DNA Methylation Signatures of Bone Metabolism in Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis Aging-Related Diseases: An Updated Review

DNA methylation is one of the most studied epigenetic mechanisms that play a pivotal role in regulating gene expression. The epigenetic component is strongly involved in aging-bone diseases, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Both are complex multi-factorial late-onset disorders that represent a globally widespread health problem, highlighting a crucial point of investigations in many scientific studies. In recent years, new findings on the role of DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of aging-bone diseases have emerged. The aim of this systematic review is to update knowledge in the field of DNA methylation associated with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, focusing on the specific tissues involved in both pathological conditions.     

Synthesis of thermoresponsive copolymer/silica-coated magnetite nanoparticle composite and its application for heavy metal ion recovery

To enhance chemical stability and suppress of aggregation of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs), which are used as a support for thermoresponsive copolymer immobilization, silica coating of the MNPs is applied via the electrooxidation method. Although the resulting silica coated-MNPs also formed aggregates, the size distribution of the aggregate shifted to smaller size range. Because of that, the surface area available for copolymer immobilization increased approximately 6.7 times at maximum as compared with that of the uncoated MNPs. It contributed to the increase of the amount of the immobilized copolymer on the silica-coated MNPs, which is approximately four times larger than that on the uncoated MNPs. Fe₃O₄ dissolution test confirmed enhancement of chemical stability of MNPs. The thermoresponsive copolymer immobilized on the silica-coated MNPs shows the ability to recycle Cu(II) ion from Cu(II) containing solution by changing temperature with significantly shorter time than those in other thermoresponsive adsorbents in gel form.     

Fire safe,sustainable loose furnishing

The aim of this exploratory study has been to investigate the fire properties and environmental aspects of different upholstery material combinations, mainly for domestic applications. An analysis of the sustainability and circularity of selected textiles, along with lifecycle assessment, is used to qualitatively evaluate materials from an environmental perspective. The cone calorimeter was the primary tool used to screen 20 different material combinations from a fire performance perspective. It was found that textile covers of conventional fibres such as wool, cotton and polyester, can be improved by blending them with fire resistant speciality fibres. A new three‐dimensional web structure has been examined as an alternative padding material, showing preliminary promising fire properties with regard to ignition time, heat release rates and smoke production.     

A streamlined approximation and duality scheme for structural optimization

An efficient and commonly used approach to structural optimization is to solve a sequence of approximate design problems that are constructed iteratively. As is well-known, a major part of the computational burden of this scheme lies in the sensitivity analysis needed to state the approximate problems. We propose a possibility for reducing this burden by streamlining the calculations in a combined approximation and duality scheme for structural optimization. The difference between this scheme and the traditional one is that, instead of calculating all the constraint gradients to state an approximate design problem explicitly, linear combinations of these gradients are generated as they are needed during the solution of the approximate problem by the dual method. We show, by analysing some typical scenarios of problem characteristics, that this rearrangement of the calculations may be a computationally viable alternative to the traditional scheme. An advantage of streamlining the calculations is that there is no need to incorporate an active set strategy in the scheme, as is usually done, since all the design constraints may be taken into consideration without any loss of computational efficiency. This may, clearly, enhance the practical rate of convergence of the overall approximation scheme. Moreover, the proposed rearrangement of the calculations may make it computationally viable to apply iterative equation solvers to the structural analysis problem. Numerical results with direct as well as iterative equation solvers show that the streamlined scheme is a feasible and promising approach to structural optimization.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of disseminated sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease. Paraclinical examinations may contribute to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a very high sensitivity concerning multiple sclerosis, and has made it possible to visualize multiple sclerosis plaques in vivo, to follow each plaque over the course of time and in this way to obtain information about the pathogenesis. MRI has shown that the size of plaques may vary considerably, and that plaques are dynamic structures with the ability to change in size over few weeks. By using MRI and the contrast agent Gadolinium-DTPA, it is possible to distinguish a newly developed plaque from an older one. Therefore, MRI has become an important examination in therapeutic trials. Just now, MRI with Gadolinium-DTPA is being used to evaluate the efficacy of plasmapheresis and immunoglobulin treatment in a joint study between Rigshospitalet and Hvidovre Hospital.     

Paper remote: an augmented television guide and remote control

The television (TV) is one of the most common entertainment devices in homes. Searching and finding TV programs is a common task and using TV guides is one way of performing this. This paper presents three studies that are focused on examining audiences’ TV habits and TV guide usage, evaluating a new concept based on linking paper and pen with TV technology, and studying the audiences’ attitudes toward and anticipated interest in the future guide. The results of our first study emphasize the value of using paper based TV guides and also identify the deficiencies. We also found indications that the advantages and disadvantages of paper-based TV guides are related to the physical properties of paper. Thus, we suggest a solution that uses digital pen and paper technology to offer a new interaction method for TV. A research system “Paper Remote”, is developed and used in the two subsequent studies. Viewers tick designated areas on the paper-based guide to perform actions such as channel switching. However, this solution is not a substitute for the remote control device. We argue that these user studies on linking digital paper to the TV for everyday information navigation illuminate the possibilities of providing innovative solutions also for home information systems also.     

Orthogonal space-time block codes: maximum likelihood detection for unknown channels and unstructured interferences

Space-time coding (STC) schemes for communication systems employing multiple transmit and receive antennas have been attracting increased attention. The so-called orthogonal space-time block codes (OSTBCs) have been of particular interest due to their good performance and low decoding complexity. In this paper, we take a systematic maximum-likelihood (ML) approach to the decoding of OSTBC for unknown propagation channels and unknown noise and interference conditions. We derive a low-complexity ML decoding algorithm based on cyclic minimization and assisted by a minimum amount of training data. Furthermore, we discuss the design of optimal training sequences and optimal information transfer to an outer decoder. Numerical examples demonstrate the performance of our algorithm.     

Age-dependent variations in the sexual preference of male rats

Male rats were tested for their sexual preference behavior at either 37, 70, 90, or 150 days of age on three different occasions; while still sexually naive, after sexual experience with a receptive female, and while sexually aroused by having initiated copulation. These tests resulted in the following findings: a) 37-day-old sexually naive males showed a preference for other males and failed to show a preference for either sex after exposure to females; b) 70- and 90-day-old males showed a statistically significant preference for the female after acquiring sexual experience; c) 150-day-old animals showed a female-oriented preference only after being sexually aroused with two intromissions preceding the preference test, and d) none of the age groups tested showed a female-oriented preference without previous exposure to females. It was then concluded that a) female-oriented behavior requires sexual experience and b) the effects of experience varies with age.     

Bilateral stimulus presentation in memory scanning.

24 18–40 yr olds performed a memory-scanning task (S. Sternberg, 1966, 1969) in which probe letters were displayed unilaterally or bilaterally after sets of 2, 4, or 6 letters were memorized. The mean response time (RT) to bilateral presentations was significantly longer than the mean RT to unilateral presentations, but the slope of the set-size function was not affected, suggesting that presenting stimuli bilaterally affected stages other than memory scanning. There were no significant visual-field effects in either the bilateral or unilateral conditions, suggesting that memory scanning is not a lateralized process. There was no evidence that bilateral presentation increased visual-field differences. This is not consistent with D. B. Boles' (1983, 1990) hypothesis that visual-field asymmetry effects are more pronounced with bilateral than with unilateral presentation of stimuli. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)