Changes In Different Parts Research Articles

Expression of Alcoholism-Relevant Genes in the Liver Are Differently Correlated to Different Parts of the Brain

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether expression profiles of alcoholism-relevant genes in different parts of the brain are correlated differently with those in the liver. Four experiments were conducted. First, we used gene expression profiles from five parts of the brain (striatum, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, and cerebellum) and from liver in a population of recombinant inbred mouse strains to examine the expression association of 10 alcoholism-relevant genes. Second, we conducted the same association analysis between brain structures and the lung. Third, using five randomly selected, nonalcoholism-relevant genes, we conducted the association analysis between brain and liver. Finally, we compared the expression of 10 alcoholism-relevant genes in hippocampus and cerebellum between an alcohol preference strain and a wild-type control. We observed a difference in correlation patterns in expression levels of 10 alcoholism-relevant genes between different parts of the brain with those of liver. We then examined the association of gene expression between alcohol dehydrogenases (Adh1, Adh2, Adh5, and Adh7) and different parts of the brain. The results were similar to those of the 10 genes. Then, we found that the association of those genes between brain structures and lung was different from that of liver. Next, we found that the association patterns of five alcoholism-nonrelevant genes were different from those of 10 alcoholism-relevant genes. Finally, we found that the expression level of 10 alcohol-relevant genes is influenced more in hippocampus than in cerebellum in the alcohol preference strain. Our results show that the expression of alcoholism-relevant genes in liver is differently associated with the expression of genes in different parts of the brain. Because different structural changes in different parts of the brain in alcoholism have been reported, it is important to investigate whether those structural differences in the brains of those with alcoholism are due to the difference in the associations of gene expression between genes in liver and in different parts of the brain.

Microscopy of single FoF1‐ATP synthases— The unraveling of motors, gears, and controls

Optical microscopy of single F(1) -ATPase and F(o) F(1) -ATP synthases started 15 years ago. Direct demonstration of ATP-driven subunit rotation by videomicroscopy became the new exciting tool to analyze the conformational changes of this enzyme during catalysis. Stimulated by these experiments, technical improvements for higher time resolution, better angular resolution, and reduced viscous drag were developed rapidly. Optics and single-molecule enzymology were entangled to benefit both biochemists and microscopists. Today, several single-molecule microscopy methods are established including controls for the precise nanomanipulation of individual enzymes in vitro. Förster resonance energy transfer, which has been used for simultaneous monitoring of conformational changes of different parts of this rotary motor, is one of them and may become the tool for the analysis of single F(o) F(1) -ATP synthases in membranes of living cells. Here, breakthrough experiments are critically reviewed and challenges are discussed for the future microscopy of single ATP synthesizing enzymes at work.

Different coexpressions of arthritis-relevant genes between different body organs and different brain regions in the normal mouse population

Structural changes in different parts of the brain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have been reported. RA is not regarded as a brain disease. Body organs such as spleen and lung produce RA-relevant genes. We hypothesized that the structural changes in the brain are caused by changes of gene expression in body organs. Changes in different parts of the brain may be affected by altered gene expressions in different body organs. This study explored whether an association between gene expressions of an organ or a body part varies in different brain structures. By examining the association of the 10 most altered genes from a mouse model of spontaneous arthritis in a normal mouse population, we found two groups of gene expression patterns between five brain structures and spleen. The correlation patterns between the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and spleen were similar, while the associations between the other three parts of the brain and spleen showed a different pattern. Among overall patterns of the associations between body organs and brain structures, spleen and lung had a similar pattern, and patterns for kidney and liver were similar. Analysis of the five additional known arthritis-relevant genes produced similar results. Analysis of 10 nonrelevant-arthritis genes did not result in a strong association of gene expression or clearly segregated patterns. Our data suggest that abnormal gene expressions in different diseased body organs may influence structural changes in different brain parts.

Thermoplastic polyurethane foamed under microwave irradiation

Microwave heating has a number of advantages over the conventional method. However, most thermoplastics are relatively transparent for microwave irradiation. In the case of polyurethanes, these materials absorb microwaves to a sufficient extent to be heated. This effect can be enhanced by the use of fillers such as carbon black. In this paper, the ability of thermoplastic polyurethane and its composite with carbon black to be heated by microwave irradiation and to be foamed using chemical blowing agents are discussed. The temperature changes in different parts of samples as the heating effect under microwave irradiation with 500 W power were analyzed. Selected porous products were obtained under microwave irradiation using azodicarbonamide as a chemical blowing agent. The influence of foaming conditions on cell structure, apparent density and mechanical properties of porous products was estimated.

Intestinal microbial community diversity between healthy and orally infected rabbit with Entamoeba histolytica by ERIC-PCR

Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR was applied to analyze the difference of intestinal microbial community diversity between healthy and orally infected rabbits with Entamoeba histolytica. The dynamic changes in different parts of digestive system including the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum, and rectum in healthy and infected rabbits at different time points were also tested. The intestinal microbial community of the control healthy rabbits was steady, and the total number of ERIC-PCR bands in the control healthy rabbit was the least in the rectum and the most in the caecum. ERIC-PCR bands of orally inoculated rabbits did not obviously change until 24 h after postinoculation (p.i.). The numbers of the ERIC-PCR bands gradually decreased from 24 to 72 h p.i., and then, with the development of disease, the band numbers gradually increased until 6 days p.i. Sequence analysis showed that the nucleotide sequence homologies of the fragment about 1,200 bp of infected ileum sampled at 32 h p.i. were above 95 % with Sinorhizobium meliloti enterobacterial, Erwinia amylovora and Salmonella typhimurium, and the nucleotide sequence homologies of the fragment about 300 bp of infected ileum sampled at 48 h p.i. were more than 90 % with Xanthomonas campestris enterobacterial, Yersinia enterocolitica subsp., Shigella flexneri, S. meliloti enterobacterial, Yersinia pestis, Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp., and Escherichia coli. The prominent bacteria had changed after E. histolytica infection. The DNAstar of staple of ERIC-PCR showed that aerobe and facultative aerobe (E. coli, Shigella, and Salmonella) became preponderant bacilli in the intestine of orally infected rabbits with E. histolytica.

Association of Physical Activity with Lipodystrophy Syndrome in HIVInfected Patients

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has increased life expectancy of HIV-infected patients, but may also increase triglyceride and cholesterol levels, triggering lipodystrophy syndrome. Physical activity may prevent or attenuate such adverse effects, but it has not been fully evaluated in HIV-infected patients. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity and lipodystrophy syndrome in HIV-infected individuals, 18 years or older. Physical activity was evaluated by the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Lipodystrophy was verified by at least two reporting of changes in different parts of the body, or directly assessed, categorized as lipoatrophy or lipohypertrophy. Among 1,240 participants, 46% had lipohypertrophy, which was independently associated with insufficient physical activity in men, but not in women. The prevalence of lipoatrophy was 53.2%. Metabolic parameters were higher among individuals on HAART, in comparison to HAART-naive patients. In conclusion, HAART-naive physically active individuals had lower metabolic profile than among insufficiently active.

Effect of Morphine Based CPP on the Hippocampal Astrocytes of Male Wistar Rats

Opioid abuse is an increasing problem worldwide and the reinforcing effects of opioid analgesics make them susceptible to diversion and illicit use and abuse. As morphological changes in different parts of the brain including the hippocampus and dentate gyrus that have Plasticity is looking for a lot of drug injection in human and animal studies has been viewed. Also other evidences have shown that Astrocytes actively participate in synaptic plasticity. Therefore the aim of this study was obtain of Conditioning Place Preference (CPP) on cell density (Astrocytes number) of rat hippocampal formation. In present study, 48 male Wistar rat weighted average 220-250 g were used. For behavioral tests, rats divided into eight groups and experimental groups daily (three days) received morphine at different doses (2.5, 5, 7.5 mg kg-1) by subcutaneous injection and sham groups, received saline dose (1 mL kg-1) and then CPP test in them were investigated. 48 h after behavioral testing animals were decapitated under chloroform anesthesia and their brains fixed and after tissue processing, slices stained with GFAP immunohistochemistery techniques. Present results showed the most dose responses of morphine were observed in 7.5 mg kg-1. It also revealed that don't exist any differences between the number of astrocytes in CAj and CAg in control group and control-saline, but this difference between control and the other groups was significant statistically (p<0.05). We concluded that the phenomenon of morphine based conditioned place preference can cause a significant increase in the number of astrocytes in experimental groups with compared to controls. © 2011 Academic Journals Inc.

Correcting for the echo‐time effect after measuring the cerebral blood flow by arterial spin labeling

To take into account the echo time (TE) influence on arterial spin labeling (ASL) signal when converting it in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Gray matter ASL signal decrease with increasing TE as a consequence of the difference in the apparent transverse relaxation rates between labeled water in capillaries and nonlabeled water in the tissue (δR 2*). We aimed to measure ASL/rCBF changes in different parts of the brain and correct them. Fifteen participants underwent ASL measurements at TEs of 9.7-30 ms. Decreases in ASL values were localized by statistical parametric mapping. The corrections assessed were a subject-per-subject adjustment, an average δR 2* value adjustment, and a two-compartment model adjustment. rCBF decreases associated with increasing TEs were found for gray matter and were corrected using an average δR 2* value of 20 s(-1) . Conversely, for white matter, rCBF values increased with increasing TEs (δR 2* = -23 s(-1)). Our correction was as good as using a two-compartment model. However, it must be done separately for the gray and white matter rCBF values because the capillary R 2* values are, respectively, larger and smaller than those of surrounding tissues.

Microscopic observation of pyrenoids in Order Ulvales (Chlorophyta) collected from Qingdao coast

Pyrenoids found in green algae Order Ulvales have taxonomical significance. Their morphology, microstructure, and the location and number in the cells have been widely used as identification criteria. As these traits can be affected by environmental conditions, it is necessary to look for other different characteristics. Here pyrenoids in several algae species collected along the Qingdao coast were studied for such purpose. The morphology and distribution of pyrenoids in the cells, as well as their change in different parts of the frond and at different times were studied with light microscope. The results are as follows. Pyrenoids appeared to be spherical or oval in observed Ulvales’ algae cells. They were embedded in chloroplasts with the number of 1–3 per cell on average. The number of pyrenoids for Ulva pertusa could change drastically with continuing culture and could reach up to 10–20 per cell in late-growth stages. Generally, the pyrenoids in the marginal part were more observable than those in the central part for Ulva pertusa. In addition, the basal part of frond had more distinct pyrenoids with an average diameter of 2.42 μm for Enteromorpha linza. For some species the pyrenoids were difficult to be observed while dark treatment made them more distinguishable. The apoptosis rate of pyrenoids in different species varied under continuing dark treatment, which could be used to identify different species. Pyrenoids disappeared faster in E. linza than those in E. intestinalis.

Peste, uma doença ocupacional

Plague is a zoonosis caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, transmitted mainly by the bites of infected fleas. Distributed worldwide, it is a potential threat to human populations due to the persistence of the infection among wild rodents and to its high potential for epidemics. In view of the changes in the epidemiological profiles of infectious diseases and socio-cultural changes in different parts of the world, an accurate perception of the professionals at risk of contamination is essential, in order to protect themselves and to prevent the spread of the disease and subsequent morbidity and mortality among human populations.

Microstructural study of transient liquid phase bonded DD98 and K465 superalloys at high temperature

Microstructure of a transient liquid phase (TLP) bonded joint between single crystal DD98 and polycrystalline K465 superalloys was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. After bonding at 1190 °C for 2 h, many phases formed in the centerline of the bonding zone due to an incompletely solidified liquid interlayer. There are script-like, tree-like and blocky compounds besides solid solution γ phase in this region. The script-like phase is CrB boride that is rich in Cr, the tree-like compound rich in Ni is M 23 B 6 with FCC structure, and the blocky phase enriched in Ti, Ta, and Nb, is MC carbide that resulted from the interdiffusion of C atoms between dissimilar base metals. After TLP bonding, many blocky and fine M 6 C particles rich in Cr and W appeared in the diffusion zone of the K465 side. A number of blocky and platelet M 3 B 2 borides rich in W, Cr and Mo precipitated in the diffusion zone of the DD98 side. ► DD98 and K465 alloy was TLP bonded. ► The microstructure changes of different parts were studied. ► CrB, M 23 B 6 and MC formed in the bonding zone. ► M 6 C appeared in diffusion zone of K465 side and M 3 B 2 existed in diffusion zone of DD98 side.

Mesozoic deltaic system along the western margin of the Indian plate: lithofacies and depositional setting of Datta Formation, North Pakistan

Over 1 km thick Mesozoic sedimentary sequence is exposed over a wide area in the Upper Indus basin of north Pakistan along the western margin of the Indian Plate. The Mesozoic sequence is comprised of clastic facies in the lower part, while carbonate facies are dominant in the upper part. About 200 m thick mixed sequence of interbedded sandstone, siltstone, clay, and carbonaceous shale represents the lower Jurassic Datta Formation in the Salt and Trans Indus Ranges in North Pakistan. The Datta Formation constitutes important reservoir horizons in a number of oil fields in the western Himalayan foreland basins where it is encountered at a depth of about 4 km in various wells. The Datta Formation is described from different parts of the range front to understand the internal architecture of various sedimentary facies and their depositional system. The thickness and lithofacies assemblages of the Datta Formation change in different parts of the range front as well as in subsurface of the Upper Indus basin. The Datta Formation represents a coarsening upward deltaic sequence in most parts of the basin. On the basis of lithological variations and sedimentary structures, a number of depositional facies have been recognized which include channel belt facies, floodplain/abandoned channel facies, swamp facies, and lagoonal facies. Further north, in the Kalachitta and Hazara regions, the siliciclastic facies change to more complex assemblages of interbedded bauxite, silcrete, marl, and some limestone. These sediments represent deposition in a delta-plain setting of a fluvial-dominated delta with northwestward flowing channels.

Age-dependent morphometric changes of different parts of small and large intestines in the ross broilers

To study morphometric changes of different parts of small and large intestines with age, 100 Ross broiler chickens were divided into five age groups: 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 days. The following parameters of intestines were analysed: the duodenal length (DL), and weight (DW), jejunal length (JL), and weight (JW), ileal length (IL), and weight (IW), caecal length (CeL), and weight (CeW), colon length (CoL), and weight (CoW), alimentary canal length (AL), and weight (AW), with relation to the birds’ body weight (BW). The weights of all the various parts of small intestine in the 10 days group had significantly higher values for bigger females, compared to the smaller males, whereas in other age groups that males, larger than females, were more than females. As the age increased, all the indices of relative values of intestinal parameters decreased. In all age groups, the highest and lowest weights, lengths and all the intestinal parameters indices were belonged to jejunum and colon respectively. All the intestinal weight and length parameters were highly correlated with body weight and alimentary canal length. These findings suggest that morphometry of alimentary canal might be one of the major determining patterns of growth in a bird species, especially in different ages.

Transversal Stiffness and Beta‐Actin and Alpha‐Actinin‐4 Content of the M. Soleus Fibers in the Conditions of a 3‐Day Reloading after 14‐Day Gravitational Unloading

The aim of the work was to analyze the structural changes in different parts of the sarcolemma and contractile apparatus of muscle fibers by measuring their transversal stiffness by atomic force microscopy in a three-day reloading after a 14-day gravity disuse, which was carried out by hind-limbs suspension. The object of the study was the soleus muscle of the Wistar rat. It was shown that after 14 days of disuse, there was a reduction of transversal stiffness of all points of the sarcolemma and contractile apparatus. Readaptation for 3 days leads to complete recovery of the values of the transversal stiffness of the sarcolemma and to partial value recovery of the contractile apparatus. The changes in transversal stiffness of sarcolemma correlate with beta-actin and alpha-actinin-4 in membrane protein fractions.

Zur Krise der westdeutschen Grenzwertpolitik in den 1970er Jahren: Die Verwandlung des Berufskrebses von einem toxikologischen in ein sozioökonomisches Problem

The paper tackles the changes that occurred in the political culture and the episteme of risk in the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1970s. The objects of observation are limit values for hazardous industrial materials, especially for carcinogens. At the forefront of the production of such values in Germany was the German Research Society's Senate Commission for the Examination of Hazardous Industrial Materials. Limit values bring economy, politics, and science together and they mediate different interests. This makes limit values an ideal object of study to bring together changes in different parts of society. In 1972, a new category of limit values for carcinogenic substances is introduced, the so called "Technische Richtkonzentration" (TRK). This category of values does not assume that complete safety can be reached, as do limit values for hazardous industrial materials, so called "Maximale Arbeitsplatzkonzentrationen" (MAK). This means an important rupture in toxicological thinking. Until the 1970s, Paracelsus' dictum about dosage and poison still served as starting point for toxicologists. The innovation of TRK marks an important rupture in the episteme of regulating dangerous matters. Whereas until the 1970s there existed, at least as an ideal, the myth of "no risk" or "zero tolerance" even in the case of carcinogens, since the beginning of the 1970s, certainty is no more guaranteed by epistemically, but by socially robust knowledge. This also means the return of the risk society at the beginning of the 1970s, whereby cancer at the workplace becomes--in the view of the regulatory bodies--out of a medical problem a socioeconomic illness. The paper argues that these changes are connected to a general feeling of disorientation.

Infrared Spectroscopy Reveals the Nonsynchronicity Phenomenon in the Glassy to Fluid Micellar Transition of DSPE-PEG2000 Aqueous Dispersions

One challenging question regarding the phase transition mechanism of amphiphiles is to seek the roles individual groups/portions of the amphiphilic molecule play during the transformation. To address this question, we selected a poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted phospholipid, distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine-N-[methoxy(poly(ethylene glycol))-2000] (DSPE-PEG2000), to study its glassy to fluid micellar phase transition by using differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR results revealed that during the glassy to fluid micellar transition, the lipid acyl tails have evident conformational rearrangements but undergo only slight modifications in the packing state. For the lipid interface region, small changes in the hydration state of C=O groups were observed, whereas for the lipid headgroups (NHCO and PO(4)(-)), their conformation and hydration states remain unchanged. Thus, the head, the interface, and the tail regions of DSPE-PEG2000 molecules change nonsynchronously during the transition. As to the bulky PEG corona residing at the outer micellar surface, no evident hydration state change was observed upon heating, and its behavior is almost the same as that of the hydrated free PEG2000 molecules. Such a nonsynchronous change in different parts of the self-assembled amphiphilic aggregates undergoing phase transition could be a common phenomenon that needs to be widely recognized.

Proteomics: taking over where genomics leaves off

The proteomic studies are simultaneously developed in several directions and significantly influence our notions on the capabilities of biological sciences. The need for proteomics research is necessary as there are certain genes in a cell that encode proteins with specific functions. Using a variety of techniques, proteomics can be used to study how proteins interact within a system or how the protein expression changes in different parts of the body, in different stages of its life cycle and in different environmental conditions as every individual has one genome and many proteomes. Besides the qualitative and quantitative description of the expressed proteins, proteomics also deals with the analysis of mutual interactions of proteins. Thereby, candidate proteins can be identified which may be used as starting-points for diagnostic or even therapeutic approaches.

When is a Copula Constant? A Test for Changing Relationships

A copula defines the probability that observations from two time series lie below given quantiles. It is proposed that stationarity tests constructed from indicator variables be used to test against the hypothesis that the copula is changing over time. Tests associated with different quantiles may point to changes in different parts of the copula. The tests are still effective when prefiltering is carried out to correct for persistent changes in volatility. However, a “median quadrant association test” that is robust to changing volatility provides a good overall test against a time-varying copula. An empirical illustration on financial contagion is provided. (JEL: C12, G32)

A Combined Computational and Functional Approach Identifies New Residues Involved in pH-dependent Gating of ASIC1a

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are key receptors for extracellular protons. These neuronal nonvoltage-gated Na(+) channels are involved in learning, the expression of fear, neurodegeneration after ischemia, and pain sensation. We have applied a systematic approach to identify potential pH sensors in ASIC1a and to elucidate the mechanisms by which pH variations govern ASIC gating. We first calculated the pK(a) value of all extracellular His, Glu, and Asp residues using a Poisson-Boltzmann continuum approach, based on the ASIC three-dimensional structure, to identify candidate pH-sensing residues. The role of these residues was then assessed by site-directed mutagenesis and chemical modification, combined with functional analysis. The localization of putative pH-sensing residues suggests that pH changes control ASIC gating by protonation/deprotonation of many residues per subunit in different channel domains. Analysis of the function of residues in the palm domain close to the central vertical axis of the channel allowed for prediction of conformational changes of this region during gating. Our study provides a basis for the intrinsic ASIC pH dependence and describes an approach that can also be applied to the investigation of the mechanisms of the pH dependence of other proteins.

C, N, and H Isotope Fractionation of the Herbicide Isoproturon Reflects Different Microbial Transformation Pathways

The fate of pesticides in the subsurface is of great interest to the public, industry, and regulatory authorities. Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) is a promising tool complementary to existing methods for elucidating pesticide degradation reactions. Here, we address three different initial biotransformation reactions of the phenylurea herbicide isoproturon (3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) in pure culture experiments with bacterial and fungal strains. When analyzing isotopic changes in different parts of the isoproturon molecule, hydroxylation of the isopropyl group by fungi was found to be associated with C and H isotope fractionation. In contrast, hydrolysis by Arthrobacter globiformis D47 caused strong C and N isotope fractionation, albeit in a different manner than abiotic hydrolysis so that isotope measurements can distinguish between both modes of transformation. No significant isotope fractionation was observed during N-demethylation by Sphingomonas sp. SRS2. The observed isotope fractionation patterns were in agreement with the type of reactions and elements involved. Moreover, their substantially different nature suggests that isotope changes in natural samples may be uniquely attributed to either pathway, allowing even to distinguish the abiotic versus biotic nature of hydrolysis. Our investigations show how characteristic isotope patterns may significantly add to the present understanding of the environmental fate of pesticides.