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Chen CH, Mayo JN, Gourdie RG, Johnstone SR, Isakson BE, Bearden SE. The connexin 43/ZO-1 complex regulates cerebral endothelial F-actin architecture and migration.

To provide information towards understanding Taiwan's earthquake hazard and risk, the multidisciplinary Taiwan Earthquake Model (TEM) project, supported by the Ministry of Sciences and Technology, had prepared and published a first version of seismic hazard assessment maps of Taiwan in 2016, together with an on-land seismogenic structure database of the island. In the years following the publication of this first version, we have constructed an updated version of this database. Seven structures were identified and added to the database. Based on additional information, we have also updated the structural parameters of four existing structures, as well as systematically updated the parameters of all structures to include more complete parameter uncertainties. This update of the database represents the most up-to-date information of seismogenic structures in Taiwan, and would provide better constraints for future seismic hazard assessment and mitigation studies.

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Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) disrupts nitric oxide (NO) signaling and increases nitrative stress in cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (CMVECs). This is mediated, in part, by protein nitrotyrosinylation (3-nitrotyrosine; 3-NT) though the mechanisms by which extracellular homocysteine (Hcy) generates intracellular 3-NT are unknown. Using a murine model of mild HHcy (cbs(+/-) mouse), we show that 3-NT is significantly elevated in cerebral microvessels with concomitant reductions in serum NO bioavailability as compared with wild-type littermate controls (cbs(+/+)). Directed pharmacology identified a receptor-dependent mechanism for 3-NT formation in CMVECs. Homocysteine increased expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and formation of 3-NT, both of which were blocked by inhibition of metabotropic glutamate receptor-5 (mGluR5) with the specific antagonist 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl) pyridine hydrochloride. Activation of mGluR5 is both sufficient and necessary to drive the nitrative stress because direct activation using the mGluR5-specific agonist (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine also increased iNOS expression and 3-NT formation while knockdown of mGluR5 receptor expression by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) blocked their increase in response to Hcy. Nitric oxide derived from iNOS was required for Hcy-mediated formation of 3-NT because the effect was blocked by 1400W. These results provide the first evidence for a receptor-dependent process that explains how plasma Hcy levels control intracellular nitrative stress in cerebral microvascular endothelium.

A chronological overview of the applications of control theory to prosthetic hand is presented. The overview focuses on hard computing or control techniques such as multivariable feedback, optimal, nonlinear, adaptive and robust and soft computing or control techniques such as artificial intelligence, neural networks, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithms and on the fusion of hard and soft control techniques. This overview is not intended to be an exhaustive survey on this topic and any omissions of other works is purely unintentional.

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