Adaptation Strategy In Attachment–Detachment Cycles When Faced With Changes In Incline And Orientation During Gecko Climbing

Abstract Background: Geckos are endowed with the extraordinary capacity to move quickly in various environments; they benefit from efficient control for the complex footpads. Research on the locomotor behavior and contact status in the attachment–detachment (A-D) cycle of the footpads for diverse challenges is linked to the revelation of regulatory strategy. At present, there is a lack of systematic research for the A-D cycle, which limits the understanding of the adhesive locomotion mechanism.Methods: The A-D cycle that facilitates the level and up–down locomotion on inclined and vertical surfaces of Gekko gecko was investigated to clarify the locomotion postures and durations in the release, swing, contact, and adhesion stages, respectively. This reveals the relationship between the structure and function of the attachment devices, and its regulation when faced with changing locomotion demands.Results: Despite changes in climbing demands, gecko foot locomotion posture (angle extremes and changing trends) in the swing stage, the posture (bending angle: fore 41°, hind 51°) and contact time ratio (7.42%) in the contact stage remain unchanged, which is in contrast with the adjustable postures in the stance phase. Furthermore, the variation range of the forefoot locomotion posture is larger than that of the hindfoot, and the forefoot angle changing trend is opposite to that of the hindfoot, indicating that the combination of anatomical structure and functional demands results in the differentiation in the adaptation mode of the A-D cycle for the fore- and hindfoot. Conclusions: Gecko’s fore- and hindfoot have evolved different structures to undertake differential functions. The function (adhesion) for various locomotion demands relates to footpad deployment in the stance phase but is unaffected by the regulations (postures and durations) in the swing and contact stages. The results demonstrate that the unified adaptation strategy reduces the diversity and complexity of the control. It advances the understanding of the adhesive locomotion mechanism, reflects the structural evolution and adaptation strategy of attachment devices for functional requirements and provides biological inspiration for effective design and control of adhesion robots.

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Metagenomic Analysis of the Fecal Archaeome in Suckling Piglets Following Perinatal Tulathromycin Metaphylaxis

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11061825 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1825

Author(s):

Mohamed Zeineldin ◽

Ameer Megahed ◽

Benjamin Blair ◽

Brian Aldridge ◽

James Lowe

Keyword(s):

Sequencing Analysis ◽

Metagenomic Sequencing ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Gastrointestinal Microbiome ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Suckling Piglets ◽

And Function ◽

Changes Over Time ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

The gastrointestinal microbiome plays an important role in swine health and wellbeing, but the gut archaeome structure and function in swine remain largely unexplored. To date, no metagenomics-based analysis has been done to assess the impact of an early life antimicrobials intervention on the gut archaeome. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of perinatal tulathromycin (TUL) administration on the fecal archaeome composition and diversity in suckling piglets using metagenomic sequencing analysis. Sixteen litters were administered one of two treatments (TUL; 2.5 mg/kg IM and control (CONT); saline 1cc IM) soon after birth. Deep fecal swabs were collected from all piglets on days 0 (prior to treatment), 5, and 20 post intervention. Each piglet’s fecal archaeome was composed of rich and diverse communities that showed significant changes over time during the suckling period. At the phylum level, 98.24% of the fecal archaeome across all samples belonged to Euryarchaeota. At the genus level, the predominant archaeal genera across all samples were Methanobrevibacter (43.31%), Methanosarcina (10.84%), Methanococcus (6.51%), and Methanocorpusculum (6.01%). The composition and diversity of the fecal archaeome between the TUL and CONT groups at the same time points were statistically insignificant. Our findings indicate that perinatal TUL metaphylaxis seems to have a minimal effect on the gut archaeome composition and diversity in sucking piglets. This study improves our current understanding of the fecal archaeome structure in sucking piglets and provides a rationale for future studies to decipher its role in and impact on host robustness during this critical phase of production.

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Vertical Jumping for Legged Robot Based on Quadratic Programming

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21113679 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (11) ◽

pp. 3679

Author(s):

Dingkui Tian ◽

Junyao Gao ◽

Xuanyang Shi ◽

Yizhou Lu ◽

Chuzhao Liu

Keyword(s):

Quadratic Programming ◽

Stance Phase ◽

Center Of Mass ◽

Maximum Error ◽

Legged Robot ◽

Flight Phase ◽

Programming Framework ◽

Vertical Jumping ◽

Control Schemes ◽

And Control

The highly dynamic legged jumping motion is a challenging research topic because of the lack of established control schemes that handle over-constrained control objectives well in the stance phase, which are coupled and affect each other, and control robot’s posture in the flight phase, in which the robot is underactuated owing to the foot leaving the ground. This paper introduces an approach of realizing the cyclic vertical jumping motion of a planar simplified legged robot that formulates the jump problem within a quadratic-programming (QP)-based framework. Unlike prior works, which have added different weights in front of control tasks to express the relative hierarchy of tasks, in our framework, the hierarchical quadratic programming (HQP) control strategy is used to guarantee the strict prioritization of the center of mass (CoM) in the stance phase while split dynamic equations are incorporated into the unified quadratic-programming framework to restrict the robot’s posture to be near a desired constant value in the flight phase. The controller is tested in two simulation environments with and without the flight phase controller, the results validate the flight phase controller, with the HQP controller having a maximum error of the CoM in the x direction and y direction of 0.47 and 0.82 cm and thus enabling the strict prioritization of the CoM.

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TRPC1, TRPC3, and TRPC4 in Rat Orofacial Structures

Cells Tissues Organs ◽

10.1159/000477665 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 204 (5-6) ◽

pp. 293-303 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Masatoshi Fujita ◽

Tadasu Sato ◽

Takehiro Yajima ◽

Eiji Masaki ◽

Hiroyuki Ichikawa

Keyword(s):

Transient Receptor Potential ◽

Sympathetic Neurons ◽

Receptor Potential ◽

Monovalent Cation ◽

Calcitonin Gene ◽

Cervical Ganglion ◽

Parasympathetic Neurons ◽

Transient Receptor ◽

And Function ◽

And Control

TRPC (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily C) members are nonselective monovalent cation channels and control Ca2+ inflow. In this study, immunohistochemistry for TRPC1, TRPC3, and TRPC4 was performed on rat oral and craniofacial structures to elucidate their distribution and function in the peripheries. In the trigeminal ganglion (TG), 56.1, 84.1, and 68.3% of sensory neurons were immunoreactive (IR) for TRPC1, TRPC3, and TRPC4, respectively. A double immunofluorescence method revealed that small to medium-sized TG neurons co-expressed TRPCs and calcitonin gene-related peptide. In the superior cervical ganglion, all sympathetic neurons showed TRPC1 and TRPC3 immunoreactivity. Parasympathetic neurons in the submandibular ganglion, tongue, and parotid gland were TRPC1, TRPC3, and TRPC4 IR. Gustatory and olfactory cells were also IR for TRPC1, TRPC3, and/or TRPC4. In the musculature, motor endplates expressed TRPC1 and TRPC4 immunoreactivity. It is likely that TRPCs are associated with sensory, autonomic, and motor functions in oral and craniofacial structures.

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Modelling the Human Placental Interface In Vitro—A Review

Micromachines ◽

10.3390/mi12080884 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 884

Author(s):

Marta Cherubini ◽

Scott Erickson ◽

Kristina Haase

Keyword(s):

Drug Testing ◽

Cell Types ◽

In Vitro Models ◽

Placental Development ◽

Scientific Challenge ◽

Induced Pluripotent ◽

And Function ◽

And Control

Acting as the primary link between mother and fetus, the placenta is involved in regulating nutrient, oxygen, and waste exchange; thus, healthy placental development is crucial for a successful pregnancy. In line with the increasing demands of the fetus, the placenta evolves throughout pregnancy, making it a particularly difficult organ to study. Research into placental development and dysfunction poses a unique scientific challenge due to ethical constraints and the differences in morphology and function that exist between species. Recently, there have been increased efforts towards generating in vitro models of the human placenta. Advancements in the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), microfluidics, and bioprinting have each contributed to the development of new models, which can be designed to closely match physiological in vivo conditions. By including relevant placental cell types and control over the microenvironment, these new in vitro models promise to reveal clues to the pathogenesis of placental dysfunction and facilitate drug testing across the maternal–fetal interface. In this minireview, we aim to highlight current in vitro placental models and their applications in the study of disease and discuss future avenues for these in vitro models.

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Endothelium as a Source and Target of H2S to Improve Its Trophism and Function

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10030486 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 486

Author(s):

Valerio Ciccone ◽

Shirley Genah ◽

Lucia Morbidelli

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Dysfunction ◽

Vessel Wall ◽

Redox Reactions ◽

Single Layer ◽

Fine Tuning ◽

Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Impaired Wound Healing ◽

Blood Fluidity ◽

And Function ◽

And Control

The vascular endothelium consists of a single layer of squamous endothelial cells (ECs) lining the inner surface of blood vessels. Nowadays, it is no longer considered as a simple barrier between the blood and vessel wall, but a central hub to control blood flow homeostasis and fulfill tissue metabolic demands by furnishing oxygen and nutrients. The endothelium regulates the proper functioning of vessels and microcirculation, in terms of tone control, blood fluidity, and fine tuning of inflammatory and redox reactions within the vessel wall and in surrounding tissues. This multiplicity of effects is due to the ability of ECs to produce, process, and release key modulators. Among these, gasotransmitters such as nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are very active molecules constitutively produced by endotheliocytes for the maintenance and control of vascular physiological functions, while their impairment is responsible for endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and impaired wound healing and vascularization due to diabetes, infections, and ischemia. Upregulation of H2S producing enzymes and administration of H2S donors can be considered as innovative therapeutic approaches to improve EC biology and function, to revert endothelial dysfunction or to prevent cardiovascular disease progression. This review will focus on the beneficial autocrine/paracrine properties of H2S on ECs and the state of the art on H2S potentiating drugs and tools.

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Intrinsic disorder in protein domains contributes to both organism complexity and clade-specific functions

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-82656-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chao Gao ◽

Chong Ma ◽

Huqiang Wang ◽

Haolin Zhong ◽

Jiayin Zang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Significance ◽

Protein Domains ◽

Functional Requirements ◽

Post Translational Modification ◽

Intrinsically Disordered ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Complex Functions ◽

Disorder Degree ◽

Functional Features ◽

And Function

AbstractInterestingly, some protein domains are intrinsically disordered (abbreviated as IDD), and the disorder degree of same domains may differ in different contexts. However, the evolutionary causes and biological significance of these phenomena are unclear. Here, we address these issues by genome-wide analyses of the evolutionary and functional features of IDDs in 1,870 species across the three superkingdoms. As the result, there is a significant positive correlation between the proportion of IDDs and organism complexity with some interesting exceptions. These phenomena may be due to the high disorder of clade-specific domains and the different disorder degrees of the domains shared in different clades. The functions of IDDs are clade-specific and the higher proportion of post-translational modification sites may contribute to their complex functions. Compared with metazoans, fungi have more IDDs with a consecutive disorder region but a low disorder ratio, which reflects their different functional requirements. As for disorder variation, it’s greater for domains among different proteins than those within the same proteins. Some clade-specific ‘no-variation’ or ‘high-variation’ domains are involved in clade-specific functions. In sum, intrinsic domain disorder is related to both the organism complexity and clade-specific functions. These results deepen the understanding of the evolution and function of IDDs.

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Critical requirement of SOS1 RAS-GEF function for mitochondrial dynamics, metabolism, and redox homeostasis

Oncogene ◽

10.1038/s41388-021-01886-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rósula García-Navas ◽

Pilar Liceras-Boillos ◽

Carmela Gómez ◽

Fernando C. Baltanás ◽

Nuria Calzada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽

Redox Homeostasis ◽

Atp Production ◽

Oxidative Energy Metabolism ◽

Ras Activation ◽

Mitochondrial Defects ◽

Critical Requirement ◽

Dynamics And Function ◽

And Function ◽

And Control

AbstractSOS1 ablation causes specific defective phenotypes in MEFs including increased levels of intracellular ROS. We showed that the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoTEMPO restores normal endogenous ROS levels, suggesting predominant involvement of mitochondria in generation of this defective SOS1-dependent phenotype. The absence of SOS1 caused specific alterations of mitochondrial shape, mass, and dynamics accompanied by higher percentage of dysfunctional mitochondria and lower rates of electron transport in comparison to WT or SOS2-KO counterparts. SOS1-deficient MEFs also exhibited specific alterations of respiratory complexes and their assembly into mitochondrial supercomplexes and consistently reduced rates of respiration, glycolysis, and ATP production, together with distinctive patterns of substrate preference for oxidative energy metabolism and dependence on glucose for survival. RASless cells showed defective respiratory/metabolic phenotypes reminiscent of those of SOS1-deficient MEFs, suggesting that the mitochondrial defects of these cells are mechanistically linked to the absence of SOS1-GEF activity on cellular RAS targets. Our observations provide a direct mechanistic link between SOS1 and control of cellular oxidative stress and suggest that SOS1-mediated RAS activation is required for correct mitochondrial dynamics and function.

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Netrin-1 in Atherosclerosis: Relationship between Human Macrophage Intracellular Levels and In Vivo Plaque Morphology

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines9020168 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 168

Author(s):

Susanna Fiorelli ◽

Nicola Cosentino ◽

Benedetta Porro ◽

Franco Fabbiocchi ◽

Giampaolo Niccoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Progressive Increase ◽

Human Macrophage ◽

Plaque Morphology ◽

Artery Disease ◽

Atherosclerotic Process ◽

And Function ◽

And Control ◽

Macrophage Accumulation

Netrin-1 is a laminin-like protein that plays a pivotal role in cell migration and, according to the site of its release, exerts both pro and anti-atherosclerotic functions. Macrophages, key cells in atherosclerosis, are heterogeneous in morphology and function and different subpopulations may support plaque progression, stabilization, and/or regression. Netrin-1 was evaluated in plasma and, together with its receptor UNC5b, in both spindle and round monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) morphotypes from coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and control subjects. In CAD patients, plaque features were detected in vivo by optical coherence tomography. CAD patients had lower plasma Netrin-1 levels and a higher MDMs expression of both protein and its receptor compared to controls. Specifically, a progressive increase in Netrin-1 and UNC5b was evidenced going from controls to stable angina (SA) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Of note, spindle MDMs of AMI showed a marked increase of both Netrin-1 and its receptor compared to spindle MDMs of controls. UNC5b expression is always higher in spindle compared to round MDMs, regardless of the subgroup. Finally, CAD patients with higher intracellular Netrin-1 levels showed greater intraplaque macrophage accumulation in vivo. Our findings support the role of Netrin-1 and UNC5b in the atherosclerotic process.

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ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS OF STATE FUNCTIONS AT THE PRESENT STAGE: DYNAMICS OF CHANGES IN THE APPROACH TO THE CONCEPT AND VARIETIES AT THE LEGAL REGULATORY

Пробелы в Российском законодательстве ◽

10.33693/2072-3164-2021-14-6-137-141 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 137-141

Author(s):

ROMAN ZELEPUKIN ◽

Keyword(s):

Public Administration ◽

Administrative Reform ◽

The State ◽

Present Stage ◽

Logical Connection ◽

Administrative Procedures ◽

Continuous Activities ◽

And Function ◽

And Control ◽

State Functions

In this article the author analyses the development of administrative regulations in the system of modern public administration. The state of administrative regulations and their institutionalisation as a result of the administrative reform is noted. It has been identified and found that there has now been a change in the approach to the delineation of the administrative regulations of the executive authorities - before 2018, administrative regulations were divided into service regulations and function regulations, where service regulations are related to requests by private persons to the state represented by its bodies and officials - and function regulations are related to the implementation of continuous activities to perform assigned powers and exercise the established competence, after 2018, administrative regulations are divided into service regulations and control (supervision) regulations. According to the author, the established approach has allowed the above varieties of regulations to be merged into such a group of types of administrative regulations as administrative regulations for the implementation of state functions. Also the author concludes that it is necessary to adopt a special legislative act systemising the functions of the executive authorities and the administrative procedures they carry out in a single logical connection.

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“Thirst for Obedience”: A Freudian Analysis of the Father-Leader in Adorno and Beauvoir

10.31235/osf.io/znmcq ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Jules Ostro

Keyword(s):

Psychoanalytic Theory ◽

Large Majority ◽

Symbolic Gesture ◽

Social Actors ◽

Authoritarian State ◽

Second Sex ◽

Mass Psychology ◽

And Function ◽

And Control

Theodor W. Adorno’s 1951 essay, “A Freudian analysis of Fascist Propaganda,” is a fertileground for comparison with the work of feminist existential philosopher Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex, which was published just a couple of years earlier in 1949. The following exposition of Adorno’s essay and the “Introductory" and “Independent Woman” chapters in Beauvoir’s The Second Sex examines how Adorno’s application of Freudian psychoanalytic theory of mass psychology and the modern authoritarian state aligns with Beauvoir’s theoretical dialectic of the man as transcendent Subject versus the woman as immanent Other. The connective thread in both contexts is a hegemonic teleology of dominance. This hegemony is the apparatus and function of both predominately male fascist dictators and sexist social actors who pander to collective entities of followers captivated by the ostensible auspices of the Father-Leader. The following use of the term Father-Leader will be used as a symbolic gesture and catch-all term to simplify the analogy between Adorno’s fascist dictator and the historically paternalistic man. The symbolic authority of the Father-Leader lies in his ability to generate an affect-driven, hypnotic libidinal bond through the mechanisms of identification and idealization with a mass ancillary entity, in this case either a fascist following of a nation or a large majority of the population, thus maintaining social and political privilege, influence, and control.

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