Direct monitoring of the calcium concentration in the sarcoplasmic and endoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle myotubes

Direct monitoring of the free Ca2+ concentration in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) was carried out in rat skeletal myotubes transfected with a specifically targeted aequorin chimera (srAEQ). Myotubes were also transfected with a chimeric aequorin (erAEQ) that we have demonstrated previously is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Immunolocalization analysis showed that although both recombinant proteins are distributed in an endomembrane network identifiable with immature SR, the erAEQ protein was retained also in the perinuclear membrane. The difficulty of measuring [Ca2+] in 100-1000 microM range was overcome with the use of the synthetic coelenterazine analogue, coelenterazine n. We demonstrate that the steady state levels of [Ca2+] measured with srAEQ is around 300 microM, whereas that measured with erAEQ is significantly lower, i.e. around 200 microM. The effects of caffeine, high KCl, and nicotinic receptor stimulation, in the presence or absence of external calcium or after blockade of the Ca-ATPase, were investigated with both chimeras. The kinetics of [Ca2+] changes revealed by the erAEQ were similar, but not identical, neither quantitatively nor qualitatively, to those monitored with the srAEQ, indicating that at this stage of muscle development, differences exist between SR and ER in their mechanisms of Ca2+ handling. The functional implications of these findings are discussed.     

Expression of a mannose/fucose membrane lectin on human dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (CD) are the most efficient antigen presenting cells for T lymphocytes. CD1a+ CD14- CD with high antigen-presenting capacities can now be obtained easily from adherent peripheral blood monocytes by culture in the presence of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4 (Sallusto et al., J. Exp. Med. 1994. 179: 1109). Human macrophages express a membrane lectin, or sugar-specific receptor, which specifically mediates the binding and endocytosis of mannose- and fucose-terminated glycoproteins and is involved in the phagocytosis of pathogens. A similar lectin activity was sought on cultured human DC using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy to detect binding and internalization of fluoresceinated neoglycoproteins [bovine serum albumin (BSA) substituted with sugar residues]. Several neoglycoproteins, especially alpha-L-fucosyl-, alpha-D-mannosyl-, N,N'-di-acetyl-beta-chitobiosyl- and beta-D-glucosyl-BSA, were endocytosed by cultured human CD1a+ DC as well as by CD1a- CD14- cells which were also obtained in the culture. Fuc-BSA and Man-BSA had the same number of binding sites (1.7 x 10(6)/cell) on CD1a+ DC, and bound with an affinity constant close to 10(7) 1/mol. Inhibition experiments indicated that these two neoglycoproteins bound to the same membrane lectin. CD1a+ and CD1a- cells were both labeled by an antiserum specific for the human macrophage mannose receptor. The membrane lectin specific for mannose and fucose that is evidenced in these experiments on cultured DC may be similar to the macrophage membrane lectin or may share functional and structural properties with it.     

Effects of rilmenidine on rats made insulin resistant and hypertensive by a high fructose diet

This study was aimed to determine the effects of rilmenidine, an hypertensive drug, in an animal model of hypertension associated with insulin resistance, i.e. rats fed on a high fructose diet. Wistar rats were fed during four weeks either on a standard diet (S) or on a high fructose diet (F, 34.5% de fructose). In half of the F groups, rilmenidine (1 mg/kg/day) was added to the drinking water during the two last weeks of the diet (FR). Arterial blood pressure as well as insulin efficiency were determined at the end of the four weeks. Body weight gain was higher in F than in S rats (66 +/- 8 g versus 45 +/- 8 g; p < 0.05), this was prevented by rilmenidine treatment (32 +/- 2 g). Arterial systolic blood pressure was increased in F rats (162 +/- 2 vs 155 +/- 2 mmHg; p < 0.05), rilmenidine brought this value back to normal (149 +/- 3 mmHg). During the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, glucose utilization was lower (10 +/- 1 vs 14 +/- 1.5 mg/min/kg; p < 0.05) and hepatic glucose production higher (1 +/- 0.01 vs 0 mg/min/kg; p < 0.01) in F than in S rats. These changes in insulin action were totally abolished by rilmenidine. These data demonstrate that rilmenidine can ameliorate the deleterious effects of a high fructose diet, i.e. weight gain, hypertension and resistance to the effects of insulin Rilmenidine could represent a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of hypertension associated with metabolic disorders such as syndrom X and obesity.     

Ultrasound‐activated Knoevenagel condensation of malononitrile with carbonylic compounds catalysed by alkaline‐doped saponites

α,β‐Unsaturated nitriles have been synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation of a carbonylic compound with malononitrile, assisted by sonochemical irradiation. Two alkaline‐promoted clays (Li⁺‐ and Cs⁺‐exchanged saponites) have been employed as catalysts. The influence of the carbonylic compound (benzaldehyde or cyclohexanone) and the use of a solvent on the catalytic activity have been studied. Remarkable increase in the conversion values has been found when the reaction is activated by ultrasound, as compared with the thermal activation. In this green, solvent‐free procedure, α,β‐unsaturated nitriles have been produced in very high yields (97%) when the Cs⁺‐saponite is used as catalyst. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

The geometric nature of plasticity laws

This paper concerns the plasticity constitutive laws in small strain. In the thermodynamic approach developed here, the key concept is that of internal variables. The differential nature of plasticity law has been pointed out for a long time. If we unite the invariance condition of these laws in a state variable transformation, this involves, ultimately, that the natural mathematic frame of plasticity theory is Differential Geometry. The system state is defined as a point of a differentiable manifold. The state variable are the local coordinates of this point in a chart. The internal stresses are the components of a covariant vector of the cotangent bundle to internal state manifold and the elastic domain is a convex part of cotangent vector space. The plastic yield criteria such as von Mises condition define a Riemannian structure over the manifold. The metric element is identified with the internal dissipation element. Constitutive laws link the covariant derivatives of the thermodynamic stress with the state variable. Hardening modulus splits up in two parts, kinematic hardening and metric hardening. This last is defined by Christoffel connection coefficients. Applied to von Mises isotropic yield condition, the metric hardening is identified with isotropic hardening. The Baltov-Sawczuk model is also analysed. The use of appropriate polar coordinates simplifies significantly the computations. Generalization to a significant category of non-differentiable yield criteria, such as Tresca condition, is considered by introducting a metric tensor family. The adaptation of Drucker's postulate to the proposed model requires the introduction of parallel transport of the internal stress covector. Generally, this transport is different over distinctive paths joining two points. This fact expresses internal state manifold curvature. The Riemann-Christoffel tensor is computed for von Mises, Baltov-Sawczuk and Tresca models.     

Recovering spectral data from natural scenes with an RGB digital camera and colored filters

Many spectral‐recovery methods using RGB digital cameras assume the underlying smoothness of illuminant and reflectance spectra, and apply low‐dimensional linear models. The aim of the present work was to test whether a direct‐mapping method could be used instead of a linear‐models approach to recover spectral radiances and reflectances from natural scenes with an RGB digital camera and colored filters. In computer simulations, a conventional RGB digital camera with up to three colored filters was used to image scenes drawn from a hyperspectral image database. Three measures were used to evaluate recovery with the direct‐mapping method: goodness‐of‐fit, root‐mean‐square error, and a color‐difference metric. It was found that with two and three filters both spectral radiances and reflectances could be recovered sufficiently accurately for many practical applications. With little increase in computational complexity, an RGB camera and a few colored filters can provide significantly better recovery of natural scenes than an RGB camera alone. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 352–360, 2007     

Preferential Oxidation of CO in H2-Rich Gas at Low Temperatures over Au Nanoparticles Supported on Metal Oxides

We investigated Au catalysts supported on TiO₂, Fe₂O₃, and ZnO for their preferential oxidation of CO in a H₂-rich atmosphere. Both full conversion and selectivity were achieved over Au/Fe₂O₃ and Au/ZnO around room temperature, but at higher temperatures the CO conversion was suppressed due to competition between CO and H₂.     

AgNO<Subscript>3</Subscript> spray tests: advantages,weaknesses, and various applications to quantify chloride ingress into concrete. Part 1: Non-steady-state diffusion tests and exposure to natural conditions

Within the framework of the evaluation and the prediction of chloride-induced corrosion risks, simple and rapid AgNO₃ spray tests can be proposed for various issues. This paper forms the first part of a series. In this first part, the Maultzsch procedure (spraying of 0.1-N AgNO₃ solution + K₂CrO₄) as well as the procedure based on the use of a sole AgNO₃ solution have been investigated on a broad range of concretes. These procedures have also been compared to the Collepardi procedure (spraying of 0.1-N AgNO₃ + fluoresceine). The feasibility of these colorimetric techniques on saturated specimens cast in laboratory, after non-steady-state diffusion tests carried out in various conditions, is discussed. In addition, the results obtained from applying such spray tests in field conditions on cores drilled out from various RC test specimens exposed to a marine environment (tidal zone) and to a road and cold environment (freezing-thawing cycles and spraying of deicing salts) are presented. Colorimetric methods have in particular been applied here to the assessment of the average chloride penetration depth and of its evolution versus time (kinetics). Moreover, the detection threshold of these techniques has been investigated in various environments. The possible sources of discrepancy on the results have been analysed.     

Glyconanoparticle-DNA interactions: an atomic force microscopy study.

Glyconanoparticles which present carbohydrate and amino groups motifs at their surface were produced. These particles were highly stable and soluble in aqueous solutions. The presence of the carbohydrate groups also allowed the inclusion of more strongly binding groups, without affecting solubility. The binding of a model DNA, plasmid by these nanoparticles was studied by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and gel electrophoresis. Significant differences between the nanoparticles based on their affinities for the DNA were found, with implications for their potential use as nonviral gene delivery agents.