The Crosstalk of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSC), Oxidative Stress,and Inflammation in Protective and Adaptive Responses

The potential use of stem cell-based therapies for the repair and regeneration of various tissues and organs is a major goal in repair medicine. Stem cells are classified by their potential to differentiate into functional cells. Compared with other sources, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have the advantage of being abundant and easy to obtain. ADSCs are considered to be tools for replacing, repairing, and regenerating dead or damaged cells. The capacity of ADSCs to maintain their properties depends on the balance of complex signals in their microenvironment. Their properties and the associated outcomes are in part regulated by reactive oxygen species, which mediate the oxidation-reduction state of cells as a secondary messenger. ADSC therapy has demonstrated beneficial effects, suggesting that secreted factors may provide protection. There is evidence that ADSCs secrete a number of cytokines, growth factors, and antioxidant factors into their microenvironment, thus regulating intracellular signaling pathways in neighboring cells. In this review, we introduce the roles of ADSCs in the protection of cells by modulating inflammation and immunity, and we develop their potential therapeutic properties.     

The factorial structure of the Dutch translation of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems: A test of the long and short versions.

In this article, the authors study the factorial structure of 2 versions (64 items and 32 items) of the Dutch translation of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP; L. M. Horowitz, L. E. Alden, J. S. Wiggins, & A. L. Pincus, 2000) in both a clinical sample (n = 382) and a student sample (n = 287). First, the authors test whether both inventories are constituted by correlated uni-dimensional subscales, and they conclude that this is true only for the short version. Second, the authors study whether the correlations between the subscales follow a circumplex pattern. This proves to be true for both versions. Coefficients alpha and correlations between the IIP-64 and IIP-32 subscales are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Indoor body-area channel model for narrowband communications

Using wireless sensors placed on a person to continuously monitor health information is a promising new application. At the same time, new low-power wireless standards such as Bluetooth and Zigbee have been proposed for short range, low data-rate communication matching the requirements of these bio-medical applications. However, there are currently few measurements or models describing propagation around the body. To address this problem, electromagnetic waves near the torso are measured and a statistical model is derived for communication in the 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz industrial, scientific and medical bands associated with Zigbee and Bluetooth. Measurement setup and statistical analysis are described.     

A chemical method for preparation of cobalt oxide thin films

A very simple method has been developed for the preparation of cobalt oxides, CoO(OH) and Co₃O₄, thin films on glass substrates using cobalt(II) chloride and ammonia as reacting agents. These materials were characterized by optical and electrical measurements. CoO(OH) films are insulating and have DC dielectric breakdown at about 3700 V / mm when measurements are made using silver print electrodes placed at various spacings on the film. Electrical resistivity of Co₃O₄ is 2.5 ω m. Analysis of the absorption spectra shows that CoO(OH) and CO₃O₄ have optical band gaps of 2.36 eV and 1.65 eV respectively. Spectral variation of the optical constants of these materials have also been measured.     

An on-line learning algorithm for the orthogonal weight estimation of MLP

We propose an on-line learning algorithm for Multi Layered Perceptrons (MLP) with an Orthogonal Weight Estimator (OWE) architecture. Such an architecture allows to dynamically and efficiently estimate the weights of a MLP in context dependent behaviour problems. The proposed learning algorithm attempts to solve the problem of time-consuming in the learning phase encountered to train these weight estimators.     

Second-Order optical non-linearities of {4-(dimethylamino) stilben z & e 4'-yl} dimesityl borane

Samples of {4-(dimethylamino) stilben Z & E 4'-yl} dimesityl borane (BNS) were synthesised and investigated for their non-linear optical properties. The results show that the quadratic hyperpolarisability of the Z-isomer is smaller than that of the E-isomer, the beta value found for the latter being as high as 60 × 10^?30 esu.     

Modeling of Moisture Behavior of Wood Planks in Nonvented Flat Roofs

A computer model was extended and adapted to simulate the hygrothermal behavior of building envelope-wood components. The model was used to predict moisture movement in wood planks forming the decks of nonvented flat roofs insulated with cellulose. The gradient of water potential was considered as the driving force for moisture movement in wood. The model required the determination of convective heat- and mass-transfer coefficients, the sorption curves, the effective water conductivity for different wood species, and the hygrothermal conditions within the assembly to characterize the mass-conservation equation. Once these parameters were integrated in the computer model, this approach was then validated by carrying a simulation of the drying process of wood planks using experimental data from a large-scale test.     

L'échelle des Orientations Générales à la Causalité: Validation canadienne fran?aise du General Causality Orientations Scale.

Conducted a reliability and validity study of the French version of E. L. Deci and R. M. Ryan's (1985) General Causality Orientations Scale (GCOS), which measures the extent to which people are oriented toward the autonomy, control, and impersonal aspects of the initiation and regulation of behavior. Findings support the psychometric and construct validity of the French version of the GCOS; suggestions for its use in French-Canadian psychological research are discussed. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Raman studies of structural rearrangements induced in human plasma lipoprotein carotenoids by malondialdehyde

Raman and resonance Raman spectra of plasma lipoproteins ± malondialdehyde were studied at concentrations which block the normal receptor-mediated uptake by cells. The strong resonance Raman bands at about 1010, 1162 and 1530 cm⁻¹, due to the presence of carotenoids in the lipoproteins, are envisaged as structural probes. High resolution resonance Raman spectra of the 1500–1600 cm⁻¹ region reveal multiple features suggesting the coexistence of several structural populations of β-carotene whose precise assignment is complex. When plasma lipoproteins are reacted with malondialdehyde, a complex change occurs in the resonance Raman banding of β-carotene in the 1500–1600 cm⁻¹ region. Malonaldehyde (MDA) also modifies the acoustical region (70–200 cm⁻¹ of low density lipoprotein (LDL) lipids. We suggest that malondialdehyde association with plasma lipoproteins alters the lipid structure via apoprotein or apoprotein/lipid associations.