Opposite lipemic response of Wistar rats and C57BL/6 mice to dietary glucose or fructose supplementation

The metabolic effects of carbohydrate supplementation in mice have not been extensively studied. In rats, glucose- and fructose-rich diets induce hypertriacylglycerolemia. In the present study, we compared the metabolic responses to two monosaccharide supplementations in two murine models. Adult male Wistar rats (N = 80) and C57BL/6 mice (N = 60), after 3 weeks on a standardized diet, were submitted to dietary supplementation by gavage with glucose (G) or fructose (F) solutions (500 g/L), 8 g/kg body weight for 21 days. Glycemia was significantly higher in rats after fructose treatment (F: 7.9 vs 9.3 mM) and in mice (G: 6.5 vs 10 and F: 6.6 vs 8.9 mM) after both carbohydrate treatments. Triacylglycerolemia increased significantly 1.5 times in rats after G or F supplementation. Total cholesterol did not change with G treatment in rats, but did decrease after F supplementation (1.5 vs 1.4 mM, P < 0.05). Both supplementations in rats induced insulin resistance, as suggested by the higher Homeostasis Model Assessment Index. In contrast, mice showed significant decreases in triacylglycerol (G: 1.8 vs 1.4 and F: 1.9 vs 1.4 mM, P < 0.01) and total cholesterol levels (G and F: 2.7 vs 2.5 mM, P < 0.05) after both monosaccharide supplementations. Wistar rats and C57BL/6 mice, although belonging to the same family (Muridae), presented opposite responses to glucose and fructose supplementation regarding serum triacylglycerol, free fatty acids, and insulin levels after monosaccharide treatment. Thus, while Wistar rats developed features of plurimetabolic syndrome, C57BL/6 mice presented changes in serum biochemical profile considered to be healthier for the cardiovascular system.32333

Use Of Cscl To Enhance The Glass Stability Range Of Tellurite Glasses For Er3+ Doped Optical Fiber Drawing

Tellurite glasses are important as a host of Er3+ ions because of their great solubility and because they present broader gain bandwidths than Er3+-doped silica, with promise to increase the bandwidth of communication systems. However, the small glass stability range (GSR) of tellurite glasses compromises the quality of the optical fibers. We show that the addition of CsCl to tellurite glasses can increase their GSR, making it easier to draw good quality optical fibers. CsCl acts as a network modifier in glass systems, weakening the network by forming Te-Cl bonds. We show that the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch is in the right direction for optical fiber fabrication purposes and that the Bi2O3 content can be used to control the refractive index of clad and core glasses. Single-mode and multi-mode Er3+-doped optical fibers were produced by the rod-in-tube method using highly homogeneous TeO2-ZnO-Li 2O-Bi2O3-CsCl glasses. Far infrared spectra of the glass samples exhibit absorption bands of the Te-Cl bond.6469Mori, A., Ohishi, Y., Sudo, S., Erbium-doped tellurite glass fibre laser and amplifier (1997) Electron. Lett, 33 (10), pp. 863-864Sekiya, T., Mochida, N., Ohtsuka, A., Tonokawa, M., Raman-spectra of Mo-TeO2 (M = Mg, Sr, Ba and Zn) glasses (1994) J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 168, pp. 1-2,106-114Bindra, K.S., Bookey, H.T., Kar, A.K., Wherrette, B.S., Liu, X., Jha, A., Nonlinear optical properties of chalcogenide glasses: Observation of multiphoton absorption (2001) Appl. Phys. Lett, 79 (13), pp. 1939-1941Wang, J.S., Vogel, E.M., Snitzer, E., Jackel, J.L., da Silva, V.L., Silbergerg, Y., 1.3 μm emission of neodymium and praseodymium in tellurite-based glasses (1994) J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 178, pp. 109-113Shen, S., Jha, A., Zhang, E., Wilson, S.J., Compositional effects and spectroscopy of rare earths (Er3+, Tm3+, and Nd 3+) in tellurite glasses (2002) C.R. Chim, 5 (12), pp. 921-938Yamada, M., Mori, A., Ono, H., Kobayashi, K., Kanamori, T., Ohishi, Y., Broadband and gain-flattened Er3+-doped tellurite fibre amplifier constructed using a gain equaliser (1998) Electron. Lett, 34 (4), pp. 370-371Mori, K., Kobayashi, M., Yamada, T., Kanamori, K., Oikawa, Y., Nishida, Y., Ohishi, Y., Low noise broadband tellurite-based Er3+-doped fibre amplifiers (1998) Electron. Lett, 34 (9), pp. 887-888Snitzer, E., Vogel, E.M., Wang, J.S., Tellurite glass and fiber amplifier (1993), US Patent 5,251,062Aitken, B.G., Ellison, A.J.G., Tellurite glasses and optical components (2001), US Patent 6,194,334Ding, Y., Jiang, S., Hwang, B.C., Luo, T., Peyghambarian, N., Himei, Y., Ito, T., Miura, Y., Spectral properties of erbium-doped lead halotellurite glasses for 1.5 μm broadband amplification (2000) Opt. Mater, 15 (2), pp. 123-130Keiser, G., (1999) Optical Fiber Communication, , Mac-Graw Hill, New YorkBarbosa, L.C., Cesar, C.L., Mazali, I.O., Barbosa, L.C., Alves, O.L., Spectroscopic and thermal properties of Ga2S 3-Na2S-CsCl glasses (2006) J. Am. Ceram. Soc, 89 (3), pp. 1037-1041Mazali, I.O., Barbosa, L.C., Alves, O.L., Preparation and characterization of new niobophosphate glasses in the Li2O-Nb 2O5-CaO-P2O5 system (2004) J. Mater. Sci, 39 (6), pp. 1987-1995El-Kheshen, A.A., Zawrah, M.F., Sinterability, microstructure and properties of glass/ceramic composite (2003) Ceram. Int, 29 (3), pp. 251-257A. Hruby, Evaluation of glass-forming tendency by means of DTA, Czech. J. Phys. B, B22 1187-& (1972)Burger, H., Vogel, W., Kozhukharov, V., IR transmission and properties of glasses in the TeO2-[RNOM, RNXM, RN(SO4)M, RN(PO3)M and B2O3] systems (1985) Infr. Phys, 25 (1-2), pp. 395-409Higazy, A.A., Bridge, B., Infrared-Spectra of the vitreous system CO 3O4-P2O5 and their interpretation (1985) Jour. Mat. Sci, 20 (7), pp. 2345-2358Bridge, B., Round, R., Computation of the bulk modulus of the high temperature ceramic superconductor YBa2Cu3O7-X from unit-cell data (1988) Jour. Mat. Sci. Lett, 7 (1), pp. 63-65Reynoso, V.C.S., Barbosa, L.C., Alves, O.L., Aranha, N., César, C.L., Preparation and characterization of heavy-metal oxide glasses - Bi2O3-PbO-B2O3-GeO 2 system (1994) J. Mater. Chem, 4 (4), pp. 529-532Canale, J.E., Condrate, R.A., Nassau, K., Cornilsen, B.C., Characterization of various glasses in the binary PbO-GeO2 and Bi2O3-GeO2 systems (1986) J. Can. Ceram. Soc, 55, pp. 50-56Adams, D.M., Lloyd, M.H., Far-Infrared reflectance spectra of some hexachlorotellurates and other hexachlorometallates (1971) Jour. Chem. Soc. A.-Inorganic Phys Theor, 7, p. 878Gloge, D., Weakly guiding fibers (1971) Appl. Opt, , 10 [10] 2252-

The troublesome ticks research protocol: Developing a comprehensive, multidiscipline research plan for investigating human tick-associated disease in Australia

In Australia, there is a paucity of data about the extent and impact of zoonotic tick-related illnesses. Even less is understood about a multifaceted illness referred to as Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT). Here, we describe a research plan for investigating the aetiology, pathophysiology, and clinical outcomes of human tick-associated disease in Australia. Our approach focuses on the transmission of potential pathogens and the immunological responses of the patient after a tick bite. The protocol is strengthened by prospective data collection, the recruitment of two external matched control groups, and sophisticated integrative data analysis which, collectively, will allow the robust demonstration of associations between a tick bite and the development of clinical and pathological abnormalities. Various laboratory analyses are performed including metagenomics to investigate the potential transmission of bacteria, protozoa and/or viruses during tick bite. In addition, multi-omics technology is applied to investigate links between host immune responses and potential infectious and non-infectious disease causations. Psychometric profiling is also used to investigate whether psychological attributes influence symptom development. This research will fill important knowledge gaps about tick-borne diseases. Ultimately, we hope the results will promote improved diagnostic outcomes, and inform the safe management and treatment of patients bitten by ticks in Australia

Properties and microstructure of alkali-activated red clay brick waste

Sintered red clay ceramic is used to produce hollow bricks which are manufactured in enormous quantities in Spain. They also constitute a major fraction of construction and demolition waste. The aim of this research was to investigate the properties and microstructure of alkali-activated cement pastes and mortars produced using red clay brick waste. The work shows that the type and concentration of alkali activator can be optimised to produce mortar samples with compressive strengths up to 50 MPa after curing for 7 days at 65 C. This demonstrates a new potential added value reuse application for this important waste material.The authors are grateful to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for supporting this study through Project GEOCEDEM BIA 2011-26947, and to FEDER funding. They also thank the Institute for Science and Technology of Concrete - ICITECH, for providing the means to carry out this investigation; and Universitat Jaume I, for supporting this research through the research stay granted.Reig Cerdá, L.; Tashima, MM.; Borrachero Rosado, MV.; Monzó Balbuena, JM.; Cheeseman, C.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ. (2013). Properties and microstructure of alkali-activated red clay brick waste. Construction and Building Materials. 43:98-106. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.01.031S981064

Embryonic dormancy in seeds of Bactris gasipaes Kunth (peach-palm)

Bactris gasipaes is a domesticated palm whose fruits are of great importance for the Amazonian people and whose heart of palm is also receiving economic interest in other brazilian and Latin America regions. The aim of this study was verify embryonic dormancy and its correlation with first cataphyll emergence in B. gasipaes seeds collected from four plants at Manaus city and four others at Coari city, both in the Amazonas state, Brazil. After extraction and cleaning, some of the seeds (4 replications of 25 per plant) were sown in a seedbed with a sawdust and sand mixture as substrate, and embryos (4 replications of 10 per plant), after extraction, were inoculated into half strength Murashige and Skoog cultures. Were used 100 seeds and 40 embryo per treatment. Whole seed and embryo germination varied between the different source plants and locations, with the greatest difference observed for the emergence of first cataphyll from seeds in the seedbed. For the most part of variables, results of seed and embryo were positively associated, namely, as one went up the other also, and vice versa. These results suggesting that, at least in part, seed dormancy in Bactris gasipaes is associated with embryonic dormancy. © 2017, Associacao Brasileira de Tecnologia de Sementes. All rights reserved

Nonadherence to systemic immune-modifying therapy in people with psoriasis during the COVID-19 pandemic : Findings from a global cross-sectional survey

Nonadherence to immune-modifying therapy is a complex behaviour which, before the COVID-19 pandemic, was shown to be associated with mental health disorders in people with immune-mediated diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in the global prevalence of anxiety and depression, and limited data exist on the association between mental health and nonadherence to immune-modifying therapy during the pandemic. To assess the extent of and reasons underlying nonadherence to systemic immune-modifying therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with psoriasis, and the association between mental health and nonadherence. Online self-report surveys (PsoProtectMe), including validated screens for anxiety and depression, were completed globally during the first year of the pandemic. We assessed the association between anxiety or depression and nonadherence to systemic immune-modifying therapy using binomial logistic regression, adjusting for potential cofounders (age, sex, ethnicity, comorbidity) and country of residence. Of 3980 participants from 77 countries, 1611 (40.5%) were prescribed a systemic immune-modifying therapy. Of these, 408 (25.3%) reported nonadherence during the pandemic, most commonly due to concerns about their immunity. In the unadjusted model, a positive anxiety screen was associated with nonadherence to systemic immune-modifying therapy [odds ratio (OR) 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.76]. Specifically, anxiety was associated with nonadherence to targeted therapy (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.01-1.96) but not standard systemic therapy (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.81-1.67). In the adjusted model, although the directions of the effects remained, anxiety was not significantly associated with nonadherence to overall systemic (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.92-1.56) or targeted (OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.94-1.89) immune-modifying therapy. A positive depression screen was not strongly associated with nonadherence to systemic immune-modifying therapy in the unadjusted (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.94-1.57) or adjusted models (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.87-1.49). These data indicate substantial nonadherence to immune-modifying therapy in people with psoriasis during the pandemic, with attenuation of the association with mental health after adjusting for confounders. Future research in larger populations should further explore pandemic-specific drivers of treatment nonadherence. Clear communication of the reassuring findings from population-based research regarding immune-modifying therapy-associated adverse COVID-19 risks to people with psoriasis is essential, to optimize adherence and disease outcomes