Conditions for degradability of tripartite quantum states

postprin

Entanglement transformation between sets of bipartite pure quantum states using local operations

published_or_final_versio

Isolation of leptin-binding peptides from a random peptide phage library

Leptin plays a role in regulating the body weight in mice. Injection of recombinant mouse leptin expressed in Escherichia coli reduced the food intake and body weight in normal, ob/ob and diet-induced obesity mice. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and hypothermia can also be corrected in ob/ob mice after leptin injection. Leptin is a 16-kDa secretory protein comprising 167 amino acids produced in adipose tissue and is secreted to blood stream. In this study, a recombinant mouse leptin was generated and purified from a baculovirus expression system. This protein was used to identify putative ligands using a phage library of random peptides. Three leptin-binding phage clones were found, which were characterized by DNA sequencing and ELISA methods. The amino acid sequences of the reactive peptides are: LAYCSDPVRCLVWWY, MFWlSAVSFVDHALV and LVLVLSAFLCCGVG. All three clones bound to recombinant human and mouse leptins. These peptides may be useful tools to study leptin-receptor interaction, food intake and body weight regulation.postprin

Scaling factors for channel width variations in treelike flow field patterns for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells - An experimental study

To have a uniform distribution of reactants is an advantage to a fuel cell. We report results for such a distributor with tree-like flow field plates (FFP). Numerical simulations have shown that the width scaling parameters of tree-like patterns in FFPs used in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) reduces the viscous dissipation in the channels. In this study, experimental investigations were conducted on a 2-layer FF plate possessing a tree-like FF pattern which was CNC milled on high-quality graphite. Three FF designs of different width scaling parameters were employed. IeV curves, power curves and impedance spectra were generated at 70%, 60% and 50% relative humidity (25 cm2 active area), and compared to those obtained from a conventional 1-channel serpentine FF. It was found that the FF design, with a width scaling factor of 0.917 in the inlet and 0.925 in the outlet pattern, exhibited the best peak power out of the three designs (only 11% - 0.08 W/cm2 lower than reference serpentine FF). Results showed that a reduction of the viscous dissipation in the flow pattern was not directly linked to a PEMFC performance increase

Bioenergetics Failure and Oxidative Stress in Brain Stem Mediates Cardiovascular Collapse Associated with Fatal Methamphetamine Intoxication

Background: Whereas sudden death, most often associated with cardiovascular collapse, occurs in abusers of the psychostimulant methamphetamine (METH), the underlying mechanism is much less understood. The demonstration that successful resuscitation of an arrested heart depends on maintained functionality of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), which is responsible for the maintenance of stable blood pressure, suggests that failure of brain stem cardiovascular regulation, rather than the heart, holds the key to cardiovascular collapse. We tested the hypothesis that cessation of brain stem cardiovascular regulation because of a loss of functionality in RVLM mediated by bioenergetics failure and oxidative stress underlies the cardiovascular collapse elicited by lethal doses of METH. Methodology/Principal Findings: Survival rate, cardiovascular responses and biochemical or morphological changes in RVLM induced by intravenous administration of METH in Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. High doses of METH induced significant mortality within 20 min that paralleled concomitant the collapse of arterial pressure or heart rate and loss of functionality in RVLM. There were concurrent increases in the concentration of METH in serum and ventrolateral medulla, along with tissue anoxia, cessation of microvascular perfusion and necrotic cell death in RVLM. Furthermore, mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activity or electron transport capacity and ATP production in RVLM were reduced, and mitochondria-derived superoxide anion level was augmented. All those detrimental physiological and biochemica

Influence of digits, ectoderm, and retinoic acid on chondrogenesis by mouse interdigital mesoderm in culture

We have cultured tissues isolated from the interdigital zones (IDZ) of the mouse footplate in the presence of the digits, ectoderm, and all-trans retinoic acid. The objective was to understand how these various factors influence the developmental fate of the interdigital tissue. Neutral red staining showed that these tissues normally differentiate by dying between day 12.5-14.5. However, if they were isolated from the footplate between day 12.5-13.5 (when cell death is not overtly obvious in the IDZ) and maintained in organ culture, these tissues would develop into cartilage and soft connective tissues. In culture, chondrogenesis is initiated very rapidly in the interdigital explants as revealed by in situ hybridization with riboprobes specific for type IIA and IIB procollagen mRNAs. The ability of interdigital tissues to form cartilage is not attributed to factors present in the serum of the culture medium as this phenomenon is also observed in serumless cultures. We have found that if all-trans retinoic acid, at concentrations of 10-50 ng/ml culture medium, were added to the explants it could inhibit chondrogenesis and promote cell death. Moreover, in some of the cultures, a single digit was left attached to the interdigital tissue. This also dramatically reduced the incidence of chondrogenesis. We have tried the determine whether the digits and ectoderm can produce a diffusible factor that can prevent cartilage from developing by culturing day 12.5 interdigital tissues in ectoderm and digit conditioned media. The ectoderm conditioned medium had no effects on interdigital growth or chondrogenesis. In contrast, the size of interdigital explants cultured in the presence of digit conditioned medium was shown to be significantly smaller than the control. These explants also produced a smaller quantity of cartilage as revealed by Alcian blue binding assay. In sum, our results showed that the fate of the interdigital tissues are not fully determined until after day 13.5. These tissues have the potentials to form cartilage and soft connective tissues. We tentatively propose that these interdigital tissues do not normally realize their histogenetic potentials because of the antichondrogenic influence of the digits and retinoic acid.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Effects of phacoemulsification versus combined phaco-trabeculectomy on drainage angle status in primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG)

PURPOSE: To document anatomic effects of phacoemulsification versus combined phaco-trabeculectomy on drainage angle in primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG). METHODS: Indentation gonioscopy and ultrasound biomicroscopy were performed preoperatively, and then at 1 year after phacoemulsification alone or combined phaco-trabeculectomy in PACG patients. RESULTS: Seventy-two PACG eyes of 72 patients were included in this study. Thirty-eight eyes were randomized into receiving phacoemulsification alone, whereas 34 eyes had combined phaco-trabeculectomy. The mean extent of synechial angle closure was significantly reduced from 266.4° to 198.9° (P<0.001) by phacoemulsification alone, and from 266.0° to 227.2° (P=0.03) by combined surgery. The mean angle opening distance (AOD 500) measured by ultrasound biomicroscopy was significantly increased from 208.0 to 468.0 μm (P<0.001) by phacoemulsification, and from 214.6 to 344.4 μm (P<0.001) by combined surgery. The mean trabecular-ciliary process distance was significantly increased from 824.6 to 1043.6 μm (P<0.001) by phacoemulsification, and from 800.9 to 951.5 μm (P=0.01) by combined surgery. The mean anterior chamber depth was significantly increased from 1798.6 to 3528.4 μm (P<0.001) by phacoemulsification alone, and from 1781.6 to 3297.8 μm (P<0.001) by combined surgery. Phacoemulsification alone resulted in significantly greater postoperative angle opening distance 500 (P<0.001) and anterior chamber depth (P<0.001) than phaco-trabeculectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification alone resulted in greater opening of drainage angle and greater deepening of anterior chamber than combined phaco-trabeculectomy in PACG eyes. SYNOPSIS: Phacoemulsification alone resulted in greater opening of drainage angle and greater deepening of anterior chamber than combined phaco-trabeculectomy in PACG eyes. © 2010 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.link_to_subscribed_fulltex