Platform Location Research Articles

Distinct Roles of Medial Prefrontal Cortex Subregions in the Consolidation and Recall of Remote Spatial Memories.

It is a common belief that memories, over time, become progressively independent of the hippocampus and are gradually stored in cortical areas. This view is mainly based on evidence showing that prefrontal cortex (PFC) manipulations impair the retrieval of remote memories, while hippocampal inhibition does not. More controversial is whether activity in the medial PFC is required immediately after learning to initiate consolidation. Another question concerns functional differences among PFC subregions in forming and storing remote memories. To address these issues, we directly contrasted the effects of loss-of-function manipulations of the anterior cingulate cortex (aCC) and the ventromedial PFC, which includes the infralimbic (IL) and prelimbic (PL) cortices, before testing and immediately after training on the ability of CD1 mice to recall the hidden platform location in the Morris water maze. We injected an AAV carrying the hM4Di receptor into the PL-IL or aCC. Interestingly, pretest administrations of clozapine-N-oxide (CNO; 3 mg/kg) revealed that the aCC, but not the PL-IL, was necessary to recall remote spatial information. Furthermore, systemic post-training administration of CNO impaired memory recall at remote, but not recent, time points in both groups. These findings revealed a functional dissociation between the two prefrontal areas, demonstrating that both the PL-IL and the aCC are involved in early consolidation of remote spatial memories, but only the aCC is engaged in their recall.

The effect of 2,6-dimethylpyridine N-oxide on cognitive functions and emotional state of rats following ins long-term oral administration

Background. Global anthropogenic environmental pollution, intensification of production, daily physical, emotional and psychogenic stress on humans, as well as the working environment provoke a variety of diseases, fatigue, and cognitive impairment, etc. This may be attributed to a reduced nonspecific resistance of the health system and the development of stressful conditions. Therefore, one of the focal points of preventive toxicology is the development of agents with adaptogenic properties that would prevent the occurrence of harmful effects under the influence of stressors. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of 2,6-dimethylpyridine N-oxide on cognitive functions and emotional status of rats following its long-term oral administration. Materials and Methods. The plant growth regulator (PGR) Ivin (2,6-dimethylpyridine N-oxide, 99.9%) was chosen for the study. Adaptogen Eleutherococcus was used as a reference agent. The study was conducted on Wistar Hannover rats divided into 2 cohorts. Each cohort included the following groups: 1 – intact animals, 2 – control (distilled water), 3 and 4 – Ivin at doses of 13.0 and 0.013 mg/kg (1/100 and 1/100000 LD50), respectively, 5 – Eleutherococcus at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Exposure period – 28 days, oral route of administration. The state of the central nervous system was assessed by behavioural reactions in the Morris Water Maze and the Elevated Plus Maze. Results. Ivin at doses of 13 and 0.013 mg/kg increased the ability to learn and to form short- and long-term memory in rats, as evidenced by a decrease in the average time of platform location in the Morris Water Maze test. Ivin at a dose of 0.013 mg/kg significantly increased the number of rearings in closed arms of the Elevated Plus Maze, indicating its anxiolytic effect. The anti-anxiety effect of Ivin needs to be confirmed by additional studies in the Open Field and/or Hole-board tests. The effectiveness of Ivin in terms of the studied parameters was similar or exceeded those of the known adaptogen Eleutherococcus.

Alantolactone improves cognitive impairment in rats with Porphyromonas gingivalis infection by inhibiting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and reducing Aβ levels

Neuroinflammation caused by the chronic periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is growing regarded as as a key factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Alantolactone (AL), a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the root of Inula racemosa Hook. f, has been proven to provide various neuroprotective effects. However, whether AL can improve cognitive impairment caused by P. gingivalis infection remains unclear. In this research, a rat model of P. gingivalis infection was used to examine the neuroprotective benefits of AL. The results revealed that 6 weeks of AL treatment (50 and 100 mg/kg) shortened escape latency and increased the number of crossings over the platform location and time spent in the target quadrant of P. gingivalis-infected rats in the Morris water maze experiment. By activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, AL suppressed malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and simultaneously increased the activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD). Furthermore, AL lowered the presence of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα in the hippocampal and cortical tissues of P. gingivalis-infected rats by inhibiting astrocyte and microglial activation and NF-κB phosphorylation. AL also significantly reduced Aβ levels in the cortical and hippocampus tissues of rats infected with P. gingivalis. In conclusion, AL improved cognitive impairment in P. gingivalis-infected rats by inhibiting neuroinflammation, reducing Aβ1-42 level, and exerting antioxidative stress effects.

Moxibustion Promoted Axonal Regeneration and Improved Learning and Memory of Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment by Regulating PI3K/AKt and TACC3

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate whether moxibustion could affect PI3K/Akt pathway to regulate Transforming acidic coiled-coil containing protein 3 (TACC3) and promote axonal regeneration to improve learning and memory function in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. MethodsSixty SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham-operated control group (SC), model control group (MC), model + moxibustion group (MM), and model + inhibitor + moxibustion group (MIM). The rats in MC, MM, and MIM groups were made into MCAO models, and PI3K inhibitor LY294002 was injected into the rats in MIM group before modeling; while the rats in SC group were only treated with artery separation without monofilament inserting. After that, the rats in MM and MIM groups were intervented with moxibustion. We used the Zea-Longa scale, micro-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (micro-MRI), Morris water maze (MWM), TUNEL, western blot (WB), immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry to evaluate the neurological deficits, cerebral infarct volume, learning and memory, apoptotic cell percentage in the hippocampal, the expression level of axonal regeneration and PI3K/AKt related proteins, the expression level of TACC3. The detection of 2 h after surgery showed the result before moxibustion and 7 days after the intervention showed the results after moxibustion. ResultsAfter 7 d of intervention, the scores of Zea-Longa and the cerebral infarct volume, the escape latency, the percentage of apoptosis cells of MM group were lower than that of MC and MIM groups; the frequency of rats crossed the previous platform location, PI3K, p-Akt/t-Akt and TACC3, the level of GAP-43 in MM group was more than MC and MIM groups (P < 0.05). While no statistical difference existed between MIM group and MC group (P > 0.05). ConclusionMoxibustion can promote axonal regeneration and improve learning and memory of Post-stroke cognitive impairment via activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and TACC3.

Effects of endogenous DHA milk and exogenous DHA milk on oxidative stress and cognition in SAMP8 mice

In this study, Senescence Accelerated Mice (SAMP8) were supplemented with exogenous DHA milk, endogenous DHA milk, normal milk, or 0.9 % saline solution. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), gas chromatography (GC), ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI MS/MS), and Morris water maze were used to characterize the effects of diet on oxidative stress and cognition in SAMP8 mice. Supplementation endogenous DHA milk or exogenous DHA milk can enhance the antioxidant capacity of mice organs. Endogenous DHA milk increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of mice brain and serum than normal milk and 0.9 % saline solution (P ≤ 0.05), as well as increased SOD activity of mice liver and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of mice brain than normal milk (P ≤ 0.05). Exogenous DHA milk increased SOD activity of mice brain than normal milk and 0.9 % saline solution, as well as increased SOD activity of mice serum than 0.9 % saline solution (P ≤ 0.05). Several polar lipid relative content, such as 18:0/18:2 PS, 17:0 Ceramide, and 20:4 LPC in mice brain was affected by dietary supplementation with DHA-containing milk. Lipid oxidation metabolites in mice brain were not affected by DHA-containing milk. Endogenous DHA milk increased the number of platform location crossing times of mice in the Morris water maze test, compared with Exogenous DHA milk, normal milk, and 0.9 % saline solution (P ≤ 0.05).

A hybrid matheuristic approach for the integrated location routing problem of the pineapple supply chain

This paper proposes a matheuristic approach for the location-routing of industrial platforms of the pineapple supply chain problem. We have proposed a three-phase methodology to solve the considered problem. The first phase consists of obtaining the potential supply in terms of suitability and productivity, the potential location of platforms, and the times of the value chain echelons. In the second phase, a mathematical optimization model for the location problem of platforms considering the coverage in terms of timing is proposed. Finally, the final phase proposes a cluster-routing and a granular reactive tabu search approach for the routing phase. The proposed methodology uses official information on production times, speed, and capacity and georeferenced aptitude, spatial, economic, and land yield information for the first time. The proposed approach has been validated through scenarios, particularly pineapple exports for the Colombian country. The obtained results show the efficiency of the proposed approach.

Preservation of exhaled breath samples for analysis by off-line SESI-HRMS: proof-of-concept study

Secondary electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry (SESI-HRMS) is an established technique in the field of breath analysis characterized by its short analysis time, as well as high levels of sensitivity and selectivity. Traditionally, SESI-HRMS has been used for real-time breath analysis, which requires subjects to be at the location of the analytical platform. Therefore, it limits the possibilities for an introduction of this methodology in day-to-day clinical practice. However, recent methodological developments have shown feasibility on the remote sampling of exhaled breath in Nalophan® bags prior to measurement using SESI-HRMS. To further explore the range of applications of this method, we conducted a proof-of-concept study to assess the impact of the storage time of exhaled breath in Nalophan® bags at different temperatures (room temperature and dry ice) on the relative intensities of the compounds. In addition, we performed a detailed study of the storage effect of 27 aldehydes related to oxidative stress. After 2 h of storage, the mean of intensity of all m/z signals relative to the samples analyzed without prior storage remained above 80% at both room temperature and dry ice. For the 27 aldehydes, the mean relative intensity losses were lower than 20% at 24 h of storage, remaining practically stable since the first hour of storage following sample collection. Furthermore, the mean relative intensity of most aldehydes in samples stored at room temperature was higher than those stored in dry ice, which could be related to water vapor condensation issues. These findings indicate that the exhaled breath samples could be preserved for hours with a low percentage of mean relative intensity loss, thereby allowing more flexibility in the logistics of off-line SESI-HRMS studies.

Sex-specific variations in spatial reference memory acquisition: Insights from a comprehensive behavioral test battery in C57BL/6JRj mice

Sex differences in declarative memory are described in humans, revealing a female or a male advantage depending on the task. Specifically, spatial memory (i.e., spatial navigation) is typically most efficient in men. This sexual dimorphism has been replicated in male rats but not clearly in mice. In this study, sex differences in spatial memory were assessed in thirty-six C57BL/6 J mice (Janvier Labs; i.e., C57BL/6JRj mice), a widely used mouse substrain. Both male and female mice (12 weeks-old) were subjected to standard behavioral paradigms: the elevated plus maze, the open field test, the novel object and place tests, the forced swimming test, and the water maze test for spatial navigation. Across assessment, no sex differences were found in measures of locomotor activity, emotional and behavioral responses, and object and place recognition memories. In the water maze, male mice were faster in learning the platform location in the reference memory training and used more spatial strategies during the first training days. However, both sexes reached a similar asymptotic performance and performed similarly in the probe trial for long-term memory consolidation. No sex differences were found in the cued training, platform inversion sessions, or spatial working memory sessions. Hippocampal expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor was similar in both sexes, either in basal conditions or after performing the behavioral training battery. Importantly, female mice were not more variable than males in any measure analyzed. This outcome encourages the investigation of sex differences in animal models and the usefulness of including female mice in behavioral research.

Effect and Potential Mechanism of Immunotherapy on Cognitive Deficits in Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Immunotherapy has been reported to ameliorate Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the animal model; however, the immunologic approaches and mechanisms have not been specifically described. Thus, the systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to explore the effect and potential mechanism of immunotherapy on AD animal experiments based on behavioral indicators. According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and the inclusion/exclusion criteria of immunotherapy in animal studies, 15 studies were systematically reviewed after extraction from a collected database of 3,742 publications. Finally, the effect and mechanism of immunotherapy on AD models were described by performing multiple subgroup analyses. After immunotherapy, the escape latency was reduced by 18.15 seconds and the number of crossings over the platform location was increased by 1.60 times in the Morris Water Maze. Furthermore, compared to the control group, active and passive immunization could markedly ameliorate learning and memory impairment in 3 × Tg AD animal models, and active immunization could ameliorate the learning and memory ability of the APPswe/PS1ΔE9 AD animal model. Meanwhile, it could be speculated that cognitive dysfunction was improved by immunotherapy, perhaps mainly via reducing Aβ40, Aβ42, and Tau levels, as well as increasing IL-4 levels. Immunotherapy significantly ameliorated the cognitive dysfunction of AD animal models by assessing behavioral indicators.

Controlling method of the welding residual stress in support platform of hydrogenation reactor

The support platform is an essential component of a hydrogenation reactor, providing stable support for internal components and ensuring efficient reactions. However, the manufacturing method of overlay welding and complex structure of support platform unavoidably generates welding residual stresses (WRS) and stress concentration, posing a threat to operational reliability. In this paper, the WRS distribution and cracking causes of the support platform of hydrogenation reactor was studied by the finite element method (FEM) combined with experimental research. Four manufacturing processes for the support platform were compared in terms of their residual stresses, and the influence of welding heat input and fillet size on the WRS was discussed. The results indicate that the abrupt increase in residual stresses at the fillet region following the machining of the base layer has enhanced the likelihood of crack occurrence. The cumulative effect of stress concentration resulting from improper welding processes and structural discontinuities, along with the tensile stress during normal operating conditions, renders the surface layers susceptible to cracking during service. The manufacturing process significantly influences the distribution of residual stresses. To obtain a reliable and crack-resistant large-sized hydrogenation reactor support platform, a welding procedure with a certain machining allowance at the support platform location prior to overlay welding should be adopted. The fillet size has a notable effect on the residual stresses at the fillet region of transition layer. Recommended fillet sizes are 15 mm radius for the base layer, 11 mm radius for the transition layer, and 8 mm radius for the surface layer. Additionally, the heat input greatly affects the hoop stresses in the transition layer, in order to avoid the occurrence of cracks, a recommended heat input of approximately 20 kJ/cm is suggested.

Optimization of Offshore Wind Power Generation in Response to the 2022 Extreme Drought in Portugal

Portugal, in line with the European Union, is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 (Net Zero), which implies a transition to sustainable energy sources. Climate change is all too evident, as extreme weather periods are occurring in a cyclical manner with greater brevity to such an extent that the grid operator must deal with production scenarios where it can no longer rely on hydroelectric production given the recurring drought situation. This situation increases dependence on thermal production using natural gas and imports. This has significant economic implications. Portugal has exploited its onshore wind potential, reaching an installed capacity of 5.671 MW by 2022. However, the expansion of onshore wind energy is limited to reinforcing the existing infrastructure. To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to expand the exploitation of the offshore wind potential that is already underway. This article proposes the location of offshore wind production platforms along the Portuguese coast. This allows for an analysis of offshore production and its optimization according to the minimum cost per MWh in the face of extreme scenarios, i.e., in periods of extreme drought where the hydroelectric production capacity is practically non-existent. The model is fed by using market price indications and the amount of energy needed for the following day. Using forecast data, the model adapts offshore wind production for the following day according to the minimization of the average market price. This study presents an optimization model adapted to combat the unpredictability of extreme weather conditions. This strategic framework significantly increases the resilience and reliability of offshore wind energy production, marking a significant advance in the management of renewable energy under the pressure of climate variability. The results of the simulations allow us to conclude that despite the high cost of offshore technology (in deep waters), in extreme climate scenarios, it enables cost reduction and a clear decrease in imports.

Rapid eye movements associated with REM sleep is involved in consolidation of visuospatial learning in rats

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep plays a significant role in visuospatial learning and memory consolidation; however, its mechanism of action is unknown. Rapid eye movements (REMs), a characteristic active feature of REM sleep, is a potential correlate of neural processing for visual memory consolidation. The superior colliculus (SC) plays a central role in oculomotor control and spatial localization of objects in the visual field. We proposed that local reversible inactivation of the SC during post-learning sessions might interfere with REMs and negatively impact REM sleep associated consolidation of the visuospatial learnt task. Under gaseous anesthesia, bilateral cannulae aiming SC and electrodes for recording electrophysiological signals to classify sleep-waking were implanted. Following standard protocol, all rats were subjected to Morris water maze (MWM) training for 5 consecutive days followed by probe trial. After MWM training, on all except the probe test days, the rat SC were bilaterally infused with either vehicle (control, Group 1), Lidocaine hydrochloride a local anesthetic (Lox 2%, Group 2), or muscimol (Mus, GABA agonist, Group 3) and sleep-wakefulness recorded after day 1, 4, and post-probe learning sessions. Post-learning, compared to vehicle, Mus treated group significantly decreased REMs, phasic REM sleep, percent time spent in REM sleep and REM sleep frequency/hr. Also, during probe test, the escape latency was significantly increased, and the percentage time spent in the platform quadrant were significantly decreased in both, Mus and Lox 2% treated rats, while the number of platform location crossings was decreased in Mus treated group. The results showed that Lox 2% and Mus into SC reduced consolidation of visuospatial learning. The findings support our contention that SC mediated activation of REMs exerts a positive influence in processing and consolidation of visual learning during REM sleep. The findings explain the role of REMs during REM sleep in visual memory consolidation.

Methodologies for automated design of subsea layout alternatives for oil production systems

This work presents methodologies to automate the synthesis of subsea layouts for oil production systems. The objective is to achieve a higher number of design alternatives, in less time, with increased efficiency and significant reduction in associated costs. The result is a computational tool that automatically explores different platform locations; for each location, considering several engineering criteria, it generates and evaluates alternatives for the spatial arrangement not only of the multiple flowline routes, but also of the riser connection order on the riser porch at the platform balcony. The quality of each solution is evaluated through metrics that include total flowline length. Several methods associated to the modeling and solution of the problem are presented, including: the algorithm that selects the order in which the risers will be connected; the routing algorithm that defines the trajectory of the flowlines; and the global search method for positioning the platform. Case studies are presented to demonstrate their performance, applied to representative offshore scenarios. The results indicate substantial improvement in response time, generating several efficient solutions in few minutes, as opposed to weeks that are usually required in the traditional design procedure. This way, the tool can reduce the design time to evaluate a higher number of alternative layouts, providing accurate results, and minimizing costs.

Responses of wild skuas (Catharacta antarctica ssp. lonnbergi) to human cues in cooperative and competitive social contexts.

Many animals respond to and use social cues emitted by other species (e.g., head direction). In the context of human-animal communication, these capacities have been attributed to regular and longstanding exposure to humans. We presented wild brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica ssp. lonnbergi) with two versions of an object-choice paradigm. In the cooperative version (Experiment 1), one human experimenter provided a simple and salient cue indicating which of two containers covered a food reward. The cues administered consisted of touching, looking at, pointing at, or pointing and looking at the container hiding food. In Experiment 1, skuas could thus cooperate with an experimenter by using the cues provided to locate the rewarded container. In the competitive version (Experiment 2), two human experimenters presented a platform with a visible food reward. In six experimental conditions, we varied experimenters' body orientation, head orientation, eye-gaze direction, face occlusion, and mouth occlusion, as well as the platform's location, ensuring that in each case only one experimenter had visual access to the rewarded platform. Here, birds could compete with the experimenters by robbing the human who does not see the food. Skuas failed to use human-given cues spontaneously in Experiment 1, and took the reward regardless of whether the experimenters could see in Experiment 2. Our results contrast with those obtained on other wild birds with pre-experience with humans. Hopefully, our findings will stimulate further research in order to illuminate the potential role of such experience in the capacity to respond to and use human-given cues. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Impact of the train heights on the aerodynamic behaviour of a high-speed train

The impact of train heights on train aerodynamic performance is studied by using an improved delayed detached-eddy simulation (IDDES) method. The correctness of the numerical method has been verified by the existing wind tunnel and moving model experiments data. The aerodynamic drag, lift, slipstream, and wake flow are compared for three train heights. The results presented that the drag and lift increased by 6.2% and 23.8% respectively, with an increase in train height from 3.89 m to 4.19 m. Compared with the 3.89 m case, the maximum time-averaged slipstream at the platform location for 4.04 and 4.19 m cases are increased by 2.0% and 4.3% respectively. Meanwhile, the wake topology for three cases is described and analyzed quantitatively. The downwash angle of the wake longitudinal flow is increased with the increasing train height, resulting in the mixing of the downwash flow and the ground flow in advance. The wake in the higher trains tends to develop outward and downward. Besides, the higher trains will also bring greater transient aerodynamic loads to the equipment above the train. It’s recommended to shorten the maintenance period of the electrical equipment above the higher trains to ensure the devices’ safety.Abbreviations: CFL: Courant–Friedrichs-Lewy; COT: Center of the track; FDR: Flow development region; FFT: Fast Fourier transform; GF: Ground-fixed reference system; ICE3: Intercity Express 3; IDDES: Improved delayed detached-eddy simulation; LES: Large-eddy simulation; LV: Longitudinal vortex; MME: Moving model experiments; NBL: Negative bifurcation line; PBL: Positive bifurcation line; PSD: Power spectral density; RANS: Reynolds averaged Navier – Stokes; SF: Stable focus; SP: Saddle point; STBR: Single-track ballast and rails; SV: Spanwise vortex; TF: Train-fixed reference system; TOR: Top of the track; TSI: Technical specification for interoperability; UN: Unstable node; WPR: Wake propagation region

247-LB: Link between Hyperglycemia and Cognitive Deficits in T2DM Animal Model

The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat is a model of spontaneously developing non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). With age, GK rats exhibit insulin resistance, decreased pancreatic function, and hyperglycemia. Studies have shown that GK rats experience cognitive impairment concurrent with hyperglycemia, but the mechanisms is unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the potential link between hyperglycemia and cognitive impairment in this unique T2DM model. Longitudinal assessments of fasting blood glucose (FBG) were performed in male GK rats and age-matched Wistar rats. Our results showed that FBG in GK group was significantly higher than that in the Wistar group starting from 6 weeks of age, and there was progressive fasting hyperglycemia in GK group. In the spatial probe test of Morris water maze (MWM) at 33 weeks old, the GK rats spent less time in the target quadrant (12.16 ± 2.18s vs. 22.17 ± 1.21, P&amp;lt;0.001) and took more time to reach the location of the formerly hidden platform (36.78 ± 6.141 vs. 6.422 ± 0.8783s, P&amp;lt;0.001) than Wistar rats, suggesting that GK rats showed spatial memory deficits. In mechanistic studies, insulin receptors (IR) and synaptic proteins were down-regulated and impaired insulin signaling pathways in the hippocampus of GK rats (Figure), suggesting impaired neuroplasticity and neuropathological processes may lead to cognitive dysfunction. Disclosure L. Chen: Board Member; Hua Medicine. J. Ni: None. L. Feng: Employee; Hua Medicine. X. Zhang: None. Q. Wang: None. Y. Chen: Stock/Shareholder; Silaiputai (Shanghai) Biopharmaceutical Company. Funding Hua Medicine Co., Ltd.

Detecting the Unseen: Understanding the Mechanisms and Working Principles of Earthquake Sensors.

The application of movement-detection sensors is crucial for understanding surface movement and tectonic activities. The development of modern sensors has been instrumental in earthquake monitoring, prediction, early warning, emergency commanding and communication, search and rescue, and life detection. There are numerous sensors currently being utilized in earthquake engineering and science. It is essential to review their mechanisms and working principles thoroughly. Hence, we have attempted to review the development and application of these sensors by classifying them based on the timeline of earthquakes, the physical or chemical mechanisms of sensors, and the location of sensor platforms. In this study, we analyzed available sensor platforms that have been widely used in recent years, with satellites and UAVs being among the most used. The findings of our study will be useful for future earthquake response and relief efforts, as well as research aimed at reducing earthquake disaster risks.

Neuro-glial underpinning mechanisms in myelin plasticity for memory enhancement

Background and aim: Learning continually shapes our neuronal circuits to form new memories. Neural plasticity was considered as the principal mechanism for learning many decades ago. Although myelin was considered for a long time as static inert insulator, recent studies showed that myelination is dynamically changed to enhance neuronal activity under neural plasticity umbrella in terms of myelin plasticity, so our study aims to figure out the underlying mechanisms of myelin plasticity associated with learning and memory. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that many mechanisms promote memory consolidation by enhancing myelination and that glial cells have a crucial role in this myelin plasticity effect. Methods: The study was conducted on 24 rats, divided into 3 groups, with 8 rats in each; Group I (control); rats remained in their home cage, Group II (control untrained); rats were allowed to move and explore the maze for equal time but there was no active platform location learning, and Group III (trained); rats were trained using Barnez maze behavior test including three days of acquisition trials (AT), followed by two probe trials (PT). The gene expression analysis for SOX10, MYRF, NRG, EDGF, SERPINE2 and MBP was evaluated by qRT-PCR in hippocampus tissues, in addition, histopathological assessment was done with immunohistochemistry for Myelin Basic Protein (MBP), Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), and Gallyas-Braak Silver staining. Furthermore, Pearson correlation was done comparing all genes with MBP expression. Results and data: The present study showed improved spatial memory with increased myelination in the trained group compared to all other groups (P&lt;0.001), in addition to increase of SOX10, and MYRF expression in the trained group indicating more OPC differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes (P&lt;0.001). NRG and EDGF were highly expressed in the trained group compared to other groups, in addition to the marked increase of number of the neuronal cells with more dendrites formation. SERPINE 2 and GFAP as markers of astrocytes showed high expression in the trained group in comparison with other groups (P&lt;0.001) with strong positive correlation between SEPRINE 2 and MBP (r= 0.76, P=0.02). Conclusion: Myelin plasticity as one of the crucial learning mechanisms, was influenced by different neural and environmental signals. Although role of glial cells was almost apparent in oligodendrocytes differentiation and proliferation, there was a significant role of astrocytes in promoting such myelination effect. There were no external funding sources for this study, it is self-funding This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Thermal comfort assessment during summer in rural Indian kitchens in tropical regions

ABSTRACT Several past studies have shown that occupants in a house generally feel more uncomfortable during the summer season. In kitchens, which are an integral part of the rural household, the environment inside is usually warmer than the room temperature. In the present work, a thermal comfort survey and experimental data collection have been conducted simultaneously in several residential kitchens in the rural areas of Raipur, India, during the summer season to assess the thermal comfort conditions of the subjects. A linear regression analysis has been done to determine the comfort band which is then compared with past data available in the literature. The results highlight the lack of proper airflow motion, insufficient ventilation, location of the cooking platform, and small sizes of the kitchen as some of the main design drawbacks of rural household kitchens. The current study conducted will help researchers to formulate design strategies to enhance the thermal comfort condition of subjects in such kitchens.

Effect of Huangdisan grain on improving cognitive impairment in VD rats and its mechanism in immune inflammatory response.

Vascular dementia (VD) is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the incidence rate is very high, there is no definitive treatment for VD. And it has serious impact on the quality of life of VD patients. In recent years, more and more studies about the clinical efficacy and pharmacological effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of VD have been conducted. And Huangdisan grain has been used to treat VD patients with a good curative effect in clinic. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Huangdisan grain on the inflammatory response and cognitive function of VD rats modeled by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO), that aimed to improve the treatment methods for VD. 8-week-old healthy SPF male Wistar rats (280±20g) were randomly divided into the normal group (Gn, n=10), sham operated group (Gs, n=10), and operated group (Go, n=35). The VD rat models in Go group were established by BCCAO. 8weeks after surgery, the operated rats were screened by the hidden platform trail of Morris Water Maze (MWM), and the rats with cognitive dysfunction were further randomly divided into the impaired group (Gi, n=10) and TCM group (Gm, n=10). The VD rats in Gm group were given the intragastric administration of Huangdisan grain decoction once a day for 8weeks, and the other groups were given intragastric administration of normal saline. Then the cognitive ability of rats in each group was detected by the MWM Test. The lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood and hippocampus of rats were measured by flow cytometry. The levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α, INF-γ, MIP-2, COX-2, iNOS) in peripheral blood and hippocampus were measured by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). The number of Iba-1+ CD68+ co-positive cells in the CA1 region of hippocampus was measured by immunofluorescence. Compared with the Gn group, the escape latencies of the Gi group were prolonged (P<0.01), the time spent in the former platform quadrant was shortened (P<0.01), and the number of times of crossing over the former platform location was reduced (P<0.05). But compared with the Gi group, the escape latencies of Gm group were shortened (P<0.01), the time spent in the former platform quadrant was prolonged (P<0.05), and the number of times of crossing over the former platform location was increased (P<0.05). The number of Iba-1+ CD68+ co-positive cells in the CA1 region of hippocampus of VD rats in Gi group was increased (P<0.01) compared with the Gn group. And the proportions of T Cells, CD4+ T Cells, CD8+ T Cells in the hippocampus were increased (P<0.01). The level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus was increased significantly, such as IL-1β (P<0.01), IL-2 (P<0.01), TNF-α (P<0.05), IFN-γ (P<0.01), COX-2 (P<0.01), MIP-2 (P<0.01) and iNOS (P<0.05). And the level of IL-10 (P<0.01), a kind of anti-inflammatory cytokine, was decreased. The proportions of T Cells (P<0.05), CD4+ T Cells (P<0.01) and NK Cells (P<0.05) in the peripheral blood of the VD rats in Gi group were decreased, and the level of IL-1β, IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, COX-2, MIP-2 and iNOS was increased significantly (P<0.01) compared with the Gn group. Meanwhile, the level of IL-4 and IL-10 was decreased (P<0.01). Huangdisan grain could reduce the number of Iba-1+ CD68+ co-positive cells in the CA1 region of hippocampus (P<0.01), decrease the proportions of T Cells, CD4+ T Cells, CD8+ T Cells and the level of IL-1β, MIP-2 in hippocampus (P<0.01) of VD rats. Moreover, it could rise the proportion of NK Cells (P<0.01) and the level of IL-4 (P<0.05), IL-10 (P<0.05), and decrease the level of IL-1β (P<0.01), IL-2 (P<0.05), TNF-α (P<0.01), IFN-γ (P<0.01), COX-2 (P<0.01) and MIP-2 (P<0.01) in peripheral blood of VD rats. This study indicated that Huangdisan grain could decrease the activation of microglia/macrophages, regulate the proportions of lymphocyte subsets and the level of cytokines, which could adjust the immunologic abnormalities of VD rats, and ultimately improve cognitive function.