eNOS transfection of adipose-derived stem cells yields bioactive nitric oxide production and improved results in vascular tissue engineering.

This study evaluates the durability of a novel tissue engineered blood vessel (TEBV) created by seeding a natural vascular tissue scaffold (decellularized human saphenous vein allograft) with autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) differentiated into endothelial-like cells. Previous work with this model revealed the graft to be thrombogenic, likely due to inadequate endothelial differentiation as evidenced by minimal production of nitric oxide (NO). To evaluate the importance of NO expression by the seeded cells, we created TEBV using autologous ASC transfected with the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene to produce NO. We found that transfected ASC produced NO at levels similar to endothelial cell (EC) controls in vitro which was capable of causing vasorelaxation of aortic specimens ex vivo. TEBV (n = 5) created with NO-producing ASC and implanted as interposition grafts within the aorta of rabbits remained patent for two months and demonstrated a non-thrombogenic surface compared to unseeded controls (n = 5). Despite the xenograft nature of the scaffold, the TEBV structure remained well preserved in seeded grafts. In sum, this study demonstrates that upregulation of NO expression within adult stem cells differentiated towards an endothelial-like lineage imparts a non-thrombogenic phenotype and highlights the importance of NO production by cells to be used as endothelial cell substitutes in vascular tissue engineering applications

Irrationale und rationale Kognitionen als Determinanten positiver Emotionen

Der Rational-Emotiven-Theorie (RET) von Ellis zufolge, sind irrationale (d.h. rigide, übersteigerte) Gedanken Ursache maladaptiver Emotionen (z.B. Schuld, Angst). Positive Emotionen wurden hierbei bislang kaum empirisch untersucht. Eine erste experimentelle Szenariostudie überprüft daher, ob zentrale positive Emotionen (Dankbarkeit, Freude, Stolz, Überraschung, Zuversicht) in ihrer Intensität von der Rationalität der erlebenden Person abhängen. Alle Emotionen werden dann intensiver erlebt, wenn Rationalität bei der Stimulusperson vorlag. Für Freude und Stolz wird dieser Unterschied nicht signifikant. In einer zweiten experimentellen Szenariostudie sollten daher Freude und Stolz mittels forced-choice Antwortalternativen rationalen oder irrationalen Gedanken zugeordnet werden. Zudem wurden die über Kognition oder Emotion charakterisierten Stimuluspersonen hinsichtlich Selbstwertkonzept und Problemverarbeitungsfähigkeit eingeschätzt. Irrationale Gedanken werden signifikant häufiger mit Stolz verbunden, Selbstwertkonzept und Problemverarbeitungsfähigkeit wird bei Personen, die durch Irrationalität und Stolz charakterisiert sind, dysfunktionaler eingeschätzt. Zusätzlich erhobene emotionstheoretische Variablen (Typizität, Einflussweite, Funktionalität,(Un-)Lust, Aktivation, Dauer) bestätigen eine Klassifikation von Stolz als maladaptive und Freude als adaptive Emotion

Trichoderma koningii and Trichoderma harzianum as destructive mycoparasites of Sclerotinia slerotiorum.

Three T. koningii (Tk 3, 5 and 12) and one T. harzianum (Th 9) strain isolated from S. sclerotiorum sclerotia were found to reduce the growth of the patogens by over 60% relative to that of the control. These strains also hyperparasited the sclerotia. All were also highly competitive when assessed in the saprophytic competitiveness test. Extra cellular enzyme production was not particularly correlated with antagonistic activity, Tk 12 and Th 9 produced some Beta-glucosidase and no endoglucanase. In contrast, Tk3, 5 and 12 produced large amounts of antibiotics, causing between 30% and 80% inhibition of growth of the pathogen. The interactions between T. harzianum strain and S. sclerotiorum appeared to be mycoparasitism, and results from the sclerotial survival tests showed they were also capable of destroying sclerotia

The Influence of Redox Conditions on the Seismic Properties of Polycrystalline Olivine

Eight olivine specimens were fabricated by use of a solgel method and hot-pressing at 1200 degrees Centigrade and 300 megapascals (MPa) inside of welded Pt capsules. Each hot-pressed specimen was then recovered, precision ground, and wrapped in Pt, Ni or NiFe foil to vary oxygen fugacity (fO2) during the subsequent forced torsional oscillation measurements. Mechanical testing was conducted at 10 oscillation periods between 1 and 1000 seconds, at a confining pressure of 200 MPa, during a slow staged-cooling from a maximum temperature of 1200 degrees Centigrade down to room temperature. After mechanical testing, each specimen was axially sectioned and EBSD (Electron BackScatter Diffraction) was used for the determination of the representative grain size, and grain size distribution of each sample. In addition, each longitudinal section was mapped via FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) to determine the spatial distribution and concentrations of chemically bound and molecular water. Amongst these eight specimens, chemically bound water contents were observed to vary between 0 and 1150 atom parts per million (ppm) H/Si, and molecular water concentrations varied between 0 and 245 atom ppm H/Si. Our forced-oscillation results demonstrate that the measured magnitude of anelastic relaxation within the experimental window of oscillation periods is unrelated to the water content. Rather, a relationship was observed between the magnitude of anelastic relaxation and the prevailing redox conditions, which is influenced by the choice of metal sleeving used during the mechanical test. Further, regardless of water content or metal sleeving, each specimen exhibits coupled variations in shear modulus and dissipation within the observational window, indicative of high-temperature background behavior, that can be described by a Burgers-type model. During initial fitting of the Burgers models, the unrelaxed shear modulus at a reference temperature of 900C (elastic unloading/reloading shear modulus G (sub UR)) and the temperature derivative of the unrelaxed shear modulus (dGU/dT), were treated as adjustable parameters. For all Fe-bearing olivine samples we observe deficits of G (sub UR) and increased values of dGU/dT, relative to the expected elastic (anharmonic) behavior for Fo (Forsterite content percentage) (sub 90) olivine. This behavior is indicative of anelastic relaxation occurring at shorter periods than observable within the window of oscillation periods used in the mechanical test. Moving towards a comprehensive and seismologically applicable Burgers model, which includes this newly observed effect of redox conditions on anelastic relaxation, we will present our progress on reconciling truly anharmonic and elastic behavior of Fo (sub 90) olivine with our observed forced-oscillation data

The Effect of Redox Conditions on Seismic Waves in Iron-Bearing Olivine: Implications for Understanding Planetary Interiros Through Seismilogy

Seismic data, inclusive of velocities and attenuation, can be utilized to elucidate the physical state of planetary interiors]. However, numerous micromechanical factors have been either experimentally demonstrated, or theoretically considered, to affect the propagation and dissipation of seismic energy within crystalline solids - including, but not limited to, changes in grain size, temperature, melt fraction, pressure and dislocation density. Thus, observed variations in seismic wave speeds and attenuation may be used to ultimately map variations in physical properties, such as those listed above, within planetary bodies. But, in order to complete a successful inversion of seismic data into representations of physical properties, a first requirement is to obtain a fundamental laboratory based understanding of how each of these possible factors individually influences seismic waves. Here we conduct an experimental study with the initial objective to further understand one of the most commonly invoked, yet least studied, mechanisms that could alter intrinsic seismic wave attenuation: water content (occurring as chemically-bound hydroxyl). The historical basis for determining the effect of water on seismic properties was established predominantly through analogy with large-strain creep experiments conducted on olivine under water-saturated conditions. While these deformation experiments routinely demonstrate a weakening of olivine in the presence of water, they represent a fundamentally different deformation regime in comparison to the microstrains experienced due to a passing seismic wave. Thus, in order to directly assess the effects of water on seismic properties, small-strain experiments are required. Substantially modified seismic properties in the presence of water have been observed previously at low strains and low frequencies, but only in a single exploratory study conducted under water-saturated conditions. Thus, to properly test the theoretical predictions we conducted a systematic study of the seismic properties of olivine using low-frequency torsional oscillation on aggregates containing varying concentrations of bound hydroxyl, for the first time at under saturated conditions

EFFECT OF LOAD AND VARIOUS EQUIPMENT MODALITIES ON BACK SQUAT BIOMECHANICS IN ELITE POWERLIFTERS

This study compared back squat biomechanics in elite powerlifters under various equipment and intensity manipulations. Eleven elite powerlifters performed back squats in the following conditions: belt only (Raw), belt and elastic band attached to the bar (Band), and competition attire consisting of a belt, knee wraps, and squat suit (Equipped). In Raw lifts, back angle and hip moment at minimum upward velocity increased as intensity increased. Maximum hip moment at minimum upward velocity was greater in the Raw compared to the Band lift. Back angle, total hip moment at the bottom position, and total knee moment at the minimum upward velocity was greater in the Equipped compared to the Raw lifts. Overall, the Band condition was biomechanically similar to the Raw lifts. However, the Equipped condition displayed substantial biomechanical differences compared to the Raw condition

Religion ist irrational und Irrationalität ist dysfunktional?

Der Rational-Emotiven-Theorie (RET) von Albert Ellis zufolge sind irrationale Gedanken eine zentrale Ursache für dysfunktionale psychopathologische Zustände. Auch Religiosität wird in diesem Sinne als irrational dargestellt. Hieraus wird abgeleitet, dass religiösere Menschen in höherer Weise zu dysfunktionalen irrationalen Gedanken neigen, die wiederum die Lebenszufriedenheit negativ beeinflussen. Zur Hypothesenprüfung beantworteten Probanden in einer Fragebogenstudie Skalen zur Erfassung verschiedener Religiositätsaspekte (intrinsische und extrinsische Religiosität, Durch-Gott-Mediierte Kontrolle) und klinisch validierte Skalen zu irrationalen Einstellungen sowie eine Frage zur Lebenszufriedenheit. Es zeigen sich signifikante Zusammenhänge zwischen den Religiositätsskalen und Irrationalitätsskalen. Insbesondere die extrinsische Religiosität, die als oberflächlicher Glaube zur bloßen Sicherung von sozialer Akzeptanz konzipiert ist, korreliert signifikant stärker mit klinischen Irrationalitätsskalen als die intrinsische Religiosität, die als verinnerlichter, verantwortlich gelebter Glaube definiert ist. Die Irrationalitätsskalen wiederum korrelieren hypothesenkonform signifikant mit der Lebenszufriedenheit. Quasiexperimentelle Extremgruppenvergleiche zwischen schwach und stark religiösen Personen erbringen für letztere signifikant erhöhte Irrationalitätswerte