Bona Fide Tumor Suppressor Genes Hypermethylated in Melanoma: A Narrative Review

Loss-of-function events in tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) contribute to the development and progression of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). Epigenetic alterations are the major mechanisms of TSG inactivation, in particular, silencing by promoter CpG-island hypermethylation. TSGs are valuable tools in diagnosis and prognosis and, possibly, in future targeted therapy. The aim of this narrative review is to outline bona fide TSGs affected by promoter CpG-island hypermethylation and their functional role in the progression of CMM. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies providing evidence of bona fide TSGs by cell line or animal experiments. We performed a broad first search and a gene-specific second search, supplemented by reference checking. We included studies describing bona fide TSGs in CMM with promoter CpG-island hypermethylation in which inactivating mechanisms were reported. We extracted data about protein role, pathway, experiments conducted to meet the bona fide criteria and hallmarks of cancer acquired by TSG inactivation. A total of 24 studies were included, describing 24 bona fide TSGs silenced by promoter CpG-island hypermethylation in CMM. Their effect on cell proliferation, apoptosis, growth, senescence, angiogenesis, migration, invasion or metastasis is also described. These data give further insight into the role of TSGs in the progression of CMM.     

A rapid determination of the total sugar content and the average inulin chain length in roots of chicory (Cichorium intybusL)

A method is proposed to the chicory breeder for the fast screening of total sugar content and average inulin chain length of lots of chicory roots. The determination of the refractive index of the chicory root juice by refractometer is the first step. This rapid analysis gives a good estimation of the total sugar content (r=0·85; RSD=3·8%). In the next step extracts of chicory roots with a high total sugar content are hydrolysed and analysed by chromatography. The calculated fructose/glucose ratio predicts the average inulin chain length well (r=0·91; RSD=5·3%). The molecular weight distribution of the inulin was analysed by anion exchange HPLC with pulsed amperometric detection. © 1998 SCI     

逐步形成的荷兰大都市：荷兰空间规划及发展的远景与项目

在过去的30年里．荷兰的城市和空间发展经历了巨大变迁。数十年来．兰斯塔德都市圈作为一个规划范例，一直享有很高的国际声誉（Hall P. The World Cities，1966）。但是在荷兰．人们却经常对它持怀疑态度，并且热情不高。这主要是因为从本质上讲，兰斯塔德是一个独特的都市化模式。这种模式体现为在莱茵河、默兹河和斯海尔德河的三角洲中建立起的荷兰大城市群．     

Axioms for generalized graphs, illustrated by a Cantor–Bernstein proposition

The notion of a graph type is introduced by a collection of axioms. A graph of type (or -graph) is defined as a set of edges, of which the structure is specified by . From this, general notions of subgraph and isomorphism of -graphs are derived. A Cantor-Bernstein (CB) result for -graphs is presented as an illustration of a general proof for different types of graphs. By definition, a relation on -graphs satisfies the CB property if and imply that A and B are isomorphic. In general, the relation ‘isomorphic to a subgraph’ does not satisfy the CB property. However, requiring the subgraph to be disconnected from the remainder of the graph, a relation that satisfies the CB property is obtained. A similar result is shown for -graphs with multiple edges. Received: 25 October 1996 / 5 February 1998     

Simple multi-visit attribute grammars

An attribute grammar is simple multi-visit if each attribute of a nonterminal has a fixed visit-number associated with it such that, during attribute evaluation, the attributes of a node which have visit-number j are computed at the jth visit to the node. An attribute grammar is l-ordered if for each nonterminal a linear order of its attributes exists such that the attributes of a node can always be evaluated in that order (cf. the work of Kastens).An attribute grammar is simple multi-visit if and only if it is l-ordered. Every noncircular attribute grammar can be transformed into an equivalent simple multi-visit attribute grammar which uses the same semantic operations.For a given distribution of visit-numbers over the attributes, it can be decided in polynomial time whether the attributes can be evaluated according to these visit-numbers. The problem whether an attribute grammar is simple multi-visit is NP-complete.     

A comparison of pebble tree transducers with macro tree transducers

The n-pebble tree transducer was recently proposed as a model for XML query languages. The four main results on deterministic transducers are: First, (1) the translation of an n-pebble tree transducer can be realized by a composition of n+1 0-pebble tree transducers. Next, the pebble tree transducer is compared with the macro tree transducer, a well-known model for syntax-directed semantics, with decidable type checking. The -pebble tree transducer can be simulated by the macro tree transducer, which, by the first result, implies that (2) can be realized by an (n+1)-fold composition of macro tree transducers. Conversely, every macro tree transducer can be simulated by a composition of 0-pebble tree transducers. Together these simulations prove that (3) the composition closure of n-pebble tree transducers equals that of macro tree transducers (and that of 0-pebble tree transducers). Similar results hold in the nondeterministic case. Finally, (4) the output languages of deterministic n-pebble tree transducers form a hierarchy with respect to the number n of pebbles.This revised version was published online in September 2003 with corrections to type sizes.Received: 16 January 2003, Sebastian Maneth: Present address: Swiss Institute of Technology Lausanne, Programming Methods Laboratory (LAMP), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland, e-mail (sebastian.maneth@epfl.ch)     

Electrical power from sea and river water by reverse electrodialysis: a first step from the laboratory to a real power plant

Electricity can be produced directly with reverse electrodialysis (RED) from the reversible mixing of two solutions of different salinity, for example, sea and river water. The literature published so far on RED was based on experiments with relatively small stacks with cell dimensions less than 10 × 10 cm(2). For the implementation of the RED technique, it is necessary to know the challenges associated with a larger system. In the present study we show the performance of a scaled-up RED stack, equipped with 50 cells, each measuring 25 × 75 cm(2). A single cell consists of an AEM (anion exchange membrane) and a CEM (cation exchange membrane) and therefore, the total active membrane area in the stack is 18.75 m(2). This is the largest dimension of a reverse electrodialysis stack published so far. By comparing the performance of this stack with a small stack (10 × 10 cm(2), 50 cells) it was found that the key performance parameter to maximal power density is the hydrodynamic design of the stack. The power densities of the different stacks depend on the residence time of the fluids in the stack. For the large stack this was negatively affected by the increased hydrodynamic losses due to the longer flow path. It was also found that the large stack generated more power when the sea and river water were flowing in co-current operation. Co-current flow has other advantages, the local pressure differences between sea and river water compartments are low, hence preventing leakage around the internal manifolds and through pinholes in the membranes. Low pressure differences also enable the use of very thin membranes (with low electrical resistance) as well as very open spacers (with low hydrodynamic losses) in the future. Moreover, we showed that the use of segmented electrodes increase the power output by 11%.     

Parameter-study on the influence of steel fibers and coarse aggregate content on the fresh properties of self-compacting concrete

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) offers several economic and technical benefits; the use of steel fibers extends its possibilities. Steel fibers bridge cracks, retard their propagation, and improve several characteristics and properties of the concrete. Fibers are known to significantly affect the workability of concrete. Therefore, an investigation was performed to compare the properties of plain SCC and SCC reinforced with steel fibers. Two mixtures of SCC with different aggregate contents were used as reference. Each of the concretes was tested with four types of steel fibers at different contents in order to answer the question to what extent the workability of SCC is influenced. The slump flow, a fiber funnel and the J-ring test were used to evaluate the material characteristics of the fresh concrete. This paper discusses the suitability of the applied test methods and the effect of the coarse aggregate content, the content and type of steel fibers on the workability of SCC.     

The impact of social comparison information on motivation in patients with diabetes as a function of regulatory focus and self-efficacy.

Objective: Our aim was to determine whether the impact of upward and downward social comparison information on individuals' motivation to manage their diabetes is dependent on their regulatory focus (promotion or prevention focus) and self-efficacy. Design: The hypotheses were examined in a cross-sectional study. Patients with diabetes (N = 234) read a fictitious interview with a fellow patient, either an upward or a downward target, and they filled out questionnaires. Main Outcome Measures: Motivation to work on diabetes regulation. Results: High promotion-focused patients reported more motivation than low promotion-focused patients when confronted with the upward target (positive role model). High prevention-focused patients reported more motivation than low prevention-focused patients when confronted with the downward target (negative role model). This latter finding was qualified by patients' self-efficacy, as it applied only to patients with relatively high levels of self-efficacy. Conclusion: The current study highlights the importance of considering individual differences when using role models to encourage self-care activities in persons with diabetes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)