Compensatory caspase activation in MPP+-induced cell death in dopaminergic neurons

Many have hypothesized that cell death in Parkinsons disease is via apoptosis and, specifically, by the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway. We tested this hypothesis using a mouse dopaminergic cell line of mesencephalic origin, MN9D, challenged with the Parkinsonism-causing neurotoxin MPP⁺ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion). Apoptosis was the main mode of cell death when the cells were subjected to MPP⁺ treatment under serum-free conditions for 24 h. Caspase-3 and caspase-9, however, were not activated, thus indicating the existence of alternate or compensatory cell death pathway(s) in dopaminergic neuronal cells. Using caspase inhibitors, we demonstrated that these pathways involve caspase-2, –8, –6 and –7. A time-course study indicated that activation of caspase-2 and –8 occurred upstream of caspase-6 and caspase-7. Upon MPP⁺ challenge, the apoptosis-inducing factor was translocated from the mitochondria into the MN9D cytosol and nucleus. These results suggest the existence of alternative apoptotic pathways in dopaminergic neurons.Received 20 September 2004; received after revision 5 November 2004; accepted 22 November 2004     

The stability of a complex social system

Analyzing communication data within a social structure represented by a wholesale agricultural market demonstrates the utility of network analysis techniques for identifying systems. A representation of these data in matrix form permits exploration of the stability properties of the system. The stability analyses lend some support for theoretical arguments pertaining to the conditions leading to system equilibrium.     

Channel Mismatching in Sidelobe Canceler: Limitations and Remedies

After a brief recall of the Sidelobe Canceler (SLC) working principle, including the derivation of a general formula for the Cancellation Ratio (CR), the effects of channel mismatching are investigated. In particular, curves providing CRvalues as a function of amplitude and phase channel mismatching, radar bandwidth, and jammer direction of arrival (JDOA) are provided for the cases of one and two auxiliary antennas. Subsequently, a time -space processor for performance restoration is analyzed in detail. In addition to the above mentioned quantities, the attainable CR value is expressed as a function of the space-time processor parameters. The contribution of the paper is related to the derivation of a number of mathematical equations of CR for several cases of practical interest for the radar engineer. In addition, several curves are presented to assist design of SLC systems.     

高分辨率雷达检测——预研课题和潜在应用

文献[1]介绍了高分辨力雷达在改善目标检测中的潜在优点,强调了根据期望的目标径向距离分布图来形成发射波形和接收处理器的概念,并给出了性能预测。为克服先验信息的不足,本文提出并评估了一个自适应方案,用它来联机估算目标距离分布图。此外,引入了一个更一般性的、基于统计描述的目标冲击响应模型,讨论了相应的处理方案和检测性能。     

Which authorities are alike?

This article describes the first results from the recent revision to The ONS classification of local and health authorities of Great Britain to allow for boundary changes. For each local and health authority of Great Britain as at April 1999 it presents 'most similar' authorities as measured by a selection of 37 socioeconomic and demographic variables from the 1991 Census. These results will assist local and health authorities in identifying other appropriate authorities for comparative studies. A second article, to be published in Population Trends 99, will present the results of the analysis to identify groups of authorities in a hierarchy of new Clusters, Groups and Families for the revised classification.     

2010 BP Oil Spill and the Systemic Construct of the Gulf Coast Shrimp Supply Chain

On April 20, 2010, the blast on the rig Deepwater Horizon, and the ensuing disaster known as the BP oil spill, has disrupted the Gulf Coast Shrimp supply chain. Six elements of the systemic supply and demand side of that supply chain are identified and discussed. On the supply side are shrimpers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and restaurants. On the demand side is the consumer. Qualitative investigative methods shed light upon the systemic practice within the gulf coast shrimp industry in the United States.