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HPC
Selected AbstractsDesign and implementation of a high-performance CCA event service,CONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 9 2009Ian Gorton Abstract Event services based on publish,subscribe architectures are well-established components of distributed computing applications. Recently, an event service has been proposed as part of the common component architecture (CCA) for high-performance computing (HPC) applications. In this paper we describe our implementation, experimental evaluation, and initial experience with a high-performance CCA event service that exploits efficient communications mechanisms commonly used on HPC platforms. We describe the CCA event service model and briefly discuss the possible implementation strategies of the model. We then present the design and implementation of the event service using the aggregate remote memory copy interface as an underlying communication layer for this mechanism. Two alternative implementations are presented and evaluated on a Cray XD-1 platform. The performance results demonstrate that event delivery latencies are low and that the event service is able to achieve high-throughput levels. Finally, we describe the use of the event service in an application for high-speed processing of data from a mass spectrometer and conclude by discussing some possible extensions to the event service for other HPC applications. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Parallel programming on a high-performance application-runtimeCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 18 2008Wojtek James Goscinski Abstract High-performance application development remains challenging, particularly for scientists making the transition to a heterogeneous grid environment. In general areas of computing, virtual environments such as Java and .Net have proved to be successful in fostering application development, allowing users to target and compile to a single environment, rather than a range of platforms, instruction sets and libraries. However, existing runtime environments are focused on business and desktop computing and they do not support the necessary high-performance computing (HPC) abstractions required by e-Scientists. Our work is focused on developing an application-runtime that can support these services natively. The result is a new approach to the development of an application-runtime for HPC: the Motor system has been developed by integrating a high-performance communication library directly within a virtual machine. The Motor message passing library is integrated alongside and in cooperation with other runtime libraries and services while retaining a strong message passing performance. As a result, the application developer is provided with a common environment for HPC application development. This environment supports both procedural languages, such as C, and modern object-oriented languages, such as C#. This paper describes the unique Motor architecture, presents its implementation and demonstrates its performance and use. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Increased immature hematopoietic progenitor cells CD34+/CD38dim in myelodysplasiaCYTOMETRY, Issue 2 2006Mariela B. Monreal Abstract Background Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders affecting hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC). Despite the relevance of clonal CD34+ cells in developing MDS, only few studies analyze the phenotype of this cell population. The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic changes on HPC in MDS that could reflect abnormalities in the differentiation process of stem cells. Methods We analyzed the expression of CD38 and HLA-DR on CD34+ cells by flow cytometry in 36 patients with MDS, as well as in healthy donors (n = 12) and patients with other hematological disorders: non-Hodgkin lymphomas and multiple myeloma, both in complete remission (CR) (n = 32); acute lymphoblastic leukemia in CR (n = 17); de novo acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) at diagnosis (n = 22) and in CR (n = 37); and AML secondary to MDS at diagnosis (n = 19). Cases with available karyotype were grouped according to the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS). Results Compared to normal BM, the fraction of immature HPC, characterized as CD34+bright, intermediate FSC/SSC, and CD38dim, was significantly increased in high risk MDS and secondary AML, but not in low risk MDS, (P , 0.001, P = 0.03, and P = 0.7). De novo AML showed decreased immature HPC. High numbers of immature HPC correlated with higher IPSS risk groups (P = 0.05) and showed significant impact on disease progression (P = 0.03). Conclusion Our study confirms that evaluation of CD38 expression pattern on HPC is an easy and reproducible test that allows evaluating the immature subset of progenitor cells. Increased immature HPC in high risk MDS and secondary AML may reflect blocked differentiation of CD34+ cells in these diseases. © 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology [source] New organochlorine contaminants and metabolites in plasma and eggs of glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) from the Norwegian ArcticENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2005Jonathan Verreault Abstract The present study investigated new or lesser-studied and legacy organochlorine (OC) contaminants and metabolites in plasma and eggs of glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreus) collected from major breeding colonies on Bear Island in the Norwegian Arctic. Hexachlorobutadiene was below the method limit of detection (<0.07 ng/g lipid wt) in all samples. The sum (sum) of 20 chlorobornane congener concentrations ranged between 294 and 986 ng/g lipid weight and 104 and 1,121 ng/g lipid weight in plasma and eggs, respectively, whereas those of ,20polychlorinated naphthalene ranged between 1.34 and 126 ng/g lipid weight in plasma and 1.82 and 162 ng/g lipid weight in eggs. Bis(4-chlorophenyl) sulfone concentrations ranged between 5.24 and 143 ng/g lipid weight plasma, which is the first report of this contaminant in arctic biota north of Sweden. Based on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin toxic equivalents (TEQs), partial dioxin-like toxicity varied between 3.04 and 20.8 ng TEQ/g lipid weight in plasma and 0.94 and 46.5 ng TEQ/g lipid weight in eggs, and largely was due to concentrations of non- ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), with a very minor contribution from mono- ortho PCBs and polychlorinated naphthalenes. The major aryl sulfone metabolite in plasma was an unidentified hexachlorinated MeSO2 -PCB congener (range: 13.5,551 ng/g lipid wt), whereas the pentachlorinated congeners 3,- and 4,-MeSO2 -CB101 (range: 4.49,38.1 ng/g lipid wt) dominated in eggs. The predominant halogenated phenolic compound (HPC) in plasma was consistently the PCB metabolite 4-OH-CB187 (range: 0.29,17.5 ng/g wet wt), whereas in eggs, detectable HPCs were at very low and transient concentrations. As part of a complex profile of contaminant exposure, these chemical classes and metabolites may be contributing factors to enhance physiological stress in breeding glaucous gulls. [source] Role of the monomeric GTPase Rho in hematopoietic progenitor cell migration and transplantationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Stephan Göttig Abstract To investigate the role of the monomeric guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Rho on migration of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC), we employed different clostridial toxins which inhibit the Rho family of GTPases. Pretreatment with C2I-C3, a cell-accessible C3 transferase fusion protein that targets Rho, increased chemokinetic migration of the factor-dependent multipotent cell line Factor Dependent Cell Paterson with mixed lineage differentiation potential (FDCP-mix) and of primary lineage marker-depleted HPC in vitro. In contrast, treatment with lethal toxin (LT) from Clostridium sordellii, which predominantly inactivates Rac, and with toxin,B from C.,difficile, which inactivates Rho, Rac and Cdc42, decreased in vitro migration. When HPC pretreated with LT or toxin,B were transplanted into mice, homing to the bone marrow was impaired, whereas C2I-C3 treatment did not alter HPC homing. However, in a competitive hematopoietic repopulation experiment in C57BL/6 mice, pretreatment of bone marrow cells with any of the inhibitors, including the Rho inhibitor C2I-C3, resulted in suppressed donor-type hematopoiesis. Our data indicate that whereas Rac supports HPC cell cycling, migration, short-term homing and hematopoietic regeneration, Rho coordinates down-regulation of HPC migration and is required for hematopoietic regeneration. [source] Cost-Efficient Metal,Ceramic Composites,Novel Foam-Preforms, Casting Processes and Characterisation,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 3 2010Gisela Standke Because of their dissatisfactory cost-performance ratio metal matrix composites (MMCs) are still not established in industry, although they show improved properties compared to pure metals in some application fields. The present paper describes the development of enhanced MMCs based on silicon carbide (SiC) foams made by the Schwartzwalder process. Therefore, foams with cell sizes of 30, 45 and 60,ppi based on pressure less sintered SiC (SSiC) were developed. They were coated with layers of coarse SiC particles, which form a rough strut surface. The ceramic content of the foams could be increased to values of 20,30,mass%. Additionally, foam preforms based on clay-bonded SiC (as they are known from molten metal infiltration) were tested. The preforms were infiltrated with aluminium alloys AlSi9Cu3 and AlSi7Mg0.6 and cast iron EN-GJSA-XNiCr35-5-2 and EN-GJL-250. For aluminium alloys high pressure die casting (HPC) as well as gravity casting was applied, whereas iron was only infiltrated by gravity casting. For HPC an excellent interlocking of metal and preform was observed because of the microporosity of the rough surface of the SSiC foam struts. By the use of gravity casting preform cells up to 45,ppi could be well infiltrated. Microporosity in the ceramic coating and the typical hollow struts of the foams did not show metal infiltration. Even by use of moderate ceramic volume fractions pressure-infiltrated aluminium matrix composites showed a high specific stiffness of up to E/,,=,42,GPa,cm3,g,1 compared to conventional Al or Mg alloys (E/,,=,25,27,GPa,cm3,g,1). Ceramic foam based MMCs produced by pressure less casting showed no advantages in mechanical properties compared to pure metals. Nevertheless it can be expected that they can provide improved wear resistance and lower thermal expansion coefficients. [source] Importance of comorbidity in hypopharyngeal cancer,HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 2 2010Akihiro Homma MD Abstract Background. Comorbidity has an impact on survival in laryngeal cancer in several reports. However, the importance of comorbidity in hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) has not been reported. Methods. A retrospective medical record review of 156 patients with HPC treated between 1995 and 2005 was performed. Comorbid illness was measured by the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the factors related to overall survival. Results. Comorbidity was absent in 55 (35.2%) of the patients, mild in 39 (25%), moderate in 28 (17.9%), and severe in 34 (21.8%). There were statistically significant differences between the survival rates in accord with age, stage, subsite, and comorbidity (45.1% for none or mild vs 27.7% for moderate or severe; p = .0073). Age, stage, and comorbidity were identified as independent prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion. Comorbidity, along with the clinical stage, should be considered in treatment planning for patients with HPC. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010 [source] Lipomatous hemangiopericytoma of the head and neck: immunohistochemical and dna ploidy analysesHEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 6 2004Sadir J. Alrawi MD Abstract Background. Lipomatous hemangiopericytoma (LHPC) is a newly described rare soft tissue tumor with unpredictable biologic behavior and is difficult to diagnose by conventional histologic parameters. The molecular analyses of this entity to date are sparse. Only a few cases of LHPC have been reported. Although one case of LHPC in the sinonasal region was briefly reported, this is the first case in the head and neck region with detailed clinicopathologic features and molecular analysis of this entity. Methods. We reported a case of LHPC in a 55-year-old woman with a slowly growing lesion in the occipital area that was diagnosed by CT and MRI and removed surgically. Immunohistochemical and DNA ploidy analyses were performed. Results. A panel of 16 markers was included for immunohistochemical analysis. Diffuse immunopositivity of CD57 in our case provides supportive evidence that LHPC is linked with HPC because this marker is also present in approximately 50% of conventional HPCs. CD57 should be used in the immunohistochemical panel in any lesion suspected to be LHPC. Furthermore, CD57 along with CD34 and XIIIa is thought to stain for primitive mesenchymal stem cells, suggesting a bimodal/multimodal differentiation of LHPC. By flow cytometry, we found that tumor cells were 100% diploid with the S-phase fraction (SPF) being 3.21%. A significant positive correlation was detected between nuclear proliferating index and SPF (p < 0.001, by Spearman analysis). These findings provide molecular evidence indicating a benign nature of LHPC. Conclusions. Contrary to the old belief that HPC has an aggressive nature, this variant of tumor looks less aggressive. The patient was followed for 1 year without any evidence of recurrence, supporting our pathologic hypothesis. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck26: 544,549, 2004 [source] Medial septal modulation of the ascending brainstem hippocampal synchronizing pathways in the freely moving ratHIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 1 2006Brian H. Bland Abstract Rats implanted with hippocampal recording electrodes were tested in a wheel-running apparatus under three conditions: (1) independent electrical stimulation of the medial septal nucleus (MS); (2) independent electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic nucleus (PH); and (3) combined electrical stimulation of the MS and PH using pairings of two stimulation conditions, 7 or10 Hz stimulation of the MS, and a low- or high-intensity PH stimulation. Quantitative measures of running speed were taken, and hippocampal recordings were subjected to fast-Fourier transform analysis. Electrical stimulation of the PH induced wheel-running behavior; running speed and the accompanying hippocampus (HPC) theta frequency increased with increase in stimulation intensity. Electrical stimulation of the MS failed to induce wheel-running behavior despite the fact that HPC theta was induced at the frequency of the applied stimulation (7 and 10 Hz). Electrical stimulation of the MS reset the frequency of HPC theta induced by PH stimulation in both the upward and downward directions and increased theta power, while wheel-running speed was modulated in a downward direction only. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Dorsal/ventral hippocampus, fornix, and conditioned place preferenceHIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 2 2001Janina Ferbinteanu Abstract Conditioned place preference (CPP) is a learning paradigm requiring formation of associations between reward and particular locations. White and McDonald (Behav Brain Res 1993;55:269,281) demonstrated that amygdala (AMG) lesions impair, while fornix (Fx) lesions enhance learning of this task. In the present experiments, we replicated the effects of AMG and Fx lesions, but we also found that complete hippocampal (HPC) lesions interfere with normal performance. Thus, the effects of Fx and HPC lesions on CPP are opposite. This is in contrast with spatial learning in the water maze. Because it has been demonstrated that damage of dorsal HPC interferes to a greater extent with spatial learning than damage of ventral HPC, we also tested animals with either dorsal or ventral HPC disruptions on CPP. Lesions limited to dorsal HPC were followed by impairment on this task. In contrast, lesions limited to ventral HPC resulted in enhanced learning. We argue that Fx and HPC lesions do not have interchangeable effects in all learning paradigms. To explain the complex pattern of results presently obtained, we propose a novel hypothesis regarding behavioral functions of HPC neural circuits. Implications regarding the interaction between memory systems are also considered. Hippocampus 2001;11:187,200. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Determination of peripheral blood stem cells by the Sysmex SE-9500INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2001Liming Peng The Sysmex SE-9500 automated haematology analyser provides an estimate of immature cells, referred to as ,haematopoietic progenitor cells' (HPC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and usefulness of the SE-9500 HPC parameter as compared with the CD34 + cell count and to determine whether the HPC count was of value in predicting the optimal harvesting time for peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). Studies were performed on 112 samples from 21 patients with haematological malignancies and 13 healthy donors undergoing progenitor cell mobilisation. Coefficients of variation for the HPC count were 30%, 23.8%, 12.4% and 8.3% respectively for samples with low (4 × 106/l), medium (13 × 106/l), high (250 × 106/l) and very high (2413 × 106/l) counts. There was good linearity for HPC measurement in both peripheral blood (PB) and purified CD34 + cell suspensions (r > 0.995), and no detectable carryover was observed. There was an acceptable correlation between HPC and CD34 + cell counts for PB samples (r=0.669) and for CD34 + cell suspensions (r=0.859). Analysis of purified CD34 + cells using the SE-9500 HPC mode revealed that they appear both in the blast cell area and the immature granulocyte area of the analyser cell display. Quantitation of CD34 + cells and HPC during PBSC mobilisation showed good agreement between these parameters with regard to the optimal time for PBSC harvesting. These findings suggest that HPC counting with the Sysmex SE-9500 may be clinically useful for optimising the timing of PBSC collection. [source] Urodynamic effects and safety of modified intravesical oxybutynin chloride in patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity: 3 years experienceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 8 2004MOTOAKI SAITO Abstract Background:, Intravesical oxybutynin chloride with hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) (modified intravesical oxybutynin) has been reported to be effective for treatment of overactive bladder. We reported the short-term effects of modified intravesical oxybutynin previously. In the present article, we detail the results of a 3-year follow-up study of patients from our previous analysis and report the efficacy and side-effects of modified intravesical oxybutynin. Methods:, Modified intravesical oxybutynin (5 mg/10 mL, twice a day) was applied for more than 3 years to six neurogenic overactive detrusor patients (three men and three women, average age 53.3 years) who were not satisfied with oral anticholinergic agents or the other therapy. A cystometogram (CMG) was performed before, 1 week after and 3 years after the start of modified intravesical oxybutynin treatment. We evaluated the patient's satisfaction of this treatment after 4 weeks and again after 3 years. We compared the patients' answers before and after the therapy (excellent, good, fair, unchanged and worse). We also monitored systemic and topical side-effects in these patients during this period. Results:, CMG studies showed that two of six patients no longer exhibited uninhibited contraction 1 week after the treatment and that the cystocapacity of patients before, 1 week after and 3 years after the initial modified intravesical oxybutynin was 129.7 ± 19.4, 283.5 ± 40.4 and 286.8 ± 38.1 mL, respectively. For the evaluation of patients' satisfaction with this treatment, four patients considered the therapy excellent and one patient described it as good after both 4 weeks and after 3 years. Two patients dropped out of the study; one developed left ureteral cancer (2.25 years) and the other developed ileus (1.5 years). Dry mouth and acute cystitis were observed in both patients. Conclusion:, Modified intravesical oxybutynin is an effective and relatively safe option of therapy for overactive bladder patients. However, this therapy requires careful observation for emergent side-effects. [source] Profiling bacterial survival through a water treatment process and subsequent distribution systemJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005D. Hoefel Abstract Aims:, To profile fractions of active bacteria and of bacteria culturable with routine heterotrophic plate count (HPC) methods through a typical water treatment process and subsequent distribution system. In doing so, investigate how water treatment affects both bacterial abundance and diversity, and reveal the identities of active bacteria not detected by traditional HPC culture. Methods and Results:, Profiling active fractions was performed by flow cytometric cell sorting of either membrane-intact (BacLightTM kit) or enzymatically active (carboxyfluorescein diacetate, CFDA) bacteria, followed by eubacterial 16S rDNA-directed PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Water treatment significantly reduced active bacterial numbers detected by the BacLightTM kit and CFDA assay by 2·89 and 2·81 log respectively. Bacterial diversity was also reduced from >20 DGGE bands in the active fractions of reservoir water to only two bands in the active fractions of finished water. These two bands represented Stenotrophomonas maltophila, initially culturable by HPC, and a Burkholderia -related species. Both species maintained measurable traits of physiological activity in distribution system bulk water but were undetected by HPC. Conclusions:, Flow cytometric cell sorting with PCR-DGGE, to assess water treatment efficacy, identified active bacteria from a variety of major phylogenetic groups undetected by routine HPC. Following treatment S. maltophila and a Burkholderia -related species retained activity and entered distribution undetected by HPC. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Methods used here demonstrate how water treatment operators can better monitor water treatment plant efficacy and assess distribution system instability by the detection and identification of active bacteria recalcitrant to routine HPC culture. [source] Extraction of native collagen from limed bovine split wastes through improved pretreatment methodsJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 7 2008Dong Li Abstract BACKGROUND: The large amount of limed bovine split wastes discharged by the leather industry has raised concerns regarding their environmental effect. The objective of this work was to perform pilot plant trials to extract high-value native collagen from these wastes through improved pretreatment methods. RESULTS: EDTA- and HCl-pretreatment gave similar removal percentages of inorganic substances. Owing to the open structure of fibers, the collagen yield of HCl-pretreated splits (HPS) (41.31%) was higher than that of EDTA-pretreated splits (EPS) (10.42%). Furthermore, HCl-pretreated split collagen (HPC) had a more acidic isoelectric point, lower content of primary amino groups, larger Z-average particle size and higher relative viscosity than EDTA-pretreated split collagen (EPC). Electrophoretic analysis and circular dichroism spectra revealed the maintenance of polypeptide and triple helix conformation, respectively. In addition, the transition temperatures of EPC (34.7 °C) and HPC (34.6 °C) detected by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were close to that of commercial collagen from calfskin (CCC) (35.7 °C). CONCLUSION: A process of native collagen extraction from limed bovine split wastes was proposed. While both EPC and HPC represented similar physicochemical properties to those of CCC, the collagen yield of HPS was much higher than that of EPS. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) and immature reticulocytes evaluations in mobilization process: new parameters measured by conventional blood cell counterJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2006J.F.A. Noronha Abstract Monitoring the timing of leukapheresis in peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) mobilization is an important clinical decision that requires an accurate analytical tool. The present study assessed hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) and immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF) counts provided by a routine automated blood counter as potential parameters for predicting the appropriate time for harvesting. The HPC and IRF values were compared with white blood cell (WBC) and CD34+ cell counts obtained by flow cytometry in 30 adult patients with hematological malignancies undergoing PBSC mobilization. It was observed that there was a significant correlation between HPC counts and CD34+ cells in peripheral blood counts (r=0.61, P=0.0003) and between the number of HPC and CD34+cells collected by leukapheresis (r=0.5733, P=0.0009). Comparing HPC, IRF, WBC, and CD34+ cells parameters as a sign of hematological recovery showed that the raise in immature reticulocytes counts preceded the increase of WBC (P=0.0002), HPC (P=0.0001), and CD34+ (P=0.0001) cells in peripheral blood counts. According to our results, HPC and IRF parameters may be integrated into clinical protocols to evaluate the timing of leukapheresis. IRF, as previously demonstrated in bone marrow transplantation, is the earliest sign of hematopoietic recovery in mobilization process. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 20:149,153, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Compulsory continuing professional development: a questionnaire-based survey of the UK dietetic professionJOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 1 2009J. B. E. Sturrock Abstract Background:, Continuing professional development (CPD) for Health Professions Council (HPC) registrants became mandatory in July 2006. Some health professions have identified external barriers to CPD participation, and other research suggests that mandatory CPD can devalue learning. The present study aimed to investigate current CPD practices of UK dietitians and to identify their attitudes towards the new mandatory requirement. Methods:, UK Dietitians were asked to participate in an online questionnaire made available via an advert placed on the British Dietetic Association's website and in an electronic newsletter. Results:, Of 206 respondents, 98.1% kept a CPD portfolio. Those who had undertaken the ,ABC' placement model (23.7%) were more likely to keep their portfolio up to date (P = 0.006). Only 41.3% dietitians were confident that they would currently meet the minimum CPD requirement, whereas 77.2% believed they would comply by the first audit in 2010. Some 50.5% dietitians considered their CPD time commitment insufficient due to obstacles such as workload and time constraints. A total of 96.1% respondents acknowledged the importance of undertaking CPD, with the introduction of a mandatory system appearing to provide the motivation to engage in CPD. Conclusions:, UK dietitians are currently engaging in CPD. There is, however, concern regarding achievement of the compulsory requirement for the HPC 2010 audit. The findings show barriers exist to engaging in CPD activities and to maintaining a portfolio. These issues could be addressed with the introduction of protected time for CPD. [source] Interaction of water with different cellulose ethers: a Raman spectroscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy studyJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2005P. M. Fechner Different non-ionic cellulose ethers like methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) were investigated. The characterization of the cellulose ethers was carried out by thermogravimetry and sorption/desorption isotherms. Differences in the properties of the cellulose ether films were described by time-dependent contact angle measurements. Changes in molecular structure of the raw materials, gels and films caused by water contact were studied using Raman spectroscopy. Differences between the substitution types and changes due to the gel or film formation were observed. An environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) technique was used to distinguish the morphological behaviour of the cellulose ether films in contact with water. Based on in-situ ESEM experiments, the swelling and drying behaviour of the various stages of cellulose ether films (film-hydrated film-dried film) were quantified by using image analysis. [source] Comparative evaluation of four decontamination protocols for the isolation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis from milkLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2001L. Dundee Aims:,Four chemical decontamination protocols for milk were compared with respect to mean percentage recovery of spiked Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, minimum detection limit and ease of application. Methods and Results:,Raw milk spiked with 106 cfu M.a. paratuberculosis was decontaminated prior to culture by: (1) treatment with 0·75% (w/v) hexadecylpyridinium chloride (HPC) for 5 h; (2) and (3) Cornell methods employing brain heart infusion broth containing 0·75% (w/v) and 0·9% (w/v) HPC, respectively; and (4) a C18 -carboxypropylbetaine (CB-18Ô) method. The 0·75% HPC method yielded the highest mean percentage recovery of M.a. paratuberculosis (28·7%) and was capable of detecting the lowest number of cells (30 cfu/40 ml). Conclusions:,Treatment of milk with 0·75% HPC for 5 h was shown to be superior to the other methods for decontaminating milk prior to culture for M.a. paratuberculosis. Significance and Impact of Study:,Certain chemical decontamination protocols are too harsh for application to milk. The ,best' decontamination protocol only recovered a fraction of the M.a. paratuberculosis cells present in a milk sample. [source] Expression of contactin associated protein-like 2 in a subset of hepatic progenitor cell compartment identified by gene expression profiling in hepatitis B virus-positive cirrhosisLIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010Huafeng Wang Abstract Background: Hepatic progenitor cells (HPC), a cell compartment capable of differentiating into hepatocytic and biliary lineages, may give rise to the formation of intermediate hepatobiliary cells (IHBC) or ductular reactions (DR). Aims: The aim of this study was to analyse the gene expression profiles of DR in cirrhosis and further investigate novel proteins expressed by HPC and their intermediate progeny. Methods: DR in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive cirrhotic liver tissues adjacent to hepatocellular carcinoma and interlobular bile ducts (ILBDs) in normal liver tissues were isolated by laser capture microdissection and then subjected to microarray analysis. Differential gene expression patterns were verified by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry on serial sections. HPC and their intermediate progeny were recognized by immunostaining with hepatocytic and biliary markers [HepPar1, cytokeratin (CK)7, CK19, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)]. Results: A total of 88 genes showed upregulation in DR compared with ILBDs. Gene ontology analyses revealed that these upregulated genes were mostly associated with cell adhesion, immune response and the metabolic process. Contactin associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) was first confirmed to be a novel protein expressed in a subpopulation of DR that was positive for CK7, NCAM or EpCAM. In addition, immunoreactivity for CNTNAP2 was also noted in a subset of isolated CK7-positive HPC as well as some ductular IHBC positive for CK19 and HepPar1 in DR. Conclusion: CNTNAP2 is specifically associated with the emergence of ductular populations and may be identified as a novel protein for defining a subset of HPC and their intermediate progeny in cirrhosis. [source] Analysis of a Simple Test Device for Tribo-Electric Charging of Bulk PowdersPARTICLE & PARTICLE SYSTEMS CHARACTERIZATION, Issue 1-2 2009upuk Abstract We have developed a simple device to characterise the tribo-electric charging propensity of powders. A sample of around one gram of powder is shaken in a container by reciprocal strokes in a horizontal direction. The electric charge on the powder is quantified by a Faraday cup before and after shaking. In this paper, we analyse the operation of this simple test device by investigating the behaviour of ,-lactose monohydrate (,-LM), hydroxy propyl cellulose (HPC) and a 50 : 50 binary mixture (by mass) of these two powders with various container surfaces commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry. The experiments are carried out in controlled environmental conditions and using different shaking times and frequencies of 10, 20 and 30,Hz. The experimental results show that the saturated charge is independent of the shaking frequency. Furthermore adhered particles coating the inner surface of the shaking container decrease the net amount of charge generated by up to 50,%. [source] Correction of enzyme levels with allogeneic hematopoeitic progenitor cell transplantation in Niemann-Pick type BPEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 7 2007Jennifer Schneiderman MD Abstract Niemann-Pick type B (NP) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder with variable phenotypes for which few patients have undergone hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) transplantation. We present an 18-month old with NP type B who underwent two allogeneic HPC transplants from her HLA-identical sister. Sphingomyelinase in the peripheral leucocytes and skin fibroblasts was absent at diagnosis. Engraftment failed following initial transplant; therefore a second with the same donor was performed. Engraftment since has been durable; all subsequent sphingomyelinase levels have been normal. Our experience indicates that HPC transplantation for patients with NP type B is feasible and beneficial. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:987,989. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Extension rheology of liquid-crystalline solution/layered silicate hybridsPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 4 2010Gleb B. Vasilyev The extension rheology of polymer/layered silicate composites based on liquid-crystalline (LC) solution of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) in oligomeric polyethyleneglycole (PEG) was studied. The HPC concentration was 60 wt%. Extension experiments have been carried out for materials in the different phase states. Compositions containing Na-montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared by a two-stage method. Final systems may be attributed to solutions of HPC in PEG, which intercalates into MMT galleries. The ordered domain structure of the LC matrix as well as hydrogen-bonded network between HPC and PEG molecules significantly reduce deformation at break and provide a strong nonlinear viscoelastic behavior at extension. Appearance of isotropic phase in solutions leads to a sharp drop of the elongation viscosity. The introduction of clay into LC solution only slightly affects the viscosity value but significantly suppresses the strain-hardening scale. In contrast, loading in biphasic state of HPC-PEG solution with even small amount (1 wt%) of MMT leads to the drastic viscosity increase that does not change in further growth of the filler concentration. Elastic properties of the systems under study demonstrate the similar behavior. This effect likely is caused by the interrelationship between deformability of the LC domain structure and the network strength formed by the clay particles. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] Secreted proteome of the murine multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cell line DKmixRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 5 2010Nina Luecke Administration of the multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) line DKmix improved cardiac function after myocardial infarction and accelerated dermal wound healing due to paracrine mechanisms. The aim of this study was to analyse the secreted proteins of DKmix cells in order to identify the responsible paracrine factors and assess their relevance to the wide spectrum of therapeutic effects. A mass spectrometry (MS)-based approach was used to identify secreted proteins of DKmix cells. Serum free culture supernatants of DKmix-conditioned medium were collected and the proteins present were separated, digested by trypsin and the resulting peptides were then analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) MS. Overall 95 different proteins were identified. Among them, secretory proteins galectin-3 and gelsolin were identified. These proteins are known to stimulate cell migration and influence wound healing and cardiac remodelling. The remaining proteins originate from intracellular compartments like cytoplasm (69%), nucleus (12%), mitochondria (4%), and cytoplasmic membrane (3%) indicating permeable or leaky DKmix cells in the conditioned medium. Additionally, a sandwich immunoassay was used to detect and quantify cytokines and chemokines. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-13 (IL-13), monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), monocyte-chemoattractant protein-3 (MCP-3), monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1, (MIP-1,) and monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1, (MIP-1,) were detected in low concentrations. This study identified a subset of proteins present in the DKmix-conditioned medium that act as paracrine modulators of tissue repair. Moreover, it suggests that DKmix-derived conditioned medium might have therapeutic potency by promoting tissue regeneration. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Hypoxic preconditioning protects rat hearts against ischaemia,reperfusion injury: role of erythropoietin on progenitor cell mobilizationTHE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 23 2008Jih-Shyong Lin Preconditioning, such as by brief hypoxic exposure, has been shown to protect hearts against severe ischaemia. Here we hypothesized that hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) protects injured hearts by mobilizing the circulating progenitor cells. Ischaemia,reperfusion (IR) injury was induced by left coronary ligation and release in rats kept in room air or preconditioned with 10% oxygen for 6 weeks. To study the role of erythropoietin (EPO), another HPC + IR group was given an EPO receptor (EPOR) antibody via a subcutaneous mini-osmotic pump 3 weeks before IR induction. HPC alone gradually increased haematocrit, cardiac and plasma EPO, and cardiac vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) only in the first two weeks. HPC improved heart contractility, reduced ischaemic injury, and maintained EPO and EPOR levels in the infarct tissues of IR hearts, but had no significant effect on VEGF. Interestingly, the number of CD34+CXCR4+ cells in the peripheral blood and their expression in HPC-treated hearts was higher than in control. Preconditioning up-regulated cardiac expression of stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and prevented its IR-induced reduction. The EPOR antibody abolished HPC-mediated functional recovery, and reduced SDF-1, CXCR4 and CD34 expression in IR hearts, as well as the number of CD34+CXCR4+ cells in blood. The specificity of neutralizing antibody was confirmed in an H9c2 culture system. In conclusion, exposure of rats to moderate hypoxia leads to an increase in progenitor cells in the heart and circulation. This effect is dependent on EPO, which induces cell homing by increased SDF-1/CXCR4 and reduces the heart susceptibly to IR injury. [source] Chromosome 8q24 risk variants in hereditary and non-hereditary prostate cancer patients,THE PROSTATE, Issue 5 2008Jielin Sun Abstract Background Multiple variants in three regions at 8q24 are consistently found to be associated with prostate cancer (PCa) risk in population-based association studies. The role that these variants may play in familial prostate cancer risk has not been extensively investigated. Methods We evaluated 12 SNPs at three 8q24 regions using population-based association and family-based linkage and association methods in hereditary PCa (HPC) probands and their families, non-HPC patients, and unaffected screened controls, all recruited at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Results For multiple variants in Region 1 (e.g., rs1447295) and Region 2 (e.g., rs16901979), we found statistically significantly higher frequencies of previously identified risk alleles and genotypes in HPC probands than in unaffected controls. Furthermore, in Region 2 the risk alleles were statistically significantly more frequent in HPC probands than in non-HPC patients. Family-based transmission tests found risk alleles of SNPs in Region 2, but not in Regions 1 and 3, were significantly over-transmitted to affected men in these families. We found little evidence supporting PCa linkage at 8q24 in 168 HPC families, in part explained by the observation of multiple, different risk allele-containing haplotypes segregating in the vast majority of these families. Conclusions Our study further supports the presence of PCa susceptibility loci at 8q24, particular at Region 2, and also provides evidence that these SNPs play an important role in familial prostate cancer. Large family-based studies are needed to confirm our novel findings. Prostate 68: 489,497, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Analysis of the macrophage scavenger receptor 1 gene in Swedish hereditary and sporadic prostate cancerTHE PROSTATE, Issue 2 2004Fredrik Lindmark Abstract BACKGROUND The macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1) gene on chromosome 8p22 was recently reported as a candidate gene for hereditary prostate cancer (HPC). Here, we further elucidate the role of MSR1 in both Swedish families with HPC and in a cohort of unselected prostate cancer. METHODS DNA samples from 83 Swedish HPC families and 215 unselected population based cases of prostate cancer as well as 425 age-matched controls were genotyped. RESULTS A total of 18 variants were identified, including 2 exonic, 7 intronic changes, and 9 changes in the 5,- or 3,-uncoding region. Of the two exonic changes, one previously reported truncation mutation was identified, a R293X nonsense mutation. This mutation was found in 2 of the 83 (2.4%) HPC families. The R293X mutation was found more frequently in men with PC (4.9%) than in unaffected men (2.7%), consistent with previous published results, however our results were not significant (P,=,0.16). To additionally test for potential association of common sequence variants and increased risk for the disease, five common polymorphisms (PRO3, INDEL1, IVS5-57, P275A, INDEL7) were genotyped in the group of 215 prostate cancer cases and 425 age-matched controls. No association between any of the five common sequence variants and prostate cancer were found. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that mutations in MSR1 gene might play a role in prostate cancer susceptibility, particularly the R293X mutation. This study warrants further investigations of the role of MSR1 in prostate cancer etiology. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of dietary pantothenic acid supplement on growth, body composition and intestinal enzyme activities of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 5 2009Z.-P. WEN Abstract A 9-week feeding trial was carried out with juvenile Jian carp to study the effect of dietary pantothenic acid (PA) on growth, body composition and intestinal enzyme activities. Semi-purified diets with seven levels (4.0, 15.5, 25.6, 36.1, 45.9, 56.1 and 65.9 mg PA kg,1) of supplemental calcium d -pantothenate were fed to Jian carp (13.0 ± 0.0 g). PA improved specific growth rate (SGR), protein productive value (PPV), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lipid production value (LPV) (P < 0.05). Fish fed the control diet had significantly lower feed efficiency (FE) than that in any other group (P < 0.05). Body protein content increased with increasing PA levels (P < 0.05), but moisture, lipid and ash of fish carcasses were negatively related to the graded PA levels (P < 0.05). Intestine protein content (IPC), hepatopancreas protein content (HPC) and activity of ,-amylase, lipase, trypsin, Na+,K+ -ATPase, alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (,-GT) were all positively affected by the dietary PA levels (P < 0.05), while intestine index (ISI) and hepatopancreas index (HSI) decreased with the increment of supplemental levels of PA (P < 0.05). These results suggested that PA could enhance fish growth and intestinal enzyme activities. The dietary PA requirement of juvenile Jian carp, Cyprinus carpio var. Jian (13.0,73.0 g), for optimal growth estimated by the broken-line analysis was 23.0 mg PA kg,1 diet. [source] Frühe autogene Verformungen von HPC: Beurteilung des plastischen Schwindens und spannungsinduzierender Verformungen durch Korrelation mit der HydratationskinetikBETON- UND STAHLBETONBAU, Issue S2 2005Patrick Fontana Der Einfluß der Mischungszusammensetzungen auf das frühe autogene Schwinden der Bindemittelmatrix von Hochleistungsbetonen wurde durch Korrelation mit der Hydratationskinetik untersucht. Durch die Analyse der Verformungsgeschwindigkeiten konnte eine Unterscheidung zwischen plastischen und spannungsinduzierenden Verformungen vorgenommen werden. [source] Clinical scale ex vivo manufacture of neutrophils from hematopoietic progenitor cellsBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 4 2009Nicholas E. Timmins Abstract Dose-intensive chemotherapy results in an obligatory period of severe neutropenia during which patients are at high risk of infection. While patient support with donor neutrophils is possible, this option is restricted due to donor availability and logistic complications. To overcome these problems, we explored the possibility of large scale ex vivo manufacture of neutrophils from hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC). CD34+ HPC isolated from umbilical cord blood (UCB) and mobilized peripheral blood (mPB) were expanded in serum-free medium supplemented with stem cell factor, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, and a thrombopoietin peptide mimetic. After 15 days of cultivation a 5,800-fold expansion in cell number was achieved for UCB, and up to 4,000-fold for mPB, comprising 40% and 60% mature neutrophils respectively. Ex vivo expanded neutrophils exhibited respiratory burst activity similar to that for donor neutrophils, and were capable of killing Candida albicans in vitro. These yields correspond to a more than 10-fold improvement over current methods, and are sufficient for the production of multiple neutrophil transfusion doses per HPC donation. To enable clinical scale manufacture, we adapted our protocol for use in a wave-type bioreactor at a volume of 10,L. This is the first demonstration of a large scale bioprocess suitable for routine manufacture of a mature blood cell product from HPC, and could enable prophylactic neutrophil support for chemotherapy patients. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009; 104: 832,840 © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Low frequency of microsatellite instability in hereditary prostate cancerBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2001A.-K. Åhman Objective To investigate whether there is widespread microsatellite instability (MSI) in families with hereditary prostate cancer (HPC). Patients and methods Eighty-four prostate tumours from 80 Swedish men in 35 families with HPC were screened for genetic instability at microsatellite marker loci BAT-25, BAT-26, BAT-34C4, D2S123 and D17S250. Results MSI was detected in only five individuals from different families. Three tumours (4%) were unstable at more than two MSI loci and hence classified as high-frequency MSI (MSI-H) according to a previous definition. Interestingly, two of the MSI-H tumours were from patients in families with both HPC and familial colon cancer. Conclusions Widespread MSI is a rare event in hereditary prostate cancer, indicating that defective DNA mismatch repair is not an important element in the genesis of HPC. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||