Multi-modal mass spectrometric imaging of uveal melanoma

Matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), was used to obtain images of lipids and metabolite distribution in formalin fixed and embedded in paraffin (FFPE) whole eye sections containing primary uveal melanomas (UM). Using this technique, it was possible to obtain images of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) type lipid distribution that highlighted the tumour regions. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry images (LA-ICP-MS) performed on UM sections showed increases in copper within the tumour periphery and intratumoural zinc in tissue from patients with poor prognosis. These preliminary data indicate that multi-modal MSI has the potential to provide insights into the role of trace metals and cancer metastasis

Velocity-space sensitivity of the time-of-flight neutron spectrometer at JET

The velocity-space sensitivities of fast-ion diagnostics are often described by so-called weight functions. Recently, we formulated weight functions showing the velocity-space sensitivity of the often dominant beam-target part of neutron energy spectra. These weight functions for neutron emission spectrometry (NES) are independent of the particular NES diagnostic. Here we apply these NES weight functions to the time-of-flight spectrometer TOFOR at JET. By taking the instrumental response function of TOFOR into account, we calculate time-of-flight NES weight functions that enable us to directly determine the velocity-space sensitivity of a given part of a measured time-of-flight spectrum from TOFOR

Relationship of edge localized mode burst times with divertor flux loop signal phase in JET

A phase relationship is identified between sequential edge localized modes (ELMs) occurrence times in a set of H-mode tokamak plasmas to the voltage measured in full flux azimuthal loops in the divertor region. We focus on plasmas in the Joint European Torus where a steady H-mode is sustained over several seconds, during which ELMs are observed in the Be II emission at the divertor. The ELMs analysed arise from intrinsic ELMing, in that there is no deliberate intent to control the ELMing process by external means. We use ELM timings derived from the Be II signal to perform direct time domain analysis of the full flux loop VLD2 and VLD3 signals, which provide a high cadence global measurement proportional to the voltage induced by changes in poloidal magnetic flux. Specifically, we examine how the time interval between pairs of successive ELMs is linked to the time-evolving phase of the full flux loop signals. Each ELM produces a clear early pulse in the full flux loop signals, whose peak time is used to condition our analysis. The arrival time of the following ELM, relative to this pulse, is found to fall into one of two categories: (i) prompt ELMs, which are directly paced by the initial response seen in the flux loop signals; and (ii) all other ELMs, which occur after the initial response of the full flux loop signals has decayed in amplitude. The times at which ELMs in category (ii) occur, relative to the first ELM of the pair, are clustered at times when the instantaneous phase of the full flux loop signal is close to its value at the time of the first ELM

TRANSPIRATION RATES AND LEAF BOUNDARY LAYER PARAMETERS FOR PEANUT ANALYZED WITH THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL MODEL 2DLEAF

Rates of leaf transpiration and photosynthesis are both affected by the thickness of the boundary layer (BL) and by the rates at which gases diffuse through it. These BL properties are currently impossible to measure and must be estimated by using models in conjunction with measured rates of transpiration. Transpiration rates and BL for two Argentine peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars, Florman INTA, Virginia type, and Manfredi 393 INTA, Spanish type, were studied with the two-dimensional model 2DLEAF which accounts for leaf anatomy, i.e. for leaf internal structure and stomatal density. Measurements on leaf cross-sections and leaf surface images demonstrated a significant difference between two cultivars. Published transpiration rates for peanut of Virginia and Spanish types measured in controlled environment and field conditions were used to determine two parameters of the leaf BL, its thickness, d, and the ratio of diffusion coefficients in the BL and in the intercellular space, B. Both parameters were different for two cultivars. Transpiration rate was presented (a) as a function of BL parameters d and B with four empirical parameters which depended on cultivar and stomatal aperture, and (b) as a function of stomatal aperture and d. Dependence (b) showed that the transpiration rate of Manfredi 393 INTA is higher than that of Florman at the same environmental conditions, and that this is completely due to the difference in leaf anatomy. It was shown that the values of BL thickness, d, grow with increasing stomatal aperture. For amphystomatous leaves of peanut, two empirical parameters, d and B, are necessary and sufficient to quantitatively describe the effect of the BL on transpiration

Effects of glucosamine on proteoglycan loss by tendon, ligament and joint capsule explant cultures

SummaryObjectiveTo investigate the effect of glucosamine on the loss of newly synthesized radiolabeled large and small proteoglycans by bovine tendon, ligament and joint capsule.DesignThe kinetics of loss of 35S-labeled large and small proteoglycans from explant cultures of tendon, ligament and joint capsule treated with 10mM glucosamine was investigated over a 10-day culture period. The kinetics of loss of 35S-labeled small proteoglycans and the formation of free [35S]sulfate were determined for the last 10 days of a 15-day culture period. The proteoglycan core proteins were analyzed by gel electrophoresis followed by fluorography. The metabolism of tendon, ligament and joint capsule explants exposed to 10mM glucosamine was evaluated by incorporation of [3H]serine and [35S]sulfate into protein and glycosaminoglycans, respectively.ResultsGlucosamine at 10mM stimulated the loss of small proteoglycans from ligament explant cultures. This was due to the increased loss of both macromolecular and free [35S]sulfate to the medium indicating that glucosamine affected the release of small proteoglycans as well as their intracellular degradation. The degradation pattern of small proteoglycans in ligament was not affected by glucosamine. In contrast, glucosamine did not have an effect on the loss of large or small proteoglycans from tendon and joint capsule or large proteoglycans from ligament explant cultures. The metabolism of cells in tendon, ligament and joint capsule was not impaired by the presence of 10mM glucosamine.ConclusionsGlucosamine stimulated the loss of small proteoglycans from ligament but did not have an effect on small proteoglycan catabolism in joint capsule and tendon or large proteoglycan catabolism in ligament, tendon or synovial capsule. The consequences of glucosamine therapy at clinically relevant concentrations on proteoglycan catabolism in joint fibrous connective tissues need to be further assessed in an animal model