Potassium Channels in the Vascular Diseases

The vessel wall is an intricate structure composed of three layers: the intima (consisting of endothelial cells), media (consisting of smooth muscle cells and elastic fibers), and externa (consisting of the extracellular matrix scaffold). The homeostasis of the vasculature depends on the consistent function of each layer. In the vascular system, potassium channels are well known to regulate vascular function. The interactions between vascular conditions and membrane potential are complicated. In this chapter, we will focus on the functional regulation of KCa channel, KATP channel, and KV channel in the vascular system. Researchers may continuously obtain insights into the functions of these channels and identify new therapeutic targets for vascular diseases.

Physics-Based Function Features for a Set of Material-Processing Verbs

Features are used in computer aided geometric modeling to encapsulate primitive and lower-abstraction entities to compose higher-level complex entities in order to support faster modeling, consistent data structures between features within the model, and feature-level reasoning that extends beyond reasoning supported by the primitives. In this paper, this idea is extended to computer-aided function modeling. Four function modeling features, which mainly operate on material flows but also involved energy flows, are formally defined. These features are: (1) Convergize_EM, (2) Handover_E, (3) Change_M, and (4) Changeover_EM. Each feature is composed of formerly established functional primitives that are formally defined, and by connecting those primitives in a controlled topology enforced by a feature-level grammar. The ability of these features to support consistent function modeling and model-based reasoning is illustrated using applications, both at the device level (simpler models) and at the system level (more complex models).

C/EBPδ demonstrates a dichotomous role in tumor initiation and promotion of epithelial carcinoma

C/EBPδ(CEBPD), a gene part of the highly conserved basic-leucine zipper (b-ZIP) domain of transcriptional factors, is downregulated in 65% of high grade serous carcinoma of the ovary (HGSC). Overexpression ofC/EBPδin different tumors as glioblastoma and breast cancer either promotes tumor progression or inhibits growth. Despite these contradictory roles in different cancer types, we show thatC/EBPδoverexpression has a consistent function of downregulating proliferation and promoting migration in fallopian tube epithelial cells (FTE). We show that the FTE have both mesenchymal and epithelial cell characteristics. Further, our data supports a role forC/EBPδas an early regulatory transcriptional factor that promotes a mesenchymal to epithelial (MET) phenotype by upregulating E-cadherin and downregulating vimentin and N-cadherin in FTE cells. We demonstrate that overexpression ofC/EBPδin ovarian and breast cancer cell lines have consistent effects and phenotype as the FTE cells. Our findings suggest a role forC/EBPδin the early events of ovarian serous carcinogenesis which may be used to help further understand how the disease develops from a premalignant cells.

DGGE Analysis Bacterial Community Structure of Advanced Sludge Reduction Process

Bacterial community structure of advanced HA-A/A-MCO sludge reduction process is analyzed by DGGE fingerprinting technology. Research results indicates that microbial flora showed the distinction of highly diversity in anaerobic tank, anoxic tank and MCO tank of the HA-A/A-MCO process, and each tank has its own diversified and stable dominant microorganisms, as so the co-activation of such preponderant bacterial community promotes the system to exert favourable and consistent function of phosphorous and nitrogen removal and sludge reduction.

Cognitive Functioning and Other Discriminatory Variables in Anorexic Patients

This study is part of a larger research study (doctoral dissertation), in which a comparative study with adolescent samples is done: 50 anorexic restricting patients (ANP), 50 patients diagnosed with depression (DP) and 50 non patients (NP). The proposed objective is two-fold: 1) To try to clarify the existing relationship between Anorexia (AN) and Depression (D), investigated from diverse disciplines but without conclusive results. 2) To detect in the ANP personality different traits from those of other groups, which should, if possible, allow to detect them at an early stage for an adequate prognosis. The current article presents the Rorschach findings in relation to the cognitive functioning of the ANP. In them, the following has been detected: (1) An information processing similar to that of the other groups, even with a more complete (L ≤ .99), more complex (DQ+↑) and better discriminated (Zd↑) grasp of the stimulus; (2) Mediating processes very similar to those of the other groups, sharing with them the perceptive maladjustments (X–%↑) and an excessive individualism (Xu%↑); (3) A clearly differentiating ideation disorder. Definitely, the ANP use predominantly ideation (M↑), but their thought, usually well-adjusted (MQo↑), presents eventual operations of delusional type (MQnone↑). Above that, their thinking is marked by a great passivity (Mp↑), which makes them more vulnerable to accept ideas without criticizing them and it results in a very inefficient thinking, which spins around these concepts without finding solutions, entering into a sort of ruminating which is completely unproductive. The differences toward the obsessive pathology are established. The discriminant analysis conducted with all the Rorschach variables that resulted as significant throughout the research, provides quite a consistent function which discriminates the ANP: MQnone↑, Mp↑, FD↓, Ma↑, MQo↑, AdjD↑, Sum H↑, (H)↑. Based on this we can understand that these adolescents, being in a developmental period of big changes and disorientations in relation with their own image, confronted with life events, and possibly starting off with some biologic vulnerability: (1) Due to the alterations of their ideation, accept without criticism (Mp) irrational ideas dominating in our culture, in which slimness appears as the only model, synthesis of intelligence, beauty and success; remaining captured in this type of mental activity (MQnone), which they cannot escape nor criticize (Mp), despite they reason adequately on other topics (MQo); (2) Their alterations of self-perception [(H)] make them hide themselves in a fantasized image, which is the axis of their interests and the only thing that really matters to them; (3) The resources they have to decide on behaviors and to finish these deliberately (AdjD), and their scarce tendency to the introspection (FD) lead to their decision of not eating, based on distorted and passively accepted thinking, which has great power and thus, so difficult to modify. Finally, based on the Rorschach data obtained, the hypothesis of a personality disorder as underlying pathology is pointed out.