Molecular Alterations in Sporadic and SOD1-ALS Immortalized Lymphocytes: Towards a Personalized Therapy

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological condition where motor neurons (MNs) degenerate. Most of the ALS cases are sporadic (sALS), whereas 10% are hereditarily transmitted (fALS), among which mutations are found in the gene that codes for the enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). A central question in ALS field is whether causative mutations display selective alterations not found in sALS patients, or they converge on shared molecular pathways. To identify specific and common mechanisms for designing appropriate therapeutic interventions, we focused on the SOD1-mutated (SOD1-ALS) versus sALS patients. Since ALS pathology involves different cell types other than MNs, we generated lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from sALS and SOD1-ALS patients and healthy donors and investigated whether they show changes in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic disturbances, the antioxidant NRF2 pathway, inflammatory profile, and autophagic flux. Both oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis appear to be upregulated in lymphoblasts from sALS and SOD1-ALS. Our results indicate significant differences in NRF2/ARE pathway between sALS and SOD1-ALS lymphoblasts. Furthermore, levels of inflammatory cytokines and autophagic flux discriminate between sALS and SOD1-ALS lymphoblasts. Overall, different molecular mechanisms are involved in sALS and SOD1-ALS patients and thus, personalized medicine should be developed for each case.     

Communication contention in task scheduling

Task scheduling is an essential aspect of parallel programming. Most heuristics for this NP-hard problem are based on a simple system model that assumes fully connected processors and concurrent interprocessor communication. Hence, contention for communication resources is not considered in task scheduling, yet it has a strong influence on the execution time of a parallel program. This paper investigates the incorporation of contention awareness into task scheduling. A new system model for task scheduling is proposed, allowing us to capture both end-point and network contention. To achieve this, the communication network is reflected by a topology graph for the representation of arbitrary static and dynamic networks. The contention awareness is accomplished by scheduling the communications, represented by the edges in the task graph, onto the links of the topology graph. Edge scheduling is theoretically analyzed, including aspects like heterogeneity, routing, and causality. The proposed contention-aware scheduling preserves the theoretical basis of task scheduling. It is shown how classic list scheduling is easily extended to this more accurate system model. Experimental results show the significantly improved accuracy and efficiency of the produced schedules.     

Socioeconomic Status and Insomnia.

This investigation compared the likelihood of insomnia and insomnia-related health consequences among individuals of different socioeconomic status. A random-digit dialing procedure was used to recruit at least 50 men and 50 women in each age decade from 20 to 80 + years old. Participants completed 2 weeks of sleep diaries as well as questionnaires related to fatigue, sleepiness, and psychological distress. Socioeconomic status was measured by education status assessed at 3 different levels: individual, household, and community. Results indicated that individuals of lower individual and household education were significantly more likely to experience insomnia even after researchers accounted for ethnicity, gender, and age. Additionally, individuals with fewer years of education, particularly those who had dropped out of high school, experienced greater subjective impairment because of their insomnia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preservation of cold‐stored guavas influenced by package materials

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of package materials on the preservation of cold‐stored ‘Kumagai’ guavas. The treatments were: PO2, co‐extruded polyolephinic film with gas injection (5% O₂/5% CO₂/N₂); PO3, co‐extruded polyolephinic film with gas injection (5% O₂/5% CO₂/N₂); LDPE, linear low density polyethylene film; LDPE‐gas, linear low density polyethylene film with gas injection (3% O₂/8% CO₂/N₂); PVC, polyvinylchloride stretch film; PO1, co‐extruded polyolephinic film and control: non‐packaged guavas. Guavas were stored at 10 ± 1°C/80–90% RH for 21 days, and then transferred to room temperature. Gas composition within the package headspace was analysed during storage and the physical and chemical characteristics of the guavas were evaluated daily during ripening. The modified atmosphere provided by PO1 film was insufficient to promote the benefit of senescence control. Although PVC provided an atmosphere close to that recommended, it did not preserve the colour and pulp firmness. PO2, PO3, LDPE and LDPE‐gas retarded the senescence process of the guavas during 21 days at 10°C plus 2 days at room temperature, but harmed the normal ripening of guavas in some aspects. This can be explained by reduced O₂ and elevated CO₂ levels within these four packages. None of the packages influenced the titratable acidity and the soluble solids, but they did harm ascorbic acid synthesis. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On Task Scheduling Accuracy: Evaluation Methodology and Results

Many heuristics based on the directed acyclic graph (DAG) have been proposed for the static scheduling problem. Most of these algorithms apply a simple model of the target system that assumes fully connected processors, a dedicated communication sub-system and no contention for the communication resources. Only a few algorithms consider the network topology and the contention for the communication resources. This article evaluates the accuracy of task scheduling algorithms and thus the appropriateness of the applied models. An evaluation methodology is proposed and applied to a representative set of scheduling algorithms. The obtained results show a significant inaccuracy of the produced schedules. Analyzing these results is important for the development of more appropriate models and more accurate scheduling algorithms.     

Influence of gas nitriding of Ti6Al4V alloy at high temperature on the adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus

In this in vitro study, we investigated the influence of titanium nitride (TiN) treatments on the Staphylococcus aureus colonisation and biofilm formation on Ti6Al4V alloy at different times. The development of biofilm in static tests was carried out in a TSB culture medium at 37 °C, for 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. Bacterial adhesion on nitrided titanium alloy was analysed by both epifluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed that the number of attached bacteria, their viability, and distribution were different for nitrided alloys than for the control group (non-nitrided alloys).     

Use of cathodic cage in plasma nitriding

Cylindrical samples of 1020 steel and 316 stainless steel were nitrided under the conditions by conventional dc plasma nitriding (DCPN) and by a new technique denominate cathodic cage plasma nitriding (CCPN). The 1020 and 316 stainless steel samples were treated during 3 h and 5 h, respectively, in 773 K and 360 Pa. The samples were characterized by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and microhardness testing. All the samples nitrided by DCPN process presented erosion rings on the surface exposed to the plasma. In comparison, in samples nitrided by CCPN, the erosion rings were completely eliminated, without loss of the mechanical properties in the different phases of existence in the nitrided layer.     

Immunostick Colorimetric ELISA Assay for the Identification of Smoked Salmon,Trout and Bream

A colorimetric ELISA using immunostick tubes has been developed for the rapid identification of smoked salmon (Salmo salar), trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and bream (Brama raii). The assay uses polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits against muscle-soluble proteins of smoked salmon (anti-SSP), trout (anti-TSP) and bream (anti-BSP) and rendered species-specific by blocking them with the heterologous species of smoked fish. The blocked antibodies were used for the immunorecognition of the smoked fish samples bound to the paddles of immunostick tubes and the immunocomplex detected with peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulins. The blue colour developed by conversion of the peroxidase substrate allows unequivocal identification of S salar, O mykiss and B raii. © 1997 SCI.     

Dietary Fat Reduces Odd-Numbered and Branched-Chain Fatty Acids in Depot Lipids of Rabbits

Forty eight Californian×New Zealand White rabbits were randomly distributed in three groups of 16 animals each. A control (with no added fat) and two diets enriched at a rate of 30 g fat kg^-1 were used. Olive oil and sunflower oil were used as sources of fat for the fat-supplemented diets. Branched chain (BCFA) and n-odd-numbered carbon fatty acids (ONFA) in the perirenal fat depots of control animals were respectively 5 and 22 mg g^-1 of total fatty acids, while in fat-enriched diets they were around 3 and 16 mg g^-1, respectively. The ratio of unsaturated: saturated fatty acid in perirenal fat was 1·25:1 when the control diet was administered and around 1·80–1·95:1 in fat-enriched diet groups, which represents approximately a 50% increase (P<0·01). However the melting points of the fats showed little difference (NS) between the control group and the group with olive oil addition whilst the sunflower oil-supplemented group showed only a 5·7% lower value (P<0·01). In a second experiment in which diets with equal digestible energy and protein were used, reductions in total amounts of ONFA (P<0·01) and BCFA (P<0·05) were observed in the perirenal fat of animals receiving the fat-enriched diets. The addition of fat depressed the concentrations of ONFA and BCFA, which may act to maintain the consistency of fat in a narrow range, avoiding to some extent the production of undesirable soft and floppy carcasses. © 1997 SCI.