Transport of N-acetylaspartate via murine sodium/dicarboxylate cotransporter NaDC3 and expression of this transporter and aspartoacylase II in ocular tissues in mouse

AbstractCanavan disease is a genetic disorder associated with optic neuropathy and the metabolism of N-acetylaspartate is defective in this disorder due to mutations in the gene coding for the enzyme aspartoacylase II. Here we show that the plasma membrane transporter NaDC3, a Na+-coupled transporter for dicarboxylates, is able to transport N-acetylaspartate, suggesting that the transporter may function in concert with aspartoacylase II in the metabolism of N-acetylaspartate. Since Canavan disease is associated with ocular complications, we investigated the expression pattern of NaDC3 and aspartoacylase II in ocular tissues in mouse by in situ hybridization. These studies show that NaDC3 mRNA is expressed in the optic nerve, most layers of the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, ciliary body, iris, and lens. Aspartoacylase II mRNA is coexpressed in most of these cell types. We conclude that transport of N-acetylaspartate into ocular tissues via NaDC3 and its subsequent hydrolysis by aspartoacylase II play an essential role in the maintenance of visual function

L'aménagement des forêts sud-méditerranéennes : quelle approche ?

Dans les pays du Sud de la Méditerranée, la forêt, par les multiples usages qu'elle procure aux populations rurales, joue un rôle de premier ordre sur le plan social. L'aménagement forestier a connu une évolution différentielle entre le nord et le sud de la Méditerranée. Sur la rive nord de la Méditerranée, l'évolution du concept d'aménagement accompagne le développement socio-économique, qui s'est traduit par un déplacement des besoins tirés de la forêt : bois de qualité, paysagisme, accueil du public, amélioration du patrimoine biologique etc Ainsi, les aménagements s'efforcent d'améliorer simultanément les potentialités et les fonctions de la forêt. Cependant, au Sud de la Méditerranée, l'exécution des plans d'aménagement type-forêt tempérée, n'a pas permis, non seulement, d'atteindre l'objectif primordial, à savoir la régénération des ressources forestières, mais la dégradation de ces écosystèmes a continué à un rythme important. En effet, ces aménagements ne prenaient pas suffisamment en considération la dimension socio-économique des zones forestières et périforestières. Le Maroc a développé depuis lors de nouvelles approches

Prognostic value of clinicopathological parameters in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a prospective analysis.

The prognostic weight of histological and biological factors was compared with that of known clinical prognostic factors in a population of 108 consecutive previously untreated patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Parameters studied were: tumour vascularisation, mitotic index, histological differentiation, nuclear grade, keratinisation, desmoplasia, growth pattern, inflammation, tumour emboli in peripheral vessels, keratins 6, 13, 19 immunohistochemical expression, cytofluorometric ploidy and S-phase. In multivariate analysis (Cox), only age and nodal status had a significant impact on the overall survival, whereas T stage was the only significant factor associated with locoregional failure. The cumulative incidence of metastases was correlated not only with age, T and N stage, but also with histological differentiation. All the other histological and biological factors studied failed to provide further prognostic information. These findings may help to select patients with high metastatic risk

Systematic review and network meta-analysis with individual participant data on cord management at preterm birth (iCOMP): study protocol

Introduction Timing of cord clamping and other cord management strategies may improve outcomes at preterm birth. However, it is unclear whether benefits apply to all preterm subgroups. Previous and current trials compare various policies, including time-based or physiology-based deferred cord clamping, and cord milking. Individual participant data (IPD) enable exploration of different strategies within subgroups. Network meta-analysis (NMA) enables comparison and ranking of all available interventions using a combination of direct and indirect comparisons. Objectives (1) To evaluate the effectiveness of cord management strategies for preterm infants on neonatal mortality and morbidity overall and for different participant characteristics using IPD meta-analysis. (2) To evaluate and rank the effect of different cord management strategies for preterm births on mortality and other key outcomes using NMA. Methods and analysis Systematic searches of Medline, Embase, clinical trial registries, and other sources for all ongoing and completed randomised controlled trials comparing cord management strategies at preterm birth (before 37 weeks’ gestation) have been completed up to 13 February 2019, but will be updated regularly to include additional trials. IPD will be sought for all trials; aggregate summary data will be included where IPD are unavailable. First, deferred clamping and cord milking will be compared with immediate clamping in pairwise IPD meta-analyses. The primary outcome will be death prior to hospital discharge. Effect differences will be explored for prespecified participant subgroups. Second, all identified cord management strategies will be compared and ranked in an IPD NMA for the primary outcome and the key secondary outcomes. Treatment effect differences by participant characteristics will be identified. Inconsistency and heterogeneity will be explored. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval for this project has been granted by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (2018/886). Results will be relevant to clinicians, guideline developers and policy-makers, and will be disseminated via publications, presentations and media releases

Evaluation of Feeding Stimulant Mixed with Chemical and Bio Insecticides on Certain Lepidopterous Pests and their Natural Enemies in Cotton and Soybean Fields

The Efficiency of feeding stimulants (Bioenhencer) was studied alone and in combinations with chemical insecticides or entomopathogens against the defoliating pests, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) and Spodoptera exigua Hbn. (in fields of cotton and soybean) and the bollworms Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders and Earias insulana Boisd. (in cotton field), at Kafr El-Sheikh governorate during the season 2003. Its adversely influence on the natural enemies associated these pests in the two fields, were also undertaken. Laboratory results indicated that the feed stimulant was exhibited at a high degree of efficiency against the target lepidopterous larvae when combined with the chemical insecticide and the bioinsecticides. But no obvious effect was found when it was used alone. Field results indicated that, the addition of Bioenhencer (5%) to the chemical and bio insecticides enhanced their activity, where the damaged rate significantly affected in these treated plots as compared to the untreated ones, on both cotton and soybean fields. Moreover, bioenhancer and the bioinsecticide had the least harmful effect on the entomophagous insect populations. @JASE

Towards Sustainable Environment in G7 Nations: The Role of Renewable Energy Consumption, Eco-innovation and Trade Openness

Some of the globe’s most economically advanced nations make up the G7 (Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, United States and United Kingdom). Nevertheless, in tandem with such strong economic growth, the environmental conditions in these nations have deteriorated, raising serious issues among stakeholders. Therefore, we examine the effect of eco-innovation and trade openness on CO2 emissions in G7 nations. We also take into account the role of renewable energy, economic growth and nonrenewable energy use using a dataset covering the period from 1990–2019. We employed recent econometric techniques such as slope heterogeneity (SH) and cross-sectional dependence (CSD), Westerlund cointegration, fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS), panel quantile regression and panel causality tests to assess these associations. The outcomes of the CSD and SH tests disclosed that using a first-generation unit root test will produce biase outcomes. Furthermore, the outcomes of the Westerlund cointegration disclosed support long-run association between CO2 and its drivers. In addition, the results of the long-run estimators (FMOLS and DOLS) unveiled that nonrenewable energy and trade openness contribute to the damage to the environment while economic expansion, renewable energy and eco-innovation enhance the quality of the environment. Furthermore, the outcomes of GDP, REC and ECO curb CO2 while NREC energy and TO surge CO2. Finally, the outcomes of the panel causality test unveiled that CO2 emissions can be predicted by all the exogenous variables. Copyright © 2022 Olanrewaju, Irfan, Altuntaş, Agyekum, Kamel and El-Naggar

Geographical Variability of the First Baroclinic Rossby Radius of Deformation

Global 1° × 1° climatologies of the first baroclinic gravity-wave phase speed c¹ and the Rossby radius of deformation λ1 are computed from climatological average temperature and salinity profiles. These new atlases are compared with previously published 5° × 5° coarse resolution maps of λ₁ for the Northern Hemisphere and the South Atlantic and with a 1° × 1° fine-resolution map of c₁ for the tropical Pacific. It is concluded that the methods used in these earlier estimates yield values that are biased systematically low by 5%–15% owing to seemingly minor computational errors. Geographical variations in the new high-resolution maps of c₁ and λ₁ are discussed in terms of a WKB approximation that elucidates the effects of earth rotation, stratification, and water depth on these quantities. It is shown that the effects of temporal variations of the stratification can be neglected in the estimation of c₁ and λ₁ at any particular location in the World Ocean. This is rationalized from consideration of the WKB approximation

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in anaplastic thyroid cancer and the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib inhibits the growth of anaplastic thyroid cancer

Purpose: No effective treatment options currently are available to patients with Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (ATC), resulting in high mortality rates. Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) has been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of many types of cancer and its receptor (EGFR) provides an attractive target for molecular therapy. Experimental Design: The expression of EGFR was determined in ATC in vitro and in vivo and in human tissue arrays of ATC. We assessed the potential of the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib (“Iressa,” ZD1839) to inhibit EGFR activation in vitro and in vivo, inhibit ATC cellular proliferation, induce apoptosis and reduce the growth of ATC cells in vivo when administered alone and in combination with paclitaxel. Results: EGFR was overexpressed in ATC cell lines in vitro and in vivo and in human ATC specimens. Activation of EGFR by EGF was blocked by the addition of gefitinib. In vitro studies showed that gefitinib greatly inhibited cellular proliferation and induced apoptosis in ATC cell lines and slowed tumor growth in a nude mouse model of thyroid carcinoma cells injected subcutaneously. Conclusions: ATC cells consistently overexpress EGFR, rendering this receptor a potential target for molecular therapy. Gefitinib effectively blocks activation of EGFR by EGF, inhibits ATC cellular proliferation and induces apoptosis in vitro. Our in vivo results show that gefitinib has significant antitumor activity against ATC in a subcutaneous nude mouse tumor model and therefore is a potential candidate for human clinical trials

Linking Financial Development and Environment in Developed Nation Using Frequency Domain Causality Techniques: The Role of Globalization and Renewable Energy Consumption

The topic of whether globalization, energy consumption and financial development can substantially reduce emissions during the globalization era remains unanswered. In this context, this research highlights empirical indications supporting this theoretical discord; assessing the effect of globalization, energy consumption and financial development on the CO2 emissions in Japan (utilizing a dataset that spans between 1990 and 2019). The study employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique and frequency domain causality to probe these relationships. Unlike other conventional causality tests, the frequency domain causality test can capture causality at different frequencies. The findings from the ARDL analysis disclosed that globalization and renewable energy contribute to the mitigation of CO2 emissions while fossil fuel, economic growth and financial development caused an upsurge in CO2 in Japan. Furthermore, the frequency domain demonstrated that all the exogenous variables can forecast CO2 mostly in the long-term which implies that any policy initiated based on the exogenous variables will impact emissions of CO2. Based on the results obtained, Japan has to improve its financial systems and increase its use of renewable energy. Furthermore, Japan needs to restructure its policy regarding globalization owing to the fact that it contributes to the degradation of the environment. Since globalization is a major driver of economic growth, the government should concentrate on luring and licensing investors that use environmentally beneficial (net-zero) technology. Copyright © 2022 Mosleh, Al-Geitany, Lawrence Emeagwali, Altuntaş, Agyekum, Kamel, El-Naggar and Agbozo

Oval Domes: History, Geometry and Mechanics

An oval dome may be defined as a dome whose plan or profile (or both) has an oval form. The word Aoval@ comes from the latin Aovum@, egg. Then, an oval dome has an egg-shaped geometry. The first buildings with oval plans were built without a predetermined form, just trying to close an space in the most economical form. Eventually, the geometry was defined by using arcs of circle with common tangents in the points of change of curvature. Later the oval acquired a more regular form with two axis of symmetry. Therefore, an “oval” may be defined as an egg-shaped form, doubly symmetric, constructed with arcs of circle; an oval needs a minimum of four centres, but it is possible also to build polycentric ovals. The above definition corresponds with the origin and the use of oval forms in building and may be applied without problem until, say, the XVIIIth century. Since then, the teaching of conics in the elementary courses of geometry made the cultivated people to define the oval as an approximation to the ellipse, an “imperfect ellipse”: an oval was, then, a curve formed with arcs of circles which tries to approximate to the ellipse of the same axes. As we shall see, the ellipse has very rarely been used in building. Finally, in modern geometrical textbooks an oval is defined as a smooth closed convex curve, a more general definition which embraces the two previous, but which is of no particular use in the study of the employment of oval forms in building. The present paper contains the following parts: 1) an outline the origin and application of the oval in historical architecture; 2) a discussion of the spatial geometry of oval domes, i. e., the different methods employed to trace them; 3) a brief exposition of the mechanics of oval arches and domes; and 4) a final discussion of the role of Geometry in oval arch and dome design