Episodes Of Movements Research Articles

The influence of tectonic subsidence on volcaniclastic sedimentation: The Cretaceous upper Daeri Member, Wido Island, Korea

AbstractThe Daeri Member, a Cretaceous volcanic–sedimentary succession, can be divided into lower, middle, and upper parts based on vertical changes in its lithologic characters. The lower Daeri Member is composed of siliciclastic deposits formed in a semi‐arid floodplain environment, which is overlain by the middle Daeri Member consisting mainly of andesite lava flow. After the emplacement of the andesite, activities of intrabasinal normal faults created accommodation on hanging wall blocks together with the development of intrabasinal topographic relief. The upper Daeri Member occurs only in hanging wall blocks and is composed of rhyolitic volcaniclastic sediments formed during an explosive volcanic eruption. Following the eruption, owing to semi‐arid climatic conditions and the destruction of vegetation, the eruptive materials were easily remobilized and deposited by episodic sediment gravity flows, resulting in deposition of the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits with sheet‐like geometry. Away from the intrabasinal normal faults, the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits show a decrease in grain size together with changes in inferred depositional processes from debris flows to hyperconcentrated flows and supercritical sheetfloods. This suggests that the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits were stacked on alluvial fan environments induced by intrabasinal topographic relief associated with normal fault activities. In addition, episodic movement of the faults gave rise to periodic fluctuation of the accommodation and an increase in gradient of the alluvial fan surface, resulting in the development of coarsening‐upward trends in the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits. The development of the alluvial fan and the coarsening‐upward trends indicate that dynamic tectonic subsidence and concomitant changes in the intrabasinal physiographic relief influenced the depositional processes and sizes of the transported volcaniclastic sediments of the upper Daeri Member. Thus, it is necessary to carefully observe tectonic signatures in volcaniclastic successions, particularly the syneruptive lithofacies, in order to reconstruct the tectonic and volcanic histories of receiving basins.

Formation and evolution of intraplatform basin from the late Sinian to early Cambrian in Sichuan Basin, China

Based on the drilling, logging, seismic and outcrop data, the formation and evolution of the late Sinian to early Cambrian intraplatform basin in Sichuan Basin was studied. Through the analysis of the total residual thickness of Member 3 + Member 4 of Dengying Formation, the total thickness of Maidiping Formation + Qiongzhusi Formation, and lithofacies characteristics of Maidiping Formation, the distribution of the intraplatform basin was defined and its controlling effect on natural gas distribution of Dengying Formation was revealed. The intraplatform basin was characterized by small total residual thickness of Member 3 and Member 4 of Dengying Formation, the large total thickness of Maidiping Formation and Qiongzhusi Formation, and the deep-water phosphorous-carbonaceous-siliceous mudstone in Maidiping Formation. Horizontally, the intraplatform basin was mainly distributed in Qingchuan-Ziyang-Yibin area, and experienced four evolution periods. During the period of Member 1 and Member 2 of Dengying Formation, the Sichuan Basin was a rimmed carbonate platform with the well developed mounds and shoals on the platform margin and its interior. The intraplatform basin in western Sichuan Basin was initially formed due to the first episode of Tongwan movement. During the period of Member 3 and Member 4 of Dengying Formation, the depositional center was formed in Moxi, Changning and Zhengxiong area due to extension and rifting of the Upper Yangtze Craton, thereafter, the Sichuan Basin evolved into a rimmed carbonate platform with an intraplatform basin. The second episode of Tongwan movement between Sinian and Cambrian led to the overall uplift and exposure of Sichuan Basin characterized by weathering denudation at high position and downward fluid erosion at low position. During the period of Maidiping Formation, three lithofacies zones were developed horizontally, and the third episode of the Tongwan movement between Maidiping Formation and Qiongzhusi Formation modified the sedimentary geomorphology locally. During the period of Qiongzhusi Formation and Canglangpu Formation, continuous deposition made the Sichuan Basin evolve into a gentle siliciclastic ramp. The evolution of the intraplatform basin not only promoted formation of high-quality platform-margin dolomite reservoirs of Member 4 of Dengying Formation, but also controlled distribution of the high-quality source rocks of Maidiping Formation and Qiongzhusi Formation. The dolomite of Dengying Formation in the surrounding area of the intraplatform basin was the most favorable hydrocarbon exploration area because of its good source-reservoir configuration.

Direct Visual Observation of Wing Movements during the Honey Bee Waggle Dance

Recruitment-related behaviours such as waggle dances enable honey bee foragers to inform their nestmates about the location of important resources. However, it is still not known how the information contained in a dance performed in the darkness of the nest is transferred to followers. Although, there are findings indicating that dancing honey bees produce airborne sounds which may convey the information, there has only been indirect evidence that moving wings are the source of these airborne sounds. In this study, honey bee dances were recorded using a high-speed camera in order to directly observe and precisely measure the frequency of wing beats and abdomen wags of dancers. Dancing bees moved their wings for 40.4% of the duration of a waggle run and for only 8.1% of the duration of a circle run. The episodes of wing movements consisted of one to five wing beats and were separated by intervals of motionless wings. The mean frequency of wing beats was 167.0 Hz and significantly differed depending on the number of wing beats in one episode (p < 0.001) and the position of the wings (p = 0.007). The mean frequency of abdomen wags was 14.6 Hz. The mean number of followers was 7.9 and significantly more of them gathered around the abdomens of dancers than around their heads and thoraxes (p = 0.001). The results of this study support the assumption that moving wings are the source of airborne sounds emitted during honey bee dances.

The epileptic and nonepileptic spectrum of paroxysmal dyskinesias: Channelopathies, synaptopathies, and transportopathies.

Historically, the syndrome of primary paroxysmal dyskinesias was considered a group of disorders as a result of ion channel dysfunction. This proposition was primarily based on the discovery of mutations in ion channels, which caused other episodic neurological disorders such as epilepsy and migraine and also supported by the frequent association between paroxysmal dyskinesias and epilepsy. However, the discovery of the genes responsible for the 3 classic forms of paroxysmal dyskinesias disproved this ion channel theory. On the other hand, novel gene mutations implicating ion channels have been recently reported to produce episodic movement disorders clinically similar to the classic paroxysmal dyskinesias. Here, we review the clinical and pathophysiological aspects of the paroxysmal dyskinesias, further proposing a pathophysiological framework according to which they can be classified as synaptopathies (proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 and myofibrillogenesis regulator gene), channelopathies (calcium-activated potassium channel subunit alpha-1 and voltage-gated sodium channel type 8), or transportopathies (solute carrier family 2 member 1). This proposal might serve to explain similarities and differences among the various paroxysmal dyskinesias in terms of clinical features, treatment response, and natural history. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Insights into movement behaviour of snapper (Chrysophrys auratus, Sparidae) from a large acoustic array

Snapper is a significant fishery species in Australasia whose movement behaviour remains poorly understood. This was addressed in the present study at the within-region scale using acoustic telemetry in the Gulf St Vincent, South Australia. Over 3 years from May 2011, 54 snapper were monitored throughout ~160km2 using 41 acoustic receivers. The dispersion of &gt;500000 detections varied in space and time, reflecting three types of space use, dependent on different types of movement behaviour. One station, near a large shipwreck, accounted for 67.8% of all detections, particularly during winter, when fish were sedentary and site attached. In spring, the fish dispersed throughout the study area to different habitats and, through summer, occupied different larger restricted areas than used in winter. Snapper were highly mobile and demonstrated systematic behaviour at several temporal scales. They moved linear distances of up to ~100km and could achieve tens of kilometres in a day in episodic movements. Through the year, their activity was distributed across areas of hundreds of square kilometres. The regional spatial management regimen was assessed against this enhanced understanding of movement behaviour. A new marine park sanctuary zone that encompassed the shipwreck was appropriately located, but possible benefits of a nearby spatial spawning closure area appear limited.

Climatic and tectonic controls of lacustrine hyperpycnite origination in the Late Triassic Ordos Basin, central China: Implications for unconventional petroleum development

The Triassic Yanchang Formation contains the main oil-bearing strata in the Ordos Basin, central China. But the sedimentology of the Upper Triassic is still under debate, and flood-generated, hyperpycnal-flow deposits and their implications for unconventional petroleum development have long been overlooked. Our study indicates that hyperpycnites are well developed in the seventh oil member of the Yanchang Formation. They are characterized by couplets of upward-coarsening intervals and upward-fining intervals, separated by microscale erosion surfaces. The origination of hyperpycnal flows was controlled mainly by episodic tectonic movements and the humid climate. The deposits extend from distributary estuaries into the deep lake, have intercalations of dark shales and tuffs, and coexist with debrites and turbidites as a result of the progradation of subaqueous fans. The hyperpycnites have implications for unconventional petroleum reservoirs, because the flows supplied not only large amounts of coarse grains and organic material to the deep-water, fine-grained central lake sediments but also affected the ecosystems, resulting in a higher total organic carbon content in the sediments.

Regression-transgression cycles of paleolakes in the Fen River Graben Basin during the mid to late Quaternary and their tectonic implication

An investigation into lake terraces and their sedimentary features in the Fen River Graben Basin shows that several paleolake regression-transgression cycles took place during the mid to late Quaternary. The horizontal distribution of the lowest loess/paleosol unit overlying each lake terrace indicates the occurrence of four rapid lake regressions when paleosols S8, S5, S2, and S1 began to develop. The horizontal distribution of the topmost loess/ paleosol unit underlying the lacustrine sediment in each transition zone between two adjacent terraces indicates that following a lake regression, a very slow lake transgression occurred. The durations of three lake transgressions correspond to those of the deposition or development of loess/paleosols L8 to L6, L5 to L3, and L2. It is thereby inferred that regional tectonic movement is likely the primary factor resulting in the cyclical process of paleolake regressions and transgressions. Taking these findings along with published geophysical research results regarding the upper mantle movements underneath the graben basin into account, this paper deduces that a cause and effect relationship may exist between the paleolake regression-transgression cycles and the tectonic activity in the upper mantle. The occurrence of a rapid lake regression implies that the upwelling of the upper mantle underneath the graben basin may be dominant and resulting in a rapid uplifting of the basin floor. The subsequent slow lake transgression implies that the thinning of the crust and cooling of the warm mantle material underneath the graben basin may become dominant causing the basin floor to subside slowly. Four rapid paleolake regressions indicate that four episodic tectonic movements took place in the graben basin during the mid to late Quaternary.

A 13 000 year multi‐proxy climate record from central Utah (western USA), emphasizing conditions leading to large mass movements

Younger Dryas to earliest Holocene mega‐landslides (&gt;10 km2) in the eastern Fish Lake Plateau of central Utah required unusually wet conditions to drive movement. The sediment from abundant small lakes, ponds and especially fens that formed in swales between hummocks on the landslide surfaces are excellent archives of past climate. An integrated geophysical, geochemical and micro‐palaeontological investigation characterized fen deposits, determining the timing of mass movement and establishing the subsequent climate history of the region. High‐resolution P‐(compressional) wave surveys of fen deposits were conducted to image fen‐landslide contacts. Past climate states were assessed through loss on ignition, pollen and diatom abundances. Diatoms, in particular, record large variations in precipitation as the present‐day wetland switched from fen (intermittent standing water) to pond states in response to variable precipitation. One core was analysed for detailed climate proxies. A wet episode (pond) prevailed from 11.5 to 10 ka after which the climate became much drier (fen) until 6 ka due to weakening of the North American Monsoon. After 2.5–2.0 ka, reduced insolation produced cooler summers and wet winters (pond). Only recently (&lt;500 years) has a fen re‐emerged based on direct observation and the disappearance of diatoms that require standing water. 14C ages of basal sediment from four cores show two episodes of movement: 12.8–12.5 and 10.5 ka. The earlier ages indicate that Younger Dryas high effective precipitation caused mass wasting. Later, during early Holocene times, colder winters followed by warmer summers and vigorous monsoons drove movement as rapid spring snow‐melt was followed by wet summers. In broad terms, this work highlights variable climate conditions that can drive mass movement, as well as the sensitivity of diatom records in fens to effective precipitation.

Landslide risk perception and communication for disaster risk management in mountain areas of developing countries: a Mexican foretaste

The increasing impact of disasters at local, national, regional and global scales in recent decades has provided enough evidence to urgently direct attention towards the necessity of disaster risk reduction and management, and this requires knowledge. Knowledge without communication is barren, and to communicate the risk of disaster it is necessary to understand the perception of the people at risk. In particular, this paper deals with the necessity to delineate strategies of risk communication in pursuance of risk knowledge as a core of disaster risk reduction and management, especially in mountain areas of developing countries. To portray this issue, an analysis of landslide risk perception in terms of experience, landslide risk awareness, exposure, preparedness, and risk communication and trust was undertaken in the municipality of Teziutlan, Puebla, Mexico, an area that has been affected for several decades by episodes of mass movement. Analysis of the responses to a risk perception questionnaire has offered valuable insights in terms of the information and knowledge most required by the people living in the area of interest, in order to devise a realistic and functional strategy to communicate the risk of a landslide disaster. This includes better understanding of controlling factors and drivers of this risk, and the establishment of potential trusted sources of risk communication. Beyond considering practical matters of risk assessment and management, risk perception and communication can increase the resilience of vulnerable people, and can enhance capacity building for present and future generations.

Effects of ω-3 fatty acids on stereotypical behavior and social interactions in Wistar rats prenatally exposed to lipopolysaccarides

ObjectiveSupplementation with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can positively contribute to neurologic development, modulating inflammatory responses, promoting homeostasis, and having a positive effect on animal behaviors associated with mental disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate behavioral and biochemical effects of ω-3 fatty acid supplementation in an animal model for mental disorders by prenatal maternal exposure to lipopolysaccardies (LPS) from the maternal immune activation. MethodsTwelve pregnant Wistar rats were used. Each rat received 100 μg/kg of LPS or saline solution on gestational day (GD) 9.5. The offspring remained with mothers until weaning and from postnatal day (PND) 30 were supplemented with ω-3 PUFA or saline solution by gavage at a dose of 0.8 g/kg orally for 21 d. On PND 52, the animals underwent behavioral tests; then, they were sacrificed, and the brain structures were dissected and analyzed by levels: neuron-specific enolase (NSE), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. ResultPrenatal exposure to LPS significantly increased the episodes of stereotyped movements and decreased social interaction in the offspring (P = 0.009 and P = 0.001, respectively), after ω-3 PUFA supplementation these parameters reversed (P = 0.005 and P = 0.013, respectively). Significant changes also were identified in the biochemical analysis in NSE and TGF-β in the brain structures; these conditions were reversed after ω-3 PUFA supplementation. ConclusionSupplementation with ω-3 PUFA reversed animal behaviors that often are observed in autism and other mental disorders in rats prenatally exposed to LPS, and also exerted neuroprotective effects in marker levels of neuronal damage and expression of TGF-β.

Episodic Rainwater Movement in a Hydrophobic Sparta Sand under Three Ecosystems in Lower Wisconsin River Valley

Core Ideas Prairie to pine conversion reduced soil water and drainage because of hydrophobicity and interception. Soil‐applied surfactant did not increase soil water content or water drainage. Early afforested prairie had similar soil water content and drainage to natural prairie. Early afforested prairie had greater soil water content and drainage than pine plantation. Vegetation can directly affect soil water dynamics through rainfall interception and evapotranspiration. Vegetation type probably is one factor that causes soil hydrophobicity, and hydrophobicity can influence water infiltration and groundwater recharge. Surfactants can be used to alleviate non‐wetting conditions. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of vegetation type on soil water content and groundwater recharge and to explore if a soil‐applied surfactant can increase both conditions. The research was located in the Lower Wisconsin River Valley (LWRV), on Sparta sand with three different vegetation ecosystems: prairie, pine plantation, and mixed prairie and forest (mixed vegetation); hydrophobicity has been found to be pronounced under pine plantations in the LWRV. Soil water content was monitored at three depths (5, 25, and 70 cm) with time domain reflectometry. Groundwater recharge was assessed by monitoring wells equipped with pressure transducers. Rain gauges and weather stations were installed to measure precipitation and air temperature. Soil core samples were collected for tests of saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and bulk density (Db). Surfactant was applied on half of the plots after collecting several years of background data. There was significantly less soil water under the pine plantation than the prairie and mixed vegetation. Groundwater recharge did not vary among vegetation types, probably because differences were obliterated due to high aquifer transmissivity. The pine plantation had less profile drainage; however, the surfactant did not increase profile drainage. There were no differences in Ks and Db. The conversion from prairie to pine plantation resulted in reduced soil water content and drainage.

Reversal of GI Bleeding with Idarucizumab in a Patient on Dabigatran and Incidental Finding of a Retroperitoneal Hematoma

Introduction: The increase in use of anticoagulation has led to the development of many new drugs that target improved compliance. Because these drugs increase the risk of bleeding, the availability of reversal agents has become an important aspect when considering their prescription. We present a case of a 78 year old male on Dabigatran who presented with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding from a marginal ulcer and was successfully treated with Idarucizumab. Case: Our patient is a 78 year old male with a history of atrial fibrillation (on Dabigatran), recent panreatectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm who presented to the hospital with an episode of bloody bowel movement, dizziness and weakness. He had a pulse of 107 bmp and blood pressure of 91/44 mmHg. His physical exam was pertinent for lethargy and blood per rectum. Pertinent laboratory findings included creatinine of 1.2 mg/DL, hemoglobin of 11.1 g/dL and PTT of 86.6. Upon arrival to the emergency department, he was resuscitated with 1 L normal Saline and his BP improved to 118/55 mmHg. Since he was having a hemodynamically significant GI bleed, he was given Idarucizumab to reverse the anticoagulant effect. Subsequent lab findings revealed a PTT of 48 and hemoglobin of of 8.3 g/dL. Patient had an EGD which revealed patent enteroenterostomy characterized by congestion, erythema, friable mucosa, inflammation and ulceration, and evidence of extrinsic compression on the posterior stomach wall. CT scan of the abdomen showed a 19.7 cm x 9.1 cm x 8.0 cm heterogeneous collection of fluid in the retroperitoneal area. He subsequently went for a laparotomy and had evacuation and suturing of the bleeding splenic artery. Discussion: Dabigatran remains one of the safest new oral anticoagulant agents as it has a reversal agent recently FDA approved for life threatening bleeds. In our patient, the GI bleed was a direct consequence of his recent pancreatectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction as evident from the marginal ulceration and inflammation seen on EGD. His GI bleed subsequently resolved with eventual normalization of PTT signifying reversal of the affect of Dabigatran. What makes this case more interesting is the incidental discovery of a large retroperitoneal hematoma based on the extrinsic compression of the stomach found on EGD. This serves as a great reminder to always consider a retroperitoneal bleed in an anticoagulated patient with a recent GI surgery.

The Paleocene Chance Member of the Fort Union Formation, northern Bighorn Basin, Montana and Wyoming: aperiodic cyclothems in a tectonically dominated lake basin

A 400 m-thick sequence characterized by prominent tabular sandstone beds and a significant amount of marl and limestone occurs in Paleocene strata of the northern part of the Bighorn Basin (Clarks Fork Basin) of Wyoming and Montana. These strata, currently designated as the Belfry Member of the Fort Union Formation, actually consist of two separate but related lithogenetic units. The lower unit, which includes the Belfry Member stratotype, shows a gradual upward increase in tabular sandstone and marl or limestone and is inferred to have been deposited on a drowning flood plain under paralacustrine conditions. The upper unit, here proposed as the Chance Member, is characterized by the presence of six asymmetrical, basin-wide cyclothems. Each cycle begins abruptly with a transgressive surface overlain by laterally extensive tabular sandstone, followed by a micrite-dominated interval that together represent the lacustrine phase of the cycle. These are succeeded by lenticular interbeds of mudstone and sandstone inferred to have been deposited as a prograding fluvio-deltaic and flood plain sequence. The cyclothems are of variable thickness, ranging from ∼30m in the lowest cycle to ∼10 m in the uppermost cycles. Detailed stratigraphic mapping and correlation with the paleomagnetic and vertebrate biostratigraphic framework for the Bighorn Basin places the entire Chance Member within a portion of one vertebrate zone, Ti4, of the middle Tiffanian Provincial Age (59.2 to 58.5 Ma). The variable thickness of the cycles points toward deposition during unequal time intervals and suggests a tectonic origin most likely related to episodic movement of faults bounding the Bighorn Basin.

Degenerative Encephalopathy in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers Presenting with a Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder.

BackgroundNeurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by loss of neurons and are commonly associated with a genetic mutation.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo characterize the clinical and histopathological features of a novel degenerative neurological disease affecting the brain of young adult Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers (NSDTRs).AnimalsNine, young adult, related NSDTRs were evaluated for neurological dysfunction and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.MethodsCase series review.ResultsClinical signs of neurological dysfunction began between 2 months and 5 years of age and were progressive in nature. They were characterized by episodes of marked movements during sleep, increased anxiety, noise phobia, and gait abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging documented symmetrical, progressively increasing, T2‐weighted image intensity, predominantly within the caudate nuclei, consistent with necrosis secondary to gray matter degeneration. Abnormalities were not detected on clinicopathological analysis of blood and cerebrospinal fluid, infectious disease screening or urine metabolite screening in most cases. Postmortem examination of brain tissue identified symmetrical malacia of the caudate nuclei and axonal dystrophy within the brainstem and spinal cord. Genealogical analysis supports an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceA degenerative encephalopathy was identified in young adult NSDTRs consistent with a hereditary disease. The prognosis is guarded due to the progressive nature of the disease, which is minimally responsive to empirical treatment.

Formation and destruction mechanism as well as major controlling factors of the Silurian shale gas overpressure in the Sichuan Basin, China

Taking the Well JY1 and Well PY1 in the Eastern Sichuan Basin as examples, the formation mechanism of shale gas overpressure was studied by using the cross plot of acoustic versus density logging data. During the processes of hydrocarbon generation and the uplifting, the pressure evolution of fluids in shale gas layers was reconstructed by fluid inclusions and PVTSIM software. The major factors controlling the evolution of shale gas overpressure were established according to the study of fracture, the timing of the uplifting, and episodes of tectonic deformation. Our results showed that the main mechanism of overpressure in the Silurian shale gas reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin was the fluid expansion, which was caused by hydrocarbon generation. Since the Yanshanian, the strata were uplifted and fluid pressure generally showed a decreasing trend. However, due to the low compression rebound ratio of shale gas reservoir rocks, poor connectivity of reservoir rocks, and low content of formation water and so on, such factors made fluid pressure decrease, but these would not be enough to make up the effects of strata erosion resulting in a further increase in fluid pressure in shale gas reservoirs during the whole uplifting processes. Since the Yanshanian, the Well PY1 zone had been reconstructed by at least three episodes of tectonic movement. The initial timing of the uplifting is 130 Ma. Compared to the former, the Well JY1 zone was firstly uplifted at 90 Ma, which was weakly reconstructed. As a result, low-angle fractures and few high resistance fractures developed in the Well JY1, while high-angle fractures and many high resistance fractures developed in the Well PY1. In totality, the factors controlling the overpressure preservation in shale gas reservoirs during the late periods include timing of late uplifting, superposition and reconstruction of stress fields, and development of high-angle fractures.

Neonatal seizure automatism and human inborn pattern of quadrupedal locomotion

Seizures in newborns do not always show a clear electro-clinical correlation. The real epileptic nature of some stereotyped rhythmic movements, included in the ‘subtle seizures’ and considered as brainstem release phenomena, is still debated. We report a brain injured newborn, who displayed several episodes of repetitive limb movements. The ictal EEG discharge, during one of these episodes, was associated with a motor pattern modification, which was endowed with quadrupedal locomotion kinematic features. This might represent an indirect evidence of cervical and lumbar Central Pattern Generators interconnection with in-phase coordination between diagonal limbs since the first hours of life in humans.

Aberrant transcriptional networks in step-wise neurogenesis of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia-induced pluripotent stem cells.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is an episodic movement disorder with autosomal-dominant inheritance and marked variability in clinical manifestations.Proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (PRRT2) has been identified as a causative gene of PKD, but the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of PKD still remains a mystery. The phenotypes and transcriptional patterns of the PKD disease need further clarification. Here, we report the generation and neural differentiation of iPSC lines from two familial PKD patients with c.487C>T (p. Gln163X) and c.573dupT (p. Gly192Trpfs*8) PRRT2 mutations, respectively. Notably, an extremely lower efficiency in neural conversion from PKD-iPSCs than control-iPSCs is observed by a step-wise neural differentiation method of dual inhibition of SMAD signaling. Moreover, we show the high expression level of PRRT2 throughout the human brain and the expression pattern of PRRT2 in other human tissues for the first time. To gain molecular insight into the development of the disease, we conduct global gene expression profiling of PKD cells at four different stages of neural induction and identify altered gene expression patterns, which peculiarly reflect dysregulated neural transcriptome signatures and a differentiation tendency to mesodermal development, in comparison to control-iPSCs. Additionally, functional and signaling pathway analyses indicate significantly different cell fate determination between PKD-iPSCs and control-iPSCs. Together, the establishment of PKD-specific in vitro models and the illustration of transcriptome features in PKD cells would certainly help us with better understanding of the defects in neural conversion as well as further investigations in the pathogenesis of the PKD disease.

Central Pattern Generators: Mechanisms of Operation and Their Role in Controlling Automatic Movements

Central pattern generators consist of sets of interconnected neurons able to generate a basic motor output pattern underlying automatic movements (respiration, locomotion, chewing, swallowing, etc.) without any afferent signals from the executive motor apparatus. They are divided into constitutive pattern generators, which are active throughout life (the respiratory generator), and conditional pattern generators, which control episodic movements (locomotion, chewing, swallowing, etc.). As the motor output of a pattern generator is defined by its internal organization, the activity of conditional pattern generators is initiated by a simple command arriving from the higher centers. The structural-functional organization of the locomotor pattern generators in the marine mollusk Clione, the lamprey, the frog embryo, and laboratory mammals (cats, mice, and rats) are described, along with pattern generators controlling respiratory and swallowing movements in mammals and pattern generators for discharges of the electric organs of gymnotiform fish. Generation of the rhythmic motor output is shown in all cases to be based on the endogenous (pacemaker) activity of specific groups of interneurons and interneural interactions. These two interacting mechanisms supplement each other, ensuring the reliable operation of pattern generators. The question of whether experience gained from studies of central pattern generators can be used for understanding the mechanisms of more complex brain functions, including cognitive functions, is discussed.

Optimizing Detection Rate and Characterization of Subtle Paroxysmal Neonatal Abnormal Facial Movements with Multi-Camera Video-Electroencephalogram Recordings.

Objectives We retrospectively analyze the diagnostic accuracy for paroxysmal abnormal facial movements, comparing one camera versus multi-camera approach. Background Polygraphic video-electroencephalogram (vEEG) recording is the current gold standard for brain monitoring in high-risk newborns, especially when neonatal seizures are suspected. One camera synchronized with the EEG is commonly used. Methods Since mid-June 2012, we have started using multiple cameras, one of which point toward newborns' faces. We evaluated vEEGs recorded in newborns in the study period between mid-June 2012 and the end of September 2014 and compared, for each recording, the diagnostic accuracies obtained with one-camera and multi-camera approaches. Results We recorded 147 vEEGs from 87 newborns and found 73 episodes of paroxysmal facial abnormal movements in 18 vEEGs of 11 newborns with the multi-camera approach. By using the single-camera approach, only 28.8% of these events were identified (21/73). Ten positive vEEGs with multicamera with 52 paroxysmal facial abnormal movements (52/73, 71.2%) would have been considered as negative with the single-camera approach. Conclusions The use of one additional facial camera can significantly increase the diagnostic accuracy of vEEGs in the detection of paroxysmal abnormal facial movements in the newborns.

Exploring a semimechanistic episodic Langevin model for bed load transport: Emergence of normal and anomalous advection and diffusion regimes

AbstractBed load transport is a highly stochastic, multiscale process, where particle advection and diffusion regimes are governed by the dynamics of each sediment grain during its motion and resting states. Having a quantitative understanding of the macroscale behavior emerging from the microscale interactions is important for proper model selection in the absence of individual grain‐scale observations. Here we develop a semimechanistic sediment transport model based on individual particle dynamics, which incorporates the episodic movement (steps separated by rests) of sediment particles and study their macroscale behavior. By incorporating different types of probability distribution functions (PDFs) of particle resting times , under the assumption of thin‐tailed PDF of particle velocities, we study the emergent behavior of particle advection and diffusion regimes across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. For exponential PDFs of resting times , we observe normal advection and diffusion at long time scales. For a power‐law PDF of resting times (i.e., ), the tail thickness parameter is observed to affect the advection regimes (both sub and normal advective), and the diffusion regimes (both subdiffusive and superdiffusive). By comparing our semimechanistic model with two random walk models in the literature, we further suggest that in order to reproduce accurately the emerging diffusive regimes, the resting time model has to be coupled with a particle motion model able to produce finite particle velocities during steps, as the episodic model discussed here.