Some Molecular and Cellular Stress Mechanisms Associated with Neurodegenerative Diseases and Atherosclerosis

Chronic stress is a combination of nonspecific adaptive reactions of the body to the influence of various adverse stress factors which disrupt its homeostasis, and it is also a corresponding state of the organism’s nervous system (or the body in general). We hypothesized that chronic stress may be one of the causes occurence of several molecular and cellular types of stress. We analyzed literary sources and considered most of these types of stress in our review article. We examined genes and mutations of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes and also molecular variants which lead to various types of stress. The end result of chronic stress can be metabolic disturbance in humans and animals, leading to accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress, energy deficiency in cells (due to a decrease in ATP synthesis) and mitochondrial dysfunction. These changes can last for the lifetime and lead to severe pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases and atherosclerosis. The analysis of literature allowed us to conclude that under the influence of chronic stress, metabolism in the human body can be disrupted, mutations of the mitochondrial and nuclear genome and dysfunction of cells and their compartments can occur. As a result of these processes, oxidative, genotoxic, and cellular stress can occur. Therefore, chronic stress can be one of the causes forthe occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases and atherosclerosis. In particular, chronic stress can play a large role in the occurrence and development of oxidative, genotoxic, and cellular types of stress.     

Synthesis of Long-Chain β-Lactones and Their Antibacterial Activities against Pathogenic Mycobacteria

In the quest for new antibacterial agents, a series of novel long- and medium-chain mono- and disubstituted β-lactones was developed. Their activity against three pathogenic mycobacteria—M. abscessus, M. marinum, and M. tuberculosis—was assessed by the resazurin microtiter assay (REMA). Among the 16 β-lactones synthesized, only 3-hexadecyloxetan-2-one (VM005) exhibited promising activity against M. abscessus, whereas most of the β-lactones showed interesting activities against M. marinum, similar to that of the classical antibiotic, isoniazid. Regarding M. tuberculosis, six compounds were found to be active against this mycobacterium, with β-lactone VM008 [trans-(Z)-3-(hexadec-7-en-1-yl)-4-propyloxetan-2-one] being the best growth inhibitor. The promising antibacterial activities of the best compounds in this series suggest that these molecules may serve as leads for the development of much more efficient antimycobacterial agents.     

Trends in Hydrological Parameters of a Southern Brazilian Watershed and its Relation to Human Induced Changes

The Piracicaba river basin is a subtropical watershed located in the southeastern region of Brazil. With an area of 12 400 km², the basin is a typical example of new landscape resulting from development in tropical and sub-tropical regions: establishment of intensive industrial and agricultural processes were followed by significant population growth and water management. This scenario has led to significant increase in water demand and decrease in water quality. The main objective of this study is the detection of changes in the patterns of flow and precipitation in the basin, and its possible relation to man-induced changes. Statistical analyses were performed on records of precipitation, evapotranspiration and streamflow, from 1947 to 1991. Precipitation and evapotranspiration totals showed significant increasing trends for the entire basin. From eight streamflow gauge stations, half showed significant decreasing trend. The most probable cause of such trends is the export of water from the basin to the metropolitan region of São Paulo city.     

Play therapy for multicultural populations: Guidelines for mental health professionals.

Describes methods and techniques of play therapy for use with multicultural and diverse populations. Barriers to counseling multicultural children and Eurocentric play therapy techniques with multicultural populations are highlighted. Specific guidelines and examples for play therapy with multicultural children are provided. Recommendations and implications for mental health professionals are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evolution of weakly non-linear shallow water waves generated by a moving boundary

Summary In this study we describe the evolution of weakly non-linear shallow water waves in a rectangular channel of 16 m length which aregenerated by a moving boundary. We present a detailed comparison of computaticnal and observational waveheight-time series and thus verify the theoretical model as presented by Villeneuve and Savage [27].Three different types of wave generating devices were used: pistons with vertical and inclined frontal faces, submerged boxes and a rotating plate. Waveheight-time series are recorded at eight different positions along the channel by electrical resistivity gauges, and velocity profiles are determined at certain selective cross sections. Data of many wave experiments are presented in nondimensional form. This representation reveals that the initial wave forms depend upon a Froude number of the motion of the wave generator, the slope angle of the wedge-type pistons and on the dimensionless displaced volume. Evolving waveheight-time series that are recorded at the various gauges are compared with those obtained from computations by use of equations which generalize the Boussinesq equations to include time variations of the boundaries.The method of inverse scattering is applied both, experimental and numerical waveheight-time series are prescribed as initial data. Results are tested relative to two different observers one fixed in time the other fixed in space. Deviations are shown to be small in all cases.     

Benign breast changes and the risk for subsequent breast cancer: an update of the 1985 consensus statement. Cancer Committee of the College of American Pathologists

The Cancer Committee of the College of American Pathologists has prepared an update of the consensus statement on premalignant breast lesions and breast cancer risk that was originally published in the Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine in 1986. The objective of this publication is to better define the relative breast cancer risk associated with specific histologic abnormalities by incorporating data derived from recent case-control studies. Explanatory notes are used to document and explain specific risk classifications. In addition to refining the degree of risk associated with individual lesions, such as fibroadenoma and atypical hyperplasia, this update includes a discussion of age-specific breast cancer risk and provides examples that can be used when counseling patients.     

A variable rate multipulse speech coder for CDMA cellular systems

Variable Rate (VR) speech coders are classified into: source-controlled VR coders where the rate is selected depending on the local character of the speech, and network-controlled VR coders where an external control signal selects the coding rate. The first category benefits from the variable rate channels used by Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile communications. The second category is indispensable for the right behaviour of the CDMA systems under conditions as high traffic levels. The VR speech coder presented in this communication exhibits both types of control. The source control is achieved by means of a Voice Activity Detector (VAD) and a phonetic classifier. The network control acts on the selection procedure of the multipulse excitation sequence to the synthesis filter. This is the main advantage of our VR MultiPulse speech coder because by means of an external signal the bit rate can be changed only every 4 msec, without transitions or distortions. Considering one-way communication, six different operating rates can be externally selected ranging from 4.8 to 9.1 kbps for the active frames; an average bit rate of 380 bps is required for the noise frames.This work has been partly funded by the Spanish Research National Plan under grant no. TIC92-0800-C05-02 and by Northern Telecom.