The monitoring of inter-process communications in distributed systems

The decomposition of an application into processes and the allocation of the latter to the available processors is one of the most crucial problems in the software design phase of message-based distributed systems. In this paper the authors describe a tool which, by monitoring the communications between processes allocated to separate processing elements, is able to provide indications on the effectiveness of the partitioning and mapping actions carried out. The authors first show, with reference to systems built with Transputer family components, the tool's structure, which is highly independent from the system interconnection network; secondly, they show how to make an initial reduction of the data gathered during the monitoring phase.     

DNA ploidy, proliferative index and EGF-R status in 130 cases of resected gastric cancer--a multivariate analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to define the prognostic role of DNA ploidy, proliferative index and EGF-R status in resected gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten clinico-pathological parameters and three biological factors obtained from flow cytometry and immunohisto-chemistry were evaluated in a series of 130 gastric cancer patients who received surgical treatment, including 28 stage IV cases (21.6%), using paraffin-embedded and fresh specimens in 77.7% and 22.3% of the cases, respectively. These variables were first analyzed and tested for correlation within the whole series and then weighted against survival in 117 applicable cases through univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Aneuploidy was significantly related to higher proliferative activity, EGF-R expression and deeper stomach wall infiltration. Higher proliferative activity was significantly related to deeper stomach wall infiltration and larger tumor diameter. The latter showed a significant relationship to EGF-R expression. Univariate analysis showed the significant variables for survival to be DNA ploidy, pT, pN, M, stage, histological type according to Lauren and tumor diameter. Multivariate analysis calculated on these significant variables using the Cox multiple stepwise regression model detected three factors which independently influence survival: pathological stage (p < 0.00001), histological type according to Lauren (p < 0.002) and DNA ploidy (p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: DNA ploidy was shown to be a significant prognostic parameter in resected gastric cancer after pathological stage and histological type according to Lauren. The prognostic roles of proliferative activity and EGF-R status require further investigation.     

Prostasome-like particles in stallion semen

From undetectable basal levels, TNFalpha is produced in the hypothalamus of rats challenged with a systemic low profile endotoxin (LPS) at least 30 min before its release may be detected in the plasma. The cytotoxic activity of this hypothalamic TNFalpha correlates with its immunoreactivity. Injection of BB-1101, a matrix metalloprotease inhibitor, immediately after the LPS totally inhibits the plasma LPS-induced TNFalpha release without affecting the hypothalamic TNFalpha response. Likewise, L-NAME pretreatment, a nitric oxide inhibitor which reportedly crosses the blood-brain barrier, blunts the plasma TNFalpha response by almost 66%, but leaves the hypothalamic TNFalpha response unchanged. The present study thus describes the early occurrence of hypothalamic TNFalpha in response to systemic LPS injection, which is not subjected to the same regulations as plasma TNFalpha.     

Antinutritional and/or toxic factors in soybean (Glycine max (L) Merril) seeds: comparison of different cultivars adapted to the southern region of Brazil

Soybean (Glycine max (L) Merril) seeds are known to contain different proteins displaying antinutritional and/or toxic effects, such as soybean agglutinin (an N‐acetylgalactosamine‐specific lectin), proteinase inhibitors (Kunitz‐ and Bowman–Birk‐type trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors) and urease (seed and tissue isoforms). Two other toxic proteins were previously isolated from soybeans, soyatoxin (21 kDa) and soybean toxin (18.4 kDa), which are immunologically related to canatoxin, a toxic protein from Canavalia ensiformis (jackbean) seeds. In this work we have screened crude extracts from seeds of six different soybean cultivars, which together represent most of the crop harvested in the southern region of Brazil, for the presence of urease, trypsin inhibitory and haemagglutination activities, intraperitoneal toxicity in mice and immunoreactivity against anti‐canatoxin antibodies. Significant differences were found in the contents of proteinase inhibitors, lectin, urease activity and lethality in mice. The relevance of these findings to the agronomic qualities and to the choice of soybean cultivars to be used as food or feed is discussed. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Proteus mirabilis Urease: Unsuspected Non-Enzymatic Properties Relevant to Pathogenicity

Infection by Proteus mirabilis causes urinary stones and catheter incrustation due to ammonia formed by urease (PMU), one of its virulence factors. Non-enzymatic properties, such as pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic activities, were previously reported for distinct ureases, including that of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Here, PMU was assayed on isolated cells to evaluate its non-enzymatic properties. Purified PMU (nanomolar range) was tested in human (platelets, HEK293 and SH-SY5Y) cells, and in murine microglia (BV-2). PMU promoted platelet aggregation. It did not affect cellular viability and no ammonia was detected in the cultures’ supernatants. PMU-treated HEK293 cells acquired a pro-inflammatory phenotype, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. SH-SY5Y cells stimulated with PMU showed high levels of intracellular Ca²⁺ and ROS production, but unlike BV-2 cells, SH-SY5Y did not synthesize TNF-α and IL-1β. Texas Red-labeled PMU was found in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus of all cell types. Bioinformatic analysis revealed two bipartite nuclear localization sequences in PMU. We have shown that PMU, besides urinary stone formation, can potentially contribute in other ways to pathogenesis. Our data suggest that PMU triggers pro-inflammatory effects and may affect cells beyond the renal system, indicating a possible role in extra-urinary diseases.     

Three-dimensional imaging in confocal imaging systems with finite sized detectors

We consider the effect of the finite size of the detector on both the lateral and axial resolution of the confocal system. The use of a finite sized detector means that the imaging is no longer truly coherent. We find that the lateral resolution is considerably more sensitive to the detector size than is the axial response. The question of the rejection of flare light is also considered. Experimental results are shown and we find that acceptable extended-focus, auto-focus and height images may be obtained from non truly-confocal systems. We also find that lens apodization has a far greater effect on the axial resolution than the lateral resolution.