To compare the effectiveness of wire versus disc electrodes to activate the inspiratory muscles via high frequency spinal cord stimulation.
 
  Animal study.
 
  Research laboratory.
 
  Dogs (n = 5) INTERVENTIONS In separate trials, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was applied via disc (DE) and two parallel wire electrodes (WE) on the ventral epidural space at the T2-T3 spinal region.
 
  Airway pressure (P) and inspired volume (V) generation following stimulation with DE and WE were compared. Given our previous success with (DE), outcome variables with this electrode were used as our gold standard to which all comparisons were made.
 
  Two configurations of WE using monopolar stimulation (MS) resulted in P and V that were similar to those generated with MS with DE. For example, MS with parallel WE connected together to function as a common cathode (Y-connection) and a 2-channel system (separate cathodes with a remote ground), resulted in P that were 91 ± 6 and 92 ± 4%, respectively, of those achieved with DE (NS for both). Bipolar stimulation with parallel WE using a Y-connection and with a 2-channel system, resulted in P that were 96 ± 4 and 94 ± 4%, of the P achieved with DE (NS for both).
 
  These results suggest that specific configurations of WE, which can be placed via minimally invasive techniques, provide comparable activation of the inspiratory muscles compared to DE and may be a useful technique to restore ventilatory support in persons with spinal cord injury.
 These results suggest that specific configurations of WE, which can be placed via minimally invasive techniques, provide comparable activation of the inspiratory muscles compared to DE and may be a useful technique to restore ventilatory support in persons with spinal cord injury.
  Facial expressions, such as smiling and anger, cause many physical and psychological effects in the body, known as 'embodied emotions' or 'facial feedback theory.' In the clinical application of this theory in certain diseases, such as autism and depression, treatments such as forcing patients to smile have been used. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the representation of facial expressions remain unclear.
 
  We proposed a method to construct brain networks based on the time course of the synchronization likelihood and determine the effects of various facial expressions on the situation using visual stimulus of faces. This method was applied to analyze electroencephalographic (EEG) data recorded during the recognition and representation of various positive and negative facial expressions. The brain networks were constructed based on the EEG data recorded in 11 healthy participants.
 
  Channel sets from brain networks during unsymmetrical smiling expressions (i.e., only the right or left side) were highly linearly symmetrical. Channel sets from brain networks during negative facial expressions (i.e., anger and sadness) and symmetrical smiling expressions (i.e., smiling with an opened or closed mouth) were similar.
 
  While we obtained brain networks based on time course EEG correlations throughout the experiment, existing methods can analyze EEG data only at a certain time point.
 
  The comparisons of different facial expressions could be used to identify the side of the facial muscles used while smiling and to determine how similar brain networks are induced by positive and negative facial expressions.
 The comparisons of different facial expressions could be used to identify the side of the facial muscles used while smiling and to determine how similar brain networks are induced by positive and negative facial expressions.
  Endovascular thrombectomy is the process of removing a blood clot and re-establishing blood flow in patients with emergent large vessel occlusion. The technique provides an opportunity to deliver therapeutics directly to the site of injury. The intra-arterial (IA) route of drug administration in the mouse was developed to bridge the gap between animal stroke treatments and clinical stroke therapy. Here, we adapted the IA method for use in rats, by investigating various flow rates to optimize the IA injection through the internal carotid artery (ICA).
 
  Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (∼4 months of age) were subjected to placement of micro-angio tubing at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery for injection into the ICA. We evaluated a range of infusion rates of carbon black ink and its vascular distribution within the brain.
 
  Optimal injection rates in males was 4-6 μl/min and 2-4 μl/min in females. The IA injection using these sex-specific rates resulted in appropriate limited dye delivery to only the ipsilateral region of the brain, without inducing a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
 
  Upon adapting the IA administration model to rats, it was determined that the rate of infusion varied between males and females. This variability is an important consideration for studies utilizing both sexes, such as in ischemic stroke studies.
 Upon adapting the IA administration model to rats, it was determined that the rate of infusion varied between males and females. This variability is an important consideration for studies utilizing both sexes, such as in ischemic stroke studies.Skin irritation is a key human health endpoint assessed by in vitro and in vivo methods. The OECD TG 404 guideline (in vivo) is based on erythema and oedema translated semi-quantitatively into Draize scores, providing hazard statements for substance classification following EUCLP/UNGHS criteria. Draize scores require quantitation from subjective in vivo observations, to obtain a scoring index, the Primary Irritation Index (PII). However, it is not recognised under REACH due to translating difficulties, notably the cut-off limit for classification and non-inclusion of corrosive effects. The aim of this study was to determine if classification can be driven by just one of the observed effects, erythema only, to create a Simplified Irritation Index (SIISKIN). This simplifies the scoring calculation and reduces subjectivity. A quantitative approach with cut-off limits is thus proposed for classification. Substances can be classified as non-irritant, potentially irritant, irritant, or corrosive.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/amg-232.html  The Simplifed Irritation Index (SIISKIN) is based on validated studies, representing multiple chemical groups.