Extracellular matrix molecules enhance the neurotrophic effect of schwann cell-like differentiated adipose-derived stem cells and increase cell survival under stress conditions.

Since the first reports of induction of adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) into neuronal and glial cell phenotypes, expectations have increased regarding their use in tissue engineering applications for nerve repair. Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) is a basic feature of survival, differentiation, and migration of Schwann cells (SC) during nerve regeneration, and fibronectin and laminin are two key molecules of this process. Interaction between ECM and SC-like differentiated ASC (dASC) could potentially improve the neurotrophic potential of the stem cells. We have investigated the effect of ECM molecules on SC-like dASC in terms of proliferation, adhesion, and cell viability. Fibronectin and laminin did not affect the proliferation of dASC when compared with cell adherent tissue culture plastic, but significantly improved viability and cell attachment when dASC were exposed to apoptotic conditions. To assess the influence of the ECM molecules on dASC neurotrophic activity, dASC were seeded onto ECM-coated culture inserts suspended above dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons. Neurite outgrowth of DRG neurons was enhanced when dASC were seeded on fibronectin and laminin when compared with controls. When DRG neurons and dASC were in direct contact on the various surfaces there was significantly enhanced neurite outgrowth and coculture with laminin-conditioned dASC produced the longest neurites. Compared with primary SCs, dASC grown on laminin produced similar levels of neurite outgrowth in the culture insert experiments but neurite length was shorter in the direct contact groups. Anti β1 integrin blocking antibody could inhibit baseline and dASC evoked neurite elongation but had no effect on outgrowth mediated by laminin-conditioned dASC. ECM molecules had no effect on the levels of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor secretion from dASC. The results of the study suggest that ECM molecules can significantly improve the potential of dASC for nerve regeneration.

Exploring Cross-layer power management for PGAS applications on the SCC platform

Technological limitations and power constraints are resulting in high-performance parallel computing architectures that are based on large numbers of high-core-count processors. Commercially available processors are now at 8 and 16 cores and experimental platforms, such as the many-core Intel Single-chip Cloud Computer (SCC) platform, provide much higher core counts. These trends are presenting new sets of challenges to HPC applications including programming complexity and the need for extreme energy efficiency.In this work, we first investigate the power behavior of scientific PGAS application kernels on the SCC platform, and explore opportunities and challenges for power management within the PGAS framework. Results obtained via empirical evaluation of Unified Parallel C (UPC) applications on the SCC platform under different constraints, show that, for specific operations, the potential for energy savings in PGAS is large; and power/performance trade-offs can be effectively managed using a cross-layerapproach. We investigate cross-layer power management using PGAS language extensions and runtime mechanisms that manipulate power/performance tradeoffs. Specifically, we present the design, implementation and evaluation of such a middleware for application-aware cross-layer power management of UPC applications on the SCC platform. Finally, based on our observations, we provide a set of recommendations and insights that can be used to support similar power management for PGAS applications on other many-core platforms.

Assessing the viability of power-supply systems: a tentative protocol

This Technical Report presents a tentative protocol used to assess the viability of powersupply systems. The viability of power-supply systems can be assessed by looking at the production factors (e.g. paid labor, power capacity, fossil-fuels) – needed for the system to operate and maintain itself – in relation to the internal constraints set by the energetic metabolism of societies. In fact, by using this protocol it becomes possible to link assessments of technical coefficients performed at the level of the power-supply systems with assessments of benchmark values performed at the societal level throughout the relevant different sectors. In particular, the example provided here in the case of France for the year 2009 makes it possible to see that in fact nuclear energy is not viable in terms of labor requirements (both direct and indirect inputs) as well as in terms of requirements of power capacity, especially when including reprocessing operations.

A survey on voltage sag events in power systems

This paper aims to survey the techniques and methods described in literature to analyse and characterise voltage sags and the corresponding objectives of these works. The study has been performed from a data mining point of view

Unusual voltage sag event detection in power systems

Three multivariate statistical tools (principal component analysis, factor analysis, analysis discriminant) have been tested to characterize and model the sags registered in distribution substations. Those models use several features to represent the magnitude, duration and unbalanced grade of sags. They have been obtained from voltage and current waveforms. The techniques are tested and compared using 69 registers of sags. The advantages and drawbacks of each technique are listed

In vitro heat exposure induces a redistribution of nuclear matrix proteins in human K562 erythroleukemia cells.

By using both conventional and confocal laser scanning microscopy with three monoclonal antibodies recognizing nuclear matrix proteins we have investigated by means of indirect fluorescence whether an incubation of isolated nuclei at the physiological temperature of 37 degrees C induces a redistribution of nuclear components in human K562 erythroleukemia cells. Upon incubation of isolated nuclei for 45 min at 37 degrees C, we have found that two of the antibodies, directed against proteins of the inner matrix network (M(r) 125 and 160 kDa), gave a fluorescent pattern different from that observed in permeabilized cells. By contrast, the fluorescent pattern did not change if nuclei were kept at 0 degrees C. The difference was more marked in case of the 160-kDa polypeptide. The fluorescent pattern detected by the third antibody, which recognizes the 180-kDa nucleolar isoform of DNA topoisomerase II, was unaffected by heat exposure of isolated nuclei. When isolated nuclear matrices prepared from heat-stabilized nuclei were stained by means of the same three antibodies, it was possible to see that the distribution of the 160-kDa matrix protein no longer corresponded to that observable in permeabilized cells, whereas the fluorescent pattern given by the antibody to the 125-kDa polypeptide resembled that detectable in permeabilized cells. The 180-kDa isoform of topoisomerase II was still present in the matrix nucleolar remnants. We conclude that a 37 degrees C incubation of isolated nuclei induces a redistribution of some nuclear matrix antigens and cannot prevent the rearrangement in the spatial organization of one of these antigens that takes place during matrix isolation in human erythroleukemia cells. The practical relevance of these findings is discussed.

Rank estimation of trajectory matrix in motion segmentation

A novel technique for estimating the rank of the trajectory matrix in the local subspace affinity (LSA) motion segmentation framework is presented. This new rank estimation is based on the relationship between the estimated rank of the trajectory matrix and the affinity matrix built with LSA. The result is an enhanced model selection technique for trajectory matrix rank estimation by which it is possible to automate LSA, without requiring any a priori knowledge, and to improve the final segmentation

A hybrid method for sag source location in power network

The work presented in this paper belongs to the power quality knowledge area and deals with the voltage sags in power transmission and distribution systems. Propagating throughout the power network, voltage sags can cause plenty of problems for domestic and industrial loads that can financially cost a lot. To impose penalties to responsible party and to improve monitoring and mitigation strategies, sags must be located in the power network. With such a worthwhile objective, this paper comes up with a new method for associating a sag waveform with its origin in transmission and distribution networks. It solves this problem through developing hybrid methods which hire multiway principal component analysis (MPCA) as a dimension reduction tool. MPCA reexpresses sag waveforms in a new subspace just in a few scores. We train some well-known classifiers with these scores and exploit them for classification of future sags. The capabilities of the proposed method for dimension reduction and classification are examined using the real data gathered from three substations in Catalonia, Spain. The obtained classification rates certify the goodness and powerfulness of the developed hybrid methods as brand-new tools for sag classification

Visual management of sags and incidents gathered in distribution substations for power quality management

Monitor a distribution network implies working with a huge amount of data coining from the different elements that interact in the network. This paper presents a visualization tool that simplifies the task of searching the database for useful information applicable to fault management or preventive maintenance of the network

Development of a retrospective job exposure matrix for PCB-exposed workers in capacitor manufacturing

Objectives: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are considered probable human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and one congener, PCB126, has been rated as a known human carcinogen. A period-specific job exposure matrix (JEM) was developed for former PCB-exposed capacitor manufacturing workers (n=12,605) (1938-1977). Methods: A detailed exposure assessment for this plant was based on a number of exposure determinants (proximity, degree of contact with PCBs, temperature, ventilation, process control, job mobility). The intensity and frequency of PCB exposures by job for both inhalation and dermal exposures, and additional chemical exposures were reviewed. The JEM was developed in nine steps: (1) all unique jobs (n=1,684) were assessed using (2) defined PCB exposure determinants; (3) the exposure determinants were used to develop exposure profiles; (4) similar exposure profiles were combined into categories having similar PCB exposures; (5) qualitative intensity (high-medium-low-baseline) and frequency (continuous-intermittent) ratings were developed, and (6) used to qualitatively rate inhalation and dermal exposure separately for each category; (7) quantitative intensity ratings based on available air concentrations were developed for inhalation and dermal exposures based on equal importance of both routes of exposure; (8) adjustments were made for overall exposure, and (9) for each category the product of intensity and frequency was calculated, and exposure in the earlier era was weighted. Results: A period-specific JEM modified for two eras of stable PCB exposure conditions. Conclusions: These exposure estimates, derived from a systematic and rigorous use of the exposure determinant data, lead to cumulative PCB exposure-response relationships in the epidemiological cancer mortality and incidence studies of this cohort. [Authors]

Power and selection of contract terms: The case from the Brazilian orange juice sector

ABSTRACT We propose a model to explain how contract terms are selected in the presence of a form of economic power: contract power. The orange juice sector is used to illustrate an analysis that demonstrates the effects of contract power on the economic organization of the sector. We define contract power as the ability to exploit contractual gaps or failures of contractual provisions, which are strategically left incomplete. Empirical evidence from content analysis of antitrust documents supports the logic of contract power in the orange juice sector in three forms: avoiding changes to payment methods from weight to solid contents (quality); using information asymmetries to manipulate indexes that calculate the formula of orange prices; and deliberately harvesting oranges late in order to dehydrate the fruit, which consequently reduces weight and price. The paper contributes to understanding the selection of contract terms and the debate about how antitrust offices can deal with this issue.

Protein phosphatase inhibition assays for okadaic acid detection in shellfish: matrix effects, applicability and comparison with LC-MS/MS analysis

The applicability of the protein phosphatase inhibition assay (PPIA) to the determination of okadaic acid (OA) and its acyl derivatives in shellfish samples has been investigated, using a recombinant PP2A and a commercial one. Mediterranean mussel, wedge clam, Pacific oyster and flat oyster have been chosen as model species. Shellfish matrix loading limits for the PPIA have been established, according to the shellfish species and the enzyme source. A synergistic inhibitory effect has been observed in the presence of OA and shellfish matrix, which has been overcome by the application of a correction factor (0.48). Finally, Mediterranean mussel samples obtained from Rı´a de Arousa during a DSP closure associated to Dinophysis acuminata, determined as positive by the mouse bioassay, have been analysed with the PPIAs. The OA equivalent contents provided by the PPIAs correlate satisfactorily with those obtained by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS).

Leader corruption depends on power and testosterone

We used incentivized experimental games to manipulate leader power-the number of followers and the discretion leaders had to enforce their will. Leaders had complete autonomy in deciding payouts to themselves and their followers. Although leaders could make prosocial decisions to benefit the public good they could also abuse their power by invoking antisocial decisions, which reduced the total payouts to the group but increased leader's earnings. In Study 1 (N = 478), we found that both amount of followers and discretionary choices independently predicted leader corruption. In Study 2 (N = 240), we examined how power and individual differences (e.g., personality, hormones) affected leader corruption over time; power interacted with testosterone in predicting corruption, which was highest when leader power and baseline testosterone were both high. Honesty predicted initial level of leader antisocial decisions; however, honesty did not shield leaders from the corruptive effect of power.