Regulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover,calcium metabolism and enzyme secretion by phorbol dibutyrate in neutrophils

The action of the tumor promoter, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), on rabbit peritoneal and human neutrophils is associated with stimulation of¹⁴C-arachidonic acid incorporation into phospholipids within 1–2 min. Stimulated¹⁴C-arachidonate incorporation was relatively selective for phosphatidylinositol (PI) in rabbit neutrophils. In contrast, the secretory response of human neutrophils to PDBu coincided with stimulated label incorporation into phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA) and PI. Significant increases in label incorporation were observed with PDBu concentrations as low as 2 nM, and the dose response of stimulated label incorporation paralleled that of evoked lysozyme secretion. A parallel, but partial, inhibition of PDBu-stimulated PI labeling and enzyme release was observed after exposing rabbit neutrophils to calcium-deprived medium, whereas calcium deprivation failed to significantly depress either of these stimulant actions of PDBu in human neutrophils. Further, in rabbit neutrophils PDBu elicited an increase in cell associated⁴⁵Ca. However, PDBu was unable to promote the incorporation of³²P orthophosphate into PI or enhance phospholipase A₂ activity in broken cells. These findings suggest that one expression of the interaction between phorbol esters and their receptors on neutrophils involves the turnover of arachidonic acid in phospholipids. This stimulated turnover of arachidonate may be a critical step in the cascade of events associated with neutrophil activation.     

Craze fibril formation and breakdown

As crazes grow in areal extent they also increase in width. The areal growth involves craze tip advance which has been shown to occur by the Taylor meniscus instability. Craze widening, at least for air crazes, occurs by drawing more fibrillar material from the craze-bulk polymer interfaces at essentially constant extension ratio. Simple arguments will be given to predict the scale of the fibrillation in terms of the stress S at the craze tip and interfaces and an effective polymer surface energy (Γ) where: which assumes that all entangled chain crossing the surface are broken [γ represents the van-der-Waals (intermolecular) surface energy, d is the entanglement mesh size, v_E is the entanglement density, and U_b is the energy required to break a single backbone bond]. These arguments also give the rate of fibrillation as a function of S, a nominal plastic resistance σ_y and Γ and can explain the fact that the stress for crazing increases relative to that for shear deformation as the entanglement density of the polymer is increased. The geometrically necessary entanglement loss (either by scission as assumed above or by disentanglement- at temperatures just below T_g) that accompanies fibril formation has important consequences for fibril stability. The probability p that a given entangled chain is lost can be computed from simple geometrical considerations knowing the fibril diameter D, its extension ratio λ and the mesh size d; p increases rapidly as Dλ^½ becomes comparable to or less than d. These concepts can be tested in blends of high molecular weight polymer with chains of the same polymer that are too short to entangle.     

Changes in the acyl and alkenyl group composition of cardiac phospholipids in boars fed corn oil or rapeseed oil

Boars fed diets containing rapeseed oil for 8 weeks showed significantly higher levels of neutral lipids and similar levels of phospholipids, compared to those fed corn oil. Erucic and eicosenoic acids were found to be high in ethanolamine phosphoglycerides, and in particular alkenyl acyl-ethanolamine phosphoglyceride. Furthermore, both long chain monoenes were incorporated preferentially in position 2 of the choline and ethanolamine phosphoglycerides. The alkenyl group composition of the cardiac lipids of pigs was influenced by dietary fatty acids. When rapeseed oil was fed, small amounts of 20∶1 and 22∶1 alkenyl constituents were detected. Contribution No. 641 Animal Research Institute     

Experience-based mitigation of age-related performance declines: Evidence from air traffic control.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 15(2) of Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied (see record 2009-09189-003). In the article, the URL published for the supplemental material was incorrect. The correct URL is http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0014947.supp] Previous research has found age-related deficits in a variety of cognitive processes. However, some studies have demonstrated age-related sparing on tasks where individuals have substantial experience, often attained over many decades. Here, the authors examined whether decades of experience in a fast-paced demanding profession, air traffic control (ATC), would enable older controllers to perform at high levels of proficiency. The authors also investigated whether older controllers would show diminished age-related decrements on domain-relevant cognitive abilities. Both young and old controllers and noncontrollers performed a battery of cognitive and ATC tasks. Results indicate that although high levels of experience can reduce the magnitude of age-related decline on the component processes that underlie complex task performance, this sparing is limited in scope. More important, however, the authors observed experience-based sparing on simulated ATC tasks, with the sparing being most evident on the more complex air traffic control tasks. These results suggest that given substantial experience, older adults may be quite capable of performing at high levels of proficiency on fast-paced demanding real-world tasks. The implications of these findings for global skilled labor shortages are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reductions in self-injury produced by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is used to reduce pain but also may be useful for self-injurious behavior (SIB). In the current investigation, a microcurrent electromedical device, classified as a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS), was applied with a man with Down syndrome who displayed SIB that persisted in the absence of social contingencies. Although clinically significant results were not maintained, a clear difference in the rates of SIB during active and inactive TENS was observed.     

Fine needle aspiration cytology of papillary neoplasms

This article covers the fine needle aspiration biopsy cytomorphology of papillary carcinomas of different organs, differential diagnoses, and clinical correlation. Diagnostic problems and helpful cytologic features are emphasized. The purpose is to have a concise source of information that helps the pathologist to evaluate these neoplasms.     

Entanglement networks of 1,2-polybutadiene crosslinked in states of strain. IV. States of ease and stress–strain behavior

Linear 1,2-polybutadiene, glass transition temperature (T_g) ?18°C, is crosslinked at ?10°C, to ?20°C by γ irradiation while strained in simple extension, with extension, ratios (λ₀) from 1.2 to 2.7. After release, the sample retracts to a state of ease (λ_s) at room temperature. From equilibrium stress–strain measurements up to a stretch ratio relative to the state of ease (Λ) of 1.2, together with λ₀ and λ_s, the concentration of network strands terminated by trapped entanglements (νN) is calculated. For this purpose, a three-constant Mooney–Rivlin formulation is used, in which the entanglement network is described by Mooney–Rivlin coefficients C_1N and C_2N, whereas the crosslink networks is described by the coefficient C_1x only. The ratio ψ_N = C_2N/(C_1N + C_2N) is estimated from parallel studies of nonlinear stress relaxation of the uncrosslinked polymer, taking into account the thermal history before and during irradiation. For substantial degrees of crosslinking, i.e., for R_0′ = ν_x/ν_N > 0.4 (where ν_N is the concentration of network strands terminated by crosslinks), and for λ₀ < 1.8, C_2N agrees rather well with the value obtained from stress relaxation of the uncrosslinked polymer in the range of time scale where it is nearly independent of time (1.87 X 10⁵ pascals). The corresponding value of ν_N is 2.3 × 10^?4 moles/cm³, in good agreement with that obtained from viscoelastic measurements of the uncrosslinked polymer in the plateau zone (2.5 × 10^?4). However, for R_0′ ? 0.2, smaller values of C_2N and ν_N are obtained, indicating that for low degrees of crosslinking the entanglements are not completely trapped. Also, for higher values of λ₀, C_2N and ν_N turn out to be somewhat smaller. Similar, less extensive results were obtained previously on a 1,2-polybutadiene with somewhat higher vinyl content and a higher T_g. Crosslinked samples of both these polymers were subjected to equilibrium stress–strain measurements in simple elongation from the state of ease at higher strains up to Λ = 1.7. The results agreed closely with calculations from the three-constant Mooney–Rivlin theory.     

Ewma charts for multivariate time series

In this paper a muIt,ivariat.e EWMA chart for time series is introduced. In principle, it is a generalization of the control scheme of Lowry et al. (I992) for multivarite indendent observations.

The autocovariances of the EWMA recursion are derived for stationary multivariate time series. IYsing tllese reslllts a co11t.rol chart hased or1 t11 illt.ivariate EWMA recursion is proposed. For a multivariate autoregressive process of order 1, a sufficient. condition is given such that the in-control average run length (ARL) is invariant, withrespect to the covariance of the White Noise process. This scheme is compared with the MEWMA control chart of Lowry et al. (1992) applied to the residuals.

By an extensive Monte carlo study the ARL of both charts are determined for several multivariate autoregressive processses.     

Real‐time control of a semi‐industrial fed‐batch evaporative crystallizer using different direct optimization strategies

This article presents a model‐based control approach for optimal operation of a seeded fed‐batch evaporative crystallizer. Various direct optimization strategies, namely, single shooting, multiple shooting, and simultaneous strategies, are used to examine real‐time implementation of the control approach on a semi‐industrial crystallizer. The dynamic optimizer utilizes a nonlinear moment model for on‐line computation of the optimal operating policy. An extended Luenberger‐type observer is designed to enable closed‐loop implementation of the dynamic optimizer. In addition, the observer estimates the unmeasured process variable, namely, the solute concentration, which is essential for the intended control application. The model‐based control approach aims to maximize the batch productivity, as satisfying the product quality requirements. Optimal control of crystal growth rate is the key to fulfill this objective. This is due to the close relation of the crystal growth rate to product attributes and batch productivity. The experimental results suggest that real‐time application of the control approach leads to a substantial increase, i.e., up to 30%, in the batch productivity. The reproducibility of batch runs with respect to the product crystal size distribution is achieved by thorough seeding. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the direct optimization strategies perform similarly in terms of optimal process operation. However, the single shooting strategy is computationally more expensive. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 57: 1557–1569, 2011