PYK2 in osteoclasts is an adhesion kinase, localized in the sealing zone, activated by ligation of alpha(v)beta3 integrin, and phosphorylated by src kinase

Osteoclast activation is initiated by adhesion to the bone surface, followed by cytoskeletal rearrangement, the formation of the sealing zone, and a polarized ruffled membrane. This study shows that PYK2/CAKbeta/RAFTK, a cytoplasmic kinase related to the focal adhesion kinase, is highly expressed in rat osteoclasts in vivo. Using murine osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) or their mononuclear precursors (pOCs), generated in a coculture of bone marrow and osteoblastic MB1.8 cells, we show: (a) tyrosine phosphorylation of PYK2 upon ligation of beta3 integrins or adhesion of pOCs to serum, vitronectin, osteopontin, or fibronectin but not to laminin or collagen; (b) coimmunoprecipitation of PYK2 and c-Src from OCLs; (c) PYK2 binding to the SH2 domains of Src; (d) marked reduction in tyrosine phosphorylation and kinase activity of PYK2 in OCLs derived from Src (-/-) mice, which do not form actin rings and do not resorb bone; (e) PYK2 phosphorylation by exogeneous c-Src; (f) translocation of PYK2 to the Triton X-100 insoluble cytoskeletal fraction upon adhesion; (g) localization of PYK2 in podosomes and the ring-like structures in OCLs plated on glass and in the sealing zone in OCLs plated on bone; and (h) activation of PYK2, in the presence of MB1.8 cells, parallels the formation of sealing zones and pit resorption in vitro and is reduced by echistatin or calcitonin and cytochalasin D. Taken together, these findings suggest that Src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of PYK2 is involved in the adhesion-induced formation of the sealing zone, required for osteoclastic bone resorption.     

A search for endogenous amino acids in martian meteorite ALH84001

Trace amounts of glycine, serine, and alanine were detected in the carbonate component of the martian meteorite ALH84001 by high-performance liquid chromatography. The detected amino acids were not uniformly distributed in the carbonate component and ranged in concentration from 0.1 to 7 parts per million. Although the detected alanine consists primarily of the L enantiomer, low concentrations (<0.1 parts per million) of endogenous D-alanine may be present in the ALH84001 carbonates. The amino acids present in this sample of ALH84001 appear to be terrestrial in origin and similar to those in Allan Hills ice, although the possibility cannot be ruled out that minute amounts of some amino acids such as D-alanine are preserved in the meteorite.     

Links between behavioral regulation and preschoolers' literacy, vocabulary, and math skills.

This study investigated predictive relations between preschoolers' (N=310) behavioral regulation and emergent literacy, vocabulary, and math skills. Behavioral regulation was assessed using a direct measure called the Head-to-Toes Task, which taps inhibitory control, attention, and working memory, and requires children to perform the opposite of what is instructed verbally. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was utilized because children were nested in 54 classrooms at 2 geographical sites. Results revealed that behavioral regulation significantly and positively predicted fall and spring emergent literacy, vocabulary, and math skills on the Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement (all ps     

The hemodynamic and laboratory biochemical characteristics of the nephropathy in convalescent patients after hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

Laboratory and functional tests were made in 50 convalescents who had suffered hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). It is shown that nephropathy in such patients runs with a decline in renal functional reserve indicative of intraglomerular hypertension, impaired ability of the kidneys for osmotic urine concentration, defective tubular reabsorption of beta 2-microglobulin, microcirculatory disorders, collagen disbolism, high levels of uric acid in the blood. The occurrence of hyperuricemia and intraglomerular hypertension in HFRS convalescents calls for special consideration as leading nonimmune factors of nephropathy progression.     

Effect of transvascular fluid exchange on pressure-flow relationship in tumors: a proposed mechanism for tumor blood flow heterogeneity

Tumor blood flow (TBF) is characterized by spatial and temporal heterogeneities. Despite the crucial role of TBF in tumor growth, metastasis, and therapy, the mechanisms underlying these heterogeneities are not fully understood. Tumor vessels are, in general, more leaky than normal vessels and this may enhance the efficiency of fluid exchange between the vascular and the interstitial space. The coupling between transvascular fluid exchange and hemodynamics in tumors has not been explored previously. To investigate the role of transvascular fluid exchange on afferent and efferent blood flow, we modeled the tumor vasculature as an equivalent single vessel which is permeable and deformable and embedded in a fluid medium with uniform pressure. Simulations were carried out to examine the effects of vessel leakiness, vessel compliance, and interstitial fluid pressure on (a) pressure-flow relationship, (b) arterial-venous pressure relationship, and (c) pressure profile along the vessel. Experiments suggested by model simulations required an independent control of arterial and venous pressure and tumor blood flow. To this end, we perfused tissue-isolated tumors ex vivo and obtained data on perfusate flow rate vs arterial and venous pressures. The simulations predicted the following trends as a result of an enhanced fluid filtration across the vessel wall: (a) for a fixed arterial-venous pressure difference, efferent flow decreases with increasing venous pressure, (b) changes in venous pressure are not completely transmitted to the arterial side, and (c) the pressure profile along the vessel becomes less steep. The experimental results confirmed these trends and indicated that vascular and interstitial flow are coupled in isolated tumors. The implications of this coupling for the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in TBF are discussed.     

European practices and philosophy in industrial colour-difference evaluation

A survey has been made of the use and methods of Instrumental colour difference measurement in quality control of colour within Europe. Several colour differnce formulae are in use. The performances of the most used formulae, namely CIELAB, CMC, BFD, M&S, and Datacolor, are compared. The degree of implementation of colour difference measurement in the textile, leather, automobile, and coatings industries is summarised. The use of new computer graphics to ensure continuity of colour from batch to batch and the alternative methods of colour sorting to minimise colour differences between batches are described.     

Removal of trace quantities of nickel from solution

Chitosan, which is produced from the natural polymer chitin, is a much more efficient scavenger of nickel ion than other natural ion exchange materials tested. An industrial waste containing about 7 ppm Ni²⁺ and 10,000 ppm Na⁺ was reduced to less than 0.1 ppm Ni²⁺ by contact in a packed column of chitosan. Capacity of the chitosan substrate under these conditions was a little more than 1 meq/g. The substrate can be regenerated by contact with buffered NH₄Cl at pH 10. The high sodium content of the nickel waste did not prevent sorption of Ni²⁺, but it apparently produced an interference with atomic absorption spectrophotometer analyses, giving a spurious reading of 0.8 ppm Ni²⁺ when the major nickel line at 232 nm was used for analysis.