40 CFR 721.10121 - Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-methyl-.omega.-(4-nonylphenoxy)-, branched.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...)], .alpha.-methyl-.omega.-(4-nonylphenoxy)-, branched. 721.10121 Section 721.10121 Protection of Environment...)], .alpha.-methyl-.omega.-(4-nonylphenoxy)-, branched. (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha...

40 CFR 721.10121 - Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-methyl-.omega.-(4-nonylphenoxy)-, branched.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...)], .alpha.-methyl-.omega.-(4-nonylphenoxy)-, branched. 721.10121 Section 721.10121 Protection of Environment...)], .alpha.-methyl-.omega.-(4-nonylphenoxy)-, branched. (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha...

40 CFR 721.10121 - Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-methyl-.omega.-(4-nonylphenoxy)-, branched.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...)], .alpha.-methyl-.omega.-(4-nonylphenoxy)-, branched. 721.10121 Section 721.10121 Protection of Environment...)], .alpha.-methyl-.omega.-(4-nonylphenoxy)-, branched. (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha...

40 CFR 721.10286 - Formaldehyde, polymer with .alpha.- (2-aminomethylethyl)- .omega. - (2 - aminomethylethoxy)poly...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...-aminomethylethyl)- .omega. - (2 - aminomethylethoxy)poly[ oxy(methyl - 1,2 - ethanediyl)] and 4 - (1,1... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10286 Formaldehyde, polymer with .alpha.- (2-aminomethylethyl)- .omega... formaldehyde, polymer with .alpha.-(2-aminomethylethyl)-.omega.-(2-aminomethylethoxy)poly[oxy(methyl-1,2...

A Comparison of Composite Reliability Estimators: Coefficient Omega Confidence Intervals in the Current Literature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Padilla, Miguel A.; Divers, Jasmin

2016-01-01

Coefficient omega and alpha are both measures of the composite reliability for a set of items. Unlike coefficient alpha, coefficient omega remains unbiased with congeneric items with uncorrelated errors. Despite this ability, coefficient omega is not as widely used and cited in the literature as coefficient alpha. Reasons for coefficient omega's…

40 CFR 721.10286 - Formaldehyde, polymer with .alpha.-(2-aminomethylethyl)- .omega.-(2- aminomethylethoxy)poly[ oxy...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...-aminomethylethyl)- .omega.-(2- aminomethylethoxy)poly[ oxy(methyl- 1,2-ethanediyl)] and 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10286 Formaldehyde, polymer with .alpha.-(2-aminomethylethyl)- .omega... formaldehyde, polymer with .alpha.-(2- aminomethylethyl)-.omega.-(2- aminomethylethoxy)poly[oxy(methyl- 1,2...

40 CFR 721.10286 - Formaldehyde, polymer with .alpha.-(2-aminomethylethyl)- .omega.-(2-aminomethylethoxy) poly[oxy...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...-aminomethylethyl)- .omega.-(2-aminomethylethoxy) poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)] and 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10286 Formaldehyde, polymer with .alpha.-(2-aminomethylethyl)- .omega... formaldehyde, polymer with .alpha.-(2-aminomethylethyl)-.omega.-(2-aminomethylethoxy)poly[oxy(methyl-1,2...

75 FR 51382 - Alkyl Alcohol Alkoxylate Phosphate Derivatives; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-20

... branched, saturated and or unsaturated)-[omega]-hydroxypolyoxyethylene polymer with or without...), [alpha]-tridecyl- [omega] -hydroxy-, phosphate (9046-01-9); Poly(oxy-1 ,2-ethanediyl), [alpha]-dodecyl-[omega]-hydroxy-, phosphate (39464-66- 9); Poly(oxy-1 ,2-ethanediyl), [alpha]-hexadecyl-[omega]-hydroxy...

Effects of omega-3 fatty acid plus alpha-tocopherol supplementation on malnutrition-inflammation score, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic hemodialysis patients.

PubMed

Asemi, Zatollah; Soleimani, Alireza; Shakeri, Hossein; Mazroii, Navid; Esmaillzadeh, Ahmad

2016-11-01

The current study was carried out to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acid and alpha-tocopherol co-supplementation on malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS), biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 120 patients with chronic HD were included. Patients were randomly allocated into four groups to receive: (1) 1250 mg/day omega-3 fatty acid containing 600 mg EPA and 300 mg DHA + alpha-tocopherol placebo (n = 30); (2) 400 IU/day alpha-tocopherol + omega-3 fatty acids placebo (n = 30); (3) 1250 mg omega-3 fatty acids/day + 400 IU/day alpha-tocopherol (n = 30); and (4) omega-3 fatty acids placebo + alpha-tocopherol placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of intervention, all three groups of alpha-tocopherol only, individual omega-3 fatty acids, and combined omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol experienced a significant improvements in MIS compared with the placebo group; however, improvements were much greater in the individual omega-3 fats (-1.4 ± 1.4) and combined omega-3 fats and alpha-tocopherol (-1.1 ± 2.3) groups compared with alpha-tocopherol group alone (-0.5 ± 1.7, P = 0.004). Furthermore, both individual and combined intervention with omega-3 fats and alpha-tocopherol led to a significant increase in plasma nitric oxide (NO) (combined group: +17.6 ± 29.3; alpha-tocopherol: +43.1 ± 36.3; omega-3 fats: +31.0 ± 40.0; and placebo: -0.5 ± 18.5 µmol/L, respectively, P < 0.001) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (+64.9 ± 113.6, +53.0 ± 144.6, +57.6 ± 157.8 and -69.9 ± 215.1 mmol/L, respectively, P = 0.004) levels. Overall, omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol co-supplementation for 12 weeks among HD patients improved MIS, plasma NO and TAC levels. Future studies with longer duration of the intervention are needed to confirm the validity of our findings. CLINICAL REGISTRATION: www.irct.ir as IRCT201410245623N28.

Omega-3 fatty acids improve appetite in cancer anorexia, but tumor resecting restores it.

PubMed

Goncalves, Carolina G; Ramos, Eduardo J B; Romanova, Irina V; Suzuki, Susumu; Chen, Chung; Meguid, Michael M

2006-02-01

Tumor growth leads to cancer anorexia that is ameliorated using omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3FA). We hypothesize that omega-3FA modulates up-regulation of hypothalamic orexigenic neuropeptide Y (NPY) and down-regulation of anorexigenic alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and serotonin 1B receptors (5-HT(1B)-receptors) in tumor-bearing rats. Twenty-eight tumor-bearing rats were fed either chow (TB-Control) or omega-3FA (TB-omega-3FA). When anorexia developed in TB-Control rats, they and a cohort of TB-omega-pi-3 rats were killed. The rest had their tumor resected (R-Control and R-omega-3FA), and when anorexic TB-Controls normalized their food intake, brains were removed for hypothalamic immunocytochemical study of NPY, alpha-MSH, and 5-HT(1B)-receptor antibodies concentrations. Comparison among slides were assessed by image analysis and analyzed by ANOVA and t test. At anorexia, hypothalamic NPY in arcuate nucleus (ARC) increased by 38% in TB-omega3FA versus TB-Control, whereas alpha-MSH decreased 64% in ARC and 29% in paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Omega-3FA diet in anorexia (TB-omega-3FA vs R-omega-3FA) produced similar qualitative changes of NPY (22% increase) and alpha-MSH (31% decrease) in ARC, with concomitant decrease of 37% in 5-HT(1B)-receptors in PVN, confirming the influence of omega-3FA on the hypothalamic food intake modulators. However, after tumor resection (TB-Control vs R-Control) a 97% increase in NPY and a 62% decrease in alpha-MSH occurred that was significantly greater than in rats fed omega-3FA diet. Tumor resection and omega-3FA modifies hypothalamic food intake activity, up-regulating NPY and down-regulating alpha-MSH and 5-HT(1B)-receptors. Tumor resection in anorexic rats on chow diet restored hypothalamic NPY, alpha-MSH, and food intake quantitatively more than in rats fed omega3FA diet.

40 CFR 721.10398 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl),. alpha., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (generic). 721.10398 Section 721.10398 Protection of...-ethanediyl),. alpha., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (generic). (a) Chemical substance... poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (PMN P-10-495) is...

40 CFR 721.10398 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl),. alpha., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (generic). 721.10398 Section 721.10398 Protection of...-ethanediyl),. alpha., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (generic). (a) Chemical substance... poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (PMN P-10-495) is...

40 CFR 721.10398 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl),. alpha., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (generic).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (generic). 721.10398 Section 721.10398 Protection of...-ethanediyl),. alpha., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (generic). (a) Chemical substance... poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha., -monoalkyl ethers-.omega.-mono (hydrogen maleate)- (PMN P-10-495) is...

40 CFR 721.10408 - Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl) oxy]propylidene...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl) oxy]propylidene] amino] methylethyl]-.omega.-[2-[[2,2...-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl) oxy]propylidene] amino] methylethyl]-.omega.-[2-[[2...-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl)oxy]propylidene] amino] methylethyl]-.omega.-[2-[[2...

40 CFR 721.10408 - Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl) oxy]propylidene...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl) oxy]propylidene] amino] methylethyl]-.omega.-[2-[[2,2...-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl) oxy]propylidene] amino] methylethyl]-.omega.-[2-[[2...-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl)oxy]propylidene] amino] methylethyl]-.omega.-[2-[[2...

40 CFR 721.10408 - Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl) oxy]propylidene...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl) oxy]propylidene] amino] methylethyl]-.omega.-[2-[[2,2...-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl) oxy]propylidene] amino] methylethyl]-.omega.-[2-[[2...-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-[2-[[2,2-dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl)oxy]propylidene] amino] methylethyl]-.omega.-[2-[[2...

40 CFR 721.10690 - Benzenedicarboxylic acid, polymer with substituted alkanediol, dodecanedioic acid, 1,2-ethanediol...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., alkanediol,.alpha.-hydro-.omega.-hydroxypoly[oxyalkanediyl], 1,3-isobenzofurandione, methylene diphenyl...-ethanediol, alkanedioic acid, alkanediol,.alpha.-hydro-.omega.-hydroxypoly[oxyalkanediyl], 1,3... substituted alkanediol, dodecanedioic acid, 1,2-ethanediol, alkanedioic acid, alkanediol,.alpha.-hydro-.omega...

Metathesis process for preparing an alpha, omega-functionalized olefin

DOEpatents

Burdett, Kenneth A.; Mokhtarzadeh, Morteza; Timmers, Francis J.

2010-10-12

A cross-metathesis process for preparing an .alpha.,.omega.-functionalized olefin, such as methyl 9-decenoate, and an .alpha.-olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as 1-decene. The process involves contacting in a first reaction zone an .alpha.-functionalized internal olefin, such as methyl oleate, and an .alpha.-olefinic monomer having three or more carbon atoms, such as 1-decene, with a first metathesis catalyst to prepare an effluent stream containing the .alpha.,.omega.-functionalized olefin, such as methyl 9-decenoate, an unfunctionalized internal olefin, such as 9-octadecene, unconverted reactant olefins, and optionally, an .alpha.,.omega.-difunctionalized internal olefinic dimer, such as dimethyl 9-octadecen-1,18-dioate; separating said effluent streams; then contacting in a second reaction zone the unfunctionalized internal olefin with ethylene in the presence of a second metathesis catalyst to obtain a second product effluent containing the .alpha.-olefinic monomer having three or more carbon atoms; and cycling a portion of the .alpha.-olefinic monomer stream(s) to the first zone.

40 CFR 721.10092 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]undecyl]oxy...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha...), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]tridecyl]oxy]-, ammonium salt (1:1). 721.10092... Substances § 721.10092 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]undecyl...

40 CFR 721.10092 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]undecyl]oxy...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha...), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]tridecyl]oxy]-, ammonium salt (1:1). 721.10092... Substances § 721.10092 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]undecyl...

40 CFR 721.10092 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]undecyl]oxy...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha...), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]tridecyl]oxy]-, ammonium salt (1:1). 721.10092... Substances § 721.10092 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]undecyl...

40 CFR 721.10092 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]undecyl]oxy...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha...), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]tridecyl]oxy]-, ammonium salt (1:1). 721.10092... Substances § 721.10092 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]undecyl...

77 FR 76029 - Certain New Chemicals; Receipt and Status Information

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-26

..., .alpha.- hydro-.omega.- hydroxypoly[oxy(methyl- 1,2-ethanediyl)], 1,3- isobenzofurandione, 1,1..., .alpha.- hydro-.omega.- hydroxypoly[oxy(methyl- 1,2-ethanediyl)], 1,3- isobenzofurandione, 1,1..., alkanediol, .alpha.- hydro-.omega.- hydroxypoly[oxy(methyl- 1,2-ethanediyl)], 1,3- isobenzofurandione, 1,1...

21 CFR 178.1010 - Sanitizing solutions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...-nium chloride, sodium metaborate, alpha-terpineol and alpha[p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl] -omega...-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl]-omega-hydroxypoly-(oxyethylene) produced with one mole of the... parts per million of alpha[p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) phenyl]-omega-hydroxypoly (oxyethylene). (14...

21 CFR 178.1010 - Sanitizing solutions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

...-nium chloride, sodium metaborate, alpha-terpineol and alpha[p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl] -omega...-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl]-omega-hydroxypoly-(oxyethylene) produced with one mole of the... parts per million of alpha[p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) phenyl]-omega-hydroxypoly (oxyethylene). (14...

21 CFR 178.1010 - Sanitizing solutions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

...-nium chloride, sodium metaborate, alpha-terpineol and alpha[p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl] -omega...-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl]-omega-hydroxypoly-(oxyethylene) produced with one mole of the... parts per million of alpha[p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) phenyl]-omega-hydroxypoly (oxyethylene). (14...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lopes, E.S.N.; Cremasco, A.; Afonso, C.R.M.

Aging heat treatment can be a good way to optimize mechanical properties, changing the microstructure, and hence, the mechanical behavior of Ti alloys. The effects of aging heat treatments on {beta}-type Ti-30Nb alloy were investigated to evaluate the kinetics of {alpha}'' {yields} {alpha} + {beta} transformation. The results obtained from differential scanning calorimetry and high-temperature X-ray diffraction experiments indicated the complete decomposition of orthorhombic {alpha}'' phase at close to 300 deg. C, followed by {alpha} phase precipitation at 470 deg. C. The aging heat treatments also enabled us to observe a transformation sequence {alpha}'' {yields} {beta} + {omega} {yields} {beta}more » + {omega} + {alpha}, indicating martensite decomposition and {omega} phase precipitation at 260 deg. C after 2 h, followed by {alpha} phase nucleation after heating at 400 deg. C for 1 h. The elastic modulus and Vickers hardness of Ti-30Nb alloy were found to be very sensitive to the microstructural changes caused by heat treatment. - Highlights: {yields} DSC and XRD shed light on the {alpha}'' decomposition and nucleation of {omega} and {alpha} phases. {yields} Aging allows for {alpha}''{yields}{beta} transformation and nucleation of {omega} dispersed in the {beta} matrix. {yields} During aging, {alpha}'' interplanar distances are reduced to enable {beta} phase nucleation. {yields} Mechanical behavior is dependent on the microstructure and the phases in the alloy. {yields} It is not possible to obtain high strength and low elastic modulus by applying aging.« less

40 CFR 721.10580 - Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2- ethanediyl)], alpha, alpha′-[1,4- cyclohexanediylbis(methylene)] bis [omega...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...)], alpha, alphaâ²-[1,4- cyclohexanediylbis(methylene)] bis [omega-(2-aminomethylethoxy)-. 721.10580 Section... Substances § 721.10580 Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2- ethanediyl)], alpha, alpha′-[1,4- cyclohexanediylbis(methylene... reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], alpha, alpha′-[1,4...

Velocity space instabilities of alpha particles in tokamak reactors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sigmar, D.J.

1979-01-01

In this lecture on high frequency instability due to isotropic hollow alpha velocity distributions it was first shown that such distributions can actually arise under thermonuclear conditions in a tokamak reactor, particularly for the case of imperfect alpha particle confinement. The toroidal geometry (i.e., the poloidal variation of the alpha gyrofrequency) then leads to linear instability of the compressional Alfven wave ..omega.. = C/sub A/k/sub perpendicular/ with k/sub parallel/ congruent to O, k/sub perpendicular/ rho/sub ..cap alpha../ greater than or equal to 1, v/sub ..cap alpha../ > C/sub A/, at the low harmonics ..omega.. congruent to n ..omega../sub c..cap alpha../.more » Thus the free energy of the inverted alpha distribution is accessible and produces anomalously rapid diffusion of F/sub ..cap alpha../(v/sub perpendicular/). (MOW)« less

beta subunits influence the biophysical and pharmacological differences between P- and Q-type calcium currents expressed in a mammalian cell line.

PubMed

Moreno, H; Rudy, B; Llinás, R

1997-12-09

Human epithelial kidney cells (HEK) were prepared to coexpress alpha1A, alpha2delta with different beta calcium channel subunits and green fluorescence protein. To compare the calcium currents observed in these cells with the native neuronal currents, electrophysiological and pharmacological tools were used conjointly. Whole-cell current recordings of human epithelial kidney alpha1A-transfected cells showed small inactivating currents in 80 mM Ba2+ that were relatively insensitive to calcium blockers. Coexpression of alpha1A, betaIb, and alpha2delta produced a robust inactivating current detected in 10 mM Ba2+, reversibly blockable with low concentration of omega-agatoxin IVA (omega-Aga IVA) or synthetic funnel-web spider toxin (sFTX). Barium currents were also supported by alpha1A, beta2a, alpha2delta subunits, which demonstrated the slowest inactivation and were relatively insensitive to omega-Aga IVA and sFTX. Coexpression of beta3 with the same combination as above produced inactivating currents also insensitive to low concentration of omega-Aga IVA and sFTX. These data indicate that the combination alpha1A, betaIb, alpha2delta best resembles P-type channels given the rate of inactivation and the high sensitivity to omega-Aga IVA and sFTX. More importantly, the specificity of the channel blocker is highly influenced by the beta subunit associated with the alpha1A subunit.

40 CFR 721.9663 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha, alpha′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., alphaâ²-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis (C11-15 and C11-15-isoalkyl) ethers. 721... Substances § 721.9663 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha, alpha′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega...′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis(C11-15 and C11-15-isoalkyl) ethers (PMN P-97-497...

40 CFR 721.9663 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha, alpha′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., alphaâ²-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis (C11-15 and C11-15-isoalkyl) ethers. 721... Substances § 721.9663 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha, alpha′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega...′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis(C11-15 and C11-15-isoalkyl) ethers (PMN P-97-497...

40 CFR 721.9663 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha, alpha′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., alphaâ²-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis (C11-15 and C11-15-isoalkyl) ethers. 721... Substances § 721.9663 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha, alpha′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega...′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis(C11-15 and C11-15-isoalkyl) ethers (PMN P-97-497...

40 CFR 721.9663 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha, alpha′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., alphaâ²-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis (C11-15 and C11-15-isoalkyl) ethers. 721... Substances § 721.9663 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha, alpha′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega...′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis(C11-15 and C11-15-isoalkyl) ethers (PMN P-97-497...

40 CFR 721.10336 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)-.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1â²-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)-. 721.10336 Section 721.10336 Protection of...-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)-. (a) Chemical substance and...), .alpha.-(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)- (PMN P-04-1; CAS No. 72009-86-0) is...

40 CFR 721.10336 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)-.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1â²-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)-. 721.10336 Section 721.10336 Protection of...-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)-. (a) Chemical substance and...), .alpha.-(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)- (PMN P-04-1; CAS No. 72009-86-0) is...

40 CFR 721.10336 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)-.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1â²-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)-. 721.10336 Section 721.10336 Protection of...-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)-. (a) Chemical substance and...), .alpha.-(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-.omega.-([1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yloxy)- (PMN P-04-1; CAS No. 72009-86-0) is...

40 CFR 721.9663 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha, alpha′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., alphaâ²-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis (C11-15 and C11-15-isoalkyl) ethers. 721... Substances § 721.9663 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha, alpha′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega...′-[thiobis (1-oxo-3,1-propanediyl)]bis [omega-hydroxy-,bis(C11-15 and C11-15-isoalkyl) ethers (PMN P-97-497...

40 CFR 721.10160 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

....-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]oxy]-. 721.10160 Section 721.10160... Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl... substance identified as poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1...

40 CFR 721.10160 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

....-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]oxy]-. 721.10160 Section 721.10160... Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl... substance identified as poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1...

40 CFR 721.10160 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]oxy]-. 721.10160 Section 721.10160... Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl... substance identified as poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1...

40 CFR 721.10160 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

....-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]oxy]-. 721.10160 Section 721.10160... Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl... substance identified as poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1...

40 CFR 721.10160 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

....-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]oxy]-. 721.10160 Section 721.10160... Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl... substance identified as poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[(13Z)-1-oxo-13-docosen-1-yl]-.omega.-[[(13Z)-1...

Structure-property relationship of cast Ti-Nb alloys.

PubMed

Lee, C M; Ju, C P; Chern Lin, J H

2002-04-01

The present work is a study of the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of a series of binary Ti-Nb alloys with Nb contents up to 35 wt%, with emphasis placed on the structure-property relationship of the alloys. The results indicate that crystal structure and morphology of the Ti-Nb alloys are sensitive to the Nb content. The cast c.p. Ti has a hexagonal alpha phase with a lath type morphology. The alloys containing 15 wt% or less Nb are dominated by a hexagonal alpha' phase with an acicular, martensitic structure. When containing 17.5-25 wt% Nb, the alloys are primarily comprised of an orthorhombic alpha" phase. With 27.5 wt% Nb, metastable beta phase starts to be retained. With Nb contents higher than 30 wt%, the equi-axed beta phase is almost entirely retained. Small amounts of omega phase are detected in alloys containing 27.5 and 30 wt% Nb. Among all present alloys, Ti-10Nb and Ti-27.5Nb exhibit the highest strengths, while the alpha"-dominated (17.5 and 20Nb) and beta-dominated (> 30Nb) alloys have the lowest moduli. All Ti-Nb alloys show excellent corrosion resistance in Hank's solution at 37 degrees C. From the present data, the microhardness, bending strength and modulus of the various phases in Ti-Nb alloys are compared and tentatively summarized as follows: Microhardness: omega > alpha' > alpha" > beta > alpha (c.p. Ti) Bending strength: omega > alpha' > alpha" > beta > alpha (c.p. Ti) Bending modulus: omega > alpha (c.p. Ti) > alpha' > alpha" > beta

An Analysis of AERONET Aerosol Absorption Properties and Classifications Representative of Aerosol Source Regions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Giles, David M.; Holben, Brent N.; Eck, Thomas F.; Sinyuk, Aliaksandr; Smirnov, Alexander; Slutsker, Ilya; Dickerson, R. R.; Thompson, A. M.; Schafer, J. S.

2012-01-01

Partitioning of mineral dust, pollution, smoke, and mixtures using remote sensing techniques can help improve accuracy of satellite retrievals and assessments of the aerosol radiative impact on climate. Spectral aerosol optical depth (tau) and single scattering albedo (omega (sub 0) ) from Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) measurements are used to form absorption [i.e., omega (sub 0) and absorption Angstrom exponent (alpha(sub abs))] and size [i.e., extinction Angstrom exponent (alpha(sub ext)) and fine mode fraction of tau] relationships to infer dominant aerosol types. Using the long-term AERONET data set (1999-2010), 19 sites are grouped by aerosol type based on known source regions to: (1) determine the average omega (sub 0) and alpha(sub abs) at each site (expanding upon previous work); (2) perform a sensitivity study on alpha(sub abs) by varying the spectral omega (sub 0); and (3) test the ability of each absorption and size relationship to distinguish aerosol types. The spectral omega (sub 0) averages indicate slightly more aerosol absorption (i.e., a 0.0 < delta omega (sub 0) <= 0.02 decrease) than in previous work and optical mixtures of pollution and smoke with dust show stronger absorption than dust alone. Frequency distributions of alpha(sub abs) show significant overlap among aerosol type categories and at least 10% of the alpha(sub abs) retrievals in each category are below 1.0. Perturbing the spectral omega (sub 0) by +/- 0.03 induces significant alpha(sub abs) changes from the unperturbed value by at least approx. +/- 0.6 for Dust, approx. +/-0.2 for Mixed, and approx. +/-0.1 for Urban/Industrial and Biomass Burning. The omega (sub 0)440nm and alpha(sub ext) 440-870nm relationship shows the best separation among aerosol type clusters, providing a simple technique for determining aerosol type from surface- and future space-based instrumentation.

Platypus globin genes and flanking loci suggest a new insertional model for beta-globin evolution in birds and mammals.

PubMed

Patel, Vidushi S; Cooper, Steven J B; Deakin, Janine E; Fulton, Bob; Graves, Tina; Warren, Wesley C; Wilson, Richard K; Graves, Jennifer A M

2008-07-25

Vertebrate alpha (alpha)- and beta (beta)-globin gene families exemplify the way in which genomes evolve to produce functional complexity. From tandem duplication of a single globin locus, the alpha- and beta-globin clusters expanded, and then were separated onto different chromosomes. The previous finding of a fossil beta-globin gene (omega) in the marsupial alpha-cluster, however, suggested that duplication of the alpha-beta cluster onto two chromosomes, followed by lineage-specific gene loss and duplication, produced paralogous alpha- and beta-globin clusters in birds and mammals. Here we analyse genomic data from an egg-laying monotreme mammal, the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), to explore haemoglobin evolution at the stem of the mammalian radiation. The platypus alpha-globin cluster (chromosome 21) contains embryonic and adult alpha- globin genes, a beta-like omega-globin gene, and the GBY globin gene with homology to cytoglobin, arranged as 5'-zeta-zeta'-alphaD-alpha3-alpha2-alpha1-omega-GBY-3'. The platypus beta-globin cluster (chromosome 2) contains single embryonic and adult globin genes arranged as 5'-epsilon-beta-3'. Surprisingly, all of these globin genes were expressed in some adult tissues. Comparison of flanking sequences revealed that all jawed vertebrate alpha-globin clusters are flanked by MPG-C16orf35 and LUC7L, whereas all bird and mammal beta-globin clusters are embedded in olfactory genes. Thus, the mammalian alpha- and beta-globin clusters are orthologous to the bird alpha- and beta-globin clusters respectively. We propose that alpha- and beta-globin clusters evolved from an ancient MPG-C16orf35-alpha-beta-GBY-LUC7L arrangement 410 million years ago. A copy of the original beta (represented by omega in marsupials and monotremes) was inserted into an array of olfactory genes before the amniote radiation (>315 million years ago), then duplicated and diverged to form orthologous clusters of beta-globin genes with different expression profiles in different lineages.

40 CFR 721.10092 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]undecyl]oxy...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]undecyl]oxy]-, ammonium salt (1:1); Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-[[1-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]tridecyl]oxy]-, ammonium salt (1:1). 721.10092 Section 721.10092 Protection of Environment...

40 CFR 721.5293 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(9Z)-9-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate, ammonium salt.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(9Z)-9... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.5293 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha...), alpha-(9Z)-9-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate, ammonium salt (PMN P-99-920; CAS No. 58857-49-1...

40 CFR 721.5293 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(9Z)-9-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate, ammonium salt.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(9Z)-9... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.5293 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha...), alpha-(9Z)-9-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate, ammonium salt (PMN P-99-920; CAS No. 58857-49-1...

40 CFR 721.5293 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(9Z)-9-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate, ammonium salt.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(9Z)-9... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.5293 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha...), alpha-(9Z)-9-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate, ammonium salt (PMN P-99-920; CAS No. 58857-49-1...

40 CFR 721.5293 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(9Z)-9-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate, ammonium salt.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(9Z)-9... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.5293 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha...), alpha-(9Z)-9-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate, ammonium salt (PMN P-99-920; CAS No. 58857-49-1...

Testing the Difference between Reliability Coefficients Alpha and Omega

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deng, Lifang; Chan, Wai

2017-01-01

Reliable measurements are key to social science research. Multiple measures of reliability of the total score have been developed, including coefficient alpha, coefficient omega, the greatest lower bound reliability, and others. Among these, the coefficient alpha has been most widely used, and it is reported in nearly every study involving the…

40 CFR 721.10721 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.,.alpha.′-[(1-methylethylidene)di-4,1-phenylene]bis[.omega.-[[6...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....,.alpha.â²-[(1-methylethylidene)di-4,1-phenylene]bis[.omega.-[[6-(2,5-dihydro-2,5-dioxo-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-1...-4,1-phenylene]bis[.omega.-[[6-(2,5-dihydro-2,5-dioxo-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-1-oxohexyl]oxy]-. (a) Chemical...,5-dioxo-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-1-oxohexyl]oxy]- (PMN P-13-455) is subject to reporting under this section...

Robust Coefficients Alpha and Omega and Confidence Intervals with Outlying Observations and Missing Data Methods and Software

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Zhiyong; Yuan, Ke-Hai

2016-01-01

Cronbach's coefficient alpha is a widely used reliability measure in social, behavioral, and education sciences. It is reported in nearly every study that involves measuring a construct through multiple items. With non-tau-equivalent items, McDonald's omega has been used as a popular alternative to alpha in the literature. Traditional estimation…

Robust Coefficients Alpha and Omega and Confidence Intervals with Outlying Observations and Missing Data: Methods and Software

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Zhiyong; Yuan, Ke-Hai

2016-01-01

Cronbach's coefficient alpha is a widely used reliability measure in social, behavioral, and education sciences. It is reported in nearly every study that involves measuring a construct through multiple items. With non-tau-equivalent items, McDonald's omega has been used as a popular alternative to alpha in the literature. Traditional estimation…

MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC SIMULATION-DRIVEN KINEMATIC MEAN FIELD MODEL OF THE SOLAR CYCLE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Simard, Corinne; Charbonneau, Paul; Bouchat, Amelie, E-mail: corinne@astro.umontreal.ca, E-mail: paulchar@astro.umontreal.ca, E-mail: amelie.bouchat@mail.mcgill.ca

We construct a series of kinematic axisymmetric mean-field dynamo models operating in the {alpha}{Omega}, {alpha}{sup 2}{Omega} and {alpha}{sup 2} regimes, all using the full {alpha}-tensor extracted from a global magnetohydrodynamical simulation of solar convection producing large-scale magnetic fields undergoing solar-like cyclic polarity reversals. We also include an internal differential rotation profile produced in a purely hydrodynamical parent simulation of solar convection, and a simple meridional flow profile described by a single cell per meridional quadrant. An {alpha}{sup 2}{Omega} mean-field model, presumably closest to the mode of dynamo action characterizing the MHD simulation, produces a spatiotemporal evolution of magnetic fields thatmore » share some striking similarities with the zonally-averaged toroidal component extracted from the simulation. Comparison with {alpha}{sup 2} and {alpha}{Omega} mean-field models operating in the same parameter regimes indicates that much of the complexity observed in the spatiotemporal evolution of the large-scale magnetic field in the simulation can be traced to the turbulent electromotive force. Oscillating {alpha}{sup 2} solutions are readily produced, and show some similarities with the observed solar cycle, including a deep-seated toroidal component concentrated at low latitudes and migrating equatorward in the course of the solar cycle. Various numerical experiments performed using the mean-field models reveal that turbulent pumping plays an important role in setting the global characteristics of the magnetic cycles.« less

40 CFR 721.10409 - Poly(oxyalkylenediyl), .alpha. - [ [ [methyl - 3 - [ [ [ (polyfluoroalkyl)oxy]carbonyl ] amino...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

.... - [ [ [methyl - 3 - [ [ [ (polyfluoroalkyl)oxy]carbonyl ] amino] phenyl]amino]carbonyl] - .omega. - methoxy... Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10409 Poly(oxyalkylenediyl), .alpha. - [ [ [methyl - 3 - [ [ [ (polyfluoroalkyl)oxy]carbonyl ] amino] phenyl]amino]carbonyl] - .omega. - methoxy - (generic). (a) Chemical...

40 CFR 721.10556 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-15-alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

....- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers (PMN P-06-452; CAS No. 675869-05-3...-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-15-alkyl ethers. 721.10556 Section 721.10556 Protection of...-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-15-alkyl ethers. (a) Chemical substance...

40 CFR 721.10556 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-15-alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers (PMN P-06-452; CAS No. 675869-05-3...-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-15-alkyl ethers. 721.10556 Section 721.10556 Protection of...-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-15-alkyl ethers. (a) Chemical substance...

40 CFR 721.10558 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

....- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers (PMN P-06-452; CAS No. 675869-05-3...-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers. 721.10558 Section 721.10558 Protection of...-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers. (a) Chemical substance...

40 CFR 721.10557 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C10-16-alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers (PMN P-06-452; CAS No. 675869-05-3...-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C10-16-alkyl ethers. 721.10557 Section 721.10557 Protection of...-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C10-16-alkyl ethers. (a) Chemical substance...

40 CFR 721.10558 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers (PMN P-06-452; CAS No. 675869-05-3...-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers. 721.10558 Section 721.10558 Protection of...-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers. (a) Chemical substance...

40 CFR 721.10557 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C10-16-alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

....- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C12-16-alkyl ethers (PMN P-06-452; CAS No. 675869-05-3...-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C10-16-alkyl ethers. 721.10557 Section 721.10557 Protection of...-ethanediyl), .alpha.- (2-methyl-2-propen-1-yl) -.omega.-hydroxy-,C10-16-alkyl ethers. (a) Chemical substance...

Alpha – omega and omega – alpha phase transformations in zirconium under hydrostatic pressure: A 3D mesoscale study

DOE PAGES

Yeddu, Hemantha Kumar; Zong, Hongxiang; Lookman, Turab

2015-09-28

Here, a three dimensional (3D) elastoplastic phase-field model is developed for modeling the hydrostatic pressure-induced alpha – omega phase transformation and the reverse phase transformation, i.e. omega – alpha, in zirconium (Zr). Plastic deformation and strain hardening of the material are also considered in the model. The microstructure evolution during both phase transformations is studied. The transformation start pressures at different temperatures are predicted and are plotted as a phase diagram. The effect of phase transformations on the mechanical properties of the material is also studied. The input data corresponding to pure Zr are acquired from experimental studies as wellmore » as by using the CALPHAD method. Our simulations show that three different omega variants form as laths. On release of pressure, reverse phase transformation initiates at lath boundaries. We observe that both phase transformations are martensitic in nature and also occur at the same pressure, i.e. little hysteresis. The transformation start pressures and the kinetics of the transformation predicted by our model are in good agreement with experimental results.« less

Alpha – omega and omega – alpha phase transformations in zirconium under hydrostatic pressure: A 3D mesoscale study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yeddu, Hemantha Kumar; Zong, Hongxiang; Lookman, Turab

Here, a three dimensional (3D) elastoplastic phase-field model is developed for modeling the hydrostatic pressure-induced alpha – omega phase transformation and the reverse phase transformation, i.e. omega – alpha, in zirconium (Zr). Plastic deformation and strain hardening of the material are also considered in the model. The microstructure evolution during both phase transformations is studied. The transformation start pressures at different temperatures are predicted and are plotted as a phase diagram. The effect of phase transformations on the mechanical properties of the material is also studied. The input data corresponding to pure Zr are acquired from experimental studies as wellmore » as by using the CALPHAD method. Our simulations show that three different omega variants form as laths. On release of pressure, reverse phase transformation initiates at lath boundaries. We observe that both phase transformations are martensitic in nature and also occur at the same pressure, i.e. little hysteresis. The transformation start pressures and the kinetics of the transformation predicted by our model are in good agreement with experimental results.« less

40 CFR 721.10580 - Poly[oxy (methyl - 1,2 - ethanediyl)], alpha, alpha′ - [1,4 - cyclohexanediylbis(methylene)] bis...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...)], alpha, alphaâ² - [1,4 - cyclohexanediylbis(methylene)] bis [omega - (2 - aminomethylethoxy)-. 721.10580... Substances § 721.10580 Poly[oxy (methyl - 1,2 - ethanediyl)], alpha, alpha′ - [1,4 - cyclohexanediylbis... to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as poly[oxy(methyl - 1, 2 - ethanediyl ) ], alpha...

[Dietary supplementation of obese children with 1000 mg alpha-linolenic acid per day: a placebo-controlled double blind study].

PubMed

Lohner, Szimonetta; Marosvölgyi, Tamás; Burus, István; Schmidt, János; Molnár, Dénes; Decsi, Tamás

2007-08-12

Enhanced dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids may benefit persons with increased cardiovascular risk, among them obese subjects. Incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids into the plasma lipids is a prerequisite to achieve the favorable effects; however, only very few data are available on the dose of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in children. The aim of our study was to examine the effects of the consumption of a diet supplemented with 1000 mg alpha-linolenic acid daily on plasma lipids in obese children. In this two times six-week-long, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 9 obese children (age: 13.1 [2.5] years, body mass index: 31.2 [6.2] kg/m 2 ), median [IQR]) incorporated into their diet one egg and one meatball (50 g) per day from hens fed diets containing flaxseed oil, i.e. supplementary dietary intake of 1000 mg alpha-linolenic acid per day was provided. The fatty acid composition of plasma lipids was determined by high-resolution gas-liquid chromatography. Tendencies of increase were observed in the alpha-linolenic acid content of plasma lipids in the phospholipid, triacyl-glycerine and sterol-ester fractions after the supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid. In the non-esterified fatty acid fraction, the values of alpha-linolenic acid were significantly higher after the supplementation (0.11 [0.08] versus 0.14 [0.20], % weight/weight, p < 0.05), indicating the beginning of the accumulation of alpha-linolenic acid in plasma lipids. In obese children a six-week-long supplementation of the diet with 1000 mg alpha-linolenic acid per day increased significantly the contribution of omega-3 fatty acids only to the non-esterified fatty acids of plasma lipids, but had no significant effect on the esterified fractions. Increase of the dose of supplementation may be needed to influence omega-3 fatty acid status in obese children.

Synthesis of polymer networks containing degradable polyacetal segments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goethals, E.J.; Trossaert, G.G.; Hartmann, P.J.

1993-12-31

In recent years, intensive research has been done in order to prepare different types of degradable polyacetal containing networks. In the present presentation four different routes for the production of polyacetal containing networks are described: (1) free radical copolymerization of {alpha},{omega}-(meth)acrylate terminated polyacetals (2) hydrosilylation reactions of {alpha},{omega}-allyl terminated poly-(1,3-dioxolane) with a multifunctional silane (3) modification of {alpha}{omega}-hydroxy terminated poly-(1,3-dioxepane) through reaction with 3-isocyanato propyl triethoxysilane and subsequent cross-linking under influence of H{sub 2}O and (4) synthesis of multifunctional hydroxy-terminated polyacetals, followed by cross-linking with di-isocyanates.

Method for high specific bioproductivity of .alpha.,.omega.-alkanedicarboxylic acids

DOEpatents

Mobley, David Paul; Shank, Gary Keith

2000-01-01

This invention provides a low-cost method of producing .alpha.,.omega.-alkanedicarboxylic acids. Particular bioconversion conditions result in highly efficient conversion of fatty acid, fatty acid ester, or alkane substrates to diacids. Candida tropicalis AR40 or similar yeast strains are grown in a medium containing a carbon source and a nitrogen source at a temperature of 31.degree. C. to 38.degree. C., while additional carbon source is continuously added, until maximum cell growth is attained. Within 0-3 hours of this point, substrate is added to the culture to initiate conversion. An .alpha.,.omega.-alkanedicarboxylic acid made according to this method is also provided.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Hyeon Ho; Lee, Youngae; Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging Research, Department of Dermatology, Clinical Research Institutes, Seoul National University Hospital, 28 Yongon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 ({omega}-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), which has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Some reports have demonstrated that EPA inhibits NF-{kappa}B activation induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-{alpha} or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in various cells. However, its detailed mode of action is unclear. In this report, we investigated whether EPA inhibits the expression of TNF-{alpha}-induced matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9 in human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT). TNF-{alpha} induced MMP-9 expression by NF-{kappa}B-dependent pathway. Pretreatment of EPA inhibited TNF-{alpha}-induced MMP-9 expression and p65 phosphorylation. However, EPA could not affect I{kappa}B-{alpha} phosphorylation, nuclear translocation of p65, and DNA binding activity of NF-{kappa}B.more » EPA inhibited TNF-{alpha}-induced p65 phosphorylation through p38 and Akt inhibition and this inhibition was IKK{alpha}-dependent event. Taken together, we demonstrate that EPA inhibits TNF-{alpha}-induced MMP-9 expression through inhibition of p38 and Akt activation.« less

21 CFR 177.1500 - Nylon resins.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... condensation of adipic acid, 1,3-benzenedimethanamine, and alpha-(3-aminopropyl)-omega-(3-amino-propoxy)poly- oxyethylene under such conditions that the alpha-(3-amino-propyl)-omega-(3-aminopropoxy) polyoxyethylene... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Nylon resins. 177.1500 Section 177.1500 Food and...

40 CFR 721.10409 - Poly(oxyalkylenediyl), .alpha.-[[[methyl-3-[[[(polyfluoroalkyl)oxy]carbonyl] amino]phenyl]amino...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....-[[[methyl-3-[[[(polyfluoroalkyl)oxy]carbonyl] amino]phenyl]amino]carbonyl]- .omega.-methoxy-(generic). 721....-[[[methyl-3-[[[(polyfluoroalkyl) oxy]carbonyl]amino]phenyl]amino] carbonyl]-.omega.-methoxy- (PMN P-11-217... Substances § 721.10409 Poly(oxyalkylenediyl), .alpha.-[[[methyl-3-[[[(polyfluoroalkyl)oxy]carbonyl] amino...

21 CFR 177.1500 - Nylon resins.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... condensation of adipic acid, 1,3-benzenedimethanamine, and alpha-(3-aminopropyl)-omega-(3-amino-propoxy)poly- oxyethylene under such conditions that the alpha-(3-amino-propyl)-omega-(3-aminopropoxy) polyoxyethylene... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Nylon resins. 177.1500 Section 177.1500 Food and...

40 CFR 721.10409 - Poly(oxyalkylenediyl), .alpha.-[[[methyl-3-[[[(polyfluoroalkyl) oxy]carbonyl]amino]phenyl]amino...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

....-[[[methyl-3-[[[(polyfluoroalkyl) oxy]carbonyl]amino]phenyl]amino] carbonyl]-.omega.-methoxy- (generic). 721....-[[[methyl-3-[[[(polyfluoroalkyl) oxy]carbonyl]amino]phenyl]amino] carbonyl]-.omega.-methoxy- (PMN P-11-217... Substances § 721.10409 Poly(oxyalkylenediyl), .alpha.-[[[methyl-3-[[[(polyfluoroalkyl) oxy]carbonyl]amino...

21 CFR 178.1010 - Sanitizing solutions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

...-terpineol and alpha[p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl] -omega-hydroxy-poly (oxyethylene) produced with one... parts per million of alpha[p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) phenyl]-omega-hydroxypoly (oxyethylene). (14... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Sanitizing solutions. 178.1010 Section 178.1010...

21 CFR 177.1500 - Nylon resins.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... condensation of adipic acid, 1,3-benzenedimethanamine, and alpha-(3-aminopropyl)-omega-(3-amino-propoxy)poly- oxyethylene under such conditions that the alpha-(3-amino-propyl)-omega-(3-aminopropoxy) polyoxyethylene... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Nylon resins. 177.1500 Section 177.1500 Food and...

21 CFR 177.1500 - Nylon resins.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

...-benzenedimethanamine, and alpha-(3-aminopropyl)-omega-(3-amino-propoxy)poly- oxyethylene under such conditions that the alpha-(3-amino-propyl)-omega-(3-aminopropoxy) polyoxyethylene monomer content does not exceed 7 percent... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Nylon resins. 177.1500 Section 177.1500 Food and...

21 CFR 177.1500 - Nylon resins.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... condensation of adipic acid, 1,3-benzenedimethanamine, and alpha-(3-aminopropyl)-omega-(3-amino-propoxy)poly- oxyethylene under such conditions that the alpha-(3-amino-propyl)-omega-(3-aminopropoxy) polyoxyethylene... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2010-04-01 2009-04-01 true Nylon resins. 177.1500 Section 177.1500 Food and...

A relation to describe rate-dependent material failure.

PubMed

Voight, B

1989-01-13

The simple relation OmegaOmega-alpha = 0, where Omega is a measurable quantity such as strain and A and alpha are empirical constants, describes the behavior of materials in terminal stages of failure under conditions of approximately constant stress and temperature. Applicable to metals and alloys, ice, concrete, polymers, rock, and soil, the relation may be extended to conditions of variable and multiaxial stress and may be used to predict time to failure.

40 CFR 721.5293 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(9Z)-9-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate, ammonium salt.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT SIGNIFICANT NEW USES OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.5293 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(9Z)-9-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate, ammonium salt. (a) Chemical substance and significant...

Stability and stability degree of a cracked flexible rotor supported on journal bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meng, Guang; Gasch, Robert

1994-01-01

This paper investigates the stability and the stability degree of a flexible cracked rotor supported on different kinds of journal bearings. It is found that no matter what kind of bearings is used, the unstable zones caused by rotor crack locate always within the speed ratio (2/N) (1 - Delta K(sub xi)/4) is less than Omega is less than 2/N when gravity parameter W(sub R) is greater than 1.0, and locate always within the speed ratio (2 Omega(sub alpha)/N) (1 - Delta K(sub xi)/4) is less than Omega is less than 2 Omega(sub alpha)/N when W(sub R) is less than 0.1, where Delta K(sub xi) is the crack stiffness ratio, N = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ..., and Omega(sub alpha) = ((1 + 2 alpha)/2 alpha)(exp 1/2). When 0.1 is less than W(sub R) is less than 1.0, there is a region where no unstable zones caused by rotor crack exist. Outside the crack ridge zones, the rotor crack has almost no influence on system's stability and stability degree; while within the crack ridge zones, the stability and stability degree depend both on the crack and system's parameters. In some cases, the system may still be stable even when the crack is very large. For small gravity parameter (W(sub R) is less than 0.1), the mass ratio alpha has large influence on the position of unstable region, but its influence on the stability degree is small. The influence of fixed Sommerfeld number S(sub 0) on the crack stability degree is small although S(sub 0) has large influence on the stability degree of uncracked rotor.

The effect of core configuration on temperature coefficient of reactivity in IRR-1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bettan, M.; Silverman, I.; Shapira, M.

1997-08-01

Experiments designed to measure the effect of coolant moderator temperature on core reactivity in an HEU swimming pool type reactor were performed. The moderator temperature coefficient of reactivity ({alpha}{sub {omega}}) was obtained and found to be different in two core loadings. The measured {alpha}{sub {omega}} of one core loading was {minus}13 pcm/{degrees}C at the temperature range of 23-30{degrees}C. This value of {alpha}{sub {omega}} is comparable to the data published by the IAEA. The {alpha}{sub {omega}} measured in the second core loading was found to be {minus}8 pcm/{degrees}C at the same temperature range. Another phenomenon considered in this study is coremore » behavior during reactivity insertion transient. The results were compared to a core simulation using the Dynamic Simulator for Nuclear Power Plants. It was found that in the second core loading factors other than the moderator temperature influence the core reactivity more than expected. These effects proved to be extremely dependent on core configuration and may in certain core loadings render the reactor`s reactivity coefficient undesirable.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hopkins, Rebecca J.; Lewis, K.; Desyaterik, Yury

Aerosols generated from burning different plant fuels were characterized to determine relationships between chemical, optical and physical properties. Single scattering albedo ({omega}) and Angstrom absorption coefficients ({alpha}{sub ap}) were measured using a photoacoustic technique combined with a reciprocal nephelometer. Carbon-to-oxygen atomic ratios, sp{sup 2} hybridization, elemental composition and morphology of individual particles were measured using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy coupled with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM/NEXAFS) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersion of X-rays (SEM/EDX). Particles were grouped into three categories based on sp2 hybridization and chemical composition. Measured {omega} (0.4-1.0 at 405 nm) and {alpha}{sub ap}more » (1.0-3.5) values displayed a fuel dependence. The category with sp{sup 2} hybridization >80% had values of {omega} (<0.5) and {alpha}{sub ap} ({approx}1.25) characteristic of light absorbing soot. Other categories with lower sp2 hybridization (20 to 60%) exhibited higher {omega} (>0.8) and {alpha}{sub ap} (1.0 to 3.5) values, indicating increased absorption spectral selectivity.« less

Relationship between 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentration and spontaneous preterm birth.

PubMed

Caritis, Steve N; Venkataramanan, Raman; Thom, Elizabeth; Harper, Margaret; Klebanoff, Mark A; Sorokin, Yoram; Thorp, John M; Varner, Michael W; Wapner, Ronald J; Iams, Jay D; Carpenter, Marshall W; Grobman, William A; Mercer, Brian M; Sciscione, Anthony; Rouse, Dwight J; Ramin, Susan

2014-02-01

17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate 250 mg weekly reduces recurrent spontaneous preterm birth in women with a prior spontaneous preterm birth by 33%. The dose is not based on pharmacologic considerations. A therapeutic concentration has not been determined hampering any attempt to optimize treatment. This study evaluated the relationship between 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations and the rate of spontaneous preterm birth in women with singleton gestation. A single blood sample was obtained between 25 and 28 weeks' gestation from 315 women with a spontaneous preterm birth who participated in a placebo-controlled, prospective, randomized clinical trial evaluating the benefit of omega-3 supplementation in reducing preterm birth. All women in the parent study received 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate and 434 received omega-3 supplementation and 418 received a placebo. Plasma from 315 consenting women was analyzed for 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentration. There were no differences between placebo and omega-3 supplemented groups in demographic variables, outcomes or in mean 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentration. Plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate ranged from 3.7-56 ng/mL. Women with plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate in the lowest quartile had a significantly higher risk of spontaneous preterm birth (P = .03) and delivered at significantly earlier gestational ages (P = .002) than did women in the second to fourth quartiles. The lowest preterm birth rates were seen when median 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentrations exceeded 6.4 ng/mL. Low plasma 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentration is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth. This finding validates efficacy of this treatment but suggests that additional studies are needed to determine the optimal dosage. Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

75 FR 32770 - Notice of Withdrawal of Pesticide Petitions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-09

[email protected] . 3. PP 6E4704 ([alpha]-alkyl (C 10 -C 16 )- [omega]-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene) sulfate and its...) for residues of ([alpha]-alkyl (C 10 - C 16 )-[omega]-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene) sulfate and its... moles minimum) (CAS Reg. Nos. 68585-34-2 and 68891-38-3) when used as an inert ingredient in pesticide...

Cronbach's [Alpha], Revelle's [Beta], and McDonald's [Omega][sub H]: Their Relations with Each Other and Two Alternative Conceptualizations of Reliability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zinbarg, Richard E.; Revelle, William; Yovel, Iftah; Li, Wen

2005-01-01

We make theoretical comparisons among five coefficients--Cronbach's [alpha], Revelle's [beta], McDonald's [omega][sub h], and two alternative conceptualizations of reliability. Though many end users and psychometricians alike may not distinguish among these five coefficients, we demonstrate formally their nonequivalence. Specifically, whereas…

An approximate analytic solution of a set of nonlinear model alpha-omega-dynamo equations for marginally unstable systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hinata, S.

1989-01-01

An approximate analytic solution of a set of nonlinear model alpha-omega-dynamo equations is obtained. The reaction of the Lorentz force on the velocity shear which stretches and, hence, amplifies the magnetic field is incorporated into the model. To single out the effect of the Lorentz force on the omega-effect, the effect of the Lorentz force on the alpha-effect is neglected in this study. The solution represents a nonlinear oscillation with the amplitude and period determined by the dynamo number N. The amplitude is proportional to N - 1, while the period is almost exactly the same as the dissipation time of the unstable mode (proportional to N).

Core conditions for alpha heating attained in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bose, A.; Woo, K. M.; Betti, R.

It is shown that direct-drive implosions on the OMEGA laser have achieved core conditions that would lead to significant alpha heating at incident energies available on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) scale. The extrapolation of the experimental results from OMEGA to NIF energy assumes only that the implosion hydrodynamic efficiency is unchanged at higher energies. This approach is independent of the uncertainties in the physical mechanism that degrade implosions on OMEGA, and relies solely on a volumetric scaling of the experimentally observed core conditions. It is estimated that the current best-performing OMEGA implosion [Regan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117,more » 025001 (2016)] extrapolated to a 1.9 MJ laser driver with the same illumination configuration and laser-target coupling would produce 125 kJ of fusion energy with similar levels of alpha heating observed in current highest performing indirect-drive NIF implosions.« less

Core conditions for alpha heating attained in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion

DOE PAGES

Bose, A.; Woo, K. M.; Betti, R.; ...

2016-07-07

It is shown that direct-drive implosions on the OMEGA laser have achieved core conditions that would lead to significant alpha heating at incident energies available on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) scale. The extrapolation of the experimental results from OMEGA to NIF energy assumes only that the implosion hydrodynamic efficiency is unchanged at higher energies. This approach is independent of the uncertainties in the physical mechanism that degrade implosions on OMEGA, and relies solely on a volumetric scaling of the experimentally observed core conditions. It is estimated that the current best-performing OMEGA implosion [Regan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117,more » 025001 (2016)] extrapolated to a 1.9 MJ laser driver with the same illumination configuration and laser-target coupling would produce 125 kJ of fusion energy with similar levels of alpha heating observed in current highest performing indirect-drive NIF implosions.« less

Core conditions for alpha heating attained in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion.

PubMed

Bose, A; Woo, K M; Betti, R; Campbell, E M; Mangino, D; Christopherson, A R; McCrory, R L; Nora, R; Regan, S P; Goncharov, V N; Sangster, T C; Forrest, C J; Frenje, J; Gatu Johnson, M; Glebov, V Yu; Knauer, J P; Marshall, F J; Stoeckl, C; Theobald, W

2016-07-01

It is shown that direct-drive implosions on the OMEGA laser have achieved core conditions that would lead to significant alpha heating at incident energies available on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) scale. The extrapolation of the experimental results from OMEGA to NIF energy assumes only that the implosion hydrodynamic efficiency is unchanged at higher energies. This approach is independent of the uncertainties in the physical mechanism that degrade implosions on OMEGA, and relies solely on a volumetric scaling of the experimentally observed core conditions. It is estimated that the current best-performing OMEGA implosion [Regan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 025001 (2016)10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.025001] extrapolated to a 1.9 MJ laser driver with the same illumination configuration and laser-target coupling would produce 125 kJ of fusion energy with similar levels of alpha heating observed in current highest performing indirect-drive NIF implosions.

Power laws in microrheology experiments on living cells: Comparative analysis and modeling.

PubMed

Balland, Martial; Desprat, Nicolas; Icard, Delphine; Féréol, Sophie; Asnacios, Atef; Browaeys, Julien; Hénon, Sylvie; Gallet, François

2006-08-01

We compare and synthesize the results of two microrheological experiments on the cytoskeleton of single cells. In the first one, the creep function J(t) of a cell stretched between two glass plates is measured after applying a constant force step. In the second one, a microbead specifically bound to transmembrane receptors is driven by an oscillating optical trap, and the viscoelastic coefficient Ge(omega) is retrieved. Both J(t) and Ge(omega) exhibit power law behaviors: J(t) = A0(t/t0)alpha and absolute value (Ge(omega)) = G0(omega/omega0)alpha, with the same exponent alpha approximately 0.2. This power law behavior is very robust; alpha is distributed over a narrow range, and shows almost no dependence on the cell type, on the nature of the protein complex which transmits the mechanical stress, nor on the typical length scale of the experiment. On the contrary, the prefactors A0 and G0 appear very sensitive to these parameters. Whereas the exponents alpha are normally distributed over the cell population, the prefactors A0 and G0 follow a log-normal repartition. These results are compared with other data published in the literature. We propose a global interpretation, based on a semiphenomenological model, which involves a broad distribution of relaxation times in the system. The model predicts the power law behavior and the statistical repartition of the mechanical parameters, as experimentally observed for the cells. Moreover, it leads to an estimate of the largest response time in the cytoskeletal network: tau(m) approximately 1000 s.

The Assessment of Reliability Under Range Restriction: A Comparison of [Alpha], [Omega], and Test-Retest Reliability for Dichotomous Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fife, Dustin A.; Mendoza, Jorge L.; Terry, Robert

2012-01-01

Though much research and attention has been directed at assessing the correlation coefficient under range restriction, the assessment of reliability under range restriction has been largely ignored. This article uses item response theory to simulate dichotomous item-level data to assess the robustness of KR-20 ([alpha]), [omega], and test-retest…

40 CFR 721.3488 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha substituted-omega-hydroxy-, C16-20 alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.3488 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha... reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified generically as poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha substituted...

40 CFR 721.3488 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha substituted-omega-hydroxy-, C16-20 alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.3488 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha... reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified generically as poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha substituted...

40 CFR 721.3488 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha substituted-omega-hydroxy-, C16-20 alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.3488 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha... reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified generically as poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha substituted...

40 CFR 721.3488 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha substituted-omega-hydroxy-, C16-20 alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.3488 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha... reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified generically as poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha substituted...

40 CFR 721.3488 - Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha substituted-omega-hydroxy-, C16-20 alkyl ethers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.3488 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha... reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified generically as poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha substituted...

On the possibility of an alpha-sq omega-type dynamo in a thin layer inside the sun

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choudhuri, Arnab Rai

1990-01-01

If the solar dynamo operates in a thin layer of 10,000-km thickness at the interface between the convection zone and the radiative core, using the facts that the dynamo should have a period of 22 years and a half-wavelength of 40 deg in the theta-direction, it is possible to impose restrictions on the values which various dynamo parameters are allowed to have. It is pointed out that the dynamo should be of alpha-sq omega nature, and kinematical calculations are presented for free dynamo waves and for dynamos in thin rectangular slabs with appropriate boundary conditions. An alpha-sq omega dynamo is expected to produce a significant poloidal field which does not leak to the solar surface. It is found that the turbulent diffusity eta and alpha-coefficient are restricted to values within about a factor of 10, the median values being eta of about 10 to the 10th sq cm/sec and alpha of about 10 cm/sec. On the basis of mixing length theory, it is pointed out that such values imply a reasonable turbulent velocity of the order 30 m/s, but rather small turbulent length scales like 300 km.

Anti-cytokine autoantibodies in autoimmunity: preponderance of neutralizing autoantibodies against interferon-alpha, interferon-omega and interleukin-12 in patients with thymoma and/or myasthenia gravis.

PubMed

Meager, A; Wadhwa, M; Dilger, P; Bird, C; Thorpe, R; Newsom-Davis, J; Willcox, N

2003-04-01

We have screened for spontaneous anticytokine autoantibodies in patients with infections, neoplasms and autoimmune diseases, because of their increasingly reported co-occurrence. We tested for both binding and neutralizing autoantibodies to a range of human cytokines, including interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18, interferon-alpha2 (IFN-alpha2), IFN-omega, IFN-beta, IFN-gamma, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), in plasmas or sera. With two notable exceptions described below, we found only occasional, mostly low-titre, non-neutralizing antibodies, mainly to GM-CSF; also to IL-10 in pemphigoid. Strikingly, however, high-titre, mainly IgG, autoantibodies to IFN-alpha2, IFN-omega and IL-12 were common at diagnosis in patients with late-onset myasthenia gravis (LOMG+), thymoma (T) but no MG (TMG-) and especially with both thymoma and MG together (TMG+). The antibodies recognized other closely related type I IFN-alpha subtypes, but rarely the distantly related type I IFN-beta, and never (detectably) the unrelated type II IFN-gamma. Antibodies to IL-12 showed a similar distribution to those against IFN-alpha2, although prevalences were slightly lower; correlations between individual titres against each were so modest that they appear to be entirely different specificities. Neither showed any obvious correlations with clinical parameters including thymoma histology and HLA type, but they did increase sharply if the tumours recurred. These antibodies neutralized their respective cytokine in bioassays in vitro; although they persisted for years severe infections were surprisingly uncommon, despite the immunosuppressive therapy also used in most cases. These findings must hold valuable clues to autoimmunizing mechanisms in paraneoplastic autoimmunity.

An Audit of Selected Private School Programs: Accelerated Christian Education, Alpha Omega, Mennonite Schools, Seventh-Day Adventist Schools, and A BEKA Instructional Resources.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alberta Dept. of Education, Edmonton.

This report, commissioned by the Minister of Education of Alberta, reviews the programs of study and instructional materials used in four groups of approved private schools: schools using the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum; schools using the Alpha Omega program; Mennonite parochial schools; and Seventh Day Adventist schools. The review…

Enhanced sensitivity to the time variation of the fine-structure constant and m{p}/m{e} in diatomic molecules.

PubMed

Flambaum, V V; Kozlov, M G

2007-10-12

Sensitivity to temporal variation of the fundamental constants may be strongly enhanced in transitions between narrow close levels of different nature. This enhancement may be realized in a large number of molecules due to cancellation between the ground state fine-structure omega{f} and vibrational interval omega{v} [omega=omega{f}-nomega{v} approximately 0, delta omega/omega=K(2delta alpha/alpha+0.5 delta mu/mu), K>1, mu=m{p}/m{e}]. The intervals between the levels are conveniently located in microwave frequency range and the level widths are very small. Required accuracy of the shift measurements is about 0.01-1 Hz. As examples, we consider molecules Cl(+)(2), CuS, IrC, SiBr, and HfF(+).

Color Shade Instrumentation Correlation Study: Statistical Analysis. Revision

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

L* a* b* Alpha Desert Sand 503 Beta Chi Army Green 491 Delta Epsilon Iota Kappa Lambda Mu Desert Sand 503...Desert Sand 503 Epsilon Army Green 491 Iota Kappa Lambda Desert Sand 503 Mu Omega Omicron Desert Sand 503 Psi Rho...Color Tiles Figure 3-3. Correlation Matrix for a* Means of Color Tiles Alpha Beta Chi Delta Epsilon Iota Kappa Lambda Mu Omega Omicron Psi Rho

Influence of major structural features of tocopherols and tocotrienols on their omega-oxidation by tocopherol-omega-hydroxylase.

PubMed

Sontag, Timothy J; Parker, Robert S

2007-05-01

Human cytochrome P450 4F2 (CYP4F2) catalyzes the initial omega-hydroxylation reaction in the metabolism of tocopherols and tocotrienols to carboxychromanols and is, to date, the only enzyme shown to metabolize vitamin E. The objective of this study was to characterize this activity, particularly the influence of key features of tocochromanol substrate structure. The influence of the number and positions of methyl groups on the chromanol ring, and of stereochemistry and saturation of the side chain, were explored using HepG2 cultures and microsomal reaction systems. Human liver microsomes and microsomes selectively expressing recombinant human CYP4F2 exhibited substrate activity patterns similar to those of HepG2 cells. Although activity was strongly associated with substrate accumulation by cells or microsomes, substantial differences in specific activities between substrates remained under conditions of similar microsomal membrane substrate concentration. Methylation at C5 of the chromanol ring was associated with markedly low activity. Tocotrienols exhibited much higher Vmax values than their tocopherol counterparts. Side chain stereochemistry had no effect on omega-hydroxylation of alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TOH) by any system. Kinetic analysis of microsomal CYP4F2 activity revealed Michaelis-Menten kinetics for alpha-TOH but allosteric cooperativity for other vitamers, especially tocotrienols. Additionally, alpha-TOH was a positive effector of omega-hydroxylation of other vitamers. These results indicate that CYP4F2-mediated tocopherol-omega-hydroxylation is a central feature underlying the different biological half-lives, and therefore biopotencies, of the tocopherols and tocotrienols.

Evaluation of Dimensionality in the Assessment of Internal Consistency Reliability: Coefficient Alpha and Omega Coefficients

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green, Samuel B.; Yang, Yanyun

2015-01-01

In the lead article, Davenport, Davison, Liou, & Love demonstrate the relationship among homogeneity, internal consistency, and coefficient alpha, and also distinguish among them. These distinctions are important because too often coefficient alpha--a reliability coefficient--is interpreted as an index of homogeneity or internal consistency.…

Solution conformation of a neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist {alpha}-conotoxin OmIA that discriminates {alpha}3 vs. {alpha}6 nAChR subtypes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chi, Seung-Wook; Kim, Do-Hyoung; Olivera, Baldomero M.

2006-06-23

{alpha}-Conotoxin OmIA from Conus omaria is the only {alpha}-conotoxin that shows a {approx}20-fold higher affinity to the {alpha}3{beta}2 over the {alpha}6{beta}2 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. We have determined a three-dimensional structure of {alpha}-conotoxin OmIA by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. {alpha}-Conotoxin OmIA has an '{omega}-shaped' overall topology with His{sup 5}-Asn{sup 12} forming an {alpha}-helix. Structural features of {alpha}-conotoxin OmIA responsible for its selectivity are suggested by comparing its surface characteristics with other functionally related {alpha}4/7 subfamily conotoxins. Reduced size of the hydrophilic area in {alpha}-conotoxin OmIA seems to be associated with the reduced affinity towards the {alpha}6{beta}2 nAChR subtype.

Alternatives to Greek-Letter Organizations Warrant a Second Look

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

David, Marc C.

2004-01-01

Because of the discriminatory practices and lack of appeal of many predominantly White Greek-letter organizations, students of color sought the development of their own. Alpha Phi Alpha, Rho Psi, MALIK Sigma Psi, Lambda Theta Phi, and Alpha Pi Omega set the stage for later African American, Asian, African, Latino and American Indian Greek-letter…

G(o) transduces GABAB-receptor modulation of N-type calcium channels in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons.

PubMed

Menon-Johansson, A S; Berrow, N; Dolphin, A C

1993-11-01

High-voltage-activated (HVA) calcium channel currents (IBa) were recorded from acutely replated cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. IBa was irreversibly inhibited by 56.9 +/- 2.7% by 1 microM omega-conotoxin-GVIA (omega-CTx-GVIA), whereas the 1,4-dihydropyridine antagonist nicardipine was ineffective. The selective gamma-aminobutyric acidB (GABAB) agonist, (-)-baclofen (50 microM), inhibited the HVA IBa by 30.7 +/- 5.4%. Prior application of omega-CTx-GVIA completely occluded inhibition of the HVA IBa by (-)-baclofen, indicating that in this preparation (-)-baclofen inhibits N-type current. To investigate which G protein subtype was involved, cells were replated in the presence of anti-G protein antisera. Under these conditions the antibodies were shown to enter the cells through transient pores created during the replating procedure. Replating DRGs in the presence of anti-G(o) antiserum, raised against the C-terminal decapeptide of the G alpha o subunit, reduced (-)-baclofen inhibition of the HVA IBa, whereas replating DRGs in the presence of the anti-Gi antiserum did not. Using anti-G alpha o antisera (1:2000) and confocal laser microscopy, G alpha o localisation was investigated in both unreplated and replated neurons. G alpha o immunoreactivity was observed at the plasma membrane, neurites, attachment plaques and perinuclear region, and was particularly pronounced at points of cell-to-cell contact. The plasma membrane G alpha o immunoreactivity was completely blocked by preincubation with the immunising G alpha o undecapeptide (1 microgram.ml-1) for 1 h at 37 degrees C. A similar treatment also blocked recognition of G alpha o in brain membranes on immunoblots.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The Development of the Alpha-Omega Completed Sentence Form (AOCSF): An Instrument to Aid in the Measurement, Identification, and Assessment of an Individual's "Adaptational Approach(es)" to the Stressful Event of Death and Related Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klein, Ronald; And Others

The Alpha Omega Completed Sentence Form (AOCSF) was developed to identify and measure a person's adaptational approaches to information concerning their own death or the possible death of a significant other. In contrast to the Kubler-Ross stage theory, the adaptational approach recognizes a person's capacity to assimilate new information which…

Convergence of the Rogers-Ramanujan continued fraction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Buslaev, V I

2003-06-30

Set q=exp(2{pi}i{tau}), where {tau} is an irrational number, and let R{sub q} be the radius of holomorphy of the Rogers-Ramanujan function G{sub q}(z)=1+{sigma}{sub n=1}{sup {infinity}}z{sup n}(q{sup n{sup 2}})/((1-q)...(1-q{sup n})). As is known, R{sub q}{<=}1 and for each {alpha} element of [0,1] there exists q=q({alpha}) such that R{sub q({alpha})}={alpha}. It is proved here that the function H{sub q}(z)=G{sub q}(z)/G{sub q}(qz) is meromorphic not only in the disc =(|z|

Thrust at N{sup 3}LL with power corrections and a precision global fit for {alpha}{sub s}(m{sub Z})

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abbate, Riccardo; Stewart, Iain W.; Fickinger, Michael

2011-04-01

We give a factorization formula for the e{sup +}e{sup -} thrust distribution d{sigma}/d{tau} with {tau}=1-T based on the soft-collinear effective theory. The result is applicable for all {tau}, i.e. in the peak, tail, and far-tail regions. The formula includes O({alpha}{sub s}{sup 3}) fixed-order QCD results, resummation of singular partonic {alpha}{sub s}{sup j}ln{sup k}({tau})/{tau} terms with N{sup 3}LL accuracy, hadronization effects from fitting a universal nonperturbative soft function defined with field theory, bottom quark mass effects, QED corrections, and the dominant top mass dependent terms from the axial anomaly. We do not rely on Monte Carlo generators to determine nonperturbative effectsmore » since they are not compatible with higher order perturbative analyses. Instead our treatment is based on fitting nonperturbative matrix elements in field theory, which are moments {Omega}{sub i} of a nonperturbative soft function. We present a global analysis of all available thrust data measured at center-of-mass energies Q=35-207 GeV in the tail region, where a two-parameter fit to {alpha}{sub s}(m{sub Z}) and the first moment {Omega}{sub 1} suffices. We use a short-distance scheme to define {Omega}{sub 1}, called the R-gap scheme, thus ensuring that the perturbative d{sigma}/d{tau} does not suffer from an O({Lambda}{sub QCD}) renormalon ambiguity. We find {alpha}{sub s}(m{sub Z})=0.1135{+-}(0.0002){sub expt{+-}}(0.0005){sub hadr{+-}}(0.0009){sub pert}, with {chi}{sup 2}/dof=0.91, where the displayed 1-sigma errors are the total experimental error, the hadronization uncertainty, and the perturbative theory uncertainty, respectively. The hadronization uncertainty in {alpha}{sub s} is significantly decreased compared to earlier analyses by our two-parameter fit, which determines {Omega}{sub 1}=0.323 GeV with 16% uncertainty.« less

Cutin and suberin monomers are membrane perturbants.

PubMed

Douliez, Jean-Paul

2004-03-15

The interaction between cutin and suberin monomers, i.e., omega -hydroxylpalmitic acid, alpha, omega -hexadecanedioic acid, alpha, omega --hexadecanediol, 12-hydroxylstearic acid, and phospholipid vesicles biomimicking the lipid structure of plant cell membranes has been studied by optical and transmission electron microscopy, quasielastic light scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, and (31)P solid-state NMR. Monomers were shown to penetrate model membranes until a molar ratio of 30%, modulating their gel to fluid-phase transition, after which monomer crystals also formed in solution. These monomers induced a decrease of the phospholipid vesicle size from several micrometers to about 300 nm. The biological implications of these findings are discussed.

Roles of unsaturated fatty acids (especially omega-3 fatty acids) in the brain at various ages and during ageing.

PubMed

Bourre, J M

2004-01-01

Among various organs, in the brain, the fatty acids most extensively studied are omega-3 fatty acids. Alpha-linolenic acid (18:3omega3) deficiency alters the structure and function of membranes and induces minor cerebral dysfunctions, as demonstrated in animal models and subsequently in human infants. Even though the brain is materially an organ like any other, that is to say elaborated from substances present in the diet (sometimes exclusively), for long it was not accepted that food can have an influence on brain structure, and thus on its function. Lipids, and especially omega-3 fatty acids, provided the first coherent experimental demonstration of the effect of diet (nutrients) on the structure and function of the brain. In fact the brain, after adipose tissue, is the organ richest in lipids, whose only role is to participate in membrane structure. First it was shown that the differentiation and functioning of cultured brain cells requires not only alpha-linolenic acid (the major component of the omega-3, omega3 family), but also the very long omega-3 and omega-6 carbon chains (1). It was then demonstrated that alpha-linolenic acid deficiency alters the course of brain development, perturbs the composition and physicochemical properties of brain cell membranes, neurones, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes (2). This leads to physicochemical modifications, induces biochemical and physiological perturbations, and results in neurosensory and behavioural upset (3). Consequently, the nature of polyunsaturated fatty acids (in particular omega-3) present in formula milks for infants (premature and term) conditions the visual and cerebral abilities, including intellectual. Moreover, dietary omega-3 fatty acids are certainly involved in the prevention of some aspects of cardiovascular disease (including at the level of cerebral vascularization), and in some neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly depression, as well as in dementia, notably Alzheimer's disease. Recent results have shown that dietary alpha-linolenic acid deficiency induces more marked abnormalities in certain cerebral structures than in others, as the frontal cortex and pituitary gland are more severely affected. These selective lesions are accompanied by behavioural disorders more particularly affecting certain tests (habituation, adaptation to new situations). Biochemical and behavioural abnormalities are partially reversed by a dietary phospholipid supplement, especially omega-3-rich egg yolk extracts or pig brain. A dose-effect study showed that animal phospholipids are more effective than plant phospholipids to reverse the consequences of alpha-linolenic acid deficiency, partly because they provide very long preformed chains. Alpha-linolenic acid deficiency decreases the perception of pleasure, by slightly altering the efficacy of sensory organs and by affecting certain cerebral structures. Age-related impairment of hearing, vision and smell is due to both decreased efficacy of the parts of the brain concerned and disorders of sensory receptors, particularly of the inner ear or retina. For example, a given level of perception of a sweet taste requires a larger quantity of sugar in subjects with alpha-linolenic acid deficiency. In view of occidental eating habits, as omega-6 fatty acid deficiency has never been observed, its impact on the brain has not been studied. In contrast, omega-9 fatty acid deficiency, specifically oleic acid deficiency, induces a reduction of this fatty acid in many tissues, except the brain (but the sciatic nerve is affected). This fatty acid is therefore not synthesized in sufficient quantities, at least during pregnancy-lactation, implying a need for dietary intake. It must be remembered that organization of the neurons is almost complete several weeks before birth, and that these neurons remain for the subject's life time. Consequently, any disturbance of these neurons, an alteration of their connections, and impaired turnover of their constituents at any stage of life, will tend to accelerate ageing. The enzymatic activities of sytivities of synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids are very limited in the brain: this organ therefore depends on an exogenous supply. Consequently, fatty acids that are essential for the brain are arachidonic acid and cervonic acid, derived from the diet, unless they are synthesized by the liver from linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. The age-related reduction of hepatic desaturase activities (which participate in the synthesis of long chains, together with elongases) can impair turnover of cerebral membranes. In many structures, especially in the frontal cortex, a reduction of cervonic and arachidonic acids is observed during ageing, predominantly associated with a reduction of phosphatidylethanolamines (mainly in the form of plasmalogens). Peroxisomal oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids decreases in the brain during ageing, participating in decreased turnover of membrane fatty acids, which are also less effectively protected against peroxidation by free radicals.

The reliability of multidimensional neuropsychological measures: from alpha to omega.

PubMed

Watkins, Marley W

To demonstrate that Coefficient omega, a model-based estimate, is more a more appropriate index of reliability than coefficient alpha for the multidimensional scales that are commonly employed by neuropsychologists. As an illustration, a structural model of an overarching general factor and four first-order factors for the WAIS-IV based on the standardization sample of 2200 participants was identified and omega coefficients were subsequently computed for WAIS-IV composite scores. Alpha coefficients were ≥ .90 and omega coefficients ranged from .75 to .88 for WAIS-IV factor index scores, indicating that the blend of general and group factor variance in each index score created a reliable multidimensional composite. However, the amalgam of variance from general and group factors did not allow the precision of Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) and factor index scores to be disentangled. In contrast, omega hierarchical coefficients were low for all four factor index scores (.10-.41), indicating that most of the reliable variance of each factor index score was due to the general intelligence factor. In contrast, the omega hierarchical coefficient for the FSIQ score was .84. Meaningful interpretation of WAIS-IV factor index scores as unambiguous indicators of group factors is imprecise, thereby fostering unreliable identification of neurocognitive strengths and weaknesses, whereas the WAIS-IV FSIQ score can be interpreted as a reliable measure of general intelligence. It was concluded that neuropsychologists should base their clinical decisions on reliable scores as indexed by coefficient omega.

[Psychometric assessment of a brief Modern Racism Scale].

PubMed

Campo-Arias, Adalberto; Herazo, Edwin; Oviedo, Heidi C

2016-06-01

Objective To find the internal consistency of the Modern Racism Scale (MRS) among medical students in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Methods A total of 352 medical students, mean age=20.0 years (SD=1.9) reported their attitudes towards Afro-Colombians; 59.4 % were women. Students completed the 10-item version of MRS. Cronbach alpha and McDonald omega were calculated. Exploratory factor analyses were done to propose a brief version of the MRS. Results The 10-item version showed a Cronbach alpha of 0.48 and a McDonald omega of 0.15. The short version, the Brief Modern Racism Scale (BMRS) (items 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8) presented a Cronbach alpha of 0.64 and McDonald omega of 0.65. The BMRS showed one salient factor responsible of 41.6 % of the total variance. Conclusions A Spanish-language short version of the MRS shows better psychometric performance than the original version. Further study is needed to corroborate these findings or make adjustments for Colombian cultural regions.

40 CFR 721.10355 - Poly[oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]-.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]-. 721.10355 Section 721.10355 Protection of Environment....-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]-. (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses...-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]- (PMN P-08-722; CAS No. 1041420-54-5) is subject to reporting...

40 CFR 721.10355 - Poly[oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]-.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]-. 721.10355 Section 721.10355 Protection of Environment....-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]-. (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses...-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]- (PMN P-08-722; CAS No. 1041420-54-5) is subject to reporting...

40 CFR 721.10355 - Poly[oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]-.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]-. 721.10355 Section 721.10355 Protection of Environment....-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]-. (a) Chemical substance and significant new uses...-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[3-triethoxysilyl)propoxy]- (PMN P-08-722; CAS No. 1041420-54-5) is subject to reporting...

Solution structure of {alpha}-conotoxin PIA, a novel antagonist of {alpha}6 subunit containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chi, Seung-Wook; Lee, Si-Hyung; Kim, Do-Hyoung

2005-12-30

{alpha}-Conotoxin PIA is a novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist isolated from Conus purpurascens that targets nAChR subtypes containing {alpha}6 and {alpha}3 subunits. {alpha}-conotoxin PIA displays 75-fold higher affinity for rat {alpha}6/{alpha}3{beta}2{beta}3 nAChRs than for rat {alpha}3{beta}2 nAChRs. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of {alpha}-conotoxin PIA by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The {alpha}-conotoxin PIA has an '{omega}-shaped' overall topology as other {alpha}4/7 subfamily conotoxins. Yet, unlike other neuronally targeted {alpha}4/7-conotoxins, its N-terminal tail Arg{sup 1}-Asp{sup 2}-Pro{sup 3} protrudes out of its main molecular body because Asp{sup 2}-Pro{sup 3}-Cys{sup 4}-Cys{sup 5} forms a stable type I {beta}-turn. In addition, amore » kink introduced by Pro{sup 15} in the second loop of this toxin provides a distinct steric and electrostatic environment from those in {alpha}-conotoxins MII and GIC. By comparing the structure of {alpha}-conotoxin PIA with other functionally related {alpha}-conotoxins we suggest structural features in {alpha}-conotoxin PIA that may be associated with its unique receptor recognition profile.« less

Chemotaxis with logistic source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winkler, Michael

2008-12-01

We consider the chemotaxis system in a smooth bounded domain , where [chi]>0 and g generalizes the logistic function g(u)=Au-bu[alpha] with [alpha]>1, A[greater-or-equal, slanted]0 and b>0. A concept of very weak solutions is introduced, and global existence of such solutions for any nonnegative initial data u0[set membership, variant]L1([Omega]) is proved under the assumption that . Moreover, boundedness properties of the constructed solutions are studied. Inter alia, it is shown that if b is sufficiently large and u0[set membership, variant]L[infinity]([Omega]) has small norm in L[gamma]([Omega]) for some then the solution is globally bounded. Finally, in the case that additionally holds, a bounded set in L[infinity]([Omega]) can be found which eventually attracts very weak solutions emanating from arbitrary L1 initial data. The paper closes with numerical experiments that illustrate some of the theoretically established results.

The dynamo dilemma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, E. N.

1987-01-01

The recent determination that the angular velocity Omega of the sun declines downward through the convective zone raises serious questions about the nature of the solar dynamo. The principal qualitative features of the sun are the azimuthal fields that migrate toward the equator in association with an oscillating poloidal field which reverses at about the time of maximum appearance of bipolar magnetic regions. If Omega decreases downward, or is negligible, the horizontal gradient in Omega produces a dynamo with some of these essential characteristics. There is reason to think that the dynamo is confined to the lower half of the convective zone, where alpha has the opposite sign from the usual (alpha of greater than 0 in the northern hemisphere) producing equatorward migration but reversing the sign of the associated poloidal field. Meridional circulation may play an essential role in shaping the dynamo. At the present time it is essential to measure Omega accurately and determine the nature of the meridional circulation.

Molecular analysis and functional expression of the human type E neuronal Ca2+ channel alpha 1 subunit.

PubMed

Schneider, T; Wei, X; Olcese, R; Costantin, J L; Neely, A; Palade, P; Perez-Reyes, E; Qin, N; Zhou, J; Crawford, G D

1994-01-01

A human brain alpha 1 Ca2+ channel subunit was cloned and expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The open reading frame, encoding 2,312 amino acids, has high homology to the marine ray doe-1, the rat E-type, and the rabbit brain BII alpha 1 subunits. The amino and carboxy termini of this human.E-type alpha 1 subunit (alpha 1E) are most similar to the rabbit BII-1 splice variant, the remainder being colinear with the BII alpha 1 with the exception of two insertions, one of 43 amino acids in the C-terminus and another of 7 amino acids, found also in the rat alpha 1E, between domains II and III. Two potential Ca2+ binding sites are predicted from its primary structure. The expression of inward Ba2+ currents reveals voltage-dependent activation and inactivation measured by the cut-open oocyte vaseline-gap technique, with kinetics that correspond to that of a high-voltage-activated neuronal Ca2+ channel, and pharmacologic properties that resemble those of some low-voltage-activated neuronal Ca2+ currents. The human alpha 1E currents are insensitive to omega-conotoxin-GVIA (1 microM), omega-agatoxin-IVA (200 nM), a synthetic funnel web spider toxin (FTX, 20 microM), and Bay-K8644 (0.5 microM); they are inhibited 20% by high concentrations of methoxyverapamil and diltiazem, 65% by 0.1% crude funnel web spider venom and 100% by Ni2+ (IC50 = 30 nM). Single-channel records show a complex activity pattern with several apparent conductance states, the largest having a conductance of 14 pS.

Convergence of scaled delta expansion: Anharmonic oscillator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guida, R.; Konishi, K.; Suzuki, H.

1995-07-01

We prove that the linear delta expansion for energy eigenvalues of the quantum mechanical anharmonic oscillator converges to the exact answer if the order dependent trial frequency {Omega} is chosen to scale with the order as {Omega}={ital CN}{sup {gamma}}; 1/3{lt}{gamma}{lt}1/2, {ital C}{gt}0 as {ital N} {r_arrow} {infinity}. It converges also for {gamma}=1/3, if {ital C}{ge}{alpha}{sub {ital c}} {ital g}{sup 1/3}, {alpha}{sub {ital c}}{congruent}0.570875, where {ital g} is the coupling constant in front of the operator {ital q}{sup 4}/4. The extreme case with {gamma}=1/3, {ital C}={alpha}{sub {ital c}} {ital g}{sup 1/3} corresponds to the choice discussed earlier by Seznec and Zinn-Justinmore » and, more recently, by Duncan and Jones. {copyright} 1995 Academic Press, Inc.« less

Gravitational lensing effects in a time-variable cosmological 'constant' cosmology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ratra, Bharat; Quillen, Alice

1992-01-01

A scalar field phi with a potential V(phi) varies as phi exp -alpha(alpha is greater than 0) has an energy density, behaving like that of a time-variable cosmological 'constant', that redshifts less rapidly than the energy densities of radiation and matter, and so might contribute significantly to the present energy density. We compute, in this spatially flat cosmology, the gravitational lensing optical depth, and the expected lens redshift distribution for fixed source redshift. We find, for the values of alpha of about 4 and baryonic density parameter Omega of about 0.2 consistent with the classical cosmological tests, that the optical depth is significantly smaller than that in a constant-Lambda model with the same Omega. We also find that the redshift of the maximum of the lens distribution falls between that in the constant-Lambda model and that in the Einstein-de Sitter model.

Comment on 'Origin of light-induced states in intense laser fields and their observability in photoelectron spectra'

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stroe, Marius; Boca, Malina

2005-01-01

We report discrepancies between the results presented in Fig. 1 of a recent paper of Yasuike and Someda [Phys. Rev. A 66, 053410 (2002)] and our independent calculation. At the frequency {omega}=0.55 a.u., we find that the state of the one-dimensional modified Poeschl-Teller potential, described by the authors as light induced and originating from a shadow of the field-free ground state, is in fact physical for {alpha}{sub 0}<10 a.u. and its origin is the zero-energy antibound state of the bare potential. For {omega}=0.45 a.u., we also find differences in one of the presented quasienergy trajectories in the low {alpha}{sub 0}more » region ({alpha}{sub 0}<0.4 a.u.), but we confirm the starting point at E=-0.5 a.u. for both quasienergies, as found by Yasuike and Someda.« less

40 CFR 721.9582 - Certain perfluoroalkyl sulfonates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...-0319306979-40-8 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-.omega.-[(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl...]amino]ethyl]-.omega.-hydroxy- 38850-52-1 1-Propanaminium, 3-[(carboxymethyl)[(1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6...-heptadecafluorooctyl)sulfonyl]methylamino]carbonyl]-.omega.-butoxy- 52166-82-2 1-Propanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-3-[[(1...

40 CFR 721.9582 - Certain perfluoroalkyl sulfonates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...-0319306979-40-8 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-.omega.-[(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl...]amino]ethyl]-.omega.-hydroxy- 38850-52-1 1-Propanaminium, 3-[(carboxymethyl)[(1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6...-heptadecafluorooctyl)sulfonyl]methylamino]carbonyl]-.omega.-butoxy- 52166-82-2 1-Propanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-3-[[(1...

40 CFR 721.9582 - Certain perfluoroalkyl sulfonates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...-0319306979-40-8 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-.omega.-[(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl...]amino]ethyl]-.omega.-hydroxy- 38850-52-1 1-Propanaminium, 3-[(carboxymethyl)[(1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6...-heptadecafluorooctyl)sulfonyl]methylamino]carbonyl]-.omega.-butoxy- 52166-82-2 1-Propanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-3-[[(1...

40 CFR 721.9582 - Certain perfluoroalkyl sulfonates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...-0319306979-40-8 Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-.omega.-[(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl...]amino]ethyl]-.omega.-hydroxy- 38850-52-1 1-Propanaminium, 3-[(carboxymethyl)[(1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6...-heptadecafluorooctyl)sulfonyl]methylamino]carbonyl]-.omega.-butoxy- 52166-82-2 1-Propanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-3-[[(1...

T(T,4He)2n and 3He(3He,4He)2p Reactions and the Energy Dependence of Their Mechanisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bacher, Andrew; McNabb, Dennis; Brune, Carl; Sayre, Dan; Hale, Gerry; Frenje, Johan; Gatu Johnson, Maria

2015-10-01

We have studied the T(T,alpha)2n reaction because it is the charge symmetric analog to the 3He(3He,alpha)2p reaction which completes the most direct mode of the p-p chain in stellar interiors. These reactions lead to three-body final states whose energy spectrum shapes are dominated by the strong nucleon-alpha interaction and the weaker nucleon-nucleon interaction. These experiments were done at OMEGA at the University of Rochester and at the NIF at Lawrence Livermore Lab. We will focus on two features: (1) the excitation energy dependence of the reaction mechanism and (2) the center-of-mass energy dependence of the reaction mechanism. At stellar energies (OMEGA and the NIF) we find that the shape of the neutron spectrum peaks in the middle. The n-alpha 1/2-excited state is about two times stronger than the n-alpha 3/2-ground state. For the 3He+3He reaction (at CalTech), the proton spectrum peaks at the high end. The p-alpha 3/2-state is about two times stronger than the 1/2-state. This difference in the spectrum shape is explained by theoretical models which include the interference between the two identical fermions in the final state. At CalTech we have angular distributions of the 3He+3He reaction from 2 MeV to 18 MeV. We see the p-wave strength increasing.

Generation of dynamo magnetic fields in the primordial solar nebula

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stepinski, Tomasz F.

1992-01-01

The present treatment of dynamo-generated magnetic fields in the primordial solar nebula proceeds in view of the ability of the combined action of Keplerian rotation and helical convention to generate, via alpha-omega dynamo, large-scale magnetic fields in those parts of the nebula with sufficiently high, gas-and magnetic field coupling electrical conductivity. Nebular gas electrical conductivity and the radial distribution of the local dynamo number are calculated for both a viscous-accretion disk model and the quiescent-minimum mass nebula. It is found that magnetic fields can be easily generated and maintained by alpha-omega dynamos occupying the inner and outer parts of the nebula.

40 CFR 721.9582 - Certain perfluoroalkyl sulfonates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...[(heptadecafluorooctyl)sulfonyl]amino]ethyl]-.omega.-hydroxy- 29457-72-5 1-Octanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7...-octanethiol and .alpha.-(1-oxo-2-propenyl)-.omega.-methoxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) 68891-96-3 Chromium...[(heptadecafluorooctyl)sulfonyl]amino]ethyl]-.omega.-methoxy- 70225-14-8 1-Octanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7...

Potential to kinetic energy conversion in wave number domain for the Southern Hemisphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huang, H.-J.; Vincent, D. G.

1984-01-01

Preliminary results of a wave number study conducted for the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) using FGGE data for the period January 10-27, 1979 are reported. In particular, three variables (geomagnetic height, z, vertical p-velocity, omega, and temperature, T) and one energy conversion quantity, omega-alpha (where alpha is the specific volume), are shown. It is demonstrated that wave number 4 plays an important role in the conversion from available potential energy to kinetic energy in the Southern Hemisphere tropics, particularly in the vicinity of the SPCZ. It is therefore suggested that the development and movement of wave number 4 waves be carefully monitored in making forecasts for the South Pacific region.

An evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Purdue Pharmacist Directive Guidance Scale using SPSS and R software packages.

PubMed

Marr-Lyon, Lisa R; Gupchup, Gireesh V; Anderson, Joe R

2012-01-01

The Purdue Pharmacist Directive Guidance (PPDG) Scale was developed to assess patients' perceptions of the level of pharmacist-provided (1) instruction and (2) feedback and goal-setting-2 aspects of pharmaceutical care. Calculations of its psychometric properties stemming from SPSS and R were similar, but distinct differences were apparent. Using SPSS and R software packages, researchers aimed to examine the construct validity of the PPDG using a higher order factoring procedure; in tandem, McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha were calculated as means of reliability analyses. Ninety-nine patients with either type I or type II diabetes, aged 18 years or older, able to read and write English, and who could provide written-informed consent participated in the study. Data were collected in 8 community pharmacies in New Mexico. Using R, (1) a principal axis factor analysis with promax (oblique) rotation was conducted, (2) a Schmid-Leiman transformation was attained, and (3) McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha were computed. Using SPSS, subscale findings were validated by conducting a principal axis factor analysis with promax rotation; strict parallels and Cronbach's alpha reliabilities were calculated. McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha were robust, with coefficients greater than 0.90; principal axis factor analysis with promax rotation revealed construct similarities with an overall general factor emerging from R. Further subjecting the PPDG to rigorous psychometric testing revealed stronger quantitative support of the overall general factor of directive guidance and subscales of instruction and feedback and goal-setting. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

High P-T phase transitions and P-V-T equation of state of hafnium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hrubiak, Rostislav; Drozd, Vadym; Karbasi, Ali

2016-07-29

We measured the volume of hafnium at several pressures up to 67 GPa and at temperatures between 300 to 780 K using a resistively heated diamond anvil cell with synchrotron x-ray diffraction at the Advanced Photon Source. The measured data allows us to determine the P-V-T equation of state of hafnium. The previously described [Xia et al., Phys. Rev. B 42, 6736-6738 (1990)] phase transition from hcp ({alpha}) to simple hexagonal ({omega}) phase at 38 GPa at room temperature was not observed even up to 51 GPa. The {omega} phase was only observed at elevated temperatures. Our measurements have alsomore » improved the experimental constraint on the high P-T phase boundary between the {omega} phase and high pressure bcc ({beta}) phase of hafnium. Isothermal room temperature bulk modulus and its pressure derivative for the {alpha}-phase of hafnium were measured to be B{sub 0} = 112.9{+-}0.5 GPa and B{sub 0}'=3.29{+-}0.05, respectively. P-V-T data for the {alpha}-phase of hafnium was used to obtain a fit to a thermodynamic P-V-T equation of state based on model by Brosh et al. [CALPHAD 31, 173-185 (2007)].« less

Creep function of a single living cell.

PubMed

Desprat, Nicolas; Richert, Alain; Simeon, Jacqueline; Asnacios, Atef

2005-03-01

We used a novel uniaxial stretching rheometer to measure the creep function J(t) of an isolated living cell. We show, for the first time at the scale of the whole cell, that J(t) behaves as a power-law J(t) = At(alpha). For N = 43 mice myoblasts (C2-7), we find alpha = 0.24 +/- 0.01 and A = (2.4 +/- 0.3) 10(-3) Pa(-1) s(-alpha). Using Laplace Transforms, we compare A and alpha to the parameters G(0) and beta of the complex modulus G*(omega) = G(0)omega(beta) measured by other authors using magnetic twisting cytometry and atomic force microscopy. Excellent agreement between A and G(0) on the one hand, and between alpha and beta on the other hand, indicated that the power-law is an intrinsic feature of cell mechanics and not the signature of a particular technique. Moreover, the agreement between measurements at very different size scales, going from a few tens of nanometers to the scale of the whole cell, suggests that self-similarity could be a central feature of cell mechanical structure. Finally, we show that the power-law behavior could explain previous results first interpreted as instantaneous elasticity. Thus, we think that the living cell must definitely be thought of as a material with a large and continuous distribution of relaxation time constants which cannot be described by models with a finite number of springs and dash-pots.

Data traffic reduction schemes for Cholesky factorization on asynchronous multiprocessor systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Naik, Vijay K.; Patrick, Merrell L.

1989-01-01

Communication requirements of Cholesky factorization of dense and sparse symmetric, positive definite matrices are analyzed. The communication requirement is characterized by the data traffic generated on multiprocessor systems with local and shared memory. Lower bound proofs are given to show that when the load is uniformly distributed the data traffic associated with factoring an n x n dense matrix using n to the alpha power (alpha less than or equal 2) processors is omega(n to the 2 + alpha/2 power). For n x n sparse matrices representing a square root of n x square root of n regular grid graph the data traffic is shown to be omega(n to the 1 + alpha/2 power), alpha less than or equal 1. Partitioning schemes that are variations of block assignment scheme are described and it is shown that the data traffic generated by these schemes are asymptotically optimal. The schemes allow efficient use of up to O(n to the 2nd power) processors in the dense case and up to O(n) processors in the sparse case before the total data traffic reaches the maximum value of O(n to the 3rd power) and O(n to the 3/2 power), respectively. It is shown that the block based partitioning schemes allow a better utilization of the data accessed from shared memory and thus reduce the data traffic than those based on column-wise wrap around assignment schemes.

Past and Present Insights on Alpha-linolenic Acid and the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Family.

PubMed

Stark, Aliza H; Reifen, Ram; Crawford, Michael A

2016-10-25

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the parent essential fatty acid of the omega-3 family. This family includes docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which has been conserved in neural signaling systems in the cephalopods, fish, amphibian, reptiles, birds, mammals, primates, and humans. This extreme conservation, in spite of wide genomic changes of over 500 million years, testifies to the uniqueness of this molecule in the brain and affirms the importance of omega-3 fatty acids. While DHA and its close precursor, eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA), have received much attention by the research community, ALA, as the precursor of both, has been considered of little interest. There are many papers on ALA requirements in experimental animals. Unlike humans, rats and mice can readily convert ALA to EPA and DHA, so it is unclear whether the effect is solely due to the conversion products or to ALA itself. The intrinsic role of ALA has yet to be defined. This paper will discuss both recent and historical findings related to this distinctive group of fatty acids, and will highlight the physiological significance of the omega-3 family.

Attrition during graduate medical education: medical school perspective.

PubMed

Andriole, Dorothy A; Jeffe, Donna B; Hageman, Heather L; Klingensmith, Mary E; McAlister, Rebecca P; Whelan, Alison J

2008-12-01

To identify predictors of attrition during graduate medical education (GME) in a single medical school cohort of contemporary US medical school graduates. Retrospective cohort study. Single medical institution. Recent US allopathic medical school graduates. Attrition from initial GME program. Forty-seven of 795 graduates (6%) did not complete the GME in their initial specialty of choice. At bivariate analysis, attrition was associated with election to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, being an MD-PhD degree holder, and specialty choice (all P < .05). Attrition was not associated with graduation year (P = .91), sex (P = .67), or age (P = .12). In a multivariate logistic regression model, MD-PhD degree holder (odds ratio, 3.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-9.26; P = .02), election to Alpha Omega Alpha (2.19; 1.04-4.66; P = .04), choice of general surgery for GME (5.32; 1.98-14.27; P < .001), and choice of 5-year surgical specialty including those surgical specialties with a GME training requirement of 5 years or longer (2.74; 1.16-6.44; P = .02) each independently predicted greater likelihood of attrition. Academically highly qualified graduates and graduates who chose training in general surgery or in a 5-year surgical specialty were at increased risk of attrition during GME.

An inventory on rotational kinematics of a particle: unravelling misconceptions and pitfalls in reasoning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mashood, K. K.; Singh, Vijay A.

2012-09-01

Student difficulties regarding the angular velocity (\\vec{\\omega }) and angular acceleration (\\vec{\\alpha }) of a particle have remained relatively unexplored in contrast to their linear counterparts. We present an inventory comprising multiple choice questions aimed at probing misconceptions and eliciting ill-suited reasoning patterns. The development of the inventory was based on interactions with students, teachers and experts. We report misconceptions, some of which are parallel to those found earlier in linear kinematics. Fixations with inappropriate prototypes were uncovered. Many students and even teachers mistakenly assume that all rotational motion is necessarily circular. A persistent notion that the direction of \\vec{\\omega } and \\vec{\\alpha } should be ‘along’ the motion exists. Instances of indiscriminate usage of equations were identified.

Role of ionization and electron drift velocity profile to Rayleigh instability in a Hall thruster plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singh, Sukhmander; Malik, Hitendra K.

Role of ionization to Rayleigh instability is clarified in a Hall thruster plasma under the variety of profiles of electron drift velocity, namely, step-like profile (SLP) and two different super-Gaussian profiles (SGP1 and SGP2). For this, a relevant Rayleigh equation is derived and solved numerically using fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. Interestingly, an upper cutoff frequency of oscillations {omega}{sub max} is realized for the occurrence of the instability that shows dependence on the ionization rate {alpha}, electron drift velocity u{sub 0}, electron cyclotron frequency {Omega}, azimuthal wave number k{sub y}, plasma density n{sub 0}, density gradient {partial_derivative}n{sub 0}/{partial_derivative}x, ion (electron) thermal speedmore » V{sub thI}(V{sub thE}), and ion (electron) plasma frequency {omega}{sub pi}({omega}{sub pe}). The frequency {omega}{sub max} follows the trend {omega}{sub max} (for SGP2) >{omega}{sub max} (for SLP) >{omega}{sub max} (for SGP1) and shows a similar behaviour with ionization for all types of the velocity profiles. The instability is found to grow faster for the higher {alpha} and the ion temperature but it acquires lower rate under the effect of the higher electron temperature; the perturbed potential also varies in accordance with the growth rate. The electron temperature influences the growth rate and cutoff frequency less significantly in comparison with the ion temperature.« less

The effect of microstructure on the fracture toughness of titanium alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanstone, R. H.; Low, J. R., Jr.; Shannon, J. L., Jr.

1974-01-01

The microstructure of the alpha titanium alloy Ti-5Al-2.5Sn and the metastable beta titanium alloy Beta 3 was examined. The material was from normal and extra low interstitial grade plates which were either air-cooled or furnace-cooled from an annealing treatment. Beta 3 was studied in alpha-aged and omega-aged plates which were heat treated to similar strength levels. Tensile and plane strain fracture toughness tests were conducted at room temperature on the alpha-aged material. The microstructure and fracture mechanisms of alloys were studied using optical metallography, electron microscopy, microprobe analyses, and texture pole figures. Future experiments are described.

Fast dynamos, cosmic rays, and the Galactic magnetic field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, E. N.

1992-01-01

It is suggested here that the dynamo believed to be responsible for the magnetic field of the Galaxy is a fast dynamo due to the dynamical reconnection of the azimuthal field of the Galaxy as the field is deformed by the instability of the gaseous disk and the rapid inflation of magnetic lobes by the cosmic-ray gas to form the Galactic halo. The reconnection of adjacent lobes carries out both the alpha effect and field dissipation essential for the existence of the Galactic alpha-omega dynamo. The azimuthal field is generated primarily in the gaseous disk, while the alpha effect is carried out in the halo.

40 CFR 721.5356 - Ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with alpha-2,4,6-tris (1-phenylethyl)phenyl]-omega...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Ethanol, 2,2â²2â³-nitrilotris... Substances § 721.5356 Ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with alpha-2,4,6-tris (1-phenylethyl)phenyl... subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with...

40 CFR 721.5356 - Ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with alpha-2,4,6-tris (1-phenylethyl)phenyl]-omega...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Ethanol, 2,2â²2â³-nitrilotris... Substances § 721.5356 Ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with alpha-2,4,6-tris (1-phenylethyl)phenyl... subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with...

40 CFR 721.5356 - Ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with alpha-2,4,6-tris (1-phenylethyl)phenyl]-omega...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Ethanol, 2,2â²2â³-nitrilotris... Substances § 721.5356 Ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with alpha-2,4,6-tris (1-phenylethyl)phenyl... subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with...

40 CFR 721.5356 - Ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with alpha-2,4,6-tris (1-phenylethyl)phenyl]-omega...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Ethanol, 2,2â²2â³-nitrilotris... Substances § 721.5356 Ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with alpha-2,4,6-tris (1-phenylethyl)phenyl... subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with...

40 CFR 721.5356 - Ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with alpha-2,4,6-tris (1-phenylethyl)phenyl]-omega...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Ethanol, 2,2â²2â³-nitrilotris... Substances § 721.5356 Ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with alpha-2,4,6-tris (1-phenylethyl)phenyl... subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as ethanol, 2,2′2″-nitrilotris-, compound with...

Coefficients Alpha, Beta, Omega, and the glb: Comments on Sijtsma

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Revelle, William; Zinbarg, Richard E.

2009-01-01

There are three fundamental problems in Sijtsma ("Psychometrika," 2008): (1) contrary to the name, the glb is not the greatest lower bound of reliability but rather is systematically less than omega[subscript t] (McDonald, "Test theory: A unified treatment," Erlbaum, Hillsdale, 1999), (2) we agree with Sijtsma that when considering how well a test…

A Highly Specific Radioimmunoassay for the Measurement of Caffeine in Saliva,

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-08-01

metabolites (Bjercke, Cook, and Langone, 1987), cyclosporine (Coates, Lam, and McGaw, 1988), ethanol (Ruz, Linares, Luque de Castro, Caridad , and Valcarcel...Steroids in Saliva. Alpha Omega Alpha Publishing, Cardiff, Wales. Ruz, J., Linares, P., Luque de Castro, M. D., Caridad , J. M. and Valcarcel, M...8217.jtio Robert T. Rubin’’ 4 Ay LA :,. des iw ! .... .Dist puw Report No. 92-9, supported by the Naval Medical Research and Development Command, Bethesda

Personality Traits Are Associated with Academic Achievement in Medical School: A Nationally Representative Study.

PubMed

Sobowale, Kunmi; Ham, Sandra A; Curlin, Farr A; Yoon, John D

2018-06-01

This nationally representative study sought to identify personality traits that are associated with academic achievement in medical school. Third-year medical students, who completed an initial questionnaire in January 2011, were mailed a second questionnaire several months later during their fourth year. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and burnout, the authors used multivariate logistic regressions to determine whether Big Five personality traits were associated with receiving honors/highest grade in clinical clerkships, failing a course or rotation, and being selected for the Alpha Omega Alpha or Gold Humanism Honor Society. The adjusted response rates for the two surveys were 61 (n = 564/919) and 84% (n = 474/564). The personality trait conscientiousness predicted obtaining honors/highest grade in all clinical clerkships. In contrast, students high in neuroticism were less likely to do well in most specialties. Students with higher conscientiousness were more likely to be inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, while students high in openness or agreeableness traits were more likely to be inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Burnout was not associated with any clinical performance measures. This study suggests the importance of personality traits, particularly conscientiousness, in predicting success during the clinical years of medical school. Medical educators should consider a nuanced examination of personality traits and other non-cognitive factors, particularly for psychiatry.

Development of the wake behind a circular cylinder impulsively started into rotatory and rectilinear motion: Intermediate rotation rates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Yen-Ming; Ou, Yuh-Roung; Pearlstein, Arne J.

1991-01-01

The temporal development of two-dimensional viscous incompressible flow generated by a circular cylinder started impulsively into steady rotatory and rectilinear motion is studied by integration of a velocity/vorticity formulation of the governing equations, using an explicit finite-difference/pseudo-spectral technique and an implementation of the Biot-Savart law. Results are presented for a Reynolds number of 200 (based on the cylinder diameter 2a and the magnitude U of the rectilinear velocity) for several values of the angular/rectilinear speed ratio alpha = (omega x a)/U (where omega is the angular speed) up to 3.25. Several aspects of the kinematics and dynamics of the flow not considered earlier are discussed. For higher values of alpha, the results indicate that for Re = 200, vortex shedding does indeed occur for alpha = 3.25. The shedding process is; however, very different from that which gives rise to the usual Karman vortex street for alpha = 0. In particular, consecutive vortices shed by the body can be shed from the same side and be of the same sense, in contrast to the nonrotating case, in which mirror-image vortices of opposite sense are shed alternately on opposite sides of the body. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to the possibility of suppressing vortex shedding by open or closed-loop control of the rotation rate.

The ability of walnut extract and fatty acids to protect against the deleterious effects of oxidative stress and inflammation in hippocampal cells

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Walnuts contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), specifically the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid (LA) as well as the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which can be metabolized to generate eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Previous research from our lab h...

A randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial of omega-3 fatty acids and alpha lipoic acid in Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Shinto, Lynne; Quinn, Joseph; Montine, Thomas; Dodge, Hiroko H; Woodward, William; Baldauf-Wagner, Sara; Waichunas, Dana; Bumgarner, Lauren; Bourdette, Dennis; Silbert, Lisa; Kaye, Jeffrey

2014-01-01

Oxidative stress, inflammation, and increased cholesterol levels are all mechanisms that have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Several epidemiologic studies have reported a decreased risk of AD with fish consumption. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids alone (ω-3) or omega-3 plus alpha lipoic acid (ω-3 + LA) compared to placebo on oxidative stress biomarkers in AD. The primary outcome measure was peripheral F2-isoprostane levels (oxidative stress measure). Secondary outcome measures included performance on: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL/IADL), and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog). Thirty-nine AD subjects were randomized to one of three groups: 1) placebo, 2) ω-3, or 3) ω-3 + LA for a treatment duration of 12 months. Eighty seven percent (34/39) of the subjects completed the 12-month intervention. There was no difference between groups at 12 months in peripheral F2-isoprostane levels (p = 0.83). The ω-3 + LA and ω-3 were not significantly different than the placebo group in ADAS-cog (p = 0.98, p = 0.86) and in ADL (p = 0.15, p = 0.82). Compared to placebo, the ω-3 + LA showed less decline in MMSE (p < 0.01) and IADL (p = 0.01) and the ω-3 group showed less decline in IADL (p < 0.01). The combination of ω-3 + LA slowed cognitive and functional decline in AD over 12 months. Because the results were generated from a small sample size, further evaluation of the combination of omega-3 fatty acids plus alpha-lipoic acid as a potential treatment in AD is warranted.

A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Alpha Lipoic Acid in Alzheimer’s Disease

PubMed Central

Shinto, Lynne; Quinn, Joseph; Montine, Thomas; Dodge, Hiroko H.; Woodward, William; Baldauf-Wagner, Sara; Waichunas, Dana; Bumgarner, Lauren; Bourdette, Dennis; Silbert, Lisa; Kaye, Jeffrey

2013-01-01

Oxidative stress, inflammation, and increased cholesterol levels are all mechanisms that have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. Several epidemiologic studies have reported a decreased risk of AD with fish consumption. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids alone (ω-3) or omega-3 plus alpha lipoic acid (ω-3 +LA) compared to placebo on oxidative stress biomarkers in AD. The primary outcome measure was peripheral F2-isoprostane levels (oxidative stress measure). Secondary outcome measures included performance on: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL/IADL), and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog). Thirty-nine AD subjects were randomized to one of three groups: 1) placebo, 2) ω-3, or 3) ω-3 + LA for a treatment duration of 12 months. Eighty seven percent (34/39) of the subjects completed the 12-month intervention. There was no difference between groups at 12 months in peripheral F2-isoprostane levels (p = 0.83). The ω-3 +LA and ω-3 were not significantly different than the placebo group in ADAS-cog (p = 0.98, p = 0.86) and in ADL (p = 0.15, p = 0.82). Compared to placebo, the ω-3+LA showed less decline in MMSE (p< 0.01) and IADL (p= 0.01) and the ω-3 group showed less decline in IADL (p < 0.01). The combination of ω-3+LA slowed cognitive and functional decline in AD over 12 months. Because the results were generated from a small sample size, further evaluation of the combination of omega-3 fatty acids plus alpha-lipoic acid as a potential treatment in AD is warranted. PMID:24077434

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Deficient Male Rats Exhibit Abnormal Behavioral Activation in the Forced Swim Test Following Chronic Fluoxetine Treatment: Association with Altered 5-HT1A and Alpha2A Adrenergic Receptor Expression

PubMed Central

Able, Jessica A.; Liu, Yanhong; Jandacek, Ronald; Rider, Therese; Tso, Patrick; McNamara, Robert K.

2014-01-01

Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency during development leads to enduing alterations in central monoamine neurotransmission in rat brain. Here we investigated the effects of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency on behavioral and neurochemical responses to chronic fluoxetine (FLX) treatment. Male rats were fed diets with (CON, n=34) or without (DEF, n=30) the omega-3 fatty acid precursor alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) during peri-adolescent development (P21-P90). A subset of CON (n=14) and DEF (n=12) rats were administered FLX (10 mg/kg/d) through their drinking water for 30 d beginning on P60. The forced swimming test (FST) was initiated on P90, and regional brain mRNA markers of serotonin and noradrenaline neurotransmission were determined. Dietary ALA depletion led to significant reductions in frontal cortex docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) composition in DEF (−26%, p=0.0001) and DEF+FLX (−32%, p=0.0001) rats. Plasma FLX and norfluoxetine concentrations did not different between FLX-treated DEF and CON rats. During the 15-min FST pretest, DEF+FLX rats exhibited significantly greater climbing behavior compared with CON+FLX rats. During the 5-min test trial, FLX treatment reduced immobility and increased swimming in CON and DEF rats, and only DEF+FLX rats exhibited significant elevations in climbing behavior. DEF+FLX rats exhibited greater midbrain, and lower frontal cortex, 5-HT1A mRNA expression compared with all groups including CON+FLX rats. DEF+FLX rats also exhibited greater midbrain alpha2A adrenergic receptor mRNA expression which was positively correlated with climbing behavior in the FST. These preclinical data demonstrate that low omega-3 fatty acid status leads to abnormal behavioral and neurochemical responses to chronic FLX treatment in male rats. PMID:24360505

Capacity of omega-3 fatty acids or eicosapentaenoic acid to counteract weightlessness-induced bone loss by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation: from cells to bed rest to astronauts.

PubMed

Zwart, Sara R; Pierson, Duane; Mehta, Satish; Gonda, Steve; Smith, Scott M

2010-05-01

NF-kappaB is a transcriptional activator of many genes, including some that lead to muscle atrophy and bone resorption-significant concerns for astronauts. NF-kappaB activation is inhibited by eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), but the influence of this omega-3 fatty acid on the effects of weightlessness are unknown. We report here cellular, ground analogue, and spaceflight findings. We investigated the effects of EPA on differentiation of RAW264.7 monocyte/macrophage cells induced by receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and on activation of NF-kappaB by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) or exposure to modeled weightlessness. EPA (50 microM for 24 hours) inhibited RANKL-induced differentiation and decreased activation of NF-kappaB induced by 0.2 microg/mL of TNF-alpha for 30 minutes or by modeled weightlessness for 24 hours (p < .05). In human studies, we evaluated whether NF-kappaB activation was altered after short-duration spaceflight and determined the relationship between intake of omega-3 fatty acids and markers of bone resorption during bed rest and the relationship between fish intake and bone mineral density after long-duration spaceflight. NF-kappaB was elevated in crew members after short-duration spaceflight, and higher consumption of fish (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids) was associated with reduced loss of bone mineral density after flight (p < .05). Also supporting the cell study findings, a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with less N-telopeptide excretion during bed rest (Pearson r = -0.62, p < .05). Together these data provide mechanistic cellular and preliminary human evidence of the potential for EPA to counteract bone loss associated with spaceflight. (c) 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Modeling of Iron K Lines: Radiative and Auger Decay Data for Fe II-Fe IX

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palmeri, P.; Mendoza, C.; Kallman, T. R.; Bautista, M. A.; Melendez, M.

2003-01-01

A detailed analysis of the radiative and Auger de-excitation channels of K-shell vacancy states in Fe II-Fe IX has been carried out. Level energies, wavelengths, A-values, Auger rates and fluorescence yields have been calculated for the lowest fine-structure levels populated by photoionization of the ground state of the parent ion. Different branching ratios, namely K alpha 2/K alpha 1, K beta/K alpha, KLM/KLL, KMM/KLL, and the total K-shell fluorescence yields, omega(sub k), obtained in the present work have been compared with other theoretical data and solid-state measurements, finding good general agreement with the latter. The Kalpha 2/K alpha l ratio is found to be sensitive to the excitation mechanism. From these comparisons it has been possible to estimate an accuracy of approx.10% for the present transition probabilities.

Preparation of fluorescent tocopherols for use in protein binding and localization with the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein.

PubMed

Nava, Phillip; Cecchini, Matt; Chirico, Sara; Gordon, Heather; Morley, Samantha; Manor, Danny; Atkinson, Jeffrey

2006-06-01

Sixteen fluorescent analogues of the lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamin alpha-tocopherol were prepared incorporating fluorophores at the terminus of omega-functionalized 2-n-alkyl-substituted chromanols (1a-d and 4a-d) that match the methylation pattern of alpha-tocopherol, the most biologically active form of vitamin E. The fluorophores used include 9-anthroyloxy (AO), 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD), N-methyl anthranilamide (NMA), and dansyl (DAN). The compounds were designed to function as fluorescent reporter ligands for protein-binding and lipid transfer assays. The fluorophores were chosen to maximize the fluorescence changes observed upon moving from an aqueous environment (low fluorescence intensity) to an hydrophobic environment such as a protein's binding site (high fluorescence intensity). Compounds 9d (anthroyloxy) and 10d (nitrobenzoxadiazole), having a C9-carbon chain between the chromanol and the fluorophore, were shown to bind specifically and reversibly to recombinant human tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP) with dissociation constants of approximately 280 and 60 nM, respectively, as compared to 25 nM for the natural ligand 2R,4'R,8'R-alpha-tocopherol. Thus, compounds have been prepared that allow the investigation of the rate of alpha-TTP-mediated inter-membrane transfer of alpha-tocopherol and to investigate the mechanism of alpha-TTP function at membranes of different composition.

Geometrical behavior of hydrogen bonding patterns in the alpha-dodecyl-omega-hydroxy-tris(oxyethylene)-water system monitored by near infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Ohno, Keiichi; Takao, Hiroshi; Katsumoto, Yukiteru

2006-03-01

Changes in the geometry of hydrogen bonding patterns in the alpha-dodecyl-omega-hydroxy-tris(oxyethylene) (C(12)E(3))-water system have been investigated by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. In the 5,300-4,600 cm(-1) region, the characteristic bands for C(12)E(3) and water can be separately investigated, since the combination bands of the OH stretching and its COH bending of alcohols are observed at 5,000-4,650 cm(-1), whereas the combination bands of the OH stretching and its HOH bending of water, at 5,300-5,000 cm(-1). The NIR result has revealed that the addition of water to C(12)E(3) promotes the formation of the OHcdots, three dots, centeredOHcdots, three dots, centeredO hydrogen bonds.

Conformation of glycomimetics in the free and protein-bound state: structural and binding features of the C-glycosyl analogue of the core trisaccharide alpha-D-Man-(1 --> 3)-[alpha-D-Man-(1 --> 6)]-D-Man.

PubMed

Mikkelsen, Lise Munch; Hernáiz, María José; Martín-Pastor, M; Skrydstrup, Troels; Jiménez-Barbero, Jesús

2002-12-18

The conformational properties of the C-glycosyl analogue of the core trisaccharide alpha-D-Man-(1 --> 3)-[alpha-D-Man-(1 --> 6)]-D-Man in solution have been carefully analyzed by a combination of NMR spectroscopy and time-averaged restrained molecular dynamics. It has been found that both the alpha-1,3- and the alpha-1,6-glycosidic linkages show a major conformational averaging. Unusual Phi ca. 60 degrees orientations for both Phi torsion angles are found. Moreover, a major conformational distinction between the natural compound and the glycomimetic affects to the behavior of the omega(16) torsion angle around the alpha-1 --> 6-linkage. Despite this increased flexibility, the C-glycosyl analogue is recognized by three mannose binding lectins, as shown by NMR (line broadening, TR-NOE, and STD) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) methods. Moreover, a process of conformational selection takes place, so that these lectins probably bind the glycomimetic similarly to the way they recognize the natural analogue. Depending upon the architecture and extension of the binding site of the lectin, loss or gain of binding affinity with respect to the natural analogue is found.

Synthesis of Derivatives of Alpha, Omega Difunctional Perfluoroaliphatic Compounds for Low Dielectric Constant Resins

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-03-06

coupling reactions of perfluoroalkyl iodides with certain aryl iodides have been studied. Simple trial tests were carried out between perfluorooctyl iodide...omega Difunctional Perfluoroaliphatic Compounds for Low Dielectric Constant Resins by Robert L. Soulen Department of Chemistry Southwestern University...Difunctional Perfluoroaliphatic Compounds for Low Dielectric Resins 12 PERSONAL AUTHOR(S) Robert L. Soulen 1Ja TYPE OF REPORT 73b TIME COVERED FI DATE OF

[The effect of diet ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids of omega-3 and omega-6 families on activity of aminotransferases and gamma-glutamyltransferase in rat blood serum].

PubMed

Ketsa, O V; Marchenko, M M

2014-01-01

The effect of diet fat compositions with various ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities in blood serum of 45 white mongrel rats weighing 90-110 g (9 animals in group) has been investigated. Fat components in the semi-synthetic diet, compiled on the basis of AIN-93 diet, and sources of omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA were presented by sunflower oil, soybean oil and fish oil. It has been shown that four-week inclusion of linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (alpha-LNA) in a ratio of 7:1 into the diet (soybean oil) as well as use of only omega-6 PUFA (sunflower oil) has lead to an increase in the activity of ALT and GGT in rat blood serum compared to control animals treated with the complex of linolenic, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid through the mixture of sunflower oil and fish oil (9:1) with the ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA 7:1. Along with this, the AST:ALT ratio (de Ritis ratio) was lower (p < 0.05) as compared with the control group of rat, amounting respectively 0.92 +/- 0.08 and 0.79 +/- 0.12 vs 1.26 +/- 0.10. The use of high doses of omega-3 fatty acids (600 mg EPA and 400 mg DHA per kg of animal weight per day coming through fish oil) did not affect the activity of ALT and GGT, but increased AST serum activity (0.47 +/- 0.04 micromoles/min per mg protein) and the de Ritis ratio (2.53 +/- 0.23). The diet deprived with fat increased enzyme activity of ALT, AST and GGT in rat blood serum.

Studies of the acidic components of the Colorado Green River formation oil shale-Mass spectrometric identification of the methyl esters of extractable acids.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haug, P.; Schnoes, H. K.; Burlingame, A. L.

1971-01-01

Study of solvent extractable acidic constituents of oil shale from the Colorado Green River Formation. Identification of individual components is based on gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric data obtained for their respective methyl esters. Normal acids, isoprenoidal acids, alpha, omega-dicarboxylic acids, mono-alpha-methyl dicarboxylic acids and methyl ketoacids were identified. In addition, the presence of monocyclic, benzoic, phenylalkanoic and naphthyl-carboxylic acids, as well as cycloaromatic acids, is demonstrated by partial identification.

Equilibrium fluid interface behavior under low- and zero-gravity conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Concus, Paul; Finn, Robert

1994-01-01

We describe here some of our recent mathematical work, which forms a basis for the Interface Configuration Experiment scheduled for USML-2. The work relates to the design of apparatus that exploits microgravity conditions for accurate determination of contact angle. The underlying motivation for the procedures rests on a discontinuous dependence of the capillary free surface interface S on the contact angle gamma, in a cylindrical capillary tube whose section (base) omega contains a protruding corner with opening angle 2 alpha. Specifically, in a gravity-free environment, omega can be chosen so that, for all sufficiently large fluid volume, the height of S is uniquely determined as a (single-valued) function mu(x,y) entirely covering the base; the height mu is bounded over omega uniformly in gamma throughout the range absolute value of (gamma -(pion/2)) less than or equal to alpha, while for absolute value of (gamma - (pion/2)) greater than alpha fluid will necessarily move to the corner and uncover the base, rising to infinity (or falling to negative infinity) at the vertex, regardless of volume. We mention here only that procedures based on the phenomenon promise excellent accuracy when gamma is close pion/2 but may be subject to experimental error when gamma is close to zero (orpion), as the 'singular' part of the domain over which the fluid accumulates (or disappears) when a critical angle gamma theta is crossed then becomes very small and may be difficult to observe. We ignore the trivial case gamma is equal to pion/2 (planar free surface), to simplify the discussion.

Effects of Maternal Supplementation With Omega-3 Precursors on Human Milk Composition.

PubMed

Mazurier, Evelyne; Rigourd, Virginie; Perez, Paul; Buffin, Rachel; Couedelo, Leslie; Vaysse, Carole; Belcadi, Wafae; Sitta, Rémi; Nacka, Fabienne; Lamireau, Delphine; Cambonie, Gilles; Picaud, Jean-Charles; Billeaud, Claude

2017-05-01

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are important for newborn neurosensory development. Supplementation of breastfeeding mothers' diets with omega-3 PUFAs, such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), may increase their concentration in human milk. Research aim: This study aimed to assess human milk composition after 15-day supplementation regimens containing either omega-3 PUFAs or olive oil, which does not provide ALA. A multicenter factorial randomized trial was conducted with four groups of breastfeeding women, with each group containing 19 to 22 women. After a 15-day ALA washout period, three groups received supplementation with omega-3 precursors for 15 days: an enriched margarine (M), a rapeseed oil (R), and a margarine and rapeseed oil (MR). The fourth was unexposed to omega-3 precursors (olive oil control diet, O). After 15 days, blind determination of human milk fatty acid (FA) composition was assessed by gas chromatography, and the FA composition was compared among groups using variance analyses. Alpha-linolenic acid content, expressed as the mean (standard deviation) total human milk FA percentage, was significantly higher after diet supplementation with omega-3 PUFAs, with values of 2.2% (0.7%) (MR), 1.3% (0.5%) (R), 1.1% (0.4%) (M), and 0.8% (0.3%) (O at D30) ( p < .003 for each comparison). The lowest LA-ALA ratio (5.5) was found in the MR group ( p < .001). Docosahexaenoic acid and trans FA concentrations did not differ among groups. In lactating women, omega-3 supplementation via the combination of enriched margarine and rapeseed oil increased the ALA content of human milk and generated the most favorable LA-ALA ratio for LC-PUFA synthesis.

Purification and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to alpha-linolenic acid.

PubMed

Buffière, F; Cook-Moreau, J; Gualde, N; Rigaud, M

1989-01-01

The covalently linked antigenic complex, bovine serum albumin-alpha-linolenic acid, was used to immunize Balb/c mice against the hapten. Hybridization between splenocytes and the myeloma cell line, P 3 X63 Ag 8,651, resulted in stable clones synthesizing monoclonal antibodies (Mab) that were subsequently purified and characterized. Four Mab (A, B, C, D) were retained and their specificities studied by ELISA. Antibody D only recognized 18-carbon fatty acids having a cis,cis,-cis-1,4,7 unsaturated system in the omega-3 position: it was specific for alpha-linolenic acid. B recognized all fatty acids containing the structure cis,cis,cis-1,4,7-octatriene. A and C recognized polyunsaturated fatty acids with a degree of unsaturation superior to two double bonds.

Lactococcin G is a potassium ion-conducting, two-component bacteriocin.

PubMed

Moll, G; Ubbink-Kok, T; Hildeng-Hauge, H; Nissen-Meyer, J; Nes, I F; Konings, W N; Driessen, A J

1996-02-01

Lactococcin G is a novel lactococcal bacteriocin whose activity depends on the complementary action of two peptides, termed alpha and beta. Peptide synthesis of the alpha and beta peptides yielded biologically active lactococcin G, which was used in mode-of-action studies on sensitive cells of Lactococcus lactis. Approximately equivalent amounts of both peptides were required for optimal bactericidal effect. No effect was observed with either the alpha or beta peptide in the absence of the complementary peptide. The combination of alpha and beta peptides (lactococcin G) dissipates the membrane potential (delta omega), and as a consequence cells release alpha-aminoisobutyrate, a non-metabolizable alanine analog that is accumulated through a proton motive-force dependent mechanism. In addition, the cellular ATP level is dramatically reduced, which results in a drastic decrease of the ATP-driven glutamate uptake. Lactococcin G does not form a proton-conducting pore, as it has no effect on the transmembrane pH gradient. Dissipation of the membrane potential by uncouplers causes a slow release of potassium (rubidium) ions. However, rapid release of potassium was observed in the presence of lactococcin G. These data suggest that the bactericidal effect of lactococcin G is due to the formation of potassium-selective channels by the alpha and beta peptides in the target bacterial membrane.

Thermodynamics of the clusterization process of cis isomers of unsaturated fatty acids at the air/water interface.

PubMed

Vysotsky, Yu B; Belyaeva, E A; Fainerman, V B; Vollhardt, D; Aksenenko, E V; Miller, R

2009-04-02

In the framework of the semiempirical PM3 method, the thermodynamic parameters of cis isomers of unsaturated carboxylic acids at the air/water interface are studied. The model systems used are unsaturated cis fatty acid of the composition Delta = 12-15 and omega = 6-11, where Delta and omega refer to the number of carbon atoms between the functional group and double bond, and that between the double bond and methyl group, respectively. For dimers, trimers, and tetramers of the four acid series, the thermodynamic parameters of clusterization are calculated. It is shown that the position of the double bond does not significantly affect the values of thermodynamic parameters of formation and clusterization of carboxylic acids for equal chain lengths (n = Delta + omega). The calculated results show that for cis unsaturated fatty acid with odd Delta values the spontaneous clusterization threshold corresponds to n = 17-18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, while for monounsaturated acids with even Delta values this threshold corresponds to n = 18-19 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. These differences in the clusterization threshold between the acids with even and odd Delta values are attributed to the formation of additional intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the ketonic oxygen atom of one monomer and the hydrogen atom linked to the alpha-carbon atom of the second monomer for the acids with odd Delta values or between the hydroxyl oxygen atom of one monomer and hydrogen atom linked to the alpha-carbon atom of the second monomer for the acids with even Delta values. The results obtained in the study agree satisfactorily with our experimental data for cis unsaturated nervonic (Delta15, omega9) and erucic acids (Delta13, omega9), and published data for some fatty acids, namely cis-16-heptadecenoic (Delta16, omega1), cis-9-hexadecenoic (Delta7, omega9), cis-11-eicosenoic (Delta11, omega9) and cis-9-octadecenoic acid (Delta9, omega9).

Development of the wake behind a circular cylinder impulsively started into rotatory and rectilinear motion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Yen-Ming; Ou, Yuh-Roung; Pearlstein, Arne J.

1993-01-01

The temporal development of a 2D viscous incompressible flow generated by a circular cylinder started impulsively into steady rotatory and rectilinear motion is studied by integration of a velocity/vorticity formulation of the governing equations, using an explicit finite-difference/pseudo-spectral technique and an implementation of the Biot-Savart law. Results are presented for a Reynolds number of 200 (based on the cylinder diameter 2a and the magnitude U of the rectilinear velocity) for several values of the angular/rectilinear speed ratio alpha = omega(a)/U (where omega is the angular speed) up to 3.25. Several aspects of the kinematics and dynamics of the flow not considered earlier are discussed. For higher values of alpha, the results indicate that for Re = 200, vortex shedding does indeed occur for alpha = 3.25. However, consecutive vortices shed by the body can be shed from the same side and be of the same sense, in contrast to the nonrotating case, in which mirror-image vortices of opposite sense are shed alternately on opposite sides of the body. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to the possibility of suppressing vortex shedding by open or closed-loop control of the rotation rate.

Omega-3 fatty acid deficient male rats exhibit abnormal behavioral activation in the forced swim test following chronic fluoxetine treatment: association with altered 5-HT1A and alpha2A adrenergic receptor expression.

PubMed

Able, Jessica A; Liu, Yanhong; Jandacek, Ronald; Rider, Therese; Tso, Patrick; McNamara, Robert K

2014-03-01

Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency during development leads to enduing alterations in central monoamine neurotransmission in rat brain. Here we investigated the effects of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency on behavioral and neurochemical responses to chronic fluoxetine (FLX) treatment. Male rats were fed diets with (CON, n = 34) or without (DEF, n = 30) the omega-3 fatty acid precursor alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) during peri-adolescent development (P21-P90). A subset of CON (n = 14) and DEF (n = 12) rats were administered FLX (10 mg/kg/d) through their drinking water for 30 d beginning on P60. The forced swimming test (FST) was initiated on P90, and regional brain mRNA markers of serotonin and noradrenaline neurotransmission were determined. Dietary ALA depletion led to significant reductions in frontal cortex docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) composition in DEF (-26%, p = 0.0001) and DEF + FLX (-32%, p = 0.0001) rats. Plasma FLX and norfluoxetine concentrations did not different between FLX-treated DEF and CON rats. During the 15-min FST pretest, DEF + FLX rats exhibited significantly greater climbing behavior compared with CON + FLX rats. During the 5-min test trial, FLX treatment reduced immobility and increased swimming in CON and DEF rats, and only DEF + FLX rats exhibited significant elevations in climbing behavior. DEF + FLX rats exhibited greater midbrain, and lower frontal cortex, 5-HT1A mRNA expression compared with all groups including CON + FLX rats. DEF + FLX rats also exhibited greater midbrain alpha2A adrenergic receptor mRNA expression which was positively correlated with climbing behavior in the FST. These preclinical data demonstrate that low omega-3 fatty acid status leads to abnormal behavioral and neurochemical responses to chronic FLX treatment in male rats. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Selection criteria for the integrated model of plastic surgery residency.

PubMed

LaGrasso, Jeffrey R; Kennedy, Debbie A; Hoehn, James G; Ashruf, Salmon; Przybyla, Adrian M

2008-03-01

The purpose of this study was to identify those qualities and characteristics of fourth-year medical students applying for the Integrated Model of Plastic Surgery residency training that will make a successful plastic surgery resident. A three-part questionnaire was distributed to the training program directors of the 20 Integrated Model of Plastic Surgery programs accredited by the Residency Review Committee for Plastic Surgery by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education. The first section focused on 19 objective characteristics that directors use to evaluate applicants (e.g., Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society membership, United States Medical Licensing Examination scores). The second section consisted of 20 subjective characteristics commonly used to evaluate applicants during the interview process. The third section consisted of reasons why, if any, residents failed to successfully complete the training program. Fifteen of the 20 program directors responded to the questionnaire. The results showed that they considered membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society to be the most important objective criterion, followed by publications in peer-reviewed journals and letters of recommendation from plastic surgeons known to the director. Leadership capabilities were considered the most important subjective criterion, followed by maturity and interest in academics. Reasons residents failed to complete the training program included illness or death, academic inadequacies, and family demands. The authors conclude that applicants who have achieved high academic honors and demonstrate leadership ability with interest in academics were viewed most likely to succeed as plastic surgery residents by program directors of Integrated Model of Plastic Surgery residencies.

Association between the Medical College Admission Test scores and Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society membership.

PubMed

Gauer, Jacqueline L; Jackson, J Brooks

2017-01-01

Medical schools worldwide are faced with the challenge of selecting from among many qualified applicants. One factor that might help admissions committees identify future exceptional medical students is scores on standardized entrance exams. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between scores on the most commonly used standardized medical school entrance exam in the USA, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and election to the US medical honors society, Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA). MCAT scores and AOA membership data were analyzed for all the students pursuing Doctor of Medicine degrees at the University of Minnesota Medical School and who graduated between 2012-2016 (n=1,309). An independent-samples t -test found a significant difference (t=6.132, p <0.001) in MCAT scores between those who were elected to AOA (n=179) and those who were not (n=1,130). On average, students who were elected to AOA had composite MCAT scores of 1.65 points higher than those who were not. Percentages of students elected to AOA gradually but inconsistently increased with MCAT score. No student who scored <27 on the MCAT was elected to AOA. Among students with MCAT scores at the 99th percentile or above (scores of ≥38), 13 of 48 (27.1%) were elected to AOA. Election to AOA during medical school was significantly associated with higher MCAT scores. Admissions committees should carefully consider the role of standardized entrance exam scores, in the context of a holistic review, when selecting for exceptional medical students.

Association between the Medical College Admission Test scores and Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society membership

PubMed Central

Gauer, Jacqueline L; Jackson, J Brooks

2017-01-01

Introduction Medical schools worldwide are faced with the challenge of selecting from among many qualified applicants. One factor that might help admissions committees identify future exceptional medical students is scores on standardized entrance exams. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between scores on the most commonly used standardized medical school entrance exam in the USA, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and election to the US medical honors society, Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA). Method MCAT scores and AOA membership data were analyzed for all the students pursuing Doctor of Medicine degrees at the University of Minnesota Medical School and who graduated between 2012–2016 (n=1,309). Results An independent-samples t-test found a significant difference (t=6.132, p<0.001) in MCAT scores between those who were elected to AOA (n=179) and those who were not (n=1,130). On average, students who were elected to AOA had composite MCAT scores of 1.65 points higher than those who were not. Percentages of students elected to AOA gradually but inconsistently increased with MCAT score. No student who scored <27 on the MCAT was elected to AOA. Among students with MCAT scores at the 99th percentile or above (scores of ≥38), 13 of 48 (27.1%) were elected to AOA. Discussion Election to AOA during medical school was significantly associated with higher MCAT scores. Admissions committees should carefully consider the role of standardized entrance exam scores, in the context of a holistic review, when selecting for exceptional medical students. PMID:28979178

75 FR 37795 - Certain New Chemicals; Receipt and Status Information

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-30

...-methyl-, polymer with alkyl 2- propenoates, ethenyl acetate and methyl-2- methyl-2-propenoate P-10-0389...), polymers with cycloaliphatic diamine, alkyldiisocyanate, alpha-hydro-omega- hydroxy(alkyldiyl) and... dicarboxylic acid, polymer with cycloaliphatic diamine, aliphatic diisocyanate, aliphatic dicarboxylic acid...

Natural Products and Complementary Therapies for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Brami, Cloé; Bao, Ting; Deng, Gary

2015-01-01

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a serious dose-limiting side-effect without any FDA-approved treatment option. Prior reviews focus mostly on pharmacological interventions, but nonpharmaceutical interventions have also been evaluated. A Web of Science and PubMed database search to identify relevant RCTs from January 2005 to May 2015 included the terms: CIPN, cancer; and supplements, vitamin E, goshajinkigan, kampo, acetyl-L-carnitine, carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, omega-3, glutamine, or glutamate; or massage, acupuncture, mind-body practice, yoga, meditation, Tai-Chi, physical activity, or exercise. Of 1465 publications screened, 12 RCTs evaluated natural products and one evaluated electroacupuncture. Vitamin E may help prevent CIPN. L-glutamine, goshajinkigan, and omega-3 are also promising. Acetyl-L-carnitine may worsen CIPN and alpha-lipoic acid activity is unknown. Electroacupuncture was not superior to placebo. No RCTs were published regarding other complementary therapies, although some studies mention positive incidental findings. Natural products and complementary therapies deserve further investigation, given the lack of effective CIPN interventions. PMID:26652982

Analysis of time-resolved argon line spectra from OMEGA direct-drive implosions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Florido, R.; Nagayama, T.; Mancini, R. C.

2008-10-15

We discuss the observation and data analysis of argon K-shell line spectra from argon-doped deuterium-filled OMEGA direct-drive implosion cores based on data recorded with two streaked crystal spectrometers. The targets were 870 {mu}m in diameter, 27 {mu}m wall thickness plastic shells filled with 20 atm of deuterium gas, and a tracer amount of argon for diagnostic purposes. The argon K-shell line spectrum is primarily emitted at the collapse of the implosion and its analysis provides a spectroscopic diagnostic of the core implosion conditions. The observed spectra includes the He{alpha}, Ly{alpha}, He{beta}, He{gamma}, Ly{beta}, and Ly{gamma} line emissions and their associatedmore » He- and Li-like satellites thus covering a broad photon energy range from 3100 to 4200 eV with a spectral resolution power of approximately 500. The data analysis relies on detailed atomic and spectral models that take into account nonequilibrium collisional-radiative atomic kinetics, Stark-broadened line shapes, and radiation transport calculations.« less

Electronic Residency Application Service Application Characteristics Associated with Successful Residency Matching in Neurosurgery in 2009-2016.

PubMed

Leschke, John M; Hunt, Matthew A

2018-05-01

Resident applicants in neurosurgery often wonder what factors impact their chances of successfully matching. Using data published by the National Residency Match Program for 2009-2016, we examined which components of the Electronic Residency Application Service application correlated with successful residency matching. Data were collected from the National Residency Match Program publication Charting Outcomes in the Match from all years it was available for neurosurgery (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016). Individual factors reported (number of contiguous ranks, research projects, publications and presentations, work experiences, volunteer experiences, United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 and 2 score deciles, categorical data about Alpha Omega Alpha status, Ph.D. degree, other degree, and strength of medical school National Institutes of Health funding) were aggregated for all 3 years. Categorical data were available only for U.S. seniors. Spearman correlation and χ 2 were used for ranked data and categorical data, respectively. Separate analyses were run for U.S. seniors and independent applicants. For U.S. seniors applying to neurosurgery, number of contiguous ranks, United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 and 2 scores, research projects, Alpha Omega Alpha status, and medical school top 40 National Institutes of Health funding were significantly associated with successful matching of applicants. Number of volunteer experiences was nearly statistically significant. For independent applicants, only United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 and 2 scores and number of research projects were statistically significant. This is the first study to analyze National Residency Match Program data for predictors of success in neurosurgical matching. Students applying to neurosurgery residency and their mentors should be aware of which baseline objective factors are associated with match success. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Structures in color space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrov, Alexander P.

1996-09-01

Classic colorimetry and the traditionally used color space do not represent all perceived colors (for example, browns look dark yellow in colorimetric conditions of observation) so, the specific goal of this work is to suggest another concept of color and to prove that the corresponding set of colors is complete. The idea of our approach attributing color to surface patches (not to the light) immediately ties all the problems of color perception and vision geometry. The equivalence relation in the linear space of light fluxes F established by a procedure of colorimetry gives us a 3D color space H. By definition we introduce a sample (sigma) (surface patch) as a linear mapping (sigma) : L yields H, where L is a subspace of F called the illumination space. A Dedekind structure of partial order can be defined in the set of the samples: two samples (alpha) and (Beta) belong to one chromatic class if ker(alpha) equals ker(Beta) and (alpha) > (Beta) if ker(alpha) ker(Beta) . The maximal elements of this chain create the chromatic class BLACK. There can be given geometrical arguments for L to be 3D and it can be proved that in this case the minimal element of the above Dedekind structure is unique and the corresponding chromatic class is called WHITE containing the samples (omega) such that ker(omega) equals {0} L. Color is defined as mapping C: H yields H and assuming color constancy the complete set of perceived colors is proved to be isomorphic to a subset C of 3 X 3 matrices. This subset is convex, limited and symmetrical with E/2 as the center of symmetry. The problem of metrization of the color space C is discussed and a color metric related to shape, i.e., to vision geometry, is suggested.

SSPX thermistor system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thomassen, K I

The SSPX Thermistor is a glass encapsulated bead thermistor made by Thermometrics, a BR 14 P A 103 J. The BR means ruggedized bead structure, 14 is the nominal bead diameter in mils, P refers to opposite end leads, A is the material system code letter, 103 refers to its 10 k{Omega} zero-power resistance at 25 C, and the tolerance letter J indicates {+-} 5% at 25 C. It is football shaped, with height ->, and is viewed through a slot of height h = 0.01 inches. The slot is perpendicular to the long axis of the bead, and ismore » a distance s {approx} 0.775 cm in front of the thermistor. So plasma is viewed over a large angle along the slot, but over a small angle {alpha} perpendicular to the slot. The angle {alpha} is given by 2s tan{alpha} = -> + h.« less

Competition between pressure and gravity confinement in Lyman Alpha forest observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Charlton, Jane C.; Salpeter, Edwin E.; Linder, Suzanne M.

1994-01-01

A break in the distribution function of Lyman Alpha clouds (at a typical redshift of 2.5) has been reported by Petit-jean et al. (1993). This feature is what would be expected from a transition between pressure confinement and gravity confinement (as predicted in Charlton, Salpeter & Hogan 1993). The column density at which the feature occurs has been used to determine the external confining pressure approximately 10 per cu cm K, which could be due to a hot, intergalactic medium. For models that provide a good fit to the data, the contribution of the gas in clouds to omega is small. The specific shape of the distribution function at the transition (predicted by models to have a nonmonotonic slope) can serve as a diagnostic of the distribution of dark matter around Lyman Alpha forest clouds, and the present data already eliminate certain models.

A comparative study of effects of omega-3 Fatty acids, alpha lipoic Acid and vitamin e in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Udupa, A; Nahar, P; Shah, S; Kshirsagar, M; Ghongane, B

2013-07-01

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by abnormal lipid and glucose metabolism. Various modes of adjuvant therapy have been advocated to ameliorate insulin resistance. This study was intended to assess the effects of antioxidants; alpha lipoic acid (ALA), omega 3 fatty acid and vitamin E on parameters of insulin sensitivity (blood glucose and HbA1c) in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with documented insulin resistance. It was a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, single centered study. 104 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with insulin resistance were recruited. They were given ALA, omega 3 fatty acid, vitamin E or placebo. Fasting blood glucose and HbA1c were measured at first visit (V1) and after 90 days (V2). Statistical analysis was carried out by paired t-test by using SPSS software version 11 (SPSS, Chicago, USA). Analysis of baseline (V1) vs. end of treatment period (V2) parameters, showed significant decrease in HbA1c in the three treatment group. We also observed decrease in fasting blood glucose in the three treatment group but it was not statistically significant (Gr. I = 0.51, Gr. II = 0.05, Gr. III = 0.22, Gr. IV = 0.88). ALA, Omega 3 fatty acid and vitamin E can be used as add on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism.

The cosmological dependence of cluster density profiles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crone, Mary M.; Evrard, August E.; Richstone, Douglas O.

1994-01-01

We use N-body simulations to study the shape of mean cluster density and velocity profiles in the nonlinear regime formed via gravitational instability. The dependence of the final structure on both cosmology and initial density field is examined, using a grid of cosmologies and scale-free initial power spectra P(k) varies as k(exp n). Einstein-de Sitter, open (Omega(sub 0) = 0.2 and 0.1) and flat, low density (Omega(sub 0) = 0.2 lambda(sub 0) = 0.8) models are examined, with initial spectral indices n = -2, -1 and 0. For each model, we stack clusters in an appropriately scaled manner to define an average density profile in the nonlinear regime. The profiles are well fit by a power law rho(r) varies as r(exp -alpha) for radii whereat the local density contrast is between 100 and 3000. This covers 99% of the cluster volume. We find a clear trend toward steeper slopes (larger alphas) with both increasing n and decreasing Omega(sub 0). The Omega(sub 0) dependence is partially masked by the n dependence; there is degeneracy in the values of alpha between the Einstein-de Sitter and flat, low-density cosmologies. However, the profile slopes in the open models are consistently higher than the Omega = 1 values for the range of n examined. Cluster density profiles are thus potentially useful cosmological diagnostics. We find no evidence for a constant density core in any of the models, although the density profiles do tend to flatten at small radii. Much of the flattening is due to the force softening required by the simulations. An attempt is made to recover the unsoftened profiles assuming angular momentum invariance. The recovered profiles in Einstein-de Sitter cosmologies are consistent with a pure power law up to the highest density contrasts (10(exp 6)) accessible with our resolution. The low-density models show significant deviation from a power law above density contrasts approximately 10(exp 5). We interpret this curvature as reflecting the non-scale-invariant nature of the background cosmology in these models. These results are at the limit of our resolution and so should be tested in the future using simulations with larger numbers of particles. Such simulations will also provide insight on the broader problem of understanding, in a statistical sense, the full phase space structure of collapsed, cosmological halos.

77 FR 24705 - Certain New Chemicals; Receipt and Status Information

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-25

..., Corporation. adhesive used polymer with 1,6- for panel hexanediol, [alpha]- lamination and hydro-[omega... used benzenedicarboylic for panel acid, polymer with lamination and 1,4- other assemblies...- isocyanatobenzene]. P-12-0273......... 03/28/2012 06/25/2012 CBI (S) Industrial (S) Coconut oil, coating. polymer...

40 CFR 721.10072 - Benzene, 1,1′-methylenebis[4-isocyanato-, polymer with benzenedicarboxylic acid, butyl dialkyl...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...-isocyanato-, polymer with benzenedicarboxylic acid, butyl dialkyl ester, poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-hydro-.omega.-hydroxy-, oxirane, alkyl-, polymer with oxirane, ether with propanepolyol and...-isocyanato-, polymer with benzenedicarboxylic acid, butyl dialkyl ester, poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl...

77 FR 27126 - [alpha]-(p-Nonylphenol)-[omega]-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene) Sulfate and Phosphate Esters; Exemption...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-09

... pesticide formulations applied to growing crops, raw agricultural commodities after harvest and animals. The... inert ingredients at levels not to exceed 7% in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops and raw...% in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops and raw agricultural commodities after harvest...

40 CFR 721.2222 - Cyclohexanamine, N,N-dimethyl-, compd. with alpha-isotridecyl-omega-hydroxypoly(oxy-1,2...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT SIGNIFICANT NEW USES OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.2222...) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as...

Teaching with Distance Delivery Systems: Strategies from Alpha to Omega.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rezabek, Landra L.

Distance education can assume many forms, including videotaped lectures, computer-mediated communication among teacher and student, and instantaneous, live two-way interaction. This paper focuses on tips and strategies for educators wishing to expand their teaching repertoires to include the use of these technologies. Teacher strategies listed…

CATALYZED CYCLIZATION OF [ALPHA],[OMEGA]-DIENES: A VERSATILE PROTOCOL FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF FUNCTIONALIZED CARBOCYCLIC AND HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS. (R826120)

EPA Science Inventory

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Concl...

Walnut extracts protect cultured microglia against LPS-induced neurotoxicity via modulation of intracellular calcium concentration

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA), as compared to other edible plants. Previously, our laboratory had demonstrated that dietary walnut supplementation in aged animals enhanced protective signaling pathways, altered membrane microstructures, an...

Theoretical properties of Omega-loops in the convective zone of the Sun. 1: Emerging bipolar magnetic regions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, E. N.

1994-01-01

It is proposed that the observed 500 G intensity of the magnetic fields emerging through the surface of the Sun can be understood from the Bernoulli effect in the upwelling Omega-loops of magnetic field. It is also proposed that the inferred 10(exp 5) G azimuthal flux bundles below the base of the convective zone can be understood as a consequence of the large-scale buoyancy associated with the upwelling fluid in and around the rising Omega-loop. The process fits in naturally with the Babcock-Leighton form of the solar alpha-omega-dynamo. The emerging Omega-loop implies the coherence of the upwelling all the way from the bottom of the convective zone, enhancing the convective heat transport to account for the observed variation of the solar irradiance by about two parts in 10(exp 3).

A K ATP channel-dependent pathway within alpha cells regulates glucagon release from both rodent and human islets of Langerhans.

PubMed

MacDonald, Patrick E; De Marinis, Yang Zhang; Ramracheya, Reshma; Salehi, Albert; Ma, Xiaosong; Johnson, Paul R V; Cox, Roger; Eliasson, Lena; Rorsman, Patrik

2007-06-01

Glucagon, secreted from pancreatic islet alpha cells, stimulates gluconeogenesis and liver glycogen breakdown. The mechanism regulating glucagon release is debated, and variously attributed to neuronal control, paracrine control by neighbouring beta cells, or to an intrinsic glucose sensing by the alpha cells themselves. We examined hormone secretion and Ca(2+) responses of alpha and beta cells within intact rodent and human islets. Glucose-dependent suppression of glucagon release persisted when paracrine GABA or Zn(2+) signalling was blocked, but was reversed by low concentrations (1-20 muM) of the ATP-sensitive K(+) (KATP) channel opener diazoxide, which had no effect on insulin release or beta cell responses. This effect was prevented by the KATP channel blocker tolbutamide (100 muM). Higher diazoxide concentrations (>/=30 muM) decreased glucagon and insulin secretion, and alpha- and beta-cell Ca(2+) responses, in parallel. In the absence of glucose, tolbutamide at low concentrations (<1 muM) stimulated glucagon secretion, whereas high concentrations (>10 muM) were inhibitory. In the presence of a maximally inhibitory concentration of tolbutamide (0.5 mM), glucose had no additional suppressive effect. Downstream of the KATP channel, inhibition of voltage-gated Na(+) (TTX) and N-type Ca(2+) channels (omega-conotoxin), but not L-type Ca(2+) channels (nifedipine), prevented glucagon secretion. Both the N-type Ca(2+) channels and alpha-cell exocytosis were inactivated at depolarised membrane potentials. Rodent and human glucagon secretion is regulated by an alpha-cell KATP channel-dependent mechanism. We propose that elevated glucose reduces electrical activity and exocytosis via depolarisation-induced inactivation of ion channels involved in action potential firing and secretion.

[Integrated health service research of the epiphenomenon (IVF-E)--paradigm shift or Dölle's wine in new skins?].

PubMed

Herzog, Wolfgang

2011-08-01

The meaning of epiphenomenalism for psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy is analyzed. It may be concluded that Ernst-August Dölle was one of the first researchers to describe and to use the Alpha and Omega of epiphenomenalism. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

77 FR 27628 - [alpha]-[p-(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl)phenyl]-[omega]- hydroxypoly(oxyethylene); Exemption From...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-11

... inert ingredient at levels not to exceed 7% in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops and raw... crops and raw agricultural commodities after harvest. That notice referenced a summary of the petition...% in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops and raw agricultural commodities after harvest...

The Alpha and Omega Syndrome: Is Intra-District Funding the next Ripeness Factor?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Owings, William A.; Kaplan, Leslie S.

2010-01-01

Fiscal disparities within school districts may be the next area "ripe" for litigation. Equity and adequacy litigation have largely focused on between-district fiscal disparities. Research suggests that within-district disparities may be as unfair to high poverty schools. When the school funding pie is not growing, remedying…

21 CFR 178.3130 - Antistatic and/or anti-fogging agents in food-packaging materials.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Antistatic and/or anti-fogging agents in food..., fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables. Alpha-(Carboxymethyl)-omega-(tetradecyloxy)polyoxyethylene) For use... at levels not to exceed 3.0 percent by weight of polystyrene or rubber-modified polystyrene complying...

21 CFR 173.322 - Chemicals used in delinting cottonseed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Chemicals used in delinting cottonseed. 173.322... limitations as are provided: Substances Limitations alpha-Alkyl-omega-hydroxypoly-(oxyethylene) produced by...) having an average of 5 ethylene oxide units May be used at an application rate not to exceed 0.3 percent...

21 CFR 178.3130 - Antistatic and/or anti-fogging agents in food-packaging materials.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Antistatic and/or anti-fogging agents in food..., fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables. Alpha-(Carboxymethyl)-omega-(tetradecyloxy)polyoxyethylene) For use... at levels not to exceed 3.0 percent by weight of polystyrene or rubber-modified polystyrene complying...

21 CFR 173.322 - Chemicals used in delinting cottonseed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Chemicals used in delinting cottonseed. 173.322... limitations as are provided: Substances Limitations alpha-Alkyl-omega-hydroxypoly-(oxyethylene) produced by...) having an average of 5 ethylene oxide units May be used at an application rate not to exceed 0.3 percent...

21 CFR 173.322 - Chemicals used in delinting cottonseed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2010-04-01 2009-04-01 true Chemicals used in delinting cottonseed. 173.322... limitations as are provided: Substances Limitations alpha-Alkyl-omega-hydroxypoly-(oxyethylene) produced by...) having an average of 5 ethylene oxide units May be used at an application rate not to exceed 0.3 percent...

21 CFR 173.322 - Chemicals used in delinting cottonseed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Chemicals used in delinting cottonseed. 173.322... Limitations alpha-Alkyl-omega-hydroxypoly-(oxyethylene) produced by condensation of a linear primary alcohol... units May be used at an application rate not to exceed 0.3 percent by weight of cottonseeds to enhance...

21 CFR 173.322 - Chemicals used in delinting cottonseed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Chemicals used in delinting cottonseed. 173.322... limitations as are provided: Substances Limitations alpha-Alkyl-omega-hydroxypoly-(oxyethylene) produced by...) having an average of 5 ethylene oxide units May be used at an application rate not to exceed 0.3 percent...

75 FR 27434 - [alpha]-(p-Nonylphenol)-[omega]-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene) Sulfate and Phosphate Esters; Time...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-17

.... study with the reproduction/ developmental toxicity screening test in rats (NPEPSD) LOAEL = 300 mg/kg... toxicity screening test. In the Harmonized Guideline 870.3650 study with the nonylphenol ethoxylate... Guideline 870.3650 study in rats following pre- and post-natal exposure to NPEPSDs. E. Aggregate Risks and...

76 FR 53372 - Receipt of Several Pesticide Petitions Filed for Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-26

... requirement of a tolerance for residues of 2- propanoic acid, 2-methyl-, polymer with methyl 2-methyl-2... of a tolerance for residues of Nonylphenol Ethoxylate Phosphate and Sulfate Derivatives (NPEPSD...-49-1). NPE Sulfate Derivatives (NPESD): [alpha]-(p-nonylphenol)-[omega]- hydroxypoly(oxyethylene...

Fouling-release coatings prepared from alpha,omega-dihydroxypoly(dimethylsiloxane) cross-linked with (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)triethoxysilane.

PubMed

Berglin, Mattias; Wynne, Kenneth J; Gatenholm, Paul

2003-01-15

Surface properties of pristine and water-aged polymeric films made of alpha,omega-dihydroxypoly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) cross-linked with (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)triethoxysilane (FTEOS17) or tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) were investigated. The FTEOS17-cured coatings showed stable advancing and receding contact angles over a period of 3 months of water exposure, compared to a 70 degrees decrease in receding contact angle for the TEOS-cured coatings. After immersion in water, hydroxyl groups were detected on the TEOS-cured coatings with attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT/IR). Tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) on pristine FTEOS17-cured coatings showed surfaces topologies ranging from smooth and featureless to topologically complex, depending on FTEOS17 concentration. The fluorinated coatings showed a stable surface morphology after water immersion, which we believe is due to the formation of a fluorinated siliceous phase that prevented the surface reconstruction, water penetration, and hydrolysis. The smooth pristine TEOS-cured coatings showed an increased roughness with cracks and erosion pits present on the surface after water immersion.

Electrostatic Wave Generation and Transverse Ion Acceleration by Alfvenic Wave Components of BBELF Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, Nagendra; Khazanov, George; Mukhter, Ali

2007-01-01

We present results here from 2.5-D particle-in-cell simulations showing that the electrostatic (ES) components of broadband extremely low frequency (BBELF) waves could possibly be generated by cross-field plasma instabilities driven by the relative drifts between the heavy and light ion species in the electromagnetic (EM) Alfvenic component of the BBELF waves in a multi-ion plasma. The ES components consist of ion cyclotron as well as lower hybrid modes. We also demonstrate that the ES wave generation is directly involved in the transverse acceleration of ions (TAI) as commonly measured with the BBELF wave events. The heating is affected by ion cyclotron resonance in the cyclotron modes and Landau resonance in the lower hybrid waves. In the simulation we drive the plasma by the transverse electric field, E(sub y), of the EM waves; the frequency of E(sub y), omega(sub d), is varied from a frequency below the heavy ion cyclotron frequency, OMEGA(sub h), to below the light ion cyclotron frequency, OMEGA(sub i). We have also performed simulations for E(sub y) having a continuous spectrum given by a power law, namely, |Ey| approx. omega(sub d) (exp -alpha), where the exponent alpha = _, 1, and 2 in three different simulations. The driving electric field generates polarization and ExB drifts of the ions and electrons. When the interspecies relative drifts are sufficiently large, they drive electrostatic waves, which cause perpendicular heating of both light and heavy ions. The transverse ion heating found here is discussed in relation to observations from Cluster, FAST and Freja.

Apoplastic polyesters in Arabidopsis surface tissues--a typical suberin and a particular cutin.

PubMed

Franke, Rochus; Briesen, Isabel; Wojciechowski, Tobias; Faust, Andrea; Yephremov, Alexander; Nawrath, Christiane; Schreiber, Lukas

2005-11-01

Cutinized and suberized cell walls form physiological important plant-environment interfaces as they act as barriers limiting water and nutrient loss and protect from radiation and invasion by pathogens. Due to the lack of protocols for the isolation and analysis of cutin and suberin in Arabidopsis, the model plant for molecular biology, mutants and transgenic plants with a defined altered cutin or suberin composition are unavailable, causing that structure and function of these apoplastic barriers are still poorly understood. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that Arabidopsis leaf cuticle thickness ranges from only 22 nm in leaf blades to 45 nm on petioles, causing the difficulty in cuticular membrane isolation. We report the use of polysaccharide hydrolases to isolate Arabidopsis cuticular membranes, suitable for depolymerization and subsequent compositional analysis. Although cutin characteristic omega-hydroxy acids (7%) and mid-chain hydroxylated fatty acids (8%) were detected, the discovery of alpha,omega-diacids (40%) and 2-hydroxy acids (14%) as major depolymerization products reveals a so far novel monomer composition in Arabidopsis cutin, but with chemical analogy to root suberin. Histochemical and TEM analysis revealed that suberin depositions were localized to the cell walls in the endodermis of primary roots and the periderm of mature roots of Arabidopsis. Enzyme digested and solvent extracted root cell walls when subjected to suberin depolymerization conditions released omega-hydroxy acids (43%) and alpha,omega-diacids (24%) as major components together with carboxylic acids (9%), alcohols (6%) and 2-hydroxyacids (0.1%). This similarity to suberin of other species indicates that Arabidopsis roots can serve as a model for suberized tissue in general.

The impact of omega-3 fatty acids on osteoporosis.

PubMed

Maggio, M; Artoni, A; Lauretani, F; Borghi, L; Nouvenne, A; Valenti, G; Ceda, G P

2009-01-01

The essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) comprise 2 main classes: n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. The most common source of n-6 fatty acids is linoleic acid (LA) which is found in high concentrations in various vegetable oils. Arachidonic acid (AA), the 20-carbon n-6 fatty acid, is obtained largely by synthesis from LA in the body. The n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) are found in fish and fish oils. Long-Chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) and lipid mediators derived from LCPUFAs have critical roles in the regulation of a variety of biological processes including bone metabolism. There are different mechanisms by which dietary fatty acids affect bone: effect on calcium balance, effect on osteoblastogenesis and osteoblast activity, change of membrane function, decrease in inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), modulation of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). Animal studies have shown that a higher dietary omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids ratio is associated with beneficial effects on bone health. In spite of increasing evidence of the positive effects of dietary fats on bone metabolism from animal and in vitro studies, the few studies conducted in humans do not allow us to draw a definitive conclusion on their usefulness in clinical practice.

[Lipids, depression and suicide].

PubMed

Colin, A; Reggers, J; Castronovo, V; Ansseau, M

2003-01-01

Polyunsatured fatty acids are made out of a hydrocarbonated chain of variable length with several double bonds. The position of the first double bond (omega) differentiates polyunsatured omega 3 fatty acids (for example: alpha-linolenic acid or alpha-LNA) and polyunsatured omega 6 fatty acids (for example: linoleic acid or LA). These two classes of fatty acids are said to be essential because they cannot be synthetised by the organism and have to be taken from alimentation. The omega 3 are present in linseed oil, nuts, soya beans, wheat and cold water fish whereas omega 6 are present in maize, sunflower and sesame oil. Fatty acids are part of phospholipids and, consequently, of all biological membranes. The membrane fluidity, of crucial importance for its functioning, depends on its lipidic components. Phospholipids composed of chains of polyunsatured fatty acids increase the membrane fluidity because, by bending some chains, double bonds prevent them from compacting themselves perfectly. Membrane fluidity is also determined by the phospholipids/free cholesterol ratio, as cholesterol increases membrane viscosity. A diet based on a high proportion of essential polyunsatured fatty acids (fluid) would allow a higher incorporation of cholesterol (rigid) in the membranes to balance their fluidity, which would contribute to lower blood cholesterol levels. Brain membranes have a very high content in essential polyunsatured fatty acids for which they depend on alimentation. Any dietary lack of essential polyunsatured fatty acids has consequences on cerebral development, modifying the activity of enzymes of the cerebral membranes and decreasing efficiency in learning tasks. The prevalence of depression seems to increase continuously since the beginning of the century. Though different factors most probably contribute to this evolution, it has been suggested that it could be related to an evolution of alimentary patterns in the Western world, in which polyunsatured omega 3 fatty acids contained in fish, game and vegetables have been largely replaced by polyunsatured omega 6 fatty acids of cereal oils. Some epidemiological data support the hypothesis of a relation between lower depression and/or suicide rates and a higher consumption of fish. These data do not however prove a relation of causality. Several cohort studies (on nondepressed subjects) have assessed the relationship between plasma cholesterol and depressive symptoms with contradictory results. Though some results found a significant relationship between a decrease of total cholesterol and high scores of depression, some other did not. Studies among patients suffering from major depression signalled more constantly an association between low cholesterol and major depression. Besides, some trials showed that clinical recovery may be associated with a significant increase of total cholesterol. The hypothesis that a low cholesterol level may represent a suicidal risk factor was discovered accidentally following a series of epidemiological studies which revealed an increase of the suicidal risk among subjects with a low cholesterol level. Though some contradictory studies do exist, this relationship has been confirmed by several subsequent cohort studies. These findings have challenged the vast public health programs aimed at promoting the decrease of cholesterol, and even suggested to suspend the administration of lipid lowering drugs. Recent clinical studies on populations treated with lipid lowering drugs showed nevertheless a lack of significant increase of mortality, either by suicide or accident. In addition, several controlled studies among psychiatric patients revealed a decrease of the concentrations of plasma cholesterol among patients who had attempted suicide in comparison with other patients. In major depression, all studies revealed a significant decrease of the polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids and/or an increase of the omega 6/omega 3 ratio in plasma and/or in the membranes of the red cells. In addition, two studies found a higher severity of depression when the level of polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids or the ratio omega 3/omega 6 was low. Parallel to these modifications, other biochemical perturbations have been reported in major depression, particularly an activation of the inflammatory response system, resulting in an increase of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukins: IL-1b, IL-6 and interferon g) and eicosanoids (among others, prostaglandin E2) in the blood and the CSF of depressed patients. These substances cause a peroxidation and, consequently a catabolism of membrane phospholipids, among others those containing polyunsaturated fatty acids. The cytokines and eicosanoids derive from polyunsaturated fatty acids and have opposite physiological functions according to their omega 3 or omega 6 precursor. Arachidonic acid (omega 6) is, among others, precursor of pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), whereas polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids inhibit the formation of PGE2. It has been shown that a dietary increase of polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids reduced strongly the production of IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha). In contrast, diets with a higher supply of linoleic acid (omega 6) increased significantly the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, like TNF-alpha. Therefore, polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids could be associated at different levels in the pathophysiology of major depression, on the one hand through their role in the membrane fluidity which influences diverse steps of neurotransmission and, on the other hand, through their function as precursor of pro-inflammatory cytokines and eicosanoids disturbing neurotransmission. In addition, antidepressants could exhibit an immunoregulating effect by reducing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, by increasing the release of endogenous antagonists of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and, finally, by acting like inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase. Data available concerning the administration of supplements of DHA (docosahexanoic acid) or other polyunsaturated fatty acids omega 3 are limited. In a double blind placebo-controlled study on 30 patients with bipolar disorder, the addition of polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids was associated with a longer period of remission. Moreover, nearly all the other prognosis measures were better in the omega 3 group. Very recently, a controlled trial showed the benefits of adding an omega 3 fatty acid, eicosopentanoic acid, among depressed patients. After 4 weeks, six of the 10 patients receiving the fatty acid were considered as responders in comparison with only one of the ten patients receiving placebo. Some epidemiological, experimental and clinical data favour the hypothesis that polyunsaturated fatty acids could play a role in the pathogenesis and/or the treatment of depression. More studies however are needed in order to better precise the actual implication of those biochemical factors among the various aspects of depressive illness.

Beyond the Conventional Wisdom: Rural Development As If Australia's Rural People Really Mattered. Background Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sher, Jonathan; Sher, Katrina Rowe

This paper proposes a framework for developing a national rural development policy in Australia. Some common relevant misconceptions are that rural Australia and rural Australians are peripheral to the national economy and the nation's future, that farmers and farming communities are the alpha and omega of rural Australia, and that whatever is…

78 FR 52934 - Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-27

... activity of several species of human IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, and IFN-omega. Detection of heterogeneity of the cellular type I IFN receptor. J Immunol. 1993 Feb 1;150(3):707-16. [PMID 8423335] Intellectual Property... required for, promoter release. J Mol Biol. 2005 Oct 21;353(2):256-70. [PMID 16169559] 3. Mukherjee S, et...

Burnout in Health Care Professionals as a Function of Coping Profiles, Locus of Control, and Self Esteem.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salkind, F. Jane; And Others

Registered nurses, interns, and residents from five hospitals in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey were administered the Maslach Human Services Survey, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Rotter's Locus of Control Scale, Newman's Alpha Omega Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. Results strongly suggested that an individual with high self-esteem and…

76 FR 15986 - Alpha Omega Technology, Inc.; Denial Without Prejudice of Food Additive Petition

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-22

... regulations be amended to provide for the safe use of a source of irradiation to treat shellfish and finfish....26) to provide for the safe use of a source of irradiation to treat finfish and shellfish. For any... pattern of typical spoilage organisms could be changed by irradiation, thus reducing perception of...

Sociodemographic and Premedical School Factors Related to Postgraduate Physicians' Humanistic Performance

PubMed Central

Linn, Lawrence S.; Cope, Dennis W.; Robbins, Alan

1987-01-01

In an extensive survey of postgraduate physicians in two teaching hospitals (N = 141) for their humanistic attitudes, values and behavior, all ratings of physicians' humanistic performance, including physicians' own scores on self-report measures, supervising faculty, nurses and patient ratings, were modestly but significantly correlated with each other. Sex, ethnic or racial background, year of training, marital status, number of children, Alpha-Omega-Alpha membership or number of articles published were unrelated to physicians' humanistic behavior. Several measures of humanism were positively correlated with having taken more courses in the social sciences and humanities, having had more early person-centered work experience and reporting that before medical school others had confided in them or sought their advice more frequently. PMID:3424817

From Alpha To Omega

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castellano, Doc

2002-08-01

Galileo, the Father of Modern Science, put forth the first significant Modern Scientific Era/Philosophy. Best represented per: x' = x (+/-) vt. Locating/defining the dynamic x' in an Euclidean, fixed frame Universe. Einstein, the popularized relativist, utilizing Lorentz's transformation equations: x' = (x - vt)/square root [ 1- (v squared/c squared)], c the velocity of light. Arbitrarily decreed that c must be the ultimate, universal velocity. Thus, Reporters, the general Public and Scientists consider/considered, Einstein's OPINION of our Universe, 'The Omega Concept'. Castellano, since 1954, has PROVEN the "C Transformation Equations": X' = (X - vt)/square root [ 1 - (v squared/C squared)], Capital C = or greater than c; IS THE OMEGA CONCEPT. And "MAPHICS", combining the Philosophy of Mathematics with the Philosophy of Physics is "THE OMEGA PHILOSOPHY". Sufficient PROOFS & details are at: http://hometown.aol.com/phdco/myhomepage/index/html ----- Thank you for your interest. My sincere appreciation for deserved acknowledgements.

From Alpha To Omega

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castellano, Doc

2002-05-01

Galileo, the Father of Modern Science put forth the first significant Modern Scientific Era/Philosophy. Best represented per: x' = x (+/-) vt. Locating/defining the dynamic x' per a fixed, Cartesian Coordinate, reference frame.----- Einstein, the popularized relativist, utilizing Lorentz's transformation Equations: x' = (x-vt)/squareroot [1 - (v squared/c squared)], c the velocity of light. Arbitrarily decreed that c must be the ultimate universal velocity. Thus, Reporters, the general Public, and Scientists consider/considered, Einstein's OPINION of our Universe, the 'Omega Concept'. ----- Castellano, since 1955, has PROVEN his "Castellano Transformation Equations": X' = (X - vt)/squareroot [ 1 - (v squared/c squared)]. Capital C = or greater than c; IS THE OMEGA CONCEPT. And his "MAPHICS" combining the Philosophy of Mathematics with the Philosophy of Physics is "THE OMEGA PHILOSOPHY". Sufficient PROOFS and details at: http://hometown.aol.com/phdco/myhomepage/index.html Thank you for your interest. My sincere appreciation for your attention and deserved acknowledgments.

L(alpha)-induced two-photon absorption of visible light emitted from an O-type star by H2(+) ions located near the surface of the Stromgren sphere surrounding the star: A possible explanation for the diffuse interstellar absorption bands (DIDs)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glownia, James H.; Sorokin, Peter P.

1994-01-01

In this paper, a new model is proposed to account for the DIB's (Diffuse Interstellar Bands). In this model, the DIB's result from a non-linear effect: resonantly-enhanced two-photon absorption of H(2+) ions located near the surface of the Stromgren sphere that surrounds an O- or B- type star. The strong light that is required to 'drive' the two-photon transition is provided by L(alpha) light emerging from the Stromgren sphere that bounds the H II region surrounding the star. A value of approximately 100 micro W/sq cm is estimated for the L(alpha) flux at the Stromgren radius, R(s), of a strong (O5) star. It is shown that a c.w. L(alpha) flux of this intensity should be sufficient to induce a few percent absorption for visible light radiated by the same star at a frequency (omega2) that completes an allowed two-photon transition, provided (1) the L(alpha) radiation happens to be nearly resonant with the frequency of a fully-allowed absorber transition that effectively represents the first step in the two-photon transition, and (2) an effective column density approximately 10(sup18)/sq cm of the absorber is present near the Stromgren sphere radius, R(sub s).

The Effect of a Leadership Development Course on Student Members of a Coeducational Greek-Letter Service Fraternity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stewart, Jamie C.

2017-01-01

This study involved a one group pretest-posttest study to analyze the effectiveness of the Alpha Phi Omega leadership development course titled SERVE. This study focused on the collegiate members of this coeducational service fraternity. The Student Leadership Practices Inventory was administered as both a pretest and posttest; the posttest was…

77 FR 5100 - Certain New Chemicals; Receipt and Status Information

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-01

... manufacture of new chemicals. Under TSCA sections 5(d)(2) and 5(d)(3), EPA is required to publish in the...: http://ww.epa.gov/opt/newchems . Under TSCA sections 5(d)(2) and 5(d)(3), EPA is required to publish in... CBI (G) Sizing for (G) Carboxylic glass fibre. acid, polymer with .alpha.- hydro-.omega.- hydroxypoly...

75 FR 27443 - [alpha]-[p-(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl)phenyl]-[omega]- hydroxypoly(oxyethylene); Time-Limited...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-17

... infants and children in the case of threshold effects to account for pre-natal and post-natal toxicity and... the choice of a different factor. 2. Pre-natal and post-natal sensitivity. In the case of octylphenol ethoxylate, there was no increased susceptibility to the offspring of rats following pre-natal and post-natal...

The 3D model: explaining densification and deformation mechanisms by using 3D parameter plots.

PubMed

Picker, Katharina M

2004-04-01

The aim of the study was to analyze very differently deforming materials using 3D parameter plots and consequently to gain deeper insights into the densification and deformation process described with the 3D model in order to define an ideal tableting excipient. The excipients used were dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD), sodium chloride (NaCl), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), xylitol, mannitol, alpha-lactose monohydrate, maltose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC), cellulose acetate (CAC), maize starch, potato starch, pregelatinized starch, and maltodextrine. All of the materials were tableted to graded maximum relative densities (rhorel, max) using an eccentric tableting machine. The data which resulted, namely force, displacement, and time, were analyzed by the application of 3D modeling. Different particle size fractions of DCPD, CAC, and MCC were analyzed in addition. Brittle deforming materials such as DCPD exhibited a completely different 3D parameter plot, with low time plasticity, d, and low pressure plasticity, e, and a strong decrease in omega values when densification increased, in contrast to the plastically deforming MCC, which had much higher d, e, and omega values. e and omega values changed only slightly when densification increased for MCC. NaCl showed less of a decrease in omega values than DCPD did, and the d and e values were between those of MCC and DCPD. The sugar alcohols, xylitol and mannitol, behaved in a similar fashion to sodium chloride. This is also valid for the crystalline sugars, alpha-lactose monohydrate, and maltose. However, the sugars are more brittle than the sugar alcohols. The cellulose derivatives, HPMC, NaCMC, and CAC, are as plastic as MCC, however, their elasticity depends on substitution indicated by lower (more elastic) or higher (less elastic) omega values. The native starches, maize starch and potato starch, are very elastic, and pregelatinized starch and maltodextrine are less elastic and exhibited higher omega values. Deformation behavior as shown in 3D parameter plots depends on particle size for polymers such as CAC and MCC; however, it does not depend on particle size for brittle materials such as DCPD. An ideally deforming tableting excipient should exhibit high e, d, and omega values with a constant ratio of e and omega at increasing densification.

Efficacy of Omega Fatty Acid Supplementation on mRNA Expression Level of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Patients with Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

PubMed

Hosseinzadeh, Asghar; Ardebili, Seyed Mojtaba Mohaddes

2016-09-01

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a multifunctional cytokine, is involved in apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell survival, and inflammation. It plays a dual role in cancer development and progression. It has been revealed that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) modulate the production and activity of TNF family cytokines. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of PUFAs on messenger RNA expression levels of TNF-α in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Thirty-four chemotherapy-naive patients diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma were randomly divided into two groups. The first group (17 individuals) received cisplatin without supplements and the second group (17 individuals) received cisplatin plus orally administered PUFA supplements for 3 weeks, based on treatment strategies. The gastric biopsy samples were obtained from all participants before and after treatment, and TNF-α mRNA expression levels were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR procedure. Our findings revealed that TNF-α mRNA expression is downregulated in group II, after receiving cisplatin and omega fatty acid supplement for 3 weeks. However, this difference is not statistically significant (p > 0.05). TNF-α mRNA expression did not show significant alteration in group I, after receiving cisplatin alone. Taken together, we concluded that omega fatty acids reduce TNF-α expression at the mRNA level in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. These data suggest that TNF-α may act as a potential target for the therapy of human gastric adenocarcinoma.

Arzanol, an anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV-1 phloroglucinol alpha-Pyrone from Helichrysum italicum ssp. microphyllum.

PubMed

Appendino, Giovanni; Ottino, Michela; Marquez, Nieves; Bianchi, Federica; Giana, Anna; Ballero, Mauro; Sterner, Olov; Fiebich, Bernd L; Munoz, Eduardo

2007-04-01

An acetone extract of Helichrysum italicum ssp. microphyllum afforded the phloroglucinol alpha-pyrone arzanol (1a) as a potent NF-kappaB inhibitor. Arzanol is identical with homoarenol (2a), whose structure should be revised. The phloroglucinol-type structure of arzanol and the 1,2,4-trihydroxyphenyl-type structure of the base-induced fragmentation product of homoarenol could be reconciled in light of a retro-Fries-type fragmentation that triggers a change of the hydroxylation pattern of the aromatic moiety. On the basis of these findings, the structure of arenol, the major constituent of the clinically useful antibiotic arenarin, should be revised from 2b to 1b, solving a long-standing puzzle over its biogenetic derivation. An alpha-pyrone (micropyrone, 7), the monoterpene rac-E-omega-oleoyloxylinalol (10), four known tremetones (9a-d), and the dimeric pyrone helipyrone (8) were also obtained. Arzanol inhibited HIV-1 replication in T cells and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated primary monocytes, qualifying as a novel plant-derived anti-inflammatory and antiviral chemotype worth further investigation.

Differences in omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption in people at ultra-high risk of psychosis, first-episode schizophrenia, and in healthy controls.

PubMed

Pawełczyk, Tomasz; Trafalska, Elżbieta; Pawełczyk, Agnieszka; Kotlicka-Antczak, Magdalena

2017-12-01

Supplementation with omega-3 PUFA showed efficacy in reducing the risk of transition into psychosis in UHR individuals. It is uncertain whether dietary patterns can be partly responsible for n-3 deficiencies observed in susceptible participants before the diagnosis of schizophrenia. The study was designed to assess differences in omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA consumption in healthy controls (HC), UHR participants and FES patients as well as to verify the hypothesis that dietary changes in PUFA consumption are present before active psychosis develops, that is, in UHR individuals. Dietary habits during the previous year were assessed in 34 patients at UHR of psychosis, 33 patients diagnosed with FES and 33 HC participants using a validated Food-Frequency Questionnaire and the Polish Food Composition Tables. Significant differences in omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA intake were observed between study groups. UHR and FES groups reported significantly higher consumption of omega-6 PUFA in comparison with HC. FES patients also reported a higher consumption of alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) in comparison with HC. No significant differences were seen in consumption of long-chain marine PUFA. Differences in omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA consumption exist before development of psychotic symptoms, fulfilling the criteria of schizophrenia. © 2015 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

A liberal arts education as preparation for medical school: how is it valued? How do graduates perform?

PubMed

Stratton, Terry D; Elam, Carol L; McGrath, Michael G

2003-10-01

This study examines the utility of a liberal arts education on medical students' preparation and performance. Data included a survey of admission committee members, a preadmission survey of two cohorts of students, and academic performance and extracurricular involvement during medical school. Some admission committee members perceived applicants with liberal arts backgrounds to have certain advantages. These students preferred "discussing issues," and showed an initial preference for the practice of psychiatry. Despite entering with lower total grade-point average and being less involved in extracurricular activities, they were more likely to receive formal commendation and be elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. Although similarities outweigh differences, students with liberal arts backgrounds may benefit from an educational breadth well-suited for practicing the "art of medicine."

The Universe at Moderate Redshift

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cen, Renyue; Ostriker, Jeremiah P.

1997-01-01

The report covers the work done in the past year and a wide range of fields including properties of clusters of galaxies; topological properties of galaxy distributions in terms of galaxy types; patterns of gravitational nonlinear clustering process; development of a ray tracing algorithm to study the gravitational lensing phenomenon by galaxies, clusters and large-scale structure, one of whose applications being the effects of weak gravitational lensing by large-scale structure on the determination of q(0); the origin of magnetic fields on the galactic and cluster scales; the topological properties of Ly(alpha) clouds the Ly(alpha) optical depth distribution; clustering properties of Ly(alpha) clouds; and a determination (lower bound) of Omega(b) based on the observed Ly(alpha) forest flux distribution. In the coming year, we plan to continue the investigation of Ly(alpha) clouds using larger dynamic range (about a factor of two) and better simulations (with more input physics included) than what we have now. We will study the properties of galaxies on 1 - 100h(sup -1) Mpc scales using our state-of-the-art large scale galaxy formation simulations of various cosmological models, which will have a resolution about a factor of 5 (in each dimension) better than our current, best simulations. We will plan to study the properties of X-ray clusters using unprecedented, very high dynamic range (20,000) simulations which will enable us to resolve the cores of clusters while keeping the simulation volume sufficiently large to ensure a statistically fair sample of the objects of interest. The details of the last year's works are now described.

Effects of Test Level Discrimination and Difficulty on Answer-Copying Indices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sunbul, Onder; Yormaz, Seha

2018-01-01

In this study Type I Error and the power rates of omega (?) and GBT (generalized binomial test) indices were investigated for several nominal alpha levels and for 40 and 80-item test lengths with 10,000-examinee sample size under several test level restrictions. As a result, Type I error rates of both indices were found to be below the acceptable…

Let My Country Awake. The Human Role in Development: Thoughts on the Next Ten Years.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adiseshiah, Malcolm S.

This book is divided into four parts: (1) Development and the minds of men, (2) Development: alpha and omega, (3) The cross-roads, and (4) Unesco at work: three places, three functions and a state of mind. Development theory and practice involves evaluation and judgment on the good society, on the good life for men and nations. In its broadest…

A Study to Investigate the Relationship between Locus of Control and Academic Achievement of Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gujjar, Aijaz Ahmed; Aijaz, Rukhma

2014-01-01

Motivation is regarded as the alpha and omega of learning. It is the heart of teaching learning process. Motivation is defined as an internal state that arouses, directs, and maintains the behavior over time. Thus motivation is the pivotal component of learning and locus of control which is one of the important factors it stems from. Locus of…

No blackhole and no atomic bomb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Philip

2011-11-01

Title: c=c(1+1=2) The light speed 1+1=2. So we count the number by step by step for one point. When we count the number by one point, we use the number written on the paper. This means this is not number, but the graph and line. The light speed is the truth in physics. I can prove it by number. 10%=0.1 As %=kg So 10kg=0.1 kg=1/10 x 1/10 kg=1/100 And 100%=1 So kg=100%/100 kg=% So 1kg=1%=1/100 E=mc^2 So cx kgx m^2/sec^2= 1kgx cx m^2/sec^2 cx 1/100x m^2/sec^2= 1/100x cx m^2/sec^2 So c/100=c/100 So c=c And c is the truth never changed. Title: By faith, no blackhole As to be, we glory to God and that is basic theology for christian. And I want to say that BE means just thinking. There is no clue of nature and no proposition to prove it. I just believe by feeling and emotion. I trust that it can be the physic really. There are only human beings and there is no idol that is different existence from human beings, that is true to be. So the nature we see is zero and we, human beings make the zero nature as from no start and no ending. No alpha and omega mean we are idol and that there is no blackhole. Blackhole means the block is existing in the nothing(as we are no alpha and no omega). So the block cannot be existence. So if there is blackhole, then there must be the wall to block me and never walk again. The big bang and evolution mean they are no alpha and no omega and existing by themselves. So they could be existence, but big bang and evolution are just logical fact to be. We need faith as God give us the direction into our spirit.

Anger induced by interferon-alpha is moderated by ratio of arachidonic acid to omega-3 fatty acids.

PubMed

Lotrich, Francis E; Sears, Barry; McNamara, Robert K

2013-11-01

Anger worsens in some patients during interferon-alpha (IFN-α) therapy. Elevated anger has also been associated with lower long-chain omega-3 (LCn-3) fatty acid levels. We examined whether fatty acids could influence vulnerability to anger during IFN-α exposure. Plasma arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels were determined prior to IFN-α therapy by mass spectroscopy. Repeated-measure analyses examined the relationship between AA/EPA+DHA and the subsequent development of labile anger and irritability in 82 subjects who prospectively completed the Anger, Irritability, and Assault Questionnaire (AIAQ) during the first eight weeks of IFN-α therapy. Prior to IFN-α therapy, AA/EPA+DHA did not correlate with either labile anger or irritability. Pre-treatment AA/EPA+DHA did correlate with the subsequent maximal increase in labile anger during IFN-α therapy (r=0.33; p=0.005). Over time, labile anger increased more in subjects with above median AA/EPA+DHA ratios (p<0.05). Of the 17 subjects ultimately requiring psychiatric intervention for anger, 14/17 had above-median AA/EPA+DHA ratios (p=0.009). There was also an interaction with the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) promoter polymorphism (A-308G), such that only those with both elevated AA/EPA+DHA and the A allele had increased labile anger (p=0.001). In an additional 18 subjects, we conversely observed that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment was associated with increased irritability during IFN-α therapy. LCn-3 fatty acid status may influence anger development during exposure to elevated inflammatory cytokines, and may interact with genetic risk for increased brain TNF-α. LCn-3 supplements may be one strategy for minimizing this adverse side effect of IFN-α. © 2013.

All-Sky Observational Evidence for An Inverse Correlation Between Dust Temperature and Emissivity Spectral Index

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liang, Z.; Fixsen, D. J.; Gold, B.

2012-01-01

We show that a one-component variable-emissivity-spectral-index model (the free- model) provides more physically motivated estimates of dust temperature at the Galactic polar caps than one- or two-component fixed-emissivity-spectral-index models (fixed- models) for interstellar dust thermal emission at far-infrared and millimeter wavelengths. For the comparison we have fit all-sky one-component dust models with fixed or variable emissivity spectral index to a new and improved version of the 210-channel dust spectra from the COBE-FIRAS, the 100-240 micrometer maps from the COBE-DIRBE and the 94 GHz dust map from the WMAP. The best model, the free-alpha model, is well constrained by data at 60-3000 GHz over 86 per cent of the total sky area. It predicts dust temperature (T(sub dust)) to be 13.7-22.7 (plus or minus 1.3) K, the emissivity spectral index (alpha) to be 1.2-3.1 (plus or minus 0.3) and the optical depth (tau) to range 0.6-46 x 10(exp -5) with a 23 per cent uncertainty. Using these estimates, we present all-sky evidence for an inverse correlation between the emissivity spectral index and dust temperature, which fits the relation alpha = 1/(delta + omega (raised dot) T(sub dust) with delta = -.0.510 plus or minus 0.011 and omega = 0.059 plus or minus 0.001. This best model will be useful to cosmic microwave background experiments for removing foreground dust contamination and it can serve as an all-sky extended-frequency reference for future higher resolution dust models.

Theoretical Study of the Transverse Dielectric Constant of Superlattices and Their Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kahen, Keith Brian

The optical properties of III-V binary and ternary compounds and GaAs-Al(,x)Ga(,1-x)As superlattices are determined by calculating the real and imaginary parts of the transverse dielectric constant, (epsilon)((omega)) = (epsilon)(,1)((omega)) + i(epsilon)(,2)((omega)). Emphasis is given to determining the influence of different material and superlattice (layer thickness and Al composi- tion) parameters on the values of the index of refraction. (eta)((omega)) and absorption coefficient, (alpha)((omega)). In order to calculate the optical properties of a material, it is necessary to compute its electronic band structure. We accomplish this by introducing a partition band structure approach based on a combination of the (')k(.)(')p and nonlocal pseudopotential techniques. In this approach the bulk Brillouin zone is partitioned into the (GAMMA), X, and L regions by performing (')k(.)(')p expansions about these three symmetry points. The results for (eta)((omega)) and (alpha)((omega)) of bulk III-V compounds com- pare well with other one-electron band structure models, and our calculations show that for small frequencies, the index of refraction is determined mainly by the contributions of the outer regions of the Brillouin zone. The effects of alloy scattering are incorporated into the model using a perturbative CPA approach which only includes the influence of compositional disorder. The results for the disorder-induced, (GAMMA) point, energy -gap bowings are shown to be nearly comparable to those calculated using more sophisticated CPA approaches. Further - more, the calculated absorption coefficient of Al(,x)Ga(,1 -x)As is found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. The model is extended to heterostructures by using the envelope-function approximation. Valence-band mixing and (GAMMA)-region exciton effects are also included in the model. Our results show that the anisotropy and structure dependence of the refractive index of superlattices result mainly from the contribution of the (GAMMA) region, while the contributions of the outer regions of the zone are rather insensitive to the superlattice structure. The superlattice index of refraction values is determined to attain maxima at the various (GAMMA)-region, quantized, transition energies, where for certain structures the difference between the refractive indices of the superlattice and its corresponding Al(,x)Ga(,1-x)As alloy can be as large as 2%. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).

Dietary omega-3 PUFA and health: stearidonic acid-containing seed oils as effective and sustainable alternatives to traditional marine oils.

PubMed

Surette, Marc E

2013-05-01

The daily consumption of dietary omega-3 PUFA is recommended by governmental agencies in several countries and by a number of health organizations. The molecular mechanisms by which these dietary PUFA affect health involve the enrichment of cellular membranes with long-chain 20- and 22-carbon omega-3 PUFA that impacts tissues by altering membrane protein functions, cell signaling, and gene expression profiles. These changes are recognized to have health benefits in humans, especially relating to cardiovascular outcomes. Cellular membrane enrichment and health benefits are associated with the consumption of long-chain omega-3 PUFA found in marine oils, but are not generally linked with the consumption of alpha-linolenic acid, the 18-carbon omega-3 PUFA found in plant seed oils. However, the supply of omega-3 PUFA from marine sources is limited and may not be sustainable. New plant-derived sources of omega-3 PUFA like stearidonic acid-soy oil from genetically modified soybeans and Ahiflower oil from Buglossoides arvensis seeds that are enriched in the 18-carbon omega-3 PUFA stearidonic acid are being developed and show promise to become effective as well as sustainable sources of omega-3 PUFA. An example of changes in tissue lipid profiles associated with the consumption of Ahiflower oil is presented in a mouse feeding study. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Normal families and value distribution in connection with composite functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clifford, E. F.

2005-12-01

We prove a value distribution result which has several interesting corollaries. Let , let and let f be a transcendental entire function with order less than 1/2. Then for every nonconstant entire function g, we have that (f[circle, open]g)(k)-[alpha] has infinitely many zeros. This result also holds when k=1, for every transcendental entire function g. We also prove the following result for normal families. Let , let f be a transcendental entire function with [rho](f)<1/k, and let a0,...,ak-1,a be analytic functions in a domain [Omega]. Then the family of analytic functions g such that in [Omega], is a normal family.

Nutrition and the brain.

PubMed

Morley, John E

2010-02-01

Severe nutritional deficiencies, such as protein energy malnutrition and deficiency of nicotinamide, vitamin B(12), folate, and thiamine, have long been recognized to cause severe confusion. Lesser vitamin deficiencies have been linked to the pathogenesis of delirium. Hypo- and hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia can cause cognitive deficits. Epidemiologic and animal studies have linked several other nutrients (omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, alpha-lipoic acid, and the Mediterranean diet) to cognitive performance and the prevention of dementia.

Impurities block the alpha to omega martensitic transformation in titanium.

PubMed

Hennig, Richard G; Trinkle, Dallas R; Bouchet, Johann; Srinivasan, Srivilliputhur G; Albers, Robert C; Wilkins, John W

2005-02-01

Impurities control phase stability and phase transformations in natural and man-made materials, from shape-memory alloys to steel to planetary cores. Experiments and empirical databases are still central to tuning the impurity effects. What is missing is a broad theoretical underpinning. Consider, for example, the titanium martensitic transformations: diffusionless structural transformations proceeding near the speed of sound. Pure titanium transforms from ductile alpha to brittle omega at 9 GPa, creating serious technological problems for beta-stabilized titanium alloys. Impurities in the titanium alloys A-70 and Ti-6Al-4V (wt%) suppress the transformation up to at least 35 GPa, increasing their technological utility as lightweight materials in aerospace applications. These and other empirical discoveries in technological materials call for broad theoretical understanding. Impurities pose two theoretical challenges: the effect on the relative phase stability, and the energy barrier of the transformation. Ab initio methods calculate both changes due to impurities. We show that interstitial oxygen, nitrogen and carbon retard the transformation whereas substitutional aluminium and vanadium influence the transformation by changing the d-electron concentration. The resulting microscopic picture explains the suppression of the transformation in commercial A-70 and Ti-6Al-4V alloys. In general, the effect of impurities on relative energies and energy barriers is central to understanding structural phase transformations.

Intergalactic Hydrogen Clouds at Low Redshift: Connections to Voids and Dwarf Galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shull, J. Michael; Stocke, John T.; Penton, Steve

1996-01-01

We provide new post-COSTAR data on one sightline (Mrk 421) and updated data from another (I Zw 1) from our Hubble Space Telescope (HST) survey of intergalactic Ly(alpha) clouds located along sightlines to four bright quasars passing through well-mapped galaxy voids (16000 km/s pathlength) and superclusters (18000 km/s). We report two more definite detections of low-redshift Ly(alpha) clouds in voids: one at 3047 km/s (heliocentric) toward Mrk 421 and a second just beyond the Local Supercluster at 2861 km/s toward I Zw 1, confirming our earlier discovery of Ly(alpha) absorption clouds in voids (Stocke et al., ApJ, 451, 24). We have now identified ten definite and one probable low-redshift neutral hydrogen absorption clouds toward four targets, a frequency of approximately one absorber every 3400 km/s above 10(exp 12.7/sq cm column density. Of these ten absorption systems, three lie within voids; the probable absorber also lies in a void. Thus, the tendency of Ly(alpha) absorbers to 'avoid the voids' is not as clear as we found previously. If the Ly(alpha) clouds are approximated as homogeneous spheres of 100 kpc radius, their masses are approximately 10(exp 9)solar mass (about 0.01 times that of bright L* galaxies) and they are 40 times more numerous, comparable to the density of dwarf galaxies and of low-mass halos in numerical CDM simulations. The Ly(alpha) clouds contribute a fraction Omega(sub cl)approximately equals 0.003/h(sub 75) to the closure density of the universe, comparable to that of luminous matter. These clouds probably require a substantial amount of nonbaryonic dark matter for gravitational binding. They may represent extended haloes of low-mass protogalaxies which have not experienced significant star formation or low-mass dwarf galaxies whose star formation ceased long ago, but blew out significant gaseous material.

Alpha lipoic acid in obstetrics and gynecology.

PubMed

Di Tucci, Chiara; Di Feliciantonio, Mara; Vena, Flaminia; Capone, Carmela; Schiavi, Michele Carlo; Pietrangeli, Daniela; Muzii, Ludovico; Benedetti Panici, Pierluigi

2018-05-04

Alpha-Lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural antioxidant synthetized by plants and animals, identified as a catalytic agent for oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate and α-ketoglutarate. In this review, we analyzed the action of ALA in gynecology and obstetrics focusing in particular on neuropathic pain and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed and Cochrane Library for retrieving articles in English language on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ALA in gynecological and obstetrical conditions. ALA reduces oxidative stress and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The association of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), and bromelain (Br) is used for prevention and treatment of endometriosis. In association with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) with amitriptyline is used for treatment of vestibulodynia/painful bladder syndrome (VBD/PBS). A promising area of research is ALA supplementation in patients with threatened miscarriage to improve the subchorionic hematoma resorption. Furthermore, ALA could be used in prevention of diabetic embryopathy and premature rupture of fetal membranes induced by inflamation. In conclusion, ALA can be safely used for treatment of neuropatic pain and as a dietary support during pregnancy.

Functional and Database Architecture Design.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-26

I AD-At3.N 275 FUNCTIONAL AND D ATABASE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN (U) ALPHA / OMEGA GROUP INC HARVARD MA 26 SEP 83 NODS 4-83-C 0525 UNCLASSIFIED FG52 N EE...0525 REPORT AOO1 FUNCTIONAL AND DATABASE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN Submitted to: Office of Naval Research Department of the Navy 800 N. Quincy Street...ZNTIS GRA& I DTIC TAB Unannounced 0 Justification REPORT ON Distribution/ Availability Codes Avail and/or FUNCTIONAL AND DATABASE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN Dist

Pitched and Yawed Circular Jets in Cross-Flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Milanovic, Ivana M.; Zaman, K. B. M. Q.; Reddy, D. R. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Results from an experimental investigation of flow field generated by pitched and yawed jets discharging from a flat plate into a cross-flow are presented. The circular jet was pitched at alpha = 20 degrees and 45 degrees and yawed between beta = 0 degrees and 90 degrees in increments of 15 degrees. The measurements were performed with two X-wires providing all three components of velocity and turbulence intensity. These data were obtained at downstream locations of x = 3, 5, 10 and 20, where the distance x normalized by the jet diameter, is measured from the center of the orifice. Data for all configurations were acquired at a momentum-flux ratio J = 8. Additionally, for selected angles and locations, surveys were conducted for J = 1.5, 4, and 20. As expected, the jet penetration is found to be higher at larger alpha. With increasing beta the jet spreads more. The rate of reduction of peak streamwise vorticity, with the downstream distance is significantly lessened at higher alpha but is found to be practically independent of alpha. Thus, at the farthest measurement station x = 20, omega(sub xmax) is about five times larger for beta = 0 degrees compared to the levels at beta = 0 degrees. Streamwise velocity within the jet-vortex structure is found to depend on the parameter J. At J = 1.5 and 4, 'wake-like' velocity profiles are observed. In comparison, a 'jet-like' overshoot is present at higher J.

Exploring the measurement properties of the osteopathy clinical teaching questionnaire using Rasch analysis.

PubMed

Vaughan, Brett

2018-01-01

Clinical teaching evaluations are common in health profession education programs to ensure students are receiving a quality clinical education experience. Questionnaires students use to evaluate their clinical teachers have been developed in professions such as medicine and nursing. The development of a questionnaire that is specifically for the osteopathy on-campus, student-led clinic environment is warranted. Previous work developed the 30-item Osteopathy Clinical Teaching Questionnaire. The current study utilised Rasch analysis to investigate the construct validity of the Osteopathy Clinical Teaching Questionnaire and provide evidence for the validity argument through fit to the Rasch model. Senior osteopathy students at four institutions in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom rated their clinical teachers using the Osteopathy Clinical Teaching Questionnaire. Three hundred and ninety-nine valid responses were received and the data were evaluated for fit to the Rasch model. Reliability estimations (Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega) were also evaluated for the final model. The initial analysis demonstrated the data did not fit the Rasch model. Accordingly, modifications to the questionnaire were made including removing items, removing person responses, and rescoring one item. The final model contained 12 items and fit to the Rasch model was adequate. Support for unidimensionality was demonstrated through both the Principal Components Analysis/t-test, and the Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega reliability estimates. Analysis of the questionnaire using McDonald's omega hierarchical supported a general factor (quality of clinical teaching in osteopathy). The evidence for unidimensionality and the presence of a general factor support the calculation of a total score for the questionnaire as a sufficient statistic. Further work is now required to investigate the reliability of the 12-item Osteopathy Clinical Teaching Questionnaire to provide evidence for the validity argument.

Biofortification of safflower: an oil seed crop engineered for ALA-targeting better sustainability and plant based omega-3 fatty acids.

PubMed

Rani, Arti; Panwar, Asha; Sathe, Manjary; Chandrashekhara, Karunakara Alageri; Kush, Anil

2018-05-11

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) deficiency and a skewed n6:n3 fatty acid ratio in the diet is a major explanation for the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. There is mounting evidence of the health benefits associated with omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA's). Although present in abundance in fish, a number of factors limit our consumption of fish based omega-3 PUFA's. To name a few, overexploitation of wild fish stocks has reduced their sustainability due to increased demand of aquaculture for fish oil and meal; the pollution of marine food webs has raised concerns over the ingestion of toxic substances such as heavy metals and dioxins; vegetarians do not consider fish-based sources for supplemental nutrition. Thus alternative sources are being sought and one approach to the sustainable supply of LC-PUFAs is the metabolic engineering of transgenic plants with the capacity to synthesize n3 LC-PUFAs. The present investigation was carried out with the goal of developing transgenic safflower capable of producing pharmaceutically important alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3, n3). This crop was selected as the seeds accumulate ~ 78% of the total fatty acids as linoleic acid (LA, C18:2, n6), the immediate precursor of ALA. In the present work, ALA production was achieved successfully in safflower seeds by transforming safflower hypocotyls with Arabidopsis specific delta 15 desaturase (FAD3) driven by truncated seed specific promoter. Transgenic safflower fortified with ALA is not only potentially valuable nutritional superior novel oil but also has reduced ratio of LA to ALA which is required for good health.

Dietary intake and food sources of fatty acids in Australian adolescents.

PubMed

O'Sullivan, Therese A; Ambrosini, Gina; Beilin, Lawrie J; Mori, Trevor A; Oddy, Wendy H

2011-02-01

Dietary fat consumed during childhood and adolescence may be related to the development of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases in adulthood; however, there is a lack of information on specific fatty acid intakes and food sources in these populations. Our study aimed to assess fatty acid intakes in Australian adolescents, compare intakes with national guidelines, and identify major food sources of fatty acids. Dietary intake was assessed using measured 3-d records in 822 adolescents aged 13-15 y participating in The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study, Australia. Mean daily total fat intakes were 90 ± 25 g for boys and 73 ± 20 g for girls, with saturated fat contributing 14% of total energy intake. Mean contribution to daily energy intake for linoleic, alpha-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids were 3.0%, 0.40%, 0.02%, 0.01%, and 0.04%, respectively, for boys, and 3.3%, 0.42%, 0.02%, 0.01%, and 0.05% for girls. To meet guidelines for chronic disease prevention, consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in this population may need to increase up to three-fold and the proportion of saturated fat decrease by one-third. Girls were more likely to achieve the guidelines. Major food sources were dairy products for total fat, saturated fat and alpha-linolenic acid, margarines for linoleic acid, and fish for long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Results suggest that for this population, a higher dietary intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, particularly for boys, and lower proportion of saturated fat is required to meet recommendations for prevention of chronic disease. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evolution of Structure in the Intergalactic Medium and the Nature of the LY-Alpha Forest

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bi, Hongguang; Davidsen, Arthur F.

1997-01-01

We have performed a detailed statistical study of the evolution of structure in a photoionized intergalactic medium (IGM) using analytical simulations to extend the calculation into the mildly nonlinear density regime found to prevail at z = 3. Our work is based on a simple fundamental conjecture: that the probability distribution function of the density of baryonic diffuse matter in the universe is described by a lognormal (LN) random field. The LN distribution has several attractive features and follows plausibly from the assumption of initial linear Gaussian density and velocity fluctuations at arbitrarily early times. Starting with a suitably normalized power spectrum of primordial fluctuations in a universe dominated by cold dark matter (CDM), we compute the behavior of the baryonic matter, which moves slowly toward minima in the dark matter potential on scales larger than the Jeans length. We have computed two models that succeed in matching observations. One is a nonstandard CDM model with OMEGA = 1, h = 0.5, and GAMMA = 0.3, and the other is a low-density flat model with a cosmological constant (LCDM), with OMEGA = 0.4, OMEGA(sub LAMBDA) = 0.6, and h = 0.65. In both models, the variance of the density distribution function grows with time, reaching unity at about z = 4, where the simulation yields spectra that closely resemble the Ly-alpha forest absorption seen in the spectra of high-z quasars. The calculations also successfully predict the observed properties of the Ly-alpha forest clouds and their evolution from z = 4 down to at least z = 2, assuming a constant intensity for the metagalactic UV background over this redshift range. However, in our model the forest is not due to discrete clouds, but rather to fluctuations in a continuous intergalactic medium. At z = 3; typical clouds with measured neutral hydrogen column densities N(sub H I) = 10(exp 13.3), 10(exp 13.5), and 10(exp 11.5) /sq cm correspond to fluctuations with mean total densities approximately 10, 1, and 0.1 times the universal mean baryon density. Perhaps surprisingly, fluctuations whose amplitudes are less than or equal to the mean density still appear as "clouds" because in our model more than 70% of the volume of the IGM at z = 3 is filled with gas at densities below the mean value.

New RTM/RI Resins for the HSCT

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harris, Frank W.

1999-01-01

In the first portion of this work, 1,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluoro-1,2-bis[4-(dimethylhydroxysilyl)phenoxy]cyclobutane and 1,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluoro-1,2-bis[3-(dimethylhydroxysilyl)phenoxy]cyclobutane were prepared and homopolymerized to afford polymers with excellent thermal stability and Tgs of 27 C and -12 C, respectively. Despite the moderately high wt% of fluorin in the polymer structure (23.8%), these polymers had poor fuel resistance. In fact, swelling measurements indicate that these polymers had apparent solubility parameters of about 18.2 J (exp 1/2) m (exp -3/2) (toluene). Copolymerization of the disilanol monomers with fluorosilicone monomers afforded copolymers containing 20-30 wt% of the perfluorocyclobutane-containing structure displayed adequate fuel resistance, enhanced thermal stability, and a Tg low enough to meet the requirements of a High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) fuel tank sealant. In the second part of this work, trifluorovinylether-terminated oligomers were prepared and polymerized via cyclodimerization. Initially, an alpha, omega-silanol-terminated fluorosilicone was endcapped with trifluorovinylether end groups via a two-step synthetic sequence. The oligomer was thermally cyclodimerized to a polymer that displayed thermal stability similar to that of a fluorosilicone homopolymer. Second, 1,3-bis[4-trifluorovinyl(oxy)phenyl]-1,3-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)dimethyldisiloxane and 1,3-bis{3-trifluorovinyl(oxy)phenyl]-1,3-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)dimethyldisiloxane were prepared and cyclodimerized to afford polymers that contained pendant trifluoropropyl groups. The pendant trifluoropropyl groups did enhance solvent resistance in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, however, no improvement was observed in aromatic hydrocarbon solvents. These polymers also displayed excellent thermal stability. In the last part of this work, a series of monomers was prepared by the DCC-promoted esterification of 4-[trifluorovinyl(oxy)benzoic acid with alpha, omega-functionalized hydrogenated and partially fluorinated alcohols. The monomers were cyclodimerized to the corresponding polymers. The polymers that did not contain beta hydrogens displayed significantly higher thermal stability than the fully hydrogenated polymers. A commercially-available alpha,omega-hydroxy-terminated perfluoropolyether was then functionalized with 4-[trifluorovinyl(oxy)benzoylchloride. An attempt was made to polymerize the resulting oligomer via the cyclodimerization of the terminal trifluorovinylether moieties. Although the viscosity of the oligomer increased significantly during polymerization, Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) analysis revealed that the Tetrahydrofuran (THF) soluble portion of the polymer did not have high molecular weight.

Bioavailability of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids Added to a Variety of Sausages in Healthy Individuals

PubMed Central

Köhler, Anton; Heinrich, Johanna; von Schacky, Clemens

2017-01-01

A low Omega-3 Index (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in erythrocytes) is associated with cardiac, cerebral, and other health issues. Intake of EPA and DHA, but not of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), increases the Omega-3 Index. We investigated bioavailability, safety, palatability and tolerability of EPA and DHA in a novel source: a variety of sausages. We screened 96 healthy volunteers, and recruited 44 with an Omega-3 Index <5%. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a variety of sausages enriched with approximately 250 mg EPA and DHA per 80 g (n = 22) daily for 8 weeks, or matching placebo sausages (n = 22). All sausages contained approximately 250 mg ALA/80 g. In the verum group, the mean Omega-3 Index increased from 4.18 ± 0.54 to 5.72 ± 0.66% (p < 0.001), while it remained unchanged in the placebo group. While ALA levels increased only in the placebo group, DPA levels increased in both groups. Inter-individual variability in the response was large. The mean increase of the Omega-3 Index per intake of EPA and DHA we observed was higher than for other sources previously studied, indicating superior bioavailability. As increasing production of EPA and DHA is difficult, improvements of bioavailability can facilitate reaching the target range for the Omega-3 Index (8–11%). PMID:28629180

Bioavailability of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids Added to a Variety of Sausages in Healthy Individuals.

PubMed

Köhler, Anton; Heinrich, Johanna; von Schacky, Clemens

2017-06-19

A low Omega-3 Index (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in erythrocytes) is associated with cardiac, cerebral, and other health issues. Intake of EPA and DHA, but not of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), increases the Omega-3 Index. We investigated bioavailability, safety, palatability and tolerability of EPA and DHA in a novel source: a variety of sausages. We screened 96 healthy volunteers, and recruited 44 with an Omega-3 Index <5%. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a variety of sausages enriched with approximately 250 mg EPA and DHA per 80 g ( n = 22) daily for 8 weeks, or matching placebo sausages ( n = 22). All sausages contained approximately 250 mg ALA/80 g. In the verum group, the mean Omega-3 Index increased from 4.18 ± 0.54 to 5.72 ± 0.66% ( p < 0.001), while it remained unchanged in the placebo group. While ALA levels increased only in the placebo group, DPA levels increased in both groups. Inter-individual variability in the response was large. The mean increase of the Omega-3 Index per intake of EPA and DHA we observed was higher than for other sources previously studied, indicating superior bioavailability. As increasing production of EPA and DHA is difficult, improvements of bioavailability can facilitate reaching the target range for the Omega-3 Index (8-11%).

Fish Oil Supplementation and Fatty Acid Synthase Expression in the Prostate: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Addendum

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-07-01

controls, Menendez et al demonstrated that addition of omega-3 fatty acids (-3 FA), docosahexanoic acid ( DHA ), alpha- linolenic acid , and -6 FA, γ...AD_________________ Award Number: W81XWH-04-1-0296 TITLE: Fish Oil Supplementation and Fatty Acid ...COVERED 1 March 2010 – 30 June 2011 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER Fish Oil Supplementation and Fatty Acid Synthase Expression in the

Molecular beads on a charged molecular string

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Haizhen; Ferrell, Tyler A.; Asplund, Matthew C.; Dearden, David V.

2007-09-01

Complexes of [alpha],[omega]-alkyldiammonium cations [H3N+(CH2)nNH3+, n = 2-10] with the cyclic, hollow ligand cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) were characterized in the gas phase using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry with energy resolved sustained off-resonance irradiation (SORI) collision induced dissociation, in combination with HF/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-31G* computational methods. All the complexes have the diammonium cation threaded through the cavity of CB6. The modeled supramolecular geometries, the SORI energies required for dissociation of the complexes and for appearance of singly protonated diamine product ions, and the branching ratios for the various dissociation channels all suggest that the optimum [alpha],[omega]-alkyldiammonium chain length for binding CB6 in the gas phase occurs for n = 4. This contrasts with observed complex stability constants in aqueous formic acid, which are maximum for n = 6, reflecting solvent stabilization of the ammonium groups that is not possible in the gas phase. At the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory, the binding energy for the n = 4 complex with respect to dissociation to singly protonated butanediamine and protonated CB6 is 204 kJ mol-1. The n = 6 complex exhibits especially low dissociation thresholds, perhaps reflecting compression of the diammonium cation upon complexation with CB6, forming a loaded "molecular spring."

Purslane Weed (Portulaca oleracea): A Prospective Plant Source of Nutrition, Omega-3 Fatty Acid, and Antioxidant Attributes

PubMed Central

Uddin, Md. Kamal; Juraimi, Abdul Shukor; Hossain, Md Sabir; Nahar, Most. Altaf Un; Ali, Md. Eaqub; Rahman, M. M.

2014-01-01

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is an important plant naturally found as a weed in field crops and lawns. Purslane is widely distributed around the globe and is popular as a potherb in many areas of Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean region. This plant possesses mucilaginous substances which are of medicinal importance. It is a rich source of potassium (494 mg/100 g) followed by magnesium (68 mg/100 g) and calcium (65 mg/100 g) and possesses the potential to be used as vegetable source of omega-3 fatty acid. It is very good source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and gamma-linolenic acid (LNA, 18 : 3 w3) (4 mg/g fresh weight) of any green leafy vegetable. It contained the highest amount (22.2 mg and 130 mg per 100 g of fresh and dry weight, resp.) of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid (26.6 mg and 506 mg per 100 g of fresh and dry weight, resp.). The oxalate content of purslane leaves was reported as 671–869 mg/100 g fresh weight. The antioxidant content and nutritional value of purslane are important for human consumption. It revealed tremendous nutritional potential and has indicated the potential use of this herb for the future. PMID:24683365

Development and validation of the alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire Short Form (EQ-SF).

PubMed

Mezquita, Laura; Camacho, Laura; Suso-Ribera, Carlos; Ortet, Generós; Ibáñez, Manuel I

2018-01-15

Alcohol expectancies are proximal variables to alcohol use and misuse. In recent decades, different measures have been developed to assess this construct. One of the most frequently used and recommended instruments is the Expectancy Questionnaire (EQ; Leigh y Stacy, 1993). Our aim is to develop a short version of the EQ (EQ-SF) for suitable use in time-limited administrations. Two samples, adolescents (N = 514, 57.20% females) and adults (N = 548, 61.50% females), completed the EQ together with alcohol-use measures. Different item selection strategies were applied to select the 24 items. The EQ-SF structure was explored using confirmatory factor analysis, and measurement invariance was tested running a multi-group analysis comparing groups by sex and age. Reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha and omega coefficients. Concurrent validity was investigated with regression analyses. The EQ-SF showed acceptable between-groups measurement invariance. Alphas and omegas ranged from .77 to .93. Positive expectancies predicted both alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. Negative expectancies predicted alcohol-related problems. Sex and age moderated these associations. Males with high positive alcohol expectancies showed higher alcohol consumption than females, while adults with high negative alcohol expectancies showed greater alcohol-related problems than adolescents. Different evidence on the validity and reliability of the EQ-SF suggest that it is a suitable instrument to assess alcohol expectancies in the Spanish population.

Influence of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Status on the Way Rats Adapt to Chronic Restraint Stress

PubMed Central

Hennebelle, Marie; Balasse, Laure; Latour, Alizée; Champeil-Potokar, Gaelle; Denis, Stéphanie; Lavialle, Monique; Gisquet-Verrier, Pascale; Denis, Isabelle; Vancassel, Sylvie

2012-01-01

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for several neuronal and cognitive functions. Altered omega-3 fatty acid status has been implicated in reduced resistance to stress and mood disorders. We therefore evaluated the effects of repeated restraint stress (6 h/day for 21 days) on adult rats fed omega-3 deficient, control or omega-3 enriched diets from conception. We measured body weight, plasma corticosterone and hippocampus glucocorticoid receptors and correlated these data with emotional and depression-like behaviour assessed by their open-field (OF) activity, anxiety in the elevated-plus maze (EPM), the sucrose preference test and the startle response. We also determined their plasma and brain membrane lipid profiles by gas chromatography. Repeated restraint stress caused rats fed a control diet to lose weight. Their plasma corticosterone increased and they showed moderate behavioural changes, with increases only in grooming (OF test) and entries into the open arms (EPM). Rats fed the omega-3 enriched diet had a lower stress-induced weight loss and plasma corticosterone peak, and reduced grooming. Rats chronically lacking omega-3 fatty acid exhibited an increased startle response, a stress-induced decrease in locomotor activity and exaggerated grooming. The brain omega-3 fatty acids increased as the dietary omega-3 fatty acids increased; diets containing preformed long-chain omega-3 fatty acid were better than diets containing the precursor alpha-linolenic acid. However, the restraint stress reduced the amounts of omega-3 incorporated. These data showed that the response to chronic restraint stress was modulated by the omega-3 fatty acid supply, a dietary deficiency was deleterious while enrichment protecting against stress. PMID:22860066

Effect of an extendable slat on the stall behavior of a VR-12 airfoil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dehugues, P. Plantin; Mcalister, K. W.; Tung, C.

1993-01-01

Experimental and computational tests were performed on a VR-12 airfoil to determine if the dynamic-stall behavior that normally accompanies high-angle pitch oscillations could be modified by segmenting the forward portion of the airfoil and extending it ahead of the main element. In the extended position the configuration would appear as an airfoil with a leading-edge slat, and in the retracted position it would appear as a conventional VR-12 airfoil. The calculations were obtained from a numerical code that models the vorticity transport equation for an incompressible fluid. These results were compared with test data from the water tunnel facility of the Aeroflightdynamics Directorate at Ames Research Center. Steady and unsteady flows around both airfoils were examined at angles of attack between 0 and 30 deg. The Reynolds number was fixed at 200,000 and the unsteady pitch oscillations followed a sinusoidal motion described by alpha = alpha(sub m) + 10 deg sin(omega t). The mean angle (alpha(sub m)) was varied from 10 to 20 deg and the reduced frequency from 0.05 to 0.20. The results from the experiment and the calculations show that the extended-slat VR-12 airfoil experiences a delay in both static and dynamic stall not experienced by the basic VR-12 airfoil.

Suppression of Dynamic Stall by Steady and Pulsed Upper-Surface Blowing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weaver, D.; McAlister, K. W.; Tso, J.

1996-01-01

The Boeing-Vertol VR-7 airfoil was experimentally studied with steady and pulsed upper-surface blowing for sinusoidal pitching oscillations described by alpha = alpha(sub m) + 10 deg sin(omega t). The tests were conducted in the U.S. Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate's Water Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. The experiment was performed at a Reynolds number of 100,000. Pitch oscillations with alpha(sub m) = 10 deg and 15 deg and with reduced frequencies ranging from k = 0.005 to 0.15 were examined. Blowing conditions ranged from C(sub mu) = 0.03 to 0.66 and F(+) = 0 to 3. Unsteady lift, drag, and pitching-moment loads were measured, and fluorescent-dye flow visualizations were obtained. Steady, upper-surface blowing was found to be capable of trapping a separation bubble near the leading edge during a portion of the airfoil's upward rotation. When this occurred, the lift was increased significantly and stall was averted. In all cases, steady blowing reduced the hysteresis amplitudes present in the loads and produced a large thrust force. The benefits of steady blowing diminished as the reduced frequency and mean angle of oscillation increased. Pulsed blowing showed only marginal benefits for the conditions tested. The greatest gains from pulsed blowing were achieved at F(+) = 0.9.

Impact of redox agents on the extractability of gluten proteins during bread making.

PubMed

Lagrain, Bert; Thewissen, Bert G; Brijs, Kristof; Delcour, Jan A

2007-06-27

The gluten proteins gliadin and glutenin are important for dough and bread characteristics. In the present work, redox agents were used to impact gluten properties and to study gliadin-glutenin interactions in bread making. In control bread making, mixing increased the extractability of glutenin. The level of SDS-extractable glutenin decreased during fermentation and then further in the oven. The levels of extractable alpha- and gamma-gliadin also decreased during bread baking due to gliadin-glutenin polymerization. Neither oxidizing nor reducing agents had an impact on glutenin extractabilities after mixing. The redox additives did not affect omega-gliadin extractabilities during bread making due to their lack of cysteine residues. Potassium iodate (0.82-2.47 micromol/g of protein) and potassium bromate (1.07-3.17 micromol/g of protein) increased both alpha- and gamma-gliadin extractabilities during baking. Increasing concentrations of glutathione (1.15-3.45 micromol/g of protein) decreased levels of extractable alpha- and gamma-gliadins during baking. The work not only demonstrated that, during baking, glutenin and gliadin polymerize through heat-induced sulfhydryl-disulfide exchange reactions, but also demonstrated for the first time that oxidizing agents, besides their effect on dough rheology and hence bread volume, hinder gliadin-glutenin linking during baking, while glutathione increases the degree of covalent gliadin to glutenin linking.

Assignment of the sup 1 H and sup 15 N NMR spectra of Rhodobacter capsulatus ferrocytochrome c sub 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gooley, P.R.; Caffrey, M.S.; Cusanovich, M.A.

1990-03-06

The peptide resonances of the {sup 1}H and {sup 15}N nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of ferrocytochrome c{sub 2} from Rhodobacter capsulatus are sequentially assigned by a combination of 2D {sup 1}H-{sup 1}H and {sup 1}H-{sup 15}N spectroscopy, the latter performed on {sup 15}N-enriched protein. Short-range nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) data show {alpha}-helices from residues 3-17, 55-65, 69-88, and 103-115. Within the latter two {alpha}-helices, there are three single 3{sub 10} turns, 70-72, 76-78, and 107-109. In addition {alpha}H-NH{sub i+1} and {alpha}H-NH{sub i+2} NOEs indicate that the N-terminal helix (3-17) is distorted. Compared to horse or tuna cytochrome c and cytochromemore » c{sub 2} of Rhodospirillium rubrum, there is a 6-residue insertion at residues 23-29 in R. capsulatus cytochrome c{sub 2}. The NOE data show that this insertion forms a loop, probably an {Omega} loop. {sup 1}H-{sup 15}N heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation experiments are used to follow NH exchange over a period of 40 h. As the 2D spectra are acquired in short time periods (30 min), rates for intermediate exchanging protons can be measured. Comparison of the NH exchange data for the N-terminal helix of cytochrome c{sub 2} of R. capsulatus with the highly homologous horse heart cytochrome c shows that this helix is less stable in cytochrome c{sub 2}.« less

THE FIRST OBSERVATIONS OF LOW-REDSHIFT DAMPED Ly{alpha} SYSTEMS WITH THE COSMIC ORIGINS SPECTROGRAPH

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meiring, J. D.; Tripp, T. M.; Prochaska, J. X.

2011-05-01

We report on the first Cosmic Origins Spectrograph observations of damped Ly{alpha} systems (DLAs) and sub-damped Ly{alpha} systems (sub-DLAs) discovered in a new survey of the gaseous halos of low-redshift galaxies. From observations of 37 sightlines, we have discovered three DLAs and four sub-DLAs. We measure the neutral gas density {Omega}{sub HI}, and redshift density d N/d z, of DLA and sub-DLA systems at z < 0.35. We find d N/dz = 0.25{sup +0.24}-{sub 0.14} and {Omega}{sub HI} = 1.4{sup +1.3}{sub -0.7} x 10{sup -3} for DLAs, and d N/d z = 0.08{sup +0.19}{sub -0.06} with {Omega}{sub HI} = 4.2{supmore » +9.6}{sub -3.5} x 10{sup -5} for sub-DLAs over a redshift path {Delta}z = 11.9. To demonstrate the scientific potential of such systems, we present a detailed analysis of the DLA at z{sub abs} = 0.1140 in the spectrum of SDSS J1009+0713. Profile fits to the absorption lines determine log N(H I) = 20.68 {+-} 0.10 with a metallicity determined from the undepleted element sulfur of [S/H] = -0.62 {+-} 0.18. The abundance pattern of this DLA is similar to that of higher z DLAs, showing mild depletion of the refractory elements Fe and Ti with [S/Fe] = +0.24 {+-} 0.22 and [S/Ti] = +0.28 {+-} 0.15. Nitrogen is underabundant in this system with [N/H] = -1.40 {+-} 0.14, placing this DLA below the plateau of the [N/{alpha}] measurements in the local universe at similar metallicities. This DLA has a simple kinematic structure with only two components required to fit the profiles and a kinematic width of {Delta}v{sub 90} = 52 km s{sup -1}. Imaging of the QSO field with the Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 reveals a spiral galaxy at very small impact parameter to the QSO and several galaxies within 10'', or 20 comoving kpc at the redshift of the DLA. Follow-up spectra with the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer on the Keck telescope reveal that none of the nearby galaxies are at the redshift of the DLA. The spiral galaxy is identified as the host galaxy of the QSO based on the near perfect alignment of the nucleus and disk of the galaxy as well as spectra of an H II region showing emission lines at the QSO redshift. A small feature appears 0.''70 from the nucleus of the QSO after point-spread function subtraction, providing another candidate for the host galaxy of the DLA system. Even with these supporting data, we are unable to unambiguously identify the host galaxy of the DLA, exemplifying some of the difficulties in determining DLA hosts even at low redshift.« less

Penetration and screening of perpendicularly launched electromagnetic waves through bounded supercritical plasma confined in multicusp magnetic field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dey, Indranuj; Bhattacharjee, Sudeep

2011-02-15

The question of electromagnetic wave penetration and screening by a bounded supercritical ({omega}{sub p}>{omega} with {omega}{sub p} and {omega} being the electron-plasma and wave frequencies, respectively) plasma confined in a minimum B multicusp field, for waves launched in the k perpendicular B{sub o} mode, is addressed through experiments and numerical simulations. The scale length of radial plasma nonuniformity (|n{sub e}/({partial_derivative}n{sub e}/{partial_derivative}r)|) and magnetostatic field (B{sub o}) inhomogeneity (|B{sub o}/({partial_derivative}B{sub o}/{partial_derivative}r)|) are much smaller than the free space ({lambda}{sub o}) and guided wavelengths ({lambda}{sub g}). Contrary to predictions of plane wave dispersion theory and the Clemow-Mullaly-Allis (CMA) diagram, for a boundedmore » plasma a finite propagation occurs through the central plasma regions where {alpha}{sub p}{sup 2}={omega}{sub p}{sup 2}/{omega}{sup 2}{>=}1 and {beta}{sub c}{sup 2}={omega}{sub ce}{sup 2}/{omega}{sup 2}<<1({approx}10{sup -4}), with {omega}{sub ce} being the electron cyclotron frequency. Wave screening, as predicted by the plane wave model, does not remain valid due to phase mixing and superposition of reflected waves from the conducting boundary, leading to the formation of electromagnetic standing wave modes. The waves are found to satisfy a modified upper hybrid resonance (UHR) relation in the minimum B field and are damped at the local electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) location.« less

Bioavailability of omega-3 essential fatty acids from perilla seed oil.

PubMed

Kurowska, E M; Dresser, G K; Deutsch, L; Vachon, D; Khalil, W

2003-03-01

Increased dietary intake of fish oil omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentanoic acid and docosohexanoic acid, and their precursor, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), is associated with various health benefits. Enteric-coating (Entrox), which improves stability of omega-3 capsules, has been shown to facilitate fish oil absorption after chronic treatment. To assess the effect of Entrox coating on the short-term bioavailability of ALA administered in the form of ALA-rich Perilla seed oil, 12 healthy subjects (6 males and 6 females) received in a random order Entrox-coated and non-coated ALA formulations, each as a single 6g dose separated by a 3-week washout period. Measurements of plasma ALA concentrations from 0 to 24h showed no difference in ALA pharmacokinetics between the two formulations. However, significantly greater increases in plasma ALA levels from baseline to 24h were observed after ingestion of Entrox vs. non-coated product, suggesting a possible benefit of Entrox with long-term treatment.

On-wire lithography-generated molecule-based transport junctions: a new testbed for molecular electronics.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaodong; Jeon, You-Moon; Jang, Jae-Won; Qin, Lidong; Huo, Fengwei; Wei, Wei; Mirkin, Chad A

2008-07-02

On-wire lithography (OWL) fabricated nanogaps are used as a new testbed to construct molecular transport junctions (MTJs) through the assembly of thiolated molecular wires across a nanogap formed between two Au electrodes. In addition, we show that one can use OWL to rapidly characterize a MTJ and optimize gap size for two molecular wires of different dimensions. Finally, we have used this new testbed to identify unusual temperature-dependent transport mechanisms for alpha,omega-dithiol terminated oligo(phenylene ethynylene).

Practical aspects of monochromators developed for transmission electron microscopy

PubMed Central

Kimoto, Koji

2014-01-01

A few practical aspects of monochromators recently developed for transmission electron microscopy are briefly reviewed. The basic structures and properties of four monochromators, a single Wien filter monochromator, a double Wien filter monochromator, an omega-shaped electrostatic monochromator and an alpha-shaped magnetic monochromator, are outlined. The advantages and side effects of these monochromators in spectroscopy and imaging are pointed out. A few properties of the monochromators in imaging, such as spatial or angular chromaticity, are also discussed. PMID:25125333

Kinematic Dynamo In Turbulent Circumstellar Disks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stepinski, T.

1993-01-01

Many circumstellar disks associated with objects ranging from protoplanetary nebulae, to accretion disks around compact stars allow for the generation of magnetic fields by an (alpha)omega dynamo. We have applied kinematic dynamo formalism to geometrically thin accretion disks. We calculate, in the framework of an adiabatic approximation, the normal mode solutions for dynamos operating in disks around compact stars. We then describe the criteria for a viable dynamo in protoplanetary nebulae, and discuss the particular features that make accretion disk dynamos different from planetary, stellar, and galactic dynamos.

Schistosome egg antigens, including the glycoprotein IPSE/alpha-1, trigger the development of regulatory B cells

PubMed Central

Veninga, Henrike; van der Vlugt, Luciën E. P. M.; Voskamp, Astrid; Boon, Louis; Westerhof, Lotte B.; Smits, Hermelijn H.

2017-01-01

Infection with the helminth Schistosoma (S.) mansoni drives the development of interleukin (IL)-10-producing regulatory B (Breg) cells in mice and man, which have the capacity to reduce experimental allergic airway inflammation and are thus of high therapeutic interest. However, both the involved antigen and cellular mechanisms that drive Breg cell development remain to be elucidated. Therefore, we investigated whether S. mansoni soluble egg antigens (SEA) directly interact with B cells to enhance their regulatory potential, or act indirectly on B cells via SEA-modulated macrophage subsets. Intraperitoneal injections of S. mansoni eggs or SEA significantly upregulated IL-10 and CD86 expression by marginal zone B cells. Both B cells as well as macrophages of the splenic marginal zone efficiently bound SEA in vivo, but macrophages were dispensable for Breg cell induction as shown by macrophage depletion with clodronate liposomes. SEA was internalized into acidic cell compartments of B cells and induced a 3-fold increase of IL-10, which was dependent on endosomal acidification and was further enhanced by CD40 ligation. IPSE/alpha-1, one of the major antigens in SEA, was also capable of inducing IL-10 in naïve B cells, which was reproduced by tobacco plant-derived recombinant IPSE. Other major schistosomal antigens, omega-1 and kappa-5, had no effect. SEA depleted of IPSE/alpha-1 was still able to induce Breg cells indicating that SEA contains more Breg cell-inducing components. Importantly, SEA- and IPSE-induced Breg cells triggered regulatory T cell development in vitro. SEA and recombinant IPSE/alpha-1 also induced IL-10 production in human CD1d+ B cells. In conclusion, the mechanism of S. mansoni-induced Breg cell development involves a direct targeting of B cells by SEA components such as the secretory glycoprotein IPSE/alpha-1. PMID:28753651

Rapid molecular assessment of the bioturbation extent in sandy soil horizons under pine using ester-bound lipids by on-line thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Nierop, Klaas G J; Verstraten, Jacobus M

2004-01-01

Each plant species has a unique chemical composition, and also within a given plant the various tissues differ from one another in their chemistry. These different compositions can be traced back after decay of the plant parts when they are transformed into soil organic matter (SOM). As a result, the composition of SOM reflects not only the plant origin, but also the various tissues, and the composition consequently provides an estimate of the contribution of above-ground vs. below-ground litter. From the latter distribution the extent of bioturbation (mixing of above-ground litter with the mineral soil) can be assessed. Application of thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM) using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and subsequent analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) releases all typical cutin- and suberin-derived aliphatic monomers (mono-, di- and trihydroxyalkanoic acids, alpha,omega-alkanedioic acids) as their methyl esters and/or ethers in a rapid manner. Using the distribution of omega-hydroxyalkanoic acids that are present in pine needle cutin (C(12) and C(14)) and not in root suberin, and those that are present in roots but not in needles (C(20) and C(22)), the extent of bioturbation (mixing of above-ground plant litter with the mineral soil) can be assessed. Similarly, the (9,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid+9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadecanoic acid)/(C(20) + C(22) alpha,omega-alkanedioic acids) ratio reflects the degree of bioturbation. Three mineral soil profiles under Corsican pine with an A horizon that exhibited extensive bioturbation phenomena, and underlying C horizons with hardly any or no bioturbation, were investigated in order to examine the applicability of such an approach. It appeared that the A horizons contained all four mentioned omega-hydroxyalkanoic acids, while the C horizons contained virtually only the C(20) and C(22) members. The results not only suggest that bioturbation occurs in the A horizons, but also that possible illuviation or other transport mechanisms of omega-hydroxyalkanoic acids seem hardly ever or never to occur, which is a prerequisite for applying this biomarker approach in assessing degrees of bioturbation. Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Leukotriene B4 omega-hydroxylase in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Partial purification and identification as a cytochrome P-450.

PubMed

Shak, S; Goldstein, I M

1985-09-01

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) not only synthesize and respond to leukotriene B4 (LTB4), but also catabolize this mediator of inflammation rapidly and specifically by omega-oxidation. To characterize the enzyme(s) responsible for omega-oxidation of LTB4, human PMN were disrupted by sonication and subjected to differential centrifugation to yield membrane, granule, and cytosol fractions (identified by biochemical markers). LTB4 omega-hydroxylase activity was concentrated (together with NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity) only in the membrane fraction (specific activity increased 10-fold as compared to whole sonicates, 41% recovery). Negligible activity was detected in granule or cytosol fractions. LTB4 omega-hydroxylase activity in isolated PMN membranes was linear with respect to duration of incubation and protein concentration, was maximal at pH 7.4, had a Km for LTB4 of 0.6 microM, and was dependent on oxygen and on reduced pyridine nucleotides (apparent Km for NADPH = 0.5 microM; apparent Km for NADH = 223 microM). The LTB4 omega-hydroxylase was inhibited significantly by carbon monoxide, ferricytochrome c, SKF-525A, and Triton X-100, but was not affected by alpha-naphthoflavone, azide, cyanide, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Finally, isolated PMN membranes exhibited a carbon monoxide difference spectrum with a peak at 452 nm. Thus, we have partially purified the LTB4 omega-hydroxylase in human PMN and identified the enzyme as a membrane-associated, NADPH-dependent cytochrome P-450.

Association of Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Epileptic Seizure in Epileptic Patients: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Pourmasoumi, Makan; Vosoughi, Nooshin; Derakhshandeh-Rishehri, Seyedeh-Masoumeh; Assarroudi, Mostafa; Heidari-Beni, Motahar

2018-01-01

The evidence on the association between omega-3 consumption and epileptic seizure is inconsistent. Therefore, we have conducted this systematic review to clarify the possible relationship. Original articles were searched in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Ovid) and by reviewing the reference lists of retrieved articles. The main evaluated outcome was the epileptic seizures. We included the English language studies that reported the original data on the effect of omega-3 on epileptic human patients. We included the nine articles with 230 patients in the present systematic review. The mean ± standard deviation age of them was about 31.01 ± 14.99 years. The average of study duration was 22 ± 15.27 weeks. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements were defined as the sum of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (1100 mg/d); as the sum of EPA, DHA, and alpha-linolenic acid (5 g/d); and as the sum of EPA alone (565 mg/d) in different studies. Among the nine studies, four studies reported a significant positive association between omega-3 fatty acids and epileptic seizures. However, power and quality of these studies are low, and we cannot consider the beneficial effect of omega-3 on seizures. In addition, five studies did not reveal any significant effect. Majority of the included studies did not show a significant association between omega-3 and epileptic seizure in epileptic patients, but further studies are necessary. It is controversial whether omega-3 fatty acids can produce positive effects on epileptic patients or not.

Omega-3 fatty acids: new insights into the pharmacology and biology of docosahexaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid.

PubMed

Davidson, Michael H

2013-12-01

Fish oil contains a complex mixture of omega-3 fatty acids, which are predominantly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Each of these omega-3 fatty acids has distinct biological effects that may have variable clinical effects. In addition, plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids are affected not only by dietary intake, but also by the polymorphisms of coding genes fatty acid desaturase 1-3 for the desaturase enzymes that convert short-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids to long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The clinical significance of this new understanding regarding the complexity of omega-3 fatty acid biology is the purpose of this review. FADS polymorphisms that result in either lower levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids or higher levels of long-chain omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, are associated with dyslipidemia and other cardiovascular risk factors. EPA and DHA have differences in their effects on lipoprotein metabolism, in which EPA, with a more potent peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha effect, decreases hepatic lipogenesis, whereas DHA not only enhances VLDL lipolysis, resulting in greater conversion to LDL, but also increases HDL cholesterol and larger, more buoyant LDL particles. Overall, these results emphasize that blood concentrations of individual long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which reflect both dietary intake and metabolic influences, may have independent, but also complementary- biological effects and reinforce the need to potentially provide a complex mixture of omega-3 fatty acids to maximize cardiovascular risk reduction.

[Use of alpha-lipoic acid and omega-3 in postpartum pain treatment].

PubMed

Costantino, D; Guaraldi, C; Costantino, M; Bounous, V E

2015-10-01

Postpartum pain is a frequent condition that negatively affects women's quality of life, interferring with everyday life. Analgesic drugs and surgery are often contraindicated in pregnancy and during breast feeding. This review of the literature aims to evaluate the rational of the association of lipoic acid and omega-3 employ in the management of postpartum pain. Lipoic acid is a cofactor essential in mitochondrial metabolism with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Lipoic acid has been shown to be effective in neuropatic pain treatment in patients with sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetic neuropathy. Omega-3 are known for their anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic activity. The peripheral and central activity of both substances allows to act on neuroinflammation mechanisms thus reducing cronicization of pain and also determining a potential improvement of women's emotional status. The preliminary data here presented confirm the positive effect of this association on the treatment of postpartum perineal pain. The supplementation of lipoic acid in association with omega-3 seems effective and safe for the treatment of chronic postpartum pain, allowing a pathogenetic approach to neuroinflammation, thus reducing the consumption of analgesic drugs, often contraindicated during breast-feeding.

Differences in sheep and goats milk fatty acid profile between conventional and organic farming systems.

PubMed

Tsiplakou, Eleni; Kotrotsios, Vaios; Hadjigeorgiou, Ioannis; Zervas, George

2010-08-01

The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in chemical composition and particularly in fatty acid (FA) profile, with emphasis on cis-9, trans-11 CLA, of milk obtained from conventional and organic dairy sheep and goats farms under the farming conditions practiced in Greece. Four dairy sheep and four dairy goat farms, representing common conventional production systems and another four dairy sheep and four dairy goat farms, organically certified, representing organic production and feeding systems were selected from all over Greece. One hundred and sixty two individual milk samples were collected from those farms in January-February 2009, about three months after parturition. The milk samples were analyzed for their main chemical constituents and their FA profile. The results showed that the production system affected milk chemical composition: in particular fat content was lower in the organic sheep and goats milk compared with the corresponding conventional. Milk from organic sheep had higher content in MUFA, PUFA, alpha-LNA, cis-9, trans-11 CLA, and omega-3 FA, whereas in milk from organic goats alpha-LNA and omega-3 FA content was higher than that in conventional one. These differences are, mainly, attributed to different feeding practices used by the two production systems. The results of this study show that the organic milk produced under the farming conditions practiced in Greece has higher nutritional value, due to its FA profile, compared with the respective conventional milk.

[Omega-3 fatty acids, fish, fish oil and cardiovascular disease--a review with implications to Israeli nutritional guidelines].

PubMed

Eilat-Adar, Sigal; Lipovetzky, Nestor; Goldbourt, Uri; Henkin, Yaakov

2004-08-01

Evidence from epidemiological and randomized controlled trials shows beneficial effects of omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids from fish and plant sources on cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially in patients with preexisting CVD. The optimal dose of n-3 is not yet determined, but prospective secondary prevention studies suggest that the addition of 0.5-1.8 grams/day of marine-derived eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, or plant derived alpha-linolenic acid at a dose of 1.5-3 grams/day significantly reduce subsequent cardiac events and mortality. These data have led the American Heart Association Dietary Guidelines committee to recommend to the general population the consumption of at least two servings of fatty fish per week, in addition to vegetable oils high in alpha-linolenic acid. The risk of adverse effects and toxicity from contaminants at this dose is low. The amount of daily n-3 fatty acids recommended for patients with coronary heart disease is 1 gram/day. In patients who cannot consume this dose of n-3 fatty acids through diet alone, addition of n-3 supplements should be considered. Higher doses of contaminant-free n-3 supplements, 2-4 grams/day, can be used in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. Data on the content of n-3 fatty acids and contaminants in Israeli bred fish is limited. Thus, caution should be exercised when applying these recommendations to the Israeli fish market.

ROTATIONALLY MODULATED g-MODES IN THE RAPIDLY ROTATING {delta} SCUTI STAR RASALHAGUE ({alpha} OPHIUCHI)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Monnier, J. D.; Che, X.; Townsend, R. H. D.

2010-12-10

Despite a century of remarkable progress in understanding stellar interiors, we know surprisingly little about the inner workings of stars spinning near their critical limit. New interferometric imaging of these so-called rapid rotators combined with breakthroughs in asteroseismology promise to lift this veil and probe the strongly latitude-dependent photospheric characteristics and even reveal the internal angular momentum distribution of these luminous objects. Here, we report the first high-precision photometry on the low-amplitude {delta} Scuti variable star Rasalhague ({alpha} Oph, A5IV, 2.18 M{sub sun}, {omega}/{omega}{sub c}{approx}0.88) based on 30 continuous days of monitoring using the MOST satellite. We have identified 57more » {+-} 1 distinct pulsation modes above a stochastic granulation spectrum with a cutoff of {approx}26 cycles day{sup -1}. Remarkably, we have also discovered that the fast rotation period of 14.5 hr modulates low-frequency modes (1-10 day periods) that we identify as a rich family of g-modes (|m| up to 7). The spacing of the g-modes is surprisingly linear considering Coriolis forces are expected to strongly distort the mode spectrum, suggesting we are seeing prograde 'equatorial Kelvin' waves (modes l = m). We emphasize the unique aspects of Rasalhague motivating future detailed asteroseismic modeling-a source with a precisely measured parallax distance, photospheric oblateness, latitude temperature structure, and whose low-mass companion provides an astrometric orbit for precise mass determinations.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berastegui, P.; Hull, S., E-mail: stephen.hull@stfc.ac.u; Eriksson, S.G.

The compound CsSn{sub 2}F{sub 5} has been investigated over the temperature range from ambient to 545 K using differential scanning calorimetry, impedance spectroscopy and neutron powder diffraction methods. A first-order phase transition is observed from DSC measurements at 510(2) K, to a phase possessing a high ionic conductivity ({sigma}{approx}2.5x10{sup -2} {Omega}{sup -1} cm{sup -1} at 520 K). The crystal structure of the high temperature superionic phase (labelled {alpha}) has been determined to be tetragonal (space group I4/mmm, a=4.2606(10) A, c=19.739(5) A and Z=2) in which the cations form layers perpendicular to the [001] direction, with a stacking sequence CsSnSnCsSnSn... Allmore » the anions are located in two partially occupied sites in the gap between the Cs and Sn layers, whilst the space between the Sn cations is empty, due to the orientation of the lone-pair electrons associated with the Sn{sup 2+}. The structure of {alpha}-CsSn{sub 2}F{sub 5} is discussed in relation to two other layered F{sup -} conducting superionic phases containing Sn{sup 2+} cations, {alpha}-RbSn{sub 2}F{sub 5} and {alpha}-PbSnF{sub 4} and, to facilitate this comparison, an improved structural characterisation of the former is also presented. The wider issue of the role of lone-pair cations such as Sn{sup 2+} in promoting dynamic disorder within an anion substructure is also briefly addressed. - Graphical abstract: CsSn{sub 2}F{sub 5} is shown to undergo a first order phase transition at 510(2) K to a superionic phase in which the specific electronic configuration of the Sn{sup 2+} plays a key role in promoting extensive disorder of the anions.« less

Hypernuclear Weak Decays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Itonaga, K.; Motoba, T.

The recent theoretical studies of Lambda-hypernuclear weak decaysof the nonmesonic and pi-mesonic ones are developed with the aim to disclose the link between the experimental decay observables and the underlying basic weak decay interactions and the weak decay mechanisms. The expressions of the nonmesonic decay rates Gamma_{nm} and the decay asymmetry parameter alpha_1 of protons from the polarized hypernuclei are presented in the shell model framework. We then introduce the meson theoretical Lambda N -> NN interactions which include the one-meson exchanges, the correlated-2pi exchanges, and the chiral-pair-meson exchanges. The features of meson exchange potentials and their roles on the nonmesonic decays are discussed. With the adoption of the pi + 2pi/rho + 2pi/sigma + omega + K + rhopi/a_1 + sigmapi/a_1 exchange potentials, we have carried out the systematic calculations of the nonmesonic decay observables for light-to-heavy hypernuclei. The present model can account for the available experimental data of the decay rates, Gamma_n/Gamma_p ratios, and the intrinsic asymmetry parameters alpha_Lambda (alpha_Lambda is related to alpha_1) of emitted protons well and consistently within the error bars. The hypernuclear lifetimes are evaluated by converting the total weak decay rates Gamma_{tot} = Gamma_pi + Gamma_{nm} to tau, which exhibit saturation property for the hypernuclear mass A ≥ 30 and agree grossly well with experimental data for the mass range from light to heavy hypernuclei except for the very light ones. Future extensions of the model and the remaining problems are also mentioned. The pi-mesonic weak processes are briefly surveyed, and the calculations and predictions are compared and confirmed by the recent high precision FINUDA pi-mesonic decay data. This shows that the theoretical basis seems to be firmly grounded.

Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid reduce UVB- and TNF-alpha-induced IL-8 secretion in keratinocytes and UVB-induced IL-8 in fibroblasts.

PubMed

Storey, Amy; McArdle, Frank; Friedmann, Peter S; Jackson, Malcolm J; Rhodes, Lesley E

2005-01-01

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) inhibit ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced inflammation and other inflammatory states, in vivo. We examined whether this may be mediated by modulation of interleukin (IL)-8, a chemokine pivotal to skin inflammation induced by UVB, in epidermal and dermal cells. We also explored the ability of n-3 PUFA to protect against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha induction of IL-8, and assessed relative potencies of the principal dietary n-3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Pre-supplementation, both HaCaT keratinocyte and CCD922SK fibroblast cell lines showed dose-responses for UVB-induced IL-8 release (p<0.001), assessed 48 h post-irradiation. Cells were supplemented with > or =90% purified EPA, DHA, oleic acid (OA) or vehicle control, for 4.5 d. EPA and DHA supplements were bioavailable to keratinocytes and fibroblasts. In keratinocytes, EPA and DHA were shown to reduce basal secretion of IL-8 by 66% and 63%, respectively (p<0.05), and UVB-induced levels by 66% and 65% at 48 h after 100 mJ per cm2, respectively, (p<0.01). A similar pattern occurred in fibroblasts, whereas OA had no influence on IL-8 release in either cell line. In addition, TNF-alpha-induced IL-8 secretion by keratinocytes was reduced by 54% and 42%, respectively, by EPA and DHA (p<0.001). Hence both n-3 PUFA inhibit production of UVB- and TNF-alpha-induced IL-8 in skin cells; this may be important in the photoprotective and other anti-inflammatory effects conferred by these agents.

Effects of cationic species on visual color formation in model Maillard reactions of pentose sugars and amino acids.

PubMed

Rizzi, George P

2008-08-27

Effects of cationic species on Maillard browning were examined after heating (ca. 100 degrees C) aqueous pH 7.2 buffered solutions of amino acids and pentose sugars. Metallic ions of Group I metals (Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs) produced a small increase in browning (A420), but somewhat greater effects were observed with ions of Group II metals Ca and Mg. Browning was suppressed by triethylammonium ion, but unaffected by a salt of the stronger base, guanidine. The quaternary amine salt choline chloride produced enhanced browning and served as a model for phospholipid involvement in Maillard reactions. With alpha,omega-diamino acids increases in browning were observed which related to lowered pK2 values resulting from positively charged omega-substituents in these molecules.

Nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate for recurrent spontaneous preterm birth prevention: clinical prediction and generation of a risk scoring system.

PubMed

Manuck, Tracy A; Stoddard, Gregory J; Fry, Rebecca C; Esplin, M Sean; Varner, Michael W

2016-11-01

Spontaneous preterm birth remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality among nonanomalous neonates in the United States. Spontaneous preterm birth tends to recur at similar gestational ages. Intramuscular 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate reduces the risk of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth. Unfortunately, one-third of high-risk women will have a recurrent spontaneous preterm birth despite 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate therapy; the reasons for this variability in response are unknown. We hypothesized that clinical factors among women treated with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate who suffer recurrent spontaneous preterm birth at a similar gestational age differ from women who deliver later, and that these associations could be used to generate a clinical scoring system to predict 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate response. Secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial enrolling women with ≥1 previous singleton spontaneous preterm birth <37 weeks' gestation. Participants received daily omega-3 supplementation or placebo for the prevention of recurrent preterm birth; all were provided 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate. Women were classified as a 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate responder or nonresponder by calculating the difference in delivery gestational age between the 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate-treated pregnancy and her earliest previous spontaneous preterm birth. Responders were women with pregnancy extending ≥3 weeks later compared with the delivery gestational age of their earliest previous preterm birth; nonresponders delivered earlier or within 3 weeks of the gestational age of their earliest previous preterm birth. A risk score for nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate was generated from regression models via the use of clinical predictors and was validated in an independent population. Data were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression. A total of 754 women met inclusion criteria; 159 (21%) were nonresponders. Responders delivered later on average (37.7±2.5 weeks) than nonresponders (31.5±5.3 weeks), P<.001. Among responders, 27% had a recurrent spontaneous preterm birth (vs 100% of nonresponders). Demographic characteristics were similar between responders and nonresponders. In a multivariable logistic regression model, independent risk factors for nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate were each additional week of gestation of the earliest previous preterm birth (odds ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.30, P<.001), placental abruption or significant vaginal bleeding (odds ratio, 5.60; 95% confidence interval, 2.46-12.71, P<.001), gonorrhea and/or chlamydia in the current pregnancy (odds ratio, 3.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-9.48, P=.010), carriage of a male fetus (odds ratio, 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.24, P=.040), and a penultimate preterm birth (odds ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-4.25, P=.041). These clinical factors were used to generate a risk score for nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate as follows: black +1, male fetus +1, penultimate preterm birth +2, gonorrhea/chlamydia +4, placental abruption +5, earliest previous preterm birth was 32-36 weeks +5. A total risk score >6 was 78% sensitive and 60% specific for predicting nonresponse to 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate (area under the curve=0.69). This scoring system was validated in an independent population of 287 women; in the validation set, a total risk score >6 performed similarly with a 65% sensitivity, 67% specificity and area under the curve of 0.66. Several clinical characteristics define women at risk for recurrent preterm birth at a similar gestational age despite 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate therapy and can be used to generate a clinical risk predictor score. These data should be refined and confirmed in other cohorts, and women at high risk for nonresponse should be targets for novel therapeutic intervention studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Organizational learning in the implementation and adoption of national electronic health records: case studies of two hospitals participating in the National Programme for Information Technology in England.

PubMed

Takian, Amirhossein; Sheikh, Aziz; Barber, Nicholas

2014-09-01

To explore the role of organizational learning in enabling implementation and supporting adoption of electronic health record systems into two English hospitals. In the course of conducting our prospective and sociotechnical evaluation of the implementation and adoption of electronic health record into 12 "early adopter" hospitals across England, we identified two hospitals implementing virtually identical versions of the same "off-the-shelf" software (Millennium) within a comparable timeframe. We undertook a longitudinal qualitative case study-based analysis of these two hospitals (referred to hereafter as Alpha and Omega) and their implementation experiences. Data included the following: 63 in-depth interviews with various groups of internal and external stakeholders; 41-h on-site observation; and content analysis of 218 documents of various types. Analysis was both inductive and deductive, the latter being informed by the "sociotechnical changing" theoretical perspective. Although Alpha and Omega shared a number of contextual similarities, our evaluation revealed fundamental differences in visions of electronic health record and the implementation strategy between the hospitals, which resulted in distinct local consequences of electronic health record implementation and impacted adoption. Both hospitals did not, during our evaluation, see the hoped-for benefits to the organization as a result of the introduction of electronic health record, such as speeding-up tasks. Nonetheless, the Millennium software worked out to be easier to use at Omega. Interorganizational learning was at the heart of this difference. Despite the turbulent overall national "roll out" of electronic health record systems into the English hospitals, considerable opportunities for organizational learning were offered by sequential delivery of the electronic health record software into "early adopter" hospitals. We argue that understanding the process of organizational learning and its enabling factors has the potential to support efforts at implementing national electronic health record implementation endeavors. © The Author(s) 2013.

Omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid intake of children and older adults in the U.S.: dietary intake in comparison to current dietary recommendations and the Healthy Eating Index.

PubMed

Sheppard, Kelly W; Cheatham, Carol L

2018-03-09

Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) and their ratio have been shown to affect cognitive function in children and older adults. With these analyses, we aimed to describe omega-6 and omega-3 FA intake among children and older adults in light of FA intake recommendations and with consideration of overall diet. Data were merged from two cross-sectional studies with 219 children 7 to 12 years old and one longitudinal study with 133 adults 65 to 79 years old. Demographic data, anthropometric data, and Healthy Eating Index scores were used to study relations among the omega-6 to omega-3 FA ratio and age, education, body mass index, and diet quality. FA intake, demographic, and anthropometric data were examined using partial correlations, t-tests, and analysis of variance. Most children and adults consumed at least the recommended amount of alpha-linolenic acid (LNA; omega-3) for their age and gender without consuming high amounts of linoleic acid (LA; omega-6), but did not consume sufficient eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; omega-) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; omega-3). The average omega-6 to omega-3 ratios in both groups were lower than previously reported. Eating lower ratios was associated with healthier diets and consuming adequate amounts of several other nutrients. No demographic or anthropometric variables were related to FA intake in children. Adults with a college degree had significantly lower ratios than those without a college degree. American children and older adults are able to consume more balanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratios than has been indicated by commodity data. However, very few American children met even the lowest recommendations for EPA and DHA intake. Research is needed to clarify recommendations for the optimal ratio across development, which may aid in increasing EPA and DHA intake and improving health outcomes in the United States. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02199808 13 July 2014, NCT01823419 (retrospectively registered) 20 March 2013, and NCT01515098 18 January 2012.

Effects of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on IGF-I receptor signalling in colorectal cancer cells.

PubMed

Seti, Hila; Leikin-Frenkel, Alicia; Werner, Haim

2009-07-01

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system plays a critical role in normal growth and development as well as in malignant states. Most of the biological activities of the IGFs are mediated by the IGF-IR, which is over-expressed in most tumours and cancer cell lines. Fatty acids have critical roles in both systemic physiological processes (e.g. metabolism) and cellular events (e.g. proliferation, apoptosis, signal transduction, and gene expression). Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) are essential fatty acids of the omega-3 and omega-6 families, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential interactions between fatty acids and the IGF signal transduction pathways, and to evaluate the impact of this interplay on colon cancer cells survival and proliferation. Results of Western blot analyses revealed that ALA and LA enhanced the ligand-induced IGF-IR phosphorylation and, in addition, increased receptor phosphorylation in an IGF-I independent manner. Furthermore, fatty acid treatment led to phosphorylation of downstream signalling molecules, including Akt and Erk. In addition, FACS analysis and apoptosis measurements indicated that ALA and LA have a potential mitogenic effect on HCT116 cells, as reflected by the number of cells in S phase and by a reduction of PARP cleavage, implying a reduction in apoptotic activity. In summary, our results provide evidence that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids modulate IGF-I action in colon cancer cells.

High-Performance Cryogenic Designs for OMEGA and the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goncharov, V. N.; Collins, T. J. B.; Marozas, J. A.; Regan, S. P.; Betti, R.; Boehly, T. R.; Campbell, E. M.; Froula, D. H.; Igumenshchev, I. V.; McCrory, R. L.; Myatt, J. F.; Radha, P. B.; Sangster, T. C.; Shvydky, A.

2016-10-01

The main advantage of laser symmetric direct drive (SDD) is a significantly higher coupled drive laser energy to the hot-spot internal energy at stagnation compared to that of laser indirect drive. Because of coupling losses resulting from cross-beam energy transfer (CBET), however, reaching ignition conditions on the NIF with SDD requires designs with excessively large in-flight aspect ratios ( 30). Results of cryogenic implosions performed on OMEGA show that such designs are unstable to short-scale nonuniformity growth during shell implosion. Several CBET reduction strategies have been proposed in the past. This talk will discuss high-performing designs using several CBET-mitigation techniques, including using drive laser beams smaller than the target size and wavelength detuning. Designs that are predicted to reach alpha burning regimes as well as a gain of 10 to 40 at the NIF-scale will be presented. Hydrodynamically scaled OMEGA designs with similar CBET-reduction techniques will also be discussed. This material is based upon work supported by the Department Of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0001944.

Psychometric Evaluation of a Persian Version of the Cardiac Depression Scale in Iranian Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

PubMed

Nia, Hamid Sharif; Sharif, Saeed Pahlevan; Froelicher, Erika Sivarajan; Boyle, Christopher; Goudarzian, Amir Hossein; Yaghoobzadeh, Ameneh; Oskouie, Fatemeh

2018-04-01

The aim of this study was to validate a Persian version of the Cardiac Depression Scale (CDS) in Iranian patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The CDS was forward translated from English into Persian and back-translated to English. Validity was assessed using face, content, and construct validity. Also Cronbach's alpha (α), theta (), and McDonald's omega coefficient were used to evaluate the reliability. Construct validity of the scale showed two factors with eigenvalues greater than one. The Cronbach's α, , McDonald's omega, and construct reliability were greater than .70. The Persian version of the CDS has a two-factor structure (i.e., death anxiety and life satisfaction) and has acceptable reliability and validity. Therefore, the validated instrument can be used in future studies to assess depression in patients with AMI in Iranians.

Circular dichroism of stem bromelain: a third spectral class within the family of cysteine proteinases.

PubMed Central

Arroyo-Reyna, A; Hernandez-Arana, A; Arreguin-Espinosa, R

1994-01-01

Two forms of stem bromelain (EC 3.4.22.4) were isolated from commercial, crude and chromatographically purified preparations of the enzyme by means of gel-filtration and cation-exchange liquid chromatography. These forms possess nearly identical secondary and tertiary structures, as judged from their circular dichroism (c.d.) spectra. The spectral characteristics of stem bromelain suggest that this enzyme belongs to the alpha + beta protein class, as other cysteine proteinases do. In agreement with these results, quantitative estimation of secondary structures yielded amounts similar to those for papain and proteinase omega. However, the bromelain c.d. curve is clearly distinguishable from those reported for papain and proteinase omega, on one hand, and that of chymopapain, on the other. Thus, it is apparent that there are at least three types of c.d. spectra associated with the family of cysteine proteinases. PMID:8198520

Electrical impedance characterization of normal and cancerous human hepatic tissue.

PubMed

Laufer, Shlomi; Ivorra, Antoni; Reuter, Victor E; Rubinsky, Boris; Solomon, Stephen B

2010-07-01

The four-electrode method was used to measure the ex vivo complex electrical impedance of tissues from 14 hepatic tumors and the surrounding normal liver from six patients. Measurements were done in the frequency range 1-400 kHz. It was found that the conductivity of the tumor tissue was much higher than that of the normal liver tissue in this frequency range (from 0.14 +/- 0.06 S m(-1) versus 0.03 +/- 0.01 S m(-1) at 1 kHz to 0.25 +/- 0.06 S m(-1) versus 0.15 +/- 0.03 S m(-1) at 400 kHz). The Cole-Cole models were estimated from the experimental data and the four parameters (rho(0), rho(infinity), alpha, f(c)) were obtained using a least-squares fit algorithm. The Cole-Cole parameters for the cancerous and normal liver are 9 +/- 4 Omega m(-1), 2.2 +/- 0.7 Omega m(-1), 0.5 +/- 0.2, 140 +/- 103 kHz and 50 +/- 28 Omega m(-1), 3.2 +/- 0.6 Omega m(-1), 0.64 +/- 0.04, 10 +/- 7 kHz, respectively. These data can contribute to developing bioelectric applications for tissue diagnostics and in tissue treatment planning with electrical fields such as radiofrequency tissue ablation, electrochemotherapy and gene therapy with reversible electroporation, nanoscale pulsing and irreversible electroporation.

Rotationally resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of n-H/sub 2/, p-H/sub 2/, HD, and D/sub 2/

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pollard, J.E.; Trevor, D.J.; Reutt, J.E.

1982-07-01

The 584 A photoelectron spectra of n-H/sub 2/, p-H/sub 2/, HD, and D/sub 2/ were recorded at a resolution of 11 meV FWHM using a supersonic molecular beam source. Spectra were taken at several stagnation temperatures and pressures in order to vary the rotational population distribution in the beam with a corresponding variation in the relative intensities of the rotational transitions. Many of the Q-branch components were resolved for the first time. ..delta..G(v+1/2) and B/sub v/ values were measured for all observed vibrational states of H/sup +//sub 2/, HD/sup +/, and D/sup +//sub 2/ and were used to determined themore » ionic vibrational and rotational constants: ..omega../sub e/, ..omega../sub e/x/sub e/, ..omega../sub e/y/sub e/, ..omega../sub e/z/sub e/, B/sub e/, and ..cap alpha../sub e/. The results represent a substantial improvement over previous experimental determinations and were found to be consistent with the available theoretical rotation-vibration energy levels. The measurement of the intensity distribution of photoelectrons as a function of vibrational states yielded photoionization cross sections which were in good agreement with the theoretical values calculated by O'Niel and Reinhardt.« less

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: psychometric properties of the parent and teacher version in children aged 4-7.

PubMed

Stone, Lisanne L; Janssens, Jan M A M; Vermulst, Ad A; Van Der Maten, Marloes; Engels, Rutger C M E; Otten, Roy

2015-01-01

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire is one of the most employed screening instruments. Although there is a large research body investigating its psychometric properties, reliability and validity are not yet fully tested using modern techniques. Therefore, we investigate reliability, construct validity, measurement invariance, and predictive validity of the parent and teacher version in children aged 4-7. Besides, we intend to replicate previous studies by investigating test-retest reliability and criterion validity. In a Dutch community sample 2,238 teachers and 1,513 parents filled out questionnaires regarding problem behaviors and parenting, while 1,831 children reported on sociometric measures at T1. These children were followed-up during three consecutive years. Reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega, construct validity was examined by Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and predictive validity was examined by calculating developmental profiles and linking these to measures of inadequate parenting, parenting stress and social preference. Further, mean scores and percentiles were examined in order to establish norms. Omega was consistently higher than alpha regarding reliability. The original five-factor structure was replicated, and measurement invariance was established on a configural level. Further, higher SDQ scores were associated with future indices of higher inadequate parenting, higher parenting stress and lower social preference. Finally, previous results on test-retest reliability and criterion validity were replicated. This study is the first to show SDQ scores are predictively valid, attesting to the feasibility of the SDQ as a screening instrument. Future research into predictive validity of the SDQ is warranted.

Theoretical quantification of shock-timing sensitivities for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion implosions on OMEGA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cao, D.; Boehly, T. R.; Gregor, M. C.

Using temporally shaped laser pulses, multiple shocks can be launched in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion implosion experiments to set the shell on a desired isentrope or adiabat. The velocity of the first shock and the times at which subsequent shocks catch up to it are measured through the VISAR diagnostic [T. R. Boehly et al., Phys. Plasmas 18, 092706 (2011)] on OMEGA [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)]. Simulations reproduce these velocity and shock-merger time measurements when using laser pulses designed for setting mid-adiabat (alpha ~ 3) implosions, but agreement degrades for lower-adiabat (alpha ~ 1)more » designs. Several possibilities for this difference are studied: (1) errors in placing the target at the center of irradiation (target offset), (2) variations in energy between the different incident beams (power imbalance), and (3) errors in modeling the laser energy coupled into the capsule. Simulation results indicate that shock timing is most sensitive to details of the density and temperature profiles in the coronal plasma, which influences the laser energy coupled into the target, and only marginally sensitive to target offset and beam power imbalance. A new technique under development to infer coronal profiles using x-ray self-emission imaging [A. K. Davis et al., Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 61, BAPS.2016.DPP.NO8.7 (2016)] can be applied to the pulse shapes used in shock-timing experiments. This will help identify improved physics models to implement in codes and consequently enhance shock-timing predictive capability for low-adiabat pulses.« less

Alpha-linolenic acid regulates Cox2/VEGF/MAP kinase pathway and decreases the expression of HPV oncoproteins E6/E7 through restoration of p53 and Rb expression in human cervical cancer cell lines.

PubMed

Deshpande, Rashmi; Mansara, Prakash; Kaul-Ghanekar, Ruchika

2016-03-01

Cervical cancer represents the largest cause of mortality in women worldwide. In our previous report, we have shown how alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid, regulated the growth of cervical cancer cells. The present study aimed to explore mechanistic details for the anticancer activity of ALA in cervical cancer cell lines, SiHa and HeLa. ALA significantly modulated the growth kinetics of the cells and reduced cell migration with concomitant decrease in the expression of VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 proteins. Besides this, ALA significantly decreased the expression of phosphorylated p38, pERK1/2, c-JUN, NFκB, and COX2, proteins. Most importantly, ALA reduced the expression of HPV onco-proteins E6 and E7, resulting into restoration of expression of tumor suppressor proteins, p53 and Rb. These results suggested that ALA could be explored for its therapeutic potential in cervical cancer.

Inhibition of oxidation of aqueous emulsions of omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil by phloretin and phloridzin.

PubMed

Vasantha Rupasinghe, H P; Yasmin, Afsana

2010-01-11

The antioxidant properties of two apple dihydrochalcones, namely phloretin and phloridzin, were evaluated and compared with those of alpha-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The effects were studied in an oil-in-water emulsion system containing methyl linolenate (ML), methyl eicosapentaenoate (MEPA), and methyl docosahexaenoate (MDHA) in which oxidation was initiated by the peroxyl radical generator 2,2-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and in fish oil where oxidation was initiated thermally. In the emulsion system, phloretin (1 and 5 mM) completely inhibited the oxidation of ML tested as evidenced by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Under the same conditions, phloridzin was less effective than phloretin, but still more effective than alpha-tocopherol. Both phloretin and phloridzin molecules had a marginal inhibitory effect against oxidation of fish oil induced by heating at 70 degrees C for 3 hours, when compared to BHT. These results indicate that phloretin and phloridzin have the potential to suppress lipid oxidation in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) containing foods.

Conformation, orientation, and adsorption kinetics of dermaseptin B2 onto synthetic supports at aqueous/solid interface.

PubMed

Noinville, S; Bruston, F; El Amri, C; Baron, D; Nicolas, P

2003-08-01

The antimicrobial activity of cationic amphipathic peptides is due mainly to the adsorption of peptides onto target membranes, which can be modulated by such physicochemical parameters as charge and hydrophobicity. We investigated the structure of dermaseptin B2 (Drs B2) at the aqueous/synthetic solid support interface and its adsorption kinetics using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance. We determined the conformation and affinity of Drs B2 adsorbed onto negatively charged (silica or dextran) and hydrophobic supports. Synthetic supports of differing hydrophobicity were obtained by modifying silica or gold with omega-functionalized alkylsilanes (bromo, vinyl, phenyl, methyl) or alkylthiols. The peptide molecules adsorbed onto negatively charged supports mostly had a beta-type conformation. In contrast, a monolayer of Drs B2, mainly in the alpha-helical conformation, was adsorbed irreversibly onto the hydrophobic synthetic supports. The conformational changes during formation of the adsorbed monolayer were monitored by two-dimensional Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy correlation; they showed the influence of peptide-peptide interactions on alpha-helix folding on the most hydrophobic support. The orientation of the alpha-helical Drs B2 with respect to the hydrophobic support was determined by polarized attenuated total reflection; it was around 15 +/- 5 degrees. This orientation was confirmed and illustrated by a molecular dynamics study. These combined data demonstrate that specific chemical environments influence the structure of Drs B2, which could explain the many functions of antimicrobial peptides.

Plasma long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and macular pigment in subjects with family history of age-related macular degeneration: the Limpia Study.

PubMed

Merle, Bénédicte M J; Buaud, Benjamin; Korobelnik, Jean-François; Bron, Alain; Delyfer, Marie-Noëlle; Rougier, Marie-Bénédicte; Savel, Hélène; Vaysse, Carole; Creuzot-Garcher, Catherine; Delcourt, Cécile

2017-12-01

In numerous epidemiological studies, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been associated with a decreased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Beyond their structural, functional and neuroprotective roles, omega-3 PUFAs may favour the retinal accumulation of lutein and zeaxanthin and thus increase macular pigment optical density (MPOD). We examined the associations of MPOD with plasma omega-3 PUFAs in subjects with family history of AMD. The Limpia study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective randomized clinical trial performed in 120 subjects. Subjects with at least one parent treated for neovascular AMD, aged 40-70, with a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) >20/25, free of late AMD and other major eye conditions and with no use of supplement containing lutein or zeaxanthin the preceding year were recruited in Bordeaux and Dijon, France. At baseline, MPOD within 1° of eccentricity was measured by modified Heidelberg retinal analyser (Heidelberg, Germany) and plasma omega-3 PUFAs by gas chromatography. Medical history and lifestyle data were collected from a standardized questionnaire. Associations of MPOD with plasma omega-3 PUFAs were assessed at the baseline examination, using mixed linear models adjusted for age, gender, centre, body mass index, smoking, plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and lutein+zeaxanthin. After multivariate adjustment, high MPOD was significantly associated with higher level of plasma docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) (β = 0.029, 95% CI: 0.003, 0.055; p = 0.03). Plasma alpha linolenic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were not significantly associated with MPOD. In the Limpia study, high MPOD within 1° was significantly associated with higher plasma levels of omega-3 DPA. © 2017 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Impact of an Energy Drink on the Structure of Stomach and Pancreas of Albino Rat: Can Omega-3 Provide a Protection?

PubMed

Ayuob, Nasra; ElBeshbeishy, Rana

2016-01-01

A controversy developed between the benefits of energy drinks (EDs) versus the possible health threats since its revolution. Lack of information was a call to assess the effect of chronic consumption of Power Horse (PH) as one of the EDs, on the structure of pancreas and fundic mucosa of stomach in rats, and possible protective role of Omega-3. Thirty two adult male albino rats were divided equally into 4 groups; control received group which only received a standard diet, Omega-3 group, PH group which given PH and PH plus Omega-3 group received both PH plus Omega-3 for 4 weeks. Biochemical assessment of blood glucose, serum insulin, gastrin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) was performed. The antioxidant activity and histopathological examination of both pancreatic tissue and fundic mucosa of stomach were assessed. Administration of PH significantly increased serum insulin and glucose levels while it significantly reduced serum gastrin level compared to control. PH also caused oxidants/antioxidants imbalance in both pancreas and fundic mucosa. The latter revealed degenerative changes and increased apoptosis which was evident by increased caspase-3 immunoexpression. Pancreas exhibited signs of β-cells overstimulation. Fundic mucosa showed reduced number of parietal cells, gastrin hormone expression compared to control group. Omega-3 administration could alleviate, to some extent, these changes. It significantly decreased TNF-α, iNOS and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as significantly increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities compared to the group which received PH alone. Power Horse intake significantly injures islet cells, pancreatic acini as well as the glandular cells of the fundic mucosa. Omega-3 decreases these detrimental effects mostly through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.

Dietary omega-3 fatty acids for women.

PubMed

Bourre, Jean-Marie

2007-01-01

This review details the specific needs of women for omega-3 fatty acids, including alpha linoleic acid (ALA) and the very long chain fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3 fatty acid (dietary or in capsules) ensures that a woman's adipose tissue contains a reserve of these fatty acids for the developing fetus and the breast-fed newborn infant. This ensures the optimal cerebral and cognitive development of the infant. The presence of large quantities of EPA and DHA in the diet slightly lengthens pregnancy, and improves its quality. Human milk contains both ALA and DHA, unlike that of other mammals. Conditions such as diabetes can alter the fatty acid profile of mother's milk, while certain diets, like those of vegetarians, vegans, or even macrobiotic diets, can have the same effect, if they do not include seafood. ALA, DHA and EPA, are important for preventing ischemic cardiovascular disease in women of all ages. Omega-3 fatty acids can help to prevent the development of certain cancers, particularly those of the breast and colon, and possibly of the uterus and the skin, and are likely to reduce the risk of postpartum depression, manic-depressive psychosis, dementias (Alzheimer's disease and others), hypertension, toxemia, diabetes and, to a certain extend, age-related macular degeneration. Omega-3 fatty acids could play a positive role in the prevention of menstrual syndrome and postmenopausal hot flushes. The normal western diet contains little ALA (less than 50% of the RDA). The only adequate sources are rapeseed oil (canola), walnuts and so-called "omega-3" eggs (similar to wild-type or Cretan eggs). The amounts of EPA and DHA in the diet vary greatly from person to person. The only good sources are fish and seafood, together with "omega-3" eggs.

Anti-inflammatory effect of a fatty acid mixture with high ω-9:ω-6 ratio and low ω-6:ω-3 ratio on rats submitted to dental extraction.

PubMed

Melo, Radamés Bezerra; de Barros Silva, Paulo Goberlânio; Oriá, Reinaldo Barreto; Melo, José Ulisses de Souza; da Silva Martins, Conceição; Cunha, Aline Matos; Vasconcelos, Paulo Roberto Leitão

2017-02-01

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of pretreatment for three days with a fatty acid mixture with high ω-9:ω-6 ratio and low ω-6:ω-3 ratio on rats submitted to dental extraction. Thirty-two male Wistar rats (270-310g) were randomly distributed in four groups (n=8/group): the sham control group and the negative control group received saline; the high omega-6/low omega-9 group received isolipid fatty acid with high ω-6:ω-3 ratio and low ω-9:ω-6 ratio; the high omega-3/low omega-6 group received fatty acid with low ω-6:ω-3 ratio and high ω-9:ω-6 ratio. Saline and oils were administered by gavage for 4days before exodontia and 3days after surgery, followed by euthanasia. Masseter edema was evaluated clinically and tissue samples were submitted to osteoclast count (H&E), myeloperoxidase assay, and western blotting (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta). In the high omega-3/low omega-6 group, a significant decrease was observed in masseter edema (p<0.0001), myeloperoxidase (p<0.0001), osteoclasts (p=0.0001) and TNF-α expression (p<0.0001), but not in IL-1β expression. The ingestion of fatty acid with high ω-9:ω-6 ratio and low ω-6:ω-3 ratio significantly reduced inflammatory response in rats submitted to dental extraction. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of -alpha(3.7) and alpha alpha alpha(anti3.7) alleles in sickle cell trait and beta-thalassemia patients in Mexico.

PubMed

Nava, María Paulina; Ibarra, Bertha; Magaña, María Teresa; de la Luz Chávez, María; Perea, F Javier

2006-01-01

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of alpha-globin gene mutations in three groups of Mexican unrelated individuals. The first two groups were normal and sickle cell trait individuals from the Costa Chica region, a place with a 12.8% frequency of HbS carriers, and the third group comprised of Mexican mestizo patients with beta-thalassemia. We searched for -alpha(3.7) and -alpha(4.2) alpha(+)-thalassemia deletion alleles, as well as the alpha alpha alpha(anti3.7) triplication through long-gap PCR. The alleles -alpha(3.7) and alpha alpha alpha(anti3.7) were found in the heterozygote state only; 19% of the normal subjects had the -alpha(3.7) allele, and 2% showed the alpha alpha alpha(anti3.7) allele. In individuals with the sickle cell trait, 17% had the -alpha(3.7) deletion, and the alpha alpha alpha(anti3.7) triplication was observed in 3% of these individuals. We revealed that 16% of the subjects with beta-thalassemia showed the -alpha(3.7) deletion and 28% the alpha alpha alpha(anti3.7) triplication. The -alpha(4.2) deletion was not detected in any individual. The frequency of the -alpha(3.7) allele was roughly the same in the three groups studied; this can be explained by the fact that the three groups have common genes from Africa and the Mediterranean, where a high prevalence of alpha(+)-thalassemia has been observed. To our knowledge, the frequency of alpha alpha alpha(anti3.7) triplication observed in the Mexican beta-thalassemia patients is the highest reported. As the -alpha(3.7) and alpha alpha alpha(anti3.7) alleles are very common in our selected populations, we believe that there is a need to investigate systematically the alpha-globin gene mutations in all hemoglobinopathies in the Mexican population.

Total synthesis of the cyclopeptide alkaloid abyssenine A. Application of inter- and intramolecular copper-mediated coupling reactions in organic synthesis.

PubMed

Toumi, Mathieu; Couty, François; Evano, Gwilherm

2007-11-23

The first total synthesis of the 15-membered ring cyclopeptide alkaloid abyssenine A 1 has been achieved with a longest linear sequence of 15 steps. Central to the synthetic approach was an efficient copper-mediated Ullmann coupling/Claisen rearrangement sequence allowing for both ipso and ortho functionalization of aromatic iodide 4. This sequence was used for the synthesis of the aromatic core. The synthetic utility of copper-catalyzed coupling reactions was further demonstrated to install the enamide with a concomitant straightforward macrocyclization starting from acyclic alpha-amido-omega-vinyl iodide 13.

Simultaneous quantification of GABAergic 3alpha,5alpha/3alpha,5beta neuroactive steroids in human and rat serum.

PubMed

Porcu, Patrizia; O'Buckley, Todd K; Alward, Sarah E; Marx, Christine E; Shampine, Lawrence J; Girdler, Susan S; Morrow, A Leslie

2009-01-01

The 3alpha,5alpha- and 3alpha,5beta-reduced derivatives of progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone enhance GABAergic neurotransmission and produce inhibitory neurobehavioral and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite substantial information on the progesterone derivative (3alpha,5alpha)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP, allopregnanolone), the physiological significance of the other endogenous GABAergic neuroactive steroids has remained elusive. Here, we describe the validation of a method using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to simultaneously identify serum levels of the eight 3alpha,5alpha- and 3alpha,5beta-reduced derivatives of progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone. The method shows specificity, sensitivity and enhanced throughput compared to other methods already available for neuroactive steroid quantification. Administration of pregnenolone to rats and progesterone to women produced selective effects on the 3alpha,5alpha- and 3alpha,5beta-reduced neuroactive steroids, indicating differential regulation of their biosynthetic pathways. Pregnenolone administration increased serum levels of 3alpha,5alpha-THP (+1488%, p<0.001), (3alpha,5alpha)-3,21-dihydroxypregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THDOC, +205%, p<0.01), (3alpha,5alpha)-3-hydroxyandrostan-17-one (3alpha,5alpha-A, +216%, p<0.001), (3alpha,5alpha,17beta)-androstane-3,17-diol (3alpha,5alpha-A-diol, +190%, p<0.01). (3alpha,5beta)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (3alpha,5beta-THP) and (3alpha,5beta)-3-hydroxyandrostan-17-one (3alpha,5beta-A) were not altered, while (3alpha,5beta)-3,21-dihydroxypregnan-20-one (3alpha,5beta-THDOC) and (3alpha,5beta,17beta)-androstane-3,17-diol (3alpha,5beta-A-diol) were increased from undetectable levels to 271+/-100 and 2.4+/-0.9 pg+/-SEM, respectively (5/8 rats). Progesterone administration increased serum levels of 3alpha,5alpha-THP (+1806%, p<0.0001), 3alpha,5beta-THP (+575%, p<0.001), 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC (+309%, p<0.001). 3alpha,5beta-THDOC levels were increased by 307%, although this increase was not significant because this steroid was detected only in 3/16 control subjects. Levels of 3alpha,5alpha-A, 3alpha,5beta-A and pregnenolone were not altered. This method can be used to investigate the physiological and pathological role of neuroactive steroids and to develop biomarkers and new therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Growth from Solutions: Kink dynamics, Stoichiometry, Face Kinetics and stability in turbulent flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chernov, A. A.; DeYoreo, J. J.; Rashkovich, L. N.; Vekilov, P. G.

2005-01-01

1. Kink dynamics. The first segment of a polygomized dislocation spiral step measured by AFM demonstrates up to 60% scattering in the critical length l*- the length when the segment starts to propagate. On orthorhombic lysozyme, this length is shorter than that the observed interkink distance. Step energy from the critical segment length based on the Gibbs-Thomson law (GTL), l* = 20(omega)alpha/(Delta)mu is several times larger than the energy from 2D nucleation rate. Here o is tine building block specific voiume, a is the step riser specific free energy, Delta(mu) is the crystallization driving force. These new data support our earlier assumption that the classical Frenkel, Burton -Cabrera-Frank concept of the abundant kink supply by fluctuations is not applicable for strongly polygonized steps. Step rate measurements on brushite confirms that statement. This is the1D nucleation of kinks that control step propagation. The GTL is valid only if l*

Boron deprivation alters rat behaviour and brain mineral composition differently when fish oil instead of safflower oil is the diet fat source.

PubMed

Nielsen, Forrest H; Penland, James G

2006-01-01

To determine whether boron deprivation affects rat behaviour and whether behavioural responses to boron deprivation are modified by differing amounts of dietary long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Female rats were fed diets containing 0.1 mg (9 micromol)/kg boron in a factorial arrangement with dietary variables of supplemental boron at 0 and 3mg (278 micromol)/kg and fat sources of 75 g/kg safflower oil or 65 g/kg fish (menhaden) oil plus 10 g/kg linoleic acid. After 6 weeks, six females per treatment were bred. Dams and pups continued on their respective diets through gestation, lactation and after weaning. Between ages 6 and 20 weeks, behavioural tests were performed on 13-15 male offspring from three dams in each dietary treatment. The rats were euthanized at age 21 weeks for the collection of tissues and blood. At ages 6 and 19 weeks, auditory startle was evaluated with an acoustic startle system and avoidance behaviour was evaluated by using an elevated plus maze. At ages 7 and 20 weeks, spontaneous behaviour activity was evaluated with a photobeam activity system. A brightness discrimination test was performed on the rats between age 15 and 16 weeks. Brain mineral composition was determined by coupled argon plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Plasma total glutathione was determined by HPLC and total cholesterol and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2alpha) were determined by using commercially available kits. Boron-deficient rats were less active than boron-adequate rats when fed safflower oil based on reduced number, distance and time of horizontal movements, front entries, margin distance and vertical breaks and jumps in the spontaneous activity evaluation. Feeding fish oil instead of safflower oil attenuated the activity response to boron deprivation. In the plus maze evaluation, the behavioural reactivity of the boron-deficient rats fed fish oil was noticeably different than the other three treatments. They made more entries into both open and closed arms and the center area and thus visited more locations. The boron-deficient rats fed fish oil also exhibited the lowest copper and zinc and highest boron concentrations in brain and the highest plasma glutathione concentration. Both boron deprivation and safflower oil increased plasma 8-iso-PGF2alpha. Both dietary boron and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids influence rat behaviour and brain composition and the influence of one these bioactive substances can be altered by changing the intake of the other. Brain mineral and plasma cholesterol, glutathione and 8-iso-PGF2alpha findings suggest that rat behaviour is affected by an interaction between boron and fish oil because both affect oxidative metabolism and act the cellular membrane level.

Effect of lyophilized water extracts of Melissa officinalis on the stability of algae and linseed oil-in-water emulsion to be used as a functional ingredient in meat products.

PubMed

de Ciriano, Mikel García-Iñiguez; Rehecho, Sheyla; Calvo, Maria Isabel; Cavero, Rita Yolanda; Navarro, Iñigo; Astiasarán, Iciar; Ansorena, Diana

2010-06-01

Previous work pointed out the possibility to enhance the nutritional value of meat products using long chain omega-3 PUFA enriched emulsions. Oil-in-water emulsions elaborated with a mixture of algae and linseed oils (15:10) in order to be used as functional ingredient were stabilized with BHA (butylhydroxyanisol) or with a lyophilized water extract of Melissa officinalis L. (Lemon balm). The lipid profile of the oil mixture showed a high amount of DHA (31.7%), oleic (25.4%) and alpha-linolenic acid (12.7%) resulting in a very low omega-6/omega-3 ratio (0.12). The lyophilized extract of M. officinalis showed a high antioxidant activity (being 62ppm of the lyophilized water extract of Melissa equivalent to 200ppm of BHA, using the DPPH assay as reference), and high total phenolic content. Studying the oxidation process in the emulsions during 15days at room temperature, it could be concluded that this extract was as efficient as BHA in order to control the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stereospecific 1,4-addition to an alpha,beta-unsaturated steroidal epoxide: syntheses of new 15-oxygenated sterols.

PubMed

Parish, E J; Tsuda, M; Schroepfer, G J

1988-11-01

3 beta-Benzoyloxy-14 alpha,15 alpha-epoxy-5 alpha-cholest-7-ene (1) is a key intermediate in the synthesis of C-7 and C-15 oxygenated sterols. Treatment of 1 with benzoyl chloride resulted in the formation of 3 beta,15 alpha-bis-benzoyloxy-7 alpha-chloro-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene (2). Reaction of 2 with LiAlH4 or LiAlD4 resulted in the formation of 5 alpha-cholest-7-ene-3 beta,15 alpha-diol (3a) or [14 alpha-2H]5 alpha-cholest-7-ene-3 beta,15 alpha-diol (3b). Diol 3b was selectively oxidized by Ag2CO3/celite to [14 alpha-2H]5 alpha-cholest-7-en-15 alpha-ol-3-one (4). Treatment of 1 with MeMgI/CuI gave 7 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3 beta,15 alpha-diol (5). Selective oxidation of 5 with pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC)/pyridine or oxidation with PCC resulted in the formation of 7 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-3 beta-ol-15-one (6) and 7 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3,15-dione, respectively. Reduction of 6 with LiAlH4 yielded 5 and 7 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3 beta,15 beta-diol (6). Reaction of 1 with benzoic acid/pyridine gave 3 beta,7 alpha-bis-benzoyloxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15 alpha-ol (9). Treatment of 9 with LiAlH4 or ethanolic KOH resulted in the formation of 5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3 beta,7 alpha,15 alpha-triol (10). Dibenzoate 9, upon brief treatment with mineral acid, gave 3 beta-benzoyloxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-15-one (11). Oxidation of 9 with PCC yielded 3 beta,7 alpha-bis-benzoyloxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-15-one (12). Ketone 12 was also prepared by the selective hydride reduction of 5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-7 alpha-ol-3,15-dione (13) to give 5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3 beta,7 alpha-diol-15-one (14), which was then treated with benzoyl chloride to produce 12.

i-Assess: Evaluating the impact of electronic data capture for OSCE.

PubMed

Monteiro, Sandra; Sibbald, Debra; Coetzee, Karen

2018-04-01

Tablet-based assessments offer benefits over scannable-paper assessments; however, there is little known about the impact to the variability of assessment scores. Two studies were conducted to evaluate changes in rating technology. Rating modality (paper vs tablets) was manipulated between candidates (Study 1) and within candidates (Study 2). Average scores were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, Cronbach's alpha and generalizability theory. Post-hoc analyses included a Rasch analysis and McDonald's omega. Study 1 revealed a main effect of modality (F (1,152) = 25.06, p < 0.01). Average tablet-based scores were higher, (3.39/5, 95% CI = 3.28 to 3.51), compared with average scan-sheet scores (3.00/5, 95% CI = 2.90 to 3.11). Study 2 also revealed a main effect of modality (F (1, 88) = 15.64, p < 0.01), however, the difference was reduced to 2% with higher scan-sheet scores (3.36, 95% CI = 3.30 to 3.42) compared with tablet scores (3.27, 95% CI = 3.21 to 3.33). Internal consistency (alpha and omega) remained high (>0.8) and inter-station reliability remained constant (0.3). Rasch analyses showed no relationship between station difficulty and rating modality. Analyses of average scores may be misleading without an understanding of internal consistency and overall reliability of scores. Although updating to tablet-based forms did not result in systematic variations in scores, routine analyses ensured accurate interpretation of the variability of assessment scores. This study demonstrates the importance of ongoing program evaluation and data analysis.

Circulating and dietary omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and incidence of CVD in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

PubMed

de Oliveira Otto, Marcia C; Wu, Jason H Y; Baylin, Ana; Vaidya, Dhananjay; Rich, Stephen S; Tsai, Michael Y; Jacobs, David R; Mozaffarian, Dariush

2013-12-18

Dietary guidelines support intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in fish and vegetable oils. However, some controversy remains about benefits of PUFAs, and most prior studies have relied on self-reported dietary assessment in relatively homogeneous populations. In a multiethnic cohort of 2837 US adults (whites, Hispanics, African Americans, Chinese Americans), plasma phospholipid PUFAs were measured at baseline (2000-2002) using gas chromatography and dietary PUFAs estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) events (including coronary heart disease and stroke; n=189) were prospectively identified through 2010 during 19 778 person-years of follow-up. In multivariable-adjusted Cox models, circulating n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were inversely associated with incident CVD, with extreme-quartile hazard ratios (95% CIs) of 0.49 for eicosapentaenoic acid (0.30 to 0.79; Ptrend=0.01) and 0.39 for docosahexaenoic acid (0.22 to 0.67; Ptrend<0.001). n-3 Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) was inversely associated with CVD in whites and Chinese, but not in other race/ethnicities (P-interaction=0.01). No significant associations with CVD were observed for circulating n-3 alpha-linolenic acid or n-6 PUFA (linoleic acid, arachidonic acid). Associations with CVD of self-reported dietary PUFA were consistent with those of the PUFA biomarkers. All associations were similar across racial-ethnic groups, except those of docosapentaenoic acid. Both dietary and circulating eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, but not alpha-linolenic acid or n-6 PUFA, were inversely associated with CVD incidence. These findings suggest that increased consumption of n-3 PUFA from seafood may prevent CVD development in a multiethnic population.

Three dehalogenases and physiological restraints in the biodegradation of haloalkanes by Arthrobacter sp. strain HA1.

PubMed Central

Scholtz, R; Messi, F; Leisinger, T; Cook, A M

1988-01-01

Arthrobacter sp. strain HA1 utilizes 18 C2-to-C8 1-haloalkanes for growth and synthesizes an inducible 1-bromoalkane debrominase of unknown physiological function (R. Scholtz, T. Leisinger, F. Suter, and A.M. Cook, J. Bacteriol. 169:5016-5021, 1987) in addition to an inducible 1-chlorohexane halidohydrolase which dehalogenates some 50 substrates, including alpha, omega-dihaloalkanes. alpha, omega-Dihaloalkanes were utilized by cultures of strain HA1 under certain conditions only. C9 and C8 homologs prevented growth. At suitable concentrations, C7-to-C5 homologs could serve as sole sources of carbon and energy for growth. C4 and C3 homologs could be utilized only in the presence of a second substrate (e.g., butanol), and the C2 homolog was not degraded. Kinetics of growth and substrate utilization indicated that cells of strain HA1 growing in butanol-salts medium could be used to test whether compounds induced the 1-chlorohexane halidohydrolase. No gratuitous induction of synthesis of the enzyme was observed. Many enzyme substrates (e.g., bromobenzene) did not induce synthesis of the enzyme, though the enzyme sequence to degrade the product (phenol) was present. Some inducers (e.g., bromomethane) were enzyme substrates but not growth substrates. In an attempt to find a physiological role for the 1-bromoalkane debrominase, we observed that several long-chain haloaliphatic compounds (greater than C9; e.g., 1-bromohexadecane and 1-chlorohexadecane) were utilized for growth and that induced cells could dehalogenate several 1-haloalkanes (at least C4 to C16). The dehalogenation of the long-chain compounds could not be assayed in the cell extract, so we presume that a third haloalkane dehalogenase was present.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:3223767

Alpha Lipoic Acid Plus Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Vestibulodynia Associated With Painful Bladder Syndrome.

PubMed

Murina, Filippo; Graziottin, Alessandra; Felice, Raffaele; Gambini, Dania

2017-03-01

This study assessed the effectiveness of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) plus omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in combination with amitriptyline therapy in patients with vestibulodynia/painful bladder syndrome (VBD/PBS). Women with VBD/PBS were randomly assigned to receive amitriptyline or amitriptyline plus a commercially available preparation (ALAnerv Age; Alfa Wassermann, Bologna, Italy) containing, in 2 capsules, ALA 600 mg plus docosahexaenoic acid 250 mg and eicosapentaenoic acid 16.67 mg. Symptoms of burning and pain were assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale and the short form of the McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire. Among 84 women who were randomized, the mean ± standard deviation dose of amitriptyline was 21.7 ± 6.6 mg/day, without statistical difference between the two groups. Pain, as assessed using both the pain rating index of the visual analog scale and the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, decreased significantly in both trial groups, with a greater effect seen with the addition of ALA and n-3 PUFAs. The addition of ALA/n-3 PUFAs to amitriptyline treatment was also associated with improvements in dyspareunia and pelvic floor muscle tone. The overall incidence of adverse events was low, and none led to treatment discontinuation. The addition of ALA/n-3 PUFAs to amitriptyline treatment in patients with VBD/PBS appears to improve outcomes and may allow for a lower dosage of amitriptyline, which may lead to fewer adverse effects. Copyright © 2017 The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/La Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Unified Scaling Law in Spiral Galaxies.

PubMed

Koda; Sofue; Wada

2000-03-01

We investigate the origin of a unified scaling relation in spiral galaxies. Observed spiral galaxies are spread on a plane in the three-dimensional logarithmic space of luminosity L, radius R, and rotation velocity V. The plane is expressed as L~&parl0;VR&parr0;alpha in the I passband, where alpha is a constant. On the plane, observed galaxies are distributed in an elongated region which looks like the shape of a surfboard. The well-known scaling relations L-V (Tully-Fisher [TF] relation), V-R (also the TF relation), and R-L (Freeman's law) can be understood as oblique projections of the surfboard-like plane into two-dimensional spaces. This unified interpretation of the known scaling relations should be a clue to understand the physical origin of all the relations consistently. Furthermore, this interpretation can also explain why previous studies could not find any correlation between TF residuals and radius. In order to clarify the origin of this plane, we simulate formation and evolution of spiral galaxies with the N-body/smoothed particle hydrodynamics method, including cooling, star formation, and stellar feedback. Initial conditions are set to 14 isolated spheres with two free parameters, such as mass and angular momentum. The cold dark matter (h=0.5, Omega0=1) cosmology is considered as a test case. The simulations provide the following two conclusions: (1) The slope of the plane is well reproduced but the zero point is not. This zero-point discrepancy could be solved in a low-density (Omega0<1) and high-expansion (h>0.5) cosmology. (2) The surfboard-shaped plane can be explained by the control of galactic mass and angular momentum.

Chondrocyte heterogeneity: immunohistologically defined variation of integrin expression at different sites in human fetal knees.

PubMed

Salter, D M; Godolphin, J L; Gourlay, M S

1995-04-01

During development and at maturity different forms of cartilage vary in morphology and macromolecular content. This reflects heterogeneity of chondrocyte activity, in part involving differential interactions with the adjacent extracellular matrix via specialized cell surface receptors such as integrins. We undertook an immunohistological study on a series of human fetal knee joints to assess variation in the expression of integrins by chondrocytes and potential matrix ligands in articular, epiphyseal, growth plate, and meniscal cartilage. The results show that articular chondrocytes (beta 1+, beta 5 alpha V+, alpha 1+, alpha 2+/-, alpha 5+, weakly alpha 6+, alpha V+) differed from epiphyseal (beta 1+, beta 5 alpha V+, alpha 1+/-, alpha 2+/-, alpha 5+, alpha 6+, alpha V+) growth plate (beta 1+, beta 5 alpha V+, alpha 1-, alpha 2-, alpha 5+, alpha 6+, alpha V+), and meniscal cells (beta 1+, beta 5 alpha V+, alpha 1+, strongly alpha 2+, alpha 5+, alpha 6+, alpha V+ in expression of integrin subunits. There was no expression of beta 3, beta 4, beta 6, or alpha 3 by chondrocytes. These results differ from previous reports on the expression of integrins by adult articular cartilage, where alpha 2 and alpha 6 are not seen. Variation in distribution of matrix ligands was also seen. Fibronectin, laminin and Type VI collagen were expressed in all cartilages but there was restricted expression of tenascin, ED-A and ED-B fibronectin isoforms (articular cartilage and meniscus), and vitronectin (absent from growth plate cartilage). Regulated expression of integrins by chondrocytes, associated with changes in the pericellular matrix composition, is of potential importance in control of cartilage differentiation and function in health and disease.

A practical extension of hydrodynamic theory of porous transport for hydrophilic solutes.

PubMed

Bassingthwaighte, James B

2006-03-01

The equations for transport of hydrophilic solutes through aqueous pores provide a fundamental basis for examining capillary-tissue exchange and water and solute flux through transmembrane channels, but the theory remains incomplete for ratios, alpha, of sphere diameters to pore diameters greater than 0.4. Values for permeabilities, P, and reflection coefficients, sigma, from Lewellen, working with Lightfoot et al., at alpha = 0.5 and 0.95, were combined with earlier values for alpha < 0.4, and the physically required values at alpha = 1.0, to provide accurate expressions over the whole range of 0 < alpha < 1. The "data" were the long-accepted theory for alpha < 0.2 and the computational results from Lewellen and Lightfoot et al. on hard spheres (of 5 different alpha's) moving by convection and diffusion through a tight cylindrical pore, accounting for molecular exclusion, viscous forces, pressure drop, torque and rotation of spheres off the center line (averaging across all accessible radial positions), and the asymptotic values at alpha = 1.0. Coefficients for frictional hindrance to diffusion, F(alpha), and drag, G(alpha), and functions for sigma(alpha) and P(alpha), were represented by power law functions and the parameters optimized to give best fits to the combined "data." The reflection coefficient sigma = {1 - [1 - (1 - phi)2]G'(alpha)} + 2alpha2 phi F'(alpha), and the relative permeability P/Pmax = phi F '(alpha)[1 + 9alpha5.5 x (1.0 - alpha5)0.02], where phi is the partition coefficient or volume fraction of the pore available to solute. The new expression for the diffusive hindrance is F'(alpha) = (1 - alpha2)(3/2) phi/[1 + 0.2 x alpha2 x (1 - alpha2)16], and for the drag factor is G'(alpha) = (1 - 2alpha(2)/3 - 0.20217 alpha5)/(1 - 0.75851 alpha5) - 0.0431[1 - (1 - alpha10)]. All of these converge monotonically to the correct limits at alpha = 1. These are the first expressions providing hydrodynamically based estimates of sigma(alpha) and P(alpha) over 0 < alpha < 1 They should be accurate to within 1-2%.

Internal velocity and mass distributions in simulated clusters of galaxies for a variety of cosmogonic models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cen, Renyue

1994-01-01

The mass and velocity distributions in the outskirts (0.5-3.0/h Mpc) of simulated clusters of galaxies are examined for a suite of cosmogonic models (two Omega(sub 0) = 1 and two Omega(sub 0) = 0.2 models) utilizing large-scale particle-mesh (PM) simulations. Through a series of model computations, designed to isolate the different effects, we find that both Omega(sub 0) and P(sub k) (lambda less than or = 16/h Mpc) are important to the mass distributions in clusters of galaxies. There is a correlation between power, P(sub k), and density profiles of massive clusters; more power tends to point to the direction of a stronger correlation between alpha and M(r less than 1.5/h Mpc); i.e., massive clusters being relatively extended and small mass clusters being relatively concentrated. A lower Omega(sub 0) universe tends to produce relatively concentrated massive clusters and relatively extended small mass clusters compared to their counterparts in a higher Omega(sub 0) model with the same power. Models with little (initial) small-scale power, such as the hot dark matter (HDM) model, produce more extended mass distributions than the isothermal distribution for most of the mass clusters. But the cold dark matter (CDM) models show mass distributions of most of the clusters more concentrated than the isothermal distribution. X-ray and gravitational lensing observations are beginning providing useful information on the mass distribution in and around clusters; some interesting constraints on Omega(sub 0) and/or the (initial) power of the density fluctuations on scales lambda less than or = 16/h Mpc (where linear extrapolation is invalid) can be obtained when larger observational data sets, such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, become available.

[CONSUMPTION OF OMEGA- 3 FATTY ACIDS AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM SONORA, MEXICO].

PubMed

Rubi Vargas, María; González Lomelí, Daniel; Terrazas Medina, Efraín A; Peralta Peña, Sandra L; Jordán Jinez, Ma Lourdes; Ruiz Paloalto, Ma Laura; Cupul Uicab, Lea A

2015-10-01

recent studies suggest that low serum levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 are associated with a higher prevalence of depression. to evaluate whether low consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in a sample of college students from the Northwest of Mexico, and to assess the potential effect modification by alcohol consumption. we conducted a cross-sectional study in a sample of 706 college students (males and females) aged 18 to 24. The presence of depressive symptoms was identified with the Depression Scale of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies (CES-D), using a cutoff point of ≥ 24. The intake of omega-3 was obtained by a food frequency questionnaire validated for Mexican population. We estimated the weekly intake of alpha-linolenic fatty acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) derived from the diet in mg/g of food. The association between omega-3 from diet and the presence of depressive symptoms was assessed using logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. 67% of the participants were females; 16.6% were classified as having depressive symptoms. A low intake of ALA and EPA + DHA was not associated with depressive symptoms before and after adjusting for confounders. Median levels of ALA (from nuts only) were significantly lower among those with depressive symptoms compared to those without these symptoms. in this population of Mexican college students, a low intake of omega-3 fatty acids was not associated with depressive symptoms. The potential association between nut consumption and depressive symptoms deserve more attention. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

Modulation of gene expression by alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl phosphate in thp-1 monocytes

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The naturally occurring vitamin E analogue, alpha-tocopheryl phosphate (alphaTP), has been reported to be more potent than the un-phosphorylated alpha alpha-tocopherol (alphaT). We have now measured plasma levels of alphaTP and compared the cellular effects of alphaTP and gamma-tocopheryl phosphate ...

A xanthine-based epithelium-dependent airway relaxant KMUP-3 (7-[2-[4-(4-nitrobenzene)piperazinyl]ethyl]-1,3-dimethylxanthine) increases respiratory performance and protects against tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced tracheal contraction, involving nitric oxide release and expression of cGMP and protein kinase G.

PubMed

Lin, Rong-Jyh; Wu, Bin-Nan; Lo, Yi-Ching; An, Li-Mei; Dai, Zen-Kong; Lin, Young-Tso; Tang, Chao-Shun; Chen, Ing-Jun

2006-02-01

KMUP-3 (7-[2-[4-(4-nitrobenzene)piperazinyl]ethyl]-1,3-dimethylxanthine) was investigated in guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle. Intratracheal instillation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (0.01 mg/kg/300 microl) induced bronchoconstriction, increases of lung resistance, and decreases of dynamic lung compliance. Instillation of KMUP-3 (0.5-2.0 mg/kg) reversed this situation. In isolated trachea precontracted with carbachol, KMUP-3 (10-100 microM)-caused relaxations were attenuated by epithelium removal and by pretreatments with an inhibitor of K(+) channel, tetraethylammonium (10 mm); K(ATP) channel, glibenclamide (1 microM); voltage-dependent K(+) channel, 4-aminopyridine (100 microM); Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channel, charybdotoxin (0.1 microM) or apamin (1 microM); soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1one (ODQ, 1 microM); nitric-oxide (NO) synthase, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 microM); and adenylate cyclase, SQ 22536 [9-(terahydro-2-furanyl)-9H-purin-6-amine] (100 microM). KMUP-3 (0.01-100 microM) induced increases of cGMP and cAMP in primary culture of tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs). The increase in cGMP by KMUP-3 was reduced by ODQ and L-NAME; the increase in cAMP was reduced by SQ 22536. Western blot analysis indicated that KMUP-3 (1 microM) induced expression of protein kinase A (PKA)(ri) and protein kinase G (PKG)(1alpha 1beta) in TSMCs.SQ 22536 inhibited KMUP-3-induced expression of (PKA)(ri). On the contrary, ODQ inhibited KMUP-3-induced expression of PKG(1alpha 1beta) In epithelium-intact trachea, KMUP-3 increased the NO release. Activation of sGC, NO release, and inhibition of phosphodiesterases in TSMCs by KMUP-3 may result in increases of intracellular cGMP and cAMP, which subsequently activate PKG and PKA, efflux of K(+) ion, and associated reduction in Ca(2+) influx in vitro, indicating the action mechanism to protect against TNF-alpha-induced airway dysfunction in vivo.

Structural and superionic properties of Ag+-rich ternary phases within the AgI-MI2 systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hull, S.; Keen, D. A.; Berastegui, P.

2002-12-01

The effects of temperature on the crystal structure and ionic conductivity of the compounds Ag2CdI4, Ag2ZnI4 and Ag3SnI5 have been investigated by powder diffraction and impedance spectroscopy techniques. varepsilon-Ag2CdI4 adopts a tetragonal crystal structure under ambient conditions and abrupt increases in the ionic conductivity are observed at 407(2), 447(3) and 532(4) K, consistent with the sequence of transitions varepsilon-Ag2CdI 4 rightarrow beta-Ag2CdI 4 + beta-AgI + CdI2 rightarrow alpha-AgI + CdI2 rightarrow alpha-Ag2CdI4. Hexagonal beta-Ag2CdI4 is metastable at ambient temperature. The ambient-temperature beta phase of Ag2ZnI4 is orthorhombic and the structures of beta-Ag2CdI4 and beta-Ag2ZnI4 can, respectively, be considered as ordered derivatives of the wurtzite (beta) and zincblende (gamma) phases of AgI. On heating Ag2ZnI4, there is a 12-fold increase in ionic conductivity at 481(1) K and a further eightfold increase at 542(3) K. These changes result from decomposition of beta-Ag2ZnI4 into alpha-AgI + ZnI2, followed by the appearance of superionic alpha-Ag2ZnI4 at the higher temperature. The hexagonal crystal structure of alpha-Ag2ZnI4 is a dynamically disordered counterpart to the beta modification. Ag3SnI5 is only stable at temperatures in excess of 370(3) K and possesses a relatively high ionic conductivity (sigma approx 0.19Omega-1 cm-1 at 420 K) due to dynamic disorder of the Ag+ and Sn2+ within a cubic close packed I- sublattice. The implications of these findings for the wider issue of high ionic conductivity in AgI-MI2 compounds is discussed, with reference to recently published studies of Ag4PbI6 and Ag2HgI4 and new data for the temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity of the latter compound.

Reduced bone breakage and increased bone strength in free range laying hens fed omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplemented diets.

PubMed

Tarlton, John F; Wilkins, Lindsay J; Toscano, Michael J; Avery, Nick C; Knott, Lynda

2013-02-01

The omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are the immediate precursors to a number of important mediators of immunity, inflammation and bone function, with products of omega-6 generally thought to promote inflammation and favour bone resorption. Western diets generally provide a 10 to 20-fold deficit in omega-3 PUFAs compared with omega-6, and this is thought to have contributed to the marked rise in incidence of disorders of modern human societies, such as heart disease, colitis and perhaps osteoporosis. Many of our food production animals, fed on grains rich in omega-6, are also exposed to a dietary deficit in omega-3, with perhaps similar health consequences. Bone fragility due to osteoporotic changes in laying hens is a major economic and welfare problem, with our recent estimates of breakage rates indicating up to 95% of free range hens suffer breaks during lay. Free range hens housed in full scale commercial systems were provided diets supplemented with omega-3 alpha linolenic acid, and the skeletal benefits were investigated by comparison to standard diets rich in omega-6. There was a significant 40-60% reduction in keel bone breakage rate, and a corresponding reduction in breakage severity in the omega-3 supplemented hens. There was significantly greater bone density and bone mineral content, alongside increases in total bone and trabecular volumes. The mechanical properties of the omega-3 supplemented hens were improved, with strength, energy to break and stiffness demonstrating significant increases. Alkaline phosphatase (an osteoblast marker) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (an osteoclast marker) both showed significant increases with the omega-3 diets, indicating enhanced bone turnover. This was corroborated by the significantly lower levels of the mature collagen crosslinks, hydroxylysyl pyridinoline, lysyl pyridinoline and histidinohydroxy-lysinonorleucine, with a corresponding significant shift in the mature:immature crosslink ratio. The improved skeletal health in laying hens corresponds to as many as 68million fewer hens suffering keel fractures in the EU each year. The biomechanical and biochemical evidence suggests that increased bone turnover has enhanced the bone mechanical properties, and that this may suggest potential benefits for human osteoporosis. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

THE LYMAN ALPHA REFERENCE SAMPLE: EXTENDED LYMAN ALPHA HALOS PRODUCED AT LOW DUST CONTENT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hayes, Matthew; Oestlin, Goeran; Duval, Florent

2013-03-10

We report on new imaging observations of the Lyman alpha emission line (Ly{alpha}), performed with the Hubble Space Telescope, that comprise the backbone of the Lyman alpha Reference Sample. We present images of 14 starburst galaxies at redshifts 0.028 < z < 0.18 in continuum-subtracted Ly{alpha}, H{alpha}, and the far ultraviolet continuum. We show that Ly{alpha} is emitted on scales that systematically exceed those of the massive stellar population and recombination nebulae: as measured by the Petrosian 20% radius, R{sub P20}, Ly{alpha} radii are larger than those of H{alpha} by factors ranging from 1 to 3.6, with an average ofmore » 2.4. The average ratio of Ly{alpha}-to-FUV radii is 2.9. This suggests that much of the Ly{alpha} light is pushed to large radii by resonance scattering. Defining the Relative Petrosian Extension of Ly{alpha} compared to H{alpha}, {xi}{sub Ly{alpha}} = R {sup Ly{alpha}}{sub P20}/R {sup H{alpha}}{sub P20}, we find {xi}{sub Ly{alpha}} to be uncorrelated with total Ly{alpha} luminosity. However, {xi}{sub Ly{alpha}} is strongly correlated with quantities that scale with dust content, in the sense that a low dust abundance is a necessary requirement (although not the only one) in order to spread Ly{alpha} photons throughout the interstellar medium and drive a large extended Ly{alpha} halo.« less

[The effects of Omega-3 fatty acids in clinical medicine].

PubMed

Reiner, Martin F; Stivala, Simona; Camici, Giovanni G; Beer, Jürg H

2014-03-12

Effects of Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) in particular on the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are of major interest. Many experimental studies reported their anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and anti-atherosclerotic properties and suggested favourable effects on the prevention of CVD. While the majority of former studies showed a benefit of n-3 FA acid intake, recent clinical trials using n-3 supplements on top of established medication and prudent nutrition did not confirm these findings. The conflicting data may be due to several factors such as the selection of study population with different sizes or characteristics as well as choosing different doses or types of n-3 FA. The most recent meta-analyses observed clear benefits of fish consumption, but not of n-3 capsules intake. Furthermore, a nutrition rich in plant-derived n-3 FA alpha-linolenic acid has been found to have beneficial effects on the development of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases.

Integrin expression and integrin-mediated adhesion in vitro of human multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) to endothelial cells from various blood vessels.

PubMed

Semon, Julie A; Nagy, Lauren H; Llamas, Claire B; Tucker, H Alan; Lee, Ryang Hwa; Prockop, Darwin J

2010-07-01

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) home to damaged tissue by processes partly regulated by integrins. Integrin subunits expressed by MSCs were identified by flow cytometry (FC), immunocytochemistry (IC), and a panel of integrin-binding antibodies. In subconfluent cultures, over 80% of MSCs expressed integrin subunits beta1, beta2, and alpha3, 20%-55% expressed alpha1, alpha2, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6, and alphaV, and about 10% expressed beta3 when assayed by FC. None of the cells expressed significant levels of 13 other integrins as assayed by FC, but seven of the 13 integrins were detected by IC: beta5, alpha7, alpha8, alpha9, alpha11, alphaX, and alphaD. Expression of some integrins changed with MSC confluency: integrins beta3, alpha1, alpha3, alpha5, and alphaV increased, and alpha6 decreased. Furthermore, alpha4 was the only integrin to vary among preparations of MSCs from different donors. The results resolved some discrepancies in the literature concerning integrin expression by MSCs. We also investigated the role of specific integrins in MSC adhesion to endothelial cells (ECs) from the pulmonary artery (HPAEC), cardiac-derived microvasculature (HMVEC-C), and umbilical veins (HUVEC). In experiments with blocking antibodies to beta integrins, anti-beta5 reduced MSC adhesion to all types of ECs, anti-beta1 to both HUVEC and HPAEC, anti-beta3 to HUVEC, and anti-beta2 to HMVEC-C. With blocking antibodies to alpha integrins, anti-alphaX reduced adhesion to HPAEC and HMVEC-C, anti-alphaV to HPAEC, and both anti-alpha7 and anti-alphaD to HMVEC-C. Thus, MSCs use diverse integrins to adhere to EC from various blood vessels in vitro.

Role of the C-terminal extensions of alpha-crystallins. Swapping the C-terminal extension of alpha-crystallin to alphaB-crystallin results in enhanced chaperone activity.

PubMed

Pasta, Saloni Yatin; Raman, Bakthisaran; Ramakrishna, Tangirala; Rao, Ch Mohan

2002-11-29

Several small heat shock proteins contain a well conserved alpha-crystallin domain, flanked by an N-terminal domain and a C-terminal extension, both of which vary in length and sequence. The structural and functional role of the C-terminal extension of small heat shock proteins, particularly of alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins, is not well understood. We have swapped the C-terminal extensions between alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins and generated two novel chimeric proteins, alphaABc and alphaBAc. We have investigated the domain-swapped chimeras for structural and functional alterations. We have used thermal and non-thermal models of protein aggregation and found that the chimeric alphaB with the C-terminal extension of alphaA-crystallin, alphaBAc, exhibits dramatically enhanced chaperone-like activity. Interestingly, however, the chimeric alphaA with the C-terminal extension of alphaB-crystallin, alphaABc, has almost lost its activity. Pyrene solubilization and bis-1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate binding studies show that alphaBAc exhibits more solvent-exposed hydrophobic pockets than alphaA, alphaB, or alphaABc. Significant tertiary structural changes are revealed by tryptophan fluorescence and near-UV CD studies upon swapping the C-terminal extensions. The far-UV CD spectrum of alphaBAc differs from that of alphaB-crystallin whereas that of alphaABc overlaps with that of alphaA-crystallin. Gel filtration chromatography shows alteration in the size of the proteins upon swapping the C-terminal extensions. Our study demonstrates that the unstructured C-terminal extensions play a crucial role in the structure and chaperone activity, in addition to generally believed electrostatic "solubilizer" function.

Synthesis of 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,25-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-24-one, an intermediate in the 25-hydroxylation pathway of cholic acid biosynthesis from cholesterol.

PubMed

Dayal, B; Tint, G S; Batta, A K; Shefer, S; Salen, G; Bose, A K; Pramanik, B N

1983-02-01

This paper describes the chemical synthesis of 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,25-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-24-one via selective oxidation of 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha, 24 xi,25-pentol with silver carbonate on celite. The structure of this 24-keto bile alcohol was confirmed by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Synthesis of this compound via pyridinium chlorochromate oxidation of the triacetoxy derivative of 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24 xi,25-pentol followed by saponification further established its structure. 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,25-Tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-24-one was required for the in vivo and in vitro studies of side-chain oxidation and cleavage in the 25-hydroxylation pathway of cholic acid biosynthesis.

Involvement of 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the maintenance of pregnancy in mice.

PubMed

Choi, Jae-hyek; Ishida, Maho; Matsuwaki, Takashi; Yamanouchi, Keitaro; Nishihara, Masugi

2008-12-01

The enzyme 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20alpha-HSD) catabolizes progesterone into a biologically inactive steroid, 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone (20alpha-OHP). In the corpora lutea of rats and mice, 20alpha-HSD is considered to be involved in functional luteolysis. It is also distributed in other tissues including the placenta, endometrial epithelia and fetal skin, although the roles it plays in these tissues remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the role of 20alpha-HSD in the maintenance of pregnancy using mice with targeted disruption of the 20alpha-HSD gene. We first confirmed that the number of pups was significantly smaller in 20alpha-HSD-/- pairs than in 20alpha-HSD+/+ pairs. We then mated 20alpha-HSD+/- males and females so that each pregnant female produced 20alpha-HSD+/+, 20alpha-HSD+/- and 20alpha-HSD-/- offspring. The genotype ratio of the offspring did not match the Mendel's law of inheritance, and the numbers of 20alpha-HSD+/- and 20alpha-HSD-/- offspring were smaller than expected values. Although the genotype ratio of fetuses on days 13, 15 and 18 of pregnancy matched the Mendel's law, the total number of fetuses on day 18 was significantly smaller than that on day 13, suggesting that fetal loss occurred during late pregnancy. Next, we transferred 20alpha-HSD+/+ embryos to 20alpha-HSD+/+ or 20alpha-HSD-/- females and found that the number of offspring was significantly smaller in 20alpha-HSD-/- dams than in 20alpha-HSD+/+ dams. Expression of 20alpha-HSD mRNA in the fetus, placenta and uterus progressively increased from day 11 to 18 of pregnancy. In addition, concentrations of progesterone were significantly higher in the 20alpha-HSD-/- fetuses than in the 20alpha-HSD+/+ fetuses, while those of 20alpha-OHP were lower in the 20alpha-HSD-/- fetuses than in the 20alpha-HSD+/+ fetuses. These results suggest that both maternal and fetal 20alpha-HSD play a role in maintaining normal pregnancy at least partially by reducing progesterone concentrations in fetuses.

Blood and tissue tocopherol levels in rats following intraperitoneally administered alpha-tocopheryl acetate.

PubMed

McGee, C D; Greenwood, C E; Jeejeebhoy, K N

1990-01-01

The correction or maintenance of blood and tissue alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) levels by intraperitoneally administered all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (alpha-Tac) was compared with RRR- alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) in vitamin E-depleted and control rats. Rats received 1.3 TE vitamin E daily for 7 days. alpha-Tac was detected in plasma of one-third of alpha-Tac-treated rats 24 hr after the first treatment, although not in subsequent samplings. Both alpha-Tac and alpha-Toc increased tocopherol levels in plasma and liver of E-deprived rats, while little or no change was observed in adipose tissue and brain. Similarly, control rats treated with alpha-Tac or alpha-Toc had significantly greater (p less than 0.05) plasma and liver alpha-Toc levels at day 3 and day 7 than did saline-treated rats. There was no significant difference in adipose alpha-Toc levels among treatment groups of control rats. The results of this study suggest that alpha-Tac is rapidly hydrolyzed to its biologically active alcohol form and results in similar effects to that of intraperitoneally administered alpha-Toc.

Chemical conversion of corticosteroids to 3 alpha,5 alpha-tetrahydro derivatives. Synthesis of 5 alpha-cortol 3-glucuronides and 5 alpha-cortolone 3-glucuronides.

PubMed

Hosoda, H; Osanai, K; Nambara, T

1991-12-01

The synthesis of the 3-glucuronides of 5 alpha-cortol-20 alpha, 5 alpha-cortolone-20 alpha and their 20 beta-epimers is described. The 5 alpha-cortol 20,21-diacetates (12, 17) and 5 alpha-cortolone 20,21-diacetates (14, 19) were the key intermediates. Sodium borohydride reduction of the carbonyl group at C-20 in 5 alpha-tetrahydrocortisol 3-tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether 17,21-acetonide (8) gave the 20 alpha-hydroxy-acetonide (9). Selective removal of the acetonide ring was successful when the 20 alpha-acetoxy-17 alpha,21-acetonide (10) was treated with 50% acetic acid. Subsequent acetylation with acetic anhydride in pyridine, followed by removal of the protecting group at C-3 in the silyl ether-acetate (11) gave the desired 20 alpha-intermediate (12). The 11-ketone (14) was prepared from 11 by oxidation with pyridinium chlorochromate, followed by desilylation. The 20 beta-acetates (17, 19) were synthesized from 21-acetoxy-3 alpha,11 beta,17 alpha-trihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one 3-tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether (15). Introduction of the glucuronyl residue at C-3 was carried out by means of the Koenigs-Knorr reaction.

[Fat component in the diet and providing with fat-soluble vitamins].

PubMed

Kodentsova, V M; Kochetkova, A A; Smirnova, E A; Sarkisyan, V A; Bessonov, V V

2014-01-01

Information about the content of polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) and vitamin E and D in fish, vegetable oils, trend data on consumption of the main fat products, the consumption of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids by patients with diseases which risk factor is the excessive consumption of fat and insufficient content of PUFA omega-3 in the diet. Nutrition of the Russian population is characterized by excessive consumption of fat, including saturated fatty acids. Despite increased consumption of PUFA at the present time the ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in the diet is not optimal. This is due to high consumption of vegetable oils (mainly sunflower oil), that are the major source of alpha-lino- lenic acid, only a small portion of which is converted in the body into DHA and EPA, and insufficient consumption offish and seafood containing a high level of DHA and EPA. Taking into account the data that inadequate intake of PUFA omega-3 is a risk factor for many nutrition-related diseases, there is no doubt necessary to modify the fat component of the diet. But the problems arise how to select the source of PUFA and avoid possible unwanted effects. Enrichment of the diet with PUFA omega-3 by inclusion offish oil and/ or linseed oil in the diet may lead to a deterioration of sufficiency with vitamin E. The way out of this situation is to create a fat module containing several fats and tocopherol, that will prevent the peroxidation of fat components of the product and prevent the deterioration of sufficiency with vitamin E.

alpha-Adrenergic-mediated activation of human reconstituted fibrinogen receptor (integrin alphaIIbbeta3) in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

PubMed

Butta, Nora; Larrucea, Susana; Gonzalez-Manchon, Consuelo; Alonso, Sonia; Parrilla, Roberto

2004-12-01

This work reports the functional studies of CHO cells coexpressing alpha-adrenergic (alphaAR) and human fibrinogen (Fg) receptors (integrin alphaIIbbeta3). Stimulation of these cells with alpha-agonists produced a transient rise in the free cytosolic calcium (Ca(++)) accompanied by enhanced binding to soluble Fg, and these effects were prevented by specific alphaAR antagonists. The alpha-adrenergic-induced activation of alphaIIbbeta3 in CHO-alphaIIbbeta3-alphaAR increased the rate of adhesion and extension of cells onto Fg coated plates, and also induced a soluble Fg- and alphaIIbbeta3-dependent formation of cell aggregates, whereas no effects were observed by the stimulation of CHO-alphaIIbbeta3 cells. alpha-Adrenergic antagonists, the ligand mimetic peptide RGDS, pertussis toxin (PTX), or EDTA, they all prevented the alpha-adrenergic stimulation of adhesion and aggregation. However, inhibition of PKC prevented the alpha-adrenergic stimulation of cell adherence, whereas blocking the intracellular Ca(++) mobilization impeded the stimulation of cell aggregation. The alpha-adrenergic activation was associated with phosphorylation of a protein of approximately 100 kDa and proteins of the MAPK family. The former was selectively phosphorylated by alpha-adrenergic stimulation whereas the latter were phosphorylated by the binding of cells to Fg and markedly intensified by alpha-adrenergic stimulation.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Popp, R.A.; Lalley, P.A.; Whitney, J.B.

A genetic polymorphism for a Bgl I endonuclease site near the ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogene ..cap alpha..-4 of C57BL/6 and C3H/HeN mice was used to show that ..cap alpha..-4 was not affected by three independent mutations in which the adult globin genes ..cap alpha..-1 and ..cap alpha..-2 were deleted. These results indicated that ..cap alpha..-4 might not be located adjacent to the adult ..cap alpha..-globin genes on chromosome 11. Restriction endonuclease analysis of DNA of a primary clone of a Chinese hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrid that had lost mouse chromosomes 11 and 18 showed that this clone lacked the adult murinemore » globin genes ..cap alpha..-1 and ..cap alpha..-2 but it did contain the ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogenes ..cap alpha..-3 and ..cap alpha..-4. These results indicated that the adult ..cap alpha..-globin genes and ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogenes are not located on the same chromosome. Similar analyses of several other Chinese hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids that had segregated other mouse chromosomes indicated that the ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogenes ..cap alpha..-3 and ..cap alpha..-4 are located on mouse chromosomes 15 and 17, respectively. These data explain why ..cap alpha..-3 and ..cap alpha..-4 were not affected by the three independently induced deletion-type mutations that cause ..cap alpha..-thalassemia in the mouse.« less

Urokinase plasminogen activator mRNA is induced by IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha in in vitro acantholysis.

PubMed

Feliciani, Claudio; Toto, Paola; Wang, Binghe; Sauder, Daniel N; Amerio, Pierluigi; Tulli, Antonio

2003-08-01

The role of urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) has been well documented in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Activation of plasminogen into active serine protease plasmin initiates extracellular proteolysis leading to acantholysis but the mechanisms underlying this process are not clearly understood. We have previously shown that keratinocyte derived cytokines IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha are involved in PV-induced acantholysis. In the present study we sought to examine whether keratinocyte-derived IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha are correlated with uPA induction in keratinocytes during acantholysis. Normal human keratinocytes were incubated with diluted PV serum. mRNAs for IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha and uPA were examined with RT-PCR at various time points and acantholysis was measured. IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha and uPA mRNAs were all induced in keratinocytes following PV serum stimulation; IL-1alpha/TNF-alpha mRNAs' expression was earlier than the expression of uPA mRNA. To further examine the role of IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha and uPA in acantholysis, we performed antibody blocking studies. Anti-IL-1alpha, anti-TNF-alpha and anti-uPA antibodies suppressed acantholysis by 76%, 80% and 90%, respectively. In addition, anti-IL-1alpha and anti-TNF-alpha antibodies inhibited uPA mRNA induction, whereas anti-uPA antibodies did not alter IL-1alpha/TNF-alpha mRNAs' expression. Our results confirm the role of uPA in acantholysis and suggest an involvement of IL-1alpha/TNF-alpha in uPA induction.

Numerical Modeling of Tidal Effects in Polytropic Accretion Disks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Godon, Patrick

1997-01-01

A two-dimensional time-dependent hybrid Fourier-Chebyshev method of collocation is developed and used for the study of tidal effects in accretion disks, under the assumptions of a polytropic equation of state and a standard alpha viscosity prescription. Under the influence of the m = 1 azimuthal component of the tidal potential, viscous oscillations in the outer disk excite an m = 1 eccentric instability in the disk. While the m = 2 azimuthal component of the tidal potential excites a Papaloizou-Pringle instability in the inner disk (a saturated m = 2 azimuthal mode), with an elliptic pattern rotating at about a fraction (approx. = 1/3) of the local Keplerian velocity in the inner disk. The period of the elliptic mode corresponds well to the periods of the short-period oscillations observed in cataclysmic variables. In cold disks (r(Omega)/c(sub s) = M approx. = 40) we also find a critical value of the viscosity parameter (alpha approx. = 0.01), below which shock dissipation dominates and is balanced by the wave amplification due to the wave action conservation. In this case the double spiral shock propagates all the way to the inner boundary with a Mach number M(sub s) approx. = 1.3.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

DAI,YANG; BORISOV,ALEXEY B.; LONGWORTH,JAMES W.

The construction of inverse states in a finite field F{sub P{sub P{alpha}}} enables the organization of the mass scale by associating particle states with residue class designations. With the assumption of perfect flatness ({Omega}total = 1.0), this approach leads to the derivation of a cosmic seesaw congruence which unifies the concepts of space and mass. The law of quadratic reciprocity profoundly constrains the subgroup structure of the multiplicative group of units F{sub P{sub {alpha}}}* defined by the field. Four specific outcomes of this organization are (1) a reduction in the computational complexity of the mass state distribution by a factormore » of {approximately}10{sup 30}, (2) the extension of the genetic divisor concept to the classification of subgroup orders, (3) the derivation of a simple numerical test for any prospective mass number based on the order of the integer, and (4) the identification of direct biological analogies to taxonomy and regulatory networks characteristic of cellular metabolism, tumor suppression, immunology, and evolution. It is generally concluded that the organizing principle legislated by the alliance of quadratic reciprocity with the cosmic seesaw creates a universal optimized structure that functions in the regulation of a broad range of complex phenomena.« less

Control of VR-7 Dynamic Stall by Strong Steady Blowing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weaver, D.; McAlister, K. W.; Tso, J.

2004-01-01

An experiment was performed in a water tunnel on a Boeing-Vertol VR-7 airfoil to study the effects of tangential blowing over the upper surface. Blowing was applied at the quarter-chord location during sinusoidal pitching oscillations described by alpha = alpha(sub m) + 10 deg sin omega t. Results were obtained for a Reynolds number of 1 x 10(exp 5), mean angles of 10 and 15 deg, reduced frequencies ranging from 0.005 to 0.15, and blowing rates from C(sub mu) = 0.16 to 0.66. Unsteady lift, drag, and pitching moment loads are reported, along with fluorescent-dye flow visualizations. Strong steady blowing was found to prevent the bursting of the leading-edge separation bubble at several test points. When this occurred, the lift was increased significantly, stall was averted, and the shape of the moment response showed a positive damping in pitch. In almost all cases, steady blowing reduced the hysteresis amplitudes present in the loads, but the benefits diminished as the reduced frequency and mean angle of oscillation increased. A limited number of pulsed blowing cases indicated that for low blowing rates, the greatest gains were achieved at F(sup +) = 0.9.

Glutamine metabolism and cycling in Neurospora crassa.

PubMed Central

Mora, J

1990-01-01

Evidence for the existence of a glutamine cycle in Neurospora crassa is reviewed. Through this cycle glutamine is converted into glutamate by glutamate synthase and catabolized by the glutamine transaminase-omega-amidase pathway, the products of which (2-oxoglutarate and ammonium) are the substrates for glutamate dehydrogenase-NADPH, which synthesizes glutamate. In the final step ammonium is assimilated into glutamine by the action of a glutamine synthetase (GS), which is formed by two distinct polypeptides, one catalytically very active (GS beta), and the other (GS alpha) less active but endowed with the capacity to modulate the activity of GS alpha. Glutamate synthase uses the amide nitrogen of glutamine to synthesize glutamate; glutamate dehydrogenase uses ammonium, and both are required to maintain the level of glutamate. The energy expended in the synthesis of glutamine drives the cycle. The glutamine cycle is not futile, because it is necessary to drive an effective carbon flow to support growth; in addition, it facilitates the allocation of nitrogen or carbon according to cellular demands. The glutamine cycle which dissipates energy links catabolism and anabolism and, in doing so, buffers variations in the nutrient supply and drives energy generation and carbon flow for optimal cell function. PMID:2145504

Early predictors of career achievement in academic medicine.

PubMed

Brancati, F L; Mead, L A; Levine, D M; Martin, D; Margolis, S; Klag, M J

1992-03-11

To identify early personal and scholastic factors that predict academic career choice and long-term career achievement among academic physicians. A longitudinal cohort study. Nine hundred forty-four male physicians who graduated from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, from 1948 through 1964. Career achievement outcomes included attained faculty rank in 1990 and the number of citations (20 to 24 years after graduation) to published work. Of the 944 physicians, 424 (45%) had chosen academic careers. Scholastic performance and research experience in medical school were independently associated with having chosen an academic career (P less than .001). Among academicians, higher attained rank in 1990 was independently associated with the following: (1) membership in Alpha Omega Alpha (relative risk [RR] = 4.94, P = .0001); (2) rank in the top third of the graduating class (RR = 2.68, P = .01); and (3) research experience in medical school (RR = 3.11, P = .0001). These three factors were also independently associated with more citations to participants' published work (P less than .05). These data suggest that scholastic performance and research experience during medical school predict career achievement in academic medicine over 20 years in the future.

Distribution of alpha3, alpha5 and alpha(v) integrin subunits in mature and immature human oocytes.

PubMed

Capmany, G; Mart, M; Santaló, J; Bolton, V N

1998-10-01

The distribution of three integrin subunits, alpha3, alpha5 and alpha(v), in immature and mature human oocytes has been examined using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. The results demonstrate that both alpha5 and alpha(v) are present at the germinal vesicle stage, while alpha3 was only detected in oocytes after germinal vesicle breakdown, in metaphase I and II stage oocytes. The cortical concentration of integrin subunits alpha3 and alpha5 is consistent with their localization in the oolemma. In contrast, the homogeneous distribution of alpha(v) throughout the oocyte suggests the existence of cytoplasmic reservoirs of this protein in the oocyte.

DNA-binding activity of TNF-{alpha} inducing protein from Helicobacter pylori

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuzuhara, T.; Suganuma, M.; Oka, K.

2007-11-03

Tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} (TNF-{alpha}) inducing protein (Tip{alpha}) is a carcinogenic factor secreted from Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), mediated through both enhanced expression of TNF-{alpha} and chemokine genes and activation of nuclear factor-{kappa}B. Since Tip{alpha} enters gastric cancer cells, the Tip{alpha} binding molecules in the cells should be investigated. The direct DNA-binding activity of Tip{alpha} was observed by pull down assay using single- and double-stranded genomic DNA cellulose. The surface plasmon resonance assay, indicating an association between Tip{alpha} and DNA, revealed that the affinity of Tip{alpha} for (dGdC)10 is 2400 times stronger than that of del-Tip{alpha}, an inactive Tip{alpha}. This suggestsmore » a strong correlation between DNA-binding activity and carcinogenic activity of Tip{alpha}. And the DNA-binding activity of Tip{alpha} was first demonstrated with a molecule secreted from H. pylori.« less

Interconversion of the Specificities of Human Lysosomal Enzymes Associated with Fabry and Schindler Diseases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tomasic, Ivan B.; Metcalf, Matthew C.; Guce, Abigail I.

2010-09-03

The human lysosomal enzymes {alpha}-galactosidase ({alpha}-GAL, EC 3.2.1.22) and {alpha}-N-acetylgalactosaminidase ({alpha}-NAGAL, EC 3.2.1.49) share 46% amino acid sequence identity and have similar folds. The active sites of the two enzymes share 11 of 13 amino acids, differing only where they interact with the 2-position of the substrates. Using a rational protein engineering approach, we interconverted the enzymatic specificity of {alpha}-GAL and {alpha}-NAGAL. The engineered {alpha}-GAL (which we call {alpha}-GALSA) retains the antigenicity of {alpha}-GAL but has acquired the enzymatic specificity of {alpha}-NAGAL. Conversely, the engineered {alpha}-NAGAL (which we call {alpha}-NAGAL{sup EL}) retains the antigenicity of {alpha}-NAGAL but has acquired themore » enzymatic specificity of the {alpha}-GAL enzyme. Comparison of the crystal structures of the designed enzyme {alpha}-GAL{sup SA} to the wild-type enzymes shows that active sites of {alpha}-GAL{sup SA} and {alpha}-NAGAL superimpose well, indicating success of the rational design. The designed enzymes might be useful as non-immunogenic alternatives in enzyme replacement therapy for treatment of lysosomal storage disorders such as Fabry disease.« less

Hippocampal 3alpha,5alpha-THP may alter depressive behavior of pregnant and lactating rats.

PubMed

Frye, Cheryl A; Walf, Alicia A

2004-07-01

The 5alpha-reduced metabolite of progesterone (P), 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP), may mediate progestins' effects to reduce depressive behavior of female rats in part through actions in the hippocampus. To investigate, forced swim test behavior and plasma and hippocampal progestin levels were assessed in groups of rats expected to differ in their 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels due to endogenous differences (pregnant and postpartum), administration of a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor (finasteride; 50 mg/kg sc), and/or gestational stress [prenatal stress (PNS)], an animal model of depression. Pregnant rats had higher plasma and hippocampal 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels and less depressive behavior (decreased immobility, increased struggling and swimming) in the forced swim test than did postpartum rats. Finasteride, compared to vehicle-administration, reduced plasma and hippocampal 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels and increased depressive behavior (increased immobility, decreased struggling and swimming). PNS was associated with lower hippocampal, but not plasma, 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels and increased swimming compared to that observed in control rats. Together, these data suggest that 3alpha,5alpha-THP in the hippocampus may mediate antidepressive behavior of female rats.

Increased virulence and competitive advantage of a/alpha over a/a or alpha/alpha offspring conserves the mating system of Candida albicans.

PubMed

Lockhart, Shawn R; Wu, Wei; Radke, Joshua B; Zhao, Rui; Soll, David R

2005-04-01

The majority of Candida albicans strains in nature are a/alpha and must undergo homozygosis to a/a or alpha/alpha to mate. Here we have used a mouse model for systemic infection to test the hypothesis that a/alpha strains predominate in nature because they have a competitive advantage over a/a and alpha/alpha offspring in colonizing hosts. Single-strain injection experiments revealed that a/alpha strains were far more virulent than either their a/a or alpha/alpha offspring. When equal numbers of parent a/alpha and offspring a/a or alpha/alpha cells were co-injected, a/alpha always exhibited a competitive advantage at the time of extreme host morbidity or death. When equal numbers of an engineered a/a/alpha2 strain and its isogenic a/a parent strain were co-injected, the a/a/alpha2 strain exhibited a competitive advantage at the time of host morbidity or death, suggesting that the genotype of the mating-type (MTL) locus, not associated genes on chromosome 5, provides a competitive advantage. We therefore propose that heterozygosity at the MTL locus not only represses white-opaque switching and genes involved in the mating process, but also affects virulence, providing a competitive advantage to the a/alpha genotype that conserves the mating system of C. albicans in nature.

Progesterone's 5 alpha-reduced metabolite, 3 alpha,5 alpha-THP, mediates lateral displacement of hamsters.

PubMed

Frye, Cheryl A; Rhodes, Madeline E

2005-03-15

5 alpha-Pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one (3 alpha,5 alpha-THP), progesterone (P4)'s 5 alpha-reduced, 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreduced product, facilitates lordosis of rodents in part via agonist-like actions at GABA(A)/benzodiazepine receptor complexes in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Whether 3 alpha,5 alpha-THP influences another reproductively-relevant behavior, lateral displacement, of hamsters was investigated. Lateral displacement is the movement that female hamsters make with their perineum towards male-like tactile stimulation. This behavior facilitates, and is essential for, successful mating. Hamsters in behavioral estrus had greater lateral displacement responses when endogenous progestin levels were elevated compared to when progestin levels were lower. Administration of P4, a prohormone for 3 alpha,5 alpha-THP, dose-dependently (500 > 200 > 100, 50, or 0 microg) enhanced lateral displacement of ovariectomized hamsters that had been primed with SC estradiol benzoate (5 or 10 microg). Inhibiting P4's metabolism to 3 alpha,5 alpha-THP by co-administering finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, or indomethacin, a 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase inhibitor, either systemically or to the VTA, significantly decreased lateral displacement and midbrain progestin levels of naturally receptive or hormone-primed hamsters compared to controls. These data suggest that lateral displacement is progestin-sensitive and requires the formation of 3 alpha,5 alpha-THP in the midbrain VTA.

Alpha1- and alpha2-containing GABAA receptor modulation is not necessary for benzodiazepine-induced hyperphagia.

PubMed

Morris, H V; Nilsson, S; Dixon, C I; Stephens, D N; Clifton, P G

2009-06-01

Benzodiazepines increase food intake, an effect attributed to their ability to enhance palatability. We investigated which GABA(A) receptor subtypes may be involved in mediating benzodiazepine-induced hyperphagia. The role of the alpha2 subtype was investigated by observing the effects of midazolam, on the behavioural satiety sequence in mice with targeted deletion of the alpha2 gene (alpha2 knockout). Midazolam (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5mg/kg) increased food intake and the amount of time spent feeding in alpha2 knockout mice, suggesting that BZ-induced hyperphagia does not involve alpha2-containing GABA(A) receptors. We further investigated the roles of alpha1- and alpha3-containing GABA(A) receptors in mediating BZ-induced hyperphagia. We treated alpha2(H101R) mice, in which alpha2-containing receptors are rendered benzodiazepine insensitive, with L-838417, a compound which acts as a partial agonist at alpha2-, alpha3- and alpha5-receptors but is inactive at alpha1-containing receptors. L-838417 (10 and 30 mg/kg) increased food intake and the time spent feeding in both wildtype and alpha2(H101R) mice, demonstrating that benzodiazepine-induced hyperphagia does not require alpha1- and alpha2-containing GABA(A) receptors. These observations, together with evidence against the involvement of alpha5-containing GABA(A) receptors, suggest that alpha3-containing receptors mediate BZ-induced hyperphagia in the mouse.

Effect of alpha-tocopherol on bovine in vitro fertilization.

PubMed

Marques, A; Santos, P; Antunes, G; Chaveiro, A; Moreira da Silva, F

2010-02-01

The objectives of this work are to determine if exogenous supplementation with alpha-tocopherol increases the in vitro fertilization (IVF) rate of bovine oocytes and improves viability of selected spermatozoa after 'swim-up'. The percentage of fertilized oocytes was significantly but negatively correlated (r = -0.941, p < 0.01) with the concentration of alpha-tocopherol. The control resulted in 95% of fertilized oocytes, which decreased as follows: 25 microM alpha-tocopherol (alpha25) 86%, 50 microM alpha-tocopherol (alpha50) 74%, 100 microM alpha-tocopherol (alpha100) 66% and 200 microM alpha-tocopherol (alpha200) 56%. Relatively to sperm viability after 'swim-up' with alpha-tocopherol supplementation, this antioxidant proved to have a beneficial effect as its concentration increased up to alpha50, decreasing for the concentrations of alpha100 and alpha200. Control resulted in 83% of live cells and 16% of dead cells; alpha25 resulted in 88% of live cells and 12% of dead cells; alpha50 resulted in 91% of live cells and 9% of dead cells; alpha100 resulted in 67% of live cells and 33% of dead cells; and finally alpha200 resulted in 57% of live cells and 42% of dead cells. In summary, the present study allows to conclude that, in our conditions, supplementation with the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol in IVF of bovine oocytes has a detrimental effect on fertilization rates. Nevertheless, exogenous supplementation with alpha-tocopherol at a concentration of 50 mM in the sperm-TALP media during the 'swim-up' technique has a significant beneficial effect on the selected spermatozoa viability.

Regulation of neurosteroid allopregnanolone biosynthesis in the rat spinal cord by glycine and the alkaloidal analogs strychnine and gelsemine.

PubMed

Venard, C; Boujedaini, N; Belon, P; Mensah-Nyagan, A G; Patte-Mensah, C

2008-04-22

The neurosteroid allopregnanolone (3alpha,5alpha-THP) is well characterized as a potentially therapeutic molecule which exerts important neurobiological actions including neuroprotective, antidepressant, anxiolytic, anesthetic and analgesic effects. We have recently observed that neurons and glial cells of the rat spinal cord (SC) contain various key steroidogenic enzymes such as 5alpha-reductase and 3alpha-hydroxysteroid oxido-reductase which are crucial for 3alpha,5alpha-THP biosynthesis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the rat SC actively produces 3alpha,5alpha-THP. As the key factors regulating neurosteroid production by nerve cells are unknown and because glycine is one of the pivotal inhibitory neurotransmitters in the SC, we investigated glycine effects on 3alpha,5alpha-THP biosynthesis in the rat SC. Glycine markedly stimulated [(3)H]-progesterone conversion into [(3)H]3alpha,5alpha-THP by SC slices. The alkaloid strychnine, well-known as a glycine receptor (Gly-R) antagonist, blocked glycine stimulatory effect on 3alpha,5alpha-THP formation. Gelsemine, another alkaloid containing the same functional groups as strychnine, increased 3alpha,5alpha-THP synthesis. The stimulatory effects of glycine and gelsemine on 3alpha,5alpha-THP production were additive when the two drugs were combined. These results demonstrate that glycine and gelsemine, acting via Gly-R, upregulate 3alpha,5alpha-THP biosynthesis in the SC. The data also revealed a structure-activity relationship of the analogs strychnine and gelsemine on neurosteroidogenesis. Possibilities are opened for glycinergic agents and gelsemine utilization to stimulate selectively 3alpha,5alpha-THP biosynthetic pathways in diseases evoked by a decreased neurosteroidogenic activity of nerve cells.

The neurosteroid 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one affects dopamine-mediated behavior in rodents.

PubMed

Khisti, Rahul T; Deshpande, Laxmikant S; Chopde, Chandrabhan T

2002-05-01

The neurosteroid 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP) has been previously shown to induce catalepsy in mice that is modified by GABAergic, dopaminergic, adenosinergic and serotonergic agents. In light of the interaction of this endogenous neurosteroid with GABAergic and dopaminergic transmission, there is potential interest in the possible role of 3alpha,5alpha-THP in psychotic disorders. This study assessed the effect of 3alpha,5alpha-THP in certain dopamine-mediated behavioral paradigms that are widely used to predict antipsychotic-like activity. 3alpha,5alpha-THP (1-8 microg per animal, i.c.v.), the classic neuroleptic (dopamine receptor antagonist) haloperidol (0.25 mg/kg, i.p.), and the benzodiazepine diazepam (7 mg/kg, i.p.) were injected into different groups of animals, and their behavior was screened using the following animal tests: conditioned avoidance response, apomorphine-induced climbing, and amphetamine-induced motor hyperactivity. Separate groups of mice that received 3alpha,5alpha-THP (1-8 microg per animal, i.c.v.) were screened for catalepsy. Furthermore, the effect of a sub-cataleptic dose (0.1 microg per mouse, i.c.v.) of 3alpha,5alpha-THP, either alone or in combination with the GABA(A) receptor antagonist picrotoxin (0.8 mg/kg, i.p.) was measured on haloperidol-induced catalepsy. 3alpha,5alpha-THP like haloperidol reduced conditioned avoidance, apomorphine-induced cage climbing and amphetamine-induced motor hyperactivity. Diazepam only affected conditioned avoidance. 3alpha,5alpha-THP also induced dose-dependent catalepsy. Furthermore, sub-cataleptic doses of 3alpha,5alpha-THP potentiated haloperidol-induced catalepsy. This potentiation was blocked by prior treatment with the GABA(A) receptor antagonist picrotoxin. These findings suggest that 3alpha,5alpha-THP, by its action at the GABA(A) receptors, increases GABAergic tone leading to a behavioral profile similar to that of dopamine receptor antagonists.

Contribution of alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) Collagen IV to the Mechanical Properties of the Glomerular Basement Membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gyoneva, Lazarina

The glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is a vital part of the blood-urine filtration barrier in the kidneys. In healthy GBMs, the main tension-resisting component is alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) type IV collagen, but in some diseases it is replaced by other collagen IV isoforms. As a result, the GBM becomes leaky and disorganized, ultimately resulting in kidney failure. Our goal is to understanding the biomechanical aspects of the alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) chains and how their absence could be responsible for (1) the initial injury to the GBM and (2) progression to kidney failure. A combination of experiments and computational models were designed for that purpose. A model basement membrane was used to compare experimentally the distensibility of tissues with the alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) chains present and missing. The experiments showed basement membranes containing alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) chains were less distensible. It has been postulated that the higher level of lateral cross-linking (supercoiling) in the alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) networks contributes additional strength/stability to basement membranes. In a computational model of supercoiled networks, we found that supercoiling greatly increased the stiffness of collagen IV networks but only minimally decreased the permeability, which is well suited for the needs of the GBM. It is also known that the alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) networks are more protected from enzymatic degradation, and we explored their significance in GBM remodeling. Our simulations showed that the more protected network was needed to prevent the system from entering a dangerous feedback cycle due to autoregulation mechanisms in the kidneys. Overall, the work adds to the evidence of biomechanical differences between the alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) networks and other collagen IV networks, points to supercoiling as the main source of biomechanical differences, discusses the suitability of alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) networks to meet the mechanics and permeability needs of the GBM, and explores the role of biomechanics and enzymatic digestion in GBM remodeling.

Molecular analysis of Hb Q-H disease and Hb Q-Hb E in a Singaporean family.

PubMed

Tan, J; Tay, J S; Wong, Y C; Kham, S K; Bte Abd Aziz, N; Teo, S H; Wong, H B

1995-01-01

Hb Q (alpha 74Asp-His) results from a mutation in the alpha-gene such that abnormal alpha Q-chains are synthesized. The alpha Q-chains combine with the normal Beta A-chains to form abnormal Hb alpha 2Q beta 2A (Hb Q). Hb Q-H disease is rare, and has been reported only in the Chinese. We report here a Chinese family, were the mother diagnosed with Hb Q-H disease and the father with Hb E heterozygosity and a child with Hb Q-E-thalassemia. Thalassemia screening of the mother's blood revealed a Hb level of 6.8g/dl with low MCV and MCH. Her blood film was indicative of thalassemia. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis showed Hb H and Hb Q with the absence of Hb A. Globin chain biosynthesis was carried out and alpha Q- and beta-chains were detected. Normal alpha- chains were absent. Digestion of the mother's DNA with Bam HI and Bgl II followed by hybridization with the 1.5 kb alpha-Pst probe showed a two alpha-gene deletion on one chromosome and the -alpha Q chain mutant with the -alpha 4.2 defect on the other chromosome. DNA amplification studies indicated the two-gene deletion to be of the -SEA/ defect. The patient was concluded to possess Hb Q-H disease (--SEA/-alpha 4.2Q). Cellulose acetate electrophoresis of the father's blood showed the presence of Hb A, F and E. Molecular analysis of the father's DNA confirmed an intact set of alpha-genes (alpha alpha/alpha alpha). Globin chain biosynthesis of fetal blood of their child showed gamma, beta A, beta E, alpha A and alpha Q-chains. Molecular analysis of the child's DNA showed one alpha-gene deletion, thus giving a genotype of alpha alpha/-alpha 4.2Q beta beta E.

Synthesis of methyl 3-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside and methyl 3-O-alpha-D-talopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside.

PubMed

Dubey, R; Jain, R K; Abbas, S A; Matta, K L

1987-08-01

Methyl 2-O-benzyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha- D-mannopyranoside (4) and methyl 2-O-benzyl-3-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (6) were prepared from a common intermediate, namely, methyl 2-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D- mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside. On treatment with tert-butylchlorodiphenylsilane, in N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of imidazole, 4 and 6 afforded methyl 2-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl -alpha-D- mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (7), and methyl 2-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-3-O-(6-O-tert- butyldiphenylsilyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (8), respectively. Compound 8 was converted into its 2,3-O-isopropylidene derivative (9), and oxidation of 7 and 9 with pyridinium chlorochromate, and reduction of the resulting carbonyl intermediates gave methyl 2-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl -alpha-D- mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-talopyranoside and methyl 2-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-3-O-(6-O-tert-butyldiphe nylsilyl- 2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-talopyranosyl)-alpha-D-talopyranoside , respectively. Removal of the protecting groups furnished the title disaccharides.

Jellyfish mesogloea collagen. Characterization of molecules as alpha 1 alpha 2 alpha 3 heterotrimers.

PubMed

Miura, S; Kimura, S

1985-12-05

The mesogloea collagen of a primitive animal, the jellyfish Stomolophus nomurai, belonging to the class Scyphozoa in the Coelenterata, was studied with respect to its chain structure. Most of the mesogloea collagen was solubilized by limited digestion with pepsin and isolated by selective precipitation at 0.9 m NaCl in 0.5 M acetic acid. Upon denaturation, the pepsin-solubilized collagen produced three distinct alpha chains, alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3, in comparable amounts which were separable by CM-cellulose chromatography. The nonidentity of these alpha chains was confirmed by amino acid and carbohydrate analyses and peptide mapping. Furthermore, the introduction of intramolecular cross-links into native molecules by formaldehyde yielded a large proportion of gamma 123 chain with chain structure alpha 1 alpha 2 alpha 3, as judged by chromatographic behavior and peptide maps. We concluded that mesogloea collagen is comprised of alpha 1 alpha 2 alpha 3 heterotrimers and is chemically like vertebrate Type V collagen. On the other hand, sea anemone mesogloea collagen from the class Anthozoa was previously reported to comprise (alpha)3 homotrimers (Katzman, R. L., and Kang, A. H. (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 5486-5489). On the basis of these findings, we assume that alpha 1 alpha 2 alpha 3 heterotrimers arose in evolution with the divergence of Scyphozoa and Anthozoa.

Estrogen-related receptor {alpha} is essential for the expression of antioxidant protection genes and mitochondrial function

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rangwala, Shamina M.; Li, Xiaoyan; Lindsley, Loren

2007-05-25

Estrogen-related receptor {alpha} (ERR{alpha}) is an important mediator of mitochondrial biogenesis and function. To investigate the transcriptional network controlling these phenomena, we investigated mitochondrial gene expression in embryonic fibroblasts isolated from ERR{alpha} null mice. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor {gamma} coactivator-1{alpha} (PGC-1{alpha}) stimulated mitochondrial gene expression program in control cells, but not in the ERR{alpha} null cells. Interestingly, the induction of levels of mitochondrial oxidative stress protection genes in response to increased PGC-1{alpha} levels was dependent on ERR{alpha}. Furthermore, we found that the PGC-1{alpha}-mediated induction of estrogen-related receptor {gamma} and nuclear respiratory factor 2 (NRF-2), was dependent on the presence of ERR{alpha}.more » Basal levels of NRF-2 were decreased in the absence of ERR{alpha}. The absence of ERR{alpha} resulted in a decrease in citrate synthase enzyme activity in response to PGC-1{alpha} overexpression. Our results indicate an essential role for ERR{alpha} as a key regulator of oxidative metabolism.« less

Toxicity of trichlorotoluene isomers: a 28-day feeding study in the rat.

PubMed

Chu, I; Shen, S Y; Villeneuve, D C; Secours, V E; Valli, V E

1984-03-01

Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were fed alpha,alpha,alpha-, alpha,2,6- or 2,3,6- trichlorotoluene (TCT) in their diet at 0, 0.5, 5.0, 50 or 500 ppm for 28 days. Growth rate and food consumption were not affected by treatment. No deaths occurred. Significant increases in liver weights were observed in male rats fed 5.0 and 500 ppm 2,3,6-TCT. Mild serum biochemical changes occurred in male rats. These included increased SDH activities in the groups fed 5.0 and 50 ppm alpha, alpha, alpha-TCT, and 5.0 ppm 2,3,6-TCT. Alpha, alpha, alpha-TCT at 500 ppm caused elevated LDH activities in male rats. Hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activities were increased in male rats fed 500 ppm alpha,2,6-TCT. Hematological parameters were not affected by treatment. Mild histological changes were seen in the liver, kidney and thyroid of treated rats. Data presented here suggest that alpha, alpha, alpha-, alpha,2,6- and 2,3,6-TCT possess a low order of oral toxicity in the rat.

Improved synthesis of 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 24 = xi-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-26-oic acid.

PubMed

Batta, A K; Tint, G S; Dayal, B; Shefer, S; Salen, G

1982-06-01

This paper describes three simple and short methods for the conversion of cholic acid into cholylaldehyde with protected hydroxyl groups. The first method involves lithium aluminum hydride reduction of the tetrahydropyranyl ether of methyl cholate and oxidation of the resulting primary alcohol with pyridinium chlorochromate. The second method employs diborane for the reduction of the -COOH group to the -CH2OH group, while the third method involves the reduction of 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-triformyloxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (as the acid chloride) directly into 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-triformyloxy-5 beta-cholan-24-al with TMA-ferride (tetramethylammonium hydridoirontetracarbonyl). The aldehyde obtained by any of the above methods underwent smooth Reformatsky reaction with ethyl alpha-bromopropionate to yield 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 24 xi-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-26-oic acid.

NMR structural and dynamic characterization of the acid-unfolded state of apomyoglobin provides insights into the early events in protein folding.

PubMed

Yao, J; Chung, J; Eliezer, D; Wright, P E; Dyson, H J

2001-03-27

Apomyoglobin forms a denatured state under low-salt conditions at pH 2.3. The conformational propensities and polypeptide backbone dynamics of this state have been characterized by NMR. Nearly complete backbone and some side chain resonance assignments have been obtained, using a triple-resonance assignment strategy tailored to low protein concentration (0.2 mM) and poor chemical shift dispersion. An estimate of the population and location of residual secondary structure has been made by examining deviations of (13)C(alpha), (13)CO, and (1)H(alpha) chemical shifts from random coil values, scalar (3)J(HN,H)(alpha) coupling constants and (1)H-(1)H NOEs. Chemical shifts constitute a highly reliable indicator of secondary structural preferences, provided the appropriate random coil chemical shift references are used, but in the case of acid-unfolded apomyoglobin, (3)J(HN,H)(alpha) coupling constants are poor diagnostics of secondary structure formation. Substantial populations of helical structure, in dynamic equilibrium with unfolded states, are formed in regions corresponding to the A and H helices of the folded protein. In addition, the deviation of the chemical shifts from random coil values indicates the presence of helical structure encompassing the D helix and extending into the first turn of the E helix. The polypeptide backbone dynamics of acid-unfolded apomyoglobin have been investigated using reduced spectral density function analysis of (15)N relaxation data. The spectral density J(omega(N)) is particularly sensitive to variations in backbone fluctuations on the picosecond to nanosecond time scale. The central region of the polypeptide spanning the C-terminal half of the E helix, the EF turn, and the F helix behaves as a free-flight random coil chain, but there is evidence from J(omega(N)) of restricted motions on the picosecond to nanosecond time scale in the A and H helix regions where there is a propensity to populate helical secondary structure in the acid-unfolded state. Backbone fluctuations are also restricted in parts of the B and G helices due to formation of local hydrophobic clusters. Regions of restricted backbone flexibility are generally associated with large buried surface area. A significant increase in J(0) is observed for the NH resonances of some residues located in the A and G helices of the folded protein and is associated with fluctuations on a microsecond to millisecond time scale that probably arise from transient contacts between these distant regions of the polypeptide chain. Our results indicate that the equilibrium unfolded state of apomyoglobin formed at pH 2.3 is an excellent model for the events that are expected to occur in the earliest stages of protein folding, providing insights into the regions of the polypeptide that spontaneously undergo local hydrophobic collapse and sample nativelike secondary structure.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Nogueira, Monize Aydar; Oliveira, Claudia Pinto; Ferreira Alves, Venâncio Avancini; Stefano, José Tadeu; Rodrigues, Lívia Samara Dos Reis; Torrinhas, Raquel Susana; Cogliati, Bruno; Barbeiro, Hermes; Carrilho, Flair José; Waitzberg, Dan Linetzky

2016-06-01

& aims: Few clinical trials have addressed the potential benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We evaluated the effects of supplementation with omega-3 PUFAs from flaxseed and fish oils in patients with biopsy-proven NASH. Patients received three capsules daily, each containing 0.315 g of omega-3 PUFAs (64% alpha-linolenic [ALA], 16% eicosapentaenoic [EPA], and 21% docosahexaenoic [DHA] acids; n-3 group, n = 27) or mineral oil (placebo group, n = 23). Liver biopsies were evaluated histopathologically by the NASH activity score (NAS). Plasma levels of omega-3 PUFAs were assessed as a marker of intake at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. Secondary endpoints included changes in plasma biochemical markers of lipid metabolism, inflammation, and liver function at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. At baseline, NAS was comparable between the groups (p = 0.98). After intervention with omega-3 PUFAs, plasma ALA and EPA levels increased (p ≤ 0.05). However in the placebo group, we also observed increased EPA and DHA (p ≤ 0.05), suggesting an off-protocol intake of PUFAs. NAS improvement/stabilization was correlated with increased ALA in the n-3 group (p = 0.02) and with increased EPA (p = 0.04) and DHA (p = 0.05) in the placebo group. Triglycerides were reduced after 3 months in the n-3 group compared to baseline (p = 0.01). In NASH patients, the supplementation of omega-3 PUFA from flaxseed and fish oils significantly impacts on plasma lipid profile of patients with NASH. Plasma increase of these PUFAs was associated with better liver histology. (ID 01992809). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

The effects of SB 216469, an antagonist which discriminates between the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor and the human prostatic alpha 1-adrenoceptor.

PubMed Central

Chess-Williams, R.; Chapple, C. R.; Verfurth, F.; Noble, A. J.; Couldwell, C. J.; Michel, M. C.

1996-01-01

1. The affinity of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist SB 216469 (also known as REC 15/2739) has been determined at native and cloned alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes by radioligand binding and at functional alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes in isolated tissues. 2. In radioligand binding studies with [3H]-prazosin, SB 216469 had a high affinity at the alpha 1A-adrenoceptors of the rat cerebral cortex and kidney (9.5-9.8) but a lower affinity at the alpha 1B-adrenoceptors of the rat spleen and liver (7.7-8.2). 3. At cloned rat alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes transiently expressed in COS-1 cells and also at cloned human alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes stably transfected in Rat-1 cells, SB 216469 exhibited a high affinity at the alpha 1a-adrenoceptors (9.6-10.4) with a significantly lower affinity at the alpha 1b-adrenoceptor (8.0-8.4) and an intermediate affinity at the alpha 1d-adrenoceptor (8.7-9.2). 4. At functional alpha 1-adrenoceptors, SB 216469 had a similar pharmacological profile, with a high affinity at the alpha 1A-adrenoceptors of the rat vas deferens and anococcygeus muscle (pA2 = 9.5-10.0), a low affinity at the alpha 1B-adrenoceptors of the rat spleen (6.7) and guinea-pig aorta (8.0), and an intermediate affinity at the alpha 1D-adrenoceptors of the rat aorta (8.8). 5. Several recent studies have concluded that the alpha 1-adrenoceptor present in the human prostate has the pharmacological characteristics of the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor subtype. However, the affinity of SB 216469 at human prostatic alpha 1-adrenoceptors (pA2 = 8.1) determined in isolated tissue strips, was significantly lower than the values obtained at either the cloned alpha 1a-adrenoceptors (human, rat, bovine) or the native alpha 1A-adrenoceptors in radioligand binding and functional studies in the rat. 6. Our results with SB 216469, therefore, suggest that the alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediating contractile responses of the human prostate has properties which distinguish it from the cloned alpha 1a-adrenoceptor or native alpha 1A-adrenoceptor. Since it has previously been shown that the receptor is not the alpha 1B- or alpha 1D-adrenoceptor, the functional alpha 1-adrenoceptor of the human prostate may represent a novel receptor with properties which differ from any of the alpha 1-adrenoceptors currently defined by pharmacological means. PMID:8937710

Clinical evaluation of glass ionomer for pit and fissure sealing of fully erupted molars.

PubMed

Sly, Edith G; Kaplan, Andrea E; Missana, Liliana

2010-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical behavior of two conventional glass ionomers used for pit and fissure sealing in terms of retention, marginal adaptation, caries recurrence and cracking. Eighty-three fully erupted first permanent molars were sealed, in a group of children aged 5 to 8 years. A double-blind, single operator, paired design was used. Materials applied were Fuji IX and VII. Retention (R), presence of caries (PC), marginal discoloration (MD), marginal adaptation (MA) and cracking (C) were evaluated at 6 and 12 months using Ryge's criteria. Data registered 6 months after treatment were: Fuji IX: R: Alpha 37, Bravo 2, Charlie: 4; PC: Alpha 43, Bravo: 0; MA: Alpha 38, Bravo: 1; MD: Alpha 39, Bravo: 0, Charlie: 0; C: Alpha 39, Bravo: 0. Fuji VII: R: Alpha 29, Bravo 4, Charlie: 7; PC: Alpha 40, Bravo: 0; MA: Alpha: 34, Bravo: 0; MD: Alpha: 34, Bravo: 0, Charlie: 0; C: Alpha 33, Bravo: 0. Results after one year were: Fuji IX: R: Alpha 33, Bravo: 3, Charlie: 9; PC: Alpha 44, Bravo: 1; MA: Alpha 33, Bravo: 1; MD: Alpha: 34, Bravo: 0, Charlie: 0; C: Alpha: 34, Bravo: 0. Fuji VII: R: Alpha 22, Bravo 4, Charlie: 13, PC: Alpha 40, Bravo: 0; MA: Alpha 23, Bravo: 1; MD: Alpha 23, Bravo: 1, Charlie: 0; C: Alpha 23, Bravo: 1. Statistical analysis using Fisher test showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) for R, and MA. For PC, MD and C, values are not reported because both materials showed the same results. The second control showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) for R, MA, PC, MD and C. Results suggest no difference between Fuji IX and Fuji VII as sealants in fully erupted permanent molars.

Cloning, expression, and mapping of allergenic determinants of alphaS1-casein, a major cow's milk allergen.

PubMed

Schulmeister, Ulrike; Hochwallner, Heidrun; Swoboda, Ines; Focke-Tejkl, Margarete; Geller, Beate; Nystrand, Mats; Härlin, Annika; Thalhamer, Josef; Scheiblhofer, Sandra; Keller, Walter; Niggemann, Bodo; Quirce, Santiago; Ebner, Christoph; Mari, Adriano; Pauli, Gabrielle; Herz, Udo; Valenta, Rudolf; Spitzauer, Susanne

2009-06-01

Milk is one of the first components introduced into human diet. It also represents one of the first allergen sources, which induces IgE-mediated allergies in childhood ranging from gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory manifestations to severe life-threatening manifestations, such as anaphylaxis. Here we isolated a cDNA coding for a major cow's milk allergen, alphaS1-casein, from a bovine mammary gland cDNA library with allergic patients' IgE Abs. Recombinant alphaS1-casein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and characterized by circular dichroism as a folded protein. IgE epitopes of alphaS1-casein were determined with recombinant fragments and synthetic peptides spanning the alphaS1-casein sequence using microarrayed components and sera from 66 cow's milk-sensitized patients. The allergenic activity of ralphaS1-casein and the alphaS1-casein-derived peptides was determined using rat basophil leukemia cells transfected with human FcepsilonRI, which had been loaded with the patients' serum IgE. Our results demonstrate that ralphaS1-casein as well as alphaS1-casein-derived peptides exhibit IgE reactivity, but mainly the intact ralphaS1-casein induced strong basophil degranulation. These results suggest that primarily intact alphaS1-casein or larger IgE-reactive portions thereof are responsible for IgE-mediated symptoms of food allergy. Recombinant alphaS1-casein as well as alphaS1-casein-derived peptides may be used in clinical studies to further explore pathomechanisms of food allergy as well as for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for milk allergy.

Involvement of the Clock Gene Rev-erb alpha in the Regulation of Glucagon Secretion in Pancreatic Alpha-Cells

PubMed Central

Vieira, Elaine; Marroquí, Laura; Figueroa, Ana Lucia C.; Merino, Beatriz; Fernandez-Ruiz, Rebeca; Nadal, Angel; Burris, Thomas P.; Gomis, Ramon; Quesada, Ivan

2013-01-01

Disruption of pancreatic clock genes impairs pancreatic beta-cell function, leading to the onset of diabetes. Despite the importance of pancreatic alpha-cells in the regulation of glucose homeostasis and in diabetes pathophysiology, nothing is known about the role of clock genes in these cells. Here, we identify the clock gene Rev-erb alpha as a new intracellular regulator of glucagon secretion. Rev-erb alpha down-regulation by siRNA (60–70% inhibition) in alphaTC1-9 cells inhibited low-glucose induced glucagon secretion (p<0.05) and led to a decrease in key genes of the exocytotic machinery. The Rev-erb alpha agonist GSK4112 increased glucagon secretion (1.6 fold) and intracellular calcium signals in alphaTC1-9 cells and mouse primary alpha-cells, whereas the Rev-erb alpha antagonist SR8278 produced the opposite effect. At 0.5 mM glucose, alphaTC1-9 cells exhibited intrinsic circadian Rev-erb alpha expression oscillations that were inhibited by 11 mM glucose. In mouse primary alpha-cells, glucose induced similar effects (p<0.001). High glucose inhibited key genes controlled by AMPK such as Nampt, Sirt1 and PGC-1 alpha in alphaTC1-9 cells (p<0.05). AMPK activation by metformin completely reversed the inhibitory effect of glucose on Nampt-Sirt1-PGC-1 alpha and Rev-erb alpha. Nampt inhibition decreased Sirt1, PGC-1 alpha and Rev-erb alpha mRNA expression (p<0.01) and glucagon release (p<0.05). These findings identify Rev-erb alpha as a new intracellular regulator of glucagon secretion via AMPK/Nampt/Sirt1 pathway. PMID:23936124

Morphological characterization of the AlphaA- and AlphaB-crystallin double knockout mouse lens

PubMed Central

Boyle, Daniel L; Takemoto, Larry; Brady, James P; Wawrousek, Eric F

2003-01-01

Background One approach to resolving some of the in vivo functions of alpha-crystallin is to generate animal models where one or both of the alpha-crystallin gene products have been eliminated. In the single alpha-crystallin knockout mice, the remaining alpha-crystallin may fully or partially compensate for some of the functions of the missing protein, especially in the lens, where both alphaA and alphaB are normally expressed at high levels. The purpose of this study was to characterize gross lenticular morphology in normal mice and mice with the targeted disruption of alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin genes (alphaA/BKO). Methods Lenses from 129SvEvTac mice and alphaA/BKO mice were examined by standard scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy methodologies. Results Equatorial and axial (sagittal) dimensions of lenses for alphaA/BKO mice were significantly smaller than age-matched wild type lenses. No posterior sutures or fiber cells extending to the posterior capsule of the lens were found in alphaA/BKO lenses. Ectopical nucleic acid staining was observed in the posterior subcapsular region of 5 wk and anterior subcapsular cortex of 54 wk alphaA/BKO lenses. Gross morphological differences were also observed in the equatorial/bow, posterior and anterior regions of lenses from alphaA/BKO mice as compared to wild mice. Conclusion These results indicated that both alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin are necessary for proper fiber cell formation, and that the absence of alpha-crystallin can lead to cataract formation. PMID:12546709

The effects of infusions of ring-A-reduced derivatives of aldosterone on the antinatriuretic and kaliuretic actions of aldosterone.

PubMed

Morris, D J; Souness, G W; Saccoccio, N A; Harnik, M

1989-01-01

Infusion of Ring-A-reduced metabolites of aldosterone in adrenalectomized male rats for 4 days revealed that 5 alpha-Ring-A-reduced derivatives, 5 alpha-dihydroaldosterone (5 alpha-DHAldo; 2.5-5.0 micrograms/day), 3 alpha,5 alpha-tetrahydroaldosterone (3 alpha,5 alpha-THAldo; 5-25 micrograms/day), and 3 beta,5 alpha-THAldo (50-175 micrograms/day) possessed intrinsic Na+-retaining activity. The same infusions of 5 alpha-DHAldo, 3 alpha,5 alpha-THAldo, and 3 beta,5 alpha-THAldo, also lowered the urinary excretion of potassium. The 5 beta-Ring-A-reduced derivative 3 alpha,5 beta-THAldo did not demonstrate either of these biological properties. In another set of experiments, on the fourth day of infusion, aldosterone (0.1 microgram/rat) was administered acutely subcutaneously; none of the Ring-A-reduced derivatives altered the Na+-retaining activity of aldosterone. However, in a dose-dependent manner, both 3 alpha,5 alpha-THAldo and 3 beta,5 alpha-THAldo blunted the urinary K+-secretory effect of aldosterone; low dosages of 5 alpha-DHAldo and larger dosages of 3 alpha,5 beta-THAldo did not. Thus, the 5 alpha-reduced derivatives of aldosterone not only lowered urinary Na+ and K+ excretion in their own right, but two of them blunted the kaliuretic response of the parent mineralocorticoid, aldosterone. Further experiments will be required to determine whether these aldosterone metabolites are further metabolized or interconverted during the expression of the regulatory properties described here and whether these properties are physiologically relevant.

Reverse-phase HPLC analysis of human alpha crystallin.

PubMed

Swamy, M S; Abraham, E C

1991-03-01

A rapid and highly sensitive reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) method was used to separate crystallin subunits from human alpha crystallin. Three distinct peaks were separated; by electrophoretic and immunological analyses the first and second peaks were identified as alpha B and alpha A respectively. On the other hand, peak 3 appeared to be a modified form of alpha crystallin. The ratio of alpha A and alpha B proteins was 3:1 in 1 day old lenses which gradually changed to 2:1 in 17 year old lenses and to 1:1 in the 50 and 82 year old whole lenses and 82 year old lens cortex, with a concomitant increase in the modified alpha, suggesting that alpha A subunits are relatively more involved in aggregation. Analysis of the 82 year old lens nucleus also supported this conclusion. The RP-HPLC analysis of the HMW aggregate fraction showed substantial enrichment of the modified alpha. The alpha A and alpha B subunits independently reassociated to form polymeric alpha crystallin whereas the modified alpha reassociated to form HMW aggregates as shown by molecular sieve HPLC. Hence it appears that the HMW aggregate peak was constituted by modified alpha crystallin. Only in the peak 3 material the 280 nm absorbance was about 2-fold higher than what was expected from the actual protein content. The data suggest that the changes induced by post-translational modifications may have some role in the formation of modified alpha. The present RP-HPLC method is useful in separating these modified alpha from the unmodified alpha A and alpha B subunits.

Myofilament mechanical performance is enhanced by R403Q myosin in mouse myocardium independent of sex.

PubMed

Palmer, Bradley M; Wang, Yuan; Teekakirikul, Polakit; Hinson, J Travis; Fatkin, Diane; Strouse, Stacy; Vanburen, Peter; Seidman, Christine E; Seidman, J G; Maughan, David W

2008-04-01

Male but not female mice carrying a single R403Q missense allele for cardiac alpha-myosin heavy chain (M-alphaMHC(R403Q/+) and F-alphaMHC(R403Q/+), respectively) develop significant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) compared with male and female wild-type mice (M-alphaMHC(+/+) and F-alphaMHC(+/+), respectively) after approximately 30 wk of age. We tested the hypothesis that myofilament mechanical performance differs between M-alphaMHC(R403Q/+) and F-alphaMHC(R403Q/+) at younger ages (10-20 wk) and could account for sex differences in HCM development. The sensitivity of chemically skinned myocardial strips to Ca(2+) activation (pCa(50)) was significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced in male mice independent of genotype (M-alphaMHC(R403Q/+): 5.70 +/- 0.06, M-alphaMHC(+/+): 5.63 +/- 0.05, F-alphaMHC(R403Q/+): 5.57 +/- 0.03, F-alphaMHC(+/+): 5.54 +/- 0.04) by two-way ANOVA, whereas maximum developed tension was significantly enhanced in alpha-MHC(R403Q/+) independent of sex (M-alphaMHC(R403Q/+): 29.3 +/- 2.3, M-alphaMHC(+/+): 26.0 +/- 1.4, F-alphaMHC(R403Q/+): 30.2 +/- 2.1, F-alphaMHC(+/+): 26.2 +/- 1.2 mN/mm(2)). The frequency of maximum work generated by sinusoidal length perturbation was significantly higher in alphaMHC(R403Q/+) mice than in sex-matched controls (M-alphaMHC(R403Q/+): 2.26 +/- 0.47, M-alphaMHC(+/+): 1.29 +/- 0.18, F-alphaMHC(R403Q/+): 3.21 +/- 0.33, F-alphaMHC(+/+): 2.52 +/- 0.36 Hz). Unloaded shortening velocity was significantly enhanced in alphaMHC(R403Q/+) and in female mice (M-alphaMHC(R403Q/+): 2.26 +/- 0.47, M-alphaMHC(+/+): 1.29 +/- 0.18, F-alphaMHC(R403Q/+): 3.21 +/- 0.33, F-alphaMHC(+/+): 2.52 +/- 0.36 muscle lengths/s), and normalized mechanical power, calculated from the tension-velocity relationship, was significantly enhanced in alphaMHC(R403Q/+) independent of sex (M-alphaMHC(R403Q/+): 60 +/- 2 10(-3), M-alphaMHC(+/+): 37 +/- 3 10(-3), F-alphaMHC(R403Q/+): 57 +/- 3 10(-3), F-alphaMHC(+/+) 25 +/- 3 10(-3) muscle lengths/s x normalized tension). We did not find a statistically significant sex x mutation interaction for any measure of myofilament performance. Therefore, sarcomeric incorporation of the R403Q myosin similarly enhanced left ventricular myofilament mechanical performance in both male and female mice. The sex-dependent development of HCM due to the R403Q myosin may then be inhibited by female sex hormones, which may additionally underlie the observed sex differences for pCa(50) and unloaded shortening velocity.

Optical absorption and photoluminescence properties of Nd3+ doped mixed alkali phosphate glasses-spectroscopic investigations.

PubMed

Ratnakaram, Y C; Srihari, N V; Kumar, A Vijaya; Naidu, D Thirupathi; Chakradhar, R P S

2009-02-01

Spectroscopic investigations were performed on 68NH(4)H(2)PO(4).xLi(2)CO(3)(30-x)K(2)CO(3) and 68NH(4)H(2)PO(4).xNa(2)CO(3)(30-x)K(2)CO(3) (where x=5, 10, 15, 20 and 25) glasses containing 2 mol% Nd(2)O(3). Various spectroscopic parameters (Racah (E(1), E(2), E(3)), spin-orbit (xi(4f)) and configuration interaction (alpha)) are reported. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Omega(2), Omega(4), Omega(6)) are calculated for Nd(3+) doped two mixed alkali phosphate glass matrices. From the magnitude of Judd-Ofelt parameters, covalency is studied as a function of x in the glass matrix. Using Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters, total radiative transition probabilities (A(T)), radiative lifetimes (tau(R)), branching ratios (beta) and integrated absorption cross sections (Sigma) have been computed for certain excited states of Nd(3+) in these mixed alkali phosphate glasses. Emission cross sections (sigma(P)) are calculated for the two transitions, (4)G(7/2)-->(4)I(11/2) and (4)G(7/2)-->(4)I(13/2) of Nd(3+) in these mixed alkali phosphate glasses. Optical band gaps (E(opt)) for direct and indirect transitions are reported.

Expression of G(alpha)(s) proteins and TSH receptor signalling in hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules with TSH receptor mutations.

PubMed

Holzapfel, Hans-Peter; Bergner, Beate; Wonerow, Peter; Paschke, Ralf

2002-07-01

Constitutively activating mutations of the thyrotrophin receptor (TSHR) are the main molecular cause of hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules (HTNs). The G protein coupling is an important and critical step in the TSHR signalling which mainly includes G(alpha)(s), G(alpha)(i) and G(alpha)(q)/11 proteins. We investigated the in vitro consequences of overexpressing G(alpha) proteins on signalling of the wild-type (WT) or mutated TSHR. Moreover, we investigated whether changes in G(alpha) protein expression are pathophysiologically relevant in HTNs or cold thyroid nodules (CTNs). Wild-type TSH receptor and mutated TSH receptors were coexpressed with G(alpha)(s), G(alpha)(i) or G(alpha)(q)/11, and cAMP and inositol phosphate (IP) production was measured after stimulation with TSH. The expression of G(alpha)(s), G(alpha)(i) and G(alpha)(q)/11 proteins was examined by Western blotting in 28 HTNs and 14 CTNs. Coexpression of G(alpha)(s) with the WT TSH receptor in COS 7 cells significantly increased the basal and TSH-stimulated cAMP accumulation while coexpression of the G(alpha)(q) or G(alpha)11 protein significantly increased the production of cAMP and inositol triphosphate (IP(3)). The coexpression of the TSH receptor mutants (I486F, DEL613-621), known to couple constitutively to G(alpha)(s) and G(alpha)(q) with G(alpha)(s) and G(alpha)(q)/11, significantly increased the basal and stimulated cAMP and IP(3) accumulation. Coexpression of the TSH receptor mutant V556F with G(alpha)(s) only increased the basal and stimulated cAMP production while its coexpression with G(alpha)(q)/11 increased the basal and stimulated IP(3) signalling. The expression of G(alpha)(s) protein subunits determined by Western blotting was significantly decreased in 14 HTNs with a constitutively activating TSH receptor mutation in comparison with the corresponding surrounding tissue, while in 14 HTNs without TSH receptor or G(alpha)(s) protein mutation and in 14 CTNs the expression of G(alpha)(s) protein was not different compared with the surrounding tissue. The expression of G(alpha)(i) and G(alpha)(q)/11 proteins in HTNs or CTNs was not significantly different compared with the surrounding tissue. The reduced expression of G(alpha)(s) protein subunits in HTNs with TSHR mutations could act as a feedback mechanism to desensitise the chronically stimulated cAMP cascade. As G(alpha) protein expression was not significantly increased in the majority of CTNs and HTNs an influence of G(alpha) overexpression on TSH signalling could be excluded in these nodules.

Bile alcohol metabolism in man. Conversion of 5beta-cholestane-3alpha, 7alpha,12alpha, 25-tetrol to cholic acid.

PubMed Central

Salen, G; Shefer, S; Setoguchi, T; Mosbach, E H

1975-01-01

To study the role of C25-HYDROXY BILE ALCOHOLS AS PRECURSORS OF CHOlic acid, [G-3-H]5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha12alpha,25-tetrol was administered intravenously to two subjects with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) and two normal individuals. One day after pulse labeling, radioactivity was present in the cholic acid isolated from the bile and feces of the subjects with CTX and the bile of the normal individuals. In the two normal subjects, the sp act decay curves of [G-3-H]-cholic acid were exponential, and no traces of [G-3-H]-5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,25-tetrol were detected. In contrast, appreciable quantities of labeled 5beta-cholestane-3alpha,-7aopha,12alpha,25-tetrol were present in the bile and feces of the CTX subjects. The sp act vs. time curves of fecal [G-3-H]5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,25-tetrol and [G-3-H]-cholic acid showed a precursor-product relationship. Although these results suggest that 5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,25-tetrol may be a precursor of cholic acid in man, the possibility that C26-hydroxy intermediates represent the normal pathway can not be excluded. PMID:1141434

Changes in Bioavailability of Omega-3 (DHA) through Alpha-Tocopheryl Phosphate Mixture (TPM) after Oral Administration in Rats

PubMed Central

Gavin, Paul D.

2017-01-01

Benefits of Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplements are hindered by their poor solubility and bioavailability. This study investigated the bioavailability of various formulations of Omega-3 and tocopheryl phosphate mixture (TPM), following oral administration in rats, and assessed whether TPM could improve the oral absorption of DHA. The rats were administered with a high (265.7 mg/kg) or low dose (88.6 mg/kg) of DHA. TPM was examined at 1:0.1 w/w (low TPM dose) and 1:0.5 w/w (high TPM dose). Over 24 h, the DHA plasma concentration followed a TPM dose-dependent relationship, reflected in the higher mean Cmax values (78.39 and 91.95 μg/mL) and AUC values (1396.60 and 1560.60) for the low and high TPM, respectively. The biggest difference between the low dose DHA control (LDCont) and TPM formulations was at 4 h after supplementation, where the low and high TPM showed a mean 20% (ns) and 50% (p < 0.05) increase in DHA plasma concentrations versus the control formulation. After correcting for baseline endogenous DHA, the mean plasma DHA at 4 h produced by the LD-HTPM was nearly double (90%) the LDC control (p = 0.057). This study demonstrated that co-administering omega-3 with TPM significantly increases the bioavailability of DHA in the plasma, suggesting potential use for commercially available TPM + DHA fortified products. PMID:28930161

Synthesis of methyl 2-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside and methyl 2-O-alpha-D-talopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside.

PubMed

Jain, R K; Dubey, R; Abbas, S A; Matta, K L

1987-03-15

Treatment of methyl 3-O-benzyl-2-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D- mannopyranoside (1) with tert-butyldiphenylsilyl chloride in N,N-dimethylformamide afforded methyl 3-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl -alpha-D- mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (2). Oxidation of 2 with pyridinium chlorochromate, followed by reduction of the carbonyl group, and subsequent O-deacetylation afforded methyl 3-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl- alpha-D- talopyranoside (5). Cleavage of the tert-butyldiphenylsilyl group of 5 with tetrabutylammonium fluoride in oxolane, followed by hydrogenolysis, gave methyl 2-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside (7). O-Deacetylation of 1 gave methyl 3-O-benzyl-2-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (8). Treatment of 8 with tert-butyldiphenylsilyl chloride afforded a 6,6'-disilyl derivative, which was converted into a 2',3'-O-isopropylidene derivative, and then further oxidized with pyridinium chlorochromate. The resulting diketone was reduced and removal of the protecting groups gave methyl 2-O-alpha-D-talopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside (15). The structures of both 7 and 15 were established by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.

Altered expression of extracellular matrix molecules and their receptors in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma in comparison with normal pancreas.

PubMed

Shimoyama, S; Gansauge, F; Gansauge, S; Oohara, T; Beger, H G

1995-12-01

The aim of this study was to elucidate the expression and distribution patterns of both integrins and extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules in chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) compared with normal pancreas (NP). Expression of nine alpha-subunits (alpha 2-alpha 6, alpha V, alpha L, alpha M, and alpha X), four beta-subunits (beta 1, beta 3-beta 5), and four ECM molecules (type IV collagen, laminin, fibronectin, and vitronectin) was investigated immunohistochemically. In CP, all integrins except alpha V showed nearly the same staining patterns compared with NP. Some acinar cells in CP expressed alpha V. Whereas alpha 2, alpha 3, and alpha 6 expression was stronger and diffuse, no alpha 5 expression was seen in PC. Basement membrane (BM) showed continuous staining in CP, whereas it showed discontinuous/absent staining in PC with antitype IV collagen, laminin, and vitronectin antibodies. Some carcinoma cells showed reverse correlation between alpha 2, alpha 3, and alpha 6 expression and type IV collagen and laminin expression. Fibronectin showed diffuse stromal expression in CP and PC. Some acinar cells or duct cells in CP carcinoma cells in PC showed intracellular VN expression. These results suggest that these integrins and ECM molecules are involved in inflammatory and malignant processes in pancreas.

Five-Body Cluster Structure of the Double-{Lambda} Hypernucleus {sub {Lambda}{Lambda}}{sup 11}Be

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hiyama, E.; Kamimura, M.; Yamamoto, Y.

2010-05-28

Energy levels of the double {Lambda} hypernucleus, {sub {Lambda}{Lambda}}{sup 11}Be are calculated within the framework of a {alpha}{alpha}n{Lambda}{Lambda} five-body model. Interactions between constituent particles are determined so as to reproduce reasonably the observed low-energy properties of the {alpha}{alpha}, {alpha}{alpha}n nuclei and the existing data for {Lambda}-binding energies of the {alpha}{Lambda}, {alpha}{alpha}{Lambda}, {alpha}n{Lambda}, and {alpha}{alpha}n{Lambda} systems. An effective {Lambda}{Lambda} interaction is constructed so as to reproduce, within the {alpha}{Lambda}{Lambda} three-body model, the B{sub {Lambda}{Lambda}}of {sub {Lambda}{Lambda}}{sup 6}He, which was extracted from the emulsion experiment, the NAGARA event. With no adjustable parameters for the {alpha}{alpha}n{Lambda}{Lambda} system, B{sub {Lambda}{Lambda}}of the ground and boundmore » excited states of {sub {Lambda}{Lambda}}{sup 11}Be are calculated with the Gaussian expansion method. The Hida event, recently observed at KEK-E373 experiment, is interpreted as an observation of the ground state of the {sub {Lambda}{Lambda}}{sup 11}Be.« less

40 CFR 180.356 - Norflurazon; tolerances for residues.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... residues of the herbicide norflurazon (4-chloro-5-(methylamino)-2-(alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-m-tolyl)-3-(2H)-pyridazinone) and its desmethyl metabolite 4-chloro-5-(amino)-2-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-m...

40 CFR 180.356 - Norflurazon; tolerances for residues.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... residues of the herbicide norflurazon (4-chloro-5-(methylamino)-2-(alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-m-tolyl)-3-(2H)-pyridazinone) and its desmethyl metabolite 4-chloro-5-(amino)-2-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-m...

40 CFR 180.356 - Norflurazon; tolerances for residues.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... residues of the herbicide norflurazon (4-chloro-5-(methylamino)-2-(alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-m-tolyl)-3-(2H)-pyridazinone) and its desmethyl metabolite 4-chloro-5-(amino)-2-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-m...

Differential regulation of the cell cycle by alpha1-adrenergic receptor subtypes.

PubMed

Gonzalez-Cabrera, Pedro J; Shi, Ting; Yun, June; McCune, Dan F; Rorabaugh, Boyd R; Perez, Dianne M

2004-11-01

Alpha(1)-Adrenergic receptors have been implicated in growth-promoting pathways. A microarray study of individual alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor subtypes (alpha(1A), alpha(1B), and alpha(1D)) expressed in Rat-1 fibroblasts revealed that epinephrine altered the transcription of several cell cycle regulatory genes in a direction consistent with the alpha(1A)- and alpha(1D)-adrenergic receptors mediating G(1)-S cell cycle arrest and the alpha(1B-)mediating cell-cycle progression. A time course indicated that in alpha(1A) cells, epinephrine stimulated a G(1)-S arrest, which began after 8 h of stimulation and maximized at 16 h, at which point was completely blocked with cycloheximide. The alpha(1B)-adrenergic receptor profile also showed unchecked cell cycle progression, even under low serum conditions and induced foci formation. The G(1)-S arrest induced by alpha(1A)- and alpha(1D)-adrenergic receptors was associated with decreased cyclin-dependent kinase-6 and cyclin E-associated kinase activities and increased expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1), all of which were blocked by prazosin. There were no differences in kinase activities and/or expression of p27(Kip1) in epinephrine alpha(1B)-AR fibroblasts, although the microarray did indicate differences in p27(Kip1) RNA levels. Cell counts proved the antimitotic effect of epinephrine in alpha(1A) and alpha(1D) cells and indicated that alpha(1B)-adrenergic receptor subtype expression was sufficient to cause proliferation of Rat-1 fibroblasts independent of agonist stimulation. Analysis in transfected PC12 cells also confirmed the alpha(1A)- and alpha(1B)-adrenergic receptor effect. The alpha(1B)-subtype native to DDT1-MF2 cells, a smooth muscle cell line, caused progression of the cell cycle. These results indicate that the alpha(1A)- and alpha(1D)-adrenergic receptors mediate G(1)-S cell-cycle arrest, whereas alpha(1B)-adrenergic receptor expression causes a cell cycle progression and may induce transformation in sensitive cell lines.

Expression of progesterone metabolizing enzyme genes (AKR1C1, AKR1C2, AKR1C3, SRD5A1, SRD5A2) is altered in human breast carcinoma.

PubMed

Lewis, Michael J; Wiebe, John P; Heathcote, J Godfrey

2004-06-22

Recent evidence suggests that progesterone metabolites play important roles in regulating breast cancer. Previous studies have shown that tumorous tissues have higher 5alpha-reductase (5alphaR) and lower 3alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (3alpha-HSO) and 20alpha-HSO activities. The resulting higher levels of 5alpha-reduced progesterone metabolites such as 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione (5alphaP) in tumorous tissue promote cell proliferation and detachment, whereas the 4-pregnene metabolites, 4-pregnen-3alpha-ol-20-one (3alphaHP) and 4-pregnen-20alpha-ol-3-one (20alphaDHP), more prominent in normal tissue, have the opposite (anti-cancer-like) effects. The aim of this study was to determine if the differences in enzyme activities between tumorous and nontumorous breast tissues are associated with differences in progesterone metabolizing enzyme gene expression. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to compare relative expression (as a ratio of 18S rRNA) of 5alphaR type 1 (SRD5A1), 5alphaR type 2 (SRD5A2), 3alpha-HSO type 2 (AKR1C3), 3alpha-HSO type 3 (AKR1C2) and 20alpha-HSO (AKR1C1) mRNAs in paired (tumorous and nontumorous) breast tissues from 11 patients, and unpaired tumor tissues from 17 patients and normal tissues from 10 reduction mammoplasty samples. Expression of 5alphaR1 and 5alphaR2 in 11/11 patients was higher (mean of 4.9- and 3.5-fold, respectively; p < 0.001) in the tumor as compared to the paired normal tissues. Conversely, expression of 3alpha-HSO2, 3alpha-HSO3 and 20alpha-HSO was higher (2.8-, 3.9- and 4.4-fold, respectively; p < 0.001) in normal than in tumor sample. The mean tumor:normal expression ratios for 5alphaR1 and 5alphaR2 were about 35-85-fold higher than the tumor:normal expression ratios for the HSOs. Similarly, in the unmatched samples, the tumor:normal ratios for 5alphaR were significantly higher than the ratios for the HSOs. The study shows changes in progesterone metabolizing enzyme gene expression in human breast carcinoma. Expression of SRD5A1 (5alphaR1) and SRD5A2 (5alphaR2) is elevated, and expression of AKR1C1 (20alpha-HSO), AKR1C2 (3alpha-HSO3) and AKR1C3 (3alpha-HSO2) is reduced in tumorous as compared to normal breast tissue. The changes in progesterone metabolizing enzyme expression levels help to explain the increases in mitogen/metastasis inducing 5alphaP and decreases in mitogen/metastasis inhibiting 3alphaHP progesterone metabolites found in breast tumor tissues. Understanding what causes these changes in expression could help in designing protocols to prevent or reverse the changes in progesterone metabolism associated with breast cancer.

Near-complete teleportation of a superposed coherent state

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheong, Yong Wook; Kim, Hyunjae; Lee, Hai-Woong

2004-09-01

The four Bell-type entangled coherent states, {alpha}>-{alpha}>{+-}-{alpha}>{alpha}> and {alpha}>{alpha}>{+-}-{alpha}>-{alpha}>, can be discriminated with a high probability using only linear optical means, as long as {alpha} is not too small. Based on this observation, we propose a simple scheme to almost completely teleport a superposed coherent state. The nonunitary transformation that is required to complete the teleportation can be achieved by embedding the receiver's field state in a larger Hilbert space consisting of the field and a single atom and performing a unitary transformation on this Hilbert space00.

Increased alpha 2-macroglobulin in diabetes: a hyperglycemia related phenomenon associated with reduced antithrombin III activity.

PubMed

Ceriello, A; Giugliano, D; Quatraro, A; Stante, A; Dello Russo, P; Torella, R

1989-01-01

Increased alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) activity and concentration, and decreased antithrombin III (ATIII) plasma concentration are reported in diabetic subjects. In diabetes an inverse correlation between ATIII activity and blood glucose, HbA1, alpha 2M activity and alpha 2M concentration, and a direct correlation between both alpha 2M activity and alpha 2M concentration with blood glucose and HbA1 are found. Moreover, a direct correlation between alpha 2M activity and alpha 2M concentration fails. In both diabetic and normal subjects induced hyperglycemia increases alpha 2M activity and alpha 2M concentration reduces ATIII activity, while ATIII concentration is not affected. These data which show that hyperglycemia may increase alpha 2M molecule levels while altering only the biological function of ATIII, provide evidence that hyperglycemia may decrease, directly, the biological function of some proteins and may condition the levels of some risk factors for the development of diabetic complications such as alpha 2M.

15 beta-hydroxysteroids (Part IV). Steroids of the human perinatal period: the synthesis of 3 alpha,15 beta,17 alpha-trihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one and its A/B-ring configurational isomers.

PubMed

Reeder, A Y; Joannou, G E

1995-12-01

In recent years several 15 beta-hydroxysteroids have emerged pathognomonic of adrenal disorders in human neonates of which 3 alpha,15 beta,17 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-20-one (2) was the first to be identified in the urine of newborn infants affected with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In this investigation we report the synthesis of the three remaining 3 xi,5 xi-isomers, namely 3 alpha,15 beta,17 alpha-trihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (3), 3 beta,15 beta,17 alpha-trihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (7) and 3 beta,15 beta,17 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-20-one (8) for their definitive identification in pathological conditions in human neonates. 3 beta,15 beta-Diacetoxy-17 alpha-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (11), a product of chemical synthesis was converted to the isomeric 3 and 7, while conversion of 15 beta,17 alpha-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3,20-dione (4), a product of microbiological transformation, resulted in the preparation of 8. In brief, selective acetate hydrolysis of 11 gave 15 beta-acetoxy-3 beta,17 alpha-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (12) which on catalytic hydrogenation gave 15 beta-acetoxy-3 beta,17 alpha-dihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (13) a common intermediate for the synthesis of the 3 beta(and alpha),5 alpha-isomers. Hydrolysis of the 15 beta-acetate gave 7, whereas oxidation with pyridinium chlorochromate gave 15 beta-acetoxy-17 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-3,20-dione (14) which on reduction with L-Selectride and hydrolysis of the 15 beta-acetate gave 3. Finally, hydrogenation of 4 gave 15 beta, 17 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-3,20-dione (10) which on reduction with L-Selectride gave 8.

Transmembrane Na+ and Ca2+ electrochemical gradients in cardiac muscle and their relationship to force development

PubMed Central

1982-01-01

Na+- and CA2+-sensitive microelectrodes were used to measure intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ activities (alpha iCa) of sheep ventricular muscle and Purkinje strands to study the interrelationship between Na+ and Ca2+ electrochemical gradients (delta muNa and delta muCa) under various conditions. In ventricular muscle, alpha iNa was 6.4 +/- 1.2 mM and alpha iCa was 87 +/- 20 nM ([Ca/+] = 272 nM). A graded decrease of external Na+ activity (alpha oNa) resulted in decrease of alpha iNa, and increase of alpha iCa. There was increase of twitch tension in low- alpha oNa solutions, and occasional increase of resting tension in 40% alpha oNa. Increase of external Ca2+ (alpha oCa) resulted in increase of alpha iCa and decrease of alpha iNa. Decrease of alpha oCa resulted in decrease of alpha iCa and increase of alpha iNa. The apparent resting Na-Ca energy ratio (delta muCa/delta muNa) was between 2.43 and 2.63. When the membrane potential (Vm) was depolarized by 50 mM K+ in ventricular muscle, Vm depolarized by 50 mV, alpha iNa decreased, and alpha iCa increased, with the development of a contracture. The apparent energy coupling ratio did not change with depolarization. 5 x 10(-6) M ouabain induced a large increase in alpha iNa ad alpha iCa, accompanied by an increase in twitch and resting tension. Under the conditions we have studied, delta muNa and delta muCa appeared to be coupled and n was nearly constant at 2.5, as would be expected if the Na-Ca exchange system was able to set the steady level of alpha iCa. Tension threshold was about 230 nM alpha iCa. The magnitude of twitch tension was directly related to alpha iCa. PMID:6292328

Partial agonist clonidine mediates alpha(2)-AR subtypes specific regulation of cAMP accumulation in adenylyl cyclase II transfected DDT1-MF2 cells.

PubMed

Limon-Boulez, I; Bouet-Alard, R; Gettys, T W; Lanier, S M; Maltier, J P; Legrand, C

2001-02-01

alpha2-Adrenergic receptor (alpha(2)-AR) activation in the pregnant rat myometrium at midterm potentiates beta(2)-AR stimulation of adenylyl cyclase (AC) via Gbetagamma regulation of the type II isoform of adenylyl cyclase. However, at term, alpha(2)-AR activation inhibits beta(2)-AR stimulation of AC. This phenomenon is associated with changes in alpha(2)-AR subtype expression (midterm alpha(2A/D)-AR > alpha(2B)-AR; term alpha(2B) >or =alpha(2A/D)-AR), without any change in ACII mRNA, suggesting that alpha(2A/D)- and alpha(2B)-AR differentially regulate beta(2)-cAMP production. To address this issue, we have stably expressed the same density of alpha(2A/D)- or alpha(2B)-AR with AC II in DDT1-MF2 cells. Clonidine (partial agonist) increased beta(2)-AR-stimulated cAMP production in alpha(2A/D)-AR-ACII transfectants but inhibited it in alpha(2B)-AR-ACII transfectants. In contrast, epinephrine (full agonist) enhanced beta(2)-stimulated ACII in both alpha(2A)- and alpha(2B)-ACII clonal cell lines. 4-Azidoanilido-[alpha-(32)P]GTP-labeling of activated G proteins indicated that, in alpha(2B)-AR transfectants, clonidine activated only Gi(2), whereas epinephrine, the full agonist, effectively coupled to Gi(2) and Gi(3). Thus, partial and full agonists selectively activate G proteins that lead to drug specific effects on effectors. Moreover, these data indicate that Gi(3) activation is required for potentiation of beta(2)-AR stimulation of AC by alpha(2A/D) and alpha(2B)-AR in DDT1-MF2 cells. This may reflect an issue of the amount of Gbetagamma released upon receptor activation and/or betagamma composition of Gi(3) versus Gi(2).

Identification of two novel mammalian genes establishes a subfamily of KH-domain RNA-binding proteins.

PubMed

Makeyev, A V; Liebhaber, S A

2000-08-01

We have identified two novel human genes encoding proteins with a high level of sequence identity to two previously characterized RNA-binding proteins, alphaCP-1 and alphaCP-2. Both of these novel genes, alphaCP-3 and alphaCP-4, are predicted to encode proteins with triplicated KH domains. The number and organization of the KH domains, their sequences, and the sequences of the contiguous regions are conserved among all four alphaCP proteins. The common evolutionary origin of these proteins is substantiated by conservation of exon-intron organization in the corresponding genes. The map positions of alphaCP-1 and alphaCP-2 (previously reported) and those of alphaCP-3 and alphaCP-4 (present report) reveal that the four alphaCP loci are dispersed in the human genome; alphaCP-3 and alphaCP-4 mapped to 21q22.3 and 3p21, and the respective mouse orthologues mapped to syntenic regions of the mouse genome, 10B5 and 9F1-F2, respectively. Two additional loci in the human genome were identified as alphaCP-2 processed pseudogenes (PCBP2P1, 21q22.3, and PCBP2P2, 8q21-q22). Although the overall levels of alphaCP-3 and alphaCP-4 mRNAs are substantially lower than those of alphaCP-1 and alphaCP-2, transcripts of alphaCP-3 and alphaCP-4 were found in all mouse tissues tested. These data establish a new subfamily of genes predicted to encode closely related KH-containing RNA-binding proteins with potential functions in posttranscriptional controls. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Functional coupling of rat myometrial alpha 1-adrenergic receptors to Gh alpha/tissue transglutaminase 2 during pregnancy.

PubMed

Dupuis, Morgan; Lévy, Arlette; Mhaouty-Kodja, Sakina

2004-04-30

Gh alpha protein, which exhibits both transglutaminase and GTPase activities, represents a new class of GTP-binding proteins. In the present study, we characterized Gh alpha in rat uterine smooth muscle (myometrium) and followed its expression during pregnancy by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot. We also measured transglutaminase and GTP binding functions and used a smooth muscle cell line to evaluate the role of Gh alpha in cell proliferation. The results show that pregnancy is associated with an up-regulation of Gh alpha expression at both the mRNA and protein level. Gh alpha induced during pregnancy is preferentially localized to the plasma membrane. This was found associated with an increased ability of plasma membrane preparations to catalyze Ca(2+)-dependent incorporation of [(3)H]putrescine into casein in vitro. In the cytosol, significant changes in the level of immunodetected Gh alpha and transglutaminase activity were seen only at term. Activation of alpha1-adrenergic receptors (alpha1-AR) enhanced photoaffinity labeling of plasma membrane Gh alpha. Moreover, the level of alpha1-AR-coupled Gh alpha increased progressively with pregnancy, which parallels the active period of myometrial cell proliferation. Overexpression of wild type Gh alpha in smooth muscle cell line DDT1-MF2 increased alpha1-AR-induced [(3)H]thymidine incorporation. A similar response was obtained in cells expressing the transglutaminase inactive mutant (C277S) of Gh alpha. Together, these findings underscore the role of Gh alpha as signal transducer of alpha1-AR-induced smooth muscle cell proliferation. In this context, pregnant rat myometrium provides an interesting physiological model to study the mechanisms underlying the regulation of the GTPase function of Gh alpha

Ultrasonographic and endocrine evaluation of three regimes for oestrus and ovulation synchronization for sheep in the subtropics.

PubMed

Ali, A; Hayder, M; Saifelnaser, E O H

2009-12-01

This study aimed to evaluate three regimes for oestrus and ovulation synchronization in Farafra ewes in the subtropics. During autumn, 43 ewes were assigned to (i) controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR)-eCG group, treated with CIDR for 12 days and eCG at insert withdrawal, n=13; (ii) PGF2alpha-PGF2alpha group, treated with two PGF2alpha injections at 11 days interval, n=14; and (iii) GnRH-PGF2alpha-GnRH group, treated with GnRH, followed 5 days later with PGF2alpha and 24 h later with a second GnRH, n=16. Oestrus-mating detection was carried out at 4 h intervals starting on day 0 [the day of CIDR withdrawal (CIDR-eCG group), the day of second PGF2alpha treatment (PGF2alpha-PGF2alpha group) and the day of PGF2alpha treatment (GnRH-PGF2alpha-GnRH group)]. Ovarian dynamics was monitored by ultrasound every 12 h beginning on day 0 and continued for 4 days. Blood samples were obtained daily for progesterone (P4) and oestradiol 17beta (E2) estimation starting on day 0 and continued for 4 days. The obtained results showed that, oestrus expression, ovulation and conception were greater (p<0.05) in CIDR-eCG and PGF2alpha-PGF2alpha groups than in GnRH-PGF2alpha-GnRH group. All ewes of PGF2alpha-PGF2alpha group presented, on day of second PGF2alpha injection with mature CL (P4>2.0 ng/ml), compared to 42.9% in GnRH-PGF2alpha-GnRH group (p=0.01). The peak of oestrus occurred 32-52, 48-60 and 28-96 h after the end of treatment in CIDR-eCG, PGF2alpha-PGF2alpha and GnRH-PGF2alpha-GnRH groups, respectively. Ovulation started 48 h after treatment in all groups and extended for 24, 36 and 48 h for CIDR-eCG, PGF2alpha-PGF2alpha and GnRH-PGF2alpha-GnRH groups, respectively. Results demonstrated that oestrus and ovulation synchronization could be efficiently achieved in Farafra ewes using either CIDR-eCG or PGF2alpha-PGF2alpha regimes; however, the GnRH-PGF2alpha-GnRH treatment induced a more spread oestrus and ovulation that may make the protocol inadequate for timed artificial insemination.

Ultrastructural studies of human and rabbit alpha-M-globulins.

PubMed

Bloth, B; Chesebro, B; Svehag, S E

1968-04-01

Electron micrographs of isolated human alpha(2)M-molecules, obtained by the negative contrast technique, revealed morphologically homogenous structures resembling a graceful monogram of the two letters H and I. The modal values for the length and width of the alpha(2)M particles were 170 A and 100 A, respectively. Purified rabbit alphamacroglobulins contained about 80% alpha(1)M- and 20% alpha(2)M-globulins. The isolated rabbit alpha(1)M- and alpha(2)M-molecules were morphologically indistinguishable from one another and from human alpha(2)M-molecules. Preliminary immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that the two rabbit alphaM-globulins were antigenically different. Sedimentation constant determinations gave s(20, w) values of 18.8 and 18.2 for rabbit alpha(1)M and alpha(2)M, respectively.

Seasonal changes in testicular steroidogenesis in the toad Bufo arenarum H.

PubMed

Canosa, L F; Ceballos, N R

2002-02-15

The biosynthesis of androgens in Bufo arenarum takes place through the 5-ene pathway that includes 5-androstane-3beta,17beta-diol as intermediate in testosterone biosynthesis. Besides testosterone and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, testes are able to synthesize 5alpha-pregnan-3,20-dione and several 3alpha- and 20alpha-reduced derivatives. Steroid biosynthesis changes during the breeding period (spring and early summer), turning from androgen to C21 steroid production. During the reproductive season, the production of progesterone, 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha,20alpha-diol, 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one, and 5alpha-pregnan-3,20-dione increases significantly. The function of most of these steroids in amphibians remains unknown. However, 5alpha-androstan-3alpha,17beta-diol and 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one were shown to be neuroactive in mammals, modulating sexual behavior. Thus, 5alpha/3alpha-reduced steroids could be involved in the regulation of the reproductive behavior in B. arenarum, a species with a dissociated reproductive pattern. Percentage contribution of each enzymes to the total metabolism reveals that neither 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase nor 5alpha-reductase change throughout the reproductive cycle. However, a strong reduction in 17-hydroxylase-C(17-20) lyase activity occurs in the reproductive season, suggesting that this enzyme could represent a key enzyme in the regulation of the seasonal change of steroidogenesis. Also, 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 20-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities increase during the reproductive period, implying that steroid metabolism is clearly focused on C21-reduced steroids. (C)2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Somatostatin inhibits exocytosis in rat pancreatic alpha-cells by G(i2)-dependent activation of calcineurin and depriming of secretory granules.

PubMed

Gromada, J; Høy, M; Buschard, K; Salehi, A; Rorsman, P

2001-09-01

1. Measurements of cell capacitance were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which somatostatin inhibits Ca(2+)-induced exocytosis in single rat glucagon-secreting pancreatic alpha-cells. 2. Somatostatin decreased the exocytotic responses elicited by voltage-clamp depolarisations by 80 % in the presence of cyclic AMP-elevating agents such as isoprenaline and forskolin. Inhibition was time dependent and half-maximal within 22 s. 3. The inhibitory action of somatostatin was concentration dependent with an IC(50) of 68 nM and prevented by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin. The latter effect was mimicked by intracellular dialysis with specific antibodies to G(i1/2) and by antisense oligonucleotides against G proteins of the subtype G(i2). 4. Somatostatin lacked inhibitory action when applied in the absence of forskolin or in the presence of the L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker nifedipine. The size of the omega-conotoxin-sensitive and forskolin-independent component of exocytosis was limited to 60 fF. By contrast, somatostatin abolished L-type Ca(2+) channel-dependent exocytosis in alpha-cells exposed to forskolin. The magnitude of the latter pool amounted to 230 fF. 5. The inhibitory effect of somatostatin on exocytosis was mediated by activation of the serine/threonine protein phosphatase calcineurin and was prevented by pretreatment with cyclosporin A and deltamethrin or intracellularly applied calcineurin autoinhibitory peptide. Experiments using the stable ATP analogue AMP-PCP indicate that somatostatin acts by depriming of granules. 6. We propose that somatostatin receptors associate with L-type Ca(2+) channels and couple to G(i2) proteins leading to a localised activation of calcineurin and depriming of secretory granules situated close to the L-type Ca(2+) channels.

Alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl quinone levels in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer.

PubMed

Palan, Prabhudas R; Woodall, Angela L; Anderson, Patrick S; Mikhail, Magdy S

2004-05-01

alpha-Tocopherol is a potent antioxidant that protects cell membranes against oxidative damage. Red blood cell alpha-tocopherol levels reflect membrane alpha-tocopherol concentrations, and altered levels may suggest membrane damage. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl quinone, the oxidized product of alpha-tocopherol, in plasma and red blood cells that were obtained from control subjects and patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer. In this cross-sectional study, 72 women, (32 African American and 40 Hispanic) were recruited. Among these subjects, 37 women had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; 14 women had cervical cancer, and 21 women were considered control subjects, who had normal Papanicolaou test results. alpha-Tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl quinone levels were determined in red blood cell and plasma by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl quinone were decreased significantly (P=.012 and=.005, respectively, by Kruskal-Wallis test) in study groups compared with the control group; red blood cell levels of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl quinone were not altered significantly. The lower alpha-tocopherol level that was observed in this study is consistent with our previous reports of decreased antioxidant concentrations and increased oxidative stress in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Unaltered red blood cell alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl quinone levels suggest undamaged cell membrane. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential role of oxidative stress in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

cap alpha. /sub i/-3 cDNA encodes the. cap alpha. subunit of G/sub k/, the stimulatory G protein of receptor-regulated K/sup +/ channels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Codina, J.; Olate, J.; Abramowitz, J.

1988-05-15

cDNA cloning has identified the presence in the human genome of three genes encoding ..cap alpha.. subunits of pertussis toxin substrates, generically called G/sub i/. They are named ..cap alpha../sub i/-1, ..cap alpha../sub i/-2 and ..cap alpha../sub i/-3. However, none of these genes has been functionally identified with any of the ..cap alpha.. subunits of several possible G proteins, including pertussis toxin-sensitive G/sub p/'s, stimulatory to phospholipase C or A/sub 2/, G/sub i/, inhibitory to adenylyl cyclase, or G/sub k/, stimulatory to a type of K/sup +/ channels. The authors now report the nucleotide sequence and the complete predicted aminomore » acid sequence of human liver ..cap alpha../sub i/-3 and the partial amino acid sequence of proteolytic fragments of the ..cap alpha.. subunit of human erythrocyte G/sub k/. The amino acid sequence of the proteolytic fragment is uniquely encoded by the cDNA of ..cap alpha../sub i/-3, thus identifying it as ..cap alpha../sub k/. The probable identity of ..cap alpha../sub i/-1 with ..cap alpha../sub p/ and possible roles for ..cap alpha../sub i/-2, as well as additional roles for ..cap alpha../sub i/-1 and ..cap alpha../sub i/-3 (..cap alpha../sub k/) are discussed.« less

Localization of type IV collagen a 1 to a 6 chains in basement membrane during mouse molar germ development.

PubMed

Nagai, N; Nakano, K; Sado, Y; Naito, I; Gunduz, M; Tsujigiwa, H; Nagatsuka, H; Ninomiya, Y; Siar, C H

2001-10-01

The dental basement membrane (BM) putatively mediates epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during tooth morphogenesis and cytodifferentiation. Type IV collagen alpha chains, a major network-forming protein of the dental BM, was studied and results disclosed distinct expression patterns at different stages of mouse molar germ development. At the dental placode and bud stage, the BM of the oral epithelium expressed alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 5 and alpha 6 chains while the gubernaculum dentis, in addition to the above four chains, also expressed a 4 chain. An asymmetrical expression for alpha 4, alpha 5 and alpha 6 chains was observed at the bud stage. At the early bell stage, the BM associated with the inner enamel epithelium (IEE) of molar germ expressed alpha 1, alpha 2 and alpha 4 chains while the BM of the outer enamel epithelium (OEE) expressed only alpha 1 and a 2 chains. With the onset of dentinogenesis, the collagen a chain profile of the IEE BM gradually disappeared. Howeverfrom the early to late bell stage, the gubernaculum dentis consistently expressed alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 5 and a 6 chains resembling fetal oral mucosa. These findings suggest that stage- and position-specific distribution of type IV collagen alpha subunits occur during molar germ development and that these changes are essential for molar morphogenesis and cytodifferentiation.

Neuroactive steroid stereospecificity of ethanol-like discriminative stimulus effects in monkeys.

PubMed

Grant, Kathleen A; Helms, Christa M; Rogers, Laura S M; Purdy, Robert H

2008-07-01

Positive modulation of GABA(A) and antagonism of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors mediate the discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol. Endogenous neuroactive steroids produce effects similar to ethanol, suggesting that these steroids may modulate ethanol addiction. The four isomers of the functional esters at C-3 of the 3-hydroxy metabolites of 4-pregnene-3,20-dione (progesterone) [allopregnanolone (3alpha,5alpha-P), pregnanolone (3alpha,5beta-P), epiallopregnanolone (3beta,5alpha-P), and epipregnanolone (3beta,5beta-P)], a synthetic analog of steroids modified by endogenous sulfation [pregnanolone hemisuccinate (3alpha,5beta-P HS)], and a structurally similar, adrenally derived steroid [3alpha-hydroxy-5-androstan-17-one (3alpha,5alpha-A, androsterone)] were assessed for ethanol-like discriminative stimulus effects at 30 or 60 min after administration in male (n = 9) and female (n = 8) cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) trained to discriminate 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg ethanol (i.g.) with a 30-min pretreatment interval. The 3alpha-hydroxysteroids completely substituted for ethanol (80% of cases), whereas the 3beta-hydroxysteroids and 3alpha,5beta-P HS rarely substituted for ethanol (6% of cases). There were no sex differences. Compared with monkeys trained to discriminate 2.0 g/kg ethanol, 3alpha,5beta-P and 3alpha,5alpha-A substituted more potently in monkeys trained to discriminate 1.0 g/kg ethanol. Compared with the 5beta-reduced isomer (3alpha,5beta-P), the 5alpha isomer of pregnanolone (3alpha,5alpha-P) substituted for ethanol with 3 to 40-fold greater potency but was least efficacious in female monkeys trained to discriminate 2.0 g/kg ethanol. The data suggest that the discriminative stimulus effects of lower doses (1.0 g/kg) of ethanol are mediated to a greater extent by 3alpha,5beta-P- and 3alpha,5alpha-A-sensitive receptors compared with higher doses (2.0 g/kg). Furthermore, the discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol appear to be mediated by activity at binding sites that are particularly sensitive to 3alpha,5alpha-P.

The molecular chaperone alphaA-crystallin enhances lens epithelial cell growth and resistance to UVA stress.

PubMed

Andley, U P; Song, Z; Wawrousek, E F; Bassnett, S

1998-11-20

alphaA-Crystallin (alphaA) is a member of the small heat shock protein (sHSP) family and has the ability to prevent denatured proteins from aggregating in vitro. Lens epithelial cells express relatively low levels of alphaA, but in differentiated fiber cells, alphaA is the most abundant soluble protein. The lenses of alphaA-knock-out mice develop opacities at an early age, implying a critical role for alphaA in the maintenance of fiber cell transparency. However, the function of alpha-crystallin in the lens epithelium is unknown. To investigate the physiological function of alphaA in lens epithelial cells, we used the following two systems: alphaA knock-out (alphaA(-/-)) mouse lens epithelial cells and human lens epithelial cells that overexpress alphaA. The growth rate of alphaA(-/-) mouse lens epithelial cells was reduced by 50% compared with wild type cells. Cell cycle kinetics, measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis of propidium iodide-stained cells, indicated a relative deficiency of alphaA(-/-) cells in the G2/M phases. Exposure of mouse lens epithelial cells to physiological levels of UVA resulted in an increase in the number of apoptotic cells in the cultures. Four hours after irradiation the fraction of apoptotic cells in the alphaA(-/-) cultures was increased 40-fold over wild type. In cells lacking alphaA, UVA exposure modified F-actin, but actin was protected in cells expressing alphaA. Stably transfected cell lines overexpressing human alphaA were generated by transfecting extended life span human lens epithelial cells with the mammalian expression vector construct pCI-neoalphaA. Cells overexpressing alphaA were resistant to UVA stress, as determined by clonogenic survival. alphaA remained cytoplasmic after exposure to either UVA or thermal stress indicating that, unlike other sHSPs, the protective effect of alphaA was not associated with its relocalization to the nucleus. These results indicate that alphaA has important cellular functions in the lens over and above its well characterized role in refraction.

Mode of alpha-amylase production by the shochu koji mold Aspergillus kawachii.

PubMed

Nagamine, Kazuki; Murashima, Kenji; Kato, Taku; Shimoi, Hitoshi; Ito, Kiyoshi

2003-10-01

Aspergillus kawachii produces two kinds of alpha-amylase, one is an acid-unstable alpha-amylase and the other is an acid-stable alpha-amylase. Because the quality of the shochu depends strongly on the activities of the alpha-amylases, the culture conditions under which these alpha-amylases are produced were examined. In liquid culture, acid-unstable alpha-amylase was produced abundantly, but, acid-stable alpha-amylase was not produced. The acid-unstable alpha-amylase was produced significantly when glycerol or glucose was used as a carbon source, similarly to the use of inducers such as starch or maltose. In liquid culture, A. kawachii assimilated starch at pH 3.0, but no alpha-amylase activity was recognized in the medium. Instead, the alpha-amylase was found to be trapped in the cell wall. The trapped form was identified as acid-unstable alpha-amylase. Usually, acid-unstable alpha-amylase is unstable at pH 3.0, so its stability appeared to be due to its immobilization in the cell wall. In solid-state culture, both kinds of alpha-amylase were produced. The production of acid-stable alpha-amylase seems to be solid-state culture-specific and was affected by the moisture content in the solid medium.

Anticonvulsant properties of alpha, gamma, and alpha, gamma-substituted gamma-butyrolactones.

PubMed

Klunk, W E; Covey, D F; Ferrendelli, J A

1982-09-01

Derivatives of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) substituted on the alpha- and/or gamma-positions were synthesized and tested for their effects on behavior in mice, on the electroencephalographs and blood pressure of paralyzed-ventilated guinea pigs, and on electrical activity of incubated hippocampal slices. Several compounds, including alpha-ethyl-alpha-methyl GBL (alpha-EMGBL), alpha, alpha-dimethyl GBL, alpha, gamma-diethyl-alpha, gamma-dimethyl GBL, and gamma-ethyl-gamma-methyl GBL, prevented seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol, beta-ethyl-beta-methyl-gamma-butyrolactone (beta-EMGBL), picrotoxin, or all three compounds in mice and guinea pigs but had no effect on seizures induced by maximal electroshock or bicuculline. Neither gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) nor alpha-isopropylidine GBL had any anticonvulsant activity. The anticonvulsant alpha-substituted compounds had a potent hypotensive effect and antagonized the hypertensive effect of beta-EMGBL, alpha-EMGBL was tested in incubated hippocampal slices and was found to depress basal activity and antagonize excitation induced by beta-EMGBL. These results demonstrate that alpha-alkyl-substituted GBL and, to a lesser extent, gamma-substituted derivatives are anticonvulsant agents and that their effects are strikingly different from those of GHB or beta-alkyl-substituted GBLs, which are epileptogenic. Possibly beta- and alpha-substituted GBLs act at the same site as agonists and antagonists, respectively.

Alterations of type IV collagen alpha chains in patients with chronic acquired glomerulopathies: mRNA levels, protein expression and urinary loss.

PubMed

Sanna-Cherchi, Simone; Carnevali, Maria Luisa; Martorana, Davide; Cravedi, Paolo; Maggiore, Umberto; Alinovi, Rossella; Bovino, Achiropita; Mattei, Silvia; Orlandini, Guido; Gatti, Rita; Savi, Mario; Sado, Yoshikazu; Neri, Tauro M; Allegri, Landino

2007-01-01

Type IV collagen is a major structural component of the normal kidney glomerulus. However, its role in chronic acquired glomerulopathies has been only partially elucidated. Urinary levels of col(IV)alpha1, col(IV)alpha3 and col(IV)alpha5 collagen chains were analyzed in 107 patients with chronic acquired glomerulopathies. In a subgroup of 33 patients, tissue mRNA levels, protein expression and urinary excretion were evaluated for all col(IV)alpha chains, from col(IV)alpha1 to col(IV)alpha5. The renal specimens were examined to get a semiquantitative score of the acute and chronic activity of the histological lesions. Urines obtained from 13 healthy subjects and 10 normal renal tissue samples were used as controls. Urinary levels of col(IV)alpha1, col(IV)alpha3, col(IV)alpha5 chains were significantly higher in patients than in controls [p < 0.01 for all], while only col(IV)alpha1 and col(IV)alpha3 urinary excretion correlated with the degree of chronic histological damage [col(IV)alpha1 R = 0.44, p < 0.001; col(IV)alpha3: R = 0.47, p < 0.001]. Compared with controls, patients showed a renal expression of mRNA for col(IV)alpha5 chain significantly higher [p = 0.001], while having a significantly lower protein expression of col(IV)alpha3, col(IV)alpha4 and col(IV)alpha5 chains [p < 0.01 for all]. Patients with chronic acquired glomerulopathies show important alterations in the col(IV)alpha chain network mimicking some molecular features of the X-linked Alport's syndrome. Further studies are needed to show whether urinary levels of the col(IV)alpha chains may be used as markers for monitoring renal injury. Copyright 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.

5Alpha-Reduced Steroids Are Major Metabolites in the Early Equine Embryo Proper and Its Membranes.

PubMed

Raeside, James I; Christie, Heather L; Betteridge, Keith J

2015-09-01

Steroid production and metabolism by early conceptuses are very important for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in horses. Our earlier work suggested the possible formation of 5alpha-reduced steroids in equine conceptuses. We have now demonstrated the formation of 5alpha-reduced metabolites of androstenedione, testosterone, and progesterone by the embryo and its membranes. A total of 44 conceptuses were collected from 26 mares between 20 and 31 days of pregnancy. Tissues from the embryo proper and from the separated components of the conceptus (bilaminar and trilaminar trophoblast, allantois) were incubated with tritium-labeled substrates. 5Alpha-reduced metabolites (5alpha-dihydro- and 3beta,5alpha-tetrahydro- steroids) as radiolabeled products were identified from a series of chromatographic steps using four solvent systems for high-performance liquid chromatography. Use of a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor confirmed the metabolites were indeed 5alpha-reduced steroids. For the embryo, the only products from androstenedione were 5alpha-dihydroandrostenedione and 3beta,5alpha-tetrahydroandrostenedione, with no evidence of more polar metabolites; there was some 3beta,5alpha-tetrahydrotestosterone but no 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone from testosterone, and formation of androstenedione was followed by the production of 5alpha-dihydroandrostenedione and 3beta,5alpha-tetrahydroandrostenedione. The major 5alpha-reduced product from progesterone was 3beta,5alpha-tetrahydroprogesterone, with lesser amounts of 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone. For the membranes, reductions to tetrahydro, 5alpha-reduced steroids were prominent in most instances, but also present were considerable amounts of products more polar than the substrates. The well-recognized activity of some 5alpha-reduced steroids--for example, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone in male sexual differentiation--provokes interest in their even earlier appearance, as seen in this study, and suggests a possible role for them in early embryonic development in horses and, more generally, in other species. © 2015 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction, Inc.

Ovine cardiac Na,K-ATPase: isolation by means of selective solubilization in Lubrol and the effect of 1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxyscillirosidin on this enzyme.

PubMed

Venter, P A; Naudé, R J; Oelofsen, W; Swan, G E

1997-01-01

The inhibition of cardiac Na,K-ATPase by 1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxyscillirosidin is the principal cause of poisoning of cattle by the tulip, Homeria pallida. The ultimate goals of this study were to study the interaction between 1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxyscillirosidin and ovine Na,K-ATPase by means of inhibition and displacement binding studies. Ovine cardiac Na,K-ATPase was isolated in membrane-bound form by means of deoxycholate treatment, high-speed ultracentrifugation, NaI treatment and selective solubilization in Lubrol. The inhibition of ovine cardiac and commercial porcine cerebral cortex Na,K-ATPase by 1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxyscilirosidin and ouabain was studied using a discontinuous Na,K-ATPase assay. The binding of 1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxyscillirosidin, ouabain and digoxin to the above enzymes was compared using a displacement binding assay with [3H] oubain. The Lubrol-solubilized ovine cardiac Na,K-ATPase showed a specific activity of 0.3 U/mg with no ouabain insensitive activity. I50 values of 2.1 x 10(-8) and 2.7 x 10(-8) were obtained for the inhibition of this enzyme by 1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxyscillirosidin and ouabain, respectively. 1 alpha,2 alpha-Epoxyscillirosidin has a much higher KD value (1.5 x 10(-7) M), however, than ouabain (9.5 x 10(-9) M) and digoxin (1.7 x 10(-8) M) in displacement binding studies with [3H]ouabain. 1 alpha,2 alpha-Epoxyscillirosidin is a potent inhibitor of ovine cardiac Na,K-ATPase and is a slightly stronger inhibitor of the enzyme than ouabain. The anomalous result for the displacement of 1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxyscillirosidin from its receptor is either a result of different affinities that K+ has for the enzyme ouabain and enzyme-1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxyscillirosidin complexes or because of different complex stabilities of these complexes.

The glycoinositol-phospholipids of Phytomonas.

PubMed

Redman, C A; Schneider, P; Mehlert, A; Ferguson, M A

1995-10-15

The Phytomonas spp. are trypanosomatid parasites of plants. A polar glycolipid fraction of a Phytomonas sp., isolated from the plant Euphorbia characias and grown in culture, was fractionated into four major glycolipid species (Phy 1-4). The glycolipids were analysed by chemical and enzymic modifications, composition and methylation analyses, electrospray mass spectrometry and microsequencing after HNO2 deamination and NaB3H4 reduction. The water-soluble headgroup of the Phy2 glycolipid was also analysed by 1H NMR. All four glycolipids were shown to be glycoinositol-phospholipids (GIPLs) with phosphatidylinositol (PI) moieties containing the fully saturated alkylacylglycerol lipids 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-palmitoylglycerol and 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-stearoylglycerol. The structures of the Phy 1-4 GIPLs are: Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4GlcN alpha 1-6PI, Glc alpha 1-2(NH2-CH2CH2-HPO4-)Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4GlcN alpha 1-6PI, [formula: see text] Glc alpha 1-2(NH2CH2CH2-HPO4-)Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4(NH2-CH2CH2-HPO4-)GlcN alpha 1-6PI [formula: see text] and Glc alpha 1-2Glc alpha 1-2(NH2CH2-CH2-HPO4-)Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4(NH2CH2CH2-HPO4-)-GlcN alpha 1-6PI. [formula: see text] The Phytomonas GIPLs represent a novel series of structures. This is the first description of the chemical structure of cell-surface molecules of this plant pathogen. The Phytomonas GIPLs are compared with those of other trypanosomatid parasites and are discussed with respect to trypanosomatid phylogenetic relationships.

The glycoinositol-phospholipids of Phytomonas.

PubMed Central

Redman, C A; Schneider, P; Mehlert, A; Ferguson, M A

1995-01-01

The Phytomonas spp. are trypanosomatid parasites of plants. A polar glycolipid fraction of a Phytomonas sp., isolated from the plant Euphorbia characias and grown in culture, was fractionated into four major glycolipid species (Phy 1-4). The glycolipids were analysed by chemical and enzymic modifications, composition and methylation analyses, electrospray mass spectrometry and microsequencing after HNO2 deamination and NaB3H4 reduction. The water-soluble headgroup of the Phy2 glycolipid was also analysed by 1H NMR. All four glycolipids were shown to be glycoinositol-phospholipids (GIPLs) with phosphatidylinositol (PI) moieties containing the fully saturated alkylacylglycerol lipids 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-palmitoylglycerol and 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-stearoylglycerol. The structures of the Phy 1-4 GIPLs are: Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4GlcN alpha 1-6PI, Glc alpha 1-2(NH2-CH2CH2-HPO4-)Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4GlcN alpha 1-6PI, [formula: see text] Glc alpha 1-2(NH2CH2CH2-HPO4-)Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4(NH2-CH2CH2-HPO4-)GlcN alpha 1-6PI [formula: see text] and Glc alpha 1-2Glc alpha 1-2(NH2CH2-CH2-HPO4-)Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4(NH2CH2CH2-HPO4-)-GlcN alpha 1-6PI. [formula: see text] The Phytomonas GIPLs represent a novel series of structures. This is the first description of the chemical structure of cell-surface molecules of this plant pathogen. The Phytomonas GIPLs are compared with those of other trypanosomatid parasites and are discussed with respect to trypanosomatid phylogenetic relationships. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 6 Figure 7 PMID:7487886

Radiocurability by Targeting Tumor Necrosis Factor-{alpha} Using a Bispecific Antibody in Carcinoembryonic Antigen Transgenic Mice

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Larbouret, Christel; Robert, Bruno; Linard, Christine

2007-11-15

Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} (TNF-{alpha}) enhances radiotherapy (RT) killing of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. To overcome systemic side effects, we used a bispecific antibody (BsAb) directed against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and TNF-{alpha} to target this cytokine in a CEA-expressing colon carcinoma. We report the evaluation of this strategy in immunocompetent CEA-transgenic mice. Methods and Materials: The murine CEA-transfected colon carcinoma MC-38 was used for all experiments. In vitro, clonogenic assays were performed after RT alone, TNF-{alpha} alone, and RT plus TNF-{alpha}. In vivo, the mice were randomly assigned to treatment groups: control, TNF-{alpha}, BsAb, BsAb plus TNF-{alpha},more » RT, RT plus TNF-{alpha}, and RT plus BsAb plus TNF-{alpha}. Measurements of endogenous TNF-{alpha} mRNA levels and evaluation of necrosis (histologic evaluation) were assessed per treatment group. Results: In vitro, combined RT plus TNF-{alpha} resulted in a significant decrease in the survival fraction at 2 Gy compared with RT alone (p < 0.00001). In vivo, we observed a complete response in 5 (50%) of 10, 2 (20%) of 10, 2 (18.2%) of 11, and 0 (0%) of 12 treated mice in the RT plus BsAb plus TNF-{alpha}, RT plus TNF-{alpha}, RT alone, and control groups, respectively. This difference was statistically significant when TNF-{alpha} was targeted with the BsAb (p = 0.03). The addition of exogenous TNF-{alpha} to RT significantly increased the endogenous TNF-{alpha} mRNA level, particularly when TNF-{alpha} was targeted with BsAb (p < 0.01). The percentages of necrotic area were significantly augmented in the RT plus BsAb plus TNF-{alpha} group. Conclusion: These results suggest that targeting TNF-{alpha} with the BsAb provokes RT curability in a CEA-expressing digestive tumor syngenic model and could be considered as a solid rationale for clinical trials.« less

Induction of VEGF expression by alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl phosphate via PI3Kgamma/PKB and hTAP1/SEC14L2-mediated lipid exchange

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In several studies, vitamin E has been observed to influence angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. We recently showed that the phosphorylated form of alpha-tocopherol (alphaT), alpha-tocopheryl phosphate (alphaTP), increases the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Thus, alphaTP m...

The mongoose acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit: analysis of glycosylation and alpha-bungarotoxin binding.

PubMed

Asher, O; Jensen, B S; Lupu-Meiri, M; Oron, Y; Fuchs, S

1998-04-17

The mongoose AChR alpha-subunit has been cloned and shown to be highly homologous to other AChR alpha-subunits, with only six differences in amino acid residues at positions that are conserved in animal species that bind alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX). Four of these six substitutions cluster in the ligand binding site, and one of them, Asn-187, forms a consensus N-glycosylation site. The mongoose glycosylated alpha-subunit has a higher apparent molecular mass than that of the rat glycosylated alpha-subunit, probably resulting from the additional glycosylation at Asn-187 of the mongoose subunit. The in vitro translated mongoose alpha-subunit, in a glycosylated or non-glycosylated form, does not bind alpha-BTX, indicating that lack of alpha-BTX binding can be achieved also in the absence of glycosylation.

Docosahexaenoic acid affects arachidonic acid uptake in megakaryocytes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schick, P.K.; Webster, P.

1987-05-01

Dietary omega 3 fatty acids are thought to prevent atherosclerosis, possibly by modifying platelet (PT) function and arachidonic acid (20:4) metabolism. The study was designed to determine whether omega 3 fatty acids primarily affect 20:4 metabolism in megakaryocytes (MK), bone marrow precursors of PT, rather than in circulating PT. MK and PT were isolated from guinea pigs and incubated with (/sup 14/C)-20:4 (0.13uM). Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) is a major omega 3 fatty acid in marine oils. The incubation of MK with 22:6 (0.1, 1.0 uM) resulted in the decrease of incorporation of (/sup 14/C)-20:4 into total MK phospholipids, 16% andmore » 41% respectively. Alpha-linolenic acid (18:3), a major omega 3 fatty acid present in American diets, had no effect on 20:4 uptake in MK. 22:6 primarily affected the uptake of (/sup 14/C)-20:4 into phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) in MK. In MK, 22:6 (0.1, 1.0 uM) caused a decrease of incorporation of (/sup 14/C)-20:4 into PE, 21% and 55% respectively; a decrease into PS, 16% and 48% respectively; but only a decrease of 4% and 18%, respectively, into phosphatidylcholine; and a decrease of 3% and 21% into phosphatidylinositol 22:6 (3.0 uM) had no effect on the uptake of AA into PT phospholipids. The study shows that 22:6 has a selective effect on AA uptake in MK and that the acylation or transacylation of PE and PS are primarily affected. 22:6 and other marine omega 3 fatty acids appear to primarily affect megakaryocytes which may result in the production of platelets with abnormal content and compartmentalization of AA.« less

alpha-Mannosidosis in the guinea pig: cloning of the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase cDNA and identification of a missense mutation causing alpha-mannosidosis.

PubMed

Berg, Thomas; Hopwood, John J

2002-03-16

alpha-Mannosidosis is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficient activity of the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase. We report here the sequencing and expression of the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase cDNA from normal and alpha-mannosidosis guinea pigs. The amino acid sequence of the guinea pig enzyme displayed 82-85% identity to the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase in other mammals. The cDNA of the alpha-mannosidosis guinea pig contained a missense mutation, 679C>T, leading to substitution of arginine by tryptophan at amino acid position 227 (R227W). The R227W allele segregated with the alpha-mannosidosis genotype in the guinea pig colony and introduction of R227W into the wild-type sequence eliminated the production of recombinant alpha-mannosidase activity in heterologous expression studies. Furthermore, the guinea pig mutation has been found in human patients. Our results strongly indicate that the 679C>T mutation causes alpha-mannosidosis and suggest that the guinea pig will be an excellent model for investigation of pathogenesis and evaluation of therapeutic strategies for human alpha-mannosidosis.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

PubMed

Nascimento, Diana S; Pereira, Pedro J B; Reis, Marta I R; do Vale, Ana; Zou, Jun; Silva, Manuel T; Secombes, Christopher J; dos Santos, Nuno M S

2007-09-01

In the search for pro-inflammatory genes in sea bass a TNF-alpha gene was cloned and sequenced. The sea bass TNF-alpha (sbTNF-alpha) putative protein conserves the TNF-alpha family signature, as well as the two cysteines usually involved in the formation of a disulfide bond. The mouse TNF-alpha Thr-Leu cleavage sequence and a potential transmembrane domain were also found, suggesting that sbTNF-alpha exists as two forms: a approximately 28 kDa membrane-bound form and a approximately 18.4 kDa soluble protein. The single copy sbTNF-alpha gene contains a four exon-three intron structure similar to other known TNF-alpha genes. Homology modeling of sbTNF-alpha is compatible with the trimeric quaternary architecture of its mammalian counterparts. SbTNF-alpha is constitutively expressed in several unstimulated tissues, and was not up-regulated in the spleen and head-kidney, in response to UV-killed Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida. However, an increase of sbTNF-alpha expression was detected in the head-kidney during an experimental infection using the same pathogen.

Function of Several Critical Amino Acids in Human Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Revealed by Its Structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korotchkina, Lioubov G.; Ciszak, E.; Patel, M.

2004-01-01

Pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), an alpha 2 beta 2 tetramer, catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate and reductive acetylation of lipoyl moieties of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase. The roles of beta W135, alpha P188, alpha M181, alpha H15 and alpha R349 of E1 determined by kinetic analysis were reassessed by analyzing the three-dimensional structure of human E1. The residues identified above are found to play a structural role rather than being directly involved in catalysis: beta W135 is the center residue in the hydrophobic interaction between beta and beta' subunits; alpha P188 and alpha M181 are critical for the conformation of the TPP-binding motif and interaction between alpha and beta subunits; alpha H15, is necessary for the organization of the N-terminus of alpha and alpha'; subunits and alpha R349 supports the interaction of the C-terminus of the alpha subunits with the beta subunits. Analysis of several critical E1 residues confirms the importance of residues distant from the active site for subunit interactions and enzyme function.

Human alpha 7 acetylcholine receptor: cloning of the alpha 7 subunit from the SH-SY5Y cell line and determination of pharmacological properties of native receptors and functional alpha 7 homomers expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

PubMed

Peng, X; Katz, M; Gerzanich, V; Anand, R; Lindstrom, J

1994-03-01

The alpha-bungarotoxin-binding acetylcholine receptors from the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y were found to cross-react with some monoclonal antibodies to alpha 7 subunits of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors from chicken brain. The human alpha 7 subunit cDNA from SH-SY5Y was cloned, revealing 94% amino acid sequence identity to rat alpha 7 subunits and 92% identity to chicken alpha 7 subunits. Native human alpha 7 receptors showed affinities for some ligands similar to those previously observed with native chicken alpha 7 receptors, but for other ligands there were large species-specific differences in binding affinity. These results paralleled properties of alpha 7 homomers expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Human alpha 7 homomers exhibited rapidly desensitizing, inwardly rectifying, agonist-induced, cation currents that triggered Ca(2+)-sensitive Cl- channels in the oocytes. A change in efficacy from partial agonist for chicken alpha 7 homomers to full agonist for human alpha 7 homomers was exhibited by 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium. This result reveals a large species-specific pharmacological difference, despite small differences in alpha 7 sequences. This is important for understanding the effects of these drugs in humans and for identifying amino acids that may contribute to the acetylcholine binding site, for analysis by in vitro mutagenesis. These results also characterize properties of native alpha 7 receptors and alpha 7 homomers that will provide criteria for functional properties expected of structural subunits, when these can be identified, cloned, and coexpressed with alpha 7 subunits.

Assembly of the stator in Escherichia coli ATP synthase. Complexation of alpha subunit with other F1 subunits is prerequisite for delta subunit binding to the N-terminal region of alpha

PubMed Central

Senior, Alan E.; Muharemagi, Alma; Wilke-Mounts, Susan

2008-01-01

Alpha subunit of Escherichia coli ATP synthase was expressed with a C-terminal 6-His tag and purified. Pure alpha was monomeric, competent in nucleotide binding, and had normal N-terminal sequence. In F1-subunit dissociation/reassociation experiments it supported full reconstitution of ATPase, and reassociated complexes were able to bind to F1-depleted membranes with restoration of ATP-driven proton pumping. Therefore interaction between the stator delta subunit and the N-terminal residue 1-22 region of alpha occurred normally when pure alpha was complexed with other F1 subunits. On the other hand, three different types of experiment showed that no interaction occurred between pure delta and isolated alpha subunit. Unlike in F1, the N-terminal region of isolated alpha was not susceptible to trypsin cleavage. Therefore, during assembly of ATP synthase, complexation of alpha subunit with other F1 subunits is prerequisite for delta subunit binding to the N-terminal region of alpha. We suggest that the N-terminal 1-22 residues of alpha are sequestered in isolated alpha until released by binding of beta to alpha subunit. This prevents 1/1 delta/alpha complexes from forming, and provides a satisfactory explanation of the stoichiometry of one delta per three alpha seen in the F1 sector of ATP synthase, assuming that steric hindrance prevents binding of more than one delta to the alpha3/beta3 hexagon. The cytoplasmic fragment of the b subunit (bsol) did not bind to isolated alpha. It might also be that complexation of alpha with beta subunits is prerequisite for direct binding of stator b subunit to the F1-sector. PMID:17176112

Liposomal formulation of {alpha}-tocopheryl maleamide: In vitro and in vivo toxicological profile and anticancer effect against spontaneous breast carcinomas in mice

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Turanek, Jaroslav; Wang Xiufang; Knoetigova, Pavlina

2009-06-15

The vitamin E analogue {alpha}-tocopheryl succinate ({alpha}-TOS) is an efficient anti-cancer drug. Improved efficacy was achieved through the synthesis of {alpha}-tocopheryl maleamide ({alpha}-TAM), an esterase-resistant analogue of {alpha}-tocopheryl maleate. In vitro tests demonstrated significantly higher cytotoxicity of {alpha}-TAM towards cancer cells (MCF-7, B16F10) compared to {alpha}-TOS and other analogues prone to esterase-catalyzed hydrolysis. However, in vitro models demonstrated that {alpha}-TAM was cytotoxic to non-malignant cells (e.g. lymphocytes and bone marrow progenitors). Thus we developed lyophilized liposomal formulations of both {alpha}-TOS and {alpha}-TAM to solve the problem with cytotoxicity of free {alpha}-TAM (neurotoxicity and anaphylaxis), as well as the low solubilitymore » of both drugs. Remarkably, neither acute toxicity nor immunotoxicity implicated by in vitro tests was detected in vivo after application of liposomal {alpha}-TAM, which significantly reduced the growth of cancer cells in hollow fiber implants. Moreover, liposomal formulation of {alpha}-TAM and {alpha}-TOS each prevented the growth of tumours in transgenic FVB/N c-neu mice bearing spontaneous breast carcinomas. Liposomal formulation of {alpha}-TAM demonstrated anti-cancer activity at levels 10-fold lower than those of {alpha}-TOS. Thus, the liposomal formulation of {alpha}-TAM preserved its strong anti-cancer efficacy while eliminating the in vivo toxicity found of the free drug applied in DMSO. Liposome-based targeted delivery systems for analogues of vitamin E are of interest for further development of efficient and safe drug formulations for clinical trials.« less

Shape Evolution of Detached Bridgman Crystals Grown in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volz, M. P.; Mazuruk, K.

2015-01-01

A theory describing the shape evolution of detached Bridgman crystals in microgravity has been developed. A starting crystal of initial radius r0 will evolve to one of the following states: Stable detached gap; Attachment to the crucible wall; Meniscus collapse. Only crystals where alpha plus omega is great than 180 degrees will achieve stable detached growth in microgravity. Results of the crystal shape evolution theory are consistent with predictions of the dynamic stability of crystallization (Tatarchenko, Shaped Crystal Growth, Kluwer, 1993). Tests of transient crystal evolution are planned for ICESAGE, a series of Ge and GeSi crystal growth experiments planned to be conducted on the International Space Station (ISS).

3-(2-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-1,3-thiazole-2(3H)-thione as an ecofriendly sulphur transfer agent to prepare alkanethiols in high yield and high purity.

PubMed

Mehdid, Mohammed Amine; Djafri, Ayada; Roussel, Christian; Andreoli, Federico

2009-11-12

A new process is described for preparing very pure linear alkanethiols and linear alpha,omega-alkanedithiols using a sequential alkylation of the title compound, followed by a ring closure to quantitatively give the corresponding 3-methyl[1,3]thiazolo[3,2-a]-[3,1]benzimidazol-9-ium salt and the alkanethiol derivative under mild conditions. The alkanethiol and the heteroaromatic salt are easily separated by a simple extraction process. The intermediate thiazolium quaternary salts resulting from the first reaction step can be isolated in quantitative yields, affording an odourless protected form of the thiols.

Orthopositronium Lifetime: Analytic Results in O({alpha}) and O({alpha}{sup 3}ln{alpha})

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kniehl, Bernd A.; Kotikov, Anatoly V.; Veretin, Oleg L.

2008-11-07

We present the O({alpha}) and O({alpha}{sup 3}ln{alpha}) corrections to the total decay width of orthopositronium in closed analytic form, in terms of basic irrational numbers, which can be evaluated numerically to arbitrary precision.

Synthesis of methyl 2-O- and 3-O-alpha-D-talopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside.

PubMed

Rana, S S; Matta, K L

1986-09-01

Methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-O-[6-O-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)-alpha-D- mannopyranosyl]-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (2) was synthesized by treatment of methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside with tert-butylchlorodiphenylsilane in the presence of imidazole. Isopropylidenation, followed by oxidation with pyridinium chlorochromate, and stereoselective reduction with sodium borohydride, converted 2 into methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-O-[6-O-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)-2,3-O-isopro pylidene- alpha-D-talopyranosyl]-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (5). Treatment of 5 with a molar solution of tetrabutylammonium fluoride in dry oxolane produced a diol which, on O-de-isopropylidenation followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis, afforded the disaccharide glycoside methyl 2-O-alpha-D-talopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside. Synthesis of methyl 3-O-alpha-D-talopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside was accomplished by a similar reaction-sequence. The structures of the final disaccharides, and of various other intermediates, were established by 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng,L.; Gell, D.; Zhou, S.

Hemoglobin A (HbA), the oxygen delivery system in humans, comprises two alpha and two beta subunits. Free alpha-hemoglobin (alphaHb) is unstable, and its precipitation contributes to the pathophysiology of beta thalassemia. In erythrocytes, the alpha-hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP) binds alphaHb and inhibits its precipitation. The crystal structure of AHSP bound to Fe(II)-alphaHb reveals that AHSP specifically recognizes the G and H helices of alphaHb through a hydrophobic interface that largely recapitulates the alpha1-beta1 interface of hemoglobin. The AHSP-alphaHb interactions are extensive but suboptimal, explaining why beta-hemoglobin can competitively displace AHSP to form HbA. Remarkably, the Fe(II)-heme group in AHSP boundmore » alphaHb is coordinated by the distal but not the proximal histidine. Importantly, binding to AHSP facilitates the conversion of oxy-alphaHb to a deoxygenated, oxidized [Fe(III)], nonreactive form in which all six coordinate positions are occupied. These observations reveal the molecular mechanisms by which AHSP stabilizes free alphaHb.« less

Application of four anti-human interferon-alpha monoclonal antibodies for immunoassay and comparative analysis of natural interferon-alpha mixtures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Andersson, G.; Lundgren, E.; Ekre, H.P.

Four different mouse monoclonal antibodies to human interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) were evaluated for application in quantitative and comparative analysis of natural IFN-alpha mixtures. Binding to IFN-alpha subtypes in solution revealed individual reactivity patterns. These patterns changed if the IFN-alpha molecules were immobilized either passively to a surface or bound by another antibody. Also, substitution of a single amino acid in IFN-alpha 2 affected the binding, apparently by altering the conformation. Isoelectric focusing of three natural IFN-alpha preparations from different sources, followed by immunoblotting, resulted in individual patterns with each of the four mAbs and also demonstrated variation in the composition ofmore » the IFN-alpha preparations. None of the mAbs was subtype specific, but by combining the different mAbs, and also applying polyclonal anti-human IFN-alpha antibodies, it was possible to design sensitive sandwich ELISAs with broad or more limited IFN-alpha subtype specificity.« less

Specific antibodies against Go isoforms reveal the early expression of the Go2 alpha subunit and appearance of Go1 alpha during neuronal differentiation.

PubMed

Rouot, B; Charpentier, N; Chabbert, C; Carrette, J; Zumbihl, R; Bockaert, J; Homburger, V

1992-02-01

We have previously identified two isoforms of Go alpha in membranes of N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells, using an antibody raised against the purified Go alpha subunit; one isoform of the Go alpha subunit (pI 5.80) is present in undifferentiated cells, whereas a more acidic isoform (pI 5.55) appears during differentiation [J. Neurochem. 54:1310-1320 (1990)]. Recently, the Go alpha gene has been shown to encode, by alternative splicing, two polypeptides, Go1 alpha and Go2 alpha, which differ only in their carboxyl-terminal part. To determine unambiguously whether the two Go alpha subunits detected in neuroblastoma cells were actually the products of different mRNAs, rabbit polyclonal antibodies were generated against synthetic peptides (amino acids 291-302) of both sequences. Specificity of the two affinity-purified antipeptide antibodies was assessed on Western blots by comparing their immunoreactivities with those of other G alpha antibodies. On a blotted mixture of purified brain guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, the anti-alpha o1 and anti-alpha o2 peptide antibodies only recognized the 39-kDa Go alpha subunit. Furthermore, the immunological recognition of brain membranes from 15-day-old mouse fetuses by antipeptide antibodies could be specifically blocked by addition of the corresponding antigen. When membrane proteins from differentiated neuroblastoma cells and mouse fetus brain were blotted after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the anti-alpha o1 and anti-alpha o2 peptide antibodies labeled a 39-kDa subunit focused at a pI value of 5.55 or 5.80, respectively. Study of the ontogenesis of both Go alpha subunits revealed the predominance of Go2 alpha in the frontal cortex at day 15 of gestation. Thereafter, there was a progressive decline of the Go2 alpha polypeptide to a very low level, concomitant with an increase in the Go1 alpha protein, which plateaued about 15 days after birth to a level 8 times higher than at gestational day 15. Similarly, on neuroblastoma cells, the Go2 alpha subunit was almost exclusively present in undifferentiated cells, and differentiation induced the appearance of the Go1 alpha subunit, with a reduction in the amount of Go2 alpha polypeptide. Thus, the evolution of the two Go alpha subunits during cell differentiation, unambiguously identified with specific antibodies, suggests that neuronal differentiation is responsible for the on/off switch of the expression of the Go alpha isoforms and indicates that Go1 alpha, rather than Go2 alpha, is involved in neurotransmission.

Identification of a novel bile acid in swans, tree ducks, and geese: 3alpha,7alpha,15alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholan-24-oic acid.

PubMed

Kakiyama, Genta; Iida, Takashi; Goto, Takaaki; Mano, Nariyasu; Goto, Junichi; Nambara, Toshio; Hagey, Lee R; Schteingart, Claudio D; Hofmann, Alan F

2006-07-01

By HPLC, a taurine-conjugated bile acid with a retention time different from that of taurocholate was found to be present in the bile of the black-necked swan, Cygnus melanocoryphus. The bile acid was isolated and its structure, established by (1)H and (13)C NMR and mass spectrometry, was that of the taurine N-acyl amidate of 3alpha,7alpha,15alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholan-24-oic acid. The compound was shown to have chromatographic and spectroscopic properties that were identical to those of the taurine conjugate of authentic 3alpha,7alpha,15alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholan-24-oic acid, previously synthesized by us from ursodeoxycholic acid. By HPLC, the taurine conjugate of 3alpha,7alpha,15alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholan-24-oic acid was found to be present in 6 of 6 species in the subfamily Dendrocygninae (tree ducks) and in 10 of 13 species in the subfamily Anserinae (swans and geese) but not in other subfamilies in the Anatidae family. It was also not present in species from the other two families of the order Anseriformes. 3alpha,7alpha,15alpha-Trihydroxy-5beta-cholan-24-oic acid is a new primary bile acid that is present in the biliary bile acids of swans, tree ducks, and geese and may be termed 15alpha-hydroxy-chenodeoxycholic acid.

[Age-related change in the alpha-tocopherolquinone/alpha-tocopherol ratio in the rat erythrocyte membrane].

PubMed

Yanagawa, K; Takeda, H; Matsumiya, T; Takasaki, M

1999-05-01

alpha-Tocopherol (alpha-Toc), a lipophilic phenolic antioxidant that is localized mainly in the biomembrane, protects cells against oxidation-associated cytotoxicity by prevention of membrane lipid peroxidation, maintenance of the redox balance intracellular thiols and stabilization of the membrane structure. We investigated the age-related changes in redox dynamics of alpha-Toc in plasma and erythrocyte membrane of an elderly (66 weeks old) and young group (10 weeks old). Total, alpha-, beta + gamma-, delta-Toc and alpha-tocopherolquinone (alpha-TocQ) in plasma and erythrocyte membrane were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a series of multiple coulometric working electrodes (CWE). Rat venous blood sample was divided into plasma and erythrocyte layers by centrifugation, and then erythrocyte membrane sample was prepared according to the method of Dodge et al. under a stream of nitrogen. In plasma, total and alpha-Toc concentrations were increased, and beta + gamma-, delta-Toc and alpha-TocQ concentrations were decreased age-dependently. In the erythrocyte membrane, total, alpha-TocQ concentrations and three fractions of tocopherols decreased age-dependently. Also, a decrease in the alpha-TocQ/alpha-Toc ratio in erythrocyte membrane was observed in the elderly group. These findings suggest that the alpha-Toc uptake in erythrocyte membrane and utilization rate of alpha-Toc in erythrocyte membrane decline age-dependently. This decline may promote membrane lipid peroxidation. alpha-Toc redox dynamics in erythrocyte membrane were useful to investigate the pathophysiology of aging mechanisms related to oxidative stress.

Contribution of HIF-1alpha or HIF-2alpha to erythropoietin expression: in vivo evidence based on chromatin immunoprecipitation.

PubMed

Yeo, Eun-Jin; Cho, Young-Suk; Kim, Myung-Suk; Park, Jong-Wan

2008-01-01

Circulating erythropoietin (EPO) is mainly produced by the kidneys and mediates erythrogenesis in bone marrow and nonhematopoietic cell survival. EPO is also produced in other tissues where it functions as a paracrine. Moreover, the hypoxic induction of EPO is known to be mediated by HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha, but it remains obscure as to which of these two mediators mainly contributes to EPO expression. Thus, we designed in vivo experiments to evaluate the contributions made by HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha to EPO expression. In mice exposed to mild whole body hypoxia, HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha were both induced in all tissues examined. However, EPO mRNA was expressed in kidney and brain, but not in liver and lung. Likewise, chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) analyses demonstrated that HIF-1alpha or HIF-2alpha binding to the EPO gene increased under hypoxic conditions only in kidney and brain. A comparison of CHIP data and EPO mRNA levels suggested that, during mild hypoxia, renal EPO transcription is induced equally by HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha, but that brain EPO is mainly induced during hypoxia by HIF-2alpha. Thus, HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha appear to contribute to EPO expression tissue specifically.

{sup 110,116}Cd({alpha},{alpha}){sup 110,116}Cd elastic scattering and systematic investigation of elastic {alpha} scattering cross sections along the Z=48 isotopic and N=62 isotonic chains

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kiss, G. G.; Fueloep, Zs.; Gyuerky, Gy.

2011-06-15

The elastic scattering cross sections for the reactions {sup 110,116}Cd({alpha},{alpha}){sup 110,116}Cd at energies above and below the Coulomb barrier are presented to provide a sensitive test for the {alpha}-nucleus optical potential parameter sets. Additional constraints for the optical potential are taken from the analysis of elastic scattering excitation functions at backward angles which are available in literature. Moreover, the variation of the elastic {alpha} scattering cross sections along the Z=48 isotopic and N=62 isotonic chain is investigated by the study of the ratios of the {sup 106,110,116}Cd({alpha},{alpha}){sup 106,110,116}Cd scattering cross sections at E{sub cm{approx_equal}}15.6and18.8 MeV and the ratio of themore » {sup 110}Cd({alpha},{alpha}){sup 110}Cd and {sup 112}Sn({alpha},{alpha}){sup 112}Sn reaction cross sections at E{sub cm{approx_equal}}18.8 MeV, respectively. These ratios are sensitive probes for the {alpha}-nucleus optical potential parametrizations. The potentials under study are a basic prerequisite for the prediction of {alpha}-induced reaction cross sections (e.g., for the calculation of stellar reaction rates in the astrophysical p or {gamma} process).« less

Guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins in retinal pigment epithelial cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, Meisheng; Tran, V.T.; Fong, H.K.W.

1991-05-01

The expression of GTP-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells was analyzed by RNA blot hybridization and cDNA amplification. Both adult and fetal human RPE cells contain mRNA for multiple G protein {alpha} subunits (G{alpha}) including G{sub s}{alpha}, G{sub i-1}{alpha}, G{sub i-2}{alpha}, G{sub i-3}{alpha}, and G{sub z}{alpha} (or G{sub x}{alpha}), where G{sub s} and G{sub i} are proteins that stimulate or inhibit adenylyl cyclase, respectively, and G{sub z} is a protein that may mediate pertussis toxin-insensitive events. Other G{alpha}-related mRNA transcripts were detected in fetal RPE cells by low-stringency hybridization to G{sub i-2}{alpha} and G{sub s}{alpha}more » protein-coding cDNA probes. The diversity of G proteins in RPE cells was further studied by cDNA amplification with reverse transcriptase and the polymerase chain reaction. This approach revealed that, besides the above mentioned members of the G{alpha} gene family, at least two other G{alpha} subunits are expressed in RPE cells. Human retinal cDNA clones that encode one of the additional G{alpha} subunits were isolated and characterized. The results indicate that this G{alpha} subunit belongs to a separate subfamily of G proteins that may be insensitive to inhibition by pertussis toxin.« less

Effect of flaxseed oil and microalgae DHA on the production performance, fatty acids and total lipids of egg yolk and plasma in laying hens.

PubMed

Neijat, M; Ojekudo, O; House, J D

2016-12-01

The incorporation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the egg is dependent on both the transfer efficiency of preformed dietary omega-3 fatty acids to the eggs as well as endogenous PUFA metabolism and deposition. Employing an experimental design consisting of 70 Lohmann LSL-Classic hens (n=10/treatment) in a 6-week feeding trial, we examined the impact of graded levels of either flaxseed oil (alpha-linolenic acid, ALA) or algal DHA (preformed docosahexaenoic acid, DHA), each supplying 0.20%, 0.40% and 0.60% total omega-3s. The control diet was practically low in omega-3s. Study parameters included monitoring the changes of fatty acid contents in yolk, measures of hen performance, eggshell quality, total lipids and fatty acid contents of plasma. Data were analysed as a complete randomized design using Proc Mixed procedure of SAS. No significant differences were observed between treatments with respect to hen performance, eggshell quality and cholesterol content in plasma and egg yolk. Individual and total omega-3 PUFA in the yolk and plasma increased (P<0.0001) linearly as a function of total omega-3 PUFA intake. At the highest inclusion levels, DHA-fed hens incorporated 3-fold more DHA in eggs compared with ALA-fed hens (179±5.55 vs. 66.7±2.25mg/yolk, respectively). In both treatment groups, maximal enrichment of total n-3 PUFA was observed by week-2, declined by week-4 and leveled thereafter. In addition, accumulation of DHA in egg yolk showed linear (P<0.0001) and quadratic (P<0.05) effects for flaxseed oil (R 2 =0.89) and algal DHA (R 2 =0.95). The current data, based on defined level of total omega-3s in the background diet, provides evidence to suggest that exogenous as well as endogenous synthesis of DHA may be subject to a similar basis of regulation, and serve to highlight potential regulatory aspects explaining the limitations in the deposition of endogenously produced omega-3 LCPUFA. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

21 CFR 866.5420 - Alpha-1-glycoproteins immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Alpha-1-glycoproteins immunological test system....5420 Alpha-1-glycoproteins immunological test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-1-glycoproteins... alpha-1-glycoproteins (a group of plasma proteins found in the alpha-1 group when subjected to...

21 CFR 866.5080 - Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin immunological test system....5080 Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin immunological test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-1... immunochemical techniques alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (a protein) in serum, other body fluids, and tissues. Alpha-1...

21 CFR 866.5580 - Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system....5580 Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-1-lipoprotein... the alpha-1-lipoprotein (high-density lipoprotein) in serum and plasma. Measurement of alpha-1...

21 CFR 866.5620 - Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system....5620 Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-2-macroglobulin... the alpha-2-macroglobulin (a serum protein) in plasma. Measurement of alpha-2-macroglobulin may aid in...

21 CFR 866.5080 - Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin immunological test system....5080 Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin immunological test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-1... immunochemical techniques alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (a protein) in serum, other body fluids, and tissues. Alpha-1...

21 CFR 866.5080 - Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin immunological test system....5080 Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin immunological test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-1... immunochemical techniques alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (a protein) in serum, other body fluids, and tissues. Alpha-1...

21 CFR 866.5620 - Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system....5620 Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-2-macroglobulin... the alpha-2-macroglobulin (a serum protein) in plasma. Measurement of alpha-2-macroglobulin may aid in...

21 CFR 866.5620 - Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system....5620 Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-2-macroglobulin... the alpha-2-macroglobulin (a serum protein) in plasma. Measurement of alpha-2-macroglobulin may aid in...

21 CFR 866.5580 - Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system....5580 Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-1-lipoprotein... the alpha-1-lipoprotein (high-density lipoprotein) in serum and plasma. Measurement of alpha-1...

40 CFR 721.10300 - Benzeneacetic acid, .alpha.-chloro-.alpha.-phenyl-, ethyl ester.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Benzeneacetic acid, .alpha.-chloro-.alpha.-phenyl-, ethyl ester. 721.10300 Section 721.10300 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL... Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10300 Benzeneacetic acid, .alpha.-chloro-.alpha...

21 CFR 866.5580 - Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system....5580 Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-1-lipoprotein... the alpha-1-lipoprotein (high-density lipoprotein) in serum and plasma. Measurement of alpha-1...

21 CFR 866.5580 - Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system....5580 Alpha-1-lipoprotein immuno-logical test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-1-lipoprotein... the alpha-1-lipoprotein (high-density lipoprotein) in serum and plasma. Measurement of alpha-1...

40 CFR 721.10300 - Benzeneacetic acid, .alpha.-chloro-.alpha.-phenyl-, ethyl ester.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Benzeneacetic acid, .alpha.-chloro-.alpha.-phenyl-, ethyl ester. 721.10300 Section 721.10300 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL... Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10300 Benzeneacetic acid, .alpha.-chloro-.alpha...

21 CFR 866.5620 - Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system....5620 Alpha-2-macroglobulin immunological test system. (a) Identification. An alpha-2-macroglobulin... the alpha-2-macroglobulin (a serum protein) in plasma. Measurement of alpha-2-macroglobulin may aid in...

40 CFR 721.10300 - Benzeneacetic acid, .alpha.-chloro-.alpha.-phenyl-, ethyl ester.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Benzeneacetic acid, .alpha.-chloro-.alpha.-phenyl-, ethyl ester. 721.10300 Section 721.10300 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL... Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10300 Benzeneacetic acid, .alpha.-chloro-.alpha...

Binding of actin to lens alpha crystallins

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gopalakrishnan, S.; Takemoto, L.; Spooner, B. S. (Principal Investigator)

1992-01-01

Actin has been coupled to a cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose 4B column, then tested for binding to alpha, beta, and gamma crystallin preparations from the bovine lens. Alpha, but not beta or gamma, crystallins bound to the actin affinity column in a time dependent and saturable manner. Subfractionation of the alpha crystallin preparation into the alpha-A and alpha-B species, followed by incubation with the affinity column, demonstrated that both species bound approximately the same. Together, these studies demonstrate a specific and saturable binding of lens alpha-A and alpha-B with actin.

Structure of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol membrane anchor of acetylcholinesterase from the electric organ of the electric-fish, Torpedo californica.

PubMed Central

Mehlert, A; Varon, L; Silman, I; Homans, S W; Ferguson, M A

1993-01-01

The structure of the glycan moiety of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane anchor from Torpedo californica (electric fish) electric-organ acetylcholinesterase was solved using n.m.r., methylation analysis and chemical and enzymic micro-sequencing. Two structures were found to be present: Glc alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6Man alpha 1-4GlcN alpha 1-6myo-inositol and Glc alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-2Man alpha 1-6(GalNAc beta 1-4)Man alpha 1-4GlcN alpha 1-6myo-inositol. The presence of glucose in this GPI anchor structure is a novel feature. The anchor was also shown to contain 2.3 residues of ethanolamine per molecule. PMID:8257440

[Alpha power voluntary increasing training for cognition enhancement study].

PubMed

Alekseeva, M V; Balioz, N V; Muravleva, K B; Sapina, E V; Bazanova, O M

2012-01-01

With the aim simultaneous alpha EEG stimulating and EMG decreasing biofeedback training impact on the alpha-activity and cognitive functions 27 healthy male subjects (18-34 years) were investigated in pre- and post 10 training sessions of the voluntary increasing alpha power in individual upper alpha range. The accuracy of conceptual span task, fluency and flexibility in alternatives use task performance and alpha-activity indices were compared in real (14 participants) and sham (13 participants) biofeedback groups for the discrimination of the feedback role in training. The follow up effect oftrainings was studied through month over the training sessions. Results showed that alpha biofeedback training enhanced the fluency and accuracy in cognitive performance, increased resting frequency, width and power in individual upper alpha range only in participants with low baseline alpha frequency. While mock biofeedback increased resting alpha power only in participants with high baseline resting alpha frequency and did not change the cognitive performance. Biofeedback training eliminated the alpha power decrease in response to arithmetic task in both with high and low alpha frequency participants and this effect was followed up over the month. Mock biofeedback training has no such effect. It could be concluded that alpha-EEG-EMG biofeedback has application not only for cognition enhancement, but also in prognostic aims in clinical practice and brain-computer interface technology.

Cloning and characterization of the mouse alpha1C/A-adrenergic receptor gene and analysis of an alpha1C promoter in cardiac myocytes: role of an MCAT element that binds transcriptional enhancer factor-1 (TEF-1).

PubMed

O'Connell, T D; Rokosh, D G; Simpson, P C

2001-05-01

alpha1-Adrenergic receptor (AR) subtypes in the heart are expressed by myocytes but not by fibroblasts, a feature that distinguishes alpha1-ARs from beta-ARs. Here we studied myocyte-specific expression of alpha1-ARs, focusing on the subtype alpha1C (also called alpha1A), a subtype implicated in cardiac hypertrophic signaling in rat models. We first cloned the mouse alpha1C-AR gene, which consisted of two exons with an 18 kb intron, similar to the alpha1B-AR gene. The receptor coding sequence was >90% homologous to that of rat and human. alpha1C-AR transcription in mouse heart was initiated from a single Inr consensus sequence at -588 from the ATG; this and a putative polyadenylation sequence 8.5 kb 3' could account for the predominant 11 kb alpha1C mRNA in mouse heart. A 5'-nontranscribed fragment of 4.4 kb was active as a promoter in cardiac myocytes but not in fibroblasts. Promoter activity in myocytes required a single muscle CAT (MCAT) element, and this MCAT bound in vitro to recombinant and endogenous transcriptional enhancer factor-1. Thus, alpha1C-AR transcription in cardiac myocytes shares MCAT dependence with other cardiac-specific genes, including the alpha- and beta-myosin heavy chains, skeletal alpha-actin, and brain natriuretic peptide. However, the mouse alpha1C gene was not transcribed in the neonatal heart and was not activated by alpha1-AR and other hypertrophic agonists in rat myocytes, and thus differed from other MCAT-dependent genes and the rat alpha1C gene.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-independent downregulation of hepatic cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene in mice treated with lead nitrate.

PubMed

Kojima, Misaki; Sekikawa, Kenji; Nemoto, Kiyomitsu; Degawa, Masakuni

2005-10-01

We previously reported that lead nitrate (LN), an inducer of hepatic tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), downregulated gene expression of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase. Herein, to clarify the role of TNF-alpha in LN-induced downregulation of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase, effects of LN on gene expression of hepatic cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) in TNF-alpha-knockout (KO) and TNF-alpha-wild-type (WT) mice were comparatively examined. Gene expression of hepatic Cyp7a1 in both WT and KO mice decreased to less than 5% of the corresponding controls at 6-12 h after treatment with LN (100 mumol/kg body weight, iv). Levels of hepatic TNF-alpha protein in either WT or KO mice were below the detection limit, although expression levels of the TNF-alpha gene markedly increased at 6 h in WT mice by LN treatment, but not in KO mice. In contrast, in both WT and KO mice, levels of hepatic IL-1beta protein, which is known to be a suppressor of the cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene in hamsters, were significantly increased 3-6 h after LN treatment. Furthermore, LN-induced downregulation of the Cyp7a1 gene did not necessarily result from altered gene expression of hepatic transcription factors, including positive regulators (liver X receptor alpha, retinoid X receptor alpha, fetoprotein transcription factor, and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha) and a negative regulator small heterodimer partner responsible for expression of the Cyp7a1 gene. The present findings indicated that LN-induced downregulation of the Cyp7a1 gene in mice did not necessarily occur through a TNF-alpha-dependent pathway and might occur mainly through an IL-1beta-dependent pathway.

Identification and quantification of metabolites common to 17alpha-methyltestosterone and mestanolone in horse urine.

PubMed

Yamada, Masayuki; Aramaki, Sugako; Okayasu, Toshimasa; Hosoe, Tomoo; Kurosawa, Masahiko; Kijima-Suda, Isao; Saito, Koichi; Nakazawa, Hiroyuki

2007-09-21

Anabolic steroids with the 17alpha-methyl,17beta-hydroxyl group, which were developed as oral formulations for therapeutic purposes, have been abused in the field of human sports. These anabolic steroids are also used to enhance racing performance in racehorses. In humans, structurally related 17alpha-methyltestosterone (MTS) and mestanolone (MSL), which are anabolic steroids with the 17alpha-methyl,17beta-hydroxyl group, have metabolites in common. The purpose of this study was to determine metabolites common to these two steroids in horses, which may serve as readily available screening targets for the doping test of these steroids in racehorses. Urine sample collected after administering MTS and MSL to horses was treated to obtain unconjugated steroid, glucuronide, and sulfate fractions. The fractions were subjected to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and 17alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-3beta,17beta-diol, 17alpha-hydroxymethyl-5alpha-androstan-3beta,17beta-diol, 17alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-3beta,16beta,17beta-triol, and 17alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-3beta,16alpha,17beta-triol were detected as the common metabolites by comparison with synthesized reference standards. The urinary concentrations of these metabolites after dosing were determined by GC/MS. 17Alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-3beta,16beta,17beta-triol was mainly detected in the sulfate fractions of urine samples after administration. This compound was consistently detected for the longest time in the urine samples after dosing with both steroids. The results suggest that 17alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-3beta,16beta,17beta-triol is a very useful screening target for the doping test of MTS and MSL in racehorses.

Islets of Langerhans in the parakeet, Psittacula krameri.

PubMed

Gupta, Y K; Kumar, S

1980-01-01

The pancreatic gland of Psittacula krameri is divisible into 4 lobes i.e. dorsal, ventral, third and splenic. The endocrine part is composed of alpha 1-, alpha 2- and beta-cells. The islets are of 4 kinds viz., alpha islets (having alpha 1- and alpha 2-cells), beta islets (having beta- and alpha 1-cells), pure beta islets (consisting of beta-cells exclusively) and mixed islets (with beta-, alpha 1- and alpha 2-cells). The distribution of alpha islets is mostly restricted to the splenic and third lobes whereas the beta islets are found in all 4 lobes. Though the alpha islets are only few in the dorsal lobe, their size is best developed in the third and dorsal lobes. Sometimes beta and alpha islets are present in very close proximity but their cells never mingle. An interesting feature was the complete absence of alpha islets from the ventral lobe.A relative abundance of alpha 2- cells in this bird seems to be associated with its comparatively higher blood glucose level and frugivorous habit. Tinctorial reactions suggest that the insulin content of the endocrine pancreas is low. There were no seasonal changes in the islet tissue of P. krameri.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor {alpha}-independent peroxisome proliferation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang Xiuguo; Tanaka, Naoki; Nakajima, Takero

2006-08-11

Hepatic peroxisome proliferation, increases in the numerical and volume density of peroxisomes, is believed to be closely related to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor {alpha} (PPAR{alpha}) activation; however, it remains unknown whether peroxisome proliferation depends absolutely on this activation. To verify occurrence of PPAR{alpha}-independent peroxisome proliferation, fenofibrate treatment was used, which was expected to significantly enhance PPAR{alpha} dependence in the assay system. Surprisingly, a novel type of PPAR{alpha}-independent peroxisome proliferation and enlargement was uncovered in PPAR{alpha}-null mice. The increased expression of dynamin-like protein 1, but not peroxisome biogenesis factor 11{alpha}, might be associated with the PPAR{alpha}-independent peroxisome proliferation at least in part.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4alpha is a central transactivator of the mouse Ntcp gene.

PubMed

Geier, Andreas; Martin, Ina V; Dietrich, Christoph G; Balasubramaniyan, Natarajan; Strauch, Sonja; Suchy, Frederick J; Gartung, Carsten; Trautwein, Christian; Ananthanarayanan, Meenakshisundaram

2008-08-01

Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (Ntcp) is the major uptake system for conjugated bile acids. Deletions of hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1alpha and retinoid X receptor-alpha:retinoic acid receptor-alpha binding sites in the mouse 5'-flanking region corresponding to putatively central regulatory elements of rat Ntcp do not significantly reduce promoter activity. We hypothesized that HNF-4alpha, which is increasingly recognized as a central regulator of hepatocyte function, may directly transactivate mouse (mNtcp). A 1.1-kb 5'-upstream region including the mouse Ntcp promoter was cloned and compared with the rat promoter. In contrast to a moderate 3.5-fold activation of mNtcp by HNF-1alpha, HNF-4alpha cotransfection led to a robust 20-fold activation. Deletion analysis of mouse and rat Ntcp promoters mapped a conserved HNF-4alpha consensus site at -345/-326 and -335/-316 bp, respectively. p-475bpmNtcpLUC is not transactivated by HNF-1alpha but shows a 50-fold enhanced activity upon cotransfection with HNF-4alpha. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrated a complex of the HNF-4alpha-element formed with liver nuclear extracts that was blocked by an HNF-4alpha specific antibody. HNF-4alpha binding was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Using Hepa 1-6 cells, HNF-4alpha-knockdown resulted in a significant 95% reduction in NTCP mRNA. In conclusion, mouse Ntcp is regulated by HNF-4alpha via a conserved distal cis-element independently of HNF-1alpha.

Mapping High-Velocity H-alpha and Lyman-alpha Emission from Supernova 1987A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

France, Kevin; McCray, Richard; Fransson, Claes; Larsson, Josefin; Frank, Kari A.; Burrows, David N.; Challis, Peter; Kirshner, Robert P.; Chevalier, Roger A.; Garnavich, Peter;

P alpha-chiral phosphorothioate analogues of bis(5'-adenosyl)tetraphosphate (Ap4A); their enzymatic synthesis and degradation.

PubMed Central

Lazewska, D; Guranowski, A

1990-01-01

Synthesis of Sp and Rp diastereomers of Ap4A alpha S has been characterized in two enzymatic systems, the lysyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli and the Ap4A alpha, beta-phosphorylase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The synthetase was able to use both (Sp)ATP alpha S and (Rp)ATP alpha S as acceptors of adenylate thus yielding corresponding monothioanalogues of Ap4A,(Sp) Ap4A alpha S and (Rp)Ap4A alpha S. No dithiophosphate analogue was formed. Relative synthetase velocities of the formation of Ap4A,(Sp) Ap4A alpha S and (Rp)Ap4A alpha S were 1:0.38:0.15, and the computed Km values for (Sp)ATP alpha S and (Rp)ATP alpha S were 0.48 and 1.34 mM, respectively. The yeast Ap4A phosphorylase synthesized (Sp)Ap4A alpha S and (Rp)Ap4A alpha S using adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (APS) as source of adenylate. The adenylate was accepted by corresponding thioanalogues of ATP. In that system, relative velocities of Ap4A, (Sp)Ap4A alpha S and (Rp)Ap4A alpha S formation were 1:0.15:0.60. The two isomeric phosphorothioate analogues of Ap4A were tested as substrates for the following specific Ap4A-degrading enzymes: (asymmetrical) Ap4A hydrolase (EC 3.6.1.17) from yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus) seeds hydrolyzed each of the analogues to AMP and the corresponding isomer of ATP alpha S; (symmetrical) Ap4A hydrolase (EC 3.6.1.41) from E. coli produced ADP and the corresponding diastereomer of ADP alpha S; and Ap4A phosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.53) from S. cerevisiae cleaved the Rp isomer only at the unmodified end yielding ADP and (Rp)ATP alpha S whereas the Sp isomer was degraded non-specifically yielding a mixture of ADP, (Sp)ADP alpha S, ATP and (Sp)ATP alpha S. For all the Ap4A-degrading enzymes, the Rp isomer of Ap4A alpha S appeared to be a better substrate than its Sp counterpart; stereoselectivity of the three enzymes for the Ap4A alpha S diastereomers is 51, 6 and 2.5, respectively. Basic kinetic parameters of the degradation reactions are presented and structural requirements of the Ap4A-metabolizing enzymes with respect to the potential substrates modified at the Ap4A-P alpha are discussed. PMID:2172926

Evaluation of GABAergic neuroactive steroid 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnane-20-one as a neurobiological substrate for the anti-anxiety effect of ethanol in rats.

PubMed

Hirani, Khemraj; Sharma, Ajay N; Jain, Nishant S; Ugale, Rajesh R; Chopde, Chandrabhan T

2005-07-01

Acute systemic ethanol administration is known to elevate plasma and cerebral levels of neuroactive steroid 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnane-20-one (3alpha, 5alpha-THP; allopregnanolone) to a concentration sufficient to potentiate GABA(A) receptors. We have earlier demonstrated that 3alpha, 5alpha-THP mediates the antidepressant-like effect of ethanol in Porsolt forced swim test. The aim of the present study is to explain the relationship between endogenous GABAergic neurosteroids and anxiolytic effect of ethanol in Sprague-Dawley rats. The mediation of 3alpha, 5alpha-THP in the anti-anxiety effect of ethanol was assessed by pharmacological interactions of ethanol with various endogenous neurosteroidal modulators and using simulated physiological conditions of altered neurosteroid content in elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Pretreatment of 3alpha, 5alpha-THP (0.5-2.5 mug/rat, i.c.v.) or neurosteroidogenic agents such as 3alpha, 5alpha-THP precursor progesterone (5 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.), 11-beta hydroxylase inhibitor metyrapone (50 or 100 mg/kg, i.p.) or the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol (25 ng/rat, i.c.v.) significantly potentiated the anti-anxiety effect of ethanol (1 g/kg, i.p.). On the other hand, the GABAergic antagonistic neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) (1 mg/kg, i.p.), the GABA(A) receptor blocker bicuculline (1 mg/kg, i.p.), the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride (50 x 2 mg/kg, s.c.) or the mitochondrial diazepam binding inhibitory receptor antagonist PK11195 (1 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced ethanol-induced preference of time spent and number of entries into open arms. Anti-anxiety effect of ethanol was abolished in adrenalectomized (ADX) rats as compared to sham-operated control. This ADX-induced blockade was restored by prior systemic injection of progesterone, signifying the contribution of peripheral steroidogenesis in ethanol anxiolysis. Socially isolated animals known to exhibit decreased brain 3alpha, 5alpha-THP and GABA(A) receptor functions displayed reduced sensitivity to the effects of ethanol and 3alpha, 5alpha-THP in EPM test. Our results demonstrated the contributory role of neuroactive steroid 3alpha, 5alpha-THP in the anti-anxiety effect of ethanol. It is speculated that ethanol-induced modulation of endogenous GABAergic neurosteroids, especially 3alpha, 5alpha-THP, might be crucial pertinent to the etiology of 'trait' anxiety (tension reduction) and ethanol abuse.

Terpenoids from Tripterygium doianum (Celastraceae).

PubMed

Tanaka, Naonobu; Duan, Hongquan; Takaishi, Yoshihisa; Kawazoe, Kazuyoshi; Goto, Satoru

2002-09-01

The extract of Tripterygium doianum (Celastraceae) afforded three triterpenoids [3beta-acetoxy-11-ursen-13alpha,30-olide, 25-chloro-24-hydroxytirucall-7-en-3-one and tirucall-7-en-3,24-dione], two sesquiterpenoids [5alpha-acetoxy-1beta,8alpha-bis-cinnamoyl-4alpha-hydroxydihydroagarofuran and 5alpha-acetoxy-1beta-benzoyl-8alpha-cinnamoyl-4alpha-hydroxydihydroagarofuran] and nine known triterpenoids. Their structures were established based on spectroscopic studies. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Blood-brain barrier transport of the alpha-keto acid analogs of amino acids.

PubMed

Steele, R D

1986-06-01

A number of alpha-keto acid analogs of amino acids have been found to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Pyruvate, alpha-ketobutyrate, alpha-ketoisocaproate, and alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyrate all cross the BBB by a carrier-mediated process and by simple diffusion. Under normal physiological conditions, diffusion accounts for roughly 15% or less of total transport. Aromatic alpha-keto acids, phenylpyruvate, and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate do not penetrate the BBB, nor do they inhibit the transport of other alpha-keto acids. Evidence based primarily on inhibition studies indicates that the carrier-mediated transport of alpha-keto acids occurs via the same carrier demonstrated previously for propionate, acetoacetate, and beta-hydroxybutyrate transport, commonly referred to as the monocarboxylate carrier. As a group, the alpha-keto acid analogs of the amino acids have the highest affinity for the carrier, followed by propionate and beta-hydroxybutyrate. Starvation for 4 days induces transport of alpha-keto acids, but transport is suppressed in rats fed commercial laboratory rations and subjected to portacaval shunts. The mitochondrial pyruvate translocator inhibitor alpha-cyanocinnamate has no effect on the BBB transport of alpha-keto acids.

Isolation of a new anti-inflammatory 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27-octanorcucurbitacin-type triterpene from Ibervillea sonorae.

PubMed

Jardón-Delgado, Angel; Magos-Guerrero, Gil Alfonso; Martínez-Vázquez, Mariano

2014-01-01

A new cucurbitane-type triterpene, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27-octanorcucurbita-5-ene-3, 11, 16-trione (1), named kinoin D, was isolated from the roots of the medicinal plant Ibervillea sonorae, (wereque). The structure of 1 was established on the basis of extensive NMR and MS studies. In addition, the known kinoins B (3) and C (5) were isolated, as were 16alpha-20,25-trihydroxy-3alpha-(2-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosiyl-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-(10alpha)-cucurbit-5-en-11,22-dione (6), (22S)-16alpha,22-diacetoxy-20,25-dihydroxy-3alpha-[3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl]-(10alpha)-cucurbita-5,23t-dien-11-one (7) and 16alpha-acetoxy-20,25-dihydroxy-3alpha-[3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-O-(2,3,4,-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(10alpha)-cucurbita-5-ene-11,22-dione (8). Compound 1 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in TPA-induced edema in mice.

Immunostimulatory effects of natural human interferon-alpha (huIFN-alpha) on carps Cyprinus carpio L.

PubMed

Watanuki, Hironobu; Chakraborty, Gunimala; Korenaga, Hiroki; Kono, Tomoya; Shivappa, R B; Sakai, Masahiro

2009-10-15

Human interferon-alpha (huIFN-alpha) is an important immunomodulatory substance used in the treatment and prevention of numerous infectious and immune-related diseases in animals. However, the immunostimulatory effects of huIFN-alpha in fish remain to be investigated. In the current study, the immune responses of the carp species Cyprinus carpio L. to treatment with huIFN-alpha were analyzed via measurement of superoxide anion production, phagocytic activity and the expression of cytokine genes including interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 10. Low doses of huIFN-alpha were administered orally once a day for 3 days, and sampling was carried out at 1, 3 and 5 days post-treatment. Our results indicate that a low dose of huIFN-alpha significantly increased phagocytic activity and superoxide anion production in the carp kidney. The huIFN-alpha-treated fish also displayed a significant upregulation in cytokine gene expression. The current study demonstrates the stimulatory effects of huIFN-alpha on the carp immune system and highlights the immunomodulatory role of huIFN-alpha in fish.

[Enrichment effect of vitamin-deficient diet of rats by polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 on vitamin biomarkers and antioxidant status].

PubMed

Vrzhesinskaia, O A; Beketova, V M; Kodentsova, O G; Pereverzeva, O G; Kosheleva, O V; Sokol'nikov, A A; Kulakova, S N; Baturina, V A; Soto, S Kh

2013-01-01

Using the model of combined vitamin deficiency based on 5-fold reduction of the amount of vitamin mixture in semi-synthetic diet and on vitamin E exclusion from the mixture, the influence of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on vitamin and antioxidant status has been investigated. The enrichment of rat diet with PUFA was achieved by replacing of sunflower oil (4.5% of the diet) on linseed oil. This substitute led to omega-3 PUFA elevation from 0.03 to 2.4 g per 100 g of food and PUFA and saturated fatty acids diet ratio increased from 1.3 to 1.9. The diet treatment with PUFA did not affect blood plasma retinol concentration and total vitamin A (retinol palmitate and retinol) rat liver content, while liver retinol significantly 1,5-fold elevated. Despite of preliminary equation of tocopherols content in vegetable oils (up to 60 IU per 100 g by adding dl-alpha-tocopherol to linseed oil) the consuming of linen oil deteriorated animal vitamin E supply. The liver alpha-tocopherol content significantly decreased by 14%, its blood plasma concentration insignificantly decreased by 26%, while the amount of beta - and gamma-tocopherol significantly increased in 5,4-fold. At the same deprivation of vitamin D in the diet of rats treated with linseed oil 25(OH)D blood plasma concentration was 1,3-fold higher compared with the animals treated with sunflower oil, but the difference did not reach significance reliable. In this case, this index had significant differences from that of the receiving adequate diet rats in control group, having 2-fold higher concentration of vitamin D transport form in blood plasma. PUFA enrichment of the combined vitamin-deficit diet did not affect liver level of vitamin C, vitamin B1 and vitamin B2. Contrary to the assumptions, the enrichment with PUFA of vitamin-deficient diet did not lead to a further increase of liver MDA level and a decrease of liver ascorbic acid content, which is typical for animals in combined vitamin deficiency. The deterioration of vitamin E status at enriched with PUFA vitamin-deficient diet requires the additional intake of this vitamin for maintaining of vitamin E sufficiency.

Plasma binding of an alpha-blocking agent, nicergoline--affinity for serum albumin and native and modified alpha 1-acid glycoprotein.

PubMed

Robert, L; Migne, J; Santonja, R; Zini, R; Schmid, K; Tillement, J P

1983-06-01

The binding of nicergoline, an alpha-blocking drug, by human plasma proteins was studied using gel filtration, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and equilibrium dialysis techniques. 3H-labeled nicergoline added to plasma was eluted together with two major protein fractions, one containing mainly serum albumin, the other glycoproteins such as alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AG). Equilibrium dialysis experiments with pure human serum albumin and alpha 1-AG as well as with its chemically modified forms, desialylated, carboxymethylated, and both desialylated and carboxymethylated alpha 1-AG gave the following results: nicergoline has about a 4-fold higher affinity for alpha 1-AG than for serum albumin. There are two binding sites per molecule on serum albumin and one on alpha 1-AG. The binding parameters of alpha 1-AG were not significantly modified by desialylation or carboxymethylation. Only desialylated and carboxymethylated alpha 1-AG showed a decreased binding for nicergoline, suggesting conformational modifications induced by these combined treatments. The fact that desialylated alpha 1-AG keeps its affinity for nicergoline suggests the possibility of a selective introduction of this drug in cells possessing the Ashwell-type specific receptor for desialylated alpha 1-AG, for instance hepatocytes. Increased serum alpha 1-AG concentration induced by inflammatory reactions will also modify the distribution of bound nicergoline between serum albumin and alpha 1-AG and as a consequence its half-life and cell distribution.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-{alpha} enhances fatty acid oxidation in human adipocytes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Joo-Young; Hashizaki, Hikari; Goto, Tsuyoshi

2011-04-22

Highlights: {yields} PPAR{alpha} activation increased mRNA expression levels of adipocyte differentiation marker genes and GPDH activity in human adipocytes. {yields} PPAR{alpha} activation also increased insulin-dependent glucose uptake in human adipocytes. {yields} PPAR{alpha} activation did not affect lipid accumulation in human adipocytes. {yields} PPAR{alpha} activation increased fatty acid oxidation through induction of fatty acid oxidation-related genes in human adipocytes. -- Abstract: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-{alpha} (PPAR{alpha}) is a key regulator for maintaining whole-body energy balance. However, the physiological functions of PPAR{alpha} in adipocytes have been unclarified. We examined the functions of PPAR{alpha} using human multipotent adipose tissue-derived stem cells as a humanmore » adipocyte model. Activation of PPAR{alpha} by GW7647, a potent PPAR{alpha} agonist, increased the mRNA expression levels of adipocyte differentiation marker genes such as PPAR{gamma}, adipocyte-specific fatty acid-binding protein, and lipoprotein lipase and increased both GPDH activity and insulin-dependent glucose uptake level. The findings indicate that PPAR{alpha} activation stimulates adipocyte differentiation. However, lipid accumulation was not changed, which is usually observed when PPAR{gamma} is activated. On the other hand, PPAR{alpha} activation by GW7647 treatment induced the mRNA expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes such as CPT-1B and AOX in a PPAR{alpha}-dependent manner. Moreover, PPAR{alpha} activation increased the production of CO{sub 2} and acid soluble metabolites, which are products of fatty acid oxidation, and increased oxygen consumption rate in human adipocytes. The data indicate that activation of PPAR{alpha} stimulates both adipocyte differentiation and fatty acid oxidation in human adipocytes, suggesting that PPAR{alpha} agonists could improve insulin resistance without lipid accumulation in adipocytes. The expected effects of PPAR{alpha} activation are very valuable for managing diabetic conditions accompanied by obesity, because PPAR{gamma} agonists, usually used as antidiabetic drugs, induce excessive lipid accumulation in adipocytes in addition to improvement of insulin resistance.« less

Bioequivalence of a Liquid Formulation of Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor Compared with Prolastin®-C (Lyophilized Alpha1-PI) in Alpha1-Antitrypsin Deficiency.

PubMed

Barker, Alan F; Campos, Michael A; Brantly, Mark L; Stocks, James M; Sandhaus, Robert A; Lee, Douglas; Steinmann, Kimberly; Lin, Jiang; Sorrells, Susan

2017-12-01

This study evaluated the bioequivalence, safety, and immunogenicity of a new liquid formulation of human plasma-derived alpha 1 -proteinase inhibitor, Liquid Alpha 1 -PI, compared with the Lyophilized Alpha 1 -PI formulation (Prolastin®-C), for augmentation therapy in patients with alpha 1 -antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). In this double-blind, randomized, 20-week crossover study, 32 subjects with AATD were randomized to receive 8 weekly infusions of 60 mg/kg of Liquid Alpha 1 -PI or Lyophilized Alpha 1 -PI. Serial blood samples were drawn for 7 days after the last dose followed by 8 weeks of the alternative treatment. The primary endpoint was bioequivalence at steady state, as measured by area under the concentration versus time curve from 0 to 7 days (AUC 0-7 days ) postdose using an antigenic content assay. Bioequivalence was defined as 90% confidence interval (CI) for the ratio of the geometric least squares (LS) mean of AUC 0-7 days for both products within the limits of 0.80 and 1.25. Safety and immunogenicity were assessed. Mean alpha 1 -PI concentration versus time curves for both formulations were superimposable. Mean AUC 0-7 days was 20 320 versus 19 838 mg × h/dl for Liquid Alpha 1 -PI and Lyophilized Alpha 1 -PI, respectively. The LS mean ratio of AUC 0-7 days (90% CI) for Liquid Alpha 1 -PI versus Lyophilized Alpha 1 -PI was 1.05 (1.03-1.08), indicating bioequivalence. Liquid Alpha 1 -PI was well tolerated and adverse events were consistent with Lyophilized Alpha 1 -PI. Immunogenicity to either product was not detected. In conclusion, Liquid Alpha 1 -PI is bioequivalent to Lyophilized Alpha 1 -PI, with a similar safety profile. The liquid formulation would eliminate the need for reconstitution and shorten preparation time for patients receiving augmentation therapy for AATD.

Prospective randomized controlled study of interferon-alpha in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after medical ablation therapy for primary tumors.

PubMed

Lin, Shi-Ming; Lin, Chun-Jung; Hsu, Chao-Wei; Tai, Dar-In; Sheen, I-Shyan; Lin, Deng-Yn; Liaw, Yun-Fan

2004-01-15

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after ablation therapy for primary tumors is common. To evaluate the effectiveness of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in preventing HCC recurrence, 30 eligible patients were randomized into three groups: 11 patients treated with three mega units (MU) of IFN-alpha three times weekly for 24 months (IFN-alpha-continuous group), 9 patients treated with 3 MU of IFN-alpha daily for 10 days every month for 6 months followed by 3 MU of IFN-alpha daily for 10 days every 3 months for a further 18 months (IFN-alpha-intermittent group), and 10 patients who received no IFN-alpha therapy (control group). The three groups were comparable in terms of etiology, demographics, and laboratory data at entry and HCC characteristics. After a median follow-up of 27 months (range 4-53 months), 9 patients (90%) in the control group and 9 patients (45%) in 2 treatment groups (6 patients in the IFN-alpha-continuous group and 3 patients in the IFN-alpha-intermittent group) developed an HCC recurrence (P = 0.021). Cumulative HCC recurrence rates in the IFN-alpha-intermittent, IFN-alpha-continuous, and control groups were 22.2%, 27.3%, and 40% at the end of 1 year and 33.3%, 54.6%, and 90% at the end of 4 years (P = 0.0375), respectively (control vs. IFN-alpha-intermittent group, P = 0.0123; vs. IFN-alpha-continuous group, P = 0.0822). If both IFN-alpha groups were combined, the cumulative HCC recurrence rate of the patients treated with IFN-alpha and the control group was 25% and 40% at the end of 1 year and 47% and 90% at the end of 4 years, respectively (P = 0.0135). The data suggested that IFN-alpha therapy may reduce HCC recurrence after medical ablation therapy for primary tumors. Copyright 2003 American Cancer Society.

Expression of alpha-AR subtypes in T lymphocytes and role of the alpha-ARs in mediating modulation of T cell function.

PubMed

Bao, Jing-Yin; Huang, Yan; Wang, Feng; Peng, Yu-Ping; Qiu, Yi-Hua

2007-01-01

Previous work in our laboratory has shown that alpha-adrenoreceptors (alpha-ARs) and beta-ARs exist on lymphocytes from functional profile, and that the receptors mediate the regulation of lymphocyte function by catecholamines. In the present study, we directly examined the expression of alpha-AR subtypes, alpha(1)-AR and alpha(2)-AR mRNAs, in T lymphocytes and explored the roles of the alpha-AR subtypes and intracellular signal transduction mechanisms linked to the receptors in mediating the modulation of T lymphocyte function. T lymphocytes from mesenteric lymph nodes of rats were purified by using a nylon wool column. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of alpha(1)-AR and alpha(2)-AR mRNAs in the freshly isolated T cells and the mitogen concanavalin A (Con A)-activated lymphocytes. Colorimetric methylthiazoletetrazolium assay was employed to measure lymphocyte proliferation induced by Con A. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels in the Con A-stimulated lymphocyte culture supernatants were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. T cells expressed both alpha(1)-AR and alpha(2)-AR mRNAs. The expression of both alpha(1)-AR and alpha(2)-AR mRNAs was significantly higher in the Con A-activated lymphocytes than in the resting lymphocytes. Phenylephrine, a selective alpha(1)-AR agonist, had no evident effect on lymphocyte proliferation nor on IFN-gamma and IL-4 production induced by Con A. However, the selective alpha(2)-AR agonist clonidine attenuated Con A-induced lymphocyte proliferation as well as IFN-gamma and IL-4 production. The inhibited lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-gamma and IL-4 production by clonidine were blocked by yohimbine, an alpha(2)-AR antagonist. Either phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122 or protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine partially prevented the suppressive effect of clonidine on Con A-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and IL-4 production. T lymphocytes express both alpha(1)-ARs and alpha(2)-ARs, but only the alpha(2)-ARs participate in the suppressive modulation of lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production in vitro. The inhibitory effect of alpha(2)-AR stimulation on lymphocyte function is partially mediated via the phospholipase C-protein kinase C pathway. (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The electrophoretically 'slow' and 'fast' forms of the alpha 2-macroglobulin molecule.

PubMed Central

Barrett, A J; Brown, M A; Sayers, C A

1979-01-01

alpha 2-Macroglobulin (alpha 2M) was isolated from human plasma by a four-step procedure: poly(ethylene glyco) fractionation, gel chromatography, euglobulin precipitation and immunoadsorption. No contaminants were detected in the final preparations by electrophoresis or immunoprecipitation. The protein ran as a single slow band in gel electrophoresis, and was designated 'S-alpha 2M'. S-alpha 2M bound about 2 mol of trypsin/mol. Treatment of S-alpha 2M with a proteinase or ammonium salts produced a form of the molecule more mobile in electrophoresis, and lacking proteinase-binding activity (F-alpha 2M). The electrophoretic mobility of the F-alpha 2M resulting from reaction with NH4+ salts was identical with that of proteinase complexes. We attribute the change in electrophoretic mobility of the alpha 2M to a conformation change, but there was no evidence of a change in pI or Strokes radius. Electrophoresis of S-alpha 2M in the presence of sodium dodecylsulphate gave results consistent with the view that the alpha 2M molecule is a tetramer of identical subunits, assembled as a non-covalent pair of disulphide-linked dimers. Some of the subunits seemed to be 'nicked' into two-thires-length and one-third-length chains, however. This was not apparent with F-alpha 2M produced by ammonium salts. F-alpha 2M produced by trypsin showed two new bands attributable to cleavage of the subunit polypeptide chain near the middle. Immunoassays of F-alpha 2M gave 'rockets' 12-29% lower than those with S-alpha 2M. The nature of the interactions between subunits in S-alpha 2M and F-alpha 2M was investigated by treating each form with glutaraldehyde before electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. A much greater degree of cross-linking was observed with the F-alpha 2M, indicating that the subunits interact most closely in this form of the molecule. Exposure of S-alpha 2M to 3 M-urea or pH3 resulted in dissociation to the disulphide-bonded half-molecules; these did not show the proteinase-binding activity characteristic of the intact alpha 2M. F-alpha 2M was less easily dissociated than was S-alpha 2M. S-alpha 2M was readily dissociated to the quarter-subunits by mild reduction, with the formation of 3-4 new thiol groups per subunit. Inact reactive alpha 2M could then be regenerated in high yield by reoxidation of the subunits. F-alpha 2M formed by reaction with a proteinase or ammonium salts was not dissociated under the same conditions, although the interchain disulphide bonds were reduced. If the thiol groups of the quarter-subunits of S-alpha 2M were blocked by carboxymethylation, oxidative reassociation did not occur. Nevertheless treatment of these subunits with methylammonium salts or a proteinase caused the reassembly of half-molecules and intact (F-) tetramers. It is emphasized that F-alpha 2M does not have the properties of a denatured form of the protein... Images Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Fig. 5. Fig. 6. PMID:91367

X-ray Thomson scattering measurement of temperature in warm dense carbon

DOE PAGES

Falk, Katerina; Fryer, C. L.; Gamboa, E. J.; ...

2016-11-22

Here, a novel platform to measure the equation of state using a combination of diagnostics, where the spectrally resolved x-ray Thomson scattering (XRTS) is used to obtain accurate temperature measurements of warm dense matter (WDM) was developed for the OMEGA laser facility. OMEGA laser beams have been used to drive strong shocks in carbon targets creating WDM and generating the Ni He-alpha x-ray probe used for XRTS. Additional diagnostics including x-ray radiography, velocity interferometry and streaked optical pyrometry provided complementary measurements of density and pressure. The WDM regime of near solid density and moderate temperatures (1–100 eV) is a challengingmore » yet important area of research in inertial confinement fusion and astrophysics. This platform has been used to study off-Hugoniot states of shock-released diamond and graphite at pressures between 1 and 10 Mbar and temperatures between 5 and 15 eV as well as first x-ray Thomson scattering data from shocked low density CH foams reaching five times compression and temperatures of 20–30 eV.« less

Modulation of receptor-mediated gonadotropin action in rat testes by dietary fat.

PubMed

Sebokova, E; Garg, M L; Clandinin, M T

1988-06-01

The effect of feeding diets enriched with 18:2 omega 6, 18:3 omega 3, or saturated fatty acids on lipid composition and receptor-mediated action of luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin (LH/hCG) in rat testicular plasma membranes was investigated. Linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid treatments reduced total phospholipid and cholesterol content of the testicular plasma membrane and altered membrane phospholipid composition. Change in phospholipid and cholesterol content after feeding the polyunsaturated fats decreased cholesterol to phospholipid ratios and binding capacity of the LH/hCG receptor in the testicular plasma membrane. LH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was decreased in animals fed the linolenic acid-rich diet. NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was decreased in animals fed diets high in either polyunsaturated fatty acid. Decreased plasma membrane LH/hCG receptor content was associated with decreased testosterone production in Leydig cells in response to LH in the linolenic acid-fed group. It is suggested that change in cholesterol-to-phospholipid ratios alters the physical properties of testicular plasma membranes in a manner that influences accessibility of LH/hCG receptors in testicular tissue.

Catalytic decomposition of methanol for onboard hydrogen generation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brabbs, T.

1978-01-01

The steam reformation of an equimolar mixture of methanol and water on a copper chromite catalyst was studied at three furnace temperatures and at feed space velocities from 800 to 2600 per hour. The hydrogen space velocity could be related to the reactor temperature by the equation Sv = A exp (-omega T), where A and omega are constants determined for each value of alpha and T is temperature. At a methanol conversion of 0.87 and a reactor temperature of 589 K, the extrapolated value of the hydrogen space velocity was 9400 per hour. This velocity was used to estimate the size of an onboard hydrogen reactor for automotive applications. Such a reactor would need only about 0.8 liter of catalyst to produce 7630 STP liters (1.5 lb) of hydrogen per hour. This quantity of catalyst would fit into nine tubes 17.8 centimeters along and 2.54 centimeters in inside diameter, which is smaller than most mufflers. The reactor products would contain 12 to 13 percent more chemical energy than the incoming methanol and water.

Antioxidant activity of flavonoids isolated from young green barley leaves toward biological lipid samples.

PubMed

Benedet, John A; Umeda, Hisao; Shibamoto, Takayuki

2007-07-11

Natural plant flavonoids, saponarin/lutonarin=4.5/1, isolated from young green barley leaves were examined for their antioxidant activity using cod liver oil, omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids, and blood plasma. The saponarin/lutonarin (S/L) mixture inhibited malonaldehyde (MA) formation from cod liver oil by 76.47+/-0.11% at a level of 1 micromol and 85.88+/-0.12% at a level of 8 micromol. The S/L mixture inhibited MA formation from the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by 45.60+/-1.08 and 69.24+/-0.24%, respectively, at a level of 8 micromol. The S/L mixture inhibited MA formation from the phospholipids lecithin I and II by 43.08+/-0.72 and 69.16+/-2.92%, respectively, at a level of 8 micromol. It also inhibited MA formation from blood plasma by 62.20+/-0.11% at a level of 8 micromol. The antioxidant activities obtained from the S/L mixture were comparable to those obtained from alpha-tocopherol and butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) in all lipids tested.

The Mini Orange Spectrometer (MOS) for Stellar and Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis studies at OMEGA and the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutcliffe, G. D.; Frenje, J. A.; Gatu Johnson, M.; Li, C. K.; Parker, C.; Simpson, R.; Sio, H.; Seguin, F. H.; Petrasso, R. D.; Zylstra, A.

2017-10-01

A compact and highly efficient Mini Orange Spectrometer (MOS) is being designed for measurements of energy spectra of protons and alphas in the range of 1-12 MeV in experiments at the OMEGA laser facility and the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The MOS will extend charged-particle spectrometry at these laser facilities to lower energies (<5 MeV) and lower yields (<5×108) than current instrumentation allows. This new spectrometer will enable studies of low-probability stellar nucleosynthesis reactions, including the 3He+3He reaction that is part of the solar proton-proton chain. Its unique capabilities will also be exploited in other basic science experiments, including studies of stopping power in ICF-relevant plasmas, astrophysical shocks and kinetic physics. The MOS design achieves high efficiency by maximizing the solid angle of particle acceptance. The optimization of the MOS design uses simulated magnetic fields and particle tracing. Performance requirements of the MOS system, including desired detection efficiencies and energy resolution, are discussed. This work was supported in part by the U.S. DoE, LLNL, and LLE.

Addition products of alpha-tocopherol with lipid-derived free radicals.

PubMed

Yamauchi, Ryo

2007-01-01

The addition products of alpha-tocopherol with lipid-derived free radicals have been reviewed. Free radical scavenging reactions of alpha-tocopherol take place via the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical as an intermediate. If a suitable free radical is present, an addition product can be formed from the coupling of the free radical with the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical. The addition products of alpha-tocopherol with lipid-peroxyl radicals are 8a-(lipid-dioxy)-alpha-tocopherones, which are hydrolyzed to alpha-tocopherylquinone. On the other hand, the carbon-centered radicals of lipids prefer to react with the phenoxyl radical of alpha-tocopherol to form 6-O-lipid-alpha-tocopherol under anaerobic conditions. The addition products of alpha-tocopherol with peroxyl radicals (epoxylinoleoyl-peroxyl radicals) produced from cholesteryl ester and phosphatidylcholine were detected in the peroxidized human plasma using a high-sensitive HPLC procedure with postcolumn reduction and electrochemical detection. Thus, the formation of these addition products provides us with much information on the antioxidant function of vitamin E in biological systems.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Popp, R.A.; Enlow, M.K.

The clinical hematologic change in 2 groups of progeny from mice carrying radiation-induced strain SEC ..cap alpha..-chain deficiencies was found to be similar to the hematologic alterations in persons with ..cap alpha..-thalassemia. The heterozygous deletion or inactivation of the ..cap alpha..-chain gene in mice caused an anemia similar to ..cap alpha..-thalassemina minor in persons. The ..cap alpha..-chain deficiency in mice created an erythrocytosis, reticulocytosis, and microcytic, hypochromic anemia comparable with the changes in human ..cap alpha..-thalassemia minor resulting from deletion of the ..cap alpha..-chain gene. These mouse mutants are the only known animal models of human thalassemia. A comparison ofmore » hematologic values obtained from progeny possessing an ..cap alpha..-chain gene deficiency and from progeny possessing a ..beta..-chain duplication suggested that the deficiency of ..cap alpha..-chain synthesis, rather than a simple imbalance between the amounts of ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-chains produced, was primarily responsible for the altered hematologic characteristics in these ..cap alpha..-thalassemic mice.« less

Circulating neuroactive C21- and C19-steroids in young men before and after ejaculation.

PubMed

Stárka, L; Hill, M; Havlíková, H; Kancheva, L; Sobotka, V

2006-01-01

Twelve neuroactive and neuroprotective steroids, androgens and androgen precursors i.e. 3alpha,17beta-dihydroxy-5alpha-androstane, 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-17-one, 3alpha-hydroxy-5beta-androstan-17-one, androst-5-ene-3beta,17beta-diol, 3beta,17alpha-dihydroxy-pregn-5-en-20-one (17alpha-hydroxy-pregnenolone), 3beta-hydroxy-androst-5-en-17-one (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA), testosterone, androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (androstenedione), 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone), 3beta-hydroxy-pregn-5-en-20-one (pregnenolone), 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA, and 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA were measured using the GC-MS system in young men before and after ejaculation provoked by masturbation. The circulating level of 17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone increased significantly, whereas the other circulating steroids were not changed at all. This fact speaks against the hypothesis that a drop in the level of neuroactive steroids, e.g. allopregnanolone may trigger the orgasm-related increase of oxytocin, reported by other authors.

Vasodilating effect of norethisterone and its 5 alpha metabolites: a novel nongenomic action.

PubMed

Perusquía, Mercedes; Villalón, Carlos M; Navarrete, Erika; García, Gustavo A; Pérez-Palacios, Gregorio; Lemus, Ana E

2003-08-15

Estrogens are generally administered in hormone replacement therapy in combination with synthetic progestins. Studies of cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women have shown a variety of responses according to the molecular structure of the progestin used in hormone replacement therapy schemes. The present study sets out to determine the vasoactive effects of norethisterone and its 5alpha-dihydro (5alpha-norethisterone) and -tetrahydro (3alpha,5alpha-norethisterone and 3beta,5alpha-norethisterone) metabolites in isolated precontracted rat thoracic aorta. The addition of norethisterone and 3alpha,5alpha-norethisterone in rat aorta exhibited a potent, concentration-response inhibition of noradrenaline-induced contraction, while 5alpha- and 3beta,5alpha-norethisterone had very little, if any, vasorelaxing effect. Relaxation to norethisterone and 3alpha,5alpha-norethisterone had very rapid time-courses and it was neither affected by the absence of endothelium nor by the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). The addition of specific anti-androgen, anti-progestin and anti-estrogen compounds and protein synthesis inhibitors did not preclude the vasorelaxing effect of norethisterone and its 3alpha,5alpha-reduced metabolite. The results strongly suggest that these effects are not mediated by nuclear sex steroid hormone receptors. The overall data document a novel nongenomic endothelium-independent vasorelaxing action of a 19-nor synthetic progestin and one of its A-ring-reduced derivatives.

Fasting induces basolateral uptake transporters of the SLC family in the liver via HNF4alpha and PGC1alpha.

PubMed

Dietrich, Christoph G; Martin, Ina V; Porn, Anne C; Voigt, Sebastian; Gartung, Carsten; Trautwein, Christian; Geier, Andreas

2007-09-01

Fasting induces numerous adaptive changes in metabolism by several central signaling pathways, the most important represented by the HNF4alpha/PGC-1alpha-pathway. Because HNF4alpha has been identified as central regulator of basolateral bile acid transporters and a previous study reports increased basolateral bile acid uptake into the liver during fasting, we hypothesized that HNF4alpha is involved in fasting-induced bile acid uptake via upregulation of basolateral bile acid transporters. In rats, mRNA of Ntcp, Oatp1, and Oatp2 were significantly increased after 48 h of fasting. Protein expression as determined by Western blot showed significant increases for all three transporters 72 h after the onset of fasting. Whereas binding activity of HNF1alpha in electrophoretic mobility shift assays remained unchanged, HNF4alpha binding activity to the Ntcp promoter was increased significantly. In line with this result, we found significantly increased mRNA expression of HNF4alpha and PGC-1alpha. Functional studies in HepG2 cells revealed an increased endogenous NTCP mRNA expression upon cotransfection with either HNF4alpha, PGC-1alpha, or a combination of both. We conclude that upregulation of the basolateral bile acid transporters Ntcp, Oatp1, and Oatp2 in fasted rats is mediated via the HNF4alpha/PGC-1alpha pathway.

The ability of walnut extract and fatty acids to protect against the deleterious effects of oxidative stress and inflammation in hippocampal cells.

PubMed

Carey, Amanda N; Fisher, Derek R; Joseph, James A; Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

2013-01-01

Previous research from our lab has demonstrated that dietary walnut supplementation protects against age-related cognitive declines in rats; however, the cellular mechanisms by which walnuts and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may affect neuronal health and functioning in aging are undetermined. We assessed if pretreatment of primary hippocampal neurons with walnut extract or PUFAs would protect cells against dopamine- and lipopolysaccharide-mediated cell death and calcium dysregulation. Rat primary hippocampal neurons were pretreated with varying concentrations of walnut extract, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, or docosahexaenoic acid prior to exposure to either dopamine or lipopolysaccharide. Viability was assessed using the Live/Dead Cellular Viability/Cytotoxicity Kit. Also, the ability of the cells to return to baseline calcium levels after depolarization was measured with fluorescent imaging. Results indicated that walnut extract, alpha-linolenic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid provided significant protection against cell death and calcium dysregulation; the effects were pretreatment concentration dependent and stressor dependent. Linoleic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid were not as effective at protecting hippocampal cells from these insults. Walnut extract and omega-3 fatty acids may protect against age-related cellular dysfunction, but not all PUFAs are equivalent in their beneficial effects.

Fortnightly Earth Rotation, Ocean Tides, and Mantle Anelasticity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ray, Richard D.; Egbert, Gary D.

2011-01-01

Sustained accurate measurements of earth rotation are one of the prime goals of Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS). We here concentrate on the fortnightly (Mf) tidal component of earth-rotation data to obtain new results concerning anelasticity of the mantle at this period. The study comprises three parts: (1) a new determination of the Mf component of polar motion and length-of-day from a multi-decade time series of space-geodetic data; (2) the use of the polar-motion determination as one constraint in the development of a hydrodynamic ocean model of the Mf tide; and (3) the use of these results to place new constraints on mantle anelasticity. Our model of the Mf ocean tide assimilates more than fourteen years of altimeter data from the Topex/Poseidon and Jason-1 satellites. The polar motion data, plus tide-gauge data and independent altimeter data, give useful additional information, with only the polar motion putting constraints on tidal current velocities. The resulting ocean-tide model, plus the dominant elastic body tide, leaves a small residual in observed length-of-day caused by mantle anelasticity. The inferred effective tidal 0 of the anelastic body tide is 90 and is in line with a omega-alpha frequency dependence with alpha in the range 0.2--0.3.

A direct-drive exploding-pusher implosion as the first step in development of a monoenergetic charged-particle backlighting platforn at the National Ignition Facility

DOE PAGES

Rosenberg, M. J.; Zylstra, A. B.; Seguin, F. H.; ...

2016-01-18

A thin-glass-shell, D 3He-filled exploding-pusher inertial confinement fusion implosion at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) has been demonstrated as a proton source that serves as a promising first step toward development of a monoenergetic proton, alpha, and triton backlighting platform at the NIF. Among the key measurements, the D3He-proton emission on this experiment (shot N121128) has been well-characterized spectrally, temporally, and in terms of emission isotropy, revealing a highly monoenergetic (ΔE/E~4%) and isotropic source (~3% proton fluence variation and ~0.5% proton energy variation). On a similar shot (N130129, with D 2 fill), the DD-proton spectrum has been obtained as well,more » illustrating that monoenergetic protons of multiple energies may be utilized in a single experiment. In conclusion, these results, and experiments on OMEGA, point toward future steps in the development of a precision, monoenergetic proton, alpha, and triton source that can readily be implemented at the NIF for backlighting a broad range of high energy density physics (HEDP) experiments in which fields and flows are manifest, and also utilized for studies of stopping power in warm dense matter and in classical plasmas.« less

Dynamics of laser-driven proton beam focusing and transport into solid density matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, J.; McGuffey, C.; Beg, F.; Wei, M.; Mariscal, D.; Chen, S.; Fuchs, J.

2016-10-01

Isochoric heating and local energy deposition capabilities make intense proton beams appealing for studying high energy density physics and the Fast Ignition of inertial confinement fusion. To study proton beam focusing that results in high beam density, experiments have been conducted using different target geometries irradiated by a kilojoule, 10 ps pulse of the OMEGA EP laser. The beam focus was measured by imaging beam-induced Cu K-alpha emission on a Cu foil that was positioned at a fixed distance. Compared to a free target, structured targets having shapes of wedge and cone show a brighter and narrower K-alpha radiation emission spot on a Cu foil indicating higher beam focusability. Experimentally observed images with proton radiography demonstrate the existence of transverse fields on the structures. Full-scale simulations including the contribution of a long pulse duration of the laser confirm that such fields can be caused by hot electrons moving through the structures. The simulated fields are strong enough to reflect the diverging main proton beam and pinch a transverse probe beam. Detailed simulation results including the beam focusing and transport of the focused intense proton beam in Cu foil will be presented. This work was supported by the National Laser User Facility Program through Award DE-NA0002034.

A direct-drive exploding-pusher implosion as the first step in development of a monoenergetic charged-particle backlighting platforn at the National Ignition Facility

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rosenberg, M. J.; Zylstra, A. B.; Seguin, F. H.

A thin-glass-shell, D 3He-filled exploding-pusher inertial confinement fusion implosion at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) has been demonstrated as a proton source that serves as a promising first step toward development of a monoenergetic proton, alpha, and triton backlighting platform at the NIF. Among the key measurements, the D3He-proton emission on this experiment (shot N121128) has been well-characterized spectrally, temporally, and in terms of emission isotropy, revealing a highly monoenergetic (ΔE/E~4%) and isotropic source (~3% proton fluence variation and ~0.5% proton energy variation). On a similar shot (N130129, with D 2 fill), the DD-proton spectrum has been obtained as well,more » illustrating that monoenergetic protons of multiple energies may be utilized in a single experiment. In conclusion, these results, and experiments on OMEGA, point toward future steps in the development of a precision, monoenergetic proton, alpha, and triton source that can readily be implemented at the NIF for backlighting a broad range of high energy density physics (HEDP) experiments in which fields and flows are manifest, and also utilized for studies of stopping power in warm dense matter and in classical plasmas.« less

Predictors of future success in otolaryngology residency applicants.

PubMed

Chole, Richard A; Ogden, M Allison

2012-08-01

To evaluate the information available about otolaryngology residency applicants for factors that may predict future success as an otolaryngologist. Retrospective review of residency applications; survey of resident graduates and otolaryngology clinical faculty. Otolaryngology residency program. Otolaryngology program graduates from 2001 to 2010 and current clinical faculty from Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine. Overall ratings of the otolaryngology graduates by clinical faculty (on a 5-point scale) were compared with the resident application attributes that might predict success. The application factors studied are United States Medical Licensing Examination part 1 score, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society election, medical school grades, letter of recommendation, rank of the medical school, extracurricular activities, residency interview, experience with acting intern, and extracurricular activities. Forty-six graduates were included in the study. The overall faculty rating of the residents showed good interrater reliability. The objective factors, letters of recommendation, experience as an acting intern, and musical excellence showed no correlation with higher faculty rating. Rank of the medical school and faculty interview weakly correlated with faculty rating. Having excelled in a team sport correlated with higher faculty rating. Many of the application factors typically used during otolaryngology residency candidate selection may not be predictive of future capabilities as a clinician. Prior excellence in a team sport may suggest continued success in the health care team.

Proline-catalysed asymmetric amination of alpha,alpha-disubstituted aldehydes: synthesis of configurationally stable enantioenriched alpha-aminoaldehydes.

PubMed

Vogt, Henning; Vanderheiden, Sylvia; Bräse, Stefan

2003-10-07

Proline-catalysed amination of alpha,alpha-disubstituted racemic aldehydes with azodicarboxylates proceeds smoothly to give configurationally stable scalemic aldehydes and oxazolidinones in up to 86% ee.

[Voluntary alpha-power increasing training impact on the heart rate variability].

PubMed

Bazanova, O M; Balioz, N V; Muravleva, K B; Skoraia, M V

2013-01-01

In order to study the effect of the alpha EEG power increasing training at heart rate variability (HRV) as the index of the autonomic regulation of cognitive functions there were follow tasks: (1) to figure out the impact of biofeedback in the voluntary increasing the power in the individual high-frequency alpha-band effect on heart rate variability and related characteristics of cognitive and emotional spheres, (2) to determine the nature of the relationship between alpha activity indices and heart rate variability, depending on the alpha-frequency EEG pattern at rest (3) to examine how the individual alpha frequency EEG pattern is reflected in changes HRV as a result of biofeedback training. Psychometric indicators of cognitive performance, the characteristics of the alpha-EEG activity and heart rate variability (HRV) as LF/HF and pNN50 were recorded in 27 healthy men aged 18-34 years, before, during, and after 10 sessions of training of voluntary increase in alpha power in the individual high-frequency alpha band with eyes closed. To determine the biofeedback effect on the alpha power increasing training, data subjects are compared in 2 groups: experimental (14) with the real and the control group (13 people)--with mock biofeedback. The follow up effect of trainings was studied through month over the 10 training sessions. Results showed that alpha biofeedback training enhanced the fluency and accuracy in cognitive performance, decreased anxiety and frontal EMG, increased resting frequency, width and power in individual upper alpha range only in participants with low baseline alpha frequency. While mock biofeedback increased resting alpha power only in participants with high baseline resting alpha frequency and did change neither cognitive performance, nor HRV indices. Biofeedback training eliminated the alpha power decrease in response to arithmetic task in both with high and low alpha frequency participants and this effect was followed up over the month. Mock biofeedback training has no such effect. The positive correlation between the alpha-peak frequency and pNN50 in patients with initially low, but negative--those with high baseline alpha frequency explains the multidirectional biofeedback effects on HRV in low and high alpha frequency subjects. The individual alpha-frequency EEG pattern determines the effectiveness of the alpha EEG biofeedback training in changing heart rate variability, which provides a basis for predicting the results and develop individual approaches to the biofeedback technology implementation that can be used in clinical practice for treatment and rehabilitation of psychosomatic syndromes and in educational training.

Progressive accumulation of ubiquitin and disappearance of alpha-synuclein epitope in multiple system atrophy-associated glial cytoplasmic inclusions: triple fluorescence study combined with Gallyas-Braak method.

PubMed

Sakamoto, Masaki; Uchihara, Toshiki; Nakamura, Ayako; Mizutani, Toshio; Mizusawa, Hidehiro

2005-10-01

Alpha-synuclein (alphaS) and ubiquitin (Ub) are shared constituents of glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) and Lewy bodies (LBs), both composed of fibrillary structures. Staining profiles of GCIs were investigated with triple immunofluorescence involving immunostaining for alphaS and Ub, both amplified with catalyzed reporter deposition, and a fluorochrome, thiazin red (TR) that has an affinity to fibrillary structures. After observation for the triple-fluorescent images, the sections were subsequently stained with the Gallyas-Braak method. Sections of putamen, cerebellar white matter and motor cortex from patients suffering from multiple system atrophy (MSA) with varying duration of the disease (4-15 years) were quantified for these staining profiles of Gallyas-positive GCIs. Although most of GCIs were positive for Ub and variably positive for alphaS, they were consistently negative for TR. The result was opposite in LBs in Lewy body disease with variable affinity to TR, suggesting that the construction of GCIs is different from that of LBs. These four staining features (alphaS, Ub, TR and Gallyas) alone failed to exhibit apparent correlation with disease duration, lesion site or severity of degeneration as reported previously. The fraction of alphaS-negative and Ub-positive GCIs, however, linearly increased along the disease progression, while that of alphaS-positive and Ub-negative GCIs decreased in contrast. This reciprocal change suggests that alphaS immunoreactivity in GCIs is being replaced by Ub immunoreactivity during the disease progression, which resulted in the ultimate predominance of alphaS-negative and Ub-positive GCIs in the most advanced case. Interestingly, this predominance of alphaS-negative and Ub-positive GCIs was a feature of motor cortex, where degeneration usually remains mild in spite of robust appearance of Gallyas-positive GCIs. Another fraction, alphaS-positive and Ub-positive GCIs were frequent in cerebellar white matter, suggesting that GCI evolution is heterogeneous and dependent also on area examined. Progressive accumulation of Ub with concomitant disappearance of alphaS epitope and their colocalization, partly shared with LBs, may represent a process of GCI formation, possibly linked to an aspect of degeneration in MSA.

alpha2-chimaerin, a Cdc42/Rac1 regulator, is selectively expressed in the rat embryonic nervous system and is involved in neuritogenesis in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells.

PubMed

Hall, C; Michael, G J; Cann, N; Ferrari, G; Teo, M; Jacobs, T; Monfries, C; Lim, L

2001-07-15

Neuronal differentiation involves Rac and Cdc42 GTPases. alpha-Chimaerin, a Rac/Cdc42 regulator, occurs as alpha1- and alternatively spliced Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing alpha2-isoforms. alpha2-chimaerin mRNA was highly expressed in the rat embryonic nervous system, especially in early postmitotic neurons. alpha1-chimaerin mRNA was undetectable before embryonic day 16.5. Adult alpha2-chimaerin mRNA was restricted to neurons within specific brain regions, with highest expression in the entorhinal cortex. alpha2-chimaerin protein localized to neuronal perikarya, dendrites, and axons. The overall pattern of alpha2-chimaerin mRNA expression resembles that of cyclin-dependent kinase regulator p35 (CDK5/p35) which participates in neuronal differentiation and with which chimaerin interacts. To determine whether alpha2-chimaerin may have a role in neuronal differentiation and the relevance of the SH2 domain, the morphological effects of both chimaerin isoforms were investigated in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells. When plated on poly-lysine, transient alpha2-chimaerin but not alpha1-chimaerin transfectants formed neurites. Permanent alpha2-chimaerin transfectants generated neurites whether or not they were stimulated by serum starvation, and many cells were enlarged. Permanent alpha1-chimaerin transfectants displayed numerous microspikes and contained F-actin clusters, a Cdc42-phenotype, but generated few neurites. In neuroblastoma cells, alpha2-chimaerin was predominantly soluble with some being membrane-associated, whereas alpha1-chimaerin was absent from the cytosol, being membrane- and cytoskeleton-associated, paralleling their subcellular distribution in brain. Transient transfection with alpha2-chimaerin mutated in the SH2 domain (N94H) generated an alpha1-chimaerin-like phenotype, protein partitioned in the particulate fraction, and in NGF-stimulated pheochromocytoma cell line 12 (PC12) cells, neurite formation was inhibited. These results indicate a role for alpha2-chimaerin in morphological differentiation for which its SH2 domain is vital.

Integrin alpha 3 beta 1 participates in the phagocytosis of extracellular matrix molecules by human breast cancer cells.

PubMed

Coopman, P J; Thomas, D M; Gehlsen, K R; Mueller, S C

1996-11-01

The mechanisms and receptors involved in phagocytosis by nonhematopoietic cells are not well understood. The involvement of the alpha 3 beta 1 integrin in phagocytosis of the extracellular matrix by human breast cancer cells was studied. The possible role of this integrin was suggested since alpha 3 and beta 1 but not alpha 2 subunits are concentrated at membrane sites where local degradation of fluorescently labeled gelatin occurs. Strikingly, anti-alpha 3 integrin monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) stimulate the phagocytosis of fluorescently labeled gelatin films, gelatin beads, and Matrigel films in a quantitative phagocytosis assay. Stimulation of the gelatin uptake by the anti-alpha 3 mAb is dose responsive, saturable, and time dependent. Antibodies against other integrin subunits have a lower stimulatory effect (anti-beta 1) or no significant effect (anti-alpha 2, -alpha 5, -alpha 6, and -alpha v) on gelatin phagocytosis. The synthetic HGD-6 human laminin peptide that binds specifically the alpha 3 beta 1 integrin, but not the scrambled HSGD-6 control peptide, also markedly stimulates gelatin uptake in a dose-responsive way. Furthermore, the stimulatory effects of the HGD-6 peptide and the anti-alpha 3 mAb are additive, suggesting that they might promote phagocytosis in different ways. Other laminin (YIGSR, IKVAV) and fibronectin (GRGDS) peptides have no effect on gelatin phagocytosis. Immunofluorescence shows that the alpha 3 and the beta 1, but not the alpha 2 integrin subunit, concentrate into patches on the cell surface after treatment with their respective mAbs. And, both gelatin and the alpha 3 beta 1 but not the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin are cointernalized and routed to acidic vesicles such as lysosomes. In conclusion, we demonstrate that human breast cancer cells locally degrade and phagocytose the extracellular matrix and show for the first time that the alpha 3 beta 1 integrin participates in this phagocytosis. We hypothesize that the anti-alpha 3 antibodies and the laminin peptide HGD-6 activate the alpha 3 beta 1 integrin, which results in a downstream signaling cascade stimulating phagocytosis.

Lens proteome map and alpha-crystallin profile of the catfish Rita rita.

PubMed

Mohanty, Bimal Prasanna; Bhattacharjee, Soma; Das, Manas Kumar

2011-02-01

Crystallins are a diverse group of proteins that constitute nearly 90% of the total soluble proteins of the vertebrate eye lens and these tightly packed crystallins are responsible for transparency of the lens. These proteins have been studied in different model and non-model species for understanding the modifications they undergo with ageing that lead to cataract, a disease of protein aggregation. In the present investigation, we studied the lens crystallin profile of the tropical freshwater catfish Rita rita. Profiles of lens crystallins were analyzed and crystallin proteome maps of Rita rita were generated for the first time. alphaA-crystallins, member of the alpha-crystallin family, which are molecular chaperons and play crucial role in maintaining lens transparency were identified by 1- and 2-D immunoblot analysis with anti-alphaA-crystallin antibody. Two protein bands of 19-20 kDa were identified as alphaA-crystallins on 1-D immunoblots and these bands separated into 10 discrete spots on 2-D immunoblot. However, anti-alphaB-crystallin and antiphospho-alphaB-crystallin antibodies were not able to detect any immunoreactive bands on 1- and 2-D immunoblots, indicating alphaB-crystallin was either absent or present in extremely low concentration in Rita rita lens. Thus, Rita rita alpha-crystallins are more like that of the catfish Clarias batrachus and the mammal kangaroo in its alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin content (contain low amount from 5-9% of alphaB-crystallin) and unlike the dogfish, zebrafish, human, bovine and mouse alpha-crystallins (contain higher amount of alphaB-crystallin from 25% in mouse and bovine to 85% in dogfish). Results of the present study can be the baseline information for stimulating further investigation on Rita rita lens crystallins for comparative lens proteomics. Comparing and contrasting the alpha-crystallins of the dogfish and Rita rita may provide valuable information on the functional attributes of alphaA- and alphaB-isoforms, as they are at the two extremes in terms of alphaA-and alphaB-crystallin content.

Both alpha(1A)- and alpha(1B)-adrenergic receptors crosstalk to down regulate beta(1)-ARs in mouse heart: coupling to differential PTX-sensitive pathways.

PubMed

Rorabaugh, Boyd R; Gaivin, Robert J; Papay, Robert S; Shi, Ting; Simpson, Paul C; Perez, Dianne M

2005-11-01

Adrenergic receptors (ARs) play an important role in the regulation of cardiac function. Cardiac inotropy is primarily regulated by beta(1)-ARs. However, alpha(1)-ARs may play an important role in inotropy during heart failure. Previous work has suggested that the alpha(1B)-AR modulates beta(1)-AR function in the heart. The potential role of the alpha(1A)-AR has not been previously studied. We used transgenic mice that express constitutively active mutant (CAM) forms of the alpha(1A)-AR or alpha(1B)-AR regulated by their endogenous promoters. Expression of the CAM alpha(1A)-AR or CAM alpha(1B)-AR had no effect on basal cardiac function (developed pressure, +dP/dT, -dP/dT, heart rate, flow rate). However, both alpha(1)-AR subtypes significantly decreased isoproterenol-stimulated +dP/dT. Pertussis toxin had no effect on +dP/dT in CAM alpha(1A)-AR hearts but restored +dP/dT to non-transgenic values in CAM alpha(1B)-AR hearts. Radioligand binding indicated a selective decrease in the density of beta(1)-ARs in both CAM mice. However, G-proteins, cAMP, or the percentage of high and low affinity states were unchanged in either transgenic compared with control. These data demonstrate that CAM alpha(1A)- and alpha(1B)-ARs both down regulate beta(1)-AR-mediated inotropy in the mouse heart. However, alpha(1)-AR subtypes are coupled to different beta-AR mediated signaling pathways with the alpha(1B)-AR being pertussis toxin sensitive.

Anticipation and consumption of food each increase the concentration of neuroactive steroids in rat brain and plasma.

PubMed

Pisu, Maria Giuseppina; Floris, Ivan; Maciocco, Elisabetta; Serra, Mariangela; Biggio, Giovanni

2006-09-01

Stressful stimuli and anxiogenic drugs increase the plasma and brain concentrations of neuroactive steroids. Moreover, in rats trained to consume their daily meal during a fixed period, the anticipation of food is associated with changes in the function of various neurotransmitter systems. We have now evaluated the effects of anticipation and consumption of food in such trained rats on the plasma and brain concentrations of 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-TH PROG) and 3alpha,21-dihydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-TH DOC), two potent endogenous positive modulators of type A receptors for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The abundance of these neuroactive steroids was increased in both the cerebral cortex and plasma of the rats during both food anticipation and consumption. In contrast, the concentration of their precursor, progesterone, was increased in the brain only during food consumption, whereas it was increased in plasma only during food anticipation. Intraperitoneal administration of the selective agonist abecarnil (0.1 mg/kg) 40 min before food presentation prevented the increase in the brain levels of 3alpha,5alpha-TH PROG and 3alpha,5alpha-TH DOC during food anticipation but not that associated with consumption. The change in emotional state associated with food anticipation may thus result in an increase in the plasma and brain levels of 3alpha,5alpha-TH PROG and 3alpha,5alpha-TH DOC in a manner sensitive to the activation of GABA(A) receptor-mediated neurotransmission. A different mechanism, insensitive to activation of such transmission, may underlie the changes in the concentrations of these neuroactive steroids during food consumption.

Activity and subcellular compartmentalization of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha are altered by the centrosome-associated protein CAP350.

PubMed

Patel, Hansa; Truant, Ray; Rachubinski, Richard A; Capone, John P

2005-01-01

Peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear hormone receptors (PPAR) are ligand-activated transcription factors that play pivotal roles in governing metabolic homeostasis and cell growth. PPARs are primarily in the nucleus but, under certain circumstances, can be found in the cytoplasm. We show here that PPAR(alpha) interacts with the centrosome-associated protein CAP350. CAP350 also interacts with PPAR(delta), PPAR(gamma) and liver-X-receptor alpha, but not with the 9-cis retinoic acid receptor, RXR(alpha). Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that PPAR(alpha) is diffusely distributed in the nucleus and excluded from the cytoplasm. However, in the presence of coexpressed CAP350, PPAR(alpha) colocalizes with CAP350 to discrete nuclear foci and to the centrosome, perinuclear region and intermediate filaments. In contrast, the subcellular distribution of RXR(alpha) or of thyroid hormone receptor alpha was not altered by coexpression of CAP350. An amino-terminal fragment of CAP350 was localized exclusively to nuclear foci and was sufficient to recruit PPAR(alpha) to these sites. Mutation of the single putative nuclear hormone receptor interacting signature motif LXXLL present in this fragment had no effect on its subnuclear localization but abrogated recruitment of PPAR(alpha) to nuclear foci. Surprisingly, mutation of the LXXLL motif in this CAP350 subfragment did not prevent its binding to PPAR(alpha) in vitro, suggesting that this motif serves some function other than PPAR(alpha) binding in recruiting PPAR(alpha) to nuclear spots. CAP350 inhibited PPAR(alpha)-mediated transactivation in an LXXLL-dependent manner, suggesting that CAP350 represses PPAR(alpha) function. Our findings implicate CAP350 in a dynamic process that recruits PPAR(alpha) to discrete nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments and suggest that altered intracellular compartmentalization represents a regulatory process that modulates PPAR function.

Dynamics of alpha control: Preparatory suppression of posterior alpha oscillations by frontal modulators revealed with combined EEG and event-related optical signal (EROS)

PubMed Central

Mathewson, Kyle E.; Beck, Diane M.; Ro, Tony; Maclin, Edward L.; Low, Kathy A.; Fabiani, Monica; Gratton, Gabriele

2015-01-01

We investigated the dynamics of brain processes facilitating conscious experience of external stimuli. Previously we proposed that alpha (8-12 Hz) oscillations, which fluctuate with both sustained and directed attention, represent a pulsed inhibition of ongoing sensory brain activity. Here we tested the prediction that inhibitory alpha oscillations in visual cortex are modulated by top-down signals from frontoparietal attention networks. We measured modulations in phase-coherent alpha oscillations from superficial frontal, parietal, and occipital cortices using the event-related optical signal (EROS), a measure of neuronal activity affording high spatiotemporal resolution, along with concurrently-recorded electroencephalogram (EEG), while subjects performed a visual target-detection task. The pre-target alpha oscillations measured with EEG and EROS from posterior areas were larger for subsequently undetected targets, supporting alpha's inhibitory role. Using EROS, we localized brain correlates of these awareness-related alpha oscillations measured at the scalp to the cuneus and precuneus. Crucially, EROS alpha suppression correlated with posterior EEG alpha power across subjects. Sorting the EROS data based on EEG alpha power quartiles to investigate alpha modulators revealed that suppression of posterior alpha was preceded by increased activity in regions of the dorsal attention network, and decreased activity in regions of the cingulo-opercular network. Cross-correlations revealed the temporal dynamics of activity within these preparatory networks prior to posterior alpha modulation. The novel combination of EEG and EROS afforded localization of the sources and correlates of alpha oscillations and their temporal relationships, supporting our proposal that top-down control from attention networks modulates both posterior alpha and awareness of visual stimuli. PMID:24702458

Bio-discrimination of alpha-tocopherol stereoisomers in rearing and veal calves fed milk replacer supplemented with all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate.

PubMed

Dersjant-Li, Y; Jensen, S K; Bos, L W; Peisker, M R

2009-07-01

This study evaluated the biological discrimination of different alpha-tocopherol stereoisomers (i. e. RRR-, RRS-, RSR-, RSS- and the four 2S-alpha-tocopherols) from all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation in milk replacer for rearing and veal calves respectively, in practical farming conditions. Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, six rearing calves were fed milk replacer supplemented with 80 mg/kg all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate for a period of 9 weeks. The calves were supplied calf starter concentrate from 1 to 12 weeks. In experiment 2, six veal calves were fed milk replacer supplemented with 80 mg/kg all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate for a period of 24 weeks. Blood samples were taken at the start and every 4 weeks until 12 weeks for rearing calves in experiment 1, and until slaughter (24 weeks) for veal calves in experiment 2. Liver, adipose, muscle, and brain samples were taken at slaughter of the six veal calves in experiment 2. The distribution of different alpha-tocopherol stereoisomers in feed, plasma, and tissues was analyzed. In both experiments, it was observed that RRR-alpha-tocopherol was the dominant stereoisomer in plasma and tissues. The average percentage of the RRR-alpha-tocopherol stereoisomer was 64 %, and 39 % of the total alpha-tocopherol in plasma for rearing and veal calves, respectively. The higher RRR-alpha-tocopherol stereoisomer proportion as percentage of the total alpha-tocopherol in rearing calves was related to higher dietary natural vitamin E intake. Other 2R-alpha-tocopherol stereoisomers had lower utilization efficiency than RRR-alpha-tocopherol stereoisomer. 2S-alpha-tocopherol stereoisomers were basically not utilized by calves.