The predictive utility of hypnotizability: The change in suggestibility produced by hypnosis.

Objective: The predictive utility of hypnotizability, conceptualized as the change in suggestibility produced by a hypnotic induction, was investigated in the suggested reduction of experimental pain. Method: One hundred and seventy-three participants were assessed for nonhypnotic imaginative suggestibility. Thereafter, participants experienced hypnotic and nonhypnotic imaginative analgesia suggestions, counterbalanced for order. Hypnotic suggestibility was then assessed. Results: Hypnotizability, operationalized as hypnotic suggestibility with imaginative suggestibility statistically controlled (Braffman & Kirsch, 1999), predicted intraindividual differences in responding to the hypnotic and imaginative analgesia suggestions. Higher hypnotizability was associated with relatively greater response to the hypnotic analgesia suggestion than to the imaginative analgesia suggestion. Conclusions: Operationalized in this way, hypnotizability may be a useful predictor of the effect of adding a hypnotic induction to a specific imaginative suggestion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transport of reactants during scale formation on copper in SO2+O2 atmosphere at 973 and 1073 K

The reaction between copper and a mixture of SO₂+O₂ was studied at 973 and 1073 K. The experimental methods included optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and radiotracer. It is concluded that the inward transport of oxidants through the scale as well as oxygen and sulfur dioxide liberation in the reactions taking place at phase boundaries suggest that secondary processes occur inside the oxide-sulphate layer. Therefore, Cu₂O and CuOCuSO₄ appear inside this layer. In the metal-consumption zone, a Cu₂O layer forms, which contains small amounts of a sulfide phase near the metal-scale interface.     

New hybrid COPRAS-G MADM Model for improving and selecting suppliers in green supply chain management

Greening the supply chain is an increasingly important concern for many business enterprises and a challenge for logistics management. Critical functions within green supply chain management are internal improvements and selection of green suppliers. This study proposes a novel, hybrid model that addresses dependent relationships between various criteria and the vague information coming from decision-makers. The Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique structures the relationships among criteria, thereby constructing an influential network relationship map (INRM). Meanwhile the DEMATEL-based, analytical network process (ANP) method aids in obtaining influential weights of the criteria. Decision-makers may hold diverse opinions and preferences due to incomplete information, differences in knowledge or simply conflicts that are inherent between various departments. This can make it difficult to judge the performance of alternatives. One remedy is to apply a modified COmplex PRoportional ASsessment of alternatives with Grey relations. Next, this is applied to improve each criterion for integration of the performance values obtained in closing the aspiration level from different expert opinions based on INRM. An empirical example using data from a Taiwanese electronics company is provided to demonstrate our proposed method. The results can provide firms with a knowledge-based understanding of the source of some problems, thus reducing the performance gaps and closing the aspiration levels. Finally, there is a discussion on certain managerial implications.     

3,4-Dehydro-L-proline Induces Programmed Cell Death in the Roots of Brachypodium distachyon

As cell wall proteins, the hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) take part in plant growth and various developmental processes. To fulfil their functions, HRGPs, extensins (EXTs) in particular, undergo the hydroxylation of proline by the prolyl-4-hydroxylases. The activity of these enzymes can be inhibited with 3,4-dehydro-L-proline (3,4-DHP), which enables its application to reveal the functions of the HRGPs. Thus, to study the involvement of HRGPs in the development of root hairs and roots, we treated seedlings of Brachypodium distachyon with 250 µM, 500 µM, and 750 µM of 3,4-DHP. The histological observations showed that the root epidermis cells and the cortex cells beneath them ruptured. The immunostaining experiments using the JIM20 antibody, which recognizes the EXT epitopes, demonstrated the higher abundance of this epitope in the control compared to the treated samples. The transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed morphological and ultrastructural features that are typical for the vacuolar-type of cell death. Using the TUNEL test (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling), we showed an increase in the number of nuclei with damaged DNA in the roots that had been treated with 3,4-DHP compared to the control. Finally, an analysis of two metacaspases’ gene activity revealed an increase in their expression in the treated roots. Altogether, our results show that inhibiting the prolyl-4-hydroxylases with 3,4-DHP results in a vacuolar-type of cell death in roots, thereby highlighting the important role of HRGPs in root hair development and root growth.     

The Mutation in wbaP cps Gene Cluster Selected by Phage-Borne Depolymerase Abolishes Capsule Production and Diminishes the Virulence of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae is considered one of the most critical multidrug-resistant pathogens and urgently requires new therapeutic strategies. Capsular polysaccharides (CPS), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and exopolysaccharides (EPS) are the major virulence factors protecting K. pneumoniae against the immune response and thus may be targeted by phage-based therapeutics such as polysaccharides-degrading enzymes. Since the emergence of resistance to antibacterials is generally considered undesirable, in this study, the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of resistance to the phage-borne CPS-degrading depolymerase and its effect on K. pneumoniae virulence were investigated. The K63 serotype targeting depolymerase (KP36gp50) derived from Klebsiella siphovirus KP36 was used as the selective agent during the treatment of K. pneumoniae 486 biofilm. Genome-driven examination combined with the surface polysaccharide structural analysis of resistant mutant showed the point mutation and frameshift in the wbaP gene located within the cps gene cluster, resulting in the loss of the capsule. The sharp decline in the yield of CPS was accompanied by the production of a larger amount of smooth LPS. The modification of the surface polysaccharide layers did not affect bacterial fitness nor the insensitivity to serum complement; however, it made bacteria more prone to phagocytosis combined with the higher adherence and internalization to human lung epithelial cells. In that context, it was showed that the emerging resistance to the antivirulence agent (phage-borne capsule depolymerase) results in beneficial consequences, i.e., the sensitization to the innate immune response.     

Dyes based on the 2(1H)‐quinolone skeleton as potential colorimetric and fluorescent sensors for cyanide anions

The sensing properties of dyes based on 2(1H) quinolones containing dicyanoethylene groups towards selected anions such as CN^?, F^?, I^?, Cl^?, SCN^?, CH₃COO^?, and were evaluated. The spectroscopic responses of these compounds were investigated in a solution of acetonitrile/water (1:9, v/v) and phosphate buffer at a pH of 7.4. These dyes were found to act as efficient colorimetric and high turn–off fluorescent sensors to cyanide anions. The fluorescence intensity was linearly related to the concentration of CN^? from 1 to 10 µmol/L, and the detection limits reached a micromolar level of 6.7, 11.1, 3.8 and 7.2 µmol/L for 1‐4 , respectively. The cytotoxic effect of the dyes against human neuroblastoma cells (SH‐SY5Y) was also determined by MTT assay. The examined compounds exhibited slight cytotoxicity against cells under experimental conditions.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic characterisation,and potential application of dyes containing a carbostyril skeleton as sensors for thiols

Several dyes based on a carbostyril skeleton were synthesised and characterised using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and electron ionisation mass spectrometry. Their basic spectroscopic properties, such as absorption and emission spectra, were also measured. The behaviour of the obtained dyes in the absence and presence of thiol amino acids and other compounds under various conditions were studied. These dyes contain various moieties in the structure, acting as Michael acceptors. Results show that the studied compounds have the potential to act as colorimetric sensors for thiols, but the benzothioazolium dyes are less effective than dicyanoethylene derivatives.     

Calcium Ions Regulate K+ Uptake into Brain Mitochondria: The Evidence for a Novel Potassium Channel

The mitochondrial response to changes of cytosolic calcium concentration has a strong impact on neuronal cell metabolism and viability. We observed that Ca²⁺ additions to isolated rat brain mitochondria induced in potassium ion containing media a mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and an accompanying increase of mitochondrial respiration. These Ca²⁺ effects can be blocked by iberiotoxin and charybdotoxin, well known inhibitors of large conductance potassium channel (BK_Ca channel). Furthermore, NS1619 – a BK_Ca channel opener – induced potassium ion–specific effects on brain mitochondria similar to those induced by Ca²⁺. These findings suggest the presence of a calcium-activated, large conductance potassium channel (sensitive to charybdotoxin and NS1619), which was confirmed by reconstitution of the mitochondrial inner membrane into planar lipid bilayers. The conductance of the reconstituted channel was 265 pS under gradient (50/450 mM KCl) conditions. Its reversal potential was equal to 50 mV, which proved that the examined channel was cation-selective. We also observed immunoreactivity of anti-β₄ subunit (of the BK_Ca channel) antibodies with ~26 kDa proteins of rat brain mitochondria. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the predominant occurrence of β₄ subunit in neuronal mitochondria. We hypothesize that the mitochondrial BK_Ca channel represents a calcium sensor, which can contribute to neuronal signal transduction and survival.     

A search for optimal acrylic carriers for immobilization of penicillin acylase

Acrylic carriers were obtained by aminolysis of nitrile or ester groups in copolymers or terpolymers synthesized from acrylonitrile, acrylic esters and divinylbenzene or ethylene dimethacrylate in the presence of a mixture of inert diluents. The influence of the supermolecular structure of these carriers, generated during the suspension polymerization by adding a mixture of inert diluents, on the carrier properties was observed. Acrylic carriers for immobilization of penicillin acylase should be obtained from either porous or ‘sol’-type copolymers which aquire after aminolysis the structure of expanded gel.     

Polymorphisms of Encoding Genes IL1RN and P2RX7 in Apical Root Resorption in Patients after Orthodontic Treatment

External apical root resorption (EARR) is one of the most serious complications associated with orthodontic treatment. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationships between selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN), purinoreceptor P2X7 (P2RX7) and EARR in patients after orthodontic treatment. The study comprised 101 patients who underwent a complex orthodontic treatment with a combination of fixed appliances. Roots were measured based on orthopantomograms and lateral cephalometric radiographs taken before and at the end of the treatment using diagnostic software. Proportional measurements of selected teeth were made using the modified Linge and Linge methods. Based on the presence or absence of EARR, patients were divided into two groups: control group, 61 patients without EARR (with 0.90 ≤ rRCR ≤ 1.00), and EARR group, 40 patients with EARR (rRCR < 0.90). Root resorption in selected groups was also evaluated with the scores of Malmgren and Levander. SNP analysis was performed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The analysis indicated that a specific haplotype of P2RX7 (rs208294) and IL1RN (rs419598) modified the risk of EARR development (p < 0.05), with a Bonferroni correction. The analysis of the P2RX7 and IL1RN gene polymorphisms showed that the presence of SNPs of these genes may predispose individuals to EARR. These findings indicate that EARR is a complex condition influenced not only by environmental factors and needs further study on the genetic risk factors.