Comparison of the TaqMan and LightCycler systems in pharmacogenetic testing: evaluation of the CYP2C9*2/*3 polymorphisms.

Background: Pharmacogenetic testing for drugmetabolizing enzymes is not yet widely used in clinical practice. Methods: In an attempt to facilitate the application of this procedure, we have compared two real-time PCRbased methods, the TaqMan_ and the LightCycler_ for the pharmacogenetic evaluation of CYP2C9*2/*3 polymorphisms. Results and Conclusion: Both procedures are suitable for pharmacogenetic studies. The TaqMan procedure was less expensive in terms of cost per sample, but the TaqMan apparatus is more expensive than the LightCycler apparatus

Nonclassical Light in Interferometric Measurements

It is shown that the even and odd coherent light and other nonclassical states of light like superposition of coherent states with different phases may replace the squeezed light in interferometric gravitational wave detector to increase its sensitivity. (Contribution to the Second Workshop on Harmonic Oscillator, Cocoyoc, Mexico, March 1994)Comment: 8 pages,LATEX,preprint of Naples University, INFN-NA-IV-94/30,DSF-T-94/3

Altered States: Ricardian and Cartesian dreams

Economics and science are both experiencing crises. These crises have more in common than it might seem, apart from the banal – albeit contested fact – that economics itself is a science. Among the various readings of the crisis of science, behind a dystopian system of incentives and bad practices leading to the so-called reproducibility crisis, one can see the unravelling of the Cartesian dream of power, prediction and control of man over nature made possible by natural philosophy. Economics has its share of irreproducible results, and economists suffer under the same publish-or-perish culture as other scientists. Yet, in the reading of the specific features of the crisis in economics, the element of ideology is more prevalent: economics would no longer get it right, as its lenses would be those of a neo-liberal ideology and to an associated simplified vision of what economics is about. The role of markets in this vision is of paramount importance, so it would not be inappropriate to call this the crisis of the Ricardian dream. In this paper we investigate what the Cartesian and the Ricardian dreams have in common and discuss what this would imply for our understanding of present day science and economics

Isolation of gravitational waves from displacement noise and utility of a time-delay device

Interferometers with kilometer-scale arms have been built for gravitational-wave detections on the ground; ones with much longer arms are being planned for space-based detection. One fundamental motivation for long baseline interferometry is from displacement noise. In general, the longer the arm length L, the larger the motion the gravitational-wave induces on the test masses, until L becomes comparable to the gravitational wavelength. Recently, schemes have been invented, in which displacement noises can be evaded by employing differences between the influence of test-mass motions and that of gravitational waves on light propagation. However, in these schemes, such differences only becomes significant when L approaches the gravitational wavelength, and shot-noise limited sensitivity becomes worse than that of conventional configurations by a factor of at least (f L/c)^(-2), for f<c/L. Such a factor, although can be overcome theoretically by employing high optical powers, makes these schemes quite impractical. In this paper, we explore the use of time delay in displacement-noise-free interferometers, which can improve their shot-noise-limited sensitivity at low frequencies, to a factor of (f L/c)^(-1) of the shot-noise-limited sensitivity of conventional configurations.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figures, a proceeding for the Spanish Relativity Meeting ERE 200

Effects of anodizing surface treatment on the mechanical strength of aluminum alloy 5083 to fibre reinforced composites adhesive joints

In this study, the anodizing process based on the use of tartaric sulfuric acid solution (TSA) was carried out on metal substrate to evaluate for the first time its effect on the adhesion strength and corrosion resistance of aluminium alloy (i.e., AA5083) to fibre (i.e., basalt or glass) reinforced composite adhesive joints for nautical applications. Furthermore, some TSA anodized samples were soaked in a NaOH solution to investigate the influence of this post-immersion step on the joint performances. With the aim to improve the fibre-matrix adhesion in the composite substrate thus further increasing the overall mechanical response of the joint, glass and basalt fibres were treated with a silane coupling agent solution. The corrosion behaviour of the aluminium alloy was studied by electrochemical techniques. Samples morphology was analysed by scanning electron microscopy, while the interaction between aluminium alloy substrate and epoxy resin was studied through contact angle analysis and resin uptake tests. The effectiveness of the silane treatment was examined by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and quasi-static tensile tests carried out on dry glass and basalt fabrics. The mechanical response of the resulting joints was evaluated by means of quasi-static tensile tests in accordance to ASTM D3528 standard

Function and fiber-type specific distribution of hsp60 and αb-crystallin in skeletal muscles: Role of physical exercise

Skeletal muscle is a plastic and complex tissue, rich in proteins that are subject to continuous rearrangements. Skeletal muscle homeostasis can be affected by different types of stresses, including physical activity, a physiological stressor able to stimulate a robust increase in different heat shock proteins (HSPs). The modulation of these proteins appears to be fundamental in facili-tating the cellular remodeling processes related to the phenomenon of training adaptations such as hypertrophy, increased oxidative capacity, and mitochondrial activity. Among the HSPs, a special attention needs to be devoted to Hsp60 and αB-crystallin (CRYAB), proteins constitutively expressed in the skeletal muscle, where their specific features could be highly relevant in understanding the impact of different volumes of training regimes on myofiber types and in explaining the complex picture of exercise-induced mechanical strain and damaging conditions on fiber pop-ulation. This knowledge could lead to a better personalization of training protocols with an opti-mal non-harmful workload in populations of individuals with different needs and healthy status. Here, we introduce for the first time to the reader these peculiar HSPs from the perspective of exercise response, highlighting the control of their expression, biological function, and specific distribution within skeletal muscle fiber-types

THE PAST AND THE FUTURE OF DIRECT SEARCH OF GW FROM PULSARS IN THE ERA OF GW ANTENNAS

In this paper we will give an overview of the past and present status of Gravitational Wave (GW) research associated with pulsars, taking into account the target sensitivity achieved from interferometric laser GW antennas such as Tama, Geo, Ligo and Virgo. We will see that the upper limits obtained with searches for periodic GW begin to be astrophysically interesting by imposing non-trivial constraints on the structure and evolution of the neutron stars. We will give prospects for the future detection of pulsar GW signals, with Advanced Ligo and Advanced Virgo and future enhanced detectors, e.g. the Einstein Telescope

Okadaic acid-Parthenolide combination at subtoxic doses induces potent synergistic apoptotic effects in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells by upregulating PTEN.

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignancy afflicting children. The incidence is higher in developing countries, where treatment is limited and long-term survival rates are low. Vincristine, etoposide, and carboplatin -the agents commonly used in the treatment of retinoblastoma- determine side effects causing significant morbidity to pediatric patients and significantly limiting dosing. Thus, identifying new drugs and molecular targets to facilitate the development of novel therapeutics, and finding natural drug combinations to kill cancer cells by synergistically acting at subtoxic doses, may be a good goal. Here, we investigated the effects of two natural compounds, okadaic acid (OKA) and parthenolide (PN), in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells. We showed that OKA/PN combination at subtoxic doses induces potent synergistic apoptotic effects accompanied by decrease in p-Akt, increase in the stabilized p53 forms and potent decrease in pS166\u2013Mdm2. We also showed the key involvement of PTEN which, after OKA/PN treatment, potently increased before p53, suggesting that p53 activation was under PTEN action. PTEN-knockdown increased p-Akt/ pS166Mdm2 over basal levels and significantly lowered p53, while OKA/PN treatment failed both to lower p-Akt and pS166\u2013Mdm2 and to increase p53 below/over their basal levels respectively. OKA/PN treatment potently increased ROS levels while decreased those of GSH. Reducing cellular GSH by butathionine-sulfoximine treatment significantly anticipated the cytotoxic effect exerted by OKA/PN. The effects of OKA/PN treatment on both GSH content and cell viability were less pronounced in PTEN silenced cells than in control cells. Our study reports for the first time both a synergistic apoptotic action between OKA and PN and the involvement of PTEN as key player in the apoptotic mechanism in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells. The results provide strong suggestion for combined inhibition of the PTEN/Akt/Mdm2/p53 pathway

Transannular patching is a valid alternative for tetralogy of Fallot and complete atrioventricular septal defect repair

Objective: We report our experience with repair of tetralogy of Fallot associated with complete atrioventricular septal defect, addressing in particular the need for a pulmonary valve in the right ventricular outflow tract. Methods: Between 1992 and 2006, 33 children with tetralogy of Fallot and complete atrioventricular septal defect were admitted; 26 had Down’s syndrome (79%). Thirty-two children had complete repair (18 primary, 14 staged); of the 15 who received initial palliation, 1 died before complete repair. Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction was relieved by transannular patch in 14 cases (42%), infundibular patch with preservation of the pulmonary valve in 7 (21%), and right ventricle–to–pulmonary artery conduit in 11 (33%). Results: There were no hospital deaths. Actuarial survival was 96% 3.9% at 5 years and 85.9 1.1% at 10 years. Multivariate analysis showed that type of relief of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction did not influence survival (P ¼ .16), nor did the choice to use a valved conduit (P ¼ .82). Primary correction (P ¼ .05) and lower weight at repair (P ¼ .05) were associated with higher probability of survival. Mean follow-up was 69.3 5.9 months (range 0.2–282 months). There were 2 late deaths. Overall freedom from reoperation was 69% at 5 years and 38%at 10 years. Right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction without use of a valved conduit allowed a significantly higher freedom from reinterventions (P<.05). Conclusions: Tetralogy of Fallot associated with complete atrioventricular septal defect can be corrected at low risk with favorable intermediate survival. Use of right ventricle–to–pulmonary artery conduit can be avoided in two thirds of patients with no impact on survival, possibly improving overall freedom from reintervention