A New Strategy to Preserve and Assess Oxygen Consumption in Murine Tissues

Mitochondrial dysfunctions are implicated in several pathologies, such as metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological diseases, as well as in cancer and aging. These metabolic alterations are usually assessed in human or murine samples by mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymatic assays, by measuring the oxygen consumption of intact mitochondria isolated from tissues, or from cells obtained after physical or enzymatic disruption of the tissues. However, these methodologies do not maintain tissue multicellular organization and cell-cell interactions, known to influence mitochondrial metabolism. Here, we develop an optimal model to measure mitochondrial oxygen consumption in heart and lung tissue samples using the XF24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer (Seahorse) and discuss the advantages and limitations of this technological approach. Our results demonstrate that tissue organization, as well as mitochondrial ultrastructure and respiratory function, are preserved in heart and lung tissues freshly processed or after overnight conservation at 4 °C. Using this method, we confirmed the repeatedly reported obesity-associated mitochondrial dysfunction in the heart and extended it to the lungs. We set up and validated a new strategy to optimally assess mitochondrial function in murine tissues. As such, this method is of great potential interest for monitoring mitochondrial function in cohort samples.     

Binding Mode and Structure–Activity Relationships around Direct Inhibitors of the Nrf2–Keap1 Complex

An X‐ray crystal structure of Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein (Keap1) co‐crystallised with (1S,2R)‐2‐[(1S)‐1‐[(1,3‐dioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐isoindol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolin‐2‐carbonyl]cyclohexane‐1‐carboxylic acid (compound (S,R,S)‐ 1 a ) was obtained. This X‐ray crystal structure provides breakthrough experimental evidence for the true binding mode of the hit compound (S,R,S)‐ 1 a , as the ligand orientation was found to differ from that of the initial docking model, which was available at the start of the project. Crystallographic elucidation of this binding mode helped to focus and drive the drug design process more effectively and efficiently.     

Interpersonal victimization patterns and psychopathology among Latino women: Results from the SALAS study.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 3(1) of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy (see record 2010-26899-001). There were citation errors in the last sentence of the first column of text on page 9, and a reference was omitted from the reference list. The sentence should have read: “This result is consistent with other work that has found support for the anxious and dissociative reaction associated with trauma among Latinos and how it may relate to “ataque de nervios” (Hinton, Chong, Pollack, Barlow, & McNally, 2008; Lewis-Fernandez et al., 2002; Schechter et al., 2000; Tolin, Robinson, Gaztambide, Horowitz, & Blank, 2007).] [Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy (see record 2010-26899-001). In the original article there were citation errors in the last sentence of the first column of text on page 9, and a reference was omitted from the reference list. The sentence should have read: “This result is consistent with other work that has found support for the anxious and dissociative reaction associated with trauma among Latinos and how it may relate to “ataque de nervios” (Hinton, Chong, Pollack, Barlow, & McNally, 2008; Lewis-Fernandez et al., 2002; Schechter et al., 2000; Tolin, Robinson, Gaztambide, Horowitz, & Blank, 2007).] Research on the victimization of Latino women and the subsequent psychological impact has been limited by focusing on individual forms of victimization, primarily partner violence or sexual assault. Another deficiency includes mainly using convenience and/or geographically restricted samples, which impacts the generalizability of the results. To overcome these research limitations, the Sexual Assault Among Latinas (SALAS) study aimed to evaluate the broader scope of victimization among Latino women. The study surveyed a national sample of 2,000 Latino women using random digit dial methodology. Women were asked about various forms of victimization in childhood and adulthood including physical assaults, sexual assaults, stalking, threats, and witnessed violence, as well as psychological symptomatology including depression, anxiety, anger, and dissociation. This analysis found that victimized women were more likely to experience some form of polyvictimization and/or revictimization throughout their lives, with only 36% of victimized women experiencing one form of victimization in childhood or adulthood alone. Furthermore, multiple victimization experiences significantly increased the proportion of women who experienced psychological distress symptoms in the clinical range. For almost all evaluated symptoms, the multiple forms of victimization or varying victimization patterns significantly predicted clinical levels of psychological distress over any specific form or single incident of victimization. The results suggest that victimized Latino women experience multiple forms of victimization and that the evaluation of a broader spectrum of victimization better accounts for pathological symptomatology. Clinical implications for Latino women and future research directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Oestrogen's masculine side: mediation of mating in male mice

This review focuses on the role of oestrogen in male sexual behaviour using oestrogen receptor alpha and beta knockout (ERalphaKO and ERbetaKO) mouse models. ERbetaKO mice are capable of mating and producing offspring, whereas ERalphaKO mice are unable to do either. When ERalphaKO males are treated with testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (DHT), < 50% display mounting behaviour, few intromit and none ejaculate. However, concurrent treatment with testosterone and a dopamine agonist instates masculine sexual behaviour in both male and female ERalphaKO mice. Dopamine content in the preoptic area and associated regions is not affected by oestrogen receptor alpha gene disruption. However, expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity is severely reduced in ERalphaKO males compared with wild-type males. These findings, together with studies conducted in aromatase knockout mice, are at odds with the dogma that oestrogen is required during development for expression of male sexual behaviour in adults. However, they do support a role for oestrogens, mediated by oestrogen receptor alpha, in regulation and production of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, which in turn may control dopamine agonist release. As has been shown in male rats, in mice dopamine agonist release is likely to be an essential component of the neural pathway that mediates male sexual behaviour.     

Multiyear independent validation of the water cloud model for retrieving maize leaf area index from SAR time series

Taking advantage of a large multiyear data set of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground observations collected in Belgium, this research aims at improving the understanding of the SAR signal sensitivity to crop growth by means of water cloud model (WCM) inversion for retrieving maize leaf area index (LAI) from C-band and VV-polarized SAR data. The results show that at intermediate moisture levels, the contributions of both soil and plants to the SAR response are confused as, to the SAR sensor, the vegetation seems to behave as bare soil of about 21% water content. Moreover, as the WCM usually required a calibration every year, this research assessed the robustness of the calibrated WCM by model cross-validation between years for maize. Ten different calibrations and inversions of the WCM were completed based on three years of observations. Two other years of observation serve as independent data sets to calculate the LAI retrieval error. The results demonstrate the capability of transferring the model calibration to independent subsequent crop seasons with an acceptable performance reduction.     

Thermochemical stability of the Y2O3–SiO2 system

A thermodynamic study was carried out in order to quantify the stability of yttrium silicates under different atmospheres (argon, air, moisture), and to predict their behaviour as an EBC. For this purpose, the partial pressures of gaseous species formed during the reactive vaporization in equilibrium with yttrium silicates were evaluated and compared to those over each oxide taken separately. The partial pressures of silicon and rare earth hydroxides at the equilibrium over rare earth silicates are lower than those over each single oxide. Thus yttrium silicates appear to be sufficiently stable to be promising materials to be used as environmental barrier coatings.     

Separation of particles from hot gases using metallic foams

One of the most complicated tasks in the field of hot gas cleaning is the removal of particles from a complex mixture of degradation products formed during thermal treatment. A robust and completely reliable technology is still to be developed to achieve high efficiencies. In the past few years, significant improvements have been brought to gas cleaning technologies. Nevertheless, none of the existing processes has proved fully successful.The aim of this work is to perform the filtration of particles generated in fluidized bed gasification experiments using metallic foams. The gasified material used is dried sewage sludge. Nickel–chromium metallic foams are likely to have inherent properties that would make them suitable for use in structures where strength, high temperature-resistance and corrosion resistance are required. Moreover, metallic foams are characterized structurally by their cell topology, relative density, high porosity (? = 0.95) and cell size. In hot gas filtration, high temperature-resistance and low pressure drop to specific area ratio are essential characteristics. In the present work, several experimental operating conditions (heating time, temperature, washing method and metallic foam thickness) are investigated. The pressure drops in the metallic foams during filtration are calculated. The experimental results obtained are compared with numerical simulation results and a good agreement is obtained. The metallic foams are simulated from tomography results and a model is created.