Neurons of the medulla oblongata and hypothalamus projecting on the sympathetic neurons of the ventral horn of the spinal cord]

Connections of the neurons of the spinal cord ventral horn with the structures, situating above have been investigated. After injection of uranyl acetate into the TIII segment of the spinal cord, labelled neurons are found in various reticular nuclei of the medulla oblongata. At the level of the roots of the XII pair of the cranial nerves they are revealed in the reticular paramedian, ventral, parvocellular and lateral nuclei. The formations mentioned participate in regulation of the cardio-vascular system. More rostral (2 and 4 mm relatively to the roots of the XII pair of the cranial nerves) the neurons are observed in the reticular giant cellular nucleus, in nuclei of the raphe and in the group of the P-substance reactive neurons. Besides, labelled neurons are revealed in the posterior, lateral fields and in the dorso- and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus.     

Concurrent validity of the Microsoft Kinect for assessment of spatiotemporal gait variables

Spatiotemporal characteristics of gait such as step time and length are often associated with overall physical function in clinical populations, but can be difficult, time consuming and obtrusive to measure. This study assessed the concurrent validity of overground walking spatiotemporal data recorded using a criterion reference – a marker-based three-dimensional motion analysis (3DMA) system – and a low-cost, markerless alternative, the automated skeleton tracking output from the Microsoft Kinect™ (Kinect). Twenty-one healthy adults performed normal walking trials while being monitored using both systems. The outcome measures of gait speed, step length and time, stride length and time and peak foot swing velocity were derived using supervised automated analysis. To assess the agreement between the Kinect and 3DMA devices, Bland–Altman 95% bias and limits of agreement, percentage error, relative agreement (Pearson's correlation coefficients: r) overall agreement (concordance correlation coefficients: r_c) and landmark location linearity as a function of distance from the sensor were determined. Gait speed, step length and stride length from the two devices possessed excellent agreement (r and r_c values >0.90). Foot swing velocity possessed excellent relative (r=0.93) but only modest overall (r_c=0.54) agreement. Step time (r=0.82 and r_c=0.23) and stride time (r=0.69 and r_c=0.14) possessed excellent and modest relative agreement respectively but poor overall agreement. Landmark location linearity was excellent (R²=0.991). This widely available, low-cost and portable system could provide clinicians with significant advantages for assessing some spatiotemporal gait parameters. However, caution must be taken when choosing outcome variables as some commonly reported variables cannot be accurately measured.     

Effects of hypoxic preconditioning on the hypoxicreoxygenated atria from fed and fasted rats

Hypoxic preconditioning (PC) was studied using rat atria set up isometrically in 10 mM dextrose medium and paced at 1 Hz, applying three different protocols wherein fed and 24-h fasted rats were used in protocols 1 and 2 and only the fed in protocol 3. In protocol 1, PC was achieved applying a 5 min hypoxia followed by 10 min of reoxygenation before the onset of a 60 min hypoxia and 60 min reoxygenation. In protocol 2 the 5 min and a posterior 45 min hypoxia were applied in the absence of dextrose whereas in the 10 min and 60 min reoxygenation periods dextrose was present. In protocol 3, two cycles of 5 min dextrose-free hypoxic periods were applied before the sustained hypoxia (dextrose-free) and reoxygenation periods (10 min and final 45 min, both in the presence of dextrose). In the control groups of all protocols, the equilibration periods were prolonged to compensate the duration of PC. In the control groups of protocols 1 and 2, the sustained hypoxia evoked greater disturbances of contractility and a smaller post-hypoxic recovery in the fasted than in the fed rat atria. In protocol 1, PC markedly reduced the rise in resting tension and improved the post-hypoxic recovery in the fasted rat atria whereas in the fed rat atria protective effects were small and brief. In protocol 2, PC evoked a small reduction of contracture only in the atria from fasted rats and in protocol 3, PC exacerbated the hypoxic disturbances. These data suggest that PC effects depend both on the severity of the PC stress and the sustained hypoxia; and that PC does not require coronary flow.     

Fire as a selective force in a Bornean tropical everwet forest

Tree species rarely exposed to burning, like in everwet tropical forests, are unlikely to be fire adapted. Therefore, one could hypothesize that these species are affected equally by burning and that tree abundance changes are linked solely to fire behavior. Alternatively, if species do react differentially to burning, abundance changes should be linked to tree habitat preference and morphology. Using tree inventories from old-growth and adjacent burned Bornean forest in combination with a database on tree morphology and habitat preference, we test these alternative hypotheses by (1) determining whether species specific abundance changes after fire differ significantly from equal change, and (2) whether observed abundance changes are linked to species morphology and habitat preference. We found that of 196 species tested, 125 species showed an abundance change significantly different from that expected under our null model of equal change. These abundance changes were significantly linked to both tree morphology and habitat preference. Abundance declines were associated with slope or ridge preference, thin barks, and limited seed dormancy. Abundance increases were associated with high light preference, small adult stature, light wood, large leaves, small seeds and long seed dormancy. While species habitat preference and morphology explained observed abundance increases well, abundance declines were only weakly associated with them (R ² ~ 0.09). This suggests that most tree mortality was random and everwet tropical tree species are poorly fire adapted. As fire frequencies are increasing in the everwet tropics, this might eventually result in permanently altered species compositions and even species extinctions.     

Improving lower limb weight distribution asymmetry during the squat using Nintendo Wii Balance Boards and real-time feedback

Weight-bearing asymmetry (WBA) may be detrimental to performance and could increase the risk of injury; however, detecting and reducing it is difficult in a field setting. This study assessed whether a portable and simple-to-use system designed with multiple Nintendo Wii Balance Boards (NWBBs) and customized software can be used to evaluate and improve WBA. Fifteen elite Australian Rules Footballers and 32 age-matched, untrained participants were tested for measures of WBA while squatting. The NWBB and customized software provided real-time visual feedback of WBA during half of the trials. Outcome measures included the mean mass difference (MMD) between limbs, interlimb symmetry index (SI), and percentage of time spent favoring a single limb (TFSL). Significant reductions in MMD (p = 0.028) and SI (p = 0.007) with visual feedback were observed for the entire group data. Subgroup analysis revealed significant reductions in MMD (p = 0.047) and SI (p = 0.026) with visual feedback in the untrained sample; however, the reductions in the trained sample were nonsignificant. The trained group showed significantly less WBA for TFSL under both visual conditions (no feedback: p = 0.015, feedback: p = 0.017). Correlation analysis revealed that participants with high levels of WBA had the greatest response to feedback (p < 0.001, ρ = 0.557). In conclusion, WBA exists in healthy untrained adults, and these asymmetries can be reduced using real-time visual feedback provided by an NWBB-based system. Healthy, well-trained professional athletes do not possess the same magnitude of WBA. Inexpensive, portable, and widely available gaming technology may be used to evaluate and improve WBA in clinical and sporting settings.     

Efficient methodology for the cyclization of linear peptide libraries via intramolecular S-alkylation using Multipin solid phase peptide synthesis.

Methodology is described here for the efficient parallel synthesis and cyclization of linear peptide libraries using intramolecular S-alkylation chemistry in combination with Multipin solid phase peptide synthesis (Multipin SPPS). The effective use of this methodology was demonstrated with the synthesis of a 72-member combinatorial library of cyclic thioether peptide derivatives of the conserved four-residue structural motif DD/EXK found in the active sites of the five crystallographically defined orthodox type II restriction endonucleases, EcoRV, EcoRI, PvuII, BamHI and BglI.     

Distribution of stomata on the second leaf ofZea mays following root hypoxia

The changes in leaf dimensions, transverse and longitudinal gradients in stomatal density and the total number of stomata under the influence of root hypoxia were followed. In spite of considerably reduced leaf area following hypoxia the total number of stomata per leaf was not changed significantly. The resulting increase in stomatal density was not uniform being the most prominent in the basal part of the leaf where the distances between stomata and between rows of stomata became shorter.     

Effect of oral administration of diphenyl diselenide on antioxidant status,and activity of delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase and isoforms of lactate dehydrogenase,in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Male albino rats with diabetes induced by the administration of streptozotocin (STZ) (45 mg/kg, i.v.) were treated with oral administration of diphenyl diselenide (DPDS) pre-dissolved in soya bean oil. A significant reduction in blood glucose levels was observed in STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with DPDS compared with an untreated STZ diabetic group. The pharmacological effect of DPDS was accompanied by a marked reduction in the level of glycated proteins, and restoration of the observed decreased levels of vitamin C and reduced glutathione (GSH; in liver and kidney tissues) of STZ-treated rats. DPDS also caused a marked reduction in the high levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) observed in STZ-induced diabetic group. Finally, the inhibition of catalase, delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (e-ALA-D) and isoforms of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) accompanied by hyperglycemia were prevented by DPDS in all tissues examined. Hence, in comparison with our earlier report, the present findings suggests that, irrespective of the route of administration and the delivery vehicle, DPDS can be considered as an anti-diabetic agent due to its anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant properties.     

Environmental correlates of tree biomass, basal area, wood specific gravity and stem density gradients in Borneo's tropical forests

Aim Tropical forests have been recognized as important global carbon sinks and sources. However, many uncertainties about the spatial distribution of live tree above‐ground biomass (AGB) remain, mostly due to limited availability of AGB field data. Recent studies in the Amazon have already shown the importance of large sample size for accurate AGB gradient analysis. Here we use a large stem density, basal area, community wood density and AGB dataset to study and explain their spatial patterns in an Asian tropical forest. Location Borneo, Southeast Asia. Methods We combined stem density, basal area, community wood density and AGB data from 83 locations in Borneo with an environmental database containing elevation, climate and soil variables. The Akaike information criterion was used to select models and environmental variables that best explained the observed values of stem density, basal area, community wood density and AGB. These models were used to extrapolate these parameters across Borneo. Results We found that wood density, stem density, basal area and AGB respond significantly, but differentially, to the environment. AGB was only correlated with basal area, but not with stem density and community wood specific gravity. Main conclusions Unlike results from Amazonian forests, soil fertility was an important positive correlate for AGB in Borneo while community wood density, which is a main driver of AGB in the Neotropics, did not correlate with AGB in Borneo. Also, Borneo's average AGB of 457.1 Mg ha^?1 was c. 60% higher than the Amazonian average of 288.6 Mg ha^?1. We find evidence that this difference might be partly explained by the high density of large wind‐dispersed Dipterocarpaceae in Borneo, which need to be tall and emergent to disperse their seeds. Our results emphasize the importance of Bornean forests as carbon sinks and sources due to their high carbon storage capacity.