Involvement of leukotriene pathway in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury and septic and non-septic shock.

The 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway is responsible for the production of leukotrienes (LTs), inflammatory lipid mediators which play a role in innate immunity. More recently, a pivotal role of LTs in ischemia-reperfusion and shock injury has been suggested. In fact, these pathological conditions are characterized by a severe neutrophil infiltration that gives rise to tissue injury and 5-LO metabolites control neutrophil recruitment in injured tissue by the modulation of adhesion molecule expression. The aim of this review is to analyze the results reported in the literature on the role of 5-LO pathway, with particular regard to LTs, in these pathological conditions. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the role of the 5-LO enzyme and/or its metabolites in the regulation of neutrophil trafficking, might open new perspectives in the therapy of organ dysfunction and/or injury associated with shock and ischemia-reperfusion injury

Design, implementation and validation of AI-inspired information systems

While there is an emerging and always-growing interest for novel paradigms appeared recently (e.g., social networks, Cloud computing, NoSQL databases, Big Data, and so forth), Artificial Intelligence (AI) always plays a critical role in next-generation Information Systems. Indeed, as technology and paradigms pervade our life, there is a challenging need for smarter and more sophisticated Information Systems, for instance using innovative methodologies like crowdsourcing. As a consequence, it is natural to foresee the advancement of a novel class of Information Systems, which we call as AI-Inspired Information Systems. Basically, these are Information Systems which incorporate in their critical layers (i.e., design, implementation, validation) AI methodologies, yet extending their roots to classical foundations, with, indeed, exciting innovations

Inhibition of nitric oxide biosynthesis by anthocyanin fraction of blackberry extract.

Anthocyanins are natural colorant belonging to the flavonoid family, widely distributed among flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Some flavonoids have been found to possess anticarcinogenic, cytotoxic, cytostatic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Since increased nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in inflammation, we have investigated whether the pharmacological activity of the anthocyanin fraction of a blackberry extract (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside representing about 88% of the total anthocyanin content) was due to the suppression of NO synthesis. The markedly increased production of nitrites by stimulation of J774 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h was concentration-dependently inhibited by the anthocyanin fraction (11, 22, 45, and 90 μg/ml) of the extract. Moreover, this inhibition was dependent on a dual mechanism, since the extract attenuated iNOS protein expression and decreased the iNOS activity in lungs from LPS-stimulated rats. Inhibition of iNOS protein expression appeared to be at the transcriptional level, since the extract and similarly cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (10, 20, 40, and 80 μg/ml, amounts corresponding to the concentrations present in the extract) decreased LPS-induced NF-κB activation, through inhibition of IκBα degradation, and reduced ERK-1/2 phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that at least some part of the anti-inflammatory activity of blackberry extract is due to the suppression of NO production by cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, which is the main anthocyanin present in the extract. The mechanism of this inhibition seems to be due to an action on the expression/activity of the enzyme. In particular, the protein expression was inhibited through the attenuation of NF-κB and/or MAPK activatio

Characterization of a novel and spontaneous mouse model of inflammatory arthritis

Arthritis is a heterogeneous disease comprising a group of inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. Mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been critical for identifying genetic and cellular mechanisms of RA and several new mouse models have been produced. Various methods have been applied to induce experimental models of arthritis in animals that would provide important insights into the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of human RA. Adipue and colleagues recently discovered that mice in their breeding colony spontaneously developed inflamed joints reminiscent of RA and may, therefore, have found a new model to examine pathogenic mechanisms and test new treatments for this human inflammatory disease

Few Graphene layer/Carbon-Nanotube composite Grown at CMOS-compatible Temperature

We investigate the growth of the recently demonstrated composite material composed of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes capped by few graphene layers. We show that the carbon nanotubes grow epitaxially under the few graphene layers. By using a catalyst and gaseous carbon precursor different from those used originally we establish that such unconventional growth mode is not specific to a precise choice of catalyst-precursor couple. Furthermore, the composite can be grown using catalyst and temperatures compatible with CMOS processing (T < 450\degree C).Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Participation in extracurricular activities and the sense of belonging, self-esteem, and risk of dropping out among grade eleven students.

This study examined participation in extracurricular activities as a predictor of sense of belonging, level of self-esteem, and risk of dropout among grade eleven students. Section A of the Student Questionnaire was developed by Pascarella (1982) and was used to measure the level of involvement in each of the extracurricular categories outlined in the research: (a) athletics, (b) intramural athletics, (c) high school publications, (d) department clubs, (e) social clubs, (f) religious organizations, (g) student government, and (h) music and drama. Section B was developed by using questions from both the San Diego Community College Campus Climate Student Survey (1994) and the Compton Community College Campus Climate Survey (1994) as a measure of student sense of belonging. Section C was designed by Cassidy and Broks (1978) and was used as a measure of student self-esteem. Section D examined risk of student dropout and was designed using predictors outlined in the review of literature. The sample consisted of 240 grade eleven secondary school students from three urban Ontario secondary schools. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2002 .C89. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 41-04, page: 0885. Adviser: Linda McKay. Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2002

Robustness to Non-Independence and Power of the I Test for Trend in Construct Validity

The Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix is used to evaluate construct validity; Sawilowsky (2002) created the I test to analyze the matrix. This article examined the robustness and power of the Sawilowsky I test. Ad hoc critical values were determined to improve the statistical power of the technique for analyzing the Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix