Anti-IgE Response in Human Airways: Relative Contribution of Inflammatory Mediators

Heman airway preparations at resting tone were relaxed with either the leukotriene synthesis inhibitor BAY x1005 (3 μM), chlorpheniramine (1 μM) or the thromboxane receptor antagonist BAY u3405 (0.1 μM). The response to anti-IgE (1:1000) was 58 ± 8% of acetylcholine pre-contraction (2.19 ± 0.28 g). Indomethacin (3 μM) enhanced the anti-IgE-induced contraction by 28%. The anti-IgE maximal response was not modified by either chlorpheniramine, BAY x1005 or BAY u3405. When the tissues were treated with either BAY xl005/indomethacin or BAY x1005/chlorpheniramine, the anti-IgE-induced contraction was reduced. In addition, in presence of BAY xl005/indomethacin/chlorpheniramine the response was completely blocked. These results suggest that mediatots released during anti-IgE challenge cause airway contraction which may mask the evaluation of the leukotriene component

Glycoconjugate secretion in human airways in vitro: effects of epithelium removal.

The aim of this study was to examine glycoconjugate secretion in human airways with and without an epithelium. Glycoconjugate release in supernatants derived from human airways in vitro was determined using an ELISA assay with an anti-human mucin monoclonal antibody (MAb 3D3). This monoclonal antibody reacted strongly with Le(b) antigen but also recognized in vitro Le(a) and Le(y) determinants. In 11 of the 34 different lung samples (32%) studied the glycoconjugate levels were below the threshhold of detection for this assay. The mean basal secretion of glycoconjugates in human airways in vitro was 100+/-28 microg/g tissue (Period I; n = 23 different lung samples). The amount of glycoconjugate measured in the medium derived from human isolated bronchial ring preparations did not change under control conditions during the course of the experimental procedure (Period I; 128+/-46 microg/g tissue and Period II; 159 +/-48 microg/g tissue; n = 13 paired lung samples). In the supernatants of airway preparations with an intact epithelium the amount of glycoconjugates detected was 90+/-38 microg/g tissue (Period I; n = 12 different lung samples) and removal of the epithelium did not alter this basal glycoconjugate release (94+/-60 microg/g tissue: Period I, n = 8 different lung samples). The absence of the epithelial layer was confirmed by histological evaluation. Methacholine (100 microM) induced a 10- and four-fold increase in glycoconjugate release from airways with and without an epithelium, respectively. In contrast, in preparations with an epithelium, LTD4 (10 microM) and anti-IgE (dilution: 1/1000) did not cause an increase of glycoconjugate release. The methacholine difference between airways with and without an epithelium was not significantly different (P > 0.10). However, a treatment with atropine (100 microM) prevented the increase of glycoconjugate release in preparations with an epithelium. These data derived from a limited number of experiments suggest that the epithelium may not regulate the basal or stimulated release of glycoconjugates from isolated human airways

Применение методов ядерной физики и ускорителей ННЦ ХФТИ для изучения состава, структуры и свойств твердых тел

Излагается применение методов ядерной физики и ускорителей ННЦ ХФТИ для решения научных и технологических задач в области физики металлов, сплавов, полупроводников, металлоксидных и магнитных материалов. Представляются результаты экспериментов по определению концентрации и распределения элементов, выполненных с помощью пучков ионов водорода и гелия, ускоренных в электростатическом ускорителе до энергии 0,5…4,0 МэВ. Для идентификации элементов и изотопов использовались резонансные ядерные реакции, кулоновское и резонансное ядерное рассеяние и возбуждаемое ускоренными частицами характеристическое рентгеновское излучение. Излагаются результаты и возможности применения каналированных частиц и ориентационных эффектов для изучения локализации, структуры, ориентации, образования, распада и аннигиляции простейших дефектов, определения концентрации и распределения дефектов в радиационно нарушенных кристаллах.Викладається застосування методів ядерної фізики і прискорювачів ННЦ ХФТИ для рішення наукових і технологічних задач в області фізики металів, сплавів, напівпровідників, металооксидних та магнітних матеріалів. Приведені результати експерементів з визначення концентрації та розподілу елементів, виконаних за допомогою пучків іонів водню та гелію, що прискорюються в електростатичному прискорювачю до енергії 0,5 - 4,0 МеВ. Для ідентифікації елементів і ізотопів використовувалися резонансні ядерні реакції, кулонівське і резонансне ядерне розсіювання та збуджуване прискореними частками характеристичне рентгенівське випромінюваня. Викладаються результати і можливості застосування часток що каналюють та орієнтаційных ефектів для вивчення локалізації, структури, орієнтації, утворення, розпаду й анігіляції найпростіших дефектів, визначення концентрації і розподілу дефектів у радіаційно порушених кристалах.Nuclear physics methods and use of the NSC KIPT accelerators as applied to scientific and technological problems in the field of physics of metals, alloys, semiconductors, metal oxide and magnetic materials are surveyed. The results of the experiments relevant to determination of element concentration and distribution using 0,5 - 4,0 MeV hydrogen and helium ions of electrostatic accelerator are presented. Resonance nuclear reactions, coulomb and nuclear resonance scattering as well as X-ray radiation were used for element and isotope identification. The possibilities of application of channeling particles and oriented effects for study of localization, structure, orientation, formation, disintegration and annihilation of elementary defects, determination of defect concentration and distribution in radiation disturbed crystals

Stability and Electronic Properties of TiO2 Nanostructures With and Without B and N Doping

We address one of the main challenges to TiO2-photocatalysis, namely band gap narrowing, by combining nanostructural changes with doping. With this aim we compare TiO2's electronic properties for small 0D clusters, 1D nanorods and nanotubes, 2D layers, and 3D surface and bulk phases using different approximations within density functional theory and GW calculations. In particular, we propose very small (R < 0.5 nm) but surprisingly stable nanotubes with promising properties. The nanotubes are initially formed from TiO2 layers with the PtO2 structure, with the smallest (2,2) nanotube relaxing to a rutile nanorod structure. We find that quantum confinement effects - as expected - generally lead to a widening of the energy gap. However, substitutional doping with boron or nitrogen is found to give rise to (meta-)stable structures and the introduction of dopant and mid-gap states which effectively reduce the band gap. Boron is seen to always give rise to n-type doping while depending on the local bonding geometry, nitrogen may give rise to n-type or p-type doping. For under coordinated TiO2 surface structures found in clusters, nanorods, nanotubes, layers and surfaces nitrogen gives rise to acceptor states while for larger clusters and bulk structures donor states are introduced

Evolutionary, multi-scale analysis of river bank line retreat using continuous wavelet transforms: Jamuna River, Bangladesh

In this study continuous wavelet transforms are used to explore spatio-temporal patterns of multi-scale bank line retreat along a 204 km reach of the Jamuna River, Bangladesh. A sequence of eight bank line retreat series, derived from remotely-sensed imagery for the period 1987-1999, is transformed using the Morlet mother wavelet. Bank erosion is shown to operate at several characteristic spatial and temporal scales. Local erosion and bank line retreat are shown to occur in short, well defined reaches characterised by temporal persistence at the same location, and separated by relatively stable reaches. In contrast, evidence of downstream propagation of bank line retreat patterns is evident at larger spatial scales. The intensity of localised bank line retreat (i.e. at scales of 0 - 20 km) is strongly related to the magnitude of monsoonal peak discharge, but this relationship weakens as the spatial scale of erosion increases. The potential of continuous wavelet analysis to enhancing our understanding of morphological evolution in complex fluvial systems with multi-channel planforms is discussed

Generalized partially linear models on Riemannian manifolds

We introduce generalized partially linear models with covariates on Riemannian manifolds. These models, like ordinary generalized linear models, are a generalization of partially linear models on Riemannian manifolds that allow for scalar response variables with error distribution models other than a normal distribution. Partially linear models are particularly useful when some of the covariates of the model are elements of a Riemannian manifold, because the curvature of these spaces makes it difficult to define parametric models. The model was developed to address an interesting application: the prediction of children's garment fit based on three‐dimensional scanning of their bodies. For this reason, we focus on logistic and ordinal models and on the important and difficult case where the Riemannian manifold is the three‐dimensional case of Kendall's shape space. An experimental study with a well‐known three‐dimensional database is carried out to check the goodness of the procedure. Finally, it is applied to a three‐dimensional database obtained from an anthropometric survey of the Spanish child population. A comparative study with related techniques is carried out

Semiotricidad, representaciones cognitivas y enseñanza reflexiva

Este proyecto se propuso: Analizar y describir las representaciones cognitivas que los sujetos construyen durante su proceso de crecimiento, acerca de su propia habilidad motriz. Identificar y describir las relaciones entre las representaciones acerca de la propia habilidad motriz y la actuación semiotriz de los sujetos. Describir las relaciones entre las representaciones acerca de la propia habilidad, la actuación semiotriz y los procesos de socialización de los sujetos que participan del estudio. Analizar la incidencia del método de enseñanza reflexiva en los procesos de socialización, actuación semiotriz y constitución de representaciones sobre la propia habilidad motora.Panel: "Discursos y Prácticas Corporales"Departamento de Educación Físic

Gata-3 and mammary cell fate

Genomic regulatory networks specify how cellular gene expression responds to external temporal and spatial stimuli, ensuring that correct cell fate decisions are made and the appropriate cell phenotypes are adopted. In mammary epithelial cells, the hierarchy of stem and progenitor cells and the genetically specified program of transcriptional activity are beginning to be elucidated and integrated. A novel role for Gata-3 in specifying and maintaining mammary cell fate has recently been identified. These reports offer an understanding of how mammary cells assume and maintain a variety of cell behaviours and functions, and how a mammary cell may potentially subvert these constraints during carcinogenesis

Identification of murine mammary stem cells: implications for studies of mammary development and carcinogenesis

The epithelial components of the mammary gland are thought to arise from a stem cell capable of both self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that mammary carcinomas originate in these cells or their immediate progeny. The recent identification of murine mammary stem cells should facilitate their molecular characterization and help to elucidate their role in mammary carcinogenesis. In addition, an understanding of the biology of these cells including the pathways that regulate their self-renewal and differentiation may suggest new approaches for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer

Transcriptome analyses of mouse and human mammary cell subpopulations reveal multiple conserved genes and pathways

INTRODUCTION: Molecular characterization of the normal epithelial cell types that reside in the mammary gland is an important step toward understanding pathways that regulate self-renewal, lineage commitment, and differentiation along the hierarchy. Here we determined the gene expression signatures of four distinct subpopulations isolated from the mouse mammary gland. The epithelial cell signatures were used to interrogate mouse models of mammary tumorigenesis and to compare with their normal human counterpart subsets to identify conserved genes and networks. METHODS: RNA was prepared from freshly sorted mouse mammary cell subpopulations (mammary stem cell (MaSC)-enriched, committed luminal progenitor, mature luminal and stromal cell) and used for gene expression profiling analysis on the Illumina platform. Gene signatures were derived and compared with those previously reported for the analogous normal human mammary cell subpopulations. The mouse and human epithelial subset signatures were then subjected to Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to identify conserved pathways. RESULTS: The four mouse mammary cell subpopulations exhibited distinct gene signatures. Comparison of these signatures with the molecular profiles of different mouse models of mammary tumorigenesis revealed that tumors arising in MMTV-Wnt-1 and p53-/- mice were enriched for MaSC-subset genes, whereas the gene profiles of MMTV-Neu and MMTV-PyMT tumors were most concordant with the luminal progenitor cell signature. Comparison of the mouse mammary epithelial cell signatures with their human counterparts revealed substantial conservation of genes, whereas IPA highlighted a number of conserved pathways in the three epithelial subsets. CONCLUSIONS: The conservation of genes and pathways across species further validates the use of the mouse as a model to study mammary gland development and highlights pathways that are likely to govern cell-fate decisions and differentiation. It is noteworthy that many of the conserved genes in the MaSC population have been considered as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signature genes. Therefore, the expression of these genes in tumor cells may reflect basal epithelial cell characteristics and not necessarily cells that have undergone an EMT. Comparative analyses of normal mouse epithelial subsets with murine tumor models have implicated distinct cell types in contributing to tumorigenesis in the different models