Physiological actions of the neuropeptide Antho-RNamide on antagonistic muscle systems in sea anemones

Several studies have reported that the bulk aluminum (Al) concentration is increased in the brain in Alzheimer disease (AD), while other studies have failed to demonstrate an increase. Most of these investigations have had one or more methodological deficiencies, including lack of adequate neuropathological assessment; failure to age-match the control samples; small sample sizes, lacking statistical power; and geographical heterogeneity in the AD and control populations. The present population-based study of 92 clinically and histopathologically diagnosed AD patients and normal elderly nursing home residents was designed to avoid these potential biases. When a subsample of AD cases with the most severe brain pathology was compared with controls having no or minimal pathology, no statistically significant differences were found in the bulk aluminum concentration measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry in frontal cortex (1.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.7 micrograms/g dry wt), temporal cortex (1.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.5 micrograms/g dry wt), liver (2.0 +/- 1.3 vs. 2.0 +/- 1.2 micrograms/g dry wt), or head of femur (2.4 +/- 1.6 vs. 2.2 +/- 1.0 micrograms/g ash wt). Within the whole series of 92 cases, there was no difference in the bulk aluminum concentration of the frontal cortex between individuals diagnosed as definite, probable, and possible cases of AD using the CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease) criteria. The density of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in frontal and temporal cortex showed no correlation with the bulk aluminum concentration. Logistic regression analyses, which controlled for age and sex, did not influence outcome for any of the comparisons. The data show conclusively that in AD, bulk aluminum concentration is not increased in two cortical brain regions that are selectively vulnerable to the neuropathological changes associated with this disorder.     

Adding sense to the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) concept is being widely presented as the next revolution toward massively distributed information, where any real-world object can automatically participate in the Internet and thus be globally discovered and queried. Despite the consensus on the great potential of the concept and the significant progress in a number of enabling technologies, there is a general lack of an integrated vision on how to realize it. This paper examines the technologies that will be fundamental for realizing the IoT and proposes an architecture that integrates them into a single platform. The architecture introduces the use of the Smart Object framework to encapsulate radio-frequency identification (RFID), sensor technologies, embedded object logic, object ad-hoc networking, and Internet-based information infrastructure. We evaluate the architecture against a number of energy-based performance measures, and also show that it outperforms existing industry standards in metrics such as network throughput, delivery ratio, or routing distance. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility and flexibility of the architecture by detailing an implementation using Wireless Sensor Networks and Web Services, and describe a prototype for the real-time monitoring of goods flowing through a supply chain.     

Optimising the dewatering behaviour of clay tailings through interfacial chemistry, orthokinetic flocculation and controlled shear

The effect of shear on dewatering behaviour and particle interactions of Na-exchanged smectite and kaolinite clay dispersions has been investigated at pH 7.5, using hydrolysable Ca(II) and Mn(II) ions as coagulants and high molecular weight anionic and non-ionic polyacrylamide (PAM A and PAM N, respectively) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) flocculants. Metal ion addition enhanced the flocculation performance by dramatically reducing the magnitude of the particle zeta potential and, in the case of smectite pulp, suppressing osmotic swelling. Under optimum orthokinetic flocculation conditions of controlled agitation rate and duration, PAM A and PEO-based flocs settled faster than those of PAM N whilst kaolinite pulps produced higher sedimentation rates than smectite pulps. The settling rates are nearly an order of magnitude greater than those observed under standard flocculant-pulp mixing/flocculation methods of inversion and plunging. The difference in the flocculant behaviour is attributed to the more expanded conformation of PAM A and PEO polymer chains in contrast to PAM N, whilst the lower yield stresses, reflecting inter-particle bridging and floc network structure strength that are conducive to faster clarification, were displayed by kaolinite pulps. Following shear, similar consolidation enhancement of ≈ 5-7 wt.% solid for both pulps was achieved at an optimum agitation range of 100-200 rpm. This was accompanied by decreased yield stress in the case of PAM A-based pulps, indicating non-reversible disruption of polymer mediated particle and floc network structure. In contrast, the yield stresses of PAM N and PEO flocculated dispersions indicated similar and stronger particle interactions, respectively, upon consolidation following shear. The findings show clear links between effect of shear, interfacial chemistry and polymer structure on pulp particle interactions and dewaterability.     

Aggregation of larvae of the house cricket,Acheta domesticus (L.), by propionic acid present in the excreta

Acetic, propionic, butyric, isobutyric, valeric, and isovaleric acids have been identified in extracts of the excreta of the house cricket,Acheta domesticus (L.), by gas-liquid chromatography. Solutions of propionic acid applied to filter paper aggregated 1- to 2-week-old larvae, while solutions of acetic, butyric, valeric, and isovaleric acids were without effect.     

Measurement of activin in biological fluids by radioimmunoassay, utilizing dissociating agents to remove the interference of follistatin

BACKGROUND: The aim of this morphological investigation was to obtain more information about the structural and cellular mechanisms of interalveolar pore formation in postnatal lung development. Assuming that alveolar pore formation is related to the general thinning of interalveolar walls observed in the postnatal period, we have focused our attention on the topographical relationship between epithelial cells and connective tissue in the septum. Thereby we tried to formulate a uniform concept of pore formation. METHODS: After fixation with glutaraldehyde and osmiumtetroxide, tissue blocks of rat lungs aged 44 days were embedded in Epon. Serial sections were obtained in order to analyse precisely pores and supposed sites of pore formation (type II cells and thin spots in transsections of interalveolar walls). RESULTS: We made the following observations: there are pores with or without type II cells in the neighbourhood, and "pre-pores" with either fully transseptal granular pneumocytes, or thin spots in the interalveolar wall consisting of one or two layers of type I cell epithelium or of type II and type I cells without intervening connective tissue. CONCLUSIONS: From these findings we deduce that there is a general principle of interalveolar pore formation which consists in the formation of transseptal interepithelial cell contacts (i.e., between cells of type II and type I or type I and type I), promoted by the thinning of interalveolar walls in the stage of microvascular maturation. Within the zone of contact the cells thin out and give way to form an interalveolar opening.     

Taxonomy,technology and applications of smart objects

Deployment of embedded technologies is increasingly being examined in industrial supply chains as a means for improving efficiency through greater control over purchase orders, inventory and product related information. Central to this development has been the advent of technologies such as bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems, and wireless sensors which when attached to a product, form part of the product’s embedded systems infrastructure. The increasing integration of these technologies dramatically contributes to the evolving notion of a “smart product”, a product which is capable of incorporating itself into both physical and information environments. The future of this revolution in objects equipped with smart embedded technologies is one in which objects can not only identify themselves, but can also sense and store their condition, communicate with other objects and distributed infrastructures, and take decisions related to managing their life cycle. The object can essentially “plug” itself into a compatible systems infrastructure owned by different partners in a supply chain. However, as in any development process that will involve more than one end user, the establishment of a common foundation and understanding is essential for interoperability, efficient communication among involved parties and for developing novel applications. In this paper, we contribute to creating that common ground by providing a characterization to aid the specification and construction of “smart objects” and their underlying technologies. Furthermore, our work provides an extensive set of examples and potential applications of different categories of smart objects.     

Preventing abuse during pregnancy: a clinical protocol

Routine screening for abuse with appropriate intervention during pregnancy is essential to interrupt the cycle of violence and prevent future trauma. Over a decade ago, the Surgeon General called for routine abuse assessment of pregnant women (10). If women are not assessed for abuse, violence will remain undetected and untreated, placing women at risk for escalating abuse and further trauma. Additionally, if follow-up interventions are not implemented once abuse has been confirmed, the cycle of violence will continue. Routine assessment and expanded intervention strategies that includes case management and multi-agency collaboration must become standard care for all pregnant women.     

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor production by Leydig cells: evidence for a role in the regulation of testicular function

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), described originally as a product of activated T lymphocytes, recently has been found to be released by monocytes/macrophages and the anterior pituitary gland. Immunohistochemical studies of the adult rat testis using an affinity-purified polyclonal antimurine MIF antibody demonstrated strong staining for MIF in Leydig cells and their putative precursors. Peritubular myoid cells and the seminiferous epithelium were negative for MIF staining; however, a weak reaction around the heads of elongated spermatids also was observed. The expression of MIF messenger RNA and protein in whole rat testis was demonstrated by Northern blot and Western blot analyses, respectively. Both MIF messenger RNA and protein immunoreactivity in Leydig cells was observed in testes obtained from long term hypophysectomized rats. Significant concentrations of intracellular MIF were detected in lysates of the TM3 Leydig cell line (7.23 +/- 2.6 pg/microgram protein), and testicular interstitial fluid contained 14.7 +/- 1.6 ng/ml MIF protein, as measured by MIF-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To gain insight into the possible biological role of MIF in the testis, cultures of adult rat seminiferous tubules and purified Leydig cells were incubated together with recombinant murine MIF (rMIF). Neither rMIF (50 ng/ml) nor a neutralizing anti-MIF antiserum was found to affect basal or LH-stimulated Leydig cell steroidogenesis in vitro. However, a dose-dependent decrease in the secretion of inhibin by the seminiferous tubules was observed at rMIF concentrations ranging from 10-100 ng/ml. Taken together, these data indicate that Leydig cells produce MIF in vivo and suggest an important regulatory role for this newly discovered mediator of testicular function.