Nanoformulated mutant SurR9-C84A: a possible key for alzheimer's and its associated inflammation

PURPOSE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the untreatable neurodegenerative diseases characterised by the pathologic amyloid plaque deposition and inflammation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of nanoformulated SurR9-C84A, a survivin mutant belonging to the inhibitors of the apoptosis (IAP) protein family. The effect of SurR9-C84A was studied against the β-amyloid toxicity and various inflammatory insults in the differentiated SK-N-SH neurons. METHOD: SurR9-C84A loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles were prepared following the modified double emulsion technique. The neuroprotective effect of SurR9-C84A was evaluated against the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide fragment, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) toxicity and the inflammatory assaults. To mimic the in vivo situation, a co-culture of neurons and microglia was also studied to validate these results. RESULTS: SurR9-C84A treatments showed improved neuronal health following Aβ, and NMDA toxicity in addition to inflammatory insults induced in mono and co-cultures. The neuroprotective effect was evident with the reduced neuronal death, accelerated expression of neuronal integrity markers (neurofilaments, beta-tubulin III etc.,) and the neuroprotective ERK/MAPK signalling. CONCLUSION: The current results demonstrated that the SurR9-C84A nanoformulation was very effective in rescuing the neurons and holds a potential future application against AD.

Real-time ultrasound measures of lumbar erector spinae and multifidus: reliability and comparison to magnetic resonance imaging

In this work we examine the reliability and validity (in comparison to magnetic resonance imaging; MRI) of real-time ultrasound measures of lumbar erector spinae thickness. We also consider the between-day reliability of the lumbar multifidus muscle area as measured via ultrasound. 23 male subjects aged 21-45 years were measured three times over the course of nine days by one operator. The first (L1) through to the fifth (L5) lumbar vertebral levels were measured on the left and right sides. MRI was performed on the same day as first ultrasound scanning. For between-day intra-rater reliability, intra-class correlation co-efficients (ICCs), standard error of the measurement, minimal detectable difference and co-efficients of variation (CVs) were calculated along with their 95% confidence intervals and Bland-Altman analysis was performed. On Bland-Altman analysis, erector spinae thickness and multifidus area ultrasound measures 'agreed' with equivalent MR measures, though the correlation between MR and ultrasound measures was typically poor to moderate. For both ultrasound measures, the ICCs ranged from 'moderate' to 'excellent' at individual vertebral levels, although multifidus area (CV ranged from 8 to 15%) was less reliable than erector spinae thickness (CV ranged from 6 to 10%). 'Agreement' on Bland-Altmann analysis was present between days for all ultrasound measures. Averaging between sides and between vertebral levels improved reliability. Average erector spinae thickness showed a CV of 5.5% (ICC 0.77) and average multifidus area 6.2% (ICC 0.80).

Transforming narratives of colonial danger: imagining the environments of New Zealand and Australia in children's literature, 1862–1899

Nineteenth-century British children’s literature set in Australia and New Zealand fixates on the dangers of colonial environments. This chapter examines four British novels of the period, observing the ways in which they manifest elements of ecological imperialism and environmental racism in order to depict successful settlement. It compares these novels with fantasy fictions by Australian and New Zealand children’s authors that constitute more complicated attempts both to understand and co-exist with the natural environment. The chapter proposes that by the 1890s earlier British anxieties had dissipated in popular Australian and New Zealand fiction, in which child protagonists were newly charged with the ability to interpret and control nature.

Photochromic fabrics with improved durability and photochromic performance

Previously, we have reported a method for producing photochromic wool fabric by applying a thin layer of hybrid silica-photochromic dye onto the wool surface. While the photochromic coating showed a very fast optical response and had little influence on the fabric handle, its durability was poor. In this study, the durability of the photochromic coating layer was improved by introducing epoxy groups into the silica matrix via co-hydrolysis and co-condensation of an alkyl trialkoxysilane compound (ATAS) and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). The presence of epoxy groups in the silica enhanced both washing and abrasion durability or fastness. In addition, the optical response speed was slightly increased as well. Effects of the type of alkyl silane and the GPTMS/alkyl silane ratio on the coating durability, fabric handle and optical response were examined.

Next-Generation Advising: Elevating Practice for Degree Completion and Career Success

As competition for applicants, legislative focus on graduation rates, and questions about the lifetime value of a degree intensify, many institutions are blurring boundaries between academic advising and co-curricular and career advising to promote student success and differentiate brand. This report examines how leaders break the trade-off between high-touch service and budget realities, identifying breakthrough practices, as well as the models and technologies required to deliver them in a cost-effective manner.

Assessing interdependence among countries' fundamentals and its implications for exchange rate misalignment estimates: An empirical exercise based on GVAR

Exchange rates are important macroeconomic prices and changes in these rates a ect economic activity, prices, interest rates, and trade ows. Methodologies have been developed in empirical exchange rate misalignment studies to evaluate whether a real e ective exchange is overvalued or undervalued. There is a vast body of literature on the determinants of long-term real exchange rates and on empirical strategies to implement the equilibrium norms obtained from theoretical models. This study seeks to contribute to this literature by showing that the global vector autoregressions model (GVAR) proposed by Pesaran and co-authors can add relevant information to the literature on measuring exchange rate misalignment. Our empirical exercise suggests that the estimate exchange rate misalignment obtained from GVAR can be quite di erent to that using the traditional cointegrated time series techniques, which treat countries as detached entities. The di erences between the two approaches are more pronounced for small and developing countries. Our results also suggest a strong interdependence among eurozone countries, as expected

Health in Madeira: a comprehensive study of aging, body composition, physical activity and functional fitness

Physical Activity (PA) and functional fitness (FF) are predictors of a healthy and independent lifestyle in older adults. The purpose of this study was: (1) to construct reference values for FF; (2) to describe sex- and age-related changes in FF, balance, gait, PA, body composition, and bone health/strength; and (3) to determine their variation and co-variation with respect to PA. This cross-sectional study included 401 males and 401 females aged 60-79 years old. FF was assessed using the Senior Fitness test and balance by the Fullerton Advance Balance scale (FAB). Gait parameters: gait velocity (GV), stride length (SL), cadence and gait stability ratio (GSR) were measured. Femoral strength index (FSI) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the total body, lumbar spine, hip region and total lean tissue mass (TLTM) and total fat mass (TFM) were determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-DXA. PA was assessed during face-to-face interviews using the Baecke questionnaire. Demographic and health history information were obtained by structured telephone interview. In both sexes, a significant main effect for age-group was found for FF parameters, balance scores, gait performances, TLTM and hip, LS and total BMD and FSI. Likewise there were significant main effects for age-group for total PA in women and sports related PA in men. Men scored significantly better than women in FF (except in upper- and lower-body flexibility), balance, GV, SL, GSR and had higher BMD and TLTM compared with women. Active subjects scored better in FF, balance, and gait than their average and non-active peers. PA and FF exerted only a minor influence in the differentiation of BMD and FSI among the elderly while constitutive factors like age, height, body mass, TLTM and TFM entered as the most significant contributors. This study gives scientific support to public policies at the community level, targeted to increase PA, FF and TLTM, thereby contributing to improved quality of life in older adults.

Efeito da moagem de alta energia na microestrutura e nas propriedades magnéticas do compósito wc-10%p.Co

This work a studied the high energy milling effect in microstructure and magnetic properties of the WC-10wt.%Co composite. The composite powders were prepared by mechanical mixed and milled at 2 hours, 100 hours, 200 hours and 300 hours in planetary milling. After this process the composite were compacted in stainless steel die with cylindrical county of 10 mm of diameter, at pressure 200 Mpa and sintered in a resistive furnace in argon atmosphere at 1400 oC for 5 min. The sintered composite were cutted, inlaid, sandpapered, and polished. The microestrutural parameters of the composite was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, optical microscopy, hardness, magnetic propriety and Rietveld method analyze. The results shows, with milling time increase the particle size decrease, it possibility minor temperature of sintering. The increase of milling time caused allotropic transformation in cobalt phase and cold welding between particles. The cold welding caused the formation of the particle composite. The X-ray diffraction pattern of composite powders shows the WC peaks intensity decrease with the milling time increase. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the composite sintered samples shows the other phases. The magnetic measurements detected a significant increase in the coercitive field and a decrease in the saturation magnetization with milling time increase. The increase coercitive field it was also verified with decrease grain size with milling time increase. For the composite powders the increase coercitive field it was verified with particle size reduction and saturation magnetization variation is relate with the variation of free cobalt. The Rietveld method analyze shows at milling time increase the mean crystalline size of WC, and Co-cfc phases in composite sintered sample are higher than in composite powders. The mean crystallite size of Co-hc phase in composite powders is higher than in composite sintered sample. The mean lattice strains of WC, Co-hc and Co-cfc phases in composite powders are higher than in composite sintered samples. The cells parameters of the composite powder decrease at milling time increase this effect came from the particle size reduction at milling time increase. In sintered composite the cells parameters is constant with milling time increase

Biological features of a puzzling symbiotic association between the hermit crab Dardanus insignis and the porcellanid crab Porcellana Sayana (Crustacea)

The symbiotic lifestyle is widespread among porcellanid crabs, which maintain ecological and co-evolutionary associations with annelid polychaetes, poriferans, cnidarians, echinoderms, gastropod. mollusks, and other crustaceans such as shrimps and hermit crabs, among others. We investigated the ecological association between the hermit crab Dardanus insignis and the porcellanid Porcellana sayana, in southeastern Brazil. Porcellanid crabs, hermit crabs, and available shells were collected monthly from July 2001 to June 2003, with a shrimp boat equipped with two double-rig trawl nets. The majority of P. sayana specimens were collected in shells occupied by D. insignis (96.6%); a few were found in empty shells (3.4%). The catch of both symbionts and hosts increased with increasing depth, with the highest occurrence at 35 m. The F. sayana crabs of various sizes could be found solitary or forming aggregations of up to 14 individuals per host, showing no sex or size segregation. In spite of the high diversity of shell species occupied by the hermit crabs and also available in the field, only a few of them were also utilized by P. sayana. The majority (93%) of shells utilized by P. sayana also hosted other symbiont species, constituting the basis of extensive symbiotic complexes. Thus, the ecological relationship between D. insignis and P. sayana may be classified as a non-obligate and non-specific symbiosis that may also involve other facultative organisms such as sea anemones. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison between two methods for cardiac output measurement in propofol-anesthetized dogs: thermodilution and Doppler

ObjectiveTo compare cardiac output (CO) measured by Doppler echocardiography and thermodilution techniques in spontaneously breathing dogs during continuous infusion of propofol. To do so, CO was obtained using the thermodilution method (CO(TD)) and Doppler evaluation of pulmonary flow (CO(DP)) and aortic flow (CO(DA)).Study designProspective cohort study.AnimalsEight adult dogs weighing 8.3 +/- 2.0 kg.MethodsPropofol was used for induction (7.5 +/- 1.9 mg kg-1 IV) followed by a continuous rate infusion at 0.7 mg kg-1 minute-1. The animals were positioned in left lateral recumbency on an echocardiography table that allowed for positioning of the transducer at the 3rd and 5th intercostal spaces of the left hemithorax for Doppler evaluation of pulmonary and aortic valves, respectively. CO(DP) and CO(DA) were calculated from pulmonary and aortic velocity spectra, respectively. A pulmonary artery catheter was inserted via the jugular vein and positioned inside the lumen of the pulmonary artery in order to evaluate CO(TD). The first measurement of CO(TD), CO(DP) and CO(DA) was performed 30 minutes after beginning continuous infusion (T0) and then at 15-minute intervals (T15, T30, T45 and T60). Numeric data were submitted to two-way anova for repeated measurements, Pearson's correlation coefficient and Bland & Altman analysis. Data are presented as mean +/- SD.ResultsAt T0, CO(TD) was lower than CO(DA). CO(DA) was higher than CO(TD) and CO(DP) at T30, T45 and T60. The difference between the CO(TD) and CO(DP), when all data were included, was -0.04 +/- 0.22 L minute-1 and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was 0.86. The difference between the CO(TD) and CO(DA) was -0.87 +/- 0.54 L minute-1 and r = 0.69. For CO(TD) and CO(DP), the difference was -0.82 +/- 0.59 L minute-1 and r = 0.61.ConclusionDoppler evaluation of pulmonary flow was a clinically acceptable method for assessing the CO in propofol-anesthetized dogs.

Análise do efeito do tempo da moagem de alta energia no tamanho de cristalito e microdeformação da rede cristalina do WC-Co

Hard metals are the composite developed in 1923 by Karl Schröter, with wide application because high hardness, wear resistance and toughness. It is compound by a brittle phase WC and a ductile phase Co. Mechanical properties of hardmetals are strongly dependent on the microstructure of the WC Co, and additionally affected by the microstructure of WC powders before sintering. An important feature is that the toughness and the hardness increase simultaneously with the refining of WC. Therefore, development of nanostructured WC Co hardmetal has been extensively studied. There are many methods to manufacture WC-Co hard metals, including spraying conversion process, co-precipitation, displacement reaction process, mechanochemical synthesis and high energy ball milling. High energy ball milling is a simple and efficient way of manufacturing the fine powder with nanostructure. In this process, the continuous impacts on the powders promote pronounced changes and the brittle phase is refined until nanometric scale, bring into ductile matrix, and this ductile phase is deformed, re-welded and hardened. The goal of this work was investigate the effects of highenergy milling time in the micro structural changes in the WC-Co particulate composite, particularly in the refinement of the crystallite size and lattice strain. The starting powders were WC (average particle size D50 0.87 μm) supplied by Wolfram, Berglau-u. Hutten - GMBH and Co (average particle size D50 0.93 μm) supplied by H.C.Starck. Mixing 90% WC and 10% Co in planetary ball milling at 2, 10, 20, 50, 70, 100 and 150 hours, BPR 15:1, 400 rpm. The starting powders and the milled particulate composite samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to identify phases and morphology. The crystallite size and lattice strain were measured by Rietveld s method. This procedure allowed obtaining more precise information about the influence of each one in the microstructure. The results show that high energy milling is efficient manufacturing process of WC-Co composite, and the milling time have great influence in the microstructure of the final particles, crushing and dispersing the finely WC nanometric order in the Co particles

Toxic and essential elements in blood from delivering women in selected areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Social phobia in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Prevalence and correlates

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of chronic acetazolamide administration on gas exchange and acid-base control in pulmonary circulation in exercising horses

P>Reasons for performing study:Carbonic anhydrase (CA) catalyses the hydration/dehydration reaction of CO(2) and increases the rate of Cl- and HCO(3)- exchange between the erythrocytes and plasma. Therefore, chronic inhibition of CA has a potential to attenuate CO(2) output and induce greater metabolic and respiratory acidosis in exercising horses.Objectives:To determine the effects of Carbonic anhydrase inhibition on CO(2) output and ionic exchange between erythrocytes and plasma and their influence on acid-base balance in the pulmonary circulation (across the lung) in exercising horses with and without CA inhibition.Methods:Six horses were exercised to exhaustion on a treadmill without (Con) and with CA inhibition (AczTr). CA inhibition was achieved with administration of acetazolamide (10 mg/kg bwt t.i.d. for 3 days and 30 mg/kg bwt before exercise). Arterial, mixed venous blood and CO(2) output were sampled at rest and during exercise. An integrated physicochemical systems approach was used to describe acid base changes.Results:AczTr decreased the duration of exercise by 45% (P < 0.0001). During the transition from rest to exercise CO(2) output was lower in AczTr (P < 0.0001). Arterial PCO(2) (P < 0.0001; mean +/- s.e. 71 +/- 2 mmHg AczTr, 46 +/- 2 mmHg Con) was higher, whereas hydrogen ion (P = 0.01; 12.8 +/- 0.6 nEq/l AczTr, 15.5 +/- 0.6 nEq/l Con) and bicarbonate (P = 0.007; 5.5 +/- 0.7 mEq/l AczTr, 10.1 +/- 1.3 mEq/l Con) differences across the lung were lower in AczTr compared to Con. No difference was observed in weak electrolytes across the lung. Strong ion difference across the lung was lower in AczTr (P = 0.0003; 4.9 +/- 0.8 mEq AczTr, 7.5 +/- 1.2 mEq Con), which was affected by strong ion changes across the lung with exception of lactate.Conclusions:CO(2) and chloride changes in erythrocytes across the lung seem to be the major contributors to acid-base and ions balance in pulmonary circulation in exercising horses.

Strategies to improve fertility in postpartum multiparous Bos indicus cows submitted to a fixed-time insemination protocol with gonadotropin-releasing hormone and prostaglandin F-2 alpha

In Exp. 1, we evaluated the effects of 2 lengths of progesterone exposure [CIDR (controlled intravaginal drug release); 7 vs. 14 d] before a modified CO-Synch protocol [50.0-mu g injection of GnRH 6.5 d before a 25.0-mg injection of PGF(2 alpha) followed by another injection of GnRH and fixed-time AI (TAI) 2 d after PGF(2 alpha)], with or without temporary weaning (TW) before GnRH treatments, on fertility of suckled multiparous Bos indicus cows (n = 283) and on calf performance. Timed AI pregnancy rates for cows receiving 7 d CIDR + TW, 7 d CIDR, 14 d CIDR + TW, and 14 d CIDR were 53, 47, 46, and 41%, respectively (P > 0.10). Calves submitted to two 48-h TW 6 d apart had decreased mean BW at 240 d (187.9 +/- 2.7 vs. 195.5 +/- 2.7 kg; P < 0.05), but BW at 420 d was not affected by TW (240.1 +/- 5.1 kg). In Exp. 2, we evaluated the effect of no treatment and treatment with or without a CIDR insert between GnRH and PGF(2 alpha) treatments of a modified CO-Synch protocol on pregnancy rate to TAI, and throughout a 90-d breeding season in suckled multiparous Bos indicus cows (n = 453). The inclusion of a CIDR between first GnRH and PGF(2 alpha) treatments of a modified CO-Synch protocol did not improve pregnancy rate (29 and 33% for cows receiving CO-Synch + CIDR and CO-Synch protocol, respectively), and cycling cows had poorer TAI pregnancy rates than anestrous cows treated with either synchronization protocol (21.7 vs. 40.7%; P < 0.05). However, regardless of treatment with CIDR, cows submitted to TAI protocol had greater (P < 0.05) pregnancy rates at 30 (54.8 vs. 11.2%), 60 (72.1 vs. 38.8%), and 90 d (82.0 vs. 57.9%) of breeding season than untreated cows.