Macrophage activation results in bone resorption

Monocytes or macrophages from important accessory cells in the regulation of bone metabolism and destruction. Cells of the mononuclear phagocyte lineage form the precursor cells of the osteoclasts. Soluble products produced by activated macrophages regulate progenitor cell proliferation, recruitment, differentiation, and activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. After osteoclasts are removed from the resorption site, macrophages process bone surfaces and create a cement line before osteoblasts enter to form new bone. Although osteolysis associated with normal bone remodeling is seen as an osteoclast driven process, it may be that in chronic inflammation macrophage activation and vascular derangements lead to low pH, local bone demineralization (acid attack), and H+ mediated stimulation of the primary afferent nociceptive nerve fibers (bone pain). Osteoclasts are not able to attach to demineralized bone or to osteoid surfaces. However, if macrophages degrade the demineralized organic bone matrix, chemotactic factors and attachment sites for osteoclasts are produced. In such a scenario, the osteoclast-osteoblast mediated activation, resorption, and formation cycle would be secondarily activated. Such events may play a role in the most common orthopaedic problem related to macrophage activation, aseptic loosening of orthopaedic joint implants, which is secondary to a chronic foreign body reaction and to micromovement.     

Comparison of concentrations and size distributions of fungal spores in buildings with and without mould problems

Concentrations and types of airborne fungal spores and their aerodynamic sizes were studied in nine buildings with mould problems and in matched reference buildings in order to characterize the exposure in buildings with mould problems. Samples were taken with Andersen six-stage impactors in the autumn and winter. In winter, total concentrations of fungal spores in buildings with mould problems were twice those in reference buildings, even though all concentrations were quite small. In the autumn, the differences were less obvious due to the masking effect of outdoor air fungi. Also, the compositions of fungal genera differed in buildings with mould problems from that in reference buildings. The difference was most significant in the size range 2.1-4.7 μm. The size distribution of fungal spores in dwellings with mould problems skewed towards larger particles than in reference dwellings. The observed differences in size distribution indicate differences in airborne behaviour of fungal spores and, consequently, in respiratory exposure.     

Performance tuning and sparse traversal technique for a cell‐based fetch length algorithm on a GPU

For determining distances (fetch lengths) from points to polygons in a two‐dimensional Euclidean plane, cell‐based algorithms provide a simple and effective solution. They divide the input area into a grid of cells that cover the area. The objects are stored into the appropriate cells, and the resulting structure is used for solving the problem. When the input objects are distributed unevenly or the cell size is small, most of the cells may be empty. The representation is then called sparse. In the method proposed in this work, each cell contains information about its distance to the nonempty cells. It is then possible to skip over several empty cells at a time without memory accesses. A cell‐based fetch length algorithm is implemented on a graphics processing unit (GPU). Because control flow divergence reduces its performance, several methods to reduce the divergence are studied. While many of the explicit attempts turn out to be unsuccessful, sorting of the input data and sparse traversal are observed to greatly improve performance: compared with the initial GPU implementation, up to 45‐fold speedup is reached. The speed improvement is greatest when the map is very sparse and the points are given in a random order. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

3‐Heterocycle‐Phenyl N‐Alkylcarbamates as FAAH Inhibitors: Design,Synthesis and 3D‐QSAR Studies

Carbamates are a well‐established class of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors. Here we describe the synthesis of meta‐substituted phenolic N‐alkyl/aryl carbamates and their in vitro FAAH inhibitory activities. The most potent compound, 3‐(oxazol‐2yl)phenyl cyclohexylcarbamate ( 2 a ), inhibited FAAH with a sub‐nanomolar IC₅₀ value (IC₅₀=0.74 nM ). Additionally, we developed and validated three‐dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) models of FAAH inhibition combining the newly disclosed carbamates with our previously published inhibitors to give a total set of 99 compounds. Prior to 3D‐QSAR modeling, the degree of correlation between FAAH inhibition and in silico reactivity was also established. Both 3D‐QSAR methods used, CoMSIA and GRID/GOLPE, produced statistically significant models with coefficient of correlation for external prediction (R²_PRED) values of 0.732 and 0.760, respectively. These models could be of high value in further FAAH inhibitor design.     

Foreign serum-induced pancreatitis in mice. II. Secretory disturbances of acinar cells

As previously reported, pancreatic acinar cell necrosis and inflammation develop in mice a few hours after one intraperitoneal injection of foreign serum. However, sublethally injured acinar cells exhibited notable increases in both zymogen granule numbers and amylase activity, observed within 3 hours and increasing with time. These two changes were coupled with a progressive decrease in the secretory response to pilocarpine and were preceded by significant disturbances in pancreatic tissue concentrations of sodium and potassium. We conclude that (1) the granule increase results from an induced disturbance of the granule exocytosis mechanism while granule formation continues and, therefore, (2) the granule secretory process is more sensitive to the serum injury mechanism than is the zymogen synthesis process. Although the granule increases developed in acinar cells throughout most of the nonnecrotic gland and persisted for at least 24 hours, acinar cell necrosis was maximal in extent--approximately 25% of the gland in severest form--by 12 to 15 hours. We conclude, therefore, that the increase in granules is neither the primary determinant nor initiator of acinar cell death. The latter is likely caused by disturbed plasma membrane functions, sufficient in some cells to result in lethal changes in ion and fluid composition. The injury mechanism, which permits granule formation to go on in the face of impaired granule exocytosis, is yet to be worked out. The possibilities are discussed in relationship to the reactivity of foreign sera for target cell plasma membranes.     

Terrorism Communication: Characteristics and Emerging Perspectives in the Scientific Literature 2002–2011

This paper aims to clarify current knowledge on the contribution of communication to crisis management in the case of terrorism incidents. This is done by means of a systematic review of the scientific literature on terrorism communication over the last 10 years to identify the many challenges facing communication in such crises, and represents the first attempt of its kind. To date, within the literature on terrorism communication, much attention has been paid to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear hazards. Terrorism crises are complex and challenging. Preparedness for such diverse low‐probability high‐impact crises can best be included in a wider educative approach. Terrorism crises call for fast information updates that, using a multi‐channel approach, can be tailored to fit different needs and (social) media habits.     

Reconfiguring flexible machine modules of a PCB assembly line

Assembly of electronic components to Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) is a complicated manufacturing process and therefore its control is usually divided into several subtasks which are handled separately. We consider the combined task of determining a machine configuration and line balancing for a single assembly line of interconnected, reconfigurable machine modules and one PCB type in production. The modules can be tailored to the needs of each PCB type by suitable assignments for placement heads, nozzles and feeders. Out of these, the component-to-machine assignment appears to be most difficult and we propose five different solution methods for it; brute force, random, greedy, local search and genetic algorithm. The genetic algorithm outperformed the other methods in practical test.     

Temporal and Spatial Variation of Fungal Concentrations in Indoor Air

The aim of this study was to determine temporal and spatial variation of airborne concentrations of viable fungi in 2 single-family houses during the period of the year that such levels are mostly determined by indoor sources. One of the subject residences had moisture problems (the index residence), the other did not have any moisture problems (the reference residence). The concentrations of viable fungi in indoor air were determined a total of 6 times during the winter with 2 six-stage impactors (Andersen 10-800) in 2 rooms in both of the houses. The total concentrations of viable fungi and concentrations of Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Aspergillus versicolor     

Prevalence of Moisture Problems in Finnish Houses*

Abstract A random sample of 450 houses representing various decades was surveyed by trained civil engineers for signs of water leaks or condensation. In 80% of the houses, signs of current or previous moisture fault were observed. In most houses, the surveyors made at least two separate observations of moisture but the occupants missed one in every two of these signs of moisture damage. Part of the faults were caused by flaws in design or construction, and part were due to aging of materials. Approximately 55% of the Finnish houses (i.e., a total of nearly 500 000 houses), were assessed to be in need of repair or more thorough inspection. The observations were equally frequent in the houses of different age, but certain types of moisture damage were characteristic of certain types of buildings or constructional methods used in different eras. Roof geometry was a significant factor accounting for roof leakages. The majority of the faults could be repaired at reasonable cost.     

Translating the impact of knowledge management into knowledge‐based innovation: The neglected and mediating role of knowledge‐worker satisfaction

The purpose of knowledge management is innovation. However, this study proposes that the existence of knowledge management in the knowledge‐worker's work environment can nurture the overall satisfaction of knowledge worker. As the ultimate purpose of knowledge management is innovation performance, therefore, the satisfaction of knowledge worker as an outcome of knowledge management should be greater innovation performance. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to test the mediating role of satisfaction of knowledge worker between knowledge management and innovation. The study collected the data from 306 knowledge workers (engineers and managers) of software houses from Pakistan. The SmartPLS 3 Version 2.7 software that uses the PLS‐SEM (Partial Least Square‐Structural Equation Modelling) technique was used. The results indicate that satisfaction of knowledge worker mediates between two knowledge management processes (knowledge creation and knowledge sharing) and innovation significantly. However, it does not mediate between knowledge utilization and innovation significantly.