p53 oncogene in the laryngeal cancer

The effect of a novel flavonoid, venoruton (a mixture of mono-, di-, tri- and tetrahydroxyethylrutosides) has been investigated in healthy rat lenses and compared with diabetic cataract modelled in vitro. One mM venoruton was added to medium simulating healthy and diabetic conditions for the incubated lenses; damage was followed by either stereoscopic photography of the lenses under a Cooperative Cataract Research Group operating microscope or with our recently developed method: the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the lens culture media. The increased LDH activity in the medium and observable development of the opacity were correlated with cell damage, which has been found to be associated with globular degeneration and cataract formation. The extent of opacification and LDH release is reduced if 1 mM venoruton is included in the medium. The protective effect may be related to antioxidant activity against reactive oxygen species: decreased luminol luminescence was shown after venoruton addition to either superoxide-generating hypoxanthine plus xanthine oxidase, or hydrogen peroxide.     

Credibility and applicability of virtual reality models in design and construction

In this paper, we present the findings from an extensive study of the use of virtual reality (VR) models in large construction projects. The study includes two parts: The first part presents a quantitative questionnaire designed to investigate how VR models are experienced and assessed by the workforce at a building site. The second part includes a qualitative field survey of how VR models can be applied and accepted by professionals in the design and planning process of a large pelletizing plant. Through mainly studying persons who had little or no experience with advanced information technology (IT), we hoped to reveal the attitudes of the average person working at a construction site rather than of an IT expert. In summary, the study shows that the VR models in both projects have been very useful and well accepted by the users. Today’s information flow is, from a general point of view, considered to be insufficient and the hypothesis is that using VR models in the construction process have the potential to minimize waste of resources and improve the final result.     

The microsomal triglyceride transfer protein catalyzes the post-translational assembly of apolipoprotein B-100 very low density lipoprotein in McA-RH7777 cells

In cells in which the lipoprotein assembly process had been inactivated by brefeldin A (BFA), membrane-associated apoB-100 disappeared without forming lipoproteins or being secreted, indicating that it was degraded. Reactivation of the assembly process by chasing the cells in the absence of BFA, gave rise to a quantitative recovery of the membrane-associated apoB-100 in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction in the medium. These results indicate that the membrane-associated apoB-100 can be converted to VLDL. A new method was developed by which the major amount (88%) of microsomal apoB-100 but not integral membrane proteins could be extracted. The major effect of this method was to increase the recovery of apoB-100 that banded in the LDL and HDL density regions, suggesting that the membrane-associated form of apoB-100 is partially lipidated. We also investigated the role of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) in the assembly of apoB-100 VLDL using a photoactivatable MTP inhibitor (BMS-192951). This compound strongly inhibited the assembly and secretion of apoB-100 VLDL when present during the translation of the protein. To investigate the importance of MTP during the later stages in the assembly process, the cells were preincubated with BFA (to reversibly inhibit the assembly of apoB-100 VLDL) and pulse-labeled (+BFA) and chased (+BFA) for 30 min to obtain full-length apoB-100 associated with the microsomal membrane. Inhibition of MTP after the 30-min chase blocked assembly of VLDL. This indicates that MTP is important for the conversion of full-length apoB-100 into VLDL. Results from experiments in which a second chase (-BFA) was introduced before the inactivation of MTP indicated that only early events in this conversion of full-length apoB-100 into VLDL were blocked by the MTP inhibitor. Together these results indicate that there is a MTP-dependent "window" in the VLDL assembly process that occurs after the completion of apoB-100 but before the major amount of lipids is added to the VLDL particle. Thus the assembly of apoB-100 VLDL from membrane-associated apoB-100 involves an early MTP-dependent phase and a late MTP-independent phase, during which the major amount of lipid is added.     

Steady-state bioavailability and day-to-day variability of a multiple-unit (CR/ZOK) and a single-unit (OROS) delivery system of metoprolol after once-daily dosing

Home blood pressure (BP) monitoring is useful in the clinical management of patients with hypertension and the identification of those with "white-coat" hypertension; i.e. high readings in the clinic but normal BP at home. In the process of evaluating this technique, we compared self-measured home BP with intra-arterial BP. Healthy white men (n = 40) of 20-40 years of age and body weight below 95 kg were recruited by advertising in the local newspaper. Following a standardized procedure, performed within 2-4 weeks of a response to the advertisement, BP was measured by a physician at a clinic screening, by the subject at home (14 readings in 7 days) and finally in the clinic concomitantly intra-arterially and oscillometrically. The correlation coefficient for mean (M) home BP (r = 0.73) and oscillometric BP (r = 0.74) against intra-arterial BP were slightly higher than for screening BP (r = 0.65). However, in plots of the differences for individual MBP between the methods against the average of the methods, it appears that at levels of average MBP above 100 mmHg, screening BP overestimates the BP level, while this was not the case for home BP or oscillometric BP. Thus, by using intra-arterial measurement as standard of comparison, subject self-measured home BP is a reliable method of estimating blood pressure level in young men. Home BP measured shortly after screening and recruitment provides useful information of resting BP in subjects who potentially may have initial anxiety about BP measurement.     

Subspace identification analysis of RFX and T2R reversed-field pinches

Input–output datasets from two magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) experiments of the reversed-field pinch (RFP) type are examined. The RFP datasets, which are samples of the distributed magnetic field dynamics, are naturally divided into many smaller batches due to the pulsed-plasma operation of the experiments. The two RFP experiments considered are (i) EXTRAP T2R (T2R) with 64 inputs and 64 outputs and (ii) RFX-mod (RFX) with 192 inputs and 192 outputs. Both T2R and RFX are magnetohydrodynamically unstable and operates under magnetic feedback with optional dither injection. Using subspace system identification techniques and randomised cross-validation (CV) methods to minimise the generalisation error, state-space orders of the empirical systems are suggested. These system orders are compared to “stabilisation diagrams” commonly used in experimental modal analysis practice. The relation of the CV system order to the decay of the singular values from the subspace method is observed. Both (i) stable vacuum diffusion and (ii) unstable plasma response datasets are analysed. Apparent simulation and prediction errors are quantified for both cases using a deviation-accounted-for index. These results are purely data-driven. A simple approach towards exploitation of the subspace techniques for finite-element model refinement and data confrontation is presented.     

A Wear Detection Parameter for the Wheel–Rail Contact Based on Emitted Noise

This article describes how a wheel–rail wear detection parameter based on noise was developed by running a rapid transit train instrumented with microphones in a depot with a small curve radius. This full-scale test made use of previous knowledge gained from lab-scale tests. The lab- and full-scale tests showed that noise could be used as an indicator of wear transition, when normal wear turns into severe or catastrophic wear. This transition was accompanied by a significant increase in sound pressure and a broader sound pressure amplitude spectrum; that is, a narrow initial amplitude distribution in the normal wear regime and a broader distribution in the severe wear regime. The measured noise from the inner/low and outer/high rails was analyzed in conjunction with the wear from the outer wheel and comparisons were made between cleaned (exposed to severe wear) and lubricated (no wear) rail. Based on those analyses, a wear detection parameter criterion was developed for this specific train. This wear parameter has been implemented in a real-time condition monitoring system so that warnings of the risk for severe wear could be sent to the maintenance department. Validation of the wear parameter and challenges linked to open system conditions are discussed in this article.