Role Of Macro Research Articles

Trace elemental distribution in the scalp hair of bipolars using PIXE technique

Trace metals play a significant role in neurological disorders. There is very limited information available on the role of macro and trace elements in bipolar disorders. The objective of this investigation was to identification, quantification of essential trace elements in the scalp hair samples of the patients and compare with those of normal subjects. We made a hypothesis about the role played by essential trace metals whose concentrations are significantly different to those of normals in the disease process. The analysis was carried out in the scalp hair samples of 26 male and 26 female patients suffering from bipolar disorder (BD) by Particle Induced X-ray Emission Technique (PIXE). The concentration of Cu (p<0.002) was found to be higher in the hair samples of male bipolar disorder patients while the concentrations of Mn (p<0.001), Fe (p<0.005), Zn (p<0.0001) and Se (p<0.005) were found to be lower than those in normal subjects. The concentration of Cu (p<0.0001) was higher in the hair samples of female bipolar patients but depressed levels of Fe (p<0.005), Ni (p<0.05), Zn (p<0.00001) and Se (p<0.05) were observed compared to controls. Cu/Zn ratio was found to be higher in the hair samples of male and female patients compared with normals. While the imbalance of certain trace elements leads to generation of more free radicals, the imbalance of some other trace elements causes changes in dopamine (neurotransmitter) activity. It is essential to monitor before and periodically during treatment the levels of essential trace elements for effective treatment of bipolar disorder.

CFO Dismissal: The Role of Macro vs. Micro-level Performance Measures and External Constituents

Recently, scholars and practitioners point at the increasing importance of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This study examines factors that lead to the dismissal of the CFO. We propose that CFOs will be monitored and disciplined based on a mix of macro and micro-level performance measures, as represented by firm performance, liquidity, and the interest cover ratio. Further, poorly performing CFOs are disciplined through the financial community. Specifically, the presence of institutional investors and a high number of security analysts covering the firm will lead to increased CFO dismissal under conditions of weak firm performance. Using a panel data set with stock listed German companies for the period 2007 – 2011, we found that CFO dismissal is preceded by low levels of liquidity and interest cover ratio. However, firm performance has no direct effect on CFO dismissals. Further, we found that the presence of institutional investors increases the likelihood of CFO dismissal under conditions of poor firm performance.

Многогранная роль макро- и микроэлементов в построении костной ткани

Многогранная роль макро- и микроэлементов в построении костной ткани

Heat transport in helical RFX-mod plasmas by electron temperature dynamics from soft-x-ray diagnostics

High current plasmas in the RFX-mod experiment are characterized by a 3D helical magnetic topology where internal electron transport barriers, with a temperature up to 1.2 keV, develop in the core. Power balance and heat transport analyses have been performed for the first time using high time resolution electron temperature Te measurements obtained by a double filter technique with a multichords soft-x-ray (SXR) diagnostic. Te profiles are implemented in the heat transport equation in order to determine the electron thermal diffusivity across the helical magnetic surfaces assuming both stationary and dynamic conditions. In order to explain the discrepancy between the experimental thermal diffusivity at the barrier and the lower neoclassical predictions, the role of residual macro and microscale magnetic stochasticity on the temperature gradient is investigated. The fast termination of helical structures, analyzed by a statistical approach, reveals the different time scales involved in the dynamics of magnetic and thermal plasma properties.

Impact of a new total Western diet for rodents on metabolic health and colorectal carcinogenesis

Our group developed a new total Western diet (TWD) for rodents that mimics typical human nutrition patterns with respect to macronutrient composition (amounts and types of sugar, fat, protein) and micronutrient content (vitamins and minerals) on a nutrient density basis. The goal of the present study was to determine the relative roles of macro‐ and micronutrients in dysregulating metabolism. Mice fed the TWD appeared to compensate for its high energy content by reducing food consumption, whereas animals fed a commercial DIO diet did not. However, food and energy intakes in mice fed a diet modified only for vitamin and mineral content was similar to the AIN93‐fed controls, whereas food and energy intakes by mice fed a diet modified for macronutrient composition were highly similar to DIO‐fed mice. These patterns were reflected in the average final body weight for each group, and body weight gain was entirely attributed to an increase in fat mass. Overall, based on our observations, the altered micronutrient composition of the TWD blocked the macronutrient driven increase in body weight. Significant differences in fasting glucose or oral glucose tolerance were observed only for mice fed the DIO diet. Our observations point to a complex interaction between macro‐ and micronutrients with respect to satiety and energy intake. We are currently examining the impact of these westernized rodent diets on colon carcinogenesis.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Diabetes Complications in the Northeastern United States: The Role of Socioeconomic Status

The role of socioeconomic status (SES) in explaining racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes remains unclear. We investigated disparities in self-reported diabetes complications and the role of macro (eg, income, education) and micro (eg, owning a home or having a checking account) SES indicators in explaining these differences. The sample included individuals with a diagnosis of diabetes (N = 795) who were aged, on average, 55 years, and 55.6% non-Hispanic white, 25.0% African American, and 19.4% Hispanic. Approximately 8% reported nephropathy, 35% reported retinopathy, and 16% reported cardiovascular disease. There were significant disparities in the rates of complications among non-Hispanic white, African American, and Hispanic participants, with Hispanic participants having the highest rates of nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease. Macro SES indicators (eg, income) mediated racial differences (ie, non-Hispanic whites vs African Americans) in self-reported retinopathy, a combination of macro and more micro SES indicators (eg, education, income, and owning a home or having a checking account) mediated racial/ethnic differences (ie, non-Hispanic white vs Hispanic participants) in self-reported cardiovascular disease, and only micro SES indicators (eg, owning a home or having a checking account) mediated differences between lower-income SES racial/ethnic minority groups (ie, African American vs Hispanic participants) in self-reported retinopathy and cardiovascular disease. Findings underscore that indicators of SES must be sensitive to the outcome of interest and the racial/ethnic groups being compared.

A macro role for imprinted clusters of microRNAs in the brain.

Evidence suggests that ~95% of the human genome may produce noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). Approximately 30% of parentally imprinted transcripts are ncRNAs that are found abundantly--and in some cases specifically--in the brain; however, the role ncRNA plays during development and day-to-day life is not apparent. Interestingly, ~1,300 transcripts show a consistent parental expression bias in the brain. This is in contrast to most tissues that show only rare imprinted transcripts. Furthermore, there are only two clusters of imprinted small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) encoding genes in mammals, which are also expressed in the brain. These clusters, Snrpn-Ube3a (Human 15q11-q13/Murine 7qC) and Dlk1-Dio3 (Human 14q32.2/Murine 12qF1) and rodent specific Sfmbt2 (Murine 2qA1), form the focus of this review. These imprinted clusters are localized to imprinted regions that are associated with processes involved in neuronal plasticity and several neurodevelopmental disorders. Several miRNAs from the Dlk1-Dio3 region are also involved in chromatin methylation and remodelling. The final loci of interest is the proximal region of murine chromosome 2 that contains Sfmbt2 and an overlapping antisense transcript that is unique within mice and rats. This suggests that Sfmbt2 may be in the process of becoming imprinted that is being driven by a cluster of intergenic miRNAs. Ultimately, imprinted clusters of ncRNA have the potential to offer novel insight into the understanding of the complex processes of cognition given their role in brain function.

Особенности содержания макро- и микроэлементов при заболеваниях сердечно-сосудистой системы

В работе приведены результаты исследований, посвященных изучению роли макро- и микроэлементов в генезе патологии сердечно-сосудистой системы (врожденные и приобретенные пороки сердца, нарушения ритма сердца, дилатационная кардиомиопатия, эндомиокардиальный фиброз, первичная артериальная гипертензия, метаболический синдром, ишемическая болезнь сердца, инфаркт миокарда). Приведенные данные свидетельствуют о наличии различных изменений содержания химических элементов у больных с кардиоваскулярной патологией. Перспективным представляется выяснение особенностей содержания макро- и микроэлементов у детей с сердечно-сосудистыми заболеваниями, их участия в этиологии, патогенезе и саногенезе кардиоваскулярной патологии, что позволит разработать адекватные меры профилактики и лечебно-реабилитационные мероприятия.

The directors’ roles in containing the Robben Island Diversity Experience (RIDE)

Orientation: Robben Island represents past denigration and present day liberation. The researchers report on their experiences of containing the learning, consciously and unconsciously, in the Robben Island Diversity Experience.Research purpose: The purpose of the research was to describe the experiences of the directors of RIDE in the last 10 years.Motivation for the study: Of the many and different diversity events that South African organisations present, RIDE is the only systems psycho-dynamically designed and presented event. This research was an effort to explore the nature of the directors’ roles in working with unconscious diversity dynamics in such a provocative venue.Research design, approach and method: The researchers conducted qualitative, descriptive and double hermeneutic research. The various RIDE events served as case studies. The data consisted of researcher field notes collected during the 10 years. Thematic analysis resulted in four themes, for which the researchers formulated working hypotheses. They integrated them into the research hypothesis.Main findings: Four themes emerged. They were the diversity characteristics of the directors as containers, working on the boundary between RIDE and the macro role players, attacks on the programme as container and challenges from participants.Practical/managerial implications: The research highlighted the important roles of directors’ authorisation as a resilience factor in containing RIDE.Contribution/value-add: The research contributed towards the awareness of intergroup relations between role players during diversity dynamic events and of how authorisation cements relationships.

Loss of Arnt (Hif1β) in mouse epidermis triggers dermal angiogenesis, blood vessel dilation and clotting defects

Targeted ablation of Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (Arnt) in the mouse epidermis results in severe abnormalities in dermal vasculature reminiscent of petechia induced in human skin by anticoagulants or certain genetic disorders. Lack of Arnt leads to downregulation of Egln3/Phd3 hydroxylase and concomitant hypoxia-independent stabilization of hypoxia-induced factor 1α (Hif1α) along with compensatory induction of Arnt2. Ectopic induction of Arnt2 results in its heterodimerization with stabilized Hif1α and is associated with activation of genes coding for secreted proteins implicated in control of angiogenesis, coagulation, vasodilation and blood vessel permeability such as S100a8/S100a9, S100a10, Serpine1, Defb3, Socs3, Cxcl1 and Thbd. Since ARNT and ARNT2 heterodimers with HIF1α are known to have different (yet overlapping) downstream targets our findings suggest that loss of Arnt in the epidermis activates an aberrant paracrine regulatory pathway responsible for dermal vascular phenotype in K14-Arnt KO mice. This assumption is supported by a significant decline of von Willebrand factor in dermal vasculature of these mice where Arnt level remains normal. Given the essential role of ARNT in the adaptive response to environmental stress and striking similarity between skin vascular phenotype in K14-Arnt KO mice and specific vascular features of tumour stroma and psoriatic skin, we believe that further characterization of Arnt-dependent epidermal–dermal signalling may provide insight into the role of macro- and micro-environmental factors in control of skin vasculature and in pathogenesis of environmentally modulated skin disorders.

Cadmium Toxicity in Plants and Role of Mineral Nutrients in Its Alleviation

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that enters the environment through various anthropogenic sources, and inhibits plant growth and development. Cadmium toxicity may result from disturbance in plant metabolism as a consequence of disturbance in the uptake and translocation of mineral nutrients. Plant nutrients and Cd compete for the same transporters and, therefore, presence of Cd results in mineral nutrients deficiency. The optimization of mineral nutrients under Cd stress could reduce Cd toxicity by greater availability at the transport site resulting in reduced accumulation of Cd, and could also alleviate Cd-induced toxic effects by enhancing biochemical reactions and physiological processes in plants. In the present review the role of plant macro, micro and beneficial elements in alleviating Cd stress in crop plants is discussed.

Role of macro and micro elements on bioleaching of silica from Indian chromite ore by Aspergillus niger AB200

Role of macro and micro elements on bioleaching of silica from Indian chromite ore by Aspergillus niger AB200

Role of macro- and meiobenthos in the bottom communities of the inner Gulf of Finland

The role of macro- and meiobenthos in the bottom communities of the inner Gulf of Finland was studied under different environmental conditions. In the shallow areas above 20 m isobath so-called principle of biocoenotic compensation was observed, that is, increase of meiobenthos quantitative characteristics with macrobenthos impoverishment. This principle was violated in the deeper areas, where bottom communities were wiped out periodically because of hypoxicanoxic events. The deep-water communities characterized by very unstable structure. The both studied benthos components were adversely af fected by hypoxia. In the following recovery succession macrobenthic polychaetes Marenzelleria spp. got advantage, which able to colonized quickly vacant bottoms because of presence of plankton larvae. The meiobenthos was typified by slower recovery. Thus, in the open waters of the Gulf of Finland meiobenthos can not compensate disappearance or strong impoverishment of macrozoobenthos in the case of near-bottom hypoxia formation, which in the last years became a common phenomenon for the most part of area of this water body.

Lack of home-field advantage in the decomposition of leaf litter in the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil

Experiments using litter monocultures have indicated that litter decomposes faster on its home site owing to specialised decomposers leading to a home-field advantage (HFA). However, most natural forests, in particular tropical rainforests, harbour more than one species of trees, all of which contribute to the local litter layer. Since interactions among different litter types that cause non-additive decomposition dynamics may prevent HFA, the occurrence of HFA in such multispecies ecosystems is still a matter of debate. Here we studied whether there is an HFA in a highly diverse forest ecosystem in the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil. We used a litter decomposition experiment using natural litter mixtures with reciprocal transfers among three forest successional stages that differed in their tree species composition and general litter quality. We also investigated the role of soil macro- and meso-invertebrates for HFA and their relative importance along a successional gradient. Results of various statistical procedures failed to demonstrate HFA. A reason for this lack of a HFA may be rapid shifts in the composition of local microbial communities in response to local litter quality. Our experiments indicate a rapid resilience of the microbial decomposition during forest regeneration.

Lin28: A MicroRNA Regulator with a Macro Role

Lin28, a highly conserved RNA-binding protein, has emerged as a modulator of the processing of the let-7 microRNA. This role for Lin28 has important implications for our mechanistic understanding of pluripotency, the timing of development, and oncogenesis.

Do Dietary Modifications Made Prior to Pubertal Maturation Have the Potential to Decrease Obesity Later in Life? A Developmental Perspective

Dietary intake is an important contributor to the obesity epidemic in children and adults, but the long-term effects of dietary interventions after obesity has occurred are modest at best. Childhood obesity significantly increases the risk of adult obesity. It has been suggested that prior to puberty, the interaction of physiological and dietary intake factors greatly affects overall trajectory of weight gain of the life course. This review article summarizes research on the role of diet on weight and metabolic outcomes, and it suggests how dietary interventions prior to puberty may decrease the prevalence of obesity life span. Specifically, presented literature examines dietary intake in early life and through the pubertal transition, as well as the role of macro- and micronutrients in mechanisms that influence fat accumulation and storage. The evidence suggests that multiple early life periods for dietary interventions could have a cumulative effect on optimizing tissue partitioning and limiting excessive fat accumulation into adulthood. Prior to the pubertal transition, it appears that improving diet quality in the context of energy balance may also be a key strategy for preventing current and future obesity.

Macro Role(s) of MicroRNAs in Fragile X Syndrome?

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited mental retardation, is caused by the loss of functional fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). FMRP is an RNA-binding protein that can regulate the translation of specific mRNAs. It is known to regulate synaptic development through the regulation of local protein synthesis in synapses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs involved in almost every biological process. They exhibit spatiotemporal expression during brain development, and some miRNAs play important roles in neural development. A growing body of evidence now implicates the miRNA pathway in the molecular pathogenesis of FXS. Here we review the current state of knowledge about the microRNA pathway in neural development and the emergence of possible roles for miRNAs in FXS.

Role of inertia in falling head permeability test

AbstractThis paper discusses the role of macro‐ and micro‐inertial forces in the falling head permeability test. The model of flow including viscous and dynamic interaction forces is formulated. Then, the model is used to perform numerical simulations of the tests for high‐permeability soils. The presented results prove the existence of a level of permeability of materials above which macro‐and micro‐inertial forces are important and that in all cases the latter forces are dominant. The results suggest limited validity of the standard interpretation of the falling head permeability test and possible usefulness of the test to determine both permeability and the parameter characterizing non‐linear interactions of fluid and solid skeleton. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Significant lower VVH7-like immunoreactivity serum level in diabetic patients: Evidence for independence from metabolic control and three key enzymes in hemorphin metabolism, cathepsin D, ACE and DPP-IV

Low circulating VVH7-like immunoreactivity (VVH7 i.r) level was amazingly observed in human diabetic sera. Here, we examined the impact of diabetes type, clinico-biological features and metabolic control on circulating VVH7 i.r level in this disease. ELISA test was used to measure VVH7 i.r in sera of 120 diabetic patients (type 1 diabetes in 64, type 2 diabetes in 56). Three enzymatic tests were also applied to determine serum cathepsin D (CD), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activities. A subgroup of 24 type 1 diabetic patients negative for microalbuminuria and hypertension were submitted to an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to evaluate the relationship between VVH7 i.r level and blood pressure parameters. The mean serum concentration of VVH7 i.r was drastically reduced in diabetic patients (0.91 ± 0.93 μmol/l versus 5.63 ± 1.11 μmol/l in controls) ( p < 0.001). A negative correlation between VVH7 i.r level and daytime diastolic blood pressure existed in type 1 diabetic patients. There was no association of low VVH7 i.r with either type of diabetes or HbA1c level. An increase of cathepsin D activity was found in serum of diabetic patients compared to controls (0.47 U/ml versus 0.15 U/ml, respectively) whereas DPPIV activity was significantly decreased in diabetic sera (50.81 U/ml versus 282.10 U/l respectively). Diminution of VVH7 i.r in sera of diabetic patients was confirmed but still remained unexplained. Relationships between higher systolic blood pressure and decrease of VVH7 i.r reinforce the need to investigate this pathway in this disease to elucidate its role in macro- and micro-angiopathy.

Dynamic models of regional innovation: explorations with British time-series data

In this paper, we analyse a new dataset on innovation in the British regions from 1990 to 2006. We interpret these data as representing the rate of growth of investment in innovation which we analyse using a range of estimators. The paper explores the role of macro- and microeconomic determinants of innovation. In addition to standard determinants that help to explain the decline in innovation from the late 1990s, our findings also support the hypothesis of path dependence in innovation and the importance of human capital. These findings are consistent with the literature on absorptive capacity and suggest a role for regional policies to promote investment in innovation and training as well as appropriate macroeconomic policies.