bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation of Microvilli Fraction from Jejunal Mucosa and in vivo Incorporation of 14C-Leucine into Microvilli and Total Homogenate Protein of Suckling Rats
Authors: Koldovský O. , Jumawan J. , McNamara P.D. , Palmieri M.
Published: September 2009

The rate of incorporation of 14C-leucine into protein of the jejunal mucosa and isolated brush border was compared after i.p. application in suckling rats. Whereas the peak in specific activity of the homogenate protein was attained 15 min after the pulse injection, specific activity of the brush border protein peaked after 60 min. The pattern of decay of specific activity of proteins indicated a strong reutilization of label. Determination of 14C radioactivity in urine of sucklings and in mother’s sera and milk have shown a circulation of 14C-labeled substances between the mother and offspring via the urine (offspring) and milk (mother) cycle.
In vivo Metabolism of 14C-Labeled Palmitic Acid in Serum and in Brown and White Adipose Tissues of Well-Fed and Starved Newborn Rabbits I.
Authors: Heim T. , Schenk H. , Wagner H. , Winkler L. , Goetze E. , Varga F.
Published: September 2009

After i.v. injection of 20.106 cpm/100 g body weight 14C-1-palmitic acid at a thermoneutral environment (Ta 35 °C) the primary FFA pool was in 7 days old well fed rabbits (Group I) 9,57 µmole and in rabbits of the same age but previously starved for 48 h at 20 °C (group II) 3.17 and in those starved 72 h at 35 °C (group II) 1.89. There was no significant difference in disappearance rate (λ) half time (t0.5) and turnover time (tt) indicating that the rate at which the label disappeared from the forerunner FFA pool was more dependent on the Ta maintained during the tracer kinetic experiment, than on the duration and the thermal conditions of the previous starvation. The absolute turnover rate of serum FFA (ms) was 9.38 µmole FFA/min in group I and 3.44 and 2.67 in group II and group III, respectively; pointing out that the transfer of FFA from the forerunner pool into the fatty acid compartments of various organs and tissues was significantly reduced by starvation.
Congenital Athyroidism in the Newborn Infant from Intra-Uterine Radioiodine Action
Authors: Exss R. , Graewe B.
Published: September 2009

An 21-year-old woman with thyroid cancer was treated with 50 mCi of 131I before she was known to be pregnant. The age of the fetus was estimated to be 12 weeks. The child was found to be athyrotic at birth. This represents the second reported instance of congenital athyroidism discovered in a newborn infant from intra-uterine radioiodine action.
Utilization and Turnover Rate of Fructose during Continuous Intravenous Infusion in Pre-Term and Term Newborns in Dependence on Age
Authors: Beyreiss K. , Rautenbach M.
Published: September 2009

Fructose turnover and utilization in dependence on age were examined in 55 pre-term and term newborns appropriate for gestational age during continuous intravenous infusion of fructose (0.25–1.0 g . kg––1 · h––1). (1) The linear turnover range of fructose is exceeded during the first 3 days of life independently of gestational age with infusions of 1.0 g · kg––1 · h––1. This, however, is not the case in pre-term and term infants 10–12 days old. For the postnatal development of the fructose metabolism, the age of life is important, but not the gestational age. (2) During the first 3 days of life in pre-term and term infants, less than 10% of the fructose infused are eliminated. Thus, the fructose utilization is high even in the neonatal period, amounting to more than 90%. (3) The influence of fructose on the blood glucose concentration is not uniform and depends on fructose intake rate, gestational age, and age of life. Hypoglycemias were not observed.
Enhancement of Prenatal Development in the Rat by Operative Restriction of Litter Size
Authors: van Marthens E. , Grauel L. , Zamenhof S.
Published: September 2009

The number of fetuses in the rat has been operatively restricted between 50 and 90% of normal by destruction of the other implantation sites by cauterization on the 8th day of pregnancy. The surviving offspring had significant increases in placental weights, body weights, cerebral weights, cerebral protein and cerebral DNA (cell number). Placental weights followed the extent of restriction.
Effect of Inorganic Phosphate on 2,3-DPG Levels of Fetal and Adult Red Cells
Authors: Ravazzolo Roberto
Published: September 2009

Incubation of adult and fetal red blood cells in a medium containing high concentrations of inorganic phosphate showed a different response in the synthesis of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. This was increased only in fetal red cells, while an evident increase in fructose-1,6-diphosphate was seen in both adult and fetal red blood cells.
Serum Amino Acid Concentrations during Pregnancy of Women Heterozygous for Phenylketonuria
Authors: Berry Helen K. , Poncet Inna B. , Sutherland Betty S. , Burkett Robert
Published: September 2009

Increased concentrations of phenylalanine were found in blood specimens from pregnant women who were heterozygous for phenylketonuria, but the concentration differences between normal controls, nonpregnant heterozygous, and pregnant heterozygous, and pregnant heterozygous women were small. Phenylalanine concentrations in cord blood were in the same range as in maternal blood at time of delivery. Phenylalanine concentrations in the carrier do not rise sufficiently during pregnancy to harm the infant in utero.
Effect of Synthetic Thyrotrophin Releasing Hormone on Thyrotrophin and Prolactin Concentrations in the Peripheral Plasma of the Pregnant Ewe, Lamb Fetus and Neonatal Lamb
Authors: Thomas A.L. , Jack P.M.B. , Manns J.G. , Nathanielsz P.W.
Published: September 2009

Synthetic thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) has been administered to pregnant ewes, chronically catheterised fetuses in the latter stages of gestation, and to newborn lambs. Both the pregnant ewe and her fetus showed marked rises in TSH and prolactin concentrations after administration of TRH. The placenta was impermeable to TRH, TSH and prolactin in both directions. The sheep fetus near term and the newborn lamb both demonstrated a considerable reserve of secretory capacity for TSH and prolactin.
Are Kinking and Coiling of Carotid Artery Congenital or Acquired?
Authors: Beigelman Ricardo , Izaguirre Andrés M. , Robles Martín , Grana Daniel R. , Ambrosio Giuseppe , Milei José
Published: September 2009

Dolichoarteriopathies consist of tortuosity, kinking, or coiling of the extracranial carotid arteries. Some authors consider these alterations a consequence of atherosclerotic vessel remodeling, while others ascribe them to anatomical variations of embryological origin. The objective was to establish whether carotid dolichoarteriopathies belonged to a congenital origin or to acquired conditions. Color Doppler ultrasonography of neck vessels was performed in 885 participants, whose age ranged from 1-day-old infants to 90-year-old adults. Prevalence of kinking and coiling was evaluated, and it was related to the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. Prevalence of either kinking or coil of carotid arteries showed no increase with age, as it was comparable across all ages; furthermore, frequency of these alterations showed no relationship to cardiovascular risk factors nor to the presence of atheromatous plaques. These findings suggest that carotid dolichoarteriopathies are a result of alterations in embryological development rather than vascular remodeling secondary to aging and/or atherosclerosis.
Private Equity: Levered on Capital or Labour?
Authors: Folkman Peter , Froud Julie , Williams Karel , Johal Sukhdev
Published: September 2009

This article argues that, during the 2002—7 conjuncture, private equity was levered on capital, not labour. During this period of rapid up-scaling the sources of the gains were variable and included financial engineering and windfall trading gains. In general terms, the favourable conditions of cheap and available debt meant that restructuring at the expense of employment conditions was not a necessary, or even important, part of all private equity deals. The first half of the article reviews the narrative and numbers on the employment effects of private equity, highlighting the counter claims of different narrative positions and the heterogeneous nature of the evidence. The second part of the article presents an alternative view of private equity, arguing that the change in conjuncture after the credit crunch that began in 2007 will mean that different sources of gain become more important.
Studies on hypoglycaemic effects of polyherbal preparation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male albino rats
Authors: Ismail Khan A. , Yuvaraj S. , Suthagar E. , Parthasarathy C. , Balasubramanian K.
Published: September 2009

Many traditional treatments have been recommended in the alternative system of medicine for diabetes mellitus. However, the mode of action of most of the herbals used has not been defined. It has been reported that sex hormones are important regulators of insulin-mediated events in skeletal muscles. In view of this, a novel herbal preparation containing antidiabetic and aphrodisiac plants was used in the present study. Adult male albino rats were divided into following groups after induction of diabetes. Rats were given an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ), at a dose of 65 mg/kg body weight after overnight fasting, to induce diabetic state with blood glucose levels >250 mg/dL. Group 1—Control rats treated with single i.p. injection of vehicle, Group 2—Rats treated with polyherbal preparation (PHP; 500 mg/kg body weight by oral intubation, morning and evening for 30 days), Group 3—STZ-diabetic rats treated orally with equal volumes of vehicle (water) alone and Group 4—STZ-diabetic rats treated with PHP after 10 days of diabetic induction. STZ-diabetes decreased the body weight, serum insulin level and glucose oxidation in liver and skeletal muscles but increased the fasting blood glucose level. After polyherbal treatment, body weight and glucose oxidation were completely restored to control level while serum insulin level was restored partially and the glucose tolerance was significantly improved. There was a significant decrease in total haemoglobin (Hb) level of diabetic rats when compared to control but polyherbal treatment significantly improved the same. However, the other parameters studied (red blood cell [RBC], white blood corpuscle [WBC], packed cell volume [PCV], mean corpuscular volume [MCV] and mean corpuscular haemoglobin [MCH]) were unaltered. In conclusion, the anti-diabetic properties of PHP appear to be mediated through pancreatic β-cell regeneration, resulting in maintenance of optimal blood glucose and its oxidation in liver and skeletal muscles.
A FSDT—MITC Piezoelectric Shell Finite Element with Ferroelectric Non-linearity
Authors: Zouari Wajdi , Ben Zineb Tarak , Benjeddou Ayech
Published: September 2009

A shell finite element based on the Reissner/Mindlin first-order shear deformation theory and integrating a bi-dimensional phenomenological ferroelectric constitutive law for domain switching effects is proposed. An electric switching function is considered to indicate the onset of domain switching. Only one internal variable (the remanent polarization) is used in the model. An implicit integration technique based on the return-mapping algorithm is adopted. The shell element is implemented into the commercial finite element code Abaqus ® via the subroutine user element. Some linear (piezoelectric) and non-linear (ferroelectric) tests are considered to validate first, the element formulation and second, the implementation of the bi-dimensional ferroelectric model. It is shown by studying a complex example (the spiral actuator) that the Reissner/Mindlin kinematic hypothesis (no variation of the displacement across the thickness or no thickness variation) is not sufficient for some electromechanical applications for which the d33 effect is of major importance.
Media Use and Public Perceptions of DNA Evidence
Authors: Brewer Paul R. , Ley Barbara L.
Published: September 2009

This study uses survey data to examine how various forms of media use are related to public perceptions of DNA evidence, including self-perceived understanding of DNA, perceptions of DNA evidence as reliable, weight attached to DNA evidence (or the absence thereof) in jury decision making, and support for a national DNA databank.The hypotheses build on cultivation theory, priming theory, and research regarding the “ CSI effect.” The findings indicate that overall television viewing, crime television viewing, and news media use predict perceptions of DNA evidence. Moreover, a question-order experiment produced evidence that priming thoughts about media can influence such perceptions.
Do Unconscious Processes Affect Educational Institutions?
Authors: Hinshelwood R.D.
Published: September 2009

In this article I discuss the way that aspects of school and teaching have unconscious roots. Where anxiety about the process, for teachers and children, is high then there is the risk that unconscious defensive processes may occur resulting in institutionalized phenomena. These take the form of cultural attitudes and common practices which may not necessarily enhance the work and in some cases may actively interfere.
The Function of Social Work
Authors: Wirth Jan V.
Published: September 2009

• Summary: The author uses the systems theory of Niklas Luhmann to provide a concise description of the evolution of the forms of social help from the level of interaction (archaic society) to that of organizations (modern society).

• Findings: The most important result is that social work can be seen as a social system (function-system) with its own exclusive function that cannot be replaced by any other (function-) system. The reason for this is that every function-system of society occurs as a special kind of communication. Through the identification of an exclusive code of communication the present work demonstrates that professional social work is an essential function-system of society. Social work expands self-referentially, and without internal constraints, by continuously scanning the environment for those already in need as well as for potential new cases of need.

• Applications : Modern social workers have to reflect their daily actions. This can be shown with the help of some historical and sociological knowledge of the forms of mutual help. By integrating some of the discoveries that are introduced here into the research and curricula of social work, the present work raises the level of the current debate and provokes a detailed discussion of the future of social work in modern society.
Growing a Virtual Insurgency: Using Massively Parallel Gaming to Simulate Insurgent Behavior
Authors: Earnest David C.
Published: September 2009

Models and simulations of counter-insurgency warfare and irregular (COIN) operations are only as effective as their underlying models of insurgent behavior. Existing simulations of insurgencies rely upon strong assumptions that may limit their validity, and thus their use in training for COIN operations. This paper suggests an alternative approach to modeling insurgencies: using a massively parallel game architecture. Massively parallel systems exhibit surprising capacities for learning, adapting and solving complex problems, while games may stimulate individual learning. By harnessing these adaptive capabilities, the proposed massive multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) game holds promise for a more realistic and valid simulation of the behavior of insurgencies by incorporating actual human players. Furthermore, by constructing a persistent virtual world in which human players simulate insurgents, the MMOFPS game allows researchers and decision-makers to observe and measure the behavior of ‘meta-insurgents’, allowing for model validation. Data collection and post-game interviews of players also allow for both quantitative and ethnographic experimentation. This paper proposes a gaming architecture and evaluates the technical risks.
The Sociology of Emotions: Basic Theoretical Arguments
Authors: Turner Jonathan H.
Published: September 2009

In this article, the basic sociological approaches to theorizing human emotions are reviewed. In broad strokes, theorizing can be grouped into several schools of thought: evolutionary, symbolic interactionist, symbolic interactionist with psychoanalytic elements, interaction ritual, power and status, stratification, and exchange. All of these approaches to theorizing emotions have generated useful insights into the dynamics of emotions. There remain, however, unresolved issues in sociological approaches to emotions, including: the nature of emotions, the degree to which emotions are hard-wired neurological or socially constructed, the relevance of analyzing the biology and evolution of emotions, the relationship between cognition and emotions, the number of distinctive emotional states produced by humans, and the relationship between emotions and rationality.
Reconstructing the Past: A Century of Ideas About Emotion in Psychology
Authors: Gendron Maria , Feldman Barrett Lisa
Published: September 2009

Within the discipline of psychology, the conventional history outlines the development of two fundamental approaches to the scientific study of emotion—“basic emotion” and “appraisal” traditions. In this article, we outline the development of a third approach to emotion that exists in the psychological literature—the “psychological constructionist” tradition. In the process, we discuss a number of works that have virtually disappeared from the citation trail in psychological discussions of emotion. We also correct some misconceptions about early sources, such as work by Darwin and James. Taken together, these three contributions make for a fuller and more accurate account of ideas about emotion during the century stretching from 1855 to just before 1960.
Preparation of FeAl–Al2O3 nanocomposite via mechanical alloying and subsequent annealing
Authors: Pourhosseini J. , Zakeri M. , Rahimipour M. R. , Salahi E. , Pourhosseini Gh. R.
Published: September 2009

FeAl–Al2O3 nanocomposite was successfully synthesised via milling of Fe2O3 and Al powders mixture at nominal room temperature. Effects of the milling time and annealing were investigated. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterise the structure of the milled and annealed powders. The morphological evolutions were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that two mechanically induced self-sustaining reactions took place, simultaneously to form a product of nanocrystalline mixture of Al2O3 and FeAl powders. This nanocomposite was also synthesised during annealing of the milled powder at 1000°C. Mean grain sizes of 28 and 24 nm were obtained for FeAl and Al2O3 after annealing of the 360 min milled powders at 1000°C respectively. Maximum microhardness of 11 GPa was procured at the end of milling (3000 min). Scanning electron microscopy images showed very fine particles with the mean size of 30 μm at the end of milling.
On effect of FSP on microstructural and mechanical characteristics of A390 hypereutectic Al–Si alloy
Authors: Mahmoud T. S. , Shaban O. M. , Zakaria H. M. , Khalifa T. A.
Published: September 2009

In the present article, the effect of friction stir processing (FSP) on the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of A390 hypereutectic Al–Si alloy was studied. The effect of tool rotational speed ω, traverse speed υ and the number of passes on such characteristics was investigated. The results showed that FSP significantly improved the microstructural characteristics of A390 Al alloy by reducing the structural defects found in the as cast alloy such as porosity and the size of α-Al primary grains as well as the size of the primary Si particles. The size of Si particulates was found to be reduced by reducing the tool rotational speed, increasing tool traverse speed and increasing the number of FSP passes.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia of Eμ-TCL1 transgenic mice undergoes rapid cell turnover that can be offset by extrinsic CD257 to accelerate disease progression
Authors: Enzler Thomas , Kater Arnon P. , Zhang Weizhou , Widhopf George F. , Chuang Han-Yu , Lee Jason , Avery Esther , Croce Carlo M. , Karin Michael , Kipps Thomas J.
Published: September 2009

Results of heavy-water labeling studies have challenged the notion that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) represents an accumulation of noncycling B cells. We examined leukemia cell turnover in Eμ-TCL1 transgenic (TCL1-Tg) mice, which develop a CLL-like disease at 8 to 12 months of age. We found that leukemia cells in these mice not only had higher proportions of proliferating cells but also apoptotic cells than did nonleukemic lymphocytes. We crossed TCL1-Tg with BAFF-Tg mice, which express high levels of CD257. TCL1×BAFF-Tg mice developed CLL-like disease at a significantly younger age and had more rapid disease progression and shorter survival than TCL1-Tg mice. Leukemia cells of TCL1×BAFF-Tg mice had similar proportions of proliferating cells, but fewer proportions of dying cells, than did the CLL cells of TCL1-Tg mice. Moreover, leukemia cells from either TCL1×BAFF-Tg or TCL1-Tg mice produced more aggressive disease when transferred into BAFF-Tg mice than into wild-type (WT) mice. Neutralization of CD257 resulted in rapid reduction in circulating leukemia cells. These results indicate that the leukemia cells of TCL1-Tg mice undergo high levels of spontaneous apoptosis that is offset by relatively high rates of leukemia cell proliferation, which might allow for acquisition of mutations that contribute to disease evolution.
Impact of sex, MHC, and age of recipients on the therapeutic effect of transferred leukocytes from cancer-resistant SR/CR mice
Authors: Stehle John R , Blanks Michael J , Riedlinger Gregory , Kim-Shapiro Jung W , Sanders Anne M , Adams Jonathan M , Willingham Mark C , Cui Zheng
Published: September 2009

Background

Spontaneous Regression/Complete Resistant (SR/CR) mice are resistant to cancer through a mechanism that is mediated entirely by leukocytes of innate immunity. Transfer of leukocytes from SR/CR mice can confer cancer resistance in wild-type (WT) recipients in both preventative and therapeutic settings. In the current studies, we investigated factors that may impact the efficacy and functionality of SR/CR donor leukocytes in recipients.

Results

In sex-mismatched transfers, functionality of female donor leukocytes was not affected in male recipients. In contrast, male donor leukocytes were greatly affected in the female recipients. In MHC-mismatches, recipients of different MHC backgrounds, or mice of different strains, showed a greater negative impact on donor leukocytes than sex-mismatches. The negative effects of sex-mismatch and MHC-mismatch on donor leukocytes were additive. Old donor leukocytes performed worse than young donor leukocytes in all settings including in young recipients. Young recipients were not able to revive the declining function of old donor leukocytes. However, the function of young donor leukocytes declined gradually in old recipients, suggesting that an aged environment may contain factors that are deleterious to cellular functions. The irradiation of donor leukocytes prior to transfers had a profound suppressive effect on donor leukocyte functions, possibly as a result of impaired transcription. The cryopreserving of donor leukocytes in liquid nitrogen had no apparent effect on donor leukocyte functions, except for a small loss of cell number after revival from freezing.

Conclusion

Despite the functional suppression of donor leukocytes in sex- and MHC-mismatched recipients, as well as old recipients, there was a therapeutic time period during the initial few weeks during which donor leukocytes were functional before their eventual rejection or functional decline. The eventual rejection of donor leukocytes will likely prevent donor leukocyte engraftment which would help minimize the risk of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease. Therefore, using leukocytes from healthy donors with high anti-cancer activity may be a feasible therapeutic concept for treating malignant diseases.
Transcription factor AP-1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Alterations in activity and expression during Human Papillomavirus infection
Authors: Hussain Showket , Bharti Alok C , Salam Irfana , Bhat Mohammad Akbar , Mir Mohammad Muzaffar , Hedau Suresh , Siddiqi Mushtaq A , Basir Seemi Farhat , Das Bhudev C
Published: September 2009

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) region of India. A substantial proportion of esophageal carcinoma is associated with infection of high-risk HPV type 16 and HPV18, the oncogenic expression of which is controlled by host cell transcription factor Activator Protein-1 (AP-1). We, therefore, have investigated the role of DNA binding and expression pattern of AP-1 in esophageal cancer with or without HPV infection.

Methods

Seventy five histopathologically-confirmed esophageal cancer and an equal number of corresponding adjacent normal tissue biopsies from Kashmir were analyzed for HPV infection, DNA binding activity and expression of AP-1 family of proteins by PCR, gel shift assay and immunoblotting respectively.

Results

A high DNA binding activity and elevated expression of AP-1 proteins were observed in esophageal cancer, which differed between HPV positive (19%) and HPV negative (81%) carcinomas. While JunB, c-Fos and Fra-1 were the major contributors to AP-1 binding activity in HPV negative cases, Fra-1 was completely absent in HPV16 positive cancers. Comparison of AP-1 family proteins demonstrated high expression of JunD and c-Fos in HPV positive tumors, but interestingly, Fra-1 expression was extremely low or nil in these tumor tissues.

Conclusion

Differential AP-1 binding activity and expression of its specific proteins between HPV - positive and HPV - negative cases indicate that AP-1 may play an important role during HPV-induced esophageal carcinogenesis.
Expression of oestrogen receptors, ERα, ERβ, and ERβ variants, in endometrial cancers and evidence that prostaglandin F may play a role in regulating expression of ERα
Authors: Collins Frances , MacPherson Sheila , Brown Pamela , Bombail Vincent , Williams Alistair RW , Anderson Richard A , Jabbour Henry N , Saunders Philippa TK
Published: September 2009

Background

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological malignancy; risk factors include exposure to oestrogens and high body mass index. Expression of enzymes involved in biosynthesis of oestrogens and prostaglandins (PG) is often higher in endometrial cancers when compared with levels detected in normal endometrium. Oestrogens bind one of two receptors (ERα and ERβ) encoded by separate genes. The full-length receptors function as ligand-activated transcription factors; splice variant isoforms of ERβ lacking a ligand-binding domain have also been described. PGs act in an autocrine or paracrine manner by binding to specific G-protein coupled receptors.

Methods

We compared expression of ERs, progesterone receptor (PR) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in stage 1 endometrial adenocarcinomas graded as well (G1), moderately (G2) or poorly (G3) differentiated (n ≥ 10 each group) using qRTPCR, single and double immunohistochemistry. We used endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines to investigate the impact of PGF2α on expression of ERs and PR.

Results

Full length ERβ (ERβ1) and two ERβ variants (ERβ2, ERβ5) were expressed in endometrial cancers regardless of grade and the proteins were immunolocalised to the nuclei of cells in both epithelial and stromal compartments. Immunoexpression of COX-2 was most intense in cells that were ERαneg/low. Expression of PR in endometrial adenocarcinoma (Ishikawa) cell lines and tissues broadly paralleled that of ERα. Treatment of adenocarcinoma cells with PGF2α reduced expression of ERα but had no impact on ERβ1. Cells incubated with PGF2α were unable to increase expression of PR mRNA when they were incubated with E2.

Conclusion

We have demonstrated that ERβ5 protein is expressed in stage 1 endometrial adenocarcinomas. Expression of three ERβ variants, including the full-length protein is not grade-dependent and most cells in poorly differentiated cancers are ERβpos/ERαneg. We found evidence of a link between COX-2, its product PGF2α, and expression of ERα and PR that sheds new light on the cross talk between steroid and PG signalling pathways in this disease.
Involvement of insulin-degrading enzyme in the clearance of beta-amyloid at the blood-CSF barrier: Consequences of lead exposure
Authors: Behl Mamta , Zhang Yanshu , Zheng Wei
Published: September 2009

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition of beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptides in the brain extracellular matrix, resulting in pathological changes and neurobehavioral deficits. Previous work from this laboratory demonstrated that the choroid plexus (CP) possesses the capacity to remove Aβ from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and exposure to lead (Pb) compromises this function. Since metalloendopeptidase insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), has been implicated in the metabolism of Aβ, we sought to investigate whether accumulation of Aβ following Pb exposure was due to the effect of Pb on IDE.

Methods

Rats were injected with a single dose of Pb acetate or an equivalent concentration of Na-acetate; CP tissues were processed to detect the location of IDE by immunohistochemistry. For in vitro studies, choroidal epithelial Z310 cells were treated with Pb for 24 h in the presence or absence of a known IDE inhibitor, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) to assess IDE enzymatic activity and subsequent metabolic clearance of Aβ. Additionally, the expression of IDE mRNA and protein were determined using real time PCR and western blots respectively.

Results

Immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging revealed the presence of IDE towards the apical surface of the CP tissue with no visible alteration in either its intensity or location following Pb exposure. There was no significant difference in the expressions of either IDE mRNA or protein following Pb exposure compared to controls either in CP tissues or in Z310 cells. However, our findings revealed a significant decrease in the IDE activity following Pb exposure; this inhibition was similar to that seen in the cells treated with NEM alone. Interestingly, treatment with Pb or NEM alone significantly increased the levels of intracellular Aβ, and a greater accumulation of Aβ was seen when the cells were exposed to a combination of both.

Conclusion

These data suggest that Pb exposure inhibits IDE activity but does not affect its expression in the CP. This, in turn, leads to a disrupted metabolism of Aβ resulting in its accumulation at the blood-CSF barrier.
A systems biology framework for modeling metabolic enzyme inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Fang Xin , Wallqvist Anders , Reifman Jaques
Published: September 2009

Background

Because metabolism is fundamental in sustaining microbial life, drugs that target pathogen-specific metabolic enzymes and pathways can be very effective. In particular, the metabolic challenges faced by intracellular pathogens, such asMycobacterium tuberculosis, residing in the infected host provide novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Results

We developed a mathematical framework to simulate the effects on the growth of a pathogen when enzymes in its metabolic pathways are inhibited. Combining detailed models of enzyme kinetics, a complete metabolic network description as modeled by flux balance analysis, and a dynamic cell population growth model, we quantitatively modeled and predicted the dose-response of the 3-nitropropionate inhibitor on the growth ofM. tuberculosisin a medium whose carbon source was restricted to fatty acids, and that of the 5'-O-(N-salicylsulfamoyl) adenosine inhibitor in a medium with low-iron concentration.

Conclusion

The predicted results quantitatively reproduced the experimentally measured dose-response curves, ranging over three orders of magnitude in inhibitor concentration. Thus, by allowing for detailed specifications of the underlying enzymatic kinetics, metabolic reactions/constraints, and growth media, our model captured the essential chemical and biological factors that determine the effects of drug inhibition onin vitrogrowth ofM. tuberculosiscells.
Intensive care adult patients with severe respiratory failure caused by Influenza A (H1N1)v in Spain
Authors: Rello Jordi , Rodríguez Alejandro , Ibañez Pedro , Socias Lorenzo , Cebrian Javier , Marques Asunción , Guerrero José , Ruiz-Santana Sergio , Marquez Enrique , Del Nogal-Saez Frutos , Alvarez-Lerma Francisco , Martínez Sergio , Ferrer Miquel , Avellanas Manuel , Granada Rosa , Maraví-Poma Enrique , Albert Patricia , Sierra Rafael , Vidaur Loreto , Ortiz Patricia , Prieto del Portillo Isidro , Galván Beatriz , León-Gil Cristóbal ,   the H1N1 SEMICYUC working group
Published: September 2009

Introduction

Patients with influenza A (H1N1)v infection have developed rapidly progressive lower respiratory tract disease resulting in respiratory failure. We describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of the first 32 persons reported to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to influenza A (H1N1)v infection in Spain.

Methods

We used medical chart reviews to collect data on ICU adult patients reported in a standardized form. Influenza A (H1N1)v infection was confirmed in specimens using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT PCR) assay.

Results

Illness onset of the 32 patients occurred between 23 June and 31 July, 2009. The median age was 36 years (IQR = 31 - 52). Ten (31.2%) were obese, 2 (6.3%) pregnant and 16 (50%) had pre-existing medical complications. Twenty-nine (90.6%) had primary viral pneumonitis, 2 (6.3%) exacerbation of structural respiratory disease and 1 (3.1%) secondary bacterial pneumonia. Twenty-four patients (75.0%) developed multiorgan dysfunction, 7 (21.9%) received renal replacement techniques and 24 (75.0%) required mechanical ventilation. Six patients died within 28 days, with two additional late deaths. Oseltamivir administration delay ranged from 2 to 8 days after illness onset, 31.2% received high-dose (300 mg/day), and treatment duration ranged from 5 to 10 days (mean 8.0 ± 3.3).

Conclusions

Over a 5-week period, influenza A (H1N1)v infection led to ICU admission in 32 adult patients, with frequently observed severe hypoxemia and a relatively high case-fatality rate. Clinicians should be aware of pulmonary complications of influenza A (H1N1)v infection, particularly in pregnant and young obese but previously healthy persons.
Penn's Peaceable Kingdom: Shangri-La Revisited
Authors: Marsh Dawn
Published: September 2009

The history of indigenous Pennsylvania and William Penn's peaceable kingdom is often considered an exception to the standard narrative of violence, dispossession, and conquest in the broader account of colonial North America. The story of Hannah Freeman, a Lenape woman who lived in the Quaker colony, counters that standard narrative, despite the best efforts of regional and state historians to offer Hannah Freeman as an artifact of Penn's benevolent conquest. This essay examines that process of commemoration relative to Freeman's life in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Wif-1 is expressed at cartilage-mesenchyme interfaces and impedes Wnt3a-mediated inhibition of chondrogenesis
Authors: Surmann-Schmitt Cordula , Widmann Nathalie , Dietz Uwe , Saeger Bernhard , Eitzinger Nicole , Nakamura Yukio , Rattel Marianne , Latham Richard , Hartmann Christine , von der Mark Helga , Schett Georg , von der Mark Klaus , Stock Michael
Published: September 2009

Wnt factors are involved in the regulation of all steps of cartilage development. The activity of Wnt factors is generally regulated at the extracellular level by factors like the Dkk family, sFRPs, Cerberus and Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (Wif-1). Here we report that Wif-1 is highly expressed at cartilage-mesenchyme interfaces of the early developing skeleton. In fetal and postnatal skeletal development, Wif-1 is expressed in a sharply restricted zone in the upper hyaline layer of epiphyseal and articular cartilage and in trabecular bone. Coimmunoprecipitation and pull-down assays using recombinant Wif-1 and Wnt factors show specific binding of Wif-1 to Wnt3a, Wnt4, Wnt5a, Wnt7a, Wnt9a and Wnt11. Moreover, Wif-1 was able to block Wnt3a-mediated activation of the canonical Wnt signalling pathway. Consequently, Wif-1 impaired growth of mesenchymal precursor cells and neutralised Wnt3a-mediated inhibition of chondrogenesis in micromass cultures of embryonic chick limb-bud cells. These results identify Wif-1 as a novel extracellular Wnt modulator in cartilage biology.
Procentriole elongation and recruitment of pericentriolar material are downregulated in cyst cells as they enter quiescence
Authors: Riparbelli Maria Giovanna , Colozza Gabriele , Callaini Giuliano
Published: September 2009

The apical region of the Drosophila testis contains a niche with two stem cell populations: germline stem cells (GSCs) and cyst progenitor cells (CPCs). Asymmetrical division of these stem cells leads to gonioblast daughters (which undergo further mitoses) and cyst cell daughters (which withdraw from the cell cycle and become quiescent). Although a considerable body of evidence indicates important roles for centrosomes in spindle orientation and asymmetrical division of GSCs, the behaviour and function of the centrioles in CPCs and their daughters remain unknown. Here, we show that quiescent cyst cells lose centrosome components after two divisions of the spermatogonia they envelop, but keep the centriolar component SAS-6. Cyst cells do have centriole pairs, but they are formed by a mother and a very short daughter that does not elongate or mature. The presence of procentrioles in quiescent cyst cells suggests that the centriole duplication cycle is uncoupled from the G1-S transition and that it might begin even earlier, in mitosis. Failure to enter the cell cycle might result in the improper recruitment of centriolar components at the mother centriole, thus hampering the full elongation of its daughter. Procentriole maturation defects could thus lead to the inability to maintain centrosomal components during development.
Supporting Negotiations over Influence Diagrams
Authors: Rios Jesus , Insua David Rios
Published: September 2009

We deal with issues concerning negotiation support for group decisions over influence diagrams, when the group members disagree about utility and probability assessments. We base our discussion on a modification of the balanced increment solution, which guarantees a final negotiated Pareto optimal alternative. As in standard decision analysis textbooks, we deal first with negotiation tables, then with negotiation trees, and finally with negotiation influence diagrams. We show through an example that a naive application of the balanced increment method at each joint decision node in a dynamic decision-making problem, and, more generally, of any standard negotiation approach guaranteeing Pareto optimality, may lead to an inferior solution. Therefore, our strategy proposes computing first the set of nondominated alternatives followed by negotiating over that set.
From the Editor…
Authors: Keller L. Robin
Published: September 2009

Our first two articles address resource allocation, across risky projects and across budget allocations over time. First, Philip Bromiley demonstrates numerically that the interaction between cumulative prospect theory parameters rules out the ability to make simple general predictions of resource allocation choices in “A Prospect Theory Model of Resource Allocation.” Our second article, by Pekka Mild and Ahti Salo, on “Combining a Multiattribute Value Function with an Optimization Model: An Application to Dynamic Resource Allocation for Infrastructure Maintenance,” reports a generic model for allocating maintenance budgets over time that was originally developed for the Finnish Road Administration. Our third article, by Jesus Rios and David Rios Insua, develops a method for “Supporting Negotiations over Influence Diagrams,” for when there is disagreement about utilities and probabilities. Fourth, Ben Ewing and Erin Baker present their work on the “Development of a Green Building Decision Support Tool: A Collaborative Process.” In our final article, “On the Decision to Take a Pitch,” J. Eric Bickel analyzes a common decision in baseball, contributing to the area of sports decision analysis.
Career mobility at the intersection between agent and structure: A conceptual model
Authors: Forrier Anneleen , Sels Luc , Stynen Dave
Published: September 2009

The main aim of this paper is to extend the suitability of the concepts of the boundaryless and the protean career for the study of career mobility. To do so, we introduce a conceptual model that maps out the main factors determining and constraining transitions in careers. This model shows marks of European thinking on careers. It not only builds on aspects of both the boundaryless and protean career concepts, but also extends the focus by paying attention to the interplay between agency and structure. It adds to our understanding of the complex interplay between individual and structural factors shaping individuals' careers. An additional added value of the model is that it is built on insights from diverse research streams, including self‐determination theory and turnover literature. The article concludes with a discussion of the main contributions of the model and directions for future research.
The Behavior of Intermetallic Precipitates in Highly Irradiated BWR LTP Cladding
Authors: Goll W , Ray L
Published: September 2009

Advanced Zry-2 cladding materials exhibiting good corrosion behavior are a prerequisite for extending BWR operation towards high burnup. To assess the burnup potential of Zry-2, the behavior of the intermetallic second-phase precipitates was analyzed as a function of fluence and compared with the in-reactor corrosion behavior. Various Zry-2 cladding samples with particle densities between 3 and 13 mm-2 with an average particle diameter of 50 to 80 nm and irradiation times of up to 2400 EFPD, equivalent to neutron fluences of up to 1 ∙ 1022 cm-2 (En > 1 MeV), were analyzed by TEM/SEM. The measurements showed a significant decrease in the particle density within the first cycle of irradiation followed by a slow decrease up to high fluences. At the highest fluences, the precipitate structure underwent deterioration combined with a markedly reduced number density. However, about 1 to 2% new precipitates of the Zr3Fe-type were formed during irradiation.

Metallographic examinations of BWR fuel rods showed both nodular and uniform corrosion. Up to a local burnup of 65 MWd/kgU no change of the corrosion kinetics and no acceleration of corrosion was found.
The Role of Lithium and Boron on the Corrosion of Zircaloy-4 Under Demanding PWR-Type Conditions
Authors: Billot P , Yagnik S , Ramasubramanian N , Peybernes J , Pêcheur D
Published: September 2009

We report here the investigations on the corrosion of Zircaloy-4 cladding in out-of-pile and in-pile loops. Tests were conducted on the cladding in the fresh, preoxidized, and preirradiated conditions. The exposures were in low and high lithium coolant, with and without boron, and under single-phase and two-phase heat transfer conditions.

In the out-of-pile loop tests, under single-phase heat transfer condition, acceleration was observed when lithium was at 70 ppm and higher. Boron abated the lithium effect. Under two-phase heat transfer conditions, increased corrosion was seen with 10 ppm lithium and 100 W/cm2 only at void fractions >30%. Boron, even at 100 ppm, had an ameliorating effect. In the n-pile tests, with 4 and 10 ppm Li and 1000 ppm B for a total exposure of 240d, the exit void fraction was low (∼5%), compared to the out-of-pile tests (34%). The prefilmed oxide thickness varied from 5 to 50 μm, compared to 5 μm in the out-of-pile tests. However, an enhanced corrosion due to lithium was not observed.

Thin pretransition films, grown at locations corresponding to a zero void fraction, showed hundreds of ppm lithium in the case of oxides grown in high lithium coolant and tens of ppm lithium in the case of oxides grown in low lithium coolant. Addition of boron to the high lithium coolant reduced the lithium pickup by nearly an order of magnitude. In the case of thick post-transition oxides, the lithium depth profiles showed marked differences for films grown under single-phase (with high lithium in the coolant) and two-phase (with low lithium in the coolant) heat transfer conditions. In the former case, the lithium concentration was highand the profiles were flat. In the latter case, the lithium concentration was high only in the near surface layers and was one to two orders of magnitude less in the bulk of the oxide. It appears that lithium became concentrated in the liquid layer on the surface of the cladding, under conditions of boiling and high void fraction (>30%), and resulted in rapid corrosion; subsequently, further corrosion had occurred in steam containing volatilized lithium hydroxide.

While some uncertainties regarding the lithium effect in-reactor remain from a mechanistic point of view, we have concluded that a lithium effect increasing rapidly the corrosion rate even towards the end of a fuel cycle, when the boron level is expected to be low, is highly unlikely. The heat flux and the void fraction, even under nucleate boiling conditions, would be quite low. In addition, with the lithium at 2 ppm and still some boron left in the coolant, the thermal hydraulics-water chemistry combination is far removed from the conditions of 10 ppm lithium, 100 W/cm2, and >30% void fraction required to bring about an enhanced corrosion in ∼26d.
Role of Microchemistry and Microstructure on Variability in Corrosion and Deuterium Uptake of Zr-2.5Nb Pressure Tube Material
Authors: Warr BD , Perovic V , Lin YP , Wallace AC
Published: September 2009

Understanding the reasons for variability in D uptake in Canadian Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor Zr-2.5Nb pressure tubes (PT)s will lead to improved surveillance and predictive strategies. Results from out-reactor aqueous exposures that suggest PT performance should be predictable based on offcut characteristics and may lead to the development of techniques to identify PTs with highest D uptake rates. The range of out-reactor corrosion and D uptake rates in Zr-2.5Nb coupons from different PT offcuts is similar to that found in test/power reactors. Out-reactor post-transition corrosion and D uptake rates at 310 and 360°C are found to be strongly correlated and decrease with increasing concentrations of Fe and Cr in the alloy. In the Bruce 3 reactor, PTs with higher D uptake show ‘curly’ α-β microstructures with a large number of basal planes (in the α-Zr grains), and β-Zr grains, oriented towards the radial direction of the tube. Since oxidized β-Zr regions are found to be associated with lateral cracking, the presence of a higher frequency of β-Zr grains aligned normal to the surface in these curly microstructures may result in increased routes for D uptake in this material. Oxide structure is also found to be dependent on the α-Zr orientation that results in different relative proportions of [001] growth versus general columnar oxide grains. Improved corrosion and D uptake performance is also found in Zr-2.5Nb material that is prefilmed (400°C for ≥24 h), β-quenched in the billet stage and in material from the back of the extrusion.