photogrammetric technique for supporting the 3D exploration and the quantitative analysis on the cerebral WM connectivity. The main perisylvian pathways, including the superior longitudinal fascicle and the arcuate fascicle were exposed using the Klingler technique. The photogrammetric acquisition followed each dissection step. The point clouds were registered to a reference magnetic resonance image of the specimen. All the acquisitions were coregistered into an open-source model. We analyzed 5 steps, including the cortical surface, the short intergyral fibers, the indirect posterior and anterior superior longitudinal fascicle, and the arcuate fascicle. The coregistration between the magnetic resonance imaging mesh and the point clouds models was highly accurate. Multiple measures of distances between specific cortical landmarks and WM tracts were collected on the photogrammetric model. Photogrammetry allows an accurate 3D reproduction of WM anatomy and the acquisition of unlimited quantitative data directly on the real specimen during the postdissection analysis. These results open many new promising neuroscientific and educational perspectives and also optimize the quality of neurosurgical treatments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus is involved in mediating the satiety effect of electroacupuncture in obese rats.

PubMed

Fei Wang; Tian, De Run; Tso, Patrick; Han, Ji Sheng

2011-12-01

Obesity is a major health problem in the world. Since effective remedies are rare, researchers are trying to discover new therapies for obesity, and acupuncture is among the most popular alternative approaches. This study investigated the anti-obesity mechanisms of EA, using a rat model of diet-induced obesity. After feeding with a high-fat diet for 9 weeks, a number of rats who gained weight that surpassed the maximal body weight of rats in the chow-fed group were considered obese and employed in the study. A 2 Hz EA treatment at the acupoints ST36/SP6 with the intensity increasing stepwise from 0.5-1-1.5 mA was given once a day for 30 min. Rats treated with EA showed significantly decreased food intake and reduced body weight compared with the rats in DIO and restraint group. EA treatment increased peptide levels of α-MSH and mRNA levels of its precursor POMC in the arcuate nuclear of hypothalamus (ARH) neurons. In addition, the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) content of α-MSH was elevated by EA application. ARH lesions by monosodium glutamate abolished the inhibition effect of EA on food intake and body weight. A non-acupoint stimulation did not show the benefit effect on food intake inhibition and body weight reduction compared with restraint and ST36/SP6 EA treatment. We concluded that EA treatment at ST36/SP6 acted through ARH to significantly inhibit food intake and body weight gain when fed a high-fat diet and that the stimulation of α-MSH expression and release might be involved in the mechanism. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Changes in the female arcuate nucleus morphology and neurochemistry after chronic ethanol consumption and long-term withdrawal.

PubMed

Rebouças, Elce C C; Leal, Sandra; Silva, Susana M; Sá, Susana I

2016-11-01

Ethanol is a macronutrient whose intake is a form of ingestive behavior, sharing physiological mechanisms with food intake. Chronic ethanol consumption is detrimental to the brain, inducing gender-dependent neuronal damage. The hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARN) is a modulator of food intake that expresses feeding-regulatory neuropeptides, such as alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Despite its involvement in pathways associated with eating disorders and ethanol abuse, the impact of ethanol consumption and withdrawal in the ARN structure and neurochemistry in females is unknown. We used female rat models of 20% ethanol consumption for six months and of subsequent ethanol withdrawal for two months. Food intake and body weights were measured. ARN morphology was stereologically analyzed to estimate its volume, total number of neurons and total number of neurons expressing NPY, α-MSH, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Ethanol decreased energy intake and body weights. However, it did not change the ARN morphology or the expression of NPY, α-MSH and TH, while increasing ERα expression. Withdrawal induced a significant volume and neuron loss that was accompanied by an increase in NPY expression without affecting α-MSH and TH expression. These findings indicate that the female ARN is more vulnerable to withdrawal than to excess alcohol. The data also support the hypothesis that the same pathways that regulate the expression of NPY and α-MSH in long-term ethanol intake may regulate food intake. The present model of long-term ethanol intake and withdrawal induces new physiological conditions with adaptive responses. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Surgical anatomy of the peri-insular association tracts. Part I.The superior longitudinal fascicle system].

PubMed

Bykanov, A E; Pitskhelauri, D I; Batalov, A I; Pronin, I N; Shkarubo, M A; Dobrovol'sky, G F; Kobyakov, G L; Buklina, S B; Puchkov, V L; Zakharova, N E; Smirnov, A S; Sanikidze, A Z; Gol'bin, D A; Pogosbekyan, E L; Kudieva, E S; Shkatova, A M; Potapov, A A

To study the peri-insular association tract anatomy and define the permissible anatomical boundaries for resection of glial insular tumors with allowance for the surgical anatomy of the peri-insular association tracts. In an anatomic study of the superior longitudinal fascicle system (SLF I, SLF II, SLF III, arcuate fascicle), we used 12 anatomical specimens (6 left and 6 right hemispheres) prepared according to the Klingler's fiber dissection technique. To confirm the dissection data, we used MR tractography (HARDI-CSD-tractography) of the conduction tracts, which was performed in two healthy volunteers. Except the SLF I (identified in 7 hemispheres by fiber dissection), all fascicles of the SLF system were found in all investigated hemispheres by both fiber dissection and MR tractography. The transcortical approach to the insula through the frontal and (or) parietal operculum is associated with a significant risk of transverse transection of the SLF III fibers passing in the frontal and parietal opercula. The most optimal area for the transcortical approach to the insula is the anterior third of the superior temporal gyrus that lacks important association tracts and, consequently, a risk of their injury. The superior peri-insular sulcus is an intraoperative landmark for the transsylvian approach, which enables identification of the SLF II and arcuate fascicle in the surgical wound. Detailed knowledge of the peri-insular association tract anatomy is the prerequisite for neurosurgery in the insular region. Our findings facilitate correct identification of both the site for cerebral operculum dissection upon the transcortical approach and the intraoperative landmarks for locating the association tracts in the surgical wound upon the transsylvian approach to the insula.

Disorder-Specific Alteration in White Matter Structural Property in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder Relative to Adults With ADHD and Adult Controls.

PubMed

Chiang, Huey-Ling; Chen, Yu-Jen; Lin, Hsiang-Yuan; Tseng, Wen-Yih Isaac; Gau, Susan Shur-Fen

2017-01-01

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not only often comorbid but also overlapped in behavioral and cognitive abnormalities. Little is known about whether these shared phenotypes are based on common or different underlying neuropathologies. Therefore, this study aims to examine the disorder-specific alterations in white matter (WM) structural property. The three comparison groups included 23 male adults with ASD (21.4 ± 3.1 years), 32 male adults with ADHD (23.4 ± 3.3 years), and 29 age-matched healthy male controls (22.4 ± 3.3 years). After acquisition of the diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI), whole brain tractography was reconstructed by a tract-based automatic analysis. Generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA) values were computed to indicate tract-specific WM property with adjusted P value < 0.05 for false discovery rate correction. Post hoc analyses revealed that men with ASD exhibited significant lower GFA values than men with ADHD and male controls in six identified fiber tracts: the right arcuate fasciculus, right cingulum (hippocampal part), anterior commissure, and three callosal fibers (ventrolateral prefrontal cortex part, precentral part, superior temporal part). There was no significant difference in the GFA values of any of the fiber tracts between men with ADHD and controls. In men with ASD, the GFA values of the right arcuate fasciculus and right cingulum (hippocampal part) were negatively associated with autistic social-deficit symptoms, and the anterior commissure GFA value was positively correlated with intelligence. This study highlights the disorder-specific alteration of the microstructural property of WM tracts in male adults with ASD. Hum Brain Mapp 38:384-395, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The ghrelin receptor agonist HM01 mimics the neuronal effects of ghrelin in the arcuate nucleus and attenuates anorexia-cachexia syndrome in tumor-bearing rats.

PubMed

Borner, Tito; Loi, Laura; Pietra, Claudio; Giuliano, Claudio; Lutz, Thomas A; Riediger, Thomas

2016-07-01

The gastric hormone ghrelin positively affects energy balance by increasing food intake and reducing energy expenditure. Ghrelin mimetics are a possible treatment against cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS). This study aimed to characterize the action of the nonpeptidergic ghrelin receptor agonist HM01 on neuronal function, energy homeostasis and muscle mass in healthy rats and to evaluate its possible usefulness for the treatment of CACS in a rat tumor model. Using extracellular single-unit recordings, we tested whether HM01 mimics the effects of ghrelin on neuronal activity in the arcuate nucleus (Arc). Furthermore, we assessed the effect of chronic HM01 treatment on food intake (FI), body weight (BW), lean and fat volumes, and muscle mass in healthy rats. Using a hepatoma model, we investigated the possible beneficial effects of HM01 on tumor-induced anorexia, BW loss, muscle wasting, and metabolic rate. HM01 (10(-7)-10(-6) M) mimicked the effect of ghrelin (10(-8) M) by increasing the firing rate in 76% of Arc neurons. HM01 delivered chronically for 12 days via osmotic minipumps (50 μg/h) increased FI in healthy rats by 24%, paralleled by increased BW, higher fat and lean volumes, and higher muscle mass. Tumor-bearing rats treated with HM01 had 30% higher FI than tumor-bearing controls and were protected against BW loss. HM01 treatment resulted in higher muscle mass and fat mass. Moreover, tumor-bearing rats reduced their metabolic rate following HM01 treatment. Our studies substantiate the possible therapeutic usefulness of ghrelin receptor agonists like HM01 for the treatment of CACS and possibly other forms of disease-related anorexia and cachexia. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

Activity-based anorexia activates nesfatin-1 immunoreactive neurons in distinct brain nuclei of female rats.

PubMed

Scharner, Sophie; Prinz, Philip; Goebel-Stengel, Miriam; Lommel, Reinhard; Kobelt, Peter; Hofmann, Tobias; Rose, Matthias; Stengel, Andreas

2017-12-15

Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is an established animal model for the eating disorder anorexia nervosa (AN). The pathophysiology of AN and the involvement of food intake-regulatory peptides is still poorly understood. Nesfatin-1, an anorexigenic peptide also involved in the mediation of stress, anxiety and depression might be a likely candidate involved in the pathogenesis of AN. Therefore, activation of nesfatin-1 immunoreactive (ir) brain nuclei was investigated under conditions of ABA. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into four groups (n=6/group): activity-based anorexia (ABA), restricted feeding (RF), activity (AC) and ad libitum fed (AL). After the 21-day experimental period and development of ABA, brains were processed for c-Fos/nesfatin-1 double labeling immunohistochemistry. ABA increased the number of nesfatin-1 immunopositive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, locus coeruleus and in the rostral part of the nucleus of the solitary tract compared to AL and AC groups (p<0.05) but not to RF rats (p>0.05). Moreover, we observed significantly more c-Fos and nesfatin-1 ir double-labeled cells in ABA rats compared to RF, AL and AC in the supraoptic nucleus (p<0.05) and compared to AL and AC in the paraventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, dorsal raphe nucleus and the rostral raphe pallidus (p<0.05). Since nesfatin-1 plays a role in the inhibition of food intake and the response to stress, we hypothesize that the observed changes of brain nesfatin-1 might play a role in the pathophysiology and symptomatology under conditions of ABA and potentially also in patients with AN. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Damage to ventral and dorsal language pathways in acute aphasia

PubMed Central

Hartwigsen, Gesa; Kellmeyer, Philipp; Glauche, Volkmar; Mader, Irina; Klöppel, Stefan; Suchan, Julia; Karnath, Hans-Otto; Weiller, Cornelius; Saur, Dorothee

2013-01-01

Converging evidence from neuroimaging studies and computational modelling suggests an organization of language in a dual dorsal–ventral brain network: a dorsal stream connects temporoparietal with frontal premotor regions through the superior longitudinal and arcuate fasciculus and integrates sensorimotor processing, e.g. in repetition of speech. A ventral stream connects temporal and prefrontal regions via the extreme capsule and mediates meaning, e.g. in auditory comprehension. The aim of our study was to test, in a large sample of 100 aphasic stroke patients, how well acute impairments of repetition and comprehension correlate with lesions of either the dorsal or ventral stream. We combined voxelwise lesion-behaviour mapping with the dorsal and ventral white matter fibre tracts determined by probabilistic fibre tracking in our previous study in healthy subjects. We found that repetition impairments were mainly associated with lesions located in the posterior temporoparietal region with a statistical lesion maximum in the periventricular white matter in projection of the dorsal superior longitudinal and arcuate fasciculus. In contrast, lesions associated with comprehension deficits were found more ventral-anterior in the temporoprefrontal region with a statistical lesion maximum between the insular cortex and the putamen in projection of the ventral extreme capsule. Individual lesion overlap with the dorsal fibre tract showed a significant negative correlation with repetition performance, whereas lesion overlap with the ventral fibre tract revealed a significant negative correlation with comprehension performance. To summarize, our results from patients with acute stroke lesions support the claim that language is organized along two segregated dorsal–ventral streams. Particularly, this is the first lesion study demonstrating that task performance on auditory comprehension measures requires an interaction between temporal and prefrontal brain regions via the ventral extreme capsule pathway. PMID:23378217

Obesity-driven synaptic remodeling affects endocannabinoid control of orexinergic neurons

PubMed Central

Cristino, Luigia; Busetto, Giuseppe; Imperatore, Roberta; Ferrandino, Ida; Palomba, Letizia; Silvestri, Cristoforo; Petrosino, Stefania; Orlando, Pierangelo; Bentivoglio, Marina; Mackie, Kenneth; Di Marzo, Vincenzo

2013-01-01

Acute or chronic alterations in energy status alter the balance between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission and associated synaptic plasticity to allow for the adaptation of energy metabolism to new homeostatic requirements. The impact of such changes on endocannabinoid and cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1)-mediated modulation of synaptic transmission and strength is not known, despite the fact that this signaling system is an important target for the development of new drugs against obesity. We investigated whether CB1-expressing excitatory vs. inhibitory inputs to orexin-A–containing neurons in the lateral hypothalamus are altered in obesity and how this modifies endocannabinoid control of these neurons. In lean mice, these inputs are mostly excitatory. By confocal and ultrastructural microscopic analyses, we observed that in leptin-knockout (ob/ob) obese mice, and in mice with diet-induced obesity, orexinergic neurons receive predominantly inhibitory CB1-expressing inputs and overexpress the biosynthetic enzyme for the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol, which retrogradely inhibits synaptic transmission at CB1-expressing axon terminals. Patch-clamp recordings also showed increased CB1-sensitive inhibitory innervation of orexinergic neurons in ob/ob mice. These alterations are reversed by leptin administration, partly through activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway in neuropeptide-Y-ergic neurons of the arcuate nucleus, and are accompanied by CB1-mediated enhancement of orexinergic innervation of target brain areas. We propose that enhanced inhibitory control of orexin-A neurons, and their CB1-mediated disinhibition, are a consequence of leptin signaling impairment in the arcuate nucleus. We also provide initial evidence of the participation of this phenomenon in hyperphagia and hormonal dysregulation in obesity. PMID:23630288

Expression of c-Fos in Arcuate Nucleus Induced by Electroacupuncture: relations to neurons containing opioids and glutamate

PubMed Central

Guo, Zhi-Ling; Longhurst, John C.

2007-01-01

Electroacupuncture (EA) at the Neiguan-Jianshi acupoints (P5-P6, overlying the median nerve) attenuates sympathoexcitatory reflexes probably through affecting the opioid system. The arcuate nucleus (ARC) within hypothalamus is an important brain area that produces opioid peptides. Current physiological studies have demonstrated that the predominant response to EA is excitation in the ARC and that excitatory projections from the ARC to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray during EA at P5-P6 contribute to inhibition of sympathoexcitatory cardiovascular reflexes. These data imply that ARC neurons activated by EA also may contain excitatory neurotransmitters. Thus, the present study evaluated activation of the ARC induced by EA at P5-P6, in relation to the opioid system and glutamate, by detecting c-Fos, an immediate early gene, opioid peptides and vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT3). To enhance detection of perikarya containing the opioid peptides, colchicine (90–100 µg/kg) was administered in cats 28–30 hours before EA or the sham-operated control. EA was performed at P5-P6 for 30 min. Compared to controls (n=5), c-Fos positive cells and neurons double-labeled with c-Fos and β-endorphin, enkephalin or VGLUT3 in the ARC were significantly increased in EA-treated cats (n=6; all P<0.05). Moreover, neurons triple-labeled with c-Fos, β-endorphin and VGLUT3 were noted in this region following EA stimulation, but not in controls. Thus, EA at P5-P6 activates neurons in the ARC, some of which contain opioids as well as glutamate or both. The results imply that EA at P5-P6 has the potential to influence ARC neurons containing multiple neuronal substances that subsequently modulate cardiovascular function. PMID:17662967