62 research outputs found
Prostaglandin E2 stimulates progression-related gene expression in early colorectal adenoma cells
Upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin-dependent vascularisation in small adenomatous polyps is an essential part of colon carcinogenesis. To study the underlying cellular mechanisms, LT97 and Caco2 human colorectal tumour cells not expressing endogenous COX-2 were exposed to 1âÎŒM prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in their medium. At 30âmin after addition, expression of c-fos was stimulated 5-fold and 1.3-fold, respectively, depending on the activation of both extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38. The amount of c-jun in nuclear extracts was increased 20% in LT97 cells. Expression of COX-2 was upregulated 1.7-fold in LT97 cells and 1.5-fold in Caco2 2âh after prostaglandin (PG) addition by a p38-mediated pathway. The known PGE2 target gene vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was not modulated. Effects of sustained PGE2 production were studied in VACO235 cells that have high endogenous COX-2 and in LT97 cells infected with an adenovirus expressing COX-2. Prostaglandin E2 secretion into the medium was 1â2ânM and 250âpM, respectively. Expression of both VEGF and c-fos was high in VACO235 cells. In LT97 cells, COX-2 upregulated c-fos expression and c-jun content in nuclear extracts 1.7- and 1.2-fold, respectively, in a PG-dependent way. This shows that exogenous PGE2 as well as COX-2 overexpression affect signalling and gene expression in a way that enhances tumour progression
Was sind negative Emissionen, und warum brauchen wir sie? Akademienprojekt âEnergiesysteme der Zukunftâ (ESYS)
Selbst mit ambitionierteren MaĂnahmen zur Vermeidung von Emissionen lĂ€sst sich KlimaneutralitĂ€t und damit die Stabilisierung der Temperatur nicht mehr erreichen. Darauf weist der Weltklimarat in seinem sechsten Sachstandsbericht hin. ZusĂ€tzlich zu einer schnelleren Reduktion der Emissionen muss CO2 der AtmosphĂ€re entzogen und anschlieĂend eingelagert werden, um nicht vermeidbare Restemissionen auszugleichen, etwa aus der Landwirtschaft. Sogenannte ânegative Emissionenâ können zum Beispiel durch Aufforstung erzeugt werden. Es gibt aber eine Reihe weiterer natĂŒrlicher und technischer Verfahren, den entnommenen Kohlenstoff dauerhaft einzulagern und aus der AtmosphĂ€re fernzuhalten. In diesem âKurz erklĂ€rtâ skizzieren Fachleute des Akademienprojekts ESYS den aktuellen Forschungsstand, erlĂ€utern Verfahren zur CO2-Entnahme und benennen deren jeweiligen Vor- und Nachteile
Wenn nicht jetzt, wann dann â wie die Energiewende gelingt (Impuls), Akademienprojekt âEnergiesysteme der Zukunftâ (ESYS)
In vivo biomolecular imaging of zebrafish embryos using confocal Raman spectroscopy
Zebrafish embryos provide a unique opportunity to visualize complex biological processes, yet conventional imaging modalities are unable to access intricate biomolecular information without compromising the integrity of the embryos. Here, we report the use of confocal Raman spectroscopic imaging for the visualization and multivariate analysis of biomolecular information extracted from unlabeled zebrafish embryos. We outline broad applications of this method in: (i) visualizing the biomolecular distribution of whole embryos in three dimensions, (ii) resolving anatomical features at subcellular spatial resolution, (iii) biomolecular profiling and discrimination of wild type and ÎRD1 mutant Mycobacterium marinum strains in a zebrafish embryo model of tuberculosis and (iv) in vivo temporal monitoring of the wound response in living zebrafish embryos. Overall, this study demonstrates the application of confocal Raman spectroscopic imaging for the comparative bimolecular analysis of fully intact and living zebrafish embryos
Comparative assessment of gasification based coal power plants with various CO2 capture technologies producing electricity and hydrogen
Seven different types of gasification-based coal conversion processes for producing mainly electricity and in some cases hydrogen (H2), with and without carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, were compared on a consistent basis through simulation studies. The flowsheet for each process was developed in a chemical process simulation tool âAspen Plusâ. The pressure swing adsorption (PSA), physical absorption (Selexol), and chemical looping combustion (CLC) technologies were separately analyzed for processes with CO2 capture. The performances of the above three capture technologies were compared with respect to energetic and exergetic efficiencies, and the level of CO2 emission. The effect of air separation unit (ASU) and gas turbine (GT) integration on the power output of all the CO2 capture cases is assessed. Sensitivity analysis was carried out for the CLC process (electricity-only case) to examine the effect of temperature and water-cooling of the air reactor on the overall efficiency of the process. The results show that, when only electricity production in considered, the case using CLC technology has an electrical efficiency 1.3% and 2.3% higher than the PSA and Selexol based cases, respectively. The CLC based process achieves an overall CO2 capture efficiency of 99.9% in contrast to 89.9% for PSA and 93.5% for Selexol based processes. The overall efficiency of the CLC case for combined electricity and H2 production is marginally higher (by 0.3%) than Selexol and lower (by 0.6%) than PSA cases. The integration between the ASU and GT units benefits all three technologies in terms of electrical efficiency. Furthermore, our results suggest that it is favorable to operate the air reactor of the CLC process at higher temperatures with excess air supply in order to achieve higher power efficiency
O conceito de âDispositivo universalâ (Universalapparat) em GĂŒnther Anders
Encontra-se em curso, sensivelmente no Ășltimo meio sĂ©culo, a finalização de um
processo de planetarização da Tecnologia, que, na ordem das causas, terå sido mais proximamente
determinado pela Globalização polĂtico-econĂłmica urdida e imposta pelo Neoliberalismo e mais
remotamente influenciado por sucessivas revoluçÔes industriais, desde o século XVIII. Ele implicou
uma transformação na própria natureza da Tecnologia, fazendo com que deixasse de ser mero meio
(utensĂlio, ferramenta, instrumento) para determinados fins e se tivesse tornado num ambiente vital
e existencial. GĂŒnther Anders foi um atento e perspicaz observador e crĂtico desse fenĂłmeno, que, no
seu jargĂŁo, concebeu como o do advento de um âDispositivo universalâ (Universalapparat). Dedica-se
a primeira parte deste artigo à releitura da interpretação que esse filósofo alemão fez da sua suposta
génese e evolução. Na segunda parte, analisa-se esse conceito. Explora-se, na terceira parte, duas
consequĂȘncias filosĂłficas maiores desse fenĂłmeno.More or less in the last half century, a process of planetarization of Technology is
underway, which in the order of causes will have been more directly determined by the politicaleconomic Globalization woven and imposed by the so-called Neoliberalism and more remotely
influenced by successive industrial revolutions since the 18th century. It implied a transformation in
the nature of Technology, ceasing to be a mere means (utensil, tool, instrument) for certain purposes
and becoming a vital and existential environment. GĂŒnther Anders was an attentive, perceptive and
critical observer of this phenomenon that, in his jargon, he conceived as the advent of a âUniversal
apparatusâ (Universalapparat). I dedicate the first part of this article to reread the German philosopherâs
interpretation of his supposed genesis and evolution. In the second part, I analyze this concept. In the
third part, I explore two main philosophical consequences of this phenomenon
Thermoresponsive Poly(2-oxazoline) Block Copolymers Exhibiting Two Cloud Points: Complex Multistep Assembly Behavior
Wertströme elektronisch erfassen und visualisieren
Based upon the experience gained with the application of value stream mapping, something became evident: The paper and pencil method is of great simplicity, but it has the drawback of missing data for communication, for calculation of to-be scenarios and for the evaluation of value streams. The seemless integration of value stream mapping to the subsequent phases of factory planning is possible with electronic modelling without any loss of simplicity of the method. The method value stream mapping, its current limitations, the requirements demanded of an electronic tool and the softwaretool "valuestreamDesigner" developed in co-operation with traleon will be presented in this paper
Sparse feature selection methods identify unexpected global cellular response to strontium-containing materials
Despite the increasing sophistication of biomaterials design and functional characterization studies, little is known regarding cellsâ global response to biomaterials. Here, we combined nontargeted holistic biological and physical science techniques to evaluate how simple strontium ion incorporation within the well-described biomaterial 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) influences the global response of human mesenchymal stem cells. Our objective analyses of whole gene-expression profiles, confirmed by standard molecular biology techniques, revealed that strontium-substituted BG up-regulated the isoprenoid pathway, suggesting an influence on both sterol metabolite synthesis and protein prenylation processes. This up-regulation was accompanied by increases in cellular and membrane cholesterol and lipid raft contents as determined by Raman spectroscopy mapping and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy analyses and by an increase in cellular content of phosphorylated myosin II light chain. Our unexpected findings of this strong metabolic pathway regulation as a response to biomaterial composition highlight the benefits of discovery-driven nonreductionist approaches to gain a deeper understanding of global cellâmaterial interactions and suggest alternative research routes for evaluating biomaterials to improve their design
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