Therapeutic Treatment of Superoxide Dismutase 1 (G93A) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Model Mice with Medical Ozone Decelerates Trigeminal Motor Neuron Degeneration,Attenuates Microglial Proliferation,and Preserves Monocyte Levels in Mesenteric Lymph Nodes

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable and lethal neurodegenerative disease in which progressive motor neuron loss and associated inflammation represent major pathology hallmarks. Both the prevention of neuronal loss and neuro-destructive inflammation are still unmet challenges. Medical ozone, an ozonized oxygen mixture (O₃/O₂), has been shown to elicit profound immunomodulatory effects in peripheral organs, and beneficial effects in the aging brain. We investigated, in a preclinical drug testing approach, the therapeutic potential of a five-day O₃/O₂ i.p. treatment regime at the beginning of the symptomatic disease phase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD1^G93A) ALS mouse model. Clinical assessment of SOD1^G93A mice revealed no benefit of medical ozone treatment over sham with respect to gross body weight, motor performance, disease duration, or survival. In the brainstem of end stage SOD1^G93A mice, however, neurodegeneration was found decelerated, and SOD1-related vacuolization was reduced in the motor trigeminal nucleus in the O₃/O₂ treatment group when compared to sham-treated mice. In addition, microglia proliferation was less pronounced in the brainstem, while the hypertrophy of astroglia remained largely unaffected. Finally, monocyte numbers were reduced in the blood, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes at postnatal day 60 in SOD1^G93A mice. A further decrease in monocyte numbers seen in mesenteric lymph nodes from sham-treated SOD1^G93A mice at an advanced disease stage, however, was prevented by medical ozone treatment. Collectively, our study revealed a select neuroprotective and possibly anti-inflammatory capacity for medical ozone when applied as a therapeutic agent in SOD1^G93A ALS mice.     

Transpersonal psychotherapy: Reflections on the genre.

Presents a broad overview of the emerging enterprise of transpersonal ("Fourth Force") psychotherapy. Contrasts are drawn between transpersonal and other major schools of therapy. Within the transpersonal realm of psychotherapy, issues of process, content, stages, goals, and context are discussed, and conceptual distinctions are made. The difference between enlightenment and change is elucidated, and techniques associated with change are described. The optimal attributes of a transpersonal therapist are outlined, and the limitations—especially the problem of proof of transcendent phenomena—of this psychological realm are examined. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sequence specificity of a group II intron ribozyme: multiple mechanisms for promoting unusually high discrimination against mismatched targets

Group II intron ai5 gamma was reconstructed into a multiple-turnover ribozyme that efficiently cleaves small oligonucleotide substrates in-trans. This construct makes it possible to investigate sequence specificity, since second-order rate constants (kcat/K(m), or the specificity constant) can be obtained and compared with values for mutant substrates and with other ribozymes. The ribozyme used in this study consists of intron domains 1 and 3 connected in-cis, together with domain 5 as a separate catalytic cofactor. This ribozyme has mechanistic features similar to the first step of reverse-splicing, in which a lariat intron attacks exogenous RNA and DNA substrates, and it therefore serves as a model for the sequence specificity of group II intron mobility. To quantitatively evaluate the sequence specificity of this ribozyme, the WT kcat/Km value was compared to individual kcat/Km values for a series of mutant substrates and ribozymes containing single base changes, which were designed to create mismatches at varying positions along the two ribozyme-substrate recognition helices. These mismatches had remarkably large effects on the discrimination index (1/relative kcat/K(m)), resulting in values > 10,000 in several cases. The delta delta G++ for mismatches ranged from 2 to 6 kcal/mol depending on the mismatch and its position. The high specificity of the ribozyme is attributable to effects on duplex stabilization (1-3 kcal/mol) and unexpectedly large effects on the chemical step of reaction (0.5-2.5 kcal/mol). In addition, substrate association is accompanied by an energetic penalty that lowers the overall binding energy between ribozyme and substrate, thereby causing the off-rate to be faster than the rate of catalysis and resulting in high specificity for the cleavage of long target sequences (> or = 13 nucleotides).     

Optically monitored dip coating as a contactless viscometry method for liquid films

Real-time interferometric monitoring of the dip coating process is applied to the study of properties of flowing liquids. Nonvolatile Newtonian oils are considered, allowing validity of a simple model after the steady state is reached where film physical thickness depends on time as t(-1/2). Measurement of two distinct mineral oil standards, under several withdrawing speeds, resulted in kinematic viscosities of 1.17+/-0.03 and 9.9+/-0.2 S (1S = 1 cm2/s). Agreement of these results with nominal values from the manufacturer suggests that interferometric monitoring of dip coating may become a valuable method for accurate, contactless viscometry of liquid films. Advantages and present limitations are discussed.     

Programmgesteuerte Verfahren zur Herstellung von Emulsionen

Programmed Processes for the Production of Emulsions Combination of an established machine for mixing and homogenizing in the production of emulsions with a unit for programming is described. The control unit has a special construction which enables the choice of a wide range of programs. The programs are inscribed in a plastic card and they can be modified as often as necessary. Control of following items is performed: rate of heating and cooling, temperature level, time of mixing and homogenizing, speed of rotation of the mixer, and valves. The reliability and economy achieved by this system is shown.     

Analysis of wind power generation and prediction using ANN: A case study

Many developing nations, such as India have embarked upon wind energy programs for areas experiencing high average wind speeds throughout the year. One of the states in India that is actively pursuing wind power generation programs is Tamil Nadu. Within this state, Muppandal area is one of the identified regions where wind farm concentration is high. Wind energy engineers are interested in studies that aim at assessing the output of wind farms, for which, artificial intelligence techniques can be usefully adapted. The present paper attempts to apply this concept for assessment of the wind energy output of wind farms in Muppandal, Tamil Nadu (India). Field data are collected from seven wind farms at this site over a period of 3 years from April 2002 to March 2005 and used for the analysis and prediction of power generation from wind farms. The model has been developed with the help of neural network methodology. It involves three input variables—wind speed, relative humidity and generation hours and one output variable-energy output of wind farms. The modeling is done using MATLAB toolbox. The model accuracy is evaluated by comparing the simulated results with the actual measured values at the wind farms and is found to be in good agreement.     

Cyanobacteria produce high levels of ergothioneine

Ergothioneine (ET) is a unique natural antioxidant. We have examined the origin of ET in zebrafish. There was virtually no ET, measured by LC–MS, in most tank vegetation (plant, green and red alga). However, ET was detected in a Phormidium sample, a cyanobacterium. In commercial fish feed preparations, ET content increased with the content of cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis or Arthrospira maxima (Spirulina). High levels of ET (up to 0.8 mg per g dry mass) were measured in cyanobacteria preparations sold as dietary supplements for humans and in fresh Scytonema and Oscillatoria cultures. Cyanobacteria contained as much ET as King Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii). All samples with substantial ET content also contained the biosynthesis intermediate hercynine; this strongly suggests that cyanobacteria synthesise ET de novo. In conclusion, our data establish that cyanobacteria can produce high levels of ergothioneine. Spirulina is a novel, safe, accessible, and affordable source of ergothioneine for humans.