Association between Decreased ITGA7 Levels and Increased Muscle α-Synuclein in an MPTP-Induced Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson''s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN), reducing dopaminergic levels in the striatum and affecting motor control. Herein, we investigated the potential relationship between integrin α7 (ITGA7) and α-synuclein (α-syn) in the muscle of methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mice and C2C12 cells. To characterize the pathology of PD, we examined the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the SN of the midbrain. Compared with the control group, MPTP-treated mice showed a significant decrease in TH expression in the SN, accompanied by a significant decrease in muscle ITGA7 expression. Compared with the control group, α-syn expression was increased in the MPTP group. Furthermore, the pattern of α-syn expression in the MPTP group was similar to the ITGA7 expression pattern in the control group (linear forms). To determine the relationship between ITGA7 and PD, we examined the expression of ITGA7 and α-syn after ITGA7 knockdown using siRNA in C2C12 cells. ITGA7 expression significantly decreased while α-syn expression significantly increased in siRNA-treated C2C12 cells. These results suggest that decreased ITGA7 muscle expression could increase α-syn expression. Moreover, α-syn accumulation, induced by decreased muscle ITGA7, might contribute to PD pathology.     

S100B Protein concentration in milk-formulas for preterm and term infants. Correlation with industrial preparation procedures

Human milk S100B protein possesses important neurotrophic properties. However, in some conditions human milk is substituted by milk formulas. The aims of the present study were: to assess S100B concentrations in milk formulas, to verify any differences in S100B levels between preterm and term infant formulas and to evaluate the impact of industrial preparation at predetermined phases on S100B content. Two different set of samples were tested: (i) commercial preterm (n = 36) and term (n = 36) infant milk formulas; ii) milk preterm (n = 10) and term infant (n = 10) formulas sampled at the following predetermined industrial preparation time points: skimmed cow milk (Time 0); after protein sources supplementation (Time 1); after pasteurization (Time 2); after spray-drying (Time 3). Our results showed that S100B concentration in preterm formulas were higher than in term ones (p < 0.01). In addition, S100B concentrations during industrial preparation showed a significant increase (p < 0.001) at Time 1 followed by a slight decrease (p > 0.05) at Time 2, whereas a significant (p < 0.001) dip was observed at Time 3. In conclusion, S100B showed a sufficient thermostability to resist pasteurization but not spry-drying. New feeding strategies in preterm and term infants are therefore warranted in order to preserve S100B protein during industrial preparation.     

Printed thermochromic displays

Thermochromic displays, which were evaluated in this study, combine printed electronics with the thermochromism phenomenon. Conductive lines printed on the reverse side and thermochromic printing ink printed on the front side of cardboard packaging form a thermochromic display that gives cardboard packaging additional value. Displays were printed on different printing materials, and thermochromic printing ink was deposited in one and two layers. In addition, half of the samples were varnished. The influence of the printing material, the thickness of the thermochromic printing ink layer, the varnish, the high temperature, and light fastness on the display's operability were all evaluated. It was clearly shown that the choice of printing material plays a crucial role in the display's operability. Moreover, high temperature and light fastness also have a significant influence, although the impact is negligible when the display is used at room temperature.     

Need for cognition as a predictor and a moderator of outcome in a tailored letters smoking cessation intervention.

Objective: To analyze whether baseline need for cognition (NFC) was a predictor or a moderator of treatment outcome in a tailored letters intervention for smoking cessation. Design: A total of 1,499 daily smokers were recruited from general medical practices in Germany within a quasi-randomized trial testing the efficacies of two brief interventions for smoking cessation: (a) computer-generated tailored letters and (b) physician-delivered brief counseling versus assessment-only. For this study, we used data from 1,097 daily smokers who were assigned to the tailored letters or the assessment-only condition. Main Outcome Measures: self-reported 6-month prolonged abstinence from tobacco smoking assessed at 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow-ups, and smoking cessation self-efficacy assessed at 6- and 24-month follow-ups. Results: Baseline NFC predicted 6-month prolonged smoking abstinence (p = .01) and smoking cessation self-efficacy (p .05) but on smoking cessation self-efficacy (p = .05). Tailored letters resulted in higher smoking cessation self-efficacy only for persons with higher NFC. Conclusion: Higher levels of NFC are required to increase smoking cessation self-efficacy in computer-tailored interventions for smoking cessation. Considering an individual's NFC might improve the efficacy of written interventions for smoking cessation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of internal cooling geometry variations in gas turbine blades

The present investigation analyzes the effects of major geometrical modifications to the interior of a convection cooled gas turbine rotor blade. The main focus lies on the flow of the leading edge channels and the impact on the heat transfer. An experimental approach is performed with flow visualization via paint injection into water. Also numerical calculations are carried out in two sets, on the one hand water calculations accompanying the experiments and on the other hand conjugate heat transfer calculations under realistic engine conditions. The latter calculations are still ongoing delivering preliminary results. Five geometry configurations are investigated, three of them with differing turbulator arrangements in the leading edge channels. The operating point of the base configuration is set to Re = 50,000 at the inlet while for the modified geometries the pressure ratio is held constant compared to the base.     

Selenium-Containing Exopolysaccharides Isolated from the Culture Medium of Lentinula edodes: Structure and Biological Activity

In continuation of our research on the influence of selenium incorporation on the biosynthesis, structure, and immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides of fungal origin, we have isolated from a post-culture medium of Lentinula edodes a selenium (Se)-containing exopolysaccharide fraction composed mainly of a highly branched 1-6-α-mannoprotein of molecular weight 4.5 × 10⁶ Da, with 15% protein component. The structure of this fraction resembled mannoproteins isolated from yeast and other mushroom cultures, but it was characterized by a significantly higher molecular weight. X-ray absorption fine structure spectral analysis in the near edge region (XANES) suggested that selenium in the Se-exopolysaccharide structure was present mainly at the IV oxidation state. The simulation analysis in the EXAFS region suggested the presence of two oxygen atoms in the region surrounding the selenium. On the grounds of our previous studies, we hypothesized that selenium-enriched exopolysaccharides would possess higher biological activity than the non-Se-enriched reference fraction. To perform structure–activity studies, we conducted the same tests of biological activity as for previously obtained mycelial Se-polyglucans. The Se-enriched exopolysaccharide fraction significantly enhanced cell viability when incubated with normal (human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)) cells (but this effect was absent for malignant human cervical HeLa cells) and this fraction also protected the cells from oxidative stress conditions. The results of tests on the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells suggested a selective immunosuppressive activity, like previously tested Se-polyglucans isolated from L. edodes mycelium. The Se-exopolysaccharide fraction, in concentrations of 10–100 µg/mL, inhibited human T lymphocyte proliferation induced by mitogens, without significant effects on B lymphocytes. As with previously obtained Se-polyglucans, in the currently tested Se-polymannans, the selenium content increased the biological activity. However, the activity of selenium exopolysaccharides in all tests was significantly lower than that of previously tested mycelial isolates, most likely due to a different mode of selenium binding and its higher degree of oxidation.     

Nuestra culpa: Collective guilt and shame as predictors of reparation for historical wrongdoing.

Three studies examined the hypothesis that collective guilt and shame have different consequences for reparation. In 2 longitudinal studies, the ingroup was nonindigenous Chileans (Study 1: N = 124/120, lag = 8 weeks; Study 2: N = 247/137, lag = 6 months), and the outgroup was Chile's largest indigenous group, the Mapuche. In both studies, it was found that collective guilt predicted reparation attitudes longitudinally. Collective shame had only cross-sectional associations with reparation and no direct longitudinal effects. In Study 2, collective shame moderated the longitudinal effects of collective guilt such that the effects of guilt were stronger for low-shame respondents. In Study 3 (N = 193 nonindigenous Chileans), the cross-sectional relationships among guilt, shame, and reparation attitudes were replicated. The relationship between shame and reparation attitudes was mediated by a desire to improve the ingroup's reputation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Primal/Dual Descent Methods for Dynamics

We examine the relationship between primal, or force-based, and dual, or constraint-based formulations of dynamics. Variational frameworks such as Projective Dynamics have proved popular for deformable simulation, however they have not been adopted for contact-rich scenarios such as rigid body simulation. We propose a new preconditioned frictional contact solver that is compatible with existing primal optimization methods, and competitive with complementarity-based approaches. Our relaxed primal model generates improved contact force distributions when compared to dual methods, and has the advantage of being differentiable, making it well-suited for trajectory optimization. We derive both primal and dual methods from a common variational point of view, and present a comprehensive numerical analysis of both methods with respect to conditioning. We demonstrate our method on scenarios including rigid body contact, deformable simulation, and robotic manipulation.     

Molecular Insights into an Antibiotic Enhancer Action of New Morpholine-Containing 5-Arylideneimidazolones in the Fight against MDR Bacteria

In the search for an effective strategy to overcome antimicrobial resistance, a series of new morpholine-containing 5-arylideneimidazolones differing within either the amine moiety or at position five of imidazolones was explored as potential antibiotic adjuvants against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Compounds (7–23) were tested for oxacillin adjuvant properties in the Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strain ATCC 25923 and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus MRSA 19449. Compounds 14–16 were tested additionally in combination with various antibiotics. Molecular modelling was performed to assess potential mechanism of action. Microdilution and real-time efflux (RTE) assays were carried out in strains of K. aerogenes to determine the potential of compounds 7–23 to block the multidrug efflux pump AcrAB-TolC. Drug-like properties were determined experimentally. Two compounds (10, 15) containing non-condensed aromatic rings, significantly reduced oxacillin MICs in MRSA 19449, while 15 additionally enhanced the effectiveness of ampicillin. Results of molecular modelling confirmed the interaction with the allosteric site of PBP2a as a probable MDR-reversing mechanism. In RTE, the compounds inhibited AcrAB-TolC even to 90% (19). The 4-phenylbenzylidene derivative (15) demonstrated significant MDR-reversal “dual action” for β-lactam antibiotics in MRSA and inhibited AcrAB-TolC in K. aerogenes. 15 displayed also satisfied solubility and safety towards CYP3A4 in vitro.