Spectral projected subgradient with a momentum term for the Lagrangean dual approach

The Lagrangean dual problem, with a non-differentiable convex objective function, is usually solved by using the subgradient method, whose convergence is guaranteed if the optimal value of the dual objective function is known. In practice, this optimal value is approximated by a previously computed bound. In this work, we combine the subgradient method with a different choice of steplength, based on the recently developed spectral projected gradient method, that does not require either exact or approximated estimates of the optimal value. We also add a momentum term to the subgradient direction that accelerates the convergence process towards global solutions. To illustrate the behavior of our new algorithm we solve Lagrangean dual problems associated with integer programming problems. In particular, we present and discuss encouraging numerical results for set covering problems and generalized assignment problems.     

The supervision of psychological assessment: Toward parsimony and empirical evidence for developmental supervision theory.

Comments on H. Finklestein and A. Tuckman's (1997) developmental model for supervision of psychological assessment. There are concerns regarding the model's ability to serve as a parsimonious and empirically sound explication of the developmental supervision of psychological assessment. It is noted that the proposed model reiterates conceptualizations found within an already established and empirically supported comprehensive model of clinical supervision, the integrated developmental model (C. Stoltenberg and U. Delworth, 1987 and C. Stoltenberg et al, in press). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Isoprene Emission Influences the Proteomic Profile of Arabidopsis Plants under Well-Watered and Drought-Stress Conditions

Isoprene is a small lipophilic molecule synthesized in plastids and abundantly released into the atmosphere. Isoprene-emitting plants are better protected against abiotic stresses, but the mechanism of action of isoprene is still under debate. In this study, we compared the physiological responses and proteomic profiles of Arabidopsis which express the isoprene synthase (ISPS) gene and emit isoprene with those of non-emitting plants under both drought-stress (DS) and well-watered (WW) conditions. We aimed to investigate whether isoprene-emitting plants displayed a different proteomic profile that is consistent with the metabolic changes already reported. Only ISPS DS plants were able to maintain the same photosynthesis and fresh weight of WW plants. LC–MS/MS-based proteomic analysis revealed changes in protein abundance that were dependent on the capacity for emitting isoprene in addition to those caused by the DS. The majority of the proteins changed in response to the interaction between DS and isoprene emission. These include proteins that are associated with the activation of secondary metabolisms leading to ABA, trehalose, and proline accumulations. Overall, our proteomic data suggest that isoprene exerts its protective mechanism at different levels: under drought stress, isoprene affects the abundance of chloroplast proteins, confirming a strong direct or indirect antioxidant action and also modulates signaling and hormone pathways, especially those controlling ABA synthesis. Unexpectedly, isoprene also alters membrane trafficking.     

Tideglusib,a Non-ATP Competitive Inhibitor of GSK-3β as a Drug Candidate for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most common degenerative motor neuron disease in adults. About 97% of ALS patients present TDP-43 aggregates with post-translational modifications, such as hyperphosphorylation, in the cytoplasm of affected cells. GSK-3β is one of the protein kinases involved in TDP-43 phosphorylation. Up-regulation of its expression and activity is reported on spinal cord and cortex tissues of ALS patients. Here, we propose the repurposing of Tideglusib, an in-house non-ATP competitive GSK-3β inhibitor that is currently in clinical trials for autism and myotonic dystrophy, as a promising therapeutic strategy for ALS. With this aim we have evaluated the efficacy of Tideglusib in different experimental ALS models both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we observed that GSK-3β activity is increased in lymphoblasts from sporadic ALS patients, with a simultaneous increase in TDP-43 phosphorylation and cytosolic TDP-43 accumulation. Treatment with Tideglusib decreased not only phospho-TDP-43 levels but also recovered its nuclear localization in ALS lymphoblasts and in a human TDP-43 neuroblastoma model. Additionally, we found that chronic oral treatment with Tideglusib is able to reduce the increased TDP-43 phosphorylation in the spinal cord of Prp-hTDP-43^A315T mouse model. Therefore, we consider Tideglusib as a promising drug candidate for ALS, being proposed to start a clinical trial phase II by the end of the year.     

Variability of water uptake studies of biomedical polymers

Water uptake influences many properties of polymers and has been widely studied. In the context of polymeric biomaterials, several publications reported an unusual high variability of analytical results, without further investigating the cause for this phenomenon. Using selected polymers from the library of L ‐tyrosine‐derived polyarylates and poly(D ,L lactic acid), we showed that nonaged and nonannealed compression molded film samples exhibit the typical large variation in water uptake observed in previous reports. The introduction of an annealing step allows accurate and reproducible water uptake measurements for these polymers. We evaluated the use of ³H‐radiolabeled water for the determination of water uptake, finding that the use of radiolabeled water yields statistically indistinguishable measurements, compared to gravimetric methods, while providing significant advantages in throughput and sensitivity. Using the recommended methods of annealing and ³H‐radiolabled water, the water uptake profiles of 24 polymers of the library of L ‐tyrosine‐derived polyarylates are reported. This article addresses experimental concerns related to water uptake studies and may assist other researchers in improving the accuracy of their water uptake results. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated during investigation of the summer 2006 seafood related diarrhea outbreaks in two regions of Chile

Nine hundred cases of seafood related diarrhea were reported in the region of Puerto Montt, Chile during the austral summer of 2006. This is the continuation of the large outbreaks associated with the consumption of seafood containing the Vibrio parahaemolyticus serovar O3:K6 pandemic clonal group that arose last decade in Chile. The initial outbreaks occurred during the summer of 1998 in Antofagasta (23 degrees 39'S 70 degrees 24'W). Subsequently, outbreaks there were rare, but since 2004 outbreaks have been frequent farther south in Puerto Montt (41 degrees 29'S 72 degrees 24'W). The large outbreaks in Puerto Montt and their rarity in Antofagasta is atypical because the seawater temperature at Puerto Montt is 5 degrees C lower than at Antofagasta and the presence of V. parahaemolyticus in seafood has been associated with higher water temperatures. To better understand the role of seafood in outbreak occurrences in these regions, we analyzed the V. parahaemolyticus populations in clinical cases and shellfish from Puerto Montt during diarrhea outbreaks in 2006 and in shellfish from Antofagasta, where no cases were observed. Enrichment culture from shellfish yielded no V. parahaemolyticus from samples from the north, but its presence was detected in 80% of the samples from the south. Grouping of the V. parahaemolyticus isolates by the fragment restriction pattern of their DNA showed that all pathogenic (tdh+) isolates obtained from Puerto Montt shellfish corresponded to the serovar O3:K6 South East Asian pandemic clone, while the non-pathogenic (tdh-) isolates corresponded to at least six discrete groups. The possible causes for the disappearance of the pandemic strain from the north and its persistence in the south are discussed.     

Effects of flour storage and heat generated during milling on starch,dietary fibre and polyphenols in stoneground flours from two durum‐type wheats

In the perspective of cereal‐based functional food development, the research compared stone watermill and stone mill which differed in the heating generated during grinding (30 and 60 °C) and the effects of storage on the preservation of phytochemicals. After 6‐month storage of flour, a decrease in soluble dietary fibre (loss of 1.9–2.5 g 100 g^?1) and bound polyphenols (loss of 6.2–8.5%) was observed, while other wheat grain components remained unvaried. Comparing the milling techniques, stoneground wheat grains (60 °C) showed the highest amylose (34.7–36.9% of total starch) and resistant starch amounts (0.85–1.16% of total starch), which could be of interest for lowering Glycaemic Index. Stoneground KAMUT^® starch had higher tendency to be converted into resistant starch and it also showed the higher degree of starch damage, as compared to the durum wheat variety Claudio. The study provided suggestions for modulating the production chain with the aim of supplying added value to wheat‐based products.