Forward K+ production in subthreshold pA collisions at 1.0 GeV

K+ meson production in pA (A = C, Cu, Au) collisions has been studied using the ANKE spectrometer at an internal target position of the COSY-Juelich accelerator. The complete momentum spectrum of kaons emitted at forward angles, theta < 12 degrees, has been measured for a beam energy of T(p)=1.0 GeV, far below the free NN threshold of 1.58 GeV. The spectrum does not follow a thermal distribution at low kaon momenta and the larger momenta reflect a high degree of collectivity in the target nucleus.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Genome-Wide Association Study of Diabetic Kidney Disease Highlights Biology Involved in Glomerular Basement Membrane Collagen

Background Although diabetic kidney disease demonstrates both familial clustering and single nucleotide polymorphism heritability, the specific genetic factors influencing risk remain largely unknown. Methods To identify genetic variants predisposing to diabetic kidney disease, we performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses. Through collaboration with the Diabetes Nephropathy Collaborative Research Initiative, we assembled a large collection of type 1 diabetes cohorts with harmonized diabetic kidney disease phenotypes. We used a spectrum of ten diabetic kidney disease definitions based on albuminuria and renal function. Results Our GWAS meta-analysis included association results for up to 19,406 individuals of European descent with type 1 diabetes. We identified 16 genome-wide significant risk loci. The variant with the strongest association (rs55703767) is a common missense mutation in the collagen type IV alpha 3 chain (COL4A3) gene, which encodes a major structural component of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Mutations in COL4A3 are implicated in heritable nephropathies, including the progressive inherited nephropathy Alport syndrome. The rs55703767 minor allele (Asp326Tyr) is protective against several definitions of diabetic kidney disease, including albuminuria and ESKD, and demonstrated a significant association with GBM width; protective allele carriers had thinner GBM before any signs of kidney disease, and its effect was dependent on glycemia. Three other loci are in or near genes with known or suggestive involvement in this condition (BMP7) or renal biology (COLEC11 and DDR1). Conclusions The 16 diabetic kidney disease-associated loci may provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of this condition and help identify potential biologic targets for prevention and treatment.Peer reviewe

Ein neues Neutronen-Doppeldiffraktometer

Die Strahlenschutzmessungen, die nach der Aufste.llung der Anlage am Reaktor an der Monochromatorabschirmung durchgeführt wurden, zeigten, daß sie im angelieferten Zustand zur Schwächung des Primärstrahls und der Streustrahlung auf Toleranzdosisleistung in der nächsten Umgebung außerhalb der Abschirmungnicht ausreichte. Es war daher notwendig, die Hauptabschirmung unter Beibehaltung der äußeren Abmessungen durch Auswahl und Kombination geeigneter Abschirmmaterialien zu verbessern bzw. zu ergänzen. Durch die oben beschriebenen Änderungen konnte die Dosisleistung an der Oberfläche der Hauptabschirmung während des Experimentierbetriebes bei Verwendung der Primärkollimatoren vom Typ A und B auf maximal 30 mrem/h an den ungünstigsten Stellen herabgesetzt werden (Abb. 18, 19 und 21). Die Toleranzdosisleistung von 2, 5 mrem/h wird am Rande des Grundgestells erreicht. Bei zusätzlichem Einbau eines Quarzfilters oder bei Benutzung der Primärkollimatoren vom Typ C liegt die Oberflächendosisleistung an allen Stellen unter 4 mrem/h. Einige Daten der Abschirmung sind in der folgenden Tabelle 1 zusammengestellt. Die in diesem Kapitel angegebenen Dosisleistungs-Werte werden z. T. durch das Abschlußprotokoll des Reaktorstrahlenschutzes vom 10. 8. 1966 bestätigt {Tabelle 2). Dem Reaktorstrahlenschutz sei an dieser Stelle für die freundliche Unterstützung bei den Dosisleistungsmessungen gedankt

Clinical and metabolic characterization of obese subjects without non-alcoholic fatty liver: A targeted metabolomics approach

INTRODUCTION As a small proportion of obese individuals do not develop metabolic complications and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), this study aimed to provide a comprehensive clinical, metabolic and genetic description of obese subjects with healthy livers. METHODS A total of 183 subjects were stratified, according to BMI, presence of metabolic syndrome, biochemical liver tests and hepatic steatosis on ultrasound, into: (i) lean controls (n = 69); (ii) obese healthy (n = 50); and (iii)obese NAFLD (n = 62) groups. Detailed clinical, genetic and metabolic evaluations were then performed. RESULTS Obese healthy subjects did not differ in glucose parameters from lean controls, and had a lower rate of minor TM6SF2 gene variants compared with obese NAFLD (2/49 vs. 11/60, respectively; P = 0.035) and lean controls (13/64; P = 0.035), but significantly higher leptin concentrations than lean controls (P < 0.001); they also higher adiponectin concentrations (P < 0.001), and lower TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations (P = 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively), than obese NAFLD subjects. Also, metabolomic studies identified ether- and ester-containing phospholipids [PC ae C44:6, PC ae C42:5, PC aa C40:4; P < 0.001, corrected by the false discovery rate (FDR) method] and found that the amino-acids lysine, glycine and isoleucine (FDR < 0.001) differed between the two obese groups, but not between lean controls and obese healthy subjects. CONCLUSION Obese people with healthy livers are characterized by intact glucose homoeostasis, lower pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and higher adiponectin and leptin concentrations compared with obese people with NAFLD. In addition, the major allele of TM6SF2, a set of phosphatidylcholines and several amino acids are associated with healthy livers in obesity