Hot topic: Prepubertal ovariectomy alters the development of myoepithelial cells in the bovine mammary gland

Prepubertal ovariectomy can dramatically inhibit mammary development, but the mechanism of inhibition is not well characterized. Holstein heifers were ovariectomized (OVX) or sham operated but left intact (INT) at d 40 and then sacrificed at d 55, 70, 85, 100, 130, or 160 to provide tissues for histologic analysis of cell proliferation. Our histologic analyses unexpectedly revealed a pronounced effect of ovariectomy on myoepithelial cell development. Myoepithelial cells were identified on the basis of location, morphology, and immunohistochemical staining for α-smooth muscle actin (SMA). Vascular smooth muscle staining served as an internal positive control for all immunohistochemical analyses. Mammary tissues from d 40 heifers had an abundance of SMA+ cells associated with the ductal parenchyma. In INT heifers, the frequency of SMA+ cells decreased as development progressed. Only a limited number of isolated SMA+ cells were observed in d 70 to d 160 INT heifers. In OVX heifers, SMA+ cells were abundant, had elongated morphology, and frequently stained more intensively than vascular smooth muscle cells. The intense SMA staining and altered morphology was most prominent in older heifers. Limited analysis of gene expression revealed that maspin, a protease inhibitor expressed by myoepithelial cells, was expressed in parenchyma from both INT and OVX heifers. Our hypothesis is that ovarian secretions stimulate epithelial proliferation, and block myoepithelial differentiation. Myoepithelial cells are known to limit parenchymal cell proliferation. Ovariectomy may thus remove an estrogenic growth stimulus and permit the emergence of inhibitory cell populations that further limit parenchymal expansion. Our observation has important implications for control mechanisms that regulate parenchymal development.     

Source proximity and outdoor-residential VOC concentrations: results from the RIOPA study

Ambient volatile organic compound concentrations outside residences were measured in Elizabeth, New Jersey as part of the Relationship of Indoor, Outdoor, and Personal A:r (RIOPA) study to assess the influence of proximity of the residences to known ambient emissions sources. The closest distances between the outdoor samplers and emission sources were determined using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)techniques. Multiple regression models were developed for residential ambient concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX), methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE), and tetrachloroethylene (PCE). The natural log transformed ambient concentrations of BTEX were inversely associated with distances to major roadways with high traffic densities and gasoline stations, atmospheric stability, temperature, and wind speed. Ambient MTBE levels were associated with inverse distance to gas stations and interstate highways. Residential ambient PCE concentration was inversely associated with distance to dry cleaning facilities, atmospheric stability, temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity. The linear regression models that include proximity to emission sources and meteorological variables explained 16-45% of the overall variation of ambient residential VOC concentrations. Meteorological conditions, especially atmospheric stability and temperature, explained 60-90% of the total variation in the regression models. The residential ambient air concentrations were 1.5-4 times higher than the urban background levels outside homes very close (<50 m) to ambient emission sources where approximately 7% of the population live. However, the relative increase of risk for disease is small and variations in air concentration in the background urban atmosphere are greater than those from the proximity to roadways.     

Narrowband M-ary DPSK-DPD with L-diversity maximum ratio combining in Rician fading channels

In this paper the bit error probability (BEP) of narrowband M-ary differential phase shift keying with differential phase detection (MDPSK-DPD) and maximum ratio combining (MRC) in Rician fading channels is computed. Two systems shall be investigated. In the first system the transmitted pulse is a Nyquist pulse with bandwidth B = R(1 + β), where R is the symbol rate and 0 ≤ β ≤ 1 is the roll-off and the receiver is matched to the transmitter. In the second system the shaping pulse is a rectangle of duration T = 1/R modified by narrowband Butterworth filters in the transmitter and receiver. The fading channel is both time selective with Doppler frequency shifts of f_DT = 0, 0·01, 0·02 and frequency selective with time delays of t_d/T = 0, 0·1, 0·2. The number of diversity channels is L = 1, 2, 3 and the Rician factor is K = 0, 1, 6 dB, 10, ∞, thus the whole range between Rayleigh and Gaussian channels is covered. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi-element determination in acid-digested soy protein formulations by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry

The concentrations of major (Ca, K, Mg, Na and P) and trace elements (Al, Cu and Fe) in soy protein formulations sold in Bahia (Brazil) were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Liquid and powdered soy protein formulation samples, both whole and light, were digested using a conventional heating program on a hot-plate. The powdered samples were prepared according to the label instructions for human consumption. A 5.0-ml aliquot of the soy protein emulsion was transferred to a borosilicate Erlenmeyer and concentrated nitric and sulfuric acid added. After a digestion time of approximately 50 min, hydrogen peroxide was added and heating continued to give a final volume of approximately 5 ml; the colorless digests were then made up to 15.0 ml with deionised water. Residual acid content was determined by acid-base titration. Good agreement between measured and certified values for all analytes in a non-fat milk powder (NIST SRM 1549) indicated that the method was suitable for major and trace elements determination in soy protein formulations.     

Surface Engineering of CeO2 Catalysts: Differences Between Solid Solution Based and Interfacially Designed Ce1−xMxO2 and MO/CeO2 (M = Zn,Mn) in CO2 Hydrogenation Reaction

Catalysis Letters - Zn- and Mn-doped Cerium-oxide based catalyst textured as a solid solutional as well as interfacial form was compared in CO2 hydrogenation reaction to understand the role of...     

Effect of a single oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum DSMZ 8862/8866 before and at the time point of weaning on intestinal microbial communities in piglets

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a single administration of two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (DSMZ 8862 and 8866) either before or at the time point of weaning can influence the intestinal microbiota of piglets. A total of 176 piglets were allocated into five groups: control (LP0), administration of 5 × 10⁹ or 5 × 10¹⁰ cfu at day 25 of life (LP1, LP2) and administration of 5 × 10⁹ or 5 × 10¹⁰ cfu at day 28 of life (LP3, LP4). Piglets were weaned on day 28 of life. On day 25 (LP1, LP2), 28 (LP0, LP3, LP4), 33 (all groups) and 39 (all groups) of life, 10–13 animals of each group were killed and genomic DNA was extracted from small and large intestinal contents. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis demonstrated that administration of L. plantarum had a significant effect in GIT microbial communities as revealed by the Simpson's index of diversity and cluster analysis based on the Dice similarity index; this effect was more pronounced in groups LP3 and LP4. A treatment dependent presence of Clostridium glycolicum-like, Lactobacillus sobrius-like, Eubacterium rectale-like and Roseburia faecalis-like phylotypes was observed. The results show that the administration of L. plantarum at the point of weaning can influence gastrointestinal microbiota in weaning piglets which may have positive results on gastrointestinal health.     

Light microscopical detection of single 5 and 20 nm gold particles used for immunolabelling of plasma membrane antigens with silver enhancement and reflection contrast

To detect plasma membrane antigens, cytocentrifuge preparations of the macrophage-like cell line P388D1 were incubated with monoclonal antibodies and labelled with 5 and 20 nm gold particles conjugated to immunoglobulins or protein A. The 20 nm, but not the 5 nm, particles could be observed by reflection-contrast light microscopy. Single 5 nm particles, however, were clearly demonstrable with silver contrast enhancement, both in absorption contrast and in reflection contrast. The method proved to be compatible with cytochemical methods such as acid phosphatase.     

Binary PRCPM with differential phase detection and maximal ratiocombining diversity in fading channels

We derive a formula for the bit-error probability (BEP) of binary partial-response continuous-phase modulation (PRCPM) with N-bit differential phase detection (DPD) in a Rician fading channel subject to L-branch maximum ratio combining (MRC) diversity. We compute the BEP for minimum-shift keying (MSK), Gaussian MSK (GMSK), and 2 RC (2-b-duration raised cosine) frequency signals as a function of the energy-to-noise ratio per bit E_b/N₀ and other system and channel parameters [N=1 and 2 and L=1, 2, and 3, Rician factor K=-∞, 0, 6, 10, and ∝ dB, Doppler frequency shift f_DT=0, 0.01, and 0.02, Gaussian premodulation filter bandwidth B_gT=∞, 0.5, 0.25, and the presence or absence of a Doppler frequency tracking loop (DFTL) in the receiver]. In all cases, the BEP is significantly reduced by diversity