Controlled surface initiated polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide from polycaprolactone substrates for regulating cell attachment and detachment

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) substrates were modified with thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brushes to direct and control cellular attachment and detachment. Prior to brush growth, the surface of PCL was activated by a diamine to allow for initiator coupling. Infrared spectra taken before and after cell culturing demonstrated the covalently attached nature of the PNIPAM brushes. PCL is a biocompatible polymer and to prove that the modifications described above did not change this characteristic property, a cell attachment/detachment study was carried out. The modified substrates showed a lower cell attachment when compared to PCL alone and to PCL films modified with the initiator. The possibility to detach the cells in the form of a sheet was proved using PNIPAM-modified PCL films by lowering the temperature to 25 °C. No relevant detachment was shown by the unmodified or by the initiator modified surfaces. This confirmed that the detachment was temperature dependent and not connected to other factors such as polymer swelling. These functionalized polymeric films can find applications as smart cell culture systems in regenerative medicine applications

Correlations of BMI-1 expression and telomerase activity in ovarian cancer tissues

Aim: To investigate the correlation between oncoprotein Bmi-1 and telomerase activity in ovarian cancer tissues. Methods: SP immunohistochemistry was adopted to detect the expression of Bmi-1 protein in tissues of 47 ovarian epithelial cancer cases. Modified telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP, silver staining technique) was used to detect the telomerase activity. Results: While in 80.85% (38/47) of ovarian epithelial cancer cases Bmi-1 protein was overexpressed, 46.81% (22/47) had very strong expression level. Bmi-1 expression levels in ovarian carcinoma tissue differ depending on tissue grade (higher for G3 cancer cases — 93.10% than for grade G2 cases — 61.11%) and the stage of the disease (lower for phase II and phase III cases — 66.67% than for phase IV cases — 92.31%). In ovarian epithelial cancer tissues, 87.23% (41/47) demonstrated positive telomerase activity in contrast to zero activity in normal tissues. Majority (90.24%) of specimens with positive telomerase activity possessed high Bmi-1 expression levels. Spearman correlation analysis indicated that expression of Bmi-1 protein was positively correlated with the elevated telomerase activity. Conclusions: Bmi-1 protein is highly expressed in ovarian epithelial cancer tissues, and its expression level correlates with histological grade and clinical phase of the patients. Elevation of Bmi-1 expression is closely correlated to the increased telomerase activity.Цель: изучить корреляцию между экспрессией протеина Bmi-1 и активностью теломеразы при раке яичника. Методы: подобраны оптимальные условия для SP-иммуногистохимии для выявления экспрессии белка Bmi-1 при эпителиальном раке яичника (n = 47). Для определения активности теломеразы был использован усовершенствованый протокол амплификации теломерных повторов (TRAP, методика окрашивания серебром). Результаты: в 80,85% (38/47) случаев рака яичника была выявлена экспрессия белка Bmi-1, в 46,81% (22/47) случаев – на очень высоком уровне. Уровень экспрессии Bmi-1 зависел от степени дифференцировки опухоли (при G3 экспрессия Bmi-1 (93,10%) была выше, чем при G2 (61,11%)) и от стадии заболе- G3 экспрессия 3 экспрессия Bmi-1 (93,10%) была выше, чем при G2 (61,11%)) и от стадии заболе- Bmi-1 (93,10%) была выше, чем при G2 (61,11%)) и от стадии заболе- -1 (93,10%) была выше, чем при -1 (93,10%) была выше, чем при G2 (61,11%)) и от стадии заболе- G2 (61,11%)) и от стадии заболе- G2 (61,11%)) и от стадии заболе- 2 (61,11%)) и от стадии заболевания (уровень экпрессии ниже в стадиях II и III (66,67%), чем в стадии IV (92,31%)). В тканях эпителиального рака яичника в 87,23% (41/47) случаев выявлена положительная теломеразная активность, в отличие от нулевой активности в нормальных тканях. В большинстве исследованных случаев рака яичника (90,24%) при положительной активности теломеразы был отмечен высокий уровень экспрессии Bmi-1. Корреляционный анализ Спирмана показал, что экспрессия белка Bmi-1 положительно коррелирует с повышенной теломеразной активностью. Выводы: белок Bmi-1 экспрессирован на высоком уровне злокачествен- -1 экспрессирован на высоком уровне злокачествен- -1 экспрессирован на высоком уровне злокачественными клетками эпителиального рака яичника, и экспрессия этого белка коррелирует с гистологической градацией и клинической стадией рака. Увеличение экспрессии Bmi-1 коррелировало с повышенной теломеразной активностью

Birth and evolution of a dense coronal loop in a complex flare region

<p><b>Context:</b> During the 14th/15th of April 2002, several flares occurred in NOAA active region complex 9893/9910. Two of these were previously interpreted as having anomalously high coronal column densities.</p> <p><b>Aims:</b> We develop a scenario using multiwavelength observations to explain the high coronal column density (1020 cm-2) present at the onset of the 14th April 2002 M3.7 hard X-ray event.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> Prior to this event a series of flares occurred in close temporal and spatial proximity. We observe the sequence of flares in a multiwavelength regime from radio to hard X-rays. This allows us to study the particle acceleration and plasma evaporation in these events.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> The observations of these flares lead us to propose a sequence of reconnections between multiple systems of loops in a 3 dimensional field geometry. We suggest that the dense loops in the M3.7 event can be explained as being already filled with plasma from the earlier events; these loops then themselves become unstable or reconnect leading to particle acceleration into an overdense coronal environment. We explore the possibility that a high-beta disruption is behind the instability of these dense loops, leading to the 14th April 2002 M3.7 event and the observation of hard X-rays in the corona at energies up to ≈ 50 keV.</p&gt

The effect of dietary n-3 HUFA levels and DHA/EPA ratios on growth, survival and osmotic stress tolerance of Chinese mitten crab <i>Eriocheir sinensis</i> larvae

The effect of varying levels of dietary n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) and docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA) ratios on growth, survival and osmotic stress tolerance of Eriocheir sinensis zoea larvae was studied in two separate experiments. In experiment I, larvae were fed rotifers and Artemia enriched with ICES emulsions with 0, 30 and 50% total n-3 HUFA levels but with the same DHA/EPA ratio of 0.6. In experiment II, larvae were fed different combinations of enriched rotifers and Artemia, in which, rotifers were enriched with emulsions containing 30% total n-3 HUFA, but different DHA/EPA ratio of 0.6, 2 and 4; while Artemia were enriched with the same emulsions, but DHA/EPA ratio of 0.6 and 4. In both experiments, un-enriched rotifers cultured on baker's yeast and newly-hatched Artemia nauplii were used as control diets. Larvae were fed rotifers at zoea 1 and zoea 2 stages; upon reaching zoea 3 stage, Artemia was introduced.Experiment I revealed no significant effect of prey enrichment on the survival of megalopa among treatments, but higher total n-3 HUFA levels significantly enhanced larval development (larval stage index, LSI) and resulted in higher individual dry body weight of megalopa. Furthermore higher dietary n-3 HUFA levels also resulted in better tolerance to salinity stress. Experiment II indicated that at the same total n-3 HUFA level, larvae continuously receiving a low dietary DHA/EPA ratio had significantly lower survival at the megalopa stage and inferior individual body weight at the megalopa stage, but no negative effect was observed on larval development (LSI). The ability to endure salinity stress of zoea 3, zoea 5 and megalopa fed diets with higher DHA/EPA ratio was also improved

Dutch Author Recognition Test

Book reading shows large individual variability and correlates with better language ability and more empathy. This makes reading exposure an interesting variable to study. Research in English suggests that an author recognition test is the most reliable objective assessment of reading frequency. In this article, we describe the efforts we made to build and test a Dutch author recognition test (DART for older participants and DART_R for younger participants). Our data show that the test is reliable and valid, both in the Netherlands and in Belgium (split-half reliability over .9 with university students, significant correlations with language abilities) and can be used with a young, non-university population. The test is free to use for research purposes

Reconnection Outflows and Current Sheet Observed with Hinode/XRT in the 2008 April 9 "Cartwheel CME" Flare

Supra-arcade downflows (SADs) have been observed with Yohkoh/SXT (soft X-rays (SXR)), TRACE (extreme ultra-violet (EUV)), SoHO/LASCO (white light), SoHO/SUMER (EUV spectra), and Hinode/XRT (SXR). Characteristics such as low emissivity and trajectories which slow as they reach the top of the arcade are consistent with post-reconnection magnetic flux tubes retracting from a reconnection site high in the corona until they reach a lower-energy magnetic configuration. Viewed from a perpendicular angle, SADs should appear as shrinking loops rather than downflowing voids. We present XRT observations of supra-arcade downflowing loops (SADLs) following a coronal mass ejection (CME) on 2008 April 9 and show that their speeds and decelerations are consistent with those determined for SADs. We also present evidence for a possible current sheet observed during this flare that extends between the flare arcade and the CME. Additionally, we show a correlation between reconnection outflows observed with XRT and outgoing flows observed with LASCO.Comment: 32 pages, 23 figures, Accepted for publication by the Astrophysical Journal (Oct. 2010

Swimming and All-Cause Mortality Risk Compared With Running, Walking, and Sedentary Habits in Men

Swimming, water jogging, and aqua aerobics are lifetime physical activities that provide many health benefits comparable to those of walking and running. Research on the association between swimming and mortality is scarce, however. To evaluate the association between different types of physical activity and all-cause mortality, we studied 40,547 men age 20-90 years who completed a health examination during 1971 – 2003. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to estimate the relative risks according to physical activity exposure categories. A total of 3,386 deaths occurred during 543,330 man-years of observation. After adjustment for age, body-mass index, smoking status, alcohol intake, and family history of cardiovascular disease, swimmers had 53%, 50%, and 49% lower all-cause mortality risks than did men who were sedentary, walkers, or runners, respectively (p \u3c 0.05 for each). Additional adjustment for baseline prevalent diseases did not change the inverse association between different activities and all-cause mortality. In conclusion, swimmers have lower mortality rates in comparison with those who were sedentary, walkers, and runners

Comparison of the Health Aspects of Swimming With Other Types of Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle Habits

Swimming, water jogging, and aqua aerobics may provide health benefits to the general population as well as patients with chronic diseases. Research on the health benefits of aquatic exercise in comparison with activities such as running and walking is scarce, however. The goal of this study was to evaluate characteristics of participants in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study and to compare health habits and physiological characteristics among swimmers, runners, walkers, and sedentary women and men in order to evaluate the health benefits of swimming compared to other types of physical activity. Participants were 10,518 women and 35,185 men ages 20-88 years who completed a health examination during 1970 and 2005. Differences in the distribution of selected characteristics between swimmers and those participating in other types of activities (sedentary, runners, or walkers) were tested using logistics regression for proportion and ANOVA for continuous variables. The principal findings of this report are that swimming, as well as walking and running, has health benefits compared with a sedentary lifestyle

A Graphene-Based Microfluidic Platform for Electrocrystallization and In Situ X-ray Diffraction

Here, we describe a novel microfluidic platform for use in electrocrystallization experiments. The device incorporates ultra-thin graphene-based films as electrodes and as X-ray transparent windows to enable in situ X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, large-area graphene films serve as a gas barrier, creating a stable sample environment over time. We characterize different methods for fabricating graphene electrodes, and validate the electrical capabilities of our device through the use of methyl viologen, a redox-sensitive dye. Proof-of-concept electrocrystallization experiments using an internal electric field at constant potential were performed using hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) as a model system. We observed faster nucleation and crystal growth, as well as a higher signal-to-noise for diffraction data obtained from crystals prepared in the presence of an applied electric field. Although this work is focused on the electrocrystallization of proteins for structural biology, we anticipate that this technology should also find utility in a broad range of both X-ray technologies and other applications of microfluidic technology

Inter and intra-hemispheric structural imaging markers predict depression relapse after electroconvulsive therapy: a multisite study.

Relapse of depression following treatment is high. Biomarkers predictive of an individual's relapse risk could provide earlier opportunities for prevention. Since electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) elicits robust and rapidly acting antidepressant effects, but has a &gt;50% relapse rate, ECT presents a valuable model for determining predictors of relapse-risk. Although previous studies have associated ECT-induced changes in brain morphometry with clinical response, longer-term outcomes have not been addressed. Using structural imaging data from 42 ECT-responsive patients obtained prior to and directly following an ECT treatment index series at two independent sites (UCLA: n = 17, age = 45.41±12.34 years; UNM: n = 25; age = 65.00±8.44), here we test relapse prediction within 6-months post-ECT. Random forests were used to predict subsequent relapse using singular and ratios of intra and inter-hemispheric structural imaging measures and clinical variables from pre-, post-, and pre-to-post ECT. Relapse risk was determined as a function of feature variation. Relapse was well-predicted both within site and when cohorts were pooled where top-performing models yielded balanced accuracies of 71-78%. Top predictors included cingulate isthmus asymmetry, pallidal asymmetry, the ratio of the paracentral to precentral cortical thickness and the ratio of lateral occipital to pericalcarine cortical thickness. Pooling cohorts and predicting relapse from post-treatment measures provided the best classification performances. However, classifiers trained on each age-disparate cohort were less informative for prediction in the held-out cohort. Post-treatment structural neuroimaging measures and the ratios of connected regions commonly implicated in depression pathophysiology are informative of relapse risk. Structural imaging measures may have utility for devising more personalized preventative medicine approaches