Deviation model based method of planning accuracy inspection of free-form surfaces using CMMs

Measurements of free-form surfaces are performed with the use of numerically controlled CMMs on the basis of a CAD model, which results in obtaining coordinates of discrete measurement points. The local geometric deviation, i.e. the distance of a particular measurement point from the CAD model of the nominal surface, is established for each point. The measurement aims at evaluating the form deviation and thus the greatest deviation of the actual surface from the CAD model. An effective measurement is one in which the probability of locating the greatest deviation is highest with the smallest possible number of measurement points. The present article suggests a method of planning a measurement strategy for objects with free-form surfaces. Repeatability of deterministic deviations on surfaces processed under the same conditions was applied. A CAD model of the product, built on the measurement points, and including the deterministic component of these deviations, was constructed. Effective surface measurements were planned locating the measurement points in the critical areas. The devised model was used for performing the measurement.     

Determination of (fluoro)quinolones in eggs by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and confirmation by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A multiresidue analytical procedure for determination of seven fluoroquinolones (marbofloxacin, norfloxacin as internal standard, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin and difloxacin), and three quinolones (oxolinic acid, nalidixic acid and flumequine) in eggs is presented. The procedure is based on dispersive solid-phase extraction technique with acetonitrile as extractant. Norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin - d8 were used as internal standards to quantify the (fluoro)quinolones. Analyses were realised by LC-FLD for screening and LC-MS/MS for confirmatory purposes. The whole procedure was evaluated according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Specificity, decision limit (CCα), detection capacity (CCβ), recovery (absolute and relative), precision (repeatability and reproducibility) were determined during validation process. Recoveries (relative) for the LC-FLD screening determination ranged from 85% to 93%, repeatability and reproducibility were in the range of 5-9% to 9-16%, respectively. CCα and CCβ were 13-37 and 17-43 μg/kg pending on analite. For the LC-MS/MS confirmatory method, the relative recoveries were satisfactory (92-99%) with repeatability and reproducibility in the range of 4-7% to 6-12%, respectively. CCα and CCβ were 3-7 and 7-11 μg/kg depending on the analite. The results of both prepared methods showed these analytical procedures simple, rapid, sensitive and suitable for routine control of eggs.     

Regulation of genes encoding proteolytic enzymes during mammary gland development

The mammary gland undergoes extensive tissue remodelling during each lactation cycle. During pregnancy, the epithelial compartment of the gland is vastly expanded (Benaud et al. 1998). At the end of lactation the epithelial cells undergo apoptosis and adipocyte differentiation is induced (Lilla et al. 2002). Ductal and alveolar growth during puberty and pregnancy, and the involution process require the action of proteolytic enzymes (including matrix metalloproteinases, plasminogen and membrane-peptidases) and the corresponding genes are activated during these periods (Benaud et al. 1998; Alexander et al. 2001). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are expressed in several cell types of the mammary gland including stromal fibroblasts (e.g., MMP3, MMP2), epithelial cells (e.g., MMP7 or MMP9), adipocytes (e.g., MMP2) and lymphoid cells (e.g., MMP9) (Crawford et al. 1996; Lund et al. 1996; Wiseman et al. 2003). A number of knock-out mice, which are deficient for individual MMP genes (e.g., MMP2, MMP3) or plasminogen, display alterations to mammary gland structure and impairment of lactation (Lund et al. 1999; Wiseman et al. 2003).     

CARD9 Deficiency Increases Hippocampal Injury Following Acute Neurotropic Picornavirus Infection but Does Not Affect Pathogen Elimination

Neurotropic viruses target the brain and contribute to neurologic diseases. Caspase recruitment domain containing family member 9 (CARD9) controls protective immunity in a variety of infectious disorders. To investigate the effect of CARD9 in neurotropic virus infection, CARD9^−/− and corresponding C57BL/6 wild-type control mice were infected with Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV). Brain tissue was analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry and molecular analyses, and spleens by flow cytometry. To determine the impact of CARD9 deficiency on T cell responses in vitro, antigen presentation assays were utilized. Genetic ablation of CARD9 enhanced early pro-inflammatory cytokine responses and accelerated infiltration of T and B cells in the brain, together with a transient increase in TMEV-infected cells in the hippocampus. CARD9^−/− mice showed an increased loss of neuronal nuclear protein⁺ mature neurons and doublecortin⁺ neuronal precursor cells and an increase in β-amyloid precursor protein⁺ damaged axons in the hippocampus. No effect of CARD9 deficiency was found on the initiation of CD8⁺ T cell responses by flow cytometry and co-culture experiments using virus-exposed dendritic cells or microglia-enriched glial cell mixtures, respectively. The present study indicates that CARD9 is dispensable for the initiation of early antiviral responses and TMEV elimination but may contribute to the modulation of neuroinflammation, thereby reducing hippocampal injury following neurotropic virus infection.     

Aversive Learning Deficits and Depressive-Like Behaviors Are Accompanied by an Increase in Oxidative Stress in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: The Protective Effect of Rapamycin

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are one of the most common consequences of ethanol exposure during pregnancy. In adulthood, these disorders can be manifested by learning and memory deficits and depressive-like behavior. Ethanol-induced oxidative stress may be one of the factors that induces FASD development. The mammalian target of the Rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway that acts via two distinct multiprotein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, can affect oxidative stress. We investigated whether mTOR-dependent or mTOR-independent mechanisms are engaged in this phenomenon. Thus, Rapamycin—a selective inhibitor of mTORC1, Torin-2—a non-selective mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitor, and FK-506—a drug that impacts oxidative stress in an mTOR-independent manner were used. Behavioral tests were performed in adult (PND60-65) rats using a passive avoidance (PA) task (aversive learning and memory) and forced swimming test (FST) (depressive-like behaviors). In addition, the biochemical parameters of oxidative stress, such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), as well as apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP)-sites were determined in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in adult (PND65) rats. The rat FASD model was induced by intragastric ethanol (5 g/kg/day) administration at postnatal day (PND)4–9 (an equivalent to the third trimester of human pregnancy). All substances (3 mg/kg) were given 30 min before ethanol. Our results show that neonatal ethanol exposure leads to deficits in context-dependent fear learning and depressive-like behavior in adult rats that were associated with increased oxidative stress parameters in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Because these effects were completely reversed by Rapamycin, an mTORC1 inhibitor, this outcome suggests its usefulness as a preventive therapy in disorders connected with prenatal ethanol exposure.     

Passivation of Al–Cr–Fe and Al–Cu–Fe–Cr complex metallic alloys in 1 M H2SO4 and 1 M NaOH solutions

The corrosion mechanisms of Al–Cr–Fe and Al–Cu–Fe–Cr complex metallic alloys have been investigated by potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization. Very good passivation of the Al–Cr–Fe surface is exhibited from 1 M H₂SO₄ to 1 M NaOH solutions, which was confirmed by ICP-OES analysis over a period of 273 days. Potentiostatically formed passive films analysed by XPS revealed chromium enrichment in the outermost layer of the aluminium oxy-hydroxide film. Although Al–Cu–Fe–Cr showed passivation during potentiodynamic polarization, heavy active corrosion at OCP was revealed by ICP-OES. For the Al–Cu–Fe–Cr alloy, the 10% content of Cr is insufficient to maintain a protective “chemically stable” Cr oxide/hydroxide.     

The Rheological and Instrumental Textural Properties of Selected Table Fats

The rheological and instrumental textural properties of the butters, margarines and spreads were determined in this study. Three factors affected on the rheology and the instrumental texture of the examined yellow fat products: temperature of the measurement, origin and the content of the fat. The results obtained at 5 and 20°?C showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in spreadability and hardness. The highest hardness and the lowest spreadability values were recorded for the butters and mixed fat products with high fat content. Generally, milk fat content caused a significant increase of hardness and decrease of spreadability. The best spreadability was measured for the spreads with the lowest fat content. Adhesiveness and cohesiveness analysis revealed that the most adhesive and less cohesive were the products with high fat content, less adhesive and the most cohesive were spreads with the lowest content of lipids. All of the samples exhibited thixotropic and shear-thinning behavior. High correlation was found between spreadability and hardness. Apparent viscosity did not correlate with spreadability and hardness.     

Criterion validity of the Holden Psychological Screening Inventory Social Symptomatology Scale in a prison sample.

The 36-item, self-report Holden Psychological Screening Inventory (HPSI; R. R. Holden, 1996) and the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL–R; R. D. Hare, 1991) were administered to 214 male, adult prison inmates in Canadian federal correctional facilities. The 12-item HPSI Social Symptomatology scale, a measure of antisocial behavior, demonstrated a large effect size in significantly differentiating between PCL–R-identified psychopaths and nonpsychopaths. HPSI scales not theoretically related to psychopathic behavior showed no such significant effects. Findings are interpreted as supporting the criterion validity of the Social Symptomatology scale and suggest that this brief, self-report screen has research and clinical merit. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Running from Stress: Neurobiological Mechanisms of Exercise-Induced Stress Resilience

Chronic stress, even stress of a moderate intensity related to daily life, is widely acknowledged to be a predisposing or precipitating factor in neuropsychiatric diseases. There is a clear relationship between disturbances induced by stressful stimuli, especially long-lasting stimuli, and cognitive deficits in rodent models of affective disorders. Regular physical activity has a positive effect on the central nervous system (CNS) functions, contributes to an improvement in mood and of cognitive abilities (including memory and learning), and is correlated with an increase in the expression of the neurotrophic factors and markers of synaptic plasticity as well as a reduction in the inflammatory factors. Studies published so far show that the energy challenge caused by physical exercise can affect the CNS by improving cellular bioenergetics, stimulating the processes responsible for the removal of damaged organelles and molecules, and attenuating inflammation processes. Regular physical activity brings another important benefit: increased stress robustness. The evidence from animal studies is that a sedentary lifestyle is associated with stress vulnerability, whereas a physically active lifestyle is associated with stress resilience. Here, we have performed a comprehensive PubMed Search Strategy for accomplishing an exhaustive literature review. In this review, we discuss the findings from experimental studies on the molecular and neurobiological mechanisms underlying the impact of exercise on brain resilience. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective potential of preconditioning exercise and of the role of exercise in stress resilience, among other things, may open further options for prevention and therapy in the treatment of CNS diseases.     

Melatonin Protects Cholangiocytes from Oxidative Stress-Induced Proapoptotic and Proinflammatory Stimuli via miR-132 and miR-34

Biosynthesis of melatonin by cholangiocytes is essential for maintaining the function of biliary epithelium. However, this cytoprotective mechanism appears to be impaired in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). MiR-132 has emerged as a mediator of inflammation in chronic liver diseases. The effect of melatonin on oxidative stress and bile acid-induced apoptosis was also examined in cholangiocyes overexpressing miR506, as a PBC-like cellular model. In PBC patients the serum levels of melatonin were found increased in comparison to healthy controls. Whereas, in cholangiocytes within cirrhotic PBC livers the melatonin biosynthetic pathway was substantially suppressed even though the expressions of melatonin rate-limiting enzyme aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), and CK-19 (marker of cholangiocytes) were enhanced. In cholangiocytes exposed to mitochondrial oxidative stress melatonin decreased the expression of proapoptotic stimuli (PTEN, Bax, miR-34), which was accompanied by the inhibition of a pivotal mediator of inflammatory response Nf-κB-p65 and the activation of antiapoptotic signaling (miR-132, Bcl2). Similarly, melatonin reduced bile acid-induced proapoptotic caspase 3 and Bim levels. In summary, the insufficient hepatic expression of melatonin in PBC patients may predispose cholangiocytes to oxidative stress-related damage. Melatonin, via epigenetic modulation, was able to suppress NF-κB signaling activation and protect against biliary cells apoptotic signaling.