Reserve Maintenance Research Articles

Measurement and maintenance of reserve in multiple sclerosis.

Cognitive dysfunction is highly prevalent, disabling, and poorly managed in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, not all persons with MS present with cognitive impairment despite having grey and white matter pathology. To explain such an observation, much attention has been drawn to other factors, namely the concept of reserve (i.e., protection against clinical manifestations of neurological damage). There is a growing body of evidence supporting brain reserve and cognitive reserve for mitigating the deleterious effects of MS pathology on cognition in MS. Measurement and maintenance of reserve is paramount. The current review addresses measures of brain and cognitive reserve, separately, that have been adopted in MS research. These measures are largely based on genetics and premorbid behavior. We propose that reserve may not be limited to premorbid factors that are not highly amenable to change. Rather, reserve can be built and maintained over time based on ongoing participation in cognitively stimulating activities. We conclude with recommendations for future research on reserve in MS samples. This will provide keen insight into potential applications for building reserve and ultimately improving the well-being of those with MS across multiple domains.

0542 : Vascular smooth muscle mineralocorticoid receptor contributes to coronary and left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists slow down the progression of heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI), but the cell-specific role of MR in these benefits is unclear. In the present study, the role of MR expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) was investigated. Two months after coronary artery ligation causing MI, mice with VSMC-specific MR deletion (MI-MRSMKO) and mice treated with the MR antagonist finerenone (MIfine) had improved left ventricular (LV) compliance and elastance when compared to infarcted control mice (MI-CTL), as well as reduced interstitial fibrosis. Importantly, the coronary reserve assessed by magnetic resonance imaging was preserved (difference in myocardial perfusion before and after induction of vasodilatation, ml/mg/min: MI-CTL: 1.1±0.5, NS; MIMRSMKO: 4.6±1.6, P<0.05; MI-fine: 3.6±0.7, P<0.01). The endothelial function, tested on isolated septal coronary arteries by analyzing the acetylcholineinduced NO-dependent relaxation, was also improved by MR deletion in VSMC or by finerenone treatment (relaxation %: MI-CTL: 36±5, MIMRSMKO: 54±3 and MI-fine: 76±4; P<0.05). Such impairment of the coronary endothelial function upon MI involved an oxidative-stress that was reduced when MR was deleted in VSMC or by finerenone treatment. Moreover, short-term incubation of coronary arteries isolated from non-infarcted animals with low dose angiotensin-II (10-9mol/L) induced oxidative-stress and impaired acetylcholine-induced relaxation in CTL but neither in MRSMKO nor in mice pre-treated with finerenone. In conclusion, deletion of MR in VSMC improved LV dysfunction after MI, likely through maintenance of the coronary reserve and improvement of coronary endothelial function. MR blockage by finerenone had similar effects. The author hereby declares no conflict of interest

Vascular Smooth Muscle Mineralocorticoid Receptor Contributes to Coronary and Left Ventricular Dysfunction After Myocardial Infarction

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists slow down the progression of heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI), but the cell-specific role of MR in these benefits is unclear. In this study, the role of MR expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was investigated. Two months after coronary artery ligation causing MI, mice with VSMC-specific MR deletion (MI-MR(SMKO)) and mice treated with the MR antagonist finerenone (MI-fine) had improved left ventricular compliance and elastance when compared with infarcted control mice (MI-CTL), as well as reduced interstitial fibrosis. Importantly, the coronary reserve assessed by magnetic resonance imaging was preserved (difference in myocardial perfusion before and after induction of vasodilatation, mL mg(-1) min(-1): MI-CTL: 1.1 ± 0.5, nonsignificant; MI-MR(SMKO): 4.6 ± 1.6 [P<0.05]; MI-fine: 3.6 ± 0.7 [P<0.01]). The endothelial function, tested on isolated septal coronary arteries by analyzing the acetylcholine-induced nitric oxide-dependent relaxation, was also improved by MR deletion in VSMCs or by finerenone treatment (relaxation %: MI-CTL: 36 ± 5, MI-MR(SMKO): 54 ± 3, and MI-fine: 76 ± 4; P<0.05). Such impairment of the coronary endothelial function on MI involved an oxidative stress that was reduced when MR was deleted in VSMCs or by finerenone treatment. Moreover, short-term incubation of coronary arteries isolated from noninfarcted animals with low-dose angiotensin-II (10(-9) mol/L) induced oxidative stress and impaired acetylcholine-induced relaxation in CTL but neither in MR(SMKO) nor in mice pretreated with finerenone. In conclusion, deletion of MR in VSMCs improved left ventricular dysfunction after MI, likely through maintenance of the coronary reserve and improvement of coronary endothelial function. MR blockage by finerenone had similar effects.

Real-time integration of optimal generation scheduling with MPC for the energy management of a renewable hydrogen-based microgrid

This paper presents a novel control strategy for the optimal management of microgrids with high penetration of renewable energy sources and different energy storage systems. The control strategy is based on the integration of optimal generation scheduling with a model predictive control in order to achieve both long and short-term optimal planning. In particular, long-term optimization of the various microgrid components is obtained by the adoption of an optimal generation scheduling, in which a statistical approach is used to take into account weather and load forecasting uncertainties. The real-time management of the microgrid is instead entrusted to a model predictive controller, which has the important feature of using the results obtained by the optimal generation scheduling.The proposed control strategy was tested in a laboratory-scale microgrid present at the University of Seville, which is composed of an electronic power source that emulates a photovoltaic system, a battery bank and a hydrogen production and storage system. Two different experimental tests that simulate a summer and a winter day were carried out over a 24-h period to verify the reliability and performance enhancement of the control system. Results show an effective improvement in performance in terms of reduction of the microgrid operating cost and greater involvement of the hydrogen storage system for the maintenance of a spinning reserve in batteries.

Reproductive strategy of the invasive green mussel may result in increased competition with native fauna in the southeastern United States

Understanding the population dynamics of invasive species, such as the green mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758), can aid in explaining the success of newly introduced populations and help predict the potential for spread. During a two-year field study of established populations in the invaded region of southwest Florida, year round gametogenesis and continuous spawning capabilities were observed through histological analysis of mussels collected monthly. This was supported by overall stable energetic reserves as measured through proximal biochemical composition (protein, glycogen and lipid content). However, egg outputs in the summer (6.4 × 10 6 ± 2.6 × 10 6 eggs / female) were significantly higher than egg outputs of winter-spawned mussels (7.7 × 10 4 ± 1.4 × 10 4 eggs / female). Stability in biochemical composition, suggests temperature and food availability were sufficient year round, allowing for the maintenance of reserves and active gametogenesis. Protein ranged from 409.0–628.0 mg g −1 , glycogen from 44.3–158.5 mg g −1 and total lipids from 7.4–13.5 mg g −1. Year-round reproductive capabilities supported by sufficient energy reserves may help explain the rapid colonization and high densities of green mussels along the southeastern United States and suggests the potential for competition with native species, particularly the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1791).

Concomitant use of statins and s-(2-boron-ethyl)-l-cysteine arginase inhibitor to correct endotoxin-induced endothelial dysfunction

The concomitant use of non-selective S-(2-boron-ethyl)-L-cysteine (BEC) arginase inhibitor with simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin and nanoparticulated rosuvastatin on the background of endotoxin-induced disorder modeling by Staphylococcus aureus (strain 13407) injection under the skin – 60 billions of microbial bodies – exhibits an endothelium- and cardio-protective action which is evident as endothelial dysfunction factor (EDF) increase prevention, adrenoreactivity, maintenance of myocardial reserve, and normalization of biochemical markers (total NO, expression of eNOS, C-reactive protein, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor). However, the concomitant therapy has shown no additive action of medications.

Devaluing experience in land management: A personal viewpoint

Devaluing experience in land management: A personal viewpoint

ХАРАКТЕРНЫЕ ОТКАЗЫ ОБОРУДОВАНИЯ ТЯГОВОГО ПОДВИЖНОГО СОСТАВА

The design of electric locomotives VL80S nodes developed in the 60s of XX century, can not ensure failure operation for a reserve maintenance periods are constantly increasing. The largest number of failures accounted for traction motors and electrical equipment. The proposed Article measures and technical solutions will significantly reduce the number of failures of these products.

Evaluating the Impact of Shocks to the Supply of Overnight Unsecured Money Market Funds on the Target2-Banca DDItalia Functioning: A Simulation Study

This paper presents a simulation exercise assessing the ability of Italian banks to fulfil their payment commitments in TARGET2, the Euro area Real Time Gross Settlement System, in the event of a contraction in the supply of funds in the overnight unsecured money market. The results of the exercise, which was carried out with reference to two reserve maintenance periods: 12 November to 9 December 2008, during the acute phase of the crisis, and 11 November to 7 December 2009, show that even a drastic reduction in trading on the interbank market would have caused only limited effects on the system’s functioning. These broadly positive results depend basically on two factors. First, both simulations refer to periods in which the ratio of unsecured overnight loans to the total number of settled payments was significantly lower than in the pre-crisis period; and in both periods the average level of liquidity in participants’ settlement accounts was relatively high due to banks’ reliance on Eurosystem credit facilities.

ANC-ALOHA: Analog Network Coding ALOHA for Satellite Networks

We propose a new random access protocol based on reservation ALOHA (R-ALOHA), called ANC-ALOHA, for applying analog network coding (ANC) to the slotted ALOHA channel of satellite networks (SATNETs). Although ANC promises excellent performance in SATNETs, ANC is not guaranteed in slotted ALOHA owing to the inherent randomness. R-ALOHA can be used to acquire a slot for ANC, but there are still two remaining problems to be overcome. First, the reservation maintenance of R-ALOHA does not work for ANC owing to the superposed signals. Second, a channel estimation scheme for ANC is needed in a slotted ALOHA channel. ANC-ALOHA exploits a keep-on sequence as the preamble and postamble of a burst for ANC to solve the above issues. The reduced payload size and delayed transmission are also proposed to assure the reception of the keep-on sequence. We derived an analytic model to verify the throughput of ANC-ALOHA, and validated it based on the simulation results. The results indicate that ANC-ALOHA significantly improves the channel throughput compared to R-ALOHA.

Growth Factors and Synaptic Plasticity in Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

During multiple sclerosis (MS) inflammatory attacks, and in subsequent clinical recovery phases, immune cells contribute to neuronal and oligodendroglial cell survival and tissue repair by secreting growth factors. Animal studies showed that growth factors also play a substantial role in regulating synaptic plasticity, and namely in long-term potentiation (LTP). LTP could drive clinical recovery in relapsing patients by restoring the excitability of denervated neurons. We recently reported that maintenance of synaptic plasticity reserve is crucial to contrast clinical deterioration in MS and that the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) may play a key role in its regulation. We also reported that a Hebbian form of LTP-like cortical plasticity, explored by paired associative stimulation (PAS), correlates with clinical recovery from a relapse in MS. Here, we explored the role of PDGF in clinical recovery and in adaptive neuroplasticity in relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) patients. We found a correlation between the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) PDGF concentrations and the extent of clinical recovery after a relapse, as full recovery was more likely observed in patients with high PDGF concentrations and poor recovery in subjects with low PDGF levels. Consistently with the idea that PDGF-driven synaptic plasticity contributes to attenuate the clinical consequences of tissue damage in RR-MS, we also found a striking correlation between CSF levels of PDGF and the amplitude of LTP-like cortical plasticity explored by PAS. CSF levels of fibroblast growth factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor did not correlate with clinical recovery nor with measures of synaptic transmission and plasticity.

Payment vehicle as an instrument to elicit economic demand for conservation

In this study we applied collective/mandatory and individual/voluntary payment vehicles to elicit public claim for governmental investments of urban coastal nature reserves; to verify the efficiency of either payment formats to recall protest voters declared under the other and sensitivity of respondents to reveal willingness to pay-WTP for maintenance and conservation of reserves. Results showed higher WTP bids and valuation under collective and mandatory payment format and supplied evidence that in developing countries people nurture expectancy on governmental actions and funding to conserve natural landscapes. The difference between the non-use values estimated under the two payment vehicles was USD 3.5 millions. For the purpose of this study, this indicates the amount claimed by local people for governmental investment in the coastal urban nature reserves. Ecological knowledge on the reserves have a positive effect on non-use values, underlining the role of information to increase people understanding on benefits supplied by nature reserve and to enable them to declared the utility attributed to these areas in economic terms.

Trade Policy and International Finance in the Bretton Woods Era: a Doctrinal Perspective with Reference to Australia and New Zealand

The Bretton Woods system embodied a self-imposed liquidity constraint. Trade policy was subordinated to the maintenance of official foreign reserves used to defend fixed exchange rates. In Australia and New Zealand, reserves were considered a form of national self-insurance against the instability of export receipts and the liquidity problem was often referred to as the ‘foreign exchange constraint’ – as if it were exogenously given rather than the result of certain policies, and it reinforced inward-looking trade policies. International financial arrangements, including severe restrictions on cross-border capital flows, delimited thought and action in connection with Australian and New Zealand trade policy.

Physiological and Biogeochemical Traits of Bleaching and Recovery in the Mounding Species of Coral Porites lobata: Implications for Resilience in Mounding Corals

Mounding corals survive bleaching events in greater numbers than branching corals. However, no study to date has determined the underlying physiological and biogeochemical trait(s) that are responsible for mounding coral holobiont resilience to bleaching. Furthermore, the potential of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as a source of fixed carbon to bleached corals has never been determined. Here, Porites lobata corals were experimentally bleached for 23 days and then allowed to recover for 0, 1, 5, and 11 months. At each recovery interval a suite of analyses were performed to assess their recovery (photosynthesis, respiration, chlorophyll a, energy reserves, tissue biomass, calcification, δ13C of the skeletal, δ13C, and δ15N of the animal host and endosymbiont fractions). Furthermore, at 0 months of recovery, the assimilation of photosynthetically acquired and zooplankton-feeding acquired carbon into the animal host, endosymbiont, skeleton, and coral-mediated DOC were measured via 13C-pulse-chase labeling. During the first month of recovery, energy reserves and tissue biomass in bleached corals were maintained despite reductions in chlorophyll a, photosynthesis, and the assimilation of photosynthetically fixed carbon. At the same time, P. lobata corals catabolized carbon acquired from zooplankton and seemed to take up DOC as a source of fixed carbon. All variables that were negatively affected by bleaching recovered within 5 to 11 months. Thus, bleaching resilience in the mounding coral P. lobata is driven by its ability to actively catabolize zooplankton-acquired carbon and seemingly utilize DOC as a significant fixed carbon source, facilitating the maintenance of energy reserves and tissue biomass. With the frequency and intensity of bleaching events expected to increase over the next century, coral diversity on future reefs may favor not only mounding morphologies but species like P. lobata, which have the ability to utilize heterotrophic sources of fixed carbon that minimize the impact of bleaching and promote fast recovery.

Adjustment to dietary energy availability: from starvation to overnutrition

Humans have evolved into efficient survivors, able to bridge periods of scarcity between times of food availability. Adaptation to these changes requires specific adaptations and the establishment of metabolic priorities. These include thermal homoeostasis, maintained tissue glucose availability and the selective utilization of energy substrates, depending on their availability. A consequence of these requirements is the necessary maintenance of body reserves of energy, largely triacylglycerols, controlled by an effective ponderostat system. Body triacylglycerol reserves are used to sustain most of the body’s energy needs in periods of scarcity. Protein, throughout evolution, has been difficult to obtain, and, as a consequence, it is not used as an energy substrate except under conditions of excess, but (also) as a source of glucose and energy. Under excess energy conditions (as found in many present-day diets), the finely tuned mechanisms to survive starvation are inadequate to eliminate this excess. Humans are essentially unprepared for sustained excess energy intake; thermogenesis, increased protein turnover, growth and lipid accretion help decrease the energy burden. However, in the long-term, excess lipid accumulation in adipose tissue elicits inflammation and immune system-derived responses that deeply affect the control of energy partition, including the ponderostat setting and the disposal of excess glucose and amino acids. These changes alter the function of white adipose tissue, muscle, liver and the intestine (including the microbiota), all subjected to a low-key inflammation condition that alters their function and elicits a number of associated diseases constituting metabolic syndrome. In summary, it is hypothesized that dietary plentifulness and the pre-established mechanisms to fight scarcity are both responsible for the development of metabolic syndrome, which can be thus defined as a disease of affluence.

The Submergence Tolerance Gene SUB1A Delays Leaf Senescence under Prolonged Darkness through Hormonal Regulation in Rice

Leaf senescence is a natural age-dependent process that is induced prematurely by various environmental stresses. Typical alterations during leaf senescence include breakdown of chlorophyll, a shift to catabolism of energy reserves, and induction of senescence-associated genes, all of which can occur during submergence, drought, and constant darkness. Here, we evaluated the influence of the submergence tolerance regulator, SUBMERGENCE1A (SUB1A), in the acclimation responses during leaf senescence caused by prolonged darkness in rice (Oryza sativa). SUB1A messenger RNA was highly induced by prolonged darkness in a near-isogenic line containing SUB1A. Genotypes with conditional and ectopic overexpression of SUB1A significantly delayed loss of leaf color and enhanced recovery from dark stress. Physiological analysis revealed that SUB1A postpones dark-induced senescence through the maintenance of chlorophyll and carbohydrate reserves in photosynthetic tissue. This delay allowed leaves of SUB1A genotypes to recover photosynthetic activity more quickly upon reexposure to light. SUB1A also restricted the transcript accumulation of representative senescence-associated genes. Jasmonate and salicylic acid are positive regulators of leaf senescence, but ectopic overexpression of SUB1A dampened responsiveness to both hormones in the context of senescence. We found that ethylene accelerated senescence stimulated by darkness and jasmonate, although SUB1A significantly restrained dark-induced ethylene accumulation. Overall, SUB1A genotypes displayed altered responses to prolonged darkness by limiting ethylene production and responsiveness to jasmonate and salicylic acid, thereby dampening the breakdown of chlorophyll, carbohydrates, and the accumulation of senescence-associated messenger RNAs. A delay of leaf senescence conferred by SUB1A can contribute to the enhancement of tolerance to submergence, drought, and oxidative stress.

Delivery of Environmental Services of Sorsogon City LGU: Basis for an Extension Program

Environmental services are integral to basic Social Sciences. This is a descriptive developmental research aimed to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of LGU Sorsogon City in the delivery of environmental services as a basis in designing a collaborative extension program. The respondents were 206 local officials and 394 residents/constituents of selected communities of Sorsogon City. A validated researcher-made questionnaire was the instrument used in data gathering. Frequency count, percentage and weighted means were used to analyze the data. Results revealed that solid waste collection was the top environmental program being delivered by LGU Sorsogon City as perceived by the two groups of respondents, followed by solid waste generation, tree planting and water shed reserve maintenance. Other environment services which received high frequencies were solid waste transfer and transport, sea and river guard, water pollution control and forest guard and illegal logging control. The delivery of services and facilities was rated as moderately efficient and effective by both the constituents and local officials of Sorsogon City. From this result, a collaborative extension program was designed to mitigate climate change in Sorsogon City. Keywords - Environment, services, Sorsogon City, extension program, climate change, Sorsogon City, Philippines

Asymmetric Standing Facilities: An Unexploited Monetary Policy Tool

This paper analyzes the role of standing facilities in the determination of the demand for reserves in the overnight money market. The paper shows how central banks could use the position of the main refinancing rate with respect to the deposit and lending rates as a policy tool to control the demand for excess reserves by depository institutions. Furthermore, it illustrates how the existence of fine-tuning operations at the end of the reserve maintenance period significantly affects the ability of the central bank to influence the demand for reserves.

Improving the effectiveness of wood‐ash fertilization in mixed mountain pastures

AbstractMountain pastures can be improved by the application of wood ash, but its effectiveness as a source of N, P and other elements requires improved management practices. Two application rates of wood ash (6 and 12 t ha−1) were tested in a 4‐year trial on a low‐input fertilized pasture. Ash was complemented with mineral P, and N fixation was encouraged by sowing white clover. Wood‐ash application led to increased pasture yield (by 100%) and to increased proportions of white clover and ryegrass (60%), thus improving pasture feed value. N fixation by white clover, and possibly increased mineralization because of higher pH, may have compensated for lack of N in the wood ash. Addition of mineral fertilizer improved the supply of P, although incorporation of the wood ash into the soil may also have enhanced release of P from non‐extractable components. High amounts of compounds containing Ca and Mg contributed to the long‐term maintenance of soil reserves of these elements. Despite high inputs of K (175–350 mg kg−1) from wood ash, annual additions of K are required to counteract depletion via plant uptake and leaching. Increased Mn availability after the treatment (up to 400 mg kg−1) may limit repeated applications of wood ash, at least on poorly aerated soils.

Effectiveness of wood ash containing charcoal as a fertilizer for a forest plantation in a temperate region

Amendment of forest soils with mixed wood ash (MWA) generated in biomass power plants can prevent the depletion of soil nutrients that results from the intensive harvesting of forest plantations. Unlike fly wood ash, MWA contains charcoal and is characterized by a lower release of nutrients, so that it might be useful as a long term source of nutrients and soil organic matter. However, in order to use MWA as a fertilizer in forest systems, its effectiveness as regards supplying P and N must be improved. These aspects were studied in a 4 year-trial carried out in a Pinus radiata plantation. MWA was added alone or with mineral P, and the results were compared with those obtained with a combination of Ca(OH)2 and mineral P. The application of MWA together with mineral P fertilizer increased the nutrient supply to the trees, as revealed by the changes in nutrient concentrations, lower values of resorption efficiencies and improved tree growth. The results showed that the amounts of Ca, Mg and K supplied by the MWA were suitable for maintenance of soil reserves. However, the presence of charcoal may have decreased the availability of P. The application of the MWA led to lower soil N mineralization rates and mineral N concentrations, which may affect N-limited systems. The use of density-dependent single tree increment models enabled the positive effects on tree growth of fertilization and thinning to be distinguished. For the treatments supplemented with mineral P, multiplicative factors of 1.13 to 1.15 can be applied to obtain post-thinning predictions of 4-year single-tree basal area increments. Although MWA can be used as a long term source of nutrients, charcoal temporarily reduces the availability of P and N.