Angiopoietin‐like 4 promotes angiogenesis in the tendon and is increased in cyclically loaded tendon fibroblasts

PubMed Central

Mousavizadeh, Rouhollah; Scott, Alex; Lu, Alex; Ardekani, Gholamreza S; Behzad, Hayedeh; Lundgreen, Kirsten; Ghaffari, Mazyar; McCormack, Robert G

2016-01-01

Key points Angiopoietin‐like 4 (ANGPTL4) modulates tendon neovascularization.Cyclic loading stimulates the activity of transforming growth factor‐β and hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α and thereby increases the expression and release of ANGPTL4 from human tendon cells.Targeting ANGPTL4 and its regulatory pathways is a potential avenue for regulating tendon vascularization to improve tendon healing or adaptation. Abstract The mechanisms that regulate angiogenic activity in injured or mechanically loaded tendons are poorly understood. The present study examined the potential role of angiopoietin‐like 4 (ANGPTL4) in the angiogenic response of tendons subjected to repetitive mechanical loading or injury. Cyclic stretching of human tendon fibroblasts stimulated the expression and release of ANGPTL4 protein via transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) and hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) signalling, and the released ANGPTL4 was pro‐angiogenic. Angiogenic activity was increased following ANGPTL4 injection into mouse patellar tendons, whereas the patellar tendons of ANGPTL4 knockout mice displayed reduced angiogenesis following injury. In human rotator cuff tendons, the expression of ANGPTL4 was correlated with the density of tendon endothelial cells. To our knowledge, this is the first study characterizing a role of ANGPTL4 in the tendon. ANGPTL4 may assist in the regulation of vascularity in the injured or mechanically loaded tendon. TGF‐β and HIF‐1α comprise two signalling pathways that modulate the expression of ANGPTL4 by mechanically stimulated tendon fibroblasts and, in the future, these could be manipulated to influence tendon healing or adaptation. PMID:26670924

P53 Protein Expression in Dental Follicle, Dentigerous Cyst, Odontogenic Keratocyst, and Inflammatory Subtypes of Cysts: An Immunohistochemical Study

PubMed Central

Fatemeh, Mashhadiabbas; Sepideh, Arab; Sara, Bagheri Seyedeh; Nazanin, Mahdavi

2017-01-01

Objectives An odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a developmental odontogenic cyst with aggressive clinical behavior. This cyst shows a different growth mechanism from the more common dentigerous cyst and now has been renamed as a keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT). Inflammation can assist tumor growth via different mechanisms including dysregulation of the p53 gene. This study aims to assess and compare the expression of tumor suppressor gene p53 in inflamed and non-inflamed types of OKC and dentigerous cyst. Methods Immunohistochemical expression of p53 was assessed in 14 cases of dental follicle, 34 cases of OKC (including 18 inflamed OKCs), and 31 cases of dentigerous cyst (including 16 inflamed cysts). Results The mean percentage of p53 positive cells was 0.7% in dental follicles, 5.4% in non-inflamed OKCs, 17.3% in inflamed OKCs, 1.2% in non-inflamed dentigerous cysts, and 2.2% in inflamed dentigerous cysts. The differences between the groups were statistically significant (p < 0.050) except for the difference between inflamed and non-inflamed dentigerous cysts, and between dental follicle and non-inflamed dentigerous cyst. Conclusions The difference in p53 expression in OKC and dentigerous cyst can explain their different growth mechanism and clinical behavior. Inflammation is responsible for the change in behavior of neoplastic epithelium of OKC via p53 overexpression. PMID:28584604

P53 Protein Expression in Dental Follicle, Dentigerous Cyst, Odontogenic Keratocyst, and Inflammatory Subtypes of Cysts: An Immunohistochemical Study.

PubMed

Fatemeh, Mashhadiabbas; Sepideh, Arab; Sara, Bagheri Seyedeh; Nazanin, Mahdavi

2017-05-01

An odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a developmental odontogenic cyst with aggressive clinical behavior. This cyst shows a different growth mechanism from the more common dentigerous cyst and now has been renamed as a keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT). Inflammation can assist tumor growth via different mechanisms including dysregulation of the p53 gene. This study aims to assess and compare the expression of tumor suppressor gene p53 in inflamed and non-inflamed types of OKC and dentigerous cyst. Immunohistochemical expression of p53 was assessed in 14 cases of dental follicle, 34 cases of OKC (including 18 inflamed OKCs), and 31 cases of dentigerous cyst (including 16 inflamed cysts). The mean percentage of p53 positive cells was 0.7% in dental follicles, 5.4% in non-inflamed OKCs, 17.3% in inflamed OKCs, 1.2% in non-inflamed dentigerous cysts, and 2.2% in inflamed dentigerous cysts. The differences between the groups were statistically significant ( p < 0.050) except for the difference between inflamed and non-inflamed dentigerous cysts, and between dental follicle and non-inflamed dentigerous cyst. The difference in p53 expression in OKC and dentigerous cyst can explain their different growth mechanism and clinical behavior. Inflammation is responsible for the change in behavior of neoplastic epithelium of OKC via p53 overexpression.

Childhood outcomes of assisted reproductive technology.

PubMed

Savage, Tim; Peek, John; Hofman, Paul L; Cutfield, Wayne S

2011-09-01

There is a large population of children conceived via assisted reproductive technology (ART), which continues to increase worldwide, without a clear understanding of associated long-term outcomes. ART children are more likely to be the result of multiple pregnancies, and thus to be born prematurely or low birthweight. There is growing evidence that ART children are phenotypically and biochemically different from naturally conceived children, but the mechanism(s) leading to these changes have not been elucidated. There is a possible increased risk of rare imprinted gene disorders in these children. However, it remains unclear whether more subtle changes in DNA methylation occur commonly, leading to differences in gene expression and phenotype in ART children. Although an increased risk of cancer among ART children has been reported, the role of ART in the development of cancer has not been demonstrated. Further research and ongoing surveillance of ART children is essential to better understand the possible effects of ART on the long-term health of this population.

Angiopoietin-like 4 promotes angiogenesis in the tendon and is increased in cyclically loaded tendon fibroblasts.

PubMed

Mousavizadeh, Rouhollah; Scott, Alex; Lu, Alex; Ardekani, Gholamreza S; Behzad, Hayedeh; Lundgreen, Kirsten; Ghaffari, Mazyar; McCormack, Robert G; Duronio, Vincent

2016-06-01

Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) modulates tendon neovascularization. Cyclic loading stimulates the activity of transforming growth factor-β and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and thereby increases the expression and release of ANGPTL4 from human tendon cells. Targeting ANGPTL4 and its regulatory pathways is a potential avenue for regulating tendon vascularization to improve tendon healing or adaptation. The mechanisms that regulate angiogenic activity in injured or mechanically loaded tendons are poorly understood. The present study examined the potential role of angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) in the angiogenic response of tendons subjected to repetitive mechanical loading or injury. Cyclic stretching of human tendon fibroblasts stimulated the expression and release of ANGPTL4 protein via transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) signalling, and the released ANGPTL4 was pro-angiogenic. Angiogenic activity was increased following ANGPTL4 injection into mouse patellar tendons, whereas the patellar tendons of ANGPTL4 knockout mice displayed reduced angiogenesis following injury. In human rotator cuff tendons, the expression of ANGPTL4 was correlated with the density of tendon endothelial cells. To our knowledge, this is the first study characterizing a role of ANGPTL4 in the tendon. ANGPTL4 may assist in the regulation of vascularity in the injured or mechanically loaded tendon. TGF-β and HIF-1α comprise two signalling pathways that modulate the expression of ANGPTL4 by mechanically stimulated tendon fibroblasts and, in the future, these could be manipulated to influence tendon healing or adaptation. © 2015 The Authors. The Journal of Physiology © 2015 The Physiological Society.

[Adrenal protein expressions after Pinggan Qianyang Formula treatment in hypertensive rats with liver-yang hyperactivity: a comparative proteomic analysis].

PubMed

Zhang, Ying; Chen, Ze-qi; Zhong, Guang-wei

2008-07-01

To explore the pathogenic mechanism of liver-yang hyperactivity type of hypertension and to observe the effects of Pinggan Qianyang Formula (PGQYF), a compound of traditional Chinese herbals for calming the liver and suppressing yang, so as to provide experimental evidence for new marker proteins of drug therapy. A rat model of liver-yang hyperactivity was prepared with spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) by administration of Aconiti Praeparatae Decoction. Adrenal proteins were separated by 2D gel electrophoresis (2-DE). The differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and database analysis. The rat model of liver-yang hyperactivity was successfully reproduced, and the PGQYF could decrease the grades of irritability, conjunctival congestion and systolic blood pressure of the rats (P<0.05, P<0.01). After analysis, twelve obviously differentially expressed proteins were found, eight of which were identified. The expression levels of isocitrate dehydrogenase and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in the untreated group were up-regulated as compared with those in the normal control group, and down-regulated in the treatment group. The expression levels of ferritin light chain, elongation factor Tu, Rho GDP disassociation inhibitor 1, flavin reductase and basic transcription factor 3 in the untreated group were down-regulated as compared with those in the normal control group, and up-regulated in the treatment group. Differentially expressed adrenal proteins in SHRs with live-yang hyperactivity are successfully identified. This approach may lay a foundation for the further investigation of pathogenic mechanisms in hypertension with liver-yang hyperactivity and the mechanisms of PGQYF treatment.

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Are memory reconsolidation and fear extinction underlying mechanisms?

PubMed

Feduccia, Allison A; Mithoefer, Michael C

2018-06-08

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of PTSD has recently progressed to Phase 3 clinical trials and received Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA. MDMA used as an adjunct during psychotherapy sessions has demonstrated effectiveness and acceptable safety in reducing PTSD symptoms in Phase 2 trials, with durable remission of PTSD diagnosis in 68% of participants. The underlying psychological and neurological mechanisms for the robust effects in mitigating PTSD are being investigated in animal models and in studies of healthy volunteers. This review explores the potential role of memory reconsolidation and fear extinction during MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. MDMA enhances release of monoamines (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine), hormones (oxytocin, cortisol), and other downstream signaling molecules (BDNF) to dynamically modulate emotional memory circuits. By reducing activation in brain regions implicated in the expression of fear- and anxiety-related behaviors, namely the amygdala and insula, and increasing connectivity between the amygdala and hippocampus, MDMA may allow for reprocessing of traumatic memories and emotional engagement with therapeutic processes. Based on the pharmacology of MDMA and the available translational literature of memory reconsolidation, fear learning, and PTSD, this review suggests a neurobiological rationale to explain, at least in part, the large effect sizes demonstrated for MDMA in treating PTSD. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Osteopontin and male reproduction].

PubMed

Liu, Qian; Xie, Qing-Zhen

2012-05-01

Osteopontin (OPN) is an extracellular matrix protein with multifunctions, expressed in various tissues and body fluids, involved in various physiological and pathological processes. It is also detected in the reproductive tract of both males and females, and participates in the implantation, development and differentiation of embryos. Recent studies have indicated that OPN is closely related with male fertility and may affect sperm quality and fertilization. An insight into the functions of OPN may help to explain the mechanisms of male infertility and improve the success rate of assisted reproductive technology.

The Use of rLH, HMG and hCG in Controlled Ovarian Stimulation for Assisted Reproductive Technologies

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-11-21

express CYP17, the gene encoding for the critical enzyme in the conversion of progesterone and pregnenalone to androgens (3). Conversely, granulosa...2. Potential mechanisms of exogenous LH benefit in ART There are theoretical benefits of the use of exogenous LH for the oocyte and the endometrium...folliculogenesis when administered with FSH (85). rLH has potential advantages over the LH activity in hMG in that there is less risk of protein contamination and

Development of a Wearable Assist Robot for Walk Rehabilitation After Knee Arthroplasty Surgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terada, H.; Zhu, Y.; Horiguchi, K.; Nakamura, M.; Takahashi, R.

In Japan, it is popular that the disease knee joints will be replaced to artificial joints by surgery. And we have to assist so many patients for walk rehabilitation. So, the wearable assist robot has been developed. This robot includes the knee motion assist mechanism and the hip joint support mechanism. Especially, the knee motion assist mechanism consists of a non-circular gear and grooved cams. This mechanism rotates and slides simultaneously, which has two degree-of-freedom. Also, the hip joint support mechanism consists of a hip brace and a ball-joint. This mechanism can avoid motion constraints which are the internal or external rotation and the adduction or abduction. Then, the control algorithm, which considers an assisting timing for the walk rehabilitation, has been proposed. A sensing system of a walk state for this control system uses a heel contacts sensor and knee and hip joint rotation angle sensors. Also, the prototype robot has been tested. And it is confirmed that the assisting system is useful.

Regulation of Neurovascular Coupling in Autoimmunity to Water and Ion Channels

PubMed Central

Jukkola, Peter; Gu, Chen

2014-01-01

Much progress has been made in understanding autoimmune channelopathies, but the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are not always clear due to broad expression of some channel proteins. Recent studies show that autoimmune conditions that interfere with neurovascular coupling in the central nervous system (CNS) can lead to neurodegeneration. Cerebral blood flow that meets neuronal activity and metabolic demand is tightly regulated by local neural activity. This process of reciprocal regulation involves coordinated actions of a number of cell types, including neurons, glia, and vascular cells. In particular, astrocytic endfeet cover more than 90% of brain capillaries to assist blood-brain barrier (BBB) function, and wrap around synapses and nodes of Ranvier to communicate with neuronal activity. In this review, we highlight four types of channel proteins that are expressed in astrocytes, regarding their structures, biophysical properties, expression and distribution patterns, and related diseases including autoimmune disorders. Water channel aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and inwardly-rectifying potassium (Kir4.1) channels are concentrated in astrocytic endfeet, whereas some voltage-gated Ca2+ and two-pore-domain K+ channels are expressed throughout the cell body of reactive astrocytes. More channel proteins are found in astrocytes under normal and abnormal conditions. This research field will contribute to a better understanding of pathogenic mechanisms underlying autoimmune disorders. PMID:25462580

Study on chemical mechanical polishing of silicon wafer with megasonic vibration assisted.

PubMed

Zhai, Ke; He, Qing; Li, Liang; Ren, Yi

2017-09-01

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is the primary method to realize the global planarization of silicon wafer. In order to improve this process, a novel method which combined megasonic vibration to assist chemical mechanical polishing (MA-CMP) is developed in this paper. A matching layer structure of polishing head was calculated and designed. Silicon wafers are polished by megasonic assisted chemical mechanical polishing and traditional chemical mechanical polishing respectively, both coarse polishing and precision polishing experiments were carried out. With the use of megasonic vibration, the surface roughness values Ra reduced from 22.260nm to 17.835nm in coarse polishing, and the material removal rate increased by approximately 15-25% for megasonic assisted chemical mechanical polishing relative to traditional chemical mechanical polishing. Average Surface roughness values Ra reduced from 0.509nm to 0.387nm in precision polishing. The results show that megasonic assisted chemical mechanical polishing is a feasible method to improve polishing efficiency and surface quality. The material removal and finishing mechanisms of megasonic vibration assisted polishing are investigated too. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Exploring the Outcomes of a Novel Computer-Assisted Treatment Program Targeting Expressive-Grammar Deficits in Preschoolers with SLI

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Washington, Karla N.; Warr-Leeper, Genese; Thomas-Stonell, Nancy

2011-01-01

Purpose: The impact of a newly designed computer-assisted treatment ("C-AT") program, "My Sentence Builder", for the remediation of expressive-grammar deficits in children with specific language impairment (SLI) was explored. This program was specifically designed with features to directly address expressive-grammar difficulties, thought to be…

Symbiont-induced odorant binding proteins mediate insect host hematopoiesis

PubMed Central

Benoit, Joshua B; Vigneron, Aurélien; Broderick, Nichole A; Wu, Yineng; Sun, Jennifer S; Carlson, John R; Aksoy, Serap; Weiss, Brian L

2017-01-01

Symbiotic bacteria assist in maintaining homeostasis of the animal immune system. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie symbiont-mediated host immunity are largely unknown. Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) house maternally transmitted symbionts that regulate the development and function of their host’s immune system. Herein we demonstrate that the obligate mutualist, Wigglesworthia, up-regulates expression of odorant binding protein six in the gut of intrauterine tsetse larvae. This process is necessary and sufficient to induce systemic expression of the hematopoietic RUNX transcription factor lozenge and the subsequent production of crystal cells, which actuate the melanotic immune response in adult tsetse. Larval Drosophila’s indigenous microbiota, which is acquired from the environment, regulates an orthologous hematopoietic pathway in their host. These findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie enteric symbiont-stimulated systemic immune system development, and indicate that these processes are evolutionarily conserved despite the divergent nature of host-symbiont interactions in these model systems. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.19535.001 PMID:28079523

Steady-state mechanical squeezing and ground-state cooling of a Duffing anharmonic oscillator in an optomechanical cavity assisted by a nonlinear medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Momeni, F.; Naderi, M. H.

2018-05-01

In this paper, we study theoretically a hybrid optomechanical system consisting of a degenerate optical parametric amplifier inside a driven optical cavity with a moving end mirror which is modeled as a stiffening Duffing-like anharmonic quantum mechanical oscillator. By providing analytical expressions for the critical values of the system parameters corresponding to the emergence of the multistability behavior in the steady-state response of the system, we show that the stiffening mechanical Duffing anharmonicity reduces the width of the multistability region while the optical parametric nonlinearity can be exploited to drive the system toward the multistability region. We also show that for appropriate values of the mechanical anharmonicity strength the steady-state mechanical squeezing and the ground-state cooling of the mechanical resonator can be achieved. Moreover, we find that the presence of the nonlinear gain medium can lead to the improvement of the mechanical anharmonicity-induced cooling of the mechanical motion, as well as to the mechanical squeezing beyond the standard quantum limit of 3 dB.

The role of saliva in tick feeding.

PubMed

Francischetti, Ivo M B; Sa-Nunes, Anderson; Mans, Ben J; Santos, Isabel M; Ribeiro, Jose M C

2009-01-01

When attempting to feed on their hosts, ticks face the problem of host hemostasis (the vertebrate mechanisms that prevent blood loss), inflammation (that can produce itching or pain and thus initiate defensive behavior on their hosts) and adaptive immunity (by way of both cellular and humoral responses). Against these barriers, ticks evolved a complex and sophisticated pharmacological armamentarium, consisting of bioactive lipids and proteins, to assist blood feeding. Recent progress in transcriptome research has uncovered that hard ticks have hundreds of different proteins expressed in their salivary glands, the majority of which have no known function, and include many novel protein families (e.g., their primary structure is unique to ticks). This review will address the vertebrate mechanisms of these barriers as a guide to identify the possible targets of these large numbers of known salivary proteins with unknown function. We additionally provide a supplemental Table that catalogues over 3,500 putative salivary proteins from various tick species, which might assist the scientific community in the process of functional identification of these unique proteins. This supplemental file is accessble fromhttp://exon.niaid.nih.gov/transcriptome/tick_review/Sup-Table-1.xls.gz.

Emergence of antibiotic-resistant extremophiles (AREs).

PubMed

Gabani, Prashant; Prakash, Dhan; Singh, Om V

2012-09-01

Excessive use of antibiotics in recent years has produced bacteria that are resistant to a wide array of antibiotics. Several genetic and non-genetic elements allow microorganisms to adapt and thrive under harsh environmental conditions such as lethal doses of antibiotics. We attempt to classify these microorganisms as antibiotic-resistant extremophiles (AREs). AREs develop strategies to gain greater resistance to antibiotics via accumulation of multiple genes or plasmids that harbor genes for multiple drug resistance (MDR). In addition to their altered expression of multiple genes, AREs also survive by producing enzymes such as penicillinase that inactivate antibiotics. It is of interest to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms by which the AREs are able to survive in the presence of wide arrays of high-dosage antibiotics. Technologically, "omics"-based approaches such as genomics have revealed a wide array of genes differentially expressed in AREs. Proteomics studies with 2DE, MALDI-TOF, and MS/MS have identified specific proteins, enzymes, and pumps that function in the adaptation mechanisms of AREs. This article discusses the molecular mechanisms by which microorganisms develop into AREs and how "omics" approaches can identify the genetic elements of these adaptation mechanisms. These objectives will assist the development of strategies and potential therapeutics to treat outbreaks of pathogenic microorganisms in the future.

Deep RNA sequencing reveals dynamic regulation of myocardial noncoding RNAs in failing human heart and remodeling with mechanical circulatory support.

PubMed

Yang, Kai-Chien; Yamada, Kathryn A; Patel, Akshar Y; Topkara, Veli K; George, Isaac; Cheema, Faisal H; Ewald, Gregory A; Mann, Douglas L; Nerbonne, Jeanne M

2014-03-04

Microarrays have been used extensively to profile transcriptome remodeling in failing human heart, although the genomic coverage provided is limited and fails to provide a detailed picture of the myocardial transcriptome landscape. Here, we describe sequencing-based transcriptome profiling, providing comprehensive analysis of myocardial mRNA, microRNA (miRNA), and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression in failing human heart before and after mechanical support with a left ventricular (LV) assist device (LVAD). Deep sequencing of RNA isolated from paired nonischemic (NICM; n=8) and ischemic (ICM; n=8) human failing LV samples collected before and after LVAD and from nonfailing human LV (n=8) was conducted. These analyses revealed high abundance of mRNA (37%) and lncRNA (71%) of mitochondrial origin. miRNASeq revealed 160 and 147 differentially expressed miRNAs in ICM and NICM, respectively, compared with nonfailing LV. Among these, only 2 (ICM) and 5 (NICM) miRNAs are normalized with LVAD. RNASeq detected 18 480, including 113 novel, lncRNAs in human LV. Among the 679 (ICM) and 570 (NICM) lncRNAs differentially expressed with heart failure, ≈10% are improved or normalized with LVAD. In addition, the expression signature of lncRNAs, but not miRNAs or mRNAs, distinguishes ICM from NICM. Further analysis suggests that cis-gene regulation represents a major mechanism of action of human cardiac lncRNAs. The myocardial transcriptome is dynamically regulated in advanced heart failure and after LVAD support. The expression profiles of lncRNAs, but not mRNAs or miRNAs, can discriminate failing hearts of different pathologies and are markedly altered in response to LVAD support. These results suggest an important role for lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of heart failure and in reverse remodeling observed with mechanical support.

IDEA. VOCES: A Mnemonic Device to Cue Mood Selection after Impersonal Expressions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chandler, Paul Michael

1996-01-01

Providing language learners with mnemonic devices assists retention and recall of vocabulary and structural items. This idea provides one such memory device to assist beginning and intermediate students who struggle with mood selection after impersonal expressions. (five references) (Author)

Glioblastoma progression is assisted by induction of immunosuppressive function of pericytes through interaction with tumor cells

PubMed Central

Valdor, Rut; García-Bernal, David; Bueno, Carlos; Ródenas, Mónica; Moraleda, José M.; Macian, Fernando; Martínez, Salvador

2017-01-01

The establishment of immune tolerance during Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) progression, is characterized by high levels expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, which suppress the function of tumor assocciated myeloid cells, and the activation and expansion of tumor antigen specific T cells. However, the mechanisms underlying the failed anti-tumor immune response around the blood vessels during GBM, are poorly understood. The consequences of possible interactions between cancer cells and the perivascular compartment might affect the tumor growth. In this work we show for the first time that GBM cells induce immunomodulatory changes in pericytes in a cell interaction-dependent manner, acquiring an immunosuppresive function that possibly assists the evasion of the anti-tumor immune response and consequently participates in tumor growth promotion. Expression of high levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines was detected in vitro and in vivo in brain pericytes that interacted with GBM cells (GBC-PC). Furthermore, reduction of surface expression of co-stimulatory molecules and major histocompatibility complex molecules in GBC-PC correlated with a failure of antigen presentation to T cells and the acquisition of the ability to supress T cell responses. In vivo, orthotopic xenotransplant of human glioblastoma in an immunocompetent mouse model showed significant GBM cell proliferation and tumor growth after the establishment of interspecific immunotolerance that followed GMB interaction with pericytes. PMID:28978142

46 CFR 11.472 - National officer endorsements as barge supervisor.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

..., toolpusher, assistant tool pusher, mechanic, electrician, crane operator, subsea specialist, ballast control... least 168 days of service as driller, assistant driller, toolpusher, assistant toolpusher, mechanic...

[Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA). A new mode of assisted mechanical ventilation].

PubMed

Moerer, O; Barwing, J; Quintel, M

2008-10-01

The aim of mechanical ventilation is to assure gas exchange while efficiently unloading the respiratory muscles and mechanical ventilation is an integral part of the care of patients with acute respiratory failure. Modern lung protective strategies of mechanical ventilation include low-tidal-volume ventilation and the continuation of spontaneous breathing which has been shown to be beneficial in reducing atelectasis and improving oxygenation. Poor patient-ventilator interaction is a major issue during conventional assisted ventilation. Neurally adjusted ventilator assist (NAVA) is a new mode of mechanical ventilation that uses the electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) to control the ventilator. First experimental studies showed an improved patient-ventilator synchrony and an efficient unloading of the respiratory muscles. Future clinical studies will have to show that NAVA is of clinical advantage when compared to conventional modes of assisted mechanical ventilation. This review characterizes NAVA according to current publications on this topic.

Differential expression profile of membrane proteins in L-02 cells exposed to trichloroethylene.

PubMed

Hong, Wen-Xu; Huang, Aibo; Lin, Sheng; Yang, Xifei; Yang, Linqing; Zhou, Li; Huang, Haiyan; Wu, Desheng; Huang, Xinfeng; Xu, Hua; Liu, Jianjun

2016-10-01

Trichloroethylene (TCE), a halogenated organic solvent widely used in industries, is known to cause severe hepatotoxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying TCE hepatotoxicity are still not well understood. It is predicted that membrane proteins are responsible for key biological functions, and recent studies have revealed that TCE exposure can induce abnormal levels of membrane proteins in body fluids and cultured cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the TCE-induced alterations of membrane proteins profiles in human hepatic L-02 liver cells. A comparative membrane proteomics analysis was performed in combination with two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 15 proteins were identified as differentially expressed (4 upregulated and 11 downregulated) between TCE-treated cells and normal controls. Among this, 14 of them are suggested as membrane-associated proteins by their transmembrane domain and/or subcellular location. Furthermore, the differential expression of β subunit of adenosine triphosphate synthase (ATP5B) and prolyl 4-hydroxylase, β polypeptide (P4HB) were verified by Western blot analysis in TCE-treated L-02 cells. Our work not only reveals the association between TCE exposure and altered expression of membrane proteins but also provides a novel strategy to discover membrane biomarkers and elucidate the potential mechanisms involving with membrane proteins response to chemical-induced toxic effect. © The Author(s) 2015.

Localizing gene regulation reveals a staggered wood decay mechanism for the brown rot fungus Postia placenta

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jiwei; Presley, Gerald N.; Ryu, Jae-San; Menke, Jon R.; Figueroa, Melania; Orr, Galya; Schilling, Jonathan S.

2016-01-01

Wood-degrading brown rot fungi are essential recyclers of plant biomass in forest ecosystems. Their efficient cellulolytic systems, which have potential biotechnological applications, apparently depend on a combination of two mechanisms: lignocellulose oxidation (LOX) by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and polysaccharide hydrolysis by a limited set of glycoside hydrolases (GHs). Given that ROS are strongly oxidizing and nonselective, these two steps are likely segregated. A common hypothesis has been that brown rot fungi use a concentration gradient of chelated metal ions to confine ROS generation inside wood cell walls before enzymes can infiltrate. We examined an alternative: that LOX components involved in ROS production are differentially expressed by brown rot fungi ahead of GH components. We used spatial mapping to resolve a temporal sequence in Postia placenta, sectioning thin wood wafers colonized directionally. Among sections, we measured gene expression by whole-transcriptome shotgun sequencing (RNA-seq) and assayed relevant enzyme activities. We found a marked pattern of LOX up-regulation in a narrow (5-mm, 48-h) zone at the hyphal front, which included many genes likely involved in ROS generation. Up-regulation of GH5 endoglucanases and many other GHs clearly occurred later, behind the hyphal front, with the notable exceptions of two likely expansins and a GH28 pectinase. Our results support a staggered mechanism for brown rot that is controlled by differential expression rather than microenvironmental gradients. This mechanism likely results in an oxidative pretreatment of lignocellulose, possibly facilitated by expansin- and pectinase-assisted cell wall swelling, before cellulases and hemicellulases are deployed for polysaccharide depolymerization. PMID:27621450

Ventilation distribution measured with EIT at varying levels of pressure support and Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist in patients with ALI.

PubMed

Blankman, Paul; Hasan, Djo; van Mourik, Martijn S; Gommers, Diederik

2013-06-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of varying levels of assist during pressure support (PSV) and Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) on the aeration of the dependent and non-dependent lung regions by means of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). We studied ten mechanically ventilated patients with Acute Lung Injury (ALI). Positive-End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) and PSV levels were both 10 cm H₂O during the initial PSV step. Thereafter, we changed the inspiratory pressure to 15 and 5 cm H₂O during PSV. The electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) during pressure support ten was used to define the initial NAVA gain (100 %). Thereafter, we changed NAVA gain to 150 and 50 %, respectively. After each step the assist level was switched back to PSV 10 cm H₂O or NAVA 100 % to get a new baseline. The EIT registration was performed continuously. Tidal impedance variation significantly decreased during descending PSV levels within patients, whereas not during NAVA. The dorsal-to-ventral impedance distribution, expressed according to the center of gravity index, was lower during PSV compared to NAVA. Ventilation contribution of the dependent lung region was equally in balance with the non-dependent lung region during PSV 5 cm H₂O, NAVA 50 and 100 %. Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist ventilation had a beneficial effect on the ventilation of the dependent lung region and showed less over-assistance compared to PSV in patients with ALI.

The Psychedelic Debriefing in Alcohol Dependence Treatment: Illustrating Key Change Phenomena through Qualitative Content Analysis of Clinical Sessions

PubMed Central

Nielson, Elizabeth M.; May, Darrick G.; Forcehimes, Alyssa A.; Bogenschutz, Michael P.

2018-01-01

Research on the clinical applications of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has demonstrated promising early results for treatment of alcohol dependence. Detailed description of the content and methods of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, as it is conducted in clinical settings, is scarce. Methods: An open-label pilot (proof-of-concept) study of psilocybin-assisted treatment of alcohol dependence (NCT01534494) was conducted to generate data for a phase 2 RCT (NCT02061293) of a similar treatment in a larger population. The present paper presents a qualitative content analysis of the 17 debriefing sessions conducted in the pilot study, which occurred the day after corresponding psilocybin medication sessions. Results: Participants articulated a series of key phenomena related to change in drinking outcomes and acute subjective effects of psilocybin. Discussion: The data illuminate change processes in patients' own words during clinical sessions, shedding light on potential therapeutic mechanisms of change and how participants express effects of psilocybin. This study is unique in analyzing actual clinical sessions, as opposed to interviews of patients conducted separately from treatment. PMID:29515449

Spleen transcriptome response to infection with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in broiler chickens

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is detrimental to poultry health and its zoonotic potential is a food safety concern. Regulation of antimicrobials in food-production animals has put greater focus on enhancing host resistance to bacterial infections through genetics. To better define effective mechanism of host resistance, global gene expression in the spleen of chickens, harvested at two times post-infection (PI) with APEC, was measured using microarray technology, in a design that will enable investigation of effects of vaccination, challenge, and pathology level. Results There were 1,101 genes significantly differentially expressed between severely infected and non-infected groups on day 1 PI and 1,723 on day 5 PI. Very little difference was seen between mildly infected and non-infected groups on either time point. Between birds exhibiting mild and severe pathology, there were 2 significantly differentially expressed genes on day 1 PI and 799 on day 5 PI. Groups with greater pathology had more genes with increased expression than decreased expression levels. Several predominate immune pathways, Toll-like receptor, Jak-STAT, and cytokine signaling, were represented between challenged and non-challenged groups. Vaccination had, surprisingly, no detectible effect on gene expression, although it significantly protected the birds from observable gross lesions. Functional characterization of significantly expressed genes revealed unique gene ontology classifications during each time point, with many unique to a particular treatment or class contrast. Conclusions More severe pathology caused by APEC infection was associated with a high level of gene expression differences and increase in gene expression levels. Many of the significantly differentially expressed genes were unique to a particular treatment, pathology level or time point. The present study not only investigates the transcriptomic regulations of APEC infection, but also the degree of pathology associated with that infection. This study will allow for greater discovery into host mechanisms for disease resistance, providing targets for marker assisted selection and advanced drug development. PMID:21951686

Spleen transcriptome response to infection with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in broiler chickens.

PubMed

Sandford, Erin E; Orr, Megan; Balfanz, Emma; Bowerman, Nate; Li, Xianyao; Zhou, Huaijun; Johnson, Timothy J; Kariyawasam, Subhashinie; Liu, Peng; Nolan, Lisa K; Lamont, Susan J

2011-09-27

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is detrimental to poultry health and its zoonotic potential is a food safety concern. Regulation of antimicrobials in food-production animals has put greater focus on enhancing host resistance to bacterial infections through genetics. To better define effective mechanism of host resistance, global gene expression in the spleen of chickens, harvested at two times post-infection (PI) with APEC, was measured using microarray technology, in a design that will enable investigation of effects of vaccination, challenge, and pathology level. There were 1,101 genes significantly differentially expressed between severely infected and non-infected groups on day 1 PI and 1,723 on day 5 PI. Very little difference was seen between mildly infected and non-infected groups on either time point. Between birds exhibiting mild and severe pathology, there were 2 significantly differentially expressed genes on day 1 PI and 799 on day 5 PI. Groups with greater pathology had more genes with increased expression than decreased expression levels. Several predominate immune pathways, Toll-like receptor, Jak-STAT, and cytokine signaling, were represented between challenged and non-challenged groups. Vaccination had, surprisingly, no detectible effect on gene expression, although it significantly protected the birds from observable gross lesions. Functional characterization of significantly expressed genes revealed unique gene ontology classifications during each time point, with many unique to a particular treatment or class contrast. More severe pathology caused by APEC infection was associated with a high level of gene expression differences and increase in gene expression levels. Many of the significantly differentially expressed genes were unique to a particular treatment, pathology level or time point. The present study not only investigates the transcriptomic regulations of APEC infection, but also the degree of pathology associated with that infection. This study will allow for greater discovery into host mechanisms for disease resistance, providing targets for marker assisted selection and advanced drug development.

Pluripotency, Differentiation, and Reprogramming: A Gene Expression Dynamics Model with Epigenetic Feedback Regulation

PubMed Central

Miyamoto, Tadashi; Furusawa, Chikara; Kaneko, Kunihiko

2015-01-01

Embryonic stem cells exhibit pluripotency: they can differentiate into all types of somatic cells. Pluripotent genes such as Oct4 and Nanog are activated in the pluripotent state, and their expression decreases during cell differentiation. Inversely, expression of differentiation genes such as Gata6 and Gata4 is promoted during differentiation. The gene regulatory network controlling the expression of these genes has been described, and slower-scale epigenetic modifications have been uncovered. Although the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells is normally irreversible, reprogramming of cells can be experimentally manipulated to regain pluripotency via overexpression of certain genes. Despite these experimental advances, the dynamics and mechanisms of differentiation and reprogramming are not yet fully understood. Based on recent experimental findings, we constructed a simple gene regulatory network including pluripotent and differentiation genes, and we demonstrated the existence of pluripotent and differentiated states from the resultant dynamical-systems model. Two differentiation mechanisms, interaction-induced switching from an expression oscillatory state and noise-assisted transition between bistable stationary states, were tested in the model. The former was found to be relevant to the differentiation process. We also introduced variables representing epigenetic modifications, which controlled the threshold for gene expression. By assuming positive feedback between expression levels and the epigenetic variables, we observed differentiation in expression dynamics. Additionally, with numerical reprogramming experiments for differentiated cells, we showed that pluripotency was recovered in cells by imposing overexpression of two pluripotent genes and external factors to control expression of differentiation genes. Interestingly, these factors were consistent with the four Yamanaka factors, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and Myc, which were necessary for the establishment of induced pluripotent stem cells. These results, based on a gene regulatory network and expression dynamics, contribute to our wider understanding of pluripotency, differentiation, and reprogramming of cells, and they provide a fresh viewpoint on robustness and control during development. PMID:26308610

MALDI imaging reveals NCOA7 as a potential biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma arising from oral submucous fibrosis.

PubMed

Xie, Xiaoyan; Jiang, Yuchen; Yuan, Yao; Wang, Peiqi; Li, Xinyi; Chen, Fangman; Sun, Chongkui; Zhao, Hang; Zeng, Xin; Jiang, Lu; Zhou, Yu; Dan, Hongxia; Feng, Mingye; Liu, Rui; Chen, Qianming

2016-09-13

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) ranks among the most common cancer worldwide, and is associated with severe morbidity and high mortality. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), characterized by fibrosis of the mucosa of the upper digestive tract, is a pre-malignant lesion, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this malignant transformation remains to be elucidated. In this study, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS)-based proteomic strategy was employed to profile the differentially expressed peptides/proteins between OSCC tissues and the corresponding adjacent non-cancerous OSF tissues. Sixty-five unique peptide peaks and nine proteins were identified with altered expression levels. Of them, expression of NCOA7 was found to be up-regulated in OSCC tissues by immunohistochemistry staining and western blotting, and correlated with a pan of clinicopathologic parameters, including lesion site, tumor differentiation status and lymph node metastasis. Further, we show that overexpression of NCOA7 promotes OSCC cell proliferation in either in vitro or in vivo models. Mechanistic study demonstrates that NCOA7 induces OSCC cell proliferation probably by activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). The present study suggests that NCOA7 is a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of OSF malignant transformation, and leads to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for OSCC development.

MLH1 expression predicts the response to preoperative therapy and is associated with PD-L1 expression in esophageal cancer.

PubMed

Momose, Kota; Yamasaki, Makoto; Tanaka, Koji; Miyazaki, Yasuhiro; Makino, Tomoki; Takahashi, Tsuyoshi; Kurokawa, Yukinori; Nakajima, Kiyokazu; Takiguchi, Shuji; Mori, Masaki; Doki, Yuichiro

2017-07-01

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibition therapy demonstrates potential as a future treatment for esophageal cancer. Mismatch repair status and tumor PD-L1 expression are the candidate predictive biomarkers for response to this therapy. In colorectal cancer, mismatch repair-deficient tumors are associated with improved survival, although they are not sensitive to 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between MutL homolog 1 (MLH1) expression and prognosis, response to therapy and PD-L1 expression in esophageal cancer. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate MLH1 and PD-L1 expression in 251 resected specimens. Of the specimens, 30.3% exhibited low MLH1 expression and 15.5% exhibited high PD-L1 expression. The 5-year overall survival rates for the high MLH1 expression group and the low MLH1 expression group were 51.3 and 55.6%, respectively (P=0.5260). The responder ratio was 45.7% in the high MLH1 expression group and 15.4% in the low MLH1 expression group (P<0.0001). The frequency of high PD-L1 expression was 11.4% in the high MLH1 expression group (P=0.0064) and 25.0% in the low MLH1 expression group. MLH1 expression may be a predictive factor for the response to preoperative therapy in esophageal cancer, and esophageal cancer with low MLH1 expression may have a mechanism that assists in promoting tumor PD-L1 expression.

Far infrared promotes wound healing through activation of Notch1 signaling.

PubMed

Hsu, Yung-Ho; Lin, Yuan-Feng; Chen, Cheng-Hsien; Chiu, Yu-Jhe; Chiu, Hui-Wen

2017-11-01

The Notch signaling pathway is critically involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, development, and homeostasis. Far infrared (FIR) has an effect that promotes wound healing. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. In the present study, we employed in vivo and HaCaT (a human skin keratinocyte cell line) models to elucidate the role of Notch1 signaling in FIR-promoted wound healing. We found that FIR enhanced keratinocyte migration and proliferation. FIR induced the Notch1 signaling pathway in HaCaT cells and in a microarray dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We next determined the mRNA levels of NOTCH1 in paired normal and wound skin tissues derived from clinical patients using the microarray dataset and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. The result indicated that the Notch1/Twist1 axis plays important roles in wound healing and tissue repair. In addition, inhibiting Notch1 signaling decreased the FIR-enhanced proliferation and migration. In a full-thickness wound model in rats, the wounds healed more rapidly and the scar size was smaller in the FIR group than in the light group. Moreover, FIR could increase Notch1 and Delta1 in skin tissues. The activation of Notch1 signaling may be considered as a possible mechanism for the promoting effect of FIR on wound healing. FIR stimulates keratinocyte migration and proliferation. Notch1 in keratinocytes has an essential role in FIR-induced migration and proliferation. NOTCH1 promotes TWIST1-mediated gene expression to assist wound healing. FIR might promote skin wound healing in a rat model. FIR stimulates keratinocyte migration and proliferation. Notch1 in keratinocytes has an essential role in FIR-induced migration and proliferation. NOTCH1 promotes TWIST1-mediated gene expression to assist wound healing. FIR might promote skin wound healing in a rat model.

Matrix stiffness-upregulated LOXL2 promotes fibronectin production, MMP9 and CXCL12 expression and BMDCs recruitment to assist pre-metastatic niche formation.

PubMed

Wu, Sifan; Zheng, Qiongdan; Xing, Xiaoxia; Dong, Yinying; Wang, Yaohui; You, Yang; Chen, Rongxin; Hu, Chao; Chen, Jie; Gao, Dongmei; Zhao, Yan; Wang, Zhiming; Xue, Tongchun; Ren, Zhenggang; Cui, Jiefeng

2018-05-04

Higher matrix stiffness affects biological behavior of tumor cells, regulates tumor-associated gene/miRNA expression and stemness characteristic, and contributes to tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the linkage between higher matrix stiffness and pre-metastatic niche in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still largely unknown. We comparatively analyzed the expressions of LOX family members in HCC cells grown on different stiffness substrates, and speculated that the secreted LOXL2 may mediate the linkage between higher matrix stiffness and pre-metastatic niche. Subsequently, we investigated the underlying molecular mechanism by which matrix stiffness induced LOXL2 expression in HCC cells, and explored the effects of LOXL2 on pre-metastatic niche formation, such as BMCs recruitment, fibronectin production, MMPs and CXCL12 expression, cell adhesion, etc. RESULTS: Higher matrix stiffness significantly upregulated LOXL2 expression in HCC cells, and activated JNK/c-JUN signaling pathway. Knockdown of integrin β1 and α5 suppressed LOXL2 expression and reversed the activation of above signaling pathway. Additionally, JNK inhibitor attenuated the expressions of p-JNK, p-c-JUN, c-JUN and LOXL2, and shRNA-c-JUN also decreased LOXL2 expression. CM-LV-LOXL2-OE and rhLOXL2 upregulated MMP9 expression and fibronectin production obviously in lung fibroblasts. Moreover, activation of Akt pathway contributed to LOXL2-induced fibronectin upregulation. LOXL2 in CM as chemoattractant increased motility and invasion of BMCs, implicating a significant role of LOXL2 in BMCs recruitment. Except that, CM-LV-LOXL2-OE as chemoattractant also increased the number of migrated HCC cells, and improved chemokine CXCL12 expression in lung fibroblasts. The number of HCC cells adhered to surface of lung fibroblasts treated with CM-LV-LOXL2-OE was remarkably higher than that of the control cells. These results indicated that the secreted LOXL2 facilitated the motility of HCC cells and strengthened CTCs settlement on the remodeled matrix "soil". Integrin β1/α5/JNK/c-JUN signaling pathway participates in higher matrix stiffness-induced LOXL2 upregulation in HCC cells. The secreted LOXL2 promotes fibronectin production, MMP9 and CXCL12 expression and BMDCs recruitment to assist pre-metastatic niche formation.

Proteomics screening of adenosine triphosphate-interacting proteins in the liver of diazinon-treated rats.

PubMed

Pourtaji, A; Robati, R Yazdian; Lari, P; Hosseinzadeh, H; Ramezani, M; Abnous, K

2016-10-01

Diazinon (DZN) is one of the most important organophosphorus compounds used to control pests in agriculture in many countries. Several studies have shown that exposure to DZN may alter protein expression in the liver. In order to further investigate the mechanism of DZN toxicity, differentially expressed ATP-interacting proteins, following subacute exposure to toxin, were separated and identified in rat liver. Male rats were equally divided into four groups: control (corn oil) and DZN (15 mg/kg) by gavage once a day for 4 weeks. After homogenization of liver tissue, lysates were incubated ATP-sepharose beads. After several washes, ATP-interacting proteins were eluted and separated on 2-D polyacrylamide gels. Deferentially expressed proteins were cut and identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization/time-of-flight and Mascot database. Identified proteins were classified according to their biological process using protein analysis through evolutionary relationships (PANTHER) Web site. In this work, we showed that several key proteins involved in biological processes such as antioxidant system, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and metabolism were differentially expressed after subacute exposure to DZN. © The Author(s) 2015.

Mechanical Modulation of Phonon-Assisted Field Emission in a Silicon Nanomembrane Detector for Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

PubMed Central

Park, Jonghoo; Blick, Robert H.

2016-01-01

We demonstrate mechanical modulation of phonon-assisted field emission in a free-standing silicon nanomembrane detector for time-of-flight mass spectrometry of proteins. The impacts of ion bombardment on the silicon nanomembrane have been explored in both mechanical and electrical points of view. Locally elevated lattice temperature in the silicon nanomembrane, resulting from the transduction of ion kinetic energy into thermal energy through the ion bombardment, induces not only phonon-assisted field emission but also a mechanical vibration in the silicon nanomembrane. The coupling of these mechanical and electrical phenomenon leads to mechanical modulation of phonon-assisted field emission. The thermal energy relaxation through mechanical vibration in addition to the lateral heat conduction and field emission in the silicon nanomembrane offers effective cooling of the nanomembrane, thereby allowing high resolution mass analysis. PMID:26861329

Engineering Extracellular Expression Systems in Escherichia coli Based on Transcriptome Analysis and Cell Growth State.

PubMed

Gao, Wen; Yin, Jun; Bao, Lichen; Wang, Qun; Hou, Shan; Yue, Yali; Yao, Wenbing; Gao, Xiangdong

2018-05-18

Escherichia coli extracellular expression systems have a number of advantages over other systems, such as lower pyrogen levels and a simple purification process. Various approaches, such as the generation of leaky mutants via chromosomal engineering, have been explored for this expression system. However, extracellular protein yields in leaky mutants are relatively low compared to that in intracellular expression systems and therefore need to be improved. In this work, we describe the construction, characterization, and mechanism of enhanced extracellular expression in Escherichia coli. On the basis of the localizations, functions, and transcription levels of cell envelope proteins, we systematically elucidated the effects of multiple gene deletions on cell growth and extracellular expression using modified CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing and a FlAsH labeling assay. High extracellular yields of heterologous proteins of different sizes were obtained by screening multiple gene mutations. The enhancement of extracellular secretion was associated with the derepression of translation and translocation. This work utilized universal methods in the design of extracellular expression systems for genes not directly associated with protein synthesis that were used to generate strains with higher protein expression capability. We anticipate that extracellular expression systems may help to shed light on the poorly understood aspects of these secretion processes as well as to further assist in the construction of engineered prokaryotic cells for efficient extracellular production of heterologous proteins.

Solvent Separating Secondary Metabolites Directly from Biosynthetic Tissue for Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Mass Spectrometry

PubMed Central

Rudd, David; Benkendorff, Kirsten; Voelcker, Nicolas H.

2015-01-01

Marine bioactive metabolites are often heterogeneously expressed in tissues both spatially and over time. Therefore, traditional solvent extraction methods benefit from an understanding of the in situ sites of biosynthesis and storage to deal with heterogeneity and maximize yield. Recently, surface-assisted mass spectrometry (MS) methods namely nanostructure-assisted laser desorption ionisation (NALDI) and desorption ionisation on porous silicon (DIOS) surfaces have been developed to enable the direct detection of low molecular weight metabolites. Since direct tissue NALDI-MS or DIOS-MS produce complex spectra due to the wide variety of other metabolites and fragments present in the low mass range, we report here the use of “on surface” solvent separation directly from mollusc tissue onto nanostructured surfaces for MS analysis, as a mechanism for simplifying data annotation and detecting possible artefacts from compound delocalization during the preparative steps. Water, ethanol, chloroform and hexane selectively extracted a range of choline esters, brominated indoles and lipids from Dicathais orbita hypobranchial tissue imprints. These compounds could be quantified on the nanostructured surfaces by comparison to standard curves generated from the pure compounds. Surface-assisted MS could have broad utility for detecting a broad range of secondary metabolites in complex marine tissue samples. PMID:25786067

Colloquium: Mechanical formalisms for tissue dynamics.

PubMed

Tlili, Sham; Gay, Cyprien; Graner, François; Marcq, Philippe; Molino, François; Saramito, Pierre

2015-05-01

The understanding of morphogenesis in living organisms has been renewed by tremendous progress in experimental techniques that provide access to cell scale, quantitative information both on the shapes of cells within tissues and on the genes being expressed. This information suggests that our understanding of the respective contributions of gene expression and mechanics, and of their crucial entanglement, will soon leap forward. Biomechanics increasingly benefits from models, which assist the design and interpretation of experiments, point out the main ingredients and assumptions, and ultimately lead to predictions. The newly accessible local information thus calls for a reflection on how to select suitable classes of mechanical models. We review both mechanical ingredients suggested by the current knowledge of tissue behaviour, and modelling methods that can help generate a rheological diagram or a constitutive equation. We distinguish cell scale ("intra-cell") and tissue scale ("inter-cell") contributions. We recall the mathematical framework developed for continuum materials and explain how to transform a constitutive equation into a set of partial differential equations amenable to numerical resolution. We show that when plastic behaviour is relevant, the dissipation function formalism appears appropriate to generate constitutive equations; its variational nature facilitates numerical implementation, and we discuss adaptations needed in the case of large deformations. The present article gathers theoretical methods that can readily enhance the significance of the data to be extracted from recent or future high throughput biomechanical experiments.

Development of a fuzzy-stochastic programming with Green Z-score criterion method for planning water resources systems with a trading mechanism.

PubMed

Zeng, X T; Huang, G H; Li, Y P; Zhang, J L; Cai, Y P; Liu, Z P; Liu, L R

2016-12-01

This study developed a fuzzy-stochastic programming with Green Z-score criterion (FSGZ) method for water resources allocation and water quality management with a trading-mechanism (WAQT) under uncertainties. FSGZ can handle uncertainties expressed as probability distributions, and it can also quantify objective/subjective fuzziness in the decision-making process. Risk-averse attitudes and robustness coefficient are joined to express the relationship between the expected target and outcome under various risk preferences of decision makers and systemic robustness. The developed method is applied to a real-world case of WAQT in the Kaidu-Kongque River Basin in northwest China, where an effective mechanism (e.g., market trading) to simultaneously confront severely diminished water availability and degraded water quality is required. Results of water transaction amounts, water allocation patterns, pollution mitigation schemes, and system benefits under various scenarios are analyzed, which indicate that a trading-mechanism is a more sustainable method to manage water-environment crisis in the study region. Additionally, consideration of anthropogenic (e.g., a risk-averse attitude) and systemic factors (e.g., the robustness coefficient) can support the generation of a robust plan associated with risk control for WAQT when uncertainty is present. These findings assist local policy and decision makers to gain insights into water-environment capacity planning to balance the basin's social and economic growth with protecting the region's ecosystems.

Differential proteome and gene expression for testis of mice exposed to carbon ion radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hong; Li, Hongyan

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of high linear energy transfer (LET) carbon ion irradiation (CIR) on reproduction in the testis of male Swiss Webster mice, and assess the risk associated with space environment. Methods Male mice underwent whole-body irradiation with CIR (0.5, 1 and 4Gy), and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF) analysis was used to determine the alteration in protein expression in 2-DE (two-dimensional gel electrophoresis) gels of testes caused by irradiation after 7, 14 days. Results 15 differentially expressed proteins, such as glucose-regulated protein(GRP78), aconitate hydratase-mitochondrial precursor (ACO), pyruvate kinase isozymes M1/M2 (PKM1/M2), glutathione-S-transferaseA3 (GSTA3), glutathione S-transferase Pi 1 (GSTP1), Cu/Zn super-oxide dismutase (SOD1), Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (Pin1) and Heat shock 70 kDa protein 4L (HSPa4L), were identified and these proteins were mainly involved in energy supply, the endoplasmic reticulum, cell proliferation, cell cycle, antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial respiration, which play important roles in the inhibition of testicular function in response to CIR. Furthermore, we confirmed the relationship between transcription of mRNA and the abundance of proteins. Conclusion The findings of the present study demonstrated that these proteins may lead to new insights into the molecular mechanism of CIR toxicity, and suggested that the gene expression response to CIR involves diverse regulatory mechanisms from transcription of mRNA to the formation of functional proteins. These data also may provide a scientific basis for protecting astronauts and space traveler’s health and safety.

Mechanical ventilation and thoracic artificial lung assistance during mechanical circulatory support with PUCA pump: in silico study.

PubMed

De Lazzari, Claudio; Genuini, Igino; Quatember, Bernhard; Fedele, Francesco

2014-02-01

Patients assisted with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may require prolonged mechanical ventilatory assistance secondary to postoperative respiratory failure. The goal of this work is the study of the interdependent effects LVAD like pulsatile catheter (PUCA) pump and mechanical ventilatory support or thoracic artificial lung (TAL), by the hemodynamic point of view, using a numerical simulator of the human cardiovascular system. In the simulator, different circulatory sections are described using lumped parameter models. Lumped parameter models have been designed to describe the hydrodynamic behavior of both PUCA pump and thoracic artificial lung. Ventricular behavior atrial and septum functions were reproduced using variable elastance model. Starting from simulated pathological conditions we studied the effects produced on some hemodynamic variables by simultaneous PUCA pump, thoracic artificial lung or mechanical ventilation assistance. Thoracic artificial lung was applied in parallel or in hybrid mode. The effects of mechanical ventilation have been simulated by changing mean intrathoracic pressure value from -4 mmHg to +5 mmHg. The hemodynamic variables observed during the simulations, in different assisted conditions, were: left and right ventricular end systolic (diastolic) volume, systolic/diastolic aortic pressure, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, left and right mean atrial pressure, mean systemic venous pressure and the total blood flow. Results show that the application of PUCA (without mechanical ventilatory assistance) increases the total blood flow, reduces the left ventricular end systolic volume and increases the diastolic aortic pressure. Parallel TAL assistance increases the right ventricular end diastolic (systolic) volume reduction both when PUCA is switched "ON" and both when PUCA is switched "OFF". By switching "OFF" the PUCA pump, it seems that parallel thoracic artificial lung assistance produces a greater cardiac output (respect to hybrid TAL assistance). Results concerning PUCA and TAL interaction produced by simulations cannot be compared with "in vivo" results since they are not presented in literature. But results concerning the effects produced by LVAD and mechanical ventilation have a trend consistent with those presented in literature. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Expression of Antisense Long Noncoding RNAs as Potential Regulators in Rainbow Trout with Different Tolerance to Plant-Based Diets.

PubMed

Abernathy, Jason; Overturf, Ken

2018-01-04

Reformulation of aquafeeds in salmonid diets to include more plant proteins is critical for sustainable aquaculture. However, increasing plant proteins can lead to stunted growth and enteritis. Toward an understanding of the regulatory mechanisms behind plant protein utilization, directional RNA sequencing of liver tissues from a rainbow trout strain selected for growth on an all plant-protein diet and a control strain, both fed a plant diet for 12 weeks, were utilized to construct long noncoding RNAs. Antisense long noncoding RNAs were selected for differential expression and functional analyses since they have been shown to have regulatory actions within a genome. A total of 142 unique antisense long noncoding RNAs were differentially expressed between strains, 60 of which could be mapped to a gene. Genes underlying these noncoding RNAs are indicated in lipid metabolism and immunity. Six noncoding transcripts were also found to overlap with differentially expressed protein-coding genes, all of which were co-expressed. Associating variation in regulatory elements between rainbow trout strains with differing tolerance to plant-protein diets will assist in future studies toward increased gains throughout carnivorous aquaculture.

ART and health: clinical outcomes and insights on molecular mechanisms from rodent studies

PubMed Central

Feuer, S.K.; Camarano, L.; Rinaudo, P.F.

2013-01-01

Since the birth of the first IVF-conceived child in 1978, the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has grown dramatically, contributing to the successful birth of 5 million individuals worldwide. However, there are several reported associations of ART with pregnancy complications, such as low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth, birth defects, epigenetic disorders, cancer and poor metabolic health. Whether this is attributed to ART procedures or to the subset of the population seeking ART remains a controversy, but the most relevant question today concerns the potential long-term implications of assisted conception. Recent evidence has emerged suggesting that ART-conceived children have distinct metabolic profiles that may predispose to cardiovascular pathologies in adulthood. Because the eldest IVF individuals are still too young to exhibit components of chronic middle-aged syndromes, the use of animal models has become particularly useful in describing the effects of unusual or stressful preimplantation experiences on adult fitness. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which embryos integrate environmental signals into development and metabolic gene expression programs will be essential for optimizing ART procedures such as in vitro culture conditions, embryo selection and transfer. In the future, additional animal studies to identify mechanisms underlying unfavorable ART outcomes, as well as more epidemiological reviews to monitor the long-term health of ART children are required, given that ART procedures have become routine medical practice. PMID:23264495

A benchtop biorobotic platform for in vitro observation of muscle-tendon dynamics with parallel mechanical assistance from an elastic exoskeleton.

PubMed

Robertson, Benjamin D; Vadakkeveedu, Siddarth; Sawicki, Gregory S

2017-05-24

We present a novel biorobotic framework comprised of a biological muscle-tendon unit (MTU) mechanically coupled to a feedback controlled robotic environment simulation that mimics in vivo inertial/gravitational loading and mechanical assistance from a parallel elastic exoskeleton. Using this system, we applied select combinations of biological muscle activation (modulated with rate-coded direct neural stimulation) and parallel elastic assistance (applied via closed-loop mechanical environment simulation) hypothesized to mimic human behavior based on previously published modeling studies. These conditions resulted in constant system-level force-length dynamics (i.e., stiffness), reduced biological loads, increased muscle excursion, and constant muscle average positive power output-all consistent with laboratory experiments on intact humans during exoskeleton assisted hopping. Mechanical assistance led to reduced estimated metabolic cost and MTU apparent efficiency, but increased apparent efficiency for the MTU+Exo system as a whole. Findings from this study suggest that the increased natural resonant frequency of the artificially stiffened MTU+Exo system, along with invariant movement frequencies, may underlie observed limits on the benefits of exoskeleton assistance. Our novel approach demonstrates that it is possible to capture the salient features of human locomotion with exoskeleton assistance in an isolated muscle-tendon preparation, and introduces a powerful new tool for detailed, direct examination of how assistive devices affect muscle-level neuromechanics and energetics. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Association between Twist and multidrug resistance gene-associated proteins in Taxol®-resistant MCF-7 cells and a 293 cell model of Twist overexpression.

PubMed

Wang, Li; Tan, Rui-Zhi; Zhang, Zhi-Xia; Yin, Rui; Zhang, Yong-Liang; Cui, Wei-Jia; He, Tao

2018-01-01

Multidrug resistance (MDR) severely limits the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Previous studies have identified Twist as a key factor of acquired MDR in breast, gastric and prostate cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms of action of Twist in MDR remain unclear. In the present study, the expression levels of MDR-associated proteins, including lung resistance-related protein (LRP), topoisomerase IIα (TOPO IIα), MDR-associated protein (MRP) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and the expression of Twist in cancerous tissues and pericancerous tissues of human breast cancer, were examined. In order to simulate Taxol ® resistance in cells, a Taxol ® -resistant human mammary adenocarcinoma cell subline (MCF-7/Taxol ® ) was established by repeatedly exposing MCF-7 cells to high concentrations of Taxol ® (up to 15 µg/ml). Twist was also overexpressed in 293 cells by transfecting this cell line with pcDNA5/FRT/TO vector containing full-length hTwist cDNA to explore the dynamic association between Twist and MDR gene-associated proteins. It was identified that the expression levels of Twist, TOPO IIα, MRP and P-gp were upregulated and LRP was downregulated in human breast cancer tissues, which was consistent with the expression of these proteins in the Taxol ® -resistant MCF-7 cell model. Notably, the overexpression of Twist in 293 cells increased the resistance to Taxol ® , Trichostatin A and 5-fluorouracil, and also upregulated the expression of MRP and P-gp. Taken together, these data demonstrated that Twist may promote drug resistance in cells and cancer tissues through regulating the expression of MDR gene-associated proteins, which may assist in understanding the mechanisms of action of Twist in drug resistance.

NHERF1 regulates actin cytoskeleton organization through modulation of α-actinin-4 stability.

PubMed

Sun, Licui; Zheng, Junfang; Wang, Qiqi; Song, Ran; Liu, Hua; Meng, Ran; Tao, Tao; Si, Yang; Jiang, Wenguo; He, Junqi

2016-02-01

The actin cytoskeleton is composed of a highly dynamic network of filamentous proteins, yet the molecular mechanism that regulates its organization and remodeling remains elusive. In this study, Na(+)/H(+) exchanger regulatory factor (NHERF)-1 loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments reveal that polymerized actin cytoskeleton (F-actin) in HeLa cells is disorganized by NHERF1, whereas actin protein expression levels exhibit no detectable change. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying actin cytoskeleton disorganization by NHERF1, a combined 2-dimensional electrophoresis-matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry approach was used to screen for proteins regulated by NHERF1 in HeLa cells. α-Actinin-4, an actin cross-linking protein, was identified. Glutathione S-transferase pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation studies showed the α-actinin-4 carboxyl-terminal region specifically interacted with the NHERF1 postsynaptic density 95/disc-large/zona occludens-1 domain. The NHERF1/α-actinin-4 interaction increased α-actinin-4 ubiquitination and decreased its expression levels, resulting in actin cytoskeleton disassembly. Our study identified α-actinin-4 as a novel NHERF1 interaction partner and provided new insights into the regulatory mechanism of the actin cytoskeleton by NHERF1. © FASEB.

Identification of genes differentially expressed during interaction of resistant and susceptible apple cultivars (Malus × domestica) with Erwinia amylovora

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The necrogenic enterobacterium, Erwinia amylovora is the causal agent of the fire blight (FB) disease in many Rosaceaespecies, including apple and pear. During the infection process, the bacteria induce an oxidative stress response with kinetics similar to those induced in an incompatible bacteria-plant interaction. No resistance mechanism to E. amylovora in host plants has yet been characterized, recent work has identified some molecular events which occur in resistant and/or susceptible host interaction with E. amylovora: In order to understand the mechanisms that characterize responses to FB, differentially expressed genes were identified by cDNA-AFLP analysis in resistant and susceptible apple genotypes after inoculation with E. amylovora. Results cDNA were isolated from M.26 (susceptible) and G.41 (resistant) apple tissues collected 2 h and 48 h after challenge with a virulent E. amylovora strain or mock (buffer) inoculated. To identify differentially expressed transcripts, electrophoretic banding patterns were obtained from cDNAs. In the AFLP experiments, M.26 and G.41 showed different patterns of expression, including genes specifically induced, not induced, or repressed by E. amylovora. In total, 190 ESTs differentially expressed between M.26 and G.41 were identified using 42 pairs of AFLP primers. cDNA-AFLP analysis of global EST expression in a resistant and a susceptible apple genotype identified different major classes of genes. EST sequencing data showed that genes linked to resistance, encoding proteins involved in recognition, signaling, defense and apoptosis, were modulated by E. amylovora in its host plant. The expression time course of some of these ESTs selected via a bioinformatic analysis has been characterized. Conclusion These data are being used to develop hypotheses of resistance or susceptibility mechanisms in Malus to E. amylovora and provide an initial categorization of genes possibly involved in recognition events, early signaling responses the subsequent development of resistance or susceptibility. These data also provided potential candidates for improving apple resistance to fire blight either by marker-assisted selection or genetic engineering. PMID:20047654

Multimedia-assisted breathwalk-aware system.

PubMed

Yu, Meng-Chieh; Wu, Huan; Lee, Ming-Sui; Hung, Yi-Ping

2012-12-01

Breathwalk is a science of combining specific patterns of footsteps synchronized with the breathing. In this study, we developed a multimedia-assisted Breathwalk-aware system which detects user's walking and breathing conditions and provides appropriate multimedia guidance on the smartphone. Through the mobile device, the system enhances user's awareness of walking and breathing behaviors. As an example application in slow technology, the system could help meditator beginners learn "walking meditation," a type of meditation which aims to be as slow as possible in taking pace, to synchronize footstep with breathing, and to land every footstep with toes first. In the pilot study, we developed a walking-aware system and evaluated whether multimedia-assisted mechanism is capable of enhancing beginner's walking awareness while walking meditation. Experimental results show that it could effectively assist beginners in slowing down the walking speed and decreasing incorrect footsteps. In the second experiment, we evaluated the Breathwalk-aware system to find a better feedback mechanism for learning the techniques of Breathwalk while walking meditation. The experimental results show that the visual-auditory mechanism is a better multimedia-assisted mechanism while walking meditation than visual mechanism and auditory mechanism.

Integration of Next Generation Sequencing and EPR Analysis to Uncover Molecular Mechanism Underlying Shell Color Variation in Scallops

PubMed Central

Sun, Xiujun; Liu, Zhihong; Zhou, Liqing; Wu, Biao; Dong, Yinghui; Yang, Aiguo

2016-01-01

The Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis displays polymorphism in shell colors, which is of great interest for the scallop industry. To identify genes involved in the shell coloration, in the present study, we investigate the transcriptome differences by Illumina digital gene expression (DGE) analysis in two extreme color phenotypes, Red and White. Illumina sequencing yields a total of 62,715,364 clean sequence reads, and more than 85% reads are mapped into our previously sequenced transcriptome. There are 25 significantly differentially expressed genes between Red and White scallops. EPR (Electron paramagnetic resonance) analysis has identified EPR spectra of pheomelanin and eumelanin in the red shells, but not in the white shells. Compared to the Red scallops, the White scallops have relatively higher mRNA expression in tyrosinase genes, but lower expression in other melanogensis-associated genes. Meantime, the relatively lower tyrosinase protein and decreased tyrosinase activity in White scallops are suggested to be associated with the lack of melanin in the white shells. Our findings highlight the functional roles of melanogensis-associated genes in the melanization process of scallop shells, and shed new lights on the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms in the regulation of tyrosinase activity during the process of melanin synthesis. The present results will assist our molecular understanding of melanin synthesis underlying shell color polymorphism in scallops, as well as other bivalves, and also help the color-based breeding in shellfish aquaculture. PMID:27563719

Light of DNA-alkylating agents in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells: a novel mixed EGFR/DNA targeting combi-molecule.

PubMed

Liang, Guan-Can; Zheng, Hao-Feng; Chen, Yan-Xiong; Li, Teng-Cheng; Liu, Wei; Fang, You-Qiang

2017-01-01

The mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of combi-molecule JDF12 on prostate cancer (PCa) DU145 cells remains still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the proteomic profile after JDF12 treatment in DU145 cells by comparing with that in Iressa treated cells and untreated cells. MTT was used to evaluate drug cytotoxicity, DAPI staining was done to assess apoptosis of cells, and flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle. iTRAQ and qPCR were employed to obtain the proteomic profiles of JDF12 treated, Iressa treated, and untreated DU145 cells, and validate the expression of selected differentially expressed proteins, respectively. JDF12 could significantly inhibit the proliferation and increase the apoptosis of DU145 cells when compared with Iressa or blank group. In total, 5071 proteins were obtained, out of which, 42, including 21 up-regulated and 21 down-regulated proteins, were differentially expressed in JDF12 group when compared with Iressa and blank groups. The up-regulated proteins were mainly involved in DNA damage/repair and energy metabolism; while the down-regulated proteins were mainly associated with cell apoptosis. qPCR confirmed the expression of several biologically important proteins in DU145 cells after JDF12 treatment. The molecular mechanisms of DNA alkylating agents on PCa therapy that with the assistant of EGFR-blocker were revealed on proteomic level, which may increase the possible applications of DNA alkylating agents and JDF12 on PCa therapy.

Molecular mechanism for sphingosine-induced Pseudomonas ceramidase expression through the transcriptional regulator SphR

PubMed Central

Okino, Nozomu; Ito, Makoto

2016-01-01

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic, but serious multidrug-resistant pathogen, secretes a ceramidase capable of cleaving the N-acyl linkage of ceramide to generate fatty acids and sphingosine. We previously reported that the secretion of P. aeruginosa ceramidase was induced by host-derived sphingolipids, through which phospholipase C-induced hemolysis was significantly enhanced. We herein investigated the gene(s) regulating sphingolipid-induced ceramidase expression and identified SphR, which encodes a putative AraC family transcriptional regulator. Disruption of the sphR gene in P. aeruginosa markedly decreased the sphingomyelin-induced secretion of ceramidase, reduced hemolytic activity, and resulted in the loss of sphingomyelin-induced ceramidase expression. A microarray analysis confirmed that sphingomyelin significantly induced ceramidase expression in P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, an electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that SphR specifically bound free sphingoid bases such as sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, and phytosphingosine, but not sphingomyelin or ceramide. A β-galactosidase-assisted promoter assay showed that sphingosine activated ceramidase expression through SphR at a concentration of 100 nM. Collectively, these results demonstrated that sphingosine induces the secretion of ceramidase by promoting the mRNA expression of ceramidase through SphR, thereby enhancing hemolytic phospholipase C-induced cytotoxicity. These results facilitate understanding of the physiological role of bacterial ceramidase in host cells. PMID:27941831

The role of placental MHC class I expression in immune-assisted separation of the fetal membranes in cattle.

PubMed

Benedictus, Lindert; Koets, Ad P; Rutten, Victor P M G

2015-11-01

The bovine fetus, like that of other species, is a semi-allograft and the regulation of materno-fetal alloimmunity is critical to prevent its immunological rejection. In cattle, a materno-fetal alloimmune response may be beneficial at parturition. It is hypothesized that upregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I on the fetal membranes toward the end of gestation induces a maternal alloimmune response that activates innate immune effector mechanisms, aiding in the loss of the adherence between the fetal membranes and the uterus. Loss of fetal-maternal adherence is pivotal for the timely expulsion of the fetal membranes and the absence (or reduction) of the maternal immune response may lead to retained fetal membranes, a common reproductive disorder of cattle. Currently, there is no effective treatment for retained fetal membranes and a better understanding of materno-fetal alloimmune-assisted separation of the fetal membranes may lead to novel targets for the treatment of retained fetal membranes. In this review, the regulation of materno-fetal alloimmunity during pregnancy in cattle, with a focus on placental MHC class I expression, and the importance of maternal alloimmunity for the timely separation of the fetal membranes, are discussed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mechanism of plasma-assisted ignition for H2 and C1-C5 hydrocarbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starikovskiy, Andrey; Aleksandrov, Nikolay

2016-09-01

Nonequilibrium plasma demonstrates ability to control ultra-lean, ultra-fast, low-temperature flames and appears to be an extremely promising technology for a wide range of applications, including aviation GTEs, piston engines, ramjets, scramjets and detonation initiation for pulsed detonation engines. To use nonequilibrium plasma for ignition and combustion in real energetic systems, one must understand the mechanisms of plasma-assisted ignition and combustion and be able to numerically simulate the discharge and combustion processes under various conditions. A new, validated mechanism for high-temperature hydrocarbon plasma assisted combustion was built and allows to qualitatively describe plasma-assisted combustion close and above the self-ignition threshold. The principal mechanisms of plasma-assisted ignition and combustion have been established and validated for a wide range of plasma and gas parameters. These results provide a basis for improving various energy-conversion combustion systems, from automobile to aircraft engines, using nonequilibrium plasma methods.

46 CFR 11.472 - Officer endorsements as barge supervisor.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

..., mechanic, electrician, crane operator, subsea specialist, ballast control operator or equivalent... 168 days of service as driller, assistant driller, toolpusher, assistant toolpusher, mechanic...

46 CFR 11.472 - Officer endorsements as barge supervisor.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

..., mechanic, electrician, crane operator, subsea specialist, ballast control operator or equivalent... 168 days of service as driller, assistant driller, toolpusher, assistant toolpusher, mechanic...

46 CFR 11.472 - Officer endorsements as barge supervisor.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

..., mechanic, electrician, crane operator, subsea specialist, ballast control operator or equivalent... 168 days of service as driller, assistant driller, toolpusher, assistant toolpusher, mechanic...

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas Characterized by Shell Colors: Identification of Genetic Bases Potentially Involved in Pigmentation

PubMed Central

Feng, Dandan; Li, Qi; Yu, Hong; Zhao, Xuelin; Kong, Lingfeng

2015-01-01

Background Shell color polymorphisms of Mollusca have contributed to development of evolutionary biology and population genetics, while the genetic bases and molecular mechanisms underlying shell pigmentation are poorly understood. The Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is one of the most important farmed oysters worldwide. Through successive family selection, four shell color variants (white, golden, black and partially pigmented) of C. gigas have been developed. To elucidate the genetic mechanisms of shell coloration in C. gigas and facilitate the selection of elite oyster lines with desired coloration patterns, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among the four shell color variants by RNA-seq. Results Digital gene expression generated over fifteen million reads per sample, producing expression data for 28,027 genes. A total number of 2,645 DEGs were identified from pair-wise comparisons, of which 432, 91, 43 and 39 genes specially were up-regulated in white, black, golden and partially pigmented shell of C. gigas, respectively. Three genes of Abca1, Abca3 and Abcb1 which belong to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters super-families were significantly associated with white shell formation. A tyrosinase transcript (CGI_10008737) represented consistent up-regulated pattern with golden coloration. We proposed that white shell variant of C. gigas could employ “endocytosis” to down-regulate notch level and to prevent shell pigmentation. Conclusion This study discovered some potential shell coloration genes and related molecular mechanisms by the RNA-seq, which would provide foundational information to further study on shell coloration and assist in selective breeding in C. gigas. PMID:26693729

Identification of Chemosensory Genes Based on the Transcriptomic Analysis of Six Different Chemosensory Organs in Spodoptera exigua.

PubMed

Zhang, Ya-Nan; Qian, Jia-Li; Xu, Ji-Wei; Zhu, Xiu-Yun; Li, Meng-Ya; Xu, Xiao-Xue; Liu, Chun-Xiang; Xue, Tao; Sun, Liang

2018-01-01

Insects have a complex chemosensory system that accurately perceives external chemicals and plays a pivotal role in many insect life activities. Thus, the study of the chemosensory mechanism has become an important research topic in entomology. Spodoptera exigua Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major agricultural polyphagous pest that causes significant agricultural economic losses worldwide. However, except for a few genes that have been discovered, its olfactory and gustatory mechanisms remain uncertain. In the present study, we acquired 144,479 unigenes of S. exigua by assembling 65.81 giga base reads from 6 chemosensory organs (female and male antennae, female and male proboscises, and female and male labial palps), and identified many differentially expressed genes in the gustatory and olfactory organs. Analysis of the transcriptome data obtained 159 putative chemosensory genes, including 24 odorant binding proteins (OBPs; 3 were new), 19 chemosensory proteins (4 were new), 64 odorant receptors (57 were new), 22 ionotropic receptors (16 were new), and 30 new gustatory receptors. Phylogenetic analyses of all genes and SexiGRs expression patterns using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions were investigated. Our results found that several of these genes had differential expression features in the olfactory organs compared to the gustatory organs that might play crucial roles in the chemosensory system of S. exigua , and could be utilized as targets for future functional studies to assist in the interpretation of the molecular mechanism of the system. They could also be used for developing novel behavioral disturbance agents to control the population of the moths in the future.

Identification of Chemosensory Genes Based on the Transcriptomic Analysis of Six Different Chemosensory Organs in Spodoptera exigua

PubMed Central

Zhang, Ya-Nan; Qian, Jia-Li; Xu, Ji-Wei; Zhu, Xiu-Yun; Li, Meng-Ya; Xu, Xiao-Xue; Liu, Chun-Xiang; Xue, Tao; Sun, Liang

2018-01-01

Insects have a complex chemosensory system that accurately perceives external chemicals and plays a pivotal role in many insect life activities. Thus, the study of the chemosensory mechanism has become an important research topic in entomology. Spodoptera exigua Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major agricultural polyphagous pest that causes significant agricultural economic losses worldwide. However, except for a few genes that have been discovered, its olfactory and gustatory mechanisms remain uncertain. In the present study, we acquired 144,479 unigenes of S. exigua by assembling 65.81 giga base reads from 6 chemosensory organs (female and male antennae, female and male proboscises, and female and male labial palps), and identified many differentially expressed genes in the gustatory and olfactory organs. Analysis of the transcriptome data obtained 159 putative chemosensory genes, including 24 odorant binding proteins (OBPs; 3 were new), 19 chemosensory proteins (4 were new), 64 odorant receptors (57 were new), 22 ionotropic receptors (16 were new), and 30 new gustatory receptors. Phylogenetic analyses of all genes and SexiGRs expression patterns using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions were investigated. Our results found that several of these genes had differential expression features in the olfactory organs compared to the gustatory organs that might play crucial roles in the chemosensory system of S. exigua, and could be utilized as targets for future functional studies to assist in the interpretation of the molecular mechanism of the system. They could also be used for developing novel behavioral disturbance agents to control the population of the moths in the future. PMID:29740343

The effect of helium-oxygen-assisted mechanical ventilation on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Wu, Xu; Shao, Chuan; Zhang, Liang; Tu, Jinjing; Xu, Hui; Lin, Zhihui; Xu, Shuguang; Yu, Biyun; Tang, Yaodong; Li, Shanqun

2018-03-01

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often accompanied by acute exacerbations. Patients of COPD exacerbation suffering from respiratory failure often need the support of mechanical ventilation. Helium-oxygen can be used to reduce airway resistance during mechanical ventilation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of helium-oxygen-assisted mechanical ventilation on COPD exacerbation through a meta-analysis. A comprehensive literature search through databases of Pub Med (1966∼2016), Ovid MEDLINE (1965∼2016), Cochrane EBM (1991∼2016), EMBASE (1974∼2016) and Ovid MEDLINE was performed to identify associated studies. Randomized clinical trials met our inclusion criteria that focus on helium-oxygen-assisted mechanical ventilation on COPD exacerbation were included. The quality of the papers was evaluated after inclusion and information was extracted for meta-analysis. Six articles and 392 patients were included in total. Meta-analysis revealed that helium-oxygen-assisted mechanical ventilation reduced Borg dyspnea scale and increased arterial PH compared with air-oxygen. No statistically significant difference was observed between helium-oxygen and air-oxygen as regards to WOB, PaCO 2 , OI, tracheal intubation rates and mortality within hospital. Our study suggests helium-oxygen-assisted mechanical ventilation can help to reduce Borg dyspnea scale. In terms of the tiny change of PH, its clinical benefit is negligible. There is no conclusive evidence indicating the beneficial effect of helium-oxygen-assisted mechanical ventilation on clinical outcomes or prognosis of COPD exacerbation. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A self-aligning knee joint for walking assistance devices.

PubMed

Byungjune Choi; Younbaek Lee; Jeonghun Kim; Minhyung Lee; Jongwon Lee; Se-Gon Roh; Hyundo Choi; Yong-Jae Kim; Jung-Yun Choi

2016-08-01

This paper presents a novel self-aligning knee mechanism for walking assistance devices for the elderly to provide physical gait assistance. Self-aligning knee joints can assist in flexion/extension motions of the knee joint and compensate the knee's transitional movements in the sagittal plane. In order to compensate the center of rotation, which moves with the flexion/extension motion of the human knee joint, a self-aligning knee joint is proposed that adds redundant degrees of freedom (i.e., 2-DoF) to the 1-DoF revolute joint. The key idea of the proposed mechanism is to decouple joint rotations and translations for use in lower-extremity wearable devices. This paper describes the mechanical design of this self-aligning knee mechanism and its implementation on a wearable robot and in preliminary experiments. The performance of the proposed mechanism is verified by simulations and experiments.

Proteomic Analysis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Normal and Deep Carious Dental Pulp

PubMed Central

Gao, Jie; Yan, Wenjuan; Liu, Ying; Xu, Shuaimei; Wu, Buling

2014-01-01

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), precursor cells of odontoblasts, are ideal seed cells for tooth tissue engineering and regeneration. Our previous study has demonstrated that stem cells exist in dental pulp with deep caries and are called carious dental pulp stem cells (CDPSCs). The results indicated that CDPSCs had a higher proliferative and stronger osteogenic differentiation potential than DPSCs. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the biological differences between DPSCs and CDPSCs are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to define the molecular features of DPSCs and CDPSCs by comparing the proteomic profiles using two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) in combination with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Our results revealed that there were 18 protein spots differentially expressed between DPSCs and CDPSCs in a narrow pH range of 4 to 7. These differently expressed proteins are mostly involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, cell cytoskeleton and motility. In addition, our results suggested that CDPSCs had a higher expression of antioxidative proteins that might protect CDPSCs from oxidative stress. This study explores some potential proteins responsible for the biological differences between DPSCs and CDPSCs and expands our understanding on the molecular mechanisms of mineralization of DPSCs in the formation of the dentin-pulp complex. PMID:24809979

Overexpression of G6PD and HSP90 Beta in Mice with Benzene Exposure Revealed by Serum Peptidome Analysis

PubMed Central

Zhang, Juan; Tan, Kehong; Meng, Xing; Yang, Wenwen; Wei, Haiyan; Sun, Rongli; Yin, Lihong; Pu, Yuepu

2015-01-01

The small peptides representation of the original proteins are a valuable source of information that can be used as biomarkers involved in toxicity mechanism for chemical exposure. The aim of this study is to investigate serum peptide biomarkers of benzene exposure. C57BL/6 mice were enrolled into control group and benzene groups of 150 and 300 mg/kg/d Serum peptides were identified by mass spectrometry using an assisted laser desorption ionization/time of flight mass spectrometry (MS). Differential peptide spectra were obtained by tandem mass spectrometry and analyzed by searching the International Protein Index using the Sequest program. Forty-one peptide peaks were found in the range of 1000–10,000 Da molecular weight. Among them, seven peaks showed significantly different expression between exposure groups and control group. Two peptide peaks (1231.2 and 1241.8), which showed a two-fold increase in expression, were sequenced and confirmed as glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and heat shock protein 90 Beta (HSP90 Beta), respectively. Furthermore, the expression of the two proteins in liver cells showed the same trend as in serum. In conclusion, G6PD and HSP90 beta might be the candidate serum biomarkers of benzene exposure. It also provided possible clues for the molecular mechanism of benzene-induced oxidative stress. PMID:26378550

System Architecture for Temporal Information Extraction, Representation and Reasoning in Clinical Narrative Reports

PubMed Central

Zhou, Li; Friedman, Carol; Parsons, Simon; Hripcsak, George

2005-01-01

Exploring temporal information in narrative Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) is essential and challenging. We propose an architecture for an integrated approach to process temporal information in clinical narrative reports. The goal is to initiate and build a foundation that supports applications which assist healthcare practice and research by including the ability to determine the time of clinical events (e.g., past vs. present). Key components include: (1) a temporal constraint structure for temporal expressions and the development of an associated tagger; (2) a Natural Language Processing (NLP) system for encoding and extracting medical events and associating them with formalized temporal data; (3) a post-processor, with a knowledge-based subsystem to help discover implicit information, that resolves temporal expressions and deals with issues such as granularity and vagueness; and (4) a reasoning mechanism which models clinical reports as Simple Temporal Problems (STPs). PMID:16779164

The Obligation to Provide Assistive Technology: Enhancing the General Curriculum Access.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Sean J.; Jones, Eric D.

1999-01-01

Describes public commitment (expressed in federal legislation) to using assistive technology devices and services in K-12 special education and discusses approaches for addressing obstacles in meeting this commitment. Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act represents progress toward integrating assistive technology into disabled…

Linguistic analysis of communication in therapist-assisted internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder.

PubMed

Dirkse, Dale; Hadjistavropoulos, Heather D; Hesser, Hugo; Barak, Azy

2015-01-01

Therapist-assisted Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) involves elements of expressive writing through secure messaging with a therapist. Expressive writing has been associated with psychological and physical health benefits in past research; furthermore, certain linguistic dimensions in expressive writing have been identified as particularly beneficial to health, such as less frequent use of negative emotion words and greater use of positive emotion words. No research, to date, has analyzed linguistic dimensions in client communication over the course of therapist-assisted ICBT for individuals with symptoms of generalized anxiety. This naturalistic study examined messages sent to therapists during the course of ICBT using linguistic analysis, and explored covariation of word use with symptom improvement. Data were obtained from patients with symptoms of generalized anxiety (N = 59) who completed 12 modules of therapist-assisted ICBT and rated symptoms of anxiety, depression, and panic at the beginning of each module. Linguistic analysis categorized text submitted to therapists into different word categories. Results found that patients' use of negative emotion, anxiety, causation, and insight words reduced over the course of treatment, while past tense words increased. Furthermore, negative emotion words significantly covaried with symptom ratings over the course of treatment. While causal statements cannot be made, findings improve our understanding of patient communication in ICBT and suggest that the further study of linguistic dimensions as psychological indicators and the potential utility of expressive writing strategies in therapist-assisted ICBT may be worthwhile.

Proteomic analysis associated with coronary artery dilatation caused by Kawasaki disease using serum exosomes.

PubMed

Zhang, Li; Wang, Wei; Bai, Jun; Xu, Yu-Fen; Li, Lai-Qing; Hua, Liang; Deng, Li; Jia, Hong-Ling

2016-05-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the serum exosome proteome profile of coronary artery dilatation (CAD) caused by Kawasaki disease (KD). Two-dimensional electrophoresis was implemented on proteins of serum exosomes obtained from children with CAD caused by KD and from healthy controls. Differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. We identified 38 differentially expressed proteins (13 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated) from serum exosomes of patients with CAD caused by KD compared with healthy controls. Expression levels of three differentially expressed proteins (leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein, sex hormone-binding globulin, and serotransferrin) were validated using western blot analysis. Classification and protein-protein network analysis showed that they are associated with multiple functional groups involved in the acute inflammatory response, defense response, complement activation, humoral immune response, and response to wounding. The majority of the proteins are involved in the inflammation and coagulation cascades. These findings establish a comprehensive proteome profile of CAD caused by KD and increase our knowledge of scientific insight into its mechanisms. Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.

SMC1A recruits tumor-associated-fibroblasts (TAFs) and promotes colorectal cancer metastasis.

PubMed

Zhou, Pengyang; Xiao, Nan; Wang, Jian; Wang, Zhanhuai; Zheng, Shuchun; Shan, Siyang; Wang, Jianping; Du, Jinlin; Wang, Jianwei

2017-01-28

Tumor-associated-fibroblasts (TAFs) are the most important host cells in the stroma and take part in extracellular matrix construction and cancer colony development. During cancer colonization, seed cells from primary tumor can reconstruct the microenvironment by recruiting circulating cancer cells and TAFs to the metastasis site. Previous studies have established that SMC1A, a subunit of cohesin, is an important trigger signal for liver metastasis in colorectal cancer. We investigated the particular effects as well as the underlying mechanism of SMC1A on TAFs recruitment during liver metastasis of colorectal cancer. Here, We found that: first, the high expression of SMC1A in colorectal cancer cells promotes the invasiveness and the viability of these cells by recruiting circulating TAFs, facilitating early tumor construction and tumorigenesis; second, different expression levels of SMC1A influenced the reformation of fibroblasts, which assisted tumorigenesis, and third, expression of SMC1A stimulated the secretion of the inflammatory mediators of TNF-α and IL-1β, and up-regulated the transcriptional expression of MMP2 and VEGF-β, both of which were involved in the tumor-related gene pathway. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

THE ROLES OF METAL IONS IN REGULATION BY RIBOSWITCHES

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Metal ions are required by all organisms in order to execute an array of essential molecular functions. They play a critical role in many catalytic mechanisms and structural properties. Proper homeostasis of ions is critical; levels that are aberrantly low or high are deleterious to cellular physiology. To maintain stable intracellular pools, metal ion-sensing regulatory (metalloregulatory) proteins couple metal ion concentration fluctuations with expression of genes encoding for cation transport or sequestration. However, these transcriptional-based regulatory strategies are not the only mechanisms by which organisms coordinate metal ions with gene expression. Intriguingly, a few classes of signal-responsive RNA elements have also been discovered to function as metalloregulatory agents. This suggests that RNA-based regulatory strategies can be precisely tuned to intracellular metal ion pools, functionally akin to metalloregulatory proteins. In addition to these metal-sensing regulatory RNAs, there is a yet broader role for metal ions in directly assisting the structural integrity of other signal-responsive regulatory RNA elements. In this chapter, we discuss how the intimate physicochemical relationship between metal ions and nucleic acids is important for the structure and function of metal ion- and metabolite-sensing regulatory RNAs. PMID:22010271

Proteomic analysis of mouse islets after multiple low-dose streptozotocin injection.

PubMed

Xie, Xiaolei; Li, Shuai; Liu, Siyu; Lu, Yan; Shen, Pingping; Ji, Jianguo

2008-02-01

The islets of Langerhans are scattered throughout the pancreas and play a major role in the control of metabolic fuel homeostasis. To get a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying type 1 diabetes mellitus, we have generated a mouse model by injections of multiple low-dose streptozotocin. The islets in the mouse pancreas were handpicked and proteins from the islets were then isolated and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Seven proteins were found to be altered significantly at expression level. Among the seven proteins, four were up-regulated and three were down-regulated in diabetic mice as compared with controls. These proteins were successfully identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and the changes of selected protein expression were further validated by quantitative real time PCR and Western blotting. Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 1 and peroxiredoxin-4 were found for the first time to be associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus in mouse islets in the current study. These results suggest that glucose transport, beta cell proliferation/death, and oxidative stress play important roles in maintaining the balance of glucose level. Our study also provides novel insight into the mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Security Force Assistance: What Right Looks Like

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

manuscript is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Strategic Studies Degree. The views expressed in this student academic...Education Accreditation. The views expressed in this student academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy...partner capacity the institution can learn from the program executed by the U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) to assist the Romanian Land Forces. The

Comparison of the iAssist Handheld Guidance System to Conventional Instruments for Mechanical Axis Restoration in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

PubMed

Kinney, Matthew C; Cidambi, Krishna R; Severns, Dustyn L; Gonzales, Francis B

2018-01-01

Recent advances in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) include an intelligent instrument system designed to provide intraoperative guidance to reduce mechanical alignment errors. Internal position-sensing technology is integrated into microelectronic pods that attach to cutting blocks. The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to determine whether this iAssist system enables the surgeon to make more accurate bone resections and better restore the mechanical axis compared to conventional instruments in TKA. We randomized patients undergoing TKA into 2 groups. Group I (n = 25) underwent TKA assisted by the iAssist guidance system, group II (n = 25) underwent TKA using conventional instruments. Preoperative and postoperative mechanical axes were measured from full-length lower extremity radiographs to evaluate alignment. Additional surgical parameters were also assessed, including tourniquet time and blood loss. Patient demographics and preoperative mechanical axis alignments were similar between the groups. Postoperatively, 4.0% of patients had greater than 3° of tibial or femoral component mal-alignment in the guidance-assisted cohort, compared with 36.0% in the conventional group (P < .05). Additionally, group I showed significant improvement in variance seen in both the femoral mechanical axis (1.65° ± 0.17° vs 2.23° ± 0.33°, P < .005) and tibial mechanical axis (1.28° ± 0.13° vs 1.71° ± 0.24°, P < .005) compared to group II. There were no significant differences in tourniquet time (P = .86) or blood loss (P = .39) between groups. Use of the iAssist system in TKA results in an improved postoperative mechanical axis and decreased alignment variability compared to conventional instruments, without significantly increasing operative time. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Engineering high Zn in tomato shoots through expression of AtHMA4 involves tissue-specific modification of endogenous genes.

PubMed

Kendziorek, Maria; Klimecka, Maria; Barabasz, Anna; Borg, Sören; Rudzka, Justyna; Szczęsny, Paweł; Antosiewicz, Danuta Maria

2016-08-12

To increase the Zn level in shoots, AtHMA4 was ectopically expressed in tomato under the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter. However, the Zn concentration in the shoots of transgenic plants failed to increase at all tested Zn levels in the medium. Modification of Zn root/shoot distribution in tomato expressing 35S::AtHMA4 depended on the concentration of Zn in the medium, thus indicating involvement of unknown endogenous metal-homeostasis mechanisms. To determine these mechanisms, those metal-homeostasis genes that were expressed differently in transgenic and wild-type plants were identified by microarray and RT-qPCR analysis using laser-assisted microdissected RNA isolated from two root sectors: (epidermis + cortex and stele), and leaf sectors (upper epidermis + palisade parenchyma and lower epidermis + spongy parenchyma). Zn-supply-dependent modification of Zn root/shoot distribution in AtHMA4-tomato (increase at 5 μM Zn, no change at 0.5 μM Zn) involved tissue-specific, distinct from that in the wild type, expression of tomato endogenous genes. First, it is suggested that an ethylene-dependent pathway underlies the detected changes in Zn root/shoot partitioning, as it was induced in transgenic plants in a distinct way depending on Zn exposure. Upon exposure to 5 or 0.5 μM Zn, in the epidermis + cortex of the transgenics' roots the expression of the Strategy I Fe-uptake system (ethylene-dependent LeIRT1 and LeFER) was respectively lower or higher than in the wild type and was accompanied by respectively lower or higher expression of the identified ethylene genes (LeNR, LeACO4, LeACO5) and of LeChln. Second, the contribution of LeNRAMP2 expression in the stele is shown to be distinct for wild-type and transgenic plants at both Zn exposures. Ethylene was also suggested as an important factor in a pathway induced in the leaves of transgenic plants by high Zn in the apoplast, which results in the initiation of loading of the excess Zn into the mesophyll of "Zn accumulating cells". In transgenic tomato plants, the export activity of ectopically expressed AtHMA4 changes the cellular Zn status, which induces coordinated tissue-specific responses of endogenous ethylene-related genes and metal transporters. These changes constitute an important mechanism involved in the generation of the metal-related phenotype of transgenic tomato expressing AtHMA4.

MiR-29a Assists in Preventing the Activation of Human Stellate Cells and Promotes Recovery From Liver Fibrosis in Mice.

PubMed

Matsumoto, Yoshinari; Itami, Saori; Kuroda, Masahiko; Yoshizato, Katsutoshi; Kawada, Norifumi; Murakami, Yoshiki

2016-10-01

The microRNA-29 (miR-29) family is known to suppress the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and reversibly control liver fibrosis; however, the mechanism of how miR-29a controls liver fibrosis remains largely unknown. This study was conducted to clarify the mechanism of anti-fibrotic effect of miR-29a and to explore if miR-29a is a promising candidate for nucleic acid medicine against liver fibrosis. Two liver fibrosis murine models (carbon tetrachloride or thioacetamide) were used. MiR-29a mixed with atelocollagen was systemically administered. Hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by histological analysis and the expression levels of fibrosis-related genes. We observed that miR-29a treatment dramatically accelerated the reversion of liver fibrosis in vivo. Additionally, miR-29a regulated the mRNA expression of collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) and platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGFC). We also noted that miR-29a significantly suppressed COL1A1 mRNA expression and cell viability and significantly increased caspase-9 activity (P < 0.05) in LX-2 cells. Pretreatment of miR-29a inhibited activation of LX-2 cell by transforming growth factor beta treatment. MiR-29a exhibited anti-fibrotic effect without cell toxicity in vivo and directly suppressed the expression of PDGF-related genes as well as COL1A1 and induced apoptosis of LX-2 cells. MiR-29a is a promising nucleic acid inhibitor to target liver fibrosis.

Silencing of long non-coding RNA CCAT2 depressed malignancy of oral squamous cell carcinoma via Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

PubMed

Ma, Yuji; Hu, Xuanhao; Shang, Chao; Zhong, Ming; Guo, Yan

2017-07-01

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a common and lethal malignancy affecting the head and neck region. CCAT2 (colon cancer-associated transcript 2) gene is affiliated with long non-coding RNAs, which are often found to have important regulatory roles in cancers. This study aims to assess the expression and clinical significance of CCAT2 gene, identify its malignant biological behaviors, and explore the possible mechanisms in oral squamous cell carcinoma. CCAT2 expression was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and its relationship with clinical factors was assayed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. The biological behaviors of CCAT2 and its potential mechanisms in oral squamous cell carcinoma were explored by the combined use of CCAT2 knockdown technology and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway agonist lithium chloride (LiCl). Our results showed that CCAT2 functioning as a potential oncogene was upregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma. CCAT2 with high expression level was correlated with poor differentiation, higher T stage, and clinical stage, which made CCAT2 to be a prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma. LiCl-activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway could partly restore the CCAT2-mediated malignant biological behaviors of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by suppressing β-catenin, CCND1, and MYC and activating glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta expression. These findings might assist in the discovery of novel potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for oral squamous cell carcinoma, thereby improve the effects of clinical treatment in patients.

Focused microwave irradiation-assisted immunohistochemistry to study effects of ketamine on phospho-ERK expression in the mouse brain.

PubMed

Fernandes, Alda; Li, Yu-Wen

2017-09-01

Ketamine produces rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects in depressive patients. Preclinical studies demonstrate that ketamine stimulates AMPA receptor transmission and activates BDNF/TrkB-Akt/ERK-mTOR signaling cascades, leading to a sustained increase in synaptic protein synthesis and strengthening of synaptic plasticity, a potential mechanism underlying the antidepressant effects. The purpose of this study was to develop an immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay to map the distribution of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in the mouse brain in response to systemic ketamine treatment. We established a focused microwave irradiation-assisted IHC assay to detect phosphorylated (phospho) proteins including phospho-ERK, phospho- cAMP-response- element-binding protein (CREB), phospho- glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) and phospho- calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) with greater sensitivity and reproducibility in comparison to conventional IHC methods. A single dose of ketamine produced a robust, dose- and time-dependent increase in phospho-ERK immunoreactive (phospho-ERK-ir) neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the central nucleus of the amygdala. Phospho-ERK-ir neurons in the mPFC were primarily located in the prelimbic and anterior cingulate subregions with the morphology resembling pyramidal neurons. An increase in phospho-ERK-ir was also observed in the brainstem dorsal raphe nucleus and locus coeruleus. The NMDA GluN2B subtype receptor antagonist Ro 25-6981 increased phospho-ERK expression in the brain in a similar pattern as ketamine. In summary, we have established a sensitive and reliable focused microwave irradiation-assisted IHC assay, and defined the activation pattern of ERK, in response to systemic ketamine and Ro 25-6981 treatment, in brain regions that are potentially responsible for mediating the antidepressant effects. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficient Nd3+→Yb3+ energy transfer processes in high phonon energy phosphate glasses for 1.0 μm Yb3+ laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivera-López, F.; Babu, P.; Basavapoornima, Ch.; Jayasankar, C. K.; Lavín, V.

2011-06-01

Efficient Nd3+→Yb3+ resonant and phonon-assisted energy transfer processes have been observed in phosphate glasses and have been studied using steady-state and time-resolved optical spectroscopies. Results indicate that the energy transfer occurs via nonradiative electric dipole-dipole processes and is enhanced with the concentration of Yb3+ acceptor ions, having an efficiency higher than 75% for the glass doped with 1 mol% of Nd2O3 and 4 mol% of Yb2O3. The luminescence decay curves show a nonexponential character and the energy transfer microscopic parameter calculated with the Inokuti-Hirayama model gives a value of 240 × 10-40 cm6 s-1, being one of the highest reported in the literature for Nd3+-Yb3+ co-doped matrices. From the steady-state experimental absorption and emission cross-sections, a general expression for estimating the microscopic energy transfer parameter is proposed based upon the theoretical methods developed by Miyakawa and Dexter and Tarelho et al. This expression takes into account all the resonant mechanisms involved in an energy transfer processes together with other phonon-assisted nonvanishing overlaps. The value of the Nd3+→Yb3+ energy transfer microscopic parameter has been calculated to be 200 × 10-40 cm6 s-1, which is in good agreement with that obtained from the Inokuti-Hirayama fitting. These results show the importance of the nonresonant phonon-assisted Nd3+→Yb3+ energy transfer processes and the great potential of these glasses as active matrices in the development of multiple-pump-channel Yb3+ lasers.

Brain-controlled body movement assistance devices and methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leuthardt, Eric C.; Love, Lonnie J.; Coker, Rob

Methods, devices, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for brain-controlled body movement assistance devices. In one aspect, a device includes a brain-controlled body movement assistance device with a brain-computer interface (BCI) component adapted to be mounted to a user, a body movement assistance component operably connected to the BCI component and adapted to be worn by the user, and a feedback mechanism provided in connection with at least one of the BCI component and the body movement assistance component, the feedback mechanism being configured to output information relating to a usage session of themore » brain-controlled body movement assistance device.« less

Mapping a multiplexed zoo of mRNA expression.

PubMed

Choi, Harry M T; Calvert, Colby R; Husain, Naeem; Huss, David; Barsi, Julius C; Deverman, Benjamin E; Hunter, Ryan C; Kato, Mihoko; Lee, S Melanie; Abelin, Anna C T; Rosenthal, Adam Z; Akbari, Omar S; Li, Yuwei; Hay, Bruce A; Sternberg, Paul W; Patterson, Paul H; Davidson, Eric H; Mazmanian, Sarkis K; Prober, David A; van de Rijn, Matt; Leadbetter, Jared R; Newman, Dianne K; Readhead, Carol; Bronner, Marianne E; Wold, Barbara; Lansford, Rusty; Sauka-Spengler, Tatjana; Fraser, Scott E; Pierce, Niles A

2016-10-01

In situ hybridization methods are used across the biological sciences to map mRNA expression within intact specimens. Multiplexed experiments, in which multiple target mRNAs are mapped in a single sample, are essential for studying regulatory interactions, but remain cumbersome in most model organisms. Programmable in situ amplifiers based on the mechanism of hybridization chain reaction (HCR) overcome this longstanding challenge by operating independently within a sample, enabling multiplexed experiments to be performed with an experimental timeline independent of the number of target mRNAs. To assist biologists working across a broad spectrum of organisms, we demonstrate multiplexed in situ HCR in diverse imaging settings: bacteria, whole-mount nematode larvae, whole-mount fruit fly embryos, whole-mount sea urchin embryos, whole-mount zebrafish larvae, whole-mount chicken embryos, whole-mount mouse embryos and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human tissue sections. In addition to straightforward multiplexing, in situ HCR enables deep sample penetration, high contrast and subcellular resolution, providing an incisive tool for the study of interlaced and overlapping expression patterns, with implications for research communities across the biological sciences. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Mapping a multiplexed zoo of mRNA expression

PubMed Central

Choi, Harry M. T.; Calvert, Colby R.; Husain, Naeem; Huss, David; Barsi, Julius C.; Deverman, Benjamin E.; Hunter, Ryan C.; Kato, Mihoko; Lee, S. Melanie; Abelin, Anna C. T.; Rosenthal, Adam Z.; Akbari, Omar S.; Li, Yuwei; Hay, Bruce A.; Sternberg, Paul W.; Patterson, Paul H.; Davidson, Eric H.; Mazmanian, Sarkis K.; Prober, David A.; van de Rijn, Matt; Leadbetter, Jared R.; Newman, Dianne K.; Readhead, Carol; Bronner, Marianne E.; Wold, Barbara; Lansford, Rusty; Sauka-Spengler, Tatjana; Fraser, Scott E.

2016-01-01

In situ hybridization methods are used across the biological sciences to map mRNA expression within intact specimens. Multiplexed experiments, in which multiple target mRNAs are mapped in a single sample, are essential for studying regulatory interactions, but remain cumbersome in most model organisms. Programmable in situ amplifiers based on the mechanism of hybridization chain reaction (HCR) overcome this longstanding challenge by operating independently within a sample, enabling multiplexed experiments to be performed with an experimental timeline independent of the number of target mRNAs. To assist biologists working across a broad spectrum of organisms, we demonstrate multiplexed in situ HCR in diverse imaging settings: bacteria, whole-mount nematode larvae, whole-mount fruit fly embryos, whole-mount sea urchin embryos, whole-mount zebrafish larvae, whole-mount chicken embryos, whole-mount mouse embryos and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human tissue sections. In addition to straightforward multiplexing, in situ HCR enables deep sample penetration, high contrast and subcellular resolution, providing an incisive tool for the study of interlaced and overlapping expression patterns, with implications for research communities across the biological sciences. PMID:27702788

RNA Interference (RNAi) Induced Gene Silencing: A Promising Approach of Hi-Tech Plant Breeding.

PubMed

Younis, Adnan; Siddique, Muhammad Irfan; Kim, Chang-Kil; Lim, Ki-Byung

2014-01-01

RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising gene regulatory approach in functional genomics that has significant impact on crop improvement which permits down-regulation in gene expression with greater precise manner without affecting the expression of other genes. RNAi mechanism is expedited by small molecules of interfering RNA to suppress a gene of interest effectively. RNAi has also been exploited in plants for resistance against pathogens, insect/pest, nematodes, and virus that cause significant economic losses. Keeping beside the significance in the genome integrity maintenance as well as growth and development, RNAi induced gene syntheses are vital in plant stress management. Modifying the genes by the interference of small RNAs is one of the ways through which plants react to the environmental stresses. Hence, investigating the role of small RNAs in regulating gene expression assists the researchers to explore the potentiality of small RNAs in abiotic and biotic stress management. This novel approach opens new avenues for crop improvement by developing disease resistant, abiotic or biotic stress tolerant, and high yielding elite varieties.

RNA Interference (RNAi) Induced Gene Silencing: A Promising Approach of Hi-Tech Plant Breeding

PubMed Central

Younis, Adnan; Siddique, Muhammad Irfan; Kim, Chang-Kil; Lim, Ki-Byung

2014-01-01

RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising gene regulatory approach in functional genomics that has significant impact on crop improvement which permits down-regulation in gene expression with greater precise manner without affecting the expression of other genes. RNAi mechanism is expedited by small molecules of interfering RNA to suppress a gene of interest effectively. RNAi has also been exploited in plants for resistance against pathogens, insect/pest, nematodes, and virus that cause significant economic losses. Keeping beside the significance in the genome integrity maintenance as well as growth and development, RNAi induced gene syntheses are vital in plant stress management. Modifying the genes by the interference of small RNAs is one of the ways through which plants react to the environmental stresses. Hence, investigating the role of small RNAs in regulating gene expression assists the researchers to explore the potentiality of small RNAs in abiotic and biotic stress management. This novel approach opens new avenues for crop improvement by developing disease resistant, abiotic or biotic stress tolerant, and high yielding elite varieties. PMID:25332689

Proteomic analysis of etiolated juvenile tetraploid Robinia pseudoacacia branches during different cutting periods.

PubMed

Lu, Nan; Xu, Zhaohe; Meng, Bingnan; Sun, Yuhan; Zhang, Jiangtao; Wang, Shaoming; Li, Yun

2014-04-21

The propagation of hard-branch cuttings of tetraploid Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) is restricted by the low rooting rate; however, etiolated juvenile tetraploid black locust branches result in a significantly higher rooting rate of cuttings compared with non-etiolated juvenile tetraploid branches. To identify proteins that influence the juvenile tetraploid branch rooting process, two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectra (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS) were used to analyze proteomic differences in the phloem of tetraploid R. pseudoacacia etiolated and non-etiolated juvenile branches during different cutting periods. A total of 58 protein spots differed in expression level, and 16 protein spots were only expressed in etiolated branches or non-etiolated ones. A total of 40 highly expressed protein spots were identified by mass spectrometry, 14 of which were accurately retrieved. They include nucleoglucoprotein metabolic proteins, signaling proteins, lignin synthesis proteins and phyllochlorin. These results help to reveal the mechanism of juvenile tetraploid R. pseudoacacia etiolated branch rooting and provide a valuable reference for the improvement of tetraploid R. pseudoacacia cutting techniques.

28 CFR 2.62 - Rewarding assistance in the prosecution of other offenders; criteria and guidelines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... an offender other than the prisoner. Other significant assistance (e.g., providing information... in sufficient detail to permit a full evaluation. However, no promises, express or implied, as to a... release of the prisoner must not threaten the public safety. (4) The assistance must not have been...

Mechanisms to enhance the effectiveness of allied health and social care assistants in community-based rehabilitation services: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Moran, Anna; Nancarrow, Susan A; Enderby, Pamela

2015-07-01

This research aims to describe the factors associated with successful employment of allied health and social care assistants in community-based rehabilitation services (CBRS) in England. The research involved the thematic analysis of interviews and focus groups with 153 professionally qualified and assistant staff from 11 older people's interdisciplinary community rehabilitation teams. Data were collected between November 2006 and December 2008. Assistants were perceived as a focal point for care delivery and conduits for enabling a service to achieve goals within interdisciplinary team structures. Nine mechanisms were identified that promoted the successful employment of assistants: (i) Multidisciplinary team input into assistant training and support; (ii) Ensuring the timely assessment of clients by qualified staff; (iii) Establishing clear communication structures between qualified and assistant staff; (iv) Co-location of teams to promote communication and skill sharing; (v) Removing barriers that prevent staff working to their full scope of practice; (vi) Facilitating role flexibility of assistants, while upholding the principles of reablement; (vii) Allowing sufficient time for client-staff interaction; (viii) Ensuring an appropriate ratio of assistant to qualified staff to enable sufficient training and supervision of assistants; and (ix) Appropriately, resourcing the role for training and reimbursement to reflect responsibility. We conclude that upholding these mechanisms may help to optimise the efficiency and productivity of assistant and professionally qualified staff in CBRS. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Post-transcriptional regulation of α-1-antichymotrypsin by microRNA-137 in chronic heart failure and mechanical support.

PubMed

Lok, Sjoukje I; van Mil, Alain; Bovenschen, Niels; van der Weide, Petra; van Kuik, Joyce; van Wichen, Dick; Peeters, Ton; Siera, Erica; Winkens, Bjorn; Sluijter, Joost P G; Doevendans, Pieter A; da Costa Martins, Paula A; de Jonge, Nicolaas; de Weger, Roel A

2013-07-01

Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of remodeling has become a major objective of heart failure (HF) research to stop or reverse its progression. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are being used in patients with HF, leading to partial reverse remodeling. In the present study, proteomics identified significant changes in α-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) levels during LVAD support. Moreover, the potential role of ACT in reverse remodeling was studied in detail. Expression of ACT mRNA (quantitative-polymerase chain reaction) decreased significantly in post-LVAD myocardial tissue compared with pre-LVAD tissue (n=15; P<0.01). Immunohistochemistry revealed that ACT expression and localization changed during LVAD support. Circulating ACT levels were elevated in HF patients (n=18) as compared with healthy controls (n=6; P=0.001) and normalized by 6 months of LVAD support. Because increasing evidence implicates that microRNAs (miRs) are involved in myocardial disease processes, we also investigated whether ACT is post-transcriptionally regulated by miRs. Bioinformatics analysis pointed miR-137 as a potential regulator of ACT. The miR-137 expression is inversely correlated with ACT mRNA in myocardial tissue. Luciferase activity assays confirmed ACT as a direct target for miR-137, and in situ hybridization indicated that ACT and miR-137 were mainly localized in cardiomyocytes and stromal cells. High ACT plasma levels in HF normalized during LVAD support, which coincides with decreased ACT mRNA in heart tissue, whereas miR-137 levels increased. MiR-137 directly targeted ACT, thereby indicating that ACT and miR-137 play a role in the pathophysiology of HF and reverse remodeling during mechanical support.

Gravity-Assist Mechanical Simulator for Outreach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doody, David F.; White, Victor E.; Schaff, Mitch D.

2012-01-01

There is no convenient way to demonstrate mechanically, as an outreach (or inreach) topic, the angular momentum trade-offs and the conservation of angular momentum associated with gravityassist interplanetary trajectories. The mechanical concepts that underlie gravity assist are often misunderstood or confused, possibly because there is no mechanical analog to it in everyday experience. The Gravity Assist Mech - anical Simulator is a hands-on solution to this longstanding technical communications challenge. Users intuitively grasp the concepts, meeting specific educational objectives. A manually spun wheel with high angular mass and low-friction bearings supplies momentum to an attached spherical neodymium magnet that represents a planet orbiting the Sun. A steel bearing ball following a trajectory across a glass plate above the wheel and magnet undergoes an elastic collision with the revolving magnet, illustrating the gravitational elastic collision between spacecraft and planet on a gravity-assist interplanetary trajectory. Manually supplying the angular momentum for the elastic collision, rather than observing an animation, intuitively conveys the concepts, meeting nine specific educational objectives. Many NASA and JPL interplanetary missions are enabled by the gravity-assist technique.

Protein expression profiling in head fragments during planarian regeneration after amputation.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaoguang; Xu, Cunshuan

2015-04-01

Following amputation, a planarian tail fragment can regrow into a complete organism including a well-organized brain within about 2-3 weeks, thus restoring the structure and function to presurgical levels. Despite the enormous potential of these animals for regenerative medicine, our understanding of the exact mechanism of planarian regeneration is incomplete. To better understand the molecular nature of planarian head regeneration, we applied two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE)/matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS) technique to analyze the dynamic proteomic expression profiles over the course of 6 to 168 h post-decapitation. This approach identified a total of 141 differentially expressed proteins, 47 of which exhibited exceptionally high fold changes (≥3-fold change). Of these, Rx protein, an important regulator of head and brain development, was considered to be closely related to planarian head regeneration because of its exceptional high expression almost throughout the time course of regeneration process. Functional annotation analysis classified the 141 proteins into eight categories: (1) signaling, (2) Ca(2+) binding and translocation, (3) transcription and translation, (4) cytoskeleton, (5) metabolism, (6) cell protection, (7) tissue differentiation, and (8) cell cycle. Signaling pathway analysis indicated that Wnt1/Ca(2+) signaling pathway was activated during head regeneration. Integrating the analyses of proteome expression profiling, functional annotation, and signaling pathway, amputation-induced head reformation requires some mechanisms to promote cell proliferation and differentiation, including differential regulation of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins, and the regulation of proliferation and differentiation-related proteins. Importantly, Wnt1/Ca(2+) signaling pathway upregulates Rx expression, finally facilitating the differentiation of neoblasts into various cell types. Taken together, our study demonstrated that proteomic analysis approach used by us is a powerful tool in understanding molecular process related to head regeneration of planarian.

A Peer-Assisted Learning Experience in Computer Programming Language Learning and Developing Computer Programming Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Altintas, Tugba; Gunes, Ali; Sayan, Hamiyet

2016-01-01

Peer learning or, as commonly expressed, peer-assisted learning (PAL) involves school students who actively assist others to learn and in turn benefit from an effective learning environment. This research was designed to support students in becoming more autonomous in their learning, help them enhance their confidence level in tackling computer…

Biofabrication of a novel biomolecule-assisted reduced graphene oxide: an excellent biocompatible nanomaterial

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xi-Feng; Gurunathan, Sangiliyandi

2016-01-01

Graphene has been shown much interest, both in academics and industry due to its extraordinary physical, chemical, and biological proprieties. It shows great promises in biotechnological and biomedical applications as an antibacterial and anticancer agent, nanocarrier, sensor, etc. However, many studies demonstrated the toxicity of graphene in several cell lines, which is an obstacle to its use in biomedical applications. In this study, to improve the biocompatibility of graphene, we used nicotinamide (NAM) as a reducing and stabilizing agent to catalyze the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The resulted smaller-sized GO (NAM-rGO) showed excellent biocompatibility with mouse embryonic fibroblast cells, evidenced by various cellular assays. Furthermore, NAM-rGO had no effect on mitochondrial membrane permeability and caspase-3 activity compared to GO. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis allowed us to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for NAM-rGO-induced biocompatibility. NAM-rGO significantly induced the expression of genes encoding tight junction proteins (TJPs) such as zona occludens-1 (Tjp1) and claudins (Cldn3) without any effect on the expression of cytoskeleton proteins. Furthermore, NAM-rGO enhances the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) gene, and it does this in a time-dependent manner. Overall, our study depicted the molecular mechanisms underlying NAM-rGO biocompatibility depending on upregulation of TJPs and ALP. This potential quality of graphene could be used in diverse applications including tissue regeneration and tissue engineering. PMID:27994461

Dynamic changes in proteins during apple (Malus x domestica) fruit ripening and storage

PubMed Central

Shi, Yun; Jiang, Li; Zhang, Li; Kang, Ruoyi; Yu, Zhifang

2014-01-01

A proteomic study, using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight, was conducted in apple fruit (cv. ‘Golden Delicious’) starting at 10 days prior to harvest through 50 days in storage. Total protein was extracted using a phenol/sodium dodecyl sulfate protocol. More than 400 protein spots were detected in each gel and 55 differentially expressed proteins (p<0.05) were subjected to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight analysis. Fifty-three of these proteins were finally identified using an apple expressed sequence tag database downloaded from Genome Database for Rosaceae and placed into six categories. The categories and the percentage of proteins placed in each category were stress response and defense (49.0%), energy and metabolism (34.0%), fruit ripening and senescence (5.6%), signal transduction (3.8%), cell structure (3.8%) and protein synthesis (3.8%). Proteins involved in several multiple metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, pentose–phosphate pathway, anti-oxidative systems, photosynthesis and cell wall synthesis, were downregulated, especially during the climacteric burst in respiration and during the senescent stages of fruit development. Proteins classified as allergens or involved in cell wall degradation were upregulated during the ripening process. Some protein spots exhibited a mixed pattern (increasing to maximal abundance followed by a decrease), such as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase, L-ascorbate peroxidase and abscisic acid response proteins. The identification of differentially expressed proteins associated with physiological processes identified in the current study provides a baseline of information for understanding the metabolic processes and regulatory mechanisms that occur in climacteric apple fruit during ripening and senescence. PMID:26504530

Boron nitride nanotube-functionalised myoblast/microfibre constructs: a nanotech-assisted tissue-engineered platform for muscle stimulation.

PubMed

Danti, Serena; Ciofani, Gianni; Pertici, Gianni; Moscato, Stefania; D'Alessandro, Delfo; Ciabatti, Elena; Chiellini, Federica; D'Acunto, Mario; Mattoli, Virgilio; Berrettini, Stefano

2015-07-01

In this communication, we introduce boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)-functionalised muscle cell/microfibre mesh constructs, obtained via tissue engineering, as a three-dimensional (3D) platform to study a wireless stimulation system for electrically responsive cells and tissues. Our stimulation strategy exploits the piezoelectric behaviour of some classes of ceramic nanoparticles, such as BNNTs, able to polarize under mechanical stress, e.g. using low-frequency ultrasound (US). In the microfibre scaffolds, C2C12 myoblasts were able to differentiate into viable myotubes and to internalize BNNTs, also upon US irradiation, so as to obtain a nanotech-assisted 3D in vitro model. We then tested our stimulatory system on 2D and 3D cellular models by investigating the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43), as a molecule involved in cell crosstalk and mechanotransduction, and myosin, as a myogenic differentiation marker. Cx43 gene expression revealed a marked model dependency. In control samples (without US and/or BNNTs), Cx43 was upregulated under 2D culture conditions (10.78 ± 1.05-fold difference). Interactions with BNNTs increased Cx43 expression in 3D samples. Cx43 mRNA dropped in 2D under the 'BNNTs + US' regimen, while it was best enhanced in 3D samples (3.58 ± 1.05 vs 13.74 ± 1.42-fold difference, p = 0.0001). At the protein level, the maximal expressions of Cx43 and myosin were detected in the 3D model. In contrast with the 3D model, in 2D cultures, BNNTs and US exerted a synergistic depletive effect upon myosin synthesis. These findings indicate that model dimensionality and stimulatory regimens can strongly affect the responses of signalling and differentiation molecules, proving the importance of developing proper in vitro platforms for biological modelling. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Attosecond polarization control in atomic RABBITT-like experiments assisted by a circularly polarized laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boll, D. I. R.; Fojón, O. A.

2017-12-01

We study theoretically the single ionization of noble gas atoms by the combined action of an attosecond pulse train with linear polarization and an assistant laser field with circular polarization. We employ a non-perturbative model that under certain approximations gives closed-form expressions for the angular distributions of photoelectrons. Interestingly, our model allow us to interpret these angular distributions as two-centre interferences where the orientation and the modulus of the separation vector between the virtual emitters is governed by the assistant laser field. Additionally, we show that such a configuration of light fields is similar to the polarization control technique, where both the attosecond pulse train and the assistant laser field have linear polarizations whose relative orientation may be controlled. Moreover, in order to compare our results with the available experimental data, we obtain analytical expressions for the cross sections integrated over the photoelectron emission angles. By means of these expressions, we define the ‘magic time’ as the delay for which the total cross sections for atomic targets exhibit the same functional form as the one of the monochromatic photoionization of diatomic molecular targets.

Expression, purification, crystallization and X-ray diffraction studies of the molecular chaperone prefoldin from Homo sapiens.

PubMed

Aikawa, Yoshiki; Kida, Hiroshi; Nishitani, Yuichi; Miki, Kunio

2015-09-01

Proper protein folding is an essential process for all organisms. Prefoldin (PFD) is a molecular chaperone that assists protein folding by delivering non-native proteins to group II chaperonin. A heterohexamer of eukaryotic PFD has been shown to specifically recognize and deliver non-native actin and tubulin to chaperonin-containing TCP-1 (CCT), but the mechanism of specific recognition is still unclear. To determine its crystal structure, recombinant human PFD was reconstituted, purified and crystallized. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 4.7 Å resolution. The crystals belonged to space group P21212, with unit-cell parameters a = 123.2, b = 152.4, c = 105.9 Å.

Utility of an improved model of amyloid-beta (Aβ1-42) toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans for drug screening for Alzheimer’s disease

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background The definitive indicator of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology is the profuse accumulation of amyloid-ß (Aß) within the brain. Various in vitro and cell-based models have been proposed for high throughput drug screening for potential therapeutic benefit in diseases of protein misfolding. Caenorhabditis elegans offers a convenient in vivo system for examination of Aß accumulation and toxicity in a complex multicellular organism. Ease of culturing and a short life cycle make this animal model well suited to rapid screening of candidate compounds. Results We have generated a new transgenic strain of C. elegans that expresses full length Aß1-42. This strain differs from existing Aß models that predominantly express amino-truncated Aß3-42. The Aß1-42 is expressed in body wall muscle cells, where it oligomerizes, aggregates and results in severe, and fully penetrant, age progressive-paralysis. The in vivo accumulation of Aß1-42 also stains positive for amyloid dyes, consistent with in vivo fibril formation. The utility of this model for identification of potential protective compounds was examined using the investigational Alzheimer’s therapeutic PBT2, shown to be neuroprotective in mouse models of AD and significantly improve cognition in AD patients. We observed that treatment with PBT2 provided rapid and significant protection against the Aß-induced toxicity in C. elegans. Conclusion This C. elegans model of full length Aß1-42 expression can now be adopted for use in screens to rapidly identify and assist in development of potential therapeutics and to study underlying toxic mechanism(s) of Aß. PMID:23171715

Oxidative-stress-related proteome changes in Helicobacter pylori-infected human gastric mucosa.

PubMed Central

Baek, Hye Yeon; Lim, Joo Weon; Kim, Hyeyoung; Kim, Jung Mogg; Kim, Joo Sung; Jung, Hyun Chae; Kim, Kyung Hwan

2004-01-01

Helicobacter pylori infection leads to gastroduodenal inflammation, peptic ulceration and gastric carcinoma. Proteomic analysis of the human gastric mucosa from the patients with erosive gastritis, peptic ulcer or gastric cancer, which were either infected or not with H. pylori, was used to determine the differentially expressed proteins by H. pylori in the human gastric mucosa in order to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of H. pylori -induced gastric diseases. Prior to the experiment, the expression of the main 18 proteins were identified in the gastric mucosa and used for a proteome map of the human gastric mucosa. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis of the protein isolated from the H. pylori -infected tissues, Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining and computerized analysis of the stained gel, the expression of eight proteins were altered in the H. pylori -infected tissues compared with the non-infected tissues. MS analysis (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight MS) of the tryptic fragment and a data search allowed the the identification of the four increased proteins (78 kDa glucose-regulated protein precursor, endoplasmin precursor, aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 and L-lactate dehydrogenase B chain) and the four decreased proteins (intracellular chloride channel protein 1, glutathione S-transferase, heat-shock protein 60 and cytokeratin 8) caused by H. pylori infection in the gastric mucosa. These proteins are related to cell proliferation, carcinogenesis, cytoskeletal function and cellular defence mechanism. The common feature is that these proteins are related to oxidative-stress-mediated cell damage. In conclusion, the established gastric mucosal proteome map might be useful for detecting the disease-related protein changes. The H. pylori -induced alterations in protein expression demonstrate the involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of H. pylori -induced gastric diseases, including inflammation, ulceration and carcinogenesis. PMID:14711373

ASSIST - THE ABSTRACT SEMI-MARKOV SPECIFICATION INTERFACE TO THE SURE TOOL PROGRAM (SUN VERSION)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, S. C.

1994-01-01

ASSIST, the Abstract Semi-Markov Specification Interface to the SURE Tool program, is an interface that will enable reliability engineers to accurately design large semi-Markov models. The user describes the failure behavior of a fault-tolerant computer system in an abstract, high-level language. The ASSIST program then automatically generates a corresponding semi-Markov model. The abstract language allows efficient description of large, complex systems; a one-page ASSIST-language description may result in a semi-Markov model with thousands of states and transitions. The ASSIST program also includes model-reduction techniques to facilitate efficient modeling of large systems. Instead of listing the individual states of the Markov model, reliability engineers can specify the rules governing the behavior of a system, and these are used to automatically generate the model. ASSIST reads an input file describing the failure behavior of a system in an abstract language and generates a Markov model in the format needed for input to SURE, the semi-Markov Unreliability Range Evaluator program, and PAWS/STEM, the Pade Approximation with Scaling program and Scaled Taylor Exponential Matrix. A Markov model consists of a number of system states and transitions between them. Each state in the model represents a possible state of the system in terms of which components have failed, which ones have been removed, etc. Within ASSIST, each state is defined by a state vector, where each element of the vector takes on an integer value within a defined range. An element can represent any meaningful characteristic, such as the number of working components of one type in the system, or the number of faulty components of another type in use. Statements representing transitions between states in the model have three parts: a condition expression, a destination expression, and a rate expression. The first expression is a Boolean expression describing the state space variable values of states for which the transition is valid. The second expression defines the destination state for the transition in terms of state space variable values. The third expression defines the distribution of elapsed time for the transition. The mathematical approach chosen to solve a reliability problem may vary with the size and nature of the problem. Although different solution techniques are utilized on different programs, it is possible to have a common input language. The Systems Validation Methods group at NASA Langley Research Center has created a set of programs that form the basis for a reliability analysis workstation. The set of programs are: SURE reliability analysis program (COSMIC program LAR-13789, LAR-14921); the ASSIST specification interface program (LAR-14193, LAR-14923), PAWS/STEM reliability analysis programs (LAR-14165, LAR-14920); and the FTC fault tree tool (LAR-14586, LAR-14922). FTC is used to calculate the top-event probability for a fault tree. PAWS/STEM and SURE are programs which interpret the same SURE language, but utilize different solution methods. ASSIST is a preprocessor that generates SURE language from a more abstract definition. SURE, ASSIST, and PAWS/STEM are also offered as a bundle. Please see the abstract for COS-10039/COS-10041, SARA - SURE/ASSIST Reliability Analysis Workstation, for pricing details. ASSIST was originally developed for DEC VAX series computers running VMS and was later ported for use on Sun computers running SunOS. The VMS version (LAR14193) is written in C-language and can be compiled with the VAX C compiler. The standard distribution medium for the VMS version of ASSIST is a 9-track 1600 BPI magnetic tape in VMSINSTAL format. It is also available on a TK50 tape cartridge in VMSINSTAL format. Executables are included. The Sun version (LAR14923) is written in ANSI C-language. An ANSI compliant C compiler is required in order to compile this package. The standard distribution medium for the Sun version of ASSIST is a .25 inch streaming magnetic tape cartridge in UNIX tar format. Both Sun3 and Sun4 executables are included. Electronic copies of the documentation in PostScript, TeX, and DVI formats are provided on the distribution medium. (The VMS distribution lacks the .DVI format files, however.) ASSIST was developed in 1986 and last updated in 1992. DEC, VAX, VMS, and TK50 are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. SunOS, Sun3, and Sun4 are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories.

ASSIST - THE ABSTRACT SEMI-MARKOV SPECIFICATION INTERFACE TO THE SURE TOOL PROGRAM (VAX VMS VERSION)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, S. C.

1994-01-01

ASSIST, the Abstract Semi-Markov Specification Interface to the SURE Tool program, is an interface that will enable reliability engineers to accurately design large semi-Markov models. The user describes the failure behavior of a fault-tolerant computer system in an abstract, high-level language. The ASSIST program then automatically generates a corresponding semi-Markov model. The abstract language allows efficient description of large, complex systems; a one-page ASSIST-language description may result in a semi-Markov model with thousands of states and transitions. The ASSIST program also includes model-reduction techniques to facilitate efficient modeling of large systems. Instead of listing the individual states of the Markov model, reliability engineers can specify the rules governing the behavior of a system, and these are used to automatically generate the model. ASSIST reads an input file describing the failure behavior of a system in an abstract language and generates a Markov model in the format needed for input to SURE, the semi-Markov Unreliability Range Evaluator program, and PAWS/STEM, the Pade Approximation with Scaling program and Scaled Taylor Exponential Matrix. A Markov model consists of a number of system states and transitions between them. Each state in the model represents a possible state of the system in terms of which components have failed, which ones have been removed, etc. Within ASSIST, each state is defined by a state vector, where each element of the vector takes on an integer value within a defined range. An element can represent any meaningful characteristic, such as the number of working components of one type in the system, or the number of faulty components of another type in use. Statements representing transitions between states in the model have three parts: a condition expression, a destination expression, and a rate expression. The first expression is a Boolean expression describing the state space variable values of states for which the transition is valid. The second expression defines the destination state for the transition in terms of state space variable values. The third expression defines the distribution of elapsed time for the transition. The mathematical approach chosen to solve a reliability problem may vary with the size and nature of the problem. Although different solution techniques are utilized on different programs, it is possible to have a common input language. The Systems Validation Methods group at NASA Langley Research Center has created a set of programs that form the basis for a reliability analysis workstation. The set of programs are: SURE reliability analysis program (COSMIC program LAR-13789, LAR-14921); the ASSIST specification interface program (LAR-14193, LAR-14923), PAWS/STEM reliability analysis programs (LAR-14165, LAR-14920); and the FTC fault tree tool (LAR-14586, LAR-14922). FTC is used to calculate the top-event probability for a fault tree. PAWS/STEM and SURE are programs which interpret the same SURE language, but utilize different solution methods. ASSIST is a preprocessor that generates SURE language from a more abstract definition. SURE, ASSIST, and PAWS/STEM are also offered as a bundle. Please see the abstract for COS-10039/COS-10041, SARA - SURE/ASSIST Reliability Analysis Workstation, for pricing details. ASSIST was originally developed for DEC VAX series computers running VMS and was later ported for use on Sun computers running SunOS. The VMS version (LAR14193) is written in C-language and can be compiled with the VAX C compiler. The standard distribution medium for the VMS version of ASSIST is a 9-track 1600 BPI magnetic tape in VMSINSTAL format. It is also available on a TK50 tape cartridge in VMSINSTAL format. Executables are included. The Sun version (LAR14923) is written in ANSI C-language. An ANSI compliant C compiler is required in order to compile this package. The standard distribution medium for the Sun version of ASSIST is a .25 inch streaming magnetic tape cartridge in UNIX tar format. Both Sun3 and Sun4 executables are included. Electronic copies of the documentation in PostScript, TeX, and DVI formats are provided on the distribution medium. (The VMS distribution lacks the .DVI format files, however.) ASSIST was developed in 1986 and last updated in 1992. DEC, VAX, VMS, and TK50 are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. SunOS, Sun3, and Sun4 are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Behavior, Experience and Expression: Some Research Considerations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Romanyshyn, Robert D.

Utilizing research conducted on nostalgia, this paper shows how a phenomenological approach assists in understanding behavior, experience and expression. Moreover, a clearer understanding of them aids one's research with and comprehension of nostalgia. Human action can be studied from the experiential, behavioral and expressive perspectives. These…

Employment Counseling and Life Stressors: Coping through Expressive Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soper, Barlow; Von Bergen, C. W.

2001-01-01

Discusses the use of expressive writing as a potential intervention for use by employment counselors to assist clients in their search for work. Discusses factors that favorably influence expressive writing and specific procedures for implementation in the employment counseling context. (Contains 51 references.) (GCP)

Transcriptome-based investigation of cirrus development and identifying microsatellite markers in rattan (Daemonorops jenkinsiana)

PubMed Central

Zhao, Hansheng; Sun, Huayu; Li, Lichao; Lou, Yongfeng; Li, Rongsheng; Qi, Lianghua; Gao, Zhimin

2017-01-01

Rattan is an important group of regenerating non-wood climbing palm in tropical forests. The cirrus is an essential climbing organ and provides morphological evidence for evolutionary and taxonomic studies. However, limited data are available on the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of the cirrus. Thus, we performed in-depth transcriptomic sequencing analyses to characterize the cirrus development at different developmental stages of Daemonorops jenkinsiana. The result showed 404,875 transcripts were assembled, including 61,569 high-quality unigenes were identified, of which approximately 76.16% were annotated and classified by seven authorized databases. Moreover, a comprehensive analysis of the gene expression profiles identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) concentrated in developmental pathways, cell wall metabolism, and hook formation between the different stages of the cirri. Among them, 37 DEGs were validated by qRT-PCR. Furthermore, 14,693 transcriptome-based microsatellites were identified. Of the 168 designed SSR primer pairs, 153 were validated and 16 pairs were utilized for the polymorphic analysis of 25 rattan accessions. These findings can be used to interpret the molecular mechanisms of cirrus development, and the developed microsatellites markers provide valuable data for assisting rattan taxonomy and expanding the understanding of genomic study in rattan. PMID:28383053

Environmental friendly cold-mechanical/sonic enzymatic assisted extraction of genipin from genipap (Genipa americana).

PubMed

Ramos-de-la-Peña, Ana Mayela; Renard, Catherine M G C; Wicker, Louise; Montañez, Julio C; García-Cerda, Luis Alfonso; Contreras-Esquivel, Juan Carlos

2014-01-01

An efficient cold-mechanical/sonic-assisted extraction technique was developed for extraction of genipin from genipap (Genipa americana) peel. Ultrasound assisted extraction (285 W, 24 kHz) was performed at 5, 10 and 15 °C for 5, 10 and 15 min. After cold-extraction, genipin was separated from pectin and proteins by aid of fungal pectinesterase. The maximum yield of non-cross-linked genipin was 7.85±0.33 mg/g, at 10 °C for 15 min by means of ultrasound extraction. The protein amount in extracts decreased in all samples. If mechanical process is combined with ultrasound assisted extraction the yield is increased by 8 times after the pectinesterase-assisted polyelectrolyte complex formation between pectic polysaccharides and proteins, avoiding the typical cross-linking of genipin. This novel process is viable to obtain non-cross-linked genipin, to be used as a natural colorant and cross-linker in the food and biotechnological industries. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Proteomic analysis of protective effects of polysaccharides from Salvia miltiorrhiza against immunological liver injury in mice.

PubMed

Sun, Xue-Gang; Fu, Xiu-Qiong; Cai, Hong-Bing; Liu, Qiang; Li, Chun-Hua; Liu, Ya-Wei; Li, Ying-Jia; Liu, Zhi-Feng; Song, Yu-Hong; Lv, Zhi-Ping

2011-07-01

This study was designed to investigate mechanisms of the protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide (SMPS) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immunological liver injury (ILI) in Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-primed mice. Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis showed that three proteins are down-regulated and six proteins are up-regulated by SMPS. SMPS reduces the degree of liver injury by up-regulating the enzymes of the citric acid cycle, namely malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. LPS significantly increases nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and MDA level in BCG primed mice liver, whereas SMPS treatment protects against the immunological liver injury through inhibition of the NF-κB activation by up-regulation of PRDX6 and the subsequent attenuation of lipid peroxidation, iNOS expression and inflammation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Applying genotoxicology tools to identify environmental stressors in support of river management.

PubMed

Oberholster, Paul J; Hill, Liesl; Jappie, Shaamiela; Truter, Johannes C; Botha, Anna-Maria

2016-02-01

Although bioassay approaches are useful for identifying chemicals of potential concern, they provide little understanding of the mechanisms of chemical toxicity. Without this understanding, it is difficult to address some of the key challenges that currently face aquatic ecotoxicology. To overcome this, the toxicity potential of the water samples was assessed and surviving organisms (Physa acuta) were used for protein activity measurements and gene expression profiling by making use of complementary DNA amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) analysis. From the data it was evident that the impacts of specific pollutants (e.g. sewage) on organisms at the cellular level could be identified, and that the expressed stressor genes can be used as bioindicators/markers/genetic signatures or fingerprints during identification of point source pollution. From an ecosystem management point of view these insights could assist with the forecasting and reduction of environmental risks on catchment level by implementing suitable management interventions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural Basis of Mitochondrial Transcription Initiation.

PubMed

Hillen, Hauke S; Morozov, Yaroslav I; Sarfallah, Azadeh; Temiakov, Dmitry; Cramer, Patrick

2017-11-16

Transcription in human mitochondria is driven by a single-subunit, factor-dependent RNA polymerase (mtRNAP). Despite its critical role in both expression and replication of the mitochondrial genome, transcription initiation by mtRNAP remains poorly understood. Here, we report crystal structures of human mitochondrial transcription initiation complexes assembled on both light and heavy strand promoters. The structures reveal how transcription factors TFAM and TFB2M assist mtRNAP to achieve promoter-dependent initiation. TFAM tethers the N-terminal region of mtRNAP to recruit the polymerase to the promoter whereas TFB2M induces structural changes in mtRNAP to enable promoter opening and trapping of the DNA non-template strand. Structural comparisons demonstrate that the initiation mechanism in mitochondria is distinct from that in the well-studied nuclear, bacterial, or bacteriophage transcription systems but that similarities are found on the topological and conceptual level. These results provide a framework for studying the regulation of gene expression and DNA replication in mitochondria. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mechanical Serial-Sectioning Data Assistant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Poulter, Gregory A.; Madison, Jonathan D.

Mechanical Serial-Sectioning Data Assistant (MECH-SSDA) is a real-time data analytics software with graphical user-interface that; 1) tracks and visualizes material removal rates for mechanical serial-sectioning experiments using at least two height measurement methods; 2) tracks process time for specific segments of the serial-sectioning experiment; and 3) alerts the user to anomalies in expected removal rate, process time or unanticipated operational pauses

Flexural Fatigue Response of Repaired S2-Glass/Vinyl Ester Composites

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-08-01

of Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105 14. ABSTRACT Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding ...Introduction 1  2.  Vacuum-Assisted Resin Transfer Molding 2  3.  Repair Strategies 2  4.  Processing and Repairing Laminates 4  5.  Experimental 4  5.1  Set 1...vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) (2), performance evaluations have assumed increasing importance due to the lack of historical databases on

Pathology resident attitudes and opinions about pathologists' assistants.

PubMed

Grzybicki, Dana Marie; Vrbin, Colleen M

2003-06-01

Changes in health care economics and organization have resulted in increased use of nonphysician providers in most health care settings. Attitudinal acceptance of nonphysician providers is important in the current health care environment. To obtain descriptive information regarding pathology resident attitudes and opinions about pathologists' assistants in anatomic pathology practice and to assess the implications of resident attitudes and opinions for pathology practice and training. A self-administered, mailed, voluntary, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to a cross-sectional sample of pathology residents in the United States (2531 pathology residents registered as resident members of one of the national pathology professional organizations). The questionnaire contained (1) items relating to resident demographics and program characteristics, (2) Likert-scale response items containing positive and negative statements about pathologists' assistants, (3) a multiple-choice item related to pathologists' assistants scope of practice, and (4) an open-ended item inviting additional comments. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis of responses was performed. The overall response rate was 19.4% (n = 490); 50% of the respondents were women, and 77% reported use of pathologists' assistants in their program. Most respondents were 25 to 35 years old and in postgraduate years 3 through 5 of their training, and most were located in the Midwestern United States. The majority of residents expressed overall positive attitudes and opinions about pathologists' assistants and felt that pathologists' assistants enhanced resident training by optimizing resident workload. A minority (10%-20%) of residents expressed negative attitudes or opinions about pathologists' assistants. Additionally, some residents reported a lack of knowledge about pathologists' assistants' training or roles. Increased resident education and open discussion concerning pathologists' assistants may be beneficial for optimizing resident attitudes about and training experiences with pathologists' assistants.

Mechanical Circulatory Support of the Critically Ill Child Awaiting Heart Transplantation

PubMed Central

Gazit, Avihu Z; Gandhi, Sanjiv K; C Canter, Charles

2010-01-01

The majority of children awaiting heart transplantation require inotropic support, mechanical ventilation, and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Unfortunately, due to the limited pool of organs, many of these children do not survive to transplant. Mechanical circulatory support of the failing heart in pediatrics is a new and rapidly developing field world-wide. It is utilized in children with acute congestive heart failure associated with congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and myocarditis, both as a bridge to transplantation and as a bridge to myocardial recovery. The current arsenal of mechanical assist devices available for children is limited to ECMO, intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation, centrifugal pump ventricular assist devices, the DeBakey ventricular assist device Child; the Thoratec ventricular assist device; and the Berlin Heart. In the spring of 2004, five contracts were awarded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to support preclinical development for a range of pediatric ventricular assist devices and similar circulatory support systems. The support of early development efforts provided by this program is expected to yield several devices that will be ready for clinical trials within the next few years. Our work reviews the current international experience with mechanical circulatory support in children and summarizes our own experience since 2005 with the Berlin Heart, comparing the indications for use, length of support, and outcome between these modalities. PMID:21286278

A new "twist" on right heart failure with left ventricular assist systems.

PubMed

Houston, Brian A; Shah, Keyur B; Mehra, Mandeep R; Tedford, Ryan J

2017-07-01

Despite significant efforts to predict and prevent right heart failure, it remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after implantation of left ventricular assist systems (LVAS). In this Perspective, we review the underappreciated anatomic and physiologic principles that govern the relationship between left and right heart function and contribute to this phenomenon. This includes the importance of considering the right ventricle (RV) and pulmonary arterial circuit as a coupled system; the contribution of the left ventricle (LV) to RV contractile function and the potential negative impact of acutely unloading the LV; the influence of the pericardium and ventricular twist on septal function; the role of RV deformation in reduced mechanical efficiency after device placement; and the potential of ongoing stressors of an elevated right-sided preload. We believe an appreciation of these complex issues is required to fully understand the expression of the unique phenotypes of right heart failure after LVAS implantation and for developing better prognostic and therapeutic strategies. Copyright © 2017 International Society for the Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Functional Genomics Assistant (FUGA): a toolbox for the analysis of complex biological networks

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Cellular constituents such as proteins, DNA, and RNA form a complex web of interactions that regulate biochemical homeostasis and determine the dynamic cellular response to external stimuli. It follows that detailed understanding of these patterns is critical for the assessment of fundamental processes in cell biology and pathology. Representation and analysis of cellular constituents through network principles is a promising and popular analytical avenue towards a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms in a system-wide context. Findings We present Functional Genomics Assistant (FUGA) - an extensible and portable MATLAB toolbox for the inference of biological relationships, graph topology analysis, random network simulation, network clustering, and functional enrichment statistics. In contrast to conventional differential expression analysis of individual genes, FUGA offers a framework for the study of system-wide properties of biological networks and highlights putative molecular targets using concepts of systems biology. Conclusion FUGA offers a simple and customizable framework for network analysis in a variety of systems biology applications. It is freely available for individual or academic use at http://code.google.com/p/fuga. PMID:22035155

Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) in bovine trypanotolerance: preliminary results

PubMed Central

2003-01-01

In Africa, trypanosomosis is a tsetse-transmitted disease which represents the most important constraint to livestock production. Several indigenous West African taurine (Bos taurus) breeds, such as the Longhorn (N'Dama) cattle are well known to control trypanosome infections. This genetic ability named "trypanotolerance" results from various biological mechanisms under multigenic control. The methodologies used so far have not succeeded in identifying the complete pool of genes involved in trypanotolerance. New post genomic biotechnologies such as transcriptome analyses are efficient in characterising the pool of genes involved in the expression of specific biological functions. We used the serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) technique to construct, from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of an N'Dama cow, 2 total mRNA transcript libraries, at day 0 of a Trypanosoma congolense experimental infection and at day 10 post-infection, corresponding to the peak of parasitaemia. Bioinformatic comparisons in the bovine genomic databases allowed the identification of 187 up- and down- regulated genes, EST and unknown functional genes. Identification of the genes involved in trypanotolerance will allow to set up specific microarray sets for further metabolic and pharmacological studies and to design field marker-assisted selection by introgression programmes. PMID:12927079

Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) in bovine trypanotolerance: preliminary results.

PubMed

Berthier, David; Quéré, Ronan; Thevenon, Sophie; Belemsaga, Désiré; Piquemal, David; Marti, Jacques; Maillard, Jean-Charles

2003-01-01

In Africa, trypanosomosis is a tsetse-transmitted disease which represents the most important constraint to livestock production. Several indigenous West African taurine Bos taurus) breeds, such as the Longhorn (N'Dama) cattle are well known to control trypanosome infections. This genetic ability named "trypanotolerance" results from various biological mechanisms under multigenic control. The methodologies used so far have not succeeded in identifying the complete pool of genes involved in trypanotolerance. New post genomic biotechnologies such as transcriptome analyses are efficient in characterising the pool of genes involved in the expression of specific biological functions. We used the serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) technique to construct, from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of an N'Dama cow, 2 total mRNA transcript libraries, at day 0 of a Trypanosoma congolense experimental infection and at day 10 post-infection, corresponding to the peak of parasitaemia. Bioinformatic comparisons in the bovine genomic databases allowed the identification of 187 up- and down- regulated genes, EST and unknown functional genes. Identification of the genes involved in trypanotolerance will allow to set up specific microarray sets for further metabolic and pharmacological studies and to design field marker-assisted selection by introgression programmes.

Characterization of gonadal transcriptomes from the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus).

PubMed

Hu, Yulong; Huang, Meng; Wang, Weiji; Guan, Jiantao; Kong, Jie

2016-01-01

The mechanisms underlying sexual reproduction and sex ratio determination remains unclear in turbot, a flatfish of great commercial value. And there is limited information in the turbot database regarding genes related to the reproductive system. Here, we conducted high-throughput transcriptome profiling of turbot gonad tissues to better understand their reproductive functions and to supply essential gene sequence information for marker-assisted selection programs in the turbot industry. In this study, two gonad libraries representing sex differences in Scophthalmus maximus yielded 453 818 high-quality reads that were assembled into 24 611 contigs and 33 713 singletons by using 454 pyrosequencing, 13 936 contigs and singletons (CS) of which were annotated using BLASTx. GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway analyses revealed that various biological functions and processes were associated with many of the annotated CS. Expression analyses showed that 510 genes were differentially expressed in males versus females; 80% of these genes were annotated. In addition, 6484 and 6036 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in male and female libraries, respectively. This transcriptome resource will serve as the foundation for cDNA or SNP microarray construction, gene expression characterization, and sex-specific linkage mapping in turbot.

Heterogeneous distribution of alectinib in neuroblastoma xenografts revealed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging: a pilot study.

PubMed

Ryu, Shoraku; Hayashi, Mitsuhiro; Aikawa, Hiroaki; Okamoto, Isamu; Fujiwara, Yasuhiro; Hamada, Akinobu

2018-01-01

The penetration of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor alectinib in neuroblastomas and the relationship between alectinib and ALK expression are unknown. The aim of this study was to perform a quantitative investigation of the inter- and intra-tumoural distribution of alectinib in different neuroblastoma xenograft models using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization MS imaging (MALDI-MSI). The distribution of alectinib in NB1 (ALK amplification) and SK-N-FI (ALK wild-type) xenograft tissues was analysed using MALDI-MSI. The abundance of alectinib in tumours and intra-tumoural areas was quantified using ion signal intensities from MALDI-MSI after normalization by correlation with LC-MS/MS. The distribution of alectinib was heterogeneous in neuroblastomas. The penetration of alectinib was not significantly different between ALK amplification and ALK wide-type tissues using both LC-MS/MS concentrations and MSI intensities. Normalization with an internal standard increased the quantitative property of MSI by adjusting for the ion suppression effect. The distribution of alectinib in different intra-tumoural areas can alternatively be quantified from MS images by correlation with LC-MS/MS. The penetration of alectinib into tumour tissues may not be homogenous or influenced by ALK expression in the early period after single-dose administration. MALDI-MSI may prove to be a valuable pharmaceutical method for elucidating the mechanism of action of drugs by clarifying their microscopic distribution in heterogeneous tissues. © 2017 The British Pharmacological Society.

Assisted suicide for prisoners? Stakeholder and prisoner perspectives.

PubMed

Shaw, David M; Elger, Bernice S

2016-09-01

For a wider project on aging in prison, the authors interviewed 35 older prisoners and 24 stakeholders (prison staff, prison healthcare professionals, and policy makers) about healthcare for prisoners. In all, 6 prisoners and 3 stakeholders spontaneously expressed their attitudes concerning assisted suicide. Some prisoners seek assisted suicide for medical reasons and others because they regard spending the rest of their lives in prison as undignified. However, stakeholders identified several ethical and practical challenges in providing assisted suicide to prisoners. This article presents these perspectives on assisted suicide in prison and provides an ethical analysis of the issues raised.

33 CFR 161.18 - Reporting requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... call. H HOTEL Date, time and point of entry system Entry time expressed as in (B) and into the entry... KILO Date, time and point of exit from system Exit time expressed as in (B) and exit position expressed....; for a dredge or floating plant: configuration of pipeline, mooring configuration, number of assist...

New modes of assisted mechanical ventilation.

PubMed

Suarez-Sipmann, F

2014-05-01

Recent major advances in mechanical ventilation have resulted in new exciting modes of assisted ventilation. Compared to traditional ventilation modes such as assisted-controlled ventilation or pressure support ventilation, these new modes offer a number of physiological advantages derived from the improved patient control over the ventilator. By implementing advanced closed-loop control systems and using information on lung mechanics, respiratory muscle function and respiratory drive, these modes are specifically designed to improve patient-ventilator synchrony and reduce the work of breathing. Depending on their specific operational characteristics, these modes can assist spontaneous breathing efforts synchronically in time and magnitude, adapt to changing patient demands, implement automated weaning protocols, and introduce a more physiological variability in the breathing pattern. Clinicians have now the possibility to individualize and optimize ventilatory assistance during the complex transition from fully controlled to spontaneous assisted ventilation. The growing evidence of the physiological and clinical benefits of these new modes is favoring their progressive introduction into clinical practice. Future clinical trials should improve our understanding of these modes and help determine whether the claimed benefits result in better outcomes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. and SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.

Robot assistance of motor learning: A neuro-cognitive perspective.

PubMed

Heuer, Herbert; Lüttgen, Jenna

2015-09-01

The last several years have seen a number of approaches to robot assistance of motor learning. Experimental studies have produced a range of findings from beneficial effects through null-effects to detrimental effects of robot assistance. In this review we seek an answer to the question under which conditions which outcomes should be expected. For this purpose we derive tentative predictions based on a classification of learning tasks in terms of the products of learning, the mechanisms involved, and the modulation of these mechanisms by robot assistance. Consistent with these predictions, the learning of dynamic features of trajectories is facilitated and the learning of kinematic and dynamic transformations is impeded by robotic guidance, whereas the learning of dynamic transformations can profit from robot assistance with error-amplifying forces. Deviating from the predictions, learning of spatial features of trajectories is impeded by haptic guidance, but can be facilitated by divergent force fields. The deviations point to the existence of additional effects of robot assistance beyond the modulation of learning mechanisms, e.g., the induction of a passive role of the motor system during practice with haptic guidance. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

13 CFR 134.217 - Settlement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... has express authority, under statute, SBA regulation or SBA standard operating procedures, to review... 13 Business Credit and Assistance 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Settlement. 134.217 Section 134.217 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION RULES OF PROCEDURE GOVERNING CASES...

A Glider-Assisted Link Disruption Restoration Mechanism in Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks.

PubMed

Jin, Zhigang; Wang, Ning; Su, Yishan; Yang, Qiuling

2018-02-07

Underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) have become a hot research topic. In UASNs, nodes can be affected by ocean currents and external forces, which could result in sudden link disruption. Therefore, designing a flexible and efficient link disruption restoration mechanism to ensure the network connectivity is a challenge. In the paper, we propose a glider-assisted restoration mechanism which includes link disruption recognition and related link restoring mechanism. In the link disruption recognition mechanism, the cluster heads collect the link disruption information and then schedule gliders acting as relay nodes to restore the disrupted link. Considering the glider's sawtooth motion, we design a relay location optimization algorithm with a consideration of both the glider's trajectory and acoustic channel attenuation model. The utility function is established by minimizing the channel attenuation and the optimal location of glider is solved by a multiplier method. The glider-assisted restoration mechanism can greatly improve the packet delivery rate and reduce the communication energy consumption and it is more general for the restoration of different link disruption scenarios. The simulation results show that glider-assisted restoration mechanism can improve the delivery rate of data packets by 15-33% compared with cooperative opportunistic routing (OVAR), the hop-by-hop vector-based forwarding (HH-VBF) and the vector based forward (VBF) methods, and reduce communication energy consumption by 20-58% for a typical network's setting.

A Glider-Assisted Link Disruption Restoration Mechanism in Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks

PubMed Central

Wang, Ning; Su, Yishan; Yang, Qiuling

2018-01-01

Underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) have become a hot research topic. In UASNs, nodes can be affected by ocean currents and external forces, which could result in sudden link disruption. Therefore, designing a flexible and efficient link disruption restoration mechanism to ensure the network connectivity is a challenge. In the paper, we propose a glider-assisted restoration mechanism which includes link disruption recognition and related link restoring mechanism. In the link disruption recognition mechanism, the cluster heads collect the link disruption information and then schedule gliders acting as relay nodes to restore the disrupted link. Considering the glider’s sawtooth motion, we design a relay location optimization algorithm with a consideration of both the glider’s trajectory and acoustic channel attenuation model. The utility function is established by minimizing the channel attenuation and the optimal location of glider is solved by a multiplier method. The glider-assisted restoration mechanism can greatly improve the packet delivery rate and reduce the communication energy consumption and it is more general for the restoration of different link disruption scenarios. The simulation results show that glider-assisted restoration mechanism can improve the delivery rate of data packets by 15–33% compared with cooperative opportunistic routing (OVAR), the hop-by-hop vector-based forwarding (HH-VBF) and the vector based forward (VBF) methods, and reduce communication energy consumption by 20–58% for a typical network’s setting. PMID:29414898

Limiting exercise options: depending on a proxy may inhibit exercise self-management.

PubMed

Shields, Christopher A; Brawley, Lawrence R

2007-07-01

We examined the influence of proxy-assistance on exercisers' social cognitions and behavior. Fifty-six fitness class participants reported preference for proxy-assistance and reacted to exercising in different contexts. A 2 (proxy-led vs self-managed exercise context) by 2 (preferred assistance) MANOVA revealed significant assistance by context interactions for self-regulatory efficacy (SRE) and difficulty. Regarding self-managed exercise, high-assistance individuals expressed lower SRE and higher difficulty. Chi-square analysis revealed that significantly fewer high-assistance participants chose self-managed exercise. A one-way MANOVA on preferred assistance indicated that high-assistance participants were less confident, satisfied and perceived their self-managed exercise as more difficult. Results support Bandura's theorizing that use of a proxy can limit SRE of those preferring the proxy's control of their behavior.

Assistant Personal Robot (APR): Conception and Application of a Tele-Operated Assisted Living Robot.

PubMed

Clotet, Eduard; Martínez, Dani; Moreno, Javier; Tresanchez, Marcel; Palacín, Jordi

2016-04-28

This paper presents the technical description, mechanical design, electronic components, software implementation and possible applications of a tele-operated mobile robot designed as an assisted living tool. This robotic concept has been named Assistant Personal Robot (or APR for short) and has been designed as a remotely telecontrolled robotic platform built to provide social and assistive services to elderly people and those with impaired mobility. The APR features a fast high-mobility motion system adapted for tele-operation in plain indoor areas, which incorporates a high-priority collision avoidance procedure. This paper presents the mechanical architecture, electrical fundaments and software implementation required in order to develop the main functionalities of an assistive robot. The APR uses a tablet in order to implement the basic peer-to-peer videoconference and tele-operation control combined with a tactile graphic user interface. The paper also presents the development of some applications proposed in the framework of an assisted living robot.

HPAC info-dex 1 -- Locating a manufacturer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1994-06-01

Information in the index includes manufacturer name, address, and telephone and FAX numbers. In this section are more than 200 pages of detailed product information from manufacturers of a wide variety of mechanical systems products. The information details ranges of capacities, sizes, and other data that will assist in the selection and application of these products for mechanical systems in large plants and buildings. Throughout the year, use this section for assistance on current engineering projects. The information details ranges of capacities, sizes, and other data that will assist in the selection and application of these products for mechanical systemsmore » in large plants and buildings. Throughout the year, use this section for assistance on current engineering projects. The manufacturers appearing in HPAC Info-dex 6 are boldface listed in HPAC Info-dex 1, HPAC Info-dex 2, and HPAC Info-dex 3.« less

Engineering Knowledge for Assistive Living

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Liming; Nugent, Chris

This paper introduces a knowledge based approach to assistive living in smart homes. It proposes a system architecture that makes use of knowledge in the lifecycle of assistive living. The paper describes ontology based knowledge engineering practices and discusses mechanisms for exploiting knowledge for activity recognition and assistance. It presents system implementation and experiments, and discusses initial results.

Therapeutic effect of increased openness: Investigating mechanism of action in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.

PubMed

Wagner, Mark T; Mithoefer, Michael C; Mithoefer, Ann T; MacAulay, Rebecca K; Jerome, Lisa; Yazar-Klosinski, Berra; Doblin, Rick

2017-08-01

A growing body of research suggests that traumatic events lead to persisting personality change characterized by increased neuroticism. Relevantly, enduring improvements in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms have been found in response to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy. There is evidence that lasting changes in the personality feature of "openness" occur in response to hallucinogens, and that this may potentially act as a therapeutic mechanism of change. The present study investigated whether heightened Openness and decreased Neuroticism served as a mechanism of change within a randomized trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) Global Scores and NEO PI-R Personality Inventory (NEO) Openness and Neuroticism Scales served as outcome measures. Results indicated that changes in Openness but not Neuroticism played a moderating role in the relationship between reduced PTSD symptoms and MDMA treatment. Following MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, increased Openness and decreased Neuroticism when comparing baseline personality traits with long-term follow-up traits also were found. These preliminary findings suggest that the effect of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy extends beyond specific PTSD symptomatology and fundamentally alters personality structure, resulting in long-term persisting personality change. Results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms of psychotherapeutic change.

Therapeutic effect of increased openness: Investigating mechanism of action in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy

PubMed Central

Wagner, Mark T; Mithoefer, Michael C; Mithoefer, Ann T; MacAulay, Rebecca K; Jerome, Lisa; Yazar-Klosinski, Berra; Doblin, Rick

2017-01-01

A growing body of research suggests that traumatic events lead to persisting personality change characterized by increased neuroticism. Relevantly, enduring improvements in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms have been found in response to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy. There is evidence that lasting changes in the personality feature of “openness” occur in response to hallucinogens, and that this may potentially act as a therapeutic mechanism of change. The present study investigated whether heightened Openness and decreased Neuroticism served as a mechanism of change within a randomized trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) Global Scores and NEO PI-R Personality Inventory (NEO) Openness and Neuroticism Scales served as outcome measures. Results indicated that changes in Openness but not Neuroticism played a moderating role in the relationship between reduced PTSD symptoms and MDMA treatment. Following MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, increased Openness and decreased Neuroticism when comparing baseline personality traits with long-term follow-up traits also were found. These preliminary findings suggest that the effect of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy extends beyond specific PTSD symptomatology and fundamentally alters personality structure, resulting in long-term persisting personality change. Results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms of psychotherapeutic change. PMID:28635375

14 CFR 13.202 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...-delivery or use of a contract or express messenger service. “Personal delivery” does not include the use of.... Agency attorney means the Deputy Chief Counsel for Operations, the Assistant Chief Counsel, Enforcement, the Assistant Chief Counsel, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Area Office, each Regional Counsel, the...

14 CFR 13.202 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...-delivery or use of a contract or express messenger service. “Personal delivery” does not include the use of.... Agency attorney means the Deputy Chief Counsel for Operations, the Assistant Chief Counsel, Enforcement, the Assistant Chief Counsel, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Area Office, each Regional Counsel, the...

14 CFR 13.202 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...-delivery or use of a contract or express messenger service. “Personal delivery” does not include the use of.... Agency attorney means the Deputy Chief Counsel for Operations, the Assistant Chief Counsel, Enforcement, the Assistant Chief Counsel, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Area Office, each Regional Counsel, the...

14 CFR 13.202 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...-delivery or use of a contract or express messenger service. “Personal delivery” does not include the use of.... Agency attorney means the Deputy Chief Counsel for Operations, the Assistant Chief Counsel, Enforcement, the Assistant Chief Counsel, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Area Office, each Regional Counsel, the...

14 CFR 13.202 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...-delivery or use of a contract or express messenger service. “Personal delivery” does not include the use of.... Agency attorney means the Deputy Chief Counsel for Operations, the Assistant Chief Counsel, Enforcement, the Assistant Chief Counsel, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Area Office, each Regional Counsel, the...

7 CFR 4290.320 - Contents of comprehensive business plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Operational Assistance to Smaller Enterprises, demonstrating that the Applicant understands the market and the...) Operational capacity and investment strategies. The Applicant must submit information concerning its policies... expressions of interest to commit such funds to the Applicant. (f) Plan for providing Operational Assistance...

Expression of androgen-producing enzyme genes and testosterone concentration in Angus and Nellore heifers with high and low ovarian follicle count.

PubMed

Loureiro, Bárbara; Ereno, Ronaldo L; Favoreto, Mauricio G; Barros, Ciro M

2016-07-15

Follicle population is important when animals are used in assisted reproductive programs. Bos indicus animals have more follicles per follicular wave than Bos taurus animals. On the other hand, B taurus animals present better fertility when compared with B indicus animals. Androgens are positively related with the number of antral follicles; moreover, they increase growth factor expression in granulose cells and oocytes. Experimentation was designed to compare testosterone concentration in plasma, and follicular fluid and androgen enzymes mRNA expression (CYP11A1, CYP17A1, 3BHSD, and 17BHSD) in follicles from Angus and Nellore heifers. Heifers were assigned into two groups according to the number of follicles: low and high follicle count groups. Increased testosterone concentration was measured in both plasma and follicular fluid of Angus heifers. However, there was no difference within groups. Expression of CYP11A1 gene was higher in follicles from Angus heifers; however, there was no difference within groups. Expression of CYP17A1, 3BHSD, and 17BHSD genes was higher in follicles from Nellore heifers, and expression of CYP17A1 and 3BHSD genes was also higher in HFC groups from both breeds. It was found that Nellore heifers have more antral follicles than Angus heifers. Testosterone concentration was higher in Angus heifers; this increase could be associated with the increased mRNA expression of CYP11A1. Increased expression of androgen-producing enzyme genes (CYP17A1, 3BHSD, and 17BHSD) was detected in Nellore heifers. It can be suggested that testosterone is acting through different mechanisms to increase follicle development in Nellore and improve fertility in Angus heifers. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Expression, purification, crystallization and X-ray diffraction studies of the molecular chaperone prefoldin from Homo sapiens

PubMed Central

Aikawa, Yoshiki; Kida, Hiroshi; Nishitani, Yuichi; Miki, Kunio

2015-01-01

Proper protein folding is an essential process for all organisms. Prefoldin (PFD) is a molecular chaperone that assists protein folding by delivering non-native proteins to group II chaperonin. A heterohexamer of eukaryotic PFD has been shown to specifically recognize and deliver non-native actin and tubulin to chaperonin-containing TCP-1 (CCT), but the mechanism of specific recognition is still unclear. To determine its crystal structure, recombinant human PFD was reconstituted, purified and crystallized. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 4.7 Å resolution. The crystals belonged to space group P21212, with unit-cell parameters a = 123.2, b = 152.4, c = 105.9 Å. PMID:26323306

Describing and recognizing patterns of events in smart environments with description logic.

PubMed

Scalmato, Antonello; Sgorbissa, Antonio; Zaccaria, Renato

2013-12-01

This paper describes a system for context awareness in smart environments, which is based on an ontology expressed in description logic and implemented in OWL 2 EL, which is a subset of the Web Ontology Language that allows for reasoning in polynomial time. The approach is different from all other works in the literature since the proposed system requires only the basic reasoning mechanisms of description logic, i.e., subsumption and instance checking, without any additional external reasoning engine. Experiments performed with data collected in three different scenarios are described, i.e., the CASAS Project at Washington State University, the assisted living facility Villa Basilea in Genoa, and the Merry Porter mobile robot at the Polyclinic of Modena.

Exploring the roles of basal transcription factor 3 in eukaryotic growth and development.

PubMed

Jamil, Muhammad; Wang, Wenyi; Xu, Mengyun; Tu, Jumin

2015-01-01

Basal transcription factor 3 (BTF3) has been reported to play a significant part in the transcriptional regulation linking with eukaryotes growth and development. Alteration in the BTF3 gene expression patterns or variation in their activities adds to the explanation of different signaling pathways and regulatory networks. Moreover, BTF3s often respond to numerous stresses, and subsequently they are involved in regulation of various mechanisms. BTF3 proteins also function through protein-protein contact, which can assist us to identify the multifaceted processes of signaling and transcriptional regulation controlled by BTF3 proteins. In this review, we discuss current advances made in starting to explore the roles of BTF3 transcription factors in eukaryotes especially in plant growth and development.

The effect of deformation temperature on the microstructure evolution of Inconel 625 superalloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Qingmiao; Li, Defu; Guo, Shengli; Peng, Haijian; Hu, Jie

2011-07-01

Hot compression tests of Inconel 625 superalloy were conducted using a Gleeble-1500 simulator between 900 °C and 1200 °C with different true strains and a strain rate of 0.1 s -1. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction technique (EBSD) were employed to investigate the effect of deformation temperature on the microstructure evolution and nucleation mechanisms of dynamic recrystallization (DRX). It is found that the relationship between the DRX grain size and the peak stress can be expressed by a power law function. Significant influence of deformation temperatures on the nucleation mechanisms of DRX are observed at different deformation stages. At lower deformation temperatures, continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) characterized by progressive subgrain rotation is considered as the main mechanism of DRX at the early deformation stage. However, discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) with bulging of the original grain boundaries becomes the operating mechanism of DRX at the later deformation stage. At higher deformation temperatures, DDRX is the primary mechanism of DRX, while CDRX can only be considered as an assistant mechanism at the early deformation stage. Nucleation of DRX can also be activated by the twinning formation. With increasing the deformation temperature, the effect of DDRX accompanied with twinning formation grows stronger, while the effect of CDRX grows weaker. Meanwhile, the position of subgrain formation shifts gradually from the interior of original grains to the vicinity of the original boundaries.

Complementary Machine Intelligence and Human Intelligence in Virtual Teaching Assistant for Tutoring Program Tracing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chou, Chih-Yueh; Huang, Bau-Hung; Lin, Chi-Jen

2011-01-01

This study proposes a virtual teaching assistant (VTA) to share teacher tutoring tasks in helping students practice program tracing and proposes two mechanisms of complementing machine intelligence and human intelligence to develop the VTA. The first mechanism applies machine intelligence to extend human intelligence (teacher answers) to evaluate…

Enhancer trap expression patterns provide a novel teaching resource.

PubMed

Geisler, Matt; Jablonska, Barbara; Springer, Patricia S

2002-12-01

A collection of Arabidopsis enhancer trap transposants has been identified for use as a teaching tool. This collection serves to assist students in understanding the patterning and organization of plant tissues and cells, and will be useful in plant anatomy, morphology, and developmental biology courses. Each transposant exhibits reporter gene expression in a specific tissue, cell type, or domain, and these lines collectively offer a glimpse of compartments of gene expression. Some compartments correspond to classical definitions of botanical anatomy and can assist in anatomical identification. Other patterns of reporter gene expression are more complex and do not necessarily correspond to known anatomical features. The sensitivity of the beta-glucuronidase histochemical stain provides the student with a colorful and direct way to visualize difficult aspects of plant development and anatomy, and provides the teacher with an invaluable tool for a practical laboratory session.

Letter of Concern from EPA to Mr. Terry A. Yonkers, Assistant Administrator for Installations, Environment, and Logistics, USAF, Concerning Cleanup at Tyndall AFB, FL

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Letter from EPA's Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance expresses concern over Tyndall Air Force Base's August 19, 2010, Memorandum on Environmental Restoration Program Progress at Tyndall AFB, FL.

77 FR 66870 - Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-07

... Administration (OSHA), Labor. ACTION: Request for nominations for membership on ACCSH. SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA Assistant Secretary) invites interested persons...) 693-1648; or Mail, express delivery, hand delivery, and messenger or courier service: Submit your...

Investigating the Role of Interventricular Interdependence in Development of Right Heart Dysfunction During LVAD Support: A Patient-Specific Methods-Based Approach.

PubMed

Sack, Kevin L; Dabiri, Yaghoub; Franz, Thomas; Solomon, Scott D; Burkhoff, Daniel; Guccione, Julius M

2018-01-01

Predictive computation models offer the potential to uncover the mechanisms of treatments whose actions cannot be easily determined by experimental or imaging techniques. This is particularly relevant for investigating left ventricular mechanical assistance, a therapy for end-stage heart failure, which is increasingly used as more than just a bridge-to-transplant therapy. The high incidence of right ventricular failure following left ventricular assistance reflects an undesired consequence of treatment, which has been hypothesized to be related to the mechanical interdependence between the two ventricles. To investigate the implication of this interdependence specifically in the setting of left ventricular assistance device (LVAD) support, we introduce a patient-specific finite-element model of dilated chronic heart failure. The model geometry and material parameters were calibrated using patient-specific clinical data, producing a mechanical surrogate of the failing in vivo heart that models its dynamic strain and stress throughout the cardiac cycle. The model of the heart was coupled to lumped-parameter circulatory systems to simulate realistic ventricular loading conditions. Finally, the impact of ventricular assistance was investigated by incorporating a pump with pressure-flow characteristics of an LVAD (HeartMate II™ operating between 8 and 12 k RPM) in parallel to the left ventricle. This allowed us to investigate the mechanical impact of acute left ventricular assistance at multiple operating-speeds on right ventricular mechanics and septal wall motion. Our findings show that left ventricular assistance reduces myofiber stress in the left ventricle and, to a lesser extent, right ventricle free wall, while increasing leftward septal-shift with increased operating-speeds. These effects were achieved with secondary, potentially negative effects on the interventricular septum which showed that support from LVADs, introduces unnatural bending of the septum and with it, increased localized stress regions. Left ventricular assistance unloads the left ventricle significantly and shifts the right ventricular pressure-volume-loop toward larger volumes and higher pressures; a consequence of left-to-right ventricular interactions and a leftward septal shift. The methods and results described in the present study are a meaningful advancement of computational efforts to investigate heart-failure therapies in silico and illustrate the potential of computational models to aid understanding of complex mechanical and hemodynamic effects of new therapies.

Enrichment of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) reactive mucosal T cells in the human female genital tract.

PubMed

Posavad, C M; Zhao, L; Dong, L; Jin, L; Stevens, C E; Magaret, A S; Johnston, C; Wald, A; Zhu, J; Corey, L; Koelle, D M

2017-09-01

Local mucosal cellular immunity is critical in providing protection from HSV-2. To characterize and quantify HSV-2-reactive mucosal T cells, lymphocytes were isolated from endocervical cytobrush and biopsy specimens from 17 HSV-2-infected women and examined ex vivo for the expression of markers associated with maturation and tissue residency and for functional T-cell responses to HSV-2. Compared with their circulating counterparts, cervix-derived CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were predominantly effector memory T cells (CCR7-/CD45RA-) and the majority expressed CD69, a marker of tissue residency. Co-expression of CD103, another marker of tissue residency, was highest on cervix-derived CD8+ T cells. Functional HSV-2 reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses were detected in cervical samples and a median of 17% co-expressed CD103. HSV-2-reactive CD4+ T cells co-expressed IL-2 and were significantly enriched in the cervix compared with blood. This first direct ex vivo documentation of local enrichment of HSV-2-reactive T cells in the human female genital mucosa is consistent with the presence of antigen-specific tissue-resident memory T cells. Ex vivo analysis of these T cells may uncover tissue-specific mechanisms of local control of HSV-2 to assist the development of vaccine strategies that target protective T cells to sites of HSV-2 infection.

Natural tooth intrusion and reversal in implant-assisted prosthesis: evidence of and a hypothesis for the occurrence.

PubMed

Sheets, C G; Earthmann, J C

1993-12-01

Based on clinical observation, a hypothesis of the mechanism of intrusion of natural teeth in an implant-assisted prosthesis is suggested. Engineering principles are presented that establish an energy absorption model as it relates to the implant-assisted prosthesis. In addition, in the course of patient treatment it has been discovered that the intrusion of natural teeth can be reversed. Patient histories that demonstrate intrusion reversal are reviewed. The possible mechanisms for the intrusion/reversal phenomenon are presented and preventative recommendations are given.

A novel vibration assisted polishing device based on the flexural mechanism driven by the piezoelectric actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Guilian; Zhou, Xiaoqin; Ma, Peiqun; Wang, Rongqi; Meng, Guangwei; Yang, Xu

2018-01-01

The vibration assisted polishing has widely application fields because of higher machining frequency and better polishing quality, especially the polishing with the non-resonant mode that is regarded as a kind of promising polishing method. This paper reports a novel vibration assisted polishing device, consisting of the flexible hinge mechanism driven by the piezoelectric actuators, which is suitable for polishing planes or curve surfaces with slow curvature. Firstly, the generation methods of vibration trajectory are investigated for the same frequency and different frequency signals' inputs, respectively, and then the types of elliptic and Lissajous's vibration trajectories are generated respectively. Secondly, a flexural mechanism consisting of the right circular flexible hinges and the leaf springs is developed to produce two-dimensional vibration trajectory. Statics and dynamics investigating of this flexible mechanism are finished in detail. The analytical models about input and output compliances of the flexural mechanism are established according to the matrix-based compliance modeling, and the dynamic model of the flexural mechanism based on the Euler-Lagrange equation is also presented. The finite element model of the flexural mechanism was established to carry out the numerical simulation in order to testify the rationality of device design. Finally, the polishing experiment is carried out to prove the effectiveness of the vibration device. The experimental results show that this novel vibration assisted polishing device developed in this study can remove more effectively the cutting marks left by last process and obviously reduce the workpiece surface roughness.

Risk assessment and comparative effectiveness of left ventricular assist device and medical management in ambulatory heart failure patients: design and rationale of the ROADMAP clinical trial.

PubMed

Rogers, Joseph G; Boyle, Andrew J; O'Connell, John B; Horstmanshof, Douglas A; Haas, Donald C; Slaughter, Mark S; Park, Soon J; Farrar, David J; Starling, Randall C

2015-02-01

Mechanical circulatory support is now a proven therapy for the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure and cardiogenic shock. The role for this therapy in patients with less severe heart failure is unknown. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of mechanically assisted circulation using the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device in patients who meet current US Food and Drug Administration-defined criteria for treatment but are not yet receiving intravenous inotropic therapy. This is a prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial of 200 patients treated with either optimal medical management or a mechanical circulatory support device. This trial will be the first prospective clinical evaluation comparing outcomes of patients with advanced ambulatory heart failure treated with either ongoing medical therapy or a left ventricular assist device. It is anticipated to provide novel insights regarding relative outcomes with each treatment and an understanding of patient and provider acceptance of the ventricular assist device therapy. This trial will also provide information regarding the risk of events in "stable" patients with advanced heart failure and guidance for the optimal timing of left ventricular assist device therapy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Proteomic Profile of Mabuya sp. (Squamata: Scincidae) Ovary and Placenta During Gestation.

PubMed

Hernández-Díaz, Nathaly; Torres, Rodrigo; Ramírez-Pinilla, Martha Patricia

2017-06-01

Reptiles are one of the most diverse groups of vertebrates, providing an integrated system for comparative studies on metabolic, animal physiology, and developmental biology. However, the molecular data available are limited and only recently have started to call attention in the "omics" sciences. Mabuya sp. is a viviparous placentrotrophic skink with particular reproductive features, including microlecithal eggs, early luteolysis, prolonged gestation, and development of a highly specialized placenta. This placenta is responsible for respiratory exchange and the transference of all nutrients necessary for embryonic development. Our aim was to identify differentially expressed proteins in the ovary and placenta of Mabuya sp. during early, mid, and late gestation; their possible metabolic pathways; and biological processes. We carried out a comparative proteomic analysis during gestation in both tissues by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization. Differential protein expression in both tissues (Student's t-test P < 0.05) was related to several processes such as cell structure, cell movement, and energy. Proteins found in ovary are mainly associated with follicular development and its regulation. In the placenta, particularly during mid and late gestation, protein expression is involved in nutrient metabolism, transport, protein synthesis, and embryonic development. This work provides new insights about the proteins expressed and their physiological mechanisms in Mabuya sp. placenta and ovary during gestation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

MicroRNAs in islet immunobiology and transplantation.

PubMed

Pileggi, Antonello; Klein, Dagmar; Fotino, Carmen; Bravo-Egaña, Valia; Rosero, Samuel; Doni, Marco; Podetta, Michele; Ricordi, Camillo; Molano, R Damaris; Pastori, Ricardo L

2013-12-01

The ultimate goal of diabetes therapy is the restoration of physiologic metabolic control. For type 1 diabetes, research efforts are focused on the prevention or early intervention to halt the autoimmune process and preserve β cell function. Replacement of pancreatic β cells via islet transplantation reestablishes physiologic β cell function in patients with diabetes. Emerging research shows that microRNAs (miRNAs), noncoding small RNA molecules produced by a newly discovered class of genes, negatively regulate gene expression. MiRNAs recognize and bind to partially complementary sequences of target messenger RNA (mRNA), regulating mRNA translation and affecting gene expression. Correlation between miRNA signatures and genome-wide RNA expression allows identification of multiple miRNA-mRNA pairs in biological processes. Because miRNAs target functionally related genes, they represent an exciting and indispensable approach for biomarkers and drug discovery. We are studying the role of miRNA in the context of islet immunobiology. Our research aims at understanding the mechanisms underlying pancreatic β cell loss and developing clinically relevant approaches for preservation and restoration of β cell function to treat insulin-dependent diabetes. Herein, we discuss some of our recent efforts related to the study of miRNA in islet inflammation and islet engraftment. Our working hypothesis is that modulation of the expression of specific microRNAs in the transplant microenvironment will be of assistance in enhancing islet engraftment and promoting long-term function.

Mechanical Design Technology--Modified. (Computer Assisted Drafting, Computer Aided Design). Curriculum Grant 84/85.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schoolcraft Coll., Livonia, MI.

This document is a curriculum guide for a program in mechanical design technology (computer-assisted drafting and design developed at Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan). The program helps students to acquire the skills of drafters and to interact with electronic equipment, with the option of becoming efficient in the computer-aided…

Adaptive Dialogue Systems for Assistive Living Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Papangelis, Alexandros

2013-01-01

Adaptive Dialogue Systems (ADS) are intelligent systems, able to interact with users via multiple modalities, such as speech, gestures, facial expressions and others. Such systems are able to make conversation with their users, usually on a specific, narrow topic. Assistive Living Environments are environments where the users are by definition not…

10 CFR 600.315 - Revision of budget and program plans.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

....315 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (CONTINUED) ASSISTANCE REGULATIONS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RULES... Requirements § 600.315 Revision of budget and program plans. (a) The budget plan is the financial expression of the project or program as approved during the award process. It includes the sum of the Federal and...

18 CFR 740.6 - Financial assistance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2013-04-01 2012-04-01 true Financial assistance. 740.6 Section 740.6 Conservation of Power and Water Resources WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL STATE WATER... funds according to the need for water management planning in each State as expressed by the State and...

18 CFR 740.6 - Financial assistance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Financial assistance. 740.6 Section 740.6 Conservation of Power and Water Resources WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL STATE WATER... funds according to the need for water management planning in each State as expressed by the State and...

18 CFR 740.6 - Financial assistance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Financial assistance. 740.6 Section 740.6 Conservation of Power and Water Resources WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL STATE WATER... funds according to the need for water management planning in each State as expressed by the State and...

18 CFR 740.6 - Financial assistance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Financial assistance. 740.6 Section 740.6 Conservation of Power and Water Resources WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL STATE WATER... funds according to the need for water management planning in each State as expressed by the State and...

18 CFR 740.6 - Financial assistance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Financial assistance. 740.6 Section 740.6 Conservation of Power and Water Resources WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL STATE WATER... funds according to the need for water management planning in each State as expressed by the State and...

Satisfaction of physician assistants and other nonphysician providers in a managed care setting.

PubMed Central

Freeborn, D K; Hooker, R S

1995-01-01

Health maintenance organizations have employed physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other nonphysician providers for decades, yet there is little information on how satisfied these providers are with this form of practice. This paper examines how physician assistants evaluate their experience practicing in a large group model health maintenance organization and compares their attitudes and satisfaction levels with those of other nonphysician providers-nurse practitioners, optometrists, mental health therapists, and chemical dependency counselors. The data source is a 1992 survey of 5,000 nonphysician employees of a health maintenance organization. The survey instrument was a self-administrated questionnaire that included both structured and open-ended questions. The response rate averaged 88 percent for physician assistants and the other non-physician providers. Physician assistants expressed the most satisfaction with the amount of responsibility, support from coworkers, job security, working hours, supervision, and task variety. They were less satisfied with workload, control over the pace of work, and opportunities for advancement. Most physician assistants were also satisfied with pay and fringe benefits. Compared with other nonphysician providers, chemical dependency counselors expressed the highest levels of satisfaction across the various dimensions of work and optometrists the lowest. Nurse practitioners, chemical dependency counselors, and mental health professionals also tended to be satisfied with most aspects of practice in this setting. In a number of instances, they were more satisfied than the physician assistants. The findings are consistent with other studies that found health maintenance organizations to be favorable practice settings for physician assistants. The limits of physician assistant involvement and their role satisfaction and efficient use in HMOs are more likely to relate to physician attitudes and acceptance than to lack of support by coworkers and other attributes of the work environment. PMID:8570825

Hepatitis C Virus core+1/ARF Protein Modulates the Cyclin D1/pRb Pathway and Promotes Carcinogenesis.

PubMed

Moustafa, Savvina; Karakasiliotis, Ioannis; Mavromara, Penelope

2018-05-01

Viruses often encompass overlapping reading frames and unconventional translation mechanisms in order to maximize the output from a minimum genome and to orchestrate their timely gene expression. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) possesses such an unconventional open reading frame (ORF) within the core-coding region, encoding an additional protein, initially designated ARFP, F, or core+1. Two predominant isoforms of core+1/ARFP have been reported, core+1/L, initiating from codon 26, and core+1/S, initiating from codons 85/87 of the polyprotein coding region. The biological significance of core+1/ARFP expression remains elusive. The aim of the present study was to gain insight into the functional and pathological properties of core+1/ARFP through its interaction with the host cell, combining in vitro and in vivo approaches. Our data provide strong evidence that the core+1/ARFP of HCV-1a stimulates cell proliferation in Huh7-based cell lines expressing either core+1/S or core+1/L isoforms and in transgenic liver disease mouse models expressing core+1/S protein in a liver-specific manner. Both isoforms of core+1/ARFP increase the levels of cyclin D1 and phosphorylated Rb, thus promoting the cell cycle. In addition, core+1/S was found to enhance liver regeneration and oncogenesis in transgenic mice. The induction of the cell cycle together with increased mRNA levels of cell proliferation-related oncogenes in cells expressing the core+1/ARFP proteins argue for an oncogenic potential of these proteins and an important role in HCV-associated pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE This study sheds light on the biological importance of a unique HCV protein. We show here that core+1/ARFP of HCV-1a interacts with the host machinery, leading to acceleration of the cell cycle and enhancement of liver carcinogenesis. This pathological mechanism(s) may complement the action of other viral proteins with oncogenic properties, leading to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, given that immunological responses to core+1/ARFP have been correlated with liver disease severity in chronic HCV patients, we expect that the present work will assist in clarifying the pathophysiological relevance of this protein as a biomarker of disease progression. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Gene Expression Differences in Peripheral Blood of Parkinson’s Disease Patients with Distinct Progression Profiles

PubMed Central

Soreq, Lilach; Lobo, Patrícia P.; Mestre, Tiago; Coelho, Miguel; Rosa, Mário M.; Gonçalves, Nilza; Wales, Pauline; Mendes, Tiago; Gerhardt, Ellen; Fahlbusch, Christiane; Bonifati, Vincenzo; Bonin, Michael; Miltenberger-Miltényi, Gabriel; Borovecki, Fran; Soreq, Hermona; Ferreira, Joaquim J.; F. Outeiro, Tiago

2016-01-01

The prognosis of neurodegenerative disorders is clinically challenging due to the inexistence of established biomarkers for predicting disease progression. Here, we performed an exploratory cross-sectional, case-control study aimed at determining whether gene expression differences in peripheral blood may be used as a signature of Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression, thereby shedding light into potential molecular mechanisms underlying disease development. We compared transcriptional profiles in the blood from 34 PD patients who developed postural instability within ten years with those of 33 patients who did not develop postural instability within this time frame. Our study identified >200 differentially expressed genes between the two groups. The expression of several of the genes identified was previously found deregulated in animal models of PD and in PD patients. Relevant genes were selected for validation by real-time PCR in a subset of patients. The genes validated were linked to nucleic acid metabolism, mitochondria, immune response and intracellular-transport. Interestingly, we also found deregulation of these genes in a dopaminergic cell model of PD, a simple paradigm that can now be used to further dissect the role of these molecular players on dopaminergic cell loss. Altogether, our study provides preliminary evidence that expression changes in specific groups of genes and pathways, detected in peripheral blood samples, may be correlated with differential PD progression. Our exploratory study suggests that peripheral gene expression profiling may prove valuable for assisting in prediction of PD prognosis, and identifies novel culprits possibly involved in dopaminergic cell death. Given the exploratory nature of our study, further investigations using independent, well-characterized cohorts will be essential in order to validate our candidates as predictors of PD prognosis and to definitively confirm the value of gene expression analysis in aiding patient stratification and therapeutic intervention. PMID:27322389

Transcriptome profiling and cataloging differential gene expression in floral buds of fertile and sterile lines of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

PubMed

Hamid, Rasmieh; Tomar, Rukam S; Marashi, Hassan; Shafaroudi, Saeid Malekzadeh; Golakiya, Balaji A; Mohsenpour, Motahhareh

2018-06-20

Cytoplasmic Male Sterility is maternally inherited trait in plants, characterized by failure to produce functional pollen during anther development. Anther development is modulated through the interaction of nuclear and mitochondrial genes. In the present study, differential gene expression of floral buds at the sporogenous stage (SS) and microsporocyte stage (MS) between CGMS and its fertile maintainer line of cotton plants was studied. A total of 320 significantly differentially expressed genes, including 20 down-regulated and 37 up-regulated in CGMS comparing with its maintainer line at the SS stage, as well as and 89 down-regulated and 4 up-regulated in CGMS compared to the fertile line at MS stage. Comparing the two stages in the same line, there were 6 down-regulated differentially expressed genes only induced in CGMS and 9 up-regulated differentially expressed gene only induced in its maintainer. GO analysis revealed essential genes responsible for pollen development, and cytoskeleton category show differential expression between the fertile and CGMS lines. Validation studies by qRT-PCR shows concordance with RNA-seq result. A set of novel SSRs identified in this study can be used in evaluating genetic relationships among cultivars, QTL mapping, and marker-assisted breeding. We reported aberrant expression of genes related to pollen exine formation, and synthesis of pectin lyase, myosine heavy chain, tubulin, actin-beta, heat shock protein and myeloblastosis (MYB) protein as targets for CMS in cotton. The results of this study contribute to basic information for future screening of genes and identification of molecular portraits responsible for CMS as well as to elucidate molecular mechanisms that lead to CMS in cotton. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The grapevine VvWRKY2 gene enhances salt and osmotic stress tolerance in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum.

PubMed

Mzid, Rim; Zorrig, Walid; Ben Ayed, Rayda; Ben Hamed, Karim; Ayadi, Mariem; Damak, Yosra; Lauvergeat, Virginie; Hanana, Mohsen

2018-06-01

Our study aims to assess the implication of WRKY transcription factor in the molecular mechanisms of grapevine adaptation to salt and water stresses. In this respect, a full-length VvWRKY2 cDNA, isolated from a Vitis vinifera grape berry cDNA library, was constitutively over-expressed in Nicotiana tabacum seedlings. Our results showed that transgenic tobacco plants exhibited higher seed germination rates and better growth, under both salt and osmotic stress treatments, when compared to wild type plants. Furthermore, our analyses demonstrated that, under stress conditions, transgenic plants accumulated more osmolytes, such as soluble sugars and free proline, while no changes were observed regarding electrolyte leakage, H 2 O 2 , and malondialdehyde contents. The improvement of osmotic adjustment may be an important mechanism underlying the role of VvWRKY 2 in promoting tolerance and adaptation to abiotic stresses. Principal component analysis of our results highlighted a clear partition of plant response to stress. On the other hand, we observed a significant adaptation behaviour response for transgenic lines under stress. Taken together, all our findings suggest that over-expression of VvWRKY2 gene has a compelling role in abiotic stress tolerance and, therefore, would provide a useful strategy to promote abiotic stress tolerance in grape via molecular-assisted breeding and/or new biotechnology tools.

Identification of protein expression alterations in gefitinib-resistant human lung adenocarcinoma: PCNT and mPR play key roles in the development of gefitinib-associated resistance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, Chi-Chen; Institute of Biomedical Science, and Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research and Education, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

2015-11-01

Gefitinib is the first-line chemotherapeutic drug for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which comprises nearly 85% of all lung cancer cases worldwide. However, most patients eventually develop drug resistance after 12–18 months of treatment. Hence, investigating the drug resistance mechanism and resistance-associated biomarkers is necessary. Two lung adenocarcinoma cell lines, PC9 and gefitinib-resistant PC9/Gef, were established for examining resistance mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic targets. Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used for examining global protein expression changes between PC9 and PC9/Gef. The results revealed that 164 identified proteins were associated withmore » the formation of gefitinib resistance in PC9 cells. Additional studies using RNA interference showed that progesterone receptor membrane component 1 and pericentrin proteins have major roles in gefitinib resistance. In conclusion, the proteomic approach enabled identifying of numerous proteins involved in gefitinib resistance. The results provide useful diagnostic markers and therapeutic candidates for treating gefitinib-resistant NSCLC. - Highlights: • 164 proteins associated with gefitinib resistance were identified through proteomic analysis. • In this study, a lung adenocarcinoma and its gefitinib resistant partner were established. • mPR and PCNT proteins have evidenced to play important roles in gefitinib resistance.« less

Proteomic approaches in understanding a detected relationship between chemotherapy-induced nephrotoxicity and cell respiration in HK-2 cells.

PubMed

Perez, Juliana Dinéia; Colucci, Juliana Almada; Sakata, Maísa Mayumi; Cunha, Tatiana Sousa; Arita, Danielle Yuri; Casarini, Dulce Elena

2011-01-01

Nephrotoxicity is a prominent component of the profile of chemotherapeutic agents and to date proteomics has represented the main technique to identify protein profiles in response to xenobiotic exposure. We made use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight analysis to evaluate chemotoxicity effects of cisplatin (CPT) and carboplatin (CB) on proteins from human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (HK-2). Tandem mass spectrometry analysis showed that ATP synthase subunit α and serine hydroxymethyltransferase were only expressed in HK-2 cells exposed to CPT. Since CPT causes damage in cellular respiration, we suggest that this might be a protective adaptation to CPT-induced nephrotoxicity. Thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase disappeared in the CPT group and was upregulated in the CB group, suggesting that CB exposure stimulates preventive apoptotic mechanisms. We suggest a relationship between chemotherapeutic agent-induced nephrotoxicity and cell respiration. The identification of proteins differentially expressed in HK-2 cells, when exposed to CPT and CB, not only supplies important information to understand the molecular action mechanisms, which are triggered by metal-based drugs in cell nephrotoxicity, but also can lead to the design of more effective anticancer drugs. These results provide important insights into the investigation of possible biomarker(s) of toxicity that could eventually reduce the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Plasma Assisted Ignition and Combustion at Low Initial Gas Temperatures: Development of Kinetic Mechanism

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-05

the complexity of the air flow, plasma and combustion interaction can be obtained from papers where the ignition of supersonic and fast subsonic gas ...AFRL-AFOSR-JP-TR-2016-0083 Plasma Assisted Ignition and Combustion at Low Initial Gas Temperatures: Development of Kinetic Mechanism Svetlana...Combustion at Low Initial Gas Temperatures: Development of Kinetic Mechanism 5a.  CONTRACT NUMBER 5b.  GRANT NUMBER FA2386-13-1-4064 5c.  PROGRAM ELEMENT

Energy transmission and power sources for mechanical circulatory support devices to achieve total implantability.

PubMed

Wang, Jake X; Smith, Joshua R; Bonde, Pramod

2014-04-01

Left ventricular assist device therapy has radically improved congestive heart failure survival with smaller rotary pumps. The driveline used to power today's left ventricular assist devices, however, continues to be a source of infection, traumatic damage, and rehospitalization. Previous attempts to wirelessly power left ventricular assist devices using transcutaneous energy transfer systems have been limited by restrictions on separation distance and alignment between the transmit and receive coils. Resonant electrical energy transfer allows power delivery at larger distances without compromising safety and efficiency. This review covers the efforts to wirelessly power mechanical circulatory assist devices and the progress made in enhancing their energy sources. Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gate oxide thickness dependence of the leakage current mechanism in Ru/Ta2O5/SiON/Si structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ťapajna, M.; Paskaleva, A.; Atanassova, E.; Dobročka, E.; Hušeková, K.; Fröhlich, K.

2010-07-01

Leakage conduction mechanisms in Ru/Ta2O5/SiON/Si structures with rf-sputtered Ta2O5 with thicknesses ranging from 13.5 to 1.8 nm were systematically studied. Notable reaction at the Ru/Ta2O5 interface was revealed by capacitance-voltage measurements. Temperature-dependent current-voltage characteristics suggest the bulk-limited conduction mechanism in all metal-oxide-semiconductor structures. Under gate injection, Poole-Frenkel emission was identified as a dominant mechanism for 13.5 nm thick Ta2O5. With an oxide thickness decreasing down to 3.5 nm, the conduction mechanism transforms to thermionic trap-assisted tunnelling through the triangular barrier. Under substrate injection, the dominant mechanism gradually changes with decreasing thickness from thermionic trap-assisted tunnelling to trap-assisted tunnelling through the triangular barrier; Poole-Frenkel emission was not observed at all. A 0.7 eV deep defect level distributed over Ta2O5 is assumed to be responsible for bulk-limited conduction mechanisms and is attributed to H-related defects or oxygen vacancies in Ta2O5.

[Euthanasia/assisted suicide. Ethical and socio-religious aspects].

PubMed

Chiriţă, V; Chiriţă, Roxana; Duică, Lavinia; Talau, Gh

2009-01-01

Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide are viewed differently by moral and religious references. In a religious way, cardinal confessions (Christianity, Judaism, Islamism, Buddhism) condemn euthanasia/assisted suicide and, in the same time have a more relaxed attitude regarding passive euthanasia. Other aspects of euthanasia regard financial/economic and ethical-medical considerations. All these contradictory standpoints are expressed in some legal acts that make specifications on the concept of "euthanasia"--Oregon's Death with Dignity Act (1994) and Netherlands's Euthanasia Law (2001).

Development of an Upper Limb Power Assist System Using Pneumatic Actuators for Farming Lift-up Motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yagi, Eiichi; Harada, Daisuke; Kobayashi, Masaaki

A power assist system has lately attracted considerable attention to lifting-up an object without low back pain. We have been developing power assist systems with pneumatic actuators for the elbow and shoulder to farming support of lifting-up a bag of rice weighing 30kg. This paper describes the mechanism and control method of this power assist system. The pneumatic rotary actuator supports shoulder motion, and the air cylinder supports elbow motion. In this control method, the surface electromyogram(EMG) signals are used as input information of the controller. The joint support torques of human are calculated based on the antigravity term of necessary joint torques, which are estimated on the dynamics of a human approximated link model. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed mechanism and control method of the power assist system.

Cadherin-11 modulates cell morphology and collagen synthesis in periodontal ligament cells under mechanical stress.

PubMed

Feng, Lishu; Zhang, Yimei; Kou, Xiaoxing; Yang, Ruili; Liu, Dawei; Wang, Xuedong; Song, Yang; Cao, Haifeng; He, Danqing; Gan, Yehua; Zhou, Yanheng

2017-03-01

To examine the role of cadherin-11, an integral membrane adhesion molecule, in periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) under mechanical stimulation. Human PDLCs were cultured and subjected to mechanical stress. Cadherin-11 expression and cell morphology of PDLCs were investigated via immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA and protein expressions of cadherin-11 and type I collagen (Col-I) of PDLCs were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Small interfering RNA was used to knock down cadherin-11 expression in PDLCs. The collagen matrix of PDLCs was examined using toluidine blue staining. Cadherin-11 was expressed in PDLCs. Mechanical stress suppressed cadherin-11 expression in PDLCs with prolonged force treatment time and increased force intensity, accompanied by suppressed β-catenin expression. Simultaneously, mechanical stress altered cell morphology and repressed Col-I expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner in PDLCs. Moreover, knockdown of cadherin-11 with suppressed β-catenin expression resulted in altered PDLC morphology and repressed collagen expression, which were consistent with the changes observed under mechanical stress. Results of this study suggest that cadherin-11 is expressed in PDLCs and modulates PDLC morphology and collagen synthesis in response to mechanical stress, which may play an important role in the homeostasis and remodeling of the PDL under mechanical stimulation.

Disturbances of Higher Level Neural Control-Robotic Applications in Stroke

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-10-25

Interim Results on the Follow-up of 76 Patients and on Movement Performance Indices, In: Mounir Mokhtari (ed); Integration of Assistive Technology in the...the Nervous System’s Adaptive Mechanisms, In: Mounir Mokhtari (ed); Integration of Assistive Technology in the Information Age; IOS Press, Assistive

Bio-based products via microwave-assisted maleation of tung oil

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A simple “green” and convenient chemical modification of tung oil for maleinized tung oil (TOMA) was developed via microwave-assisted one-step maleation. The mechanism of this microwave-assisted maleation was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). T...

An Overview of State Mass Transit Assistance Programs: Financing and Distribution Mechanisms

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1987-11-01

In FY 1987, thirty states provided a total of approximately $2.5 billion in : state operating assistance to public transit. The level of state operating : assistance ranges from $75,000 in the state of Montanna to $941 million in New : York state. Th...

Effect of vacuum-assisted closure combined with open bone grafting to promote rabbit bone graft vascularization.

PubMed

Hu, Chao; Zhang, Taogen; Ren, Bin; Deng, Zhouming; Cai, Lin; Lei, Jun; Ping, Ansong

2015-04-27

Patients with composite bone non-union and soft tissue defects are difficult to treat. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) combined with open bone grafting is one of the most effective treatments at present. The aim of the present study was to preliminarily investigate the effect and mechanism of VAC combined with open bone grafting to promote rabbit bone graft vascularization, and to propose a theoretical basis for clinical work. Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group. Allogeneic bones were grafted and banded with the proximal femur with a suture. The experimental group had VAC whereas the control group had normal wound closure. The bone vascularization rate was compared based on X-ray imaging, fluorescent bone labeling (labeled tetracycline hydrochloride and calcein), calcium content in the callus, and expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in bone allografts by Western blot analysis at the 4th, 8th, and 12th week after surgery. At the 4th, 8th, and 12th week after surgery, the results of the tests demonstrated that the callus was larger, contained more calcium (p<0.05), and expressed FGF-2 at higher levels (p<0.05) in the experimental group than in the control group. Fluorescent bone labeling showed the distance between the two fluorescent ribbons was significantly shorter in the control group than in the experimental group at the 8th and 12th week after surgery. VAC combined with open bone grafting promoted rabbit bone graft vascularization.

Informatics Support for Basic Research in Biomedicine

PubMed Central

Rindflesch, Thomas C.; Blake, Catherine L.; Fiszman, Marcelo; Kilicoglu, Halil; Rosemblat, Graciela; Schneider, Jodi; Zeiss, Caroline J.

2017-01-01

Abstract Informatics methodologies exploit computer-assisted techniques to help biomedical researchers manage large amounts of information. In this paper, we focus on the biomedical research literature (MEDLINE). We first provide an overview of some text mining techniques that offer assistance in research by identifying biomedical entities (e.g., genes, substances, and diseases) and relations between them in text. We then discuss Semantic MEDLINE, an application that integrates PubMed document retrieval, concept and relation identification, and visualization, thus enabling a user to explore concepts and relations from within a set of retrieved citations. Semantic MEDLINE provides a roadmap through content and helps users discern patterns in large numbers of retrieved citations. We illustrate its use with an informatics method we call “discovery browsing,” which provides a principled way of navigating through selected aspects of some biomedical research area. The method supports an iterative process that accommodates learning and hypothesis formation in which a user is provided with high level connections before delving into details. As a use case, we examine current developments in basic research on mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease. Out of the nearly 90 000 citations returned by the PubMed query “Alzheimer’s disease,” discovery browsing led us to 73 citations on sortilin and that disorder. We provide a synopsis of the basic research reported in 15 of these. There is wide-spread consensus among researchers working with a range of animal models and human cells that increased sortilin expression and decreased receptor expression are associated with amyloid beta and/or amyloid precursor protein. PMID:28838071

Analysis of the effects of polyphenols on human spermatozoa reveals unexpected impacts on mitochondrial membrane potential, oxidative stress and DNA integrity; implications for assisted reproductive technology.

PubMed

Aitken, R J; Muscio, L; Whiting, S; Connaughton, H S; Fraser, B A; Nixon, B; Smith, N D; De Iuliis, G N

2016-12-01

The need to protect human spermatozoa from oxidative stress during assisted reproductive technology, has prompted a detailed analysis of the impacts of phenolic compounds on the functional integrity of these cells. Investigation of 16 individual compounds revealed a surprising variety of negative effects including: (i) a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) via mechanisms that were not related to opening of the permeability transition pore but associated with a reduction in thiol expression, (ii) a decline in intracellular reduced glutathione, (iii) the stimulation of pro-oxidant activity including the induction of ROS generation from mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial sources, (iv) stimulation of lipid peroxidation, (v) the generation of oxidative DNA damage, and (vi) impaired sperm motility. For most of the polyphenolic compounds examined, the loss of motility was gradual and highly correlated with the induction of lipid peroxidation (r=0.889). The exception was gossypol, which induced a rapid loss of motility due to its inherent alkylating activity; one consequence of which was a marked reduction in carboxymethyl lysine expression on the sperm tail; a post-translational modification that is known to play a key role in the regulation of sperm movement. The only polyphenols that did not appear to have adverse effects on spermatozoa were resveratrol, genistein and THP at doses below 100μM. These compounds could, therefore, have some therapeutic potential in a clinical setting. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Plant Adaptation to Acid Soils: The Molecular Basis for Crop Aluminum Resistance.

PubMed

Kochian, Leon V; Piñeros, Miguel A; Liu, Jiping; Magalhaes, Jurandir V

2015-01-01

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acid soils is a significant limitation to crop production worldwide, as approximately 50% of the world's potentially arable soil is acidic. Because acid soils are such an important constraint to agriculture, understanding the mechanisms and genes conferring resistance to Al toxicity has been a focus of intense research interest in the decade since the last article on crop acid soil tolerance was published in this journal. An impressive amount of progress has been made during that time that has greatly increased our understanding of the diversity of Al resistance genes and mechanisms, how resistance gene expression is regulated and triggered by Al and Al-induced signals, and how the proteins encoded by these genes function and are regulated. This review examines the state of our understanding of the physiological, genetic, and molecular bases for crop Al tolerance, looking at the novel Al resistance genes and mechanisms that have been identified over the past ten years. Additionally, it examines how the integration of molecular and genetic analyses of crop Al resistance is starting to be exploited for the improvement of crop plants grown on acid soils via both molecular-assisted breeding and biotechnology approaches.

Application of an Improved Proteomics Method for Abundant Protein Cleanup: Molecular and Genomic Mechanisms Study in Plant Defense*

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yixiang; Gao, Peng; Xing, Zhuo; Jin, Shumei; Chen, Zhide; Liu, Lantao; Constantino, Nasie; Wang, Xinwang; Shi, Weibing; Yuan, Joshua S.; Dai, Susie Y.

2013-01-01

High abundance proteins like ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) impose a consistent challenge for the whole proteome characterization using shot-gun proteomics. To address this challenge, we developed and evaluated Polyethyleneimine Assisted Rubisco Cleanup (PARC) as a new method by combining both abundant protein removal and fractionation. The new approach was applied to a plant insect interaction study to validate the platform and investigate mechanisms for plant defense against herbivorous insects. Our results indicated that PARC can effectively remove Rubisco, improve the protein identification, and discover almost three times more differentially regulated proteins. The significantly enhanced shot-gun proteomics performance was translated into in-depth proteomic and molecular mechanisms for plant insect interaction, where carbon re-distribution was used to play an essential role. Moreover, the transcriptomic validation also confirmed the reliability of PARC analysis. Finally, functional studies were carried out for two differentially regulated genes as revealed by PARC analysis. Insect resistance was induced by over-expressing either jacalin-like or cupin-like genes in rice. The results further highlighted that PARC can serve as an effective strategy for proteomics analysis and gene discovery. PMID:23943779

Children's Rights and Research Processes: Assisting Children to (In)formed Views

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lundy, Laura; McEvoy, Lesley

2012-01-01

Acknowledging children as rights-holders has significant implications for research processes. What is distinctive about a children's rights informed approach to research is a focus not only on safe, inclusive and engaging opportunities for children to express their views but also on deliberate strategies to assist children in the formation of…

Interactive Games with an Assistive Robotic System for Hearing-Impaired Children.

PubMed

Uluer, Pinar; Akalin, Neziha; Gurpinar, Cemal; Kose, Hatice

2017-01-01

This paper presents an assistive robotic system, which can recognize and express sign language words from a predefined set, within interactive games to communicate with and teach hearing-impaired children sign language. The robotic system uses audio, visual and tactile feedback for interaction with the children and the teacher/researcher.

Ventricular assist device implantation in a young patient with non-compaction cardiomyopathy and hereditary spherocytosis.

PubMed

Huenges, Katharina; Panholzer, Bernd; Cremer, Jochen; Haneya, Assad

2018-04-01

A case of a 15-year-old female patient with acute heart failure due to non-compaction cardiomyopathy and hereditary anaemia (hereditary spherocytic elliptocytosis) requiring ventricular assist device implantation as a bridge to transplantation is presented. The possible effects of mechanical stress on erythrocytes potentially induced by mechanical circulatory support remains unclear, but it may lead to haemolytic crisis in patients suffering from hereditary anaemia. In our case, ventricular assist device therapy was feasible, and haematological complications did not occur within 6 weeks of bridging our patient to heart transplantation.

The Effect of an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) on Student Achievement in Algebraic Expression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chien, Tsai Chen; Md. Yunus, Aida Suraya; Ali, Wan Zah Wan; Bakar, Ab. Rahim

2008-01-01

In this experimental study, use of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) followed by use of an Intelligent Tutoring System (CAI+ITS) was compared to the use of CAI (CAI only) in tutoring students on the topic of Algebraic Expression. Two groups of students participated in the study. One group of 32 students studied algebraic expression in a CAI…

Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system to study post-translational modifications of human transthyretin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henze, Andrea; Homann, Thomas; Rohn, Isabelle; Aschner, Michael; Link, Christopher D.; Kleuser, Burkhard; Schweigert, Florian J.; Schwerdtle, Tanja; Bornhorst, Julia

2016-11-01

The visceral protein transthyretin (TTR) is frequently affected by oxidative post-translational protein modifications (PTPMs) in various diseases. Thus, better insight into structure-function relationships due to oxidative PTPMs of TTR should contribute to the understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms. While the in vivo analysis of TTR in mammalian models is complex, time- and resource-consuming, transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans expressing hTTR provide an optimal model for the in vivo identification and characterization of drug-mediated oxidative PTPMs of hTTR by means of matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization - time of flight - mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Herein, we demonstrated that hTTR is expressed in all developmental stages of Caenorhabditis elegans, enabling the analysis of hTTR metabolism during the whole life-cycle. The suitability of the applied model was verified by exposing worms to D-penicillamine and menadione. Both drugs induced substantial changes in the oxidative PTPM pattern of hTTR. Additionally, for the first time a covalent binding of both drugs with hTTR was identified and verified by molecular modelling.

The mediating role of state maladaptive emotion regulation in the relation between social anxiety symptoms and self-evaluation bias.

PubMed

Sarfan, Laurel D; Cody, Meghan W; Clerkin, Elise M

2018-03-16

Although social anxiety symptoms are robustly linked to biased self-evaluations across time, the mechanisms of this relation remain unclear. The present study tested three maladaptive emotion regulation strategies - state post-event processing, state experiential avoidance, and state expressive suppression - as potential mediators of this relation. Undergraduate participants (N = 88; 61.4% Female) rated their social skill in an impromptu conversation task and then returned to the laboratory approximately two days later to evaluate their social skill in the conversation again. Consistent with expectations, state post-event processing and state experiential avoidance mediated the relation between social anxiety symptoms and worsening self-evaluations of social skill (controlling for research assistant evaluations), particularly for positive qualities (e.g. appeared confident, demonstrated social skill). State expressive suppression did not mediate the relation between social anxiety symptoms and changes in self-evaluation bias across time. These findings highlight the role that spontaneous, state experiential avoidance and state post-event processing may play in the relation between social anxiety symptoms and worsening self-evaluation biases of social skill across time.

Comparative Proteome Analysis of Brucella melitensis Vaccine Strain Rev 1 and a Virulent Strain, 16M

PubMed Central

Eschenbrenner, Michel; Wagner, Mary Ann; Horn, Troy A.; Kraycer, Jo Ann; Mujer, Cesar V.; Hagius, Sue; Elzer, Philip; DelVecchio, Vito G.

2002-01-01

The genus Brucella consists of bacterial pathogens that cause brucellosis, a major zoonotic disease characterized by undulant fever and neurological disorders in humans. Among the different Brucella species, Brucella melitensis is considered the most virulent. Despite successful use in animals, the vaccine strains remain infectious for humans. To understand the mechanism of virulence in B. melitensis, the proteome of vaccine strain Rev 1 was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and compared to that of virulent strain 16M. The two strains were grown under identical laboratory conditions. Computer-assisted analysis of the two B. melitensis proteomes revealed proteins expressed in either 16M or Rev 1, as well as up- or down-regulation of proteins specific for each of these strains. These proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. It was found that certain metabolic pathways may be deregulated in Rev 1. Expression of an immunogenic 31-kDa outer membrane protein, proteins utilized for iron acquisition, and those that play a role in sugar binding, lipid degradation, and amino acid binding was altered in Rev 1. PMID:12193611

Comparative proteome analysis of Brucella melitensis vaccine strain Rev 1 and a virulent strain, 16M.

PubMed

Eschenbrenner, Michel; Wagner, Mary Ann; Horn, Troy A; Kraycer, Jo Ann; Mujer, Cesar V; Hagius, Sue; Elzer, Philip; DelVecchio, Vito G

2002-09-01

The genus Brucella consists of bacterial pathogens that cause brucellosis, a major zoonotic disease characterized by undulant fever and neurological disorders in humans. Among the different Brucella species, Brucella melitensis is considered the most virulent. Despite successful use in animals, the vaccine strains remain infectious for humans. To understand the mechanism of virulence in B. melitensis, the proteome of vaccine strain Rev 1 was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and compared to that of virulent strain 16M. The two strains were grown under identical laboratory conditions. Computer-assisted analysis of the two B. melitensis proteomes revealed proteins expressed in either 16M or Rev 1, as well as up- or down-regulation of proteins specific for each of these strains. These proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. It was found that certain metabolic pathways may be deregulated in Rev 1. Expression of an immunogenic 31-kDa outer membrane protein, proteins utilized for iron acquisition, and those that play a role in sugar binding, lipid degradation, and amino acid binding was altered in Rev 1.

Familiarity with a vocal category biases the compartmental expression of Arc/Arg3.1 in core auditory cortex.

PubMed

Ivanova, Tamara N; Gross, Christina; Mappus, Rudolph C; Kwon, Yong Jun; Bassell, Gary J; Liu, Robert C

2017-12-01

Learning to recognize a stimulus category requires experience with its many natural variations. However, the mechanisms that allow a category's sensorineural representation to be updated after experiencing new exemplars are not well understood, particularly at the molecular level. Here we investigate how a natural vocal category induces expression in the auditory system of a key synaptic plasticity effector immediate early gene, Arc/Arg3.1 , which is required for memory consolidation. We use the ultrasonic communication system between mouse pups and adult females to study whether prior familiarity with pup vocalizations alters how Arc is engaged in the core auditory cortex after playback of novel exemplars from the pup vocal category. A computerized, 3D surface-assisted cellular compartmental analysis, validated against manual cell counts, demonstrates significant changes in the recruitment of neurons expressing Arc in pup-experienced animals (mothers and virgin females "cocaring" for pups) compared with pup-inexperienced animals (pup-naïve virgins), especially when listening to more familiar, natural calls compared to less familiar but similarly recognized tonal model calls. Our data support the hypothesis that the kinetics of Arc induction to refine cortical representations of sensory categories is sensitive to the familiarity of the sensory experience. © 2017 Ivanova et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

49 CFR 27.72 - Boarding assistance for aircraft.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... assistance to individuals with disabilities using mechanical lifts, ramps, or other devices that do not require employees to lift or carry passengers up stairs. Paragraph (c) of this section applies to aircraft... to be unsuitable for boarding assistance by lift, ramp or other suitable device on the basis of a...

49 CFR 27.72 - Boarding assistance for aircraft.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... assistance to individuals with disabilities using mechanical lifts, ramps, or other devices that do not require employees to lift or carry passengers up stairs. Paragraph (c) of this section applies to aircraft... to be unsuitable for boarding assistance by lift, ramp or other suitable device on the basis of a...

Grating-assisted surface acoustic wave directional couplers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golan, G.; Griffel, G.; Seidman, A.; Croitoru, N.

1991-07-01

Physical properties of novel grating-assisted Y directional couplers are examined using the coupled-mode theory. A general formalism for the analysis of the lateral perturbed directional coupler properties is presented. Explicit expressions for waveguide key parameters such as coupling length, grating period, and other structural characterizations, are obtained. The influence of other physical properties such as time and frequency response or cutoff conditions are also analyzed. A plane grating-assisted directional coupler is presented and examined as a basic component in the integrated acoustic technology.

Molecular pathology of pulmonary surfactants and cytokines in drowning compared with other asphyxiation and fatal hypothermia.

PubMed

Miyazato, Takako; Ishikawa, Takaki; Michiue, Tomomi; Maeda, Hitoshi

2012-07-01

Drowning involves complex fatal factors, including asphyxiation and electrolyte/osmotic disturbances, as well as hypothermia in cold water. The present study investigated the molecular pathology of pulmonary injury due to drowning, using lung specimens from forensic autopsy cases of drowning (n = 21), acute mechanical asphyxia due to neck compression and smothering (n = 24), and hypothermia (cold exposure, n = 11), as well as those of injury (n = 23), intoxication (n = 13), fire fatality (n = 18), and acute cardiac death (n = 9) for comparison. TaqMan real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of pulmonary surfactant-associated proteins A and D (SP-A and SP-D), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-10. SP-A and SP-D mRNA levels were lower for drowning, mechanical asphyxiation, fire fatality, and acute cardiac deaths than for hypothermia and injury. TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 mRNA levels were higher for drowning or for drowning and injury than for other groups; there was no significant difference between fire fatality, involving airway injury due to inhalation of hot/irritant gases, and other control groups. These observations suggest characteristic molecular biological patterns of pulmonary injury involving suppression of pulmonary surfactants and activation of early-phase mediators of inflammation in drowning, with high mRNA expression levels of pulmonary surfactants in fatal hypothermia; however, there was no significant difference among these markers in immunohistochemical detection, except for SP-A. These mRNA expressions can be used as markers of pulmonary injury to assist in investigations of the pathophysiology of drowning and fatal hypothermia in combination with other biochemical and biological markers.

Microtubule-assisted altered trafficking of astrocytic gap junction protein connexin 43 is associated with depletion of connexin 47 during mouse hepatitis virus infection.

PubMed

Basu, Rahul; Bose, Abhishek; Thomas, Deepthi; Das Sarma, Jayasri

2017-09-08

Gap junctions (GJs) are important for maintenance of CNS homeostasis. GJ proteins, connexin 43 (Cx43) and connexin 47 (Cx47), play a crucial role in production and maintenance of CNS myelin. Cx43 is mainly expressed by astrocytes in the CNS and forms gap junction intercellular communications between astrocytes-astrocytes (Cx43-Cx43) and between astrocytes-oligodendrocytes (Cx43-Cx47). Mutations of these connexin (Cx) proteins cause dysmyelinating diseases in humans. Previously, it has been shown that Cx43 localization and expression is altered due to mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)-A59 infection both in vivo and in vitro ; however, its mechanism and association with loss of myelin protein was not elaborated. Thus, we explored potential mechanisms by which MHV-A59 infection alters Cx43 localization and examined the effects of viral infection on Cx47 expression and its association with loss of the myelin marker proteolipid protein. Immunofluorescence and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy confirmed that MHV-A59 used microtubules (MTs) as a conduit to reach the cell surface and restricted MT-mediated Cx43 delivery to the cell membrane. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that Cx43-β-tubulin molecular interaction was depleted due to protein-protein interaction between viral particles and MTs. During acute MHV-A59 infection, oligodendrocytic Cx47, which is mainly stabilized by Cx43 in vivo , was down-regulated, and its characteristic staining remained disrupted even at chronic phase. The loss of Cx47 was associated with loss of proteolipid protein at the chronic stage of MHV-A59 infection. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Development of an oligo DNA microarray for the European sea bass and its application to expression profiling of jaw deformity

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is a marine fish of great importance for fisheries and aquaculture. Functional genomics offers the possibility to discover the molecular mechanisms underlying productive traits in farmed fish, and a step towards the application of marker assisted selection methods in this species. To this end, we report here on the development of an oligo DNA microarray for D. labrax. Results A database consisting of 19,048 unique transcripts was constructed, of which 12,008 (63%) could be annotated by similarity and 4,692 received a GO functional annotation. Two non-overlapping 60mer probes were designed for each unique transcript and in-situ synthesized on glass slides using Agilent SurePrint™ technology. Probe design was positively completed for 19,035 target clusters; the oligo microarray was then applied to profile gene expression in mandibles and whole-heads of fish affected by prognathism, a skeletal malformation that strongly affects sea bass production. Statistical analysis identified 242 transcripts that are significantly down-regulated in deformed individuals compared to normal fish, with a significant enrichment in genes related to nervous system development and functioning. A set of genes spanning a wide dynamic range in gene expression level were selected for quantitative RT-PCR validation. Fold change correlation between microarray and qPCR data was always significant. Conclusions The microarray platform developed for the European sea bass has a high level of flexibility, reliability, and reproducibility. Despite the well known limitations in achieving a proper functional annotation in non-model species, sufficient information was obtained to identify biological processes that are significantly enriched among differentially expressed genes. New insights were obtained on putative mechanisms involved on mandibular prognathism, suggesting that bone/nervous system development might play a role in this phenomenon. PMID:20525278

Differential expression of miR-31 between inflammatory bowel disease and microscopic colitis.

PubMed

Zhang, Chen; Zhao, Zijin; Osman, Hany; Watson, Rao; Nalbantoglu, Ilke; Lin, Jingmei

2014-01-01

Idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and microscopic colitis (MC) are distinct entities. However, patients with intermittent episodes of IBD and MC that are encountered in a clinical setting puzzle clinicians and pathologists. This study examined whether microRNA assisted in the classification of IBD and MC. Small RNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) colon tissue and qRT-PCR was performed from cohorts of normal control (n=38), ulcerative colitis (n=36), Crohns disease (n=26), collagenous colitis (n=36), lymphocytic colitis (n=30), and patients with intermittent features of IBD and MC (n=6). Differential expression of miR-31 distinguished IBD (ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease) from MC (collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis), confirming the specificity of miR-31 expression in IBD (P=0.00001). In addition, expression of miR-31 was increased in collagenous colitis compared to that of lymphocytic colitis (P=0.010). Among 6 patients with alternating episodes of IBD and MC, one patient had matching miR-31 expression in different phases (lymphocytic colitis to ulcerative colitis, and then back to collagenous colitis). The other 5 patients had MC-like expression patterns in both MC and IBD episodes. In summary, IBD and MC have distinct miR-31 expression pattern. Therefore, miR-31 might be used as a biomarker to distinguish between IBD and MC in FFPE colonic tissue. In addition, miR-31 is differentially expressed in colonic tissue between lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis, suggesting them of separate disease processes. Finally, patients with alternating IBD and MC episodes represent a diverse group. Among them, the majority demonstrates MC-like miR-31 expression pattern in MC phases, which seems unlikely to support the speculation of MC as an inactive form of IBD. Although the mechanisms deserve further investigation, microRNA is a potentially useful biomarker to differentiate IBD and MC.

Yak response to high-altitude hypoxic stress by altering mRNA expression and DNA methylation of hypoxia-inducible factors.

PubMed

Xiong, Xianrong; Fu, Mei; Lan, Daoliang; Li, Jian; Zi, Xiangdong; Zhong, Jincheng

2015-01-01

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are oxygen-dependent transcriptional activators, which play crucial roles in tumor angiogenesis and mammalian development, and regulate the transcription of genes involved in oxygen homeostasis in response to hypoxia. However, information on HIF-1α and HIF-2α in yak (Bos grunniens) is scarce. The complete coding region of yak HIF-2α was cloned, its mRNA expression in several tissues were determined, and the expression levels were compared with those of closely related low-altitude cattle (Bos taurus), and the methylation status of promoter regions were analyzed to better understand the roles of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in domesticated yak. The yak HIF-2α cDNA was cloned and sequenced in the present work reveals the evolutionary conservation through multiple sequence alignment, although 15 bases changed, resulting in 8 amino acid substitutions in the translated proteins in cattle. The tissue-specific expression results showed that HIF-1α is ubiquitously expressed, whereas HIF-2α expression is limited to endothelial tissues (kidney, heart, lung, spleen, and liver) and blood in yak. Both HIF-1α and HIF-2α expressions were higher in yak tissues than in cattle. The HIF-1α expression level is much higher in yak than cattle in these organs, except for the lung (P < 0.05), but the HIF-2α gene is significantly different in the heart, spleen, and kidney (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the methylation levels in the 5' flanking regulatory regions of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in yak kidney were significantly decreased than cattle counterparts (P < 0.05). Identifying these genes and the comparison of different expressions facilitates the understanding of the biological high-altitude hypoxic stress response mechanism and may assist current medical research to understand hypoxia-related diseases.

Fast self-diffusion of ions in CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 : the interstiticaly mechanism versus vacancy-assisted mechanism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Ji-Hui; Yin, Wan-Jian; Park, Ji-Sang

2016-01-01

The stability of organic-inorganic halide perovskites is a major challenge for their applications and has been extensively studied. Among the possible underlying reasons, ion self-diffusion has been inferred to play important roles. While theoretical studies congruously support that iodine is more mobile, experimental studies only observe the direct diffusion of the MA ion and possible diffusion of iodine. The discrepancy may result from the incomplete understanding of ion diffusion mechanisms. With the help of first-principles calculations, we studied ion diffusion in CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) through not only the vacancy-assisted mechanisms presumed in previous theoretical studies, but also the neglected interstiticaly mechanisms.more » We found that compared to the diffusion through the vacancy-assisted mechanism, MA ion diffusion through the interstiticaly mechanism has a much smaller barrier which could explain experimental observations. For iodine diffusion, both mechanisms can yield relatively small barriers. Depending on the growth conditions, defect densities of vacancies and interstitials can vary and so do the diffusion species as well as diffusion mechanisms. Our work thus supports that both MA and iodine ion diffusion could contribute to the performance instability of MAPbI3. While being congruous with experimental results, our work fills the research gap by providing a full understanding of ion diffusion in halide perovskites.« less

Test methods for environment-assisted cracking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turnbull, A.

1992-03-01

The test methods for assessing environment assisted cracking of metals in aqueous solution are described. The advantages and disadvantages are examined and the interrelationship between results from different test methods is discussed. The source of differences in susceptibility to cracking occasionally observed from the varied mechanical test methods arises often from the variation between environmental parameters in the different test conditions and the lack of adequate specification, monitoring, and control of environmental variables. Time is also a significant factor when comparing results from short term tests with long exposure tests. In addition to these factors, the intrinsic difference in the important mechanical variables, such as strain rate, associated with the various mechanical tests methods can change the apparent sensitivity of the material to stress corrosion cracking. The increasing economic pressure for more accelerated testing is in conflict with the characteristic time dependence of corrosion processes. Unreliable results may be inevitable in some cases but improved understanding of mechanisms and the development of mechanistically based models of environment assisted cracking which incorporate the key mechanical, material, and environmental variables can provide the framework for a more realistic interpretation of short term data.

Mechanical unloading reduces microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 expression to inhibit β-catenin signaling and osteoblast proliferation.

PubMed

Yin, Chong; Zhang, Yan; Hu, Lifang; Tian, Ye; Chen, Zhihao; Li, Dijie; Zhao, Fan; Su, Peihong; Ma, Xiaoli; Zhang, Ge; Miao, Zhiping; Wang, Liping; Qian, Airong; Xian, Cory J

2018-07-01

Mechanical unloading was considered a major threat to bone homeostasis, and has been shown to decrease osteoblast proliferation although the underlying mechanism is unclear. Microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1) is a cytoskeletal protein that regulates cellular processes and Wnt/β-catenin pathway, an essential signaling pathway for osteoblasts. However, the relationship between MACF1 expression and mechanical unloading, and the function and the associated mechanisms of MACF1 in regulating osteoblast proliferation are unclear. This study investigated effects of mechanical unloading on MACF1 expression levels in cultured MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells and in femurs of mice with hind limb unloading; and it also examined the role and potential action mechanisms of MACF1 in osteoblast proliferation in MACF1-knockdown, overexpressed or control MC3T3-E1 cells treated with or without the mechanical unloading condition. Results showed that the mechanical unloading condition inhibited osteoblast proliferation and MACF1 expression in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells and mouse femurs. MACF1 knockdown decreased osteoblast proliferation, while MACF1 overexpression increased it. The inhibitory effect of mechanical unloading on osteoblast proliferation also changed with MACF1 expression levels. Furthermore, MACF1 was found to enhance β-catenin expression and activity, and mechanical unloading decreased β-catenin expression through MACF1. Moreover, β-catenin was found an important regulator of osteoblast proliferation, as its preservation by treatment with its agonist lithium attenuated the inhibitory effects of MACF1-knockdown or mechanical unloading on osteoblast proliferation. Taken together, mechanical unloading decreases MACF1 expression, and MACF1 up-regulates osteoblast proliferation through enhancing β-catenin signaling. This study has thus provided a mechanism for mechanical unloading-induced inhibited osteoblast proliferation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sexuality and Intimacy in Assisted Living: Residents’ Perspectives and Experiences

PubMed Central

Frankowski, Ann Christine; Clark, Leanne J.

2014-01-01

The assisted living industry provides residential, medical, nutritional, functional, and social services for approximately 1 million older adults in the United States. Despite their holistic approach to person-centered care and their emphasis on a consumer-empowered, social environment, assisted living providers pay scant attention to clients’ sexual needs. In this article, the authors discuss the realities of sex and intimacy in assisted living from the perspectives of residents, families, managers, and staff, exploring the discourse of sexuality, the impact of institutional structure and the role of oversight on sexual attitudes and behaviors, and the relationship of assisted living industry values to residents’ sexual expression. Also presented are practical recommendations and policy implications for addressing the sexual and intimacy needs of current and future cohorts of assisted living residents. Data for this article were drawn from 3 National Institute on Aging–funded ethnographic studies conducted in 13 assisted living settings over 9 years. PMID:25568640

Effect of laser-assisted scaling and root planing on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the gingival crevicular fluid of patients with chronic periodontitis: A systematic review.

PubMed

Kellesarian, Sergio Varela; Malignaggi, Vanessa Ros; Majoka, Hasham Abdullah; Al-Kheraif, Abdulaziz A; Kellesarian, Tammy Varela; Romanos, Georgios E; Javed, Fawad

2017-06-01

The aim of the present systematic review was to assess the efficacy of laser-assisted (low level laser therapy [LLLT], high intensity laser therapy [HILT], or antimicrobial photodynamic therapy [aPDT]) scaling and root planing (SRP) compared with SRP alone on the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the gingival crevicular (GCF) of patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). In order to address the focused question: "What is the efficacy of SRP with and without laser and/or aPDT on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the GCF of patients with CP?" an electronic search without time or language restrictions was conducted up to and including February 2017 in indexed databases using various key words. Twenty-two randomized control trials were included in the present systematic review. Nine studies and six studies assessed the efficacy of LLLT and HILT, as adjunct to SRP, respectively. Seven studies assessed the efficacy of aPDT as adjunct to SRP on down-regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the GCF among patients with CP. The outcomes of the studies included based upon the reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were inconsistent. The role of laser-assisted SRP on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the GCF of patients with CP remains unclear. Further long term and well-designed randomized clinical trials are needed in this regard. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermo-mechanical mechanism of laser-assisted alteration and stabilization of micro pore structure in eye-sclera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baum, Olga; Wachsmann-Hogiu, Sebastian; Sobol, Emil

2018-02-01

Thermo-mechanical effect of laser radiation is a basis of new method of normalization of intraocular pressure in glaucomatous eyes due to laser-assisted pore formation in eye sclera. Laser-induced creation of pores in sclera increases hydraulic permeability. Stability of laser-induced pore system is achieved via gas nano-bubbles arisen in the sclera under laser radiation as a result of temperature dependency of gas solubility. The stabilization of laser-induced gas and pore systems in the tissue is an important mechanism for a long lasting healing of glaucoma observed in clinical trials with one year follow-up.

Ventricular assist devices in pediatrics

PubMed Central

Fuchs, A; Netz, H

2001-01-01

The implantation of a mechanical circulatory device for end-stage ventricular failure is a possible therapeutic approach in adult and pediatric cardiac surgery and cardiology. The aim of this article is to present mechanical circulatory assist devices used in infants and children with special emphasis on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, Berlin Heart assist device, centrifugal pump and Medos assist device. The success of long-term support with implantable ventricular assist devices in adults and children has led to their increasing use as a bridge to transplantation in patients with otherwise non-treatable left ventricular failure, by transforming a terminal phase heart condition into a treatable cardiopathy. Such therapy allows rehabilitation of patients before elective cardiac transplantation (by removing contraindications to transplantation mainly represented by organ impairment) or acting as a bridge to recovery of the native left ventricular function (depending on underlying cardiac disease). Treatment may also involve permanent device implantation when cardiac transplantation is contraindicated. Indications for the implantation of assisted circulation include all states of cardiac failure that are reversible within a variable period of time or that require heart transplantation. This article will address the current status of ventricular assist devices by examining historical aspects of its development, current technical issues and clinical features of pediatric ventricular assist devices, including indications and contraindications for support. PMID:22368605

Novel strategies to enforce an epithelial phenotype in mesenchymal cells

PubMed Central

Dragoi, Ana-Maria; Swiss, Rachel; Gao, Beile; Agaisse, Hervé

2014-01-01

E-cadherin downregulation in cancer cells is associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastatic prowess, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely characterized. In this study, we probed E-cadherin expression at the plasma membrane as a functional assay to identify genes involved in E-cadherin downregulation. The assay was based on the E-cadherin-dependent invasion properties of the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. On the basis of a functional readout, automated microscopy and computer-assisted image analysis were used to screen siRNAs targeting 7,000 human genes. The validity of the screen was supported by its definion of several known regulators of E-cadherin expression, including ZEB1, HDAC1 and MMP14. We identified three new regulators (FLASH, CASP7 and PCGF1), the silencing of which was sufficient to restore high levels of E-cadherin transcription. Additionally, we identified two new regulators (FBXL5 and CAV2), the silencing of which was sufficient to increase E-cadherin expression at a post-transcriptional level. FLASH silencing regulated the expression of E-cadherin and other ZEB1-dependent genes, through post-transcriptional regulation of ZEB1, but it also regulated the expression of numerous ZEB1-independent genes with functions predicted to contribute to a restoration of the epithelial phenotype. Finally, we also report the identification of siRNA duplexes that potently restored the epithelial phenotype by mimicking the activity of known and putative microRNAs. Our findings suggest new ways to enforce epithelial phenotypes as a general strategy to treat cancer by blocking invasive and metastatic phenotypes associated with EMT. PMID:24845104

Usefulness of DIGE for the detection of protein profile in retained and released bovine placental tissues.

PubMed

Kankofer, M; Wawrzykowski, J; Miller, I; Hoedemaker, M

2015-02-01

Regardless intensive research, the etiology and mechanisms of retention of fetal membranes in cows, still require elucidation. In our research approach, difference in gel electrophoresis (DIGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) identification were used to obtain first results on protein profile of bovine placental membranes which were properly released or retained for more than 12 h after parturition. Placentomes from 6 cows that released placenta and from 6 cows that retained fetal membranes were homogenized, fluorescence labeled and subjected to DIGE. Selected spots that significantly differed between retained and released placenta as well as spots with constant appearance were identified by MALDI. This allowed identification of the following proteins with high statistical reliability: Transforming growth factor beta 2 - high expression in maternal and fetal part of retained fetal membranes, Short transient receptor potential channel 5 -high expression in maternal part of retained and not retained fetal membranes, Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor beta - high expression in fetal part of retained and not retained fetal membranes, Proline dehydrogenase 2 - similar expression in all examined samples, Ras-related protein Rab-7b -high expression only in maternal part of not retained fetal membranes. Up to now, these proteins have not been considered as possibly important molecules for the separation/retention of fetal membranes, but their biological roles may suggest it. Further studies are necessary to establish a full profile of bovine placental proteins and define target molecules that may be involved in separation/retention of fetal membranes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Differentially expressed genes and proteins upon drought acclimation in tolerant and sensitive genotypes of Coffea canephora

PubMed Central

Marraccini, Pierre; Vinecky, Felipe; Alves, Gabriel S.C.; Ramos, Humberto J.O.; Elbelt, Sonia; Vieira, Natalia G.; Carneiro, Fernanda A.; Sujii, Patricia S.; Alekcevetch, Jean C.; Silva, Vânia A.; DaMatta, Fábio M.; Ferrão, Maria A.G.; Leroy, Thierry; Pot, David; Vieira, Luiz G.E.; da Silva, Felipe R.; Andrade, Alan C.

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying drought acclimation in coffee plants by the identification of candidate genes (CGs) using different approaches. The first approach used the data generated during the Brazilian Coffee expressed sequence tag (EST) project to select 13 CGs by an in silico analysis (electronic northern). The second approach was based on screening macroarrays spotted with plasmid DNA (coffee ESTs) with separate hybridizations using leaf cDNA probes from drought-tolerant and susceptible clones of Coffea canephora var. Conilon, grown under different water regimes. This allowed the isolation of seven additional CGs. The third approach used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to identify proteins displaying differential accumulation in leaves of drought-tolerant and susceptible clones of C. canephora. Six of them were characterized by MALDI-TOF-MS/MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption-time of flight-tandem mass spectrometry) and the corresponding proteins were identified. Finally, additional CGs were selected from the literature, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to analyse the expression of all identified CGs. Altogether, >40 genes presenting differential gene expression during drought acclimation were identified, some of them showing different expression profiles between drought-tolerant and susceptible clones. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that factors involved a complex network of responses probably involving the abscisic signalling pathway and nitric oxide are major molecular determinants that might explain the better efficiency in controlling stomata closure and transpiration displayed by drought-tolerant clones of C. canephora. PMID:22511801

Transcriptome analysis in Coffea eugenioides, an Arabica coffee ancestor, reveals differentially expressed genes in leaves and fruits.

PubMed

Yuyama, Priscila Mary; Reis Júnior, Osvaldo; Ivamoto, Suzana Tiemi; Domingues, Douglas Silva; Carazzolle, Marcelo Falsarella; Pereira, Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães; Charmetant, Pierre; Leroy, Thierry; Pereira, Luiz Filipe Protasio

2016-02-01

Studies in diploid parental species of polyploid plants are important to understand their contributions to the formation of plant and species evolution. Coffea eugenioides is a diploid species that is considered to be an ancestor of allopolyploid Coffea arabica together with Coffea canephora. Despite its importance in the evolutionary history of the main economic species of coffee, no study has focused on C. eugenioides molecular genetics. RNA-seq creates the possibility to generate reference transcriptomes and identify coding genes and potential candidates related to important agronomic traits. Therefore, the main objectives were to obtain a global overview of transcriptionally active genes in this species using next-generation sequencing and to analyze specific genes that were highly expressed in leaves and fruits with potential exploratory characteristics for breeding and understanding the evolutionary biology of coffee. A de novo assembly generated 36,935 contigs that were annotated using eight databases. We observed a total of ~5000 differentially expressed genes between leaves and fruits. Several genes exclusively expressed in fruits did not exhibit similarities with sequences in any database. We selected ten differentially expressed unigenes in leaves and fruits to evaluate transcriptional profiles using qPCR. Our study provides the first gene catalog for C. eugenioides and enhances the knowledge concerning the mechanisms involved in the C. arabica homeologous. Furthermore, this work will open new avenues for studies into specific genes and pathways in this species, especially related to fruit, and our data have potential value in assisted breeding applications.

Methylation and microRNA-mediated epigenetic regulation of SOCS3

PubMed Central

Boosani, Chandra S.; Agrawal, Devendra K.

2017-01-01

Epigenetic gene silencing of several genes causes different pathological conditions in humans, and DNA methylation has been identified as one of the key mechanisms that underlie this evolutionarily conserved phenomenon associated with developmental and pathological gene regulation. Recent advances in the miRNA technology with high throughput analysis of gene regulation further increased our understanding on the role of miRNAs regulating multiple gene expression. There is increasing evidence supporting that the miRNAs not only regulate gene expression but they also are involved in the hypermethylation of promoter sequences, which cumulatively contributes to the epigenetic gene silencing. Here, we critically evaluated the recent progress on the transcriptional regulation of an important suppressor protein that inhibits cytokine-mediated signaling, SOCS3, whose expression is directly regulated both by promoter methylation and also by microRNAs, affecting its vital cell regulating functions. SOCS3 was identified as a potent inhibitor of Jak/STAT signaling pathway which is frequently upregulated in several pathologies, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, viral infections, and the expression of SOCS3 was inhibited or greatly reduced due to hypermethylation of the CpG islands in its promoter region or suppression of its expression by different microRNAs. Additionally, we discuss key intracellular signaling pathways regulated by SOCS3 involving cellular events, including cell proliferation, cell growth, cell migration and apoptosis. Identification of the pathway intermediates as specific targets would not only aid in the development of novel therapeutic drugs, but, would also assist in developing new treatment strategies that could successfully be employed in combination therapy to target multiple signaling pathways. PMID:25682267

Effects of SARA on oxygen-glucose deprivation in PC12 cell line.

PubMed

Wang, Jiao-Qi; He, Jin-Ting; Du, Zhen-Wu; Li, Zong-Shu; Liu, Yong-Feng; Mang, Jing; Xu, Zhong-Xin

2013-05-01

Ischemic stroke is a major composition of cerebrovascular disease, seriously threatening to human health in the world. Activin A (ActA), belonging to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) super family, plays an important role in the hypoxic-ischemic brain injury through ActA/Smads pathway. While as an essential phosphorylation assistor in TGF-β signaling, the functions and mechanisms of smad anchor for receptor activation (SARA) in ischemic brain injury remain poorly understood. To solve this problem and explore the pathological processes of ischemic stroke, we used an Oxygen-Glucose deprivation (OGD) model in nerve growth factor-induced differentiated rattus PC12 pheochromocytoma cells and down regulated the expressions of SARA by RNA interference technology. Our results showed that the repression of SARA before OGD exposure reduced the expressions of Smad2, 3, 4 mRNA and the phosphorylation rate of Smad2 protein, but it did not affect the mRNA expressions of Smad7. After OGD treatment, ActA/Smads pathway was activated and the expression of SARA in the SARA pre-repression group was significantly up-regulated. The pre-repression of SARA increased the sensitivities of nerve-like cells to OGD damage. Moreover, the mRNA expression of Smad7 which was supposed to participate in the negative feedback of ActA/Smads pathway was also elevated due to OGD injury. Taken together, these results suggest a positive role of SARA in assisting the phosphorylation of Smad2 and maintaining the neuron protective effect of ActA/Smads pathway.

Upregulation of miR-146a by YY1 depletion correlates with delayed progression of prostate cancer

PubMed Central

Huang, Yeqing; Tao, Tao; Liu, Chunhui; Guan, Han; Zhang, Guangyuan; Ling, Zhixin; Zhang, Lei; Lu, Kai; Chen, Shuqiu; Xu, Bin; Chen, Ming

2017-01-01

Previously published studies explained that the excessive expression of miR-146a influences the prostate cancer (PCa) cells in terms of apoptosis, progression, and viability. Although miR-146a acts as a tumor suppressor, current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that controls its expression in PCa is limited. In this study, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed negatively enriched expression of miR-146a target gene sets and positively enriched expression of gene sets suppressed by the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) after YY1 depletion in PCa cells. The current results demonstrated that the miR-146a levels in PCa tissues with high Gleason scores (>7) are significantly lower than those in PCa tissues with low Gleason scores (≤7), which were initially observed in the clinical specimens. An inverse relationship between YY1 and miR-146a expression was also observed. Experiments indicated the decrease in cell viability, proliferation, and promoting apoptosis after YY1 depletion, while through inhibiting miR-146a could alleviate the negative effect brought by YY1 depletion. We detected the reversed adjustment of YY1 to accommodate miR-146a transcriptions. On the basis of YY1 depletion, we determined that the expression of miR-146a increased after EZH2 knockdown. We validated the combination of YY1 and its interaction with EZH2 at the miR-146a promoter binding site, thereby prohibiting the transcriptional activity of miR-146a in PCa cells. Our results suggested that YY1 depletion repressed PCa cell viability and proliferation and induced apoptosis at least in a miR-146a-assisted manner. PMID:28101571

Allele-specific expression of the MAOA gene and X chromosome inactivation in in vitro produced bovine embryos.

PubMed

Ferreira, A R; Machado, G M; Diesel, T O; Carvalho, J O; Rumpf, R; Melo, E O; Dode, M A N; Franco, M M

2010-07-01

During embryogenesis, one of the two X chromosomes is inactivated in embryos. The production of embryos in vitro may affect epigenetic mechanisms that could alter the expression of genes related to embryo development and X chromosome inactivation (XCI). The aim of this study was to understand XCI during in vitro, pre-implantation bovine embryo development by characterizing the allele-specific expression pattern of the X chromosome-linked gene, monoamine oxidase A (MAOA). Two pools of ten embryos, comprised of the 4-, 8- to 16-cell, morula, blastocyst, and expanded blastocyst stages, were collected. Total RNA from embryos was isolated, and the RT-PCR-RFLP technique was used to observe expression of the MAOA gene. The DNA amplicons were also sequenced using the dideoxy sequencing method. MAOA mRNA was detected, and allele-specific expression was identified in each pool of embryos. We showed the presence of both the maternal and paternal alleles in the 4-, 8- to 16-cell, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst embryos, but only the maternal allele was present in the morula stage. Therefore, we can affirm that the paternal X chromosome is totally inactivated at the morula stage and reactivated at the blastocyst stage. To our knowledge, this is the first report of allele-specific expression of an X-linked gene that is subject to XCI in in vitro bovine embryos from the 4-cell to expanded blastocyst stages. We have established a pattern of XCI in our in vitro embryo production system that can be useful as a marker to assist the development of new protocols for in vitro embryo production. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Clinically relevant morphological structures in breast cancer represent transcriptionally distinct tumor cell populations with varied degrees of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and CD44+CD24- stemness

PubMed Central

Denisov, Evgeny V.; Skryabin, Nikolay A.; Gerashchenko, Tatiana S.; Tashireva, Lubov A.; Wilhelm, Jochen; Buldakov, Mikhail A.; Sleptcov, Aleksei A.; Lebedev, Igor N.; Vtorushin, Sergey V.; Zavyalova, Marina V.; Cherdyntseva, Nadezhda V.; Perelmuter, Vladimir M.

2017-01-01

Intratumor morphological heterogeneity in breast cancer is represented by different morphological structures (tubular, alveolar, solid, trabecular, and discrete) and contributes to poor prognosis; however, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. In this study, we performed 3D imaging, laser microdissection-assisted array comparative genomic hybridization and gene expression microarray analysis of different morphological structures and examined their association with the standard immunohistochemistry scorings and CD44+CD24- cancer stem cells. We found that the intratumor morphological heterogeneity is not associated with chromosomal aberrations. By contrast, morphological structures were characterized by specific gene expression profiles and signaling pathways and significantly differed in progesterone receptor and Ki-67 expression. Most importantly, we observed significant differences between structures in the number of expressed genes of the epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes and the association with cancer invasion pathways. Tubular (tube-shaped) and alveolar (spheroid-shaped) structures were transcriptionally similar and demonstrated co-expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers. Solid (large shapeless) structures retained epithelial features but demonstrated an increase in mesenchymal traits and collective cell migration hallmarks. Mesenchymal genes and cancer invasion pathways, as well as Ki-67 expression, were enriched in trabecular (one/two rows of tumor cells) and discrete groups (single cells and/or arrangements of 2-5 cells). Surprisingly, the number of CD44+CD24- cells was found to be the lowest in discrete groups and the highest in alveolar and solid structures. Overall, our findings indicate the association of intratumor morphological heterogeneity in breast cancer with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and CD44+CD24- stemness and the appeal of this heterogeneity as a model for the study of cancer invasion. PMID:28977854

MicroRNAs at the human 14q32 locus have prognostic significance in osteosarcoma

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) transcript levels has been observed in many types of tumors including osteosarcoma. Molecular pathways regulated by differentially expressed miRNAs may contribute to the heterogeneous tumor behaviors observed in naturally occurring cancers. Thus, tumor-associated miRNA expression may provide informative biomarkers for disease outcome and metastatic potential in osteosarcoma patients. We showed previously that clusters of miRNAs at the 14q32 locus are downregulated in human osteosarcoma. Methods Human and canine osteosarcoma patient’s samples with clinical follow-up data were used in this study. We used bioinformatics and comparative genomics approaches to identify miRNA based prognostic biomarkers in osteosarcoma. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Whitney Mann U tests were conducted for validating the statistical significance. Results Here we show that an inverse correlation exists between aggressive tumor behavior (increased metastatic potential and accelerated time to death) and the residual expression of 14q32 miRNAs (using miR-382 as a representative of 14q32 miRNAs) in a series of clinically annotated samples from human osteosarcoma patients. We also show a comparable decrease in expression of orthologous 14q32 miRNAs in canine osteosarcoma samples, with conservation of the inverse correlation between aggressive behavior and expression of orthologous miRNA miR-134 and miR-544. Conclusions We conclude that downregulation of 14q32 miRNA expression is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that contributes to the biological behavior of osteosarcoma, and that quantification of representative transcripts from this family, such as miR-382, miR-134, and miR-544, provide prognostic and predictive markers that can assist in the management of patients with this disease. PMID:23311495

78 FR 66962 - Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-07

... Assistant Secretary of Labor request for nominations for membership on ACCSH. DATES: ACCSH meeting: ACCSH... Office at (202) 693- 1648. Regular mail, express mail, hand delivery, or messenger (courier) service...). OSHA's Docket Office accepts deliveries (hand deliveries, express mail, and messenger service) during...

A Needs-Assessment of Agencies Serving Individuals with Deaf-Blindness: A National Profile of Transitional Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seiler, Lauren H.; And Others

A national needs assessment of 719 educational and adult service agencies providing or proposing to provide transitional services to individuals with deaf-blindness was conducted to determine national and regional technical assistance needs. On average, each agency expressed a need for technical assistance in 20 separate areas. In the area of…

Gene-assisted selection: applications of association genetics for forest tree breeding

Treesearch

Philip L. Wilcox; Craig E. Echt; Rowland D. Burdon

2007-01-01

This chapter describes application of association genetics in forest tree species for the purposes of selection. We use the term gene-assisted selection (GAS) to denote application of marker-trait associations determined via association genetics, which we anticipate will be based on poly morph isms associated with expressed genes. The salient features of forest trees...

A Computer-Assisted Instruction Phonological Sensitivity Program for Preschool Children At-Risk for Reading Problems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lonigan, Christopher J.; Driscoll, Kimberly; Phillips, Beth M.; Cantor, Brenlee G.; Anthony, Jason L.; Goldstein, Howard

2003-01-01

A study evaluated the use of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) to provide training in phonological sensitivity skills to 45 preschool children at-risk for reading problems. Children exposed to CAI made significantly greater gains on rhyming and elision skills compared to controls. Expressive vocabulary scores were predictive of pre- to posttest…

Free Computer-Based Assistive Technology to Support Students with High-Incidence Disabilities in the Writing Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bouck, Emily C.; Meyer, Nancy K.; Satsangi, Rajiv; Savage, Melissa N.; Hunley, Megan

2015-01-01

Written expression is a neglected but critical component of education; yet, the writing process--from prewriting, to writing, and postwriting--is often an area of struggle for students with disabilities. One strategy to assist students with disabilities struggling with the writing process is the use of computer-based technology. This article…

"Not Just a Business Transaction": The Logic and Limits of Grandparental Childcare Assistance in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, Shirley Hsiao-Li

2008-01-01

How does the presence of grandparents in the household impact the gendered division of childcare responsibilities between spouses? How does it compare with market-based care? Drawing on in-depth interview data, this study finds that Taiwanese grandparents treat childcare assistance as their moral responsibility. Mothers express more appreciation…

Every Child a Singer: Techniques for Assisting Developing Singers--All Children Can Sing if You Take the Time to Teach Them

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Janice

2006-01-01

Humans sing to express emotions beyond mere words. Making music transcends literal communication and expresses intense feelings that defy verbal description. Even very young children can, and do, express inexpressible feelings in song. Singing is present in every culture. It provides a sense of community and belonging. Music is a component of…

Mechanical ventilator - infants

MedlinePlus

... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007240.htm Mechanical ventilator - infants To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. A mechanical ventilator is a machine that assists with breathing. ...

Mechanical behaviour of metallic thin films on polymeric substrates and the effect of ion beam assistance on crack propagation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

George, M.; Coupeau, C.; Colin, J.

2005-01-10

The mechanisms of crack propagation in metallic films on polymeric substrates have been studied through in situ atomic force microscopy observations of thin films under tensile stresses and finite element stress calculations. Two series of films - ones deposited with ion beam assistance, the others without - have been investigated. The observations and stress calculations show that ion beam assistance can change drastically the propagation of cracks in coated materials: by improving the adhesion film/substrate, it slows down the delamination process, but in the same time enhances the cracks growth in the thickness of the material.

Stretchable Materials for Robust Soft Actuators towards Assistive Wearable Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agarwal, Gunjan; Besuchet, Nicolas; Audergon, Basile; Paik, Jamie

2016-09-01

Soft actuators made from elastomeric active materials can find widespread potential implementation in a variety of applications ranging from assistive wearable technologies targeted at biomedical rehabilitation or assistance with activities of daily living, bioinspired and biomimetic systems, to gripping and manipulating fragile objects, and adaptable locomotion. In this manuscript, we propose a novel two-component soft actuator design and design tool that produces actuators targeted towards these applications with enhanced mechanical performance and manufacturability. Our numerical models developed using the finite element method can predict the actuator behavior at large mechanical strains to allow efficient design iterations for system optimization. Based on two distinctive actuator prototypes’ (linear and bending actuators) experimental results that include free displacement and blocked-forces, we have validated the efficacy of the numerical models. The presented extensive investigation of mechanical performance for soft actuators with varying geometric parameters demonstrates the practical application of the design tool, and the robustness of the actuator hardware design, towards diverse soft robotic systems for a wide set of assistive wearable technologies, including replicating the motion of several parts of the human body.

Stretchable Materials for Robust Soft Actuators towards Assistive Wearable Devices

PubMed Central

Agarwal, Gunjan; Besuchet, Nicolas; Audergon, Basile; Paik, Jamie

2016-01-01

Soft actuators made from elastomeric active materials can find widespread potential implementation in a variety of applications ranging from assistive wearable technologies targeted at biomedical rehabilitation or assistance with activities of daily living, bioinspired and biomimetic systems, to gripping and manipulating fragile objects, and adaptable locomotion. In this manuscript, we propose a novel two-component soft actuator design and design tool that produces actuators targeted towards these applications with enhanced mechanical performance and manufacturability. Our numerical models developed using the finite element method can predict the actuator behavior at large mechanical strains to allow efficient design iterations for system optimization. Based on two distinctive actuator prototypes’ (linear and bending actuators) experimental results that include free displacement and blocked-forces, we have validated the efficacy of the numerical models. The presented extensive investigation of mechanical performance for soft actuators with varying geometric parameters demonstrates the practical application of the design tool, and the robustness of the actuator hardware design, towards diverse soft robotic systems for a wide set of assistive wearable technologies, including replicating the motion of several parts of the human body. PMID:27670953

Biventricular assist device for scombroid poisoning with refractory myocardial dysfunction: a bridge to recovery.

PubMed

Grinda, Jean-Michel; Bellenfant, Florence; Brivet, François Gilles; Carel, Yvan; Deloche, Alain

2004-09-01

We report the usefulness of biventricular mechanical circulatory support in a 36-yr-old woman with refractory myocardial dysfunction resulting from scombroid poisoning. Case report. Medical and surgical university care units. A previously healthy 36-yr-old woman with severe myocardial dysfunction unresponsive to epinephrine (1.3 microg/kg/min) and dobutamine (18 microg/kg/min) after the ingestion of cooked fresh tuna. Implantation at day 3 of a biventricular assist device consisting of two paracorporeal pneumatic pumps set at 70 beats/min to reach an output of 5.6 L/min during 8 days. The biventricular mechanical circulatory assist device allowed weaning of the inotropic drugs, maintenance of end-organ function, and support of the patient until myocardial recovery. The patient was successfully explanted 11 days after ingestion. Cardiac function had totally recovered, but a stroke was noted. At 3-yrs follow-up, there was no cardiac or neurologic sequela. This report describes severe myocardial dysfunction secondary to scombroid poisoning and demonstrates the usefulness of a mechanical circulatory assist device as a bridge to recovery.

Stretchable Materials for Robust Soft Actuators towards Assistive Wearable Devices.

PubMed

Agarwal, Gunjan; Besuchet, Nicolas; Audergon, Basile; Paik, Jamie

2016-09-27

Soft actuators made from elastomeric active materials can find widespread potential implementation in a variety of applications ranging from assistive wearable technologies targeted at biomedical rehabilitation or assistance with activities of daily living, bioinspired and biomimetic systems, to gripping and manipulating fragile objects, and adaptable locomotion. In this manuscript, we propose a novel two-component soft actuator design and design tool that produces actuators targeted towards these applications with enhanced mechanical performance and manufacturability. Our numerical models developed using the finite element method can predict the actuator behavior at large mechanical strains to allow efficient design iterations for system optimization. Based on two distinctive actuator prototypes' (linear and bending actuators) experimental results that include free displacement and blocked-forces, we have validated the efficacy of the numerical models. The presented extensive investigation of mechanical performance for soft actuators with varying geometric parameters demonstrates the practical application of the design tool, and the robustness of the actuator hardware design, towards diverse soft robotic systems for a wide set of assistive wearable technologies, including replicating the motion of several parts of the human body.

Hydrogen Assisted Cracking of High Strength Steel Welds

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-05-01

cracking of high strength steel welds. The microplasticity theory originally proposed by M Beachem is used to explain the effect of hydrogen on the var... microplasticity mechanism rather than embrittlement (B7). He suggests that the hydrogen in the lattice ahead of the crack tip assists whatever...intensity level on the observed fracture mode. This theory postu- lates that hydrogen will promote cracking by a microplasticity mechanism rather than

Secretome analysis of rat osteoblasts during icariin treatment induced osteogenesis

PubMed Central

Qian, Weiqing; Su, Yan; Zhang, Yajie; Yao, Nianwei; Gu, Nin; Zhang, Xu; Yin, Hong

2018-01-01

Osteoporosis is a serious public health problem and icariin (ICA) is the active component of the Epimedium sagittatum, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of ICA as a potential therapy for osteoporosis. Calvaria osteoblasts were isolated from newborn rats and treated with ICA. Cell viability, apoptosis, alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition were analyzed. Bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in response to ICA treatment. Western blot analysis was performed to validate the expression of DEPs. ICA administration promoted osteoblast viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition and inhibited osteoblast apoptosis. Secretome analysis of ICA-treated cells was performed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A total of 56 DEPs were identified, including serpin family F member 1 (PEDF), protein disulfide isomerase family A, member 3 (PDIA3), nuclear protein, co-activator of histone transcription (NPAT), c-Myc and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). These proteins were associated with signaling pathways, including Fas and p53. Bioinformatics and western blot analyses confirmed that the expression levels of the six DEPs were upregulated following ICA treatment. These genes may be directly or indirectly involved in ICA-mediated osteogenic differentiation and osteogenesis. It was demonstrated that ICA treatment promoted osteogenesis by modulating the expression of PEDF, PDIA3, NPAT and HSP70 through signaling pathways, including Fas and p53. PMID:29532868

Preconditioning of mesenchymal stromal cells toward nucleus pulposus-like cells by microcryogels-based 3D cell culture and syringe-based pressure loading system.

PubMed

Zeng, Yang; Feng, Siyu; Liu, Wei; Fu, Qinyouen; Li, Yaqian; Li, Xiaokang; Chen, Chun; Huang, Chenyu; Ge, Zigang; Du, Yanan

2017-04-01

To precondition mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) with mechanical stimulation may enhance cell survival and functions following implantation in load bearing environment such as nucleus pulposus (NP) in intervertebral disc (IVD). In this study, preconditioning of MSCs toward NP-like cells was achieved in previously developed poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) microcryogels (PMs) within a syringe-based three-dimensional (3D) culture system which provided a facile and cost-effective pressure loading approach. PMs loaded with alginate and MSCs could be incubated in a sealable syringe which could be air-compressed to apply pressure loading through a programmable syringe pump. Expression levels of chondrogenic marker genes SOX9, COL II, and ACAN were significantly upregulated in MSCs when pressure loading of 0.2 MPa or 0.8 MPa was implemented. Expression levels of COL I and COL X were downregulated when pressure loading was applied. In a nude mouse model, MSCs loaded in PMs mechanically stimulated for three days were subcutaneously injected using the same culture syringe. Three weeks postinjection, more proteoglycans (PGs) were deposited and more SOX9 and COL II but less COL I and COL X were stained in 0.2 MPa group. Furthermore, injectable MSCs-loaded PMs were utilized in an ex vivo rabbit IVD organ culture model that demonstrated the leak-proof function and enhanced cell retention of PMs assisted cell delivery to a load bearing environment for potential NP regeneration. This microcryogels-based 3D cell culture and syringe-based pressure loading system represents a novel method for 3D cell culture with mechanical stimulation for better function. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 507-520, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The depressed central carbon and energy metabolisms is associated to the acquisition of levofloxacin resistance in Vibrio alginolyticus.

PubMed

Cheng, Zhi-Xue; Yang, Man-Jun; Peng, Bo; Peng, Xuan-Xian; Lin, Xiang-Min; Li, Hui

2018-06-15

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics lead to bacterial antibiotic resistance, challenging human health and intensive cultivation. It is especially required to understand for the mechanism of antibiotic resistance to control antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The present study characterized the differential proteome of levofloxacin-resistant Vibrio alginolyticus with the most advanced iTRAQ quantitative proteomics technology. A total of 160 proteins of differential abundance were identified, where 70 were decreased and 90 were increased. Further analysis demonstrated that crucial metabolic pathways like TCA cycle were significantly down-regulated. qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated the decreased gene expression of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, the TCA cycle, and fatty acid biosynthesis. Moreover, Na(+)-NQR complex gene expression, membrane potential and the adenylate energy charge ratio were decreased, indicating that the decreased central carbon metabolism is associated to the acquisition of levofloxacin resistance. Therefore, the reduced central carbon and energy metabolisms form a characteristic feature as fitness costs of V. alginolyticus in resistance to levofloxacin. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics lead to bacterial antibiotic resistance, challenging human health and intensive cultivation. Understanding for the antibiotic resistance mechanisms is especially required to control these antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The present study characterized the differential proteome of levofloxacin-resistant Vibrio alginolyticus using the most advanced iTRAQ quantitative proteomics technology. A total of 160 differential abundance of proteins were identified with 70 decreases and 90 increases by liquid chromatography matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Most interestingly, crucial metabolic pathways such as the TCA cycle sharply fluctuated. This is the first report that the reduced central carbon and energy metabolisms form a characteristic feature as a mechanism of V. alginolyticus in resistance to levofloxacin. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mechanisms of Inhibition and Potentiation of α4β2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors by Members of the Ly6 Protein Family*

PubMed Central

Wu, Meilin; Puddifoot, Clare A.; Taylor, Palmer; Joiner, William J.

2015-01-01

α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are abundantly expressed throughout the central nervous system and are thought to be the primary target of nicotine, the main addictive substance in cigarette smoking. Understanding the mechanisms by which these receptors are regulated may assist in developing compounds to selectively interfere with nicotine addiction. Here we report previously unrecognized modulatory properties of members of the Ly6 protein family on α4β2 nAChRs. Using a FRET-based Ca2+ flux assay, we found that the maximum response of α4β2 receptors to agonist was strongly inhibited by Ly6h and Lynx2 but potentiated by Ly6g6e. The mechanisms underlying these opposing effects appear to be fundamentally distinct. Receptor inhibition by Lynx2 was accompanied by suppression of α4β2 expression at the cell surface, even when assays were preceded by chronic exposure of cells to an established chaperone, nicotine. Receptor inhibition by Lynx2 also was resistant to pretreatment with extracellular phospholipase C, which cleaves lipid moieties like those that attach Ly6 proteins to the plasma membrane. In contrast, potentiation of α4β2 activity by Ly6g6e was readily reversible by pretreatment with phospholipase C. Potentiation was also accompanied by slowing of receptor desensitization and an increase in peak currents. Collectively our data support roles for Lynx2 and Ly6g6e in intracellular trafficking and allosteric potentiation of α4β2 nAChRs, respectively. PMID:26276394

Mechanisms of inhibition and potentiation of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by members of the Ly6 protein family.

PubMed

Wu, Meilin; Puddifoot, Clare A; Taylor, Palmer; Joiner, William J

2015-10-02

α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are abundantly expressed throughout the central nervous system and are thought to be the primary target of nicotine, the main addictive substance in cigarette smoking. Understanding the mechanisms by which these receptors are regulated may assist in developing compounds to selectively interfere with nicotine addiction. Here we report previously unrecognized modulatory properties of members of the Ly6 protein family on α4β2 nAChRs. Using a FRET-based Ca(2+) flux assay, we found that the maximum response of α4β2 receptors to agonist was strongly inhibited by Ly6h and Lynx2 but potentiated by Ly6g6e. The mechanisms underlying these opposing effects appear to be fundamentally distinct. Receptor inhibition by Lynx2 was accompanied by suppression of α4β2 expression at the cell surface, even when assays were preceded by chronic exposure of cells to an established chaperone, nicotine. Receptor inhibition by Lynx2 also was resistant to pretreatment with extracellular phospholipase C, which cleaves lipid moieties like those that attach Ly6 proteins to the plasma membrane. In contrast, potentiation of α4β2 activity by Ly6g6e was readily reversible by pretreatment with phospholipase C. Potentiation was also accompanied by slowing of receptor desensitization and an increase in peak currents. Collectively our data support roles for Lynx2 and Ly6g6e in intracellular trafficking and allosteric potentiation of α4β2 nAChRs, respectively. © 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Effect of timing of hip extension assistance during loaded walking with a soft exosuit.

PubMed

Ding, Ye; Panizzolo, Fausto A; Siviy, Christopher; Malcolm, Philippe; Galiana, Ignacio; Holt, Kenneth G; Walsh, Conor J

2016-10-03

Recent advances in wearable robotic devices have demonstrated the ability to reduce the metabolic cost of walking by assisting the ankle joint. To achieve greater gains in the future it will be important to determine optimal actuation parameters and explore the effect of assisting other joints. The aim of the present work is to investigate how the timing of hip extension assistance affects the positive mechanical power delivered by an exosuit and its effect on biological joint power and metabolic cost during loaded walking. In this study, we evaluated 4 different hip assistive profiles with different actuation timings: early-start-early-peak (ESEP), early-start-late-peak (ESLP), late-start-early-peak (LSEP), late-start-late-peak (LSLP). Eight healthy participants walked on a treadmill at a constant speed of 1.5 m · s -1 while carrying a 23 kg backpack load. We tested five different conditions: four with the assistive profiles described above and one unpowered condition where no assistance was provided. We evaluated participants' lower limb kinetics, kinematics, metabolic cost and muscle activation. The variation of timing in the hip extension assistance resulted in a different amount of mechanical power delivered to the wearer across conditions; with the ESLP condition providing a significantly higher amount of positive mechanical power (0.219 ± 0.006 W · kg -1 ) with respect to the other powered conditions. Biological joint power was significantly reduced at the hip (ESEP and ESLP) and at the knee (ESEP, ESLP and LSEP) with respect to the unpowered condition. Further, all assistive profiles significantly reduced the metabolic cost of walking compared to the unpowered condition by 5.7 ± 1.5 %, 8.5 ± 0.9 %, 6.3 ± 1.4 % and 7.1 ± 1.9 % (mean ± SE for ESEP, ESLP, LSEP, LSLP, respectively). The highest positive mechanical power delivered by the soft exosuit was reported in the ESLP condition, which showed also a significant reduction in both biological hip and knee joint power. Further, the ESLP condition had the highest average metabolic reduction among the powered conditions. Future work on autonomous hip exoskeletons may incorporate these considerations when designing effective control strategies.

Assistive Awareness in Smart Grids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourazeri, Aikaterini; Almajano, Pablo; Rodriguez, Inmaculada; Lopez-Sanchez, Maite

The following sections are included: * Introduction * Background * The User-Infrastructure Interface * User Engagement through Assistive Awareness * Research Impact * Serious Games for Smart Grids * Serious Game Technology * Game scenario * Game mechanics * Related Work * Summary and Conclusions

Can Automated Facial Expression Analysis Show Differences Between Autism and Typical Functioning?

PubMed

Borsos, Zsófia; Gyori, Miklos

2017-01-01

Exploratory analyses of emotional expressions using a commercially available facial expression recognition software are reported, from the context of a serious game for screening purposes. Our results are based on a comparative analysis of two matched groups of kindergarten-age children (high-functioning children with autism spectrum condition: n=13; typically developing children: n=13). Results indicate that this technology has the potential to identify autism-specific emotion expression features, and may play a role in affective diagnostic and assistive technologies.

Progestogen treatments for cycle management in a sheep model of assisted conception affect the growth patterns, the expression of luteinizing hormone receptors, and the progesterone secretion of induced corpora lutea.

PubMed

Letelier, Claudia; García-Fernández, Rosa Ana; Contreras-Solis, Ignacio; Sanchez, María Angeles; Garcia-Palencia, Pilar; Sanchez, Belen; Gonzalez-Bulnes, Antonio; Flores, Juana María

2010-03-01

To determine, in a sheep model, the effect of a short-term progestative treatment on growth dynamics and functionality of induced corpora lutea. Observational, model study. Public university. Sixty adult female sheep. Synchronization and induction of ovulation with progestogens and prostaglandin analogues; ovarian ultrasonography, blood sampling, and ovariectomy. Determination of pituitary function and morphologic characteristics, expression of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors, and progesterone secretion of corpora lutea. The use of progestative pretreatments for assisted conception affect the growth patterns, the expression of LH receptors, and the progesterone secretion of induced corpora lutea. The current study indicates, in a sheep model, the existence of deleterious effects from progestogens on functionality of induced corpora lutea. Copyright 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

CHEMEX; Understanding and Solving Problems in Chemistry. A Computer-Assisted Instruction Program for General Chemistry.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lower, Stephen K.

A brief overview of CHEMEX--a problem-solving, tutorial style computer-assisted instructional course--is provided and sample problems are offered. In CHEMEX, students receive problems in advance and attempt to solve them before moving through the computer program, which assists them in overcoming difficulties and serves as a review mechanism.…

Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression by Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein 1.

PubMed

Yi, Bing; Ozerova, Maria; Zhang, Guan-Xin; Yan, Guijun; Huang, Shengdong; Sun, Jianxin

2015-10-01

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is an important regulator of vascular function and its expression is regulated at post-transcriptional levels through a yet unknown mechanism. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the post-transcriptional factors regulating eNOS expression and function in endothelium. To elucidate the molecular basis of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-mediated eNOS mRNA instability, biotinylated eNOS 3'-untranslational region (UTR) was used to purify its associated proteins by RNA affinity chromatography from cytosolic fractions of TNF-α-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We identified 2 cytosolic proteins, with molecular weight of 52 and 57 kDa, which specifically bind to eNOS 3'-UTR in response to TNF-α stimulation. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis identified the 57-kDa protein as polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTB1). RNA gel mobility shift and UV cross-linking assays demonstrated that PTB1 binds to a UCUU-rich sequence in eNOS 3'-UTR, and the C-terminal half of PTB1 is critical to this interaction. Importantly, PTB1 overexpression leads to decreased activity of luciferase gene fused with eNOS 3'-UTR as well as reduced eNOS expression and activity in human ECs. In HUVECs, we show that TNF-α markedly increased PTB1 expression, whereas adenovirus-mediated PTB1 overexpression decreased eNOS mRNA stability and reduced protein expression and endothelium-dependent relaxation. Furthermore, knockdown of PTB1 substantially attenuated TNF-α-induced destabilization of eNOS transcript and downregulation of eNOS expression. These results indicate that PTB1 is essential for regulating eNOS expression at post-transcriptional levels and suggest a novel therapeutic target for treatment of vascular diseases associated with inflammatory endothelial dysfunction. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

An accurate behavioral model for single-photon avalanche diode statistical performance simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yue; Zhao, Tingchen; Li, Ding

2018-01-01

An accurate behavioral model is presented to simulate important statistical performance of single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), such as dark count and after-pulsing noise. The derived simulation model takes into account all important generation mechanisms of the two kinds of noise. For the first time, thermal agitation, trap-assisted tunneling and band-to-band tunneling mechanisms are simultaneously incorporated in the simulation model to evaluate dark count behavior of SPADs fabricated in deep sub-micron CMOS technology. Meanwhile, a complete carrier trapping and de-trapping process is considered in afterpulsing model and a simple analytical expression is derived to estimate after-pulsing probability. In particular, the key model parameters of avalanche triggering probability and electric field dependence of excess bias voltage are extracted from Geiger-mode TCAD simulation and this behavioral simulation model doesn't include any empirical parameters. The developed SPAD model is implemented in Verilog-A behavioral hardware description language and successfully operated on commercial Cadence Spectre simulator, showing good universality and compatibility. The model simulation results are in a good accordance with the test data, validating high simulation accuracy.

LASIK and dry eye.

PubMed

Toda, Ikuko

2007-01-01

Dry eye is one of the most common complications after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). The clinical signs of post-LASIK dry eye include positive vital staining of ocular surface, decreased tear film breakup time and Schirmer test, reduced corneal sensitivity, and decreased functional visual acuity. The symptoms and signs last at least 1 month after LASIK. Although the mechanisms for developing post-LASIK dry eye are not completely understood, loss of corneal innervation by flap-making may affect the reflex loops of the corneal-lacrimal gland, corneal-blinking, and blinking-meibomian gland, and blinking-meibomian gland, resulting in decreased aqueous and lipid tear secretion and mucin expression. As LASIK enhancement by flap-lifting induces less dry eye symptoms and signs than first surgery, it is suggested that other factors rather than loss of neurotrophic effect may be involved in the mechanisms of post-LASIK dry eye. The treatments of dry eye include artificial tears, topical cyclosporine, hot compress, punctal plugs, and autologous serum eye drops. For patients with severe preoperative dry eye, a combination of punctal plugs and serum eye drops is required to be used before surgery.

Laser-assisted advanced assembly for MEMS fabrication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atanasov, Yuriy Andreev

Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) are currently fabricated using methods originally designed for manufacturing semiconductor devices, using minimum if any assembly at all. The inherited limitations of this approach narrow the materials that can be employed and reduce the design complexity, imposing limitations on MEMS functionality. The proposed Laser-Assisted Advanced Assembly (LA3) method solves these problems by first fabricating components followed by assembly of a MEMS device. Components are micro-machined using a laser or by photolithography followed by wet/dry etching out of any material available in a thin sheet form. A wide range of materials can be utilized, including biocompatible metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, semiconductors, and materials with special properties such as memory shape alloys, thermoelectric, ferromagnetic, piezoelectric, and more. The approach proposed allows enhancing the structural and mechanical properties of the starting materials through heat treatment, tribological coatings, surface modifications, bio-functionalization, and more, a limited, even unavailable possibility with existing methods. Components are transferred to the substrate for assembly using the thermo-mechanical Selective Laser Assisted Die Transfer (tmSLADT) mechanism for microchips assembly, already demonstrated by our team. Therefore, the mechanical and electronic part of the MEMS can be fabricated using the same equipment/method. The viability of the Laser-Assisted Advanced Assembly technique for MEMS is demonstrated by fabricating magnetic switches for embedding in a conductive carbon-fiber metamaterial for use in an Electromagnetic-Responsive Mobile Cyber-Physical System (E-RMCPS), which is expected to improve the wireless communication system efficiency within a battery-powered device.

Using Photos and Visual-Processing Assistive Technologies to Develop Self-Expression and Interpersonal Communication of Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome (AS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shrieber, Betty; Cohen, Yael

2013-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of photographs and assistive technologies for visual information processing as motivating tools for interpersonal communication of adolescents with Asperger Syndrome (AS), aged 16 to 18 years, attending special education school. Students with AS find it very difficult to create social and…

Proteome profiling reveals insights into cold-tolerant growth in sea buckthorn.

PubMed

He, Caiyun; Gao, Guori; Zhang, Jianguo; Duan, Aiguo; Luo, Hongmei

2016-01-01

Low temperature is one of the crucial environmental factors limiting the productivity and distribution of plants. Sea buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides L.), a well recognized multipurpose plant species, live successfully in in cold desert regions. But their molecular mechanisms underlying cold tolerance are not well understood. Physiological and biochemical responses to low-temperature stress were studied in seedlings of sea buckthorn. Differentially expressed protein spots were analyzed using multiplexing fluorescent two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight/time-of-flight (TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry (MS), the concentration of phytohormone was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a spectrophotometric assay was used to measure enzymatic reactions. With the increase of cold stress intensity, the photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance in leaves and contents of abscisic acid (ABA) and indole acetic acid (IAA) in roots decreased significantly; however, water-use efficiency, ABA and zeatin riboside in leaves increased significantly, while cell membrane permeability, malondialdehyde and IAA in leaves increased at 7 d and then decreased at 14 d. DIGE and MS/MS analysis identified 32 of 39 differentially expressed protein spots under low-temperature stress, and their functions were mainly involved in metabolism, photosynthesis, signal transduction, antioxidative systems and post-translational modification. The changed protein abundance and corresponding physiological-biochemical response shed light on the molecular mechanisms related to cold tolerance in cold-tolerant plants and provide key candidate proteins for genetic improvement of plants.

Operational Plan Ontology Model for Interconnection and Interoperability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, F.; Sun, Y. K.; Shi, H. Q.

2017-03-01

Aiming at the assistant decision-making system’s bottleneck of processing the operational plan data and information, this paper starts from the analysis of the problem of traditional expression and the technical advantage of ontology, and then it defines the elements of the operational plan ontology model and determines the basis of construction. Later, it builds up a semi-knowledge-level operational plan ontology model. Finally, it probes into the operational plan expression based on the operational plan ontology model and the usage of the application software. Thus, this paper has the theoretical significance and application value in the improvement of interconnection and interoperability of the operational plan among assistant decision-making systems.

Novel view on the mechanism of water-assisted proton transfer in the DNA bases: bulk water hydration.

PubMed

Furmanchuk, Al'ona; Isayev, Olexandr; Gorb, Leonid; Shishkin, Oleg V; Hovorun, Dmytro M; Leszczynski, Jerzy

2011-03-14

In the present work, the conventional static ab initio picture of a water-assisted mechanism of the tautomerization of Nucleic Acid Bases (NABs) in an aqueous environment is enhanced by the classical and Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations. The inclusion of the dynamical contribution is vital because the formation and longevity of the NAB-water bridge complexes represent decisive factors for further tautomerization. The results of both molecular dynamic techniques indicate that the longest time when such complexes exist is significantly shorter than the time required for proton transfer suggested by the static ab initio level of theory. New rate constants of tautomerization corrected for the dynamic effect of environment are proposed based on the first principles molecular dynamics data. Those values are used for the evaluation of a water-assisted mechanism that is feasible in such biological systems as E. coli cell.

From the Cover: Understanding nature's design for a nanosyringe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez, Carlos F.; Nielsen, Steve O.; Moore, Preston B.; Klein, Michael L.

2004-03-01

Synthetic and natural peptide assemblies can possess transport or conductance activity across biomembranes through the formation of nanopores. The fundamental mechanisms of membrane insertion necessary for antimicrobial or synthetic pore formation are poorly understood. We observe a lipid-assisted mechanism for passive insertion into a model membrane from molecular dynamics simulations. The assembly used in the study, a generic nanotube functionalized with hydrophilic termini, is assisted in crossing the membrane core by transleaflet lipid flips. Lipid tails occlude a purely hydrophobic nanotube. The observed insertion mechanism requirements for hydrophobic-hydrophilic matching have implications for the design of synthetic channels and antibiotics.

Chronically Inflamed Livers Up-regulate Expression of Inhibitory B7 Family Members

PubMed Central

Kassel, Rachel; Cruise, Michael W.; Iezzoni, Julia C.; Taylor, Nicholas A.; Pruett, Timothy L.; Hahn, Young S.

2010-01-01

Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can induce chronic liver disease. The PD-1 inhibitory pathway assists in T cell response regulation during acute and chronic inflammation and participates in the progression of inflammatory liver disease. To examine whether PD-1 and its ligands, B7-H1 and B7-DC, are modulated during chronic necroinflammatory liver disease, we investigated expression profiles in normal patients and patients with the aforementioned conditions. Relative to liver biopsies from normal individuals, those from patients with chronic necroinflammatory liver diseases (HBV, HCV, and AIH) contain increased numbers of PD-1 expressing lymphocytes. Kupffer cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), and leukocytes express PD-1 ligands. We also detect PD-1 ligands on hepatocytes within biopsies and on isolated cells. All forms of chronic necroinflammatory liver disease examined correlate with increased B7-H1 and B7-DC expression on Kupffer cells, LSECs, and leukocytes. The degree of necroinflammation correlates with expression levels of PD-1 family members. These results demonstrate that expression of PD-1/PD-1 ligands links more directly with the degree of inflammation than with the underlying etiology of liver damage. The PD-1 pathway may assist the liver in protecting itself from immune-mediated destruction. PMID:19739236

Localization and Sub-Cellular Shuttling of HTLV-1 Tax with the miRNA Machinery

PubMed Central

Van Duyne, Rachel; Guendel, Irene; Klase, Zachary; Narayanan, Aarthi; Coley, William; Jaworski, Elizabeth; Roman, Jessica; Popratiloff, Anastas; Mahieux, Renaud; Kehn-Hall, Kylene; Kashanchi, Fatah

2012-01-01

The innate ability of the human cell to silence endogenous retroviruses through RNA sequences encoding microRNAs, suggests that the cellular RNAi machinery is a major means by which the host mounts a defense response against present day retroviruses. Indeed, cellular miRNAs target and hybridize to specific sequences of both HTLV-1 and HIV-1 viral transcripts. However, much like the variety of host immune responses to retroviral infection, the virus itself contains mechanisms that assist in the evasion of viral inhibition through control of the cellular RNAi pathway. Retroviruses can hijack both the enzymatic and catalytic components of the RNAi pathway, in some cases to produce novel viral miRNAs that can either assist in active viral infection or promote a latent state. Here, we show that HTLV-1 Tax contributes to the dysregulation of the RNAi pathway by altering the expression of key components of this pathway. A survey of uninfected and HTLV-1 infected cells revealed that Drosha protein is present at lower levels in all HTLV-1 infected cell lines and in infected primary cells, while other components such as DGCR8 were not dramatically altered. We show colocalization of Tax and Drosha in the nucleus in vitro as well as coimmunoprecipitation in the presence of proteasome inhibitors, indicating that Tax interacts with Drosha and may target it to specific areas of the cell, namely, the proteasome. In the presence of Tax we observed a prevention of primary miRNA cleavage by Drosha. Finally, the changes in cellular miRNA expression in HTLV-1 infected cells can be mimicked by the add back of Drosha or the addition of antagomiRs against the cellular miRNAs which are downregulated by the virus. PMID:22808228

Mechanically Assisted Self-Healing of Ultrathin Gold Nanowires.

PubMed

Wang, Binjun; Han, Ying; Xu, Shang; Qiu, Lu; Ding, Feng; Lou, Jun; Lu, Yang

2018-04-17

As the critical feature sizes of integrated circuits approaching sub-10 nm, ultrathin gold nanowires (diameter <10 nm) have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation interconnects in nanoelectronics. Also due to their ultrasmall dimensions, however, the structures and morphologies of ultrathin gold nanowires are more prone to be damaged during practical services, for example, Rayleigh instability can significantly alter their morphologies upon Joule heating, hindering their applications as interconnects. Here, it is shown that upon mechanical perturbations, predamaged, nonuniform ultrathin gold nanowires can quickly recover into uniform diameters and restore their smooth surfaces, via a simple mechanically assisted self-healing process. By examining the local self-healing process through in situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, the underlying mechanism is believed to be associated with surface atomic diffusion as evidenced by molecular dynamics simulations. In addition, mechanical manipulation can assist the atoms to overcome the diffusion barriers, as suggested by ab initio calculations, to activate more surface adatoms to diffuse and consequently speed up the self-healing process. This result can provide a facile method to repair ultrathin metallic nanowires directly in functional devices, and quickly restore their microstructures and morphologies by simple global mechanical perturbations. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The effect of ultrasound on enzymatic degumming process of rapeseed oil by the use of phospholipase A(1).

PubMed

Jiang, Xiaofei; Chang, Ming; Wang, Xiaosan; Jin, Qingzhe; Wang, Xingguo

2014-01-01

Comparative studies of enzymatic degumming process of rapeseed oil were carried out in mechanical-stirring and ultrasonic-assisted mechanical-stirring systems. The influences of enzyme dosage (10-50 mg/kg), pH (4.5-6), temperature (45-65 °C), water amount (1-3%), ultrasonic power (0.06-0.09 W/cm(3)) and reaction time were investigated subsequently. A suitable ultrasonic power of 0.07 W/cm(3) was determined to guarantee satisfactory degumming efficiency and enzyme activity. Compared to the mechanical-stirring system, optimum temperature of phospholipase A (PLA) in the ultrasonic-assisted mechanical-stirring system was about 5 °C higher, while the effects of pH on both of the two systems were quite similar. Less time and water were used in the ultrasonic-assisted mechanical-stirring system for enzymatic degumming. The study on the quality changes of degummed oils showed that ultrasound could accelerate the oxidation of edible oils due to the effect of cavitation, thus more attention should be paid on the oxidative stability in the further application. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Registered Nurses' and nurse assistants' responses to older persons' expressions of emotional needs in home care.

PubMed

Höglander, Jessica; Eklund, Jakob Håkansson; Eide, Hilde; Holmström, Inger K; Sundler, Annelie J

2017-12-01

This study aims to explore nurse assistants' and Registered Nurses' responses to older persons' expressions of emotional needs during home care visits. Communication is a central aspect of care. Older persons might express different emotions and needs during home care visits and such expressions can be challenging to respond to. Little is known about communication in home care or nursing staff responses to older persons' expressed emotional needs. Descriptive, cross-sectional design on nursing staff responses to older persons' negative emotions in home care. Collected data consisted of audio recordings of home care visits between older persons and nursing staff. Data were collected between August 2014-November 2015. The nursing staff responses to older persons' negative emotions in the communication were analysed with the Verona Coding Definitions of Emotional Sequences (VR-CoDES). The nursing staff most often give non-explicit responses, providing space for further disclosure of older persons' expressed negative emotions. Such responses were more frequent if the nursing staff had elicited the older persons' expressions of a negative emotion than if such expressions were elicited by the older persons themselves. Most frequent types of responses were backchannel, active invitation or information advice. The nursing staff responses were mainly non-explicit responses providing space for older persons to tell more about their experiences. Such responses can be discussed in terms of person-centred communication and is important for the comfort of emotional concerns. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Transcriptional Analysis of Flowering Time in Switchgrass

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tornqvist, Carl-Erik; Vaillancourt, Brieanne; Kim, Jeongwoon

Over the past two decades, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has emerged as a priority biofuel feedstock. The bulk of switchgrass biomass is in the vegetative portion of the plant; therefore, increasing the length of vegetative growth will lead to an increase in overall biomass yield. The goal of this study was to gain insight into the control of flowering time in switchgrass that would assist in development of cultivars with longer vegetative phases through delayed flowering. RNA sequencing was used to assess genome-wide expression profiles across a developmental series between switchgrass genotypes belonging to the two main ecotypes: upland, typically earlymore » flowering, and lowland, typically late flowering. Leaf blades and tissues enriched for the shoot apical meristem (SAM) were collected in a developmental series from emergence through anthesis for RNA extraction. RNA from samples that flanked the SAM transition stage was sequenced for expression analyses. The analyses revealed differential expression patterns between early- and late-flowering genotypes for known flowering time orthologs. Namely, genes shown to play roles in photoperiod response and the circadian clock in other species were identified as potential candidates for regulating flowering time in the switchgrass genotypes analyzed. Based on their expression patterns, many of the differentially expressed genes could also be classified as putative promoters or repressors of flowering. The candidate genes presented here may be used to guide switchgrass improvement through marker-assisted breeding and/or transgenic or gene editing approaches.Over the past two decades, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has emerged as a priority biofuel feedstock. The bulk of switchgrass biomass is in the vegetative portion of the plant; therefore, increasing the length of vegetative growth will lead to an increase in overall biomass yield. The goal of this study was to gain insight into the control of flowering time in switchgrass that would assist in development of cultivars with longer vegetative phases through delayed flowering. RNA sequencing was used to assess genome-wide expression profiles across a developmental series between switchgrass genotypes belonging to the two main ecotypes: upland, typically early flowering, and lowland, typically late flowering. Leaf blades and tissues enriched for the shoot apical meristem (SAM) were collected in a developmental series from emergence through anthesis for RNA extraction. RNA from samples that flanked the SAM transition stage was sequenced for expression analyses. The analyses revealed differential expression patterns between early- and late-flowering genotypes for known flowering time orthologs. Namely, genes shown to play roles in photoperiod response and the circadian clock in other species were identified as potential candidates for regulating flowering time in the switchgrass genotypes analyzed. Based on their expression patterns, many of the differentially expressed genes could also be classified as putative promoters or repressors of flowering. The candidate genes presented here may then be used to guide switchgrass improvement through marker-assisted breeding and/or transgenic or gene editing approaches.« less

Transcriptional Analysis of Flowering Time in Switchgrass

DOE PAGES

Tornqvist, Carl-Erik; Vaillancourt, Brieanne; Kim, Jeongwoon; ...

2017-04-27

Over the past two decades, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has emerged as a priority biofuel feedstock. The bulk of switchgrass biomass is in the vegetative portion of the plant; therefore, increasing the length of vegetative growth will lead to an increase in overall biomass yield. The goal of this study was to gain insight into the control of flowering time in switchgrass that would assist in development of cultivars with longer vegetative phases through delayed flowering. RNA sequencing was used to assess genome-wide expression profiles across a developmental series between switchgrass genotypes belonging to the two main ecotypes: upland, typically earlymore » flowering, and lowland, typically late flowering. Leaf blades and tissues enriched for the shoot apical meristem (SAM) were collected in a developmental series from emergence through anthesis for RNA extraction. RNA from samples that flanked the SAM transition stage was sequenced for expression analyses. The analyses revealed differential expression patterns between early- and late-flowering genotypes for known flowering time orthologs. Namely, genes shown to play roles in photoperiod response and the circadian clock in other species were identified as potential candidates for regulating flowering time in the switchgrass genotypes analyzed. Based on their expression patterns, many of the differentially expressed genes could also be classified as putative promoters or repressors of flowering. The candidate genes presented here may be used to guide switchgrass improvement through marker-assisted breeding and/or transgenic or gene editing approaches.Over the past two decades, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has emerged as a priority biofuel feedstock. The bulk of switchgrass biomass is in the vegetative portion of the plant; therefore, increasing the length of vegetative growth will lead to an increase in overall biomass yield. The goal of this study was to gain insight into the control of flowering time in switchgrass that would assist in development of cultivars with longer vegetative phases through delayed flowering. RNA sequencing was used to assess genome-wide expression profiles across a developmental series between switchgrass genotypes belonging to the two main ecotypes: upland, typically early flowering, and lowland, typically late flowering. Leaf blades and tissues enriched for the shoot apical meristem (SAM) were collected in a developmental series from emergence through anthesis for RNA extraction. RNA from samples that flanked the SAM transition stage was sequenced for expression analyses. The analyses revealed differential expression patterns between early- and late-flowering genotypes for known flowering time orthologs. Namely, genes shown to play roles in photoperiod response and the circadian clock in other species were identified as potential candidates for regulating flowering time in the switchgrass genotypes analyzed. Based on their expression patterns, many of the differentially expressed genes could also be classified as putative promoters or repressors of flowering. The candidate genes presented here may then be used to guide switchgrass improvement through marker-assisted breeding and/or transgenic or gene editing approaches.« less

End-of-life mental health assessments for older aged, medically ill persons with expressed desire to die.

PubMed

Weinberger, Linda E; Sreenivasan, Shoba; Garrick, Thomas

2014-01-01

In recent years, assisted suicide has been legalized in four states for those who are terminally ill and wish to end their lives with the assistance of lethal doses of medications prescribed by a physician. The ethics-related and legal questions raised by end-of-life suicide and decisional capacity to refuse treatment assessments are complex. In treating patients with end-stage medical conditions or disorders that severely affect the future quality of their lives, clinicians tend to engage in suicide prevention at all costs. Overriding the patient's expressed desire to die conflicts with another value, however, that of the individual's right to autonomy. We provide a framework for understanding these difficult decisions, by providing a review of the epidemiology of suicide in later life; reviewing findings from a unique dataset of suicides among the elderly obtained from the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, as well as data from states with legalized assisted suicide; presenting a discussion of the two frameworks of suicidal ideation as a pathological versus an existential reaction; and giving a case example that highlights the dilemmas faced by clinicians addressing decisional capacity to refuse treatment in an elderly, medically ill patient who has expressed the wish to die. © 2014 American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.

Vocational Agriculture Education. Agricultural Mechanics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Eddie; And Others

To assist teachers in agricultural mechanics in providing comprehensive instruction to their students, this curriculum guide treats both the mechanical skills and knowlege necessary for this specialized area. Six sections are included, as follow: orientation and safety; agricultural mechanics skills; agricultural power and machinery; agricultural…

40 CFR 63.822 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... the MSDS meets the data requirements of § 63.827(b) and (c). The purpose of the CPDS is to assist the... weight-fraction, kg/kg. (4) Chij=the organic HAP content of solvent j, added to solids-containing material i, expressed as a weight-fraction, kg/kg. (5) Chj=the organic HAP content of solvent j, expressed...

Partner-assisted emotional disclosure for patients with GI cancer: 8-week follow-up and processes associated with change.

PubMed

Porter, Laura S; Keefe, Francis J; Baucom, Donald H; Hurwitz, Herbert; Moser, Barry; Patterson, Emily; Kim, Hong Jin

2012-08-01

We recently reported that a partner-assisted emotional disclosure intervention for gastrointestinal cancer led to improvements in relationship quality and intimacy for couples in which the patient initially reported higher levels of holding back from discussing cancer-related concerns. The purposes of the present study were to examine outcomes at 8-week follow-up and process variables that may influence treatment effects. One hundred thirty couples were randomly assigned to either partner-assisted emotional disclosure or an education/support control condition. Participants completed measures of relationship quality, intimacy, and psychological distress before randomization, post-treatment, and 8 weeks later. Patients in the disclosure intervention completed measures of negative affect immediately following each treatment session, and their level of expressiveness during the sessions was rated by trained observers. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Among couples in which the patient initially reported higher levels of holding back, the disclosure intervention led to improvements in relationship quality and intimacy that were maintained at 8-weeks follow-up. High levels of patient expressiveness during the disclosure sessions were associated with improvements in relationship quality and intimacy, and high levels of patient negative affect immediately following the sessions were associated with reductions in psychological distress at the post-test assessment. For couples in which the patient tends to hold back from discussing concerns, partner-assisted emotional disclosure is a beneficial intervention leading to improvements in relationship functioning that maintain over time. Future research is needed to examine methods of enhancing intervention effects, including encouraging patient expressiveness and negative affect during the sessions.

Educating Organizational Consumers about Employee Assistance Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roman, Paul M.; And Others

1987-01-01

Provides an overview of the value of employee assistance programs (EAP) as mechanisms to solve organizational problems. The article is based on a field study of 480 EAPs in private sector organizations with 500 or more employees. (JOW)

Interim Report on Interagency National Personnel Recovery Architecture

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-07-01

adversaries are smart , however, and rather than face our forces on open battlefields, they will seek to use any asymmetric advantage open to them. If...Liaison Officer SARNEG Search and Rescue Numeric Encryption Grid SARPO Search and Rescue Planning Officer SARREQ Search and Rescue Request SARSAT...Unconventional Assisted Recovery UARCC Unconventional Assisted Recovery Coordination Center UARM Unconventional Assisted Recovery Mechanism UART

Myocardial recovery during mechanical circulatory support: long-term outcome and elective ventricular assist device implantation to promote recovery as a treatment goal.

PubMed

Dandel, Michael; Hetzer, Roland

2015-01-01

Even after incomplete myocardial recovery during mechanical circulatory support, long-term survival rates after ventricular assist device (VAD) explantation can be better than those expected after heart transplantation even for patients with chronic non-ischemic cardiomyopathy as the underlying cause for VAD implantation. The elective therapeutic use of ventricular assist devices for heart failure reversal in its early stage is a future goal. It may be possible to achieve it by developing tools to predict heart failure reversibility even before ventricular assist device implantation and increasing the number of weaning candidates by improvement of adjunctive therapies to optimize unloading-promoted recovery.  Special attention is focused on the long-term stability of cardiac remission after VAD removal, the clinical relevance unloading-promoted myocardial recovery and on the current knowledge about a potential prediction of myocardial recovery during long-term VAD support already before VAD implantation.

Process characteristics for microwave assisted hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose.

PubMed

Zhang, Junting; An, Ying; Borrion, Aiduan; He, Wenzhi; Wang, Nan; Chen, Yirong; Li, Guangming

2018-07-01

The process characteristics of microwave assisted hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose was investigated and a first order kinetics model based on carbon concentration was developed. Chemical properties analysis showed that comparing to conventional hydrothermal carbonization, hydrochar with comparable energy properties can be obtained with 5-10 times decrease in reaction time with assistance of microwave heating. Results from kinetics study was in great agreement with experimental analysis, that they both illustrated the predominant mechanism of the reaction depend on variations in the reaction rates of two co-existent pathways. Particularly, the pyrolysis-like intramolecular dehydration reaction was proved to be the predominant mechanism for hydrochar generation under high temperatures. Finally, the enhancement effects of microwave heating were reflected under both soluble and solid pathways in this research, suggesting microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization as a more attracting method for carbon-enriched hydrochar recovery. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Supportive Use of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Cell-Assisted Lipotransfer for Localized Scleroderma.

PubMed

Chen, Bo; Wang, Xiaojun; Long, Xiao; Zhang, Mingzi; Huang, Jiuzuo; Yu, Nanze; Xu, Jing

2018-06-01

The authors aimed to analyze factors related to lipotransfer for localized scleroderma, and to explore the feasibility of cell-assisted lipotransfer for localized scleroderma treatment. Abdominal fat samples were taken from six scleroderma patients without corticosteroid therapy, five scleroderma patients with corticosteroid therapy, and 10 normal liposuction patients. Their quantity, morphology, and proliferation ability were measured. Blood flow was measured by laser speckle contrast imaging in localized scleroderma lesions and normal contralateral regions for eight localized scleroderma patients. Bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis nude mice were also used to investigate differences between lipotransfer and cell-assisted lipotransfer. Fat weight was measured, and expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and type III collagen in the injected skin was determined by immunohistochemistry. The number of stem cells from scleroderma patients with corticosteroid treatment was significantly reduced. Mean blood perfusion in localized scleroderma lesions was not significantly different than in the contralateral normal regions. In normal nude mice, there were no significant changes in TGF-β1 and type III collagen between the control, lipotransfer, and cell-assisted lipotransfer groups, whereas in bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis nude mice, lipotransfer and cell-assisted lipotransfer reduced TGF-β1 and type III collagen expression. For scleroderma patients, fewer adipose-derived stem cells, because of a history of corticosteroid therapy and a local inflammatory microenvironment, are more important factors, whereas blood supply showed no significant change. Therefore, cell-assisted lipotransfer not only improves the survival rate of transplanted fat but also improves skin texture in bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis nude mice.

Comparison of Three Epithelial Removal Techniques in PRK: Mechanical, Alcohol-assisted, and Transepithelial Laser.

PubMed

Shapira, Yinon; Mimouni, Michael; Levartovsky, Shmuel; Varssano, David; Sela, Tzahi; Munzer, Gur; Kaiserman, Igor

2015-11-01

To compare the visual and refractive results obtained after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in patients who underwent one of three different epithelial removal techniques. The authors reviewed the medical files of consecutive eyes with myopia and myopic astigmatism that were treated during a 10-year period by mechanical PRK, alcohol-assisted PRK, or transepithelial PRK (in the phototherapeutic keratectomy mode), and observed for more than 1 year. A total of 3,417 patients (3,417 eyes) were included in this study. At 3 and 6 months postoperatively, the outcome of alcohol-assisted PRK was superior both in efficacy (P < .01) and safety (P < .001) to those of both mechanical PRK and transepithelial PRK, which were similar. At more than 1 year postoperatively, the mean efficacy index was still high for alcohol-assisted PRK, but low for the transepithelial PRK, corresponding to a mean uncorrected visual acuity of more than one Snellen line lower than those of the other two techniques (P < .0001). All three techniques showed a regression toward myopia more than 1 year postoperatively, with significant undercorrection obtained in eyes treated with transepithelial PRK (P < .0001). Significant differences were detected in both the visual outcomes and the refractive results of the three epithelial removal techniques. The long-term outcomes were best for alcohol-assisted PRK. Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.

RNA degradation in Archaea and Gram-negative bacteria different from Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Evguenieva-Hackenberg, Elena; Klug, Gabriele

2009-01-01

Exoribonucleolytic and endoribonucleolytic activities are important for controlled degradation of RNA and contribute to the regulation of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level by influencing the half-lives of specific messenger RNAs. The RNA half-lives are determined by the characteristics of the RNA substrates and by the availability and the properties of the involved proteins-ribonucleases and assisting polypeptides. Much is known about RNA degradation in Eukarya and Bacteria, but there is limited information about RNA-degrading enzymes and RNA destabilizing or stabilizing elements in the domain of the Archaea. The recent progress in the understanding of the structure and function of the archaeal exosome, a protein complex with RNA-degrading and RNA-tailing capabilities, has given some first insights into the mechanisms of RNA degradation in the third domain of life and into the evolution of RNA-degrading enzymes. Moreover, other archaeal RNases with degrading potential have been described and a new mechanism for protection of the 5'-end of RNA in Archaea was discovered. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on RNA degradation in the Archaea. Additionally, RNA degradation mechanisms in Rhodobacter capsulatus and Pseudomonas syringae are compared to those in the major model organism for Gram-negatives, Escherichia coli, which dominates our view on RNA degradation in Bacteria.

The Future of Adult Cardiac Assist Devices: Novel Systems and Mechanical Circulatory Support Strategies

PubMed Central

Bartoli, Carlo R.; Dowling, Robert D.

2011-01-01

Synopsis The recent, widespread success of mechanical circulatory support has ushered in a new era of cardiovascular medicine in which numerous implantable devices exist to treat advanced heart failure. As cardiac assist devices gain prevalence in the clinical management of cardiovascular disease, it is increasingly important to raise awareness of novel device systems, the unique mechanisms by which they function, and implications for patient management. In this article, we present state-of-the-art devices that are currently under development or in clinical trials. Devices are categorized as Standard Full-Support (HeartMate III, CorAide, Evaheart LVAS), Less-Invasive Full-Support (MVAD), Partial-Support (CircuLite Synergy Pocket Micro-Pump, Reitan Catheter Pump, Procyrion CAD, C-Pulse, Symphony Counterpulsation Device) Right Ventricular Assist Device (RVAD; DexAide, Impella RD Recover, Impella RP), and Total Artificial Heart (TAH; CardioWest, AbioCor II, Continuous-Flow TAH, Continuous-Flow BiVAD). Implantation strategy, mechanism of action, durability, efficacy, hemocompatibility, and human factors such as quality of life during device support are considered. The feasibility of novel strategies for unloading the failing heart is examined. PMID:22062206

Proteome analysis of Aspergillus flavus isolate-specific responses to oxidative stress in relationship to aflatoxin production capability.

PubMed

Fountain, Jake C; Koh, Jin; Yang, Liming; Pandey, Manish K; Nayak, Spurthi N; Bajaj, Prasad; Zhuang, Wei-Jian; Chen, Zhi-Yuan; Kemerait, Robert C; Lee, R Dewey; Chen, Sixue; Varshney, Rajeev K; Guo, Baozhu

2018-02-21

Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic pathogen of plants such as maize and peanut under conducive conditions such as drought stress resulting in significant aflatoxin production. Drought-associated oxidative stress also exacerbates aflatoxin production by A. flavus. The objectives of this study were to use proteomics to provide insights into the pathogen responses to H 2 O 2 -derived oxidative stress, and to identify potential biomarkers and targets for host resistance breeding. Three isolates, AF13, NRRL3357, and K54A with high, moderate, and no aflatoxin production, were cultured in medium supplemented with varying levels of H 2 O 2 , and examined using an iTRAQ (Isobaric Tags for Relative and Absolute Quantification) approach. Overall, 1,173 proteins were identified and 220 were differentially expressed (DEPs). Observed DEPs encompassed metabolic pathways including antioxidants, carbohydrates, pathogenicity, and secondary metabolism. Increased lytic enzyme, secondary metabolite, and developmental pathway expression in AF13 was correlated with oxidative stress tolerance, likely assisting in plant infection and microbial competition. Elevated expression of energy and cellular component production in NRRL3357 and K54A implies a focus on oxidative damage remediation. These trends explain isolate-to-isolate variation in oxidative stress tolerance and provide insights into mechanisms relevant to host plant interactions under drought stress allowing for more targeted efforts in host resistance research.

Comparative proteomic analysis of differentially expressed proteins in the early milky stage of rice grains during high temperature stress

PubMed Central

Liao, Jiang-Lin; Zhou, Hui-Wen; Huang, Ying-Jin

2014-01-01

Rice yield and quality are adversely affected by high temperatures, and these effects are more pronounced at the ‘milky stage’ of the rice grain ripening phase. Identifying the functional proteins involved in the response of rice to high temperature stress may provide the basis for improving heat tolerance in rice. In the present study, a comparative proteomic analysis of paired, genetically similar heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive rice lines was conducted. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) revealed a total of 27 differentially expressed proteins in rice grains, predominantly from the heat-tolerant lines. The protein profiles clearly indicated variations in protein expression between the heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive rice lines. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS) analysis revealed that 25 of the 27 differentially displayed proteins were homologous to known functional proteins. These homologous proteins were involved in biosynthesis, energy metabolism, oxidation, heat shock metabolism, and the regulation of transcription. Seventeen of the 25 genes encoding the differentially displayed proteins were mapped to rice chromosomes according to the co-segregating conditions between the simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and the target genes in recombinant inbred lines (RILs). The proteins identified in the present study provide a basis to elucidate further the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of rice to high temperature stress. PMID:24376254

Implementation of a mechanical CPR device in a physician staffed HEMS - a prospective observational study.

PubMed

Rauch, Simon; Strapazzon, Giacomo; Brodmann, Monika; Fop, Ernst; Masoner, Christian; Rauch, Lydia; Forti, Alessandro; Pietsch, Urs; Mair, Peter; Brugger, Hermann

2018-04-28

In this prospective, observational study we describe the incidence and characteristics of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases who received mechanical CPR, after the implementation of a mechanical CPR device (LUCAS 2; Physio Control, Redmond, WA, USA) in a physician staffed helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) in South Tyrol, Italy. During the study period (06/2013-04/2016), 525 OHCA cases were registered by the dispatch centre, 271 (51.6%) were assisted by HEMS. LUCAS 2 was applied in 18 (6.6%) of all HEMS-assisted OHCA patients; ten were treated with LUCAS 2 at the scene only, and eight were transported to hospital with ongoing CPR. Two (11.1%) of the 18 patients survived long term with full neurologic recovery. In seven of eight patients transferred to hospital with ongoing CPR, CPR was ceased in the emergency room without further intervention. Retrospectively, all HEMS-assisted OHCA cases were screened for proposed indication criteria for prolonged CPR. Thirteen patients fulfilled these criteria, but only two of them were transported to hospital. Based on these results, we propose a standard operating procedure for HEMS-assisted patients with refractory OHCA in a region without hospitals with ECLS capacity.

Mechanical stress contributes to the expression of the STM homeobox gene in Arabidopsis shoot meristems

PubMed Central

Landrein, Benoît; Kiss, Annamaria; Sassi, Massimiliano; Chauvet, Aurélie; Das, Pradeep; Cortizo, Millan; Laufs, Patrick; Takeda, Seiji; Aida, Mitsuhiro; Traas, Jan; Vernoux, Teva; Boudaoud, Arezki; Hamant, Olivier

2015-01-01

The role of mechanical signals in cell identity determination remains poorly explored in tissues. Furthermore, because mechanical stress is widespread, mechanical signals are difficult to uncouple from biochemical-based transduction pathways. Here we focus on the homeobox gene SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM), a master regulator and marker of meristematic identity in Arabidopsis. We found that STM expression is quantitatively correlated to curvature in the saddle-shaped boundary domain of the shoot apical meristem. As tissue folding reflects the presence of mechanical stress, we test and demonstrate that STM expression is induced after micromechanical perturbations. We also show that STM expression in the boundary domain is required for organ separation. While STM expression correlates with auxin depletion in this domain, auxin distribution and STM expression can also be uncoupled. STM expression and boundary identity are thus strengthened through a synergy between auxin depletion and an auxin-independent mechanotransduction pathway at the shoot apical meristem. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.07811.001 PMID:26623515

Cyclic mechanical strain maintains Nanog expression through PI3K/Akt signaling in mouse embryonic stem cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horiuchi, Rie; Akimoto, Takayuki, E-mail: akimoto@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp; Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Consolidated Research Institute for Advanced Science and Medical Care, Waseda University, 513 Waseda-tsurumaki, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-0041

2012-08-15

Mechanical strain has been reported to affect the proliferation/differentiation of many cell types; however, the effects of mechanotransduction on self-renewal as well as pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) cells remains unknown. To investigate the effects of mechanical strain on mouse ES cell fate, we examined the expression of Nanog, which is an essential regulator of self-renewal and pluripotency as well as Nanog-associated intracellular signaling during uniaxial cyclic mechanical strain. The mouse ES cell line, CCE was plated onto elastic membranes, and we applied 10% strain at 0.17 Hz. The expression of Nanog was reduced during ES cell differentiation in responsemore » to the withdrawal of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF); however, two days of cyclic mechanical strain attenuated this reduction of Nanog expression. On the other hand, the cyclic mechanical strain promoted PI3K-Akt signaling, which is reported as an upstream of Nanog transcription. The cyclic mechanical strain-induced Akt phosphorylation was blunted by the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin. Furthermore, cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of actin polymerization, also inhibited the mechanical strain-induced increase in phospho-Akt. These findings imply that mechanical force plays a role in regulating Nanog expression in ES cells through the actin cytoskeleton-PI3K-Akt signaling. -- Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The expression of Nanog, which is an essential regulator of 'stemness' was reduced during embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Cyclic mechanical strain attenuated the reduction of Nanog expression. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Cyclic mechanical strain promoted PI3K-Akt signaling and mechanical strain-induced Akt phosphorylation was blunted by the PI3K inhibitor and an inhibitor of actin polymerization.« less

Silencing P2X7 receptor downregulates the expression of TCP-1 involved in lymphoma lymphatic metastasis

PubMed Central

Yang, Ziyi; Zeng, Jia; Zhang, Yi; Song, Yang; Kong, Ying; Ren, Shuangyi; Zuo, Yunfei

2015-01-01

P2X7R is an ATP-gated cation channel that participates in cell proliferation and apoptosis. TCP-1 assists with the protein folding. According to our previous research, the P2X7R has a potential role in P388D1 lymphoid neoplasm cells dissemination to peripheral lymph nodes. In order to make a further exploration about the probable mechanism, the lymph nodes which metastasized by P2X7R-silenced P388D1 cells or non-silenced cells were analyzed by 2DE and a MALDI-TOF-based proteomics approach. In the 64 proteins which were differentially expressed between two groups, TCP-1 was found to be significantly decreased in P2X7R shRNA group compared to controls. This correlation was also found in subsequent experiments in vivo and in vitro. The positive correlation between P2X7R and TCP-1 was also proved in both lymphoma and benign lymphadenopathy tissues from patients. It indicates that TCP-1 may be a crucial downstream molecular of P2X7R and plays a novel role in lymphoid neoplasm metastasis. PMID:26556873

A functional polymorphism of the MAOA gene is associated with neural responses to induced anger control.

PubMed

Denson, Thomas F; Dobson-Stone, Carol; Ronay, Richard; von Hippel, William; Schira, Mark M

2014-07-01

Aggressiveness is highly heritable. Recent experimental work has linked individual differences in a functional polymorphism of the monoamine oxidase-A gene (MAOA) to anger-driven aggression. Other work has implicated the dorsal ACC (dACC) in cognitive-emotional control and the amygdala in emotional arousal. The present imaging genetics study investigated dACC and amygdala reactivity to induced anger control as a function of MAOA genotype. A research assistant asked 38 healthy male undergraduates to control their anger in response to an insult by a rude experimenter. Men with the low-expression allele showed increased dACC and amygdala activation after the insult, but men with the high-expression allele did not. Both dACC and amygdala activation independently mediated the relationship between MAOA genotype and self-reported anger control. Moreover, following the insult, men with the high-functioning allele showed functional decoupling between the amygdala and dACC, but men with the low-functioning allele did not. These results suggest that heightened dACC and amygdala activation and their connectivity are neuroaffective mechanisms underlying anger control in participants with the low-functioning allele of the MAOA gene.

Metal Dyshomeostasis and Inflammation in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases: Possible Impact of Environmental Exposures

PubMed Central

Myhre, Oddvar; Utkilen, Hans; Duale, Nur; Brunborg, Gunnar; Hofer, Tim

2013-01-01

A dysregulated metal homeostasis is associated with both Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases; AD patients have decreased cortex and elevated serum copper levels along with extracellular amyloid-beta plaques containing copper, iron, and zinc. For AD, a putative hepcidin-mediated lowering of cortex copper mechanism is suggested. An age-related mild chronic inflammation and/or elevated intracellular iron can trigger hepcidin production followed by its binding to ferroportin which is the only neuronal iron exporter, thereby subjecting it to lysosomal degradation. Subsequently raised neuronal iron levels can induce translation of the ferroportin assisting and copper binding amyloid precursor protein (APP); constitutive APP transmembrane passage lowers the copper pool which is important for many enzymes. Using in silico gene expression analyses, we here show significantly decreased expression of copper-dependent enzymes in AD brain and metallothioneins were upregulated in both diseases. Although few AD exposure risk factors are known, AD-related tauopathies can result from cyanobacterial microcystin and β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) intake. Several environmental exposures may represent risk factors for PD; for this disease neurodegeneration is likely to involve mitochondrial dysfunction, microglial activation, and neuroinflammation. Administration of metal chelators and anti-inflammatory agents could affect disease outcomes. PMID:23710288

Silencing P2X7 receptor downregulates the expression of TCP-1 involved in lymphoma lymphatic metastasis.

PubMed

Jiang, Xudong; Mao, Wenjuan; Yang, Ziyi; Zeng, Jia; Zhang, Yi; Song, Yang; Kong, Ying; Ren, Shuangyi; Zuo, Yunfei

2015-12-08

P2X7R is an ATP-gated cation channel that participates in cell proliferation and apoptosis. TCP-1 assists with the protein folding. According to our previous research, the P2X7R has a potential role in P388D1 lymphoid neoplasm cells dissemination to peripheral lymph nodes. In order to make a further exploration about the probable mechanism, the lymph nodes which metastasized by P2X7R-silenced P388D1 cells or non-silenced cells were analyzed by 2DE and a MALDI-TOF-based proteomics approach. In the 64 proteins which were differentially expressed between two groups, TCP-1 was found to be significantly decreased in P2X7R shRNA group compared to controls. This correlation was also found in subsequent experiments in vivo and in vitro. The positive correlation between P2X7R and TCP-1 was also proved in both lymphoma and benign lymphadenopathy tissues from patients. It indicates that TCP-1 may be a crucial downstream molecular of P2X7R and plays a novel role in lymphoid neoplasm metastasis.

Reforming The U.S. Security Assistance Export Process To Build Existing Capabilities

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA JOINT APPLIED PROJECT REFORMING THE U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE EXPORT PROCESS TO...December 2015 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Joint applied project 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE REFORMING THE U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE EXPORT PROCESS TO...the programs. While acknowledging the expanding role of the programs, the findings indicate a need for reforms in the export -control mechanisms

Tracking clinical use of personal digital assistant reference resources.

PubMed

Pattillo, Robin E; Brewer, Marquette; Smith, Cheryl M

2007-01-01

Mechanisms are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of ever-increasing technological resources for nursing student use. The authors tracked the use of personal digital assistants versus textbook resources by junior-level baccalaureate nursing students throughout 1 semester. The authors discuss the results of that activity and provide a starting point for the evaluation of the use of personal digital assistants by nursing students.

24 CFR 585.313 - Labor standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

...) Laborers and mechanics other than Youthbuild Trainees. (1) All laborers and mechanics (other than... such laborers and mechanics on assisted housing shall be subject to the provisions of the Contract Work... standards apply to laborers and mechanics other than Youthbuild trainees to the extent required by the other...

24 CFR 585.313 - Labor standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

...) Laborers and mechanics other than Youthbuild Trainees. (1) All laborers and mechanics (other than... such laborers and mechanics on assisted housing shall be subject to the provisions of the Contract Work... standards apply to laborers and mechanics other than Youthbuild trainees to the extent required by the other...

24 CFR 585.313 - Labor standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...) Laborers and mechanics other than Youthbuild Trainees. (1) All laborers and mechanics (other than... such laborers and mechanics on assisted housing shall be subject to the provisions of the Contract Work... standards apply to laborers and mechanics other than Youthbuild trainees to the extent required by the other...

24 CFR 585.313 - Labor standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

...) Laborers and mechanics other than Youthbuild Trainees. (1) All laborers and mechanics (other than... such laborers and mechanics on assisted housing shall be subject to the provisions of the Contract Work... standards apply to laborers and mechanics other than Youthbuild trainees to the extent required by the other...

Semiclassical description of resonance-assisted tunneling in one-dimensional integrable models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Deunff, Jérémy; Mouchet, Amaury; Schlagheck, Peter

2013-10-01

Resonance-assisted tunneling is investigated within the framework of one-dimensional integrable systems. We present a systematic recipe, based on Hamiltonian normal forms, to construct one-dimensional integrable models that exhibit resonance island chain structures with accurately controlled sizes and positions of the islands. Using complex classical trajectories that evolve along suitably defined paths in the complex time domain, we construct a semiclassical theory of the resonance-assisted tunneling process. This semiclassical approach yields a compact analytical expression for tunnelling-induced level splittings which is found to be in very good agreement with the exact splittings obtained through numerical diagonalization.

77 FR 4369 - Investigations Regarding Certifications of Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-27

...). 81228 Schlaadt Plastics Limited New Bern, NC 01/10/12 01/06/12 (Workers). 81229 American Express (Workers).. Greensboro, NC........ 01/10/12 01/09/12 81230 ExpressPoint (State/One- Golden Valley, MN... and Boise, ID 01/09/12 01/06/12 Technical (Company). 81226 Duro Textiles LLC (Company). Fall River, MA...

Ubiquitous LEA29Y Expression Blocks T Cell Co-Stimulation but Permits Sexual Reproduction in Genetically Modified Pigs.

PubMed

Bähr, Andrea; Käser, Tobias; Kemter, Elisabeth; Gerner, Wilhelm; Kurome, Mayuko; Baars, Wiebke; Herbach, Nadja; Witter, Kirsti; Wünsch, Annegret; Talker, Stephanie C; Kessler, Barbara; Nagashima, Hiroshi; Saalmüller, Armin; Schwinzer, Reinhard; Wolf, Eckhard; Klymiuk, Nikolai

2016-01-01

We have successfully established and characterized a genetically modified pig line with ubiquitous expression of LEA29Y, a human CTLA4-Ig derivate. LEA29Y binds human B7.1/CD80 and B7.2/CD86 with high affinity and is thus a potent inhibitor of T cell co-stimulation via this pathway. We have characterized the expression pattern and the biological function of the transgene as well as its impact on the porcine immune system and have evaluated the potential of these transgenic pigs to propagate via assisted breeding methods. The analysis of LEA29Y expression in serum and multiple organs of CAG-LEA transgenic pigs revealed that these animals produce a biologically active transgenic product at a considerable level. They present with an immune system affected by transgene expression, but can be maintained until sexual maturity and propagated by assisted reproduction techniques. Based on previous experience with pancreatic islets expressing LEA29Y, tissues from CAG-LEA29Y transgenic pigs should be protected against rejection by human T cells. Furthermore, their immune-compromised phenotype makes CAG-LEA29Y transgenic pigs an interesting large animal model for testing human cell therapies and will provide an important tool for further clarifying the LEA29Y mode of action.

Machine Learning-Assisted Network Inference Approach to Identify a New Class of Genes that Coordinate the Functionality of Cancer Networks.

PubMed

Ghanat Bari, Mehrab; Ung, Choong Yong; Zhang, Cheng; Zhu, Shizhen; Li, Hu

2017-08-01

Emerging evidence indicates the existence of a new class of cancer genes that act as "signal linkers" coordinating oncogenic signals between mutated and differentially expressed genes. While frequently mutated oncogenes and differentially expressed genes, which we term Class I cancer genes, are readily detected by most analytical tools, the new class of cancer-related genes, i.e., Class II, escape detection because they are neither mutated nor differentially expressed. Given this hypothesis, we developed a Machine Learning-Assisted Network Inference (MALANI) algorithm, which assesses all genes regardless of expression or mutational status in the context of cancer etiology. We used 8807 expression arrays, corresponding to 9 cancer types, to build more than 2 × 10 8 Support Vector Machine (SVM) models for reconstructing a cancer network. We found that ~3% of ~19,000 not differentially expressed genes are Class II cancer gene candidates. Some Class II genes that we found, such as SLC19A1 and ATAD3B, have been recently reported to associate with cancer outcomes. To our knowledge, this is the first study that utilizes both machine learning and network biology approaches to uncover Class II cancer genes in coordinating functionality in cancer networks and will illuminate our understanding of how genes are modulated in a tissue-specific network contribute to tumorigenesis and therapy development.

Control of robotic assistance using poststroke residual voluntary effort.

PubMed

Makowski, Nathaniel S; Knutson, Jayme S; Chae, John; Crago, Patrick E

2015-03-01

Poststroke hemiparesis limits the ability to reach, in part due to involuntary muscle co-activation (synergies). Robotic approaches are being developed for both therapeutic benefit and continuous assistance during activities of daily living. Robotic assistance may enable participants to exert less effort, thereby reducing expression of the abnormal co-activation patterns, which could allow participants to reach further. This study evaluated how well participants could perform a reaching task with robotic assistance that was either provided independent of effort in the vertical direction or in the sagittal plane in proportion to voluntary effort estimated from electromyograms (EMG) on the affected side. Participants who could not reach targets without assistance were enabled to reach further with assistance. Constant anti-gravity force assistance that was independent of voluntary effort did not reduce the quality of reach and enabled participants to exert less effort while maintaining different target locations. Force assistance that was proportional to voluntary effort on the affected side enabled participants to exert less effort and could be controlled to successfully reach targets, but participants had increased difficulty maintaining a stable position. These results suggest that residual effort on the affected side can produce an effective command signal for poststroke assistive devices.

Pulmonary veins in the normal lung and pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease

PubMed Central

Hunt, James M.; Bethea, Brian; Liu, Xiang; Gandjeva, Aneta; Mammen, Pradeep P. A.; Stacher, Elvira; Gandjeva, Marina R.; Parish, Elisabeth; Perez, Mario; Smith, Lynelle; Graham, Brian B.; Kuebler, Wolfgang M.

2013-01-01

Despite the importance of pulmonary veins in normal lung physiology and the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension with left heart disease (PH-LHD), pulmonary veins remain largely understudied. Difficult to identify histologically, lung venous endothelium or smooth muscle cells display no unique characteristic functional and structural markers that distinguish them from pulmonary arteries. To address these challenges, we undertook a search for unique molecular markers in pulmonary veins. In addition, we addressed the expression pattern of a candidate molecular marker and analyzed the structural pattern of vascular remodeling of pulmonary veins in a rodent model of PH-LHD and in lung tissue of patients with PH-LHD obtained at time of placement on a left ventricular assist device. We detected urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression preferentially in normal pulmonary veins of mice, rats, and human lungs. Expression of uPAR remained elevated in pulmonary veins of rats with PH-LHD; however, we also detected induction of uPAR expression in remodeled pulmonary arteries. These findings were validated in lungs of patients with PH-LHD. In selected patients with sequential lung biopsy at the time of removal of the left ventricular assist device, we present early data suggesting improvement in pulmonary hemodynamics and venous remodeling, indicating potential regression of venous remodeling in response to assist device treatment. Our data indicate that remodeling of pulmonary veins is an integral part of PH-LHD and that pulmonary veins share some key features present in remodeled yet not normotensive pulmonary arteries. PMID:24039255

Effectiveness of assisted and unassisted cough capacity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

PubMed

Sancho, Jesús; Servera, Emilio; Bañuls, Pilar; Marín, Julio

2017-11-01

Decreased cough capacity during a respiratory infection is one of the main causes of acute respiratory failure and hospitalisation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To determine whether a respiratory measurement could identify the effectiveness of cough capacity in ALS during a respiratory infection. This was a prospective study of all ALS patients who were treated at a respiratory care unit due to a respiratory infection from 2012 to 2016. The effectiveness of unassisted and assisted coughing was evaluated and respiratory function tests were performed during the acute episode. Forty-eight ALS patients were enrolled, with only four having an effective unassisted cough. The variable which predicted unassisted cough effectiveness was peak cough flow (PCF) (OR 4499.27; 95%CI 3.60-3219086.19; p = 0.022) with a cut-off point of 2.77 L/s (166 L/min). For manually assisted coughing, the predictor of cough effectiveness was manually assisted PCF (cut-off point of 2.82-169 L/min) (OR 2198.602; 95% CI 3.750-1351691.42; p = 0.019). Mechanically assisted PCF (cut-off point of 2.95-177 L/min) was found to be the predictor of mechanically assisted coughing effectiveness (OR 23.40; 95% CI 2.11-258.96; p = 0.010). During a respiratory infection in ALS patients, the effectiveness of assisted and unassisted cough capacity depends on the PCF generated.

Assisting Your Child's Learning in L2 Is Like Teaching Them to Ride a Bike: A Study on Parental Involvement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Castillo, Rigoberto; Camelo Gámez, Linda Catherine

2013-01-01

This article deals with parental involvement as a strategy to assist young learners in their efforts to learn an L2. It discusses an 18-month experience involving ten young learners, their parents, and teachers, in the development of another language (L2). The parents had expressed that they were unable to support their children's development in…

Extracorporeal photopheresis reduces the number of mononuclear cells that produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, when tested ex-vivo.

PubMed

Bladon, John; Taylor, Peter

2002-01-01

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been shown to be clinically effective in the treatment of many T cell-mediated conditions. ECP's mechanism of action includes the induction of apoptosis and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Recently, we have observed early lymphoid apoptosis, detectable immediately post ECP. We were interested to determine what influence ECP has on pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion at this early pre-infusion stage. Samples from 6 cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) and 5 graft versus host disease (GvHD) patients were taken pre ECP and immediately post ECP, prior to re-infusion. Following separation, the PBMCs were added to a cell culture medium and stimulated with PMA, Ionomycin, and Brefeldin A for 6 hours. Using flow cytometry, intracellular cytokine expression of IFNgamma and TNFalpha was determined in the T cell population. The monocytes were evaluated for IL6, IFNgamma, IL12, and TNFalpha. For both patient groups, the number of IFNgamma-expressing T cells fell significantly at re-infusion, whilst both T cell- and monocyte-expressing TNFalpha levels were reduced at re-infusion. All other cytokines tested showed no significant change post ECP. For GvHD, pro-inflammatory cytokines have a pathological role. Their down-regulation may have a direct clinical benefit. However, the reduction in the number of IFNgamma- and TNFalpha-expressing mononuclear cells means, at this early stage, it is unlikely that these cytokines assist in the removal of the malignant Th2 cells present in CTCL. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Sequencing-based gene network analysis provides a core set of gene resource for understanding thermal adaptation in Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri.

PubMed

Fu, X; Sun, Y; Wang, J; Xing, Q; Zou, J; Li, R; Wang, Z; Wang, S; Hu, X; Zhang, L; Bao, Z

2014-01-01

Marine organisms are commonly exposed to variable environmental conditions, and many of them are under threat from increased sea temperatures caused by global climate change. Generating transcriptomic resources under different stress conditions are crucial for understanding molecular mechanisms underlying thermal adaptation. In this study, we conducted transcriptome-wide gene expression profiling of the scallop Chlamys farreri challenged by acute and chronic heat stress. Of the 13 953 unique tags, more than 850 were significantly differentially expressed at each time point after acute heat stress, which was more than the number of tags differentially expressed (320-350) under chronic heat stress. To obtain a systemic view of gene expression alterations during thermal stress, a weighted gene coexpression network was constructed. Six modules were identified as acute heat stress-responsive modules. Among them, four modules involved in apoptosis regulation, mRNA binding, mitochondrial envelope formation and oxidation reduction were downregulated. The remaining two modules were upregulated. One was enriched with chaperone and the other with microsatellite sequences, whose coexpression may originate from a transcription factor binding site. These results indicated that C. farreri triggered several cellular processes to acclimate to elevated temperature. No modules responded to chronic heat stress, suggesting that the scallops might have acclimated to elevated temperature within 3 days. This study represents the first sequencing-based gene network analysis in a nonmodel aquatic species and provides valuable gene resources for the study of thermal adaptation, which should assist in the development of heat-tolerant scallop lines for aquaculture. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

3D Visualization as a Communicative Aid in Pharmaceutical Advice-Giving over Distance

PubMed Central

Dahlbäck, Nils; Petersson, Göran Ingemar

2011-01-01

Background Medication misuse results in considerable problems for both patient and society. It is a complex problem with many contributing factors, including timely access to product information. Objective To investigate the value of 3-dimensional (3D) visualization paired with video conferencing as a tool for pharmaceutical advice over distance in terms of accessibility and ease of use for the advice seeker. Methods We created a Web-based communication service called AssistancePlus that allows an advisor to demonstrate the physical handling of a complex pharmaceutical product to an advice seeker with the aid of 3D visualization and audio/video conferencing. AssistancePlus was tested in 2 separate user studies performed in a usability lab, under realistic settings and emulating a real usage situation. In the first study, 10 pharmacy students were assisted by 2 advisors from the Swedish National Co-operation of Pharmacies’ call centre on the use of an asthma inhaler. The student-advisor interview sessions were filmed on video to qualitatively explore their experience of giving and receiving advice with the aid of 3D visualization. In the second study, 3 advisors from the same call centre instructed 23 participants recruited from the general public on the use of 2 products: (1) an insulin injection pen, and (2) a growth hormone injection syringe. First, participants received advice on one product in an audio-recorded telephone call and for the other product in a video-recorded AssistancePlus session (product order balanced). In conjunction with the AssistancePlus session, participants answered a questionnaire regarding accessibility, perceived expressiveness, and general usefulness of 3D visualization for advice-giving over distance compared with the telephone and were given a short interview focusing on their experience of the 3D features. Results In both studies, participants found the AssistancePlus service helpful in providing clear and exact instructions. In the second study, directly comparing AssistancePlus and the telephone, AssistancePlus was judged positively for ease of communication (P = .001), personal contact (P = .001), explanatory power (P < .001), and efficiency (P < .001). Participants in both studies said that they would welcome this type of service as an alternative to the telephone and to face-to-face interaction when a physical meeting is not possible or not convenient. However, although AssistancePlus was considered as easy to use as the telephone, they would choose AssistancePlus over the telephone only when the complexity of the question demanded the higher level of expressiveness it offers. For simpler questions, a simpler service was preferred. Conclusions 3D visualization paired with video conferencing can be useful for advice-giving over distance, specifically for issues that require a higher level of communicative expressiveness than the telephone can offer. 3D-supported advice-giving can increase the range of issues that can be handled over distance and thus improve access to product information. PMID:21771714

Improved protocol to purify untagged amelogenin – Application to murine amelogenin containing the equivalent P70→T point mutation observed in human amelogenesis imperfecta

DOE PAGES

Buchko, Garry W.; Shaw, Wendy J.

2014-10-13

Amelogenin is the predominant extracellular protein responsible for converting carbonated hydroxyapatite into dental enamel, the hardest and most heavily mineralized tissue in vertebrates. Despite much effort, the precise mechanism by which amelogenin regulates enamel formation is not fully understood. To assist efforts aimed at understanding the biochemical mechanism of enamel formation, more facile protocols to purify recombinantly expressed amelogenin, ideally without any tag to assist affinity purification, are advantageous. Here we describe an improved method to purify milligram quantities of amelogenin that exploits its high solubility in 2% glacial acetic acid under conditions of low ionic strength. The method involvesmore » heating the frozen cell pellet for two 15 min periods at ~70 ºC with two minutes of sonication in between, dialysis twice in 2% acetic acid (1:250 v/v), and reverse phase chromatography. A further improvement in yield is obtained by resuspending the frozen cell pellet in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride in the first step. The acetic acid heating method is illustrated with a murine amelogenin containing the corresponding P70→T point mutation observed in an human amelogenin associated with amelogenesis imperfecta (P71T), while the guanidine hydrochloride heating method is illustrated with wild type murine amelogenin (M180). The self-assembly properties of P71T were probed by NMR chemical shift perturbation studies as a function of protein (0.1 to 1.8 mM) and NaCl (0 to 367 mM) concentration. In conclusion, relative to similar studies with wild type murine amelogenin, P71T self-associates at lower protein or salt concentrations with the interactions initiated near the N-terminus.« less

Efficient ASK-assisted system for expression and purification of plant F-box proteins.

PubMed

Li, Haiou; Yao, Ruifeng; Ma, Sui; Hu, Shuai; Li, Suhua; Wang, Yupei; Yan, Chun; Xie, Daoxin; Yan, Jianbin

2017-11-01

Ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation plays an essential role in plant growth and development as well as responses to environmental and endogenous signals. F-box protein is one of the key components of the SCF (SKP1-CUL1-F-box protein) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, which recruit specific substrate proteins for subsequent ubiquitination and 26S proteasome-mediated degradation to regulate developmental processes and signaling networks. However, it is not easy to obtain purified F-box proteins with high activity due to their unstable protein structures. Here, we found that Arabidopsis SKP-like proteins (ASKs) can significantly improve soluble expression of F-box proteins and maintain their bioactivity. We established an efficient ASK-assisted method to express and purify plant F-box proteins. The method meets a broad range of criteria required for the biochemical analysis or protein crystallization of plant F-box proteins. © 2017 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Competency Reference for Computer Assisted Drafting.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oregon State Dept. of Education, Salem. Div. of Vocational Technical Education.

This guide, developed in Oregon, lists competencies essential for students in computer-assisted drafting (CAD). Competencies are organized in eight categories: computer hardware, file usage and manipulation, basic drafting techniques, mechanical drafting, specialty disciplines, three dimensional drawing/design, plotting/printing, and advanced CAD.…

Complexation-assisted reduction: complexes of glutaroimide-dioxime with tetravalent actinides (Np( iv ) and Th( iv ))

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Zhicheng; Parker, Bernard F.; Lohrey, Trevor D.; ...

2018-01-01

Glutaroimide-dioxime forms strong complexes with Np( iv ) and Th( iv ) in aqueous solution and in crystals. The formation of Np( iv ) complexes from initial Np( v ) is interpreted by a complexation-assisted reduction mechanism.

46 CFR 11.470 - Officer endorsements as offshore installation manager.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

..., assistant driller, toolpusher, assistant toolpusher, barge supervisor, mechanical supervisor, electrician... 14 days of that supervisory service on surface units; or (ii) A degree from a program in engineering or engineering technology which is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and...

46 CFR 11.470 - Officer endorsements as offshore installation manager.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

..., assistant driller, toolpusher, assistant toolpusher, barge supervisor, mechanical supervisor, electrician... 14 days of that supervisory service on surface units; or (ii) A degree from a program in engineering or engineering technology which is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and...

46 CFR 11.470 - Officer endorsements as offshore installation manager.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

..., assistant driller, toolpusher, assistant toolpusher, barge supervisor, mechanical supervisor, electrician... 14 days of that supervisory service on surface units; or (ii) A degree from a program in engineering or engineering technology which is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and...

Complexation-assisted reduction: complexes of glutaroimide-dioxime with tetravalent actinides (Np( iv ) and Th( iv ))

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Zhicheng; Parker, Bernard F.; Lohrey, Trevor D.

Glutaroimide-dioxime forms strong complexes with Np( iv ) and Th( iv ) in aqueous solution and in crystals. The formation of Np( iv ) complexes from initial Np( v ) is interpreted by a complexation-assisted reduction mechanism.

Review of Authorities Available for Tribal Program Financial Assistance Awards

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Reiterate discussion EPA presented on financial assistance in the proposed rule (40 CFR Parts 9, 35, 49, 50 and 81) and provides additional guidance on how these mechanisms might be used to advance the tribes’ objectives.be used to advance the

Robot-assisted ultrasound imaging: overview and development of a parallel telerobotic system.

PubMed

Monfaredi, Reza; Wilson, Emmanuel; Azizi Koutenaei, Bamshad; Labrecque, Brendan; Leroy, Kristen; Goldie, James; Louis, Eric; Swerdlow, Daniel; Cleary, Kevin

2015-02-01

Ultrasound imaging is frequently used in medicine. The quality of ultrasound images is often dependent on the skill of the sonographer. Several researchers have proposed robotic systems to aid in ultrasound image acquisition. In this paper we first provide a short overview of robot-assisted ultrasound imaging (US). We categorize robot-assisted US imaging systems into three approaches: autonomous US imaging, teleoperated US imaging, and human-robot cooperation. For each approach several systems are introduced and briefly discussed. We then describe a compact six degree of freedom parallel mechanism telerobotic system for ultrasound imaging developed by our research team. The long-term goal of this work is to enable remote ultrasound scanning through teleoperation. This parallel mechanism allows for both translation and rotation of an ultrasound probe mounted on the top plate along with force control. Our experimental results confirmed good mechanical system performance with a positioning error of < 1 mm. Phantom experiments by a radiologist showed promising results with good image quality.

Development of NASA-DeBakey Ventricular Assist Device Using Numerical Aerospace Simulation Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kwak, Dochan

2000-01-01

Over three million Americans and 20 million people worldwide suffer from some form of heart failure. Mechanical heart assist devices are being used as a temporary support to sick ventricle and valves as a bridge-to-transplant or bridge-to-recovery. This viewgraph presentation gives an overview of the development of NASA-DeBakey Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) using numerical aerospace simulation technology.

Improved thermal stability of oxide-supported naked gold nanoparticles by ligand-assisted pinning

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moreno, C; Divins, N. J.; Gazquez, Jaume

We report a method to improve the thermal stability, up to 900 C, of bare-metal (naked) gold nanoparticles supported on top of SiO{sub 2} and SrTiO{sub 3} substrates via ligand-assisted pinning. This approach leads to monodisperse naked gold nanoparticles without significant sintering after thermal annealing in air at 900 C. The ligand-assisted pinning mechanism is described.

"I Help Them Navigate the Organization": Recognizing the Contributions of Non-Clinical Professionals to Person-Centered Approaches in Assisted Living.

PubMed

Shrestha, Priyanka; Abbott, Katherine M

2018-02-01

The current study explored the contribution of non-clinical professionals, such as housekeepers and maintenance mechanics, in promoting person-centered care (PCC) for older adults residing in assisted living. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews with staff (n = 8), concierge (n = 2), maintenance mechanics (n = 2), housekeepers (n = 3), and an administrative assistant (n = 1) from an assisted living organization were conducted. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed, and reviewed for accuracy. The comments from the staff were coded based on prior PCC themes (i.e., promoting decision making, meaningful living, pleasurable living, and personhood). Results show that non-clinical staff play an important role in facilitating PCC in their everyday tasks with residents. A new sub-theme was added regarding how non-clinical staff help residents in assisted living navigate the organization. Findings suggest that all tasks, no matter how routine, can be performed in a person-centered manner, contributing to the quality of life of older adults in assisted living. The authors recommend including all staff who have direct contact with residents in person-centered education and training efforts as they support the PCC goals of an organization. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(2), 9-13.]. Copyright 2018, SLACK Incorporated.

Industrial Arts Power Mechanics. Applying Scientific Principles to Power, Energy, Force. Instructional Units.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woodward, Robert L.; Myers, Norman L.

The instructional units and related materials in this guide are designed to assist in the preparation of courses of study/instruction in (1) power mechanics specifically, (2) power mechanics which serve as introductory courses in other areas of industrial arts, and (3) automotive mechanics which also cover the broader aspects of power mechanics.…

Application of microfluidic technologies to human assisted reproduction

PubMed Central

Takayama, Shuichi

2017-01-01

Abstract Microfluidics can be considered both a science and a technology. It is defined as the study of fluid behavior at a sub-microliter level and the investigation into its application to cell biology, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology and medicine. There are at least two characteristics of microfluidics, mechanical and biochemical, which can be influential in the field of mammalian gamete and preimplantation embryo biology. These microfluidic characteristics can assist in basic biological studies on sperm, oocyte and preimplantation embryo structure, function and environment. The mechanical and biochemical characteristics of microfluidics may also have practical and/or technical application(s) to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in rodents, domestic species, endangered species and humans. This review will consider data in mammals, and when available humans, addressing the potential application(s) of microfluidics to assisted reproduction. There are numerous sequential steps in the clinical assisted reproductive laboratory process that work, yet could be improved. Cause and effect relations of procedural inefficiencies can be difficult to identify and/or remedy. Data will be presented that consider microfluidic applications to sperm isolation, oocyte cumulus complex isolation, oocyte denuding, oocyte mechanical manipulation, conventional insemination, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo culture, embryo analysis and oocyte and embryo cryopreservation. While these studies have progressed in animal models, data with human gametes and embryos are significantly lacking. These data from clinical trials are requisite for making future evidence-based decisions regarding the application of microfluidics in human ART. PMID:28130394

An experimental comparison of the relative benefits of work and torque assistance in ankle exoskeletons.

PubMed

Jackson, Rachel W; Collins, Steven H

2015-09-01

Techniques proposed for assisting locomotion with exoskeletons have often included a combination of active work input and passive torque support, but the physiological effects of different assistance techniques remain unclear. We performed an experiment to study the independent effects of net exoskeleton work and average exoskeleton torque on human locomotion. Subjects wore a unilateral ankle exoskeleton and walked on a treadmill at 1.25 m·s(-1) while net exoskeleton work rate was systematically varied from -0.054 to 0.25 J·kg(-1)·s(-1), with constant (0.12 N·m·kg(-1)) average exoskeleton torque, and while average exoskeleton torque was systematically varied from approximately zero to 0.18 N·m·kg(-1), with approximately zero net exoskeleton work. We measured metabolic rate, center-of-mass mechanics, joint mechanics, and muscle activity. Both techniques reduced effort-related measures at the assisted ankle, but this form of work input reduced metabolic cost (-17% with maximum net work input) while this form of torque support increased metabolic cost (+13% with maximum average torque). Disparate effects on metabolic rate seem to be due to cascading effects on whole body coordination, particularly related to assisted ankle muscle dynamics and the effects of trailing ankle behavior on leading leg mechanics during double support. It would be difficult to predict these results using simple walking models without muscles or musculoskeletal models that assume fixed kinematics or kinetics. Data from this experiment can be used to improve predictive models of human neuromuscular adaptation and guide the design of assistive devices. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

Fabrication of tough epoxy with shape memory effects by UV-assisted direct-ink write printing.

PubMed

Chen, Kaijuan; Kuang, Xiao; Li, Vincent; Kang, Guozheng; Qi, H Jerry

2018-03-07

3D printing of epoxy-based shape memory polymers with high mechanical strength, excellent thermal stability and chemical resistance is highly desirable for practical applications. However, thermally cured epoxy in general is difficult to print directly. There have been limited numbers of successes in printing epoxy but they suffer from relatively poor mechanical properties. Here, we present an ultraviolet (UV)-assisted 3D printing of thermally cured epoxy composites with high tensile toughness via a two-stage curing approach. The ink containing UV curable resin and epoxy oligomer is used for UV-assisted direct-ink write (DIW)-based 3D printing followed by thermal curing of the part containing the epoxy oligomer. The UV curable resin forms a network by photo polymerization after the 1st stage of UV curing, which can maintain the printed architecture at an elevated temperature. The 2nd stage thermal curing of the epoxy oligomer yields an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) composite with highly enhanced mechanical properties. It is found that the printed IPN epoxy composites enabled by the two-stage curing show isotropic mechanical properties and high tensile toughness. We demonstrated that the 3D-printed high-toughness epoxy composites show good shape memory properties. This UV-assisted DIW 3D printing via a two-stage curing method can broaden the application of 3D printing to fabricate thermoset materials with enhanced tensile toughness and tunable properties for high-performance and functional applications.

Muscle-tendon mechanics explain unexpected effects of exoskeleton assistance on metabolic rate during walking.

PubMed

Jackson, Rachel W; Dembia, Christopher L; Delp, Scott L; Collins, Steven H

2017-06-01

The goal of this study was to gain insight into how ankle exoskeletons affect the behavior of the plantarflexor muscles during walking. Using data from previous experiments, we performed electromyography-driven simulations of musculoskeletal dynamics to explore how changes in exoskeleton assistance affected plantarflexor muscle-tendon mechanics, particularly for the soleus. We used a model of muscle energy consumption to estimate individual muscle metabolic rate. As average exoskeleton torque was increased, while no net exoskeleton work was provided, a reduction in tendon recoil led to an increase in positive mechanical work performed by the soleus muscle fibers. As net exoskeleton work was increased, both soleus muscle fiber force and positive mechanical work decreased. Trends in the sum of the metabolic rates of the simulated muscles correlated well with trends in experimentally observed whole-body metabolic rate ( R 2 =0.9), providing confidence in our model estimates. Our simulation results suggest that different exoskeleton behaviors can alter the functioning of the muscles and tendons acting at the assisted joint. Furthermore, our results support the idea that the series tendon helps reduce positive work done by the muscle fibers by storing and returning energy elastically. We expect the results from this study to promote the use of electromyography-driven simulations to gain insight into the operation of muscle-tendon units and to guide the design and control of assistive devices. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Immunology and human reproduction.

PubMed

Alecsandru, Diana; García-Velasco, Juan Antonio

2015-06-01

The immune system's role in recurrent reproductive failure is a controversial issue in assisted reproduction. New insight about maternal tolerance in assisted reproduction has been reported and could explain some of the recurrent miscarriage and/or recurrent implantation failure related causes named until now as unknown. Most of the previous studies about immune system implication in reproduction were focused on finding markers on peripheral blood. Maternal tolerance begins at the uterine level, so successful adaptation to the fetus happens after a complicated process. Insufficient invasion of the uterine lining by invading extravillous trophoblast is the primary defect in pregnancy disorders such as recurrent miscarriage, and this process is regulated by interaction between maternal killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) expressed by the uterine natural killer cells and their ligand human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C expressed by extravillous trophoblast. Pregnancies are an increased risk of disorders in mothers with KIR AA when the fetus has paternal HLA-C2. Recently, it has been reported that the expression of more than one paternal HLA-C by extravillous trophoblast in assisted reproduction may affect placentation in mothers with KIR AA. The review provides insight about the immune tolerance process. These insights could have an impact on the selection of single embryo transfer and/or oocyte/sperm donor according to HLA-C in patients with recurrent miscarriage or recurrent implantation failure and a KIR AA haplotype.

Nanocarriers Assisted siRNA Gene Therapy for the Management of Cardiovascular Disorders.

PubMed

Maheshwari, Rahul; Tekade, Muktika; Sharma, Piyoosh A; Tekade, Rakesh Kumar

2015-01-01

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), primarily myocardial infarction (MI), atherosclerosis, hypertension and congestive heart failure symbolize the foremost cause of death in almost all parts of the world. Besides the traditional therapeutic approaches for the management of CVDs, newer innovative strategies are also emerging on the horizon. Recently, gene silencing via small interfering RNA (siRNA) is one of the hot topics amongst various strategies involved in the management of CVDs. The siRNA mechanism involves natural catalytic processes to silence pathological genes that are overexpressed in a particular disease. Also the versatility of gene expression by siRNA deciphers a prospective tactic to down-regulate diseases associated gene, protein or receptor existing on a specific disease target. This article reviews the application of siRNA against CVDs with special emphasis on gene targets in combination with delivery systems such as cationic hydrogels, polyplexes, peptides, liposomes and dendrimers.

Autistic traits below the clinical threshold: re-examining the broader autism phenotype in the 21st century.

PubMed

Sucksmith, E; Roth, I; Hoekstra, R A

2011-12-01

Diagnosis, intervention and support for people with autism can be assisted by research into the aetiology of the condition. Twin and family studies indicate that autism spectrum conditions are highly heritable; genetic relatives of people with autism often show milder expression of traits characteristic for autism, referred to as the Broader Autism Phenotype (BAP). In the past decade, advances in the biological and behavioural sciences have facilitated a more thorough examination of the BAP from multiple levels of analysis. Here, the candidate phenotypic traits delineating the BAP are summarised, including key findings from neuroimaging studies examining the neural substrates of the BAP. We conclude by reviewing the value of further research into the BAP, with an emphasis on deriving heritable endophenotypes which will reliably index autism susceptibility and offer neurodevelopmental mechanisms that bridge the gap between genes and a clinical autism diagnosis.

Premium assistance in Medicaid and SCHIP: ace in the hole or house of cards?

PubMed

Shirk, Cynthia; Ryan, Jennifer

2006-07-17

This issue brief explores the use of premium assistance in publicly financed health insurance coverage programs. In the context of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), premium assistance entails using federal and state funds to subsidize the premiums for the purchase of private insurance coverage for eligible individuals. This paper considers the evolution of premium assistance and some of the statutory and administrative limitations, as well as private market factors, that have prevented widespread enrollment in Medicaid or SCHIP premium assistance programs. Finally, this issue brief offers some ideas for potential legislative and/or programmatic changes that could facilitate the use of premium assistance as a mechanism for health coverage expansion.

Early Right Ventricular Assist Device Use in Patients Undergoing Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Incidence and Risk Factors From the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support.

PubMed

Kiernan, Michael S; Grandin, E Wilson; Brinkley, Marshall; Kapur, Navin K; Pham, Duc Thinh; Ruthazer, Robin; Rame, J Eduardo; Atluri, Pavan; Birati, Edo Y; Oliveira, Guilherme H; Pagani, Francis D; Kirklin, James K; Naftel, David; Kormos, Robert L; Teuteberg, Jeffrey J; DeNofrio, David

2017-10-01

To investigate preimplant risk factors associated with early right ventricular assist device (RVAD) use in patients undergoing continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgery. Patients in the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support who underwent primary continuous-flow-LVAD surgery were examined for concurrent or subsequent RVAD implantation within 14 days of LVAD. Risk factors for RVAD implantation and the combined end point of RVAD or death within 14 days of LVAD were assessed with stepwise logistic regression. We compared survival between patients with and without RVAD using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Of 9976 patients undergoing continuous-flow-LVAD implantation, 386 patients (3.9%) required an RVAD within 14 days of LVAD surgery. Preimplant characteristics associated with RVAD use included interagency registry for mechanically assisted circulatory support patient profiles 1 and 2, the need for preoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or renal replacement therapy, severe preimplant tricuspid regurgitation, history of cardiac surgery, and concomitant procedures other than tricuspid valve repair at the time of LVAD. Hemodynamic determinants included elevated right atrial pressure, reduced pulmonary artery pulse pressure, and reduced stroke volume. The final model demonstrated good performance for both RVAD implant (area under the curve, 0.78) and the combined end point of RVAD or death within 14 days (area under the curve, 0.73). Compared with patients receiving an isolated LVAD, patients requiring RVAD had decreased 1- and 6-month survival: 78.1% versus 95.8% and 63.6% versus 87.9%, respectively ( P <0.0001 for both). The need for RVAD implantation after LVAD is associated with indices of global illness severity, markers of end-organ dysfunction, and profiles of hemodynamic instability. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Differential Regulation and Posttranslational Processing of the Class II Hydrophobin Genes from the Biocontrol Fungus Hypocrea atroviridis▿

PubMed Central

Mikus, Marianna; Hatvani, Lóránt; Neuhof, Torsten; Komoń-Zelazowska, Monika; Dieckmann, Ralf; Schwecke, Torsten; Druzhinina, Irina S.; von Döhren, Hans; Kubicek, Christian P.

2009-01-01

Hydrophobins are small extracellular proteins, unique to and ubiquitous in filamentous fungi, which mediate interactions between the fungus and environment. The mycoparasitic fungus Hypocrea atroviridis has recently been shown to possess 10 different class II hydrophobin genes, which is a much higher number than that of any other ascomycete investigated so far. In order to learn the potential advantage of this hydrophobin multiplicity for the fungus, we have investigated their expression patterns under different physiological conditions (e.g., vegetative growth), various conditions inducing sporulation (light, carbon starvation, and mechanical injury-induced stress), and confrontation with potential hosts for mycoparasitism. The results show that the 10 hydrophobins display different patterns of response to these conditions: one hydrophobin (encoded by hfb-2b) is constitutively induced under all conditions, whereas other hydrophobins were formed only under conditions of carbon starvation (encoded by hfb-1c and hfb-6c) or light plus carbon starvation (encoded by hfb-2c, hfb-6a, and hfb-6b). The hydrophobins encoded by hfb-1b and hfb-5a were primarily formed during vegetative growth and under mechanical injury-provoked stress. hfb-22a was not expressed under any conditions and is likely a pseudogene. None of the 10 genes showed a specific expression pattern during mycoparasitic interaction. Most, but not all, of the expression patterns under the three different conditions of sporulation were dependent on one or both of the two blue-light regulator proteins BLR1 and BLR2, as shown by the use of respective loss-of-function mutants. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry of mycelial solvent extracts provided sets of molecular ions corresponding to HFB-1b, HFB-2a, HFB-2b, and HFB-5a in their oxidized and processed forms. These in silico-deduced sequences of the hydrophobins indicate cleavages at known signal peptide sites as well as additional N- and C-terminal processing. Mass peaks observed during confrontation with plant-pathogenic fungi indicate further proteolytic attack on the hydrophobins. Our study illustrates both divergent and redundant functions of the 10 hydrophobins of H. atroviridis. PMID:19329667

Online Assistants in Children's Hypermedia Software

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garcia, Penny Ann

2002-01-01

The classroom teacher's comfort and familiarity with computers and software influences student-computer use in the classroom. Teachers remain mired in repetitive introduction of basic software mechanics and rarely progress with students to advanced concepts or complex applications. An Online Assistant (OLA) was developed to accompany the…

Development of Subischial Prosthetic Sockets with Vacuum-Assisted Suspension for Highly Active Persons with Transfemoral Amputations

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-01

materials to facilitate dissemination of this technique. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Transfemoral amputation, sub-ischial socket, prosthesis , vacuum-assisted...an appropriate mechanical pump to create suitable vacuum for suspension of the prosthesis ...sockets of highly active prosthesis users

Ultrasound assisted extraction of food and natural products. Mechanisms, techniques, combinations, protocols and applications. A review.

PubMed

Chemat, Farid; Rombaut, Natacha; Sicaire, Anne-Gaëlle; Meullemiestre, Alice; Fabiano-Tixier, Anne-Sylvie; Abert-Vian, Maryline

2017-01-01

This review presents a complete picture of current knowledge on ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) in food ingredients and products, nutraceutics, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and bioenergy applications. It provides the necessary theoretical background and some details about extraction by ultrasound, the techniques and their combinations, the mechanisms (fragmentation, erosion, capillarity, detexturation, and sonoporation), applications from laboratory to industry, security, and environmental impacts. In addition, the ultrasound extraction procedures and the important parameters influencing its performance are also included, together with the advantages and the drawbacks of each UAE techniques. Ultrasound-assisted extraction is a research topic, which affects several fields of modern plant-based chemistry. All the reported applications have shown that ultrasound-assisted extraction is a green and economically viable alternative to conventional techniques for food and natural products. The main benefits are decrease of extraction and processing time, the amount of energy and solvents used, unit operations, and CO 2 emissions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Relationship between Religiosity and Attitudes of Nurses Aides toward Sexual Expression by Older Adults in Nursing Homes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stevenson, Robert T.; Courtenay, Bradley C.

Systematic research on attitudes of nursing home staff toward the sexual expression of older residents is sparse and of recent origin. In order to determine the relationship between the degree of religiosity (religious commitment) of nursing home aides and their degree of tolerance concerning sexuality and aging, female nursing assistants (N=101)…

Relating practitioner needs to research activities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feather, M. S.; Menzies, T.; Connelly, J. R.

2003-01-01

We present an approach to matching needs (practioner requirements) to solutions (researcher activities). A taxonomical classification scheme acts as intermediary between needs and activities. Expert practitioners exprss their needs in terms of this taxonomy. Researchers express their activities in the same terms. A decision support tool is used to assist in the combination and study of their expressions of needs and activities.

Quantitative Proteome Analysis of Mouse Liver Lysosomes Provides Evidence for Mannose 6-phosphate-independent Targeting Mechanisms of Acid Hydrolases in Mucolipidosis II.

PubMed

Markmann, Sandra; Krambeck, Svenja; Hughes, Christopher J; Mirzaian, Mina; Aerts, Johannes M F G; Saftig, Paul; Schweizer, Michaela; Vissers, Johannes P C; Braulke, Thomas; Damme, Markus

2017-03-01

The efficient receptor-mediated targeting of soluble lysosomal proteins to lysosomes requires the modification with mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) residues. Although the absence of M6P results in misrouting and hypersecretion of lysosomal enzymes in many cells, normal levels of lysosomal enzymes have been reported in liver of patients lacking the M6P-generating phosphotransferase (PT). The identity of lysosomal proteins depending on M6P has not yet been comprehensively analyzed. In this study we purified lysosomes from liver of PT-defective mice and 67 known soluble lysosomal proteins were identified that illustrated quantitative changes using an ion mobility-assisted data-independent label-free LC-MS approach. After validation of various differentially expressed lysosomal components by Western blotting and enzyme activity assays, the data revealed a small number of lysosomal proteins depending on M6P, including neuraminidase 1, cathepsin F, Npc2, and cathepsin L, whereas the majority reach lysosomes by alternative pathways. These data were compared with findings on cultured hepatocytes and liver sinusoid endothelial cells isolated from the liver of wild-type and PT-defective mice. Our findings show that the relative expression, targeting efficiency and lysosomal localization of lysosomal proteins tested in cultured hepatic cells resemble their proportion in isolated liver lysosomes. Hypersecretion of newly synthesized nonphosphorylated lysosomal proteins suggest that secretion-recapture mechanisms contribute to maintain major lysosomal functions in liver. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Mechanistic insights into epigenetic modulation of ethanol consumption.

PubMed

Ponomarev, Igor; Stelly, Claire E; Morikawa, Hitoshi; Blednov, Yuri A; Mayfield, R Dayne; Harris, R Adron

2017-05-01

There is growing evidence that small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators, such as histone deacetylases (HDAC) and DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), can reduce voluntary ethanol consumption in animal models, but molecular and cellular processes underlying this behavioral effect are poorly understood. We used C57BL/6J male mice to investigate the effects of two FDA-approved drugs, decitabine (a DNMT inhibitor) and SAHA (an HDAC inhibitor), on ethanol consumption using two tests: binge-like drinking in the dark (DID) and chronic intermittent every other day (EOD) drinking. Decitabine but not SAHA reduced ethanol consumption in both tests. We further investigated decitabine's effects on the brain's reward pathway by gene expression profiling in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), using RNA sequencing and electrophysiological recordings from VTA dopaminergic neurons. Decitabine-induced decreases in EOD drinking were associated with global changes in gene expression, implicating regulation of cerebral blood flow, extracellular matrix organization, and neuroimmune functions in decitabine actions. In addition, an in vivo administration of decitabine shortened ethanol-induced excitation of VTA dopaminergic neurons in vitro, suggesting that decitabine reduces ethanol drinking via changes in the reward pathway. Taken together, our data suggest a contribution of both neuronal and non-neuronal mechanisms in the VTA in the regulation of ethanol consumption. Decitabine and other epigenetic compounds have been approved for cancer treatment, and understanding their mechanisms of actions in the brain may assist in repurposing these drugs and developing novel therapies for central disorders, including drug addiction. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The toxic effect of sodium fluoride on Spodoptera frugiperda 9 cells and differential protein analysis following NaF treatment of cells.

PubMed

Zuo, Huan; Chen, Liang; Kong, Ming; Yang, Yanhua; Lü, Peng; Qiu, Lipeng; Wang, Qiang; Ma, Shangshang; Chen, Keping

2018-05-01

Accumulation of excess fluoride has a destructive effect on the environment, endangering human health, affecting organism growth and development, and leading to damage to the biological chain, thereby affecting ecological environment balance. In recent years, numerous studies focused on the molecular mechanisms associated with fluoride toxicity; however, fluoride-toxicity mechanisms in insect cells remain unclear. This study explored the toxic impact of sodium fluoride (NaF) on Spodoptera frugiperda 9 (Sf9) insect cells. High concentrations of NaF (10 -4  M, 10 -3  M and 10 -2  M) resulted in cell enlargement, cell membrane blurring and breakage, and release of cellular contents. Dose-response curves indicated that NaF-specific inhibition rates on Sf9-cell activity increased along with increases in NaF concentration, with a half-inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) for NaF of 5.919 × 10 -3  M at 72 h. Compared with controls, the percentages of early and late apoptotic and necrotic cells clearly increased based on observed increases in NaF concentrations. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to detect differentially expressed proteins in Sf9 cells treated with IC 50 NaF, identifying 17 proteins, seven of which were upregulated and 10 downregulated. These results demonstrated that Sf9 cells showed signs of NaF-mediated toxicity through alterations in cell morphology, apoptosis rates, and protein expression. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

De novo sequencing and analysis of the transcriptome during the browning of fresh-cut Luffa cylindrica 'Fusi-3' fruits.

PubMed

Zhu, Haisheng; Liu, Jianting; Wen, Qingfang; Chen, Mindong; Wang, Bin; Zhang, Qianrong; Xue, Zhuzheng

2017-01-01

Fresh-cut luffa (Luffa cylindrica) fruits commonly undergo browning. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating this process. We used the RNA-seq technique to analyze the transcriptomic changes occurring during the browning of fresh-cut fruits from luffa cultivar 'Fusi-3'. Over 90 million high-quality reads were assembled into 58,073 Unigenes, and 60.86% of these were annotated based on sequences in four public databases. We detected 35,282 Unigenes with significant hits to sequences in the NCBInr database, and 24,427 Unigenes encoded proteins with sequences that were similar to those of known proteins in the Swiss-Prot database. Additionally, 20,546 and 13,021 Unigenes were similar to existing sequences in the Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups of proteins and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases, respectively. Furthermore, 27,301 Unigenes were differentially expressed during the browning of fresh-cut luffa fruits (i.e., after 1-6 h). Moreover, 11 genes from five gene families (i.e., PPO, PAL, POD, CAT, and SOD) identified as potentially associated with enzymatic browning as well as four WRKY transcription factors were observed to be differentially regulated in fresh-cut luffa fruits. With the assistance of rapid amplification of cDNA ends technology, we obtained the full-length sequences of the 15 Unigenes. We also confirmed these Unigenes were expressed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. This study provides a comprehensive transcriptome sequence resource, and may facilitate further studies aimed at identifying genes affecting luffa fruit browning for the exploitation of the underlying mechanism.

The LuWD40-1 gene encoding WD repeat protein regulates growth and pollen viability in flax (Linum Usitatissimum L.).

PubMed

Kumar, Santosh; Jordan, Mark C; Datla, Raju; Cloutier, Sylvie

2013-01-01

As a crop, flax holds significant commercial value for its omega-3 rich oilseeds and stem fibres. Canada is the largest producer of linseed but there exists scope for significant yield improvements. Implementation of mechanisms such as male sterility can permit the development of hybrids to assist in achieving this goal. Temperature sensitive male sterility has been reported in flax but the leakiness of this system in field conditions limits the production of quality hybrid seeds. Here, we characterized a 2,588 bp transcript differentially expressed in male sterile lines of flax. The twelve intron gene predicted to encode a 368 amino acid protein has five WD40 repeats which, in silico, form a propeller structure with putative nucleic acid and histone binding capabilities. The LuWD40-1 protein localized to the nucleus and its expression increased during the transition and continued through the vegetative stages (seed, etiolated seedling, stem) while the transcript levels declined during reproductive development (ovary, anthers) and embryonic morphogenesis of male fertile plants. Knockout lines for LuWD40-1 in flax failed to develop shoots while overexpression lines showed delayed growth phenotype and were male sterile. The non-viable flowers failed to open and the pollen grains from these flowers were empty. Three independent transgenic lines overexpressing the LuWD40-1 gene had ∼80% non-viable pollen, reduced branching, delayed flowering and maturity compared to male fertile genotypes. The present study provides new insights into a male sterility mechanism present in flax.

A Community of Interests: NATO and the Military Assistance Program, 1948 - 1951,

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-01

the fiscal year 1950, estimating its cost to the United States and indicating its logistic implications. Military assistance for Greece, Turkey, Iran...could maintain during fiscal year 1949 without affecting the economies of the individual countries concerned. This chiefly required meeting deficiencies...additional funds during the fiscal year.85 The JCS expressed concern about the effect of the MAP upon U.S. military preparedness. Even after an intensive

Molar distalization with the assistance of Temporary Anchorage Devices.

PubMed

Palencar, Adrian J

2015-01-01

This article describes efficient techniques for distalization of maxillary and mandibular molars with the assistance of Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs). There are numerous occasions where the distalization of molars is required in lieu of the odontectomy of bicuspids. In the past, extra-oral force has been used, (i.e. Cervical or Combination Head Gear, or intra-oral force, i.e. Posterior Sagittal Appliance, Modified Greenfield Appliance, Williams DMJ 20001, CD Distalizer, Magill Sagittal, Pendulum Appliance, etc.). All the intra-oral appliances have a common denominator the orthodontic clinician has to deal with, the undesirable expression of the Third Law of Newton. The utilization of TADs allows us to circumvent this shortcoming, establishing an absolute anchorage, and thus completely negate the expression of the Third Law of Newton.

Hospice assist at home: does the integration of hospice care in primary healthcare support patients to die in their preferred location - A retrospective cross-sectional evaluation study.

PubMed

de Graaf, Everlien; Zweers, Daniëlle; Valkenburg, Anna Ch; Uyttewaal, Allegonda; Teunissen, Saskia Ccm

2016-06-01

A majority of patients prefer to die at home. Specialist palliative care aims to improve quality of life. Hospice assist at home is a Dutch model of general/specialised palliative care within primary care, collaboratively built by general practitioners and a hospice. The aims of this study are to explore whether hospice assist at home service enables patients at hometo express end-of-life preferences and die in their preferred location. In addition, this study provides insight into symptomburden, stability and early referral. A retrospective cross-sectional evaluation study was performed (December 2014-March 2015), using hospice assist at home patient records and documentation. Primary outcome includes congruence between preferred and actual place of death. Secondary outcomes include symptom burden, (in)stability and early identification. Between June 2012 and December 2014, 130 hospice assist at home patients, living at home with a life expectancy <1 year, were enrolled. Hospice assist at home, a collaboration between general practitioners, district nurses, trained volunteers and a hospice team, facilitates (1) general practitioner-initiated consultation by Nurse Consultant Hospice, (2) fortnightly interdisciplinary consultations and (3) 24/7 hospice backup for patients, caregivers and professionals. A total of 130 patients (62 (48%) men; mean age, 72 years) were enrolled, of whom 107/130 (82%) died and 5 dropped out. Preferred place of death was known for 101/107 (94%) patients of whom 91% patients died at their preferred place of death. Hospice assist at home service supports patients to die in their preferred place of death. Shared responsibility of proactive care in primary care collaboration enabled patients to express preferences. Hospice care should focus on local teamwork, to contribute to shared responsibilities in providing optimal palliative care. © The Author(s) 2016.

Can media advocacy influence newspaper coverage of tobacco: measuring the effectiveness of the American stop smoking intervention study's (ASSIST) media advocacy strategies

PubMed Central

Stillman, F.; Cronin, K.; Evans, W; Ulasevich, A.

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVE—To compare the rate and slant of local tobacco control print media coverage in ASSIST (American stop smoking intervention study) states as compared with non-ASSIST states.
METHODS—Local tobacco control policy articles, editorials, and letters to the editors published from 1994 to 1998 clipped from all daily local newspapers in the USA were analysed (n = 95 911). The main hypothesis tested for the existence of an interaction between ASSIST intervention and time. This interaction would represent a change in the difference between ASSIST and non-ASSIST states over the course of the intervention.
RESULTS—No evidence of an ASSIST-year interaction was found. However, a main effect for ASSIST was significant for the percentage of articles with the model predicting higher rates of articles for ASSIST states. Similarly the rate of letters to the editor expressing protobacco control views was higher in ASSIST states than non-ASSIST states. No main effects or interactions were found for analyses of percentage of protobacco control editorials. Models controlled for a measure of preintervention tobacco control conditions at baseline.
CONCLUSIONS—The presence of an ASSIST main effect should be interpreted with caution because of the quasi-experimental design and the lack of information on article rates before the ASSIST intervention. Nonetheless, these preliminary findings suggest some possible effects of the media advocacy activities of ASSIST when controlling for differences in states' initial tobacco control conditions.


Keywords: ASSIST; intervention study; media advocacy strategy PMID:11387534

Tcf3 and cell cycle factors contribute to butyrate resistance in colorectal cancer cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chiaro, Christopher, E-mail: cchiaro@tcmedc.org; Lazarova, Darina L., E-mail: dlazarova@tcmedc.org; Bordonaro, Michael, E-mail: mbordonaro@tcmedc.org

2012-11-09

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We investigate mechanisms responsible for butyrate resistance in colon cancer cells. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Tcf3 modulates butyrate's effects on Wnt activity and cell growth in resistant cells. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Tcf3 modulation of butyrate's effects differ by cell context. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Cell cycle factors are overexpressed in the resistant cells. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Reversal of altered gene expression can enhance the anti-cancer effects of butyrate. -- Abstract: Butyrate, a fermentation product of dietary fiber, inhibits clonal growth in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells dependent upon the fold induction of Wnt activity. We have developed a CRC cell line (HCT-R) that, unlike its parental cell line, HCT-116,more » does not respond to butyrate exposure with hyperactivation of Wnt signaling and suppressed clonal growth. PCR array analyses revealed Wnt pathway-related genes, the expression of which differs between butyrate-sensitive HCT-116 CRC cells and their butyrate-resistant HCT-R cell counterparts. We identified overexpression of Tcf3 as being partially responsible for the butyrate-resistant phenotype, as this DNA-binding protein suppresses the hyperinduction of Wnt activity by butyrate. Consequently, Tcf3 knockdown in HCT-R cells restores their sensitivity to the effects of butyrate on Wnt activity and clonal cell growth. Interestingly, the effects of overexpressed Tcf3 differ between HCT-116 and HCT-R cells; thus, in HCT-116 cells Tcf3 suppresses proliferation without rendering the cells resistant to butyrate. In HCT-R cells, however, the overexpression of Tcf3 inhibits Wnt activity, and the cells are still able to proliferate due to the higher expression levels of cell cycle factors, particularly those driving the G{sub 1} to S transition. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms determining the variable sensitivity of CRC cells to butyrate may assist in developing approaches that prevent or reverse butyrate resistance.« less

Adhesive Fiber Stratification in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Biofilms Unveils Oxygen-Mediated Control of Type 1 Pili

PubMed Central

Floyd, Kyle A.; Moore, Jessica L.; Eberly, Allison R.; Good, James A. D.; Shaffer, Carrie L.; Zaver, Himesh; Almqvist, Fredrik; Skaar, Eric P.; Caprioli, Richard M.; Hadjifrangiskou, Maria

2015-01-01

Bacterial biofilms account for a significant number of hospital-acquired infections and complicate treatment options, because bacteria within biofilms are generally more tolerant to antibiotic treatment. This resilience is attributed to transient bacterial subpopulations that arise in response to variations in the microenvironment surrounding the biofilm. Here, we probed the spatial proteome of surface-associated single-species biofilms formed by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the major causative agent of community-acquired and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. We used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to analyze the spatial proteome of intact biofilms in situ. MALDI-TOF IMS revealed protein species exhibiting distinct localizations within surface-associated UPEC biofilms, including two adhesive fibers critical for UPEC biofilm formation and virulence: type 1 pili (Fim) localized exclusively to the air-exposed region, while curli amyloid fibers localized to the air-liquid interface. Comparison of cells grown aerobically, fermentatively, or utilizing an alternative terminal electron acceptor showed that the phase-variable fim promoter switched to the “OFF” orientation under oxygen-deplete conditions, leading to marked reduction of type 1 pili on the bacterial cell surface. Conversely, S pili whose expression is inversely related to fim expression were up-regulated under anoxic conditions. Tethering the fim promoter in the “ON” orientation in anaerobically grown cells only restored type 1 pili production in the presence of an alternative terminal electron acceptor beyond oxygen. Together these data support the presence of at least two regulatory mechanisms controlling fim expression in response to oxygen availability and may contribute to the stratification of extracellular matrix components within the biofilm. MALDI IMS facilitated the discovery of these mechanisms, and we have demonstrated that this technology can be used to interrogate subpopulations within bacterial biofilms. PMID:25738819

Tractor Mechanic--Student Material. Competency Based Education Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCann, Edward W.

Developed to assist vocational agricultural mechanics students in learning to be tractor mechanics, this curriculum guide contains all the student competency sheets which comprise this competency-based curriculum. These competency sheets are categorized under sixteen instructional units. The first two units cover employment opportunities and…

29 CFR 778.6 - Effect of Davis-Bacon Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors performing construction activity on Federal and federally assisted projects. Laborers and mechanics performing work subject to such predetermined minimum... the Fair Labor Standards Act to such laborers and mechanics in any workweek when they are subject to...

29 CFR 778.6 - Effect of Davis-Bacon Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors performing construction activity on Federal and federally assisted projects. Laborers and mechanics performing work subject to such predetermined minimum... the Fair Labor Standards Act to such laborers and mechanics in any workweek when they are subject to...

29 CFR 778.6 - Effect of Davis-Bacon Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors performing construction activity on Federal and federally assisted projects. Laborers and mechanics performing work subject to such predetermined minimum... the Fair Labor Standards Act to such laborers and mechanics in any workweek when they are subject to...

29 CFR 778.6 - Effect of Davis-Bacon Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors performing construction activity on Federal and federally assisted projects. Laborers and mechanics performing work subject to such predetermined minimum... the Fair Labor Standards Act to such laborers and mechanics in any workweek when they are subject to...

29 CFR 778.6 - Effect of Davis-Bacon Act.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors performing construction activity on Federal and federally assisted projects. Laborers and mechanics performing work subject to such predetermined minimum... the Fair Labor Standards Act to such laborers and mechanics in any workweek when they are subject to...

Environment assisted degradation mechanisms in aluminum-lithium alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gangloff, Richard P.; Stoner, Glenn E.; Swanson, Robert E.

1988-01-01

Section 1 of this report records the progress achieved on NASA-LaRC Grant NAG-1-745 (Environment Assisted Degradation Mechanisms in Al-Li Alloys), and is based on research conducted during the period April 1 to November 30, 1987. A discussion of work proposed for the project's second year is included. Section 2 provides an overview of the need for research on the mechanisms of environmental-mechanical degradation of advanced aerospace alloys based on aluminum and lithium. This research is to provide NASA with the basis necessary to permit metallurgical optimization of alloy performance and engineering design with respect to damage tolerance, long term durability and reliability. Section 3 reports on damage localization mechanisms in aqueous chloride corrosion fatigue of aluminum-lithium alloys. Section 4 reports on progress made on measurements and mechanisms of localized aqueous corrosion in aluminum-lithium alloys. Section 5 provides a detailed technical proposal for research on environmental degradation of Al-Li alloys, and the effect of hydrogen in this.

Laser-assisted manufacturing of super-insulation materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhen; Zhang, Tao; Park, Byung Kyu; Lee, Woo Il; Hwang, David

2017-02-01

Being lightweight materials with good mechanical and thermal properties, hollow glass micro-particles (HGMPs) have been widely studied for multiple applications. In this study, it is shown that by using reduced binder fraction diluted in solvent, enables minimal contacts among the HGMPs assisted by a natural capillary trend, as confirmed by optical and electron microscope imaging. Such material architecture fabricated in a composite level proves to have enhanced thermal insulation performance through quantitative thermal conductivity measurement. Mechanical strength has also been evaluated in terms of particle-binder bonding by tensile test via in-situ microscope inspection. Effect of laser treatment was examined for further improvement of thermal and mechanical properties by selective binder removal and efficient redistribution of remaining binder components. The fabricated composite materials have potential applications to building insulation materials for their scalable manufacturing nature, improved thermal insulation performance and reasonable mechanical strength. Further studies are needed to understand mechanical and thermal properties of the resulting composites, and key fabrication mechanisms involved with laser treatment of complex multi-component and multi-phase systems.

Student perceptions and learning outcomes of computer-assisted versus traditional instruction in physiology.

PubMed

Richardson, D

1997-12-01

This study compared student perceptions and learning outcomes of computer-assisted instruction against those of traditional didactic lectures. Components of Quantitative Circulatory Physiology (Biological Simulators) and Mechanical Properties of Active Muscle (Trinity Software) were used to teach regulation of tissue blood flow and muscle mechanics, respectively, in the course Medical Physiology. These topics were each taught, in part, by 1) standard didactic lectures, 2) computer-assisted lectures, and 3) computer laboratory assignment. Subjective evaluation was derived from a questionnaire assessing student opinions of the effectiveness of each method. Objective evaluation consisted of comparing scores on examination questions generated from each method. On a 1-10 scale, effectiveness ratings were higher (P < 0.0001) for the didactic lectures (7.7) compared with either computer-assisted lecture (3.8) or computer laboratory (4.2) methods. A follow-up discussion with representatives from the class indicated that students did not perceive computer instruction as being time effective. However, examination scores from computer laboratory questions (94.3%) were significantly higher compared with ones from either computer-assisted (89.9%; P < 0.025) or didactic (86.6%; P < 0.001) lectures. Thus computer laboratory instruction enhanced learning outcomes in medical physiology despite student perceptions to the contrary.

Development of an assistive motorized hip orthosis: kinematics analysis and mechanical design.

PubMed

Olivier, Jeremy; Bouri, Mohamed; Ortlieb, Amalric; Bleuler, Hannes; Clavel, Reymond

2013-06-01

With the increase of life expectancy, a higher number of elderly need assistance to maintain their mobility and their independance. The hip joint is crucial for walking and is problematic for a large number of aged people. In this paper we present a novel design of a motorized hip orthosis to assist elderly people while walking, stair climbing and during the sit-to-stand transistions. The kinematics was developed based on biomechanics considerations. To be able to achieve a large assistance rate, velocity and torques of the hip joint were studied from the literature. In order to fit with these requirements, an amplification mechanism inspired by excavators was developed and implemented. Comfort considerations were also taken into account and a custom interface was designed with the collaboration of a professional orthopaedic technician. First tests with the prototype showed that the workspace is sufficient for walking, for stair climbing as well as for sit-to-stand transitions. The assistance rate can go up to 30% for a 70 kg subject during walking at a cadence of 100 steps/min. The comfort is guaranteed despite the important weight (4.3 kg) of this first prototype.

Gene expression analysis identifies new candidate genes associated with the development of black skin spots in Corriedale sheep.

PubMed

Peñagaricano, Francisco; Zorrilla, Pilar; Naya, Hugo; Robello, Carlos; Urioste, Jorge I

2012-02-01

The white coat colour of sheep is an important economic trait. For unknown reasons, some animals are born with, and others develop with time, black skin spots that can also produce pigmented fibres. The presence of pigmented fibres in the white wool significantly decreases the fibre quality. The aim of this work was to study gene expression in black spots (with and without pigmented fibres) and white skin by microarray techniques, in order to identify the possible genes involved in the development of this trait. Five unrelated Corriedale sheep were used and, for each animal, the three possible comparisons (three different hybridisations) between the three samples of interest were performed. Differential gene expression patterns were analysed using different t-test approaches. Most of the major genes with well-known roles in skin pigmentation, e.g. ASIP, MC1R and C-KIT, showed no significant difference in the gene expression between white skin and black spots. On the other hand, many of the differentially expressed genes (raw P-value < 0.005) detected in this study, e.g. C-FOS, KLF4 and UFC1, fulfil biological functions that are plausible to be involved in the formation of black spots. The gene expression of C-FOS and KLF4, transcription factors involved in the cellular response to external factors such as ultraviolet light, was validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This exploratory study provides a list of candidate genes that could be associated with the development of black skin spots that should be studied in more detail. Characterisation of these genes will enable us to discern the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of this feature and, hence, increase our understanding of melanocyte biology and skin pigmentation. In sheep, understanding this phenomenon is a first step towards developing molecular tools to assist in the selection against the presence of pigmented fibres in white wool.

24 CFR 585.313 - Labor standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... assistance is involved. However, where the trainees' performance of public and Indian housing work is subject... such laborers and mechanics on assisted housing shall be subject to the provisions of the Contract Work... and HUD rules, regulations and requirements. (2) The labor standards requirements in paragraph (b)(1...

Hypertrophic scar contracture is mediated by the TRPC3 mechanical force transducer via NFkB activation

PubMed Central

Ishise, Hisako; Larson, Barrett; Hirata, Yutaka; Fujiwara, Toshihiro; Nishimoto, Soh; Kubo, Tateki; Matsuda, Ken; Kanazawa, Shigeyuki; Sotsuka, Yohei; Fujita, Kazutoshi; Kakibuchi, Masao; Kawai, Kenichiro

2015-01-01

Wound healing process is a complex and highly orchestrated process that ultimately results in the formation of scar tissue. Hypertrophic scar contracture is considered to be a pathologic and exaggerated wound healing response that is known to be triggered by repetitive mechanical forces. We now show that Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) C3 regulates the expression of fibronectin, a key regulatory molecule involved in the wound healing process, in response to mechanical strain via the NFkB pathway. TRPC3 is highly expressed in human hypertrophic scar tissue and mechanical stimuli are known to upregulate TRPC3 expression in human skin fibroblasts in vitro. TRPC3 overexpressing fibroblasts subjected to repetitive stretching forces showed robust expression levels of fibronectin. Furthermore, mechanical stretching of TRPC3 overexpressing fibroblasts induced the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB), a regulator fibronectin expression, which was able to be attenuated by pharmacologic blockade of either TRPC3 or NFκB. Finally, transplantation of TRPC3 overexpressing fibroblasts into mice promoted wound contraction and increased fibronectin levels in vivo. These observations demonstrate that mechanical stretching drives fibronectin expression via the TRPC3-NFkB axis, leading to intractable wound contracture. This model explains how mechanical strain on cutaneous wounds might contribute to pathologic scarring. PMID:26108359

Immunopathogenesis in Myasthenia Gravis and Neuromyelitis Optica

PubMed Central

Wang, Zhen; Yan, Yaping

2017-01-01

Myasthenia gravis (MG) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are autoimmune channelopathies of the peripheral neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and central nervous system (CNS) that are mainly mediated by humoral immunity against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4), respectively. The diseases share some common features, including genetic predispositions, environmental factors, the breakdown of tolerance, the collaboration of T cells and B cells, imbalances in T helper 1 (Th1)/Th2/Th17/regulatory T cells, aberrant cytokine and antibody secretion, and complement system activation. However, some aspects of the immune mechanisms are unique. Both targets (AChR and AQP4) are expressed in the periphery and CNS, but MG mainly affects the NMJ in the periphery outside of CNS, whereas NMO preferentially involves the CNS. Inflammatory cells, including B cells and macrophages, often infiltrate the thymus but not the target—muscle in MG, whereas the infiltration of inflammatory cells, mainly polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages, in NMO, is always observed in the target organ—the spinal cord. A review of the common and discrepant characteristics of these two autoimmune channelopathies may expand our understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of both disorders and assist in the development of proper treatments in the future. PMID:29312313

The toxicological application of transcriptomics and epigenomics in zebrafish and other teleosts.

PubMed

Williams, Tim D; Mirbahai, Leda; Chipman, J Kevin

2014-03-01

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is one of a number of teleost fish species frequently employed in toxicology. Toxico-genomics determines global transcriptomic responses to chemical exposures and can predict their effects. It has been applied successfully within aquatic toxicology to assist in chemical testing, determination of mechanisms and environmental monitoring. Moreover, the related field of toxico-epigenomics, that determines chemical-induced changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications and micro-RNA expression, is emerging as a valuable contribution to understanding mechanisms of both adaptive and adverse responses. Zebrafish has proven a useful and convenient model species for both transcriptomic and epigenetic toxicological studies. Despite zebrafish's dominance in other areas of fish biology, alternative fish species are used extensively in toxico-genomics. The main reason for this is that environmental monitoring generally focuses on species native to the region of interest. We are starting to see advances in the integration of high-throughput screening, omics techniques and bioinformatics together with more traditional indicator endpoints that are relevant to regulators. Integration of such approaches with high-throughput testing of zebrafish embryos, leading to the discovery of adverse outcome pathways, promises to make a major contribution to ensuring the safety of chemicals in the environment.

Exclusivity structures and graph representatives of local complementation orbits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabello, Adán; Parker, Matthew G.; Scarpa, Giannicola; Severini, Simone

2013-07-01

We describe a construction that maps any connected graph G on three or more vertices into a larger graph, H(G), whose independence number is strictly smaller than its Lovász number which is equal to its fractional packing number. The vertices of H(G) represent all possible events consistent with the stabilizer group of the graph state associated with G, and exclusive events are adjacent. Mathematically, the graph H(G) corresponds to the orbit of G under local complementation. Physically, the construction translates into graph-theoretic terms the connection between a graph state and a Bell inequality maximally violated by quantum mechanics. In the context of zero-error information theory, the construction suggests a protocol achieving the maximum rate of entanglement-assisted capacity, a quantum mechanical analogue of the Shannon capacity, for each H(G). The violation of the Bell inequality is expressed by the one-shot version of this capacity being strictly larger than the independence number. Finally, given the correspondence between graphs and exclusivity structures, we are able to compute the independence number for certain infinite families of graphs with the use of quantum non-locality, therefore highlighting an application of quantum theory in the proof of a purely combinatorial statement.

Microbiology neutralization of zearalenone using Lactococcus lactis and Bifidobacterium sp.

PubMed

Król, A; Pomastowski, P; Rafińska, K; Railean-Plugaru, V; Walczak, J; Buszewski, B

2018-01-01

The aim of the study was to neutralize zearalenone by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) such as Lactococcus lactis and Bifidobacterium sp. and investigate the mechanism of zearalenone (ZEA) binding. Neutralization of ZEA by LAB was confirmed by identification of binding kinetics and spectroscopic studies such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The obtained results showed that the kinetic process of zearalenone binding to L. lactis is not homogeneous but is expressed with an initial rapid stage with about 90% of ZEA biosorption and with a much slower second step. In case of Bifidobacterium sp., the neutralization process is homogeneous; the main stage can be described with about 88% of ZEA biosorption. MALDI-TOF-MS measurements and FTIR analysis confirmed the uptake of zearalenone molecules by bacterial species. Moreover, the assessment of dead and live lactic acid bacteria cells after zearalenone treatment was performed using fluorescence microscopy. Graphical abstract Microbiology neutralization of zearalenone using Lactococcus lactis and Bifidobacterium sp. was confirmed by identification of binding kinetics and spectroscopic studies such as FT-IR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF-MS spectrometry. The mechanism of ZEA binding was also investigated.

Impact of Morphological Changes on the Motility of Amoeba proteus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shroff N, Sunitha

2016-11-01

Bio-mechanical properties of cell membrane, actin and cytoskeleton have influence on the cell locomotion. To explore, morphological changes were induced in Amoeba proteus by depriving nutrition, also either through ATP mediated or through KCl mediated membrane depolarization. We observed that, membrane depolarization leads to complete loss/reduction of pseudopodia in a dose dependent manner, gradually A. proteus becomes globular. We also report that with depravation of its nutrition (Chilomonas) A. proteus transforms them into tube/filament like structure and this transformation is reversible with the supply of Chilomonas. Results indicate that the structural and locomotion variation of A. proteus through nucleotides may not be just a membrane phenomenon, but may involve signaling mechanisms. Further, we carried out immunostaining of A. proteus with P2X2 and P2Y2 antibodies to analyze their localization and the extent of expression. The result indicated that in normal A. proteus receptors are dispersed uniformly, whereas in filament shaped A. proteus P2X2-receptor was found to be localized, unlike P2Y2 receptor. As nucleotides are known to cause structural changes in the organism, we report corresponding changes in their locomotion. Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology. Mount Carmel College, Bangalore 560 052.

Deficient BIM Expression as a Mechanism of Intrinsic and Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapies in EGFR-Mutant and ALK-Positive Lung Cancers

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-08-01

AWARD NUMBER: W81XWH-13-1-0227 TITLE: Deficient BIM Expression as a Mechanism of Intrinsic and...1Aug2013-31July2014 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Deficient BIM Expression as a Mechanism of Intrinsic and Acquired Resistance to 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER...clinic. We had not had this capability when we applied for this award. We can now use these clinically relevant models to assess the expression of BIM

Evaluation of Inhaled Procaterol for Potential Assist Use in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

PubMed

Kodaka, Norio; Yamagishi, Toru; Watanabe, Kayo; Kishimoto, Kumiko; Nakano, Chihiro; Oshio, Takeshi; Niitsuma, Kumiko; Shimada, Nagashige; Matsuse, Hiroto

2018-05-17

International guidelines recommend the use of long-acting bronchodilators for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the usefulness of short-acting bronchodilator assist use for stable COPD remains uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to objectively demonstrate the effects of assist use of procaterol, a short-acting -agonist, on the respiratory mechanics of stable COPD patients treated with a long-acting bronchodilator using forced oscillation technique (FOT) and conventional spirometry. We also confirmed the length of time for which procaterol assist could significantly improve pulmonary function. We enrolled 28 outpatients with mild to severe COPD (GOLD stages I-III), who had used the same long-acting bronchodilator for longer than 3 months and who were in stable condition. All measures were performed using both FOT and spirometry sequentially from 15 min to 2 h after inhalation. Compared to baseline, inhaled procaterol assist use modestly but significantly improved spirometric and FOT measurements within 2 h after inhalation. These significant effects continued for at least 2 h. Significant correlations were found between parameters measured by spirometry and those measured by FOT. Procaterol assist use modestly but significantly improved pulmonary function determined by spirometry and respiratory mechanics in patients with stable COPD treated with long-acting bronchodilators. Thus, inhaled procaterol has potential for assist use for COPD. ©2018The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Mechanoluminescence assisting agile optimization of processing design on surgical epiphysis plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terasaki, Nao; Toyomasu, Takashi; Sonohata, Motoki

2018-04-01

We propose a novel method for agile optimization of processing design by visualization of mechanoluminescence. To demonstrate the effect of the new method, epiphysis plates were processed to form dots (diameters: 1 and 1.5 mm) and the mechanical information was evaluated. As a result, the appearance of new strain concentration was successfully visualized on the basis of mechanoluminescence, and complex mechanical information was instinctively understood by surgeons as the designers. In addition, it was clarified by mechanoluminescence analysis that small dots do not have serious mechanical effects such as strength reduction. Such detail mechanical information evaluated on the basis of mechanoluminescence was successfully applied to the judgement of the validity of the processing design. This clearly proves the effectiveness of the new methodology using mechanoluminescence for assisting agile optimization of the processing design.

The response of Isidorella newcombi to copper exposure: Using an integrated biological framework to interpret transcriptomic responses from RNA-seq analysis.

PubMed

Ubrihien, Rodney P; Ezaz, Tariq; Taylor, Anne M; Stevens, Mark M; Krikowa, Frank; Foster, Simon; Maher, William A

2017-04-01

This study describes the transcriptomic response of the Australian endemic freshwater gastropod Isidorella newcombi exposed to 80±1μg/L of copper for 3days. Analysis of copper tissue concentration, lysosomal membrane destabilisation and RNA-seq were conducted. Copper tissue concentrations confirmed that copper was bioaccumulated by the snails. Increased lysosomal membrane destabilisation in the copper-exposed snails indicated that the snails were stressed as a result of the exposure. Both copper tissue concentrations and lysosomal destabilisation were significantly greater in snails exposed to copper. In order to interpret the RNA-seq data from an ecotoxicological perspective an integrated biological response model was developed that grouped transcriptomic responses into those associated with copper transport and storage, survival mechanisms and cell death. A conceptual model of expected transcriptomic changes resulting from the copper exposure was developed as a basis to assess transcriptomic responses. Transcriptomic changes were evident at all the three levels of the integrated biological response model. Despite lacking statistical significance, increased expression of the gene encoding copper transporting ATPase provided an indication of increased internal transport of copper. Increased expression of genes associated with endocytosis are associated with increased transport of copper to the lysosome for storage in a detoxified form. Survival mechanisms included metabolic depression and processes associated with cellular repair and recycling. There was transcriptomic evidence of increased cell death by apoptosis in the copper-exposed organisms. Increased apoptosis is supported by the increase in lysosomal membrane destabilisation in the copper-exposed snails. Transcriptomic changes relating to apoptosis, phagocytosis, protein degradation and the lysosome were evident and these processes can be linked to the degradation of post-apoptotic debris. The study identified contaminant specific transcriptomic markers as well as markers of general stress. From an ecotoxicological perspective, the use of a framework to group transcriptomic responses into those associated with copper transport, survival and cell death assisted with the complex process of interpretation of RNA-seq data. The broad adoption of such a framework in ecotoxicology studies would assist in comparison between studies and the identification of reliable transcriptomic markers of contaminant exposure and response. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Advantage and choice: social relationships and staff assistance in assisted living.

PubMed

Burge, Stephanie; Street, Debra

2010-05-01

OBJECTIVES. To understand how "cumulative inequality" (CI), expressed as individual advantage and choice, and "external social supports" contribute to the quality of social relationships and perceptions of staff assistance for older individuals in different assisted living (AL) settings. Data are from 429 cognitively intact AL residents aged 60 years and older interviewed for the Florida Study of Assisted Living. Bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses show how individual advantage and choice and external social networks influence respondents' social relationships and staff assistance in AL. Controlling for resident and facility characteristics, being able to pay privately enhances resident satisfaction with staff assistance and having control over the move to AL is positively associated with perceptions of staff relationships and assistance. Maintaining contact with pre-AL friends predicts quality of coresident relationships, as does family contact. Regular contact with family buffers some of the disadvantages associated with CI for perceptions of staff relationships but not perceptions of staff assistance. Discussion. Individual advantage and choice influence the quality of staff relationships and assistance for AL residents but matter little for coresident relationships. External social relationships buffer some of the risks associated with CI for perceptions of staff relationships but not perceived quality of staff assistance. Findings highlight outcomes associated with CI, including predictable risks that disadvantaged elders face in particular types of AL settings, differential advantages others enjoy that influence positive perceptions of staff relationships and staff assistance, and the enduring importance of supportive social relationships.

Endometrial IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, mRNA expression in mares resistant or susceptible to post-breeding endometritis. Effects of estrous cycle, artificial insemination and immunomodulation.

PubMed

Fumuso, Elida; Giguère, Steeve; Wade, José; Rogan, Dragan; Videla-Dorna, Ignacio; Bowden, Raúl A

2003-11-15

Endometrial mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was assessed in mares resistant (RM) or susceptible (SM) to persistent post-breeding endometritis (PPBE). Eight RM and eight SM, were selected based on reproductive records and functional tests out of a herd of 2,000 light cross-type mares. Three experiments were done to study transcription patterns in (i) basal conditions; (ii) after artificial insemination (AI); and (iii) after administration of an immunomodulator at time of artificial insemination. Endometrial biopsies were taken during consecutive cycles: (i) at estrus, when follicles reached 35 mm and at diestrus (7 +/- 1 days after ovulation); (ii) at 24 h post-AI, with dead semen (estrus) and in diestrus; (iii) at 24 h after treatment with a Mycobacterium phlei cell-wall extract (MCWE) preparation and AI (with dead semen), and at diestrus. mRNA expression was quantitated by real time PCR. Under basal conditions, SM had significantly higher mRNA expression of all cytokines in estrus and of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in diestrus, compared to RM. After AI, there were no differences between RM and SM in estrus; however, mRNA expression for all three pro-inflammatory cytokines was higher than under basal conditions. In diestrus, RM showed significantly lower IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNA expression than SM. When MCWE was administered at time of AI, no differences between cytokine induction from RM and SM were found. Globally, mRNA expression for all three cytokines correlated well among themselves when expression was high. The present study showed that (i) in basal conditions RM had lower mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines than SM with no effect of estrous cycle; (ii) AI upregulated mRNA expression for all three cytokines in both RM and SM, with persistance in diestrus in the latter; (iii) treatment with MCWE at time of AI down-regulated mRNA expression of IL-1 with significant effects in SM which behaved like RM. Immunomodulation with MCWE could be of help in restoring homeostatic local inflammatory mechanisms, thus assisting in the prophylaxis of post-breeding endometritis in mares.

Gasoline Engine Mechanics. Florida Vocational Program Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

University of South Florida, Tampa. Dept. of Adult and Vocational Education.

This vocational program guide is intended to assist in the organization, operation, and evaluation of a program in gasoline engine mechanics in school districts, area vocational centers, and community colleges. The following topics are covered: job duties of small-engine mechanics; program content (curriculum framework and student performance…

Perceived Status and Direction of Agricultural Mechanization Training Programs by Instructors in Nigerian Schools of Agriculture.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ede, Christian C.

1987-01-01

This survey of 24 instructors of agricultural power and machinery attempted to determine (1) the status of agricultural mechanics programs for agricultural assistants in Nigerian schools of agriculture and (2) the possible future orientation of agricultural mechanics programs. (CH)

Microwave-Assisted Ignition for Improved Internal Combustion Engine Efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeFilippo, Anthony Cesar

The ever-present need for reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation motivates this investigation of a novel ignition technology for internal combustion engine applications. Advanced engines can achieve higher efficiencies and reduced emissions by operating in regimes with diluted fuel-air mixtures and higher compression ratios, but the range of stable engine operation is constrained by combustion initiation and flame propagation when dilution levels are high. An advanced ignition technology that reliably extends the operating range of internal combustion engines will aid practical implementation of the next generation of high-efficiency engines. This dissertation contributes to next-generation ignition technology advancement by experimentally analyzing a prototype technology as well as developing a numerical model for the chemical processes governing microwave-assisted ignition. The microwave-assisted spark plug under development by Imagineering, Inc. of Japan has previously been shown to expand the stable operating range of gasoline-fueled engines through plasma-assisted combustion, but the factors limiting its operation were not well characterized. The present experimental study has two main goals. The first goal is to investigate the capability of the microwave-assisted spark plug towards expanding the stable operating range of wet-ethanol-fueled engines. The stability range is investigated by examining the coefficient of variation of indicated mean effective pressure as a metric for instability, and indicated specific ethanol consumption as a metric for efficiency. The second goal is to examine the factors affecting the extent to which microwaves enhance ignition processes. The factors impacting microwave enhancement of ignition processes are individually examined, using flame development behavior as a key metric in determining microwave effectiveness. Further development of practical combustion applications implementing microwave-assisted spark technology will benefit from predictive models which include the plasma processes governing the observed combustion enhancement. This dissertation documents the development of a chemical kinetic mechanism for the plasma-assisted combustion processes relevant to microwave-assisted spark ignition. The mechanism includes an existing mechanism for gas-phase methane oxidation, supplemented with electron impact reactions, cation and anion chemical reactions, and reactions involving vibrationally-excited and electronically-excited species. Calculations using the presently-developed numerical model explain experimentally-observed trends, highlighting the relative importance of pressure, temperature, and mixture composition in determining the effectiveness of microwave-assisted ignition enhancement.

Percutaneous Repair of Postoperative Mitral Regurgitation After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implant.

PubMed

Cork, David P; Adamson, Robert; Gollapudi, Raghava; Dembitsky, Walter; Jaski, Brian

2018-02-01

Mitral regurgitation commonly improves after implantation of a left ventricular assist device without concomitant valvular repair owing to the mechanical unloading of the left ventricle. However, the development (or persistence) of significant mitral regurgitation after implantation of a left ventricular assist device is associated with adverse clinical events. We present a case of a left ventricular assist device patient who successfully underwent a percutaneous MitraClip procedure for repair of persistent late postoperative mitral insufficiency with demonstrable clinical and hemodynamic improvement. Copyright © 2018 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparative biomarker expression and RNA integrity in biospecimens derived from radical retropubic and robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomies.

PubMed

Ricciardelli, Carmela; Bianco-Miotto, Tina; Jindal, Shalini; Dodd, Thomas J; Cohen, Penelope A; Marshall, Villis R; Sutherland, Peter D; Samaratunga, Hemamali; Kench, James G; Dong, Ying; Wang, Hong; Clements, Judith A; Risbridger, Gail P; Sutherland, Robert L; Tilley, Wayne D; Horsfall, David J

2010-07-01

Knowledge of preanalytic conditions that biospecimens are subjected to is critically important because novel surgical procedures, tissue sampling, handling, and storage might affect biomarker expression or invalidate tissue samples as analytes for some technologies. We investigated differences in RNA quality, gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR, and immunoreactive protein expression of selected prostate cancer biomarkers between tissues from retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) and robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Sections of tissue microarray of 23 RALP and 22 RRP samples were stained with antibodies to androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as intersite controls, and 14 other candidate biomarkers of research interest to three laboratories within the Australian Prostate Cancer BioResource tissue banking network. Quantitative real-time PCR was done for AR, PSA (KLK3), KLK2, KLK4, and HIF1A on RNA extracted from five RALP and five RRP frozen tissue cores. No histologic differences were observed between RALP and RRP tissue. Biomarker staining grouped these samples into those with increased (PSA, CK8/18, CKHMW, KLK4), decreased (KLK2, KLK14), or no change in expression (AR, ghrelin, Ki67, PCNA, VEGF-C, PAR2, YB1, p63, versican, and chondroitin 0-sulfate) in RALP compared with RRP tissue. No difference in RNA quality or gene expression was detected between RALP and RRP tissue. Changes in biomarker expression between RALP and RRP tissue exist at the immunoreactive protein level, but the etiology is unclear. Future studies should account for changes in biomarker expression when using RALP tissues, and mixed cohorts of RALP and RRP tissue should be avoided.

Vital Defenses: Social Support Appraisals of Black Grandmothers Parenting Grandchildren

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stevenson, Michelle L.; Henderson, Tammy L.; Baugh, Eboni

2007-01-01

Guided by the conceptual frameworks of social support appraisal mechanisms and cultural variant perspectives, the reported experiences of 23 Black grandmothers parenting grandchildren who receive cash assistance under the current welfare program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), were used to integrate macro- and micro-level…

Illinois Occupational Skill Standards: Dental Assistant.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois Occupational Skill Standards and Credentialing Council, Carbondale.

These Illinois skill standards for dental assistant are intended to serve as a guide to workforce preparation program providers as they define content for their programs and to employers as the establish the skills and standards necessary for job acquisition. They could also serve as a mechanism for communication among education, business,…

The Chinese Government Scholarship Program: An Effective Form of Foreign Assistance?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dong, Lili; Chapman, David W.

2008-01-01

This study investigates the effectiveness of Chinese international education assistance through an examination of student experience in the Chinese Government Scholarship Program, an important mechanism of Chinese foreign aid. Grounded in Pascarella's (1985) model of the impact of college on students, the study investigates participants' level of…

Age-associated reduction of cellular spreading/mechanical force up-regulates matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression and collagen fibril fragmentation via c-Jun/AP-1 in human dermal fibroblasts.

PubMed

Qin, Zhaoping; Voorhees, John J; Fisher, Gary J; Quan, Taihao

2014-12-01

The dermal compartment of human skin is largely composed of dense collagen-rich fibrils, which provide structural and mechanical support. Skin dermal fibroblasts, the major collagen-producing cells, are interact with collagen fibrils to maintain cell spreading and mechanical force for function. A characteristic feature of aged human skin is fragmentation of collagen fibrils, which is initiated by matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1). Fragmentation impairs fibroblast attachment and thereby reduces spreading. Here, we investigated the relationship among fibroblast spreading, mechanical force, MMP-1 expression, and collagen fibril fragmentation. Reduced fibroblast spreading due to cytoskeletal disruption was associated with reduced cellular mechanical force, as determined by atomic force microscopy. These reductions substantially induced MMP-1 expression, which led to collagen fibril fragmentation and disorganization in three-dimensional collagen lattices. Constraining fibroblast size by culturing on slides coated with collagen micropatterns also significantly induced MMP-1 expression. Reduced spreading/mechanical force induced transcription factor c-Jun and its binding to a canonical AP-1 binding site in the MMP-1 proximal promoter. Blocking c-Jun function with dominant negative mutant c-Jun significantly reduced induction of MMP-1 expression in response to reduced spreading/mechanical force. Furthermore, restoration of fibroblast spreading/mechanical force led to decline of c-Jun and MMP-1 levels and eliminated collagen fibril fragmentation and disorganization. These data reveal a novel mechanism by which alteration of fibroblast shape/mechanical force regulates c-Jun/AP-1-dependent expression of MMP-1 and consequent collagen fibril fragmentation. This mechanism provides a foundation for understanding the cellular and molecular basis of age-related collagen fragmentation in human skin. © 2014 The Authors. Aging Cell published by the Anatomical Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Proteomic analysis of muscle between hybrid abalone and parental lines Haliotis gigantea Reeve and Haliotis discus hannai Ino

PubMed Central

Di, G; Luo, X; You, W; Zhao, J; Kong, X; Ke, C

2015-01-01

To understand the potential molecular mechanism of heterosis, protein expression patterns were compared from hybrids of Haliotis gigantea (G) and Haliotis discus hannai (D) using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight analyses. Expression differences were observed in muscle samples from the four groups with 673±21.0 stained spots for H. discus hannai ♀ × H. discus hannai ♂ (DD), 692±25.6 for H. gigantea ♀ × H. gigantea ♂ (GG), 679±16.2 for H. discus hannai ♀ × H. gigantea ♂ (DG) (F1 hybrid) and 700±19 for H. gigantea ♀ × H. discus hannai ♂ (GD) (F1 hybrid). Different 2-DE image muscle protein spots had a mirrored relationship between purebreds and the F1 hybrid, suggesting that all stained spots in F1 hybrid muscle were on 2-DEs from parents. DD and DG clustered together first, and then clustered with GD, whereas the distance of DD and GG was maximal according to hierarchical cluster analysis. We identified 136 differentially expressed protein spots involved in major biological processes, including energy metabolism and stress response. Most energy metabolism proteins were additive, and stress-induced proteins displayed additivity or over-dominance. In these 136 identified protein spots, hybrid offspring with additivity or over-dominance accounted for 68.38%. Data show that a proteomic approach can provide functional prediction of abalone interspecific hybridization. PMID:25669609

Highly Tissue Substructure-Specific Effects of Human Papilloma Virus in Mucosa of HIV-Infected Patients Revealed by Laser-Dissection Microscopy-Assisted Gene Expression Profiling

PubMed Central

Baumgarth, Nicole; Szubin, Richard; Dolganov, Greg M.; Watnik, Mitchell R.; Greenspan, Deborah; Da Costa, Maria; Palefsky, Joel M.; Jordan, Richard; Roederer, Mario; Greenspan, John S.

2004-01-01

Human papilloma virus (HPV) causes focal infections of epithelial layers in skin and mucosa. HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) appear to be at increased risk of developing HPV-induced oral warts. To identify the mechanisms that allow long-term infection of oral epithelial cells in these patients, we used a combination of laser-dissection microscopy (LDM) and highly sensitive and quantitative, non-biased, two-step multiplex real-time RT-PCR to study pathogen-induced alterations of specific tissue subcompartments. Expression of 166 genes was compared in three distinct epithelial and subepithelial compartments isolated from biopsies of normal mucosa from HIV-infected and non-infected patients and of HPV32-induced oral warts from HIV-infected patients. In contrast to the underlying HIV infection and/or HAART, which did not significantly elaborate tissue substructure-specific effects, changes in oral warts were strongly tissue substructure-specific. HPV 32 seems to establish infection by selectively enhancing epithelial cell growth and differentiation in the stratum spinosum and to evade the immune system by actively suppressing inflammatory responses in adjacent underlying tissues. With this highly sensitive and quantitative method tissue-specific expression of hundreds of genes can be studied simultaneously in a few cells. Because of its large dynamic measurement range it could also become a method of choice to confirm and better quantify results obtained by microarray analysis. PMID:15331396

Fusion-Related Host Proteins Are Actively Regulated by NA during Influenza Infection as Revealed by Quantitative Proteomics Analysis

PubMed Central

Sui, Zhiwei; Wen, Bo; Gao, Zhimin; Chen, Quanjiao

2014-01-01

Three recombinant influenza A viruses with different neuraminidases (NAs) in the background of A/PR/8/34 (PR8), named rPR8-H5N1NA, rPR8-H9N2NA, and rPR8-H1N1NA, derived from H5N1, H9N2, H1N1 (swine) viruses, respectively, were constructed. We performed a quantitative proteomics analysis to investigate differential protein expression in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells infected with recombinant and wild-type influenza viruses to determine whether NA replacement would alter host cell gene expression. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF MS) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), we identified 12 up-regulated and 49 down-regulated protein spots, including cytoskeletal proteins, molecular biosynthesis proteins, ubiquitin-proteasome pathway proteins, and heat shock proteins. The most significant changes in infected cells were observed for molecular biosynthesis proteins. We found more differentially expressed protein spots in cells infected with rPR8-H5N1NA or rPR8-H9N2NA viruses than cells infected with wild-type virus. Many of those proteins are postulated to be involved in cell-cell fusion, but the full mechanism remains to be explored. Meanwhile, our data demonstrate that the wild-type virus has evolutionary advantages over recombinant viruses. PMID:25153908

A novel two-step ultrasound post-assisted lye peeling regime for tomatoes: Reducing pollution while improving product yield and quality.

PubMed

Gao, Ruiping; Ye, Fayin; Lu, Zhiqiang; Wang, Jiajia; Li Shen, Xiao; Zhao, Guohua

2018-07-01

In this paper, the effects and mechanisms of a novel two-step tomato peeling method, hot lye with a post-assistance of ultrasound, were investigated. The present work aims to improve the environmental friendliness of the conventional hot lye tomato peeling method (10% w/v, 97 °C, 45 s). The results showed that 4% (w/v) lye treatment at 97 °C for 30 s with a post-assistance of a 31.97 W/L ultrasound treatment at 70 °C for 50 s achieved a 100% peelability. In this scenario, the peeling yield and lycopene content in the peeled product were significantly higher than the peeling yield and lycopene content with the conventional hot lye peeling method. The present two-step peeling method was concluded with a mechanism of chemico-mechanical synergism, in which the hot lye functions mainly in a chemical way while the ultrasound is a mechanical process. Especially from the lye side, this work first demonstrated that the lye penetrated across the tomato skin via a pitting model rather than evenly. The findings reported in this paper not only provide a novel tomato peeling method with significant environmental benefits but also discover new clues to the peeling mechanism using hot lye. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Proteomic data from human cell cultures refine mechanisms of chaperone-mediated protein homeostasis.

PubMed

Finka, Andrija; Goloubinoff, Pierre

2013-09-01

In the crowded environment of human cells, folding of nascent polypeptides and refolding of stress-unfolded proteins is error prone. Accumulation of cytotoxic misfolded and aggregated species may cause cell death, tissue loss, degenerative conformational diseases, and aging. Nevertheless, young cells effectively express a network of molecular chaperones and folding enzymes, termed here "the chaperome," which can prevent formation of potentially harmful misfolded protein conformers and use the energy of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to rehabilitate already formed toxic aggregates into native functional proteins. In an attempt to extend knowledge of chaperome mechanisms in cellular proteostasis, we performed a meta-analysis of human chaperome using high-throughput proteomic data from 11 immortalized human cell lines. Chaperome polypeptides were about 10% of total protein mass of human cells, half of which were Hsp90s and Hsp70s. Knowledge of cellular concentrations and ratios among chaperome polypeptides provided a novel basis to understand mechanisms by which the Hsp60, Hsp70, Hsp90, and small heat shock proteins (HSPs), in collaboration with cochaperones and folding enzymes, assist de novo protein folding, import polypeptides into organelles, unfold stress-destabilized toxic conformers, and control the conformal activity of native proteins in the crowded environment of the cell. Proteomic data also provided means to distinguish between stable components of chaperone core machineries and dynamic regulatory cochaperones.

Wash and Wean: Bathing Patients Undergoing Weaning Trials During Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

PubMed Central

Happ, Mary Beth; Tate, Judith A.; Swigart, Valerie A.; DiVirgilio-Thomas, Dana; Hoffman, Leslie A.

2010-01-01

BACKGROUND Bathing is a fundamental nursing care activity performed for or with the self-assistance of critically ill patients. Few studies address caregiver and/or patient-family perspectives about bathing activity during weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation. OBJECTIVE To describe practices and beliefs about bathing patients during weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). METHODS Secondary analysis of qualitative data (observational field notes, interviews, and clinical record review) from a larger ethnographic study involving 30 patients weaning from PMV and the clinicians who cared for them using basic qualitative description. RESULTS Bathing, hygiene, and personal care were highly valued and equated with “good” nursing care by families and nurses. Nurses and respiratory therapists reported “working around” bath time and promoted conducting weaning trials before or after bathing. Patients were nevertheless bathed during weaning trials despite clinicians expressed concerns for energy conservation. Clinicians’ recognized individual patient response to bathing during PMV weaning trials. CONCLUSION Bathing is a central care activity for PMV patients and a component of daily work processes in the ICU. Bathing requires assessment of patient condition and activity tolerance and nurse-respiratory therapist negotiation and accommodation with respect to the initiation and/or continuation of PMV weaning trials during bathing. Further study is needed to validate the impact (or lack of impact) of various timing strategies for bathing PMV patients. PMID:20561877

Probing Mechanisms of Axonopathy. Part II: Protein Targets of 2,5-Hexanedione, the Neurotoxic Metabolite of the Aliphatic Solvent n-Hexane

PubMed Central

Tshala-Katumbay, Desire; Monterroso, Victor; Kayton, Robert; Lasarev, Michael; Sabri, Mohammad; Spencer, Peter

2009-01-01

Neuroprotein changes in the spinal cord of rodents with aliphatic γ-diketone axonopathy induced by 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) are compared with those reported previously in aromatic γ-diketone–like axonopathy induced by 1,2-diacetylbenzene (1,2-DAB). Sprague-Dawley rats were treated intraperitoneally with 500 mg/kg/day 2,5-HD, equimolar doses of 2,3-hexanedione (negative control), or an equivalent amount of saline containing 50% dimethyl sulfoxide (vehicle), 5 days a week, for 3 weeks. Analysis of the lumbosacral proteome by 2-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/tandem mass spectrometry revealed 34 proteins markedly modified by 2,5-HD of which neurofilament triplet L, gelsolin, protein disulfide isomerase, glutathione S-transferase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced) dehydrogenase 1α, pyruvate kinase, and fatty acid synthase were also modified by 1,2-DAB. The expression of proteins involved in maintaining the physical integrity of the cytoskeleton or controlling the redox and protein-folding mechanisms was reduced, whereas that of proteins supporting energy metabolism was mainly increased. The similarity of the neuroproteomic patterns of 2,5-HD and 1,2-DAB axonopathy suggests common biomarkers and/or mechanisms of neurotoxicity associated with exposure to their parent chemicals, namely the industrial solvents n-hexane and 1,2-diethylbenzene, respectively. PMID:19033394

Application of microfluidic technologies to human assisted reproduction.

PubMed

Smith, Gary D; Takayama, Shuichi

2017-04-01

Microfluidics can be considered both a science and a technology. It is defined as the study of fluid behavior at a sub-microliter level and the investigation into its application to cell biology, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology and medicine. There are at least two characteristics of microfluidics, mechanical and biochemical, which can be influential in the field of mammalian gamete and preimplantation embryo biology. These microfluidic characteristics can assist in basic biological studies on sperm, oocyte and preimplantation embryo structure, function and environment. The mechanical and biochemical characteristics of microfluidics may also have practical and/or technical application(s) to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in rodents, domestic species, endangered species and humans. This review will consider data in mammals, and when available humans, addressing the potential application(s) of microfluidics to assisted reproduction. There are numerous sequential steps in the clinical assisted reproductive laboratory process that work, yet could be improved. Cause and effect relations of procedural inefficiencies can be difficult to identify and/or remedy. Data will be presented that consider microfluidic applications to sperm isolation, oocyte cumulus complex isolation, oocyte denuding, oocyte mechanical manipulation, conventional insemination, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo culture, embryo analysis and oocyte and embryo cryopreservation. While these studies have progressed in animal models, data with human gametes and embryos are significantly lacking. These data from clinical trials are requisite for making future evidence-based decisions regarding the application of microfluidics in human ART. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved.For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Personal care assistants' experiences of caring for people on home mechanical ventilation.

PubMed

Israelsson-Skogsberg, Åsa; Lindahl, Berit

2017-03-01

The aim of this study was to describe personal care assistants' (PCA) experiences of working with a ventilator-assisted person at home. Data were collected from fifteen audiotaped semistructured interviews with PCAs supporting a child or adult using home mechanical ventilation (HMV). Thirteen women and two men participated; their working experience with HMV users ranged from one to 17 years (median 6 years). Data were subjected to qualitative content analysis in an inductive and interpretive manner. Five categories emerged from the data: Being part of a complex work situation; Taking on a multidimensional responsibility; Caring carried out in someone's home; Creating boundaries in an environment with indistinct limits; and Being close to another's body and soul. The participants felt very close to the person they worked with, both physically and emotionally. They had a great responsibility and therefore a commensurate need for support, guidance and a well-functioning organisation around the HMV user. There is international consensus that advanced home care will continue to expand and personal care assistance is key in this development. We suggest that one way to move forward for PCAs working with HMV users is to create multiprofessional teams led by a key-person who coordinates the individual needs. More research is needed within this area from a broad perspective including the HMV-assisted persons, relatives, personal care assistants and management organisations. © 2016 Nordic College of Caring Science.

RDT quarterly : vol. 3, no. 3.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-01-01

The Missouri Transportation Bulletin is published by the Technology Transfer Assistance Program of the Missouri Department of Transportation, Jefferson City, Missouri. The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in thisBulletin are not necess...

RDT quarterly : vol. 3, no. 2.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-01-01

The Missouri Transportation Bulletin is published by the Technology Transfer Assistance Program of the Missouri Department of Transportation, : Jefferson City, Missouri. The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in thisBulletin are not nece...

On-the-job training makes the difference: healthcare assistants' perceived competence and responsibility in the care of patients with home mechanical ventilation.

PubMed

Swedberg, Lena; Michélsen, Hans; Chiriac, Eva Hammar; Hylander, Ingrid

2015-06-01

To describe and analyse perceived competence and perceived responsibility among healthcare assistants (HC assistants), caring for patients with home mechanical ventilation (HMV) and other advanced caring needs, adjusted for socio-demographic and workplace background factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted including 128 HC assistants employed in Stockholm County, Sweden. The HC assistants responded to a study-specific questionnaire on perceived competence and perceived responsibility, provided socio-demographic and workplace background data, as well as information on the patient characteristics for the understanding of their work situations. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed. Eighty per cent of the HC assistants rated their perceived competence as high, and fifty-nine per cent rated their perceived responsibility as high. Fifty-five per cent lacked formal healthcare training, and only one in five of the HC assistants had a formal training equivalent with a licensed practical nurse (LPN) examination. Males lacked formal training to a greater extent than females and rated their competence accordingly. On-the-job training was significantly associated with high ratings on both perceived competence and perceived responsibility, and clinical supervision was associated with high rating on perceived responsibility. HC assistants with limited formal training self-reported their competence as high, and on-the-job training was found to be important. Also, clinical supervision was found important for their perception of high responsibility. In Sweden, HC assistants have a 24-hour responsibility for the care and safety of their patient with HMV and other advanced caring needs. The study results point out important issues for further research regarding formal training requirements as well as the needs for standardised workplace training and supervision of HC assistants. The consequences of transfer of responsibility by delegation from healthcare professionals to paraprofessionals within advanced home care also need further study. © 2014 Nordic College of Caring Science.

Auto Mechanics. Volume II. Instructional Units.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Armstrong, Ivan J.

To assist teachers and students in understanding the latest concepts and functions of the automobile, this curriculum guide treats both the skills and knowledge necessary for auto mechanics. Developed by an advisory committee of instructors and mechanics in the industry, this manual consists of the following four sections: engine rebuilding;…

Auto Mechanics, Volume 1. Instructional Units.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Armstrong, Ivan J.

To assist teachers and students in understanding the latest concepts and functions of the automobile, this curriculum guide treats both the skills and knowledge necessary for auto mechanics. Developed by an advisory committee of instructors and mechanics in the industry, this manual consists of the following five sections: orientation and safety;…

Differential TRPV1 and TRPV2 Channel Expression in Dental Pulp

PubMed Central

Gibbs, J.L.; Melnyk, J.L.; Basbaum, A.I.

2011-01-01

Hypersensitivity to thermal and mechanical stimuli can occur in painful pulpitis. To explore the neuro-anatomical basis of heat and mechanical sensitivity, we evaluated expression of TRPV1 (heat) and TRPV2 (heat/mechanical) channels in the cell bodies and terminal arborizations of neurons that innervate the dental pulp (DP) and periodontal tissues (PDL). We report that ~50% of trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons retrogradely labeled from the DP express TRPV2, and this was significantly greater than the general expression of this channel in the TG (15%) and slightly more than what is expressed in the PDL by retrograde labeling (40%). The TRPV1 receptor, however, was less prevalent in neurons innervating the DP than their general expression in the TG (17% vs. 26%) and was more extensively expressed in neurons innervating the PDL (26%). Co-labeling studies showed that 70% of neurons that innervate the DP are myelinated. Approximately 1/3 of the retrogradely labeled neurons from the DP were calcitonin-gene-related-peptide-positive (peptide-expressing), but very few expressed the IB4 marker of non-peptidergic unmyelinated afferents. These findings suggest that the DP has a unique neurochemical innervation with regard to TRP receptor expression, which has significant implications for the mechanisms contributing to odontogenic pain and management strategies. PMID:21406609

Differential TRPV1 and TRPV2 channel expression in dental pulp.

PubMed

Gibbs, J L; Melnyk, J L; Basbaum, A I

2011-06-01

Hypersensitivity to thermal and mechanical stimuli can occur in painful pulpitis. To explore the neuro-anatomical basis of heat and mechanical sensitivity, we evaluated expression of TRPV1 (heat) and TRPV2 (heat/mechanical) channels in the cell bodies and terminal arborizations of neurons that innervate the dental pulp (DP) and periodontal tissues (PDL). We report that ~50% of trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons retrogradely labeled from the DP express TRPV2, and this was significantly greater than the general expression of this channel in the TG (15%) and slightly more than what is expressed in the PDL by retrograde labeling (40%). The TRPV1 receptor, however, was less prevalent in neurons innervating the DP than their general expression in the TG (17% vs. 26%) and was more extensively expressed in neurons innervating the PDL (26%). Co-labeling studies showed that 70% of neurons that innervate the DP are myelinated. Approximately 1/3 of the retrogradely labeled neurons from the DP were calcitonin-gene-related-peptide-positive (peptide-expressing), but very few expressed the IB4 marker of non-peptidergic unmyelinated afferents. These findings suggest that the DP has a unique neurochemical innervation with regard to TRP receptor expression, which has significant implications for the mechanisms contributing to odontogenic pain and management strategies.

Dose-dependent inhibitory effects of zoledronic acid on osteoblast viability and function in vitro

PubMed Central

HUANG, XIN; HUANG, SHILONG; GUO, FENGJIN; XU, FEI; CHENG, PENG; YE, YAPING; DONG, YONGHUI; XIANG, WEI; CHEN, ANMIN

2016-01-01

Zoledronic acid (ZA), which is one of the most potent and efficacious bisphosphonates, has been commonly used in clinical practice for the treatment of various bone disorders. The extensive use of ZA has been associated with increasing occurrence of jaw complications, now known as bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). However, the mechanism underlying BRONJ remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of ZA on the MC3T3-E1 murine preosteoblast cell line cells and examine the possible pathogenesis of BRONJ. In the present study, the effect of ZA on the viability, apoptosis, differentiation and maturation of MC3T3-E1 cells, as well as its relevant molecular mechanism, were examined The results of a Cell Counting Kit 8 assay, a flow cytometric Annexin-V/propidium iodide assay and western blot analysis demonstrated that ZA exhibited a significant inhibition of cell viability and induction of apoptosis at concentrations >10 µM. Subsequently, the effect of ZA on cell differentiation at concentrations <1 µM were investigated. In this condition, ZA inhibited bone nodule formation and decreased the activity of alkaline phosphatase. The results of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses indicated that ZA downregulated the expression levels of the marker genes and proteins associated with osteogenic differentiation. Further investigation revealed that the suppression of differentiation by ZA was associated with decreased expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and downregulation of the phosphorylation levels in the downstream extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 pathways. These adverse effects of ZA were observed to be concentration-dependent. The results from the present study suggested that ZA at higher concentrations induces cytotoxicity towards osteoblasts, and ZA at lower concentrations suppresses osteoblast differentiation by downregulation of BMP-2. These results assist in further understanding the mechanisms of BRONJ. PMID:26648136

Dose-dependent inhibitory effects of zoledronic acid on osteoblast viability and function in vitro.

PubMed

Huang, Xin; Huang, Shilong; Guo, Fengjin; Xu, Fei; Cheng, Peng; Ye, Yaping; Dong, Yonghui; Xiang, Wei; Chen, Anmin

2016-01-01

Zoledronic acid (ZA), which is one of the most potent and efficacious bisphosphonates, has been commonly used in clinical practice for the treatment of various bone disorders. The extensive use of ZA has been associated with increasing occurrence of jaw complications, now known as bisphosphonate‑associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). However, the mechanism underlying BRONJ remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of ZA on the MC3T3‑E1 murine preosteoblast cell line cells and examine the possible pathogenesis of BRONJ. In the present study, the effect of ZA on the viability, apoptosis, differentiation and maturation of MC3T3‑E1 cells, as well as its relevant molecular mechanism, were examined The results of a Cell Counting Kit 8 assay, a flow cytometric Annexin‑V/propidium iodide assay and western blot analysis demonstrated that ZA exhibited a significant inhibition of cell viability and induction of apoptosis at concentrations >10 µM. Subsequently, the effect of ZA on cell differentiation at concentrations <1 µM were investigated. In this condition, ZA inhibited bone nodule formation and decreased the activity of alkaline phosphatase. The results of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses indicated that ZA downregulated the expression levels of the marker genes and proteins associated with osteogenic differentiation. Further investigation revealed that the suppression of differentiation by ZA was associated with decreased expression of bone morphogenetic protein‑2 (BMP‑2) and downregulation of the phosphorylation levels in the downstream extracellular signal‑regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 pathways. These adverse effects of ZA were observed to be concentration‑dependent. The results from the present study suggested that ZA at higher concentrations induces cytotoxicity towards osteoblasts, and ZA at lower concentrations suppresses osteoblast differentiation by downregulation of BMP-2. These results assist in further understanding the mechanisms of BRONJ.

Glucose Modulation Induces Lysosome Formation and Increases Lysosomotropic Drug Sequestration via the P-Glycoprotein Drug Transporter*

PubMed Central

Seebacher, Nicole A.; Lane, Darius J. R.; Jansson, Patric J.; Richardson, Des R.

2016-01-01

Pgp is functional on the plasma membrane and lysosomal membrane. Lysosomal-Pgp can pump substrates into the organelle, thereby trapping certain chemotherapeutics (e.g. doxorubicin; DOX). This mechanism serves as a “safe house” to protect cells against cytotoxic drugs. Interestingly, in contrast to DOX, lysosomal sequestration of the novel anti-tumor agent and P-glycoprotein (Pgp) substrate, di-2-pyridylketone-4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Dp44mT), induces lysosomal membrane permeabilization. This mechanism of lysosomal-Pgp utilization enhances cytotoxicity to multidrug-resistant cells. Consequently, Dp44mT has greater anti-tumor activity in drug-resistant relative to non-Pgp-expressing tumors. Interestingly, stressors in the tumor microenvironment trigger endocytosis for cell signaling to assist cell survival. Hence, this investigation examined how glucose variation-induced stress regulated early endosome and lysosome formation via endocytosis of the plasma membrane. Furthermore, the impact of glucose variation-induced stress on resistance to DOX was compared with Dp44mT and its structurally related analogue, di-2-pyridylketone 4-cyclohexyl-4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (DpC). These studies showed that glucose variation-induced stress-stimulated formation of early endosomes and lysosomes. In fact, through the process of fluid-phase endocytosis, Pgp was redistributed from the plasma membrane to the lysosomal membrane via early endosome formation. This lysosomal-Pgp actively transported the Pgp substrate, DOX, into the lysosome where it became trapped as a result of protonation at pH 5. Due to increased lysosomal DOX trapping, Pgp-expressing cells became more resistant to DOX. In contrast, cytotoxicity of Dp44mT and DpC was potentiated due to more lysosomes containing functional Pgp under glucose-induced stress. These thiosemicarbazones increased lysosomal membrane permeabilization and cell death. This mechanism has critical implications for drug-targeting in multidrug-resistant tumors where a stressful micro-environment exists. PMID:26601947

DUSP1 and KCNJ2 mRNA upregulation can serve as a biomarker of mechanical asphyxia-induced death in cardiac tissue.

PubMed

Zeng, Yan; Tao, Li; Ma, Jianlong; Han, Liujun; Lv, Yehui; Hui, Pan; Zhang, Heng; Ma, Kaijun; Xiao, Bi; Shi, Qun; Xu, Hongmei; Chen, Long

2018-05-01

The incidence of death by asphyxia is second to the incidence of death by mechanical injury; however, death by mechanical asphyxia may be difficult to prove in court, particularly in cases in which corpses do not exhibit obvious signs of asphyxia. To identify a credible biomarker of asphyxia, we first examined the expression levels of 47,000 mRNAs in human cardiac tissue specimens from individuals who died of mechanical asphyxia and compared the expression levels with the levels of the corresponding mRNAs in specimens from individuals who died of craniocerebral injury using microarray. We selected 119 differentially expressed mRNAs, examined the expression levels of these mRNAs in 44 human cardiac tissue specimens of individuals who died of mechanical asphyxia, craniocerebral injury, hemorrhagic shock, or other causes. That the expression of dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) and potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily J member 2 (KCNJ2) was upregulated in human cardiac tissues from the mechanical asphyxia group compared with control tissues, regardless of age, environmental temperature, and postmortem interval (PMI), indicating that DUSP1 and KCNJ2 may be associated with mechanical asphyxia-induced death and can thus serve as useful biomarkers of death by mechanical asphyxia.

Turning around Newton's Second Law

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goff, John Eric

2004-01-01

Conceptual and quantitative difficulties surrounding Newton's second law often arise among introductory physics students. Simply turning around how one expresses Newton's second law may assist students in their understanding of a deceptively simple-looking equation.

Missouri transportation bulletin : vol. 16, no. 1.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-01-01

The Missouri Transportation Bulletin is published by the Technology Transfer Assistance Program of the Missouri Department of Transportation, : Jefferson City, Missouri. The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in this Bulletin are not nec...

Missouri transportation bulletin : vol. 18, no. 1.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-01-01

The Missouri Transportation Bulletin is published by the Technology Transfer Assistance Program of the Missouri Department of Transportation, Jefferson City, Missouri. The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in this Bulletin are not neces...

Missouri transportation bulletin : vol. 18, no. 2.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-01-01

The Missouri Transportation Bulletin is published by the Technology Transfer Assistance Program of the Missouri Department of Transportation, Jefferson City, Missouri. The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in this Bulletin are not neces...

Missouri transportation bulletin : vol. 17, no. 1.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-01-01

The Missouri Transportation Bulletin is published by the Technology Transfer Assistance Program of the Missouri Department of Transportation, Jefferson City, Missouri. The opinions, findings or recommendations expressed in this Bulletin are not neces...

An insight into the sialotranscriptome of the seed-feeding bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus.

PubMed

Francischetti, Ivo M B; Lopes, Angela H; Dias, Felipe A; Pham, Van M; Ribeiro, José M C

2007-09-01

The salivary transcriptome of the seed-feeding hemipteran, Oncopeltus fasciatus (milkweed bug), is described following assembly of 1025 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) into 305 clusters of related sequences. Inspection of these sequences reveals abundance of low complexity, putative secreted products rich in the amino acids (aa) glycine, serine or threonine, which might function as silk or mucins and assist food canal lubrication and sealing of the feeding site around the mouthparts. Several protease inhibitors were found, including abundant expression of cystatin transcripts that may inhibit cysteine proteases common in seeds that might injure the insect or induce plant apoptosis. Serine proteases and lipases are described that might assist digestion and liquefaction of seed proteins and oils. Finally, several novel putative proteins are described with no known function that might affect plant physiology or act as antimicrobials.

Characterization of the altered gene expression profile in early porcine embryos generated from parthenogenesis and somatic cell chromatin transfer.

PubMed

Zhou, Chi; Dobrinsky, John; Tsoi, Stephen; Foxcroft, George R; Dixon, Walter T; Stothard, Paul; Verstegen, John; Dyck, Michael K

2014-01-01

The in vitro production of early porcine embryos is of particular scientific and economic interest. In general, embryos produced from in vitro Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) manipulations, such as somatic cell chromatin transfer (CT) and parthenogenetic activation (PA), are less developmentally competent than in vivo-derived embryos. The mechanisms underlying the deficiencies of embryos generated from PA and CT have not been completely understood. To characterize the altered genes and gene networks in embryos generated from CT and PA, comparative transcriptomic analyses of in vivo (IVV) expanded blastocysts (XB), IVV hatched blastocyst (HB), PA XB, PA HB, and CT HB were performed using a custom microarray platform enriched for genes expressed during early embryonic development. Differential expressions of 1492 and 103 genes were identified in PA and CT HB, respectively, in comparison with IVV HB. The "eIF2 signalling", "mitochondrial dysfunction", "regulation of eIF4 and p70S6K signalling", "protein ubiquitination", and "mTOR signalling" pathways were down-regulated in PA HB. Dysregulation of notch signalling-associated genes were observed in both PA and CT HB. TP53 was predicted to be activated in both PA and CT HB, as 136 and 23 regulation targets of TP53 showed significant differential expression in PA and CT HB, respectively, in comparison with IVV HB. In addition, dysregulations of several critical pluripotency, trophoblast development, and implantation-associated genes (NANOG, GATA2, KRT8, LGMN, and DPP4) were observed in PA HB during the blastocyst hatching process. The critical genes that were observed to be dysregulated in CT and PA embryos could be indicative of underlying developmental deficiencies of embryos produced from these technologies.

Cloning of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) synthetase gene from a newly isolated ε-PL-producing Streptomyces albulus NK660 and its heterologous expression in Streptomyces lividans

PubMed Central

Geng, Weitao; Yang, Chao; Gu, Yanyan; Liu, Ruihua; Guo, Wenbin; Wang, Xiaomeng; Song, Cunjiang; Wang, Shufang

2014-01-01

ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL), showing a wide range of antimicrobial activity, is now industrially produced as a food additive by a fermentation process. A new strain capable of producing ε-PL was isolated from a soil sample collected from Gutian, Fujian Province, China. Based on its morphological and biochemical features and phylogenetic similarity with 16S rRNA gene, the strain was identified as Streptomyces albulus and named NK660. The yield of ε-PL in 30 l fed-batch fermentation with pH control was 4.2 g l−1 when using glycerol as the carbon source. The structure of ε-PL was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Previous studies have shown that the antimicrobial activity of ε-PL is dependent on its molecular size. In this study, the polymerization degree of the ε-PL produced by strain NK660 ranged from 19 to 33 L-lysine monomers, with the main component consisting of 24–30 L-lysine monomers, which implied that the ε-PL might have higher antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, the ε-PL synthetase gene (pls) was cloned from strain NK660 by genome walking. The pls gene with its native promoter was heterologously expressed in Streptomyces lividans ZX7, and the recombinant strain was capable of synthesizing ε-PL. Here, we demonstrated for the first time heterologous expression of the pls gene in S. lividans. The heterologous expression of pls gene in S. lividans will open new avenues for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of ε-PL synthesis. PMID:24423427

Compound Danshen injection improves endotoxin-induced microcirculatory disturbance in rat mesentery

PubMed Central

Han, Jing-Yan; Horie, Yoshinori; Miura, Soichiro; Akiba, Yasutada; Guo, Jun; Li, Dan; Fan, Jing-Yu; Liu, Yu-Ying; Hu, Bai-He; An, Li-Hua; Chang, Xin; Xu, Man; Guo, De-An; Sun, Kai; Yang, Ji-Ying; Fang, Shu-Ping; Xian, Ming-Ji; Kizaki, Masahiro; Nagata, Hiroshi; Hibi, Toshifumi

2007-01-01

AIM: To investigate the effect of compound Danshen injection on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat mesenteric microcirculatory dysfunctions and the underlying possible mechanism by an inverted intravital microscope and high-speed video camera system. METHODS: LPS was continuously infused through the jugular artery of male Wistar rats at the dose of 2 mg/kg per hour. Changes in mesenteric microcirculation, such as diameters of arterioles and venules, velocity of RBCs in venules, leukocyte rolling, adhesion and emigration, free radicals released from post-capillary venules, FITC-albumin leakage and mast cell degranulation, were observed through an inverted intravital microscope assisted with CCD camera and SIT camera. Meanwhile, the expression of adhesion molecules CD11b/CD18 and the production of free radical in neutrophils, and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were quantified by flow cytometry (FACS) in vitro. RESULTS: The continuous infusion with LPS resulted in a number of responses in microcirculation, including a significant increase in the positive region of venule stained with Monastral blue B, rolling and adhesion of leukocytes, production of oxygen radical in venular wall, albumin efflux and enhanced mast cell degranulation in vivo, all of which, except for the leukocyte rolling, were attenuated by the treatment with compound Danshen injection. Experiments performed in vitro further revealed that the expression of CD11b/CD18 and the production of oxygen free radical in neutrophils, and the expression of ICAM-1 in HUVECs were increased by exposure to LPS, and they were attenuated by compound Danshen injection. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that compound Danshen injection is an efficient drug with multi-targeting potential for improving the microcirculatory disturbance. PMID:17659708

Compound Danshen injection improves endotoxin-induced microcirculatory disturbance in rat mesentery.

PubMed

Han, Jing-Yan; Horie, Yoshinori; Miura, Soichiro; Akiba, Yasutada; Guo, Jun; Li, Dan; Fan, Jing-Yu; Liu, Yu-Ying; Hu, Bai-He; An, Li-Hua; Chang, Xin; Xu, Man; Guo, De-An; Sun, Kai; Yang, Ji-Ying; Fang, Shu-Ping; Xian, Ming-Ji; Kizaki, Masahiro; Nagata, Hiroshi; Hibi, Toshifumi

2007-07-14

To investigate the effect of compound Danshen injection on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat mesenteric microcirculatory dysfunctions and the underlying possible mechanism by an inverted intravital microscope and high-speed video camera system. LPS was continuously infused through the jugular artery of male Wistar rats at the dose of 2 mg/kg per hour. Changes in mesenteric microcirculation, such as diameters of arterioles and venules, velocity of RBCs in venules, leukocyte rolling, adhesion and emigration, free radicals released from post-capillary venules, FITC-albumin leakage and mast cell degranulation, were observed through an inverted intravital microscope assisted with CCD camera and SIT camera. Meanwhile, the expression of adhesion molecules CD11b/CD18 and the production of free radical in neutrophils, and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were quantified by flow cytometry (FACS) in vitro. The continuous infusion with LPS resulted in a number of responses in microcirculation, including a significant increase in the positive region of venule stained with Monastral blue B, rolling and adhesion of leukocytes, production of oxygen radical in venular wall, albumin efflux and enhanced mast cell degranulation in vivo, all of which, except for the leukocyte rolling, were attenuated by the treatment with compound Danshen injection. Experiments performed in vitro further revealed that the expression of CD11b/CD18 and the production of oxygen free radical in neutrophils, and the expression of ICAM-1 in HUVECs were increased by exposure to LPS, and they were attenuated by compound Danshen injection. These results suggest that compound Danshen injection is an efficient drug with multi-targeting potential for improving the microcirculatory disturbance.

Feeding Low or Pharmacological Concentrations of Zinc Oxide Changes the Hepatic Proteome Profiles in Weaned Piglets

PubMed Central

Bondzio, Angelika; Pieper, Robert; Gabler, Christoph; Weise, Christoph; Schulze, Petra; Zentek, Juergen; Einspanier, Ralf

2013-01-01

Pharmacological levels of zinc oxide can promote growth and health of weaning piglets, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are yet not fully understood. The aim of this study was to determine changes in the global hepatic protein expression in response to dietary zinc oxide in weaned piglets. Nine half-sib piglets were allocated to three dietary zinc treatment groups (50, 150, 2500 mg/kg dry matter). After 14 d, pigs were euthanized and liver samples taken. The increase in hepatic zinc concentration following dietary supplementation of zinc was accompanied by up-regulation of metallothionein mRNA and protein expression. Global hepatic protein profiles were obtained by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis following matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A total of 15 proteins were differentially (P<0.05) expressed between groups receiving control (150 mg/kg) or pharmacological levels of zinc (2500 mg/kg) with 7 down- (e.g. arginase1, thiosulfate sulfurtransferase, HSP70) and 8 up-regulated (e.g. apolipoprotein AI, transferrin, C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase) proteins. Additionally, three proteins were differentially expressed with low zinc supply (50 mg/kg Zn) in comparison to the control diet. The identified proteins were mainly associated with functions related to cellular stress, transport, metabolism, and signal transduction. The differential regulation was evaluated at the mRNA level and a subset of three proteins of different functional groups was selected for confirmation by western blotting. The results of this proteomic study suggest that zinc affects important liver functions such as blood protein secretion, protein metabolism, detoxification and redox homeostasis, thus supporting the hypothesis of intermediary effects of pharmacological levels of zinc oxide fed to pigs. PMID:24282572

A blackberry (Rubus L.) expressed sequence tag library for the development of simple sequence repeat markers

PubMed Central

Lewers, Kim S; Saski, Chris A; Cuthbertson, Brandon J; Henry, David C; Staton, Meg E; Main, Dorrie S; Dhanaraj, Anik L; Rowland, Lisa J; Tomkins, Jeff P

2008-01-01

Background The recent development of novel repeat-fruiting types of blackberry (Rubus L.) cultivars, combined with a long history of morphological marker-assisted selection for thornlessness by blackberry breeders, has given rise to increased interest in using molecular markers to facilitate blackberry breeding. Yet no genetic maps, molecular markers, or even sequences exist specifically for cultivated blackberry. The purpose of this study is to begin development of these tools by generating and annotating the first blackberry expressed sequence tag (EST) library, designing primers from the ESTs to amplify regions containing simple sequence repeats (SSR), and testing the usefulness of a subset of the EST-SSRs with two blackberry cultivars. Results A cDNA library of 18,432 clones was generated from expanding leaf tissue of the cultivar Merton Thornless, a progenitor of many thornless commercial cultivars. Among the most abundantly expressed of the 3,000 genes annotated were those involved with energy, cell structure, and defense. From individual sequences containing SSRs, 673 primer pairs were designed. Of a randomly chosen set of 33 primer pairs tested with two blackberry cultivars, 10 detected an average of 1.9 polymorphic PCR products. Conclusion This rate predicts that this library may yield as many as 940 SSR primer pairs detecting 1,786 polymorphisms. This may be sufficient to generate a genetic map that can be used to associate molecular markers with phenotypic traits, making possible molecular marker-assisted breeding to compliment existing morphological marker-assisted breeding in blackberry. PMID:18570660

Cyclic Mechanical Stretch Up-regulates Hepatoma-Derived Growth Factor Expression in Cultured Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells.

PubMed

Kao, Ying-Hsien; Chen, Po-Han; Sun, Cheuk-Kwan; Chang, Yo-Chen; Lin, Yu-Chun; Tsai, Ming-Shian; Lee, Po-Huang; Cheng, Cheng-I

2018-02-21

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is a potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) during embryogenesis and injury repair of vessel walls. Whether mechanical stimuli modulate HDGF expression remains unknown. This study aimed at investigating whether cyclic mechanical stretch plays a regulatory role in HDGF expression and regenerative cytokine production in aortic SMCs. A SMC cell line was grown on a silicone-based elastomer chamber with extracellular matrix coatings (either type I collagen or fibronectin) and received cyclic and uni-axial mechanical stretches with 10% deformation at frequency 1 Hz. Morphological observation showed that fibronectin coating provided better cell adhesion and spreading and that consecutive 6 hours of cyclic mechanical stretch remarkably induced reorientation and realignment of SMCs. Western blotting detection demonstrated that continuous mechanical stimuli elicited up-regulation of HDGF and PCNA, a cell proliferative marker. Signal kinetic profiling study indicated that cyclic mechanical stretch induced signaling activity in RhoA/ROCK and PI3K/Akt cascades. Kinase inhibition study further showed that blockade of PI3K activity suppressed the stretch-induced TNF-a, whereas RhoA/ROCK inhibition significantly blunted the IL-6 production and HDGF over-expression. Moreover, siRNA-mediated HDGF gene silencing significantly suppressed constitutive expression of IL-6, but not TNF-α, in SMCs. These findings support the role of HDGF in maintaining vascular expression of IL-6, which has been regarded a crucial regenerative factor for acute vascular injury. In conclusion, cyclic mechanical stretch may maintain constitutive expression of HDGF in vascular walls and be regarded an important biophysical regulator in vascular regeneration. ©2018 The Author(s).

[Evaluation of free radical quantity in the anterior chamber following femtosecond laser-assisted capsulotomy].

PubMed

Tóth, Gábor; Sándor, Gábor László; Kleiner, Dénes; Szentmáry, Nóra; Kiss, Huba J; Blázovics, Anna; Nagy, Zoltán Zsolt

2016-11-01

Femtosecond laser is a revolutionary, innovative treatment method used in cataract surgery. To evaluate free radical quantity in the anterior chamber of the eye, during femtosecond laser assisted capsulotomy, in a porcine eye model. Seventy fresh porcine eyes were collected within 2 hours post mortem, were transported at 4 ºC and treated within 7 hours. Thirty-five eyes were used as control and 35 as femtosecond laser assisted capsulotomy group. A simple luminol-dependent chemiluminescence method was used to measure the total scavenger capacity in the aqueous humour, as an indicator of free radical production. The emitted photons were expressed in relative light unit %. The relative light unit % was lower in the control group (median 1%, interquartile range [0.4-3%]) than in the femtosecond laser assisted capsulotomy group (median 4.4%, interquartile range [1.5%-21%]) (p = 0.01). Femtosecond laser assisted capsulotomy decreases the antioxidant defense of the anterior chamber, which refers to a significant free radical production during femtosecond laser assisted capsulotomy. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(47), 1880-1883.

Proteome-wide Light/Dark Modulation of Thiol Oxidation in Cyanobacteria Revealed by Quantitative Site-specific Redox Proteomics*

PubMed Central

Guo, Jia; Nguyen, Amelia Y.; Dai, Ziyu; Su, Dian; Gaffrey, Matthew J.; Moore, Ronald J.; Jacobs, Jon M.; Monroe, Matthew E.; Smith, Richard D.; Koppenaal, David W.; Pakrasi, Himadri B.; Qian, Wei-Jun

2014-01-01

Reversible protein thiol oxidation is an essential regulatory mechanism of photosynthesis, metabolism, and gene expression in photosynthetic organisms. Herein, we present proteome-wide quantitative and site-specific profiling of in vivo thiol oxidation modulated by light/dark in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, an oxygenic photosynthetic prokaryote, using a resin-assisted thiol enrichment approach. Our proteomic approach integrates resin-assisted enrichment with isobaric tandem mass tag labeling to enable site-specific and quantitative measurements of reversibly oxidized thiols. The redox dynamics of ∼2,100 Cys-sites from 1,060 proteins under light, dark, and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (a photosystem II inhibitor) conditions were quantified. In addition to relative quantification, the stoichiometry or percentage of oxidation (reversibly oxidized/total thiols) for ∼1,350 Cys-sites was also quantified. The overall results revealed broad changes in thiol oxidation in many key biological processes, including photosynthetic electron transport, carbon fixation, and glycolysis. Moreover, the redox sensitivity along with the stoichiometric data enabled prediction of potential functional Cys-sites for proteins of interest. The functional significance of redox-sensitive Cys-sites in NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, peroxiredoxin (AhpC/TSA family protein Sll1621), and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was further confirmed with site-specific mutagenesis and biochemical studies. Together, our findings provide significant insights into the broad redox regulation of photosynthetic organisms. PMID:25118246

Synthesis of hexagonal wurtzite Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} prisms by an ultrasound-assisted microwave solvothermal method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Long, Fei, E-mail: long.drf@gmail.com; Chi, Shangsen; Institute of Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083

Wurtzite Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} (CZTS) hexagonal prisms were synthesized by a simple ultrasound-microwave solvothermal method. The product was characterized by XRD, FESEM, EDS, TEM, Raman and UV–vis spectrometer. The hexagonal prisms were 0.5–2 μm wide and 5–12 μm long. The PVP played an important role in the formation of the CZTS hexagonal prisms. In addition, the ultrasound-assisted microwave process was helpful for synthesis of wurtzite rather than kesterite phase CZTS. A nucleation–dissolution–recrystallization mechanism was also proposed to explain the growth of the CZTS hexagonal prisms. - Graphical abstract: Wurtzite Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} hexagonal prisms were synthesized by ultrasound-microwave solvothermal method.more » The ultrasound-assisted microwave process and PVP were useful to the growth of CZTS. A nucleation–dissolution–recrystallization growth mechanism was also proposed. - Highlights: • Wurtzite Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} was prepared by ultrasound-assisted microwave solvothermal method. • The wurtzite CZTS hexagonal prisms are demonstrated a band gap of 1.49 eV. • Synergistic effect of ultrasound and microwave is helpful to prepare Wurtzite CZTS. • PVP plays an important role in the formation of the CZTS hexagonal prisms. • Nucleation–dissolution–recrystallization growth mechanism of the CZTS was proposed.« less

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression by skeletal muscle cells augments myogenesis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goh, Qingnian; Dearth, Christopher L.; Corbett, Jacob T.

We previously demonstrated that the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by skeletal muscle cells after muscle overload contributes to ensuing regenerative and hypertrophic processes in skeletal muscle. The objective of the present study is to reveal mechanisms through which skeletal muscle cell expression of ICAM-1 augments regenerative and hypertrophic processes of myogenesis. This was accomplished by genetically engineering C2C12 myoblasts to stably express ICAM-1, and by inhibiting the adhesive and signaling functions of ICAM-1 through the use of a neutralizing antibody or cell penetrating peptide, respectively. Expression of ICAM-1 by cultured skeletal muscle cells augmented myoblast–myoblast adhesion, myotube formation,more » myonuclear number, myotube alignment, myotube–myotube fusion, and myotube size without influencing the ability of myoblasts to proliferate or differentiate. ICAM-1 augmented myotube formation, myonuclear accretion, and myotube alignment through a mechanism involving adhesion-induced activation of ICAM-1 signaling, as these dependent measures were reduced via antibody and peptide inhibition of ICAM-1. The adhesive and signaling functions of ICAM-1 also facilitated myotube hypertrophy through a mechanism involving myotube–myotube fusion, protein synthesis, and Akt/p70s6k signaling. Our findings demonstrate that ICAM-1 expression by skeletal muscle cells augments myogenesis, and establish a novel mechanism through which the inflammatory response facilitates growth processes in skeletal muscle. - Highlights: • We examined mechanisms through which skeletal muscle cell expression of ICAM-1 facilitates events of in vitro myogenesis. • Expression of ICAM-1 by cultured myoblasts did not influence their ability to proliferate or differentiate. • Skeletal muscle cell expression of ICAM-1 augmented myoblast fusion, myotube alignment, myotube–myotube fusion, and myotube size. • ICAM-1 augmented myogenic processes through mechanisms involving its adhesive and signaling functions.« less

Donkey-assisted rehabilitation program for children: a pilot study.

PubMed

De Rose, Paola; Cannas, Elisabetta; Reinger Cantiello, Patrizia

2011-01-01

Bonding with animals grants access to the sphere of affectivity and facilitates therapeutic engagement. The methodological approach of donkey-assisted programs is based on mediation, which is characterized by multidirectional relationships (patient-donkey-therapist). The donkey is an excellent facilitator in the motivation-building process, being able to stimulate the child's development by way of active and positive forces that foster psycho-affective and psycho-cognitive development processes. Results of this study, which focused on the child's approach to the donkey, indicate that while communicating with the animal, children rely more on physical expressions than on verbal language. Donkey-assisted rehabilitative sessions can help in identifying children's strong points, on which motivation could be built.

Assistance for emergency health.

PubMed

Rivera, Antonio

2002-03-01

The public health agencies of Pacific island nations have the responsibility of maintaining health during national emergencies. Assistance for completion of this task is available to the Pacific islands in the form of technical, informational, educational and humanitarian aid. Assistance for Pacific island preparedness and response may originate from local, jurisdictional, regional and international levels. The Internet also now offers many useful resources for disaster education, collaboration and aid. This article discusses mechanisms and resources that Pacific island health officials may utilize to promote emergency health within their own jurisdictions.

Compiler-assisted static checkpoint insertion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Long, Junsheng; Fuchs, W. K.; Abraham, Jacob A.

1992-01-01

This paper describes a compiler-assisted approach for static checkpoint insertion. Instead of fixing the checkpoint location before program execution, a compiler enhanced polling mechanism is utilized to maintain both the desired checkpoint intervals and reproducible checkpoint 1ocations. The technique has been implemented in a GNU CC compiler for Sun 3 and Sun 4 (Sparc) processors. Experiments demonstrate that the approach provides for stable checkpoint intervals and reproducible checkpoint placements with performance overhead comparable to a previously presented compiler assisted dynamic scheme (CATCH) utilizing the system clock.

Breaking through barriers: using technology to address executive function weaknesses and improve student achievement.

PubMed

Schwartz, David M

2014-01-01

Assistive technologies provide significant capabilities for improving student achievement. Improved accessibility, cost, and diversity of applications make integration of technology a powerful tool to compensate for executive function weaknesses and deficits and their impact on student performance, learning, and achievement. These tools can be used to compensate for decreased working memory, poor time management, poor planning and organization, poor initiation, and decreased memory. Assistive technology provides mechanisms to assist students with diverse strengths and weaknesses in mastering core curricular concepts.

State of the Art: Neonatal Non-invasive Respiratory Support: Physiological Implications

PubMed Central

Shaffer, Thomas H.; Alapati, Deepthi; Greenspan, Jay S.; Wolfson, Marla R.

2013-01-01

Summary The introduction of assisted ventilation for neonatal pulmonary insufficiency has resulted in the successful treatment of many previously fatal diseases. During the past three decades, refinement of invasive mechanical ventilation techniques has dramatically improved survival of many high-risk neonates. However, as with many advances in medicine, while mortality has been reduced, morbidity has increased in the surviving high-risk neonate. In this regard, introduction of assisted ventilation has been associated with chronic lung injury, also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This disease, unknown prior to the appearance of mechanical ventilation, has produced a population of patients characterized by ventilator or oxygen dependence with serious accompanying pulmonary and neurodevelopmental morbidity. The purpose of this article is to review non-invasive respiratory support methodologies to address the physiologic mechanisms by which these methods may prevent the pathophysiologic effects of invasive mechanical ventilation. PMID:22777738

Options for temporary mechanical circulatory support

PubMed Central

Saffarzadeh, Areo

2015-01-01

Temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) refers to a group of devices generally used for less than 30 days to maintain adequate organ perfusion by compensating for a failure of the pumping mechanism of the heart. The increased availability and rapid adoption of new temporary MCS strategies necessitate physicians to become familiar with devices placed both percutaneously and via median sternotomy. This review will examine the different options for commonly used temporary MCS devices including intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs), veno-arterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), TandemHeart® (CardiacAssist, Pittsburg, PA, USA) Impella® and BVS 5000® (both Abiomed Inc., Danvers, MA, USA), CentriMag® and Thoratec percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD)® (both Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA, USA). A specific emphasis will be made to describe relevant mechanisms of action, standard placement strategies, hemodynamic effects, relevant contraindications and complications, and important daily management considerations. PMID:26793330

Retinoid X receptor suppresses a metastasis-promoting transcriptional program in myeloid cells via a ligand-insensitive mechanism

PubMed Central

Kiss, Mate; Czimmerer, Zsolt; Nagy, Gergely; Bieniasz-Krzywiec, Pawel; Ehling, Manuel; Pap, Attila; Poliska, Szilard; Boto, Pal; Tzerpos, Petros; Horvath, Attila; Kolostyak, Zsuzsanna; Daniel, Bence; Szatmari, Istvan; Mazzone, Massimiliano; Nagy, Laszlo

2017-01-01

Retinoid X receptor (RXR) regulates several key functions in myeloid cells, including inflammatory responses, phagocytosis, chemokine secretion, and proangiogenic activity. Its importance, however, in tumor-associated myeloid cells is unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that deletion of RXR in myeloid cells enhances lung metastasis formation while not affecting primary tumor growth. We show that RXR deficiency leads to transcriptomic changes in the lung myeloid compartment characterized by increased expression of prometastatic genes, including important determinants of premetastatic niche formation. Accordingly, RXR-deficient myeloid cells are more efficient in promoting cancer cell migration and invasion. Our results suggest that the repressive activity of RXR on prometastatic genes is mediated primarily through direct DNA binding of the receptor along with nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR) and silencing mediator of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptor (SMRT) corepressors and is largely unresponsive to ligand activation. In addition, we found that expression and transcriptional activity of RXRα is down-modulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with lung cancer, particularly in advanced and metastatic disease. Overall, our results identify RXR as a regulator in the myeloid cell-assisted metastatic process and establish lipid-sensing nuclear receptors in the microenvironmental regulation of tumor progression. PMID:28923935

Proteomic analysis of 'Zaosu' pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) and its early-maturing bud sport.

PubMed

Liu, Xueting; Zhai, Rui; Feng, Wenting; Zhang, Shiwei; Wang, Zhigang; Qiu, Zonghao; Zhang, Junke; Ma, Fengwang; Xu, Lingfei

2014-07-01

Maturation of fruits involves a series of physiological, biochemical, and organoleptic changes that eventually make fleshy fruits attractive, palatable, and nutritional. In order to understand the mature mechanism of the early-maturing bud sport of 'Zaosu' pear, we analyzed the differences of proteome expression between the both pears in different mature stages by the methods of a combination of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis. Seventy-five differential expressed protein spots (p<0.05) were obtained between 'Zaosu' pear and its early-maturing bud sport, but only sixty-eight were demonstratively identified in the database of NCBI and uniprot. The majority of proteins were linked to metabolism, energy, stress response/defense and cell structure. Additionally, our data confirmed an increase of proteins related to cell-wall modification, oxidative stress and pentose phosphate metabolism and a decrease of proteins related to photosynthesis and glycolysis during the development process of both pears, but all these proteins increased or decreased faster in the early-maturing bud sport. This comparative analysis between both pears showed that these proteins were closely associated with maturation and could provide more detailed characteristics of the maturation process of both pears. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Examining the role of fluctuations in the early stages of homogenous polymer crystallization with simulation and statistical learning

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Welch, Jr., Paul Michael

Here, we propose a relationship between the dynamics in the amorphous and crystalline domains during polymer crystallization: the fluctuations of ordering-rate about a material-specific value in the amorphous phase drive those fluctuations associated with the increase in percent crystallinity. This suggests a differential equation that satisfies the three experimentally observed time regimes for the rate of crystal growth. To test this postulated expression, we applied a suite of statistical learning tools to molecular dynamics simulations to extract the relevant phenomenology. This study shows that the proposed relationship holds in the early time regime. It illustrates the effectiveness of soft computingmore » tools in the analysis of coarse-grained simulations in which patterns exist, but may not easily yield to strict quantitative evaluation. This ability assists us in characterizing the critical early time molecular arrangement during the primary nucleation phase of polymer melt crystallization. In addition to supporting the validity of the proposed kinetics expression, the simulations show that (i) the classical nucleation and growth mechanism is active in the early stages of ordering; (ii) the number of nuclei and their masses grow linearly during this early time regime; and (iii) a fixed inter-nuclei distance is established.« less

Examining the role of fluctuations in the early stages of homogenous polymer crystallization with simulation and statistical learning

DOE PAGES

Welch, Jr., Paul Michael

2017-01-23

Here, we propose a relationship between the dynamics in the amorphous and crystalline domains during polymer crystallization: the fluctuations of ordering-rate about a material-specific value in the amorphous phase drive those fluctuations associated with the increase in percent crystallinity. This suggests a differential equation that satisfies the three experimentally observed time regimes for the rate of crystal growth. To test this postulated expression, we applied a suite of statistical learning tools to molecular dynamics simulations to extract the relevant phenomenology. This study shows that the proposed relationship holds in the early time regime. It illustrates the effectiveness of soft computingmore » tools in the analysis of coarse-grained simulations in which patterns exist, but may not easily yield to strict quantitative evaluation. This ability assists us in characterizing the critical early time molecular arrangement during the primary nucleation phase of polymer melt crystallization. In addition to supporting the validity of the proposed kinetics expression, the simulations show that (i) the classical nucleation and growth mechanism is active in the early stages of ordering; (ii) the number of nuclei and their masses grow linearly during this early time regime; and (iii) a fixed inter-nuclei distance is established.« less

Cardioprotective Effects of Quercetin in Cardiomyocyte under Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

PubMed Central

Chen, Yi-Wen; Chou, Hsiu-Chuan; Lin, Szu-Ting; Chen, You-Hsuan; Chang, Yu-Jung; Chen, Linyi; Chan, Hong-Lin

2013-01-01

Quercetin, a polyphenolic compound existing in many vegetables, fruits, has antiinflammatory, antiproliferation, and antioxidant effect on mammalian cells. Quercetin was evaluated for protecting cardiomyocytes from ischemia/reperfusion injury, but its protective mechanism remains unclear in the current study. The cardioprotective effects of quercetin are achieved by reducing the activity of Src kinase, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), caspase 9, Bax, intracellular reactive oxygen species production, and inflammatory factor and inducible MnSOD expression. Fluorescence two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) can reveal the differentially expressed proteins of H9C2 cells treated with H2O2 or quercetin. Although 17 identified proteins were altered in H2O2-induced cells, these proteins such as alpha-soluble NSF attachment protein (α-SNAP), Ena/VASP-like protein (Evl), and isopentenyl-diphosphate delta-isomerase 1 (Idi-1) were reverted by pretreatment with quercetin, which correlates with kinase activation, DNA repair, lipid, and protein metabolism. Quercetin dephosphorylates Src kinase in H2O2-induced H9C2 cells and likely blocks the H2O2-induced inflammatory response through STAT3 kinase modulation. This probably contributes to prevent ischemia/reperfusion injury in cardiomyocytes. PMID:23573126

A Text-Computer Assisted Instruction Program as a Viable Alternative for Continuing Education in Laboratory Medicine.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruce, A. Wayne

1986-01-01

Describes reasons for developing combined text and computer assisted instruction (CAI) teaching programs for delivery of continuing education to laboratory professionals, and mechanisms used for developing a CAI program on method evaluation in the clinical laboratory. Results of an evaluation of the software's cost effectiveness and instructional…

A Cooperative Program of Research and Education in Aerospace Vehicle Mechanics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitesides, John L.

2005-01-01

Since its inception in January 2003, the program has provided support for 1 faculty, 1 research scientist. 1 research assistant, and a total of 7 Graduate Research Scholar Assistants, of these all 7 have gram. The program has generated 4 MS thesis. Attachment: Appendix A, B, C, and D.

Gender-Comparative Use of Small Business Training and Assistance: a Literature Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stanger, Anthony M. J.

2004-01-01

Undertakes a gender-comparative review and comparison of the Australian and international literature on the use, needs and awareness of government and independent sources of training and assistance for women in small business to identify whether women's needs differ from those of men and whether existing delivery mechanisms disadvantage them.…

Corrective Action Framework for the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Advanced Technology, Inc., Reston, VA.

An ongoing corrective action framework for the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) is presented. Attention is directed to the formal management structure in OSFA and current initiatives to improve management, and the placement of the corrective action process in the organizational hierarchy. Four formal mechanisms needed to implement the…

Ultrasonication-assisted synthesis of high aspect ratio gold nanowires on a graphene template and investigation of their growth mechanism.

PubMed

Xin, Wenbo; De Rosa, Igor M; Cao, Yang; Yin, Xunqian; Yu, Hang; Ye, Peiyi; Carlson, Larry; Yang, Jenn-Ming

2018-04-19

We report a facile synthesis of Au nanowires (AuNWs) with a high aspect ratio (l/D) of up to 5000 on a plasma activated graphene template with ultrasound assistance. We demonstrate that the ultrasonication induced symmetry breaking of Au clusters facilitates the growth of AuNWs from the embryonic stages. Furthermore, the growth mechanism of AuNWs is systematically investigated using high resolution electron transmission microscopy (HRTEM), which reveals the unique role of the defective graphene template in directing the growth of AuNWs.

Fuzzy logic assisted control of inspired oxygen in ventilated newborn infants.

PubMed Central

Sun, Y.; Kohane, I.; Stark, A. R.

1994-01-01

The control of oxygen delivery to mechanically ventilated newborn infants is a time intensive process that must balance adequate tissue oxygenation against possible toxic effects of oxygen exposure. Investigation in computer assisted control of mechanical ventilation is increasing, although very few studies involve newborn infants. We have implemented a fuzzy controller for the adjustment of inspired oxygen concentration (FIO2) in ventilated newborns. The controller utilizes rules produced by neonatologists, and operates in real-time. A clinical trial of this controller is currently taking place in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Children's Hospital, Boston, MA. PMID:7950026

Technical and instrumental prerequisites for single-port laparoscopic solo surgery: state of art.

PubMed

Kim, Say-June; Lee, Sang Chul

2015-04-21

With the aid of advanced surgical techniques and instruments, single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) can be accomplished with just two surgical members: an operator and a camera assistant. Under these circumstances, the reasonable replacement of a human camera assistant by a mechanical camera holder has resulted in a new surgical procedure termed single-port solo surgery (SPSS). In SPSS, the fixation and coordinated movement of a camera held by mechanical devices provides fixed and stable operative images that are under the control of the operator. Therefore, SPSS primarily benefits from the provision of the operator's eye-to-hand coordination. Because SPSS is an intuitive modification of SPLS, the indications for SPSS are the same as those for SPLS. Though SPSS necessitates more actions than the surgery with a human assistant, these difficulties seem to be easily overcome by the greater provision of static operative images and the need for less lens cleaning and repositioning of the camera. When the operation is expected to be difficult and demanding, the SPSS process could be assisted by the addition of another instrument holder besides the camera holder.

Mechanical strain stimulates vasculogenesis and expression of angiogenesis guidance molecules of embryonic stem cells through elevation of intracellular calcium, reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide generation.

PubMed

Sharifpanah, Fatemeh; Behr, Sascha; Wartenberg, Maria; Sauer, Heinrich

2016-12-01

Differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells may be regulated by mechanical strain. Herein, signaling molecules underlying mechanical stimulation of vasculogenesis and expression of angiogenesis guidance cues were investigated in ES cell-derived embryoid bodies. Treatment of embryoid bodies with 10% static mechanical strain using a Flexercell strain system significantly increased CD31-positive vascular structures and the angiogenesis guidance molecules plexinB1, ephrin B2, neuropilin1 (NRP1), semaphorin 4D (sem4D) and robo4 as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) as evaluated by Western blot and real time RT-PCR. In contrast ephrin type 4 receptor B (EphB4) expression was down-regulated upon mechanical strain, indicating an arterial-type differentiation. Robo1 protein expression was modestly increased with no change in mRNA expression. Mechanical strain increased intracellular calcium as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). Mechanical strain-induced vasculogenesis was abolished by the NOS inhibitor L-NAME, the NADPH oxidase inhibitor VAS2870, upon chelation of intracellular calcium by BAPTA as well as upon siRNA inactivation of ephrin B2, NRP1 and robo4. BAPTA blunted the strain-induced expression of angiogenic growth factors, the increase in NO and ROS as well as the expression of NRP1, sem4D and plexinB1, whereas ephrin B2, EphB4 as well as robo1 and robo4 expression were not impaired. Mechanical strain stimulates vasculogenesis of ES cells by the intracellular messengers ROS, NO and calcium as well as by upregulation of angiogenesis guidance molecules and the angiogenic growth factors VEGF, FGF-2 and PDGF-BB. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Effects of different mechanical stretch conditions on differentiation of rat tendon stem cells].

PubMed

Li, Pao; Gao, Shang; Zhou, Mei; Tang, Hong; Mu, Miduo; Zhang, Jiqiang; Tang, Kanglai

2017-04-01

To investigate the effects of different mechanical stretch conditions on the differentiation of rat tendon stem cells (TSCs), to find the best uniaxial cyclic stretching for TSCs tenogenic differentiation, osteogenic differentiation, and adipogenic differentiation. TSCs were isolated from the Achilles tendons of 8-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats by enzymatic digestion method and cultured. The TSCs at passage 3 were randomly divided into 5 groups: group A (stretch strength of 4% and frequency of 1 Hz), group B (stretch strength of 4% and frequency of 2 Hz), group C (stretch strength of 8% and frequency of 1 Hz), group D (stretch strength of 8% and frequency of 2 Hz), and group E (static culture). At 12, 24, and 48 hours after mechanical stretch, the mRNA expressions of the tenogenic differentiation related genes [Scleraxis (SCX) and Tenascin C (TNC)], the osteogenic differentiation related genes [runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and distal-less homeobox 5 (DLX5)], and the adipogenic differentiation related genes [CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein-α (CEBPα) and lipoprteinlipase (LPL)] were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and the protein expressions of TNC, CEBPα, and RUNX2 were detected by Western blot. The mRNA expressions of SCX and TNC in group B were significantly higher than those in groups A, C, D, and E at 24 hours after mechanical stretch ( P <0.05). The mRNA expressions of CEBPα and LPL in group D were significantly higher than those in groups A, B, C, and E at 48 hours after mechanical stretch ( P <0.05). The mRNA expressions of RUNX2 and DLX5 in group C were significantly higher than those in groups A, B, D, and E at 24 hours after mechanical stretch ( P <0.05). Western blot detection showed that higher protein expression of TNC in group B than group E at each time point after mechanical stretch ( P <0.05), and the protein expression of CEBPα was significantly inhibited when compared with group E at 24 hours after mechanical stretch ( P <0.05). At 24 hours after mechanical stretch, the protein expression of RUNX2 in group C was significantly higher than that in group E ( P <0.05); and the protein expression of TNC was significantly lower than that in group E at 24 and 48 hours after mechanical stretch ( P <0.05). At 48 hours after mechanical stretch, the protein expression of CEBPα was significantly increased and the protein expression of TNC was significantly decreased in group D when compared with group E ( P <0.05), but no significant difference was found in the protein expression of RUNX2 between groups D and E ( P >0.05). The mechanical strain could promote differentiation of TSCs, and different parameter of stretch will lead to different differentiation. The best stretch condition for tenogenic differentiation is 4% strength and 2 Hz frequency for 24 hours; the best stretch condition for osteogenic differentiation is 8% strength and 1 Hz frequency for 24 hours; and the best stretch condition for adipogenic differentiation is 8% strength and 2 Hz frequency for 48 hours.

A conduction model for contacts to Si-doped AlGaN grown on sapphire and single-crystalline AlN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haidet, Brian B.; Bryan, Isaac; Reddy, Pramod; Bryan, Zachary; Collazo, Ramón; Sitar, Zlatko

2015-06-01

Ohmic contacts to AlGaN grown on sapphire substrates have been previously demonstrated for various compositions of AlGaN, but contacts to AlGaN grown on native AlN substrates are more difficult to obtain. In this paper, a model is developed that describes current flow through contacts to Si-doped AlGaN. This model treats the current through reverse-biased Schottky barriers as a consequence of two different tunneling-dependent conduction mechanisms in parallel, i.e., Fowler-Nordheim emission and defect-assisted Frenkel-Poole emission. At low bias, the defect-assisted tunneling dominates, but as the potential across the depletion region increases, tunneling begins to occur without the assistance of defects, and the Fowler-Nordheim emission becomes the dominant conduction mechanism. Transfer length method measurements and temperature-dependent current-voltage (I-V) measurements of Ti/Al-based contacts to Si-doped AlGaN grown on sapphire and AlN substrates support this model. Defect-assisted tunneling plays a much larger role in the contacts to AlGaN on sapphire, resulting in nearly linear I-V characteristics. In contrast, contacts to AlGaN on AlN show limited defect-assisted tunneling appear to be only semi-Ohmic.

What the Psychiatrist Needs to Know About Ventricular Assist Devices: A Comprehensive Review.

PubMed

Caro, Mario A; Rosenthal, Julie L; Kendall, Kay; Pozuelo, Leopoldo; Funk, Margo C

2016-01-01

The number of patients with end-stage heart failure using mechanical circulatory support has dramatically increased over the past decade. Left ventricular assist devices, the most common type of mechanical circulatory support, can be used as a bridge to transplant, destination therapy, and as a bridge to recovery. As this patient population continues to grow, consultation-liaison psychiatrists will become increasingly involved in their care. A thorough biopsychosocial assessment is required to ensure adequate recognition and management of medical, psychiatric, social, and ethical challenges posed by this population. We performed a literature review to identify key issues relevant to the practice of consultation-liaison psychiatrists. General functioning of left ventricular assist devices, device types, system components, life with a left ventricular assist device, preoperative evaluation, treatment of psychiatric comorbidities, and end-of-life decision-making are discussed. Consultation-liaison psychiatrists need to be familiar with the high prevalence of psychopathology in patients implanted with left ventricular assist devices. A detailed biopsychosocial formulation is required to adequately identify and, if possible, resolve a myriad of medical, psychiatric, social, and ethical challenges presented by this population. Future efforts should accurately identify and report specific psychiatric disorders and adverse events within this cohort. Copyright © 2016 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of trap-assisted tunneling on trap-assisted tunneling current in double gate tunnel field-effect transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhi, Jiang; Yi-Qi, Zhuang; Cong, Li; Ping, Wang; Yu-Qi, Liu

2016-02-01

Trap-assisted tunneling (TAT) has attracted more and more attention, because it seriously affects the sub-threshold characteristic of tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET). In this paper, we assess subthreshold performance of double gate TFET (DG-TFET) through a band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) model, including phonon-assisted scattering and acoustic surface phonons scattering. Interface state density profile (Dit) and the trap level are included in the simulation to analyze their effects on TAT current and the mechanism of gate leakage current. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61574109 and 61204092).

Attitudes on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide among medical students in Athens.

PubMed

Kontaxakis, Vp; Paplos, K G; Havaki-Kontaxaki, B J; Ferentinos, P; Kontaxaki, M-I V; Kollias, C T; Lykouras, E

2009-10-01

Attitudes towards assisted death activities among medical students, the future health gatekeepers, are scarce and controversial. The aims of this study were to explore attitudes on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide among final year medical students in Athens, to investigate potential differences in attitudes between male and female medical students and to review worldwide attitudes of medical students regarding assisted death activities. A 20- item questionnaire was used. The total number of participants was 251 (mean age 24.7±1.8 years). 52.0% and 69.7% of the respondents were for the acceptance of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, respectively. Women's attitudes were more often influenced by religious convictions as well as by the fact that there is a risk that physician-assisted suicide might be misused with certain disadvantaged groups. On the other hand, men more often believed that a request for physician-assisted suicide from a terminally ill patient is prima-facie evidence of a mental disorder, usually depression. Concerning attitudes towards euthanasia among medical students in various countries there are contradictory results. In USA, the Netherlands, Hungary and Switzerland most of the students supported euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. However, in many other countries such as Norway, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Italy, Germany, Sudan, Malaysia and Puerto Rico most students expressed negative positions regarding euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.

Effects of Liuwei Dihuang Granule ([symbols; see text]) on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization pre-embryo transfer in infertility women with Kidney-yin deficiency syndrome and the proteome expressions in the follicular fluid.

PubMed

Lian, Fang; Wu, Hai-cui; Sun, Zhen-gao; Guo, Ying; Shi, Lei; Xue, Ming-yue

2014-07-01

To observe the effects of Liuwei Dihuang Granule ([symbols; see text], LDG) for tonifying Kidney (Shen) on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization pre-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) of infertility women with Kidney-yin deficiency syndrome and to explore its mechanism by detecting the proteome expression in the follicular fluid. Sixty-six infertility patients of Kidney-yin deficiency syndrome who would undergo IVF-ET, were randomly assigned to a treatment group and a control group according to a random number table, 33 cases in each group. Another 33 cases of non-Kidney-yin deficiency syndrome was taken as a syndrome-control group. Besides Western routine therapy, LDG was given 3 menstrual cycles before IVF to the treatment group, and a placebo granule to the control and syndrome-control groups. The scores of Kidney-yin deficiency symptoms (sore waist and knees, dry vagina, dysphoria with feverish sensation in the chest, palms and soles, etc.) were assessed, the number of retrieved oocytes, rates of high quality oocytes and embryos, fertility rate and clinical pregnancy rate were recorded, and the follicular fluid was collected on the day when the ovum was picked up, the differential protein expression was detected using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and then, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was applied to identify the proteins. The syndrome score in the treatment group decreased significantly from 16.09±2.58 to 8.67±2.13, while it changed insignificantly in the control group, with a significant difference in the lowering score between the two groups (P<0.05); the high quality rates of oocytes and embryos and clinical pregnancy rate were all superior in the treatment group to the control group (82.29% vs 78.08%, 76.76% vs 68.79%, 63.64% vs 36.36%, all P<0.05). The protein expression map from the follicular fluid showed that compared with the control group, 33 differential protein expressions were found in the syndrome-control group, among which 18 were down-regulated, and 15 up-regulated; in the treatment group 28 differential protein expressions were found, among which 15 were down-regulated, and 13 up-regulated. Through MALDI-TOF-MS, 14 proteins were identified (P<0.05). For the infertility patients undergoing IVF, LDG could alleviate clinical symptoms, improve rates of high quality oocytes and embryos, so as to raise clinical pregnancy rate. The mechanism may be through regulating proteome expression in the follicular fluid to improve the developmental microenvironment for oocytes which would lead to a successful embryo implantation.

Serum proteomic profiling for autism using magnetic bead-assisted matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: a pilot study.

PubMed

Chen, Yan-Ni; Du, Hui-Ying; Shi, Zhuo-Yue; He, Li; He, Yu-Ying; Wang, Duan

2018-01-24

The pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders remains elusive and currently there are no diagnostic or predictive biomarkers in autism available. Proteomic profiling has been used in a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorder studies, which could produce deeper perceptions of the molecular bases behind certain disease and potentially becomes useful in discovering biomarkers in autism spectrum disorders. Serum samples were collected from autistic children about 3 years old in age (n = 32) and healthy controls (n = 20) in similar age and gender. The samples were identified specific proteins that are differentially expressed by magnetic bead-based pre-fractionation and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS). Eight protein peaks were significantly different in autistic children from the healthy controls (P < 0.0001). The two peaks with the most significant differences were 6428 and 7758 Da in size. According to differences in serum protein profiles between the autistic children and healthy controls, this study identified a set of differentially expressed proteins those are significant for further evaluation and might function as biomarkers in autism.

Pedagogic Approach to the Mechanisms of Personality Identity Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shakurova, Marina V.

2016-01-01

The article addresses the problem of defining and attributing pedagogic essence to the mechanisms of personality identity development. It is based on the general mechanism of social interaction. Its structure contains, on the one hand, pedagogic interaction, including the forms of pedagogic assistance and pedagogic support; on the other hand, it…

20 CFR Appendix A to Part 435 - Contract Provisions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... Assisted Construction”). Under this Act, contractors are required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at... of mechanics or laborers must include a provision for compliance with Sections 102 and 107 of the... every mechanic and laborer on the basis of a standard workweek of 40 hours. Work in excess of the...

20 CFR Appendix A to Part 435 - Contract Provisions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... Assisted Construction”). Under this Act, contractors are required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at... of mechanics or laborers must include a provision for compliance with Sections 102 and 107 of the... every mechanic and laborer on the basis of a standard workweek of 40 hours. Work in excess of the...

20 CFR Appendix A to Part 435 - Contract Provisions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... Assisted Construction”). Under this Act, contractors are required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at... of mechanics or laborers must include a provision for compliance with Sections 102 and 107 of the... every mechanic and laborer on the basis of a standard workweek of 40 hours. Work in excess of the...

Computer Assisted Introduction to Mechanics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huggins, Elisha R.

These six chapters provide an introduction to Newtonian mechanics, based on a coordinated use of text material, laboratory work, and the computer. The material is essentially self-contained so that it can serve as a short text on mechanics or as a text supplement in a regular physics course. Chapter 1 is a brief introduction to the computer…

Homologous upregulation of sst2 somatostatin receptor expression in the rat arcuate nucleus in vivo.

PubMed

Tannenbaum, G S; Turner, J; Guo, F; Videau, C; Epelbaum, J; Beaudet, A

2001-07-01

In vitro studies using various cell systems have provided conflicting results regarding homologous regulation of somatostatin (SRIH) receptors, and information on whether SRIH regulates the expression of its own receptors in vivo is lacking. In the present study we examined, by in situ hybridization, the effects of pretreatment with the sst2-preferring SRIH analog, octreotide, in vivo, on mRNA levels of two SRIH receptor subtypes, sst1 and sst2, in rat brain and pituitary. (125)I-[DTrp(8)]-SRIH binding was also measured in these regions. Three hours after the iv injection of 50 microg octreotide to conscious adult male rats, there was a 46% increase (p < 0.01) in the labeling density of sst2 mRNA-expressing cells in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus compared to normal saline-pretreated controls, but not in any of the other brain regions examined. Computer-assisted image analysis revealed that 3 h exposure to octreotide significantly (p < 0.01) augmented both the number and labeling density of sst2 mRNA-expressing cells in the arcuate nucleus, compared to those in saline-treated controls. By contrast, within the anterior pituitary gland, in vivo exposure to octreotide did not affect the expression of sst2 mRNA. No changes in sst1 mRNA-expressing cells were observed after octreotide treatment in any of the regions measured, indicating that the observed effects were homologous, i.e. specific of the receptor subtype stimulated. Octreotide pretreatment was also without effect on the density of (125)I-[DTrp(8)]-SRIH binding in either the arcuate nucleus or pituitary. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that SRIH preexposure in vivo upregulates the expression of a subtype of its own receptors, sst2, within the central nervous system. They further suggest that pretreatment with SRIH in vivo does not cause sst2 receptor desensitization in arcuate nucleus and pituitary. Such homologous regulatory mechanisms may play an important role in the neuroendocrine control of growth hormone (GH) secretion by the arcuate nucleus. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

Anatomically constrained neural network models for the categorization of facial expression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McMenamin, Brenton W.; Assadi, Amir H.

2004-12-01

The ability to recognize facial expression in humans is performed with the amygdala which uses parallel processing streams to identify the expressions quickly and accurately. Additionally, it is possible that a feedback mechanism may play a role in this process as well. Implementing a model with similar parallel structure and feedback mechanisms could be used to improve current facial recognition algorithms for which varied expressions are a source for error. An anatomically constrained artificial neural-network model was created that uses this parallel processing architecture and feedback to categorize facial expressions. The presence of a feedback mechanism was not found to significantly improve performance for models with parallel architecture. However the use of parallel processing streams significantly improved accuracy over a similar network that did not have parallel architecture. Further investigation is necessary to determine the benefits of using parallel streams and feedback mechanisms in more advanced object recognition tasks.

Anatomically constrained neural network models for the categorization of facial expression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McMenamin, Brenton W.; Assadi, Amir H.

2005-01-01

The ability to recognize facial expression in humans is performed with the amygdala which uses parallel processing streams to identify the expressions quickly and accurately. Additionally, it is possible that a feedback mechanism may play a role in this process as well. Implementing a model with similar parallel structure and feedback mechanisms could be used to improve current facial recognition algorithms for which varied expressions are a source for error. An anatomically constrained artificial neural-network model was created that uses this parallel processing architecture and feedback to categorize facial expressions. The presence of a feedback mechanism was not found to significantly improve performance for models with parallel architecture. However the use of parallel processing streams significantly improved accuracy over a similar network that did not have parallel architecture. Further investigation is necessary to determine the benefits of using parallel streams and feedback mechanisms in more advanced object recognition tasks.

Mechanical stress-induced interleukin-1beta expression through adenosine triphosphate/P2X7 receptor activation in human periodontal ligament cells.

PubMed

Kanjanamekanant, K; Luckprom, P; Pavasant, P

2013-04-01

Mechanical stress is an important factor in maintaining homeostasis of the periodontium. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) are considered potent inflammatory mediators. In macrophages, ATP-activated P2X7 receptor is involved in IL-1β processing and release. Our previous works demonstrated mechanical stress-induced expression of osteopontin and RANKL through the ATP/P2Y1 receptor in human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells. This study was designed to examine the effect of mechanical stress on IL-1β expression in HPDL cells, as well as the mechanism and involvement of ATP and the P2 purinergic receptor. Cultured HPDL cells were treated with continuous compressive loading. IL-1β expression was analyzed at both mRNA and protein levels, using RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Cell viability was examined using the MTT assay. ATP was also used to stimulate HPDL cells. Inhibitors, antagonists and the small interfering RNA (siRNA) technique were used to investigate the role of ATP and the specific P2 subtypes responsible for IL-1β induction along with the intracellular mechanism. Mechanical stress could up-regulate IL-1β expression through the release of ATP in HPDL cells. ATP alone was also capable of increasing IL-1β expression. The induction of IL-1β was markedly inhibited by inhibitors and by siRNA targeting the P2X7 receptor. ATP-stimulated IL-1β expression was also diminished by intracellular calcium inhibitors. Our work clearly indicates the capability of HPDL cells to respond directly to mechanical stimulation. The results signified the important roles of ATP/P2 purinergic receptors, as well as intracellular calcium signaling, in mechanical stress-induced inflammation via up-regulation of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, in HPDL cells. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

75 FR 11912 - Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-12

...), to laborers and mechanics on most federally financed or assisted construction projects. 40 U.S.C... laborers or mechanics. See 40 U.S.C. 3702(a) and 29 CFR. 5.5(b)(1). The requirements of this information...

Hyperglycemia Augments the Adipogenic Transdifferentiation Potential of Tenocytes and Is Alleviated by Cyclic Mechanical Stretch.

PubMed

Wu, Yu-Fu; Huang, Yu-Ting; Wang, Hsing-Kuo; Yao, Chung-Chen Jane; Sun, Jui-Sheng; Chao, Yuan-Hung

2017-12-28

Diabetes mellitus is associated with damage to tendons, which may result from cellular dysfunction in response to a hyperglycemic environment. Tenocytes express diminished levels of tendon-associated genes under hyperglycemic conditions. In contrast, mechanical stretch enhances tenogenic differentiation. However, whether hyperglycemia increases the non-tenogenic differentiation potential of tenocytes and whether this can be mitigated by mechanical stretch remains elusive. We explored the in vitro effects of high glucose and mechanical stretch on rat primary tenocytes. Specifically, non-tenogenic gene expression, adipogenic potential, cell migration rate, filamentous actin expression, and the activation of signaling pathways were analyzed in tenocytes treated with high glucose, followed by the presence or absence of mechanical stretch. We analyzed tenocyte phenotype in vivo by immunohistochemistry using an STZ (streptozotocin)-induced long-term diabetic mouse model. High glucose-treated tenocytes expressed higher levels of the adipogenic transcription factors PPAR γ and C/EBPs. PPARγ was also highly expressed in diabetic tendons. In addition, increased adipogenic differentiation and decreased cell migration induced by high glucose implicated a fibroblast-to-adipocyte phenotypic change. By applying mechanical stretch to tenocytes in high-glucose conditions, adipogenic differentiation was repressed, while cell motility was enhanced, and fibroblastic morphology and gene expression profiles were strengthened. In part, these effects resulted from a stretch-induced activation of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinases) and a concomitant inactivation of Akt. Our results show that mechanical stretch alleviates the augmented adipogenic transdifferentiation potential of high glucose-treated tenocytes and helps maintain their fibroblastic characteristics. The alterations induced by high glucose highlight possible pathological mechanisms for diabetic tendinopathy. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of mechanical stretch on tenocytes suggest that an appropriate physical load possesses therapeutic potential for diabetic tendinopathy.

Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE)-Induced Elevated Expression of the E1 Isoform of Methyl CpG Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2E1): Implications in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)-Induced Neurological Disability and Associated Myelin Damage.

PubMed

Khorshid Ahmad, Tina; Zhou, Ting; AlTaweel, Khaled; Cortes, Claudia; Lillico, Ryan; Lakowski, Ted Martin; Gozda, Kiana; Namaka, Michael Peter

2017-06-12

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease characterized by the destruction of central nervous system (CNS) myelin. At present, there is no cure for MS due to the inability to repair damaged myelin. Although the neurotrophin brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a beneficial role in myelin repair, these effects may be hampered by the over-expression of a transcriptional repressor isoform of methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) called MeCP2E1. We hypothesize that following experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-induced myelin damage, the immune system induction of the pathogenic MeCP2E1 isoform hampers the myelin repair process by repressing BDNF expression. Using an EAE model of MS, we identify the temporal gene and protein expression changes of MeCP2E1, MeCP2E2 and BDNF. The expression changes of these key biological targets were then correlated with the temporal changes in neurological disability scores (NDS) over the entire disease course. Our results indicate that MeCP2E1 mRNA levels are elevated in EAE animals relative to naïve control (NC) and active control (AC) animals during all time points of disease progression. Our results suggest that the EAE-induced elevations in MeCP2E1 expression contribute to the repressed BDNF production in the spinal cord (SC). The sub-optimal levels of BDNF result in sustained NDS and associated myelin damage throughout the entire disease course. Conversely, we observed no significant differences in the expression patterns displayed for the MeCP2E2 isoform amongst our experimental groups. However, our results demonstrate that baseline protein expression ratios between the MeCP2E1 versus MeCP2E2 isoforms in the SC are higher than those identified within the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Thus, the DRG represents a more conducive environment than that of the SC for BDNF production and transport to the CNS to assist in myelin repair. Henceforth, the sub-optimal BDNF levels we report in the SC may arise from the elevated MeCP2E1 vs. MeCP2E2 ratio in the SC that creates a more hostile environment thereby preventing local BDNF production. At the level of transcript, we demonstrate that EAE-induces the pathological enhanced expression of MeCP2E1 that contributes to enhanced NDS during the entire disease course. Thus, the pathological induction of the MeCP2E1 isoform contributes to the disruption of the normal homeostatic signaling equilibrium network that exists between cytokines, neurotrophins and chemokines that regulate the myelin repair process by repressing BDNF. Our research suggests that the elevated ratio of MeCP2E1 relative to MeCP2E2 may be a useful diagnostic marker that clinicians can utilize to determine the degree of neurological disability with associated myelin damage. The elevated MeCP2E1 vs. MeCP2E2 ratios (E1/E2) in the SC prevent BDNF from reaching optimal levels required for myelin repair. Thus, the lower E1/E2 ratios in the DRG, allow the DRG to serve as a weak secondary compensatory mechanism for enhanced production and delivery of BDNF to the SC to try to assist in myelin repair.

Charge Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Droplets

PubMed Central

Jorabchi, Kaveh; Westphall, Michael S.; Smith, Lloyd M.

2008-01-01

We propose and evaluate a new mechanism to account for analyte ion signal enhancement in ultraviolet-laser desorption mass spectrometry of droplets in the presence of corona ions. Our new insights are based on timing control of corona ion production, laser desorption, and peptide ion extraction achieved by a novel pulsed corona apparatus. We demonstrate that droplet charging rather than gas-phase ion-neutral reactions is the major contributor to analyte ion generation from an electrically isolated droplet. Implications of the new mechanism, termed charge assisted laser desorption/ionization (CALDI), are discussed and contrasted to those of the laser desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization method (LD-APCI). It is also demonstrated that analyte ion generation in CALDI occurs with external electric fields about one order of magnitude lower than those needed for atmospheric pressure matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization or electrospray ionization of droplets. PMID:18387311

Study on ultrasonic assisted mechanism of ring opening polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ling, Huaxu; Yu, Xiaoxiang; Wang, Shifan; Wang, Xiaohui; Dong, Liming

2018-06-01

In this study, the linear high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxanes(PDMS) were synthesized by ultrasonic-assisted bulk ring-opening polymerization method, with D4 as the raw material, hexamethyldisilane(HMDS) as the capping agent and concentrated sulfuric acid as the catalyst. The mechanism of ring-opening polymerization assisted by ultrasound is discussed in detail, through the ultrasonic time, ultrasonic intensity and reaction temperature and other factors. The results showed that D4 ring-opening polymerization and PDMS depolymerization was a pair of reversible equilibrium reaction. Due to the influence of steric hindrance and viscosity, the ultrasonic action appears as the driving effect of D4 ring opening at the initial reaction, and the chain exchange or depolymerization of PDMS at the end of the reaction. Therefore, ultrasonic irradiation is believed to facilitate the rapid synthesis of high molecular weight PDMS at high monomer concentrations.

Making Peer-Assisted Content Distribution Robust to Collusion Using Bandwidth Puzzles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reiter, Michael K.; Sekar, Vyas; Spensky, Chad; Zhang, Zhenghao

Many peer-assisted content-distribution systems reward a peer based on the amount of data that this peer serves to others. However, validating that a peer did so is, to our knowledge, an open problem; e.g., a group of colluding attackers can earn rewards by claiming to have served content to one another, when they have not. We propose a puzzle mechanism to make contribution-aware peer-assisted content distribution robust to such collusion. Our construction ties solving the puzzle to possession of specific content and, by issuing puzzle challenges simultaneously to all parties claiming to have that content, our mechanism prevents one content-holder from solving many others' puzzles. We prove (in the random oracle model) the security of our scheme, describe our integration of bandwidth puzzles into a media streaming system, and demonstrate the resulting attack resilience via simulations.

Whole-Transcriptome and -Genome Analysis of Extensively Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clinical Isolates Identifies Downregulation of ethA as a Mechanism of Ethionamide Resistance

PubMed Central

de Welzen, Lynne; Eldholm, Vegard; Maharaj, Kashmeel; Manson, Abigail L.; Earl, Ashlee M.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Genetics-based drug susceptibility testing has improved the diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis but is limited by our lack of knowledge of all resistance mechanisms. Next-generation sequencing has assisted in identifying the principal genetic mechanisms of resistance for many drugs, but a significant proportion of phenotypic drug resistance is unexplained genetically. Few studies have formally compared the transcriptomes of susceptible and resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. We carried out comparative whole-genome transcriptomics of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) clinical isolates using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to find novel transcription-mediated mechanisms of resistance. We identified a promoter mutation (t to c) at position −11 (t−11c) relative to the start codon of ethA that reduces the expression of a monooxygenase (EthA) that activates ethionamide. (In this article, nucleotide changes are lowercase and amino acid substitutions are uppercase.) Using a flow cytometry-based reporter assay, we show that the reduced transcription of ethA is not due to transcriptional repression by ethR. Clinical strains harboring this mutation were resistant to ethionamide. Other ethA promoter mutations were identified in a global genomic survey of resistant M. tuberculosis strains. These results demonstrate a new mechanism of ethionamide resistance that can cause high-level resistance when it is combined with other ethionamide resistance-conferring mutations. Our study revealed many other genes which were highly up- or downregulated in XDR strains, including a toxin-antitoxin module (mazF5 mazE5) and tRNAs (leuX and thrU). This suggests that global transcriptional modifications could contribute to resistance or the maintenance of bacterial fitness have also occurred in XDR strains. PMID:28993337

The SANT domain of human MI-ER1 interacts with Sp1 to interfere with GC box recognition and repress transcription from its own promoter.

PubMed

Ding, Zhihu; Gillespie, Laura L; Mercer, F Corinne; Paterno, Gary D

2004-07-02

To gain insight into the regulation of hmi-er1 expression, we cloned a human genomic DNA fragment containing one of the two hmi-er1 promoters and consisting of 1460 bp upstream of the translation initiation codon of hMI-ER1. Computer-assisted sequence analysis revealed that the hmi-er1 promoter region contains a CpG island but lacks an identifiable TATA element, initiator sequence and downstream promoter element. This genomic DNA was able to direct transcription of a luciferase reporter gene in a variety of human cell lines, and the minimal promoter was shown to be located within-68/+144 bp. Several putative Sp1 binding sites were identified, and we show that Sp1 can bind to the hmi-er1 minimal promoter and increase transcription, suggesting that the level of hmi-er1 expression may depend on the availability of Sp1 protein. Functional analysis revealed that hMI-ER1 represses Sp1-activated transcription from the minimal promoter by a histone deacetylase-independent mechanism. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that both Sp1 and hMI-ER1 are associated with the chromatin of the hmi-er1 promoter and that overexpression of hMI-ER1 in cell lines that allow Tet-On-inducible expression resulted in loss of detectable Sp1 from the endogenous hmi-er1 promoter. The mechanism by which this occurs does not involve binding of hMI-ER1 to cis-acting elements. Instead, we show that hMI-ER1 physically associates with Sp1 and that endogenous complexes containing the two proteins could be detected in vivo. Furthermore, hMI-ER1 specifically interferes with binding of Sp1 to the hmi-er1 minimal promoter as well as to an Sp1 consensus oligonucleotide. Deletion analysis revealed that this interaction occurs through a region containing the SANT domain of hMI-ER1. Together, these data reveal a functional role for the SANT domain in the action of co-repressor regulatory factors and suggest that the association of hMI-ER1 with Sp1 represents a novel mechanism for the negative regulation of Sp1 target promoters.

Tick salivary compounds: their role in modulation of host defences and pathogen transmission

PubMed Central

Kazimírová, Mária; Štibrániová, Iveta

2013-01-01

Ticks require blood meal to complete development and reproduction. Multifunctional tick salivary glands play a pivotal role in tick feeding and transmission of pathogens. Tick salivary molecules injected into the host modulate host defence responses to the benefit of the feeding ticks. To colonize tick organs, tick-borne microorganisms must overcome several barriers, i.e., tick gut membrane, tick immunity, and moulting. Tick-borne pathogens co-evolved with their vectors and hosts and developed molecular adaptations to avoid adverse effects of tick and host defences. Large gaps exist in the knowledge of survival strategies of tick-borne microorganisms and on the molecular mechanisms of tick-host-pathogen interactions. Prior to transmission to a host, the microorganisms penetrate and multiply in tick salivary glands. As soon as the tick is attached to a host, gene expression and production of salivary molecules is upregulated, primarily to facilitate feeding and avoid tick rejection by the host. Pathogens exploit tick salivary molecules for their survival and multiplication in the vector and transmission to and establishment in the hosts. Promotion of pathogen transmission by bioactive molecules in tick saliva was described as saliva-assisted transmission (SAT). SAT candidates comprise compounds with anti-haemostatic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions, but the molecular mechanisms by which they mediate pathogen transmission are largely unknown. To date only a few tick salivary molecules associated with specific pathogen transmission have been identified and their functions partially elucidated. Advanced molecular techniques are applied in studying tick-host-pathogen interactions and provide information on expression of vector and pathogen genes during pathogen acquisition, establishment and transmission. Understanding the molecular events on the tick-host-pathogen interface may lead to development of new strategies to control tick-borne diseases. PMID:23971008

Identification of changes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds proteome in response to anti-trx s gene.

PubMed

Guo, Hongxiang; Zhang, Huizhen; Li, Yongchun; Ren, Jiangping; Wang, Xiang; Niu, Hongbin; Yin, Jun

2011-01-01

Thioredoxin h (trx h) is closely related to germination of cereal seeds. The cDNA sequences of the thioredoxin s (trx s) gene from Phalaris coerulescens and the thioredoxin h (trx h) gene from wheat are highly homologous, and their expression products have similar biological functions. Transgenic wheat had been formed after the antisense trx s was transferred into wheat, and it had been certified that the expression of trx h decreased in transgenic wheat, and transgenic wheat has high resistance to pre-harvest sprouting. Through analyzing the differential proteome of wheat seeds between transgenic wheat and wild type wheat, the mechanism of transgenic wheat seeds having high resistance to pre-harvest sprouting was studied in the present work. There were 36 differential proteins which had been identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). All these differential proteins are involved in regulation of carbohydrates, esters, nucleic acid, proteins and energy metabolism, and biological stress. The quantitative real time PCR results of some differential proteins, such as trx h, heat shock protein 70, α-amylase, β-amylase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 14-3-3 protein, S3-RNase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and WRKY transcription factor 6, represented good correlation between transcripts and proteins. The biological functions of many differential proteins are consistent with the proposed role of trx h in wheat seeds. A possible model for the role of trx h in wheat seeds germination was proposed in this paper. These results will not only play an important role in clarifying the mechanism that transgenic wheat has high resistance to pre-harvest sprouting, but also provide further evidence for the role of trx h in germination of wheat seeds.

De novo sequencing and analysis of the transcriptome during the browning of fresh-cut Luffa cylindrica 'Fusi-3' fruits

PubMed Central

Chen, Mindong; Wang, Bin; Zhang, Qianrong; Xue, Zhuzheng

2017-01-01

Fresh-cut luffa (Luffa cylindrica) fruits commonly undergo browning. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating this process. We used the RNA-seq technique to analyze the transcriptomic changes occurring during the browning of fresh-cut fruits from luffa cultivar ‘Fusi-3’. Over 90 million high-quality reads were assembled into 58,073 Unigenes, and 60.86% of these were annotated based on sequences in four public databases. We detected 35,282 Unigenes with significant hits to sequences in the NCBInr database, and 24,427 Unigenes encoded proteins with sequences that were similar to those of known proteins in the Swiss-Prot database. Additionally, 20,546 and 13,021 Unigenes were similar to existing sequences in the Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups of proteins and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases, respectively. Furthermore, 27,301 Unigenes were differentially expressed during the browning of fresh-cut luffa fruits (i.e., after 1–6 h). Moreover, 11 genes from five gene families (i.e., PPO, PAL, POD, CAT, and SOD) identified as potentially associated with enzymatic browning as well as four WRKY transcription factors were observed to be differentially regulated in fresh-cut luffa fruits. With the assistance of rapid amplification of cDNA ends technology, we obtained the full-length sequences of the 15 Unigenes. We also confirmed these Unigenes were expressed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. This study provides a comprehensive transcriptome sequence resource, and may facilitate further studies aimed at identifying genes affecting luffa fruit browning for the exploitation of the underlying mechanism. PMID:29145430

[Importance of mechanical assist devices in acute circulatory arrest].

PubMed

Ferrari, Markus Wolfgang

2016-03-01

Mechanical assist devices are indicated for hemodynamic stabilization in acute circulatory arrest if conventional means of cardiopulmonary resuscitation are unable to re-establish adequate organ perfusion. Their temporary use facilitates further diagnostic and therapeutic options in selected patients, e.g. coronary angiography followed by revascularization.External thorax compression devices allow sufficient cardiac massage in case of preclinical or in-hospital circulatory arrest, especially under complex transfer conditions. These devices perform standardized thorax compressions at a rate of 80-100 per minute. Invasive mechanical support devices are used in the catheter laboratory or in the intensive care unit. Axial turbine pumps, e.g. the Impella, continuously pump blood from the left ventricle into the aortic root. The Impella can also provide right ventricle support by pumping blood from the vena cava into the pulmonary artery. So-called emergency systems or ECMO devices consist of a centrifugal pump and a membrane oxygenator allowing complete takeover of cardiac and pulmonary functions. Withdrawing blood from the right atrium and vena cava, oxygenated blood is returned to the abdominal aorta. Isolated centrifugal pumps provide left heart support without an oxygenator after transseptal insertion of a venous cannula into the left atrium.Mechanical assist devices are indicated for acute organ protection and hemodynamic stabilization for diagnostic and therapeutic measures as well as bridge to myocardial recovery. Future technical developments and better insights into the pathophysiology of mechanical circulatory support will broaden the spectrum of indications of such devices in acute circulatory arrest.

Influences of Duration of Inspiratory Effort, Respiratory Mechanics, and Ventilator Type on Asynchrony With Pressure Support and Proportional Assist Ventilation.

PubMed

Vasconcelos, Renata S; Sales, Raquel P; Melo, Luíz H de P; Marinho, Liégina S; Bastos, Vasco Pd; Nogueira, Andréa da Nc; Ferreira, Juliana C; Holanda, Marcelo A

2017-05-01

Pressure support ventilation (PSV) is often associated with patient-ventilator asynchrony. Proportional assist ventilation (PAV) offers inspiratory assistance proportional to patient effort, minimizing patient-ventilator asynchrony. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of respiratory mechanics and patient effort on patient-ventilator asynchrony during PSV and PAV plus (PAV+). We used a mechanical lung simulator and studied 3 respiratory mechanics profiles (normal, obstructive, and restrictive), with variations in the duration of inspiratory effort: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 s. The Auto-Trak system was studied in ventilators when available. Outcome measures included inspiratory trigger delay, expiratory trigger asynchrony, and tidal volume (V T ). Inspiratory trigger delay was greater in the obstructive respiratory mechanics profile and greatest with a effort of 2.0 s (160 ms); cycling asynchrony, particularly delayed cycling, was common in the obstructive profile, whereas the restrictive profile was associated with premature cycling. In comparison with PSV, PAV+ improved patient-ventilator synchrony, with a shorter triggering delay (28 ms vs 116 ms) and no cycling asynchrony in the restrictive profile. V T was lower with PAV+ than with PSV (630 mL vs 837 mL), as it was with the single-limb circuit ventilator (570 mL vs 837 mL). PAV+ mode was associated with longer cycling delays than were the other ventilation modes, especially for the obstructive profile and higher effort values. Auto-Trak eliminated automatic triggering. Mechanical ventilation asynchrony was influenced by effort, respiratory mechanics, ventilator type, and ventilation mode. In PSV mode, delayed cycling was associated with shorter effort in obstructive respiratory mechanics profiles, whereas premature cycling was more common with longer effort and a restrictive profile. PAV+ prevented premature cycling but not delayed cycling, especially in obstructive respiratory mechanics profiles, and it was associated with a lower V T . Copyright © 2017 by Daedalus Enterprises.

Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Temporary Right Ventricular Assist Device Support for Acute Right Ventricular Failure During Minimally Invasive Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

PubMed

Schaefer, Andreas; Reichart, Daniel; Bernhardt, Alexander M; Kubik, Mathias; Barten, Markus J; Wagner, Florian M; Reichenspurner, Hermann; Philipp, Sebastian A; Deuse, Tobias

Right ventricular failure (RVF) may still occur despite the benefits of minimally invasive left ventricular assist device (MI-LVAD) implantation. Our center strategy aims to avoid aggressive postoperative inotrope use by using mechanical support to facilitate right ventricle recovery and adaptation. We herein report first outcomes of patients with minimally invasive temporary right ventricular assist device (MI-t-RVAD) support for RVF during MI-LVAD implantation. Right ventricular failure was defined as requiring more than moderate inotopic support after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass according to Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support adverse event definitions. All patients requiring MI-t-RVAD support for RVF during MI-LVAD implantation between January, 2012 and April, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical endpoints were death or unsuccessful RVAD weaning. Overall 10 patients (90% male, mean age 49.6 ± 14.8 years) underwent MI-t-RVAD implantation. Duration of MI-t-RVAD support was 16.2 ± 11.6 days. Right ventricular assist device weaning and subsequent uneventful awake device explantation was successful in all cases. The 30 day survival was 80%. Our results confirm safety and feasibility of MI-t-RVAD support for acute RVF in the setting of MI-LVAD implantation. The potential benefits of this strategy are more stable hemodynamics in the first postoperative days that usually are crucial for LVAD patients and reduced inotrope requirement.

A Low-Testosterone State Associated with Endometrioma Leads to the Apoptosis of Granulosa Cells

PubMed Central

Ono, Yoshihiro J.; Tanabe, Akiko; Nakamura, Yoko; Yamamoto, Hikaru; Hayashi, Atsushi; Tanaka, Tomohito; Sasaki, Hiroshi; Hayashi, Masami; Terai, Yoshito; Ohmichi, Masahide

2014-01-01

Although endometriosis is suspected to be a cause of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), the mechanism(s) underlying this process have not been elucidated. Recently, androgens were shown to promote oocyte maturation and to play a role in folliculogenesis. In addition, several reports have documented low testosterone levels in the follicular fluid obtained from endometriosis patients. We therefore examined whether the low levels of serum testosterone are associated with the apoptosis of granulosa cells in follicles obtained from endometriosis patients. Serum samples were collected from 46 patients with endometriosis and from 62 patients without endometriosis who received assisted reproductive therapy. Specimens of the ovaries obtained from 10 patients with endometrioma were collected using laparoscopy. The mean serum testosterone concentration in the patients with endometriosis was significantly lower than that observed in the patients without endometriosis. Furthermore, high expression of a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 member, BimEL, in the follicles was found to be associated with a low serum testosterone level. We clarified the underlying mechanisms using a basic approach employing human immortalized granulosa cells derived from a primary human granulosa cell tumor, the COV434 cell line. The in vitro examination demonstrated that testosterone inhibited apoptosis induced by sex steroids depletion via the PI3K/Akt-FoxO3a pathway in the COV434 cells. In conclusion, we elucidated the mechanism underlying the anti-apoptotic effects of testosterone on granulosa cells, and found that a low-testosterone status is a potentially important step in the development of premature ovarian insufficiency in patients with endometriosis. PMID:25536335

Effect of l-lysine-assisted surface grafting for nano-hydroxyapatite on mechanical properties and in vitro bioactivity of poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid).

PubMed

Liuyun, Jiang; Lixin, Jiang; Chengdong, Xiong; Lijuan, Xu; Ye, Li

2016-01-01

It is promising and challenging to study surface modification for nano-hydroxyapatite to improve the dispersion and enhance the mechanical properties and bioactivity of poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid). In this paper, we designed an effective new surface grafting with the assist of l-lysine for nano-hydroxyapatite, and the nano-hydroxyapatite surface grafted with the assist of l-lysine (g-nano-hydroxyapatite) was incorporated into poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) to develop a series of g-nano-hydroxyapatite/poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) nano-composites. The surface modification reaction for nano-hydroxyapatite, the mechanical properties, and in vitro human osteoblast-like cell (MG-63) response were characterized and investigated by Fourier transformation infrared, thermal gravimetric analysis, dispersion test, electromechanical universal tester, differential scanning calorimeter measurements, and in vitro cells culture experiment. The results showed that the grafting amount on the surface of nano-hydroxyapatite was enhanced with the increase of l-lysine, and the dispersion of nano-hydroxyapatite was improved more, so that it brought about better promotion crystallization and more excellent mechanical enhancement effect for poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), comparing with the unmodified nano-hydroxyapatite. Moreover, the cells' attachment and proliferation results confirmed that the incorporation of the g-nano-hydroxyapatite into poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) exhibited better biocompatibility than poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid). The above results indicated that the new surface grafting with the assist of l-lysine for nano-hydroxyapatite was an ideal novel surface modification method, which brought about better mechanical enhancement effect and in vitro bioactivity for poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) with adding higher g-nano-hydroxyapatite content, suggesting it had a great potential to be used as bone fracture internal fixation materials in future. © The Author(s) 2015.

Determination of krypton diffusion coefficients in uranium dioxide using atomic scale calculations

DOE PAGES

Vathonne, Emerson; Andersson, David Ragnar Anders; Freyss, Michel; ...

2016-12-16

We present a study of the diffusion of krypton in UO 2 using atomic scale calculations combined with diffusion models adapted to the system studied. The migration barriers of the elementary mechanisms for interstitial or vacancy assisted migration are calculated in the DFT + U framework using the nudged elastic band method. The attempt frequencies are obtained from the phonon modes of the defect at the initial and saddle points using empirical potential methods. The diffusion coefficients of Kr in UO 2 are then calculated by combining this data with diffusion models accounting for the concentration of vacancies and themore » interaction of vacancies with Kr atoms. We determined the preferred mechanism for Kr migration and the corresponding diffusion coefficient as a function of the oxygen chemical potential μ O or nonstoichiometry. For very hypostoichiometric (or U-rich) conditions, the most favorable mechanism is interstitial migration. For hypostoichiometric UO 2, migration is assisted by the bound Schottky defect and the charged uranium vacancy, V U 4–. Around stoichiometry, migration assisted by the charged uranium–oxygen divacancy (V UO 2–) and V U 4– is the favored mechanism. Finally, for hyperstoichiometric or O-rich conditions, the migration assisted by two V U 4– dominates. Kr migration is enhanced at higher μ O, and in this regime, the activation energy will be between 4.09 and 0.73 eV depending on nonstoichiometry. The experimental values available are in the latter interval. Since it is very probable that these values were obtained for at least slightly hyperstoichiometric samples, our activation energies are consistent with the experimental data, even if further experiments with precisely controlled stoichiometry are needed to confirm these results. Finally, the mechanisms and trends with nonstoichiometry established for Kr are similar to those found in previous studies of Xe.« less

Lycopene ameliorates neuropathic pain by upregulating spinal astrocytic connexin 43 expression.

PubMed

Zhang, Fang Fang; Morioka, Norimitsu; Kitamura, Tomoya; Fujii, Shiori; Miyauchi, Kazuki; Nakamura, Yoki; Hisaoka-Nakashima, Kazue; Nakata, Yoshihiro

2016-06-15

Peripheral nerve injury upregulates tumor necrosis factor (TNF) expression. In turn, connexin 43 (Cx43) expression in spinal astrocytes is downregulated by TNF. Therefore, restoration of spinal astrocyte Cx43 expression to normal level could lead to the reduction of nerve injury-induced pain. While the non-provitaminic carotenoid lycopene reverses thermal hyperalgesia in mice with painful diabetic neuropathy, the antinociceptive mechanism is not entirely clear. The current study evaluated whether the antinociceptive effect of lycopene is mediated through the modulation of Cx43 expression in spinal astrocytes. The effect of lycopene on Cx43 expression was examined in cultured rat spinal astrocytes. The effect of intrathecal lycopene on Cx43 expression and neuropathic pain were evaluated in mice with partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL). Treatment of cultured rat spinal astrocytes with lycopene reversed TNF-induced downregulation of Cx43 protein expression through a transcription-independent mechanism. By contrast, treatment of cultured spinal astrocytes with either pro-vitamin A carotenoid β-carotene or antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine had no effect on TNF-induced downregulation of Cx43 protein expression. In addition, repeated, but not single, intrathecal treatment with lycopene of mice with a partial sciatic nerve ligation significantly prevented not only the downregulation of Cx43 expression in spinal dorsal horn but mechanical hypersensitivity as well. The current findings suggest a significant spinal mechanism that mediates the analgesic effect of lycopene, through the restoration of normal spinal Cx43 expression. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Employee assistance program services for intimate partner violence and client satisfaction with these services.

PubMed

Pollack, Keshia M; McKay, Tasseli; Cumminskey, Chris; Clinton-Sherrod, A Monique; Lindquist, Christine H; Lasater, Beth M; Walters, Jennifer L Hardison; Krotki, Karol; Grisso, Jeane Ann

2010-08-01

To describe intimate partner violence (IPV) services available through employee assistance programs (EAPs) and determine women's satisfaction with these services. A mixed-methods study consisting of semistructured telephone interviews with 28 EAPs about IPV-related services and a national web-based survey of 1765 women regarding their interactions with EAPs when seeking IPV-related assistance. Data were collected in the fall of 2008. EAPs provide fairly extensive services to individuals experiencing IPV. Satisfaction with EAP services for IPV was significantly associated with annual income and the type of help received from the EAP, but not with type of IPV experienced. EAP representatives described challenges with accurately identifying IPV victims and women expressed concerns with confidentiality. Future efforts to enhance the ability of EAPs to respond effectively to IPV should address confidentially and strengthen how IPV-related assistance is delivered.

Differential hippocampal protein expression between normal aged rats and aged rats with postoperative cognitive dysfunction: A proteomic analysis.

PubMed

Li, Yang; Wang, Saiying; Ran, Ke; Hu, Zhonghua; Liu, Zhaoqian; Duan, Kaiming

2015-08-01

The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in the expression of hippocampal proteins between normal control aged rats and aged rats with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). A total of 24 aged rats were randomly divided into a surgery group (n=12) and a control group (n=12). The rats in the surgery group were treated with 2 h isoflurane anesthesia and splenectomy, while the rats in the control group received 40% oxygen for 2 h without surgery. The cognitive functions of the two groups were examined using a Y-maze test. The protein expression profiles of the hippocampus of six aged rats (three rats with POCD and three from the normal control group) were assessed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. A total of three differential proteins were further confirmed between the POCD rats and normal rats using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression levels of 21 proteins in the rats with POCD were significantly different compared with the normal control rats. These proteins were functionally clustered to synaptic plasticity (three proteins), oxidative stress (four proteins), energy production (six proteins), neuroinflammation (three proteins) and glutamate metabolism (two proteins). In addition, three proteins (fatty acid binding protein 7, brain, glutamate dehydrogenase 1 and glutamine synthetase), associated with astrocytic function, were significantly different in the rats with POCD compared with those in the normal control (P<0.05). Similar changes in the mRNA expression levels of the three proteins in the hippocampi of POCD rats were also detected using RT-qPCR. Neuroinflammation, glutamate toxicity and oxidative stress were possibly involved in the pathological mechanism underlying POCD in aged rats. In addition, astrocytes may also be important in POCD in aged rats.

Spermatozoa from patients with seminal alterations exhibit a differential micro-ribonucleic acid profile.

PubMed

Salas-Huetos, Albert; Blanco, Joan; Vidal, Francesca; Godo, Anna; Grossmann, Mark; Pons, Maria Carme; F-Fernández, Silvia; Garrido, Nicolás; Anton, Ester

2015-09-01

To compare the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile in spermatozoa from three infertile populations vs. a group of fertile men. Evaluation of the expression level of 736 miRNAs in human spermatozoa using TaqMan quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. University research facility. Semen samples with a single seminal alteration were collected from infertile individuals: asthenozoospermic (n = 10), teratozoospermic (n = 10), and oligozoospermic (n = 10). None. Correlation of the expression level of each miRNA with seminal parameters, age, and chromosome instability; clustering of the individuals according to their miRNA expression profiles and influence of the seminogram, age, chromosome instability, and assisted reproductive technology outcome in the clustering; analysis of the differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in each infertile population; genome annotation of these DE-miRNAs; and ontological analysis of their predicted targets. The hsa-miR-34b-3p correlated with age, the hsa-miR-629-3p with sperm motility, and the hsa-miR-335-5p, hsa-miR-885-5p, and hsa-miR-152-3p with sperm concentration. The individuals clustered into two groups, and only the seminogram was differentially distributed. We identified 32 DE-miRNAs in the asthenozoospermic group, 19 in the teratozoospermic group, and 18 in the oligozoospermic group. The up-regulated miRNAs presented an enriched localization in introns, affecting relevant genes for spermatogenesis. The predicted targets of the DE-miRNAs contained critical genes associated to infertility, and their ontological analysis revealed significantly associated functions related to the seminal alterations of each group. Spermatozoa from patients with seminal alterations exhibit a differential miRNA profile. This provides new evidence that miRNAs have an essential role in spermatogenesis, contributing to the mechanisms involved in human fertility. Copyright © 2015 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Health Occupations Curriculum. Skills for Nursing Assistant. Volume 3, Unit 8.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arizona State Dept. of Education, Phoenix.

Part of a health occupations program, this instructional unit contains 13 learning modules for use in training nursing assistants. Covered in the modules are (1) making beds, bathing patients, and measuring intake and output; (2) body mechanics, moving and lifting patients, range of motion exercises, and caring for patients in casts or traction;…

Semiconductor superlattice photodetectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chuang, S. L.; Hess, K.; Coleman, J. J.; Leburton, J. P.

1986-01-01

During the past half-year, the research effort centered on further investigating both the new superlattice photomultiplier with tunneling-assisted impact ionization and the photodetector based on the real space transfer mechanism. A brief outline of the current status of these projects is presented. Detailed analyses are included in Appendices A and B. New results of the tunneling-assisted impact ionization are presented.

Contrasting Grading Approaches in Introductory Physics and Quantum Mechanics: The Case of Graduate Teaching Assistants

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marshman, Emily; Sayer, Ryan; Henderson, Charles; Singh, Chandralekha

2017-01-01

At large research universities, physics graduate teaching assistants (TAs) are often responsible for grading in courses at all levels. However, few studies have focused on TAs' grading practices in introductory and advanced physics courses. This study was designed to investigate whether physics graduate TAs grade students in introductory physics…

75 FR 62425 - Notice of Determinations Regarding Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-08

... August 27, 2009. Workers Express Employment Professionals, Contemporary Staffing, etc. 74,586 Burton... date 74,062 EPSG Management Services Burbank, CA 74,430 Tasman Hartford, LLC.... Hartford, WI I hereby...

Role of expressive behaviour for robots that learn from people.

PubMed

Breazeal, Cynthia

2009-12-12

Robotics has traditionally focused on developing intelligent machines that can manipulate and interact with objects. The promise of personal robots, however, challenges researchers to develop socially intelligent robots that can collaborate with people to do things. In the future, robots are envisioned to assist people with a wide range of activities such as domestic chores, helping elders to live independently longer, serving a therapeutic role to help children with autism, assisting people undergoing physical rehabilitation and much more. Many of these activities shall require robots to learn new tasks, skills and individual preferences while 'on the job' from people with little expertise in the underlying technology. This paper identifies four key challenges in developing social robots that can learn from natural interpersonal interaction. The author highlights the important role that expressive behaviour plays in this process, drawing on examples from the past 8 years of her research group, the Personal Robots Group at the MIT Media Lab.

Monitoring protein-protein interactions using split synthetic renilla luciferase protein-fragment-assisted complementation.

PubMed

Paulmurugan, R; Gambhir, S S

2003-04-01

In this study we developed an inducible synthetic renilla luciferase protein-fragment-assisted complementation-based bioluminescence assay to quantitatively measure real time protein-protein interactions in mammalian cells. We identified suitable sites to generate fragments of N and C portions of the protein that yield significant recovered activity through complementation. We validate complementation-based activation of split synthetic renilla luciferase protein driven by the interaction of two strongly interacting proteins, MyoD and Id, in five different cell lines utilizing transient transfection studies. The expression level of the system was also modulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha through NFkappaB-promoter/enhancer elements used to drive expression of the N portion of synthetic renilla luciferase reporter gene. This new system should help in studying protein-protein interactions and when used with other split reporters (e.g., split firefly luciferase) should help to monitor different components of an intracellular network.

Monitoring Protein–Protein Interactions Using Split Synthetic Renilla Luciferase Protein-Fragment-Assisted Complementation

PubMed Central

Paulmurugan, R.; Gambhir, S. S.

2014-01-01

In this study we developed an inducible synthetic renilla luciferase protein-fragment-assisted complementation-based bioluminescence assay to quantitatively measure real time protein–protein interactions in mammalian cells. We identified suitable sites to generate fragments of N and C portions of the protein that yield significant recovered activity through complementation. We validate complementation-based activation of split synthetic renilla luciferase protein driven by the interaction of two strongly interacting proteins, MyoD and Id, in five different cell lines utilizing transient transfection studies. The expression level of the system was also modulated by tumor necrosis factor α through NFκB-promoter/enhancer elements used to drive expression of the N portion of synthetic renilla luciferase reporter gene. This new system should help in studying protein–protein interactions and when used with other split reporters (e.g., split firefly luciferase) should help to monitor different components of an intracellular network. PMID:12705589

The expression of long-term potentiation: reconciling the preists and the postivists

PubMed Central

MacDougall, Matthew J.; Fine, Alan

2014-01-01

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory synaptic transmission in the hippocampus has been investigated in great detail over the past 40 years. Where and how LTP is actually expressed, however, remain controversial issues. Considerable evidence has been offered to support both pre- and postsynaptic contributions to LTP expression. Though it is widely held that postsynaptic expression mechanisms are the primary contributors to LTP expression, evidence for that conclusion is amenable to alternative explanations. Here, we briefly review some key contributions to the ‘locus’ debate and describe data that support a dominant role for presynaptic mechanisms. Recognition of the state-dependency of expression mechanisms, and consideration of the consequences of the spatial relationship between postsynaptic glutamate receptors and presynaptic vesicular release sites, lead to a model that may reconcile views from both sides of the synapse. PMID:24298138

20 CFR 628.325 - Incentive grants, capacity building, and technical assistance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... for the development of Statewide communications and training mechanisms involving computer-based communication technologies that directly facilitate interaction with the National Capacity Building and... section 205(a) of the Act, in developing electronic communications, training mechanisms and/or...

20 CFR 628.325 - Incentive grants, capacity building, and technical assistance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... for the development of Statewide communications and training mechanisms involving computer-based communication technologies that directly facilitate interaction with the National Capacity Building and... section 205(a) of the Act, in developing electronic communications, training mechanisms and/or...

Mechanical Loading of Articular Cartilage Reduces IL-1-Induced Enzyme Expression

PubMed Central

Torzilli, P. A.; Bhargava, M.; Chen, C. T.

2011-01-01

Objective: Exposure of articular cartilage to interleukin-1 (IL-1) results in increased synthesis of matrix degrading enzymes. Previously mechanical load applied together with IL-1 stimulation was found to reduce aggrecan cleavage by ADAMTS-4 and 5 and MMP-1, -3, -9, and -13 and reduce proteoglycan loss from the extracellular matrix. To further delineate the inhibition mechanism the gene expression of ADAMTS-4 and 5; MMP-1, -3, -9, and -13; and TIMP-1, -2, and -3 were measured. Design: Mature bovine articular cartilage was stimulated with a 0.5 MPa compressive stress and 10 ng/ml of IL-1α for 3 days and then allowed to recover without stimulation for 1 additional day. The media was assayed for proteoglycan content on a daily basis, while chondrocyte gene expression (mRNA) was measured during stimulation and 1 day of recovery. Results: Mechanical load alone did not change the gene expression for ADAMTS, MMP, or TIMP. IL-1 caused an increase in gene expression for all enzymes after 1 day of stimulation while not affecting the TIMP levels. Load applied together with IL-1 decreased the expression levels of ADAMTS-4 and -5 and MMP-1 and -3 and increased TIMP-3 expression. Conclusions: A mechanical load appears to modify cartilage degradation by IL-1 at the cellular level by reducing mRNA. PMID:22039566

Ultrasound-assisted green economic synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles using eggshell biowaste and study of mechanical and biological properties for orthopedic applications.

PubMed

Ingole, Vijay H; Hany Hussein, Kamal; Kashale, Anil A; Ghule, Kalyani; Vuherer, Tomaž; Kokol, Vanja; Chang, Jia-Yaw; Ling, Yong-Chien; Vinchurkar, Aruna; Dhakal, Hom N; Ghule, Anil V

2017-11-01

Nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HAp) is the most favorable candidate biomaterial for bone tissue engineering because of its bioactive and osteoconductive properties. Herein, we report for the first time ultrasound-assisted facile and economic approach for the synthesis of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 ) using recycled eggshell biowaste referred as EHAp. The process involves the reaction of eggshell biowaste as a source of calcium and ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate as a phosphate source. Ultrasound-mediated chemical synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAp) is also carried out using similar approach wherein commercially available calcium hydroxide and ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate were used as calcium and phosphate precursors, respectively and referred as CHAp for better comparison. The prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy to determine crystal structure, particle morphology, and the presence of chemical functional groups. The nanocrystalline EHAp and CHAp were observed to have spherical morphology with uniform size distribution. Furthermore, mechanical properties such as Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and compression tests have been studied of the EHAp and CHAp samples showing promising results. Mechanical properties show the influence of calcination at 600°C EHAp and CHAp material. After calcination, in the case of EHAp material an average hardness, mechanical strength, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness were found 552 MPa, 46.6 MPa, 2824 MPa, and 3.85 MPa m 1/2 , respectively, while in the case of CHAp 618 MPa, 47.5 MPa, 2071 MPa, and 3.13 MPa m 1/2 . In vitro cell studies revealed that the EHAp and CHAp nanoparticles significantly increased the attachment and proliferation of the hFOB cells. Here, we showed that EHAp and CHAp provide promising biocompatible materials that do not affect the cell viability and proliferation with enhancing the osteogenic activity of osteoblasts. Moreover, hFOB cells are found to express Osteocalcin, Osteopontin, Collagen I, Osteonectin, BMP-2 on the EHAp and CHAp bone graft. This study demonstrates the formation of pure nanocrystalline HAp with promising properties justifying the fact that the eggshell biowaste could be successfully used for the synthesis of HAp with good mechanical and osteogenic properties. These findings may have significant implications for designing of biomaterial for use in orthopedic tissue regeneration. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2935-2947, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Mechanism Guides Hatch Through Hatchway

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barron, Daniel R.; Kennedy, Steven E.

1993-01-01

Elliptical hatch designed to move through hatchway to make pressure-assisted seal with either side of bulkhead. Compact three-degree-of-freedom mechanism guides hatch through hatchway or holds hatch off to one side to facilitate passage of crew and/or equipment. Hatches and mechanisms used in submarines, pressure chambers (including hyperbaric treatment chambers), vacuum chambers, and vacuum-or-pressure test chambers.

INSTRUCTION IN FARM MECHANICS, SUGGESTIONS FOR DEVELOPING TRAINING PROGRAMS IN FARM MECHANICS IN VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

HOLLENBERG, A.H.; JOHNSON, E.J.

THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM GUIDE IS TO ASSIST TEACHERS IN TRAINING YOUNG FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS IN THE SELECTION, OPERATION, UTILIZATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF FARM TOOLS, MACHINERY, AND MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT. DESIGNED BY NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION SPECIALISTS, THE DOCUMENT INCLUDES CHAPTERS ON THE CHANGING FARM, SETTING UP PROGRAMS, FARM…

"Maintaining connections but wanting more": the continuity of familial relationships among assisted-living residents.

PubMed

Tompkins, Catherine J; Ihara, Emily S; Cusick, Alison; Park, Nan Sook

2012-01-01

Social support is a key component of well-being for older adults, particularly for those who have moved from independent living to assisted living involving a transformation of roles, relationships, and responsibilities. Twenty-nine assisted-living facility residents were interviewed to understand the perceived continuity of relationships with family and friends. An inductive approach to thematic analysis revealed 1 main theme and 3 subthemes. The main theme that emerged was: maintaining connections but wanting more. Residents appreciated maintaining connections with family and friends, but often expressed feelings of discontentment with the continuity of former relationships. The subthemes included: appreciating family and friends, waiting for more, and losing control. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Expression of NMDA receptor-dependent LTP in the hippocampus: bridging the divide

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

A consensus has famously yet to emerge on the locus and mechanisms underlying the expression of the canonical NMDA receptor-dependent form of LTP. An objective assessment of the evidence leads us to conclude that both presynaptic and postsynaptic expression mechanisms contribute to this type of synaptic plasticity. PMID:23339575

Alcohol-assisted debridement in PRK with intraoperative mitomycin C.

PubMed

Nassiri, Nader; Sheibani, Kourosh; Safi, Sare; Haghnegahdar, Maryam; Nassiri, Saman; Panahi, Nekoo; Mehravaran, Shiva; Nassiri, Nariman

2014-09-01

To compare corneal stromal and endothelial cells after photorefractive keratectomy with intraoperative mitomycin C in alcohol-assisted versus mechanical epithelial debridement using confocal microscopy. This prospective randomized comparative study was performed on 88 eyes (44 patients) with myopia up to -6.00 diopters. The right eye of each patient was randomly assigned to either mechanical or alcohol-assisted groups, and the left eye was assigned to the alternate group. Confocal microscopy was performed preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. The main outcome measures were epithelial thickness; number of keratocytes in the anterior, mid-, and posterior stroma; and characteristics of the central corneal endothelial cells in terms of density, mean cell area, and polymegathism and hexagonality. Three months after surgery, no statistically significant difference was noted between the study groups in terms of epithelial thickness. We also found no statistically significant difference in central corneal endothelial cells regarding cell density, mean cell area, hexagonality, or polymegathism. Compared with baseline values, the density of mid- and posterior stromal keratocytes showed no significant change in either group, whereas it decreased significantly in the anterior stroma in both groups 3 months after surgery. We found that the adverse effects of photorefractive keratectomy with mitomycin C on central corneal endothelial cells were comparable between the mechanical and alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement groups and the significant decrease in postoperative keratocyte density in anterior stroma was comparable between the two groups. The choice of their application could be left to the discretion of the ophthalmologist.

Annual Knowledge-Based Software Assistant Conference (2nd) Held on 18-20 August 1987 in Utica, New York.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-01-01

that basic terms such as physical ofjPc>. po i i , etc., are used over and over again. We have built, a library o’ s-u.- ani have prwided mechanisms... 1 Goals of a Performance Estimator Assistant As defined in [2], the long- term goa, of a Performance Estimator Assistant (PEA) is to aid in the...characterization m. 1 Figure 1 : Current Paradigm Mid- term goals are: - domain models for analysis, . algorithm design analysis and advice, and 9 real-time

Ethical challenges with the left ventricular assist device as a destination therapy

PubMed Central

Rizzieri, Aaron G; Verheijde, Joseph L; Rady, Mohamed Y; McGregor, Joan L

2008-01-01

The left ventricular assist device was originally designed to be surgically implanted as a bridge to transplantation for patients with chronic end-stage heart failure. On the basis of the REMATCH trial, the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved permanent implantation of the left ventricular assist device as a destination therapy in Medicare beneficiaries who are not candidates for heart transplantation. The use of the left ventricular assist device as a destination therapy raises certain ethical challenges. Left ventricular assist devices can prolong the survival of average recipients compared with optimal medical management of chronic end-stage heart failure. However, the overall quality of life can be adversely affected in some recipients because of serious infections, neurologic complications, and device malfunction. Left ventricular assist devices alter end-of-life trajectories. The caregivers of recipients may experience significant burden (e.g., poor physical health, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder) from destination therapy with left ventricular assist devices. There are also social and financial ramifications for recipients and their families. We advocate early utilization of a palliative care approach and outline prerequisite conditions so that consenting for the use of a left ventricular assist device as a destination therapy is a well informed process. These conditions include: (1) direct participation of a multidisciplinary care team, including palliative care specialists, (2) a concise plan of care for anticipated device-related complications, (3) careful surveillance and counseling for caregiver burden, (4) advance-care planning for anticipated end-of-life trajectories and timing of device deactivation, and (5) a plan to address the long-term financial burden on patients, families, and caregivers. Short-term mechanical circulatory devices (e.g. percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass, percutaneous ventricular assist devices, etc.) can be initiated in emergency situations as a bridge to permanent implantation of ventricular assist devices in chronic end-stage heart failure. In the absence of first-person (patient) consent, presumed consent or surrogate consent should be used cautiously for the initiation of short-term mechanical circulatory devices in emergency situations as a bridge to permanent implantation of left ventricular assist devices. Future clinical studies of destination therapy with left ventricular assist devices should include measures of recipients' quality of end-of-life care and caregivers' burden. PMID:18694496

Synthesis of ZnO Nanocrystal-Graphene Composite by Mechanical Milling and Sonication-Assisted Exfoliation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arora, Sweety; Srivastava, Chandan

2017-02-01

A ZnO nanocrystal-graphene composite was synthesized by a two-step method involving mechanical milling and sonication-assisted exfoliation. Zn metal powder was first ball-milled with graphite powder for 30 h in water medium. This ball-milled mixture was then subjected to exfoliation by sonication in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate surfactant to produce graphene decorated with spherical agglomerates of ultrafine nanocrystalline ZnO. The presence of a few layers of graphene was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements. The size, phase identity and composition of the ZnO nanocrystals was determined by transmission electron microscopy measurements.

The nature of catalyst particles and growth mechanisms of GaN nanowires grown by Ni-assisted metal-organic chemical vapor deposition.

PubMed

Weng, Xiaojun; Burke, Robert A; Redwing, Joan M

2009-02-25

The structure and chemistry of the catalyst particles that terminate GaN nanowires grown by Ni-assisted metal-organic chemical vapor deposition were investigated using a combination of electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray energy dispersive spectrometry. The crystal symmetry, lattice parameter, and chemical composition obtained reveal that the catalyst particles are Ni(3)Ga with an ordered L 1(2) structure. The results suggest that the catalyst is a solid particle during growth and therefore favor a vapor-solid-solid mechanism for the growth of GaN nanowires under these conditions.

Theoretic Study on Dispersion Mechanism of Boron Nitride Nanotubes by Polynucleotides

PubMed Central

Liang, Lijun; Hu, Wei; Zhang, Zhisen; Shen, Jia-Wei

2016-01-01

Due to the unique electrical and mechanical properties of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT), BNNT has been a promising material for many potential applications, especially in biomedical field. Understanding the dispersion of BNNT in aqueous solution by biomolecules is essential for its use in biomedical applications. In this study, BNNT wrapped by polynucleotides in aqueous solution was investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our results demonstrated that the BNNT wrapped by polynucleotides could greatly hinder the aggregation of BNNTs and improve the dispersion of BNNTs in aqueous solution. Dispersion of BNNTs with the assistance of polynucleotides is greatly affected by the wrapping manner of polynucleotides on BNNT, which mainly depends on two factors: the type of polynucleotides and the radius of BNNT. The interaction between polynucleotides and BNNT(9, 9) is larger than that between polynucleotides and BNNT(5, 5), which leads to the fact that dispersion of BNNT(9, 9) is better than that of BNNT(5, 5) with the assistance of polynucleotides in aqueous solution. Our study revealed the molecular-level dispersion mechanism of BNNT with the assistance of polynucleotides in aqueous solution. It shades a light on the understanding of dispersion of single wall nanotubes by biomolecules. PMID:28004832

Integration of an expert teaching assistant with distance learning software

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fonseca, S.P.; Reed, N.E.

1996-12-31

The Remote Teaching Assistant (RTA) software currently under development at UC Davis allows students and Teaching Assistants (TA`s) to interact through multimedia communication via the Internet. To resolve the problem of TA unavailability and limited knowledge, an Expert Teaching Assistant (ETA) module is being developed. When TA`s are not on-line, students in need of help consult ETA. The focus of this research is the development and integration of ETA with RTA, the establishment of an architecture suitable for use with education (the domain) in any sub-domain (course), and the creation of a mechanism usable by non-technical personnel to maintain knowledgemore » bases.« less