The Effect of Sulfuric Acid Concentration on the Physical and Electrochemical Properties of Vanadyl Solutions

The effects of sulfuric acid concentration in VO2+ solutions were investigated via electrochemical methods and electron paramagnetic resonance. Viscosity of solutions containing 0.01 M VOSO4 in 0.1–7 M H2SO4 was measured. Diffusion coefficients were independently measured via electrochemical methods and EPR with excellent agreement between the techniques employed and literature values. Analysis of cyclic voltammograms suggest the oxidation of VO2+ to VO2+ is quasi-reversible at high H2SO4 concentrations (\u3e5 mol/L) and approaching irreversible at lower H2SO4 concentrations. Further analysis reveals a likely electrochemical/chemical (EC) mechanism where the H2SO4 facilitates the electrochemical step but hinders the chemical step. Fundamental insights of VO2+/H2SO4 solutions can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the concentration effects in electrolyte solutions

Vagotomia modifica o efluxo do cálcio nas ilhotas pancreáticas

The participation of the parasympathetic nervous system in insulin secretion modulation is clearly evident during the cephalic phase that follows the sensorial stimulus provoked by food in the mouth. The objective of this study was to evaluate if selective subdiaphragmatic vagotomy of the pancreatic branch could alter 45Ca2+ permeability in the plasmatic membrane of pancreatic cell. To assess the effects of vagotomy, we used glucose and the potentializer carbamylcholine on the glucose effects. Analysis of 45Ca2+ efflux was accomplished in isolated islets by digestion with collagenase and perfused with KREBS and carbamylcholine in rats from groups control and denervaded. After 15 and 30 days of the pancreatic branch vagotomy, the isolated islets did not respond to a glucose stimulus of 16,7 mM and also presented alteration in carbamylcholine sensibility (CCh 100μm) when added to the solution containing 5,6 mM of glucose. Our results suggest that the vagus nerve (pancreatic branch) contributes with regulation of insulin secretory process of pancreatic β cells. This effect could be associated to the modulation of responses induced by glucose and the regulation of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter modulator of insulin secretion.A participação do sistema nervoso parassimpático na modulação da secreção de insulina manifesta-se claramente durante a fase cefálica que se segue ao estímulo iniciado pelo estímulo sensorial provocado pela presença do alimento na cavidade oral. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar se a vagotomia subdiafragmática seletiva do ramo pancreático poderia modificar a permeabilidade ao Ca2+ da membrana plasmática das células beta. Para avaliar os efeitos da vagotomia usamos o principal secretagogo que é a glicose e o potencializador carbamilcolina. Os estudos de efluxo de 45Ca2+ foram realizados em ilhotas de ratos controle ou desnervados isoladas por digestão com colagenase e perfundidas com KREBS contendo os secretagogos. As ilhotas isoladas de ratos 15 e 30 dias após a vagotomia do ramo pancreático não responderam ao estímulo com 16,7 mM de glicose e também apresentaram alteração na sensibilidade à carbamilcolina (CCh 100μm) adicionada à solução contendo 5,6 mM de glicose. Nossos resultados sugerem que o nervo vago (ramo pancreático) participa da regulação do processo secretório da insulina pelas células beta pancreáticas. Este efeito pode estar associado à modulação da respostas induzidas pela glicose e reguladas pelo neurotransmissor acetilcolina, considerado modulador da secreção de insulina.

Practitioners' Perceptions of the Soccer Extra-Time Period: Implications for Future Research

Qualitative research investigating soccer practitioners’ perceptions can allow researchers to create practical research investigations. The extra-time period of soccer is understudied compared to other areas of soccer research. Using an open-ended online survey containing eleven main and nine sub questions, we gathered the perceptions of extra-time from 46 soccer practitioners, all working for different professional soccer clubs. Questions related to current practices, views on extra-time regulations, and ideas for future research. Using inductive content analysis, the following general dimensions were identified: ‘importance of extra-time’, ‘rule changes’, ‘efficacy of extra-time hydro-nutritional provision’, ‘nutritional timing’, ‘future research directions’, ‘preparatory modulations’ and ‘recovery’. The majority of practitioners (63%) either agreed or strongly agreed that extra-time is an important period for determining success in knockout football match-play. When asked if a fourth substitution should be permitted in extra-time, 67% agreed. The use of hydro-nutritional strategies prior to extra-time was predominately considered important or very important. However; only 41% of practitioners felt that it was the most important time point for the use of nutritional products. A similar number of practitioners account (50%) and do not (50%) account for the potential of extra-time when training and preparing players and 89% of practitioners stated that extra-time influences recovery practices following matches. In the five minute break prior to extra-time, the following practices (in order of priority) were advocated to players: hydration, energy provision, massage, and tactical preparations. Additionally, 87% of practitioners advocate a particular nutritional supplementation strategy prior to extra-time. In order of importance, practitioners see the following as future research areas: nutritional interventions, fatigue responses, acute injury risk, recovery modalities, training paradigms, injury epidemiology, and environmental considerations. This study presents novel insight into the practitioner perceptions of extra-time and provides information to readers about current applied practices and potential future research opportunities

Immunodominant Antigens of Leishmania chagasi Associated with Protection against Human Visceral Leishmaniasis

One of the most striking features of infection by Leishmania chagasi is that infection leads to a spectrum of clinical outcomes ranging from asymptomatic infection to active disease. The existence of asymptomatic infected people has served as an incentive to believe that an effective vaccine is possible, but unfortunately no successful immunological characterization of such cases was obtained. Patients recovered from visceral leishmaniasis show a similar immunological profile to asymptomatic infected individuals and both exhibit a strong cell-mediated immune response against Leishmania antigens and are resistant to disease. Since the past decade several approaches were undertaken to try to shed light on the immunological profile associated with such “resistance” to infections, notwithstanding antigenic recognition profile associated to resistance to infection was not successfully explored. In the present manuscript we describe a specific IgG recognizing pattern associated with resistant individuals (asymptomatic infected people and recovery patients to visceral leishmaniasis). These data highlight the possibility of using specific proteins in serological tests for the identification of asymptomatic infected individuals

Lack of Galectin-3 Drives Response to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis toward a Th2-Biased Immunity

There is recent evidence that galectin-3 participates in immunity to infections, mostly by tuning cytokine production. We studied the balance of Th1/Th2 responses to P. brasiliensis experimental infection in the absence of galectin-3. The intermediate resistance to the fungal infection presented by C57BL/6 mice, associated with the development of a mixed type of immunity, was replaced with susceptibility to infection and a Th2-polarized immune response, in galectin-3-deficient (gal3−/−) mice. Such a response was associated with defective inflammatory and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions, high IL-4 and GATA-3 expression and low nitric oxide production in the organs of infected animals. Gal3−/− macrophages exhibited higher TLR2 transcript levels and IL-10 production compared to wild-type macrophages after stimulation with P. brasiliensis antigens. We hypothesize that, during an in vivo P. brasiliensis infection, galectin-3 exerts its tuning role on immunity by interfering with the generation of regulatory macrophages, thus hindering the consequent Th2-polarized type of response

Fiber Optical Cable and Connector System (FOCCoS) for PFS/Subaru

FOCCoS, Fiber Optical Cable and Connector System, has the main function of capturing the direct light from the focal plane of Subaru Telescope using optical fibers, each one with a microlens in its tip, and conducting this light through a route containing connectors to a set of four spectrographs. The optical fiber cable is divided in 3 different segments called Cable A, Cable B and Cable C. Multi-fibers connectors assure precise connection among all optical fibers of the segments, providing flexibility for instrument changes. To assure strong and accurate connection, these sets are arranged inside two types of assemblies: the Tower Connector, for connection between Cable C and Cable B; and the Gang Connector, for connection between Cable B and Cable A. Throughput tests were made to evaluate the efficiency of the connections. A lifetime test connection is in progress. Cable C is installed inside the PFI, Prime Focus Instrument, where each fiber tip with a microlens is bonded to the end of the shaft of a 2-stage piezo-electric rotatory motor positioner; this assembly allows each fiber to be placed anywhere within its patrol region, which is 9.5mm diameter.. Each positioner uses a fiber arm to support the ferrule, the microlens, and the optical fiber. 2400 of these assemblies are arranged on a motor bench plate in a hexagonal-closed-packed disposition.Comment: 11 pages, 20 figure

Genetic drivers of heterogeneity in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a heterogeneous disease that develops through diverse pathophysiological processes1,2 and molecular mechanisms that are often specific to cell type3,4. Here, to characterize the genetic contribution to these processes across ancestry groups, we aggregate genome-wide association study data from 2,535,601 individuals (39.7% not of European ancestry), including 428,452 cases of T2D. We identify 1,289 independent association signals at genome-wide significance (P &lt; 5 × 10-8) that map to 611 loci, of which 145 loci are, to our knowledge, previously unreported. We define eight non-overlapping clusters of T2D signals that are characterized by distinct profiles of cardiometabolic trait associations. These clusters are differentially enriched for cell-type-specific regions of open chromatin, including pancreatic islets, adipocytes, endothelial cells and enteroendocrine cells. We build cluster-specific partitioned polygenic scores5 in a further 279,552 individuals of diverse ancestry, including 30,288 cases of T2D, and test their association with T2D-related vascular outcomes. Cluster-specific partitioned polygenic scores are associated with coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and end-stage diabetic nephropathy across ancestry groups, highlighting the importance of obesity-related processes in the development of vascular outcomes. Our findings show the value of integrating multi-ancestry genome-wide association study data with single-cell epigenomics to disentangle the aetiological heterogeneity that drives the development and progression of T2D. This might offer a route to optimize global access to genetically informed diabetes care.</p