The CS sulphation motifs 4C3, 7D4, 3B3[-]; and perlecan identify stem cell populations and niches, activated progenitor cells and transitional tissue development in the fetal human elbow

We compared the immunohistochemical distribution of (i) the novel chondroitin sulphate (CS) sulphation motifs 7D4, 4C3 and 3B3[-], (ii) native heparan sulphate (HS) and Δ-HS ‘stubs’ generated by heparitinase III digestion and (iii) the HS-proteoglycan, perlecan, in the foetal human elbow joint. Putative stem cell populations associated with hair bulbs, humeral perichondrium, humeral and ulnar rudiment stromal/perivascular tissues expressed the CS motifs 4C3, 7D4 and 3B3[-] as well as perlecan in close association but not co-localised. Chondrocytes in the presumptive articular cartilage of the foetal elbow expressed the 4C3 and 7D4 CS sulphation motifs consistent with earlier studies on the expression of these motifs in knee cartilage following joint cavitation. The present study also indicated that hair bulbs, skin, perichondrium and rudiment stroma were all perlecan rich progenitor cell niches that contributed to the organisation and development of the human foetal elbow joint and associated connective tissues. One of the difficulties in determining the precise role of stem cells in tissue development and repair processes is their short engraftment period and the lack of specific markers which differentiate the activated stem cell lineages from the resident cells. The CS sulphation motifs 7D4, 4C3 and 3B3[-] decorate cell surface proteoglycans on activated stem/progenitor cells and thus can be used to identify these cells in transitional areas of tissue development and in repair tissues and may be applicable to determining a more precise mode of action of stem cells in these processes. Isolation of perlecan from 12-14 week gestational age foetal knee rudiments demonstrated that perlecan in these foetal tissues was a HS-CS hybrid proteoglyca

Replaced by a robot: Service implications in the age of the machine

Service organizations, emboldened by the imperative to innovate, are increasingly introducing robots to frontline service encounters. However, as they augment or substitute human employees with robots, they may struggle to convince a distrusting public of their brand’s ethical credentials. Consequently, this article develops and tests a holistic framework to ascertain a deeper understanding of customer perceptions of frontline service robots (FLSRs) than has previously been attempted. Our experimental studies investigate the effects of the (1) role (augmentation or substitution of human employees or no involvement) and (2) type (humanoid FLSR vs. self-service machine) of FLSRs under the following service contexts: (a) value creation model (asset-builder, service-provider) and (b) service type (experience, credence). By empirically establishing our framework, we highlight how customers’ personal characteristics (openness-to-change and preference for ethical/responsible service provider)  and cognitive evaluations (perceived innovativeness, perceived ethical/societal reputation, and perceived innovativeness-responsibility fit) influence the impact that FLSRs have on service experience and brand usage intent. Our findings operationalize and empirically support seminal frameworks from extant literature, as well as elaborate on the positive and negative implications of using robots to complement or replace service employees. Further, we consider managerial and policy implications for service in the age of machines

Venus trapped, Mars transits: Cu and Fe redox chemistry, cellular topography, and in situ ligand binding in terrestrial isopod hepatopancreas

Woodlice efficiently sequester copper (Cu) in ‘cuprosomes' within hepatopancreatic ‘S' cells. Binuclear ‘B’ cells in the hepatopancreas form iron (Fe) deposits; these cells apparently undergo an apocrine secretory diurnal cycle linked to nocturnal feeding. Synchrotron-based µ-focus X-ray spectroscopy undertaken on thin sections was used to characterize the ligands binding Cu and Fe in S and B cells of Oniscus asellus (Isopoda). Main findings were: (i) morphometry confirmed a diurnal B-cell apocrine cycle; (ii) X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping indicated that Cu was co-distributed with sulfur (mainly in S cells), and Fe was co-distributed with phosphate (mainly in B cells); (iii) XRF mapping revealed an intimate morphological relationship between the basal regions of adjacent S and B cells; (iv) molecular modelling and Fourier transform analyses indicated that Cu in the reduced Cu+ state is mainly coordinated to thiol-rich ligands (Cu–S bond length 2.3 Å) in both cell types, while Fe in the oxidized Fe3+ state is predominantly oxygen coordinated (estimated Fe–O bond length of approx. 2 Å), with an outer shell of Fe scatterers at approximately 3.05 Å; and (v) no significant differences occur in Cu or Fe speciation at key nodes in the apocrine cycle. Findings imply that S and B cells form integrated unit-pairs; a functional role for secretions from these cellular units in the digestion of recalcitrant dietary components is hypothesized

Atypical composition and ultrastructure of proteoglycans in the mouse corneal stroma

PURPOSE: Recently, gene-targeted strains of mice with null mutations for specific proteoglycans (PGs) have been used for investigations of the functional role of these molecules. In the present study, the corneal stroma of the mouse was examined to provide some baseline PG morphologies in this species. METHODS: Monoclonal antibodies to specific glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain sulfation patterns were used to characterize PG composition in corneal extracts by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis and to identify their tissue distribution by immunofluorescence microscopy. PGs were also visualized by transmission electron microscopy after contrast enhancement with cationic dye fixation. RESULTS: Western blot analysis of pooled corneal extracts and immunofluorescence of tissue sections identified 4-sulfated, but not 6-sulfated, chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS). Keratan sulfate (KS) was present only as a low-sulfated moiety. Electron microscopic histochemistry disclosed a complex array of corneal PGs present as (1) fine filaments radiating from collagen fibrils, and (2) elongate, straplike structures, running either along the fibril axis or weaving across the primary fibril orientation. These large structures were digested by chondroitinase ABC, but not by keratanase. CONCLUSIONS: KS in the mouse is predominantly undersulfated and generates an immunostaining pattern that differs from that observed in corneas of other mammalian species thus far investigated. The mouse cornea resembles other mammalian corneas in the presence of filamentous arrays of small, collagen-associated stromal PGs visualized by cationic dye staining. However, large dye-positive structures with a CS/DS component are also present and appear to be unique to the cornea of this species

West Nile Virus Epidemic, Northeast Ohio, 2002

Serum samples and sociodemographic data were obtained from 1,209 Ohio residents. West Nile virus immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed. Children were 4.5 times more likely to become infected yet 110× less likely to have neuroinvasive disease develop

West Nile Virus, Venezuela

Submitted by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2020-04-01T17:32:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AnthonyE_Guimaraes_etal_IOC_2007.pdf: 108341 bytes, checksum: db1489aeeb51b9f823abd6e1273378ef (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2020-04-01T17:51:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 AnthonyE_Guimaraes_etal_IOC_2007.pdf: 108341 bytes, checksum: db1489aeeb51b9f823abd6e1273378ef (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2020-04-01T17:51:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnthonyE_Guimaraes_etal_IOC_2007.pdf: 108341 bytes, checksum: db1489aeeb51b9f823abd6e1273378ef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007University of Massachusetts Medical School. Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research. Worcester, MA, USA.Universidad de Carabobo Biomed. Maracay, Venezuela.Universidad Central de Venezuela. Caracas, Venezuela.Coleccion Ornitologica Phelps. Caracas, Venezuela.New York State Department of Health. Albany, New York, USA / State University of New York at Albany. Albany, New York, USA.New York State Department of Health. Albany, New York, USA / State University of New York at Albany. Albany, New York, USA.New York State Department of Health. Albany, New York, USA / State University of New York at Albany. Albany, New York, USA.Universidad Central de Venezuela. Maracay, Venezuela.Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas. Maracay, Venezuela.Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, VenezuelaFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA.Universidad del Zulia. Maracaibo, Venezuela.Universidad de Carabobo Biomed. Maracay, Venezuela.Ministerio de Salud Insalud. Carabobo, Venezuela.Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, VenezuelaUniversidad de Carabobo Biomed. Maracay, Venezuela.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.Harvard School of Public Health. Boston, Massachusetts, USA.New York State Department of Health. Albany, New York, USA / State University of New York at Albany. Albany, New York, USA

Water soluble, cyclometalated Pt(II)–Ln(III) conjugates towards novel bimodal imaging agents

Facile conjugation of a luminescent cyclometalated PtII complex with a DO3A-derived GdIII moiety yields a hybrid species with visible luminescence and enhanced relaxivity

A leaky umbrella has little value: evidence clearly indicates the serotonin system is implicated in depression.

A recent “umbrella” review examined various biomarkers relating to the serotonin system, and concluded there was no consistent evidence implicating serotonin in the pathophysiology of depression. We present reasons for why this conclusion is overstated, including methodological weaknesses in the review process, selective reporting of data, over-simplification, and errors in the interpretation of neuropsychopharmacological findings. We use the examples of tryptophan depletion and serotonergic molecular imaging, the two research areas most relevant to the investigation of serotonin, to illustrate this

A leaky umbrella has little value:evidence clearly indicates the serotonin system is implicated in depression

A recent “umbrella” review examined various biomarkers relating to the serotonin system, and concluded there was no consistent evidence implicating serotonin in the pathophysiology of depression. We present reasons for why this conclusion is overstated, including methodological weaknesses in the review process, selective reporting of data, over-simplification, and errors in the interpretation of neuropsychopharmacological findings. We use the examples of tryptophan depletion and serotonergic molecular imaging, the two research areas most relevant to the investigation of serotonin, to illustrate this