Plasma fibronectin deficiency impedes atherosclerosis progression and fibrous cap formation

Atherosclerotic lesions are asymmetric focal thickenings of the intima of arteries that consist of lipids, various cell types and extracellular matrix (ECM). These lesions lead to vascular occlusion representing the most common cause of death in the Western world. The main cause of vascular occlusion is rupture of atheromatous lesions followed by thrombus formation. Fibronectin (FN) is one of the earliest ECM proteins deposited at atherosclerosis-prone sites and was suggested to promote atherosclerotic lesion formation. Here, we report that atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E-null mice lacking hepatocyte-derived plasma FN (pFN) fed with a pro-atherogenic diet display dramatically reduced FN depositions at atherosclerosis-prone areas, which results in significantly smaller and fewer atherosclerotic plaques. However, the atherosclerotic lesions from pFN-deficient mice lacked vascular smooth muscle cells and failed to develop a fibrous cap. Thus, our results demonstrate that while FN worsens the course of atherosclerosis by increasing the atherogenic plaque area, it promotes the formation of the protective fibrous cap, which in humans prevents plaques rupture and vascular occlusion

Анализ напряженно- деформированного состояния резервуара вертикального стального -10000 м3 Сузунского месторождения.

Расчет напряженно - деформированного состояния резервуара вертикального стального 10000 м3 по результатам 3D сканирования. Получены численные результаты полей напряжений и деформаций.Calculation of stress - deformed state of a vertical steel tank of 10,000 m3 based on 3D scanning results. Numerical results of stress and strain fields are obtained

Occupant requirements in residential buildings – an empirical study and a theoretical model

Occupant needs with regard to residential buildings are not well known due to a lack of representative scientific studies. To improve the lack of data, a large scale study was carried out using a Post Occupancy Evaluation of 1,416 building occupants. Several criteria describing the needs of occupants were evaluated with regard to their subjective level of relevance. Additionally, we investigated the degree to which deficiencies subjectively exist, and the degree to which occupants were able to accept them. From the data obtained, a hierarchy of criteria was created. It was found that building occupants ranked the physiological needs of air quality and thermal comfort the highest. Health hazards such as mould and contaminated building materials were unacceptable for occupants, while other deficiencies were more likely to be tolerated. Occupant satisfaction was also investigated. We found that most occupants can be classified as satisfied, although some differences do exist between different populations. To explain the relationship between the constructs of what we call relevance, acceptance, deficiency and satisfaction, we then created an explanatory model. Using correlation and regression analysis, the validity of the model was then confirmed by applying the collected data. The results of the study are both relevant in shaping further research and in providing guidance on how to maximize tenant satisfaction in real estate management

Way to increase the efficiency of a reactions: steady and unsteady state catalysis

In the lecture on the example of the process of benzene hydrogenation taking into account the presence of thiophene in the feed gas was discussed approaches to the developing of the unsteady state kinetic model and process optimization. On the base of the kinetic model the theoretical analysis of the reactor performance under unsteady state conditions and unsteady state was carried out.It is shown that for periodic reactor operation an average conversion was up to several times higher than the steady state value

Occupant requirements in residential buildings – an empirical study and a theoretical model

Occupant needs with regard to residential buildings are not well known due to a lack of representative scientific studies. To improve the lack of data, a large scale study was carried out using a Post Occupancy Evaluation of 1,416 building occupants. Several criteria describing the needs of occupants were evaluated with regard to their subjective level of relevance. Additionally, we investigated the degree to which deficiencies subjectively exist, and the degree to which occupants were able to accept them. From the data obtained, a hierarchy of criteria was created. It was found that building occupants ranked the physiological needs of air quality and thermal comfort the highest. Health hazards such as mould and contaminated building materials were unacceptable for occupants, while other deficiencies were more likely to be tolerated. Occupant satisfaction was also investigated. We found that most occupants can be classified as satisfied, although some differences do exist between different populations. To explain the relationship between the constructs of what we call relevance, acceptance, deficiency and satisfaction, we then created an explanatory model. Using correlation and regression analysis, the validity of the model was then confirmed by applying the collected data. The results of the study are both relevant in shaping further research and in providing guidance on how to maximize tenant satisfaction in real estate management

A National Survey Comparing Patients' and Transplant Professionals' Research Priorities in the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study

We aimed to identify, assess, compare and map research priorities of patients and professionals in the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study. The project followed 3 steps. 1) Focus group interviews identified patients' (n = 22) research priorities. 2) A nationwide survey assessed and compared the priorities in 292 patients and 175 professionals. 3) Priorities were mapped to the 4 levels of Bronfenbrenner's ecological framework. The 13 research priorities (financial pressure, medication taking, continuity of care, emotional well-being, return to work, trustful relationships, person-centredness, organization of care, exercise and physical fitness, graft functioning, pregnancy, peer contact and public knowledge of transplantation), addressed all framework levels: patient (n = 7), micro (n = 3), meso (n = 2), and macro (n = 1). Comparing each group's top 10 priorities revealed that continuity of care received highest importance rating from both (92.2% patients, 92.5% professionals), with 3 more agreements between the groups. Otherwise, perspectives were more diverse than congruent: Patients emphasized patient level priorities (emotional well-being, graft functioning, return to work), professionals those on the meso level (continuity of care, organization of care). Patients' research priorities highlighted a need to expand research to the micro, meso and macro level. Discrepancies should be recognized to avoid understudying topics that are more important to professionals than to patients

Tailoring magnetocaloric effect in all-d-metal Ni-Co-Mn-Ti Heusler alloys: a combined experimental and theoretical study

Novel Ni-Co-Mn-Ti all-d-metal Heusler alloys are exciting due to large multicaloric effects combined with enhanced mechanical properties. An optimized heat treatment for a series of these compounds leads to very sharp phase transitions in bulk alloys with isothermal entropy changes of up to 38 J kg$^{-1}$ K$^{-1}$ for a magnetic field change of 2 T. The differences of as-cast and annealed samples are analyzed by investigating microstructure and phase transitions in detail by optical microscopy. We identify different grain structures as well as stoichiometric (in)homogenieties as reasons for differently sharp martensitic transitions after ideal and non-ideal annealing. We develop alloy design rules for tuning the magnetostructural phase transition and evaluate specifically the sensitivity of the transition temperature towards the externally applied magnetic fields ($\frac{dT_t}{\mu_0dH}$) by analyzing the different stoichiometries. We then set up a phase diagram including martensitic transition temperatures and austenite Curie temperatures depending on the e/a ratio for varying Co and Ti content. The evolution of the Curie temperature with changing stoichiometry is compared to other Heusler systems. Density Functional Theory calculations reveal a correlation of T$_C$ with the stoichiometry as well as with the order state of the austenite. This combined approach of experiment and theory allows for an efficient development of new systems towards promising magnetocaloric properties. Direct adiabatic temperature change measurements show here the largest change of -4 K in a magnetic field change of 1.93 T for Ni$_{35}$Co$_{15}$Mn$_{37}$Ti$_{13}$

AKT1 (E17K) mutation profiling in breast cancer: prevalence, concurrent oncogenic alterations, and blood-based detection.

BACKGROUND: The single hotspot mutation AKT1 [G49A:E17K] has been described in several cancers, with the highest incidence observed in breast cancer. However, its precise role in disease etiology remains unknown. METHODS: We analyzed more than 600 breast cancer tumor samples and circulating tumor DNA for AKT1 (E17K) and alterations in other cancer-associated genes using Beads, Emulsions, Amplification, and Magnetics digital polymerase chain reaction technology and targeted exome sequencing. RESULTS: Overall AKT1 (E17K) mutation prevalence was 6.3 % and not correlated with age or menopausal stage. AKT1 (E17K) mutation frequency tended to be lower in patients with grade 3 disease (1.9 %) compared with those with grade 1 (11.1 %) or grade 2 (6 %) disease. In two cohorts of patients with advanced metastatic disease, 98.0 % (n = 50) and 97.1 % (n = 35) concordance was obtained between tissue and blood samples for the AKT1 (E17K) mutation, and mutation capture rates of 66.7 % (2/3) and 85.7 % (6/7) in blood versus tissue samples were observed. Although AKT1-mutant tumor specimens were often found to harbor concurrent alterations in other driver genes, a subset of specimens harboring AKT1 (E17K) as the only known driver alteration was also identified. Initial follow-up survival data suggest that AKT1 (E17K) could be associated with increased mortality. These findings warrant additional long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that AKT1 (E17K) is the most likely disease driver in certain breast cancer patients. Blood-based mutation detection is achievable in advanced-stage disease. These findings underpin the need for a further enhanced-precision medicine paradigm in the treatment of breast cancer

A National Survey Comparing Patients' and Transplant Professionals' Research Priorities in the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study.

We aimed to identify, assess, compare and map research priorities of patients and professionals in the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study. The project followed 3 steps. 1) Focus group interviews identified patients' (n = 22) research priorities. 2) A nationwide survey assessed and compared the priorities in 292 patients and 175 professionals. 3) Priorities were mapped to the 4 levels of Bronfenbrenner's ecological framework. The 13 research priorities (financial pressure, medication taking, continuity of care, emotional well-being, return to work, trustful relationships, person-centredness, organization of care, exercise and physical fitness, graft functioning, pregnancy, peer contact and public knowledge of transplantation), addressed all framework levels: patient (n = 7), micro (n = 3), meso (n = 2), and macro (n = 1). Comparing each group's top 10 priorities revealed that continuity of care received highest importance rating from both (92.2% patients, 92.5% professionals), with 3 more agreements between the groups. Otherwise, perspectives were more diverse than congruent: Patients emphasized patient level priorities (emotional well-being, graft functioning, return to work), professionals those on the meso level (continuity of care, organization of care). Patients' research priorities highlighted a need to expand research to the micro, meso and macro level. Discrepancies should be recognized to avoid understudying topics that are more important to professionals than to patients

Hierarchical metabolomics demonstrates substantial compositional similarity between genetically-modified and conventional potato crops

There is current debate whether genetically modified (GM) plants might contain unexpected, potentially undesirable changes in overall metabolite composition. However, appropriate analytical technology and acceptable metrics of compositional similarity require development. We describe a comprehensive comparison of total metabolites in field-grown GM and conventional potato tubers using a hierarchical approach initiating with rapid metabolome “fingerprinting” to guide more detailed profiling of metabolites where significant differences are suspected. Central to this strategy are data analysis procedures able to generate validated, reproducible metrics of comparison from complex metabolome data. We show that, apart from targeted changes, these GM potatoes in this study appear substantially equivalent to traditional cultivars