An investigation of the resolution of inflammation (catabasis) in COPD.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by an enhanced inflammatory response to smoking that persists despite quitting. The resolution of inflammation (catabasis) is a complex and highly regulated process where tissue resident macrophages play a key role since they phagocytose apoptotic cells (efferocytosis), preventing their secondary necrosis and the spill-over of their pro-inflammatory cytoplasmic content, and release pro-resolution and tissue repair molecules, such as TGFβ, VEGF and HGF. Because inflammation does not resolve in COPD, we hypothesized that catabasis may be abnormal in these patients. Methods: To explore this hypothesis, we studied lung tissue samples obtained at surgery from 21 COPD patients,22 smokers with normal spirometry and 13 non-smokers controls. In these samples we used: (1)immunohistochemistry to assess the expression of CD44, CD36, VEGF and TGFβ in lung macrophages; (2) real time PCR to determine HGF, PPARγ, TGFβ, VEGF and MMP-9 gene expression; and, (3) ELISA to quantify lipoxin A4, a lipid mediator of catabasis. Results: We found that current and former smokers with COPD showed: (1) more inflammation (higher MMP-9 expression); (2) reduced macrophage surface expression of CD44, a key efferocytosis receptor; and, (3) similar levels of TGFβ, VEGF, HGF, PPARγ, and lipoxin A4 than smokers with normal spirometry, despite the presence of inflammation and disease. Conclusions: These results identify several potential abnormalities of catabasis in patients with COPD.

Educational achievement in Swiss childhood cancer survivors compared with the general population.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe educational achievements of childhood cancer survivors in Switzerland compared with the general population. In particular, the authors investigated educational problems during childhood, final educational achievement in adulthood, and its predictors. METHODS: Childhood cancer survivors who were aged <16 years at diagnosis from 1976 to 2003 who had survived for ≥5 years and were currently ages 20 to 40 years received a postal questionnaire during 2007 to 2009. Controls were respondents of the Swiss Health Survey ages 20 to 40 years. Educational achievement included compulsory schooling, vocational training, upper secondary schooling, and university degree. The analysis was weighted to optimize comparability of the populations. The authors analyzed the association between demographic and clinical predictors and educational achievement using multivariable logistic regression. Subgroup analyses focused on survivors aged ≥27 years. RESULTS: One-third of survivors encountered educational problems during schooling (30% repeated 1 year, and 35% received supportive tutoring). In the total sample, more survivors than controls achieved compulsory schooling only (8.7% vs 5.2%) and fewer acquired a university degree (7.3% vs 11%), but more survivors than controls achieved an upper secondary education (36.1 vs 24.1%). In those aged ≥27 years, differences in compulsory schooling and university education largely disappeared. In survivors and controls, sex, nationality, language region, and migration background were strong predictors of achievement. Survivors of central nervous system tumors or those who had a relapse had poorer outcomes (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Childhood cancer survivors encountered problems during schooling and completed professional education with some delay. However, with the exception of patients who had central nervous system tumors and those who experienced a relapse, the final educational achievement in survivors of child cancer was comparable to that of the general population.

Iowa Highway Archaeology Annual Report 1978-1979, HR-198, 1979

This final report summarizes the activities of the archaeological surveys contract for primary roads, secondary roads, and urban systems. The contract is negotiated annually between the Iowa Department of Transportation and the University of Iowa. The information contained is composed of summaries abstracted from completed cultural resource reports on file with the Department of Transportation, the Office of Historic Preservation, and the Office of the State Archaeologist.

The Highway Surveys Program A Summary Statement Fiscal 1977-1978, HR-198, 1978

This final report summarizes the activities of the archaeological surveys contract for primary roads, secondary roads, and urban systems. The contract is negotiated annually between the Iowa Department of Transportation and the University of Iowa. The information contained in this section of the report is composed of summaries abstracted from completed cultural resource reports on file with the Department of Transportation, the Office of Historic Preservation, and the Office of the State Archaeologist.

Signal transduction in plant-beneficial rhizobacteria with biocontrol properties.

Biological control of root pathogens--mostly fungi--can be achieved by the introduction of selected bacterial inoculants acting as 'biopesticides'. Successful inoculants have been identified among Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, often belonging to Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp., respectively. Biocontrol activity of a model rhizobacterium, P. fluorescens CHAO, depends to a considerable extent on the synthesis of extracellular antimicrobial secondary metabolites and exoenzymes, thought to antagonize the pathogenicity of a variety of phytopathogenic fungi. The regulation of exoproduct formation in P. fluorescens (as well as in other bacteria) depends essentially on the GacS/GacA two-component system, which activates a largely unknown signal transduction pathway. However, recent evidence indicates that GacS/GacA control has a major impact on target gene expression at a post-transcriptional level, involving an mRNA target sequence (typically near the ribosome binding site), two RNA binding proteins (designated RsmA and RsmE), and a regulatory RNA (RsmZ) capable of binding RsmA. The expression and activity of the regulatory system is stimulated by at least one low-molecular-weight signal. The timing and specificity of this switch from primary to secondary metabolism are essential for effective biocontrol.

New insights into the mechanisms of organ-specific breast cancer metastasis.

Despite the substantial advances obtained in the treatment of localized malignancies, metastatic disease still lacks effective treatment and remains the primary cause of cancer mortality, including in breast cancer. Thus, in order to improve the survival of cancer patients it is necessary to effectively improve prevention or treatment of metastasis. To achieve this goal, complementary strategies can be envisaged: the first one is the eradication of established metastases by adding novel modalities to current treatments, such as immunotherapy or targeted therapies. A second one is to prevent tumor cell dissemination to secondary organs by targeting specific steps governing the metastatic cascade and organ-specific tropism. A third one is to block the colonization of secondary organs and subsequent cancer cell growth by impinging on the ability of disseminated cancer cells to adapt to the novel microenvironment. To obtain optimal results it might be necessary to combine these strategies. The development of therapeutic approaches aimed at preventing dissemination and organ colonization requires a deeper understanding of the specific genetic events occurring in cancer cells and of the host responses that co-operate to promote metastasis formation. Recent developments in the field disclosed novel mechanisms of metastasis. In particular the crosstalk between disseminated cancer cells and the host microenvironment is emerging as a critical determinant of metastasis. The identification of tissue-specific signals involved in metastatic progression will open the way to new therapeutic strategies. Here, we will review recent progress in the field, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms of organ specific dissemination and colonization of breast cancer.

Suomen nominien taivutuksesta : rytmi-, sivupaino- ja agglutinaatiohypoteesien testausta

E. Summary: Inflection of Finnish nominals: Testing of rhythm, secondary stress and agglutination hypotheses

Functional diversity of bacterial genes associated with aromatic hydrocarbon degradation in anthropogenic dark earth of Amazonia

The objective of this work was to evaluate the catabolic gene diversity for the bacterial degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons in anthropogenic dark earth of Amazonia (ADE) and their biochar (BC). Functional diversity analyses in ADE soils can provide information on how adaptive microorganisms may influence the fertility of soils and what is their involvement in biogeochemical cycles. For this, clone libraries containing the gene encoding for the alpha subunit of aromatic ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases (α-ARHD bacterial gene) were constructed, totaling 800 clones. These libraries were prepared from samples of an ADE soil under two different land uses, located at the Caldeirão Experimental Station - secondary forest (SF) and agriculture (AG) -, and the biochar (SF_BC and AG_BC, respectively). Heterogeneity estimates indicated greater diversity in BC libraries; and Venn diagrams showed more unique operational protein clusters (OPC) in the SF_BC library than the ADE soil, which indicates that specific metabolic processes may occur in biochar. Phylogenetic analysis showed unidentified dioxygenases in ADE soils. Libraries containing functional gene encoding for the alpha subunit of the aromatic ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases (ARHD) gene from biochar show higher diversity indices than those of ADE under secondary forest and agriculture.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome identification of prognostic factors.

OBJECT: Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is described as a clinical and radiological entity characterized by thunderclap headaches, a reversible segmental or multifocal vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries with or without focal neurological deficits or seizures. The purpose of this study is to determine risk factors of poor outcome in patients presented a RCVS. METHODS: A retrospective multi-center review of invasive and non-invasive neurovascular imaging between January 2006 and January 2011 has identified 10 patients with criterion of reversible segmental vasoconstriction syndrome. Demographics data, vascular risks and evolution of each of these patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Seven of the ten patients were females with a mean age of 46 years. In four patients, we did not found any causative factors. Two cases presented RCVS in post-partum period between their first and their third week after delivery. The other three cases were drug-induced RCVS, mainly vaso-active drugs. Cannabis was found as the causative factor in two patient, Sumatriptan identified in one patient while cyclosporine was the causative agent in also one patient. The mean duration of clinical follow-up was 10.2 months (range: 0-28 months). Two patients had neurological sequelae: one patient kept a dysphasia and the other had a homonymous lateral hemianopia. We could not find any significant difference of the evolution between secondary RCVS and idiopathic RCVS. The only two factors, which could be correlated to the clinical outcome were the neurological status at admission and the presence of intraparenchymal abnormalities (ischemic stroke, hematoma) in brain imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Fulminant vasoconstriction resulting in progressive symptoms or death has been reported in exceptional frequency. Physicians had to remember that such evolution could happen and predict them by identifying all factors of poor prognosis (neurological status at admission, the presence of intraparenchymal abnormalities).

Luoteis-Venäjän metsävaratja niiden hyödyntämismahdollisuudet

Tuontipuulla onsuuri merkitys suomalaiselle metsäteollisuudelle. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteitaovat Suomen metsäteollisuuden puuntuonnin tärkeimmän alueen, Luoteis-Venäjän metsävarojen kartoittaminen ja niiden hyödyntämismahdollisuuksien arviointi. Työssä käsitellään myös lyhyesti suoria ulkomaisia investointeja Luoteis-Venäjän metsäsektorille. Luoteis-Venäjällä on suuremmat metsävarat kuin muulla Euroopalla yhteensä. Koko maailmassa on vain 5 valtiota, jolla olisi suuremmat metsävarat kuin sillä. Eniten metsiä Luoteis-Venäjällä on Komin tasavallassa ja Arkangelin alueella. Kuusi ja mänty ovat yleisimmät puulajit. Hyvien iikenneyhteyksien varsilta metsät on hakattu ja jätetty uudistamatta, minkä seurauksena koivu ja haapa ovat vallanneet alaa havupuilta. Niinpä alueen metsäteollisuus, etenkin sahateollisuus kärsii puupulasta. Suomen metsäteollisuus on sen sijaan hyötynyt siitä, että koivukuitupuuta on runsaasti saatavilla. Metsävarojen hyödyntämisen suurimmatesteet ovat harva ja huonokuntoinen metsätieverkosto sekä metsien riittämätön hoito. Venäläisestä näkökulmasta alueen metsävarat ovat vajaakäytössä: vuotuiset hakkuut ovat alle puolet kasvusta, suuri osa puusta viedään raakapuuna ulkomaille, ja alueen metsäteollisuuden tuotteiden jalostusarvo jää alhaiseksi. Suoria ulkomaisia investointeja Luoteis-Venäjän metsäsektorille houkuttelevat suuret puuvarat, halpa energia ja tulevaisuudessa etenkin kasvavat markkinat. Investointejahaittaavat huono infrastruktuuri, korruptio ja epävarmuus maan kehityksestä.

Caracterización del comportamiento agroforestal de doce genotipos de nogal (Juglans sp.) en dos localidades de Cataluña

El comportamiento agroforestal de 10 genotipos de J. regia y dos híbridos comerciales de Juglans, Ng23xRa y Mj209xRa, se ha evaluado desde 1995 a 2000 en dos localidades: Massanes (Girona) y Prades (Tarragona). Se establecen tres grupos de genotipos diferenciados de acuerdo a su tasa de crecimiento en altura: 1) crecimiento medio superior a 60 cm/año, que corresponde a los dos híbridos; 2) crecimiento medio de unos 50 cm/año, que corresponde a las progenies de J. regia con brotaciones anteriores al 20 de abril; y 3) crecimiento medio inferior a los 40 cm/año, que corresponde a los genotipos de J. regia con brotación posterior al 20 de abril. La evolución de las progenies en altura y diámetro está significativamente ligada a la localidad. El orden en la clasificación de las progenies por su crecimiento, en altura y en grosor, es prácticamente idéntico en ambas localidades. El diámetro a 2,50 m, al sexto período vegetativo, presenta una dependencia significativa de localidad y genotipo: en Massanes se alcanza un mayor crecimiento que en Prades y el diámetro a 2,50 m de los híbridos es el doble que el del mejor J. regia. La dominancia y la rectitud dependen de los genotipos. Sólo dos J. regia tienen una aptitud forestal aceptable, concretamente dos genotipos italianos, «Bleggiana» y «Boschi Maria Grazia». Los híbridos Ng23xRa y Mj209xRa presentan un mejor comportamiento agroforestal que los genotipos de J. regia estudiados: menor mortalidad en plantación, superiores crecimientos primario y secundario y buena dominancia apical y rectitud.

¿Islamofobia o currículo nulo? La representación del Islam, las culturas musulmanas y los inmigrantes musulmanes en los libros de texto de Cataluña

El objetivo de nuestro artículo es analizar la presentación del Islam, de los musulmanes y de las culturas árabe y musulmana en los libros de texto. Nos basamos en un enfoque metodológico complementario, entre cuantitativo y cualitativo. En el estudio cuantitativo, se han analizado 246 documentos (el 84,1% de los cuales son manuales y libros de texto; el 10,2%, libros de ejercicios; el 4,2%, documentos de acompañamiento y el 1,1%, guías del profesor) que incluyen la totalidad de las asignaturas de la enseñanza no universitaria de Cataluña. Una primera aproximación a los resultados nos permite observar el predominio de referencias en la asignatura de Historia de Bachillerato con diferencias estadísticamente significativas respecto a los porcentajes que se dan en otras disciplinas. Otras asignaturas de ciencias sociales como el Conocimiento del Medio en Primaria (11,7%) o las Ciencias Sociales en ESO (8%) también muestran una buena proporción de representaciones. En el resto de materias, las referencias presentan porcentajes que oscilan entre el 1% y el 5%. Por otra parte, en el 46,2% de los textos analizados no se ha encontrado ni una sola referencia. En el estudio cualitativo (análisis del discurso), que hemos desarrollado a partir de la revisión de un centenar de libros de texto de ciencias sociales correspondientes a los niveles educativos de ESO y Bachillerato, se han seleccionado diez extractos (seis de contenido verbal y cuatro de representaciones icónicas). En esta segunda revisión, se comprueba que solo algo menos de los dos tercios de los textos (64%) contiene alguna alusión –ya sea verbal o icónica– a las culturas musulmanas o al resto de los temas anteriormente citados. Los datos que hemos obtenido ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de revisar y actualizar los contenidos de nuestros libros escolares con respecto a las omisiones y deformaciones del tratamiento del Islam, las culturas musulmanas y la presencia de musulmanes en nuestra sociedad.

Kiinnirullaimen dynamiikan ja värähtelyjen simulointi

Diplomityössä tutkittiin kaupallisen monikappaledynamiikkaohjelmiston soveltuvuutta kiinnirullaimen dynamiikan ja värähtelyjen tutkimiseen. Erityisen kiinnostuneita oltiin nipin kuvauksesta sekä nipissä tapahtuvista värähtelyistä. Tässä diplomityössä mallinnettiin kiinnirullaimen ensiö- ja toisiokäytöt sekä tampuuritela. Malli yhdistettiin myöhemmin Metso Paper Järvenpäässä rinnakkaisena diplomityönä tehtyyn malliin, joista muodostui kahteen ratkaisijaan perustuva simulointimalli. Simulointimalli rakennettiin käyttämään kahta erillistä ratkaisijaa, joista toinen on mekaniikkamallin rakentamisessa käytetty ADAMS-ohjelmisto ja toinen säätöjärjestelmää ja hydraulipiirejä kuvaava Simulink-malli. Nipin mallintamiseksi tampuuritela ja rullaussylinteri mallinnettiin joustaviksi käyttäen keskitettyjen massojen menetelmää. Siirtolaitteissa sekä runkorakenteissa tapahtuvat joustot kuvattiin yhden vapausasteen jousi-vaimennin voimilla kuvattuina järjestelminä. Tässä diplomityössä on myös keskitytty esittelemään ADAMS-ohjelmiston toimintaa ohjeistavasti sekä käsittelemään parametrisen mallintamisen etuja. Työssä havaittiin monikappaledynamiikan soveltuvuus kiinnirullaimen dynamiikan sekä dynaamisten voimien aiheuttamien värähtelyjen tutkimiseen. Suoritetuista värähtelymittauksista voitiin tehdä vain arvioita. Mallin havaittiin vaativan lisätutkimusta ja kehitystyötä

Liquid Packaging Board Market in China

Tämän diplomityön tavoitteena on määrittää liiketoimintailmapiiri ja markkinapotentiaali Kiinan nestepakkauskartonkimarkkinoilla. Tutkimus tukee nestepakkauskartonkivalmistajan vientitoimintoja. Pääosin käytännön tiedoista koostuva tutkimus suoritettiin keräämällä sekundaääritietoa ja haastattelemalla alan erikoisasiantuntijoita. Suuri ja kasvava väestö sekä nopeasti kehittyvä talous tukee nestepakkauskartonkimarkkinoiden kasvua Kiinassa. Viimeaikainen globalisaatio haittapuolineen saattaa kuitenkin horjuttaa poliittista ja sosiaalista tasapainoa ja tätä kautta ylellisyys hyödykkeiden kuten kartonkipakattujen tuotteiden kysyntää Kiinassa. Tuontirajoitukset Kiinaan ovat laskemassa valtion tämän hetkisen kansainvälistymispolitiikan seurauksena. Kartonki vahvistaa asemaansa kilpailevien pakkausmateriaalien joukossa. Kiinan kokonaisnestepakkauskartonkimarkkinat kasvavat vuosittain 10,7 % ja ovat vuonna 2001 noin 100 000 tonnia.

Once-daily dolutegravir versus darunavir plus ritonavir for treatment-naive adults with HIV-1 infection (FLAMINGO): 96 week results from a randomised, open-label, phase 3b study.

BACKGROUND: The primary analysis of the FLAMINGO study at 48 weeks showed that patients taking dolutegravir once daily had a significantly higher virological response rate than did those taking ritonavir-boosted darunavir once daily, with similar tolerability. We present secondary efficacy and safety results analysed at 96 weeks. METHODS: FLAMINGO was a multicentre, open-label, phase 3b, non-inferiority study of HIV-1-infected treatment-naive adults. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to dolutegravir 50 mg or darunavir 800 mg plus ritonavir 100 mg, with investigator-selected combination tenofovir and emtricitabine or combination abacavir and lamivudine background treatment. The main endpoints were plasma HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL and safety. The non-inferiority margin was -12%. If the lower end of the 95% CI was greater than 0%, then we concluded that dolutegravir was superior to ritonavir-boosted darunavir. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01449929. FINDINGS: Of 595 patients screened, 488 were randomly assigned and 484 included in the analysis (242 assigned to receive dolutegravir and 242 assigned to receive ritonavir-boosted darunavir). At 96 weeks, 194 (80%) of 242 patients in the dolutegravir group and 164 (68%) of 242 in the ritonavir-boosted darunavir group had HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL (adjusted difference 12·4, 95% CI 4·7-20·2; p=0·002), with the greatest difference in patients with high viral load at baseline (50/61 [82%] vs 32/61 [52%], homogeneity test p=0·014). Six participants (three since 48 weeks) in the dolutegravir group and 13 (four) in the darunavir plus ritonavir group discontinued because of adverse events. The most common drug-related adverse events were diarrhoea (23/242 [10%] in the dolutegravir group vs 57/242 [24%] in the darunavir plus ritonavir group), nausea (31/242 [13%] vs 34/242 [14%]), and headache (17/242 [7%] vs 12/242 [5%]). INTERPRETATION: Once-daily dolutegravir is associated with a higher virological response rate than is once-daily ritonavir-boosted darunavir. Dolutegravir compares favourably in efficacy and safety to a boosted darunavir regimen with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor background treatment for HIV-1-infected treatment-naive patients. FUNDING: ViiV Healthcare and Shionogi & Co.