Prolactin inducible protein in cancer, fertility and immunoregulation: structure, function and its clinical implications

Prolactin inducible protein (PIP) is a 17- kDa single polypeptide chain, known by various names due to its versatile nature and function in human reproductive and immunological systems. It is expressed in several exocrine tissues such as the lacrimal, salivary, and sweat glands. Its expression is up regulated by prolactin and androgens, and estrogens down regulate it. Due to its over-expression in metastatic breast and prostate cancer, presently PIP is considered as a prognostic biomarker. Moreover, its aspartyl-proteinase nature suggests its role in tumor progression. PIP has unique features because it is small in size and plays multiple important functions. Its ability to bind potentially with CD4-T cell receptor, immunoglobulin G (IgG), actin, zinc α2-glycoprotein (ZAG), fibronectin and enamel pellicle, reveals its important biological functions. This is the first comprehensive review on the structure and functional analysis of PIP and its clinical applications. Received 04 August 2008; received after revision 09 September 2008; accepted 15 September 2008     

Microbiome,probiotics and neurodegenerative diseases: deciphering the gut brain axis

The gut microbiota is essential to health and has recently become a target for live bacterial cell biotherapies for various chronic diseases including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity and neurodegenerative disease. Probiotic biotherapies are known to create a healthy gut environment by balancing bacterial populations and promoting their favorable metabolic action. The microbiota and its respective metabolites communicate to the host through a series of biochemical and functional links thereby affecting host homeostasis and health. In particular, the gastrointestinal tract communicates with the central nervous system through the gut–brain axis to support neuronal development and maintenance while gut dysbiosis manifests in neurological disease. There are three basic mechanisms that mediate the communication between the gut and the brain: direct neuronal communication, endocrine signaling mediators and the immune system. Together, these systems create a highly integrated molecular communication network that link systemic imbalances with the development of neurodegeneration including insulin regulation, fat metabolism, oxidative markers and immune signaling. Age is a common factor in the development of neurodegenerative disease and probiotics prevent many harmful effects of aging such as decreased neurotransmitter levels, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis—all factors that are proven aggravators of neurodegenerative disease. Indeed patients with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases have a high rate of gastrointestinal comorbidities and it has be proposed by some the management of the gut microbiota may prevent or alleviate the symptoms of these chronic diseases.     

Topographic localisation of insulinogenic and insulinoprival areas in the hypothalamus.

Electrical stimulation of hypothalamic areas through stereotaxically implanted electrodes were carried out in conscious male rhesus monkeys. There was a significant increase in immunoreactive insulin (IRI) following laterla hypothalamus (LHA) stimulation. An opposite response was obtained from ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). Thus, insulinogenic and insulinoprival responses were obtained from feeding and satiety, suggesting a significant role of insulin in the regulation of food intake.     

Hot-corrosion behavior of Cr_2O_3–CNT-coated ASTM-SA213-T22 steel in a molten salt environment at 700°C

The present work investigates the hot-corrosion behavior of carbon nanotube(CNT)-reinforced chromium oxide coatings on boiler steel in a molten salt(Na_2SO_4–60 wt%V_2O_5) environment at 700°C under cyclic conditions. The coatings were deposited via the high-velocity oxygen fuel process. The uncoated and coated steel samples were subjected to hot corrosion in a silicon tube furnace at 700°C for 50 cycles. The kinetics of the corrosion behavior was analyzed through mass-gain measurements after each cycle. The corrosion products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis techniques. The results revealed that uncoated steel suffered spallation of scale because of the formation of nonprotective Fe_2O_3 scale. The coated steel samples exhibited lower mass gains with better adhesiveness of oxide scale with the steel alloy until the end of exposure. The CNT-reinforced coatings were concluded to provide better corrosion resistance in the hot-corrosion environment because of the uniform dispersion of CNTs in the coating matrix and the formation of protective chromium oxides in the scale.     

摩擦焊接碳钢（EN24）和镍基高温合金（IN718）的显微组织和力学性能

Continuous-drive rotary friction welding was performed to join cylindrical specimens of carbon steel (EN24) and nickel-based superalloy (IN718), and the microstructures of three distinct weld zones—the weld interface (WI)/thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ), the heat-affected zone (HAZ), and the base metal—were examined. The joint was observed to be free of defects but featured uneven flash formation. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis showed substantial changes in high-angle grain boundaries, low-angle grain boundaries, and twin boundaries in the TMAZ and HAZ. Moreover, significant refinement in grain size (2–5 μm) was observed at the WI/TMAZ with reference to the base metal. The possible causes of these are discussed. The microhardness profile across the welded joint shows variation in hardness. The changes in hardness are ascribed to grain refinement, phase transformation, and the dissolution of strengthening precipitates. The tensile test results reveal that a joint efficiency of 100% can be achieved using this method.     

会同林区林下植被与乔木层树种的关系

利用NMS排序和主成分分析方法,分离乔木层变量成林分结构和林冠物种组成2个主成分,并以其作为林下植被的环境因子,检查了上层乔木对林下植被多样性、物种组成和集群格局的影响.结果显示林冠的物种组成与林下植被的Shannon多样性显著相关,而林分结构跟多样性没有直接的联系;林分结构和林冠组成均显著地影响了林下植被的物种分布,...     

国产喷水织机工艺性能的测试与分析

通过对国产GD762型喷水织机工艺性能的测试,并与同类机型日本津田驹ZW100型喷水织机进行对比分析,阐述和评价了新一代国产GD762型喷水织机的工艺性能和技术水平。     

Reflection-in-and-on-Action in Participatory Action Research: Toward Assessment <Emphasis Type="Italic">for </Emphasis>Learning

This article is about the use of oral assessment for learning and was based on a reflection-in-and-on-action approach within a participatory action research framework. The purpose of this paper was to argue for the incorporation of oral assessment in tertiary science as a fair, reliable and valid approach to assessment. This study found that the interactive nature of the oral assessments led to improved learning of content for learners from their peers and assessors. Assessors too learnt about their students as individuals, their study habits and critiqued their teaching from the oral assessments. They also learned from their co-assessors. Valuable lessons were learned for collaborative team teaching and assessing for the benefit of assessors and learners alike. This study also found that action research afforded the assessors a new way of doing things empowering them to conduct research in their own classrooms, with their colleagues and their learners.