scholarly journals Dietary Polar Lipids and Cognitive Development: A Narrative Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1163-1176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Zheng ◽  
Mathilde Fleith ◽  
Francesca Giuffrida ◽  
Barry V O'Neill ◽  
Nora Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
Polar Lipid ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Polar Lipids ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Lactating Mothers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Brain

ABSTRACTPolar lipids are amphiphilic lipids with a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. Polar lipids mainly include phospholipids and sphingolipids. They are structural components of neural tissues, with the peak rate of accretion overlapping with neurodevelopmental milestones. The critical role of polar lipids in cognitive development is thought to be mediated through the regulation of signal transduction, myelination, and synaptic plasticity. Animal products (egg, meat, and dairy) are the major dietary sources of polar lipids for children and adults, whereas human milk and infant formula provide polar lipids to infants. Due to the differences observed in both concentration and proportion of polar lipids in human milk, the estimated daily intake in infants encompasses a wide range. In addition, health authorities define neither intake recommendations nor guidelines for polar lipid intake. However, adequate intake is defined for 2 nutrients that are elements of these polar lipids, namely choline and DHA. To date, limited studies exist on the brain bioavailability of dietary polar lipids via either placental transfer or the blood–brain barrier. Nevertheless, due to their role in pre- and postnatal development of the brain, there is a growing interest for the use of gangliosides, which are sphingolipids, as a dietary supplement for pregnant/lactating mothers or infants. In line with this, supplementing gangliosides and phospholipids in wild-type animals and healthy infants does suggest some positive effects on cognitive performance. Whether there is indeed added benefit of supplementing polar lipids in pregnant/lactating mothers or infants requires more clinical research. In this article, we report findings of a review of the state-of-the-art evidence on polar lipid supplementation and cognitive development. Dietary sources, recommended intake, and brain bioavailability of polar lipids are also discussed.

Oatp58Dc contributes to blood-brain barrier function by excluding organic anions from the Drosophila brain

2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (5) ◽  
pp. C558-C567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Seabrooke ◽  
Michael J. O'Donnell
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Organic Anion ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Organic Anions ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Brain

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) physiologically isolates the brain from the blood and, thus, plays a vital role in brain homeostasis. Ion transporters play a critical role in this process by effectively regulating access of chemicals to the brain. Organic anion-transporting polypeptides (Oatps) transport a wide range of amphipathic substrates and are involved in efflux of chemicals across the vertebrate BBB. The anatomic complexity of the vascularized vertebrate BBB, however, creates challenges for experimental analysis of these processes. The less complex structure of the Drosophila BBB facilitates measurement of solute transport. Here we investigate a physiological function for Oatp58Dc in transporting small organic anions across the BBB. We used genetic manipulation, immunocytochemistry, and molecular techniques to supplement a whole animal approach to study the BBB. For this whole animal approach, the traceable small organic anion fluorescein was injected into the hemolymph. This research shows that Oatp58Dc is involved in maintaining a chemical barrier against fluorescein permeation into the brain. Oatp58Dc expression was found in the perineurial and subperineurial glia, as well as in postmitotic neurons. We specifically targeted knockdown of Oatp58Dc expression in the perineurial and subperineurial glia to reveal that Oatp58Dc expression in the perineurial glia is necessary to maintain the barrier against fluorescein influx into the brain. Our results show that Oatp58Dc contributes to maintenance of a functional barrier against fluorescein influx past the BBB into the brain.

scholarly journals System for Nature-inspired Signal Processing: Principles and Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Edughom Ekpar
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Hierarchical Processing ◽  
Neuronal Populations ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Biological Substrates ◽  
The Brain

This paper establishes the foundational principles and practice for a unified theory of arbitrary information management by disclosing systems, devices and methods for the management of substrates or biological substrates. In this context, a substrate is any aspect of any entity that is capable of responding to or emitting stimuli irrespective of whether the stimuli actually emanate from any aspect of the entity or not. Management of substrates could be achieved through the management of stimuli that modulate or moderate or influence any aspect of the substrate as well as through the management of any stimuli emanating from the substrate. The results enable a wide range of novel applications in a variety of fields with far-reaching implications. For example, the functional organization of many regions of the brain including the superior temporal cortex which is believed to play a critical role in the hierarchical processing of human visual and auditory stimuli is poorly understood. It is not known precisely which layer within which region of the brain is responsible for which aspect of visual or auditory processing. Simultaneous non-invasive acquisition of bio-signals representing contributions from multiple layers of neuronal populations within the brain could provide new insights leading to the resolution of many of these outstanding issues and provide a deeper understanding of the underlying physiological processes.

scholarly journals Assistive Device for Patients Having Spondylitis and Spondylosis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anshuj Deva ◽  
Sharmila Nageswaran ◽  
S. Vidhya
Keyword(s):  
Bone Density ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Cervical Region ◽  
Lumbar Region ◽  
Electrical Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Given ◽  
Mass Increase ◽  
The Brain

Spondylitis is a very common back and neck ailment that is reported to account for one-third of social problems causing difficulty at work. It is caused due to the inflammation in vertebral joints. Its condition goes undetected until the symptoms, such as that of severe pain, develops. It causes stinging pain which is focused around cervical region of vertebra, the shoulders and the lumbar region of the spine. Accordingly, it is classified into three types: cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral spondylosis. This is different from spondylitis which causes pain due to inflammation. Many existing devices use electric current to bring relief from pain. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is one of the most commonly used devices in this aspect. However, though this has been able to bring effective results to its patients, there is a whole lot of controversy in conditions it should be used to treat. Studies have shown these devices to bring relief by suppressing the signals from the brain. They are not advised for patients with pacemakers or any kind of electronically powered implantable devices. They are less effective where the skin is numb or in places where there is decreased sensation. It depends entirely on the working of the nerve beneath the surface and may cause irritation on the skin if the current is too high. Moreover, these devices need to be avoided in area where infection is present. High precaution needs to be taken when working with epilepsy patients and pregnant women; the electrical stimulation can interfere with the fetus development. With such a wide range of drawbacks, there is a need for a mechanical solution which can redress these problems and provide an effective and ergonomic solution. Along with overcoming the present barriers, research has been done to demonstrate the positive effects of vibration in increase of bone density, increase of muscle mass, increase of blood circulation, reduced back pain, reduced joint pain and boost in metabolism. The given paper discusses a device wherein vibrational motors have been incorporated, under the control of a microcontroller, to generate the requisite g-force needed for the purpose of pain alleviation and increase of bone density.

scholarly journals Assessment of Prophetic Foods Consumption among Lactating Mothers: Combining Quantitative & Qualitative Approaches

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siti Munirah Abdul Basir ◽  
Nor Azwani Mohd Shukri ◽  
Radiah Abdul Ghani ◽  
Muhammad Ibrahim ◽  
Muhammad Muzaffar Ali Khan Khattak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Milk ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Black Cumin ◽  
Interview Method ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Lactating Mothers

Introduction: The phrase ‘Prophetic food and medicine’ reflects the words and actions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with the bearing of disease, treatment of disease, and care of patients. Among plants mentioned in the Al-Quran, Al-Hadith and Islamic literature are dates, pomegranates, figs, olive and black cumin seeds. These plants are widely used for medicinal purposes, as functional foods and industrial products. However, there are limited studies found regarding their effect on human milk quality and quantity. Thus, this paper aims to describe the methodology to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of prophetic foods consumption among lactating mothers in Kuantan, Pahang. Methodology: Pregnant Malay mothers aged 18 to 40 years old, at a gestational duration of ≥ 32 weeks, are recruited. During the lactation period, their dietary intake (specifically the consumption of prophetic foods) are assessed using a quantitative method which is food frequency questionnaire. A subsample of these mothers is then interviewed using semi-structured interview method on the prophetic food consumption. Quantitative and qualitative data are analysed using SPSS and NVivo software, respectively. Result: Reports of positive effects of prophetic food consumption on lactation experience namely improving human milk production is anticipated from this study. In addition, it will provide a foundation for further exploration of the role of prophetic food consumption in the lactation process. Conclusion: This research is at the forefront to provide the data on potential practice and application of prophetic foods in positively influencing lactation experience and quality of human milk.

Dendrobium officinalis Flower Improves Learning and Reduces Memory Impairment by Mediating Antioxidant Effect and Balancing the Release of Neurotransmitters in Senescent Rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 402-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin-Zi Li ◽  
Shan-Shan Lei ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Fu-Chen Zhou ◽  
Ye-Hui Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Brain Aging ◽  
Morris Water Maze Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Histopathological Analysis ◽  
Hippocampal Damage ◽  
Common Belief ◽  
Mao B ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Brain

Aim and Objective: The Dendrobium officinalis flower (DOF) is popular in China due to common belief in its anti-aging properties and positive effects on “nourish yin”. However, there have been relatively few confirmatory pharmacological experiments conducted to date. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether DOF has beneficial effects on learning and memory in senescent rats, and, if so, to determine its potential mechanism of effect. Materials and Methods: SD rats were administrated orally DOF at a dose of 1.38, or 0.46 g/kg once a day for 8 weeks. Two other groups included a healthy untreated control group and a senescent control group. During the 7th week, a Morris water maze test was performed to assess learning and memory. At the end of the experiment, serum and brain samples were collected to measure concentrations of antioxidant enzymes, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GSH-Px) in serum, and the neurotransmitters, including γ-aminobutyric acid (γ-GABA), Glutamic (Glu), and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) in the brain. Histopathology of the hippocampus was assessed using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. Results: The results suggested that treatment with DOF improved learning as measured by escape latency, total distance, and target quadrant time, and also increased levels of γ-GABA in the brain. In addition, DOF decreased the levels of MDA, Glu, and MAO-B, and improved SOD and GSHPx. Histopathological analysis showed that DOF also significantly reduced structural lesions and neurodegeneration in the hippocampus relative to untreated senescent rats. Conclusion: DOF alleviated brain aging and improved the spatial learning abilities in senescent rats, potentially by attenuating oxidative stress and thus reducing hippocampal damage and balancing the release of neurotransmitters.

Shooting a Tiger

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijaya Ramadas Mandala
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Late Nineteenth Century ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Colonial India ◽  
British Raj ◽  
Early Colonial ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Forest Legislation ◽  
Imperial Governance ◽  
North And South

The main contention of Shooting a Tiger is that hunting during the colonial period was not merely a recreational activity, but a practice intimately connected with imperial governance. The book positions shikar or hunting at the heart of colonial rule by demonstrating that, for the British in India, it served as a political, practical, and symbolic apparatus in the consolidation of power and rule during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The book analyses early colonial hunting during the Company period, and then surveys different aspects of hunting during the high imperial decades in the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The book draws upon an impressive array of archival material and uses a wide range of evidence to support its contentions. It examines hunting at a variety of social and ethnic levels—military, administrative, elite, princely India, Indian professional hunters, and in terms of Indian auxiliaries and (sometimes) resisters. It also deals with different geographical contexts—the plains, the mountains, north and south India. The exclusive privilege of hunting exercised by the ruling classes, following colonial forest legislation, continued to be extended to the Indian princes who played a critical role in sustaining the lavish hunts that became the hallmark of the late nineteenth-century British Raj. Hunting was also a way of life in colonial India, undertaken by officials and soldiers alike alongside their everyday duties, necessary for their mental sustenance and vital for the smooth operation of the colonial administration. There are also two final chapters on conservation, particularly the last chapter focusing on two British hunter-turned-conservationists, Jim Corbett and Colonel Richard Burton.

scholarly journals Sublethal Exposure Effects of the Neonicotinoid Clothianidin Strongly Modify the Brain Transcriptome and Proteome in the Male Moth Agrotis ipsilon

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Camille Meslin ◽  
Françoise Bozzolan ◽  
Virginie Braman ◽  
Solenne Chardonnet ◽  
Cédric Pionneau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Agrotis Ipsilon ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Male Moth ◽  
Hormetic Effect ◽  
Pest Insects ◽  
Neuronal Processes ◽  
The Brain

Insect pest management relies mainly on neurotoxic insecticides, including neonicotinoids such as clothianidin. The residual accumulation of low concentrations of these insecticides can have positive effects on target pest insects by enhancing various life traits. Because pest insects often rely on sex pheromones for reproduction and olfactory synaptic transmission is cholinergic, neonicotinoid residues could indeed modify chemical communication. We recently showed that treatments with low doses of clothianidin could induce hormetic effects on behavioral and neuronal sex pheromone responses in the male moth, Agrotis ipsilon. In this study, we used high-throughput RNAseq and proteomic analyses from brains of A. ipsilon males that were intoxicated with a low dose of clothianidin to investigate the molecular mechanisms leading to the observed hormetic effect. Our results showed that clothianidin induced significant changes in transcript levels and protein quantity in the brain of treated moths: 1229 genes and 49 proteins were differentially expressed upon clothianidin exposure. In particular, our analyses highlighted a regulation in numerous enzymes as a possible detoxification response to the insecticide and also numerous changes in neuronal processes, which could act as a form of acclimatization to the insecticide-contaminated environment, both leading to enhanced neuronal and behavioral responses to sex pheromone.

The Effects of Technology Supports on Community Grocery Shopping Skills for Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 016264342198997
Author(s):  
Sojung Jung ◽  
Ciara Ousley ◽  
David McNaughton ◽  
Pamela Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Analytic Review ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

In this meta-analytic review, we investigated the effects of technology supports on the acquisition of shopping skills for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) between the ages of 5 and 24. Nineteen single-case experimental research studies, presented in 15 research articles, met the current study’s inclusion criteria and the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) standards. An analysis of potential moderators was conducted, and we calculated effect sizes using Tau-U to examine the impact of age, diagnosis, and type of technology on the reported outcomes for the 56 participants. The results from the included studies provide evidence that a wide range of technology interventions had a positive impact on shopping performance. These positive effects were seen for individuals across a wide range of ages and disability types, and for a wide variety of shopping skills. The strongest effect sizes were observed for technologies that provided visual supports rather than just auditory support. We provide an interpretation of the findings, implications of the results, and recommended areas for future research.

scholarly journals Enhanced Bilosomal Properties Resulted in Optimum Pharmacological Effects by Increased Acidification Pathways

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1184
Author(s):  
Armin Mooranian ◽  
Thomas Foster ◽  
Corina M Ionescu ◽  
Daniel Walker ◽  
Melissa Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bile Acids ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Cellular Respiration ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Pharmacological Effects ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Introduction: Recent studies in our laboratory have shown that some bile acids, such as chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), can exert cellular protective effects when encapsulated with viable β-cells via anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress mechanisms. However, to explore their full potential, formulating such bile acids (that are intrinsically lipophilic) can be challenging, particularly if larger doses are required for optimal pharmacological effects. One promising approach is the development of nano gels. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine biological effects of various concentrations of CDCA using various solubilising nano gel systems on encapsulated β-cells. Methods: Using our established cellular encapsulation system, the Ionic Gelation Vibrational Jet Flow technology, a wide range of CDCA β-cell capsules were produced and examined for morphological, biological, and inflammatory profiles. Results and Conclusion: Capsules’ morphology and topographic characteristics remained similar, regardless of CDCA or nano gel concentrations. The best pharmacological, anti-inflammatory, and cellular respiration, metabolism, and energy production effects were observed at high CDCA and nano gel concentrations, suggesting dose-dependent cellular protective and positive effects of CDCA when incorporated with high loading nano gel.

scholarly journals Bio-Inspired Modality Fusion for Active Speaker Detection

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3397
Author(s):  
Gustavo Assunção ◽  
Nuno Gonçalves ◽  
Paulo Menezes
Keyword(s):  
Superior Colliculus ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Validation Process ◽  
Detection Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Speaker Detection ◽  
The One ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fusion Ability

Human beings have developed fantastic abilities to integrate information from various sensory sources exploring their inherent complementarity. Perceptual capabilities are therefore heightened, enabling, for instance, the well-known "cocktail party" and McGurk effects, i.e., speech disambiguation from a panoply of sound signals. This fusion ability is also key in refining the perception of sound source location, as in distinguishing whose voice is being heard in a group conversation. Furthermore, neuroscience has successfully identified the superior colliculus region in the brain as the one responsible for this modality fusion, with a handful of biological models having been proposed to approach its underlying neurophysiological process. Deriving inspiration from one of these models, this paper presents a methodology for effectively fusing correlated auditory and visual information for active speaker detection. Such an ability can have a wide range of applications, from teleconferencing systems to social robotics. The detection approach initially routes auditory and visual information through two specialized neural network structures. The resulting embeddings are fused via a novel layer based on the superior colliculus, whose topological structure emulates spatial neuron cross-mapping of unimodal perceptual fields. The validation process employed two publicly available datasets, with achieved results confirming and greatly surpassing initial expectations.

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