Serum cholesterol and variant in cholesterol-related gene CETP predict white matter microstructure

Several common genetic variants influence cholesterol levels, which play a key role in overall health. Myelin synthesis and maintenance are highly sensitive to cholesterol concentrations, and abnormal cholesterol levels increase the risk for various brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. We report significant associations between higher serum cholesterol (CHOL) and high-density lipoprotein levels and higher fractional anisotropy in 403 young adults (23.8 ± 2.4years) scanned with diffusion imaging and anatomic magnetic resonance imaging at 4Tesla. By fitting a multi-locus genetic model within white matter areas associated with CHOL, we found that a set of 18 cholesterol-related, single-nucleotide polymorphisms implicated in Alzheimer's disease risk predicted fractional anisotropy. We focused on the single-nucleotide polymorphism with the largest individual effects, CETP (rs5882), and found that increased G-allele dosage was associated with higher fractional anisotropy and lower radial and mean diffusivities in voxel-wise analyses of the whole brain. A follow-up analysis detected white matter associations with rs5882 in the opposite direction in 78 older individuals (74.3 ± 7.3years). Cholesterol levels may influence white matter integrity, and cholesterol-related genes may exert age-dependent effects on the brain.

Studying relationships in project management through social network analysis

Successful project management depends upon forming and maintaining relationships between and among project team members and stakeholder groups. The nature of these relationships and the patterns that they form affect communication, collaboration and resource flows. Networks affect us directly, and we use them to influence people and processes. Social Network Analysis (SNA) can be an extremely valuable research tool to better understand how critical social networks develop and influence work processes, particularly as projects become larger and more complex. This chapter introduces foundational network concepts, helps you determine if SNA could help you answer your research questions, and explains how to design and implement a social network study. At the end of this chapter, the reader can: understand foundational concepts about social networks; decide if SNA is an appropriate research methodology to address particular questions or problems; design and implement a basic social network study.

Cultural adaptation and resilience: Controversies, issues and emerging models

What enables people to bounce back from stressful experiences? How do certain individuals maintain a sense of purpose and direction over the long term, even in the face of adversity? This is the first book to move beyond childhood and adolescence to explore resilience across the lifespan. Coverage ranges from genetic and physiological factors through personal, family, organizational, and community processes. Contributors examine how resilience contributes to health and well-being across the adult life cycle; why—and what happens when—resilience processes fail; ethnic and cultural dimensions of resilience; and ways to enhance adult resilience, including reviews of exemplary programs.

Is the planet full? by Ian Goldin (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2014), pp. 272.

The question ‘is the planet full?’ is not new but it needs a critical assessment to provide a good answer. Obviously, the capacity of the planet should be evaluated in relation to the size and distribution of its human population and how relevant resources of the planet are used and managed. When we are discussing human population and resource management, multidimensional issues such as welfare, technologies and social changes are essential...

Critical risk factors affecting the implementation of PPP waste-to-energy projects in China

Since 2003, Mainland China has been promoting the public–private partnership (PPP) procurement model in the waste-to-energy incineration sector to reduce the waste burying rate and improve environmental quality. Five critical risk factors (CRFs) that affect the construction and operation of waste-to-energy incineration projects have been identified from real-life risk events of 14 PPP waste-to-energy incineration plants through content analysis. These risk factors are insufficient waste supply, disposal of non-licensed waste, environmental risk, payment risk, and lack of supporting infrastructure. A recently completed PPP waste-to-energy incineration plant, the Shanghai Tianma project, was investigated to learn from the effective management of CRFs. First-hand data about the Shanghai Tianma project was collected, with a focus on project negotiation and concession agreement. Lessons learned about risk management were acquired. This paper presents a detailed study of the contractual structure, risk sharing scheme, risk response measures to CRFs, and project transfer of a PPP project. The study results will provide governments with management implications to prepare equitable concession agreements and benefit private investors by effectively mitigating and managing risks in future PPP waste-to-energy incineration projects.

The in vivo fate of nanoparticles and nanoparticle-loaded microcapsules after oral administration in mice: Evaluation of their potential for colon-specific delivery

Anti-cancer drug loaded-nanoparticles (NPs) or encapsulation of NPs in colon-targeted delivery systems shows potential for increasing the local drug concentration in the colon leading to improved treatment of colorectal cancer. To investigate the potential of the NP-based strategies for colon-specific delivery, two formulations, free Eudragit® NPs and enteric-coated NP-loaded chitosan–hypromellose microcapsules (MCs) were fluorescently-labelled and their tissue distribution in mice after oral administration was monitored by multispectral small animal imaging. The free NPs showed a shorter transit time throughout the mouse digestive tract than the MCs, with extensive excretion of NPs in faeces at 5 h. Conversely, the MCs showed complete NP release in the lower region of the mouse small intestine at 8 h post-administration. Overall, the encapsulation of NPs in MCs resulted in a higher colonic NP intensity from 8 h to 24 h post-administration compared to the free NPs, due to a NP ‘guarding’ effect of MCs during their transit along mouse gastrointestinal tract which decreased NP excretion in faeces. These imaging data revealed that this widely-utilised colon-targeting MC formulation lacked site-precision for releasing its NP load in the colon, but the increased residence time of the NPs in the lower gastrointestinal tract suggests that it is still useful for localised release of chemotherapeutics, compared to NP administration alone. In addition, both formulations resided in the stomach of mice at considerable concentrations over 24 h. Thus, adhesion of NP- or MC-based oral delivery systems to gastric mucosa may be problematic for colon-specific delivery of the cargo to the colon and should be carefully investigated for a full evaluation of particulate delivery systems.

Optimal barrier subdivision for Kramers' escape rate

We examine the effect of subdividing the potential barrier along the reaction coordinate on Kramers' escape rate for a model potential. Using the known supersymmetric potential approach, we show the existence of an optimal number of subdivisions that maximizes the rate.

Australia

Crisis management in the banking sector is a topical issue in Australia. This is not because financial institutions are facing a financial crisis. Indeed, in 2012, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) noted that ‘Australia has a history of few bank failures, even fewer financial crises, and its banking sector emerged from the global financial crisis relatively well.’ Rather, crisis management of banks is topical because there has been the first full review of Australia’s banking and financial system in nearly 20 years, which has examined and raised issues about the resilience and capacity of the Australian regime in this post GFC world. At the time of writing, the Report’s recommendations, including for Australian banks to meet capital standards in line with emerging international practice, are the subject of industry debate in advance of the Australian government’s decision.

Crystal data for high-temperature dicalcium lead propionate, Ca2Pb(CH3CH2COO)6

The high-temperature paraelectric phase of dicalcium lead propionate, DCLP, at 363 ± 5 K is tetragonal, with a = 12.574 (6), c = 17.403 (9) Å, V = 2751.4 Å3, Z = 4 and corresponds to the space group P41212 (or P43212). The thermal expansion curve shows the transition somewhere between 328 and 343 K.

Structure and Conformation of an Antidepressant Drug, Nitroxazepine Hydrochloride Monohydrate

CIsH20N3Oa+.C1-.H2 O, M r = 395, orthorhombic, Pn21a, a = 7.710 (4), b = 11.455 (3), c -- 21.199 (3)/k, Z = 4, V = 1872.4/k 3, D m = 1.38, D C = 1.403 g cm -3, F(000) = 832, g(Cu Kct) = 20.94 cm -l. Intensities for 1641 reflections were measured on a Nonius CAD-4 diffractometer; of these, 1470 were significant. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to an R index of 0.045 using a blockdiagonal least-squares procedure. The angle between the least-squares planes through the benzene rings is 125.0 (5) ° and the side chain is folded similarly to one of the independent molecules of imipramine hydrochloride.

Internal nitride formation during gas-phase thermal nitridation of titanium

Titanium nitride surface layers were prepared by gas-phase thermal nitridation of pure titanium in an ammonia atmosphere at 1373 K for different times. In addition to the surface nitride layer, nitride/hydride formation was observed in the bulk of the specimen. The cross-section of the specimen was characterized by various techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry and nanomechanical testing, and the mechanism of formation of these phases is discussed.

Heat exposure and hypothyroid conditions decrease hydrogen peroxide generation in liver mitochondria

Exposure of rats to heat (39 +/- 1 degree C) decreased H2O2 generation in mitochondria of the liver, but not of the kidney or the heart. The effect was obtained with three substrates, succinate, glycerol 1-phosphate and choline, with a decrease to 50% in the first 2-3 days of exposure, and a further decrease on longer exposure. The dehydrogenase activity with only glycerol 1-phosphate decreased, which is indicative of the hypothyroid condition, whereas choline dehydrogenase activity remained unchanged and that of succinate dehydrogenase decreased on long exposure. The serum concentration of thyroxine decreased in heat-exposed rats. Thyroxine treatment of rats increased H2O2 generation. Hypothyroid conditions obtained by treatment with propylthiouracil or thyroidectomy caused a decrease in H2O2 generation and changes in dehydrogenase activities similar to those with heat exposure. Treatment of heat-exposed or thyroidectomized rats with thyroxine stimulated H2O2 generation by a mechanism apparently involving fresh protein synthesis. The results indicate that H2O2 generation in mitochondria of heat-exposed animals is determined by thyroid status.

Varistors based on barium titanate-graphite-rubber composites

This paper describes the experimental and theoretical studies carried out on particulate composites consisting of BaTiO3, graphite, and rubber. It is shown that such composites exhibit a positive voltage coefficient of resistance beyond a certain voltage. A theoretical model developed to explain the observed V-R characteristics and their dependence on parameters of the composite like composition and grain size of the particles is also described. These composites seem to be useful as varistors with positive voltage coefficient of resistance and may find applications as voltage-regulating devices. Journal of Applied Physics is copyrighted by The American Institute of Physics.

Structure and conformation of an anti-depressant drug, nitroxazepine hydrochloride monohydrate

CIsH20N3Oa+.C1-.H2 O, M r = 395, orthorhombic, Pn21a, a = 7.710 (4), b = 11.455 (3), c -- 21.199 (3)/k, Z = 4, V = 1872.4/k 3, D m = 1.38, D C = 1.403 g cm -3, F(000) = 832, g(Cu Kct) = 20.94 cm -l. Intensities for 1641 reflections were measured on a Nonius CAD-4 diffractometer; of these, 1470 were significant. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to an R index of 0.045 using a blockdiagonal least-squares procedure. The angle between the least-squares planes through the benzene rings is 125.0 (5) ° and the side chain is folded similarly to one of the independent molecules of imipramine hydrochloride.