Synergistic effect of angiotensin II on vascular endothelial growth factor-A-mediated differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into endothelial cells

INTRODUCTION: Increased levels of angiotensin II (Ang II) and activity of Ang II receptor type 1 (AT1R) elicit detrimental effects in cardiovascular disease. However, the role of Ang II receptor type 2 (AT2R) remains poorly defined. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) replenish and repair endothelial cells in the cardiovascular system. Herein, we investigated a novel role of angiotensin signaling in enhancing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A-mediated differentiation of MSCs into endothelial cells (ECs). METHODS: Bone marrow was aspirated from the femurs of Yucatan microswine. MSCs were extracted via ficoll density centrifugation technique and were strongly immunopositive for MSC markers, CD44, CD90, and CD105, but negative for hematopoietic markers, CD14 and CD45. Subsequently, naïve MSCs were differentiated for 10 days in varying concentrations and combinations of VEGF-A, Ang II, and AT1R or AT2R antagonists. Markers specific to ECs were determined by FACS analysis. RESULTS: AT1R and AT2R expression and cellular localization was demonstrated in MSCs stimulated with VEGF-A and Ang II via quantitative RT-PCR and immunofluorescence, respectively. Differentiation of naïve MSCs in media containing Ang II (2 ng/ml) plus low-dose VEGF-A (2 ng/ml) produced a significantly higher percentage of cells that were positive for expression of EC markers (for example, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule, vascular endothelial Cadherin and von Willebrand factor) compared to VEGF-A alone. Ang II alone failed to induce EC marker expression. MSCs differentiated with the combination of Ang II and VEGF-A were capable of forming capillary tubes using an in vitro angiogenesis assay. Induction of EC marker expression was greatly attenuated by co-treatment of Ang II/VEGF-A with the AT2R antagonist PD123319, but not the AT1R antagonist telmisartan. CONCLUSIONS: We report the presence of functional AT2R receptor on porcine bone marrow-derived MSCs, where it positively regulates EC differentiation. These findings have significant implications toward therapeutic approaches based on activation of AT2R, which could be a means to stimulate regeneration of damaged endothelium and prevent vascular thrombosis

A study on physico-chemical parameters of Dah lake water, District-Ballia (U.P.), India

The back water of river Saryu is a prime source of water for Dah Lake, located in Ballia district, have been studied to project the pristinety of water with respect to different pollution sensitive parameters i.e. organic pollutants– BOD, DO, COD, Inorganic pollutants - Electrical Conductivity, Turbidity, pH, total alkalinity, Chloride, Total hardness etc. The pH (7.68), total alkalinity (180.5 mg/l), Chloride (133.12 mg/l), Total hardness(139.83 mg/l), Calcium (60.26 mg/l) and Magnesium hardness (19.38 mg/l) were found well within the prescribed standard for drinking water (BIS 10500:1991) during the study period i.e. April 2006- March 2008. The study inferred that the water quality of Dah Lake is still free from the any kind of pollutants, must be due to its higher assimilative capacity. It also indicates the higher potential for pisiculture and drinking water sources (after disinfection) for the nearby villages which may ultimately improve the economic condition of the surrounding habitation

ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER SUITABILITY FOR DRINKING AND IRRIGATION PURPOSE USING STATISTICAL AND GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUES: A REVIEW

Water is a vital source for all living individuals on earth. The consumption of fresh water has increased rapidly in recent years. Industrialization, urbanization, and population growth have resulted in deterioration of surface and groundwater quality. It is very important to manage groundwater resources and protect them from anthropogenic activities in order to sustain life on earth. This paper discusses methods for assessing the quality of groundwater using statistical and geospatial techniques. In addition, geographic information system (GIS)-integrated statistical methods are also discussed. Statistical methods, including quality indices, irrigation water quality parameter, and geospatial methods, including inverse distance weighted (IDW) and kriging strategies for evaluating groundwater quality and assessing aquifer susceptibility are also explained. In addition, the paper provides an overview of key groundwater quality indices (GWQI) and irrigation water quality indices (IWQI) that have developed over time and used for groundwater quality evaluation around the world. It is revealed that the use of GIS-integrated advanced statistical approaches is not common in assessments of groundwater quality. The constraints and research gaps of previous studies, as well as the prospects for future research needs have been examined

Sex Change and the Popular Press : Historical Notes on Transsexuality in the United States, 1930-1955, Meyerowitz, Joanne

本稿はデューク大学出版の季刊誌『レズビアン&ゲイ・スタディーズ』(GLQ)のトランスジェンダー特集号(1998年)で発表された、歴史学者ジョアン・マイエロウィッツの論文の翻訳である。[Meyerowitz, Joanne, Sex Change and the Popular Press: Historical Notes on Transsexuality in the United States, 1930-1955, GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies, 4:2 (1998), pp.159-187.] マイエロウィッツはこの論文のなかで、従来のトランスセクシュアリティに関する歴史認識の見直しを主張する。そして、20世紀初めにヨーロッパで興った性別変更の医療化の過程、さらに、1930-50年代のアメリカで公表された性別変更の報道などの分析を通じて、当時のトランスジェンダーの人びとが、「読むこと」を通じて、自己のアイデンティティを構築し、再形成していった過程を明らかにしている。なお、マイエロウィッツは現在インディアナ大学の歴史学教授で、The Journal of American Historyの編集者でもある。主な編著書: How Sex Changed: A History of Transsexuality in the United States (Harvard UP, 2002); History and September 11th: Critical Perspectives on the Past (Temple UP, 2003)ほか

An Optimized Approach for Maximizing Business Intelligence using Machine Learning

The subject of study known as business intelligence is responsible for the development of techniques and tools for the analysis of business information with the goal of assisting in the management and decision-making processes of corporations. In the current climate, business intelligence is essential to the process of formulating a strategy and carrying out operations that are data-driven. Throughout the many stages of the company operation, an organization will need assistance evaluating data and making decisions; a decision support system may provide this assistance by including business intelligence as an essential component. The fact that this enormous quantity of data is distributed over a number of different types of platforms, however, makes it a difficult challenge, in particular to understand the information that is actually relevant and to make efficient use of it for business intelligence. One of the most important challenges facing modern society is maximizing business intelligence through the application of machine learning. It offers a full analysis that is based on predictions and is extracted for Business Intelligence techniques along with current application fields. This anomalous gap has been pointed up, and solutions and future research areas have been offered to overcome it in order to create effective business strategies

A Survey on Vulnerabilities and Performance Evaluation Criteria in Blockchain Technology

The blockchain technology firstly presented by Haber and Stornetta in the year 1990, and first time blockchain technology used in Bitcoin by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. The blockchain technology is truly decentralized technology. In blockchain technology, every block has consisted three main parts that is data, hash block, and the previous hash block. Hash is controls the uniqueness of each block and it is unique for each block. Each block also contains the hash of the previous block; thus, the blocks are connected to each other. A blockchain can divided into three categories public blockchain, consortium blockchain and private blockchain. The proposed paper provided the comparative and analytical review on the blockchain consensus algorithms

FOXO1 Mediates Vitamin D Deficiency–Induced Insulin Resistance in Skeletal Muscle

Prospective epidemiological studies have consistently shown a relationship between vitamin D deficiency, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). This is supported by recent trials showing that vitamin D supplementation in prediabetic or insulin-resistant patients with inadequate vitamin D levels improves insulin sensitivity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying vitamin D deficiency-induced insulin resistance and DM2 remain unknown. Skeletal muscle insulin resistance is a primary defect in the majority of patients with DM2. Although sustained activation of forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) in skeletal muscle causes insulin resistance, a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and FOXO1 activation in muscle is unknown. We generated skeletal muscle-specific vitamin D receptor (VDR)-null mice and discovered that these mice developed insulin resistance and glucose intolerance accompanied by increased expression and activity of FOXO1. We also found sustained FOXO1 activation in the skeletal muscle of global VDR-null mice. Treatment of C2C12 muscle cells with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (VD3) reduced FOXO1 expression, nuclear translocation, and activity. The VD3-dependent suppression of FOXO1 activation disappeared by knockdown of VDR, indicating that it is VDR-dependent. Taken together, these results suggest that FOXO1 is a critical target mediating VDR-null signaling in skeletal muscle. The novel findings provide the conceptual support that persistent FOXO1 activation may be responsible for insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism in vitamin D signaling-deficient mice, as well as evidence for the utility of vitamin D supplementation for intervention in DM2

PASSENGER SECURITY FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Techniques are provided to effectively monitor and alert situations involving compromised passenger security in a public transport system. This solution includes three layers of voice synthesis. The first layer includes voice sensors/enablers incorporated within passenger vehicles. The second layer is a fog/edge layer with a voice threat detection mechanism. The third layer is a cloud layer with Machine Language (ML) trained models. These techniques help build a safe and secured society