Student ratings: The validity of use.

In this article, the author discusses the other articles in this Current Issues section (see records 85-00210, 00217, 00208, 00211) and concludes that all of the authors agree that student ratings are valid but that contextual variables such as grading leniency can affect the level of ratings. The authors disagree about the wisdom of applying statistical corrections for such contextual influences. This article argues that the problem lies neither in the ratings nor in the correction but rather in the lack of sophistication of personnel committees who use the ratings. Thus, more attention should be directed toward methods of ensuring more valid use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (CD87): a new target in tumor invasion and metastasis

Extravasation and intravasation of tumor cells in solid malignant tumors is controlled by 3 steps: 1) attachment to and interaction of tumor cells with components of the basement membrane and the extracellular matrix, 2) local proteolysis, and 3) tumor cell migration. Evidence has accumulated that different types of tumor-associated proteases, their inhibitors and receptors are involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. Four different classes of proteases are known to be correlated with the malignant phenotype: 1) Matrix metalloproteases; including collagenases, gelatinases and stromelysins. 2) Cysteine proteases; including cathepsins B and L. 3) Aspartyl protease cathepsin D. 4) Serine proteases; including plasmin and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). A strong independent prognostic value (relapse-free and/or overall survival) has especially been demonstrated for uPA and its inhibitor PAI-1 in patients with cancer of the breast, ovary, stomach, esophagus, colon, lung, and kidney thus predicting the course of the cancer disease. The strong correlation between elevated uPA and/or PAI-1 values in primary cancer tissues and the malignant phenotype of cancer cells has prompted to explore new tumor biology-oriented concepts in order to suppress uPA or uPA receptor (CD87) expression or to abrogate interaction of uPA with CD87. Various very different approaches to interfere with the expression or reactivity of uPA or CD87 at the gene or protein level were successfully tested including antisense oligonucleotides, antibodies, inhibitors and recombinant or synthetic uPA and CD87 analogues.     

Species differences in the glutathione transferase GSTT1-1 activity towards the model substrates methyl chloride and dichloromethane in liver and kidney

Glutathione transferase (GST) GSTT1-1 is involved in the biotransformation of several chemicals widely used in industry, such as butadiene and dichloro methane DCM. The polymorphic hGSTT1-1 may well play a role in the development of kidney tumours after high and long-term occupational exposure against trichloroethylene. Although several studies have investigated the association of this polymorphism with malignant diseases little is known about its enzyme activity in potential extrahepatic target tissues. The known theta-specific substrates methyl chloride (MC) dichloromethane and 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane (EPNP) were used to assay GSTT1-1 activity in liver and kidney of rats, mice, hamsters and humans differentiating the three phenotypes (non-conjugators, low conjugators, high conjugators) seen in humans. In addition GSTT1-1 activity towards MC and DCM was determined in human erythrocytes. No GSTT1-1 activity was found in any tissue of non-conjugators (NC). In all organs high conjugators (HC) showed twofold higher activity towards MC and DCM than low conjugators (LC). The activity in human samples towards EPNP was too close to the detection limit to differentiate between the three conjugator phenotypes. GSTT1-1 activity towards MC was two to seven-times higher in liver cytosol than in kidney cytosol. The relation for MC between species was identical in both organs: mouse > HC > rat > LC > hamster > NC. In rats, mice and hamsters GSTT1-1 activity in liver cytosol towards DCM was also two to seven-times higher than in the kidney cytosol. In humans this activity was twice as high in kidney cytosol than in liver cytosol. The relation between species was mouse > rat > HC > LC > hamster > NC for liver, but mouse > HC > LC/rat > hamster/NC for kidney cytosol. The importance to heed the specific environment at potential target sites in risk assessment is emphasized by these results.     

Hydrodynamische Einlauflänge und Widerstandsgesetz von reibungsmindernden kationschen Tensidlösungen

Zusammenfassung Durch Zugabe geeigneter Tensidsysteme in Wasser kann der Str?mungsdruckverlust in geraden Rohren erheblich gesenkt werden. Die diesem Effekt zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen wurden in früheren Arbeiten eingehend diskutiert. In dieser Arbeit werden neue Ergebnisse vorgestellt, die sowohl die Bestimmung der hydrodynamischen Einlaufl?nge als auch die Ermittlung der Widerstandsbeiwerte im ausgebildeten Str?mungszustand erm?glichen. Für den Bereich der ausgebildeten Rohrstr?mung wird eine neue Berechnungsgleichung vorgeschlagen. Durch Erweiterung der bisherigen Modellvorstellungen ergibt sich ein Widerstandsgesetz für den gesamten Wirkungsbereich des Tensids. Die Ergebnisse stützen sich auf Untersuchungen mit zwei verschiedenen Additivsystemen, bei denen die Parameter Str?mungsgeschwindigkeit, Temperatur und Einsatzkonzentration variiert wurden.     

The influence of processor architecture on the design and the results of WCET tools

The architecture of tools for the determination of worst case execution times (WCETs) as well as the precision of the results of WCET analyses strongly depend on the architecture of the employed processor. The cache replacement strategy influences the results of cache behavior prediction; out-of-order execution and control speculation introduce interferences between processor components, e.g., caches, pipelines, and branch prediction units. These interferences forbid modular designs of WCET tools, which would execute the subtasks of WCET analysis consecutively. Instead, complex integrated designs are needed, resulting in high demand for memory space and analysis time. We have implemented WCET tools for a series of increasingly complex processors: SuperSPARC, Motorola ColdFire 5307, and Motorola PowerPC 755. In this paper, we describe the designs of these tools, report our results and the lessons learned, and give some advice as to the predictability of processor architectures.     

Dairy cows trapped between performance demands and adaptability

The tremendous increase in the lactation performance of dairy cows during the last 60 years has had dramatic consequences on fertility and vitality (fitness) of the animals. Unprecedented average lactation performance levels have resulted in an equally unprecedented reduction in longevity. Economic pressure to further reduce the age at first calving is still high, although the negative correlation between precocious maturity and longevity is well documented in the relevant literature. Ever more aggressive selection and feeding measures are being taken to shorten the rearing time of heifers in order to reduce the cost of replacement heifers. An additional decrease in the stayability of cows has to be expected when the age at first calving is lowered even further. For reasons of profitability, dairy cows should complete an average of at least four lactations. Cows from the most important dairy breeds in the United States and Bavaria, Germany, already dropped below that crucial threshold many years ago. The same phenomenon has been observed in dairy cows in Austria over the past few years. Holstein cows that were culled in Austria in 2007 had an average of only 3.3 parities. To improve this situation, dairy cattle breeding programs should put a much higher emphasis on selection for traits of longevity and lifetime performance and, in return, markedly reduce the emphasis on selection for lactation performance in general and early‐lactation performance test results in particular. Over millions of years of evolutionary adaptation, cattle have acquired the ability to utilize fibrous low‐quality plant substrate. Only a strongly forage‐based feeding regimen is, in the long run, in accordance with their digestive and metabolic configuration. The massive use of concentrates (mostly grain) in cattle rations increases the risk of digestive and metabolic disorders in cattle and consequently leads to impaired animal welfare. Finally, the careful management of scarce resources demands that a closer look be taken at the food balance in dairy rations, i.e., an awareness of how much food that is edible for humans is being fed to livestock. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thermometric investigations about the efficacy of beta-escin to reduce postoperative edema (author's transl)

Beta-escin is highly effective in reducing postoperative edemas and swellings. It was tried to demonstrate the effect of beta-escin using the thermometry. The temperature of soft tissues and bones can be measured with the help of the thermometry, in this way the circulation of the skin can be determined. In 65 test persons so-called normal thermograms were established, using the infraredthermometer KT 41, which makes registrations without touching the skin. In 53 patients the temperature of the skin was checked after surgery of the hand. 27 patients received beta-escin (Reparil); 26 patients without medication served as controls. In every case the temperature of the operated hand was compared to the other hand. Among the patients, who received escin, the temperature of the operated hand rose for two days following surgery; afterwards it fell quickly. Among the controls the skin-temperature rose up to the 4. day after surgery and decreased slowly. These results demonstrate clearly that after using beta-escin there is a quick reduction of postoperative inflammation and edema.