GABA and glutamate levels in the substantia nigra reticulata following repetitive cerebral ischemia in gerbils

Repetitive cerebral ischemia produces more severe damage than a similar single duration insult. We have previously shown that, in gerbils, damage in the substantia nigra reticulata (SNr) is seen with repetitive insults rather than a single insult. We have also shown that there is a progressive decrease in the extracellular GABA in the striatum in the days preceding such damage, speculating that a loss of GABA may be in part responsible for this damage. This study evaluates the GABA levels in the SNr in animals exposed to repetitive ischemic insults. Each animal received a total of three ischemic insults of 3-min duration at hourly intervals. In vivo microdialysis was carried out to analyze the GABA and glutamate dialysate levels on Days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 following the ischemic insult. In the control and treated (ischemic) animals, there was a significant increase in the GABA levels with the introduction of nipecotic acid on Days 1, 3, 5, and 14. However, on Day 7 there was a significant attenuation in the GABA response to nipecotic acid in the treated animals in comparison to the controls. The glutamate levels in the treated animals were similar to the control animals on Days 1, 3, 5, and 7. However, on Day 14 the glutamate levels were significantly lower than on previous days. Our experiments for the first time measure extracellular glutamate and GABA responses in the SNr in animals exposed to repetitive ischemic insults. Our experiments show that there is a significant decrease in the GABA concentrations at a time when ischemic damage is developing in this region. This confirms our hypothesis that a decrease in GABA may be one factor contributing to neuronal damage during the period following repetitive ischemic insults. Further, the rebound increase in GABA levels on Day 14 with a concomitant fall in glutamate levels would indicate that reparative processes are still active in the 2 weeks following the insult.     

Dejittering in the transport of MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video

When multimedia information is transported over a packet-switched network, the quality of presentation can be degraded due to network delay variation or jitter. This paper presents a dejittering scheme that can be used in the transport of MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 video to absorb any introduced network jitter, thus preserving the presentation quality of transported media streams. The dejittering scheme is based on the statistical approximation of delay variation in the arrival times of video packets carrying encoded clock reference values and a filtering and re-stamping mechanism. In addition, a brief overview of the MPEG-4 system is presented.     

Laminar forced convection flow over a backward facing step using nanofluids

Laminar forced convection flow of nanofluids over a 2D horizontal backward facing step placed in a duct is numerically investigated using a finite volume method. A 5% volume fraction of nanoparticles is dispersed in a base fluid besides using various types of nanoparticles such as Au, Ag, Al₂O₃, Cu, CuO, diamond, SiO₂, and TiO₂. The duct has a step height of 4.8 mm, and an expansion ratio of 2. The Reynolds number was in the range of 50 ≤ Re ≤ 175. A primary recirculation region has been developed after the sudden expansion and it starts to change to become fully developed flow downstream of the reattachment point. The reattachment point is found to move downstream far from the step as Reynolds number increases. Nanofluid of SiO₂ nanoparticles is observed to have the highest velocity among other nanofluids types, while nanofluid of Au nanoparticles has the lowest velocity. The static pressure and wall shear stress increase with Reynolds number and vice versa for skin friction coefficient.     

New Type Anode for Calcium Ion Batteries Based on Silicon Carbide Monolayer

Silicon - A theoretical research study was conducted into the possibility of using a two-dimensional graphene-like material silicon carbide nano-sheet (2D-SiCNS) as an anode in rechargeable Ca-ion...     

Coupled Eulerian Lagrangian finite element modeling of friction stir welding processes

A 3-dimensional localized finite element model (FEM) is developed to predict likely conditions that result in defect generation during friction stir welding (FSW). The workpiece is modeled using Eulerian formulation, while the tool is modeled using Lagrangian. Coulomb's frictional contact model is adopted to define the tool workpiece interaction, while the welding speed is defined by material inflow and outflow velocities. The numerical results show that the coefficient of friction has a major effect on void formation; the lower the friction coefficient is applied, the larger the void is formed. Furthermore, welding using force control (FC) at lower welding speed results in smaller void size and wider plastic zone, leading to higher quality weld.     

Numerical investigations of flow and heat transfer enhancement in a corrugated channel using nanofluid

In this paper, heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of copper–water nanofluid flow through isothermally heated corrugated channel are numerically studied. A numerical simulation is carried out by solving the governing continuity, momentum and energy equations for laminar flow in curvilinear coordinates using the Finite Difference (FD) approach. The investigation covers Reynolds number and nanoparticle volume fraction in the ranges of 100–1000 and 0–0.05 respectively. The effects of using the nanofluid on the heat transfer and pressure drop inside the channel are investigated. It is found that the heat transfer enhancement increases with increase in the volume fraction of the nanoparticle and Reynolds number, while there is slight increase in pressure drop. Comparisons of the present results with those available in literature are presented and discussed.     

Urban Development Transitions and Their Implications for Poverty Reduction and Policy Planning in Uganda

Urbanization is one of the critical global trends shaping the future of humanity. At the same time, it has been argued that full development requires an urbanized environment. This paper attempts to examine and characterize the major phases of urbanization in Uganda and what this means for urban policy planning and poverty reduction in the country. Although the history of urbanization in Uganda is relatively young compared to other East African countries, dating as far back as 100 years, the rate of urban development (5.1% per annum) in the country is reported to be one of the highest in the world. However, little effort is being made to seize the opportunities and maximize the potential benefits of urban development, as well as reducing its potentially negative consequences. The urban development path of Uganda can be classified in terms of five phases: (1) the stage of initiation (before 1900); (2) the stage of settlement stabilization, fixation, and pseudo-planning (1900–1962); (3) the age of conflict and collapse (1962–1985); (4) the age of laissez faire development and urban informality (1986–2004); and (5) the urban renaissance (2005 to date). These phases, which this paper refers to as transitions, have shown characteristics of planning systems that are partly malfunctioning, partly wobbly and incomplete, and partly non-existent. Pertinent socioeconomic, environmental, and political problems that are insurmountable for urban planning and management are a feature of the urban areas in the country. Most importantly, welfare and poverty indicators have not shown marked improvements (in absolute terms) for the urban population over the last 50 years. This paper argues for a strong urban planning policy that takes into account the rate of urbanization being experienced in the country today, the failure of which will lead to increasing marginalization of city residents.     

Finite element evaluation of clearance effect on tube-to-tubesheet joint strength

Tube-to-tubesheet joint strength is measured in terms of residual contact pressure between the tube's outer surface and the tubesheet hole surfaces. The joint integrity is affected by several design parameters, including the type of material and the initial radial clearance.

The present work complements an experimental program on the effect of over-tolerance on heat exchanger tube-to-tubesheet joint strength. Finite element analyses address the effect of initial clearance on contact pressure and percent tube wall reduction. Results show that for low strain hardening materials the initial clearance effect is negligible. However, higher levels of strain hardening have a significant effect on residual stress and percent wall reduction. For low clearances, the calculated residual contact pressure compares well with an analytical result and with that inferred from the experimentally measured pull out force. The variation of the percent wall reduction with initial clearance is found to be similar to that measured.     

Attenuated glutamate release during ischemia in ethanol-administered gerbils

Previous studies have found an association between prior ethanol consumption and aggravated stroke outcome. Gerbils were intermittently given ethanol injections (s.c.) for 21 days at doses of 1 and 4 g/kg. After cessation of injections and appropriate weight gain, subjects underwent bilateral carotid occlusion while amino acid neurotransmitter levels in the hippocampus were monitored. Both the low and high dose ethanol groups demonstrated significantly decreased glutamate release compared with saline-treated controls during ischemia (p < 0.05). These results are consistent with a long-lasting ethanol-induced decrease in synaptic density in the hippocampus. That no intergroup differences on histological or neurobehavioral measures was found may suggest a functional dissociation of glutaminergic involvement in the pathogenesis of aggravated stroke outcome with alcoholism.     

Oil and fatty acid distribution in different circles of sunflower head

Prevailing temperature at anthesis influences pollen health, fertilisation, seed filling, oil and fatty acid accumulation in different circles of sunflower head. Field experiments were conducted, during 2007 and 2008, at Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to document oil and fatty acid distributions in different circles of sunflower head. Hybrid S-278 was planted in randomised complete block design with a two factors factorial experiment, with four replications. At maturity, heads were divided into three equal circles (outer, middle and central); thereafter, oil and fatty acid distributions were separately determined in each circle. Oil and fatty acid concentrations in three circles differed significantly. The outer circle accumulated high oil and oleic contents which decreased to a minimum in the central circle; however, linoleic acid consistently increased, from outer to central circle, during both the years.