Transferrin receptor 1 plays an important role in muscle development and denervation-induced muscular atrophy

Previous studies demonstrate an accumulation of transferrin and transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) in regenerating peripheral nerves. However, the expression and function of transferrin and TfR1 in the denervated skeletal muscle remain poorly understood. In this study, a mouse model of denervation was produced by complete tear of the left brachial plexus nerve. RNA-sequencing revealed that transferrin expression in the denervated skeletal muscle was upregulated, while TfR1 expression was downregulated. We also investigated the function of TfR1 during development and in adult skeletal muscles in mice with inducible deletion or loss of TfR1. The ablation of TfR1 in skeletal muscle in early development caused severe muscular atrophy and early death. In comparison, deletion of TfR1 in adult skeletal muscles did not affect survival or glucose metabolism, but caused skeletal muscle atrophy and motor functional impairment, similar to the muscular atrophy phenotype observed after denervation. These findings suggest that TfR1 plays an important role in muscle development and denervation-induced muscular atrophy. This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, China (approval No. SYXK 2017-C023) on June 1, 2018.

A Review

Wheat is one of the most important food crops worldwide. In recent decades, fertilizers, especially nitrogen (N), have been increasingly utilized to maximize wheat productivity. However, a large proportion of N is not used by plants and is in fact lost into the environment and causes serious environmental pollution. Therefore, achieving a low N optimum via efficient physiological and biochemical processes in wheat grown under low-N conditions is highly important for agricultural sustainability. Although N stress-related N capture in wheat has become a heavily researched subject, how this plant adapts and responds to N starvation has not been fully elucidated. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the signaling mechanisms activated in wheat plants in response to N starvation. Furthermore, we filled the putative gaps on this subject with findings obtained in other plants, primarily rice, maize, and Arabidopsis. Phytohormones have been determined to play essential roles in sensing environmental N starvation and transducing this signal into an adjustment of N transporters and phenotypic adaptation. The critical roles played by protein kinases and critical kinases and phosphatases, such as MAPK and PP2C, as well as the multifaceted functions of transcription factors, such as NF-Y, MYB, DOF, and WRKY, in regulating the expression levels of their target genes (proteins) for low-N tolerance are also discussed. Optimization of root system architecture (RSA) via root branching and thinning, improvement of N acquisition and assimilation, and fine-tuned autophagy are pivotal strategies by which plants respond to N starvation. In light of these findings, we attempted to construct regulatory networks for RSA modification and N uptake, transport, assimilation, and remobilization.

Toward Tightly Tuned Gene Expression Following Lentiviral Vector Transduction

Lentiviral vectors are versatile tools for gene delivery purposes. While in the earlier versions of retroviral vectors, transgene expression was controlled by the long terminal repeats (LTRs), the latter generations of vectors, including those derived from lentiviruses, incorporate internal constitutive or regulated promoters in order to regulate transgene expression. This allows to temporally and/or quantitatively control transgene expression, which is required for many applications such as for clinical applications, when transgene expression is required in specific tissues and at a specific timing. Here we review the main systems that have been developed for transgene regulated expression following lentiviral gene transfer. First, the induction of gene expression can be triggered either by external or by internal cues. Indeed, these regulated vector systems may harbor promoters inducible by exogenous stimuli, such as small molecules (e.g., antibiotics) or temperature variations, offering the possibility to tune rapidly transgene expression in case of adverse events. Second, expression can be indirectly adjusted by playing on inserted sequence copies, for instance by gene excision. Finally, synthetic networks can be developed to sense specific endogenous signals and trigger defined responses after information processing. Regulatable lentiviral vectors (LV)-mediated transgene expression systems have been widely used in basic research to uncover gene functions or to temporally reprogram cells. Clinical applications are also under development to induce therapeutic molecule secretion or to implement safety switches. Such regulatable approaches are currently focusing much attention and will benefit from the development of other technologies in order to launch autonomously controlled systems.

Establishing Standardized Terminology for Digital Image Analysis: A Pilot Study

PURPOSE

To point out the need for standardized terminology for digital image analysis and to collect data by surveying radiologic technology professionals for a more comprehensive, national-breadth study.

METHODS

A mixed-method pilot study was conducted, in which a survey was emailed to 4 Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology-accredited radiography programs in July and August 2019. Eight educators and 28 radiologic technologists responded, and acceptance was evaluated on 3 of the proposed terms: signal, signal value, and signal variance (later changed to signal differences). Quantitative data results were analyzed in Microsoft Forms and percentage of acceptance rates calculated. Respondents who did not accept the proposed terms were asked to provide reasoning in open-ended responses, which were analyzed using manual coding and categorization.

RESULTS

The term signal received an 88% acceptance rate among educators and a 96% rate among radiographers. Signal value was accepted by 88% of educators and 79% of radiographers. The lowest acceptance rate was for the term signal variance (educators, 63%; radiographers, 79%). Open-ended responses were categorized into themes revealing respondent concerns about the use of signal value, which might result in forgetting about radiation dose (4 respondents) and how signal value relates to image receptor exposure and exposure indicator value (2 respondents). Concerns about signal variance involved contrast being easier to understand because it is visible (2 respondents), confusion with the usage of the proposed term (2 respondents), and preference for contrast because of its current use (2 respondents).

DISCUSSION

Recent history indicates confusion regarding which terms effectively describe the new image quality factors that dictate proper use of digital radiography. The proposed terms evaluated in this pilot study received a mean acceptance rate of 83.5%, suggesting understanding of terms related to digital image analysis from participating educators and radiographers.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this pilot study indicate a need to standardize terminology related to digital image quality factors. However, these preliminary results should be interpreted with caution because of the low response rate. Readers can participate in helping to establish a universal language for digital image analysis by scanning the quick response (QR) code or clicking the link at the end of the article and completing the survey.

Peptidoglycan Sensing Prevents Quiescence and Promotes Quorum-Independent Colony Growth of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the leading cause of human urinary tract infections (UTIs), and many patients experience recurrent infection after successful antibiotic treatment. The source of recurrent infections may be persistent bacterial reservoirs in vivo that are in a quiescent state and thus are not susceptible to antibiotics. Here, we show that multiple UPEC strains require a quorum to proliferate in vitro with glucose as the carbon source. At low cell density, the bacteria remain viable but enter a quiescent, nonproliferative state. Of the clinical UPEC isolates tested to date, 35% (51/145) enter this quiescent state, including isolates from the recently emerged, multidrug-resistant pandemic lineage ST131 (i.e., strain JJ1886) and isolates from the classic endemic lineage ST73 (i.e., strain CFT073). Moreover, quorum-dependent UPEC quiescence is prevented and reversed by small-molecule proliferants that stimulate colony formation. These proliferation cues include d-amino acid-containing peptidoglycan (PG) tetra- and pentapeptides, as well as high local concentrations of l-lysine and l-methionine. Peptidoglycan fragments originate from the peptidoglycan layer that supports the bacterial cell wall but are released as bacteria grow. These fragments are detected by a variety of organisms, including human cells, other diverse bacteria, and, as we show here for the first time, UPEC. Together, these results show that for UPEC, (i) sensing of PG stem peptide and uptake of l-lysine modulate the quorum-regulated decision to proliferate and (ii) quiescence can be prevented by both intra- and interspecies PG peptide signaling.IMPORTANCE Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the leading cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). During pathogenesis, UPEC cells adhere to and infiltrate bladder epithelial cells, where they may form intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) or enter a nongrowing or slowly growing quiescent state. Here, we show in vitro that UPEC strains at low population density enter a reversible, quiescent state by halting division. Quiescent cells resume proliferation in response to sensing a quorum and detecting external signals, or cues, including peptidoglycan tetra- and pentapeptides.

The ComX Quorum Sensing Peptide of Bacillus subtilis Affects Biofilm Formation Negatively and Sporulation Positively

Quorum sensing (QS) is often required for the formation of bacterial biofilms and is a popular target of biofilm control strategies. Previous studies implicate the ComQXPA quorum sensing system of Bacillus subtilis as a promoter of biofilm formation. Here, we report that ComX signaling peptide deficient mutants form thicker and more robust pellicle biofilms that contain chains of cells. We confirm that ComX positively affects the transcriptional activity of the PepsA promoter, which controls the synthesis of the major matrix polysaccharide. In contrast, ComX negatively controls the PtapA promoter, which drives the production of TasA, a fibrous matrix protein. Overall, the biomass of the mutant biofilm lacking ComX accumulates more monosaccharide and protein content than the wild type. We conclude that this QS phenotype might be due to extended investment into growth rather than spore development. Consistent with this, the ComX deficient mutant shows a delayed activation of the pre-spore specific promoter, PspoIIQ, and a delayed, more synchronous commitment to sporulation. We conclude that ComX mediated early commitment to sporulation of the wild type slows down biofilm formation and modulates the coexistence of multiple biological states during the early stages of biofilm development.

Active Volume Control in Smart Phones Based on User Activity and Ambient Noise

To communicate efficiently with a prospective user, auditory interfaces are employed in mobile communication devices. Diverse sounds in different volumes are used to alert the user in various devices such as mobile phones, modern laptops and domestic appliances. These alert noises behave erroneously in dynamic noise environments, leading to major annoyances to the user. In noisy environments, as sounds can be played quietly, this leads to the improper masked rendering of the necessary information. To overcome these issues, a multi-model sensing technique is developed as a smartphone application to achieve automatic volume control in a smart phone. Based on the ambient environment, the volume is automatically controlled such that it is maintained at an appropriate level for the user. By identifying the average noise level of the ambient environment from dynamic microphone and together with the activity recognition data obtained from the inertial sensors, the automatic volume control is achieved. Experiments are conducted with five different mobile devices at various noise-level environments and different user activity states. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed application for active volume control in dynamic environments.

Reproduction under light pollution: maladaptive response to spatial variation in artificial light in a glow-worm

The amount of artificial light at night is growing worldwide, impacting the behaviour of nocturnal organisms. Yet, we know little about the consequences of these behavioural responses for individual fitness and population viability. We investigated if females of the common glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca—which glow in the night to attract males—mitigate negative effects of artificial light on mate attraction by adjusting the timing and location of glowing to spatial variation in light conditions. We found females do not move away from light when exposed to a gradient of artificial light, but delay or even refrain from glowing. Further, we demonstrate that this response is maladaptive, as our field study showed that staying still when exposed to artificial light from a simulated streetlight decreases mate attraction success, while moving only a short distance from the light source can markedly improve mate attraction. These results indicate that glow-worms are unable to respond to spatial variation in artificial light, which may be a factor in their global decline. Consequently, our results support the hypothesis that animals often lack adaptive behavioural responses to anthropogenic environmental changes and underlines the importance of considering behavioural responses when investigating the effects of human activities on wildlife.

Empirical mean curve decomposition with multiwavelet transformation for eye movements recognition using electrooculogram signals

Many research works are in progress in classification of the eye movements using the electrooculography signals and employing them to control the human-computer interface systems. This article introduces a new model for recognizing various eye movements using electrooculography signals with the help of empirical mean curve decomposition and multiwavelet transformation. Furthermore, this article also adopts a principal component analysis algorithm to reduce the dimension of electrooculography signals. Accordingly, the dimensionally reduced decomposed signal is provided to the neural network classifier for classifying the electrooculography signals, along with this, the weight of the neural network is fine-tuned with the assistance of the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Finally, the proposed method is compared with the existing methods and it is observed that the proposed methodology gives the better performance in correspondence with accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, false positive rate, false negative rate, negative predictive value, false discovery rate, F₁ score, and Mathews correlation coefficient.

YycH and YycI Regulate Expression of Staphylococcus aureus Autolysins by Activation of WalRK Phosphorylation

Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative pathogen that can encode numerous antibiotic resistance and immune evasion genes and can cause severe infections. Reduced susceptibility to last resort antibiotics such as vancomycin and daptomycin is often associated with mutations in walRK, an essential two-component regulatory system (TCS). This study focuses on the WalK accessory membrane proteins YycH and YycI and their influence on WalRK phosphorylation. Depletion of YycH and YycI by antisense RNA caused an impaired autolysis, indicating a positive regulatory function on WalK as has been previously described. Phosphorylation assays with full-length recombinant proteins in phospholipid liposomes showed that YycH and YycI stimulate WalK activity and that both regulatory proteins are needed for full activation of the WalK kinase. This was validated in vivo through examining the phosphorylation status of WalR using Phos-tag SDS-PAGE with a yycHI deletion mutant exhibiting reduced levels of phosphorylated WalR. In the yycHI knockdown strain, muropeptide composition of the cell wall was not affected, however, the wall teichoic acid content was increased. In conclusion, a direct modulation of WalRK phosphorylation activity by the accessory proteins YycH and YycI is reported both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our results show that YycH and YycI are important in the direct regulation of WalRK-dependent cell wall metabolism.

Does the GABA Shunt Regulate Cytosolic GABA?

The GABA shunt has long been known as a metabolic pathway that produces GABA in, and removes GABA from, the cytosol. There is no consensus regarding its function. The hypothesis presented here is that the GABA shunt regulates cytosolic GABA levels and GABA signaling.

Pulse sequences as tissue property filters (TP-filters): a way of understanding the signal, contrast and weighting of magnetic resonance images

This paper describes a quantitative approach to understanding the signal, contrast and weighting of magnetic resonance (MR) images. It uses the concept of pulse sequences as tissue property (TP) filters and models the signal, contrast and weighting of sequences using either a single TP-filter (univariate model) or several TP-filters (the multivariate model). For the spin echo (SE) sequence using the Bloch equations, voxel signal intensity is plotted against the logarithm of the value of the TPs contributing to the sequence signal to produce three TP-filters, an exponential ρm-filter, a low pass T1-filter and a high pass T2-filter. Using the univariate model which considers signal changes in only one of ρm, T1, or T2 at a time, the first partial derivative of signal with respect to the natural logarithm of ρm, T1 or T2 is the sequence weighting for each filter (for small changes in each TP). Absolute contrast is then the sequence weighting multiplied by the fractional change in TP for each filter. For large changes in TPs, the same approach is followed, but using the mean slope of the filter as the sequence weighting. These approaches can also be used for fractional contrast. The univariate TP-filter model provides a mathematical framework for converting conventional qualitative univariate weighting as used in everyday clinical practice into quantitative univariate weighting. Using the multivariate model which considers several TP-filters together, the relative contributions of each TP to overall sequence and image weighting are expressed as sequence and imaging weighting ratios respectively. This is not possible with conventional qualitative weighting which is univariate. The same approaches are used for inversion recovery (IR), pulsed gradient SE, spoiled gradient echo (SGE), balanced steady state free precession, ultrashort echo time and other pulse sequences. Other TPs such as susceptibility, chemical shift and flow can be included with phase along the Y axis of the TP-filter. Contrast agent effects are also included. In the text TP-filters are distinguished from k-space filters, signal filters (S-filters) which are used in imaging processing as well as to describe windowing the signal width and level of images, and spatial filters. The TP-filters approach resolves many of the ambiguities and inconsistencies associated with conventional qualitative weighting and provides a variety of new insights into the signal, contrast and weighting of MR images which are not apparent using qualitative weighting. The TP-filter approach relates the preparation component of pulse sequences to voxel signal, and contrast between two voxels. This is complementary to k-space which relates the acquisition component of pulse sequences to the spatial properties of MR images and their global contrast.

Measurement Characteristics of Athlete Monitoring Tools in Professional Australian Football

PURPOSE

To examine the measurement reliability and sensitivity of common athlete monitoring tools in professional Australian Football players.

METHODS

Test-retest reliability (noise) and weekly variation (signal) data were collected from 42 professional Australian footballers from 1 club during a competition season. Perceptual wellness was measured via questionnaires completed before main training sessions (48, 72, and 96 h postmatch), with players providing a rating (1-5 Likert scale) regarding their muscle soreness, sleep quality, fatigue level, stress, and motivation. Eccentric hamstring force and countermovement jumps were assessed via proprietary systems once per week. Heart rate recovery was assessed via a standard submaximal run test on a grass-covered field with players wearing a heart rate monitor. The heart rate recovery was calculated by subtracting average heart rate during final 10 seconds of rest from average heart rate during final 30 seconds of exercise. Typical test error was reported as coefficient of variation percentage (CV%) and intraclass coefficients. Sensitivity was calculated by dividing weekly CV% by test CV% to produce a signal to noise ratio.

RESULTS

All measures displayed acceptable sensitivity. Signal to noise ratio ranged from 1.3 to 11.1. Intraclass coefficients ranged from .30 to .97 for all measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The heart rate recovery test, countermovement jump test, eccentric hamstring force test, and perceptual wellness all possess acceptable measurement sensitivity. Signal to noise ratio analysis is a novel method of assessing measurement characteristics of monitoring tools. These data can be used by coaches and scientists to identify meaningful changes in common measures of fitness and fatigue in professional Australian football.

Extracellular vesicles in toxicological studies: key roles in communication between environmental stress and adverse outcomes

External stressors, especially environmental toxicants can disturb biological homeostasis and thus lead to adverse health effects. However, there is limited understanding of how cells directly exposed to stressors transmit the signals to cells indirectly in contact with stressors. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are receiving increasing attention as signal transductors between various types of cells in organisms. Cargo in EVs, including RNAs, proteins, lipids, and other signal molecules can be transferred between cells and become critical determining factors of intercellular communication. EVs can be a powerful mediator of environmental stimuli. It has been shown that external stressors reshape the secretion of EVs, modify the composition of EVs, and thus influence the mediating function of EVs. These abnormal EVs can lead to dysfunction of recipient cells, and even the pathogenesis of diseases. In this review, we first summarized current knowledge about the responses of EVs to external stimuli, including chemicals and chemical mixtures. Then we explained how these altered EVs regulate signal pathways in recipient cells, thus mediating physio-pathological responses in detail. The most up-to-date evidence from molecular, cellular, animal and human levels was synthesized to systematically address the mediating roles of EVs. EVs can be regarded as a bridge to link external stressors and internal response. Further toxicological and molecular epidemiological studies are expected to provide further insight into the roles of EVs in toxicology. The gaps in the engulfment of toxicants into EVs are listed as the priority to be solved in future studies.

A wall with integrity: surveillance and maintenance of the plant cell wall under stress

The structural and functional integrity of the cell wall needs to be constantly monitored and fine-tuned to allow for growth while preventing mechanical failure. Many studies have advanced our understanding of the pathways that contribute to cell wall biosynthesis and how these pathways are regulated by external and internal cues. Recent evidence also supports a model in which certain aspects of the wall itself may act as growth-regulating signals. Molecular components of the signaling pathways that sense and maintain cell wall integrity have begun to be revealed, including signals arising in the wall, sensors that detect changes at the cell surface, and downstream signal transduction modules. Abiotic and biotic stress conditions provide new contexts for the study of cell wall integrity, but the nature and consequences of wall disruptions due to various stressors require further investigation. A deeper understanding of cell wall signaling will provide insights into the growth regulatory mechanisms that allow plants to survive in changing environments.

A Novel Legionella Genomic Island Encodes a Copper-Responsive Regulatory System and a Single Icm/Dot Effector Protein Transcriptionally Activated by Copper

Legionella pneumophila is an intracellular human pathogen that utilizes amoebae as its environmental host. The adaptation of L. pneumophila to the intracellular environment requires coordination of expression of its multicomponent pathogenesis system, which is composed of a secretion system and effector proteins. However, the regulatory factors controlling the expression of this pathogenesis system are only partially uncovered. Here, we discovered a novel regulatory system that is activated by copper and controls the expression of a single effector protein. The genes encoding both the regulatory system and the effector protein are located on a genomic island that undergoes horizontal gene transfer within the Legionella genus. This regulator-effector genomic island represents the first reported case of local regulation of effectors in Legionella. The discovery of this regulatory mechanism is an important step forward in the understanding of how the regulatory network of effectors functions and evolves in the Legionella genus.

The intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila utilizes the Icm/Dot type IV secretion system to translocate >300 effector proteins into host cells during infection. The regulation of some of these effector-encoding genes was previously shown to be coordinated by several global regulators, including three two-component systems (TCSs) found in all the Legionella species examined. Here, we describe the first Legionella genomic island encoding a single Icm/Dot effector and a dedicated TCS, which regulates its expression. This genomic island, which we named Lci, undergoes horizontal gene transfer in the Legionella genus, and the TCS encoded from this island (LciRS) is homologous to TCSs that control the expression of various metal resistance systems found in other bacteria. We found that the L. pneumophila sensor histidine kinase LciS is specifically activated by copper via a unique, small periplasmic sensing domain. Upon activation by LciS, the response regulator LciR directly binds to a conserved regulatory element and activates the expression of the adjacently located lciE effector-encoding gene. Thus, LciR represents the first local regulator of effectors identified in L. pneumophila. Moreover, we found that the expression of the lciRS operon is repressed by the Fis1 and Fis3 regulators, leading to Fis-mediated effects on copper induction of LciE and silencing of the expression of this genomic island in the absence of copper. This island represents a novel type of effector regulation in Legionella, shedding new light on the ways by which the Legionella pathogenesis system evolves its effector repertoire and expands its activating signals.

To TRIM the Immunity: From Innate to Adaptive Immunity

The tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins have been intensively studied as essential modulators in various biological processes, especially in regulating a wide range of signaling pathways involved in immune responses. Most TRIM proteins have E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, mediating polyubiquitination of target proteins. Emerging evidence demonstrates that TRIM proteins play important roles in innate immunity by regulating pattern recognition receptors, vital adaptor proteins, kinases, and transcription factors in innate immune signaling pathways. Additionally, the critical roles of TRIM proteins in adaptive immunity, especially in T cell development and activation, are increasingly appreciated. In this review, we aim to summarize the studies on TRIMs in both innate and adaptive immunity, focusing on their E3 ubiquitin ligase functions in pattern recognition receptor signaling pathways and T cell functions, shedding light on the developing new strategies for modulating innate and adaptive immune responses against invading pathogens and avoiding autoimmunity.

STAT1 inhibits T-cell exhaustion and myeloid derived suppressor cell accumulation to promote antitumor immune responses in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Cancers of the oral cavity remain the sixth most diagnosed cancer worldwide, with high rates of recurrence and mortality. We determined the role of STAT1 during oral carcinogenesis using two orthotopic models in mice genetically deficient for Stat1. Metastatic (LY2) and nonmetastatic (B4B8) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines were injected into the oral cavity of Stat1 deficient (Stat1^-/- ) and Stat1 competent (Stat1^+/+ ) mice. Stat1^-/- mice displayed increased tumor growth and metastasis compared to Stat1^+/+ mice. Mechanistically, Stat1^-/- mice displayed impaired CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell expansion compared to Stat1^+/+ mice. This was associated with enhanced T-cell exhaustion, and severely attenuated T-cell antitumor effector responses including reduced expression of IFN-γ and perforin at the tumor site. Interestingly, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production by T cells in tumor-bearing mice was suppressed by Stat1 deficiency. This deficiency in T-cell expansion and functional responses in mice was linked to PD-1 and CD69 overexpression in T cells of Stat1^-/- mice. In contrast, we observed increased accumulation of CD11b+ Ly6G+ myeloid derived suppressor cells in tumors, draining lymph nodes, spleens and bone marrow of tumor-bearing Stat1^-/- mice, resulting in a protumorigenic microenvironment. Our data demonstrates that STAT1 is an essential mediator of the antitumor response through inhibition of myeloid derived suppressor cell accumulation and promotion of T-cell mediated immune responses in murine head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Selective induction of STAT1 phosphorylation in HNSCC patients could potentially improve oral tumor outcomes and response to therapy.

Nuclear Receptor Nr4a1 Regulates Striatal Striosome Development and Dopamine D1 Receptor Signaling

The GABAergic medium-size spiny neuron (MSN), the striatal output neuron, may be classified into striosome, also known as patch, and matrix, based on neurochemical differences between the two compartments. At this time, little is known regarding the regulation of the development of the two compartments. Nr4a1, primarily described as a nuclear receptor/immediate early gene involved in the homeostasis of the dopaminergic system, is a striosomal marker. Using Nr4a1-overexpressing and Nr4a1-null mice, we sought to determine whether Nr4a1 is necessary and/or sufficient for striosome development. We report that in vivo and in vitro, Nr4a1 and Oprm1 mRNA levels are correlated. In the absence of Nr4a, there is a decrease in the percentage of striatal surface area occupied by striosomes. Alterations in Nr4a1 expression leads to dysregulation of multiple mRNAs of members of the dopamine receptor D₁ signal transduction system. Constitutive overexpression of Nr4a1 decreases both the induction of phosphorylation of ERK after a single cocaine exposure and locomotor sensitization following chronic cocaine exposure. Nr4a1 overexpression increases MSN excitability but reduces MSN long-term potentiation. In the resting state, type 5 adenylyl cyclase (AC5) activity is normal, but the ability of AC5 to be activated by Drd1 G-protein-coupled receptor inputs is decreased. Our results support a role for Nr4a1 in determination of striatal patch/matrix structure and in regulation of dopaminoceptive neuronal function.

Mapping the Passions: Toward a High-Dimensional Taxonomy of Emotional Experience and Expression

What would a comprehensive atlas of human emotions include? For 50 years, scientists have sought to map emotion-related experience, expression, physiology, and recognition in terms of the "basic six"-anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise. Claims about the relationships between these six emotions and prototypical facial configurations have provided the basis for a long-standing debate over the diagnostic value of expression (for review and latest installment in this debate, see Barrett et al., p. 1). Building on recent empirical findings and methodologies, we offer an alternative conceptual and methodological approach that reveals a richer taxonomy of emotion. Dozens of distinct varieties of emotion are reliably distinguished by language, evoked in distinct circumstances, and perceived in distinct expressions of the face, body, and voice. Traditional models-both the basic six and affective-circumplex model (valence and arousal)-capture a fraction of the systematic variability in emotional response. In contrast, emotion-related responses (e.g., the smile of embarrassment, triumphant postures, sympathetic vocalizations, blends of distinct expressions) can be explained by richer models of emotion. Given these developments, we discuss why tests of a basic-six model of emotion are not tests of the diagnostic value of facial expression more generally. Determining the full extent of what facial expressions can tell us, marginally and in conjunction with other behavioral and contextual cues, will require mapping the high-dimensional, continuous space of facial, bodily, and vocal signals onto richly multifaceted experiences using large-scale statistical modeling and machine-learning methods.

Extracellular vesicles, news about their role in immune cells: physiology, pathology and diseases

Two types of extracellular vesicles (EVs), exosomes and ectosomes, are generated and released by all cells, including immune cells. The two EVs appear different in many properties: size, mechanism and site of assembly, composition of their membranes and luminal cargoes, sites and processes of release. In functional terms, however, these differences are minor. Moreover, their binding to and effects on target cells appear similar, thus the two types are considered distinct only in a few cases, otherwise they are presented together as EVs. The EV physiology of the various immune cells differs as expected from their differential properties. Some properties, however, are common: EV release, taking place already at rest, is greatly increased upon cell stimulation; extracellular navigation occurs adjacent and at distance from the releasing cells; binding to and uptake by target cells are specific. EVs received from other immune or distinct cells govern many functions in target cells. Immune diseases in which EVs play multiple, often opposite (aggression and protection) effects, are numerous; inflammatory diseases; pathologies of various tissues; and brain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. EVs also have effects on interactive immune and cancer cells. These effects are often distinct, promoting cytotoxicity or proliferation, the latter together with metastasis and angiogenesis. Diagnoses depend on the identification of EV biomarkers; therapies on various mechanisms such as (1) removal of aggression-inducing EVs; (2) EV manipulations specific for single targets, with insertion of surface peptides or luminal miRNAs; and (3) removal or re-expression of molecules from target cells.

Signal Detection for Cardiovascular Adverse Events of DPP-4 Inhibitors Using the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database, 2008-2016

PURPOSE

Cardiovascular adverse events (AEs) after use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors have been reported and suspected since the launch of DPP-4 inhibitors in 2006. However, few studies have investigated the association between cardiovascular AEs and DPP-4 inhibitors. The objective of this study is to detect the signals of cardiovascular AEs after use of DPP-4 inhibitors by analyzing the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management-Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database (KIDS-KD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data on the use of oral antidiabetic drugs from 2008 to 2016 were extracted from KIDS-KD, and analyzed descriptively. Data mining was conducted by calculating three indices, which were proportional reporting ratios, reporting odds ratios, and information components, to detect signals from use of all oral antidiabetic drugs including DPP-4 inhibitors. Then, the suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were confirmed by signal detection, and drug label information between the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were compared.

RESULTS

Cardiovascular AEs after taking DPP-4 inhibitors were detected in only three (1.0%) out of a total of 307 AE reports. Two of the three cardiovascular AEs were reported after using sitagliptin and one using gemiglipitin, but these were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Analysis of spontaneous ADR reports data on the use of DPP-4 inhibitors could not showed the association between DPP-4 inhibitors and cardiovascular AEs, due to a small number of cardiovascular AEs reports.

An in vitro acoustic analysis and comparison of popular stethoscopes

Purpose

To compare the performance of various commercially available stethoscopes using standard acoustic engineering criteria, under recording studio conditions.

Materials and methods

Eighteen stethoscopes (11 acoustic, 7 electronic) were analyzed using standard acoustic analysis techniques under professional recording studio conditions. An organic phantom that accurately simulated chest cavity acoustics was developed. Test sounds were played via a microphone embedded within it and auscultated at its surface by the stethoscopes. Recordings were made through each stethoscope’s binaurals and/or downloaded (electronic models). Recordings were analyzed using standard studio techniques and software, including assessing ambient noise (AMB) rejection. Frequency ranges were divided into those corresponding to various standard biological sounds (cardiac, respiratory, and gastrointestinal).

Results

Loudness and AMB rejection: Overall, electronic stethoscopes, when set to a maximum volume, exhibited greater values of perceived loudness compared to acoustic stethoscopes. Significant variation was seen in AMB rejection capability. Frequency detection: Marked variation was also seen, with some stethoscopes performing better for different ranges (eg, cardiac) vs others (eg, gastrointestinal).

Conclusion

The acoustic properties of stethoscopes varied considerably in loudness, AMB rejection, and frequency response. Stethoscope choice should take into account clinical conditions to be auscultated and the noise level of the environment.

Covariation between Thermally Mediated Color and Performance Traits in a Lizard

Physiological changes in response to environmental cues are not uncommon. Temperature has strong, predictable effects on many traits, such that many traits in ectotherms follow stereotyped thermal performance curves in response to increasing temperature. The prairie lizard-an abundant lizard throughout the central United States-has thermally sensitive, blue abdominal and throat patches. Currently, the role of these patches is not well understood. In this study, we set out to investigate whether individual plasticity in patch color paralleled individual plasticity in sprint speed (do they covary), and if the plasticity in these two patches signal redundant or independent information, testing competing hypotheses suggested for the evolution of multiple signals. We found that both abdominal and throat patch hue follow classical thermal performance curves, suggesting that at the species level hue is a good predictor of sprinting ability. At the individual level, we found that color and performance were statistically repeatable, so individuals with relatively high phenotypic values maintain relatively high phenotypic values across all temperatures. Additionally, we found that abdominal and patch hue covary with sprinting speed at the individual level. Together, these results suggest that the bluest individuals are the fastest individuals across temperatures. However, we found that abdominal and throat patch hue do not covary with each other at the individual level, suggesting that these signals may have independent functions. The importance of examining the function of individual variation cannot be overstated, and overall, more work is needed to better understand both the proximate and ultimate mechanisms underlying signal plasticity in this species and others.

Amnion epithelial cell-derived exosomes induce inflammatory changes in uterine cells

BACKGROUND

Fetal endocrine signals are generally considered to contribute to the timing of birth and the initiation of labor. Fetal tissues under oxidative stress release inflammatory mediators that lead to sterile inflammation within the maternal-fetal interface. Importantly, these inflammatory mediators are packaged into exosomes, bioactive cell-derived extra cellular vesicles that function as vectors and transport them from the fetal side to the uterine tissues where they deposit their cargo into target cells enhancing uterine inflammatory load. This exosome-mediated signaling is a novel mechanism for fetal-maternal communication.

OBJECTIVE

This report tested the hypothesis that oxidative stress can induce fetal amnion cells to produce exosomes, which function as a paracrine intermediary between the fetus and mother and biochemically signal readiness for parturition.

STUDY DESIGN

Primary amnion epithelial cells were grown in normal cell culture (control) or exposed to oxidative stress conditions (induced by cigarette smoke extract). Exosomes were isolated from cell supernatant by sequential ultracentrifugation. Exosomes were quantified and characterized based on size, shape, and biochemical markers. Myometrial, decidual, and placental cells (BeWo) were treated with 2 × 105, 2 × 107, and 2 × 109 control or oxidative stress-derived amnion epithelial cell exosomes for 24 hours. Entry of amnion epithelial cell exosomes into cells was confirmed by confocal microscopy of fluorescent-labeled exosomes. The effect of amnion epithelial cell exosomes on target cell inflammatory status was determined by measuring production of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and prostaglandin E2 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and inflammatory gene transcription factor (nuclear factor-κβ) activation status by immunoblotting for phosphorylated RelA/p65. Localization of NANOG in term human myometrium and decidua obtained from women before labor and during labor was performed using immunohistochemistry. Data were analyzed by Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test to compare effects of exosomes from control and oxidative stress-treated amnion epithelial cells on inflammatory status of target cells.

RESULTS

Amnion epithelial cells released ∼125 nm, cup-shaped exosomes with ∼899 and 1211 exosomes released per cell from control and oxidative stress-induced cells, respectively. Amnion epithelial cell exosomes were detected in each target cell type after treatment using confocal microscopy. Treatment with amnion epithelial cell exosomes increased secretion of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and PGE2 and activation of NF-κβ (each P < .05) in myometrial and decidual cells. Exosome treatments had no effect on interleukin-6 and PGE2 production in BeWo cells. NANOG staining was higher in term labor myometrium and decidua compared to tissues not in labor.

CONCLUSION

In vitro, amnion epithelial cell exosomes lead to an increased inflammatory response in maternal uterine cells whereas placental cells showed refractoriness. Fetal cell exosomes may function to signal parturition by increasing maternal gestational cell inflammation.

Deciphering the Emerging Complexities of Molecular Mechanisms at GWAS Loci

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified thousands of loci associated with hundreds of complex diseases and traits, and progress is being made toward elucidating the causal variants and genes underlying these associations. Functional characterization of mechanisms at GWAS loci is a multi-faceted challenge. Challenges include linkage disequilibrium and allelic heterogeneity at each locus, the noncoding nature of most loci, and the time and cost needed for experimentally evaluating the potential mechanistic contributions of genes and variants. As GWAS sample sizes increase, more loci are identified, and the complexities of individual loci emerge. Loci can consist of multiple association signals, each of which can reflect the influence of multiple variants, inseparable by association analyses. Each signal within a locus can influence the same or different target genes. Experimental studies of genes and variants can differ on the basis of cell type, cellular environment, or other context-specific variables. In this review, we describe the complexity of mechanisms at GWAS loci-including multiple signals, multiple variants, and/or multiple genes-and the implications these complexities hold for experimental study design and interpretation of GWAS mechanisms.

[The Dynamic Monitoring of Benefit/Risk Balance in the System of Pharmacological Control]

«The thalidomide tragedy» served as a push for developing modern system of pharmacological control forcing many countries to revise actual practice of medications' licensing. The pharmacological control is a sector of science and business being engaged in detection, evaluation, interpretation and prevention of side-effects of medications and other problems related to pharmaceuticals. The predestination of specialists of pharmacological control is in increasing safety of patients and amelioration of caring, ensuring public health and safety in case of application of various medications. Their predestination also includes promoting understanding, awareness and effective communications related to health care specialists and community. The article considers regulations of pharmacological control at the territory of the Russian Federation and also main accounting of producer and its periodicity needed for implementation of evaluation of benefits/risks for pharmaceuticals. Nowadays, owing to continuous and strict implementation of all activities in the Russian Federation and the Eurasian Economic Union described in this review, a strictly regulated system of pharmacological control is functioning. This system enables all interested subjects of turnover of pharmaceuticals (manufacturers and holders of registration certification, medical organizations and medical professionals, patients and regulating agencies).

Cooperative breeding influences the number and type of vocalizations in avian lineages

Although communicative complexity is often predicted to correlate with social complexity in animal societies, few studies have employed large-scale comparative analyses to test whether socially complex species have more complex systems of communication. I tested this social complexity hypothesis in birds (Class: Aves) using the large amount of natural history information that describes both vocal repertoire and social system in these species. To do so, I marshalled data from primary and secondary records of avian vocal repertoires (n = 253), and for each of the species in the dataset I recorded the reported repertoire size and associated species information. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, I found that cooperative breeding was a strong and repeatable predictor of vocal repertoire size, while other social variables, e.g. group size and group stability, had little or no influence on repertoire size. Importantly, repertoire sizes expanded concurrently with the evolution of cooperative breeding, suggesting a direct link between these two traits. Cooperatively breeding species devoted significantly more of their repertoire to contact calls and alarm calls. Overall, these results therefore lend support to the hypothesis that social complexity via behavioural coordination leads to increases in vocal complexity.

Dewlap size in male water anoles associates with consistent inter-individual variation in boldness

Male sexually selected signals can indicate competitive ability by honestly signaling fitness-relevant traits such as condition or performance. However, behavior can also influence contest outcomes; in particular, boldness often predicts dominance rank and mating success. Here, we sought to determine whether male ornament size is associated with consistent individual differences in boldness in water anoles Anolis aquaticus. We measured the relative size of the dewlap, a flap of skin under the chin that is a sexually selected ornament in Anolis lizards, and tested for associations with responses to a novel and potentially risky environment: time to emerge from a refuge into an arena and number of head scans post-emergence. We found that individuals consistently differed in both time to emerge and head scanning (i.e., individual responses were repeatable), and that dewlap size was negatively related to number of head scans. This suggests that ornament size could indicate male boldness if scanning represents antipredator vigilance. We found that males that had larger relative dewlaps were also in better body condition, but boldness (i.e., head scanning) was not related to condition. Lastly, we found consistent differences in behavior between trials, showing that anoles were becoming habituated or sensitized to the testing arena. Overall, our study shows that in addition to indicating condition and performance, dewlap size could also honestly indicate male boldness in Anolis lizards.

A comparison of safety benefits of pedestrian countdown signals with and without pushbuttons in Michigan

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the safety impacts of pedestrian countdown signals (PCSs) with and without pushbuttons based on pedestrian crashes and pedestrian injuries in Michigan.

METHODOLOGY

This study used 10 years of intersection data-5 years before PCSs were installed and 5 years after they were installed-along with a comparison group, to evaluate the crash impacts of PCSs; at 107 intersections the PCS had a pushbutton and at 96 it did not. At these intersections, and at their comparison sites (where no PCS was installed), crash data (from 2004 to 2016) were examined, along with traffic and geometric characteristics, population, education, and poverty level data.

RESULTS

Intersections where PCSs with pushbuttons have been installed showed a 29% reduction in total pedestrian crashes and a 30% reduction in fatal/injury pedestrian crashes. Further, when considering only pedestrians age 65 and below, these respective reductions are 33 and 35%. Intersections with PCSs but without pushbuttons did not show any significant change in any type of pedestrian crash.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Federal Highway Administration [FHWA] 2009 ) requires the use of PCSs at new traffic signal installations, this study suggests a safety benefit of installing PCSs with pushbutton at signals where a PCS without a pushbutton is present.

Gene regulation during Drosophila eggshell patterning

A common path to the formation of complex 3D structures starts with an epithelial sheet that is patterned by inductive cues that control the spatiotemporal activities of transcription factors. These activities are then interpreted by the cis-regulatory regions of the genes involved in cell differentiation and tissue morphogenesis. Although this general strategy has been documented in multiple developmental contexts, the range of experimental models in which each of the steps can be examined in detail and evaluated in its effect on the final structure remains very limited. Studies of the Drosophila eggshell patterning provide unique insights into the multiscale mechanisms that connect gene regulation and 3D epithelial morphogenesis. Here we review the current understanding of this system, emphasizing how the recent identification of cis-regulatory regions of genes within the eggshell patterning network enables mechanistic analysis of its spatiotemporal dynamics and evolutionary diversification. It appears that cis-regulatory changes can account for only some aspects of the morphological diversity of Drosophila eggshells, such as the prominent differences in the number of the respiratory dorsal appendages. Other changes, such as the appearance of the respiratory eggshell ridges, are caused by changes in the spatial distribution of inductive signals. Both types of mechanisms are at play in this rapidly evolving system, which provides an excellent model of developmental patterning and morphogenesis.

Colour for Behavioural Success

Colour information not only helps sustain the survival of animal species by guiding sexual selection and foraging behaviour but also is an important factor in the cultural and technological development of our own species. This is illustrated by examples from the visual arts and from state-of-the-art imaging technology, where the strategic use of colour has become a powerful tool for guiding the planning and execution of interventional procedures. The functional role of colour information in terms of its potential benefits to behavioural success across the species is addressed in the introduction here to clarify why colour perception may have evolved to generate behavioural success. It is argued that evolutionary and environmental pressures influence not only colour trait production in the different species but also their ability to process and exploit colour information for goal-specific purposes. We then leap straight to the human primate with insight from current research on the facilitating role of colour cues on performance training with precision technology for image-guided surgical planning and intervention. It is shown that local colour cues in two-dimensional images generated by a surgical fisheye camera help individuals become more precise rapidly across a limited number of trial sets in simulator training for specific manual gestures with a tool. This facilitating effect of a local colour cue on performance evolution in a video-controlled simulator (pick-and-place) task can be explained in terms of colour-based figure-ground segregation facilitating attention to local image parts when more than two layers of subjective surface depth are present, as in all natural and surgical images.

An optimized protocol for the in vitro generation and functional analysis of human PD1/PD-L1 signal

Programmed cell death-1 (PD1) is an inhibitory receptor expressed on the activated T and B cells. Binding of PD1 to its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2 has led to deliver an inhibitory signal into the activated T cells. Recently, blocking PD1/PD-L1 pathway has emerged as a new treatment paradigm across a broad spectrum of malignancies. Remarkable clinical responses of monoclonal antibodies specific for PD-1 or its ligands in patients with many different types of cancer, attracted several pharmaceutical companies and researchers to investigate the agents that block PD1/PD-L1 signal. The safety and efficacy of the agents are needed to examine in the preclinical studies. In this study, we optimized a facile and cost-effective protocol for in vitro generation and functional analysis of human PD1/PD-L1 pathway. Activation of CD8 + CD279 + T cell was performed by anti-CD3 and D28 antibodies and the recombinant PD-L1 was used for inactivation of T cells through PD1/PD-L1 pathway. In this protocol, T-cell cytokine production (IL-2 and IFN-γ) and proliferation assay confirmed that a measurable PD1/PD-L1 signal was generated. We expected that in vitro PD1/PD-L1 signal that has been optimized in this study will serve as a valuable protocol for preclinical studies involving PD1/PD-L1 pathway.

Early-life immune activation increases song complexity and alters phenotypic associations between sexual ornaments

Early-life adversity can have long-lasting effects on physiological, behavioural, cognitive, and somatic processes. Consequently, these effects may alter an organism's life-history strategy and reproductive tactics.In response to early-life immune activation, we quantified levels of the acute phase protein haptoglobin (Hp) during development in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Then, we examined the long-term impacts of early-life immune activation on an important static sexual signal, song complexity, as well as effects of early-life immune activation on the relationship between song complexity and a dynamic sexual signal, beak colouration. Finally, we performed mate-choice trials to determine if male early-life experience impacted female preference.Challenge with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) resulted in increased song complexity compared to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment or the control. Hp levels were inversely correlated with song complexity. Moreover, KLH-treatment resulted in negative associations between the two sexual signals (beak colouration and song complexity). Females demonstrated some preference for KLH-treated males over controls and for control males over LPS-treated males in mate choice trials.Developmental immune activation has variable effects on the expression of secondary sexual traits in adulthood, including enhancing the expression of some traits. Because developmental levels of Hp and adult song complexity were correlated, future studies should explore a potential role for exposure to inflammation during development on song learning.Early-life adversity may differentially impact static versus dynamic signals. The use of phenotypic correlations can be a powerful tool for examining the impact of early-life experience on the associations among different traits, including sexual signals.

Stimulation of the Locus Ceruleus Modulates Signal-to-Noise Ratio in the Olfactory Bulb

Norepinephrine (NE) has been shown to influence sensory, and specifically olfactory processing at the behavioral and physiological levels, potentially by regulating signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). The present study is the first to look at NE modulation of olfactory bulb (OB) in regards to S/N in vivo We show, in male rats, that locus ceruleus stimulation and pharmacological infusions of NE into the OB modulate both spontaneous and odor-evoked neural responses. NE in the OB generated a non-monotonic dose-response relationship, suppressing mitral cell activity at high and low, but not intermediate, NE levels. We propose that NE enhances odor responses not through direct potentiation of the afferent signal per se, but rather by reducing the intrinsic noise of the system. This has important implications for the ways in which an animal interacts with its olfactory environment, particularly as the animal shifts from a relaxed to an alert behavioral state.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sensory perception can be modulated by behavioral states such as hunger, fear, stress, or a change in environmental context. Behavioral state often affects neural processing via the release of circulating neurochemicals such as hormones or neuromodulators. We here show that the neuromodulator norepinephrine modulates olfactory bulb spontaneous activity and odor responses so as to generate an increased signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the olfactory bulb. Our results help interpret and improve existing ideas for neural network mechanisms underlying behaviorally observed improvements in near-threshold odor detection and discrimination.

Wireless Biological Electronic Sensors

The development of wireless biological electronic sensors could open up significant advances for both fundamental studies and practical applications in a variety of areas, including medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and defense applications. One of the major challenges in the development of wireless bioelectronic sensors is the successful integration of biosensing units and wireless signal transducers. In recent years, there are a few types of wireless communication systems that have been integrated with biosensing systems to construct wireless bioelectronic sensors. To successfully construct wireless biological electronic sensors, there are several interesting questions: What types of biosensing transducers can be used in wireless bioelectronic sensors? What types of wireless systems can be integrated with biosensing transducers to construct wireless bioelectronic sensors? How are the electrical sensing signals generated and transmitted? This review will highlight the early attempts to address these questions in the development of wireless biological electronic sensors.

Sneeze to leave: African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) use variable quorum thresholds facilitated by sneezes in collective decisions

In despotically driven animal societies, one or a few individuals tend to have a disproportionate influence on group decision-making and actions. However, global communication allows each group member to assess the relative strength of preferences for different options among their group-mates. Here, we investigate collective decisions by free-ranging African wild dog packs in Botswana. African wild dogs exhibit dominant-directed group living and take part in stereotyped social rallies: high energy greeting ceremonies that occur before collective movements. Not all rallies result in collective movements, for reasons that are not well understood. We show that the probability of rally success (i.e. group departure) is predicted by a minimum number of audible rapid nasal exhalations (sneezes), within the rally. Moreover, the number of sneezes needed for the group to depart (i.e. the quorum) was reduced whenever dominant individuals initiated rallies, suggesting that dominant participation increases the likelihood of a rally's success, but is not a prerequisite. As such, the 'will of the group' may override dominant preferences when the consensus of subordinates is sufficiently great. Our findings illustrate how specific behavioural mechanisms (here, sneezing) allow for negotiation (in effect, voting) that shapes decision-making in a wild, socially complex animal society.

Electroencephalogram Signal Classification for Automated Epileptic Seizure Detection Using Genetic Algorithm

Background:

Epilepsy causes when the repeated seizure occurs in the brain. Electroencephalogram (EEG) test provides valuable information about the brain functions and can be useful to detect brain disorder, especially for epilepsy. In this study, application for an automated seizure detection model has been introduced successfully.

Materials and Methods:

The EEG signals are decomposed into sub-bands by discrete wavelet transform using db2 (daubechies) wavelet. The eight statistical features, the four gray level co-occurrence matrix and Renyi entropy estimation with four different degrees of order, are extracted from the raw EEG and its sub-bands. Genetic algorithm (GA) is used to select eight relevant features from the 16 dimension features. The model has been trained and tested using support vector machine (SVM) classifier successfully for EEG signals. The performance of the SVM classifier is evaluated for two different databases.

Results:

The study has been experimented through two different analyses and achieved satisfactory performance for automated seizure detection using relevant features as the input to the SVM classifier.

Conclusion:

Relevant features using GA give better accuracy performance for seizure detection.

Putative role of glutamine in the activation of CBL/CIPK signalling pathways during salt stress in sorghum

The salt overly sensitive (SOS) pathway is the only mechanism known for Na⁺ extrusion in plant cells. SOS pathway activation involves Ca²⁺-sensing proteins, such as calcineurin B-like (CBL) proteins, and CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs). In this signalling mechanism, a transit increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration triggered by Na⁺ accumulation is perceived by CBL (also known as SOS3). Afterward, SOS3 physically interacts with a CIPK (also known as SOS2), forming the SOS2/SOS3 complex, which can regulate the number downstream targets, controlling ionic homeostasis. For instance, the SOS2/SOS3 complex phosphorylates and activates the SOS1 plasmalemma protein, which is a Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter that extrudes Na⁺ out of the cell. The CBL-CIPK networking system displays specificity, complexity and diversity, constituting a critical response against salt stress and other abiotic stresses. In a study reported in the journal Plant and Cell Physiology, we showed that NH₄⁺ induces the robust activation of transporters for Na⁺ homeostasis in root cells, especially the SOS1 antiporter and plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase, differently than does NO₃^-. Despite some studies having shown that external NH₄⁺ ameliorates salt-induced effects on ionic homeostasis, there is no evidence that NH₄⁺ per se or some product of its assimilation is responsible for these responses. Here, we speculate about the signalling role behind glutamine in CBL-CIPK modulation, which could effectively activate the SOS pathway in NH₄⁺-fed stressed plants.

A mathematical framework to quantify the masking effect associated with the confidence intervals of measures of disproportionality

BACKGROUND

The lower bound of the 95% confidence interval of measures of disproportionality (Lower95CI) is widely used in signal detection. Masking is a statistical issue by which true signals of disproportionate reporting are hidden by the presence of other medicines. The primary objective of our study is to develop and validate a mathematical framework for assessing the masking effect of Lower95CI.

METHODS

We have developed our new algorithm based on the masking ratio (MR) developed for the measures of disproportionality. A MR for the Lower95CI (MRCI) is proposed. A simulation study to validate this algorithm was also conducted.

RESULTS

We have established the existence of a very close mathematical relation between MR and MRCI. For a given drug-event pair, the same product will be responsible for the highest masking effect with the measure of disproportionality and its Lower95CI. The extent of masking is likely to be very similar across the two methods. An important proportion of identical drug-event associations affected by the presence of an important masking effect is revealed by the unmasking exercise, whether the proportional reporting ratio (PRR) or its confidence interval are used.

CONCLUSION

The detection of the masking effect of Lower95CI can be automated. The real benefits of this unmasking in terms of new true-positive signals (rate of true-positive/false-positive) or time gained by the revealing of signals using this method have not been fully assessed. These benefits should be demonstrated in the context of prospective studies.

Investigation of chimeric reads using the MinION

Following a nanopore sequencing run of PCR products of three amplicons less than 1kb, an abundance of reads failed quality control due to template/complement mismatch. A BLAST search demonstrated that some of the failed reads mapped to two different genes -- an unexpected observation, given that PCR was carried out separately for each amplicon. A further investigation was carried out specifically to search for chimeric reads, using separate barcodes for each amplicon and trying two different ligation methods prior to sample loading. Despite the separation of ligation products, chimeric reads formed from different amplicons were still observed in the base-called sequence. The long-read nature of nanopore sequencing presents an effective tool for the discovery and filtering of chimeric reads. We have found that at least 1.7% of reads prepared using the Nanopore LSK002 2D Ligation Kit include post-amplification chimeric elements. This finding has potential implications for other amplicon sequencing technologies, as the process is unlikely to be specific to the sample preparation used for nanopore sequencing.

Investigation of chimeric reads using the MinION

Following a nanopore sequencing run of PCR products of three amplicons less than 1kb, an abundance of reads failed quality control due to template/complement mismatch. A BLAST search demonstrated that some of the failed reads mapped to two different genes -- an unexpected observation, given that PCR was carried out separately for each amplicon. A further investigation was carried out specifically to search for chimeric reads, using separate barcodes for each amplicon and trying two different ligation methods prior to sample loading. Despite the separation of ligation products, chimeric reads formed from different amplicons were still observed in the base-called sequence.The long-read nature of nanopore sequencing presents an effective tool for the discovery and filtering of chimeric reads. We have found that at least 1.7% of reads prepared using the Nanopore LSK002 2D Ligation Kit include post-amplification chimeric elements. This finding has potential implications for other amplicon sequencing technologies, as the process is unlikely to be specific to the sample preparation used for nanopore sequencing.

Signal Detection of Imipenem Compared to Other Drugs from Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database

PURPOSE

To detect signals of adverse drug events after imipenem treatment using the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management-Korea adverse event reporting system database (KIDS-KD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed data mining using KIDS-KD, which was constructed using spontaneously reported adverse event (AE) reports between December 1988 and June 2014. We detected signals calculated the proportional reporting ratio, reporting odds ratio, and information component of imipenem. We defined a signal as any AE that satisfied all three indices. The signals were compared with drug labels of nine countries.

RESULTS

There were 807582 spontaneous AEs reports in the KIDS-KD. Among those, the number of antibiotics related AEs was 192510; 3382 reports were associated with imipenem. The most common imipenem-associated AE was the drug eruption; 353 times. We calculated the signal by comparing with all other antibiotics and drugs; 58 and 53 signals satisfied the three methods. We compared the drug labelling information of nine countries, including the USA, the UK, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Canada, and South Korea, and discovered that the following signals were currently not included in drug labels: hypokalemia, cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, Parkinson's syndrome, myocardial infarction, and prostate enlargement. Hypokalemia was an additional signal compared with all other antibiotics, and the other signals were not different compared with all other antibiotics and all other drugs.

CONCLUSION

We detected new signals that were not listed on the drug labels of nine countries. However, further pharmacoepidemiologic research is needed to evaluate the causality of these signals.

Antibiotic-associated suspected adverse drug reactions among hospitalized patients in Uganda: a prospective cohort study

We sought to determine the prevalence at admission and incidence during hospitalization of antibiotic-associated suspected adverse drug reactions (aa-ADRs) among Ugandan inpatients; and to characterize these aa-ADRs. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 762 consented adults admitted on medical and gynecological wards of the 1790-bed Mulago National Referral Hospital. Thirty percent were known HIV-seropositive (232/762). Nineteen percent (148/762; 95% CI: 17-22%) of inpatients experienced at least one aa-ADR. At hospital admission, 6% (45/762; 95% CI: 4-8%) of patients had at least one aa-ADR; and 15% (45/300; 11-20%) of those who had received antibiotics in the 4-weeks preadmission. Twenty-four (53%) of these 45 patients had serious aa-ADRs. The incidence of aa-ADRs was 19% (117/629; 95% CI: 16-22%) of patients who received antibiotics [community-acquired: 9% (27/300; 95% CI: 6-13%); hospital-acquired: 16% (94/603; 95% CI: 13-19%)]: 39 (33%) of 117 patients had serious aa-ADRs. Of 269 aa-ADRs, 115 (43%) were community-acquired, 66 (25%) probable/definite, 171 (64%) preventable, 86 (32%) serious, and 24 (9%) rare. Ceftriaxone was the most frequently implicated for serious hospital-acquired aa-ADRs. Cotrimoxazole, isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide were the most frequently linked to serious community-acquired aa-ADRs. Fatal jaundice (isoniazid), life-threatening difficulty in breathing with shortness of breath (rifampicin) and disabling itchy skin rash with numbness of lower swollen legs (ethambutol, isoniazid) were observed. Pharmaceutical quality testing of implicated antibiotics could be worthwhile. Periodic on-ward collection and analysis of antibiotic-safety-data standardized by consumption is an efficient method of tracking antibiotics with 1%-risk for serious aa-ADRs.

Accumulation and Transport of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid (ACC) in Plants: Current Status, Considerations for Future Research and Agronomic Applications

1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) is a non-protein amino acid acting as the direct precursor of ethylene, a plant hormone regulating a wide variety of vegetative and developmental processes. ACC is the central molecule of ethylene biosynthesis. The rate of ACC formation differs in response to developmental, hormonal and environmental cues. ACC can be conjugated to three derivatives, metabolized in planta or by rhizobacteria using ACC deaminase, and is transported throughout the plant over short and long distances, remotely leading to ethylene responses. This review highlights some recent advances related to ACC. These include the regulation of ACC synthesis, conjugation and deamination, evidence for a role of ACC as an ethylene-independent signal, short and long range ACC transport, and the identification of a first ACC transporter. Although unraveling the complex mechanism of ACC transport is in its infancy, new questions emerge together with the identification of a first transporter. In the light of the future quest for additional ACC transporters, this review presents perspectives of the novel findings and includes considerations for future research toward applications in agronomy.

[Vigilance for veterinary medicinal products: Reports of adverse reactions in the year 2015]

INTRODUCTION

A total of 292 adverse reactions to veterinary medicinal products were reported during the year 2015. This represents an increase of 9% compared to the previous year (268 reports). Similar to previous years, most of the reactions reported were linked to the use of antiparasitics (55.1%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products (8.9%) or antiinfectives (9.3%). The affected animal species were primarily dogs (198 reports) and cats (42 reports), followed by cattle (31 reports) and horses (8 reports). Additional 42 reports were provided within the frame of consultations with Tox Info Suisse in Zürich and involved mainly the excessive intake of flavored tablets. Eight signals were identified from the reports received or the periodic safety update reports. They resulted in revisions of the product information in sections addressing contraindications, adverse reactions or withdrawal times.

Comprehensive Comparisons of Satellite Data, Signals, and Measurements between the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and the Global Positioning System

The Chinese BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) aims to provide global positioning service by 2020. The combined use of BDS and Global Positioning System (GPS) is proposed to provide navigation service with more stringent requirements. Actual satellite data, signals and measurements were collected for more than one month to analyze the positioning service qualities from both BDS and GPS. In addition to the conversions of coordinate and timing system, five data quality analysis (DQA) methods, three signal quality analysis (SQA) methods, and four measurement quality analysis (MQA) methods are proposed in this paper to improve the integrated positioning performance of BDS and GPS. As shown in the experiment results, issues related to BDS and GPS are resolved by the above proposed quality analysis methods. Thus, the anomalies in satellite data, signals and measurements can be detected by following the suggested resolutions to enhance the positioning performance of the combined use of BDS and GPS in the Asia Pacific region.

Competition over guarding in the Arabian babbler (Turdoides squamiceps), a cooperative breeder

Observations on 12 groups comprised of two adult males and one adult female (some included one or two fledglings), tame, individually marked, Arabian babblers ( Turdoides squamiceps) in the rift valley in Israel revealed that the babblers compete to guard. The pattern of guarding and the way by which one sentinel replaces another reflect the dominance relationships within the group. The dominant (alpha) male guarded more than any other individual. It interfered with and replaced the guarding by the adult beta male more than it did with the yearlings. About one-third of the replacements occurred less than one minute after the sentinel had assumed guarding. Whereas the dominant often replaced its subordinates directly; subordinates hardly ever replaced their dominants directly. The alpha male often allofed the beta male during the replacement. Replacements and allofeeding of the beta males by the alpha males increased significantly during courtship, when competition over breeding was maximal, and dropped back to their previous level at the start of incubation, highlighting the competitive basis underlying the act of guarding. Competition over altruistic acts, as shown here for guarding, is not compatible with explanations based on the assumption that altruistic acts reduce the fitness (reproductive success) of the altruist. We suggest, in contrast, that by investing in guarding and by intervening in the guarding of its competitors, a babbler demonstrates and signals its quality and its control over its competitors, thereby increasing its prestige and consequently its direct fitness.

Low-pass parabolic FFT filter for airborne and satellite lidar signal processing

In order to reduce random errors of the lidar signal inversion, a low-pass parabolic fast Fourier transform filter (PFFTF) was introduced for noise elimination. A compact airborne Raman lidar system was studied, which applied PFFTF to process lidar signals. Mathematics and simulations of PFFTF along with low pass filters, sliding mean filter (SMF), median filter (MF), empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and wavelet transform (WT) were studied, and the practical engineering value of PFFTF for lidar signal processing has been verified. The method has been tested on real lidar signal from Wyoming Cloud Lidar (WCL). Results show that PFFTF has advantages over the other methods. It keeps the high frequency components well and reduces much of the random noise simultaneously for lidar signal processing.