Anodic Aluminum Oxide Membrane-Assisted Fabrication of beta-In(2)S(3) Nanowires.

PubMed

Shi, Jen-Bin; Chen, Chih-Jung; Lin, Ya-Ting; Hsu, Wen-Chia; Chen, Yu-Cheng; Wu, Po-Feng

2009-06-06

In this study, beta-In(2)S(3) nanowires were first synthesized by sulfurizing the pure Indium (In) nanowires in an AAO membrane. As FE-SEM results, beta-In(2)S(3) nanowires are highly ordered, arranged tightly corresponding to the high porosity of the AAO membrane used. The diameter of the beta-In(2)S(3) nanowires is about 60 nm with the length of about 6-8 mum. Moreover, the aspect ratio of beta-In(2)S(3) nanowires is up to 117. An EDS analysis revealed the beta-In(2)S(3) nanowires with an atomic ratio of nearly S/In = 1.5. X-ray diffraction and corresponding selected area electron diffraction patterns demonstrated that the beta-In(2)S(3) nanowire is tetragonal polycrystalline. The direct band gap energy (E(g)) is 2.40 eV from the optical measurement, and it is reasonable with literature.

Significance of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist/interleukin-1 beta ratio as a prognostic factor in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

PubMed

Mikuniya, T; Nagai, S; Takeuchi, M; Mio, T; Hoshino, Y; Miki, H; Shigematsu, M; Hamada, K; Izumi, T

2000-01-01

Various factors such as serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (sACE) activity, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid lymphocyte percent, CD4/CD8 ratio, and shadows on chest radiograph have been identified as indexes of disease activity in patients with sarcoidosis. However, it remains to be confirmed whether these factors can predict clinical outcomes. To examine whether the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra)/IL-1 beta ratio can predict the clinical course, we prospectively followed the clinical courses of 30 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis 4 years after measurement of immunoreactive amounts of IL-1ra or IL-1 beta in the culture supernatants obtained from BAL fluid macrophages. Immunoreactive amounts of IL-1ra or IL-1 beta were measured using ELISA. Changes in pulmonary function, sACE activity, and shadows on chest radiographs during observation periods were evaluated as markers of changes in disease activity. We found that the patients whose shadows on chest radiographs showed improvement had a higher molar IL-1ra/IL-1 beta ratio than the patients whose shadows persistently remained 4 years after BAL examination (p < 0.05). The molar ratio was found to be positively correlated with improvement of percent vital capacity (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with the ratio of sACE activity at the time of the last observation to sACE activity at the time of BAL (sACE(LAST)/sACE(BAL), p < 0.01). The sACE(LAST)/sACE(BAL) ratio was significantly lower in patients whose shadows on chest radiographs decreased than in those whose shadows remained unchanged (p < 0.005). The IL-1ra/IL-1 beta ratio in the BAL fluid macrophage culture supernatants in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis could be a useful marker in predicting the persistence of granulomatous lesions (chronicity). Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

Akt interacts directly with Smad3 to regulate the sensitivity to TGF-beta induced apoptosis.

PubMed

Conery, Andrew R; Cao, Yanna; Thompson, E Aubrey; Townsend, Courtney M; Ko, Tien C; Luo, Kunxin

2004-04-01

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) induces both apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in some cell lines, but only growth arrest in others. It is not clear how this differential response to TGF-beta is specified. Smad proteins are critical mediators of TGF-beta signalling. After stimulation by TGF-beta, Smad2 and Smad3 become phosphorylated by the activated TGF-beta receptor kinases, oligomerize with Smad4, translocate to the nucleus and regulate the expression of TGF-beta target genes. Here we report that the sensitivity to TGF-beta induced apoptosis is regulated by crosstalk between the Akt/PKB serine/threonine kinase and Smad3 through a mechanism that is independent of Akt kinase activity. Akt interacts directly with unphosphorylated Smad3 to sequester it outside the nucleus, preventing its phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. This results in inhibition of Smad3-mediated transcription and apoptosis. Furthermore, the ratio of Smad3 to Akt correlates with the sensitivity of cells to TGF-beta induced apoptosis. Alteration of this ratio changes the apoptotic, but not the growth-inhibitory, responses of cells to TGF-beta. These findings identify an important determinant of sensitivity to TGF-beta-induced apoptosis that involves crosstalk between the TGF-beta and phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K) pathways.

The problem of extinction and thermal reradiation by dust in active galactic nuclei and quasi-stellar objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Congdon, Charles; Stein, Wayne A.

1989-08-01

Published H-alpha/H-beta ratios and infrared-to-visual flux ratios are examined as potential diagnostics for dust in Seyfert I galaxies, Seyfert 2 galaxies, and QSOs. H-alpha/H-beta ratio distributions are very broad although some subtle distinctions may be evident among the various classes of objects. The distributions of the ratio of about 10-micron luminosity to that at visual-ultraviolet wavelengths are more narrow, and clear distinctions are evident among the various types of object. Clearly both H-alpha/H-beta and infrared emission together help determine the obscuring effects of dust. More homogeneous data are desirable but will require considerably large telescope observing time in order to pursue these results further.

Switch From Epoetin Beta to Darbepoetin Alfa Treatment of Anemia in Taiwanese Hemodialysis Patients: Dose Equivalence by Hemoglobin Stratification.

PubMed

Liao, Shang-Chih; Hung, Cheng-Chieh; Lee, Chien-Te; Lee, Chih-Hsiung; Lee, Chin-Chan; Lin, Chun-Liang; Sun, Chiao-Yin; Cheng, Ben-Chung; Yang, Chih-Chao; Wu, Chien-Hsing; Chen, Jin-Bor

2016-08-01

This multicenter study was designed to assess the hemoglobin (Hb) stability and conversion ratio of the switch from epoetin beta to darbepoetin alfa in Taiwanese hemodialysis (HD) patients. A total of 135 HD patients were enrolled and randomized with intravenous darbepoetin alfa or epoetin beta. The study duration was 24 weeks. Equivalent doses and conversion ratios were assessed with respect to Hb stratification: low Hb (≥8.0 g/dL to ≤10.0 g/dL) and high Hb (>10.0 g/dL to ≤11.0 g/dL). The results showed stable Hb levels in the study period. At week 24, the conversion ratio was higher for high Hb than low Hb (296.4 IU/dose epoetin beta: 1 µg/dose darbepoetin alfa. vs. 277.2 IU/dose epoetin beta: 1 µg/dose darbepoetin alfa). In conclusion, the conversion ratio in the present study was higher than 1 µg: 200 IU for darbepoetin alfa: epoetin for treating anemia in Taiwanese HD patients. © 2016 International Society for Apheresis, Japanese Society for Apheresis, and Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy.

Differential regulation of immature articular cartilage compressive moduli and Poisson's ratios by in vitro stimulation with IGF-1 and TGF-beta1.

PubMed

Williams, Gregory M; Dills, Kristin J; Flores, Christian R; Stender, Michael E; Stewart, Kevin M; Nelson, Lauren M; Chen, Albert C; Masuda, Koichi; Hazelwood, Scott J; Klisch, Stephen M; Sah, Robert L

2010-09-17

Mechanisms of articular cartilage growth and maturation have been elucidated by studying composition-function dynamics during in vivo development and in vitro culture with stimuli such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1). This study tested the hypothesis that IGF-1 and TGF-beta1 regulate immature cartilage compressive moduli and Poisson's ratios in a manner consistent with known effects on tensile properties. Bovine calf articular cartilage from superficial-articular (S) and middle-growth (M) regions were analyzed fresh or following culture in medium with IGF-1 or TGF-beta1. Mechanical properties in confined (CC) and unconfined (UCC) compression, cartilage matrix composition, and explant size were assessed. Culture with IGF-1 resulted in softening in CC and UCC, increased Poisson's ratios, substantially increased tissue volume, and accumulation of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen (COL). Culture with TGF-beta1 promoted maturational changes in the S layer, including stiffening in CC and UCC and increased concentrations of GAG, COL, and pyridinoline crosslinks (PYR), but little growth. Culture of M layer explants with TGF-beta1 was nearly homeostatic. Across treatment groups, compressive moduli in CC and UCC were positively related to GAG, COL, and PYR concentrations, while Poisson's ratios were negatively related to concentrations of these matrix components. Thus, IGF-1 and TGF-beta1 differentially regulate the compressive mechanical properties and size of immature articular cartilage in vitro. Prescribing tissue growth, maturation, or homeostasis by controlling the in vitro biochemical environment with such growth factors may have applications in cartilage repair and tissue engineering.

Hb L'Aquila [beta106(G8)Leu-->Val, CTG-->GTG]: a novel thalassemic hemoglobin variant.

PubMed

Amato, Antonio; Cappabianca, Maria Pia; Ponzini, Donatella; Rinaldi, Silvana; Biagio, Paola Di; Foglietta, Enrica; Grisanti, Paola; Mastropietro, Fabrizio

2007-01-01

A new beta-globin variant at codon 106 (CTG-->GTG), and which we named Hb L'Aquila [beta106(G8)Leu-->Val], was detected by DNA analysis. The proband and her father presented with the features of a mild beta(+)-thalassemia (thal), confirmed by their alpha/beta-globin chain biosynthesis ratios.

Molecular analysis of the beta-thalassemia phenotype associated with inheritance of hemoglobin E (alpha 2 beta2(26)Glu leads to Lys).

PubMed Central

Benz, E J; Berman, B W; Tonkonow, B L; Coupal, E; Coates, T; Boxer, L A; Altman, A; Adams, J G

1981-01-01

Inheritance of the gene for betaE-globin is associated with hypochromia and microcytosis, reminiscent of typical heterozygous beta-thalassemia. Patients with hemoglobin (Hb)E-beta-thalassemia exhibit clinical phenotypes of severe beta-thalassemia, a circumstance not encountered in other compound heterozygous states for structural beta-chain mutations and beta-thalassemia. We have analyzed the kinetics of globin synthesis and the levels of globin messenger (m) RNA accumulation in patients with Hb E-beta-thalassemia and Hb E trait. The initial rate of beta-globin synthesis (betaE/alpha=0.20-0.34) was less than expected on the basis of gene dosage, or comparable studies of other compound heterozygous states for beta-thalassemia and structurally abnormal beta-chains. betaE-globin synthesis was not only reduced during short-term incubations (1-5 min), but also remained relatively unchanged during long-term pulse or chase incubations up to 5h. Analysis of globin mRNA by cell-free translation and molecular hybridization confirmed that the unexpectedly low levels of betaE-globin synthesis were associated with comparable reduction in the levels of beta-globin mRNA. In Hb E-beta-thalassemia the betaA + betaE (alpha globin nRNA ratio observed were substantially lower than those obtained from reticulocytes of patients with heterozygous beta-thalassemia, or Hb S-betaO-thalassemia, while in Hb E trait, the betaA + betaE/alpha mRNA ratio was in the ranged observed for beta-thalassemia trait. The betaE-globin gene specifies reduced accumulation of betaE-globin mRNA, a property characteristic of other forms of beta-thalassemia. The beta-thalassemia phenotype associated with inheritance of Hb E is thus determined at the level of beta-globin mRNA metabolism. PMID:6166632

Variability and Reliability of Paired-Pulse Depression and Cortical Oscillation Induced by Median Nerve Stimulation.

PubMed

Onishi, Hideaki; Otsuru, Naofumi; Kojima, Sho; Miyaguchi, Shota; Saito, Kei; Inukai, Yasuto; Yamashiro, Koya; Sato, Daisuke; Tamaki, Hiroyuki; Shirozu, Hiroshi; Kameyama, Shigeki

2018-05-08

Paired-pulse depression (PPD) has been widely used to investigate the functional profiles of somatosensory cortical inhibition. However, PPD induced by somatosensory stimulation is variable, and the reasons for between- and within-subject PPD variability remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the factors influencing PPD variability induced by somatosensory stimulation. The study participants were 19 healthy volunteers. First, we investigated the relationship between the PPD ratio of each component (N20m, P35m, and P60m) of the somatosensory magnetic field, and the alpha, beta, and gamma band changes in power [event-related desynchronization (ERD) and event-related synchronization (ERS)] induced by median nerve stimulation. Second, because brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms reportedly influence the PPD ratio, we assessed whether BDNF genotype influences PPD ratio variability. Finally, we evaluated the test-retest reliability of PPD and the alpha, beta, and gamma ERD/ERS induced by somatosensory stimulation. Significant positive correlations were observed between the P60m_PPD ratio and beta power change, and the P60m_PPD ratio was significantly smaller for the beta ERD group than for the beta ERS group. P35m_PPD was found to be robust and highly reproducible; however, P60m_PPD reproducibility was poor. In addition, the ICC values for alpha, beta, and gamma ERD/ERS were 0.680, 0.760, and 0.552 respectively. These results suggest that the variability of PPD for the P60m deflection may be influenced by the ERD/ERS magnitude, which is induced by median nerve stimulation.

Asporin and transforming growth factor-beta gene expression in osteoblasts from subchondral bone and osteophytes in osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Sakao, Kei; Takahashi, Kenji A; Arai, Yuji; Saito, Masazumi; Honjyo, Kuniaki; Hiraoka, Nobuyuki; Kishida, Tsunao; Mazda, Osam; Imanishi, Jiro; Kubo, Toshikazu

2009-11-01

To clarify the significance of subchondral bone and osteophytes in the pathology of osteoarthritis (OA), we investigated the expression of asporin (ASPN), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, and runt-related transcription factor-2 (Runx2) genes involved in bone metabolism. Osteoblasts were isolated from 19 patients diagnosed with knee OA and from 4 patients diagnosed with femoral neck fracture. Osteoblast expression of mRNA encoding ASPN, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, and Runx2 was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR. Expression of ASPN, TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta3 mRNA in the subchondral bone and osteophytes of OA patients increased compared with that of non-OA patients. The ratio of ASPN to TGF-beta1 mRNA in patients with severe cartilage damage was higher than that in patients with mild cartilage damage. The increased ratio of ASPN mRNA to TGF-beta1 mRNA in patients with severe relative to mild cartilage damage indicates that increased ASPN mRNA expression was significantly associated with the severity of cartilage degeneration. This finding suggests that ASPN may regulate TGF-beta1-mediated factors in the development of OA, which may provide clues as to the underlying pathology of OA.

Relationship between subclinical rejection and genotype, renal messenger RNA, and plasma protein transforming growth factor-beta1 levels.

PubMed

Hueso, Miguel; Navarro, Estanis; Moreso, Francesc; Beltrán-Sastre, Violeta; Ventura, Francesc; Grinyó, Josep M; Serón, Daniel

2006-05-27

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) is increased in allograft rejection and its production is associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The contribution of SNPs at codons 10 and 25 of the TGF-beta(1) gene to renal allograft damage was assessed in 6-month protocol biopsies and their association with TGF-beta(1) production. TGF-beta(1) genotypes were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/restriction fragment length polymorphism. Intragraft TGF-beta(1) messenger RNA (mRNA) was measured by real-time PCR and TGF-beta(1) plasma levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Eighty consecutive patients were included. Allele T at codon 10 (risk ratio, 6.7; P = 0.02) and an episode of acute rejection before protocol biopsy (risk ratio, 6.2; P = 0.01) were independent predictors of subclinical rejection (SCR). TGF-beta(1) plasma levels, but not those of TGF-beta(1) mRNA, were increased in patients with SCR (2.59 ng/mL +/- 0.91 [n = 22] vs. 2.05 ng/mL +/- 0.76 [n = 43]; P = 0.01). There was no association between allele T and TGF-beta(1) plasma or intragraft levels. Allele T at codon 10 of the TGF-beta(1) gene is associated with a higher incidence of SCR.

The problem of extinction and thermal reradiation by dust in active galactic nuclei and quasi-stellar objects

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

Congdon, C.; Stein, W.A.

1989-08-01

Published H-alpha/H-beta ratios and infrared-to-visual flux ratios are examined as potential diagnostics for dust in Seyfert I galaxies, Seyfert 2 galaxies, and QSOs. H-alpha/H-beta ratio distributions are very broad although some subtle distinctions may be evident among the various classes of objects. The distributions of the ratio of about 10-micron luminosity to that at visual-ultraviolet wavelengths are more narrow, and clear distinctions are evident among the various types of object. Clearly both H-alpha/H-beta and infrared emission together help determine the obscuring effects of dust. More homogeneous data are desirable but will require considerably large telescope observing time in order tomore » pursue these results further. 35 refs.« less

The mechanism of synthesis of a mixed-linkage (1-->3), (1-->4)beta-D-glucan in maize. Evidence for multiple sites of glucosyl transfer in the synthase complex

PubMed

Buckeridge; Vergara; Carpita

1999-08-01

We examined the mechanism of synthesis in vitro of (1-->3), (1-->4)beta-D-glucan (beta-glucan), a growth-specific cell wall polysaccharide found in grasses and cereals. beta-Glucan is composed primarily of cellotriosyl and cellotetraosyl units linked by single (1-->3)beta-linkages. The ratio of cellotriosyl and cellotetraosyl units in the native polymer is strictly controlled at between 2 and 3 in all grasses, whereas the ratios of these units in beta-glucan formed in vitro vary from 1.5 with 5 &mgr;M UDP-glucose (Glc) to over 11 with 30 mM substrate. These results support a model in which three sites of glycosyl transfer occur within the synthase complex to produce the cellobiosyl-(1-->3)-D-glucosyl units. We propose that failure to fill one of the sites results in the iterative addition of one or more cellobiosyl units to produce the longer cellodextrin units in the polymer. Variations in the UDP-Glc concentration in excised maize (Zea mays) coleoptiles did not result in wide variations in the ratios of cellotriosyl and cellotetraosyl units in beta-glucan synthesized in vivo, indicating that other factors control delivery of UDP-Glc to the synthase. In maize sucrose synthase is enriched in Golgi membranes and plasma membranes and may be involved in the control of substrate delivery to beta-glucan synthase and cellulose synthase.

Extended 3{beta}-alkyl steranes and 3-alkyl triaromatic steroids in crude oils and rock extracts

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

Dahl, J.; Moldowan, J.M.; Summons, R.E.

1995-09-01

In oils and Precambian- to Miocene-age source rocks from varying depositional environments, we have conclusively identified several novel 3-alkyl sterane and triaromatic steroid series, including (1) 3{beta}-n-pentyl steranes, (2) 3{beta}-isopentyl steranes, (3) 3{beta}-n-hexyl steranes, (4) 3{beta}-n-hepatyl steranes, (5) 3,4-dimethyl steranes, (6) 3{beta}-butyl,4-methyl steranes, (7) triaromatic 3-n-pentyl steroids, and (8) triaromatic 3-isopentyl steroids. We have also tentatively identified additional homologs with 3-alkyl substituents as large as C{sub 11}. The relative abundances of these compounds vary substantially between samples, as indicated by (1) the ratio of 3{beta}-n-pentyl steranes to 3{beta}-isopentyl steranes and (2) the ratio of 3-n-pentyl triaromatic steroids to 3-isopentyl triaromaticmore » steroids. These data suggest possible utility for these parameters as tools for oil-source rock correlations and reconstruction of depositional environments. Although no 3-alkyl steroid natural products are currently known, several lines of evidence suggest that 3{beta}-alkyl steroids result from bacterial side-chain additions to diagenetic {delta}{sup 2}-sterenes.« less

Nearly constant ratio between the proton inertial scale and the spectrum break length scale in the plasma beta range from 0.2 to 1.4 in the solar wind turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, X.; Tu, C. Y.; He, J.; Wang, L.

2017-12-01

The spectrum break at the ion scale of the solar wind magnetic fluctuations are considered to give important clue on the turbulence dissipation mechanism. Among several possible mechanisms, the most notable ones are the two mechanisms that related respectively with proton thermal gyro-radius and proton inertial length. However, no definite conclusion has been given for which one is more reasonable because the two parameters have similar values in the normal plasma beta range. Here we do a statistical study for the first time to see if the two mechanism predictions have different dependence on the solar wind velocity and on the plasma beta in the normal plasma beta range in the solar wind at 1 AU. From magnetic measurements by Wind, Ulysses and Messenger, we select 60 data sets with duration longer than 8 hours. We found that the ratio between the proton inertial scale and the spectrum break scale do not change considerably with both varying the solar wind speed from 300km/s to 800km/s and varying the plasma beta from 0.2 to 1.4. The average value of the ratio times 2pi is 0.46 ± 0.08. However, the ratio between the proton gyro-radius and the break scale changes clearly. This new result shows that the proton inertial scale could be a single factor that determines the break length scale and hence gives a strong evidence to support the dissipation mechanism related to it in the normal plasma beta range. The value of the constant ratio may relate with the dissipation mechanism, but it needs further theoretical study to give detailed explanation.

Steroidogenic alterations and adrenal androgen excess in PCOS.

PubMed

Doi, Suhail A R; Al-Zaid, Mona; Towers, Philip A; Scott, Christopher J; Al-Shoumer, Kamal A S

2006-09-01

This cross-sectional study was undertaken to improve our understanding of the steroidogenic alterations leading to adrenal hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Two-hundred and thirty-four women with clinical and biochemical features suggestive of PCOS underwent metabolic and hormonal evaluation. We used the androstenedione/DHEAS ratio as a surrogate for the level of ovarian 3betaHSD activity. We then selected the 90th percentile for the ratio in those with elevated DHEAS (>9 micromol/l) as the cut-off level beyond which excess DHEAS production will be minimized by excess ovarian 3betaHSD activity. This cut-off level was at a ratio of 1.5 and all PCOS women were then divided into two groups, the higher (>1.5) being the group with excess ovarian 3betaHSD activity. We hypothesized that women with a high ratio would be unlikely to have DHEAS excess due to the rapid conversion of DHEA to androstenedione. Those with a low ratio (concordant ovarian and adrenal steroidogenesis) could then either have high DHEAS or normal DHEAS, depending on whether CYP17 activity was higher or lower respectively. Insulin resistance was found to be associated with decreased CYP17 activity while irregular cycles and neuroendocrine dysfunction were determined to be associated with higher ovarian 3betaHSD activity. Adrenal androgen excess in PCOS seems to be related to insulin sensitivity as well as decreased activity of 3betaHSD, the latter being preferentially present in those women with regular cycles or without neuroendocrine dysfunction.

The effects of lower than conventional doses of oral nadolol on relative beta 1/beta 2-adrenoceptor blockade.

PubMed

Wheeldon, N M; McDevitt, D G; Lipworth, B J

1994-08-01

1. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relative beta 1/beta 2 antagonist selectivity of the beta-adrenoceptor blocker nadolol, in lower than conventional clinical doses. 2. Eight normal volunteers received single oral doses of either placebo (PL), nadolol 5 mg (N5), 20 mg (N20) or 80 mg (N80) in a single-blind, randomised crossover design. beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonism was assessed by attenuation of exercise tachycardia, and beta 2-adrenoceptor blockade by effects on salbutamol-induced chronotropic, hypokalaemic and finger tremor responses. The relative percentage attenuation of beta 2 and beta 1-mediated responses was calculated and expressed as beta 2:beta 1 selectivity ratios. 3. Nadolol produced dose-related reductions in exercise tachycardia in keeping with increasing beta 1-adrenoceptor blockade; mean % reduction (95% CI) compared with placebo: N5 10.7 (6.6 to 14.8), N20 21.4 (17.3 to 25.4), N80 38.9 (34.8 to 42.9). However, even the lowest dose of nadolol (5 mg) produced almost complete blunting of beta 2-mediated effects and significantly increase exercise hyperkalaemia; peak exercise hyperkalaemia (mmol l-1) (means and 95% CI): PL 4.88 (4.68 to 5.07), N5 5.36 (5.17 to 5.55), N20 5.48 (5.28 to 5.67), N80 5.42 (5.22 to 5.61). beta 2:beta 1 selectivity ratios significantly increased as the dose of nadolol was reduced. 4. These data suggest that whereas in the clinical dose range nadolol behaves as a non-selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, as the dose is reduced this drug demonstrates an increasing degree of selectivity for the beta 2-adrenoceptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

beta-Endorphin-induced analgesia is inhibited by synthetic analogs of beta-endorphin.

PubMed

Nicolas, P; Hammonds, R G; Li, C H

1984-05-01

Competitive antagonism of human beta-endorphin (beta h-EP)-induced analgesia by synthetic beta h-EP analogs with high in vitro opiate receptor binding to in vivo analgesic potency ratio has been demonstrated. A parallel shift of the dose-response curve for analgesia to the right was observed when either beta h-EP or [ Trp27 ] -beta h-EP was coinjected with various doses of [Gln8, Gly31 ]-beta h-EP-Gly-Gly-NH2, [Arg9,19,24,28,29]-beta h-EP, or [ Cys11 ,26, Phe27 , Gly31 ]-beta h-EP. It was estimated that the most potent antagonist, [Gln8, Gly31 ]-beta h-EP-Gly-NH2, is at least 200 times more potent than naloxone.

Characterization of the Theta to Beta Ratio in ADHD: Identifying Potential Sources of Heterogeneity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Loo, Sandra K.; Cho, Alexander; Hale, T. Sigi; McGough, James; McCracken, James; Smalley, Susan L.

2013-01-01

Objective: The goal of this study is to characterize the theta to beta ratio (THBR) obtained from electroencephalogram (EEG) measures, in a large sample of community and clinical participants with regard to (a) ADHD diagnosis and subtypes, (b) common psychiatric comorbidities, and (c) cognitive correlates. Method: The sample includes 871…

Far-ultraviolet and optical spectrophotometry of X-ray selected Seyfert galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clarke, J. T.; Bowyer, S.; Grewing, M.

1986-01-01

Five X-ray selected Seyfert galaxies were examined via near-simultaneous far-ultraviolet and optical spectrophotometry in an effort to test models for excitation of emission lines by X-ray and ultraviolet continuum photoionization. The observed Ly-alpha/H-beta ratio in the present sample averages 22, with an increase found toward the high-velocity wings of the H lines in the spectrum of at least one of the Seyfert I nuclei. It is suggested that Seyfert galaxies with the most high-velocity gas exhibit the highest Ly-alpha/H-beta ratios at all velocities in the line profiles, and that sometimes this ratio may be highest for the highest velocity material in the broad-line clouds. Since broad-lined objects are least affected by Ly-alpha trapping effects, they have Ly-alpha/H-beta ratios much closer to those predicted by early photoionization calculations.

The role of fetal adrenal hormones in the switch from fetal to adult globin synthesis in the sheep.

PubMed

Wintour, E M; Smith, M B; Bell, R J; McDougall, J G; Cauchi, M N

1985-01-01

The switch from gamma (fetal) to beta (adult) globin production was studied by the analysis of globin synthesis in chronically cannulated ovine fetuses and newborn lambs. The gamma/alpha globin synthesis ratio decreased from 0.98 +/- 0.11 (S.D.) (n = 4 samples) at 100-120 days of gestation to 0.15 +/- 0.07 (n = 4) in lambs of 150-156 days post-conception, and the beta/alpha synthesis ratio increased from 0.04 +/- 0.06 (n = 4) to 1.13 +/- 0.21 (n = 4) over the same period. In bilaterally adrenalectomized fetuses, which survived in utero until 151-156 days, the gamma/alpha and beta/alpha synthesis ratios were 0.64 +/- 0.14 (n = 3) and 0.25 +/- 0.07 (n = 3) respectively in the 150- to 156-day period. Bilateral adrenalectomy did not affect the time of onset of beta globin synthesis, but significantly decreased the rate. In one bilaterally adrenalectomized fetus the infusion of increasing concentrations of cortisol restored the rate of beta globin synthesis to normal. Treatment of three intact fetuses with 100 micrograms cortisol/h for 3 weeks, from 100 to 121 days, did not affect the timing or rate of switch from gamma to beta globin synthesis. Thus fetal adrenal secretions, probably cortisol, affected the rate of change of gamma to beta globin synthesis but other factors must have been involved in the initiation of the switch.

Impact of beta-cyclodextrin and resistant starch on bile acid metabolism and fecal steroid excretion in regard to their hypolipidemic action in hamsters.

PubMed

Trautwein, E A; Forgbert, K; Rieckhoff, D; Erbersdobler, H F

1999-01-29

To examine the impact on bile acid metabolism and fecal steroid excretion as a mechanism involved in the lipid-lowering action of beta-cyclodextrin and resistant starch in comparison to cholestyramine, male golden Syrian hamsters were fed 0% (control), 8% or 12% of beta-cyclodextrin or resistant starch or 1% cholestyramine. Resistant starch, beta-cyclodextrin and cholestyramine significantly lowered plasma total cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations compared to control. Distinct changes in the bile acid profile of gallbladder bile were caused by resistant starch, beta-cyclodextrin and cholestyramine. While cholestyramine significantly reduced chenodeoxycholate independently of its taurine-glycine conjugation, beta-cyclodextrin and resistant starch decreased especially the percentage of taurochenodeoxycholate by -75% and -44%, respectively. As a result, the cholate:chenodeoxycholate ratio was significantly increased by 100% with beta-cyclodextrin and by 550% with cholestyramine while resistant starch revealed no effect on this ratio. beta-Cyclodextrin and resistant starch, not cholestyramine, significantly increased the glycine:taurine conjugation ratio demonstrating the predominance of glycine conjugated bile acids. Daily fecal excretion of bile acids was 4-times higher with 8% beta-cyclodextrin and 19-times with 1% cholestyramine compared to control. beta-Cyclodextrin and cholestyramine also induced a 2-fold increase in fecal neutral sterol excretion, demonstrating the sterol binding capacity of these two compounds. Resistant starch had only a modest effect on fecal bile acid excretion (80% increase) and no effect on excretion of neutral sterols, suggesting a weak interaction with intestinal steroid absorption. These data demonstrate the lipid-lowering potential of beta-cyclodextrin and resistant starch. An impaired reabsorption of circulating bile acids and intestinal cholesterol absorption leading to an increase in fecal bile acid and neutral sterol excretion is most likely the primary mechanism responsible for the lipid-lowering action of beta-cyclodextrin. In contrast, other mechanisms involving the alterations in the biliary bile acid profile or repressed hepatic lipogenesis, e.g., VLDL production, appear to be involved in the hypolipidemic effect of resistant starch.

A cell-based assay to assess the persistence of action of agonists acting at recombinant human beta(2) adrenoceptors.

PubMed

Summerhill, Susan; Stroud, Timothy; Nagendra, Roshini; Perros-Huguet, Christelle; Trevethick, Michael

2008-01-01

The aim was to establish a robust, 96-well, cell-based assay to assess the potency and persistence of action of agonists acting at human recombinant beta(2) adrenoceptors expressed in CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cells and to compare this with published duration of action data in guinea pig isolated trachea and human bronchus. Cells were treated with either: (i) beta-adrenoceptor agonist for 30 min, washed and cyclicAMP (cAMP) measured 30 min later-termed 'washed' cells or, (ii) treated with solvent for 30 min, washed, and then treated with beta-adrenoceptor agonist for 30 min and cAMP measured-termed 'unwashed' cells. The 'washed' EC(50) was divided by the 'unwashed' EC(50) to determine a rightward shift concentration ratio, which was indicative of the persistence of action at the receptor. At the beta(2) adrenoceptor salmeterol, carmoterol and indacaterol were resistant to washing with a concentration ratio of <5, indicating a long persistence of action, whereas formoterol, isoprenaline and salbutamol were washed out with a ratio of 32, >294 and >800 respectively, suggesting a shorter persistence of action. At beta(1) and beta(3) adrenoceptors all compounds washed out. The persistent effects of salmeterol at beta(2) following washing could be reversed by the selective beta(2) antagonist ICI 118551, suggesting continued receptor activation. The data presented agree well with published data assessing duration of action of beta(2) agonists in human isolated bronchus and guinea pig isolated trachea. Key features are: (a) it is a 96-well format which can be used to assess many compounds in a single experiment, (b) both potency and persistence of agonist action are assessed in the same assay, (c) any effects of concentration on the persistence of action can be highlighted, and (d) it allows triage of compounds prior to tissue bath studies thus reducing the use of animal tissue.

beta-Endorphin-induced analgesia is inhibited by synthetic analogs of beta-endorphin.

PubMed Central

Nicolas, P; Hammonds, R G; Li, C H

1984-01-01

Competitive antagonism of human beta-endorphin (beta h-EP)-induced analgesia by synthetic beta h-EP analogs with high in vitro opiate receptor binding to in vivo analgesic potency ratio has been demonstrated. A parallel shift of the dose-response curve for analgesia to the right was observed when either beta h-EP or [ Trp27 ] -beta h-EP was coinjected with various doses of [Gln8, Gly31 ]-beta h-EP-Gly-Gly-NH2, [Arg9,19,24,28,29]-beta h-EP, or [ Cys11 ,26, Phe27 , Gly31 ]-beta h-EP. It was estimated that the most potent antagonist, [Gln8, Gly31 ]-beta h-EP-Gly-NH2, is at least 200 times more potent than naloxone. PMID:6328494

Hydroxy nitrate production in the OH-initiated oxidation of alkenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teng, A. P.; Crounse, J. D.; Lee, L.; St. Clair, J. M.; Cohen, R. C.; Wennberg, P. O.

2014-03-01

Alkenes generally react rapidly by addition of OH and subsequently O2 to form beta hydroxy peroxy radicals. These peroxy radicals react with NO to form beta hydroxy nitrates with a branching ratio α. We quantify α for C2-C8 alkenes at 296 K ±3 and 993 hPa. The branching ratio can be expressed as α = (0.042 ± 0.008) × N - (0.11 ± 0.04) where N is the number of heavy atoms (excluding the peroxy moiety), and listed errors are 2σ. These branching ratios are larger than previously reported and are similar to those for peroxy radicals formed from H abstraction from alkanes. We find the isomer distributions of beta hydroxy nitrates formed under NO-dominated peroxy radical chemistry to be similar to the isomer distribution of hydroxy hydroperoxides produced under HO2-dominated peroxy radical chemistry. With the assumption of unity yield for the hydroperoxides, this implies that the branching ratio to form beta hydroxy nitrates from primary, secondary, and tertiary RO2 are similar. Deuterium substitution enhances the branching ratio to form hydroxy nitrates in both propene and isoprene by a factor of ~1.5. These observations provide further evidence for importance of the ROONO lifetime in determining the branching ratio to form alkyl nitrates. We use these measurements to re-evaluate the role of alkene chemistry in the Houston region. We find that small alkenes play a larger role in oxidant formation than previously recognized.

Ionisation density effects following optical excitation in LiF:Mg, Ti (TLD-100).

PubMed

Weiss, D; Horowitz, Y; Oster, L

2007-01-01

The TL signal following 5 eV photon excitation of previously irradiated and readout material has been studied as a function of ionisation density and various experimental parameters: (i) maximum temperature of the first readout; (ii) photon fluence; (iii) photon energy and (iv) beta ray dose. Following alpha particle irradiation, the ratio of the second-readout to first-readout TL signal, epsilon(alpha,) has been found to be 10-20 times higher than that following beta irradiation, indicative of the possibility of using the double ratio epsilon(alpha)/epsilon(beta) as a mixed-field discriminator. The beginning of an attempt to explain this unusual effect is offered in the framework of the track structure theory and kinetic modelling of the beta ray dose-response of the first and second readouts.

GABA-mediated changes in inter-hemispheric beta frequency activity in early-stage Parkinson’s disease

PubMed Central

Hall, S.D.; Prokic, E.J.; McAllister, C.J.; Ronnqvist, K.C.; Williams, A.C.; Yamawaki, N.; Witton, C.; Woodhall, G.L.; Stanford, I.M.

2014-01-01

In Parkinson’s disease (PD), elevated beta (15–35 Hz) power in subcortical motor networks is widely believed to promote aspects of PD symptomatology, moreover, a reduction in beta power and coherence accompanies symptomatic improvement following effective treatment with l-DOPA. Previous studies have reported symptomatic improvements that correlate with changes in cortical network activity following GABAA receptor modulation. In this study we have used whole-head magnetoencephalography to characterize neuronal network activity, at rest and during visually cued finger abductions, in unilaterally symptomatic PD and age-matched control participants. Recordings were then repeated following administration of sub-sedative doses of the hypnotic drug zolpidem (0.05 mg/kg), which binds to the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor. A beamforming based ‘virtual electrode’ approach was used to reconstruct oscillatory power in the primary motor cortex (M1), contralateral and ipsilateral to symptom presentation in PD patients or dominant hand in control participants. In PD patients, contralateral M1 showed significantly greater beta power than ipsilateral M1. Following zolpidem administration contralateral beta power was significantly reduced while ipsilateral beta power was significantly increased resulting in a hemispheric power ratio that approached parity. Furthermore, there was highly significant correlation between hemispheric beta power ratio and Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The changes in contralateral and ipsilateral beta power were reflected in pre-movement beta desynchronization and the late post-movement beta rebound. However, the absolute level of movement-related beta desynchronization was not altered. These results show that low-dose zolpidem not only reduces contralateral beta but also increases ipsilateral beta, while rebalancing the dynamic range of M1 network oscillations between the two hemispheres. These changes appear to underlie the symptomatic improvements afforded by low-dose zolpidem. PMID:25261686

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) induction of CYP3A4 enzyme activity in healthy Faroese adults.

PubMed

Petersen, Maria Skaalum; Halling, Jónrit; Damkier, Per; Nielsen, Flemming; Grandjean, Philippe; Weihe, Pál; Brøsen, Kim

2007-10-15

The CYP3A4 enzyme is, along with other cytochrome P450 enzymes, involved in the metabolism of environmental pollutants and is highly inducible by these substances. A commercial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture, 1,1,1,-trichloro-2-(o-chlorophenyl), 2-(p'-chlorophenyl)ethane (o,p'-DDT) and 1,1,-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)ethene (p,p'-DDE) are known to induce CYP3A4 activity through activation of nuclear receptors, such as the pregnane X receptor. However, this induction of CYP3A4 has not yet been investigated in humans. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the variability of the CYP3A4 phenotype in regard to increased concentrations of PCBs and other persistent organohalogen pollutants (POPs) in healthy Faroese adults. In 310 randomly selected Faroese residents aged 18-60 years, the CYP3A4 activity was determined based on the urinary 6beta-hydroxycortisol/cortisol (6beta-OHC/FC) ratio. POP exposures were assessed by measuring their concentrations in serum lipid. The results showed a unimodal distribution of the 6beta-OHC/FC ratio with values ranging from 0.58 to 27.38. Women had a slightly higher 6beta-OHC/FC ratio than men (p=0.07). Confounder-adjusted multiple regression analysis showed significant associations between 6beta-OHC/FC ratios and summation PCB, PCB-TEQ and p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT and HCB, respectively, but the associations were statistically significant for men only.

Determination of (13)C/(12)C ratios of urinary excreted boldenone and its main metabolite 5beta-androst-1-en-17beta-ol-3-one.

PubMed

Piper, Thomas; Geyer, Hans; Gougoulidis, Vassilios; Flenker, Ulrich; Schänzer, Wilhelm

2010-05-01

Boldenone (androsta-1,4-dien-17beta-ol-3-one, Bo) is an anabolic steroid known to have been used in cattle breeding or equine sport as a doping agent for many years. Although not clinically approved for human application, Bo or its main metabolite 5beta-androst-1-en-17beta-ol-3-one (BM1) were detected in several doping control samples. For more than 15 years the possibility of endogenous Bo production in human beings has been discussed. This is a challenging issue for doping control laboratories as Bo belongs to the list of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency and therefore the chance for false positive testing is significant. By GC/C/IRMS (gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry) it should be possible to analyze the (13)C/(12)C ratio of either Bo or BM1 and to distinguish whether their source is endogenous or exogenous. Therefore a method was developed to determine the (13)C/(12)C ratios of Bo, BM1, pregnanediol, androsterone, etiocholanolone, and testosterone from a single urine specimen. The validity of the method was ensured by repeated processing of urine fortified with 2-50 ng/mL Bo and BM1. The specificity of the method was ensured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry determinations. Out of 23 samples investigated throughout the last four years, 11 showed (13)C/(12)C ratios of Bo or BM1 inconsistent with an exogenous origin. Two of these samples were collected from the same athlete within a one-month interval, strongly indicating the chance of endogenous Bo production by this athlete.

Analytic, High-beta Solutions of the Helical Grad-Shafranov Equation

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

D.R. Smith; A.H. Reiman

We present analytic, high-beta ({beta} {approx} O(1)), helical equilibrium solutions for a class of helical axis configurations having large helical aspect ratio, with the helix assumed to be tightly wound. The solutions develop a narrow boundary layer of strongly compressed flux, similar to that previously found in high beta tokamak equilibrium solutions. The boundary layer is associated with a strong localized current which prevents the equilibrium from having zero net current.

31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo of six human melanoma xenograft lines: tumour bioenergetic status and blood supply.

PubMed Central

Lyng, H.; Olsen, D. R.; Southon, T. E.; Rofstad, E. K.

1993-01-01

Six human melanoma xenograft lines grown s.c. in BALB/c-nu/nu mice were subjected to 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) spectroscopy in vivo. The following resonances were detected: phosphomonoesters (PME), inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphodiesters (PDE), phosphocreatine (PCr) and nucleoside triphosphate gamma, alpha and beta (NTP gamma, alpha and beta). The main purpose of the work was to search for possible relationships between 31P-NMR resonance ratios and tumour pH on the one hand and blood supply per viable tumour cell on the other. The latter parameter was measured by using the 86Rb uptake method. Tumour bioenergetic status [the (PCr + NTP beta)/Pi resonance ratio], tumour pH and blood supply per viable tumour cell decreased with increasing tumour volume for five of the six xenograft lines. The decrease in tumour bioenergetic status was due to a decrease in the (PCr + NTP beta)/total resonance ratio as well as an increase in the Pi/total resonance ratio. The decrease in the (PCr + NTP beta)/total resonance ratio was mainly a consequence of a decrease in the PCr/total resonance ratio for two lines and mainly a consequence of a decrease in the NTP beta/total resonance ratio for three lines. The magnitude of the decrease in the (PCr + NTP beta)/total resonance ratio and the magnitude of the decrease in tumour pH were correlated to the magnitude of the decrease in blood supply per viable tumour cell. Tumour pH decreased with decreasing tumour bioenergetic status, and the magnitude of this decrease was larger for the tumour lines showing a high than for those showing a low blood supply per viable tumour cell. No correlations across the tumour lines were found between tumour pH and tumour bioenergetic status or any other resonance ratio on the one hand and blood supply per viable tumour cell on the other. The differences in the 31P-NMR spectrum between the tumour lines were probably caused by differences in the intrinsic biochemical properties of the tumour cells rather than by the differences in blood supply per viable tumour cell. Biochemical properties of particular importance included rate of respiration, glycolytic capacity and tolerance to hypoxic stress. On the other hand, tumour bioenergetic status and tumour pH were correlated to blood supply per viable tumour cell within individual tumour lines. These observations suggest that 31P-NMR spectroscopy may be developed to be a clinically useful method for monitoring tumour blood supply and parameters related to tumour blood supply during and after physiological intervention and tumour treatment. However, clinically useful parameters for prediction of tumour treatment resistance caused by insufficient blood supply can probably not be derived from a single 31P-NMR spectrum since correlations across tumour lines were not detected; additional information is needed. PMID:8260356

Chemical Environment Effects on K[beta]/K[alpha] Intensity Ratio: An X-Ray Fluorescence Experiment on Periodic Trends

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Durham, Chaney R.; Chase, Jeffery M.; Nivens, Delana A.; Baird, William H.; Padgett, Clifford W.

2011-01-01

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data from an energy-dispersive XRF instrument were used to investigate the chlorine K[alpha] and K[beta] peaks in several group 1 salts. The ratio of the peak intensity is sensitive to the local chemical environment of the chlorine atoms studied in this experiment and it shows a periodic trend for these salts. (Contains 1…

Role of the Sensorimotor Cortex in Tourette Syndrome using Multimodal Imaging

PubMed Central

Tinaz, Sule; Belluscio, Beth A.; Malone, Patrick; van der Veen, Jan Willem; Hallett, Mark; Horovitz, Silvina G.

2016-01-01

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. Most patients describe uncomfortable premonitory sensations preceding the tics and a subjective experience of increased sensitivity to tactile stimuli. These reports indicate that a sensory processing disturbance is an important component of TS together with motor phenomena. Thus, we focused our investigation on the role of the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) in TS using multimodal neuroimaging techniques. We measured the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)+/Creatine (Cre) ratio in the SMC using GABA 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We recorded the baseline beta activity in the SMC using magnetoencephalography and correlated GABA+/Cre ratio with baseline beta band power. Finally, we examined the resting state functional connectivity (FC) pattern of the SMC using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). GABA+/Cre ratio in the SMC did not differ between patients and controls. Correlation between the baseline beta band power and GABA+/Cre ratio was abnormal in patients. The anterior insula showed increased FC with the SMC in patients. These findings suggest that altered limbic input to the SMC and abnormal GABA-mediated beta oscillations in the SMC may underpin some of the sensorimotor processing disturbances in TS and contribute to tic generation. PMID:25044024

Beta-Zone parapapillary atrophy and the velocity of glaucoma progression.

PubMed

Teng, Christopher C; De Moraes, Carlos Gustavo V; Prata, Tiago S; Tello, Celso; Ritch, Robert; Liebmann, Jeffrey M

2010-05-01

Beta-Zone parapapillary atrophy (PPA) occurs more commonly in eyes with glaucoma. Rates of glaucomatous visual field (VF) progression in eyes with and without beta-zone PPA at the time of baseline assessment were compared. Retrospective, comparative study. Two hundred forty-five patients from the New York Glaucoma Progression Study. Subjects with glaucomatous optic neuropathy and repeatable VF loss were assessed for eligibility. Eyes with a Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (HRT) examination, at least 5 visual field tests after the HRT in either eye, optic disc photographs, and <6 diopters of myopia were enrolled. beta-Zone PPA was defined as a region of chorioretinal atrophy with visible sclera and choroidal vessels adjacent to the optic disc. Global rates of VF progression were determined by automated pointwise linear regression analysis. Univariate analysis included age, gender, ethnicity, central corneal thickness (CCT), refractive error, baseline mean deviation, baseline intraocular pressure (IOP), mean IOP, IOP fluctuation, disc area, rim area, rim area-to-disc area ratio, beta-zone PPA area, beta-zone PPA area-to-disc area ratio, and presence or absence of beta-zone PPA. The relationship between beta-zone PPA and the rate and risk of glaucoma progression. Two hundred forty-five eyes of 245 patients (mean age, 69.6+/-12.3 years) were enrolled. The mean follow-up was 4.9+/-1.4 years and the mean number of VFs after HRT was 9.3+/-2.7. beta-Zone PPA was present in 146 eyes (65%). Eyes with beta-zone PPA progressed more rapidly (-0.84+/-0.8 dB/year) than eyes without it (-0.51+/-0.6 dB/year; P<0.01). Multivariate regression showed significant influence of mean IOP (hazard ratio [HR], 1.11; P<0.01), IOP fluctuation (HR, 1.17; P = 0.02), and presence of beta-zone PPA (HR, 2.59; P<0.01) on VF progression. Moderate (0.5-1.5 dB/year; P = 0.01) and fast (>1.5 dB/year; P = 0.08) global rates of progression occurred more commonly in eyes with beta-zone PPA than in eyes without it. Thinner CCT (<525 microm) had a weak but significant correlation with presence of beta-zone PPA (kappa = 0.13). Eyes with beta-zone PPA are at increased risk for glaucoma progression and warrant close clinical surveillance. Copyright 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nonsalt-losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency with normal glomerulosa function.

PubMed

Pang, S; Levine, L S; Stoner, E; Opitz, J M; Pollack, M S; Dupont, B; New, M I

1983-04-01

In studies of a 6-yr-old boy and his non-HLA identical 8-yr-old sister, we demonstrated 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) deficiency in the biosynthetic pathways of glucocorticoids and androgens, but not mineralocorticoids. The sister did not manifest abnormal genital development at birth, but developed premature adrenarche at the age of 4 yr, with clitoromegaly and advanced bone age. The brother had perineal hypospadias at birth and developed premature adrenarche at the age of 6 yr. In both siblings, baseline and ACTH-stimulated delta 5 steroids were markedly elevated. The baseline and ACTH-stimulated ratios of delta 5 to delta 4 steroids remained extremely high, and all steroids promptly suppressed with dexamethasone (DEX). Normal baseline PRA and serum and urinary aldosterone (Aldo) levels increased after stimulation with a low Na+ diet. Renal Na+ conservation was normal after dietary Na+ deprivation with and without DEX administration. The PRA to pH 1 Aldo ratio remained normal with normal and low Na+ diets, regardless of DEX administration, indicating normal glomerulosa function with renin stimulation. In both siblings, ACTH increased PRA and Aldo levels, maintaining the PRA to pH 1 Aldo ratio unchanged from the baseline value. In contrast, in control children, PRA was suppressed, while Aldo increased, resulting in a fall of the PRA to pH 1 Aldo ratio. The increase in PRA with exogenous ACTH in these siblings suggests there may be an ACTH-stimulable mineralocorticoid antagonist. During prolonged DEX administration, hCG administration caused a slight increase in 17-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone in both the siblings, while testosterone (T) rose poorly in the brother, and estradiol did not rise at all in the sister. These results suggest the possibility of a deficiency of 3 beta-HSD in the gonads as well as the adrenals. After [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone iv infusion, there was normal conversion to [3H]-conjugated testosterone glucuronide, suggesting the presence of normal peripheral 3 beta-HSD activity. We propose that in these siblings, there is a deficiency of 3 beta-HSD in the adrenal zona fasciculata and zona reticularis, whereas 3 beta-HSD activity is intact in the zona glomerulosa. In addition, in these siblings, 3 beta-HSD deficiency was present in the gonads, while peripheral 3 beta-HSD activity appeared to be intact. These cases demonstrate further the heterogeneity of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 3 beta-HSD deficiency.

Occurrence of high-beta superthermal plasma events in the close environment of Jupiter's bow shock as observed by Ulysses

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

Marhavilas, P. K.; Sarris, E. T.; Anagnostopoulos, G. C.

2011-01-04

The ratio of the plasma pressure to the magnetic field pressure (or of their energy densities) which is known as the plasma parameter 'beta'({beta}) has important implications to the propagation of energetic particles and the interaction of the solar wind with planetary magnetospheres. Although in the scientific literature the contribution of the superthermal particles to the plasma pressure is generally assumed negligible, we deduced, by analyzing energetic particles and magnetic field measurements recorded by the Ulysses spacecraft, that in a series of events, the energy density contained in the superthermal tail of the particle distribution is comparable to or evenmore » higher than the energy density of the magnetic field, creating conditions of high-beta plasma. More explicitly, in this paper we analyze Ulysses/HI-SCALE measurements of the energy density ratio (parameter {beta}{sub ep}) of the energetic ions'(20 keV to {approx}5 MeV) to the magnetic field's in order to find occurrences of high-beta ({beta}{sub ep}>1) superthermal plasma conditions in the environment of the Jovian magnetosphere, which is an interesting plasma laboratory and an important source of emissions in our solar system. In particular, we examine high-beta ion events close to Jupiter's bow shock, which are produced by two processes: (a) bow shock ion acceleration and (b) ion leakage from the magnetosphere.« less

[123I]beta-CIT SPECT visualizes dopamine transporter loss in de novo parkinsonian patients.

PubMed

Müller, T; Farahati, J; Kuhn, W; Eising, E G; Przuntek, H; Reiners, C; Coenen, H H

1998-01-01

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia, which may be visualized by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in combination with the cocaine analog methyl-3-beta-(4-beta[123I]iodophenyl)tropane-2beta-carboxylate ([123I]beta-CIT). The aim of our study was to correlate findings of SPECT with clinical data of 34 previously untreated, idiopathic parkinsonian patients [age: 59.58+/-10.03 (mean+/-SD) years; Hoehn and Yahr Scale (HYS) mean range: 1.97+/-0.83, ranges I-III; Unified PD Rating Scale 3.0 (UPDRS, 30.64+/-18.68) and 15 healthy controls (age 47.93+/-10.47 years). SPECT scans were performed with a single-head gamma-camera 24 h after intravenous injection of [123I]beta-CIT. Comparison of the striatum/cerebellum (S/C) ratio of [123I]beta-CIT uptake of controls and parkinsonian subjects, subdivided according to their HYS range, was significant. No influence of age or sex was observed. Significant correlations were found between scores of the HYS, UPDRS parts I-III, part II, part III, and the S/C ratio of [123I]-CIT uptake. Moreover, SPECT with the radiotracer [123I]beta-CIT revealed side-to-side differences in parkinsonian patients and significant associations to contralateral clinical extrapyramidal symptomatology. Our data show that SPECT with [123I]beta-CIT is a valuable tool for estimating disease severity in PD.

Preparation of 3 beta, 5 alpha-, 3 alpha, 5 alpha- and 3 alpha, 5 beta-tetrahydro derivatives of 19-noraldosterone by chemical synthesis and microbial bioconversion.

PubMed

Harnik, M; Kashman, Y; Carmely, S; Cojocaru, M

1988-07-01

The 3 beta, 5 alpha-, 3 alpha, 5 alpha- and 3 alpha, 5 beta-tetrahydro derivatives 19, 20 and 27 of 19-noraldosterone (1) were prepared to facilitate the search for these compounds in urine. The diketal 4, consisting of a 2:1 mixture of the 5,6- and 5(10)-ene isomers, was hydrogenated with Pd-C and partially hydrolyzed to 5 alpha, 10 alpha- and 5 alpha, 10 beta-dihydroketals 8 and 10 in a 1:2.5 ratio. Assignment of protons was done with aid of COSY 45 experiments. Compound 10 was reduced with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAH) to 4 products: the 3 alpha- and 3 beta-ol hemiacetals 16 and 15, and the corresponding tetraols 14 and 13. Alternatively, hydrogenation of the 4-en-3-one 2 gave 10, its 5 beta, 10 beta-isomer 21 and the tetrahydro compound 22, in a 4:2:1 ratio. A better way to prepare the 5 beta, 10 beta-series involved microbial conversion of 2 with Clostridium paraputrificum, and the resulting tetrahydrolactone 23 was reduced with DIBAH to the hemiacetal 24. Acid hydrolysis of 16, 15 and 24 afforded 20, 19 and 27, respectively. According to [1H]-NMR, in solution 20 and 24 exist as mixtures of isomers, while 19 appears in one form only. Periodate oxidation converted 19 and 27 into their gamma-etiolactones 18 and 28. EI MS base peaks are different and characteristic for 19, 20 and 27.

Concurrent ganirelix and follitropin beta therapy is an effective and safe regimen for ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

PubMed

Elkind-Hirsch, Karen E; Webster, Bobby W; Brown, Crystal P; Vernon, Michael W

2003-03-01

To evaluate controlled ovarian stimulation cycles using the GnRH antagonist ganirelix in combination with the recombinant FSH, follitropin-beta, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Prospective, nonrandomized clinical study. Hospital-based infertility practice. Twenty women with PCOS planning to undergo ovarian stimulation. Fasting glucose and insulin levels were used to calculate insulin resistance ratios (FG/I). After pretreatment with oral contraceptives, serum LH levels were determined, and 250 microg ganirelix was administered on cycle day 2. Upon suppression of LH, concurrent ganirelix and follitropin-beta therapy (morning ganirelix and evening follitropin-beta) was started and continued until the day of hCG. Days of stimulation, dose of follitropin-beta, pregnancy, and ongoing pregnancy were compared based on FG/I ratios. One dose of ganirelix effectively suppressed LH levels in all patients. All patients ovulated as documented by a rise in progesterone. Significant differences were observed between the insulin-resistant and non-insulin-resistant groups for both days of stimulation and dose of follitropin-beta. The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 44.4%, with an ongoing pregnancy rate of 27.8%. In this preliminary study, we demonstrate the effectiveness of a concurrent ganirelix and follitropin-beta therapy for ovarian stimulation in women with PCOS.

Comparison of Dosimetric and Biologic Effective Dose Parameters for Prostate and Urethra Using {sup 131}Cs and {sup 125}I for Prostate Permanent Implant Brachytherapy

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

Sahgal, Arjun; Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON; Jabbari, Siavash

2008-09-01

Purpose: To compare the urethral and prostate absolute and biologic effective doses (BEDs) for {sup 131}Cs and {sup 125}I prostate permanent implant brachytherapy (PPI). Methods and Materials: Eight previously implanted manually planned {sup 125}I PPI patients were replanned manually with {sup 131}Cs, and re-planned using Inverse Planning Simulated Annealing. {sup 131}Cs activity and the prescribed dose (115 Gy) were determined from that recommended by IsoRay. The BED was calculated for the prostate and urethra using an {alpha}/{beta} ratio of 2 and was also calculated for the prostate using an {alpha}/{beta} ratio of 6 and a urethral {alpha}/{beta} ratio of 2.more » The primary endpoints of this study were the prostate D{sub 90} BED (pD{sub 90}BED) and urethral D{sub 30} BED normalized to the maximal potential prostate D{sub 90} BED (nuD{sub 30}BED). Results: The manual plan comparison ({alpha}/{beta} = 2) yielded no significant difference in the prostate D{sub 90} BED (median, 192 Gy{sub 2} for both isotopes). No significant difference was observed for the nuD{sub 30}BED (median, 199 Gy{sub 2} and 202 Gy{sub 2} for {sup 125}I and {sup 131}Cs, respectively). For the inverse planning simulated annealing plan comparisons ({alpha}/{beta} 2), the prostate D{sub 90} BED was significantly lower with {sup 131}Cs than with {sup 125}I (median, 177 Gy{sub 2} vs. 187 Gy{sub 2}, respectively; p = 0.01). However, the nuD{sub 30}BED was significantly greater with {sup 131}Cs than with {sup 125}I (median, 192 Gy{sub 2} vs. 189 Gy{sub 2}, respectively; p = 0.01). Both the manual and the inverse planning simulated annealing plans resulted in a significantly lower prostate D{sub 90} BED (p = 0.01) and significantly greater nuD{sub 30}BED for {sup 131}Cs (p = 0.01), compared with {sup 125}I, when the prostate {alpha}/{beta} ratio was 6 and the urethral {alpha}/{beta} ratio was 2. Conclusion: This report highlights the controversy in comparing the dose to both the prostate and the organs at risk with different radionuclides.« less

Selective Ring Opening of 1-Methylnaphthalene Over NiW-Supported Catalyst Using Dealuminated Beta Zeolite.

PubMed

Kim, Eun-Sang; Lee, You-Jin; Kim, Jeong-Rang; Kim, Joo-Wan; Kim, Tae-Wan; Chae, Ho-Jeong; Kim, Chul-Ung; Lee, Chang-Ha; Jeong, Soon-Yong

2016-02-01

Nanoporous Beta zeolite was dealuminated by weak acid treatment for reducing the acidity. Bi-functional catalysts were prepared using commercial Beta zeolites and the dealuminated zeolites for acidic function, NiW for metallic function. 1-Methylnaphthalene was selected as a model compound for multi-ring aromatics in heavy oil, and its selective ring opening reaction has been investigated using the prepared bi-functional catalysts with different acidity in fixed bed reaction system. The dealuminated Beta zeolites, which crystal structure and nanoporosity were maintained, showed the higher SiO2/Al2O3 ratio and smaller acidity than their original zeolite. NiW-supported catalyst using the dealuminated Beta zeolite with SiO2/Al203 mole ratio of 55 showed the highest performance for the selective ring opening. The acidity of catalyst seemed to play an important role as active sites for the selective ring opening of 1-methylnaphthalene but there should be some optimum catalyst acidity for the reaction. The acidity of Beta zeolite could be controlled by the acid treatment and the catalyst with the optimum acidity for the selective ring opening could be prepared.

hCG Test (Pregnancy Test)

MedlinePlus

... Time and International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR) PSEN1 Quantitative Immunoglobulins Red Blood Cell (RBC) Antibody Identification Red ... Us Also Known As Pregnancy Test Qualitative hCG Quantitative hCG Beta hCG Total hCG Total beta hCG ...

Jump conditions in transonic equilibria

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

Guazzotto, L.; Betti, R.; Jardin, S. C.

2013-04-15

In the present paper, the numerical calculation of transonic equilibria, first introduced with the FLOW code in Guazzotto et al.[Phys. Plasmas 11, 604 (2004)], is critically reviewed. In particular, the necessity and effect of imposing explicit jump conditions at the transonic discontinuity are investigated. It is found that 'standard' (low-{beta}, large aspect ratio) transonic equilibria satisfy the correct jump condition with very good approximation even if the jump condition is not explicitly imposed. On the other hand, it is also found that high-{beta}, low aspect ratio equilibria require the correct jump condition to be explicitly imposed. Various numerical approaches aremore » described to modify FLOW to include the jump condition. It is proved that the new methods converge to the correct solution even in extreme cases of very large {beta}, while they agree with the results obtained with the old implementation of FLOW in lower-{beta} equilibria.« less

Drug testing data from the 2007 Pan American Games: delta13C values of urinary androsterone, etiocholanolone and androstanediols determined by GC/C/IRMS.

PubMed

Aguilera, Rodrigo; Chapman, Thomas E; Pereira, Henrique; Oliveira, Giselle C; Illanes, Renata P; Fernandes, Telma F; Azevedo, Débora A; Neto, Francisco Aquino

2009-07-01

The main purpose of this article is to show the application of the CG/C/IRMS in real time during competition in the steroid confirmation analysis. For this reason, this paper summarizes the results obtained from the doping control analysis during the period of the 2007 Pan American Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Approximately 5600 athletes from 42 different countries competed in the games. Testing was performed in accordance to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) technical note for prohibited substances. This paper reports data where abnormal urinary steroid profiles, have been found with the screening procedures. One 8 mL urine sample was used for the analysis of five steroid metabolites with two separate analyses by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS). Urine samples were submitted to GC/C/IRMS for confirmation analysis to determine the (13)C/(12)C ratio of selected steroids. Fifty-seven urine samples were analyzed by GC/C/IRMS and the delta(13)C values ( per thousand) of androsterone, etiocholanolone, 5beta-androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol (5beta-diol), 5alpha-androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol (5alpha-diol) and 5beta-pregnane-3alpha, 20alpha-diol (5beta-pdiol), the endogenous reference compound are presented. One urine sample with a testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 4.7 was confirmed to be positive of doping by GC/C/IRMS analysis. The delta values of 5beta-diol and 5alpha-diol were 3.8 and 10.8, respectively, compared to the endogenous reference compound 5beta-pdiol, which exceeded the WADA limit of 3 per thousand. The results obtained by CG/C/IRMS confirmation analyses, in suspicious samples, were conclusive in deciding whether or not a doping steroid violation had occurred.

Newly proposed hormonal criteria via genotypic proof for type II 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency.

PubMed

Lutfallah, Chantal; Wang, Weihua; Mason, J Ian; Chang, Ying Tai; Haider, Anzar; Rich, Barry; Castro-Magana, Mariano; Copeland, Kenneth C; David, Raphael; Pang, Songya

2002-06-01

To define the hormonal criteria via genotypic proof for 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) deficiency in the adrenals and gonads, we investigated the type II 3beta-HSD genotype in 55 patients with clinical and/or hormonal presentation suggesting compromised adrenal with or without gonadal 3beta-HSD activity. Fourteen patients (11 males and 3 females) had ambiguous genitalia with or without salt wasting and with or without premature pubarche. One female neonate had salt wasting only. Twenty-five children (4 males and 21 females) had premature pubarche only. Fifteen adolescent and adult females had hirsutism with or without menstrual disorder. The type II 3beta-HSD gene, including the promoter region up to -1053 base, all exons I, II, III, IV, and exon and intron boundaries, was sequenced in all subjects. Eight patients had a proven or predictably deleterious mutation in both alleles of the type II 3beta-HSD gene, and 47 patients had no apparent mutation in the gene. ACTH-stimulated (1 h post iv bolus of 250 microg Cortrosyn) serum 17-hydroxypregnenolone (Delta5-17P) levels and basal and ACTH-stimulated ratios of Delta5-17P to cortisol (F) in the genotypic proven patients were unequivocally higher than those of age-matched or pubic hair stage matched genotype-normal patients or control subjects (n = 7-30 for each group). All other baseline and ACTH-stimulated hormone parameters, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels, ratios of Delta5-17P to 17-OHP and DHEA to androstenedione in the genotype-proven patients, overlapped with the genotype-normal patients or control subjects. The hormonal findings in the genotype-proven patients suggest that the following hormonal criteria are compatible with 3beta-HSD deficiency congenital adrenal hyperplasia (numeric and graphic reference standards from infancy to adulthood are provided): ACTH-stimulated Delta5-17P levels in 1) neonatal infants with ambiguous genitalia at or greater than 378 nmol/liter equivalent to or greater than 5.3 SD above the control mean level [95 +/- 53 (SD) nmol/liter]; 2) Tanner I children with ambiguous genitalia at or greater than 165 nmol/liter equivalent to or greater than 35 SD above the control mean level [12 +/- 4.3 (SD) nmol/liter]; 3) children with premature pubarche at or greater than 294 nmol/liter equivalent to or greater than 54 SD above Tanner II pubic hair stage matched control mean level [17 +/- 5 (SD) nmol/liter]; and 4) adults with at or greater than 289 nmol/liter equivalent to or greater than 21 SD above the normal mean level [25 +/- 12 (SD) nmol/liter]. ACTH-stimulated ratio of Delta5-17P to F in 1) neonatal infants at or greater than 434 equivalent to or greater than 6.4 SD above the control mean ratio [88 +/- 54 (SD)]; 2) Tanner I children at or greater than 216 equivalent to or greater than 23 SD above the control mean ratio [12 +/- 9 (SD)]; 3) children with premature pubarche at or greater than 363 equivalent to or greater than 38 SD above the control mean ratio [20 +/- 9 (SD)]; and 4) adults at or greater than 4010 equivalent to or greater than 221 SD above the normal mean ratio [29 +/- 18 (SD)]. Conversely, the hormonal data in the genotype-normal patients suggest the following hormonal criteria are not consistent with 3beta-HSD deficiency congenital adrenal hyperplasia: ACTH-stimulated Delta5-17P levels in children with premature pubarche up to 72 nmol/liter equivalent to up to 11 SD above the control mean level, and in hirsute females up to 150 nmol/liter equivalent to up to 12 SD above the normal female mean level [28 +/- 10 (SD) nmol/liter]; and ACTH-stimulated Delta5-17P to F ratio in children with premature pubarche up to 67 equivalent to up to 5 SD above the control mean ratio, and in hirsute females up to 151 equivalent to up to 10 SD above the normal mean ratio [32 +/- 12 (SD)]. These findings help define newly proposed hormonal criteria to accurately predict inherited 3beta-HSD deficiency.

[Changes of proinflammatory cytokines and their receptors in serum from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis].

PubMed

Tang, Shenjie; Xiao, Heping; Fan, Yihu; Wu, Furong; Zhang, Zhongshun; Li, Hong; Yang, Yan

2002-06-01

OBJECTIVE To investigate the characteristics and clinical value of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and its receptor (sTNF-R), interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta) and its receptor(IL-1R), interleukin-6(IL-6) and its receptor(IL-6R) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, and to evaluate their role in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis. METHODS The serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNF-R Iota IL-1beta,IL-1R, IL-6 and IL-6R were measured using the sandwich ABC-ELISA method in 41 cases of active tuberculosis, 21 cases of inactive tuberculosis and 20 normal controls. The serum levels of the cytokines in 17 cases of active tuberculos is were followed. RESULTS The serum levels of TNF-alpha sTNF-RIota IL-1beta,IL-1R, IL-6 IL-6R and the TNF-alpha/sTNF-RIota ratio were significantly higher in both the active and the inactive tuberculosis groups than those in normal controls (P <0.01 approximately 0.05). The TNF-alpha sTNF-R Iota IL-1 beta, IL-1R, IL-6 IL-6R levels and the TNF-alpha/sTNF-R Iota ratio in the active tuberculosis group were significantly higher than those in the inactive tuberculosis(P <0.01 approximately 0.05). The serum levels of TNF-alpha sTNF-R Iota, IL-1beta and IL-6 and the TNF-alpha,/sTNF-R Iota ratio were significantly lower in cavernous tuberculosis than those in non- cavernous tuberculosis (P < 0.01 approximately 0.05). After 2 months' antituberculosis treatment, the serum levels of TNF-alpha,sTNF-R Iota IL-1 beta, IL-1R,IL-6, IL-6R and the TNF-alpha/sTNF-R Iota ratio in 15(15/17) cases were significantly lower than those before treatment(P < 0.01 approximately 0.05). CONCLUSIONS TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and their receptors may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis. Measuring the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and their receptors may be useful in evaluating the activity, the clinical pattern, and the prognosis of the disease and monitoring the clinical effect of antituberculous therapy.

Effects of alpha/beta-androstenediol immune regulating hormones on bone remodeling and apoptosis in osteoblasts.

PubMed

Urban, Nicole H; Chamberlin, Brett; Ramage, Samuel; Roberts, Zachary; Loria, Roger M; Beckman, Matthew J

2008-06-01

A large body of evidence suggests that the immune system directly impacts bone physiology. We tested whether immune regulating hormones (IRH), 17beta-androstenediol (beta-AED), 7beta,17beta-androstenetriol (beta-AET) or the 17alpha-androstenediol (alpha-AED), and 7alpha,17beta-androstenetriol (alpha-AET) metabolites could directly influence bone remodeling in vitro using human fetal osteoblasts (FOB-9). The impact on bone remodeling was examined by comparing the ratio of RANKL/OPG gene expression in response to AED and AET compounds. The alpha-AED was found to significantly increase in the ratio of RANKL/OPG gene expression and altering the morphology of RANKL stained FOB-9 cells. Cell viability was assessed using a Live/Dead assay. Again alpha-AED was unique in its ability to reduce the proportion of viable cells, and to induce mild apoptosis of FOB-9 cells. Treatment of FOB-9 cells with WY14643, an activator of PPAR-alpha and -gamma, also significantly elevated the percentage of dead cells. This increase was abolished by co-treatment with GW9962, a specific inhibitor of PPAR-gamma. Analysis of PPAR-gamma mRNA by Quantitative RT-PCR and its activation by DNA binding demonstrated that alpha-AED increased PPAR-gamma activation by 19%, while beta-AED conferred a 37% decrease in PPAR-gamma activation. In conclusion, alpha-AED opposed beta-AED by elevating a bone resorption scenario in osteoblast cells. The increase in RANKL/OPG is modulated by an activation of PPAR-gamma that in turn caused mild apoptosis of FOB-9 cells.

FT-IR microscopic mappings of early mineralization in chick limb bud mesenchymal cell cultures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boskey, A. L.; Camacho, N. P.; Mendelsohn, R.; Doty, S. B.; Binderman, I.

1992-01-01

Chick limb bud mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes and form a cartilaginous matrix in culture. In this study, the mineral formed in different areas within cultures supplemented with 4 mM inorganic phosphate, or 2.5, 5.0, and 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate (beta GP), was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy. The relative mineral-to-matrix ratios, and distribution of crystal sizes at specific locations throughout the matrix were measured from day 14 to day 30. The only mineral phase detected was a poorly crystalline apatite. Cultures receiving 4 mM inorganic phosphate had smaller crystals which were less randomly distributed around the cartilage nodules than those in the beta GP-treated cultures. beta GP-induced mineral consisted of larger, more perfect apatite crystals. In cultures receiving 5 or 10 mM beta GP, the relative mineral-to-matrix ratios (calculated from the integrated intensities of the phosphate and amide I bands, respectively) were higher than in the cultures with 4 mM inorganic phosphate or in the in vivo calcified chick cartilage.

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

Vogelius, Ivan R., E-mail: vogelius@gmail.com; Bentzen, Soren M.

Purpose: To present a novel method for meta-analysis of the fractionation sensitivity of tumors as applied to prostate cancer in the presence of an overall time factor. Methods and Materials: A systematic search for radiation dose-fractionation trials in prostate cancer was performed using PubMed and by manual search. Published trials comparing standard fractionated external beam radiation therapy with alternative fractionation were eligible. For each trial the {alpha}/{beta} ratio and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were extracted, and the data were synthesized with each study weighted by the inverse variance. An overall time factor was included in the analysis, and itsmore » influence on {alpha}/{beta} was investigated. Results: Five studies involving 1965 patients were included in the meta-analysis of {alpha}/{beta}. The synthesized {alpha}/{beta} assuming no effect of overall treatment time was -0.07 Gy (95% CI -0.73-0.59), which was increased to 0.47 Gy (95% CI -0.55-1.50) if a single highly weighted study was excluded. In a separate analysis, 2 studies based on 10,808 patients in total allowed extraction of a synthesized estimate of a time factor of 0.31 Gy/d (95% CI 0.20-0.42). The time factor increased the {alpha}/{beta} estimate to 0.58 Gy (95% CI -0.53-1.69)/1.93 Gy (95% CI -0.27-4.14) with/without the heavily weighted study. An analysis of the uncertainty of the {alpha}/{beta} estimate showed a loss of information when the hypofractionated arm was underdosed compared with the normo-fractionated arm. Conclusions: The current external beam fractionation studies are consistent with a very low {alpha}/{beta} ratio for prostate cancer, although the CIs include {alpha}/{beta} ratios up to 4.14 Gy in the presence of a time factor. Details of the dose fractionation in the 2 trial arms have critical influence on the information that can be extracted from a study. Studies with unfortunate designs will supply little or no information about {alpha}/{beta} regardless of the number of subjects enrolled.« less

Coupling and uncoupling of triglyceride and beta-carotene production by Dunaliella salina under nitrogen limitation and starvation.

PubMed

Bonnefond, Hubert; Moelants, Nina; Talec, Amélie; Mayzaud, Patrick; Bernard, Olivier; Sciandra, Antoine

2017-01-01

Nitrogen starvation and limitation are known to induce important physiological changes especially in lipid metabolism of microalgae (triglycerides, membrane lipids, beta-carotene, etc.). Although little information is available for Dunaliella salina , it is a promising microalga for biofuel production and biotechnological applications due to its ability to accumulate lipid together with beta-carotene. Batch and chemostat experiments with various degrees of nitrogen limitation, ranging from starvation to nitrogen-replete conditions, were carried out to study carbon storage dynamics (total carbon, lipids, and beta-carotene) in steady state cultures of D. salina . A new protocol was developed in order to manage the very high beta-carotene concentrations and to more accurately separate and quantify beta-carotene and triglycerides by chromatography. Biomass evolution was appropriately described by the Droop model on the basis of the nitrogen quota dynamics. Triglycerides and beta-carotene were both strongly anti-correlated with nitrogen quota highlighting their carbon sink function in nitrogen depletion conditions. Moreover, these two valuable molecules were correlated each other for nitrogen replete conditions or moderated nitrogen limitations (N:C ratio higher than 0.04). Under nitrogen starvation, i.e., for very low N:C ratio, the dynamic revealed, for the first time, uncoupled part (higher triglyceride accumulation than beta-carotene), possibly because of shortage in key proteins involved in the stabilization of lipid droplets. This study motivates the accurate control of the microalgal nitrogen quota in order to optimize lipid productivity.

A Polymorphism Within the Promoter of the TGF{beta}1 Gene Is Associated With Radiation Sensitivity Using an Objective Radiologic Endpoint

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

Kelsey, Chris R., E-mail: kelse003@mc.duke.edu; Jackson, Lauren; Langdon, Scott

2012-02-01

Purpose: To evaluate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the transforming growth factor-{beta}1 (TGF{beta}1) gene are associated with radiation sensitivity using an objective radiologic endpoint. Methods and Materials: Preradiation therapy and serial postradiation therapy single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) lung perfusion scans were obtained in patients undergoing treatment for lung cancer. Serial blood samples were obtained to measure circulating levels of TGF{beta}1. Changes in regional perfusion were related to regional radiation dose yielding a patient-specific dose-response curve, reflecting the patient's inherent sensitivity to radiation therapy. Six TGF{beta}1 SNPs (-988, -800, -509, 869, 941, and 1655) were assessed using high-resolutionmore » melting assays and DNA sequencing. The association between genotype and slope of the dose-response curve, and genotype and TGF{beta}1 ratio (4-week/preradiation therapy), was analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: 39 white patients with preradiation therapy and {>=}6-month postradiation therapy SPECT scans and blood samples were identified. Increasing slope of the dose-response curve was associated with the C(-509)T SNP (p = 0.035), but not the other analyzed SNPs. This SNP was also associated with higher TGF{beta}1 ratios. Conclusions: This study suggests that a polymorphism within the promoter of the TGF{beta}1 gene is associated with increased radiation sensitivity (defined objectively by dose-dependent changes in SPECT lung perfusion).« less

Determination of Clara cell protein urinary elimination as a marker of tubular dysfunction.

PubMed

Martín-Granado, Ascensión; Vázquez-Moncholí, Carmen; Luis-Yanes, María Isabel; López-Méndez, Marisela; García-Nieto, Víctor

2009-04-01

Clara cell 16-kDa protein (CC16) is a protein expressed primarily by the bronchial cells. It is rapidly eliminated by glomerular filtration, reabsorbed almost entirely, and catabolized in proximal tubule cells. To date, normal values for urinary CC16 in healthy children have not been determined. We have studied 63 pediatric patients (mean age 8.17 +/- 3.91 years) and 31 healthy children (control group; mean age 8.83 +/- 3.65 years). In the control group, the CC16/creatinine ratio was 1.22 +/- 1.52 microg/g. In 16 out of 31 control children, the value of the ratio was zero. Fourteen patients (22.2%) showed a high CC16/creatinine ratio; in contrast, among these same patients, the ratio N-acetyl-beta-D: -glucosaminidase (NAG)/creatinine was elevated in seven cases (11.1%) and the ratio beta2-microglobulin/creatinine was elevated in seven cases (11.1%). The three parameters were in agreement in 51 patients (80.9%). Among the patients, the CC16/creatinine ratio was correlated with both the beta2-microglobulin/creatinina ratio (r = 0.76, P < 0.001) and the NAG/creatinine ratio (r = 0.6, P < 0.001). Our findings indicate that CC16 is a good marker of proximal tubular function in childhood. The highest observed values were in children with proximal tubulopathies, in children with chronic renal failure, and in those treated with cyclosporine.

Steroid isotopic standards for gas chromatography-combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GCC-IRMS).

PubMed

Zhang, Ying; Tobias, Herbert J; Brenna, J Thomas

2009-03-01

Carbon isotope ratio (CIR) analysis of urinary steroids using gas chromatography-combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GCC-IRMS) is a recognized test to detect illicit doping with synthetic testosterone. There are currently no universally used steroid isotopic standards (SIS). We adapted a protocol to prepare isotopically uniform steroids for use as a calibrant in GCC-IRMS that can be analyzed under the same conditions as used for steroids extracted from urine. Two separate SIS containing a mixture of steroids were created and coded CU/USADA 33-1 and CU/USADA 34-1, containing acetates and native steroids, respectively. CU/USADA 33-1 contains 5alpha-androstan-3beta-ol acetate (5alpha-A-AC), 5alpha-androstan-3alpha-ol-17-one acetate (androsterone acetate, A-AC), 5beta-androstan-3alpha-ol-11, 17-dione acetate (11-ketoetiocholanolone acetate, 11k-AC) and 5alpha-cholestane (Cne). CU/USADA 34-1 contains 5beta-androstan-3alpha-ol-17-one (etiocholanolone, E), 5alpha-androstan-3alpha-ol-17-one (androsterone, A), and 5beta-pregnane-3alpha, 20alpha-diol (5betaP). Each mixture was prepared and dispensed into a set of about 100 ampoules using a protocol carefully designed to minimize isotopic fractionation and contamination. A natural gas reference material, NIST RM 8559, traceable to the international standard Vienna PeeDee Belemnite (VPDB) was used to calibrate the SIS. Absolute delta(13)C(VPDB) and Deltadelta(13)C(VPDB) values from randomly selected ampoules from both SIS indicate uniformity of steroid isotopic composition within measurement reproducibility, SD(delta(13)C)<0.2 per thousand. This procedure for creation of isotopic steroid mixtures results in consistent standards with isotope ratios traceable to the relevant international reference material.

Galvanic corrosion behavior of orthodontic archwire alloys coupled to bracket alloys.

PubMed

Iijima, Masahiro; Endo, Kazuhiko; Yuasa, Toshihiro; Ohno, Hiroki; Hayashi, Kazuo; Kakizaki, Mitsugi; Mizoguchi, Itaru

2006-07-01

The purpose of this study was to provide a quantitative assessment of galvanic corrosion behavior of orthodontic archwire alloys coupled to orthodontic bracket alloys in 0.9% NaCl solution and to study the effect of surface area ratios. Two common bracket alloys, stainless steels and titanium, and four common wire alloys, nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloy, beta-titanium (beta-Ti) alloy, stainless steel, and cobalt-chromium-nickel alloy, were used. Three different area ratios, 1:1, 1:2.35, and 1:3.64, were used; two of them assumed that the multibracket appliances consists of 14 brackets and 0.016 inch of round archwire or 0.016 x 0.022 inch of rectangular archwire. The galvanic current was measured for 3 successive days using zero-impedance ammeter. When the NiTi alloy was coupled with Ti (1:1, 1:2.35, and 1:3.64 of the surface area ratio) or beta-Ti alloy was coupled with Ti (1:2.35 and 1:3.64 of the surface area ratio), Ti initially was the anode and corroded. However, the polarity reversed in 1 hour, resulting in corrosion of the NiTi or beta-Ti. The NiTi alloy coupled with SUS 304 or Ti exhibited a relatively large galvanic current density even after 72 hours. It is suggested that coupling SUS 304-NiTi and Ti-NiTi may remarkably accelerate the corrosion of NiTi alloy, which serves as the anode. The different anode-cathode area ratios used in this study had little effect on galvanic corrosion behavior.

Slow to fast alterations in skeletal muscle fibers caused by clenbuterol, a beta(2)-receptor agonist

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zeman, Richard J.; Ludemann, Robert; Easton, Thomas G.; Etlinger, Joseph D.

1988-01-01

The effects of a beta(2)-receptor agonist, clenbuterol, and a beta(2) antagonist, butoxamine, on the skeletal muscle fibers of rats were investigated. It was found that chronic treatment of rats with clenbuterol caused hypertrophy of histochemically identified fast-twitch, but not slow-twitch, fibers within the soleus, while in the extensor digitorum longus the mean areas of both fiber types were increased; in both muscles, the ratio of the number of fast-twitch to slow-twitch fibers was increased. In contrast, a treatment with butoxamine caused a reduction of the fast-twitch fiber size in both muscles, and the ratio of the fast-twitch to slow-twitch fibers was decreased.

Ultrasound-mediated interferon {beta} gene transfection inhibits growth of malignant melanoma

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

Yamaguchi, Kazuki; Department of Anatomy, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka City 814-0180; Feril, Loreto B., E-mail: ferilism@yahoo.com

2011-07-22

Highlights: {yields} Successful ultrasound-mediated transfection of melanoma (C32) cells with IFN-{beta} genes both in vitro and in vivo. {yields} Ultrasound-mediated IFN-{beta} transfection inhibited proliferation of melanoma cells in vitro. {yields} Ultrasound-mediated IFN-{beta} transfection inhibited melanoma tumor growth in vivo. -- Abstract: We investigated the effects of ultrasound-mediated transfection (sonotransfection) of interferon {beta} (IFN-{beta}) gene on melanoma (C32) both in vitro and in vivo. C32 cells were sonotransfected with IFN-{beta} in vitro. Subcutaneous C32 tumors in mice were sonicated weekly immediately after intra-tumor injection with IFN-{beta} genes mixed with microbubbles. Successful sonotransfection with IFN-{beta} gene in vitro was confirmed by ELISA,more » which resulted in C32 growth inhibition. In vivo, the growth ratio of tumors transfected with IFN-{beta} gene was significantly lower than the other experimental groups. These results may lead to a new method of treatment against melanoma and other hard-to-treat cancers.« less

A simple approach for assessing equilibrated Kt/V beta 2-M on a routine basis.

PubMed

Casino, Francesco G; Pedrini, Luciano A; Santoro, Antonio; Mandolfo, Salvatore; David, Salvatore; De Cristofaro, Vincenzo; Teatini, Ugo; Lomonte, Carlo; Lopez, Teodoro

2010-09-01

Large observational studies have shown a reduction in morbidity and mortality in patients on high-flux haemodialysis (HD) or convective techniques, compared with low-flux HD. An index to evaluate treatment efficiency in middle molecule (MM) removal would be recommended. Since beta-2-microglobulin (beta2-M) is a recognized MM marker, we evaluated an easy approach for Kt/V(beta2-M) assessment on a routine basis, avoiding other complex methods. An equation that estimates single-pool (sp) Kt/V(beta2-M) was derived from Leypoldt's formula, which calculates beta2-M dialyser clearance (K(beta2-M)) from the post/pre-dialysis beta2-M concentration (C(t)/C(0)) ratio and the weight loss/end-dialysis weight (Delta W/W) ratio. Our equation, spKt/V(beta2-M) = 6.12 Delta W/W [1 - ln(C(t)/C(0))/ln(1 + 6.12 Delta W/W)], was derived by assuming urea distribution volume (V(u)) as 49% of W and beta2-M volume (V(beta2-M)) as V(u)/3, in agreement with the average patient values in the HEMO Study. The spKt/V(beta2-M) values calculated with our equation (F) in 129 patients on 407 sessions of different high-flux treatments were compared with those calculated with the method applied in the HEMO Study (HM). Equilibrated beta2-M concentration (C(eq)) of the same sessions was also estimated with the equation for C(eq) by Tattersall, and equilibrated Kt/V (eKt/V(beta2-M)) was calculated by introducing Tattersall's equation into our simplified spKt/V(beta2-M) formula. Mean results of our spKt/V(beta2-M) equation (F) were very close to those of the HM method (1.48 +/- 0.38 vs 1.47 +/- 0.37). The difference was less than +/-0.1 in 95% of cases. A mean end-session beta2-M rebound of 44 +/- 14% was predicted, which caused a mean reduction in actual Kt/V(beta2-M) of ~27% (eKt/V(beta2-M) = 1.08 +/- 0.26). The method proposed to estimate spKt/V(beta2-M) and eKt/V(beta2-M) could become a simple tool to monitor the efficiency of high-flux HD and convective techniques and to evaluate the adequacy of treatments in terms of MM removal. Moreover, it might help to better understand the effects of different dialysis schedules. Validation on a larger dialysis population is required.

Effect of cyclodextrin complexation on the aqueous solubility and solubility/dose ratio of praziquantel.

PubMed

Maragos, Stratos; Archontaki, Helen; Macheras, Panos; Valsami, Georgia

2009-01-01

Praziquantel (PZQ), the primary drug of choice in the treatment of schistosomiasis, is a highly lipophilic drug that possesses high permeability and low aqueous solubility and is, therefore, classified as a Class II drug according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). In this work, beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) were used in order to determine whether increasing the aqueous solubility of a drug by complexation with CDs, a BCS-Class II compound like PZQ could behave as BCS-Class I (highly soluble/highly permeable) drug. Phase solubility and the kneading and lyophilization techniques were used for inclusion complex preparation; solubility was determined by UV spectroscopy. The ability of the water soluble polymer polyvinylpyrolidone (PVP) to increase the complexation and solubilization efficiency of beta-CD and HP-beta-CD for PZQ was examined. Results showed significant improvement of PZQ solubility in the presence of both cyclodextrins but no additional effect in the presence of PVP. The solubility/dose ratios values of PZQ-cyclodextrin complexes calculated considering the low (150 mg) and the high dose (600 mg) of PZQ, used in practice, indicate that PZQ complexation with CDs may result in drug dosage forms that would behave as a BCS-Class I depending on the administered dose.

Chromosomal aberrations and delays in cell progression induced by x-rays in Tradescantia clone 02 meristems

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

Geard, C.R.

1983-01-01

In root meristems of Tradescantia clone 02 (developed by Sparrow and his colleagues for mutation studies), X-rays interfere with the progression of cells through the cell cycle and induce chromosomal aberrations in a dose-dependent manner consistent with linear-quadratic kinetics. Sequential mitotic cell accumulations after irradiation indicate that sensitivity to aberration induction is probably greatest in cells from late S to early G2, with chromatid interchanges the most frequent aberration type and all aberrations consistent with initiation from the interaction between two lesions. The ratio of the coefficients in the linear (..cap alpha..) and the quadratic (..beta..) terms (..cap alpha../..beta..) ismore » equal to the dose average of specific energy produced by individual particles in the site where interaction takes place. The ratio ..cap alpha../..beta.. for chromosomal aberrations is similar to that previously found for X-ray-induced mutation in Tradescantia stamen hairs, supporting the proposal that radiation-induced mutational events are due to chromosomal aberrations with interaction distances of about 1..mu..m. Abrahamson and co-workers have noted that both ..cap alpha../..beta.. ratios appear to be related to nuclear target size and are similar for chromosomal and mutational endpoints in the same organism. These findings support this concept; however, it is apparent that any situation which diminishes yield at high doses (e.g., mitotic delay) will probably affect the ..beta.. component. 23 references, 5 figures, 2 tables.« less

Chromosomal aberrations and delays in cell progression induced by x-rays in Tradescantia clone 02 meristems

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

Geard, C.R.

1983-01-01

In root meristems of Tradescantia clone 02 (developed by Sparrow and his colleagues for mutation studies), X-rays interfere with the progression of cells through the cell cycle and induce chromosomal aberrations in a dose-dependent manner consistent with linear-quadratic kinetics. Sequential mitotic cell accumulations after irradiation indicate that sensitivity to aberrration induction is probably greatest in cells from late S to early G2, with chromatid interchanges the most frequent aberration type and all aberrations consistent with intiation from the interaction between two lesions. The ratio of the coefficients in the linear (..cap alpha..) and the quadratic (..beta..) terms (..cap alpha../..beta..) ismore » equal to the dose average of specific energy produced by individual particles in the site where interaction takes place. The ratio ..cap alpha../..beta.. for chromosomal aberrations is similar to that previously found for X-ray-induced mutation in Tradescantia stamen hairs, supporting the proposal that radiation-induced mutational events are due to chromosomal aberrations with interaction distances of about 1 ..mu..m. Abrahmson and co-workers have noted that both ..cap alpha../..beta.. ratios appear to be related to nuclear target size and are similar for chromosomal and mutational endpoints in the same organism. These findings support this concept; however, it is apparent that any situation which diminishes yield at high doses (e.g., mitotic delay) will primarily affect the ..beta.. component, resulting in low assessments of interaction site diameters.« less

Neurofeedback in three patients in the state of unresponsive wakefulness.

PubMed

Keller, Ingo; Garbacenkaite, Ruta

2015-12-01

Some severely brain injured patients remain unresponsive, only showing reflex movements without any response to command. This syndrome has been named unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS). The objective of the present study was to determine whether UWS patients are able to alter their brain activity using neurofeedback (NFB) technique. A small sample of three patients received a daily session of NFB for 3 weeks. We applied the ratio of theta and beta amplitudes as a feedback variable. Using an automatic threshold function, patients heard their favourite music whenever their theta/beta ratio dropped below the threshold. Changes in awareness were assessed weekly with the JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised for each treatment week, as well as 3 weeks before and after NFB. Two patients showed a decrease in their theta/beta ratio and theta-amplitudes during this period. The third patient showed no systematic changes in his EEG activity. The results of our study provide the first evidence that NFB can be used in patients in a state of unresponsive wakefulness.

Classification of pulsating flow patterns in curved pipes.

PubMed

Tada, S; Oshima, S; Yamane, R

1996-08-01

The fully developed periodic laminar flow of incompressible Newtonian fluids through a pipe of circular cross section, which is coiled in a circle, was simulated numerically. The flow patterns are characterized by three parameters: the Womersley number Wo, the Dean number De, and the amplitude ratio beta. The effect of these parameters on the flow was studied in the range 2.19 < or = Wo < or = 50.00, 15.07 < or = De < or = 265.49 and 0.50 < or = beta < or = 2.00, with the curvature ratio delta fixed to be 0.05. The way the secondary flow evolved with increasing Womersley number and Dean number is explained. The secondary flow patterns are classified into three main groups: the viscosity-dominated type, the inertia-dominated type, and the convection-dominated type. It was found that when the amplitude ratio of the volumetric flow rate is equal to 1.0, four to six vortices of the secondary flow appear at high Dean numbers, and the Lyne-type flow patterns disappear at beta > or = 0.50.

Spectrofluorimetric determination of stoichiometry and association constants of the complexes of harmane and harmine with beta-cyclodextrin and chemically modified beta-cyclodextrins.

PubMed

Martín, L; León, A; Olives, A I; Del Castillo, B; Martín, M A

2003-06-13

The association characteristics of the inclusion complexes of the beta-carboline alkaloids harmane and harmine with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and chemically modified beta-cyclodextrins such as hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbeta-CD), 2,3-di-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DMbeta-CD) and 2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (TMbeta-CD) are described. The association constants vary from 112 for harmine/DMbeta-CD to 418 for harmane/HPbeta-CD. The magnitude of the interactions between the host and the guest molecules depends on the chemical and geometrical characteristics of the guest molecules and therefore the association constants vary for the different cyclodextrin complexes. The steric hindrance is higher in the case of harmine due to the presence of methoxy group on the beta-carboline ring. The association obtained for the harmane complexes is stronger than the one observed for harmine complexes except in the case of harmine/TMbeta-CD. Important differences in the association constants were observed depending on the experimental variable used in the calculations (absolute value of fluorescence intensity or the ratio between the fluorescence intensities corresponding to the neutral and cationic forms). When fluorescence intensity values were considered, the association constants were higher than when the ratio of the emission intensity for the cationic and neutral species was used. These differences are a consequence of the co-existence of acid-base equilibria in the ground and in excited states together with the complexation equilibria. The existence of a proton transfer reaction in the excited states of harmane or harmine implies the need for the experimental dialysis procedure for separation of the complexes from free harmane or harmine. Such methodology allows quantitative results for stoichiometry determinations to be obtained, which show the existence of both 1:1 and 1:2 beta-carboline alkaloid:CD complexes with different solubility properties.

Perturbative momentum transport in MAST L-mode plasmas

DOE PAGES

Guttenfelder, W.; Field, A. R.; Lupelli, I.; ...

2017-03-28

Non-axisymmetric magnetic fields are used to perturbatively probe momentum transport physics in MAST L-mode plasmas. The low beta L-mode target was chosen to complement previous experiments conducted in high beta NSTX H-mode plasmas (beta N = 3.5-4.6) where an inward momentum pinch was measured. In those cases quasi-linear gyrokinetic simulations of unstable ballooning micro-instabilities predict weak or outward momentum convection, in contrast to the measurements. The weak pinch was predicted to be due to both electromagnetic effects at high beta and low aspect ratio minimizing the symmetry-breaking of the instabilities responsible for momentum transport. In an attempt to lessen thesemore » electromagnetic effects at low aspect ratio, perturbative experiments were run in MAST L-mode discharges at lower beta (beta N = 2). The perturbative transport analysis used the time-dependent response following the termination of applied 3D fields that briefly brake the plasma rotation ( similar to the NSTX H-mode experiments). Assuming time-invariant diffusive (chi(phi))and convective (V-phi) transport coefficients, an inward pinch is inferred with magnitudes, (RV phi/chi(phi)) = (-1)-(-9), similar to those found in NSTX H-modes and in conventional tokamaks. However, if experimental uncertainties due to non-stationary conditions during and after the applied 3D field are considered, a weak pinch or even outward convection is inferred, ( RV phi/chi(phi)) = (-1)-(+5). Linear gyrokinetic simulations indicate that for these lower beta L-modes, the predicted momentum pinch is predicted to be relatively small, ( RV phi/chi(phi))(sim) approximate to -1. While this falls within the experimentally inferred range, the uncertainties are practically too large to quantitatively validate the predictions. Challenges and implications for this particular experimental technique are discussed, as well as additional possible physical mechanisms that may be important in understanding momentum transport in these low aspect ratio plasmas.« less

Perturbative momentum transport in MAST L-mode plasmas

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

Guttenfelder, W.; Field, A. R.; Lupelli, I.

Non-axisymmetric magnetic fields are used to perturbatively probe momentum transport physics in MAST L-mode plasmas. The low beta L-mode target was chosen to complement previous experiments conducted in high beta NSTX H-mode plasmas (beta N = 3.5-4.6) where an inward momentum pinch was measured. In those cases quasi-linear gyrokinetic simulations of unstable ballooning micro-instabilities predict weak or outward momentum convection, in contrast to the measurements. The weak pinch was predicted to be due to both electromagnetic effects at high beta and low aspect ratio minimizing the symmetry-breaking of the instabilities responsible for momentum transport. In an attempt to lessen thesemore » electromagnetic effects at low aspect ratio, perturbative experiments were run in MAST L-mode discharges at lower beta (beta N = 2). The perturbative transport analysis used the time-dependent response following the termination of applied 3D fields that briefly brake the plasma rotation ( similar to the NSTX H-mode experiments). Assuming time-invariant diffusive (chi(phi))and convective (V-phi) transport coefficients, an inward pinch is inferred with magnitudes, (RV phi/chi(phi)) = (-1)-(-9), similar to those found in NSTX H-modes and in conventional tokamaks. However, if experimental uncertainties due to non-stationary conditions during and after the applied 3D field are considered, a weak pinch or even outward convection is inferred, ( RV phi/chi(phi)) = (-1)-(+5). Linear gyrokinetic simulations indicate that for these lower beta L-modes, the predicted momentum pinch is predicted to be relatively small, ( RV phi/chi(phi))(sim) approximate to -1. While this falls within the experimentally inferred range, the uncertainties are practically too large to quantitatively validate the predictions. Challenges and implications for this particular experimental technique are discussed, as well as additional possible physical mechanisms that may be important in understanding momentum transport in these low aspect ratio plasmas.« less

The effect of pH and triethanolamine on sulfisoxazole complexation with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin.

PubMed

Gladys, Granero; Claudia, Garnero; Marcela, Longhi

2003-11-01

A novel complexation of sulfisoxazole with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) was studied. Two systems were used: binary complexes prepared with HP-beta-CD and multicomponent system (HP-beta-CD and the basic compound triethanolamine (TEA)). Inclusion complex formation in aqueous solutions and in solid state were investigated by the solubility method, thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and dissolution studies. The solid complexes of sulfisoxazole were prepared by freeze-drying the homogeneous concentrated aqueous solutions in molar ratios of sulfisoxazole:HP-beta-CD 1:1 and 1:2, and sulfisoxazole:TEA:HP-beta-CD 1:1:2. FT-IR and thermal analysis showed differences among sulfisoxazole:HP-beta-CD and sulfisoxazole:TEA:HP-beta-CD and their corresponding physical mixtures and individual components. The HP-beta-CD solubilization of sulfisoxazole could be improved by ionization of the drug molecule through pH adjustments. However, larger improvements of the HP-beta-CD solubilization are obtained when multicomponent systems are used, allowing to reduce the amount of CD necessary to prepare the target formulation.

Color threshold and ratio of S100 beta, MAP5, NF68/200, GABA & GAD. I. Distribution in inner ear afferents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fermin, C. D.; Martin, D. S.; Hara, H.

1997-01-01

Afferents of chick embryos (Gallus domesticus) VIIIth nerve were examined at E3, E6, E9, E13, El7, and hatching (NH) for anti-S100 beta, anti-MAP5, anti-GABA, anti-GAD and anti-NF68/200 stain. Different ages were processed together to determine if the distribution of these antibodies changed during synaptogenesis and myelination. Color thresholding showed that saturation of pixels changed for S100 beta only 5%, for NF68/200 10%, and for MAP5, 10%, between E9-NH. Color ratio of NF68/200 over MAP5 was 1.00 at E13 and 0.25 at E16 and NH. S100 beta, GABA and GAD were co-expressed on nerve endings at the edge of the maculae and center of the cristae, whereas hair cells in the center of the maculae expressed either S100 beta or GABA, but not both. S100 beta/NF68/200 shared antigenic sites on the chalices, but NF68/200 expression was higher than S100 beta in the chalices at hatching. MAP5 was expressed in more neurons than NF68/200 at E11, whereas NF68/200 was more abundant than MAP5 at hatching. The results suggest that: 1) the immunoexpression of these neuronal proteins is modulated concomitantly with the establishment of afferent synapses and myelination; 2) S100 beta may serve a neurotrophic function in the chalices where it is co-expressed with the neurotransmitter GABA and its synthesizing enzyme GAD.

Properties of density and magnetic fluctuations occurring in density striations in the new LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maggs, J. E.; Morales, G. J.

2001-10-01

Previous studies of density striations (long, narrow magnetic-field-aligned density depletions) in the LAPD plasma device at UCLA revealed an eigenmode structure to fluctuations driven by the pressure gradient in the striation wall (Maggs and Morales, Phys. Plasmas, 4, 1997). The nature of these fluctuations depended on the plasma beta external to the striation, with shear Alfvén wave turbulence developing at betas less than the mass ratio and drift-Alfvén waves at betas above the mass ratio. These fluctuations were found to have a direct connection to turbulence observed at the plasma edge. The new LAPD is 18 meters in length with a background field up to twice previously attainable values. We report on the properties of fluctuations associated with density striations in the new device over a wider range of beta, and compare them to previous results. The behavior of fluctuations in density striations created in flared-field and magnetic-mirror geometries will also be presented. Research sponsored by ONR and NSF

The relationship between arterial wall stiffness and left ventricular dysfunction.

PubMed

Hu, Y; Li, L; Shen, L; Gao, H

2013-05-01

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and arterial wall stiffening. A total of 218 patients over the age of 45 diagnosed with hypertension in Jinan City and hospitalised between 2010 and 2011 were included in this study. LV function was evaluated using echocardiography (ECHO). Blood pressure was monitored with an automated tonometric device, and the parameters of arterial wall stiffness were measured. In addition, the metabolic parameters of blood samples, such as glucose and lipids, were also determined using the Cobas E601 analyser. Stiffness parameter beta positively correlated with LV diastolic function (E/Em ratio) (r = 0.255, p < 0.001). LV end-diastolic diameter not only related to the E/Em ratio (r = 0.196, p = 0.009) but also with beta (r = 0.220, p = 0.002). The stiffness parameter beta was an early indicator of E/Em ratio as determined by multiple regression analysis (R (2) = 0.381, p < 0.01). Age, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose contributed to stiffness parameter beta (p < 0.05), as well as the E/Em ratio (p < 0.01). Our findings suggested that LV dysfunction may have a direct relationship to arterial stiffening, independently of having similar risk factors. In addition, arterial stiffness can be an independent predictor of LV diastolic function, suggesting that the severity of arterial stiffness directly correlates with the severity of LV dysfunction.

[Characterization of microstructure of ibuprofen-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and ibuprofen-beta-cyclodextrin by atomic force microscope].

PubMed

Wang, Li-juan; Zhu, Zhao-jing; Che, Ke-ke; Ju, Feng-ge

2008-09-01

The microstructures of ibuprofen-hydroxypropyl-bets-cyclodextrin (IBU-HP-beta-CyD) and ibuprofen-beta-cyclodextrin (IBU-beta-CyD) were observed by atomic force microscope (AFM). The high resolving capability of AFM has the tungsten filament probe with the spring constant of 0.06 N x m(-1). Samples were observed in a small scale scanning area of 10.5 nm x 10.5 nm and 800 x 800 pixels. The original scanning images were gained by tapping mode at room temperature. Their three-dimensional reconstruction of microstructure was performed by G3DR software. The outer diameters of HP-beta-CyD and beta-CyD are 1.53 nm. The benzene diameter of IBU is 0.62 nm, fitting to the inner diameters of HP-beta-CyD and beta-CyD. The benzene and hydrophobic chain of IBU enter into the hole of cyclodextrin at 1:1 ratio. The results were evidenced by IR, X-ray diffraction and the phase solubility.

Low breast milk TGF-beta2 is induced by Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation and associates with reduced risk of sensitization during infancy.

PubMed

Böttcher, Malin Fagerås; Abrahamsson, Thomas Robert; Fredriksson, Mats; Jakobsson, Ted; Björkstén, Bengt

2008-09-01

The immunological composition of breast milk differs between mothers. The reasons for these differences and the consequences for the breast-fed infants are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation on the immunological composition of breast milk in relation to sensitization and eczema in the babies. Total IgA, secretory IgA (SIgA), TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, IL-10, TNF, soluble CD14 (sCD14), and Na/K ratios were analyzed in colostrum and mature milk obtained from women treated with L. reuteri (n = 54) or placebo (n = 55) from gestational week 36 until delivery. Bacteriological analyses of L. reuteri were performed in faecal samples of the mothers. The infants were followed prospectively for 2 yr regarding development of eczema and sensitization as defined by a positive skin prick test and/or circulating allergen-specific IgE antibodies at 6, 12, and 24 months of age. Supplementation of L. reuteri during pregnancy was associated with low levels of TGF-beta2 and slightly increased levels of IL-10 in colostrum. For TGF-beta2, this association was most pronounced in mothers with detectable L. reuteri in faeces. Infants receiving breast milk with low levels of TGF-beta2 were less likely to become sensitized during their first 2 yr of life. A similar trend was observed for development of IgE-associated eczema. The levels of total IgA, SIgA, TGF-beta1, TNF, sCD14, and Na/K ratios in breast milk were not affected by the intake of L. reuteri. None of these parameters correlated with sensitization or development of eczema in the infant, except for high Na/K ratios that associated with increased risk of sensitization. Supplementation with L. reuteri during late pregnancy reduces breast milk levels of TGF-beta2, and low levels of this cytokine are associated with less sensitization and possibly less IgE-associated eczema in breast-fed infants.

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

Brodde, O.E.; Leifert, F.J.; Krehl, H.J.

We determined the amount of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors in right and left atria and ventricles of rabbits. For this purpose inhibition of specific (-)-/sup 3/H-dihydroalprenolol ((-)-/sup 3/H-DHA) binding (5 nM) by beta 1-selective (practolol, metoprolol) and beta 2-selective (zinterol, IPS 339) adrenergic drugs was determined and analyzed by pseudo-Scatchard (Hofstee) plots. For both atria, inhibition of binding by the four selective beta-adrenergic drugs resulted in non-linear Hofstee plots, suggesting the coexistence of both beta-adrenoceptor subtypes. From these plots we calculated a beta 1:beta 2-adrenoceptor ratio of 72:28 for the right atrium and of 82:18 for the left. Inmore » contrast, only a very small amount of beta 2-adrenoceptors (approximately 5-7% of the total beta-adrenoceptor population) could be detected in the ventricles. For comparison we analyzed the inhibition of specific (-)-/sup 3/H-DHA binding in tissues with homogeneous population of beta-adrenoceptors (beta 1:guinea pig left ventricle; beta 2: cerebellum of mature rats). For both tissues the four selective beta-adrenergic drugs showed linear Hofstee plots, demonstrating that in tissues with homogeneous beta-receptor population interaction of each drug with the receptor followed simple mass-action kinetics. We conclude that beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors coexist in rabbit atria while the ventricles are predominantly endowed the beta 1-adrenoceptors.« less

Three mouse models of human thalassemia.

PubMed Central

Martinell, J; Whitney, J B; Popp, R A; Russell, L B; Anderson, W F

1981-01-01

Three types of mice with globin gene mutations, called 352HB, 27HB, and Hbath-J, appear to be true animal models of human thalassemia. Expression of the alpha-globin genes in three stocks of mice, each one heterozygous for one of the alpha-globin mutations, was examined at the polypeptide, RNA, and DNA levels. alpha-Globin polypeptide chains, relative to beta-globin chains in heterozygous thalassemic mice, are present at approximately 80% of normal. The ratios of alpha-globin to beta-globin RNA sequences are also 75-80% of normal, exactly reflecting the alpha-globin to beta-globin chain ratios. In the case of mutant 352HB, at least one alpha-globin gene is deleted. Thalassemic mouse erythroid cells appear to compensate partially for the loss of half of their alpha-globin genes. Images PMID:6946454

Beta-blocker drug therapy reduces secondary cancer formation in breast cancer and improves cancer specific survival.

PubMed

Powe, Desmond G; Voss, Melanie J; Zänker, Kurt S; Habashy, Hany O; Green, Andrew R; Ellis, Ian O; Entschladen, Frank

2010-11-01

Laboratory models show that the beta-blocker, propranolol, can inhibit norepinephrine-induced breast cancer cell migration. We hypothesised that breast cancer patients receiving beta-blockers for hypertension would show reduced metastasis and improved clinical outcome. Three patient subgroups were identified from the medical records of 466 consecutive female patients (median age 57, range 28-71) with operable breast cancer and follow-up (>10 years). Two subgroups comprised 43 and 49 hypertensive patients treated with beta-blockers or other antihypertensives respectively, prior to cancer diagnosis. 374 patients formed a non-hypertensive control group. Metastasis development, disease free interval, tumour recurrence and hazards risk were statistically compared between groups. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to model survival and DM. Beta-blocker treated patients showed a significant reduction in metastasis development (p=0.026), tumour recurrence (p=0.001), and longer disease free interval (p=0.01). In addition, there was a 57% reduced risk of metastasis (Hazards ratio=0.430; 95% CI=0.200-0.926, p=0.031), and a 71% reduction in breast cancer mortality after 10 years (Hazards ratio=0.291; 95% CI=0.119-0.715, p=0.007). This proof-of-principle study showed beta-blocker therapy significantly reduces distant metastases, cancer recurrence, and cancer-specific mortality in breast cancer patients suggesting a novel role for beta-blocker therapy. A larger epidemiological study leading to randomised clinical trials is needed for breast and other cancer types including colon, prostate and ovary.

Beta-Blocker Drug Therapy Reduces Secondary Cancer Formation in Breast Cancer and Improves Cancer Specific Survival

PubMed Central

Powe, Desmond G.; Voss, Melanie J.; Zänker, Kurt S.; Habashy, Hany O.; Green, Andrew R.; Ellis, Ian O.; Entschladen, Frank

2010-01-01

Laboratory models show that the beta-blocker, propranolol, can inhibit norepinephrine-induced breast cancer cell migration. We hypothesised that breast cancer patients receiving beta-blockers for hypertension would show reduced metastasis and improved clinical outcome. Three patient subgroups were identified from the medical records of 466 consecutive female patients (median age 57, range 28-71) with operable breast cancer and follow-up (>10 years). Two subgroups comprised 43 and 49 hypertensive patients treated with beta-blockers or other antihypertensives respectively, prior to cancer diagnosis. 374 patients formed a non-hypertensive control group. Metastasis development, disease free interval, tumour recurrence and hazards risk were statistically compared between groups. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to model survival and DM. Beta-blocker treated patients showed a significant reduction in metastasis development (p=0.026), tumour recurrence (p=0.001), and longer disease free interval (p=0.01). In addition, there was a 57% reduced risk of metastasis (Hazards ratio=0.430; 95% CI=0.200-0.926, p=0.031), and a 71% reduction in breast cancer mortality after 10 years (Hazards ratio=0.291; 95% CI=0.119-0.715, p=0.007). This proof-of-principle study showed beta-blocker therapy significantly reduces distant metastases, cancer recurrence, and cancer-specific mortality in breast cancer patients suggesting a novel role for beta-blocker therapy. A larger epidemiological study leading to randomised clinical trials is needed for breast and other cancer types including colon, prostate and ovary. PMID:21317458

Neurofeedback Improves Executive Functioning in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kouijzer, Mirjam E. J.; de Moor, Jan M. H.; Gerrits, Berrie J. L.; Congedo, Marco; van Schie, Hein T.

2009-01-01

Seven autistic children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) received a neurofeedback treatment that aimed to improve their level of executive control. Neurofeedback successfully reduced children's heightened theta/beta ratio by inhibiting theta activation and enhancing beta activation over sessions. Following treatment, children's…

Agalsidase-beta therapy for advanced Fabry disease: a randomized trial.

PubMed

Banikazemi, Maryam; Bultas, Jan; Waldek, Stephen; Wilcox, William R; Whitley, Chester B; McDonald, Marie; Finkel, Richard; Packman, Seymour; Bichet, Daniel G; Warnock, David G; Desnick, Robert J

2007-01-16

Fabry disease (alpha-galactosidase A deficiency) is a rare, X-linked lysosomal storage disorder that can cause early death from renal, cardiac, and cerebrovascular involvement. To see whether agalsidase beta delays the onset of a composite clinical outcome of renal, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular events and death in patients with advanced Fabry disease. Randomized (2:1 treatment-to-placebo randomization), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 41 referral centers in 9 countries. 82 adults with mild to moderate kidney disease; 74 of whom were protocol-adherent. Intravenous infusion of agalsidase beta (1 mg per kg of body weight) or placebo every 2 weeks for up to 35 months (median, 18.5 months). The primary end point was the time to first clinical event (renal, cardiac, or cerebrovascular event or death). Six patients withdrew before reaching an end point: 3 to receive commercial therapy and 3 due to positive or inconclusive serum IgE or skin test results. Three patients assigned to agalsidase beta elected to transition to open-label treatment before reaching an end point. Thirteen (42%) of the 31 patients in the placebo group and 14 (27%) of the 51 patients in the agalsidase-beta group experienced clinical events. Primary intention-to-treat analysis that adjusted for an imbalance in baseline proteinuria showed that, compared with placebo, agalsidase beta delayed the time to first clinical event (hazard ratio, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.21 to 1.03]; P = 0.06). Secondary analyses of protocol-adherent patients showed similar results (hazard ratio, 0.39 [CI, 0.16 to 0.93]; P = 0.034). Ancillary subgroup analyses found larger treatment effects in patients with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rates greater than 55 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (hazard ratio, 0.19 [CI, 0.05 to 0.82]; P = 0.025) compared with 55 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or less (hazard ratio, 0.85 [CI, 0.32 to 2.3]; P = 0.75) (formal test for interaction, P = 0.09). Most treatment-related adverse events were mild or moderate infusion-associated reactions, reported by 55% of patients in the agalsidase-beta group and 23% of patients in the placebo group. The study sample was small. Only one third of the patients experienced clinical events, and some patients withdrew before experiencing any event. Agalsidase-beta therapy slowed progression to the composite clinical outcome of renal, cardiac, and cerebrovascular complications and death compared with placebo in patients with advanced Fabry disease. Therapeutic intervention before irreversible organ damage may provide greater clinical benefit.

Quantitative EEG in Children and Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Comparison of Absolute and Relative Power Spectra and Theta/Beta Ratio.

PubMed

Markovska-Simoska, Silvana; Pop-Jordanova, Nada

2017-01-01

In recent decades, resting state electroencephalographic (EEG) measures have been widely used to document underlying neurophysiological dysfunction in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although most EEG studies focus on children, there is a growing interest in adults with ADHD too. The aim of this study was to objectively assess and compare the absolute and relative EEG power as well as the theta/beta ratio in children and adults with ADHD. The evaluated sample comprised 30 male children and 30 male adults with ADHD diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. They were compared with 30 boys and 30 male adults matched by age. The mean age (±SD) of the children's group was 9 (±2.44) years and the adult group 35.8 (±8.65) years. EEG was recorded during an eyes-open condition. Spectral analysis of absolute (μV 2 ) and relative power (%) was carried out for 4 frequency bands: delta (2-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-13 Hz), and beta (13-21 Hz). The findings obtained for ADHD children are increased absolute power of slow waves (theta and delta), whereas adults exhibited no differences compared with normal subjects. For the relative power spectra there were no differences between the ADHD and control groups. Across groups, the children showed greater relative power than the adults in the delta and theta bands, but for the higher frequency bands (alpha and beta) the adults showed more relative power than children. Only ADHD children showed greater theta/beta ratio compared to the normal group. Classification analysis showed that ADHD children could be differentiated from the control group by the absolute theta values and theta/beta ratio at Cz, but this was not the case with ADHD adults. The question that should be further explored is if these differences are mainly due to maturation processes or if there is a core difference in cortical arousal between ADHD children and adults. © EEG and Clinical Neuroscience Society (ECNS) 2016.

Local Interstellar Medium Properties and Deuterium Abundances for the Lines of Sight Toward HR 1099, 31 Comae, beta Ceti, and beta Cassiopeiae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Piskunov, Nikolai; Wood, Brian E.; Linsky, Jeffrey L.; Dempsey, Robert C.; Ayres, Thomas R.

1997-01-01

We analyze Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph data to infer the properties of local interstellar gas and the Deuterium/Hydrogen (D/H) ratio for lines of sight toward four nearby late-type stars-HR 1099, 31 Comae, beta Ceti, and beta Cassiopeiae. The data consist of spectra of the hydrogen and deuterium Lyman-(alpha) lines, and echelle spectra of the Mg IIh and k lines toward all stars except beta Cas. Spectra of the RS CVn-type spectroscopic binary system HR 1099 were obtained near opposite quadratures to determine the intrinsic stellar emission line profile and the interstellar absorption separately. Multiple-velocity components were found toward HR 1099 and beta Cet. The spectra of 31 Com and beta Cet are particularly interesting because they sample lines of sight toward the north and south Galactic poles, respectively, for which H I and D I column densities were not previously available. The north Galactic pole appears to be a region of low hydrogen density like the 'interstellar tunnel' toward epsilon CMa. The temperature and turbulent velocities of the Local InterStellar Medium (LISM) that we measure for the lines of sight toward HR 1099, 31 Com, beta Cet, and beta Cas are similar to previously measured values (T approx.7000 K and xi = 1.0-1.6 km/s). The deuterium/hydrogen ratios found for these lines of sight are also consistent with previous measurements of other short lines of sight, which suggest D/H approx. 1.6 x 10(sup -5). In contrast, the Mg abundance measured for the beta Cet line of sight (implying a logarithmic depletion of D(Mg) = +0.30 +/- 0.15) is about 5 times larger than the Mg abundance previously observed toward alpha Cen, and about 20 times larger than all other previous measurements for the LISM. These results demonstrate that metal abundances in the LISM vary greatly over distances of only a few parsecs.

Active-site-directed inactivation of Aspergillus oryzae beta-galactosidase with beta-D-galactopyranosylmethyl-p-nitrophenyltriazene.

PubMed

Mega, T; Nishijima, T; Ikenaka, T

1990-04-01

beta-D-Galactopyranosylmethyl-p-nitrophenyltriazene (beta-GalMNT), a specific inhibitor of beta-galactosidase, was isolated as crystals by HPLC and its chemical and physicochemical characteristics were examined. Aspergillus oryzae beta-galactosidase was inactivated by the compound. We studied the inhibition mechanism in detail. The inhibitor was hydrolyzed by the enzyme to p-nitroaniline and an active intermediate (beta-galactopyranosylmethyl carbonium or beta-galactopyranosylmethyldiazonium), which inactivated the enzyme. The efficiency of inactivation of the enzyme (the ratio of moles of inactivated enzyme to moles of beta-GalMNT hydrolyzed by the enzyme) was 3%; the efficiency of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase was 49%. In spite of the low efficiency, the rate of inactivation of A. oryzae enzyme was not very different from that of the E. coli enzyme, because the former hydrolyzed beta-GalMNT faster than the latter did. A. oryzae beta-galactosidase was also inactivated by p-chlorophenyl, p-tolyl, and m-nitrophenyl derivatives of beta-galactopyranosylmethyltriazene. However, E. coli beta-galactosidase was not inactivated by these triazene derivatives. The results showed that the inactivation of A. oryzae and E. coli beta-galactosidases by beta-GalMNT was an enzyme-activated and active-site-directed irreversible inactivation. The possibility of inactivation by intermediates produced nonenzymatically was ruled out for E. coli, but not for the A. oryzae enzyme.

Influence of plasma beta on the generation of lower hybrid and whistler waves by an ion velocity ring distribution

DOE PAGES

Winske, D.; Daughton, W.

2015-02-02

We present results of three-dimensional electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations of the lower hybrid ion ring instability, similar to our earlier results [D. Winske and W. Daughton, Phys. Plasma, 19, 072109, 2012], but at higher electron beta (βe = ratio of electron thermal pressure to magnetic pressure = 0.06, rather than at 0.006) with Ti = Te. At higher electron beta the level of lower hybrid waves at saturation normalized to the ion thermal energy (βi = 0.06 also) is only slightly smaller, but the corresponding magnetic fluctuations are about an order of magnitude larger, consistent with linear theory. After saturation, themore » waves evolve into whistler waves, through a number of possible mechanisms, with an average growth rate considerably smaller than the linear growth rate of the lower hybrid waves, to a peak fluctuation level that is about 20% above the lower hybrid wave saturation level. The ratio of the peak magnetic fluctuations associated with the whistler waves relative to those of the saturated lower hybrid waves, the ratio of the nonlinear growth rate of whistlers relative to the linear growth rate of lower hybrid waves, the amount of energy extracted from the ring and the amount of heating of the background ions and electrons are comparable to those in the lower electron beta 3-D simulation. This suggests that even at higher electron beta, the linear and nonlinear physics of the lower hybrid ion ring instability is dominated by electrostatic, wave-particle rather than wave-wave interactions.« less

Effect of trial-to-trial variability on optimal event-related fMRI design: Implications for Beta-series correlation and multi-voxel pattern analysis

PubMed Central

Abdulrahman, Hunar; Henson, Richard N.

2016-01-01

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies typically employ rapid, event-related designs for behavioral reasons and for reasons associated with statistical efficiency. Efficiency is calculated from the precision of the parameters (Betas) estimated from a General Linear Model (GLM) in which trial onsets are convolved with a Hemodynamic Response Function (HRF). However, previous calculations of efficiency have ignored likely variability in the neural response from trial to trial, for example due to attentional fluctuations, or different stimuli across trials. Here we compare three GLMs in their efficiency for estimating average and individual Betas across trials as a function of trial variability, scan noise and Stimulus Onset Asynchrony (SOA): “Least Squares All” (LSA), “Least Squares Separate” (LSS) and “Least Squares Unitary” (LSU). Estimation of responses to individual trials in particular is important for both functional connectivity using “Beta-series correlation” and “multi-voxel pattern analysis” (MVPA). Our simulations show that the ratio of trial-to-trial variability to scan noise impacts both the optimal SOA and optimal GLM, especially for short SOAs < 5 s: LSA is better when this ratio is high, whereas LSS and LSU are better when the ratio is low. For MVPA, the consistency across voxels of trial variability and of scan noise is also critical. These findings not only have important implications for design of experiments using Beta-series regression and MVPA, but also statistical parametric mapping studies that seek only efficient estimation of the mean response across trials. PMID:26549299

[Application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis of Hb S-beta(+)-thalassemia].

PubMed

Harano, K; Harano, T; Kushida, Y; Ueda, S

1991-08-01

Isoelectric focusing of the hemolysate prepared from a two-year-old American black boy with microcytic hypochromia showed the presence of a high percentage (63.3%) of such Hb variant as Hb S, while the levels of Hb A, Hb F and Hb A2 were 20.0%, 12.7%, and 4.0%, respectively. The ratio of the non-alpha-chain to the alpha-chain of the biosynthesized globin chains was 0.49. The variant was identified as Hb S by amino acid analysis of the abnormal peptide (beta T-1) and digestion of DNA amplified by the polymerase chain reaction with enzyme Eco 81 I. This was further confirmed by DNA sequencing. DNA sequencing of a beta-gene without the beta s-mutation revealed a nucleotide change of T to C in the polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA 3' to the beta-gene, resulting in beta(+)-thalassemia. These results are consistent with the existence of a beta s-gene and a beta(+)-thalassemia gene in trans.

Beta reduction factors for protective clothing at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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

Franklin, G.L.; Gonzalez, P.L.

1998-12-31

Beta reduction factors (f{sub {beta}}) for protective clothing (PC) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have been determined for a variety of protective clothing combinations. Data was collected to determine the experimental f{sub {beta}} for several combinations of PCs under laboratory conditions. Radiation dose rates were measured with an open window Bicron{reg_sign} RSO-5 ion chamber for two distinct beta energy groups (E{sub max} = 1.218 {times} 10{sup {minus}13} J(0.860 MeV) and 3.653 {times} 10{sup {minus}13} J (2.280 MeV)). Data points determined, as the ratio of unattenuated (no PCs) to attenuated (PCs), were used to derive a set of equationsmore » using the Microsoft{reg_sign} Excel Linet function. Field comparison tests were then conducted to determine the validity of these beta reduction factors. The f{sub {beta}} from the field tests were significantly less than the experimental f{sub {beta}}, indicating that these factors will yield conservative results.« less

Point-of-care test identifies diabetic ketoacidosis at triage.

PubMed

Naunheim, Rosanne; Jang, Timothy J; Banet, Gerald; Richmond, Alec; McGill, Janet

2006-06-01

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common, life-threatening complication of diabetes. The diagnosis of DKA relies on signs and symptoms, plus laboratory findings of blood glucose (BG) of > 250 mg/dL, an anion gap (AG) of > or = 15 mmol/L, and carbon dioxide (CO2) of < or = 18 mmol/L when other causes of acidosis are excluded. To compare the results of a point-of-care test for the ketone beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-OHB) with standard measures for accuracy in predicting DKA. After providing informed consent, 160 patients who presented with BG of > 250 mg/dL underwent testing for beta-OHB with the Precision Xtra meter (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL) at triage in a large urban hospital emergency department. The diagnosis of DKA was made by clinicians by using standard clinical criteria without knowledge of the beta-OHB test. A diagnosis of DKA was made in 57 of 160 subjects. The beta-OHB values correlated strongly with AG (r = 0.66, p < 0.001) and with CO2 (r = -0.69, p < 0.001), as well as with glucose (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). Cross-classification of DKA vs. beta-OHB yielded sensitivity of 98% (95% CI = 91% to 100%), specificity of 85% (95% CI = 78% to 91%), with a positive likelihood ratio of 6.7 (95% CI = 4.22 to 10.78), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.021 (95% CI = 0.003 to 0.144) at the manufacturer-suggested beta-OHB level of 1.5. The point-of-care test for beta-OHB was as sensitive as more established indicators of DKA. It is more useful than glucose alone for the diagnosis of DKA and offers immediate diagnosis of patients at triage.

Has beta-blocker use increased in patients with heart failure in internal medicine settings? Prognostic implications: RICA registry.

PubMed

González-García, Andrés; Montero Pérez-Barquero, Manuel; Formiga, Francesc; González-Juanatey, José R; Quesada, M Angustias; Epelde, Francisco; Oropesa, Roberto; Díez-Manglano, Jesús; Cerqueiro, José M; Manzano, Luis

2014-03-01

Underuse of beta-blockers has been reported in elderly patients with heart failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current prescription of beta-blockers in the internal medicine setting, and its association with morbidity and mortality in heart failure patients. The information analyzed was obtained from a prospective cohort of patients hospitalized for heart failure (RICA registry] database, patients included from March 2008 to September 2011) with at least one year of follow-up. We investigated the percentage of patients prescribed beta-blockers at hospital discharge, and at 3 and 12 months, and the relationship of beta-blocker use with mortality and readmissions for heart failure. Patients with significant valve disease were excluded. A total of 515 patients were analyzed (53.5% women), with a mean age of 77.1 (8.7) years. Beta-blockers were prescribed in 62.1% of patients at discharge. A similar percentage was found at 3 months (65.6%) and 12 months (67.9%) after discharge. All-cause mortality and the composite of all-cause mortality and readmission for heart failure were significantly lower in patients treated with beta-blockers (hazard ratio=0.59, 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.84 vs hazard ratio=0.64, 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.83). This decrease in mortality was maintained after adjusting by age, sex, ejection fraction, functional class, comorbidities, and concomitant treatment. The findings of this study indicate that beta-blocker use is increasing in heart failure patients (mainly elderly) treated in the internal medicine setting, and suggest that the use of these drugs is associated with a reduction in clinical events. Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Adrenergic receptors in human fetal liver membranes

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

Falkay, G.; Kovacs, L.

1990-01-01

The adrenergic receptor binding capacities in human fetal and adult livers were measured to investigate the mechanism of the reduced alpha-1 adrenoreceptor response of the liver associated with a reciprocal increase in beta-adrenoreceptor activity in a number of conditions. Alpha-1 and beta-adrenoreceptor density were determined using {sup 3}H-prazosin and {sup 3}H-dihydroalprenolol, respectively, as radioligand. Heterogeneous populations of beta-adrenoreceptors were found in fetal liver contrast to adult. Decreased alpha-1 and increased beta-receptor density were found which may relate to a decreased level in cellular differentiation. These findings may be important for the investigation of perinatal hypoglycemia of newborns after treatment ofmore » premature labor with beta-mimetics. This is the first demonstration of differences in the ratio of alpha-1 and beta-adrenoceptors in human fetal liver.« less

Sleep deprivation compromises resting-state emotional regulatory processes: An EEG study.

PubMed

Zhang, Jinxiao; Lau, Esther Yuet Ying; Hsiao, Janet H

2018-03-01

Resting-state spontaneous neural activities consume far more biological energy than stimulus-induced activities, suggesting their significance. However, existing studies of sleep loss and emotional functioning have focused on how sleep deprivation modulates stimulus-induced emotional neural activities. The current study aimed to investigate the impacts of sleep deprivation on the brain network of emotional functioning using electroencephalogram during a resting state. Two established resting-state electroencephalogram indexes (i.e. frontal alpha asymmetry and frontal theta/beta ratio) were used to reflect the functioning of the emotion regulatory neural network. Participants completed an 8-min resting-state electroencephalogram recording after a well-rested night or 24 hr sleep deprivation. The Sleep Deprivation group had a heightened ratio of the power density in theta band to beta band (theta/beta ratio) in the frontal area than the Sleep Control group, suggesting an effective approach with reduced frontal cortical regulation of subcortical drive after sleep deprivation. There was also marginally more left-lateralized frontal alpha power (left frontal alpha asymmetry) in the Sleep Deprivation group compared with the Sleep Control group. Besides, higher theta/beta ratio and more left alpha lateralization were correlated with higher sleepiness and lower vigilance. The results converged in suggesting compromised emotional regulatory processes during resting state after sleep deprivation. Our work provided the first resting-state neural evidence for compromised emotional functioning after sleep loss, highlighting the significance of examining resting-state neural activities within the affective brain network as a default functional mode in investigating the sleep-emotion relationship. © 2018 European Sleep Research Society.

ANALYSIS OF OPTICAL Fe II EMISSION IN A SAMPLE OF ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS SPECTRA

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

Kovacevic, Jelena; Popovic, Luka C.; Dimitrijevic, Milan S., E-mail: jkovacevic@aob.bg.ac.r

We present a study of optical Fe II emission in 302 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We group the strongest Fe II multiplets into three groups according to the lower term of the transition (b{sup 4} F, a{sup 6} S, and a{sup 4} G terms). These approximately correspond to the blue, central, and red parts, respectively, of the 'iron shelf' around H{beta}. We calculate an Fe II template that takes into account transitions into these three terms and an additional group of lines, based on a reconstruction of the spectrum of I Zw 1.more » This Fe II template gives a more precise fit of the Fe II lines in broad-line AGNs than other templates. We extract Fe II, H{alpha}, H{beta}, [O III], and [N II] emission parameters and investigate correlations between them. We find that Fe II lines probably originate in an intermediate line region. We note that the blue, red, and central parts of the iron shelf have different relative intensities in different objects. Their ratios depend on continuum luminosity, FWHM H{beta}, the velocity shift of Fe II, and the H{alpha}/H{beta} flux ratio. We examine the dependence of the well-known anti-correlation between the equivalent widths of Fe II and [O III] on continuum luminosity. We find that there is a Baldwin effect for [O III] but an inverse Baldwin effect for the Fe II emission. The [O III]/Fe II ratio thus decreases with L {sub {lambda}5100}. Since the ratio is a major component of the Boroson and Green Eigenvector 1 (EV1), this implies a connection between the Baldwin effect and EV1 and could be connected with AGN evolution. We find that spectra are different for H{beta} FWHMs greater and less than {approx}3000 km s{sup -1}, and that there are different correlation coefficients between the parameters.« less

Adverse CNS-effects of beta-adrenoceptor blockers.

PubMed

Gleiter, C H; Deckert, J

1996-11-01

In 1962 propranolol, the first beta adrenoceptor antagonist (beta blocker), was brought on to the market. There is now a host of different beta blockers available, and these compounds are among the most commonly prescribed groups of drugs. The efficacy of beta blockers has been proven predominantly for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Beta blockers are also used for certain types of CNS disorders, such as anxiety disorders, essential tremor and migraine. While low toxicity means that they have a favorable risk-benefit ratio, given the high intensity of use, it is essential to have a comprehensive knowledge of adverse events. Adverse events of beta blockers that can be related to the CNS are quite often neglected, even in textbooks of clinical pharmacology or review articles, and thus often misdiagnosed. The following article, therefore, after summarizing the use of beta blockers for CNS indications, critically reviews the literature on centrally mediated adverse events. General pharmacological features of beta blockers and their molecular basis of action will briefly be addressed to the extent that they are or may become relevant for central nervous pharmacotherapy and side-effects.

Uterine leiomyoma is associated with a polymorphism in the interleukin 1-beta gene.

PubMed

Pietrowski, Detlef; Thewes, Roberta; Sator, Michael; Denschlag, Dominik; Keck, Christoph; Tempfer, Clemens

2009-08-01

To investigate whether polymorphisms in the interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) gene are associated with uterine leiomyoma. Case-control study in a collective of 131 patients and 280 controls. Genotyping of the IL-1beta-511 and IL-1beta-3954 polymorphism was performed by PCR amplification and subsequent RFLP analysis. A significant difference in the allele frequencies of the IL-1beta-511 C

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors improve myocardial high-energy phosphate metabolism in men.

PubMed

Schocke, Michael F; Martinek, Martin; Kremser, Christian; Wolf, Christian; Steinboeck, Peter; Lechleitner, Monika; Jaschke, Werner; Pachinger, Otmar; Metzler, Bernhard

2003-01-01

We intended to prove that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors or statins have a beneficial impact on the human myocardial, high-energy, phosphate metabolism. The present study included 18 male patients (mean age 49.8 +/- 10.3) with statin-treated, familiar hypercholesterolemia (FH) and 13 male patients with untreated FH (mean age 44.6 +/- 9.5). Twenty-six healthy male volunteers served as controls (mean age 44.2 +/- 12.1). Phosphorus-31, two-dimensional chemical shift imaging (31P 2D CSI) of the heart was performed in all subjects using a 1.5 Tesla whole-body magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. The ratios between phosphocreatine (PCr) and beta-adenosine-triphosphate (beta-ATP) were calculated for the left ventricular myocardium. Furthermore, echocardiographic evaluation and stress tests were performed in all individuals. The untreated patients with FH exhibited a significant decrease in left ventricular PCr to beta-ATP ratios (1.78 +/- 0.34) compared with statin-treated FH patients (2.15 +/- 0.26, p < 0.001) and healthy controls (2.04 +/- 0.26, p = 0.009). The left ventricular PCr-to-beta-ATP ratios of the treated FH patients were in the range of the healthy controls. Our study shows for the first time an-improvement of the high-energy, phosphate metabolism in the left ventricular myocardium of patients with statin-treated FH compared with untreated FH patients.

Cellular uptake of beta-carotene from protein stabilized solid lipid nano-particles prepared by homogenization-evaporation method

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Using a homogenization-evaporation method, beta-carotene (BC) loaded nano-particles were prepared with different ratios of food-grade sodium caseinate (SC), whey protein isolate (WPI), or soy protein isolate (SPI) to BC and evaluated for their physiochemical stability, in vitro cytotoxicity, and cel...

A Proposed Multisite Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial of Neurofeedback for ADHD: Need, Rationale, and Strategy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kerson, Cynthia

2013-01-01

Objective: Additional treatments with persisting benefit are needed for ADHD. Because ADHD often shows excessive theta electroencephalogram (EEG) power, low beta, and excessive theta-beta ratio (TBR), a promising treatment is neurofeedback (NF) downtraining TBR. Although several nonblind randomized clinical trials (RCTs) show a medium-large…

Efficacy of Barabasz's Instant Alert Hypnosis in the Treatment of ADHD with Neurotherapy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Kathryn; Barabasz, Marianne; Barabasz, Arreed; Warner, Dennis

2000-01-01

Tested use of instant alert hypnosis on 16 children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. Found that EEG beta-theta ratio means were significantly higher in trials of neurotherapy combined with alert hypnosis than neurotherapy alone. Beta was significantly enhanced, whereas theta was inhibited. Identified improved treatment efficacy and…

Comprehensive authentication of (E)-alpha(beta)-ionone from raspberries, using constant flow MDGC-C/P-IRMS and enantio-MDGC-MS.

PubMed

Sewenig, Sabine; Bullinger, Dino; Hener, Uwe; Mosandl, Armin

2005-02-23

A new coupling system of GC-GC, connected via a Multi Column Switching Device MCS2 for measuring isotope ratios, is introduced. By means of several standard substances the precise and accurate measurement of isotopic values is proved. First applications concerning the authentication of raspberry aroma compounds are established. Consequently, the combination of constant flow multidimensional gas chromatography-combustion/pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (MDGC-C/P-IRMS) is applied to the authenticity assessment of (E)-alpha(beta)-ionone from six different raspberry cultivars. Furthermore, 12 commercially available raspberry products and samples of (E)-alpha(beta)-ionone, some declared to be natural, are investigated. delta(2)Eta(V)(-)(SMOW) and delta(13)C(V)(-)(PDB) values of (E)-alpha(beta)-ionone are determined, and characteristic authenticity ranges were concluded from raspberries by correlation of both delta(2)Eta(V)(-)(SMOW) and delta(13)C( V)(-)(PDB) values. The results are correlated with the determination of enantiomeric purities of (E)-alpha-ionone, using stir bar sorptive extraction enantio-multidimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SBSE-enantio-MDGC-MS).

Understanding action language modulates oscillatory mu and beta rhythms in the same way as observing actions.

PubMed

Moreno, Iván; de Vega, Manuel; León, Inmaculada

2013-08-01

The mu rhythms (8-13 Hz) and the beta rhythms (15 up to 30 Hz) of the EEG are observed in the central electrodes (C3, Cz and C4) in resting states, and become suppressed when participants perform a manual action or when they observe another's action. This has led researchers to consider that these rhythms are electrophysiological markers of the motor neuron activity in humans. This study tested whether the comprehension of action language, unlike abstract language, modulates mu and low beta rhythms (15-20 Hz) in a similar way as the observation of real actions. The log-ratios were calculated for each oscillatory band between each condition and baseline resting periods. The results indicated that both action language and action videos caused mu and beta suppression (negative log-ratios), whereas abstract language did not, confirming the hypothesis that understanding action language activates motor networks in the brain. In other words, the resonance of motor areas associated with action language is compatible with the embodiment approach to linguistic meaning. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Risk factors for persistent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

PubMed

Kuyumcuoglu, Umur; Guzel, Ali Irfan; Erdemoglu, Mahmut; Celik, Yusuf

2011-01-01

This retrospective study evaluated the risk factors for persistent gestational trophoblastic disease (GTN) and determined their odds ratios. This study included 100 cases with GTN admitted to our clinic. Possible risk factors recorded were age, gravidity, parity, size of the neoplasia, and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels (beta-hCG) before and after the procedure. Statistical analyses consisted of the independent sample t-test and logistic regression using the statistical package SPSS ver. 15.0 for Windows (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Twenty of the cases had persistent GTN, and the differences between these and the others cases were evaluated. The size of the neoplasia and histopathological type of GTN had no statistical relationship with persistence, whereas age, gravidity, and beta-hCG levels were significant risk factors for persistent GTN (p < 0.05). The odds ratios (95% confidence interval (CI)) for age, gravidity, and pre- and post-evacuation beta-hCG levels determined using logistic regression were 4.678 (0.97-22.44), 7.315 (1.16-46.16), 2.637 (1.41-4.94), and 2.339 (1.52-3.60), respectively. Patient age, gravidity, and beta-hCG levels were risk factors for persistent GTN, whereas the size of the neoplasia and histopathological type of GTN were not significant risk factors.

Anti-complementary neutral polysaccharides from leaves of Artemisia princeps.

PubMed

Zhao, Q C; Kiyohara, H; Yamada, H

1994-01-01

The three anti-complementary neutral polysaccharides, IA-1, IB-1 and IC-1, were purified from the leaves of Artemisia princeps by anion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and affinity chromatography. The order of the anti-complementary activity was IA-1 > IB-1 > IC-1. The polysaccharides appeared to be homogeneous from the results of gel filtration, HPLC and electrophoresis. The M(r)s of IA-1 IB-1 and IC-1 were estimated to be 56,000, 16,000, and 7000, respectively, by HPLC. IA-1 consisted mainly of arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal) and glucose (Glc) in molar ratios of 1.8:1.0:0.9, whereas IB-1 and IC-1 were composed mainly of Ara, mannose (Man), Gal and Glc in molar ratios of 3.5:0.8:1.0:0.8 and 2.3:3.5:1.0:3.2, respectively. Methylation analysis, 13C NMR and enzymic digestion suggested that IA-1 mainly contained alpha-L-(1-->3,5)-arabinan, beta-D-(1-->6)-linked Gal and beta-D-(1-->3)-linked Glc. IB-1 also consisted mainly of alpha-L-(1-->3,5)-arabinan and beta-D-(1-->6)-linked Gal, whereas IC-1 was composed mainly of beta-D-(1-->4)- linked Glc and alpha- or beta-D-(1-->4)-linked Man.

dRVVT is more sensitive than KCT or TTI for detecting lupus anticoagulant activity of anti-beta2-glycoprotein I autoantibodies.

PubMed

Pengo, V; Biasiolo, A; Rampazzo, P; Brocco, T

1999-02-01

Anti-beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI) antibodies behave as classical Lupus Anticoagulants (LA), as they inhibit phospholipid-dependent coagulation reactions and their activity disappears in the presence of excess exogenous phospholipids (PLs). We have recently shown that a certain amount of PLs in the dilute Russell Viper Venom Time (dRVVT) test system is required to express LA activity of anti beta2-GPI antibodies. We have now extended this observation to two other tests, i.e., Kaolin Clotting Time (KCT) in which PLs are not added, and Tissue Thromboplastin Inhibition test (TTI) in which PLs are extremely diluted. In fact, affinity-purified antibody preparations from 5 patients with antiphospholipid syndrome did not express or only weakly expressed anticoagulant activity in both tests; the mean ratios of coagulation times obtained with purified antibodies and that of control buffer were 1.11 and 1.0 for KCT and TTI, respectively. On the contrary, the mean ratios in dRVVT were 1.31 and 1.49 at a PLs dilution of 1:8 and 1:64, respectively. Therefore, the presence of LA activity due to autoantibodies to beta2-GPI is characterized by a positive dRVVT and negative or only weakly positive KCT and TTI.

Iron-related disturbances of cell-mediated immunity in multitransfused children with thalassemia major.

PubMed Central

Pardalos, G; Kanakoudi-Tsakalidis, F; Malaka-Zafiriu, M; Tsantali, H; Athanasiou-Metaxa, M; Kallinikos, G; Papaevangelou, G

1987-01-01

Immunological abnormalities have been observed in many haemophiliacs receiving clotting factor concentrates. To determine whether similar changes also occur after repeated blood transfusions we estimated T cell subsets and cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity (CDH) in 50 multitransfused children with beta-thalassemia major (beta-TM). All patients were also tested for anti-HTLV-III/LAV antibodies. A diminished percentage of T lymphocytes (E-rosettes, T3+), and T4+ cells and a low T4/T8 ratio was found in patients as compared to age and sex matched controls (P less than 0.001). Negative CDH tests to specific antigens (Multi-test) were also found in a significantly larger proportion of beta-TM children (P less than 0.01). Antibodies against HTLV-III/LAV were negative in all patients. Decreased T4/T8 ratio in beta-TM children was primarily due to a reduction of T4+ cells and was inversely correlated to the patients' age, number of units of transfused blood (P less than 0.05) and especially to ferritin serum levels and annual iron balance (P less than 0.001). These findings indicate that immunological abnormalities in beta-TM patients appear to be acquired, transfusion-associated and related to iron load which depends on the appropriate chelation therapy. PMID:3498564

[In-vitro evaluation of cinnarizine as a competing agent to beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes: effect of cinnarizine on the membrane permeation rate of progesterone from its beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex].

PubMed

Muraoka, Atsushi; Tokumura, Tadakazu; Machida, Yoshiharu

2008-01-01

The use of competing agents is considered a powerful tool for the development of a drug-delivery system with drug/cyclodextrin inclusion complexes. However, there are very few studies examining this issue. To explain this phenomenon, it was thought that a competing agent with a sufficiently high stability constant had not yet been reported. In this study, cinnarizine (CN), which has a high stability constant with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and unique solubility characteristics, was selected, and its ability as a competing agent was examined in a membrane permeability study. The permeability study showed that the permeation rates of the drugs flurbiprofen, progesterone, and spironolactone decreased with their stability constants with the addition of beta-CD. In one of the drugs, progesterone (Pro), the decrease was restored by the addition of CN. The amount of CN added was a 1:1 molar ratio to the amount of Pro. However, no similar action was induced with the addition of DL-phenylalanine (Phe) in the permeation study at the 1:5 (Pro:Phe) molar ratio. These finding indicate that CN acts as a competing agent, and its action is much stronger than that of Phe.

Pretargeting vs. direct targeting of human betalox5 islet cells subcutaneously implanted in mice using an anti-human islet cell antibody.

PubMed

Liu, Guozheng; Dou, Shuping; Akalin, Ali; Rusckowski, Mary; Streeter, Philip R; Shultz, Leonard D; Greiner, Dale L

2012-07-01

We previously demonstrated MORF/cMORF pretargeting of human islets and betalox 5 cells (a human beta cell line) transplanted subcutaneously in mice with the anti-human islet antibody, HPi1. We now compare pretargeting with direct targeting in the beta cell transplant model to evaluate the degree to which target/non-target (T/NT) ratios may be improved by pretargeting. Specific binding of an anti-human islet antibody HPi1 to the beta cells transplanted subcutaneously in mice was examined against a negative control antibody. We then compared pretargeting by MORF-HPi1 plus 111In-labeled cMORF to direct targeting by 111In-labeled HPi1. HPi1 binding to betalox5 human cells in the transplant was shown by immunofluorescence. Normal organ 111In backgrounds by pretargeting were always lower, although target accumulations were similar. More importantly, the transplant to pancreas and liver ratios was, respectively, 26 and 10 by pretargeting as compared to 9 and 0.6 by direct targeting. Pretargeting greatly improves the T/NT ratios, and based on the estimated endocrine to exocrine ratio within a pancreas, pretargeting may be approaching the sensitivity required for successful imaging of human islets within this organ. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sensitivity of the Lidar ratio to changes in size distribution and index of refraction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evans, B. T. N.

1986-01-01

In order to invert lidar signals to obtain reliable extinction coefficients, sigma, a relationship between sigma and the backscatter coefficient, beta, must be given. These two coefficients are linearly related if the complex index of refraction, m, particle shape size distribution, N, does not change along the path illuminated by the laser beam. This, however, is generally not the case. An extensive Mie computation of the lidar ratio R = beta/sigma and the sensitivity of R to the changes in a parametric space defined by N and m were examined.

Log (TG)/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of decreased islet beta cell function in patients with type 2 diabetes: 6-year cohort study.

PubMed

Zhou, Meicen; Li, Zengyi; Min, Rui; Dong, Yaxiu; Sun, Qi; Li, Yuxiu

2015-09-01

The aim of the present study was to explore whether the triglyceride to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio [log (TG)/HDL-C] and peripheral blood leukocytes DNA telomere length could predict future islet beta cell function decreased in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during a 6-year cohort. Sixty T2DM patients (without insulin treatment at baseline) were included in the 6-year cohort study. Peripheral blood leukocytes DNA telomere length, HbA1c, blood lipid profile, fatty fat acid, glucose, insulin and C peptide (3 h after a mixed meal) were determined. Delta C peptide area under curve (Delta CP AUC) was used to reflect change in beta cell secretion function (Delta CP AUC = baseline CP AUC - CP AUC after 6 years). Subjects were divided into slow decrease of beta cell function group (Delta CP AUCslow group) and fast decrease group (Delta CP AUCfast group) according to median of Delta CP AUC. Baseline demographic characteristics, clinical variables between two groups were compared. Correlations between baseline data and Delta CP AUC were analyzed. Baseline log (TG)/HDL-C was positively correlated with Delta CP AUC (r = 0.306, P = 0.027); log (TG)/HDL-C in Delta CP AUCfast group was higher than that in Delta CP AUCslow group (0.103 ± 0.033 vs 0.083 ± 0.030, P = 0.027). There was no significant difference in DNA telomere length between the two groups. Change in DNA telomere length over 6 years was not significantly correlated with baseline blood lipid. In Chinese T2DM patients, high baseline log (TG)/HDL-C ratio predicts fast progression of islet beta cell dysfunction. It may be a simple index to predict progression speed of islet beta cell dysfunction. © 2014 Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Extended Information Ratio for Portfolio Optimization Using Simulated Annealing with Constrained Neighborhood

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orito, Yukiko; Yamamoto, Hisashi; Tsujimura, Yasuhiro; Kambayashi, Yasushi

The portfolio optimizations are to determine the proportion-weighted combination in the portfolio in order to achieve investment targets. This optimization is one of the multi-dimensional combinatorial optimizations and it is difficult for the portfolio constructed in the past period to keep its performance in the future period. In order to keep the good performances of portfolios, we propose the extended information ratio as an objective function, using the information ratio, beta, prime beta, or correlation coefficient in this paper. We apply the simulated annealing (SA) to optimize the portfolio employing the proposed ratio. For the SA, we make the neighbor by the operation that changes the structure of the weights in the portfolio. In the numerical experiments, we show that our portfolios keep the good performances when the market trend of the future period becomes different from that of the past period.

Significance of Lignin S/G Ratio in Biomass Recalcitrance of Populus trichocarpa Variants for Bioethanol Production

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

Yoo, Chang Geun; Dumitrache, Alexandru; Muchero, Wellington

Lignin S/G ratio has been investigated as an important factor in biomass recalcitrance to bioethanol production. Because of the complexity and variety of biomass, recalcitrance was also reportedly influenced by several other factors, such as total lignin content, degree of cellulose polymerization, etc. In addition, the effect of S/G ratio on biomass conversion is not uniform across plant species. Herein, 11 Populus trichocarpa natural variants grown under the same conditions with similar total lignin content were selected to minimize the effects of other factors. The lignin S/G ratio of the selected P. trichocarpa natural variants showed negative correlations with p-hydroxybenzoatemore » (PB) and ..beta..-5 linkage contents, while it had positive ones with ..beta..-O-4 linkage, lignin molecular weight, and ethanol production. This study showed the importance of lignin S/G ratio as an independent recalcitrance factor that may aid future energy crop engineering and biomass conversion strategies.« less

Method development estimating ambient mercury concentration from monitored mercury wet deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, S. M.; Qiu, X.; Zhang, L.; Yang, F.; Blanchard, P.

2013-05-01

Speciated atmospheric mercury data have recently been monitored at multiple locations in North America; but the spatial coverage is far less than the long-established mercury wet deposition network. The present study describes a first attempt linking ambient concentration with wet deposition using Beta distribution fitting of a ratio estimate. The mean, median, mode, standard deviation, and skewness of the fitted Beta distribution parameters were generated using data collected in 2009 at 11 monitoring stations. Comparing the normalized histogram and the fitted density function, the empirical and fitted Beta distribution of the ratio shows a close fit. The estimated ambient mercury concentration was further partitioned into reactive gaseous mercury and particulate bound mercury using linear regression model developed by Amos et al. (2012). The method presented here can be used to roughly estimate mercury ambient concentration at locations and/or times where such measurement is not available but where wet deposition is monitored.

Modular low aspect ratio-high beta torsatron

DOEpatents

Sheffield, George V.; Furth, Harold P.

1984-02-07

A fusion reactor device in which the toroidal magnetic field and at least a portion of the poloidal magnetic field are provided by a single set of modular coils. The coils are arranged on the surface of a low aspect ratio toroid in planes having the cylindrical coordinate relationship .phi.=.phi..sub.i +kz where k is a constant equal to each coil's pitch and .phi..sub.i is the toroidal angle at which the i'th coil intersects the z=o plane. The device may be described as a modular, high beta torsation whose screw symmetry is pointed along the systems major (z) axis. The toroid defined by the modular coils preferably has a racetrack minor cross section. When vertical field coils and preferably a toroidal plasma current are provided for magnetic field surface closure within the toroid, a vacuum magnetic field of racetrack shaped minor cross section with improved stability and beta valves is obtained.

Machinability of cast commercial titanium alloys.

PubMed

Watanabe, I; Kiyosue, S; Ohkubo, C; Aoki, T; Okabe, T

2002-01-01

This study investigated the machinability of cast orthopedic titanium (metastable beta) alloys for possible application to dentistry and compared the results with those of cast CP Ti, Ti-6Al-4V, and Ti-6Al-7Nb, which are currently used in dentistry. Machinability was determined as the amount of metal removed with the use of an electric handpiece and a SiC abrasive wheel turning at four different rotational wheel speeds. The ratios of the amount of metal removed and the wheel volume loss (machining ratio) were also evaluated. Based on these two criteria, the two alpha + beta alloys tested generally exhibited better results for most of the wheel speeds compared to all the other metals tested. The machinability of the three beta alloys employed was similar or worse, depending on the speed of the wheel, compared to CP Ti. Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Differences in the force system delivered by different beta-titanium wires in elaborate designs.

PubMed

Martins, Renato Parsekian; Caldas, Sergei Godeiro Fernandes Rabelo; Ribeiro, Alexandre Antonio; Vaz, Luís Geraldo; Shimizu, Roberto Hideo; Martins, Lídia Parsekian

2015-01-01

Evaluation of the force system produced by four brands of b-Ti wires bent into an elaborate design. A total of 40 T-loop springs (TLS) hand-bent from 0.017 x 0.025-in b-Ti were randomly divided into four groups according to wire brand: TMATM(G1), BETA FLEXYTM (G2), BETA III WIRETM (G3) and BETA CNATM (G4). Forces and moments were recorded by a moment transducer, coupled to a digital extensometer indicator adapted to a testing machine, every 0.5 mm of deactivation from 5 mm of the initial activation. The moment-to-force (MF) ratio, the overlapping of the vertical extensions of the TLSs and the load-deflection (LD) ratio were also calculated. To complement the results, the Young's module (YM) of each wire was determined by the slope of the load-deflection graph of a tensile test. The surface chemical composition was also evaluated by an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. All groups, except for G2, produced similar force levels initially. G3 produced the highest LD rates and G1 and G4 had similar amounts of overlap of the vertical extensions of the TLSs in "neutral position". G1 and G3 delivered the highest levels of moments, and G2 and G3 produced the highest MF ratios. b-Ti wires from G3 produced the highest YM and all groups showed similar composition, except for G2. The four beta-titanium wires analyzed produced different force systems when used in a more elaborate design due to the fact that each wire responds differently to bends.

Modulating Beta-Cardiac Myosin Function at the Molecular and Tissue Levels

PubMed Central

Tang, Wanjian; Blair, Cheavar A.; Walton, Shane D.; Málnási-Csizmadia, András; Campbell, Kenneth S.; Yengo, Christopher M.

2017-01-01

Inherited cardiomyopathies are a common form of heart disease that are caused by mutations in sarcomeric proteins with beta cardiac myosin (MYH7) being one of the most frequently affected genes. Since the discovery of the first cardiomyopathy associated mutation in beta-cardiac myosin, a major goal has been to correlate the in vitro myosin motor properties with the contractile performance of cardiac muscle. There has been substantial progress in developing assays to measure the force and velocity properties of purified cardiac muscle myosin but it is still challenging to correlate results from molecular and tissue-level experiments. Mutations that cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are more common than mutations that lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and are also often associated with increased isometric force and hyper-contractility. Therefore, the development of drugs designed to decrease isometric force by reducing the duty ratio (the proportion of time myosin spends bound to actin during its ATPase cycle) has been proposed for the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Para-Nitroblebbistatin is a small molecule drug proposed to decrease the duty ratio of class II myosins. We examined the impact of this drug on human beta cardiac myosin using purified myosin motor assays and studies of permeabilized muscle fiber mechanics. We find that with purified human beta-cardiac myosin para-Nitroblebbistatin slows actin-activated ATPase and in vitro motility without altering the ADP release rate constant. In permeabilized human myocardium, para-Nitroblebbistatin reduces isometric force, power, and calcium sensitivity while not changing shortening velocity or the rate of force development (ktr). Therefore, designing a drug that reduces the myosin duty ratio by inhibiting strong attachment to actin while not changing detachment can cause a reduction in force without changing shortening velocity or relaxation. PMID:28119616

Correlation of EEG with neuropsychological status in children with epilepsy.

PubMed

Hsu, David A; Rayer, Katherine; Jackson, Daren C; Stafstrom, Carl E; Hsu, Murielle; Ferrazzano, Peter A; Dabbs, Kevin; Worrell, Gregory A; Jones, Jana E; Hermann, Bruce P

2016-02-01

To determine correlations of the EEG frequency spectrum with neuropsychological status in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Forty-six children ages 8-18 years old with idiopathic epilepsy were retrospectively identified and analyzed for correlations between EEG spectra and neuropsychological status using multivariate linear regression. In addition, the theta/beta ratio, which has been suggested as a clinically useful EEG marker of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and an EEG spike count were calculated for each subject. Neuropsychological status was highly correlated with posterior alpha (8-15 Hz) EEG activity in a complex way, with both positive and negative correlations at lower and higher alpha frequency sub-bands for each cognitive task in a pattern that depends on the specific cognitive task. In addition, the theta/beta ratio was a specific but insensitive indicator of ADHD status in children with epilepsy; most children both with and without epilepsy have normal theta/beta ratios. The spike count showed no correlations with neuropsychological status. (1) The alpha rhythm may have at least two sub-bands which serve different purposes. (2) The theta/beta ratio is not a sensitive indicator of ADHD status in children with epilepsy. (3) The EEG frequency spectrum correlates more robustly with neuropsychological status than spike count analysis in children with idiopathic epilepsy. (1) The role of posterior alpha rhythms in cognition is complex and can be overlooked if EEG spectral resolution is too coarse or if neuropsychological status is assessed too narrowly. (2) ADHD in children with idiopathic epilepsy may involve different mechanisms from those in children without epilepsy. (3) Reliable correlations with neuropsychological status require longer EEG samples when using spike count analysis than when using frequency spectra. Copyright © 2015 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of alprazolam on cortical activity and tremors in patients with essential tremor.

PubMed

Ibáñez, Jaime; González de la Aleja, Jesús; Gallego, Juan A; Romero, Juan P; Saíz-Díaz, Rosana A; Benito-León, Julián; Rocon, Eduardo

2014-01-01

Essential tremor (ET) is characterised by postural and action tremors with a frequency of 4-12 Hz. Previous studies suggest that the tremor activity originates in the cerebello-thalamocortical pathways. Alprazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine that attenuates tremors in ET. The mechanisms that mediate the therapeutic action of alprazolam are unknown; however, in healthy subjects, benzodiazepines increase cortical beta activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of alprazolam both on beta and tremor-related cortical activity and on alterations in tremor presentation in ET patients. Therefore, we characterised the dynamics of tremor and cortical activity in ET patients after alprazolam intake. We recorded hand tremors and contralateral cortical activity in four recordings before and after a single dose of alprazolam. We then computed the changes in tremors, cortico-muscular coherence, and cortical activity at the tremor frequency and in the beta band. Alprazolam significantly attenuated tremors (EMG: 76.2 ± 22.68%), decreased cortical activity in the tremor frequency range and increased cortical beta activity in all patients (P<0.05). At the same time, the cortico-muscular coherence at the tremor frequency became non-significant (P<0.05). We also found a significant correlation (r = 0.757, P<0.001) between the reduction in tremor severity and the increased ratio of cortical activity in the beta band to the activity observed in the tremor frequency range. This study provides the first quantitative analysis of tremor reduction following alprazolam intake. We observed that the tremor severity decreased in association with an increased ratio of beta to tremor-related cortical activity. We hypothesise that the increase in cortical beta activity may act as a blocking mechanism and may dampen the pathological oscillatory activity, which in turn attenuates the observed tremor.

Losartan improves resistance artery lesions and prevents CTGF and TGF-beta production in mild hypertensive patients.

PubMed

Gómez-Garre, D; Martín-Ventura, J L; Granados, R; Sancho, T; Torres, R; Ruano, M; García-Puig, J; Egido, J

2006-04-01

Although structural and functional changes of resistance arteries have been proposed to participate in arterial hypertension (HTA) outcome, not all therapies may correct these alterations, even if they normalize the blood pressure (BP). The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of the protection afforded by the angiotensin receptor antagonist losartan in resistance arteries from patients with essential HTA. In all, 22 untreated hypertensive patients were randomized to receive losartan or amlodipine for 1 year and the morphological characteristics of resistance vessels from subcutaneous biopsies were evaluated. Protein expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), and collagens III and IV was detected by immunohistochemistry. In comparison with normotensive subjects, resistance arteries from hypertensive patients showed a significant media:lumen (M/L) ratio increment and a higher protein expression of CTGF, TGF-beta, and collagens. After 1 year of treatment, both losartan and amlodipine similarly controlled BP. However, M/L only decreased in patients under losartan treatment, whereas in the amlodipine-treated group this ratio continued to increase significantly. The administration of losartan prevented significant increments in CTGF, TGF-beta, and collagens in resistance arteries. By contrast, amlodipine-treated patients showed a higher vascular CTGF, TGF-beta, and collagen IV staining than before treatment. Our results show that the administration of losartan, but not amlodipine, to hypertensive patients improves structural abnormalities and prevents the production of CTGF and TGF-beta in small arteries, despite similar BP lowering. These data may explain the molecular mechanisms of the better vascular protection afforded by drugs interfering with the renin-angiotensin system.

Peritoneal clearances in hypertensive CAPD patients after oral administration of clonidine, enalapril, and nifedipine.

PubMed

Favazza, A; Motanaro, D; Messa, P; Antonucci, F; Gropuzzo, M; Mioni, G

1992-01-01

The authors investigated whether the reduction of arterial pressure, induced by the oral administration of clonidine (CLO), enalapril (EN), and nifedipine (NIF), has any effect on peritoneal transport rates. The study was performed in nine hypertensive patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The patients were submitted to administration of CLO, EN, and NIF, each in randomized succession for two weeks, after withdrawal of any hypotensive therapy for eight days (washout period). The nine patients underwent a four-hour dwell exchange using a 2.27 g/dL glucose two-liter bag after washout and after each hypotensive period. The following parameters were analyzed: mean arterial pressure (MAP), performed in the sitting position; net ultrafiltration; effluent/initial dialysate glucose ratio (GL D/Do); peritoneal clearance of K, BUN, creatinine (Cr), phosphate, beta-2 microglobulin (beta 2), total proteins, and the ratio between beta 2 and Cr clearance. Moreover, residual renal Cr and beta 2 clearances were analyzed. The three drugs significantly reduced MAP at a similar rate. The peritoneal transport parameters after CLO were similar to the results in the washout period. On the contrary, after EN and NIF therapy, Cr and beta 2 clearances were significantly increased, and GL D/Do decreased in comparison to the washout period. The other peritoneal transport parameters after EN and NIF were similar to the washout period. Residual renal Cr and beta 2 clearances after the three drugs were similar to those in the washout. these data suggest that after two weeks of therapy with EN and NIF, glucose, Cr, and beta 2 peritoneal transports are influenced by these hypotensive drugs irrespective of the effect on the arterial pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation and seasonal dynamics of extracellular enzyme activities in the sediments of a large lowland river.

PubMed

Wilczek, Sabine; Fischer, Helmut; Pusch, Martin T

2005-08-01

We tested whether seasonal changes in the sources of organic substances for microbial metabolism were reflected changes in the activities of five extracellular enzymes in the eighth order lowland River Elbe, Germany. Leucine aminopeptidase showed the highest activities in the water column and the sediments, followed by phosphatase > beta-glucosidase > alpha-glucosidase > exo-1,4-beta-glucanase. Individual enzymes exhibited characteristic seasonal dynamics, as indicated by their relative contribution to cumulative enzyme activity. Leucine aminopeptidase was significantly more active in spring and summer. In contrast, the carbohydrate-degrading enzymes peaked in autumn, and beta-glucosidase activity peaked once again in winter. Thus, in sediments, the ratio of leucine aminopeptidase/beta-glucosidase reached significant higher medians in spring and summer (5-cm depth: ratio 7.7; 20-cm depth: ratio 10.1) than in autumn and winter (5-cm depth: ratio 3.7, 20-cm depth: ratio 6.3). The relative activity of phosphatase in the sediments was seasonally related to both the biomass of planktonic algae as well as to the high content of total particulate phosphorus in autumn and winter. Due to temporal shifts in organic matter supply and changes in the storage capacity of sediments, the seasonal peaks of enzyme activities in sediments exhibited a time lag of 2-3 months compared to that in the water column, along with a significant extension of peak width. Hence, our data show that the seasonal pattern of extracellular enzyme activities provides a sensitive approach to infer seasonal or temporary availability of organic matter in rivers from autochthonous and allochthonous sources. From the dynamics of individual enzyme activities, a consistent synoptic pattern of heterotrophic functioning in the studied river ecosystem could be derived. Our data support the revised riverine productivity model predicting that the metabolism of organic matter in high-order rivers is mainly fuelled by autochthonous production occurring in these reaches and riparian inputs.

Adrenergic receptors in frontal cortex in human brain.

PubMed

Cash, R; Raisman, R; Ruberg, M; Agid, Y

1985-02-05

The binding of three adrenergic ligands ([3H]prazosin, [3H]clonidine, [3H]dihydroalprenolol) was studied in the frontal cortex of human brain. alpha 1-Receptors, labeled by [3H]prazosin, predominated. [3H]Clonidine bound to two classes of sites, one of high affinity and one of low affinity. Guanosine triphosphate appeared to lower the affinity of [3H]clonidine for its receptor. [3H]Dihydroalprenolol bound to three classes of sites: the beta 1-receptor, the beta 2-receptor and a receptor with low affinity which represented about 40% of the total binding, but which was probably a non-specific site; the beta 1/beta 2 ratio was 1/2.

The neuron-specific isoform of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta is required for axon growth.

PubMed

Castaño, Zafira; Gordon-Weeks, Phillip R; Kypta, Robert M

2010-04-01

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) has become an important target for the treatment of mood disorders and neurodegenerative disease. It comprises three enzymes, GSK-3alpha, beta and the neuron-specific isoform, beta2. GSK-3 regulates axon growth by phosphorylating microtubule-associated proteins including Tau. A genetic polymorphism that leads to an increase in the ratio of GSK-3beta1 to GSK-3beta2 interacts with Tau haplotypes to modify disease risk in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. We have examined the roles of each isoform of GSK-3 in neurons. Silencing of GSK-3beta2 inhibited retinoic acid-induced neurite outgrowth in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and axon growth in rat cortical neurons. Inhibition of neurite outgrowth was prevented by co-expression of GSK-3beta2 but not by co-expression of GSK-3alpha or GSK-3beta1. Ectopic expression GSK-3beta2 enhanced the effects of retinoic acid on neurite length and induced neurite formation in the absence of retinoic acid. GSK-3beta2 phosphorylated Tau at a subset of those sites phosphorylated by GSK-3beta1. In addition, Axin, which regulates responses to Wnt signals, associated more readily with GSK-3beta1 than with GSK-3beta2. Our results suggest that GSK-3 inhibitors that target the Axin-binding site in GSK-3 will preserve the beneficial effects of GSK-3beta2 on axon growth.

Direct ethanol production from barley beta-glucan by sake yeast displaying Aspergillus oryzae beta-glucosidase and endoglucanase.

PubMed

Kotaka, Atsushi; Bando, Hiroki; Kaya, Masahiko; Kato-Murai, Michiko; Kuroda, Kouichi; Sahara, Hiroshi; Hata, Yoji; Kondo, Akihiko; Ueda, Mitsuyoshi

2008-06-01

Three beta-glucosidase- and two endoglucanase-encoding genes were cloned from Aspergillus oryzae, and their gene products were displayed on the cell surface of the sake yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae GRI-117-UK. GRI-117-UK/pUDB7 displaying beta-glucosidase AO090009000356 showed the highest activity against various substrates and efficiently produced ethanol from cellobiose. On the other hand, GRI-117-UK/pUDCB displaying endoglucanase AO090010000314 efficiently degraded barley beta-glucan to glucose and smaller cellooligosaccharides. GRI-117-UK/pUDB7CB codisplaying both beta-glucosidase AO090009000356 and endoglucanase AO090010000314 was constructed. When direct ethanol fermentation from 20 g/l barley beta-glucan as a model substrate was performed with the codisplaying strain, the ethanol concentration reached 7.94 g/l after 24 h of fermentation. The conversion ratio of ethanol from beta-glucan was 69.6% of the theoretical ethanol concentration produced from 20 g/l barley beta-glucan. These results showed that sake yeast displaying A. oryzae cellulolytic enzymes can be used to produce ethanol from cellulosic materials. Our constructs have higher ethanol production potential than the laboratory constructs previously reported.

Beta-blocker use is associated with improved outcomes in adult trauma patients.

PubMed

Arbabi, Saman; Campion, Eric M; Hemmila, Mark R; Barker, Melissa; Dimo, Mary; Ahrns, Karla S; Niederbichler, Andreas D; Ipaktchi, Kyros; Wahl, Wendy L

2007-01-01

Beta-adrenoreceptor blocker (beta-blocker) therapy may improve outcomes in surgical patients by decreasing cardiac oxygen consumption and hypermetabolism. Because beta-blockers can lower the systemic blood pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure, there is concern regarding their use in patients with head injury. However, beta-blockers may protect beta-receptor rich brain cells by attenuating cerebral oxygen consumption and metabolism. We hypothesized that beta-blockers are safe in trauma patients, even if they have suffered a significant head injury. Using pharmacy and trauma registry data of a Level I trauma center, we identified a cohort of trauma patients who received beta-blockers during their hospital stay (beta-cohort). Trauma admissions who did not receive beta-blockers were in the control cohort. beta-blocker status, in combination with other variables associated with mortality, were placed in a stepwise multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors of fatal outcome. In all, 303 (7%) of 4,117 trauma patients received beta-blockers. In the beta-cohort, 45% of patients were on beta-blockers preinjury. The most common reason to initiate beta-blocker therapy was blood pressure (60%) and heart rate (20%) control. The overall mortality rate was 5.6% and head injury was considered to be the major cause of death. After adjusting for age, Injury Severity Scale score, blood pressure, Glasgow Coma Scale score, respiratory status, and mechanism of injury, the odds ratio for fatal outcome was 0.3 (p < 0.001) for beta-cohort as compared with control. Decreased risk of fatal outcome was more pronounced in patients with a significant head injury. beta-blocker therapy is safe and may be beneficial in selected trauma patients with or without head injury. Further studies looking at beta-blocker therapy in trauma patients and their effect on cerebral metabolism are warranted.

Structural characterisation of galactoglucomannan secreted by suspension-cultured cells of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia.

PubMed

Sims, I M; Craik, D J; Bacic, A

1997-08-25

Galactoglucomannan (GGM) from cultures of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia has Man:Glc:Gal:Ara:Xyl in 1.0:1.1:1.0:0.1:0.04 ratio. Linkage analysis contained 4- and 4,6-Manp, 4-Glcp, terminal Galp and 2-Galp, small amounts and terminal Arap and terminal Xylp, and approximately 0.03 mol acetyl per mol of glucosyl residue. Treatment with alpha- and beta-D-galactosidases showed that the majority of the side-chains were either single Galp-alpha-(1-->residues or the disaccharide Galp-beta-(1-->2)-Galp-alpha-(1-->linked to O-6 of the 4-Manp residues of the glucomannan backbone. Analysis of the oligosaccharides generated by endo-(1-->4)-beta-mannanase digestion confirmed that the GGM comprises a backbone of predominantly alternating-->4)-D-Manp-beta-(1-->and-->4)-D-Glcp-beta-(1-->branch ed at O-6 of 65% of the 4-Manp residues. The major oligosaccharide identified was D-Glcp-beta-(1-->4)-[D-Galp-beta-(1-->2)-D-Galp-alpha-(1-->6)]-D-Man p-beta-(1-->4)-D-Glcp-beta-(1-->4)-[D-Galp-alpha-(1-->6)]-D-Manp -beta-(1-->(27%), and most of the other oligosaccharides produced in significant quantities were based on this structure.

A Human Clinical, Histological, Histomorphometrical, and Radiographical Study on Biphasic HA-Beta-TCP 30/70 in Maxillary Sinus Augmentation.

PubMed

Mangano, Carlo; Sinjari, Bruna; Shibli, Jamil A; Mangano, Francesco; Hamisch, Sabine; Piattelli, Adriano; Perrotti, Vittoria; Iezzi, Giovanna

2015-06-01

By mixing hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP), biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics can be obtained, and by varying their ratio it is possible to tailor the characteristics of the biomaterial. The aim of the present human study was to evaluate the histological and radiographical aspects of bone formation in maxillary sinus augmentation using a 30/70 HA-beta-TCP with a reticular structure. A total of 12 patients, undergoing two-stage sinus augmentation procedure using HA-beta-TCP at a ratio of 30/70, were included in the present study. After a 6-month healing period, during implant insertion, radiographical analysis was performed, and then the bone core biopsies were harvested and processed for histology. At radiographic evaluation, the bone gain was on average 6.85 ± 0.60 mm. HA-beta-TCP 30/70 appeared to be lined by newly formed bone, with no gaps at the interface. The histomorphometric analysis revealed 26 ± 2% of residual grafted biomaterial, 29 ± 3% of newly formed bone, and 45 ± 2% of marrow spaces. The present results indicate histologically the high biocompatibility and osteoconductivity of HA-beta-TCP 30/70, and clinically its successful use for sinus augmentation procedures. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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

A. Brooks; A.H. Reiman; G.H. Neilson

High-beta, low-aspect-ratio (compact) stellarators are promising solutions to the problem of developing a magnetic plasma configuration for magnetic fusion power plants that can be sustained in steady-state without disrupting. These concepts combine features of stellarators and advanced tokamaks and have aspect ratios similar to those of tokamaks (2-4). They are based on computed plasma configurations that are shaped in three dimensions to provide desired stability and transport properties. Experiments are planned as part of a program to develop this concept. A beta = 4% quasi-axisymmetric plasma configuration has been evaluated for the National Compact Stellarator Experiment (NCSX). It has amore » substantial bootstrap current and is shaped to stabilize ballooning, external kink, vertical, and neoclassical tearing modes without feedback or close-fitting conductors. Quasi-omnigeneous plasma configurations stable to ballooning modes at beta = 4% have been evaluated for the Quasi-Omnigeneous Stellarator (QOS) experiment. These equilibria have relatively low bootstrap currents and are insensitive to changes in beta. Coil configurations have been calculated that reconstruct these plasma configurations, preserving their important physics properties. Theory- and experiment-based confinement analyses are used to evaluate the technical capabilities needed to reach target plasma conditions. The physics basis for these complementary experiments is described.« less

Force system evaluation of symmetrical beta-titanium T-loop springs preactivated by curvature and concentrated bends.

PubMed

Caldas, Sergei Godeiro Fernandes Rabelo; Martins, Renato Parsekian; Galvão, Marília Regalado; Vieira, Camilla Ivini Viana; Martins, Lídia Parsekian

2011-08-01

The objective of this research was to compare the effect of preactivation on the force system of beta-titanium T-loop springs (TLSs). Twenty TLSs with dimensions of 6 × 10 mm, of 0.017 × 0.025-in beta-titanium alloy, were randomly divided into 2 groups according to their preactivation. By using a moment transducer coupled to a digital extensometer indicator adapted to a testing machine, the amounts of horizontal force and moment produced were recorded at every 0.5 mm of deactivation from 5 mm of the initial activation in an interbracket distance of 23 mm. The moment-to-force ratio, the "neutral position" and the load-deflection ratio were also calculated. TLSs preactivated by curvature delivered horizontal forces significantly lower than those preactivated by concentrated bends. No differences were found in relation to the moments produced throughout the deactivation of both groups. The moment-to-force ratios were systematically higher on the TLSs preactivated by curvature than those preactivated by concentrated bends, except on 5 mm of activation. Significant differences were found in the load-deflection rates and "neutral position." The TLSs preactivated by curvature delivered lower horizontal forces and higher moment-to-force and load-deflection ratios than did those preactivated by concentrated bends. Copyright © 2011 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparative bacteriological efficacy of pharmacokinetically enhanced amoxicillin-clavulanate against Streptococcus pneumoniae with elevated amoxicillin MICs and Haemophilus influenzae.

PubMed

Berry, Valerie; Hoover, Jennifer; Singley, Christine; Woodnutt, Gary

2005-03-01

A new pharmacokinetically enhanced formulation of amoxicillin-clavulanate (2,000 mg of amoxicillin/125 mg of clavulanate twice a day; ratio 16:1) has been designed, with sustained-release technology, to allow coverage of bacterial strains with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid MICs of at least 4/2 mug/ml. The bacteriological efficacy of amoxicillin-clavulanate, 2,000/125 mg twice a day, ratio 16:1, was compared in a rat model of respiratory tract infection versus four other amoxicillin-clavulanate formulations: 8:1 three times a day (1,000/125 mg), 7:1 three times a day (875/125 mg), 7:1 twice a day (875/125 mg), and 4:1 three times a day (500/125 mg); levofloxacin (500 mg once a day); and azithromycin (1,000 mg on day 1 followed thereafter by 500 mg once a day). Bacterial strains included Streptococcus pneumoniae, with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid MICs of 2/1 (one strain), 4/2, or 8/4 microg/ml (three strains each), and Haemophilus influenzae, one beta-lactamase-positive strain and one beta-lactamase-negative, ampicillin-resistant strain. Animals were infected by intrabronchial instillation. Antibacterial treatment commenced 24 h postinfection, with doses delivered by computer-controlled intravenous infusion to approximate the concentrations achieved in human plasma following oral administration. Plasma concentrations in the rat corresponded closely with target human concentrations for all antimicrobials tested. Amoxicillin-clavulanate, 2,000/125 mg twice a day, ratio 16:1, was effective against all S. pneumoniae strains tested, including those with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid MICs of up to 8/4 microg/ml and against beta-lactamase-producing and beta-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae. These results demonstrate the bacteriological efficacy of pharmacokinetically enhanced amoxicillin-clavulanate 2,000/125 mg twice a day (ratio 16:1) against S. pneumoniae with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid MICs of at least 4/2 microg/ml and support clavulanate 125 mg twice a day as sufficient to protect against beta-lactamase in this rat model.

Beta- and gamma-dose measurements of the Godiva IV critical assembly.

PubMed

Hankins, D E

1984-03-01

To aid in the re-evaluation of an exposure that occurred in 1963, information was required on the response of film badges to the beta- and gamma-ray doses from a critical assembly. Of particular interest was the beta spectra from the assembly. The techniques used and the results obtained in this study are of interest to health physicists at facilities where exposures to betas occur. The dose rates from the Los Alamos National Laboratory Godiva IV Critical Assembly were measured at numerous distances from the assembly four and 12 days following a burst. Information was obtained on the beta-particle spectra using absorption curve studies. The beta/gamma dose-rate ratio as a function of distance from the assembly was determined. Shielding provided by various metals, gloves and clothing was measured. The beta- and gamma-ray doses measured were compared with a film packet used in the past at the Nevada Test Site with two types of current TLD personnel badges. Measurements made with a commercial thin-window ion chamber instrument are compared with the dose rates obtained using other dosimeters.

Pancreatic beta-cell responses to GLP-1 after near-normalization of blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Asmar, Meena; Højberg, Patricia V; Deacon, Carolyn F; Hare, Kristine; Holst, Jens J; Madsbad, Sten

2010-02-25

This study investigated the effects of strict glycaemic control on beta-cell function in nine obese subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), using graded glucose infusions together with infusions of saline or GLP-1 before (HbA(1)c: 8.0+/-0.4%) and after four weeks of near-normalization of blood glucose (BG) using insulin (mean diurnal BG: 6.4+/-0.3 mmol/l; HbA(1)c: 6.6+/-0.3%). Nine matched healthy subjects acted as controls. In controls, area-under-curve (AUC) for amylin, C-peptide and proinsulin were higher with GLP-1 than saline (P<0.001). The AUC amylin/C-peptide ratio was similar on both days, while AUC proinsulin/C-peptide ratio was higher with GLP-1 (P=0.02). In the patients, amylin, C-peptide and proinsulin AUCs were unaltered by near-normoglycaemia per se. Proinsulin responses to GLP-1 were unchanged, but amylin and C-peptide AUCs increased (P<0.05) after insulin treatment, and AUC amylin/C-peptide ratios rose to control levels. Near-normoglycaemia tended to reduce AUC proinsulin/C-peptide ratio, which was significant (P=0.04) with GLP-1, but still higher than with saline (P=0.004). In conclusion, amylin, C-peptide and proinsulin responses to glucose were unaffected by four weeks of near-normoglycaemia, whereas GLP-1 increased amylin and C-peptide secretion and amylin/C-peptide ratio. Near-normoglycaemia reduced proinsulin/C-peptide ratio during stimulation with GLP-1, suggesting that strict glycaemic control might ameliorate some of the disturbances in beta-cell function characterizing T2DM. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of beta-lactoglobulin polymorphism and seasonality on bovine milk composition.

PubMed

Botaro, Bruno G; Lima, Ygor V R; Aquino, Adriana A; Fernandes, Raquel H R; Garcia, José F; Santos, Marcos V

2008-05-01

The objective was to evaluate the effect of beta-lactoglobulin (beta-lg) polymorphism and seasonality on milk composition (fat, lactose, total solids, milk urea nitrogen, total protein, true protein, casein and somatic cell counts) of Holstein and Girolando cows. Milk and blood samples from 278 Holsteins cows and 156 Girolando cows were taken during two dry seasons and two rainy seasons, for milk composition analysis and to determine beta-lg genotypes, respectively. BB genotype was the most frequent for both breeds, followed by AA genotype for Holstein (BB>AA>AB) and by AB for Girolando cows (BB>AB>AA). No differences were found in milk compositional characteristics among genetic variants of beta-lg (AA, AB and BB) either between Holstein or Girolando cows. No association between milk composition and beta-lg genetic polymorphism was observed. During the dry season, independently of the breed considered, higher contents of lactose, true protein, casein and casein:true protein ratio were found.

Masses of {sup 130}Te and {sup 130}Xe and Double-{beta}-Decay Q Value of {sup 130}Te

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

Redshaw, Matthew; Mount, Brianna J.; Myers, Edmund G.

The atomic masses of {sup 130}Te and {sup 130}Xe have been obtained by measuring cyclotron frequency ratios of pairs of triply charged ions simultaneously trapped in a Penning trap. The results, with 1 standard deviation uncertainty, are M({sup 130}Te)=129.906 222 744(16) u and M({sup 130}Xe)=129.903 509 351(15) u. From the mass difference the double-{beta}-decay Q value of {sup 130}Te is determined to be Q{sub {beta}}{sub {beta}}({sup 130}Te)=2527.518(13) keV. This is a factor of 150 more precise than the result of the AME2003 [G. Audi et al., Nucl. Phys. A729, 337 (2003)].

Chemical analysis of Agaricus blazei polysaccharides and effect of the polysaccharides on IL-1beta mRNA expression in skin of burn wound-treated rats.

PubMed

Sui, ZhiFu; Yang, RongYa; Liu, Biao; Gu, TingMin; Zhao, Zhili; Shi, Dongfang; Chang, DongQing

2010-08-01

Agaricus blazei polysaccharides were analyzed by GC-MS. Results indicated that the polysaccharides contained glucose (93.87%), mannose (3.54%), and arabinose (2.25%). The compositional analysis was completed by the methylation data. These data indicated that Agaricus blazei polysaccharides are glucans. Compared to model rats, rats fed with Agaricus blazei polysaccharides showed a decrease of ratio of IL-1beta/beta-actin and IL-1beta level in skin of burn wound. Recovery rate of wound skin increased with increasing dose of polysaccharides. The results indicated that Agaricus blazei polysaccharides could be useful in promote burn wound healing. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Altered cortisol metabolism in polycystic ovary syndrome: insulin enhances 5alpha-reduction but not the elevated adrenal steroid production rates.

PubMed

Tsilchorozidou, Tasoula; Honour, John W; Conway, Gerard S

2003-12-01

Androgen excess in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be ovarian and/or adrenal in origin, and one proposed contributing mechanism is altered cortisol metabolism. Increased peripheral metabolism of cortisol may occur by enhanced inactivation of cortisol by 5alpha-reductase (5alpha-R) or impaired reactivation of cortisol from cortisone by 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) resulting in decreased negative feedback suppression of ACTH secretion maintaining normal plasma cortisol concentrations at the expense of androgen excess. We have tested whether any enzyme dysregulation was related to circulating insulin or androgen concentrations in women with PCOS and have sought to clarify their relationship with obesity. First, to avoid obesity-related effects on cortisol metabolism, 18 lean women with PCOS were compared with 19 lean controls who were closely matched for body mass index (BMI). Second, the impact of obesity was studied in a cross-section of 42 PCOS women of a broad range of BMI. We measured 24-h urinary excretion of steroid metabolites by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and fasting metabolic and hormone profiles. Urinary excretion of androgens [androsterone (P = 0.003), etiocholanolone (P = 0.02), and C19 steroid sulfates (P = 0.009)], cortisone metabolites [tetrahydrocortisone (THE) (P = 0.02), alpha-cortolone (P < 0.001), beta-cortol + beta-cortolone (P < 0.001), cortolones (P < 0.001), and E metabolites (P < 0.001)], and TCM (P = 0.002) were raised in lean PCOS subjects when compared with controls. A significantly higher 5alpha-tetrahydrocortisol (5alpha-THF)/5beta-THF ratio (P = 0.04) and a significantly lower alpha-THF + THF + alpha-cortol/THE + cortolones ratio (P = 0.01) were found in lean PCOS women compared with lean controls, indicating both enhanced 5alpha-R and reduced 11beta-HSD1 activities. A decreased THE/cortolones ratio (P = 0.03) was also found in lean PCOS women compared with lean controls, indicating increased 20 alpha/beta-HSD activity. In the group of 42 PCOS subjects, measures of 5alpha/5beta reduction were positively correlated with the homeostasis model insulin resistance index (HOMA-R): alpha-THF/THF and HOMA-R (r = 0.34; P = 0.03), androsterone/etiocholanolone and HOMA-R (r = 0.32; P = 0.04), and total 5alpha /total 5beta and HOMA-R (r = 0.37; P = 0.02). A positive correlation was also found between measures of 5alpha-R and BMI (r = 0.37; P = 0.02). No correlation was found between measures of 11beta-HSD1 activity and indices of insulin sensitivity or BMI. We have demonstrated that there is an increased production rate of cortisol and androgens as measured in vivo in lean PCOS women. Insulin seems to enhance 5alpha reduction of steroids in PCOS but was not associated with the elevated cortisol production rate. The changes in 5alpha-R, 11beta-HSD1, and 20alpha/beta-HSD enzyme activities observed in PCOS may contribute to the increased production rates of cortisol and androgens, supporting the concept of a widespread dysregulation of steroid metabolism. This dysregulation does not seem to be the primary cause of PCOS because no correlation was found between serum androgen levels or urinary excretion of androgens with measurements of either 5alpha-R or 11beta-HSD1 activities.

beta-Thalassemia present in cis to a new beta-chain structural variant, Hb Vicksburg [beta 75 (E19)Leu leads to 0].

PubMed Central

Adams, J G; Steinberg, M H; Newman, M V; Morrison, W T; Benz, E J; Iyer, R

1981-01-01

Hemoglobin Vicksburg was discovered in a 6-year-old Black boy who had been anemic since infancy. Examination of his hemolysate revealed 87.5% Hb F, 2.4% Hb A2, and 7.6% Hb Vicksburg, which had the electrophoretic and chromatographic properties of Hb A. Structural analysis of Hb Vicksburg demonstrated a deletion of leucine at beta 75(E19), a new variant. Hb Vicksburg was neither unstable nor subject to posttranslational degradation. The alpha/non-alpha biosynthetic ratio was 2.6. Because the proband appeared to be a mixed heterozygote for Hb Vicksburg and beta 0-thalassemia, Hb Vicksburg should have comprised the major portion of the hemolysate. Thus, Hb Vicksburg was synthesized at a rate considerably lower than would be expected on the basis of gene dosage. There was no reason to suspect abnormal translation of beta Vicksburg mRNA; in individuals with Hb St. Antoine (beta 74 and beta 75 deleted), the abnormal hemoglobin comprised 25% of the hemolysate in the simple heterozygote yet was unstable. Deletion of beta 75, therefore, would not in itself appear to lead to diminished synthesis. There was a profound deficit of beta Vicksburg mRNA when measured by liquid hybridization analysis with beta cDNA. The most plausible explanation for the low output of Hb Vicksburg is that a mutation for beta +-thalassemia is present in cis to the structural mutation. PMID:6165992

beta-Thalassemia present in cis to a new beta-chain structural variant, Hb Vicksburg [beta 75 (E19)Leu leads to 0].

PubMed

Adams, J G; Steinberg, M H; Newman, M V; Morrison, W T; Benz, E J; Iyer, R

1981-01-01

Hemoglobin Vicksburg was discovered in a 6-year-old Black boy who had been anemic since infancy. Examination of his hemolysate revealed 87.5% Hb F, 2.4% Hb A2, and 7.6% Hb Vicksburg, which had the electrophoretic and chromatographic properties of Hb A. Structural analysis of Hb Vicksburg demonstrated a deletion of leucine at beta 75(E19), a new variant. Hb Vicksburg was neither unstable nor subject to posttranslational degradation. The alpha/non-alpha biosynthetic ratio was 2.6. Because the proband appeared to be a mixed heterozygote for Hb Vicksburg and beta 0-thalassemia, Hb Vicksburg should have comprised the major portion of the hemolysate. Thus, Hb Vicksburg was synthesized at a rate considerably lower than would be expected on the basis of gene dosage. There was no reason to suspect abnormal translation of beta Vicksburg mRNA; in individuals with Hb St. Antoine (beta 74 and beta 75 deleted), the abnormal hemoglobin comprised 25% of the hemolysate in the simple heterozygote yet was unstable. Deletion of beta 75, therefore, would not in itself appear to lead to diminished synthesis. There was a profound deficit of beta Vicksburg mRNA when measured by liquid hybridization analysis with beta cDNA. The most plausible explanation for the low output of Hb Vicksburg is that a mutation for beta +-thalassemia is present in cis to the structural mutation.

Achieving a long-lived high-beta plasma state by energetic beam injection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, H. Y.; Binderbauer, M. W.; Tajima, T.; Milroy, R. D.; Steinhauer, L. C.; Yang, X.; Garate, E. G.; Gota, H.; Korepanov, S.; Necas, A.; Roche, T.; Smirnov, A.; Trask, E.

2015-04-01

Developing a stable plasma state with high-beta (ratio of plasma to magnetic pressures) is of critical importance for an economic magnetic fusion reactor. At the forefront of this endeavour is the field-reversed configuration. Here we demonstrate the kinetic stabilizing effect of fast ions on a disruptive magneto-hydrodynamic instability, known as a tilt mode, which poses a central obstacle to further field-reversed configuration development, by energetic beam injection. This technique, combined with the synergistic effect of active plasma boundary control, enables a fully stable ultra-high-beta (approaching 100%) plasma with a long lifetime.

Backscatter laser depolarization studies of simulated stratospheric aerosols - Crystallized sulfuric acid droplets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sassen, Kenneth; Zhao, Hongjie; Yu, Bing-Kun

1989-01-01

The optical depolarizing properties of simulated stratospheric aerosols were studied in laboratory laser (0.633 micrometer) backscattering experiments for application to polarization lidar observations. Clouds composed of sulfuric acid solution droplets, some treated with ammonia gas, were observed during evaporation. The results indicate that the formation of minute ammonium sulfate particles from the evaporation of acid droplets produces linear depolarization ratios of beta equivalent to 0.02, but beta equivalent to 0.10 to 0.15 are generated from aged acid cloud aerosols and acid droplet crystalization effects following the introduction of ammonia gas into the chamber. It is concluded that partially crystallized sulfuric acid droplets are a likely candidate for explaining the lidar beta equivalent to 0.10 values that have been observed in the lower stratosphere in the absence of the relatively strong backscattering from homogeneous sulfuric acid droplet (beta equivalent to 0) or ice crystal (beta equivalent to 0.5) clouds.

Backscatter laser depolarization studies of simulated stratospheric aerosols: Crystallized sulfuric acid droplets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sassen, Kenneth; Zhao, Hongjie; Yu, Bing-Kun

1988-01-01

The optical depolarizing properties of simulated stratospheric aerosols were studied in laboratory laser (0.633 micrometer) backscattering experiments for application to polarization lidar observations. Clouds composed of sulfuric acid solution droplets, some treated with ammonia gas, were observed during evaporation. The results indicate that the formation of minute ammonium sulfate particles from the evaporation of acid droplets produces linear depolarization ratios of beta equivalent to 0.02, but beta equivalent to 0.10 to 0.15 are generated from aged acid cloud aerosols and acid droplet crystallization effects following the introduction of ammonia gas into the chamber. It is concluded that partially crystallized sulfuric acid droplets are a likely candidate for explaining the lidar beta equivalent to 0.10 values that have been observed in the lower stratosphere in the absence of the relatively strong backscattering from homogeneous sulfuric acid droplet (beta equivalent to 0) or ice crystal (beta equivalent to 0.5) clouds.

Magnetic measurements on human erythrocytes: Normal, beta thalassemia major, and sickle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakhnini, Lama

2003-05-01

In this article magnetic measurements were made on human erythrocytes at different hemoglobin states (normal and reduced hemoglobin). Different blood samples: normal, beta thalassemia major, and sickle were studied. Beta thalassemia major and sickle samples were taken from patients receiving lifelong blood transfusion treatment. All samples examined exhibited diamagnetic behavior. Beta thalassemia major and sickle samples showed higher diamagnetic susceptibilities than that for the normal, which was attributed to the increase of membrane to hemoglobin volume ratio of the abnormal cells. Magnetic measurements showed that the erythrocytes in the reduced state showed less diamagnetic response in comparison with erythrocytes in the normal state. Analysis of the paramagnetic component of magnetization curves gave an effective magnetic moment of μeff=7.6 μB per reduced hemoglobin molecule. The same procedure was applied to sickle and beta thalassemia major samples and values for μeff were found to be comparable to that of the normal erythrocytes.

Growth of surface and corner cracks in beta-processed and mill-annealed Ti-6Al-4V

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bell, P. D.

1975-01-01

Empirical stress-intensity expressions were developed to relate the growth of cracks from corner flaws to the growth of cracks from surface flaws. An experimental program using beta-processed Ti-6Al-4V verified these expressions for stress ratios, R greater than or equal to 0. An empirical crack growth-rate expression which included stress-ratio and stress-level effects was also developed. Cracks grew approximately 10 percent faster in transverse-grain material than in longitudinal-grain material and at approximately the same rate in longitudinal-grain mill-annealed Ti-6Al-4V. Specimens having surface and corner cracks and made of longitudinal-grain, beta-processed material were tested with block loads, and increasing the stresses in a block did not significantly change the crack growth rates. Truncation of the basic ascending stress sequence within a block caused more rapid crack growth, whereas both the descending and low-to-high stress sequences slowed crack growth.

ASCA X-ray spectra of the active single stars Beta Ceti and pi(1) Ursae Majoris

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drake, S. A.; Singh, K. P.; White, N. E.; Simon, Theodore

1994-01-01

We present X-ray spectra obtaiined by ASCA of two single, active stars, the G dwarf pi(1) UMa, and the G9/K0 giant Beta Cet. The spectra of both stars require the presence of at least two plasma components with different temperatures, 0.3-0.4 keV and approximately 0.7 keV, in order for acceptable fits to be obtained. The spectral resolving power and signal-to-noise ratio of the solid state imaging spectrometer (SIS) spectra allow us to formally constrain the coronal abundances of a number of elements. In Beta Cet, we find Mg to be overabundant, while other elements such as O, Ne, and N are underabundant, relative to the solar photospheric values. From the lower signal-to-noise ratio SIS spectrum of pi(1) UMa, we find evidence for underabundances of O, Ne, and Fe. These results are discussed in the context of the present understanding of elemental abundances in solar and stellar coronae.

Constraints upon the spectral indices of relic gravitational waves by LIGO S5

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

Zhang, Y.; Tong, M. L.; Fu, Z. W.

With LIGO having achieved its design sensitivity and the LIGO S5 strain data being available, constraints on the relic gravitational waves (RGWs) become realistic. The analytical spectrum of RGWs generated during inflation depends sensitively on the initial condition, which is generically described by the index {beta}, the running index {alpha}{sub t}, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio r. By the LIGO S5 data of the cross-correlated two detectors, we obtain constraints on the parameters ({beta},{alpha}{sub t},r). As a main result, we have computed the theoretical signal-to-noise ratio of RGWs for various values of ({beta},{alpha}{sub t},r), using the cross-correlation for the given pairmore » of LIGO detectors. The constraints by the indirect bound on the energy density of RGWs by big bang nucleosynthesis and cosmic microwave background have been obtained, which turn out to be still more stringent than LIGO S5.« less

Association between use of interferon beta and progression of disability in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Shirani, Afsaneh; Zhao, Yinshan; Karim, Mohammad Ehsanul; Evans, Charity; Kingwell, Elaine; van der Kop, Mia L; Oger, Joel; Gustafson, Paul; Petkau, John; Tremlett, Helen

2012-07-18

Interferon beta is widely prescribed to treat multiple sclerosis (MS); however, its relationship with disability progression has yet to be established. To investigate the association between interferon beta exposure and disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Retrospective cohort study based on prospectively collected data (1985-2008) from British Columbia, Canada. Patients with relapsing-remitting MS treated with interferon beta (n = 868) were compared with untreated contemporary (n = 829) and historical (n = 959) cohorts. The main outcome measure was time from interferon beta treatment eligibility (baseline) to a confirmed and sustained score of 6 (requiring a cane to walk 100 m; confirmed at >150 days with no measurable improvement) on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (range, 0-10, with higher scores indicating higher disability). A multivariable Cox regression model with interferon beta treatment included as a time-varying covariate was used to assess the hazard of disease progression associated with interferon beta treatment. Analyses also included propensity score adjustment to address confounding by indication. The median active follow-up times (first to last EDSS measurement) were as follows: for the interferon beta-treated cohort, 5.1 years (interquartile range [IQR], 3.0-7.0 years); for the contemporary control cohort, 4.0 years (IQR, 2.1-6.4 years); and for the historical control cohort, 10.8 years (IQR, 6.3-14.7 years). The observed outcome rates for reaching a sustained EDSS score of 6 were 10.8%, 5.3%, and 23.1% in the 3 cohorts, respectively. After adjustment for potential baseline confounders (sex, age, disease duration, and EDSS score), exposure to interferon beta was not associated with a statistically significant difference in the hazard of reaching an EDSS score of 6 when either the contemporary control cohort (hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.92-1.83; P = .14) or the historical control cohort (hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.58-1.02; P = .07) were considered. Further adjustment for comorbidities and socioeconomic status, where possible, did not change interpretations, and propensity score adjustment did not substantially change the results. Among patients with relapsing-remitting MS, administration of interferon beta was not associated with a reduction in progression of disability.

Direct evidence that prostate tumors show high sensitivity to fractionation (low alpha/beta ratio), similar to late-responding normal tissue.

PubMed

Brenner, David J; Martinez, Alvaro A; Edmundson, Gregory K; Mitchell, Christina; Thames, Howard D; Armour, Elwood P

2002-01-01

A direct approach to the question of whether prostate tumors have an atypically high sensitivity to fractionation (low alpha/beta ratio), more typical of the surrounding late-responding normal tissue. Earlier estimates of alpha/beta for prostate cancer have relied on comparing results from external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy, an approach with significant pitfalls due to the many differences between the treatments. To circumvent this, we analyze recent data from a single EBRT + high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy protocol, in which the brachytherapy was given in either 2 or 3 implants, and at various doses. For the analysis, standard models of tumor cure based on Poisson statistics were used in conjunction with the linear-quadratic formalism. Biochemical control at 3 years was the clinical endpoint. Patients were matched between the 3 HDR vs. 2 HDR implants by clinical stage, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, length of follow-up, and age. The estimated value of alpha/beta from the current analysis of 1.2 Gy (95% CI: 0.03, 4.1 Gy) is consistent with previous estimates for prostate tumor control. This alpha/beta value is considerably less than typical values for tumors (> or =8 Gy), and more comparable to values in surrounding late-responding normal tissues. This analysis provides strong supporting evidence that alpha/beta values for prostate tumor control are atypically low, as indicated by previous analyses and radiobiological considerations. If true, hypofractionation or HDR regimens for prostate radiotherapy (with appropriate doses) should produce tumor control and late sequelae that are at least as good or even better than currently achieved, with the added possibility that early sequelae may be reduced.

The potential contribution of bread buns fortified with beta-carotene-rich sweet potato in Central Mozambique.

PubMed

Low, Jan W; van Jaarsveld, Paul J

2008-06-01

Orange-fleshed sweet potato is an efficacious source of vitamin A. Substituting wheat flour with orange-fleshed sweet potato in processed products could reduce foreign exchange outlays, create new markets for producers, and result in increased vitamin A consumption among consumers provided there is adequate retention of beta-carotene during processing. To explore whether substituting 38% of wheat flour (by weight) in bread buns ("golden bread") with boiled and mashed orange-fleshed sweet potato from fresh roots or rehydrated chips would produce economically viable beta-carotene-rich products acceptable to Mozambican rural consumers. Modified local recipes maximized sweet potato content within the limits of consumer acceptability. Sensitivity analysis determined parameters underlying economic viability. Two samples each of buns from five varieties of orange-fleshed sweet potato were analyzed for beta-carotene content. Processed products with at least 15 microg/g product of trans-beta-carotene were considered good sources of vitamin A. Golden bread made from fresh roots of medium-intensity orange-fleshed sweet potato varieties met the good source criterion, but bread from lighter-intensity sweet potato varieties did not. Bread from rehydrated dried chips was not economically viable. Consumers strongly preferred golden bread over pure wheat flour bread because of its heavier texture and attractive appearance. The ratio of the price of wheat flour to that of raw sweet potato root varied from 3.1 to 3.5 among the bakers, whose increase in profit margins ranged from 54% to 92%. Golden bread is a good source of beta-carotene and is economically viable when the price ratio of wheat flour to raw orange-fleshed sweet potato root is at least 1.5. Widespread adoption during sweet potato harvesting periods is feasible; year-round availability requires storage.

Beta cell function after weight loss: a clinical trial comparing gastric bypass surgery and intensive lifestyle intervention

PubMed Central

Hofsø, D; Jenssen, T; Bollerslev, J; Ueland, T; Godang, K; Stumvoll, M; Sandbu, R; Røislien, J; Hjelmesæth, J

2011-01-01

Objective The effects of various weight loss strategies on pancreatic beta cell function remain unclear. We aimed to compare the effect of intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) on beta cell function. Design One year controlled clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00273104). Methods One hundred and nineteen morbidly obese participants without known diabetes from the MOBIL study (mean (s.d.) age 43.6 (10.8) years, body mass index (BMI) 45.5 (5.6) kg/m2, 84 women) were allocated to RYGB (n=64) or ILI (n=55). The patients underwent repeated oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) and were categorised as having either normal (NGT) or abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT). Twenty-nine normal-weight subjects with NGT (age 42.6 (8.7) years, BMI 22.6 (1.5) kg/m2, 19 women) served as controls. OGTT-based indices of beta cell function were calculated. Results One year weight reduction was 30 % (8) after RYGB and 9 % (10) after ILI (P<0.001). Disposition index (DI) increased in all treatment groups (all P<0.05), although more in the surgery groups (both P<0.001). Stimulated proinsulin-to-insulin (PI/I) ratio decreased in both surgery groups (both P<0.001), but to a greater extent in the surgery group with AGT at baseline (P<0.001). Post surgery, patients with NGT at baseline had higher DI and lower stimulated PI/I ratio than controls (both P<0.027). Conclusions Gastric bypass surgery improved beta cell function to a significantly greater extent than ILI. Supra-physiological insulin secretion and proinsulin processing may indicate excessive beta cell function after gastric bypass surgery. PMID:21078684

High dietary antioxidant intakes are associated with decreased chromosome translocation frequency in airline pilots.

PubMed

Yong, Lee C; Petersen, Martin R; Sigurdson, Alice J; Sampson, Laura A; Ward, Elizabeth M

2009-11-01

Dietary antioxidants may protect against DNA damage induced by endogenous and exogenous sources, including ionizing radiation (IR), but data from IR-exposed human populations are limited. The objective was to examine the association between the frequency of chromosome translocations, as a biomarker of cumulative DNA damage, and intakes of vitamins C and E and carotenoids in 82 male airline pilots. Dietary intakes were estimated by using a self-administered semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Translocations were scored by using fluorescence in situ hybridization with whole chromosome paints. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate rate ratios and 95% CIs, adjusted for potential confounders. Significant and inverse associations were observed between translocation frequency and intakes of vitamin C, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lutein-zeaxanthin from food (P < 0.05). Translocation frequency was not associated with the intake of vitamin E, alpha-carotene, or lycopene from food; total vitamin C or E from food and supplements; or vitamin C or E or multivitamin supplements. The adjusted rate ratios (95% CI) for > or =median compared with or =median compared with

Pulse pressure and nocturnal fall in blood pressure are predictors of vascular, cardiac and renal target organ damage in hypertensive patients (LOD-RISK study).

PubMed

García-Ortiz, Luis; Gómez-Marcos, Manuel A; Martín-Moreiras, Javier; González-Elena, Luis J; Recio-Rodriguez, Jose I; Castaño-Sánchez, Yolanda; Grandes, Gonzalo; Martínez-Salgado, Carlos

2009-08-01

To analyse the relationship between various parameters derived from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and vascular, cardiac and renal target organ damage. A cross-sectional, descriptive study. It included 353 patients with short-term or recently diagnosed hypertension. ABPM, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), Cornell voltage-duration product (Cornell VDP), glomerular filtration rate and albumin/creatinine ratio to assess vascular, cardiac and renal damage. Two hundred and twenty-three patients (63.2%) were males, aged 56.12+/-11.21 years. The nocturnal fall in blood pressure was 11.33+/-8.41, with a dipper pattern in 49.0% (173), nondipper in 30.3% (107), extreme dipper in 12.7% (45) and riser in 7.9% (28). The IMT was lower in the extreme dipper (0.716+/-0.096 mm) and better in the riser pattern (0.794+/-0.122 mm) (P<0.05). The Cornell VDP and albumin/creatinine ratio were higher in the riser pattern (1818.94+/-1798.63 mm/ms and 140.78+/-366.38 mg/g, respectively) than in the other patterns. In the multivariate analysis after adjusting for age, sex and antihypertensive treatment, with IMT as dependent variable the 24-h pulse pressure (beta = 0.003), with Cornell VDP the rest pulse pressure (beta = 12.04), and with the albumin/creatinine ratio the percentage of nocturnal fall in systolic blood pressure (beta = -3.59), the rest heart rate (beta = 1.83) and the standard deviation of 24-h systolic blood pressure (beta = 5.30) remain within the equation. The estimated pulse pressure with ABPM is a predictor of vascular and cardiac organ damage. The nocturnal fall and the standard deviation in 24-h systolic blood pressure measured with the ABPM is a predictor of renal damage.

Impact of aging on cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism determined by phosphorus-31 2-dimensional chemical shift imaging (31P 2D CSI).

PubMed

Schocke, Michael F H; Metzler, Bernhard; Wolf, Christian; Steinboeck, Peter; Kremser, Christian; Pachinger, Otmar; Jaschke, Werner; Lukas, Peter

2003-06-01

Previous echocardiographic and experimental animal studies have shown that cardiac function, structure, and metabolism change with age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of age on left ventricular high-energy phosphate metabolism. Using a 1.5 Tesla whole-body MR scanner 31P 2D CSI (8 x 8 phase encoding steps, 320 mm field of view) was performed in 76 healthy male volunteers (41.7 +/- 13 years) without any history of coronary heart disease. Fourier interpolation, corrections for T1 saturation effects, the nucleus Overhauser effect, and the blood contamination were applied to the spectroscopic data. The volunteers were divided into two groups, younger (n = 37) and older (n = 39) than 41.7 years. In all volunteers, laboratory specimen were sampled, and transthoracal echocardiography was carried out. Significant differences in left ventricular phosphocreatine (PCr) to beta-adenosine-triphosphate (beta-ATP) ratios (2.16 vs. 1.83, p < 0.001), fasting serum glucose levels (83.3 vs. 98.7 mg/dl, p < 0.001), E/A (1.51 vs. 1.14 p < 0.001), and ejection fraction (EF, 65.3 vs. 59.9%, p = 0.005) were detected between the two groups of volunteers, younger and older than 41.7 years. Moreover, age correlated moderately to well with left ventricular PCr to beta-ATP ratios (r = -0.44), fasting serum glucose levels (r = 0.4), E/A (r = -0.7), left ventricular myocardial mass (r = -0.41), and EF (r = -0.55). In conclusion, our study shows that left ventricular PCr to beta-ATP ratios decrease moderately with age, as suggested by previous experimental animal studies. Additionally, age correlates negatively with E/A, left ventricular myocardial mass, and EF, as reported by previous echocardiography studies. The present study is the first to show the impact of age on left ventricular PCr to beta-ATP values in humans.

Impact of rs361072 in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase p110beta gene on whole-body glucose metabolism and subunit protein expression in skeletal muscle.

PubMed

Ribel-Madsen, Rasmus; Poulsen, Pernille; Holmkvist, Johan; Mortensen, Brynjulf; Grarup, Niels; Friedrichsen, Martin; Jørgensen, Torben; Lauritzen, Torsten; Wojtaszewski, Jørgen F P; Pedersen, Oluf; Hansen, Torben; Vaag, Allan

2010-04-01

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is a major effector in insulin signaling. rs361072, located in the promoter of the gene (PIK3CB) for the p110beta subunit, has previously been found to be associated with homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in obese subjects. The aim was to investigate the influence of rs361072 on in vivo glucose metabolism, skeletal muscle PI3K subunit protein levels, and type 2 diabetes. The functional role of rs361072 was studied in 196 Danish healthy adult twins. Peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity was assessed by a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. Basal and insulin-stimulated biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle, and tissue p110beta and p85alpha proteins were measured by Western blotting. The genetic association with type 2 diabetes and quantitative metabolic traits was investigated in 9,316 Danes with glucose tolerance ranging from normal to overt type 2 diabetes. While hepatic insulin resistance was similar in the fasting state, carriers of the minor G allele had lower hepatic glucose output (per-allele effect: -16%, P(add) = 0.004) during high physiological insulin infusion. rs361072 did not associate with insulin-stimulated peripheral glucose disposal despite a decreased muscle p85alpha:p110beta protein ratio (P(add) = 0.03) in G allele carriers. No association with HOMA-IR or type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 1.07, P = 0.5) was identified, and obesity did not interact with rs361072 on these traits. Our study suggests that the minor G allele of PIK3CB rs361072 associates with decreased muscle p85alpha:p110beta ratio and lower hepatic glucose production at high plasma insulin levels. However, no impact on type 2 diabetes prevalence was found.

Evidence for Live Cl-36 in Ca-Al-rich Inclusions from the Ningqiang Carbonaceous Chondrite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, Y.; Guan, Y.; Leshin, L. A.; Ouyang, Z.; Wang, D.

2004-01-01

The short-lived radionuclide Cl-36 decays to either Ar-36 (98.1%, beta(sup -)) or S-36 (1.9%, epsilon and beta(sup +)), with a half life of 3.01 x 10(exp 5) yr. Both the nucleosynthetic and spallation models suggest high initial Cl-36/Cl-35 ratios ((Cl-36/Cl-35)o up to approximately 10(exp -4)) in the early solar system. Previous observed excess Ar-36 in Efremovka matrix has been interpreted to represent a much lower (Cl-36/Cl-35)o ratio of approximately 1 x 10(exp -6). From the observed S-36 excesses in sodalite in calcium aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs), we report in this study the first direct evidence of the presence of Cl-36 in primitive meteorites. The inferred (Cl-36/Cl-35)o ratios range from approximately 5 x 10(exp -6) to approximately 1 x 10(exp -5).

REVIEWS OF TOPICAL PROBLEMS: Helium-isotope mass-spectrometric method for studying tritium beta decay (idea, experiment, nuclear and molecular physics applications)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akulov, Yuii A.; Mamyrin, Boris A.

2003-11-01

Experimental data on the variation of tritium nucleus beta decay constant caused by the interaction of the resulting beta-electron with orbital electrons and shell vacancies are reviewed for free atomic tritium and molecular tritium and used to obtain the half-life of atomic tritium (T1/2)a=(12.264±0.018) y, the half-life of the free triton (T1/2)t=(12.238±0.020) y, the axial-vector-to-vector weak-interaction coupling constant ratio (GA/GV)t=-1.2646 ± 0.0035 for beta decay of the triton, and an independent estimate of the free neutron lifetime τn= (890.3 ± 3.9stat ± 1.4syst) s.

Rejection of randomly coinciding events in ZnMoO scintillating bolometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernyak, D. M.; Danevich, F. A.; Giuliani, A.; Mancuso, M.; Nones, C.; Olivieri, E.; Tenconi, M.; Tretyak, V. I.

2014-06-01

Random coincidence of events (particularly from two neutrino double beta decay) could be one of the main sources of background in the search for neutrinoless double beta decay with cryogenic bolometers due to their poor time resolution. Pulse-shape discrimination by using front edge analysis, mean-time and methods were applied to discriminate randomly coinciding events in ZnMoO cryogenic scintillating bolometers. These events can be effectively rejected at the level of 99 % by the analysis of the heat signals with rise-time of about 14 ms and signal-to-noise ratio of 900, and at the level of 92 % by the analysis of the light signals with rise-time of about 3 ms and signal-to-noise ratio of 30, under the requirement to detect 95 % of single events. These rejection efficiencies are compatible with extremely low background levels in the region of interest of neutrinoless double beta decay of Mo for enriched ZnMoO detectors, of the order of counts/(y keV kg). Pulse-shape parameters have been chosen on the basis of the performance of a real massive ZnMoO scintillating bolometer. Importance of the signal-to-noise ratio, correct finding of the signal start and choice of an appropriate sampling frequency are discussed.

Effects of Alprazolam on Cortical Activity and Tremors in Patients with Essential Tremor

PubMed Central

Ibáñez, Jaime; González de la Aleja, Jesús; Gallego, Juan A.; Romero, Juan P.; Saíz-Díaz, Rosana A.; Benito-León, Julián; Rocon, Eduardo

2014-01-01

Background Essential tremor (ET) is characterised by postural and action tremors with a frequency of 4–12 Hz. Previous studies suggest that the tremor activity originates in the cerebello-thalamocortical pathways. Alprazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine that attenuates tremors in ET. The mechanisms that mediate the therapeutic action of alprazolam are unknown; however, in healthy subjects, benzodiazepines increase cortical beta activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of alprazolam both on beta and tremor-related cortical activity and on alterations in tremor presentation in ET patients. Therefore, we characterised the dynamics of tremor and cortical activity in ET patients after alprazolam intake. Methods We recorded hand tremors and contralateral cortical activity in four recordings before and after a single dose of alprazolam. We then computed the changes in tremors, cortico-muscular coherence, and cortical activity at the tremor frequency and in the beta band. Results Alprazolam significantly attenuated tremors (EMG: 76.2±22.68%), decreased cortical activity in the tremor frequency range and increased cortical beta activity in all patients (P<0.05). At the same time, the cortico-muscular coherence at the tremor frequency became non-significant (P<0.05). We also found a significant correlation (r = 0.757, P<0.001) between the reduction in tremor severity and the increased ratio of cortical activity in the beta band to the activity observed in the tremor frequency range. Conclusions This study provides the first quantitative analysis of tremor reduction following alprazolam intake. We observed that the tremor severity decreased in association with an increased ratio of beta to tremor-related cortical activity. We hypothesise that the increase in cortical beta activity may act as a blocking mechanism and may dampen the pathological oscillatory activity, which in turn attenuates the observed tremor. PMID:24667763

Inf-sup estimates for the Stokes problem in a periodic channel

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

Wilkening, Jon

2007-06-27

We derive estimates of the Babuska-Brezzi inf-sup constant {beta} for two-dimensional incompressible flow in a periodic channel with one flat boundary and the other given by a periodic, Lipschitz continuous function h. If h is a constant function (so the domain is rectangular), we show that periodicity in one direction but not the other leads to an interesting connection between {beta} and the unitary operator mapping the Fourier sine coefficients of a function to its Fourier cosine coefficients. We exploit this connection to determine the dependence of {beta} on the aspect ratio of the rectangle. We then show how tomore » transfer this result to the case that h is C{sup 1,1} or even C{sup 0,1} by a change of variables. We avoid non-constructive theorems of functional analysis in order to explicitly exhibit the dependence of {beta} on features of the geometry such as the aspect ratio, the maximum slope, and the minimum gap thickness (if h passes near the substrate). We give an example to show that our estimates are optimal in their dependence on the minimum gap thickness in the C{sup 1,1} case, and nearly optimal in the Lipschitz case.« less

Inf-sup estimates for the Stokes problem in a periodic channel

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

Wilkening, Jon

2008-12-10

We derive estimates of the Babuska-Brezzi inf-sup constant {beta} for two-dimensional incompressible flow in a periodic channel with one flat boundary and the other given by a periodic, Lipschitz continuous function h. If h is a constant function (so the domain is rectangular), we show that periodicity in one direction but not the other leads to an interesting connection between {beta} and the unitary operator mapping the Fourier sine coefficients of a function to its Fourier cosine coefficients. We exploit this connection to determine the dependence of {beta} on the aspect ratio of the rectangle. We then show how tomore » transfer this result to the case that h is C{sup 1,1} or even C{sup 0,1} by a change of variables. We avoid non-constructive theorems of functional analysis in order to explicitly exhibit the dependence of {beta} on features of the geometry such as the aspect ratio, the maximum slope, and the minimum gap thickness (if h passes near the substrate). We give an example to show that our estimates are optimal in their dependence on the minimum gap thickness in the C{sup 1,1} case, and nearly optimal in the Lipschitz case.« less

Personalized features for attention detection in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

PubMed

Fahimi, Fatemeh; Guan, Cuntai; Wooi Boon Goh; Kai Keng Ang; Choon Guan Lim; Tih Shih Lee

2017-07-01

Measuring attention from electroencephalogram (EEG) has found applications in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is of great interest to understand what features in EEG are most representative of attention. Intensive research has been done in the past and it has been proven that frequency band powers and their ratios are effective features in detecting attention. However, there are still unanswered questions, like, what features in EEG are most discriminative between attentive and non-attentive states? Are these features common among all subjects or are they subject-specific and must be optimized for each subject? Using Mutual Information (MI) to perform subject-specific feature selection on a large data set including 120 ADHD children, we found that besides theta beta ratio (TBR) which is commonly used in attention detection and neurofeedback, the relative beta power and theta/(alpha+beta) (TBAR) are also equally significant and informative for attention detection. Interestingly, we found that the relative theta power (which is also commonly used) may not have sufficient discriminative information itself (it is informative only for 3.26% of ADHD children). We have also demonstrated that although these features (relative beta power, TBR and TBAR) are the most important measures to detect attention on average, different subjects have different set of most discriminative features.

Reduced partition function ratios of iron and oxygen in goethite

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

Blanchard, M.; Dauphas, N.; Hu, M. Y.

2015-02-01

First-principles calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) with or without the addition of a Hubbard U correction, are performed on goethite in order to determine the iron and oxygen reduced partition function ratios (beta-factors). The calculated iron phonon density of states (pDOS), force constant and beta-factor are compared with reevaluated experimental beta-factors obtained from Nuclear Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (NRIXS) measurements. The reappraisal of old experimental data is motivated by the erroneous previous interpretation of the low- and high-energy ends of the NRIXS spectrum of goethite and jarosite samples (Dauphas et al., 2012). Here the NRIXS data aremore » analyzed using the SciPhon software that corrects for non-constant baseline. New NRIXS measurements also demonstrate the reproducibility of the results. Unlike for hematite and pyrite, a significant discrepancy remains between DFT, NRIXS and the existing Mossbauer-derived data. Calculations suggest a slight overestimation of the NRIXS signal possibly related to the baseline definition. The intrinsic features of the samples studied by NRIXS and Mossbauer spectroscopy may also contribute to the discrepancy (e. g., internal structural and/or chemical defects, microstructure, surface contribution). As for oxygen, DFT results indicate that goethite and hematite have similar beta-factors, which suggests almost no fractionation between the two minerals at equilibrium.« less

Left ventricular diastolic function in patients with treated haemochromatosis.

PubMed

Davidsen, Einar Skulstad; Omvik, Per; Hervig, Tor; Gerdts, Eva

2009-02-01

We recently demonstrated reduced exercise capacity in phlebotomy treated genetic haemochromatosis in spite of normal systolic function. The present objective was to investigate diastolic function at rest. Diastolic function was echocardiographically assessed in 132 phlebotomy treated genetic haemochromatosis patients and 50 controls. Patients had higher body mass index and heart rate, higher transmitral early (E) (11.2+/-2.6 versus 10.4+/-2.2 cm) and atrial (A) (5.7+/-1.6 versus 5.0+/-1.6) velocity time integrals, pulmonary venous systolic peak velocity (0.58+/-0.12 versus 0.54+/-0.13 m/s) and ratio of E to spectral tissue Doppler E' velocity (6.3+/-1.6 versus 5.6+/-1.4, all p <0.05). Independently of age, heart rate, systolic blood pressure and body weight, having haemochromatosis remained statistically significantly associated with higher E (beta=0.27) and A (beta =0.18) velocity time integrals, pulmonary venous systolic peak velocity (beta =0.21), and E/E'-ratio (beta=0.25) in separate multivariate analyses (all p <0.05). In the youngest age tertile, patients had longer isovolumic relaxation time and lower E' than controls. Our findings are compatible with mildly impaired diastolic function in treated haemochromatosis, with delayed relaxation in the younger tertile, and an elevated filling pressure and pseudonormalisation with increasing age.

17Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) in scleractinian corals and zooxanthellae.

PubMed

Blomquist, Charles H; Lima, P H; Tarrant, A M; Atkinson, M J; Atkinson, S

2006-04-01

Steroid metabolism studies have yielded evidence of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activity in corals. This project was undertaken to clarify whether there are multiple isoforms of 17beta-HSD, whether activity levels vary seasonally, and if zooxanthellae contribute to activity. 17Beta-HSD activity was characterized in zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate coral fragments collected in summer and winter and in zooxanthellae cultured from Montipora capitata. More specifically, 17beta-HSD activity was characterized with regard to steroid substrate and inhibitor specificity, coenzyme specificity, and Michaelis constants for estradiol (E2) and NADP+. Six samples each of M. capitata and Tubastrea coccinea (three summers, three winters) were assayed with E2 and NADP+. Specific activity levels (pmol/mg protein) varied 10-fold among M. capitata samples and 6-fold among T. coccinea samples. There was overlap of activity levels between summer and winter samples. NADP+/NAD+ activity ratios varied from 1.6 to 22.2 for M. capatita, 2.3 to 3.8 for T. coccinea and 0.7 to 1.1 for zooxanthellae. Coumestrol was the most inhibitory of the steroids and phytoestrogens tested. Our data confirm that corals and zooxanthellae contain 17beta-HSD and are consistent with the presence of more than one isoform of the enzyme.

Biosynthesis and accumulation of osmoprotective compounds by halophytic plants of the genus Limonium

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

Hanson, A.D.; Rathinasabapathi, B.; Gage, D.A.

1991-05-01

Analyses of quaternary ammonium compounds in leaf and root tissues of halophytic Limonium spp. using fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry revealed that only 3 out of 21 spp. accumulated glycine betaine, the common angiosperm osmolyte. The 18 other spp. accumulated {beta}-alanine betaine instead. However, all the Limonium spp. studied accumulated choline-O-sulfate and their leaf disks metabolized ({sup 14}C) choline to choline-O-sulfate. Only the glycine betaine accumulators oxidized ({sup 14}C) choline to glycine betaine and only {beta}-alanine betaine accumulators converted {beta}-({sup 14}C)alanine to {beta}-alanine betaine. When {beta}-alanine betaine and glycine betaine accumulators were salinized with NaCl, the levels of their respectivemore » betaines and of choline sulfate were closely correlated with solute potential. Glycine betaine accumulators had less choline-O-sulfate than {beta}-alanine betaine accumulators and increasing the SO{sub 4}{sup 2}/Cl ratio in the medium increased choline-O-sulfate and caused a matching decrease in glycine betaine. Thus, it appears that {beta}-alanine betaine has replaced glycine betaine in most members of this genus, eliminating a possible competition between glycine betaine and choline-O-sulfate for choline.« less

Stimuli sensitive polymethacrylic acid microparticles (PMAA)--oral insulin delivery.

PubMed

Victor, Sunita Prem; Sharma, Chandra P

2002-10-01

This study investigated polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) microparticles for controlled release of Insulin in oral administration. The microparticles were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological studies. The swelling behaviour and drug release profile in various pH media were studied. The % swelling of gels was found to be inversely related to the amount of crosslinker added. Inclusion complex of betaCD and Insulin was studied using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Optimum complexation was obtained in the ratio 100 mg betaCD: 200 IU Insulin. The release pattern of Insulin from Insulin-betaCD complex encapsulated PMAA microparticles showed release of Insulin for more than seven hours.

A novel silicon array designed for intraoperative charged particle imaging.

PubMed

Tornai, Martin P; Patt, Bradley E; Iwanczyk, Jan S; Tull, Carolyn R; MacDonald, Lawrence R; Hoffman, Edward J

2002-11-01

A novel Si-PIN imaging array is under investigation for a charged particle (beta, positron, or alpha) sensitive intraoperative camera to be used for (residual) tumor identification during surgery. This class of collimator-less nuclear imaging device has a higher signal response for direct interactions than its scintillator-optical detector-based counterparts. Monte Carlo simulations with 635 keV betas were performed, yielding maximum and projected ranges of 1.64 and 0.55 mm in Si. Up to 90% of these betas were completely absorbed in the first 0.30 mm. Based on these results, 300 microm thick prototype Si detector arrays were designed in a 16 x 16 crossed-grid arrangement with 0.8 mm wide orthogonal strips on 1.0 mm pitch. A NIM- and CAMAC-based high-density data acquisition and processing system was used to collect the list mode data. The system was calibrated by comparisons of measured spectra to energy deposition simulations or by direct measurement of various >100 keV conversion electron or beta emitters. Mean electronic noise per strip was <3.6 keV FWHM at room temperature. When detecting positrons, which have an accompanying 511 keV annihilation background, the flood irradiated beta/gamma ratio was approximately 40, indicating that beta images could be made without the use of background rejection techniques. The intrinsic spatial resolution corresponds to the 1 x 1 mm2 pixel size, and measurements of beta emitting point and line sources yielded FWHM resolutions of 1.5 (lateral) and 2.5 mm (diagonal), respectively, with the larger widths due to particle range blurting effects. Deconvolution of the finite source size yielded intrinsic resolutions that corresponded to the image pixel size. Transmission images of circle and line phantoms with various hole sizes and pitch were resolved with either pure beta or positron irradiation without a background correction. This novel semiconductor imaging device facilitates high charged particle and low gamma sensitivity, high signal/noise ratio, and allows for compact design to potentially aid surgical guidance by providing in situ images of clinical relevance.

Detecting beta-amyloid aggregation from time-resolved emission spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alghamdi, A.; Vyshemirsky, V.; Birch, D. J. S.; Rolinski, O. J.

2018-04-01

The aggregation of beta-amyloids is one of the key processes responsible for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Early molecular-level detection of beta-amyloid oligomers may help in early diagnosis and in the development of new intervention therapies. Our previous studies on the changes in beta-amyloid’s single tyrosine intrinsic fluorescence response during aggregation demonstrated a four-exponential fluorescence intensity decay, and the ratio of the pre-exponential factors indicated the extent of the aggregation in the early stages of the process before the beta-sheets were formed. Here we present a complementary approach based on the time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) of amyloid’s tyrosine excited at 279 nm and fluorescence in the window 240-450 nm. TRES have been used to demonstrate sturctural changes occuring on the nanosecond time scale after excitation which has significant advantages over using steady-state spectra. We demonstrate this by resolving the fluorescent species and revealing that beta-amyloid’s monomers show very fast dielectric relaxation, and its oligomers display a substantial spectral shift due to dielectric relaxation, which gradually decreases when the oligomers become larger.

Characterization of the chromosomal cephalosporinases produced by Acinetobacter lwoffii and Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates.

PubMed Central

Perilli, M; Felici, A; Oratore, A; Cornaglia, G; Bonfiglio, G; Rossolini, G M; Amicosante, G

1996-01-01

The beta-lactamases produced by Acinetobacter lwoffii ULA-501, Acinetobacter baumannii ULA-187, and A. baumannii AC-14 strains were purified and characterized, and their kinetic interactions with several beta-lactam molecules, including substrates and inhibitors, were studied in detail. The three enzymes appeared to be cephalosporinases with different acylation efficiencies (kcat/Km ratio values), and their hydrolytic activities were inhibited by benzylpenicillin, piperacillin, and cefotaxime, which did not behave as substrates. Carbenicillin was a substrate for the beta-lactamase from A. lwoffii ULA-501, whereas it acted as a transient inactivator of the enzymes produced by the two A. baumannii strains. Clavulanic acid was unable to inactivate the three beta-lactamases, whereas sulbactam behaved as an inactivator only at a high concentration (1 mM) which is difficult to achieve during antibiotic therapy. Analysis of the interaction with 6-beta-iodopenicillanic acid also allowed us to better discriminate the three beta-lactamases analyzed in the present study, which can be included in the group 1 functional class (5). PMID:8851599

Side effects of beta-blocker treatments as related to the central nervous system.

PubMed

Dahlöf, C; Dimenäs, E

1990-04-01

During the last decade beta-adrenoceptor antagonists have become one of the first-line treatments for hypertension. Generally, they have been shown to be safe with a low frequency of serious side effects. However, minor subjective symptoms, usually considered to be CNS-related, have been reported for all beta-blockers used. Thus, all beta-blockers on the market seem to have a high benefit:risk ratio; independent of their physicochemical properties and pharmacodynamic profile, however, they seem to cause CNS-related side effects to about the same extent. These minor side effects, the mechanisms of which are unclear, consist of subtle effects on general well being, decreased initiative, a depressed frame of mind, and disturbed sleep. Generally, however, beta-blockers in therapeutic dosages do not affect the qualitative functions of the brain. The results so far available have been obtained primarily by using objective methods. Further comparison has now been initiated using documented subjective methods to investigate whether the objectively documented differences are of any clinical relevance to the patient's quality of life. Although it cannot be claimed with certainty, nonselective beta-blockers seem to cause CNS-related side effects to a greater extent than beta 1-selective blockers. Differences in the degree of hydrophilicity of the beta-blocker are apparently of no clinical relevance in this respect. Rather, the plasma concentration of the beta-blocking drug (degree of beta-blockade) seems to be the major determinant of whether or not CNS-related symptoms appear in susceptible patients.

Isoproterenol reduces ischemia-reperfusion lung injury despite beta-blockade.

PubMed

Takashima, Seiki; Schlidt, Scott A; Koukoulis, Giovanna; Sevala, Mayura; Egan, Thomas M

2005-06-01

If lungs could be retrieved from non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs), the shortage of lungs for transplantation could be alleviated. The use of lungs from NHBDs is associated with a mandatory warm ischemic interval, which results in ischemia-reperfusion injury upon reperfusion. In an earlier study, rat lungs retrieved 2-h postmortem from NHBDs had reduced capillary leak measured by filtration coefficient (Kfc) when reperfused with isoproterenol (iso), associated with an increase in lung tissue levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP). The objective was to determine if this decrease in Kfc was because of beta-stimulation, or would persist despite beta-blockade. Donor rats were treated intraperitoneally with beta-blockade (propranolol or pindolol) or carrier, sacrificed, and lungs were retrieved immediately or 2 h postmortem. The lungs were reperfused with or without iso and the beta-blockers in the reperfusate. Outcome measures were Kfc, wet:dry weight ratio (W/D), lung levels of adenine nucleotides and cAMP. Lungs retrieved immediately after death had normal Kfc and W/D. After 2 h of ischemia, Kfc and W/D were markedly elevated in controls (no drug) and lungs reperfused with beta-blockers alone. Isoproterenol-reperfusion decreased Kfc and W/D significantly (P < 0.01) even in the presence of beta-blockade. Lung cAMP levels were increased only with iso in the absence of beta-blockade. The attenuation of ischemia-reperfusion injury because of iso occurs even in the presence of beta-blockade, and may not be a result of beta-stimulated increased cAMP.

Alzheimer disease amyloid beta protein forms calcium channels in bilayer membranes: blockade by tromethamine and aluminum.

PubMed Central

Arispe, N; Rojas, E; Pollard, H B

1993-01-01

Amyloid beta protein (A beta P) is the 40- to 42-residue polypeptide implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. We have incorporated this peptide into phosphatidylserine liposomes and then fused the liposomes with a planar bilayer. When incorporated into bilayers the A beta P forms channels, which generate linear current-voltage relationships in symmetrical solutions. A permeability ratio, PK/PCl, of 11 for the open A beta P channel was estimated from the reversal potential of the channel current in asymmetrical KCl solutions. The permeability sequence for different cations, estimated from the reversal potential of the A beta P-channel current for each system of asymmetrical solutions, is Pcs > PLi > PCa > or = PK > PNa. A beta P-channel current (either CS+ or Ca2+ as charge carriers) is blocked reversibly by tromethamine (millimolar range) and irreversibly by Al3+ (micromolar range). The inhibition of the A beta P-channel current by these two substances depends on transmembrane potential, suggesting that the mechanism of blockade involves direct interaction between tromethamine (or Al3+) and sites within the A beta P channel. Hitherto, A beta P has been presumed to be neurotoxic. On the basis of the present data we suggest that the channel activity of the polypeptide may be responsible for some or all of its neurotoxic effects. We further propose that a useful strategy for drug discovery for treatment of Alzheimer disease may include screening compounds for their ability to block or otherwise modify A beta P channels. PMID:8380642

Distinguishing fissions of 232Th, 237Np and 238U with beta-delayed gamma rays

DOE PAGES

Iyengar, A.; Norman, E. B.; Howard, C.; ...

2013-04-08

Measurements of beta-delayed gamma-ray spectra following 14-MeV neutron-induced fissions of 232Th, 238U, and 237Np were conducted at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s 88-Inch Cyclotron. Spectra were collected for times ranging from 1 minute to 14 hours after irradiation. Lastly, intensity ratios of gamma-ray lines were extracted from the data that allow identification of the fissioning isotope.

Renal outcomes of agalsidase beta treatment for Fabry disease: role of proteinuria and timing of treatment initiation.

PubMed

Warnock, David G; Ortiz, Alberto; Mauer, Michael; Linthorst, Gabor E; Oliveira, João P; Serra, Andreas L; Maródi, László; Mignani, Renzo; Vujkovac, Bojan; Beitner-Johnson, Dana; Lemay, Roberta; Cole, J Alexander; Svarstad, Einar; Waldek, Stephen; Germain, Dominique P; Wanner, Christoph

2012-03-01

The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of renal disease progression in adults with Fabry disease during treatment with agalsidase beta. Renal function was evaluated in 151 men and 62 women from the Fabry Registry who received agalsidase beta at an average dose of 1 mg/kg/2 weeks for at least 2 years. Patients were categorized into quartiles based on slopes of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) during treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with renal disease progression. Men within the first quartile had a mean eGFR slope of -0.1 mL/min/1.73m(2)/year, whereas men with the most rapid renal disease progression (Quartile 4) had a mean eGFR slope of -6.7 mL/min/1.73m(2)/year. The risk factor most strongly associated with renal disease progression was averaged urinary protein:creatinine ratio (UP/Cr) ≥1 g/g (odds ratio 112, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 4-3109, P = 0.0054). Longer time from symptom onset to treatment was also associated with renal disease progression (odds ratio 19, 95% CI 2-184, P = 0.0098). Women in Quartile 4 had the highest averaged UP/Cr (mean 1.8 g/g) and the most rapid renal disease progression: (mean slope -4.4 mL/min/1.73m(2)/year). Adults with Fabry disease are at risk for progressive loss of eGFR despite enzyme replacement therapy, particularly if proteinuria is ≥1 g/g. Men with little urinary protein excretion and those who began receiving agalsidase beta sooner after the onset of symptoms had stable renal function. These findings suggest that early intervention may lead to optimal renal outcomes.

Electroencephalographic response following midazolam-induced general anesthesia: relationship to plasma and effect-site midazolam concentrations.

PubMed

Miyake, Wakako; Oda, Yutaka; Ikeda, Yuko; Hagihira, Satoshi; Iwaki, Hiroyoshi; Asada, Akira

2010-06-01

To examine the relationships between effect-site concentrations and electroencephalographic parameters after the induction of general anesthesia with midazolam. Twenty-four patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists status I or II were randomly allocated to receive either an intravenous (i.v.) bolus of midazolam 0.2 mg kg(-1) (small-dose group, n = 12) or 0.3 mg kg(-1) (large-dose group, n = 12) for induction of general anesthesia in a double-blind experimental design. The bispectral index (BIS), 95% spectral edge frequency (SEF95), spectral power density, and plasma concentrations of midazolam were measured for 60 min following the induction of general anesthesia. Plasma and simulated effect-site concentrations of midazolam were significantly higher in the large-dose group than in the small-dose group (P = 0.005 and <0.001, respectively). There was a correlation between the relative beta ratio and BIS (r (2) = 0.30, P < 0.001; n = 168); however, effect-site concentrations of midazolam showed no association with BIS, relative beta ratio, or SEF95 (r (2) = 0.07, 0.11 and 0.01, respectively; n = 168). The electroencephalographic spectral power density in the beta-band (>/=13 and <30 Hz) was significantly increased after induction and was significantly larger in the large-dose group than in the small-dose group (P = 0.009). Following the induction of general anesthesia with i.v. midazolam 0.2 or 0.3 mg kg(-1), the BIS was positively correlated with the relative beta ratio. Despite a rapid decrease in the plasma and effect-site concentrations of midazolam, the average BIS remained >60 for 60 min after induction, reflecting an increased power of the electroencephalographic high-frequency band.

Forbidden Mass Ranges for Shower Meteoroids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moorhead, Althea V.

2017-01-01

Burns et al. (1979) use the parameter beta to describe the ratio of radiation pressure to gravity for a particle in the Solar System. The central potential that these particles experience is effectively reduced by a factor of (1- beta ), which in turn lowers the escape velocity. Burns et al. (1979) derived a simple expression for the value of beta at which particles ejected from a comet follow parabolic orbits and thus leave the Solar System; we expand on this to derive an expression for critical beta values that takes ejection velocity into account, assuming geometric optics. We use our expression to compute the critical value and corresponding mass for cometary ejecta leading, trailing, and following the parent comet's nucleus for 10 major meteor showers. Finally, we numerically solve for critical beta values in the case of non-geometric optics. These values determine the mass regimes within which meteoroids are ejected from the Solar System and therefore cannot contribute to meteor showers.

[beta][sup +] decay and cosmic-ray half-life of [sup 91]Nb

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

Hindi, M.M.; Sur, B.; Wedding, K.L.

1993-06-01

In the laboratory, [sup 91]Nb decays by electron capture with a 680-yr half-life. However, as a high energy cosmic ray, it would be stripped of its atomic electrons and would be able to undergo only [beta][sup +] decay. We produced and chemically purified a sample of [sup 91]Nb and observed its decay with an array of Ge and NaI detectors. By following the [beta][sup +] annihilation radiation, we were able to determine the [beta][sup +] branching ratios of both the 105-keV, 61-d isomer and the ground state of [sup 91]Nb. The ground-state branch is (7.7[plus minus]0.8)[times]10[sup [minus]3]% leading to amore » [beta][sup +] partial half-like of (8.8[plus minus]1.9)[times]10[sup 6] yr. Such a value of the half-life makes [sup 91]Nb a good candidate for determining the confinement time of this secondary component of the cosmic rays.« less

Beta-blockers and cardiovascular outcomes in dialysis patients: a cohort study in Ontario, Canada.

PubMed

Kitchlu, Abhijat; Clemens, Kristin; Gomes, Tara; Hackam, Daniel G; Juurlink, David N; Mamdani, Muhammad; Manno, Michael; Oliver, Matthew J; Quinn, Robert R; Suri, Rita S; Wald, Ron; Yan, Andrew T; Garg, Amit X

2012-04-01

Beta-blockers may be cardioprotective in patients receiving chronic dialysis. We examined cardiovascular outcomes among incident dialysis patients receiving beta-blocker therapy. We conducted a retrospective cohort study employing linked healthcare databases in Ontario, Canada. We studied all consecutive chronic dialysis patients aged≥66 years who initiated dialysis between 1 July 1991 and 31 July 2007. Patients were divided into three groups according to new medication use after the initiation of chronic dialysis. The three groups were patients initiated on beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and statins only. Patients in the beta-blocker and calcium channel blocker groups could also be concurrently receiving a statin. The primary outcome was time to a composite endpoint of death, myocardial infarction, stroke or coronary revascularization. There were a total of 1836 patients (504 beta-blocker, 570 calcium channel blocker and 762 statin-only users). Compared to statin-only use, beta-blocker use was not associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92-1.23]. As expected, calcium channel blocker use was also not associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes (aHR 0.91, 95% CI 0.79-1.06). Among all subgroup analyses by beta-blocker attributes, only high-dose beta-blocker therapy was associated with better cardiovascular outcomes as compared to low-dose beta-blockers (aHR 0.50, 95% CI 0.29-0.88). We observed no beneficial effect of beta-blocker use among patients receiving chronic dialysis relative to our comparator groups. Given current uncertainty around the cardioprotective benefits of beta-blockers in patients receiving dialysis, a large randomized clinical trial is warranted.

Impaired dopaminergic neurotransmission in patients with traumatic brain injury: a SPECT study using 123I-beta-CIT and 123I-IBZM.

PubMed

Donnemiller, E; Brenneis, C; Wissel, J; Scherfler, C; Poewe, W; Riccabona, G; Wenning, G K

2000-09-01

Structural imaging suggests that traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be associated with disruption of neuronal networks, including the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway. However, to date deficits in pre- and/or postsynaptic dopaminergic neurotransmission have not been demonstrated in TBI using functional imaging. We therefore assessed dopaminergic function in ten TBI patients using [123I]2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane (beta-CIT) and [123I]iodobenzamide (IBZM) single-photon emission tomography (SPET). Average Glasgow Coma Scale score (+/-SD) at the time of head trauma was 5.8+/-4.2. SPET was performed on average 141 days (SD +/-92) after TBI. The SPET images were compared with structural images using cranial computerised tomography (CCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). SPET was performed with an ADAC Vertex dual-head camera. The activity ratios of striatal to cerebellar uptake were used as a semiquantitative parameter of striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) and D2 receptor (D2R) binding. Compared with age-matched controls, patients with TBI had significantly lower striatal/cerebellar beta-CIT and IBZM binding ratios (P< or =0.01). Overall, the DAT deficit was more marked than the D2R loss. CCT and MRI studies revealed varying cortical and subcortical lesions, with the frontal lobe being most frequently affected whereas the striatum appeared structurally normal in all but one patient. Our findings suggest that nigrostriatal dysfunction may be detected using SPET following TBI despite relative structural preservation of the striatum. Further investigations of possible clinical correlates and efficacy of dopaminergic therapy in patients with TBI seem justified.

TRIMS: Validating T2 Molecular Effects for Neutrino Mass Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Ying-Ting; Bodine, Laura; Enomoto, Sanshiro; Kallander, Matthew; Machado, Eric; Parno, Diana; Robertson, Hamish; Trims Collaboration

2017-01-01

The upcoming KATRIN and Project 8 experiments will measure the model-independent effective neutrino mass through the kinematics near the endpoint of tritium beta-decay. A critical systematic, however, is the understanding of the molecular final-state distribution populated by tritium decay. In fact, the current theory incorporated in the KATRIN analysis framework predicts an observable that disagrees with an experimental result from the 1950s. The Tritium Recoil-Ion Mass Spectrometer (TRIMS) experiment will reexamine branching ratio of the molecular tritium (T2) beta decay to the bound state (3HeT+). TRIMS consists of a magnet-guided time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a detector located on each end. By measuring the kinetic energy and time-of-flight difference of the ions and beta particles reaching the detectors, we will be able to distinguish molecular ions from atomic ones and hence derive the ratio in question.We will give an update on simulation software, analysis tools, and the apparatus, including early commissioning results. U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, Award Number DE-FG02-97ER41020.

A portable Raman acoustic levitation spectroscopic system for the identification and environmental monitoring of algal cells.

PubMed

Wood, Bayden R; Heraud, Philip; Stojkovic, Slobodanka; Morrison, Danielle; Beardall, John; McNaughton, Don

2005-08-01

We report the coupling of a portable Raman spectrometer to an acoustic levitation device to enable environmental monitoring and the potential taxonomic identification of microalgae. Spectra of living cells were recorded at 785 nm using a fiber-optic probe coupled to a portable Raman spectrometer. The spectra exhibit an excellent signal-to-noise ratio and clearly show bands from chlorophyll a and beta-carotene. Spectra of levitated photobleached microalgae clearly show a reduction in chlorophyll a concentration relative to beta-carotene after 10 min of exposure to a quartz halogen lamp. Spectra recorded from levitated nitrogen-limited cells also show a significant reduction in bands associated with chlorophyll a, as compared to nitrogen-replete cells. To investigate the diagnostic capability of the technique, four species of microalgae were analyzed. Good quality spectra of all four species were obtained showing varying ratios of beta-carotene to chlorophyll. The combination of an acoustic levitation device and a portable Raman spectrometer shows potential as a taxonomic and environmental monitoring tool with direct application to field studies in remote environments.

[Analysis of pigments from Rhodotorula glutinis by Raman spectroscopy and thin layer chromatography].

PubMed

Yuan, Yu-feng; Tao, Zhan-hua; Wang, Xue; Li, Yong-qing; Liu, Jun-xian

2012-03-01

The pigments from Rhodotorula glutinis were separated by using thin layer chromatography, and the result showed that Rhodotorula glutinis cells could synthesize at least three kinds of pigments, which were beta-carotene, torulene, and torularhodin. The Raman spectra based on the three pigments were acquired, and original spectra were preprocessed by background elimination, baseline correction, and three-point-smoothing, then the averaged spectra from different pigments were investigated, and the result indicated that Raman shift which represents C-C bond was different, and the wave number of beta-carotene demonstrated the largest deviation, finally torulene and torularhodin in Rhodotorula glutinis had more content than beta-carotene. Quantitative analysis of Raman peak height ratio revealed that peak height ratio of pigments showed little difference, which could be used as parameters for further research on living cells, providing reference content of pigments. The above results suggest that Raman spectroscopy combined with thin layer chromatography can be applied to analyze pigments from Rhodotorula glutinis, provides abundant information about pigments, and serves as an effective method to study pigments.

Neck-focused panic attacks among Cambodian refugees; a logistic and linear regression analysis.

PubMed

Hinton, Devon E; Chhean, Dara; Pich, Vuth; Um, Khin; Fama, Jeanne M; Pollack, Mark H

2006-01-01

Consecutive Cambodian refugees attending a psychiatric clinic were assessed for the presence and severity of current--i.e., at least one episode in the last month--neck-focused panic. Among the whole sample (N=130), in a logistic regression analysis, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI; odds ratio=3.70) and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS; odds ratio=2.61) significantly predicted the presence of current neck panic (NP). Among the neck panic patients (N=60), in the linear regression analysis, NP severity was significantly predicted by NP-associated flashbacks (beta=.42), NP-associated catastrophic cognitions (beta=.22), and CAPS score (beta=.28). Further analysis revealed the effect of the CAPS score to be significantly mediated (Sobel test [Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173-1182]) by both NP-associated flashbacks and catastrophic cognitions. In the care of traumatized Cambodian refugees, NP severity, as well as NP-associated flashbacks and catastrophic cognitions, should be specifically assessed and treated.

SU-G-TeP3-13: The Role of Nanoscale Energy Deposition in the Development of Gold Nanoparticle-Enhanced Radiotherapy

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

Kirkby, C; The University of Calgary, Calgary, AB; Koger, B

2016-06-15

Purpose: Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) can enhance radiotherapy effects. The high photoelectric cross section of gold relative to tissue, particularly at lower energies, leads to localized dose enhancement. However in a clinical context, photon energies must also be sufficient to reach a target volume at a given depth. These properties must be balanced to optimize such a therapy. Given that nanoscale energy deposition patterns around GNPs play a role in determining biological outcomes, in this work we seek to establish their role in this optimization process. Methods: The PENELOPE Monte Carlo code was used to generate spherical dose deposition kernels inmore » 1000 nm diameter spheres around 50 nm diameter GNPs in response to monoenergetic photons incident on the GNP. Induced “lesions” were estimated by either a local effect model (LEM) or a mean dose model (MDM). The ratio of these estimates was examined for a range of photon energies (10 keV to 2 MeV), for three sets of linear-quadratic parameters. Results: The models produce distinct differences in expected lesion values, the lower the alpha-beta ratio, the greater the difference. The ratio of expected lesion values remained constant within 5% for energies of 40 keV and above across all parameter sets and rose to a difference of 35% for lower energies only for the lowest alpha-beta ratio. Conclusion: Consistent with other work, these calculations suggest nanoscale energy deposition patterns matter in predicting biological response to GNP-enhanced radiotherapy. However the ratio of expected lesions between the different models is largely independent of energy, indicating that GNP-enhanced radiotherapy scenarios can be optimized in photon energy without consideration of the nanoscale patterns. Special attention may be warranted for energies of 20 keV or below and low alpha-beta ratios.« less

Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in NSTX

DOE Data Explorer

Guttenfelder, W. [Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Kaye, S. M. [Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Ren, Y. [Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Solomon, W. [Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Bell, R. E. [Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Candy, J. [Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Gerhardt, S. P. [Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); LeBlanc, B. P. [Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Yuh, H. [Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

2016-04-01

This paper presents quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch for low aspect-ratio NSTX H-modes where previous experimental measurements were focused. Local, linear calculations predict that in the region of interest (just outside the mid-radius) of these relatively high-beta plasmas, profiles are most unstable to microtearing modes that are only effective in transporting electron energy. However, sub-dominant electromagnetic and electrostatic ballooning modes are also unstable, which are effective at transporting energy, particles and momentum. The quasi-linear prediction of transport from these weaker ballooning modes, assuming they contribute transport in addition to that from microtearing modes in a nonlinear turbulent state, leads to a very small or outward convection of momentum, inconsistent with the experimentally measured inward pinch, and opposite to predictions in conventional aspect ratio tokamaks. Additional predictions of a low beta L-mode plasma, unstable to more traditional electrostatic ion temperature gradient-trapped electron mode instability, show that the Coriolis pinch is inward but remains relatively weak and insensitive to many parameter variations. The weak or outward pinch predicted in NSTX plasmas appears to be at least partially correlated to changes in the parallel mode structure that occur at finite beta and low aspect ratio, as discussed in previous theories. The only conditions identified where a stronger inward pinch is predicted occur either in the purely electrostatic limit or if the aspect ratio is increased. As the Coriolis pinch cannot explain the measured momentum pinch, additional theoretical momentum transport mechanisms are discussed that may be potentially important.

Relationship between supersaturation ratio and supply rate of solute in the growth process of monodisperse colloidal particles and application to AgBr systems.

PubMed

Shiba, Fumiyuki; Okawa, Yusuke

2005-11-24

Supersaturation ratio, S, has been theoretically related to the supply rate of solute, Q, from growth rate and mass-balance equations in the quasi-steady state in the growth process of isotropic monodisperse particles. The derived equation, (S - 1) = (1/D + 1/kr)(Q/betaC(0)nr) + 2V(m)gamma/rRT, suggests a linear dependence of S on Q under constant n and r, where D is the diffusion coefficient, k is the rate constant for surface-reaction, C(0) is the solubility, n and r are the number and radius of growing particles, respectively, V(m) is the molar volume of particles, R is the gas constant, T is the absolute temperature, and beta is the shape factor defined by beta identical with (1/r(2)) dupsilon/dr, where upsilon is the volume of an individual particle. The equation was applied to the analysis of growth kinetics and determinations of critical supersaturation ratio in monodisperse AgBr particles in the controlled double-jet system with the assistance of a potentiometric supersaturation measurement. In both cubic and octahedral particles, growth rates were completely limited by diffusion and surface-reaction at pBr ( identical with -log[Br(-)]) 3.0 and 1.0, respectively, while the growths were intermediate of them at pBr 2.0 and 4.0. The growth parameters, DC(0) and kC(0), were experimentally determined. Also, critical supersaturation ratio was estimated as 1.28 as an average in the present study.

Improved survival outcomes with the incidental use of beta-blockers among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with definitive radiation therapy

PubMed Central

Wang, H. M.; Liao, Z. X.; Komaki, R.; Welsh, J. W.; O'Reilly, M. S.; Chang, J. Y.; Zhuang, Y.; Levy, L. B.; Lu, C.; Gomez, D. R.

2013-01-01

Background Preclinical studies have shown that norepinephrine can directly stimulate tumor cell migration and that this effect is mediated by the beta-adrenergic receptor. Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed 722 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received definitive radiotherapy (RT). A Cox proportional hazard model was utilized to determine the association between beta-blocker intake and locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Results In univariate analysis, patients taking beta-blockers (n = 155) had improved DMFS (P < 0.01), DFS (P < 0.01), and OS (P = 0.01), but not LRPFS (P = 0.33) compared with patients not taking beta-blockers (n = 567). In multivariate analysis, beta-blocker intake was associated with a significantly better DMFS [hazard ratio (HR), 0.67; P = 0.01], DFS (HR, 0.74; P = 0.02), and OS (HR, 0.78; P = 0.02) with adjustment for age, Karnofsky performance score, stage, histology type, concurrent chemotherapy, radiation dose, gross tumor volume, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the use of aspirin. There was no association of beta-blocker use with LRPFS (HR = 0.91, P = 0.63). Conclusion Beta-blocker use is associated with improved DMFS, DFS, and OS in this large cohort of NSCLC patients. Future prospective trials can validate these retrospective findings and determine whether the length and timing of beta-blocker use influence survival outcomes. PMID:23300016

A polymorphism of the interleukin-1 beta gene is associated with sperm pathology in humans.

PubMed

Bentz, Eva-Katrin; Hefler, Lukas A; Denschlag, Dominik; Pietrowski, Detlef; Buerkle, Bernd; Tempfer, Clemens B

2007-09-01

In a prospective case-control study of 127 normozoospermic and 435 non-normozoospermic Caucasian men, the genotype frequencies of a polymorphism of the interleukin-1 beta gene (IL-1beta Taq C-->T) were statistically significantly different between groups (homozygous wild-type C/C [57%], heterozygous C/T [42%], and homozygous mutant T/T [1%] vs. C/C [57%], C/T [36%], T/T [7%] for normozoospermic and non-normozoospermic men, respectively; odds ratio, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 20.28). This association was restricted to men with the oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) syndrome. We conclude that the investigated polymorphism is associated with sperm pathology in Caucasians.

Measurement of sigma(Lambda(b)0) / sigma(anti-B 0) x B(Lambda0(b) ---> Lambda+(c) pi-) / B(anti-B0 ---> D+ pi-) in p anti-p collisions at S**(1/2) = 1.96-TeV

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

Abulencia, A.; Acosta, D.; Adelman, Jahred A.

2006-01-01

The authors present the first observation of the baryon decay {Lambda}{sub b}{sup 0} {yields} {Lambda}{sub c}{sup +} {pi}{sup -} followed by {Lambda}{sub c}{sup +} {yields} pK{sup -} {pi}{sup +} in 106 pb{sup -1} p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV in the CDF experiment. IN order to reduce systematic error, the measured rate for {Lambda}{sub b}{sup 0} decay is normalized to the kinematically similar meson decay {bar B}{sup 0} {yields} D{sup +}{pi}{sup -} followed by D{sup +} {yields} {pi}{sup +}K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}. They report the ratio of production cross sections ({sigma}) times the ratio of branching fractions ({Beta}) formore » the momentum region integrated above p{sub T} > 6 GeV/c and pseudorapidity range |{eta}| < 1.3: {sigma}(p{bar p} {yields} {Lambda}{sub b}{sup 0}X)/{sigma}(p{bar p} {yields} {bar B}{sup 0} X) x {Beta}({Lambda}{sub b}{sup 0} {yields} {Lambda}{sub c}{sup +}{pi}{sup -})/{Beta}({bar B}{sup 0} {yields} D{sup +}{pi}{sup -}) = 0.82 {+-} 0.08(stat) {+-} 0.11(syst) {+-} 0.22 ({Beta}({Lambda}{sub c}{sup +} {yields} pK{sup -} {pi}{sup +})).« less

In vivo induction of autophagy in splenocytes of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice infected with ectromelia orthopoxvirus.

PubMed

Martyniszyn, L; Szulc-Dabrowska, L; Boratyńska-Jasińska, A; Badowska-Kozakiewicz, A M; Niemiałtowski, M G

2013-01-01

Autophagy is a self-degradation process of cellular components. It plays both antiviral and pro-viral roles in the life cycle of different viruses and the pathogenesis of different viral diseases. In this study, we evaluated autophagy induction in splenocytes of ectromelia virus (ECTV)-resistant C57BL/6 and ECTV-susceptible BALB/c mice during infection with the Moscow strain of the ectromelia virus (ECTV-MOS). Autophagy was analyzed using the Western blot method by assessing type II microtubule-associated protein 1 (MAP1) light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin 1 expression levels relative to beta-actin. Results indicated an increased ratio of LC3-II to beta-actin in splenocytes of C57BL/6 mice only at 7 day post infection (d.p.i.) compared to uninfected animals. LC3-II/beta-actin and Beclin 1/beta-actin ratios in splenocytes of BALB/c mice increased at 5 d.p.i. and remained high until day 14 and 7 p.i., respectively. We confirmed the formation of autophagosome structures in the spleen of BALB/c mice by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, autophagy accompanied necrosis in the splenocytes of infected animals. Results suggest that ECTV-MOS induced autophagy, especially in the spleen of the susceptible mouse strain, may support viral replication and promote cell necrosis.

Developmental programming of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): prenatal androgens establish pancreatic islet α/β cell ratio and subsequent insulin secretion.

PubMed

Ramaswamy, S; Grace, C; Mattei, A A; Siemienowicz, K; Brownlee, W; MacCallum, J; McNeilly, A S; Duncan, W C; Rae, M T

2016-06-06

Exogenous androgenic steroids applied to pregnant sheep programmes a PCOS-like phenotype in female offspring. Via ultrasound guidance we applied steroids directly to ovine fetuses at d62 and d82 of gestation, and examined fetal (day 90 gestation) and postnatal (11 months old) pancreatic structure and function. Of three classes of steroid agonists applied (androgen - Testosterone propionate (TP), estrogen - Diethystilbesterol (DES) and glucocorticoid - Dexamethasone (DEX)), only androgens (TP) caused altered pancreatic development. Beta cell numbers were significantly elevated in prenatally androgenised female fetuses (P = 0.03) (to approximately the higher numbers found in male fetuses), whereas alpha cell counts were unaffected, precipitating decreased alpha:beta cell ratios in the developing fetal pancreas (P = 0.001), sustained into adolescence (P = 0.0004). In adolescence basal insulin secretion was significantly higher in female offspring from androgen-excess pregnancies (P = 0.045), and an exaggerated, hyperinsulinaemic response to glucose challenge (P = 0.0007) observed, whereas prenatal DES or DEX treatment had no effects upon insulin secretion. Postnatal insulin secretion correlated with beta cell numbers (P = 0.03). We conclude that the pancreas is a primary locus of androgenic stimulation during development, giving rise to postnatal offspring whose pancreas secreted excess insulin due to excess beta cells in the presence of a normal number of alpha cells.

Developmental programming of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): prenatal androgens establish pancreatic islet α/β cell ratio and subsequent insulin secretion

PubMed Central

Ramaswamy, S.; Grace, C.; Mattei, A. A.; Siemienowicz, K.; Brownlee, W.; MacCallum, J.; McNeilly, A. S.; Duncan, W. C.; Rae, M. T.

2016-01-01

Exogenous androgenic steroids applied to pregnant sheep programmes a PCOS-like phenotype in female offspring. Via ultrasound guidance we applied steroids directly to ovine fetuses at d62 and d82 of gestation, and examined fetal (day 90 gestation) and postnatal (11 months old) pancreatic structure and function. Of three classes of steroid agonists applied (androgen - Testosterone propionate (TP), estrogen - Diethystilbesterol (DES) and glucocorticoid - Dexamethasone (DEX)), only androgens (TP) caused altered pancreatic development. Beta cell numbers were significantly elevated in prenatally androgenised female fetuses (P = 0.03) (to approximately the higher numbers found in male fetuses), whereas alpha cell counts were unaffected, precipitating decreased alpha:beta cell ratios in the developing fetal pancreas (P = 0.001), sustained into adolescence (P = 0.0004). In adolescence basal insulin secretion was significantly higher in female offspring from androgen-excess pregnancies (P = 0.045), and an exaggerated, hyperinsulinaemic response to glucose challenge (P = 0.0007) observed, whereas prenatal DES or DEX treatment had no effects upon insulin secretion. Postnatal insulin secretion correlated with beta cell numbers (P = 0.03). We conclude that the pancreas is a primary locus of androgenic stimulation during development, giving rise to postnatal offspring whose pancreas secreted excess insulin due to excess beta cells in the presence of a normal number of alpha cells. PMID:27265420

A Multifunctional Bread Rich in Beta Glucans and Low in Starch Improves Metabolic Control in Type 2 Diabetes: A Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Tessari, Paolo; Lante, Anna

2017-01-01

Design: Functional foods may be useful for people with diabetes. The soluble fibers beta glucans can modify starch digestion and improve postprandial glucose response. We analyzed the metabolic effects of a specifically designed ‘functional’ bread, low in starch, rich in fibers (7 g/100 g), with a beta glucan/starch ratio of (7.6:100, g/g), in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Clinical and metabolic data from two groups of age-, sex- and glycated hemoglobin-matched diabetic subjects, taking either the functional bread or regular white bread, over a roughly six-month observation period, were retrieved. Results: Bread intake did not change during the trial. The functional bread reduced glycated hemoglobin by ~0.5% (absolute units) vs. pre-treatment values (p = 0.028), and by ~0.6% vs. the control group (p = 0.027). Post-prandial and mean plasma glucose was decreased in the treatment group too. Body weight, blood pressure and plasma lipids did not change. The acceptance of the functional bread was good in the majority of subjects, except for taste. Conclusions: A starch-restricted, fiber-rich functional bread, with an increased beta glucan/starch ratio, improved long term metabolic control, and may be indicated in the dietary treatment of type 2 diabetes. PMID:28304350

beta2-Microglobulin production by highly purified human T and B lymphocytes in cell culture stimulated with various mitogens.

PubMed

Kin, K; Kasahara, T; Itoh, Y; Sakurabayashi, I; Kawai, T; Morita, M

1979-01-01

This study attempts to evaluate beta2-microglobulin production by highly purified (greater than 98%) peripheral and tonsil T and B lymphocytes cultured with various mitogens. beta2-Microglobulin was measured by the radioimmunoassay method. It was found that PHA and Con A markedly stimulated beta2-microglobulin production in cultures of T but not B lymphocytes. B lymphocytes were greatly activated, on the other hand, by Staphylococcus aureau Cowan I organisms cSpA), though the level of beta2-microglobulin production was less than that observed in PHA- and Con A-stimulated T lymphocytes. PWM only slightly increased beta2-microglobulin production of T lymphocytes, although the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine was highly enhanced. The highest level of beta2-microglobulin obtained with PHA or Con A was observed when the T/B lymphocyte ratio was between 90/10 and 80/20. These results lead to the conclusion that: (1) SpA is a specific mitogen for B lymphocytes, and its mitogenicity is independent of the presence of T lymphocytes, while PHA, Con A, and PWM are ineffective as stimulants of B lymphocytes; (2) the beta2-microglobulin producing ability of B lymphocytes is less than that of T lymphocytes, even when the lymphocytes are markedly activated; (3) the beta2-microglobulin production and DNA synthesis by T lymphocytes is markedly enhanced by the helper effect of B lymphocytes; (4) the level of beta2-microglobulin production reflects lymphocyte activation, especially in T lymphocytes stimulated with PHA or Con A.

Distinct symmetry and limited peptide refolding activity of the thermosomes from the acidothermophilic archaea Acidianus tengchongensis S5{sup T}

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

Wang, Li; Hu, Zhong-jun; Luo, Yuan-ming

Recombinant thermosomes from the Acidianus tengchongensis strain S5{sup T} were purified to homogeneity and assembled in vitro into homo-oligomers (rATcpn{alpha} or rATcpn{beta}) and hetero-oligomers (rATcpn{alpha}{beta}). The symmetries of these complexes were determined by electron microscopy and image analysis. The rATcpn{alpha} homo-oligomer was shown to possess 8-fold symmetry while both rATcpn{beta} and rATcpn{alpha}{beta} oligomers adopted 9-fold symmetry. rATcpn{alpha}{beta} oligomers were shown to contain the {alpha} and {beta} subunits in a 1:2 ratio. All of the complexes prevented the irreversible inactivation of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase at 55 {sup o}C and completely prevented the formation of aggregates during thermal inactivation of citrate synthasemore » at 45 {sup o}C. All rATcpn complexes showed trace ATP hydrolysis activity. Furthermore, rATcpn{beta} sequestered fully chemically denatured substrates (GFP and thermophilic malic dehydrogenase) in vitro without refolding them in an ATP-dependent manner. This property is similar to previously reported properties of chaperonins from Sulfolobus tokodaii and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. These features are consistent with the slow growth rates of these species of archaea in their native environment.« less

Regulation of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes in the rat kidney by estradiol.

PubMed

Gomez-Sanchez, Elise P; Ganjam, Venkataseshu; Chen, Yuan Jian; Liu, Ying; Zhou, Ming Yi; Toroslu, Cigdem; Romero, Damian G; Hughson, Michael D; de Rodriguez, Angela; Gomez-Sanchez, Celso E

2003-08-01

The 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11betaHSD) type 1 (11betaHSD1) enzyme is an NADP+-dependent oxidoreductase, usually reductase, of major glucocorticoids. The NAD+-dependent type 2 (11betaHSD2) enzyme is an oxidase that inactivates cortisol and corticosterone, conferring extrinsic specificity of the mineralocorticoid receptor for aldosterone. We reported that addition of a reducing agent to renal homogenates results in the monomerization of 11betaHSD2 dimers and a significant increase in NAD+-dependent corticosterone conversion. Estrogenic effects on expression, dimerization, and activity of the kidney 11betaHSD1 and -2 enzymes are described herein. Renal 11betaHSD1 mRNA and protein expressions were decreased to very low levels by estradiol (E2) treatment of both intact and castrated male rats; testosterone had no effect. NADP+-dependent enzymatic activity of renal homogenates from E2-treated rats measured under nonreducing conditions was less than that of homogenates from intact animals. Addition of 10 mM DTT to aliquots from these same homogenates abrogated the difference in NADP+-dependent activity between E2-treated and control rats. In contrast, 11betaHSD2 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly increased by E2 treatment. There was a marked increase in the number of juxtamedullary proximal tubules stained by the antibody against 11betaHSD2 after the administration of E2. Notwithstanding, neither the total corticosterone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone excreted in the urine nor their ratio differed between E2- and vehicle-treated rats. NAD+-dependent enzymatic activity in the absence or presence of a reducing agent demonstrated that the increase in 11betaHSD2 protein was not associated with an increase in in vitro activity unless the dimers were reduced to monomers.

Dissociation between cardiomyocyte function and remodeling with beta-adrenergic receptor blockade in isolated canine mitral regurgitation.

PubMed

Pat, Betty; Killingsworth, Cheryl; Denney, Thomas; Zheng, Junying; Powell, Pamela; Tillson, Michael; Dillon, A Ray; Dell'Italia, Louis J

2008-12-01

The low-pressure volume overload of isolated mitral regurgitation (MR) is associated with increased adrenergic drive, left ventricular (LV) dilatation, and loss of interstitial collagen. We tested the hypothesis that beta1-adrenergic receptor blockade (beta1-RB) would attenuate LV remodeling after 4 mo of MR in the dog. beta1-RB did not attenuate collagen loss or the increase in LV mass in MR dogs. Using MRI and three-dimensional (3-D) analysis, there was a 70% increase in the LV end-diastolic (LVED) volume-to-LV mass ratio, a 23% decrease in LVED midwall circumferential curvature, and a >50% increase in LVED 3-D radius/wall thickness in MR dogs that was not attenuated by beta1-RB. However, beta1-RB caused a significant increase in LVED length from the base to apex compared with untreated MR dogs. This was associated with an increase in isolated cardiomyocyte length (171+/-5 microm, P<0.05) compared with normal (156+/-3 microm) and MR (165+/-4 microm) dogs. Isolated cardiomyocyte fractional shortening was significantly depressed in MR dogs compared with normal dogs (3.73+/-0.31 vs. 5.02+/-0.26%, P<0.05) and normalized with beta1-RB (4.73+/-0.48%). In addition, stimulation with the beta-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol (25 nM) increased cardiomyocyte fractional shortening by 215% (P<0.05) in beta1-RB dogs compared with normal (56%) and MR (50%) dogs. In summary, beta1-RB improved LV cardiomyocyte function and beta-adrenergic receptor responsiveness despite further cell elongation. The failure to attenuate LV remodeling associated with MR could be due to a failure to improve ultrastructural changes in extracellular matrix organization.

A recipe for designing water-soluble, beta-sheet-forming peptides.

PubMed Central

Mayo, K. H.; Ilyina, E.; Park, H.

1996-01-01

Based on observations of solubility and folding properties of peptide 33-mers derived from the beta-sheet domains of platelet factor-4 (PF4), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and growth related protein (Gro-alpha), as well as other beta-sheet-forming peptides, general guidelines have been developed to aid in the design of water soluble, self-association-induced beta-sheet-forming peptides. CD, 1H-NMR, and pulsed field gradient NMR self-diffusion measurements have been used to assess the degree of folding and state of aggregation. PF4 peptide forms native-like beta-sheet tetramers and is sparingly soluble above pH 6. IL-8 peptide is insoluble between pH 4.5 and pH 7.5, yet forms stable, native-like beta-sheet dimers at higher pH. Gro-alpha peptide is soluble at all pH values, yet displays no discernable beta-sheet structure even when diffusion data indicate dimer-tetramer aggregation. A recipe used in the de novo design of water-soluble beta-sheet-forming peptides calls for the peptide to contain 40-50% hydrophobic residues, usually aliphatic ones (I, L, V, A, M) (appropriately paired and mostly but not always alternating with polar residues in the sheet sequence), a positively charged (K, R) to negatively charged (E, D) residue ratio between 4/2 and 6/2, and a noncharged polar residue (N, Q, T, S) composition of about 20% or less. Results on four de novo designed, 33-residue peptides are presented supporting this approach. Under near physiologic conditions, all four peptides are soluble, form beta-sheet structures to varying degrees, and self-associate. One peptide folds as a stable, compact beta-sheet tetramer, whereas the others are transient beta-sheet-containing aggregates. PMID:8819163

Inhibitory effect of dimeric beta peptide on the recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in mice.

PubMed

Wang, Song-Mei; Zhu, Jun; Pan, Luan-Feng; Liu, Yin-Kun

2008-05-21

To block the adhesion of tumor cells to the extracellular matrix, and prevent tumor metastasis and recurrence, the dimer of the beta peptide (DLYYLMDLSYSMKGGDLYYLMDLSYSMK, beta2) was designed and synthesized and its anti-adhesion and anti-invasion effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cells were assessed. Additionally, its influence on the metastasis and recurrence of mouse hepatocellular carcinoma was measured. The anti-adhesion effect of beta2 on the highly metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HCCLM6 cells and fibronectin (FN) was assayed by the MTT assay. The inhibition of invasion of HCCLM6 cells by beta2 was observed using a Transwell (modified Boyden chamber) and matrigel. Using the hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis model and LCI-D20 nude mice, the influence of beta2 on the metastasis and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after early resection was investigated. HCCLM6 cells co-incubated with 100 mumol/L, 50 micromol/L, 20 micromol/L or 10 micromol/L beta2 for 3 h showed an obvious decrease in adhesion to FN. The adhesion inhibition ratios were 11.8%, 21.7%, 29.6% and 48.7%, respectively. Additionally, HCCLM6 cells cultured with 100 mumol/L beta2 had a dramatic decrease in cell invasion. beta2 was also observed to inhibit the incisal edge recurrence and the distant metastasis of nude mice hepatocellular carcinoma after early resection (P < 0.05). The beta2 peptide can specifically block the adhesion and invasion of HCCLM6 cells, and can inhibit HCC recurrence and metastasis of LCI-D20 model posthepatectomy in vivo. Thus, beta2 should be further studied as a new anti-tumor drug.

Half-life, branching-ratio, and Q-value measurement for the superallowed 0{sup +}{yields}0{sup +}{beta}{sup +} emitter {sup 42}Ti

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

Nieto, T. Kurtukian; Souin, J.; Audirac, L.

2009-09-15

The half-life, the branching ratio, and the decay Q value of the superallowed {beta} emitter {sup 42}Ti were measured in an experiment performed at the JYFLTRAP facility of the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyvaeskylae. {sup 42}Ti is the heaviest T{sub z}=-1 nucleus for which high-precision measurements of these quantities have been tried. The half-life (T{sub 1/2}=208.14{+-}0.45 ms) and the Q value [Q{sub EC}=7016.83(25) keV] are close to or reach the required precision of about 0.1%. The branching ratio for the superallowed decay branch [BR=47.7(12)%], a by-product of the half-life measurement, does not reach the necessary precision yet. Nonetheless,more » these results allow one to determine the experimental ft value and the corrected Ft value to be 3114(79) and 3122(79) s, respectively.« less

Jamming of three-dimensional prolate granular materials.

PubMed

Desmond, K; Franklin, Scott V

2006-03-01

We have found that the ability of long thin rods to jam into a solidlike state in response to a local perturbation depends upon both the particle aspect ratio and the container size. The dynamic phase diagram in this parameter space reveals a broad transition region separating granular stick-slip and solidlike behavior. In this transition region the pile displays both solid and stick-slip behavior. We measure the force on a small object pulled through the pile, and find the fluctuation spectra to have power law tails with an exponent characteristic of the region. The exponent varies from beta=-2 in the stick-slip region to beta=-1 in the solid region. These values reflect the different origins--granular rearrangements vs dry friction--of the fluctuations. Finally, the packing fraction shows only a slight dependence on container size, but depends on aspect ratio in a manner predicted by mean-field theory and implies an aspect-ratio-independent contact number of =5.25 +/- 0.03.

Thermodynamic study on competitive solubilization of cholesterol and beta-sitosterol in bile salt micelles.

PubMed

Matsuoka, Keisuke; Hirosawa, Takashi; Honda, Chikako; Endo, Kazutoyo; Moroi, Yoshikiyo; Shibata, Osamu

2007-07-01

Differences in the preferential solubilization of cholesterol and competitive solubilizates (beta-sitosterol and aromatic compounds) in bile salt micelles was systematically studied by changing the molar ratio of cholesterol to competitive solubilizates. The cholesterol solubility in a mixed binary system (cholesterol and beta-sitosterol) was almost half that of the cholesterol alone system, regardless of the excess beta-sitosterol quantity added. On the other hand, the mutual solubilities of cholesterol and pyrene were not inhibited by their presence in binary mixed crystals. Finally, the cholesterol solubility was measured by changing the alkyl chain length of n-alkylbenzenes. When tetradecylbenzene was added to the bile solution, the cholesterol solubility decreased slightly and was below the original cholesterol solubility. Based on Gibbs energy change (DeltaG degrees ) for solubilization, chemicals that inhibit cholesterol solubility in their combined crystal systems showed a larger negative DeltaG degrees value than cholesterol alone.

Silsesquioxane-derived ceramic fibres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hurwitz, F. I.; Farmer, S. C.; Terepka, F. M.; Leonhardt, T. A.

1991-01-01

Fibers formed from blends of silsesquioxane polymers were characterized to study the pyrolytic conversion of these precursors to ceramics. The morphology of fibers pyrolyzed to 1400 C revealed primarily amorphous glasses whose conversion to beta-SiC is a function of both blend composition and pyrolysis conditions. Formation of beta-SiC crystallites within the glassy phase is favored by higher than stoichiometric C/Si ratios, while carbothermal reduction of Si-O bonds to form SiC with loss of SiO and CO occurs at higher methyl/phenylpropyl silsesquioxane (lower C/Si) ratios. As the carbothermal reduction is assumed to be diffusion controlled, the fibers can serve as model systems to gain understanding of the silsesquioxane pyrolysis behavior, and therefore are useful in the development of polysilsesquioxane-derived ceramic matrices and coatings as well.

Nd:YAG laser ablation and acid resistance of enamel.

PubMed

Kwon, Yong Hoon; Kwon, Oh-Won; Kim, Hyung-Il; Kim, Kyo-Han

2003-09-01

The acid resistance of Nd:YAG laser-ablated enamel surfaces was studied by evaluating crystal structure, mineral distribution, and fluorescence radiance and image in the present study. For comparison, 37% phosphoric acid etching was performed. The formation of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) was confirmed in the laser-ablated surface. The Ca/P ratio increased after ablation due to mineral re-distribution. In contrast, the Ca/P ratio decreased after acid etching due to mineral loss. The laser-ablated enamels showed a smaller increase of fluorescence radiances and less clear laser confocal scanning microscope images than those observed in the acid-etched enamels. The former suggests a minimized mineral loss. The Nd:YAG laser irradiation will enhance the acid resistance and retard the carious progression in enamel.

Structure of ganglioside with CAD blood group antigen activity

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

Gillard, B.K.; Blanchard, D.; Cartron, J.P.

1986-05-01

The novel erythrocyte ganglioside which carries the blood group Cad determinant has been isolated, and its structure has been determined. The ganglioside contained Glu:Gal:GalNAc:GlcNAc in a molar ratio of 1.00:1.94:0.93:0.95. The ganglioside binds Helix pomatia lectin and its chromatographic mobility is similar to G/sub D3/. After treatment with ..beta..-hexosaminidase (human placenta HexA) the product migrated with sialosylparagloboside (SPG), no longer binds Helix lectin, and binds a human anti-SPG antibody. Treatment of this material with neuraminidase (V. cholera) yielded a product with the mobility of paragloboside that bound monoclonal antibody 1B2. NMR analysis revealed that the terminal GalNAc is linked ..beta..1-4more » to Gal, and confirms the structure proposed previously: GalNAc..beta..1-4(NeuAc..cap alpha..2-3)Gal..beta..1-4GlcNAc..beta..1-3Gal..beta..1-4Glc-Cer. This structure is consistent with the previous demonstration that a compound with the same chromatographic mobility as the Cad ganglioside could be synthesized by enzymatic transfer of GalNAc to sialosylparagloboside.« less

Reaction of. beta. -propiolactone with derivatives of adenine and with DNA

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

Chen, R.; Mieyal, J.J.; Goldthwait, D.A.

1982-01-01

The reaction of deoxyadenosine with ..beta..-propiolactone produces two derivatives. One is 1-(2-carboxyethyl)-2-deoxyadenosine (CEdA). The proposed structure for the other is 3-(..beta..-D-2-deoxyribosyl)-7,8-dihydropyrimido-(2,l-i)purine-9-one (dDPP). Spectral characteristics of both compounds are presented. These include u.v. spectra of each in acidic, neutral and alkaline solutions, i.r. spectra, fluorescence spectra, and n.m.r. spectra. The dDPP can be converted to CEdA by mild acid hydrolysis, and the CEdA can be converted to dDPP by reaction with a carbodiimide derivative. When poly A was reacted with ..beta..-propiolactone, the yield of dDPP in the polymer was 7-9%. When double-stranded DNA was alkylated by (/sup 3/H)..beta..-propiolactone at relatively highmore » concentrations and then acid hydrolyzed to separate 1-(2-carboxyethyl)adenine (CEA) and 7-(2-carboxyethyl)guanine (CEG), and CEA to CEG ratio of up to 0.62 was obtained. With relatively low concentrations of (/sup 3/H)..beta..-propiolactone, the yield of CEA was low with double-stranded DNA but was 5-6 fold greater with single-stranded DNA.« less

Neurofeedback training aimed to improve focused attention and alertness in children with ADHD: a study of relative power of EEG rhythms using custom-made software application.

PubMed

Hillard, Brent; El-Baz, Ayman S; Sears, Lonnie; Tasman, Allan; Sokhadze, Estate M

2013-07-01

Neurofeedback is a nonpharmacological treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We propose that operant conditioning of electroencephalogram (EEG) in neurofeedback training aimed to mitigate inattention and low arousal in ADHD, will be accompanied by changes in EEG bands' relative power. Patients were 18 children diagnosed with ADHD. The neurofeedback protocol ("Focus/Alertness" by Peak Achievement Trainer) has a focused attention and alertness training mode. The neurofeedback protocol provides one for Focus and one for Alertness. This does not allow for collecting information regarding changes in specific EEG bands (delta, theta, alpha, low and high beta, and gamma) power within the 2 to 45 Hz range. Quantitative EEG analysis was completed on each of twelve 25-minute-long sessions using a custom-made MatLab application to determine the relative power of each of the aforementioned EEG bands throughout each session, and from the first session to the last session. Additional statistical analysis determined significant changes in relative power within sessions (from minute 1 to minute 25) and between sessions (from session 1 to session 12). Analysis was of relative power of theta, alpha, low and high beta, theta/alpha, theta/beta, and theta/low beta and theta/high beta ratios. Additional secondary measures of patients' post-neurofeedback outcomes were assessed, using an audiovisual selective attention test (IVA + Plus) and behavioral evaluation scores from the Aberrant Behavior Checklist. Analysis of data computed in the MatLab application, determined that theta/low beta and theta/alpha ratios decreased significantly from session 1 to session 12, and from minute 1 to minute 25 within sessions. The findings regarding EEG changes resulting from brain wave self-regulation training, along with behavioral evaluations, will help elucidate neural mechanisms of neurofeedback aimed to improve focused attention and alertness in ADHD.

Parapapillary Gamma Zone and Progression of Myopia in School Children: The Beijing Children Eye Study.

PubMed

Guo, Yin; Liu, Li Juan; Tang, Ping; Feng, Yi; Lv, Yan Yun; Wu, Min; Xu, Liang; Jonas, Jost B

2018-03-01

To assess the development and enlargement of the parapapillary gamma zone in school children. This school-based prospective longitudinal study included Chinese children attending grade 1 in 2011 and returning for yearly follow-up examinations until 2016. These examinations consisted of a comprehensive ocular examination with biometry and color fundus photographs. The parents underwent a standardized interview. The parapapillary gamma zone was defined as the area with visible sclera at the temporal optic disc margin, and the optic disc itself was measured on fundus photographs. The study included 294 children (mean age in 2016, 11.4 ± 0.5 years [range, 10-13 years]; mean axial length, 24.1 ± 1.1 mm [range, 21.13-27.29 mm]). In multivariate analysis, larger increases in the gamma zone area during the study period were correlated (coefficient of determination for bivariate analysis [r2], r2 = 0.69) with larger increases in the vertical-to-horizontal disc diameter ratios (P < 0.001; standardized regression coefficient beta [beta], 0.53; nonstandardized regression coefficient B [B], 4.05; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 3.37-4.73), larger axial elongation (P < 0.001; beta, 0.32; B, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.26-0.47), a larger vertical disc diameter at baseline (P < 0.001; beta, 0.22; B, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.62-1.33), a larger gamma zone area at baseline (P < 0.001; beta, 0.14; B, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.17-0.64), and more time spent indoors studying (P = 0.015; beta, 0.10; B, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.02-0.17). The development and enlargement of the gamma zone in the temporal parapapillary region were associated with an optic disc rotation around the vertical disc axis as indicated by an increasing vertical-to-horizontal disc diameter ratio. These morphologic findings fit with the notion of a backward pull of the temporal peripapillary sclera through the optic nerve dura mater in axially elongated eyes.

A systematic review on clinical benefits of continuous administration of beta-lactam antibiotics.

PubMed

Roberts, Jason A; Webb, Steven; Paterson, David; Ho, Kwok M; Lipman, Jeffrey

2009-06-01

The clinical benefits of extended infusion or continuous infusion of beta-lactam antibiotics remain controversial. We systematically reviewed the literature to determine whether any clinical benefits exist for administration of beta-lactam antibiotics by extended or continuous infusion. PubMed (January 1950 to November 2007), EMBASE (1966 to November 2007), and the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register were searched (updated November 2007). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were meta-analyzed, and observational studies were described by two unblinded reviewers. A total of 846 patients from eligible prospective randomized controlled studies were included in the meta-analysis. Two observational studies were deemed appropriate for description. A meta-analysis of prospective RCTs was undertaken using Review Manager. Among a total of 59 potentially relevant studies, 14 RCTs involving a total of 846 patients from nine countries were deemed appropriate for meta-analysis. The use of continuous infusion of a beta-lactam antibiotic was not associated with an improvement in clinical cure (n = 755 patients; odds ratio: 1.04, 95% confidence interval: 0.74-1.46, p = 0.83, I = 0%) or mortality (n = 541 patients; odds ratio: 1.00, 95% confidence interval: 0.48-2.06, p = 1.00, I = 14.8%). All RCTs except one used a higher antibiotic dose in the bolus administration group. Two observational studies, not pooled because they did not meet the a priori criteria for meta-analysis, showed that beta-lactam administration by extended or continuous infusion was associated with an improvement in clinical cure. The difference in the results between the meta-analysis results and the observational studies could be explained by the bias created by a higher dose of antibiotic in the bolus group in the RCTs and because many of the RCTs only recruited patients with a low acuity of illness. The limited data available suggest that continuous infusion of beta-lactam antibiotics leads to the same clinical results as higher dosed bolus administration in hospitalized patients.

Betacyanins from bracts of Bougainvillea glabra.

PubMed

Heuer, S; Richter, S; Metzger, J W; Wray, V; Nimtz, M; Strack, D

1994-10-01

Betacyanins from the bracts of Bougainvillea glabra were isolated and characterized by a combination of spectroscopic techniques (DAD-HPLC, NMR, LC-MS, GC-MS, electrospray MS, tandem MS) as gomphrenin I (betanidin 6-O-beta-glucoside) and various derivatives of bougainvillein-v (betanidin 6-O-beta-sophoroside), i.e. mono- and diglucosylsophorosides which are acylated with 4-coumaric and caffeic acid (mono- and diesters). Besides the betacyanins, B. glabra bracts accumulated large amounts of flavonols (kaempferol and quercetin conjugates) reaching ratios of flavonol to betacyanin of 1:1.

High levels of interleukin-1 in patients with endemic pemphigus foliaceus.

PubMed

Rocha-Rodrigues, Denise Bertulucci; Paschoini, Giovana; Pereira, Sanivia Aparecida Lima; dos Reis, Marlene Antonia; Teixeira, Vicente de Paula Antunes; Rodrigues Júnior, Virmondes

2003-09-01

Endemic pemphigus foliaceus (EPF) is an autoimmune disease characterized by blister formation with a loss of cohesion and infiltration of inflammatory cells. We observed that supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients produced significantly more interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) than those from stimulated healthy controls. Furthermore, a Th2 bias was observed in EPF patients when the IL-5/gamma interferon ratio was analyzed. These results indicate that cells from pemphigus patients react with a vigorous proinflammatory response.

Biodegradability and mechanical properties of poly-([beta]-hyroxybutyrate-Co-[beta]-hydroxyvalerate)-starch blends

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

Ramsay, B.A.; Langlade, V.; Carreau, P.J.

1993-04-01

PHAs, biodegradable thermoplastics, are a promising option to synthetic resins such as polyethylene, in combination with starch, to produce biodegradable plastics. This paper describes the mechanical properties and biodegradability of blends of wheat starch and P(HB-co-HV). The results indicate that the addition of starch to P(HB-co-HV) not only reduces the cost but also leads to a completely biodegradable material whose degradation can be tailored by adjusting the starch/PHA ratio. 15 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.

Preparation of interesterified plastic fats from fats and oils free of trans fatty acid.

PubMed

Lee, Jeung Hee; Akoh, Casimir C; Himmelsbach, David S; Lee, Ki-Teak

2008-06-11

Interesterified plastic fats were produced with trans-free substrates of fully hydrogenated soybean oil, extra virgin olive oil, and palm stearin in a weight ratio of 10:20:70, 10:40:50, and 10:50:40, respectively, by lipase catalysis. The major fatty acids of the products were palmitic (32.2-47.4%), stearic (12.0-12.4%), and oleic acid (33.6-49.5%). After storage at 5 degrees C (refrigerator temperature) or 24 degrees C (room temperature) for 16 h, the physical properties were evaluated for solid fat content, texture, melting, and crystallization behavior, viscoelastic properties, crystal polymorphism, and crystal microstructure. The interesterified fats contained desirable crystal polymorphs (beta' form) as determined by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. They exhibited a wide plastic range of solid fat content of 52-58% at 10 degrees C and 15% at 40 degrees C. The physical properties were influenced by the ratio of palm stearin and olive oil. Harder and more brittle texture, crystallization and melting at higher temperature, higher solid fat contents, and more elastic (G') or viscous (G') characteristics were observed in the produced fats containing a higher content of palm stearin and lower content of olive oil. The produced fats stored at 5 degrees C consisted mostly of beta' form crystal together with a small content of beta form, while those at 24 degrees C had only beta' form. The produced fat with a higher amount of palm stearin appeared to have more beta' form crystal and small size crystal clusters. Thus, the physical properties of the produced plastic fats may be desirable for use in a bakery product.

Parapapillary beta zone in primary school children in Beijing: associations with outdoor activity.

PubMed

Guo, Yin; Liu, Li Juan; Xu, Liang; Lv, Yan Yun; Tang, Ping; Feng, Yi; Zhou, Jin Qiong; Meng, Meng; Jonas, Jost B

2014-02-14

To investigate prevalence and size of parapapillary alpha zone and beta zone and associations with myopia-related factors in primary school children in Beijing. The school-based study included 382 grade-1 children and 299 grade-4 children. The children underwent a comprehensive eye examination and the parents, an interview. The examination was repeated after 1 year. Beta zone (prevalence: 44.5% ± 2.1%; mean area: 0.17 ± 0.29 mm(2)) was significantly associated with more time spent indoors with studying (P = 0.004; standardized correlation coefficient β: 0.14; regression coefficient B: 0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.09) after adjusting for longer axial length (P < 0.001; β: 0.22; B: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.10), more myopic refractive error (P < 0.001; β: -0.29; B: -0.07; 95% CI: -0.09, -0.04), region of habitation (P = 0.03; β: 0.11; B: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.14), and vertical disc diameter (P = 0.03; β: 0.10; B: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.30). As a corollary, indoors studying time was associated with larger area of beta zone (P = 0.01; β: 0.11; B: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.54) after adjusting for higher axial length/corneal curvature radius ratio (AL/CC; P = 0.006; β: 0.12; B: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.27, 1.62) and urban region of habitation (P < 0.001; β: -0.44; B: -0.75; 95% CI: -0.89, -0.61). An increase in AL/CC ratio at 1-year follow-up was associated with more indoors studying time (P = 0.04; β: 0.10; B: 0.01; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.01) and larger beta zone area (P < 0.001; β: 0.19; B: 0.04; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.05) after adjusting for axial length (P < 0.001; β: -0.21; B: -0.01; 95% CI: -0.02, -0.01). Larger parapapillary beta zone area was associated with more indoors studying time after adjustment for axial length, refractive error, and region of habitation, and reversely, more indoors studying time was associated with larger beta zone in multivariate analysis. The results could indicate that parapapillary beta zone is associated with external factors-dependent development of myopia.

Proinsulin maturation disorder is a contributor to the defect of subsequent conversion to insulin in {beta}-cells

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

Wang, Jie, E-mail: jie.wang2@osumc.edu; Osei, Kwame

2011-07-22

Highlights: {yields} Primary proinsulin maturation disorder is inherent in Ins2{sup +/Akita} islets/{beta}-cells. {yields} A consequence is the inefficient conversion of proinsulin to insulin. {yields} Post-translational defects occur as well in the involved PC1/3 and PC2 convertases. {yields} Proinsulin maturation chaos results in defects in the following conversion process. {yields} A link of the proinsulin maturation disorder and hyperproinsulinemia is suggested. -- Abstract: Disproportionate hyperproinsulinemia is an indicator of {beta}-cell dysfunction in diabetes and the basis underlying this abnormality remains obscure. Recently, we have found proinsulin is an aggregation-prone molecule inherent with a low relative folding rate and maintains a homeostaticmore » balance of natively and plentiful non-natively folded states (i.e., proinsulin homeostasis, PIHO) in normal {beta}-cells as a result of the integration of maturation and disposal processes. PIHO is susceptible to environmental and genetic influences. Perturbation of PIHO produces a number of toxic consequences with known association to {beta}-cell failure in diabetes. To explore whether the perturbation of PIHO has a link to disproportionate hyperproinsulinemia, we investigated proinsulin conversion and the involved prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) and 2 (PC2) in mouse Ins2{sup +/Akita} islets/{beta}-cells that preserve a primary PIHO disorder due to a mutation (C96Y) in the insulin 2 (Ins2) gene. Our metabolic-labeling studies found an increased ratio of proinsulin to insulin in the cellular or released proteins of Ins2{sup +/Akita} islets. Histological, metabolic-labeling, and RT-PCR analyses revealed decreases of the PC1/3 and PC2 immunoreactivities in the {beta}-cells of Ins2{sup +/Akita} islets in spite of no declines of these two convertases at the transcriptional and translational levels. Immunoblot analyses in cloned Ins2{sup +/Akita} {beta}-cells further confirmed the increased ratio of proinsulin to insulin despite the levels of PC1/3 and PC2 proteins were not reduced somehow. The findings demonstrate that the perturbation of PIHO results in defects in the subsequent conversion process of proinsulin and is a contributor to the occurrence of disproportionate hyperproinsulinemia in diabetes.« less

Near Work Related Behaviors Associated with Myopic Shifts among Primary School Students in the Jiading District of Shanghai: A School-Based One-Year Cohort Study.

PubMed

You, Xiaofang; Wang, Ling; Tan, Hui; He, Xiangui; Qu, Xiaomei; Shi, Huijing; Zhu, Jianfeng; Zou, Haidong

2016-01-01

To investigate the characteristics of various near work related behaviors among primary students and their associations with changes in myopia related ocular biometric parameters during one-year of follow up. A school-based sample of 4,814 primary 1st to 4th grade students aged 6-10 years old were selected by cluster randomization based on probability proportion to size in 2013. At baseline, students together with their parents filled in a self-administered questionnaire on 9 aspects of near work related behaviors and some important covariants of myopia. A comprehensive set of eye examinations including axial length (AL) and cycloplegic refraction was conducted both at baseline and one year later. With the grade level increase, students did increasingly better at finding various ways to have an eye break, but they were increasingly likely to continuously do long-time near work without an eye break. Keeping a reasonable eye distance and correct hand posture for reading, writing, or watching TV became worse for the first time before grade 2, but then became better at grade 3. In contrast, selecting appropriate lighting environments or situations and keeping a balanced diet became better for the first time before grade 2, but then became worse at grade 3. At one-year follow up, the mean AL increased by 0.32 ± 0.35 mm, the ratio of AL divided by the mean corneal radius of curvature (AL/CR ratio) increased by 0.032 ± 0.054, the myopic spherical equivalent (SE) increased by -0.51 ± 0.51 diopters and the incidence of myopia was 16.0% (237/1,477). After controlling for the confounding effects of parental myopia, student's age, gender, height, daily near work time, daily outdoor activity time and all of the other near work related behaviors, keeping a reasonable distance when reading, writing and watching TV was associated with elongation of the AL [standard coefficient beta = -0.062, P = 0.004], a change in SE [beta = -0.072, P = 0.020] and incident myopia [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.84-0.96]. Selecting an environment with adequate light for visual comfort to read and write was related to elongation of the AL [beta = -0.039, P = 0.034] and increase of AL/CR ratio [beta = -0.030, P = 0.048]. Also, not continuing to do near work for more than 30-40 minutes without an eye break was related to increase of the AL/CR ratio [beta = -0.028, P = 0.044] and a change in SE [beta = -0.064, P = 0.023]. Various near work related behaviors changed according to grade level in primary school students. Independent of hereditary factors, daily near work load and outdoor activity, near work related behaviors such as keeping an inappropriate eye distance for near work, selecting inadequate lighting environments, and continuing to do near work without an eye break were risk factors for myopic shifts.

Formation, isomerization, and derivatization of Keggin tungstoaluminates.

PubMed

Cowan, J J; Bailey, A J; Heintz, R A; Do, B T; Hardcastle, K I; Hill, C L; Weinstock, I A

2001-12-17

Trends in the stability of alpha- and beta-Keggin heteropolytungstates of the second-row main-group heteroatoms Al(III), Si(IV), and P(V) are elaborated by data that establish the roles of kinetic and thermodynamic control in the formation and isomerization of Keggin tungstoaluminates. Slow, room-temperature co-condensation of Al(III) and W(VI) (2:11 molar ratio) in water gives a pH 7 solution containing beta(1) and beta(2) isomers of [Al(AlOH(2))W(11)O(39)](6)(-) (beta(1)- and beta(2)-1). Partial equilibration of this kinetic product mixture by gentle heating (2 h at 100 degrees C) or, alternatively, co-condensation of Al(III) and W(VI) for 2.5 h at 100 degrees C both give mixtures of beta(2)-, beta(3)-, and alpha-1. Full equilibration, by prolonged heating (25 days at 100 degrees C), gives an isomerically pure solution of alpha-1, thus demonstrating that isomerization occurs in the direction beta(1) --> beta(2) --> beta(3) --> alpha. Furthermore, kinetically controlled conversions of 1 to H(5)[AlW(12)O(40)] (2)-achieved by heating pH 0-0.2 solutions of 1 for 5 days at 100 degrees C-occur with retention of isomeric integrity, such that alpha-1 is converted to alpha-2 (92%; 8% beta), while mixtures of beta(2)- and beta(3)-1 are converted to beta-2 (87%; 13% alpha). These data, when combined with previously reported observations (equilibria between alpha- and beta-2, kinetically controlled hydrolyses of alpha-2 to alpha-[AlW(11)O(39)](9)(-) (alpha-3) and of beta-2 to beta(2)-3, and equilibria between beta(3)- and alpha-3), provide a comprehensive picture regarding the roles of kinetic and thermodynamic control. Finally, a general method for preparation of the isomerically pure derivatives alpha-K(9)(-)(n)()[AlM(n)()(+)W(11)O(39)] (4), M(n)()(+) = Al(III), [V(IV)O](2+), [V(V)O](3+), Mn(II), Mn(III), Mn(IV), Co(II), and Co(III), is provided. The presence of Mn(IV) is confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, pK(a) values of the aquo ligands on 4 are determined by pH titration, and the isomeric structure of these derivatives is established by (27)Al, (51)V, and (183)W NMR and IR spectroscopies and X-ray crystallography.

Structure and spectra of H/sub 2/O in hydrated. beta. -alumina

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

Bates, J.B.; Dudney, N.J.; Brown, G.M.

1982-11-15

The structure and spectra of hydrated Li and Na ..beta..-alumina were investigated using neutron diffraction, infrared absorption, and Raman scattering. The dimensions of the hexagonal unit cell of a hydrated Li ..beta..-alumina crystal containing 1.55 H/sub 2/O molecules per unit cell are a = 5.591 A and c = 22.715 A. The oxygen atoms of the water molecules are located in the conduction plane between the mO, and the aBR sites; the protons, located above the below the plane, form bent hydrogen bonds with the O(4) oxygen ions. The HOH bond angle of water in Li ..beta..-alumina is 114/sup 0/more » and the Vertical BarO--HVertical Bar bond distance is 0.992 A. Based on polarized infrared spectra, H/sub 2/O adopts a similar structure and orientation in Na ..beta..-alumina. Spectra of absorbed H/sub 2/O, D/sub 2/O, and HDO species show that water molecules dissociate in Li ..beta..-alumina to form OH/sup -/ and H(H/sub 2/O)/sup +//sub n/ species. No evidence was found for the dissociation of water in Na ..beta..-alumina. The absorption coefficients determined for OH/sup -/ and H/sub 2/O in Li ..beta..-alumina include local field corrections. A large local field anisotropy at the protons of H/sub 2/O is responsible for the large ratio of the intensities of ..nu../sub 3/ and ..nu../sub 1/ observed for water in Li and Na ..beta..-alumina.« less

Differential regulation of thyrotropin subunit apoprotein and carbohydrate biosynthesis by thyroid hormone

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

Taylor, T.; Weintraub, B.D.

1985-04-01

The regulation of TSH apoprotein and carbohydrate biosynthesis by thyroid hormone was studied by incubating pituitaries from normal and hypothyroid (3 weeks post-thyroidectomy) rats in medium containing (/sup 14/C)alanine and (/sup 3/H) glucosamine. After 6 h, samples were sequentially treated with anti-TSH beta to precipitate TSH and free TSH beta, anti-LH beta to clear the sample of LH and free LH beta, then anti-LH alpha to precipitate free alpha-subunit. Total proteins were acid precipitated. All precipitates were subjected to electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, which were then sliced and assayed by scintillation spectrometry. In hypothyroid pituitaries plus medium, (/supmore » 14/C)alanine incorporation in combined and free beta-subunits was 26 times normal and considerably greater than the 3.4-fold increase seen in total protein; combined and free alpha-subunits showed no specific increase in apoprotein synthesis. (/sup 3/H)Glucosamine incorporation in combined alpha- and beta-subunits in hypothyroid samples was 13 and 21 times normal, respectively, and was greater than the 1.9-fold increase in total protein; free alpha-subunit showed no specific increase in carbohydrate synthesis. The glucosamine to alanine ratio, reflecting relative glycosylation of newly synthesized molecules, was increased in hypothyroidism for combined alpha-subunits, but not for combined beta-subunits, free alpha-subunits, or total proteins. In summary, short term hypothyroidism selectively stimulated TSH beta apoprotein synthesis and carbohydrate synthesis of combined alpha- and beta-subunits. Hypothyroidism also increased the relative glycosylation of combined alpha-subunit. Thus, thyroid hormone deficiency appears to alter the rate-limiting step in TSH assembly (i.e. beta-subunit synthesis) as well as the carbohydrate structure of TSH, which may play important roles in its biological function.« less

Formation of model polar stratospheric cloud films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Middlebrook, Ann M.; Koehler, Birgit G.; Mcneill, Laurie S.; Tolbert, Margaret A.

1992-01-01

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to examine the competitive growth of films representative of polar stratospheric clouds. These experiments show that either crystalline nitric acid trihydrate (beta-NAT) or amorphous films with H2O:HNO3 ratios close to 3:1 formed at temperatures 3-7 K warmer than the ice frost point under stratospheric pressure conditions. In addition, with higher HNO3 pressure, we observed nitric acid dihydrate (NAD) formation at temperatures warmer than ice formation. However, our experiments also show that NAD surfaces converted to beta-NAT upon exposure to stratospheric water pressures. Finally, we determined that the net uptake coefficient for HNO3 on beta-NAT is close to unity, whereas the net uptake coefficient for H2O is much less.

Electrotransport and diffusivity of molybdenum, rhenium, tungsten, and zirconium in beta-thorium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt, F. A.; Beck, M. S.; Rehbein, D. K.; Conzemius, R. J.; Carlson, O. N.

1984-01-01

The electric mobilities, diffusivities, and effective valences were determined for molybdenum, rhenium, tungsten, and zirconium in beta-thorium. All four solutes migrated in the same direction as the electron flow. Rhenium and molybdenum were found to be very mobile, with tungsten somewhat slower. Zirconium was found to move at a rate near that of the self-diffusion of beta-thorium, viz., about 10 to the -11th sq m/s at 1500 C. The electromigration velocities showed a similar trend. A comparison was made between experimental data obtained by scanning laser mass spectrometry and theoretical transport equations for two purification experiments. Good agreement was obtained with both the concentration profile predicted by DeGroot and the purification ratio predicted by Verhoeven.

Beta ray spectroscopy based on a plastic scintillation detector/silicon surface barrier detector coincidence telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horowitz, Y. S.; Hirning, C. R.; Yuen, P.; Aikens, M.

1994-01-01

Beta radiation is now recognized as a significant radiation safety problem and several international conferences have recently been devoted to the problems of mixed field beta/photon dosimetry. Conventional dosimetry applies algorithms to thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) multi-element badges which attempt to extract dose information based on the comparison of TL signals from ``thick/thin'' and/or ``bare/filtered'' elements. These may be grossly innacurate due to inadequate or non-existant knowledge of the energy spectrum of both the beta radiation and the accompanying photon field, as well as other factors. In this paper, we discuss the operation of a beta-ray energy spectrometer based on a two element, E × dE detector telescope intended to support dose algorithms with beta spectral information. Beta energies are measured via a 5 cm diameter × 2 cm thick BC-404 plastic scintillator preceded by a single, 100 μm thick, totally depleted, silicon dE detector. Photon events in the E detector are rejected by requiring a coincidence between the E and dE detectors. Photon rejection ratios vary from 225:1 at 1.25 MeV (60Co) to 360:1 at 0.36 MeV (133Ba). The spectrometer is capable of measuring electron energies from a lower energy coincidence threshold of approximately 125 keV to an upper limit of 3.5 MeV. This energy range spans the great majority of beta-emitting radionuclides in nuclear facilities.

Individual Differences in Behavioural Despair Predict Brain GSK-3beta Expression in Mice: The Power of a Modified Swim Test

PubMed Central

Markova, Nataliia; Shevtsova, Elena; Bakhmet, Anastassia; Steinbusch, Harry M.

2016-01-01

While deficient brain plasticity is a well-established pathophysiologic feature of depression, little is known about disorder-associated enhanced cognitive processing. Here, we studied a novel mouse paradigm that potentially models augmented learning of adverse memories during development of a depressive-like state. We used a modification of the classic two-day protocol of a mouse Porsolt test with an additional session occurring on Day 5 following the initial exposure. Unexpectedly, floating behaviour and brain glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3beta) mRNA levels, a factor of synaptic plasticity as well as a marker of distress and depression, were increased during the additional swimming session that was prevented by imipramine. Observed increases of GSK-3beta mRNA in prefrontal cortex during delayed testing session correlated with individual parameters of behavioural despair that was not found in the classic Porsolt test. Repeated swim exposure was accompanied by a lower pGSK-3beta/GSK-3beta ratio. A replacement of the second or the final swim sessions with exposure to the context of testing resulted in increased GSK-3beta mRNA level similar to the effects of swimming, while exclusion of the second testing prevented these changes. Together, our findings implicate the activation of brain GSK-3beta expression in enhanced contextual conditioning of adverse memories, which is associated with an individual susceptibility to a depressive syndrome. PMID:27478647

Individual Differences in Behavioural Despair Predict Brain GSK-3beta Expression in Mice: The Power of a Modified Swim Test.

PubMed

Strekalova, Tatyana; Markova, Nataliia; Shevtsova, Elena; Zubareva, Olga; Bakhmet, Anastassia; Steinbusch, Harry M; Bachurin, Sergey; Lesch, Klaus-Peter

2016-01-01

While deficient brain plasticity is a well-established pathophysiologic feature of depression, little is known about disorder-associated enhanced cognitive processing. Here, we studied a novel mouse paradigm that potentially models augmented learning of adverse memories during development of a depressive-like state. We used a modification of the classic two-day protocol of a mouse Porsolt test with an additional session occurring on Day 5 following the initial exposure. Unexpectedly, floating behaviour and brain glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3beta) mRNA levels, a factor of synaptic plasticity as well as a marker of distress and depression, were increased during the additional swimming session that was prevented by imipramine. Observed increases of GSK-3beta mRNA in prefrontal cortex during delayed testing session correlated with individual parameters of behavioural despair that was not found in the classic Porsolt test. Repeated swim exposure was accompanied by a lower pGSK-3beta/GSK-3beta ratio. A replacement of the second or the final swim sessions with exposure to the context of testing resulted in increased GSK-3beta mRNA level similar to the effects of swimming, while exclusion of the second testing prevented these changes. Together, our findings implicate the activation of brain GSK-3beta expression in enhanced contextual conditioning of adverse memories, which is associated with an individual susceptibility to a depressive syndrome.

Central Elemental Abundance Ratios In the Perseus Cluster: Resonant Scattering or SN Ia Enrichment?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dupke, Renato A.; Arnaud, Keith; White, Nicholas E. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

We have determined abundance ratios in the core of the Perseus Cluster for several elements. These ratios indicate a central dominance of Type 1a supernova (SN Ia) ejects similar to that found for A496, A2199 and A3571. Simultaneous analysis of ASCA spectra from SIS1, GIS2, and GIS3 shows that the ratio of Ni to Fe abundances is approx. 3.4 +/- 1.1 times solar within the central 4'. This ratio is consistent with (and more precise than) that observed in other clusters whose central regions are dominated by SN Ia ejecta. Such a large Ni overabundance is predicted by "convective deflagration" explosion models for SNe Ia such as W7 but is inconsistent with delayed detonation models. We note that with current instrumentation the Ni K(alpha) line is confused with Fe K(beta) and that the Ni overabundance we observe has been interpreted by others as an anomalously large ratio of Fe K(beta) to Fe K(alpha) caused by resonant scattering in the Fe K(alpha) line. We argue that a central enhancement of SN Ia ejecta and hence a high ratio of Ni to Fe abundances are naturally explained by scenarios that include the generation of chemical gradients by suppressed SN Ia winds or ram pressure stripping of cluster galaxies. It is not necessary to suppose that the intracluster gas is optically thick to resonant scattering of the Fe K(alpha) line.

Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in National Spherical Torus Experiment

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

Guttenfelder, W.; Kaye, S. M.; Ren, Y.

This paper presents quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch for low aspect-ratio National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) H-modes where previous experimental measurements were focused. Local, linear calculations predict that in the region of interest (just outside the mid-radius) of these relatively high-beta plasmas, profiles are most unstable to microtearing modes that are only effective in transporting electron energy. However, sub-dominant electromagnetic and electrostaticballooning modes are also unstable, which are effective at transporting energy, particles, and momentum. The quasi-linear prediction of transport from these weaker ballooning modes, assuming they contribute transport in addition to that from microtearing modes inmore » a nonlinear turbulent state, leads to a very small or outward convection of momentum, inconsistent with the experimentally measured inward pinch, and opposite to predictions in conventional aspect ratio tokamaks. Additional predictions of a low beta L-mode plasma, unstable to more traditional electrostatic ion temperature gradient-trapped electron mode instability, show that the Coriolis pinch is inward but remains relatively weak and insensitive to many parameter variations. The weak or outward pinch predicted in NSTX plasmas appears to be at least partially correlated to changes in the parallel mode structure that occur at a finite beta and low aspect ratio, as discussed in previous theories. The only conditions identified where a stronger inward pinch is predicted occur either in the purely electrostatic limit or if the aspect ratio is increased. Lastly, as the Coriolis pinch cannot explain the measured momentum pinch, additional theoretical momentum transport mechanisms are discussed that may be potentially important.« less

Quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch in National Spherical Torus Experiment

DOE PAGES

Guttenfelder, W.; Kaye, S. M.; Ren, Y.; ...

2016-05-11

This paper presents quasi-linear gyrokinetic predictions of the Coriolis momentum pinch for low aspect-ratio National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) H-modes where previous experimental measurements were focused. Local, linear calculations predict that in the region of interest (just outside the mid-radius) of these relatively high-beta plasmas, profiles are most unstable to microtearing modes that are only effective in transporting electron energy. However, sub-dominant electromagnetic and electrostaticballooning modes are also unstable, which are effective at transporting energy, particles, and momentum. The quasi-linear prediction of transport from these weaker ballooning modes, assuming they contribute transport in addition to that from microtearing modes inmore » a nonlinear turbulent state, leads to a very small or outward convection of momentum, inconsistent with the experimentally measured inward pinch, and opposite to predictions in conventional aspect ratio tokamaks. Additional predictions of a low beta L-mode plasma, unstable to more traditional electrostatic ion temperature gradient-trapped electron mode instability, show that the Coriolis pinch is inward but remains relatively weak and insensitive to many parameter variations. The weak or outward pinch predicted in NSTX plasmas appears to be at least partially correlated to changes in the parallel mode structure that occur at a finite beta and low aspect ratio, as discussed in previous theories. The only conditions identified where a stronger inward pinch is predicted occur either in the purely electrostatic limit or if the aspect ratio is increased. Lastly, as the Coriolis pinch cannot explain the measured momentum pinch, additional theoretical momentum transport mechanisms are discussed that may be potentially important.« less

Online gas chromatography combustion/pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (HRGC-C/P-IRMS) of (+/-)-Dihydroactinidiolide from tea ( Camellia sinensis ) and rooibos tea ( Aspalathus linearis ).

PubMed

del Mar Caja, María; Preston, Christina; Menzel, Michael; Kempf, Michael; Schreier, Peter

2009-07-08

Online capillary gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry in both the combustion and the pyrolysis modes (HRGC-C/P-IRMS) was employed to perform authentication studies of the flavoring agent (+/-)-dihydroactinidiolide. Thus, the delta(13)C(V-PDB) and delta(2)H(V-SMOW) values of synthetic (ex synthetic beta-ionone and natural beta-carotene) as well as enzymatically (ex synthetic and natural beta-carotene) produced references were studied in comparison with those of the natural substance isolated from black (n = 17) and green teas (n = 6) ( Camellia sinensis ) as well as Rooibos tea ( Aspalathus linearis ) (n = 7). The isotope values determined for both the synthetic and enzymatically produced samples of (+/-)-dihydroactinidiolide reflected the influence of the origin of their educts. Hence, in cases when synthetic educts were used, the delta(13)C(V-PDB) and delta(2)H(V-SMOW) values ranged from -27.0 to -28.4 per thousand and from -28 to -169 per thousand, respectively, whereas the use of natural educts led to ranges from -30.3 to -31.6 per thousand and from -154 to -228 per thousand, respectively. As to the tea samples, delta(13)C(V-PDB) and delta(2)H(V-SMOW) values ranging from -29.0 to -34.1 per thousand and from -153 to -274 per thousand, respectively, were recorded for (+/-)-dihydroactinidiolide from black and green teas, whereas that from Rooibos tea showed (2)H/(1)H ratios ranging from -189 to -210 per thousand as well as slightly enriched values in the (13)C/(12)C ratios ranging from -24.4 to -27.1 per thousand.

Enzymatic Browning in Sugar Beet Leaves (Beta vulgaris L.): Influence of Caffeic Acid Derivatives, Oxidative Coupling, and Coupled Oxidation.

PubMed

Vissers, Anne; Kiskini, Alexandra; Hilgers, Roelant; Marinea, Marina; Wierenga, Peter Alexander; Gruppen, Harry; Vincken, Jean-Paul

2017-06-21

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaves of 8 month (8 m ) plants showed more enzymatic browning than those of 3 month (3 m ). Total phenolic content increased from 4.6 to 9.4 mg/g FW in 3 m and 8 m , respectively, quantitated by reverse-phase-ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-mass spectrometry (RP-UHPLC-UV-MS). The PPO activity was 6.7 times higher in extracts from 8 m than from 3 m leaves. Substrate content increased from 0.53 to 2.45 mg/g FW in 3 m and 8 m , respectively, of which caffeic acid glycosyl esters were most important, increasing 10-fold with age. Caffeic acid glycosides and vitexin derivatives were no substrates. In 3 m and 8 m, nonsubstrate-to-substrate ratios were 8:1 and 3:1, respectively. A model system showed browning at 3:1 ratio due to formation of products with extensive conjugated systems through oxidative coupling and coupled oxidation. The 8:1 ratio did not turn brown as oxidative coupling occurred without much coupled oxidation. We postulate that differences in nonsubstrate-to-substrate ratio and therewith extent of coupled oxidation explain browning.

A physical model of the infrared-to-radio correlation in galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Helou, G.; Bicay, M. D.

1993-01-01

We explore the implications of the IR-radio correlation in star-forming galaxies, using a simple physical model constrained by the constant global ratio q of IR to radio emission and by the radial falloff of this ratio in disks of galaxies. The modeling takes into account the diffusion, radiative decay, and escape of cosmic-ray electrons responsible for the synchrotron emission, and the full range of optical depths to dust-heating photons. We introduce two assumptions: that dust-heating photons and radio-emitting cosmic-ray electrons are created in constant proportion to each other as part of the star formation activity, and that gas and magnetic field are well coupled locally, expressed as B proportional to n exp beta, with beta between 1/3 and 2/3. We conclude that disk galaxies would maintain the observed constant ratio q under these assumptions if the disk scale height h(0) and the escape scale length l(esc) for cosmic-ray electrons followed a relation of the form l(esc) proportional to h(0) exp 1/2; the IR-to-radio ratio will then depend very weakly on interstellar density, and, therefore, on magnetic field strength or mean optical depth.

Enzymatic Browning in Sugar Beet Leaves (Beta vulgaris L.): Influence of Caffeic Acid Derivatives, Oxidative Coupling, and Coupled Oxidation

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaves of 8 month (8m) plants showed more enzymatic browning than those of 3 month (3m). Total phenolic content increased from 4.6 to 9.4 mg/g FW in 3m and 8m, respectively, quantitated by reverse-phase-ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet-mass spectrometry (RP-UHPLC–UV-MS). The PPO activity was 6.7 times higher in extracts from 8m than from 3m leaves. Substrate content increased from 0.53 to 2.45 mg/g FW in 3m and 8m, respectively, of which caffeic acid glycosyl esters were most important, increasing 10-fold with age. Caffeic acid glycosides and vitexin derivatives were no substrates. In 3m and 8m, nonsubstrate-to-substrate ratios were 8:1 and 3:1, respectively. A model system showed browning at 3:1 ratio due to formation of products with extensive conjugated systems through oxidative coupling and coupled oxidation. The 8:1 ratio did not turn brown as oxidative coupling occurred without much coupled oxidation. We postulate that differences in nonsubstrate-to-substrate ratio and therewith extent of coupled oxidation explain browning. PMID:28570816

[Controlling effect of bushen huatan compound on the insulin signal conducting molecule inside ovaries in polycystic ovary syndrome model rats].

PubMed

Liang, Chen; Cong, Jing; Chang, Hui

2011-12-01

To study the effects of Bushen Huatan Compound (BHC) on the glycolipid metabolism and the expressions of the insulin signal conducting molecules inside ovaries in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) model rats. Female Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected with 2.5 mg/kg testosterone propionate (Their female offspring were randomly divided into the medication group and the model group, 10 in each.) or neutral tea oil of the same dose (Ten female offspring was taken as the control group.) on the 16th day of pregnancy, once daily, for 3 successive days. BHC was given to rats in the medication group by gastrogavage, while equal volume of distilled water was given to rats in the model group and the control group by gastrogavage, both once daily for 20 successive days. The body weight and ovary weight were weighed to calculate the ratio of wet fat weight/body weight. The blood glucose levels were detected at 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 h using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and insulin were detected to calculate homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The expressions of protein kinase B (AKT2), glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3beta), glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4), extracellular signal regulated kinase-1 (ERK1) protein, P-AKT2, P-GSK3beta, and P-ERK1 in ovaries were detected using Western blot. Compared with the control group, the ratio of wet fat weight/ body weight, the blood glucose levels at 0.5 and 2 h in OGTT, and HOMA-IR all obviously increased, and the HDL-C level obviously decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the ratio of wet fat weight/body weight and the blood glucose levels at 2 h in OGTT obviously decreased, and the HDL-C level obviously increased in the medication group (P < 0.05). The expressions of AKT2, P-AKT2, GSK3beta, P-GSK3beta, GLUT4, and ERK1 in the ovary tissue were obviously lower in the model group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The expressions of GSK3beta, P-GSK3beta, and GLUT4 were more obviously enhanced in the medication group than in the model group (P < 0.05). Insulin resistance and glucolipid metabolism dysfunction existed in female PCOS rats. Besides, abnormal insulin signaling pathway existed in the ovary tissue. BHC could remarkably ameliorate the IR degree and glucolipid metabolism functions, and might be correlated with regulating the protein expressions of insulin signal conducting molecules.

In vitro biosynthesis of 17 alpha,20 alpha,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pegnen-3-one by the ovaries, testes, and head kidneys of the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar

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

Sangalang, G.B.; Freeman, H.C.

Ovaries, testes, and head kidneys of sexually mature Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, biosynthesized 17 alpha,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP) from equimolar amounts of (/sup 3/H)pregnenolone plus (4-/sup 14/C)progesterone in vitro. The /sup 3/H:/sup 14/C isotope ratios of steroid metabolites indicated that the biosynthetic pathways to 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in the testes differed from those observed in the ovaries and head kidneys. (4-/sup 14/C)progesterone appeared to be the principal precursor of 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in the testes, whereas both precursors were efficiently biotransformed to 17 alpha,20 beta-diOPH in the ovaries and head kidneys. 17 alpha-Hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17 alpha-OHP) was the immediate precursormore » to 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in all tissues. However, appreciable amounts of 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP accumulated in vitro in the testes only in the presence of exogenous (/sup 14/C)progesterone. Incubation of the testes, ovaries, and head kidneys with (/sup 14/C)pregnenolone resulted in high yields of 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in the ovaries and head kidneys but no detectable amounts of the steroid in the testes. The results confirm that progesterone is the favored precursor to 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in the testes. The results also suggest that the head kidneys may be an excellent cellular source of 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in both male and female. Atlantic salmon and may play an important role in the sexual maturation process in this fish. It is suggested that biosynthetic control mechanism affecting 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP synthesis and/or spermiation and ovulation may differ in male and female Atlantic salmon.« less

Serum concentrations of micronutrient antioxidants in an adult Arab population.

PubMed

Abiaka, Clifford; Olusi, Samuel; Simbeye, Amos

2002-01-01

Serum concentrations of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and lycopene were measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (r-P HPLC) in 260 randomly selected healthy adult Kuwaitis (159 men and 101 women) aged 18-63 years (mean 33.3 years) to established reference ranges of the micronutrient antioxidants. Total cholesterol concentrations were assayed by an enzymatic method to determine alpha-tocopherol: cholesterol ratios. The mean +/- SEM (micromol/L) for retinol, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and lycopene were 1.76+/-0.02, 20.0+/-0.5, 0.52+/-0.03, 0.95+/-0.05, respectively. Compared to other populations, these data showed, on the whole, ordinary concentrations of beta-carotene, comparatively low concentrations of retinol and alpha-tocopherol and high concentrations of lycopene. Retinol concentrations were similar for both sexes, whereas alpha-tocopherol concentration was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower and the carotenoid levels (beta-carotene and lycopene) significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in women. Of the micronutrient antioxidants, alpha-tocopherol was most correlated with cholesterol (r = 0.492, P < 0.0001). beta-Carotene and lycopene were highly correlated with each other (r =0.744, P< 0.0001). Age was positively associated with beta-carotene (r = 0.214, P = 0.001) and lycopene (r = 239, P< 0.0001). Our data enabled us to establish a gender non-specific reference range for retinol and gender-specific reference ranges for alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and lycopene.

Effects of beta-carotene fortified synbiotic food on metabolic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A double-blind randomized cross-over controlled clinical trial.

PubMed

Asemi, Zatollah; Alizadeh, Sabihe-Alsadat; Ahmad, Khorshidi; Goli, Mohammad; Esmaillzadeh, Ahmad

2016-08-01

The aim of the present study was to determine the beneficial effects of beta-carotene fortified synbiotic food intake on metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial was conducted among 51 patients with T2DM. Individuals were randomly assigned to take either a beta-carotene fortified synbiotic (n = 51) or control food (n = 51) for 6 weeks. The beta-carotene fortified synbiotic was containing Lactobacillus sporogenes (1 × 10(7) CFU), 0.1 g inulin and 0.05 g beta-carotene. Control food (the same substance without probiotic, inulin and beta-carotene) was packed in identical 9-g packages. Patients were requested to use the beta-carotene fortified synbiotic and control foods three times a day. Beta-carotene fortified synbiotic food consumption resulted in a significant decrease in insulin (-1.00 ± 7.90 vs. +3.68 ± 6.91 μIU/mL, P = 0.002), HOMA-IR (-0.73 ± 3.96 vs. +1.82 ± vbnm4.09, P = 0.002), HOMA-B (-0.52 ± 19.75 vs. +8.71 ± 17.15, P = 0.01), triglycerides (-2.86 ± 49.53 vs. +20.14 ± 50.10 mg/dL, P = 0.02), VLDL-cholesterol levels (-0.57 ± 9.90 vs. +4.03 ± 10.02 mg/dL, P = 0.02) and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (-0.01 ± 1.08 vs. +0.64 ± 0.81, P = 0.001) compared to the control food. In addition, beta-carotene fortified synbiotic food consumption led to elevated plasma nitric oxide (NO) (+6.83 ± 16.14 vs. -3.76 ± 16.47 μmol/L, P = 0.001) and glutathione (GSH) (+36.58 ± 296.71 vs. -92.04 ± 243.05 μmol/L, P = 0.01). Beta-carotene fortified synbiotic food intake in patients with T2DM for 6 weeks had favorable effects on insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol, total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio, NO and GSH levels. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Beta-2 Microglobulin Tumor Marker

MedlinePlus

... Time and International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR) PSEN1 Quantitative Immunoglobulins Red Blood Cell (RBC) Antibody Identification Red ... National Cancer Institute: Plasma Cell Neoplasms Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation International Myeloma Foundation Leukemia & Lymphoma Society See ...

Modular low-aspect-ratio high-beta torsatron

DOEpatents

Sheffield, G.V.

1982-04-01

A fusion-reactor device is described which the toroidal magnetic field and at least a portion of the poloidal magnetic field are provided by a single set of modular coils. The coils are arranged on the surface of a low-aspect-ratio toroid in planed having the cylindrical coordinate relationship phi = phi/sub i/ + kz, where k is a constant equal to each coil's pitch and phi/sub i/ is the toroidal angle at which the i'th coil intersects the z = o plane. The toroid defined by the modular coils preferably has a race track minor cross section. When vertical field coils and, preferably, a toroidal plasma current are provided for magnetic-field-surface closure within the toroid, a vacuum magnetic field of racetrack-shaped minor cross section with improved stability and beta valves is obtained.

a High-Precision Branching-Ratio Measurement for the Superallowed β+ Emitter 74Rb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dunlop, R.; Chagnon-Lessard, S.; Finlay, P.; Garrett, P. E.; Hadinia, B.; Leach, K. G.; Svensson, C. E.; Wong, J.; Ball, G.; Garnsworthy, A. B.; Glister, J.; Hackman, G.; Tardiff, E. R.; Triambak, S.; Williams, S. J.; Leslie, J. R.; Andreoiu, C.; Chester, A.; Cross, D.; Starosta, K.; Yates, S. W.; Zganjar, E. F.

2013-03-01

Precision measurements of superallowed Fermi beta decay allow for tests of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix (CKM) unitarity, the conserved vector current hypothesis, and the magnitude of isospin-symmetry-breaking effects in nuclei. A high-precision measurement of the branching ratio for the β+ decay of 74Rb has been performed at the Isotope Separator and ACcelerator (ISAC) facility at TRIUMF. The 8π spectrometer, an array of 20 close-packed HPGe detectors, was used to detect gamma rays emitted following the decay of 74Rb. PACES, an array of 5 Si(Li) detectors, was used to detect emitted conversion electrons, while SCEPTAR, an array of plastic scintillators, was used to detect emitted beta particles. A total of 51γ rays have been identified following the decay of 21 excited states in the daughter nucleus 74Kr.

Mineralocorticoid activity of 19-hydroxyaldosterone, 19-nor-aldosterone, and 3 beta-hydroxy-delta 5-aldosterone: relative potencies measured in two bioassay systems.

PubMed

Morris, D J; Brem, A S; Saccoccio, N A; Pacholski, M; Harnik, M

1986-06-01

The mineralocorticoid (MC) activities of 19-hydroxyaldosterone (19-OH-Aldo) and 19-nor-aldosterone (19-nor-Aldo) were tested in adrenalectomized male rats. Potency was assessed by three criteria. Overall MC activity is expressed as the ability to decrease the urinary Na+ to K+ ratio; antinatriuretic activity is represented by decreases in the urinary Na+ to creatinine ratio, and kaliuretic activity by increases in the K+ to creatinine ratio. All measurements were made on urine collected 1-3 h postinjection. In this assay, 19-OH-Aldo was 1/100th to 1/140th as active as Aldo, and 19-nor-Aldo possessed MC activity similar to that of Aldo; both steroids possessed antinatriuretic and kaliuretic activities. In contrast, when assayed in vitro in the isolated toad urinary bladder, the natriferic responses of both 19-OH-Aldo and 19-nor-Aldo (10(-8), 10(-7), and 10(-6) M) were not significantly different from those caused by equivalent concentrations of Aldo. 3 beta-Hydroxy-delta 5-Aldo is active as a MC in the adrenalectomized male rat, being 1/20th to 1/35th as active as Aldo, but, in contrast to 19-OH-Aldo, was less active in the isolated toad bladder system. 19-OH-Aldo, 19-nor-Aldo, and 3 beta-hydroxy-delta 5-Aldo could represent important new classes of Aldo analogs.

Functional variables associated with the clinical grade of dyspnoea in coal miners with pneumoconiosis and mild bronchial obstruction.

PubMed

Bauer, T T; Schultze-Werninghaus, G; Kollmeier, J; Weber, A; Eibel, R; Lemke, B; Schmidt, E W

2001-12-01

Dyspnoea is a common symptom in coal miners with pneumoconiosis. Among others, gas exchange disturbances due to airway obstruction or mismatch between ventilation and perfusion may be underlying mechanisms. The validation of dyspnoea by the degree of airway obstruction is controversial, because the extent of airway obstruction often does not correlate with the clinical grade of breathlessness. The association was investigated between breathlessness (self reported, on a six point scale) and indices of submaximal spiroergometry in 66 coal workers with radiographically confirmed pneumoconiosis (International Labour Organisation (ILO) grade of profusion > or =1/0, mean (SD) age 64 (5.5) years, mean (SD) forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) 77.5 (22.9) % predicted). The clinical degree of breathlessness was independently associated with minute ventilation/oxygen consumption (VE/VO(2)) ratio (beta 0.423, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.18 to 0.67, p=0.001) and smoking (beta 0.318, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.79, p=0.014) in a multiple linear regression analysis. The VE/VO(2) ratio (beta 0.556, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.90, p=0.003) was also the best predictor of breathlessness when only coal miners with airway obstruction (FEV(1) < 80% predicted) were analyzed. The VE/VO(2) ratio as a measurement of mismatch between ventilation and perfusion predicted the clinical grade of breathlessness better than measurements of bronchial obstruction at rest in coal workers with pneumoconiosis.

beta-Mannanase ameliorates viscosity-associated depression of growth in broiler chickens fed guar germ and hull fractions.

PubMed

Lee, J T; Bailey, C A; Cartwright, A L

2003-12-01

High concentrations of guar meal in broiler chicken diets reduce body weight and feed efficiency. The increased intestinal viscosity that is responsible for reduced measures of performance results from residual guar gum present in guar meal. Two experiments were designed to study the effects of 2 guar meal fractions at 3 different concentrations, germ (0, 5.0, and 7.5%) and hull (0, 2.5, and 5.0%), and the effectiveness of a beta-mannanase at three levels (0, 1x, and 4x; 1x = 1.09 x 10(5) units/ kg) on broiler growth and feed conversion. Growth and performance were measured as a function of intestinal viscosity. Addition of the germ fraction to rations did not reduce body weight, although feed conversion ratio was increased at 7.5% of the diet. Intestinal viscosity also increased significantly at this level. Enzyme addition significantly reduced intestinal viscosity. Due to an interaction that was present between hull and enzyme concentration, each treatment was compared separately. Inclusion of the hull fraction significantly reduced body weight at both levels of inclusion and increased feed conversion ratio at 5% inclusion. Addition of the enzyme significantly increased body weight and reduced feed conversion ratio in diets containing guar hull fractions. Supplementation of beta-mannanase to feeds containing either fraction of guar meal reduced intestinal viscosity and alleviated the deleterious effects associated with guar meal feeding.

Investigation of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) sub-types in children via EEG frequency domain analysis.

PubMed

Aldemir, Ramazan; Demirci, Esra; Per, Huseyin; Canpolat, Mehmet; Özmen, Sevgi; Tokmakçı, Mahmut

2018-04-01

To investigate the frequency domain effects and changes in electroencephalography (EEG) signals in children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study contains 40 children. All children were between the ages of 7 and 12 years. Participants were classified into four groups which were ADHD (n=20), ADHD-I (ADHD-Inattentive type) (n=10), ADHD-C (ADHD-Combined type) (n=10), and control (n=20) groups. In this study, the frequency domain of EEG signals for ADHD, subtypes and control groups were analyzed and compared using Matlab software. The mean age of the ADHD children's group was 8.7 years and the control group 9.1 years. Spectral analysis of mean power (μV 2 ) and relative-mean power (%) was carried out for four different frequency bands: delta (0--4 Hz), theta (4--8 Hz), alpha (8--13 Hz) and beta (13--32 Hz). The ADHD and subtypes of ADHD-I, and ADHD-C groups had higher average power value of delta and theta band than that of control group. However, this is not the case for alpha and beta bands. Increases in delta/beta ratio and statistical significance were found only between ADHD-I and control group, and in delta/beta, theta/delta ratio statistical significance values were found to exist between ADHD-C and control group. EEG analyzes can be used as an alternative method when ADHD subgroups are identified.

Enhanced absorption of cyclosporin A by complexation with dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin in bile duct-cannulated and -noncannulated rats.

PubMed

Miyake, K; Arima, H; Irie, T; Hirayama, F; Uekama, K

1999-01-01

The enhancing effects of dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CyD) on the absorption of cyclosporin A (CsA) after oral administration to rats under bile duct-cannulated and -noncannulated conditions were investigated. The dissolution rate of CsA was markedly augmented by complexation with DM-beta-CyD. In a closed loop in situ study, DM-beta-CyD considerably increased the cumulative amounts of CsA in the mesenteric venous blood after injection of the aqueous CsA suspension into the small intestinal sac of rats. In addition, the cumulative amount ratio of M1, the dominant metabolite of CsA in rats, to CsA in the mesenteric venous blood for up to 40 min after the injection of the CsA-DM-beta-CyD suspension into the sac was lower than that of the CsA suspension alone. DM-beta-CyD inhibited the bioconversion of CsA in the small intestinal microsomes of rats. These results indicate that the bioconversion of CsA was abated by complexation with DM-beta-CyD. An in vivo study revealed that DM-beta-CyD increased the transfer of CsA to blood, not lymph, with low variability in the absorption after oral administration of the CsA suspension to rats. The variability of bioavailability of DM-beta-CyD complex was lower than that of Sandimmune, although the extent of bioavailability of DM-beta-CyD was only a little higher than that of Sandimmune. The bioavailability of CsA or its DM-beta-CyD complex was appreciably decreased by the cannulation of the bile duct of rats, and the extent of the lowering in the bioavailability in the presence of DM-beta-CyD was much less serious than that of CsA alone. The present results suggest that DM-beta-CyD is particularly useful in designing oral preparations of CsA with an enhanced bioavailability and a reduced variability in absorption.

Improving the chi-squared approximation for bivariate normal tolerance regions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feiveson, Alan H.

1993-01-01

Let X be a two-dimensional random variable distributed according to N2(mu,Sigma) and let bar-X and S be the respective sample mean and covariance matrix calculated from N observations of X. Given a containment probability beta and a level of confidence gamma, we seek a number c, depending only on N, beta, and gamma such that the ellipsoid R = (x: (x - bar-X)'S(exp -1) (x - bar-X) less than or = c) is a tolerance region of content beta and level gamma; i.e., R has probability gamma of containing at least 100 beta percent of the distribution of X. Various approximations for c exist in the literature, but one of the simplest to compute -- a multiple of the ratio of certain chi-squared percentage points -- is badly biased for small N. For the bivariate normal case, most of the bias can be removed by simple adjustment using a factor A which depends on beta and gamma. This paper provides values of A for various beta and gamma so that the simple approximation for c can be made viable for any reasonable sample size. The methodology provides an illustrative example of how a combination of Monte-Carlo simulation and simple regression modelling can be used to improve an existing approximation.

Novel porphyrin conjugates with a potent photodynamic antitumor effect: differential efficacy of mono- and bis-beta-cyclodextrin derivatives in vitro and in vivo.

PubMed

Kralova, Jarmila; Synytsya, Alla; Pouckova, Pavla; Koc, Michal; Dvorak, Michal; Kral, Vladimir

2006-01-01

In the present study we investigated the photosensitizing properties of two novel mono- and bis-cyclodextrin tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin derivatives in several tumor cell lines and in BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneously transplanted syngeneic mouse mammary carcinoma 4T1. Both studied sensitizers were localized mainly in lysosomes and were found to induce cell death by triggering apoptosis in human leukemic cells HL-60. In 4T1 and other cell lines both apoptotic and necrotic modes of cell death occurred depending on drug and light doses. Mono-cyclodextrin porphyrin derivative P(beta-CD)1 exhibited stronger in vitro phototoxic effect than bis-cyclodextrin derivative P(beta-CD)2. However, in vivo P(beta-CD)2 displayed faster tumor uptake with maximal accumulation 6 h after application, leading to complete and prolonged elimination of subcutaneous tumors within 3 days after irradiation (100 J cm(-2)). In contrast, P(beta-CD)1 uptake was slower (48 h) and the reduction of tumor mass was only transient, reaching the maximum at the 12 h interval when a favorable tumor-to-skin ratio appeared. Thus, P(beta-CD)2 represents a new photosensitizing drug displaying fast and selective tumor uptake, strong antitumor activity and fast elimination from the body.

Overexpression of {alpha}-catenin increases osteoblastic differentiation in mouse mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells

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

Kim, Dohee; Yang, Jae-Yeon; Shin, Chan Soo, E-mail: csshin@snu.ac.kr

2009-05-15

{alpha}- and {beta}-Catenin link cadherins to the actin-based cytoskeleton at adherens junctions and regulate cell-cell adhesion. Although roles of cadherins and canonical Wnt-/{beta}-catenin-signaling in osteoblastic differentiation have been extensively studied, the role of {alpha}-catenin is not known. Murine embryonic mesenchymal stem cells, C3H10T1/2 cells, were transduced with retrovirus encoding {alpha}-catenin (MSCV-{alpha}-catenin-HA-GFP). In the presence of Wnt-3A conditioned medium or osteogenic medium ({beta}-glycerol phosphate and ascorbic acid), cells overexpressing {alpha}-catenin showed enhanced osteoblastic differentiation as measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and ALP activity assay compared to cells transduced with empty virus (MSCV-GFP). In addition, mRNA expression of osteocalcin and Runx2more » was significantly increased compared to control. Cell aggregation assay revealed that {alpha}-catenin overexpression has significantly increased cell-cell aggregation. However, cellular {beta}-catenin levels (total, cytoplasmic-nuclear ratio) and {beta}-catenin-TCF/LEF transcriptional activity did not change by overexpression of {alpha}-catenin. Knock-down of {alpha}-catenin using siRNA decreased osteoblastic differentiation as measured by ALP assay. These results suggest that {alpha}-catenin overexpression increases osteoblastic differentiation by increasing cell-cell adhesion rather than Wnt-/{beta}-catenin-signaling.« less

Renal outcomes of agalsidase beta treatment for Fabry disease: role of proteinuria and timing of treatment initiation

PubMed Central

Ortiz, Alberto; Mauer, Michael; Linthorst, Gabor E.; Oliveira, João P.; Serra, Andreas L.; Maródi, László; Mignani, Renzo; Vujkovac, Bojan; Beitner-Johnson, Dana; Lemay, Roberta; Cole, J.Alexander; Svarstad, Einar; Waldek, Stephen; Germain, Dominique P.; Wanner, Christoph

2012-01-01

Background. The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of renal disease progression in adults with Fabry disease during treatment with agalsidase beta. Methods. Renal function was evaluated in 151 men and 62 women from the Fabry Registry who received agalsidase beta at an average dose of 1 mg/kg/2 weeks for at least 2 years. Patients were categorized into quartiles based on slopes of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) during treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with renal disease progression. Results. Men within the first quartile had a mean eGFR slope of –0.1 mL/min/1.73m2/year, whereas men with the most rapid renal disease progression (Quartile 4) had a mean eGFR slope of –6.7 mL/min/1.73m2/year. The risk factor most strongly associated with renal disease progression was averaged urinary protein:creatinine ratio (UP/Cr) ≥1 g/g (odds ratio 112, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 4–3109, P = 0.0054). Longer time from symptom onset to treatment was also associated with renal disease progression (odds ratio 19, 95% CI 2–184, P = 0.0098). Women in Quartile 4 had the highest averaged UP/Cr (mean 1.8 g/g) and the most rapid renal disease progression: (mean slope –4.4 mL/min/1.73m2/year). Conclusions. Adults with Fabry disease are at risk for progressive loss of eGFR despite enzyme replacement therapy, particularly if proteinuria is ≥1 g/g. Men with little urinary protein excretion and those who began receiving agalsidase beta sooner after the onset of symptoms had stable renal function. These findings suggest that early intervention may lead to optimal renal outcomes. PMID:21804088

Aspect ratio effects on neoclassical tearing modes from comparison between DIII-D and National Spherical Torus Experiment

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

La Haye, R. J.; Buttery, R. J.; Gerhardt, S. P.

Neoclassical tearing mode islands are sustained by helically perturbed bootstrap currents arising at finite beta from toroidal effects that trap a fraction of the particles in non-circulating orbits. DIII-D and NSTX are here operated with similar shape and cross-sectional area but almost a factor of two difference in inverse aspect ratio a/R. In these experiments, destabilized n=1 tearing modes were self-stabilized (reached the 'marginal point') by reducing neutral-beam power and thus beta. The measure of the marginal island gives information on the small-island stabilizing physics that in part (with seeding) governs onset. The marginal island width on NSTX is foundmore » to be about three times the ion banana width and agrees with that measured in DIII-D, except for DIII-D modes closer to the magnetic axis, which are about two times the ion banana width. There is a balance of the helically perturbed bootstrap term with small island effects with the sum of the classical and curvature terms in the modified Rutherford equation for tearing-mode stability at the experimental marginal point. Empirical evaluation of this sum indicates that while the stabilizing effect of the curvature term is negligible in DIII-D, it is important in NSTX. The mode temporal behavior from the start of neutral-beam injection reduction also suggests that NSTX operates closer to marginal classical tearing stability; this explains why there is little hysteresis in beta between mode onset, saturation, and self-stabilization (while DIII-D has large hysteresis in beta). NIMROD code module component calculations based on DIII-D and NSTX reconstructed experimental equilibria are used to diagnose and confirm the relative importance of the stabilizing curvature effect, an advantage for low aspect ratio; the relatively greater curvature effect makes for less susceptibility to NTM onset even if the classical tearing stability index is near marginal.« less

SPECT-evaluation of the monoamine uptake site ligand [123I](1R)-2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-beta-(4-iodophenyl)-tropane ([123I]beta-CIT) in untreated patients with suspicion of Parkinson disease.

PubMed

Eising, E G; Müller, T T; Zander, C; Kuhn, W; Farahati, J; Reiners, C; Coenen, H H

1997-10-01

For a few years, data on SPECT-imaging of dopamine transporters with the cocaine derivate [123I](1R)-2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-beta-(4-iodophenyl)-tropane ([123I] beta-CIT) have been reported mostly in healthy subjects or animals. This study reflects our preliminary results with SPECT-imaging of dopamine transporters using the cocaine analogue 123-beta-CIT in patients with untreated (de novo) parkinsonism. In 33 patients with clinical suspicion of Parkinson disease and 5 healthy controls, SPECT-imaging of dopamine transporters was performed 1, 4, and 24 hours after injection of 180 MBq of 123I-beta-CIT, which was generated by iododestannylation. None of the patients or controls had been treated before with neuroleptical drugs or any other pharmaceuticals with known binding to the dopamine transporters. Clinical symptoms were staged by the scales Hoehn-Yahr (HYS), Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and the self-rating scale of Beck depression inventory (BDI). For evaluation, striatal/cerebellar ratios were calculated to every time point. Significant correlations of 123I-beta-CIT uptake could be stated compared to UPDRS, HYS, and BDI values (Spearman correlation, p < 0.05). The symptoms of rigor and akinesia showed a significant correlation with the beta-CIT uptake, whereas the symptom of tremor failed, which may be caused by the location of tremor symptoms out of the striatum. Comparing the controls, a significant (p < 0.01) decrease of tracer uptake in parkinsonian patients is stated on the images at 24 hours p.i. In our patients, tracer uptake does not depend significantly on duration of disease and age. 123I-beta-CIT seems to be a promising tool in imaging of untreated parkinsonian patient.

Prolonged absorption of antimony(V) by the oral route from non-inclusion meglumine antimoniate-beta-cyclodextrin conjugates.

PubMed

Ribeiro, Raul R; Ferreira, Weverson A; Martins, Patricia S; Neto, Rubens L M; Rocha, Olguita G F; Le Moyec, Laurence; Demicheli, Cynthia; Frézard, Frédéric

2010-03-01

The orally active composition comprising meglumine antimoniate (MA) and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) differs markedly from conventional drug-CD complexes, since it combines a water-soluble drug and a hydrophilic CD. In order to obtain insights into the mechanism(s) responsible for the improved oral delivery of the drug, physicochemical and pharmacokinetic studies were carried out. The composition investigated here was prepared at a 7:1 antimony(Sb)/beta-CD molar ratio, a condition that improves its solubility in water and allows the oral administration of a high dose of Sb in large animals. It was characterized by circular dichroism, (1)H-NMR, ESI-MS and photon correlation spectroscopy. Pharmacokinetic data were obtained in Beagle dogs after oral administration of the composition at 100 mg Sb/kg. (1)H-NMR and ESI-MS data supported the formation of non-inclusion complexes between MA and beta-CD. Sub-micron assemblies were also evidenced that slowly dissociate and presumably release the MA drug, upon reconstitution of the composition in water. Pharmacokinetic studies of MA and MA/beta-CD in dogs showed a prolongation of the serum mean residence time of Sb from 4.1 to 6.8 h, upon complexation of MA with beta-CD. Evidence was also obtained that Sb remains essentially under the form of pentavalent Sb-meglumine complex, following gastro-intestinal absorption from the MA/beta-CD composition. In conclusion, the present data support the model that the sustained drug release property of 7:1 MA/beta-CD composition resulted in the prolongation of MA absorption by the oral route and, consequently, in the increase of the drug mean residence time in serum. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of (R)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-4'-{2-[(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)amino]ethyl} acetanilide (YM178), a novel selective beta3-adrenoceptor agonist, on bladder function.

PubMed

Takasu, Toshiyuki; Ukai, Masashi; Sato, Shuichi; Matsui, Tetsuo; Nagase, Itsuro; Maruyama, Tatsuya; Sasamata, Masao; Miyata, Keiji; Uchida, Hisashi; Yamaguchi, Osamu

2007-05-01

We evaluated the pharmacological characteristics of (R)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-4'-{2-[(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)amino]-ethyl} acetanilide (YM178). YM178 increased cyclic AMP accumulation in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing human beta3-adrenoceptor (AR). The half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) value was 22.4 nM. EC50 values of YM178 for human beta1- and beta2-ARs were 10,000 nM or more, respectively. The ratio of intrinsic activities of YM178 versus maximal response induced by isoproterenol (nonselective beta-AR agonist) was 0.8 for human beta3-ARs, 0.1 for human beta1-ARs, and 0.1 for human beta2-ARs. The relaxant effects of YM178 were evaluated in rats and humans bladder strips precontracted with carbachol (CCh) and compared with those of isoproterenol and 4-[3-[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropoxy]-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one hydrochloride (CGP-12177A) (beta3-AR agonist). EC50 values of YM178 and isoproterenol in rat bladder strips precontracted with 10(-6) M CCh were 5.1 and 1.4 microM, respectively, whereas those in human bladder strips precontracted with 10(-7) M CCh were 0.78 and 0.28 microM, respectively. In in vivo study, YM178 at a dose of 3 mg/kg i.v. decreased the frequency of rhythmic bladder contraction induced by intravesical filling with saline without suppressing its amplitude in anesthetized rats. These findings suggest the suitability of YM178 as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of symptoms of overactive bladder such as urinary frequency, urgency, and urge incontinence.

[Association of beta 3-adrenergic receptor gene with obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

PubMed

Chen, Y; Xu, Y; Zhou, L

2001-09-01

To investigate the association between the mutation of beta 3-adrenergoc receptor gene and obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Body mass, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure and blood lipids were measured in 154 type 2 diabetic patients. Polymerase chain reaction and the restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were used to determine the wild, heterozygous and homozygous forms of beta 3-adrenergoc receptor gene. The frequency of the Trp64Arg mutation was 42.5% and the frequency of Arg64 allele was 22.6%. The mutation frequency of the genetic types was significantly different between the obese and non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. The body mass, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol were significantly different, when those with Trp64Arg heterozygous were compared with those with Trp64 homozygous. The genetic mutation of beta 3-adrenegoc receptor in patients with type 2 diabetes is probably related to obesity.

Endometrial estrogen and progesterone receptors within 2-14 days of missed menses in the human.

PubMed

Garg, K; Sujata, P; Kumari, G L; Pandey, P K; Padubidri, V; Anand, C

1993-04-01

Serial changes in the endometrial levels of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR) were measured in 50 women from days 2 to 14 of missed menses and correlated with the plasma concentrations of hCG, progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol. Both ER and PR of nuclei were higher than cytosolic proteins, with a shift in the ratio of nER/nPR to nPR from 4th day after missed menses. On Scatchard analysis of the cytosolic and nuclear binding proteins, two classes of proteins, corresponding to Type I and II, were found. While the increasing levels of hCG maintained luteal secretion of progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol at normal mid-luteal phase levels, a gradual increase in 17 beta estradiol from 9th day of missed menses was noted. This delicate balance between circulating levels of progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol and their nuclear receptors at early stages of pregnancy may be of significance.

Paprika (Capsicum annuum) oleoresin extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide.

PubMed

Jarén-Galán, M; Nienaber, U; Schwartz, S J

1999-09-01

Paprika oleoresin was fractionated by extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide (SCF-CO(2)). Higher extraction volumes, increasing extraction pressures, and similarly, the use of cosolvents such as 1% ethanol or acetone resulted in higher pigment yields. Within the 2000-7000 psi range, total oleoresin yield always approached 100%. Pigments isolated at lower pressures consisted almost exclusively of beta-carotene, while pigments obtained at higher pressures contained a greater proportion of red carotenoids (capsorubin, capsanthin, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin) and small amounts of beta-carotene. The varying solubility of oil and pigments in SCF-CO(2) was optimized to obtain enriched and concentrated oleoresins through a two-stage extraction at 2000 and 6000 psi. This technique removes the paprika oil and beta-carotene during the first extraction step, allowing for second-stage oleoresin extracts with a high pigment concentration (200% relative to the reference) and a red:yellow pigment ratio of 1.8 (as compared to 1.3 in the reference).

Capillary liquid chromatographic analysis of fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene in combination with in-tube solid-phase microextraction.

PubMed

Xu, Hui; Jia, Li

2009-01-01

A capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) system with UV/vis detection was coupled with an in-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) device for the analysis of fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene. A monolithic silica-ODS column was used as the extraction medium. An optical-fiber flow cell with a long light path in the UV/vis detector was utilized to further enhance the detection sensitivity. In the in-tube SPME/CLC system, the pre-condition of the extraction column and the effect of the injection volume were investigated. The detection limits (LOD) for the fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene were in the range from 1.9 to 173 ng/mL based on the signal-to-noise ratio of 3 (S/N=3). The relative standard deviations of migration time and peak area for each analyte were less than 5.0%. The method was applied to the analysis of fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene contents in corns.

ESR study of aqueous dispersions of beta-lactoglobulin and spin-labelled glyceryl monostearate.

PubMed

Van Gorkom, M; Van der Molen, M H; Korver, O

1975-05-05

From the ESR spectra of aqueous dispersions of synthetic glyceryl monostearate (spin labelled at C-12) a critical micelle concentration of 30 mumol/l at room temperature was obtained, which agrees with that deduced from surface tension measurements. At monoglyceride concentrations smaller or larger than the critical micelle concentration, the monomers show increased motional restriction with increasing molar ratio of beta-lactoglobulin to monoglyceride up to a value of 10, as determined from calculated rotational correlation times; A similar progressive interaction was deduced from spectral changes observed on equimolar dispersions of beta-lactoglobulin and monoglyceride on raising the temperature to 55 degrees C at which the protein and monoglyceride coprecipitate. The relevance of these finding for non-labelled monoglyceride dispersions is indicated by the similarity of the pH-dependent flocculation behaviour of labelled and non-labelled monoglycerides, both in the absence and presence of beta-lactoglobulin; In addition, proton magnetic resonance and mechanical stability measurements suggest that spin-labelled glyceryl monosterate behaves analogously to non-labelled glyceryl monooleate.

Remarkable features in lattice-parameter ratios of crystals. II. Monoclinic and triclinic crystals.

PubMed

de Gelder, R; Janner, A

2005-06-01

The frequency distributions of monoclinic crystals as a function of the lattice-parameter ratios resemble the corresponding ones of orthorhombic crystals: an exponential component, with more or less pronounced sharp peaks, with in general the most important peak at the ratio value 1. In addition, the distribution as a function of the monoclinic angle beta has a sharp peak at 90 degrees and decreases sensibly at larger angles. Similar behavior is observed for the three triclinic angular parameters alpha, beta and gamma, with characteristic differences between the organic and metal-organic, bio-macromolecular and inorganic crystals, respectively. The general behavior observed for the hexagonal, tetragonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic and triclinic crystals {in the first part of this series [de Gelder & Janner (2005). Acta Cryst. B61, 287-295] and in the present case} is summarized and commented. The data involved represent 366 800 crystals, with lattice parameters taken from the Cambridge Structural Database, CSD (294 400 entries), the Protein Data Bank, PDB (18 800 entries), and the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database, ICSD (53 600 entries). A new general structural principle is suggested.

TRIMS: Validating T2 Molecular Effects for Neutrino Mass Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Ying-Ting; Trims Collaboration

2017-09-01

The Tritium Recoil-Ion Mass Spectrometer (TRIMS) experiment examines the branching ratio of the molecular tritium (T2) beta decay to the bound state (3HeT+). Measuring this branching ratio helps to validate the current molecular final-state theory applied in neutrino mass experiments such as KATRIN and Project 8. TRIMS consists of a magnet-guided time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a detector located on each end. By measuring the kinetic energy and time-of-flight difference of the ions and beta particles reaching the detectors, we will be able to distinguish molecular ions from atomic ones and hence derive the ratio in question. We will give an update on the apparatus, simulation software, and analysis tools, including efforts to improve the resolution of our detectors and to characterize the stability and uniformity of our field sources. We will also share our commissioning results and prospects for physics data. The TRIMS experiment is supported by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, Award Number DE-FG02-97ER41020.

Low temperature synthesis of monolithic transparent Ta2O5 gels from hydrolysis of metal alkoxide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bansal, Narottam P.

1993-01-01

Tantalum oxide gels in the form of transparent monoliths and powder were prepared from hydrolysis of tantalum pentaethoxide under controlled conditions using different mole ratios of Ta(OC2H5)5:C2H50H:H20:HCl. Alcohol acts as the mutual solvent and HCl as the deflocculating agent. For a fixed alkoxide:water:HCl ratio, time of gel formation increased with the alcohol to alkoxide mole ratio. Thermal evolution of the physical and structural changes in the gel was monitored by differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, x-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy. On heating to approximately 400 C, the amorphous gel crystallized into the low temperature orthorhombic phase Beta-Ta2O5, which transformed into the high temperature tetragonal phase Alpha-Ta2O5 when further heated to approximately 1450 C. The volume fraction of the crystalline phase increased with the firing temperature. The Alpha-Ta205 converted back into the low temperature phase, Beta-Ta2O5, on slow cooling through the transformation temperature of 1360 C indicating a slow but reversible transformation.

beta 2-glycoprotein I (apolipoprotein H) modulates uptake and endocytosis associated chemiluminescence in rat Kupffer cells.

PubMed

Gomes, L F; Gonçalves, L M; Fonseca, F L A; Celli, C M; Videla, L A; Chaimovich, H; Junqueira, V B C

2002-07-01

beta 2-Glycoprotein I (beta 2 GPI) is known to influence macrophage uptake of particles with phosphatidylserine containing surfaces, as apoptotic thymocytes and unilamellar vesicles in vitro. Nevertheless, effects upon macrophage activation induced by this interaction are still unknown. beta 2 GPI influence upon the reactive species production by Kupffer cells was evaluated in order to investigate whether beta 2 GPI modulates the macrophage response to negatively charged surfaces. Chemiluminescence of isolated non-parenchymal rat liver cells was measured after phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan or phorbolymristate acetate (PMA) stimulation, in the presence and absence of large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) containing 25 mol% phosphatidylserine (PS) or 50 mol% cardiolipin (CL) and complementary molar ratio of phosphatidylcholine (PC). beta 2 GPI decreased by 50% the chemiluminescence response induced by opsonized zymosan, with a 66% reduction of the initial light emission rate. PMA stimulated Kupffer cell chemiluminescence was insensitive to human or rat beta 2 GPI. Albumin (500 micrograms/ml) showed no effect upon chemiluminescence. beta 2 GPI increased PS/PC LUV uptake and degradation by Kupffer cells in a concentration-dependent manner, without leakage of the internal contents of the LUVs, as shown by fluorescence intensity enhancement. LUVs opsonized with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) from syphilitic patients increased light emission by Kupffer cells. Addition of beta 2 GPI to the assay reduced chemiluminescence due to opsonization with purified IgG antibodies from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or syphilis (Sy) patient sera. A marked net increase in chemiluminescence is observed in the presence of Sy aPL antibodies, whereas a decrease was found when SLE aPL were added to the assay, in the presence or absence of beta 2 GPI. At a concentration of 125 micrograms/ml, beta 2 GPI significantly reduced Kupffer cell Candida albicans phagocytosis index and killing score by 50 and 10%, respectively. The present data strongly suggest that particle uptake in the presence of beta 2 GPI is coupled to an inhibition of reactive species production by liver macrophages during the respiratory burst, supporting the role of beta 2 GPI as a mediator of senescent cell removal.

Meta-analysis for deriving age- and gender-specific dose-response relationships between urinary cadmium concentration and {beta} {sub 2}-microglobulinuria under environmental exposure

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

Gamo, Masashi; Ono, Kyoko; Nakanishi, Junko

2006-05-15

A meta-analysis was conducted to derive age- and gender-specific dose-response relationships between urinary cadmium (Cd) concentration and {beta} {sub 2}-microglobulinuria ({beta}2MG-uria) under environmental exposure. {beta}2MG-uria was defined by a cutoff point of 1000 {mu}g {beta} {sub 2}-microglobulin/g creatinine. We proposed a model for describing the relationships among the interindividual variabilities in urinary Cd concentration, the ratio of Cd concentrations in the target organ and in urine, and the threshold Cd concentration in the target organ. The parameters in the model were determined so that good agreement might be achieved between the prevalence rates of {beta}2MG-uria reported in the literature andmore » those estimated by the model. In this analysis, only the data from the literature on populations environmentally exposed to Cd were used. Using the model and estimated parameters, the prevalence rate of {beta}2MG-uria can be estimated for an age- and gender-specific subpopulation for which the distribution of urinary Cd concentrations is known. The maximum permissible level of urinary Cd concentration was defined as the maximum geometric mean of the urinary Cd concentration in an age- and gender-specific subpopulation that would not result in a statistically significant increase in the prevalence rate of {beta}2MG-uria. This was estimated to be approximately 3 {mu}g/g creatinine for a population in a small geographical area and approximately 2 {mu}g/g creatinine for a nationwide population.« less

Cost-effectiveness of antibiotic treatment strategies for community-acquired pneumonia: results from a cluster randomized cross-over trial.

PubMed

van Werkhoven, Cornelis H; Postma, Douwe F; Mangen, Marie-Josee J; Oosterheert, Jan Jelrik; Bonten, Marc J M

2017-01-10

To determine the cost-effectiveness of strategies of preferred antibiotic treatment with beta-lactam/macrolide combination or fluoroquinolone monotherapy compared to beta-lactam monotherapy. Costs and effects were estimated using data from a cluster-randomized cross-over trial of antibiotic treatment strategies, primarily from the reduced third payer perspective (i.e. hospital admission costs). Cost-minimization analysis (CMA) and cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) were performed using linear mixed models. CMA results were expressed as difference in costs per patient. CEA results were expressed as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) showing additional costs per prevented death. A total of 2,283 patients were included. Crude average costs within 90 days from the reduced third payer perspective were €4,294, €4,392, and €4,002 per patient for the beta-lactam monotherapy, beta-lactam/macrolide combination, and fluoroquinolone monotherapy strategy, respectively. CMA results were €106 (95% CI €-697 to €754) for the beta-lactam/macrolide combination strategy and €-278 (95%CI €-991 to €396) for the fluoroquinolone monotherapy strategy, both compared to the beta-lactam monotherapy strategy. The ICER was not statistically significantly different between the strategies. Other perspectives yielded similar results. There were no significant differences in cost-effectiveness of strategies of preferred antibiotic treatment of CAP on non-ICU wards with either beta-lactam monotherapy, beta-lactam/macrolide combination therapy, or fluoroquinolone monotherapy. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01660204 , on May 2nd, 2012.

Clinical Significance of Retinoic Acid Receptor Beta Promoter Methylation in Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Dou, MengMeng; Zhou, XueLiang; Fan, ZhiRui; Ding, XianFei; Li, LiFeng; Wang, ShuLing; Xue, Wenhua; Wang, Hui; Suo, Zhenhe; Deng, XiaoMing

2018-01-01

Retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR beta) is a retinoic acid receptor gene that has been shown to play key roles during multiple cancer processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. Numerous studies have found that methylation of the RAR beta promoter contributed to the occurrence and development of malignant tumors. However, the connection between RAR beta promoter methylation and prostate cancer (PCa) remains unknown. This meta-analysis evaluated the clinical significance of RAR beta promoter methylation in PCa. We searched all published records relevant to RAR beta and PCa in a series of databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science and CNKI. The rates of RAR beta promoter methylation in the PCa and control groups (including benign prostatic hyperplasia and normal prostate tissues) were summarized. In addition, we evaluated the source region of available samples and the methods used to detect methylation. To compare the incidence and variation in RAR beta promoter methylation in PCa and non-PCa tissues, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated accordingly. All the data were analyzed with the statistical software STATA 12.0. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles assessing 1,339 samples were further analyzed. These data showed that the RAR beta promoter methylation rates in PCa tissues were significantly higher than the rates in the non-PCa group (OR=21.65, 95% CI: 9.27-50.57). Subgroup analysis according to the source region of samples showed that heterogeneity in Asia was small (I2=0.0%, P=0.430). Additional subgroup analysis based on the method used to detect RAR beta promoter methylation showed that the heterogeneity detected by MSP (methylation-specific PCR) was relatively small (I2=11.3%, P=0.343). Although studies reported different rates for RAR beta promoter methylation in PCa tissues, the total analysis demonstrated that RAR beta promoter methylation may be correlated with PCa carcinogenesis and that the RAR beta gene is particularly susceptible. Additional studies with sufficient data are essential to further evaluate the clinical features and prognostic utility of RAR beta promoter methylation in PCa. © 2018 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Beta-Blockers for Exams Identify Students at High Risk of Psychiatric Morbidity.

PubMed

Butt, Jawad H; Dalsgaard, Søren; Torp-Pedersen, Christian; Køber, Lars; Gislason, Gunnar H; Kruuse, Christina; Fosbøl, Emil L

2017-04-01

Beta-blockers relieve the autonomic symptoms of exam-related anxiety and may be beneficial in exam-related and performance anxiety, but knowledge on related psychiatric outcomes is unknown. We hypothesized that beta-blocker therapy for exam-related anxiety identifies young students at risk of later psychiatric events. Using Danish nationwide administrative registries, we studied healthy students aged 14-30 years (1996-2012) with a first-time claimed prescription for a beta-blocker during the exam period (May-June); students who were prescribed a beta-blocker for medical reasons were excluded. We matched these students on age, sex, and time of year to healthy and study active controls with no use of beta-blockers. Risk of incident use of antidepressants, incident use of other psychotropic medications, and suicide attempts was examined by cumulative incidence curves for unadjusted associations and multivariable cause-specific Cox proportional hazard analyses for adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). We identified 12,147 healthy students with exam-related beta-blocker use and 12,147 matched healthy students with no current or prior use of beta-blockers (median age, 19 years; 80.3% women). Among all healthy students, 0.14% had a first-time prescription for a beta-blocker during the exam period with the highest proportion among students aged 19 years (0.39%). Eighty-one percent of the students filled only that single prescription for a beta-blocker during follow-up. During follow-up, 2225 (18.3%) beta-blocker users and 1400 (11.5%) nonbeta-blocker users were prescribed an antidepressant (p < 0.0001); 1225 (10.1%) beta-blocker users and 658 (5.4%) nonbeta-blocker users were prescribed a psychotropic drug (p < 0.0001); and 16 (0.13%) beta-blocker users and 6 (0.05%) nonbeta-blocker users attempted suicide (p = 0.03). Exam-related beta-blocker use was associated with an increased risk of antidepressant use (adjusted HRs, 1.68 [95% confidence intervals (CIs), 1.57-1.79], p < 0.0001), other psychotropic medication use (HR, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.76-2.12] p < 0.0001), and suicide attempts (HR, 2.67 [95% CI, 1.04-6.82] p = 0.04). In healthy students, use of beta-blockers during the exam period was associated with an increased risk of psychiatric outcomes and might identify psychologically vulnerable students who need special attention.

The 4 micron spectra of compact infrared sources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hofmann, R.; Larson, H. P.; Fink, U.

1986-01-01

High resolution 5 arcsec spectra in the 4 micron region are presented of the central 5 arcsec of the compact near infrared sources K3-50, W51-IRS2 East, and G333.6-0.2. From measured Br-alpha/Pf-beta line ratios and previously published infrared and radio maps, it is concluded that standard recombination theory fails to explain our observations in at least two cases. It is demonstrated that the data are consistent with thermal excitation of the hydrogen lines in strong stellar winds. The Pf-beta Hu-epsilon line ratio, which is completely insensitive to differential extinction, confirms the need for the stellar wind model for the core of G333.6-0.2. From the (K III) line it is estimated that the potassium abundance in G333.6-0.2 is at least equal to the solar value, and possibly enhanced by a factor up to 10.

Determination of 243Am by pulse shape discrimination liquid scintillation spectrometry.

PubMed

Alamelu, D; Bhade, S P D; Reddy, P J; Narayan, K K; Shah, P M; Aggarwal, S K

2006-05-01

Alpha specific activity of 243Am was determined using pulse shape discrimination in liquid scintillation spectrometry. 238Pu, 36Cl and 239Np (purified from 243Am) were used for obtaining the spillover of alpha/beta particles into the beta/alpha channels, respectively. Synthetic mixtures of 241Am/243Am were prepared. Using the alpha-specific activity, weights of the stock solutions used and the half-life of 241Am and 243Am isotopes, the expected 241Am/243Am atom ratios in the mixtures were determined and compared with those obtained by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). An agreement of about 1% was obtained between the 241Am/243Am atom ratios determined by the two methods. This shows that liquid scintillation counting with pulse shape discrimination can be used for 243Am determination with an accuracy better than 1%.

Frequency equation for the submicron CMOS ring oscillator using the first order characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koithyar, Aravinda; Ramesh, T. K.

2018-05-01

By utilizing the first order behavior of the device, an equation for the frequency of operation of the submicron CMOS ring oscillator is presented. A 5-stage ring oscillator is utilized as the initial design, with different Beta ratios, for the computation of the operating frequency. Later on, the circuit simulation is performed from 5-stage till 23-stage, with the range of oscillating frequency being 3.0817 and 0.6705 GHz respectively. It is noted that the output frequency is inversely proportional to the square of the device length, and when the value of Beta ratio is used as 2.3, a difference of 3.64% is observed on an average, in between the computed and the simulated values of frequency. As an outcome, the derived equation can be utilized, with the inclusion of an empirical constant in general, for arriving at the ring oscillator circuit’s output frequency.

Pregnancy outcomes among women with beta-thalassemia trait.

PubMed

Charoenboon, Chitrakan; Jatavan, Phudit; Traisrisilp, Kuntharee; Tongsong, Theera

2016-04-01

To compare the obstetric outcomes between pregnant women affected by beta-thalassemia trait and normal controls. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on singleton pregnant women complicated by beta-thalassemia trait and normal controls, randomly selected with the controls-to-case ratio of 2:1. All were low-risk pregnancies without underlying medical diseases and fetal anomalies. The pregnancies undergoing invasive prenatal diagnosis were excluded. A total of 597 pregnant women with beta-thalassemia trait and 1194 controls were recruited. Baseline characteristics and maternal outcomes in the two groups were similar, except that hemoglobin levels were slightly lower in the study group. The prevalence of small for gestational age and preterm birth tended to be higher in the study group but not reached the significant levels but the rate of low birth weight was significantly higher in the study group (relative risk 1.25; 95 % CI 1.00-1.57). Additionally, abortion rate was also significantly higher in the study group (relative risk 3.25; 95 % CI 1.35-7.80). Beta-thalassemia trait could minimally, but significantly, increase risk of low birth weight but did not increase rates of maternal adverse outcomes.

Anisotropic shock jump conditions: Theory and observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chao, J. K.; Zhang, X. X.; Song, P.

1995-01-01

The MHD Rankine-Hugoniot (RH) relations for shock waves in a collisionless plasma with bi-Maxwellian distribution functions are considered. While by introducing the pressure anisotropy parameter xi in the RH relations, the number of unknowns -- B, V, n, p and xi (a total of 9) -- becomes one more than the total number of the conservation equations, it is possible to use the observed quantities on both sides of the shock to study the anisotropy changes across the shock. A simple relation for the anisotropy change across the shock is derived as a function of the ratio of magnetic fields m(= B'/B), the shock normal angle theta(sub Bn) and the plasma beta and beta' (primes are downstream values). Since m and theta(sub Bn) can be determined accurately in observation, the reliability of the anisotropy change deduced is mostly dependent on the accuracy of the measurements beta and beta'. We have applied the results to six low-beta quasi-perpendicular (Q perpendicular) laminar bow shock crossings with temperature anisotropy measured in the magnetosheath. In the six test cases, it is found that the predicted pressure anisotropies agree well with those observed in the magnetosheath.

Anomalous H-beta Variability in the 2014 NGC 5548 AGN-STORM Monitoring Campaign

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pei, Liuyi; AGN STORM Collaboration

2016-06-01

Reverberation mapping programs generally find that the continuum and H-beta flux variations in AGNs are well correlated. In the 2014 AGN STORM monitoring program for NGC 5548, we observed a distinct decorrelation of the emission-line light curves from the AGN continuum light curve during the second half of the six-month campaign. This effect was first detected for the C IV, Ly a, HeII 1640 and SiIV/OIV] 1400 lines in Hubble Space Telescope data, then observed for the H-beta line in ground-based data taken during the same monitoring period. We present measurements of the H-beta lags, equivalent width variations, and line responsivity changes during our campaign. We show that the AGN demonstrated unusual behavior in that the broad H-beta responsivity to flux variations decreased significantly during the second half of the campaign. The discovery of this decorrelation phenomenon was made possible by the high cadence and long duration of our monitoring campaign. More multi-wavelength observing campaigns with high sampling cadence, high signal-to-noise ratio, and long temporal baseline are needed for other AGNs in order to determine the prevalence of this phenomenon and to understand its physical origin.

Beta-Delayed Neutron Spectroscopy of 72Co with VANDLE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keeler, Andrew; Grzywacz, Robert; King, Thomas; Taylor, Steven; Paulauskas, Stanley; Zachary, Christopher; Vandle Collaboration

2017-09-01

Measurements of simple, closed-shell isotopes far from stability provide important benchmarks for nuclear models and are a key constraint in r-process calculations. In particular, r-process models are sensitive to beta decay lifetimes and branching ratios of these neutron-rich isotopes. In this experiment, the Versatile Array of Neutron Detectors at Low Energy (VANDLE) was used to observe decays of nuclei produced by the fragmentation of 82Se at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). The neutron and gamma emissions of 72Co were measured to map the beta strength distribution (S_beta) above the neutron separation energy and infer the size of the Z = 28 shell gap in the 78Ni region. An implantation detector made of a radiation-hardened, inorganic scintillator was used to correlate implanted ions with beta decays as well as provide a start signal for the neutron Time of Flight measurement. Funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration under the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances program through DOE Award No. DE-NA0002132 and by the Office of Nuclear Physics, U.S. Department of Energy under Awards No. DE-FG02-96ER40983 (UTK).

In vivo imaging of tumour angiogenesis in mice with the alpha(v)beta (3) integrin-targeted tracer 99mTc-RAFT-RGD.

PubMed

Sancey, Lucie; Ardisson, Valérie; Riou, Laurent M; Ahmadi, Mitra; Marti-Batlle, Danièle; Boturyn, Didier; Dumy, Pascal; Fagret, Daniel; Ghezzi, Catherine; Vuillez, Jean-Philippe

2007-12-01

The molecular imaging of tumour neoangiogenesis currently represents a major field of research for the diagnostic and treatment strategy of solid tumours. Endothelial cells from tumour neovessels overexpress the alpha(v)beta(3) integrin, which selectively binds to Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing peptides. We evaluated the potential of the novel radiotracer (99m)Tc-RAFT-RGD for the non-invasive molecular imaging of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin expression in mice models of tumour development. (99m)Tc-RAFT-RGD, (99m)Tc-cRGD (specific control) and (99m)Tc-RAFT-RAD (non-specific control) were injected intravenously to mice bearing B16F0 or TS/A-pc tumours. In vivo whole-body tomographic imaging and post-mortem biodistribution studies were performed 60 min following tracer injection. Adjacent tumour slices were used to compare the localisation of neovessels from immunostaining and the pattern of (99m)Tc-RAFT-RGD uptake from autoradiographic ex vivo imaging. Biodistribution studies indicated that (99m)Tc-RAFT-RGD tumour uptake was significantly higher than that of (99m)Tc-RAFT-RAD in B16F0 (2.4+/-0.5 vs 1.0+/-0.1%ID/g, respectively) and in TS/A-pc tumours (2.7+/-0.8 vs 0.7+/-0.1%ID/g, respectively). Immunohistochemical and autoradiographic studies indicated that (99m)Tc-RAFT-RGD intratumoural uptake preferentially occurred in angiogenic areas. Tomographic imaging allowed tumour visualisation following injection of (99m)Tc-RAFT-RGD and (99m)Tc-cRGD with similar tumour-to-contralateral muscle (T/CM) ratios in B16F0 and in TS/A-pc tumours whereas (99m)Tc-RAFT-RAD T/CM ratios did not allow tumour imaging. In accordance with the higher level of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin expression on TS/A-pc tumours than on B16F0 tumours as determined from western blot and immunoprecipitation analyses, the (99m)Tc-RAFT-RGD T/CM ratio was significantly higher in TS/A-pc than in B16F0 tumours. (99m)Tc-RAFT-RGD allowed the in vivo imaging of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin tumour expression.

Ocrelizumab versus Interferon Beta-1a in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis.

PubMed

Hauser, Stephen L; Bar-Or, Amit; Comi, Giancarlo; Giovannoni, Gavin; Hartung, Hans-Peter; Hemmer, Bernhard; Lublin, Fred; Montalban, Xavier; Rammohan, Kottil W; Selmaj, Krzysztof; Traboulsee, Anthony; Wolinsky, Jerry S; Arnold, Douglas L; Klingelschmitt, Gaelle; Masterman, Donna; Fontoura, Paulo; Belachew, Shibeshih; Chin, Peter; Mairon, Nicole; Garren, Hideki; Kappos, Ludwig

2017-01-19

B cells influence the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Ocrelizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively depletes CD20+ B cells. In two identical phase 3 trials, we randomly assigned 821 and 835 patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis to receive intravenous ocrelizumab at a dose of 600 mg every 24 weeks or subcutaneous interferon beta-1a at a dose of 44 μg three times weekly for 96 weeks. The primary end point was the annualized relapse rate. The annualized relapse rate was lower with ocrelizumab than with interferon beta-1a in trial 1 (0.16 vs. 0.29; 46% lower rate with ocrelizumab; P<0.001) and in trial 2 (0.16 vs. 0.29; 47% lower rate; P<0.001). In prespecified pooled analyses, the percentage of patients with disability progression confirmed at 12 weeks was significantly lower with ocrelizumab than with interferon beta-1a (9.1% vs. 13.6%; hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45 to 0.81; P<0.001), as was the percentage of patients with disability progression confirmed at 24 weeks (6.9% vs. 10.5%; hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.84; P=0.003). The mean number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions per T 1 -weighted magnetic resonance scan was 0.02 with ocrelizumab versus 0.29 with interferon beta-1a in trial 1 (94% lower number of lesions with ocrelizumab, P<0.001) and 0.02 versus 0.42 in trial 2 (95% lower number of lesions, P<0.001). The change in the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite score (a composite measure of walking speed, upper-limb movements, and cognition; for this z score, negative values indicate worsening and positive values indicate improvement) significantly favored ocrelizumab over interferon beta-1a in trial 2 (0.28 vs. 0.17, P=0.004) but not in trial 1 (0.21 vs. 0.17, P=0.33). Infusion-related reactions occurred in 34.3% of the patients treated with ocrelizumab. Serious infection occurred in 1.3% of the patients treated with ocrelizumab and in 2.9% of those treated with interferon beta-1a. Neoplasms occurred in 0.5% of the patients treated with ocrelizumab and in 0.2% of those treated with interferon beta-1a. Among patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, ocrelizumab was associated with lower rates of disease activity and progression than interferon beta-1a over a period of 96 weeks. Larger and longer studies of the safety of ocrelizumab are required. (Funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche; OPERA I and II ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT01247324 and NCT01412333 , respectively.).

Are beta-blockers needed in patients receiving spironolactone for severe chronic heart failure? An analysis of the COPERNICUS study.

PubMed

Krum, Henry; Mohacsi, Paul; Katus, Hugo A; Tendera, Michael; Rouleau, Jean-Lucien; Fowler, Michael B; Coats, Andrew J; Roecker, Ellen B; Packer, Milton

2006-01-01

The beneficial effects of beta-blockers and aldosterone receptor antagonists are now well established in patients with severe systolic chronic heart failure (CHF). However, it is unclear whether beta-blockers are able to provide additional benefit in patients already receiving aldosterone antagonists. We therefore examined this question in the COPERNICUS study of 2289 patients with severe CHF receiving the beta1-beta2/alpha1 blocker carvedilol compared with placebo. Patients were divided post hoc into subgroups according to whether they were receiving spironolactone (n = 445) or not (n = 1844) at baseline. Consistency of the effect of carvedilol versus placebo was examined for these subgroups with respect to the predefined end points of all-cause mortality, death or CHF-related hospitalizations, death or cardiovascular hospitalizations, and death or all-cause hospitalizations. The beneficial effect of carvedilol was similar among patients who were or were not receiving spironolactone for each of the 4 efficacy measures. For all-cause mortality, the Cox model hazard ratio for carvedilol compared with placebo was 0.65 (95% CI 0.36-1.15) in patients receiving spironolactone and 0.65 (0.51-0.83) in patients not receiving spironolactone. Hazard ratios for death or all-cause hospitalization were 0.76 (0.55-1.05) versus 0.76 (0.66-0.88); for death or cardiovascular hospitalization, 0.61 (0.42-0.89) versus 0.75 (0.64-0.88); and for death or CHF hospitalization, 0.63 (0.43-0.94) versus 0.70 (0.59-0.84), in patients receiving and not receiving spironolactone, respectively. The safety and tolerability of treatment with carvedilol were also similar, regardless of background spironolactone. Carvedilol remained clinically efficacious in the COPERNICUS study of patients with severe CHF when added to background spironolactone in patients who were practically all receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (or angiotensin II antagonist) therapy. Therefore, the use of spironolactone in patients with severe CHF does not obviate the necessity of additional treatment that interferes with the adverse effects of sympathetic activation, specifically beta-blockade.

Trends in the use of antiasthmatic medications in Morocco (1999-2010).

PubMed

Ghanname, Imane; Ahid, Samir; Berrada, Ghizlane; Belaiche, Abdelmjid; Hassar, Mohamed; Cherrah, Yahya

2013-12-01

Asthma is a big public health problem in Morocco. The drug therapy existing in Morocco is currently insufficient because of the low purchasing power and the low health insurance coverage available to the average citizen in Morocco. In this study we evaluated the consumption of antiasthmatics in Morocco during the period 1999-2010, the classes of used drugs and the generics' market share. We used sales data from the Moroccan subsidiaries of the IMS Health "Intercontinental Marketing Service". The consumption volume was converted to Defined Daily Doses (DDDs). During 1999-2010, antiasthmatics's consumption increased from 3.91 to 14.47 DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day. In 2010, the association Beta-2-mimetic-Glucocorticosteroids were the most consumed (8.53 DDD/1000 Inhabitants/day) followed by the short-acting inhaled Beta-2-mimetic (4 DDD/1000 Inhabitants/day) and inhaled Glucocorticosteroids alone accounted for 1.13 DDD/1000 Inhabitants/day. The largest consumption share in volume was held by the short-acting inhaled Beta-2-mimetic (42%) followed by the combination Beta-2-mimetic-Glucocorticosteroids (38%). Between 1999 and 2010, the market for generic antiasthmatics increased from 1.84 to 2.18 DDD/1000 Inhabitants/day. The ratio of the monthly average cost of treatment to the minimum wage in Morocco decreased from 10.8% in 1999 to 7.11% in 2010. Antiasthmatics' consumption in Morocco has undergone significant changes between 1999 and 2010. However, the availability of these drugs expressed as the Average Monthly Expenditure/Guaranteed Minimum Wage ratio improved. Despite this, the use of antiasmathics in Morocco remains low.

Psychomotor stimulant effects of beta-phenylethylamine in monkeys treated with MAO-B inhibitors.

PubMed

Bergman, J; Yasar, S; Winger, G

2001-12-01

Sufficiently high doses of beta-phenylethylamine (beta-PEA), a trace amine that is rapidly metabolized by monoamine oxidase-type B (MAO-B), can produce effects comparable to those of cocaine or methamphetamine (MA). The present experiments were conducted to study how the discriminative-stimulus (S(D)) and reinforcing-stimulus (S(R)) effects of beta-PEA in monkeys are modified by treatment with inhibitors of MAO-B [R-(-)-deprenyl and MDL 72974]. In studies of its S(D) effects, doses of beta-PEA up to 30 mg/kg engendered only sporadic responding on the drug-associated lever in squirrel monkeys that discriminated intramuscular injections of 0.3 mg/kg MA from vehicle whereas lower doses of 0.3-1.0 mg/kg beta-PEA produced full substitution when administered after either R-(-)-deprenyl or MDL 72974 (0.3 mg/kg). The MA-like S(D) effects of beta-PEA were attenuated by either dopamine D(1) or D(2) receptor blockers. In studies of its S(R) effects, high doses of beta-PEA maintained responding in two of three monkeys under a second-order fixed-interval schedule (3.0 or 10 mg/kg per injection) and two of three monkeys under a simple fixed ratio (FR) schedule (0.3-1.0 mg/kg per injection) of intravenous (i.v.) self-administration. MAO-B inhibition by R-(-)-deprenyl or MDL 72974 enhanced the S(R) effects of beta-PEA in all monkeys and, under the FR schedule, induced a 30-fold or greater leftward shift in the dose-response function for its i.v. self-administration. Based on time-course determinations, the enhanced S(R) effects of beta-PEA under the FR schedule were long-lasting and dissipated gradually over 3-7 days. These results show that inhibition of MAO-B enhances S(D) and S(R) effects of beta-PEA in monkeys, presumably by delaying its inactivation. MAO-B inhibition leading to increased levels of beta-PEA may be useful, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, in the pharmacological management of selected aspects of drug dependence.

Beta-blocker usage after malignant melanoma diagnosis and survival: a population-based nested case-control study.

PubMed

McCourt, C; Coleman, H G; Murray, L J; Cantwell, M M; Dolan, O; Powe, D G; Cardwell, C R

2014-04-01

Beta-blockers have potential antiangiogenic and antimigratory activity. Studies have demonstrated a survival benefit in patients with malignant melanoma treated with beta-blockers. To investigate the association between postdiagnostic beta-blocker usage and risk of melanoma-specific mortality in a population-based cohort of patients with malignant melanoma. Patients with incident malignant melanoma diagnosed between 1998 and 2010 were identified within the U.K. Clinical Practice Research Datalink and confirmed using cancer registry data. Patients with malignant melanoma with a melanoma-specific death (cases) recorded by the Office of National Statistics were matched on year of diagnosis, age and sex to four malignant melanoma controls (who lived at least as long after diagnosis as their matched case). A nested case-control approach was used to investigate the association between postdiagnostic beta-blocker usage and melanoma-specific death and all-cause mortality. Conditional logistic regression was applied to generate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for beta-blocker use determined from general practitioner prescribing. Beta-blocker medications were prescribed after malignant melanoma diagnosis to 20·2% of 242 patients who died from malignant melanoma (cases) and 20·3% of 886 matched controls. Consequently, there was no association between beta-blocker use postdiagnosis and cancer-specific death (OR 0·99, 95% CI 0·68-1·42), which did not markedly alter after adjustment for confounders including stage (OR 0·87, 95% CI 0·56-1·34). No significant associations were detected for individual beta-blocker types, by defined daily doses of use or for all-cause mortality. Contrary to some previous studies, beta-blocker use after malignant melanoma diagnosis was not associated with reduced risk of death from melanoma in this U.K. population-based study. © 2014 British Association of Dermatologists.

Beta-Blockers (Carvedilol) in Children with Systemic Ventricle Systolic Dysfunction - Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Prijic, Sergej; Buchhorn, Reiner; Kosutic, Jovan; Vukomanovic, Vladislav; Prijic, Andreja; Bjelakovic, Bojko; Zdravkovic, Marija

2014-01-01

Numerous prospective randomized clinical trials demonstrated favorable effect of beta-blockers in adults with chronic heart failure. However, effectiveness of beta blockers in pediatric patients with systemic ventricle systolic dysfunction was not recognized sufficiently. Limited number of pediatric patients might be the course of unrecognized carvediolol treatment benefit. Currently, no meta-analysis has examined the impact of carvedilol and conventional therapy on the clinical outcome in children with chronic heart failure due to impaired systemic ventricle systolic function. We have systematically searched the Medline/PubMed and Cochrane Library for the controlled clinical trials that examine carvedilol and standard treatment efficacy in pediatric patients with systemic ventricle systolic dysfunction. Mean differences for continuous variables, odds ratios for dichotomous outcomes, heterogeneity between studies and publication bias were calculated using Cochrane Review Manager (Rev Man 5.2). Total of 8 prospective/observational studies met established criteria. Odds ratio for chronic heart failure related mortality/heart transplantation secondary to carvedilol was 0.52 (95% CI: 0.28-0.97, I(2) = 0%). Our analysis showed that carvedilol could prevent 1 death/ heart transplantation by treating 14 pediatric patients with impaired systemic ventricle systolic function. Meta-analysis demonstrated clinical outcome benefit of carvedilol in children with chronic heart failure.

Study of the Rare Hyperon Decay $${\\boldmath \\Omega^\\mp \\to \\Xi^\\mp \\: \\pi^+\\pi^-}$$

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

Kamaev, O.; Solomey, N.; Burnstein, R.A.

The authors report a new measurement of the decay {Omega}{sup -} {yields} {Xi}{sup -} {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} with 76 events and a first observation of the decay {bar {Omega}}{sup +} {yields} {bar {Xi}}{sup +} {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} with 24 events, yielding a combined branching ratio (3.74{sub -0.56}{sup +0.67}) x 10{sup -4}. This represents a factor 25 increase in statistics over the best previous measurement. No evidence is seen for CP violation, with {Beta}({Omega}{sup -} {yields} {Xi}{sup -} {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}) = 4.04{sub -0.71}{sup +0.83} x 10{sup -4} and {Beta}({bar {Omega}}{sup +} {yields} {bar {Xi}}{sup +} {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}) = 3.15{submore » -0.89}{sup +1.12} x 10{sup -4}. Contrary to theoretical expectation, they see little evidence for the decays {Omega}{sup -} {yields} {Xi}*{sub 1530}{sup 0} {pi}{sup -} and {bar {Omega}}{sup +} {yields} {bar {Xi}}*{sub 1530}{sup 0} {pi}{sup +} and place a 90% C.L. upper limit on the combined branching ratio {Beta}({Omega}{sup -}({bar {Omega}}{sup +}) {yields} {Xi}*{sub 1530}{sup 0} ({bar {Xi}}*{sub 1530}{sup 0}){pi}{sup {-+}}) < 7.0 x 10{sup -5}.« less

Temperature dependence of the Haven ratio in silver beta-alumina

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

Kim, K. K.; Chandrashekhar, G. V.; Chen, W. K.

Measurements of Ag diffusivity (D) and ionic conductivity (sigma) have been made on the same single crystals of silver beta-alumina with composition 1.23 Ag/sub 2/0.11 Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/. The D values were obtained from the cation exchange rate of radiotracer /sup 110/Ag in molten AgNO/sub 3/ over 210/sup 0/ C approx. 400/sup 0/C. The sigma measurements were made using an impedance bridge with sputtered silver electrodes at a frequency of 3 x 10/sup 5/ Hz over R.T approx. 450/sup 0/C. Both D and sigma can be expressed in a simple Arrhenius form as: D = 1.47 x 10/sup -4/(cm/sup 2//sec)more » exp (-4.05(Kcal/mol)/RT); sigmaT = 1.58 x 10/sup 3/(ohm/sup -1/cm/sup -1/K) exp (-3.77(Kcal/mol)/RT). The Haven ratio varies from 0.51 at 200/sup 0/C to 0.56 at 400/sup 0/C. The magnitude of these values is very close to the theoretical value of 0.6 for interstitialcy mechanism. The temperature dependence is strikingly similar to the case of sodium beta-alumina.« less

Effect of in vitro degradation of poly(D,L-lactide)/beta-tricalcium composite on its shape-memory properties.

PubMed

Zheng, Xiaotong; Zhou, Shaobing; Yu, Xiongjun; Li, Xiaohong; Feng, Bo; Qu, Shuxin; Weng, Jie

2008-07-01

The in vitro degradation characteristic and shape-memory properties of poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA)/beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) composites were investigated because of their wide application in biomedical fields. In this article, PDLLA and crystalline beta-TCP were compounded and interesting shape-memory behaviors of the composite were first investigated. Then, in vitro degradation of the PDLLA/beta-TCP composites with weight ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 was performed in phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS) (154 mM, pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C. The effect of in vitro degradation time for PDLLA/beta-TCP composites on shape-memory properties was studied by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The changes of structural morphology, glass transition temperature (T(g)), molecular weight, and weight loss of composites matrix and pH change of degradation medium indicated that shape-memory effects at different degradation time were nonlinearly influenced because of the breaking down of polymer chain and the formation of degradation products. Furthermore, the results from XRD and FTIR implied that the degradation products, for example, hydroxyapatite (HA), calcium hydrogen phosphate (CaHPO(4)), and calcium pyrophosphate (Ca(2)P(2)O(7)) phases also had some effects on shape-memory properties during the degradation. 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Association between leukocyte telomere length and serum carotenoid in US adults.

PubMed

Min, Kyoung-Bok; Min, Jin-Young

2017-04-01

Telomere length is a biomarker for aging. It is known that oxidative stress can accelerate telomere shortening, whereas antioxidants can delay their shortening. Carotenoids as antioxidants are favorably associated with health- and aging-related diseases caused by oxidative stress, but their association with telomere length is less certain. We investigated the association between blood carotenoid levels and leukocyte telomere length in a representative sample of US adults. We analyzed 3660 participants aged 20 years and older in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The levels of carotenoids-alpha-carotene, beta-carotene (trans + cis), beta-cryptoxanthin, combined lutein/zeaxanthin, and trans-lycopene-were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. The leukocyte telomere length (T/S ratio) was assayed using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. A doubling of blood alpha-carotene, beta-carotene (trans + cis), and beta-cryptoxanthin was associated with approximately 2 % longer telomeres. Compared with the lowest carotenoid quartile of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene (trans + cis), and beta-cryptoxanthin, telomere length for adults with the highest quartiles was significantly increased by 5-8 %. We found that increasing levels of blood carotenoid were significantly associated with longer leukocyte telomeres in US adults. High intake of carotenoid-rich food may play a role in protecting telomeres and regulating telomere length.

Race and Beta-Blocker Survival Benefit in Patients With Heart Failure: An Investigation of Self-Reported Race and Proportion of African Genetic Ancestry.

PubMed

Luzum, Jasmine A; Peterson, Edward; Li, Jia; She, Ruicong; Gui, Hongsheng; Liu, Bin; Spertus, John A; Pinto, Yigal M; Williams, L Keoki; Sabbah, Hani N; Lanfear, David E

2018-05-08

It remains unclear whether beta-blockade is similarly effective in black patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction as in white patients, but self-reported race is a complex social construct with both biological and environmental components. The objective of this study was to compare the reduction in mortality associated with beta-blocker exposure in heart failure and reduced ejection fraction patients by both self-reported race and by proportion African genetic ancestry. Insured patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (n=1122) were included in a prospective registry at Henry Ford Health System. This included 575 self-reported blacks (129 deaths, 22%) and 547 self-reported whites (126 deaths, 23%) followed for a median 3.0 years. Beta-blocker exposure (BBexp) was calculated from pharmacy claims, and the proportion of African genetic ancestry was determined from genome-wide array data. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression was used to separately test the association of BBexp with all-cause mortality by self-reported race or by proportion of African genetic ancestry. Both sets of models were evaluated unadjusted and then adjusted for baseline risk factors and beta-blocker propensity score. BBexp effect estimates were protective and of similar magnitude both by self-reported race and by African genetic ancestry (adjusted hazard ratio=0.56 in blacks and adjusted hazard ratio=0.48 in whites). The tests for interactions with BBexp for both self-reported race and for African genetic ancestry were not statistically significant in any model ( P >0.1 for all). Among black and white patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, reduction in all-cause mortality associated with BBexp was similar, regardless of self-reported race or proportion African genetic ancestry. © 2018 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley.

Reversal effects of crocin on amyloid β-induced memory deficit: Modification of autophagy or apoptosis markers.

PubMed

Asadi, Farideh; Jamshidi, Amir Hossein; Khodagholi, Fariba; Yans, Asal; Azimi, Leila; Faizi, Mehrdad; Vali, Leila; Abdollahi, Mohammad; Ghahremani, Mohammad Hossein; Sharifzadeh, Mohammad

2015-12-01

Crocin, as a carotenoid, is one of the main and active constituents of saffron stigmas (Crocus sativus L.) that is widely used in folk medicine. Several studies have pointed out the potent antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of crocin which may have therapeutic values for management of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among the elderly and is characterized by massive neuronal loss and progressive cognitive impairment. Beta amyloid hypothesis is the main theoretical research framework for Alzheimer's disease which states that extracellular aggregation of beta amyloid results in synaptic loss and eventually cell apoptosis. Recent findings suggest that autophagy and apoptosis are extensively involved in Alzheimer's disease. In order to investigate therapeutic values of crocin, we examined the effect of crocin on memory, cell apoptosis, and autophagy using in vivo models of Alzheimer's disease. We also compared the effect of crocin administration on spatial memory with nicotine as positive control. Morris water maze results show that intra-peritoneal and intra-hippocampal administration of crocin significantly improve spatial memory indicators such as escape latency, traveled distance and time spent in target quadrant when compared to beta amyloid injection. Furthermore, we measured certain biomarkers of cell autophagy and apoptosis using Western blot analysis. Our results reveal that crocin administration does not cause any significant alteration in Beclin-1 and ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I compared to the group received beta amyloid by hippocampal injection. However, in contrast to autophagy, crocin administration significantly decreases Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and cleaved Caspase-3 level. This demonstrates that crocin inhibits beta amyloid induced apoptosis, which is possibly associated with its antioxidant properties. Our results further confirm the neuroprotective properties of crocin as a potential pharmaceutical agent for management of Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gamma delta lymphocytes in endocrine autoimmunity: evidence of expansion in Graves' disease but not in type 1 diabetes.

PubMed Central

Roura-Mir, I C; Alcalde, L; Vargas, F; Tolosa, E; Obiols, G; Foz, M; Jaraquemada, D; Pujol-Borrell, R

1993-01-01

Endocrine autoimmune disorders are mediated by T cell-dependent responses to organ-specific antigens, but the mechanisms initiating the process remain unknown. Lymphocytes which use the gamma delta heterodimer as T cell receptor (TCR) for antigen constitute a distinct subset of T cells whose function remains elusive. In order to investigate their possible involvement in endocrine autoimmunity we have determined the proportion of gamma delta T cells in the peripheral blood of 23 patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (type-1 DM) and 30 patients with autoimmune thyrotoxicosis (Graves' disease). T lymphocyte TCR expression was assessed by fluorescence-activated flow cytometry on peripheral blood mononuclear cells using MoAbs UCHT1 (CD3), TCR delta 1 (gamma delta TCR), WT31 and beta F1 (alpha beta TCR) and both the percentage of T cells expressing gamma delta and the ratio gamma delta/alpha beta were calculated. In the diabetic patients gamma delta cells were not significantly different from the control group (7.7 +/- 54% versus 8.0 +/- 5.5% of T cells, P NS). There was no relation between the proportion of gamma delta lymphocytes and the presence of islet cell antibodies (ICA) in the sera. The Graves' patients showed a tendency towards a higher proportion of gamma delta T lymphocytes than the controls (gamma delta/alpha beta ratios: 0.095 +/- 0.047 versus 0.063 +/- 0.022, P = 0.03). In 14 Graves' patients the number of gamma delta were measured in paired samples of peripheral and intrathyroidal lymphocytes, demonstrating an expansion of gamma delta within the thyroid glands (0.21 +/- 0.3 versus 0.095 +/- 0.047, P = 0.032). Immunohistochemical studies showed that gamma delta cells were scattered among the predominant alpha beta lymphocytes infiltrating the thyroid gland and that they account for 10% of intraepithelial lymphocytes. No relation was found between the increase of gamma delta lymphocytes and any clinical features. PMID:8485915

Previous Antibiotic Exposure Increases Risk of Infection with Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase- and AmpC-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Pediatric Patients

PubMed Central

Miles-Jay, Arianna; Kronman, Matthew P.; Zhou, Chuan; Adler, Amanda L.; Haaland, Wren; Weissman, Scott J.; Elward, Alexis; Newland, Jason G.; Zaoutis, Theoklis; Qin, Xuan

2016-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine whether antibiotic exposure is associated with extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase- or AmpC-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae infections in children. We collected extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase- or AmpC-producing E. coli or K. pneumoniae isolates and same-species susceptible controls from normally sterile sites of patients aged ≤21 years, along with associated clinical data, at four free-standing pediatric centers. After controlling for potential confounders, the relative risk of having an extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing isolate rather than a susceptible isolate was 2.2 times higher (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49 to 3.35) among those with antibiotic exposure in the 30 days prior to infection than in those with no antibiotic exposure. The results were similar when analyses were limited to exposure to third-generation cephalosporins, other broad-spectrum beta-lactams, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Conversely, the relative risk of having an AmpC-producing versus a susceptible isolate was not significantly elevated with any antibiotic exposure in the 30 days prior to infection (adjusted relative risk ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.65 to 1.91). However, when examining subgroups of antibiotics, the relative risk of having an AmpC-producing isolate was higher for patients with exposure to third-generation cephalosporins (adjusted relative risk ratio, 4.48; 95% CI, 1.75 to 11.43). Dose-response relationships between antibiotic exposure and extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing or AmpC-producing isolates were not demonstrated. These results reinforce the need to study and implement pediatric antimicrobial stewardship strategies, and they indicate that epidemiological studies of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates should include resistance mechanisms when possible. PMID:27139486

A study on the relationship between genetic and environmental factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans.

PubMed

Chen, Yu; Zhou, Ling; Xu, Yaochu; Shen, Hongbing; Niu, Juying

2002-05-01

To study the relationship between the inheritable factor and environmental factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans. A case-control study based on 154 type 2 diabetes mellitus and 130 healthy controls was carried out in Jiangsu Province in 1997. The age, family history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension history, high waist/hip ratio (WHR), high systolic blood pressure, huge fetus history, and the genotype of beta(3)-adrenergic receptor (beta(3)-AR) were the risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus; while occupational physical activity was protective factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The risk for diabetes mellitus distinctly increased while genetic factor and obesity, beta(3)-AR mutation were coexisting. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is caused by the effect of both genetic and environmental factors.

Hb Potomac (101 Glu replaced by Asp): speculations on placental oxygen transport in carriers of high-affinity hemoglobins.

PubMed

Charache, S; Jacobson, R; Brimhall, B; Murphy, E A; Hathaway, P; Winslow, R; Jones, R; Rath, C; Simkovich, J

1978-02-01

Blood from a woman with unexplained erythrocytosis had increased oxygen affinity, but no abnormality could be detected by electrophoresis or chromatography of her hemolysate. Separation of the tryptic peptides of her beta chains disclosed two half-sized peaks in the regions of beta T-11. The faster of these was abnormal, with the structure beta 101 Glu replaced by Asp. The new hemoglobin was called "Potomac." Three of the proband's four surviving siblings and both of her children were carriers. Differences in the ratio of carrier: normal children born to male of female carriers of 23 other high-affinity hemoglobins were not significant. The high proportion of carriers in this kindred was probably due to chance alone, and not because high maternal oxygen affinity interfered with oxygen transport to fetuses with normal hemoglobin.

Some mutations of exon-7 in cytochrome P450 gene 3A4 and their effect on 6beta-hydroxylation of cortisol.

PubMed

Shchepotina, E G; Vavilin, V A; Goreva, O B; Lyakhovich, V V

2006-06-01

Analysis of variants of exon 7 sequences in cytochrome P450 gene 3A4 in a sample of Caucasoid persons was carried out. The effect of these variants on activity of CYP3A was assessed by the level of cortisol 6beta-hydroxylation. Alleles CYP3A4*5 and *17 were not detected: probably, these mutations are rare and consequently they have little effect on the character of polymorphic distribution of CYP3A4 activity in this population. The incidence of CYP3A4*2 was 5.26%. The 6betaOH-cortisol/cortisol ratio in an individual with CYP3A4*2/*2 genotype was 7.408, which corresponded to "slow metabolizer" phenotype in this sample.

Evaluation of beta-lactose, PVP K12 and PVP K90 as excipients to prepare piroxicam granules using two wet granulation techniques.

PubMed

Albertini, Beatrice; Cavallari, Cristina; Passerini, Nadia; González-Rodríguez, M L; Rodriguez, Lorenzo

2003-11-01

The present investigation aimed at evaluating the use of different excipients, beta-lactose and polyvinylpyrrolidone of two molecular weights (PVP K12 and PVP K90), in the production of improved release piroxicam granules, by wet granulation using both water and steam as granulation liquid. The formulations examined were: piroxicam (Px)/beta-lactose; Px/PVP K12 and Px/PVP K90, each one at a 1:9 weight ratio. The most significant difference between beta-lactose and PVP is that, using the first excipient, both steam and water granules were produced while, when PVP were employed, only steam granules were obtained. Image analysis revealed that beta-lactose steam granules had a larger surface area with respect to water granules, whereas lower values of this parameter were observed in PVP-s granules, confirming the Scanning Electron Microscopy micrographs and the fractal analysis results. As regards the enhancement of the dissolution profiles, the best result was obtained using beta-lactose steam granules followed by PVP K12 ones, even if the reactive dimension values indicated that during the dissolution process PVP K12 granules modified the surface more than beta-lactose granules. As regards PVP K90, this excipient was the one less influencing the granule morphology and the dissolution behaviour. Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis suggested the partial amorphisation of the drug in the granules containing the three excipients. This result was then confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. Therefore, beta-lactose and PVP K12 could be proposed as useful excipients to enhance the dissolution rate of Px from granules prepared using the steam granulation technique.

The presence of betapapillomavirus antibodies around transplantation predicts the development of keratinocyte carcinoma in organ transplant recipients: a cohort study.

PubMed

Genders, Roel E; Mazlom, Hadi; Michel, Angelika; Plasmeijer, Elsemieke I; Quint, Koen D; Pawlita, Michael; van der Meijden, Els; Waterboer, Tim; de Fijter, Hans; Claas, Frans H; Wolterbeek, Ron; Feltkamp, Mariet C W; Bouwes Bavinck, Jan Nico

2015-05-01

Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) have an increased risk of developing keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs). The aim of this study was to correlate infection with human papillomaviruses (HPVs) belonging to the beta genus (Beta-papillomavirus (Beta-PV)) at transplantation with later development of KCs. In a cohort study, sera collected between 1 year before and 1 year after transplantation of OTRs transplanted between 1990 and 2006 were tested for antibody responses against the L1 capsid antigen of Beta-PV and other HPV genera (Gamma-, Mu-, Nu-, and Alpha-PV) using multiplex serology. The OTRs were followed for a maximum of 22 years. Cox regression models with KC, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) as outcome variables were used. Out of 445 OTRs, 60 had developed KC: 14 developed only SCC, 24 only BCC, and 22 both types of KC. The time-dependent hazard ratio (HR) to develop either or both types of KC, adjusted for age, sex, and transplanted organ, in tested Beta-PV-seropositive OTR around the time of transplantation compared with Beta-PV-seronegative OTR was 2.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-6.4). The HR for SCC was 2.9 (95% CI 0.99-8.5) and for BCC it was 3.1 (95% CI 1.2-8.0). There was also an association between Mu-PV seropositivity and KC, but there were no significant associations between other HPV genera tested and KC. A positive seroresponse for Beta-PV around transplantation significantly predicted the development of KC in OTRs up to 22 years later, providing additional evidence that infection with Beta-PV has a role in KC carcinogenesis.

Metabolism of androsta-1,4,6-triene-3,17-dione and detection by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in doping control.

PubMed

Parr, Maria K; Fusshöller, Gregor; Schlörer, Nils; Opfermann, Georg; Piper, Thomas; Rodchenkov, Grigory; Schänzer, Wilhelm

2009-01-01

The urinary metabolism of the irreversible aromatase inhibitor androsta-1,4,6-triene-3,17-dione was investigated. It is mainly excreted unchanged and as its 17beta-hydroxy analogue. For confirmation, 17beta-hydroxyandrosta-1,4,6-trien-3-one was synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in addition to the parent compound. In addition, several reduced metabolites were detected in the post-administration urines, namely 17beta-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one (boldenone), 17beta-hydroxy-5beta-androst-1-en-3-one (boldenone metabolite), 17beta-hydroxyandrosta-4,6-dien-3-one, and androsta-4,6-diene-3,17-dione. The identification was performed by comparison of the metabolites with reference material utilizing gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of the underivatized compounds and GC/MS and GC/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of their trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives. Alterations in the steroid profile were also observed, most obviously in the androsterone/testosterone ratio. Even if not explicitly listed, androsta-1,4,6-triene-3,17-dione is classified as a prohibited substance in sports by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to its aromatase-inhibiting properties. In 2006 three samples from human routine sports doping control tested positive for metabolites of androsta-1,4,6-triene-3,17-dione. The samples were initially found suspicious for the boldenone metabolite 17beta-hydroxy-5beta-androst-1-en-3-one. Since metabolites of androst-4-ene-3,6,17-trione were also present in the urine samples, it is presumed that these findings were due to the administration of a product like 'Novedex Xtreme', which could be easily obtained from the sport supplement market. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Isomeric forms of specifically. beta. -subunit labeled mitochondrial F/sub 1/-adenosinetriphosphatase with different properties

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

Wang, J.H.; Wu, J.C.; Joshi, V.

1986-05-01

Treatment of the mitochondrial F/sub 1/-ATPase (MF/sub 1/) containing 1 specific 7-(4-nitro-2,1,3-(/sup 14/C)benzoxadiazolyl)-label (NBD) per enzyme molecule with acetylcysteine (AC) shows that the ratio r of specific ATPase activity of (O-NBD)/sub n/MF/sub 1/ to that of the control MF/sub 1/ increases linearly with the number of labels removed by AC from r < 0.1 to r > 0.9 and that dr/dn approx. = -1 as expected from specific labeling of an essential Tyr in the catalytic ..beta..' subunit. The r value of this labeled enzyme can also be increased 10-fold by LiCl-induced rearrangement of its subunits without removing any ofmore » the label. Similar treatment of the rearranged (O-NBD)/sub n/MF/sub 1/ shows that only a fraction of its radioactive labels can be removed at the normal rate by AC with dr/dn approx. = -1. The remaining labels have little inhibitory effect and are removed at much slower rates by AC with dr/dn approx. = 0. If the reaction with the rearranged (O-NBD)/sub n/MF/sub 1/ is terminated by gel-filtration when most of the labels on ..beta..' have been removed, an isomeric form of the covalently labeled enzyme is obtained with n > 0.5 but r approx. = 1, indicating that its labels are on the subunits (..beta..'') which do not catalyze directly. Incubation of O-..beta..'-NBD-MF/sub 1/ and O-BETA''-NBD-MF/sub 1/ at pH 8.95 gives N-..beta..'-NBD-MF/sub 1/ and N-..beta..''-NBD-MF/sub 1/ respectively with different fluorescence quenching characteristics.« less

A supramolecular complex between proteinases and beta-cyclodextrin that preserves enzymatic activity: physicochemical characterization.

PubMed

Denadai, Angelo M L; Santoro, Marcelo M; Lopes, Miriam T P; Chenna, Angélica; de Sousa, Frederico B; Avelar, Gabriela M; Gomes, Marco R Túlio; Guzman, Fanny; Salas, Carlos E; Sinisterra, Rubén D

2006-01-01

Cyclodextrins are suitable drug delivery systems because of their ability to subtly modify the physical, chemical, and biological properties of guest molecules through labile interactions by formation of inclusion and/or association complexes. Plant cysteine proteinases from Caricaceae and Bromeliaceae are the subject of therapeutic interest, because of their anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, immunogenic, and wound-healing properties. In this study, we analyzed the association between beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) and fraction P1G10 containing the bioactive proteinases from Carica candamarcensis, and described the physicochemical nature of the solid-state self-assembled complexes by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), as well as in solution by circular dichroism (CD), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and amidase activity. The physicochemical analyses suggest the formation of a complex between P1G10 and betaCD. Higher secondary interactions, namely hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces were observed at higher P1G10 : betaCD mass ratios. These results provide evidence of the occurrence of strong solid-state supramolecular non-covalent interactions between P1G10 and betaCD. Microcalorimetric analysis demonstrates that complexation results in a favorable enthalpic contribution, as has already been described during formation of similar betaCD inclusion compounds. The amidase activity of the complex shows that the enzyme activity is not readily available at 24 hours after dissolution of the complex in aqueous buffer; the proteinase becomes biologically active by the second day and remains stable until day 16, when a gradual decrease occurs, with basal activity attained by day 29. The reported results underscore the potential for betaCDs as candidates for complexing cysteine proteinases, resulting in supramolecular arrays with sustained proteolytic activity.

Increased production of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in the kidney microsomes of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri spp.).

PubMed

Sadosky, Patti W; Scammell, Jonathan G

2008-04-01

In squirrel monkeys (Saimiri spp.), cortisol circulates at levels much higher than those seen in man and other Old World primates, but squirrel monkeys exhibit no physiologic signs of the mineralocorticoid effects of cortisol. These observations suggest that squirrel monkeys have mechanisms for protection of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) from these high levels of cortisol. We previously showed that the serum cortisol to cortisone ratio in these animals is low relative to that in human serum, suggesting that production of the MR protective enzyme, 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2), is increased in squirrel monkeys. Here, we directly evaluate whether increased production of 11beta-HSD2, which inactivates cortisol to cortisone, is a mechanism for protection of MR. In vitro assays showed that 11beta-HSD2 activity in squirrel monkey kidney microsomes was 3 to 7 times higher than that seen in kidney microsomes from pig or rabbit. 11beta-HSD2 protein detected by Western blot analysis was 4 to 9 times greater in squirrel monkey microsomes than in pig or rabbit microsomes. Comparison of the effect of expression of either human or squirrel monkey 11beta-HSD2 on MR transactivation activity showed similar inhibition of MR response to cortisol by both enzymes, indicating that the intrinsic activities of the human and squirrel monkey enzymes are similar. These findings suggest that one mechanism by which squirrel monkeys protect the MR from activation by high cortisol levels in the kidney is by upregulation of 11beta-HSD2 activity through increased production of the enzyme.

Topical Beta-Blockers and Cardiovascular Mortality: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Data from the EPIC-Norfolk Cohort Study

PubMed Central

Pinnock, Claude; Yip, Jennifer L. Y.; Khawaja, Anthony P.; Luben, Robert; Hayat, Shabina; Broadway, David C.; Foster, Paul J.; Khaw, Kay-Tee; Wareham, Nick

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine if topical beta-blocker use is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, particularly among people with self-reported glaucoma. Methods: All participants who participated in the first health check (N = 25,639) of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) Norfolk cohort (1993–2013) were included in this prospective cohort study, with a median follow-up of 17.0 years. We determined use of topical beta-blockers at baseline through a self-reported questionnaire and prescription check at the first clinical visit. Cardiovascular mortality was ascertained through data linkage with the Office for National Statistics mortality database. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using multivariable Cox regression models. Meta-analysis of the present study’s results together with other identified literature was performed using a random effects model. Results: We did not find an association between the use of topical beta-blockers and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.93, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.67–1.30). In the 514 participants with self-reported glaucoma, no association was found between the use of topical beta-blockers and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.56–1.40). In the primary meta-analysis of four publications, there was no evidence of an association between the use of topical beta-blockers and cardiovascular mortality (pooled HR estimate 1.10, 95% CI 0.84–1.36). Conclusion: Topical beta-blockers do not appear to be associated with excess cardiovascular mortality. This evidence does not indicate that a change in current practice is warranted, although clinicians should continue to assess individual patients and their cardiovascular risk prior to commencing topical beta-blockers. PMID:27551956

First Compilation and Evaluation of Beta-Delayed Neutron Emission Probabilities and Associated Half-Lives for A ≤72 Nuclei

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

Birch, M.; Singh, B.; Abriola, D.

2014-06-01

After a comprehensive compilation and evaluation of beta-delayed neutron (β -n) emission probabilities, P n, and associated half-lives for A ≤ 72 nuclei has been performed for the first time. The recommended values have been used to analyze the systematics of β -nemission in this region. The ratio P n/T 1/2 is better correlated with the Q-value of the β -n decay mode than the previously proposed Kratz-Herrmann Formula (KHF). Moreover, the recommended values are also compared with theoretical quasi-particle random phase approximation (QRPA) calculations.

Synthesis and studies of polypeptide materials: Enantioselective polymerization of gamma-benzyl glutamate-N-carboxyanhydride and synthesis of optically active poly(beta-peptides)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Jianjun

A class of zero-valent transition metal complexes have been developed by Deming et al for the controlled polymerization of alpha-aminoacid-N-carboxyanhydrides (alpha-NCAs). This discovery provided a superior starting point for the development of enantioselective polymerizations of racemic alpha-NCAs. Bidentate chiral ligands were synthesized and tested for their abilities to induce enantioselective polymerization of gamma-benzyl-glutamate NCA (Glu NCA) when they were coordinated to zero-valent nickel complexes. When optically active 2-pyridinyl oxazoline ligands were mixed with bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)nickel in THF, chiral nickel complexes were formed that selectively polymerized one enantiomer of Glu NCA over the other. The highest selectivity was observed with the nickel complex of (S)-4-tert-butyl-2-pyridinyl oxazoline, which gave a ratio of enantiomeric polymerization rate constants (kD/kL) of 5.2. It was found that subtle modification of this ligand by incorporation of additional substituents had a substantial impact on initiator enantioselectivities. In separate efforts, methodology was developed for the general synthesis of optically active beta-aminoacid-N-carboxyanhydrides (beta-NCAs) via cyclization of Nbeta-Boc- or Nbeta-Cbz-beta-amino acids using phosphorus tribromide. The beta-NCA molecules could be polymerized in good yields using strong bases or transition metal complexes to give optically active poly(beta-peptides) bearing proteinogenic side chains. The resulting poly(beta-peptides), which have moderate molecular weights, adopt stable helical conformations in solution. Poly(beta-homoglutamate and poly(beta-homolysine), the side-chain deprotected polymers, were found to display pH dependent helix-coil conformation transitions in aqueous solution, similar to their alpha-analogs. A novel method for poly(beta-aspartate) synthesis was developed via the polymerization of L-aspartate alkyl ester beta lactams using metal-amido complexes. Poly(beta-aspartates) bearing short ethylene glycol side chains were obtained with controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions when Sc(N(TMS)2)3 was used as initiator for the beta-lactam polymerizations. Polymer chain lengths could be controlled by both stoichiometry and monomer conversion, characteristic of a living polymerization system. Di- and tri-block copoly(beta-peptides) with desired chain lengths were also synthesized using this method. It was found that these techniques were generally applicable for the synthesis of poly(beta-peptides), bearing other proteinogetic side chains. Synthesis and studies of polypeptide materials were extended to unexplored areas by incorporation of both alpha- and beta-amino acid residues into single polymer chains. Two sequence specific polypeptides bearing alternating beta-alpha, or beta-alpha-alpha amino acid residues were synthesized. Both polymers were found to adopt unprecedented stable conformations in solution.

Orbital electron capture by the nucleus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bambynek, W.; Behrens, H.; Chen, M. H.; Crasemann, B.; Fitzpatrick, M. L.; Ledingham, K. W. D.; Genz, H.; Mutterer, M.; Intemann, R. L.

1976-01-01

The theory of nuclear electron capture is reviewed in the light of current understanding of weak interactions. Experimental methods and results regarding capture probabilities, capture ratios, and EC/Beta(+) ratios are summarized. Radiative electron capture is discussed, including both theory and experiment. Atomic wave function overlap and electron exchange effects are covered, as are atomic transitions that accompany nuclear electron capture. Tables are provided to assist the reader in determining quantities of interest for specific cases.

Physical gelation of chitosan in the presence of beta-glycerophosphate: the effect of temperature.

PubMed

Cho, Jaepyoung; Heuzey, Marie-Claude; Bégin, André; Carreau, Pierre J

2005-01-01

When adding beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP), a weak base, to chitosan aqueous solutions, the polymer remains in solution at neutral pH and room temperature, while homogeneous gelation of this system can be triggered upon heating. It is therefore one of the rare true physical chitosan hydrogels. In this study, physicochemical and rheological properties of chitosan solutions in the presence of acetic acid and beta-GP were investigated as a function of temperature in order to gain a better understanding of the gelation mechanisms. The gel structure formed at high temperature was only partially thermoreversible upon cooling to 5 degrees C because of the existence of remaining associations, confirmed by the spontaneous recovery of the gel after breakup at low temperature. Increasing temperature had no effect on the pH values of this system, while conductivity (and calculated ionic strength) increased. Values from the pH measurements were used to estimate the degree of protonation of each species as a function of temperature. The decreasing ratio of -NH3+ in chitosan and -OPO(O-)2 in beta-GP suggested reduced chitosan solubility along with a diminution of ionic interactions such as ionic bridging with increasing temperature. On the other hand, the increased ionic strength as a function of temperature, in the presence of beta-GP, enhanced screening of electrostatic repulsion and increased hydrophobic effect, resulting in favorable conditions for gel formation. Therefore, our study suggests that hydrophobic interactions and reduced solubility are the main driving force for chitosan gelation at high temperature in the presence of beta-GP.

Measurement of the most exotic beta-delayed neutron emitters at N=50 and N=126

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dillmann, Iris

2017-09-01

Beta-delayed neutron (βn)-emission will be the dominant decay mechanism of neutron-rich nuclei and plays an important role in the stellar nucleosynthesis of heavy elements in the ``r process''. It leads to a detour of the material β-decaying back to stability and the released neutrons increase the neutron-to-seed ratio, and are re-captured during the freeze-out phase and thus influence the final solar r-abundance curve. Thus the neutron branching ratio of very neutron-rich isotopes is a crucial parameter in astrophysical simulations. In addition, β-decay half-lives can be deduced from the time-dependent detection of βn's. I will talk about two recent experimental campaigns. The neutron detector BELEN was used at GSI Darmstadt to measure half-lives and neutron-branching ratios of the heaviest presently accessible βn-emitters at N=126. For isotopes between 204Au and 220Bi nine half-lives and eight neutron-branching ratios were measured for the first time and provide an important input for benchmarking theoretical models in this mass region. Its successor is the BRIKEN detector (``Beta-delayed neutron measurements at RIKEN for nuclear structure, astrophysics, and applications''), the most efficient neutron detector used so far for nuclear structure studies. In conjunction with two clover detectors and the ``Advanced Implantation Detector Array'' (AIDA) the setup has been used a few months ago to measure the most neutron-rich isotopes around 78Ni, 132Sn, and the Rare Earth Region. Some preliminary results are shown from the campaign covering the 78Ni region where the neutron-branching ratio of 78Ni and 28 more isotopes were measured for the first time, as well as the half-lives of 20 isotopes. The BRIKEN campaign aims to (re-)measure almost all βn-emitters between 76Co and 167Eu, many of them for the first time. An extension of the campaign to lighter masses is planned. This work has been supported by the NSERC and NRC in Canada, the US DOE, the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, and the European Commission under the FP7/EURATOM CHANDA program.

[Myocardial uptake ratio of iodine-123 labeled beta-methyl iodophenylpentadecanoic acid (123I-BMIPP) in relation to the concentration of the substrates of energy].

PubMed

Tsuchimochi, S; Tamaki, N; Kawamoto, M; Tadamura, E; Fujita, T; Nohara, R; Matsumori, A; Sasayama, S; Yonekura, Y; Konishi, J

1995-06-01

Iodine-123 beta-methyl iodophenylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) has been used for evaluating myocardial fatty acid metabolism in vivo. The whole body BMIPP imaging was acquired in 26 patients (11 with HCM, 11 with CAD and 4 with DCM) to calculate % uptake in the myocardium and to correlate its uptake with biochemical data, including blood sugar (BS), nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and insulin in the blood. BMIPP was administered at rest with overnight fasting state, and the anterior and posterior whole body imaging was performed one hour later. The background corrected whole myocardial counts were calculated to obtain %BMIPP uptake. In addition, the heart to mediastinum count ratio (H/M ratio) was calculated from the mean counts in the heart and the upper mediastinum in the anterior view. The %BMIPP uptake was 3.70 +/- 1.22% and H/M ratio was 2.30 +/- 0.23. The patients with DCM showed higher %BMIPP uptake values (DCM = 5.58 +/- 0.67% vs. CAD = 3.09 +/- 0.97% and HCM = 3.63 +/- 0.86%, both p < 0.01), but similar values of H/M ratio with other patients (DCM = 2.43 +/- 0.20, CAD = 2.22 +/- 0.25 and HCM = 2.32 +/- 0.20). Although the biochemical data varied at the time of the tracer administration, they were not significantly correlated with the %BMIPP uptake or H/M ratio. However, there was a significant correlation between %BMIPP uptake and H/M ratio with the correlation coefficient of 0.80 (p < 0.001). We conclude that the myocardial uptake of BMIPP is not influenced by the plasma substrate level under the fasting state.

High- β equilibrium and ballooning stability of the low aspect ratio CNT stellarator

DOE PAGES

Hammond, K. C.; Lazerson, S. A.; Volpe, F. A.

2017-04-07

In the paper, the existence and ballooning-stability of low aspect ratio stellarator equilibria is predicted for the Columbia Neutral Torus (CNT) with the aid of 3D numerical tools. In addition to having a low aspect ratio, CNT is characterized by a low magnetic field and small plasma volume. Also, highly overdense plasmas were recently heated in CNT by means of microwaves. These characteristics suggest that CNT might attain relatively high values of plasma beta and thus be of use in the experimental study of stellarator stability to high-beta instabilities such as ballooning modes. As a first step in that direction,more » here the ballooning stability limit is found numerically. Depending on the particular magnetic configuration we expect volume-averaged β limits in the range 0.9%–3.0%, and possibly higher, and observe indications of a second region of ballooning stability. As the aspect ratio is reduced, stability is found to increase in some configurations and decrease in others. Energy-balance estimates using stellarator scaling laws indicate that the lower β limit may be attainable with overdense heating at powers of 40 to 100 kW. The present study serves the additional purpose of testing VMEC and other stellarator codes at high values of β and at low aspect ratios. For this reason, the study was carried out both for free boundary, for maximum fidelity to experiment, as well as with a fixed boundary, as a numerical test.« less

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

Tang Shaochun; Vongehr, Sascha; Wang Yang

Highly uniform, porous {beta}-Co(OH){sub 2} nanostructures with an appearance reminding of certain spherical corals were synthesized via a facile, one-step hydrothermal route using ethanol-water mixtures as solvents. The rough surfaces of the nanostructures consist of numerous randomly distributed, interconnecting nanoflakes, resulting in a network-like structure with many cavities. The coral-like product has a high Brunauer-Emmet-Teller specific surface area of 163 m{sup 2}/g. The diameter of the coral-like {beta}-Co(OH){sub 2} nanostructures is adjustable from 800 nm to 2 {mu}m. The effects of the ethanol/water ratio, the Co{sup 2+} concentration, the hydrothermal temperature, and the reaction time on the formation of themore » coral-like structures were investigated. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge tests show that the {beta}-Co(OH){sub 2} possesses excellent capacitive properties. This is mainly attributed to the high porosity, which allows a deep penetration by electrolytes. - Abstract: Coral-like {beta}-Co(OH){sub 2} nanostructures were synthesized via a facile ethanol-assisted hydrothermal route. Their high porosity facilitates a deep penetration by electrolytes and thus contributes to the excellent capacitive properties.« less

Incretin Receptor Null Mice Reveal Key Role of GLP-1 but Not GIP in Pancreatic Beta Cell Adaptation to Pregnancy

PubMed Central

Moffett, R. Charlotte; Vasu, Srividya; Thorens, Bernard; Drucker, Daniel J.; Flatt, Peter R.

2014-01-01

Islet adaptations to pregnancy were explored in C57BL6/J mice lacking functional receptors for glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP). Pregnant wild type mice and GIPRKO mice exhibited marked increases in islet and beta cell area, numbers of medium/large sized islets, with positive effects on Ki67/Tunel ratio favouring beta cell growth and enhanced pancreatic insulin content. Alpha cell area and glucagon content were unchanged but prohormone convertases PC2 and PC1/3 together with significant amounts of GLP-1 and GIP were detected in alpha cells. Knockout of GLP-1R abolished these islet adaptations and paradoxically decreased pancreatic insulin, GLP-1 and GIP. This was associated with abolition of normal pregnancy-induced increases in plasma GIP, L-cell numbers, and intestinal GIP and GLP-1 stores. These data indicate that GLP-1 but not GIP is a key mediator of beta cell mass expansion and related adaptations in pregnancy, triggered in part by generation of intra-islet GLP-1. PMID:24927416

Simultaneous determination of several antalgic drugs based on their interactions with beta-cyclodextrin by capillary zone electrophoresis.

PubMed

Wei, Wei; Yu, Xiaodong; Ju, Huangxin

2004-03-01

The binding constants of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) with antalgic drugs such as naproxen, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, acemetacin, and aspirin are determined by affinity capillary electrophoresis. Based on these interactions, a reliable method for the separation and simultaneous determinations of these compounds in the presence of 5.0 mM beta-CD in phosphate buffer solution is presented by capillary zone electrophoresis with UV detection at 214 nm for naproxen and 200 nm for the others. The linear ranges for naproxen, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, acemetacin, aspirin, and caffeine detections are from 2.0 to 800, 2.5 to 1000, 2.5 to 700, 2.5 to 700, 2.0 to 800, and 1.5 to 800 microg/mL, respectively. Their detection limits are 1.0, 0.5, 0.5, 1.5, 1.5, and 1.0 microg/mL at a signal to noise ratio of 3, respectively. This method has been successfully applied to the detections of these drugs in the pharmaceutical formulations (tablets or capsules) and urine samples.

A diffuse reflectance comparative study of benzil inclusion within microcrystalline cellulose and beta-cyclodextrin.

PubMed

Vieira Ferreira, Luis F; Ferreira Machado, Isabel; Da Silva, José P; Oliveira, Anabela S

2004-02-01

Diffuse reflectance and laser-induced techniques were used to study photochemical and photophysical processes of benzil adsorbed on two solid powdered supports, microcrystalline cellulose and [small beta]-cyclodextrin. In both substrates, a distribution of ground-state benzil conformers exists, largely dominated by skew conformations where the carbonyl groups are twisted one to the other. Room temperature phosphorescence was observed in air-equilibrated samples in both cases. The decay times vary greatly and the largest lifetime was obtained for benzil/[small beta]-cyclodextrin, showing that this host's cavity accommodates benzil well, enhancing its room temperature phosphorescence. Triplet-triplet absorption of benzil entrapped in cellulose was detected and benzil ketyl radical formation also occurred. With benzil included into [small beta]-cyclodextrin, and following laser excitation, benzoyl radicals were detected on the millisecond timescale. Product analysis and identification of laser-irradiated benzil samples in the two hosts clearly showed that the main degradation photoproducts were benzoic acid and benzaldehyde. The main differences were a larger benzoic acid/benzaldehyde ratio in the case of cellulose and the formation of benzyl alcohol in this support.

Dose algorithm for EXTRAD 4100S extremity dosimeter for use at Sandia National Laboratories.

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

Potter, Charles Augustus

An updated algorithm for the EXTRAD 4100S extremity dosimeter has been derived. This algorithm optimizes the binning of dosimeter element ratios and uses a quadratic function to determine the response factors for low response ratios. This results in lower systematic bias across all test categories and eliminates the need for the 'red strap' algorithm that was used for high energy beta/gamma emitting radionuclides. The Radiation Protection Dosimetry Program (RPDP) at Sandia National Laboratories uses the Thermo Fisher EXTRAD 4100S extremity dosimeter, shown in Fig 1.1 to determine shallow dose to the extremities of potentially exposed individuals. This dosimeter consists ofmore » two LiF TLD elements or 'chipstrates', one of TLD-700 ({sup 7}Li) and one of TLD-100 (natural Li) separated by a tin filter. Following readout and background subtraction, the ratio of the responses of the two elements is determined defining the penetrability of the incident radiation. While this penetrability approximates the incident energy of the radiation, X-rays and beta particles exist in energy distributions that make determination of dose conversion factors less straightforward in their determination.« less

Modulation of electroencephalograph activity by manual acupuncture stimulation in healthy subjects: An autoregressive spectral analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Guo-Sheng; Wang, Jiang; Deng, Bin; Wei, Xi-Le; Han, Chun-Xiao

2013-02-01

To investigate whether and how manual acupuncture (MA) modulates brain activities, we design an experiment where acupuncture at acupoint ST36 of the right leg is used to obtain electroencephalograph (EEG) signals in healthy subjects. We adopt the autoregressive (AR) Burg method to estimate the power spectrum of EEG signals and analyze the relative powers in delta (0 Hz-4 Hz), theta (4 Hz-8 Hz), alpha (8 Hz-13 Hz), and beta (13 Hz-30 Hz) bands. Our results show that MA at ST36 can significantly increase the EEG slow wave relative power (delta band) and reduce the fast wave relative powers (alpha and beta bands), while there are no statistical differences in theta band relative power between different acupuncture states. In order to quantify the ratio of slow to fast wave EEG activity, we compute the power ratio index. It is found that the MA can significantly increase the power ratio index, especially in frontal and central lobes. All the results highlight the modulation of brain activities with MA and may provide potential help for the clinical use of acupuncture. The proposed quantitative method of acupuncture signals may be further used to make MA more standardized.

Piroxicam/2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex prepared by a new fluid-bed coating technique.

PubMed

Zhang, Xingwang; Wu, Danni; Lai, Jie; Lu, Yi; Yin, Zongning; Wu, Wei

2009-02-01

This work was aimed at investigating the feasibility of fluid-bed coating as a new method to prepare cyclodextrin inclusion complex. The inclusion complex of the model drug piroxicam (PIX) and 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) in aqueous ethanol solution was sprayed and deposited onto the surface of the pellet substrate upon removal of the solvent. The coating process was fluent with high coating efficiency. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a coarse pellet surface, and a loosely packed coating structure. Significantly enhanced dissolution, over 90% at 5 min, was observed at stoichiometric PIX/HPCD molar ratio (1/1) and at a ratio with excessive HPCD (1/2). Differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffractometry confirmed absence of crystallinity of PIX at PIX/HPCD molar ratio of 1/1 and 1/2. Fourier transform-infrared spectrometry and Raman spectrometry revealed interaction between PIX and HPCD adding evidence on inclusion of PIX moieties into HPCD cavities. Solid-state (13)C NMR spectrometry indicated possible inclusion of PIX through the pyridine ring. It is concluded that fluid-bed coating has potential to be used as a new technique to prepare cyclodextrin inclusion complex.

Scaling of water vapor in the meso-gamma (2-20km) and lower meso-beta (20-50km) scales from tall tower time series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pressel, K. G.; Collins, W.; Desai, A. R.

2011-12-01

Deficiencies in the parameterization of boundary layer clouds in global climate models (GCMs) remains one of the greatest sources of uncertainty in climate change predictions. Many GCM cloud parameterizations, which seek to include some representation of subgrid-scale cloud variability, do so by making assumptions regarding the subgrid-scale spatial probability density function (PDF) of total water content. Properly specifying the form and parameters of the total water PDF is an essential step in the formulation of PDF based cloud parameterizations. In the cloud free boundary layer, the PDF of total water mixing ratio is equivalent to the PDF of water vapor mixing ratio. Understanding the PDF of water vapor mixing ratio in the cloud free atmosphere is a necessary step towards understanding the PDF of water vapor in the cloudy atmosphere. A primary challenge in empirically constraining the PDF of water vapor mixing ratio is a distinct lack of a spatially distributed observational dataset at or near cloud scale. However, at meso-beta (20-50km) and larger scales, there is a wealth of information on the spatial distribution of water vapor contained in the physically retrieved water vapor profiles from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder onboard NASA`s Aqua satellite. The scaling (scale-invariance) of the observed water vapor field has been suggested as means of using observations at satellite observed (meso-beta) scales to derive information about cloud scale PDFs. However, doing so requires the derivation of a robust climatology of water vapor scaling from in-situ observations across the meso- gamma (2-20km) and meso-beta scales. In this work, we present the results of the scaling of high frequency (10Hz) time series of water vapor mixing ratio as observed from the 447m WLEF tower located near Park Falls, Wisconsin. Observations from a tall tower offer an ideal set of observations with which to investigate scaling at meso-gamma and meso-beta scales requiring only the assumption of Taylor`s Hypothesis to convert observed time scales to spatial scales. Furthermore, the WLEF tower holds an instrument suite offering a diverse set of variables at the 396m, 122m, and 30m levels with which to characterize the state of the boundary layer. Three methods are used to compute scaling exponents for the observed time series; poor man`s variance spectra, first order structure functions, and detrended fluctuation analysis. In each case scaling exponents are computed by linear regression. The results for each method are compared and used to build a climatology of scaling exponents. In particular, the results for June 2007 are presented, and it is shown that the scaling of water vapor time series at the 396m level is characterized by two regimes that are determined by the state of the boundary layer. Finally, the results are compared to, and shown to be roughly consistent with, scaling exponents computed from AIRS observations.

Two-photon absorption properties of cationic 1,4-bis(styryl)benzene derivative and its inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins.

PubMed

Nag, Okhil Kumar; Nayak, Rati Ranjan; Lim, Chang Su; Kim, In Hong; Kyhm, Kwangseuk; Cho, Bong Rae; Woo, Han Young

2010-07-29

Two-photon absorption properties of 1,4-bis{4'-[N,N-bis(6''-trimethylammoniumhexyl)amino]styryl}benzene tetrabromide (C1) and its inclusion complexes (ICs) with cyclodextrins (CDs) have been studied. Upon complexation with CDs, the absorption spectra of C1 showed a slight red shift, whereas the emission spectra showed a blue shift with concomitant increase in the fluorescence quantum efficiency. A Stern-Volmer study using K(3)Fe(CN)(6) as a quencher revealed significant reduction in the photoinduced charge transfer quenching, in accord with the IC formation. Comparison of the spectroscopic results reveals that C1 forms increasingly more stable ICs in the order C1/beta-CD < C1/gamma-CD < C1/(3gamma:beta)-CD (gamma-CD/beta-CD 3:1, mole ratio). Moreover, the two-photon action cross section of C1 increased from 200 GM for C1 to 400 GM for C1/beta-CD, 460 GM for C1/gamma-CD, and 650 GM for C1/(3gamma:beta)-CD, respectively. Furthermore, the two-photon microscopy images of HeLa cells stained with C1 emitted strong two-photon excited fluorescence in the plasma membrane. These results provide a useful guideline for the development of efficient two-photon materials for bioimaging applications.

Long-term beta-adrenergic stimulation leads to downregulation of protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 in the heart.

PubMed

El-Armouche, Ali; Gocht, Fabian; Jaeckel, Elmar; Wittköpper, Katrin; Peeck, Micha; Eschenhagen, Thomas

2007-11-01

Desensitization of the beta-adrenoceptor/cAMP/PKA pathway is a hallmark of heart failure. Inhibitor-1 (I-1) acts as a conditional amplifier of beta-adrenergic signalling downstream of PKA by inhibiting type-1 phosphatases in the PKA-phosphorylated form. I-1 is downregulated in failing hearts and thus presumably contributes to beta-adrenergic desensitization. To test whether I-1 downregulation is a consequence of excessive adrenergic drive in heart failure, rats were treated via minipumps with isoprenaline 2.4 mg/kg/day (ISO) or 0.9% NaCl for 4 days. As expected, chronic ISO increased heart-to-body weight ratio by approximately 40% and abolished the inotropic response to acute ISO in papillary muscles by approximately 50%. In the ISO-treated hearts I-1 mRNA and protein levels were decreased by 30% and 54%, respectively. This was accompanied by decreased phospholamban phosphorylation (-40%), a downstream target of I-1, and a reduction in 45Ca2+ uptake (-54%) in membrane vesicles. Notably, phospholamban phosphorylation correlated significantly with I-1 protein levels indicating a causal relationship. We conclude that I-1 downregulation in heart failure is likely a consequence of the increased sympathetic adrenergic drive and participates in desensitization of the beta-adrenergic signalling cascade.

Simultaneous measurements of the hydrogen airglow emissions of Lyman alpha, Lyman beta, and Balmer alpha.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weller, C. S.; Meier, R. R.; Tinsley, B. A.

1971-01-01

Comparison of Lyman-alpha, 740- to 1050-A, and Balmer-alpha airglow measurements made at 134 deg solar-zenith angle on Oct. 13, 1969, with resonance-scattering models of solar radiation. Model comparison with Lyman-alpha data fixes the hydrogen column abundance over 215 km to 2 x 10 to the 13th per cu cm within a factor of 2. Differences between the Lyman-alpha model and data indicate a polar-equatorial departure from spherical symmetry in the hydrogen distribution. A Lyman-beta model based on the hydrogen distribution found to fit the Lyman-alpha data fits the spatial variation of the 740- to 1050-A data well from 100 to 130 km, but it does not fit the data well at higher altitudes; thus the presence of more rapidly absorbed shorter-wavelength radiation is indicated. This same resonance-scattering model yields Balmer-alpha intensities that result in good spatial agreement with the Balmer-alpha measurements, but a fivefold increase in the measured solar line center Lyman-beta flux is required (as required for the Lyman-beta measurement). The intensity ratio of Lyman-beta and Balmer-alpha at night is found to be a simple measure of the hydrogen optical depth if measurements with good accuracy can be made in the visible and ultraviolet spectrum.

Enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions of unsaturated beta-ketoesters catalyzed by chiral ruthenium PNNP complexes.

PubMed

Schotes, Christoph; Mezzetti, Antonio

2011-01-01

We report here dicationic ruthenium PNNP complexes that promote the enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction of alpha-methylene beta-ketoesters with various dienes. Complex [Ru(OEt2)2(PNNP)](PF6)2, formed in situ from [RuCl2,(PNNP)] and (Et3O)PF6 (2 equiv.), catalyzes the Diels-Alder reaction of such unsaturated beta-ketoesters to give novel alkoxycarbonyltetrahydro-1-indanone derivatives (nine examples) with up to 93% ee. The crystal structure of the substrate-catalyst adduct shows that the lower face of the substrate is shielded by a phenyl ring of the PNNP ligand, which accounts for the high enantioselectivity. The attack of the diene from the open re enantioface of the unsaturated beta-ketoester is consistent with the absolute configuration of the product. A useful application of this method is the reaction with Dane's diene to give estrone derivatives with up to 99% ee and an ester-exo:endo ratio of up to 145:1 (after recrystallization). Besides the enantioselective formation of all-carbon quaternary centers, this methodology is notable because unsaturated beta-ketoesters have been rarely used in Diels-Alder reactions. Furthermore, enantiomerically pure estrone derivatives are interesting in view of their potential applications, including the treatment of breast cancer.

EFFECTS OF THE TEMPERATURE ANISOTROPY ON THE MASER INSTABILITY EXCITED BY LOWER ENERGY CUTOFF BEHAVIOR

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

Tang, J. F.; Wu, D. J.; Yan, Y. H., E-mail: djwu@pmo.ac.cn, E-mail: djwu@pmo.ac.cn

The electron-cyclotron maser (ECM) conventionally driven by velocity anisotropies of energetic electrons trapped in magnetic fields is one of the most important radio-emission mechanisms in astrophysics. Recently, Wu and Tang proposed that a proper lower energy cutoff behavior of power-law electrons can effectively excite the ECM emission. This paper considers effects of temperature anisotropy on this new ECM mechanism. The results show that the growth rates of the ECM emissions increase with {beta}{sub perpendicular0} and {beta}{sub ||0}, where {beta}{sub perpendicular0} and {beta}{sub ||0} are the perpendicular and parallel velocity spreads (in units of the light velocity c) of the energeticmore » electron beam, respectively. Moreover, the growth rates of O1 and X2 modes both sensitively depend on the ratio of the electron-cyclotron frequency to the plasma frequency {Omega} and reach their extremum values at {Omega} {approx_equal} 1.5 for the O1 mode and at {Omega} {approx_equal} 1.0 for the X2 mode. Meanwhile, as the mean velocity of the electron beam {beta}{sub s} (in units of c) increases, the growth rate of the O1 mode remains approximately constant and that of the X2 mode decreases considerably.« less

Analysis of common transforming growth factor beta-1 gene polymorphisms in gastric and duodenal ulcer disease: pilot study.

PubMed

Polonikov, Alexey V; Ivanov, Vladimir P; Belugin, Dmitry A; Khoroshaya, Irina V; Kolchanova, Inessa O; Solodilova, Mariya A; Tutochkina, Margarita P; Stepchenko, Alexander A

2007-04-01

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) has been shown to be an important cytokine that plays a role in cell proliferation, differentiation, tissue injury repair and ulcer healing. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate if common polymorphisms Leu10Pro, Arg25Pro and C-509T within the TGF-beta1 gene are associated with susceptibility to gastric and duodenal ulcer disease in Russians. Blood samples from 377 unrelated patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer disease and 226 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were used to determine TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Leu10Pro substitution in the signal peptide of TGF-beta1 has been found to be associated with susceptibility to gastric ulcer (odds ratio [OR] 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.77). A genotype combination of 10Leu/Leu x 25Arg/Arg x -509C/C was also associated with susceptibility to gastric ulcer disease (OR 1.81, P = 0.01). In addition, the frequency of a combination of genotypes 10Pro/Pro x 25Arg/Pro x -509C/T was statistically lower in patients with duodenal ulcer than in controls (OR 0.42, P = 0.05). A significant difference (P = 0.04) in the distribution of rare haplotypes of the TGF-beta1 gene between patients with duodenal ulcer and healthy controls has been found. Polymorphism Leu10Pro was in positive linkage disequilibrium with C-509T polymorphism (coefficient D = 0.191; P < 0.0001). These findings indicate that the Leu10Pro and C-509T polymorphisms may be involved in the modulation of expression of the TGF-beta1 gene, and therefore a predisposition to peptic ulcer disease could be linked to particular alleles of this gene. In particular, a possible role of TGF-beta1 in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer disease is discussed.

Overcoming resistance to beta-lactamase inhibitors: comparing sulbactam to novel inhibitors against clavulanate resistant SHV enzymes with substitutions at Ambler position 244.

PubMed

Thomson, Jodi M; Distler, Anne M; Bonomo, Robert A

2007-10-09

Amino acid changes at Ambler position R244 in class A TEM and SHV beta-lactamases confer resistance to ampicillin/clavulanate, a beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination used to treat serious infections. To gain a deeper understanding of this resistance phenotype, we investigated the activities of sulbactam and two novel penem beta-lactamase inhibitors with sp2 hybridized C3 carboxylates and bicyclic R1 side chains against a library of SHV beta-lactamase variants at the 244 position. Compared to SHV-1 expressed in Escherichia coli, all 19 R244 variants exhibited increased susceptibility to ampicillin/sulbactam, an important difference compared to ampicillin/clavulanate. Kinetic analyses of SHV-1 and three SHV R244 (-S, -Q, and -L) variants revealed the Ki for sulbactam was significantly elevated for the R244 variants, but the partition ratios, kcat/kinact, were markedly reduced (13 000 -->

Antisense RNA: effect of ribosome binding sites, target location, size, and concentration on the translation of specific mRNA molecules.

PubMed

Daugherty, B L; Hotta, K; Kumar, C; Ahn, Y H; Zhu, J D; Pestka, S

1989-01-01

A series of plasmids were constructed to generate RNA complementary to the beta-galactosidase messenger RNA under control of the phage lambda PL promoter. These plasmids generate anti-lacZ mRNA bearing or lacking a synthetic ribosome binding site adjacent to the lambda PL promoter and/or the lacZ ribosome binding site in reverse orientation. Fragments of lacZ DNA from the 5' and/or the 3' region were used in these constructions. When these anti-mRNA molecules were produced in Escherichia coli 294, maximal inhibition of beta-galactosidase synthesis occurred when a functional ribosome binding site was present near the 5' end of the anti-mRNA and the anti-mRNA synthesized was complementary to the 5' region of the mRNA corresponding to the lacZ ribosome binding site and/or the 5'-coding sequence. Anti-mRNAs producing maximal inhibition of beta-galactosidase synthesis exhibited an anti-lacZ mRNA:normal lacZ mRNA ratio of 100:1 or higher. Those showing lower levels of inhibition exhibited much lower anti-lacZ mRNA:normal lacZ mRNA ratios. A functional ribosome binding site at the 5'-end was found to decrease the decay rate of the anti-lacZ mRNAs. In addition, the incorporation of a transcription terminator just downstream of the antisense segment provided for more efficient inhibition of lacZ mRNA translation due to synthesis of smaller and more abundant anti-lacZ mRNAs. The optimal constructions produced undetectable levels of beta-galactosidase synthesis.

Determination and fate of oxytetracycline and related compounds in oxytetracycline production wastewater and the receiving river.

PubMed

Li, Dong; Yang, Min; Hu, Jianying; Ren, Liren; Zhang, Yu; Li, Kuiziao

2008-01-01

This study investigated the occurrence and fate of oxytetracycline (OTC) and its related substances, 4-epi-oxytetracycline (EOTC), alpha-apo-oxytetracycline (alpha-apo-OTC), and beta-apo-oxytetracycline (beta-apo-OTC), in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) treating OTC production wastewater and a river receiving the effluent from the WWTP using liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The percent removal of OTC in the WWTP was 38.0 +/- 10.5%, and the concentration of OTC was still up to 19.5 +/- 2.9 mg/L in the treated outflow. The concentration slightly decreased along the river, from 641 +/- 118 microg/L at site R2 (discharging point) to 377 +/- 142 microg/L at site R4 ( approximately 20 km from site R2), which was still higher than the minimal inhibition concentration of OTC reported ( approximately 250 microg/L). On the other hand, the total amount of its related substances in the treated effluent was less than 5% of OTC. Concentrations of alpha-apo-OTC and beta-apo-OTC increased along the river, from 5.76 +/- 0.63 and 2.08 +/- 0.30 microg/L at site R2 to 11.9 +/- 4.9 and 12.0 +/- 4.6 microg/L at R4, respectively, although EOTC decreased from 31.5 +/- 3.8 to 12.9 +/- 1.1 microg/L, respectively. The mean concentration of beta-apo-OTC in river sediments was 20.8 +/- 7.8 mg/kg, and its ratio to OTC was approximately 0.11, nearly twice the ratio of alpha-apo-OTC and EOTC to OTC (0.058 +/- 0.014 and 0.061 +/- 0.015, respectively).

Ellagic acid ameliorates learning and memory deficits in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease: an exploration of underlying mechanisms.

PubMed

Kiasalari, Zahra; Heydarifard, Rana; Khalili, Mohsen; Afshin-Majd, Siamak; Baluchnejadmojarad, Tourandokht; Zahedi, Elham; Sanaierad, Ashkan; Roghani, Mehrdad

2017-06-01

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with irreversible loss of intellectual abilities. Current therapies for AD are still insufficient. In this study, the effect of ellagic acid on learning and memory deficits was evaluated in intrahippocampal amyloid beta (Aβ 25-35 )-microinjected rats and its modes of action were also explored. AD rat model was induced by bilateral intrahippocampal microinjection of Aβ 25-35 and ellagic acid was daily administered (10, 50, and 100 mg/kg), and learning, recognition memory, and spatial memory were evaluated in addition to histochemical assessment, oxidative stress, cholinesterases activity, and level of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). The amyloid beta-microinjected rats showed a lower discrimination ratio in novel object and alternation score in Y maze tasks and exhibited an impairment of retention and recall capability in passive avoidance paradigm and higher working and reference memory errors in radial arm maze (RAM). In addition, amyloid beta group showed a lower number of Nissl-stained neurons in CA1 area in addition to enhanced oxidative stress, higher activity of cholinesterases, greater level of NF-κB and TLR4, and lower level of nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio for Nrf2 and ellagic acid at a dose of 100 mg/kg significantly prevented most of these abnormal alterations. Ellagic acid pretreatment of intrahippocampal amyloid beta-microinjected rats could dose-dependently improve learning and memory deficits via neuronal protection and at molecular level through mitigation of oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and modulation of NF-κB/Nrf2/TLR4 signaling pathway.

Insulin resistance in first-trimester pregnant women with pre-pregnant glucose tolerance and history of recurrent spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Hong, Y; Xie, Q X; Chen, C Y; Yang, C; Li, Y Z; Chen, D M; Xie, M Q

2013-01-01

Insulin resistance (IR) has been reported to play an important role in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, scanted materials exist regarding the independent effect of IR on RSA. The aim of this study is to investigate the status of IR in first trimester pregnant patients with normal pre-pregnant glucose tolerance and history of RSA. This two-center case-control study enrolled totally 626 first trimester pregnant women including 161 patients with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion, who were pre-pregnantly glucose-tolerant according to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and 465 women with no history of abnormal pregnancies of any kind. Clinical, biochemical and hormonal parameters were simultaneously measured in all participants. Serum beta-HCG, estradiol, progesterone, fasting plasma glucose and fasting plasma insulin levels, as well, the calculated homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), fasting plasma glucose/insulin ratio(G/I) and pregnancy outcome were analyzed and compared. Serum beta-HCG and progesterone were found to be significantly lower in RSA group compared to controls. Subjects in RSA group were found to have higher HOMA-IR and lower G/I ratio than those in control group. Serum beta-HCG and progesterone were negatively correlated with HOMA-IR, and positively with G/I ratio even after adjustment for BMI. The spontaneous abortion rate within first trimester pregnancy of RSA patients was significantly higher than that in controls. In conclusion, woman with recurrent spontaneous abortion and normal pre-pregnant glucose metabolism tends to be more insulin resistant during first trimester pregnancy than healthy controls, no matter whether she has PCOS or not. Insulin resistance might be one of the direct causes that lead to recurrent abortion.

Ultrastructural properties of laser-irradiated and heat-treated dentin.

PubMed

Rohanizadeh, R; LeGeros, R Z; Fan, D; Jean, A; Daculsi, G

1999-12-01

Previous studies using scanning electron microscopy and infrared absorption spectroscopy reported that laser irradiation causes compositional changes in enamel. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ultrastructural and compositional changes in dentin caused by irradiation with a short-pulse laser (Q-switched Nd:YAG). The irradiated and non-irradiated areas of the lased dentin samples were investigated by scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), micro-micro electron diffraction, and electron microprobe analysis of dispersive energy (EDX). Heat-treated dentin was similarly investigated. This study demonstrated that laser irradiation resulted in the recrystallization of dentin apatite and in the formation of additional calcium phosphate phases consisting of magnesium-substituted beta-tricalcium phosphate, beta-TCMP, beta-(Ca,Mg)3(PO4)2, and tetracalcium phosphate, TetCP, Ca4(PO4)O. TEM analyses of the modified and unmodified zones of the irradiated areas showed two types of crystal populations: much larger crystals from the modified zone and crystals with size and morphology similar to those of dentin apatite in the unmodified zone. The morphology of crystals in the modified zones in the irradiated dentin resembled those of dentin sintered at 800 or 950 degrees C. In the irradiated areas (modified and unmodified zones), the Ca/P ratio was lower compared with that in the non-irradiated dentin. The Mg/Ca ratio in the modified zones was higher than that in the unmodified zones and in the non-irradiated dentin. In sintered dentin, the Mg/Ca ratio increased as a function of sintering temperature. The ultrastructural and compositional changes observed in laser-irradiated dentin may be attributed to high temperature and high pressure induced by microplasma during laser irradiation. These changes may alter the solubility of the irradiated dentin, making it less susceptible to acid dissolution or to the caries process.

Effect of Agave tequilana juice on cell wall polysaccharides of three Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains from different origins.

PubMed

Aguilar-Uscanga, Blanca; Arrizon, Javier; Ramirez, Jesús; Solis-Pacheco, Josué

2007-02-01

In this study, a characterization of cell wall polysaccharide composition of three yeasts involved in the production of agave distilled beverages was performed. The three yeast strains were isolated from different media (tequila, mezcal and bakery) and were evaluated for the beta(1,3)-glucanase lytic activity and the beta-glucan/ mannan ratio during the fermentation of Agave tequilana juice and in YPD media (control). Fermentations were performed in shake flasks with 30 g l(-1) sugar concentration of A. tequilana juice and with the control YPD using 30 g l(-1) of glucose. The three yeasts strains showed different levels of beta-glucan and mannan when they were grown in A. tequilana juice in comparison to the YPD media. The maximum rate of cell wall lyses was 50% lower in fermentations with A. tequilana juice for yeasts isolated from tequila and mezcal than compared to the bakery yeast.

Search for pair production of scalar top quarks decaying to a tau lepton and a b quark in pp over collisions at sqrt s=1.96 TeV.

PubMed

Aaltonen, T; Adelman, J; Akimoto, T; Albrow, M G; Alvarez González, B; Amerio, S; Amidei, D; Anastassov, A; Annovi, A; Antos, J; Aoki, M; Apollinari, G; Apresyan, A; Arisawa, T; Artikov, A; Ashmanskas, W; Attal, A; Aurisano, A; Azfar, F; Azzi-Bacchetta, P; Azzurri, P; Bacchetta, N; Badgett, W; Barbaro-Galtieri, A; Barnes, V E; Barnett, B A; Baroiant, S; Bartsch, V; Bauer, G; Beauchemin, P-H; Bedeschi, F; Bednar, P; Behari, S; Bellettini, G; Bellinger, J; Belloni, A; Benjamin, D; Beretvas, A; Beringer, J; Berry, T; Bhatti, A; Binkley, M; Bisello, D; Bizjak, I; Blair, R E; Blocker, C; Blumenfeld, B; Bocci, A; Bodek, A; Boisvert, V; Bolla, G; Bolshov, A; Bortoletto, D; Boudreau, J; Boveia, A; Brau, B; Bridgeman, A; Brigliadori, L; Bromberg, C; Brubaker, E; Budagov, J; Budd, H S; Budd, S; Burkett, K; Busetto, G; Bussey, P; Buzatu, A; Byrum, K L; Cabrera, S; Campanelli, M; Campbell, M; Canelli, F; Canepa, A; Carlsmith, D; Carosi, R; Carrillo, S; Carron, S; Casal, B; Casarsa, M; Castro, A; Catastini, P; Cauz, D; Cavalli-Sforza, M; Cerri, A; Cerrito, L; Chang, S H; Chen, Y C; Chertok, M; Chiarelli, G; Chlachidze, G; Chlebana, F; Cho, K; Chokheli, D; Chou, J P; Choudalakis, G; Chuang, S H; Chung, K; Chung, W H; Chung, Y S; Ciobanu, C I; Ciocci, M A; Clark, A; Clark, D; Compostella, G; Convery, M E; Conway, J; Cooper, B; Copic, K; Cordelli, M; Cortiana, G; Crescioli, F; Cuenca Almenar, C; Cuevas, J; Culbertson, R; Cully, J C; Dagenhart, D; Datta, M; Davies, T; de Barbaro, P; De Cecco, S; Deisher, A; De Lentdecker, G; De Lorenzo, G; Dell'Orso, M; Demortier, L; Deng, J; Deninno, M; De Pedis, D; Derwent, P F; Di Giovanni, G P; Dionisi, C; Di Ruzza, B; Dittmann, J R; D'Onofrio, M; Donati, S; Dong, P; Donini, J; Dorigo, T; Dube, S; Efron, J; Erbacher, R; Errede, D; Errede, S; Eusebi, R; Fang, H C; Farrington, S; Fedorko, W T; Feild, R G; Feindt, M; Fernandez, J P; Ferrazza, C; Field, R; Flanagan, G; Forrest, R; Forrester, S; Franklin, M; Freeman, J C; Furic, I; Gallinaro, M; Galyardt, J; Garberson, F; Garcia, J E; Garfinkel, A F; Genser, K; Gerberich, H; Gerdes, D; Giagu, S; Giakoumopolou, V; Giannetti, P; Gibson, K; Gimmell, J L; Ginsburg, C M; Giokaris, N; Giordani, M; Giromini, P; Giunta, M; Glagolev, V; Glenzinski, D; Gold, M; Goldschmidt, N; Golossanov, A; Gomez, G; Gomez-Ceballos, G; Goncharov, M; González, O; Gorelov, I; Goshaw, A T; Goulianos, K; Gresele, A; Grinstein, S; Grosso-Pilcher, C; Grundler, U; Guimaraes da Costa, J; Gunay-Unalan, Z; Haber, C; Hahn, K; Hahn, S R; Halkiadakis, E; Hamilton, A; Han, B-Y; Han, J Y; Handler, R; Happacher, F; Hara, K; Hare, D; Hare, M; Harper, S; Harr, R F; Harris, R M; Hartz, M; Hatakeyama, K; Hauser, J; Hays, C; Heck, M; Heijboer, A; Heinemann, B; Heinrich, J; Henderson, C; Herndon, M; Heuser, J; Hewamanage, S; Hidas, D; Hill, C S; Hirschbuehl, D; Hocker, A; Hou, S; Houlden, M; Hsu, S-C; Huffman, B T; Hughes, R E; Husemann, U; Huston, J; Incandela, J; Introzzi, G; Iori, M; Ivanov, A; Iyutin, B; James, E; Jayatilaka, B; Jeans, D; Jeon, E J; Jindariani, S; Johnson, W; Jones, M; Joo, K K; Jun, S Y; Jung, J E; Junk, T R; Kamon, T; Kar, D; Karchin, P E; Kato, Y; Kephart, R; Kerzel, U; Khotilovich, V; Kilminster, B; Kim, D H; Kim, H S; Kim, J E; Kim, M J; Kim, S B; Kim, S H; Kim, Y K; Kimura, N; Kirsch, L; Klimenko, S; Klute, M; Knuteson, B; Ko, B R; Koay, S A; Kondo, K; Kong, D J; Konigsberg, J; Korytov, A; Kotwal, A V; Kraus, J; Kreps, M; Kroll, J; Krumnack, N; Kruse, M; Krutelyov, V; Kubo, T; Kuhlmann, S E; Kuhr, T; Kulkarni, N P; Kusakabe, Y; Kwang, S; Laasanen, A T; Lai, S; Lami, S; Lammel, S; Lancaster, M; Lander, R L; Lannon, K; Lath, A; Latino, G; Lazzizzera, I; LeCompte, T; Lee, J; Lee, J; Lee, Y J; Lee, S W; Lefèvre, R; Leonardo, N; Leone, S; Levy, S; Lewis, J D; Lin, C; Lin, C S; Linacre, J; Lindgren, M; Lipeles, E; Liss, T M; Lister, A; Litvintsev, D O; Liu, T; Lockyer, N S; Loginov, A; Loreti, M; Lovas, L; Lu, R-S; Lucchesi, D; Lueck, J; Luci, C; Lujan, P; Lukens, P; Lungu, G; Lyons, L; Lys, J; Lysak, R; Lytken, E; Mack, P; MacQueen, D; Madrak, R; Maeshima, K; Makhoul, K; Maki, T; Maksimovic, P; Malde, S; Malik, S; Manca, G; Manousakis, A; Margaroli, F; Marino, C; Marino, C P; Martin, A; Martin, M; Martin, V; Martínez, M; Martínez-Ballarín, R; Maruyama, T; Mastrandrea, P; Masubuchi, T; Mattson, M E; Mazzanti, P; McFarland, K S; McIntyre, P; McNulty, R; Mehta, A; Mehtala, P; Menzemer, S; Menzione, A; Merkel, P; Mesropian, C; Messina, A; Miao, T; Miladinovic, N; Miles, J; Miller, R; Mills, C; Milnik, M; Mitra, A; Mitselmakher, G; Miyake, H; Moed, S; Moggi, N; Moon, C S; Moore, R; Morello, M; Movilla Fernandez, P; Mülmenstädt, J; Mukherjee, A; Muller, Th; Mumford, R; Murat, P; Mussini, M; Nachtman, J; Nagai, Y; Nagano, A; Naganoma, J; Nakamura, K; Nakano, I; Napier, A; Necula, V; Neu, C; Neubauer, M S; Nielsen, J; Nodulman, L; Norman, M; Norniella, O; Nurse, E; Oh, S H; Oh, Y D; Oksuzian, I; Okusawa, T; Oldeman, R; Orava, R; Osterberg, K; Griso, S Pagan; Pagliarone, C; Palencia, E; Papadimitriou, V; Papaikonomou, A; Paramonov, A A; Parks, B; Pashapour, S; Patrick, J; Pauletta, G; Paulini, M; Paus, C; Pellett, D E; Penzo, A; Phillips, T J; Piacentino, G; Piedra, J; Pinera, L; Pitts, K; Plager, C; Pondrom, L; Portell, X; Poukhov, O; Pounder, N; Prakoshyn, F; Pronko, A; Proudfoot, J; Ptohos, F; Punzi, G; Pursley, J; Rademacker, J; Rahaman, A; Ramakrishnan, V; Ranjan, N; Redondo, I; Reisert, B; Rekovic, V; Renton, P; Rescigno, M; Richter, S; Rimondi, F; Ristori, L; Robson, A; Rodrigo, T; Rogers, E; Rolli, S; Roser, R; Rossi, M; Rossin, R; Roy, P; Ruiz, A; Russ, J; Rusu, V; Saarikko, H; Safonov, A; Sakumoto, W K; Salamanna, G; Saltó, O; Santi, L; Sarkar, S; Sartori, L; Sato, K; Savoy-Navarro, A; Scheidle, T; Schlabach, P; Schmidt, E E; Schmidt, M A; Schmidt, M P; Schmitt, M; Schwarz, T; Scodellaro, L; Scott, A L; Scribano, A; Scuri, F; Sedov, A; Seidel, S; Seiya, Y; Semenov, A; Sexton-Kennedy, L; Sfyrla, A; Shalhout, S Z; Shapiro, M D; Shears, T; Shepard, P F; Sherman, D; Shimojima, M; Shochet, M; Shon, Y; Shreyber, I; Sidoti, A; Sinervo, P; Sisakyan, A; Slaughter, A J; Slaunwhite, J; Sliwa, K; Smith, J R; Snider, F D; Snihur, R; Soderberg, M; Soha, A; Somalwar, S; Sorin, V; Spalding, J; Spinella, F; Spreitzer, T; Squillacioti, P; Stanitzki, M; St Denis, R; Stelzer, B; Stelzer-Chilton, O; Stentz, D; Strologas, J; Stuart, D; Suh, J S; Sukhanov, A; Sun, H; Suslov, I; Suzuki, T; Taffard, A; Takashima, R; Takeuchi, Y; Tanaka, R; Tecchio, M; Teng, P K; Terashi, K; Thom, J; Thompson, A S; Thompson, G A; Thomson, E; Tipton, P; Tiwari, V; Tkaczyk, S; Toback, D; Tokar, S; Tollefson, K; Tomura, T; Tonelli, D; Torre, S; Torretta, D; Tourneur, S; Trischuk, W; Tu, Y; Turini, N; Ukegawa, F; Uozumi, S; Vallecorsa, S; van Remortel, N; Varganov, A; Vataga, E; Vázquez, F; Velev, G; Vellidis, C; Veszpremi, V; Vidal, M; Vidal, R; Vila, I; Vilar, R; Vine, T; Vogel, M; Volobouev, I; Volpi, G; Würthwein, F; Wagner, P; Wagner, R G; Wagner, R L; Wagner-Kuhr, J; Wagner, W; Wakisaka, T; Wallny, R; Wang, S M; Warburton, A; Waters, D; Weinberger, M; Wester, W C; Whitehouse, B; Whiteson, D; Wicklund, A B; Wicklund, E; Williams, G; Williams, H H; Wilson, P; Winer, B L; Wittich, P; Wolbers, S; Wolfe, C; Wright, T; Wu, X; Wynne, S M; Yagil, A; Yamamoto, K; Yamaoka, J; Yamashita, T; Yang, C; Yang, U K; Yang, Y C; Yao, W M; Yeh, G P; Yoh, J; Yorita, K; Yoshida, T; Yu, G B; Yu, I; Yu, S S; Yun, J C; Zanello, L; Zanetti, A; Zaw, I; Zhang, X; Zheng, Y; Zucchelli, S

2008-08-15

We search for pair production of supersymmetric top quarks (t over1), followed by R-parity violating decay t over1-->taub with a branching ratio beta, using 322 pb(-1) of pp over collisions at sqrt s=1.96 TeV collected by the upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab. Two candidate events pass our final selection criteria, consistent with the standard model expectation. We set upper limits on the cross section sigma(t over1t over1) x beta2 as a function of the top-squark mass m(t over1). Assuming beta=1, we set a 95% confidence level limit m(t over1)>153 GeV/c2. The limits are also applicable to the case of a third-generation scalar leptoquark (LQ3) decaying LQ3-->taub.

Mutant prevention concentrations of four carbapenems against gram-negative rods.

PubMed

Credito, Kim; Kosowska-Shick, Klaudia; Appelbaum, Peter C

2010-06-01

We tested the propensities of four carbapenems to select for resistant Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii mutants by determining the mutant prevention concentrations (MPCs) for 100 clinical strains with various ss-lactam phenotypes. Among the members of the Enterobacteriaceae family and A. baumannii strains, the MPC/MIC ratios were mostly 2 to 4. In contrast, for P. aeruginosa the MPC/MIC ratios were 4 to > or =16. The MPC/MIC ratios for beta-lactamase-positive K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates were much higher (range, 4 to >16 microg/ml) than those for ss-lactamase-negative strains.

Lepton mixing and the charged-lepton mass ratios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jurčiukonis, Darius; Lavoura, Luís

2018-03-01

We construct a class of renormalizable models for lepton mixing that generate predictions given in terms of the charged-lepton mass ratios. We show that one of those models leads, when one takes into account the known experimental values, to almost maximal CP -breaking phases and to almost maximal neutrinoless double-beta decay. We study in detail the scalar potential of the models, especially the bounds imposed by unitarity on the values of the quartic couplings.

Sodium-tetravalent sulfur molten chloroaluminate cell

DOEpatents

Mamantov, Gleb

1985-04-02

A sodium-tetravalent sulfur molten chloroaluminate cell with a .beta."-alumina sodium ion conductor having a S-Al mole ratio of above about 0.15 in an acidic molten chloroaluminate cathode composition is disclosed. The cathode composition has an AlCl.sub.3 -NaCl mole percent ratio of above about 70-30 at theoretical full charge. The cell provides high energy densities at low temperatures and provides high energy densities and high power densities at moderate temperatures.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Is not Related to Beta-Amyloid Deposition: Data from the Women's Healthy Ageing Project.

PubMed

Hill, E; Szoeke, C; Dennerstein, L; Campbell, S; Clifton, P

2018-01-01

Research has indicated the neuroprotective potential of the Mediterranean diet. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has shown preventative potential for Alzheimer's disease incidence and prevalence, yet few studies have investigated the impact of Mediterranean diet adherence on the hallmark protein; beta-amyloid. To investigate the association between Mediterranean diet adherence and beta-amyloid deposition in a cohort of healthy older Australian women. This study was a cross-sectional investigation of participants from the longitudinal, epidemiologically sourced Women's Healthy Ageing Project which is a follow-up of the Melbourne Women's Midlife Health Project. Assessments were conducted at the Centre for Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. F-18 Florbetaben positron emission tomography scanning was conducted at the Austin Centre for PET in Victoria, Australia. One hundred and eleven Women's Healthy Ageing Project participants were included in the study. Mediterranean diet adherence scores for all participants were calculated from the administration of a validated food frequency questionnaire constructed by the Cancer Council of Victoria. Beta-amyloid deposition was measured using positron emission tomography standardised uptake value ratios. Gamma regression analysis displayed no association between Mediterranean diet adherence and beta-amyloid deposition. This result was consistent across APOE-ε4 +/- cohorts and with the inclusion of covariates such as age, education, body mass index and cognition. This study found no association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and beta-amyloid deposition in a cohort of healthy Australian women.

Nonselective Beta-Blockers Do Not Affect Survival in Cirrhotic Patients with Ascites.

PubMed

Facciorusso, Antonio; Roy, Sunil; Livadas, Sarantis; Fevrier-Paul, Adwalia; Wekesa, Clara; Kilic, Ismail Dogu; Chaurasia, Amit Kumar; Sadeq, Mina; Muscatiello, Nicola

2018-05-03

The role of nonselective beta-blockers in cirrhotic patients with ascites has been recently questioned; however, definitive evidence in this regard is still lacking. To analyze published data on the influence of nonselective beta-blockers as compared to control group on survival of cirrhotic patients with ascites. Computerized bibliographic search on the main databases was performed. Hazard ratios from Kaplan-Meier curves were extracted in order to perform an unbiased comparison of survival estimates. Secondary outcomes were mortality in patients with refractory ascites, pooled rate of nonselective beta-blockers interruption, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and hepato-renal syndrome incidence. Three randomized controlled trials and 13 observational studies with 8279 patients were included. Overall survival was comparable between the two groups (hazard ratio = 0.86, 0.71-1.03, p = 0.11). Study design resulted as the main source of heterogeneity in sensitivity analysis and meta-regression. Mortality in refractory ascites patients was similar in the two groups (odds ratio = 0.90, 0.45-1.79; p = 0.76). No difference in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (odds ratio = 0.78, 0.47-1.29, p = 0.33) and hepato-renal syndrome incidence (odds ratio = 1.22, 0.48-3.09; p = 0.67) was observed. Pooled rate of nonselective beta-blockers interruption was 18.6% (5.2-32.1%). Based on our findings, nonselective beta-blockers should not be routinely withheld in patients with cirrhosis and ascites, even if refractory.

Generation of stable cell line by using chitosan as gene delivery system.

PubMed

Şalva, Emine; Turan, Suna Özbaş; Ekentok, Ceyda; Akbuğa, Jülide

2016-08-01

Establishing stable cell lines are useful tools to study the function of various genes and silence or induce the expression of a gene of interest. Nonviral gene transfer is generally preferred to generate stable cell lines in the manufacturing of recombinant proteins. In this study, we aimed to establish stable recombinant HEK-293 cell lines by transfection of chitosan complexes preparing with pDNA which contain LacZ and GFP genes. Chitosan which is a cationic polymer was used as gene delivery system. Stable HEK-293 cell lines were established by transfection of cells with complexes which were prepared with chitosan and pVitro-2 plasmid vector that contains neomycin drug resistance gene, beta gal and GFP genes. The transfection efficiency was shown with GFP expression in the cells using fluorescence microscopy. Beta gal protein expression in stable cells was examined by beta-galactosidase assay as enzymatically and X-gal staining method as histochemically. Full complexation was shown in the above of 1/1 ratio in the chitosan/pDNA complexes. The highest beta-galactosidase activity was obtained with transfection of chitosan complexes. Beta gal gene expression was 15.17 ng/ml in the stable cells generated by chitosan complexes. In addition, intensive blue color was observed depending on beta gal protein expression in the stable cell line with X-gal staining. We established a stable HEK-293 cell line that can be used for recombinant protein production or gene expression studies by transfecting the gene of interest.

Comparative Efficacy of Tongxinluo Capsule and Beta-Blockers in Treating Angina Pectoris: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PubMed

Jia, Yongliang; Leung, Siu-wai

2015-11-01

There have been no systematic reviews, let alone meta-analyses, of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing tongxinluo capsule (TXL) and beta-blockers in treating angina pectoris. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of TXL and beta-blockers in treating angina pectoris by a meta-analysis of eligible RCTs. The RCTs comparing TXL with beta-blockers (including metoprolol) in treating angina pectoris were searched and retrieved from databases including PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang Data. Eligible RCTs were selected according to prespecified criteria. Meta-analysis was performed on the odds ratios (OR) of symptomatic and electrocardiographic (ECG) improvements after treatment. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, meta-regression, and publication biases analysis were conducted to evaluate the robustness of the results. Seventy-three RCTs published between 2000 and 2014 with 7424 participants were eligible. Overall ORs comparing TXL with beta-blockers were 3.40 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.97-3.89; p<0.0001) for symptomatic improvement and 2.63 (95% CI, 2.29-3.02; p<0.0001) for ECG improvement. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis found no statistically significant dependence of overall ORs on specific study characteristics except efficacy criteria. Meta-regression found no significant except sample sizes for data on symptomatic improvement. Publication biases were statistically significant. TXL seems to be more effective than beta-blockers in treating angina pectoris, on the basis of the eligible RCTs. Further RCTs are warranted to reduce publication bias and verify efficacy.

Convective instability in a porous enclosure with a horizontal conducting baffle

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

Chen, F.; Wang, C.Y.

1993-08-01

The study of heat transfer in a fluid-saturated porous medium is essential in a variety of practical situations, including thermal insulation design and geothermal energy utilization. The present paper studies the convective instability in a two-dimensional porous enclosure with a horizontal baffle protruding from one of the side walls. The vertical side walls are insulated, while the top and bottom surfaces are maintained at lower and higher constant temperatures, respectively. The present work considers a baffle of high conductivity. We assume the baffle temperature can be considered constant throughout. We ask, for a given enclosure aspect ratio, is the additionmore » of another physical constraint (such as lengthening a baffle) always stabilizing Is there an optimum baffle location and length such that the critical Rayleigh number is maximized In summary, several concluding remarks can be drawn in the following: (1) Other dimensions being same, a centered baffle always results in a more stable state than an off-centered baffle. (2) A full-length baffle, i.e., [beta]/[sigma] = 1, does not necessarily lead to greater stability. Instead, the value of ([beta]/[sigma])[sub max] is usually less than unity. For a centered baffle, the maximum R[sup c] occurs for [beta]/[sigma] [ge] ([beta]/[sigma])[sub max]; while for an off-centered baffle, the maximum R[sup c] occurs at ([beta]/[sigma])[sub max]. (3) The value of ([beta]/[sigma])[sub max] increases with [sigma]. 6 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.« less

Intergranular corrosion in AA5XXX aluminum alloys with discontinuous precipitation at the grain boundaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bumiller, Elissa

The US Navy currently uses AA5xxx aluminum alloys for structures exposed to a marine environment. These alloys demonstrate excellent corrosion resistance over other aluminum alloys (e.g., AA2xxx or AA7xxx) in this environment, filling a niche in the marine structures market when requiring a light-weight alternative to steel. However, these alloys are susceptible to localized corrosion; more specifically, intergranular corrosion (IGC) is of concern. IGC of AA5xxx alloys due to the precipitation of beta phase on the grain boundaries is a well-established phenomenon referred to as sensitization. At high degrees of sensitization, the IGC path is a continuous anodic path of beta phase particles. At lower degrees of sensitization, the beta phase coverage at the grain boundaries is not continuous. The traditional ranges of susceptibility to IGC as defined by ASTM B928 are in question due to recent studies. These studies showed that even at mid range degrees of sensitization where the beta phase is no longer continuous, IGC may still occur. Previous thoughts on IGC of these alloy systems were founded on the idea that once the grain boundary precipitate became discontinuous the susceptibility to IGC was greatly reduced. Additionally, IGC susceptibility has been defined metallurgically by compositional gradients at the grain boundaries. However, AA5xxx alloys show no compositional gradients at the grain boundaries, yet are still susceptible to IGC. The goal of this work is to establish criteria necessary for IGC to occur given no continuous beta phase path and no compositional gradient at the grain boundaries. IGC performance of the bulk alloy system AA5083 has been studied along with the primary phases present in the IGC system: alpha and beta phases using electrochemistry and modeling as the primary tools. Numerical modeling supports that at steady-state the fissure tip is likely saturated with Mg in excess of the 4% dissolved in the matrix. By combining these results, quantitative insights into the IGC susceptibility of AA5xxx alloys is gained. As the aspect ratio increases, the concentration of metal ions in the fissure solution increases, thus driving up the ability to form corrosion product, whether precipitate or gelatinous product. As the theta beta increases, the IGC rates increase for a constant potential. By a combination of aspect ratio, φp, thetabeta, and likely fissure chemistry, the potential drop within the fissure is fully described and the IGC penetration rate can be predicted.

Total physical activity might not be a good measure in the relationship with HDL cholesterol and triglycerides in a multi-ethnic population: a cross-sectional study

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Evidence suggests that physical activity (PA) has a beneficial effect on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and triglycerides. However, observational studies show contrasting results for this association between different ethnic groups. It is unclear whether this is due to differences in the PA composition. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of the total PA, along with its intensity and duration, with HDL and triglycerides in a multi-ethnic population. Methods The study population was sampled from the SUNSET study and included: 502 European- Dutch, 338 Hindustani-Surinamese, and 596 African-Surinamese participants living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We assessed PA with the SQUASH questionnaire. We calculated age-sex-adjusted betas, geometric mean ratios (GMRs), and prevalence ratios (PRs) to assess the relationship of PA with HDL and triglycerides. Results In the adjusted models, the highest total PA tertile compared to the lowest tertile was beneficially associated with HDL (beta: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.16 and PR low HDL 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.88) and triglycerides (GMR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.03 and PR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.29, 1.08) for the African-Surinamese. No statistically significant associations appeared for total PA among the European-Dutch and Hindustani-Surinamese. The adjusted models with the intensity score and HDL showed beneficial associations for the European-Dutch (beta: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.10) and African-Surinamese (beta: 0.06, 0.02, 0.10), for log triglycerides for the European-Dutch (beta: -0.08, 95% CI: -0.12, 0.03), Hindustani-Surinamese (beta: -0.06, 95% CI: -0.16, 0.03), and African-Surinamese (beta: -0.04, 95% CI: -0.10, 0.01). Excepting HDL in African-Surinamese, the duration score was unrelated to HDL and triglycerides in any group. Conclusions Activity intensity related beneficially to blood lipids in almost every ethnic group. The activity duration was unrelated to blood lipids, while the total PA 'summary score' was associated only with blood lipids for African-Surinamese. The difference in total PA composition is the most probable explanation for ethnic differences in the total PA association with blood lipids. Multi-ethnic observational studies should include not only a measure of the total PA, but other measures of PA as well, particularly the intensity of activity. PMID:22128756

Synthesis, Characterization, In Vitro Evaluation, and Preclinical Profiling of beta-Cyclodextrin Polyrotaxane Families for Use As Potential Niemann-Pick Type C Therapeutics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collins, Christopher J.

Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC) is a rare, autosomal recessive genetic disorder featuring a loss of proteins responsible for unesterified cholesterol (UC) trafficking through the late endosomes/lysosomes (LE/LY) of every cell of the body. Disruption of this pathway leads to abnormal accumulation and storage of UC and other lipids. A broad range of visceral and neurological symptoms result from this accumulation exhibiting a variable age of onset and a disease progression that is ultimately fatal. The disease has an incidence of approximately 1 in 120,000 live births and has no known effective treatment. beta-Cyclodextrin (beta-CD) are natural small molecules macrocycles composed of glucose units with a hydrophobic inner cavity and hydrophilic outer rims. beta-CD derivatives have recently been shown to be effective therapeutics for NPC in cellular and animal models. In the mouse model of the disease, beta-CD therapy increases overall lifetime by as much as 50% and slows the progression of neurodegeneration. The progress has led to the initiation of a National Institutes of Health phase I clinical trial. A main drawback of beta-CD administration is the poor pharmacokinetic profile characterized by rapid renal clearance of the drug through the urine. Libraries of beta-CD derivative carrying high molecular weight polyrotaxane (PR) systems have been designed to prevent glomerular filtration of the injected beta-CD dose. An initial family of unmodified beta-CD PRs was synthesized, characterized, and their therapeutic efficacy was tested in NPC fibroblasts. This was followed by screening of PRs consisting of mixed beta-CD derivative threading featuring charged sulfobutylether beta-CD. Finally, we sought to define PR structure-property effects on in vivo pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, toxicity, immunogenicity, and protein hard corona composition. This was accomplished using a family of gadolinium carrying PRs composed of triblock Pluronic co-polymers of varying molecular weights and hydrophilic/lipophilic ratios. The effect of varying threaded beta-CD derivative surface chemistry on PR mediated hemolysis and hard protein corona was also studied. Knowing if structure-property relationships exist in the in vivo performances of PR materials will help with building pre-clinical profile, selecting candidate materials for a given application, and understanding therapeutic outcomes.

Accumulation of exogenous amyloid-beta peptide in hippocampal mitochondria causes their dysfunction: a protective role for melatonin.

PubMed

Rosales-Corral, Sergio; Acuna-Castroviejo, Dario; Tan, Dun Xian; López-Armas, Gabriela; Cruz-Ramos, José; Munoz, Rubén; Melnikov, Valery G; Manchester, Lucien C; Reiter, Russel J

2012-01-01

Amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology is related to mitochondrial dysfunction accompanied by energy reduction and an elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Monomers and oligomers of Aβ have been found inside mitochondria where they accumulate in a time-dependent manner as demonstrated in transgenic mice and in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. We hypothesize that the internalization of extracellular Aβ aggregates is the major cause of mitochondrial damage and here we report that following the injection of fibrillar Aβ into the hippocampus, there is severe axonal damage which is accompanied by the entrance of Aβ into the cell. Thereafter, Aβ appears in mitochondria where it is linked to alterations in the ionic gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This effect is accompanied by disruption of subcellular structure, oxidative stress, and a significant reduction in both the respiratory control ratio and in the hydrolytic activity of ATPase. Orally administrated melatonin reduced oxidative stress, improved the mitochondrial respiratory control ratio, and ameliorated the energy imbalance.

Effect of catalyst additives on the production of biofuels from palm oil cracking in a transport riser reactor.

PubMed

Chew, Thiam Leng; Bhatia, Subhash

2009-05-01

Catalytic cracking of crude palm oil (CPO) and used palm oil (UPO) were studied in a transport riser reactor for the production of biofuels at a reaction temperature of 450 degrees C, with residence time of 20s and catalyst-to-oil ratio (CTO) of 5 gg(-1). The effect of HZSM-5 (different Si/Al ratios), beta zeolite, SBA-15 and AlSBA-15 were studied as physically mixed additives with cracking catalyst Rare earth-Y (REY). REY catalyst alone gave 75.8 wt% conversion with 34.5 wt% of gasoline fraction yield using CPO, whereas with UPO, the conversion was 70.9 wt% with gasoline fraction yield of 33.0 wt%. HZSM-5, beta zeolite, SBA-15 and AlSBA-15 as additives with REY increased the conversion and the yield of organic liquid product. The transport riser reactor can be used for the continuous production of biofuels from cracking of CPO and UPO over REY catalyst.

Effects of Acute Exercise on Resting EEG in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

PubMed

Huang, Chung-Ju; Huang, Ching-Wen; Hung, Chiao-Ling; Tsai, Yu-Jung; Chang, Yu-Kai; Wu, Chien-Ting; Hung, Tsung-Min

2018-06-05

This two stage study examined the effects of acute exercise on resting electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The first stage compared the neural oscillatory patterns of children with and without ADHD. Resting EEGs were recorded under an open-eyes condition from 24 boys with ADHD and 28 matched controls. The second stage of the study employed a randomized cross-over trial design. The 24 boys with ADHD engaged in a 30-min intervention that consisted of either running on a treadmill or watching a video on alternative days, with resting EEGs recorded before and after treatment. The first stage found that children with ADHD exhibited significantly higher theta/beta ratios over the midline electrodes sites than controls. The second stage further indicated that children with ADHD displayed smaller theta/beta ratios following the exercise condition compared with the video-watching condition. This finding suggests that acute exercise normalizes arousal and alertness of children with ADHD, as reflected in resting EEG readings.

Acute effects of caffeine on threat-selective attention: moderation by anxiety and EEG theta/beta ratio.

PubMed

van Son, Dana; Schalbroeck, Rik; Angelidis, Angelos; van der Wee, Nic J A; van der Does, Willem; Putman, Peter

2018-05-21

Spontaneous EEG theta/beta ratio (TBR) probably marks prefrontal cortical (PFC) executive control, and its regulation of attentional threat-bias. Caffeine at moderate doses may strengthen executive control through increased PFC catecholamine action, dependent on basal PFC function. To test if caffeine affects threat-bias, moderated by baseline frontal TBR and trait-anxiety. A pictorial emotional Stroop task was used to assess threat-bias in forty female participants in a cross-over, double-blind study after placebo and 200 mg caffeine. At baseline and after placebo, comparable relations were observed for negative pictures: high TBR was related to low threat-bias in low trait-anxious people. Caffeine had opposite effects on threat-bias in low trait-anxious people with low and high TBR. This further supports TBR as a marker of executive control and highlights the importance of taking baseline executive function into consideration when studying effects of caffeine on executive functions. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A first look at resistive MHD stability differences between NSTX and NSTX-U high beta discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morton, L. A.; La Haye, R. J.; Berkery, J. W.; Menard, J. E.; Ferraro, N. M.; Brennan, D. P.; Sabbagh, S. A.; Delgado-Aparicio, L. F.; Tritz, K.

2017-10-01

Comparison is made of the onset, growth rate and saturation of m/n = 2/1 tearing modes in NSTX and NSTX-U high beta discharges. NSTX-U has stronger toroidal field, higher electron temperature (thus longer resistive diffusion time) and a larger aspect ratio (due to the expansion of the center stack). Experimental identification of the mode helicity, radial location, and width is accomplished by synergistically combining information from soft x-ray emission, Thomson scattering (Te profile), Charge Exchange Recombination (Ti profile) and Mirnov diagnostics. Fitting the generalized Rutherford equation to the time-evolution of the island width allows evaluation of the different drive and stabilizing terms. Linear stability calculations have also been performed with M3D-C1. The possibility of a reduction in the stabilizing interchange effect due to curvature at somewhat larger aspect ratio in NSTX-U is one focus of the analysis. This work is supported by the US DOE under Grant DE-FG02-99ER54522.

Quasi-Axially Symmetric Stellarators with 3 Field Periods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garabedian, Paul; Ku, Long-Poe

1998-11-01

Compact hybrid configurations with 2 field periods have been studied recently as candidates for a proof of principle experiment at PPPL, cf. A. Reiman et al., Physics design of a high beta quasi-axially symmetric stellarator, J. Plas. Fus. Res. SERIES 1, 429(1998). This enterprise has led us to the discovery of a family of quasi-axially symmetric stellarators with 3 field periods that seem to have significant advantages, although their aspect ratios are a little larger. They have reversed shear and perform better in a local analysis of ballooning modes. Nonlinear equilibrium and stability calculations predict that the average beta limit may be as high as 6% if the bootstrap current turns out to be as big as that expected in comparable tokamaks. The concept relies on a combination of helical fields and bootstrap current to achieve adequate rotational transform at low aspect ratio. A detailed manuscript describing some of this work will be published soon, cf. P.R. Garabedian, Quasi-axially symmetric stellarators, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95 (1998).

Accumulation of Exogenous Amyloid-Beta Peptide in Hippocampal Mitochondria Causes Their Dysfunction: A Protective Role for Melatonin

PubMed Central

Rosales-Corral, Sergio; Acuna-Castroviejo, Dario; Tan, Dun Xian; López-Armas, Gabriela; Cruz-Ramos, José; Munoz, Rubén; Melnikov, Valery G.; Manchester, Lucien C.; Reiter, Russel J.

2012-01-01

Amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology is related to mitochondrial dysfunction accompanied by energy reduction and an elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Monomers and oligomers of Aβ have been found inside mitochondria where they accumulate in a time-dependent manner as demonstrated in transgenic mice and in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. We hypothesize that the internalization of extracellular Aβ aggregates is the major cause of mitochondrial damage and here we report that following the injection of fibrillar Aβ into the hippocampus, there is severe axonal damage which is accompanied by the entrance of Aβ into the cell. Thereafter, Aβ appears in mitochondria where it is linked to alterations in the ionic gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This effect is accompanied by disruption of subcellular structure, oxidative stress, and a significant reduction in both the respiratory control ratio and in the hydrolytic activity of ATPase. Orally administrated melatonin reduced oxidative stress, improved the mitochondrial respiratory control ratio, and ameliorated the energy imbalance. PMID:22666521

A comparison of lidar inversion methods for cirrus applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elouragini, Salem; Flamant, Pierre H.

1992-01-01

Several methods for inverting the lidar equation are suggested as means to derive the cirrus optical properties (beta backscatter, alpha extinction coefficients, and delta optical depth) at one wavelength. The lidar equation can be inverted in a linear or logarithmic form; either solution assumes a linear relationship: beta = kappa(alpha), where kappa is the lidar ratio. A number of problems prevent us from calculating alpha (or beta) with a good accuracy. Some of these are as follows: (1) the multiple scattering effect (most authors neglect it); (2) an absolute calibration of the lidar system (difficult and sometimes not possible); (3) lack of accuracy on the lidar ratio k (taken as constant, but in fact it varies with range and cloud species); and (4) the determination of boundary condition for logarithmic solution which depends on signal to noise ration (SNR) at cloud top. An inversion in a linear form needs an absolute calibration of the system. In practice one uses molecular backscattering below the cloud to calibrate the system. This method is not permanent because the lower atmosphere turbidity is variable. For a logarithmic solution, a reference extinction coefficient (alpha(sub f)) at cloud top is required. Several methods to determine alpha(sub f) were suggested. We tested these methods at low SNR. This led us to propose two new methods referenced as S1 and S2.

ADP-ribosylation of transducin by pertussis toxin

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

Watkins, P.A.; Burns, D.L.; Kanaho, Y.

1985-11-05

Transducin, the guanyl nucleotide-binding regulatory protein of retinal rod outer segments that couples the photon receptor, rhodopsin, with the light-activated cGMP phosphodiesterase, can be resolved into two functional components, T alpha and T beta gamma. T alpha (39 kDa), which is (TSP)ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin and (TSP)NAD in rod outer segments and in purified transducin, was also labeled by the toxin after separation from T beta gamma (36 kDa and approximately 10 kDa); neither component of T beta gamma was a pertussis toxin substrate. Labeling of T alpha was enhanced by T beta gamma and was maximal at approximately 1:1more » molar ratio of T alpha : T beta gamma. Limited proteolysis by trypsin of T alpha in the presence of guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) resulted in the sequential appearance of proteins of 38 and TS kDa. The amino terminus of both 38- and TS-kDa proteins was leucine, whereas that of T alpha could not be identified and was assumed to be blocked. The TS-kDa peptide was not a pertussis toxin substrate. Labeling of the 38-kDa protein was poor and was not enhanced by T beta gamma. Trypsin treatment of (TSP)ADP-ribosyl-T alpha produced a labeled 37-38-kDa doublet followed by appearance of radioactivity at the dye front. It appears, therefore, that, although the 38-kDa protein was poor toxin substrate, it contained the ADP-ribosylation site. Without rhodopsin, labeling of T alpha (in the presence of T beta gamma) was unaffected by Gpp(NH)p, guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), GTP, GDP, and guanosine 5'-O-(thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S) but was increased by ATP. When photolyzed rhodopsin and T beta gamma were present, Gpp(NH)p and GTP gamma S decreased (TSP)ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin. Thus, pertussis toxin-catalyzed (TSP)ADP-ribosylation of T alpha was affected by nucleotides, rhodopsin and light in addition to T beta gamma.« less

Decreased Mortality With Beta-Blockers in Patients With Heart Failure and Coexisting Atrial Fibrillation: An AF-CHF Substudy.

PubMed

Cadrin-Tourigny, Julia; Shohoudi, Azadeh; Roy, Denis; Talajic, Mario; Tadros, Rafik; Mondésert, Blandine; Dyrda, Katia; Rivard, Léna; Andrade, Jason G; Macle, Laurent; Guerra, Peter G; Thibault, Bernard; Dubuc, Marc; Khairy, Paul

2017-02-01

The impact of beta-blockers on mortality and hospitalizations was assessed in the largest randomized trial of patients with both atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF): the Atrial Fibrillation-Congestive Heart Failure trial. Although beta-blockers are the cornerstone of therapy for HFrEF, a recent patient-level meta-analysis cast doubt on their efficacy in patients with coexisting AF. From a total of 1,376 subjects randomized in the AF-CHF trial, those without beta-blockers at baseline were propensity matched to a maximum of 2 exposed patients. All absolute standardized differences after matching were ≤10%. Primary analyses respected the intention-to-treat principle. In on-treatment sensitivity analyses, beta-blocker status was modeled as a time-dependent covariate. Baseline characteristics were comparable among the matched cohorts (mean age 70 ± 11 years, 81% male, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction 27 ± 6%). During a median follow-up of 37 months, beta-blockers were associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.721, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.549 to 0.945; p = 0.0180) but not hospitalizations (HR: 0.886; 95% CI: 0.715 to 1.100; p = 0.2232). Similar results were obtained in sensitivity analyses that modeled beta-blockers as a time-dependent variable (HR: 0.668 for all-cause mortality; 95% CI: 0.511 to 0.874; p = 0.0032; HR: 0.814 for hospitalizations; 95% CI: 0.653 to 1.014; p = 0.0658). There were no significant interactions between beta-blockers and patterns (i.e., persistent vs. paroxysmal) or burden of AF with respect to mortality or hospitalizations. In propensity-matched analyses, beta-blockers were associated with significantly lower mortality but not hospitalizations in patients with HFrEF and AF, irrespective of the pattern or burden of AF. These results support current evidence-based recommendations for beta-blockers in patients with HFrEF, whether or not they have associated AF. Copyright © 2017 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A low-noise current-sensitive amplifier-discriminator system for beta particle counting.

PubMed

Sephton, J P; Johansson, L C; Williams, J M

2008-01-01

NPL has developed a low-noise current amplifier/discriminator system for radionuclides that emit low-energy electrons and X-rays. The new beta amplifier is based on the low-noise Amptek A-250 operational amplifier. The design has been configured for optimum signal to noise ratio. The new amplifier is described and results obtained using primarily electron-capture decaying radionuclides are presented. The new amplifier gives rise to higher particle detection efficiency than the previously used Atomic Energy of Canada Limited-designed amplifier. This is shown by measurements of (54)Mn and (65)Zn. The counting plateaux are significantly longer and have reduced gradients.

Critical validation studies of neurofeedback.

PubMed

Gruzelier, John; Egner, Tobias

2005-01-01

The field of neurofeedback training has proceeded largely without validation. In this article the authors review studies directed at validating sensory motor rhythm, beta and alpha-theta protocols for improving attention, memory, and music performance in healthy participants. Importantly, benefits were demonstrable with cognitive and neurophysiologic measures that were predicted on the basis of regression models of learning to enhance sensory motor rhythm and beta activity. The first evidence of operant control over the alpha-theta ratio is provided, together with remarkable improvements in artistic aspects of music performance equivalent to two class grades in conservatory students. These are initial steps in providing a much needed scientific basis to neurofeedback.

Beta cell chromogranin B is partially segregated in distinct granules and can be released separately from insulin in response to stimulation.

PubMed

Giordano, T; Brigatti, C; Podini, P; Bonifacio, E; Meldolesi, J; Malosio, M L

2008-06-01

We investigated, in three beta cell lines (INS-1E, RIN-5AH, betaTC3) and in human and rodent primary beta cells, the storage and release of chromogranin B, a secretory protein expressed in beta cells and postulated to play an autocrine role. We asked whether chromogranin B is stored together with and discharged in constant ratio to insulin upon various stimuli. The intracellular distribution of insulin and chromogranin B was revealed by immunofluorescence followed by three-dimensional image reconstruction and by immunoelectron microscopy; their stimulated discharge was measured by ELISA and immunoblot analysis of homogenates and incubation media. Insulin and chromogranin B, co-localised in the Golgi complex/trans-Golgi network, appeared largely segregated from each other in the secretory granule compartment. In INS-1E cells, the percentage of granules positive only for insulin or chromogranin B and of those positive for both was 66, 7 and 27%, respectively. In resting cells, both insulin and chromogranin B were concentrated in the granule cores; upon stimulation, chromogranin B (but not insulin) was largely redistributed to the core periphery and the surrounding halo. Strong stimulation with a secretagogue mixture induced parallel release of insulin and chromogranin B, whereas with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine and forskolin +/- high glucose release of chromogranin B predominated. Weak, Ca(2+)-dependent stimulation with ionomycin or carbachol induced exclusive release of chromogranin B, suggesting a higher Ca(2+) sensitivity of the specific granules. The unexpected complexity of the beta cell granule population in terms of heterogeneity, molecular plasticity and the differential discharge, could play an important role in physiological control of insulin release and possibly also in beta cell pathology.

Adaptive changes in pancreas post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass induced weight loss.

PubMed

Lautenbach, A; Wernecke, M; Riedel, N; Veigel, J; Yamamura, J; Keller, S; Jung, R; Busch, P; Mann, O; Knop, F K; Holst, J J; Meier, J J; Aberle, J

2018-05-16

Obesity has been shown to trigger adaptive increases in pancreas parenchymal and fat volume. Consecutively, pancreatic steatosis may lead to beta-cell dysfunction. However, it is not known, whether the pancreatic tissue components decrease with weight loss and pancreatic steatosis is reversible following RYGB. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate the effects of RYGB-induced weight loss on pancreatic volume and glucose homeostasis. 11 patients were recruited in the Obesity Centre of the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf. Before and 6 months after RYGB, total GLP-1 levels were measured during OGTT. To assess changes in visceral adipose tissue and pancreatic volume, MRI was performed. Measures of glucose homeostasis and insulin indices were assessed. Fractional beta-cell area was estimated by correlation with the C-peptide-to-glucose ratio, beta-cell mass was calculated by the product of beta-cell area and pancreas parenchymal weight. Pancreas volume decreased from 83.8 (75.7-92.0) to 70.5 (58.8-82.3) cm 3 [mean (95% CI), p=0.001]. The decrease in total volume was associated with a significant decrease in fat volume. Fasting insulin and C-peptide were lower post RYGB. HOMA-IR levels decreased, whereas insulin sensitivity increased (p=0.03). This was consistent with a reduction in the estimated beta-cell area and mass. Following RYGB, pancreatic volume and steatosis adaptively decreased to "normal" levels with accompanying improvement in glucose homeostasis. Moreover, obesity-driven beta-cell expansion seems to be reversible, however future studies must define a method to more accurately estimate functional beta-cell mass to increase our understanding of glucose homeostasis after RYGB. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Impact of organizational infrastructure on beta-blocker and aspirin therapy for acute myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Ellerbeck, Edward F; Bhimaraj, Arvind; Hall, Sandra

2006-09-01

Although organizational change has been advocated as a critical component of quality improvement, there is little data available on the variation and effectiveness of organizational elements in the care of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study was designed to examine the impact of organizational infrastructure on the use of aspirin and beta-blockers during and after AMI. We assessed organizational infrastructure for AMI care in 44 hospitals in Kansas and linked these data to patient-specific process of care data collected in Kansas as part of the Cooperative Cardiovascular Project. While controlling for clustering within hospitals, we examined the relationships between hospital infrastructure and use of aspirin and beta-blocker both at admission and discharge. Hospitals varied widely in their inclusion of aspirin and beta-blockers in AMI pathways, protocols, and standardized order sets. Hospitals also varied in the involvement of their physicians in AMI quality improvement and in their ability to identify a physician champion for AMI care. Patients were more likely to receive aspirin on admission in hospitals that included aspirin in their emergency department order sets (odds ratio [OR] 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-2.48) and were more likely to receive beta-blockers on admission and at discharge if beta-blockers were included in an emergency department protocol or pathway (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.25-3.77 and OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.14-14.38, respectively). Use of beta-blockers at discharge was also associated with commitment of administration to AMI care and the presence of a physician champion. Quality improvement efforts should include a close examination of the organization of AMI care to assure that critical elements in the care of AMI patients are not inadvertently omitted.

Beta-carotene Antioxidant Use During Radiation Therapy and Prostate Cancer Outcome in the Physicians' Health Study

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

Margalit, Danielle N., E-mail: dmargalit@lroc.harvard.edu; Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

2012-05-01

Purpose: The safety of antioxidant supplementation during radiation therapy (RT) for cancer is controversial. Antioxidants could potentially counteract the pro-oxidant effects of RT and compromise therapeutic efficacy. We performed a prospective study nested within the Physicians' Health Study (PHS) randomized trial to determine if supplemental antioxidant use during RT for prostate cancer is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer death or metastases. Methods and Materials: PHS participants (383) received RT for prostate cancer while randomized to receive beta-carotene (50 mg on alternate days) or placebo. The primary endpoint was time from RT to lethal prostate cancer, defined asmore » prostate cancer death or bone metastases. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival probabilities and the log-rank test to compare groups. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the effect of beta-carotene compared with that of placebo during RT. Results: With a median follow-up of 10.5 years, there was no significant difference between risk of lethal prostate cancer with the use of beta-carotene during RT compared with that of placebo (hazard ratio = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42-1.24; p = 0.24). After we adjusted for age at RT, prostate-specific antigen serum level, Gleason score, and clinical stage, the difference remained nonsignificant. The 10-year freedom from lethal prostate cancer was 92% (95% CI, 87-95%) in the beta-carotene group and 89% (95% CI, 84-93%) in the placebo group. Conclusion: The use of supplemental antioxidant beta-carotene during RT was not associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer death or metastases. This study suggests a lack of harm from supplemental beta-carotene during RT for prostate cancer.« less

Increased endometrial thickness in women with hypertension.

PubMed

Bornstein, J; Auslender, R; Goldstein, S; Kohan, R; Stolar, Z; Abramovici, H

2000-09-01

We noticed an increase in endometrial thickness in women with hypertension who were treated with a combination of medications, including beta-blockers. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the endometrium of hypertensive women is thicker than that of healthy women and to determine whether endometrial thickening in hypertensive women is directly related to the antihypertensive beta-blocker treatment. We compared 3 groups of postmenopausal patients as follows: (1) women with a history of essential hypertension treated with a combination of medications, including beta-blockers; (2) women with a history of hypertension treated with a combination of medications that did not include beta-blockers; and (3) healthy women without hypertension. All patients were interviewed and examined, blood tests were performed, and endometrial thickness in the anterior-posterior diameter was measured by vaginal ultrasonography. Among the exclusion criteria were diabetes or an abnormal fasting blood glucose level, obesity, hormonal medication or replacement hormonal therapy during the previous 6 months, and a history of hormonal disturbances, infertility, or polycystic ovary syndrome. Of 45 hypertensive women enrolled in the study, 22 were treated with a beta-blocker combination medication and 23 were treated with other antihypertensive medications. They were compared with 25 healthy women. There was no statistically significant difference in endometrial thickness between women treated with medications, including beta-blockers, and those who were treated with other hypotensive agents. Twenty percent of women with hypertension and none of the healthy women had endometrium >5 mm thick (P <.017; odds ratio, 8.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-infinity). Twenty percent of hypertensive postmenopausal women were found to have increased endometrial thickness. However, we were unable to substantiate an association between the type of treatment administered, whether beta-blockers were included, and the increase in endometrial thickness.

Pittsburgh Compound B and AV-1451 positron emission tomography assessment of molecular pathologies of Alzheimer's disease in progressive supranuclear palsy.

PubMed

Whitwell, Jennifer L; Ahlskog, J Eric; Tosakulwong, Nirubol; Senjem, Matthew L; Spychalla, Anthony J; Petersen, Ronald C; Jack, Clifford R; Lowe, Val J; Josephs, Keith A

2018-03-01

Little is known about Alzheimer's disease molecular proteins, beta-amyloid and paired helical filament (PHF) tau, in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Recent techniques have been developed to allow for investigations of these proteins in PSP. We determined the frequency of beta-amyloid deposition in PSP, and whether beta-amyloid deposition in PSP is associated with PHF-tau deposition pattern, or clinical features. Thirty probable PSP participants underwent MRI, [ 18 F]AV-1451 PET and Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET. Apolipoprotein (APOE) genotyping was also performed. A global PiB standard-uptake value ratio (SUVR) was calculated. AV-1451 SUVRs were calculated for a set of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related regions and a set of PSP-related regions. Voxel-level analyses were conducted to assess for differences in AV-1451 uptake patterns and MRI atrophy between PiB(+) and PiB(-) cases compared to 60 normal PiB(-) controls. Statistical testing for correlations and associations between variables of interest were also performed. Twelve subjects (40%) showed beta-amyloid deposition. Higher PiB SUVR correlated with older age but not with AV-1451 SUVR in the AD- or PSP-related regions. Higher AV-1451 SUVR in AD-related regions was associated with higher AV-1451 SUVR in PSP-related regions. We found little evidence for beta-amyloid related differences in clinical metrics, proportion of APOE e4 carriers, pattern of AV-1451 uptake, or pattern of atrophy. Beta-amyloid deposition occurs in a relatively high proportion of PSP subjects. Unlike in Alzheimer's disease, however, there is little evidence that beta-amyloid, and PHF-tau, play a significant role in neurodegeneration in PSP. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Functional desensitization to isoproterenol without reducing cAMP production in canine failing cardiocytes.

PubMed

Laurent, C E; Cardinal, R; Rousseau, G; Vermeulen, M; Bouchard, C; Wilkinson, M; Armour, J A; Bouvier, M

2001-02-01

To corroborate alterations in the functional responses to beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) stimulation with changes in beta-AR signaling in failing cardiomyocytes, contractile and L-type Ca(2+) current responses to isoproterenol along with stimulated cAMP generation were compared among cardiomyocytes isolated from canines with tachycardia-induced heart failure or healthy hearts. The magnitude of shortening of failing cardiomyocytes was significantly depressed (by 22 +/- 4.4%) under basal conditions, and the maximal response to isoproterenol was significantly reduced (by 45 +/- 18%). Similar results were obtained when the responses in the rate of contraction and rate of relaxation to isoproterenol were considered. The L-type Ca(2+) current amplitude measured in failing cardiomyocytes under basal conditions was unchanged, but the responses to isoproterenol were significantly reduced compared with healthy cells. Isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP generation was similar in sarcolemmal membranes derived from the homogenates of failing (45 +/- 6.8) and healthy cardiomyocytes (52 +/- 8.5 pmol cAMP. mg protein(-1). min(-1)). However, stimulated cAMP generation was found to be significantly reduced when the membranes were derived from the homogenates of whole tissue (failing: 67 +/- 8.1 vs. healthy: 140 +/- 27.8 pmol cAMP. mg protein(-1). min(-1)). Total beta-AR density was not reduced in membranes derived from either whole tissue or isolated cardiomyocyte homogenates, but the beta(1)/beta(2) ratio was significantly reduced in the former (failing: 45/55 vs. healthy: 72/28) without being altered in the latter (failing: 72/28, healthy: 77/23). We thus conclude that, in tachycardia-induced heart failure, reduction in the functional responses of isolated cardiomyocytes to beta-AR stimulation may be attributed to alterations in the excitation-contraction machinery rather than to limitation of cAMP generation.

Comparative analysis of background EEG activity in childhood absence epilepsy during valproate treatment: a standardized, low-resolution, brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) study.

PubMed

Shin, Jung-Hyun; Eom, Tae-Hoon; Kim, Young-Hoon; Chung, Seung-Yun; Lee, In-Goo; Kim, Jung-Min

2017-07-01

Valproate (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug (AED) used for initial monotherapy in treating childhood absence epilepsy (CAE). EEG might be an alternative approach to explore the effects of AEDs on the central nervous system. We performed a comparative analysis of background EEG activity during VPA treatment by using standardized, low-resolution, brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) to explore the effect of VPA in patients with CAE. In 17 children with CAE, non-parametric statistical analyses using sLORETA were performed to compare the current density distribution of four frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) between the untreated and treated condition. Maximum differences in current density were found in the left inferior frontal gyrus for the delta frequency band (log-F-ratio = -1.390, P > 0.05), the left medial frontal gyrus for the theta frequency band (log-F-ratio = -0.940, P > 0.05), the left inferior frontal gyrus for the alpha frequency band (log-F-ratio = -0.590, P > 0.05), and the left anterior cingulate for the beta frequency band (log-F-ratio = -1.318, P > 0.05). However, none of these differences were significant (threshold log-F-ratio = ±1.888, P < 0.01; threshold log-F-ratio = ±1.722, P < 0.05). Because EEG background is accepted as normal in CAE, VPA would not be expected to significantly change abnormal thalamocortical oscillations on a normal EEG background. Therefore, our results agree with currently accepted concepts but are not consistent with findings in some previous studies.

[Preventing effect of TGF-beta1 antibody compounded with fibrin glue on postoperative adhesions of flexor tendon].

PubMed

Zhang, Zhimin; Liu, Jian; Meng, Guolin; Wu, Yaoping

2008-03-01

To explore the preventing effects of TGF-beta1 antibody (TGF-beta1Ab) compounded with fibrin glue (FG) on postoperative adhesions of flexor tendon. Seventy-two Leghorn chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups (groups A, B, C and D), 18 chickens for each group, and the long flexor tendons of the 3rd and 4th toes in zone II of all chickens were transversed and sutured with the 4-strand cruciate repair technique to make defect models. In group A, 0.2 mL TGF-beta1 Ab was applied at repair site. In group B, 0.2 mL FG was applied at repair site. In group C, 0.2 mL TGF-beta1Ab and FG was applied at repair site. In group D, 0.2 mL normal sodium was applied at repair site. At 1, 3 and 8 weeks after operation, the tendons of 6 chickens in each group were harvested for morphological and histological evaluation. Six specimens of each group were obtained for biomechanical test at 3 and 8 weeks. The gross-observation showed that the differences in grading of tendon adhesion were not significant among 4 groups at 1 week after operation (P > 0.05), but the differences were significant between groups A, B, D and group C at 3 and 8 weeks after operation (P < 0.05). Histological observation showed that collagen fibers arranged irregularly in groups A, B and D, but arranged regularly in group C at 3 and 8 weeks' after operation. At 3 weeks after operation the gliding excursion ratio of the tendon in groups A, B, C and D were 0.45 +/- 0.05, 0.40 +/- 0.10, 0.79 +/- 0.09 and 0.25 +/- 0.07 respectively; the simulated active flexion ratio were 0.61 +/- 0.02, 0.67 +/- 0.03, 0.91 +/- 0.03 and 0.53 +/- 0.04 respectively; the work of flexion were (18.00 +/- 0.77), (17.80 +/- 1.13), (27.60 +/- 1.73) and (15.60 +/- 1.27) degrees/N respectively. There were significant differences between group C and other three groups (P < 0.05). The tendon anastomosis breaking strength were (14.2 +/- 1.9), (15.2 +/- 2.2), (16.0 +/- 2.2) and (14.7 +/- 2.7) N, showing no significant differences among 4 groups (P > 0.05). At 8 weeks after operation, the gliding excursion ratio of the tendon in groups A, B, C and D were 0.45 +/- 0.07, 0.43 +/- 0.08, 0.80 +/- 0.09 and 0.29 +/- 0.05 respectively; the simulated active flexion ratio were 0.61 +/- 0.02, 0.63 +/- 0.03, 0.92 +/- 0.03 and 0.53 +/- 0.03 respectively, the work of flexion were (18.30 +/- 0.84), (18.60 +/- 0.80), (27.90 +/- 1.24) and (15.30 +/- 0.75) degrees/N respectively. There were significant differences between group C and other three groups (P < 0.05). The tendon anastomosis breaking strength were(51.9 +/- 3.0), (51.4 +/- 1.4), (53.3 +/- 1.3) and (52.3 +/- 2.2) N, showing no significant differences among 4 groups (P > 0.05). TGF-beta1Ab compounded with FG could significantly prohibit the formation of fibrous adhesions without interfering with the healing process.

Factors affecting the outcome of trabeculectomy: an analysis based on combined data from two phase III studies of an antibody to transforming growth factor beta2, CAT-152.

PubMed

Grehn, Franz; Holló, Gábor; Khaw, Peng; Overton, Barry; Wilson, Rosamund; Vogel, Roger; Smith, Zaid

2007-10-01

To determine the factors affecting trabeculectomy success. Retrospective analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials comparing an antibody against transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-beta2) with vehicle (placebo) for prevention of fibrosis after trabeculectomy, in which there was no significant difference between the treatment groups. Data were from patients (n = 726) with a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma, chronic angle-closure glaucoma, pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, or pigmentary glaucoma (PG) who had an intraocular pressure (IOP) > 21 mmHg and visual field or optic disc changes characteristic of glaucoma and were taking the maximum tolerated dose of medication before trabeculectomy. Patients had trabeculectomy and 4 subconjunctival injections of a human monoclonal antibody to TGF-beta2 (CAT-152) or a placebo. The definition of trabeculectomy success in the protocols was an IOP between 6 and 16 mmHg inclusive at months 6 and 12. Analyses of success used factors identified by ophthalmic experts. Covariates analyzed included patient age, black race, gender, time since diagnosis, primary diagnosis, country, diabetes, mean defect, cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio, suture type, anesthetic, flap type, IOP at listing for surgery, suture release/lysis, needling, reformed anterior chamber, wound leak, severe bleb vascularity, and bleb microcysts. A stepwise logistic regression model found the following predictors of treatment success: PG (odds ratio [OR], 4.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-11.99), high C/D ratio (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.15-6.99), and use of a corneal traction suture (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.09-2.56). A negative relationship was found for black race (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.13-0.62); treatment in France (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.17-0.70), Sweden (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.05-0.58), Spain (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.21-0.68), Poland (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.32-0.88), or Hungary (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.06-0.34); and suture release/lysis (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.22-0.53). The effect of needling was marginally statistically significant (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.31-1.01). Successful trabeculectomy outcome was associated with PG, higher C/D ratio, and corneal traction suturing. Factors associated with surgical failure were black race and suture release/lysis. Intercountry differences also were observed.

Mechanisms of heat and mass transfer across a double-diffusive interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ko, B. H.; Smith, K. A.

1984-06-01

Flux measurements in an aqueous two-layer double-diffusive system using heat and NaCl confirmed the existence of a regime in which the ratio of the buoyancy fluxes (BFR) of salt and heat is independent of the stability ratio (R = beta(delta C)/alpha(delta T)). Linear analysis showed that the quiescent system can become unstable to small perturbations even when the lower layer is denser than the upper. If R is large, the most unstable mode presents as an oscillatory, antisymmetric pattern.

Venus gravity anomalies and their correlations with topography

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sjogren, W. L.; Bills, B. G.; Birkeland, P. W.; Esposito, P. B.; Konopliv, A. R.; Mottinger, N. A.; Ritke, S. J.; Phillips, R. J.

1983-01-01

This report provides a summary of the high-resolution gravity data obtained from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter radio tracking data. Gravity maps, covering a 70 deg latitude band through 360 deg of longitude, are displayed as line-of-sight and vertical gravity. Topography converted to gravity and Bouguer gravity maps are also shown in both systems. Topography to gravity ratios are made over several regions of the planet. There are markedly different ratios for the Aphrodite area as compared to the Beta and Atla areas.

Defense Department Profit and Contract Finance Policies and Their Effects on Contract and Contractor Performance

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-01

liabilities (e.g., accounts payable). This ratio can be compared to the firm’s weighted average cost of capital ( WACC ). WACC is the cost of debt plus the cost...RatioCost of Debt Marginal Tax Rate Risk-Free Rate Cost of Equity Risk Premium Industry Beta WACC Technical Risk CPFF/CPAF …. FFP/ MYP - Contract Choice...estimates the levered WACC as the discount rate, and finally calculates the NPV of the contract. Specific model input includes profit policy levers

Respiratory effect of beta-blockers in people with asthma and cardiovascular disease: population-based nested case control study.

PubMed

Morales, Daniel R; Lipworth, Brian J; Donnan, Peter T; Jackson, Cathy; Guthrie, Bruce

2017-01-27

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common comorbidity in people with asthma. However, safety concerns have caused heterogeneity in clinical guideline recommendations over the use of cardioselective beta-blockers in people with asthma and CVD, partly because risk in the general population has been poorly quantified. The aim of this study was to measure the risk of asthma exacerbations with beta-blockers prescribed to a general population with asthma and CVD. Linked data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink was used to perform nested case-control studies among people with asthma and CVD matched on age, sex and calendar time. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated for the association between oral beta-blocker use and moderate asthma exacerbations (rescue oral steroids) or severe asthma exacerbations (hospitalisation or death) using conditional logistic regression. The cohort consisted of 35,502 people identified with active asthma and CVD, of which 14.1% and 1.2% were prescribed cardioselective and non-selective beta-blockers, respectively, during follow-up. Cardioselective beta-blocker use was not associated with a significantly increased risk of moderate or severe asthma exacerbations. Consistent results were obtained following sensitivity analyses and a self-controlled case series approach. In contrast, non-selective beta-blockers were associated with a significantly increased risk of moderate asthma exacerbations when initiated at low to moderate doses (IRR 5.16, 95% CI 1.83-14.54, P = 0.002), and both moderate and severe exacerbations when prescribed chronically at high dose (IRR 2.68, 95% CI 1.08-6.64, P = 0.033 and IRR 12.11, 95% CI 1.02-144.11, P = 0.048, respectively). Cardioselective beta-blockers prescribed to people with asthma and CVD were not associated with a significantly increased risk of moderate or severe asthma exacerbations and potentially could be used more widely when strongly indicated.

A novel direct screening method for alkyl glucoside production by glucosidases expressed in E. coli in 96-well plates.

PubMed

Gräber, Martin; Andersson, Mats; Rundbäck, Fabian; Pozzo, Tania; Karlsson, Eva Nordberg; Adlercreutz, Patrick

2010-01-15

The present work describes the development of a novel direct screening method, assayed in 96-well format, for evaluation of enzymatic alkyl glycoside production in a hexanol-water two-phase system. Alkyl glycosides are surfactants with a range of applications and with good biodegradability and low toxicity. Enzymatic synthesis makes it possible to prepare beta-d-glucopyranosides with high purity. In the developed screening assay, hexyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside was chosen as a model product to be synthesised by reversed hydrolysis in a water-hexanol two-phase system. In a first step the model product is produced by glucosidases expressed in E. coli cells in 96-deep-well plates. After phase separation, the hexyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside in the organic phase is degraded enzymatically and the released glucose detected spectrophotometrically at 405nm utilizing peroxidase/glucose oxidase, and the reagent 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS). The aqueous phase is used to monitor hydrolysis of p-NPG at 405nm, allowing use of a ratio of the two assays to compensate for expression differences. The complete method was used for comparison of two different beta-glucosidases, classified under glycoside hydrolase family 1 and 3, respectively, showing a significant difference in their ability to synthesise hexyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside by reversed hydrolysis.

Magnetic ramp scale at supercritical perpendicular collisionless shocks: Full particle electromagnetic simulations

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

Yang, Zhongwei; SOA Key Laboratory for Polar Science, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, 200136; Lu, Quanming

2013-09-15

Supercritical perpendicular collisionless shocks are known to exhibit foot, ramp, and overshoot structures. The shock ramp structure is in a smaller scale in contrast to other microstructures (foot and overshoot) within the shock front. One-dimensional full particle simulations of strictly perpendicular shocks over wide ranges of ion beta β{sub i}, Alfvén Mach number M{sub A}, and ion-to-electron mass ratio m{sub i}/m{sub e} are presented to investigate the impact of plasma parameters on the shock ramp scale. Main results are (1) the ramp scale can be as small as several electron inertial length. (2) The simulations suggest that in a regimemore » below the critical ion beta value, the shock front undergoes a periodic self-reformation and the shock ramp scale is time-varying. At higher ion beta values, the shock front self-reformation is smeared. At still higher ion beta value, the motion of reflected ions is quite diffuse so that they can lead to a quasi-steady shock ramp. Throughout the above three conditions, the shock ramp thickness increases with β{sub i}. (3) The increase (decrease) in Mach number and the decrease (increase) in the beta value have almost equivalent impact on the state (i.e., stationary or nonstationary) of the shock ramp. Both of front and ramp thicknesses are increased with M{sub A}.« less

Translation and assembly of HLA-DR antigens in Xenopus oocytes injected with mRNA from a human B-cell line.

PubMed Central

Long, E O; Gross, N; Wake, C T; Mach, J P; Carrel, S; Accolla, R; Mach, B

1982-01-01

HLA-DR antigens are polymorphic cell surface glycoproteins, expressed primarily in B lymphocytes and macrophages, which are thought to play an important role in the immune response. Two polypeptide chains, alpha and beta, are associated at the cell surface, and a third chain associates with alpha and beta intracellularly. RNA isolated from the human B-cell line Raji was injected in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Immunoprecipitates of translation products with several monoclonal antibodies revealed the presence of HLA-DR antigens similar to those synthesized in Raji cells. One monoclonal antibody was able to bind the beta chain after dissociation of the three polypeptide chains with detergent. The presence of all three chains was confirmed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The glycosylation pattern of the three chains was identical to that observed in vivo, as evidenced in studies using tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation. The presence of alpha chains assembled with beta chains in equimolar ratio was further demonstrated by amino-terminal sequencing. An RNA fraction enriched for the three mRNAs, encoding alpha, beta, and intracellular chains, was isolated. This translation-assembly system and the availability of monoclonal antibodies make it possible to assay for mRNA encoding specific molecules among the multiple human Ia-like antigens. Images Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Fig. 5. PMID:6821356

Thermogelling chitosan and collagen composite hydrogels initiated with beta-glycerophosphate for bone tissue engineering.

PubMed

Wang, Limin; Stegemann, Jan P

2010-05-01

Chitosan and collagen type I are naturally derived materials used as cell carriers because of their ability to mimic the extracellular environment and direct cell function. In this study beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP), an osteogenic medium supplement and a weak base, was used to simultaneously initiate gelation of pure chitosan, pure collagen, and chitosan-collagen composite materials at physiological pH and temperature. Adult human bone marrow-derived stem cells (hBMSC) encapsulated in such hydrogels at chitosan/collagen ratios of 100/0, 65/35, 25/75, and 0/100 wt% exhibited high viability at day 1 after encapsulation, but DNA content dropped by about half over 12 days in pure chitosan materials while it increased twofold in materials containing collagen. Collagen-containing materials compacted more strongly and were significantly stiffer than pure chitosan gels. In monolayer culture, exposure of hBMSC to beta-GP resulted in decreased cell metabolic activity that varied with concentration and exposure time, but washing effectively removed excess beta-GP from hydrogels. The presence of chitosan in materials resulted in higher expression of osterix and bone sialoprotein genes in medium with and without osteogenic supplements. Chitosan also increased alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition in osteogenic medium. Chitosan-collagen composite materials have potential as matrices for cell encapsulation and delivery, or as in situ gel-forming materials for tissue repair. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Familial Alzheimer's disease mutations in presenilin 1 do not alter levels of the secreted amyloid-beta protein precursor generated by beta-secretase cleavage.

PubMed

Zhang, Can; Browne, Andrew; Kim, Doo Yeon; Tanzi, Rudolph E

2010-02-01

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an insidious and progressive disease with a genetically complex and heterogenous etiology. More than 200 fully penetrant mutations in the amyloid beta-protein precursor (APP), presenilin 1 (or PSEN1), and presenilin 2 (PSEN2) have been linked to early-onset familial AD (FAD). 177 PSEN1 FAD mutations have been identified so far and account for more than approximately 80% of all FAD mutations. All PSEN1 FAD mutations can increase the Abeta42:Abeta40 ratio with seemingly different and incompletely understood mechanisms. A recent study has shown that the 286 amino acid N-terminal fragment of APP (N-APP), a proteolytic product of beta-secretase-derived secreted form of APP (sAPPbeta), could bind the death receptor, DR6, and lead to neurodegeneration. Here we asked whether PSEN1 FAD mutations lead to neurodegeneration by modulating sAPPbeta levels. All four different PSEN1 FAD mutations tested (in three mammalian cell lines) did not alter sAPPbeta levels. Therefore PS1 mutations do not appear to contribute to AD pathogenesis via altered production of sAPPbeta.

Sterols of a contemporary lacustrine sediment. [in English postglacial lake

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaskell, S. J.; Eglinton, G.

1976-01-01

Results are reported for detailed sterol analyses of several depths (corresponding to between zero and about 150 yr in age) in a contemporary lacustrine sediment from a freshwater lake of postglacial origin in England. Delta 5-, delta 22-, and delta 5,22-sterols are identified along with 5 alpha- and 5 beta-stanols as well as a C26 stanol with a C7 side chain. Solvent extraction yields carbon number distributions for the 5 alpha- and 5 beta-stanol sediment constituents that parallel the corresponding delta 5-sterol distributions. The amounts of 5 alpha-stanols are found to exceed those of 5 beta-stanols in the sediment, and variations in the ratio of 5 alpha- to 5 beta-stanol between sediment samples from similar depths are shown to suggest an inhomogeneity of the sediment. It is found that the sterol composition of sediment cores varies markedly with depth, reflecting both the effects of a sterol hydrogenation process and a changing input to the sediment. It is concluded that C29 sterols, of probable higher-plant origin, predominate at lower sediment depths while C27 sterols, possibly derived from autochthonous sources, are more abundant in the surface sediment.

Nuclear import of glucokinase in pancreatic beta-cells is mediated by a nuclear localization signal and modulated by SUMOylation.

PubMed

Johansson, Bente Berg; Fjeld, Karianne; Solheim, Marie Holm; Shirakawa, Jun; Zhang, Enming; Keindl, Magdalena; Hu, Jiang; Lindqvist, Andreas; Døskeland, Anne; Mellgren, Gunnar; Flatmark, Torgeir; Njølstad, Pål Rasmus; Kulkarni, Rohit N; Wierup, Nils; Aukrust, Ingvild; Bjørkhaug, Lise

2017-10-15

The localization of glucokinase in pancreatic beta-cell nuclei is a controversial issue. Although previous reports suggest such a localization, the mechanism for its import has so far not been identified. Using immunofluorescence, subcellular fractionation and mass spectrometry, we present evidence in support of glucokinase localization in beta-cell nuclei of human and mouse pancreatic sections, as well as in human and mouse isolated islets, and murine MIN6 cells. We have identified a conserved, seven-residue nuclear localization signal ( 30 LKKVMRR 36 ) in the human enzyme. Substituting the residues KK 31,32 and RR 35,36 with AA led to a loss of its nuclear localization in transfected cells. Furthermore, our data indicates that SUMOylation of glucokinase modulates its nuclear import, while high glucose concentrations do not significantly alter the enzyme nuclear/cytosolic ratio. Thus, for the first time, we provide data in support of a nuclear import of glucokinase mediated by a redundant mechanism, involving a nuclear localization signal, and which is modulated by its SUMOylation. These findings add new knowledge to the functional role of glucokinase in the pancreatic beta-cell. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Wet processing barley grains into concentrates with protein, beta-glucan, and starch

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

An improved wet method was developed to process barley into fractions concentrated in protein, (1-3)(1-4)-b-D-glucan (BG), starch, or other carbohydrates (CHO). Alkaline concentration, solvent to barley flour ratio (SFR), and extraction temperature were evaluated for their effects on concentration a...

Niobium in R And (S6, 6e) and HR 1105 (S5, 3)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, D. N.

Lines of the first multiplet of niobium are strong in R And and HR 1105. These lines are also present in other S stars: HR 8714, R Cam, V Cnc, R CMi, and T Sgr. They are also visible in the M stars, Beta-Peg and Mu-UMa. An approximation to the abundance ratio, Nb/Fe, has been deduced from pairs of lines having nearly equal intensity. In R And, the ratio is about 200 times the solar value. It is hoped that good plates will soon be obtained for the near infrared region, so that the significant Nb/Rb abundance ratio may be determined.

Beta decay of the fission product 125Sb and a new complete evaluation of absolute gamma ray transition intensities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajput, M. U.; Ali, N.; Hussain, S.; Mujahid, S. A.; MacMahon, D.

2012-04-01

The radionuclide 125Sb is a long-lived fission product, which decays to 125Te by negative beta emission with a half-life of 1008 day. The beta decay is followed by the emission of several gamma radiations, ranging from low to medium energy, that can suitably be used for high-resolution detector calibrations, decay heat calculations and in many other applications. In this work, the beta decay of 125Sb has been studied in detail. The complete published experimental data of relative gamma ray intensities in the beta decay of the radionuclide 125Sb has been compiled. The consistency analysis was performed and discrepancies found at several gamma ray energies. Evaluation of the discrepant data was carried out using Normalized Residual and RAJEVAL methods. The decay scheme balance was carried out using beta branching ratios, internal conversion coefficients, populating and depopulating gamma transitions to 125Te levels. The work has resulted in the consistent conversion factor equal to 29.59(13) %, and determined a new evaluated set of the absolute gamma ray emission probabilities. The work has also shown 22.99% of the delayed intensity fraction as outgoing from the 58 d isomeric 144 keV energy level and 77.01% of the prompt intensity fraction reaching to the ground state from the other excited states. The results are discussed and compared with previous evaluations. The present work includes additional experimental data sets which were not included in the previous evaluations. A new set of recommended relative and absolute gamma ray emission probabilities is presented.

Spinel-olivine-pryoxene equilibrium iron isotopic fractionation and applications to natural peridotites

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

Roskosz, Mathieu; Sio, Corliss K. I.; Dauphas, Nicolas

2015-11-15

Eight spinel-group minerals were synthesized by a flux-growth method producing spinels with varying composition and Fe3+/Fe-tot ratios. The mean force constants of iron bonds in these minerals were determined by synchrotron nuclear resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (NRIXS) in order to determine the reduced isotopic partition function ratios (beta-factors) of these spinels. The mean force constants are strongly dependent on the Fe3+/Fe-tot of the spinel but are independent, or weakly dependent on other structural and compositional parameters. From our spectroscopic data, it is found that a single redox-dependent calibration line accounts for the effects of Fe3+/Fe-tot on the beta-factors of spinels.more » This calibration successfully describes the equilibrium Fe isotopes fractionation factors between spinels and silicates (olivine and pyroxenes). Our predictions are in excellent agreement with independent determinations for the equilibrium Fe isotopic fractionations for the magnetite- fayalite and the magnetite-hedenbergite couples. Our calibration applies to the entire range of Fe3+/Fe-tot ratios found in natural spinels and provides a basis for interpreting iron isotopic variations documented in mantle peridotites. Except for a few exceptions, most of the samples measured so far are in isotopic disequilibrium, reflecting metasomatism and partial melting processes.« less

Theoretical quasar emission-line ratios. VII - Energy-balance models for finite hydrogen slabs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hubbard, E. N.; Puetter, R. C.

1985-01-01

The present energy balance calculations for finite, isobaric, hydrogen-slab quasar emission line clouds incorporate probabilistic radiative transfer (RT) in all lines and bound-free continua of a five-level continuum model hydrogen atom. Attention is given to the line ratios, line formation regions, level populations and model applicability results obtained. H lines and a variety of other considerations suggest the possibility of emission line cloud densities in excess of 10 to the 10th/cu cm. Lyman-beta/Lyman-alpha line ratios that are in agreement with observed values are obtained by the models. The observed Lyman/Balmer ratios can be achieved with clouds whose column depths are about 10 to the 22nd/sq cm.

Density and beta limits in the Madison Symmetric Torus Reversed-Field Pinch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caspary, Kyle Jonathan

Operational limits and the underlying physics are explored on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) Reversed-Field Pinch (RFP) using deuterium pellet fueling. The injection of a fast pellet provides a large source of fuel in the plasma edge upon impact with the vessel wall, capable of triggering density limit terminations for the full range of plasma current, up to 600 kA. As the pellet size and plasma density increase, approaching the empirical Greenwald limit, plasma degradation is observed in the form of current decay, increased magnetic activity in the edge and core, increased radiation and plasma cooling. The complete termination of the plasma is consistent with the Greenwald limit; however, a slightly smaller maximum density is observed in discharges without toroidal field reversal. The plasma beta is the ratio of the plasma pressure to the confining magnetic pressure. Beta limits are known to constrain other magnetic confinement devices, but no beta limit has yet been established on the RFP. On MST, the highest beta values are obtained in improved confinement discharges with pellet fueling. By using pellet injection to scan the plasma density during PPCD, we also achieve a scan of Ohmic input power due to the increase in plasma resistivity. We observe a factor of 3 or more increase in Ohmic power as we increase the density from 1*1019 to 3*10 19 m-3. Despite this increased Ohmic power, the electron contribution to beta is constant, suggesting a confinement limited beta for the RFP. The electrons and ions are classically well coupled in these cold, dense pellet fueled plasmas, so the increase in total beta at higher density is primarily due to the increased ion contribution. The interaction of pellet fueling and NBI heating is explored. Modeling of MST's neutral heating beam suggests an optimal density for beam power deposition of 2-3*1019 m-3. Low current, NBI heated discharges show evidence of an increased electron beta in this density range. Additionally, the fast ion population can enhance ablation as well as cause pellet deflection. Other exploratory experiments with the pellet injection system explore additional injection scenarios and expand the injector capabilities.

Raman ratios on the repair of grafted surgical bone defects irradiated or not with laser (λ780 nm) or LED (λ850 nm).

PubMed

Pinheiro, Antonio Luiz B; Soares, Luiz Guilherme P; Marques, Aparecida Maria C; Aciole, Jouber Mateus S; de Souza, Renato Aparecido; Silveira, Landulfo

2014-09-05

This work aimed to assess biochemical changes associated to mineralization and remodeling of bone defects filled with Hydroxyapatite+Beta-Beta-tricalcium phosphate irradiated or not with 2 light sources. Ratios of intensities, band position and bandwidth of selected Raman peaks of collagen and apatites were used. Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups subdivided into 2 subgroups (15th and 30th days). A standard surgical defect was created on one femur of each animal. In 3 groups the defects were filled with blood clot (Clot, Clot+Laser and Clot+LED groups) and in the remaining 3 groups the defects were filled with biomaterial (Biomaterial, Biomaterial+Laser and Biomaterial+LED groups). When indicated, the defects were irradiated with either Laser (λ780 nm, 70 mW, Φ∼0.4 cm(2)) or LED (λ850±10 nm, 150 mW, Φ∼0.5 cm(2)), 20 J/cm(2) each session, at 48 h intervals/2 weeks (140 J/cm(2) treatment). Following sacrifice, bone fragments were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. Statistical analysis (ANOVA General Linear Model, p<0.05) showed that both grafting and time were the variables that presented significance for the ratios of ∼1660/∼1670 cm(-1) (collagen maturation), ∼1077/∼854 cm(-1) (mineralization), ∼1077/∼1070 cm(-1) (carbonate substitution) and the position of the ∼960 cm(-1) (bone maturation). At 30th day, the ratios indicated an increased deposition of immature collagen for both Clot and Biomaterial groups. Biomaterial group showed increased collagen maturation. Only collagen deposition was significantly dependent upon irradiation independently of the light source, being the amount of collagen I increased in the Clot group at the end of the experimental time. On the other hand, collagen I deposition was reduced in biomaterial irradiated groups. Raman ratios of selected protein matrix and phosphate and carbonate HA indicated that the use of biphasic synthetic micro-granular HA+Beta-TCP graft improved the repair of bone defects, associated or not with Laser or LED light, because of the increasing deposition of HA. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A hospital perspective on the cost-effectiveness of beta-blockade for prophylaxis of atrial fibrillation after cardiothoracic surgery.

PubMed

Gillespie, Effie L; White, C Michael; Kluger, Jeffrey; Sahni, Jasmine; Gallagher, Robert; Coleman, Craig I

2005-12-01

Prophylactic beta-blockade is the recommended strategy for suppressing atrial fibrillation after cardiothoracic surgery (CTS). However, beta-blockade's impact on the hospital length of stay (LOS) and other economic end points has not been adequately assessed. The present evaluation sought to determine whether beta-blocker use after CTS is a cost-effective strategy for the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). This was a piggyback cost-effectiveness analysis of a prospective cohort evaluation comprising 1660 patients undergoing CTS at an urban academic hospital from October 1999 to October 2003. Patients receiving beta-blocker prophylaxis were matched 1:1 with control patients not receiving prophylaxis based on age >70 years, valvular surgery, history of atrial fibrillation, male sex, and use of preoperative digoxin or beta-blockers. The incidence of POAF, total hospital costs, and LOS were compared in each group. Nonparametric bootstrapping analysis was performed to examine the study results as part of a quadrant analysis and to calculate CIs for the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. LOS and total costs were also compared in patients with and without POAF, regardless of beta-blocker use. Use of prophylactic beta-blockade was associated with a 17.3 % reduction in the incidence of POAF (P = 0.02) and a 2.2-day reduction in LOS (P = 0.001) compared with nonuse. It also was associated with a 25.7% reduction in total hospital costs compared with nonuse (mean [SD], $30,978 [$33,108] vs $41,700 [$67,369], respectively; P < 0.001), possibly due to a 27.6% reduction in room and board costs ($11,144 [$15,398] vs $14,920 [$22,132]; P < 0.001). In the bootstrapping analysis, 99.0% of the time prophylactic beta-blockade fell into quadrant IV, which indicated superior effectiveness and lower total costs. Regardless of beta-blocker use, patients who developed POAF had a significantly longer LOS compared with those who did not develop POAF (14.7 [19.1] days vs 10.1 [11.1] days, respectively; P < 0.001) and higher total costs ($47,240 [$85,941] vs $32,516 [$34,644]; P < 0.001). At the institution studied, beta-blocker prophylaxis against POAF after CTS was associated with significantly reduced total costs compared with nonuse of beta-blocker prophylaxis. Patients who developed POAF had significantly increased LOS and total costs compared with those who did not develop POAE An adequately powered prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is necessary to confirm the results of this evaluation.

Initial Therapy for Patients with Uncomplicated Hypertension

PubMed Central

Haynes, R. Brian

1985-01-01

Although commonly prescribed for hypertension, nonpharmacologic treatments have, at best, a minor adjunctive role to play. Current Canadian recommendations call for either a diuretic or beta blocker. If the diastolic blood pressure does not fall below 90 mmHg, a beta blocker or diuretic, respectively, should be added. Medications should be carefully adjusted until the BP is well controlled without adverse effects. About one-third of patients will experience side effects from a medication, but these often subside with time or can be overcome by switching medications. In the long run, antihypertensive therapy does much more good than harm for most patients. Optimizing the cost/benefit ratio for individual patients is the most important challenge. Imagesp321-a PMID:21274104

Observed departures from LTE ionization equilibrium in late-type giants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramsey, L. W.

1977-01-01

Photoelectric scans of the Ca I line at 6572 A and the forbidden Ca II transition at 7323 A are studied in the K giant alpha Tau, the M supergiant alpha Ori, and the M giants beta And, alpha Cet, mu Gem, and beta Peg. The relative strengths of these lines are shown to be indicative of the ratio of the relative number densities of the neutral and ionized species in the photosphere. The analysis indicates an overionization relative to LTE in qualitative agreement with the theoretical calculations of Auman and Woodrow for the K and M giants. The M supergiant alpha Ori exhibits a large overionization relative to LTE.

Numerical studies of electron dynamics in oblique quasi-perpendicular collisionless shock waves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liewer, P. C.; Decyk, V. K.; Dawson, J. M.; Lembege, B.

1991-01-01

Linear and nonlinear electron damping of the whistler precursor wave train to low Mach number quasi-perpendicular oblique shocks is studied using a one-dimensional electromagnetic plasma simulation code with particle electrons and ions. In some parameter regimes, electrons are observed to trap along the magnetic field lines in the potential of the whistler precursor wave train. This trapping can lead to significant electron heating in front of the shock for low beta(e). Use of a 64-processor hypercube concurrent computer has enabled long runs using realistic mass ratios in the full particle in-cell code and thus simulate shock parameter regimes and phenomena not previously studied numerically.

Tricuspid regurgitation in patients with beta-thalassemia major.

PubMed

Wu, K H; Chang, J S; Su, B H; Peng, C T

2004-12-01

Although cardiac complications remain the main causes of death in thalassemic patients, right heart dysfunction has been little studied and the mechanism is still unclear. Echocardiography was performed in 39 patients with beta-thalassemia major and 35 aged-matched controls. The gender, age, heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), acceleration time (AcT) of right ventricular outflow and right ventricular ejection time (RVET), AcT/RVET, and the presence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) were compared between the two groups. We also compared the gender, age, age at first blood transfusion, serum ferritin level, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), the presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus, liver fibrosis, splenectomy, platelet counts, diabetes mellitus, arrhythmia, cardiomegaly, LVEF, AcT, RVET, AcT/RVET, and signal intensity ratio (SIR) of myocardial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between thalassemic patients with and without TR. The incidence of TR in thalassemic patients was significantly higher than that in the control group (30.8 vs 11.4%, p=0.03). The incidences of splenectomy (p=0.03), platelet counts (p=0.01), and SIR of myocardial MRI (p=0.03) in thalassemic patients with TR were significantly higher than in those without TR. The AcT was shorter and the AcT/RVET ratio was smaller, suggesting higher pulmonary pressure in the thalassemic patients with TR. Occurrence of TR in patients with beta-thalassemia major may be a consequence of cardiac iron deposit, thrombocytosis, splenectomy, or pulmonary hypertension.

Regulatory T cells (CD4(+)CD25(bright)FoxP3(+)) expansion in systemic sclerosis correlates with disease activity and severity.

PubMed

Slobodin, Gleb; Ahmad, Mohammad Sheikh; Rosner, Itzhak; Peri, Regina; Rozenbaum, Michael; Kessel, Aharon; Toubi, Elias; Odeh, Majed

2010-01-01

The role and function of T regulatory (Treg) cells have not been fully investigated in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Ten patients with SSc donated 20ml of peripheral blood. Activity (Valentini) and severity (Medsger) scores for SSc were calculated for all patients. Healthy volunteers (controls) were matched to each patient by gender and age. CD4(+) cells were separated using the MACS system. The numbers of Treg cells were estimated by flow cytometry after staining for CD4, CD25, and FoxP3 and calculated as patient-to-control ratio separately for each experiment. Correlations with activity and severity indices of the disease were performed. Twenty-four-hour production of TGF-beta and IL-10 by activated CD4(+) cells was measured by ELISA in culture supernatants. The numbers of Treg cells, expressed as patient-to-control ratio, correlated significantly with both activity and severity indices (r=0.71, p=0.034 and r=0.67, p=0.044, respectively). ELISA-measured production of TGF-beta and IL-10 by CD4(+) cells was similar in patients and controls. Increased numbers of Treg cells are present in patients with SSc, correlating with activity and severity of the disease. This expansion of Treg cells was not accompanied, however, by heightened TGF-beta or IL-10 production. Further studies to elaborate the causes and functional significance of Treg cell expansion in SSc are needed. 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Osteoclasts prefer aged bone.

PubMed

Henriksen, K; Leeming, D J; Byrjalsen, I; Nielsen, R H; Sorensen, M G; Dziegiel, M H; Martin, T John; Christiansen, C; Qvist, P; Karsdal, M A

2007-06-01

We investigated whether the age of the bones endogenously exerts control over the bone resorption ability of the osteoclasts, and found that osteoclasts preferentially develop and resorb bone on aged bone. These findings indicate that the bone matrix itself plays a role in targeted remodeling of aged bones. Osteoclasts resorb aging bone in order to repair damage and maintain the quality of bone. The mechanism behind the targeting of aged bone for remodeling is not clear. We investigated whether bones endogenously possess the ability to control osteoclastic resorption. To biochemically distinguish aged and young bones; we measured the ratio between the age-isomerized betaCTX fragment and the non-isomerized alphaCTX fragment. By measurement of TRACP activity, CTX release, number of TRACP positive cells and pit area/pit number, we evaluated osteoclastogenesis as well as osteoclast resorption on aged and young bones. We found that the alphaCTX/betaCTX ratio is 3:1 in young compared to aged bones, and we found that both alpha and betaCTX are released by osteoclasts during resorption. Osteoclastogenesis was augmented on aged compared to young bones, and the difference was enhanced under low serum conditions. We found that mature osteoclasts resorb more on aged than on young bone, despite unchanged adhesion and morphology. These data indicate that the age of the bone plays an important role in controlling osteoclast-mediated resorption, with significantly higher levels of osteoclast differentiation and resorption on aged bones when compared to young bones.

Effect of xylanase supplementation of cellulase on digestion of corn stover solids prepared by leading pretreatment technologies.

PubMed

Kumar, Rajeev; Wyman, Charles E

2009-09-01

Solids resulting from pretreatment of corn stover by ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX), ammonia recycled percolation (ARP), controlled pH, dilute acid, lime, and sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) technologies were hydrolyzed by enzyme cocktails based on cellulase supplemented with beta-glucosidase at an activity ratio of 1:2, respectively, and augmented with up to 11.0 g xylanase protein/g cellulase protein for combined cellulase and beta-glucosidase mass loadings of 14.5 and 29.0 mg protein (about 7.5 and 15 FPU, respectively)/g of original potential glucose. It was found that glucose release increased nearly linearly with residual xylose removal by enzymes for all pretreatments despite substantial differences in their relative yields. The ratio of the fraction of glucan removed by enzymes to that for xylose was defined as leverage and correlated statistically at two combined cellulase and beta-glucosidase mass loadings with pretreatment type. However, no direct relationship was found between leverage and solid features following different pretreatments such as residual xylan or acetyl content. However, acetyl content not only affected how xylanase impacted cellulase action but also enhanced accessibility of cellulose and/or cellulase effectiveness, as determined by hydrolysis with purified CBHI (Cel7A). Statistical modeling showed that cellulose crystallinity, among the main substrate features, played a vital role in cellulase-xylanase interactions, and a mechanism is suggested to explain the incremental increase in glucose release with xylanase supplementation.

Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopic analysis of the effects of cereal type and variety within a type of grain on structural makeup in relation to rumen degradation kinetics.

PubMed

Walker, Amanda M; Yu, Peiqiang; Christensen, Colleen R; Christensen, David A; McKinnon, John J

2009-08-12

The objectives of this study were to use Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM) to determine structural makeup (features) of cereal grain endosperm tissue and to reveal and identify differences in protein and carbohydrate structural makeup between different cereal types (corn vs barley) and between different varieties within a grain (barley CDC Bold, CDC Dolly, Harrington, and Valier). Another objective was to investigate how these structural features relate to rumen degradation kinetics. The items assessed included (1) structural differences in protein amide I to nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC, starch) intensity and ratio within cellular dimensions; (2) molecular structural differences in the secondary structure profile of protein, alpha-helix, beta-sheet, and their ratio; (3) structural differences in NSC to amide I ratio profile. From the results, it was observed that (1) comparison between grain types [corn (cv. Pioneer 39P78) vs barley (cv. Harrington)] showed significant differences in structural makeup in terms of NSC, amide I to NSC ratio, and rumen degradation kinetics (degradation ratio, effective degradability of dry matter, protein and NSC) (P < 0.05); (2) comparison between varieties within a grain (barley varieties) also showed significant differences in structural makeup in terms of amide I, NSC, amide I to NSC ratio, alpha-helix and beta-sheet protein structures, and rumen degradation kinetics (effective degradability of dry matter, protein, and NSC) (P < 0.05); (3) correlation analysis showed that the amide I to NSC ratio was strongly correlated with rumen degradation kinetics in terms of the degradation rate (R = 0.91, P = 0.086) and effective degradability of dry matter (R = 0.93, P = 0.071). The results suggest that with the FTIRM technique, the structural makeup differences between cereal types and between different varieties within a type of grain could be revealed. These structural makeup differences were related to the rate and extent of rumen degradation.

Influence of Philosamia ricini silk fibroin components on morphology, secondary structure and thermal properties of chitosan biopolymer film.

PubMed

Prasong, S; Nuanchai, K; Wilaiwan, S

2009-09-15

This study aimed to prepare Eri (Philosamia ricini) Silk Fibroin (SF)/chitosan (CS) blend films by a solvent evaporation method and to compare the blend films with both native SF and CS films. Influence of SF ratios on the morphology, secondary structure and thermal decomposition of the CS blend films were investigated. The native SF and CS films were uniform and homogeneous without phase separation. For the blend films, the uniform can be found less than 60% of SF composition. All of SF/CS blend films showed both SF and CS characteristics. FT-IR results showed that the blend films composed of both random coil and beta-sheet with predominant of beta-sheet form. Interaction of intermolecular between SF and CS have occurred which were measured by thermogravimetric thermograms. Increasing of SF contents was leading to the increase of beta-sheet structures which were enhanced the thermal stability of the CS blend films.

Observations of H-beta and He II lambda 4686 lines in the spectra of flares of UV Cet-type stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chugainov, P. F.; Petrov, P. P.; Scherbakov, A. G.

The main results of 45.4 hours of continuous spectroscopic and photoelectric B-band observations of AD Leo, DT Virgo, and YZ CMi are discussed. In two AD Leo flares and two YZ CMi flares, an increase of the central intensity of H-beta was observed 10-20 min before the maximum B-band brightness. The spectra of one AD Leo flare and one YZ CMi flare definitely indicate the formation of broad wings of H-beta occurring mainly during flare maximum. These flares surpass the other four in total optical energy. The Stark effect seems to be the most appropriate explanation for the origin of the wings. The upper limit of the equivalent widths of the He II wavelength 4686 line was higher than that in the quiet state. The equivalent width values cannot be explained by the cascade recombination mechanism if the ratio of optical and X-ray luminosities is nearly the same for all flares of UV Cet-type stars.

Tetrahydrofuran Calpha-tetrasubstituted amino acids: two consecutive beta-turns in a crystalline linear tripeptide.

PubMed

Maity, Prantik; Zabel, Manfred; König, Burkhard

2007-10-12

The synthesis of tetrahydrofuran Calpha-tetrasubstituted amino acids (TAAs) and their effect on the conformation in small peptides are reported. The synthesis starts from the protein amino acid methionine, which is protected at the C and N terminus and converted into the corresponding sulfonium salt by alkylation. Simple base treatment in the presence of an aryl aldehyde leads to the formation of tetrahydrofuran tetrasubstituted Calpha-amino acids in a highly diastereoselective (trans/cis ratio up to 97:3) reaction with moderate to good yields (35-78%) depending on the aldehyde used. Palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions allow a subsequent further functionalization of the TAA. The R,S,S-TAA-Ala dipeptide amide adopts a beta-turn type I conformation, whereas its S,R,S isomer does not. The R,S,S-Gly-TAA-Ala tripeptide amide shows in the solid state and in solution a conformation of two consecutive beta-turn type III structures, stabilized by i+3-->i intramolecular hydrogen bonds.

Stress-related hormones in horses before and after stunning by captive bolt gun.

PubMed

Micera, Elisabetta; Albrizio, Maria; Surdo, Nicoletta C; Moramarco, Angela M; Zarrilli, Antonia

2010-04-01

In this work the slaughter-linked plasma modifications of some stress-related hormones in horses subject to standardized butchering procedures were investigated in order to highlight the compromised animal welfare during pre-slaughter handling. During pre-slaughter, animals show strong hardship behavioural patterns, probably due to being under life-threatening conditions. Blood samples from 12 male horses, ageing from 3 to 5 years, were collected before slaughtering in lairage, and during exsanguination after stunning. Catecholamines, cortisol and beta-endorphin concentrations were assessed in plasma samples by EIA. Results show that plasma beta-endorphin concentration did not increase significantly after stunning, while cortisol (P<0.05) and catecholamines (P<0.001) increased significantly. The ratio between the plasma level of norepinephrine and epinephrine decreased significantly (P<0.001) during the time considered for observation underlining a greater involvement of adrenal medulla in the stress response. Moreover these results suggest that, under stress, the release of beta-endorphin could be different from that of ACTH. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The ozonation of cholesterol: Separation and identification of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatization products of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al

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

Wang, K.; Bermudez, E.; Pryor, W.A.

1993-05-01

The ozonation products of cholesterol, which are of interest as possible biomarkers of O3 exposure, were studied by derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH). The DNPH derivatization of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al (2) produces the expected trans (3b) and cis (3c) derivatives of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al, and the unexpected DNPH derivative of 3,5-dihydroxy-B-norcholestane-6-carboxaldehyde (3a). The structures of 3a, 3b, and 3c were identified with 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR, DEPT, COSY, and H-C correlation two-dimensional NMR techniques, and by comparison with the spectra of known compounds. A possible mechanism involving an enamine functionality is proposed for the formation of 3a. The ratio ofmore » 3a/(3b + 3c) depends on the concentration of acid used and the reaction time.« less

Novel beta-cyclodextrin derivative functionalized polymethacrylate-based monolithic columns for enantioselective separation of ibuprofen and naproxen enantiomers in capillary electrochromatography.

PubMed

Tian, Yun; Zhong, Cheng; Fu, Enqin; Zeng, Zhaorui

2009-02-06

A novel enantioselective polymethacrylate-based monolithic column for capillary electrochromatography was prepared by ring-opening reaction of epoxy groups from poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith with a novel beta-cyclodextrin derivative bearing 4-dimethylamino-1,8-naphthalimide functionalities. Conditions for the ring-opening reaction with respect to different reaction parameters were thoroughly optimized to obtain high electroosmotic flow, separation efficiency and enantioselectivity for the analytes. The nonaqueous mobile phase composition regarding acetonitrile-methanol ratio and the concentration of electrolyte were examined to manipulate the hydrophobic inclusion and anion-exchange interaction between the analytes and chiral stationary phase. It was observed that in addition to beta-cyclodextrin cavity, the electrostatic interaction exhibited pronounced influence on the enantioseparation of acidic analytes. Acidic enantiomers (ibuprofen and naproxen) could be separated with separation factor (alpha) values up to 1.08 and a maximum separation efficiency of 86000 plates/m could be achieved.

Effect of diazinon and/or praziquantel on selected protein aspects in healthy and Schistosoma mansoni infected mice.

PubMed

Hanna, Laila S; Medhat, Amina M; Abdel-Menem, Hanan A

2003-04-01

In Egypt, schistosomiasis is still a major public health problem and praziquantel is the drug of choice for its treatment, whereas diazinon is globally used as an insecticide for controlling pests. They adversely affect the environment. Therefore, the authors studied the effect of 1/20 LD50 diazinon given orally to healthy and Schistosoma mansoni infected mice for 5 successive days up to 9 and 17 weeks coupled with a therapeutic dose (2 x 500 mg/kg Bwt) of praziquantel, 2 weeks before sacrificing. The results showed that non significant differences were obtained from total proteins, albumin, globulins, and albumin/globulin ratio. However, significant differences were revealed from alpha1-, alpha2-, beta1-, beta2-, and gamma-globubins in addition to plasma ceruloplasmin. Diazinon changed the levels of alpha2-, beta1-, and gamma-globubins, while diazinon coupled with schistosomiasis affected the levels of most studied parameters. Consequently, exposure to insecticides should be avoided specially in the rural areas where schistosomiasis is still endemic.

Are we optimizing gestational diabetes treatment with glyburide? The pharmacologic basis for better clinical practice

PubMed Central

Hebert, MF; Ma, X; Naraharisetti, SB; Krudys, KM; Umans, JG; Hankins, GDV; Caritis, SN; Miodovnik, M; Mattison, DR; Unadkat, JD; Kelly, EJ; Blough, D; Cobelli, C; Ahmed, MS; Snodgrass, WR; Carr, DB; Easterling, TR; Vicini, P

2009-01-01

Glyburide’s PK and PD have not been studied in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The objective was to assess steady-state PK of glyburide as well as insulin sensitivity, beta-cell responsivity and overall disposition indices following a mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT) in GDM (n=40), non-pregnant type 2 diabetic (T2DM) (n=26) and healthy pregnant (n=40, MMTT only) women. At equivalent doses, glyburide plasma concentrations were ~50% lower in pregnancy compared to non-pregnant women. Average glyburide umbilical cord to maternal plasma concentration ratio at the time of delivery was 0.7 ± 0.4. Insulin sensitivity was ~5-fold lower in women with GDM compared to healthy pregnancy. Despite comparable beta-cell responsivity index, average beta-cell function corrected for insulin resistance was >3.5- fold lower in women with glyburide-treated GDM than healthy pregnancy. Women with GDM that fail glyburide may benefit from alternate medication selection or dosage escalation, though fetal safety should be considered. PMID:19295505

Iridoid glycosides from Gardeniae Fructus for treatment of ankle sprain.

PubMed

Chen, Quan Cheng; Zhang, Wei Yun; Youn, Uijoung; Kim, Hongjin; Lee, IkSoo; Jung, Hyun-Ju; Na, MinKyun; Min, Byung-Sun; Bae, KiHwan

2009-04-01

The iridoid glycosides, genipin 1-O-beta-D-isomaltoside (1) and genipin 1,10-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), together with six known iridoid glycosides, genipin 1-O-beta-D-gentiobioside (3), geniposide (4), scandoside methyl ester (5), deacetylasperulosidic acid methyl ester (6), 6-O-methyldeacetylasperulosidic acid methyl ester (7), and gardenoside (8) were isolated from an EtOH extract of Gardeniae Fructus. The structures and relative stereochemistries of the metabolites were elucidated on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic techniques, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and chemical evidence. Geniposide (4), one of the main compounds of Gardeniae Fructus, was tested for treatment of ankle sprain using an ankle sprain model in rats. From the second to fifth day, the geniposide (4) (100mg/ml) treated group exhibited significant differences (p<0.01) with approximately 21-34% reduction in swelling ratio compared with those of the vehicle treated control group. This indicated the potential effect of geniposide (4) for the treatment of disorders such as ankle sprain.

Sn-Beta zeolites with borate salts catalyse the epimerization of carbohydrates via an intramolecular carbon shift

PubMed Central

Gunther, William R.; Wang, Yuran; Ji, Yuewei; Michaelis, Vladimir K.; Hunt, Sean T.; Griffin, Robert G.; Román-Leshkov, Yuriy

2012-01-01

Carbohydrate epimerization is an essential technology for the widespread production of rare sugars. In contrast to other enzymes, most epimerases are only active on sugars substituted with phosphate or nucleotide groups, thus drastically restricting their use. Here we show that Sn-Beta zeolite in the presence of sodium tetraborate catalyses the selective epimerization of aldoses in aqueous media. Specifically, a 5 wt% aldose (for example, glucose, xylose or arabinose) solution with a 4:1 aldose:sodium tetraborate molar ratio reacted with catalytic amounts of Sn-Beta yields near-equilibrium epimerization product distributions. The reaction proceeds by way of a 1,2 carbon shift wherein the bond between C-2 and C-3 is cleaved and a new bond between C-1 and C-3 is formed, with C-1 moving to the C-2 position with an inverted configuration. This work provides a general method of performing carbohydrate epimerizations that surmounts the main disadvantages of current enzymatic and inorganic processes. PMID:23047667

Metoprolol improves survival in severe traumatic brain injury independent of heart rate control.

PubMed

Zangbar, Bardiya; Khalil, Mazhar; Rhee, Peter; Joseph, Bellal; Kulvatunyou, Narong; Tang, Andrew; Friese, Randall S; O'Keeffe, Terence

2016-02-01

Multiple prior studies have suggested an association between survival and beta-blocker administration in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, it is unknown whether this benefit of beta-blockers is dependent on heart rate control. The aim of this study was to assess whether rate control affects survival in patients receiving metoprolol with severe TBI. Our hypothesis was that improved survival from beta-blockade would be associated with a reduction in heart rate. We performed a 7-y retrospective analysis of all blunt TBI patients at a level-1 trauma center. Patients aged >16 y with head abbreviated injury scale 4 or 5, admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from the operating room or emergency room (ER), were included. Patients were stratified into two groups: metoprolol and no beta-blockers. Using propensity score matching, we matched the patients in two groups in a 1:1 ratio controlling for age, gender, race, admission vital signs, Glasgow coma scale, injury severity score, mean heart rate monitored during ICU admission, and standard deviation of heart rate during the ICU admission. Our primary outcome measure was mortality. A total of 914 patients met our inclusion criteria, of whom 189 received beta-blockers. A propensity-matched cohort of 356 patients (178: metoprolol and 178: no beta-blockers) was created. Patients receiving metoprolol had higher survival than those patients who did not receive beta-blockers (78% versus 68%; P = 0.04); however, there was no difference in the mean heart rate (89.9 ± 13.9 versus 89.9 ± 15; P = 0.99). Nor was there a difference in the mean of standard deviation of the heart rates (14.7 ± 6.3 versus 14.4 ± 6.5; P = 0.65) between the two groups. In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, patients who received metoprolol had a survival advantage (P = 0.011) compared with patients who did not receive any beta-blockers. Our study shows an association with improved survival in patients with severe TBI receiving metoprolol, and this effect appears to be independent of any reduction in heart rate. We suggest that beta-blockers should be administered to all severe TBI patients irregardless of any perceived beta-blockade effect on heart rate. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Up-regulation of Bcl-2 through hyperbaric pressure transfection of TGF-beta1 ameliorates ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat cardiac allografts.

PubMed

Grünenfelder, Jürg; Miniati, Douglas N; Murata, Seiichiro; Falk, Volkmar; Hoyt, E Grant; Robbins, Robert C

2002-02-01

Oxidative stress after ischemia-reperfusion of cardiac allografts leads to activation of cardiomyocytes and production of cytokines. Bcl-2, an inhibitor of the apoptotic pathway, also has strong antioxidant properties. Ischemia-reperfusion injury after transplantation leads to decreased bcl-2 and increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is known to attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury and inhibits apoptosis of myofibroblasts. We hypothesize that TGF-beta1, prevents bcl-2 cleavage and increased TNF-alpha production. Rat PVG donor hearts were heterotopically transplanted into ACI recipients. Donor hearts were procured and assigned to groups: (1) intracoronary TGF-beta1 (200 ng/ml) perfusion and pressure at 78 psi for 45 minutes (n = 4); (2) intracoronary TGF-beta1 perfusion and incubation for 45 minutes without pressure (n = 4), (3) saline perfusion and incubation for 45 minutes without pressure (n = 4). Hearts were procured 4 hours after transplantation and analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for bcl-2 mRNA expression, ELISA for TNF-alpha, and for myeloperoxidase activity (MPO). Bcl-2 decreased in untreated animals (bcl-2:G3PDH ratio = 0.85 +/- 0.73 vs 1.16 +/- 0.11, not significant [NS]), whereas TNF-alpha increased to 669.99 +/- 127.09 vs 276.84 +/- 73.65 pg/mg total protein in controls (p < 0.003). In TGF-beta(1) pressure-treated hearts, bcl-2 was up-regulated (2.49 +/- 0.6 vs 1.16 +/- 0.11, controls, p < 0.005), whereas TNF-alpha was unchanged (396.1 +/- 100.38 vs 276.84 +/- 73.65 pg/mg, NS). Hearts treated with TGF-beta1 and pressure showed significant up-regulation of bcl-2 compared with hearts treated with TGF-beta1 without pressure (2.49 +/- 0.6 vs 1.17 +/- 0.6, p < 0.02). MPO showed no differences. Bcl-2 is down-regulated and TNF-alpha up-regulated in this model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Furthermore, TGF-beta1 is linked to this process and ameliorates reperfusion injury by up-regulating bcl-2 and inhibiting TNF-alpha. Therapeutic overexpression of myocardial TGF-beta1 may be clinically useful to control ischemia-reperfusion injury associated with cardiac transplantation.

Phosphorylated tau/amyloid beta 1-42 ratio in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid reflects outcome in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a potentially reversible cause of dementia and gait disturbance that is typically treated by operative placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The outcome from shunting is variable, and some evidence suggests that the presence of comorbid Alzheimer's disease (AD) may impact shunt outcome. Evidence also suggests that AD biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may predict the presence of AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the phosphorylated tau/amyloid beta 1-42 (ptau/Aβ1-42) ratio in ventricular CSF and shunt outcome in patients with iNPH. Methods We conducted a prospective trial with a cohort of 39 patients with suspected iNPH. Patients were clinically and psychometrically assessed prior to and approximately 4 months after ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Lumbar and ventricular CSF obtained intraoperatively, and tissue from intraoperative cortical biopsies were analyzed for AD biomarkers. Outcome measures included performance on clinical symptom scales, supplementary gait measures, and standard psychometric tests. We investigated relationships between the ptau/Aβ1-42 ratio in ventricular CSF and cortical AD pathology, initial clinical features, shunt outcome, and lumbar CSF ptau/Aβ1-42 ratios in the patients in our cohort. Results We found that high ptau/Aβ1-42 ratios in ventricular CSF correlated with the presence of cortical AD pathology. At baseline, iNPH patients with ratio values most suggestive of AD presented with better gait performance but poorer cognitive performance. Patients with high ptau/Aβ1-42 ratios also showed a less robust response to shunting on both gait and cognitive measures. Finally, in a subset of 18 patients who also underwent lumbar puncture, ventricular CSF ratios were significantly correlated with lumbar CSF ratios. Conclusions Levels of AD biomarkers in CSF correlate with the presence of cortical AD pathology and predict aspects of clinical presentation in iNPH. Moreover, preliminary evidence suggests that CSF biomarkers of AD may prove useful for stratifying shunt prognosis in patients being evaluated and treated for this condition. PMID:22444461

Cyclodextrin inclusion complex formation and solid-state characterization of the natural antioxidants alpha-tocopherol and quercetin.

PubMed

Koontz, John L; Marcy, Joseph E; O'Keefe, Sean F; Duncan, Susan E

2009-02-25

Cyclodextrin (CD) complexation procedures are relatively simple processes, but these techniques often require very specific conditions for each individual guest molecule. Variations of the coprecipitation from aqueous solution technique were optimized for the CD complexation of the natural antioxidants alpha-tocopherol and quercetin. Solid inclusion complex products of alpha-tocopherol/beta-CD and quercetin/gamma-CD had molar ratios of 1.7:1, which were equivalent to 18.1% (w/w) alpha-tocopherol and 13.0% (w/w) quercetin. The molar reactant ratios of CD/antioxidant were optimized at 8:1 to improve the yield of complexation. The product yields of alpha-tocopherol/beta-CD and quercetin/gamma-CD complexes from their individual reactants were calculated as 24 and 21% (w/w), respectively. ATR/FT-IR, 13C CP/MAS NMR, TGA, and DSC provided evidence of antioxidant interaction with CD at the molecular level, which indicated true CD inclusion complexation in the solid state. Natural antioxidant/CD inclusion complexes may serve as novel additives in controlled-release active packaging to extend the oxidative stability of foods.

Dependence of ion density in the wake of the AE-C satellite on the ratio of body size to Debye length in an (O/sup +/)-dominated plasma

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

Samir, U.; Kaufman, Y.J.; Brace, L.H.

Measurements of electron temperature, satellite potential, ion density and ion composition from the cylindrical electrostatic probe and the Bennett ion mass spectrometer on board the AE-C satellite were used to investigate the influence of the body size parameter R/sub D/=R/sub 0//lambda/sub D/ (where R/sub 0/ is the satellite radius and lambda/sub D/ is the ambient Debye length) on ion distribution in the very near wake. The investigation focused on (O/sup +/) plasmas. It was found that the ratio (..beta..) of density in the wake to ambient density varies with R/sub D/ and that the variation can be described by amore » simple exponential relationship of the form ..beta..=a/sub 0/ exp (a/sub 1/R/sub D/) for 37< or =R/sub D/< or =247 and a/sub 0/=0.006, a/sub 1/=-0.009. the present study extends that of Samir et al. (1979a).« less

High-beta analytic equilibria in circular, elliptical, and D-shaped large aspect ratio axisymmetric configurations with poloidal and toroidal flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

López, O. E.; Guazzotto, L.

2017-03-01

The Grad-Shafranov-Bernoulli system of equations is a single fluid magnetohydrodynamical description of axisymmetric equilibria with mass flows. Using a variational perturbative approach [E. Hameiri, Phys. Plasmas 20, 024504 (2013)], analytic approximations for high-beta equilibria in circular, elliptical, and D-shaped cross sections in the high aspect ratio approximation are found, which include finite toroidal and poloidal flows. Assuming a polynomial dependence of the free functions on the poloidal flux, the equilibrium problem is reduced to an inhomogeneous Helmholtz partial differential equation (PDE) subject to homogeneous Dirichlet conditions. An application of the Green's function method leads to a closed form for the circular solution and to a series solution in terms of Mathieu functions for the elliptical case, which is valid for arbitrary elongations. To extend the elliptical solution to a D-shaped domain, a boundary perturbation in terms of the triangularity is used. A comparison with the code FLOW [L. Guazzotto et al., Phys. Plasmas 11(2), 604-614 (2004)] is presented for relevant scenarios.

Fuel-induced amplification of insulin secretion in mouse pancreatic islets exposed to a high sulfonylurea concentration: role of the NADPH/NADP+ ratio.

PubMed

Panten, U; Rustenbeck, I

2008-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine whether the cytosolic NADPH/NADP+ ratio of beta cells serves as an amplifying signal in fuel-induced insulin secretion and whether such a function is mediated by cytosolic alpha-ketoglutarate. Pancreatic islets and islet cells were isolated from albino mice by collagenase digestion. Insulin secretion of incubated or perifused islets was measured by ELISA. The NADPH and NADP+ content of incubated islets was determined by enzymatic cycling. The cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) in islets was measured by microfluorimetry and the activity of ATP-sensitive K+ channels in islet cells by patch-clamping. Both 30 mmol/l glucose and 10 mmol/l alpha-ketoisocaproate stimulated insulin secretion and elevated the NADPH/NADP+ ratio of islets preincubated in the absence of fuel. The increase in the NADPH/NADP+ ratio was abolished in the presence of 2.7 micromol/l glipizide (closing all ATP-sensitive K+ channels). However, alpha-ketoisocaproate, but not glucose, still stimulated insulin secretion. That glipizide did not inhibit alpha-ketoisocaproate-induced insulin secretion was not the result of elevated [Ca2+]c, as glucose caused a more marked [Ca2+]c increase. Insulin release triggered by glipizide alone was moderately amplified by dimethyl alpha-ketoglutarate (which is cleaved to produce cytosolic alpha-ketoglutarate), but there was no indication of a signal function of cytosolic alpha-ketoglutarate. The results strongly suggest that the NADPH/NADP+ ratio in the beta cell cytosol does not serve as an amplifying signal in fuel-induced insulin release. The study supports the view that amplification results from the intramitochondrial production of citrate by citrate synthase and from the associated export of citrate into the cytosol.

Phase Behaviour and Miscibility Studies of Collagen/Silk Fibroin Macromolecular System in Dilute Solutions and Solid State.

PubMed

Ghaeli, Ima; de Moraes, Mariana A; Beppu, Marisa M; Lewandowska, Katarzyna; Sionkowska, Alina; Ferreira-da-Silva, Frederico; Ferraz, Maria P; Monteiro, Fernando J

2017-08-18

Miscibility is an important issue in biopolymer blends for analysis of the behavior of polymer pairs through the detection of phase separation and improvement of the mechanical and physical properties of the blend. This study presents the formulation of a stable and one-phase mixture of collagen and regenerated silk fibroin (RSF), with the highest miscibility ratio between these two macromolecules, through inducing electrostatic interactions, using salt ions. For this aim, a ternary phase diagram was experimentally built for the mixtures, based on observations of phase behavior of blend solutions with various ratios. The miscibility behavior of the blend solutions in the miscible zones of the phase diagram was confirmed quantitatively by viscosimetric measurements. Assessing the effects of biopolymer mixing ratio and salt ions, before and after dialysis of blend solutions, revealed the importance of ion-specific interactions in the formation of coacervate-based materials containing collagen and RSF blends that can be used in pharmaceutical, drug delivery, and biomedical applications. Moreover, the conformational change of silk fibroin from random coil to beta sheet, in solution and in the final solid films, was detected by circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) exhibited alterations of surface morphology for the biocomposite films with different ratios. Surface contact angle measurement illustrated different hydrophobic properties for the blended film surfaces. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the formation of the beta sheet structure of silk fibroin enhances the thermal stability of the final blend films. Therefore, the novel method presented in this study resulted in the formation of biocomposite films whose physico-chemical properties can be tuned by silk fibroin conformational changes by applying different component mixing ratios.

Noninductively Driven Tokamak Plasmas at Near-Unity Toroidal Beta

DOE PAGES

Schlossberg, David J.; Bodner, Grant M.; Bongard, Michael W.; ...

2017-07-01

Access to and characterization of sustained, toroidally confined plasmas with a very high plasma-to-magnetic pressure ratio (β t), low internal inductance, high elongation, and nonsolenoidal current drive is a central goal of present tokamak plasma research. Stable access to this desirable parameter space is demonstrated in plasmas with ultralow aspect ratio and high elongation. Local helicity injection provides nonsolenoidal sustainment, low internal inductance, and ion heating. Equilibrium analyses indicate β t up to ~100% with a minimum |B| well spanning up to ~50% of the plasma volume.

Noninductively Driven Tokamak Plasmas at Near-Unity Toroidal Beta.

PubMed

Schlossberg, D J; Bodner, G M; Bongard, M W; Burke, M G; Fonck, R J; Perry, J M; Reusch, J A

2017-07-21

Access to and characterization of sustained, toroidally confined plasmas with a very high plasma-to-magnetic pressure ratio (β_{t}), low internal inductance, high elongation, and nonsolenoidal current drive is a central goal of present tokamak plasma research. Stable access to this desirable parameter space is demonstrated in plasmas with ultralow aspect ratio and high elongation. Local helicity injection provides nonsolenoidal sustainment, low internal inductance, and ion heating. Equilibrium analyses indicate β_{t} up to ∼100% with a minimum |B| well spanning up to ∼50% of the plasma volume.

Sequential Treatment Escalation with Dapagliflozin and Saxagliptin Improves Beta Cell Function in Type 2 Diabetic Patients on Previous Metformin Treatment: An Exploratory Mechanistic Study.

PubMed

Forst, Thomas; Alghdban, Mohammed Khaled; Fischer, Annelie; Weber, Matthias M; Voswinkel, Stephan; Heise, Tim; Kapitza, Christoph; Plum-Mörschel, Leona

2018-05-01

We investigated the effect of sequential treatment escalation with dapagliflozin and saxagliptin on beta cell function in patients with T2DM insufficiently controlled on metformin monotherapy during a hyperglycaemic clamp investigation. Twenty-six patients (19 males, age 63.5±7.0 years; duration of diabetes 8.8±4.7 years; HbA1c 63.9±15.8 mmol/mol; mean±SD) were enrolled in the study. During a first treatment period (TP1) all patients received 10 mg dapagliflozin for one month, followed by the addition of 5 mg saxagliptin or placebo for another month (TP2). At baseline and at the end of each treatment period, fasting glucose and insulin levels were analysed, and a hyperglycaemic clamp with the measurement of plasma C-peptide, insulin, proinsulin, and glucagon was performed. Treatment with dapagliflozin reduced fasting glucose levels and insulin resistance (TP1). Within the hyperglycaemic clamp, C-peptide and insulin concentrations increased after the addition of dapagliflozin in TP1 (0.48±0.45 nmol*h/l; 6.24±17.9 mU*h/l) and further improved after the addition of saxagliptin in TP2 (0.38±0.34 nmol*h/l; 6.59±10.15 mU*h/l). Acute insulin response did not change after the addition of dapagliflozin (TP1), but significantly improved after the addition of saxagliptin in TP2 (0.89±0.76 mU*h/l). Both drugs improved the C-peptide/proinsulin ratio. After the addition of saxagliptin, the glucagon/insulin ratio significantly declined (TP2). Treatment escalation with dapagliflozin and saxagliptin exhibit additive effects on beta cell capacity, and improves alpha and beta cell integrity. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Boldine Improves Kidney Damage in the Goldblatt 2K1C Model Avoiding the Increase in TGF-β.

PubMed

Gómez, Gonzalo I; Velarde, Victoria

2018-06-25

Boldine, a major aporphine alkaloid found in the Chilean boldo tree, is a potent antioxidant. Oxidative stress plays a detrimental role in the pathogenesis of kidney damage in renovascular hypertension (RVH). The activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is crucial to the development and progression of hypertensive renal damage and TGF-β is closely associated with the activation of RAS. In the present study, we assessed the effect of boldine on the progression of kidney disease using the 2K1C hypertension model and identifying mediators in the RAS, such as TGF-β, that could be modulated by this alkaloid. Toward this hypothesis, rats ( n = 5/group) were treated with boldine (50 mg/kg/day, gavage) for six weeks after 2K1C surgery (pressure ≥ 180 mmHg). Kidney function was evaluated by measuring of proteinuria/creatininuria ratio (U prot/U Crea), oxidative stress (OS) by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The evolution of systolic blood pressure (SBP) was followed weekly. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Col III were used as markers of kidney damage; ED-1 and osteopontin (OPN) were used as markers of inflammation. We also explored the effect in RAS mediators, such as ACE-1 and TGF-β. Boldine treatment reduced the UProt/UCrea ratio, plasma TBARS, and slightly reduced SBP in 2K1C hypertensive rats, producing no effect in control animals. In 2K1C rats treated with boldine the levels of α-SMA, Col III, ED-1, and OPN were lower when compared to 2K1C rats. Boldine prevented the increase in ACE-1 and TGF-β in 2K1C rats, suggesting that boldine reduces kidney damage. These results suggest that boldine could potentially be used as a nutraceutic.

Predictive value of some hematological parameters for non-invasive and invasive mole pregnancies.

PubMed

Abide Yayla, Cigdem; Özkaya, Enis; Yenidede, Ilter; Eser, Ahmet; Ergen, Evrim Bostancı; Tayyar, Ahter Tanay; Şentürk, Mehmet Baki; Karateke, Ates

2018-02-01

The aim of this study was to discriminate mole pregnancies and invasive forms among cases with first trimester vaginal bleeding by the utilization of some complete blood count parameters conjunct to sonographic findings and beta human chorionic gonadotropin concentration. Consecutive 257 cases with histopathologically confirmed mole pregnancies and 199 women without mole pregnancy presented with first trimester vaginal bleeding who admitted to Zeynep Kamil Women and Children's Health Training Hospital between January 2012 and January 2016 were included in this cross-sectional study. The serum beta HCG level at presentation, and beta hCG levels at 1st, 2nd and 3rd weeks of postevacuation with some parameters of complete blood count were utilized to discriminate cases with molar pregnancy and cases with invasive mole among first trimester pregnants presented with vaginal bleeding and abnormal sonographic findings. Levels of beta hCG at baseline (AUC = 0.700, p < 0.05) and 1st (AUC = 0.704, p < 0.05), 2nd (AUC = 0.870, p < 0.001) and 3rd (AUC = 0.916, p < 0.001) weeks of postevacuation period were significant predictors for the cases with persistent disease. While area under curve for mean platelet volume is 0.715, it means that mean platelet volume has 21.5% additional diagnostic value for predicting persistency in molar patients. For 8.55 cut-off point for mean platelet volume, sensitivity is 84.6% and specificity is 51.6%. Area under curve for platelet/lymphocyte ratio is 0.683 means that platelet/lymphocyte ratio has additional 18.3% diagnostic value. For 102.25 cut-off point sensitivity is 86.6% and specificity is 46.2. Simple, widely available complete blood count parameters may be used as an adjunct to other risk factors to diagnose molar pregnancies and predict postevacuation trophoblastic disease.

Copy Number Variation of the Beta Defensin Gene Cluster on Chromosome 8p Influences the Bacterial Microbiota within the Nasopharynx of Otitis-Prone Children

PubMed Central

Bevins, Charles L.; Hollox, Edward J.; Bakaletz, Lauren O.

2014-01-01

As there is increasing evidence that aberrant defensin expression is related to susceptibility for infectious disease and inflammatory disorders, we sought to determine if copy number of the beta-defensin gene cluster located on chromosome 8p23.1 (DEFB107, 106, 105, 104, 103, DEFB4 and SPAG11), that shows copy number variation as a block, was associated with susceptibility to otitis media (OM). The gene DEFB103 within this complex encodes human beta defensin-3 (hBD-3), an antimicrobial peptide (AP) expressed by epithelial cells that line the mammalian airway, important for defense of mucosal surfaces and previously shown to have bactericidal activity in vitro against multiple human pathogens, including the three that predominate in OM. To this end, we conducted a retrospective case-control study of 113 OM prone children and 267 controls aged five to sixty months. We identified the copy number of the above defined beta-defensin gene cluster (DEFB-CN) in each study subject by paralogue ratio assays. The mean DEFB-CN was indistinguishable between subjects classified as OM prone based on a recent history of multiple episodes of OM and control subjects who had no history of OM (4.4±0.96 versus 4.4±1.08, respectively: Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.16 (95% CI: 0.61, 2.20). Despite a lack of direct association, we observed a statistically significant correlation between DEFB-CN and nasopharyngeal bacterial colonization patterns. Collectively, our findings suggested that susceptibility to OM might be mediated by genetic variation among individuals, wherein a DEFB-CN less than 4 exerts a marked influence on the microbiota of the nasopharynx, specifically with regard to colonization by the three predominant bacterial pathogens of OM. PMID:24867293

Reticulocyte parameters of delta beta thalassaemia trait, beta thalassaemia trait and iron deficiency anaemia.

PubMed

Velasco-Rodríguez, Diego; Alonso-Domínguez, Juan-Manuel; González-Fernández, Fernando-Ataúlfo; Villarrubia, Jesús; Sopeña, María; Abalo, Lorena; Ropero, Paloma; Martínez-Nieto, Jorge; de la Fuente Gonzalo, Félix; Cava, Fernando

2016-02-01

To analyse the differences in reticulocyte indices between delta beta thalassaemia trait (δβ-TT), beta thalassaemia trait (β-TT) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), and to correlate those differences with the physiopathological features of these three types of microcytoses. We performed a descriptive study of 428 samples (43 δβ-TT, 179 β-TT and 206 IDA) that were run on Advia 2120 analyser (Siemens). The following reticulocyte indices were assessed: absolute reticulocyte count (ARC), percentage of reticulocytes, mean corpuscular volume of reticulocytes (MCVr), haemoglobin content of reticulocytes (CHr), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration of reticulocytes, red blood cell distribution width of reticulocytes (RDWr), haemoglobin distribution width of reticulocytes (HDWr) and reticulocyte subpopulations based on their fluorescence according to mRNA (low (L-R), medium (M-R) and high (H-R)), MCV ratio and MCHC ratio. Correlation between fetal haemoglobin (HbF) and RDWr in patients with thalassaemia was evaluated. RDWr was significantly higher in δβ-TT compared with β-TT (15.03% vs 13.82%, p<0.001), and so were HDWr (3.65% vs 3.27%, p<0.001), CHr (23.68 vs 22.66 pg, p<0.001) and MCVr (88.3 vs 85.5 fL, p<0.001). A good correlation was observed between HbF and RDWr (r=0.551, p<0.001). IDA subjects have more immature reticulocytes, but less ARC than β-TT, suggesting a certain degree of inefficient erythropoiesis in IDA in comparison with β-TT. Previously described differences between δβ-TT, β-TT and IDA in the corpuscular indices of mature red blood cell can also be observed in reticulocytes. The degree of anisocytosis in reticulocytes from patients with thalassaemia is correlated with HbF. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

The Role of Compressibility in Energy Release by Magnetic Reconnection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Birn, J.; Borovosky, J. E.; Hesse, M.

2012-01-01

Using resistive compressible magnetohydrodynamics, we investigate the energy release and transfer by magnetic reconnection in finite (closed or periodic) systems. The emphasis is on the magnitude of energy released and transferred to plasma heating in configurations that range from highly compressible to incompressible, based on the magnitude of the background beta (ratio of plasma pressure over magnetic pressure) and of a guide field in two-dimensional reconnection. As expected, the system becomes more incompressible, and the role of compressional heating diminishes, with increasing beta or increasing guide field. Nevertheless, compressional heating may dominate over Joule heating for values of the guide field of 2 or 3 (in relation to the reconnecting magnetic field component) and beta of 5-10. This result stems from the strong localization of the dissipation near the reconnection site, which is modeled based on particle simulation results. Imposing uniform resistivity, corresponding to a Lundquist number of 10(exp 3) to 10(exp 4), leads to significantly larger Ohmic heating. Increasing incompressibility greatly reduces the magnetic flux transfer and the amount of energy released, from approx. 10% of the energy associated with the reconnecting field component, for zero guide field and low beta, to approx. 0.2%-0.4% for large values of the guide field B(sub y0) > 5 or large beta. The results demonstrate the importance of taking into account plasma compressibility and localization of dissipation in investigations of heating by turbulent reconnection, possibly relevant for solar wind or coronal heating.

Association between Selective Beta-adrenergic Drugs and Blood Pressure Elevation: Data Mining of the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) Database.

PubMed

Ohyama, Katsuhiro; Inoue, Michiko

2016-01-01

Selective beta-adrenergic drugs are used clinically to treat various diseases. Because of imperfect receptor selectivity, beta-adrenergic drugs cause some adverse drug events by stimulating other adrenergic receptors. To examine the association between selective beta-adrenergic drugs and blood pressure elevation, we reviewed the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Reports (JADERs) submitted to the Japan Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency. We used the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) Preferred Terms extracted from Standardized MedDRA queries for hypertension to identify events related to blood pressure elevation. Spontaneous adverse event reports from April 2004 through May 2015 in JADERs, a data mining algorithm, and the reporting odds ratio (ROR) were used for quantitative signal detection, and assessed by the case/non-case method. Safety signals are considered significant if the ROR estimates and lower bound of the 95% confidence interval (CI) exceed 1. A total of 2021 reports were included in this study. Among the nine drugs examined, significant signals were found, based on the 95%CI for salbutamol (ROR: 9.94, 95%CI: 3.09-31.93) and mirabegron (ROR: 7.52, 95%CI: 4.89-11.55). The results of this study indicate that some selective beta-adrenergic drugs are associated with blood pressure elevation. Considering the frequency of their indications, attention should be paid to their use in elderly patients to avoid adverse events.

Host genetics, steatosis and insulin resistance among African Americans and Caucasian Americans with hepatitis C virus genotype-1 infection.

PubMed

Iuliano, A Danielle; Feingold, Eleanor; Wahed, Abdus S; Kleiner, David E; Belle, Steven H; Conjeevaram, Hari S; Zmuda, Joseph; Liang, T Jake; Yee, Leland J

2009-01-01

Hepatic steatosis is the accumulation of fat in liver cells. Insulin resistance (IR) occurs when normal amounts of insulin do not stimulate insulin activity in cells. Both conditions have been described in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and are thought to be biologically related. This study examined the association of genetic variants with steatosis and IR among 167 African Americans and 184 Caucasian Americans with HCV genotype-1. Steatosis was defined as at least 5% of fat in cells on liver biopsy. IR was quantified as a score greater than 2 from the Homeostasis Model Assessment, version 2.2 (HOMA2-IR). Associations were investigated by estimating odds ratios separately by race. Statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) were observed for variants in interleukin-10 (IL10), leptin receptor (LEPR), interleukin-6 (IL6) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) for both outcomes. Some significant interactions were observed between IL10,LEPR and TGF-beta1 polymorphisms and HOMA2-IR scores when examining steatosis. The interaction of HOMA2-IR and IL10 was consistent in both races whereas for LEPR and TGF-beta1 the interactions were statistically significant in only one of the racial groups.These results could imply that some IL10,LEPR and TGF-beta1 polymorphisms may modify an association between steatosis and IR. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Period Concatenation Underlies Interactions between Gamma and Beta Rhythms in Neocortex

PubMed Central

Roopun, Anita K.; Kramer, Mark A.; Carracedo, Lucy M.; Kaiser, Marcus; Davies, Ceri H.; Traub, Roger D.; Kopell, Nancy J.; Whittington, Miles A.

2008-01-01

The neocortex generates rhythmic electrical activity over a frequency range covering many decades. Specific cognitive and motor states are associated with oscillations in discrete frequency bands within this range, but it is not known whether interactions and transitions between distinct frequencies are of functional importance. When coexpressed rhythms have frequencies that differ by a factor of two or more interactions can be seen in terms of phase synchronization. Larger frequency differences can result in interactions in the form of nesting of faster frequencies within slower ones by a process of amplitude modulation. It is not known how coexpressed rhythms, whose frequencies differ by less than a factor of two may interact. Here we show that two frequencies (gamma – 40 Hz and beta2 – 25 Hz), coexpressed in superficial and deep cortical laminae with low temporal interaction, can combine to generate a third frequency (beta1 – 15 Hz) showing strong temporal interaction. The process occurs via period concatenation, with basic rhythm-generating microcircuits underlying gamma and beta2 rhythms forming the building blocks of the beta1 rhythm by a process of addition. The mean ratio of adjacent frequency components was a constant – approximately the golden mean – which served to both minimize temporal interactions, and permit multiple transitions, between frequencies. The resulting temporal landscape may provide a framework for multiplexing – parallel information processing on multiple temporal scales. PMID:18946516

Real-time PCR assays using internal controls for quantitation of HPV-16 and beta-globin DNA in cervicovaginal lavages.

PubMed

Lefevre, Jonas; Hankins, Catherine; Pourreaux, Karina; Voyer, Hélène; Coutlée, François

2003-12-01

High-risk human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) DNA viral load has been measured with real-time PCR assays by amplifying HPV-16 and a human gene. However, these assays have not used internal controls (ICs) to screen for the presence of inhibitors contained in samples. To quantitate HPV-16 DNA and cell content with real-time PCR, ICs for HPV-16 DNA and beta-globin were synthesised and used to control for inhibition. The assays were sensitive and linear over 5 logs. Good reproducibility was achieved with inter-run coefficients of variation of 23% (10(2) HPV-16 copies), 12% (10(4) HPV-16 copies), 17% (274 beta-globin DNA copies) and 7% (27,400 beta-globin DNA copies). Samples containing 56,800,000, 306,000, 18,000, and 4,070 HPV-16 copies/microg of cellular DNA were tested blindly and estimated to contain 48,800,000, 479,000, 20,300, and 6,620 HPV-16 copies/microg of DNA (mean ratio of measured to expected viral load of 1.27+/-0.32). Inhibition of amplification of HPV-16 and beta-globin ICs by six samples known to contain PCR inhibitors was variable: four inhibited both ICs while two inhibited only the HPV-16 IC. The use of internal controls with real-time PCR for HPV-16 quantitation allows to screen for the presence of inhibitors that do not affect equally primer-driven genomic amplification.

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

Lazarus, E; Peng, Yueng Kay Martin

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) proposes to build the Spherical Torus Experiment (STX), a very low aspect ratio toroidal confinement device. This proposal concentrates on tokamak operation of the experiment; however, it can in principle be operated as a pinch or reversed-field pinch as well. As a tokamak, the spherical torus confines a plasma that is characterized by high toroidal beta, low poloidal beta, large natural elongation, high plasma current for a given edge q, and strong paramagnetism. These features combine to offer the possibility of a compact, low-field fusion device. The figure below shows that when compared to amore » conventional tokamak the spherical torus represents a major change in geometry. The primary goals of the experiment will be to demonstrate a capability for high beta (20%) in the first stability regime, to extend our knowledge of tokamak confinement scaling, and to test oscillating-field current drive. The experiment will operate in the high-beta, collisionless regime, which is achieved in STX at low temperatures because of the geometry. At a minimum, operation of STX will help to resolve fundamental questions regarding the scaling of beta and confinement in tokamaks. Complete success in this program would have a significant impact on toroidal fusion research in that it would demonstrate solutions to the problems of beta and steady-state operation in the tokamak. The proposed device has a major radius of 0.45 m, a toroidai field of 0.5 T, a plasma current of 900 kA, and heating by neutral beam injection. We estimate 30 months for design, construction, and assembly. The budget estimate, including contingency and escalation, is $6.8 million.« less

The effect of hypoxia and hyperoxia on nucleoside triphosphate/inorganic phosphate, pO2 and radiation response in an experimental tumour model.

PubMed Central

Nordsmark, M.; Maxwell, R. J.; Horsman, M. R.; Bentzen, S. M.; Overgaard, J.

1997-01-01

This study has evaluated the effect of breathing 100% oxygen, carbogen and carbon monoxide (at 660 p.p.m.) on the bioenergetic and oxygenation status and the radiation response of 200-mm3 C3H mammary carcinomas grown in the feet of CDF mice. Bioenergetic status was assessed by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) using a 7-tesla spectrometer with both short (2 s) and long (6 s) pulse repetition times. Tumour partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) was measured with an Eppendorf polarographic electrode; the oxygenation parameters were the median pO2 and fraction of pO2 values < or = 2.5 mmHg. The radiation response was estimated using a tumour growth delay assay (time to grow three times treatment volume). Carbon monoxide breathing decreased tumour pO2 and compromised the radiation response, but the beta-nucleoside triphosphate (NTP)/Pi ratio was unchanged. Both carbogen and oxygen (100%) increased tumour pO2 and beta-NTP/Pi and enhanced the radiation response, the effects being similar under the two gassing conditions and dependent on the gas breathing time. Thus, in this tumour model, 31P-MRS can detect hyperoxic changes, but because cells can remain metabolically active even at low oxygen tensions the beta-NTP/Pi did not correlate with low tissue oxygenation. An analysis of variance showed that gas breathing time induced a significant systematic effect on beta-NTP/Pi, the MRS pulse repetition time had a significant effect on beta-NTP/Pi change under hypoxic but not under hyperoxic conditions and the type of gas that was inhaled had a significant effect on beta-NTP/Pi. Images Figure 4 PMID:9400939

Calibration of the NASA GRC 16 In. Mass-Flow Plug

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, David O.; Friedlander, David J.; Saunders, J. David; Frate, Franco C.; Foster, Lancert E.

2012-01-01

The results of an experimental calibration of the NASA Glenn Research Center 16 in. Mass-Flow Plug (MFP) are presented and compared to a previously obtained calibration of a 15 in. Mass-Flow Plug. An ASME low-beta, long-radius nozzle was used as the calibration reference. The discharge coefficient for the ASME nozzle was obtained by numerically simulating the flow through the nozzle from the WIND-US code. The results showed agreement between the 15 in. and 16 in. MFPs for area ratios (MFP to pipe area ratio) greater than 0.6 but deviate at area ratios below this value for reasons that are not fully understood. A general uncertainty analysis was also performed and indicates that large uncertainties in the calibration are present for low MFP area ratios.

Calibration of the NASA Glenn Research Center 16 in. Mass-Flow Plug

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, David O.; Friedlander, David J.; Saunders, J. David; Frate, Franco C.; Foster, Lancert E.

2014-01-01

The results of an experimental calibration of the NASA Glenn Research Center 16 in. Mass-Flow Plug (MFP) are presented and compared to a previously obtained calibration of a 15 in. Mass-Flow Plug. An ASME low-beta, long-radius nozzle was used as the calibration reference. The discharge coefficient for the ASME nozzle was obtained by numerically simulating the flow through the nozzle from the WIND-US code. The results showed agreement between the 15 and 16 in. MFPs for area ratios (MFP to pipe area ratio) greater than 0.6 but deviate at area ratios below this value for reasons that are not fully understood. A general uncertainty analysis was also performed and indicates that large uncertainties in the calibration are present for low MFP area ratios.

Niobium in R And (S6, 6e) and HR 1105 (S5, 3). [S star abundance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, D. N.

1985-01-01

Lines of the first multiplet of niobium are strong in R And and HR 1105. These lines are also present in other S stars: HR 8714, R Cam, V Cnc, R CMi, and T Sgr. They are also visible in the M stars, Beta-Peg and Mu-UMa. An approximation to the abundance ratio, Nb/Fe, has been deduced from pairs of lines having nearly equal intensity. In R And, the ratio is about 200 times the solar value. It is hoped that good plates will soon be obtained for the near infrared region, so that the significant Nb/Rb abundance ratio may be determined.

Expression of beta2-microglobulin and c-fos mRNA: is there an influence of high- or low-flux dialyzer membranes?

PubMed

Haufe, C C; Eismann, U; Deppisch, R M; Stein, G

2001-02-01

Dialysis-related amyloidosis is an important complication of long-term hemodialysis (HD) therapy with several pathogenetic factors. One of them is the influence of the dialyzer membrane type on the synthesis of beta2-microglobulin (beta2m). In vitro results are controversial. Thus, the hypothesis of whether in vivo beta2m generation is induced by the HD procedure and whether this induction depends on the type of the used dialyzer membrane should be tested. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of "biocompatible" high-flux versus "bioincompatible" low-flux HD on in vivo beta2m generation as well as the induction of the early activation gene c-fos in peripheral blood cells. Six nondiabetic HD patients [mean age 46 (21 to 69) years; Kt/V> 1.2] were included in a randomized crossover study using either a low-flux (cellulosic/cuprophan) or a high-flux (polyamide) dialyzer membrane. At the end of a four-week run-in period for each membrane, whole blood samples were taken before, immediately at, and four hours after the end of the dialysis session. MRNA was extracted, and after transcription to cDNA, quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed for the beta2m gene, the early response gene c-fos, and the GAP-DH housekeeping gene. Based on the applied method for detection of specific mRNA, the results were given as ratio of beta2m or c-fos cDNA per GAP-DH cDNA. General cell activation during HD was indicated by increasing mRNA expression of c-fos related to the time course of the dialysis session, whereas beta2m did not change significantly. However, no difference was found when comparing the low-flux and the high-flux dialyzer membranes. Despite the evidence for activation of peripheral blood cells, as indicated by increasing c-fos message, no sign of beta2m mRNA induction during HD procedure with different dialyzer membranes was seen. Our results suggest that there is post-transcriptional regulation of beta2m generation and/or release as well as the influence of the dialyzer membrane type on post-translational processes, that is, advance glycation end products (AGE) or conformational modification of the beta2m protein. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that gene expression patterns during dialysis and/or uremia are not homogenous and need to be investigated further, especially with respect to the proinflammatory role of early leukocyte activation signals.

Temporal growth factor release from platelet-rich plasma, trehalose lyophilized platelets, and bone marrow aspirate and their effect on tendon and ligament gene expression.

PubMed

McCarrel, Taralyn; Fortier, Lisa

2009-08-01

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has generated substantial interest for tendon and ligament regeneration because of the high concentrations of growth factors in platelet alpha-granules. This study compared the temporal release of growth factors from bone marrow aspirate (BMA), PRP, and lyophilized platelet product (PP), and measured their effects on tendon and ligament gene expression. Blood and BMA were collected and processed to yield PRP and plasma. Flexor digitorum superficialis tendon (FDS) and suspensory ligament (SL) explants were cultured in 10% plasma in DMEM (control), BMA, PRP, or PP. TGF-beta1 and PDGF-BB concentrations were determined at 0, 24, and 96 h of culture using ELISA. Quantitative RT-PCR for collagen types I and III (COL1A1, COL3A1), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), decorin, and matrix metalloproteinases-3 and 13 (MMP-3, MMP-13) was performed. TGF-beta1 and PDGF-BB concentrations were highest in PRP and PP. Growth factor quantity was unchanged in BMA, increased in PRP, and decreased in PP over 4 days. TGF-beta1 and platelet concentrations were positively correlated. Lyophilized PP and PRP resulted in increased COL1A1:COL3A1 ratio, increased COMP, and decreased MMP-13 expression. BMA resulted in decreased COMP and increased MMP-3 and MMP-13 gene expression. Platelet concentration was positively correlated with COL1A1, ratio of COL1A1:COL3A1, and COMP, and negatively correlated with COL3A1, MMP-13, and MMP-3. White blood cell concentration was positively correlated with COL3A1, MMP3, and MMP13, and negatively correlated with a ratio of COL1A1:COL3A1, COMP, and decorin. These findings support further in vivo investigation of PRP and PP for treatment of tendonitis and desmitis. Copyright 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric: a beta phase report.

PubMed

Bruny, Jennifer L; Hall, Bruce L; Barnhart, Douglas C; Billmire, Deborah F; Dias, Mark S; Dillon, Peter W; Fisher, Charles; Heiss, Kurt F; Hennrikus, William L; Ko, Clifford Y; Moss, Lawrence; Oldham, Keith T; Richards, Karen E; Shah, Rahul; Vinocur, Charles D; Ziegler, Moritz M

2013-01-01

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP-P) expanded to beta phase testing with the enrollment of 29 institutions. Data collection and analysis were aimed at program refinement and development of risk-adjusted models for inter-institutional comparisons. Data from the first full year of beta-phase NSQIP-P were analyzed. Patient accrual used ACS-NSQIP methodology tailored to pediatric specialties. Preliminary risk adjusted modeling for all pediatric and neonatal operations and pediatric (excluding neonatal) abdominal operations was performed for all cause morbidity (other than death) and surgical site infections (SSI) using hierarchical logistic regression methodology and eight predictor variables. Results were expressed as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. During calendar year 2010, 29 institutions enrolled 37,141 patients. 1644 total CPT codes were entered, of which 456 accounted for 90% of the cases. 450 codes were entered only once (1.2% of cases). For all cases, overall mortality was 0.25%, overall morbidity 7.9%, and the SSI rate 1.8%. For neonatal cases, mortality was 2.39%, morbidity 18.7%, and the SSI rate 3%. For the all operations model, risk-adjusted morbidity institutional odds ratios ranged 0.48-2.63, with 9/29 hospitals categorized as low outliers and 9/29 high outliers, while risk-adjusted SSI institutional odds ratios ranged 0.36-2.04, with 2/29 hospitals low outliers and 7/29 high outliers. This report represents the first risk-adjusted hospital-level comparison of surgical outcomes in infants and children using NSQIP-P data. Programmatic and analytic modifications will improve the impact of this program as it moves into full implementation. These results indicate that NSQIP-P has the potential to serve as a model for determining risk-adjusted outcomes in the neonatal and pediatric population with the goal of developing quality improvement initiatives for the surgical care of children. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Exercise training improves autonomic function and inflammatory pattern in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

PubMed

Giallauria, Francesco; Palomba, Stefano; Maresca, Luigi; Vuolo, Laura; Tafuri, Domenico; Lombardi, Gaetano; Colao, Annamaria; Vigorito, Carlo; Francesco, Orio

2008-11-01

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common female reproductive-age endocrine disease predominantly characterized by chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, insulin-resistance and low-grade inflammatory status. Exercise training (ET) favourably modulates cardiopulmonary function and insulin-sensitivity markers in PCOS women. The present study investigated the effects of ET on autonomic function and inflammatory pattern in PCOS women. Prospective baseline uncontrolled clinical study. One-hundred and eighty five PCOS women referred to our department were screened for the inclusion into the study protocol from March 2004 to July 2007. One-hundred and twenty four PCOS women met the criteria for the inclusion into the study protocol and were subdivided into two groups each composed of 62 patients: PCOS-T (trained) group underwent 3-month ET program, whereas PCOS-UnT (untrained) group did not. At baseline and at 3-month follow-up, hormonal and metabolic profile, cardiopulmonary parameters, autonomic function (as expressed by heart rate recovery, HRR) and inflammatory pattern [as expressed by C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBCs) count] were evaluated. PCOS-T showed a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2max)) and in post-exercise HRR, and a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in CRP and WBCs; whereas no statistically significant changes of the same parameters were observed in PCOS-UnT. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that 3-month HRR is linearly related to the inclusion in training group (beta = 0.316, P < 0.001), VO(2max) (beta = 0.151, P = 0.032) and the ratio between glucose and insulin area under curve (AUC) (beta = 0.207, P = 0.003), and inversely related to body mass index (beta = -0.146, P = 0.046), insulin AUC (beta = -0.152, P = 0.032), CRP (beta = -0.165, P < 0.021), and WBCs count (beta = -0.175, P = 0.039). Exercise training improves autonomic function and inflammatory pattern in PCOS women.

Effect of salt acclimatization on 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase activity in the interrenal of Bufo arenarum.

PubMed

Pozzi, Andrea G; Lantos, Carlos P; Ceballos, Nora R

2002-03-01

In amphibians, aldosterone (Aldo) is particularly important in the regulation of Na(+) exchange by skin and urinary bladder. In previous works we studied a key enzyme in Aldo biosynthesis, the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3 beta HSD/I), in the interrenals of Bufo arenarum. In those works a dual localization of the 3 beta HSD/I in both microsomes and mitochondria was described. The mitochondrial, but not the microsomal, enzyme prefers the immediate Aldo precursor, 3 beta-analogue of aldosterone, as substrate. In this order, the enzyme 3 beta HSD/I would be not only a key enzyme for the synthesis of Aldo but additionally, due to its microsomal and mitochondrial localization, a possible target for the regulation of Aldo biosynthesis. With this rationale in mind, we have used in vivo and in vitro approaches to study Aldo regulation. In the present investigation the levels of Aldo were determined in plasma of winter (W) and summer (S) toads subjected to different saline concentrations (0.125 and 0.15 M) or kept on wet land. Saline hyperosmotically treated toads had significantly lower levels than isoosmotically treated toads. These results are consistent with the response in mammals, in which salt loading provokes a reduction in Aldo secretion. In W toads, plasmatic corticosterone (B) concentration was higher than Aldo concentration, whereas in S toads, B/Aldo ratio approached unity. The reduction of Aldo levels after saline dehydration was due to a decline in its biosynthesis. K(m) and V(max) values for 3 beta HSD/I were calculated for mitochondrial and microsomal fractions obtained from animals acclimated to 0.15 M NaCl or kept on land. As previously described, V(max) differs between W and S toads. However, only mitochondrial V(max) changed as a consequence of saline adaptation, suggesting that the mitochondrial enzyme could be involved in the regulation of Aldo biosynthesis.

TGF-beta in human milk is associated with wheeze in infancy.

PubMed

Oddy, Wendy H; Halonen, Marilyn; Martinez, F D; Lohman, I Carla; Stern, Debra A; Kurzius-Spencer, Margaret; Guerra, Stefano; Wright, Anne L

2003-10-01

Cytokines secreted in human milk might play important roles in newborn health and in the development of infant immune responses. We investigated the relationship of the concentration and dose of cytokines in human milk to infant wheeze at 1 year of age. Our objective was to test whether the cytokines in milk could account for some of the apparent protective effect of breast-feeding against wheeze in the first year of life. Data on breast-feeding and infant wheeze were collected prospectively from birth to 1 year from 243 mothers participating in the Infant Immune Study in Tucson, Arizona. Breast milk samples obtained at a mean age of 11 days postpartum were assayed by means of ELISA for concentrations of TGF-beta1, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and the soluble form of CD14. The dose of each cytokine was assessed for a relationship with wheeze in bivariate and logistic regression analyses. Increasing duration of breast-feeding was significantly associated with a decreased prevalence of wheeze (P =.039). There was wide variability in levels of each cytokine in milk, as well as variability between women in the amount of each cytokine produced. There was a significant inverse association between the dose of TGF-beta1 received through milk with the percentage of wheeze (P =.017), and the relationship was linear (P =.006). None of the other cytokines showed a linear relationship with wheeze. In multivariate analyses the risk of wheeze was significantly decreased (odds ratio, 0.22; 95% CI 0.05-0.89; P =.034) with increasing TGF-beta1 dose (long breast-feeding and medium-high TGF-beta1 level compared with short breast-feeding and low TGF-beta. This analysis shows that the dose of TGF-beta1 received from milk has a significant relationship with infant wheeze, which might account for at least some of the protective effect of breast-feeding against wheeze.

Rationale and design of a multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of mirabegron, a Beta3-adrenergic receptor agonist on left ventricular mass and diastolic function in patients with structural heart disease Beta3-left ventricular hypertrophy (Beta3-LVH).

PubMed

Pouleur, Anne-Catherine; Anker, Stefan; Brito, Dulce; Brosteanu, Oana; Hasenclever, Dirk; Casadei, Barbara; Edelmann, Frank; Filippatos, Gerasimos; Gruson, Damien; Ikonomidis, Ignatios; Lhommel, Renaud; Mahmod, Masliza; Neubauer, Stefan; Persu, Alexandre; Gerber, Bernhard L; Piechnik, Stefan; Pieske, Burkert; Pieske-Kraigher, Elisabeth; Pinto, Fausto; Ponikowski, Piotr; Senni, Michele; Trochu, Jean-Noël; Van Overstraeten, Nancy; Wachter, Rolf; Balligand, Jean-Luc

2018-06-22

Progressive left ventricular (LV) remodelling with cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, and endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in the onset and progression of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The Beta3-LVH trial will test the hypothesis that the β 3 adrenergic receptor agonist mirabegron will improve LV hypertrophy and diastolic function in patients with hypertensive structural heart disease at high risk for developing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Beta3-LVH is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, two-armed, multicentre, European, parallel group study. A total of 296 patients will be randomly assigned to receive either mirabegron 50 mg daily or placebo over 12 months. The main inclusion criterion is the presence of LV hypertrophy, that is, increased LV mass index (LVMi) or increased wall thickening by echocardiography. The co-primary endpoints are a change in LVMi by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and a change in LV diastolic function (assessed by the E/e' ratio). Secondary endpoints include mirabegron's effects on cardiac fibrosis, left atrial volume index, maximal exercise capacity, and laboratory markers. Two substudies will evaluate mirabegron's effect on endothelial function by pulse amplitude tonometry and brown fat activity by positron emission tomography using 17F-fluorodeoxyglucose. Morbidity and mortality as well as safety aspects will also be assessed. Beta3-LVH is the first large-scale clinical trial to evaluate the effects of mirabegron on LVMi and diastolic function in patients with LVH. Beta3-LVH will provide important information about the clinical course of this condition and may have significant impact on treatment strategies and future trials in these patients. © 2018 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.

Evidence for concerted kinetic oxidation of progesterone by purified rat hepatic cytochrome P-450g

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

Swinney, D.C.; Ryan, D.E.; Thomas, P.E.

1988-07-26

Purified cytochrome P-450g, a male-specific rat hepatic isozyme, was observed to metabolize progesterone to two primary metabolites (6..beta..-hydroxyprogesterone and 16..cap alpha..-hydroxyprogesterone), two secondary metabolites (6..beta..,16..cap alpha..-dihydroxyprogesterone and 6-ketoprogesterone), and one tertiary metabolite (6-keto-16..cap alpha..-hydroxyprogesterone). The K/sub m,app/ for the formation of these products from progesterone was determined to be approximately 0.5 ..mu..M, while the K/sub m,app/ for metabolism of 6..beta..- and 16..cap alpha..-hydroxyprogesterone was found to be 5-10 ..mu..M. The ratio of primary to secondary metabolites did not change significantly at progesterone concentrations from 6 to 150 ..mu..M, and a lag in formation of secondary metabolites was not observed inmore » 1-min incubations. Concerted oxidation of progesterone to secondary products without the intermediate products leaving the active site was suggested by these results and confirmed by isotopic dilution experiments in which little or no dilution of metabolically formed 6..beta..,16..cap alpha..-dihydroxyprogesterone and 6-keto-16..cap alpha..-hydroxyprogesterone was observed in incubations containing a mixture of radiolabeled progesterone and unlabeled 6..beta..-hydroxyprogesterone or 16..cap alpha..-hydroxyprogesterone. Incubation of 6..beta..-hydroxyprogesterone with a reconstituted system in an atmosphere of /sup 18/I/sub 2/ resulted in > 90% incorporation of /sup 18/O in the 16..cap alpha..-position of 6..beta..,16..cap alpha..-dihydroxyprogesterone but no incorporation of /sup 18/O into 6-ketoprogesterone, even though the reaction was dependent upon enzyme and O/sub 2/, and not inhibited by mannitol, catalase, or superoxide dismutase. Factors which characterize the metabolism of progesterone by cytochrome P-450g in terms of active-site constraints and the catalytic competence of the enzyme in microsomes were also explored.« less

The influence of heavy metals on the polymorphs of dicalcium silicate in the belite-rich clinkers produced from electroplating sludge.

PubMed

Chen, Ying-Liang; Shih, Pai-Haung; Chiang, Li-Choung; Chang, Yi-Kuo; Lu, Hsing-Cheng; Chang, Juu-En

2009-10-15

The purpose of this study is to utilize an electroplating sludge for belite-rich clinker production and to observe the influence of heavy metals on the polymorphs of dicalcium silicate (C(2)S). Belite-rich clinkers prepared with 0.5-2% of NiO, ZnO, CuO, and Cr(2)O(3) were used to investigate the individual effects of the heavy metals in question. The Reference Intensity Ratio (RIR) method was employed to determine the weight fractions of gamma-C(2)S and beta-C(2)S in the clinkers, and their microstructures were examined by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that nickel, zinc, and chromium have positive effects on beta-C(2)S stabilization (Cr(3+)>Ni(2+)>Zn(2+)), whereas copper has a negative effect. The addition of up to 10% electroplating sludge did not have any negative influence on the formation of C(2)S. It was observed that gamma-C(2)S decreased while beta-C(2)S increased with a rise in the addition of the electroplating sludge. Moreover, nickel and chromium mainly contributed to stabilizing beta-C(2)S in the belite-rich clinkers produced from the electroplating sludge.

Measurement methods and accuracy in copy number variation: failure to replicate associations of beta-defensin copy number with Crohn's disease.

PubMed

Aldhous, Marian C; Abu Bakar, Suhaili; Prescott, Natalie J; Palla, Raquel; Soo, Kimberley; Mansfield, John C; Mathew, Christopher G; Satsangi, Jack; Armour, John A L

2010-12-15

The copy number variation in beta-defensin genes on human chromosome 8 has been proposed to underlie susceptibility to inflammatory disorders, but presents considerable challenges for accurate typing on the scale required for adequately powered case-control studies. In this work, we have used accurate methods of copy number typing based on the paralogue ratio test (PRT) to assess beta-defensin copy number in more than 1500 UK DNA samples including more than 1000 cases of Crohn's disease. A subset of 625 samples was typed using both PRT-based methods and standard real-time PCR methods, from which direct comparisons highlight potentially serious shortcomings of a real-time PCR assay for typing this variant. Comparing our PRT-based results with two previous studies based only on real-time PCR, we find no evidence to support the reported association of Crohn's disease with either low or high beta-defensin copy number; furthermore, it is noteworthy that there are disagreements between different studies on the observed frequency distribution of copy number states among European controls. We suggest safeguards to be adopted in assessing and reporting the accuracy of copy number measurement, with particular emphasis on integer clustering of results, to avoid reporting of spurious associations in future case-control studies.

Isolation of a polysaccharide with anticancer activity from Auricularia polytricha using high-speed countercurrent chromatography with an aqueous two-phase system.

PubMed

Song, Guanglei; Du, Qizhen

2010-09-17

Polysaccharides from a crude extract of Auricularia polytricha were separated by high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC). The separation was performed with an aqueous two-phase system of PEG1000-K2HPO4-KH2PO4-H2O (0.5:1.25:1.25:7.0, w/w). The crude sample (2.0 g) was successfully separated into three polysaccharide components of AAPS-1 (192 mg), AAPS-2 (137 mg), and AAPS-3 (98 mg) with molecular weights of 162, 259, and 483 kDa, respectively. These compounds were tested for growth inhibition of transplanted S180 sarcoma in mice. AAPS-2 had an inhibition rate of 40.4%. The structure of AAPS-2 was elucidated from partial hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, acetylation, methylation analysis, and NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C). These results showed AAPS-2 is a polysaccharide with a backbone of (1-->3)-linked-beta-d-glucopyranosyl and (1-->3, 6)-linked-beta-D-glucopyranosyl residues in a 2:1 ratio, and has one terminal (1-->)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl at the O-6 position of (1-->3, 6)-linked-beta-D-glucopyranosyl of the main chain. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Demonstration of pulmonary beta2-adrenergic receptor binding in vivo with [18F]fluoroethyl-fenoterol in a guinea pig model.

PubMed

Helisch, A; Schirrmacher, E; Thews, O; Schirrmacher, R; Buchholz, H G; Dillenburg, W; Höhnemann, S; Tillmanns, J; Wessler, I; Buhl, R; Rösch, F; Bartenstein, P

2005-11-01

The new beta2 radioligand (R,R)(S,S) 5-(2-(2-[4-(2-[18F]fluoroethoxy)phenyl]-1-methylethylamino)-1-hydroxyethyl)-benzene-1,3-diol ([18F]FE-fenoterol; [18F]FEFE), a fluoroethylated derivative of racemic fenoterol, was evaluated in vivo and ex vivo using a guinea pig model. Dynamic PET studies over 60 min with [(18)F]FEFE were performed in nine Hartley guinea pigs in which a baseline (group 1, n=3), a predose (group 2, n=3; 2 mg/kg fenoterol 5 min prior to injection of [18F]FEFE) or a displacement study (group 3, n=3; 2 mg/kg fenoterol 5 min post injection of [18F]FEFE) was conducted. In all animal groups, the lungs could be visualised and semi-quantified separately by calculating uptake ratios to non-specific binding in the neck area. Premedication with non-radioactive fenoterol and displacement tests showed significant reduction of lung uptake, by 94% and 76%, respectively. These data demonstrate specific binding of the new radioligand to the pulmonary beta2-receptors in accordance with ex vivo measurements. Therefore, [18F]FEFE seems to be suitable for the in vivo visualisation and quantification of the pulmonary beta2-receptor binding in this animal model.

Beta-1,3-1,6-glucan modulate the non-specific immune response to enhance the survival in the Vibrio alginolyticus infection of Taiwan abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta).

PubMed

Wu, Yu-Sheng; Tseng, Tzu-Yu; Nan, Fan-Hua

2016-07-01

This research aims to investigate the non-specific immune response of Taiwan abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta) which was treated with the beta-1,3-1,6-glucan to be observed in the survival impact after the Vibrio alginolyticus infection. The non-specific immune and physiological response of superoxide anion radical (O2(-)), phenoloxidase (PO), phagocytic index (PI), phagocytic rate (PR) and lucigenin-chemiluminescence for reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) were enhanced via in-vitro experiment. In the in-vivo experiment, the observed data presented that the haemolymph lysate supernatant (HLS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutamate oxalacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were not significant enhanced, but the total haemocyte count (THC), O2(-), PO, phagocytic index (PI), phagocytic ratio (PR) and other parameters of immune were significantly promoted after treated with beta-1,3-1,6-glucan. In the challenge experiment, the survival rates of abalone in the 40 and 80 μl/ml groups of beta-1,3-1,6-glucan were observed from 6.67% up to 33.33% and 36.67% after injection with Vibrio alginolyticus, respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Calculation of Free-Atom Fractions in Hydrocarbon-Fueled Rocket Engine Plume

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Verma, Satyajit

2006-01-01

Free atom fractions (Beta) of nine elements are calculated in the exhaust plume of CH4- oxygen and RP-1-oxygen fueled rocket engines using free energy minimization method. The Chemical Equilibrium and Applications (CEA) computer program developed by the Glenn Research Center, NASA is used for this purpose. Data on variation of Beta in both fuels as a function of temperature (1600 K - 3100 K) and oxygen to fuel ratios (1.75 to 2.25 by weight) is presented in both tabular and graphical forms. Recommendation is made for the Beta value for a tenth element, Palladium. The CEA computer code was also run to compare with experimentally determined Beta values reported in literature for some of these elements. A reasonable agreement, within a factor of three, between the calculated and reported values is observed. Values reported in this work will be used as a first approximation for pilot rocket engine testing studies at the Stennis Space Center for at least six elements Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe and Ni - until experimental values are generated. The current estimates will be improved when more complete thermodynamic data on the remaining four elements Ag, Co, Mn and Pd are added to the database. A critique of the CEA code is also included.

Prognostic value of sex-hormone receptor expression in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

PubMed

Nam, Jong Kil; Park, Sung Woo; Lee, Sang Don; Chung, Moon Kee

2014-09-01

We investigated sex-hormone receptor expression as predicting factor of recurrence and progression in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. We retrospectively evaluated tumor specimens from patients treated for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder at our institution between January 2006 and January 2011. Performing immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal androgen receptor antibody and monoclonal estrogen receptor-beta antibody on paraffin-embedded tissue sections, we assessed the relationship of immunohistochemistry results and prognostic factors such as recurrence and progression. A total of 169 patients with bladder cancer were evaluated in this study. Sixty-threepatients had expressed androgen receptors and 52 patients had estrogen receptor beta. On univariable analysis, androgen receptor expression was significant lower in recurrence rates (p=0.001), and estrogen receptor beta expression was significant higher in progression rates (p=0.004). On multivariable analysis, significant association was found between androgen receptor expression and lower recurrence rates (hazard ratio=0.500; 95% confidence interval, 0.294 to 0.852; p=0.011), but estrogen receptor beta expression was not significantly associated with progression rates. We concluded that the possibility of recurrence was low when the androgen receptor was expressed in the bladder cancer specimen and it could be the predicting factor of the stage, number of tumors, carcinoma in situ lesion and recurrence.

Modulation of Ionic Channels and Insulin Secretion by Drugs and Hormones in Pancreatic Beta Cells.

PubMed

Velasco, Myrian; Díaz-García, Carlos Manlio; Larqué, Carlos; Hiriart, Marcia

2016-09-01

Pancreatic beta cells, unique cells that secrete insulin in response to an increase in glucose levels, play a significant role in glucose homeostasis. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic beta cells has been extensively explored. In this mechanism, glucose enters the cells and subsequently the metabolic cycle. During this process, the ATP/ADP ratio increases, leading to ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel closure, which initiates depolarization that is also dependent on the activity of TRP nonselective ion channels. Depolarization leads to the opening of voltage-gated Na(+) channels (Nav) and subsequently voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (Cav). The increase in intracellular Ca(2+) triggers the exocytosis of insulin-containing vesicles. Thus, electrical activity of pancreatic beta cells plays a central role in GSIS. Moreover, many growth factors, incretins, neurotransmitters, and hormones can modulate GSIS, and the channels that participate in GSIS are highly regulated. In this review, we focus on the principal ionic channels (KATP, Nav, and Cav channels) involved in GSIS and how classic and new proteins, hormones, and drugs regulate it. Moreover, we also discuss advances on how metabolic disorders such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus change channel activity leading to changes in insulin secretion. Copyright © 2016 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

Single molecule fluorescence imaging as a technique for barium tagging in neutrinoless double beta decay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, B. J. P.; McDonald, A. D.; Nygren, D. R.

2016-12-01

Background rejection is key to success for future neutrinoless double beta decay experiments. To achieve sensitivity to effective Majorana lifetimes of ~ 1028 years, backgrounds must be controlled to better than 0.1 count per ton per year, beyond the reach of any present technology. In this paper we propose a new method to identify the birth of the barium daughter ion in the neutrinoless double beta decay of 136Xe. The method adapts Single Molecule Fluorescent Imaging, a technique from biochemistry research with demonstrated single ion sensitivity. We explore possible SMFI dyes suitable for the problem of barium ion detection in high pressure xenon gas, and develop a fiber-coupled sensing system with which we can detect the presence of bulk Ba++ ions remotely. We show that our sensor produces signal-to-background ratios as high as 85 in response to Ba++ ions when operated in aqueous solution. We then describe the next stage of this R&D program, which will be to demonstrate chelation and fluorescence in xenon gas. If a successful barium ion tag can be developed using SMFI adapted for high pressure xenon gas detectors, the first essentially zero background, ton-scale neutrinoless double beta decay technology could be realized.

Measurement methods and accuracy in copy number variation: failure to replicate associations of beta-defensin copy number with Crohn's disease

PubMed Central

Aldhous, Marian C.; Abu Bakar, Suhaili; Prescott, Natalie J.; Palla, Raquel; Soo, Kimberley; Mansfield, John C.; Mathew, Christopher G.; Satsangi, Jack; Armour, John A.L.

2010-01-01

The copy number variation in beta-defensin genes on human chromosome 8 has been proposed to underlie susceptibility to inflammatory disorders, but presents considerable challenges for accurate typing on the scale required for adequately powered case–control studies. In this work, we have used accurate methods of copy number typing based on the paralogue ratio test (PRT) to assess beta-defensin copy number in more than 1500 UK DNA samples including more than 1000 cases of Crohn's disease. A subset of 625 samples was typed using both PRT-based methods and standard real-time PCR methods, from which direct comparisons highlight potentially serious shortcomings of a real-time PCR assay for typing this variant. Comparing our PRT-based results with two previous studies based only on real-time PCR, we find no evidence to support the reported association of Crohn's disease with either low or high beta-defensin copy number; furthermore, it is noteworthy that there are disagreements between different studies on the observed frequency distribution of copy number states among European controls. We suggest safeguards to be adopted in assessing and reporting the accuracy of copy number measurement, with particular emphasis on integer clustering of results, to avoid reporting of spurious associations in future case–control studies. PMID:20858604

Calcium Co-regulates Oxidative Metabolism and ATP Synthase-dependent Respiration in Pancreatic Beta Cells

PubMed Central

De Marchi, Umberto; Thevenet, Jonathan; Hermant, Aurelie; Dioum, Elhadji; Wiederkehr, Andreas

2014-01-01

Mitochondrial energy metabolism is essential for glucose-induced calcium signaling and, therefore, insulin granule exocytosis in pancreatic beta cells. Calcium signals are sensed by mitochondria acting in concert with mitochondrial substrates for the full activation of the organelle. Here we have studied glucose-induced calcium signaling and energy metabolism in INS-1E insulinoma cells and human islet beta cells. In insulin secreting cells a surprisingly large fraction of total respiration under resting conditions is ATP synthase-independent. We observe that ATP synthase-dependent respiration is markedly increased after glucose stimulation. Glucose also causes a very rapid elevation of oxidative metabolism as was followed by NAD(P)H autofluorescence. However, neither the rate of the glucose-induced increase nor the new steady-state NAD(P)H levels are significantly affected by calcium. Our findings challenge the current view, which has focused mainly on calcium-sensitive dehydrogenases as the target for the activation of mitochondrial energy metabolism. We propose a model of tight calcium-dependent regulation of oxidative metabolism and ATP synthase-dependent respiration in beta cell mitochondria. Coordinated activation of matrix dehydrogenases and respiratory chain activity by calcium allows the respiratory rate to change severalfold with only small or no alterations of the NAD(P)H/NAD(P)+ ratio. PMID:24554722

First light of the Gemini Planet Imager

PubMed Central

Macintosh, Bruce; Graham, James R.; Ingraham, Patrick; Konopacky, Quinn; Marois, Christian; Perrin, Marshall; Poyneer, Lisa; Bauman, Brian; Barman, Travis; Burrows, Adam S.; Cardwell, Andrew; Chilcote, Jeffrey; De Rosa, Robert J.; Dillon, Daren; Doyon, Rene; Dunn, Jennifer; Erikson, Darren; Fitzgerald, Michael P.; Gavel, Donald; Goodsell, Stephen; Hartung, Markus; Hibon, Pascale; Kalas, Paul; Larkin, James; Maire, Jerome; Marchis, Franck; Marley, Mark S.; McBride, James; Millar-Blanchaer, Max; Morzinski, Katie; Norton, Andrew; Oppenheimer, B. R.; Palmer, David; Patience, Jennifer; Pueyo, Laurent; Rantakyro, Fredrik; Sadakuni, Naru; Saddlemyer, Leslie; Savransky, Dmitry; Serio, Andrew; Soummer, Remi; Sivaramakrishnan, Anand; Song, Inseok; Thomas, Sandrine; Wallace, J. Kent; Wiktorowicz, Sloane; Wolff, Schuyler

2014-01-01

The Gemini Planet Imager is a dedicated facility for directly imaging and spectroscopically characterizing extrasolar planets. It combines a very high-order adaptive optics system, a diffraction-suppressing coronagraph, and an integral field spectrograph with low spectral resolution but high spatial resolution. Every aspect of the Gemini Planet Imager has been tuned for maximum sensitivity to faint planets near bright stars. During first-light observations, we achieved an estimated H band Strehl ratio of 0.89 and a 5-σ contrast of 106 at 0.75 arcseconds and 105 at 0.35 arcseconds. Observations of Beta Pictoris clearly detect the planet, Beta Pictoris b, in a single 60-s exposure with minimal postprocessing. Beta Pictoris b is observed at a separation of 434 ± 6 milliarcseconds (mas) and position angle 211.8 ± 0.5°. Fitting the Keplerian orbit of Beta Pic b using the new position together with previous astrometry gives a factor of 3 improvement in most parameters over previous solutions. The planet orbits at a semimajor axis of 9.0−0.4+0.8 AU near the 3:2 resonance with the previously known 6-AU asteroidal belt and is aligned with the inner warped disk. The observations give a 4% probability of a transit of the planet in late 2017. PMID:24821792

First light of the Gemini Planet imager.

PubMed

Macintosh, Bruce; Graham, James R; Ingraham, Patrick; Konopacky, Quinn; Marois, Christian; Perrin, Marshall; Poyneer, Lisa; Bauman, Brian; Barman, Travis; Burrows, Adam S; Cardwell, Andrew; Chilcote, Jeffrey; De Rosa, Robert J; Dillon, Daren; Doyon, Rene; Dunn, Jennifer; Erikson, Darren; Fitzgerald, Michael P; Gavel, Donald; Goodsell, Stephen; Hartung, Markus; Hibon, Pascale; Kalas, Paul; Larkin, James; Maire, Jerome; Marchis, Franck; Marley, Mark S; McBride, James; Millar-Blanchaer, Max; Morzinski, Katie; Norton, Andrew; Oppenheimer, B R; Palmer, David; Patience, Jennifer; Pueyo, Laurent; Rantakyro, Fredrik; Sadakuni, Naru; Saddlemyer, Leslie; Savransky, Dmitry; Serio, Andrew; Soummer, Remi; Sivaramakrishnan, Anand; Song, Inseok; Thomas, Sandrine; Wallace, J Kent; Wiktorowicz, Sloane; Wolff, Schuyler

2014-09-02

The Gemini Planet Imager is a dedicated facility for directly imaging and spectroscopically characterizing extrasolar planets. It combines a very high-order adaptive optics system, a diffraction-suppressing coronagraph, and an integral field spectrograph with low spectral resolution but high spatial resolution. Every aspect of the Gemini Planet Imager has been tuned for maximum sensitivity to faint planets near bright stars. During first-light observations, we achieved an estimated H band Strehl ratio of 0.89 and a 5-σ contrast of 10(6) at 0.75 arcseconds and 10(5) at 0.35 arcseconds. Observations of Beta Pictoris clearly detect the planet, Beta Pictoris b, in a single 60-s exposure with minimal postprocessing. Beta Pictoris b is observed at a separation of 434 ± 6 milliarcseconds (mas) and position angle 211.8 ± 0.5°. Fitting the Keplerian orbit of Beta Pic b using the new position together with previous astrometry gives a factor of 3 improvement in most parameters over previous solutions. The planet orbits at a semimajor axis of [Formula: see text] near the 3:2 resonance with the previously known 6-AU asteroidal belt and is aligned with the inner warped disk. The observations give a 4% probability of a transit of the planet in late 2017.

ASYMMETRIC ABSORPTION PROFILES OF Ly{alpha} AND Ly{beta} IN DAMPED Ly{alpha} SYSTEMS

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

Lee, Hee-Won, E-mail: hwlee@sejong.ac.kr

2013-08-01

Damped Ly{alpha} systems observed in the quasar spectra are characterized by a high neutral hydrogen column density, N{sub HI} > 2 x 10{sup 20} cm{sup -2}. The absorption wing profiles are often fitted using the Voigt function due to the fact that the scattering cross section near the resonant line center is approximately described by the Lorentzian function. Since a hydrogen atom has infinitely many p states that participate in the electric dipole interaction, the cross section starts to deviate from the Lorentzian in an asymmetric way in the line wing regions. We investigate this asymmetry in the absorption linemore » profiles around Ly{alpha} and Ly{beta} as a function of the neutral hydrogen column density N{sub HI}. In terms of {Delta}{lambda} {identical_to} {lambda} - {lambda}{sub {alpha}}, we expand the Kramers-Heisenberg formula around Ly{alpha} to find {sigma}({lambda}) {approx_equal} (0.5f{sub 12}){sup 2}{sigma}{sub T}({Delta}{lambda}/{lambda}{sub {alpha}}){sup -2}[1 + 3.792({Delta}{lambda}/{lambda}{sub {alpha}})], where f{sub 12} and {sigma}{sub T} are the oscillator strength of Ly{alpha} and the Thomson scattering cross section, respectively. In terms of {Delta}{lambda}{sub 2} {identical_to} {lambda} - {lambda}{sub {beta}} in the vicinity of Ly{beta}, the total scattering cross section, given as the sum of cross sections for Rayleigh and Raman scattering, is shown to be {sigma}({lambda}) {approx_equal} {sigma}{sub T}(0.5f{sub 13}){sup 2}(1 + R{sub 0})({Delta}{lambda}{sub 2}/{lambda}{sub {beta}}){sup -2}[1 - 24.68({Delta}{lambda}{sub 2}/{lambda}{sub {beta}})] with f{sub 13} and the factor R{sub 0} = 0.1342 being the oscillator strength for Ly{beta} and the ratio of the Raman cross section to Rayleigh cross section, respectively. A redward asymmetry develops around Ly{alpha}, whereas a blue asymmetry is obtained for Ly{beta}. The absorption center shifts are found to be almost proportional to the neutral hydrogen column density.« less

Combined aliskiren and amlodipine reduce albuminuria via reduction in renal inflammation in diabetic rats.

PubMed

Matavelli, Luis C; Huang, Jiqian; Siragy, Helmy M

2012-03-01

We hypothesized that compared with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), the renin inhibitor aliskiren (ALISK) or amlodipine (AMLO) and their combination reduce albuminuria via reduction in renal inflammation, independent of blood pressure (BP) changes. We studied normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic (DM) Sprague-Dawley rats treated for 6 weeks with vehicle, ALISK, HCTZ, or AMLO individually and combined and evaluated the effects of treatments on BP, urine albumin to creatinine ratio, renal interstitial fluid levels of angiotensin II, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and renal expression of TNF-α, IL-6, transforming growth factor beta 1, and nuclear factor kappa B. There were no differences in BP between treatments. Only ALISK and its combinations reduced renal interstitial fluid angiotensin II. Urine albumin to creatinine ratio increased in DM rats and decreased with ALISK alone or combined with HCTZ or AMLO. HCTZ or AMLO individually and combined did not influence urine albumin to creatinine ratio. Renal interstitial fluid TNF-α and IL-6, and the renal expression of TNF-α, IL-6, transforming growth factor beta 1, and nuclear factor kappa B were increased in DM rats. These renal inflammatory markers were reduced only with ALISK or AMLO individually or combined with other treatments. We conclude that ALISK alone and combined with HCTZ or AMLO reduced albuminuria in diabetes via reduction in renal inflammation, independent of BP changes.

Quantification of thymosin beta(4) in human cerebrospinal fluid using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Urso, Elena; Le Pera, Maria; Bossio, Sabrina; Sprovieri, Teresa; Qualtieri, Antonio

2010-07-01

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) has been applied to the analysis of a wide range of biomolecules. To date, there are two specific areas of application where MALDI-TOF-MS is viewed as impractical: analysis of low-mass analytes and relative quantitative applications. However, these limitations can be overcome and quantification can be routine. Increased levels of thymosin beta(4) (TB4) have been recently found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) patients. Our objective was to apply a label-free quantitative application of MALDI-TOF-MS to measure TB4 levels in human CSF by adding the oxidized form of TB4 as an internal standard. The relative peak area or peak height ratios of the native TB4 to the added oxidized form were evaluated. Considering the relative peak area ratios, healthy individuals showed a mean value of 40.8+/-21.27 ng/ml, whereas CJD patients showed high values with a mean of 154+/-59.07 ng/ml, in agreement with the previous observation found in CJD patients. Similar results were obtained considering peak height ratios. The proposed method may provide a simple and rapid screening method for quantification on CSF of TB4 levels suitable for diagnostic purposes. 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Does tight heart rate control improve beta-blocker efficacy? An updated analysis of the noncardiac surgical randomized trials.

PubMed

Beattie, W Scott; Wijeysundera, Duminda N; Karkouti, Keyvan; McCluskey, Stuart; Tait, Gordon

2008-04-01

Recent meta-analyses assessing the efficacy of perioperative beta-blockade trials have failed to show a reduction in postoperative morbidity and mortality. Tight control of heart rate (HR) has been suggested to improve these outcomes. Meta-analyses have not considered the influence of tight HR control on the efficacy of perioperative beta-blockade. Using previously published search strategies, we identified all randomized trials evaluating perioperative beta-blockers after noncardiac surgery. This search yielded 10 trials with 2176 patients. We used the data from these studies to correlate measures of HR control with major postoperative outcomes, primarily in-hospital myocardial infarction (MI). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, and metaregression was performed correlating measures of HR control with MI. The combined results of all studies did not show a significant cardioprotective effect of beta-blockers, with considerable heterogeneity among the studies (OR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.4-1.4; P = 0.38 heterogeneity: I(2) = 34%). However, grouping the trials on the basis of maximal HR showed that trials where the estimated maximal HR was <100 bpm were associated with cardioprotection (OR = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.08-0.65; P = 0.005) whereas trials where the estimated maximal HR was >100 bpm did not demonstrate cardioprotection (OR = 1.17; 95% CI = 0.79-1.80; P = 0.43) with no heterogeneity. Moreover, metaregression of the HR response to beta-blockade against the log OR of postoperative MI demonstrated a linear association between the effect of beta-blockade on the mean, maximal, and variation in HR and the OR of an MI (r(2) = 0.63; P < 0.001) where a larger effect of beta-blockers on HR was associated with a decreased incidence of postoperative MI. Across all studies, beta-blockade resulted in a reduction in postoperative HR (weighted mean difference: 8.6 bpm; 95% CI = -9.6 to -7.6; I(2) = 85.3%) with considerable heterogeneity. This large heterogeneity in HR response to beta-blockade was found to be related, in part, to the type of beta-blocker, specifically, metoprolol, and the concomitant use of calcium channel blockers. Calcium channel blocker use and beta-blockers other than metoprolol resulted in more effective control of HR. There was wide variability in the HR response to beta-blockade. Twenty-five percent of patients receiving beta-blockers had episodes when the HRs were more than 100 bpm, although 15% of placebo patients also had bradycardia, which would have required a dose reduction had they been administered beta-blockers. Finally, this analysis found that perioperative beta-blockade was associated with an increased incidence of bradycardia (OR = 3.49; 95% CI = 2.4-5.9) and congestive heart failure (OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.00-2.8). The trials that achieve the most effective control of HR are associated with a reduced incidence of postoperative MI, suggesting that effective control of HR is important for achieving cardioprotection. Second, this analysis demonstrates that administration of beta-blockers does not reliably decrease HRs in all patients, and may be associated with increased side effects. Judicious use of combination therapy with other drugs may be necessary to achieve effective postoperative control of HR.

Natural Divertor Spherical Tokamak Plasmas with bean shape and ergodic limiter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ribeiro, Celso; Herrera, Julio; Chavez, Esteban; Tritz, Kevin

2013-10-01

The former spherical tokamak (ST) MEDUSA (Madison EDUcation Small Aspect.ratio tokamak, R < 0.14 m, a < 0.10 m, BT < 0.5T, Ip < 40 kA, 3 ms pulse) is being recommissioned in Costa Rica Institute of Technology. The main objectives of the MEDUSA-CR project are training and to clarify several issues in relevant physics for conventional and mainly STs, including beta studies in bean-shaped ST plasmas, transport, heating and current drive via Alfvén wave, and natural divertor STs with ergodic magnetic limiter. We report here improvements in the self-consistency of these equilibrium comparisons and a preliminary study of their MHD stability beta limits. VIE-ITCR, IAEA-CRP contract 17592, National Instruments of Costa Rica.

Laser removal of loose uranium compound contamination from metal surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roberts, D. E.; Modise, T. S.

2007-04-01

Pulsed laser removal of surface contamination of uranyl nitrate and uranium dioxide from stainless steel has been studied. Most of the loosely bound contamination has been removed at fluence levels below 0.5 J cm -2, leaving about 5% fixed contamination for uranyl nitrate and 15% for uranium dioxide. Both alpha and beta activities are then sufficiently low that contaminated objects can be taken out of a restricted radiation area for re-use. The ratio of beta to alpha activity is found to be a function of particle size and changes during laser removal. In a separate experiment using technetium-99m, the collection of removed radioactivity in the filter was studied and an inventory made of removed and collected contamination.

Antioxidant activities of tocopherols on Fe2+-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation in lecithin liposomes.

PubMed

Fukuzawa, K; Tokumura, A; Ouchi, S; Tsukatani, H

1982-07-01

The antioxidant activities of 4 tocopherols, tocol, and a water-soluble model analog of alpha-tocopherol were compared. Egg lecithin liposomes were used and oxidation was catalyzed by Fe2+-ascorbate. The activities decreased in the order alpha greater than beta greater than gamma greater than delta-tocopherol greater than tocol, in agreement with their potencies in vivo. The water-soluble analog was the least effective. Activity depended on the molar ratio of antioxidant to unsaturated lipid, with one molecule each of the alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-tocopherol and tocol capable of protecting, respectively, 220, 120, 100, 30 and 20 molecules of polyunsaturated fatty acid. The mechanism of possible antioxidant effect of the compounds used is discussed.

Ten-year change in plasma amyloid beta levels and late-life cognitive decline.

PubMed

Okereke, Olivia I; Xia, Weiming; Selkoe, Dennis J; Grodstein, Francine

2009-10-01

Plasma levels of amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) are potential biomarkers of early cognitive impairment and decline and of Alzheimer disease risk. To relate midlife plasma Abeta measures and 10-year change in plasma Abeta measures since midlife to late-life cognitive decline. Prospective study of a population-based sample. Academic research. Plasma Abeta40 and Abeta42 levels were measured in 481 Nurses' Health Study participants in late midlife (mean age, 63.6 years) and again 10 years later (mean age, 74.6 years). Cognitive testing also began 10 years after the initial blood draw. Participants completed 3 repeated telephone-based assessments (mean span, 4.1 years). Multivariable linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate relations of midlife plasma Abeta40 to Abeta42 ratios and Abeta42 levels to late-life cognitive decline, as well as relations of 10-year change in Abeta40 to Abeta42 ratios and Abeta42 levels to cognitive decline. The 3 primary outcomes were the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) findings, a global score averaging the results of all tests (TICS, immediate and delayed verbal recall, category fluency, and attention), and a verbal memory score averaging the results of 4 tests of verbal recall. Higher midlife plasma Abeta40 to Abeta42 ratios were associated with worse late-life decline on the global score (P = .04 for trend). Furthermore, increase in Abeta40 to Abeta42 ratios since midlife predicted greater decline in the global score (P = .03 for trend) and in the TICS (P = .02 for trend). There was no association of cognitive decline with midlife plasma Abeta42 levels alone or with change in Abeta42 levels since midlife. In this large community-dwelling sample, higher plasma Abeta40 to Abeta42 ratios in late midlife and increases in Abeta40 to Abeta42 ratios 10 years later were significantly associated with greater decline in global cognition at late life.

A Computational Model of the Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal Axis in Male Fathead Minnows Exposed to 17 | *alpha* | -ethinylestradiol and 17 | *beta* | -estradiol

EPA Science Inventory

Estrogenic chemicals in the aquatic environment have been shown to cause a variety of reproductive anomalies in fish including full sex reversal, intersex, and altered population sex ratios. Two estrogens found in the aquatic environment, 17-ethinylestradiol and 17â-estradiol, h...

Association Between Preovulatory Concentrations of Estradiol and Expression of Uterine Milk Protein Precursor, Inhibin Beta A, Period 1, Proenkephalin, and Receptors for Oxytocin, Progesterone, and Estradiol

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Eliminating the preovulatory surge of estradiol decreased uterine weight, uterine protein, RNA to DNA ratio, rate of protein synthesis, and embryo survival following embryo transfer in sheep. Furthermore, cows that did not exhibit standing estrus (decreased preovulatory concentrations of estradiol) ...

Is Expenditure on Higher Education Per Student Converging across EU-15 Countries?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agasisti, Tommaso; Perez-Esparrells, Carmen; Catalano, Giuseppe; Morales, Susana

2012-01-01

This article examines the trend in expenditure per student at higher education institutions in the EU-15 countries, during the period 1998-2006. The results show that there was a tendency towards convergence (as measured by sigma and beta convergence analysis). The ratio of convergence is higher after 2001, suggesting that the implementation of…

Nonsinusoidal Beta Oscillations Reflect Cortical Pathophysiology in Parkinson's Disease.

PubMed

Cole, Scott R; van der Meij, Roemer; Peterson, Erik J; de Hemptinne, Coralie; Starr, Philip A; Voytek, Bradley

2017-05-03

Oscillations in neural activity play a critical role in neural computation and communication. There is intriguing new evidence that the nonsinusoidal features of the oscillatory waveforms may inform underlying physiological and pathophysiological characteristics. Time-domain waveform analysis approaches stand in contrast to traditional Fourier-based methods, which alter or destroy subtle waveform features. Recently, it has been shown that the waveform features of oscillatory beta (13-30 Hz) events, a prominent motor cortical oscillation, may reflect near-synchronous excitatory synaptic inputs onto cortical pyramidal neurons. Here we analyze data from invasive human primary motor cortex (M1) recordings from patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) implanted with a deep brain stimulator (DBS) to test the hypothesis that the beta waveform becomes less sharp with DBS, suggesting that M1 input synchrony may be decreased. We find that, in PD, M1 beta oscillations have sharp, asymmetric, nonsinusoidal features, specifically asymmetries in the ratio between the sharpness of the beta peaks compared with the troughs. This waveform feature is nearly perfectly correlated with beta-high gamma phase-amplitude coupling ( r = 0.94), a neural index previously shown to track PD-related motor deficit. Our results suggest that the pathophysiological beta generator is altered by DBS, smoothing out the beta waveform. This has implications not only for the interpretation of the physiological mechanism by which DBS reduces PD-related motor symptoms, but more broadly for our analytic toolkit in general. That is, the often-overlooked time-domain features of oscillatory waveforms may carry critical physiological information about neural processes and dynamics. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To better understand the neural basis of cognition and disease, we need to understand how groups of neurons interact to communicate with one another. For example, there is evidence that parkinsonian bradykinesia and rigidity may arise from an oversynchronization of afferents to the motor cortex, and that these symptoms are treatable using deep brain stimulation. Here we show that the waveform shape of beta (13-30 Hz) oscillations, which may reflect input synchrony onto the cortex, is altered by deep brain stimulation. This suggests that mechanistic inferences regarding physiological and pathophysiological neural communication may be made from the temporal dynamics of oscillatory waveform shape. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/374830-11$15.00/0.

A comparative analysis of the results from 4 trials of beta-blocker therapy for heart failure: BEST, CIBIS-II, MERIT-HF, and COPERNICUS.

PubMed

Domanski, Michael J; Krause-Steinrauf, Heidi; Massie, Barry M; Deedwania, Prakash; Follmann, Dean; Kovar, David; Murray, David; Oren, Ron; Rosenberg, Yves; Young, James; Zile, Michael; Eichhorn, Eric

2003-10-01

Recent large randomized, controlled trials (BEST [Beta-blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial], CIBIS-II [Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Trial II], COPERNICUS [Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival Study], and MERIT-HF [Metoprolol Randomized Intervention Trial in Congestive Heart Failure]) have addressed the usefulness of beta-blockade in the treatment of advanced heart failure. CIBIS-II, COPERNICUS, and MERIT-HF have shown that beta-blocker treatment with bisoprolol, carvedilol, and metoprolol XL, respectively, reduce mortality in advanced heart failure patients, whereas BEST found a statistically nonsignificant trend toward reduced mortality with bucindolol. We conducted a post hoc analysis to determine whether the response to beta-blockade in BEST could be related to differences in the clinical and demographic characteristics of the study populations. We generated a sample from BEST to resemble the patient cohorts studied in CIBIS-II and MERIT-HF to find out whether the response to beta-blocker therapy was similar to that reported in the other trials. These findings are further compared with COPERNICUS, which entered patients with more severe heart failure. To achieve conformity with the entry criteria for CIBIS-II and MERIT-HF, the BEST study population was adjusted to exclude patients with systolic blood pressure <100 mm Hg, heart rate <60 bpm, and age >80 years (exclusion criteria employed in those trials). The BEST comparison subgroup (BCG) was further modified to more closely reflect the racial demographics reported for patients enrolled in CIBIS-II and MERIT-HF. The association of beta-blocker therapy with overall survival and survival free of cardiac death, sudden cardiac death, and progressive pump failure in the BCG was assessed. In the BCG subgroup, bucindolol treatment was associated with significantly lower risk of death from all causes (hazard ratio (HR)=0.77 [95% CI=0.65, 0.92]), cardiovascular death (HR=0.71 [0.58, 0.86]), sudden death (HR=0.77 [0.59, 0.999]), and pump failure death (HR=0.64 [0.45, 0.91]). Although not excluding the possibility of differences resulting from chance alone or to different properties among beta-blockers, this study suggests the possibility that different heart failure population subgroups may have different responses to beta-blocker therapy.

[Possible pathogenetic role of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11betaHSD1) gene polymorphisms in arterial hypertension].

PubMed

Morales, Mauricio A; Carvajal, Cristián A; Ortiz, Eugenia; Mosso, Lorena M; Artigas, Rocío A; Owen, Gareth I; Fardella, Carlos E

2008-06-01

Cortisol has been implicated in hypertension and lately reported to be regulated at the pre-receptor level by the 11betaHSD1 enzyme, which converts cortisone (E) to cortisol (F). Over-expression of this enzyme in adipose tissue could determine an increase in available cortisol that interacts with the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in renal, brain and heart tissue, leading to similar hypertensive effects as in 11betaHSD2 impaired patients. Several polymorphisms have been reported in HSDl IB 1 gene (CAI5, CAI9 and InsA83557), which could modify HSDl IB 1 gene expression or activity. To determine the distribution and prevalence of CAI5, CAI9 and InsA83557 in the HSDl IBl gene, and to correlate these results with biochemical parameters in cortisol/ ACTH (HPA) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) axis in patients with essential hypertension (EH). We studied 113 EH patients (76 non-obese and 37 obese, with a body mass índex >30 kg/m(2)) and 30 normotensive adults (NT). In each patient, we measured serum levels of E E, serum aldosterone (SA), plasma renin activity (PRA), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), the urinary free cortisol/creatinine (UFF/Cr), F/ACTH and SA/PRA ratios. Each polymorphism was studied by PCR and 8% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Statistical associations were evaluated by Pearson correlations and the genetic equilibrium by the Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equation. We found all three polymorphisms in the EH and the NT group, both in genetic equilibrium. In obese essential hypertensives, the CAI5 polymorphism showed association with SA/PRA ratio (r =0.189, p =0.012) and F/ACTH (r =0.301, p 0.048); CA19 also showed correlation with F/ACTH in obese EH (r = 0.220, p 0.009). The InsA83557polymorphism correlated with UFF/Cr in both EH (r =0.206; p =0.03), and in obese EH (r =0.354; p =0.05). The CAI5 and CAI9 polymorphism correlated with changes in biochemical parameters in HPA and RAA axis of obese essential hypertensives. These changes may result in modifications in the expression of 11betaHSD1, leading to increased cortisol and aldosterone levels independent of ACTH and renin control, respectively.

Diet, plasma levels of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol, and risk of malignant melanoma.

PubMed

Stryker, W S; Stampfer, M J; Stein, E A; Kaplan, L; Louis, T A; Sober, A; Willett, W C

1990-04-01

Dietary intake and the plasma levels of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, lycopene, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene for 204 cases with malignant melanoma were compared with those of 248 controls. Cases and controls were patients 18 years of age or older making their first visit to a dermatology subspecialty clinic for pigmented lesions from July 1, 1982 to September 1, 1985. Intakes of nutrients were estimated using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. No significant associations with malignant melanoma were observed for higher plasma levels of lycopene, retinol, or alpha-carotene in logistic regression analyses after controlling for age, sex, plasma lipids, and known constitutional risk factors (hair color and ability to tan). In similar models, the odds ratio comparing the highest with the lowest quintile was 0.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5-1.5) for plasma beta-carotene, 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-1.3) for plasma alpha-tocopherol, 0.7 (95% CI 0.4-1.2) for carotene intake, and 0.7 (95% CI 0.4-1.3) for total vitamin E intake. A trend toward reduced risk of melanoma was observed for increasing intake of iron (not including supplements); this was related to the more frequent consumption of baked goods, such as cake, among controls. Alcohol consumption was positively associated with risk of melanoma (chi for trend = 2.1, p = 0.03); the odds ratio for consumption of over 10 g/day compared with persons with no alcohol intake was 1.8 (95% CI 1.0-3.3).

The Combined Efficiency of Dietary Isomaltooligosaccharides and Bacillus spp. on the Growth, Hemato-Serological, and Intestinal Microbiota Indices of Caspian Brown Trout (Salmo trutta caspius Kessler, 1877).

PubMed

Aftabgard, Maryam; Salarzadeh, Alireza; Mohseni, Mahmoud; Bahri Shabanipour, Amir Houshang; Zorriehzahra, Mohammad Ebrahim Jalil

2017-12-01

The combined effects of a commercial probiotic, BetaPlus®, and a prebiotic, isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOS) on the growth, survival rate, intestinal microbiota, and hemato-immunological parameters were evaluated in Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius Kessler, 1877). Caspian brown trout fingerlings (~ 9 g) were fed a control diet (basal diet) or a synbiotic diet (the basal diet + 2 g kg -1 IMOS + 1 g kg -1 BetaPlus®) for 7 weeks. At the end of this trial, fish fed the synbiotic diet showed significant improvements in body weight increase, feed conversion ratio, and survival rate compared with fish fed the control diet (P < 0.05). In addition, fish fed the synbiotic diet had the highest levels of white blood cells, monocytes, and neutrophils (P < 0.05), while the red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematrocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and lymphocytes were significantly higher in the control group (P < 0.05). The serum triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, and immunoglobulin M levels, as well as alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were higher in the synbiotic group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, fish fed the synbiotic diet showed significantly higher gut total viable aerobic bacterial counts and lactic acid bacteria (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that BetaPlus® in combination with IMOS enhanced the growth, survival rate, intestinal microbiota, and some haemato-immunological parameters in Caspian brown trout fingerlings.

Do factors related to combustion-based sources explain ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Introduction: Spatial heterogeneity of effect estimates in associations between PM2.5 and total non-accidental mortality (TNA) in the United States (US), is an issue in epidemiology. This study uses rate ratios generated from the Multi-City/Multi-Pollutant study (1999-2005) for 313 core-based statistical areas (CBSA) and their metropolitan divisions (MD) to examine combustion-based sources of heterogeneity.Methods: For CBSA/MDs, area-specific log rate ratios (betas) were derived from a model adjusting for time, an interaction with age-group, day of week, and natural splines of current temperature, current dew point, and unconstrained temperature at lags 1, 2, and 3. We assessed the heterogeneity in the betas by linear regression with inverse variance weights, using average NO2, SO2, and CO, which may act as a combustion source proxy, and these pollutants’ correlations with PM2.5. Results: We found that weighted mean PM2.5 association (0.96 percent increase in total non-accidental mortality for a 10 µg/m3 increment in PM2.5) increased by 0.26 (95% confidence interval 0.08 , 0.44) for an interquartile change (0.2) in the correlation of SO2 and PM2.5., but betas showed less dependence on the annual averages of SO2 or NO2. Spline analyses suggest departures from linearity, particularly in a model that examined correlations between PM2.5 and CO.Conclusions: We conclude that correlations between SO2 and PM2.5 as an indicator of combustion sources explains some hete

Reconnection in Compressible Plasmas: Extended Conversion Region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Birn, J.; Hesse, M.; Zenitani, S.

2011-01-01

The classical Sweet-Parker approach to steady-state magnetic reconnection is extended into the regime of large resistivity (small magnetic Reynolds or Lundquist number) when the aspect ratio between the outflow and inflow scale, delta = d/L, approaches unity. In a previous paper the vicinity of the dissipation site ("diffusion region") was investigated. In this paper, the approach is extended to cover larger sites, in which the energy transfer and conversion is not confined to the diffusion region. Consistent with the results of Paper I, we find that increasing aspect ratio delta is associated with increasing compression, increasing reconnect ion rate for low Beta, but slightly decreasing rate for higher Beta, decreasing outflow speed, and increasing outflow magnetic field. These trends are stronger for lower Beta. Deviations from the traditional Sweet-Parker limit delta approaches 0 become significant for R(sub m) approx < 10, where R(sub m) is the magnetic Reynolds number (Lundquist number) based on the half-thickness of the current layer responsible for the Ohmic dissipation. They are also more significant for small gamma, that is, for increasing compressibility. In contrast to the results of Paper I, but consistent with earlier results for delta much < 1,nu(sub A) we find that in this limit the outflow speed is given by the Alfven speed nu(sub A) in the inflow region and the energy conversion is given by an even split of Poynting flux into enthalpy flux and bulk kinetic energy flux. However, with increasing delta the conversion to enthalpy flux becomes more and more dominant.

The effect of long-term weight-loss intervention strategies on the dynamics of pancreatic-fat and morphology: An MRI RCT study.

PubMed

Tene, Lilac; Shelef, Ilan; Schwarzfuchs, Dan; Gepner, Yftach; Yaskolka Meir, Anat; Tsaban, Gal; Zelicha, Hila; Bilitzky, Avital; Komy, Oded; Cohen, Noa; Bril, Nitzan; Rein, Michal; Serfaty, Dana; Kenigsbuch, Shira; Chassidim, Yoash; Sarusy, Benjamin; Ceglarek, Uta; Stumvoll, Michael; Blüher, Matthias; Thiery, Joachim; Stampfer, Meir J; Rudich, Assaf; Shai, Iris

2018-04-01

The ability to mobilize pancreatic-fat and the meaning of decreased fat in the pancreas remain controversial. We followed the dynamics of pancreatic-fat and its morphology during various long weight-loss induced lifestyle-interventions. In isolated workplace with monitored/provided lunch, we randomly assigned healthy persons with abdominal obesity or dyslipidemia for one of two 18-month equal-caloric diets: low-fat (LF) or Mediterranean/low-carbohydrate (Med/LC, with provided 1oz walnuts/day), with or without added moderate exercise (supervised gym membership). We used magnetic-resonance-imaging to quantify pancreatic-fat and morphology. At baseline, 277 eligible participants (mean age = 48 years; 88% men; pancreatic-fat = 17.4 ± 5.1%) had higher pancreatic-fat in men (17.7 ± 4.9% vs 14.9 ± 5.5% in women; p = 0.004). Following 18-month intervention (adherence = 86.3%) and moderate weight-loss (mean = -3.0 ± 5.5 kg), pancreatic-fat decreased moderately but significantly (-0.26 ± 2.18% units; p = 0.049). Med/LC diet induced a greater decrease in pancreatic-fat compared to LF (p = 0.043), and the combination of Med/LC diet + exercise exhibited the highest reduction (-0.69% units) as compared to LF diet without exercise (+0.12%units; p = 0.027 between groups). In multivariate regression models, after further adjusted for visceral adipose-tissue (ΔVAT), pancreatic-fat loss associated with both decreases in pancreatic-morphology ratio (perimeter divided by area; beta = 0.361; p < 0.001) and superficial-subcutaneous adipose-tissue loss (beta = 0.242; p = 0.001), but not with changes in intrahepatic-fat (beta = -0.034; p = 0.638). Pancreatic-fat loss associated with increased intake of polyunsaturated-fat (beta = -0.137; p = 0.032), as with improved high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL; beta = -0.156; p = 0.023) and triglycerides/HDL ratio (beta = 0.162; p = 0.015), independently of ΔVAT, but not with glycemic-control parameters (e.g. HbA1c, HOMA-IR and HOMA-beta; p > 0.2 for all). Pancreatic-fat loss is mainly associated with improved lipid, rather than glycemic profiles. Med/LC diet, mostly with exercise, may benefit pancreatic-fat loss. Pancreatic-morphology could serve as a biomarker of pancreatic-fat state. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01530724). Copyright © 2018 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Heating and current drive on NSTX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, J. R.; Batchelor, D.; Carter, M.; Hosea, J.; Ignat, D.; LeBlanc, B.; Majeski, R.; Ono, M.; Phillips, C. K.; Rogers, J. H.; Schilling, G.

1997-04-01

Low aspect ratio tokamaks pose interesting new challenges for heating and current drive. The NSTX (National Spherical Tokamak Experiment) device to be built at Princeton is a low aspect ratio toroidal device that has the achievement of high toroidal beta (˜45%) and non-inductive operation as two of its main research goals. To achieve these goals significant auxiliary heating and current drive systems are required. Present plans include ECH (Electron cyclotron heating) for pre-ionization and start-up assist, HHFW (high harmonic fast wave) for heating and current drive and eventually NBI (neutral beam injection) for heating, current drive and plasma rotation.

Characterization of Nuclear Recoils in High Pressure Xenon Gas: Towards a Simultaneous Search for WIMP Dark Matter and Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

DOE PAGES

Renner, J.; Gehman, V. M.; Goldschmidt, A.; ...

2015-03-24

Xenon has recently been the medium of choice in several large scale detectors searching for WIMP dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay. Though present-day large scale experiments use liquid xenon, the gas phase offers advantages favorable to both types of searches such as improved intrinsic energy resolution and fewer fluctuations in the partition of deposited energy between scintillation and ionization channels. We recently constructed a high pressure xenon gas TPC as a prototype for the NEXT (Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC) neutrinoless double beta decay experiment and have demonstrated the feasibility of 0.5% FWHM energy resolution at themore » 136Xe double beta Q-value with 3-D tracking capabilities. We now present results from this prototype on the simultaneous observation of scintillation and ionization produced by nuclear recoils at approximately 14 bar pressure. The recoils were produced by neutrons of approximately 2-6 MeV emitted from a radioisotope plutonium-beryllium source, and primary scintillation (S1) and electroluminescent photons produced by ionization (S2) were observed. We discuss the potential of gaseous xenon to distinguish between electron and nuclear recoils through the ratio of these two signals S2/S1. From these results combined with the possibility of using columnar recombination to sense nuclear recoil directionality at high pressures we envision a dual-purpose, ton-scale gaseous xenon detector capable of a combined search for WIMP dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay. This work has been performed within the context of the NEXT collaboration.« less

Intake of antioxidant vitamins and trace elements during pregnancy and risk of advanced beta cell autoimmunity in the child.

PubMed

Uusitalo, Liisa; Kenward, Mike G; Virtanen, Suvi M; Uusitalo, Ulla; Nevalainen, Jaakko; Niinistö, Sari; Kronberg-Kippilä, Carina; Ovaskainen, Marja-Leena; Marjamäki, Liisa; Simell, Olli; Ilonen, Jorma; Veijola, Riitta; Knip, Mikael

2008-08-01

Type 1 diabetes may have its origins in the fetal period of life. Free radicals were implicated in the cause of type 1 diabetes. It was hypothesized that antioxidant nutrients could protect against type 1 diabetes. We assessed whether high maternal intake of selected dietary antioxidants during pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of advanced beta cell autoimmunity in the child, defined as repeated positivity for islet cell antibodies plus >/=1 other antibody, overt type 1 diabetes, or both. The study was carried out as part of the population-based birth cohort of the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Project. The data comprised 4297 children with increased genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes, born at the University Hospital of Oulu or Tampere, Finland, between October 1997 and December 2002. The children were monitored for diabetes-associated autoantibodies from samples obtained at 3-12-mo intervals. Maternal antioxidant intake during pregnancy was assessed postnatally with a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire, which contained a question about consumption of dietary supplements. Maternal intake of none of the studied antioxidant nutrients showed association with the risk of advanced beta cell autoimmunity in the child. The hazard ratios, indicating the change in risk per a 2-fold increase in the intake of each antioxidant, were nonsignificant and close to 1. High maternal intake of retinol, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, or manganese does not protect the child from development of advanced beta cell autoimmunity in early childhood.

Eudragit RS 100 microparticles containing 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and glutathione: physicochemical characterization, drug release and transport studies.

PubMed

Trapani, Adriana; Laquintana, Valentino; Denora, Nunzio; Lopedota, Angela; Cutrignelli, Annalisa; Franco, Massimo; Trapani, Giuseppe; Liso, Gaetano

2007-01-01

The aim of this study was to encapsulate glutathione (GSH) alone or in combination with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) in Eudragit RS 100 microparticles (MPs), and to evaluate these novel delivery systems for oral administration of the considered tripeptide. The MPs were prepared by an O/O emulsion-solvent evaporation method according to a multilevel experimental design involving the volume of liquid paraffin, the HP-beta-CD amount, and the drug/polymer ratio as independent variables. The effects of these parameters on particle size, entrapment efficiency, and drug release were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies were performed to evaluate possible interactions between GSH and Eudragit RS 100 polymer and to characterize the physical state of drug within the MPs. The release profiles of GSH from MPs were examined in vitro at pH 1.2, 6.8. and 7.4 using the USP III (BioDis) dissolution apparatus. In general, a slow and zero-order release of GSH from MPs at pH 1.2 occurred, while at higher pH values considerable amounts of glutathione disulfide (i.e., GSSG) were observed. The enzymatic stability and the intestinal permeability of some GSH-containing MPs were assessed by using pepsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase and everted frog intestinal sac methodology, respectively. The results suggest that GSH-loaded Eudragit RS 100 MPs containing HP-beta-CD represent a new sustained GSH delivery system useful for the oral administration of the examined tripeptide.

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

Spong, D.A.; Hirshman, S.P.; Whitson, J.C.

A new class of low aspect ratio toroidal hybrid stellarators is found using more general plasma confinement optimization criterion than quasi-symmetrization. The plasma current profile and shape of the outer magnetic flux surface are used as control variables to achieve near constancy of the longitudinal invariant J* on internal flux surfaces (quasi-omnigeneity), in addition to a number of other desirable physics target properties. We find that a range of compact (small aspect ratio A), high {beta} (ratio of thermal energy to magnetic field energy), low plasma current devices exist which have significantly improved confinement both for thermal as well asmore » energetic (collisionless) particle components. With reasonable increases in magnetic field and geometric size, such devices can also be scaled to confine 3.5 MeV alpha particle orbits.« less

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

Birn, J.; Battaglia, M.; Fletcher, L.

Using test particle studies in the electromagnetic fields of three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of magnetic reconnection, we study the energization of charged particles in the context of the standard two-ribbon flare picture in analogy to the standard magnetospheric substorm paradigm. In particular, we investigate the effects of the collapsing field (“collapsing magnetic trap”) below a reconnection site, which has been demonstrated to be the major acceleration mechanism that causes energetic particle acceleration and injections observed in Earth’s magnetotail associated with substorms and other impulsive events. We contrast an initially force-free, high-shear field (low beta) with low and moderate shear, finite-pressuremore » (high-beta) arcade structures, where beta represents the ratio between gas (plasma) and magnetic pressure. We demonstrate that the energization affects large numbers of particles, but the acceleration is modest in the presence of a significant shear field. Without incorporating loss mechanisms, the effect on particles at different energies is similar, akin to adiabatic heating, and thus is not a likely mechanism to generate a power-law tail onto a (heated or not heated) Maxwellian velocity distribution.« less

Initial transport validation studies using NSTX-U L-mode plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guttenfelder, Walter; Battaglia, D.; Bell, R. E.; Boyer, M. D.; Crocker, N.; Diallo, A.; Ferraro, N.; Gerhardt, S. P.; Kaye, S. M.; Leblanc, B. P.; Liu, D.; Menard, J. E.; Mueller, D.; Myer, C.; Podesta, M.; Raman, R.; Ren, Y.; Sabbagh, S.; Smith, D.

2016-10-01

A variety of stationary L-mode plasmas have been successfully developed in NSTX-U for physics validation studies. The plasmas span a range of density (1-4 ×1019 m-3) , plasma current (0.65-1.0 MA), and neutral beam heating power (<=4 MW), taking advantage of new, more tangential neutral beam sources to vary rotation profiles. Transport analysis (TRANSP) and turbulence measurements (BES, reflectometry) of these plasmas will be illustrated and compared with initial microstability and transport predictions. In particular, the normalized beta of these L-modes range between βN = 1-2, providing a valuable bridge in parameter space between (i) H-modes at comparable beta in conventional tokamaks (R/a 3, βN 2), where transport models have been largely developed and tested, and (ii) low-aspect-ratio H-modes at higher beta (R/a 1.5-1.7, βN 5), where transport models are less tested and challenged by stronger electromagnetic and equilibrium effects. This work is supported by US DOE contract DE-AC02-09CH11466.

Functional behavior and reproduction in androgenic sex reversed zebrafish (Danio rerio).

PubMed

Larsen, Mia G; Baatrup, Erik

2010-08-01

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals released into natural watercourses may cause biased sex ratios by sex reversal in fish populations. The present study investigated the androgenic sex reversal of zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to the androgenic compound 17beta-trenbolone (TB) and whether sex-changed females would revert to the female phenotype after cessation of TB exposure. 17beta-Trenbolone is a metabolite of trenbolone acetate, an anabolic steroid used as a growth promoter in beef cattle. 17beta-Trenbolone in runoff from cattle feedlots may reach concentrations that affect fish sexual development. Zebrafish were exposed to a concentration of 20 ng/L TB in a flow-through system for five months from egg until sexual maturity. This resulted in an all-male population. It was further found that all these phenotypic males displayed normal male courtship behavior and were able to reproduce successfully, implying that the sex reversal was complete and functional. None of the phenotypic males developed into females after six months in clean water, demonstrating that androgenic sex reversal of zebrafish is irreversible. Copyright 2010 SETAC

alpha,beta-poly(asparthylhydrazide)-glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride copolymers (PAHy-GTA): novel polymers with potential for DNA delivery.

PubMed

Pedone, E; Cavallaro, G; Richardson, S C; Duncan, R; Giammona, G

2001-11-09

Hydrophilic polycations form complexes when mixed with plasmids. Following functionalisation with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTA) alpha,beta-poly(asparthylhydrazide) (PAHy), a water-soluble synthetic macromolecule, becomes polycationic and potentially useful for systemic gene delivery. Initially the biocompatibility of PAHy and PAHy-GTA derivatives with different degrees of positive charge substitution were studied and it was shown that PAHy-GTA was neither haemolytic nor cytotoxicity up to 1 mg/ml. After intravenous injection (125)I-labelled PAHy-GTA derivative containing 46 mol% (PAHy-GTA(b)) of trimethylammonium groups did not accumulate in the liver (4.1+/-0.9% of the recovered dose after 1 h) but was subjected to renal excretion (45+/-21% of the recovered dose was in the kidneys after 1 h). PAHy-GTA formed complexes with DNA (gel retardation) and they protected against degradation by DNase II. Finally the ability of the PAHy-GTA(b) derivative to mediate the transfection of HepG2 cells using the marker gene beta-galactosidase was studied. The optimum plasmid/polymer mass ratio was examined in comparison to LipofectACE, Lipofectin and polyethylenimine.

Are we optimizing gestational diabetes treatment with glyburide? The pharmacologic basis for better clinical practice.

PubMed

Hebert, M F; Ma, X; Naraharisetti, S B; Krudys, K M; Umans, J G; Hankins, G D V; Caritis, S N; Miodovnik, M; Mattison, D R; Unadkat, J D; Kelly, E J; Blough, D; Cobelli, C; Ahmed, M S; Snodgrass, W R; Carr, D B; Easterling, T R; Vicini, P

2009-06-01

Glyburide's pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics have not been studied in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The objective of this study was to assess steady-state PK of glyburide, as well as insulin sensitivity, beta-cell responsivity, and overall disposition indices after a mixed-meal tolerance test (MMTT) in women with GDM (n = 40), nonpregnant women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n = 26), and healthy pregnant women (n = 40, MMTT only). At equivalent doses, glyburide plasma concentrations were approximately 50% lower in pregnant women than in nonpregnant subjects. The average umbilical cord/maternal plasma glyburide concentration ratio at the time of delivery was 0.7 +/- 0.4. Insulin sensitivity was approximately fivefold lower in women with GDM as compared with healthy pregnant women. Despite comparable beta-cell responsivity indices, the average beta-cell function corrected for insulin resistance was more than 3.5-fold lower in women with glyburide-treated GDM than in healthy pregnant women. Women with GDM in whom glyburide treatment has failed may benefit from alternative medication or dosage escalation; however, fetal safety should be kept in mind.

Choroidal thickness in school children: The Gobi Desert Children Eye Study.

PubMed

Zhu, Dan; Wang, Yan; Zheng, Yan Fei; Yang, Da Yong; Guo, Kai; Yang, Xian Rong; Jing, Xin Xia; Wong, Ian Y; You, Qi Sheng; Tao, Yong; Jonas, Jost B

2017-01-01

To investigate choroidal thickness (CT) and its associations in children in a school-based study. The cross-sectional school-based Gobi Desert Children Eye Study included 1565 out of 1911 (81.9%) eligible children from all schools in the oasis region of Ejina in the Gobi Desert. A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed, including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging for CT measurement. CT measurements were available for 1463 (93.5%) students (mean age: 11.8±3.5 years; range:7-21 years). Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was 282±49μm. CT was thickest at 1000μm temporal to the fovea (286±49μm), followed by the subfoveal region (282±49 μm; P<0.001), the region at 2500μm temporal to the fovea (278±49μm), the region at 1000μm nasal to the fovea (254±49μm;P<0.001), and the region at 2500μm nasal to the fovea (197±50μm;P<0.001). In cross-sectional analysis, the mean SFCT increased with age from 288μm at 7 years of age to 304μm at 11 years, and then decreased to 258 μm at 18 years. In multivariate analysis, thicker SFCT was associated (regression coefficient r:0.38) with higher hyperopic refractive error (P<0.001;standardized regression coefficient beta:0.31;non-standardized regression coefficient B:7.61;95% confidence intervals (CI):6.29,8.93), younger age (P<0.001;beta:-0.10;B:-1.39;95%CI:-2.14,-0.64), male gender (P = 0.03;beta:-0.05;B:-5.33;95%CI:-10.1,-0.53), higher corneal refractive power (P<0.001;beta:0.12;B:3.68;95%CI:2.12,5.24), and non-Han Chinese ethnicity (P = 0.03;beta:0.05;B:6.16;95%CI:0.50,11.8). Ratio of CT(1000μm nasal to fovea)/SFCT (0.90±0.06;range:0.66,1.23) and ratio of CT(2500μm nasal to fovea)/SFCT (0.70±0.13;range:0.28,1.23) decreased with older age (P = 0.01;and P = 0.001, respectively), while ratio of CT(1000μm temporal to fovea)/SFCT (1.02±0.06;range:0.56,1.37) and ratio of CT(2500μm temporal to fovea)/SFCT (0.99±0.11;range:0.54,1.84) increased with older age (both P<0.001). Time spent outdoors or indoors was not significantly associated with CT-related parameter in multivariate analysis. In contrast to SFCT in adults and despite elongating axial length, SFCT in children increased in cross-sectional analysis with older age (up to 11 years of age) and then started to decrease with further ageing. It suggests an increase in choroidal volume up to the age of 11 years. In children, the choroid was thickest at 1000μm temporal to the fovea, followed by the subfoveal region, and this difference significantly increased with older age. In contrast, CT nasal to the fovea in relationship to SFCT decreased with older age. CT was independent of lifestyle-associated parameters.

Commissioning of the BRIKEN beta-delayed neutron detector for the study of exotic neutron-rich nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tolosa-Delgado, A.; Agramunt, J.; Ahn, D. S.; Algora, A.; Baba, H.; Bae, S.; Brewer, N. T.; Caballero Folch, R.; Calvino, F.; Coleman-Smith, P. J.; Cortes, G.; Davinson, T.; Dillmann, I.; Domingo-Pardo, C.; Estrade, A.; Fukuda, N.; Go, S.; Griffin, C. J.; Grzywacz, R.; Ha, J.; Hall, O.; Harkness-Brennan, L.; Isobe, T.; Kahl, D.; Kiss, G. G.; Kogimtzis, M.; Kubono, S.; Labiche, M.; Lazarus, I.; Lee, J.; Liu, J.; Lorusso, G.; Matsui, K.; Miernik, K.; Montes, F.; Moon, B.; Morales, A. I.; Nepal, N.; Nishimura, S.; Page, R. D.; Phong, V. H.; Podolyak, Z.; Pucknell, V. F. E.; Rasco, B. C.; Regan, P.; Riego, A.; Rubio, B.; Rykaczewski, K. P.; Saito, Y.; Sakurai, H.; Shimizu, Y.; Simpson, J.; Söderström, P.-A.; Stracener, D. W.; Sumikama, T.; Suzuki, H.; Tain, J. L.; Takechi, M.; Takeda, H.; Tarifeño-Saldivia, A.; Thomas, S. L.; Woods, P.

2018-01-01

The commissioning of a new setup for β-delayed neutron measurements was carried out successfully in November-2016, at the RIKEN Nishina Center in Japan. The β-decay half-lives and Pn branching ratios of several isotopes in the 78Ni region were measured. Details of the experimental setup and the first results are given.

Beta-Blockers: An Abstracted Bibliography.

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-04-04

on subjects in the supine position. Blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethys- mography. Prugs were administered via indwelling catheter (one...PROCEDURES: Noninvasive measuremert of maximum oxygen intake, invasive measurement of systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures, arterial and mixed venous ...ratio was approximately 0.1:1. Central nervous system-related effects associated with propranolol and metoprolol appear to be the result of high brain

Effect of attrition milling on the reaction sintering of silicon nitride

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herbell, T. P.; Glasgow, T. K.; Yeh, H. C.

1978-01-01

Silicon powder was ground in a steel attrition mill under nitrogen. Air exposed powder was compacted, prefired in helium, and reaction sintered in nitrogen-4 v/o hydrogen. For longer grinding times, oxygen content, surface area and compactability of the powder increased; and both alpha/beta ratio and degreee of nitridation during sintering increased. Iron content remained constant.

Effect of attrition milling on the reaction sintering of silicon nitride

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herbell, T. P.; Glasgow, T. K.; Yeh, H. C.

1978-01-01

Silicon powder was ground in a steel attrition mill under nitrogen. Air-exposed powder was compacted, prefired in helium, and reaction-sintered in nitrogen-4 v/o hydrogen. For longer grinding times, oxygen content, surface area and compactability of the powder increased; and both alpha/beta ratio and degree of nitridation during sintering increased. Iron content remained constant.

Submillimeter studies of main-sequence stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zuckerman, B.; Becklin, E. E.

1993-01-01

JCMT maps of the 800-micron emission from Vega, Fomalhaut, and Beta Pictoris are interpreted to indicate that they are not ringed by large reservoirs of distant orbiting dust particles that are too cold to have been detected by IRAS. A search for 800-micron emission from stars in the Pleiades and Ursa Majoris open clusters is reported. In comparison with the mass of dust particles near T Tauri and Herbig Ae stars, the JCMT data indicate a decline in dust mass during the initial 3 x 10 exp 8 yr that a star spends on the main sequence that is at least as rapid as (time) exp -2. It is estimated that in the Kuiper belt the ratio of total mass carried by small particles to that carried by comets is orders of magnitude smaller than this ratio is 1 AU from the sun. If 800-micron opacities calculated by Pollack et al. (1993) are correct, then the particles with radii less than 100 microns that dominate the FIR fluxes measured by IRAS cannot entirely account for the measured 800-micron fluxes at Vega, Beta Pic, and Fomalhaut; larger particles must be present as well.

Nicotinoid and pyrethroid insecticide resistance in houseflies (Diptera: Muscidae) collected from Florida dairies.

PubMed

Kaufman, Phillip E; Nunez, Sonia C; Mann, Rajinder S; Geden, Christopher J; Scharf, Michael E

2010-03-01

The housefly, Musca domestica L., continues to be a major pest of confined livestock operations. Houseflies have developed resistance to most chemical classes, and new chemistries for use in animal agriculture are increasingly slow to emerge. Five adult housefly strains from four Florida dairy farms were evaluated for resistance to four insecticides (beta-cyfluthrin, permethrin, imidacloprid and nithiazine). Significant levels of tolerance were found in most field strains to all insecticides, and in some cases substantial resistance was apparent (as deduced from comparison with prior published results). At the LC(90) level, greater than 20-fold resistance was found in two of the fly strains for permethrin and one fly strain for imidacloprid. Beta-cyfluthrin LC(90) resistance ratios exceeded tenfold resistance in three fly strains. The relatively underutilized insecticide nithiazine had the lowest resistance ratios; however, fourfold LC(90) resistance was observed in one southern Florida fly strain. Farm insecticide use and its impact on resistance selection in Florida housefly populations are discussed. Housefly resistance to pyrethroids is widespread in Florida. Imidacloprid resistance is emerging, and tolerance was observed to both imidacloprid and nithiazine. If these insecticides are to retain efficacy, producer use must be restrained.

β -decay of very neutron-rich Pd and Ag nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Karl; S323 / S410 Collaboration

2013-10-01

The astrophysical origin of about half of the elements heavier than iron have been attributed to the rapid neutron capture process. The modeling of such a process requires not only the correct astrophysical conditions but also reliable nuclear physics. The properties of neutron-rich nuclei in the region just below the N = 82 shell closure are of particular interest as they are responsible for the A = 130 peak in the solar abundance pattern. An experiment to investigate half-lives and β-delayed neutron emission branching ratios of very neutron-rich Pd and Ag isotopes was performed at the GSI projectile FRagment Separator (FRS). The FRS was used to separate products from in-flight fission of a 900 MeV/u 238U beam. Ions of interest were then implanted in the Silicon IMplantation detector and Beta Absorber (SIMBA) array. The high pixelation of the implantation detectors allowed for time-position correlation of the order of several seconds between implants and decays. Neutrons emitted during the decay were detected by the BEta deLayEd Neutron detector (BELEN) which surrounded the SIMBA array. Resulting analysis of half-lives and neutron emission branching ratios including a time-dependent background will be presented.

Mystery spot in supernova 1987A - Reflection or fluorescence by an interstellar cloud?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Felten, James E.; Dwek, Eli; Viegas-Aldrovandi, Sueli M.

1989-01-01

This paper explores fluorescence and reflection models of the companion to SN 1987A obseved by speckle interferometry, recalling a 1901 precedent. The apparent small angular size of the companion is a severe constraint. A fluorescence model cannot reach the observed brightness unless the ultraviolet burst from the supernova contained as many as 2 x 10 to the 58th ionizing photons. This is about 25 times stronger than generous current models. Even then, the expected line ratios and widths do not fit the observations. The absence of narrow H-alpha and H-beta lines in the supernova spectrum, the ratio of fluxes of the companion in H-alpha and forbidden N II line filters, the invisibility of the companion at 4861 (H-beta), and its detection at 5330 fail to agree with theory. A dust-reflection model is more promising, and the color can be reddened by the evaporation of small grains, but the model still falls more than about 1 mag short in brightness. Furthermore, a dust reflection should have increased in relative brightness in May-June 1987, rather than disappearing as the mystery spot did. If all the observations are correct, neither model is likely to work.

Recent results in nucleocosmochronology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cowan, John J.; Thielemann, F.-K.; Truran, J. W.

Rates for beta-delayed neutron emission and fission have recently been calculated for the mass range 70-100. Using these new rates and the calculated rates for neutron capture, photodisintegration and beta decay, dynamical r-process calculations have been performed. For certain assumed conditions, these r-process calculations give a good fit to the solar system r-process abundance curve. These calculations have been used to obtain new production ratios for the nuclear chronometer pairs used to determine the age of the Galaxy - (Th-232)/(U-238) = 1.60, (U-235)/(U-238) = 1.16, and (Pu-244)/(U-238) = 0.40. Using the new production ratio for (Th-232)/(U-238) and (U-235)/(U238), with the observed meteoritic values for these nuclei and assuming a model of chemical evolution of the Galaxy, the age of the Galaxy has been determined. The results depend upon the initial nucleosynthesis enrichment in the Galactic disk, S0. While there are uncertainties in the calculations for a range of S0 from 0.1 to 0.3 (i.e., from 10 to 30 percent), the age of the Galaxy is found to be 12.4-14.7 Gyr.

An innovative bolometric Cherenkov-light detector for a double beta decay search

DOE PAGES

Novati, V.; Artusa, D. R.; Avignone, F. T.; ...

2017-10-31

Here, we present here an innovative cryogenic light detector capable to measure a few tens of eV signal thanks to the amplification assisted by the Neganov-Luke effect. The thermal signal boost in the presence of an electric field allows us to improve the signal-to-noise ratio reaching a baseline noise of around 20 eV. This device - coupled to an enriched 130TeO 2 bolometer (435 g) - registered 160 eV Cherenkov light signal induced by 2615 keV 208 Tl with a signal to noise ratio about 6:1. Since α particles emitted in decays of natural radionuclides do not produce the Cherenkovmore » radiation, we were then able to achieve an efficient α/γ separation in the region of interest for neutrinoless double beta decay of 130 Te (Q-value is 2527 keV). Specifically, a rejection factor of 99.9% for α particles was obtained with a 98.3% acceptance of β/γ events. The achieved α rejection efficiency is required to reduce the dominant α background in the follow-up of the CUORE experiment (CUPID), a ton-scale bolometric search with particle identification.« less

Validating urinary measurement of beta-2-microglobulin with a Roche reagent kit designed for serum measurements.

PubMed

Chan, Pak Cheung R; Kulasingam, Vathany; Lem-Ragosnig, Bonny

2012-11-01

To validate the use of a Roche serum beta-2-microglobulin (B2MG) kit for urinary B2MG measurements, and to establish reference limits for urinary B2MG/creatinine ratio from healthy individuals. The Roche B2MG Tina-Quant serum kit was used to measure urinary B2MG immunoturbidimetrically. Using human urine as a diluent, the B2MG method was linear from 73-2156 μg/L. The imprecision on a commercially available urine QC was 4.4% at a concentration of 380 μg/L. Limit of quantification at <20% CV was 40 μg/L. Method comparison with Immulite 2000 (Siemens) yielded slope=1.180 (95% CI 1.14-1.22), intercept=11.5 (95% CI -3.6-26.6), SEE=27.6 and r=0.99 (n=26) by the Deming regression analysis. The upper reference limit of B2MG/creatinine ratio determined from 195 healthy adults was 29 μg/mmol (97.5th centile). The serum B2MG Tina Quant reagent kit is acceptable to measure urinary B2MG. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc.

RHEB expression in fibroadenomas of the breast.

PubMed

Eom, Minseob; Han, Airi; Yi, Sang Yeop; Shin, John Junghun; Cui, Ying; Park, Kwang Hwa

2008-04-01

Although fibroadenoma is one of the most common types of benign breast tumor, genes specific to the tumor have not been identified. Microarrays were used to identify differentially expressed genes between fibroadenoma and infiltrating ductal carcinoma. The comparative expression of one of the identified genes, RAS homolog enriched in the brain (RHEB), was further explored using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Microarray analysis was performed on tissue samples from five patients with fibroadenoma. In the fibroadenoma samples, the genes HDAC1, ROS1, TNFRSF10A, WASP2, TYRP1, WEE1, and RHEB were expressed at levels more than twofold higher than in the normal tissues. RT-PCR for RHEB indicated increased expression of RHEB in fibroadenoma compared to breast cancer. When studied with real-time PCR, the average RHEB/beta-actin ratio in fibroadenoma samples was 1.99, 2.46-fold greater than the average RHEB/beta-actin ratio in breast carcinoma of 0.81 (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemistry and PCR followed by microdissection shows increased expression of RHEB in epithelial cells compared to the stromal cells of fibroadenoma. Therefore, RHEB could be used cytopathologically to distinguish fibroadenoma from malignant breast carcinomas as a secondary diagnostic tool.

An innovative bolometric Cherenkov-light detector for a double beta decay search

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

Novati, V.; Artusa, D. R.; Avignone, F. T.

Here, we present here an innovative cryogenic light detector capable to measure a few tens of eV signal thanks to the amplification assisted by the Neganov-Luke effect. The thermal signal boost in the presence of an electric field allows us to improve the signal-to-noise ratio reaching a baseline noise of around 20 eV. This device - coupled to an enriched 130TeO 2 bolometer (435 g) - registered 160 eV Cherenkov light signal induced by 2615 keV 208 Tl with a signal to noise ratio about 6:1. Since α particles emitted in decays of natural radionuclides do not produce the Cherenkovmore » radiation, we were then able to achieve an efficient α/γ separation in the region of interest for neutrinoless double beta decay of 130 Te (Q-value is 2527 keV). Specifically, a rejection factor of 99.9% for α particles was obtained with a 98.3% acceptance of β/γ events. The achieved α rejection efficiency is required to reduce the dominant α background in the follow-up of the CUORE experiment (CUPID), a ton-scale bolometric search with particle identification.« less

The effect of plasma beta on high-n ballooning stability at low magnetic shear

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Connor, J. W.; Ham, C. J.; Hastie, R. J.

2016-08-01

An explanation of the observed improvement in H-mode pedestal characteristics with increasing core plasma pressure or poloidal beta, {β\\text{pol}} , as observed in MAST and JET, is sought in terms of the impact of the Shafranov shift, {{Δ }\\prime} , on ideal ballooning MHD stability. To illustrate this succinctly, a self-consistent treatment of the low magnetic shear region of the ‘s-α ’ stability diagram is presented using the large aspect ratio Shafranov equilibrium, but enhancing both α and {{Δ }\\prime} so that they compete with each other. The method of averaging, valid at low s, is used to simplify the calculation and demonstrates how α , {{Δ }\\prime} , plasma shaping and ‘average favourable curvature’ all contribute to stability.