Susceptibility of lung epithelium to neutrophil elastase: protection by native inhibitors

The development of emphysema is thought to be due to an imbalance of proteases (especially neutrophil elastase [NE]) and antiproteases with loosening of the respiratory epithelium as an early event. We investigated the effect of NE on respiratory epithelial cell adherence in vitro , in the presence of varying concentrations and combinations of native inhibitors, α-1-proteinase inhibitor (PI) and secretory leukoprotease inhibitor (SLPI). SLPI was two to 12 times more effective than PI at preventing the effects of NE, especially when enzyme:inhibitor ratios were almost equivalent. Even when the concentration of SLPI was only 10% of the total (as in normal peripheral lung secretions), it gave greater protection than PI alone. This suggests that SLPI plays an important role in controlling neutrophil elastaseinduced inflammation and tissue damage

Neurochemical and behavioral processes in gerontogenesis in conditions of experimental hyperglycemia.

Many researchers are increasingly interested in the relation between diabetes and diabetic encephalopathy. At the moment, there are various experiments where this issue is considered. But despite prolonged studying, it is impossible to investigate this problem to the end. Cognitive deficit in hyperglycemia is also connected with aging. In the aging processes as in hyperglycemia the same pathogenetic factors play a role in the aging of the brain. It is also necessary to deeply analyze the neurochemical processes occurring in the brain in diabetes mellitus. The high incidence of complications is caused by tissue metabolism impairment in hyperglycemia. The study of neurochemical bases of brain activity is one of the leading and promising directions in the modern neuropathology. Scientists of different countries are searching for neurospecific damage markers of the brain substance in hyperglycemia

Type II pneumocytes in mixed cell culture of human lung: a light and electron microscopic study.

Alveolar Type II epithelial cells dedifferentiate rapidly in vitro. Studies with animal tissue suggest that cell-cell and extracellular matrix-cell interactions are important in the retention of Type II cell morphology in vitro. Thus, in this study with human tissue, alveolar Type II cells, alveolar macrophages, and spindle cells were prepared from the same sample of lung (obtained following lobectomy for cancer, n = 3), cocultured on glass cover slips or tissue culture plastic, and studied by light microscopy with scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy for 8 days. The primary cell isolates contained approximately 45% Type II cells; the remainder were macrophages or unidentifiable cells. Clusters, made up of a single layer of cuboidal Type II cells around a central core of connective tissue (largely collagen and some elastic tissue), formed above a monolayer of spindle cells. The Type II cells were morphologically similar to those seen in vivo. The cells were still cuboidal at 8 days but had lost their lamellar bodies, which were released into the medium via the apical surface. The clusters increased in size with time (area, microns 2: day 1, 29(5-143) x 10(2); day 8, 63(10-311) x 10(2); mean(range); p less than 0.02) without changing in number per culture, suggesting Type II cell proliferation. This may have been due to factors produced by the other cells and adherence to the extracellular matrix (ECM); (free collagen fibers, present in the original preparation, spindle cells, and/or Type II cells could be responsible for presence of ECM). We propose this as a useful model for the study of human Type II epithelial cells in vitro

Neurochemical and behavioral processes in gerontogenesis in conditions of experimental hyperglycemia.

Many researchers are increasingly interested in the relation between diabetes and diabetic encephalopathy. At the moment, there are various experiments where this issue is considered. But despite prolonged studying, it is impossible to investigate this problem to the end. Cognitive deficit in hyperglycemia is also connected with aging. In the aging processes as in hyperglycemia the same pathogenetic factors play a role in the aging of the brain. It is also necessary to deeply analyze the neurochemical processes occurring in the brain in diabetes mellitus. The high incidence of complications is caused by tissue metabolism impairment in hyperglycemia. The study of neurochemical bases of brain activity is one of the leading and promising directions in the modern neuropathology. Scientists of different countries are searching for neurospecific damage markers of the brain substance in hyperglycemia

Development and Implications of Controlling in the Public Sector

Controlling is essential for public organizations to deliver optimal performance. However, the existing literature lacks sufficient knowledge to help organizations implement better strategies to enhance control. Therefore, this study examined the concept of control in the public sector, its impact on organizational efficiency, and a key focus on implementation. This study adopted a mixed approach (qualitative and quantitative) to study control in the public sector. The literature review was used to gather qualitative data, and a survey was conducted among the managers working in Russian public organizations to determine their responses to controlling practices. The results were compared and analyzed to provide implications and recommendations. It was noted through the results that control in public organizations depends on various factors like controlling approaches and tools, organizational culture, the autonomy of management, and functional control of organizations. Each of these aspects contributes positively toward control and improves public organizations’ efficiency. Therefore, these aspects should be the core focus of public organizations to ensure greater control and efficiency. This research targeted this area to bridge the gap and determine the concept of controlling the Russian public sector. However, this research also has a limitation in that it has surveyed only 102 managers from different Russian public organizations. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-01-015 Full Text: PD

On the issue of imposing boundary conditions on quantum fields

An interesting example of the deep interrelation between Physics and Mathematics is obtained when trying to impose mathematical boundary conditions on physical quantum fields. This procedure has recently been re-examined with care. Comments on that and previous analysis are here provided, together with considerations on the results of the purely mathematical zeta-function method, in an attempt at clarifying the issue. Hadamard regularization is invoked in order to fill the gap between the infinities appearing in the QFT renormalized results and the finite values obtained in the literature with other procedures.Comment: 13 pages, no figure

Dynamical Casimir Effect with Semi-Transparent Mirrors, and Cosmology

After reviewing some essential features of the Casimir effect and, specifically, of its regularization by zeta function and Hadamard methods, we consider the dynamical Casimir effect (or Fulling-Davis theory), where related regularization problems appear, with a view to an experimental verification of this theory. We finish with a discussion of the possible contribution of vacuum fluctuations to dark energy, in a Casimir like fashion, that might involve the dynamical version.Comment: 11 pages, Talk given in the Workshop ``Quantum Field Theory under the Influence of External Conditions (QFEXT07)'', Leipzig (Germany), September 17 - 21, 200

Performance of a spaghetti calorimeter prototype with tungsten absorber and garnet crystal fibres

A spaghetti calorimeter (SPACAL) prototype with scintillating crystal fibres was assembled and tested with electron beams of energy from 1 to 5 GeV. The prototype comprised radiation-hard Cerium-doped GdAlGaO (GAGG:Ce) and YAlO (YAG:Ce) embedded in a pure tungsten absorber. The energy resolution was studied as a function of the incidence angle of the beam and found to be of the order of 10%/E⊕1%, in line with the LHCb Shashlik technology. The time resolution was measured with metal channel dynode photomultipliers placed in contact with the fibres or coupled via a light guide, additionally testing an optical tape to glue the components. Time resolution of a few tens of picosecond was achieved for all the energies reaching down to (18.5 ± 0.2) ps at 5 GeV.We acknowledge support by the CERN Strategic Programme on Technologies for Future Experiments, https://ep-rnd.web.cern.ch/, by the MCIN/AEI, GenCat and GVA (Spain), and by the NSFC (China) under grant Nos. 12175005, 12061141007. The measurements were performed at the Test Beam Facility at DESY Hamburg (Germany), a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF). The authors would like to thank T. Schneider, H. Gerwig, N. Siegrist, and D. Deyrail (CERN) for their help in designing and assembling the prototype and the set-up, A. Barnyakov, Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (BINP), Novosibirsk, for kindly providing the MCPs, and the ITEP ATLAS group for the DWCs

Chronic Intestinal Failure in Children: An International Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism database for chronic intestinal failure (CIF) was analyzed to investigate factors associated with nutritional status and the intravenous supplementation (IVS) dependency in children. Methods: Data collected: demographics, CIF mechanism, home parenteral nutrition program, z-scores of weight-for-age (WFA), length or height-for-age (LFA/HFA), and body mass index-for-age (BMI-FA). IVS dependency was calculated as the ratio of daily total IVS energy over estimated resting energy expenditure (%IVSE/REE). Results: Five hundred and fifty-eight patients were included, 57.2% of whom were male. CIF mechanisms at age 1–4 and 14–18 years, respectively: SBS 63.3%, 37.9%; dysmotility or mucosal disease: 36.7%, 62.1%. One-third had WFA and/or LFA/HFA z-scores < −2. One-third had %IVSE/REE > 125%. Multivariate analysis showed that mechanism of CIF was associated with WFA and/or LFA/HFA z-scores (negatively with mucosal disease) and %IVSE/REE (higher for dysmotility and lower in SBS with colon in continuity), while z-scores were negatively associated with %IVSE/REE. Conclusions: The main mechanism of CIF at young age was short bowel syndrome (SBS), whereas most patients facing adulthood had intestinal dysmotility or mucosal disease. One-third were underweight or stunted and had high IVS dependency. Considering that IVS dependency was associated with both CIF mechanisms and nutritional status, IVS dependency is suggested as a potential marker for CIF severity in children