Genetic and Epigenomic Modifiers of Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy (DN), the most common chronic and progressive complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), strongly affects patients’ quality of life. DN could be present as peripheral, autonomous or, clinically also relevant, uremic neuropathy. The etiopathogenesis of DN is multifactorial, and genetic components play a role both in its occurrence and clinical course. A number of gene polymorphisms in candidate genes have been assessed as susceptibility factors for DN, and most of them are linked to mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species production, neurovascular impairments and modified protein glycosylation, as well as immunomodulation and inflammation. Different epigenomic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA action have been studied in DN, which also underline the importance of “metabolic memory” in DN appearance and progression. In this review, we summarize most of the relevant data in the field of genetics and epigenomics of DN, hoping they will become significant for diagnosis, therapy and prevention of DN.     

Verification of randomized consensus algorithms under round-rigid adversaries

International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer - Randomized fault-tolerant distributed algorithms pose a number of challenges for automated verification: (i) parameterization in...     

Overview of the potent cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and its analytical determination

Blue-green algae are responsible for the production of different types of toxins which can be neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, cytotoxic and dermatotoxic and that can affect both aquatic and terrestrial life. Since its discovery the neurotoxin β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been a cause for concern, being associated with the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinsonism–dementia complex (ALS/PDC). The initial focus was on Guam where it was observed that a high number of people were affected by the ALS/PDC complex. Subsequently, researchers were surprised to find levels of BMAA in post mortem brains from Canadian patients who also suffered from ALS/PDC. Recent research demonstrates that BMAA has been found at different levels in the aquatic food web in the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. There is emerging evidence to suggest that sand-borne algae from Qatar can also contain BMAA. Furthermore, there is now concern because BMAA has been found not only in warmer regions of the world but also in temperate regions like Europe. The aim of this review is to focus on the methods of extraction and analysis of the neurotoxic non-protein amino acid BMAA. We also consider the neurotoxicity, aetiology, and diverse sources and routes of exposure to BMAA. In recent years, different methods have been developed for the analysis of BMAA. Some of these use HPLC-FD, UPLC-UV, UPLC-MS and LC-MS/MS using samples that have been derivatised or underivatised. To date the LC-MS/MS approach is the most widely used analytical technique as it is the most selective and sensitive method for BMAA determination.     

E-business technologies for xRM: Exploring the readiness of public broadcasters

This paper examines the possibilities of enhancing relationship management between public service broadcasters and their stakeholders by harnessing the potential of newest e-business technologies and concepts, such as: social media, digital and interactive TV, and mobile computing. In order to facilitate adoption of relationship management strategy, a framework for leveraging relationship management is proposed. Evaluation was performed within the e-business system of a public broadcaster. This empirical study explored the readiness and expected benefits of relationship management implementation. The research results have indicated that a public broadcaster could achieve a higher level of social responsibility, improve business sustainability, and empower communication and collaboration with all the stakeholders by using emerging technologies for relationship management activities.     

Azimuthally oscillating membrane emulsification for controlled droplet production

A novel membrane emulsification (ME) system is reported consisting of a tubular metal membrane, periodically azimuthally (tangentially) oscillated with frequencies up to 50 Hz and 7 mm displacement in a gently cross flowing continuous phase. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis showed consistent axial shear at the membrane surface, which became negligible at distances from the membrane surface greater than 0.5 mm. For comparison, CFD analysis of a fully rotating ME system showed local vortices in the continuous phase leading to a variable shear along the axis of the membrane. Using an azimuthally oscillating membrane, oil‐in‐water emulsions were experimentally produced with a median diameter of 20–120 μm, and a coefficient of variation of droplet size of 8%. The drop size was correlated with shear stress at the membrane surface using a force balance. In a single pass of continuous phase, it was possible to achieve high dispersed phase concentrations of 40% v/v. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 3607–3615, 2015     

Influence of electrodeposition parameters of Ni–W on Ni cathode for alkaline water electrolyser

In this study, different Ni–W coatings, obtained by cheap and technologically simple electrodeposition method, were examined as potential electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). All electrodepositions were done on a Ni mesh substrate from ammoniacal-citrate bath containing different concentrations of Na₂WO₄. The influence of deposition parameters, such as deposition current density, pH and composition of ammoniacal-citrate bath on electrocatalytic activity of obtained Ni–W coatings toward HER was examined by polarization curve measurements in 6 M KOH at room temperature. The morphology and tungsten content of the Ni–W coatings were investigated by means of SEM and EDS analysis. All investigated electrodes have shown high electrocatalytic activity for the HER. The samples obtained at higher deposition current densities had the lowest overvoltage for the HER. It has been shown that the plating bath pH value is very important parameter in obtaining active coatings. Results of the analysis of polarization curves, morphology of deposited Ni–W coatings and the content of tungsten in the coatings, indicate that the surface roughness of the coatings is responsible for their catalytic activity towards HER.     

Piroxicam benzoate--synthesis,HPLC determination,and hydrolysis

An improved method of piroxicam benzoate synthesis was described, and an isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for its determination was developed and fully validated. The method was found to be specific, precise (relative standard deviation 0.3%), accurate (mean recovery 99.9%), and robust. Limit of detection was estimated at 0.055 µg mL^-1 and limit of quantification at 0.185 µg mL^-1. The kinetics of piroxicam benzoate hydrolysis in aqueous buffer solutions (pH 1.1 and 10), simulated gastric and intestinal fluids was studied. The hydrolysis followed first-order kinetics. The following rate constants were obtained at pH 10: k = 1.8 × 10^-3 hr^-1 at 37°C and k = 3.4 × 10^-2 hr^-1 at 60°C. In acidic media, no significant hydrolysis was observed after 24 hr. During the 24-hr period in simulated intestinal fluid, only 10.9% of the starting ester was hydrolyzed.     

Tuneable electrical properties of hafnium aluminate gate dielectrics deposited by metal organic chemical vapour deposition

Hafnium aluminate (HfAlO) high-k films deposited by Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition (MOCVD) with various Al concentrations were investigated. The results of electrical measurements show the feasibility of adjusting the relative dielectric constant of the layers in a wide range (9–16), when the aluminium concentration varies between 4% and 38%. The minimum leakage current occurs for Al concentrations up to 9%. The thinner films show Poole–Frenkel-like conduction at low field and Fowler–Nordheim-like conduction at moderate/high field, even at higher concentrations of Al into the film, while thicker films show a higher hysteresis due to an increased number of slow trapping centres in the film.     

Longitudinal trends in river functioning: Patterns of nutrient and carbon processing in three Australian rivers

Understanding longitudinal trends in the processing of carbon in rivers represents a much conceptualised, but infrequently tested, issue in aquatic ecology. In this study, we conducted concurrent longitudinal examinations of three very different rivers in eastern Australia to determine whether general principles in river functioning exist across broad geographic and hydrologic scales. Specifically, we examined trends in ambient basic water chemistry, nutrient concentrations, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), extracellular enzymes and food web structure and functioning and conducted bioassays to examine the degree to which DOC and nutrients limit heterotrophic bacterial respiration. These parameters revealed striking similarities across all sites. For metazoan communities, stable isotope analysis showed that algal carbon was the dominant basal resource utilised by consumers in all three rivers, suggesting that in‐stream primary producers strongly underpin trophic pathways regardless of the position within a catchment or catchment condition. Analyses of extracellular enzymes revealed that microbial communities are actively utilising DOC at all sites. In fact, heterotrophic microbial respiration was strongly limited by DOC at all sites, with nutrient additions resulting in only relatively minor increases in respiration. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that DOC and algal carbon are critically important drivers of ecosystem processes in Australian riverine ecosystems. Furthermore, across all of our sites and rivers, ambient nutrient concentrations did not influence carbon processing. The consistent longitudinal trends in river function identified in this study provide useful insights for catchment managers and modellers with respect to identifiying key principles that underpin ecosystem functioning in Australian rivers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.