267 research outputs found

    The glucose transporter 4 FQQI motif is necessary for Akt Substrate of 160-Kilodalton-dependent plasma membrane translocation but not Golgi-localized g-ear-containing Arf-binding protein-dependent entry into the insulin-responsive storage compartment.

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    Newly synthesized glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) enters into the insulin-responsive storage compartment in a process that is Golgi-localized γ-ear-containing Arf-binding protein (GGA) dependent, whereas insulin-stimulated translocation is regulated by Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160). In the present study, using a variety of GLUT4/GLUT1 chimeras, we have analyzed the specific motifs of GLUT4 that are important for GGA and AS160 regulation of GLUT4 trafficking. Substitution of the amino terminus and the large intracellular loop of GLUT4 into GLUT1 (chimera 1-441) fully recapitulated the basal state retention, insulin-stimulated translocation, and GGA and AS160 sensitivity of wild-type GLUT4 (GLUT4-WT). GLUT4 point mutation (GLUT4-F5A) resulted in loss of GLUT4 intracellular retention in the basal state when coexpressed with both wild-type GGA and AS160. Nevertheless, similar to GLUT4-WT, the insulin-stimulated plasma membrane localization of GLUT4-F5A was significantly inhibited by coexpression of dominant-interfering GGA. In addition, coexpression with a dominant-interfering AS160 (AS160-4P) abolished insulin-stimulated GLUT4-WT but not GLUT4-F5A translocation. GLUT4 endocytosis and intracellular sequestration also required both the amino terminus and large cytoplasmic loop of GLUT4. Furthermore, both the FQQI and the SLL motifs participate in the initial endocytosis from the plasma membrane; however, once internalized, unlike the FQQI motif, the SLL motif is not responsible for intracellular recycling of GLUT4 back to the specialized compartment. Together, we have demonstrated that the FQQI motif within the amino terminus of GLUT4 is essential for GLUT4 endocytosis and AS160-dependent intracellular retention but not for the GGA-dependent sorting of GLUT4 into the insulin-responsive storage compartment

    Risk Management as a Basis for Integrated Water Cycle Management in Kazakhstan

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    Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) aims to bring together a diversity of social, environmental, technological and economic aspects to implement sustainable water and land management systems. This paper investigates the challenges and opportunities facing Kazakhstan as it its efforts to move towards a more sustainable approach to managing its finite and highly stressed water resources. The use of a strategic-level risk governance framework to support a multi-disciplinary Kazakh-EU consortium in working collaboratively towards enhancing capacity and capability to address identified challenges is described. With a clear focus on addressing capacity building needs, a strong emphasis is placed on developing taught integrated water cycle management programmes through communication, stakeholder engagement and policy development including appropriate tools for managing the water issues including hydraulic models, GIS-based systems and scenario developments. Conclusions on the benefits of implementing an EU-style Water Framework Directive for Central Asia based on a risk management approach in Kazakhstan are formulated

    Genetic analyses of celiac disease in a Spanish population confirm association with CELIAC3 but not with CELIAC4

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    [EN] Genetic predisposition to celiac disease (CD) is determined primarily by the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes (CELIAC1 region; 6p21), although many loci are involved in disease susceptibility. First, we have analysed a large series of CD patients from the Spanish Mediterranean region who had previously been characterised for the HLA complex. We have investigated how relevant regions contribute to CD susceptibility: CELIAC3 (CD28/CTLA4/ICOS region on 2q33) and CELIAC4 (19p13) as well as the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and the linfotoxin loci by case-control and association analyses. We highlight the association with the +49*A allele of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 locus (P = 0.01), and the -308*A of TNF-alpha locus (P = 0.0008) in DQ2 individuals, although an independent role for TNF-alpha as risk factor has not been proven. Moreover, we do not confirm the association with the CELIAC4 region polymorphisms described in other populations.We are grateful for the kind collaboration of patients and families and Asociación de Celíacos de la Comunidad Valenciana (ACECOVA). This work was supported by the Fondo de Investigacio¿n Sanitaria (grant PI02573) and by the CSIC Intramural Frontiers Project (PROFICEL). ED holds a fellowship from the Fundacio¿n La Fe. English text revised by F. BarracloughCapilla, A.; Donat, E.; Planelles, D.; Espinós-Armero, CÁ.; Ribes-Koninckx, C.; Palau, F. (2007). Genetic analyses of celiac disease in a Spanish population confirm association with CELIAC3 but not with CELIAC4. Tissue Antigens. 70(4):324-329. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0039.2007.00899.x32432970

    Growth-promoting effects of sustained swimming in fingerlings of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

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    Fish growth is strongly influenced by environmental and nutritional factors and changing culture conditions can help optimize it. The importance of early-life experience on the muscle phenotype later in life is well known. Here, we study the effects of 5 weeks of moderate and sustained swimming activity (5 BL s) in gilthead sea bream during early development. We analysed growth and body indexes, plasma IGF-I and GH levels, feed conversion, composition [proximate and isotopic (N/C)] and metabolic key enzymes (COX, CS, LDH, HOAD, HK, ALAT, ASAT) of white muscle. Moderate and continuous exercise in fingerlings of gilthead sea bream increased plasma IGF-I, whereas it reduced plasma GH. Under these conditions, growth rate improved without any modification to feed intake through an increase in muscle mass and a reduction in mesenteric fat deposits. There were no changes in the content and turnover of muscle proteins and lipid reserves. Glycogen stores were maintained, but glycogen turnover was higher in white muscle of exercised fish. A lower LDH/CS ratio demonstrated an improvement in the aerobic capacity of white muscle, while a reduction in the COX/CS ratio possibly indicated a functional adaptation of mitochondria to adjust to the tissue-specific energy demand and metabolic fuel availability in exercised fish. We discuss the synergistic effects of dietary nutrients and sustained exercise on the different mitochondrial responses.A.M.C and E.J.V. are supported by a predoctoral fellowship from the “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” (MICINN) and A.M.P. by a fellowship from the University of Barcelona (APIF-2012). This study was supported by the projects from the MICINN AGL2012-39768, and the “Xarxa de Refèrencia d’R+D+I en Aqüicultura” and the SGR2009-00402 from the “Generalitat de Catalunya”.Peer Reviewe

    Marked long-term decline in ambient CO mixing ratio in SE England, 1997–2014:Evidence of policy success in improving air quality

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    Atmospheric CO at Egham in SE England has shown a marked and progressive decline since 1997, following adoption of strict controls on emissions. The Egham site is uniquely positioned to allow both assessment and comparison of ‘clean Atlantic background’ air and CO-enriched air downwind from the London conurbation. The decline is strongest (approximately 50ppb per year) in the 1997–2003 period but continues post 2003. A ‘local CO increment’ can be identified as the residual after subtraction of contemporary background Atlantic CO mixing ratios from measured values at Egham. This increment, which is primarily from regional sources (during anticyclonic or northerly winds) or from the European continent (with easterly air mass origins), has significant seasonality, but overall has declined steadily since 1997. On many days of the year CO measured at Egham is now not far above Atlantic background levels measured at Mace Head (Ireland). The results are consistent with MOPITT satellite observations and ‘bottom-up’ inventory results. Comparison with urban and regional background CO mixing ratios in Hong Kong demonstrates the importance of regional, as opposed to local reduction of CO emission. The Egham record implies that controls on emissions subsequent to legislation have been extremely successful in the UK

    Ambient vibration testing and operational modal analysis of monopole telecoms structures

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    This is the final version. Available on open access from Springer via the DOI in this recordA structural health monitoring (SHM) system was developed to study the ambient response of monopole communication structures in the UK operated by Arqiva Ltd. The exercise had several purposes that included the evaluation of the SHM system itself and the system identification procedures applied to the data, followed by analysis of the evaluated modal properties to validate the current analytical models, structural assessments and standardised design procedures advising on dynamics actions. This paper describes the instrumentation and procedures used during monitoring of a lightweight flexible 14.5 m tubular tapered monopole supporting an array of mobile telecoms antennas. A Bayesian OMA (BAYOMA) approach is implemented to identify structural modal properties under different time windows as comparison for further assessments. Results from stochastic subspace identification are also obtained and compared. The correlation between modal properties and monitoring wind-response data reveals specific tendencies such as nonlinear stiffness behaviour, the existence of aerodynamic damping and typical directionality of the mode shapes with future implications for reformulation of current methods of assessing dynamics on monopole

    Oval Domes. The Case of the Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados of Valencia

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    [EN] The dome of the Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados of Valencia is an emblematic example of Valencian baroque architecture and painting. Its shape, oval or elliptical, has been the subject of controversy in various studies. The study of oval domes throughout history is a very interesting field of research because, among other things, the determination of the exact shape is important in order to conclude how it was built. We approach the problem from a new mathematical point of view, calculating the distances between the points that make up the real data cloud and the hypothetical form considered, oval or ellipse. The use of modern graphic surveying techniques, carried out with a 3D laser scanner, and computation with the powerful symbolic and numerical mathematical solver, Mathematica, has allowed us to accurately determine the shape of the dome and determine that its sections are not well-described by ellipses. A better fit is obtained assuming that sections are ovals. The programming and generalization of the mathematical method employed in this work will allow it to be applied to determine the exact geometry of other oval or ellipsoidal vaults.Calvo Roselló, V.; Capilla Tamborero, E.; Navarro Fajardo, JC. (2020). Oval Domes. The Case of the Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados of Valencia. Nexus Network Journal. 22(2):393-409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-019-00465-0S393409222Arphe i Villafañe, Juan de. 1585. Tratado De varia conmmensuracion para la Escultura y Architectura. Sevilla: imprenta de Andrea Pescioni i Juan de León.Barrallo J. 2011. Ovals and Ellipses in Architecture. Proceedings of ISAMA 2011, Columbia College, Chicago, Illinois; p. 9–18.Bérchez Gómez, J. 1995. Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados (Valencia). In: Monumentos de la Comunidad Valenciana. Catálogo de Monumentos declarados y conjuntos históricos incoados. Tomo X. Valencia. Arquitectura Religiosa. Valencia: Conselleria de Cultura, Educació i Ciència—Generalitat Valenciana, 204–217.Borngässer, B. 1997a. Arquitectura barroca en España y Portugal. In Toman R. (ed.) El barroco. Arquitectura-escultura-pintura. Köln: Könemann, 78–119.Borngässer, B. 1997b. Arquitectura barroca en Francia. In Toman R. (ed.) El barroco. Arquitectura-escultura-pintura. Köln: Könemann, 122–151.Bosch Reig, I., Roig Picazo, P. 1999. El proyecto de restauración arquitectónica de las cúpulas, tambor y linterna de la Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados de Valencia. In: Restauración de Pintura Mural aplicada a la Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados de Valencia, Roig Picazo, P. y Bosch Reig, I. Valencia: Servicio de Publicaciones de la U.P.V., 21–74.Calvo López, J., Alonso Rodríguez, M.A., Rabasa Díaz, E.; López Mozo, A. 2005. Cantería Renacentista en la Catedral de Murcia. Murcia: Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos.Capilla Tamborero E., Calvo Roselló, V. 2014. Chapter 8: La cúpula interior de la Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados de Valencia. Análisis geométrico y matemático. In: J. C. Navarro (ed.) Bóvedas Valencianas. Arquitecturas ideales, reales y virtuales en época medieval y moderna. Valencia: ed. UPV (Scientia), 196–237. ISBN: 978-84-9048-188-2.Connors, J. 1999. Un teorema sacro: San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane. In Il giovane Borromini. Dagli esordi a San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane. Milano: Skira, 459–512.Dotto, E. 2001. Note sulle costruzioni degli ovali a quattro centri. Vecchie e nuove costruzioni dell’ovale. Disegnare Idee Immagini; XII 23: 7–14.Duvernoy, Sylvie. 2015. Baroque Oval Churches: Innovative Geometrical Patterns in Early Modern Sacred Architecture. Nexus Network Journal 17 (2): 425–456.Fernández Gómez M. 1996. La planta oval. Traza y símbolo. Loggia. Arquitectura & Restauración 3: 16–21.García Jara F. 2008. Las cúpulas de la arquitectura religiosa de la provincia de Alicante: del Renacimiento al siglo XIX. Ph.D. Thesis.García Jara F. 2010. La estereotomía de las cúpulas sobre base oval. In: X Congreso Internacional de Expresión Gráfica aplicada a la Edificación, APEGA 2010, Alicante: 767–780.Gentil Baldrich, J. M. 1994. Planta oval y traza elíptica en la arquitectura: Consideraciones geométricas y un ejemplo español. Valladolid.Gentil Baldrich J.M. 1996. La traza oval y la Sala Capitular de la catedral de Sevilla. Una aproximación geométrica. In: J. A. Ruiz de la Rosa et al. Quatro edificios sevillanos. Sevilla: Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Andalucía, Demarcación Occidental, 73–147.Gómez-Collado, M.C.; Calvo Roselló, V; Capilla Tamborero, E. 2018. Mathematical modeling of oval arches. A study of the George V and Neuilly Bridges. Journal of Cultural Heritage Vol. 32: 144–155; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2018.01.012Hatch, John G. 2015. The Science Behind Francesco Borromini’s Divine Geometry. In: Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future, eds. Kim Williams and Michael J. Oswald, vol. II, ch. 61, 217–228. Basel: Birkhäuser.Hill, Michael. 2013. Practical and Symbolic Geometry in Borromini’s San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 72 (4): 555–583.Huerta Fernández, S. 2002. Informe sobre la estabilidad de la cúpula interior de la Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados de Valencia. Valencia. Conselleria Cultura, Educació y Ciència de la Generalitat Valenciana, 20 páginas.Huerta Fernández, S. 2007. Oval domes, geometry and mechanics. Nexus Network Journal 9(2), 211–248.Huerta Fernández, S. 2012a. Análisis estructural de cúpulas tabicadas: la cúpula interior de la Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados en Valencia. Construyendo Bóvedas Tabicadas. In: Actas del Simposio Internacional sobre bóvedas tabicadas. Valencia, 26 y 27 de mayo de 2011. Valencia: Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 318–335.Huerta Fernández, S. 2012b. Structural Analysis of Thin Tile Vaults and Domes: The Inner Oval Dome of the Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados in Valencia. In: Carvais et al (ed.) Nuts and Bolts of construction history. Culture, technology and society. Vol. 1. Paris: Picard, 375–383.Jung, W. 1997.) Arquitectura y ciudad en Italia. In Toman R. (ed.) El barroco. Arquitectura-escultura-pintura. Köln: Könemann, 12–75.Kluckert, E. 1997. Arquitectura barroca en Alemania, Suiza, Austria y Europa oriental. In Toman R. (ed.) El barroco. Arquitectura-escultura-pintura. Köln: Könemann, 184–273.López Manzanares, G. 2005. La contribución de R. G. Boscovich al desarrollo de la teoría de cúpulas: el informe sobre la Biblioteca Cesarea de Viena. In: Huerta, S. (ed.) Actas del Cuarto Congreso Nacional de Historia de la Construcción. Cádiz, 27–29 January 2005. Madrid: Instituto Juan de Herrera, 655–665.López Mozo A. 2011. Ovals for Any Given Proportion in Architecture: A Layout Possibly Known in the Sixteenth Century. Nexus Network Journal Vol. 13: 569–597.Mazzotti, A. 2014a. A Euclidean Approach to Eggs and Polycentric Curves. Nexus Network Journal, 16, 345–387. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-014-0189-5Mazzotti, A. 2014b. What Borromini Might Have Known About Ovals. Ruler and Compass Constructions. Nexus Network Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-014-0190-z .Mazzotti, A. 2017. All sides to an oval. Properties, Parameters, and Borromini’s Mysterious Construction. Springer. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39375-9Montoliu Soler, V. 2012. La Real Capilla de la Virgen de los Desamparados de Valencia: sus orígenes histórico-artísticos. Valencia: Real Academia de Cultura Valenciana.Navascués Palacio, P. 1974. El libro de arquitectura de Hernán Ruiz el Joven. Estudio y edición crítica por Pedro Navascues Palacio. Madrid: Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura.Petrovic, Maja et al. 2019. A Focal Curve Approximation of a Borromini Oval Contour. 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Springer. 45–52. springeronline.comSoler Verdú, R. 1995. La cúpula en la arquitectura moderna valenciana. Siglos XVI a XVIII. Metodologías de estudios previos, para las arquitecturas de sistemas abovedados. Ph.D. Thesis. Universitat Politècnica de València.VV.AA. 2001. Real Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados de Valencia. Restauración de los fondos pictóricos y escultóricos. 1998–2001. I. Bosch (ed.) Valencia: Fundación para la Restauración de la Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desamparats

    Mössbauer thermal scan study of a spin crossover system

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    Programmable Velocity equipment was used to perform a Mössbauer Thermal Scans to allow a quasi-continuous temperature study of the magnetic transition between the low-spin and a high-spin configurations in [Fe(Htrz)2(trz)](BF4) system. The material was studied both in bulk as in nanoparticles sample forms.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Física La PlataInstituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

    Working memory of emotional stimuli: electrophysiological characterization

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    Memorizing emotional stimuli in a preferential way seems to be one of the adaptive strategies brought on by evolution for supporting survival. However, there is a lack of electrophysiological evidence on this bias in working memory. The present study analyzed the influence of emotion on the updating component of working memory. Behavioral and electrophysiological indices were measured from a 3-back task using negative, neutral, and positive faces. Electrophysiological data evidenced an emotional influence on the working memory sensitive P3 component, which presented larger amplitudes for negative matching faces compared to neutral ones. This effect originated in the superior parietal cortex, previously reported to be involved in N-back tasks. Additionally, P3 results showed a correlation with reaction times, where higher amplitudes were associated with faster responses for negative matching faces. These findings indicate that electrophysiological measures seem to be very suitable indices of the emotional influence on working memory

    Development of diet-induced fatty liver disease in the aging mouse is suppressed by brief daily exposure to low-magnitude mechanical signals

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    The age-induced decline in the body's ability to fight disease is exacerbated by obesity and metabolic disease. Using a mouse model of diet-induced obesity, the combined challenge of a high-fat diet and age on liver morphology and biochemistry was characterized, while evaluating the potential of 15 min per day of high frequency (90 Hz), extremely low-magnitude (0.2 G) mechanical signals (LMMS) to suppress lipid accumulation in the liver. Following a 36-week protocol (animals 43 weeks of age), suppression of hepatomegaly and steatosis was reflected by a 29% lower liver mass in LMMS animals as compared with controls. Average triglyceride content was 101.7 ± 19.4 μg mg−1 tissue in the livers of high-fat diet control (HFD) animals, whereas HFD + LMMS animals realized a 27% reduction to 73.8 ± 22.8 μg mg−1 tissue. In HFD + LMMS animals, liver free fatty acids were also reduced to 0.026 ± 0.009 μEq mg−1 tissue from 0.035 ± 0.005 μEq mg−1 tissue in HFD. Moderate to severe micro- and macrovesicular steatosis in HFD was contrasted to a 49% reduction in area covered by the vacuoles of at least 15 μm2 in size in HFD + LMMS animals. These data provide preliminary evidence of the ability of LMMS to attenuate the progression of fatty liver disease, most likely achieved indirectly by suppressing adipogenesis and thus the total adipose burden through life, thereby reducing a downstream challenge to liver morphology and function
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