452 research outputs found
Spatial evolution of a quasi-two-dimensional Kármán vortex street subjected to a strong uniform magnetic field
Titania-doped tantala/silica coatings for gravitational-wave detection
Reducing thermal noise from optical coatings is crucial to reaching the required sensitivity in next generation interferometric gravitational-wave detectors. Here we show that adding TiO2 to Ta2O5 in Ta2O5/SiO2 coatings reduces the internal friction and in addition present data confirming it reduces thermal noise. We also show that TiO2-doped Ta2O5/SiO2 coatings are close to satisfying the optical absorption requirements of second generation gravitational-wave detectors
Mechanical tuning of the evaporation rate of liquid on crossed fibers
We investigate experimentally the drying of a small volume of perfectly
wetting liquid on two crossed fibers. We characterize the drying dynamics for
the three liquid morphologies that are encountered in this geometry: drop,
column and a mixed morphology, in which a drop and a column coexist. For each
morphology, we rationalize our findings with theoretical models that capture
the drying kinetics. We find that the evaporation rate depends significantly on
the liquid morphology and that the drying of liquid column is faster than the
evaporation of the drop and the mixed morphology for a given liquid volume.
Finally, we illustrate that shearing a network of fibers reduces the angle
between them, changes the morphology towards the column state, and so enhances
the drying rate of a volatile liquid deposited on it
The health of women and girls determines the health and well-being of our modern world: A White Paper From the International Council on Women's Health Issues
The International Council on Women's Health Issues (ICOWHI) is an international nonprofit association dedicated to the goal of promoting health, health care, and well-being of women and girls throughout the world through participation, empowerment, advocacy, education, and research. We are a multidisciplinary network of women's health providers, planners, and advocates from all over the globe. We constitute an international professional and lay network of those committed to improving women and girl's health and quality of life. This document provides a description of our organization mission, vision, and commitment to improving the health and well-being of women and girls globally
Conformation and dynamics of human urotensin II and urotensin related peptide in aqueous solution
Conformation
and dynamics of the vasoconstrictive peptides human
urotensin II (UII) and urotensin related peptide (URP) have been investigated
by both unrestrained and enhanced-sampling molecular-dynamics (MD)
simulations and NMR spectroscopy. These peptides are natural ligands
of the G-protein coupled urotensin II receptor (UTR) and have been
linked to mammalian pathophysiology. UII and URP cannot be characterized
by a single structure but exist as an equilibrium of two main classes
of ring conformations, <i>open</i> and <i>folded</i>, with rapidly interchanging subtypes. The <i>open</i> states
are characterized by turns of various types centered at K<sup>8</sup>Y<sup>9</sup> or F<sup>6</sup>W<sup>7</sup> predominantly with no
or only sparsely populated transannular hydrogen bonds. The <i>folded</i> conformations show multiple turns stabilized by highly
populated transannular hydrogen bonds comprising centers F<sup>6</sup>W<sup>7</sup>K<sup>8</sup> or W<sup>7</sup>K<sup>8</sup>Y<sup>9</sup>. Some of these conformations have not been characterized previously.
The equilibrium populations that are experimentally difficult to access
were estimated by replica-exchange MD simulations and validated by
comparison of experimental NMR data with chemical shifts calculated
with density-functional theory. UII exhibits approximately 72% <i>open</i>:28% <i>folded</i> conformations in aqueous
solution. URP shows very similar ring conformations as UII but differs
in an <i>open:folded</i> equilibrium shifted further toward <i>open</i> conformations (86:14) possibly arising from the absence
of folded N-terminal tail-ring interaction. The results suggest that
the different biological effects of UII and URP are not caused by
differences in ring conformations but rather by different interactions
with UTR
Research Progress Reports: Fruit and Vegetable Processing and Technology Division, Department of Horticulture [1967]
Evaluation of snap bean varieties for processing / Wilbur A. Gould and William Hildebolt -- Evaluation of various grape cultivars for processing. I. Table wines ; Recommended fruit varieties for canning and freezing / J. F. Gallander -- Evaluation of tomato varieties for processing / W. A. Gould, J. R. Geisman, C. S. Parrott, J. H. McClelland and W. N. Brown -- The effect of different levels of sugar and acid on the quality of apple fruit juice blends / James Gallander and Harold Stammer -- Epidermal sloughing of snap beans as influenced by processing variables / William Hildebolt and W. A. Gould -- Effect of stannous chloride on the color of glass packed kraut / J. R. Geisman -- Proteins and enzymes in the apple fruit in relation to variety and maturation ; Proteins and enzymes in tomato fruits / Robert L. Clements -- Effect of food additives on quality of canned tomatoes / Wilbur A. Gould -- Effects of selective herbicides on the composition and quality of tomatoes / W. A. Gould, J. R. Geisman, E. K. Alban and John Deppen -- Trace levels of pesticide residues in agricultural commodities in marketing channels / W. A. Gould, J. R. Geisman, E. K. Alban, John Deppen, and P. van Pottlesberghe -- Removal of DDT residues by unit operations in preparing and processing spinach / J. R. Geisman, John Deppen and Benita Yao -- The use of chlorine dioxide in handling and holding mechanically harvested tomatoes / J. R. Geisman, Winston D. Bash, Edwin Schmidt, Jr., Linda Hamrick and W. A. Gould -- Effect of mechanical harvesting and handling of tomatoes on quality of canned tomatoes / Wilbur A. Gould, J. R. Geisman, Edwin Schmidt, Jr., John McClelland and W. N. Brow
Amino Acid Restriction Triggers Angiogenesis via GCN2/ATF4 Regulation of VEGF and H2S Production
Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels by endothelial cells (ECs), is an adaptive response to oxygen/nutrient deprivation orchestrated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) upon ischemia or exercise. Hypoxia is the best-understood trigger of VEGF expression via the transcription factor HIF1 alpha. Nutrient deprivation is inseparable from hypoxia during ischemia, yet its role in angiogenesis is poorly characterized. Here, we identified sulfur amino acid restriction as a proangiogenic trigger, promoting increased VEGF expression, migration and sprouting in ECs in vitro, and increased capillary density in mouse skeletal muscle in vivo via the GCN2/ATF4 amino acid starvation response pathway independent of hypoxia or HIF1 alpha. We also identified a requirement for cystathionine-gamma-lyase in VEGF-dependent angiogenesis via increased hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production. H2S mediated its proangiogenic effects in part by inhibiting mitochondrial electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation, resulting in increased glucose uptake and glycolytic ATP production.11Ysciescopu
Proteomics analysis of serum protein profiling in pancreatic cancer patients by DIGE: up-regulation of mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pancreatic cancer has significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Good prognosis relies on an early diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to develop techniques for identifying cancer biomarkers in the serum of patients with pancreatic cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serum samples from five individuals with pancreatic cancer and five individuals without cancer were compared. Highly abundant serum proteins were depleted by immuno-affinity column. Differential protein analysis was performed using 2-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among these protein spots, we found that 16 protein spots were differently expressed between the two mixtures; 8 of these were up-regulated and 8 were down-regulated in cancer. Mass spectrometry and database searching allowed the identification of the proteins corresponding to the gel spots. Up-regulation of mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2, which have not previously been implicated in pancreatic cancer, were observed. In an independent series of serum samples from 16 patients with pancreatic cancer and 16 non-cancer-bearing controls, increased levels of mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2 were confirmed by western blot.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that affinity column enrichment and DIGE can be used to identify proteins differentially expressed in serum from pancreatic cancer patients. These two proteins 'mannose-binding lectin 2 and myosin light chain kinase 2' might be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of the pancreatic cancer.</p
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