MicroRNA Profiling of B Cell Subsets from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Reveals Promising Novel Biomarkers

MicroRNAs control the differentiation and function of B cells, which are considered key elements in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, a common micro(mi)RNA signature has not emerged since published data includes patients of variable ethnic background, type of disease, and organ involvement, as well as heterogeneous cell populations. Here, we aimed at identifying a miRNA signature of purified B cells from renal and non-renal severe SLE patients of Latin American background, a population known to express severe disease. Genome-wide miRNA expression analyses were performed on naive and memory B cells and revealed two categories of miRNA signatures. The first signature represents B cell subset-specific miRNAs deregulated in SLE: 11 and six miRNAs discriminating naive and memory B cells of SLE patients from healthy controls (HC), respectively. Whether the miRNA was up or down-regulated in memory B cells as compared with naive B cells in HC, this difference was abolished in SLE patients, and vice versa. The second signature identifies six miRNAs associated with specific pathologic features affecting renal outcome, providing a further understanding for SLE pathogenesis. Overall, the present work provided promising biomarkers in molecular diagnostics for disease severity as well as potential new targets for therapeutic intervention in SLE.     

Stimulation of Sertoli cell proliferation: defining the response interval to an inhibitor of estrogen synthesis in the boar

Sertoli cell proliferation occurs in two major waves after birth, one neonatally and another prepubertally, each contributing to final testicular size and sperm production. However, little is known about the regulation of either wave. We have previously shown that letrozole, an inhibitor of estrogen synthesis, increases Sertoli cell number and testicular size at sexual maturity in boars. These studies were conducted to determine whether letrozole affects the first or second proliferative wave. Boars were treated with letrozole during the first wave (treatment at 1, 3, and 5 weeks), less frequently (1 week of age only, or 1 and 5 weeks), on postnatal day 1, or during the second wave (weeks 11-16). Sertoli cells were enumerated in testes and estrogen concentrations were evaluated in serum and testes. Compared with vehicle controls, letrozole reduced estrogen in boars treated at weeks 1 and 5 or 1, 3, and 5, on postnatal day 1, or prepubertally. However, Sertoli cell numbers were increased only in boars treated at 1, 3, and 5 weeks of age. Neither perinatal (1 day old) nor prepubertal letrozole treatment affected Sertoli cell numbers. Hence, Sertoli cell proliferation was sensitive to letrozole only if letrozole was administered throughout the first wave, even though estrogen synthesis was effectively inhibited at all ages. These data indicate that the neonatal but not the prepubertal window of Sertoli cell proliferation is sensitive to an inhibitor of estrogen synthesis; this suggests that these two waves are differently regulated.     

Hybrid‐Bridged Silsesquioxane as Recyclable Metathesis Catalyst Derived from a Bis‐Silylated Hoveyda‐Type Ligand

The synthesis of a bis‐silylated Hoveyda‐type monomer is described as well as the preparation of several organic‐inorganic hybrid materials derived from it by a sol‐gel process (with and without tetraethyl orthosilicate) and by anchoring to MCM‐41. The resulting materials were treated with second generation Grubbs' catalyst to generate second generation Hoveyda–Grubbs‐type alkylideneruthenium complexes covalently bonded to the silica matrix. These materials are recyclable catalysts for the ring‐closing metathesis reaction of dienes and enynes.     

Fear Appeals and the Formation of Active Publics

This study examines the process through which a fear appeal may transform low-involvement audiences into active publics. Cognitive and emotional responses of uninvolved viewers to a film on environmental contamination are analyzed, together with the coping strategies used to deal with the threat. The research integrates Grunig's situational theory of publics with Rogers' protection-motivation theory to expand the predictive ability of the situational theory. The data indicate that post-test public membership, cognitive activity and emotional arousal during viewing are significantly related to viewers' preferences for coping through message resistance, seeking additional information, or taking action on the film's topic. Results suggest that both cognition and affect mediate viewers' responses to a fearful message, thereby contributing to the creation of active publics who are persuaded to take action on a problem.     

A new ambient temperature crosslinking system for emulsion polymers

A new system is proposed for the crosslinking of urea-groups dispersions with dialdehydes at ambient temperature. Film properties are comparable with those achieved by the best standard crosslinking reactions.     

Rearing rats in a germ-free environment eliminates their odors of individuality

In order to test the hypothesis that commensal bacteria influence the urinary odors of individuality, we collected urine from PVG and PVG.R1 male rats born by cesarian section and reared in a germ-free environment. Using the habituation-dishabituation test with PVG.RT1 ^u and Lister hooded rats as subjects, we found that urine from the germ-free rats was not discriminated, while urine from conventionally housed rats of the same strains could be discriminated (experiment 1). When the germ-free rats were moved to a conventional animal house after recolonization with commensural flora and their urine collected, it was discriminated, indicating an essential role of bacteria in determining the unique urinary odors of MHC-congenic rats (experiment 2). The conventionally housed and germ-free rats did not differ in the amount of class I antigen in their urine (experiment 3). Finally, urines of PVG and PVG.R1 donors inoculated with a defined and highly restricted flora to render them specific-pathogen-free (SPF) could not be discriminated. Urine from SPF donors moved to a conventional animal house could be discriminated (experiment 4). These results indicate that commensal bacteria are essential for the production of the unique individual odor of the urine of MHC-congenic strains of rats.     

On the design of capacitive sensors using flexible electrodes for multipurpose measurements

This article evaluates the potential of capacitive measurements using flexible electrodes to access various physical quantities. These electrodes are made of a thin metallic film, typical thickness 0.2 microm, evaporated on a plastic substrate. Their large flexibility enables them to be mounted in complex geometries such as curved surfaces. In the configuration of planar condensers, using a very sensitive commercial capacitive bridge and a three-terminal measurement method, several measurements are presented. A relative resolution of 10(-8) for the thermal expansion of samples is obtained at low temperature in a differential configuration. The same technique adopted for pressure gauge measurements at low temperature led to a typical 0.1 Pa resolution over a dynamic range of 10(4) Pa. In the configuration of interleaved electrodes, condensers have been used to measure wetting by either bulk liquid helium or by thin continuous helium films in a cylindrical pipe. Both experimental and numerical evidence is provided, showing that the close proximity of a reference ground potential significantly increases the relative sensitivity to fluid wetting. Further, interleaved electrodes can be used to access both the area that is covered by a liquid film but also to determine the thickness of this film, provided it is comparable to the periodicity of the electrode pattern.     

Incoherent Beam Combining of Continuous-Wave and Pulsed Yb-Doped Fiber Amplifiers

We review the technique of incoherent beam combining and show experimentally the combination of four continuous wave fiber amplifiers to an average power of 2 kW and four pulsed 2 ns fiber amplifiers to an average power of 187 W (pulse energy 3.7 mJ) using binary dielectric gratings. The scaling potential and limitations are discussed in detail.