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Monocytes are a leukocytes’ subset that plays an important role in immunity. Protein kinase B (AKT) is involved in monocytes' survival, proliferation and differentiation. Using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) as an inducer for cell line U937 differentiation into macrophage-like cells may be used as a model for cancer cell therapy or other biomedical research studies. The authors investigated the Akt1 signaling pathway's involvement with PMA as a differentiating agent and survival in the U937 cell line.

PMA was utilized to stimulate the differentiation of the U937 cell line into macrophage-like cells at a concentration of 10 nM. Akt1-phosphorylated Serine 473, Bad-phosphorylated Serine 136 and Caspase9-phosphorylated Serine 196 were tested by flow cytometry for the involvement of the Akt1 signaling pathway during differentiation in addition to the expression of CD14, CD206 and CD83. DNA cell cycle variation analysis was done using PI staining and cell viability and apoptosis detection using Annexin V and PI flow cytometry.

There was a decrease in phosphorylated Akt1 and Bad activation and an increase in Caspase9 activation, with an increase in surface markers CD14, CD206 and CD83 acquired by PMA-differentiated cells. DNA cell cycle analysis revealed cell accumulation in the G2/M phase and fewer cells in the S phase of PMA-induced U937. Apoptosis induction for Ly294002 or Wortmannin-inhibited cells and part of PMA-induced cells were detected.

These results may be used to create a model for biomedical research studies and advance the understanding of the mechanism involving differentiation of the U937 cell line.

Galactomannan gum isolated from the seeds of sesbania is subjected to chemical modification via phosphorylation. This is conducted via heating moistened blends of the gum with a mixture of orthophosphate salt. Three different phosphate ester derivatives are prepared by changing the reaction time. The %P increases from 0.07 to 0.12 to 0.61 by increasing the reaction time from 30 to 60 to 90 minutes.

Modification of sesbania gum via phosphorylation increases the stability of their pastes to storing. Investigation of the rhelogical properties of these pastes indicate that they are characterised by non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviour. As the extent of the reaction increases, i.e. %P, the apparent viscosity of the pastes at a constant rate of shear decreases, while storing does not change the rheological characteristics of the pastes.

Utilization of these derivatives as thickening agents in printing wool fabrics by using acid dyes indicate that phosphate derivatives of sesbania seeds could be used as a thickening agent in printing wool fabrics with acid dyes, where the K/S slightly decreases less than the commercial thickening agent named (Meypro gum) while the overall fastness properties are nearly identical.

The purpose of this paper is to study some chemical reactions of viscose grade pulp (alpha cellulose around 96 per cent) prepared by preoxyacetic acid pulping of bagasse for the preparation of some cellulose derivatives.

Viscose grade pulp was prepared by using ecological chemicals. The viscose grade pulp was subjected to some chemical reactions (e.g. carboxymethylation, cyanoethylation and phosphorylation reactions). The pulping and bleaching which are two important stages involved in the complex process of converting fibrous raw material (bagasse) into viscose grade pulp are also investigated in this paper.

The viscose pulp prepared by peroxyacid pulping of bagasse was subjected to a number of chemical reactions such as: hydrogel and fibrous carboxymethyl cellulose; cyanoethyl cellulose, in which this cyanoethylcellulose (of gel properties) was prepared, the hydrophobic character of the cyanoethylcellulose was changed into hydrophilic character via hydrolysis by NaOH (2.5 per cent w/v) which converts some of the CN groups into COOH; and cellulose phosphate. Infrared spectroscopy of these derivatives was studied. New bands were observed at 3,120, 2,251, 1,200 and 980 cm⁻¹ which characterised to groups, respectively.

The paper documents the preparation of some cellulose derivatives which have high water absorption and can be used as hydrogel materials such as carboxymethyl and hydrolysed cyanoethyl cellulose and ion exchange properties.

The downstream insulin signaling, such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway, is an important step for skeletal glucose disposal through the translocation of glucose transporter (GLUT)-4. In addition, the master of energy regulator adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK) is also involved in GLUT-4 translocation, independent from the PI3K/Akt pathway. Fermented cassava tuber or gatot is a traditional food from Indonesia with antihyperglycemic properties. However, the molecular mechanism leading to this effect is unclear. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate whether the antidiabetic activity of gatot is through PI3K/Akt dependent or AMPK pathway.

Diabetes mellitus was induced in 20 male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin and 230 mg/kg body weight nicotinamide. Diabetic rats were randomly allocated into four groups; negative control, positive control (metformin 100 mg/kg body weight), fermented cassava diet replacing 50% of carbohydrate (FC-50) and 100% of carbohydrate (FC-100) in the diet. Serum glucose, insulin and lipid profile were analyzed before and after four weeks of intervention. Genes expression of PI3K subunit alpha, PI3K subunit beta, PI3K regulatory subunit, Akt and AMPK were analyzed using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). GLUT-4 protein expression was performed using immunohistochemistry.

There is a significant difference (p = 0.000) in serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol between groups. Skeletal AMPK gene expression was higher and significantly different between FC-100 (p = 0.006) and healthy control groups. No significant difference was observed in the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway among groups. GLUT-4 expression was highly expressed in a positive control group followed by FC-100.

This paper did not characterize the bioactive component that is responsible for increasing mRNA expression of AMPK. This paper also did not analyze the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt and AMPK that are important in activating the protein.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that showed the antidiabetic activity of traditional fermented food is through AMPK-dependent activity.

The paper aims to identify the requisite attributes and organisation to be displayed by a research university in order to engage successfully in collaborative research with industry partners.

The conceptual framework contrasts the traditional public funding model against the requirements of the “triple helix” model of government‐university‐industry research funding. The framework supports the exploration of a case study of a long‐standing and successful joint research partnership, the Dundee‐Kinases Consortium, which links a world‐class life sciences research centre and a group of global pharmaceutical companies.

The case study provides a starting point, and additional case examinations will confirm the role of resource competences and organisational capabilities in facilitating performance by way of knowledge generation and transfer between partners.

The design and leadership of the consortium achieves vital performance outcomes, namely: accelerating the production of new knowledge about cell signalling processes relating to serious diseases; and faster transfer of new knowledge into drug development processes of pharmaceutical companies. The development of key enabling capabilities by the university, allied with routines for academic‐industry researcher interface, are essential elements of the partnering design.

The paper demonstrates that university‐industry partnerships build on government‐university funding, that university‐industry relationships foster new university capabilities, and moreover, that academic publication is not displaced by the requirements of industry partners.

An understanding of muscle structure and the physiology of post mortem change occurring in meat are fundamental to the understanding of meat quality. This first article in a series of four examines the structure of muscle, including the differing types of muscle fibres and the general microstructure. Discusses the organization of muscle fibres in a muscle system along with the metabolites available to the muscle fibre. Gives details relating to how the muscle fibres maintain homeostasis by utilizing these metabolites after humane slaughter. In addition, covers factors influencing the rate of rigor mortis.

The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary, for both experts and non‐experts, of new findings on interactions among diet, genes, and exercise in determining the risk for chronic disease.

The present review focuses on the key role of exercise in modulating the ratio of muscle fiber types and the resulting effects on overall health.

Exercise and a diet rich in omega‐3 (n‐3) fatty acids modulate human gene expression and lower the risk for chronic disease. Emerging evidence, synthesized here, shows that a family of gene regulatory proteins, the PPAR (peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor) transcription factor family, regulates the synthesis of human muscle fibers and thereby affects glucose metabolism and the risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Dietary fatty acids, in particular n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, act on PPAR family members, and thereby enhance the synthesis of specific muscle fiber types. Human muscle fibers contain a heterogeneous mix of slow‐oxidative, fast‐oxidative, and fast‐glycolytic muscle fibers. At the extremes of the spectrum, low‐oxidative fibers, important for endurance activities, rely on a complete oxidation of sugars as well as fats for energy, and are associated with high insulin sensitivity. In contrast, fast‐glycolytic fibers, important for short, intense exercise, predominantly use a quick, but only partial breakdown of sugars (glycolysis) for energy. Not surprisingly, sprinters have more fast‐glycolytic fibers, while endurance athletes have more slow‐oxidative fibers. The relative ratio of these different fiber types, in part genetically fixed and in part respondent to diet and exercise, determines not only what type of activities an individual performs best, but also affects the risk for chronic disease. Recent research has identified correlations between muscle fiber type and PPAR type as well as between even modest levels of endurance training and a lowering of the risk for insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

This review synthesizes recently discovered mechanisms into a framework supporting the conclusion that even moderate levels of endurance exercise, combined with a sufficient intake of n‐3 fatty acids, lower the risk for chronic disease.

This article provides accessible and comprehensive information to researchers, nutritionists, and consumers who are interested in using lifestyle management (such as exercise and diet) to lower the risk for chronic disease.

Diagnosing pain and pain inflicting diseases are crucial issues in the health care of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to delineate possible peculiarities in pain perception, characterizing a syndrome-specific spectrum of pain causing diseases as well as particular features of pain expression in Rett syndrome (RTT).

A selective review of the literature on pain, dolorous disorders and diseases, molecular aspects of pain transduction, pain perception, and expression of painful conditions in RTT was undertaken.

RTT causing mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) have an impact on various endogenous molecules modulating pain transmission. Individuals with RTT are specifically prone to numerous pathological states which can cause pain. By thorough observation/application of proper tools, it is possible to recognize painful states in persons with RTT.

This paper imparts empirical/evidence-based data on pain perception/transmission, possible syndrome-specific causes of pain and pain expression/assessment in RTT, with the objective of promoting the quality of clinical practice in this crucial issue.

Since proposed by Darwin, evolution is considered to be dependent on a source of genetic variability that must be constrained by environmental conditions in order to generate stable (adapted) phenotypes. Several sources and causes of this variability have been proposed so far. This paper aims to posit that ambiguity of fuzzy grammars is the main source of genetic variability on which natural selection operates.

Formal grammars (FG) were proposed as the tool to deal with human and artificial languages. Fuzzy formal grammars (FFGs) are the extension of the formalism in the Theory of Fuzzy Logic and are ambiguous grammars. Here, the ambiguity of the ordered set of chemical interactions – the so‐called signal transduction pathways (stp), linking membranes events to DNA reading and protein synthesis – is assumed as an inner source of variability that must be constrained by environmental conditions. Fuzzy formal languages (FFL) theory is used to mathematically formalize the biology concept of stp.

The genome variability is the result of the constraints imposed by the environment on the grammar intrinsic ambiguity.

The formalism of this model provides a new way to analyze and interpret the findings of the different genome sequencing projects.

The theoretical framework developed here provides a new perspective of understanding the code of life and evolution.