Search

Naked mole-rats (NMRs) (Heterocephalus glaber) are long-lived mammals that possess a natural resistance to cancer and other age-related pathologies, maintaining a healthy life span >30 years. In this study, using immunohistochemical and RNA-sequencing analyses, we compare skin morphology, cellular composition, and global transcriptome signatures between young and aged (aged 3‒4 vs. 19‒23 years, respectively) NMRs. We show that similar to aging in human skin, aging in NMRs is accompanied by a decrease in epidermal thickness; keratinocyte proliferation; and a decline in the number of Merkel cells, T cells, antigen-presenting cells, and melanocytes. Similar to that in human skin aging, expression levels of dermal collagens are decreased, whereas matrix metalloproteinase 9 and matrix metalloproteinase 11 levels increased in aged versus in young NMR skin. RNA-sequencing analyses reveal that in contrast to human or mouse skin aging, the transcript levels of several longevity-associated (Igfbp3, Igf2bp3, Ing2) and tumor-suppressor (Btg2, Cdkn1a, Cdkn2c, Dnmt3a, Hic1, Socs3, Sfrp1, Sfrp5, Thbs1, Tsc1, Zfp36) genes are increased in aged NMR skin. Overall, these data suggest that specific features in the NMR skin aging transcriptome might contribute to the resistance of NMRs to spontaneous skin carcinogenesis and provide a platform for further investigations of NMRs as a model organism for studying the biology and disease resistance of human skin.

An array of defence strategies is available to help companies defend themselves against unwelcome takeover attempts. However, such takeover defences have been the subject of some controversy, both in terms of their motivations and their effectiveness. This paper presents an empirical investigation into the use and impact of post-bid takeover defences within recent UK hostile acquisitions. Specifically, using data from 56 contested takeover approaches, the study explores the impact of individual defence tactics on the eventual outcome of the takeover attempt, the bid premium offered to shareholders, and the level of executive retention within the target company. Statistical analysis reveals that ‘white knights’ and ‘management buy outs’ were the most effective takeover defences and suggests that other commonly employed defence tactics, including the lobbying of stakeholders and regulatory appeals, have a weak and indecisive impact on bid outcome. Furthermore, once in a contested situation, the capacity of executives to use takeover defences either to entrench themselves or to boost the bid premium for shareholders was found to be limited. The findings provide important insights for executives faced with a takeover approach.

Current threats to the population at large and the requirement for non-lethal methods of incapacitation are resulting in increased usage of lawful crowd-control agents such as ochlorobenzylidene malonitrile (CS), v-chloroacetophenone (CN) and dibenzoxazepine (CR) [1]. CS gas deployment, used by police forces in the UK since 1996, continues to increase both in the public domain and on NHS premises with 16 trusts admitting those patients in their care had been restrained by police with CS gas [2]. Although safety profiles focus primarily on the transient effects of CS exposure on ocular, oral and respiratory mucous membranes, the dermatologic effects following direct skin contact can be both severe and long lasting. In view of this, physicians should be alert to the clinical effects and recommended methods of treatment of patients exposed to such substances. Our aim is to increase awareness of these injuries and the specific treatment required which contrasts with standard treatments for chemical burns.