Characterisation of DJ1 (PARK7) in human brain: possible involvement in idiopathic Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders

Mutations in the DJ‐1 gene can induce the development of early‐onset Parkinson's disease (PD) through a loss of protein function. Currently any possible role for DJ‐1 in sporadic PD remains undetermined. To address this, we have studied the characteristics and activities of DJ‐1 in post‐mortem human brain tissue in order to gain insights into its contribution to the development of PD and other neurodegenerative disorders. Western blotting revealed DJ‐1 protein expression to be reduced in several brain regions associated with PD pathology including nigra, striatum and frontal cortex. Similarly levels of DJ‐1 mRNA were also shown to also be lower in PD striatum and frontal cortex suggesting a transcriptional regulation of protein expression in human brain. Further analysis of DJ‐1 gene expression showed PD related changes to be variable throughout the brain, with regions like the amygdala and entorhinal cortex displaying an up‐regulation. DJ‐1 protein was also shown to undergo increased oxidation in PD cases, highlighting the elevated oxidative stress conditions in PD. By using immunoprecipitation to investigate a possible role for DJ‐1 as an in vivo regulator of translation, we found DJ‐1 protein associates with RNA transcripts for selenoproteins, PTEN/Akt pathway components and mitochondrial subunits of complex 1. Protein levels for a number of these transcripts were altered in PD tissue without any parallel change in mRNA levels. DJ‐1 is reportedly involved in a diverse range of cellular activities and its proclivity to associate with multiple RNA species provides a simple biochemical mechanism for this. Moreover it demonstrates that under conditions of elevated oxidative stress, DJ‐1 can instigate a rapid and compartmentalised up‐regulation of pro‐survival proteins in a transcriptionally independent manner. Analysis of DJ‐1 in tauopathies showed co‐localisation with 3R and 4R tau, implicating a possible chaperone function for DJ‐1. Unlike in PD, no altered expression of DJ‐1 mRNA and protein was observed

A general, ring closure metathesis based enantiospecific approach to polyfunctional eudesmane, eremophilane and agarofuran sesquiterpenoids

An enantiospecific and stereo- and functional group diversity oriented approach to eudesmane, eremophilane and agarofuran sesquiterpenoids from (-)-carvone has been devised. RCM has been employed as the key reaction to generate the highly functionalized eudesmane framework. Further elaboration of the eudesmane framework to agarofurans and biogenetic-type rearrangement to eremophilanes is outlined

Weakly nonlinear analysis of the electrohydrodynamic instability of a charged membrane

The effect of nonlinear interactions on the linear instability of shape fluctuations of a flat charged membrane immersed in a fluid is analyzed using a weakly nonlinear stability analysis. There is a linear instability when the surface tension reduces below a critical value for a given charge density, because a displacement of the membrane surface causes a fluctuation in the counterion density at the surface, resulting in an additional Maxwell normal stress at the surface which is opposite in direction to the stress caused by surface tension. The nonlinear analysis shows that at low surface charge densities, the nonlinear interactions saturate the growth of perturbations resulting in a new steady state with a fluctuation amplitude determined by the balance between the destabilizing electrodynamic force and surface tension. As the surface charge density is increased, the nonlinear terms destabilize the perturbations, and the bifurcation is subcritical. There is also a significant difference in the predictions of the approximate Debye-Huckel and more exact Poisson-Boltzmann equations at high charge densities, with the former erroneously predicting that the bifurcation is supercritical at all charge densities

A general, norbornyl based approach to anti-bredt alkenes via sequential RCM-fragmentation strategy

A general protocol for the synthesis of bicyclo[n.3.1]frameworks with bridgehead double bond (anti-Bredt alkenes), from a common, readily available norbornyl precursor, involving sequential ring closure metathesis (RCM) and Wharton fragmentation is outlined

A genetic locus targeted to the nuclear periphery in living cells maintains its transcriptional competence

The peripheral nuclear lamina, which is largely but not entirely associated with inactive chromatin, is considered to be an important determinant of nuclear structure and gene expression. We present here an inducible system to target a genetic locus to the nuclear lamina in living mammalian cells. Using three-dimensional time-lapse microscopy, we determined that targeting of the locus requires passage through mitosis. Once targeted, the locus remains anchored to the nuclear periphery in interphase as well as in daughter cells after passage through a subsequent mitosis. Upon transcriptional induction, components of the gene expression machinery are recruited to the targeted locus, and we visualized nascent transcripts at the nuclear periphery. The kinetics of transcriptional induction at the nuclear lamina is similar to that observed at an internal nuclear region. This new cell system provides a powerful approach to study the dynamics of gene function at the nuclear periphery in living cells

A comparative study of ultrasound and x-ray in detection, of fracture callus in tibial shaft fractures, treated by unreamed interlocking nailing

Background: Trauma is a major health problem in young adults and adolescents. It is a major cause of disability with fracture being a leading contributor to hospital cost and lost productivity in the workplace. Comparative study of ultrasonography and radiography in the early detection of fracture callus in tibial shaft fracture treated by unreamed static interlocking nailing.Methods: All skeletally mature patients admitted to Krishna Kumar Orthopedic Hospital, Nagercoil were included in our study from 2007 to 2008. 21 patients totally, who had sustained an acute fracture of the tibial shaft and who were treated by statically locked unreamed interlocking nailing were candidates for the study.Results: The mean±standard deviation for ultrasound and X-ray method of detection fracture callus in fractures shaft of tibia treated with static interlocking nailing are 4.82±1.01 and 7.05±1.02 respectively which is statistically highly significant. This analysis reveals that ultrasound detects fracture callus much earlier than X-ray.Conclusions: Ultrasound was able to detect fracture callus in tibial shaft fracture treated by a static unreamed interlocking nail. There was a statistically high significance difference of 2.23 weeks between the two techniques Ultrasound was done using a 7.5 MHz linear transducer probe. Ultrasound could detect fracture callus at a mean period of 4.82 weeks. Whereas X-rays could d detect fracture callus only at a mean period of 7.05 weeks

Structure and Rheology of the Defect-gel States of Pure and Particle-dispersed Lyotropic Lamellar Phases

We present important new results from light-microscopy and rheometry on a moderately concentrated lyotropic smectic, with and without particulate additives. Shear-treatment aligns the phase rapidly, except for a striking network of oily-streak defects, which anneals out much more slowly. If spherical particles several microns in diameter are dispersed in the lamellar medium, part of the defect network persists under shear-treatment, its nodes anchored on the particles. The sample as prepared has substantial storage and loss moduli, both of which decrease steadily under shear-treatment. Adding particles enhances the moduli and retards their decay under shear. The data for the frequency-dependent storage modulus after various durations of shear-treatment can be scaled to collapse onto a single curve. The elasticity and dissipation in these samples thus arises mainly from the defect network, not directly from the smectic elasticity and hydrodynamics.Comment: 19 pages inclusive of 12 PostScript figures, uses revtex, psfrag and epsfig. Revised version, accepted for publication in Euro. Phys. J. B, with improved images of defect structure and theoretical estimates of network elasticity and scalin

Management Control of European Banks: A Review

Banks are purveyors and manufacturers of money. Banks carry out several functions and there shall be a proper control and supervision. It has primary functions and secondary functions. The primary functions are important functions of banks and the secondary functions are services by banks to public. The banks provide finance functions and it is one of the financial institution of finance sector. All the functions are economic functions and it is blood and nerves of financial system. Any failure of banks directly affects economy and national growth and development. The effective management control of banks protects economy of the nation. The collapse of the banks means that the entire financial system is collapsed

ROMANIAN BANKS: GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT

The banking system has emerged slowly and steadily over a period of time leading in front the economy of Romania. Many challenges have been obstacles to its development.  Certain decisions have benefitted the banks in Romania. There are opportunities which must not be missed. International institutions like European Union, European Central Bank, World Bank and International Monetary Fund have played important roles in the promotion of banks. Still there are challenges and opportunists for the growth and development of banks in Romania

MONETARY POLICY OF ROMANIA: A CRITICAL REVIEW

The monetary policy is the backbone of economic system. It is equally important instrument of regulating inflation with or without inflation target. Romania has rightfully adopted to price stability despite the fact that European Union and European Commercial Bank preferred price stability. JM Keynes in his General theory suggested that the monetary policy would be associated with interest rates for credit expansion and contraction for employment and growth. John B Taylor and other economists have opted for other measures including sacrifice of economic growth for inflation targets. The policy mix does play important role in this regard among other options. There are different views on price stability and financial stability while deciding the monetary policy options