Patterns of gene expression are altered in the frontal and motor cortices of human alcoholics

Alcoholism is a major health problem in Western countries, yet relatively little is known about the mechanisms by which chronic alcohol abuse causes the pathologic changes associated with the disease. It is likely that chronic alcoholism affects a number of signaling cascades and transcription factors, which in turn result in distinct gene expression patterns. These patterns are difficult to detect by traditional experiments measuring a few mRNAs at a time, but are well suited to microarray analyses. We used cDNA microarrays to analyze expression of approximately 10 000 genes in the frontal and motor cortices of three groups of chronic alcoholic and matched control cases. A functional hierarchy was devised for classification of brain genes and the resulting groups were compared based on differential expression. Comparison of gene expression patterns in these brain regions revealed a selective reprogramming of gene expression in distinct functional groups. The most pronounced differences were found in myelin-related genes and genes involved in protein trafficking. Significant changes in the expression of known alcohol-responsive genes, and genes involved in calcium, cAMP, and thyroid signaling pathways were also identified. These results suggest that multiple pathways may be important for neuropathology and altered neuronal function observed in alcoholism.

Investigations of growth processes in Y-Ba-Cu-O materials by microstructural examination of quenched samples

Y-Ba-Cu-O samples with additions of Y2O3 and CeO2 were quenched during seeded isothermal melt processing and examined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Large YBa2Cu3O7-y (Y123) particles in the starting powder were found to form a distinct type of melt during heating, which was unaffected by the Y2O3 or CeO2 additives. This type of melt later formed regions with a low concentration of Y2BaCuO5 (Y211) particles in the Y123 matrix. The maximum growth rate of Y123 that could be sustained in the sample was found to be lower in the melt formed from large Y123 particles, and this may lead to growth accidents and subgrains in some samples.

Investigation of electrical conductivity as a function of dopant-ion radius in the systems Zr0.75Ce0.08M0.17O1.92 (M=Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Yb, Sc)

Electrical conductivity versus dopant ionic radius studies in zirconia- and ceria-based, solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrolyte systems have shown that oxygen-ion conductivity is highest when the host and dopant ions are similar in size [J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 48 (1965) 286; Solid State Ionics 37 (1989) 67; Solid State Ionics 5 (1981) 547]. Under these conditions, it is thought that the conduction paths within the crystal lattice become less distorted [Solid State Ionics 8 (1983) 201]. In this study, binary ZrO2-M2O3 unit cells were expanded, via the partial substitution of Ce+4 for Zr+4 into the lattice, in an attempt to identify new, ternary, zirconia/ceria-based electrolyte systems with enhanced electrical conductivity. The compositions Zr0.75Ce0.08M0.17O1.92 (M = Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Ho, Y, Yb, Sc) were prepared using traditional solid state techniques. Bulk phase characterisation and precise lattice parameter measurements were performed with X-ray diffraction techniques. Four-probe DC conductivity measurements between 400 and 900 degreesC showed that the dopant-ion radius influenced electrical conductivity. The conductivity versus dopant-ion radius trends previously observed in zirconia-based, binary systems are clearly apparent in the ternary systems investigated in this study. The addition of ceria was found to have a negative influence on the electrical conductivity over the temperature range 400-900 degreesC. It is suggested that distortion of the oxygen-ion conduction path by the presence of the larger M+3 and Ce+4 species (relative to Zr+4) is the reason for the decreasing electrical conductivity as a function of increasing dopant size and ceria addition, respectively. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

M??dulo 1 - ??tica y pr??ctica administrativa en el contexto de las sociedades en proceso de modernizaci??n: curso ??tica y administraci??n p??blica en am??rica latina

Este documento trata de ??tica en el contexto de las sociedades tradicionales, frente al desaf??o del desarrollo econ??mico y social y, sobre todo, de implantaci??n de una gesti??n p??blica moderna; la relevancia de los valores morales y ??ticos en la consolidaci??n de la democracia, de la ciudadan??a y justicia social en las sociedades en desarrollo

M??dulo 2 - relativismo de valores y universalismo de principios en la pr??ctica administrativa: curso ??tica y administraci??n p??blica en Am??rica Latina

Este trabajo se ocupa de los conceptos de ??tica y moral bajo la perspectiva de los principios y valores que permean la actuaci??n del servidor p??blico en la Administraci??n P??blica; la naturaleza sociocultural de esos conceptos referente a la diversidad de valores y principios universales que puedan ser adoptados en la pr??ctica administrativa

M??dulo 3 - perspectivas y pr??cticas en el incentivo a la consciencia y conducta ??tica en el contexto de la administraci??n p??blica: curso ??tica y administraci??n p??blica en Am??rica Latina

Este trabajo se ocupa de las cuatro grandes perspectivas en que se encuadran las propuestas de refuerzo de la dimensi??n ??tica en la gesti??n p??blica; los l??mites y el alcance de los aspectos ??ticos y legales de la pr??ctica administrativa; instrumentos gerenciales y pr??cticas que ayudan el desarrollo de la consciencia ??tica

??tica y administraci??n p??blica en Am??rica Latina

Este documento trata de ??tica en el contexto de las sociedades tradicionales, frente al desaf??o del desarrollo econ??mico y social y, sobre todo, de implantaci??n de una gesti??n p??blica moderna; la relevancia de los valores morales y ??ticos en la consolidaci??n de la democracia, de la ciudadan??a y justicia social en las sociedades en desarrollo

Colet??nea de pol??ticas p??blicas: volume 1: pol??tica y pol??ticas p??blicas

O principal objetivo deste livro ?? constituir uma fonte de pesquisa para o estudo do processo de produ????o e implementa????o de pol??ticas p??blicas. Por meio de textos selecionados, analisa-se o pr??prio conceito de pol??ticas p??blicas, discute-se as defini????es utilizadas para distinguir suas diversas fases e apresenta-se algumas das principais correntes te??ricas de an??lise sobre o processo de pol??ticas p??blicas.