Interaction of probe molecules with active sites on cobalt, copper and zinc-exchanged SAPO-18 solid acid catalysts

Novel cobalt (Co), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) exchanged chabazite related SAPO-18 solid acid catalysts were prepared and characterised using techniques such as BET (nitrogen sorption), FTIR, ICP-OES, XPS and XRD. A detailed in situ FTIR investigation undertaken on the adsorption and disproportionation of NO and CO over Co-, Cu- and Zn-SAPO-18 molecular sieve catalysts indicated the formation of various NO/CO species or complexes with cationic Lewis acid and/or active metal sites. NO adsorption at room temperature leads to the formation of up to seven bands attributed to adsorbed nitrous oxide (N2O), chemisorbed nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrite (M-NO2) (M, metal), mononitrosyl (M-NO) and dinitrosyl [M-(NO)2] complexes. CO adsorption at room temperature leads to the formation of up to six bands attributed to physi-sorbed carbon dioxide (CO2), cationic Lewis acid carbonyl moieties (L-CO) and transition metal carbonyl complexes (M-CO). The concentration and distribution of NO/CO species varies with pressure, reaction temperature and evacuation

Angiotensin and bradykinin peptides in the TGR(mREN-2)27 rat

The transgenic TGR(mRen-2)27 rat, in which the Ren-2 mouse renin gene is transfected into the genome of the Sprague-Dawley rat, develops severe hypertension at a young age that responds to inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme and to antagonists of the type 1 angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor. Despite this evidence that the hypertension is Ang II dependent, TGR(mRen-2)27 rats have suppressed renal renin and renin mRNA content, and there is controversy concerning the plasma levels of renin and Ang II in these rats. We investigated the effect of the transgene on circulating and tissue levels of angiotensin and bradykinin peptides in 6-week-old male homozygous TGR(mRen-2)27 rats. Systolic blood pressure of TGR(mRen-2)27 rats was 212 +/- 4 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM, n = 25) compared with 108 +/- 2 mm Hg (n = 29) for age- and sex-matched Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared with control rats, TGR(mRen-2)27 rats had increased plasma levels of active renin (4.5-fold), prorenin (300-fold), and Ang II (fourfold) as well as tissue levels of Ang II (twofold to fourfold in kidney, adrenal, heart, aorta, brown adipose tissue, and lung and 18-fold in brain). Plasma angiotensinogen levels were reduced to 73% of control, and plasma aldosterone levels were increased fourfold. Plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme was reduced to 64% of control. Compared with control rats, TGR(mRen-2)27 rats had increased bradykinin levels in brown adipose tissue (1.9-fold) and lung (1.6-fold)

MITOS: An Integrated Web-based System for Information Management

The wide availability and accessibility of information have made its management and deployment even more difficult. To this end, remarkable effort has been made for the development of information systems that handle the processing, analysis and management of information. However, the success of these systems does not only depend on the quality of information handling, but also on the appropriate presentation of information to the end-user. MITOS 1 system analyses financial news by employing techniques from the areas of Natural Language Processing, Information Filtering and Information Extraction. Moreover, by acknowledging the importance of the presentation of information, MITOS has also incorporated User Modelling techniques, which enable the provision of personalized content adapted to each user’s profile.

Academic Entrepreneurship, Innovation Policies and Politics in Greece

This paper explores the process of the emergence in Greece of the 'Triple Helix', and the nature of the 'Helix' in the context of the concurrent changes occurring in Greek socio-political affairs. The influence of politics and innovation policies on the relationships between academia and government and industry is considered. Emphasis is given to national and regional innovation policies and their impact on the commercialization of academic research in the National Technical University of Athens, the University of Thessaly and the Foundation for Research and Technology — Hellas (FORTH) in Crete

Bradykinin receptors as a therapeutic target

Biologically-active kinins, including bradykinin (BK) and Lys(0)-BK (kallidin), are short-lived peptide mediators predominantly generated by the enzymatic action of kallikreins on kininogen precursors. A diverse spectrum of physiological and pathological actions attributed to local kinin production is a consequence of the activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Currently, two major subtypes of kinin receptor, designated B(1) and B(2), are recognised, although there is much evidence for pharmacological heterogeneity, particularly within the B(2) receptors. Considering these facts and the widespread distribution of kinin receptors in many human tissues, it is no surprise that the therapeutic potential of kinins and kinin receptor antagonists remains the focus of numerous investigations. Studies in animals and animal tissues, instrumental in elucidating the biological roles of kinins, are well-documented in numerous excellent reviews. Unfortunately, and despite the enormous potential illustrated by animal studies, attempts to develop kinin analogues as therapeutic agents to combat human disease have largely proven disappointing. Consequently, this review selectively focuses upon studies that are directly relevant to the targeting of human BK receptors as a therapeutic intervention. In addition to providing a succinct review of well-documented pathological conditions to which kinin receptors contribute, the authors have also included more recent data that illustrate new avenues for the therapeutic application of kinin analogues