Volumetric and Transport Properties Of L-Isoleucine In Aqueous Ethanol

Densities and viscosities of L- isoleucine have been measured at 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, 310.15 and 313.15 K in aqueous ethanol mixtures (wt.) % mass of ethanol. The viscosity data have been analyzed using the Jone-Dole equation. Apparent molar volumes, limiting partial molar volumes and relative viscosity have been evaluated from the density and viscosity data. Transfer volumes, limiting partial molar volumes and hydration numbers have also been calculated. The results have been discussed in terms of solute-solute and solute- solvent interactions and the structural changes of the solutes in solutions. Key words: L-isoleucine, Molar volume, Molecular interaction, Density, Viscosity

Seismic assesement of masonry infill RC framed building with soft ground floor

Construction of multistoried buildings with open ground floor is a common trend of urbanization of cities of many parts of many countries. Social and functional need to provide parking space at ground level outweighs the seismic vulnerability of such buildings. Generally these buildings are designed as RC framed structures without regards to structural action of masonry infill walls present in the upper floors. In the present paper an investigation has been made to study the behavior of RC frames with various arrangement of infill when subjected to dynamic earthquake loading. Result of bare and infill frame are compared and somem conclusions are made in view of IS -1893(2002) code

Heterogeneity of proliferative markers in pancreatic β-cells of patients with severe hypoglycemia following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Severe postprandial hypoglycemia with neuroglycopenia is an increasingly recognized, debilitating complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. Increased secretion of insulin and incretin hormones is implicated in its pathogenesis. Histopathologic examination of pancreas has demonstrated increased islet size and/or nuclear diameter in post-RYGB patients who underwent pancreatectomy for severe refractory hypoglycemia with neuroglycopenia (RYGB + NG). We aimed to determine whether β-cell proliferation or apoptosis is altered in RYGB + NG. We performed an observational study to analyze markers of proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and transcription factor expression in pancreatic tissue from affected RYGB + NG patients (n = 12), normoglycemic patients undergoing pancreatic surgery for benign lesions (controls, n = 6), and individuals with hypoglycemia due to insulinoma (n = 52). Proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression was increased in insulin-positive cells in RYGB + NG patients (4.5-fold increase, p < 0.001 vs. controls) and correlated with β-cell mass. Ki-67 immunoreactivity was low in both RYGB + NG and controls, but did not differ between groups. Phospho-histone H3 levels did not differ between RYGB + NG and controls. PCNA and Ki-67 were both significantly lower in both controls and RYGB + NG than insulinomas. Markers of apoptosis and cell cycle (M30, p27, and p21) did not differ between groups. PDX1 and menin exhibited similar expression patterns, while FOXO1 appeared to be more cytosolic in RYGB + NG. Markers of proliferation are heterogeneous in patients with severe post-RYGB hypoglycemia. Increased β-cell proliferation in some individuals may contribute to increased β-cell mass observed in severely affected patients

M180 Amelogenin Processed by MMP20 is Sufficient for Decussating Murine Enamel

Amelogenin (AMELX) and matrix metalloproteinase-20 (MMP20) are essential for proper enamel development. Amelx and Mmp20 mutations cause amelogenesis imperfecta. MMP20, a protease secreted by ameloblasts, is responsible for processing enamel proteins, including AMELX, during the secretory stage of enamel formation. Of at least 16 different amelogenin splice products, the most abundant isoform found in murine ameloblasts and developing enamel is the M180 protein. To understand the role of MMP20 processing of M180 AMELX, we generated AmelxKO/Mmp20KO (DKO) mice with an amelogenin (M180Tg) transgene. We analyzed the enamel phenotype by SEM to determine enamel structure and thickness, µCT, and by nanoindentation to quantify enamel mechanical properties. M180Tg/DKO mouse enamel had 37% of the hardness of M180Tg/AmelxKO teeth and demonstrated a complete lack of normal prismatic architecture. Although molar enamel of M180Tg/AmelxKO mice was thinner than WT, it had similar mechanical properties and decussating enamel prisms, which were abolished by the loss of MMP20 in the M180Tg/DKO mice. Retention of the C-terminus or complete lack of this domain is unable to rescue amelogenin null enamel. We conclude that among amelogenins, M180 alone is sufficient for normal enamel mechanical properties and prism patterns, but that additional amelogenin splice products are required to restore enamel thickness

The Amelogenin C-Terminus Is Required for Enamel Development

The abundant amelogenin proteins are responsible for generating proper enamel thickness and structure, and most amelogenins include a conserved hydrophilic C-terminus. To evaluate the importance of the C-terminus, we generated transgenic mice that express an amelogenin lacking the C-terminal 13 amino acids (CTRNC). MicroCT analysis of TgCTRNC29 teeth (low transgene number) indicated that molar enamel density was similar to that of wild-type mice, but TgCTRNC18 molar enamel (high transgene number) was deficient, indicating that extra transgene copies were associated with a more severe phenotype. When amelogenin-null (KO) and TgCTRNC transgenic mice were mated, density and volume of molar enamel from TgCTRNCKO offspring were not different from those of KO mice, indicating that neither TgCTRNC18 nor TgCTRNC29 rescued enamel’s physical characteristics. Because transgenic full-length amelogenin partially rescues both density and volume of KO molar enamel, it was concluded that the amelogenin C-terminus is essential for proper enamel density, volume, and organization

Anthropogenic Space Weather

Anthropogenic effects on the space environment started in the late 19th century and reached their peak in the 1960s when high-altitude nuclear explosions were carried out by the USA and the Soviet Union. These explosions created artificial radiation belts near Earth that resulted in major damages to several satellites. Another, unexpected impact of the high-altitude nuclear tests was the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that can have devastating effects over a large geographic area (as large as the continental United States). Other anthropogenic impacts on the space environment include chemical release ex- periments, high-frequency wave heating of the ionosphere and the interaction of VLF waves with the radiation belts. This paper reviews the fundamental physical process behind these phenomena and discusses the observations of their impacts.Comment: 71 pages, 35 figure

Global Search for New Physics with 2.0/fb at CDF

Data collected in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron are searched for indications of new electroweak-scale physics. Rather than focusing on particular new physics scenarios, CDF data are analyzed for discrepancies with the standard model prediction. A model-independent approach (Vista) considers gross features of the data, and is sensitive to new large cross-section physics. Further sensitivity to new physics is provided by two additional algorithms: a Bump Hunter searches invariant mass distributions for "bumps" that could indicate resonant production of new particles; and the Sleuth procedure scans for data excesses at large summed transverse momentum. This combined global search for new physics in 2.0/fb of ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV reveals no indication of physics beyond the standard model.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. Final version which appeared in Physical Review D Rapid Communication

Observation of Orbitally Excited B_s Mesons

We report the first observation of two narrow resonances consistent with states of orbitally excited (L=1) B_s mesons using 1 fb^{-1} of ppbar collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We use two-body decays into K^- and B^+ mesons reconstructed as B^+ \to J/\psi K^+, J/\psi \to \mu^+ \mu^- or B^+ \to \bar{D}^0 \pi^+, \bar{D}^0 \to K^+ \pi^-. We deduce the masses of the two states to be m(B_{s1}) = 5829.4 +- 0.7 MeV/c^2 and m(B_{s2}^*) = 5839.7 +- 0.7 MeV/c^2.Comment: Version accepted and published by Phys. Rev. Let

GRB 010222: A burst within a starburst

We present millimeter- and submillimeter-wavelength observations and near-infrared K-band imaging toward the bright gamma-ray burst GRB 010222. Over seven different epochs, a constant source was detected with an average flux density of 3.74 ± 0.53 mJy at 350 GHz and 1.05 ± 0.22 mJy at 250 GHz, giving a spectral index α = 3.78 ± 0.25 (where F ∝ vα). We rule out the possibility that this emission originated from the burst or its afterglow, and we conclude that it is due to a dusty, high-redshift starburst galaxy (SMM J14522 + 4301). We argue that the host galaxy of GRB 010222 is the most plausible counterpart of SMM J14522+4301, based in part on the centimeter detection of the host at the expected level. The optical/near-IR properties of the host galaxy of GRB 010222 suggest that it is a blue sub-L* galaxy, similar to other GRB host galaxies. This contrasts with the enormous far-infrared luminosity of this galaxy based on our submillimeter detection (LBol ≈ 4 × 10 12 L⊙). We suggest that this GRB host galaxy has a very high star formation rate, SFR ≈ 600 M⊙ yr -1, most of which is unseen at optical wavelengths