High Coke-Resistance Pt/Mg1-xNixO Catalyst for Dry Reforming of Methane

A highly active and stable nano structured Pt/Mg_1-xNi_xO catalysts was developed by a simple co-precipitation method. The obtained Pt/Mg_1-xNi_xO catalyst exhibited cubic structure nanocatalyst with a size of 50–80 nm and realized CH₄ and CO₂ conversions as high as 98% at 900°C with excellent stability in the dry reforming of methane. The characterization of catalyst was performed using various kinds of analytical techniques including XRD, BET, XRF, TPR-H₂, TGA, TEM, FESEM, FT-IR, and XPS analyses. Characterization of spent catalyst further confirms that Pt/Mg_1-xNi_xO catalyst has high coke-resistance for dry reforming. Thus, the catalyst demonstrated in this study, offers a promising catalyst for resolving the dilemma between dispersion and reducibility of supported metal, as well as activity and stability during high temperature reactions.     

Real-Time Subject-Independent Pattern Classification of Overt and Covert Movements from fNIRS Signals

Recently, studies have reported the use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for developing Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) by applying online pattern classification of brain states from subject-specific fNIRS signals. The purpose of the present study was to develop and test a real-time method for subject-specific and subject-independent classification of multi-channel fNIRS signals using support-vector machines (SVM), so as to determine its feasibility as an online neurofeedback system. Towards this goal, we used left versus right hand movement execution and movement imagery as study paradigms in a series of experiments. In the first two experiments, activations in the motor cortex during movement execution and movement imagery were used to develop subject-dependent models that obtained high classification accuracies thereby indicating the robustness of our classification method. In the third experiment, a generalized classifier-model was developed from the first two experimental data, which was then applied for subject-independent neurofeedback training. Application of this method in new participants showed mean classification accuracy of 63% for movement imagery tasks and 80% for movement execution tasks. These results, and their corresponding offline analysis reported in this study demonstrate that SVM based real-time subject-independent classification of fNIRS signals is feasible. This method has important applications in the field of hemodynamic BCIs, and neuro-rehabilitation where patients can be trained to learn spatio-temporal patterns of healthy brain activity.     

Defining the identity of mouse embryonic dermal fibroblasts

Embryonic dermal fibroblasts in the skin have the exceptional ability to initiate hair follicle morphogenesis and contribute to scarless wound healing. Activation of the Wnt signaling pathway is critical for dermal fibroblast fate selection and hair follicle induction. In humans, mutations in Wnt pathway components and target genes lead to congenital focal dermal hypoplasias with diminished hair. The gene expression signature of embryonic dermal fibroblasts during differentiation and its dependence on Wnt signaling is unknown. Here we applied Shannon entropy analysis to identify the gene expression signature of mouse embryonic dermal fibroblasts. We used available human DNase‐seq and histone modification ChiP‐seq data on various cell‐types to demonstrate that genes in the fibroblast cell identity signature can be epigenetically repressed in other cell‐types. We found a subset of the signature genes whose expression is dependent on Wnt/β‐catenin activity in vivo. With our approach, we have defined and validated a statistically derived gene expression signature that may mediate dermal fibroblast identity and function in development and disease. genesis 54:415–430, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The effectiveness of the peer-delivered Thinking Healthy PLUS (THPP+) Program for maternal depression and child socioemotional development in Pakistan: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe negative effects of perinatal depression on the mother and child start early and persist throughout the lifecourse (Lancet 369(9556):145–57, 2007; Am J Psychiatry 159(1):43-7, 2002; Arch Dis Child 77(2):99–101, 1997; J Pak Med Assoc 60(4):329; J Psychosoma Res 49(3):207–16, 2000; Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 14(1):1–27, 2011). Given that 10–35 % of children worldwide are exposed to perinatal depression in their first year of life (Int Rev Psychiatry 8(1):37–54, 1996), mitigating this intergenerational risk is a global public health priority (Perspect Public Health 129(5):221–7, 2009; Trop Med Int Health 13(4):579–83, 2008; Br Med Bull 101(1):57–79, 2012). However, it is not clear whether intervention with depressed women can have long-term benefits for the mother and/or her child. We describe a study of the effectiveness of a peer-delivered depression intervention delivered through 36 postnatal months, the Thinking Healthy Program Peer-delivered PLUS (THPP+) for women and their children in rural Pakistan.Methods/designThe THPP+ study aims are: (1) to evaluate the effects of an extended 36-month perinatal depression intervention on maternal and index child outcomes using a cluster randomized controlled trial (c-RCT) and (2) to determine whether outcomes among index children of perinatally depressed women in the intervention arm converge with those of index children born to perinatally nondepressed women. The trial is designed to recruit 560 pregnant women who screened positive for perinatal depression (PHQ-9 score ≥10) from 40 village clusters, of which 20 receive the THPP+ intervention. An additional reference group consists of 560 perinatally nondepressed women from the same 40 clusters as the THPP+ trial. The women in the nondepressed group are not targeted to receive the THPP+ intervention; but, by recruiting pregnant women from both intervention and control clusters, we are able to evaluate any carryover effects of the THPP+ intervention on the women and their children. Perinatally depressed women in the THPP+ intervention arm receive bimonthly group-based sessions. Primary outcomes are 3-year maternal depression and 3-year child development indicators. Analyses are intention-to-treat and account for the clustered design.DiscussionThis trial, together with the reference group, has the potential to further our understanding of the early developmental lifecourse of children of both perinatally depressed and perinatally nondepressed women in rural Pakistan and to determine whether intervening with women’s depression in the perinatal period can mitigate the negative effects of maternal depression on 36-month child development.

Trial registration

THPP-P ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT02111915","term_id":"NCT02111915"}}NCT02111915 (registered on 9 April 2014).THPP+ ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT02658994","term_id":"NCT02658994"}}NCT02658994 (registered on 21 January 2016).Sponsor: Human Development Research Foundation (HDRF).

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1530-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Homology modeling of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans CED3 protein-inhibitor complex

CED3 protein, the product of a gene necessary for programmed cell death in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, is related to a highly specific cysteine protease family i.e., caspases. A tertiary-structural model has been constructed of a complex of the CED3 protein with tetrapeptide-aldehyde inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO. The conformation of CED3 protein active site and the general binding features of inhibitor residues are similar to those observed in other caspases. The loop segment (Phe380-Pro387) binds with the P4 Asp in a different fashion compared to caspase-3. The comparative modeling of active sites from caspase-3 and CED3 protein indicated that although these enzymes require Asp at the position P4, variation could occur in the binding of this residue at the S4 subsite. This model allowed the definition of substrate specificity of CED3 protein from the structural standpoint and provided insight in designing of mutants for structure-function studies of this classical caspase homologue.     

Decreased expression of the pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor II gene during aging of the rat liver

The genetic constitution and differential gene expression of an organism play important roles in controlling the species-specific rate of aging and the maximum life span potential. We utilized a differential-display polymerase chain reaction technique to identify the age-dependent expression of genes in the rat liver. We demonstrate in this report, for the first time, that expression of the pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor II (PSTI-II) gene declines drastically during aging. We confirmed this decrease by Northern blot analysis. Low PSTI-II levels in aged animals might result in a lack of protection from prematurely activated trypsin-like proteases, which would thus enhance inflammation.Supported by funds from the Department of Biotechnology and by Research Fellowships (to H.P. and G.Z.) from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (Government of India).