Tetradecylthioacetic Acid Increases Hepatic Mitochondrial β-Oxidation and Alters Fatty Acid Composition in a Mouse Model of Chronic Inflammation

The administration of tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA), a hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory modified bioactive fatty acid, has in several experiments based on high fat diets been shown to improve lipid transport and utilization. It was suggested that increased mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation in the liver of Wistar rats results in reduced plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) levels. Here we assessed the potential of TTA to prevent tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α-induced lipid modifications in human TNFα (hTNFα) transgenic mice. These mice are characterized by reduced β-oxidation and changed fatty acid composition in the liver. The effect of dietary treatment with TTA on persistent, low-grade hTNFα overexpression in mice showed a beneficial effect through decreasing TAG plasma concentrations and positively affecting saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid proportions in the liver, leading to an increased anti-inflammatory fatty acid index in this group. We also observed an increase of mitochondrial β-oxidation in the livers of TTA treated mice. Concomitantly, there were enhanced plasma levels of carnitine, acetyl carnitine, propionyl carnitine, and octanoyl carnitine, no changed levels in trimethyllysine and palmitoyl carnitine, and a decreased level of the precursor for carnitine, called γ-butyrobetaine. Nevertheless, TTA administration led to increased hepatic TAG levels that warrant further investigations to ascertain that TTA may be a promising candidate for use in the amelioration of inflammatory disorders characterized by changed lipid metabolism due to raised TNFα levels

Development of Virtual Musical Keyboard Layout Interfaces for Invented and Evolved Tuning Systems

This research is a practice-based project where the objectives revolve arounddifferent aspects of tuning; the primary focus is to create innovative Virtual MusicalKeyboard Layout Interfaces (from now on abbreviated VMKLI) through computerbased programming software tools and eventually turned into Mobile Applications(commonly abbreviated as Apps). These VMKLI’s are based on five different tuningsystems found in various parts of the world (commonly referred to as non-Westerntuning systems). These tuning systems contain different pitches and divisions ofoctaves and show little or no resemblance to the Western 12-tone equal divisions ofthe octave (abbreviated EDO, alternatively referred to as 12-tone equaltemperament) tuning system which is the basis for the vast majority of modernWestern popular music of today. The Virtual Musical Keyboard Layout Interface Appsare designed as workable virtual musical instruments which will allowmusicians/composers to perform music in real-time (although the aid of amplificationis necessary), or as tools to record musical ideas – these Apps are intended mainlyfor tablets such as iPads.Five interfaces have been produced based on Alpha, Beta, and Gamma scalesinvented by Wendy Carlos, the Bohlen-Pierce scale, Gamelan, traditional Indonesiantuning system, Indian (Rag), traditional tuning system and finally Arabic (maqam),traditional tuning system. The timbre of each App is constructed through digitalprogramming software throughout; voices shaped through a combination of variousdigital processes in order to create sounds that invoke key aspects of the musicalculture in question – i.e. not samples. Each App comprises a unique keyboard layoutand exclusive set of controllable parameters; an interface design that differs from anyof the other Apps created for this research project; the design seeks to invoke theessence of the tuning intent within the musical culture.In order to test these interfaces, they are implemented within practice which forms anessential part of this research; a total of five musical compositions to accommodatethe interface developed for each separate tuning system. The compositions will notbe genre specific, and will not be an overt attempt to try and replicate traditionalmusic commonly associated with the respective musical cultures, rather I seek toexplore the way in which each interface results in a distinct aesthetic result.xixThe research entails a threefold methodology model which combines the elements ofpractice through a trial and error process and development of software design (part I)further supported by extensive Literature review (part II)