Neural basis for adaptive motor behavior during car driving

Car driving is supported by motor skills trained through continuous daily practice. One of the skills unique to expert drivers is the ability to detect abrupt changes in the driving environment and then quickly adapt their operation mode to the changes. Previous functional neuroimaging studies on motor control investigated the mechanisms underlying behaviors adaptive to changes in control properties of simple experimental devices such as a computer mouse or a joystick. The switching of multiple internal models mainly engages adaptive behaviors and underlies the interplay between the cerebellum and frontoparietal network (FPN) regions as the neural process. However, it remains unclear whether the neural mechanisms identified through an experimental paradigm using such simple devices also underlie practical driving behaviors. In the current study, we measure functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activities while participants control a realistic driving simulator inside the MRI scanner. Here, the accelerator sensitivity of a virtual car is abruptly changed, requiring participants to respond to this change as quickly as possible. We first compare brain activities before and after the sensitivity change. As a result, sensorimotor areas, including the left cerebellum, increase their activities after the sensitivity change. Moreover, after the change, activity significantly increases in the inferior parietal lobe and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, parts of the FPN regions. By contrast, the posterior cingulate cortex, a part of the default mode network, deactivates after the sensitivity change. Our results suggest that the neural bases found in previous experiments using the simpler devices can serve as the foundation of adaptive car driving. At the same time, this study also highlights the unique contribution of non-motor-related regions to addressing the high cognitive demands of driving.

Virus Disinfection and Population Genetics: Toward the Control of Waterborne Virus Diseases by Water Engineering

Purpose of Review Major waterborne viruses comprise numerous variants rather than only a master sequence and form a genetically diverse population. High genetic diversity is advantageous for adaptation to environmental changes because the highly diverse population likely includes variants resistant to an adverse effect. Disinfection is a broadly employed tool to inactivate pathogens, but due to virus evolvability, waterborne viruses may not be inactivated sufficiently in currently applied disinfection conditions. Here, by focusing on virus population genetics, we explore possibility and factor of emergence of disinfection sensitivity change. Recent Findings To test whether virus population obtains disinfection resistance, the evolutionary experiment developed in the field of population genetics has been applied, indicating the change in disinfection sensitivity. It has been also confirmed that the sensitivity of environmental strains is lower than that of laboratory strains. In some of these studies, genetic diversity within a population less sensitive to disinfection is higher. Researches in virus population genetics have shown the contribution of intra-population genetic diversity to virus population phenotype, so disinfection sensitivity change may attribute to the genetic diversity. Summary The research elucidating a relationship between virus evolution and disinfection has only recently begun, but significant information about the relationship has been accumulated. To develop an effective disinfection strategy for the control of waterborne virus spread, we need to clarify whether disinfection practice truly affects virus outbreaks by refining both laboratory and field experiments related to virus evolution in the disinfection-exerted environment.

Investigation of quartz ESR residual signals in the last glacial and early Holocene fluvial deposits from the Lower Rhine

In this study, we examined the residual doses of the quartz electron spin resonance (ESR) signals from eight young fluvial sediments with known luminescence ages from the lower Rhine terraces. The single aliquot regenerative (SAR) protocol was applied to obtain the residual doses for both the Aluminium (Al) and Titanium (Ti) impurity centres. We show that all of the fluvial samples carry a significant amount of residual dose with a mean value of 1350 ± 120 Gy for the Al centre, 610 ± 60 Gy for the lithium-compensated Ti centre (Ti-Li), 170 ± 20 Gy for the hydrogen-compensated Ti centre (Ti-H), and 470 ± 50 Gy for the signal originated from both the Ti-Li and Ti-H centres (termed Ti-mix). To test the accuracy of the ESR SAR protocol, a dose recovery test was conducted and this confirmed the validity of the Ti-Li and Ti-mix signal results. The Al centre shows a dose recovery ratio of 1.74 ± 0.16, probably due to a sensitivity change by the thermal treatment in the SAR procedure, whereas the Ti-H signal shows a ratio of 0.56 ± 0.17. The results of this study suggest that fluvial sediments carry a significant residual dose, and therefore the subtraction of residual dose using a modern analogue is highly recommended to obtain reliable ESR ages.

HIF-1 Inhibitor YC-1 Reverses the Acquired Resistance of EGFR-Mutant HCC827 Cell Line with MET Amplification to Gefitinib

Background. Acquired resistance occurred in the majority of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) therapy, and this may be related to the activation of the HIF-1 pathway. Therefore, we examined the influence of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) pathway inhibition on the sensitivity of HCC827 gefitinib-resistant (HCC827 GR) cells with MET amplification to gefitinib. Methods. We established HCC827 GR cell line with MET amplification and set four groups with different treatment. An MTT assay, a colony formation analysis, and a wound healing assay were performed to determine the sensitivity change of HCC827 GR cells after different treatments. HIF-1α, p-EGFR, and p-Met levels were detected with western blot. Correlations among HIF-1α, p-EGFR, and p-Met levels of HCC827 GR cells with different treatments were analyzed with Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results. HIF-1 inhibitor YC-1 enhanced the sensitivity of HCC827 GR cells to gefitinib. p-Met level was correlated with HIF-1α level, while there was no correlation between p-Met level and p-EGFR level. Conclusion. HIF-1 inhibitor YC-1 is able to reverse the acquired resistance of HCC827 GR to gefitinib, and the regulation of the HIF-1 pathway on MET may be one of the mechanisms.

Inactivation Efficacy of 405 nm LED Against Cronobacter sakazakii Biofilm

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the inactivation efficacy of a 405-nm light-emitting diode (LED) against Cronobacter sakazakii biofilm formed on stainless steel and to determine the sensitivity change of illuminated biofilm to food industrial disinfectants. The results showed that LED illumination significantly reduced the population of viable biofilm cells, showing reduction of 2.0 log (25°C), 2.5 log (10°C), and 2.0 log (4°C) between the non-illuminated and LED-illuminated groups at 4 h. Images of confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed the architectural damage to the biofilm caused by LED illumination, which involved destruction of the stereoscopic conformation of the biofilm. Moreover, the loss of biofilm components (mainly polysaccharide and protein) was revealed by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, and the downregulation of genes involved in C. sakazakii biofilm formation was confirmed by real time quantitative PCR analysis, with greatest difference observed in fliD. In addition, the sensitivity of illuminated-biofilm cells to disinfectant treatment was found to significantly increased, showing the greatest sensitivity change with 1.5 log reduction between non-LED and LED treatment biofilms in the CHX-treated group. These results indicated that 405 nm LED illumination was effective at inactivating C. sakazakii biofilm adhering to stainless steel. Therefore, the present study suggests the potential of 405 nm LED technology in controlling C. sakazakii biofilms in food processing and storage, minimizing the risk of contamination.

Comparation of SAW Method and Topsis in Assesing The Best Area Using HSE Standards

Pertamina Gas is a company engaged in the midstream and downstream industry sectors of Indonesian gas. Currently, the process to access the best areas in PT. Pertamina Gas has not been computerizedand it is still doing manu ally. In assessing the area itself, this method is considered less effective and efficient to determine the best area. Area Assessment according to PT. Pertamina Gas itself is important to iincrease the performance and safety in improving PT. Pertamina Gas Health, Safety, Environment quality. Therefore, we need a system to determine which areas are the best in the PT. Pertamina Gas environment, using predetermined criteria. To create a system commenting on the area in PT. Pertamina Gas Environment, the author used the method Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) and Techniques for Other References With Similarities to Ideal Solutions (TOPSIS) for the best process of conversation and area testing.This study suggests finding the best method for reporting and helping to make decisions based on the best alternative value. The results obtained from this study show that the testing using SAW method is more optimal than using TOPSIS method, with the value of sensitivity change for SAW is 2.4 and TOPSIS is 0.7754.

Functional Connectivity of the Precuneus Reflects Effectiveness of Visual Restitution Training in Chronic Hemianopia

Visual field defects in chronic hemianopia can improve through visual restitution training, yet not all patients benefit equally from this long and exhaustive process. Here, we asked if resting-state functional connectivity prior to visual restitution could predict training success. In two training sessions of eight weeks each, 20 patients with chronic hemianopia performed a visual discrimination task by directing spatial attention towards stimuli presented in either hemifield, while suppressing eye movements. We examined two effects: a sensitivity change in the attended (trained) minus the unattended (control) hemifield (i.e., a training-specific improvement), and an overall improvement (i.e., a total change in sensitivity after both sessions). We then identified five visual resting-state networks and evaluated their functional connectivity in relation to both training effects. We found that the functional connectivity strength between the anterior Precuneus and the Occipital Pole Network was positively related to the attention modulated (i.e., training-specific) improvement. No such relationship was found for the overall improvement or for the other visual networks of interest. Our finding suggests that the anterior Precuneus plays a role in training-induced visual field improvements. The resting-state functional connectivity between the anterior Precuneus and the Occipital Pole Network may thus serve as an imaging-based biomarker that quantifies a patient’s potential capacity to direct spatial attention. This may help to identify hemianopia patients that are most likely to benefit from visual restitution training.

Production of thermochromic microcapsulated inks for smart packaging and examination of printability properties

Purpose Stimulant-sensitive materials exhibit physical or chemical reversible changes in their properties as a result of environmental variables. One of these materials is thermochromic materials. Materials with thermochromic sensitivity change their color with heat exchange. For this reason, it can be used in many different fields such as security inks. Such substances decompose rapidly by being affected by weather conditions. Furthermore, the particle sizes are larger than normal pigments, and therefore, it is difficult to stabilize thermochromic dyes. Because of all these adverse conditions, thermochromic colorants must be protected before use in the ink. This protection is planned to be provided by the microcapsulation technique. The purpose of this study is to determine the thermochromic printing inks that can be stored stably by microcapsulation technique, to protect it from environmental conditions and the determination of printability parameters. Design/methodology/approach In this study, capsules with a core material of thermochromic dyeing with polyurea formaldehyde (PUF) or poly-phenolmelamine formaldehyde (PMF) shell were synthesized at appropriate pH and temperature using the appropriate solvent and mixing speed. The chemical structure and dimensions of the obtained capsules were examined by ATR-FTIR and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The produced thermochromic microcapsules were mixed with alkyd resin and mineral oil and screen printing ink was obtained. Printability tests such as surface morphology, color, gloss and light fastness were applied. Findings As a result, it was determined that PMF is not a suitable encapsulation technique for thermochromic dyes under suitable conditions and eliminates thermochromic property by providing heat stability. It was found that PUF microcapsulation can be used in thermochromic dyestuff encapsulation and does not lose the thermochromic property. It has also been found that PUF microcapsules increase the lightfastness and stability of thermochromic dye ink. Originality/value This study provides experimental research on the encapsulation of a thermochromic dye and its use in ink.

Evaluation of skin sensitivity in individuals presented with temporomandibular disorder

ABSTRACT Purpose: to identify the occurrence of a difference in skin sensitivity between analogous points on the face in individuals with temporomandibular disorder. Methods: a total of 60 individuals of both genders, aged 18 to 73 years, participated in the study. People classified with TMD signs and symptoms with the Fonseca Anamnestic Questionnaire were included. The skin sensitivity was evaluated with a Semmes-Weinstein esthesiometer. Sensitivity change was defined in this study as the occurrence of a difference between analogous points on both hemifaces. The localization of the points followed the regional block anatomical description and was confirmed with a neuromuscular electrostimulation device. The collected data were analyzed statistically with a 5% significance level. Results: the occurrence of a difference in sensitivity between the analogous points had a significant association with age group and severity of TMD. However, no association was perceived between sensitivity change and gender. Conclusion: in the population studied, the more severe the temporomandibular disorder, the greater the skin sensitivity change on the face. Also, the older the person, the higher the number of analogous points with a difference in sensitivity.