Escherichia coli is one of the most widely utilized hosts for production of recombinant membrane proteins (MPs). Bacterial MP production, however, is usually accompanied by severe toxicity and low-level volumetric accumulation. In previous work, we had discovered that co-expression of RraA, an inhibitor of the RNA-degrading activity of RNase E, can efficiently suppress the cytotoxicity associated with the MP overexpression process and, simultaneously, enhance significantly the cellular accumulation of membrane-incorporated recombinant MPs in bacteria. Based on this, we constructed the specialized MP-producing E. coli strain SuptoxR, which can achieve dramatically enhanced volumetric yields of well-folded recombinant MPs. Ιn the present work, we have investi...

Tetraploidy is induced in rainbow trout by applying a pressure shock at a specific time point between insemination and first cleavage, or the first cleavage interval (FCI). Previous studies suggested that variation in the FCI among individuals and populations of fish prevents the identification of a single time point that can be used for all trout. In this study we confirmed the optimal time to apply pressure is 65 ± 5% of the FCI. In addition, we found that variation in FCI of fish from a common environment can be within limits that allow a single time point to be established for that group of fish, if ova post ovulatory aging is taken into account. Aging of ova, either in vivo or in vitro, increased FCI to a degree that is a concern for tetraploid inducti...

Myocardial infarction in young adults is, in practice, a diagnosis of exclusion. Given the fact that most of the patients with sickle cell disease are young and have predisposition to painful crisis, they are often overlooked for myocardial infarction. These patients often have few or no traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease, and risk stratification tools such as the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) and Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) models place these patients at low risk. Nonspecific changes on electrocardiogram are of little diagnostic value. Myocardial infarction is very often a missed diagnosis in patients with sickle cell disease. Diagnostic criteria, potential mechanisms, and management for acute myocardial...

In the present work, the (Bi1–xCex)VO4 (x ≤ 0.6) ceramics were prepared via a solid-state reaction method and all the ceramic samples could be densified below 900 °C. From the X-ray diffraction analysis, it is found that a monoclinic scheelite solid solution can be formed in the range x ≤ 0.10. In the range 0.20 ≤ x ≤ 0.60, a composite region with both monoclinic scheelite and tetragonal zircon solid solutions was formed and the content of the zircon phase increased with the calcined or sintering temperature. The refined lattice parameters of (Bi0.9Ce0.1)VO4 are a = 5.1801(0) Å, b = 5.0992(1) Å, c = 11.6997(8) Å, and γ = 90.346(0)° with the space group I112/b(15). The VO4 tetrahedron contracts with the substitution of Ce for Bi at the A site,...

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL) family members include five different ACSL isoforms, each encoded by a separate gene and have multiple spliced variants.ACSLs on endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial outer membrance catalyze fatty acids with chain lengths from 12 to 20 carbon atoms to form acyl-CoAs, which are lipid metabolic intermediates and involved in fatty acid metabolism, membrane modifications and various physiological processes.Gain-or lossof-function studies have shown that the expression of individual ACSL isoforms can alter the distribution and amount of intracellular fatty acids.Changes in the types and amounts of fatty acids, in turn, can alter the expression of intracellular ACSLs.ACSL family members affect not only the proliferation of ...

The aim of this paper is to represent the trajectory’s curvature related to the power density of the electromagnetic wave that has been widely described as the Poynting vector. The paper starts from the infinitesimal work equation and transformed by using the vector identities and Maxwell’s equations. The result of this transformation leads to a decoupled representation of the Poynting vector as a separate contribution of the electrical and magnetic fields. The decoupled form of the Poynting vector is emphasized by the presence of the charged particle velocity and its curvature. The discussion is conducted symbolically in order to conclude that the power density produced by a charged particle traveling in an electromagnetic field will decrease as the tra...

To compare the apoptotic efficiency of AuNPs, ionizing and non-ionizing radiotherapy, phototherapy, and AuNPs-ionizing-radiotherapy), MCF-7 cells were used as a model for luminal B subtypes of breast carcinoma. A mixture of AuNPs [66% of Au-nanospheres (AuNSs) and 34% of Au-nanorods (AuNRs)] was synthesized and characterized by optical spectroscopy, zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). MCF-7 were divided into six groups (triplicates); after each treatment, cell viability was tested by MTT assay and relative gene expression levels of Bim and Noxa proapoptotic markers were assayed by qRT-PCR. A dose-dependent significant reduction in cell viability of MCF-7 was detected by all examined treatment protocols. Lower viability detected at ext...

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress-related mental disorder caused by experience of a traumatic event, and presents with characteristic symptoms including intrusive memories, hyperarousal, and avoidance. Recently, structural neuroimaging studies showed that hippocampal volumes were relatively low in PTSD patients. However, the mechanisms that cause such atrophy are not well understood. The aim of this study was to reveal the possible mechanisms involved in apoptosis induced by single-prolonged stress (SPS) in hippocampus of PTSD rats. SPS is one of the animal models proposed for PTSD. Rats exposure to SPS showed enhanced inhibition of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which has been reliably reproduced in patients with PTSD. Wistar ...

When using multilevel regression models that incorporate cluster-specific random effects, the Wald and the likelihood ratio (LR) tests are used for testing the null hypothesis that the variance of the random effects distribution is equal to zero. We conducted a series of Monte Carlo simulations to examine the effect of the number of clusters and the number of subjects per cluster on the statistical power to detect a non-null random effects variance and to compare the empirical type I error rates of the Wald and LR tests. Statistical power increased with increasing number of clusters and number of subjects per cluster. Statistical power was greater for the LR test than for the Wald test. These results applied to both the linear and logistic regressions, but w...

Tefluthrin was the first pyrethroid developed for soil treatment. There was no report about the toxicity to terrestrial invertebrates at the enantiomer level. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the enantiomer-specific acute toxicity to the earthworm Eisenia fetida and potential mechanism via multilevel response. The filter paper contact and the artificial soil method were used to detect the acute toxicity of tefluthrin enantiomers to earthworms. Histopathological examination (H&E), biochemical criterion, and comet assay were used to identify the effects and potential mechanism of toxicity. The order of acute toxicity was Z-cis-(1S,3S)-(−)-tefluthrin < Rac-tefluthrin < Z-cis-(1R,3R)-(+)-tefluthrin. H&E stained images showed that inte...

Purpose This paper aims to describe Tourpedia, a website about tourism, built on open data provided by official government agencies. Tourpedia provides data under a public license. Design/methodology/approach Tourpedia is built upon a modular architecture, which allows a developer to add a new source of data easily. This is achieved through a simple mapping language, namely, Tourpedia mapping language, which maps the original open data set model to the Tourpedia data model. Findings Tourpedia contains more than 70.000 accommodations, downloaded from open data provided by Italian, French and Spanish regions. Research limitations/implications Tourpedia presents some limitations. First, extracted data are not homogeneous and often they are incomplete or wrong. ...

In the present study, stable chitosan nanoparticles (Ch-NPs) were developed using the ionotropic gelation method, where poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) was used as a cross-linking agent while polyglutamic acid (PGA) for functionalization to improve the oral uptake through calcium-sensing receptors and amino acid transporters present in intestinal epithelium. Formulation was optimized by the design of experiments (DoE) approach using a three-level central composite design and characterized for in vitro parameters such as morphology, particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency and zeta potential. Morphological analysis demonstrated the formation of spherical NPs with particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency in the ran...

The Lewis thrust, which has a surface trace of over 300 km, is inferred to terminate within the Rundle thrust sheet at Mount Kidd, 120 km southwest of Calgary. The south face of Mount Kidd is dominated by a spectacular chevron fold pair which has long been considered the manifestation of the surface termination of the Lewis thrust. Previous workers interpreted the Lewis thrust as forming a core high within the anticline of this fold pair. This interpretation dictates that folding takes a minor role in shortening and the solution of room problems. However, detailed mapping of the termination has shown that the leading edge of the Lewis thrust remains structurally low beneath the anticline. Within the core of the anticline, complex folding of both competent an...

Abstract Water electrolysis offers a promising green technology to tackle the global energy and environmental crisis, but its efficiency is greatly limited by the sluggish reaction kinetics of both the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this work, by growing amorphous multi‐transition‐metal (cobalt and iron) oxide on two‐dimensional (2D) black phosphorus (BP), we develop a bifunctional electrocatalyst (CoFeO@BP), which is able to efficiently catalyze both HER and OER. The overpotentials for the hybrid CoFeO@BP catalyst to reach a current density of 10 mA cm −2 in 1 m KOH are 88 and 266 mV for HER and OER, respectively. Based on a series of ex‐situ and in situ investigations, the excellent catal...

Hot-dip galvanized steel surfaces are cleaned, pre-treated with titanium-containing solution and then painted for use. Removal of the alumina layer from galvanized steel surfaces during the cleaning process is essential before effective paint application. Bad adhesion results if the alumina layer is not completely removed, and an insufficient concentration and uneven distribution of titanium oxide is formed across the galvanized surface during pre-treatment. The alkaline cleaner concentration must be optimized to ensure effective removal of the alumina layer. Hot-dip galvanized steel samples were cleaned using typical line conditions and cleaning solutions with varying free alkalinities. The alumina layer was then measured on each sample by glow-discharge op...

Influenza A virus (IAV) has developed strategies to utilize host metabolites which, after identification and isolation, can be used to discover the value of immunometabolism. During this study, to mimic the metabolic processes of influenza virus infection in human cells, we infect A549 cells with H1N1 (WSN) influenza virus and explore the metabolites with altered levels during the first cycle of influenza virus infection using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UHPLC–Q-TOF MS) technology. We annotate the metabolites using MetaboAnalyst and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses, which reveal that IAV regulates the abundance of the metabolic products of host cells during early infec...

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTNovel ring contraction of 05'-6(S)-cyclo-5-diazouridine. Elimination of a ring carbonyl group in preference to diatomic nitrogenT. Craig. Thurber and Leroy B. TownsendCite this: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1973, 95, 9, 3081–3082Publication Date (Print):May 1, 1973Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 May 1973https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00790a093RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views42Altmetric-Citations13LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other art...

Affective computing is a branch of artificial intelligence that aims at processing and interpreting emotions. In this study, we implemented sensors/actuators into a stuffed toy mammoth, which allows the toy to have an affective and cognitive basis to its communication. The goal is for therapists to use this as a tool during their therapy sessions that work with patients with mood disorders. The toy detects emotion and provides a dialogue that would guide a session aimed at working with emotional regulation and perception. These technical capabilities are possible by employing IBM Watson’s services, implemented into a Raspberry Pi Zero. In this paper, we delve into its evaluation with neurotypical adolescents, a panel of experts, and other professionals. Th...

The research on child abuse (CA) had had enormous impact on both policy and practice worldwide. In developing ways of protecting abused children, risk is often discussed, whereas the concept of love is clearly missing. The conceptual framework of the current study is that love is embedded in the context of abuse. Therefore, it examines the use of that concept in forensic interviews with abused children. Eighty-two interviews were selected out of all forensic interviews conducted with children sexually or physically abused by a parent in Israel in 2015, and thematically analyzed. Children spontaneously discussed the concept of love for the abusive parent in three contexts: attempting to make sense of the abusive incidents; difficulties to elaborate on the abu...

Abstract Rapid development of the first true leaf has been suggested as a key driver of seedling vigor in cotton, yet studies demonstrating an association between first true leaf physiological processes and early season cotton growth are limited. It was hypothesized that both first true leaf area (FTLA) and photosynthetic rates would be positively associated with cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum and G. barbadense ) seedling vigor, and that photosynthetic component processes would differ in their contribution to net photosynthesis (A n ) of the first true leaf. To test these hypotheses, three different cotton cultivars were planted in the 2017 and 2018 seasons on three selected dates each year to generate broad differences in seedling vigor. Growth analysis was co...

Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore whether, and if so how, a design activity could encourage students to express and develop knowledge on emerging technology in relation to issues about sustainability. Several researchers have asserted that, in today’s technologically dependent society, it is important to be able to control technology and make informed decisions connected to technology. Design activities could make a significant contribution to technology education while students are developing their knowledge about technology. Thus, the present study aims to analyze students’ verbal interactions as they work in a design project, which includes designing a model of a house, regarding their ability to develop technological literacy with the ...

Abstract We report here on the complex magnetic structure and magnetocapacitance in NiF 2 , a non-oxide multifunctional system. It undergoes an anti-ferromagnetic transition near 68.5 K, superimposed with canted Ni spin driven weak ferromagnetic ordering, followed by a metastable ferromagnetic phase at or below 10 K. Our density functional calculations account for the complex magnetic structure of NiF 2 deduced from the temperature and the field dependent measurements. Near room temperature, NiF 2 exhibits a relatively large dielectric response reaching >10 3 with a low dielectric loss of <0.5 at frequencies >20 Hz. This is attributed to the intrinsic grain contribution in contrast to the grain boundary contribution in most of the known dielectric m...

Abstract Cryptogenic cerebral ischemia in young patients is commonly ascribed to paradoxical embolism. We report the clinical case of a young patient with cryptogenic stroke and a patent foramen ovale, undergoing percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect. Contrast transoesophageal echocardiography at the end of the procedure demonstrated massive late residual right-to-left shunt, due to the coexistence of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas that were subsequently closed. Routinary adoption of contrast transoesophageal echocardiography at the end of patent foramen ovale closure interventions may be useful to detect early and late residual shunts. Late residual shunts may be due to pulmonary fistulas, a well-known risk factor for recurrent thromboembolic event...

Abstract Background The worldwide burden of pregnancy associated malaria is largely underestimated. Objective In this study, we assessed the incidence and severity of malarial anemia, and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Mangaluru, a city in India. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 105 pregnant women, including controls, was conducted at Government Lady Goschen Hospital, Mangaluru. The socio-demographic and hematological data were analysed to determine the prevalence of malarial anemia among pregnant women. Results Of the 105 pregnant women, 71 were infected with malaria of which (48, 67.6%) had P. vivax, (13, 18.3%) P. falciparum and (10, 14.1%) mixed infections. Among those infected, 87.3% were anemic, in which 11.3%...

Ambient air flows into the conventional dehydrating breather due to cyclic loading of transformer. It is the major source of moisture contamination of the transformer oil. Presence of moisture causes failure of insulation strength of the oil. In the proposed work, a moisture sensor-based health monitoring technique of a dehydrating breather is proposed. A parallel plate capacitive sensor to measure and monitor the moisture inside the breather was designed and fabricated by electrochemical anodization method. A phase detection electronics circuit for converting the capacitance change of the moisture sensor to voltage signal was designed and implemented. To maintain the moisture at the desired level in the breather, the power supply of an electric heater of 40...

Samples of ventricular and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were taken at intervals from six lactating dairy cows, made hypomagnesaemic by feeding a magnesium-deficient diet. Initially the ventricular CSF had a higher magnesium concentration than lumbar CSF but as the cows became hypomagnesaemic the magnesium concentration in ventricular CSF decreased more rapidly than that in lumbar CSF. Tetany occurred when the concentration of magnesium in ventricular CSF fell below about 0.5 mmol litre-1. Intravenous infusion of magnesium into two hypomagnesaemic cows increased the concentration of magnesium in ventricular CSF before there was any change in the lumbar CSF. Newly formed CSF from the ventricles appeared to be more sensitive to changes in the concentration ...

Deaths caused by systemic mycoses such as paracoccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis, coccidioidomycosis and zygomycosis amounted to 3,583 between 1996-2006 in Brazil. When analysed as the underlying cause of death, paracoccidioidomycosis represented the most important cause of deaths among systemic mycoses (approximately 51.2%). When considering AIDS as the underlying cause of death and the systemic mycoses as associated conditions, cryptococcosis (50.9%) appeared at the top of the list, followed by candidiasis (30.2%), histoplasmosis (10.1%) and others. This mortality analysis is useful in understanding the real situation of systemic mycoses in Brazil, since there is no mandatory notification of patients diagnosed wi...

Abstract High-pressure injection-molded polyethylene (PE) rods are studied by ultra small-angle X-ray scattering from synchrotron during the heating of the polymer. Injection of a cool melt into a cold mold yields highly oriented PE rods with a core–shell structure. Samples from both the core and the shell material are studied. The two-dimensional scattering patterns are evaluated utilizing the multi-dimensional chord distribution function (CDF) analysis. From the obvious evolution of the nanostructure during successive crystallite melting, the sequence of processes occurring during crystallization is elucidated. First, nuclei form one-dimensional lattices with short-range order along the fiber axis. From this row structure, lamellae grow with wide lateral...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a severe neurodegenerative brain disorder and characterized by deposition of extracellular toxic beta-amyloid(42) plaques and the formation of intracellular tau neurofibrillary tangles. In addition, beta-amyloid peptide deposits are found in the walls of small to medium blood vessels termed cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). However, the pathogenesis of CAA appears to differ from that of senile plaques in several aspects. The aim of the present study was to analyze different lipids (phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and lysoPCs) in platelets and plasma of a novel mouse model of sporadic CAA (Foidl and Humpel, 2019). Our data show that lipids are significantly altered in plasma of the CAA mice. Levels of 8 diacyl PCs, 2 acyl-alkyl PCs a...

Nowadays, the preservation and maintenance of historical objects is the main priority in the area of the heritage culture. The new generation of 3D scanning devices and the new assets of technological improvements have created a fertile ground for developing tools that could facilitate challenging tasks which traditionally required a huge amount of human effort and specialized knowledge of experts (e.g., a detailed inspection of defects in a historical object due to aging). These tasks demand more human effort, especially in some special cases, such as the inspection of a large-scale or remote object (e.g., tall columns, the roof of historical buildings, etc.), where the preserver expert does not have easy access to it. In this work, we propose a saliency aw...

Recent developments in technology encourage the use of head-mounted displays (HMDs) as a medium to explore visualizations in virtual realities (VRs). VR environments (VREs) enable new, more immersive visualization design spaces compared to traditional computer screens. Previous studies in different domains, such as medicine, psychology, and geology, report a positive effect of immersion, e.g., on learning performance or phobia treatment effectiveness. Our work presented in this paper assesses the applicability of those findings to a common task from the information visualization (InfoVis) domain. We conducted a quantitative user study to investigate the impact of immersion on cluster identification tasks in scatterplot visualizations. The main experiment was...

Journal AWWAVolume 65, Issue 7 p. 480-481 Article Flooding in Chester, Pa. Victor A. Appleyard, Victor A. AppleyardSearch for more papers by this authorHugh W. Hetzer, Hugh W. HetzerSearch for more papers by this author Victor A. Appleyard, Victor A. AppleyardSearch for more papers by this authorHugh W. Hetzer, Hugh W. HetzerSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 July 1973 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1551-8833.1973.tb01880.x Victor A. Appleyard (Active Member, AWWA) is exec. mgr. and chief engr., and Hugh W. Hetzer (Life Member, AWWA) is supt. of production; both of Chester Water Authority (Utility Member, AWWA), Chester, Pa. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text a...

Left ventricle (LV) segmentation is essential to clinical quantification and diagnosis of cardiac images. While most existing LV segmentation methods focus on cardiac images of single modality or multi-modality, few have been devoted to images of mixed-modality. By Mixed-Modality, we mean that different modalities exist in the database, while for every subject, there is only one modality. In this paper, we propose a newly invented LV segmentation method from mixed-modality images: modality adaptation shape regression (MA-Shape). Compared to single-modality or multi-modality methods, the proposed MA-Shape can 1) be applied to images of new modality during the test phase, which improves the generalization of the learned methods, and 2) take advantage of existi...

Abstract Motoneurons exert trophic influences on the differentiation and maturation of skeletal muscles. The neurotrophic mechanism, by which the acetylcholine receptors (AChR) on the muscle membrane are metabolically stabilized and Na-channels become sensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX) during development, is unclear. We have investigated the possibility that diffusible substances produced by neural cells would influence the development of functional components, AChR and Na-channels, of muscle membrane. (1) Myotube cultures were treated with medium conditioned by neuronal cells NG108-15 (NCM). The half-time of the AChR degradation in NCM-treated myotubes was increased by 32%. The medium conditioned by glioma cells was ineffective. NCM stabilized the AChR by decr...

Medical Journal of AustraliaVolume 173, Issue 10 p. 509-510 Editorial Getting to grips with heroin and other opioid use We now have effective evidence-based treatments for the increasing number of heroin users John B Saunders, John B Saunders Professor of Alcohol and Drug Studies, Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland, and Director, Alcohol and Drug Services of the Royal Brisbane and The Prince Charles Hospital Health Service Districts, Queensland Health Brisbane, QLDSearch for more papers by this authorAlun H Richards, Alun H Richards Manager, Drugs of Dependence Unit Queensland Health, Coorparoo, DC, QLDSearch for more papers by this author John B Saunders, John B Saunders Professor of Alcohol and Drug Studies, Department of Psychiatry, Univer...

In sequencing-by-hybridization methods, the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid is reconstructed by overlapping oligonucleotides capable of hybridizing with the nucleic acid. In their present form, the methods are hardly suitable for sequencing of long nucleic acid molecules because of the occurrence of non-unique overlaps between the oligonucleotides, and similarly to the conventional sequencing methods, it is necessary to obtain an individual molecule. In the method described here, most ambiguities in reconstruction of a sequence from the constituent oligonucleotides are eliminated by preparing on oligonucleotide arrays and separate surveying of the nucleic acid nested partials. This enables longer nucleic acids to be sequenced, and results in a high red...

Risk management regimes develop as stakeholders attempt to reduce vulnerability to hazards and limit the damage and disruption from disasters. Urban coastal regions are often hotspots of climate change-related risks. Analysis of different characteristics of vulnerability, resilience, and transformation is an important precursor to planning and decision making. While these concepts are not new, in many areas they remain very abstract. This paper offers a method to assess vulnerability at the individual household scale in different New York City water front neighborhoods that were extensively damaged during hurricane Sandy in 2012. Household Surveys were conducted in Red Hook, Brooklyn and Edgemere/Arverne, Queens in early 2016. Survey results suggest that at ...

Abstract A useful property of Chinese characters is that most of them possess a radical with a meaning. Our system is motivated by this characteristic found in Chinese characters which leads us to radical-based candidate selection approaches, performed before similarity measurement. The searching ranges of the radicals and the characters can be basically decided by the number of strokes in the input script. From the recognized possible radicals, the candidate characters are limited to those having such radicals and those having no radical. Since some of the candidate radicals may have very high matching costs, we can reduce the recognition time by discarding those unlikely candidate radicals. Furthermore, to speed up the inspection of radicals, we developed ...

Common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) have been introduced into aquatic systems across the world, where their benthivorous feeding behavior has resulted in serious water quality problems. A 12-week mesocosm experiment was set up to test the hypotheses that common carp increase water column nutrient levels and decrease water clarity in aquatic ecosystems dominated by submerged plants. Further, we tested whether the effect of common carp on macrophytes depended on the species of plants. Relative to the controls, the presence of carp decreased water clarity by increasing total suspended solids (TSS) and light attenuation. However, levels of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in the water column were reduced. No significant change in phytoplankton biomass (...

In this paper, we propose a new technique—called Ellipsoidal and Gaussian Kalman filter—for state estimation of discrete-time nonlinear systems in situations when for some parts of uncertainty, we know the probability distributions, while for other parts of uncertainty, we only know the bounds (but we do not know the corresponding probabilities). Similarly to the usual Kalman filter, our algorithm is iterative: on each iteration, we first predict the state at the next moment of time, and then we use measurement results to correct the corresponding estimates. On each correction step, we solve a convex optimization problem to find the optimal estimate for the system’s state (and the optimal ellipsoid for describing the systems’s uncertainty). Testing o...

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is a key enzyme in the production of the signaling molecule hydrogen sulfide, deregulation of which is known to contribute to a range of serious pathological states. Involvement of hydrogen sulfide in pathways of paramount importance for cellular homeostasis renders CBS a promising drug target. An in-house focused library of heteroaromatic compounds was screened for CBS modulators by the methylene blue assay and a pyrazolopyridine derivative with a promising CBS inhibitory potential was discovered. The compound activity was readily comparable to the most potent CBS inhibitor currently known, aminoacetic acid, while a promising specificity over the related cystathionine γ-lyase was identified. To rule out any possibility that ...

Oregano essential oil has multiple benefits in traditional medicine, cosmetics, and food industries. Carvacrol and its analog, thymol, are well-described components of oregano oil. Here, we show that these compounds inhibit HIV-target cell fusion independently of viral tropism. Our results suggest that carvacrol and thymol alter the cholesterol content of the viral membrane, blocking HIV-1 entry into the target cell. Resistance to carvacrol has selected for viruses with mutations in the viral envelope glycoprotein, gp41. This protein is known for its interaction with cholesterol present in membrane lipid rafts. Together, these results demonstrate the potential of therapies targeting the viral envelope membrane, and oregano oil is a safe supplement to antiret...

Videotapes from 23 camera stations in the northern Bering Sea provide a unique view of the formation and modification of primary sedimentary structures in the marine environment. The study area is a shallow-water ( 25 cm/sec) bottom currents. Swales between sand ridges are covered predominantly with mud, generally devoid of bed forms, and contain local patches of shell accumulations. Current speeds are reduced (

We have used ab initio density functional theory together with ab initio atomistic thermodynamics, and in situ x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) experiments, to study the oxidation of sub-nanometer clusters of CunOx supported on a hydroxylated amorphous alumina substrate in an O2-rich environment. We obtain (p , T) phase diagrams: these differ notably for the nanoclusters compared to the bulk. Both the theory and experiment suggest that in the presence of oxygen, the cluster will oxidize from its elemental state to the oxidized state as the temperature decreases. We obtain a clear trend for the transition of Cun → CunOn/2: we see that the smaller the cluster, the greater is the tendency toward oxidation. However, we do not see a monotonic siz...

Foods are a mixture of substances capable of supplying the human body with nutrients, which, once metabolized, are used mainly for the production of energy, heat, replenishment, and growth material for organs and tissues, ensuring the normal performance of vital functions necessary for growth of the human body. Therefore, the study of the chemical composition of foods and the properties of their constituents helps to define their nutritional and commodity values. Furthermore, it allows for evaluation of the chemical modifications that the constituents of the food undergo following the treatments (Food Technology) to which they are subjected. Analytical chemistry is the branch of chemistry based on the qualitative and quantitative determination of compounds p...

Polarization imaging is an important branch of the microscopy technique that can provide additional information and enhanced contrast. The illumination system of a polarization microscope enables many different polarizations but makes the setup bulky, complicated, and slow. Here, we design and fabricate an ultrathin planar axicon metalens that also enables parallel illumination with different polarizations. Our results reveal a diffraction-limited size and high degree of linear polarization. To verify our approach, we accurately map the polarization angle of an aluminum grating, which is used as a polarizer. Furthermore, we demonstrate that elliptical polarization can be generated without additional design. A single metalens has the same capabilities as a co...

Abstract In 1580-1581, the Austrian Habsburg ambassador to the Ottoman court shared news of a remarkable letter and self-portrait that had arrived from an Ottoman subject in Habsburg captivity. Tracing the scramble for details on the matter and its import for Habsburg-Ottoman diplomacy reveals the structure, contours, and challenges of the Habsburg mission in Constantinople. The article argues that the image and the accompanying letter may be a forgery seeking to place the ambassador and the peace he was to uphold in jeopardy. Instead, the ambassador himself was captive to the factions, rivalries, and shifting loyalties in the borderlands that played out in the diplomatic culture of Ottoman Constantinople. This reveals the possibilities, limits, and ranges o...

It has become obvious that fluorinated drugs have a significant role in medicinal applications. In this study, the fluorination of 3-nitrotyrosine as an anti-Parkinson and anti-Alzheimer drug was explored using density functional theory calculations. We have investigated the most important chemical properties of 3-nitrotyrosine that affect the pharmacological activity of the drug. We found that the intramolecular hydrogen bonding and intramolecular charge of the drug were influenced by fluorine substitution. Our results also reveal that the fluorination altered the stability, solubility, and molecular polarity of the 3-nitrotyrosine drug. The density of state analysis also determines sharp resonance states of fluorine atoms with the 3-nitrotyrosine drug stat...

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTConcerning the Steric Requirements for the Allylic 1,3-Spin-Spin Coupling of ProtonsThomas A. Wittstruck, Sudarshan K. Malhotra, and Howard J. RingoldCite this: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1963, 85, 11, 1699–1700Publication Date (Print):June 1, 1963Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 June 1963https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00894a043RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views33Altmetric-Citations32LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing t...

Rats were allowed a third of normal water intake for 20 days, and food consumption decreased. The reticulocyte count indicated a suppression of erythropoiesis. Urine osmolality increased from 2,000 mosmol/kg to 3,390 mosmol/kg. Random hemolysis and senescence of a cohort of red blood cell (RBC) previously labeled with [2-14C]glycine was monitored via the production of 14CO. Neither hemolysis nor senescence was affected. Following water restriction, the polydipsic rats generated a hypotonic urine. Urine osmolality decreased to 1,300 mosmol/kg for at least 6 days; a reticulocytosis occurred, but RBC survival was unaffected. These results contradict those previously reported, which suggest that RBC survival is influenced by the osmotic stress imposed on the RBC...

This paper develops a branch-flow-based optimal power flow (OPF) problem for multi-phase distribution networks that allows for tap selection of wye, closed delta, and open delta step-voltage regulators (SVRs). SVRs are assumed ideal and their taps are represented by continuous decision variables. To tackle the non-linearity, the branch-flow semidefinite programming framework of traditional OPF is expanded to accommodate SVR edges. Three types of non-convexity are addressed: (a) rank-1 constraints on non-SVR edges, (b) nonlinear equality constraints on SVR power flows and taps, and (c) trilinear equalities on SVR voltages and taps. Leveraging a practical phase-separation assumption on the SVR secondary voltage, novel McCormick relaxations are provided for (c)...

Genotoxic activity of various concentrations of saccharin, acesulfame-K, aspartame-acesulfame-K and stevia in their commercial form was assessed. Human lymphocytes were exposed to different concentrations of saccharin, acesulfame-K, aspartame-acesulfame-K and stevia for 2 h and then subjected to alkaline comet assay system. Saccharin and the aspartame-acesulfame-K combination showed significant genotoxic activity (P

Lignin fractionation and depolymerization generates heterogeneous streams of aromatic compounds and conversion of aromatic compounds into valuable products, but it is not efficient. Many microbes in nature have evolved metabolic pathways to convert complex lignin polymers into aromatic compounds and transform these aromatic compounds into central intermediates for bioproduct synthesis. The objective of this paper is to review the recent process development of lignin bioconversion into aromatic compounds and bioproducts. Lignin structural and molecular changes during fractionation and depolymerization are presented. Subsequent lignin conversion into aromatic compounds by upper pathways and further converted into central metabolites and bioproducts via lower p...

There is a need for developing an efficient, robust, and secure execution platform for Software-defined networking (SDN) concerning the dynamic network service offerings. In this paper, we present a secure virtual controller (SVC) architecture that satisfies the benchmark characteristics and provides robustness, fine-grained modularity, strong isolation. Our proposed architecture supports network function virtualization, which is responsible for executing different network functions on various traffic flows. We designed two new network functions that provide vigorous security enforcement and energy-efficient load distribution in SDN. The security function is realized using signaling game theory, and the load distribution is accomplished using a heuristic-bas...

This article investigates the neural network-based finite-time control issue for a class of nonstrict feedback nonlinear systems, which contain unknown smooth functions, input saturation, and error constraint. Radial basis function neural networks and an auxiliary control signal are adopted to identify unknown smooth functions and deal with input saturation, respectively. The issue of error constraint is solved by combining the performance function and error transformation. Based on the backstepping recursive technique, a neural network-based finite-time control scheme is developed. The developed control scheme can ensure that the closed-loop system is semi-globally practically finite-time stable. Finally, the validity of theoretical results is verified via ...

As desigualdades existentes entre mulheres e homens no que se refere à qualidade de vida são patentes no Brasil e evidenciadas por indicadores socioeconômicos. Programas e ações governamentais concebidos e executados sem a adoção da perspectiva de gênero são um dos elementos que impedem a concretização do princípio de igualdade de oportunidades. A incorporação da transversalidade de gênero nas políticas públicas no Brasil é recente, assim como os estudos e a avaliação dos orçamentos públicos. Este artigo pretende contribuir para o avanço desse tema, discutindo e analisando a política social proposta no Plano Plurianual do governo de Mato Grosso à luz do enfoque transformador e da teoria feminista. Busca-se, também, refletir em que m...

Abstract Background To determine the baseline individual characteristics that predicted symptom recovery and functional recovery at 10-years following the first episode of psychosis. Methods AESOP-10 is a 10-year follow up of an epidemiological, naturalistic population-based cohort of individuals recruited at the time of their first episode of psychosis in two areas in the UK (South East London and Nottingham). Detailed information on demographic, clinical, and social factors was examined to identify which factors predicted symptom and functional remission and recovery over 10-year follow-up. The study included 557 individuals with a first episode psychosis. The main study outcomes were symptom recovery and functional recovery at 10-year follow-up. Results A...

• A self-folding polymer film is preparated by acoustic manipulation of breathing MOFs particles. • Acoustic radiation force drives MOFs particles to form gradient distribution or microstructure. • The prepared polymer film exhibits self-folding in response to the acetone. Integrating breathing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) particles into a passive polymer matrix is a successful strategy to develop self-folding composite films. However, the folding direction of the film depends on the gradient distribution of breathing MOFs particles in the polymer matrix, which is a huge challenge. Herein, acoustic manipulation is exploited to pattern breathing MIL-53(Fe) particles in liquid photosensitive resin to control over their spatial distribution, and combin...

Purpose Fracture experiments on real human bodies to examine the protected positions and protective devices for the development of protective clothing to manage fractures is exceedingly difficult. Thus, the experimental design will have limitations, more of which are imposed if subjects are elderly people. To circumvent these limitations, this study proposes a finite element model of the hip joint in elderly women with virtual impact simulations that can replace actual fall and impact tests, and examine the positions and characteristics of fractures resulting from taking a fall. Design/methodology/approach The hip joints were modeled after the average horizontal surface size and cross-sectional shapes of the lower extremities (waist to knee) in 439 elderly K...

Background: Whether revascularization improves prognosis in stable ischemic heart disease is controversial. Methods: Individual patient-level data from 19 prospective, randomized stent trials were pooled. Rates of 5-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization) were assessed and compared after percutaneous coronary intervention with bare-metal stents (BMS) and first-generation and second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES1 and DES2, respectively). Poisson multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of adverse events. Results: Among 10 987 patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention for stable ischemic heart disea...

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are complex phospholipidic structures actively released by cells. EVs are recognized as powerful means of intercellular communication since they contain many signaling molecules (including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids). In parallel, changes in epigenetic processes can lead to changes in gene function and finally lead to disease onset and progression. Recent breakthroughs have revealed the complex roles of non-coding RNAs (microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)) in epigenetic regulation. Moreover, a substantial body of evidence demonstrates that non-coding RNAs can be shuttled among the cells and tissues via EVs, allowing non-coding RNAs to reach distant cells and exert systemic effects. Resident bone cells, ...

Through a combination of experimental measurements and theoretical modeling, we describe a strongly orbital-polarized insulating ground state in an ${({\mathrm{LaTiO}}_{3})}_{2}/{({\mathrm{LaCoO}}_{3})}_{2}$ oxide heterostructure. X-ray absorption spectra and ab initio calculations show that an electron is transferred from the titanate to the cobaltate layers. The charge transfer, accompanied by a large octahedral distortion, induces a substantial orbital polarization in the cobaltate layer of a size unattainable via epitaxial strain alone. The asymmetry between in-plane and out-of-plane orbital occupancies in the high-spin cobaltate layer is predicted by theory and observed through x-ray linear dichroism experiments. Manipulating orbital configurations usin...

Fragment-based drug design is a popular approach in drug discovery, which makes use of computational methods such as molecular docking. To assess fragment placement performance of molecular docking programs, we constructed LEADS-FRAG, a benchmark data set containing 93 high-quality protein-fragment complexes that were selected from the Protein Data Bank using a rational and unbiased process. The data set contains fully prepared protein and fragment structures and is publicly available. Moreover, we used LEADS-FRAG for evaluating the small-molecule docking programs AutoDock, AutoDock Vina, FlexX, and GOLD for their fragment docking performance. GOLD in combination with the scoring function ChemPLP and AutoDock Vina performed best and generated near-native con...

Background: The cost of taking care of children with acute kidney injury (AKI) is enormous and beyond the reach of many caregivers in sub-Saharan Africa which are largely resource poor. It is therefore imperative to determine those who may benefit from conservative management which is comparatively cheaper to the renal replacement therapy (RRT).Objectives: To determine the clinical characteristics of children who were offered conservative and renal replacement therapy and evolve the most statistically significant eligibility criteria. Methods: A descriptive crosssectional study of children presenting with AKI admitted into the Emergency Paediatric Unit (EPU) of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) between January 2008 to December 2012 was carrie...

April 01 2020 Anthropocene Poetics: Deep Time, Sacrifice Zones, and Extinction Anthropocene Poetics: Deep Time, Sacrifice Zones, and Extinction by DavidFarrier. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A., 2019. 184 pp., illus. Trade, paper. ISBN: 978-1517906252; ISBN: 978-1517906269. Robert Maddox-Harle Robert Maddox-Harle Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Author and Article Information Robert Maddox-Harle Online Issn: 1530-9282 Print Issn: 0024-094X ©2020 ISAST2020ISAST Leonardo (2020) 53 (2): 224–225. https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_r_01866 Cite Icon Cite Permissions Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Sea...

Abstract This paper explores the strength of internal corporate governance as a determining factor in a firm's addressing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations. Using a European sample of analysis from 2016 to 2017, the paper examines CEO independence, board composition and board attendance as internal corporate governance factors that affect a firm's commitment to sustainable development. By employing several regression analyses, the evidence supports the assertion that greater corporate governance strength, from an internal perspective, increases the propensity to report SDGs in firms' sustainability reports. In addition, results confirm that CEO non‐duality and board independence act individually as determinants of a fi...

To determine the prevalence of keratoconus in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Employees and the related risk factors including oxidative stress biomarkers.2546 subjects' mean age ± SD, 40.35 ± 6.70 (46% male) were recruited. All participants underwent objective refraction using auto-refractometer and retinoscopy, followed by subjective refraction, and bio-microscopy. Pentacam imaging was performed for the detected keratoconus patients. The prevalence of keratoconus and frequency of the visual impairment among keratoconus cases were evaluated. Potential risk factors of sex, age, family history of keratoconus, body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2, serum levels of glucose ≥ 100 mg/d, low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL) ≥ 110 mg/dL, high-density-lipopr...

Case-hardening 14Cr14Co13Mo4 martensitic stainless steel needs to be carburized to improve surface performance. Low-pressure carburization has the benefit of having oxidation-free production and being ecofriendly. However, compared with the low-pressure carburization of the low-alloy steel, low-pressure carburization of the 14Cr14Co13Mo4 steel consumes more time and has a risk of network carbides. In order to promote carbon diffusion and avoid network carbide, Fe–Ni films with various thickness were electrodeposited on the 14Cr14Co13Mo4 steel prior to low-pressure carburization. The experimental results show that, under the same carburizing conditions, the surface carbon content decreases and the carburized layer increases with the increase of Fe–Ni film...

Summary The existing information supports the use of 3-(m-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropionaldehyde as described in this safety assessment. 3-(m-tert-Butylphenyl)-2-methylpropionaldehyde was evaluated for genotoxicity, repeated dose toxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, local respiratory toxicity, phototoxicity/photoallergenicity, skin sensitization, and environmental safety. Data from read-across analog p-t-butyl-α-methylhydrocinnamic aldehyde (CAS # 80-54-6) show that 3-(m-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropionaldehyde is not expected to be genotoxic. Data on 3-(m-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropionaldehyde provide a calculated margin of exposure (MOE) >100 for the repeated dose toxicity and developmental and reproductive toxicity endpoints. Data fr...

Experiments were performed in conscious chronically instrumented rats to determine the role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the cardiovascular adjustments to acute and chronic increases in plasma osmolality. Animals were implanted with pulsed Doppler flow probes and arterial and venous catheters for the determination of cardiac output, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), and heart rate and for the calculation of total peripheral resistance and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Before and after raising plasma osmolality by either 48-h water deprivation or acute hypertonic saline infusion, specific V1- or V2-vasopressinergic receptor antagonists or vehicle were administered to the animals, and the cardiovascular responses were noted. MABP was significantly eleva...

Chinese adults are the biggest users of healthcare services, and understanding current trends in disability profiles is relevant to planning healthcare workforce infrastructure. We investigated the trends over time for disability and physical functional limitations from 2011 to 2015 among Chinese adults and identified the factors associated with these limitations. We used nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS); the CHARLS participants were followed up every 2 years as they moved from work to retirement with an emphasis on their health status and functional abilities. Participants aged ≥50 years from three waves of the CHARLS were included. Data were collected on physical functioning limitations, disa...

Due to the shortage of occupational therapists (OTs) in Haiti and over 800,000 individuals with disabilities, most occupational therapy assessments and interventions are provided by OTs on short-term medical missions (STMMs). Learning which methods OT use to provide assessments and interventions during these STMMs is the first step to understanding how to facilitate follow-up and carry-over for clients and ensure longevity for STMMs in Haiti. This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive design to gather data on methods used by OTs. Thirty-three OTs, who travelled to Haiti on STMMs, completed a 16-question, online survey. The most common method provided by OTs was education to patients, caregivers, and local providers. Training of Haitian rehabilitation tec...

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes usos da terra e sistemas de manejo do solo, nas características químicas de um Neossolo Quartzarênico, no Cerrado de Mato Grosso. Os tratamentos estudados foram: cerrado nativo; uma pastagem de baixa produtividade com 22 anos de implantação; plantio convencional com 1 e 4 anos de uso e diferentes sucessões de culturas; e plantio direto com 5 anos de implantação. Foram determinados os teores de carbono e nitrogênio, pH, acidez potencial, capacidade de troca de cátions (CTC), fósforo disponível, bases trocáveis e saturação por bases do solo. Os valores mais baixos de pH, fósforo disponível, potássio, cálcio e magnésio foram observados nas áreas sob cerrado e pastagem, e a menor c...

This paper proposes a model-free control framework for the path planning of the rigid and soft robotic manipulator using an intelligent algorithm called Weighted Jacobian Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (WJRRT). The optimization approach is used to model the path planning problem, which is independent of the robotic model, and then used the WJRRT algorithm to solve it. WJRRT algorithm not only explores the cartesian space for the end-effector of the robotic manipulator randomly but also directs it towards the goal-position when required. It is robust enough to tackle the uncertainties in the manipulator and make the computation of path planning more efficient. WJRRT assigned a fitness value to each node of the tree. Based on the fitness values algorithm comput...

The flower-like Bi2WO6 microsphere was synthesized through a simple hydrothermal route, and three catalysts, Au/Bi2WO6, CuO/Bi2WO6, and Au–CuO/Bi2WO6, were prepared by a deposition–precipitation method. The morphology and structure of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, surface area analyzer, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, UV/Vis spectrometer, as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Their catalytic performances in catalytic CO oxidation were evaluated. For Au/Bi2WO6 and CuO/Bi2WO6, Au and CuO nanoparticles highly dispersed on Bi2WO6 are 3 and 10 nm, respectively, in average size. For Au–CuO/Bi2WO6, a part of the Au nanoparticles (Au...

In previous papers, we have addressed the issues of orbit design and thruster requirement for the constant arm versions of Astrodynamical Middle-frequency Interferometric Gravitational-wave Observatory (AMIGO) mission concept and for the constant arm gravitational wave (GW) mission concept of Atom Interferometric Gravitational-wave Space Observatory (AIGSO). In this paper, we apply similar methods to the orbit design and thruster requirement for the constant arm GW missions B-DECIGO and DECIGO, and estimate the yearly propellant requirements at the specific impulse [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s and [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s. For the geocentric orbit options of B-DECIGO which we have explored, the fuel mass requirement is a concern. Fo...

Abstract The contribution of projectile ionization (PI) to secondary electron emission is studied by collision of H2+ and H3+ ions (400 keV/u and 700 keV/u) with carbon, copper and gold targets (600 A). The measured doubly differential intensity distribution shows a peak of lost projectile electrons near −νp. We describe the subtraction of the contribution of target ionization (TI), and compare the remaining electron intensities with a BEA calculation. For solids we observe a strong energy shift of the electron loss peak, which is compared with the influence of electron transport and binding energy. Furthermore, the low energy tail of the electron loss peak indicates the simultaneous occurrence of PI and TI. Finally we discuss the influence of surface con...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of triptolide on the tooth movement and root resorption in rats during orthodontic treatment.A total of 48 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of 16 each. The right maxillary first molars of rats were drawn mesially by closed coil nickel-titanium spring with a force of 50 g. The two experimental groups received intraperitoneal injections of triptolide for 14 days at a dose of 15 µg/kg/day and 30 µg/kg/day, respectively. The control group received vehicle injections. After 14 days, the rats were humanely killed. The amount of tooth movement was measured. Eight rats from each group were randomly chosen for analysis of the percentage of root resorption area by scanning electron microscopy. For t...

Our previous study found that Notch3 knockout mice exhibit defects in mammary gland development. To elucidate the underlaying mechanism, tissue samples were subjected to RNA-seq, GO, KEGG enrichment analyses and qRT-PCR validation. Of enriched pathways, chemokine signaling pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction were noticed in both Notch3wt/wt/Notch3wt/- and Notch3wt/wt/Notch3-/- mice. In which, the expression of the chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) was sharply reduced in Notch3wt/- and Notch3-/- mammary gland tissues. The Mouse ENCODE transcriptome data reveals that mammary gland fat pad exhibit high CCL2, CCR2 and CCR4 expression, indicating these molecules play important roles during mammary gland development. Specifically, defective mammary glands i...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding RNAs that play a significant role in biological processes in various cell types, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, how miRNAs regulate the immunomodulatory functions of adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) remains unknown. Here, we showed that modulation of miR-301a in AD-MSCs altered macrophage polarization. Bone marrow (BM)-derived macrophages were stimulated with LPS (1 μg/ml) and co-cultured with miRNA transfected AD-MSCs for 24 h. The expression of M1 and M2 markers in macrophages was analyzed. Inhibition of miR-301a induced M2 macrophage with arginase-1, CD163, CD206, and IL-10 upregulation. Additionally, toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 mRNA expression in macrophages was downregulated in co-cultu...

The main aim of the present study was to develop, validate and test an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) that contributes to the overall understanding of students' intention to use digital tools in a blended learning context of higher education. The external bidimensional factor of familiarity with digital tools, which is not usually explained by the TAM, was included, and evaluated. Following a four-stage scale development technique, a seven-dimensional 25-item survey was developed, which includes two external correlated variables: familiarity with high-tech digital tools and familiarity with traditional digital tools, two mediator variables-computer anxiety, and perceived barriers, and three response variables, perceived usefulness, perceived ease...

The interest in trajectory data has sensibly increased since the widespread of mobile devices. Simple clustering techniques allow the recognition of personal gazetteers, i.e., the set of main points of interest (also called stay points) of each user, together with the list of time instants of each visit. Due to their sensitiveness, personal gazetteers are usually anonymized, but their inherent unique patterns expose them to the risk of being de-anonymized. In particular, social trajectories (i.e., those obtained from social networks, which associate statuses and check-ins to spatial and temporal locations) can be leveraged by an adversary to de-anonymize personal gazetteers. In this paper, we propose DART as an innovative approach to effectively de-anonymize...

Abstract Uniquely suited to organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) are hybrid, ceramic-based membranes. The stability of these membranes in the harsh solvents and conditions of industrial process streams is due to the sturdy and inert architecture of the ceramic, while the organic functionalization is responsible for surface and pore properties of the membrane, and hence its performance. Recently, this kind of inorganic-organic union has produced a plethora of stable and high-performance membranes in a variety of OSN conditions - the topic of this review. This work details and compares the surface modification methods used to fabricate these membranes and their resulting performance. Also, we discuss the capabilities and shortcomings of both the characterizati...

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter MsbA is an ATP-driven lipid-A flippase. It belongs to the ABC protein superfamily whose members are characterized by conserved motifs in their nucleotide binding domains (NBDs), which are responsible for ATP hydrolysis. Recently, it was found that MsbA could catalyze a reverse adenylate kinase (rAK)-like reaction in addition to ATP hydrolysis. Both reactions are connected and mediated by the same conserved NBD domains. Here, the structural foundations underlying the nucleotide binding to MsbA were therefore explored using a concerted approach based on conventional- and DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR, pulsed-EPR, and MD simulations. MsbA reconstituted into lipid bilayers was trapped in various catalytic states correspo...

Background The American Heart Association (AHA) has defined Life's Simple 7 (LS7) as a measure of overall cardiovascular health . Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been involved as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the association between LS7 and NAFLD. Methods We evaluated participants form the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort. Cardiovascular health score was calculated from the Life's Simple 7 metrics. A score of 0-8 was considered inadequate, 9-10 average, and 11-14 optimal. NAFLD was defined using noncontrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) and a liver/spleen attenuation ratio (L/S) < 1. Multivariable regression were performed to evaluate the association. Results Our cross-sectional analysis of 3901 par...

Linking topics to specific experts in technical documents and finding connections between experts are crucial for detecting the evolution of emerging topics and the relationships between their influencers in state-of-the-art research. Current techniques that make such connections are limited to similarity measures. Methods based on weights such as TF-IDF and frequency to identify important topics and self joins between topics and experts are generally utilized to identify connections between experts. However, such approaches are inadequate for identifying emerging keywords and experts since the most useful terms in technical documents tend to be infrequent and concentrated in just a few documents. This makes connecting experts through joins on large dense gr...

Não há conhecimento específico para sementes florestais quanto aos processos metabólicos envolvidos durante o armazenamento, o que dificulta o estabelecimento de técnicas para sua conservação adequada. Assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a participação de enzimas do estresse oxidativo e metabolismo de lipídios durante o armazenamento ou envelhecimento acelerado. Sementes de brauna (Melanoxylon brauna - Leguminosae-Caesalpinoideae) foram envelhecidas naturalmente durante o armazenamento por 0, 3, 6, 9 e 12 meses em câmara fria e artificialmente (envelhecimento acelerado) durante 0, 24, 48, 72 e 96 horas, com objetivo de avaliar alterações na atividade das enzimas superóxido dismutase e catalase e nos teores de lipídios. Para isso...

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced oxidative stress is a serious clinical problem in the reperfusion therapy for ischemic diseases. Tumstatin is an endogenous bioactive peptide cleaved from type IV collagen α3 chain. We previously reported that T3 peptide, an active subfragment of tumstatin, exerts cytoprotective effects on H2O2-induced apoptosis through the inhibition of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. In this study, we investigated whether T3 peptide has cardioprotective effects against I/R injury by using in vitro and ex vivo experimental models. H9c2 cardiomyoblasts were stimulated with oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) for 12 h followed by reoxygenation for 1-8 h (OGD/R; in vitro model). The cells were...

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTPhotoionization mass spectrometry of the fluoromethylsilanes (CH3)nF4-nSi (n = 1-4)M. K. Murphy and J. L. BeauchampCite this: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1977, 99, 7, 2085–2089Publication Date (Print):March 1, 1977Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 March 1977https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00449a013RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views76Altmetric-Citations36LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossre...

Swimming requires sustained high performance, with limited recovery between heats, recovery strategies are essential to performance but are often self-regulated and sub-optimal. Accordingly, we investigated a physiologically determined recovery protocol.Fifteen (m=9, f=6) international junior age group swimmers participated in this study. The average age of the participants was 15.8±1.5 years. All participants completed a lactate elevation protocol (8 x 50 m sprints), followed by one of three recovery strategies: 1) velocity at lactate threshold (VLT); 2) coach prescribed protocol (COA); and 3) national governing body recommendations (NGB) and thereafter a 200-m time trial.[lac-]B was similar between trials at baseline (pooled data: 1.3±0.4 mmol.l-1, P>0.0...

Abstract Objective: This study was designed to validate accelerometer‐based activity monitors against energy expenditure (EE) in children; to compare monitor placement sites; to field‐test the monitors; and to establish sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous threshold counts. Research Methods and Procedures: Computer Science and Applications Actigraph (CSA) and Mini‐Mitter Actiwatch (MM) monitors, on the hip or lower leg, were validated and calibrated against 6‐hour EE measurements by room respiration calorimetry, activity by microwave detector, and heart rate by telemetry in 26 children, 6 to 16 years old. During the 6 hours, the children performed structured activities, including resting metabolic rate (RMR), Nintendo, arts and crafts, aerobic wa...

Interactions between cetacean species are common events that can lead to the formation of mixed-species groups, which have been reported in both captive and wild odontocetes. However, mixed groups containing Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) and the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) rarely have been seen, and detailed interactions between these 2 species have been limited. For the first time, this paper describes wild Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins assisting a finless porpoise (N. p. sunameri) calf in Xiamen waters, China. A group of 8 humpback dolphins amicably herded a finless porpoise calf for more than 3 h. The humpback dolphins accompanied the finless porpoise calf and took turns pushing the calf out of the water to breathe. This...

The differentiated human hepatoblastoma-derived cell line, HepG2, displayed two classes of specific membrane receptors for heparin-binding growth factor type 1 (HBGF-1). Specific membrane receptors were distinguished from nonreceptor heparin-like binding sites. Receptors with an apparent Kd of 9.2 +/- 0.9 pM and present at 15,000 +/- 900/cell correlated with HBGF-1 stimulation of HepG2 growth. Receptors with an apparent Kd of 2 +/- 0.4 nM and present at 180,000 +/- 18,000/cell correlated with inhibition of growth and changes in secretory products. Other hepatoma cell lines exhibited a simple positive mitogenic response to HBGF-1 and a single class of high affinity binding sites. HBGF-1 covalently cross-linked to hepatoma cell surface polypeptides of apparent...

Objective: Patients with IBD are at risk for serious complications when their disease is poorly managed. Patient non-adherence to medical therapy contributes to suboptimal outcomes, but may be modified through improved education. The primary aim of this study is to identify educational needs, and barriers and factors associated with non-adherence among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Methods: Eighteen IBD patients and ten IBD providers were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and a qualitative framework approach used to identify patient educational needs, barriers to obtaining information, and factors associated with non-adherence with medical therapy. Results: Prevention of IBD symptoms and factors contributing to development of ...

The structure and aggregation state of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) in membrane-like environments are important determinants of pathological events in Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the neurotoxic nature of amyloid-forming peptides and proteins is associated with specific conformational transitions proximal to the membrane. Under certain conditions, the Aβ peptide undergoes a conformational change that brings the peptide in solution to a “competent state” for aggregation. Conversion can be obtained at medium pH (5.0–6.0), and in vivo this appears to take place in the endocytic pathway. The combined use of 1H NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics-simulated annealing calculations in aqueous hexafluoroisopropanol simulating the membrane environment, at di...

The present work describes the investigation of electrical and magnetic properties of the glass-coated Co-rich amorphous ferromagnetic microwires, having typical metallic core diameters d = 13–20 μm and tailoring by the direct current Joule heating. During this treatment, a continuous monitoring of the microwire condition was carried out, measuring its resistance by means of a DC bridge circuit. The heating of the microwire sample was provided by a direct current in the range from 20 mA to 63 mA. In this heating currents range, the microwires show a slight change in their resistivity. After annealing the resistivity of microwires may increase of about 1% with respect to as-prepared one. Depends on the heating current, the hysteresis loops of annealed micr...

The excitation of the 8 eV $^{229m}$Th isomer through the electronic bridge mechanism in highly charged ions is investigated theoretically. By exploiting the rich level scheme of open $4f$ orbitals and the robustness of highly charged ions against photoionization, a pulsed high-intensity optical laser can be used to efficiently drive the nuclear transition by coupling it to the electronic shell. We show how to implement a promising electronic bridge scheme in an electron beam ion trap starting from a metastable electronic state. This setup would avoid the need for a tunable vacuum ultraviolet laser. Based on our theoretical predictions, determining the isomer energy with an uncertainty of $10^{-5}$ eV could be achieved in one day of measurement time using re...

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTII. DERIVATIVES OF THE TETRABROMIDES OF ZIRCONIUM AND THORIUM.J. Merritt MatthewsCite this: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1898, 20, 11, 839–843Publication Date (Print):November 1, 1898Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 November 1898https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja02073a002https://doi.org/10.1021/ja02073a002research-articleACS PublicationsRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views43Altmetric-Citations5LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other ...