307 research outputs found
Influence of C-Peptide on Glucose Utilisation
During the recent years, multiple studies demonstrated that C-peptide is not an inert peptide, but exerts important physiological effects. C-peptide binds to cell membranes, stimulates the Na,K-ATPase and the endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase. Moreover, there is evidence that C-peptide decreases glomerular hyperfiltration and increases glucose utilisation. Nevertheless, there is still limited knowledge concerning mechanisms leading to an increased glucose utilisation either in rats or in humans. The aim of this paper is to give an overview over the published studies regarding C-peptide and glucose metabolism from in vitro studies to longer lasting studies in humans
Radiative orbital electron capture by the atomic nucleus
The rate for the photon emission accompanying orbital 1S electron capture by
the atomic nucleus is recalculated. While a photon can be emitted by the
electron or by the nucleus, the use of the length gauge significantly
suppresses the nuclear contribution. Our calculations resolve the long standing
discrepancy of theoretical predictions with experimental data for
forbidden transitions. We illustrate the results by comparison with the data
established experimentally for the first forbidden unique decays of Ca
and Tl.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Radiative electron capture in the first forbidden unique decay of 81Kr
The photon spectrum accompanying the orbital K-electron capture in the first
forbidden unique decay of 81Kr was measured. The total radiation intensity for
the photon energies larger than 50 keV was found to be 1.47(6) x 10^{-4} per
K-capture. Both the shape of the spectrum and its intensity relative to the
ordinary, non-radiative capture rate, are compared to theoretical predictions.
The best agreement is found for the recently developed model which employs the
length gauge for the electromagnetic field.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
Assessing uncertainties in flood forecasts for decision making: prototype of an operational flood management system integrating ensemble predictions
Ensemble forecasts aim at framing the uncertainties of the potential future development of the hydro-meteorological situation. A probabilistic evaluation can be used to communicate forecast uncertainty to decision makers. Here an operational system for ensemble based flood forecasting is presented, which combines forecasts from the European COSMO-LEPS, SRNWP-PEPS and COSMO-DE prediction systems. A multi-model lagged average super-ensemble is generated by recombining members from different runs of these meteorological forecast systems. A subset of the super-ensemble is selected based on a priori model weights, which are obtained from ensemble calibration. Flood forecasts are simulated by the conceptual rainfall-runoff-model ArcEGMO. Parameter uncertainty of the model is represented by a parameter ensemble, which is a priori generated from a comprehensive uncertainty analysis during model calibration. The use of a computationally efficient hydrological model within a flood management system allows us to compute the hydro-meteorological model chain for all members of the sub-ensemble. The model chain is not re-computed before new ensemble forecasts are available, but the probabilistic assessment of the output is updated when new information from deterministic short range forecasts or from assimilation of measured data becomes available. For hydraulic modelling, with the desired result of a probabilistic inundation map with high spatial resolution, a replacement model can help to overcome computational limitations. A prototype of the developed framework has been applied for a case study in the Mulde river basin. However these techniques, in particular the probabilistic assessment and the derivation of decision rules are still in their infancy. Further research is necessary and promising
On the discovery of doubly-magic Ni
The paper reports on the first observation of doubly-magic Nickel-48 in an
experimental at the SISSI/LISE3 facility of GANIL. Four Nickel-48 isotopes were
identified. In addition, roughly 100 Nickel-49, 50 Iron-45, and 290 Chromium-42
isotopes were observed. This opens the possibility to search for two-proton
emission from these nuclei.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
The role for saxagliptin within the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: an update from the 2010 European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 46th annual meeting and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 70th scientific session
Saxagliptin is a potent, selective DPP4 inhibitor. Highlights from abstracts presented at the 2010 meetings of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association include studies and analyses that shed light on the promising role for saxagliptin within the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Data show that saxagliptin combination therapy improves HbA1c levels compared with placebo, particularly in patients with high HbA1c at baseline, long duration of disease, low baseline creatinine clearance, and low homeostasis model assessment 2 β-cell function at baseline. These efficacy benefits are achieved without any increase in hypoglycemia or other adverse events. The study results also show that the saxagliptin plus metformin combination is a good candidate for initial therapy in drug-naïve patients treated for as long as 72 weeks. Survey data presented confirm that hypoglycemia (and fear of hypoglycemia) is a barrier to patients' acceptance of diabetes treatment, limiting its efficacy. Therefore, therapies such as saxagliptin that have a low risk of hypoglycemia may be more acceptable to patients in helping them to achieve glycemic control and to optimize their quality of life. In patients with renal impairment, for whom metformin is contraindicated, saxagliptin monotherapy is a promising option for antidiabetic management as, when given at a reduced dose, it is well-tolerated with a safety profile similar to that of placebo
First observation of 54Zn and its decay by two-proton emission
The nucleus 54Zn has been observed for the first time in an experiment at the
SISSI/LISE3 facility of GANIL in the quasi-fragmentation of a 58Ni beam at 74.5
MeV/nucleon in a natNi target. The fragments were analysed by means of the
ALPHA-LISE3 separator and implanted in a silicon-strip detector where
correlations in space and time between implantation and subsequent decay events
allowed us to generate almost background free decay spectra for about 25
different nuclei at the same time. Eight 54Zn implantation events were
observed. From the correlated decay events, the half-life of 54Zn is determined
to be 3.2 +1.8/-0.8 ms. Seven of the eight implantations are followed by
two-proton emission with a decay energy of 1.48(2) MeV. The decay energy and
the partial half-life are compared to model predictions and allow for a test of
these two-proton decay models.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in PR
On the two-proton emission for Fe45 - a new type of radioactivity
In an experiment at the SISSI-LISE3 facility of GANIL, the decay of the
proton drip-line nucleus Fe45 has been studied after projectile fragmentation
of a Ni58 primary beam at 75 MeV/nucleon impinging on a natural nickel target.
Fragment-implantation events have been correlated with radioactive decay events
in a 16x16 pixel silicon strip detector on an event-by-event basis. The
decay-energy spectrum of Fe45 implants shows a distinct peak at
(1.06+/-0.04)MeV with a half-life of T1/2 = (4.7+3.4-1.4)ms. None of the events
in this peak is in coincidence with beta particles which were searched for in a
detector next to the implantation detector. For a longer correlation interval,
daughter decays of the two-proton daughter Cr43 can be observed after Fe45
implantation. The decay energy for Fe45 agrees nicely with several theoretical
predictions for two-proton emission. Barrier-penetration calculations slightly
favour a di-proton emission picture over an emission of two individual protons
and point thus to a He2 emission mode.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, sumitted to PR
Discovery and Cross-Section Measurement of Neutron-Rich Isotopes in the Element Range from Neodymium to Platinum at the FRS
With a new detector setup and the high-resolution performance of the fragment
separator FRS at GSI we discovered 57 new isotopes in the atomic number range
of 60: \nuc{159-161}{Nb}, \nuc{160-163}{Pm}, \nuc{163-166}Sm,
\nuc{167-168}{Eu}, \nuc{167-171}{Gd}, \nuc{169-171}{Tb}, \nuc{171-174}{Dy},
\nuc{173-176}{Ho}, \nuc{176-178}{Er}, \nuc{178-181}{Tm}, \nuc{183-185}{Yb},
\nuc{187-188}{Lu}, \nuc{191}{Hf}, \nuc{193-194}{Ta}, \nuc{196-197}{W},
\nuc{199-200}{Re}, \nuc{201-203}{Os}, \nuc{204-205}{Ir} and \nuc{206-209}{Pt}.
The new isotopes have been unambiguously identified in reactions with a
U beam impinging on a Be target at 1 GeV/u. The isotopic production
cross-section for the new isotopes have been measured and compared with
predictions of different model calculations. In general, the ABRABLA and COFRA
models agree better than a factor of two with the new data, whereas the
semiempirical EPAX model deviates much more. Projectile fragmentation is the
dominant reaction creating the new isotopes, whereas fission contributes
significantly only up to about the element holmium.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
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