415 research outputs found

    Generalizations Of The Sidon-telyakovskii Theorem

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    The well-known Sidon-Telyakovskii integrability condition is considerably lightened as follows. © 1987 American Mathematical Society

    Review of eating disorders and oxytocin receptor polymorphisms.

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    BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Oxytocin, a nine amino acid peptide synthesised in the hypothalamus, has been widely recognised for its role in anxiolysis, bonding, sociality, and appetite. It binds to the oxytocin receptor (OXTR)-a G-protein coupled receptor-that is stimulated by the actions of oestrogen both peripherally and centrally. Studies have implicated OXTR genotypes in conferring either a risk or protective effect in autism, schizophrenia, and eating disorders (ED). There are numerous DNA variations of this receptor, with the most common DNA variation being in the form of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Two OXTR SNPs have been most studied in relation to ED: rs53576 and rs2254298. Each SNP has the same allelic variant that produces genotypes AA, AG, and GG. In this critical review we will evaluate the putative role of rs53576 and rs2254298 SNPs in ED. Additionally, this narrative review will consider the role of gene-environment interactions in the development of ED pathology. FINDINGS: The OXTR SNPs rs53576 and rs2254298 show independent associations between the A allele and restrictive eating behaviours. Conversely, the G allele of the OXTR rs53576 SNP is associated with binging behaviours, findings that were also evident in neuroanatomy. One study found the A allele of both OXTR SNPs to confer risk for more severe ED symptomatology while the G allele conferred some protective effect. An interaction between poor maternal care and rs2254298 AG/AA genotype conferred increased risk for binge eating and purging in women. CONCLUSIONS: Individual OXTR SNP are unlikely in themselves to explain complex eating disorders but may affect the expression of and/or effectiveness of the OXTR. A growing body of G x E work is indicating that rs53576G homozygosity becomes disadvantageous for later mental health under early adverse conditions but further research to extend these findings to eating pathology is needed. The GWAS approach would benefit this area of knowledge

    Rydberg trimers and excited dimers bound by internal quantum reflection

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    Quantum reflection is a pure wave phenomena that predicts reflection of a particle at a changing potential for cases where complete transmission occurs classically. For a chemical bond, we find that this effect can lead to non-classical vibrational turning points and bound states at extremely large interatomic distances. Only recently has the existence of such ultralong-range Rydberg molecules been demonstrated experimentally. Here, we identify a broad range of molecular lines, most of which are shown to originate from two different novel sources: a single-photon associated triatomic molecule formed by a Rydberg atom and two ground state atoms and a series of excited dimer states that are bound by a so far unexplored mechanism based on internal quantum reflection at a steep potential drop. The properties of the Rydberg molecules identified in this work qualify them as prototypes for a new type of chemistry at ultracold temperatures.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

    Primarna proteoliza bijelog sira u salamuri proizvedenog od sirovog kravljeg mlijeka praćena visokomolarnim SDS-PAGE elektroforetskim sistemom

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    The aim of this work was to investigate primary proteolysis of white brined cow cheese prepared from raw milk by SDS-electrophoretic method based on high-molarity Tris buffer system and to correlate with the results of other commonly used parameters. Proteolytic changes of white brined cow cheese were monitored by three parameters: total protein, water soluble proteins and degree of proteolysis. Changes of major casein fractions were followed by SDS-electrophoretic system in reducing conditions. The total protein content and moisture content of white brined cow cheese were significantly affected by ripening. Ripening in brine increased water soluble proteins and degree of proteolysis. Major caseins were differently resistant to proteolysis; αs-CN was more susceptible than β-CN. The αs-CN content was highly and negatively correlated with time of ripening and water soluble proteins whereas no significant correlation (p<0.05) between β-CN content and these parameters was found. Also, a strong significant correlation (p<0.05) between the amount of low molecular weight products and time of ripening, water soluble proteins and αs-CN content was observed. SDS-PAGE method used in this study could be useful for monitoring the white cow cheese proteolysis.Cilj ovog rada bio je istražiti proces primarne proteolize bijelog sira u salamuri pripremljenog od sirovog kravljeg mlijeka metodom SDS-poliakrilamidne gel elektroforeze zasnovane na primjeni visoko molarnog sistema Tris pufera i korelirati s rezultatima uobičajeno korištenih parametara. Proteolitičke promjene bijelog sira u salamuri praćene su pomoću tri parametra: ukupnih proteina, proteina topljivih u vodi i stupnja proteolize. Promjena glavnih kazeinskih frakcija praćena je SDS-elektroforetskom metodom u reducirajućim uvjetima. Zrenje je značajno utjecalo na sadržaj ukupnih proteina i sadržaj vlage u kravljem bijelom siru. Ovaj proces povećao je sadržaj proteina topljivih u vodi i stupanj proteolize. Glavne kazeinske frakcije bile su različito otporne na proteolizu. αs-CN je bio mnogo osjetljiviji na djelovanje proteolitičkih enzima u odnosu na β-CN. Količina αs-CN u jakoj je negativnoj korelaciji sa trajanjem zrenja i proteinima topljivim u vodi, dok nije utvrđena značajna korelacija između sadržaja β-CN i ovih parametara. Također, značajna korelacija utvrđena je između količine produkata male molekulske mase i trajanja zrenja, sadržaja αs-CN i proteina topljivih u vodi. SDS-elektroforetska metoda korištena u ovim istraživanjima može biti korisna za praćenje proteolitičkih promjena tijekom zrenja kravljeg bijelog sira u salamuri

    Response Factors to Pegylated Interferon-Alfa/Ribavirin Treatment in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Genotype 1b

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    Hepatitis C virus infection is the most common chronic blood-borne infection and one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease. Knowing the predictors associated with pegylated interferon/ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) combination therapy response is important for evidence-based treatment recommendations. The goal of this study was to identify host and viral factors of response to PEG-IFN/RBV treatment in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b patients. We have examined the relationship between gender, age, level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), viral load and liver fibrosis progression on therapy response. ALT level and viral load were evaluated before starting treatment with combination therapy. The elevated levels of ALT and route of HCV transmission were found to be significantly associated with the response to therapy in HCV-infected patients. Our findings may be useful for estimating a patients likelihood Of achieving sustained viral response

    Trajectories of early growth and subsequent lung function in cystic fibrosis: An observational study using UK and Canadian registry data.

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    BACKGROUND: Understanding the pulmonary impact of changes in early life nutritional status over time in a paediatric CF population may help inform how to use nutritional assessment to guide clinical care. National registry data provides an opportunity to study patterns of weight gain over time at the level of the individual, and thus to gain detailed understanding of the relationship between early weight trajectories and later lung function in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). METHODS: Using data from the United Kingdom (UK) and Canadian CF Registries, a mixed effects linear regression model was used to describe children's weight and BMI z-score trajectories from age 1 to 5 years. The intercept (weight-for-age at age 1) and slope (weight-for-age trajectory) from this model were then used as covariates in a linear regression of first lung function measurement at age 6 years. RESULTS: In both the UK and Canadian data, greater weight-for-age z-score at age 1 year and greater change in weight-for-age over time were associated with higher FEV1% predicted. A greater weight-for-age z-score at age 1 year was associated with a higher FEV1% predicted (UK: 3.78% (95% CI: 1.76; 4.70); Canada: 3.20% (95%CI: 1.76, 4.70)). These associations were reproduced for BMI z-scores and FVC% predicted. CONCLUSIONS: Early weight-for-age, specifically at age 1 year, and weight-for-age trajectories across early childhood are associated with later lung function. This relationship persists after adjustment for potential confounders. Current guidelines may need to be updated to place less emphasis on a specific cut-off (such as the 10th percentile) and encourage tracking of weight-for-age over time

    Global lung function initiative 2012 reference values for spirometry in Asian Americans

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    Background Spirometry reference values specifically designed for Asian Americans are currently unavailable. The performance of Global Lung Function Initiative 2012 (GLI-2012) equations on assessing spirometry in Asian Americans has not been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the fitness of relevant GLI-2012 equations for spirometry in Asian Americans. Methods Asian subjects who never smoked and had qualified spirometry data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2012. Z-scores of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC were separately constructed with GLI-2012 equations for North East (NE) Asians, South East (SE) Asians, and individuals of mixed ethnic origin (Mixed). In addition, Proportions of subjects with observed spirometry data below the lower limit of normal (LLN) were also evaluated on each GLI-2012 equation of interest. Results This study included 567 subjects (250 men and 317 women) aged 6–79 years. Spirometry z-scores (z-FEV1, z-FVC, and z-FEV1/FVC) based on GLI-2012 Mixed equations had mean values close to zero (− 0.278 to − 0.057) and standard deviations close to one (1.001 to 1.128); additionally, 6.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1–8.9%) and 6.4% (95% CI 3.7–9.1%) of subjects were with observed data below LLN for FEV1/FVC in men and women, respectively. In contrast, for NE Asian equations, all mean values of z-FEV1 and z-FVC were smaller than − 0.5; for SE Asian equations, mean values of z-FEV1/FVC were significantly smaller than zero in men (− 0.333) and women (− 0.440). Conclusions GLI-2012 equations for individuals of mixed ethnic origin adequately fitted spirometry data in this sample of Asian Americans. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings

    Formation of regulatory modules by local sequence duplication

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    Turnover of regulatory sequence and function is an important part of molecular evolution. But what are the modes of sequence evolution leading to rapid formation and loss of regulatory sites? Here, we show that a large fraction of neighboring transcription factor binding sites in the fly genome have formed from a common sequence origin by local duplications. This mode of evolution is found to produce regulatory information: duplications can seed new sites in the neighborhood of existing sites. Duplicate seeds evolve subsequently by point mutations, often towards binding a different factor than their ancestral neighbor sites. These results are based on a statistical analysis of 346 cis-regulatory modules in the Drosophila melanogaster genome, and a comparison set of intergenic regulatory sequence in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In fly regulatory modules, pairs of binding sites show significantly enhanced sequence similarity up to distances of about 50 bp. We analyze these data in terms of an evolutionary model with two distinct modes of site formation: (i) evolution from independent sequence origin and (ii) divergent evolution following duplication of a common ancestor sequence. Our results suggest that pervasive formation of binding sites by local sequence duplications distinguishes the complex regulatory architecture of higher eukaryotes from the simpler architecture of unicellular organisms
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