Electrosynthesis of layered double hydroxides of nickel with trivalent cations

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of nickel with aluminium, chromium, manganese and iron, with the same structure as α-nickel hydroxide, have been electrosynthesized. This paves the way for their possible electrochemical impregnation in sintered nickel plaques for use as electrodes in nickel/cadmium batteries. All these LDHs stabilize the α-nickel hydroxide structure in alkaline media and retain electrochemical activity, as evidenced by cyclic voltammetric studies. The nickel-aluminium LDH shows the highest coulombic efficiency, while the nickel-iron LDH may prove to be unsuitable as a battery electrode material as it catalyzes oxygen evolution by 50 mV, as compared with pure nickel hydroxide. © 1994

Viral-immune cell interactions at the maternal-fetal interface in human pregnancy

The human decidua and placenta form a distinct environment distinguished for its promotion of immunotolerance to infiltrating semiallogeneic trophoblast cells to enable successful pregnancy. The maternal-fetal interface also successfully precludes transmission of most pathogens. This barrier function occurs in conjunction with a diverse influx of decidual immune cells including natural killer cells, macrophages and T cells. However, several viruses, among other microorganisms, manage to escape destruction by the host adaptive and innate immune system, leading to congenital infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this review, we describe mechanisms of pathogenicity of two such viral pathogens, Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) at the maternal-fetal interface. Host decidual immune cell responses to these specific pathogens will be considered, along with their interactions with other cell types and the ways in which these immune cells may both facilitate and limit infection at different stages of pregnancy. Neither HCMV nor ZIKV naturally infect commonly used animal models [e.g., mice] which makes it challenging to understand disease pathogenesis. Here, we will highlight new approaches using placenta-on-a-chip and organoids models that are providing functional and physiologically relevant ways to study viral-host interaction at the maternal-fetal interface

Suitability of MDA, 8-OHdG and wild-type p53 as genotoxic biomarkers in metal (Co,Ni and Cr) exposed dental technicians: a cross-sectional study

Background: High concentrations of Co, Ni, and Cr in the blood serum of dental technicians are strongly associated with free radical formation. It has highly reactive properties that can cause further oxidation of molecule in the vicinity. Purpose: This study intended to investigate whether the Dental Technician occupational exposure of Co, Ni and Cr, could contribute to the high incidence of cancer. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study to dental technicians, performed after acccepting ethical clearance. Blood was sampled in 3 examinations for Co, Ni, Cr using Atomic Absorbance Spectrophotometry (AAS), MDA was examined with TBARS test, also 8 OHdG and wildtype p53 proteins determined by ELISA method. Results: Comparative statistical analysis, showing a significant difference (p < 0.05) between levels of Co, Ni, and Cr in exposed groups to the control group. But, not all variables was proven to be positively correlated, only with Cr, and Co, and negatively correlated with wild-type p53. Conclusion: MDA,8-OHdG and wildtype p53 can be used as genotoxic biomarkers in the metal exposed group, since they can accurately reflect the degree of Oxidative damage

Nanosecond Electric Pulses Differentially Affect Inward and Outward Currents in Patch Clamped Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

This study examined the effect of 5 ns electric pulses on macroscopic ionic currents in whole-cell voltage-clamped adrenal chromaffin cells. Current-voltage (I-V) relationships first established that the early peak inward current was primarily composed of a fast voltage-dependent Na+ current (INa), whereas the late outward current was composed of at least three ionic currents: a voltage-gated Ca2+ current (ICa), a Ca2+-activated K+ current (IK(Ca)), and a sustained voltage-dependent delayed rectifier K+ current (IKV). A constant-voltage step protocol was next used to monitor peak inward and late outward currents before and after cell exposure to a 5 ns pulse. A single pulse applied at an electric (E)-field amplitude of 5 MV/m resulted in an instantaneous decrease of ~4% in peak INa that then declined exponentially to a level that was ~85% of the initial level after 10 min. Increasing the E-field amplitude to 8 or 10 MV/m caused a twofold greater inhibitory effect on peak INa. The decrease in INa was not due to a change in either the steady-state inactivation or activation of the Na+ channel but instead was associated with a decrease in maximal Na+ conductance. Late outward current was not affected by a pulse applied at 5 MV/m. However, for a pulse applied at the higher E-field amplitudes of 8 and 10 MV/m, late outward current in some cells underwent a progressive ~22% decline over the course of the first 20 s following pulse exposure, with no further decline. The effect was most likely concentrated on ICa and IK(Ca) as IKV was not affected. The results of this study indicate that in whole-cell patch clamped adrenal chromaffin cells, a 5 ns pulse differentially inhibits specific voltage-gated ionic currents in a manner that can be manipulated by tuning E-field amplitude

The Cell Surface Estrogen Receptor, G Protein- Coupled Receptor 30 (GPR30), is Markedly Down Regulated During Breast Tumorigenesis

Background: GPR30 is a cell surface estrogen receptor that has been shown to mediate a number of non-genomic rapid effects of estrogen and appear to balance the signaling of estrogen and growth factors. In addition, progestins appear to use GPR30 for their actions. Therefore, GPR30 could play a critical role in hormonal regulation of breast epithelial cell integrity. Deregulation of the events mediated by GPR30 could contribute to tumorigenesis.Methods: To understand the role of GPR30 in the deregulation of estrogen signaling processes during breast carcinogenesis, we have undertaken this study to investigate its expression at mRNA levels in tumor tissues and their matched normal tissues. We compared its expression at mRNA levels by RT quantitative real-time PCR relative to GAPDH in ERα”—positive (n = 54) and ERα”—negative (n = 45) breast cancer tissues to their matched normal tissues.Results: We report here, for the first time, that GPR30 mRNA levels were significantly down-regulated in cancer tissues in comparison with their matched normal tissues (p 0.0001 by two sided paired t-test). The GPR30 expression levels were significantly lower in tumor tissues from patients (n = 29) who had lymph node metastasis in comparison with tumors from patients (n = 53) who were negative for lymph node metastasis (two sample t-test, p 0.02), but no association was found with ERα, PR and other tumor characteristics.Conclusions: Down-regulation of GPR30 could contribute to breast tumorigenesis and lymph node metastasis

PENERAPAN TIME-DRIVEN ACTIVITY BASED COSTING PADA PERHITUNGAN HARGA POKOK PRODUK JASA DI PT ERNEST ADVISORY

This research aimed to calculate the cost of the product PT Ernest Advisory services using Time-Driven Activity Based Costing (TDABC). TDABC is a method of calculating the cost-based activity that is controlled by time so the cost of goods produced to be more accurate. The method used in this research is a case study in PT Ernest Advisory using data from 2015. Based on these data, the authors calculated the cost of using TDABC. Calculations using TDABC generate product cost services Tax Audit and Tax Objection Rp 14,260,620, Monthly Tax Compliance Rp 5.03328 million, Tax Appeal Rp 18.981 million, Tax Review Rp 12,920,700 and Rp Transfer Pricing Documentation 13.5201 million. Key words: time-driven activity based costing, taxation consultan

The prognostic significance of ploidy analysis in operable breast cancer

The nuclear DNA content of 98 operable breast cancers was determined by flow cytometric analysis using paraffin-embedded tissue. All patients were on follow-up and failure of treatment or recurrences were identified. DNA ploidy data in the form of ploidy status and DNA index (DI) has been correlated with various clinical and histopathologic factors. The only significant correlation using univariate analysis exists between the histologic grade and DI (P &lt; 0.025), recurrence of the disease and ploidy status (P &lt; 0.005), and recurrence of the disease and DI (P &lt; 0.005). The absence of correlation of ploidy status with other tumor derived factors indicates the independent nature of ploidy as a prognostic factor. Multivariate analysis showed that in the whole-group ploidy (P &lt; 0.01), tumor margin (P &lt; 0.01), and menopausal status (P &lt; 0.01) were significant factors in the order mentioned. DI with a cut of at 1.29 is not found to be a significant factor in the multivariate analysis. The maximum prognostic value of ploidy status was observed in the postmenopausal group (P &lt; 0.0005). In the node-negative group ploidy status (P &lt; 0.05) is the only independent significant factor predicting for early relapse. It is concluded that ploidy status is an independent prognostic factor predicting for recurrence of the disease. In the node-negative subgroup this could be used to identify the subset of patients who may benefit from adjuvant treatment