Inhibition of Autophagy Does Not Re-Sensitize Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells Resistant to Cytarabine

Elevated activation of the autophagy pathway is currently thought to be one of the survival mechanisms allowing therapy-resistant cancer cells to escape elimination, including for cytarabine (AraC)-resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Consequently, the use of autophagy inhibitors such as chloroquine (CQ) is being explored for the re-sensitization of AraC-resistant cells. In our study, no difference in the activity of the autophagy pathway was detected when comparing AraC-Res AML cell lines to parental AraC-sensitive AML cell lines. Furthermore, treatment with autophagy inhibitors CQ, 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), and bafilomycin A1 (BafA1) did not re-sensitize AraC-Res AML cell lines to AraC treatment. However, in parental AraC-sensitive AML cells, treatment with AraC did activate autophagy and, correspondingly, combination of AraC with autophagy inhibitors strongly reduced cell viability. Notably, the combination of these drugs also yielded the highest level of cell death in a panel of patient-derived AML samples even though not being additive. Furthermore, there was no difference in the cytotoxic effect of autophagy inhibition during AraC treatment in matched de novo and relapse samples with differential sensitivity to AraC. Thus, inhibition of autophagy may improve AraC efficacy in AML patients, but does not seem warranted for the treatment of AML patients that have relapsed with AraC-resistant disease.     

用于单芯片系统的改进型WXGA LCoS成像器

本文讨论用于单芯片时序混色的菲利浦DD-720硅基液晶(LCoS)片。这种芯片主要用于HDTV背投影机和多媒体系统。与菲利浦以前的单片LCoS设计相比，由于该芯片具有电接口接点较少、封装简单和温度传感器内置等许多特点，使其应用于投影系统时成本降低。     

Changing our view on design evaluation meetings methodology: a study of software technical review meetings

By contrast to design meetings, design evaluation meetings (DEMs) have generally been considered as situations in which, according to DEM methodologies, design activities are quite marginal. In a study of DEMs in software development, i.e. in technical review meetings following a particular review methodology, we showed: (i) the occurrence of design activities as part of an argumentation process; (ii) the relative importance of cognitive synchronisation as a prerequisite for evaluation; (iii) the important role played in evaluation by argumentation that makes explicit the underlying design rationale (DR). On the basis of our results, we discuss the potential for using DR methodologies in this kind of meetings.     

Einsatzmöglichkeiten neuronaler Netze in der Industrierobotik

Zusammenfassung Es werden die prinzipiellen Einsatzm?glichkeiten neuronaler Netwwerke zur Modellbildung, Steuerung und Regelung von Robotern sowie zur Unterstützung sensomotorischer Aktionen dargelegt. Einige ausgew?hlte neuronale Regelungskonzepte werden vorgestellt und auf ihre Stabilit?t, Robustheit, Genauigkeit sowie Echtzeitf?higkeit hin untersucht. Ferner wird gezeigt, wie sich neuronale Regelungskonzepte in industrielle Robotersteuerungen integrieren lassen.     

A histological study on polyactive® for the prevention of peridural adhesions after spinal surgery: an experimental study in dogs with a 3 months follow-up

In the present study the potential of Polyactive^® bilayer sheets in the prevention of scar tissue formation after spinal surgery was investigated. Eight adult beagle dogs underwent 3 laminectomies at three levels (L2, L4 and L6). According to a randomized implantation schedule a Polyactive^® sheet or autogenous fat graft was placed in the defect. The third site served as a control without implant. After 4 or 12 weeks (4 dogs per period) the dogs were sacrificed and histological sections were prepared. The Polyactive^® treated defects showed partial closure by newly formed bone. The Polyactive^® was encapsuled by a thin fibrous tissue layer. Ventral to the defect, dense fibrous tissue was present which was separated from the dura by the Polyactive^® sheet in all cases. In some cases fibrous tissue was present between the implant capsule and the dura. In the fat graft group there were no signs of closure of the defect but most sites showed fibrous tissue at the edges of the graft, which was in 4 sites continous with the dura mater. Fibrosis and degeneration of the fat grafts were seen. All control defects showed partial closure by newly formed bone, and ventral to the defect extensive fibrous tissue, which was in 50% continous with the dura mater. Other sections showed loose connective tissue in contact with the dura mater. It is concluded that Polyactive^® has a potential as a mechanical barrier in the prevention of adhesions between the dorsal spinal muscles and the dura mater.     

On the colour reactions of potato glycoalkaloids in strong acids in the presence of paraformaldehyde

The colour reaction of potato glycoalkaloids, containing solanidine as steroid, with strong acids and paraformaldehyde was examined to elucidate the kinetics and mutual relationship of the ‘Clarke’ and ‘Marquis’ reactions. It was found that the influence of time of addition of paraformaldehyde was the major factor in deciding the type of colour changes encountered. This factor and the specific absorption kinetics have important consequences for the use of these types of colour reactions as a quantitative assay. According to the structural similarity of the steroidal part of potato glycoalkaloids and cholesterol, colour reactions of both have been compared, indicating that both steroids react in strong acids in the presence of an oxidator, provided that the more lipophilic character of cholesterol is taken into account. Therefore a similar mechanism of a serial oxidation of carbonium ions as in the case of cholesterol, is suggested as the basis for these specific colour reactions of potato glycoalkaloids.     

Low-temperature phase diagram of the heavy-fermion superconductor UPt3

The transition to the superconducting state of UPt₃ has been studied in specific-heat experiments on polycrystalline and single-crystalline samples in dependence of heat treatment, purity of starting materials and deviations from stoichiometry, as well as on substituted compounds. The concepts behind the splitting of the transition in two anomalies that are 60 mK apart are critically reviewed. The superconducting phase diagram in the B-T plane has been studied with the use of a sensitive dilatometric technique. The three superconducting phases meet at a tetracritical point and all four phase lines are of second order. From the length anomalies at the phase boundaries the pressure derivatives of the phase lines have been determined and the most stable phase under uniaxial pressure along the c-axis has been identified.     

斯芬克司住宅，赫依曾，荷兰

5座斯芬克司住宅的每一栋各容纳了14间为了充分利用地段和阳光而组织起来的公寓。建筑的体量在背向水面的方向被斜切，从而使得从湖岸和公寓所能看到的湖景不被阻隔。当人在从楼里往上走时，公寓的数目逐层递减。结果产生了一种斯芬克司式的轮廓，面向太阳的屋顶退台置于这个神话中的怪兽的脊背上。每个建筑体量的雨篷设计是不同的，从而使其独特的头部产生一种韵律感——从连接新开拓地和现有大陆的stichtse桥上看去的一条激动人心的天际线。     

Impairment of long-term associative memory in aging snails (Lymnaea stagnalis).

Age-dependent impairment in learning and memory functions occurs in many animal species, including humans. Although cell death contributes to age-related cognitive impairment in pathological forms of aging, learning and memory deficiencies develop with age even without substantial cell death. The molecular and cellular basis of this biological aging process is not well understood but seems to involve a decline in the aging brain's capacity for experience-dependent plasticity. To aid in resolving this issue, we used a simple snail appetitive classical conditioning paradigm in which the underlying molecular, cellular, and neural network functions can be directly linked to age-associated learning and memory performance (i.e., the Lymnaea stagnalis feeding system). Our results indicate that age does not affect the acquisition of appetitive memory but that retention and/or consolidation of long-term memory become progressively impaired with advancing age. The latter phenomenon correlates with declining electrophysiological excitability in key neurons controlling the feeding behavior. Together, these results present the Lymnaea feeding system as a powerful paradigm for investigations of cellular and molecular foundations of biological aging in the brain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)