The Role of Neurotrophins in Multiple Sclerosis��Pathological and Clinical Implications

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with unknown etiology. It was recently suggested that autoimmunity, which had long been considered to be destructive in MS, might also play a protective role in the CNS of MS patients. Neurotrophins are polypeptides belonging to the neurotrophic factor family. While neurotrophins mediate cell survival and proliferation in the nervous system, they are also expressed within peripheral blood mononuclear cells fraction (PBMCs) of immunological system. In MS additional neurotrophic support from PBMCs might compensate relative neurotrophins deficiency in the damaged CNS tissue that needs to be repaired. Failure to produce the adequate neurotrophins concentrations might result in decreased protection of the CNS, consequently leading to increased atrophy, which is the main determinant of MS patients’ end-point disability. There are several lines of evidence, both from clinical research and animal models, suggesting that neurotrophins play a pivotal role in neuroprotective and neuroregenerative processes that are often defective in the course of MS. It seems that neuroprotective strategies might be used as potentially valuable add-on therapies, alongside traditional immunomodulatory treatment in multiple sclerosis.     

Hydroxyalkylation of barbituric acid. III. Product analysis and reaction pathway

Polyetherols containing a thermally stable pyrimidine ring were obtained upon the reaction of hydroxymethyl derivatives of barbituric acid with an excess of ethylene or propylene oxide. The reaction was monitored by ¹H‐NMR and IR spectroscopy for the systems with variable starting molar ratios of reagents. We found that formaldehyde rearranged from N‐hydroxymethyl and oxymethylene bridges into the end of the polyetherol chain during the reaction. Simultaneously, the O‐hydroxymethyl groups underwent blocking by oxirane. The structures of the polyetherols was deduced on the basis of the course of the reaction and the analytical data. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

A parallel algorithm evaluating the reliability of a system with known minimal cuts (paths)

A system with known minimal cuts is considered. In order to compute its reliability a binary tree is constructed with nodes being assigned numerical values. The value of each non-leaf node is a linear combination of its child nodes' values. The values of leaf nodes can be computed in a very simple way. The value of the root node is the system's reliability. The presented method is a memory saving one. Moreover, it is possible to apply parallel computation to the nodes located on the same level, which may significantly reduce the computing time.     

Effect of processing on the amino acid content of New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides Pall. Kuntze)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of processing on the amino acid content and protein quality of New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides Pall. Kuntze). In this research, fresh and cooked New Zealand spinach as well as two frozen products prepared for consumption, one obtained using the traditional method (blanching–freezing–storage–cooking) and the other a convenience food product obtained using a modified process (cooking–freezing–storage–defrosting and heating in a microwave oven), were analysed. Glutamic acid was the dominant amino acid in fresh New Zealand spinach, and the limiting amino acids were cystine and methionine. Technological and culinary processing caused a significant increase in amino acid content in 100 g of edible portion, with the exception of methionine and cystine in frozen products prepared for eating. Changes in amino acid content expressed in g/16 g of N (which corresponded to 100 g tissue protein) were not significant, with the exception of the lower glutamic acid content in the frozen product obtained using traditional processing method.     

A New Analyzer Based on Pellistor Sensor with Neural Network Data Postprocessing for Measurement of Hydrocarbons in Lower Explosive Limit Range

We present the results of a first stage of development work on a new type of analyzer for hydrogen and C₁–C₃ hydrocarbons concentration measurements in the lower explosive limit range, based on single pellistor sensor with artificial neural network data postprocessing.     

Reliability of a two-way circular consecutively connected system with multistate components

A two-way circular consecutively connected system with multistate components (two-way circular CCSMC) consists of n cyclically ordered components e₁,…,e_n, i.e. e_i+1, succeeds e₁, iε«ng l, …, n − 1ång;, e, succeeds e_n- Each component is capable of sending a signal in left-hand and right-hand directions. All components operate independently. The whole system is functioning if both left-hand and right-hand signals are received by each component. A recursive procedure evaluating the reliability of a two-way circular CCSMC is presented.     

Laser Process Proximity Correction for Improvement of Critical Dimension Linearity on a Photomask

We report on the improvement of critical dimension (CD) linearity on a photomask by applying the concept of process proximity correction to a laser lithographic process used for the fabrication of photomasks. Rule‐based laser process proximity correction (LPC) was performed using an automated optical proximity correction tool and we obtained dramatic improvement of CD linearity on a photomask. A study on model‐based LPC was executed using a two‐Gaussian kernel function and we extracted model parameters for the laser lithographic process by fitting the model‐predicted CD linearity data with measured ones. Model‐predicted bias values of isolated space (I/S), arrayed contact (A/C) and isolated contact (I/C) were in good agreement with those obtained by the nonlinear curve‐fitting method used for the rule‐based LPC.     

Sex-role stereotyping in television commercials: A verbal response mode and content analysis.

Evaluated the degree of sex-role stereotyping in TV commercials using both a verbal response mode and a content analysis. A total of 120 commercials (60 daytime and 60 primetime), each depicting an adult male–female dyad verbally interacting, were drawn from a larger sample of commercials aired between October 1983 and January 1984 on the major North American networks. Results of the 2 analyses reveal a more sex-stereotyped pattern of male–female differences in daytime than in primetime commercials. It is concluded that sex-role stereotyping still exists in TV commercials and is present at subtle as well as obvious levels of analysis. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of selected substances on the properties of frozen myofibril preparation obtained from mechanically recovered poultry meat

The experimental material was a myofibrillar preparation obtained from mechanically recovered poultry meat by the washing and separation of fat and connective tissues. Changes occurring during frozen storage were investigated in the preparation without and with the addition of the following substances: 2 g/kg carrageen, 2.5 g/kg sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) mixture and 80 g/kg polydextrose, and 3 g/kg enzymatic preparation (ACTIVA WM) containing microbial transglutaminase (MTG). Samples with the addition of MTG were pre-incubated at the temperature of 7 ± 1 °C for 1, 3, 5, 24 h. All samples were stored at the temperature of approx. −23 °C for 2, 30, 60, 90 days. The smallest change in protein solubility was observed in samples with added TPP and polydextrose. Along with the extension of pre-incubation time of samples containing the enzyme a gradual decrease was found in the amount of soluble protein. Also the results of the investigations obtained using the DSC technique showed the most advantageous protective effect, i.e., causing the smallest decrease in enthalpy values of samples during freezer storage, in case of the addition of TPP and polydextrose mixture. Analysis of thermal drip volume from gels showed that carrageen was the most advantageous addition to the myofibrillar preparation. Moreover, a gradual increase was observed in the volume of thermal drip along with the extension of pre-incubation time of the protein isolate with enzymatic preparation. Results of gel texture testing indicated that the most advantageous effect on gel quality was found for ACTIVA applied in 3 and 5 h pre-incubation with the myofibrils. Assuming that among the analyzed properties the most important were thermal drip and gel texture, 3 g/kg MTG at pre-incubation time of 3 h was considered the most advantageous additive.     

Isoprostanes-biomarkers of lipid peroxidation: their utility in evaluating oxidative stress and analysis

Isoprostanes (IsoPs) are key biomarkers for investigating the role of free radical generation in the pathogenesis of human disorders. To solve IsoPs-related problems with regard to isoprostanes, analytical tools are required. This paper reviews the problems and trends in this field focusing on the methodology for assaying biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples. A large amount of work has been done in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of IsoPs, but a standardized method has yet to emerge. The methodologies described differ, either in the sample preparation steps or in the detection techniques, or both. Requiring a number of chromatographic steps, the relevant extraction and purification procedures are often critical and time-consuming, and they lead to a substantial loss of target compounds. Recent data show that EBC is a promising non-invasive tool for the evaluation of different diseases. Two main analytical approaches have been adopted for IsoPs measurement: immunological methods and mass spectrometry. The methodologies for the extraction, purification and analysis of IsoPs in EBC samples are presented.