First detailed description of the nervous system of the most complex lophophore and evolution of Brachiopoda

The lophophore is a tentacle organ unique to the lophophorates. Recent research has revealed that the organization of the nervous and muscular systems of the lophophore is similar in phoronids, brachiopods, and bryozoans. At the same time, the evolution of the lophophore in certain lophophorates is still being debated. Innervation of the lophophore has been studied for only two brachiopod species belonging to two subphyla: Linguliformea and Rhynchonelliformea. Species from both groups have the spirolophe, which is the most common type of the lophophore among brachiopods. In this study, we used transmission electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, and confocal laser scanning microscopy to describe the innervation of the most complex lophophore (the plectolophe) of the rhynchonelliform species Coptothyris grayi. The C. grayi lophophore (the plectolophe) is innervated by three brachial nerves: the main, second accessory, and lower. Thus, the plectolophe lacks the accessory brachial nerve, which is typically present in other studied brachiopods. All C. grayi brachial nerves contain two types of perikarya. Because the accessory nerve is absent, the cross nerves, which pass into the connective tissue, have a complex morphology and two ascending and one descending branches. The outer and inner tentacles are innervated by several groups of neurite bundles: one frontal, two lateral, two abfrontal, and two latero-abfrontal (the latter is present in only the outer tentacles). Tentacle nerves originate from the second accessory and lower brachial nerves. The inner and outer tentacles are also innervated by numerous peritoneal neurites, which exhibit acetylated alpha-tubulin immunoreactivity. This result supports the following previously proposed hypothesis about the evolution of the lophophore in brachiopods: the morphology of the lophophore has evolved from simple to complex, whereas the innervation of the lophophore has evolved from complex to simple; the latter is indicated by a smaller number of lophophoral nerve tracts in species with complex lophophores. The reduction of the accessory brachial nerve and diminution of the main brachial nerve are associated with general reduction of the prosoma in brachiopods.

Metabolic adaptation to progressive mitochondrial dysfunction in aging POLGD257A mice

SummaryA decline in mitochondrial function is associated with neurodegeneration and aging. Progressive mitochondrial defects have diverse metabolic consequences that could drive some of the pathophysiological changes that occur with aging. Here, we comprehensively characterized metabolic alterations in PolgD257A mitochondrial DNA mutator mice. Plasma alanine increased dramatically with time, with lactate and other organic acids accumulating to a lesser extent. These changes were reflective of increased glycolysis, rapid gluconeogenesis, and hypoglycemia. Tracing with [15N]ammonium revealed impairment of the urea cycle and diversion to purine catabolism. We also measured alterations in the lipidome, observing a general reduction in canonical lipids and the accumulation of 1-deoxysphingolipids, which are synthesized from alanine via promiscuous serine palmitoyltransferase activity. Consistent with 1-deoxysphingolipid’s association with peripheral neuropathy, PolgD257A mice exhibited thermal hypoalgesia. These results highlight the distinct changes that occur in carbon and nitrogen metabolism upon mitochondrial impairment and key metabolic mechanisms which can drive aging-associated neuropathy.

Effect of Seasonal Decrease in Temperature on the Content and Composition of Guayulins in Stems of Guayule (Parthenium argentatum, Gray)

The guayulins are a family of sesquiterpene compounds that consist of an isoprenoid nucleus substituted either by trans-cinnamic or p-anisic acid, and are present only in the resinous fraction of the rubber plant guayule (Parthenium argentatum, Gray). While the natural role of the guayulins remains enigmatic, they may serve as a defense function against other plants or herbivores by virtue of the accumulation of cinnamic acid. Prior research has suggested seasonal variation in guayulin content, which has been shown to decrease as winter arrives in two different varieties. In the present study, the effect of guayulins has been evaluated in 13 different accessions cultivated under the same conditions during autumn. A general reduction in guayulin content was found in the stems from all varieties between the September and November harvest, which was accompanied by an increase in the resin content. With respect to individual guayulins, while guayulin A was the most prominent member during most of the year, guayulin C had more prominence when temperature started to decrease. In this seasonal period, the production of each member of the guayulin family in the leaves was very balanced.

Labor and Attitude To It: Before and After Modernity

The article examines the problem of the changing nature of labor and attitudes towards it. The relevance of this topic continues to grow due to current trends in socio-economic development. The author draws attention to the fact that only in the industrial society, which was formed in Europe of the XIX century as result of the industrial revolution, labor was seen as the ability, need and duty of a person, as something that did and makes him a person. The positive value status of labor persists to some extent even today, but the industrial society has ceased to exist due to the overflow of labor force from industry to service. This overflow happened because of the increase in working efficiency. In the postindustrial society the process of a general reduction in labor in favor of leisure is unfolding as the value of the latter increases and the value of the former decreases. In this regard, it is useful to remember that in the agrarian society, as well as in the era of Antiquity and the Middle Ages labor was viewed as an anti-value and was the occupation of the lower classes and estates. The attitude towards labor in the post-industrial era approaches the attitude of the pre-industrial period, turning from positive to negative, while leisure becomes self-valuable and self-sufficient. Thus, one can agree with the opinion that the civilization of labor is being replaced today by the civilization of leisure.

The management of migraine through Acupuncture: a literature review

Background: Migraine is one of the most disabling conditions worldwide, and acupuncture can be used as prophylaxis. This practice is indicated to relieve tension, stress, induce analgesia, and has been gaining space due to its A level evidence. Objectives: Investigate the impact of acupuncture on the management of migraine disorders. Design and Settings: literature review. Methods: After searching the MEDLINE database for “migraine disorders OR headache”, “acupuncture” and “integrative medicine OR alternative medicine”, 271 articles were found and 6 used. Only those with full text available and published between 2011-2021 were included. Those that addressed a specific type of migraine were excluded. Results: Acupuncture was analyzed in 4 studies as prophylaxis for migraine, in which there was a general reduction in symptoms and 50% reduction in frequency of episodes (p <0.05), with its effects comparable to drugs such as Depakene, Topamax, Metoprolol and Flunarizine. A meta-analysis involving 39 clinical trials showed that the acupuncture group obtained better results than the control group (p <0.001), these results were sustained when analyzing pain after randomization, in agreement with another study that demonstrated pain reduction in the group that used simulated acupuncture (p=0.002). It should be noted that, although some patients report adverse effects, it’s safe and as effective than drugs used in the treatment of migraine. Conclusions: Acupuncture is a good prophylactic method for migraine. It reduces pain episodes and has less adverse effects when compared to conventional methods. However, further studies on this therapy are needed.

Prebiotic Combinations Effects on the Colonization of Staphylococcal Skin Strains

Background: An unbalanced skin microbiota due to an increase in pathogenic vs. commensal bacteria can be efficiently tackled by using prebiotics. The aim of this work was to identify novel prebiotic combinations by exerting species-specific action between S. aureus and S. epidermidis strains. Methods: First, the antimicrobial/antibiofilm effect of Xylitol-XYL and Galacto-OligoSaccharides–GOS combined with each other at different concentrations (1, 2.5, 5%) against S. aureus and S. epidermidis clinical strains was evaluated in time. Second, the most species-specific concentration was used to combine XYL with Fructo-OligoSaccharides–FOS, IsoMalto-Oligosaccharides–IMO, ArabinoGaLactan–LAG, inulin, dextran. Experiments were performed by OD600 detection, biomass quantification and LIVE/DEAD staining. Results: 1% XYL + 1% GOS showed the best species-specific action with an immediate antibacterial/antibiofilm action against S. aureus strains (up to 34.54% ± 5.35/64.68% ± 4.77) without a relevant effect on S. epidermidis. Among the other prebiotic formulations, 1% XYL plus 1% FOS (up to 49.17% ± 21.46/37.59% ± 6.34) or 1% IMO (up to 41.28% ± 4.88/36.70% ± 10.03) or 1% LAG (up to 38.21% ± 5.31/83.06% ± 5.11) showed antimicrobial/antibiofilm effects similar to 1% XYL+1% GOS. For all tested formulations, a prevalent bacteriostatic effect in the planktonic phase and a general reduction of S. aureus biofilm formation without loss of viability were recorded. Conclusion: The combinations of 1% XYL with 1% GOS or 1% FOS or 1% IMO or 1% LAG may help to control the balance of skin microbiota, representing good candidates for topic formulations.

Improving the Structural Behavior of Tied-Arch Bridges by Doubling the Set of Hangers

In tied-arch bridges with a single arch, the deck is usually suspended from the arch by means of a single set of cables, pinned at both ends and anchored to the centerline, using either vertical or Nielsen-type hanger arrangements. When properly designed, this layout can significantly reduce forces and deflections under loads that are symmetrical with respect to the plane of the arch. However, it does not contribute to the support of nonsymmetrical loads, such as eccentric loads distributions or wind loading, and does not reduce the sensibility of the arch to out-of-plane buckling. Thus, this paper studies how a cable arrangement composed of two sets of lateral hangers, attached to both edges of a deck, can be very suitable to address these problems. Firstly, it is demonstrated that the structural behavior under symmetrical loads improves with respect to the bridge with centered hangers. Secondly, it is shown how nonsymmetric loads are partially carried by structural systems (such as the transversal stiffness both of the arch and the deck) that would remain inactive for tied-arch bridges with centered hangers, leading to a general reduction in the forces and the deflections of the bridge and in the critical buckling load of the arch.

Null reductions of the M5-brane

We perform a general reduction of an M5-brane on a spacetime that admits a null Killing vector, including couplings to background 4-form fluxes and possible twisting of the normal bundle. We give the non-abelian extension of this action and present its supersymmetry transformations. The result is a class of supersymmetric non-Lorentzian gauge theories in 4+1 dimensions, which depend on the geometry of the six-dimensional spacetime. These can be used for DLCQ constructions of M5-branes reduced on various manifolds.

Apathy in neuropsychiatric conditions

Apathy is a frequent finding in both acute and chronic neurological conditions, and it is defined as a general reduction in motivation, as manifested by reduced goal-directed behaviours, cognitions, and emotions. This chapter reviews the frequency, diagnostic process, clinical correlates, and treatment of apathy in Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury, as examples of relevant chronic neurodegenerative and acute conditions, respectively.

High-fat Diet Alters the Glycosylation Patterns of Duodenal Mucins in a Murine Model

High-fat diet (HFD) alters the glycosylation patterns of intestinal mucins leading to several health problems. We studied by histochemical and lectin-binding methods mucin alterations in the duodenum of mice fed a HFD for 25 weeks. Histochemical methods included periodic acid–Schiff, alcian blue pH 2.5, and high-iron diamine. Lectin-binding experiments were performed with SBA, PNA, WGA, MAA-II, SNA, ConA, UEA-I, LTA, and AAA. SBA, PNA, WGA, MAA-II, and SNA were tested also after desulfation and ConA after periodate-sodium borohydrate treatments (paradoxical ConA). Duodenal mucins are secreted by Brunner’s glands and goblet cells in the villi. Brunner’s glands of HFD mice showed increased secreting activity and a general reduction of glycosylated residuals, such as fucose and terminal α1,4-linked GlcNAc. Moreover, a general reduction of glycosylated residuals in the goblet cells of villi such as the fucosylated and sulfated ones was observed. Since the cited residuals are involved in cytoprotective and cytostatic functions, as well as in interactions with the intestinal microbiota and protection against parasites and inflammatory disorders, we conclude that HFD can predispose duodenum to several possible health disorders.