RAP46 is a negative regulator of glucocorticoid receptor action and hormone-induced apoptosis

RAP46 was first identified by its ability to bind the glucocorticoid receptor. It has since been reported to bind several cellular proteins, including the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, but the biological significance of these interactions is unknown. Here we show that RAP46 binds the hinge region of the glucocorticoid receptor and inhibits DNA binding and transactivation by the receptor. We further show that overexpression of RAP46 in mouse thymoma S49.1 cells inhibits glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. Conversely, glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis and transactivation were enhanced after treating S49.1 cells with the immunosuppressant rapamycin, which down-regulates cellular levels of BAG-1, the mouse homolog of RAP46. The effect of rapamycin can, however, be overcome by overexpression of RAP46. These results together identify RAP46 as a protein that controls glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis through its negative regulatory action on the transactivation property of the glucocorticoid receptor.     

Numerical Analysis of Coaxial Double Gate Schottky Barrier Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistors

Carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFETs) have been studied in recent years as a potential alternative to CMOS devices, because of the capability of ballistic transport. The ambipolar behavior of Schottky barrier CNTFETs limits the performance of these devices. A double gate design is proposed to suppress this behavior. In this structure the first gate located near the source contact controls carrier injection and the second gate located near the drain contact suppresses parasitic carrier injection. To avoid the ambipolar behavior it is necessary that the voltage of the second gate is higher or at least equal to the drain voltage. The behavior of these devices has been studied by solving the coupled Schrödinger-Poisson equation system. We investigated the effect of the second gate voltage on the performance of the device and finally the advantages and disadvantages of these options are discussed.     

Electronically controllable microvalves based on smart hydrogels: magnitudes and potential applications

Electronically controllable microvalves based on temperature sensitive hydrogels as actuators are described. A thermal-electronic interface was used for electronic control of the liquid flow. The hydrogel actuators were directly placed in a flow channel. They used the process medium as the swelling agent. Because of the direct placement into the channel the elastic properties of the hydrogel actuator were utilized to improve the pressure insensitivity, to achieve high particle tolerance and to avoid a leakage flow. The microvalves show an extremely simple structure. They can be fabricated using conventional micro technology within a few technical steps. The microvalves can also be miniaturized to a currently unrivalled extent of about 4 /spl mu/m/spl times/4 /spl mu/m/spl times/1/spl mu/m. Valves for "laboratory on chip" applications can already be obtained. The switching times of the electronically controllable microvalves based on hydrogels are 0.3 s to 10 s.     

Classroom ventilation and indoor air quality—results from the FRESH intervention study

Inadequate ventilation of classrooms may lead to increased concentrations of pollutants generated indoors in schools. The FRESH study, on the effects of increased classroom ventilation on indoor air quality, was performed in 18 naturally ventilated classrooms of 17 primary schools in the Netherlands during the heating seasons of 2010–2012. In 12 classrooms, ventilation was increased to targeted CO₂ concentrations of 800 or 1200 ppm, using a temporary CO₂ controlled mechanical ventilation system. Six classrooms were included as controls. In each classroom, data on endotoxin, β(1,3)‐glucans, and particles with diameters of <10 μm (PM₁₀) and <2.5 μm (PM_2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) were collected during three consecutive weeks. Associations between the intervention and these measured indoor air pollution levels were assessed using mixed models, with random classroom effects. The intervention lowered endotoxin and β(1,3)‐glucan levels and PM₁₀ concentrations significantly. PM₁₀ for instance was reduced by 25 μg/m³ (95% confidence interval 13–38 μg/m³) from 54 μg/m³ at maximum ventilation rate. No significant differences were found between the two ventilation settings. Concentrations of PM_2.5 and NO₂ were not affected by the intervention. Our results provide evidence that increasing classroom ventilation is effective in decreasing the concentrations of some indoor‐generated pollutants.     

Functional and nutritional characteristics of proteins and lipids recovered by isoelectric processing of fish by-products and low-value fish: A review

Several fisheries are over-exploited and may collapse; yet the amounts of fish processing by-products containing muscle proteins and ω-3-rich oil are staggering. The by-products are land-filled, ground and discarded or otherwise diverted from human consumption. Due to the lack of technology to recover proteins and lipids from by-products or low-value species, this tremendous resource is unavailable for human consumption. Isoelectric solubilisation/precipitation (ISP) allows efficient recovery of fish proteins and oil which retain functionality and nutritional value of food products. Isoelectric point (pI) is a pH where protein maintains zero electrostatic charge. At pI, protein–protein hydrophobic attraction overcomes protein–water electrostatic attraction resulting in isoelectric precipitation. Conversely, isoelectric solubilisation occurs at a pH different from pI, whereby protein–water attraction and protein–protein electrostatic repulsion are favoured. Therefore, protein solubility/insolubility is induced by ISP, respectively. Consequently, ISP allows selective protein recovery. Lipids are also recovered during ISP processing. This article reviews recent ISP developments to recover proteins and lipids from by-products and low-value marine species.     

Extraction treatment of a Class II, Division 1 malocclusion with anterior open bite with headgear and vertical elastics

Needlestick injuries, which lead to the transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and the AIDS virus, are a potentially serious threat to students during their clinical experiences. Exposure to infectious diseases, blood, and hazardous body fluids is one of the most frequently reported injury events by medical students at a health science center in the southwestern region of the United States. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a customized intervention about infection control for second-year medical students (N = 200). Preparation for the intervention included a needs assessment, which included both qualitative and quantitative research methods that incorporated input from fourth-year medical students, medical staff members, and local hospital infection control specialists. The intervention included a pretest, a lecture, a demonstration of standard precautions and infection control procedure with 2 clinical scenarios, an exercise on proper handwashing, and a posttest. The evaluation of the intervention demonstrated a significant increase in posttest knowledge scores about infection control (from 12.6 +/- 2.1 pretest to 16.5 +/- 1.8 posttest, P < .001). Medical students showed a significant knowledge increase about infection control after participating in the intervention . Thus we recommend that all medical colleges and universities develop and evaluate a similar customized intervention for their medical students.     

A multi-purpose Schrödinger-Poisson Solver for TCAD applications

We present the Vienna Schrödinger-Poisson Solver (VSP), a multi-purpose quantum mechanical solver for investigations on nano-scaled device structures. VSP includes a quantum mechanical solver for closed as well as open boundary problems on fairly arbitrary one-dimensional cross sections within the effective mass framework. For investigations on novel gate dielectrics VSP holds models for bulk and interface trap charges, and direct and trap assisted tunneling. Hetero-structured semiconductor devices, like resonant tunneling diodes (RTD), can be treated within the closed boundary model for quick estimation of resonant energy levels. The open boundary model allows evaluation of current voltage characteristics.     

Output feedback control of general linear heterodirectional hyperbolic PDE-ODE systems with spatially-varying coefficients

This paper presents a backstepping solution for the output feedback control of general linear heterodirectional hyperbolic PDE-ODE systems with spatially varying coefficients. Thereby, the ODE is coupled to the PDE in-domain and at the uncontrolled boundary, whereas the ODE is coupled with the latter boundary. For the state feedback design, a two-step backstepping approach is developed, which yields the conventional kernel equations and additional decoupling equations of simple form. In order to implement the state feedback controller, the design of observers for the PDE-ODE systems in question is considered, whereby anti-collocated measurements are assumed. Exponential stability with a prescribed convergence rate is verified for the closed-system pointwise in space. The resulting compensator design is illustrated for a 4 × 4 heterodirectional hyperbolic system coupled with a third-order ODE modelling a dynamic boundary condition.     

The significance of air velocity and turbulence intensity for responses to horizontal drafts in a constant air temperature of 23°C

Aim: The aim was to prove the significance of air velocity and turbulence intensity on the responses to drafts and if air velocity is adequately weighted in the draft rating model (DR-model) proposed in ISO 7730 (1994). Methods: Seventeen healthy persons (9 women, 8 men, 19–51 yr) took part in 12 randomly arranged 1-h sessions where horizontal drafts were directed towards the dorsolateral body sites of the sedentary persons. Mean air velocity was varied in 4 (  m/s) and turbulence intensity in 3 steps (Tu: <30,≈50,>70%) but were kept constant during the single sessions, whereas air velocities were increased every 15 min in the basic experiments performed for the DR-model. Air temperature was 23°C, humidity varied between 40% and 60%. Subjective perception and annoyance due to drafts were registered every 5 min using a list of prescribed body parts and skin temperature was measured continuously throughout the sessions at the forearm and at the neck. Results: Draft-induced general annoyance (if draft-induced annoyance was stated for at least one body site) and draft-induced local annoyance as stated for the neck and for the forearm increased with air velocity and/or with turbulence intensity. The decrease in skin temperature, however, was only related to air velocity but not to turbulence intensity. Air velocities are obviously not accurately weighted in the draft-rating model (ISO 7730, 1994). As compared to the effects observed here, the effects predicted with the DR-model were smaller in case of mean air velocities of 0.3 m/s and less but greater for 0.4 m/s. Concerning rather sedentary persons it seems that drafts are tolerable as long as mean air velocities do not exceed 0.2 m/s and as long as turbulence intensity remains below 30% in air temperature of 23°C.

Relevance to industry

Drafts are the most annoying climatic factor at many workplaces and assumed to reduce satisfaction with work, to impair performance and perhaps even health (Griefahn et al., Ind. Health 38 (2000b) 30). The limitation of drafts is therefore an important contribution to industrial safety. Using the draft-rating model proposed in ISO 7730 (1994) for the evaluation and for the prediction of draft-induced annoyance, it must be considered that the model underestimates the effects of drafts in case of air velocities of 0.3 m/s which prevail at more than 85% of workplaces in offices and in the industry (Griefahn, 1999; Zhou, Ph.D. Thesis, International Center for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Energy Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, 1999).