Gesturing with an Injured Brain: How Gesture Helps Children with Early Brain Injury Learn Linguistic Constructions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ozcaliskan, Seyda; Levine, Susan C.; Goldin-Meadow, Susan

2013-01-01

Children with pre/perinatal unilateral brain lesions (PL) show remarkable plasticity for language development. Is this plasticity characterized by the same developmental trajectory that characterizes typically developing (TD) children, with gesture leading the way into speech? We explored this question, comparing eleven children with PL -- matched…

WATEQF; a FORTRAN IV version of WATEQ : a computer program for calculating chemical equilibrium of natural waters

USGS Publications Warehouse

Plummer, Niel; Jones, Blair F.; Truesdell, Alfred Hemingway

1976-01-01

WATEQF is a FORTRAN IV computer program that models the thermodynamic speciation of inorganic ions and complex species in solution for a given water analysis. The original version (WATEQ) was written in 1973 by A. H. Truesdell and B. F. Jones in Programming Language/one (PL/1.) With but a few exceptions, the thermochemical data, speciation, coefficients, and general calculation procedure of WATEQF is identical to the PL/1 version. This report notes the differences between WATEQF and WATEQ, demonstrates how to set up the input data to execute WATEQF, provides a test case for comparison, and makes available a listing of WATEQF. (Woodard-USGS)

Advances in Early Communication and Language Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaiser, Ann P.; Roberts, Megan Y.

2011-01-01

Learning to communicate using speech and language is a primary developmental task for young children. Delays in the acquisition of language are one of the earliest indicators of developmental deficits that may affect academic and social outcomes for individuals across the life span. In the period since the passage of PL 99-457, significant…

Narrative Skill in Children with Early Unilateral Brain Injury: A Possible Limit to Functional Plasticity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Demir, Ozlem Ece; Levine, Susan C.; Goldin-Meadow, Susan

2010-01-01

Children with pre- or perinatal brain injury (PL) exhibit marked plasticity for language learning. Previous work has focused mostly on the emergence of earlier-developing skills, such as vocabulary and syntax. Here we ask whether this plasticity for earlier-developing aspects of language extends to more complex, later-developing language functions…

Quantifying the Efficiency of a Translator: The Effect of Syntactical and Literal Written Translations on Language Comprehension Using the Machine Translation System FALCon

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCulloh, Ian A.; Morton, Jillian; Jantzi, Jennifer K.; Rodriguez, Amy M.; Graham, John

2008-01-01

This study introduces a new method of evaluating human comprehension in the context of machine translation using a language translation program known as the FALCon (Forward Area Language Converter). The participants include 48 freshmen from the United States Military Academy enrolled in the General Psychology course, PL100. Results of this study…

The numerical solution of ordinary differential equations by the Taylor series method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silver, A. H.; Sullivan, E.

1973-01-01

A programming implementation of the Taylor series method is presented for solving ordinary differential equations. The compiler is written in PL/1, and the target language is FORTRAN IV. The reduction of a differential system to rational form is described along with the procedures required for automatic numerical integration. The Taylor method is compared with two other methods for a number of differential equations. Algorithms using the Taylor method to find the zeroes of a given differential equation and to evaluate partial derivatives are presented. An annotated listing of the PL/1 program which performs the reduction and code generation is given. Listings of the FORTRAN routines used by the Taylor series method are included along with a compilation of all the recurrence formulas used to generate the Taylor coefficients for non-rational functions.

TRANSL--The PLANIT Translator Program: Installation and Application

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-05-01

to find on a commercial computer of comparable size. Instead of the usual menu of programming languages, it has only TACPOL (a PL-1 like...aaxaaui »- o I I oo ccvootu-’Ui ttee ►-»- .►-o.ij 2U3 WO VJUiU-lk uizo "-w •"« UI Z I Kfc » ko I OOOOOO.OOOOOOCXJOOOWOOOOOO’O

Teaching the Tacit Knowledge of Programming to Novices with Natural Language Tutoring

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lane, H. Chad; VanLehn, Kurt

2005-01-01

For beginning programmers, inadequate problem solving and planning skills are among the most salient of their weaknesses. In this paper, we test the efficacy of natural language tutoring to teach and scaffold acquisition of these skills. We describe ProPL (Pro-PELL), a dialogue-based intelligent tutoring system that elicits goal decompositions and…

Definition of an auxiliary processor dedicated to real-time operating system kernels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halang, Wolfgang A.

1988-01-01

In order to increase the efficiency of process control data processing, it is necessary to enhance the productivity of real time high level languages and to automate the task administration, because presently 60 percent or more of the applications are still programmed in assembly languages. This may be achieved by migrating apt functions for the support of process control oriented languages into the hardware, i.e., by new architectures. Whereas numerous high level languages have already been defined or realized, there are no investigations yet on hardware assisted implementation of real time features. The requirements to be fulfilled by languages and operating systems in hard real time environment are summarized. A comparison of the most prominent languages, viz. Ada, HAL/S, LTR, Pearl, as well as the real time extensions of FORTRAN and PL/1, reveals how existing languages meet these demands and which features still need to be incorporated to enable the development of reliable software with predictable program behavior, thus making it possible to carry out a technical safety approval. Accordingly, Pearl proved to be the closest match to the mentioned requirements.

Adaptation and Validation of the ADOS-2, Polish Version

PubMed Central

Chojnicka, Izabela; Pisula, Ewa

2017-01-01

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is one of the most popular instruments used world-widely in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Unfortunately, there are only a few studies of the psychometric properties of non-English language versions of this instrument and none of the adaptation of its second edition (ADOS-2). The objective of this study was to verify the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2-PL). The authors recruited 401 participants: 193 with ASDs (ASD group) and 78 with non-spectrum disorders, plus 130 typically developing participants (control group). ADOS-2-PL was found to have high interrater reliability, internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a good fit of the Polish data to the two-factor model of ADOS-2. As no significant differences were found between participants with childhood autism and other ASDs, only one cut-off was established for Modules 1–4. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of ADOS-2-PL are high: sensitivity was over 90% (only for the “Older with some words” algorithm in the Toddler Module the sensitivity was 71% and “Aged 5 years or older” algorithm in Module 2 sensitivity was 84%), specificity was above 80% (with the exception of the Module 4 and Module 2 “Aged 5 years or older” algorithm where it was above 70%). The results support the use of ADOS-2-PL in clinical practice and scientific research. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports to date about adaptations of ADOS-2 and the psychometric properties of non-English language versions. As such, this constitutes the first attempt at adapting ADOS-2, and its results could be of interest for researchers outside of Poland. PMID:29163293

MINDS: A microcomputer interactive data system for 8086-based controllers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soeder, J. F.

1985-01-01

A microcomputer interactive data system (MINDS) software package for the 8086 family of microcomputers is described. To enhance program understandability and ease of code maintenance, the software is written in PL/M-86, Intel Corporation's high-level system implementation language. The MINDS software is intended to run in residence with real-time digital control software to provide displays of steady-state and transient data. In addition, the MINDS package provides classic monitor capabilities along with extended provisions for debugging an executing control system. The software uses the CP/M-86 operating system developed by Digital Research, Inc., to provide program load capabilities along with a uniform file structure for data and table storage. Finally, a library of input and output subroutines to be used with consoles equipped with PL/M-86 and assembly language is described.

Structural and Biochemical Analyses Reveal the Mechanism of Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1 Inhibition by the Anti-cancer Compound Piperlongumine.

PubMed

Harshbarger, Wayne; Gondi, Sudershan; Ficarro, Scott B; Hunter, John; Udayakumar, Durga; Gurbani, Deepak; Singer, William D; Liu, Yan; Li, Lianbo; Marto, Jarrod A; Westover, Kenneth D

2017-01-06

Glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) is frequently overexpressed in cancerous tumors and is a putative target of the plant compound piperlongumine (PL), which contains two reactive olefins and inhibits proliferation in cancer cells but not normal cells. PL exposure of cancer cells results in increased reactive oxygen species and decreased GSH. These data in tandem with other information led to the conclusion that PL inhibits GSTP1, which forms covalent bonds between GSH and various electrophilic compounds, through covalent adduct formation at the C7-C8 olefin of PL, whereas the C2-C3 olefin of PL was postulated to react with GSH. However, direct evidence for this mechanism has been lacking. To investigate, we solved the X-ray crystal structure of GSTP1 bound to PL and GSH at 1.1 Å resolution to rationalize previously reported structure activity relationship studies. Surprisingly, the structure showed that a hydrolysis product of PL (hPL) was conjugated to glutathione at the C7-C8 olefin, and this complex was bound to the active site of GSTP1; no covalent bond formation between hPL and GSTP1 was observed. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of the reactions between PL and GSTP1 confirmed that PL does not label GSTP1. Moreover, MS data also indicated that nucleophilic attack on PL at the C2-C3 olefin led to PL hydrolysis. Although hPL inhibits GSTP1 enzymatic activity in vitro, treatment of cells susceptible to PL with hPL did not have significant anti-proliferative effects, suggesting that hPL is not membrane-permeable. Altogether, our data suggest a model wherein PL is a prodrug whose intracellular hydrolysis initiates the formation of the hPL-GSH conjugate, which blocks the active site of and inhibits GSTP1 and thereby cancer cell proliferation. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Structural and Biochemical Analyses Reveal the Mechanism of Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1 Inhibition by the Anti-cancer Compound Piperlongumine*

PubMed Central

Harshbarger, Wayne; Gondi, Sudershan; Ficarro, Scott B.; Hunter, John; Udayakumar, Durga; Gurbani, Deepak; Singer, William D.; Liu, Yan; Li, Lianbo; Marto, Jarrod A.; Westover, Kenneth D.

2017-01-01

Glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) is frequently overexpressed in cancerous tumors and is a putative target of the plant compound piperlongumine (PL), which contains two reactive olefins and inhibits proliferation in cancer cells but not normal cells. PL exposure of cancer cells results in increased reactive oxygen species and decreased GSH. These data in tandem with other information led to the conclusion that PL inhibits GSTP1, which forms covalent bonds between GSH and various electrophilic compounds, through covalent adduct formation at the C7-C8 olefin of PL, whereas the C2-C3 olefin of PL was postulated to react with GSH. However, direct evidence for this mechanism has been lacking. To investigate, we solved the X-ray crystal structure of GSTP1 bound to PL and GSH at 1.1 Å resolution to rationalize previously reported structure activity relationship studies. Surprisingly, the structure showed that a hydrolysis product of PL (hPL) was conjugated to glutathione at the C7-C8 olefin, and this complex was bound to the active site of GSTP1; no covalent bond formation between hPL and GSTP1 was observed. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of the reactions between PL and GSTP1 confirmed that PL does not label GSTP1. Moreover, MS data also indicated that nucleophilic attack on PL at the C2-C3 olefin led to PL hydrolysis. Although hPL inhibits GSTP1 enzymatic activity in vitro, treatment of cells susceptible to PL with hPL did not have significant anti-proliferative effects, suggesting that hPL is not membrane-permeable. Altogether, our data suggest a model wherein PL is a prodrug whose intracellular hydrolysis initiates the formation of the hPL-GSH conjugate, which blocks the active site of and inhibits GSTP1 and thereby cancer cell proliferation. PMID:27872191

Comparison of long-term outcome between anti-Jo1- and anti-PL7/PL12 positive patients with antisynthetase syndrome.

PubMed

Marie, I; Josse, S; Decaux, O; Dominique, S; Diot, E; Landron, C; Roblot, P; Jouneau, S; Hatron, P Y; Tiev, K P; Vittecoq, O; Noel, D; Mouthon, L; Menard, J-F; Jouen, F

2012-08-01

The aims of the present study were to: compare the characteristics between antisynthetase syndrome (ASS) patients with anti-Jo1 antibody and those with anti-PL7/PL12 antibody. The medical records of 95 consecutive patients with ASS were reviewed. Seventy-five of these patients had anti-Jo1 antibody; the other patients had anti-PL7 (n=15) or anti-PL12 (n=5) antibody. At ASS diagnosis, the prevalence of myalgia (p=0.007) and muscle weakness (p=0.02) was significantly lower in the group of anti-PL7/PL12-positive patients than in those with anti-Jo1 antibody; median value of CK (p=0.00003) was also lower in anti-PL7/PL12 patients. Anti-Jo1 positive patients developed more rarely myositis resolution (21.3% vs. 46.2%); in addition, the overall recurrence rate of myositis was higher in anti-Jo1 positive patients than in patients with anti-PL7/PL12 antibody (65.9% vs. 19.4%). Anti-Jo1-positive patients, compared with those with anti-PL7/PL12 antibody, more often experienced: joint involvement (63.3%vs. 40%) and cancer (13.3% vs. 5%). By contrast, anti-PL7/PL12 positive patients, compared with those with anti-Jo1 antibody, more commonly exhibited: ILD (90% vs. 68%); in anti-PL7/PL12 positive patients, ILD was more often symptomatic at diagnosis, and led more rarely to resolution of lung manifestations (5.6% vs. 29.4%). Finally, the group of anti-PL7/PL12 positive patients more commonly experienced gastrointestinal manifestations related to ASS (p=0.02). Taken together, although anti-Jo1 positive patients with ASS share some features with those with anti-PL7/PL12 antibody, they exhibit many differences regarding clinical phenotype and long-term outcome. Our study underscores that the presence of anti-Jo1 antibody results in more severe myositis, joint impairment and increased risk of cancer. On the other hand, the presence of anti-PL7/PL12 antibody is markedly associated with: early and severe ILD, and gastrointestinal complications. Thus, our study interestingly indicates that the finding for anti-Jo1 and anti-PL7/PL12 antibodies impacts both the long-term outcome and prognosis of patients with ASS. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of agreement of placental growth factor (PlGF) tests and the soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1)/PlGF ratio, comparison of predictive accuracy for pre-eclampsia, and relation to uterine artery Doppler and response to aspirin.

PubMed

Navaratnam, Kate; Abreu, Patricia; Clarke, Helen; Jorgensen, Andrea; Alfirevic, Ana; Alfirevic, Zarko

2017-09-11

The objective of this study is to evaluate agreement between PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio tests and compare their predictive accuracy for pre-eclampsia in high-risk women. Also, to examine for associations of abnormal PlGF or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio with abnormal uterine artery Doppler and platelet response to aspirin. Prospective cohort study, 150 pregnant women at high risk of pre-eclampsia prescribed 75 mg aspirin daily. Uterine artery Dopplers were assessed at 20 +0 -23 +6 weeks. At 33 +0 -35 +6 weeks platelet function aspirin metabolites, PlGF and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were measured. Measures were all pre-eclampsia and pre-eclampsia requiring delivery prior to 37 weeks. Overall percent agreement was 89.3% for PlGF tests but 74.7-78% for PlGF tests and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. AUCs were 0.70-0.75 for prediction of any pre-eclampsia and 0.92-0.99 for preterm pre-eclampsia. We found a significant association between abnormal PlGF or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and abnormal uterine artery Doppler (χ 2 5.47, p = .019), but no association with platelet response to aspirin (χ 2 0.12, p = .913). There were no associations between suboptimal aspirin adherence and either abnormal angiogenic markers or uterine artery Dopplers (χ 2 0.144, 0.038, p = .704, .846, respectively). There was good agreement between PlGF tests and limited agreement between PlGF tests and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. All tests have heightened predictive accuracy for preterm pre-eclampsia. Abnormal PlGF or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio relates to abnormal uterine artery Doppler but not platelet response to aspirin.

Synchronization of Combat Power at the Task Force Level: Defining a Planning Methodology

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-01-01

tachments) LOCATION SCT ARTY CAS AH SMOKE MORTAR FASCAM TI ME EST ACTUAL. Current Future LD PL 1 X Atk Porn PL 2 PL3 OBJ X PL 1 LD PL 2 FL3 OBJ PL 2 PL 1...learned in medical school to 138 identify the aorta only to arrive at St. Elsewhere, where they call it "the big blue boy .* Right now the US Army has a

Transformer Specification Language: A System for Generating Analyzers and Its Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

like to thank present and former colleagues in PL group, Evan Driscoll, Aditya Thakur, Matt Elder, Tushar Sharma , Prathmesh Prabhu, Tycho Andersen, Emma...Robert Cohn, Robert Muth, Harish Patil, Artur Klauser, Geoff Lowney, Steven Wallace, Vijay Janapa Reddi, and Kim Hazelwood. Pin: building customized

Deconvolution of mixtures with high plagioclase content for the remote interpretation of lunar plagioclase-rich regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serventi, Giovanna; Carli, Cristian; Sgavetti, Maria

2016-07-01

Anorthositic rocks are widespread on the lunar surface and have probably been formed by flotation of PL over a magma ocean. A large portion of pristine rocks are characterized by a low Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratio, and have been classified as ferroan anorthosite, and recently, after observation from SELENE Spectral Profiler,pure anorthosites regions with more than 98% PL have been recognized. In this paper, we analyze a set of mixtures with PL content similar to the ferroan anorthosites and to the pure anorthosite regions, using the Origin Software and the Modified Gaussian Model. We consider three plagioclases with varying FeOwt% contents (PL1, PL2 and PL3)andthree mafic end-members (1) 100% orthopyroxene, (2) 56% orthopyroxene and 44% clinopyroxene, and (3) 100% olivine (OL). The spectral parameters considered here are: band depth, band center, band width, c0 (the continuum intercept) and c1 (the continuum offset). Here we have shown that in pyroxene (PX)-bearing mixtures, the PX is distinguishable even in mixtures with only 1% PX and that PX band at ca. 900 nm is always deeper than PL1 band while PL2 and PL3 are deeperthan OPX 900 nm band from 95, 96% PL. In OL-bearing mixtures, OL detection limit is 2% when mixed with PL1, and 3% and 4% if mixed with PL2 and PL3. We also demonstrated how spectral parameters vary with PL%, and, generally, increasing the PL content: (1) 1250 nm band depth decreases when mixed with OL, while it deepens in mixtures with PX; (2) 1250 nm band centers generally move towards longer wavelength for PL1-bearing mixtures, while do not show significant variations considering PL2/PL3-mixtures; (3) 1250 nm band width of PL1 in E1 and E5-mixtures substantially widens while in other mixtures it only slightly varies. Here we also proposed an application to a real case, from Proclus crater, revealing how studying terrestrial analogues is fundamental to infer hypothesis on the mineralogical composition of a planetary surface, but also how the spectral convergence of spectra characterized by different compositions can led to misleading interpretations.

Theoretical Study of Operational Limits of High-Speed Quantum Dot Lasers

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-09

esc − vLn,captnL − b1 BnL pL, (1) b1 ∂pL ∂ t = p L QW τLp,esc − vLp,capt pL − b1 BnL pL, (2) for free holes and electrons on the right-hand side of...on the left- hand side of the OCL can be written as follows: pLQW τp,esc = vLp,capt pL + b1 BnL pL. (28) Substituting pLQW/τp,esc−vLp,capt pL = b1 BnL ...pL in (6), we have B2Dn L QW p L QW + b1 BnL pL = wLp,tunn pL,QW1 NS fp − wLp,tunn NS(1 − fp)pLQW. (29) As seen from (29), bimolecular recombination

Flowcharting with D-charts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meyer, D.

1985-01-01

A D-Chart is a style of flowchart using control symbols highly appropriate to modern structured programming languages. The intent of a D-Chart is to provide a clear and concise one-for-one mapping of control symbols to high-level language constructs for purposes of design and documentation. The notation lends itself to both high-level and code-level algorithmic description. The various issues that may arise when representing, in D-Chart style, algorithms expressed in the more popular high-level languages are addressed. In particular, the peculiarities of mapping control constructs for Ada, PASCAL, FORTRAN 77, C, PL/I, Jovial J73, HAL/S, and Algol are discussed.

Flowcharting with D-charts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meyer, D. D.

1985-01-01

A D-Chart is a style of flowchart using control symbols highly appropriate to modern structured programming languages. The intent of a D-Chart is to provide a clear and concise one-for-one mapping of control symbols to high-level language constructs for purposes of design and documentation. The notation lends itself to both high-level and code-level algorithmic description. The various issues that may arise when representing, in D-Chart style, algorithms expressed in the more popular high-level languages are addressed. In particular, the peculiarities of mapping control constructs for Ada, PASCAL, FORTRAN 77, C, PL/I, Joviai J73, HAL/S, and Algol are discussed.

Computer enhancement through interpretive techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foster, G.; Spaanenburg, H. A. E.; Stumpf, W. E.

1972-01-01

The improvement in the usage of the digital computer through the use of the technique of interpretation rather than the compilation of higher ordered languages was investigated by studying the efficiency of coding and execution of programs written in FORTRAN, ALGOL, PL/I and COBOL. FORTRAN was selected as the high level language for examining programs which were compiled, and A Programming Language (APL) was chosen for the interpretive language. It is concluded that APL is competitive, not because it and the algorithms being executed are well written, but rather because the batch processing is less efficient than has been admitted. There is not a broad base of experience founded on trying different implementation strategies which have been targeted at open competition with traditional processing methods.

1976-1977 Johnson-O'Malley Technical Assistance Handbook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leonard, Terry

Designed to provide a practical approach to the rules and regulations governing implementation of the American Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (PL 93-638) in conjunction with the Johnson-O'Malley Act (JOM), this technical assistance handbook is written in comic book style. Using straightforward language, this manual…

Immobilization of recombinant pectate lyase from Clostridium thermocellum ATCC-27405 on magnetic nanoparticles for bioscouring of cotton fabric.

PubMed

Chakraborty, Soumyadeep; Jagan Mohan Rao, Tingirikari; Goyal, Arun

2017-01-01

Recombinant pectate lyase from family 1 polysaccharide lyase (PL1B) was immobilized on synthesized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) after 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride activation. At 70 mg/mL MNPs 100% binding of 1 mg/mL PL1B was achieved. The immobilized PL1B-MNP displayed activity of 20.3 and 18.2 U/mg against polygalacturonic acid and citrus pectin, respectively, which was higher than the activity of free PL1B, on the same substrates of 17.8 and 16.2 U/mg. The immobilized PL1B-MNP showed 32 fold and 14 fold enhanced thermal stability at 80°C and 90°C, respectively as compared with free PL1B at same temperatures. At high temperature the immobilized PL1B-MNP retained its activity for a longer duration than free PL1B. The immobilized PL1B-MNP could be reused till five cycles and after that it retained 70% of initial activity. It could be easily recovered from the reaction mixture with the help of a magnet. Bioscouring of cotton fabric was carried out with immobilized PL1B-MNP which showed efficient removal of pectin from the fabric surface. The enhanced wettability of fabric resulted in the decrease of the water absorbing time period from 3 min taken by the free PL1B treated fabric to 15 s taken by the immobilized PL1B-MNP treated fabric. As per our knowledge this is the first attempt of bioscouring of coarse cotton fabric by pectinase immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:231-244, 2017. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Antiglutamate Receptor Antibodies and Cognitive Impairment in Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

PubMed Central

Gerosa, Maria; Poletti, Barbara; Pregnolato, Francesca; Castellino, Gabriella; Lafronza, Annalisa; Silani, Vincenzo; Riboldi, Piersandro; Meroni, Pier Luigi; Merrill, Joan T.

2016-01-01

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome have an increased risk to develop cognitive impairment. A possible role for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and antiglutamate receptor (anti-NMDA) antibodies in the pathogenesis of neurological manifestations of these two conditions, have been suggested. In particular, the role of anti-NMDA antibodies in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric SLE is supported by several experimental studies in animal models and by the finding of a correlation between anti-NMDA positivity in cerebrospinal fluid and neurological manifestations of SLE. However, data from the literature are controversial, as several studies have reported a correlation of these antibodies with mild cognitive impairment in SLE, but more recent studies have not confirmed this finding. The synergism between anti-NMDA and other concomitant autoantibodies, such as aPL, can be hypothesized to play a role in inducing the tissue damage and eventually the functional abnormalities. In line with this hypothesis, we have found a high incidence of at least one impaired cognitive domain in a small cohort of patients with primary APS (PAPS) and SLE. Interestingly, aPL were associated with low scoring for language ability and attention while anti-NMDA titers and mini-mental state examination scoring were inversely correlated. However, when patients were stratified according to the presence/absence of aPL, the correlation was confirmed in aPL positive patients only. Should those findings be confirmed, the etiology of the prevalent defects found in PAPS patients as well as the synergism between aPL and anti-NMDA antibodies would need to be explored. PMID:26870034

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

Han, Seong-Su, E-mail: seong-su-han@uiowa.edu; Han, Sangwoo; Kamberos, Natalie L.

Highlights: • PL inhibits the proliferation of B-ALL cell lines irrespective of GC-resistance. • PL selectively kills B-ALL cells by increasing ROS, but not normal counterpart. • PL does not sensitize majority of B-ALL cells to DEX. • PL represses the network of constitutively activated TFs and modulates their target genes. • PL may serve as a new therapeutic molecule for GC-resistant B-ALL. - Abstract: Piperlongumine (PL), a pepper plant alkaloid from Piper longum, has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. PL selectively kills both solid and hematologic cancer cells, but not normal counterparts. Here we evaluated the effect of PL onmore » the proliferation and survival of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), including glucocorticoid (GC)-resistant B-ALL. Regardless of GC-resistance, PL inhibited the proliferation of all B-ALL cell lines, but not normal B cells, in a dose- and time-dependent manner and induced apoptosis via elevation of ROS. Interestingly, PL did not sensitize most of B-ALL cell lines to dexamethasone (DEX). Only UoC-B1 exhibited a weak synergistic effect between PL and DEX. All B-ALL cell lines tested exhibited constitutive activation of multiple transcription factors (TFs), including AP-1, MYC, NF-κB, SP1, STAT1, STAT3, STAT6 and YY1. Treatment of the B-ALL cells with PL significantly downregulated these TFs and modulated their target genes. While activation of AURKB, BIRC5, E2F1, and MYB mRNA levels were significantly downregulated by PL, but SOX4 and XBP levels were increased by PL. Intriguingly, PL also increased the expression of p21 in B-ALL cells through a p53-independent mechanism. Given that these TFs and their target genes play critical roles in a variety of hematological malignancies, our findings provide a strong preclinical rationale for considering PL as a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of B-cell malignancies, including B-ALL and GC-resistant B-ALL.« less

Placental growth factor enhances angiogenesis in human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells via PI3K/Akt pathway: Potential implications of inflammation bowel disease

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

Zhou, Yi, E-mail: mondayzy@126.com; Tu, Chuantao, E-mail: tu.chuantao@zs-hospital.sh.cn; Zhao, Yuan, E-mail: zhao.yuan@zs-hospital.sh.cn

Background: Angiogenesis plays a major role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a specific regulator of pathological angiogenesis and is upregulated in the sera of IBD patients. Therefore, the role of PlGF in IBD angiogenesis was investigated here using HIMECs. Methods: The expression of PlGF and its receptors in human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (HIMECs) and inflamed mucosa of IBD patients were examined using quantitative PCR and western blot analysis and the role of PlGF in IBD HIMECs was further explored using small interfering RNA (siRNA). The induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine by PlGFmore » in HIMECs was confirmed by ELISA. The capacity of PlGF to induce angiogenesis in HIMECs was tested through proliferation, cell-migration, matrigel tubule-formation assays and its underlying signaling pathway were explored by western blot analysis of ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt phosphorylation. Results: mRNA and protein expression of PlGF and its receptor NRP-1 were significantly increased in IBD HIMECs. Inflamed mucosa of IBD patients also displayed higher expression of PIGF. The production of IL-6 and TNF-α in culture supernatant of HIMECs treated with exogenous recombinant human PlGF-1 (rhPlGF-1) were increased. Furthermore, rhPlGF-1 significantly induced HIMECs migration and tube formation in a dose-dependent manner and knockdown of endogenous PlGF in IBD HIMECs using siRNA substantially reduced these angiogenesis activities. PlGF induced PI3K/Akt phosphorylation in HIMECs and pretreatment of PlGF-stimulated HIMECs with PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) significantly inhibited the PlGF-induced cell migration and tube formation. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the pro-inflammatory and angiogenic effects of PlGF on HIMECs in IBD through activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. PlGF/PI3K/Akt signaling may serve as a potential therapeutic target for IBD. - Highlights: • Expression of PlGF and its receptor NRP-1 were significantly increased in IBD HIMECs. • Exogenous rhPlGF-1 treatment significantly induced HIMECs migration and tube formation. • Knockdown of endogenous PlGF in IBD HIMECs using siRNA substantially reduced cell angiogenesis activities. • PlGF induced PI3K/Akt phosphorylation in HIMECs which is required for PIGF-induced cell migration and tube formation.« less

Targeting placental growth factor/neuropilin 1 pathway inhibits growth and spread of medulloblastoma

PubMed Central

Snuderl, Matija; Batista, Ana; Kirkpatrick, Nathaniel D.; de Almodovar, Carmen Ruiz; Riedemann, Lars; Walsh, Elisa C.; Anolik, Rachel; Huang, Yuhui; Martin, John D.; Kamoun, Walid; Knevels, Ellen; Schmidt, Thomas; Farrar, Christian T.; Vakoc, Benjamin J.; Mohan, Nishant; Chung, Euiheon; Roberge, Sylvie; Peterson, Teresa; Bais, Carlos; Zhelyazkova, Boryana H.; Yip, Stephen; Hasselblatt, Martin; Rossig, Claudia; Niemeyer, Elisabeth; Ferrara, Napoleone; Klagsbrun, Michael; Duda, Dan G.; Fukumura, Dai; Xu, Lei; Carmeliet, Peter; Jain, Rakesh K.

2013-01-01

SUMMARY Medulloblastoma is the most common pediatric malignant brain tumor. Although current therapies improve survival, these regimens are highly toxic and associated with significant morbidity. Here, we report that placental growth factor (PlGF) is expressed in the majority of medulloblastomas independent of their subtype. Moreover, high expression of PlGF receptor neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) correlates with poor overall survival in patients. We demonstrate that PlGF and Nrp1 are required for the growth and spread of medulloblastoma: PlGF/Nrp1 blockade results in direct antitumor effects in vivo, resulting in medulloblastoma regression, decreased metastases, and increased mouse survival. We reveal that PlGF is produced in the cerebellar stroma via tumor-derived Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and show that PlGF acts through Nrp1—and not vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1)—to promote tumor cell survival. This critical tumor-stroma interaction—mediated by Shh, PlGF, and Nrp1 across medulloblastoma subtypes—supports the development of therapies targeting PlGF/Nrp1 pathway. PMID:23452854

Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Recurrent Thrombotic Events: Persistence and Portfolio

PubMed Central

Amory, Colum F.; Levine, Steve R.; Brey, Robin L.; Gebregziabher, Mulugeta; Tuhrim, Stanley; Tilley, Barbara C.; Simpson, Ann-Catherin N.; Sacco, Ralph L.; Mohr, J.P.

2015-01-01

Background There are very limited prospective data on the significance of persistent of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and recurrent thrombo-occlusive events (TOEs). We investigated the prognostic value of (1) two newer aPL assays, (2) an aPL portfolio, and (3) persistent aPL positivity following stroke. Methods 1,770 subjects from the APASS-WARSS study underwent further aPL testing for antibodies to phosphatidylserine (aPS) and β2-glycoprotein-I (anti-β2GPI) from stored sera. Follow-up aPL status was also tested in a subset of subjects. Primary analysis was based on time to any TOE (ischemic stroke, MI, TIA, DVT, PE, or systemic arterial occlusion)/death at 2 years. Cox proportional hazard analyses assessed whether aPL independently related to outcome. Results Persistent anti-β2GPI decreased the time to TOE/death after adjustment for potential confounders (HR=2.86, CI 1.21-6.76, p=0.017). When persistent anti-β2GPI was combined with another persistently positive aPL, time to TOE/death was also reduced (HR=3.79, CI 1.18-12.14, p=0.025). Neither persistent aCL, persistent aPS alone, nor a single positive anti-β2GPI or aPS was associated with decreased time to TOE/death. No single positive aPL, portfolio of baseline aPL, or any persistent aPL increased the rate of TOE/death. Conclusions Rates of TOE/death were not influenced by aPL results at baseline or follow-up. Persistent anti-β2GPI alone and with persistent second aPL were independently associated with decreased time to TOE/death. Persistent aPL, an aPL portfolio, and newer aPL in ischemic stroke patients are not helpful in predicting an increased rate of recurrent TOEs. PMID:26513489

Personnel Needs--Allied Health Personnel Meeting the Demands of Part H, P.L. 99-457.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yoder, David E.; And Others

This report describes personnel development issues relating to the involvement of occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists in implementing Part H of Public Law 99-457, which calls for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. To determine personnel needs for…

Access to the General Curriculum: Systems Change or Tinker Some More?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sailor, Wayne

2009-01-01

Special education as practiced today remains firmly anchored in the original logic of the Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act (PL 94-142). Subsequent reauthorizations of the statute have included language designed to increase access to the general curriculum by special needs students but have not addressed the underlying…

Genetic characterization of avian metapneumovirus subtype C isolated from pheasants in a live bird market.

PubMed

Lee, Eun ho; Song, Min-Suk; Shin, Jin-Young; Lee, Young-Min; Kim, Chul-Joong; Lee, Young Sik; Kim, Hyunggee; Choi, Young Ki

2007-09-01

Complete nucleotide sequences of two avian metapneumoviruses (aMPV), designated PL-1 and PL-2, were isolated from pheasants, revealing novel sequences of the first aMPV to be fully sequenced in Korea. The complete genome of both PL-1 and PL-2 was composed of 13,170 nucleotides. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PL-1 belonged to aMPV subtype C, sharing higher homology in deduced amino acid sequence identities with hMPV, rather than with aMPV subtypes A and B. Replication of PL-1 in experimentally re-infected pheasants was confirmed by reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Chickens and mice were experimentally inoculated with PL-1 to test the replication potential of PL-1 in other species. Although one specimen from the nasal turbinates of an inoculated chicken showed a slight trace of viral replication at 3 days post-infection (dpi), all of the infected mice were negative for aMPV by RT-PCR throughout the experiment, suggesting that PL-1 does not readily infect mammals. This is the first report of the isolation and complete genomic sequence of aMPV subtype C originating from pheasants.

Piperlongumine decreases cell proliferation and the expression of cell cycle-associated proteins by inhibiting Akt pathway in human lung cancer cells.

PubMed

Seok, Jin Sil; Jeong, Chang Hee; Petriello, Michael C; Seo, Han Geuk; Yoo, Hyunjin; Hong, Kwonho; Han, Sung Gu

2018-01-01

Piperlongumine (PL) is an alkaloid of a pepper plant found in Southeast Asia. PL is known to induce selective toxicity towards a variety of cancer cell types. To explore the possible anti-lung cancer effects of PL, A549 cells were treated with PL (0-40 μM) for 24 h. Alterations in the expression of cell cycle-associated proteins (cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), CDK6 and retinoblastoma (Rb)) and intracellular signaling molecules (extracellular signal receptor-activated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), Akt, p38 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)) were examined in cells following treatment of PL using Western blot analysis. Results showed that proliferation of cells were significantly decreased by PL in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry results demonstrated increased number of cells in G1 phase in PL (40 μM)-treated group. Reactive oxygen species was significantly increased in cells treated with PL at 20-40 μM. The expression of cyclin D1, CDK4, CDK6 and p-Rb were markedly decreased in cells treated with PL at 40 μM. Treatment of cells with PL suppressed phosphorylation of Akt but increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Treatment of PL significantly decreased nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in cells. These results suggest that PL possesses antiproliferative properties in A549 cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Construction of a Genetic System for Streptomyces albulus PD-1 and Improving Poly(ε-L-lysine) Production Through Expression of Vitreoscilla Hemoglobin.

PubMed

Xu, Zhaoxian; Cao, Changhong; Sun, Zhuzhen; Li, Sha; Xu, Zheng; Feng, Xiaohai; Xu, Hong

2015-11-01

Poly(ε-L-lysine) (ε-PL) is a novel bioactive polymer secreted by filamentous bacteria. Owing to lack of a genetic system for most ε-PL-producing strains, very little research on enhancing ε-PL biosynthesis by genetic manipulation has been reported. In this study, an effective genetic system was established via intergeneric conjugal transfer for Streptomyces albulus PD-1, a famous ε-PL-producing strain. Using the established genetic system, the Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) gene was integrated into the chromosome of S. albulus PD-1 to alleviate oxygen limitation and to enhance the biosynthesis of ε-PL in submerged fermentation. Ultimately, the production of ε-PL increased from 22.7 g/l to 34.2 g/l after fed-batch culture in a 5 L bioreactor. Determination of the oxygen uptake rate, transcriptional level of ε-PL synthetase gene, and ATP level unveiled that the expression of VHb in S. albulus PD-1 enhanced ε-PL biosynthesis by improving respiration and ATP supply. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on enhancing ε-PL production by chromosomal integration of the VHb gene in an ε-PL-producing strain, and it will open a new avenue for ε-PL production.

PlGF/VEGFR-1 Signaling Promotes Macrophage Polarization and Accelerated Tumor Progression in Obesity.

PubMed

Incio, Joao; Tam, Josh; Rahbari, Nuh N; Suboj, Priya; McManus, Dan T; Chin, Shan M; Vardam, Trupti D; Batista, Ana; Babykutty, Suboj; Jung, Keehoon; Khachatryan, Anna; Hato, Tai; Ligibel, Jennifer A; Krop, Ian E; Puchner, Stefan B; Schlett, Christopher L; Hoffmman, Udo; Ancukiewicz, Marek; Shibuya, Masabumi; Carmeliet, Peter; Soares, Raquel; Duda, Dan G; Jain, Rakesh K; Fukumura, Dai

2016-06-15

Obesity promotes pancreatic and breast cancer progression via mechanisms that are poorly understood. Although obesity is associated with increased systemic levels of placental growth factor (PlGF), the role of PlGF in obesity-induced tumor progression is not known. PlGF and its receptor VEGFR-1 have been shown to modulate tumor angiogenesis and promote tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) recruitment and activity. Here, we hypothesized that increased activity of PlGF/VEGFR-1 signaling mediates obesity-induced tumor progression by augmenting tumor angiogenesis and TAM recruitment/activity. We established diet-induced obese mouse models of wild-type C57BL/6, VEGFR-1 tyrosine kinase (TK)-null, or PlGF-null mice, and evaluated the role of PlGF/VEGFR-1 signaling in pancreatic and breast cancer mouse models and in human samples. We found that obesity increased TAM infiltration, tumor growth, and metastasis in pancreatic cancers, without affecting vessel density. Ablation of VEGFR-1 signaling prevented obesity-induced tumor progression and shifted the tumor immune environment toward an antitumor phenotype. Similar findings were observed in a breast cancer model. Obesity was associated with increased systemic PlGF, but not VEGF-A or VEGF-B, in pancreatic and breast cancer patients and in various mouse models of these cancers. Ablation of PlGF phenocopied the effects of VEGFR-1-TK deletion on tumors in obese mice. PlGF/VEGFR-1-TK deletion prevented weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet, but exacerbated hyperinsulinemia. Addition of metformin not only normalized insulin levels but also enhanced antitumor immunity. Targeting PlGF/VEGFR-1 signaling reprograms the tumor immune microenvironment and inhibits obesity-induced acceleration of tumor progression. Clin Cancer Res; 22(12); 2993-3004. ©2016 AACR. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Recurrent Thrombotic Events: Persistence and Portfolio.

PubMed

Amory, Colum F; Levine, Steven R; Brey, Robin L; Gebregziabher, Mulugeta; Tuhrim, Stanley; Tilley, Barbara C; Simpson, Ann-Catherin C; Sacco, Ralph L; Mohr, Jay P

2015-01-01

There are very limited prospective data on the significance of persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and recurrent thrombo-occlusive events (TOEs). We investigated the prognostic value of (1) 2 newer aPL assays, (2) an aPL portfolio and (3) persistent aPL positivity following stroke. A total of 1,770 subjects from the APASS-WARSS study underwent further aPL testing for antibodies to phosphatidylserine (aPS) and anti-β2-glycoprotein-I (anti-β2GPI) from stored sera. Follow-up aPL status was also tested in a subset of subjects. Primary analysis was based on time to any TOE (ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or systemic arterial occlusion)/death at 2 years. Cox proportional hazard analyses assessed whether aPL independently related to outcome. Persistent anti-β2GPI decreased the time to TOE/death after adjustment for potential confounders (hazards ratio (HR) 2.86, 95% CI 1.21-6.76, p = 0.017). When persistent anti-β2GPI was combined with another persistently positive aPL, time to TOE/death was also reduced (HR 3.79, 95% CI 1.18-12.14, p = 0.025). Neither persistent anticardiolipin antibodies nor persistent aPS alone nor a single positive anti-β2GPI nor aPS was associated with decreased time to TOE/death. No single positive aPL, portfolio of baseline aPL or any persistent aPL increased the rate of TOE/death. Rates of TOE/death were not influenced by aPL results at baseline or follow-up. Persistent anti-β2GPI alone, and with persistent second aPL, was independently associated with decreased time to TOE/death. Persistent aPL, an aPL portfolio and newer aPL in ischemic stroke patients are not helpful in predicting an increased rate of recurrent TOEs. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Human Placental Lactogen Induces CYP2E1 Expression via PI 3-Kinase Pathway in Female Human Hepatocytes

PubMed Central

Lee, Jin Kyung; Chung, Hye Jin; Fischer, Liam; Fischer, James; Gonzalez, Frank J.

2014-01-01

The state of pregnancy is known to alter hepatic drug metabolism. Hormones that rise during pregnancy are potentially responsible for the changes. Here we report the effects of prolactin (PRL), placental lactogen (PL), and growth hormone variant (GH-v) on expression of major hepatic cytochromes P450 expression and a potential molecular mechanism underlying CYP2E1 induction by PL. In female human hepatocytes, PRL and GH-v showed either no effect or small and variable effects on mRNA expression of CYP1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4, and 3A5. On the other hand, PL increased expression level of CYP2E1 mRNA with corresponding increases in CYP2E1 protein and activity levels. Results from hepatocytes and HepaRG cells indicate that PL does not affect the expression or activity of HNF1α, the known transcriptional activator of basal CYP2E1 expression. Furthermore, transient transfection studies and Western blot results showed that STAT signaling, the previously known mediator of PL actions in certain tissues, does not play a role in CYP2E1 induction by PL. A chemical inhibitor of PI3-kinase signaling significantly repressed the CYP2E1 induction by PL in human hepatocytes, suggesting involvement of PI3-kinase pathway in CYP2E1 regulation by PL. CYP2E1-humanized mice did not exhibit enhanced CYP2E1 expression during pregnancy, potentially because of interspecies differences in PL physiology. Taken together, these results indicate that PL induces CYP2E1 expression via PI3-kinase pathway in human hepatocytes. PMID:24408518

Comparison of fMRI data from passive listening and active-response story processing tasks in children.

PubMed

Vannest, Jennifer J; Karunanayaka, Prasanna R; Altaye, Mekibib; Schmithorst, Vincent J; Plante, Elena M; Eaton, Kenneth J; Rasmussen, Jerod M; Holland, Scott K

2009-04-01

To use functional MRI (fMRI) methods to visualize a network of auditory and language-processing brain regions associated with processing an aurally-presented story. We compare a passive listening (PL) story paradigm to an active-response (AR) version including online performance monitoring and a sparse acquisition technique. Twenty children (ages 11-13 years) completed PL and AR story processing tasks. The PL version presented alternating 30-second blocks of stories and tones; the AR version presented story segments, comprehension questions, and 5-second tone sequences, with fMRI acquisitions between stimuli. fMRI data was analyzed using a general linear model approach and paired t-test identifying significant group activation. Both tasks showed activation in the primary auditory cortex, superior temporal gyrus bilaterally, and left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). The AR task demonstrated more extensive activation, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior/posterior cingulate cortex. Comparison of effect size in each paradigm showed a larger effect for the AR paradigm in a left inferior frontal region-of-interest (ROI). Activation patterns for story processing in children are similar in PL and AR tasks. Increases in extent and magnitude of activation in the AR task are likely associated with memory and attention resources engaged across acquisition intervals.

Verb inflection in monolingual Dutch and sequential bilingual Turkish-Dutch children with and without SLI.

PubMed

Blom, Elma; de Jong, Jan; Orgassa, Antje; Baker, Anne; Weerman, Fred

2013-01-01

Both children with specific language impairment (SLI) and children who acquire a second language (L2) make errors with verb inflection. This overlap between SLI and L2 raises the question if verb inflection can discriminate between L2 children with and without SLI. In this study we addressed this question for Dutch. The secondary goal of the study was to investigate variation in error types and error profiles across groups. Data were collected from 6-8-year-old children with SLI who acquire Dutch as their first language (L1), Dutch L1 children with a typical development (TD), Dutch L2 children with SLI, and Dutch L1 TD children who were on average 2 years younger. An experimental elicitation task was employed that tested use of verb inflection; context (3SG, 3PL) was manipulated and word order and verb type were controlled. Accuracy analyses revealed effects of impairment in both L1 and L2 children with SLI. However, individual variation indicated that there is no specific error profile for SLI. Verb inflection use as measured in our study discriminated fairly well in the L1 group but classification was less accurate in the L2 group. Between-group differences emerged furthermore for certain types of errors, but all groups also showed considerable variation in errors and there was not a specific error profile that distinguished SLI from TD. © 2013 Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Transfer Functions Via Laplace- And Fourier-Borel Transforms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Can, Sumer; Unal, Aynur

1991-01-01

Approach to solution of nonlinear ordinary differential equations involves transfer functions based on recently-introduced Laplace-Borel and Fourier-Borel transforms. Main theorem gives transform of response of nonlinear system as Cauchy product of transfer function and transform of input function of system, together with memory effects. Used to determine responses of electrical circuits containing variable inductances or resistances. Also possibility of doing all noncommutative algebra on computers in such symbolic programming languages as Macsyma, Reduce, PL1, or Lisp. Process of solution organized and possibly simplified by algebraic manipulations reducing integrals in solutions to known or tabulated forms.

ModeRNA server: an online tool for modeling RNA 3D structures.

PubMed

Rother, Magdalena; Milanowska, Kaja; Puton, Tomasz; Jeleniewicz, Jaroslaw; Rother, Kristian; Bujnicki, Janusz M

2011-09-01

The diverse functional roles of non-coding RNA molecules are determined by their underlying structure. ModeRNA server is an online tool for RNA 3D structure modeling by the comparative approach, based on a template RNA structure and a user-defined target-template sequence alignment. It offers an option to search for potential templates, given the target sequence. The server also provides tools for analyzing, editing and formatting of RNA structure files. It facilitates the use of the ModeRNA software and offers new options in comparison to the standalone program. ModeRNA server was implemented using the Python language and the Django web framework. It is freely available at http://iimcb.genesilico.pl/modernaserver. iamb@genesilico.pl.

Age of Acquisition and Proficiency in a Second Language Independently Influence the Perception of Non-Native Speech

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Archila-Suerte, Pilar; Zevin, Jason; Bunta, Ferenc; Hernandez, Arturo E.

2012-01-01

Sensorimotor processing in children and higher-cognitive processing in adults could determine how non-native phonemes are acquired. This study investigates how age-of-acquisition (AOA) and proficiency-level (PL) predict native-like perception of statistically dissociated L2 categories, i.e., within-category and between-category. In a similarity…

Educating Hard of Hearing Children. Special Education in Transition 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ross, Mark, Ed.; Nober, Linda W., Ed.

Viewpoints of an audiologist, speech-language pathologist, special educator, classroom teacher, and parent are presented in the book on the implications of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, for hard of hearing students. In the introduction, M. Ross considers the status of many hard of hearing students, noting the…

Functional reorganization of visual cortex maps after ischemic lesions is accompanied by changes in expression of cytoskeletal proteins and NMDA and GABA(A) receptor subunits.

PubMed

Zepeda, Angelica; Sengpiel, Frank; Guagnelli, Miguel Angel; Vaca, Luis; Arias, Clorinda

2004-02-25

Reorganization of cortical representations after focal visual cortex lesions has been documented. It has been suggested that functional reorganization may rely on cellular mechanisms involving modifications in the excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission balance and on morphological changes of neurons peripheral to the lesion. We explored functional reorganization of cortical retinotopic maps after a focal ischemic lesion in primary visual cortex of kittens using optical imaging of intrinsic signals. After 1, 2, and 5 weeks postlesion (wPL), we addressed whether functional reorganization correlated in time with changes in the expression of MAP-2, GAP-43, GFAP, GABA(A) receptor subunit alpha1 (GABA(A)alpha1), subunit 1 of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR1), and in neurotransmitter levels at the border of the lesion. Our results show that: (1) retinotopic maps reorganize with time after an ischemic lesion; (2) MAP-2 levels increase gradually from 1wPL to 5wPL; (3) MAP-2 upregulation is associated with an increase in dendritic-like structures surrounding the lesion and a decrease in GFAP-positive cells; (4) GAP-43 levels reach the highest point at 2wPL; (5) NMDAR1 and glutamate contents increase in parallel from 1wPL to 5wPL; (6) GABA(A)alpha1 levels increase from 1wPL to 2wPL but do not change after this time point; and (7) GABA contents remain low from 1wPL to 5wPL. This is a comprehensive study showing for the first time that functional reorganization correlates in time with dendritic sprouting and with changes in the excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission systems previously proposed to participate in cortical remodeling and suggests mechanisms by which plasticity of cortical representations may occur.

Placental growth factor reduces blood pressure in a uteroplacental ischemia model of preeclampsia in non-human primates

PubMed Central

Makris, Angela; Yeung, Kristen R; Lim, Shirlene M; Sunderland, Neroli; Heffernan, Scott; Thompson, John F; Iliopoulos, Jim; Killingsworth, Murray C; Yong, Jim; Xu, Bei; Ogle, Robert F; Thadhani, Ravi; Karumanchi, S. Ananth; Hennessy, Annemarie

2016-01-01

An imbalance in the angiogenesis axis during pregnancy manifests as clinical preeclampsia due to endothelial dysfunction. Circulating sFLT-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1) increases and PlGF (placental growth factor) reduces prior to and during disease. We investigated the clinical and biochemical effects of replenishing the reduced circulating PlGF with recombinant human PlGF (rhPlGF) and thus restoring the angiogenic balance. Hypertensive proteinuria was induced in a non-human primate (Papio hamadryas) by uterine artery ligation at 136 days gestation (of an 182 day pregnancy). Two weeks after uteroplacental ischemia (UPI), rhPlGF (rhPlGF, n=3) or normal saline (control, n=4) was administered by subcutaneous injection (100μg/kg/day) for 5 days. Blood pressure (BP) was monitored by intra-arterial radiotelemetry, sFLT-1 and PlGF by ELISA. UPI resulted in experimental preeclampsia evidenced by increased BP, proteinuria and endotheliosis on renal biopsy and elevated sFLT-1. PlGF significantly reduced after UPI. rhPlGF reduced SBP in the treated group (-5.2mmHg+0.8mmHg;from 132.6+6.6mmHg to 124.1+7.6mmHg) compared to an increase in SBP in controls (6.5mmHg+3mmHg; from 131.3+1.5mmHg to 138.6+1.5mmHg). Proteinuria reduced in the treated group (-72.7±55.7mg/mmol) but increased in the control group. Circulating sFLT-1 was not affected by the administration of PlGF, however a reduction in placental sFLT-1 mRNA expression was demonstrated. There was no significant difference in the weights or lengths of the neonates in the rhPlGF or control group, however, this study was not designed to assess fetal safety or outcomes. Increasing circulating PlGF by the administration of rhPlGF improves clinical parameters in a primate animal model of experimental preeclampsia. PMID:27091894

Placental Growth Factor Reduces Blood Pressure in a Uteroplacental Ischemia Model of Preeclampsia in Nonhuman Primates.

PubMed

Makris, Angela; Yeung, Kristen R; Lim, Shirlene M; Sunderland, Neroli; Heffernan, Scott; Thompson, John F; Iliopoulos, Jim; Killingsworth, Murray C; Yong, Jim; Xu, Bei; Ogle, Robert F; Thadhani, Ravi; Karumanchi, S Ananth; Hennessy, Annemarie

2016-06-01

An imbalance in the angiogenesis axis during pregnancy manifests as clinical preeclampsia because of endothelial dysfunction. Circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT-1) increases and placental growth factor (PlGF) reduces before and during disease. We investigated the clinical and biochemical effects of replenishing the reduced circulating PlGF with recombinant human PlGF (rhPlGF) and thus restoring the angiogenic balance. Hypertensive proteinuria was induced in a nonhuman primate (Papio hamadryas) by uterine artery ligation at 136 days gestation (of a 182-day pregnancy). Two weeks after uteroplacental ischemia, rhPlGF (rhPlGF, n=3) or normal saline (control, n=4) was administered by subcutaneous injection (100 μg/kg per day) for 5 days. Blood pressure was monitored by intra-arterial radiotelemetry and sFLT-1 and PlGF by ELISA. Uteroplacental ischemia resulted in experimental preeclampsia evidenced by increased blood pressure, proteinuria, and endotheliosis on renal biopsy and elevated sFLT-1. PlGF significantly reduced after uteroplacental ischemia. rhPlGF reduced systolic blood pressure in the treated group (-5.2±0.8 mm Hg; from 132.6±6.6 mm Hg to 124.1±7.6 mm Hg) compared with an increase in systolic blood pressure in controls (6.5±3 mm Hg; from 131.3±1.5 mm Hg to 138.6±1.5 mm Hg). Proteinuria reduced in the treated group (-72.7±55.7 mg/mmol) but increased in the control group. Circulating levels of total sFLT-1 were not affected by the administration of PlGF; however, a reduction in placental sFLT-1 mRNA expression was demonstrated. There was no significant difference between the weights or lengths of the neonates in the rhPlGF or control group; however, this study was not designed to assess fetal safety or outcomes. Increasing circulating PlGF by the administration of rhPlGF improves clinical parameters in a primate animal model of experimental preeclampsia. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

[Use of sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in preeclampsia : a monocentric retrospective analysis].

PubMed

Verbeurgt, L; Chantraine, F; De Marchin, J; Minon, J-M; Nisolle, M

2017-09-01

Soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) is an anti-angiogenic factor released in higher amounts in preeclampsia and implicated in endothelial dysfunction. sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is used in the prediction of preeclampsia. An sFlt-1/PlGF ratio inferior to 38 predicts the short-term absence of preeclampsia. A ratio ? 85 (early-onset PE) or ? 110 (late-onset of PE) could diagnose preeclampsia. In this study, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio has been measured in 183 patients. Sixty-seven preeclampsia have been diagnosed preeclamptic at delivery. The median sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was 100.3. The median ratio among women with preeclampsia (N=67) versus no preeclampsia (N=116) was 212.7 versus 35.4. In accordance with this analysis, an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio ? 38 has a sensibility of 95,5 % and a specificity of 73.3 %. The positive predictive value and the negative predictive value were 67.4 % and 96.6 %, respectively. These results suggest that sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is helpful in the diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Immunogenicity, reactogenicity and safety of the human rotavirus vaccine RIX4414 (Rotarix™) oral suspension (liquid formulation) when co-administered with expanded program on immunization (EPI) vaccines in Vietnam and the Philippines in 2006-2007.

PubMed

Anh, D D; Carlos, C C; Thiem, D V; Hutagalung, Y; Gatchalian, S; Bock, H L; Smolenov, I; Suryakiran, P V; Han, H H

2011-03-03

Evaluation of immunogenicity and safety of a 2-dose liquid formulation of human rotavirus vaccine, RIX4414 following WHO's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) schedule (0, 1, and 2 months; Month 0 indicates day of enrollment) in Vietnam and the Philippines. Infants aged 6-10 (mean=8.7 ± 1.07 weeks Vietnam) and 5-10 weeks (mean=6.6 ± 1.03 weeks Philippines) received two doses of RIX4414 vaccine (V) and one dose of placebo (PL) or three placebo doses concomitantly with commercially available diphtheria-tetanus-whole-cell pertussis, hepatitis B and oral poliovirus vaccines. The vaccination schedules were: V-V-PL, V-PL-V and PL-PL-PL (Vietnam); PL-V-V, V-PL-V and PL-PL-PL (Philippines). Anti-rotavirus seroconversion rate was assessed pre-vaccination and post-vaccination (ELISA cut-off=20 U/ml). 375 infants were enrolled in each country. Seroconversion rates at one month post-Dose 2 of RIX4414 were Vietnam 63.3% (95% CI: 54.3-71.6) in V-V-PL group and 81.5% (95% CI: 73.4-88) in V-PL-V group; Philippines 70% (95% CI: 61-78) in PL-V-V group and 59.2% (95% CI: 49.8-68) in V-PL-V group. Frequencies of solicited (8-day post-each dose) and unsolicited symptoms (31-day post-each dose) were similar. Two-doses of rotavirus vaccine administered within the WHO EPI offer flexibility in existing schedule, though both schedules provides good immune responses. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of high dietary zinc on plasma ceruloplasmin and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activities in copper-depleted and repleted rats.

PubMed

Panemangalore, M; Bebe, F N

1996-01-01

The effect of moderately high dietary zinc (Zn) on the activities of plasma (PL) ceruloplasmin (CP), and PL and erythrocyte (RBC) copper (Cu), Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) was determined in weanling rats fed Cu-deficient (DEF; < 1 mg Cu/kg), marginal (MAR; 2 mg Cu/kg), or control (CON; 5 mg Cu/kg) copper diets containing normal or high Zn (HZn; 60 mg/kg) for 4 wk and supplemented with oral Cu (CuS; 5 mg/L) in drinking water for 0, 1, 3, or 7 d. PL Cu decreased (67% compared to CON; p < or = 0.05) in the DEF and increased to control level after 3 d of CuS; increased in the MAR group after 1 d of CuS. HZn reduced overall PL Cu by 27% in all groups, but did not alter the linear increase in PL Cu between 0 and 3 d of Cu S. PL CP activity altered concomitantly with PL Cu levels: The time course of increase in CP activity after 0-3 d of CuS was not influenced by HZn in the diet and CP declined in the DEF group by 92%. There was no correlation between dietary Cu level and PL CP. PL SOD activity decreased by 46% (p < or = .05) in the DEF group, increased to control activity after 1 d of CuS and declined slightly after 7 d; MAR diet did not alter PL SOD. HZn diet increased PL SOD activity in all groups by 150%, reduced activity in the DEF and MAR groups by 65 and 37% and delayed the recovery of PL SOD after CuS. RBC SOD declined in the DEF and MAR groups by 56 and 33% (p < or = 0.05) and did not respond to CuS; HZn diet did not influence RBC SOD activity. These data indicate that moderately high Zn in the diet reduces PL Cu, but not PL CP activity or the recovery of PL Cu or CP activity after oral CuS of Cu-deficient rats, modifies the response of PL SOD to dietary Cu, but does not influence RBC SOD activity.

Innate immune responses of equine monocytes cultured in equine platelet lysate.

PubMed

Naskou, Maria C; Norton, Natalie A; Copland, Ian B; Galipeau, Jacques; Peroni, John F

2018-01-01

Platelet lysate (PL) has been extensively used for the laboratory expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in order to avoid fetal bovine serum (FBS) which has been associated with immune-mediated host reactions and transmission of bovine-origin microbial contaminants. Before suggesting the routine use of PL for MSC culture, we wanted to further investigate whether PL alone might trigger inflammatory responses when exposed to reactive white blood cells such as monocytes. Our objectives were to evaluate the inflammatory profile of equine monocytes cultured with equine PL (ePL) and to determine if ePL can modulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes. In a first experiment, equine monocytes were isolated and incubated with donor horse serum (DHS), FBS, six individual donors ePL or pooled ePL from all horses. In a second experiment, monocytes were stimulated with E. coli LPS in the presence of 1, 5 or 10% DHS and/or pooled ePL. After 6h of incubation, cell culture supernatants were assayed via ELISA for production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) as well as for the anti-inflammatory Interleukin 10 (IL-10). Equine monocytes incubated with pooled ePL produced significantly less TNF-α and significantly more IL-10 than monocytes incubated in FBS. A statistically significant difference was not identified for the production of IL-1β. The second experiment showed that pooled ePL added to LPS-stimulated equine monocytes resulted in a significant reduction in TNF-α and IL-1β production. IL-10 production was not significantly upregulated by the addition of ePL to LPS-stimulated monocytes. Finally, the addition of ePL to LPS-stimulated monocytes in the presence of various concentrations of DHS resulted to statistically significant decrease of TNF-α and IL-1β compared to the control groups. This is the first study to demonstrate that ePL suppresses the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from stimulated equine monocytes. These results encourage further exploration of PL as a homologous media substitute for FBS but also opens the possibility of investigating its use as means to suppress cell-mediated inflammation. Published by Elsevier B.V.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: FAMA code for stellar parameters and abundances (Magrini+, 2013)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magrini, L.; Randich, S.; Friel, E.; Spina, L.; Jacobson, H.; Cantat-Gaudin, T.; Donati, P.; Baglioni, R.; Maiorca, E.; Bragaglia, A.; Sordo, R.; Vallenari, A.

2013-07-01

FAMA v.1, July 2013, distributed with MOOGv2013 and Kurucz models. Perl Codes: read_out2.pl read_final.pl driver.pl sclipping_26.0.pl sclipping_final.pl sclipping_26.1.pl confronta.pl fama.pl Model atmopheres and interpolator (Kurucz models): MODEL_ATMO MOOG_files: files to compile MOOG (the most recent version of MOOG can be obtained from http://www.as.utexas.edu/~chris/moog.html) FAMAmoogfiles: files to update when compiling MOOG OUTPUT: directory in which the results will be stored, contains a sm macro to produce final plots automoog.par: files with parameters for FAMA 1) OUTPUTdir 2) MOOGdir 3) modelsdir 4) 1.0 (default) percentage of the dispersion of FeI abundances to be considered to compute the errors on the stellar parameters, 1.0 means 100%, thus to compute e.g., the error on Teff we allow to code to find the Teff corresponding to a slope given by σ(FeI)/range(EP). 5) 1.2 (default) σ clipping for FeI lines 6) 1.0 (default) σ clipping for FeII lines 7) 1.0 (default) σ clipping for the other elements 8) 1.0 (default) value of the QP parameter, higher values mean less strong convergence criteria. star.iron: EWs in the correct format to test the code sun.par: initial parameters for the test (1 data file).

Genetics and mapping of a novel downy mildew resistance gene, Pl(18), introgressed from wild Helianthus argophyllus into cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

PubMed

Qi, L L; Foley, M E; Cai, X W; Gulya, T J

2016-04-01

A novel downy mildew resistance gene, Pl(18), was introgressed from wild Helianthus argophyllus into cultivated sunflower and genetically mapped to linkage group 2 of the sunflower genome. The new germplasm, HA-DM1, carrying Pl(18) has been released to the public. Sunflower downy mildew (DM) is considered to be the most destructive foliar disease that has spread to every major sunflower-growing country of the world, except Australia. A new dominant downy mildew resistance gene (Pl 18) transferred from wild Helianthus argophyllus (PI 494573) into cultivated sunflower was mapped to linkage group (LG) 2 of the sunflower genome using bulked segregant analysis with 869 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Phenotyping 142 BC1F2:3 families derived from the cross of HA 89 and H. argophyllus confirmed the single gene inheritance of resistance. Since no other Pl gene has been mapped to LG2, this gene was novel and designated as Pl (18). SSR markers CRT214 and ORS203 flanked Pl(18) at a genetic distance of 1.1 and 0.4 cM, respectively. Forty-six single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers that cover the Pl(18) region were surveyed for saturation mapping of the region. Six co-segregating SNP markers were 1.2 cM distal to Pl(18), and another four co-segregating SNP markers were 0.9 cM proximal to Pl(18). The new BC2F4-derived germplasm, HA-DM1, carrying Pl(18) has been released to the public. This new line is highly resistant to all Plasmopara halstedii races identified in the USA providing breeders with an effective new source of resistance against downy mildew in sunflower. The molecular markers that were developed will be especially useful in marker-assisted selection and pyramiding of Pl resistance genes because of their close proximity to the gene and the availability of high-throughput SNP detection assays.

Dosimetric properties of a Solid Water High Equivalency (SW557) phantom for megavoltage photon beams.

PubMed

Araki, Fujio

2017-07-01

The dosimetric properties of the recently developed SW557 phantom have been investigated by comparison with those of the existing SW457 phantom in megavoltage photon beams. The electron fluence ratio φ pl w , and chamber ionization ratio k pl , of water to SW457 and water to SW557 for 4-15MV photons were calculated as a function of depth using Monte Carlo simulations, and compared with measured values. Values of φ pl w for SW457 were in the range of 1.004-1.014 for 4MV, and 1.014-1.018 for 15MV photons. The φ pl w for SW557 ranged from 1.005 to 1.008 for 4MV and from 1.010 to 1.015 for 15MV photons and the variation of φ pl w with depth for each beam energy was within ±0.5%. Values of k pl were obtained with a PTW 30013 Farmer-type ionization chamber. The k pl for SW457 ranged from 0.997 to 1.011 for 4-15MV photons. Values of k pl for SW557 were almost unity for 4 and 6MV photons, while in the case of 10 and 15MV photons they were less than 1.006, excepting the build-up region. The measured and calculated k pl values of water to SW557 were in the range of 0.997-1.002 and 1.000-1.006, respectively, for 4-15MV photons, at a depth of 10cm with a source-to-axis distance of 100cm. The measured and calculated k pl values were in agreement within their uncertainty ranges. As a water-equivalent phantom, SW557 can be used with a dosimetric difference within±0.6%, for 4-15MV photons, and is more water-equivalent than SW457 in megavoltage photon beams. Copyright © 2017 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Piperlongumine inhibits LMP1/MYC-dependent mouse B-lymphoma cells

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

Han, Seong-Su; Tompkins, Van S.; Son, Dong-Ju

2013-07-12

Highlights: •Mouse model of human Burkitt lymphoma revealed cancer inhibition by PL. •Treatment with PL led to apoptosis of malignant but not normal B cells. •PL inhibited LMP1–NF-κB–Myc-dependent target genes including p21-encoding Cdkn1a. •PL holds promise for new interventions approaches to hematologic malignancies. -- Abstract: Piperlongumine (PL), isolated from the fruit of Long pepper, Piper longum, is a cancer-inhibiting compound that selectively kills tumor cells while sparing their normal counterparts. Here we evaluated the efficacy with which PL suppresses malignant B cells derived from a newly developed, double-transgenic mouse model of human endemic Burkitt lymphoma (BL), designated mCD40-LMP1/iMyc{sup Eμ}. PLmore » inhibited tumor cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner and induced apoptosis of neoplastic but not normal B cells. Treatment with PL resulted in downregulation of EBV-encoded LMP1, cellular Myc, constitutive NF-κB activity, and a host of LMP1-Myc-NF-κB-regulated target genes including Aurka, Bcat1, Bub1b, Ccnb1, Chek1, Fancd2, Tfrc and Xrcc6. Of note, p21{sup Cip1}-encoding Cdkn1a was suppressed independent of changes in Trp53 mRNA levels and p53 DNA-binding activity. Considering the central role of the LMP1–NF-κB–Myc axis in B-lineage neoplasia, these findings further our understanding of the mechanisms by which PL inhibits B-lymphoma and provide a preclinical rationale for the inclusion of PL in new interventions in blood cancers.« less

Prediction of Preeclampsia Using the Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1 to Placental Growth Factor Ratio

PubMed Central

Gaccioli, Francesca; Cook, Emma; Hund, Martin; Charnock-Jones, D. Stephen; Smith, Gordon C.S.

2017-01-01

We sought to assess the ratio of sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1) to PlGF (placental growth factor) in maternal serum as a screening test for preeclampsia in unselected nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy. We studied 4099 women recruited to the POP study (Pregnancy Outcome Prediction) (Cambridge, United Kingdom). The sFlt-1:PlGF ratio was measured using the Roche Cobas e411 platform at ≈20, ≈28, and ≈36 weeks of gestational age (wkGA). Screen positive was defined as an sFlt-1:PlGF ratio >38, but higher thresholds were also studied. At 28 wkGA, an sFlt-1:PlGF ratio >38 had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 32% for preeclampsia and preterm birth, and the PPV was similar comparing women with low and high prior risk of disease. At 36 wkGA, an sFlt-1:PlGF ratio >38 had a PPV for severe preeclampsia of 20% in high-risk women and 6.4% in low-risk women. At 36 wkGA, an sFlt-1:PlGF ratio >110 had a PPV of 30% for severe preeclampsia, and the PPV was similar comparing low- and high-risk women. Overall, at 36 wkGA, 195 (5.2%) women either had an sFlt-1:PlGF ratio of >110 or an sFlt-1:PlGF ratio >38 plus maternal risk factors: 43% of these women developed preeclampsia, about half with severe features. Among low-risk women at 36 wkGA, an sFlt-1:PlGF ratio ≤38 had a negative predictive value for severe preeclampsia of 99.2%. The sFlt-1:PlGF ratio provided clinically useful prediction of the risk of the most important manifestations of preeclampsia in a cohort of unselected nulliparous women. PMID:28167687

Follicular fluid placental growth factor is increased in polycystic ovarian syndrome: correlation with ovarian stimulation.

PubMed

Tal, Reshef; Seifer, David B; Grazi, Richard V; Malter, Henry E

2014-08-20

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by increased ovarian angiogenesis and vascularity. Accumulating evidence indicates that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is increased in PCOS and may play an important role in these vascular changes and the pathogenesis of this disease. Placental growth factor (PlGF), a VEGF family member, has not been previously characterized in PCOS women. We investigated levels and temporal expression patterns of PlGF and its soluble receptor sFlt-1 (soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase) in serum and follicular fluid (FF) of women with PCOS during controlled ovarian stimulation. This was a prospective cohort study of 14 PCOS women (Rotterdam criteria) and 14 matched controls undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. Serum was collected on day 3, day of hCG and day of oocyte retrieval. FF was collected on retrieval day. PlGF, sFlt-1 and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) protein concentrations were measured using ELISA. Since sFlt-1 binds free PlGF, preventing its signal transduction, we calculated PlGF bioavailability as PlGF/sFlt-1 ratio. Serum PlGF and sFlt-1 levels were constant throughout controlled ovarian stimulation, and no significant differences were observed in either factor in PCOS women compared with non-PCOS controls at all three measured time points. However, FF PlGF levels were increased 1.5-fold in PCOS women compared with controls (p < 0.01). Moreover, FF PlGF correlated positively with number of oocytes retrieved and the ovarian reserve marker anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and negatively with age. In addition, FF sFlt-1 levels were decreased 1.4-fold in PCOS women compared to controls (p = 0.04). PlGF bioavailability in FF was significantly greater (2-fold) in PCOS women compared with non-PCOS controls (p < 0.01). These data provide evidence that FF PlGF correlates with ovarian stimulation and that its bioavailability is increased in women with PCOS undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. This suggests that PlGF may play a role in PCOS pathogenesis and its angiogenic dysregulation.

Synergistic Antibacterial Effect of the Combination of ε-Polylysine and Nisin against Enterococcus faecalis.

PubMed

Liu, Fang; Liu, Mei; Du, Lihui; Wang, Daoying; Geng, Zhiming; Zhang, Muhan; Sun, Chong; Xu, Xiaoxi; Zhu, Yongzhi; Xu, Weimin

2015-12-01

This study evaluated the antibacterial effect of the combination of ε-polylysine (ε-PL) and nisin against Enterococcus faecalis strains. The combination of ε-PL and nisin showed synergistic antibacterial activity against three Enterococcus strains. Scanning electron microscopy and a membrane permeability assay revealed that the combined treatment with ε-PL and nisin synergistically damaged the cell morphology of E. faecalis strain R612Z1 cells. Both ε-PL and nisin can dissipate the transmembrane electric potential of E. faecalis R612Z1 cells, but these peptides did not affect the transmembrane pH gradient. The combination of ε-PL and nisin can produce a high reactive oxygen species level in E. faecalis R612Z1 cells. The results indicated that the uptake of ε-PL into cells was promoted through nisin and that the combination of ε-PL and nisin could produce a high reactive oxygen species level in E. faecalis R612Z1 cells, leading to cell growth inhibition.

Decreased serum vitamin D levels in early spontaneous pregnancy loss.

PubMed

Hou, W; Yan, X-T; Bai, C-M; Zhang, X-W; Hui, L-Y; Yu, X-W

2016-09-01

Effects of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy have been associated with some adverse pregnancy outcomes. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between vitamin D deficiency in childbearing aged women and pregnancy loss (PL) in the first trimester. This is a cross-sectional study. Plasma was collected from 60 nulliparous women with singleton at 7-9 weeks of gestation (30 with viable gestation and 30 with PL) and 60 non-gravid childbearing aged women (30 with a successful pregnancy history, and 30 with one or more spontaneous first-trimester PL history). Quantitation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1 alpha hydroxylase (CYP27B1) was assayed. By pregnancy/non-gravid, normal pregnant women had higher 25(OH)D (49.32 μg/l) and CYP27B1 (82.00 pg/ml) than PL women (34.49 μg/l and 37.87 pg/ml, both P<0.01); the non-gravid women with a successful pregnancy history also had higher 25(OH)D (39.56 μg/l) and CYP27B1 (39.04 pg/ml) than women with PL history (12.30 μg/l and 12.35 pg/ml, both P<0.01). The 96.7% of non-gravid women with PL history and 43.3% of PL women had serum 25(OH)D concentrations below 30 μg/l. There was a strong association between low vitamin D levels and PL (odds ratio 1.71; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-2.4, P<0.001). The regression analyses showed that PL was significantly inversely correlated with 25(OH)D (P<0.01) and CYP27B1 levels (P<0.01). Vitamin D deficiency associated with PL in the first trimester of pregnancy. Decreased serum vitamin D levels among childbearing aged women with the failed clinical pregnancies history may predispose to increased risk for PL.

Separation, purification, and α-glucosidase inhibition of polysaccharides from Coriolus versicolor LH1 mycelia.

PubMed

Hsu, Wen-kuang; Hsu, Tai-hao; Lin, Fang-yi; Cheng, Yuan-kai; Yang, John Po-wen

2013-01-30

Intracellular polysaccharides (iPs) were separated and purified from Coriolus versicolor LH1 mycelia and characterized for their α-glucosidase inhibitory properties. Three iP fractions (iPL-F5-2-1, iPL-F5-4-1, and iPL-F5-5-1) were extracted, separated, and purified from LH1 mycelia using microwave extraction technology, a DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column, a Diaion HP20 macroporous adsorption column, and a Sephadex™ G-50 gel-permeation column. The principal constituents of iPL-F5-2-1, iPL-F5-4-1, and iPL-F5-5-1 were saponins and polyphenoic compound mixtures. The enzyme inhibition activity, IC(50) values, of these three fractions were 1.7, 1.8, and 0.8 mg/mL, respectively. The α-glucosidase inhibitory properties were related to the presence of α-(1,4) glycosidic linkages in the polysaccharide structure and the total relative percentage of d-glucose and d-galactose in the structure of polysaccharides, other than triterpenoids. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antenatal screening for Down syndrome using serum placental growth factor with the combined, quadruple, serum integrated and integrated tests.

PubMed

Wald, Nicholas J; Bestwick, Jonathan P; George, Lynne M; Huttly, Wayne J

2012-01-01

To estimate the value of first or second trimester placental growth factor (PlGF) as an additional antenatal screening marker for Down syndrome. Nested case-control study. Antenatal screening service. 532 Down syndrome pregnancies and 1,155 matched unaffected pregnancies. Stored maternal serum samples (-40°C) were assayed for PlGF. Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate the screening performance of PlGF with the Combined, Quadruple, serum Integrated and Integrated tests. Median PlGF levels in affected and unaffected pregnancies and screening performance (detection rates [DR] for specified false-positive rates [FPR] and vice versa). First trimester median PlGF was 15%, 28% and 39% lower in Down syndrome than unaffected pregnancies at 11, 12 and 13 completed weeks' gestation respectively (all p<0.001). Second trimester median PlGF was 31% lower at 14 weeks (p<0.001), and the difference decreased (6% lower at 17 weeks). At a 90% DR with first trimester markers measured at 13 weeks, adding PlGF decreased the FPR from 11.1 to 5.1% using the Combined test, 9.3% to 4.5% using the serum Integrated test, and 3.4% to 1.5% using the Integrated test (or 1.5 to 1.4% with first trimester markers measured at 11 weeks). Adding PlGF to the Quadruple test (measured at 15 weeks) decreased the FPR from 10.0% to 9.6% at a 90% DR. First trimester PlGF measurements improve the performance of antenatal screening for Down syndrome using the Combined, serum Integrated and Integrated tests. Second trimester PlGF measurements are of limited value.

Phosphorus release behaviors of poultry litter biochar as a soil amendment.

PubMed

Wang, Yue; Lin, Yingxin; Chiu, Pei C; Imhoff, Paul T; Guo, Mingxin

2015-04-15

Phosphorus (P) may be immobilized and consequently the runoff loss risks be reduced if poultry litter (PL) is converted into biochar prior to land application. Laboratory studies were conducted to examine the water extractability of P in PL biochar and its release kinetics in amended soils. Raw PL and its biochar produced through 400°C pyrolysis were extracted with deionized water under various programs and measured for water extractable P species and contents. The materials were further incubated with a sandy loam at 20 g kg(-1) soil and intermittently leached with water for 30 days. The P release kinetics were determined from the P recovery patterns in the water phase. Pyrolysis elevated the total P content from 13.7 g kg(-1) in raw PL to 27.1 g kg(-1) in PL biochar while reduced the water-soluble P level from 2.95 g kg(-1) in the former to 0.17 g kg(-1) in the latter. The thermal treatment transformed labile P in raw PL to putatively Mg/Ca phosphate minerals in biochar that were water-unextractable yet proton-releasable. Orthophosphate was the predominant form of water-soluble P in PL biochar, with condensed phosphate (e.g., pyrophosphate) as a minor form and organic phosphate in null. Release of P from PL biochar in both water and neutral soils was at a slower and steadier rate over a longer time period than from raw PL. Nevertheless, release of P from biochar was acid-driven and could be greatly promoted by the media acidity. Land application of PL biochar at soil pH-incorporated rates and frequency will potentially reduce P losses to runoffs and minimize the adverse impact of waste application on aquatic environments. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P) Lyase Inhibition Causes Increased Cardiac S1P Levels and Bradycardia in Rats.

PubMed

Harris, Christopher M; Mittelstadt, Scott; Banfor, Patricia; Bousquet, Peter; Duignan, David B; Gintant, Gary; Hart, Michelle; Kim, Youngjae; Segreti, Jason

2016-10-01

Inhibition of the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-catabolizing enzyme S1P lyase (S1PL) elevates the native ligand of S1P receptors and provides an alternative mechanism for immune suppression to synthetic S1P receptor agonists. S1PL inhibition is reported to preferentially elevate S1P in lymphoid organs. Tissue selectivity could potentially differentiate S1PL inhibitors from S1P receptor agonists, the use of which also results in bradycardia, atrioventricular block, and hypertension. But it is unknown if S1PL inhibition would also modulate cardiac S1P levels or cardiovascular function. The S1PL inhibitor 6-[(2R)-4-(4-benzyl-7-chlorophthalazin-1-yl)-2-methylpiperazin-1-yl]pyridine-3-carbonitrile was used to determine the relationship in rats between drug concentration, S1P levels in select tissues, and circulating lymphocytes. Repeated oral doses of the S1PL inhibitor fully depleted circulating lymphocytes after 3 to 4 days of treatment in rats. Full lymphopenia corresponded to increased levels of S1P of 100- to 1000-fold in lymph nodes, 3-fold in blood (but with no change in plasma), and 9-fold in cardiac tissue. Repeated oral dosing of the S1PL inhibitor in telemeterized, conscious rats resulted in significant bradycardia within 48 hours of drug treatment, comparable in magnitude to the bradycardia induced by 3 mg/kg fingolimod. These results suggest that S1PL inhibition modulates cardiac function and does not provide immune suppression with an improved cardiovascular safety profile over fingolimod in rats. Copyright © 2016 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

Isolation, purification, characterization and bioactivities of a glucan from the root of Pueraria lobata.

PubMed

Xu, Can; Qin, Ningbo; Yan, Chunyan; Wang, Shumei

2018-05-23

The root of Pueraria lobata is considered to be a medicinal and edible herb for the treatment of diabetes, and it has a long history of application in China. To explore the constituents responsible for the anti-hyperglycemic activities of P. lobata, a water-soluble polysaccharide (PL70-1-1) was isolated and purified by using a DEAE-Cellulose 52 anion exchange column and a Sephacryl S-100 gel filtration column. Its molecular weight (2584 Da) was determined by high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). Its structure was deduced by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), monosaccharide composition analysis, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). It was deduced that PL70-1-1 was a glucan, and its main chain consisted of (1→)-linked β-d-glucose, (1→4)-linked α-d-glucose, (1→4, 6)-linked β-d-glucose, and (1→3)-linked α-d-glucose, and the branch chain consisted of (1→)-linked β-d-glucose. The results of scanning electron microscopy showed that PL70-1-1 had a needle-like shape, and the surface had a scaly texture. The Congo red experiment showed that PL70-1-1 did not have a triple-helix structure. In addition, PL70 and PL70-1 displayed selective inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro. PL70 had remarkable α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. However, PL70-1-1 exhibited outstanding α-amylase inhibitory activity, with an IC50 of 3.945 μM in vitro. This indicated that its activity was 417 times higher than the positive control acarbose. PL70-1-1 may be beneficial as an α-amylase inhibitor, reducing the postprandial blood glucose level and treating type 2 diabetes.

Phylogenetic analysis of the lux operon distinguishes two evolutionarily distinct clades of Photobacterium leiognathi.

PubMed

Ast, Jennifer C; Dunlap, Paul V

2004-05-01

The luminous marine bacterium Photobacterium mandapamensis was synonymized several years ago with Photobacterium leiognathi based on a high degree of phenotypic and genetic similarity. To test the possibility that P. leiognathi as now formulated, however, actually contains two distinct bacterial groups reflecting the earlier identification of P. mandapamensis and P. leiognathi as separate species, we compared P. leiognathi strains isolated from light-organ symbiosis with leiognathid fishes (i.e., ATCC 25521(T), ATCC 25587, lequu.1.1 and lleuc.1.1) with strains from seawater originally described as P. mandapamensis and later synonymized as P. leiognathi (i.e., ATCC 27561(T) and ATCC 33981) and certain strains initially identified as P. leiognathi (i.e., PL-721, PL-741, 554). Analysis of the 16S rRNA and gyrB genes did not resolve distinct clades, affirming a close relationship among these strains. However, strains ATCC 27561(T), ATCC 33981, PL-721, PL-741 and 554 were found to bear a luxF gene in the lux operon ( luxABFE), whereas ATCC 25521(T), ATCC 25587, lequu.1.1 and lleuc.1.1 lack this gene ( luxABE). Phylogenetic analysis of the luxAB(F)E region confirmed this distinction. Furthermore, ATCC 27561(T), ATCC 33981, PL-721, PL-741 and 554 all produced a higher level of luminescence on high-salt medium, as previously described for PL-721, whereas ATCC 25521(T), ATCC 25587, lequu.1.1 and lleuc.1.1 all produced a higher level of luminescence on low-salt medium, a characteristic of P. leiognathi from leiognathid fish light organs. These results demonstrate that P. leiognathi contains two evolutionarily and phenotypically distinct clades, P. leiognathi subsp. leiognathi (strains ATCC 25521(T), ATCC 25587, lequu.1.1 and lleuc.1.1), and P. leiognathi subsp. mandapamensis (strains ATCC 27561(T), ATCC 33981, PL-721, PL-741 and 554).

Effects of dietary phospholipid level in cobia (Rachycentron canadum) larvae: growth, survival, plasma lipids and enzymes of lipid metabolism.

PubMed

Niu, J; Liu, Y J; Tian, L X; Mai, K S; Yang, H J; Ye, C X; Zhu, Y

2008-03-01

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary phospholipid (PL) levels in cobia (Rachycentron canadum) larvae with regard to growth, survival, plasma lipids and enzymes of lipid metabolism. Fish with an average weight of 0.4 g were fed diets containing four levels of PL (0, 20, 40 and 80 g kg(-1)dry matter: purity 97%) for 42 days. Final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG) and survival ratio were highest in the 8% PL diet group and mortality was highest in PL-free diet group. We examined the activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL) in liver, lecithin-cholesterolacyltransferase (LCAT) in plasma as well as plasma lipids and lipoprotein. LCAT activity showed a decrease of more than two-fold in PL-supplemented diet groups compared with the PL-free diet group. HL activity was highest in the 8% PL diet group and the other three groups showed no difference. LPL activity was significantly higher in the PL-supplemented diet groups than in the PL-free diet group. The dietary intervention significantly increased plasma phospholipids and total cholesterol (TC) levels, and the higher free cholesterol (FC) level contributed to the TC level. However, the fish fed PL exhibited a significantly decreased plasma triglyceride (TG) level. The lipoprotein fractions were also affected significantly by the PL. The PL-supplemented diet groups had significantly higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) compared with the PL-free diet group, but showed a marked decrease in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). The results suggested that PL could modify plasma lipoprotein metabolism and lipid profile, and that the optimal dietary PL level may well exceed 80 g kg(-1) for cobia larvae according to growth and survival.

Phonological working memory and FOXP2.

PubMed

Schulze, Katrin; Vargha-Khadem, Faraneh; Mishkin, Mortimer

2018-01-08

The discovery and description of the affected members of the KE family (aKE) initiated research on how genes enable the unique human trait of speech and language. Many aspects of this genetic influence on speech-related cognitive mechanisms are still elusive, e.g. if and how cognitive processes not directly involved in speech production are affected. In the current study we investigated the effect of the FOXP2 mutation on Working Memory (WM). Half the members of the multigenerational KE family have an inherited speech-language disorder, characterised as a verbal and orofacial dyspraxia caused by a mutation of the FOXP2 gene. The core phenotype of the affected KE members (aKE) is a deficiency in repeating words, especially complex non-words, and in coordinating oromotor sequences generally. Execution of oromotor sequences and repetition of phonological sequences both require WM, but to date the aKE's memory ability in this domain has not been examined in detail. To do so we used a test series based on the Baddeley and Hitch WM model, which posits that the central executive (CE), important for planning and manipulating information, works in conjunction with two modality-specific components: The phonological loop (PL), specialized for processing speech-based information; and the visuospatial sketchpad (VSSP), dedicated to processing visual and spatial information. We compared WM performance related to CE, PL, and VSSP function in five aKE and 15 healthy controls (including three unaffected members of the KE family who do not have the FOXP2 mutation). The aKE scored significantly below this control group on the PL component, but not on the VSSP or CE components. Further, the aKE were impaired relative to the controls not only in motor (i.e. articulatory) output but also on the recognition-based PL subtest (word-list matching), which does not require speech production. These results suggest that the aKE's impaired phonological WM may be due to a defect in subvocal rehearsal of speech-based material, and that this defect may be due in turn to compromised speech-based representations. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

77 FR 74528 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-14

... Equities Rule 7.31(h)(7) To Permit PL Select Orders To Interact With Incoming Orders Larger Than the Size of the PL Select Order December 7, 2012. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \\1\\ of the Securities Exchange... permit PL Select Orders to interact with incoming orders larger than the size of the PL Select Order. The...

Placental Growth Factor Administration Abolishes Placental Ischemia-Induced Hypertension.

PubMed

Spradley, Frank T; Tan, Adelene Y; Joo, Woo S; Daniels, Garrett; Kussie, Paul; Karumanchi, S Ananth; Granger, Joey P

2016-04-01

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder of new-onset hypertension. Unfortunately, the most effective treatment is early delivery of the fetus and placenta. Placental ischemia appears central to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia because placental ischemia/hypoxia induced in animals by reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) or in humans stimulates release of hypertensive placental factors into the maternal circulation. The anti-angiogenic factor soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), which antagonizes and reduces bioavailable vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor (PlGF), is elevated in RUPP rats and preeclampsia. Although PlGF and vascular endothelial growth factor are both natural ligands for sFlt-1, vascular endothelial growth factor also has high affinity to VEGFR2 (Flk-1) causing side effects like edema. PlGF is specific for sFlt-1. We tested the hypothesis that PlGF treatment reduces placental ischemia-induced hypertension by antagonizing sFlt-1 without adverse consequences to the mother or fetus. On gestational day 14, rats were randomized to 4 groups: normal pregnant or RUPP±infusion of recombinant human PlGF (180 μg/kg per day; AG31, a purified, recombinant human form of PlGF) for 5 days via intraperitoneal osmotic minipumps. On day 19, mean arterial blood pressure and plasma sFlt-1 were higher and glomerular filtration rate lower in RUPP than normal pregnant rats. Infusion of recombinant human PlGF abolished these changes seen with RUPP along with reducing oxidative stress. These data indicate that the increased sFlt-1 and reduced PlGF resulting from placental ischemia contribute to maternal hypertension. Our novel finding that recombinant human PlGF abolishes placental ischemia-induced hypertension, without major adverse consequences, suggests a strong therapeutic potential for this growth factor in preeclampsia. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

PLACENTAL GROWTH FACTOR ADMINISTRATION ABOLISHES PLACENTAL ISCHEMIA-INDUCED HYPERTENSION

PubMed Central

Spradley, Frank T.; Tan, Adelene Y.; Joo, Woo S.; Daniels, Garrett; Kussie, Paul; Karumanchi, S. Ananth; Granger, Joey P.

2016-01-01

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder of new-onset hypertension. Unfortunately, the most effective treatment is early delivery of the fetus and placenta. Placental ischemia appears central to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia as placental ischemia/hypoxia induced in animals by reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) or in humans stimulates release of hypertensive placental factors into the maternal circulation. The anti-angiogenic factor soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), which antagonizes and reduces bioavailable vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF), is elevated in RUPP rats and preeclampsia. Although PlGF and VEGF are both natural ligands for sFlt-1, VEGF also has high affinity to VEGFR2 (Flk-1) causing side effects like edema. PlGF is specific for sFlt-1. We tested the hypothesis that PlGF treatment reduces placental ischemia-induced hypertension by antagonizing sFlt-1 without adverse consequences to the mother or fetus. On gestational day 14, rats were randomized to four groups: normal pregnant (NP) or RUPP ± infusion of rhPlGF (180 μg/kg/day; AG31, a purified, recombinant human form of PlGF) for 5 days via intraperitoneal osmotic minipumps. On day 19, mean arterial blood pressure and plasma sFlt-1 were higher and glomerular filtration rate lower in RUPP than NP rats. Infusion of rhPlGF abolished these changes seen with RUPP along with reducing oxidative stress. These data indicate that the increased sFlt-1 and reduced PlGF resulting from placental ischemia contribute to maternal hypertension. Our novel finding that rhPlGF abolishes placental ischemia-induced hypertension, without major adverse consequences, suggests a strong therapeutic potential for this growth factor in preeclampsia. PMID:26831193

Report to the High Order Language Working Group (HOLWG)

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-01-14

as running, runnable, suspended or dormant, may be synchronized by semaphore variables, may be schedaled using clock and duration data types and mpy...Recursive and non-recursive routines G6. Parallel processes, synchronization , critical regions G7. User defined parameterized exception handling G8...typed and lacks extensibility, parallel processing, synchronization and real-time features. Overall Evaluation IBM strongly recommended PL/I as a

Decontamination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on green onions using pulsed light (PL) and PL-surfactant-sanitizer combinations.

PubMed

Xu, Wenqing; Chen, Haiqiang; Huang, Yaoxin; Wu, Changqing

2013-08-16

Imported green onion has been associated with three large outbreaks in the USA. Contamination has been found on both domestic and imported green onions. The objective of our study was to investigate Escherichia coli O157:H7 inactivation efficacy of pulsed light (PL) as well as its combination with surfactant and/or sanitizers on green onions. Green onions were cut into two segments, stems and leaves, to represent two different matrixes. Stems were more difficult to be decontaminated. Spot and dip inoculation methods were compared and dipped inoculated green onions were found to be more difficult to be decontaminated. Results showed that 5s dry PL (samples were not immersed in water during PL treatment) and 60s wet PL (samples were immersed in water and stirred during PL treatment) treatments provided promising inactivation efficacy (>4log10CFU/g) for spot inoculated stems and leaves. For dip inoculated green onions, 60s wet PL treatment was comparable with 100ppm chlorine washing, demonstrating that PL could be used as an alternative to chlorine. To further increase the degree of microbial inactivation, combined treatments were applied. PL combined with surfactant (SDS) was found to be more effective than single treatments of PL, SDS, chlorine, citric acid, thymol, and hydrogen peroxide, and binary combined treatments of PL with one of those chemicals. Addition of chlorine or hydrogen peroxide to the PL-SDS combination did not further enhanced its microbial inactivation efficacy. The combination of PL and 1000ppm of SDS reduced the E. coli O157:H7 populations dip inoculated on the stems and leaves of green onions by 1.4 and 3.1log10CFU/g, respectively. Our findings suggest that PL could potentially be used for decontamination of E. coli O157:H7 on green onions, with wet PL added with SDS being the most effective PL treatment. © 2013.

Psychometric properties of the Polish language version of the chronic pain coping inventory-42 for patients treated surgically due to herniated lumbar discs and spondylotic changes.

PubMed

Misterska, Ewa; Jankowski, Roman; Głowacki, Maciej

2014-05-14

The development of a pain-management program tailored to the specific needs of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) requires the proper assessment of psychosocial factors affecting each individual. The Chronic Pain Coping Inventory-42 (CPCI-42) refers to coping strategies, which are commonly defined as the cognitive and behavioral techniques an individual may resort to in stressful or demanding situations. Evidence from a number of sources suggests that differences in pain coping strategies may significantly affect how an individual deals with chronic pain. We aimed to adapt the CPCI-42 to Polish cultural conditions (PL-CPCI-42) and then verify its psychometric properties based on a group of patients treated surgically due to herniated lumbar discs and coexisting spondylotic changes. The average age of the study participants (n=90) was 43.47 years (SD 10.21). The average duration of chronic low back pain (CLBP) was 49.37 months (SD 64.71). Lumbosacral spine X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed and all patients completed the PL-CPCI-42 and the Polish versions of the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS-PL) twice. Internal consistency of the PL-CPCI-42, floor and ceiling effects, test-retest reliability, and criterion validity were analyzed. Resting, guarding, and coping self-statements were frequently used as coping strategies both in the test and in the retest, in contrast to relaxation and exercise/stretch. The NPRS-PL result was 5.70 cm in the test and 5.66 in the retest. Cronbach's alpha values were recorded for the asking for assistance, coping self-statements, and seeking social support domains (0.83, 0.80, 0.83, respectively). Test-retest reliability of the PL-CPCI-42 varied from 0.53 (relaxation domain) to 0.84 (asking for assistance and coping self-statements domains). The present study provides evidence of the validity of the PL-CPCI-42 and supports its usefulness in assessing chronic pain coping strategies, which are especially important to pain adjustment and in the creation of multidisciplinary pain management programs for patients with severe CLBP.

Construct validity and parent-child agreement of the six new or modified disorders included in the Spanish version of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia present and Lifetime Version DSM-5 (K-SADS-PL-5).

PubMed

de la Peña, Francisco R; Rosetti, Marcos F; Rodríguez-Delgado, Andrés; Villavicencio, Lino R; Palacio, Juan D; Montiel, Cecilia; Mayer, Pablo A; Félix, Fernando J; Larraguibel, Marcela; Viola, Laura; Ortiz, Silvia; Fernández, Sofía; Jaímes, Aurora; Feria, Miriam; Sosa, Liz; Palacios-Cruz, Lino; Ulloa, Rosa E

2018-06-01

Changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5) incorporate the inclusion or modification of six disorders: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and Binge Eating Disorder. The objectives of this study were to assess the construct validity and parent-child agreement of these six disorders in the Spanish language Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL-5) in a clinical population of children and adolescents from Latin America. The Spanish version of the K-SADS-PL was modified to integrate changes made to the DSM-5. Clinicians received training in the K-SADS-PL-5 and 90% agreement between raters was obtained. A total of 80 patients were recruited in four different countries in Latin America. All items from each of the six disorders were included in a factor analysis. Parent-child agreement was calculated for every item of the six disorders, including the effect of sex and age. The factor analysis revealed 6 factors separately grouping the items defining each of the new or modified disorders, with Eigenvalues greater than 2. Very good parent-child agreements (r>0.8) were found for the large majority of the items (93%), even when considering the sex or age of the patient. This independent grouping of disorders suggests that the manner in which the disorders were included into the K-SADS-PL-5 reflects robustly the DSM-5 constructs and displayed a significant inter-informant reliability. These findings support the use of K-SADS-PL-5 as a clinical and research tool to evaluate these new or modified diagnoses. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Association between the high soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 to placental growth factor ratio and adverse outcomes in asymptomatic women with early-onset fetal growth restriction.

PubMed

Shinohara, Satoshi; Uchida, Yuzo; Kasai, Mayuko; Sunami, Rei

2017-08-01

To assess whether the high soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio is associated with adverse outcomes (e.g., HELLP syndrome [hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets], severe hypertension uncontrolled by medication, non-reassuring fetal status, placental abruption, pulmonary edema, growth arrest, maternal death, or fetal death) and a shorter duration to delivery in early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR). Thirty-four women with FGR diagnosed at <34.0 weeks were recruited. Serum angiogenic marker levels were estimated within 6 hours of a diagnosis of FGR. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the threshold of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio to predict adverse outcomes. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the association between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and adverse outcomes. Finally, we used Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test to assess the probability of delay in delivery. Women who developed adverse outcomes within a week had a significantly higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratio than did those who did not develop complications. A cutoff value of 86.2 for the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio predicted adverse outcomes, with a sensitivity and specificity of 77.8% and 80.0%, respectively. Moreover, 58.4% of women with an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio ≥86.2 versus 9.1% of those with an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio <86.2 delivered within a week of presentation (p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio ≥86.2 (adjusted odds ratio 9.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-72.8) was associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. A high sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was associated with adverse outcomes and a shorter duration to delivery in early-onset FGR.

[Enhanced ε-poly-L-lysine production by improving cellular activity during fermentation].

PubMed

Liu, Shengrong; Wu, Qingping; Zhang, Jumei; Yang, Xiaojuan; Cai, Shuzhen

2015-06-04

To assess the effect of cellular activity on ε-poly-1-lysine (ε-PL) biosynthesis and thereby to rationally improve the production, we studied the cellular activity, ε-PL formation and other parameters cross flask fermentation by Streptomyces ahygroscopicus. Laser scanning confocal microscopy and a colorimetric method were used to determine cellular activity using BacLight Live/Dead and 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) as viable stains. To enhance the activity of the cells in the ε-PL production period, yeast extract was added. During ε-PL submerged fermentation in flasks, most cells were active in the growth period (0 - 16 h); cells had metabolic activity in the growth and earlier ε-PL production periods between 0 and 30 h fermentation. Almost no activity was detected after 48 h fermentation when no ε-PL was produced. The improved fermentation achieved 2. 24 g/L ε-PL from 1.04 g/L. Biosynthesis of ε-PL can be boosted by up-regulating cell activity in its production phase.

Comparison between a new platelet count drop method PL-11, light transmission aggregometry, VerifyNow aspirin system and thromboelastography for monitoring short-term aspirin effects in healthy individuals.

PubMed

Guan, Jie; Cong, Yulong; Ren, Junwei; Zhu, Yuan; Li, Li; Deng, Xinli; Bai, Jie

2015-01-01

Platelet function has been described by many laboratory assays, and PL-11 is a new point-of-care platelet function analyzer based on platelet count drop method, which counts platelet before and after the addition of agonists in the citrated whole blood samples. The present study sought to compare PL-11 with other three major more established assays, light transmission aggregometry (LTA), VerifyNow™ aspirin system and thromboelastography (TEG), for monitoring the short-term aspirin responses in healthy individuals. Ten healthy young men took 100 mg/d aspirin for 3-day treatment. Platelet function was measured via PL-11, LTA, VerifyNow and TEG, respectively. The blood samples were collected at baseline, 2 hour, 1 day during the aspirin treatment and 1 day, 5 ± 1 days, 8 ± 1 days after the aspirin withdrawal. Moreover, 90 additional healthy subjects were recruited to establish a reference range for PL-11. Platelet function of healthy subjects decreased significantly 2 hours after 100 mg/d aspirin intake and began to recover during 4-6 days after the aspirin withdrawal. Correlations between methods were PL-11 vs. LTA (r = 0.614, p < 0.01); PL-11 vs. VerifyNow (r = 0.829, p < 0.01); PL-11 vs. TEG (r = 0.697, p < 0.001). There was no significant bias between PL-11 and LTA at baseline (bias = 1.94%, p = 0.804) using Bland-Altman analysis, while the data of PL-11 were significantly higher than LTA (bias = 24.02%, p < 0.001) during the aspirin therapy. The reference range for PL-11 in healthy young individuals was from 66.8 to 90.5% (95%CI). When aspirin low-responsiveness was defined as LTA > 20%, the cut-off values for each method were, respectively: PL-11 > 50%, VerifyNow > 533 ARU, TEG > 60.2%. The results of different platelet function assays were uninterchangeable for monitoring aspirin response and correlations among them were also varied. Correlations among PL-11 and other three major assays suggested the ability of PL-11 to assess the treatment effects of aspirin. But a large cohort study is needed to confirm the cut-off value of aspirin response detected by PL-11.

Synergistic suppression of human breast cancer cells by combination of plumbagin and zoledronic acid In vitro.

PubMed

Qiao, Han; Wang, Ting-yu; Yan, Wei; Qin, An; Fan, Qi-ming; Han, Xiu-guo; Wang, Yu-gang; Tang, Ting-ting

2015-09-01

Zoledronic acid (ZA), a bisphosphonate, is currently used in combination with chemotherapeutic agents to suppress breast cancer cell proliferation or breast cancer-induced osteolysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ZA combined with a natural anticancer compound plumbagin (PL) against human breast cancer cells in vitro. Human breast cancer MDA-MB-231SArfp cells were treated with ZA, PL or a combination of ZA and PL. The cell growth, apoptosis and migration were evaluated using CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay, respectively. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was measured using real-time PCR and Western blotting. Synergism was evaluated using Compusyn software, and the combination index (CI) and drug reduction index (DRI) values were determined. PL or ZA alone caused mild cytotoxicity (the IC50 value at 24 h was 12.18 and above 100 μmol/L, respectively). However, the combination of ZA and PL caused a synergistic cytotoxicity (CI=0.26). The DRI values also showed a synergistic effect between PL and ZA, with actual values of 5.52 and 3.59, respectively. Furthermore, PL and ZA synergistically induced apoptosis and inhibited migration of the breast cancer cells. Moreover, the combination of ZA and PL decreased the expression of Notch-1, cleaved PARP, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl, and increased the expression of cleaved caspase-3, CDKN1A and ID1. When the breast cancer cells were transfected with specific siRNA against Notch-1, the combination of ZA and PL markedly increased the expression of Bcl-2. Combination of ZA and PL synergistically suppresses human breast cancer MDA-MB-231SArfp cells in vitro. PL can inhibit ZA-induced activation of the Notch-1 signaling pathway and subsequently reduce the expression of Bcl-2, thus potentiating cancer cell apoptosis.

[Migraine in SLE: role of antiphospholipid antibodies and Raynaud's phenomenon].

PubMed

Annese, Virginia; Tomietto, Paola; Venturini, Paolo; D'Agostini, Serena; Ferraccioli, Gianfranco

2006-01-01

To determine the role of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in the development of migraine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 50 unselected SLE patients and 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) controls underwent an interview to define the presence of migraine according to the guidelines of the International Headache Society (1988). Serological tests for aPL were performed in all patients. SLE patients were divided according to positivity for RP and/or aPL into 4 subsets: R-/aPL-, R-/aPL+, R+/aPL- and R+/aPL+. Data were analysed using Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test and U Mann-Whitney test. SLE and RA patients were similar for demographic and clinical features; aPL positivity was found in a greater proportion of SLE patients versus RA controls (68% vs 25%, p=0.0036). 31 of the 50 lupic patients (62%) and 7 of the 20 RA controls (35%) suffered from migraine (OR=3, CI:1-8.9). Among SLE and RA patients, migraine was associated with aPL positivity (p=0.027 and p=0.019). Analysing the combined effect of aPL and RP on migraine, in R+/aPL+ patients we detected an higher frequency of migraine (85.7%) with respect to the patients negative for these two features (27%, p=0.0051, OR=16, CI:2.2-118) and to the patients positive only for aPL (65%, p=0.0031, OR=6.2, CI:1.2-32). Migraine in SLE and RA associates with aPL positivity. The simultaneous presence of RP increases by 2,5 times the probability of having migraine, suggesting that cerebral vasospasm might be more common in patients with peripheral vasospasm, given the presence of aPL.

Development and dissection of diagnostic SNP markers for the downy mildew resistance genes Pl Arg and Pl 8 and maker-assisted gene pyramiding in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

PubMed

Qi, L L; Talukder, Z I; Hulke, B S; Foley, M E

2017-06-01

Diagnostic DNA markers are an invaluable resource in breeding programs for successful introgression and pyramiding of disease resistance genes. Resistance to downy mildew (DM) disease in sunflower is mediated by Pl genes which are known to be effective against the causal fungus, Plasmopara halstedii. Two DM resistance genes, Pl Arg and Pl 8 , are highly effective against P. halstedii races in the USA, and have been previously mapped to the sunflower linkage groups (LGs) 1 and 13, respectively, using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. In this study, we developed high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) maps encompassing the Pl arg and Pl 8 genes and identified diagnostic SNP markers closely linked to these genes. The specificity of the diagnostic markers was validated in a highly diverse panel of 548 sunflower lines. Dissection of a large marker cluster co-segregated with Pl Arg revealed that the closest SNP markers NSA_007595 and NSA_001835 delimited Pl Arg to an interval of 2.83 Mb on the LG1 physical map. The SNP markers SFW01497 and SFW06597 delimited Pl 8 to an interval of 2.85 Mb on the LG13 physical map. We also developed sunflower lines with homozygous, three gene pyramids carrying Pl Arg , Pl 8 , and the sunflower rust resistance gene R 12 using the linked SNP markers from a segregating F 2 population of RHA 340 (carrying Pl 8 )/RHA 464 (carrying Pl Arg and R 12 ). The high-throughput diagnostic SNP markers developed in this study will facilitate marker-assisted selection breeding, and the pyramided sunflower lines will provide durable resistance to downy mildew and rust diseases.

Functional Exploration of the Polysaccharide Lyase Family PL6

PubMed Central

Mathieu, Sophie; Henrissat, Bernard; Labre, Flavien; Skjåk-Bræk, Gudmund; Helbert, William

2016-01-01

Alginate, the main cell-wall polysaccharide of brown algae, is composed of two residues: mannuronic acid (M-residues) and, its C5-epimer, guluronic acid (G-residues). Alginate lyases define a class of enzymes that cleave the glycosidic bond of alginate by β-elimination. They are classified according to their ability to recognize the distribution of M- and G-residues and are named M-, G- or MG-lyases. In the CAZy database, alginate lyases have been grouped by sequence similarity into seven distinct polysaccharide lyase families. The polysaccharide lyase family PL6 is subdivided into three subfamilies. Subfamily PL6_1 includes three biochemically characterized enzymes (two alginate lyases and one dermatan sulfatase lyase). No characterized enzymes have been described in the two other subfamilies (PL6_2 and PL6_3). To improve the prediction of polysaccharide-lyase activity in the PL6 family, we re-examined the classification of the PL6 family and biochemically characterized a set of enzymes reflecting the diversity of the protein sequences. Our results show that subfamily PL6_1 includes two dermatan sulfates lyases and several alginate lyases that have various substrate specificities and modes of action. In contrast, subfamilies PL6_2 and PL6_3 were found to contain only endo-poly-MG-lyases. PMID:27438604

Association between antiphospholipid antibodies and all-cause mortality among end-stage renal disease patients with and without SLE: a retrospective cohort study

PubMed Central

Mowrey, Wenzhu B.; Kim, Mimi; Murakhovskaya, Irina; Billett, Henny; Neugarten, Joel; Costenbader, Karen H.; Putterman, Chaim

2016-01-01

Objective. To investigate the association between the presence of aPL and/or LA and all-cause mortality among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with and without SLE. Methods. We included ESRD patients >18 years old followed at an urban tertiary care centre between 1 January 2006 and 31 January 2014 who had aPL measured at least once after initiating haemodialysis. All SLE patients met ACR/SLICC criteria. APL/LA+ was defined as aCL IgG or IgM >40 IU, anti-β2glycoprotein1 IgG or IgM >40 IU or LA+. Deaths as at 31 January 2014 were captured in the linked National Death Index data. Time to death was defined from the first aPL measurement. Results. We included 34 SLE ESRD and 64 non-SLE ESRD patients; 30 patients died during the study period. SLE ESRD patients were younger [40.4 (12.5) vs 51.9 (18.1) years, P = 0.001] and more were women (88.2% vs 54.7%, P < 0.001) vs non-SLE ESRD patients. The frequency of aPL/LA+ was 24% in SLE and 13% in non-SLE ESRD (P = 0.16). Median (inter-quartile range) follow-up time was 1.6 (0.3–3.5) years in SLE and 1.4 (0.4–3.2) years in non-SLE, P = 0.74. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality for SLE patients who were aPL/LA+ vs aPL/LA− was 9.93 (95% CI 1.33, 74.19); the adjusted HR for non-SLE aPL/LA+ vs aPL/LA− was 0.77 (95% CI 0.14, 4.29). Conclusion. SLE ESRD patients with aPL/LA+ had higher all-cause mortality risk than SLE ESRD patients without these antibodies, while the effects of aPL/LA on mortality were comparable among non-SLE ESRD patients. PMID:26705328

Production of Pectate Lyase by Penicillium viridicatum RFC3 in Solid-State and Submerged Fermentation.

PubMed

Ferreira, Viviani; da Silva, Roberto; Silva, Dênis; Gomes, Eleni

2010-01-01

Pectate lyase (PL) was produced by the filamentous fungus Penicillium viridicatum RFC3 in solid-state cultures of a mixture of orange bagasse and wheat bran (1 : 1 w/w), or orange bagasse, wheat bran and sugarcane bagasse (1 : 1 : 0.5 w/w), and in a submerged liquid culture with orange bagasse and wheat bran (3%) as the carbon source. PL production was highest (1,500 U mL(-1) or 300 Ug(-1) of substrate) in solid-state fermentation (SSF) on wheat bran and orange bagasse at 96 hours. PL production in submerged fermentation (SmF) was influenced by the initial pH of the medium. With the initial pH adjusted to 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5, the peak activity was observed after 72, 48, and 24 hours of fermentation, respectively, when the pH of the medium reached the value 5.0. PL from SSF and SmF were loaded on Sephadex-G75 columns and six activity peaks were obtained from crude enzyme from SSF and designated PL I, II, III, IV, V, and VI, while five peaks were obtained from crude enzyme from SmF and labeled PL I', II', III', IV', and VII'. Crude enzyme and fraction III from each fermentative process were tested further. The optimum pH for crude PL from either process was 5.5, while that for PL III was 8.0. The maximum activity of enzymes from SSF was observed at 35 degrees C, but crude enzyme was more thermotolerant than PL III, maintaining its maximum activity up to 45 degrees C. Crude enzyme from SmF and PL III' showed thermophilic profiles of activity, with maximum activity at 60 and 55 degrees C, respectively. In the absence of substrate, the crude enzyme from SSF was stable over the pH range 3.0-10.0 and PL III was most stable in the pH range 4.0-7.0. Crude enzyme from SmF retained 70%-80% of its maximum activity in the acid-neutral pH range (4.0-7.0), but PIII showed high stability at alkaline pH (7.5-9.5). PL from SSF was more thermolabile than that from SmF. The latter maintained 60% of its initial activity after 1 h at 55 degrees C. The differing behavior of the enzymes with respect to pH and temperature suggests that they are different isozymes.

Characterization of homologous sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase isoforms in the bacterial pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei[S

PubMed Central

McLean, Christopher J.; Marles-Wright, Jon; Custodio, Rafael; Lowther, Jonathan; Kennedy, Amanda J.; Pollock, Jacob; Clarke, David J.; Brown, Alan R.; Campopiano, Dominic J.

2017-01-01

Sphingolipids (SLs) are ubiquitous elements in eukaryotic membranes and are also found in some bacterial and viral species. As well as playing an integral structural role, SLs also act as potent signaling molecules involved in numerous cellular pathways and have been linked to many human diseases. A central SL signaling molecule is sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), whose breakdown is catalyzed by S1P lyase (S1PL), a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of S1P to (2E)-hexadecenal (2E-HEX) and phosphoethanolamine. Here, we show that the pathogenic bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei K96243, encodes two homologous proteins (S1PL2021 and S1PL2025) that display moderate sequence identity to known eukaryotic and prokaryotic S1PLs. Using an established MS-based methodology, we show that recombinant S1PL2021 is catalytically active. We also used recombinant human fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase to develop a spectrophotometric enzyme-coupled assay to detect 2E-HEX formation and measure the kinetic constants of the two B. pseudomallei S1PL isoforms. Furthermore, we determined the X-ray crystal structure of the PLP-bound form of S1PL2021 at 2.1 Å resolution revealing that the enzyme displays a conserved structural fold and active site architecture comparable with known S1PLs. The combined data suggest that B. pseudomallei has the potential to degrade host SLs in a S1PL-dependent manner. PMID:27784725

Plumbagin suppresses dendritic cell functions and alleviates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

PubMed

Zhang, Kai; Ge, Zhenzhen; Da, Yurong; Wang, Dong; Liu, Ying; Xue, Zhenyi; Li, Yan; Li, Wen; Zhang, Lijuan; Wang, Huafeng; Zhang, Huan; Peng, Meiyu; Hao, Junwei; Yao, Zhi; Zhang, Rongxin

2014-08-15

Plumbagin (PL, 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) is a herbal compound derived from medicinal plants of the Droseraceae, Plumbaginaceae, Dioncophyllaceae, and Ancistrocladaceae families. Reports have shown that PL exerts immunomodulatory activity and may be a novel drug candidate for immune-related disease therapy. However, its effects on dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs), remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that PL inhibits the differentiation, maturation, and function of human monocyte-derived DCs. PL can also restrict the expression of Th1- and Th17-polarizing cytokines in mDC. In addition, PL suppresses DCs both in vitro and in vivo, as demonstrated by its effects on the mouse DC line DC2.4 and mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), respectively. Notably, PL ameliorated the clinical symptoms of EAE, including central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and demyelination. Our results demonstrate the immune suppressive and anti-inflammatory properties of PL via its effects on DCs and suggest that PL could be a potential treatment for DC-related autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Activation of germline-specific genes is required for limb regeneration in the Mexican axolotl

PubMed Central

Zhu, Wei; Pao, Gerald M; Satoh, Akira; Cummings, Gillian; Monaghan, James R; Harkins, Timothy T; Bryant, Susan V; Voss, S Randal; Gardiner, David M; Hunter, Tony

2013-01-01

The capacity for tissue and organ regeneration in humans is dwarfed by comparison to that of salamanders. Emerging evidence suggests that mechanisms learned from the early phase of salamander limb regeneration – wound healing, cellular dedifferentiation and blastemal formation – will reveal therapeutic approaches for tissue regeneration in humans. Here we describe a unique transcriptional fingerprint of regenerating limb tissue in the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) that is indicative of cellular reprogramming of differentiated cells to a germline-like state. Two genes that are required for self-renewal of germ cells in mice and flies, Piwi-like 1 (PL1) and Piwi-like 2 (PL2), are expressed in limb blastemal cells, the basal layer keratinocytes and the thickened apical epithelial cap in the wound epidermis in the regenerating limb. Depletion of PL1 and PL2 by morpholino oligonucleotides decreased cell proliferation and increased cell death in the blastema leading to a significant retardation of regeneration. Examination of key molecules that are known to be required for limb development or regeneration further revealed that FGF8 is transcriptionally downregulated in the presence of the morpholino oligos, indicating PL1 and PL2 might participate in FGF signaling during limb regeneration. Given the requirement for FGF signaling in limb development and regeneration, the results suggest that PL1 and PL2 function to establish a unique germline-like state that is associated with successful regeneration. PMID:22841627

A novel ascorbic acid sensor based on the Fe3+/Fe2+ modulated photoluminescence of CdTe quantum dots@SiO2 nanobeads.

PubMed

Ma, Qiang; Li, Yang; Lin, Zi-Han; Tang, Guangchao; Su, Xing-Guang

2013-10-21

In this paper, CdTe quantum dot (QD)@silica nanobeads were used as modulated photoluminescence (PL) sensors for the sensing of ascorbic acid in aqueous solution for the first time. The sensor was developed based on the different quenching effects of Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) on the PL intensity of the CdTe QD@ silica nanobeads. Firstly, the PL intensity of the CdTe QDs was quenched in the presence of Fe(3+). Although both Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) could quench the PL intensity of the CdTe QDs, the quenching efficiency were quite different for Fe(2+) and Fe(3+). The PL intensity of the CdTe QD@silica nanobeads can be quenched by about 15% after the addition of Fe(3+) (60 μmol L(-1)), while the PL intensity of the CdTe QD@silica nanobeads can be quenched about 49% after the addition of Fe(2+) (60 μmol L(-1)). Therefore, the PL intensity of the CdTe QD@silica nanobeads decreased significantly when Fe(3+) was reduced to Fe(2+) by ascorbic acid. To confirm the strategy of PL modulation in this sensing system, trace H2O2 was introduced to oxidize Fe(2+) to Fe(3+). As a result, the PL intensity of the CdTe QD@silica nanobeads was partly recovered. The proposed sensor could be used for ascorbic acid sensing in the concentration range of 3.33-400 μmol L(-1), with a detection limit (3σ) of 1.25 μmol L(-1) The feasibility of the proposed sensor for ascorbic acid determination in tablet samples was also studied, and satisfactory results were obtained.

Carrier concentration dependence of donor activation energy in n-type GaN epilayers grown on Si (1 1 1) by plasma-assisted MBE

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

Kumar, Mahesh; Central Research Laboratory, Bharat Electronics, Bangalore 560 013; Bhat, Thirumaleshwara N.

Highlights: ► The n-type GaN layers were grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. ► The optical characteristics of a donor level in Si-doped GaN were studied. ► Activation energy of a Si-related donor was estimated from temperature dependent PL measurements. ► PL peak positions, FWHM of PL and activation energies are found to be proportional to the cube root of carrier density. ► The involvement of donor levels is supported by the temperature-dependent electron concentration measurements. -- Abstract: The n-type GaN layers were grown by plasma-assisted MBE and either intentionally doped with Si or unintentionally doped. The optical characteristics ofmore » a donor level in Si-doped, GaN were studied in terms of photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy as a function of electron concentration. Temperature dependent PL measurements allowed us to estimate the activation energy of a Si-related donor from temperature-induced decay of PL intensity. PL peak positions, full width at half maximum of PL and activation energies are found to be proportional to the cube root of carrier density. The involvement of donor levels is supported by the temperature-dependent electron concentration measurements.« less

Degradation kinetics of aflatoxin B1 and B2 in solid medium by using pulsed light irradiation.

PubMed

Wang, Bei; Mahoney, Noreen E; Khir, Ragab; Wu, Bengang; Zhou, Cunshan; Pan, Zhongli; Ma, Haile

2018-04-10

Pulsed light (PL) is a new potential technology to degrade aflatoxin. The objective of this study was to investigate the degradation characters of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) and B 2 (AFB 2 ) treated under PL irradiation. A kinetic degradation study of AFB 1 and AFB 2 in solid medium was performed under PL irradiation at different initial concentrations of AFB 1 (229.9, 30.7 and 17.8 μg kg -1 ) and AFB 2 (248.2, 32.2 and 19.5 μg kg -1 ) and irradiation intensities (2.86, 1.60 and 0.93 W cm -2 ) of PL. A second-order reaction model was applied to describe degradation of AFB 1 and AFB 2 . The results showed that the degradation of AFB 1 and AFB 2 followed the second-order reaction kinetic model well (R 2  > 0.97). The degradation rate was proportional to the intensities of PL irradiation and the initial concentrations of aflatoxins. It is concluded that the degradation of AFB 1 and AFB 2 with the use of PL could be accurately described using the second-order reaction kinetic model. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Origin of visible and near-infrared photoluminescence from chemically etched Si nanowires decorated with arbitrarily shaped Si nanocrystals.

PubMed

Ghosh, Ramesh; Giri, P K; Imakita, Kenji; Fujii, Minoru

2014-01-31

Arrays of vertically aligned single crystalline Si nanowires (NWs) decorated with arbitrarily shaped Si nanocrystals (NCs) have been fabricated by a silver assisted wet chemical etching method. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are performed to measure the dimensions of the Si NWs as well as the Si NCs. A strong broad band and tunable visible (2.2 eV) to near-infrared (1.5 eV) photoluminescence (PL) is observed from these Si NWs at room temperature (RT). Our studies reveal that the Si NCs are primarily responsible for the 1.5-2.2 eV emission depending on the cross-sectional area of the Si NCs, while the large diameter Si/SiOx NWs yield distinct NIR PL consisting of peaks at 1.07, 1.10 and 1.12 eV. The latter NIR peaks are attributed to TO/LO phonon assisted radiative recombination of free carriers condensed in the electron-hole plasma in etched Si NWs observed at RT for the first time. Since the shape of the Si NCs is arbitrary, an analytical model is proposed to correlate the measured PL peak position with the cross-sectional area (A) of the Si NCs, and the bandgap (E(g)) of nanostructured Si varies as E(g) = E(g) (bulk) + 3.58 A(-0.52). Low temperature PL studies reveal the contribution of non-radiative defects in the evolution of PL spectra at different temperatures. The enhancement of PL intensity and red-shift of the PL peak at low temperatures are explained based on the interplay of radiative and non-radiative recombinations at the Si NCs and Si/SiO(x) interface. Time resolved PL studies reveal bi-exponential decay with size correlated lifetimes in the range of a few microseconds. Our results help to resolve a long standing debate on the origin of visible-NIR PL from Si NWs and allow quantitative analysis of PL from arbitrarily shaped Si NCs.

Epidermal growth factor stimulates mouse placental lactogen I but inhibits mouse placental lactogen II secretion in vitro.

PubMed Central

Yamaguchi, M; Ogren, L; Endo, H; Thordarson, G; Kensinger, R; Talamantes, F

1992-01-01

This study was undertaken to determine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulates the secretion of mouse placental lactogen (mPL)-I and mPL-II. Primary cell cultures were prepared from placentas from days 7, 9, and 11 of pregnancy and cultured for up to 5 days. Addition of EGF (20 ng/ml) to the medium resulted in significant stimulation of mPL-I secretion by the second day of culture in cells from days 7 and 9 of pregnancy and significant inhibition of mPL-II secretion by the third or fourth day of culture in cells from days 7, 9, and 11. Dose-response studies carried out with cells from day 7 of pregnancy demonstrated that the minimum concentration of EGF that stimulated mPL-I secretion and inhibited mPL-II secretion was 1.0 ng/ml. EGF did not affect the DNA content of the cells or cell viability, assessed by trypan blue exclusion, nor did it have a general effect on protein synthesis. There are three types of PL-containing giant cells in mouse placental cell cultures: cells that contain either mPL-I or mPL-II and cells that contain both hormones. Immunocytochemical analysis and the reverse hemolytic plaque assay indicated that EGF treatment was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of cells that produce mPL-I, but among the PL cells that contained mPL-I, there was no change in the fraction of cells that contained only mPL-I or the fraction that contained both mPL-I and mPL-II. In contrast, EGF treatment did affect the distribution of mPL-II among PL cells. In control cultures, about 75% of the cells that contained mPL-II also contained mPL-I, but in EGF-treated cultures, all of the cells that contained mPL-II also contained mPL-I. These data suggest that EGF regulates mPL-I and mPL-II secretion at least partly by regulating PL cell differentiation. PMID:1454826

The Adenosine Receptor Antagonist, 7-Methylxanthine, Alters Emmetropizing Responses in Infant Macaques

PubMed Central

Hung, Li-Fang; Arumugam, Baskar; Ostrin, Lisa; Patel, Nimesh; Trier, Klaus; Jong, Monica; III, Earl L. Smith

2018-01-01

Purpose Previous studies suggest that the adenosine receptor antagonist, 7-methylxanthine (7-MX), retards myopia progression. Our aim was to determine whether 7-MX alters the compensating refractive changes produced by defocus in rhesus monkeys. Methods Starting at age 3 weeks, monkeys were reared with −3 diopter (D; n = 10; 7-MX −3D/pl) or +3D (n = 6; 7-MX +3D/pl) spectacles over their treated eyes and zero-powered lenses over their fellow eyes. In addition, they were given 100 mg/kg of 7-MX orally twice daily throughout the lens-rearing period (age 147 ± 4 days). Comparison data were obtained from lens-reared controls (−3D/pl, n = 17; +3D/pl, n = 9) and normal monkeys (n = 37) maintained on a standard diet. Refractive status, corneal power, and axial dimensions were assessed biweekly. Results The −3D/pl and +3D/pl lens-reared controls developed compensating myopic (−2.10 ± 1.07 D) and hyperopic anisometropias (+1.86 ± 0.54 D), respectively. While the 7-MX +3D/pl monkeys developed hyperopic anisometropias (+1.79 ± 1.11 D) that were similar to those observed in +3D/pl controls, the 7-MX −3D/pl animals did not consistently exhibit compensating myopia in their treated eyes and were on average isometropic (+0.35 ± 1.96 D). The median refractive errors for both eyes of the 7-MX −3D/pl (+5.47 D and +4.38 D) and 7-MX +3D/pl (+5.28 and +3.84 D) monkeys were significantly more hyperopic than that for normal monkeys (+2.47 D). These 7-MX–induced hyperopic ametropias were associated with shorter vitreous chambers and thicker choroids. Conclusions In primates, 7-MX reduced the axial myopia produced by hyperopic defocus, augmented hyperopic shifts in response to myopic defocus, and induced hyperopia in control eyes. The results suggest that 7-MX has therapeutic potential in efforts to slow myopia progression. PMID:29368006

Effects of phosphatidic acid supplementation on muscle thickness and strength in resistance-trained men.

PubMed

Gonzalez, Adam M; Sell, Katie M; Ghigiarelli, Jamie J; Kelly, Christopher F; Shone, Edward W; Accetta, Matthew R; Baum, Jamie B; Mangine, Gerald T

2017-04-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of phosphatidic acid (PA) supplementation on muscle thickness and strength following an 8 week supervised resistance-training program. Fifteen resistance trained men (22.8 ± 3.5 years; 80.6 ± 8.7 kg; 178.1 ± 5.6 cm; 14.6% ± 8.8% body fat) were randomly assigned to a group that either consumed 750 mg of PA or a placebo (PL). Testing was carried out before (PRE) and after (POST) training/supplementation for muscle thickness and strength. Muscle thickness of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps brachii (BB), and triceps brachii (TB) muscles were measured via ultrasonography, along with 1 repetition maximum (1RM) of squat, deadlift, and bench press. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), using PRE values as the covariate, did not reveal any group differences for measures of muscle thickness in the RF (PA: 3.6% ± 5.2%; PL: 3.2% ± 4.2%, p = 0.97), VL (PA: 23.4% ± 18.1%, PL: 12.5% ± 15.4%, p = 0.37), BB (PA: 3.7% ± 6.4%, PL: 9.6% ± 12.4%, p = 0.86), or TB (PA: 15.1% ± 17.9%, PL: 10.7% ± 19.3%, p = 0.79). Likewise, no group differences were observed in changes in squat (PA: 8.4% ± 4.1%, PL: 8.1% ± 4.2%, p = 0.79), deadlift (PA: 10.1% ± 10.1%, PL: 8.9% ± 9.5%, p = 0.66), or bench press (PA: 5.7% ± 5.5%, PL: 5.1% ± 3.0%, p = 0.76) exercises. Collectively, however, all participants experienced significant (p < 0.05) improvements in each measure of muscle thickness and strength. Results of this study suggest that PA supplementation, in combination with a 3 days·week -1 resistance-training program for 8 weeks, did not have a differential effect compared with PL on changes in muscle thickness or 1RM strength.

A Cultural Diffusion Model for the Rise and Fall of Programming Languages.

PubMed

Valverde, Sergi; Solé, Ricard V

2015-07-01

Our interaction with complex computing machines is mediated by programming languages (PLs), which constitute one of the major innovations in the evolution of technology. PLs allow flexible, scalable, and fast use of hardware and are largely responsible for shaping the history of information technology since the rise of computers in the 1950s. The rapid growth and impact of computers were followed closely by the development of PLs. As occurs with natural, human languages, PLs have emerged and gone extinct. There has been always a diversity of coexisting PLs that compete somewhat while occupying special niches. Here we show that the statistical patterns of language adoption, rise, and fall can be accounted for by a simple model in which a set of programmers can use several PLs, decide to use existing PLs used by other programmers, or decide not to use them. Our results highlight the influence of strong communities of practice in the diffusion of PL innovations.

Intracellular pathways triggered by the selective FLT-1-agonist placental growth factor in vascular smooth muscle cells exposed to hypoxia.

PubMed

Bellik, Lydia; Vinci, Maria Cristina; Filippi, Sandra; Ledda, Fabrizio; Parenti, Astrid

2005-10-01

We have previously shown that hypoxia makes vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) responsive to placental growth factor (PlGF) through the induction of functional fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt-1) receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the PlGF effects on proliferation and contraction of VSMCs previously exposed to hypoxia (3% O2). In cultured rat VSMCs exposed to hypoxia, PlGF increased the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt), p38 and STAT3; activation of STAT3 was higher than that of other kinases. In agreement with this finding, the proliferation of hypoxia-treated VSMCs in response to PlGF was significantly impaired by the p38 and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors SB202190 and LY294002, respectively, and was almost completely prevented by AG490, a janus tyrosine kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) inhibitor. Since hypoxia was able to reverse the vasorelaxant effect of PlGF into a vasoconstrictor response, the mechanism of this latter effect was also investigated. Significant Flt-1 activity was measured in isolated preparations from rat aorta exposed to hypoxia. Inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, Akt and STAT3 induced a modest inhibition of the vasoconstrictor response to PlGF, while the p38 inhibitor SB202190 markedly impaired the PlGF-induced contractile response. These effects were selectively mediated by Flt-1 without any involvement of foetal liver kinase-1 receptors. These data are the first evidence that different intracellular pathways activated by Flt-1 receptor in VSMCs are involved in diverse biological effects of PlGF: while mitogen activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal regulated kinase(1/2) and JAK/STAT play a role in VSMC proliferation, p38 is involved in VSMC contraction. These findings may highlight the role of PlGF in vascular pathology.

Comparative study of the oxidation of propranolol enantiomers in hepatic and small intestinal microsomes from cynomolgus and marmoset monkeys.

PubMed

Shimizudani, Takeshi; Nagaoka, Kenjiro; Hanioka, Nobumitsu; Yamano, Shigeru; Narimatsu, Shizuo

2010-01-05

Oxidative metabolism of propranolol (PL) enantiomers (R-PL and S-PL) to 4-hydroxypropranolol (4-OH-PL), 5-OH-PL and N-deisopropylpropranolol (NDP) was examined in hepatic microsomes from cynomolgus and marmoset monkeys and in small intestinal microsomes from monkeys and humans. In hepatic microsomes, levels of oxidation activities were similar between the two monkey species, and substrate enantioselectivity (R-PLS-PL) was seen in the formation of NDP in cynomolgus monkeys and humans and in the formation of 5-OH-PL in marmosets. The formation of the three metabolites in cynomolgus monkeys and the formation of NDP in marmosets were biphasic, while the formation of 4-OH-PL in humans was monophasic. From the inhibition experiments using CYP antibodies, CYP2C9 and 2C19 were thought to be involved as N-deisopropylases and CYP2D6 and 3A4 as 4-hydroxylases in human small intestine. Furthermore, CYP1A, 2C and 3A enzymes could be involved in cynomolgus monkeys and CYP2C and 3A enzymes in marmosets. These results indicate that the oxidative profile of PL in hepatic and small intestinal microsomes differ considerably among cynomolgus monkeys, marmosets and humans.

A necrosis-inducing elicitor domain encoded by both symptomatic and asymptomatic Plantago asiatica mosaic virus isolates, whose expression is modulated by virus replication.

PubMed

Komatsu, Ken; Hashimoto, Masayoshi; Maejima, Kensaku; Shiraishi, Takuya; Neriya, Yutaro; Miura, Chihiro; Minato, Nami; Okano, Yukari; Sugawara, Kyoko; Yamaji, Yasuyuki; Namba, Shigetou

2011-04-01

Systemic necrosis is the most destructive symptom induced by plant pathogens. We previously identified amino acid 1154, in the polymerase domain (POL) of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of Plantago asiatica mosaic virus (PlAMV), which affects PlAMV-induced systemic necrosis in Nicotiana benthamiana. By point-mutation analysis, we show that amino acid 1,154 alone is not sufficient for induction of necrotic symptoms. However, PlAMV replicons that can express only RdRp, derived from a necrosis-inducing PlAMV isolate, retain their ability to induce necrosis, and transient expression of PlAMV-encoded proteins indicated that the necrosis-eliciting activity resides in RdRp. Moreover, inducible-overexpression analysis demonstrated that the necrosis was induced in an RdRp dose-dependent manner. In addition, during PlAMV infection, necrotic symptoms are associated with high levels of RdRp accumulation. Surprisingly, necrosis-eliciting activity resides in the helicase domain (HEL), not in the amino acid 1,154-containing POL, of RdRp, and this activity was observed even in HELs of PlAMV isolates of which infection does not cause necrosis. Moreover, HEL-induced necrosis had characteristics similar to those induced by PlAMV infection. Overall, our data suggest that necrotic symptoms induced by PlAMV infection depend on the accumulation of a non-isolate specific elicitor HEL (even from nonnecrosis isolates), whose expression is indirectly regulated by amino acid 1,154 that controls replication.

Exposing the Secrets of Two Well-Known Lactobacillus casei Phages, J-1 and PL-1, by Genomic and Structural Analysis

PubMed Central

Dieterle, Maria Eugenia; Bowman, Charles; Batthyany, Carlos; Lanzarotti, Esteban; Turjanski, Adrián; Hatfull, Graham

2014-01-01

Bacteriophage J-1 was isolated in 1965 from an abnormal fermentation of Yakult using Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, and a related phage, PL-1, was subsequently recovered from a strain resistant to J-1. Complete genome sequencing shows that J-1 and PL-1 are almost identical, but PL-1 has a deletion of 1.9 kbp relative to J-1, resulting in the loss of four predicted gene products involved in immunity regulation. The structural proteins were identified by mass spectrometry analysis. Similarly to phage A2, two capsid proteins are generated by a translational frameshift and undergo proteolytic processing. The structure of gene product 16 (gp16), a putative tail protein, was modeled based on the crystal structure of baseplate distal tail proteins (Dit) that form the baseplate hub in other Siphoviridae. However, two regions of the C terminus of gp16 could not be modeled using this template. The first region accounts for the differences between J-1 and PL-1 gp16 and showed sequence similarity to carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). J-1 and PL-1 GFP-gp16 fusions bind specifically to Lactobacillus casei/paracasei cells, and the addition of l-rhamnose inhibits binding. J-1 gp16 exhibited a higher affinity than PL-1 gp16 for cell walls of L. casei ATCC 27139 in phage adsorption inhibition assays, in agreement with differential adsorption kinetics observed for both phages in this strain. The data presented here provide insights into how Lactobacillus phages interact with their hosts at the first steps of infection. PMID:25217012

Enhanced ε-poly-L-lysine production by inducing double antibiotic-resistant mutations in Streptomyces albulus.

PubMed

Wang, Liang; Chen, Xusheng; Wu, Guangyao; Li, Shu; Zeng, Xin; Ren, Xidong; Tang, Lei; Mao, Zhonggui

2017-02-01

ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL), as a food additive, has been widely used in many countries. However, its production still needs to be improved. We successfully enhanced ε-PL production of Streptomyces albulus FEEL-1 by introducing mutations related to antibiotics, such as streptomycin, gentamicin, and rifampin. Single- and double-resistant mutants (S-88 and SG-31) were finally screened with the improved ε-PL productions of 2.81 and 3.83 g/L, 1.75- to 2.39-fold compared with that of initial strain FEEL-1. Then, the performances of mutants S-88 and SG-31 were compared with the parent strain FEEL-1 in a 5-L bioreactor under the optimal condition for ε-PL production. After 174-h fed-batch fermentation, the ε-PL production and productivity of hyper-strain SG-31 reached the maximum of 59.50 g/L and 8.21 g/L/day, respectively, which was 138 and 105% higher than that of FEEL-1. Analysis of streptomycin-resistant mutants demonstrated that a point mutation occurred in rpsL gene (encoding the ribosomal protein S12). These single and double mutants displayed remarkable increases of the activities and transcriptional levels of key enzymes in ε-PL biosynthesis pathway, which may be responsible for the enhanced mycelia viability, respiratory activity, and ε-PL productions of SG-31. These results showed that the new breeding method, called ribosome engineering, could be a novel and effective breeding strategy for the evolution of ε-PL-producing strains.

A comprehensive analysis of transfection-assisted delivery of iron oxide nanoparticles to dendritic cells.

PubMed

Toki, Shinji; Omary, Reed A; Wilson, Kevin; Gore, John C; Peebles, R Stokes; Pham, Wellington

2013-11-01

Polylysine (PL) has been used to facilitate dendritic cell (DC) uptake of super paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this work, we examined the effect of PL on cell toxicity and induction of cell maturation as manifested by the up-regulation of surface molecules. We found that PL became toxic to bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) at the 10 μg/ml threshold. Incubation of BMDCs with 20 μg/ml of PL for 1h resulted in approximately 90% cell death. However, addition of SPIO nanoparticles rescued DCs from PL-induced death as the combination of SPIO with PL did not cause cytotoxicity until the PL concentration was 1000 μg/ml. Prolonged exposure to PL induced BMDC maturation as noted by the expression of surface molecules such as MHC class II, CD40, CCR7 and CD86. However, the combination of SPIO and PL did not induce BMDC maturation at 1h. However prolonged exposure to SPIO nanoparticles induced CD40 expression and protein expression of TNFα and KC. The data suggest that the use of PL to enhance the labeling of DCs with SPIO nanoparticles is a dedicated work. Appropriate calibration of the incubation time and concentrations of PL and SPIO nanoparticles is crucial to the development of MRI technology for noninvasive imaging of DCs in vivo. The authors of this study present detailed data on toxicity and efficiency of polylysine-facilitated uptake of USPIO-s by dendritic cells for cell-specific MR imaging. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Frequency of Aquaporin-4 Immunoglobulin G in Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis With Antiphospholipid Antibodies.

PubMed

Guerra, Hilda; Pittock, Sean J; Moder, Kevin G; Fryer, James P; Gadoth, Avi; Flanagan, Eoin P

2018-04-11

Antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies have historically been postulated to cause a poorly understood inflammatory myelitis. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) causes an inflammatory longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM). In 2004, aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) was first reported as a highly specific (>99%) serum diagnostic biomarker of NMOSD, distinguishing it from other disorders (eg, multiple sclerosis). We sought to assess the frequency of AQP4-IgG (and thus NMOSD diagnosis) in LETM with aPL antibodies. We searched Mayo Clinic records (from January 1, 1996, through December 31, 2014) for patients with (1) LETM and (2) aPL or β 2 -glycoprotein I antibodies and (3) a serum sample available. AQP4-IgG was evaluated in the 24 included patients and in 20 controls with aPL antibodies but without myelitis. Seropositivity for AQP4-IgG was confirmed in 11 of 24 patients with LETM (46%), confirming an AQP4-IgG-seropositive NMOSD diagnosis rather than aPL-associated LETM. Six of 11 AQP4-IgG-seropositive patients (54%) were initially diagnosed as having aPL/lupus-associated myelitis. Recurrent LETM was exclusive to AQP4-IgG-seropositive patients (P=.003). Alternative diagnoses assigned to the remaining 13 AQP4-IgG-seronegative patients included idiopathic transverse myelitis (n=5), seronegative NMOSD (n=2), spinal cord infarct attributed to aPL antibodies (n=2), spinal cord sarcoidosis (n=1), varicella-zoster virus myelitis (n=1), postinfectious myelitis (n=1), and multiple sclerosis (n=1). All 20 controls were seronegative for AQP4-IgG. Clotting disorders occurred in 36% of patients (4 of 11) with LETM with both aPL antibodies and AQP4-IgG. AQP4-IgG should be tested in all patients with LETM and aPL antibodies because AQP4-IgG-seropositive NMOSD accounts for almost half of all cases. Clotting disorders are common in patients with LETM with dual positivity for AQP4-IgG and aPL antibodies. Copyright © 2018 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Kartsaklis, Christos; Hernandez, Oscar R

Interrogating the structure of a program for patterns of interest is attractive to the broader spectrum of software engineering. The very approach by which a pattern is constructed remains a concern for the source code mining community. This paper presents a pattern programming model, for the C and Fortran programming languages, using a compiler directives approach. We discuss our specification, called HERCULES/PL, throughout a number of examples and show how different patterns can be constructed, plus some preliminary results.

The involvement of peripheral alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the antihyperalgesic effect of oxcarbazepine in a rat model of inflammatory pain.

PubMed

Tomić, Maja A; Vucković, Sonja M; Stepanović-Petrović, Radica M; Ugresić, Nenad D; Paranos, Sonja Lj; Prostran, Milica S; Bosković, Bogdan

2007-11-01

We studied whether peripheral alpha2-adrenergic receptors are involved in the antihyperalgesic effects of oxcarbazepine by examining the effects of yohimbine (selective alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist), BRL 44408 (selective alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor antagonist), MK-912 (selective alpha2C-adrenoceptor antagonist), and clonidine (alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist) on the antihyperalgesic effect of oxcarbazepine in the rat model of inflammatory pain. Rats were intraplantarly (i.pl.) injected with the proinflammatory compound concanavalin A (Con A). A paw-pressure test was used to determine: 1) the development of hyperalgesia induced by Con A; 2) the effects of oxcarbazepine (i.pl.) on Con A-induced hyperalgesia; and 3) the effects of i.pl. yohimbine, BRL 44408, MK-912 and clonidine on the oxcarbazepine antihyperalgesia. Both oxcarbazepine (1000-3000 nmol/paw; i.pl.) and clonidine (1.9-7.5 nmol/paw; i.pl.) produced a significant dose-dependent reduction of the paw inflammatory hyperalgesia induced by Con A. Yohimbine (260 and 520 nmol/paw; i.pl.), BRL 44408 (100 and 200 nmol/paw; i.pl.) and MK-912 (10 and 20 nmol/paw; i.pl.) significantly depressed the antihyperalgesic effects of oxcarbazepine (2000 nmol/paw; i.pl.) in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of antagonists were due to local effects since they were not observed after administration into the contralateral hindpaw. Oxcarbazepine and clonidine administered jointly in fixed-dose fractions of the ED(50) (1/4, 1/2, and 3/4) caused significant and dose-dependent reduction of hyperalgesia induced by Con A. Isobolographic analysis revealed an additive antihyperalgesic effect. Our results indicate that the peripheral alpha2A and alpha2C adrenoceptors could be involved in the antihyperalgesic effects of oxcarbazepine in a rat model of inflammatory hyperalgesia.

Application of U/Th and 40Ar/39Ar Dating to Orgnac 3, a Late Acheulean and Early Middle Palaeolithic Site in Ardèche, France

PubMed Central

Michel, Véronique; Shen, Guanjun; Shen, Chuan-Chou; Wu, Chung-Che; Vérati, Chrystèle; Gallet, Sylvain; Moncel, Marie-Hélène; Combier, Jean; Khatib, Samir; Manetti, Michel

2013-01-01

Refined radio-isotopic dating techniques have been applied to Orgnac 3, a Late Acheulean and Early Middle Palaeolithic site in France. Evidence of Levallois core technology appeared in level 4b in the middle of the sequence, became predominant in the upper horizons, and was best represented in uppermost level 1, making the site one of the oldest examples of Levallois technology. In our dating study, fourteen speleothem samples from levels 7, 6 and 5b, were U/Th-dated. Four pure calcite samples from the speleothem PL1 (levels 5b, 6) yield ages between 265 ± 4 (PL1-3) and 312 ± 15 (PL1-6) thousand years ago (ka). Three samples from the top of a second stalagmite, PL2, yield dates ranging from 288 ± 10 ka (PL2-1) to 298 ± 17 ka (PL2-3). Three samples from the base of PL2 (level 7) yield much younger U/Th dates between 267 and 283 ka. These dates show that the speleothems PL1 and PL2 are contemporaneous and formed during marine isotope stage (MIS) 9 and MIS 8. Volcanic minerals in level 2, the upper sequence, were dated by the 40Ar/39Ar method, giving a weighted mean of 302.9 ± 2.5 ka (2σ) and an inverse isochron age of 302.9 ± 5.9 ka (2σ). Both 40Ar/39Ar dating of volcanic sanidines and U/Th dating of relatively pure and dense cave calcites are known to be well established. The first parallel application of the two geochronometers to Orgnac 3 yields generally consistent results, which point to the reliability of the two methods. The difference between their age results is discussed. PMID:24349273

Application of U/Th and 40Ar/39Ar dating to Orgnac 3, a Late Acheulean and Early Middle Palaeolithic site in Ardèche, France.

PubMed

Michel, Véronique; Shen, Guanjun; Shen, Chuan-Chou; Wu, Chung-Che; Vérati, Chrystèle; Gallet, Sylvain; Moncel, Marie-Hélène; Combier, Jean; Khatib, Samir; Manetti, Michel

2013-01-01

Refined radio-isotopic dating techniques have been applied to Orgnac 3, a Late Acheulean and Early Middle Palaeolithic site in France. Evidence of Levallois core technology appeared in level 4b in the middle of the sequence, became predominant in the upper horizons, and was best represented in uppermost level 1, making the site one of the oldest examples of Levallois technology. In our dating study, fourteen speleothem samples from levels 7, 6 and 5b, were U/Th-dated. Four pure calcite samples from the speleothem PL1 (levels 5b, 6) yield ages between 265 ± 4 (PL1-3) and 312 ± 15 (PL1-6) thousand years ago (ka). Three samples from the top of a second stalagmite, PL2, yield dates ranging from 288 ± 10 ka (PL2-1) to 298 ± 17 ka (PL2-3). Three samples from the base of PL2 (level 7) yield much younger U/Th dates between 267 and 283 ka. These dates show that the speleothems PL1 and PL2 are contemporaneous and formed during marine isotope stage (MIS) 9 and MIS 8. Volcanic minerals in level 2, the upper sequence, were dated by the (40)Ar/(39)Ar method, giving a weighted mean of 302.9 ± 2.5 ka (2σ) and an inverse isochron age of 302.9 ± 5.9 ka (2σ). Both (40)Ar/(39)Ar dating of volcanic sanidines and U/Th dating of relatively pure and dense cave calcites are known to be well established. The first parallel application of the two geochronometers to Orgnac 3 yields generally consistent results, which point to the reliability of the two methods. The difference between their age results is discussed.

Ways of Seeing the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): What Contribution Can Such Practices Make to Social Inclusion?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Judy

1999-01-01

Describes four models of recognition of prior learning (PL): (1) procrustean--PL is made to match predetermined standards; (2) learning and development--PL approximates implicit academic standards; (3) radical--subjective knowledge is recognized as an alternative to dominant forms; and (4) Trojan-horse--PL is seen as socially constructed and…

An Elevated Maternal Plasma Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1 to Placental Growth Factor Ratio at Midtrimester Is a Useful Predictor for Preeclampsia.

PubMed

Hassan, Mahmoud Fathy; Rund, Nancy Mohamed Ali; Salama, Ahmed Husseiny

2013-01-01

Background. To assess the ability of mid-trimester sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for prediction of preeclampsia in two different Arabic populations. Methods. This study measured levels of sFlt-1, PlGF, and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at midtrimester in 83 patients who developed preeclampsia with contemporary 250 matched controls. Results. Women subsequently developed preeclampsia had significantly lower PlGF levels and higher sFlt-1 and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio levels than women with normal pregnancies (P < 0.0001 for all). Women who with preterm preeclampsia had significantly higher sFlt-1 and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio than term preeclamptic women (P = 0.01, 0.003, resp.). A cutoff value of 3198 pg/mL for sFlt-1 was able to predict preeclampsia with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 88%, 83.6%, and 84.7%, respectively, with odds ratio (OR) 37.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 17.7-78.1]. PIGF at cutoff value of 138 pg/mL was able to predict preeclampsia with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 85.5%, 77.2%, and 79.3%, respectively, with OR 20 [95% CI, 10.2-39.5]. The sFlt-1/PIGF ratio at cutoff value of 24.5 was able to predict preeclampsia with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 91.6%, 86.4%, and 87.7%, respectively with OR 67 [95% CI, 29.3-162.1]. Conclusion. Midtrimester sFlt-1/PlGF ratio displayed the highest sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and OR for prediction of preeclampsia, demonstrating that it may stipulate more effective prediction of preeclampsia development than individual factor assay.

Bumble bees regulate their intake of essential protein and lipid pollen macronutrients.

PubMed

Vaudo, A D; Stabler, D; Patch, H M; Tooker, J F; Grozinger, C M; Wright, G A

2016-12-15

Bee population declines are linked to the reduction of nutritional resources due to land-use intensification, yet we know little about the specific nutritional needs of many bee species. Pollen provides bees with their primary source of protein and lipids, but nutritional quality varies widely among host-plant species. Therefore, bees might have adapted to assess resource quality and adjust their foraging behavior to balance nutrition from multiple food sources. We tested the ability of two bumble bee species, Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, to regulate protein and lipid intake. We restricted B. terrestris adults to single synthetic diets varying in protein:lipid ratios (P:L). The bees over-ate protein on low-fat diets and over-ate lipid on high-fat diets to reach their targets of lipid and protein, respectively. The bees survived best on a 10:1 P:L diet; the risk of dying increased as a function of dietary lipid when bees ate diets with lipid contents greater than 5:1 P:L. Hypothesizing that the P:L intake target of adult worker bumble bees was between 25:1 and 5:1, we presented workers from both species with unbalanced but complementary paired diets to determine whether they self-select their diet to reach a specific intake target. Bees consumed similar amounts of proteins and lipids in each treatment and averaged a 14:1 P:L for B. terrestris and 12:1 P:L for B. impatiens These results demonstrate that adult worker bumble bees likely select foods that provide them with a specific ratio of P:L. These P:L intake targets could affect pollen foraging in the field and help explain patterns of host-plant species choice by bumble bees. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Inhibition of Placenta Growth Factor Reduces Subretinal Mononuclear Phagocyte Accumulation in Choroidal Neovascularization.

PubMed

Crespo-Garcia, Sergio; Corkhill, Caitlin; Roubeix, Christophe; Davids, Anja-Maria; Kociok, Norbert; Strauss, Olaf; Joussen, Antonia M; Reichhart, Nadine

2017-10-01

The cellular immune response driven by mononuclear phagocytes (MPs) is crucial for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) progression. Case reports show that a switch from pure anti-vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) intravitreal treatment to aflibercept, a drug with combined anti-VEGF-A and anti-placenta growth factor (PlGF) activity, can be beneficial for patients who do not respond to anti-VEGF-A alone. Since MPs harbor VEGFR1, we hypothesize that the interplay of P1GF/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) in immune cells plays a pivotal role for CNV. CNV was induced with laser, and immune cells and neovascularization were analyzed in vivo and ex vivo. Immunohistochemistry was employed for protein detection. Differential expression of angiogenic factors and macrophage polarization markers were assessed by quantitative PCR (qPCR). One day after laser, intravitreal injection of aflibercept or anti-PlGF was performed. In the early inflammatory phase after laser, Plgf but not Vegfa was significantly upregulated. VEGF-A upregulation is limited to the scar, whereas PlGF shows a wider distribution. M1 (proinflammatory) macrophage markers were upregulated in the early phase of CNV. However, M2 (proangiogenic) markers showed more inconsistent dynamics. We demonstrated that both aflibercept and anti-PlGF treatments decrease the overall amount of activated subretinal MPs, and especially of those expressing PlGF. These data correlated with a reduction in leakage associated to CNV. Aflibercept showed a stronger reduction in both parameters. The results hint at an interplay between PlGF/VEGFR1 and MPs that is important in the early phase of CNV. A combined inhibition of VEGF-A and PlGF is superior to a specific anti-PlGF treatment in terms of subretinal MP recruitment.

Integrated Freestanding Two-dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides.

PubMed

Jeong, Hyun; Oh, Hye Min; Gokarna, Anisha; Kim, Hyun; Yun, Seok Joon; Han, Gang Hee; Jeong, Mun Seok; Lee, Young Hee; Lerondel, Gilles

2017-05-01

This paper reports on the integration of freestanding transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Monolayer (1-L) MoS 2 , WS 2 , and WSe 2 as representative TMDs are transferred on ZnO nanorods (NRs), used here as nanostructured substrates. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of 1-L TMDs on NRs show a giant PL intensity enhancement, compared with those of 1-L TMDs on SiO 2 . The strong increases in Raman and PL intensities, along with the characteristic peak shifts, confirm the absence of stress in the TMDs on NRs. In depth analysis of the PL emission also reveals that the ratio between the exciton and trion peak intensity is almost not modified after transfer. The latter shows that the effect of charge transfer between the 1-L TMDs and ZnO NRs is here negligible. Furthermore, confocal PL and Raman spectroscopy reveal a fairly consistent distribution of PL and Raman intensities. These observations are in agreement with a very limited points contact between the support and the 1-L TMDs. The entire process reported here is scalable and may pave the way for the development of very efficient ultrathin optoelectronics. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein-A and Placental Growth Factor in a Sub-Saharan African Population: A Nested Cross-Sectional Study

PubMed Central

Klipstein-Grobusch, Kerstin; Koster, Maria P. H.; Ramamoorthy, Dhivya; Antwi, Edward; Belmouden, Idder; Franx, Arie; Grobbee, Diederick E.; Schielen, Peter C. J. I.

2016-01-01

Background Baseline distributions of pregnancy disorders’ biomarkers PlGF and PAPP-A levels are primarily based on Western European populations of Caucasian ethnicity. Differences in PAPP-A and PlGF concentrations by ethnicity have been observed, with increased levels in Afro-Caribbean, East Asian, and South Asian women. Baseline concentrations of sub-Saharan African women have not been evaluated. Objectives To investigate PlGF and PAPP-A in a sub-Saharan African population and assess the performance of existing reference values of PAPP-A and PlGF. Methods A nested cross-sectional study was conducted in two public hospitals in Accra, Ghana. Out of the original 1010 women enrolled in the cohort, 398 participants were eligible for inclusion with a normotensive singleton gestation and serum samples taken between 56–97 days of pregnancy. PAPP-A and PlGF concentrations were measured with an automated immunoassay. Multiple of the median (MoM) values corrected for gestation and maternal weight for PAPP-A and PlGF were calculated using reference values of a Dutch perinatal screening laboratory based on over 10.000 samples, and PlGF manufacturer reference values, respectively. Results The PAPP-A median MoM was 2.34 (interquartile range (IQR) 1.24–3.97). Median PlGF MoM was 1.25 (IQR 0.95–1.80). Median MoM values for PAPP-A and PlGF tended to be slightly different for various Ghanaian ethnic subgroups. Conclusions PAPP-A and PlGF MoM values appear to be substantially higher in a sub-Saharan African population compared to the Caucasian or Afro-Caribbean MoM values previously reported. The difference suggests the need for a specific correction factor for this population to avoid underestimation of risk for fetal aneuploidies or placental disorders when using PAPP-A and PlGF MoM for screening purposes. PMID:27532602

Strong carrier localization in stacking faults in semipolar (11-22) GaN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okur, Serdal; Monavarian, Morteza; Das, Saikat; Izyumskaya, Natalia; Zhang, Fan; Avrutin, Vitaliy; Morkoç, Hadis; Özgür, Ümit

2015-03-01

The effects of stacking faults (SFs) on optical processes in epitaxially grown semipolar (1122) GaN on m-sapphire substrate have been investigated in detail using steady-state photoluminescence (PL) and time- and polarization-resolved PL. We demonstrate that the carrier recombination dynamics are substantially influenced due to strong carrier localization in the stacking faults. In addition to nonradiative recombination, carrier trapping/detrapping and carrier transfer between the stacking faults and donors are also found to be among the mechanisms affecting the recombination dynamics at different temperatures. PL decay times of both I1-type BSF and 3.31 eV SF (E-type BSF or prismatic stacking fault) do not show temperature dependence up to 80 K while 3.31 eV SF exhibits longer PL decay times (~3 ns) at low temperatures as compared to I1-type BSF (~1 ns), indicative of lower efficiency for radiative recombination. After 80 K, PL decay times decreased by power of ~-1 and ~-2 for 3.31 eV SF and I1-type BSF, respectively. It is obtained from radiative decay times with respect to temperature that the carrier localization becomes higher in I1-type BSF compared to 3.31 eV SF increasing the temperature. I1-type BSF also shows higher PL intensity, which is attributed to larger density, and therefore, larger contribution to recombination dynamics as compared to other type of stacking faults. Polarization-resolved PL measurements also revealed that the degree of polarization for the I1-type BSF (0.30) was twice that for the 3.31 eV SF.

76 FR 59674 - Combined Notice of Filings #1

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-27

..., October 06, 2011. Docket Numbers: ER11-4530-000. Applicants: Dynamic PL, LLC. Description: Dynamic PL, LLC submits tariff filing per 35.1: Dynamic PL, LLC Re-file to be effective 9/15/2011. Filed Date: 09/15/2011... Thursday, October 06, 2011. The filings are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by clicking on...

Elevated levels of placental growth factor represent an adaptive host response in sepsis.

PubMed

Yano, Kiichiro; Okada, Yoshiaki; Beldi, Guido; Shih, Shou-Ching; Bodyak, Natalya; Okada, Hitomi; Kang, Peter M; Luscinskas, William; Robson, Simon C; Carmeliet, Peter; Karumanchi, S Ananth; Aird, William C

2008-10-27

Recently, we demonstrated that circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF) are increased in sepsis (Yano, K., P.C. Liaw, J.M. Mullington, S.C. Shih, H. Okada, N. Bodyak, P.M. Kang, L. Toltl, B. Belikoff, J. Buras, et al. 2006. J. Exp. Med. 203:1447-1458). Moreover, enhanced VEGF/Flk-1 signaling was shown to contribute to sepsis morbidity and mortality. We tested the hypothesis that PlGF also contributes to sepsis outcome. In mouse models of endotoxemia and cecal ligation puncture, the genetic absence of PlGF or the systemic administration of neutralizing anti-PlGF antibodies resulted in higher mortality compared with wild-type or immunoglobulin G-injected controls, respectively. The increased mortality associated with genetic deficiency of PlGF was reversed by adenovirus (Ad)-mediated overexpression of PlGF. In the endotoxemia model, PlGF deficiency was associated with elevated circulating levels of VEGF, induction of VEGF expression in the liver, impaired cardiac function, and organ-specific accentuation of barrier dysfunction and inflammation. Mortality of endotoxemic PlGF-deficient mice was increased by Ad-mediated overexpression of VEGF and was blocked by expression of soluble Flt-1. Collectively, these data suggest that up-regulation of PlGF in sepsis is an adaptive host response that exerts its benefit, at least in part, by attenuating VEGF signaling.

In vitro effects of triiodothyronine on gene expression in mouse trophoblast cells.

PubMed

Silva, J F; Ocarino, N M; Serakides, R

2015-01-01

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different doses of T3 (10(-4) M, 10(-7) M, 10(-9) M) on the in vitro gene expression of Tpbp, Prl3b1, VEGF, PGF, PL-1, and INFy in mouse trophoblast cells by real-time RT-PCR. Doses of 10(-7) and 10(-9) M T3 increased the mRNA levels of Tpbp, Pl3b1, VEGF, PGF, INFy and PL-1. In contrast, the dose of 10(-4) M reduced the gene expression of PL-1 and VEGF. T3 affected the gene expression of differentiation, hormonal, immune and angiogenic factors in mouse trophoblast cells. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Human platelet lysate stimulates high-passage and senescent human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell growth and rejuvenation in vitro.

PubMed

Griffiths, Sarah; Baraniak, Priya R; Copland, Ian B; Nerem, Robert M; McDevitt, Todd C

2013-12-01

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are clinically useful because of their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, but MSC therapies are limited by the loss of self-renewal and cell plasticity associated with ex vivo expansion culture and, on transplantation, increased immunogenicity from xenogen exposure during culture. Recently, pooled human platelet lysate (hPL) has been used as a culture supplement to promote MSC growth; however, the effects of hPL on MSCs after fetal bovine serum (FBS) exposure remain unknown. MSCs were cultured in medium containing FBS or hPL for up to 16 passages, and cell size, doubling time and immunophenotype were determined. MSC senescence was assessed by means of a fluorometric assay for endogenous β-galactosidase expression. MSCs cultured with FBS for different numbers of passages were switched to hPL conditions to evaluate the ability of hPL to "rescue" the proliferative capacity of MSCs. hPL culture resulted in more rapid cell proliferation at earlier passages (passage 5 or earlier) than remove FBS; by day 4, hPL (5%) yielded an MSC doubling time of 1.28 days compared with 1.52 days in 16% FBS. MSCs cultured first in FBS and switched to hPL proliferated more and demonstrated less β-galactosidase production and smaller cell sizes than remove MSCs continuously propagated in FBS. hPL enables rapid expansion of MSCs without adversely affecting immunophenotype. hPL culture of aged and senescent MSCs demonstrated cellular rejuvenation, reflected by decreased doubling time and smaller cell size. These results suggest that expansion of MSCs in hPL after FBS exposure can enhance cell phenotype and proliferative capacity. Copyright © 2013 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Piperlongumine inhibits atherosclerotic plaque formation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by suppressing PDGF receptor signaling

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

Son, Dong Ju; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA; Kim, Soo Yeon

2012-10-19

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Anti-atherogenic effect of PL was examined using partial carotid ligation model in ApoE KO mice. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer PL prevented atherosclerotic plaque development, VSMCs proliferation, and NF-{kappa}B activation. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Piperlongumine reduced vascular smooth muscle cell activation through PDGF-R{beta} and NF-{kappa}B-signaling. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer PL may serve as a new therapeutic molecule for atherosclerosis treatment. -- Abstract: Piperlongumine (piplartine, PL) is an alkaloid found in the long pepper (Piper longum L.) and has well-documented anti-platelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties; however, the role of PL in prevention of atherosclerosis is unknown. We evaluated the anti-atherosclerotic potential of PL in an in vivo murinemore » model of accelerated atherosclerosis and defined its mechanism of action in aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro. Local treatment with PL significantly reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation as well as proliferation and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-{kappa}B) activation in an in vivo setting. PL treatment in VSMCs in vitro showed inhibition of migration and platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB)-induced proliferation to the in vivo findings. We further identified that PL inhibited PDGF-BB-induced PDGF receptor beta activation and suppressed downstream signaling molecules such as phospholipase C{gamma}1, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 and Akt. Lastly, PL significantly attenuated activation of NF-{kappa}B-a downstream transcriptional regulator in PDGF receptor signaling, in response to PDGF-BB stimulation. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate a novel, therapeutic mechanism by which PL suppresses atherosclerosis plaque formation in vivo.« less

Maternal serum placental growth factor and fetal SGA in pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Gutaj, Paweł; Wender-Ożegowska, Ewa; Iciek, Rafał; Zawiejska, Agnieszka; Pietryga, Marek; Brązert, Jacek

2014-09-01

To analyze the role of maternal placental growth factor (PlGF) in the prediction of small for gestational age (SGA) birth weight in pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). A prospective observational study on 59 normotensive T1DM pregnant women, assessing maternal PlGF concentrations between the 10th-14th and 22nd-25th weeks of gestation. Number of SGA vs. non-SGA newborns was 11 (18.6%) vs. 48 (81.4%), respectively. First trimester PlGF serum concentrations (pg/mL) were similar between SGA vs. non-SGA groups [data given as median (interquartile range)]: 65.5 (35.58-159.20) vs. 68.23 (11.59-150.03), respectively; P=0.44. A trend for lower PlGF concentrations was observed in the second trimester in the SGA vs. non-SGA group: 63.34 (12.79-119.16) vs. 116.75 (33.93-235.82); P=0.07. In the SGA group, PlGF concentrations did not differ between the first and the second trimester: 65.5 (35.58-159.20) vs. 63.34 (12.79-119.16), respectively; P=0.36. In the non-SGA group, PlGF concentrations were significantly higher at the gestational age of 22-25 weeks compared to 10-14 weeks [116.75 (33.93-235.82) vs. 68.23 (11.59-150.03); P=0.03). Decreased PlGF serum concentration in mid-pregnancy, as well as a lack of physiological increase in PlGF levels between early and mid-gestation, may precede development of SGA in women with T1DM.

Comparison of fMRI data from passive listening and active-response story processing tasks in children

PubMed Central

Vannest, Jennifer J.; Karunanayaka, Prasanna R.; Altaye, Mekibib; Schmithorst, Vincent J.; Plante, Elena M.; Eaton, Kenneth J.; Rasmussen, Jerod M.; Holland, Scott K.

2009-01-01

Purpose To use functional MRI methods to visualize a network of auditory and language-processing brain regions associated with processing an aurally-presented story. We compare a passive listening (PL) story paradigm to an active-response (AR) version including on-line performance monitoring and a sparse acquisition technique. Materials/Methods Twenty children (ages 11−13) completed PL and AR story processing tasks. The PL version presented alternating 30-second blocks of stories and tones; the AR version presented story segments, comprehension questions, and 5s tone sequences, with fMRI acquisitions between stimuli. fMRI data was analyzed using a general linear model approach and paired t-test identifying significant group activation. Results Both tasks activated in primary auditory cortex, superior temporal gyrus bilaterally, left inferior frontal gyrus. The AR task demonstrated more extensive activation, including dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior/posterior cingulate cortex. Comparison of effect size in each paradigm showed a larger effect for the AR paradigm in a left inferior frontal ROI. Conclusion Activation patterns for story processing in children are similar in passive listening and active-response tasks. Increases in extent and magnitude of activation in the AR task are likely associated with memory and attention resources engaged across acquisition intervals. PMID:19306445

Absence of micronucleus formation in CHO-K1 cells cultivated in platelet lysate enriched medium.

PubMed

Bernardi, Martina; Adami, Valentina; Albiero, Elena; Madeo, Domenico; Rodeghiero, Francesco; Astori, Giuseppe

2014-03-01

Human platelet lysate (PL) represents an effective substitute of fetal bovine serum (FBS) for mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) cultivation. Compared to FBS, PL favors MSC proliferation significantly shortening the population doubling time and avoiding the risks related to the use of animal derivatives. Growth factors contained in the platelets are released upon platelet disruption following freezing/thawing cycles or as we have recently described by using ultrasound. We have investigated whether the increased cell proliferation achieved by using PL could induce mitotic stress and whether the potential formation of free radicals during PL production by ultrasound could cause chromosomal instability in mammalian cells. We have applied an image analysis assisted high content screening (HCS) in vitro micronucleus assay in the Chinese Hamster Ovarian K1 (CHO-K1) rodent mammalian cell line. PL was produced by sonication; for the micronucleus assay, CHO-K1 cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of PL. Cytokinesis was blocked by cytochalasin B, nuclei were stained with bisbenzimide and images were acquired and analyzed automatically using an HCS system, both with a 20× and a 10× objective. Our results suggest that growth stimulus induced by the use of PL did not significantly increase micronucleus formation in CHO-K1 cells compared to negative control. Micronucleus testing in conjunction with HCS could represent a valid tool to evaluate the safety of ancillary materials used in the production of cell-based medicinal products. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Abnormal Pressure-Induced Photoluminescence Enhancement and Phase Decomposition in Pyrochlore La2 Sn2 O7.

PubMed

Zhao, Yongsheng; Li, Nana; Xu, Cong; Li, Yan; Zhu, Hongyu; Zhu, Pinwen; Wang, Xin; Yang, Wenge

2017-09-01

La 2 Sn 2 O 7 is a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) material and shows a strong near-infrared fluorescent at ambient pressure and room temperature. By in situ high-pressure research, pressure-induced visible photoluminescence (PL) above 2 GPa near 2 eV is observed. The emergence of unusual visible PL behavior is associated with the seriously trigonal lattice distortion of the SnO 6 octehedra, under which the Sn-O1-Sn exchange angle θ is decreased below 22.1 GPa, thus enhancing the PL quantum yield leading to Sn 3 P 1 → 1 S 0 photons transition. Besides, bandgap closing followed by bandgap opening and the visible PL appearing at the point of the gap reversal, which is consistent with high-pressure phase decomposition, are discovered. The high-pressure PL results demonstrate a well-defined pressure window (7-17 GPa) with flat maximum PL yielding and sharp edges at both ends, which may provide a great calibration tool for pressure sensors for operation in the deep sea or at extreme conditions. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Opposite beta2-glycoprotein I requirement for the binding of infectious and autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies to cardiolipin liposomes is associated with antibody avidity.

PubMed

Celli, C M; Gharavi, A E; Chaimovich, H

1999-01-12

The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) from two different populations (patients with autoimmune or infectious disorders) with cardiolipin (CL) arranged in a defined bilayer. beta2-Glycoprotein I (beta2GPI), an apolipoprotein that plays a critical role in the aPL binding to phospholipids, was quantified by dot blot in purified IgG-aPL samples, further classified according to apparent avidity to CL. In solid-phase assays, beta2GPI increased, preferentially, the binding of low-avidity autoimmune aPL to CL but inhibited the binding of low-avidity syphilitic aPL. In the absence of beta2GPI, both autoimmune and infectious aPL induced the leakage of the entrapped fluorescent probe, carboxyfluorescein (CF), from small unilamellar vesicles containing CL. aPL-induced probe leakage was protein concentration-dependent and characterized by a lag-phase onset of 100-120 min. beta2GPI increased the leakage rate induced by low-avidity autoimmune aPL only and inhibited the leakage induced by all syphilitic aPL. The following conclusions were provided: (1) in the absence of beta2GPI, autoimmune and infectious aPL bind to CL in a bilayer, inducing liposome leakage; (2) the leakage mechanism induced by aPL is suggested to be intravesicular; (3) beta2GPI requirement for phospholipid binding in both solid and fluid phase is associated to aPL avidity; (4) CL alone or the CL-beta2GPI complex are the most likely epitopes for autoimmune aPL; (5) aPL from syphilis patients can only form the CL-aPL complex, supporting that beta2GPI is not (part of) the target epitope.

A prospective population-based study of maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes in the setting of prolonged labor, obstructed labor and failure to progress in low- and middle-income countries.

PubMed

Harrison, Margo S; Ali, Sumera; Pasha, Omrana; Saleem, Sarah; Althabe, Fernando; Berrueta, Mabel; Mazzoni, Agustina; Chomba, Elwyn; Carlo, Waldemar A; Garces, Ana; Krebs, Nancy F; Hambidge, K; Goudar, Shivaprasad S; Dhaded, S M; Kodkany, Bhala; Derman, Richard J; Patel, Archana; Hibberd, Patricia L; Esamai, Fabian; Liechty, Edward A; Moore, Janet L; Koso-Thomas, Marion; McClure, Elizabeth M; Goldenberg, Robert L

2015-01-01

This population-based study sought to quantify maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries associated with obstructed labor, prolonged labor and failure to progress (OL/PL/FTP). A prospective, population-based observational study of pregnancy outcomes was performed at seven sites in Argentina, Guatemala, India (2 sites, Belgaum and Nagpur), Kenya, Pakistan and Zambia. Women were enrolled in pregnancy and delivery and 6-week follow-up obtained to evaluate rates of OL/PL/FTP and outcomes resulting from OL/PL/FTP, including: maternal and delivery characteristics, maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality and stillbirth. Between 2010 and 2013, 266,723 of 267,270 records (99.8%) included data on OL/PL/FTP with an overall rate of 110.4/1000 deliveries that ranged from 41.6 in Zambia to 200.1 in Pakistan. OL/PL/FTP was more common in women aged <20, nulliparous women, more educated women, women with infants >3500g, and women with a BMI >25 (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3 - 1.5), with the suggestion of OL/PL/FTP being less common in preterm deliveries. Protective characteristics included parity of ≥3, having an infant <1500g, and having a BMI <18. Women with OL/PL/FTP were more likely to die within 42 days (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4 - 2.4), be infected (RR 1.8, 95% CI 1.5 - 2.2), and have hemorrhage antepartum (RR 2.8, 95% CI 2.1 - 3.7) or postpartum (RR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8 - 3.3). They were also more likely to have a stillbirth (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3 - 1.9), a neonatal demise at < 28 days (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.6 - 2.1), or a neonatal infection (RR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 - 1.3). As compared to operative vaginal delivery and cesarean section (CS), women experiencing OL/PL/FTP who gave birth vaginally were more likely to become infected, to have an infected neonate, to hemorrhage in the antepartum and postpartum period, and to die, have a stillbirth, or have a neonatal demise. Women with OL/PL/FTP were far more likely to deliver in a facility and be attended by a physician or other skilled provider than women without this diagnosis. Women with OL/PL/FTP in the communities studied were more likely to be primiparous, younger than age 20, overweight, and of higher education, with an infant with birthweight of >3500g. Women with this diagnosis were more likely to experience a maternal, fetal, or neonatal death, antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage, and maternal and neonatal infection. They were also more likely to deliver in a facility with a skilled provider. CS may decrease the risk of poor outcomes (as in the case of antepartum hemorrhage), but unassisted vaginal delivery exacerbates all of the maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes evaluated in the setting of OL/PL/FTP.

A prospective population-based study of maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes in the setting of prolonged labor, obstructed labor and failure to progress in low- and middle-income countries

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Background This population-based study sought to quantify maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries associated with obstructed labor, prolonged labor and failure to progress (OL/PL/FTP). Methods A prospective, population-based observational study of pregnancy outcomes was performed at seven sites in Argentina, Guatemala, India (2 sites, Belgaum and Nagpur), Kenya, Pakistan and Zambia. Women were enrolled in pregnancy and delivery and 6-week follow-up obtained to evaluate rates of OL/PL/FTP and outcomes resulting from OL/PL/FTP, including: maternal and delivery characteristics, maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality and stillbirth. Results Between 2010 and 2013, 266,723 of 267,270 records (99.8%) included data on OL/PL/FTP with an overall rate of 110.4/1000 deliveries that ranged from 41.6 in Zambia to 200.1 in Pakistan. OL/PL/FTP was more common in women aged <20, nulliparous women, more educated women, women with infants >3500g, and women with a BMI >25 (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3 – 1.5), with the suggestion of OL/PL/FTP being less common in preterm deliveries. Protective characteristics included parity of ≥3, having an infant <1500g, and having a BMI <18. Women with OL/PL/FTP were more likely to die within 42 days (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4 – 2.4), be infected (RR 1.8, 95% CI 1.5 – 2.2), and have hemorrhage antepartum (RR 2.8, 95% CI 2.1 – 3.7) or postpartum (RR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8 – 3.3). They were also more likely to have a stillbirth (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3 – 1.9), a neonatal demise at < 28 days (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.6 – 2.1), or a neonatal infection (RR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 – 1.3). As compared to operative vaginal delivery and cesarean section (CS), women experiencing OL/PL/FTP who gave birth vaginally were more likely to become infected, to have an infected neonate, to hemorrhage in the antepartum and postpartum period, and to die, have a stillbirth, or have a neonatal demise. Women with OL/PL/FTP were far more likely to deliver in a facility and be attended by a physician or other skilled provider than women without this diagnosis. Conclusions Women with OL/PL/FTP in the communities studied were more likely to be primiparous, younger than age 20, overweight, and of higher education, with an infant with birthweight of >3500g. Women with this diagnosis were more likely to experience a maternal, fetal, or neonatal death, antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage, and maternal and neonatal infection. They were also more likely to deliver in a facility with a skilled provider. CS may decrease the risk of poor outcomes (as in the case of antepartum hemorrhage), but unassisted vaginal delivery exacerbates all of the maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes evaluated in the setting of OL/PL/FTP. PMID:26063492

Using Microsensor Technology to Quantify Match Demands in Collegiate Women's Volleyball.

PubMed

Vlantes, Travis G; Readdy, Tucker

2017-12-01

Vlantes, TG and Readdy, T. Using microsensor technology to quantify match demands in collegiate women's volleyball. J Strength Cond Res 31(12): 3266-3278, 2017-The purpose of this study was to quantify internal and external load demands of women's NCAA Division I collegiate volleyball competitions using microsensor technology and session rating of perceived exertion (S-RPE). Eleven collegiate volleyball players wore microsensor technology (Optimeye S5; Catapult Sports, Chicago, IL, USA) during 15 matches played throughout the 2016 season. Parameters examined include player load (PL), high impact PL, percentage of HI PL, explosive efforts (EEs), and jumps. Session rating of perceived exertion was collected 20 minutes postmatch using a modified Borg scale. The relationship between internal and external load was explored, comparing S-RPE data with the microsensor metrics (PL, HI PL, % HI PL, EEs, and jumps). The setter had the greatest mean PL and highest number of jumps of all positions in a 5-1 system, playing all 6 rotations. Playing 4 sets yielded a mean PL increase of 25.1% over 3 sets, whereas playing 5 sets showed a 31.0% increase in PL. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences (p < 0.01) across all position groups when examining % HI PL and jumps. Cohen's d analysis revealed large (≥0.8) effect sizes for these differences. Defensive specialists recorded the greatest mean S-RPE values over all 15 matches (886 ± 384.6). Establishing positional load demands allows coaches, trainers, and strength and conditioning professionals to implement training programs for position-specific demands, creating consistent peak performance, and reducing injury risk.

GENERAL PURPOSE ADA PACKAGES

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klumpp, A. R.

1994-01-01

Ten families of subprograms are bundled together for the General-Purpose Ada Packages. The families bring to Ada many features from HAL/S, PL/I, FORTRAN, and other languages. These families are: string subprograms (INDEX, TRIM, LOAD, etc.); scalar subprograms (MAX, MIN, REM, etc.); array subprograms (MAX, MIN, PROD, SUM, GET, and PUT); numerical subprograms (EXP, CUBIC, etc.); service subprograms (DATE_TIME function, etc.); Linear Algebra II; Runge-Kutta integrators; and three text I/O families of packages. In two cases, a family consists of a single non-generic package. In all other cases, a family comprises a generic package and its instances for a selected group of scalar types. All generic packages are designed to be easily instantiated for the types declared in the user facility. The linear algebra package is LINRAG2. This package includes subprograms supplementing those in NPO-17985, An Ada Linear Algebra Package Modeled After HAL/S (LINRAG). Please note that LINRAG2 cannot be compiled without LINRAG. Most packages have widespread applicability, although some are oriented for avionics applications. All are designed to facilitate writing new software in Ada. Several of the packages use conventions introduced by other programming languages. A package of string subprograms is based on HAL/S (a language designed for the avionics software in the Space Shuttle) and PL/I. Packages of scalar and array subprograms are taken from HAL/S or generalized current Ada subprograms. A package of Runge-Kutta integrators is patterned after a built-in MAC (MIT Algebraic Compiler) integrator. Those packages modeled after HAL/S make it easy to translate existing HAL/S software to Ada. The General-Purpose Ada Packages program source code is available on two 360K 5.25" MS-DOS format diskettes. The software was developed using VAX Ada v1.5 under DEC VMS v4.5. It should be portable to any validated Ada compiler and it should execute either interactively or in batch. The largest package requires 205K of main memory on a DEC VAX running VMS. The software was developed in 1989, and is a copyrighted work with all copyright vested in NASA.

Current knowledge in Polypodium leucotomos effect on skin protection.

PubMed

Palomino, Olga María

2015-04-01

This article provides an overview of pharmacology, toxicity, pharmacokinetics and clinical data of Polypodium leucotomos L. (PL). PL aerial part has proven to exert antioxidant, photoprotective and immunomodulatory activities; its mechanism of action is complex and includes several activities: (1) PL diminishes the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS, RNS); (2) PL inhibits the photoisomerization of trans-urocanic acid (t-UCA); (3) PL inhibits apoptosis induced by ultraviolet radiation; (4) PL prevents damage to genetic material and (5) PL enhances DNA repair. PL is not mutagenic and does not induce acute or chronic toxicity. Its biological effects have been proved in cell cultures, animal models, murine models and in human beings. Photoprotective activity has been assessed in healthy volunteers as well as in patients suffering from several cutaneous diseases such as vitiligo, psoriasis, idiopathic photodermatosis or melasma. PL results to be an efficient treatment especially for sensitive cutaneous phototypes and adds extra protection when ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure cannot be avoided, such as wide or narrow band UVB phototherapy or treatment with psoralens plus UVA exposure radiation.

Static respiratory muscle work during immersion with positive and negative respiratory loading.

PubMed

Taylor, N A; Morrison, J B

1999-10-01

Upright immersion imposes a pressure imbalance across the thorax. This study examined the effects of air-delivery pressure on inspiratory muscle work during upright immersion. Eight subjects performed respiratory pressure-volume relaxation maneuvers while seated in air (control) and during immersion. Hydrostatic, respiratory elastic (lung and chest wall), and resultant static respiratory muscle work components were computed. During immersion, the effects of four air-delivery pressures were evaluated: mouth pressure (uncompensated); the pressure at the lung centroid (PL,c); and at PL,c +/-0.98 kPa. When breathing at pressures less than the PL,c, subjects generally defended an expiratory reserve volume (ERV) greater than the immersed relaxation volume, minus residual volume, resulting in additional inspiratory muscle work. The resultant static inspiratory muscle work, computed over a 1-liter tidal volume above the ERV, increased from 0.23 J. l(-1), when subjects were breathing at PL,c, to 0.83 J. l(-1) at PL,c -0.98 kPa (P < 0.05), and to 1.79 J. l(-1) at mouth pressure (P < 0.05). Under the control state, and during the above experimental conditions, static expiratory work was minimal. When breathing at PL,c +0.98 kPa, subjects adopted an ERV less than the immersed relaxation volume, minus residual volume, resulting in 0.36 J. l(-1) of expiratory muscle work. Thus static inspiratory muscle work varied with respiratory loading, whereas PL,c air supply minimized this work during upright immersion, restoring lung-tissue, chest-wall, and static muscle work to levels obtained in the control state.

Photoluminescent enhancement of CdSe/Cd(1-x) Zn(x)S quantum dots by hexadecylamine at room temperature.

PubMed

Yang, Jie; Yang, Ping

2012-09-01

CdSe/Cd(1-x) Zn(x)S core/shell quantum dots (QDs) were fabricated in 1-octadecene via a two step synthesis. CdSe cores were first prepared using CdO, trioctylphosphine (TOP) selenium, and stearic acid. Subsquently, a Cd(1-x) Zn(x)S shell coating was carried out using zinc acetate dihydrate, cadmium acetate dihydrate, TOPS, and hexadecylamine (HDA) starting materials in the friendly organic system under relatively low temperature. The absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra have a significant red shift after the coverage of Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S shell on CdSe cores. The X-ray diffraction analysis of samples confirmed the formation of core/shell structure. The PL quantum yields (QYs) of CdSe/Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S QDs were improved gradually with time at room temperature. This is ascribed to the surface passivation of HDA to the QDs during store. This phenomenon was confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectrum of samples. Namely, HDA does not capped on the surface of as-prepared QDs, in which a low PL QYs was observed (less than 10%). Being storing for certain time, HDA attached to the surface of the QDs, in which the PL QYs increased (up to 31%) and the full width at half maximum of PL spectra decreased. Moreover, the fluorescence decay curve of the core/shell QDs is closer to a biexponential decay profile and has a longer average PL lifetime. The variation of average PL lifetime also indicated the influence of HDA during store.

Vitamin B6 Prevents IL-1β Protein Production by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation.

PubMed

Zhang, Peipei; Tsuchiya, Kohsuke; Kinoshita, Takeshi; Kushiyama, Hiroko; Suidasari, Sofya; Hatakeyama, Mizuki; Imura, Hisanori; Kato, Norihisa; Suda, Takashi

2016-11-18

Vitamin B6 includes six water-soluble vitamers: pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxamine (PM), pyridoxine (PN), and their phosphorylated forms. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is an important cofactor for many metabolic enzymes. Several lines of evidence demonstrate that blood levels of PLP are significantly lower in patients with inflammation than in control subjects and that vitamin B6 has anti-inflammatory effects, with therapeutic potential for a variety of inflammatory diseases. Although one of our group previously demonstrated that PL inhibits the NF-κB pathway, the molecular mechanism by which vitamin B6 suppresses inflammation is not well understood. Here, we showed that both PL and PLP suppressed the expression of cytokine genes in macrophages by inhibiting Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated TAK1 phosphorylation and the subsequent NF-κB and JNK activation. Furthermore, PL and PLP abolished NLRP3-dependent caspase-1 processing and the subsequent secretion of mature IL-1β and IL-18 in LPS-primed macrophages. In contrast, PM and PN had little effect on IL-1β production. PLP, but not PL, markedly reduced the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in peritoneal macrophages. Importantly, PL and PLP reduced IL-1β production induced by LPS and ATP, or by LPS alone, in mice. Moreover, PL and PLP protected mice from lethal endotoxic shock. Collectively, these findings reveal novel anti-inflammatory activities for vitamin B6 and suggest its potential for preventing inflammatory diseases driven by the NLRP3 inflammasome. © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Circulating Angiogenic Factors and the Risk of Preeclampsia in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Pregnancies.

PubMed

Leaños-Miranda, Alfredo; Campos-Galicia, Inova; Berumen-Lechuga, María Guadalupe; Molina-Pérez, Carlos José; García-Paleta, Yolanda; Isordia-Salas, Irma; Ramírez-Valenzuela, Karla Leticia

2015-07-01

To investigate whether angiogenic factors are associated with risk of developing preeclampsia in pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We performed a nested case-control study within a cohort of SLE women with singleton pregnancies. The study included 42 patients with SLE who eventually developed preeclampsia and 75 normal SLE pregnancies. Serum samples were collected at 4-week intervals (from weeks 12 to 36). Serum samples were analyzed for soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), and soluble endoglin (sEng). Women destined to develop preeclampsia had lower PlGF levels and higher sFlt-1 and sEng levels, and a higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratio than normal pregnancies. These changes became significant at 12 weeks in patients destined to develop either early onset (< 34 weeks, p ≤ 0.003) or late-onset preeclampsia (≥ 34 weeks, p ≤ 0.02). The risk to develop preeclampsia was higher among patients with PlGF concentration values in the lowest quartile or with sFlt-1 and sEng levels, and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, in the highest quartile of the normal SLE pregnancies distribution. The OR were higher and appeared earlier in patients destined to develop early onset preeclampsia (OR ≥ 16.2, from Week 12 onward) than in patients who presented preeclampsia later (OR ≥ 8.9, from Week 24 onward). Changes in circulating concentrations of sFlt-1, PlGF, sEng, and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio precede the onset of preeclampsia in SLE pregnancies. The risk profile of circulating angiogenic factors for developing preeclampsia distinctly evolves depending on whether this condition is manifested earlier or later.

Angiogenic profile and smoking in the Finnish Genetics of Pre-Eclampsia Consortium (FINNPEC) cohort.

PubMed

Jääskeläinen, Tiina; Suomalainen-König, Sanna; Hämäläinen, Esa; Pulkki, Kari; Romppanen, Jarkko; Heinonen, Seppo; Laivuori, Hannele

2017-11-01

The biological mechanism by which smoking reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia (PE) is unresolved. We studied serum levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF) and their ratio, in addition to soluble endoglin (sEng) in early and late pregnancy to ascertain whether these factors are altered in women who smoke. First trimester serum samples were available from 217 women who later developed PE and 238 women who did not develop PE. Second/third trimester serum samples were available from 174 PE and 54 non-PE women. PE women who smoked during pregnancy had elevated first trimester concentrations of serum PlGF [geometric mean (95% CI): 39.8 (32.6-48.5) pg/ml, p = .001] and reduced sEng concentration [5.0 (4.6-5.6) ng/ml, p = .047] compared to PE non-smokers [30.0 (28.1-32.1) pg/ml and 6.1 (5.9-6.4) ng/ml, respectively]. Non-smoking women in the PE group had the highest sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in early and late pregnancy. The protective effect of smoking in reducing the risk of PE may be due to the early pregnancy change towards pro-angiogenic marker profile. Also, in late pregnancy, smoking exerted effect in sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in PE pregnancies, and may complicate its use as a prognostic and diagnostic marker. Key messages Smoking appears to have angiogenic effects in early pregnancy with reduced sEng concentrations and elevated PlGF concentrations in both normal and PE pregnancies. Throughout pregnancy, smoking exerted effect in PlGF concentration and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in PE pregnancies, and thus may complicate its use as a prognostic and diagnostic marker.

Value of planar lymphoscintigraphy versus SPECT/CT in evaluation of sentinel lymph node in trunk melanoma - one center, large series, retrospective study.

PubMed

Benke, Małgorzata; Wocial, Krzysztof; Lewandowska, Weronika; Rutkowski, Piotr Łukasz; Teterycz, Paweł; Jarek, Piotr; Dedecjus, Marek

2018-06-29

Background Localization and histopathological examination of sentinel lymph node (SLN) is a standard of melanoma treatment. The first stage of identification of the SLN is the preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. The aim of this study was to assess and compare diagnostic value of planar lymphoscintigraphy (PL) and SPECT/CT in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) procedure performed in patients with cutaneous trunk melanoma. Material and Methods Between 2015 and 2016, patients with trunk melanoma (N=255, F/M 95/160), aged from 17 to 88 after an excisional biopsy, with primary tumor ≥ pT1b (AJCC 2009, median Breslow thickness 2.0± 3.13) were included in the study. In all the patients PL was followed by SPECT/CT 1-3 h after injection of 99mTc- colloid particles, and SLNB was performed the next day. Results SPECT-CT revealed 78 (18.6%) SLN more than PL, and in 40 patients showed additional lymph drainage regions leading to surgical adjustments. In 18 patients (7.1%) SPECT-CT revealed SLN not visible in the PL (false-negative PL) and in 22 patients (8.6%), foci of uptake interpreted in PL as hot SLNs were found to be non-nodal sites of uptake when assessed on SPECT/CT (false positive PL). SPECT-CT vs. PL mismatch was observed in 31 patients (12.2%) and was the most common in patients with primary lesions located in the anterior inferior medial region (75%). Conclusions Results of the presented study indicates the high diagnostic value of SPECT-CT in assessment of SLNs and proved that SPECT-CT increases the sensitivity and accuracy of SLN identification as compared to PL even in very experienced hands.

Production of Pectate Lyase by Penicillium viridicatum RFC3 in Solid-State and Submerged Fermentation

PubMed Central

Ferreira, Viviani; da Silva, Roberto; Silva, Dênis; Gomes, Eleni

2010-01-01

Pectate lyase (PL) was produced by the filamentous fungus Penicillium viridicatum RFC3 in solid-state cultures of a mixture of orange bagasse and wheat bran (1 : 1 w/w), or orange bagasse, wheat bran and sugarcane bagasse (1 : 1 : 0.5 w/w), and in a submerged liquid culture with orange bagasse and wheat bran (3%) as the carbon source. PL production was highest (1,500 U  mL−1 or 300 Ug−1 of substrate) in solid-state fermentation (SSF) on wheat bran and orange bagasse at 96 hours. PL production in submerged fermentation (SmF) was influenced by the initial pH of the medium. With the initial pH adjusted to 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5, the peak activity was observed after 72, 48, and 24 hours of fermentation, respectively, when the pH of the medium reached the value 5.0. PL from SSF and SmF were loaded on Sephadex-G75 columns and six activity peaks were obtained from crude enzyme from SSF and designated PL I, II, III, IV, V, and VI, while five peaks were obtained from crude enzyme from SmF and labeled PL  I′, II′, III′, IV′, and VII′. Crude enzyme and fraction III from each fermentative process were tested further. The optimum pH for crude PL from either process was 5.5, while that for PL III was 8.0. The maximum activity of enzymes from SSF was observed at 35°C, but crude enzyme was more thermotolerant than PL III, maintaining its maximum activity up to 45°C. Crude enzyme from SmF and PL III′ showed thermophilic profiles of activity, with maximum activity at 60 and 55°C, respectively. In the absence of substrate, the crude enzyme from SSF was stable over the pH range 3.0–10.0 and PL III was most stable in the pH range 4.0–7.0. Crude enzyme from SmF retained 70%–80% of its maximum activity in the acid-neutral pH range (4.0–7.0), but PIII showed high stability at alkaline pH (7.5–9.5). PL from SSF was more thermolabile than that from SmF. The latter maintained 60% of its initial activity after 1 h at 55°C. The differing behavior of the enzymes with respect to pH and temperature suggests that they are different isozymes. PMID:20689719

Chronic pain coping styles in patients with herniated lumbar discs and coexisting spondylotic changes treated surgically: Considering clinical pain characteristics, degenerative changes, disability, mood disturbances, and beliefs about pain control.

PubMed

Misterska, Ewa; Jankowski, Roman; Głowacki, Maciej

2013-12-27

Pain catastrophizing, appraisals of pain control, styles of coping, and social support have been suggested to affect functioning in patients with low back pain. We investigated the relation of chronic pain coping strategies to psychological variables and clinical data, in patients treated surgically due to lumbar disc herniation and coexisting spondylotic changes. The average age of study participants (n=90) was 43.47 years (SD 10.21). Patients completed the Polish versions of the Chronic Pain Coping Inventory-42 (PL-CPCI-42), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-PL), Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ-PL), Beliefs about Pain Control Questionnaire (BPCQ-PL), and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ-PL). In the PL-CPCI-42 results, resting, guarding and coping self-statements were frequently used as coping strategies (3.96 SD 1.97; 3.72 SD 1.72; 3.47 SD 2.02, respectively). In the CSQ-PL domains, catastrophizing and praying/hoping were frequently used as coping strategies (3.62 SD 1.19). The mean score obtained from the BDI-PL was 11.86 SD 7.23, and 12.70 SD 5.49 from the RMDQ-PL. BPCQ-PL results indicate that the highest score was in the subscale measuring beliefs that powerful others can control pain (4.36 SD 0.97). Exercise correlated significantly with beliefs about internal control of pain (rs=0.22). We identified associations between radiating pain and guarding (p=0.038) and between sports recreation and guarding (p=0.013) and task persistence (p=0.041). Back pain characteristics, depressive mood, disability, and beliefs about personal control of pain are related to chronic LBP coping styles. Most of the variables related to advancement of degenerative changes were not associated with coping efforts.

Longitudinal recovery patterns of penile length and the underexplored benefit of long-term phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor use after radical prostatectomy.

PubMed

Kwon, Young Suk; Farber, Nicholas; Yu, Ji Woong; Rhee, Kevin; Han, Christopher; Ney, Patrick; Hong, Jeong Hee; Lee, Paul; Gupta, Nikhil; Kim, Wun-Jae; Kim, Isaac Yi

2018-05-09

Penile length (PL) shortening is an underreported phenomenon following radical prostatectomy (RP) and risk factors are not fully explored. We aimed to describe longitudinal patterns of PL recovery and evaluate factors predicting complete return to baseline PL. PL measurement was performed during a preoperative and postoperative follow-up visits at 7 days and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Patients who completely recovered (CR: N = 397) their preoperative stretched PL measured during at least one of their follow-up visits were compared to those with incomplete recovery (IR: N = 131). Recovery patterns were analyzed for both groups and were also compared in regards to demographics, nerve-sparing techniques, prostate size, cardiovascular risk profiles, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5i) uses. Logistic regression analyses were performed using age and other relevant clinicopathologic variables to predict PL recovery. 60.2% of the total study population regained their preoperative PL at 12 months. Average percent (length) differences from baseline were - 1.70% (- 0.25 cm) and - 16.42% (- 2.35 cm) in the CR and the IR groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that younger age (OR 0.962; 95%CI 0.931-0.994; p = 0.019), high preoperative erectile function (EF) (OR 1.028; 95%CI 1.001-1.056; p = 0.046), and consistent PDE5i use (OR 1.998; 95%CI 1.166-3.425; p = 0.012) were independent predictors of CR. At 12-month follow up, PL difference for consistent PDE5iusers was statistically different from those who did not use PDE5i consistently (- 3.25%vs. -6.64%; P = 0.001). Age, preoperative EF, and consistent use of PDE5i were associated with complete recovery of baseline PL after RP. The therapeutic effect of PDE5i was most pronounced at 12-month visit, suggesting an added benefit with long-term use.

77 FR 34115 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-08

... Equities Rule 7.31(h) To Add a PL Select Order Type June 4, 2012. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the... Change The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(h) to add a PL Select Order type. The... add a PL Select Order type. Pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(h)(4), a Passive Liquidity (``PL...

Anionized and cationized hemeundecapeptides as probes for cell surface charge and permeability studies: differentiated labeling of endothelial plasmalemmal vesicles

PubMed Central

1985-01-01

To obtain small membrane markers easily accessible to the charged groups of the cell surface, we prepared, from hemeundecapeptide (HUP), three derivatives that maintain the peroxidatic activity: the anionized hemeundecapeptide, Mr 1,963, estimated diameter 1.68 nm, pl 3.5, for the detection of basic groups; and both a cationized hemeundecapeptide containing predominantly tertiary amino groups, Mr 2,215, estimated diameter 1.75 nm, pl 9.0, and a cationized hemeundecapeptide containing only primary amino groups, Mr 2,271, estimated diameter 1.75 nm, pl 10.6, for labeling acidic residues. The markers were perfused in situ in mice to label the luminal surface of fenestrated endothelium of pancreatic capillaries. Specimens were processed through the cytochemical reaction for peroxidatic activity and examined by electron microscopy. The anionized HUP and HUP (pl 4.85) marked the plasmalemma proper, the coated pits, and the membrane and diaphragms of plasmalemmal vesicles and transendothelial channels. The cationized HUP containing predominantly tertiary amino groups (pl 9.0) decorated all cell surface components with the exception of plasmalemmal vesicles and channels; the latter were, however, labeled by the cationized HUP containing only primary groups (pl 10.6), which suggests that these structures contain on their luminal surface very weak acidic residues of high pKa values. The fact that the membrane of plasmalemmal vesicles can discriminate against permeant cationic macromolecules only up to a pl of approximately 9.0 indicates that in the electrostatic restriction there is a charge limit. In the case of fenestrated capillary endothelium, the upper charge limit seems to be a pl of approximately 9.0. In these vessels, the charge discrimination is effective for molecules as small as 2 nm. PMID:3968182

Anionized and cationized hemeundecapeptides as probes for cell surface charge and permeability studies: differentiated labeling of endothelial plasmalemmal vesicles.

PubMed

Ghinea, N; Simionescu, N

1985-02-01

To obtain small membrane markers easily accessible to the charged groups of the cell surface, we prepared, from hemeundecapeptide (HUP), three derivatives that maintain the peroxidatic activity: the anionized hemeundecapeptide, Mr 1,963, estimated diameter 1.68 nm, pl 3.5, for the detection of basic groups; and both a cationized hemeundecapeptide containing predominantly tertiary amino groups, Mr 2,215, estimated diameter 1.75 nm, pl 9.0, and a cationized hemeundecapeptide containing only primary amino groups, Mr 2,271, estimated diameter 1.75 nm, pl 10.6, for labeling acidic residues. The markers were perfused in situ in mice to label the luminal surface of fenestrated endothelium of pancreatic capillaries. Specimens were processed through the cytochemical reaction for peroxidatic activity and examined by electron microscopy. The anionized HUP and HUP (pl 4.85) marked the plasmalemma proper, the coated pits, and the membrane and diaphragms of plasmalemmal vesicles and transendothelial channels. The cationized HUP containing predominantly tertiary amino groups (pl 9.0) decorated all cell surface components with the exception of plasmalemmal vesicles and channels; the latter were, however, labeled by the cationized HUP containing only primary groups (pl 10.6), which suggests that these structures contain on their luminal surface very weak acidic residues of high pKa values. The fact that the membrane of plasmalemmal vesicles can discriminate against permeant cationic macromolecules only up to a pl of approximately 9.0 indicates that in the electrostatic restriction there is a charge limit. In the case of fenestrated capillary endothelium, the upper charge limit seems to be a pl of approximately 9.0. In these vessels, the charge discrimination is effective for molecules as small as 2 nm.

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

Kong Lingmin; Feng Zhechuan; Wu Zhengyun

Four types of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) were grown by molecular beam epitaxy and studied via temperature-dependent and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy measurements. A thin InGaAs stain reducing layer (SRL) is adopted which extends the emission wavelength to 1.3 mum and the influence of strain on QDs is investigated. The SRL releases the strain between the wetting layer and QDs, and enlarges the size of QDs, as shown by atomic force microscopy measurements. As the thickness of InAs layer decreases to 1.7 ML, the QDs with the SRL are chained to strings and the density of QDs increases significantly,more » which leads to an abnormal redshift of 1.3 mum PL peak at room temperature. PL peaks of InAs QDs with the SRL show redshift compared with the QDs directly deposited on GaAs matrix. The dependences of PL lifetime on the QD size, density and temperature (T) are systematically studied. It is observed that the PL lifetime of QDs is insensitive to T below 50 K. Beyond 50 K, increases and then drops at higher temperature, with a peak at T{sub C}, which was determined by the SRL and the thickness of InAs. We have also observed an obvious PL spectral redshift of the QDs with 1.7 ML InAs coverage on SRL at low T as the measuring time delays. The PL lifetime of QDs with the SRL is smaller than that of QDs without the SRL. The QDs with different densities have different PL lifetime dependence on the QDs size. These observations can be explained by the competition between the carrier redistribution and thermal emission.« less

Platelet lysate activates quiescent cell proliferation and reprogramming in human articular cartilage: Involvement of hypoxia inducible factor 1.

PubMed

Nguyen, Van Thi; Cancedda, Ranieri; Descalzi, Fiorella

2018-03-01

The idea of rescuing the body self-repair capability lost during evolution is progressively gaining ground in regenerative medicine. In particular, growth factors and bioactive molecules derived from activated platelets emerged as promising therapeutic agents acting as trigger for repair of tissue lesions and restoration of tissue functions. Aim of this study was to assess the potential of a platelet lysate (PL) for human articular cartilage repair considering its activity on progenitor cells and differentiated chondrocytes. PL induced the re-entry in the cell cycle of confluent, growth-arrested dedifferentiated/progenitor cartilage cells. In a cartilage permissive culture environment, differentiated cells also resumed proliferation after exposure to PL. These findings correlated with an up-regulation of the proliferation/survival pathways ERKs and Akt and with an induction of cyclin D1. In short- and long-term cultures of articular cartilage explants, we observed a release of proliferating chondroprogenitors able to differentiate and form an "in vitro" tissue with properties of healthy articular cartilage. Moreover, in cultured cartilage cells, PL induced a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) alpha increase, its nuclear relocation and the binding to HIF-1 responsive elements. These events were possibly related to the cell proliferation because the HIF-1 inhibitor acriflavine inhibited HIF-1 binding to HIF-1 responsive elements and cell proliferation. Our study demonstrates that PL induces quiescent cartilage cell activation and proliferation leading to new cartilage formation, identifies PL activated pathways playing a role in these processes, and provides a rationale to the application of PL for therapeutic treatment of damaged articular cartilage. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Physical reasons of emission transformation in infrared CdSeTe/ZnS quantum dots at bioconjugation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torchynska, T. V.

2015-04-01

The core/shell CdSeTe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with emission at 780-800 nm (1.55-1.60 eV) have been studied by means of photoluminescence (PL) and Raman scattering methods in the nonconjugated state and after conjugation to different antibodies (Ab): (i) mouse monoclonal [8C9] human papilloma virus Ab, anti-HPV 16-E7 Ab, (ii) mouse monoclonal [C1P5] human papilloma virus HPV16 E6+HPV18 E6 Ab, and (iii) pseudo rabies virus (PRV) Ab. The transformations of PL and Raman scattering spectra of QDs, stimulated by conjugated antibodies, have been revealed and discussed. The energy band diagram of core/shell CdSeTe/ZnS QDs has been designed that helps to analyze the PL spectra and their transformations at the bioconjugation. It is shown that the core in CdSeTe/ZnS QDs is complex and including the type II quantum well. The last fact permits to explain the nature of infrared (IR) optical transitions (1.55-1.60 eV) and the high energy PL band (1.88-1.94 eV) in the nonconjugated and bioconjugated QDs. A set of physical reasons has been analyzed with the aim to explain the transformation of PL spectra in bioconjugated QDs. Finally it is shown that two factors are responsible for the PL spectrum transformation at bioconjugation to charged antibodies: (i) the change of energy band profile in QDs and (ii) the shift of QD energy levels in the strong quantum confinement case. The effect of PL spectrum transformation is useful for the study of QD bioconjugation to specific antibodies and can be a powerful technique for early medical diagnostics.

D1 Receptors Regulate Dendritic Morphology in Normal and Stressed Prelimbic Cortex

PubMed Central

Lin, Grant L.; Borders, Candace B.; Lundewall, Leslie J.; Wellman, Cara L.

2014-01-01

Both stress and dysfunction of prefrontal cortex are linked to psychological disorders, and structure and function of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are altered by stress. Chronic restraint stress causes dendritic retraction in the prelimbic region (PL) of mPFC in rats. Dopamine release in mPFC increases during stress, and chronic administration of dopaminergic agonists results in dendritic remodeling. Thus, stress-induced alterations in dopaminergic transmission in PL may contribute to dendritic remodeling. We examined the effects of dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) blockade in PL during daily restraint stress on dendritic morphology in PL. Rats either underwent daily restraint stress (3 h/day, 10 days) or remained unstressed. In each group, rats received daily infusions of either the D1R antagonist SCH23390 or vehicle into PL prior to restraint; unstressed and stressed rats that had not undergone surgery were also examined. On the final day of restraint, rats were euthanized and brains were processed for Golgi histology. Pyramidal neurons in PL were reconstructed and dendritic morphology was quantified. Vehicle-infused stressed rats demonstrated dendritic retraction compared to unstressed rats, and D1R blockade in PL prevented this effect. Moreover, in unstressed rats, D1R blockade produced dendritic retraction. These effects were not due to attenuation of the HPA axis response to acute stress: plasma corticosterone levels in a separate group of rats that underwent acute restraint stress with or without D1R blockade were not significantly different. These findings indicate that dopaminergic transmission in mPFC during stress contributes directly to the stress-induced retraction of apical dendrites, while dopamine transmission in the absence of stress is important in maintaining normal dendritic morphology. PMID:25305546

D1 receptors regulate dendritic morphology in normal and stressed prelimbic cortex.

PubMed

Lin, Grant L; Borders, Candace B; Lundewall, Leslie J; Wellman, Cara L

2015-01-01

Both stress and dysfunction of prefrontal cortex are linked to psychological disorders, and structure and function of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are altered by stress. Chronic restraint stress causes dendritic retraction in the prelimbic region (PL) of mPFC in rats. Dopamine release in mPFC increases during stress, and chronic administration of dopaminergic agonists results in dendritic remodeling. Thus, stress-induced alterations in dopaminergic transmission in PL may contribute to dendritic remodeling. We examined the effects of dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) blockade in PL during daily restraint stress on dendritic morphology in PL. Rats either underwent daily restraint stress (3h/day, 10 days) or remained unstressed. In each group, rats received daily infusions of either the D1R antagonist SCH23390 or vehicle into PL prior to restraint; unstressed and stressed rats that had not undergone surgery were also examined. On the final day of restraint, rats were euthanized and brains were processed for Golgi histology. Pyramidal neurons in PL were reconstructed and dendritic morphology was quantified. Vehicle-infused stressed rats demonstrated dendritic retraction compared to unstressed rats, and D1R blockade in PL prevented this effect. Moreover, in unstressed rats, D1R blockade produced dendritic retraction. These effects were not due to attenuation of the HPA axis response to acute stress: plasma corticosterone levels in a separate group of rats that underwent acute restraint stress with or without D1R blockade were not significantly different. These findings indicate that dopaminergic transmission in mPFC during stress contributes directly to the stress-induced retraction of apical dendrites, while dopamine transmission in the absence of stress is important in maintaining normal dendritic morphology. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Potential pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of an endophytic Penicillium species.

PubMed

Gupta, Mahiti; Saxena, Sanjai; Goyal, Dinesh

2015-02-01

Pancreatic lipase (PL) is considered as one of the safest target for diet-induced anti-obesity drug development. Orlistat is the only PL inhibitor approved for anti-obesity treatment till date. In the process of exploration of new PL inhibitors, we have screened culture filtrates of 70 endophytic fungi of medicinal plants using qualitative as well as quantitative in-vitro PL assays. The qualitative assays indicated potential PL inhibition in only three isolates, namely #57 TBBALM, #33 TBBALM and #1 CSSTOT. Only ethyl acetate extracts of the culture filtrates of these isolates exhibited the PL inhibition. #57 TBBLAM ethyl acetate extract of culture filtrate exhibited potential PL inhibition with an IC50 of 3.69 µg/ml which was comparable to the positive control, i.e. Orlistat exhibiting IC50 value of 2.73 µg/ml. Further molecular phylogenetic tools and morphological studies were used to identify the isolate #57 TBBALM as Penicillium species.

Economic Analysis Handbook.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-07-01

The specific analytical mechanism is developed below. COMPOUND INTEREST, ONE YEAR. Suppose an amount of money P is lent today at an annual interest... compounded every year.) The amount repaid at the end of Year 2 is F2 = (P(l + 1)) (1 + i) =P(l + 1)2. ... (III-2) (In equation (111-2), P(l + i) takes the...Table A factors are based on continuous compounding , which is a consequence of the assumption that cash flows are sprepd throughout the one year period

Physical, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of starch films incorporated with ε-poly-L-lysine.

PubMed

Zhang, Liming; Li, Ruichao; Dong, Feng; Tian, Aiying; Li, Zhengjun; Dai, Yujie

2015-01-01

Starch/ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) composite films were prepared by combining 4% (w/v) gelatinized cornstarch and varying the level of ε-PL. The physical, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of these films were investigated. Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) showed that the carbonyl group stretching vibration band of the ε-PL molecule shifted from 1646 cm(-1) to 1673 cm(-1) in the composite films. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results indicated that there were sharp endothermal peaks at 215-230 °C for the composite films. These results indicated that there was an intense interaction between the two components. The films incorporated with ε-PL showed a higher tensile strength (TS) and elongation-at-break (E) than those of the starch film alone. These composite films exhibited effective inhibition against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, films containing 2% (w/w) ε-PL effectively suppressed the growth of the tested microbes (P<0.05). The starch/ε-PL films showed a low inhibitory effect on Aspergillus niger. This antimicrobial trend of the composite films was in agreement with the results of free ε-PL. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Solid cancer, antiphospholipid antibodies, and venous thromboembolism.

PubMed

Font, Carme; Vidal, Laura; Espinosa, Gerard; Tàssies, Dolors; Monteagudo, Joan; Farrús, Blanca; Visa, Laura; Cervera, Ricard; Gascon, Pere; Reverter, Joan C

2011-02-01

The pathogenic role of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with malignancies has not been established. From May 2006 to April 2008, 258 consecutive patients with solid-organ malignancies who developed VTE (VTE+) were recruited. A group of 142 patients matched for age, sex and tumor type cancer patients without VTE (VTE-) and an age-and-sex matched group of 258 healthy subjects were also included. A second blood sample was taken in positive aPL patients at least 12 weeks later. Twenty-one (8.1%) VTE+ patients, 2 (1.4%) VTE- patients (p=0.006) and 2 (0.8%) healthy subjects (p<0.001) were positive for aPL. Persistent aPL positivity was observed in only 4 out of 15 available VTE+ patients. No differences in demographic characteristics, clinical pattern and outcome were observed in VTE+ patients according to aPL status. The low prevalence and transience of aPL positivity in patients with solid-organ malignancies with VTE argues against a pathogenic role in the development of thrombosis in this setting. The published evidence of the relationship between cancer, aPL, and thrombosis is reviewed. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hydroxychloroquine use is associated with lower odds of persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies and/or lupus anticoagulant in systemic lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Broder, Anna; Putterman, Chaim

2013-01-01

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) play an active role in the pathogenesis of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Primary prevention in APS may be aimed at decreasing existing elevated aPL levels, or preventing high aPL titers and/or lupus anticoagulant (LAC) from developing in the first place. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been shown in retrospective studies to decrease aPL titers in laboratory studies, and to decrease thrombosis risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated an association between HCQ use and persistent aPL and/or LAC in SLE. We identified all patients over 21 years old with SLE from an urban tertiary care center who had aPL and LAC measured on at least 2 occasions at least 12 weeks apart. We defined the presence of persistent LAC+ and/or at least 1 aPL ≥ 40 U [immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, or IgM] as the main outcome variable. Among 90 patients included in the study, 17 (19%) had persistent LAC+ and/or at least 1 aPL ≥ 40 U. HCQ use was associated with significantly lower odds of having persistent LAC+ and/or aPL ≥ 40 U (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.05, 0.79, p = 0.02), adjusted for age, ethnicity, and sex. This is the first study to show that HCQ use is associated with lower odds of having persistently positive LAC and/or aPL. Data from this study provide a basis for the design of future prospective studies investigating the role of HCQ in primary and secondary prevention of APS.

Comparison of triglycerides and phospholipids as supplemental sources of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in piglets.

PubMed

Mathews, Susan A; Oliver, William T; Phillips, Oulayvanh T; Odle, Jack; Diersen-Schade, Deborah A; Harrell, Robert J

2002-10-01

Addition of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to infant formula promotes visual and neural development. This study was designed to determine whether the source of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) affected overall animal health and safety. Piglets consumed ad libitum from 1 to 16 d of age a skim milk-based formula with different fat sources added to provide 50% of the metabolizable energy. Treatment groups were as follows: control (CNTL; no added LCPUFA), egg phospholipid (PL), algal/fungal triglyceride (TG) oils, TG plus PL (soy lecithin source) added to match phospholipid treatment (TG + PL) and essential fatty acid deficient (EFAD). Formulas with LCPUFA provided 0.6 and 0.3 g/100 g total fatty acids as AA and DHA, respectively. CNTL piglets had 40% longer ileal villi than PL piglets (P < 0.03), but the TG group was not different from the CNTL group. Gross liver histology did not differ among any of the formula-fed groups (P > 0.1). Apparent dry matter digestibility was 10% greater in CNTL, TG and TG + PL groups compared with PL piglets (P < 0.002). No differences in alanine aminotransferase were detected among treatments, but aspartate aminotransferase was elevated (P < 0.03) in PL piglets compared with TG + PL piglets. Total plasma AA concentration was greater in the TG group compared with CNTL piglets (P < 0.05). Total plasma DHA concentrations were greater in TG piglets compared with PL (P < 0.06) or CNTL (P < 0.02) piglets. These data demonstrate that the algal/fungal TG sources of DHA and AA may be a more appropriate supplement for infant formulas than the egg PL source based on piglet plasma fatty acid profiles and apparent dry matter digestibilities.

The association between angiogenic markers and fetal sex: Implications for preeclampsia research.

PubMed

Andersen, L B; Jørgensen, J S; Herse, F; Andersen, M S; Christesen, H T; Dechend, R

2016-09-01

Current research suggests sexual dimorphism between the male and female fetoplacental units, but with unknown relevance for preeclampsia. We investigated the association between fetal sex and concentrations of the angiogenic markers soluble Fms-like kinase 1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in first and second-third trimester in women with/without preeclampsia, and the impact of fetal sex on the prognostic value of angiogenic markers for preeclampsia. Observational study in a prospective, population-based cohort of 2110 singleton pregnancies with 150 preeclampsia cases. Higher sFlt-1 concentrations were observed for women carrying female fetuses in first trimester (all, 1107.65 vs. 992.27pg/ml; preeclampsia cases, 1118.79 vs. 934.49pg/ml, p<0.05) and in second-third trimester (all, 1130.03 vs. 1043.15pg/ml; preeclampsia, 1480.30 vs. 1152.86pg/ml, p<0.05), with similar findings for the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio concentrations in first (29.67 vs. 27.39 p<0.05) and second-third trimester (3.56 vs. 3.22, p<0.05). In first trimester, log transformed concentrations of PlGF, sFlt-1 and sFlt-1/PlGF (all participants) and sFlt-1 (preeclampsia cases) associated with fetal sex in adjusted analyses (p<0.05). In second-third trimester, only log(sFlt-1) associated with fetal sex (all, p=0.028; preeclampsia, p=0.067) In receiver operating curve analysis, prediction of early-onset preeclampsia by sFlt-1/PlGF tended to be superior in pregnancies with female vs. male fetuses (p=0.06). Sexual dimorphism was observed for concentrations of angiogenic markers. Female fetal sex was associated to higher sFlt-1 and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio concentrations in both healthy pregnancies and women developing preeclampsia. Fetal sex should be considered in research and clinical use of angiogenic markers. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Differential uptake of salicylate in serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and perilymph.

PubMed

Jastreboff, P J; Hansen, R; Sasaki, P G; Sasaki, C T

1986-10-01

After intraperitoneal administration of salicylate in anesthetized rats and guinea pigs, we found that salicylate levels in perilymph (PL) are closely related to both drug levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in serum, with higher levels systematically observed in PL than in CSF. Further analysis suggests that salicylate is not passively transported into PL across CSF but, rather, is transported from blood directly to PL. The time course of salicylate uptake in rats reveals maximum levels at 1 1/2 hours (serum) and two to four hours (CSF and PL). On the other hand, salicylate uptake into serum and CSF of guinea pigs exhibits a longer time course, with maximum levels reached at four hours (serum) and five hours (CSF). These data, not previously available, are basic to our understanding of salicylate-related auditory effects.

33 CFR 208.11 - Regulations for use of storage allocated for flood control or navigation and/or project operation...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Lk KS Mitchel Solomon R FIM 722.3204.8 1488.31455.6 1455.61428.0 3368212602 126023341 PL 78-534PL 79....34051.0 137309410 9410820 PL 78-534 USBR. Kirwin Dam & Res KS Phillips N Fork Solomon R FICR 215.189.6... 1330 890 PL 78-534 VT Webster Dam & Res KS Rocks S Fork Solomon R FIRC 183.472.1 1923.71892.5 1892...

33 CFR 208.11 - Regulations for use of storage allocated for flood control or navigation and/or project operation...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Lk KS Mitchel Solomon R FIM 722.3204.8 1488.31455.6 1455.61428.0 3368212602 126023341 PL 78-534PL 79....34051.0 137309410 9410820 PL 78-534 USBR. Kirwin Dam & Res KS Phillips N Fork Solomon R FICR 215.189.6... 1330 890 PL 78-534 VT Webster Dam & Res KS Rocks S Fork Solomon R FIRC 183.472.1 1923.71892.5 1892...

33 CFR 208.11 - Regulations for use of storage allocated for flood control or navigation and/or project operation...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Lk KS Mitchel Solomon R FIM 722.3204.8 1488.31455.6 1455.61428.0 3368212602 126023341 PL 78-534PL 79....34051.0 137309410 9410820 PL 78-534 USBR. Kirwin Dam & Res KS Phillips N Fork Solomon R FICR 215.189.6... 1330 890 PL 78-534 VT Webster Dam & Res KS Rocks S Fork Solomon R FIRC 183.472.1 1923.71892.5 1892...

ε-Poly-l-Lysine Peptide Chain Length Regulated by the Linkers Connecting the Transmembrane Domains of ε-Poly-l-Lysine Synthetase

PubMed Central

Kito, Naoko; Kita, Akihiro; Imokawa, Yuuki; Yamanaka, Kazuya; Maruyama, Chitose; Katano, Hajime

2014-01-01

ε-Poly-l-lysine (ε-PL), consisting of 25 to 35 l-lysine residues with linkages between the α-carboxyl groups and ε-amino groups, is produced by Streptomyces albulus NBRC14147. ε-PL synthetase (Pls) is a membrane protein with six transmembrane domains (TM1 to TM6) as well as both an adenylation domain and a thiolation domain, characteristic of the nonribosomal peptide synthetases. Pls directly generates ε-PL chain length diversity (25- to 35-mer), but the processes that control the chain length of ε-PL during the polymerization reaction are still not fully understood. Here, we report on the identification of Pls amino acid residues involved in the regulation of the ε-PL chain length. From approximately 12,000 variants generated by random mutagenesis, we found 8 Pls variants that produced shorter chains of ε-PL. These variants have one or more mutations in two linker regions connecting the TM1 and TM2 domains and the TM3 and TM4 domains. In the Pls catalytic mechanism, the growing chain of ε-PL is not tethered to the enzyme, implying that the enzyme must hold the growing chain until the polymerization reaction is complete. Our findings reveal that the linker regions are important contributors to grasp the growing chain of ε-PL. PMID:24907331

Novel Injectable Calcium Phosphate Bone Cement from Wet Chemical Precipitation Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hablee, S.; Sopyan, I.; Mel, M.; Salleh, H. M.; Rahman, M. M.; Singh, R.

2017-06-01

Calcium phosphate cement has been prepared via chemical precipitation method for injectable bone filling materials. Calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, and diammonium hydrogen phosphate, (NH4)2HPO4, were used as calcium and phosphorus precursors respectively. The synthesized powder was mixed with water at different powder-to-liquid (P/L) ratios, which was adjusted at 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2. The influence of P/L ratio on the injectability, setting time and mechanical strength of calcium phosphate cement paste has been evaluated. The synthesized powder appeared as purely hydroxyapatite with nanosized and agglomerated spherical particles. All cement pastes show excellent injectability except for the paste with P/L ratio 1.2. Calcium phosphate cement with P/L ratio 1.1 shows the ideal cement for bone filler application with good injectability, the initial and final setting times of 30 min and 160 min, and the compression strength of 2.47 MPa. The result indicated that the newly developed calcium phosphate cement is physically suitable for bone filler application. This paper presents our investigation on the effect of P/L ratio on the handling and mechanical properties of calcium phosphate cement prepared via wet chemical precipitation method.

Periodic assessment of plasma sFlt-1 and PlGF concentrations and its association with placental morphometry in gestational hypertension (GH) - a prospective follow-up study.

PubMed

Jeevaratnam, Kamalan; Nadarajah, Vishna Devi; Judson, John Paul; Nalliah, Sivalingam; Abdullah, Mohd Farouk

2010-09-28

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy contributes to about 12% of maternal deaths in Malaysia and similarly worldwide. Early detection and adequate management are preventable strategies. Biochemical markers of abnormal angiogenesis would be more specific in early detection than routine blood pressure and proteinuria measurements. The aim of this study was to estimate maternal plasma PlGF and sFlt-1 levels in pregnant women with gestational hypertension at three intervals of pregnancy and correlate these biomarker levels with placental morphometry. Venous blood samples (antepartum, intrapartum and post partum periods) were drawn to estimate for sFlt-1 and PlGF levels while placental tissue samples were examined for placental morphometry. PlGF levels were lower in gestational hypertension (GH) compared to normotensive during antepartum and intrapartum period, whereas sFlt-1 levels were elevated in GH at antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum intervals during pregnancy. An inverse relationship between these two biomarkers was observed through correlation analysis. PlGF levels were inversely correlated with total villous surface area of the placental periphery (TCsa-C) and villous capillarization (VC-C) of the placental periphery. We established periodic values of for sFlt-1 and PlGF levels for the first time in an ethnically diverse Malaysian setting. We suggest the development of GH in women is related to defective capillarization. In demonstrating periodic changes, this study suggest the possibility of developing GH and other long term health complications as a result of prolonged exposure to sFlt-1. The correlation between PlGF levels and morphometric findings also support possible capillarization defect.

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a surrogate marker in preeclamptic hypertension.

PubMed

Teixeira, Patrícia Gonçalves; Cabral, Antônio Carlos Vieira; Andrade, Silvia Passos; Reis, Zilma Silveira Nogueira; da Cruz, Lívia Pieroni Barroso; Pereira, Jacqueline Braga; Martins, Breno Oliveira de Barcelos; Rezende, Cezar Alencar de Lima

2008-01-01

To evaluate plasma levels of angiogenic factors and their association with preeclampsia. Twenty-three women with preeclampsia and nine normotensive pregnant women from the Maternity of Hospital das Clínicas of Belo Horizonte/MG-Brazil were assessed by National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group Creteria (NHBPEPWG). The plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Placental growth factor (PlGF) were determined by ELISA assay. Plasma concentration of PlGF was 12-fold lower in preeclampsia versus non preeclampsia pregnancies. An inverse correlation was observed between PlGF plasma levels and mean arterial pressure (MAP); a decrease in 1pg/mL of PlGF resulted in 6.18 mm Hg increase in MAP. These results indicate that PlGF is related to MAP in pregnant women.

GPS - A PostScript-Like Language for System Simulation

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-01-01

Force Systems Command Edwards AFB CA 93523-5000 9! 2,3 092 NOTICE When U.S. Government drawings, specifications, or other data are used for any purpose...the said drawings, specifica- tions, or other data , is not to be regarded by implication or otherwise, or in any way licensing the holder or any other...United States Department of Energy under Contract W-31-109-Eng-38. OLAC PL Project Manager was Lt Tim Lawrence. This-report has been reviewed and is

Antiobesity effects of Undaria lipid capsules prepared with scallop phospholipids.

PubMed

Okada, Tomoko; Mizuno, Yasuyuki; Sibayama, Shinichi; Hosokawa, Masashi; Miyashita, Kazuo

2011-01-01

Based on previous research findings, a capsule was developed containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid rich scallop phospholipids (PLs) with an incorporation of brown seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida) lipids (ULs) containing fucoxanthin. The antiobesity effects of the capsules were evaluated with an animal model using 3-wk-old male KK-A(y) mice. Each group received different combinations of lipid (UL, PL, UL + PL, or UL + PL capsule) either incorporated into the diet or into drinking water. Animals were sacrificed after a 4-wk experimental feeding period, and adipose tissues and organs were dissected and weighed. Blood samples were obtained to determine plasma lipid profiles. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) mRNA expression levels were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, and UCP1 expression was determined by western blotting analysis. Treatment with either UL alone or UL + PL (capsule) through drinking water resulted in a significant reduction in body weight, compared to the control group. The total white adipose tissue weight of mice fed the UL + PL capsule in drinking water was significantly reduced. Both UCP1 and UCP1 mRNA expression in epididymal fat from mice fed the capsule were significantly higher than in the control group. These results suggest that incorporation of UL into scallop-derived PL by means of capsulation may lead to an additive increase in the antiobesity properties of these bioactive lipids.

KCNQ1 p.L353L affects splicing and modifies the phenotype in a founder population with long QT syndrome type 1

PubMed Central

Kapplinger, Jamie D; Erickson, Anders; Asuri, Sirisha; Tester, David J; McIntosh, Sarah; Kerr, Charles R; Morrison, Julie; Tang, Anthony; Sanatani, Shubhayan; Arbour, Laura; Ackerman, Michael J

2017-01-01

Background Variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance between individuals with identical long QT syndrome (LQTS) causative mutations largely remain unexplained. Founder populations provide a unique opportunity to explore modifying genetic effects. We examined the role of a novel synonymous KCNQ1 p.L353L variant on the splicing of exon 8 and on heart rate corrected QT interval (QTc) in a population known to have a pathogenic LQTS type 1 (LQTS1) causative mutation, p.V205M, in KCNQ1-encoded Kv7.1. Methods 419 adults were genotyped for p.V205M, p.L353L and a previously described QTc modifier (KCNH2-p.K897T). Adjusted linear regression determined the effect of each variant on QTc, alone and in combination. In addition, peripheral blood RNA was extracted from three controls and three p.L353L-positive individuals. The mutant transcript levels were assessed via qPCR and normalised to overall KCNQ1 transcript levels to assess the effect on splicing. Results For women and men, respectively, p.L353L alone conferred a 10.0 (p=0.064) ms and 14.0 (p=0.014) ms increase in QTc and in men only a significant interaction effect in combination with the p.V205M (34.6 ms, p=0.003) resulting in a QTc of ∼500 ms. The mechanism of p.L353L's effect was attributed to approximately threefold increase in exon 8 exclusion resulting in ∼25% mutant transcripts of the total KCNQ1 transcript levels. Conclusions Our results provide the first evidence that synonymous variants outside the canonical splice sites in KCNQ1 can alter splicing and clinically impact phenotype. Through this mechanism, we identified that p.L353L can precipitate QT prolongation by itself and produce a clinically relevant interactive effect in conjunction with other LQTS variants. PMID:28264985

Effect of PlA1/A2 glycoprotein IIIa gene polymorphism on the long-term outcome after successful coronary stenting

PubMed Central

Le Hello, Claire; Morello, Rémy; Lequerrec, Agnès; Duarte, Christine; Riddell, John; Hamon, Martial

2007-01-01

Aim To prospectively determine the role of platelet glycoprotein IIIa (GP IIIa) gene PlA1/PlA2 polymorphism on the long-term clinical outcome in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing coronary stenting. Design and setting Prospective observational study in the University Hospital of Caen (France). Patients and methods 1 111 symptomatic consecutive Caucasian patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention including stent implantation underwent genotyping for GP IIIa PlA1/A2. Main outcome measures Long-term clinical outcome in terms of the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE, ie death from any cause, non-fatal Q wave or non Q wave myocardial infarction, and need for coronary revascularisation) was obtained and subsequently stratified according to the GP IIIa PlA1/A2 polymorphism. Results Three groups of patients were determined according to the GP IIIa PlA1/A2 polymorphism (71.6% had the A1/A1, 25.8% had the A1/A2 and 2.6% had the A2/A2 genotype). These three groups were comparable for all clinical characteristics including sex ratio, mean age, vascular risk factors, previous coronary events, baseline angiographic exam, indication for the percutaneous coronary intervention and drug therapy). The incidence of MACE was similar in these 3 groups of patients during a mean follow-up period of 654+/-152 days. Independent risk factors for MACE were a left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%, absence of treatment with a beta-blocker and absence of treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor during follow-up. Conclusion The GP IIIa PlA1/A2 polymorphism does not influence the clinical long-term outcome in patients with symptomatic coronary disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation. PMID:18021403

New materials based on polylactide modified with silver and carbon ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurzina, I. A.; Pukhova, I. V.; Botvin, V. V.; Davydova, D. V.; Filimoshkin, A. G.; Savkin, K. P.; Oskomov, K. V.; Oks, E. M.

2015-11-01

An integrated study of poly-L-lactide (PL) synthesis and the physicochemical properties of film surfaces, both modified by silver and carbon ion implantation and also unmodified PL surfaces, has been carried out. Surface modification was done using aMevva-5.Ru metal ion source with ion implantation doses of 1.1014, 1.1015 and 1.1016 ion/cm2. Material characterization was done using NMR, IRS, XPS and AFM. The molecular weight (MW), micro-hardness, surface resistivity, and limiting wetting angle of both un-implanted and implanted samples were measured. The results reveal that degradation of PL macromolecules occurs during ion implantation, followed by CO or CO2 removal and MW decrease. With increasing implantation dose, the glycerol wettability of the PL surface increases but the water affinity decreases (hydrophobic behavior). After silver and carbon ion implantation into the PL samples, the surface resistivity is reduced by several orders of magnitude and a tendency to micro-hardness reductionis induced.

Further Study of the Dynamic Tensile Failure of Concrete.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-04-01

COMMON AM4AT(400), BMAT (400),FORCE(20),PL(20),TL(20,20) COMMON SUM(3,3),COMPL(6,6),COMPLQ(6,6) COMMON SHAPES(1O,2),SHAPEA(1O,2),SHAPEB(1O,2) COMMON LLL(6...CRFORC (IBUG) Do 840 I - 1,KROW 840 PL (I) = FORCE (1) KEND = 4*NCRACK**2 DO 845 K =1,KEND 845 BMAT (K) =AMAT (K) C... BMAT ,PL, 2*NCRACK,KSTOP) IF (IBUG .GT. 0) THEN WRITE (6,1841) ILOAD, SXX, SYY, SKY 1841 FORMAT (/’ STIF 841 ILOAD =’,13,r SXX,SYY,SXY=’,123E15.8

Efficient production of ε-poly-L-lysine by Streptomyces ahygroscopicus using one-stage pH control fed-batch fermentation coupled with nutrient feeding.

PubMed

Liu, Sheng-Rong; Wu, Qing-Ping; Zhang, Ju-Mei; Mo, Shu-Ping

2015-03-01

ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) is a homopolymer of L-lysine molecules connected between the ε amino and alpha carboxyl groups. This polymer is currently used as a natural preservative in food. Insufficient biomass is a major problem in ε-PL fermentation. Here, to improve cell growth and ε-PL productivity, various nitrogen-rich nutrients were supplemented into flask cultures after 16 h cultivation, marking the onset of ε-PL biosynthesis. Yeast extract, soybean powder, corn powder, and beef extract significantly improved cell growth. In terms of ε-PL productivity, yeast extract at 0.5% (w/v) gave the maximum yield (2.24 g/l), 115.4% higher than the control (1.04 g/l), followed by soybean powder (1.86 g/l) at 1% (w/v) and corn powder (1.72 g/l) at 1% (w/v). However, supplementation with beef extract inhibited ε-PL production. The optimal time for supplementation for all nutrients examined was at 16 h cultivation. The kinetics of yeast-extract-supplemented cultures showed enhanced cell growth and production duration. Thus, the most commonly used two-stage pH control fed-batch fermentation method was modified by omitting the pH 5.0-controlled period, and coupling the procedure with nutrient feeding in the pH 3.9-controlled phase. Using this process, by continuously feeding 0.5 g/h of yeast extract, soybean powder, or corn powder into cultures in a 30 L fermenter, the final ε-PL titer reached 28.2 g/l, 23.7 g/l, and 21.4 g/l, respectively, 91.8%, 61.2%, and 45.6% higher than that of the control (14.7 g/l). This describes a promising option for the mass production of ε-PL.

Formation of highly luminescent Zn1-xCdxSe nanocrystals using CdSe and ZnSe seeds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ruili; Yang, Ping

2013-05-01

High-quality colloidal Zn1-xCdxSe nanocrystals (NCs) with tunable photoluminescence (PL) from blue to orange were synthesized using oleic acid as a capping agent. The Zn1-xCdxSe NCs were prepared through two approaches: using CdSe or ZnSe seeds. In the case of CdSe NCs as seeds, Zn1-xCdxSe NCs were fabricated by the reaction of Zn, Cd, and Se precursors in the coordinating solvent system at high temperature. The Zn1-xCdxSe NCs revealed orange emitting. A significant blue-shift of absorption and PL spectra were observed with time, indicating the formation of ternary NCs. In contrast, Zn1-xCdxSe NCs revealed blue to green PL for ZnSe NCs as seeds. This is ascribed to an embryonic nuclei-induced alloying process. With increasing time, the Zn1-xCdxSe NCs exhibited a red-shift both in their absorption and PL spectra. This is attributed to the engineering in band gap energy via the control of NC composition. The PL properties of as-prepared alloyed NCs are comparable or even better than those for the parent binary systems. The PL peak wavelength of the Zn1-xCdxSe NCs depended strongly on reaction time and the molar ratio of Cd/Zn. The Zn1-xCdxSe NCs revealed a spherical morphology and exhibited a wurtzite structure according to transmission electron microscopy observation and an X-ray diffraction analysis.

Platelet lysate from whole blood-derived pooled platelet concentrates and apheresis-derived platelet concentrates for the isolation and expansion of human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells: production process, content and identification of active components

PubMed Central

Fekete, Natalie; Gadelorge, Mélanie; Fürst, Daniel; Maurer, Caroline; Dausend, Julia; Fleury-Cappellesso, Sandrine; Mailänder, Volker; Lotfi, Ramin; Ignatius, Anita; Sensebé, Luc; Bourin, Philippe; Schrezenmeier, Hubert; Rojewski, Markus Thomas

2012-01-01

Background aims The clinical use of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) requires ex vivo expansion in media containing supplements such as fetal bovine serum or, alternatively, human platelet lysate (PL). Methods Platelet concentrates were frozen, quarantine stored, thawed and sterile filtered to obtain PL. PL content and its effect on fibroblast-colony-forming unit (CFU-F) formation, MSC proliferation and large-scale expansion were studied. Results PL contained high levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), soluble CD40L (sCD40L), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), platelet-derived growth factor AA (PDGF-AA), platelet-derived growth factor AB/BB (PDGF-AB/BB), chemokine (C-C) ligand 5 (CCL5; RANTES) transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and chemokine (C-X-C) ligand 1/2/3 (GRO), with low batch-to-batch variability, and most were stable for up to 14 days. Inhibition of PDGF-BB and bFGF decreased MSC proliferation by about 20% and 50%, respectively. The strongest inhibition (about 75%) was observed with a combination of anti-bFGF + anti-PDGF-BB and anti-bFGF + anti-TGF-β1 + anti-PDGF-BB. Interestingly, various combinations of recombinant PDGF-BB, bFGF and TGF-β1 were not sufficient to promote cell proliferation. PL from whole blood-derived pooled platelet concentrates and apheresis platelet concentrates did not differ significantly in their growth-promoting activity on MSC. Conclusions PL enhances MSC proliferation and can be regarded as a safe tool for MSC expansion for clinical purposes. \\in particular, PDGF-BB and bFGF are essential components for the growth-promoting effect of PL, but are not sufficient for MSC proliferation. PMID:22296115

Levels of serum-circulating angiogenic factors within 1 week prior to delivery are closely related to conditions of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and/or fetal growth restriction.

PubMed

Nanjo, Sakiko; Minami, Sawako; Mizoguchi, Mika; Yamamoto, Madoka; Yahata, Tamaki; Toujima, Saori; Shiro, Michihisa; Kobayashi, Aya; Muragaki, Yasuteru; Ino, Kazuhiko

2017-12-01

We aimed to investigate maternal serum angiogenic marker profiles within 1 week prior to delivery in cases of gestational hypertension (GH), pre-eclampsia (PE), and/or fetal growth restriction (FGR) with different clinical conditions. We enrolled 165 women with singleton pregnancy. The participants were classified based on three characteristics: (i) proteinuria (GH and PE); (ii) FGR (PE with FGR [PE + FGR], PE alone, and FGR alone); and (iii) onset (early onset PE [EO PE] and late-onset PE [LO PE]). All sera were obtained within 1 week prior to delivery, and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), soluble endoglin (sEng), and placental growth factor (PlGF) were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. (i) In PE, a significantly increased sFlt-1, sEng, and sFlt-1 to PlGF ratio (sFlt-1/PlGF) and significantly decreased PlGF were observed compared with GH and Term control, whereas in GH, only sFlt-1/PlGF was significantly higher than Term control. (ii) In PE + FGR, similar changes were more markedly shown compared with PE alone. The FGR alone group exhibited similar tendencies as PE, although significant differences were found in PlGF and sEng levels. (iii) In EO PE, significant changes were observed in all factors compared with LO PE or Term control, while no significant change in PlGF levels was observed between LO PE and Term control. We demonstrated that the levels of circulating angiogenic factors just before delivery are correlated with the severity of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and FGR. Profiling these specific markers may contribute to better understanding of the clinical conditions in individual patients and their pathogenesis. © 2017 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Placental growth factor (alone or in combination with soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1) as an aid to the assessment of women with suspected pre-eclampsia: systematic review and economic analysis.

PubMed

Frampton, Geoff K; Jones, Jeremy; Rose, Micah; Payne, Liz

2016-11-01

Pre-eclampsia (PE) prediction based on blood pressure, presence of protein in the urine, symptoms and laboratory test abnormalities can result in false-positive diagnoses. This may lead to unnecessary antenatal admissions and preterm delivery. Blood tests that measure placental growth factor (PlGF) or the ratio of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) to PlGF could aid prediction of PE if either were added to routine clinical assessment or used as a replacement for proteinuria testing. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness of PlGF-based tests for patients referred to secondary care with suspected PE in weeks 20-37 of pregnancy. Systematic reviews and an economic analysis. Bibliographic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects were searched up to July 2015 for English-language references. Conferences, websites, systematic reviews and confidential company submissions were also accessed. Systematic reviews of test accuracy and economic studies were conducted to inform an economic analysis. Test accuracy studies were required to include women with suspected PE and report quantitatively the accuracy of PlGF-based tests; their risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) criteria. The economic studies review had broad eligibility criteria to capture any types of economic analysis; critical appraisal employed standard checklists consistent with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence criteria. Study selection, critical appraisal and data extraction in both reviews were performed by two reviewers. An independent economic analysis was conducted based on a decision tree model, using the best evidence available. The model evaluates costs (2014, GBP) from a NHS and Personal Social Services perspective. Given the short analysis time horizon, no discounting was undertaken. Four studies were included in the systematic review of test accuracy: two on Alere's Triage ® PlGF test (Alere, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) for predicting PE requiring delivery within a specified time and two on Roche Diagnostics' Elecsys ® sFlt-1 to PlGF ratio test (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) for predicting PE within a specified time. Three studies were included in the systematic review of economic studies, and two confidential company economic analyses were assessed separately. Study heterogeneity precluded meta-analyses of test accuracy or cost-analysis outcomes, so narrative syntheses were conducted to inform the independent economic model. The model predicts that, when supplementing routine clinical assessment for rule-out and rule-in of PE, the two tests would be cost-saving in weeks 20-35 of gestation, and marginally cost-saving in weeks 35-37, but with minuscule impact on quality of life. Length of neonatal intensive care unit stay was the most influential parameter in sensitivity analyses. All other sensitivity analyses had negligible effects on results. No head-to-head comparisons of the tests were identified. No studies investigated accuracy of PlGF-based tests when used as a replacement for proteinuria testing. Test accuracy studies were found to be at high risk of clinical review bias. The Triage and Elecsys tests would save money if added to routine clinical assessment for PE. The magnitude of savings is uncertain, but the tests remain cost-saving under worst-case assumptions. Further research is required to clarify how the test results would be interpreted and applied in clinical practice. This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42015017670. The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.

AT1 and AT2 Receptors in the Prelimbic Cortex Modulate the Cardiovascular Response Evoked by Acute Exposure to Restraint Stress in Rats.

PubMed

Brasil, Taíz F S; Fassini, Aline; Corrêa, Fernando M

2018-01-01

The prelimbic cortex (PL) is an important structure in the neural pathway integrating stress responses. Brain angiotensin is involved in cardiovascular control and modulation of stress responses. Blockade of angiotensin receptors has been reported to reduce stress responses. Acute restraint stress (ARS) is a stress model, which evokes sustained blood pressure increase, tachycardia, and reduction in tail temperature. We therefore hypothesized that PL locally generated angiotensin and angiotensin receptors modulate stress autonomic responses. To test this hypothesis, we microinjected an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin antagonists into the PL, prior to ARS. Male Wistar rats were used; guide cannulas were bilaterally implanted in the PL for microinjection of vehicle or drugs. A polyethylene catheter was introduced into the femoral artery to record cardiovascular parameters. Tail temperature was measured using a thermal camera. ARS was started 10 min after PL treatment with drugs. Pretreatment with ACE inhibitor lisinopril (0.5 nmol/100 nL) reduced the pressor response, but did not affect ARS-evoked tachycardia. At a dose of 1 nmol/100 nL, it reduced both ARS pressor and tachycardic responses. Pretreatment with candesartan, AT1 receptor antagonist reduced ARS-evoked pressor response, but not tachycardia. Pretreatment with PD123177, AT2 receptor antagonist, reduced tachycardia, but did not affect ARS pressor response. No treatment affected ARS fall in tail temperature. Results suggest involvement of PL angiotensin in the mediation of ARS cardiovascular responses, with participation of both AT1 and AT2 receptors. In conclusion, results indicate that PL AT1-receptors modulate the ARS-evoked pressor response, while AT2-receptors modulate the tachycardic component of the autonomic response.

HLA-DRB1*04/*13 alleles are associated with vascular disease and antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Lundström, Emeli; Gustafsson, Johanna T; Jönsen, Andreas; Leonard, Dag; Zickert, Agneta; Elvin, Kerstin; Sturfelt, Gunnar; Nordmark, Gunnel; Bengtsson, Anders A; Sundin, Ulf; Källberg, Henrik; Sandling, Johanna K; Syvänen, Ann-Christine; Klareskog, Lars; Gunnarsson, Iva; Rönnblom, Lars; Padyukov, Leonid; Svenungsson, Elisabet

2013-06-01

Vascular disease is common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are at high risk to develop arterial and venous thrombosis. Since HLA class II genotypes have been linked to the presence of pro-thrombotic aPL, we investigated the relationship between HLA-DRB1 alleles, aPL and vascular events in SLE patients. 665 SLE patients of Caucasian origin and 1403 controls were included. Previous manifestations of ischaemic heart disease, ischaemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) and venous thromboembolism (together referred to as any vascular events (AVE)) were tabulated. aPL were measured with ELISA. Two-digit HLA-DRB1 typing was performed by sequence-specific primer-PCR. HLA-DRB1*04 was more frequent among SLE patients with ICVD compared to unaffected patients. This association remained after adjustment for known traditional cardiovascular risk factors. HLA-DRB1*13 was associated with AVE. All measured specificities of aPL-cardiolipin IgG and IgM, β2-glycoprotein-1 IgG, prothrombin (PT) IgG and a positive lupus anticoagulant test were associated with HLA-DRB1*04-while HLA-DRB1*13 was associated with IgG antibodies (β2-glycoprotein-1, cardiolipin and PT). In patients with the combined risk alleles, HLA-DRB1*04/*13, there was a significant additive interaction for the outcomes AVE and ICVD. The HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-DRB1*13 alleles are associated with vascular events and an aPL positive immune-phenotype in SLE. Results demonstrate that a subset of SLE patients is genetically disposed to vascular vulnerability.

β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation and resistance exercise significantly reduce abdominal adiposity in healthy elderly men.

PubMed

Stout, Jeffrey R; Fukuda, David H; Kendall, Kristina L; Smith-Ryan, Abbie E; Moon, Jordan R; Hoffman, Jay R

2015-04-01

The effects of 12-weeks of HMB ingestion and resistance training (RT) on abdominal adiposity were examined in 48 men (66-78 yrs). All participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: no-training placebo (NT-PL), HMB only (NT-HMB), RT with PL (RT-PL), or HMB with RT (RT-HMB). DXA was used to estimate abdominal fat mass (AFM) by placing the region of interest over the L1-L4 region of the spine. Outcomes were assessed by ANCOVA, with Bonferroni-corrected pairwise comparisons. Baseline AFM values were used as the covariate. The ANCOVA indicated a significant difference (p = 0.013) between group means for the adjusted posttest AFM values (mean (kg) ± SE: NT-PL = 2.59 ± 0.06; NT-HMB = 2.59 ± 0.61; RT-PL = 2.59 ± 0.62; RT-HMB = 2.34 ± 0.61). The pairwise comparisons indicated that AFM following the intervention period in the RT-HMB group was significantly less than NT-PL (p = 0.013), NT-HMB (p = 0.011), and RT-PL (p = 0.010). These data suggested that HMB in combination with 12 weeks of RT decreased AFM in elderly men. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Maternal serum placental growth factor (PlGF) in small for gestational age pregnancy at 11(+0) to 13(+6) weeks of gestation.

PubMed

Poon, Leona C Y; Zaragoza, Edgar; Akolekar, Ranjit; Anagnostopoulos, Evangelos; Nicolaides, Kypros H

2008-12-01

To investigate the pathogenesis of pregnancies delivering small for gestational age (SGA) neonates by examining biochemical and Doppler indices of placental development during the first trimester of pregnancy. The concentration of placental growth factor (PlGF) at 11(+0)-13(+6) weeks was measured in 296 cases, which delivered SGA neonates, and 609 controls. The newborn was considered to be SGA if the birth weight was less than the fifth percentile after correction for gestation at delivery and sex, maternal racial origin, weight, height and parity. The distributions of uterine artery pulsatility index (PI), PlGF and PAPP-A, expressed in multiples of the median (MoM), in the control and SGA groups were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine if significant contribution is provided by maternal factors, PlGF, PAPP-A and uterine artery PI in predicting SGA. The median PlGF (0.900 MoM) and PAPP-A (0.778 MoM) were lower and uterine artery PI was higher (1.087 MoM) in the SGA group than in the controls (PlGF: 0.991 MoM; PAPP-A: 1.070 MoM; uterine artery PI: 1.030 MoM). In the SGA group there was a significant association between PlGF and PAPP-A (r = 0.368, p < 0.0001) and uterine artery PI (r = 0.191, p = 0.001). Significant contributions for the prediction of SGA were provided by maternal factors, PlGF and PAPP-A and with combined screening the detection rate was 27% at a false-positive rate of 5%. Birth weight is predetermined by placental development during the first trimester of pregnancy. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Kinetic properties of dromedary pancreatic lipase: a comparative study on emulsified and monomolecular substrate.

PubMed

Jemel, Ikram; Fendri, Ahmed; Gargouri, Youssef; Bezzine, Sofiane

2009-05-01

Using the classical emulsified system and the monomolecular film technique, we compared several interfacial properties of dromedary pancreatic lipase (DrPL) with those of a mammal (human) and an avian (turkey) model. Like turkey pancreatic lipase (TPL) and unlike human pancreatic lipase (HPL), in the absence of colipase and bile salts, using tributyrin emulsion or monomolecular films of dicaprin at low surface pressure, DrPL hydrolyses pure tributyrin emulsion, as well as dicaprin films maintained at low surface pressures. DrPL was also able to hydrolyse triolein emulsion in the absence of any additive and despite the accumulation of long-chain free fatty acids at the interface. The difference of behaviours between the two mammal pancreatic lipases (DrPL and HPL) can be explained by the penetration capacity of each enzyme. DrPL presents a critical surface pressure value (21 m Nm(-1)) that is more important than this of HPL. Subsequently, the dromedary pancreatic lipase interacts efficiently with interfaces and it is not denaturated at high interfacial energy. A kinetic study on the surface pressure dependency, stereospecificity and regioselectivity of DrPL was performed using optically pure stereoisomers of either three dicaprin isomers containing a single hydrolysable decanoyl ester bond that were spread as monomolecular films at the air/water interface. Interestingly, in comparison with all the previously studied mammal pancreatic lipases, DrPL presents the highest preference for adjacent ester groups of dicaprin isomers (1,2-sn-dicaprin and 2,3-sn-dicaprin) at high surface pressure. Furthermore, DrPL forms a pancreatic lipase subgroup in which the stereopreference switches from sn-3 position to the sn-1 position when increasing the surface pressure.

A Prospective Open-label Pilot Study of Fluvastatin on Pro-inflammatory and Pro-thrombotic Biomarkers in Antiphospholipid Antibody Positive Patients

PubMed Central

Erkan, Doruk; Willis, Rohan; Murthy, Vijaya L.; Basra, Gurjot; Vega, JoAnn; Ruiz Limón, Patricia; Carrera, Ana Laura; Papalardo, Elizabeth; Martínez-Martínez, Laura Aline; González, Emilio B.; Pierangeli, Silvia S.

2014-01-01

Objective: To determine if pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic biomarkers are differentially upregulated in persistently antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-positive patients, and to examine the effects of fluvastatin on these biomarkers. Methods: Four groups of patients (age 18-65) were recruited: a) Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome (PAPS); b) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with APS (SLE/APS); c) Persistent aPL positivity without SLE or APS (Primary aPL); and d) Persistent aPL positivity with SLE but no APS (SLE/aPL). The frequency-matched control group, used for baseline data comparison, was identified from a databank of healthy persons. Patients received fluvastatin 40 mg daily for three months. At three months, patients stopped the study medication and they were followed for another three months. Blood samples for 12 pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic biomarkers were collected monthly for six months. Results: Based on the comparison of the baseline samples of 41 aPL-positive patients with 30 healthy controls, 9/12 (75%) biomarkers (interleukin [IL]-6, IL1β, vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-□α, interferon [IFN]-α, inducible protein-10 [IP10], soluble CD40 ligand [sCD40L], soluble tissue factor [sTF], and intracellular cellular adhesion molecule [ICAM]-1) were significantly elevated. Twenty-four patients completed the study; fluvastatin significantly and reversibly reduced the levels of 6/12 (50%) biomarkers (IL1β, VEGF, TNFα, IP10, sCD40L, and sTF). Conclusion: Our prospective mechanistic study demonstrates that pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic biomarkers, which are differentially upregulated in persistently aPL-positive patients, can be reversibly reduced by fluvastatin. Thus, statin-induced modulation of the aPL effects on target cells can be a valuable future approach in the management of aPL-positive patients. PMID:23933625

No effect of creatine supplementation on oxidative stress and cardiovascular parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Exacerbated oxidative stress is thought to be a mediator of arterial hypertension. It has been postulated that creatine (Cr) could act as an antioxidant agent preventing increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nine weeks of Cr or placebo supplementation on oxidative stress and cardiovascular parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Findings Lipid hydroperoxidation, one important oxidative stress marker, remained unchanged in the coronary artery (Cr: 12.6 ± 1.5 vs. Pl: 12.2 ± 1.7 nmol·mg-1; p = 0.87), heart (Cr: 11.5 ± 1.8 vs. Pl: 14.6 ± 1.1 nmol·mg-1; p = 0.15), plasma (Cr: 67.7 ± 9.1 vs. Pl: 56.0 ± 3.2 nmol·mg-1; p = 0.19), plantaris (Cr: 10.0 ± 0.8 vs. Pl: 9.0 ± 0.8 nmol·mg-1; p = 0.40), and EDL muscle (Cr: 14.9 ± 1.4 vs. Pl: 17.2 ± 1.5 nmol·mg-1; p = 0.30). Additionally, Cr supplementation affected neither arterial blood pressure nor heart structure in SHR (p > 0.05). Conclusions Using a well-known experimental model of systemic arterial hypertension, this study did not confirm the possible therapeutic effects of Cr supplementation on oxidative stress and cardiovascular dysfunction associated with arterial hypertension. PMID:22480293

No effect of creatine supplementation on oxidative stress and cardiovascular parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

PubMed

Alves, Christiano Rr; Murai, Igor H; Ramona, Pamella; Nicastro, Humberto; Bechara, Luiz Rg; Lancha, Antonio H; Brum, Patrícia C; Irigoyen, Maria C; Gualano, Bruno

2012-04-05

Exacerbated oxidative stress is thought to be a mediator of arterial hypertension. It has been postulated that creatine (Cr) could act as an antioxidant agent preventing increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nine weeks of Cr or placebo supplementation on oxidative stress and cardiovascular parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Lipid hydroperoxidation, one important oxidative stress marker, remained unchanged in the coronary artery (Cr: 12.6 ± 1.5 vs. Pl: 12.2 ± 1.7 nmol·mg-1; p = 0.87), heart (Cr: 11.5 ± 1.8 vs. Pl: 14.6 ± 1.1 nmol·mg-1; p = 0.15), plasma (Cr: 67.7 ± 9.1 vs. Pl: 56.0 ± 3.2 nmol·mg-1; p = 0.19), plantaris (Cr: 10.0 ± 0.8 vs. Pl: 9.0 ± 0.8 nmol·mg-1; p = 0.40), and EDL muscle (Cr: 14.9 ± 1.4 vs. Pl: 17.2 ± 1.5 nmol·mg-1; p = 0.30). Additionally, Cr supplementation affected neither arterial blood pressure nor heart structure in SHR (p > 0.05). Using a well-known experimental model of systemic arterial hypertension, this study did not confirm the possible therapeutic effects of Cr supplementation on oxidative stress and cardiovascular dysfunction associated with arterial hypertension.

ε-Poly-L-lysine peptide chain length regulated by the linkers connecting the transmembrane domains of ε-Poly-L-lysine synthetase.

PubMed

Hamano, Yoshimitsu; Kito, Naoko; Kita, Akihiro; Imokawa, Yuuki; Yamanaka, Kazuya; Maruyama, Chitose; Katano, Hajime

2014-08-01

ε-Poly-l-lysine (ε-PL), consisting of 25 to 35 l-lysine residues with linkages between the α-carboxyl groups and ε-amino groups, is produced by Streptomyces albulus NBRC14147. ε-PL synthetase (Pls) is a membrane protein with six transmembrane domains (TM1 to TM6) as well as both an adenylation domain and a thiolation domain, characteristic of the nonribosomal peptide synthetases. Pls directly generates ε-PL chain length diversity (25- to 35-mer), but the processes that control the chain length of ε-PL during the polymerization reaction are still not fully understood. Here, we report on the identification of Pls amino acid residues involved in the regulation of the ε-PL chain length. From approximately 12,000 variants generated by random mutagenesis, we found 8 Pls variants that produced shorter chains of ε-PL. These variants have one or more mutations in two linker regions connecting the TM1 and TM2 domains and the TM3 and TM4 domains. In the Pls catalytic mechanism, the growing chain of ε-PL is not tethered to the enzyme, implying that the enzyme must hold the growing chain until the polymerization reaction is complete. Our findings reveal that the linker regions are important contributors to grasp the growing chain of ε-PL. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Weapon System Costing Methodology for Aircraft Airframes and Basic Structures Volume II - Estimating Handbook and User’s Manual, Part 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-05-01

4bo» i) (46u t2) ( 4tib > 3 ) ( 4bD » fa) .1 .1 .1 .1 LÜG LÜG LÜG LUG LÜG LUG LÜG Lud LÜG LUG LUG LUG LÜG LÜG LUG Lüb LÜG LUG...PC2UI LUG PC310 LUG PL 111 LuG PC211 LÜG PL 31 1 LÜG PL212 PL312 .OB LUG LUG LÄWüING GEAR «LWüRK (4bb»1) + (468»1) (4bbf2) + (46P»2) ( 4bD »3...JiJCDtJCDCDt3(JCDO»-tOOCDC3tDC3i-J_7CD( t^cJtJCJ(D^J Ducju>ot-Jt-Jur>j > 03 J- IT J- -* IP ip >r IP 0- *S -* <D O rj >1 O --i TD -D -i TD O 4 * UJ

Expression of human placental lactogen and variant growth hormone genes in placentas.

PubMed

Martinez-Rodriguez, H G; Guerra-Rodriguez, N E; Iturbe-Cantu, M A; Martinez-Torres, A; Barrera-Saldaña, H A

1997-01-01

Previous studies comparing the expression levels of human placental lactogen (hPL) genes have shown varying results, due to, perhaps, the fact that in all of them only one placenta was being analyzed. Here, the expression of hPL and growth hormone variant (hGH-V) genes in fifteen term placentas was comparatively analyzed at the RNA level, using reverse transcription coupled to polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The abundance of the combined RNA transcripts derived from these genes varied from one placenta to another. The authors found that hPL-4 transcripts were more abundant than those of hPL-3 in most samples (ratios from 1:1 to 6:1), transcripts from the putative hPL-1 pseudogene were more abundant at the unprocessed stage while those of the hGH-V gene were mostly processed. Again, the authors of this study observed wide variation from placenta to placenta in the abundance of both of these types of transcripts. The same was observed when a group of six placentas from abortuses and nine from pregnancies complicated by preclampsia, diabetes and hypertension was studied. The authors conclude that the disagreeing results reported in the literature which are not in agreement concerning the expression levels of hPL genes could be explained by normal variations of their expression levels among the different placentas analyzed.

Temperature evolution on human teeth root surface after diode laser assisted endodontic treatment.

PubMed

Gutknecht, Norbert; Franzen, Rene; Meister, Jörg; Vanweersch, Leon; Mir, Maziar

2005-09-01

The thermal rise threshold of an 810-nm semi-conductor diode laser on the root surface when used in root canals in vitro for laser assisted root canal treatment is investigated in this study. A total of 50 human single-rooted extracted teeth were included. For this study, the canals were enlarged up to an apical size of ISO#50 file. Laser irradiation was performed with six different settings. Specimens were irradiated at 0.6-1 W output power at the distal end of the fiber and about 1-1.5 W output power in the continuous mode (CW) as two groups. In the third group, 0.6-1 W output power, 10 ms pulse length (PL) and 10 ms interval duration (ID) were selected. In three other groups 1-1.5 W output power were used with different PL and ID as following: PL 10 and ID 10 ms, PL 10 and ID 20 ms and PL 20 and ID 20 ms. The total irradiation time was from 5 to 20 s per canal with a 200 mum in diameter and 25 mm long tip. After laser treatment, the temperature changes at the outer root surface were registered by means of NiCr-Ni measuring sensors and a T 202 thermometer. The safe temperature threshold for applying this diode laser in root canal is considered as 7 degrees C increase. To avoid increasing the temperature changes at the outer root surface related to this threshold, following total irradiation times were found: 0.6-1 W output power (10 ms PL/10 ms ID): 20 s (s), 1-1.5 W output power (10 ms/10 ms and 20 ms/20 ms): 15 s, 0.6-1 W output power CW and 1-1.5 W output power (20 ms PL/10 ms ID): 10 s and 1-1.5 W output power CW: 5 s. In the first three groups, 5 s irradiation and 5 s rest period avoided a temperature increase above the threshold of 7 degrees C).

Ovarian factors inhibit and fetal factors stimulate the secretion of rat placental lactogen.

PubMed

Robertson, M C; Owens, R E; McCoshen, J A; Friesen, H G

1984-01-01

Removal of fetuses at day 14 of gestation (Ftx14) in the pregnant rat leads to a marked suppression of serum levels of rat placental lactogen (rPL-II). One might attribute this to compromised placental growth in the absence of a fetus. However, if ovariectomy and fetectomy (Ftx14 Ovx14) are carried out at the same time, a great increase in serum rPL-II levels is seen. This occurs despite a significant decrease in placental weight. When Ftx14 was performed on day 14 and Ovx was delayed 1, 2, or 3 days, the expected large increase in serum rPL-II was progressively attenuated compared to that seen when Ftx and Ovx were carried out simultaneously. Daily administration of 17 beta-estradiol (4 micrograms/rat X day) to Ftx14 Ovx14 pregnant rats resulted in a significant suppression of rPL-II and elevation of rPRL levels, a reversal of what is seen for these hormones in untreated Ftx14 Ovx14 animals. To test whether 17 beta-estradiol was acting through rat PRL (rPRL), serum levels of rPRL were elevated in Ftx13 Ovx13 animals with pimozide (0.6 mg/kg), a dopamine receptor blocker. There was no effect of this treatment on rPL-II levels. In late pregnancy (day 17) serum rPL-II levels remained high after removal of half the fetuses (1/2 Ftx), compared to the rapid fall in pregnant rats in which all fetuses were removed (Ftx17). Serum levels were also elevated in 1/2 Ftx animals compared to those in which half of the fetuses and placentas were removed by hemi-hysterectomy, suggesting that the increase in rPL-II levels in 1/2 Ftx animals was due to a stimulatory effect of the remaining fetuses on all of the placentas. These results indicate that the presence of the fetus is necessary for the normally observed increase in rPL-II levels in late pregnancy. In conclusion, fetal stimulators and ovarian inhibitors influence rPL-II secretion.

Strong visible and near infrared photoluminescence from ZnO nanorods/nanowires grown on single layer graphene studied using sub-band gap excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biroju, Ravi K.; Giri, P. K.

2017-07-01

Fabrication and optoelectronic applications of graphene based hybrid 2D-1D semiconductor nanostructures have gained tremendous research interest in recent times. Herein, we present a systematic study on the origin and evolution of strong broad band visible and near infrared (NIR) photoluminescence (PL) from vertical ZnO nanorods (NRs) and nanowires (NWs) grown on single layer graphene using both above band gap and sub-band gap optical excitations. High resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction studies are carried out to reveal the morphology and crystalline quality of as-grown and annealed ZnO NRs/NWs on graphene. Room temperature PL studies reveal that besides the UV and visible PL bands, a new near-infrared (NIR) PL emission band appears in the range between 815 nm and 886 nm (1.40-1.52 eV). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies revealed excess oxygen content and unreacted metallic Zn in the as-grown ZnO nanostructures, owing to the low temperature growth by a physical vapor deposition method. Post-growth annealing at 700 °C in the Ar gas ambient results in the enhanced intensity of both visible and NIR PL bands. On the other hand, subsequent high vacuum annealing at 700 °C results in a drastic reduction in the visible PL band and complete suppression of the NIR PL band. PL decay dynamics of green emission in Ar annealed samples show tri-exponential decay on the nanosecond timescale including a very slow decay component (time constant ˜604.5 ns). Based on these results, the NIR PL band comprising two peaks centered at ˜820 nm and ˜860 nm is tentatively assigned to neutral and negatively charged oxygen interstitial (Oi) defects in ZnO, detected experimentally for the first time. The evidence for oxygen induced trap states on the ZnO NW surface is further substantiated by the slow photocurrent response of graphene-ZnO NRs/NWs. These results are important for tunable light emission, photodetection, and other cutting edge applications of graphene-ZnO based 2D-1D hybrid nanostructures.

Cloning of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) synthetase gene from a newly isolated ε-PL-producing Streptomyces albulus NK660 and its heterologous expression in Streptomyces lividans

PubMed Central

Geng, Weitao; Yang, Chao; Gu, Yanyan; Liu, Ruihua; Guo, Wenbin; Wang, Xiaomeng; Song, Cunjiang; Wang, Shufang

2014-01-01

ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL), showing a wide range of antimicrobial activity, is now industrially produced as a food additive by a fermentation process. A new strain capable of producing ε-PL was isolated from a soil sample collected from Gutian, Fujian Province, China. Based on its morphological and biochemical features and phylogenetic similarity with 16S rRNA gene, the strain was identified as Streptomyces albulus and named NK660. The yield of ε-PL in 30 l fed-batch fermentation with pH control was 4.2 g l−1 when using glycerol as the carbon source. The structure of ε-PL was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Previous studies have shown that the antimicrobial activity of ε-PL is dependent on its molecular size. In this study, the polymerization degree of the ε-PL produced by strain NK660 ranged from 19 to 33 L-lysine monomers, with the main component consisting of 24–30 L-lysine monomers, which implied that the ε-PL might have higher antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, the ε-PL synthetase gene (pls) was cloned from strain NK660 by genome walking. The pls gene with its native promoter was heterologously expressed in Streptomyces lividans ZX7, and the recombinant strain was capable of synthesizing ε-PL. Here, we demonstrated for the first time heterologous expression of the pls gene in S. lividans. The heterologous expression of pls gene in S. lividans will open new avenues for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of ε-PL synthesis. PMID:24423427

Mechanical Player Load™ using trunk-mounted accelerometry in football: Is it a reliable, task- and player-specific observation?

PubMed

Barreira, Paulo; Robinson, Mark A; Drust, Barry; Nedergaard, Niels; Raja Azidin, Raja Mohammed Firhad; Vanrenterghem, Jos

2017-09-01

The aim of the present study was to examine reliability and construct convergent validity of Player Load™ (PL) from trunk-mounted accelerometry, expressed as a cumulative measure and an intensity measure (PL · min - 1 ). Fifteen male participants twice performed an overground football match simulation that included four different multidirectional football actions (jog, side cut, stride and sprint) whilst wearing a trunk-mounted accelerometer inbuilt in a global positioning system unit. Results showed a moderate-to-high reliability as indicated by the intra-class correlation coefficient (0.806-0.949) and limits of agreement. Convergent validity analysis showed considerable between-participant variation (coefficient of variation range 14.5-24.5%), which was not explained from participant demographics despite a negative association with body height for the stride task. Between-task variations generally showed a moderate correlation between ranking of participants for PL (0.593-0.764) and PL · min - 1 (0.282-0.736). It was concluded that monitoring PL ® in football multidirectional actions presents moderate-to-high reliability, that between-participant variability most likely relies on the individual's locomotive skills and not their anthropometrics, and that the intensity of a task expressed by PL · min - 1 is largely related to the running velocity of the task.

Microstructure optimization for high-performance PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co1.5Fe0.5O5+δ-La2NiO4+δ core-shell cathode of solid oxide fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jin; Qiu, Peng; Xia, Meng; Jia, Lichao; Chi, Bo; Pu, Jian; Li, Jian

2018-03-01

Four PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co1.5Fe0.5O5+δ (PBSCF)-La2NiO4+δ (LN) core-shell cathodes, designated as PL-0, PL-1, PL-3 and PL-5, are prepared by infiltrating LN solution into PBSCF scaffold, and they are investigated in terms of the effect of LN thickness on their electrochemical performance. PL-3 with a continuous LN coating of a moderate average thickness (∼9 nm) demonstrates the lowest initial polarization resistance (0.51 Ω cm2) and highest power density (0.71 W cm-2) among all the cathodes. Polarized at 400 mA cm-2 and 700 °C for up to 40 h, the polarization resistance of all the prepared cathodes increases to approach a stable level after early stage decrease due to current activation, and PL-3 exhibits a slower average rate of performance degradation (25%). The electrochemical performance improvement is mainly attributed to that LN has a relatively high oxygen surface exchange coefficient and continuous LN coating depresses Sr segregation at PBSCF/LN interface.

A role of placental growth factor in hair growth.

PubMed

Yoon, Sun-Young; Yoon, Ji-Seon; Jo, Seong Jin; Shin, Chang Yup; Shin, Jong-Yeon; Kim, Jong-Il; Kwon, Ohsang; Kim, Kyu Han

2014-05-01

The dermal papilla (DP) comprises specialized mesenchymal cells at the bottom of the hair follicle and plays a pivotal role in hair formation, anagen induction and the hair cycle. In this study, DPs were isolated from human hair follicles and serially subcultured. From each subculture at passages 1, 3, and 5 (n=4), we compared gene expression profiles using mRNA sequencing. Among the growth factors that were down-regulated in later passages of human DP cells (hDPCs), placental growth factor (PlGF) was selected. To elucidate the effect of PlGF on hair growth. We evaluated the effect of PlGF on hDPCs and on ex vivo hair organ culture. We investigated the effect of PlGF on an in vivo model of depilation-induced hair regeneration. We confirmed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of PlGF significantly decreased following subculture of the cells. It was shown that PlGF enhanced hair shaft elongation in ex vivo hair organ culture. Furthermore, PlGF significantly accelerated hair follicle growth and markedly prolonged anagen hair growth in an in vivo model of depilation-induced hair regeneration. PlGF prevented cell death by increasing the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cyclin D1 and promoted survival by up-regulation of phosphorylated Akt and Bcl2, as determined by Western blotting. Our results suggest that PlGF plays a role in the promotion of hair growth and therefore may serve as an additional therapeutic target for the treatment of alopecia. Copyright © 2014 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast-fed and formula fed healthy infants].

PubMed

Decsi, T; Adamovich, K; Szász, M; Berthold, K

1995-03-26

While human milk contains considerable amounts of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP), most formulae contain only the precursors of LCP synthesis (linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids) but are devoid of preformed dietary LCP such as are arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids. LCP contents in plasma phospholipids (PL), triglycerides (TG) and sterol esters (STE) were measured by high resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography in healthy, term infants fed human milk of formula. Percentage contributions of the precursor fatty acids were similar or higher in plasma lipids in formula fed than in breast-fed infants, meanwhile values of the intermediary metabolites of LCP synthesis did not differ between the two groups. Percentage contributions of arachidonic acid were higher in breast-fed than in formula fed infants at the ages of 2 weeks (PL: 9.39 +/- 1.00 vs. 6.91 +/- 0.38, TG: 0.61 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.41 +/- 0.05, %weight/weight, mean +/- SEM), 1 month (PL: 9.06 +/- 1.04 vs. 6.16 +/- 0.35, TG: 0.62 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.32 +/- 0.04, STE: 4.50 +/- 0.45 vs. 2.84 +/- 0.39) and 2 months (PL: 8.41 +/- 1.19 vs. 5.74 +/- 0.37). Similarly, docosahexaenoic acid values were at the ages of 1 month (PL: 1.94 +/- 0.21 vs. 1.19 +/- 0.21, TG: 0.12 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.04 +/- 0.02) and 2 months (PL: 2.02 +/- 0.36 vs. 0.99 +/- 0.07) significantly higher in breast-fed infants than in those receiving formula.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Discovery and introgression of the wild sunflower-derived novel downy mildew resistance gene Pl 19 in confection sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

PubMed

Zhang, Z W; Ma, G J; Zhao, J; Markell, S G; Qi, L L

2017-01-01

A new downy mildew resistance gene, Pl 19 , was identified from wild Helianthus annuus accession PI 435414, introduced to confection sunflower, and genetically mapped to linkage group 4 of the sunflower genome. Wild Helianthus annuus accession PI 435414 exhibited resistance to downy mildew, which is one of the most destructive diseases to sunflower production globally. Evaluation of the 140 BC 1 F 2:3 families derived from the cross of CMS CONFSCLB1 and PI 435414 against Plasmopara halstedii race 734 revealed that a single dominant gene controls downy mildew resistance in the population. Bulked segregant analysis conducted in the BC 1 F 2 population with 860 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers indicated that the resistance derived from wild H. annuus was associated with SSR markers located on linkage group (LG) 4 of the sunflower genome. To map and tag this resistance locus, designated Pl 19 , 140 BC 1 F 2 individuals were used to construct a linkage map of the gene region. Two SSR markers, ORS963 and HT298, were linked to Pl 19 within a distance of 4.7 cM. After screening 27 additional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers previously mapped to this region, two flanking SNP markers, NSA_003564 and NSA_006089, were identified as surrounding the Pl 19 gene at a distance of 0.6 cM from each side. Genetic analysis indicated that Pl 19 is different from Pl 17 , which had previously been mapped to LG4, but is closely linked to Pl 17 . This new gene is highly effective against the most predominant and virulent races of P. halstedii currently identified in North America and is the first downy mildew resistance gene that has been transferred to confection sunflower. The selected resistant germplasm derived from homozygous BC 2 F 3 progeny provides a novel gene for use in confection sunflower breeding programs.

Placental growth factor neutralising antibodies give limited anti-angiogenic effects in an in vitro organotypic angiogenesis model.

PubMed

Brave, Sandra R; Eberlein, Cath; Shibuya, Masabumi; Wedge, Stephen R; Barry, Simon T

2010-12-01

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR) mediated signalling drives angiogenesis. This is predominantly attributed to the activity of VEGFR-2 following binding of VEGF-A. Whether other members of the VEGFR and ligand families such as VEGFR-1 and its ligand Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) can also contribute to developmental and pathological angiogenesis is less clear. We explored the function of PlGF in VEGF-A dependent angiogenesis using an in vitro co-culture assay in which endothelial cells are cultured on a fibroblast feeder layer. In the presence of 2% FS MCDB media (containing limited growth factors) in vitro endothelial tube formation is driven by endogenous angiogenic stimuli which are produced by the fibroblast and endothelial cells. Under these conditions independent sequestration of either free VEGF-A or PlGF with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies inhibited tube formation suggesting that both ligands are required to drive an angiogenic response. Endothelial tube formation could only be driven within this assay by the addition of exogenous VEGF-A, VEGF-E or VEGF-A/PlGF heterodimer, but not by PlGF alone, implying that activation of either VEGFR-2/VEGFR-1 heterodimers or VEGFR-2 homodimers were responsible for eliciting an angiogenic response directly, but not VEGFR-1 homodimers. In contrast to results obtained with an endogenous angiogenic drive, sequestration of PlGF did not affect endothelial tube formation when the assay was driven by 1 ng/ml exogenous VEGF-A. These data suggest that although neutralising PlGF can be shown to reduce endothelial tube formation in vitro, this effect is only observed under restricted culture conditions and is influenced by VEGF-A. Such data questions whether neutralising PlGF would have a therapeutic benefit in vivo in the presence of pathological concentrations of VEGF-A.

Canine Platelet Lysate Is Inferior to Fetal Bovine Serum for the Isolation and Propagation of Canine Adipose Tissue- and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

PubMed Central

Russell, Keith A.; Gibson, Thomas W. G.; Chong, Andrew; Co, Carmon; Koch, Thomas G.

2015-01-01

Background Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are increasingly investigated for their clinical utility in dogs. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is a common culture supplement used for canine MSC expansion. However, FBS content is variable, its clinical use carries risk of an immune response, and its cost is increasing due to global demand. Platelet lysate (PL) has proven to be a suitable alternative to FBS for expansion of human MSC. Hypothesis and Objectives We hypothesized that canine adipose tissue (AT) and bone marrow (BM) MSC could be isolated and expanded equally in PL and FBS at conventionally-used concentrations with differentiation of these MSC unaffected by choice of supplement. Our objectives were to evaluate the use of canine PL in comparison with FBS at four stages: 1) isolation, 2) proliferation, 3) spontaneous differentiation, and 4) directed differentiation. Results 1) Medium with 10% PL was unable to isolate MSC. 2) MSC, initially isolated in FBS-supplemented media, followed a dose-dependent response with no significant difference between PL and FBS cultures at up to 20% (AT) or 30% (BM) enrichment. Beyond these respective peaks, proliferation fell in PL cultures only, while a continued dose-dependent proliferation response was noted in FBS cultures. 3) Further investigation indicated PL expansion culture was inducing spontaneous adipogenesis in concentrations as low as 10% and as early as 4 days in culture. 4) MSC isolated in FBS, but expanded in either FBS or PL, maintained ability to undergo directed adipogenesis and osteogenesis, but not chondrogenesis. Conclusions/Significance Canine PL did not support establishment of MSC colonies from AT and BM, nor expansion of MSC, which appear to undergo spontaneous adipogenesis in response to PL exposure. In vivo studies are warranted to determine if concurrent use of MSC with any platelet-derived products such as platelet-rich plasma are associated with synergistic, neutral or antagonistic effects. PMID:26353112

Approaching the intrinsic photoluminescence linewidth in transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers

DOE PAGES

Ajayi, Obafunso A.; Ardelean, Jenny V.; Shepard, Gabriella D.; ...

2017-07-24

Excitonic states in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have been the subject of extensive recent interest. Their intrinsic properties can, however, be obscured due to the influence of inhomogeneity in the external environment. Here we report methods for fabricating high quality TMDC monolayers with narrow photoluminescence (PL) linewidth approaching the intrinsic limit. We find that encapsulation in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) sharply reduces the PL linewidth, and that passivation of the oxide substrate by an alkyl monolayer further decreases the linewidth and also minimizes the charged exciton (trion) peak. The combination of these sample preparation methods results in much reducedmore » spatial variation in the PL emission, with a full-width-at-half-maximum as low as 1.7 meV. Furthermore, analysis of the PL line shape yields a homogeneous width of 1.43 ± 0.08 meV and inhomogeneous broadening of 1.1 ± 0.3 meV.« less

Atmospheric pressure organometallic vapor-phase epitaxial growth of (Al/x/Ga/1-x/)0.51In0.49P (x from 0 to 1) using trimethylalkyls

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cao, D. S.; Kimball, A. W.; Stringfellow, G. B.

1990-01-01

This paper describes growth of (Al/x/Ga/1-x)0.51In0.49P layers (with x from 0 to 1) lattice-matched to (001)-oriented GaAs substrates by atmospheric-pressure OMVPE, using trimethylindium, trimethylaluminum, and trimethylgallium and PH3 as source materials in a horizontal reactor. Excellent surface morphologies were obtained over the entire range of Al compositions at a growth temperature of 680 C. Photoluminescence (PL) was observed for all samples with x values not below 0.52, with PL peak energies as high as 2.212 eV. The PL FWHM for Ga(0.51)In(0.49)P was 7.2 meV at 10 K and 35 meV at 300 K. At 10 K, the PL intensity was nearly a constant over the composition range from x = 0 to 0.52.

Dietary nitrate supplementation improves sprint and high-intensity intermittent running performance.

PubMed

Thompson, Christopher; Vanhatalo, Anni; Jell, Harry; Fulford, Jonathan; Carter, James; Nyman, Lara; Bailey, Stephen J; Jones, Andrew M

2016-12-30

The influence of dietary nitrate (NO 3 - ) supplementation on indices of maximal sprint and intermittent exercise performance is unclear. To investigate the effects of NO 3 - supplementation on sprint running performance, and cognitive function and exercise performance during the sport-specific Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 test (IR1). In a double-blind, randomized, crossover study, 36 male team-sport players received NO 3 - -rich (BR; 70 mL·day -1 ; 6.4 mmol of NO 3 - ), and NO 3 - -depleted (PL; 70 mL·day -1 ; 0.04 mmol NO 3 - ) beetroot juice for 5 days. On day 5 of supplementation, subjects completed a series of maximal 20-m sprints followed by the Yo-Yo IR1. Cognitive tasks were completed prior to, during and immediately following the Yo-Yo IR1. BR improved sprint split times relative to PL at 20 m (1.2%; BR 3.98 ± 0.18 vs. PL 4.03 ± 0.19 s; P < 0.05), 10 m (1.6%; BR 2.53 ± 0.12 vs. PL 2.57 ± 0.19 s; P < 0.05) and 5 m (2.3%; BR 1.73 ± 0.09 vs. PL 1.77 ± 0.09 s; P < 0.05). The distance covered in the Yo-Yo IR1 test improved by 3.9% (BR 1422 ± 502 vs. PL 1369 ± 505 m; P < 0.05). The reaction time to the cognitive tasks was shorter in BR (615 ± 98 ms) than PL (645 ± 120 ms; P < 0.05) at rest but not during the Yo-Yo IR1. There was no difference in response accuracy. Dietary NO 3 - supplementation enhances maximal sprint and high-intensity intermittent running performance in competitive team sport players. Our findings suggest that NO 3 - supplementation has the potential to improve performance in single-sprint or multiple-sprint (team) sports. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Photoluminescence spectral reliance on aggregation order of 1,1-Bis(2'-thienyl)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsilole.

PubMed

Chen, Junwu; Xu, Bin; Yang, Kaixia; Cao, Yong; Sung, Herman H Y; Williams, Ian D; Tang, Ben Zhong

2005-09-15

1,1-Bis(2'-thienyl)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsilole (1) was prepared and characterized crystallographically. Silole 1 exhibited aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior like other 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsiloles. Unexpectedly, aggregates formed in water/acetone (6:4 by volume) mixture emitted a blue light that peaked at 474 nm, while aggregates formed in the mixtures with higher water fractions emitted green light that peaked at 500 nm. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the aggregates formed in the mixture with water fraction of 60% were single crystals, while aggregates that formed in the mixture with water fraction of 90% were irregular and poorly ordered particles. The unusual PL spectral reliance on aggregation order was further confirmed by PL emissions of macroscopic crystal powders and amorphous powders of the silole in the dry state. PL spectral blue shifting was observed upon aging of the poorly ordered aggregates formed in mixtures with water fractions of 70-90%, and they finally exhibited the same blue emission as the crystalline aggregates. The as-deposited thin solid film was amorphous and it could be transformed to a transparent crystalline film upon treatment in the vapor of an ethanol/water (1:1 by volume) mixture, along with PL spectral blue shifting due to changing of aggregation order. It was also found that the crystalline film showed a blue-shifted absorption spectrum relative to the amorphous film and the shift of the absorption edge of the spectra could match that of corresponding PL spectra. The FT-IR spectrum of crystal powders of 1 displayed more vibration modes compared with that of amorphous powders, suggesting the existence of different pi-overlaps or different molecular conformations. The crystals of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenylsilole and hexaphenylsilole also showed blue-shifted PL emissions of their amorphous solids, with a comparable PL spectral shift of 1. Developing of a silole solution on a TLC plate readily brought about an amorphous thin layer. Our results suggest that crystalline films of AIE-active siloles are potential emissive layers for efficient blue OLEDs with stable color and long lifetime.

Preparation of Fe(3)O(4)@C@CNC multifunctional magnetic core/shell nanoparticles and their application in a signal-type flow-injection photoluminescence immunosensor.

PubMed

Chu, Chengchao; Li, Meng; Li, Long; Ge, Shenguang; Ge, Lei; Yu, Jinghua; Yan, Mei; Song, Xianrang

2013-11-01

We describe here the preparation of carbon-coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles that were further fabricated into multifunctional core/shell nanoparticles (Fe3O4@C@CNCs) through a layer-by-layer self-assembly process of carbon nanocrystals (CNCs). The nanoparticles were applied in a photoluminescence (PL) immunosensor to detect the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CEA primary antibody was immobilized onto the surface of the nanoparticles. In addition, CEA secondary antibody and glucose oxidase were covalently bonded to silica nanoparticles. After stepwise immunoreactions, the immunoreagent was injected into the PL cell using a flow-injection PL system. When glucose was injected, hydrogen peroxide was obtained because of glucose oxidase catalysis and quenched the PL of the Fe3O4@C@CNC nanoparticles. The here proposed PL immunosensor allowed us to determine CEA concentrations in the 0.005–50 ng·mL-1 concentration range, with a detection limit of 1.8 pg·mL-1.

Human platelet lysate supports the formation of robust human periodontal ligament cell sheets.

PubMed

Tian, Bei-Min; Wu, Rui-Xin; Bi, Chun-Sheng; He, Xiao-Tao; Yin, Yuan; Chen, Fa-Ming

2018-04-01

The use of stem cell-derived sheets has become increasingly common in a wide variety of biomedical applications. Although substantial evidence has demonstrated that human platelet lysate (PL) can be used for therapeutic cell expansion, either as a substitute for or as a supplement to xenogeneic fetal bovine serum (FBS), its impact on cell sheet production remains largely unexplored. In this study, we manufactured periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC) sheets in vitro by incubating PDLSCs in sheet-induction media supplemented with various ratios of PL and FBS, i.e. 10% PL without FBS, 7.5% PL + 2.5% FBS, 5% PL + 5% FBS, 2.5% PL + 7.5% FBS or 10% FBS without PL. Cultures with the addition of all the designed supplements led to successful cell sheet production. In addition, all the resultant cellular materials exhibited similar expression profiles of matrix-related genes and proteins, such as collagen I, fibronectin and integrin β1. Interestingly, the cell components within sheets generated by media containing both PL and FBS exhibited improved osteogenic potential. Following in vivo transplantation, all sheets supported significant new bone formation. Our data suggest that robust PDLSC sheets can be produced by applying PL as either an alternative or an adjuvant to FBS. Further examination of the relevant influences of human PL that benefit cell behaviour and matrix production will pave the way towards optimized and standardized conditions for cell sheet production. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Amino acid sequence motifs essential for P0-mediated suppression of RNA silencing in an isolate of potato leafroll virus from Inner Mongolia.

PubMed

Zhuo, Tao; Li, Yuan-Yuan; Xiang, Hai-Ying; Wu, Zhan-Yu; Wang, Xian-Bin; Wang, Ying; Zhang, Yong-Liang; Li, Da-Wei; Yu, Jia-Lin; Han, Cheng-Gui

2014-06-01

Polerovirus P0 suppressors of host gene silencing contain a consensus F-box-like motif with Leu/Pro (L/P) requirements for suppressor activity. The Inner Mongolian Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) P0 protein (P0(PL-IM)) has an unusual F-box-like motif that contains a Trp/Gly (W/G) sequence and an additional GW/WG-like motif (G139/W140/G141) that is lacking in other P0 proteins. We used Agrobacterium infiltration-mediated RNA silencing assays to establish that P0(PL-IM) has a strong suppressor activity. Mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that the P0(PL-IM) F-box-like motif encompasses amino acids 76-LPRHLHYECLEWGLLCG THP-95, and that the suppressor activity is abolished by L76A, W87A, or G88A substitution. The suppressor activity is also weakened substantially by mutations within the G139/W140/G141 region and is eliminated by a mutation (F220R) in a C-terminal conserved sequence of P0(PL-IM). As has been observed with other P0 proteins, P0(PL-IM) suppression is correlated with reduced accumulation of the host AGO1-silencing complex protein. However, P0(PL-IM) fails to bind SKP1, which functions in a proteasome pathway that may be involved in AGO1 degradation. These results suggest that P0(PL-IM) may suppress RNA silencing by using an alternative pathway to target AGO1 for degradation. Our results help improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in PLRV infection.

A solid phospholipid-bile salts-mixed micelles based on the fast dissolving oral films to improve the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Qing-yuan; Li, Xian-yi; Shen, Bao-de; Dai, Ling; Xu, He; Shen, Cheng-ying; Yuan, Hai-long; Han, Jin

2014-06-01

The phospholipid-bile salts-mixed micelles (PL-BS-MMs) are potent carriers used for oral absorption of drugs that are poorly soluble in water; however, there are many limitations associated with liquid formulations. In the current study, the feasibility of preparing the fast dissolving oral films (FDOFs) containing PL-BS-MMs was examined. FDOFs incorporated with Cucurbitacin B (Cu B)-loaded PL-sodium deoxycholate (SDC)-MMs have been developed and characterized. To prepare the MMs and to serve as the micellar carrier, a weight ratio of 1:0.8 and total concentration of 54 mg/mL was selected for the PL/SDC based on the size, size distribution, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and morphology. The concentration of Cu B was determined to be 5 mg/mL. Results showed that a narrow size distributed nanomicelles with a mean particle size of 86.21 ± 6.11 nm and a zeta potential of -31.21 ± 1.17 mV was obtained in our optimized Cu B-PL/SDC-MMs formulation. FDOFs were produced by solvent casting method and the formulation with 50 mg/mL of pullulan and 40 mg/mL of PEG 400 were deemed based on the physico-mechanical properties. The FDOFs containing Cu B-PL/SDC-MMs were easily reconstituted in a transparent and clear solution giving back a colloidal system with spherical micelles in the submicron range. In the in vitro dissolution test, the FDOFs containing Cu B-PL/SDC-MMs showed an increased dissolution velocity markedly. The pharmacokinetics study showed that the FDOFs containing PL-SDC-MMs not only kept the absorption properties as same as the PL-SDC-MMs, but also significantly increased the oral bioavailability of Cu B compared to the Cu B suspension ( p < 0.05). This study showed that the FDOFs containing Cu B-PL/SDC-MMs could represent a novel platform for the delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs via oral administration. Furthermore, the integration with the FDOFs could also provide a simple and cost-effective manner for the solidification of PL-SDC-MMs.

Dietary nitrate supplementation improves team sport-specific intense intermittent exercise performance.

PubMed

Wylie, Lee J; Mohr, Magni; Krustrup, Peter; Jackman, Sarah R; Ermιdis, Georgios; Kelly, James; Black, Matthew I; Bailey, Stephen J; Vanhatalo, Anni; Jones, Andrew M

2013-07-01

Recent studies have suggested that dietary inorganic nitrate (NO₃(-)) supplementation may improve muscle efficiency and endurance exercise tolerance but possible effects during team sport-specific intense intermittent exercise have not been examined. We hypothesized that NO₃(-) supplementation would enhance high-intensity intermittent exercise performance. Fourteen male recreational team-sport players were assigned in a double-blind, randomized, crossover design to consume 490 mL of concentrated, nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) and nitrate-depleted placebo juice (PL) over ~30 h preceding the completion of a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (Yo-Yo IR1). Resting plasma nitrite concentration ([NO₂(-)]) was ~400% greater in BR compared to PL. Plasma [NO₂(-)] declined by 20% in PL (P < 0.05) and by 54 % in BR (P < 0.05) from pre-exercise to end-exercise. Performance in the Yo-Yo IR1 was 4.2% greater (P < 0.05) with BR (1,704 ± 304 m) compared to PL (1,636 ± 288 m). Blood [lactate] was not different between BR and PL, but the mean blood [glucose] was lower (3.8 ± 0.8 vs. 4.2 ± 1.1 mM, P < 0.05) and the rise in plasma [K(+)] tended to be reduced in BR compared to PL (P = 0.08). These findings suggest that NO₃(-) supplementation may promote NO production via the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway and enhance Yo-Yo IR1 test performance, perhaps by facilitating greater muscle glucose uptake or by better maintaining muscle excitability. Dietary NO₃(-) supplementation improves performance during intense intermittent exercise and may be a useful ergogenic aid for team sports players.

Characterization of sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase activity by electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry quantitation of (2E)-hexadecenal.

PubMed

Berdyshev, Evgeny V; Goya, Jonathan; Gorshkova, Irina; Prestwich, Glenn D; Byun, Hoe-Sup; Bittman, Robert; Natarajan, Viswanathan

2011-01-01

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a sphingolipid signaling molecule crucial for cell survival and proliferation. S1P-mediated signaling is largely controlled through its biosynthesis and degradation, and S1P lyase (S1PL) is the only known enzyme that irreversibly degrades sphingoid base-1-phosphates to phosphoethanolamine and the corresponding fatty aldehydes. S1PL-mediated degradation of S1P results in the formation of (2E)-hexadecenal, whereas hexadecanal is the product of dihydrosphingosine-1-phosphate (DHS1P) degradation. Fatty aldehydes can undergo biotransformation to fatty acids and/or alcohols, making them elusive and rendering the task of fatty aldehyde quantitation challenging. We have developed a simple, highly sensitive, and high-throughput protocol for (2E)-hexadecenal quantitation as a semicarbazone derivative by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. The approach was applied to determining S1PL activity in vitro with the ability to use as low as 0.25μg of microsomal protein per assay. The method is also applicable to the use of total tissue homogenate as the source of S1PL. A correction for (2E)-hexadecenal disappearance due to its biotransformation during enzymatic reaction is required, especially at higher protein concentrations. The method was applied to confirm FTY720 as the inhibitor of S1PL with an IC₅₀ value of 52.4μM. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Characterization of sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase activity by ESI-LC/MS/MS quantitation of (2E)-hexadecenal

PubMed Central

Berdyshev, Evgeny V.; Goya, Jonathan; Gorshkova, Irina; Prestwich, Glenn D.; Byun, Hoe-Sup; Bittman, Robert; Natarajan, Viswanathan

2010-01-01

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a sphingolipid signaling molecule crucial for cell survival and proliferation. S1P-mediated signaling is largely controlled through its biosynthesis and degradation, and S1P lyase (S1PL) is the only known enzyme, which irreversibly degrades sphingoid base-1-phosphates to phosphoethanolamine and the corresponding fatty aldehydes. S1PL-mediated degradation of S1P results in the formation of (2E)-hexadecenal, while hexadecanal is the product of dihydrosphingosine-1-phosphate (DHS1P) degradation. Fatty aldehydes can undergo biotransformation to fatty acids and/or alcohols, which makes them elusive and renders the task of fatty aldehyde quantitation challenging. We have developed a simple, highly sensitive, and high-throughput protocol for (2E)-hexadecenal quantitation as a semicarbazone derivative by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. The approach was applied to determining S1PL activity in vitro, with the ability to use as low as 0.25 µg microsomal protein per assay. The method is also applicable to the use of total tissue homogenate as the source of S1PL. A correction for (2E)-hexadecenal disappearance due to its biotransformation during enzymatic reaction is required, especially at higher protein concentrations. The method was applied to confirm FTY720 as the inhibitor of S1PL with the IC50 of 52.4 µM. PMID:20804717

Addition of N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide to soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio > 38 improves prediction of pre-eclampsia requiring delivery within 1 week: a longitudinal cohort study.

PubMed

Sabriá, E; Lequerica-Fernández, P; Lafuente-Ganuza, P; Eguia-Ángeles, E; Escudero, A I; Martínez-Morillo, E; Barceló, C; Álvarez, F V

2018-06-01

Short-term prediction of pre-eclampsia (PE) using the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio is characterized by frequent false-positive results. As such, no treatment can be recommended to test-positive patients and multiple measurements are often required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), uric acid and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for prediction of delivery with PE within 1 week in singleton pregnancies with suspected PE and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio > 38. This was a longitudinal prospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies presenting at 24 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks of gestation with clinically suspected PE and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio > 38, enrolled between January 2015 and June 2017. Multiple samples per patient were allowed but were restricted to one sample per gestational week. From 495 enrolled patients, 270 blood samples from 134 patients were ultimately analyzed. By using generalized estimating equations (GEE), the best-fit model was selected for prediction of delivery with PE within 1 week. The predictive value of this model was then assessed using area under the paired-ROC curve (AUC) analysis. The best-fit model included the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, NT-proBNP and the gestational week at the time of the measurement. This combined model was compared with the GEE model based on the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and the gestational week at the time of the measurement (reduced model). The AUC for the combined model was 0.845 (95% CI, 0.787-0.896), which was significantly greater (P = 0.011) than that of the reduced model (0.786 (95% CI, 0.722-0.844)). The addition of NT-proBNP assessment improves the short-term prediction of delivery as a result of PE compared with sFlt-1/PlGF ratio alone, when the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is > 38. This finding should be considered in future research on the assessment of short-term risk of delivery as a result of PE. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Femtosecond transient photoluminescence of the substituted poly(diphenylacetulene)s.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piskun, N. V.; Wang, D. K.; Lim, H.; Epstein, A. J.; Vanwoerkom, L. D.; Gustafson, T. L.

2000-03-01

We present the results of a femtosecond transient photoluminescence (PL) study of solutions of two derivatives of substituted poly(diphenylacetylene) using an up-conversion technique. n-Butyl (nBu) and p-carbazole (Cz) substituted poly(diphenylacetylene), PDPA-nBu and PDPA-Cz respectively, have band gaps determined by maxima in the slope of absorption vs. energy of 2.75 eV and 2.63 eV. The steady state emission peaks are at 2.4 eV for PDPA-nBu and at 2.3 eV for PDPA-Cz respectively. The PL peak for PDPA-Cz is red shifted in comparison to the PL peak for PDPA-nBu. Roles of phenyl groups, electron donating effect of the carbazole side units and planarity of the backbone are discussed. Exciting at 3.1 eV, the fs PL shows a faster decay for PDPA-Cz than that for PDPA-nBu, in accord with the decrease of PL quantum efficiency of PDPA-Cz. The 200 fs - 80 ps PL(t) agrees with ~1 ns lifetime. The PDPA-Cz has larger red shift in the 0.2-20 ps time frame. The origin of that shift will be discussed. This work is supported in part by ONR.

Investigation of temperature-dependent photoluminescence in multi-quantum wells.

PubMed

Fang, Yutao; Wang, Lu; Sun, Qingling; Lu, Taiping; Deng, Zhen; Ma, Ziguang; Jiang, Yang; Jia, Haiqiang; Wang, Wenxin; Zhou, Junming; Chen, Hong

2015-07-31

Photoluminescence (PL) is a nondestructive and powerful method to investigate carrier recombination and transport characteristics in semiconductor materials. In this study, the temperature dependences of photoluminescence of GaAs-AlxGa1-xAs multi-quantum wells samples with and without p-n junction were measured under both resonant and non-resonant excitation modes. An obvious increase of photoluminescence(PL) intensity as the rising of temperature in low temperature range (T < 50 K), is observed only for GaAs-AlxGa1-xAs quantum wells sample with p-n junction under non-resonant excitation. The origin of the anomalous increase of integrated PL intensity proved to be associated with the enhancement of carrier drifting because of the increase of carrier mobility in the temperature range from 15 K to 100 K. For non-resonant excitation, carriers supplied from the barriers will influence the temperature dependence of integrated PL intensity of quantum wells, which makes the traditional methods to acquire photoluminescence characters from the temperature dependence of integrated PL intensity unavailable. For resonant excitation, carriers are generated only in the wells and the temperature dependence of integrated PL intensity is very suitable to analysis the photoluminescence characters of quantum wells.

Contribution of Socioeconomic Status to Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

PubMed

Kaplowitz, Elianna T; Ferguson, Sancia; Guerra, Marta; Laskin, Carl A; Buyon, Jill P; Petri, Michelle; Lockshin, Michael D; Sammaritano, Lisa R; Branch, D Ware; Merrill, Joan T; Katz, Patricia; Salmon, Jane E

2018-02-01

We examined rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) by race/ethnicity among women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with and without antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), and whether socioeconomic status (SES) accounted for differences. Data were from the PROMISSE (Predictors of Pregnancy Outcome: Biomarkers in Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) study, a multicenter study that enrolled 346 patients with SLE and 62 patients with SLE and aPL (50% white, 20% African American, 17% Hispanic, 12% Asian/Pacific Islander). Measures of SES were educational attainment, median community income, and community education. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine odds of APO for each racial/ethnic group, controlling first for age and clinical variables, and then for SES. The frequency of APO in white women with SLE, with and without aPL, was 29% and 11%, respectively. For African American and Hispanic women it was approximately 2-fold greater. In African American women with SLE alone, adjustment for clinical variables attenuated the odds ratio (OR) from 2.7 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.3-5.5) to 2.3 (95% CI 1.1-5.1), and after additional adjustment for SES, there were no longer significant differences in APO compared to whites. In contrast, in SLE patients with aPL, whites, African Americans, and Hispanics had markedly higher risks of APO compared to white SLE patients without aPL (OR 3.5 [95% CI 1.4-7.7], OR 12.4 [95% CI 1.9-79.8], and OR 10.4 [95% CI 2.5-42.4], respectively), which were not accounted for by clinical or SES covariates. This finding suggests that for African American women with SLE without aPL, SES factors are key contributors to disparities in APO, despite monthly care from experts, whereas other factors contribute to disparities in SLE with aPL. © 2017, American College of Rheumatology.

Glacier topography and elevation changes derived from Pléiades sub-meter stereo images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berthier, E.; Vincent, C.; Magnússon, E.; Gunnlaugsson, Á. Þ.; Pitte, P.; Le Meur, E.; Masiokas, M.; Ruiz, L.; Pálsson, F.; Belart, J. M. C.; Wagnon, P.

2014-12-01

In response to climate change, most glaciers are losing mass and hence contribute to sea-level rise. Repeated and accurate mapping of their surface topography is required to estimate their mass balance and to extrapolate/calibrate sparse field glaciological measurements. In this study we evaluate the potential of sub-meter stereo imagery from the recently launched Pléiades satellites to derive digital elevation models (DEMs) of glaciers and their elevation changes. Our five evaluation sites, where nearly simultaneous field measurements were collected, are located in Iceland, the European Alps, the central Andes, Nepal and Antarctica. For Iceland, the Pléiades DEM is also compared to a lidar DEM. The vertical biases of the Pléiades DEMs are less than 1 m if ground control points (GCPs) are used, but reach up to 7 m without GCPs. Even without GCPs, vertical biases can be reduced to a few decimetres by horizontal and vertical co-registration of the DEMs to reference altimetric data on ice-free terrain. Around these biases, the vertical precision of the Pléiades DEMs is ±1 m and even ±0.5 m on the flat glacier tongues (1σ confidence level). Similar precision levels are obtained in the accumulation areas of glaciers and in Antarctica. We also demonstrate the high potential of Pléiades DEMs for measuring seasonal, annual and multi-annual elevation changes with an accuracy of 1 m or better if cloud-free images are available. The negative region-wide mass balances of glaciers in the Mont-Blanc area (-1.04 ± 0.23 m a-1 water equivalent, w.e.) are revealed by differencing Satellite pour l'Observation de la Terre 5 (SPOT 5) and Pléiades DEMs acquired in August 2003 and 2012, confirming the accelerated glacial wastage in the European Alps.

Comparative Analysis of EPA/DHA-PL Forage and Liposomes in Orotic Acid-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Rats and Their Related Mechanisms.

PubMed

Chang, Mengru; Zhang, Tiantian; Han, Xiuqing; Tang, Qingjuan; Yanagita, Teruyoshi; Xu, Jie; Xue, Changhu; Wang, Yuming

2018-02-14

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one predictive factor of death from various illnesses. The present study was to comparatively investigate the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid-enriched and docosahexaenoic acid-enriched phospholipids forage (EPA-PL and DHA-PL) and liposomes (lipo-EPA and lipo-DHA) on NAFLD and demonstrate the possible protective mechanisms involved. The additive doses of EPA-PL and DHA-PL in all treatment groups were 1% of total diets, respectively. The results showed that Lipo-EPA could significantly improve hepatic function by down-regulating orotic acid-induced serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels by 55.6% and 34.2%, respectively (p < 0.01). Moreover, lipo-EPA exhibited excellent inhibition on the mRNA expression of SREBP-1c and FAS at the values of 0.454 ± 0.09 (p < 0.01) and 0.523 ± 0.08 (p < 0.01), respectively, thus ameliorating OA-induced NAFLD. Meanwhile, lipo-EPA could significantly suppress the SREBP-2 and HMGR levels (31.4% and 66.7%, p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, EPA-PL and lipo-DHA could also significantly suppress hepatic lipid accumulation mainly by enhancement of hepatic lipolysis and cholesterol efflux. Furthermore, DHA-PL played a certain role in inhibiting hepatic lipogenesis and accelerating cholesterol efflux. The results obtained in this work might contribute to the understanding of the biological activities of EPA/DHA-PL and liposomes and further investigation on its potential application values for food supplements.

Novel photoluminescence enzyme immunoassay based on supramolecular host-guest recognition using L-arginine/6-aza-2-thiothymine-stabilized gold nanocluster.

PubMed

Wang, Youmei; Lu, Minghua; Tang, Dianping

2018-06-30

A new photoluminescence (PL) enzyme immunoassay was designed for sensitive detection of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) via an innovative enzyme substrate, 6-aza-2-thiothymine-stabilized gold nanocluster (AAT-AuNC) with L-arginine. The enzyme substrate with strong PL intensity was formed through supramolecular host-guest assembly between guanidine group of L-arginine and AAT capped on the surface of AuNC. Upon arginase introduction, the captured L-arginine was hydrolyzed into ornithine and urea, thus resulting in the decreasing PL intensity. Based on this principle, a novel competitive-type immunoreaction was first carried out on AFB 1 -bovine serum albumin (AFB 1 -BSA) conjugate-coated microplate, using arginase-labeled anti-AFB 1 antibody as the competitor. Under the optimum conditions, the PL intensity increased with the increment of target AFB 1 , and allowed the detection of the analyte at concentrations as low as 3.2 pg mL -1 (ppt). Moreover, L-arginine-AAT-AuNC-based PL enzyme immunoassay afforded good reproducibility and acceptable specificity. In addition, the accuracy of this methodology, referring to commercial AFB 1 ELISA kit, was evaluated to analyze naturally contaminated or spiked peanut samples, giving well-matched results between two methods, thus representing a useful scheme for practical application in quantitative monitoring of mycotoxins in foodstuff. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effect of Platelet Lysate on osteoblast proliferation associated with a transient increase of the inflammatory response in bone regeneration.

PubMed

Ruggiu, Alessandra; Ulivi, Valentina; Sanguineti, Francesca; Cancedda, Ranieri; Descalzi, Fiorella

2013-12-01

Platelet Lysate (PL) contains a cocktail of growth factors and cytokines, which actively participates in tissue repair and its clinical application has been broadly described. The aim of this study was to assess the regenerative potential of PL for bone repair. We demonstrated that PL stimulation induces a transient increase of the inflammatory response in quiescent human osteoblasts, via NF-kB activation, COX-2 induction, PGE2 production and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, we showed that long-term PL stimulation enhances proliferation of actively replicating osteoblasts, without affecting their differentiation potential, along with changes of cell morphology, resulting in increased cell density at confluence. In confluent resting osteoblasts, PL treatment induced resumption of proliferation, change in cell morphology and increase of cell density at confluence. A burst of PL treatment (24-h) was sufficient to trigger such processes in both conditions. These results correlated with up-regulation of the proliferative and survival pathways ERKs and Akt and with cell cycle re-activation via induction of CyclinD1 and phosphorylation of Rb, following PL stimulation. Our findings demonstrate that PL treatment results in activation and expansion of resting osteoblasts, without affecting their differentiation potential. Therefore PL represents a good therapeutic candidate in regenerative medicine for bone repair. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxic acid in the paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid of children.

PubMed

Akiyama, Tomoyuki; Hayashi, Yumiko; Hanaoka, Yoshiyuki; Shibata, Takashi; Akiyama, Mari; Tsuchiya, Hiroki; Yamaguchi, Tokito; Kobayashi, Katsuhiro

2017-09-01

We quantified pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxal (PL), and 4-pyridoxic acid (PA) in paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from children and investigated the effect of age on the concentrations and CSF-to-serum ratios of these vitamers. Serum and CSF samples prospectively collected from 49 pediatric patients were analyzed. PLP, PL, and PA were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, using pre-column derivatization by semicarbazide. Effects of age on these vitamers, the PLP-to-PL ratio, CSF-to-serum PLP ratio, and CSF-to-serum PL ratio were evaluated using correlation analysis. The PLP, PL, and PA concentrations in the serum and CSF were higher at younger ages, except for CSF PA concentrations that were mostly below the limit of detection (<1.2nmol/l). The PLP-to-PL ratios in the serum and CSF correlated positively with age. The CSF-to-serum PLP ratio and CSF-to-serum PL ratio were independent of age. Age-related changes in PLP, PL, and PA in serum and in CSF from pediatric patients and CSF-to-serum ratios of PLP and PL demonstrated in this study will provide valuable information for evaluating PLP supply to the central nervous system from the peripheral blood. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Release of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Poultry Litter Amended with Acidified Biochar

PubMed Central

Doydora, Sarah A.; Cabrera, Miguel L.; Das, Keshav C.; Gaskin, Julia W.; Sonon, Leticia S.; Miller, William P.

2011-01-01

Application of poultry litter (PL) to soil may lead to nitrogen (N) losses through ammonia (NH3) volatilization and to potential contamination of surface runoff with PL-derived phosphorus (P). Amending litter with acidified biochar may minimize these problems by decreasing litter pH and by retaining litter-derived P, respectively. This study evaluated the effect of acidified biochars from pine chips (PC) and peanut hulls (PH) on NH3 losses and inorganic N and P released from surface-applied or incorporated PL. Poultry litter with or without acidified biochars was surface-applied or incorporated into the soil and incubated for 21 d. Volatilized NH3 was determined by trapping it in acid. Inorganic N and P were determined by leaching the soil with 0.01 M of CaCl2 during the study and by extracting it with 1 M KCl after incubation. Acidified biochars reduced NH3 losses by 58 to 63% with surface-applied PL, and by 56 to 60% with incorporated PL. Except for PH biochar, which caused a small increase in leached NH4 +-N with incorporated PL, acidified biochars had no effect on leached or KCl-extractable inorganic N and P from surface-applied or incorporated PL. These results suggest that acidified biochars may decrease NH3 losses from PL but may not reduce the potential for P loss in surface runoff from soils receiving PL. PMID:21655132

Complete genome sequences of two highly divergent Japanese isolates of Plantago asiatica mosaic virus.

PubMed

Komatsu, Ken; Yamashita, Kazuo; Sugawara, Kota; Verbeek, Martin; Fujita, Naoko; Hanada, Kaoru; Uehara-Ichiki, Tamaki; Fuji, Shin-Ichi

2017-02-01

Plantago asiatica mosaic virus (PlAMV) is a member of the genus Potexvirus and has an exceptionally wide host range. It causes severe damage to lilies. Here we report on the complete nucleotide sequences of two new Japanese PlAMV isolates, one from the eudicot weed Viola grypoceras (PlAMV-Vi), and the other from the eudicot shrub Nandina domestica Thunb. (PlAMV-NJ). Their genomes contain five open reading frames (ORFs), which is characteristic of potexviruses. Surprisingly, the isolates showed only 76.0-78.0 % sequence identity with each other and with other PlAMV isolates, including isolates from Japanese lily and American nandina. Amino acid alignments of the replicase coding region encoded by ORF1 showed that the regions between the methyltransferase and helicase domains were less conserved than other regions, with several insertions and/or deletions. Phylogenetic analyses of the full-length nucleotide sequences revealed a moderate correlation between phylogenetic clustering and the original host plants of the PlAMV isolates. This study revealed the presence of two highly divergent PlAMV isolates in Japan.

Platelet lysate enhances synovial fluid multipotential stromal cells functions: Implications for therapeutic use.

PubMed

Altaie, Ala; Baboolal, Thomas G; Wall, Owen; Jones, Elena; McGonagle, Dennis

2018-03-01

Although intra-articular injection of platelet products is increasingly used for joint regenerative approaches, there are few data on their biological effects on joint-resident multipotential stromal cells (MSCs), which are directly exposed to the effects of these therapeutic strategies. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of platelet lysate (PL) on synovial fluid-derived MSCs (SF-MSCs), which in vivo have direct access to sites of cartilage injury. SF-MSCs were obtained during knee arthroscopic procedures (N = 7). Colony forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F), flow-cytometric phenotyping, carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester-based immunomodulation for T-cell and trilineage differentiation assays were performed using PL and compared with standard conditions. PL-enhanced SF-MSC (PL-MSC) proliferation as CFU-F colonies was 1.4-fold larger, and growing cultures had shorter population-doubling times. PL-MSCs and fetal calf serum (FCS)-MSCs had the same immunophenotype and similar immunomodulation activities. In chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation assays, PL-MSCs produced 10% more sulfated-glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) and 45% less Ca ++ compared with FCS-MSCs, respectively. Replacing chondrogenic medium transforming growth factor-β3 with 20% or 50% PL further increased sGAG production of PL-MSCs by 69% and 95%, respectively, compared with complete chondrogenic medium. Also, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium high glucose (HG-DMEM) plus 50% PL induced more chondrogenesis compared with HG-DMEM plus 10% FCS and was comparable to complete chondrogenic medium. This is the first study to assess SF-MSC responses to PL and provides biological support to the hypothesis that PL may be capable of modulating multiple functional aspects of joint resident MSCs with direct access to injured cartilage. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Synthetic and natural plagioclases: iron variations and its influence on VNIR reflectance spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carli, Cristian; Orlando, Andrea; Borini, Daniele; Giuli, Gabriele; Serventi, Giovanna; Pratesi, Giovanni; Sgavetti, Maria

2017-04-01

Besides being one of the most important rock-forming phases, plagioclase (pl) is a common surface mineral in several Solar System bodies. In particular, pl is present in meteorites and lunar samples, both in lunar Highland, where it is the dominant phase, and Maria samples. Moreover, pl has been detected in Martian meteorites, as well as in HEDs. In visible and near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance spectroscopy this phase is characterized by a crystal field (C.F.) absorption band in iron-bearing samples. In particular, Burns (1993) summarized the electronic absorptions due to iron, pointing out: 1) a broad absorption around 1.25 μm related to a C.F. transition due to Fe2+ replacing Ca2+ in seven-fold coordinated sites; 2) narrow absorptions around 0.4 μm related to tetrahedrally coordinated Fe3+ ions replacing Al in the tetrahedral sites. A better understanding of the spectral properties of Fe2+-pl can be an important tool to investigate the spectral influence of pl in regolith material in which it can be mixed with variable amount of other components with variable abundance. This goal can be reached working on synthetic pl with variable FeO and An contents, which must be well characterized to be sure about the attribution of absorption bands seen in reflectance spectra, as well as working on well characterized (in term of An, iron amount and Fe2+/Fe3+) terrestrial pl. Future rover mission will have onboard hyperspectral instrument working in the VNIR with relative high spatial resolution and, so, with the possibility of measured pl crystals. For this reason, working more in detail on iron bearing plagioclase can be an important task. Here, we present our results on synthetic An90 mol% pl with different iron contents (0, 0.5 and 1.0 FeO wt%) with the aim to investigate the effects of iron substitution on the VNIR spectra of pl. Reagent-grade oxides and carbonates reactants used as starting materials were thoroughly mixed to ensure homogeneity. Each experimental charge weighed about 200 mg. All the experiments have been carried out in a Deltech vertical gas-mixing (CO - CO2) quenching furnace equipped with an oxygen fugacity probe. Temperatures were in the 1395 - 1580 ˚ C range and run duration varied from 15 min to 48 hours. The synthesis procedure envisaged two stages: 1) preparation of a glass from the starting material at high temperature (1550 or 1580 ˚ C); 2) annealing at lower T (1395 ˚ C). The produced pl were grinded and sieved at about <100 μm, VNIR reflectance and EXAFS spectra have been acquired to define the reflectance spectra and the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio on each experiment. Moreover, the obtained products were characterized by several techniques such as optical microscopy, XRD, SEM, EMPA, to assess the pl-crystallinity and its chemical composition. Spectra collected on synthetic samples are compared with those of natural pl, and the broad 1.25gμm C.F. absorption parameters have been related to Fe2+ abundance and Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio. Reference: Burns, R.G., 1993. Mineralogical Applications of Crystal Field Theory. Cambridge University Press, 551 pp.

The relationship between periapical lesions and the serum levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and C-reactive protein in type 2 diabetic patients.

PubMed

Al-Zahrani, Mohammad S; Abozor, Basel M; Zawawi, Khalid H

2017-01-01

To investigate the relationship between the presence of periapical lesions (PL) and levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with type 2 diabetes.  Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between September 2013 and February 2015. Medical and dental history and Sociodemographic data were obtained from participants. Dental and periodontal examinations were conducted and blood samples were obtained to determine levels of HbA1c and CRP. The presence of PL was recorded from panoramic and periapical radiographs. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used for data analyses.  Results: One hundred patients were included; mean age was 48.9 ± 8.5 years. Of these patients, 14% had no PL, whereas 25% had one or 2 lesions, 32% had 3 or 4 lesions, and 29% had ≥5 PL. The mean HbA1c was 9.8% (± 2.5) mg/L and CRP was 6.9 mg/L (± 6.3). The presence of PL was significantly associated with a higher level of HbA1c independent of age, gender, probing depth, and plaque index (p=0.023). Individuals with PL were also more likely to have a high CRP level (greater than 3 mg/L) independent of the previous covariates (odds ratio: 1.19; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.41).  Conclusion: Periapical lesions are associated with a poorer glycemic control and a higher CRP level in type 2 diabetic patients.

The relationship between periapical lesions and the serum levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and C-reactive protein in type 2 diabetic patients

PubMed Central

Al-Zahrani, Mohammad S.; Abozor, Basel M.; Zawawi, Khalid H.

2017-01-01

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the presence of periapical lesions (PL) and levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between September 2013 and February 2015. Medical and dental history and Sociodemographic data were obtained from participants. Dental and periodontal examinations were conducted and blood samples were obtained to determine levels of HbA1c and CRP. The presence of PL was recorded from panoramic and periapical radiographs. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used for data analyses. Results: One hundred patients were included; mean age was 48.9 ± 8.5 years. Of these patients, 14% had no PL, whereas 25% had one or 2 lesions, 32% had 3 or 4 lesions, and 29% had ≥5 PL. The mean HbA1c was 9.8% (± 2.5) mg/L and CRP was 6.9 mg/L (± 6.3). The presence of PL was significantly associated with a higher level of HbA1c independent of age, gender, probing depth, and plaque index (p=0.023). Individuals with PL were also more likely to have a high CRP level (>3 mg/L) independent of the previous covariates (odds ratio: 1.19; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.41). Conclusion: Periapical lesions are associated with a poorer glycemic control and a higher CRP level in type 2 diabetic patients. PMID:28042628

Analytical validation of soluble fms-like tyrosine and placental growth factor assays on B·R·A·H·M·S KRYPTOR Compact Plus automated immunoassay platform.

PubMed

Chan, Siaw Li; Rana, Sarosh; Chinthala, Sireesha; Salahuddin, Saira; Yeo, Kiang-Teck J

2018-01-01

Preeclampsia is one of the leading hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Angiogenic biomarkers such as anti-angiogenic factor soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1) and pro-angiogenic factor placental growth factor (PlGF) are involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. The aim of this study is to validate the analytical performance of sFlt1 and PlGF on the B·R·A·H·M·S KRYPTOR Compact Plus (ThermoFisher Scientific). We examined K 2 -EDTA plasma samples from 50 patients on B·R·A·H·M·S KRYPTOR Compact Plus, an automated immunoassay platform. QC materials were used to assess intra- and inter-precision of the assay. Lower limit of quantitation and interference studies were determined using pooled patient plasma. The sFlt1 and PlGF assays demonstrated an analytical measuring range of 90-69,000 pg/mL and 11-7000 pg/mL, respectively (r 2  > 0.99). Lower limit of quantitation (20% CV) was interpolated to be 35 pg/mL for sFlt1 and 10 pg/mL for PlGF. Total precision for both assay displayed CVs of <10%. Interference studies showed that both assays were not significantly affected by hemolysis up to an H-index of 1100 for sFlt1 and 300 for PlGF; L- and I-index of 800 and 80 respectively for both assays. The Passing-Bablok regression analysis for sFlt1/PlGF yielded an equation of y = 1.05x + 0.02, and the Bland Altman analysis showed an average bias of 0.84. Plasma levels of sFlt1 and PlGF measured on the B·R·A·H·M·S KRYPTOR Compact Plus platform demonstrate excellent analytical performance and are acceptable as clinical grade assays. Copyright © 2018 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sprouting characteristics and associated changes in nutritional composition of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata).

PubMed

Devi, Chingakham Basanti; Kushwaha, Archana; Kumar, Anil

2015-10-01

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), is an important arid legume with a good source of energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. Sprouting of legumes enhances the bioavailability and digestibility of nutrients and therefore plays an important role in human nutrition. Improved varieties of grain cowpea viz. Pant Lobia-1 (PL-1) and Pant Lobia-2 (PL-2) and Pant Lobia-3 (PL-3) were examined for sprouting characteristics and associated changes in nutritional quality. Soaking time, sprouting time and sprouting temperature combinations for desirable sprout length of ¼ to ½ inch for cowpea seed samples were standardized. All the observations were taken in triplicate except soaking time, where six observations were taken in a completely randomized design of three treatments. Results revealed that optimum soaking time of PL-1 and PL-2 seed was 3 h whereas PL-3 required 9 h. Sprouting period of 24 h at 25 °C was found to be desirable for obtaining good sprouts. Significant improvement in nutritional quality was observed after sprouting at 25 °C for 24 h; protein increased by 9-12 %, vitamin C increased by 4-38 times, phytic acid decreased by 4-16 times, trypsin inhibitor activity decreased by 28-55 % along with an increase of 8-20 % in in-vitro protein digestibility.

Diagnosis of preeclampsia with soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1/placental growth factor ratio: an inter-assay comparison.

PubMed

Andersen, Louise Bjørkholt; Frederiksen-Møller, Britta; Work Havelund, Kathrine; Dechend, Ralf; Jørgensen, Jan Stener; Jensen, Boye L; Nielsen, Jan; Lykkedegn, Sine; Barington, Torben; Christesen, Henrik Thybo

2015-02-01

The angiogenic factor ratio soluble Fms-kinase 1 (sFlt-1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) is a novel diagnostic tool for preeclampsia. We compared the efficacy of the KRYPTOR (BRAHMS) automated assays for sFlt-1 and PlGF with the Elecsys (Roche) assays in a routine clinical setting. Preeclamptic women (n = 39) were included shortly after the time of diagnosis. Normotensive control pregnancies were matched by gestational age (n = 76). The KRYPTOR assays performed comparably or superior to Elecsys (sFlt-1/PlGF area under the curve 0.746 versus 0.735; P = .09; for non-obese 0.820 versus 0.805, P = .047). For early-onset preeclampsia, KRYPTOR area under the curve increased to 0.929 with a 100% specificity for preeclampsia at cut-off 85 and an 88.9% sensitivity for preeclampsia at cut-off 33. For women with preeclampsia and preterm delivery or Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count (HELLP) syndrome, the KRYPTOR sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was manifold increased (P < .01). The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio proved especially useful in early-onset preeclampsia, preeclampsia with preterm delivery or HELLP, and among non-obese women. Copyright © 2015 American Society of Hypertension. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Assessing the neurotoxic effects of palytoxin and ouabain, both Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase inhibitors, on the myelinated sciatic nerve fibres of the mouse: an ex vivo electrophysiological study.

PubMed

Kagiava, Alexia; Aligizaki, Katerina; Katikou, Panagiota; Nikolaidis, Georgios; Theophilidis, George

2012-03-01

Palytoxin (PlTX) is a marine toxin originally isolated from the zoantharians of the genus Palythoa. It is considered to be one of the most lethal marine toxins that block the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. This study was designed to investigate the acute effects of PlTX and ouabain, also an Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase blocker, on the mammalian peripheral nervous system using an ex vivo electrophysiological preparation: the isolated mouse sciatic nerve. Amplitude of the evoked nerve compound action potential (nCAP) was used to measure the proper functioning of the sciatic nerve fibres. The half-vitality time of the nerve fibres (the time required to inhibit the nCAP to 50% of its initial value: IT₅₀) incubated in normal saline was 24.5 ± 0.40 h (n = 5). Nerves incubated continuously in 50.0, 10.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.250 and 0.125 nM of PlTX had an IT₅₀ of 0.06 ± 0.00, 0.51 ± 0.00, 2.1 ± 0.10, 8.9 ± 0.30, 15.1 ± 0.30 h, and 19.5 ± 0.20 h, respectively (n = 5, 3, 4, 4, 10). PlTX was extremely toxic to the sciatic nerve fibres, with a minimum effective concentration (mEC) of 0.125 nM (n = 5) and inhibitory concentration to 50% (IC₅₀) of 0.32 ± 0.08 nM (incubation time 24 h). Ouabain was far less toxic, with a mEC of 250.0 μM (n = 5) and IC₅₀ of 370.0 ± 18.00 μM (incubation 24.5 h). Finally, when the two compounds were combined--e.g. pre-incubation of the nerve fibre in 250.0 μM ouabain for 1 h and then exposure to 1.0 nM PlTX--ouabain offered minor a neuroprotection of 9.1-17.6% against PlTX-induced neurotoxicity. Higher concentrations of ouabain (500.0 μM) offered no protection. The mouse sciatic nerve preparation is a simple and low-cost bioassay that can be used to assess and quantify the neurotoxic effects of standard PlTX or PlTX-like compounds, since it appears to have the same sensitivity as the haemolysis of erythrocytes assay--the standard ex vivo test for PlTX toxicity. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new procedure to produce lignocellulosic anion exchangers from agricultural waste materials.

PubMed

Orlando, U S; Baes, A U; Nishijima, W; Okada, M

2002-07-01

Two lignocellulosic agricultural waste materials (LCM), sugarcane bagasse (BG) and rice hull (RH), were converted into weak-base anion exchanger and evaluated for their exchanger capacity for nitrate. Pure cellulose (PC) and pure alkaline lignin (PL) were also used as reference materials to elucidate possible reactivity in LCM. Epoxy and amino groups were introduced into BG, RH, PC and PL substrates after the reaction with epichlorohydrin and dimethylamine in the presence of pyridine and an organic solvent N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Amino group incorporation into cellulose decreased with the presence of water in the reaction mixture and increased with the reaction time and presence of a catalyst (pyridine). The highest maximum nitrate exchange capacity (Qmax) and yields of the prepared exchangers was obtained from PL (1.8 mmol g(-1) and 412.5%), followed by BG (1.41 mmol g(-1) and 300%), PC (1.34 mmol g(-1) and 166%) and RH (1.32 mmol g(-1) and 180%). The proposed synthetic procedure was effective in modifying PL, PC and LCM chemically resulting in a higher yield and nitrate removal capacity.

Effects of doxycycline on serum and endometrial levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in women using a levonorgestrel-releasing subcutaneous implant.

PubMed

Zhao, Shumei; Choksuchat, Chainarong; Zhao, Yueqin; Ballagh, Susan A; Kovalevsky, George A; Archer, David F

2009-06-01

Endometrial spotting and/or bleeding (ESB) occurs in levonorgestrel subcutaneous implant (LNG SI) users. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may play a role in ESB. Women between 18 and 40 years with regular menstrual cycles had a baseline evaluation followed by LNG SI insertion and randomization to doxycycline (DOX; 20 mg) or placebo (PL) twice a day. MMP-2, MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of MMP-1 (TIMP-1) in serum and the endometrium were estimated at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months after insertion. LNG increased serum MMP-9, while DOX decreased MMP-9 levels compared to PL after 1 month (p<.05). DOX decreased endometrial MMP-9 at 1 and 6 months compared to baseline and PL (p<.05). DOX increased endometrial TIMP-1 at 6 months compared with baseline and PL (p<.05). MMP-2 levels were unchanged. LNG SI increased serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels, while DOX decreased both serum and endometrial MMP-9 levels.

Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 Inactivation, Color, and Bioactive Compounds Enhancement on Raspberries during Frozen Storage after Decontamination Using New Formula Sanitizer Washing or Pulsed Light.

PubMed

Xu, Wenqing; Chen, Haiqiang; Wu, Changqing

2016-07-01

Berries are normally washed before they are frozen. Washing with sanitizer and treatment with pulsed light (PL) were studied for their effectiveness to inactivate foodborne pathogens on raspberries during frozen storage, while maintaining or enhancing major quality parameters. Raspberries were inoculated with Salmonella or Escherichia coli O157:H7 and then underwent a washing treatment with citric acid plus sodium dodecyl sulfate (CA+SDS) or citric acid plus thymol (CA+THY) or treatment with PL (dry PL, water-assisted [wet] PL, and PL-SDS). Pathogen survival was determined immediately after treatments and during frozen storage at -20°C for 3 months. Washing with CA+SDS or CA+THY significantly reduced Salmonella (by 3.6 and 3.2 log CFU/g, respectively) and E. coli O157:H7 (by 4.1 and 3.7 log CFU/g, respectively). At the end of storage, washing with CA+SDS reduced Salmonella to 0.6 log CFU/g and E. coli O157:H7 to 0.5 log CFU/g; washing with CA+THY reduced Salmonella to 0.9 log CFU/g and E. coli O157:H7 to 0.5 log CFU/g. PL-SDS showed decontamination efficacy on raspberries, with 0.7 log CFU/g Salmonella and 0.9 log CFU/g E. coli O157:H7 surviving at the end of storage; in comparison, in the control, 1.6 log CFU/g Salmonella and 1.5 log CFU/g E. coli O157:H7 survived. Pathogen survival in raspberries that had been washed or treated with PL-SDS was significantly lower than in untreated raspberries. Major quality parameters, including color, total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, total bacterial count, and total yeast and mold counts, were evaluated on raspberries immediately after treatments and during frozen storage. Redness increased in PL-treated raspberries. At the end of storage, PL-treated raspberries had significantly higher total phenolic content and total anthocyanin content compared with control samples. Washing with sanitizers and treatment with PL decreased the total bacterial count and total yeast and mold counts on raspberries and maintained the low counts. Our findings suggest that washing with a sanitizer or treatment with PL could be used to process frozen raspberries for enhanced food safety and quality.

A Note on the Item Information Function of the Four-Parameter Logistic Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Magis, David

2013-01-01

This article focuses on four-parameter logistic (4PL) model as an extension of the usual three-parameter logistic (3PL) model with an upper asymptote possibly different from 1. For a given item with fixed item parameters, Lord derived the value of the latent ability level that maximizes the item information function under the 3PL model. The…

Enhancement of ε-poly-lysine production in ε-poly-lysine-tolerant Streptomyces sp. by genome shuffling.

PubMed

Zhou, Yong-Peng; Ren, Xi-Dong; Wang, Liang; Chen, Xu-Sheng; Mao, Zhong-Gui; Tang, Lei

2015-09-01

ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) has been widely used as food additive. However, the self-inhibition of ε-PL on cell growth limits the accumulation of ε-PL in the wild-type strain. Here, we screened ε-PL-tolerant strain of Streptomyces sp. with higher ε-PL productivity by genome shuffling and studied the mechanism for the improvement. The initial mutant library was constructed by diethyl sulfate mutagenesis. After four rounds of protoplast fusion, a shuffled strain F4-22 with 3.11 g/L ε-PL productivity in shake flask, 1.81-fold in comparison with that of parent strain, was obtained. The higher aspartokinase activity was induced in F4-22 whereas no obvious changes have been found in ε-PL synthetic and degrading enzymes which indicated that the upstream reregulation of the precursor lysine synthesis rather than lysine polymerization or ε-PL degradation in shuffled strain accounted for the higher productivity. The activities of key enzymes in the central metabolic pathway were also enhanced in F4-22 which resulted in increased vigor of the strain and in delayed strain lysis during fermentation. These improved properties of shuffled strain led to the success of combining general two-stage fermentation into one-stage one in 5-L bioreactor with 32.7 % more ε-PL production than that of parent strain. The strategy used in this study provided a novel strain breeding approach of producers which suffered from ε-PL-like self-inhibition of the metabolites.

Frequency of palmaris longus absence and its association with other anatomical variations in the Egyptian population.

PubMed

Raouf, Hoda Abdel; Kader, Ghada Abdel; Jaradat, Ahmed; Dharap, Amol; Fadel, Raouf; Salem, Abdel Halim

2013-07-01

The palmaris longus (PL) is one of the most variable muscles in the human body. Racial differences in its variation have been documented. Several studies have attempted to correlate PL absence with other anatomical variations. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of absence of PL, correlate it with gender and body side and to determine its association with other anatomical variations in the Egyptian population. The presence of PL was clinically determined in 386 Egyptians using the standard technique. All subjects were examined for the presence of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) to the fifth finger. Allen's test was done to assess the completeness of the superficial palmar arch (SPA). The overall prevalence of absence of the PL in Egyptian subjects was 50.8%. There was no significant difference in PL absence with regard to the body side but a significant difference was seen as regards gender and when bilateral absence of PL was compared to its unilateral absence. Absence of FDS tendon to the fifth finger was seen in 1.3% subjects. There was no association between the absence of the FDS tendon to the fifth finger and either presence or absence of PL and also between the absence of PL and the incompleteness of SPA in both genders. In conclusion, the prevalence of absence of PL in the Egyptian population represents one of the highest rates of absence to be reported for this muscle, which is significantly different from that in other ethnic groups. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Intracellular Drug Bioavailability: Effect of Neutral Lipids and Phospholipids.

PubMed

Treyer, Andrea; Mateus, André; Wiśniewski, Jacek R; Boriss, Hinnerk; Matsson, Pär; Artursson, Per

2018-06-04

Intracellular unbound drug concentrations are the pharmacologically relevant concentrations for targets inside cells. Intracellular drug concentrations are determined by multiple processes, including the extent of drug binding to intracellular structures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of neutral lipid (NL) and phospholipid (PL) levels on intracellular drug disposition. The NL and/or PL content of 3T3-L1 cells were enhanced, resulting in phenotypes (in terms of morphology and proteome) reminiscent of adipocytes (high NL and PL) or mild phospholipidosis (only high PL). Intracellular bioavailability ( F ic ) was then determined for 23 drugs in these cellular models and in untreated wild-type cells. A higher PL content led to higher intracellular drug binding and a lower F ic . The induction of NL did not further increase drug binding but led to altered F ic due to increased lysosomal pH. Further, there was a good correlation between binding to beads coated with pure PL and intracellular drug binding. In conclusion, our results suggest that PL content is a major determinant of drug binding in cells and that PL beads may constitute a simple alternative to estimating this parameter. Further, the presence of massive amounts of intracellular NLs did not influence drug binding significantly.

Efficient long wavelength interband photoluminescence from HgCdTe epitaxial films at wavelengths up to 26 μm

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

Morozov, S. V.; Rumyantsev, V. V., E-mail: rumyantsev@ipmras.ru; Antonov, A. V.

2014-02-17

Photoluminescence (PL) and photoconductivity (PC) studies of Hg{sub 1−x}Cd{sub x}Te (0.19 ≤ x ≤ 0.23) epitaxial films are presented. Interband PL is observed at wavelengths from 26 to 6 μm and in the temperature range 18 K–200 K. The PL line full width at half maximum is about 6 meV (4kT) at 18 K and approaches its theoretical limit of 1.8kT at higher temperatures. Carrier recombination process is also investigated by time resolved studies of PL and PC at pulsed excitation. Radiative transitions are shown to be the dominating mechanism of carrier recombination at high excitation levels.

Impact of extended defects on recombination in CdTe heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaunbrecher, Katherine N.; Kuciauskas, Darius; Swartz, Craig H.; Dippo, Pat; Edirisooriya, Madhavie; Ogedengbe, Olanrewaju S.; Sohal, Sandeep; Hancock, Bobby L.; LeBlanc, Elizabeth G.; Jayathilaka, Pathiraja A. R. D.; Barnes, Teresa M.; Myers, Thomas H.

2016-08-01

Heterostructures with CdTe and CdTe1-xSex (x ˜ 0.01) absorbers between two wider-band-gap Cd1-xMgxTe barriers (x ˜ 0.25-0.3) were grown by molecular beam epitaxy to study carrier generation and recombination in bulk materials with passivated interfaces. Using a combination of confocal photoluminescence (PL), time-resolved PL, and low-temperature PL emission spectroscopy, two extended defect types were identified and the impact of these defects on charge-carrier recombination was analyzed. The dominant defects identified by confocal PL were dislocations in samples grown on (211)B CdTe substrates and crystallographic twinning-related defects in samples on (100)-oriented InSb substrates. Low-temperature PL shows that twin-related defects have a zero-phonon energy of 1.460 eV and a Huang-Rhys factor of 1.50, while dislocation-dominated samples have a 1.473-eV zero-phonon energy and a Huang-Rhys factor of 1.22. The charge carrier diffusion length near both types of defects is ˜6 μm, suggesting that recombination is limited by diffusion dynamics. For heterostructures with a low concentration of extended defects, the bulk lifetime was determined to be 2.2 μs with an interface recombination velocity of 160 cm/s and an estimated radiative lifetime of 91 μs.

Impact of extended defects on recombination in CdTe heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy

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

Zaunbrecher, Katherine N.; Kuciauskas, Darius; Swartz, Craig H.

Heterostructures with CdTe and CdTe 1-xSex (x ~ 0.01) absorbers between two wider-band-gap Cd1-xMgxTe barriers (x ~ 0.25-0.3) were grown by molecular beam epitaxy to study carrier generation and recombination in bulk materials with passivated interfaces. Using a combination of confocal photoluminescence (PL), time-resolved PL, and low-temperature PL emission spectroscopy, two extended defect types were identified and the impact of these defects on charge-carrier recombination was analyzed. The dominant defects identified by confocal PL were dislocations in samples grown on (211)B CdTe substrates and crystallographic twinning-related defects in samples on (100)-oriented InSb substrates. Low-temperature PL shows that twin-related defects havemore » a zero-phonon energy of 1.460 eV and a Huang-Rhys factor of 1.50, while dislocation-dominated samples have a 1.473-eV zero-phonon energy and a Huang-Rhys factor of 1.22. The charge carrier diffusion length near both types of defects is ~6 um, suggesting that recombination is limited by diffusion dynamics. For heterostructures with a low concentration of extended defects, the bulk lifetime was determined to be 2.2 us with an interface recombination velocity of 160 cm/s and an estimated radiative lifetime of 91 us.« less

Loading of free radicals on the functional graphene combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry screening method for the detection of radical-scavenging natural antioxidants.

PubMed

Wang, Guoying; Shi, Gaofeng; Chen, Xuefu; Chen, Fuwen; Yao, Ruixing; Wang, Zhenju

2013-11-13

A novel free radical reaction combined with liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (FRR-LC-PDA-ESI/APCI-MS/MS) screening method was developed for the detection and identification of radical-scavenging natural antioxidants. Functionalized graphene was prepared by chemical method for loading free radicals (superoxide radical, peroxyl radical and PAHs free radical). Separation was performed with and without a preliminary exposure of the sample to specific free radicals on the functionalized graphene, which can facilitate reaction kinetics (charge transfers) between free radicals and potential antioxidants. The difference in chromatographic peak areas is used to identify potential antioxidants. The structure of the antioxidants in one sample (Swertia chirayita) is identified using MS/MS and comparison with standards. Thirteen compounds were found to possess potential antioxidant activity, and their free radical-scavenging capacities were investigated. The thirteen compounds were identified as 1,3,5-trihydroxyxanthone-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (PD1), norswertianin (PD2), 1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (PD3), 3, 3', 4', 5, 8-penta hydroxyflavone-6-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid-6'-pentopyranose-7-O-glucopyranoside (PD4), 1,5,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (PD5), swertiamarin (PS1), 2-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,7-trihydroxylxanthone (PS2), 1,3,7-trihydroxylxanthone-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (PL1), 1,3,8-trihydroxyl xanthone-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (PL2), 1,3,7-trihydroxy-8-methoxyxanthone (PL3), 1,2,3-trihydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyxanthone (PL4), 1,8-dihydroxy-2,6-dimethoxy xanthone (PL5) and 1,3,5,8-tetramethoxydecussatin (PL6). The reactivity and SC50 values of those compounds were investigated, respectively. PD4 showed the strongest capability for scavenging PAHs free radical; PL4 showed prominent scavenging capacities in the lipid peroxidation processes; it was found that all components in S. chirayita exhibited weak reactivity in the superoxide radical scavenging capacity. The use of the free radical reaction screening method based on LC-PDA-ESI/APCI-MS/MS would provide a new approach for rapid detection and identification of radical-scavenging natural antioxidants from complex matrices. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Senescence and quiescence in adipose-derived stromal cells: Effects of human platelet lysate, fetal bovine serum and hypoxia.

PubMed

Søndergaard, Rebekka Harary; Follin, Bjarke; Lund, Lisbeth Drozd; Juhl, Morten; Ekblond, Annette; Kastrup, Jens; Haack-Sørensen, Mandana

2017-01-01

Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) are attractive sources for cell-based therapies. The hypoxic niche of ASCs in vivo implies that cells will benefit from hypoxia during in vitro expansion. Human platelet lysate (hPL) enhances ASC proliferation rates, compared with fetal bovine serum (FBS) at normoxia. However, the low proliferation rates of FBS-expanded ASCs could be signs of senescence or quiescence. We aimed to determine the effects of hypoxia and hPL on the expansion of ASCs and whether FBS-expanded ASCs are senescent or quiescent. ASCs expanded in FBS or hPL at normoxia or hypoxia until passage 7 (P7), or in FBS until P5 followed by culture in hPL until P7, were evaluated by proliferation rates, cell cycle analyses, gene expression and β-galactosidase activity. hPL at normoxia and hypoxia enhanced proliferation rates and expression of cyclins, and decreased G0/G1 fractions and expression of p21 and p27, compared with FBS. The shift from FBS to hPL enhanced cyclin levels, decreased p21 and p27 levels and tended to decrease G0/G1 fractions. Hypoxia does not add to the effect of hPL during ASC expansion with regard to proliferation, cell cycle regulation and expression of cyclins, p21 and p27. hPL rejuvenates FBS-expanded ASCs with regard to cell cycle regulation and expression of cyclins, p21 and p27. This indicates a reversible arrest. Therefore, we conclude that ASCs expanded until P7 are not senescent regardless of culture conditions. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Non-methylene interrupted and hydroxy fatty acids in polar lipids of the alga Grateloupia turuturu over the four seasons.

PubMed

Kendel, Melha; Barnathan, Gilles; Fleurence, Joël; Rabesaotra, Vony; Wielgosz-Collin, Gaëtane

2013-05-01

Phospholipids (PL) and glycolipids (GL) FA in the edible Rhodophyta Grateloupia turuturu, from Brittany, France, were investigated over four seasons. The major lipid class was GL in all seasons (around 45 %). More than 80 FA occurred in polar lipids, with chains from C12 to C26, identified as methyl esters and N-acyl pyrrolidides by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). PUFA occurred at up to 47.1 % (summer) in PL, and up to 43.6 % (summer) in GL. The major PUFA were 20:5n-3 (12.2 % in PL and 29.0 % in GL) and 20:4n-6 (25.6 % in PL and 10.4 % in GL). The unusual 18:3n-7 acid was identified in PL up to 2.2 %. Several minor unsaturated FA were identified in PL and are previously unreported in seaweeds, namely 14-tricosenoic, 15-tetracosenoic, 5,11-octadecadienoic and 5,9-nonadecadienoic. Also unprecedented in seaweeds, ten 2-hydroxy and three 3-hydroxy FA occurred mainly in PL, 13.9 % in spring with the 3-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid as the major one (8.1 % winter). Three n-9 monounsaturated 2-hydroxy FA occurred in PL. The 2-hydroxy-15-tetracosenoic acid was characterized as the dimethyl disulfide adduct of its methyl ester. The 2-hydroxy-16-pentacosenoic and 2-hydroxy-17-hexacosenoic acids were identified by comparison of mass spectra and GC mobilities with those of the 2-hydroxy-15-tetracosenoic acid, and of other homogeneous FA series. These rare n-9 monounsaturated 2-hydroxy FA are unprecedented in seaweeds.

Benefits of oral Polypodium Leucotomos extract in MM high-risk patients.

PubMed

Aguilera, P; Carrera, C; Puig-Butille, J A; Badenas, C; Lecha, M; González, S; Malvehy, J; Puig, S

2013-09-01

UV radiation and the presence of melanocytic nevi are the main risk factors of sporadic melanoma (MM). Protection of skin by an oral photoprotective agent would have substantial benefits. We investigated the possible role of an oral Polypodium leucotomos (PL) extract to improve systemic photoprotection in patients at risk of skin cancer analyzing the ability to decrease UV-induced erythema. We also studied the interaction among MC1R polymorphisms and CDKN2A status with the minimal erythematous dose (MED) and their influence in the response after oral PL. A total of 61 patients (25 with familial and/or multiple MM, 20 with sporadic MM and 16 with atypical mole syndrome without history of MM) were exposed to varying doses of artificial UVB radiation without and after oral administration of a total dose of 1080 mg of PL. Oral PL treatment significantly increased the MED mean in all group patients (0.123 to 0.161 J/cm(2) , p<0.05). Although not significant, we noticed a stronger effect of PL on the MED of patients with familial MM compared to those with MM (U=273, p=0.06). Among the patients with familial MM, those exhibiting a mutated CDKN2A and/or polymorphisms in MC1R had the bigger differences in response to treatment with PL. Reduced number of patients. No control population. Administration of PL leads to a significant reduction of sensitivity to UVR (p<0.05) in all patients. Dark-eye patients and patients with higher UVR sensibility (lower basal MED) would be the most benefited from oral PL treatment. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2012 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Prefrontal single-unit firing associated with deficient extinction in mice

PubMed Central

Fitzgerald, Paul J; Whittle, Nigel; Flynn, Shaun M; Graybeal, Carolyn; Pinard, Courtney; Gunduz-Cinar, Ozge; Kravitz, Alexxai; Singewald, Nicolas; Holmes, Andrew

2014-01-01

The neural circuitry mediating fear extinction has been increasingly well studied and delineated. The rodent infralimbic subregion (IL) of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) has been found to promote extinction, whereas the prelimbic cortex (PL) demonstrates an opposing, pro-fear, function. Studies employing in vivo electrophysiological recordings have observed that while increased IL single-unit firing and bursting predicts robust extinction retrieval, increased PL firing can correlate with sustained fear and poor extinction. These relationships between single-unit firing and extinction do not hold under all experimental conditions, however. In the current study, we further investigated the relationship between vmPFC and PL single-unit firing and extinction using inbred mouse models of intact (C57BL/6J, B6) and deficient (129S1/SvImJ, S1) extinction strains. Simultaneous single-unit recordings were made in the PL and vmPFC (encompassing IL) as B6 and S1 mice performed extinction training and retrieval. Impaired extinction retrieval in S1 mice was associated with elevated PL single-unit firing, as compared to firing in extinguishing B6 mice, consistent with the hypothesized pro-fear contribution of PL. Analysis of local field potentials also revealed significantly higher gamma power in the PL of Sthan B6 mice during extinction training and retrieval. In the vmPFC, impaired extinction in S1 mice was also associated with exaggerated single-unit firing, relative to B6 mice. This is in apparent contradiction to evidence that IL activity promotes extinction, but could reflect a (failed) compensatory effort by the vmPFC to mitigate fear-promoting activity in other regions, such as the PL or amygdala. In support of this hypothesis, augmenting IL activity via direct infusion of the GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin rescued impaired extinction retrieval in S1 mice. Chronic fluoxetine treatment produced modest reductions in fear during extinction retrieval and increased the number of Zif268-labeled cells in layer II of IL, but failed to increase vmPFC single-unit firing. Collectively, these findings further support the important contribution these cortical regions play in determining the balance between robust extinction on the one hand, and sustained fear on the other. Elucidating the precise nature of these roles could help inform understanding of the pathophysiology of fear-related anxiety disorders. PMID:24231425

The preparation and characterization of La doped TiO 2 nanoparticles and their photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liqiang, Jing; Xiaojun, Sun; Baifu, Xin; Baiqi, Wang; Weimin, Cai; Honggang, Fu

2004-10-01

In this paper, pure and La doped TiO2 nanoparticles with different La content were prepared by a sol-gel process using Ti (OC4H9)4 as raw material, and also were characterized by XRD, TG-DTA, TEM, XPS, DRS and Photoluminescence (PL) spectra. We mainly investigated the effects of calcining temperature and La content on the properties and the photocatalytic activity for degrading phenol of as-prepared TiO2 samples, and also discussed the relationships between PL spectra and photocatalytic activity as well as the mechanisms of La doping on TiO2 phase transformation. The results showed that La3+ did not enter into the crystal lattices of TiO2 and was uniformly dispersed onto TiO2 as the form of La2O3 particles with small size, which possibly made La dopant have a great inhibition on TiO2 phase transformation; La dopant did not give rise to a new PL signal, but it could improve the intensity of PL spectra with a appropriate La content, which was possibly attributed to the increase in the content of surface oxygen vacancies and defects after doping La; La doped TiO2 nanoparticles calcined at 600°C exhibited higher photocatalytic activity, indicating that 600°C was an appropriate calcination temperature. The order of photocatalytic activity of La doped TiO2 samples with different La content was as following: 1>1.5>3>0.5>5>0 mol%, which was the same as the order of their PL intensity, namely, the stronger the PL intensity, the higher the photocatalytic activity, demonstrating that there were certain relationships between PL spectra and photocatalytic activity. This could be explained by the points that PL spectra mainly resulted from surface oxygen vacancies and defects during the process of PL, while surface oxygen vacancies and defects could be favorable in capturing the photoinduced electrons during the process of photocatalytic reactions.

The effects of platelet lysate patches on the activity of tendon-derived cells.

PubMed

Costa-Almeida, Raquel; Franco, Albina R; Pesqueira, Tamagno; Oliveira, Mariana B; Babo, Pedro S; Leonor, Isabel B; Mano, João F; Reis, Rui L; Gomes, Manuela E

2018-03-01

Platelet-derived biomaterials are widely explored as cost-effective sources of therapeutic factors, holding a strong potential for endogenous regenerative medicine. Particularly for tendon repair, treatment approaches that shift the injury environment are explored to accelerate tendon regeneration. Herein, genipin-crosslinked platelet lysate (PL) patches are proposed for the delivery of human-derived therapeutic factors in patch augmentation strategies aiming at tendon repair. Developed PL patches exhibited a controlled release profile of PL proteins, including bFGF and PDGF-BB. Additionally, PL patches exhibited an antibacterial effect by preventing the adhesion, proliferation and biofilm formation by S. aureus, a common pathogen in orthopaedic surgical site infections. Furthermore, these patches supported the activity of human tendon-derived cells (hTDCs). Cells were able to proliferate over time and an up-regulation of tenogenic genes (SCX, COL1A1 and TNC) was observed, suggesting that PL patches may modify the behavior of hTDCs. Accordingly, hTDCs deposited tendon-related extracellular matrix proteins, namely collagen type I and tenascin C. In summary, PL patches can act as a reservoir of biomolecules derived from PL and support the activity of native tendon cells, being proposed as bioinstructive patches for tendon regeneration. Platelet-derived biomaterials hold great interest for the delivery of therapeutic factors for applications in endogenous regenerative medicine. In the particular case of tendon repair, patch augmentation strategies aiming at shifting the injury environment are explored to improve tendon regeneration. In this study, PL patches were developed with remarkable features, including the controlled release of growth factors and antibacterial efficacy. Remarkably, PL patches supported the activity of native tendon cells by up-regulating tenogenic genes and enabling the deposition of ECM proteins. This patch holds great potential towards simultaneously reducing post-implantation surgical site infections and promoting tendon regeneration for prospective in vivo applications. Copyright © 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Activity in prelimbic cortex is required for adjusting the anxiety response level during the elevated plus-maze retest.

PubMed

Stern, C A J; Do Monte, F H M; Gazarini, L; Carobrez, A P; Bertoglio, L J

2010-09-29

The prelimbic (PL) subregion of medial prefrontal cortex has been implicated in anxiety regulation. It is unknown, however, whether PL cortex also serves to fine-tuning the level of anxiety-related behavior exhibited on the next exposure to the same potentially threatening situation. To address this, we infused cobalt (1.0 mM) to temporarily inactivate the PL cortex during testing, post-testing or retesting in the elevated plus-maze (EPM). This protocol was chosen because it allowed us to concurrently investigate anxiety and the process of aversive learning and memory. PL cortex inactivation during the EPM testing increased the exploration of open-arms, substantiating its role in anxiety. PL cortex inactivation during the EPM retesting counteracted the further avoidance to open-arms exhibited by rats. Interestingly, as evidenced by min-by-min analysis, the cobalt-treated group behaved on EPM retesting as did the vehicle-treated group on EPM testing. This result may imply that activity in PL cortex is necessary for retrieving previously learned information that adjusts the anxiety response level on EPM retesting. Alternatively, a simple reduction in anxiety could explain the cobalt-induced increase in retest open-arms exploration. Neither test nor post-test PL cortex inactivation affected the further avoidance to open-arms observed on EPM retesting. To extend the investigation of PL cortex role in the regulation of open-arms avoidance, we infused other drugs prior to testing or retesting in the EPM. Antagonism of PL cortex adrenergic beta-1 receptors with atenolol (10 nmol), cholinergic muscarinic receptors with scopolamine (20 nmol) or glutamatergic N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors with AP5 (6.0 nmol) interfered with the level of open-arms exploration on testing, but not on retesting. Copyright 2010 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of the Distribution of Unsaturated Fatty Acids at the Sn-2 Position of Phospholipids and Triacylglycerols in Marine Fishes and Mammals.

PubMed

Beppu, Fumiaki; Yasuda, Keiko; Okada, Ayako; Hirosaki, Yoshitsugu; Okazaki, Masako; Gotoh, Naohiro

2017-11-01

Highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) binding at the sn-2 position of phospholipids (PL) becomes a resource for prostaglandin, leukotriene, resolvin, and protectin synthesis. Both triacylglycerol (TAG) and PL synthesis pathways in vivo are via phosphatidic acid; therefore, the distribution of fatty acid species at the sn-2 position must theoretically be the same for TAG and PL if rearrangement does not occur. However, it is known that little HUFA is located at the sn-2 position of TAG in marine mammals. Therefore, distribution of fatty acid species at the sn-2 position of TAG and PL was compared between marine fishes and mammals in this study. The composition of fatty acids binding at the sn-2 or sn-1,3 position of PL and TAG was analyzed via hydrolysis with enzymes and GC-FID. The results showed that 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, and 22:6n-3 were primarily located at the sn-1,3 positions of TAG in marine mammals. Comparison of the binding positions of HUFA and 16:0 in PL and TAG suggested the existence of Lands' cycle in marine fishes and mammals. In conclusion, both marine fishes and mammals condensed HUFA as a source of eicosanoid at the sn-2 position of PL. Furthermore, abundance ratios for 22:5n-3 or 22:6n-3 at the sn-2 position (sn-2 ratio) in TAG and PL (calculated by the equation: [abundance ratio at sn-2 position of TAG]/[abundance ratio at sn-2 position of PL]) was less than 0.35 in marine mammals; however, it was greater than 0.80 in marine fishes. These differences suggested that the HUFA consisted of 22 carbon atoms and had different roles in marine fishes and mammals.

Distribution of fatty acids from dietary oils into phospholipid classes of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins in healthy subjects.

PubMed

Abia, Rocio; Pacheco, Yolanda M; Montero, Emilio; Ruiz-Gutierrez, Valentina; Muriana, Francisco J G

2003-02-21

Several studies have suggested that lipoprotein metabolism can be affected by lipoprotein phospholipid composition. We investigated the effect of virgin olive oil (VOO) and high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) intake on the distribution of fatty acids in triacylglycerols (TG), cholesteryl esters (CE) and phospholipid (PL) classes of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (TRL) from normolipidemic males throughout a 7 h postprandial metabolism. Particularly, changes in oleic acid (18:1n-9) concentration of PL were used as a marker of in vivo hydrolysis of TRL external monolayer. Both oils equally promoted the incorporation of oleic acid into the TG and CE of postprandial TRL. However, PL was enriched in oleic acid (18:1n-9) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) after VOO meal, whereas in stearic (18:0) and linoleic (18:2n-6) acids after HOSO meal. We also found that VOO produced TRL which PL 18:1n-9 content was dramatically reduced along the postprandial period. We conclude that the fatty acid composition of PL can be a crucial determinant for the clearance of TRL during the postprandial metabolism of fats.

Choriodecidual Cells from Term Human Pregnancies Show Distinctive Functional Properties Related to the Induction of Labor

PubMed Central

Castillo-Castrejon, Marisol; Meraz-Cruz, Noemí; Gomez-Lopez, Nardhy; Flores-Pliego, Arturo; Beltrán-Montoya, Jorge; Viveros-Alcaráz, Martín; Vadillo-Ortega, Felipe

2014-01-01

Problem Human parturition is associated with an intrauterine pro-inflammatory environment in the choriodecidua. Evidence that some mediators of this signaling cascade also elicit responses leading to labor prompted us to characterize the cellular sources of these mediators in the human choriodecidua. Method of study Leukocyte-enriched preparations from human choriodecidua (ChL) and intervillous placental blood leukocytes (PL) were maintained in culture. Secretions of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and MMP-9 were documented. Leukocyte phenotype of ChL and PL was determined by flow cytometry using specific fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies. Results and Conclusions ChL showed a distinct pro-inflammatory secretion pattern of cytokines and chemokines when compared with PL, including higher amounts of TNF-α and IL-6, and decreased secretions of IL-4 and IL-1ra. ChL also secreted more MIP-1α and MCP-1 and MMP-9 than PL. No significant differences were found in leukocytes subsets between compartments. Based on our findings, we propose that ChL isolated from fetal membranes at term are functionally different from PL and may collaborate to modulate the microenvironment linked to induction and progression of human labor. PMID:24286217

Er 3+ Doping conditions of planar porous silicon waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Najar, A.; Lorrain, N.; Ajlani, H.; Charrier, J.; Oueslati, M.; Haji, L.

2009-11-01

EDX and infrared photoluminescence (IR PL) analyses performed on erbium-doped porous silicon waveguides (PSWG) were studied using different doping conditions. Both parameters of the cathodisation electrochemical method used for Er incorporation and parameters of thermal treatments required for Er optical activation were taken into consideration. Firstly, by varying the current density and the time of cathodisation, we have shown that a current density of 0.1 mA/cm 2 for 10 min allows homogeneous Er doping to be achieved throughout the depth of the guiding layer. Then, the PL intensity at 1.53 μm was studied as a function of the oxidation time at 900 °C and Er diffusion temperature for 60 min. Increasing the oxidation time up to 1 h allows PL to be enhanced due to active Si-O-Er complex formation whereas an oxidation time of 2 h induces a decrease in PL because of Er segregation. Moreover, an increase in the diffusion temperature induces an optimal distribution of optically active Si-Er-O complexes inside the crystallites. When the temperature is too high, a PSWG densification and Er segregation occurs inducing a decrease in PL due to energy transfer phenomena.

Growth and characterization of AlInAsSb layers lattice-matched to GaSb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tournet, J.; Rouillard, Y.; Tournié, E.

2017-11-01

We report on the growth by solid-source MBE of random-alloy AlxIn1-xAsySb1-y layers lattice-matched to (0 0 1)-GaSb substrates, with xAl ∈ [0.25; 0.75]. The samples quality and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Nomarski microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Layers grown at 400 °C demonstrated smooth surfaces and no sign of phase decomposition. Samples with xAl ≤ 0.60 demonstrated photoluminescence (PL) at 300 K whereas samples with higher Al content only demonstrated PL at low temperature. Samples grown at 430 °C, in contrast, exhibited PL at low temperature only, whatever their composition. Inferred bandgap energies corroborate the estimation of a non-null quaternary bowing parameter made by Donati, Kaspi and Malloy in Journal of Applied Physics 94 (2003) 5814. Upon annealing, the PL peak energies increased, getting even closer to the theoretical values. These results are in agreement with recently published results on digital AlInAsSb alloys. Our work, which reports the first evidence for PL emission from random-alloy AlInAsSb layers lattice-matched to GaSb, opens the way to their use in optoelectronic devices.

EPA-enriched phospholipids ameliorate cancer-associated cachexia mainly via inhibiting lipolysis.

PubMed

Du, Lei; Yang, Yu-Hong; Wang, Yu-Ming; Xue, Chang-Hu; Kurihara, Hideyuki; Takahashi, Koretaro

2015-12-01

Excessive loss of fat mass is considered as a key feature of body weight loss in cancer-associated cachexia (CAC). It affects the efficacy and tolerability of cancer therapy and reduces the quality and length of cancer patients' lives. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of EPA-enriched phospholipids (EPA-PL) derived from starfish Asterias amurensis on cachectic weight loss in mice bearing S180 ascitic tumor, and TNF-α-stimulated lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and to elucidate the possible mechanisms involved. Our findings revealed that oral administration of EPA-PL at 100 mg per kg body weight (BW) per day for 14 days prevented body weight loss in CAC mice by preserving the white adipose tissue (WAT) mass. We found that serum levels of nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 increased in CAC mice but decreased significantly after oral treatment of EPA-PL. In addition, EPA-PL treatment also suppressed the overexpression of several key lipolytic factors and raised the mRNA levels of some adipogenic factors in the WAT of CAC mice. Moreover, treatment of EPA-PL (200 and 400 μM) markedly inhibited TNF-α-stimulated lipolysis in adipocytes. Furthermore, the antilipolytic effects of EPA-PL were stimulated by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) inhibitor PD 98059 and blocked via the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor compound C and the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY 294002. Taken together, these data suggest that the dietary EPA-PL ameliorates CAC mainly via inhibiting lipolysis and at least in part for recovering the function of adipogenesis.

Subsurface application of poultry litter and its influence on nutrient losses in runoff water from permanent pastures.

PubMed

Watts, D B; Way, T R; Torbert, H A

2011-01-01

Environmental pressure to reduce nutrient losses from agricultural fields has increased in recent years. To abate this nutrient loss to the environment, better management practices and new technologies need to be developed. Thus, research was conducted to evaluate if subsurface banding poultry litter (PL) would reduce nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loss in surface water runoff using a four-row prototype implement. Rainfall simulations were conducted to create a 40-min runoff event in an established bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) pasture on soil types common to the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions. The Coastal Plain soil type was a Marvyn loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) and the Piedmont soil type was a Hard Labor loamy sand (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Oxyaquic Kanhapludults). Treatments consisted of surface- and subsurface-applied PL at a rate of 9 Mg ha(-1), surface broadcast-applied commercial fertilizer (CF; urea and triple superphosphate blend) at the equivalent N (330 kg N ha(-1)) and P (315 kg N ha(-1)) content of PL, and a nonfertilized control. The greatest loss for inorganic N, total N, dissolved reactive P (DRP), and total P occurred with the surface broadcast treatments, with CF contributing to the greatest loss. Nutrient losses from the subsurface banded treatment reduced N and P in surface water runoff to levels of the control. Subsurface banding of PL reduced concentrations of inorganic N 91%, total N 90%, DRP 86%, and total P 86% in runoff water compared with surface broadcasted PL. These results show that subsurface band-applied PL can greatly reduce the impact of N and P loss to the environment compared with conventional surface-applied PL and CF practices.

Metabolic analyses of the improved ε-poly-L-lysine productivity using a glucose-glycerol mixed carbon source in chemostat cultures.

PubMed

Zhang, Jian-Hua; Zeng, Xin; Chen, Xu-Sheng; Mao, Zhong-Gui

2018-04-21

The glucose-glycerol mixed carbon source remarkably reduced the batch fermentation time of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) production, leading to higher productivity of both biomass and ε-PL, which was of great significance in industrial microbial fermentation. Our previous study confirmed the positive influence of fast cell growth on the ε-PL biosynthesis, while the direct influence of mixed carbon source on ε-PL production was still unknown. In this work, chemostat culture was employed to study the capacity of ε-PL biosynthesis in different carbon sources at a same dilution rate of 0.05 h -1 . The results indicated that the mixed carbon source could enhance the ε-PL productivity besides the rapid cell growth. Analysis of key enzymes demonstrated that the activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, citrate synthase, aspartokinase and ε-PL synthetase were all increased in chemostat culture with the mixed carbon source. In addition, the carbon fluxes were also improved in the mixed carbon source in terms of tricarboxylic acid cycle, anaplerotic and diaminopimelate pathway. Moreover, the mixed carbon source also accelerated the energy metabolism, leading to higher levels of energy charge and NADH/NAD + ratio. The overall improvements of primary metabolism in chemostat culture with glucose-glycerol combination provided sufficient carbon skeletons and ATP for ε-PL biosynthesis. Therefore, the significantly higher ε-PL productivity in the mixed carbon source was a combined effect of both superior substrate group and rapid cell growth.

MBE development of dilute nitrides for commercial long-wavelength laser applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malis, O.; Liu, W. K.; Gmachl, C.; Fastenau, J. M.; Joel, A.; Gong, P.; Bland, S. W.; Moshegov, N.

2003-04-01

InGaAsN-based materials are being developed at IQE, Inc. for 1.3 μm laser applications. Both MBE and MOCVD growth technology are employed and under investigation for commercial viability. The MBE effort focuses on optimizing the process for the large-volume manufacturing environment. The PL efficiencies of InGaAsN QWs grown with different nitrogen sources on single and multi-wafer MBE platforms are compared. The effect of various annealing treatments on the PL intensity and wavelength uniformity is also discussed in detail. The PL intensity of MBE-grown InGaAsN QWs is inferior to the efficiency of MOCVD samples emitting below 1.29 μm. MOCVD samples, however, exhibit a faster decay of the PL intensity with increasing wavelength, and loose their advantage above 1.29 μm. Deep and shallow ridge-waveguide lasers emitting at 1.28 μm were processed from the MBE material and the laser characteristics are discussed.

Effect of linear polarized near-infrared light irradiation on flexibility of shoulder and ankle joints.

PubMed

Demura, S; Yamaji, S; Ikemoto, Y

2002-12-01

There is a possibility that heat stimulus by linear polarized near-infrared light irradiation (PL: Super Lizer HA-30, Tokyo Medical Laboratory) improves the range of joint motion, because the flexibility of soft-part tissues, such as a muscle or a tendon, is improved by increasing the muscle temperature. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of PL-irradiation on the ranges of shoulder and ankle motions. 30 healthy young adults (15 males: mean+/-SD, age 19.1+/-0.8 yrs, height 173.3+/-4.6 cm, body mass 68.5+/-8.0 kg and 15 females: mean+/-SD, age 19.2+/-0.7 yrs, height 162.3+/-4.5 cm, body mass 58.1+/-6.6 kg) participated in the experiment under PL-irradiation and no-irradiation (placebo) conditions. the angles of shoulder and ankle joint motions were measured twice, before and after the PL- and placebo-irradiations. The angle of a motion was defined as the angle connecting 3 points at linearity as follows: for the shoulder, the greater trochanter, acromion, and caput ulnare, and for the ankle, the knee joint, fassa of lateral malleolus and metacarpal bone. Each angle was measured when a subject extended or flexed maximally without support. The trial-to-trial reliability of each range of joint motion was very high. All parameters in PL-irradiation were significantly larger in postirradiation than pre-irradiation, and the value of postirradiation in PL-irradiation was significantly greater than that for placebo. The ranges of shoulder and ankle motions in placebo-irradiation were also significantly greater in postirradiation than pre-irradiation. Moreover, the change rate for each range of joint motion between pre- and postirradiations was significantly greater in PL-irradiation in both joints. In PL-irradiation, most subject's motions were greater in postirradiation than pre-irradiation, but not in the placebo-irradiation. The effect of PL-irradiation tended to be greater on subjects with a small range of a joint motion. It is considered from the present results that the ranges of shoulder and ankle motions became greater with PL-irradiation, and is effective as a warming-up method.

Project Access V: An Investigation of the Impact of P.L. 89-313 Funds on Early Intervention Programs: Summative Evaluation Reports 1984 and 1985.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kochanek, Thomas T.

The reports document achievements of early intervention programs (EIPs) for handicapped infants and young children in Massachusetts. The first report focuses on Project Access V and on evaluation of four major evaluation outcomes: (1) statutory compliance and generic impact of P.L. 89-313 expenditures; (2) overall P.L. 89-313 grant management and…

Momentum peak shift and width of longitudinal momentum distribution of projectilelike fragments produced at E =290 MeV /nucleon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Momota, S.; Kanazawa, M.; Kitagawa, A.; Sato, S.

2018-04-01

Longitudinal momentum (PL) distributions of projectilelike fragments produced at E =290 MeV /nucleon are investigated. PL distributions of fragments produced by Ar and Kr beams with a wide variety of targets (C, Al, Nb, Tb, and Au) were measured using the fragment separator at HIMAC. PL distributions observed for fragments with a wide range of mass losses Δ A (1-30 for Ar beam and 1-64 for Kr beam), show a slightly, but definitely asymmetric nature. The peak shift and width were obtained from the observed PL distributions. No significant target dependence was found in either the peak shift or width. For the practical application, the variation in momentum peak shift with fragment mass (AF) was represented by a parabolic function. The width on the high-PL side (σHigh) is well reproduced by the Goldhaber formula, which is obtained from the contribution of the Fermi momentum. The behavior of the reduced width, σ0, obtained from σHigh via the Goldhaber formulation, is consistent with the mass-dependent Fermi momentum of a nucleon. The width on the low-PL side (σLow) is markedly larger than σHigh and exhibits a clear AF dependence.

Component of Caramel Food Coloring, THI, Causes Lymphopenia Indirectly via a Key Metabolic Intermediate.

PubMed

Ohtoyo, Mamoru; Machinaga, Nobuo; Inoue, Ryotaku; Hagihara, Katsunobu; Yuita, Hiroshi; Tamura, Masakazu; Hashimoto, Ryuji; Chiba, Jun; Muro, Fumihito; Watanabe, Jun; Kobayashi, Yoshimasa; Abe, Koji; Kita, Yasuo; Nagasaki, Miyuki; Shimozato, Takaichi

2016-05-19

Caramel color is widely used in the food industry, and its many variations are generally considered to be safe. It has been known for a long time that THI (2-acetyl-4-(tetrahydroxybutyl)imidazole), a component of caramel color III, causes lymphopenia in animals through sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) lyase (S1PL) inhibition. However, this mechanism of action has not been fully validated because THI does not inhibit S1PL in vitro. To reconcile this situation, we examined molecular details of THI mechanism of action using "smaller" THI derivatives. We identified a bioactive derivative, A6770, which has the same lymphopenic effect as THI via S1PL inhibition. In the case of A6770 we observe this effect both in vitro and in vivo, and demonstrate that A6770 is phosphorylated and inhibits S1PL in the same way as 4-deoxypyridoxine. In addition, A6770 was detected in rat plasma following oral administration of THI, suggesting that A6770 is a key metabolic intermediate of THI. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Photoluminescence emission spectra of Makrofol® DE 1-1 upon irradiation with ultraviolet radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El Ghazaly, M.; Aydarous, Abdulkadir

Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra of Makrofol® DE 1-1 (bisphenol-A based polycarbonate) upon irradiation with ultraviolet radiation of different wavelengths were investigated. The absorption-and attenuation coefficient measurements revealed that the Makrofol® DE 1-1 is characterized by high absorbance in the energy range 6.53-4.43 eV but for a lower energy than 4.43 eV, it is approximately transparent. Makrofol® DE 1-1 samples were irradiated with ultraviolet radiation of wavelength in the range from 250 (4.28 eV) to 400 (3.10 eV) nm in step of 10 nm and the corresponding photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra were measured with a spectrofluorometer. It is found that the integrated counts and the peak height of the photoluminescence emission (PL) bands are strongly correlated with the ultraviolet radiation wavelength. They are increased at the ultraviolet radiation wavelength 280 nm and have maximum at 290 nm, thereafter they decrease and diminish at 360 nm of ultraviolet wavelength. The position of the PL emission band peak was red shifted starting from 300 nm, which increased with the increase the ultraviolet radiation wavelength. The PL bandwidth increases linearly with the increase of the ultraviolet radiation wavelength. When Makrofol® DE 1-1 is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation of short wavelength (UVC), the photoluminescence emission spectra peaks also occur in the UVC but of a relatively longer wavelength. The current new findings should be considered carefully when using Makrofol® DE 1-1 in medical applications related to ultraviolet radiation.

Strong mechanoluminescence of Zn2(Ge0.9Si0.1)O4:Mn with weak persistent luminescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Haifeng; Wang, Xusheng; Li, Jun; Li, Yanxia; Yao, Xi

2016-01-01

A novel elastic mechanoluminescence (EML) material Zn2(Ge0.9Si0.1)O4:Mn is reported to exhibit weak persistent luminescence (PL), a dynamic compressive load in the 300-2800 N range, and a nearly perfect linear response. The PL and EML spectra indicate that the EML and PL emissions originate from the 4T1 → 6A1 transition of Mn2+. The thermoluminescence properties reveal the existence of three types of traps. The shallowest trap responsible for a fast decay afterglow may contribute little to the EML. On the other hand, the other two, deeper, trap types, underlie EML.

GMP-grade platelet lysate enhances proliferation and migration of tenon fibroblasts.

PubMed

Carducci, Augusto; Scafetta, Gaia; Siciliano, Camilla; Carnevale, Roberto; Rosa, Paolo; Coccia, Andrea; Mangino, Giorgio; Bordin, Antonella; Vingolo, Enzo Maria; Pierelli, Luca; Lendaro, Eugenio; Ragona, Giuseppe; Frati, Giacomo; De Falco, Elena

2016-01-01

Tenon's fibroblasts (TFs), widely employed as in vitro model for many ophthalmological studies, are routinely cultured with FBS. Platelet Lysate (PL), a hemoderivate enriched with growth factors and cytokines has been largely tested in several clinical applications and as substitute of FBS in culture. Here, we investigate whether PL can exert biological effects on TF populations similarly to other cell types. Results show that PL significantly enhances cell proliferation and migration vs. FBS, without influencing cell size/granularity. Upregulation of EGF, VEGF, KDR, MMP2-9, FAK mRNA levels also occurs and phosphorylation of AKT but not of ERK1/2 is significantly enhanced. The inhibition of the PI3kinase/AKT pathway with the specific inhibitor wortmannin, decreases PL-induced cell migration but not proliferation. Condition supernatants containing PL show increased bioavailability of Nitric Oxide and reduced levels of 8-Iso-PGF2-alpha, correlating with cell proliferation and migration. Pro-angiogenic/inflammatory soluble factors (GRO, Angiogenin, EGF, I-309, PARC) are exclusively or greater expressed in media containing PL than FBS. GMP-grade PL preparations positively influence in vitro biological effects of TFs representing a suitable and safer alternative to FBS.

Uso de la punción lumbar en la evaluación de sepsis neonatal tardía en recién nacidos de bajo peso al nacer

PubMed Central

Zea-Vera, A; Turín, CG; Rueda, MS; Guillén-Pinto, D; Medina-Alva, P; Tori, A; Rivas, M; Zegarra, J; Castañeda, A; Cam, L; Ochoa, TJ

2017-01-01

RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el uso de la punción lumbar (PL) en las sospechas de sepsis neonatal tardía. Se recomienda realizar una PL en la evaluación de toda sospecha de sepsis neonatal tardía. Se utilizó una cohorte de 414 neonatos con peso al nacer <2000g en tres hospitales de Lima. Se realizó la PL en 45/214 (21,0%) sospechas de sepsis y en 13/48 (27,1%) sepsis confirmadas por hemocultivo. Se diagnosticó meningitis en 8/214 (3,7%) sospechas y en 8/45 (17,5%) episodios en los que se realizó la PL. El tiempo de tratamiento de los episodios sin PL fue similar a los episodios de sepsis con meningitis descartada y menor a los episodios de meningitis. El uso de la PL es bajo, lo que puede resultar en meningitis no diagnosticadas y tratadas inadecuadamente. Es necesario reforzar la importancia de la PL en la evaluación de sepsis neonatal. PMID:27656928

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

McCall, Kyle M.; Stoumpos, Constantinos C.; Kostina, Svetlana S.

The optical and electronic properties of Bridgman grown single crystals of the wide-bandgap semiconducting defect halide perovskites A3M2I9 (A = Cs, Rb; M = Bi, Sb) have been investigated. Intense Raman scattering was observed at room temperature for each compound, indicating high polarizability and strong electron–phonon coupling. Both low-temperature and room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) were measured for each compound. Cs3Sb2I9 and Rb3Sb2I9 have broad PL emission bands between 1.75 and 2.05 eV with peaks at 1.96 and 1.92 eV, respectively. The Cs3Bi2I9 PL spectra showed broad emission consisting of several overlapping bands in the 1.65–2.2 eV range. Evidence of strong electron–phononmore » coupling comparable to that of the alkali halides was observed in phonon broadening of the PL emission. Effective phonon energies obtained from temperature-dependent PL measurements were in agreement with the Raman peak energies. A model is proposed whereby electron–phonon interactions in Cs3Sb2I9, Rb3Sb2I9, and Cs3Bi2I9 induce small polarons, resulting in trapping of excitons by the lattice. The recombination of these self-trapped excitons is responsible for the broad PL emission. Rb3Bi2I9, Rb3Sb2I9, and Cs3Bi2I9 exhibit high resistivity and photoconductivity response under laser photoexcitation, indicating that these compounds possess potential as semiconductor hard radiation detector materials.« less

Manual of Procedures for Applying for Funding under Title VI, Part B--Education of the Handicapped Act. P.L. 91-230 as Amended by P.L. 93-320, P.L. 94-142 and P.L. 99-457. EHA, Title VI, Part B--Third Year of a Three-Year Plan, 1988-89. ECIA, Chapter 1, Handicapped Preschool Grant Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Carolina State Dept. of Public Instruction, Raleigh. Div. for Exceptional Children.

The manual presents procedures for local school districts in North Carolina applying for federal funding under Title VI, Part B, Education of the Handicapped Act, as amended by Public Laws 93-320, 94-142, and 99-457. The first chapter gives instructions for submission of amendments for the third year of the 3-year plan and includes an introduction…

The effects of human platelet lysate on dental pulp stem cells derived from impacted human third molars.

PubMed

Chen, Bo; Sun, Hai-Hua; Wang, Han-Guo; Kong, Hui; Chen, Fa-Ming; Yu, Qing

2012-07-01

Human platelet lysate (PL) has been suggested as a substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS) in the large-scale expansion of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). However, the biological effects and the optimal concentrations of PL for the proliferation and differentiation of human DPSCs remain unexplored. We isolated and expanded stem cells from the dental pulp of extracted third molars and evaluated the effects of PL on the cells' proliferative capacity and differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. Before testing, immunocytochemical staining and flow cytometry-based cell sorting showed that the cells derived from human dental pulp contained mesenchymal stem cell populations. Cells were grown on tissue culture plastic or on hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP) biomaterials and were incubated with either normal or odontogenic/osteogenic media in the presence or absence of various concentrations of human PL for further investigation. The proliferation of DPSCs was significantly increased when the cells were cultured in 5% PL under all testing conditions (P < 0.05). However, this enhancement was inconsistent when the cells were cultured in 1% PL or in 10% PL; 10% PL significantly inhibited cell proliferation and was therefore excluded from further differentiation testing. Culture medium containing 5% PL also significantly promoted the mineralized differentiation of DPSCs, as indicated by the measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition under mineral-conditioned media (P < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy and modified Ponceau trichrome staining showed that the cells treated with 5% PL and mineralizing media were highly capable of integrating with the HA/TCP biomaterials and had fully covered the surface of the scaffold with an extensive sheet-like structure 14 d after seeding. In addition, 5% PL showed significantly positive effects on tissue regeneration in two in vivo transplantation models. We conclude that the appropriate concentration of PL enhances the proliferation and mineralized differentiation of human DPSCs both in vitro and in vivo, which supports the use of PL as an alternative to FBS or a nonzoonotic adjuvant for cell culture in future clinical trials. However, the elucidation of the molecular complexity of PL products and the identification of both the essential growth factors that determine the fate of a specific stem cell and the criteria to establish dosing require further investigation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Budget impact analysis of sFlt-1/PlGF ratio as prediction test in Italian women with suspected preeclampsia.

PubMed

Frusca, Tiziana; Gervasi, Maria-Teresa; Paolini, Davide; Dionisi, Matteo; Ferre, Francesca; Cetin, Irene

2017-09-01

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy disease which represents a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Accurate prediction of PE risk could provide an increase in health benefits and better patient management. To estimate the economic impact of introducing Elecsys sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test, in addition to standard practice, for the prediction of PE in women with suspected PE in the Italian National Health Service (INHS). A decision tree model has been developed to simulate the progression of a cohort of pregnant women from the first presentation of clinical suspicion of PE in the second and third trimesters until delivery. The model provides an estimation of the financial impact of introducing sFlt-1/PlGF versus standard practice. Clinical inputs have been derived from PROGNOSIS study and from literature review, and validated by National Clinical Experts. Resources and unit costs have been obtained from Italian-specific sources. Healthcare costs associated with the management of a pregnant woman with clinical suspicion of PE equal €2384 when following standard practice versus €1714 using sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test. Introduction of sFlt-1/PlGF into hospital practice is cost-saving. Savings are generated primarily through improvement in diagnostic accuracy and reduction in unnecessary hospitalization for women before PE's onset.

Enhancing of Osseointegration with Propolis-Loaded TiO2 Nanotubes in Rat Mandible for Dental Implants

PubMed Central

Somsanith, Nithideth; Jang, Young-Seok; Lee, Young-Hee; Yi, Ho-Keun; Kim, Kyoung-A; Bae, Tae-Sung; Lee, Min-Ho

2018-01-01

TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) formation is beneficial for improving bone cell–material interaction and drug delivery for Ti dental implants. Among the natural drugs to be installed in TNT, selected propolis has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a resinous natural product which is collected by the honeybees from the various types of plants with their salivary enzymes. This study concludes that TNT loaded with a propolis (PL-TNT-Ti) dental implant has the ability to improve osseointegration. The propolis particles were embedded within the TNT or adhered to the top. In a cytotoxicity test using osteoblast, PL-TNT-Ti group exhibited an increased cell proliferation and differentiation. A Sprague Dawley rat mandibular model was used to evaluate the osseointegration and bone bonding of TNT or PL-TNT-Ti. From the µ-CT and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) histological results after implantation at 1 and 4 weeks to rat mandibular, an increase in the extent of new bone formation and mineral density around the PL-TNT-Ti implant was confirmed. The Masson’s trichrome staining showed the expression of well-formed collagenous for bone formation on the PL-TNT-Ti. Immunohistochemistry staining indicate that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-2 and BMP-7) around the PL-TNT-Ti increased the expression of collagen fibers and of osteogenic differentiation whereas the expression of inflammatory cytokine such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is decreased. PMID:29301269

Comparison of pneumatic and laser lithotripsy in the treatment of pediatric ureteral stones.

PubMed

Atar, Murat; Bodakci, Mehmet Nuri; Sancaktutar, Ahmet Ali; Penbegul, Necmettin; Soylemez, Haluk; Bozkurt, Yasar; Hatipoglu, Namik Kemal; Cakmakci, Suleyman

2013-06-01

To compare the effectiveness and safety of pneumatic and holmium:YAG laser lithotripters in the treatment of pediatric ureterolithiasis. Medical records of patients treated using pneumatic (PL) (n = 29) or laser (LL) (n = 35) lithotripter between 2009 and 2011 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were evaluated with respect to age, gender, stone size, complications, and stone-free rates 1 month after the operation. For the PL and LL groups, mean ages (8.8 ± 3.4 and 8.3 ± 3.5 years), male/female ratios (19:10 and 22:13) and stone locations were similar (p > 0.05). Mean stone sizes were 55.6 mm2 and 47.6 mm2 in the PL and LL group, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.850). Mean operative times were 20.5 min in the PL group and 25.2 min in the LL group, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.020). Stone-free rates 1 month after intervention were 79% in the PL group and 97% in the LL group (p = 0.022). Stone migration was detected in the PL group (n = 6) and in the LL group (n = 1). No major complication was found in either group. In the ureteroscopic treatment of pediatric ureterolithiasis, both pneumatic and laser lithotripters are effective and successful. However, laser lithotripsy has a higher stone-free rate and lower complication rate. Copyright © 2012 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prevention of Pleural Adhesions by Bioactive Polypeptides - A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Åkerberg, D.; Posaric-Bauden, M.; Isaksson, K.; Andersson, R.; Tingstedt, B.

2013-01-01

Objective: Postoperative pleural adhesions lead to major problems in repeated thoracic surgery. To date, no antiadhesive product has been proven clinically effective. Previous studies of differently charged polypeptides, poly-L-lysine (PL) and poly-L-glutamate (PG) have shown promising results reducing postoperative abdominal adhesions in experimental settings. This pilot study examined the possible pleural adhesion prevention by using the PL+PG concept after pleural surgery and its possible effect on key parameters; plasmin activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue growth factor beta 1 (TGFb) in the fibrinolytic process. Methods: A total of 22 male rats were used in the study, one control group (n=10) and one experimental group (n=12). All animals underwent primary pleural surgery, the controls receiving saline in the pleural cavity and the experimental group the PL+PG solution administered by spray. The animals were evaluated on day 7. Macroscopic appearance of adhesions was evaluated by a scoring system. Histology slides of the adhesions and pleural biopsies for evaluation of PAI-1 and TGFb1 were taken on day 7. Results: A significant reduction of adhesions in the PL+PG group (p<0.05) was noted at day 7 both regarding the length and severity of adhesions. There were no significant differences in the concentration of PAI-1 and TGFb1 when comparing the two groups. Conclusions: PL+PG may be used to prevent pleural adhesions. The process of fibrinolysis, and fibrosis was though not affected after PLPG administration. PMID:24151443

Nanostructuring-induced modification of optical properties of p-GaAs (1 0 0)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naddaf, M.; Saloum, S.

2009-10-01

A pulsed anodic etching method has been utilized for nanostructuring of p-type GaAs (1 0 0) surface, using HCl-based solution as electrolyte. The resulting porous GaAs layer is characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), room temperature photoluminescence (PL), Raman spectroscopy and optical reflectance measurements. AFM imaging reveals that the porous GaAs layer is consisted of a pillar-like of few nm in width distributed between more-reduced size nanostructures. In addition to the “infrared” PL band of un-etched GaAs, a strong “green” PL band is observed in the etched sample. The broad visible PL band of a high-energy (3.82 eV) excitation is found to compose of two PL band attributed to excitons confinement in two different sizes distribution of GaAs nanocrystals. The quantum confinement effects in GaAs nanocrystallites is also evidenced from Raman spectroscopy through the pronounced appearance of the transverse optical (TO) phonon line in the spectra of the porous sample. Porosity-induced a significant reduction of the specular reflection, in the spectral range (400-800 nm), is also demonstrated.

Improving Si solar cell performance using Mn:ZnSe quantum dot-doped PLMA thin film

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Poly(lauryl methacrylate) (PLMA) thin film doped with Mn:ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) was spin-deposited on the front surface of Si solar cell for enhancing the solar cell efficiency via photoluminescence (PL) conversion. Significant solar cell efficiency enhancements (approximately 5% to 10%) under all-solar-spectrum (AM0) condition were observed after QD-doped PLMA coatings. Furthermore, the real contribution of the PL conversion was precisely assessed by investigating the photovoltaic responses of the QD-doped PLMA to monochromatic and AM0 light sources as functions of QD concentration, combined with reflectance and external quantum efficiency measurements. At a QD concentration of 1.6 mg/ml for example, among the efficiency enhancement of 5.96%, about 1.04% was due to the PL conversion, and the rest came from antireflection. Our work indicates that for the practical use of PL conversion in solar cell performance improvement, cautions are to be taken, as the achieved efficiency enhancement might not be wholly due to the PL conversion. PMID:23787125

Associations between a fatty acid desaturase gene polymorphism and blood arachidonic acid compositions in Japanese elderly.

PubMed

Horiguchi, Sayaka; Nakayama, Kazuhiro; Iwamoto, Sadahiko; Ishijima, Akiko; Minezaki, Takayuki; Baba, Mamiko; Kontai, Yoshiko; Horikawa, Chika; Kawashima, Hiroshi; Shibata, Hiroshi; Kagawa, Yasuo; Kawabata, Terue

2016-02-01

We investigated whether the single nucleotide polymorphism rs174547 (T/C) of the fatty acid desaturase-1 gene, FADS1, is associated with changes in erythrocyte membrane and plasma phospholipid (PL) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) composition in elderly Japanese participants (n=124; 65 years or older; self-feeding and oral intake). The rs174547 C-allele carriers had significantly lower arachidonic acid (ARA; n-6 PUFA) and higher linoleic acid (LA, n-6 PUFA precursor) levels in erythrocyte membrane and plasma PL (15% and 6% ARA reduction, respectively, per C-allele), suggesting a low LA to ARA conversion rate in erythrocyte membrane and plasma PL of C-allele carriers. α-linolenic acid (n-3 PUFA precursor) levels were higher in the plasma PL of C-allele carriers, whereas levels of the n-3 LCPUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were unchanged in erythrocyte membrane and plasma PL. Thus, rs174547 genotypes were significantly associated with different ARA compositions of the blood of elderly Japanese. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pandemic influenza immunization in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS): a trigger to thrombosis and autoantibody production?

PubMed

de Medeiros, D Martins; Silva, C A; Bueno, C; Ribeiro, A C Medeiros; Viana, V dos Santos T; Carvalho, J Freire; Bonfa, E

2014-11-01

The objective of this report is to conduct short- and long-term evaluation of a large panel of antiphospholipid (aPL) autoantibodies following pandemic influenza A/H1N1 non-adjuvant vaccine in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) patients and healthy controls. Forty-five PAPS and 33 healthy controls were immunized with H1N1 vaccine. They were prospectively assessed at pre-vaccination, and three weeks and six months after vaccination. aPL autoantibodies were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and included IgG/IgM: anticardiolipin (aCL), anti-beta2glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI); anti-annexin V, anti-phosphatidyl serine and anti-prothrombin antibodies. Anti-Sm was determined by ELISA and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) by indirect immunofluorescence. Arterial and venous thrombosis were also clinically assessed. Pre-vaccination frequency of at least one aPL antibody was significantly higher in PAPS patients versus controls (58% vs. 24%, p = 0.0052). The overall frequencies of aPL antibody at pre-vaccination, and three weeks and six months after immunization remained unchanged in patients (p = 0.89) and controls (p = 0.83). The frequency of each antibody specificity for patients and controls remained stable in the three evaluated periods (p > 0.05). At three weeks, two PAPS patients developed a new but transient aPL antibody (aCL IgG and IgM), whereas at six months new aPL antibodies were observed in six PAPS patients and none had high titer. Anti-Sm and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies were uniformly negative and no new arterial or venous thrombosis were observed throughout the study. This is the first study to demonstrate that pandemic influenza vaccine in PAPS patients does not trigger short- and long-term thrombosis or a significant production of aPL-related antibodies (ClinicalTrials.gov, #NCT01151644). © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Outcomes after use of covered stents to treat coronary artery perforations. Comparison of old and new-generation covered stents.

PubMed

Hernández-Enríquez, Marco; Lairez, Olivier; Campelo-Parada, Francisco; Lhermusier, Thibault; Bouisset, Frédéric; Roncalli, Jérôme; Elbaz, Meyer; Carrié, Didier; Boudou, Nicolas

2018-05-28

To compare outcomes in patients receiving polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyurethane (PL) covered stents (CS) after coronary artery perforation (CAP). The prognosis of CAP has improved with the advent of CSs. Information is scarce about the outcomes of new-generation CSs. Sixty-one patients were treated with CSs in a 5-years period (age = 77 ± 8.75% males). Procedural and clinical data were retrospectively collected. The primary endpoint was procedural success. Secondary endpoints included death and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as a composite of death, myocardial infarction, target vessel, and lesion revascularization and need for surgical repair). Twenty-two (36%) received PL-CSs and 39 (65%) PTFE-CSs. There were no differences in procedural success (86% vs 69%, P = 0.216). Time to deliver was shorter with PL-CS despite larger length of stents (8[11] vs 15[16] min, P = 0.001; 20[5] vs 16[3] mm, P < 0.001). This group had lower rate of pericardial effusion and cardiac arrest (41% vs 72%, P = 0.028; 5% vs 26%, P = 0.045). At 1-year follow-up, MACE rates were similar (58% vs 56%, P = 1.000) with atrend toward TVR in the PL-CS arm (21% vs 5%, P = 0.083). No differences were found in mortality (26% vs 41%, P = 0.385). Each group had 1 stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis trended higher in the PL-CS group (12% vs 3%, P = 0.223). Time to deliver was shorter with the PL-CS and resulted in lower rate of pericardial effusion and cardiac arrest. However, there were no significant differences in procedural success and 1-year follow-up MACE in patients treated with PL-CS or PTFE-CS. © 2018, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic cohort (LUMINA): XXVIII. Factors predictive of thrombotic events.

PubMed

Ho, K T; Ahn, C W; Alarcón, G S; Baethge, B A; Tan, F K; Roseman, J; Bastian, H M; Fessler, B J; McGwin, G; Vilá, L M; Calvo-Alén, J; Reveille, J D

2005-10-01

To determine the relationship between the presence of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies, hydroxychloroquine use and the occurrence of thrombotic events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Four hundred and forty-two SLE patients from the LUMINA (Lupus in Minorities: Nature vs Nurture) cohort, a multiethnic (Hispanics from Texas, n = 99 and Puerto Rico, n = 36; African Americans, n = 172; and Caucasians, n = 135) cohort, were studied by generalized estimating equation (GEE) to determine the relationship between antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies (measured as IgG and IgM aPL antibodies and/or the lupus anticoagulant) at enrolment or historically prior to enrolment, hydroxychloroquine use (ever) and the occurrence of thrombotic (central and/or peripheral, arterial and/or venous) events after adjusting for known and possible confounders [socioeconomic-demographic features, smoking, disease activity and damage, serum cholesterol levels, anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein IgG and IgM antibodies, and high-sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein]. Postanalysis correlation between aPL and anticardiolipin (aCL) assays was attempted by performing aCL assays on random samples of patients whose aPL status was known. A number of clinical variables were significant in the univariable analyses; however, in the multivariable GEE analyses, only smoking [odds ratio (OR) 2.777, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.317-5.852] and disease activity as measured by the SLAM (Systemic Lupus Activity Measure) (OR 1.099; 95% CI 1.053-1.147) were significant. In particular, hydroxychloroquine use, which appeared to be protective against thrombotic events in the univariable analyses, was not retained in the multivariable analyses. aPL antibodies were not significant in either analysis. Few additional aPL-positive patients emerged from the validation study. Smoking and disease activity emerged as important determinants in the occurrence of thrombotic events in our patients. Comprehensive treatment strategies should be directed to both smoking cessation and control of disease activity in patients with SLE.

Aryl-modified graphene quantum dots with enhanced photoluminescence and improved pH tolerance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Peihui; Ji, Zhe; Li, Chun; Shi, Gaoquan

2013-07-01

Chemical modification is an important technique to modulate the chemical and optical properties of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). In this paper, we report a versatile diazonium chemistry method to graft aryl groups including phenyl, 4-carboxyphenyl, 4-sulfophenyl and 5-sulfonaphthyl to GQDs via Gomberg-Bachmann reaction. The aryl-modified GQDs are nanocrystals with lateral dimensions in the range of 2-4 nm and an average thickness lower than 1 nm. Upon chemical modification with aryl groups, the photoluminescence (PL) bands of GQDs were tuned in the range of 418 and 447 nm, and their fluorescence quantum yields (QYs) were increased for up to about 6 times. Furthermore, the aryl-modified GQDs exhibited stable PL (both intensity and peak position) in a wide pH window of 1-11. The mechanism of improving the PL properties of GQDs by aryl-modification was also discussed.Chemical modification is an important technique to modulate the chemical and optical properties of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). In this paper, we report a versatile diazonium chemistry method to graft aryl groups including phenyl, 4-carboxyphenyl, 4-sulfophenyl and 5-sulfonaphthyl to GQDs via Gomberg-Bachmann reaction. The aryl-modified GQDs are nanocrystals with lateral dimensions in the range of 2-4 nm and an average thickness lower than 1 nm. Upon chemical modification with aryl groups, the photoluminescence (PL) bands of GQDs were tuned in the range of 418 and 447 nm, and their fluorescence quantum yields (QYs) were increased for up to about 6 times. Furthermore, the aryl-modified GQDs exhibited stable PL (both intensity and peak position) in a wide pH window of 1-11. The mechanism of improving the PL properties of GQDs by aryl-modification was also discussed. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Fluorescence quantum yield measurements, estimation of grafting ratio, TEM images, FTIR spectra, PL spectra and zeta potentials. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr02156d

Forward modeling corona growth in a partially eclogitized leucogabbro, Bourbon Island, North-East Greenland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sartini-Rideout, C.; Gilotti, J. A.; Foster, C. T.

2007-05-01

Coronitic textures are common in partially eclogitized igneous bodies, such as gabbros, leucogabbros, and anorthosites, east of the Germania Land Deformation Zone in North-East Greenland. Coronas formed by prograde metamorphic processes that transformed the gabbroic bodies to eclogite facies, and record frozen stages of the prograde metamorphic evolution of these rocks. A metaleucogabbro-norite body on Bourbon Island in Jøkelbugt is characterized by three concentric areas: a coronitic core, a mottled inner rim with areas of completely eclogitized material surrounded by a matrix of coronitic metaleucogabbro, and an outer rim of strongly foliated and completely retrogressed amphibolite. The Bourbon body preserves four stages of the prograde metamorphic history: Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, and Eclogite Stage. Stage I coronas are found only in the core of the body, which is the least reacted part of the leucogabbro-norite and the closest to the protolith, and is characterized by the corona sequence Pl rim/Grt + Kfs + Amp/Grt + Amp/Cpx rim. The typical corona sequence for Stage II is Pl rim/Grt + Pl + Zo/Cpx rim/Amp rim. Stage III samples show a Pl rim + Ky + Scp/Grt + Pl + Qtz/Qtz + Pl sequence, with the relict clinopyroxene being replaced in part by microcrystalline aggregates of Cpx + Amp + Pl. The Eclogite Stage shows relict Pl completely replaced by Grt, and the relict Cpx completely replaced by aggregates of Omp + Pl + Kfs + Amp. We tested open-system grain boundary diffusion (OSGBD) theories to model the prograde Stage I symplectitic coronas. The observed ratio of the thickness of the different layers is Pl rim:Grt + Kfs + Amp:Grt + Amp:Cpx rim equal to 3:1.3:0.95:0.5. These ratios are very close to the modeled ones of 2.7:1.1:1:0.5. Furthermore, subtle textural changes within the Grt + Kfs + Amp corona were also reproduced by the model. The model gave us insight into the conditions of the metamorphic system in which the coronas formed. The sequence Pl rim/Grt + Kfs + Amp/Grt + Amp/Cpx rim formed by diffusion driven reactions in an open system involving gain of Fe, K, and Na, and loss of Ca and Mg at the original clinopyroxene-plagioclase boundary. Relative mobilities of the different components within the corona layers were LMgMg > LAlAl > LSiSi > LCaCa > LKK > LFeFe > LNaNa. Fluid circulation was active to some degree during the transformation to eclogite. The differences between core, inner rim, and the two domains within the inner rim of the metaleucogabbro-norite can be explained by different degrees of fluid circulation in different portions of the rock. The presence of phases containing Cl and P, such as scapolite, in completely eclogitized samples supports the presence of fluid circulation in the system. Another possible explanation for the mottled appearance of the inner rim is protolith heterogeneity.

Acetanilide and paracetamol pharmacokinetics before and during phenytoin administration: genetic control of induction?

PubMed Central

Cunningham, J L; Evans, D A

1981-01-01

1 Steady state plasma concentrations (SSPCs) of acetanilide (AA) and its metabolite, paracetamol (PL), were studied in 27 healthy volunteer subjects before and at the end of an 11-day exposure to phenytoin (DPH). Plasma concentrations of DPH were estimated. Plasma concentrations of DPH varied from 5.1 to 20.4 microgram ml-1 (mean +/- s.e.mean 12.2 +/- 0.9). 2 The SSPC of AA before exposure to DPH varied from 0.06 to 0.67 microgram ml-1 (mean +/- s.e.mean 0.24 +/- 0.02), and following exposure from 0.03 to 0.47 microgram ml-1 (mean +/- s.e.mean 0.15 +/- 0.02). 3 The SSPC of PL before exposure to DPH varied from 1.2 to 4.4 microgram ml-1 (mean +/- s.e.mean 2.7 +/- 0.13), and following exposure from 1.1 to 3.8 microgram ml-1 (mean +/- s.e.mean 2.2 +/- 0.13). 4 SSPCs of AA and of PL decreased significantly during DPH administration (P less than 0.01 for AA, P less than 0.001 for PL). 5 Correlations were observed between the SSPCs of the drugs measured, suggesting a common influence on their kinetics. 6 Similarity was observed between the changes in plasma levels of AA and PL following DPH ingestion. There was, however, wide inter-subject variability in this regard. In some subjects no change was observed even though they had DPH demonstrable in their plasma. Consequently it may be speculated that the effects of DPH may be under genetic control. PMID:7272175

Comparison of Olympic vs. traditional power lifting training programs in football players.

PubMed

Hoffman, Jay R; Cooper, Joshua; Wendell, Michael; Kang, Jie

2004-02-01

Twenty members of an National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III collegiate football team were assigned to either an Olympic lifting (OL) group or power lifting (PL) group. Each group was matched by position and trained 4-days.wk(-1) for 15 weeks. Testing consisted of field tests to evaluate strength (1RM squat and bench press), 40-yard sprint, agility, vertical jump height (VJ), and vertical jump power (VJP). No significant pre- to posttraining differences were observed in 1RM bench press, 40-yard sprint, agility, VJ or in VJP in either group. Significant improvements were seen in 1RM squat in both the OL and PL groups. After log10-transformation, OL were observed to have a significantly greater improvement in Delta VJ than PL. Despite an 18% greater improvement in 1RM squat (p > 0.05), and a twofold greater improvement (p > 0.05) in 40-yard sprint time by OL, no further significant group differences were seen. Results suggest that OL can provide a significant advantage over PL in vertical jump performance changes.

Afghanistan: Narcotics and U.S. Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-06-18

Defense Appropriation P.L. 110-116 FY2008 Bridge Fund P.L. 110-161 (Division L ) FY2008 Supplemental P.L. 110-252 (Title IX, Chapter 1) Total...Moreau and Sami Yousafzai, with Donatella Lorch, “Flowers of Destruction,” Newsweek, July 14, 2003; Andrew North, “Warlord Tells Police Chief to Go...Gen. Walter L . Sharp, Director of Strategic Plans (J-5), Before the House International Relations Committee, September 23, 2004. 81 House of Commons

The Use of Confocal Photoluminescence Microscopy for Determination of Defect Densities in Various 2-6 Semiconductors

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-11

optical configuration that significantly enhances both lateral and depth resolution and returns crisp PL images 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 4. TITLE AND...that significantly enhances both lateral and depth resolution and returns crisp PL images with high contrast. This technique revolutionized fluorescent...resolution and returns crisp PL images with high contrast. This technique revolutionized fluorescent imaging in biology, and has the potential to

Optical properties of nearly lattice-matched GaN/(Al,In)N quantum wells

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

Liaugaudas, Gediminas; Jacopin, Gwénolé; Carlin, Jean-François

2016-05-28

We report a systematic study of the photoluminescence (PL) properties of a series of nearly lattice-matched (LM) GaN/(Al,In)N single quantum well (SQW) samples, with well thickness ranging from 1.5 to 5 nm, grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. Temperature dependent PL and time-resolved PL measurements reveal similar trends among the studied SQW samples, which also indicate strong localization effects. The observed PL energy behavior, akin to the S-shape, accompanied first by a narrowing and then a broadening of the PL line width with increasing temperature, closely resemble previous observations made on the more established (In,Ga)N/GaN QW system. The similar trends observedmore » in the PL features of those two QW systems imply that the PL properties of LM GaN/(Al,In)N SQW samples are also governed by localized states. The effects of carrier transfer among these localization sites are clearly observed for the 3 nm thick QW, evidenced by an increasing PL intensity in the lower energy spectral window and a concomitant increase in the corresponding PL decay time. Time-resolved data corroborate the picture of strongly localized carriers and also indicate that above a well thickness dependent delocalization temperature carrier distribution across the localized sites reaches thermal equilibrium, as the PL decay times over different spectral regions converge to the same value. Based on the difference between the calculated QW ground state transition energy, obtained using the envelope wave function formalism, and the measured PL energy, a localization energy of at least a few hundreds of meV has been extracted for all of the studied SQW samples. This rather large value also implies that In-related localization effects are more pronounced in the GaN/(Al,In)N system with respect to those in the (In,Ga)N/GaN one for a similar In content.« less

Interactions between collagen gene variants and risk of anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

PubMed

O'Connell, Kevin; Knight, Hayley; Ficek, Krzysztof; Leonska-Duniec, Agata; Maciejewska-Karlowska, Agnieszka; Sawczuk, Marek; Stepien-Slodkowska, Marta; O'Cuinneagain, Dion; van der Merwe, Willem; Posthumus, Michael; Cieszczyk, Pawel; Collins, Malcolm

2015-01-01

The COL5A1 and COL12A1 variants are independently associated with modulating the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in females. The objective of this study was to further investigate if COL3A1 and COL6A1 variants independently, as well as, collagen gene-gene interactions, modulate ACL rupture risk. Three hundred and thirty-three South African (SA, n = 242) and Polish (PL, n = 91) participants with diagnosed ACL ruptures and 378 controls (235 SA and 143 PL) were recruited. Participants were genotyped for COL3A1 rs1800255 G/A, COL5A1 rs12722 (T/C), COL6A1 rs35796750 (T/C) and COL12A1 rs970547 (A/G). No significant associations were identified between COL6A1 rs35796750 and COL3A1 rs1800255 genotypes and risk of ACL rupture in the SA cohort. The COL3A1 AA genotype was, however, significantly (p = 0.036) over-represented in the PL ACL group (9.9%, n = 9) when compared to the PL control (CON) group (2.8%, n = 4). Although there were genotype distribution differences between the SA and PL cohorts, the T+A-inferred pseudo-haplotype constructed from COL5A1 and COL12A1 was significantly over-represented in the female ACL group when compared to the female CON group within the SA (T+A ACL 50.5%, T+A CON 38.1%, p = 0.022), PL (T+A ACL 56.3%, T+A CON 36.3%, p = 0.029) and combined (T+A ACL 51.8%, T+A CON 37.5%, p = 0.004) cohorts. In conclusion, the novel main finding of this study was a significant interaction between the COL5A1 rs12722 T/C and COL12A1 rs970547 A/G variants and risk of ACL injury. These results highlight the importance of investigating gene-gene interactions in the aetiology of ACL ruptures in multiple independent cohorts.

Effect of dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate on plasma glucose concentration and turnover in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Stanko, R T; Mitrakou, A; Greenawalt, K; Gerich, J

1990-01-01

Consumption of dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate (DHP) increases muscle extraction of glucose in normal men. To test the hypothesis that these three-carbon compounds would improve glycemic control in diabetes, we evaluated the effect of DHP on plasma glucose concentration, turnover, recycling, and tolerance in 7 women with noninsulin-dependent diabetes. The subjects consumed a 1,500-calorie diet (55% carbohydrate, 30% fat, 15% protein), randomly containing 13% of the calories as DHP (1/1) or Polycose (placebo; PL), as a drink three times daily for 7 days. On the 8th day, primed continuous infusions of [6-3H]-glucose and [U-14C]-glucose were begun at 05.00 h, and at 09.00 h a 3-hour glucose tolerance test (75 g glucola) was performed. Two weeks later the subjects repeated the study with the other diet. The fasting plasma glucose level decreased by 14% with DHP (DHP = 8.0 +/- 0.9 mmol/l; PL = 9.3 +/- 1.0 mmol/l, p less than 0.05) which accounted for lower postoral glucose glycemia (DHP = 13.1 +/- 0.8 mmol/l, PL = 14.7 +/- 0.8 mmol/l, p less than 0.05). [6-3H]-glucose turnover (DHP = 1.50 +/- 0.19 mg.kg-1.min-1, PL = 1.77 +/- 0.21 mg.kg-1.min-1, p less than 0.05) and glucose recycling, the difference in [6-3H]-glucose and [U-14C]-glucose turnover rates, decreased with DHP (DHP = 0.25 +/- 0.07 mg.kg-1.min-1, PL = 0.54 +/- 0.10 mg.kg-1.min-1, p less than 0.05). Fasting and postoral glucose, plasma insulin, glucagon, and C peptide levels were unaffected by DHP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pressure Ratio to Thermal Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lopez, Pedro; Wang, Winston

2012-01-01

A pressure ratio to thermal environments (PRatTlE.pl) program is a Perl language code that estimates heating at requested body point locations by scaling the heating at a reference location times a pressure ratio factor. The pressure ratio factor is the ratio of the local pressure at the reference point and the requested point from CFD (computational fluid dynamics) solutions. This innovation provides pressure ratio-based thermal environments in an automated and traceable method. Previously, the pressure ratio methodology was implemented via a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and macro scripts. PRatTlE is able to calculate heating environments for 150 body points in less than two minutes. PRatTlE is coded in Perl programming language, is command-line-driven, and has been successfully executed on both the HP and Linux platforms. It supports multiple concurrent runs. PRatTlE contains error trapping and input file format verification, which allows clear visibility into the input data structure and intermediate calculations.

Impact of extended defects on recombination in CdTe heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy

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

Zaunbrecher, Katherine N.; National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401; Kuciauskas, Darius

Heterostructures with CdTe and CdTe{sub 1-x}Se{sub x} (x ∼ 0.01) absorbers between two wider-band-gap Cd{sub 1-x}Mg{sub x}Te barriers (x ∼ 0.25–0.3) were grown by molecular beam epitaxy to study carrier generation and recombination in bulk materials with passivated interfaces. Using a combination of confocal photoluminescence (PL), time-resolved PL, and low-temperature PL emission spectroscopy, two extended defect types were identified and the impact of these defects on charge-carrier recombination was analyzed. The dominant defects identified by confocal PL were dislocations in samples grown on (211)B CdTe substrates and crystallographic twinning-related defects in samples on (100)-oriented InSb substrates. Low-temperature PL shows that twin-related defects have amore » zero-phonon energy of 1.460 eV and a Huang-Rhys factor of 1.50, while dislocation-dominated samples have a 1.473-eV zero-phonon energy and a Huang-Rhys factor of 1.22. The charge carrier diffusion length near both types of defects is ∼6 μm, suggesting that recombination is limited by diffusion dynamics. For heterostructures with a low concentration of extended defects, the bulk lifetime was determined to be 2.2 μs with an interface recombination velocity of 160 cm/s and an estimated radiative lifetime of 91 μs.« less

The Role of a Platelet Lysate-Based Compartmentalized System as a Carrier of Cells and Platelet-Origin Cytokines for Periodontal Tissue Regeneration.

PubMed

Babo, Pedro S; Cai, Xinjie; Plachokova, Adelina S; Reis, Rui L; Jansen, John A; Gomes, Manuela E; Walboomers, X Frank

2016-10-01

Currently available clinical therapies are not capable to regenerate tissues that are lost by periodontitis. Tissue engineering can be applied as a strategy to regenerate reliably the tissues and function of damaged periodontium. A prerequisite for this regeneration is the colonization of the defect with the adequate cell populations. In this study, we proposed a bilayered system composed of (1) a platelet lysate (PL)-based construct produced by crosslinking of PL proteins with genipin (gPL) for the delivery of rat periodontal ligament cells (rat-PDLCs); combined with (2) an injectable composite consisting of calcium phosphate cement incorporated with PL-loaded poly(d, l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres. This system was expected to promote periodontal regeneration by the delivery of adequate progenitor cells and providing a stable system enriched with adequate cytokines and growth factors for the orchestration of tissue regrowth in periodontal defects. The bilayered system was tested in a three-wall intrabony defect in rats and the healing of periodontal tissue was assessed 6 weeks after surgery. Results showed that the bilayered system was able to promote the regrowth of functional periodontal tissues, both with (cells + gPL) and without the loading of PDLCs (gPL). Significant connective tissue attachment (45.0 ± 15.0% and 64.0 ± 15.0% for gPL and cells + gPL group, respectively) and new bone area (33.8 ± 21% and 21.3 ± 3% for gPL and cells + gPL group, respectively) were observed. Nevertheless, rat PDLCs delivered with gPL construct in the defect area were hardly visible 6 weeks after surgery and did not contribute for the regeneration of new periodontal tissue. Overall, our findings show that the bilayered system promotes the stabilization of PL proteins on the root surface and has a positive effect in the repair of periodontal tissues both in quality and in quantity.

Formation of size controlled Ge nanocrystals in Er-doped ZnO matrix and their enhancement effect in 1.54 μm photoluminescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Ranran; Lu, Fei; Li, Kaikai; Liu, Kaijing

2018-06-01

This paper investigated the controllable growth of Ge nanocrystal (nc-Ge) in (Ge, Er) co-doped ZnO film, and the relationship between the size of nc-Ge and the enhancement of Er3+ related 1.54 μm photoluminescence (PL). It was found that nc-Ge with size of ∼5 nm was formed by annealing treatment at 600 °C. The intensity of 1.54 μm was significantly enhanced due to the existence of nc-Ge and showed an obvious dependence on nanocrystal size. The size of nc-Ge increased with the increase of the annealing temperature, and the nanocrystal with size of ∼5 nm made the most obvious contribution to PL enhancement. Prolonging annealing time could improve the crystalline structure of ZnO matrix but had no effect on PL intensity. The experimental results showed that the PL enhancement was mainly achieved by transferring the energy to Er through the resonance absorption of nc-Ge.

Surface modification effects on defect-related photoluminescence in colloidal CdS quantum dots.

PubMed

Lee, TaeGi; Shimura, Kunio; Kim, DaeGwi

2018-05-03

We investigated the effects of surface modification on the defect-related photoluminescence (PL) band in colloidal CdS quantum dots (QDs). A size-selective photoetching process and a surface modification technique with a Cd(OH)2 layer enabled the preparation of size-controlled CdS QDs with high PL efficiency. The Stokes shift of the defect-related PL band before and after the surface modification was ∼1.0 eV and ∼0.63 eV, respectively. This difference in the Stokes shifts suggests that the origin of the defect-related PL band was changed by the surface modification. Analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the surface of the CdS QDs before and after the surface modification was S rich and Cd rich, respectively. These results suggest that Cd-vacancy acceptors and S-vacancy donors affect PL processes in CdS QDs before and after the surface modification, respectively.

Near-unity quantum yields from chloride treated CdTe colloidal quantum dots

DOE PAGES

Page, Robert C.; Espinobarro-Velazquez, Daniel; Leontiadou, Marina A.; ...

2014-10-27

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are promising materials for novel light sources and solar energy conversion. However, trap states associated with the CQD surface can produce non-radiative charge recombination that significantly reduces device performance. Here a facile post-synthetic treatment of CdTe CQDs is demonstrated that uses chloride ions to achieve near-complete suppression of surface trapping, resulting in an increase of photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) from ca. 5% to up to 97.2 ± 2.5%. The effect of the treatment is characterised by absorption and PL spectroscopy, PL decay, scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We find thismore » process also dramatically improves the air-stability of the CQDs: before treatment the PL is largely quenched after 1 hour of air-exposure, whilst the treated samples showed a PL QY of nearly 50% after more than 12 hours.« less

Temperature dependent photoluminescence and micromapping of multiple stacks InAs quantum dots

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

Xu, Ming, E-mail: ming.xu@lgep.supelec.fr; Jaffré, Alexandre, E-mail: ming.xu@lgep.supelec.fr; Alvarez, José, E-mail: ming.xu@lgep.supelec.fr

2015-02-27

We utilized temperature dependent photoluminescence (PL) techniques to investigate 1, 3 and 5 stack InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) grown on cross-hatch patterns. PL mapping can well reproduce the QDs distribution as AFM and position dependency of QD growth. It is possible to observe crystallographic dependent PL. The temperature dependent spectra exhibit the QDs energy distribution which reflects the size and shape. The inter-dot carrier coupling effect is observed and translated as a red shift of 120mV on the [1–10] direction peak is observed at 30K on 1 stack with regards to 3 stacks samples, which is assigned to lateral coupling.

Effect of Ligand Exchange on the Photoluminescence Properties of Cu-Doped Zn-In-Se Quantum Dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Xiaofei; Xu, Jianping; Yang, Hui; Zhang, Xiaosong; Mo, Zhaojun; Shi, Shaobo; Li, Lan; Yin, Shougen

2018-04-01

The surface-bound ligands of a semiconductor nanocrystal can affect its electron transition behavior. We investigate the photoluminescence (PL) properties of Cu-doped Zn-In-Se quantum dots (QDs) through the exchange of oleylamine with 6-mercaptohexanol (MCH). Fourier transform infrared and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry reveal that the short-chain MCH molecules are bound to the QD surface. The emission peaks remain unchanged after ligand exchange, and the PL quantum yield is reduced from 49% to 38%. The effects of particle size and defect type on the change in PL behavior upon ligand substitution are excluded through high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis absorption, and PL spectroscopies. The origin of the decreased PL intensity is associated with increased ligand density and the stronger ligand electron-donating abilities of MCH-capped QDs that induce an increase in the nonradiative transition probability. A lower PL quenching transition temperature is observed for MCH-capped QDs and is associated with increasing electron-acoustic phonon coupling due to the lower melting temperature of MCH.

Unravelling polar lipids dynamics during embryonic development of two sympatric brachyuran crabs (Carcinus maenas and Necora puber) using lipidomics

PubMed Central

Rey, Felisa; Alves, Eliana; Melo, Tânia; Domingues, Pedro; Queiroga, Henrique; Rosa, Rui; Domingues, M. Rosário M.; Calado, Ricardo

2015-01-01

Embryogenesis is an important stage of marine invertebrates with bi-phasic life cycles, as it conditions their larval and adult life. Throughout embryogenesis, phospholipids (PL) play a key role as an energy source, as well as constituents of biological membranes. However, the dynamics of PL during embryogenesis in marine invertebrates is still poorly studied. The present work used a lipidomic approach to determine how polar lipid profiles shift during embryogenesis in two sympatric estuarine crabs, Carcinus maenas and Necora puber. The combination of thin layer chromatography, liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry allowed us to achieve an unprecedented resolution on PL classes and molecular species present on newly extruded embryos (stage 1) and those near hatching (stage 3). Embryogenesis proved to be a dynamic process, with four PL classes being recorded in stage 1 embryos (68 molecular species in total) and seven PL classes at stage 3 embryos (98 molecular species in total). The low interspecific difference recorded in the lipidomic profiles of stage 1 embryos appears to indicate the existence of similar maternal investment. The same pattern was recorded for stage 3 embryos revealing a similar catabolism of embryonic resources during incubation for both crab species. PMID:26419891

Optical and Magnetic Resonance Studies of Na-Diffused ZnO Bulk Single Crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glaser, E. R.; Garces, N. Y.; Parmar, N. S.; Lynn, K. G.

2013-03-01

Photoluminescence (PL) and optically-detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) at 24 GHz were performed on bulk ZnO crystals after diffusion of Na impurities that were explored as an alternate doping source for p-type conductivity. PL at 2K revealed strong bandedge excitonic recombination at 3.361 eV and a broad ``orange'' PL band at 2.17 eV with FWHM of ~0.5 eV. This ``orange'' emission is very similar to that reported previously[1] from thermoluminescence measurements of intentionally Na-doped bulk ZnO and, thus, strongly suggests the incorporation and activation of the Na-diffused impurities. ODMR performed on this ``orange'' PL revealed two signals. The first was a sharp feature with g-value of ~1.96 and is a well-known ``fingerprint'' of shallow donors in ZnO. The second signal consisted of a pair of lines with an intensity ratio of ~3:1 and with g-tensors (g∥,g⊥ ~2.008-2.029) very similar to ESR signals attributed previously[2] to holes bound to Na impurities located at the axial and non-axial Zn host lattice sites in Na-doped ZnO. Thus, the ``orange'' PL can be tentatively assigned to radiative recombination between residual shallow donors and deep Na-related hole traps.

Femtosecond laser-induced size reduction and emission quantum yield enhancement of colloidal silicon nanocrystals: Effect of laser ablation time.

PubMed

Zhang, Yingxiong; Wu, Wenshun; Hao, Huilian; Shen, Wenzhong

2018-06-19

Colloidal silicon (Si) nanocrystals (NCs) with different sizes were successfully prepared by femtosecond laser ablation under different laser ablation time (LAT). The mean size decreases from 4.23 to 1.42 nm with increasing LAT from 30 to 120 min. In combination with structural characterization, temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL), time-resolved PL, and PL excitation spectra, we attribute room temperature blue emissions peaked at 405 and 430 nm to the radiative recombination of electron-hole pairs via the oxygen deficient centers related to Si-C-H2 and Si-O-Si bonds of colloidal Si NCs prepared in 1-octene, respectively. In particular, the measured PL quantum yield of colloidal Si NCs has been enhanced significantly from 23.6% to 55.8% with prolonging LAT from 30 to 120 min. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Electronic bandstructure of semiconductor dilute bismide structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erucar, T.; Nutku, F.; Donmez, O.; Erol, A.

2017-02-01

In this work electronic band structure of dilute bismide GaAs/GaAs1-xBix quantum well structures with 1.8% and 3.75% bismuth compositions have been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements reveal that effective bandgap of the samples decreases approximately 65 meV per bismuth concentration. Temperature dependence of the effective bandgap is obtained to be higher for the sample with higher bismuth concentration. Moreover, both asymmetric characteristic at the low energy tail of the PL and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of PL peak increase with increasing bismuth composition as a result of increased Bi related defects located above valence band (VB). In order to explain composition dependence of the effective bandgap quantitatively, valence band anti-crossing (VBAC) model is used. Bismuth composition and temperature dependence of effective bandgap in a quantum well structure is modeled by solving Schrödinger equation and compared with experimental PL data.

Donor-acceptor pair recombination luminescence from monoclinic Cu{sub 2}SnS{sub 3} thin film

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

Aihara, Naoya; Tanaka, Kunihiko, E-mail: tanaka@vos.nagaokaut.ac.jp; Uchiki, Hisao

2015-07-20

The defect levels in Cu{sub 2}SnS{sub 3} (CTS) were investigated using photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. A CTS thin film was prepared on a soda-lime glass/molybdenum substrate by thermal co-evaporation and sulfurization. The crystal structure was determined to be monoclinic, and the compositional ratios of Cu/Sn and S/Metal were determined to be 1.8 and 1.2, respectively. The photon energy of the PL spectra observed from the CTS thin film was lower than that previously reported. All fitted PL peaks were associated with defect related luminescence. The PL peaks observed at 0.843 and 0.867 eV were assigned to donor-acceptor pair recombination luminescence, the thermalmore » activation energies of which were determined to be 22.9 and 24.8 meV, respectively.« less

Chalcones isolated from Angelica keiskei inhibit cysteine proteases of SARS-CoV.

PubMed

Park, Ji-Young; Ko, Jin-A; Kim, Dae Wook; Kim, Young Min; Kwon, Hyung-Jun; Jeong, Hyung Jae; Kim, Cha Young; Park, Ki Hun; Lee, Woo Song; Ryu, Young Bae

2016-01-01

Two viral proteases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), a chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL(pro)) and a papain-like protease (PL(pro)) are attractive targets for the development of anti-SARS drugs. In this study, nine alkylated chalcones (1-9) and four coumarins (10-13) were isolated from Angelica keiskei, and the inhibitory activities of these constituents against SARS-CoV proteases (3CL(pro) and PL(pro)) were determined (cell-free/based). Of the isolated alkylated chalcones, chalcone 6, containing the perhydroxyl group, exhibited the most potent 3CL(pro) and PL(pro) inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 11.4 and 1.2 µM. Our detailed protein-inhibitor mechanistic analysis of these species indicated that the chalcones exhibited competitive inhibition characteristics to the SARS-CoV 3CL(pro), whereas noncompetitive inhibition was observed with the SARS-CoV PL(pro).

The Potential of GMP-Compliant Platelet Lysate to Induce a Permissive State for Cardiovascular Transdifferentiation in Human Mediastinal Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

PubMed Central

Bordin, Antonella; Ponti, Donatella; Iudicone, Paola; Rendina, Erino Angelo; Calogero, Antonella; Pierelli, Luca; Ibrahim, Mohsen; De Falco, Elena

2015-01-01

Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) are considered eligible candidates for cardiovascular stem cell therapy applications due to their cardiac transdifferentiation potential and immunotolerance. Over the years, the in vitro culture of ADMSCs by platelet lysate (PL), a hemoderivate containing numerous growth factors and cytokines derived from platelet pools, has allowed achieving a safe and reproducible methodology to obtain high cell yield prior to clinical administration. Nevertheless, the biological properties of PL are still to be fully elucidated. In this brief report we show the potential ability of PL to induce a permissive state of cardiac-like transdifferentiation and to cause epigenetic modifications. RTPCR results indicate an upregulation of Cx43, SMA, c-kit, and Thy-1 confirmed by immunofluorescence staining, compared to standard cultures with foetal bovine serum. Moreover, PL-cultured ADMSCs exhibit a remarkable increase of both acetylated histones 3 and 4, with a patient-dependent time trend, and methylation at lysine 9 on histone 3 preceding the acetylation. Expression levels of p300 and SIRT-1, two major regulators of histone 3, are also upregulated after treatment with PL. In conclusion, PL could unravel novel biological properties beyond its routine employment in noncardiac applications, providing new insights into the plasticity of human ADMSCs. PMID:26495284

Fernblock (Polypodium leucotomos Extract): Molecular Mechanisms and Pleiotropic Effects in Light-Related Skin Conditions, Photoaging and Skin Cancers, a Review

PubMed Central

Parrado, Concepcion; Mascaraque, Marta; Gilaberte, Yolanda; Juarranz, Angeles; Gonzalez, Salvador

2016-01-01

Healthier life styles include increased outdoors time practicing sports and walking. This means increased exposure to the sun, leading to higher risk of sunburn, photoaging and skin cancer. In addition to topical barrier products, oral supplementations of various botanicals endowed with antioxidant activity are emerging as novel method of photoprotection. Polypodium leucotomos extract (PL, commercial name Fernblock®, IFC Group, Spain) is a powerful antioxidant due to its high content of phenolic compounds. PL is administered orally, with proven safety, and it can also be used topically. Its mechanisms include inhibition of the generation and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by ultraviolet (UV) light. It also prevents UV- and ROS-induced DNA damage with inhibition of AP1 and NF-κB and protection of natural antioxidant enzyme systems. At the cellular level, PL decreases cellular apoptosis and necrosis mediated UV and inhibits abnormal extracellular matrix remodeling. PL reduces inflammation, prevents immunosuppression, activates tumor suppressor p53 and inhibits UV-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme expression. In agreement with increased p53 activity, PL decreased UV radiation-induced cell proliferation. PL also prevents common deletions mitochondrial DNA damage induced by UVA, and MMP-1 expression induced Visible Light and Infrared Radiation. These cellular and molecular effects are reflected in inhibitions of carcinogenesis and photoaging. PMID:27367679

The potential of GMP-compliant platelet lysate to induce a permissive state for cardiovascular transdifferentiation in human mediastinal adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

PubMed

Siciliano, Camilla; Chimenti, Isotta; Bordin, Antonella; Ponti, Donatella; Iudicone, Paola; Peruzzi, Mariangela; Rendina, Erino Angelo; Calogero, Antonella; Pierelli, Luca; Ibrahim, Mohsen; De Falco, Elena

2015-01-01

Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) are considered eligible candidates for cardiovascular stem cell therapy applications due to their cardiac transdifferentiation potential and immunotolerance. Over the years, the in vitro culture of ADMSCs by platelet lysate (PL), a hemoderivate containing numerous growth factors and cytokines derived from platelet pools, has allowed achieving a safe and reproducible methodology to obtain high cell yield prior to clinical administration. Nevertheless, the biological properties of PL are still to be fully elucidated. In this brief report we show the potential ability of PL to induce a permissive state of cardiac-like transdifferentiation and to cause epigenetic modifications. RTPCR results indicate an upregulation of Cx43, SMA, c-kit, and Thy-1 confirmed by immunofluorescence staining, compared to standard cultures with foetal bovine serum. Moreover, PL-cultured ADMSCs exhibit a remarkable increase of both acetylated histones 3 and 4, with a patient-dependent time trend, and methylation at lysine 9 on histone 3 preceding the acetylation. Expression levels of p300 and SIRT-1, two major regulators of histone 3, are also upregulated after treatment with PL. In conclusion, PL could unravel novel biological properties beyond its routine employment in noncardiac applications, providing new insights into the plasticity of human ADMSCs.

Fernblock (Polypodium leucotomos Extract): Molecular Mechanisms and Pleiotropic Effects in Light-Related Skin Conditions, Photoaging and Skin Cancers, a Review.

PubMed

Parrado, Concepcion; Mascaraque, Marta; Gilaberte, Yolanda; Juarranz, Angeles; Gonzalez, Salvador

2016-06-29

Healthier life styles include increased outdoors time practicing sports and walking. This means increased exposure to the sun, leading to higher risk of sunburn, photoaging and skin cancer. In addition to topical barrier products, oral supplementations of various botanicals endowed with antioxidant activity are emerging as novel method of photoprotection. Polypodium leucotomos extract (PL, commercial name Fernblock(®), IFC Group, Spain) is a powerful antioxidant due to its high content of phenolic compounds. PL is administered orally, with proven safety, and it can also be used topically. Its mechanisms include inhibition of the generation and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by ultraviolet (UV) light. It also prevents UV- and ROS-induced DNA damage with inhibition of AP1 and NF-κB and protection of natural antioxidant enzyme systems. At the cellular level, PL decreases cellular apoptosis and necrosis mediated UV and inhibits abnormal extracellular matrix remodeling. PL reduces inflammation, prevents immunosuppression, activates tumor suppressor p53 and inhibits UV-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme expression. In agreement with increased p53 activity, PL decreased UV radiation-induced cell proliferation. PL also prevents common deletions mitochondrial DNA damage induced by UVA, and MMP-1 expression induced Visible Light and Infrared Radiation. These cellular and molecular effects are reflected in inhibitions of carcinogenesis and photoaging.

Involvement of prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex in panic-like elaborated defensive behaviour and innate fear-induced antinociception elicited by GABAA receptor blockade in the dorsomedial and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei: role of the endocannabinoid CB1 receptor.

PubMed

Freitas, Renato Leonardo de; Salgado-Rohner, Carlos José; Hallak, Jaime Eduardo Cecílio; Crippa, José Alexandre de Souza; Coimbra, Norberto Cysne

2013-09-01

It has been shown that GABAA receptor blockade in the dorsomedial and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei (DMH and VMH, respectively) induces elaborated defensive behavioural responses accompanied by antinociception, which has been utilized as an experimental model of panic attack. Furthermore, the prelimbic (PL) division of the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) has been related to emotional reactions and the processing of nociceptive information. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible involvement of the PL cortex and the participation of local cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the elaboration of panic-like reactions and in innate fear-induced antinociception. Elaborated fear-induced responses were analysed during a 10-min period in an open-field test arena. Microinjection of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline into the DMH/VMH evoked panic-like behaviour and fear-induced antinociception, which was decreased by microinjection of the non-selective synaptic contact blocker cobalt chloride in the PL cortex. Moreover, microinjection of AM251 (25, 100 or 400 pmol), an endocannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, into the PL cortex also attenuated the defensive behavioural responses and the antinociception that follows innate fear behaviour elaborated by DMH/VMH. These data suggest that the PL cortex plays an important role in the organization of elaborated forward escape behaviour and that this cortical area is also involved in the elaboration of innate fear-induced antinociception. Additionally, CB1 receptors in the PL cortex modulate both panic-like behaviours and fear-induced antinociception elicited by disinhibition of the DMH/VMH through microinjection of bicuculline.

Detecting Protein-Glycolipid Interactions Using CaR-ESI-MS and Model Membranes: Comparison of Pre-loaded and Passively Loaded Picodiscs.

PubMed

Li, Jun; Han, Ling; Li, Jianing; Kitova, Elena N; Xiong, Zi Jian; Privé, Gilbert G; Klassen, John S

2018-04-13

Catch-and-release electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CaR-ESI-MS), implemented using model membranes (MMs), is a promising approach for the discovery of glycolipid ligands of glycan-binding proteins (GBPs). Picodiscs (PDs), which are lipid-transporting complexes composed of the human sphingolipid activator protein saposin A and phospholipids, have proven to be useful MMs for such studies. The present work compares the use of conventional (pre-loaded) PDs with passively loaded PDs ( PL PDs) for CaR-ESI-MS screening of glycolipids against cholera toxin B subunit homopentamer (CTB 5 ). The pre-loaded PDs were prepared from a mixture of purified glycolipid and phospholipid or a mixture of lipids extracted from tissue, while the PL PDs were prepared by incubating PDs containing only phospholipid with glycolipid-containing lipid mixtures in aqueous solution. Time-dependent changes in the composition of the PL PDs produced by incubation with glycomicelles of the ganglioside GM1 were monitored using collision-induced dissociation of the gaseous PD ions and from the extent of ganglioside binding to CTB 5 measured by ESI-MS. GM1 incorporation into PDs was evident within a few hours of incubation. At incubation times ≥ 10 days, GM1 binding to CTB 5 was indistinguishable from that observed with pre-loaded PDs produced directly from GM1 at the same concentration. Comparison of ganglioside binding to CTB 5 measured for pre-loaded PDs and PL PDs prepared from glycolipids extracted from pig and mouse brain revealed that the PL PDs allow for the detection of a greater number of ganglioside ligands. Together, the results of this study suggest PL PDs may have advantages over conventionally prepared PDs for screening glycolipids against GBPs using CaR-ESI-MS. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

The safety profile of a retrospective Accessory Postero-Lateral hind foot portal: the risk of sural nerve damage during visualisation of the Achilles tendon insertion.

PubMed

Carmont, M R; Stroud, R; Bjorndalen, H; Crowther, J; Ribbans, W J; Griffin, D

2012-06-01

The Accessory Postero-Lateral (AccPL) portal has recently been described to improve the visualisation for the endoscopic debridement of Haglund's tubercle. The safety of using this portal has been considered previously for posterior ankle arthroscopy. We performed a study to determine the proximity of the AccPL portal to the sural nerve. We compared the distances between AccPL and PL portals to the sural nerve in 17 cadaveric specimens. The AccPL portal was significantly closer (mean 12.0mm, range 6-19 mm, SD=3.64) to the sural nerve than the PL portal (mean 14.1mm, range 11-18 mm, SD=2.34) (t(16)=-2.34, p=0.03). In two cases the sural nerve was in contact with the clip but on close inspection, the nerve had not been damaged in any of the specimens. We conclude that the AccPL portal is a safe method to allow visualisation during endoscopic debridement of the Achilles tendon insertion. We also recommend that the portal is used for visualisation rather than instrumentation. Copyright © 2011 European Foot and Ankle Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Platelet Lysate: The Better Choice for Jaw Periosteal Cell Mineralization.

PubMed

Wanner, Yvonne; Umrath, Felix; Waidmann, Marc; Reinert, Siegmar; Alexander, Dorothea

2017-01-01

Previously, we demonstrated a high quality of minerals formed by serum-free cultured jaw periosteal cells (JPCs) by Raman spectroscopy but the mineralization extent was not satisfactory. In the present study, we analyzed the proliferation and mineralization potential of human platelet lysate- (hPL-) cultured JPCs in comparison to that of FCS-cultured JPCs. By cell impedance measurements, we detected significantly higher population doubling times of PL-cultured JPCs in comparison to FCS-cultured JPCs. However, this result was not based on lower proliferation activities but on diminished cell sizes which JPCs develop under PL cultivation. The measurements of the metabolic activities clearly showed significantly higher cell proliferation rates under PL culturing. Equivalent levels of the mesenchymal cell markers CD29, CD45, CD73, CD90, and CD105 were detected, but there were significantly increased MSCA-1 levels under PL cultivation. While JPCs only occasionally mineralize under FCS culture conditions, the mineralization potential was significantly stronger under PL cultivation. Moreover, in 4 of 5 analyzed patient cells, the addition of dexamethasone was proved no longer necessary for strong mineralization of PL-cultured JPCs. We conclude that in vitro cultivation of JPCs with platelet lysate is a suitable alternative to FCS culture conditions and a powerful tool for the development of high-quality TE constructs using jaw periosteal cells.

Visible photoluminescence from plasma-polymerized-organosilicone thin films deposited from HMDSO/O2 induced remote plasma: effect of oxygen fraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naddaf, M.; Saloum, S.

2008-09-01

Visible photoluminescence (PL) from thin films deposited on silicon wafers by remote plasma polymerization of the hexamethyledisiloxane (HMDSO)/O2 mixture in a radio-frequency hollow cathode discharge reactor has been investigated as a function of different oxygen fractions ( \\chi _{O_2 } =0 , 0.38, 0.61, 0.76 and 0.9). At room temperature, the film deposited at \\chi _{O_2 } =0 exhibits a strong, broad PL band peak centred at around 537.6 nm. A blue shift and a considerable decrease (~one order) in the intensity of the PL peak are observed after the addition of oxygen. Furthermore, in contrast to the film deposited from pure HMDSO, the low temperature (15 K) PL spectra of the film deposited from different HMDSO/O2 mixtures exhibit two separated 'green-blue' and 'yellow-green' PL peaks. The PL behaviour of the deposited films is correlated with their structural and morphological properties, investigated by using Fourier transform infrared, atomic force microscope and contact angle techniques. In addition, it is found from spectrophotometry measurements that the deposited films have relatively low absorption coefficients (in the range 100-500 cm-1) in the spectral range of their PL emission, attractive for possible integrated optics devices.

[Action of red polarized light on the acupuncture point E-36 increases analgesic effect of corvitin].

PubMed

Tamarova, Z A; Lymans'kyĭ, Iu P; Kostiuk, O I; Mitruzaeva, V A; Lymans'ka, L I

2010-01-01

In experiments on mice of lines C57BL/6J and CBA/CaLac, the possibility of strengthening of analgesic effect of corvitin by the action of red polarized light (PL) on the acupoint (AP) E-36 was studied. The pain behavioral response (licking of the painful area) was caused by injection of 5% formalin in hind limb (0.25 microl subcutaneously). The duration of pain response was studied before and after systemic introduction of corvitin (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) or joint use of corvitin and red PL (10 minute session). It is established, that after application of red PL on the antinociceptive AP E-36 in all animals an authentic strengthening of antinociceptive effect of corvitin takes place. In C57BL/6J mice, application of corvitin alone weakened the pain response by 29.7% and during combined use of red PL and corvitin, it grew up to 53.1%. Mice of line CBA/CaLac were less sensitive both to corvitin, and PL. In this line, corvitin used alone reduced the duration of pain response by 14%, and by 32.4% during combined use with red PL. Non-traumatic, without side effects, the method of influence by low-intensive PL can be recommended to patients accepting corvitin for strengthening its efficiency.

Japan Report, Science and Technology

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-05-26

PL tO e 60 tO C U c I o 01 O 0) (J to re u C it! o c ■H 60 o U C 1-1 tO...O 01 ŕ p! o C -H O 4J •H tO MUS n C B a. 3 -H o u-i to c o •H AJ 4J tO 10 01 1-c 4J re TJ PL tO M OJ...c •H (i t 1 o O RM ■H < c o o u ^ AJ XI tl 0) c rH w W •H to U-t OJ o PJ 4-1 60 U c a ■H X •o V c 3 o n PL r-t 01 In 01 u u

Lonchakov holds Space Science P/L Kristallizator Module-1 experiment hardware in the SM during Joint Operations

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-10-15

ISS017-E-018411 (15 Oct. 2008) --- Russian Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov, Expedition 18 flight engineer, looks over a procedures checklist while holding Space Science P/L Crystallizer Module-1 experiment hardware in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station.

JPRS Report, Soviet Union, Foreign Military Review, No. 1, January 1988

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-05-12

France G-91T Italy J-35P Draken Sweden AJ-37 Viggen Sweden JA-37 Viggen Sweden Kefir -C.2 larael P-l Japan 16,500 (7400) 1 x 9700 8700...JA-37 Viggan Sweden Kefir -C.2 Iirael P-l Japan 16,500 (7400) 1 x 9700 8700 (3900) 2 x 1850 15.000 (7700) 1 x 7800 20,500 (9000) 1 X

Functional Analyses of Resurrected and Contemporary Enzymes Illuminate an Evolutionary Path for the Emergence of Exolysis in Polysaccharide Lyase Family 2.

PubMed

McLean, Richard; Hobbs, Joanne K; Suits, Michael D; Tuomivaara, Sami T; Jones, Darryl R; Boraston, Alisdair B; Abbott, D Wade

2015-08-28

Family 2 polysaccharide lyases (PL2s) preferentially catalyze the β-elimination of homogalacturonan using transition metals as catalytic cofactors. PL2 is divided into two subfamilies that have been generally associated with secretion, Mg(2+) dependence, and endolysis (subfamily 1) and with intracellular localization, Mn(2+) dependence, and exolysis (subfamily 2). When present within a genome, PL2 genes are typically found as tandem copies, which suggests that they provide complementary activities at different stages along a catabolic cascade. This relationship most likely evolved by gene duplication and functional divergence (i.e. neofunctionalization). Although the molecular basis of subfamily 1 endolytic activity is understood, the adaptations within the active site of subfamily 2 enzymes that contribute to exolysis have not been determined. In order to investigate this relationship, we have conducted a comparative enzymatic analysis of enzymes dispersed within the PL2 phylogenetic tree and elucidated the structure of VvPL2 from Vibrio vulnificus YJ016, which represents a transitional member between subfamiles 1 and 2. In addition, we have used ancestral sequence reconstruction to functionally investigate the segregated evolutionary history of PL2 progenitor enzymes and illuminate the molecular evolution of exolysis. This study highlights that ancestral sequence reconstruction in combination with the comparative analysis of contemporary and resurrected enzymes holds promise for elucidating the origins and activities of other carbohydrate active enzyme families and the biological significance of cryptic metabolic pathways, such as pectinolysis within the zoonotic marine pathogen V. vulnificus. © 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Oxygen and relative humidity monitoring with films tailored for enhanced photoluminescence

DOE PAGES

Cui, Weipan; Liu, Rui; Manna, Eeshita; ...

2014-10-31

In this study, approaches to generate porous or doped sensing films, which significantly enhance the photoluminescence (PL) of oxygen optical sensors, and thus improve the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, are presented. Tailored films, which enable monitoring the relative humidity (RH) as well, are also presented. Effective porous structures, in which the O 2-sensitive dye Pt octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP) or the Pd analog PdOEP was embedded, were realized by first generating blend films of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with polystyrene (PS) or with ethyl cellulose (EC), and then immersing the dried films in water to remove the water-soluble PEG. This approach creates pores (voids)more » in the sensing films. The dielectric contrast between the films’ constituents and the voids increases photon scattering, which in turn increases the optical path of the excitation light within the film, and hence light absorption by the dye, and its PL. Optimized sensing films with a PEG:PS ratio of 1:4 (PEG’s molecular weight M w ~8000) led to ~4.4× enhancement in the PL (in comparison to PS films). Lower M w ~200 PEG with a PEG:EC ratio of 1:1 led to a PL enhancement of ~4.7×. Film-dependent PL enhancements were observed at all oxygen concentrations. The strong PL enhancement enables (i) using lower dye (luminophore) concentrations, (ii) reducing power consumption and enhancing the sensor’s operational lifetime when using organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) as excitation sources, (iii) improving performance when using compact photodetectors with no internal gain, and (iv) reliably extending the dynamic range.« less

Influence of powder/liquid ratio on the radiodensity and diametral tensile strength of glass ionomer cements

PubMed Central

FONSECA, Rodrigo Borges; BRANCO, Carolina Assaf; QUAGLIATTO, Paulo Sérgio; GONÇALVES, Luciano de Souza; SOARES, Carlos José; CARLO, Hugo Lemes; CORRER-SOBRINHO, Lourenço

2010-01-01

Objective To determine the influence of P/L ratio on the radiodensity and diametral tensile strength (DTS) of glass ionomer cements. Material and Methods There were 2 factors under study: P/L ratio (manufacturer's recommended P/L ratio and a 50% reduced P/L ratio), and materials (Vitro Molar, Vitro Fil, Vitro Cem conventional GICs and Vitro Fil LC, Ortho Glass LC RMGICs). Five 1-mm-thick samples of each material-P/L ratio were produced for radiodensity evaluation. Samples were x-ray exposed onto Digora phosphor plate and radiodensity was obtained using the software Digora for Windows 2.5 Rev 0. For DTS, five (4.0x8.0 mm) cylinder samples of each material were tested (0.5 mm/min). Data were subjected to one- and two-way ANOVA (5x2) followed by Tukey's HSD test, or Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's method. For paired comparisons, t-test or Mann-Whitney test were used (a=0.05). Results There was a significant interaction (P=0.001) for the studied factors (materials vs. P/L ratio). Reduced P/L ratio resulted in significantly lower DTS for the RMGICs, but radiodensity was affected for all materials (P<0.05). Conclusions Reduced P/L ratio affected properties of the tested glass ionomer cements. RMGICs were more susceptible to lower values of DTS, but radiodensity decreased for all materials following P/L ratio reduction. PMID:21308288

Pressure-induced photoluminescence in Mn2+-doped BaF2 and SrF2 fluorites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernández, Ignacio; Rodríguez, Fernando

2003-01-01

This work reports an effective way for inducing room temperature photoluminescence (PL) in Mn2+-doped BaF2 and SrF2 using high-pressure techniques. The aim is to understand the surprising PL behavior exhibited by Mn2+ at the cubal site of the fluorite structure. While Mn2+-doped CaF2 shows a green PL with quantum yield close to 1 at room temperature, Mn2+-doped MF2 (M=Ba,Sr) is not PL either at room temperature (SrF2) or at any temperature (BaF2) at ambient pressure. We associate the loss of Mn2+ PL on passing from CaF2 to SrF2 or BaF2 with nonradiative multiphonon relaxation whose thermal activation energy decreases along the series CaF2→SrF2→BaF2. A salient feature of this work deals with the increase of activation energy induced by pressure. It leads to a quantum yield enhancement, which favors PL recovery. Furthermore, the activation energy mainly depends on the crystal volume per molecule irrespective of the crystal structure or the local symmetry around the impurity. In this way, the relevance of the fluorite-to-cotunnite phase transition is analyzed in connection with the PL properties of the investigated compounds. The PL spectrum and the corresponding lifetime are reported for both structural phases as a function of pressure.

A novel platelet lysate hydrogel for endothelial cell and mesenchymal stem cell-directed neovascularization.

PubMed

Robinson, Scott T; Douglas, Alison M; Chadid, Tatiana; Kuo, Katie; Rajabalan, Ajai; Li, Haiyan; Copland, Ian B; Barker, Thomas H; Galipeau, Jacques; Brewster, Luke P

2016-05-01

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) hold promise in promoting vascular regeneration of ischemic tissue in conditions like critical limb ischemia of the leg. However, this approach has been limited in part by poor cell retention and survival after delivery. New biomaterials offer an opportunity to localize cells to the desired tissue after delivery, but also to improve cell survival after delivery. Here we characterize the mechanical and microstructural properties of a novel hydrogel composed of pooled human platelet lysate (PL) and test its ability to promote MSC angiogenic activity using clinically relevant in vitro and in vivo models. This PL hydrogel had comparable storage and loss modulus and behaved as a viscoelastic solid similar to fibrin hydrogels despite having 1/4-1/10th the fibrin content of standard fibrin gels. Additionally, PL hydrogels enabled sustained release of endogenous PDGF-BB for up to 20days and were resistant to protease degradation. PL hydrogel stimulated pro-angiogenic activity by promoting human MSC growth and invasion in a 3D environment, and enhancing endothelial cell sprouting alone and in co-culture with MSCs. When delivered in vivo, the combination of PL and human MSCs improved local tissue perfusion after 8days compared to controls when assessed with laser Doppler perfusion imaging in a murine model of hind limb ischemia. These results support the use of a PL hydrogel as a scaffold for MSC delivery to promote vascular regeneration. Innovative strategies for improved retention and viability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are needed for cellular therapies. Human platelet lysate is a potent serum supplement that improves the expansion of MSCs. Here we characterize our novel PL hydrogel's desirable structural and biologic properties for human MSCs and endothelial cells. PL hydrogel can localize cells for retention in the desired tissue, improves cell viability, and augments MSCs' angiogenic activity. As a result of these unique traits, PL hydrogel is ideally suited to serve as a cell delivery vehicle for MSCs injected into ischemic tissues to promote vascular regeneration, as demonstrated here in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Oxidized phospholipids are proinflammatory and proatherogenic in hypercholesterolaemic mice.

PubMed

Que, Xuchu; Hung, Ming-Yow; Yeang, Calvin; Gonen, Ayelet; Prohaska, Thomas A; Sun, Xiaoli; Diehl, Cody; Määttä, Antti; Gaddis, Dalia E; Bowden, Karen; Pattison, Jennifer; MacDonald, Jeffrey G; Ylä-Herttuala, Seppo; Mellon, Pamela L; Hedrick, Catherine C; Ley, Klaus; Miller, Yury I; Glass, Christopher K; Peterson, Kirk L; Binder, Christoph J; Tsimikas, Sotirios; Witztum, Joseph L

2018-06-06

Oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) are ubiquitous, are formed in many inflammatory tissues, including atherosclerotic lesions, and frequently mediate proinflammatory changes 1 . Because OxPL are mostly the products of non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation, mechanisms to specifically neutralize them are unavailable and their roles in vivo are largely unknown. We previously cloned the IgM natural antibody E06, which binds to the phosphocholine headgroup of OxPL, and blocks the uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) by macrophages and inhibits the proinflammatory properties of OxPL 2-4 . Here, to determine the role of OxPL in vivo in the context of atherogenesis, we generated transgenic mice in the Ldlr -/- background that expressed a single-chain variable fragment of E06 (E06-scFv) using the Apoe promoter. E06-scFv was secreted into the plasma from the liver and macrophages, and achieved sufficient plasma levels to inhibit in vivo macrophage uptake of OxLDL and to prevent OxPL-induced inflammatory signalling. Compared to Ldlr -/- mice, Ldlr -/- E06-scFv mice had 57-28% less atherosclerosis after 4, 7 and even 12 months of 1% high-cholesterol diet. Echocardiographic and histologic evaluation of the aortic valves demonstrated that E06-scFv ameliorated the development of aortic valve gradients and decreased aortic valve calcification. Both cholesterol accumulation and in vivo uptake of OxLDL were decreased in peritoneal macrophages, and both peritoneal and aortic macrophages had a decreased inflammatory phenotype. Serum amyloid A was decreased by 32%, indicating decreased systemic inflammation, and hepatic steatosis and inflammation were also decreased. Finally, the E06-scFv prolonged life as measured over 15 months. Because the E06-scFv lacks the functional effects of an intact antibody other than the ability to bind OxPL and inhibit OxLDL uptake in macrophages, these data support a major proatherogenic role of OxLDL and demonstrate that OxPL are proinflammatory and proatherogenic, which E06 counteracts in vivo. These studies suggest that therapies inactivating OxPL may be beneficial for reducing generalized inflammation, including the progression of atherosclerosis, aortic stenosis and hepatic steatosis.

Comparison of 2 correction methods for absolute values of esophageal pressure in subjects with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, mechanically ventilated in the ICU.

PubMed

Guérin, Claude; Richard, Jean-Christophe

2012-12-01

A recent trial showed that setting PEEP according to end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure (P(pl,ee)) in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) might improve patient outcome. P(pl,ee) was obtained by subtracting the absolute value of esophageal pressure (P(es)) from airway pressure an invariant value of 5 cm H(2)O. The goal of the present study was to compare 2 methods for correcting absolute P(es) values in terms of resulting P(pl,ee) and recommended PEEP. Measurements collected prospectively from 42 subjects with various forms of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure receiving mechanical ventilation in ICU were analyzed. P(es) was measured at PEEP (P(es,ee)) and at relaxation volume of the respiratory system Vr (P(es,Vr)), obtained by allowing the subject to exhale into the atmosphere (zero PEEP). Two methods for correcting P(es) were compared: Talmor method (P(pl,ee,Talmor) = P(es,ee) - 5 cm H(2)O), and Vr method (P(es,ee,Vr) = P(es,ee) - P(es,Vr)). The rationale was that P(es,Vr) was a more physiologically based correction factor than an invariant value of 5 cm H(2)O applied to all subjects. Over the 42 subjects, median and interquartile range of P(es,ee) and P(es,Vr) were 11 (7-14) cm H(2)O and 8 (4-11) cm H(2)O, respectively. P(pl,ee,Talmor) was 6 (1-8) cm H(2)O, and P(es,ee,Vr) was 2 (1-5) cm H(2)O (P = .008). Two groups of subjects were defined, based on the difference between the 2 corrected values. In 28 subjects P(pl,ee,Talmor) was ≥ P(es,ee,Vr) (7 [5-9] cm H(2)O vs 2 [1-5] cm H(2)O, respectively), while in 14 subjects P(es,ee,Vr) was > P(pl,ee,Talmor) (2 [0-4] cm H(2)O vs -1 [-3 to 2] cm H(2)O, respectively). P(pl,ee,Vr) was significantly greater than P(pl,ee,Talmor) (7 [5-11] cm H(2)O vs 5 [2-7] cm H(2)O) in the former, and significantly lower in the latter (1 [-2 to 6] cm H(2)O vs 6 [4-9] cm H(2)O). Referring absolute P(es) values to Vr rather than to an invariant value would be better adapted to a patient's physiological background. Further studies are required to determine whether this correction method might improve patient outcome.

Phylogenetic Analysis of a Swine Influenza A(H3N2) Virus Isolated in Korea in 2012

PubMed Central

Park, Sehee; Lee, Sangmoo; Hwang, Min-Woong; Bae, Joon-Yong; Heo, Jun; Kim, Donghwan; Jang, Seok-Il; Kim, Kabsu; Park, Man-Seong

2014-01-01

Influenza A virus (IAV) can infect avian and mammalian species, including humans. The genome nature of IAVs may contribute to viral adaptation in different animal hosts, resulting in gene reassortment and the reproduction of variants with optimal fitness. As seen again in the 2009 swine-origin influenza A H1N1 pandemic, pigs are known to be susceptible to swine, avian, and human IAVs and can serve as a ‘mixing vessel’ for the generation of novel IAV variants. To this end, the emergence of swine influenza viruses must be kept under close surveillance. Herein, we report the isolation and phylogenetic study of a swine IAV, A/swine/Korea/PL01/2012 (swPL01, H3N2 subtype). After screening nasopharyngeal samples from pigs in the Gyeongsangnam-do region of Korea from December 2011 to May 2012, we isolated the swPL01 virus and sequenced its all of 8 genome segments (polymerase basic 2, PB2; polymerase basic 1, PB1; polymerase acidic, PA; hemagglutinin, HA; nucleocapsid protein, NP; neuraminidase, NA; matrix protein, M; and nonstructural protein, NS). The phylogenetic study, analyzed with reference strains registered in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, indicated that the swPL01 virus was similar to the North American triple-reassortant swine strains and that the HA gene of the swPL01 virus was categorized into swine H3 cluster IV. The swPL01 virus had the M gene of the triple-reassortant swine H3N2 viruses, whereas that of other contemporary strains in Korea was transferred from the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus. These data suggest the possibility that various swine H3N2 viruses may co-circulate in Korea, which underlines the importance of a sustained surveillance system against swine IAVs. PMID:24523938

Biometrical analysis of the shoulder joint regarding glenoid implant dimensions for arthroplasty.

PubMed

Kircher, Jörn; Bittersohl, Bernd; Zilkens, Christoph; Hedtmann, Achim; Krauspe, Rüdiger

2014-05-01

Reduced bone stock and difficult intraoperative orientation are challenges in glenoid replacement surgery. New implant designs and methods for fixation, such as locking screws, extra-long central pegs and/or central compression screws are targeting these issues. The objective of this study is the analysis of the glenoid dimension regarding maximum central peg diameter and peg length (PL), and maximum screw length (SL) for glenoid fixation. Retrospective analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (n = 50) scans. Measurement of the maximum inferior glenoid diameter (GD), SL, maximum length of a 9.9, 10 and 11.4 mm central peg (PL) in the transverse plane; glenoid version (GV), humeral head diameter (HHD). Two independent measurements. Mean age: 49.0 ± 15.7 years (17-80) (n = 20 female, 49.6 ± 16.0; n = 30 male, 48.6 ± 15.7). Mean values of measurement were GD: 28.9 ± 3.7 mm (21-39); SL: 34.1 ± 4.9 mm (26-44); PL 9.9 mm: 19.4 ± 4.3 mm (9-30); PL 10 mm: 19.0 ± 4.4 mm (8-30); PL 11.4 mm: 16.5 ± 4.1 mm (7-26) with significant gender differences (p = 0.001; p = 0.022; p = 0.001); GV: -0.6° ± 4.9° (-10 to 11); HHD: 50.0 mm ± 4.9 (41-61). There was good correlation between PL and SL (r = 0.32, p = 0.024) and for GD and PL (r = 0.61, p = 0.001; r = 0.57, p = 0.001; r = 0.96, p = 0.001). The ratio of HHD and GD was very constant with 0.6 ± 0.07. These data indicate the high interindividual variability of glenoid morphology including significant gender-related differences. The good correlation between humeral head size and GD and maximum central PL can be helpful for cases with reduced bone stock in decision-making about implant size and bone grafting.

Total Thrombus-formation Analysis System Predicts Periprocedural Bleeding Events in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

PubMed

Oimatsu, Yu; Kaikita, Koichi; Ishii, Masanobu; Mitsuse, Tatsuro; Ito, Miwa; Arima, Yuichiro; Sueta, Daisuke; Takahashi, Aya; Iwashita, Satomi; Yamamoto, Eiichiro; Kojima, Sunao; Hokimoto, Seiji; Tsujita, Kenichi

2017-04-24

Periprocedural bleeding events are common after percutaneous coronary intervention. We evaluated the association of periprocedural bleeding events with thrombogenicity, which was measured quantitatively by the Total Thrombus-formation Analysis System equipped with microchips and thrombogenic surfaces (collagen, platelet chip [PL]; collagen plus tissue factor, atheroma chip [AR]). Between August 2013 and March 2016, 313 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled. They were divided into those with or without periprocedural bleeding events. We determined the bleeding events as composites of major bleeding events defined by the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis and minor bleeding events (eg, minor hematoma, arteriovenous shunt and pseudoaneurysm). Blood samples obtained at percutaneous coronary intervention were analyzed for thrombus formation area under the curve (PL 24 -AUC 10 for PL chip; AR 10 -AUC 30 for AR chip) by the Total Thrombus-formation Analysis System and P2Y12 reaction unit by the VerifyNow system. Periprocedural bleeding events occurred in 37 patients. PL 24 -AUC 10 levels were significantly lower in patients with such events than those without ( P =0.002). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed association between low PL 24 -AUC 10 levels and periprocedural bleeding events (odds ratio, 2.71 [1.22-5.99]; P =0.01) and association between PL 24 -AUC 10 and periprocedural bleeding events in 176 patients of the femoral approach group (odds ratio, 2.88 [1.11-7.49]; P =0.03). However, PL 24 -AUC 10 levels in 127 patients of the radial approach group were not significantly different in patients with or without periprocedural bleeding events. PL 24 -AUC 10 measured by the Total Thrombus-formation Analysis System is a potentially useful predictor of periprocedural bleeding events in coronary artery disease patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention. © 2017 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.

Vasoactive agents for the prediction of early- and late-onset preeclampsia in a high-risk cohort

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background To evaluate the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for the prediction of early- and late-onset preeclampsia in a high-risk cohort. Methods We studied serial serum samples collected prospectively at 12 + 0 - 14 + 0, 18 + 0 - 20 + 0, and 26 + 0 - 28 + 0 weeks + days of gestation in 6 women who developed early-onset preeclampsia (before 34 weeks of gestation) and in 21 women who developed late-onset preeclampsia (after 34 weeks of gestation) with automated ElecSys 2010 immunoanalyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Germany). Twenty-six high-risk women and 53 women without risk factors with normal pregnancies served as controls. Results Serum PlGF concentrations were lower at 18 + 0 to 20 + 0, and 26 + 0 to 28 + 0 weeks of gestation in women who developed early-onset preeclampsia compared to women who developed late-onset preeclampsia and to controls (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). At 18 + 0 to 20 + 0 weeks of gestation area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) for serum PlGF was 99.8% (p = 0.0007, 95% CI 99.0-100.0). At 26 + 0 to 28 + 0 weeks of gestation serum sFlt-1/PlGF ratio explicitly detects those women who developed early-onset preeclampsia (AUC 100.0%, p = 0.0007, 95% CI 100–100). Amongst women with late-onset preeclampsia, those who developed severe form of the disease (N = 8) had significantly higher serum sFlt-1 concentrations at all three timepoints (p = 0.004, p = 0.006, and p = 0.003, respectively) compared to women with non-severe form (N = 13). Conclusions Low serum PlGF concentration predicts early-onset preeclampsia from the second trimester and elevated serum sFlt-1/PlGF ratio from 26 to 28 weeks of gestation. Elevated serum sFlt-1 concentration in the first trimester in women who later develop late-onset, severe preeclampsia may suggest different etiology compared to the late-onset non-severe form of the disease. PMID:23663420

Equine platelet lysate as an alternative to fetal bovine serum in equine mesenchymal stromal cell culture - too much of a good thing?

PubMed

Russell, K A; Koch, T G

2016-03-01

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are often culture-expanded in vitro. Presently, expansion medium (EM) for MSC is supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS). However, increasing cost, variable composition and potential risks associated with bovine antigens call for alternatives. Platelet lysate (PL) has shown promise as an alternative supplement. To determine how equine umbilical cord blood (CB) MSC proliferate in EM enriched with PL or FBS at various concentrations. Randomised dose escalation study. Platelet concentrate was generated from 5 equine whole blood samples through a double centrifugation method and standardised to 1 × 10(12) platelets/l prior to a freeze/thaw cycle to produce PL. Pooled PL or pooled FBS was added to EM at concentrations of 5% to 60%. Proliferation of 4 equine CB-MSC cultures was determined after 4 days using a resazurin semiquantitative assay. Cord blood-MSC proliferated with a dose-dependent response with no significant difference found between PL and FBS up to a 30% concentration. Beyond 30%, proliferation fell in the PL-cultured cells, while continued dose-dependent proliferation was noted in the FBS-cultured cells. Despite reduced cell numbers in high PL concentrations, live/dead staining revealed that adherent cells remained viable. Expansion medium enriched with PL can support short-term equine CB-MSC proliferation at conventional culture concentrations. Based on the unexpected suppression of CB-MSC at higher PL concentrations, an in vivo dose study is indicated to investigate if combinational therapies of CB-MSC and platelet-rich plasma are associated with synergistic or antagonistic effect on CB-MSC function. © 2015 EVJ Ltd.

Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) in Women with Suspected Pre-Eclampsia Prior to 35 Weeks’ Gestation: A Budget Impact Analysis

PubMed Central

Duckworth, Suzy; Seed, Paul T.; Mackillop, Lucy; Shennan, Andrew H.; Hunter, Rachael

2016-01-01

Objective To model the resource implications of placental growth factor (PlGF) testing in women with suspected pre-eclampsia prior to 35 weeks’ gestation as part of a management algorithm, compared with current practice. Methods Data on resource use from 132 women with suspected pre-eclampsia prior to 35 weeks’ gestation, enrolled in a prospective observational cohort study evaluating PlGF measurement within antenatal assessment units within two UK consultant-led maternity units was extracted by case note review. A decision analytic model was developed using these data to establish the budget impact of managing women with suspected pre-eclampsia for two weeks from the date of PlGF testing, using a clinical management algorithm and reference cost tariffs. The main outcome measures of resource use (numbers of outpatient appointments, ultrasound investigations and hospital admissions) were correlated to final diagnosis and used to calculate comparative management regimes. Results The mean cost saving associated with the PlGF test (in the PlGF plus management arm) was £35,087 (95% CI -£33,181 to -£36,992) per 1,000 women. This equated to a saving of £582 (95% CI -552 to -£613) per woman tested. In 94% of iterations, PlGF testing was associated with cost saving compared to current practice. Conclusions This analysis suggests PlGF used as part of a clinical management algorithm in women presenting with suspected pre-eclampsia prior to 35 weeks’ gestation could provide cost savings by reducing unnecessary resource use. Introduction of PlGF testing could be used to direct appropriate resource allocation and overall would be cost saving. PMID:27741259

Energy transfer networks: Quasicontinuum photoluminescence linked to high densities of defects

DOE PAGES

Laurence, Ted A.; Ly, Sonny; Bude, Jeff D.; ...

2017-11-06

In a series of studies related to laser-induced damage of optical materials and deposition of plastics, we discovered a broadly emitting photoluminescence with fast lifetimes that we termed quasicontinuum photoluminescence (QC-PL). Here in this paper, we suggest that a high density of optically active defects leads to QC-PL, where interactions between defects affect the temporal and spectral characteristics of both excitation and emission. We develop a model that predicts the temporal characteristics of QC-PL, based on energy transfer interactions between high densities of defects. Our model does not explain all spectral broadening and redshifts found in QC-PL, since we domore » not model spectral changes in defects due to proximity to other defects. However, we do provide an example of a well-defined system that exhibits the QC-PL characteristics of a distribution in shortened lifetimes and broadened, redshifted energy levels: an organic chromophore (fluorescein) that has been dried rapidly on a fused silica surface. Recently, we showed that regions of fused silica exposed to up to 1 billion high-fluence laser shots at 351 rm nm at subdamage fluences exhibit significant transmission losses at the surface. Here, we find that these laser-exposed regions also exhibit QC-PL. Increases in the density of induced defects on these laser-exposed surfaces, as measured by the local transmission loss, lead to decreases in the observed lifetime and redshifts in the spectrum of the QC-PL, consistent with our explanation for QC-PL. In conclusion, we have found QC-PL in an increasing variety of situations and materials, and we believe it is a phenomenon commonly found on surfaces and nanostructured materials.« less

Energy transfer networks: Quasicontinuum photoluminescence linked to high densities of defects

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

Laurence, Ted A.; Ly, Sonny; Bude, Jeff D.

In a series of studies related to laser-induced damage of optical materials and deposition of plastics, we discovered a broadly emitting photoluminescence with fast lifetimes that we termed quasicontinuum photoluminescence (QC-PL). Here in this paper, we suggest that a high density of optically active defects leads to QC-PL, where interactions between defects affect the temporal and spectral characteristics of both excitation and emission. We develop a model that predicts the temporal characteristics of QC-PL, based on energy transfer interactions between high densities of defects. Our model does not explain all spectral broadening and redshifts found in QC-PL, since we domore » not model spectral changes in defects due to proximity to other defects. However, we do provide an example of a well-defined system that exhibits the QC-PL characteristics of a distribution in shortened lifetimes and broadened, redshifted energy levels: an organic chromophore (fluorescein) that has been dried rapidly on a fused silica surface. Recently, we showed that regions of fused silica exposed to up to 1 billion high-fluence laser shots at 351 rm nm at subdamage fluences exhibit significant transmission losses at the surface. Here, we find that these laser-exposed regions also exhibit QC-PL. Increases in the density of induced defects on these laser-exposed surfaces, as measured by the local transmission loss, lead to decreases in the observed lifetime and redshifts in the spectrum of the QC-PL, consistent with our explanation for QC-PL. In conclusion, we have found QC-PL in an increasing variety of situations and materials, and we believe it is a phenomenon commonly found on surfaces and nanostructured materials.« less

Energy transfer networks: Quasicontinuum photoluminescence linked to high densities of defects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laurence, Ted A.; Ly, Sonny; Bude, Jeff D.; Baxamusa, Salmaan H.; Lepró, Xavier; Ehrmann, Paul

2017-11-01

In a series of studies related to laser-induced damage of optical materials and deposition of plastics, we discovered a broadly emitting photoluminescence with fast lifetimes that we termed quasicontinuum photoluminescence (QC-PL). Here, we suggest that a high density of optically active defects leads to QC-PL, where interactions between defects affect the temporal and spectral characteristics of both excitation and emission. We develop a model that predicts the temporal characteristics of QC-PL, based on energy transfer interactions between high densities of defects. Our model does not explain all spectral broadening and redshifts found in QC-PL, since we do not model spectral changes in defects due to proximity to other defects. However, we do provide an example of a well-defined system that exhibits the QC-PL characteristics of a distribution in shortened lifetimes and broadened, redshifted energy levels: an organic chromophore (fluorescein) that has been dried rapidly on a fused silica surface. Recently, we showed that regions of fused silica exposed to up to 1 billion high-fluence laser shots at 351 rm nm at subdamage fluences exhibit significant transmission losses at the surface. Here, we find that these laser-exposed regions also exhibit QC-PL. Increases in the density of induced defects on these laser-exposed surfaces, as measured by the local transmission loss, lead to decreases in the observed lifetime and redshifts in the spectrum of the QC-PL, consistent with our explanation for QC-PL. We have found QC-PL in an increasing variety of situations and materials, and we believe it is a phenomenon commonly found on surfaces and nanostructured materials.

Biosensors from conjugated polyelectrolyte complexes

PubMed Central

Wang, Deli; Gong, Xiong; Heeger, Peter S.; Rininsland, Frauke; Bazan, Guillermo C.; Heeger, Alan J.

2002-01-01

A charge neutral complex (CNC) was formed in aqueous solution by combining an orange light emitting anionic conjugated polyelectrolyte and a saturated cationic polyelectrolyte at a 1:1 ratio (per repeat unit). Photoluminescence (PL) from the CNC can be quenched by both the negatively charged dinitrophenol (DNP) derivative, (DNP-BS−), and positively charged methyl viologen (MV2+). Use of the CNC minimizes nonspecific interactions (which modify the PL) between conjugated polyelectrolytes and biopolymers. Quenching of the PL from the CNC by the DNP derivative and specific unquenching on addition of anti-DNP antibody (anti-DNP IgG) were observed. Thus, biosensing of the anti-DNP IgG was demonstrated. PMID:11756675

Unusual Carrier Thermalization in a Dilute GaAs1-xNx Alloy

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

Tan, P. H.; Xu, Z. Y.; Luo, X. D.

2007-01-01

Photoluminescence (PL) properties of the E{sub 0}, E{sub 0} + {Delta}{sub 0}, and E{sub +} bands in an x=0.62% GaAs{sub 1-x}N{sub x} alloy were investigated in detail, including their peak position, linewidth, and line shape dependences on the excitation energy, excitation power, and temperature, using micro-PL. The hot electrons within the E{sub +} band are found to exhibit highly unusual thermalization, which results in a large blueshift in its PL peak energy by >2k{sub B}T, suggesting peculiar density of states and carrier dynamics of the E{sub +} band.

Proclus crater: what a fresh, small crater can tell about the composition of lunar Highlands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serventi, Giovanna; Carli, Cristian; Giacomini, Lorenza; Sgavetti, Maria

2016-04-01

Proclus crater is a Copernican age (Apollo 15 PSR), simple and fresh crater, with a diameter of 28 km. It is located on the northwest rim of Crisium basin and east of Palus Somni (16.1° N, 47.0° E). Here, we have analyzed a M3 (onboard Chandrayaan-1 mission) image (m3g20090202t024131 image) to study the composition of Proclus crater. We first classified the crater in different spectral regions applying the Spectral Angle Mapper (Kruse et al., 1993) method and using image-driven end-members; subsequently, the spectra representative of each region have been deconvolved applying the Modified Gaussian Model (Sunshine et al., 1990) algorithm and compared to spectral libraries consisting of well characterized terrestrial analogues, both mafic (olivine, OL, and pyroxenes, PX) and plagioclase (PL)-bearing. We recognized 5 spectral units into the crater: 1) spectral unit A, characterized by an absorption band at 1250 nm, is interpreted as dominated by PL; 2) spectral unit B, with three absorption bands at ca. 900, 1250 and 1800 nm, where the band depth ratio between the 900 and 1250 nm bands decreases from spectral sub-unit B5 to B1, can be compared with mixtures composed with high PL content (>90%) and PX; 3) spectral unit C, characterized by two absorption bands at 900 and 1800 nm, can be interpreted as PX affected from space weathering (the band depth is less deep than band depth in PX analyzed in the laboratory) or as a mixture of 90% PL and 10% PX; 4) spectral unit D shows a broad absorption centered at 1050 nm with a shoulder at ca. 1600 nm and can be compared with OL affected from space weathering or with a mixture of 90% PL and 10% OL; 5) spectral unit E, characterized by a broad absorption with a shoulder at shorter wavelengths than in the previous unit, can be compared to the spectrum of a mixture composed of PL, OL, PX and Mg-spinel (from Gross et al., 2104). Moreover, spectral unit F has been recognized widespread into the crater; this unit shows flat, red spectra with a shallow absorption at ca. 2000 nm, but will not be discussed here. Concluding, Proclus crater evidenced a PL-rich mineralogy comparable with what expected for lunar Highland materials. Anorthositic regions, with very high abundance of PL, have been discovered on N-NW crater walls, whereas outcrops enriched with mafic mineralogy, PX (associated with PL), have been observed on the east side walls and in a delimited, west region. Few outcrops of OL-bearing material are present on wall and floor. A unit with mafic mineralogy and spinel-like phase was also detected in a S-E area on the crater floor. Proclus could therefore evidence the presence of a PL-rich crust crystallized during the Magma Ocean, with the possible formation of pockets with more mafic composition entrapped into the PL floating material.

Origin and Quenching of Novel ultraviolet and blue emission in NdGaO3: Concept of Super-Hydrogenic Dopants.

PubMed

Ghosh, Siddhartha; Saha, Surajit; Liu, Zhiqi; Motapothula, M; Patra, Abhijeet; Yakovlev, Nikolai; Cai, Yao; Prakash, Saurav; Huang, Xiao Hu; Tay, Chuan Beng; Cong, Chun Xiao; Bhatt, Thirumaleshwara; Dolmanan, Surani B; Chen, Jianqiang; Lü, Weiming; Huang, Zhen; Tripathy, Sudhiranjan; Chua, Soo Jin; Yu, Ting; Asta, Mark; Ariando, A; Venkatesan, T

2016-11-03

In this study we report the existence of novel ultraviolet (UV) and blue emission in rare-earth based perovskite NdGaO 3 (NGO) and the systematic quench of the NGO photoluminescence (PL) by Ce doping. Study of room temperature PL was performed in both single-crystal and polycrystalline NGO (substrates and pellets) respectively. Several NGO pellets were prepared with varying Ce concentration and their room temperature PL was studied using 325 nm laser. It was found that the PL intensity shows a systematic quench with increasing Ce concentration. XPS measurements indicated that nearly 50% of Ce atoms are in the 4+ state. The PL quench was attributed to the novel concept of super hydrogenic dopant (SHD)", where each Ce 4+ ion contributes an electron which forms a super hydrogenic atom with an enhanced Bohr radius, due to the large dielectric constant of the host. Based on the critical Ce concentration for complete quenching this SHD radius was estimated to be within a range of 0.85 nm and 1.15 nm whereas the predicted theoretical value of SHD radius for NdGaO3 is ~1.01 nm.

Emission and Structure-Varying ZnO and Carbon Nanocrystal Composite in Mechanical Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torchynska, T.; Perez Millan, B.; Polupan, G.; Kakazey, M.

2018-03-01

Morphology, photoluminescence (PL), and Raman scattering spectra have been investigated for mixtures of ZnO+0.1%C nanocrystals (NCs) at different stages of mechanical processing (MP). The transformation of graphite into graphene monolayers covering the ZnO NC surface is revealed for the first MP stage. The interaction with oxygen has been detected in the second MP stage which leads to the dissolution of oxygen interstitials in the ZnO NCs and to the formation of graphene (graphite) oxides. Increasing the concentration of the oxygen interstitials in ZnO NCs also enhances the intensity stimulation of the orange PL band (2.18eV). Simultaneously, the PL band peaking at 2.82-2.90 eV is detected in the PL spectra of the ZnO+0.1%C NC mixture after MP for 9-90 min. Then, the variation of the ZnO NC shape, agglomeration of ZnO NCs, modification of ZnO defects and decreasing PL intensity have been detected after prolonged MP for 390 min. It is expected that short stages of MP can be useful for ZnO NC surface covering by graphene layers or graphene (graphite) oxides.

Strong photoluminescence characteristics of sulforhodamine B attached on photonic crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Byoung-Ju; Kang, Kwang-Sun

2014-10-01

The optical properties of sulforhodamine B (SRH) impregnated in photonic crystal by two step synthetic processes including a urethane bond formation between a 3-isocyanatopropyl triethoxysilane (ICPTES, -N=C=O) and a SRH with elevated temperature in pyridine and hydrolysis-condensation reactions between synthesized ICPTES/SRH (ICPSRH) and tetraethoxyorthosilicate (TEOS) in NH4OH. The monodisperse silica spheres impregnated the ICPSRH (ICPSRHS) are fabricated. The reduction of the absorption peak at 2270 cm-1 representing asymmetric stretching vibration of -N=C=O indicates the progress of the reaction and new absorption peak at 1712 cm-1 characterizing -C=O stretching vibration indicates the formation of urethane bond. The UV-visible absorption spectra show the broadened spectral line width by intermolecular interaction. The photoluminescence (PL) peak of the SRH in methanol shows a hypsochromic shift with the increase the excitation wavelength. However, the PL peak for the ICPSRH exhibits a bathochromic shift as the excitation wavelength increases. The PL peak for the ICPSRH shows no hypsochromic or bathochromic shift. The PL peaks for SRH in methanol, ICPSRH and ICPSRHS are at 568, 598 and 572 nm, respectively. The main cause of the PL peak shift is due to the intermolecular interaction.

Plasma-Lyte 148 vs. Hartmann's solution for cardiopulmonary bypass pump prime: a prospective double-blind randomized trial.

PubMed

Weinberg, Laurence; Chiam, Elizabeth; Hooper, James; Liskaser, Frank; Hawkins, Angela Kim; Massie, Denise; Ellis, Andrew; Tan, Chong O; Story, David; Bellomo, Rinaldo

2018-05-01

The mechanisms of acid-base changes during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) remain unclear. We tested the hypothesis that, when used as CPB pump prime solutions, Plasma-Lyte 148 (PL) and Hartmann's solution (HS) have differential mechanisms of action in their contribution to acid-base changes. We performed a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial in adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with CPB. Participants received a CPB prime solution of 2000 mL, with either PL or HS. The primary endpoint was the standard base excess (SBE) value measured at 60 minutes after full CPB flows (SBE60min). Secondary outcomes included changes in SBE, pH, chloride, sodium, lactate, gluconate, acetate, strong ion difference and strong ion gap at two (T2min), five (T5min), ten (T10min), thirty (T30min) and sixty (T60min) minutes on CPB. The primary outcome was measured using a two-tailed Welch's t-test. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for differences between time points. Twenty-five participants were randomized to PL and 25 to HS. Baseline characteristics, EURO and APACHE scores, biochemistry, hematology and volumes of cardioplegia were similar. Mean (SD) SBE at T60min was -1.3 (1.4) in the PL group and -0.1 (2.7) in the HS group; p=0.55. No significant differences in SBE between the groups was observed during the first 60 minutes (p=0.48). During CPB, there was hyperacetatemia and hypergluconatemia in the PL group and hyperlactatemia and hyperchloremia in the HS group. No significant difference between the groups in plasma bicarbonate levels and total weak acid levels were found. Complications and intensive care unit and hospital length of stays were similar. During CPB, PL and HS did not cause a significant metabolic acidosis. There was hyperacetatemia and hypergluconatemia with PL and hyperchloremia and hyperlactatemia with HS. These physiochemical effects appear clinically innocuous.

Publications - PIR 2008-1E | Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical

Science.gov Websites

River--Evidence for a thermogenic origin Authors: Decker, P.L., and Wartes, M.A. Publication Date: Mar thermogenic origin, in Wartes, M.A., and Decker, P.L., eds., Preliminary results of recent geologic field

Spectroscopic analysis of the NIR emission in Tm implanted Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1-x}N layers

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

Rodrigues, J., E-mail: joana.catarina@ua.pt; Esteves, T. C.; Santos, N. F.

2016-08-28

Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1-x}N samples, with different AlN molar fractions, x = 0, 0.15, 0.77, and 1, grown by halide vapor phase epitaxy were implanted with Tm ions. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements revealed that after thermal annealing all the samples exhibit intraionic Tm{sup 3+} luminescence. In samples with x > 0, the low temperature emission is dominated by the lines that appear in the near infrared (NIR) spectral region, corresponding to the overlapped {sup 1}G{sub 4} → {sup 3}H{sub 5} and {sup 3}H{sub 4} → {sup 3}H{sub 6} multiplet transitions. A detailed spectroscopic analysis of NIR emission of the thulium implanted and annealed Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1-x}Nmore » layers is presented by using temperature dependent steady-state PL, room temperature PL excitation, and time resolved PL. The results indicate that the excitonic features sensitive to the alloy disorder are involved in the excitation population processes of the Tm{sup 3+} luminescence and the highest thermal stability for the NIR emission occurs for the AlN:Tm sample.« less

Bacterial Population in Intestines of the Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) under Different Growth Stages

PubMed Central

Rungrassamee, Wanilada; Klanchui, Amornpan; Chaiyapechara, Sage; Maibunkaew, Sawarot; Tangphatsornruang, Sithichoke; Jiravanichpaisal, Pikul; Karoonuthaisiri, Nitsara

2013-01-01

Intestinal bacterial communities in aquaculture have been drawn to attention due to potential benefit to their hosts. To identify core intestinal bacteria in the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), bacterial populations of disease-free shrimp were characterized from intestines of four developmental stages (15-day-old post larvae (PL15), 1- (J1), 2- (J2), and 3-month-old (J3) juveniles) using pyrosequencing, real-time PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) approaches. A total of 25,121 pyrosequencing reads (reading length = 442±24 bases) were obtained, which were categorized by barcode for PL15 (7,045 sequences), J1 (3,055 sequences), J2 (13,130 sequences) and J3 (1,890 sequences). Bacteria in the phyla Bacteroides, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were found in intestines at all four growth stages. There were 88, 14, 27, and 20 bacterial genera associated with the intestinal tract of PL15, J1, J2 and J3, respectively. Pyrosequencing analysis revealed that Proteobacteria (class Gammaproteobacteria) was a dominant bacteria group with a relative abundance of 89% for PL15 and 99% for J1, J2 and J3. Real-time PCR assay also confirmed that Gammaproteobacteria had the highest relative abundance in intestines from all growth stages. Intestinal bacterial communities from the three juvenile stages were more similar to each other than that of the PL shrimp based on PCA analyses of pyrosequencing results and their DGGE profiles. This study provides descriptive bacterial communities associated to the black tiger shrimp intestines during these growth development stages in rearing facilities. PMID:23577162

Bacterial population in intestines of the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) under different growth stages.

PubMed

Rungrassamee, Wanilada; Klanchui, Amornpan; Chaiyapechara, Sage; Maibunkaew, Sawarot; Tangphatsornruang, Sithichoke; Jiravanichpaisal, Pikul; Karoonuthaisiri, Nitsara

2013-01-01

Intestinal bacterial communities in aquaculture have been drawn to attention due to potential benefit to their hosts. To identify core intestinal bacteria in the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), bacterial populations of disease-free shrimp were characterized from intestines of four developmental stages (15-day-old post larvae (PL15), 1- (J1), 2- (J2), and 3-month-old (J3) juveniles) using pyrosequencing, real-time PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) approaches. A total of 25,121 pyrosequencing reads (reading length = 442±24 bases) were obtained, which were categorized by barcode for PL15 (7,045 sequences), J1 (3,055 sequences), J2 (13,130 sequences) and J3 (1,890 sequences). Bacteria in the phyla Bacteroides, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were found in intestines at all four growth stages. There were 88, 14, 27, and 20 bacterial genera associated with the intestinal tract of PL15, J1, J2 and J3, respectively. Pyrosequencing analysis revealed that Proteobacteria (class Gammaproteobacteria) was a dominant bacteria group with a relative abundance of 89% for PL15 and 99% for J1, J2 and J3. Real-time PCR assay also confirmed that Gammaproteobacteria had the highest relative abundance in intestines from all growth stages. Intestinal bacterial communities from the three juvenile stages were more similar to each other than that of the PL shrimp based on PCA analyses of pyrosequencing results and their DGGE profiles. This study provides descriptive bacterial communities associated to the black tiger shrimp intestines during these growth development stages in rearing facilities.

Hot excitons are responsible for increasing photoluminescence blinking activity in single lead sulfide/cadmium sulfide nanocrystals

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

Chen, Jia-Shiang; Zang, Huidong; Li, Mingxing

The kinetics of PL blinking for isolated PbS/CdS nanocrystals changes with the photon excitation energy, with PL blinking increasing in frequency and changing from a two-state to a multistate on/off switching when the excitation energy changes from 1S h–1S e(≈1.4 eV) to 1P h–1P e(≈2.4 eV).

Hot excitons are responsible for increasing photoluminescence blinking activity in single lead sulfide/cadmium sulfide nanocrystals

DOE PAGES

Chen, Jia-Shiang; Zang, Huidong; Li, Mingxing; ...

2017-12-08

The kinetics of PL blinking for isolated PbS/CdS nanocrystals changes with the photon excitation energy, with PL blinking increasing in frequency and changing from a two-state to a multistate on/off switching when the excitation energy changes from 1S h–1S e(≈1.4 eV) to 1P h–1P e(≈2.4 eV).

TkPl_SU: An Open-source Perl Script Builder for Seismic Unix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lorenzo, J. M.

2017-12-01

TkPl_SU (beta) is a graphical user interface (GUI) to select parameters for Seismic Unix (SU) modules. Seismic Unix (Stockwell, 1999) is a widely distributed free software package for processing seismic reflection and signal processing. Perl/Tk is a mature, well-documented and free object-oriented graphical user interface for Perl. In a classroom environment, shell scripting of SU modules engages students and helps focus on the theoretical limitations and strengths of signal processing. However, complex interactive processing stages, e.g., selection of optimal stacking velocities, killing bad data traces, or spectral analysis requires advanced flows beyond the scope of introductory classes. In a research setting, special functionality from other free seismic processing software such as SioSeis (UCSD-NSF) can be incorporated readily via an object-oriented style to programming. An object oriented approach is a first step toward efficient extensible programming of multi-step processes, and a simple GUI simplifies parameter selection and decision making. Currently, in TkPl_SU, Perl 5 packages wrap 19 of the most common SU modules that are used in teaching undergraduate and first-year graduate student classes (e.g., filtering, display, velocity analysis and stacking). Perl packages (classes) can advantageously add new functionality around each module and clarify parameter names for easier usage. For example, through the use of methods, packages can isolate the user from repetitive control structures, as well as replace the names of abbreviated parameters with self-describing names. Moose, an extension of the Perl 5 object system, greatly facilitates an object-oriented style. Perl wrappers are self-documenting via Perl programming document markup language.

The Paraoxonase 1 Gene c.-108C>T SNP in the Promoter Is Associated with Risk for Glioma in Mexican Patients, but Not the p.L55M or p.Q192R Polymorphisms in the Coding Region.

PubMed

González-Herrera, Lizbeth; Gamas-Trujillo, Pablo Alejandro; Medina-Escobedo, Gilberto; Oaxaca-Castillo, David; Pérez-Mendoza, Gerardo; Williams-Jacquez, Dayana; Canto-Cetina, Thelma; Vargas-García, Rubén Darío

2015-09-01

To evaluate the association of the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene polymorphisms c.-108C>T, p.L55M, and p.Q192R with the risk of glioma in Southeast Mexico. Decreased PON1 activity caused by polymorphisms has been observed in gliomas, thus supporting the theory that PON1 is involved in tumorigenesis in the brain. Sixty-seven glioma patients and 58 control individuals were included. Three PON1 polymorphisms were genotyped by real-time PCR allelic discrimination using TaqMan probes: c.-108C>T in the promoter region, p.Q192R and p.L55M, both of which were in the coding region. Allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies were assessed in cases and controls to test for statistical associations (STATA 10.2 package). Significant differences were found for the PON1 c.-108C>T polymorphism between the cases and controls. Compared to the controls the cases were more likely to be CT heterozygous (p =  0.002) or TT homozygous (p = 0.036); similarly cases were more likely to possess a T allele (p = 0.032). In contrast, the p.L55M and p.Q192R polymorphisms did not show significant differences between the glioma cases and controls (p > 0.05). The PON1 c.-108C>T polymorphism in the promoter region is associated with genetic risk for glioma. Conversely, p.L55M and p.Q192R polymorphisms in the coding region do not seem to have an influence in this population.

Airway diffusing capacity of nitric oxide and steroid therapy in asthma.

PubMed

Shin, Hye-Won; Rose-Gottron, Christine M; Cooper, Dan M; Newcomb, Robert L; George, Steven C

2004-01-01

Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) concentration is a noninvasive index for monitoring lung inflammation in diseases such as asthma. The plateau concentration at constant flow is highly dependent on the exhalation flow rate and the use of corticosteroids and cannot distinguish airway and alveolar sources. In subjects with steroid-naive asthma (n = 8) or steroid-treated asthma (n = 12) and in healthy controls (n = 24), we measured flow-independent NO exchange parameters that partition exhaled NO into airway and alveolar regions and correlated these with symptoms and lung function. The mean (+/-SD) maximum airway flux (pl/s) and airway tissue concentration [parts/billion (ppb)] of NO were lower in steroid-treated asthmatic subjects compared with steroid-naive asthmatic subjects (1,195 +/- 836 pl/s and 143 +/- 66 ppb compared with 2,693 +/- 1,687 pl/s and 438 +/- 312 ppb, respectively). In contrast, the airway diffusing capacity for NO (pl.s-1.ppb-1) was elevated in both asthmatic groups compared with healthy controls, independent of steroid therapy (11.8 +/- 11.7, 8.71 +/- 5.74, and 3.13 +/- 1.57 pl.s-1.ppb-1 for steroid treated, steroid naive, and healthy controls, respectively). In addition, the airway diffusing capacity was inversely correlated with both forced expired volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity (%predicted), whereas the airway tissue concentration was positively correlated with forced vital capacity. Consistent with previously reported results from Silkoff et al. (Silkoff PE, Sylvester JT, Zamel N, and Permutt S, Am J Respir Crit Med 161: 1218-1228, 2000) that used an alternate technique, we conclude that the airway diffusing capacity for NO is elevated in asthma independent of steroid therapy and may reflect clinically relevant changes in airways.

Application of the informational reference system OZhUR to the automated processing of data from satellites of the Kosmos series

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pokras, V. M.; Yevdokimov, V. P.; Maslov, V. D.

1978-01-01

The structure and potential of the information reference system OZhUR designed for the automated data processing systems of scientific space vehicles (SV) is considered. The system OZhUR ensures control of the extraction phase of processing with respect to a concrete SV and the exchange of data between phases.The practical application of the system OZhUR is exemplified in the construction of a data processing system for satellites of the Cosmos series. As a result of automating the operations of exchange and control, the volume of manual preparation of data is significantly reduced, and there is no longer any need for individual logs which fix the status of data processing. The system Ozhur is included in the automated data processing system Nauka which is realized in language PL-1 in a binary one-address system one-state (BOS OS) electronic computer.

Short Hairpin RNA Gene Silencing of Prolyl Hydroxylase-2 with a Minicircle Vector Improves Neovascularization of Hindlimb Ischemia

PubMed Central

Lijkwan, Maarten A.; Hellingman, Alwine A.; Bos, Ernst J.; van der Bogt, Koen E.A.; Huang, Mei; Kooreman, Nigel G.; de Vries, Margreet R.; Peters, Hendrika A.B.; Robbins, Robert C.; Quax, Paul H.A.

2014-01-01

Abstract In this study, we target the hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1-alpha) pathway by short hairpin RNA interference therapy targeting prolyl hydroxylase-2 (shPHD2). We use the minicircle (MC) vector technology as an alternative for conventional nonviral plasmid (PL) vectors in order to improve neovascularization after unilateral hindlimb ischemia in a murine model. Gene expression and transfection efficiency of MC and PL, both in vitro and in vivo, were assessed using bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and firefly luciferase (Luc) reporter gene. C57Bl6 mice underwent unilateral electrocoagulation of the femoral artery and gastrocnemic muscle injection with MC-shPHD2, PL-shPHD2, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as control. Blood flow recovery was monitored using laser Doppler perfusion imaging, and collaterals were visualized by immunohistochemistry and angiography. MC-Luc showed a 4.6-fold higher in vitro BLI signal compared with PL-Luc. BLI signals in vivo were 4.3×105±3.3×105 (MC-Luc) versus 0.4×105±0.3×105 (PL-Luc) at day 28 (p=0.016). Compared with PL-shPHD2 or PBS, MC-shPHD2 significantly improved blood flow recovery, up to 50% from day 3 until day 14 after ischemia induction. MC-shPHD2 significantly increased collateral density and capillary density, as monitored by alpha-smooth muscle actin expression and CD31+ expression, respectively. Angiography data confirmed the histological findings. Significant downregulation of PHD2 mRNA levels by MC-shPHD2 was confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Finally, Western blot analysis confirmed significantly higher levels of HIF-1-alpha protein by MC-shPHD2, compared with PL-shPHD2 and PBS. This study provides initial evidence of a new potential therapeutic approach for peripheral artery disease. The combination of HIF-1-alpha pathway targeting by shPHD2 with the robust nonviral MC plasmid improved postischemic neovascularization, making this approach a promising potential treatment option for critical limb ischemia. PMID:24090375

Exploratory studies of the potential anti-cancer effects of creatine.

PubMed

Campos-Ferraz, P L; Gualano, B; das Neves, W; Andrade, I T; Hangai, I; Pereira, R T S; Bezerra, R N; Deminice, R; Seelaender, M; Lancha, A H

2016-08-01

Two experiments were performed, in which male Wistar Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats were inoculated with 4 × 10(7) tumor cells subcutaneously and received either creatine (300 mg/kg body weight/day; CR) or placebo (water; PL) supplementation via intragastric gavage. In experiment 1, 50 rats were given PL (n = 22) or CR (n = 22) and a non-supplemented, non-inoculated group served as control CT (n = 6), for 40 days, and the survival rate and tumor mass were assessed. In experiment 2, 25 rats were given CR or PL for 15 days and sacrificed for biochemical analysis. Again, a non-supplemented, non-inoculated group served as control (CT; n = 6). Tumor and muscle creatine kinase (CK) activity and total creatine content, acidosis, inflammatory cytokines, and antioxidant capacity were assessed. Tumor growth was significantly reduced by approximately 30 % in CR when compared with PL (p = 0.03), although the survival rate was not significantly different between CR and PL (p = 0.65). Tumor creatine content tended to be higher in CR than PL (p = 0.096). Tumor CK activity in the cytosolic fraction was higher in CR than PL (p < 0.0001). Blood pCO2 was higher in CT and CR than PL (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.004, respectively). HCO3 was augmented in CT compared to PL (p = 0.03) and CR (p = 0.001). Plasma IL-6 was lower and IL-10 level was higher in CR than PL (p = 0.03 and p = 0.0007, respectively) and TNF-alpha featured a tendency of decrease in CR compared to PL (p = 0.08). Additionally, total antioxidant capacity tended to be lower in CT than PL (p = 0.07). Creatine supplementation was able to slow tumor growth without affecting the overall survival rate, probably due to the re-establishment of the CK-creatine system in cancer cells, leading to attenuation in acidosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. These findings support the role of creatine as a putative anti-cancer agent as well as help in expanding our knowledge on its potential mechanisms of action in malignancies.

Sequential concentrations of placental growth factor and haptoglobin, and their relation to oestrone sulphate and progesterone in pregnant Spanish Purebred mare.

PubMed

Satué, K; Marcilla, M; Medica, P; Ferlazzo, A; Fazio, E

2018-04-27

The objectives of this study were to establish reference values for serum concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF) and haptoglobin (Hp), and to analyze whether the levels of oestrone sulphate (E 1 S) and progesterone (P 4 ) are physiologically involved in the dynamic modifications of the above parameters in pregnant mares. A total of 30 healthy Spanish Purebred mares ranging in age 9.33 ± 3.31 years were studied during the 11 months of gestation. Serum concentrations of PlGF were detected by EIA, Hp using commercial Phase Haptoglobin assay and E 1 S and P 4 levels through RIA. The serum concentrations of PlGF ranged between 31.70 and 223.60 ng/mL, with a mean value of 57.64 ± 18.05 ng/mL. Serum PlGF levels increased significantly during the 1st and 2nd months, reaching the maximum value in the 3rd month and the minimum value in the 10th month. Hp concentrations increased progressively and significantly from the 5th until the 10th month of gestation (P < 0.05), decreasing in the 11th month of pregnancy. E 1 S increased significantly from the 3rd until the 7th month, decreasing progressively towards the end of gestation. P 4 increased significantly in the 3rd and 4th month and decreased significantly in the 6th and 7th (P < 0.05), with variable oscillations during last months of pregnancy. PlGF and Hp were significantly and negatively correlated (r = -0.27; P < 0.05). In the healthy mare, PlGF and Hp act asynchronously and independent of steroid E 1 S and P 4. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Platelet Lysate: The Better Choice for Jaw Periosteal Cell Mineralization

PubMed Central

Wanner, Yvonne; Umrath, Felix; Waidmann, Marc; Reinert, Siegmar

2017-01-01

Previously, we demonstrated a high quality of minerals formed by serum-free cultured jaw periosteal cells (JPCs) by Raman spectroscopy but the mineralization extent was not satisfactory. In the present study, we analyzed the proliferation and mineralization potential of human platelet lysate- (hPL-) cultured JPCs in comparison to that of FCS-cultured JPCs. By cell impedance measurements, we detected significantly higher population doubling times of PL-cultured JPCs in comparison to FCS-cultured JPCs. However, this result was not based on lower proliferation activities but on diminished cell sizes which JPCs develop under PL cultivation. The measurements of the metabolic activities clearly showed significantly higher cell proliferation rates under PL culturing. Equivalent levels of the mesenchymal cell markers CD29, CD45, CD73, CD90, and CD105 were detected, but there were significantly increased MSCA-1 levels under PL cultivation. While JPCs only occasionally mineralize under FCS culture conditions, the mineralization potential was significantly stronger under PL cultivation. Moreover, in 4 of 5 analyzed patient cells, the addition of dexamethasone was proved no longer necessary for strong mineralization of PL-cultured JPCs. We conclude that in vitro cultivation of JPCs with platelet lysate is a suitable alternative to FCS culture conditions and a powerful tool for the development of high-quality TE constructs using jaw periosteal cells. PMID:29391870

Culture of human cell lines by a pathogen-inactivated human platelet lysate.

PubMed

Fazzina, R; Iudicone, P; Mariotti, A; Fioravanti, D; Procoli, A; Cicchetti, E; Scambia, G; Bonanno, G; Pierelli, L

2016-08-01

Alternatives to the use of fetal bovine serum (FBS) have been investigated to ensure xeno-free growth condition. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of human platelet lysate (PL) as a substitute of FBS for the in vitro culture of some human cell lines. PL was obtained by pools of pathogen inactivated human donor platelet (PLT) concentrates. Human leukemia cell lines (KG-1, K562, JURKAT, HL-60) and epithelial tumor cell lines (HeLa and MCF-7) were cultured with either FBS or PL. Changes in cell proliferation, viability, morphology, surface markers and cell cycle were evaluated for each cell line. Functional characteristics were analysed by drug sensitivity test and cytotoxicity assay. Our results demonstrated that PL can support growth and expansion of all cell lines, although the cells cultured in presence of PL experienced a less massive proliferation compared to those grown with FBS. We found a comparable percentage of viable specific marker-expressing cells in both conditions, confirming lineage fidelity in all cultures. Functionality assays showed that cells in both FBS- and PL-supported cultures maintained their normal responsiveness to adriamycin and NK cell-mediated lysis. Our findings indicate that PL is a feasible serum substitute for supporting growth and propagation of haematopoietic and epithelial cell lines with many advantages from a perspective of process standardization, ethicality and product safety.

Highly Efficient In Vitro Reparative Behaviour of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Cultured with Standardised Platelet Lysate Supplementation.

PubMed

Marrazzo, Pasquale; Paduano, Francesco; Palmieri, Francesca; Marrelli, Massimo; Tatullo, Marco

2016-01-01

Dental pulp is an accessible source of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The perspective role of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in regenerative medicine demands an in vitro expansion and in vivo delivery which must deal with the safety issues about animal serum, usually required in cell culture practice. Human platelet lysate (PL) contains autologous growth factors and has been considered as valuable alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) in cell cultures. The optimum concentration to be added of such supplement is highly dependent on its preparation whose variability limits comparability of results. By in vitro experiments, we aimed to evaluate a standardised formulation of pooled PL. A low selected concentration of PL (1%) was able to support the growth and maintain the viability of the DPSCs. The use of PL in cell cultures did not impair cell surface signature typically expressed by MSCs and even upregulated the transcription of Sox2. Interestingly, DPSCs cultured in presence of PL exhibited a higher healing rate after injury and are less susceptible to toxicity mediated by exogenous H 2 O 2 than those cultured with FBS. Moreover, PL addition was shown as a suitable option for protocols promoting osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of DPSCs. Taken together, our results indicated that PL is a valid substitute of FBS to culture and differentiate DPSCs for clinical-grade use.

Highly Efficient In Vitro Reparative Behaviour of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Cultured with Standardised Platelet Lysate Supplementation

PubMed Central

Palmieri, Francesca; Marrelli, Massimo

2016-01-01

Dental pulp is an accessible source of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The perspective role of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in regenerative medicine demands an in vitro expansion and in vivo delivery which must deal with the safety issues about animal serum, usually required in cell culture practice. Human platelet lysate (PL) contains autologous growth factors and has been considered as valuable alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) in cell cultures. The optimum concentration to be added of such supplement is highly dependent on its preparation whose variability limits comparability of results. By in vitro experiments, we aimed to evaluate a standardised formulation of pooled PL. A low selected concentration of PL (1%) was able to support the growth and maintain the viability of the DPSCs. The use of PL in cell cultures did not impair cell surface signature typically expressed by MSCs and even upregulated the transcription of Sox2. Interestingly, DPSCs cultured in presence of PL exhibited a higher healing rate after injury and are less susceptible to toxicity mediated by exogenous H2O2 than those cultured with FBS. Moreover, PL addition was shown as a suitable option for protocols promoting osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of DPSCs. Taken together, our results indicated that PL is a valid substitute of FBS to culture and differentiate DPSCs for clinical-grade use. PMID:27774106

Effects of pulsed light treatments and pectin edible coatings on the quality of fresh-cut apples: a hurdle technology approach.

PubMed

Moreira, María R; Álvarez, María V; Martín-Belloso, Olga; Soliva-Fortuny, Robert

2017-01-01

Pulsed light (PL) treatments stand as an alternative for the shelf-life extension of fresh-cut products. The antimicrobial effects of PL are well known; however, its influence on quality attributes needs to be assessed. This study was aimed at evaluating the application of PL treatments in combination with pectin-based edible coatings enriched with dietary fiber for the preservation of fresh-cut apples. Dipping of fresh-cut apples in ascorbic acid/calcium chloride solution prior to pectin coating and PL treatments was effective to minimize browning and softening of apple surfaces. Incorporation of fiber in the pectin coating did not cause any change in microbial loads and sensory acceptability of apple cubes. Pectin-coated PL-treated apple pieces exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity values than fresh and PL control samples. At the end of storage, the combination of both treatments resulted in an almost 2 log CFU g -1 reduction of microbial counts. Sensory attribute scores did not fall below the rejection limit throughout 14 days, although the presence of off-odors limited the acceptability of the pectin-coated samples. The results demonstrate that PL treatments applied to pectin-coated fresh-cut apples may be used to maintain quality attributes, thus conferring prebiotic potential and extending the shelf-life of the product. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Modification of Light Emission in Si-Rich Silicon Nitride Films Versus Stoichiometry and Excitation Light Energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torchynska, T.; Khomenkova, L.; Slaoui, A.

2018-04-01

Si-rich SiN x films with different stoichiometry were grown on Si substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The Si content was varied by changing the NH3/SiH4 gas flow ratio from 0.45 up to 1.0. Conventional furnace annealing at 1100°C for 30 min was applied to produce the Si quantum dots (QDs) in the SiN x films. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to determine the refractive index of the SiN x films that allowed estimating the film's stoichiometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been also used to confirm the stoichiometry and microstructure. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Si-rich SiN x films are complex. A non-monotonous variation of the different PL peaks versus Si excess contents testifies to the competition of different radiative channels. The analysis of PL spectra, measured at the different excitation light energies and variable temperatures, has revealed that the PL bands with the peaks within the range 2.1-3.0 eV are related to the carrier recombination via radiative native defects in the SiN x host. Simultaneously, the PL bands with the peaks at 1.5-2.0 eV are caused by the exciton recombination in the Si QDs of different sizes. The way to control the SiN x emission is discussed.

Direct Measurements of Magnetic Polarons in Cd 1–xMn x Se Nanocrystals from Resonant Photoluminescence

DOE PAGES

Rice, W. D.; Liu, W.; Pinchetti, V.; ...

2017-04-07

In semiconductors, quantum confinement can greatly enhance the interaction between band carriers (electrons and holes) and dopant atoms. One manifestation of this enhancement is the increased stability of exciton magnetic polarons in magnetically doped nanostructures. In the limit of very strong 0D confinement that is realized in colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, a single exciton can exert an effective exchange field B ex on the embedded magnetic dopants that exceeds several tesla. Here we use the very sensitive method of resonant photoluminescence (PL) to directly measure the presence and properties of exciton magnetic polarons in colloidal Cd 1–xMn xSe nanocrystals. Despite smallmore » Mn 2+ concentrations (x = 0.4–1.6%), large polaron binding energies up to ~26 meV are observed at low temperatures via the substantial Stokes shift between the pump laser and the resonant PL maximum, indicating nearly complete alignment of all Mn 2+ spins by B exex ≈ 10 T in these nanocrystals, in good agreement with theoretical estimates. Further, the emission line widths provide direct insight into the statistical fluctuations of the Mn 2+ spins. In conclusion, these resonant PL studies provide detailed insight into collective magnetic phenomena, especially in lightly doped nanocrystals where conventional techniques such as nonresonant PL or time-resolved PL provide ambiguous results.« less

Modification of Light Emission in Si-Rich Silicon Nitride Films Versus Stoichiometry and Excitation Light Energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torchynska, T.; Khomenkova, L.; Slaoui, A.

2018-07-01

Si-rich SiN x films with different stoichiometry were grown on Si substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The Si content was varied by changing the NH3/SiH4 gas flow ratio from 0.45 up to 1.0. Conventional furnace annealing at 1100°C for 30 min was applied to produce the Si quantum dots (QDs) in the SiN x films. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to determine the refractive index of the SiN x films that allowed estimating the film's stoichiometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been also used to confirm the stoichiometry and microstructure. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Si-rich SiN x films are complex. A non-monotonous variation of the different PL peaks versus Si excess contents testifies to the competition of different radiative channels. The analysis of PL spectra, measured at the different excitation light energies and variable temperatures, has revealed that the PL bands with the peaks within the range 2.1-3.0 eV are related to the carrier recombination via radiative native defects in the SiN x host. Simultaneously, the PL bands with the peaks at 1.5-2.0 eV are caused by the exciton recombination in the Si QDs of different sizes. The way to control the SiN x emission is discussed.

Direct Measurements of Magnetic Polarons in Cd 1–xMn x Se Nanocrystals from Resonant Photoluminescence

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

Rice, W. D.; Liu, W.; Pinchetti, V.

In semiconductors, quantum confinement can greatly enhance the interaction between band carriers (electrons and holes) and dopant atoms. One manifestation of this enhancement is the increased stability of exciton magnetic polarons in magnetically doped nanostructures. In the limit of very strong 0D confinement that is realized in colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, a single exciton can exert an effective exchange field B ex on the embedded magnetic dopants that exceeds several tesla. Here we use the very sensitive method of resonant photoluminescence (PL) to directly measure the presence and properties of exciton magnetic polarons in colloidal Cd 1–xMn xSe nanocrystals. Despite smallmore » Mn 2+ concentrations (x = 0.4–1.6%), large polaron binding energies up to ~26 meV are observed at low temperatures via the substantial Stokes shift between the pump laser and the resonant PL maximum, indicating nearly complete alignment of all Mn 2+ spins by B exex ≈ 10 T in these nanocrystals, in good agreement with theoretical estimates. Further, the emission line widths provide direct insight into the statistical fluctuations of the Mn 2+ spins. In conclusion, these resonant PL studies provide detailed insight into collective magnetic phenomena, especially in lightly doped nanocrystals where conventional techniques such as nonresonant PL or time-resolved PL provide ambiguous results.« less

First trimester uterine artery Doppler, sFlt-1 and PlGF to predict preeclampsia in a high-risk population.

PubMed

Diguisto, Caroline; Piver, Eric; Gouge, Amélie Le; Eboue, Florence; Vaillant, Claudine Le; Maréchaud, Martine; Goua, Valérie; Giraudeau, Bruno; Perrotin, Franck

2017-07-01

The study aims to evaluate the accuracy of combining uterine artery Doppler (UAD), PlGF and sFlt-1 in the first trimester for preeclampsia screening. Prospectively enrolled women at high risk of preeclampsia were included. Transabdominal UAD measurements and serum biomarkers were collected between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation in three university hospitals and in one general hospital. The main outcome was preeclampsia. UAD parameters and biomarker levels among women with preeclampsia were compared with those of women in the unaffected group in univariate and multivariate analyses. Out of 226 women included from May 2007 to January 2011, 27 (11.9%) women developed preeclampsia. Among women affected by preeclampsia, the lowest pulsatility index was higher (p = 0.02), bilateral notching was more frequent (p = 0.01), and PlGF was lower (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed for other indicators. The multivariate model, adjusted for laboratory and sonographic indicators, had an area under the curve (AUC) estimated at 0.76, which was not significantly different from the AUC of the univariate model adjusted only for PlGF (p = 0.7). In a high-risk population, PlGF in the first trimester is useful for predicting preeclampsia, but neither sFlt-1 nor any UAD indices improved the prediction of preeclampsia.

Photoluminescence properties of Tb3Al5O12:Ce3+ garnet synthesized by the metal organic decomposition method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onishi, Yuya; Nakamura, Toshihiro; Adachi, Sadao

2017-02-01

Tb3Al5O12:Ce3+ garnet (TAG:Ce3+) phosphor was synthesized by the metal organic decomposition (MOD) method and subsequent calcination at Tc = 800-1200°C for 1 h in air. The effects of Ce3+ concentration on the phosphor properties were investigated in detail using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, photoluminescence (PL) analysis, PL excitation (PLE) spectroscopy, and PL decay measurements. The maximum intensity in the Ce3+ yellow emission was observed at the Ce3+ concentration of ∼0.20%. PLE and PL decay measurements suggested an evidence of the energy transfer from Tb3+ to Ce3+. Calcination temperature dependence of the XRD and PL intensities yielded an energy of ∼1.5 eV both for the TAG formation in the MOD process and for the optical activation of Ce3+ in its lattice sites. Temperature dependences of the PL intensity for the TAG:Ce3+ yellow-emitting and K2SiF6:Mn4+ red-emitting phosphors were also examined for the future solid-state lighting applications at T = 20-500 K in 10-K steps. The data of TAG:Ce3+ were analyzed using a theoretical model with considering a reservoir level of Et ∼9 meV, yielding a quenching energy of Eq ∼0.35 eV, whereas the K2SiF6:Mn4+ red-emitting phosphor data yielded a value of Eq ∼1.0 eV. The schematic energy-level diagrams for Tb3+ and Ce3+ were proposed for the sake of a better understanding of these ions in the TAG host.

Enhancement of ε-poly-L-lysine synthesis in Streptomyces by exogenous glutathione.

PubMed

Yan, Peng; Sun, Haoben; Lu, Pengqi; Liu, Haili; Tang, Lei

2018-01-01

Our previous work indicated that the vigor of Streptomyces decreased at the later stage of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) fermentation. In this study, we observed that the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo increased sharply after 24 h, and the addition of an antioxidant glutathione (GSH) before this increase in ROS stimulated ε-PL synthesis in shake-flask fermentation. The enhancement of ε-PL production by GSH was further verified in batch and fed-batch fermentations. On a 5-l fermenter scale, the highest increasement was 68.8% in batch fermentation and the highest ε-PL level was 46.5 g l - 1 in fed-batch fermentation. The RT-qPCR analysis showed that the transcriptional level of the catalase gene was down-regulated, and the decrease in cell activity was alleviated by the addition of GSH. The results revealed that exogenous antioxidant might maintain the cell vigor by reducing the excess ROS which provided a novel approach to regulate ε-PL synthesis.

Effect of Chemicals on Morphology and Luminescence of CdSe Quantum Dots.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiao; Li, Xiaoyu; Zhang, Ruili; Yang, Ping

2015-04-01

CdSe quantum dots (QDs) with several morphologies were fabricated using various reaction sys- tems. In a trioctylamine (TOA) and octadecylphosphonic acid (ODPA) system, yellow-emitting (a photoluminescence (PL) peak wavelength of 583 nm) CdSe QDs revealed rod morphology and nar- row size distribution. When ODPA was replaced by tetradecylphosphonic acid (TDPA), red-emitting CdSe rods (a PL peak wavelength of 653 nm) with broad size distribution were fabricated. This is ascribed that the short carbon chain accelerated the growth of CdSe QDs. As a result, the use of ODPA resulted in CdSe QDs with high PL efficiency (3.1%). Furthermore, cubic-like CdSe QDs were created in a stearic acid (SA) and octadecene (ODE) reaction system. The PL efficiency of the QDs is low (0.2%). When hexadecylamine (HDA) was added in such SA and ODE reaction system, spherical CdSe QDs with narrow size distribution and high PL efficiency (3.4%) were prepared.

Photoassisted photoluminescence fine-tuning of gold nanodots through free radical-mediated ligand-assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tseng, Yu-Ting; Cherng, Rochelle; Harroun, Scott G.; Yuan, Zhiqin; Lin, Tai-Yuan; Wu, Chien-Wei; Chang, Huan-Tsung; Huang, Chih-Ching

2016-05-01

In this study, we have developed a simple photoassisted ligand assembly to fine-tune the photoluminescence (PL) of (11-mercaptoundecyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide-capped gold nanodots (11-MUTAB-Au NDs). The 11-MUTAB-Au NDs (size: ca. 1.8 nm), obtained from the reaction of gold nanoparticles (ca. 3 nm) and 11-MUTAB, exhibited weak, near-infrared (NIR) PL at 700 nm with a quantum yield (QY) of 0.37% upon excitation at 365 nm. The PL QY of the Au NDs increased to 11.43% after reaction with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA) for 30 min under ultraviolet (UV) light, which was accompanied by a PL wavelength shift to the green region (~520 nm). UV-light irradiation accelerates 11-MUA assembly on the 11-MUTABAu NDs (11-MUA/11-MUTAB-Au NDs) through a radical-mediated reaction. Furthermore, the PL wavelength of the 11-MUA/11-MUTAB-Au NDs can be switched to 640 nm via cysteamine under UV-light irradiation. We propose that the PL of the Au NDs with NIR and visible emissions was originally from the surface thiol-Au complexes and the Au core, respectively. These dramatically different optical properties of the Au NDs were due to variation in the surface ligands, as well as the densities and surface oxidant states of the surface Au atoms/ions. These effects can be controlled by assembling surface thiol ligands and accelerated by UV irradiation.In this study, we have developed a simple photoassisted ligand assembly to fine-tune the photoluminescence (PL) of (11-mercaptoundecyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide-capped gold nanodots (11-MUTAB-Au NDs). The 11-MUTAB-Au NDs (size: ca. 1.8 nm), obtained from the reaction of gold nanoparticles (ca. 3 nm) and 11-MUTAB, exhibited weak, near-infrared (NIR) PL at 700 nm with a quantum yield (QY) of 0.37% upon excitation at 365 nm. The PL QY of the Au NDs increased to 11.43% after reaction with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA) for 30 min under ultraviolet (UV) light, which was accompanied by a PL wavelength shift to the green region (~520 nm). UV-light irradiation accelerates 11-MUA assembly on the 11-MUTABAu NDs (11-MUA/11-MUTAB-Au NDs) through a radical-mediated reaction. Furthermore, the PL wavelength of the 11-MUA/11-MUTAB-Au NDs can be switched to 640 nm via cysteamine under UV-light irradiation. We propose that the PL of the Au NDs with NIR and visible emissions was originally from the surface thiol-Au complexes and the Au core, respectively. These dramatically different optical properties of the Au NDs were due to variation in the surface ligands, as well as the densities and surface oxidant states of the surface Au atoms/ions. These effects can be controlled by assembling surface thiol ligands and accelerated by UV irradiation. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00795c

Evolution of superclusters and delocalized states in GaAs1-xNx

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fluegel, B.; Alberi, K.; Beaton, D. A.; Crooker, S. A.; Ptak, A. J.; Mascarenhas, A.

2012-11-01

The evolution of individual nitrogen cluster bound states into an extended state infinite supercluster in dilute GaAs1-xNx was probed through temperature and intensity-dependent, time-resolved and magnetophotoluminescence (PL) measurements. Samples with compositions less than 0.23% N exhibit PL behavior that is consistent with emission from the extended states of the conduction band. Near a composition of 0.23% N, a discontinuity develops between the extended state PL peak energy and the photoluminescence excitation absorption edge. The existence of dual localized/delocalized state behavior near this composition signals the formation of an N supercluster just below the conduction band edge. The infinite supercluster is fully developed by 0.32% N.

Umbilical Cord Blood Platelet Lysate as Serum Substitute in Expansion of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

PubMed

Shirzad, Negin; Bordbar, Sima; Goodarzi, Alireza; Mohammad, Monire; Khosravani, Pardis; Sayahpour, Froughazam; Baghaban Eslaminejad, Mohamadreza; Ebrahimi, Marzieh

2017-10-01

The diverse clinical applications for human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine warrant increased focus on developing adequate culture supplements devoid of animal-derived products. In the present study, we have investigated the feasibility of umbilical cord blood-platelet lysate (UCB-PL) as a standard substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS) and human peripheral blood-PL (PB-PL). In this experimental study, platelet concentrates (PC) from UCB and human PB donors were frozen, melted, and sterilized to obtain PL. Quality control included platelet cell counts, sterility testing (viral and microbial), total protein concentrations, growth factor levels, and PL stability. The effects of UCB-PL and PB-PL on hMSCs proliferation and differentiation into osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes were studied and the results compared with FBS. UCB-PL contained high levels of protein content, platelet-derived growth factor- AB (PDGF-AB), and transforming growth factor (TGF) compared to PB-PL. All growth factors were stable for at least nine months post-storage at -70˚C. hMSCs proliferation enhanced following treatment with UCB-PL. With all three supplements, hMSCs could differentiate into all three lineages. PB-PL and UCB-PL both were potent in hMSCs proliferation. However, PB promoted osteoblastic differentiation and UCB-PL induced chondrogenic differentiation. Because of availability, ease of use and feasible standardization of UCB-PL, we have suggested that UCB-PL be used as an alternative to FBS and PB-PL for the cultivation and expansion of hMSCs in cellular therapy. Copyright© by Royan Institute. All rights reserved.

Computerized Classification Testing under the One-Parameter Logistic Response Model with Ability-Based Guessing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Wen-Chung; Huang, Sheng-Yun

2011-01-01

The one-parameter logistic model with ability-based guessing (1PL-AG) has been recently developed to account for effect of ability on guessing behavior in multiple-choice items. In this study, the authors developed algorithms for computerized classification testing under the 1PL-AG and conducted a series of simulations to evaluate their…

Particulate systems based on pectin/chitosan association for the delivery of manuka honey components and platelet lysate in chronic skin ulcers.

PubMed

Tenci, Marika; Rossi, Silvia; Bonferoni, Maria Cristina; Sandri, Giuseppina; Boselli, Cinzia; Di Lorenzo, Arianna; Daglia, Maria; Icaro Cornaglia, Antonia; Gioglio, Luciana; Perotti, Cesare; Caramella, Carla; Ferrari, Franca

2016-07-25

The aim of the present work was the development of a powder formulation for the delivery of manuka honey (MH) bioactive components and platelet lysate (PL) in chronic skin ulcers. In particular pectin (PEC)/chitosan (CS) particles were prepared by ionotropic gelation in the presence of calcium chloride and subsequently characterized for particle size, hydration properties and mechanical resistance. Different experimental conditions (calcium chloride and CS concentrations; rest time in the cationic solution) were considered in order to obtain particles characterized by optimal size, hydration properties and mechanical resistance. Two different fractions of MH were examined: one (Fr1), rich in methylglyoxal and the other (Fr2), rich in polyphenols. Particles were loaded with Fr1, fraction able to enhance in vitro proliferation of human fibroblasts, and with PL. The presence of CS in Fr1-loaded particles produced an improvement in cell proliferation. Moreover, PL loading into particles did not affect the biological activity of the hemoderivative. In vivo efficacy of PL- and Fr1-loaded particles was evaluated on a rat wound model. Both treatments markedly increased wound healing to the same extent. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optical investigation of microscopic defect distribution in semi-polar (1-101 and 11-22) InGaN light-emitting diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hafiz, Shopan; Andrade, Nicolas; Monavarian, Morteza; Izyumskaya, Natalia; Das, Saikat; Zhang, Fan; Avrutin, Vitaliy; Morkoç, Hadis; Özgür, Ümit

2016-02-01

Near-field scanning optical microscopy was applied to investigate the spatial variations of extended defects and their effects on the optical quality for semi-polar (1-101) and (11-22) InGaN light emitting diodes (LEDs). (1-101) and (11-22) oriented InGaN LEDs emitting at 450-470 nm were grown on patterned Si (001) 7° offcut substrates and m-sapphire substrates by means of nano-epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO), respectively. For (1-101) structures, the photoluminescence (PL) at 85 K from the near surface c+ wings was found to be relatively uniform and strong across the sample. However, emission from the c- wings was substantially weaker due to the presence of high density of threading dislocations (TDs) and basal plane stacking faults (BSFs) as revealed from the local PL spectra. In case of (11-22) LED structures, near-field PL intensity correlated with the surface features and the striations along the direction parallel to the c-axis projection exposed facets where the Indium content was higher as deduced from shift in the PL peak energy.

Genetics of alkaline phosphatase of the small intestine of the house mouser (Mus musculus).

PubMed

Wilcox, F H

1983-08-01

Four inbred strains of mice exhibited either slow (PL/J), intermediate (DBA/2J, LP/J), or fast (SWR/J) rates of migration of duodenal alkaline phosphatase on cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Hybrids of these strains also had intermediate rates of migration regardless of the combination of strains used as parents. Strain differences were present in all regions of the small but not the large intestine. Crosses of the PL/J strain to hybrids between this strain and the other three strains gave a 1:1 segregation of the slow and intermediate patterns. The symbol Akp-3 is proposed for the locus responsible for the slower migration of the enzyme in this strain. Data from the LP/J X PL/J hybrid crossed with the PL/J strain showed linkage with two loci on chromosome 1 as follows: centromere--Idh-1--13.8 cM--Akp-3--8.9 +/- 2.6 cM--Pep-3. The available data do not reveal the genetic basis for the faster migration rate of the enzyme from the SWR/J strain, but a different response to neuraminidase and apparent nonlinkage to the Pep-3 locus suggest that a locus other than Akp-3 is responsible.

Impact of the oil industry on malaria diagnosis and management in north-east Scotland (1992-99).

PubMed

Mackenzie, A R; Laing, R B; Douglas, J G; Scott, N A; Smith, C C

2000-06-01

In order to assess the current pattern of malaria presenting to the Aberdeen Infection Unit a retrospective casenote review was undertaken of 110 patients admitted with that diagnosis between 1st January 1992 and 31st August 1999. Oil-related work was the reason for travel in 48 (43.6%) of the UK residents, holiday in 35 (31.8%), backpacking in 8 (7.3%) and other work in 5 (4.5%). Sixty-five patients (59.1%) had PL falciparum malaria (pure or mixed), 25 (22.7%) had PL vivax, 6 (5.4%) PL ovale and 3 (2.7%) PL malariae infection. No prophylaxis had been taken by 66% of the 47 UK-based oil workers and by 36% of the other 48 UK residents who had returned from Africa. There is a need for better education of oil workers and holidaymakers travelling to areas endemic for malaria. We are now setting up a travel advisory service in our Unit to address the problem.

Carrier confinement effects of InxGa1-xN/GaN multi quantum disks with GaN surface barriers grown in GaN nanorods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Youngsin; Chan, Christopher C. S.; Taylor, Robert A.; Kim, Nammee; Jo, Yongcheol; Lee, Seung W.; Yang, Woochul; Im, Hyunsik

2018-04-01

Structural and optical properties of InxGa1-xN/GaN multi quantum disks (QDisks) grown on GaN nanorods by molecular beam epitaxy have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy and micro-photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Two types of InGaN QDisks were grown: a pseudo-3D confined InGaN pillar-type QDisks embedded in GaN nanorods; and QDisks in flanged cone type GaN nanorods. The PL emission peak and excitation dependent PL behavior of the pillar-type Qdisks differ greatly from those of the flanged cone type QDisks. Time resolved PL was carried out to probe the differences in charge carrier dynamics. The results suggest that by constraining the formation of InGaN QDisks within the centre of the nanorod, carriers are restricted from migrating to the surface, decreasing the surface recombination at high carrier densities.

Study for Development of Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Earth-Covered Ammunition Storage Magazines.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-01

Div., ASCE, New York, N.Y. F. "Frp-An Introduction to Fiberglas-Reinforced Plastics Composites" Publication No. 1-PL-6305A by Owens - Corning Fiberglas...34Hand Lay-up Spray-up Guide" 1979; Publication No. 5-PL- 9342 Owens - Corning Fiberglas Corp. Toledo, OH.; Unclassified. 5. "Specifications for...Manual F]PdA-TS-79-203, U.S. Govt. Printing Office Stock No. 023-000-00495-0. B. "Hand Lay-up Spray-up Guide" 1979; Publication No. 5-PL-9342 Owens

Near-band-edge optical responses of solution-processed organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 on mesoporous TiO2 electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamada, Yasuhiro; Nakamura, Toru; Endo, Masaru; Wakamiya, Atsushi; Kanemitsu, Yoshihiko

2014-03-01

We studied the near-band-edge optical responses of solution-processed CH3NH3PbI3 on mesoporous TiO2 electrodes, which is utilized in mesoscopic heterojunction solar cells. Photoluminescence (PL) and PL excitation spectra peaks appear at 1.60 and 1.64 eV, respectively. The transient absorption spectrum shows a negative peak at 1.61 eV owing to photobleaching at the band-gap energy, indicating a direct band-gap semiconductor. On the basis of the temperature-dependent PL and diffuse reflectance spectra, we clarified that the absorption tail at room temperature is explained in terms of an Urbach tail and consistently determined the band-gap energy to be ˜1.61 eV at room temperature.

Luminescent high temperature sensor based on the CdSe/ZnS quantum dot thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, He-lin; Yang, Ai-jun; Sui, Cheng-hua

2013-11-01

A high temperature sensor based on the multi-parameter temperature dependent characteristic of photoluminescence (PL) of quantum dot (QD) thin film is demonstrated by depositing the CdSe/ZnS core/shell QDs on the SiO2 glass substrates. The variations of the intensity, the peak wavelength and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of PL spectra with temperature are studied experimentally and theoretically. The results indicate that the peak wavelength of the PL spectra changes linearly with temperature, while the PL intensity and FWHM vary exponentially for the temperature range from 30 °C to 180 °C. Using the obtained temperature dependent optical parameters, the resolution of the designed sensor can reach 0.1 nm/°C.

In Situ Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils with and without Alcohol on Oral Biofilm: A Randomized Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Quintas, Victor; Prada-López, Isabel; Carreira, María J.; Suárez-Quintanilla, David; Balsa-Castro, Carlos; Tomás, Inmaculada

2017-01-01

Currently, there is little evidence on the in situ antibacterial activity of essential oils (EO) without alcohol. This study aimed to evaluate in situ the substantivity and antiplaque effect on the plaque-like biofilm (PL-biofilm) of two solutions, a traditional formulation that contains EO with alcohol (T-EO) and an alcohol-free formulation of EO (Af-EO). Eighteen healthy adults performed a single mouthwash of: T-EO, Af-EO, and sterile water (WATER) after wearing an individualized disk-holding splint for 2 days. The bacterial viability (BV) and thickness of the PL-biofilm were quantified at baseline, 30 s, and 1, 3, 5, and 7 h post-rinsing (Test 1). Subsequently, each volunteer wore the splint for 4 days, applying two daily mouthwashes of: T-EO, Af-EO, and WATER. The BV, thickness, and covering grade (CG) of the PL-biofilm were quantified (Test 2). Samples were analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy after staining with the LIVE/DEAD® BacLight™ solution. To conduct the computations of the BV automatically, a Matlab toolbox called Dentius Biofilm was developed. In test 1, both EO antiseptics had a similar antibacterial effect, reducing BV after a single rinse compared to the WATER, and keeping it below baseline levels up to 7 h post-rinse (P < 0.001). The mean thickness of the PL-biofilm after rinsing was not affected by any of the EO formulations and ranged from 18.58 to 20.19 μm. After 4 days, the T-EO and Af-EO solutions were significantly more effective than the WATER, reducing the BV, thickness, and CG of the PL-biofilm (P < 0.001). Although, both EO antiseptics presented a similar bactericidal activity, the Af-EO rinses led to more significant reductions in the thickness and CG of the PL-biofilm than the T-EO rinses (thickness = 7.90 vs. 9.92 μm, P = 0.012; CG = 33.36 vs. 46.61%, P = 0.001). In conclusion, both essential oils antiseptics had very high immediate antibacterial activity and substantivity in situ on the 2-day PL-biofilm after a single mouthwash. In the 4-day PL-biofilm, both essential oils formulations demonstrated a very good antiplaque effect in situ, although the alcohol-free formula performed better at reducing the biofilm thickness and covering grade. PMID:29218030

The effect of oral protease administration in the rat remnant kidney model.

PubMed

Sebeková, K; Dämmrich, J; Krivosíková, Z; Heidland, A

1999-12-01

It has been demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of proteolytic enzymes ameliorates the progression of renal diseases in various animal models. In the present study, we employed the rat remnant kidney model to study the effectiveness of oral administration of proteases. Twenty male Wistar rats underwent sham operation (CTRL), while 25 were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 NX). Rats were randomised into placebo (PL) (2 ml tap water/day by gavage), or Phlogenzym (E; fixed mixture of trypsin 2.42 mg, bromelain 4.54 mg, and rutozid 5.04 mg added as antioxidant, in 2 ml tap water daily by gavage) treated group. Duration of the study was 45 days. Rats were pair-fed. Enzyme treatment exerted salutary effects on various functional and morphological parameters. Proteinuria was higher in both 5/6 NX group rats throughout the study. Administration of proteases ameliorated its rise effectively (data at sacrifice: CTRL-PL 6.27 +/- 1.25, CTRL-E 9.27 +/- 0.99, 5/6 NX-PL 74.04 +/- 21.33, 5/6 NX-E 39.09 +/- 7.93 mg/24 h; P < 0.01). Increased urinary excretion of the fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF-beta 1) was improved, too (CTRL-PL 0.349 +/- 0.051, CTRL-E 0.693 +/- 0.230, 5/6 NX-PL 3.044 +/- 0.540, 5/6 NX-E 1.390 +/- 0.238 ng/mumol creatinine; P < 0.05). At sacrifice, tubulointerstitial fibrosis was less pronounced in E-treated rats. Correspondingly, the volume fraction of tubulointerstitial tissue in the renal cortex was improved in 5/6 NX-E rats (CTRL-PL 9.9 +/- 0.2, CTRL-E 10.0 +/- 0.2, 5/6 NX-PL 17.9 +/- 1.8, 5/6 NX-E 13.8 +/- 0.9%; P < 0.05). The protein/DNA ratio in isolated glomeruli and tubules, as an estimate of glomerular matrix accumulation and hypertrophy of tubules, was enhanced in 5/6 NX groups and a tendency towards lower values was observed after E treatment. Renal function as evaluated by serum creatinine and urea levels was not influenced by the enzyme therapy. No between-group differences in blood pressure were observed. In summary, oral administration of proteolytic enzymes improved proteinuria and urinary TGF-beta 1 excretion, as well as the severity of tubulointerstitial fibrosis without signs of toxicity.

A novel missense mutation p.L76P in the GJB2 gene causing nonsyndromic recessive deafness in a Brazilian family.

PubMed

Batissoco, A C; Auricchio, M T B M; Kimura, L; Tabith-Junior, A; Mingroni-Netto, R C

2009-02-01

Mutations in the GJB2 gene, encoding connexin 26 (Cx26), are a major cause of nonsyndromic recessive hearing loss in many countries. We report here on a novel point mutation in GJB2, p.L76P (c.227C>T), in compound heterozygosity with a c.35delG mutation, in two Brazilian sibs, one presenting mild and the other profound nonsyndromic neurosensorial hearing impairment. Their father, who carried a wild-type allele and a p.L76P mutation, had normal hearing. The mutation leads to the substitution of leucine (L) by proline (P) at residue 76, an evolutionarily conserved position in Cx26 as well as in other connexins. This mutation is predicted to affect the first extracellular domain (EC1) or the second transmembrane domain (TM2). EC1 is important for connexon-connexon interaction and for the control of channel voltage gating. The segregation of the c.227C>T (p.L76P) mutation together with c.35delG in this family indicates a recessive mode of inheritance. The association between the p.L76P mutation and hearing impairment is further supported by its absence in a normal hearing control group of 100 individuals, 50 European-Brazilians and 50 African-Brazilians.

Phomopsis longicolla RNA virus 1 - Novel virus at the edge of myco- and plant viruses.

PubMed

Hrabáková, Lenka; Koloniuk, Igor; Petrzik, Karel

2017-06-01

The complete nucleotide sequence of a new RNA mycovirus in the KY isolate of Phomopsis longicolla Hobbs 1985 and its protoplasts subcultures p5, p9, and ME711 was discovered. The virus, provisionally named Phomopsis longicolla RNA virus 1 (PlRV1), was localized in mitochondria and was determined to have a genome 2822 nucleotides long. A single open reading frame could be translated in silico by both standard and mitochondrial genetic codes into a product featuring conservative domains for an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). The RdRp of PlRV1 has no counterpart among mycoviruses, but it is about 30% identical with the RdRp of plant ourmiaviruses. Recently, new mycoviruses related to plant ourmiaviruses and forming one clade with PlRV1 have been discovered. This separate clade could represent the crucial link between plant and fungal viruses. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Phthalate metabolites and bisphenol-A in association with circulating angiogenic biomarkers across pregnancy

PubMed Central

Ferguson, Kelly K.; McElrath, Thomas F.; Cantonwine, David E.; Mukherjee, Bhramar; Meeker, John D.

2015-01-01

Introduction Phthalates and bisphenol-a (BPA) are endocrine disrupting compounds with widespread exposure that have been linked in a number of epidemiologic studies to adverse birth outcomes and developmental effects. We hypothesized that these associations may be mediated in part through altered placental development and function consequent to exposure. To investigate this question, we examined associations between plasma biomarkers of angiogenesis and urinary biomarkers of exposure to phthalates and bisphenol-a (BPA) measured at repeated time points across pregnancy. Methods We utilized a nested case-control population consisting of 130 mothers who delivered preterm and 352 who delivered term from a prospective birth cohort. Placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) were measured in plasma samples collected from up to four visits during pregnancy (median 10, 18, 26, and 35 weeks). Phthalate metabolites and BPA were measured in urine samples collected at the same visits as indices of exposure. Results In linear mixed effects models adjusted for urine dilution and gestational age at sample collection, oxidized di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites were associated with decreases in PlGF as well as increases in the sFlt-1 to PlGF ratio. These results were slightly attenuated in fully adjusted models. Other phthalate metabolites did not show consistent relationships with either sFlt-1 or PlGF. BPA, however, was associated with increased sFlt-1 as well as the sFlt-1 to PlGF ratio in both crude and adjusted models. Discussion We observed associations between urinary DEHP metabolites and BPA and biomarkers of angiogenesis during pregnancy that may be indicative of disrupted placental development and/or function during gestation. PMID:25913709

β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB)-free acid attenuates circulating TNF-α and TNFR1 expression postresistance exercise.

PubMed

Townsend, Jeremy R; Fragala, Maren S; Jajtner, Adam R; Gonzalez, Adam M; Wells, Adam J; Mangine, Gerald T; Robinson, Edward H; McCormack, William P; Beyer, Kyle S; Pruna, Gabriel J; Boone, Carleigh H; Scanlon, Tyler M; Bohner, Jonathan D; Stout, Jeffrey R; Hoffman, Jay R

2013-10-15

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate-free acid (HMB-FA) and cold-water immersion (CWI) on circulating concentrations of TNF-α and monocyte TNF-α receptor 1 (TNFR1) expression. Forty resistance-trained men (22.3 ± 2.4 yr) were randomized into four groups [placebo (PL), HMB-FA, CWI, and HMB-FA-CWI] and performed an acute, intense exercise protocol (four sets of up to 10 repetitions of the squat, dead lift, and split squat). Participants also performed four sets of up to 10 repetitions of the squat at 24 and 48 h following the initial exercise bout. Blood was sampled before exercise (PRE), immediately postexercise (IP), and 30 min, 24 h, and 48 h postexercise (30P, 24P, and 48P, respectively). Circulating TNF-α was assayed, and TNFR1 expression on CD14+ monocytes was measured by flow cytometry. The exercise protocol significantly elevated TNF-α in only PL (P = 0.006) and CWI (P = 0.045) IP. Mean percent changes show that TNF-α significantly increased from PRE to IP for only PL and CWI groups (P < 0.05), whereas the percent change of TNF-α for HMB-FA and HMB-FA-CWI was not significant. TNFR1 expression was elevated in PL (P = 0.023) and CWI (P = 0.02) at 30P compared with PRE, whereas both HMB-FA-treated groups did not increase significantly. In conclusion, HMB-FA attenuated circulating TNF-α IP and TNFR1 expression during recovery compared with PL and CWI. HMB-FA supplementation may attenuate the initial immune response to intense exercise, which may reduce recovery time following intense exercise.

Pathogen reduction through additive-free short-wave UV light irradiation retains the optimal efficacy of human platelet lysate for the expansion of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

PubMed

Viau, Sabrina; Chabrand, Lucie; Eap, Sandy; Lorant, Judith; Rouger, Karl; Goudaliez, Francis; Sumian, Chryslain; Delorme, Bruno

2017-01-01

We recently developed and characterized a standardized and clinical grade human Platelet Lysate (hPL) that constitutes an advantageous substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS) for human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) expansion required in cell therapy procedures, avoiding xenogenic risks (virological and immunological) and ethical issues. Because of the progressive use of pathogen-reduced (PR) labile blood components, and the requirement of ensuring the viral safety of raw materials for cell therapy products, we evaluated the impact of the novel procedure known as THERAFLEX UV-Platelets for pathogen reduction on hPL quality (growth factors content) and efficacy (as a medium supplement for hMSC expansion). This technology is based on short-wave ultraviolet light (UV-C) that induces non-reversible damages in DNA and RNA of pathogens while preserving protein structures and functions, and has the main advantage of not needing the addition of any photosensitizing additives (that might secondarily interfere with hMSCs). We applied the THERAFLEX UV-Platelets procedure on fresh platelet concentrates (PCs) suspended in platelet additive solution and prepared hPL from these treated PCs. We compared the quality and efficacy of PR-hPL with the corresponding non-PR ones. We found no impact on the content of five cytokines tested (EGF, bFGF, PDGF-AB, VEGF and IGF-1) but a significant decrease in TGF-ß1 (-21%, n = 11, p<0.01). We performed large-scale culture of hMSCs from bone marrow (BM) during three passages and showed that hPL or PR-hPL at 8% triggered comparable BM-hMSC proliferation as FBS at 10% plus bFGF. Moreover, after proliferation of hMSCs in an hPL- or PR-hPL-containing medium, their profile of membrane marker expression, their clonogenic potential and immunosuppressive properties were maintained, in comparison with BM-hMSCs cultured under FBS conditions. The potential to differentiate towards the adipogenic and osteogenic lineages of hMSCs cultured in parallel in the three conditions also remained identical. We demonstrated the feasibility of using UV-C-treated platelets to subsequently obtain pathogen-reduced hPL, while preserving its optimal quality and efficacy for hMSC expansion in cell therapy applications.

Pathogen reduction through additive-free short-wave UV light irradiation retains the optimal efficacy of human platelet lysate for the expansion of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

PubMed Central

Viau, Sabrina; Chabrand, Lucie; Eap, Sandy; Lorant, Judith; Rouger, Karl; Goudaliez, Francis; Sumian, Chryslain; Delorme, Bruno

2017-01-01

Background We recently developed and characterized a standardized and clinical grade human Platelet Lysate (hPL) that constitutes an advantageous substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS) for human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) expansion required in cell therapy procedures, avoiding xenogenic risks (virological and immunological) and ethical issues. Because of the progressive use of pathogen-reduced (PR) labile blood components, and the requirement of ensuring the viral safety of raw materials for cell therapy products, we evaluated the impact of the novel procedure known as THERAFLEX UV-Platelets for pathogen reduction on hPL quality (growth factors content) and efficacy (as a medium supplement for hMSC expansion). This technology is based on short-wave ultraviolet light (UV-C) that induces non-reversible damages in DNA and RNA of pathogens while preserving protein structures and functions, and has the main advantage of not needing the addition of any photosensitizing additives (that might secondarily interfere with hMSCs). Methodology / Principal findings We applied the THERAFLEX UV-Platelets procedure on fresh platelet concentrates (PCs) suspended in platelet additive solution and prepared hPL from these treated PCs. We compared the quality and efficacy of PR-hPL with the corresponding non-PR ones. We found no impact on the content of five cytokines tested (EGF, bFGF, PDGF-AB, VEGF and IGF-1) but a significant decrease in TGF-ß1 (-21%, n = 11, p<0.01). We performed large-scale culture of hMSCs from bone marrow (BM) during three passages and showed that hPL or PR-hPL at 8% triggered comparable BM-hMSC proliferation as FBS at 10% plus bFGF. Moreover, after proliferation of hMSCs in an hPL- or PR-hPL-containing medium, their profile of membrane marker expression, their clonogenic potential and immunosuppressive properties were maintained, in comparison with BM-hMSCs cultured under FBS conditions. The potential to differentiate towards the adipogenic and osteogenic lineages of hMSCs cultured in parallel in the three conditions also remained identical. Conclusion / Significance We demonstrated the feasibility of using UV-C-treated platelets to subsequently obtain pathogen-reduced hPL, while preserving its optimal quality and efficacy for hMSC expansion in cell therapy applications. PMID:28763452

PET imaging of Hsp90 expression in pancreatic cancer using a new 64Cu-labeled dimeric Sansalvamide A decapeptide.

PubMed

Wang, Xiaohui; Zhang, Jun; Wu, Hubing; Li, Yumin; Conti, Peter S; Chen, Kai

2018-04-24

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) plays a vital role in the progress of malignant disease and elevated Hsp90 expression has been reported in pancreatic cancer. In this study, we radiolabeled a dimeric Sansalvamide A derivative (Di-San A1) with 64 Cu, and evaluated the feasibility of using 64 Cu-Di-San A1 for PET imaging of Hsp90 expression in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. A macrocyclic chelator NOTA (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-trisacetic acid) was conjugated to Di-San A1. 64 Cu-Di-San A1 was successfully prepared in a radiochemical yield > 97% with a radiochemical purity > 98%. 64 Cu-Di-San A1 is stable in PBS and mouse serum with > 92% of parent probe intact after 4 h incubation. The cell binding and uptake revealed that 64 Cu-Di-San A1 binds to Hsp90-positive PL45 pancreatic cancer cells, and the binding can be effectively blocked by an Hsp90 inhibitor (17AAG). For microPET study, 64 Cu-Di-San A1 shows good in vivo performance in terms of tumor uptake in nude mice bearing PL45 tumors. The Hsp90-specific tumor activity accumulation of 64 Cu-Di-San A1 was further demonstrated by significant reduction of PL45 tumor uptake with a pre-injected blocking dose of 17AAG. The ex vivo PET imaging and biodistribution results were consistent with the quantitative analysis of PET imaging, demonstrating good tumor-to-muscle ratio (5.35 ± 0.46) of 64 Cu-Di-San A1 at 4 h post-injection in PL45 tumor mouse xenografts. 64 Cu-Di-San A1 allows PET imaging of Hsp90 expression in PL45 tumors, which may provide a non-invasive method to quantitatively characterize Hsp90 expression in pancreatic cancer.

Small Business Innovation Research : Program Solicitation (Closing Date : May 1, 1990)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1990-01-01

This solicitation for research proposals is issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) pursuant to the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, P.L. 97-219, as amended by P.L. 99-443. The law seeks to encourage the initiative of the p...

Small Business Innovation Research : Program Solicitation (Closing Date : May 1, 1989)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1989-01-01

This solicitation for research proposals is issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) pursuant to the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, P.L. 97-219, as amended by P.L. 99-443. The law seeks to encourage the initiative of the p...

Small Business Innovation Research - Program Solicitation (Closing Date : May 1, 1991)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1991-01-01

This solicitation for research proposals is issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) pursuant to the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, P.L. 97-219, as amended by P.L. 99-443. The law seeks to encourage the initiative of the p...

Serum-converted platelet lysate can substitute for fetal bovine serum in human mesenchymal stromal cell cultures.

PubMed

Mojica-Henshaw, Mariluz P; Jacobson, Pam; Morris, Julie; Kelley, Linda; Pierce, Jan; Boyer, Michael; Reems, Jo-Anna

2013-12-01

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is commonly used as a serum supplement for culturing human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs). However, human cells grown in FBS, especially for extended periods, risk potential exposure to bovine immunogenic proteins and infectious agents. To address this issue, we investigated the ability of a novel human platelet serum supplement to substitute for FBS in hMSC cultures. Platelet lysate-serum (PL-serum) was converted from platelet lysate-plasma (PL-plasma) that was manufactured from pooled platelet-rich plasma (PRP) apheresis units. Growth factor levels and the number of residual intact platelets in PL-serum and PL-plasma were compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and flow cytometry, respectively. Proliferation responses of hMSCs cultured in PL-serum, PL-plasma, or FBS were assessed with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, the immunophenotype of harvested hMSCs was evaluated by flow cytometry and tri-lineage differentiation potential was evaluated by assessing adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic development. Selected growth factor levels in PL-serum were not significantly different from PL-plasma (P > 0.05). hMSC cultures supplemented with PL-serum had comparable growth kinetics to PL-plasma, and hMSC yields were consistently greater than with FBS. hMSCs harvested from cultures supplemented with PL-serum, PL-plasma or FBS had similar cell surface phenotypes and maintained tri-lineage differentiation potential. PL-serum, similar to PL-plasma, can substitute for FBS in hMSC cultures. Use of PL-serum, in contrast to PL-plasma, has an added advantage of not requiring addition of a xenogeneic source of heparin, providing a completely xeno-free culture medium. Copyright © 2013 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Generation of Some First-Order Autoregressive Markovian Sequences of Positive Random Variables with Given Marginal Distributions,

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-03-01

Again E( XnX 1 Xn) Xn + (l-aB)/X PlXn-1 + (l-Pl)/x 2.11) and X0 E0 gives a stationary sequence. Thus the correla- tions and regressions are the...sequence, although the sample paths will tend to have runs-up. A similar analysis given in Lawrance and Lewis [5] shows that 1 1 + i a + au (3.7) E( XnX

Region-specific roles of the prelimbic cortex, the dorsal CA1, the ventral DG and ventral CA1 of the hippocampus in the fear return evoked by a sub-conditioning procedure in rats.

PubMed

Fu, Juan; Xing, Xiaoli; Han, Mengfi; Xu, Na; Piao, Chengji; Zhang, Yue; Zheng, Xigeng

2016-02-01

The return of learned fear is an important issue in anxiety disorder research since an analogous process may contribute to long-term fear maintenance or clinical relapse. A number of studies demonstrate that mPFC and hippocampus are important in the modulation of post-extinction re-expression of fear memory. However, the region-specific role of these structures in the fear return evoked by a sub-threshold conditioning (SC) is not known. In the present experiments, we first examined specific roles of the prelimbic cortex (PL), the dorsal hippocampus (DH, the dorsal CA1 area in particular), the ventral hippocampus (the ventral dentate gyrus (vDG) and the ventral CA1 area in particular) in this fear return process. Then we examined the role of connections between PL and vCA1 with this behavioral approach. Rats were subjected to five tone-shock pairings (1.0-mA shock) to induce conditioned fear (freezing), followed by three fear extinction sessions (25 tone-alone trials each session). After a post-test for extinction memory, some rats were retrained with the SC procedure to reinstate tone-evoked freezing. Rat groups were injected with low doses of the GABAA agonist muscimol to selectively inactivate PL, DH, vDG, or vCA1 120 min before the fear return test. A disconnection paradigm with ipsilateral or contralateral muscimol injection of the PL and the vCA1 was used to examine the role of this pathway in the fear return. We found that transient inactivation of these areas significantly impaired fear return (freezing): inactivation of the prelimbic cortex blocked SC-evoked fear return in particular but did not influence fear expression in general; inactivation of the DH area impaired fear return, but had no effect on the extinction retrieval process; both ventral DG and ventral CA1 are required for the return of extinguished fear whereas only ventral DG is required for the extinction retrieval. These findings suggest that PL, DH, vDG, and vCA1 all contribute to the fear return and connections between PL and vCA1 may be involved in the modulation of this process. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Vitamin D3 supplementation increases fibroblast growth factor-23 in HIV-infected youth treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

PubMed Central

Havens, Peter L; Hazra, Rohan; Stephensen, Charles B; Kiser, Jennifer J; Flynn, Patricia M; Wilson, Craig M; Rutledge, Brandy; Bethel, James; Pan, Cynthia G; Woodhouse, Leslie R; Van Loan, Marta D; Liu, Nancy; Lujan-Zilbermann, Jorge; Baker, Alyne; Kapogiannis, Bill G; Gordon, Catherine M; Mulligan, Kathleen

2014-01-01

Background Tenofovir (TDF) is associated with phosphaturia and elevated 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25-OH(2)D). Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) causes phosphaturia and increases in response to elevated 1,25-OH(2)D. Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) binds to 1,25-OH(2)D, decreasing its biologic activity, and is elevated in persons with higher plasma tenofovir concentrations. We compared FGF23 and VDBP before and after vitamin D3 (VITD) supplementation in youth treated with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) containing or not containing TDF. Methods A randomized controlled trial in HIV+ youth ages 18–25 years enrolled participants based on cART treatment with TDF (TDF, N=118) or without TDF (no-TDF, N=85) and randomized within those groups to VITD (50,000 IU every four weeks) or placebo (PL). We measured FGF23 and VDBP and calculated free 1,25-OH(2)D at baseline and week 12, and compared changes by TDF treatment and VITD randomized group. Results At baseline, serum FGF23 concentration showed a quadratic relationship with 1,25-OH(2)D most pronounced in the TDF group. At week 12, total and free 1,25-OH(2)D increased in the VITD but not PL groups, independent of TDF use. FGF23 increased in the TDF group receiving VITD, but there was no FGF23 change in the no-TDF group receiving VITD or the PL groups. The adjusted mean change in FGF23 from baseline to week 12 was +7.7 pg/mL in the TDF/VITD group, compared to −1.7 (no-TDF/VITD, p=0.010); −1.3 (TDF/PL, p=0.006); and +1.1 (no-TDF/PL, p=0.035). Conclusions These results suggest that TDF-containing cART may alter the FGF23 response to vitamin D supplementation in HIV-infected youth. PMID:24535626

Antibacterial activity and mode of action of ε-polylysine against Escherichia coli O157:H7.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaowei; Shi, Ce; Liu, Zuojia; Pan, Fengguang; Meng, Rizeng; Bu, Xiujuan; Xing, Heqin; Deng, Yanhong; Guo, Na; Yu, Lu

2018-04-10

Gram-negative Escherichia coli O157:H7 were chosen as model bacteria to evaluate the antimicrobial mechanism of ε-polylysine (ε-PL). The antibacterial activity of ε-PL was detected by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration values as well as the time-kill curve. The membrane integrity was determined by ultraviolet (UV) absorption, membrane potential (MP) assay and flow cytometry (FCM) experiments. The permeability of the inner membrane was detected by β-galactosidase activity assay. Furthermore, electron microscopy [scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)] was utilized to observe bacterial morphology. These results demonstrated that ε-PL showed its antibacterial activity by changing the integrity and permeability of cell membranes, leading to rapid cell death. The electron microscopy analysis (SEM and TEM) results indicated that the bacterial cell morphology, membrane integrity and permeability were spoiled when the E. coli O157:H7 cells were exposed to minimum inhibitory concentrations of ε-PL (16 µg ml -1 ). In addition, the bacterial membrane was damaged more severely when the concentration of ε-PL was increased. The present study investigated the antimicrobial mechanism of ε-PL by measuring the content of cytoplasmic β-galactosidase, proteins and DNA. In addition, SEM and TEM were carried out to assess the mechanism. These results show that ε-PL has the ability to decrease the content of large molecules, cellular soluble proteins and nucleic acids associated with increasing the content of cytoplasmic β-galactosidase in supernatant by causing damage to the cell membranes. Consequently, the use of ε-PL as a natural antimicrobial agent should eventually become an appealing method in the field of food preservation.

[Anti-synthetase syndrome: anti-PL-7, anti-PL-12 and anti-EJ].

PubMed

Souza, Fernando Henrique Carlos de; Cruellas, Marcela Gran Pina; Levy-Neto, Mauricio; Shinjo, Samuel Katsuyuki

2013-08-01

Due to the scarcity of studies in the literature, we conducted an analysis of a series of patients with the anti-PL-7, PL-12 and EJ types of antisynthetase syndrome (ASS). We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 20 patients with ASS (8 with anti-PL-7, 6 with PL-12, 6 with EJ) monitored in our department between 1982 and 2012. The mean patient age at disease onset was 38.5 ± 12.9 years, and the disease duration was 4.5 ± 6.4 years. Of all the patients, 70% were white and 85% were female. Constitutional symptoms occurred in 90% of cases. All patients presented objective muscle weakness in the limbs; in addition, 30% were bedridden and 65% demonstrated high dysphagia at diagnosis. Joint and pulmonary involvement and Raynaud's phenomenon occurred in 50%, 40% and 65% of cases, respectively, with more than half of the patients presenting incipient pneumopathy, ground-glass opacity and/or pulmonary fibrosis. There were no cases of neurological and/or cardiac involvement. All patients received prednisone or other immunosuppressants depending on tolerance, side effects and/or disease refractoriness. Importantly, patients with the anti-EJ type of ASS demonstrated higher rates of recurrence. Two patients died during follow-up, and 1 patient had breast cancer at the time of diagnosis. ASS (anti-PL-7, PL-12 and EJ) was found to predominantly affect white women. Although the autoantibodies described in the present study are more related to pulmonary than joint involvement, our patients showed a significant percentage of both types of involvement and a high percentage of myopathy. We also observed a low mortality rate.

Additive effects of beta-alanine and sodium bicarbonate on upper-body intermittent performance.

PubMed

Tobias, Gabriel; Benatti, Fabiana Braga; de Salles Painelli, Vitor; Roschel, Hamilton; Gualano, Bruno; Sale, Craig; Harris, Roger C; Lancha, Antonio Herbert; Artioli, Guilherme Gianinni

2013-08-01

We examined the isolated and combined effects of beta-alanine (BA) and sodium bicarbonate (SB) on high-intensity intermittent upper-body performance in judo and jiu-jitsu competitors. 37 athletes were assigned to one of four groups: (1) placebo (PL)+PL; (2) BA+PL; (3) PL+SB or (4) BA+SB. BA or dextrose (placebo) (6.4 g day⁻¹) was ingested for 4 weeks and 500 mg kg⁻¹ BM of SB or calcium carbonate (placebo) was ingested for 7 days during the 4th week. Before and after 4 weeks of supplementation, the athletes completed four 30-s upper-body Wingate tests, separated by 3 min. Blood lactate was determined at rest, immediately after and 5 min after the 4th exercise bout, with perceived exertion reported immediately after the 4th bout. BA and SB alone increased the total work done in +7 and 8 %, respectively. The co-ingestion resulted in an additive effect (+14 %, p < 0.05 vs. BA and SB alone). BA alone significantly improved mean power in the 2nd and 3rd bouts and tended to improve the 4th bout. SB alone significantly improved mean power in the 4th bout and tended to improve in the 2nd and 3rd bouts. BA+SB enhanced mean power in all four bouts. PL+PL did not elicit any alteration on mean and peak power. Post-exercise blood lactate increased with all treatments except with PL+PL. Only BA+SB resulted in lower ratings of perceived exertion (p = 0.05). Chronic BA and SB supplementation alone equally enhanced high-intensity intermittent upper-body performance in well-trained athletes. Combined BA and SB promoted a clear additive ergogenic effect.

Molecular Interactions between (−)-Epigallocatechin Gallate Analogs and Pancreatic Lipase

PubMed Central

Wang, Shihui; Sun, Zeya; Dong, Shengzhao; Liu, Yang; Liu, Yun

2014-01-01

The molecular interactions between pancreatic lipase (PL) and four tea polyphenols (EGCG analogs), like (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (−)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG), (−)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), and (−)-epigallocatechin (EC), were studied from PL activity, conformation, kinetics and thermodynamics. It was observed that EGCG analogs inhibited PL activity, and their inhibitory rates decreased by the order of EGCG>GCG>ECG>EC. PL activity at first decreased rapidly and then slowly with the increase of EGCG analogs concentrations. α-Helix content of PL secondary structure decreased dependent on EGCG analogs concentration by the order of EGCG>GCG>ECG>EC. EGCG, ECG, and EC could quench PL fluorescence both dynamically and statically, while GCG only quenched statically. EGCG analogs would induce PL self-assembly into complexes and the hydrodynamic radii of the complexes possessed a close relationship with the inhibitory rates. Kinetics analysis showed that EGCG analogs non-competitively inhibited PL activity and did not bind to PL catalytic site. DSC measurement revealed that EGCG analogs decreased the transition midpoint temperature of PL enzyme, suggesting that these compounds reduced PL enzyme thermostability. In vitro renaturation through urea solution indicated that interactions between PL and EGCG analogs were weak and non-covalent. PMID:25365042

[Effects of different annealing conditions on the photoluminescence of nanoporous alumina film].

PubMed

Xie, Ning; Ma, Kai-Di; Shen, Yi-Fan; Wang, Qian

2013-12-01

The nanoporous alumina films were prepared by two-step anodic oxidation in 0.5 mol L-1 oxalic acid electrolyte at 40 V. Photoluminescence (PL) of nanoporous alumina films was investigated under different annealing atmosphere and different temperature. The authors got three results about the PL measurements. In the same annealing atmosphere, when the annealling temperature T< or =600 degreeC, the intensity of the PL peak increases with elevated annealing temperature and reaches a maximum value at 500 degreeC, but the intensity decreases with a further increase in the annealing temperature, and the PL peak intensity of samples increases with the increase in the annealing temperature when the annealling temperature T> or =800 degreeC. In the different annealling atmosphere, the change in the photoluminescence peak position for nanoporous alumina films with the increase in the annealing temperature is different: With the increase in the annealling temperature, the PL peak position for the samples annealed in air atmosphere is blue shifted, while the PL peak position for the samples annealed in vacuum atmosphere will not change. The PL spectra of nanoporous alumina films annealed at 1100 degreeC in air atmosphere can be de-convoluted by three Gaussian components at an excitation wavelength of 350 nm, with bands centered at 387, 410 and 439 nm, respectively. These results suggest that there might be three luminescence centers for the PL of annealed alumina films. At the same annealling temperature, the PL peak intensity of samples annealed in air atmosphere is stronger than that annealed in the vacuum. Based on the experimental results and the X-ray dispersive energy spectrum (EDS) combined with infrared reflect spectra, the luminescence mechanisms of nanoporous alumina films are discussed. There are three luminescence centers in the annealed nanoporous alumina films, which originate from the F center, F+ center and the center associated with the oxalic impurities. The effects of different annealing conditions on the photoluminescence of nanoporous alumina film are reasonably explained.

Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on the Levels of Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) and Their Value for Predicting Short-Term Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

PubMed Central

Barcelo, Antonia; Bauça, Josep Miquel; Yañez, Aina; Fueyo, Laura; Gomez, Cristina; de la Peña, Monica; Pierola, Javier; Rodriguez, Alberto; Sanchez-de-la-Torre, Manuel; Abad, Jorge; Mediano, Olga; Amilibia, Jose; Masdeu, Maria Jose; Teran, Joaquin; Montserrat, Josep Maria; Mayos, Mercè; Sanchez-de-la-Torre, Alicia; Barbé, Ferran

2016-01-01

Background Placental growth factor (PlGF) induces angiogenesis and promotes tissue repair, and plasma PlGF levels change markedly during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Currently, the impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with AMI is a subject of debate. Our objective was to evaluate the relationships between PlGF levels and both the severity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and short-term outcomes after ACS in patients with and without OSA. Methods A total of 538 consecutive patients (312 OSA patients and 226 controls) admitted for ACS were included in this study. All patients underwent polygraphy in the first 72 hours after hospital admission. The severity of disease and short-term prognoses were evaluated during the hospitalization period. Plasma PlGF levels were measured using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results Patients with OSA were significantly older and more frequently hypertensive and had higher BMIs than those without OSA. After adjusting for age, smoking status, BMI and hypertension, PlGF levels were significantly elevated in patients with OSA compared with patients without OSA (19.9 pg/mL, interquartile range: 16.6–24.5 pg/mL; 18.5 pg/mL, interquartile range: 14.7–22.7 pg/mL; p<0.001), and a higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was associated with higher PlGF concentrations (p<0.003). Patients with higher levels of PlGF had also an increased odds ratio for the presence of 3 or more diseased vessels and for a Killip score>1, even after adjustment. Conclusions The results of this study show that in patients with ACS, elevated plasma levels of PlGF are associated with the presence of OSA and with adverse outcomes during short-term follow-up. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01335087 PMID:26930634

Secure Learning and Learning for Security: Research in the Intersection

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-05-13

researchers to consider how Machine Learning and Statistics might be leveraged for constructing intelli - gent attacks. In a similar vein, security...Quantiles S am pl e Q ua nt ile s...8217 Residuals in Flow 144 Theoretical Quantiles S am pl e Q ua nt ile s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5. 0e + 07 1. 0e + 08 1. 5e + 08 Comparing Actual and Synthetic

Human platelet lysate supplementation of mesenchymal stromal cell delivery: issues of xenogenicity and species variability.

PubMed

Allen, Ashley B; Butts, Emily B; Copland, Ian B; Stevens, Hazel Y; Guldberg, Robert E

2017-10-01

Immunogenicity of fetal bovine serum (FBS) poses a problem for its use in the propagation of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for cell therapy. Human platelet lysate (hPL), an enriched growth factor solution containing mitogenic and angiogenic cues, has potential utility in replacing FBS for human MSC (hMSC) delivery strategies. Despite its potentiation of hMSC number in vitro, little is known concerning its capacity to supplement implanted hMSC-seeded constructs and promote tissue regeneration in vivo. In this study, we tested the effects of incorporating hPL in cell-seeded constructs implanted subcutaneously into immunocompromised rats, investigated in vitro interactions between hPL and rat MSCs (rMSCs) and determined interspecies variability in the PL product [hPL vs rat PL (rPL)] and its effect on cultured MSCs (hPL/hMSCs vs rPL/rMSCs). The overarching aim was to determine the utility of hPL to foster MSC survival in preclinical rodent models. Exposure to hPL-supplemented media resulted in rMSC death, by a process attributable to heat-labile proteins, but not membrane attack complex formation. In the in vitro syngeneic model, the rodent product proved fundamentally distinct from the human product, with rPL having substantially lower growth factor content than hPL. Moreover, contrary to the positive effects of hPL on hMSC expansion, rPL did not reduce rMSC doubling time for the serum concentrations examined. When tested in vivo, hPL did not improve cell survival within hydrogel constructs through 2 weeks postimplantation. In summary, this study highlights the many facets of xenogenicity and interspecies variability that must be considered in the preclinical evaluation of hPL. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Penile Length and Anogenital Distance in Male Newborns From Different Iranian Ethnicities in Golestan Province

PubMed Central

Alaee, Ehsan; Gharib, Mohammad Javad; Fouladinejad, Mahnaz

2014-01-01

Background: Anogenital distance (AGD) is a feasible and accepted parameter of exogenous or endogenous androgens effects on development of reproductive system. Objectives: Since there is no report on penile length (PL) and AGD in our region, we investigated these parameters in male newborns in Golestan Province, Iran. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we measured stretched PL and AGD in term newborns from different races in Dezyani Gynecologic Hospital of Gorgan, Iran. We also recorded the anthropometric parameters and maternal age. The data was analyzed using the SPSS 14. Results: Means of PL and AGD of 427 healthy term newborns were 32.1 ± 3.5 and 24.5 ± 2.5 mm, respectively. There was a positive correlation between PL and AGD (r = 0.097, P = 0.046). According to their ethnicity, there were 166 Fars (38.9%), 129 Turkmen (30.2%), and 132 Sistani (30.9%) infants with mean PL of respectively 31.8 ± 3.9, 32.3 ± 3.3, and 32.4 ± 3.3 mm and mean AGD of respectively 25 ± 2.5, 24.3 ± 2.5, and 24 ± 2.5 mm. One Fars neonate (0.23%) had micropenis (PL = 21.3 mm). Conclusions: Using -2.5 standard deviations as the cutoff for micropenis, a newborn infant in Golestan Province with a PL of < 23.3 mm had micropenis; however, more investigations are needed to clarify this issue. PMID:25763234

Validation of a commercial 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero glutaric acid-(6'-methylresorufin) ester lipase assay for diagnosis of canine pancreatitis.

PubMed

Goodband, Emily L; Serrano, Gonçalo; Constantino-Casas, Fernando; Archer, Joy; Watson, Penny J; Williams, Tim L

2018-01-01

The objectives of this study were fourfold: technical validation of a commercial canine 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero glutaric acid-(6'-methylresorufin) ester (DGGR) lipase assay, to calculate a reference interval for DGGR lipase by the indirect a posteriori method, to establish biological validity of the assay, and to assess agreement between DGGR lipase and specific canine pancreatic lipase (Spec cPL) assays. Dogs with histologically confirmed acute pancreatitis (n=3), chronic pancreatitis (n=8) and normal pancreatic tissue (n=7) with stored (-80°C) serum samples were identified. Relevant controls were selected. Precision, reproducibility and linearity of DGGR lipase, and the effect of sample haemolysis and freezing, were assessed. Sensitivity and specificity of DGGR lipase and Spec cPL were determined. Agreement between these two parameters was calculated using Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ). The DGGR lipase assay demonstrated excellent precision, reproducibility and linearity. Sample haemolysis and storage at -80°C for 12 months did not influence the assay. DGGR lipase (>245IU/l) and Spec cPL (>400µg/l) both showed poor sensitivity but excellent specificity for acute pancreatitis, and poor to moderate sensitivity but excellent specificity for chronic pancreatitis. Substantial agreement (κ=0.679) was found between DGGR lipase and Spec cPL. The validated DGGR lipase assay had similar sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of acute and chronic pancreatitis to Spec cPL. DGGR lipase is a reliable alternative to Spec cPL for the diagnosis of pancreatitis.

The PL6-Family Plasmids of Haloquadratum Are Virus-Related.

PubMed

Dyall-Smith, Mike; Pfeiffer, Friedhelm

2018-01-01

Plasmids PL6A and PL6B are both carried by the C23 T strain of the square archaeon Haloquadratum walsbyi , and are closely related (76% nucleotide identity), circular, about 6 kb in size, and display the same gene synteny. They are unrelated to other known plasmids and all of the predicted proteins are cryptic in function. Here we describe two additional PL6-related plasmids, pBAJ9-6 and pLT53-7, each carried by distinct isolates of Haloquadratum walsbyi that were recovered from hypersaline waters in Australia. A third PL6-like plasmid, pLTMV-6, was assembled from metavirome data from Lake Tyrell, a salt-lake in Victoria, Australia. Comparison of all five plasmids revealed a distinct plasmid family with strong conservation of gene content and synteny, an average size of 6.2 kb (range 5.8-7.0 kb) and pairwise similarities between 61-79%. One protein (F3) was closely similar to a protein carried by betapleolipoviruses while another (R6) was similar to a predicted AAA-ATPase of His 1 halovirus (His1V_gp16). Plasmid pLT53-7 carried a gene for a FkbM family methyltransferase that was not present in any of the other plasmids. Comparative analysis of all PL6-like plasmids provided better resolution of conserved sequences and coding regions, confirmed the strong link to haloviruses, and showed that their sequences are highly conserved among examples from Haloquadratum isolates and metagenomic data that collectively cover geographically distant locations, indicating that these genetic elements are widespread.

Integrated Nuclear Considerations: C&GSC Pre-Command Course Instructional Material.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-11-21

support of TFI-12’s withdrawal to PL BOB, then to countermobiltiy and survival operations in support of BPs on PL BOB with priority to sector of TF1 -12 and...BPs 11 and 12, in order. b. Be prepared to support CATK of TF1 -12 vicinity BREITENBACH. 13. S4: a. Supervise accomplishment of task in 2, above. b

A floating-point/multiple-precision processor for airborne applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yee, R.

1982-01-01

A compact input output (I/O) numerical processor capable of performing floating-point, multiple precision and other arithmetic functions at execution times which are at least 100 times faster than comparable software emulation is described. The I/O device is a microcomputer system containing a 16 bit microprocessor, a numerical coprocessor with eight 80 bit registers running at a 5 MHz clock rate, 18K random access memory (RAM) and 16K electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM). The processor acts as an intelligent slave to the host computer and can be programmed in high order languages such as FORTRAN and PL/M-86.

Coastal and Marine Bird Data Base

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderson, S.H.; Geissler, P.H.; Dawson, D.K.

1980-01-01

Summary: This report discusses the development of a coastal and marine bird data base at the Migratory Bird and Habitat Research Laboratory. The system is compared with other data bases, and suggestions for future development, such as possible adaptations for other taxonomic groups, are included. The data base is based on the Statistical Analysis System but includes extensions programmed in PL/I. The Appendix shows how the system evolved. Output examples are given for heron data and pelagic bird data which indicate the types of analyses that can be conducted and output figures. The Appendixes include a retrieval language user's guide and description of the retrieval process and listing of translator program.

sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test for pre-eclampsia: an economic assessment for the UK.

PubMed

Vatish, M; Strunz-McKendry, T; Hund, M; Allegranza, D; Wolf, C; Smare, C

2016-12-01

To assess the economic impact of introducing into clinical practice in the UK the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio test for guiding the management of pre-eclampsia. We used an economic model estimating the incremental value of information, from a UK National Health Service payer's perspective, generated by the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test, compared with current diagnostic procedures, in guiding the management of women with suspected pre-eclampsia. The economic model estimated costs associated with the diagnosis and management of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women between 24 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks' gestation, managed in either a 'test' scenario in which the sFlt-1/PlGF test is used in addition to current diagnostic procedures, or a 'no-test' scenario in which clinical decisions are based on current diagnostic procedures alone. Test characteristics and resource use were derived from PROGNOSIS, a non-interventional study in women presenting with clinical suspicion of pre-eclampsia. The main outcome measure from the economic model was the cost per patient per episode of care, from first suspicion of pre-eclampsia to birth. Introduction of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test into clinical practice is expected to result in cost savings of £344 per patient compared with a no-test scenario. Savings are generated primarily through an improvement in diagnostic accuracy and subsequent reduction in unnecessary hospitalization. Introducing the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test into clinical practice in the UK was shown to be cost-saving by reducing unnecessary hospitalization of women at low risk of developing pre-eclampsia. In addition, the test ensures that those women at higher risk are identified and managed appropriately. © 2016 Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. © 2016 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Medical Entomology Studies - XVII. Biosystematics of Kenknightia, A New Subgenus of the Mosquito Genus Aedes Meigen from the Oriental Region (Diptera: Culicidae) (Contributions of the American Entomological Institute. Volume 26, Number 2, 1990)

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-01-01

PerZis, Kubang Tiga (2 9 pl, 1~1, 2 L); Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Ampang jungle, Ulu Klang, Ulu Gombak, Ulu Klang (near National Zoo), Ulu Langat , Ulu... Langat Forest Reserve (4 9 pl, 4 9, 3 8~1, 1 6p, 4 8, 1 3g; and 2 9, 1 ?g, 1 8, 1 dg, type series). THAILAND. Chiang Mai, Amphoe Chiang Dao, Chiang

Seed development and hydroxy fatty acid biosynthesis in physaria lindheimeri

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) are valuable industrial raw materials used in many industries. Physaria lindheimeri (Pl) accumulates over 80% HFA, in the form of lesquerolic acid (20:1OH), in its seed oil. Understanding the seed development of Pl is an important step to utilizing this unique wild specie...

Lipase activity in stallion seminal plasma and the effect of lipase on stallion spermatozoa during storage at 5 degrees C.

PubMed

Carver, D A; Ball, B A

2002-11-01

Previous studies have demonstrated a detrimental effect of seminal plasma on the maintenance of motility of cooled equine spermatozoa; however, the mechanism for the adverse effect of seminal plasma during cooled storage remains undetermined. In goats, a glycoprotein component of bulbourethral gland secretion contains lipase activity that is detrimental to sperm motility when stored in skim milk-based extenders. The objective of the current study was to determine the amount of lipase activity in stallion seminal plasma and to determine the effect of added lipase on spermatozoal motility during cooled semen storage. In the first experiment, seminal plasma (1.0 ml) was assayed for lipase activity based upon hydrolysis of triglycerides (olive oil substrate) into free fatty acids and subsequent titration of pH change (SigmaDiagnostic Lipase Kit). Lipase activity in stallion seminal plasma was 0.36 +/- 0.02 Sigma units/ml, (mean + S.E.M.; n = 16 ejaculates from six stallions). In the second experiment, equine semen (three ejaculates from each of four stallions) was divided into five treatment aliquots. In Treatment 1, semen was extended 1:3 with nonfat dried skim milk extender (NFDSM). In treatment groups 2 through 5, spermatozoa were washed by centrifugation (300 x g for 15 min) and resuspended in NFDSM to a final concentration of 25 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml. Porcine pancreatic lipase (pPL) was added to Treatment 3 (10 pPL units/ml), Treatment 4 (100 pPL units/ml) and Treatment 5 (100 pPL units/ml, heat inactivated at 100 degrees C for 5 min) while Treatment 2 had no pancreatic lipase added and served as the control. Samples were cooled slowly to 5 degrees C, and stored at 5 degrees C until evaluation. Sperm motility was evaluated at time 0, 24, 48 and 72 h by computerized semen analysis, and data were analyzed via repeated measures ANOVA. The addition of 100 units/ml but not 10 units/ml of pPL decreased (P < 0.01) total and progressive motility of stored sperm. Heat-inactivated pPL (Treatment 5) did not significantly decrease motility of spermatozoa during storage. Because the lipase activity assayed (Sigma units) and the lipase activity added to cooled semen (pPL units) were not equivalent, pPL was assayed in the Sigma Diagnostic Lipase assay. The relationship between Sigma Units (Y) and pPL units (X) appeared to be a log-linear relationship with log(Y) = -0.912 + 0.007X; R2 = 0.90. Mean lipase activity assayed in stallion seminal plasma was equivalent to approximately 64 pPL units/ml. These data suggest that endogenous lipase activity in stallion seminal plasma may be a factor in the adverse effects of seminal plasma on cooled spermatozoa in some stallions.

The Role of Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase Val(108/158)Met Polymorphism (rs4680) in the Effect of Green Tea on Resting Energy Expenditure and Fat Oxidation: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Hursel, Rick; Janssens, Pilou L. H. R.; Bouwman, Freek G.; Mariman, Edwin C.; Westerterp-Plantenga, Margriet S.

2014-01-01

Introduction Green tea(GT) is able to increase energy expenditure(EE) and fat oxidation(FATox) via inhibition of catechol-O-methyl transferase(COMT) by catechins. However, this does not always appear unanimously because of large inter-individual variability. This may be explained by different alleles of the functional COMT Val108/158Met polymorphism that are associated with COMT enzyme activity; high-activity enzyme, COMTH(Val/Val genotype), and low-activity COMTL(Met/Met genotype). Methods Fourteen Caucasian subjects (BMI: 22.2±2.3 kg/m2, age: 21.4±2.2 years) of whom 7 with the COMTH-genotype and 7 with the COMTL-genotype were included in a randomized, cross-over study in which EE and substrate oxidation were measured with a ventilated-hood system after decaffeinated GT and placebo(PL) consumption. Results At baseline, EE, RQ, FATox and carbohydrate oxidation(CHOox) did not differ between groups. Significant interactions were observed between COMT genotypes and treatment for RQ, FATox and CHOox (p<0.05). After GT vs. PL, EE(GT: 62.2 vs. PL: 35.4 kJ.3.5 hrs; p<0.01), RQ(GT: 0.80 vs. PL: 0.83; p<0.01), FATox(GT: 18.3 vs. PL: 15.3 g/d; p<0.001) and CHOox(GT: 18.5 vs. PL: 24.3 g/d; p<0.001) were significantly different for subjects carrying the COMTH genotype, but not for subjects carrying the COMTL genotype (EE, GT: 60.3 vs. PL: 51.7 kJ.3.5 hrs; NS), (RQ, GT: 0.81 vs. PL: 0.81; NS), (FATox, GT: 17.3 vs. PL: 17.0 g/d; NS), (CHOox, GT: 22.1 vs. PL: 21.4 g/d; NS). Conclusion Subjects carrying the COMTH genotype increased energy expenditure and fat-oxidation upon ingestion of green tea catechins vs, placebo, whereas COMTL genotype carriers reacted similarly to GT and PL ingestion. The differences in responses were due to the different responses on PL ingestion, but similar responses to GT ingestion, pointing to different mechanisms. The different alleles of the functional COMT Val108/158Met polymorphism appear to play a role in the inter-individual variability for EE and FATox after GT treatment. Trial Registration Nederlands Trial register NTR1918 PMID:25238062

Mechanical properties of injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins.

PubMed

Hamanaka, Ippei; Takahashi, Yutaka; Shimizu, Hiroshi

2011-03-01

To investigate the mechanical properties of injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins. Four injection-molded thermoplastic resins (two polyamides, one polyethylene terephthalate, one polycarbonate) and, as a control, a conventional heat-polymerized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), were used in this study. The flexural strength at the proportional limit (FS-PL), the elastic modulus, and the Charpy impact strength of the denture base resins were measured according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 1567 and ISO 1567:1999/Amd 1:2003. The descending order of the FS-PL was: conventional PMMA > polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate > two polyamides. The descending order of the elastic moduli was: conventional PMMA > polycarbonate > polyethylene terephthalate > two polyamides. The descending order of the Charpy impact strength was: polyamide (Nylon PACM12) > polycarbonate > polyamide (Nylon 12), polyethylene terephthalate > conventional PMMA. All of the injection-molded thermoplastic resins had significantly lower FS-PL, lower elastic moduli, and higher or similar impact strength compared to the conventional PMMA. The polyamide denture base resins had low FS-PL and low elastic moduli; one of them possessed very high impact strength, and the other had low impact strength. The polyethylene terephthalate denture base resin showed a moderately high FS-PL, moderate elastic modulus, and low impact strength. The polycarbonate denture base resin had a moderately high FS-PL, moderately high elastic modulus, and moderate impact strength.

Induction of antiphospholipid antibodies by immunization with synthetic viral and bacterial peptides.

PubMed

Gharavi, E E; Chaimovich, H; Cucurull, E; Celli, C M; Tang, H; Wilson, W A; Gharavi, A E

1999-01-01

We previously induced pathogenic antibodies against anionic phospholipids (PL) in experimental animals by immunization with lipid-free purified human beta2glycoprotein I (beta2GPI). We hypothesized that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are induced by in vivo binding of foreign beta2GPI to self-PL, thus forming an immunogenic complex against which aPL antibodies are produced. If this hypothesis is true, other PL-binding proteins that are products of ubiquitous viral/bacterial agents may also induce aPL. To test this hypothesis, groups of NIH/Swiss mice were immunized with synthetic peptides of viral and bacterial origin that share structural similarity with the putative PL-binding region of beta2GPI. Compared with the control groups, animals immunized with the peptides produced significantly higher levels of aPL and anti-beta2GPI antibodies. These findings demonstrate that some PL-binding viral and bacterial proteins function like beta2GPI in inducing aPL and anti-beta2GPI production, and are consistent with a role for such viral and bacterial proteins in inducing aPL antibody production in humans.

Effect of location of glass fiber-reinforced composite reinforcement on the flexural properties of a maxillary complete denture in vitro.

PubMed

Takahashi, Yutaka; Yoshida, Kaneyoshi; Shimizu, Hiroshi

2011-07-01

Objective. To evaluate the effect of the location of glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) reinforcement on the flexural load at the proportional limit (FL-PL) and the flexural deflection of a maxillary acrylic resin complete denture. Material and methods. Maxillary acrylic resin complete dentures strengthened with and without FRC reinforcement were tested. The polymerized FRC was embedded in the denture base resin in the doughy state and placed (1) under the ridge lap region, (2) in the anterior region, (3) in the middle region or (4) in the anterior and posterior regions. The FL-PL and flexural deflection value at the 100-N loading point of the reinforced maxillary denture specimens were tested. Results. All of the reinforced dentures had a higher FL-PL than the denture without reinforcement but the FL-PL values of all the dentures were not significantly different from each other. The efficiency of the FRC reinforcement compared to the unreinforced denture was 1.54-1.75 times greater. All of the reinforced dentures showed significantly lower deflection compared to the unreinforced denture, but the flexural deflections of all the dentures were not significantly different from each other. Conclusions. The location of the FRC reinforcement did not affect the fracture resistance of the maxillary acrylic resin complete denture. All of the reinforced dentures had higher FL-PL and lower flexural deflection than the denture without reinforcement.

The safest parameters for FUS-induced blood-brain barrier opening without effects on the opening volume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tung, Yao-Sheng; Olumolade, Yemi; Wang, Shutao; Wu, Shih-Ying; Konofagou, Elisa E.

2012-11-01

Acoustic cavitation has been identified as the main physical mechanism for the focused ultrasound (FUS) induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening. In this paper, the mechanism of stable cavitation (SC) and inertial cavitation (IC) responsible for BBB opening was investigated. Thirty-three (n=33) mice were intravenously injected with bubbles of 4-5 μm in diameter. The right hippocampus was then sonicated using focused 1.5-MHz ultrasound and three different studies were carried out. First, pulse lengths (PLs) of 0.1, 0.5, 2, and 5 ms at 0.18- MPa peak rarefactional pressure with 5-Hz pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and 5-minute duration were used to identify the threshold of PL using SC. Second, the effects of the duty cycle and exposure time were investigated. Third, the BBB opening size was compared between the SC and the IC. In the case of IC-induced BBB opening, a burst sequence (3-cycles PL; 5-Hz burst repetition frequency (BRF); 30 s duration) at 0.45 MPa was applied. Passive cavitation detection was performed with each sonication to detect whether a broadband response was obtained, i.e., if IC occurred, during BBB opening. The properties of BBB opening were measured through MRI. The threshold of PL for BBB opening was identified between 0.1 and 0.5 ms using SC, but the BBB can be opened in few cycles using IC. The BBB opening volume and normalized intensity increased with the PL, but reached saturation when the PL was above 2 ms. Once the PL threshold was reached, the same exposure time induced a similar BBB opening volume, but longer sonication duration induced higher MR intensity. The duty cycle was found not to play an important role on the BBB opening. Comparable BBB opening volume (20-25 mm3) could be reached between long PL (7500 cycles, i.e., 5 ms) at 0.18 MPa and 3 cycles at 0.45 MPa. 3-kDa fluorescently tagged dextran may be able to diffuse to the parenchyma after IC-induced BBB opening at 0.45 MPa but not after SC-induced BBB opening at 0.18 MPa.

Charge versus Energy Transfer Effects in High-Performance Perylene Diimide Photovoltaic Blend Films.

PubMed

Singh, Ranbir; Shivanna, Ravichandran; Iosifidis, Agathaggelos; Butt, Hans-Jürgen; Floudas, George; Narayan, K S; Keivanidis, Panagiotis E

2015-11-11

Perylene diimide (PDI)-based organic photovoltaic devices can potentially deliver high power conversion efficiency values provided the photon energy absorbed is utilized efficiently in charge transfer (CT) reactions instead of being consumed in nonradiative energy transfer (ET) steps. Hitherto, it remains unclear whether ET or CT primarily drives the photoluminescence (PL) quenching of the PDI excimer state in PDI-based blend films. Here, we affirm the key role of the thermally assisted PDI excimer diffusion and subsequent CT reaction in the process of PDI excimer PL deactivation. For our study we perform PL quenching experiments in the model PDI-based composite made of poly[4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-(4-(2-ethylhexanoyl)-thieno[3,4-b]thiophene)-2-6-diyl] (PBDTTT-CT) polymeric donor mixed with the N,N'-bis(1-ethylpropyl)-perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PDI) acceptor. Despite the strong spectral overlap between the PDI excimer PL emission and UV-vis absorption of PBDTTT-CT, two main observations indicate that no significant ET component operates in the overall PL quenching: the PL intensity of the PDI excimer (i) increases with decreasing temperature and (ii) remains unaffected even in the presence of 10 wt % content of the PBDTTT-CT quencher. Temperature-dependent wide-angle X-ray scattering experiments further indicate that nonradiative resonance ET is highly improbable due to the large size of PDI domains. The dominance of the CT over the ET process is verified by the high performance of devices with an optimum composition of 30:70 PBDTTT-CT:PDI. By adding 0.4 vol % of 1,8-diiodooctane we verify the plasticization of the polymer side chains that balances the charge transport properties of the PBDTTT-CT:PDI composite and results in additional improvement in the device efficiency. The temperature-dependent spectral width of the PDI excimer PL band suggests the presence of energetic disorder in the PDI excimer excited state manifold.

Excitation power dependence of photoluminescence spectra of GaSb type-II quantum dots in GaAs grown by droplet epitaxy

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

Kawazu, T., E-mail: KAWAZU.Takuya@nims.go.jp; Noda, T.; Sakuma, Y.

2016-04-15

We investigated the excitation power P dependence of photoluminescence (PL) spectra of GaSb type-II quantum dots (QDs) in GaAs grown by droplet epitaxy. We prepared two QD samples annealed at slightly different temperatures (380 {sup o}C and 400 {sup o}C) and carried out PL measurements. The 20 {sup o}C increase of the annealing temperature leads to (1) about 140 and 60 times stronger wetting layer (WL) luminescence at low and high P, (2) about 45% large energy shift of QD luminescence with P, and (3) the different P dependence of the PL intensity ratio between the QD and the WL. These differences ofmore » the PL characteristics are explained by the effects of the WL.« less

Oil palm waste and synthetic zeolite: an alternative soil-less growth substrate for lettuce production as a waste management practice.

PubMed

Jayasinghe, Guttila Y; Tokashiki, Yoshihiro; Kitou, Makato; Kinjo, Kazutoshi

2008-12-01

A study was conducted to assess the characteristics and the prospective utilization of oil palm waste (OP) and synthetic zeolite (SZ) developed by coal fly ash, as an alternative substrate to peat and commercial perlite for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) production. The SZ, OP, sphagnum peat (PE), perlite (PL) and two different SZ-OP mixtures (v/v) at the ratio of 1 : 3 and 1 : 10 were utilized as the substrates under this study. The substrates formulated by mixing SZ with OP at the ratio of 1 : 3 and 1 : 10 showed improved substrate physical and chemical properties such as air space, bulk density, particle density, water-holding capacity, pH and electrical conductivity (EC), which were in the ideal substrate range when compared with PL. Furthermore, the water-holding capacity of the substrate having a 1 : 10 mixing ratio of SZ with OP was higher than that of the PL by 28.23%, whereas the bulk density was lower than that of PL by 35%. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to assess the influence of the substrates on the growth and development of lettuce. The shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight and number of leaves per plant of the lettuce grown in the 1 : 10 mixing ratio of SZ and OP were the highest, which showed increased values compared with that of PL by 11.56, 9.77, 3.48, 17.35 and 16.53%, respectively. The shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight and number of leaves per plant of the lettuce grown in the 1 : 10 mixing ratio of SZ and OP showed increased percentages compared with that of PE by 12.12, 11.37, 3.74, 23.66 and 17.50%, respectively. In addition, the growth and yield parameters of lettuce grown in the 1 : 3 mixing ratio and the OP did not show any significant difference with PL and PE but differed from the 1 : 10 mixing ratio. The results of the study suggest that the SZ-OP-based substrates and OP can be successfully utilized as alternatives to the commercial perlite and to substitute the conventional peat substrate for lettuce cultivation. In addition, this can be proposed as an alternative waste management practice.

Reduced angiogenic factor expression in intrauterine fetal growth restriction using semiquantitative immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis.

PubMed

Alahakoon, Thushari I; Zhang, Weiyi; Arbuckle, Susan; Zhang, Kewei; Lee, Vincent

2018-05-01

To localize, quantify and compare angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), as well as their receptors fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor (Flt-1) and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) in the placentas of normal pregnancy and complications of preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) and PE + IUGR. In a prospective cross-sectional case-control study, 30 pregnant women between 24-40 weeks of gestation, were recruited into four clinical groups. Representative placental samples were stained for VEGF, PlGF, Flt-1 and KDR. Analysis was performed using semiquantitative methods and digital image analysis. The overall VEGF and Flt-1 were strongly expressed and did not show any conclusive difference in the expression between study groups. PlGF and KDR were significantly reduced in expression in the placentas from pregnancies complicated by IUGR compared with normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. The lack of PlGF and KDR may be a cause for the development of IUGR and may explain the loss of vasculature and villous architecture in IUGR. Automated digital image analysis software is a viable alternative method to the manual reading of placental immunohistochemical staining. © 2018 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Anticancer drug-DNA interactions measured using a photoinduced electron-transfer mechanism based on luminescent quantum dots.

PubMed

Yuan, Jipei; Guo, Weiwei; Yang, Xiurong; Wang, Erkang

2009-01-01

A sensing system based on the photoinduced electron transfer of quantum dots (QDs) was designed to measure the interaction of anticancer drug and DNA, taking mitoxantrone (MTX) as a model drug. MTX adsorbed on the surface of QDs can quench the photoluminescence (PL) of QDs through the photoinduced electron-transfer process; and then the addition of DNA will bring the restoration of QDs PL intensity, as DNA can bind with MTX and remove it from QDs. Sensitive detection of MTX with the detection limit of 10 nmol L(-1) and a linear detection range from 10 nmol L(-1) to 4.5 micromol L(-1) was achieved. The dependence of PL intensity on DNA amount was successfully utilized to investigate the interactions between MTX and DNA. Both the binding constants and the sizes of binding site of MTX-DNA interactions were calculated based on the equations deduced for the PL recovery process. The binding constant obtained in our experiment was generally consistent with previous reports. The sensitive and speedy detection of MTX as well as the avoidance of modification or immobilization process made this system suitable and promising in the drug-DNA interaction studies.

Photoluminescence of phosphorus atomic layer doped Ge grown on Si

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, Yuji; Nien, Li-Wei; Capellini, Giovanni; Virgilio, Michele; Costina, Ioan; Schubert, Markus Andreas; Seifert, Winfried; Srinivasan, Ashwyn; Loo, Roger; Scappucci, Giordano; Sabbagh, Diego; Hesse, Anne; Murota, Junichi; Schroeder, Thomas; Tillack, Bernd

2017-10-01

Improvement of the photoluminescence (PL) of Phosphorus (P) doped Ge by P atomic layer doping (ALD) is investigated. Fifty P delta layers of 8 × 1013 cm-2 separated by 4 nm Ge spacer are selectively deposited at 300 °C on a 700 nm thick P-doped Ge buffer layer of 1.4 × 1019 cm-3 on SiO2 structured Si (100) substrate. A high P concentration region of 1.6 × 1020 cm-3 with abrupt P delta profiles is formed by the P-ALD process. Compared to the P-doped Ge buffer layer, a reduced PL intensity is observed, which might be caused by a higher density of point defects in the P delta doped Ge layer. The peak position is shifted by ˜0.1 eV towards lower energy, indicating an increased active carrier concentration in the P-delta doped Ge layer. By introducing annealing at 400 °C to 500 °C after each Ge spacer deposition, P desorption and diffusion is observed resulting in relatively uniform P profiles of ˜2 × 1019 cm-3. Increased PL intensity and red shift of the PL peak are observed due to improved crystallinity and higher active P concentration.

Hormonal Regulation and Distribution of Peroxidase Isoenzymes in the Cucurbitaceae

PubMed Central

Abeles, Fred B.; Biles, Charles L.; Dunn, Linda J.

1989-01-01

Ethylene enhanced the levels of peroxidases in the roots, stems, leaves, and cotyledons of 2-week-old cucumber Cucumis sativus cv Poinsett 76 seedlings. Antibodies to the isoelectric point (pl) 9 and pl 4 isoenzymes were used in a radial immuno-diffusion assay to demonstrate that ethylene induced similar peroxidases in other cultivars of C. sativus, other species of Cucumis and other genera of Cucurbitaceae. Examination of ethylene-induced peroxidases, using isoelectric focusing gels, demonstrated the presence of a series of other peroxidases, mostly slightly acidic, whose isoelectric focusing pH was approximately 6. These pl 6 peroxidases were partially purified on a cation exchange column. Ouchterlony double diffusion gels indicated that these proteins cross-reacted with antibodies to both the pl 9 and pl 4 peroxidase. The data presented here suggest that the induction of peroxidase isoenzymes during ethylene-induced senescence is a common response in this family of plants. In addition, antibody and isoelectric focusing studies indicate that both acidic and basic peroxidase are highly conserved in members of this family. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 PMID:16667224

Photoluminescence and capacitance voltage characterization of GaAs surface passivated by an ultrathin GaN interface control layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anantathanasarn, Sanguan; Hasegawa, Hideki

2002-05-01

A novel surface passivation technique for GaAs using an ultrathin GaN interface control layer (GaN ICL) formed by surface nitridation was characterized by ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) photoluminescence (PL) and capacitance-voltage ( C- V) measurements. The PL quantum efficiency was dramatically enhanced after being passivated by the GaN ICL structure, reaching as high as 30 times of the initial clean GaAs surface. Further analysis of PL data was done by the PL surface state spectroscopy (PLS 3) simulation technique. PL and C- V results are in good agreement indicating that ultrathin GaN ICL reduces the gap states and unpins the Fermi level, realizing a wide movement of Fermi level within the midgap region and reduction of the effective surface recombination velocity by a factor of 1/60. GaN layer also introduced a large negative surface fixed charge of about 10 12 cm -2. A further improvement took place by depositing a Si 3N 4 layer on GaN ICL/GaAs structure.

β-Ecdysone Augments Peak Bone Mass in Mice of Both Sexes.

PubMed

Dai, Weiwei; Zhang, HongLiang; Zhong, Zhendong A; Jiang, Li; Chen, Haiyan; Lay, Yu-An Evan; Kot, Alexander; Ritchie, Robert O; Lane, Nancy E; Yao, Wei

2015-08-01

One of the strongest predictors for osteoporosis is peak bone mass. Interventions to augment peak bone mass have yet to be developed. β-Ecdysone (βEcd), a natural steroid-like compound produced by arthropods to initiate metamorphosis, is believed to have androgenic effects and so may be used to augment bone mass. The purpose of this study was to use both male and female (1) gonadal-sufficient; and (2) -insufficient mice to investigate sex differences in terms of bone development and structure after βEcd administration. Two-month-old male and female Swiss-Webster mice were randomized to receive either vehicle or βEcd (0.5 mg/kg) for 3 weeks. In a separate experiment to evaluate the effects of βEcd on sex hormone-deficient mice, gonadectomy was performed in male (orchiectomy [ORX]) and female mice (ovariectomy [OVX]). Sham-operated and the ORX/OVX mice were then treated for 3 weeks with βEcd. Primary endpoints for the study were trabecular bone structure and bone strength. In male mice, the trabecular bone volume was 0.18±0.02 in the placebo-treated (PL) and 0.23±0.02 in the βEcd-treated group (p<0.05 versus PL); and 0.09±0.01 in the ORX group (p<0.05 versus PL) and 0.12±0.01 in the ORX+βEcd group. Vertebral bone strength (maximum load) was 43±2 in PL and 51±1 in the βEcd-treated group (p<0.05 versus PL); and 30±4 in the ORX group (p<0.05 versus PL) and 37±3 in the ORX+βEcd group. In female mice, trabecular bone volume was 0.23±0.02 in PL and 0.26±0.02 in the βEcd-treated group (p<0.05 versus PL); and 0.15±0.01 in the OVX group (p<0.05 versus PL) and 0.14±0.01 in the OVX+βEcd group. Maximum load of the vertebrae was 45±2 in PL and 48±4 in the βEcd-treated group; and 39±4 in the OVX group (p<0.05 versus PL) and 44±4 in the OVX+βEcd group. These findings suggest the potential use of βEcd in the augmentation of bone mass in growing male and female mice. It may also partially prevent the detrimental effects of gonadectomy on trabecular bone. Our results support the potential use of βEcd or nature products that are rich in βEcd to augment peak bone mass. βEcd may differ from the other anabolic hormone treatments that may have severe side effects such as serious cardiac complications. However, its effects on humans remain to be determined.

Reduced free radical activity detected by decreased diene conjugates in insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

PubMed

Collier, A; Jackson, M; Dawkes, R M; Bell, D; Clarke, B F

1988-11-01

Free radicals are unstable chemical species which react with and oxidize adjacent molecules, particularly polyunsaturated lipids. The diene-conjugated non-peroxide isomer of linoleic acid (PL-9,11-LA') has been identified as the main diene-conjugated compound in plasma, and is a probable marker of free radical activity. The aim of the current study was to determine whether the level of PL-9,11-LA', measured by HPLC, is altered in insulin-dependent diabetes, and to investigate whether any abnormality demonstrated correlated with microvascular disease in the form of retinopathy. There was no difference in the concentrations of linoleic acid between the diabetic and control groups (422(129) vs 402(81) (SD) mumol l-1). However, the concentration of PL-9,11-LA' was significantly reduced in the diabetic group compared with control group (15.6(6.7) vs 19.3(3.9) mumol l-1, p less than 0.01), with the molar ratio of PL-9,11-LA':linoleic acid x 100 similarly reduced (3.8(1.3) vs 5.0(1.6)%, p less than 0.005). This study does not support the concept that free radicals play a significant role in the development of diabetic vascular disease.

Placental lactogen secretion during prolonged-pregnancy in the rat: the ovary plays a pivotal role in the control of placental function.

PubMed

Shiota, K; Furuyama, N; Takahashi, M

1991-10-01

The serum of rats at mid-pregnancy contains at least 2 distinct placental lactogen (PL)-like substances tentatively termed placental lactogen-alpha (PL-alpha) and placental lactogen-beta (PL-beta) (Endocrinol Japon 38: 533-540, 1991). We have investigated the secretory patterns of three placental lactogens (PL-alpha, PL-beta and placental lactogen-II) during normal pregnancy and in two prolonged-pregnancy models. Pregnancy was prolonged by the introduction of new corpora lutea by inducing ovulation on day 15 of pregnancy by successive treatments with PMSG (30 IU/rat, sc on day 12) and hCG (10 IU/rat, iv on day 14), and in the second model by progesterone implants on day 15 of pregnancy. During normal pregnancy, each of the 3 PLs exhibited only one secretory peak in the serum; PL-alpha and PL-beta on day 12 and placental lactogen II (PL-II) on day 20. Interestingly, in the rats with new sets of corpora lutea, serum PL-alpha and PL-beta levels began to increase again on day 18 and showed peaks on day 20 for PL-alpha and on day 22 for PL-beta. In this model, the initiation of PL-II secretion was not affected, but high levels were maintained until day 26, when parturition occurred. In rats receiving either PMSG or hCG, the secretory patterns of the PLs were similar to as those during normal pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation of pulsed light treatments on inactivation of Salmonella on blueberries and its impact on shelf-life and quality attributes.

PubMed

Cao, Xinang; Huang, Runze; Chen, Haiqiang

2017-11-02

Blueberry have a short shelf life when fully ripe and susceptible to contamination of various pathogens. Our study investigated the effect of pulsed light (PL) on inactivation of Salmonella on blueberries and its impact on shelf-life, quality attributes and health-benefit compounds of blueberries. Dry PL (6J/cm 2 ) and water-assisted PL (samples were agitated in water during PL treatment; 9J/cm 2 ) along with two controls, dry control (untreated) and water-assisted control (water washing without PL), were applied to blueberries with subsequent storages at room temperature (3days) or 5°C (7days). For Salmonella inactivation, dry PL treatment achieved 0.9 and 0.6 log reduction of Salmonella for spot and dip inoculation, respectively; while the water-assisted PL treatment reduced Salmonella by 4.4 log and 0.8 log for spot and dip inoculation, respectively. The water-assisted PL treatment resulted in Salmonella populations significantly lower than the dry control after storage regardless of the storage temperature and inoculation method. Neither dry nor water-assisted PL treatments improved the shelf life of blueberries even though direct inactivation of natural yeasts and molds were achieved. Surface lightness was instantly reduced after both dry and water-assisted PL treatments. Compared with the dry control, the two PL treatments did not reduce the firmness of blueberries. Weight loss was increased for the dry PL treated samples, but not for the water-assisted PL treatment for both storage conditions. Delayed anthocyanins accumulation and reduced total antioxidant activity were induced by both PL treatments at the end of storage at room temperature, while slight enhancement in total phenolics content was achieved by water-assisted PL treatment. In conclusion, the water-assisted PL treatment could effectively decontaminate Salmonella on blueberries while showed minimal or no impact on the shelf-life, quality attributes and health-benefit compounds of blueberries. PL processing parameters need to be further evaluated and optimized before possible application in the blueberry industry. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor activity of epsilon-poly-L-lysine and citral, alone or in combination.

PubMed

Shi, Ce; Zhao, Xingchen; Liu, Zonghui; Meng, Rizeng; Chen, Xiangrong; Guo, Na

2016-01-01

Food safety is an important worldwide public health concern, and microbial contamination in foods not only leads to food deterioration and shelf life reduction but also results in economic losses and disease. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of epsilon-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) and citral combination against Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) strains. The preliminary antioxidant and antitumor activities were also studied. Synergism is a positive interaction created when two compounds combine and exert an inhibitory effect that is greater than the sum of their individual effects. The synergistic antimicrobial effect of ε-PL and citral was studied using the checkerboard method against E. coli O157:H7. The minimal inhibitory concentration, time-kill, and scanning electron microscope assays were used to determine the antimicrobial activity of ε-PL and citral alone or in combination; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-scavenging assay and western blotting were used in antioxidant activity assays; cell viability assay was carried out to finish preliminary antitumor test. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of ε-PL and citral resisted to the five E. coli O157:H7 strains were 2-4 µg/mL and 0.5-1 µg/mL, and the fractional inhibitory concentration indices were 0.25-0.375. The results of time-kill assay revealed that a stronger bactericidal effect in a laboratory medium might be exerted in the combination against E. coli O157:H7 than that in a food model. The compounds alone or in combination exhibited a potential 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity, and the expression of superoxide dismutase 1 and glutathione peroxidase 1 protein increased. The preliminary antitumor activity effect of the combination was better than ε-PL or citral alone. These findings indicated that the combination of ε-PL and citral could not only be used as a promising naturally sourced food preservative but also be used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Microglia in mouse retina contralateral to experimental glaucoma exhibit multiple signs of activation in all retinal layers

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Glaucomatous optic neuropathy, a leading cause of blindness, can progress despite control of intraocular pressure - currently the main risk factor and target for treatment. Glaucoma progression shares mechanisms with neurodegenerative disease, including microglia activation. In the present model of ocular hypertension (OHT), we have recently described morphological signs of retinal microglia activation and MHC-II upregulation in both the untreated contralateral eyes and OHT eyes. By using immunostaining, we sought to analyze and quantify additional signs of microglia activation and differences depending on the retinal layer. Methods Two groups of adult Swiss mice were used: age-matched control (naïve, n = 12), and lasered (n = 12). In the lasered animals, both OHT eyes and contralateral eyes were analyzed. Retinal whole-mounts were immunostained with antibodies against Iba-1, MHC-II, CD68, CD86, and Ym1. The Iba-1+ cell number in the plexiform layers (PL) and the photoreceptor outer segment (OS), Iba-1+ arbor area in the PL, and area of the retina occupied by Iba-1+ cells in the nerve fiber layer-ganglion cell layer (NFL-GCL) were quantified. Results The main findings in contralateral eyes and OHT eyes were: i) ameboid microglia in the NFL-GCL and OS; ii) the retraction of processes in all retinal layers; iii) a higher level of branching in PL and in the OS; iv) soma displacement to the nearest cell layers in the PL and OS; v) the reorientation of processes in the OS; vi) MHC-II upregulation in all retinal layers; vii) increased CD68 immunostaining; and viii) CD86 immunolabeling in ameboid cells. In comparison with the control group, a significant increase in the microglial number in the PL, OS, and in the area occupied by Iba-1+ cells in the NFL-GCL, and significant reduction of the arbor area in the PL. In addition, rounded Iba-1+ CD86+ cells in the NFL-GCL, OS and Ym1+ cells, and rod-like microglia in the NFL-GCL were restricted to OHT eyes. Conclusions Several quantitative and qualitative signs of microglia activation are detected both in the contralateral and OHT eyes. Such activation extended beyond the GCL, involving all retinal layers. Differences between the two eyes could help to elucidate glaucoma pathophysiology. PMID:25064005

Magneto-optical properties and recombination dynamics of isoelectronic bound excitons in ZnO

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

Chen, S. L.; Chen, W. M.; Buyanova, I. A.

2014-02-21

Magneto-optical and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies are employed to evaluate electronic structure of a bound exciton (BX) responsible for the 3.364 eV line (labeled as I{sub 1}{sup *}) in bulk ZnO. From time-resolved PL spectroscopy, I{sub 1}{sup *} is concluded to originate from the exciton ground state. Based on performed magneto-PL studies, the g-factors of the involved electron and hole are determined as being g{sub e} = 1.98 and g{sub h}{sup ∥}(g{sub h}{sup ⊥}) = 1.2(1.62), respectively. These values are nearly identical to the reported g-factors for the I{sup *} line in ZnO (Phys. Rev. B 86, 235205 (2012)), which proves thatmore » I{sub 1}{sup *} should have a similar origin as I{sup *} and should arise from an exciton bound to an isoelectronic center with a hole-attractive potential.« less

Education's "Three Mile Island": PL 94-142.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vernon, McCay

1981-01-01

PL 94-142 is viewed as educationally and psychologically destructive to disabled students. It is also described as financially devastating to local school districts since it mandates that: (1) Cost cannot be considered a factor in developing educational programs for handicapped children; and (2) The most money be spent on children least likely to…

Three dimensional characterization of GaN-based light emitting diode grown on patterned sapphire substrate by confocal Raman and photoluminescence spectromicroscopy.

PubMed

Li, Heng; Cheng, Hui-Yu; Chen, Wei-Liang; Huang, Yi-Hsin; Li, Chi-Kang; Chang, Chiao-Yun; Wu, Yuh-Renn; Lu, Tien-Chang; Chang, Yu-Ming

2017-03-30

We performed depth-resolved PL and Raman spectral mappings of a GaN-based LED structure grown on a patterned sapphire substrate (PSS). Our results showed that the Raman mapping in the PSS-GaN heterointerface and the PL mapping in the In x Ga 1-x N/GaN MQWs active layer are spatially correlated. Based on the 3D construction of E 2 (high) Raman peak intensity and frequency shift, V-shaped pits in the MQWs can be traced down to the dislocations originated in the cone tip area of PSS. Detail analysis of the PL peak distribution further revealed that the indium composition in the MQWs is related to the residual strain propagating from the PSS-GaN heterointerface toward the LED surface. Numerical simulation based on the indium composition distribution also led to a radiative recombination rate distribution that shows agreement with the experimental PL intensity distribution in the In x Ga 1-x N/GaN MQWs active layer.

Photoluminescence and reflectivity of polymethylmethacrylate implanted by low-energy carbon ions at high fluences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jun; Zhu, Fei; Zhang, Bei; Liu, Huixian; Jia, Guangyi; Liu, Changlong

2012-11-01

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) specimens were implanted with 30 keV carbon ions in a fluence range of 1 × 1016 to 2 × 1017 cm-2, and photoluminescence (PL) and reflectivity of the implanted samples were examined. A luminescent band with one peak was found in PL spectra excited by 480 nm line, but its intensity did not vary in parallel with ion fluence. The strongest PL occurred at the fluence of 5 × 1016 cm-2. Results from visible-light-excited micro-Raman spectra indicated that the formation of hydrogenated amorphous carbon structures in subsurface layer and their evolutions with ion fluence could be responsible for the observed PL responses. Measurements of the small-angle reflectance spectra from both the implanted and rear surfaces of samples in the ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) range demonstrated a kind of both fluence-dependent and wavelength-related reflectivity variations, which were attributed to the structural changes induced by ion implantation. A noticeable reflectivity modification, which may be practically used, could be found at the fluence of 1 × 1016 cm-2.

Photoluminescence of double core/shell infrared (CdSeTe)/ZnS quantum dots conjugated to Pseudo rabies virus antibodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torchynska, T. V.; Casas Espinola, J. L.; Jaramillo Gómez, J. A.; Douda, J.; Gazarian, K.

2013-06-01

Double core CdSeTe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with emission at 800 nm (1.60 eV) have been studied by photoluminescence (PL) and Raman scattering methods in the non-conjugated state and after the conjugation to the Pseudo rabies virus (PRV) antibodies. The transformation of PL spectra, stimulated by the electric charge of antibodies, has been detected for the bioconjugated QDs. Raman scattering spectra are investigated with the aim to reveal the CdSeTe core compositions. The double core QD energy diagrams were designed that help to analyze the PL spectra and their transformation at the bioconjugation. It is revealed that the interface in double core QDs has the type II quantum well character that permits to explain the near IR optical transition (1.60 eV) in the double core QDs. It is shown that the essential transformation of PL spectra is useful for the study of QD bioconjugation with specific antibodies and can be a powerful technique in early medical diagnostics.

Visible photoluminescence of porous Si(1-x)Ge(x) obtained by stain etching

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ksendzov, A.; Fathauer, R. W.; George, T.; Pike, W. T.; Vasquez, R. P.; Taylor, A. P.

1993-01-01

We have investigated visible photoluminescence (PL) from thin porous Si(1-x)Ge(x) alloy layers prepared by stain etching of molecular-beam-epitaxy-grown material. Seven samples with nominal Ge fraction x varying from 0.04 to 0.41 were studied at room temperature and 80 K. Samples of bulk stain etched Si and Ge were also investigated. The composition of the porous material was determined using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering techniques to be considerably more Ge-rich than the starting epitaxial layers. While the luminescence intensity drops significantly with the increasing Ge fraction, we observe no significant variation in the PL wavelength at room temperature. This is clearly in contradiction to the popular model based on quantum confinement in crystalline silicon which predicts that the PL energy should follow the bandgap variation of the starting material. However, our data are consistent with small active units containing only a few Si atoms that are responsible for the light emission. Such units are present in many compounds proposed in the literature as the cause of the visible PL in porous Si.

Determination of vapor pressures for nonpolar and semipolar organic compounds from gas chromatographic retention data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hinckley, D.A.; Bidleman, T.F.; Foreman, W.T.; Tuschall, J.R.

1990-01-01

Vapor pressures for nonpolar and moderately polar organochlorine, pyrethroid, and organophosphate insecticides, phthalate esters, and organophosphate flame retardants were determined by capillary gas chromatography (GC). Organochlorines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with known liquid-phase vapor pressures (P??L) (standard compounds) were chromatographed along with two reference compounds n-C20 (elcosane) and p,p???-DDT on a 1.0-m-long poly(dimethylsiloxane) bonded-phase (BP-1) column to determine their vapor pressures by GC (P??GC). A plot of log P??L vs log P??GC for standard compounds was made to establish a correlation between measured and literature values, and this correlation was then used to compute P??L of test compounds from their measured P??GC. P??L of seven major components of technical chlordane, endosulfan and its metabolites, ??-hexachlorocyclohexane, mirex, and two components of technical toxaphene were determined by GC. This method provides vapor pressures within a factor of 2 of average literature values for nonpolar compounds, similar to reported interlaboratory precisions of vapor pressure determinations. GC tends to overestimate vapor pressures of moderately polar compounds. ?? 1990 American Chemical Society.

Three dimensional characterization of GaN-based light emitting diode grown on patterned sapphire substrate by confocal Raman and photoluminescence spectromicroscopy

PubMed Central

Li, Heng; Cheng, Hui-Yu; Chen, Wei-Liang; Huang, Yi-Hsin; Li, Chi-Kang; Chang, Chiao-Yun; Wu, Yuh-Renn; Lu, Tien-Chang; Chang, Yu-Ming

2017-01-01

We performed depth-resolved PL and Raman spectral mappings of a GaN-based LED structure grown on a patterned sapphire substrate (PSS). Our results showed that the Raman mapping in the PSS-GaN heterointerface and the PL mapping in the InxGa1−xN/GaN MQWs active layer are spatially correlated. Based on the 3D construction of E2(high) Raman peak intensity and frequency shift, V-shaped pits in the MQWs can be traced down to the dislocations originated in the cone tip area of PSS. Detail analysis of the PL peak distribution further revealed that the indium composition in the MQWs is related to the residual strain propagating from the PSS-GaN heterointerface toward the LED surface. Numerical simulation based on the indium composition distribution also led to a radiative recombination rate distribution that shows agreement with the experimental PL intensity distribution in the InxGa1−xN/GaN MQWs active layer. PMID:28358119

Room temperature synthesis of Mn2+ doped ZnS d-dots and observation of tunable dual emission: Effects of doping concentration, temperature, and ultraviolet light illumination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kole, A. K.; Tiwary, C. S.; Kumbhakar, P.

2013-03-01

Mn2+ doped (0-50.0 molar %) ZnS d-dots have been synthesized in water medium by using an environment friendly low cost chemical technique. Tunable dual emission in UV and yellow-orange regions is achieved by tailoring the Mn2+ doping concentration in the host ZnS nanocrystal. The optimum doping concentration for achieving efficient photoluminescence (PL) emission is determined to be ˜1.10 (at. %) corresponding to 40.0 (molar %) of Mn2+ doping concentration used during synthesis. The mechanism of charge transfer from the host to the dopant leading to the intensity modulated tunable (594-610 nm) yellow-orange PL emission is straightforwardly understood as no capping agent is used. The temperature dependent PL emission measurements are carried out, viz., in 1.10 at. % Mn2+ doped sample and the experimental results are explained by using a theoretical PL emission model. It is found that the ratio of non-radiative to radiative recombination rates is temperature dependent and this phenomenon has not been reported, so far, in Mn2+ doped ZnS system. The colour tuning of the emitted light from the samples are evident from the calculated chromaticity coordinates. UV light irradiation for 150 min in 40.0 (molar %) Mn2+ doped sample shows an enhancement of 33% in PL emission intensity.

Characterization of a liquid crystal/dye cell for a future application in display-integrated photovoltaics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujieda, Ichiro; Itaya, Shunsuke; Ohta, Masamichi; Ozawa, Shintaro; Azmi, Nada Dianah Binti M.

2016-04-01

One can convert a luminescent solar concentrator to a display by scanning a laser beam on it. When a guest-host system of liquid crystal (LC) and dye materials are incorporated, absorption of excitation light and the radiation pattern of photoluminescence (PL) can be adjusted to changes in lighting condition. The resolution of a displayed image can be degraded by PL spreading in the LC/dye layer. Its contrast can be limited by the PL induced by ambient light. In the experiment, we fabricated a 22×25 mm2 cell that contained 0.5 wt. % coumarin 6 in a nematic LC host. The alignment was antiparallel and the gap was 6 μm. Using a blue laser beam of 0.04 mm FWHM, the PL intensity distribution was measured to be 0.20 mm FWHM at zero bias. It became slightly wider at 10 V. For contrast evaluation, we measured PL spectra under two conditions. First, the center of the cell was irradiated by a 1.7-mW blue laser beam. Second, the whole cell was uniformly exposed to light from a fluorescent lamp at illuminance of 800lx. The contrast of luminance was calculated to be 1.4×105. The optical power reaching its edge surfaces was measured and roughly agreed with the prediction by a simple model.

Increased expression of placental growth factor in high-grade endometrial carcinoma

PubMed Central

COENEGRACHTS, LIEVE; SCHRAUWEN, STEFANIE; VAN BREE, RITA; DESPIERRE, EVELYN; LUYTEN, CATHERINE; JONCKX, BART; STASSEN, JEAN MARIE; VERGOTE, IGNACE; AMANT, FRÉDÉRIC

2013-01-01

Placental growth factor (PlGF), a homolog of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), exerts pleiotropic functions in cancer by affecting tumor cells as well as endothelial and inflammatory cells. Moreover, PlGF expression correlates with tumor stage, recurrence, metastasis and patient outcome in different types of cancer. Recently, administration of anti-PlGF therapy reduced tumor growth and metastasis in preclinical tumor models. In the present study, we evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of systemic and local expression of PlGF in primary endometrial carcinomas. PlGF levels in tumor lysates (n=128) and serum (n=88) of patients with primary endometrial cancer were determined using ELISA. PlGF mRNA expression in endometrial carcinoma tissues was quantified by quantitative qRT-PCR. Results were compared to endometrial cancer stage and grade. Systemic PlGF levels were not altered in patients with endometrial cancer (FIGO stage I-II-III) as compared to healthy controls. Only in FIGO stage IV patients, serum PlGF levels were slightly increased. Local PlGF mRNA and protein expression in endometrial tumors progressively increased with tumor grade. In endometrioid carcinomas, PlGF mRNA expression was significantly increased in endometrioid grade 3 tumors as compared to normal endometrial tissue. PlGF protein expression was significantly increased in endometrioid grade 2 and 3 carcinomas and in serous carcinomas as compared to normal endometrial tissue. Our study showed that systemic/serum PlGF levels cannot be used as a diagnostic or prognostic marker in endometrial cancer. However, the increased local expression of PlGF, primarily in high-grade carcinomas, underscores the possibility for preclinical assessment of anti-PlGF therapy in endometrial cancer. PMID:23232836

Increased expression of placental growth factor in high-grade endometrial carcinoma.

PubMed

Coenegrachts, Lieve; Schrauwen, Stefanie; Van Bree, Rita; Despierre, Evelyn; Luyten, Catherine; Jonckx, Bart; Stassen, Jean Marie; Vergote, Ignace; Amant, Frédéric

2013-02-01

Placental growth factor (PlGF), a homolog of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), exerts pleiotropic functions in cancer by affecting tumor cells as well as endothelial and inflammatory cells. Moreover, PlGF expression correlates with tumor stage, recurrence, metastasis and patient outcome in different types of cancer. Recently, administration of anti-PlGF therapy reduced tumor growth and metastasis in preclinical tumor models. In the present study, we evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of systemic and local expression of PlGF in primary endometrial carcinomas. PlGF levels in tumor lysates (n=128) and serum (n=88) of patients with primary endometrial cancer were determined using ELISA. PlGF mRNA expression in endometrial carcinoma tissues was quantified by quantitative qRT-PCR. Results were compared to endometrial cancer stage and grade. Systemic PlGF levels were not altered in patients with endometrial cancer (FIGO stage I-II-III) as compared to healthy controls. Only in FIGO stage IV patients, serum PlGF levels were slightly increased. Local PlGF mRNA and protein expression in endometrial tumors progressively increased with tumor grade. In endometrioid carcinomas, PlGF mRNA expression was significantly increased in endometrioid grade 3 tumors as compared to normal endometrial tissue. PlGF protein expression was significantly increased in endometrioid grade 2 and 3 carcinomas and in serous carcinomas as compared to normal endometrial tissue. Our study showed that systemic/serum PlGF levels cannot be used as a diagnostic or prognostic marker in endometrial cancer. However, the increased local expression of PlGF, primarily in high-grade carcinomas, underscores the possibility for preclinical assessment of anti-PlGF therapy in endometrial cancer.

Steady state and time resolved optical characterization studies of Zn 2SnO 4 nanowires for solar cell applications

DOE PAGES

Yakami, Baichhabi R.; Poudyal, Uma; Nandyala, Shashank R.; ...

2016-10-25

Nanowires are a promising option for sensitized solar cells, sensors, and display technology. Most of the work thus far has focused on binary oxides for these nanowires, but ternary oxides have advantages in additional control of optical and electronic properties. Here, we report on the diffuse reflectance, Low Temperature and Room Temperature Photoluminescence (PL), PL excitation spectrum, and Time Resolved PL (TRPL) of Zinc Tin Oxide (ZTO) nanowires grown by Chemical Vapor Deposition. The PL from the ZTO nanowires does not exhibit any band gap or near gap emission, and the diffuse reflectance measurement confirms that these ZTO nanowires havemore » a direct forbidden transition. The broad PL spectrum reveals two Gaussian peaks centered at 1.86 eV (red) and 2.81 eV (blue), representing two distinct defect states or complexes. The PL spectra were further studied by the Time Resolved Emission Spectrum and intensity dependent PL and TRPL. The time resolved measurements show complex non-exponential decays at all wavelengths, indicative of defect to defect transitions, and the red emissive states decay much slower than the blue emissive states. The effects of annealing in air and vacuum are studied to investigate the origin of the defect states in the nanowires, showing that the blue states are related to oxygen vacancies. We propose an energy band model for the nanowires containing defect states within the band gap and the associated transitions between these states that are consistent with our measurements.« less

Piperlongumine potentiates the effects of gemcitabine in in vitro and in vivo human pancreatic cancer models

PubMed Central

Mohammad, Jiyan; Dhillon, Harsharan; Chikara, Shireen; Mamidi, Sujan; Sreedasyam, Avinash; Chittem, Kishore; Orr, Megan; Wilkinson, John C.; Reindl, Katie M.

2018-01-01

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers due to a late diagnosis and poor response to available treatments. There is a need to identify complementary treatment strategies that will enhance the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of currently used therapeutic approaches. We investigated the ability of a known ROS inducer, piperlongumine (PL), to complement the modest anti-cancer effects of the approved chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine (GEM) in PDAC cells in vitro and in vivo. PDAC cells treated with PL + GEM showed reduced cell viability, clonogenic survival, and growth on Matrigel compared to control and individually-treated cells. Nude mice bearing orthotopically implanted MIA PaCa-2 cells treated with both PL (5 mg/kg) and GEM (25 mg/kg) had significantly lower tumor weight and volume compared to control and single agent-treated mice. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) revealed that PL + GEM resulted in significant changes in p53-responsive genes that play a role in cell death, cell cycle, oxidative stress, and DNA repair pathways. Cell culture assays confirmed PL + GEM results in elevated ROS levels, arrests the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, and induces PDAC cell death. We propose a mechanism for the complementary anti-tumor effects of PL and GEM in PDAC cells through elevation of ROS and transcription of cell cycle arrest and cell death-associated genes. Collectively, our results suggest that PL has potential to be combined with GEM to more effectively treat PDAC. PMID:29535819

Steady state and time resolved optical characterization studies of Zn 2SnO 4 nanowires for solar cell applications

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

Yakami, Baichhabi R.; Poudyal, Uma; Nandyala, Shashank R.

Nanowires are a promising option for sensitized solar cells, sensors, and display technology. Most of the work thus far has focused on binary oxides for these nanowires, but ternary oxides have advantages in additional control of optical and electronic properties. Here, we report on the diffuse reflectance, Low Temperature and Room Temperature Photoluminescence (PL), PL excitation spectrum, and Time Resolved PL (TRPL) of Zinc Tin Oxide (ZTO) nanowires grown by Chemical Vapor Deposition. The PL from the ZTO nanowires does not exhibit any band gap or near gap emission, and the diffuse reflectance measurement confirms that these ZTO nanowires havemore » a direct forbidden transition. The broad PL spectrum reveals two Gaussian peaks centered at 1.86 eV (red) and 2.81 eV (blue), representing two distinct defect states or complexes. The PL spectra were further studied by the Time Resolved Emission Spectrum and intensity dependent PL and TRPL. The time resolved measurements show complex non-exponential decays at all wavelengths, indicative of defect to defect transitions, and the red emissive states decay much slower than the blue emissive states. The effects of annealing in air and vacuum are studied to investigate the origin of the defect states in the nanowires, showing that the blue states are related to oxygen vacancies. We propose an energy band model for the nanowires containing defect states within the band gap and the associated transitions between these states that are consistent with our measurements.« less

Placenta Growth Factor in Diabetic Wound Healing

PubMed Central

Cianfarani, Francesca; Zambruno, Giovanna; Brogelli, Laura; Sera, Francesco; Lacal, Pedro Miguel; Pesce, Maurizio; Capogrossi, Maurizio C.; Failla, Cristina Maria; Napolitano, Monica; Odorisio, Teresa

2006-01-01

Reduced microcirculation and diminished expression of growth factors contribute to wound healing impairment in diabetes. Placenta growth factor (PlGF), an angiogenic mediator promoting pathophysiological neovascularization, is expressed during cutaneous wound healing and improves wound closure by enhancing angiogenesis. By using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, we here demonstrate that PlGF induction is strongly reduced in diabetic wounds. Diabetic transgenic mice overexpressing PlGF in the skin displayed accelerated wound closure compared with diabetic wild-type littermates. Moreover, diabetic wound treatment with an adenovirus vector expressing the human PlGF gene (AdCMV.PlGF) significantly accelerated the healing process compared with wounds treated with a control vector. The analysis of treated wounds showed that PlGF gene transfer improved granulation tissue formation, maturation, and vascularization, as well as monocytes/macrophages local recruitment. Platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA levels were increased in AdCMV.PlGF-treated wounds, possibly enhancing PlGF-mediated effects. Finally, PlGF treatment stimulated cultured dermal fibroblast migration, pointing to a direct role of PlGF in accelerating granulation tissue maturation. In conclusion, our data indicate that reduced PlGF expression contributes to impaired wound healing in diabetes and that PlGF gene transfer to diabetic wounds exerts therapeutic activity by promoting different aspects of the repair process. PMID:17003476

Comparison of SPECT/CT and Planar Lympho-scintigraphy in Sentinel Node Biopsies of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

PubMed

Chandra, Piyush; Dhake, Sanket; Shah, Sneha; Agrawal, Archi; Purandare, Nilendu; Rangarajan, Venkatesh

2017-01-01

Evidence supporting the use of Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) for nodal staging of early oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) appears to be very promising. Pre-operative lymphatic mapping using planar lymphoscinitigraphy (PL) with or without SPECT/CT in the SNB procedure is useful in sentinel node localization and for planning appropriate surgery. Recently, a large prospective multi-centric study evaluating SNB in cutaneous melanoma, breast and pelvic malignancies, demonstrated that adding SPECT to PL leads to surgical adjustments in a considerable number of patients. Our aim of this study was to evaluate the incremental value of additional SPECT/CT over PL alone in SNB for OSCC. This was a retrospective analysis of 44 patients (40- tongue, 4- buccal mucosa) with T1-T2, clinically N0 oral cavity SCC who underwent sentinel node biopsy procedure. PL and SPECT lymphoscinitigraphy images were compared for pre-operative mapping of sentinel nodes. Using a handheld gamma probe, a total of 179 sentinel nodes were harvested, with a mean of 4.06 per patient. PL revealed 75 hotspots with a mean of 1.70 per patient, and SPECT/CT revealed 92 hotspots with a mean of 2.09 per patient. Additional hotpots were identified in 14 patients on SPECT/CT, which included 4 patients, where PL did not detect any sentinel nodes. Pre-operative SPECT/CT in addition to planar lympho-scinitigraphy in sentinel node biopsies of oral cavity SCC detects more number of sentinel nodes compared to planar imaging alone. The higher sensitivity of SPECT combined with better anatomical localization using diagnostic CT may further improve the precision of SNB procedure.

Human platelet lysate is a successful alternative serum supplement for propagation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

PubMed

Švajger, Urban

2017-04-01

Clinical protocols for dendritic cell (DC) generation from monocytes require the use of animal serum-free supplements. Serum-free media can also require up to 1% of serum supplementation. In addition, recommendations based on the 3Rs (Refinement, Reduction, Replacement) principle also recommend the use of non-animal sera in in vitro studies. The aim of this study was to explore the potential use of platelet lysate (PL) for generation of optimally differentiated DCs from monocytes. Cells were isolated from buffy coats from healthy volunteers using immunomagnetic selection. DCs were differentiated in RPMI1640 supplemented with either 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 10% AB serum or 10% PL with the addition of granulocyte monocyte colony stimulating factor and interleukin-4. Generated DCs were assessed for their morphology, viability, endocytotic capacity, surface phenotype (immature, mature and tolerogenic DCs) and activation of important signaling pathways. DC function was evaluated on the basis of their allostimulatory capacity, cytokine profile and ability to induce different T-helper subsets. DCs generated with PL displayed normal viability, morphology and endocytotic capacity. Their differentiation and maturation phenotype was comparable to FBS-cultured DCs. They showed functional plasticity and up-regulated tolerogenic markers in response to their environment. PL-cultured mature DCs displayed unhindered allostimulatory potential and the capacity to induce Th1 responses. The use of PL allowed for activation of crucial signaling proteins associated with DC differentiation and maturation. This study demonstrates for the first time that human PL represents a successful alternative to FBS in differentiation of DCs from monocytes. DCs display the major phenotypic and functional characteristics compared with existing culture protocols. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

FA composition of heart and skeletal muscle during embryonic development of the king penguin.

PubMed

Decrock, Frederic; Groscolas, Rene; Speake, Brian K

2002-04-01

Since the yolk lipids of the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) naturally contain the highest concentrations of DHA and EPA yet reported for the eggs of any avian species, the effects of this (n-3)-rich yolk on the FA profiles of the embryonic heart and skeletal muscle were investigated. The concentrations (mg/g wet tissue) of phospholipid (PL) in the developing heart and leg muscle of the penguin doubled between days 27 and 55 from the beginning of egg incubation (i.e., from the halfway stage of embryonic development to 2 d posthatch), whereas no net increase occurred in pectoral muscle. During this period, the concentration of TAG in heart decreased by half but increased two- and sixfold in leg and pectoral muscle, respectively. The most notable change in cholesteryl ester concentration occurred in pectoral muscle, increasing ninefold between days 27 and 55. Arachidonic acid (ARA) was the major polyunsaturate in PL of the penguin's heart, where it formed about 20% (w/w) of FA at day 55. At the equivalent developmental stage, the heart PL of the chicken contained a 1.3-fold greater proportion of ARA, contained a fifth less DHA, and was almost devoid of EPA, whereas the latter FA was a significant component (7% of FA) of penguin heart PL. Similarly, in PL of leg and pectoral muscle, the chicken displayed about 1.4-fold more ARA, up to 50% less DHA, and far less EPA in comparison with the penguin. Thus, although ARA-rich PL profiles are achieved in the heart and muscle of the penguin embryo, these profiles are significantly affected by the high n-3 content of the yolk.

Primary prophylaxis to prevent obstetric complications in asymptomatic women with antiphospholipid antibodies: a systematic review.

PubMed

Amengual, O; Fujita, D; Ota, E; Carmona, L; Oku, K; Sugiura-Ogasawara, M; Murashima, A; Atsumi, T

2015-10-01

Obstetric complications are common in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. However, the impact of antiphosholipid antibodies (aPL) in the pregnancy outcomes of asymptomatic aPL carriers is uncertain. The aim of this systematic review is to assess whether primary prophylaxis is beneficial to prevent obstetric complications during pregnancy in asymptomatic women positive for aPL who have no history of recurrent pregnancy loss or intrauterine fetal death. Studies evaluating the effect of prophylactic treatment versus no treatment in asymptomatic pregnant aPL carriers were identified in an electronic database search. Design, population and outcome homogeneity of studies was assessed and meta-analysis was performed. The pooled Mantel-Haenszel relative risk of specific pregnancy outcomes was obtained using random effects models. Heterogeneity was measured with the I(2) statistic. All analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.3. Data from five studies involving 154 pregnancies were included and three studies were meta-analysed. The risk ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) of live birth rates, preterm birth, low birth weight and overall pregnancy complications in treated and untreated pregnancies were 1.14 (0.18-7.31); 1.71 (0.32-8.98); 0.98 (0.07-13.54) and 2.15 (0.63-7.33),respectively. Results from the meta-analysis revealed that prophylactic treatment with aspirin is not superior to placebo to prevent pregnancy complications in asymptomatic aPL carriers. This systematic review did not find evidence of the superiority of prophylactic treatment with aspirin compared to placebo or usual care to prevent unfavourable obstetric outcomes in otherwise healthy women with aPL during the first pregnancy. © The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Arsenic speciation and reactivity in poultry litter

USGS Publications Warehouse

Arai, Y.; Lanzirotti, A.; Sutton, S.; Davis, J.A.; Sparks, D.L.

2003-01-01

Recent U.S. government action to lower the maximum concentration levels (MCL) of total arsenic (As) (10 ppb) in drinking water has raised serious concerns about the agricultural use of As-containing biosolids such as poultry litter (PL). In this study, solid-state chemical speciation, desorbability, and total levels of As in PL and long-term amended soils were investigated using novel synchrotronbased probing techniques (microfocused (??) synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (SXRF) and ??-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopies) coupled with chemical digestion and batch experiments. The total As levels in the PL were as high as ???50 mg kg-1, and As(II/III and V) was always concentrated in abundant needle-shaped microscopic particles (???20/ ??m x 850 ??m) associated with Ca, Cu, and Fe and to a lesser extent with S, CI, and Zn. Postedge XANES features of litter particles are dissimilar to those of the organo-As(V) compound in poultry feed (i.e., roxarsone), suggesting possible degradation/transformation of roxarsone in the litter and/or in poultry digestive tracts. The extent of As desorption from the litter increased with increasing time and pH from 4.5 to 7, but at most 15% of the total As was released after 5 d at pH 7, indicating the presence of insoluble phases and/or strongly retained soluble compounds. No significant As accumulation (< 15 mg kg-1) was found in long-term PL-a mended agricultural surface soils. This suggests that As in the PL may have undergone surface and subsurface transport processes. Our research results raise concerns about long-term PL amendment effects on As contamination in surrounding soilwater environments.

A new method to evaluate extravascular albumin and blood cell accumulation in the lung

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

Bureau, M.F.; Malanchere, E.; Pretolani, M.

A method was developed to evaluate blood volume, accumulation of extravascular albumin (ALBev), and platelet (PL) or polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) sequestration in lungs after challenge with inflammatory agents. Erythrocytes (RBC), albumin, and PL or PMN, labeled with 99mTc, 131I, and 111In,-respectively, were injected intravenously into anesthetized and ventilated guinea pigs. The different parameters were calculated from in vivo lung and blood radioactivity values. When N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP) was injected intravenously at 10 micrograms.kg-1, lung RBC content dropped by 14.7 +/- 1.8% (SE; n = 10), indicating a reduced lung blood volume, ALBev rose to 15.0 +/- 3.2% of the initial albuminmore » vascular content, and the circulating PMN were sequestered by 9.2 +/- 1.7%. A transient PL sequestration was also observed 1 min after the injection of fMLP (13.1 +/- 2.0%, n = 7). During the infusion of 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, the lung PL content rose dose dependently from 10.1 +/- 2.2% of the circulating pool with 3 ng.kg-1.min-1 to 54.9 +/- 20.1% with 44 ng.kg-1.min-1, the lung RBC content decreased by greater than 10%, and the ALBev increased beyond 16%. Our method allows the study of the correlations between cell entrapment and the variations of the albumin exchanges in the lung and may lead to a better understanding of the correlations between cell activation and edema.« less

Differentiation between cooking bananas and dessert bananas. 1. Morphological and compositional characterization of cultivated Colombian Musaceae (Musa sp.) in relation to consumer preferences.

PubMed

Gibert, Olivier; Dufour, Dominique; Giraldo, Andrés; Sánchez, Teresa; Reynes, Max; Pain, Jean-Pierre; González, Alonso; Fernández, Alejandro; Díaz, Alberto

2009-09-09

The morphological, physical, and chemical characteristics of 23 unripe cultivated varieties of Colombian Musaceae were assessed. Fresh pulp dry matter helped to discriminate the following consumption subgroups: FHIA dessert hybrids (hydes: 24.6%) < dessert bananas (des: 29.4%) < nonplantain cooking bananas (cook: 32.0%) < FHIA cooking hybrids (hycook: 34.2%) < plantains (pl: 41.1%). Banana flour starch content on dry basis (db) varied from 74.2 to 88.2% among the varieties, with: pl: 86.5% > cook and hycook: 84% > des: 81.9% > hydes: 79.7% (p

Picosecond time-resolved photoluminescence using picosecond excitation correlation spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, M. B.; McGill, T. C.; Hunter, A. T.

1988-03-01

We present a study of the temporal decay of photoluminescence (PL) as detected by picosecond excitation correlation spectroscopy (PECS). We analyze the correlation signal that is obtained from two simple models; one where radiative recombination dominates, the other where trapping processes dominate. It is found that radiative recombination alone does not lead to a correlation signal. Parallel trapping type processes are found to be required to see a signal. To illustrate this technique, we examine the temporal decay of the PL signal for In-alloyed, semi-insulating GaAs substrates. We find that the PL signal indicates a carrier lifetime of roughly 100 ps, for excitation densities of 1×1016-5×1017 cm-3. PECS is shown to be an easy technique to measure the ultrafast temporal behavior of PL processes because it requires no ultrafast photon detection. It is particularly well suited to measuring carrier lifetimes.

The location of the peroneus longus tendon in the cuboid groove: sonographic study in various positions of the ankle-foot in asymptomatic volunteers.

PubMed

Choo, Hye Jung; Lee, Sun Joo; Huang, Brady K; Resnick, Donald L

2018-04-10

To evaluate the normal location of the peroneus longus tendon (PL) in the cuboid groove in various ankle-foot positions by ultrasonography in asymptomatic volunteers. Ultrasonographic assessment of the PL in the cuboid groove was performed in 20 feet of ten healthy volunteers. Each PL was examined in five ankle-foot positions (i.e., neutral, dorsiflexion, plantar-flexion, supination, and pronation). The PL location was qualitatively categorized as "inside" when the PL was entirely within the cuboid groove, as "overlying" when some part of the PL was perched on the cuboid tuberosity, and as "outside" when the PL was entirely on the cuboid tuberosity. For quantitative evaluation of the PL location, the distance between the PL and the cuboid groove was measured. The width of the cuboid groove was measured in the neutral position. The PL location did not significantly change with changes in the ankle-foot position. Qualitatively, an "overlying" PL was the most common type, regardless of the ankle-foot position. "Inside" PLs were found in only 35, 20, 30, 25, and 35% of feet in neutral, dorsiflexion, plantar-flexion, supination, and pronation positions, respectively. The quantitative PL location was also not significantly different among all ankle-foot positions and it was significantly negatively correlated with the cuboid groove width. In healthy volunteers, 65% or more of the PLs were partially or completely located outside of the cuboid groove, regardless of the ankle-foot position. The PL location relative to the cuboid groove was related to the cuboid groove width.

Evolution of superclusters and delocalized states in GaAs 1–xN x

DOE PAGES

Fluegel, B.; Alberi, K.; Beaton, D. A.; ...

2012-11-21

The evolution of individual nitrogen cluster bound states into an extended state infinite supercluster in dilute GaAs 1–xN x was probed through temperature and intensity-dependent, time-resolved and magnetophotoluminescence (PL) measurements. Samples with compositions less than 0.23% N exhibit PL behavior that is consistent with emission from the extended states of the conduction band. Near a composition of 0.23% N, a discontinuity develops between the extended state PL peak energy and the photoluminescence excitation absorption edge. The existence of dual localized/delocalized state behavior near this composition signals the formation of an N supercluster just below the conduction band edge. The infinitemore » supercluster is fully developed by 0.32% N.« less

Facile fabrication of CdSe/CdS quantum dots and their application on the screening of colorectal cancer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Hongfeng; Dong, Quanjin; Hu, Li; Tu, Shiliang; Chai, Rui; Dai, Qiaoqiong

2015-11-01

In this paper, a facile aqueous route to water-soluble CdSe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) under mild conditions has been developed. The samples were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL property of the QDs can be controlled by adjusting the reaction time. The CdSe/CdS QDs after 48-h reaction with size of 5 nm have the strongest PL intensity located at 553 nm, and the highest quantum yield of 19.9 %. The obtained QDs were applied for the colorectal cancer screening. The QDs could be conjugated with antibody of aldo-keto reductase family 1, member B10 (AKR1B10) for the detection of AKR1B10. The AKR1B10 in PBS/5 % serum solution with concentration of 1 ng/mL could be well calibrated, and the limit of detection could be lower than 0.05 ng/mL.

A Label-Free Photoluminescence Genosensor Using Nanostructured Magnesium Oxide for Cholera Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, Manoj Kumar; Ali, Md. Azahar; Krishnan, Sadagopan; Agrawal, Ved Varun; Al Kheraif, Abdulaziz A.; Fouad, H.; Ansari, Z. A.; Ansari, S. G.; Malhotra, Bansi D.

2015-11-01

Nanomaterial-based photoluminescence (PL) diagnostic devices offer fast and highly sensitive detection of pesticides, DNA, and toxic agents. Here we report a label-free PL genosensor for sensitive detection of Vibrio cholerae that is based on a DNA hybridization strategy utilizing nanostructured magnesium oxide (nMgO; size >30 nm) particles. The morphology and size of the synthesized nMgO were determined by transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies. The probe DNA (pDNA) was conjugated with nMgO and characterized by X-ray photoelectron and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic techniques. The target complementary genomic DNA (cDNA) isolated from clinical samples of V. cholerae was subjected to DNA hybridization studies using the pDNA-nMgO complex and detection of the cDNA was accomplished by measuring changes in PL intensity. The PL peak intensity measured at 700 nm (red emission) increases with the increase in cDNA concentration. A linear range of response in the developed PL genosensor was observed from 100 to 500 ng/μL with a sensitivity of 1.306 emi/ng, detection limit of 3.133 ng/μL and a regression coefficient (R2) of 0.987. These results show that this ultrasensitive PL genosensor has the potential for applications in the clinical diagnosis of cholera.

Determination of the electron-capture coefficients and the concentration of free electrons in GaN from time-resolved photoluminescence

PubMed Central

Reshchikov, M. A.; McNamara, J. D.; Toporkov, M.; Avrutin, V.; Morkoç, H.; Usikov, A.; Helava, H.; Makarov, Yu.

2016-01-01

Point defects in high-purity GaN layers grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy are studied by steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL). The electron-capture coefficients for defects responsible for the dominant defect-related PL bands in this material are found. The capture coefficients for all the defects, except for the green luminescence (GL1) band, are independent of temperature. The electron-capture coefficient for the GL1 band significantly changes with temperature because the GL1 band is caused by an internal transition in the related defect, involving an excited state acting as a giant trap for electrons. By using the determined electron-capture coefficients, the concentration of free electrons can be found at different temperatures by a contactless method. A new classification system is suggested for defect-related PL bands in undoped GaN. PMID:27901025

Role of pigmentation in protecting Aspergillus niger conidiospores against pulsed light radiation.

PubMed

Esbelin, Julia; Mallea, Sabine; Ram, Arthur F; Carlin, Frédéric

2013-01-01

The photoprotective potential of fungus pigments was investigated by irradiating conidiospores of three Aspergillus niger strains possessing the same genetic background, but differing in their degree of pigmentation with pulsed light (PL) and monochromatic (254 nm) UV-C radiation. Spores of A. niger MA93.1 and JHP1.1 presenting, respectively, a fawn and a white pigmentation were more sensitive to PL and continuous UV-C radiation than the wild-type A. niger strain N402 possessing a dark pigment. Both spores of the dark A. niger N402 and the fawn-color mutant were equally resistant to moist heat at 56°C while spores of the white-color mutant were highly sensitive. These results indicate that melanin protects pigmented spores of A. niger from PL. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Photochemistry and Photobiology © 2013 The American Society of Photobiology.

Electrical and optical characterization of surface passivation in GaAs nanowires.

PubMed

Chang, Chia-Chi; Chi, Chun-Yung; Yao, Maoqing; Huang, Ningfeng; Chen, Chun-Chung; Theiss, Jesse; Bushmaker, Adam W; Lalumondiere, Stephen; Yeh, Ting-Wei; Povinelli, Michelle L; Zhou, Chongwu; Dapkus, P Daniel; Cronin, Stephen B

2012-09-12

We report a systematic study of carrier dynamics in Al(x)Ga(1-x)As-passivated GaAs nanowires. With passivation, the minority carrier diffusion length (L(diff)) increases from 30 to 180 nm, as measured by electron beam induced current (EBIC) mapping, and the photoluminescence (PL) lifetime increases from sub-60 ps to 1.3 ns. A 48-fold enhancement in the continuous-wave PL intensity is observed on the same individual nanowire with and without the Al(x)Ga(1-x)As passivation layer, indicating a significant reduction in surface recombination. These results indicate that, in passivated nanowires, the minority carrier lifetime is not limited by twin stacking faults. From the PL lifetime and minority carrier diffusion length, we estimate the surface recombination velocity (SRV) to range from 1.7 × 10(3) to 1.1 × 10(4) cm·s(-1), and the minority carrier mobility μ is estimated to lie in the range from 10.3 to 67.5 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for the passivated nanowires.

Pathogen-free, plasma-poor platelet lysate and expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells.

PubMed

Iudicone, Paola; Fioravanti, Daniela; Bonanno, Giuseppina; Miceli, Michelina; Lavorino, Claudio; Totta, Pierangela; Frati, Luigi; Nuti, Marianna; Pierelli, Luca

2014-01-27

Supplements to support clinical-grade cultures of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are required to promote growth and expansion of these cells. Platelet lysate (PL) is a human blood component which may replace animal serum in MSC cultures being rich in various growth factors. Here, we describe a plasma poor pathogen-free platelet lysate obtained by pooling 12 platelet (PLT) units, to produce a standardized and safe supplement for clinical-grade expansion of MSC. PL lots were obtained by combining 2 6-unit PLT pools in additive solution (AS) following a transfusional-based procedure including pathogen inactivation (PI) by Intercept technology and 3 cycles of freezing/thawing, followed by membrane removal. Three PI-PL and 3 control PL lots were produced to compare their ability to sustain bone marrow derived MSC selection and expansion. Moreover, two further PL, subjected to PI or not, were also produced starting from the same initial PLT pools to evaluate the impact of PI on growth factor concentration and capacity to sustain cell growth. Additional PI-PL lots were used for comparison with fetal bovine serum (FBS) on MSC expansion. Immunoregulatory properties of PI-PL-generated MSC were documented in vitro by mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) mitogen induced proliferation. PI-PL and PL control lots had similar concentrations of 4 well-described growth factors endowed with MSC stimulating ability. Initial growth and MSC expansion by PI-PL and PL controls were comparable either using different MSC populations or in head to head experiments. Moreover, PI-PL and PL control sustained similar MSC growth of frozen/thawed MSC. Multilineage differentiation of PI-derived and PI-PL-derived MSC were maintained in any MSC cultures as well as their immunoregulatory properties. Finally, no direct impact of PI on growth factor concentration and MSC growth support was observed, whereas the capacity of FBS to sustain MSC expansion in basic medium was irrelevant as compared to PL and PI-PL. The replacement of animal additives with human supplements is a basic issue in MSC ex vivo production. PI-PL represents a standardized, plasma-poor, human preparation which appears as a safe and good candidate to stimulate MSC growth in clinical-scale cultures.

Pathogen-free, plasma-poor platelet lysate and expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Supplements to support clinical-grade cultures of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are required to promote growth and expansion of these cells. Platelet lysate (PL) is a human blood component which may replace animal serum in MSC cultures being rich in various growth factors. Here, we describe a plasma poor pathogen-free platelet lysate obtained by pooling 12 platelet (PLT) units, to produce a standardized and safe supplement for clinical-grade expansion of MSC. Methods PL lots were obtained by combining 2 6-unit PLT pools in additive solution (AS) following a transfusional-based procedure including pathogen inactivation (PI) by Intercept technology and 3 cycles of freezing/thawing, followed by membrane removal. Three PI-PL and 3 control PL lots were produced to compare their ability to sustain bone marrow derived MSC selection and expansion. Moreover, two further PL, subjected to PI or not, were also produced starting from the same initial PLT pools to evaluate the impact of PI on growth factor concentration and capacity to sustain cell growth. Additional PI-PL lots were used for comparison with fetal bovine serum (FBS) on MSC expansion. Immunoregulatory properties of PI-PL-generated MSC were documented in vitro by mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) mitogen induced proliferation. Results PI-PL and PL control lots had similar concentrations of 4 well-described growth factors endowed with MSC stimulating ability. Initial growth and MSC expansion by PI-PL and PL controls were comparable either using different MSC populations or in head to head experiments. Moreover, PI-PL and PL control sustained similar MSC growth of frozen/thawed MSC. Multilineage differentiation of PI-derived and PI-PL-derived MSC were maintained in any MSC cultures as well as their immunoregulatory properties. Finally, no direct impact of PI on growth factor concentration and MSC growth support was observed, whereas the capacity of FBS to sustain MSC expansion in basic medium was irrelevant as compared to PL and PI-PL. Conclusion The replacement of animal additives with human supplements is a basic issue in MSC ex vivo production. PI-PL represents a standardized, plasma-poor, human preparation which appears as a safe and good candidate to stimulate MSC growth in clinical-scale cultures. PMID:24467837

Studies on associations of glycolytic and glutaminolytic enzymes in MCF-7 cells: role of P36.

PubMed

Mazurek, S; Hugo, F; Failing, K; Eigenbrodt, E

1996-05-01

Isoelectric focusing of MCF-7 cell extracts revealed an association of the glycolytic enzymes glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate-dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase, enolase, and pyruvate kinase. This complex between the glycolytic enzymes is sensitive to RNase. p36 could not be detected within this association of glycolytic enzymes; however an association of p36 with a specific form of malate dehydrogenase was found. In MCF-7 cells three forms of malate dehydrogenase can be detected by isoelectric focusing: the mitochondrial form with an isoelectric point between 8.9 and 9.5, the cytosolic form with pl 5.0, and a p36-associated form with pl 7.8. The mitochondrial form comprises the mature mitochondrial isoenzyme (pl 9.5) and its precursor form (pl 8.9). Refocusing of the pl 7.8 form of malate dehydrogenase also gave rise to the mitochondrial isoenzyme. Thus, the pl 7.8 form of malate dehydrogenase is actually the mitochondrial isoenzyme retained in the cytosol by the association with p36. Addition of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate to the initial focusing column induced a quantitative shift of the pl 7.8 form of malate dehydrogenase to the mitochondrial forms (pl 8.9 and 9.5). In MCF-7 cells p36 is not phosphorylated in tyrosine. Kinetic measurements revealed that the pl 7.8 form of malate dehydrogenase has the lowest affinity for NADH. Compared to both mitochondrial forms the cytosolic isoenzyme has a high capacity when measured in the NAD --> NADH direction (malate --> oxaloacetate direction). The association of p36 with the mitochondrial isoenzyme may favor the flow of hydrogen from the cytosol into the mitochondria. Inhibition of cell proliferation by AMP which leads to an inhibition of glycolysis has no effect on complex formation by glycolytic and glutaminolytic enzymes in MCF-7 cells. AMP treatment leads to an activation of malate dehydrogenase, which correlates with the increase of pyruvate and the decrease of lactate levels, but has no effect on the distribution of the various malate dehydrogenase forms.

U.S. EPA, Pesticide Product Label, PURITY BACTERIOSTATIC WATER TREATMENT UNIT,MODEL 514C.C., 09/10/1982

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

2011-04-21

... [ .... EEO PL"',lI.', Pl:>1S:. .. · nAG.',EEJ A€~f)EA~''''ETTlE RE::'f-o':'::l P,G'.H:JR;)S",lhPEt. ... ','.! Pf" g':-'" iI~~~ 2.- ~~. I.~r 0" S' l_t e I.l'l ~aM;: .I.,. ...

RF sputter deposition of SrS:Eu and ZnS:Mn thin film electroluminescent phosphors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Droes, Steven Roy

1998-09-01

The radio-frequency (rf) sputter deposition of thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) materials was studied. Thin films of strontium sulfide doped with europium (SrS:Eu) and zinc sulfide doped with manganese (ZnS:Mn) were RF sputter deposited at different conditions. Photoluminescent and electroluminescent behaviors of these films were examined. Photoluminescent active, crystalline films of SrS:Eu were deposited at temperatures from 300o C to 650o C. The best temperature was 400o C, where a PL efficiency of 35% was achieved. Films were deposited at two power levels (90 and 120 watts) and five H2S concentrations (0.6%, 1.3%, 2.4%, 4.0% and 5.3%). The H2S concentration affected the crystallinity of the films and the PL performance. Lower H2S concentrations resulted in films with smaller crystallite sizes and poorer PL performance. Increased H2S concentrations increased the PL intensity and the overall spectra resembled that of an efficient SrS:Eu powder. Although there was a correlation between crystallinity and PL performance other factors such as europium concentration, distribution, and local environment also influence PL performance. Analytical results suggested that, although a film may be crystalline and have the correct europium concentration, unless the europium is in the correct localized environment, optimum PL response will not be achieved. Increased H2S concentrations produced films with europium located in optimum locations. Contrary to vacuum or chemical vapor deposited films, the sputter deposited films showed no trailing edge emission during electroluminescence. A suggested reason for this lack of a trailing edge emission in these films is that the sputter deposition process produces phosphor- insulator interfaces without shallow trap states. A statistical design of experiments approach was implemented for the sputter deposition of ZnS:Mn. The effects of four factors (substrate temperature, chamber pressure, power to the target, and H2S concentration) on three responses (deposition rate, stoichiometry, and PL performance) were studied. A 1/2 fractional factorial showed that each of the factors had a significant influence on at least one response. A large experimental error with subsequent Box-Behnken experiments, however, indicated that some uncontrolled factor was influencing the quality of the films. The large experimental error prevented the development of reliable experimental models based on the Box-Behnken results.

The role of clinically significant antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Taraborelli, M; Lazzaroni, M G; Martinazzi, N; Fredi, M; Cavazzana, I; Franceschini, F; Tincani, A

2016-12-16

The objective is to investigate the role of clinically significant antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in a cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. All SLE patients followed for at least 5 years and with available aPL profile at the beginning of the follow-up in our center were studied. Clinically significant aPL were defined as: positive lupus anticoagulant test, anti-cardiolipin and/or anti- β2Glycoprotein I IgG/IgM >99th percentile on two or more occasions at least 12 weeks apart. Patients with and without clinically significant aPL were compared by univariate (Chi square or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and Student's t or Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables) and multivariate analysis (logistic regression analysis). P values <0.05 were considered significant. Among 317 SLE patients studied, 117 (37%) had a clinically significant aPL profile at baseline. Such patients showed at univariate analysis an increased prevalence of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, cardiac valvular disease, cognitive dysfunction and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), but a reduced prevalence of acute cutaneous lupus and anti-extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) when compared with patients without clinically significant aPL. Multivariate analysis confirmed the association between clinically significant aPL and reduced risk of acute cutaneous lupus [p=0.003, odds ratio (OR) 0.43] and ENA positivity (p<0.001, OR 0.37), with increased risk of cardiac valvular disease (p=0.024, OR 3.1) and APS (p<0.0001, OR 51.12). Triple positivity was the most frequent profile and was significantly associated to APS (p<0.0001, OR 28.43). Our study showed that one third of SLE patients had clinically significant aPL, and that this is associated with an increased risk, especially for triple positive, of APS, and to a different clinical and serological pattern of disease even in the absence of APS.

Alum amendment effects on phosphorus release and distribution in poultry litter-amended sandy soils

USGS Publications Warehouse

Staats, K.E.; Arai, Y.; Sparks, D.L.

2004-01-01

Increased poultry production has contributed to excess nutrient problems in Atlantic Coastal Plain soils due to land application of poultry litter (PL). Aluminum sulfate [alum, Al2(SO4)3?? 14H2O] amendment of PL effectively reduces soluble phosphorus (P) in the PL; however, the effects of these litters when added to acidic, sandy soils are not well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of alum-amended poultry litter in reducing P release from three Delaware Coastal Plain soils: Evesboro loamy sand (Ev; excessively drained, mesic, coated Typic Quartzipsamments), Rumford loamy sand (Ru; well drained, coarse-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Typic Hapludults), and Pocomoke sandy loam (Pm; very poorly drained, coarse-loamy, siliceous, active, thermic Typic Umbraquults). Long-term (25 d) and short-term (24 h) desorption studies were conducted, in addition to chemical extractions and kinetic modeling, to observe the changes that alum-amended versus unamended PL caused in the soils. The Ev, Ru, and Pm soils were incubated with 9 Mg ha-1 of alum-amended or unamended PL. Long-term desorption (25 d) of the incubated material resulted in approximately 13.5% (Ev), 12.7% (Ru), and 13.3% (Pm) reductions in cumulative P desorbed when comparing soil treated with unamended and alum-amended PL. In addition, the P release from the soil treated with alum-amended litter was not significantly different from the control (soil alone). Short-term desorption (24 h) showed 7.3% (Ev), 15.4% (Ru), and 20% (Pm) reductions. The overall implication from this study is that the use of alum as a PL amendment is useful in coarse-textured soils of the Coastal Plain. With increased application of alum-amended PL, more significant decreases may be possible with little or no effect on soil quality.

Calcium carbonate nucleation in an alkaline lake surface water, Pyramid Lake, Nevada, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Reddy, Michael M.; Hoch, Anthony

2012-01-01

Calcium concentration and calcite supersaturation (Ω) needed for calcium carbonate nucleation and crystal growth in Pyramid Lake (PL) surface water were determined during August of 1997, 2000, and 2001. PL surface water has Ω values of 10-16. Notwithstanding high Ω, calcium carbonate growth did not occur on aragonite single crystals suspended PL surface water for several months. However, calcium solution addition to PL surface-water samples caused reproducible calcium carbonate mineral nucleation and crystal growth. Mean PL surface-water calcium concentration at nucleation was 2.33 mM (n = 10), a value about nine times higher than the ambient PL surface-water calcium concentration (0.26 mM); mean Ω at nucleation (109 with a standard deviation of 8) is about eight times the PL surface-water Ω. Calcium concentration and Ω regulated the calcium carbonate formation in PL nucleation experiments and surface water. Unfiltered samples nucleated at lower Ω than filtered samples. Calcium concentration and Ω at nucleation for experiments in the presence of added particles were within one standard deviation of the mean for all samples. Calcium carbonate formation rates followed a simple rate expression of the form, rate (mM/min) = A (Ω) + B. The best fit rate equation "Rate (Δ mM/Δ min) = -0.0026 Ω + 0.0175 (r = 0.904, n = 10)" was statistically significant at greater than the 0.01 confidence level and gives, after rearrangement, Ω at zero rate of 6.7. Nucleation in PL surface water and morphology of calcium carbonate particles formed in PL nucleation experiments and in PL surface-water samples suggest crystal growth inhibition by multiple substances present in PL surface water mediates PL calcium carbonate formation, but there is insufficient information to determine the chemical nature of all inhibitors.

Calcium Carbonate Nucleation in an Alkaline Lake Surface Water, Pyramid Lake, Nevada, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Reddy, M.M.; Hoch, A.

2012-01-01

Calcium concentration and calcite supersaturation (??) needed for calcium carbonate nucleation and crystal growth in Pyramid Lake (PL) surface water were determined during August of 1997, 2000, and 2001. PL surface water has ?? values of 10-16. Notwithstanding high ??, calcium carbonate growth did not occur on aragonite single crystals suspended PL surface water for several months. However, calcium solution addition to PL surface-water samples caused reproducible calcium carbonate mineral nucleation and crystal growth. Mean PL surface-water calcium concentration at nucleation was 2.33 mM (n = 10), a value about nine times higher than the ambient PL surface-water calcium concentration (0.26 mM); mean ?? at nucleation (109 with a standard deviation of 8) is about eight times the PL surface-water ??. Calcium concentration and ?? regulated the calcium carbonate formation in PL nucleation experiments and surface water. Unfiltered samples nucleated at lower ?? than filtered samples. Calcium concentration and ?? at nucleation for experiments in the presence of added particles were within one standard deviation of the mean for all samples. Calcium carbonate formation rates followed a simple rate expression of the form, rate (mM/min) = A (??) + B. The best fit rate equation "Rate (?? mM/?? min) = -0.0026 ?? + 0.0175 (r = 0.904, n = 10)" was statistically significant at greater than the 0.01 confidence level and gives, after rearrangement, ?? at zero rate of 6.7. Nucleation in PL surface water and morphology of calcium carbonate particles formed in PL nucleation experiments and in PL surface-water samples suggest crystal growth inhibition by multiple substances present in PL surface water mediates PL calcium carbonate formation, but there is insufficient information to determine the chemical nature of all inhibitors. ?? 2011 U.S. Government.

A Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Double Masked Phase IB Study Evaluating the Safety and Antiviral Activity of Aprepitant, a Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist in HIV-1 Infected Adults

PubMed Central

Tebas, Pablo; Tuluc, Florin; Barrett, Jeffrey S.; Wagner, Wayne; Kim, Deborah; Zhao, Huaquing; Gonin, René; Korelitz, James; Douglas, Steven D.

2011-01-01

Background Neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonists have anti-HIV activity in monocyte-derived macrophages, decrease CCR5 expression and improve natural killer cell function ex vivo. Aprepitant is a NK1R antagonist approved by FDA as an antiemetic. Methods We conducted a phase IB randomized, placebo controlled, double masked study to evaluate the safety, antiviral activity, pharmacokinetics and immune-modulatory effects of aprepitant in HIV-infected adults not receiving antiretroviral therapy, with CD4+ cell count ≥350 cells/mm3 and plasma viral load ≥2,000 copies/ml. Subjects were stratified by viral load (< vs. ≥20,000 copies/ml) and randomized within each stratum to receive aprepitant at 125 mg QD(Low), or 250 mg QD(High), or placebo(PL) for 14 days, and followed for 42 days. Results Thirty subjects were randomized and 27 completed treatment (9, 8, 10 subjects in 125 (Low), 250 (High), and PL groups). 63% were male; 37% white; mean (SD) age 43 (9.3) years. Geometric mean baseline viral load (copies/ml) for Low, High, and PL was 15,709, 33,013, and 19,450, respectively. Mean (95%CI) change in log10 viral load at day 14 for Low, High, and PL was −0.02(−0.24,+0.20), −0.05(−0.21,+0.10), and +0.04(−0.08,+0.16), respectively. The number of subjects with AEs was 4(44.4%), 5(62.5%), and 1(10%) for Low, High, and PL. No Grade 4 AEs occurred. Conclusions Adverse events of aprepitant were more common in the treated groups. At the dose used in this two-week phase IB study, aprepitant showed biological activity, but no significant antiviral activity. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00428519 PMID:21931661

Management of Munitions Constituents in Soil Using Alkaline Hydrolysis: A Guide for Practitioners

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-01

Jan -05 Feb-05 Mar-05 Apr-05 R D X (m g) Control Treated distance in meters distance...soil RDX concentration by bay during the field demonstration (PL = post-lime). 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Dec Dec (PL) Jan Mar Apr Apr (PL) Jul Oct (PL) Jan ... Jan (PL) Mar Jun Jun (PL) 2005 2006 2007 R D X C on ce nt ra tio n (m g/ kg ) Bay 2 (control) Bay 4 (limed) Study Date R D X C on ce nt ra tio

Title VI in '76: Review of Projects Funded Under P.L. 91-230 Title VI-B, Education of the Handicapped Act, as Amended by P.L. 93-380 and P.L. 94-142. Fiscal Year 1976.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Florida State Dept. of Education, Tallahassee.

Summarized are 89 projects which served exceptional students in all 67 Florida school districts and were funded during the 1975-76 school year under P.L. 91-230 Title VI B (Education of the Handicapped Act) as ammended by P.L. 93-380 and P.L. 94-142. Projects are divided into the following major areas; Florida Learning Resources System,…

The crystal structure of pectate lyase peli from soft rot pathogen Erwinia chrysanthemi in complex with its substrate.

PubMed

Creze, Christophe; Castang, Sandra; Derivery, Emmanuel; Haser, Richard; Hugouvieux-Cotte-Pattat, Nicole; Shevchik, Vladimir E; Gouet, Patrice

2008-06-27

The crystallographic structure of the family 3 polysaccharide lyase (PL-3) PelI from Erwinia chrysanthemi has been solved to 1.45 A resolution. It consists of an N-terminal domain harboring a fibronectin type III fold linked to a catalytic domain displaying a parallel beta-helix topology. The N-terminal domain is located away from the active site and is not involved in the catalytic process. After secretion in planta, the two domains are separated by E. chrysanthemi proteases. This event turns on the hypersensitive response of the host. The structure of the single catalytic domain determined to 2.1 A resolution shows that the domain separation unveils a "Velcro"-like motif of asparagines, which might be recognized by a plant receptor. The structure of PelI in complex with its substrate, a tetragalacturonate, has been solved to 2.3 A resolution. The sugar binds from subsites -2 to +2 in one monomer of the asymmetric unit, although it lies on subsites -1 to +3 in the other. These two "Michaelis complexes" have never been observed simultaneously before and are consistent with the dual mode of bond cleavage in this substrate. The bound sugar adopts a mixed 2(1) and 3(1) helical conformation similar to that reported in inactive mutants from families PL-1 and PL-10. However, our study suggests that the catalytic base in PelI is not a conventional arginine but a lysine as proposed in family PL-9.

Suppression effect of silicon (Si) on Er{sup 3+} 1.54μm excitation in ZnO thin films

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

Xu, Bo; Lu, Fei, E-mail: lufei@sdu.edu.cn; Fan, Ranran

2016-08-15

We have investigated the photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of ZnO:Er thin films on Si (100) single crystal and SiO{sub 2}-on-silicon (SiO{sub 2}) substrates, synthesized by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. Rutherford backscattering/channeling spectrometry (RBS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were used to analyze the properties of thin films. The diffusion depth profiles of Si were determined by second ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Infrared spectra were obtained from the spectrometer and related instruments. Compared with the results at room temperature (RT), PL (1.54μm) intensity increased when samples were annealed at 250°C and decreased when at 550°C. A new peak atmore » 1.15μm from silicon (Si) appeared in 550°C samples. The Si dopants in ZnO film, either through the diffusion of Si from the substrate or ambient, directly absorbed the energy of pumping light and resulted in the suppression of Er{sup 3+} 1.54μm excitation. Furthermore, the energy transmission efficiency between Si and Er{sup 3+} was very low when compared with silicon nanocrystal (Si-NC). Both made the PL (1.54μm) intensity decrease. All the data in experiments proved the negative effects of Si dopants on PL at 1.54μm. And further research is going on.« less

Promoter/repressor system of Lactobacillus plantarum phage og1e: characterization of the promoters pR49-pR-pL and overproduction of the cro-like protein cng in Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Kakikawa, M; Watanabe, N; Funawatashi, T; Oki, M; Yasukawa, H; Taketo, A; Kodaira, K I

1998-07-30

The Lactobacillus plantarum phage og1e (42259bp) has two repressor-like genes cng and cpg oriented oppositely, accompanied by three potential promoters pR, pL and pR49, and seven operator-like sequences (GATAC-boxes) (Kodaira et al., 1997). In this study, the og1e putative promoters were introduced into the Escherichia coli promoter-detecting plasmid pKK232-8. In E. coli CK111, pR (pKPR1), pL (pKPL1) and pR49 (pKPR49) exhibited distinct CAT activities. When pKPR1 or pKPL1 was coexistent with a compatible plasmid pACYC184 carrying pR-cng (pA4PRCN1), the CAT activity was decreased significantly. On the other hand, cng directed a protein (Cng) of 10.1 kDa in E. coli under the control of T7 promoter. Gel mobility-shift assays demonstrated that Cng binds specifically to a DNA region containing the GATAC-boxes. In addition, primer extension analyses demonstrated that the two sequences pR and pL act as a promoter in L. plantarum as well as in E. coli. These results suggested that the potential promoters pR and pL probably function for the lytic and lysogenic pathways, respectively, and Cng may act as a repressor presumably through the GATAC-boxes as operators.

Baseline placental growth factor levels for the prediction of benefit from early aspirin prophylaxis for preeclampsia prevention.

PubMed

Moore, Gaea S; Allshouse, Amanda A; Winn, Virginia D; Galan, Henry L; Heyborne, Kent D

2015-10-01

Placental growth factor (PlGF) levels early in pregnancy are lower in women who ultimately develop preeclampsia. Early initiation of low-dose aspirin reduces preeclampsia risk in some high risk women. We hypothesized that low PlGF levels may identify women at increased risk for preeclampsia who would benefit from aspirin. Secondary analysis of the MFMU High-Risk Aspirin study including singleton pregnancies randomized to aspirin 60mg/d (n=102) or placebo (n=72), with PlGF collected at 13w 0d-16w 6d. Within the placebo group, we estimated the probability of preeclampsia by PlGF level using logistic regression analysis, then determined a potential PlGF threshold for preeclampsia prediction using ROC analysis. We performed logistic regression modeling for potential confounders. ROC analysis indicated 87.71pg/ml as the threshold between high and low PlGF for preeclampsia-prediction. Within the placebo group high PlGF weakly predicted preeclampsia (AUC 0.653, sensitivity/specificity 63%/66%). We noted a 2.6-fold reduction in preeclampsia with aspirin in the high-PlGF group (12.15% aspirin vs 32.14% placebo, p=0.057), but no significant differences in preeclampsia in the low PlGF group (21.74% vs 15.91%, p=0.445). Unlike other studies, we found that high rather than low PlGF levels were associated with an increased preeclampsia risk. Low PlGF neither identified women at increased risk of preeclampsia nor women who benefitted from aspirin. Further research is needed to determine whether aspirin is beneficial in women with high PlGF, and whether the paradigm linking low PlGF and preeclampsia needs to be reevaluated. High-risk women with low baseline PlGF, a risk factor for preeclampsia, did not benefit from early initiation of low-dose aspirin. Copyright © 2015 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Culture Medium Supplements Derived from Human Platelet and Plasma: Cell Commitment and Proliferation Support

PubMed Central

Muraglia, Anita; Nguyen, Van Thi; Nardini, Marta; Mogni, Massimo; Coviello, Domenico; Dozin, Beatrice; Strada, Paolo; Baldelli, Ilaria; Formica, Matteo; Cancedda, Ranieri; Mastrogiacomo, Maddalena

2017-01-01

Present cell culture medium supplements, in most cases based on animal sera, are not fully satisfactory especially for the in vitro expansion of cells intended for human cell therapy. This paper refers to (i) an heparin-free human platelet lysate (PL) devoid of serum or plasma components (v-PL) and (ii) an heparin-free human serum derived from plasma devoid of PL components (Pl-s) and to their use as single components or in combination in primary or cell line cultures. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) primary cultures were obtained from adipose tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord. Human chondrocytes were obtained from articular cartilage biopsies. In general, MSC expanded in the presence of Pl-s alone showed a low or no proliferation in comparison to cells grown with the combination of Pl-s and v-PL. Confluent, growth-arrested cells, either human MSC or human articular chondrocytes, treated with v-PL resumed proliferation, whereas control cultures, not supplemented with v-PL, remained quiescent and did not proliferate. Interestingly, signal transduction pathways distinctive of proliferation were activated also in cells treated with v-PL in the absence of serum, when cell proliferation did not occur, indicating that v-PL could induce the cell re-entry in the cell cycle (cell commitment), but the presence of serum proteins was an absolute requirement for cell proliferation to happen. Indeed, Pl-s alone supported cell growth in constitutively activated cell lines (U-937, HeLa, HaCaT, and V-79) regardless of the co-presence of v-PL. Plasma- and plasma-derived serum were equally able to sustain cell proliferation although, for cells cultured in adhesion, the Pl-s was more efficient than the plasma from which it was derived. In conclusion, the cells expanded in the presence of the new additives maintained their differentiation potential and did not show alterations in their karyotype. PMID:29209609

Primary dermal pleomorphic liposarcoma: utility of adipophilin and MDM2/CDK4 immunostainings.

PubMed

Ramírez-Bellver, Jose L; López, Joaquín; Macías, Elena; Alegría-Landa, Victoria; Gimeno, Ignacio; Pérez-Plaza, Alejandra; Kutzner, Heinz; Requena, Luis

2017-03-01

Liposarcoma, usually arises in deep soft tissues and pleomorphic liposarcoma (PL), is the rarest histopathologic variant. However, 15 cases of entirely dermal PL have been reported. We describe a case of a 79-year-old man who developed a rapidly growing nodule on his thorax. Excisional biopsy was performed and immunohistochemical studies were carried. The lesion was a well-circumscribed dermal nodule composed of multivacuolated pleomorphic lipoblasts and atypical mitotic figures. Neoplastic cells expressed CD10 and resulted negative S100 protein, Melan-A, MITF-1, AE1/AE3, CD4, CD68 (PGM1), retinoblastoma gene family protein, pericentrine and lysozyme. Adipophilin stain showed the lipid contents in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells. MDM2 and CDK4 resulted both negative. A diagnosis of primary dermal PL was made. This case shows the utility of adipophilin immunostaining to prove the lipid contents in neoplastic cells, which has the advantage of using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue and making needless frozen sections and ultrastructural studies to show these findings. Negative MDM2/CDK4 staining in our case argues against the possibility of dedifferentiated liposarcoma and further supports the diagnosis of true PL. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Red-ultraviolet photoluminescence tuning by Ni nanocrystals in epitaxial SrTiO3 matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Z. W.; Cao, L. H.

2018-07-01

In this work, the self-organized Ni nanocrystals (NCs) were embedded in the epitaxial SrTiO3 matrix using pulsed laser deposition method. With the in-situ monitoring of reflection high-energy electron diffraction, both matrix and NCs could be precisely engineered with desired qualities by regulating the growth conditions according to the full release of stress energy at the interfaces of Ni NCs and SrTiO3. We achieved a controllable strained system according to the transformation of growth modes from three dimensional (3D) islands of Ni NCs to 2D layer-by-layer of SrTiO3, corresponding to the (1 1 1) and (0 0 l) orientation for Ni and SrTiO3, respectively. With the increase of Ni NCs concentration, the absorption intensity is increasing in the regions of 190-300 nm, and the band gap is gradually decreased. Besides, photoluminescence (PL) spectra reveal that the energy levels of Ni 3d bands contribute to the different PL colors, further inducing the enhancement of PL intensity and red-shift of emission peaks. Compared with the pure SrTiO3 published in the literature, much wider ranges of PL emission from red to ultraviolet can be tuned by the Ni NCs.

Control efficiency and expressions of resistance genes in tomato plants treated with ε-poly-l-lysine against Botrytis cinerea.

PubMed

Sun, Guangzheng; Wang, Han; Shi, Beibei; Shangguan, Nini; Wang, Yang; Ma, Qing

2017-11-01

The antifungal properties and the induction of resistance by ε-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) were examined to reveal its potential in protecting tomato plants against Botrytis cinerea. As presented herein, ε-PL at 1200mg/L was found to have optimal in vitro antifungal activities, achieving an inhibition rate of 94.96%. In first-year field tests, ε-PL (1200mg/L) had a control effect of up to 79.07% against tomato grey mould. Similar results were obtained in the second year. In greenhouse experiments, ε-PL was observed to effectively reduce leaf infection, with an observed control rate at 89.22%. To define the molecular-genetic mechanisms, we compared the gene expression under four different conditions: sterile water sprayed plants (Control), Botrytis-infected plants (Inf), ε-PL-treated plants (ε-PL) and ε-PL-treated+infected plants (ε-PL+Inf). Quantitative PCR analysis at 36h after inoculation revealed that ε-PL+Inf plants exhibited significant expression and priming of several key Botrytis-induced genes in tomato. The results indicate that ε-PL promoted plant capacity of tomato to activate defense mechanisms upon pathogen attack. In total, these findings revealed that ε-PL should be an excellent biocontrol agent candidate that combined direct antifungal activity against B. cinerea and plant resistance capacity. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Quasi-continuum photoluminescence: Unusual broad spectral and temporal characteristics found in defective surfaces of silica and other materials

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

Laurence, Ted A., E-mail: laurence2@llnl.gov; Bude, Jeff D.; Shen, Nan

2014-02-28

We previously reported a novel photoluminescence (PL) with a distribution of fast decay times in fused silica surface flaws that is correlated with damage propensity by high fluence lasers. The source of the PL was not attributable to any known silica point defect. Due to its broad spectral and temporal features, we here give this PL the name quasi-continuum PL (QC-PL) and describe the features of QC-PL in more detail. The primary features of QC-PL include broad excitation and emission spectra, a broad distribution of PL lifetimes from 20 ps to 5 ns, continuous shifts in PL lifetime distributions with respectmore » to emission wavelength, and a propensity to photo-bleach and photo-brighten. We found similar PL characteristics in surface flaws of other optical materials, including CaF{sub 2}, DKDP, and quartz. Based on the commonality of the features in different optical materials and the proximity of QC-PL to surfaces, we suggest that these properties arise from interactions associated with high densities of defects, rather than a distribution over a large number of types of defects and is likely found in a wide variety of structures from nano-scale composites to bulk structures as well as in both broad and narrow band materials from dielectrics to semiconductors.« less

Bilateral Simultaneous Ureteroscopic (BS-URS) Approach in the Management of Bilateral Urolithiasis Is a Safe and Effective Strategy in the Contemporary Era-Evidence from a Systematic Review.

PubMed

Geraghty, Robert M; Rai, Bhavan P; Jones, Patrick; Somani, Bhaskar K

2017-02-01

Ureteroscopic treatment of urolithiasis has become safer and more effective in the modern era. With a rise in the incidence of bilateral urolithiasis, management dilemma of staged single-side ureteroscopy versus bilateral simultaneous ureteroscopy (BS-URS) is often debatable. This review evaluates the current evidence base for bilateral simultaneous ureteroscopic approach in the modern era. A systematic review was conducted from 1990 to June 2016 including all English language articles reporting on outcomes of BS-URS for urolithiasis. Data was split into two periods: period 1: 2003-2012 and period 2: 2013-2016, and analysed using SPSS version 21. A total of 11 studies (491 patients) were identified from a literature search of 148 studies with mean age of 45 years and a male: female ratio of 2:1 and a mean operative time of 69 min (SD = ±15). The initial and final stone-free rate (SFR) was 87 and 93%, respectively. Post-operative stents were placed in 89% of patients with a mean hospital stay of 1.6 days (SD = ±0.5). Overall, there was a significant negative association between case volume (procedures per month) and complication rate (p = 0.045). Mean hospital stay was significantly longer in period 1 (1.9 days, SD = ±0.5) than period 2 (1.3 days, SD = ±0.3) and complications were also significantly higher in period 1 (47%) compared to period 2 (12%) (p < 0.001). There were six studies examining holmium laser (HL) lithotripsy and three examining pneumatic lithotripsy (PL). There were significantly more complications after PL than HL; however, their SFR was similar. Our review shows that the complication rates and hospital stay are significantly reduced in the contemporary data suggesting an improving trend in outcomes following BS-URS. Simultaneous bilateral ureteroscopic treatment of urolithiasis is safe and effective in the modern era. Safety is increased in centers with increased number of procedures performed and with laser lithotripsy.

Acquisition Management for System-of-Systems: Requirement Evolution and Acquisition Strategy Planning

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-04-30

DoD SERC Aeronautics & Astronautics 5/16/2012 NPS 9th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium...0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 0 60 120 180 240 300 360 420 480 540 600 Pr ob ab ili ty to c om pl et e a m is si on Time (mins) architecture 1 architecture 2...1 6 11 /1 6 12 /1 6 13 /1 6 14 /1 6 15 /1 6 1Pr ob ab ili ty to c om pl et e a m is si on % of system failures worst-case in arch1 worst-case in

Risedronate Prevents Early Radiation-Induced Osteoporosis in Mice at Multiple Skeletal Locations

PubMed Central

Willey, Jeffrey S.; Livingston, Eric W.; Robbins, Michael E.; Bourland, J. Daniel; Tirado-Lee, Leidamarie; Smith-Sielicki, Hope; Bateman, Ted A.

2009-01-01

Introduction Irradiation of normal, non-malignant bone during cancer therapy can lead to atrophy and increased risk of fracture at several skeletal sites, particularly the hip. This bone loss has been largely attributed to damaged osteoblasts. Little attention has been given to increased bone resorption as a contributor to radiation-induced osteoporosis. Our aims were to identify if radiation increases bone resorption resulting in acute bone loss, and if bone loss could be prevented by administering risedronate. Methods Twenty-week old female C57BL/6 mice were either: not irradiated and treated with placebo (NR+PL); whole-body irradiated with 2 Gy X-rays and treated with placebo (IR+PL); or irradiated and treated with risedronate (IR+RIS; 30μg/kg every other day). Calcein injections were administered 7 and 2 days before sacrifice. Bones were collected 1, 2, and 3 weeks after exposure. MicroCT analysis was performed at 3 sites: proximal tibial metaphysis; distal femoral metaphysis; and the body of the 5th lumbar vertebra (L5). Osteoclasts were identified from TRAP-stained histological sections. Dynamic histomorphometry of cortical and trabecular bone was performed. Circulating TRAP5b and osteocalcin concentrations were quantified. Results In animals receiving IR+PL, significant (P < 0.05) reduction in trabecular volume fraction relative to non-irradiated controls was observed at all three skeletal sites and time points. Likewise, radiation-induced loss of connectivity and trabecular number relative to NR+PL were observed at all skeletal sites throughout the study. Bone loss primarily occurred during the first week post-exposure. Trabecular and endocortical bone formation was not reduced until Week 2. Loss of bone volume was absent in animals receiving IR+RIS. Histology indicated greater osteoclast numbers at Week 1 within IR+PL mice. Serum TRAP5b concentration was increased in IR+PL mice only at Week 1 compared to NR+PL (P = 0.05). Risedronate treatment prevented the radiation-induced increase in osteoclast number, surface, and TRAP5b. Conclusion This study demonstrated a rapid loss of trabecular bone at several skeletal sites after whole-body irradiation. Changes were accompanied by an increase in osteoclast number and serum markers of bone loss. Risedronate entirely prevented bone loss, providing further evidence that an increase in bone resorption likely caused this radiation-induced bone loss. PMID:19747571

Solvent kinetic isotope effects of human placental alkaline phosphatase in reverse micelles.

PubMed Central

Huang, T M; Hung, H C; Chang, T C; Chang, G G

1998-01-01

Human placental alkaline phosphatase was embedded in a reverse micellar system prepared by dissolving the surfactant sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulphosuccinate (Aerosol-OT) in 2,2, 4-trimethylpentane. This microemulsion system provides a convenient instrumental tool to study the possible kinetic properties of the membranous enzyme in an immobilized form. The pL (pH/p2H) dependence of hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl phosphate has been examined over a pL range of 8.5-12.5 in both aqueous and reverse micellar systems. Profiles of log V versus pL were Ha-bell shaped in the acidic region but reached a plateau in the basic region in which two pKa values of 9.01-9.71 and 9.86-10.48, respectively, were observed in reverse micelles. However, only one pKa value of 9.78-10.27 in aqueous solution was detected. Profiles of log V/K versus pL were bell-shaped in the acidic region. However, they were wave-shaped in the basic region in which a residue of pKa 9.10-9.44 in aqueous solution and 8.07-8.78 in reverse micelles must be dehydronated for the reaction to reach an optimum. The V/K value shifted to a lower value upon dehydronation of a pKa value of 9.80-10.62 in aqueous solution and 11.23-12.17 in reverse micelles. Solvent kinetic isotope effects were measured at three pL values. At pL 9.5, the observed isotope effect was a product of equilibrium isotope effect and a kinetic isotope effect; at pL 10.4, the log V/K value was identical in water and deuterium. The deuterium kinetic isotope effect on V/K was 1.14 in an aqueous solution and 1.16 in reverse micelles. At pL 11.0 at which the log V values reached a plateau in either solvent system, the deuterium kinetic isotope effect on V was 2.08 in an aqueous solution and 0.62 in reverse micelles. Results from a proton inventory experiment suggested that a hydron transfer step is involved in the transition state of the catalytic reaction. The isotopic fractionation factor (pi) for deuterium for the transition state (piT) increased when the pH of the solution was raised. At pL 11.0, the piT was 1.07 in reverse micelles, which corresponds to the inverse-isotope effect of the reaction in this solvent system. Normal viscosity effects on kcat and kcat/Km were observed in aqueous solution, corresponding to a diffusional controlled physical step as the rate-limiting step. We propose that the rate-limiting step of the hydrolytic reaction changes from phosphate releasing in aqueous solution to a covalent phosphorylation or dephosphorylation step in reverse micelles. PMID:9461520

Solvent kinetic isotope effects of human placental alkaline phosphatase in reverse micelles.

PubMed

Huang, T M; Hung, H C; Chang, T C; Chang, G G

1998-02-15

Human placental alkaline phosphatase was embedded in a reverse micellar system prepared by dissolving the surfactant sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulphosuccinate (Aerosol-OT) in 2,2, 4-trimethylpentane. This microemulsion system provides a convenient instrumental tool to study the possible kinetic properties of the membranous enzyme in an immobilized form. The pL (pH/p2H) dependence of hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl phosphate has been examined over a pL range of 8.5-12.5 in both aqueous and reverse micellar systems. Profiles of log V versus pL were Ha-bell shaped in the acidic region but reached a plateau in the basic region in which two pKa values of 9.01-9.71 and 9.86-10.48, respectively, were observed in reverse micelles. However, only one pKa value of 9.78-10.27 in aqueous solution was detected. Profiles of log V/K versus pL were bell-shaped in the acidic region. However, they were wave-shaped in the basic region in which a residue of pKa 9.10-9.44 in aqueous solution and 8.07-8.78 in reverse micelles must be dehydronated for the reaction to reach an optimum. The V/K value shifted to a lower value upon dehydronation of a pKa value of 9.80-10.62 in aqueous solution and 11.23-12.17 in reverse micelles. Solvent kinetic isotope effects were measured at three pL values. At pL 9.5, the observed isotope effect was a product of equilibrium isotope effect and a kinetic isotope effect; at pL 10.4, the log V/K value was identical in water and deuterium. The deuterium kinetic isotope effect on V/K was 1.14 in an aqueous solution and 1.16 in reverse micelles. At pL 11.0 at which the log V values reached a plateau in either solvent system, the deuterium kinetic isotope effect on V was 2.08 in an aqueous solution and 0.62 in reverse micelles. Results from a proton inventory experiment suggested that a hydron transfer step is involved in the transition state of the catalytic reaction. The isotopic fractionation factor (pi) for deuterium for the transition state (piT) increased when the pH of the solution was raised. At pL 11.0, the piT was 1.07 in reverse micelles, which corresponds to the inverse-isotope effect of the reaction in this solvent system. Normal viscosity effects on kcat and kcat/Km were observed in aqueous solution, corresponding to a diffusional controlled physical step as the rate-limiting step. We propose that the rate-limiting step of the hydrolytic reaction changes from phosphate releasing in aqueous solution to a covalent phosphorylation or dephosphorylation step in reverse micelles.

Phosphate removal in agro-industry: pilot- and full-scale operational considerations of struvite crystallization.

PubMed

Moerman, Wim; Carballa, Marta; Vandekerckhove, Andy; Derycke, Dirk; Verstraete, Willy

2009-04-01

Pilot-scale struvite crystallization tests using anaerobic effluent from potato processing industries were performed at three different plants. Two plants (P1 & P2) showed high phosphate removal efficiencies, 89+/-3% and 75+/-8%, resulting in final effluent levels of 12+/-3 mg PO(4)(3-)-PL(-1) and 11+/-3mg PO(4)(3-)-PL(-1), respectively. In contrast, poor phosphate removal (19+/-8%) was obtained at the third location (P3). Further investigations at P3 showed the negative effect of high Ca(2+)/PO(4)(3-)-P molar ratio (ca. 1.25+/-0.11) on struvite formation. A full-scale struvite plant treating anaerobic effluent from a dairy industry showed the same Ca(2+) interference. A shift in the influent Ca(2+)/PO(4)(3-)-P molar ratio from 2.69 to 1.36 resulted in average total phosphorus removal of 78+/-7%, corresponding with effluent levels of 14+/-4 mg P(total)L(-1) (9+/-3 mg PO(4)(3-)-PL(-1)). Under these conditions high quality spherical struvite crystals of 2-6mm were produced.

Teaching of anterior cruciate ligament function in osteopathic medical education.

PubMed

Surek, Christopher Chase; Lorimer, Shannon D; Dougherty, John J; Stephens, Robert E

2011-04-01

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee and the function of its anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundles are a focus of orthopedic research. Because of the probability that third-year and fourth-year osteopathic medical students will encounter ACL injuries during clinical rotations, it is of paramount importance that students fully understand the functions of the AM and PL bundles as 2 distinct functional components of the ACL. The authors assess the degree to which the AM and PL bundles are discussed within basic science curricula at colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs). In September 2008, a 6-question survey addressing various aspects of ACL education was mailed to instructors of lower-extremity anatomy at all 28 COMs that existed at that time. Nine of the 21 responding institutions (42.9%) indicated that both the AM and PL bundles of the ACL are discussed within their basic science curricula. Four of these 9 COMs indicated that their instruction mentions that the bundles are parallel in extension and crossed in flexion. Nine of the 21 responding COMs (42.9%) indicated that they instruct students that the AM bundle is a major anterior-posterior restrictor, and 12 (57.1%) indicated that they instruct students that the PL bundle is the major rotational stabilizer of the ACL. In 7 of the 21 responding COMs (33.3%), the AM and PL bundles are identified via direct visualization during anatomic dissection of the ACL. The authors conclude that their findings suggest the need for enhanced presentation of the AM and PL bundles within the basic science curricula at COMs to provide osteopathic medical students with a more comprehensive education in anatomy.

Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy for the Inactivation of Candida spp. on Dentures: In Vitro Study

PubMed Central

Mima, Ewerton Garcia de Oliveira; Ribeiro, Daniela Garcia; Dovigo, Livia Nordi; Vergani, Carlos Eduardo; Bagnato, Vanderlei Salvador

2011-01-01

Abstract Objective: This in vitro study evaluated the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the inactivation of different species of Candida on maxillary complete dentures. Background data: The treatment of denture stomatitis requires the inactivation of Candida spp. on dentures. PDT has been reported as an effective method for Candida inactivation. Methods: Reference strains of C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. dubliniensis and C. krusei were tested. Thirty-four dentures were fabricated in a standardized procedure and subjected to ethylene oxide sterilization. The dentures were individually inoculated with one of the strains and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Dentures submitted to PDT (P+L+) were individually sprayed with 50 mg/L of Photogem® (PS) and, after 30 min, illuminated by LED light for 26 min (37.5 J/cm2). Additional dentures were treated only with PS (P+L-) or light (P-L+) or neither (P-L-). Samples of serial dilutions were spread on Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated at 37°C for 48 h. The colonies were counted and the values of log (cfu/mL) were analyzed by Kruskall-Wallis and Dunn tests (p<0.05). Results: For all species of Candida, PDT resulted in significant reduction (p<0.05) of cfu/mL values from dentures when compared with P-L- (reductions from 1.73 to 3.99 log10). Significant differences (p<0.05), but lower reductions, were also observed for P+L- and P-L+when compared with P-L- for some species of Candida. Conclusions: PDT was an effective method for reducing Candida spp. on dentures. PMID:21916614

Insights into the structural characteristics and substrate binding analysis of chondroitin AC lyase (PsPL8A) from Pedobacter saltans.

PubMed

Rani, Aruna; Dhillon, Arun; Sharma, Kedar; Goyal, Arun

2018-04-01

The structure of chondroitin AC lyase (PsPL8A) of family 8 polysaccharide lyase was characterized. Modeled PsPL8A structure showed, it contains N-terminal (α/α) 6 incomplete toroidal fold and a layered β sandwich structure at C-terminal. Ramchandran plot displayed 98.5% residues in favoured and 1.2% in generously allowed region. Secondary structure of PsPL8A by CD revealed 27.31% α helices 22.7% β sheets and 49.9% random coils. Protein melting study showed, PsPL8A completely unfolds at 60°C. SAXS analysis showed, PsPL8A is fully folded in solution form. The ab initio derived dummy model of PsPL8A superposed well with its modeled structure excluding some α-helices and loop region. Structural superposition and docking analysis showed, N153, W105, H203, Y208, Y212, R266 and E349 were involved in catalysis. Mutants N153A, H203A, Y212F, R266A and E349A created by SDM revealed no residual activity. Isothermal titration calorimetry analysis of Y212F and H203A with C4S polysaccharide, showed moderate binding by Y212F (Ka=9.56±3.81×10 5 ) and no binding with H203A, showing active contribution of Y212 in substrate binding. Residues Y212 and H203 or R266 might act as general base and general acid respectively. Residues N153 and E349 are likely contributing in charge neutralization and stabilizing enolate anion intermediate during β-elimination. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.