The Expression of Active CD11b Monocytes in Blood and Disease Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Monocytes expressing the inflammation suppressing active CD11b, a beta2 integrin, may regulate neuroinflammation and modify clinical outcomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this single site, retrospective study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 38 individuals living with ALS and 20 non-neurological controls (NNC) were investigated using flow cytometry to study active CD11b integrin classical (CM), intermediate (IM) and non-classical (NCM) monocytes during ALS progression. Seventeen ALS participants were sampled at the baseline (V1) and at two additional time points (V2 and V3) for longitudinal analysis. Active CD11b+ CM frequencies increased steeply between the baseline and V3 (ANOVA repeated measurement, p < 0.001), and the V2/V1 ratio negatively correlated with the disease progression rate, similar to higher frequencies of active CD11b+ NCM at the baseline (R = −0.6567; p = 0.0031 and R = 0.3862; p = 0.0168, respectively). CD11b NCM, clinical covariates and neurofilament light-chain plasma concentration at the baseline predicted shorter survival in a multivariable and univariate analysis (CD11b NCM—HR: 1.05, CI: 1.01–1.11, p = 0.013. Log rank: above median: 43 months and below median: 21.22 months; p = 0.0022). Blood samples with the highest frequencies of active CD11b+ IM and NCM contained the lowest concentrations of soluble CD11b. Our preliminary data suggest that the levels of active CD11b+ monocytes and NCM in the blood predict different clinical outcomes in ALS.     

Synchrotron soft X-ray and field-emission electron sources: a comparison

The soft X-ray spectral region and the useful range of electron energy-loss spectroscopy are very similar, both including the energy range 100-1000 eV. Moreover, well-developed monochromators and parallel detection devices with comparable resolution exist for both. Despite the differing interactions of electrons and photons, many complementary experiments in imaging, spectroscopy and diffraction have been performed using both techniques. We therefore compare the brightness, degeneracy, monochromaticity, beam size, source size, spatial and temporal coherence of field-emission electron beams and soft X-ray synchrotron radiation from typical undulators. Recent brightness values for nanotip field emitters and undulators, both measured and calculated, are provided with examples from the Advanced Light Source synchrotron-radiation facility at Berkeley USA. The quantum mechanical upper limit on source brightness, as well as relationships among beam brightness, coherence parameters, and degeneracy, are discussed. Factors which limit these parameters and methods of measurement are reviewed, and the implications for diffraction, imaging and spectroscopic experiments as well as radiation damage are briefly commented on.     

Lack of TEL/AML1 fusion in pediatric AML: further evidence for lineage specificity of TEL/AML1

The percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system (PCPS) was used in a 64-year-old woman with cardiogenic shock due to sustained ventricular fibrillation (Vf) caused by severe aortic stenosis and regurgitation. The Vf attack was resistant to cardioversion and adrenaline for lack of left ventricular support by PCPS. She was transported to the operation theater with PCPS in situ and emergency aortic valve replacement was performed. Although preoperative cardiac resuscitation time was long (35 minutes), she was discharged from the hospital on foot without any neurological complications on 84th postoperative day. Because PCPS does not decrease left ventricular systolic stress in poorly contracting dilated heart, early surgical treatment is needed in patients with severely damaged heart.     

Association of glutathione S-transferase GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes with clinical outcome in epithelial ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is generally associated with a poor outcome, although the mechanisms that determine survival and progression-free interval (PFI) are unclear. Data from ovarian tumors showing associations between (a) null genotypes at the glutathione S-transferase GSTM1 and GSTT1 loci and expression of p53 protein and (b) outcome and expression of p53 suggest that polymorphism at these loci is a factor determining outcome. Accordingly, we have studied the association between the GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotypes and survival and PFI in 148 women with epithelial ovarian cancer. Although we did not find an association between individual genotypes and outcome, women with both GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotypes demonstrated poorer survival (P = 0.001) and reduced PFI (P = 0.003). Thus, no cases with both these genotypes survived past 42 months postdiagnosis. In contrast, 43% of the women without this combination survived beyond this time. Because response to chemotherapy is a major factor determining outcome in ovarian cancer, we also examined the data for associations between the glutathione S-transferase genotypes and response to such treatment. Thus, in 78 patients treated with chemotherapy, the combination of GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null was associated with unresponsiveness to primary chemotherapy (P = 0.004); none of the eight patients with both these genotypes responded, compared with 38 of 70 (54%) of patients with other genotype combinations. The effect of the combination of genotypes on survival and PFI was lost in a multivariate model that included response to chemotherapy as a confounding factor. This suggests that the combination of GSTM1 null/GSTT1 null is associated with outcome because of its influence on response to chemotherapy. These preliminary findings may provide a basis for the selection of patients for treatment with chemotherapeutic agents.     

Stereotype threat and working memory: Mechanisms, alleviation, and spillover.

Stereotype threat (ST) occurs when the awareness of a negative stereotype about a social group in a particular domain produces suboptimal performance by members of that group. Although ST has been repeatedly demonstrated, far less is known about how its effects are realized. Using mathematical problem solving as a test bed, the authors demonstrate in 5 experiments that ST harms math problems that rely heavily on working memory resources--especially phonological aspects of this system. Moreover, by capitalizing on an understanding of the cognitive mechanisms by which ST exerts its impact, the authors show (a) how ST can be alleviated (e.g., by heavily practicing once-susceptible math problems such that they are retrieved directly from long-term memory rather than computed via a working-memory-intensive algorithm) and (b) when it will spill over onto subsequent tasks unrelated to the stereotype in question but dependent on the same cognitive resources that stereotype threat also uses. The current work extends the knowledge of the causal mechanisms of stereotype threat and demonstrates how its effects can be attenuated and propagated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exploring the Relationship Between Communication Risk Perception and Communication Portfolio

With the rapid development of information communication technologies (ICT) over the past decade, the nature of how organization members communicate has changed, becoming far more complex and challenging. Communication risks brought about by technology-mediated communication can sometimes be detrimental to the overall organizational function and success. We classify these communication risks into three types: reception, understanding, and action risks. We propose the notion of communication portfolio which refers to a single ICT or a specific combination of lCTs that can be used to manage any perceived risk of communication. Specifically, this study aims to examine the relationship between perceived risks (i.e., risk of reception, risk of understanding, and risk of action) in the communication process and the dimensions (i.e., content, and structuring mechanism) of the communication portfolio used for communication. We also identify communication risk factors that may accentuate the different types of risks. We develop a communication risk perception framework to illustrate the relationship between the communication risk factors, the different types of communication risks, and the communication portfolio. Finally, we illustrate how the communication risk perception framework can be applied in a real-life natural setting by using the shuttle Challenger incident, as an example.     

Research and Technology Outsourcing and Innovation Systems: an Exploratory Analysis

The paper discusses the process of externalization and contracting out of research and technology, in particular the outsourcing of R&D and technical activity formerly undertaken by manufacturing and service companies and now contracted out to other firms and specialist organizations. The growth in the external sourcing of R&D, design and other technical activities by firms has contributed to the evolution of new research and technical markets which have important implications for current conceptualizations of “systems of innovation”.     

Improved Synthesis of Superconducting Carbon-Doped MgB2 Using a Biopolymer for Simultaneous Crystallite Size Control and Chemical Reduction

This study represents a key evolution in the synthesis of the superconductor MgB₂, as it is the first to demonstrate that templated synthesis can be carried out successfully without a sealed reaction vessel. This is possible owing to the strong chelating ability of the biopolymer dextran, whose morphological complexity effectively cocoons the reaction, preventing oxygen ingress. This synthetic protocol demonstrates that not only can this important material be synthesized as nanoparticles but that, as the morphological template is calcined, it effectively carbon-dopes the superconducting phase, thereby improving the critical current density by a factor of five.