ABCB5+ mesenchymal stromal cells therapy protects from hypoxia by restoring Ca2+ homeostasis in vitro and in vivo

Background: Hypoxia in ischemic disease impairs Ca2+ homeostasis and may promote angiogenesis. The therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in peripheral arterial occlusive disease is well established, yet its influence on cellular Ca2+ homeostasis remains to be elucidated. We addressed the influence of ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 5 positive mesenchymal stromal cells (ABCB5+ MSCs) on Ca2+ homeostasis in hypoxic human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Hypoxia was induced in HUVECs by Cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl2) or Deferoxamine (DFO). Dynamic changes in the cytosolic- and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ and changes in reactive oxygen species were assessed by appropriate fluorescence-based sensors. Metabolic activity, cell migration, and tube formation were assessed by standard assays. Acute-on-chronic ischemia in Apolipoprotein E knock-out (ApoE−/−) mice was performed by double ligation of the right femoral artery (DFLA). ABCB5+ MSC cells were injected into the ischemic limb. Functional recovery after DFLA and histology of gastrocnemius and aorta were assessed. Results: Hypoxia-induced impairment of cytosolic and ER Ca2+ were restored by ABCB5+ MSCs or their conditioned medium. Similar was found for changes in intracellular ROS production, metabolic activity, migratory ability and tube formation. The restoration was paralleled by an increased expression of the Ca2+ transporter Sarco-/endoplasmic reticulum ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) and the phosphorylation of Phospholamban (PLN). In acute-on-chronic ischemia, ABCB5+ MSCs treated mice showed a higher microvascular density, increased SERCA2a expression and PLN phosphorylation relative to untreated controls. Conclusions: ABCB5+ MSCs therapy can restore cellular Ca2+ homeostasis, which may beneficially affect the angiogenic function of endothelial cells under hypoxia in vitro and in vivo

Hydrogen peroxide-based propulsion and power systems.

Less toxic, storable, hypergolic propellants are desired to replace nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) and hydrazine in certain applications. Hydrogen peroxide is a very attractive replacement oxidizer, but finding acceptable replacement fuels is more challenging. The focus of this investigation is to find fuels that have short hypergolic ignition delays, high specific impulse, and desirable storage properties. The resulting hypergolic fuel/oxidizer combination would be highly desirable for virtually any high energy-density applications such as small but powerful gas generating systems, attitude control motors, or main propulsion. These systems would be implemented on platforms ranging from guided bombs to replacement of environmentally unfriendly existing systems to manned space vehicles

Genetic basis and detection of unintended effects in genetically modified crop plants

In January 2014, an international meeting sponsored by the International Life Sciences Institute/Health and Environmental Sciences Institute and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency titled “Genetic Basis of Unintended Effects in Modified Plants” was held in Ottawa, Canada, bringing together over 75 scientists from academia, government, and the agro-biotech industry. The objectives of the meeting were to explore current knowledge and identify areas requiring further study on unintended effects in plants and to discuss how this information can inform and improve genetically modified (GM) crop risk assessments. The meeting featured presentations on the molecular basis of plant genome variability in general, unintended changes at the molecular and phenotypic levels, and the development and use of hypothesis-driven evaluations of unintended effects in assessing conventional and GM crops. The development and role of emerging “omics” technologies in the assessment of unintended effects was also discussed. Several themes recurred in a number of talks; for example, a common observation was that no system for genetic modification, including conventional methods of plant breeding, is without unintended effects. Another common observation was that “unintended” does not necessarily mean “harmful”. This paper summarizes key points from the information presented at the meeting to provide readers with current viewpoints on these topics

A new measure of skills mismatch: theory and evidence from the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) *

Abstract This paper proposes a new measure of skills mismatch that combines information about skill proficiency, self-reported mismatch and skill use. The theoretical foundations underling this measure allow identifying minimum and maximum skill requirements for each occupation and to classify workers into three groups, the well-matched, the under-skilled and the over-skilled. The availability of skill use data further permit the computation of the degree of under and over-usage of skills in the economy. The empirical analysis is carried out using the first wave of the OECD Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), allowing comparisons across skill domains, labor market statuses and countries. * We would like to than

Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants

Problem formulation is the first step in environmental risk assessment (ERA) where policy goals, scope, assessment endpoints, and methodology are distilled to an explicitly stated problem and approach for analysis. The consistency and utility of ERAs for genetically modified (GM) plants can be improved through rigorous problem formulation (PF), producing an analysis plan that describes relevant exposure scenarios and the potential consequences of these scenarios. A properly executed PF assures the relevance of ERA outcomes for decision-making. Adopting a harmonized approach to problem formulation should bring about greater uniformity in the ERA process for GM plants among regulatory regimes globally. This paper is the product of an international expert group convened by the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Research Foundation

The Measurement of Output and Factors of Production for the Business Sector in OECD Countries (The OECD Business Sector Database)

This paper describes a Business Sector Data Base (BSDB) for OECD countries constructed in the context of recent work of the OECD Economics and Statistics Department. It discusses many of the problems of consistency between the usual sources of economic statistics for each of the concepts used and describes the choices made to construct a consistent data base. In two important areas where major problems arise, namely the treatment of capital stock and energy, it has been necessary to construct a number of new estimates. The resulting data base is available on PC diskette to the general public on a subscription basis ... Cet article décrit une base de données internationale relative au secteur des entreprises, la BSDB, construite dans le cadre des travaux récents du Département des affaires économiques et statistiques de l'OCDE. Les problèmes de cohérence entre les sources de données statistiques correspondant à chacun des concepts utilisés ainsi que les choix nécessaires à la construction d'une base de données cohérente sont décrits et discutés dans cet article. Dans deux importants domaines pour lesquels se posent des problèmes statistiques le sotck de capital et l'énergie, il a été nécessaire de construire de nouvelles estimations. La base de données dérivée est mise à la disposition du public sur disquette pour micro-ordinateur sur abonnement ...

Population ageing and labour markets

In the face of rapid population ageing, the long-run fall in effective retirement ages in most OECD countries needs to be reversed. There are some positive signs that this is beginning to happen, but early exit from the labour force, i.e. well before official old-age pension ages, still remains a very common phenomenon in OECD countries. In this paper we first compare recent trends in the labour situation of older workers across OECD countries. This is followed by a discussion of supply-side and demand-side factors that have been driving these trends. In particular, new evidence is presented on incentives to retire that are embedded in pension systems. We conclude that recent reforms in most countries in this area are working in the direction of encouraging later retirement, although in a few countries there are still substantial incentives to stop working early. We then examine to what extent there are barriers on the demand side which may also be discouraging work at an older age such as age discrimination, seniority rules in wage setting, low training participation and employment protection rules. We conclude that countries have also begun to tackle these barriers as well. Nevertheless, while considerable pension reform has undoubtedly strengthened incentives to continue working at an older age, further action is still required on the demand side to ensure that those older workers who wish to work longer can do so. Copyright 2010, Oxford University Press.

Case report-delayed splenic rupture in combination with medial femoral neck fracture after low energy trauma. Development of hemorrhagic shock 5 days after hip prosthesis due to a rare cause

A 79 year old female patient was admitted to our emergency department with a fracture of the right medial femoral neck six days after a fall on her right side and a cemented hemiprosthesis was implanted. Five days later, she developed a hemorrhagic shock and was diagnosed with a delayed splenic rupture and the spleen was resected. Histopathological examination showed a delayed rupture of an otherwise normal spleen without signs of an underlying pathology. The outcome was fatal: In the postoperative course she developed pneumonia, three weeks later she succumbed due to multiple organ failure. Even careful reevaluation of the case did not provide any clues to expect an injury of the spleen according to trauma mechanism. This case shows that delayed splenic rupture of a normal spleen may occur even after a low energy trauma. Injury of the spleen should therefore always be considered, even with an uncharacteristic anamnesis. Physical examination after trauma should therefore always include a careful clinical evaluation. The clinical threshold for a FAST examination should be low. The coincidence of a femoral neck fracture and a splenic rupture after a low energy trauma has not been reported before