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Introduction Pulmonary arterial hypertension classification and prevalence Pulmonary hypertension (PH) refers to 5 subgroups of progressive cardiopulmonary disorders characterized by a combination of idiopathies, genetic variants, and environmental factors that [...], Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease of the cardiopulmonary system caused by the narrowing of the pulmonary arteries, leading to increased vascular resistance and pressure. This leads to right ventricle remodeling, dysfunction, and eventually, death. While conventional therapies have largely focused on targeting vasodilation, other pathological features of PAH including aberrant inflammation, mitochondrial dynamics, cell proliferation, and migration have not been well explored. Thus, despite some recent improvements in PAH treatment, the life expectancy and quality of life for patients with PAH remains poor. Showing many similarities to cancers, PAH is characterized by increased pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation, decreased apoptotic signaling pathways, and changes in metabolism. The recent successes of therapies targeting epigenetic modifiers for the treatment of cancer has prompted epigenetic research in PAH, revealing many new potential therapeutic targets. In this minireviewwe discuss the emergence of epigenetic dysregulation in PAH and highlight epigenetic-targeting compounds that may be effective for the treatment of PAH. Key words: pulmonary arterial hypertension, epigenetics, clinical trial. L'hypertension arterielle pulmonaire (HAP) est une maladie devastatrice du systeme cardiopulmonaire provoquee par le retrecissement des arteres pulmonaires, ce qui entraine une augmentation de la resistance et de la pression vasculaires. Cela conduit a un remodelage et un dysfonctionnement du ventricule droit, et eventuellement, a la mort. Alors que les therapies conventionnelles se sont largement concentrees sur la vasodilatation, d'autres caracteristiques pathologiques de l'HAP, notamment l'inflammation aberrante, la dynamique mitochondriale, la proliferation et la migration des cellules, n'ont pas ete bien explorees. Ainsi, malgre certaines ameliorations recentes dans le traitement de l'HAP, l'esperance et la qualite de vie des patients qui en sont atteints demeurent faibles. Presentant de nombreuses similitudes avec le cancer, l'HAP est caracterisee par un accroissement de la proliferation des cellules musculaires lisses arterielles pulmonaires, une diminution des voies de signalisation apoptotiques et des changements dans le metabolisme. Les recents succes des therapies qui ciblent des modificateurs epigenetiques dans le traitement de cancer ont encourage la recherche en epigenetique dans l'HAP, revelant plusieurs nouvelles cibles therapeutiques potentielles. Dans cette synthese, les auteurs discutent de l'emergence de la dysregulation epigenetique dans l'HAP et mettent en evidence des composes qui ciblent l'epigenetique qui pourraient etre efficaces dans le traitement de l'HAP. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: hypertension arterielle pulmonaire, epigenetique, essai clinique.

Soil carbon monoxide (CO) fluxes represent a net balance between biological soil CO uptake and abiotic soil and (senescent) plant CO production. Studies largely from temperate and boreal forests indicate that soils serve as a net sink for CO , but uncertainty remains about the role of tropical rainforest soils to date. Here we report the first direct measurements of soil CO fluxes in a tropical rainforest and compare them with estimates of net ecosystem CO fluxes derived from accumulation of CO at night under stable atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, we used laboratory experiments to demonstrate the importance of temperature on net soil CO fluxes. Net soil surface CO fluxes ranged from -0.19 to 3.36 nmol m -2 s -1 , averaging ∼1 nmol CO m -2 s -1. Fluxes varied with season and topographic location, with the highest fluxes measured in the dry season in a seasonally inundated valley. Ecosystem CO fluxes estimated from nocturnal canopy air profiles, which showed CO mixing ratios that consistently decreased with height, ranged between 0.3 and 2.0 nmol CO m -2 s -1. A canopy layer budget method, using the nocturnal increase in CO , estimated similar flux magnitudes (1.1 to 2.3 nmol CO m -2 s -1). In the wet season, a greater valley ecosystem CO production was observed in comparison to measured soil valley CO fluxes, suggesting a contribution of the valley stream to overall CO emissions. Laboratory incubations demonstrated a clear increase in CO production with temperature that was also observed in field fluxes, though high correlations between soil temperature and moisture limit our ability to interpret the field relationship. At a common temperature (25 °C), expected plateau and valley senescent-leaf CO production was small (0.012 and 0.002 nmol CO m -2 s -1) in comparison to expected soil material CO emissions (∼ 0.9 nmol CO m -2 s -1). Based on our field and laboratory observations, we expect that tropical rainforest ecosystems are a net source of CO , with thermal-degradation-induced soil emissions likely being the main contributor to ecosystem CO emissions. Extrapolating our first observation-based tropical rainforest soil emission estimate of ∼ 1 nmol m -2 s -1 , global tropical rainforest soil emissions of ∼ 16.0 Tg CO yr -1 are estimated. Nevertheless, total ecosystem CO emissions might be higher, since valley streams and inundated areas might represent local CO emission hot spots. To further improve tropical forest ecosystem CO emission estimates, more in situ tropical forest soil and ecosystem CO flux measurements are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is among the world's largest producers of green coconut, which contributes to inappropriate disposal and socioenvironmental impacts. Concomitantly, some of its coastal cities produce a great diversity of fish and large amounts of solid waste. This paper reports on the use of samples of fish scales (100FS) and green coconut shells (100GCS) and their mixtures in 75%FS:25%GCS (B25), 50%FS:50%GCS (B50), and 25%FS:75%GCS (B75) proportions and quantification of their Higher Heating Values (HHV) and Lower Heating Values (LHV), and Ultimate (UA) and Proximate Analyses (PA). Their thermal behavior was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), whereas scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) were employed for analyses of their physicochemical and morphostructural properties. When compared to in natura samples, SEM images of the blends detected a structural disorder and a highly fibrous structure with an elongated chain and surface roughness. HHV were superior in samples with 100GCS (16.64 MJ kg−1), B75 (15.80 MJ kg−1), and B50 (14.98 MJ kg−1), and lower in B25 (14.16 MJ kg−1) and 100FS (13.03 MJ kg−1), with acceptable values for different biomasses. TG/DTG and DSC curves showed similarities among the samples, with the detection of their main thermoconversion stages. According to the data, the samples can be applied as renewable energy sources to mitigate socioecological illnesses and social vulnerabilities resulting from the archaic and inadequate management of solid waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil CO fluxes represent a net balance between biological soil CO uptake and abiotic soil and (senescent) plant CO production. Studies largely from temperate and boreal forests indicate that soils serve as a net sink for CO, but to date uncertainty remains about the role of tropical rain forest soils. Here we report the first direct measurements of soil CO fluxes in a tropical rain forest. We compare with estimates of net ecosystem CO fluxes derived from accumulation of CO at night under stable atmospheric conditions. Further, we used laboratory experiments to demonstrate the importance of temperature on net soil CO fluxes. Net soil surface CO fluxes ranged from -0.19 to 3.36 nmol m-2 s-1, averaging ∼1 nmol CO m-2 s-1. Fluxes varied with season and topographic location, with highest fluxes measured in the dry season in a seasonally inundated valley. Ecosystem CO fluxes estimated from nocturnal canopy air profiles, which showed CO mixing ratios that consistently decreased with height, ranged between 0.3 and 2.0 nmol CO m-2 s-1. A canopy layer budget method, using the nocturnal increase in CO, estimated similar flux magnitudes (1.1 to 2.3 nmol CO m-2 s-1). In the wet season, a greater valley ecosystem CO production was observed in comparison to measured soil valley CO fluxes, suggesting a contribution of the valley stream to overall CO emissions. Laboratory incubations demonstrated a clear increase in CO production with temperature that was also observed in field fluxes, though high correlations between soil temperature and moisture limit our ability to interpret the field relationship. At a common temperature (25 ◦C), expected plateau and valley senescent leaf CO production was small (0.012 and 0.002 nmol CO m-2 s-1) in comparison to expected soil material CO emission (∼0.9 nmol CO m-2 s-1). Based on our field and laboratory observations, we expect that tropical rain forest ecosystems are a net source of CO, with thermal degradation-induced soil emissions likely being the main contributor to ecosystem CO emissions. Extrapolating our first observation-based tropical rain forest soil emission estimate of ∼1 nmol m-2 s-1, a global tropical rain forest soil emission of ∼16.0 Tg CO yr-1 is estimated. Nevertheless, total ecosystem CO emissions might be higher, since valley streams and inundated areas might represent local CO emission hot spots. To further improve tropical forest ecosystem CO emission estimates, more in-situ tropical forest soil and ecosystem CO flux measurements are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil CO fluxes represent a net balance between biological soil CO uptake and abiotic soil and (senescent) plant CO production. Studies largely from temperate and boreal forests indicate that soils serve as a net sink for CO, but to date uncertainty remains about the role of tropical rain forest soils. Here we report the first direct measurements of soil CO fluxes in a tropical rain forest. We compare with estimates of net ecosystem CO fluxes derived from accumulation of CO at night under stable atmospheric conditions. Further, we used laboratory experiments to demonstrate the importance of temperature on net soil CO fluxes. Net soil surface CO fluxes ranged from -0.19 to 3.36 nmol m-2 s-1, averaging ∼1 nmol CO m-2 s-1. Fluxes varied with season and topographic location, with highest fluxes measured in the dry season in a seasonally inundated valley. Ecosystem CO fluxes estimated from nocturnal canopy air profiles, which showed CO mixing ratios that consistently decreased with height, ranged between 0.3 and 2.0 nmol CO m-2 s-1. A canopy layer budget method, using the nocturnal increase in CO, estimated similar flux magnitudes (1.1 to 2.3 nmol CO m-2 s-1). In the wet season, a greater valley ecosystem CO production was observed in comparison to measured soil valley CO fluxes, suggesting a contribution of the valley stream to overall CO emissions. Laboratory incubations demonstrated a clear increase in CO production with temperature that was also observed in field fluxes, though high correlations between soil temperature and moisture limit our ability to interpret the field relationship. At a common temperature (25 °C), expected plateau and valley senescent leaf CO production was small (0.012 and 0.002 nmol CO m-2 s-1) in comparison to expected soil material CO emission (∼0.9 nmol CO m-2 s-1). Based on our field and laboratory observations, we expect that tropical rain forest ecosystems are a net source of CO, with thermal degradation-induced soil emissions likely being the main contributor to ecosystem CO emissions. Extrapolating our first observation-based tropical rain forest soil emission estimate of ∼1 nmol m-2 s-1, a global tropical rain forest soil emission of ∼16.0 Tg CO yr-1 is estimated. Nevertheless, total ecosystem CO emissions might be higher, since valley streams and inundated areas might represent local CO emission hot spots. To further improve tropical forest ecosystem CO emission estimates, more in-situ tropical forest soil and ecosystem CO flux measurements are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe and assess the quality of the data resources linked for the Western Australian Emergency Care Hospitalisation and Outcome (ECHO) project. Methods: The ECHO project links electronic records from the WA Emergency Department Information System to the St John Ambulance Service Pre-Hospital Care Database, the WA Hospital Morbidity Data System and the WA Mortality Database. Linkages are created using standard probabilistic matching techniques with extensive clerical review. Commencing with all metropolitan Perth public emergency departments from July 2000, these linkages will be updated annually for at least five successive years. The proportion of actual linkages between emergency department records and ambulance, admission and death records was assessed in comparison to expected linkage rates. Results: Of 578,200 total emergency department records, there were 144,897 emergency presentations recorded as arriving by ambulance, of which 135,332 (93.4%) were linked to an ambulance record pertaining to the same episode. Of the 165,650 presentations recorded as admitted, 162,216 (97.9%) were linked to a hospital morbidity record relating to the same episode. Furthermore, 96.2% of the 2,084 cases recorded as 'dead on arrival' and 98.9% of the 624 cases recorded as 'died in emergency' were linked to a corresponding death record. Conclusions: Linkage quality consistent with international standards has been achieved, resulting in an information infrastructure capable of supporting an extensive research agenda focusing on the interaction and outcomes of both pre-hospital and within-hospital emergency medical care services.

LEICHENKO R. and SILVA J. (2004) International trade, employment, and earnings: evidence from US rural counties, Reg. Studies 38, 355-374. Rural manufacturers in advanced countries are considered highly vulnerable to competition from international imports. Yet only limited empirical attention has been paid to the effects of trade on rural economies. This paper investigates the effects of international trade on rural manufacturing economies in the US and compares the effects of trade pressures in rural versus urban areas. Our results indicate that lower export prices are associated with increased manufacturing employment and earnings in both rural and urban counties, while lower import prices are associated with reduced rural employment but increased urban employment. Greater export orientation is associated with lower employment and earnings in both rural and urban counties, while import orientation has mixed effects. Economic globalization Regional development US regional growth LEICHENKO R. et SILVA J. (2004) Le commerce international, I'emploi, et les salaires: des preuves provenant des comtes ruraux aux Etats-Unis, Reg. Studies 38, 355-374. Dans les economies avancees, les industriels ruraux sont consideres extremement vulnerables a la concurrence des importations internationales. Toujours est-il que l'on prete peu d'attention empirique aux effets du commerce sur les economies rurales. Cet article cherche a examiner les effets du commerce international sur les economies industrielles rurales aux Etats-Unis et a comparer l'effet des contraintes commerciales dans les zones rurales a celui dans les zones urbaines. Les resultats laissent voir que des prix a l'exportation moins eleves s'associent a une augmentation de l'emploi et des salaires industriels dans les comtes et ruraux et urbains, alors que des prix a l'importation moins eleves s'associent a une baisse de l'emploi rural mais a une hausse de l'emploi urbain. Une vocation plus exportatrice s'associe a une baisse de l'emploi et des salaires dans les comtes et ruraux et urbains, alors qu'une vocation importatrice a des effets mixtes. Mondialisation economique Amenagement du territoire Croissance regionale aux Etats-Unis LEICHENKO R. und SILVA J. (2004) Internationaler Handel, Erwerbstatigkeit und Verdienst: Beweise aus landlichen Grafschaften in den USA, Reg. Studies 38, 355-374. Landliche verarbeitende Betriebe in wirtschaftlich entwickelten Landern halt man fur stark der Konkurrenz durch internationale Importe ausgesetzt. Den Auswirkungen des Handels auf landliche verarbeitende Wirtschaften hat man jedoch nur begrenzt empirische Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet. Dieser Aufsatz untersucht die Auswirkungen des internationalen Handels auf landliche verarbeitende Wirtschaften in den Vereinigten Staaten und vergleicht die Wirkung des Druckes, den dieser Handel mit sich bringt, in landlichen, im Vergleich zu stadtischen, Gebieten. Die hier festgestellten Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, da[beta] niedrigere Exportpreise mit vermehrter Erwerbstatigkeit in der herstellenden Industrie in Verbindung gebracht werden, und mit Verdiensten in landlichen wie in stadtischen Grafschaften, wahrend niedrige Importpreise mit geringerer Erwerbstatigkeit auf dem Lande, doch hoherer in Stadten einhergehen. Vermehrte Exportorientierung wird mit geringer Erwerbstatigkeit und Verdienst in landlichen wie stadtischen Grafschaften in Verbindung gebracht, wahrend Importorientierung gemischte Wirkungen hervorruft. Wirtschaftliche Globalisierung Regionale Entwicklung USA Regionales Wachstum LEICHENKO R. y SILVA J. (2004) Comercio internacional, empleo y salarios: evidencia proveniente de los condados rurales de los Estados Unidos, Reg. Studies 38, 355-374. Se cree que los fabricantes de zonas rurales de los paises avanzados son altamente vulnerables a la competencia proveniente de las importaciones internacionales. Aun asi, se ha prestado muy poca atencion a los efectos que el comercio ejerce en las economias rurales. Este articulo investiga los efectos que el comercio internacional ejerce en economias orientadas al servicio de manufacturacion en zonas rurales de los Estados Unidos y compara cuales son los efectos de las presiones ejercidas sobre el comercio en areas rurales versus areas urbanas. Nuestros resultados indican que unos precios de exportacion mas bajos aparecen asociados con un incremento en el empleo en el sector manufacturero y un incremento en los salarios tanto en condados rurales como urbanos, miestras que unos precios mas bajos en las importaciones se asocian con una reduccion en el empleo rural pero con un incremento en el empleo urbano. Una mayor orientacion de cara a la exportacion aparece asociada con grados de empleo y salarios mas bajos tanto en condados rurales como urbanos, mientras que una orientacion de cara a la importacion provoca efectos mixtos. Globalizacion economica Desarrollo regional En los Estados Unidos Crecimiento regional JEL classifications: F14, J23, O18, R58

Disturbances in Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) homeostasis induce ER stress, which has been involved in the development and progression of various heart diseases, including arrhythmias, cardiac hypertrophy, ischemic heart diseases, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. A mild-to-moderate ER stress is considered beneficial and adaptative for heart functioning by engaging the pro-survival unfolded protein response (UPR) to restore normal ER function. By contrast, a severe or prolonged ER stress is detrimental by promoting cardiomyocyte apoptosis through hyperactivation of the UPR pathways. Previously, we have demonstrated that the NAD+-dependent deacetylase SIRT1 is cardioprotective in response to severe ER stress by regulating the PERK pathway of the UPR, suggesting that activation of SIRT1 could protect against ER-stress-induced cardiac damage. The purpose of this study was to identify natural molecules able to alleviate ER stress and inhibit cardiomyocyte cell death through SIRT1 activation. Several phenolic compounds, abundant in vegetables, fruits, cereals, wine, and tea, were reported to stimulate the deacetylase activity of SIRT1. Here, we evaluated the cardioprotective effect of ten of these phenolic compounds against severe ER stress using cardiomyoblast cells and mice. Among the molecules tested, we showed that ferulic acid, pterostilbene, and tyrosol significantly protect cardiomyocytes and mice heart from cardiac alterations induced by severe ER stress. By studying the mechanisms involved, we showed that the activation of the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP pathway of the UPR was reduced by ferulic acid, pterostilbene, and tyrosol under ER stress conditions, leading to a reduction in cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The protection afforded by these phenolic compounds was not directly related to their antioxidant activity but rather to their ability to increase SIRT1-mediated deacetylation of eIF2α. Taken together, our results suggest that ferulic acid, pterostilbene, and tyrosol are promising molecules to activate SIRT1 to protect the heart from the adverse effects of ER stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]