阿斯塔纳中央音乐厅

自1997年至2009年,仅短短12年的时间,哈萨克斯坦的首都阿斯塔纳以令人难以置信的速度变成了一个新兴的城市,在这个位于北京和莫斯科之间的哈萨克大草原上,通过国际招标和竞赛、由黑川纪章等一批当今国际知名的建筑师科学设计的总体规划,创造了一个连接亚洲和欧洲的新桥梁。由意大利建筑师Manfredi Nicoletti设计的阿斯塔纳中央音乐厅于2009年12月正式开放,该项目的设计理念就是使建成后的音乐厅成为宽阔空旷大地的一朵"草原之花",正是基于这一理念,使其在2003年的国际竞赛中脱颖而出、拔得头筹。音乐厅占地54 000m~2,位于总统府和参议院大厦之间,其花瓣形的建筑构造交织错落,这些用蓝色玻璃板组成的"花瓣"内,包括了3500席的大型音乐厅和一个面积近3000m~2、30m     

Promoter analysis of RPE65, the gene encoding a 61-kDa retinal pigment epithelium-specific protein

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the long-term effects of complete atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation with those of AVJ modification in patients with medically refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND: Comparisons between the long-term effects of AVJ ablation with those of AVJ modification in patients with medically refractory AF have not been systematically studied. METHODS: Sixty patients with medically refractory AF were randomly assigned to receive complete AVJ ablation with permanent pacing or AVJ modification. Subjective perception of quality of life (QOL) was assessed by a semiquantitative questionnaire before and 1 and 6 months after ablation. Cardiac performance was evaluated by echocardiography and radionuclide angiography within 24 h (baseline) and at 1 and 6 months after ablation. RESULTS: Both methods were associated with significant improvement in general QOL and a significant reduction in the frequency of major symptoms and symptoms during attacks. The frequency of hospital admission and emergency room visits and antiarrhythmic drug trials significantly decreased after ablation in both groups. However, patients after complete AVJ ablation had a significantly greater improvement in general QOL and a significantly reduced frequency of major symptoms and symptoms during attacks (including palpitation, dizziness, chest oppression, blurred vision and syncope). Left ventricular (LV) systolic function and the ability to perform activities of daily life significantly improved after ablation in patients with depressed LV function in both groups. All improvements after ablation or modification were maintained over the 6-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: AVJ ablation with permanent pacing, as compared with AVJ modification, had a significantly greater ability to decrease the frequency of attacks and the extent of symptoms of AF, and the patients who received this procedure were more satisfied with their general well-being.     

Antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: an Italian survey

In order to assess the current level of resistance to widely used antipseudomonal antibiotics in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a national survey was undertaken. Fifteen hospitals throughout Italy participated in the study. The University of Catania tested the antibiotic susceptibility of 1005 consecutive clinically significant P. aeruginosa collected from March to June 1995. Lack of susceptibility, according to NCCLS breakpoints, was at the following rates: meropenem, 9.1%; imipenem, 19.3%; ceftazidime, 13.4%; carbenicillin, 27.3%; piperacillin, 12%; ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, 22.8%; amikacin, 10.6%; and ciprofloxacin, 31.9%. About half of the isolates (44.4%) were not susceptible to at least one of the antibiotics tested.     

The Simon effect occurs relative to the direction of an attention shift.

We investigated whether the Simon effect depends on the orienting of attention. In Experiment 1, participants were required to execute left-right discriminative responses to 2 patterns that were presented to the left or right of fixation. The 2 patterns were similar, and the discrimination was difficult. A letter at fixation signaled whether the current trial was a catch trial. The results showed a reversal of the Simon effect. That is, spatially noncorresponding responses were faster than spatially corresponding responses. In Experiment 2, the discrimination of the relevant stimulus attribute was easy. In Experiment 3, the discrimination of the relevant stimulus attribute was difficult, but the stimulus exposure time was long. In either experiment, the regular Simon effect was reinstated. In Experiment 4, the letter that signaled a catch trial appeared to the left or right of the imperative stimulus. The Simon effect occurred relative to the position of the letter. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Multifunctional Sactipeptide Ruminococcin C1 Displays Potent Antibacterial Activity In Vivo as Well as Other Beneficial Properties for Human Health

The world is on the verge of a major antibiotic crisis as the emergence of resistant bacteria is increasing, and very few novel molecules have been discovered since the 1960s. In this context, scientists have been exploring alternatives to conventional antibiotics, such as ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Interestingly, the highly potent in vitro antibacterial activity and safety of ruminococcin C1, a recently discovered RiPP belonging to the sactipeptide subclass, has been demonstrated. The present results show that ruminococcin C1 is efficient at curing infection and at protecting challenged mice from Clostridium perfringens with a lower dose than the conventional antibiotic vancomycin. Moreover, antimicrobial peptide (AMP) is also effective against this pathogen in the complex microbial community of the gut environment, with a selective impact on a few bacterial genera, while maintaining a global homeostasis of the microbiome. In addition, ruminococcin C1 exhibits other biological activities that could be beneficial for human health, as well as other fields of applications. Overall, this study, by using an in vivo infection approach, confirms the antimicrobial clinical potential and highlights the multiple functional properties of ruminococcin C1, thus extending its therapeutic interest.     

Altered mRNA and Protein Expression of Monocarboxylate Transporter MCT1 in the Cerebral Cortex and Cerebellum of Prion Protein Knockout Mice

The effect of a cellular prion protein (PrP^c) deficiency on neuroenergetics was primarily analyzed via surveying the expression of genes specifically involved in lactate/pyruvate metabolism, such as monocarboxylate transporters (MCT1, MCT2, MCT4). The aim of the present study was to elucidate a potential involvement of PrP^c in the regulation of energy metabolism in different brain regions. By using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), we observed a marked reduction in MCT1 mRNA expression in the cortex of symptomatic Zürich I Prnp^−/− mice, as compared to their wild-type (WT) counterparts. MCT1 downregulation in the cortex was accompanied with significantly decreased expression of the MCT1 functional interplayer, the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase α2 subunit. Conversely, the MCT1 mRNA level was significantly raised in the cerebellum of Prnp^−/− vs. WT control group, without a substantial change in the Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase α2 subunit expression. To validate the observed mRNA findings, we confirmed the observed change in MCT1 mRNA expression level in the cortex at the protein level. MCT4, highly expressed in tissues that rely on glycolysis as an energy source, exhibited a significant reduction in the hippocampus of Prnp^−/− vs. WT mice. The present study demonstrates that a lack of PrP^c leads to altered MCT1 and MCT4 mRNA/protein expression in different brain regions of Prnp^−/− vs. WT mice. Our findings provide evidence that PrP^c might affect the monocarboxylate intercellular transport, which needs to be confirmed in further studies.     

Macrophage-derived cytokines in the follicular fluids of women with infertility due to immunological causes. Elevated levels of interleukin 6 and low levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

Myoclonus of the middle ear is a rare condition characterized by abnormal repetitive muscle contractions of the tympanic cavity. In this paper we describe what we believe is the first reported case of continuous high-frequency objective tinnitus caused by middle ear myoclonus. During exploratory tympanomastoidectomy it was hypothesized that a small dural arteriovenous malformation not identified on previous tests was the cause of the tinnitus. However, complete disappearance of the tinnitus during administration of curare for anesthesia led us to believe that the tinnitus might have been caused by myoclonus of the middle ear. Sectioning of the stapedius and tensor tympani tendons rendered the patient asymptomatic and confirmed the diagnosis of middle ear myoclonus. At follow-up of one year, the patient's quality of life had improved substantially; the tinnitus did not recur and she no longer had vertigo.