Implication of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Bovine Age-Related Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia is defined as the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, quality, and strength. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying sarcopenia are still not completely understood. The aim of this work was to evaluate, for the first time, the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in bovine skeletal muscle in order to investigate the hypothesis that inflammasome activation may trigger and sustain a pro-inflammatory environment leading to sarcopenia. Samples of skeletal muscle were collected from 60 cattle belonging to three age-based groups. Morphologic, immunohistochemical and molecular analysis were performed to assess the presence of age-related pathologic changes and chronic inflammation, the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and to determine the levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-18 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in muscle tissue. Our results revealed the presence of morphologic sarcopenia hallmark, chronic lymphocytic inflammation and a type II fibers-selective NLRP3 expression associated to a significant decreased number of immunolabeled-fibers in aged animals. Moreover, we found a statistically significant age-related increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 suggesting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Taken together, our data suggest that NLRP3 inflammasome components may be normally expressed in skeletal muscle, but its priming and activation during aging may contribute to enhance a pro-inflammatory environment altering normal muscular anabolism and metabolism.     

A Multicriteria Approach to Data Summarization Using Concept Ontologies

This paper describes a conceptual and theoretical framework to allow better user control over data summarization for knowledge discovery. Basic to the approach is a measure of quality of summarization of data using categories provided by the hierarchical structure of concept ontology. This involves the modeling, using a fuzzy sets approach, of the four criteria implicit in a summarization imperative: minimum coverage, minimum relevance, succinctness, and usefulness. With these criteria modeled, a multicriteria approach is presented, using a decision function aggregating these criteria that provides an overall quality measure to guide the summarization of the data. The development of the theory is first presented for the simple case of a single attribute to clearly delineate the basic issues and approach and then extended to multiple attributes. Finally, approaches to provide a more user-oriented presentation of the summarized data are considered     

A new experimental approach to the investigation of contact forces at an interface

The piezoelectric films recently developed permit the design of very efficient thin sensors which are suited to interesting applications in contact problems, not only in industrial robotics but also in experimental research. After a brief introduction exemplifying the electrical principles, the primary aspects of the technique are presented and discussed with reference to possible structural engineering applications. A rather simple example regarding the interaction between a steel bar and a block of concrete is also presented. The bar is excited by dynamic cyclic loads having variable frequency. The reliability of forces detected via a PVDF sensor is evaluated by comparing the results with those obtained in parallel by means of a dynamometer strain-gauge. The comparison is promising, even if some technological problems must be resolved before this experimental technique may be applied extensively.

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Resume L'étude expérimentale des forces qui se manifestent à une interface équivaut souvent à un problème technique insoluble car chaque appareillage influe de manière significative sur le comportement mécanique. En outre, si l'interface se situe dans un continuum, l'utilisation de transducteurs ou d'extensomètres devient aussi plus complexe. Dans tous les cas, les mesures peuvent se faire éventuellement à proximité de l'interface, mais non à l'interface. Des améliorations techniques récentes dans le domaine de la robotique permettent d'utiliser des films de polymères piézoélectriques (fluoride de polyvinylidène, PVDF). En raison de l'épaisseur de ce capteur qui ne dépasse pas quelques micromètres, le comportement mécanique n'est pas perturbé. Le principle électrique est typique du transducteur piézoélectrique: les charges crées par le film piézoélectrique sollicité sont concentrées sur les surfaces métallisées qui le recouvrent. Cette technique permet d'étudier de nombreux problèmes structurels. S'il s'agit de béton armé, par exemple, il est intéressant d'examiner la répartition de la pression sur un appui de poutre ou bien à la surface d'un boulon d'ancrage, les contraintes interfaciales aussi bien d'une barre d'armature chargée axialement et transversalement, que de goujons dans des structures composites. Un exemple simple montre la fiabilité de la nouvelle technique: une haute barre d'adhérence enrobée dans un bloc de béton est mise sous charge dynamique. On compare la force détectée par le capteur PVDF placé à l'interface barre d'acier-barre d'enrobage avec celle qui est mesurée au moyen du dynamomètre traditionnel placé parallèlement au support. La comparaison, établie à différentes fréquences, est satisfaisante. Cependant, pour utiliser cette nouvelle technique sur une grande échelle, il convient de résoudre quelques problèmes techniques: l'améioration de la conductivité électrique des connexions entre les surfaces métallisées de la couche sensible et les fils d'entrée et de sortie la prévention d'une éventuelle perforation du film par des particules de granulats siliceux qui sont un des constituants de base des mortiers et bétons; l'évaluation de la sensibilité d'un capteur multicouches à l'écrasement inévitable du matériau à proximité d'une barre d'acier, avec une microfissuration locale et un glissement limité. La recherche se poursuit tant au niveau technologique qu'électronique.

     

The high-resolution time-of-flight spectrometer TOFTOF

The TOFTOF spectrometer is a multi-disc chopper time-of-flight spectrometer for cold neutrons at the research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II). After five reactor cycles of routine operation the characteristics of the instrument are reported in this article. The spectrometer features an excellent signal to background ratio due to its remote position in the neutron guide hall, an elaborated shielding concept and an s-shaped curved primary neutron guide which acts i.a. as a neutron velocity filter. The spectrometer is fed with neutrons from the undermoderated cold neutron source of the FRM II leading to a total neutron flux of 10¹⁰n/cm²/s in the continuous white beam at the sample position distributed over a continuous and particularly broad wavelength spectrum. A high energy resolution is achieved by the use of high speed chopper discs made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. In the combination of intensity, resolution and signal to background ratio the spectrometer offers new scientific prospects in the fields of inelastic and quasielastic neutron scattering.     

Enhancing the US Navy's GIDB Portal with Web Services

Using Web services, the authors have been able to increase the amount of data accessible through the Naval Research Laboratory’s Geospatial Information Database (GIDB) portal. They created a Web crawler for Web Mapping Services (WMS) that harvests and adds data to the portal index and a translator that provides access to non-WMS data through the WMS interface. The Integrated Web Services Broker, using traditional Web services standards, provides automated access to meteorological and oceanographic data.     

EXTENSION OF THE RELATIONAL DATABASE AND ITS ALGEBRA WITH ROUGH SET TECHNIQUES

This paper describes a database model based on the original rough sets theory. Its rough relations permit the representation of a rough set of tuples not definable in terms of the elementary classes, except through use of lower and upper approximations. The rough relational database model also incorporates indiscernibility in the representation and in all the operators of the rough relational algebra. This indiscernibility is based strictly on equivalence classes which must be defined for every attribute domain. There are several obvious applications for which the rough relational database model can more accurately model an enterprise than does the standard relational model. These include systems involving ambiguous, imprecise, or uncertain data. Retrieval over mismatched domains caused by the merging of one or more applications can be facilitated by the use of indiscernibility, and naive system users can achieve greater recall with the rough relational database. In addition, applications inherently “rough” could be more easily implemented and maintained in the rough relational database.     

Degradation of cellulosic and hemicellulosic substrates using a chelator‐mediated Fenton reaction

The involvement of catechol and hydroxamate chelators, along with hydrogen peroxide and Fe³⁺, in the degradation of cellulosic and hemicellulosic substrates was examined with the purpose of improving our current knowledge of the non‐enzymatic mechanisms involved in wood biodegradation by fungi. It could be demonstrated that a catechol chelator‐mediated Fenton reaction not only clearly degraded hemicellulosic substrates but also significantly accelerated and increased the effectiveness of degradation reactions. On the other hand, when a hydroxamate chelator‐mediated Fenton reaction was used, an inhibitory effect was observed. When cellulosic substrates underwent a chelator‐mediated Fenton reaction, no significant difference in degradation was observed between catechol and hydroxamate chelator‐mediated reactions. However, a catechol‐mediated reaction did accelerate the degradation of cellulosic substrates at the beginning of reactions. In addition, it was observed that with a chelator‐mediated Fenton reaction, oxidation of cellulose proceeds depolymerization. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemical mediation of egg capsule deposition by mud snails

Mud snails (Ilyanassa obsoleta = Nassarius obsoletus = Nassa obsoleta) deposit eggs in protective capsules on hard substrata in soft bottom environments. We studied sites of egg capsule deposition and snail movement responses to odors to determine if chemoreception plays a role in deposition site selection. From results of field surveys, laboratory experiments, and field experiments, we conclude that mud snails use chemoreception for capsule deposition. Attractive odors originate from mud snail and whelk egg capsules and from living bivalves. Evidence for attractive odors from conspecifics is equivocal. Capsules are deposited on living odor sources and nearby hard substrates. We hypothesize that deposition of capsules on living substrates increases the likelihood that embryos will survive by decreasing the chance of smothering of embryos by sediments.