The Influence of Aging on the Functional Connectivity of the Human Basal Ganglia

Although basal ganglia (BG) are involved in the motor disorders of aged people, the effect of aging on the functional interaction of BG is not well-known. This work was aimed at studying the influence of aging on the functional connectivity of the motor circuit of BG (BGmC). Thirty healthy volunteers were studied (young-group 26.4 ± 5.7 years old; aged-group 63.1 ± 5.8 years old) with a procedure planned to prevent the spurious functional connectivity induced by the closed-loop arrangement of the BGmC. BG showed different functional interactions during the inter-task intervals and when subjects did not perform any voluntary task. Aging induced marked changes in the functional connectivity of the BGmC during these inter-task intervals. The finger movements changed the functional connectivity of the BG, these modifications were also different in the aged-group. Taken together, these data show a marked effect of aging on the functional connectivity of the BGmC, and these effects may be at the basis of the motor handicaps of aged people during the execution of motor-tasks and when they are not performing any voluntary motor task.

Positional Effect of π-extension in Triple Helicenes

The targeted application of multiple helicenes in photo-optical applications requires their rational design. Toward this goal, we report on the synthesis of pyrene-based triple helicene 1 and investigate the positional effect of extension of the π-conjugated system on the photo-chemical and chiro-optical properties of triple helicenes. The conformational and aggregatory behavior of 1 were studied both experimentally using VT NMR spectroscopy and computationally using high-level DFT computations. Although π-extension was observed to have a marked effect on the spectroscopic properties of triple helicenes, comparison with other known π-extended helicenes reveals that the position at which π-extension is introduced is only of nominal importance. Our results thus suggest that the presence of a particular helicene motif is dominant in dictating the physico-chemical properties of triple helicenes.

Effects of Adding Natural Blends of Kaolin and Spices on Broiler Performance, Meat and Bone Quality

Background: The aim is to compare the effectiveness of 3% of natural preparations mixtures based on kaolin associated with garlic, ginger and/or their mixture on the performance, the cutting yield, carcass and bone qualities of broiler. Methods: 192 one-day-old Cobb 500 chicks were assigned to 04 groups of 48 four-replicate chicks (C: without addition; Kgar: 3% kaolin-garlic; Kgin: 3% kaolin-ginger and Kgg: 3% kaolin-garlic-ginger). Result: Results showed that the mixtures significantly improve body weight and feed efficiency at 42 days, with nonetheless a more marked effect for the Kgar group (BW: +4.5%; FCR: -5.5%). In addition, still in favor of the Kgar group, the same tendency was recorded for the yield of chicken ready-to-cook (+3.2%; P=0.02) accompanied by enhanced breast and thighs yields. In terms of quality, the mixtures significantly impacted the meat conservation criteria by reducing water-holding capacity by almost 50% and less abdominal fat deposition. Finally, although not significant, the indicators of bone quality measured (ash content and seedor index) appear better in chickens receiving mixtures. The results of this study show the interest of adding a mixture of kaolin and condiments in improving broiler performance, meat quality and bone characteristics.

Molecular Recognition and Shape Studies of 3- and 4-Substituted Diarylamide Quasiracemates

Families of quasiracemic materials constructed from 3- and 4-substituted chiral diarylamide molecular frameworks were prepared, where the imposed functional group differences systematically varied from H to CF3–9 unique components for each isomeric framework. Cocrystallization from the melt via hot stage thermomicroscopy using all possible racemic and quasiracemic combinations probed the structural boundaries of quasiracemate formation. The crystal structures and lattice energies (differential scanning calorimetry and lattice energy calculations) for many of these systems showed that quasienantiomeric components organize with near inversion symmetry and lattice energetics closely resembling those found in the racemic counterparts. This study also compared the shape space of pairs of quasienantiomers using an in silico alignment-based method to approximate the differences in molecular shape and provide a diagnostic tool for quasiracemate prediction. Comparing these results to our recent report on related 2-substituted diarylamide quasiracemates shows that functional group position can have a marked effect on quasiracemic behavior and provide critical insight to a more complete shape space, essential for defining molecular recognition processes.

Factors Influencing the In Vitro Maturation (IVM) of Human Oocyte

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is a promising assisted reproductive technology (ART) deemed as a simple and safe procedure. It is mainly used in patients with impaired oocyte maturation and in fertility preservation for women facing the risk of losing fertility. However, to date, it is still not widely used in clinical practice because of its underperformance. The influencing factors, such as biphasic IVM system, culture medium, and the supplementation, have a marked effect on the outcomes of oocyte IVM. However, the role of different culture media, supplements, and follicular priming regimens in oocyte IVM have yet to be fully clarified and deserve further investigation.

Positional Effect of π-extension in Triple Helicenes

Application of multiple helicenes in photo‐optical applications requires their rational design. We therefore here report on the synthesis of pyrene‐based triple helicene 1, to study the positional effect of extension of the π‐conjugated system on the photo‐chemical and chiro‐optical properties of triple helicenes. The conformational and aggregatory behavior of 1 were studied both experimentally using VT NMR spectroscopy and computationally using high‐level DFT computations. Although π‐extension was observed to have a marked effect on the spectroscopy properties of triple helicenes, comparison with other known π‐extended helicenes reveals that the position at which π‐extension is introduced is only of nominal importance. Our results thus suggest that the presence of a particular helicene motive is dominant in dictating the physico‐chemical properties of triple helicenes.

Efficacy of chitosan on growth and yield traits of mulberry, Morus sp

Chitosan is biopolymer of glucosamine residues, nontoxic, biodegradable and friendly to environment and it also helps to enhance crop production due to their bioactivities. The present experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of chitosan on the growth and yield related attributes of mulberry, Morus sp. with various concentrations such as 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 ppm. The chitosan was sprayed thrice on 15, 30 and 45 days after pruning (DAP) on the foliage of three different mulberry varieties namely V1, MR2 and G4. The result revealed that, irrespective of varieties, the foliar application of chitosan at 75 ppm significantly increased the biometric as well as yield related attributes of mulberry over other concentrations. Among the three varieties, V1 showed more response to chitosan application than G4 and MR2. At 75 ppm, chitosan showed marked effect on VI variety of mulberry and significantly increased shoot length (170.67 cm), number of shoots per plant (9.03), number of leaves per shoot (29.48), leaf area (220.26 cm2) and leaf area index (2.72) were observed when compared with control. The application of chitosan at 75 ppm significantly enhanced the yield traits namely weight of 100 leaves (448.10 g), leaf shoot ratio (1.45) and leaf yield (14.01 MT/ha/harvest) in V1.

Phosphorylation of Maize Starch Enhanced with High-Voltage Electrical Discharge (HVED) Instead of Thermal Treatment

The aim of this research was to explore the use of a high-voltage electrical treatment (HVED) as a substitute for heating during the phosphorylation of maize starch. Starch was treated with HVED, phosphorylated with Na2HPO4 or Na5P3O10 with and without thermal treatment and phosphorylated in combination with HVED prior to and after the chemical modification. When starch was phosphorylated with Na2HPO4, HVED was more efficient in catalyzing reaction (3.89 mg P/kg for 30 min HVED in relation to 0.43 mg P/kg for thermal treatment), whereas with Na5P3O10 similar P content was achieved as with thermal treatment (0.76 P/kg for 30 min HVED in relation to 0.86 mg P/kg). The order of HVED and chemical reactions did not have a marked effect on phosphorous content. In combination with Na2HPO4, HVED pre-treatment had a more pronounced effect on the solubility and water absorption, whereas post-treatment was favoured with Na5P3O10. Mean diameter was increased by all treatments, where HVED had a marked effect. Enthalpy of gelatinization ranged from 11.76 J/g for starch treated with Na5P3O10 and 10 min-HVED to 13.58 J/g for Na5P3O10 treated sample. G′ and G″ increased after both thermally and HVED enhanced phosphorylations, with a slightly more pronounced effect of the HVED.

THE BASIS OF COMMON ERROR

Not being one of the simplest areas of the law of contract, mistake has had somewhat of a chequered past. Although more recently commentators have noted that the legal position has by and large been settled, there remain anomalies surrounding the ascription of contractual responsibility in certain circumstances, such as whether liability should lie where a third party has caused a material mistake between contracting parties. What is further apparent is that the courts still at times have difficulty in applying the principles pertaining to error. But a type of mistake that evidently still poses conceptual and practical difficulties is common error. This note attempts to shed some light on the underpinnings of this doctrine against the backdrop of English law, which had a marked effect on its development in South African law.

Huntingtin Polyglutamine Fragments Are a Substrate for Hsp104 in Yeast

The aggregation of huntingtin fragments with expanded polyglutamine repeat regions (HttpolyQ) that cause Huntington’s disease depends on the presence of a prion with an amyloid conformation in yeast. As a result of this relationship, HttpolyQ aggregation indirectly depends on Hsp104 due to its essential role in prion propagation. We find that HttQ103 aggregation is directly affected by Hsp104 with and without the presence of [ RNQ + ] and [ PSI + ] prions. When we inactivate Hsp104 in the presence of prion, yeast have only one or a few large HttQ103 aggregates rather than numerous smaller aggregates. When we inactivate Hsp104 in the absence of prion, there is no significant aggregation of HttQ103; whereas with active Hsp104, HttQ103 aggregates slowly accumulate due to the severing of spontaneously nucleated aggregates by Hsp104. We do not observe either effect with HttQ103P, which has a polyproline-rich region downstream of the polyglutamine region, because HttQ103P does not spontaneously nucleate and Hsp104 does not efficiently sever the prion-nucleated HttQ103P aggregates. Therefore, the only role of Hsp104 in HttQ103P aggregation is to propagate yeast prion. In conclusion, because Hsp104 efficiently severs the HttQ103 aggregates, but not HttQ103P aggregates, it has a marked effect on the aggregation of HttQ103, but not HttQ103P.