Gene expression profiles in rat mesenteric lymph nodes upon supplementation with Conjugated Linoleic Acid during gestation and suckling

Background Diet plays a role on the development of the immune system, and polyunsaturated fatty acids can modulate the expression of a variety of genes. Human milk contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid that seems to contribute to immune development. Indeed, recent studies carried out in our group in suckling animals have shown that the immune function is enhanced after feeding them with an 80:20 isomer mix composed of c9,t11 and t10,c12 CLA. However, little work has been done on the effects of CLA on gene expression, and even less regarding immune system development in early life. Results The expression profile of mesenteric lymph nodes from animals supplemented with CLA during gestation and suckling through dam's milk (Group A) or by oral gavage (Group B), supplemented just during suckling (Group C) and control animals (Group D) was determined with the aid of the specific GeneChip® Rat Genome 230 2.0 (Affymettrix). Bioinformatics analyses were performed using the GeneSpring GX software package v10.0.2 and lead to the identification of 89 genes differentially expressed in all three dietary approaches. Generation of a biological association network evidenced several genes, such as connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (Timp1), galanin (Gal), synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1), growth factor receptor bound protein 2 (Grb2), actin gamma 2 (Actg2) and smooth muscle alpha actin (Acta2), as highly interconnected nodes of the resulting network. Gene underexpression was confirmed by Real-Time RT-PCR. Conclusions Ctgf, Timp1, Gal and Syt1, among others, are genes modulated by CLA supplementation that may have a role on mucosal immune responses in early life.

Silencing of c-Fos expression by microRNA-155 is critical for dendritic cell maturation and function.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that regulate target mRNAs by binding to their 3' untranslated regions. There is growing evidence that microRNA-155 (miR155) modulates gene expression in various cell types of the immune system and is a prominent player in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. To define the role of miR155 in dendritic cells (DCs) we performed a detailed analysis of its expression and function in human and mouse DCs. A strong increase in miR155 expression was found to be a general and evolutionarily conserved feature associated with the activation of DCs by diverse maturation stimuli in all DC subtypes tested. Analysis of miR155-deficient DCs demonstrated that miR155 induction is required for efficient DC maturation and is critical for the ability of DCs to promote antigen-specific T-cell activation. Expression-profiling studies performed with miR155(-/-) DCs and DCs overexpressing miR155, combined with functional assays, revealed that the mRNA encoding the transcription factor c-Fos is a direct target of miR155. Finally, all of the phenotypic and functional defects exhibited by miR155(-/-) DCs could be reproduced by deregulated c-Fos expression. These results indicate that silencing of c-Fos expression by miR155 is a conserved process that is required for DC maturation and function.

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa Department of Administrative Service’s Human Resource Information System (HRIS), Payroll System and Integrated Information for Iowa System (I/3) for the period March 26, 2012 through April 27, 2012

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa Department of Administrative Service’s Human Resource Information System (HRIS), Payroll System and Integrated Information for Iowa System (I/3) for the period March 26, 2012 through April 27, 2012

The immunological, environmental, and phylogenetic perpetrators of metastatic leishmaniasis.

Cutaneous leishmaniases have persisted for centuries as chronically disfiguring parasitic infections affecting millions of people across the subtropics. Symptoms range from the more prevalent single, self-healing cutaneous lesion to a persistent, metastatic disease, where ulcerations and granulomatous nodules can affect multiple secondary sites of the skin and delicate facial mucosa, even sometimes diffusing throughout the cutaneous system as a papular rash. The basis for such diverse pathologies is multifactorial, ranging from parasite phylogeny to host immunocompetence and various environmental factors. Although complex, these pathologies often prey on weaknesses in the innate immune system and its pattern recognition receptors. This review explores the observed and potential associations among the multifactorial perpetrators of infectious metastasis and components of the innate immune system.

Report on the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System and schedules of employer allocations and collective pension amounts allocated by employer for the year ended June 30, 2014

Report on the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System and schedules of employer allocations and collective pension amounts allocated by employer for the year ended June 30, 2014

Report on the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System and schedules of employer allocations and collective pension amounts allocated by employer for the year ended June 30, 2013

Report on the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System and schedules of employer allocations and collective pension amounts allocated by employer for the year ended June 30, 2013

Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system and renal tissue oxygenation as measured with BOLD-MRI in patients with type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To assess whether blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), a recognized strategy to prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy, affects renal tissue oxygenation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. METHODS: Prospective randomized 2-way cross over study; T2DM patients with (micro)albuminuria and/or hypertension underwent blood oxygenation level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-MRI) at baseline, after one month of enalapril (20mgqd), and after one month of candesartan (16mgqd). Each BOLD-MRI was performed before and after the administration of furosemide. The mean R2* (=1/T2*) values in the medulla and cortex were calculated, a low R2* indicating high tissue oxygenation. RESULTS: Twelve patients (mean age: 60±11 years, eGFR: 62±22ml/min/1.73m(2)) completed the study. Neither chronic enalapril nor candesartan intake modified renal cortical or medullary R2* levels. Furosemide significantly decreased cortical and medullary R2* levels suggesting a transient increase in renal oxygenation. Medullary R2* levels correlated positively with urinary sodium excretion and systemic blood pressure, suggesting lower renal oxygenation at higher dietary sodium intake and blood pressure; cortical R2* levels correlated positively with glycemia and HbA1c. CONCLUSION: RAS blockade does not seem to increase renal tissue oxygenation in T2DM hypertensive patients. The response to furosemide and the association with 24h urinary sodium excretion emphasize the crucial role of renal sodium handling as one of the main determinants of renal tissue oxygenation.

Implementation of an Integrated Activity-Based Costing in a Holistic Database Management System and its Implications for Operations Management

Diplomityössä on tutkittu reaaliaikaisen toimintolaskennan toteuttamista suomalaisen lasersiruja valmistavan PK-yrityksen tietojärjestelmään. Lisäksi on tarkasteltu toimintolaskennan vaikutuksia operatiiviseen toimintaan sekä toimintojen johtamiseen. Työn kirjallisuusosassa on käsitelty kirjallisuuslähteiden perusteella toimintolaskennan teorioita, laskentamenetelmiä sekä teknisessä toteutuksessa käytettyjä teknologioita. Työn toteutusosassa suunniteltiin ja toteutettiin WWW-pohjainen toimintolaskentajärjestelmä case-yrityksen kustannuslaskennan sekä taloushallinnon avuksi. Työkalu integroitiin osaksi yrityksen toiminnanohjaus- sekä valmistuksenohjausjärjestelmää. Perinteisiin toimintolaskentamallien tiedonkeruujärjestelmiin verrattuna case-yrityksessä syötteet toimintolaskentajärjestelmälle tulevat reaaliaikaisesti osana suurempaa tietojärjestelmäintegraatiota.Diplomityö pyrkii luomaan suhteen toimintolaskennan vaatimusten ja tietokantajärjestelmien välille. Toimintolaskentajärjestelmää yritys voi hyödyntää esimerkiksi tuotteiden hinnoittelussa ja kustannuslaskennassa näkemällä tuotteisiin liittyviä kustannuksia eri näkökulmista. Päätelmiä voidaan tehdä tarkkaan kustannusinformaatioon perustuen sekä määrittää järjestelmän tuottaman datan perusteella, onko tietyn projektin, asiakkuuden tai tuotteen kehittäminen taloudellisesti kannattavaa.

1000 V distribution system and its potential in Russia

The application of the three voltage level 20/1/0.4 distribution system in Finland has proved to be an economic solution to enhance the reability of electricity distribution. By using 1 kV voltage level between medium and low voltage networks, the improvement in reability could be reached especially inaerial lines networks. Also considerable savings in investment and outage costscould be archieved compared to the traditional distribution system. This master's thesis is focused on the describing the situation in Russian distribution netwoks and consequent analyses the possibility of applying 1000V distribution system in Russia. The goal is to investigate on the basis of Finnish experience is any possible installation targets in Russia for the new system. Compatibility with Russian safety and quality standards are also studied in this thesis.

Redundant functions of TCF-1 and LEF-1 during T and NK cell development, but unique role of TCF-1 for Ly49 NK cell receptor acquisition.

Members of the TCF/LEF (T cell factor / lymphoid enhancer factor) family of DNA-binding factors play important roles during embryogenesis, the establishment and/or maintenance of self-renewing tissues such as the immune system and for malignant transformation. Specifically, it has been shown that TCF-1 is required for T cell development. A role for LEF-1 became apparent when mice harbored two hypomorphic TCF-1 alleles and consequently expressed low levels of TCF-1. Here we show that NK cell development is similarly regulated by redundant functions of TCF-1 and LEF-1, whereby TCF-1 contributes significantly more to NK cell development than LEF-1. Despite this role for NK cell development, LEF-1 is not required for the establishment of a repertoire of MHC class I-specific Ly49 receptors on NK cells. The proper formation of this repertoire depends to a large extent on TCF-1. These findings suggest common and distinct functions of TCF-1 and LEF-1 during lymphocyte development.

Deep-hole drilling process, monitoring system and sensors modifications

 In the drilling processes and especially deep-hole drilling process, the monitoring system and having control on mechanical parameters (e.g. Force, Torque,Vibration and Acoustic emission) are essential. The main focus of this thesis work is to study the characteristics of deep-hole drilling process, and optimize the monitoring system for controlling the process. The vibration is considered as a major defect area of the deep-hole drilling process which often leads to breakage of the drill, therefore by vibration analysis and optimizing the workpiecefixture, this area is studied by finite element method and the suggestions are explained. By study on a present monitoring system, and searching on the new sensor products, the modifications and recommendations are suggested for optimize the present monitoring system for excellent performance in deep-hole drilling process research and measurements.

Can we translate vitamin D immunomodulating effect on innate and adaptive immunity to vaccine response?

Vitamin D (VitD), which is well known for its classic role in the maintenance of bone mineral density, has now become increasingly studied for its extra-skeletal roles. It has an important influence on the body's immune system and modulates both innate and adaptive immunity and regulates the inflammatory cascade. In this review our aim was to describe how VitD might influence immune responsiveness and its potential modulating role in vaccine immunogenicity. In the first instance, we consider the literature that may provide molecular and genetic support to the idea that VitD status may be related to innate and/or adaptive immune response with a particular focus on vaccine immunogenicity and then discuss observational studies and controlled trials of VitD supplementation conducted in humans. Finally, we conclude with some knowledge gaps surrounding VitD and vaccine response, and that it is still premature to recommend "booster" of VitD at vaccination time to enhance vaccine response.