379 research outputs found
Studies investigating peripherial blood derived cells that express the high affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E (FceRI) in allergic disorders
It is just forty years since the identification of immunoglobulin E (IgE) as the reagin responsible for
allergen induced immediate hypersensitivity reactions. IgE exerts its biological actions through the
binding of its Fc fragment to specific Fc receptors on effector cells. There are two predominant Fc
receptors for IgE – Fc?RI, which has a very high affinity for IgE and Fc?RII, which shows less avid
binding. For much of the first two decades after the identification of IgE, it was thought that Fc?RI
expression was limited to mast cells and basophils and that IgE binding to other cell types such as Blymphocytes
and antigen presenting cells (APCs) was mainly due to Fc?RII . However with major
advances in characterisation and functional knowledge of Fc?RI, particularly in the last fifteen years, it
has become apparent that Fc?RI can be expressed on several more cell types that may be involved in
initiation and maintenance of allergic inflammation – including APCs (monocytes and dendritic cells)
and possibly eosinophils.The research described in the four papers forming this thesis was completed during this period and
evaluated Fc?RI expression on different cell types, their potential roles in allergen induced
inflammatory responses and whether successful therapeutic strategies for allergic disorders may
involve actions on Fc?RI+ cells. The relative expression of Fc?RI on peripheral blood basophils,
monocytes and eosinophils from atopic and non-atopic subjects and any relationship with serum IgE
concentrations was assessed in the first paper. The second study examined a potentially important role
for basophils as a cellular source of rapidly releasable IL-4 which may help initiate allergen induced
TH2 responses. The next study investigated the possible effects on allergen induced early and late
asthmatic responses of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A which had been shown both to
inhibit mast cell and basophil degranulation and cytokine secretion (particularly by CD4+ T-cells). The
final study evaluated Fc?RI expression on these cell types as well humoral factors (e.g. seasonal
changes in allergen specific IgG and IgE) in subjects who, after 3 to 4 years of grass pollen
immunotherapy, had continued on either active or placebo immunotherapy for a further 3 years.A historical perspective explaining some of the reasons the studies were done is provided in the
introductory chapter whilst the discussion chapter at the end reviews how many of the findings of the
study have evolved in subsequent years right up to the present day and finishes off with a brief
synopsis of how rapidly increasing knowledge of the regulatory functions of dendritic cells (expressing
Fc?RI and often monocyte derived) has resulted in better understanding of the mechanisms of allergen
specific immunotherapy and is leading to more effective treatment modalities
Sleep duration and mood
It is widely believed that sleep and mood are interrelated and that prolongation of sleep may
have beneficial effects on subsequent mood and general well-being. In the present
investigation, it is hypothesised that excess sleep is in fact, detrimental to mood and is
associated with a 'Wornout Syndrome', characterised by feelings of fatigue and lethargy,
that can persist for up to 5 hours.
The studies to be presented here compare the differential effects of Sleep Extension and
Sleep Restriction on mood in healthy adults. The experimental design required subjects to
undergo one night of Sleep Extension [+2h] and, following an interval of one-week, one
night of Sleep Reduction [-2h]. The conditions were counterbalanced. Subjective
assessments were conducted hourly on mood states and sleepiness using an adapted Profile
of Mood States Questionnaire and the Stanford Sleepiness Scale. Actometers were worn
throughout the experimental days and nights. In the first study of 10 subjects results
indicated that four subjects were adversely affected by oversleep. Study 2 investigated the
effects of sleep duration on mood in 20 healthy adults. Personality factors were assessed
using Cattell's 16PF Questionnaire. Subjects maintaining regular sleep schedules reported
negative effects of oversleep on subsequent mood. Results indicated that certain personality
types were predisposed to the 'Wornout Syndrome' following Sleep Extension. In Study
3, thirty-four subjects were selected on the basis of personality type. It was hypothesised
that Introverts, Morning types, Emotionally Tenderminded and Low Impulsives would
report symptoms characteristic of the 'Wornout Syndrome' following one night of Sleep
Extension. This was confirmed by reports of increased fatigue, diminished vigor, and
increased confusion following Sleep Extension. Oversleeping produced greater detrimental
effects on mood than a comparable reduction in sleep duration.
There are many similarities in symptomatology between the 'Wornout Syndrome' and
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), specifically, intense fatigue and impaired concentration.
Interestingly, chronically fatigued patients often complain of sleep disturbance, and spend
much of their time resting in bed. It was hypothesised that the 'Wornout Syndrome' may
be a confounding factor in the symptomatology of CFS. As a clinical dimension, twelve
subjects were investigated polysomnographically [six were CFS patients]. Findings
indicated that CFS patients acquired sleep of longer duration than controls. In addition to
excess nocturnal sleep, CFS patients were taking daytime naps. EEG data indicated that
these individuals obtained twice the normal amount of slow wave sleep. CFS sufferers
may be better advised to regulate their sleep habits and reduce their total sleep time to avoid
the confounding effects of the 'Wornout Syndrome'
What research tells us about the avocado toast controversy
Contrary to what the Australian tycoon says, consuming 'luxury' goods plays a key role for deprived individuals, write Clement Bellet and Eve Sihr
Integrating vitrinite reflectance, rock-eval pyrolysis, flourescence microscopy and palynology of the Athabasca oil sands, Kearl Lake area, northeastern Alberta
Three cores from the Kearl Lake Oil Sands area within the Athabasca deposit of northeastern
Alberta have been analyzed to understand the thermal history of the McMurray and Clearwater
formations of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville Group. The approach involves the integration of
vitrinite reflectance (VR), Rock-Eval pyrolysis, fluorescence microscopy, and palynology. Mean
VR varies between 0.21 and 0.43% Ro and indicates thermally immature levels equivalent to the
rank of lignite to sub-bituminous coal. Although differing lithologies have influenced VR to
some extent (i.e., coals and bitumen-rich zones), groundwater influence and oxidation seem not
to have measurably altered YR. Rock-Eval analysis points to Type III/IV kerogen, and samples
rich in amorphous organic matter (ADM) show little to no fluorescence characteristics, implying
a terrestrial source of origin. Palynology reveals the presence of some delicate macerals but lack
of fluorescence and abundant ADM suggests some degradation and partial oxidation of the
samples
Grounding Characters and Places in Narrative Texts
Tracking characters and locations throughout a story can help improve the
understanding of its plot structure. Prior research has analyzed characters and
locations from text independently without grounding characters to their
locations in narrative time. Here, we address this gap by proposing a new
spatial relationship categorization task. The objective of the task is to
assign a spatial relationship category for every character and location
co-mention within a window of text, taking into consideration linguistic
context, narrative tense, and temporal scope. To this end, we annotate spatial
relationships in approximately 2500 book excerpts and train a model using
contextual embeddings as features to predict these relationships. When applied
to a set of books, this model allows us to test several hypotheses on mobility
and domestic space, revealing that protagonists are more mobile than
non-central characters and that women as characters tend to occupy more
interior space than men. Overall, our work is the first step towards joint
modeling and analysis of characters and places in narrative text.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 5 tables; to appear in the proceedings of ACL
202
Presynaptic kainate receptor-mediated facilitation of glutamate release involves Ca2+–calmodulin and PKA in cerebrocortical synaptosomes
AbstractWe have explored the mechanisms involved in the facilitation of glutamate release mediated by the activation of kainate receptors (KARs) in the cortex using isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes). Kainate (KA) produced an increase on glutamate release at 100μM. The effect of KA was antagonized by NBQX (with AMPA receptors blocked by GYKI53655). This facilitation was suppressed by the inhibition of PKA activation by Rp-Br-cAMP and H-89. Moreover, the facilitation of glutamate release mediated by KAR requires the mobilization of intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ stores and the formation of a Ca2+–calmodulin complex. We conclude that KARs present on presynaptic terminals in the neocortex mediate the facilitation of glutamate release through a mechanism involving an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ to activate a Ca2+–calmodulin–AC/cAMP/PKA signaling cascade
Kainate Receptors: Role in Epilepsy
Kainate (KA) is a potent neurotoxin that has been widely used experimentally to induce acute brain seizures and, after repetitive treatments, as a chronic model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), with similar features to those observed in human patients with TLE. However, whether KA activates KA receptors (KARs) as an agonist to mediate the induction of acute seizures and/or the chronic phase of epilepsy, or whether epileptogenic effects of the neurotoxin are indirect and/or mediated by other types of receptors, has yet to be satisfactorily elucidated. Positing a direct involvement of KARs in acute seizures induction, as well as a direct pathophysiological role of KARs in the chronic phase of TLE, recent studies have examined the specific subunit compositions of KARs that might underly epileptogenesis. In the present mini-review, we discuss the use of KA as a convulsant in the experimental models of acute seizures of TLE, and consider the involvement of KARs, their subunit composition and the mode of action in KAR-mediated epilepsy. In acute models, evidence points to epileptogenesis being precipitated by an overall depression of interneuron GABAergic transmission mediated by GluK1 containing KARs. On glutamatergic principal cell in the hippocampus, GluK2-containing KARs regulate post-synaptic excitability and susceptibility to KA-mediated epileptogenesis. In chronic models, a role GluK2-containing KARs in the hippocampal CA3 region provokes limbic seizures. Also observed in the hippocampus, is a ‘reactive plasticity’, where MF sprouting is seen with target granule cells at aberrant synapses recruiting de novo GluR2/GluR5 heteromeric KARs. Finally, in human epilepsy and animal models, astrocytic expression of GluK1, 2, 4, and 5 is reported
Non-canonical Mechanisms of Presynaptic Kainate Receptors Controlling Glutamate Release
A metabotropic modus operandi for kainate receptors (KARs) was first discovered in 1998 modulating GABA release. These receptors have been also found to modulate glutamate release at different synapses in several brain regions. Mechanistically, a general biphasic mechanism for modulating glutamate release by presynaptic KARs with metabotropic actions has emerged, with low KA concentrations invoking an increase in glutamate release, whereas higher concentrations of KA mediate a decrease in the release of this neurotransmitter. The molecular mechanisms underpinning the opposite modulation of glutamate release are distinct, with a G-protein-independent, adenylate cyclase (AC)- and protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent mechanism mediating the facilitation of glutamate release, while a G-protein dependent mechanism (with or without protein kinase recruitment) is involved in the decrease of neurotransmitter release. In the present review, we revisit the mechanisms underlying the non-canonical modus operandi of KARs effecting the bimodal control of glutamatergic transmission in different brain regions, and address the possible functions that this modulation may support
Introduction to Dry Gas Seals and Systems
TutorialDry gas seals are used as low-leakage shaft end seals for many centrifugal compressors and other turbomachines. This short course provides a comprehensive overview of sealing system and dry gas seals in various turbomachinery applications, addressing multiple topics ranging from fundamentals to detailed design considerations for reliable operation. A course attendee can expect a greater understanding of technologies, failure modes, and requirements for components in dry gas seals and seal supply/vent systems, with perspectives from an end user, a seal manufacturer, and a research organization.This short course will give listeners a thorough understanding of dry gas seals, including design, operation, and maintenance. Starting with the background of how dry gas seals were developed as a response to issues with wet seals, the course will then move into a detailed discussion on seal design. The instructors will explain how each component of the seal contributes to its operation and issues that can arise if parts are selected incorrectly. Next, seal selection for various applications (pipeline, process, advanced applications) will be discussed. Methods for seal testing to ensure that design conditions are met will be described, including test rigs studying off-design conditions, such as transients or contaminant injection.The gas conditioning process can be critical to successful seal operation, so seal gas panels and their components will be discussed in great detail. Operation during transients can be particularly challenging, so panel considerations specific to transient operation will be discussed. The recently-released API 692 will be discussed as it pertains to dry gas seal panel design, seal requirements, and seal testing.Understanding common failure modes is an important step to improving dry gas seal reliability. Recent research on dry gas seal failures will be presented, including failure statistics and failure modes. Insight on failure modes specific to heat generation from liquid contamination will be discussed, and recommendations will be provided to reduce failures.Copyright© 2020 by Turbomachinery Laboratory, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment StationThis short course is aimed primarily at end users, but the multifaceted approach (end user, OEM, research) will provide a valuable perspective on dry gas seals to anyone in the rotating equipment industry. By the end of the course, attendees will have a detailed understanding of dry gas seals and their associated systems
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