2,825 research outputs found
Biochemical and immuno-histochemical localization of type IIA procollagen in annulus fibrosus of mature bovine intervertebral disc
For next generation tissue-engineered constructs and regenerative medicine to succeed clinically, the basic biology and extracellular matrix composition of tissues that these repair techniques seek to restore have to be fully determined. Using the latest reagents coupled with tried and tested methodologies, we continue to uncover previously undetected structural proteins in mature intervertebral disc. In this study we show that the embryonic type IIA procollagen isoform (containing a cysteine-rich amino propeptide) was biochemically detectable in the annulus fibrosus of both calf and mature steer caudal intervertebral discs, but not in the nucleus pulposus where the type IIB isoform was predominantly localized. Specifically, the triple-helical type IIA procollagen isoform immunolocalized in the outer margins of the inner annulus fibrosus. Triple helical processed type II collagen exclusively localized within the inter-lamellae regions and with type IIA procollagen in the intra-lamellae regions. Mass spectrometry of the α1(II) collagen chains from the region where type IIA procollagen localized showed high 3-hydroxylation of Proline-944, a post-translational modification that is correlated with thin collagen fibrils as in the nucleus pulposus. The findings implicate small diameter fibrils of type IIA procollagen in select regions of the annulus fibrosus where it likely contributes to the organization of collagen bundles and structural properties within the type I-type II collagen transition zone
The Ratio of Ortho- to Para-H2 in Photodissociation Regions
We discuss the ratio of ortho- to para-H2 in photodissociation regions
(PDRs). We draw attention to an apparent confusion in the literature between
the ortho-to-para ratio of molecules in FUV-pumped vibrationally excited
states, and the H2 ortho-to-para abundance ratio. These ratios are not the same
because the process of FUV-pumping of fluorescent H2 emission in PDRs occurs
via optically thick absorption lines. Thus, gas with an equilibrium ratio of
ortho- to para-H2 equal to 3 will yield FUV-pumped vibrationally excited
ortho-to-para ratios smaller than 3, because the ortho-H2 pumping rates are
preferentially reduced by optical depth effects. Indeed, if the ortho and para
pumping lines are on the ``square root'' part of the curve-of-growth, then the
expected ratio of ortho and para vibrational line strengths is the square root
of 3, ~ 1.7, close to the typically observed value. Thus, contrary to what has
sometimes been stated in the literature, most previous measurements of the
ratio of ortho- to para-H2 in vibrationally excited states are entirely
consistent with a total ortho-to-para ratio of 3, the equilibrium value for
temperatures greater than 200 K. We present an analysis and several detailed
models which illustrate the relationship between the total ratios of ortho- to
para-H2 and the vibrationally excited ortho-to-para ratios in PDRs. Recent
Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) measurements of pure rotational and
vibrational H2 emissions from the PDR in the star-forming region S140 provide
strong observational support for our conclusions.Comment: 23 pages (including 5 figures), LaTeX, uses aaspp4.sty, accepted for
publication in Ap
Exploring the Small Mass Limit of Stationary Black Holes in Theories with Gauss-Bonnet Terms
In this work we examine the small mass limit of black holes, with and without
spin, in theories with a scalar field non-minimally coupled to a Gauss-Bonnet
term. First, we provide an analytical example for a theory where a static
closed-form solution with a small mass limit is known, and later use analytical
and numerical techniques to explore this limit in standard scalar-Gauss-Bonnet
theories with dilatonic, linear and quadratic couplings. In most cases, we find
an inner singularity that overlaps with the event horizon of the static black
hole as the small mass limit is reached. Moreover, since solutions in this
limit possess a non-vanishing Hawking temperature, a naked singularity is
expected to be reached through evaporation, raising questions concerning the
consistency of these theories altogether. On the other hand, we provide for the
first time an example of a coupling where the small mass limit is never
reached, thus preferred from the point of view of cosmic censorship. Finally,
we consider black holes with spin and numerically investigate how this changes
the picture, using these to place the tightest upper bounds to date on the
coupling constant for the dilatonic and linear theories, with
km.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure
Protein engineering of electron transfer components from electroactive geobacter bacteria
SFRH/BD/145039/2019 SFRH/BPD/114848/2016 PTDC/BIA-BQM/31981/2017 UIDP/04378/2020 UIDB/04378/2020Electrogenic microorganisms possess unique redox biological features, being capable of transferring electrons to the cell exterior and converting highly toxic compounds into nonhazardous forms. These microorganisms have led to the development of Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs), which include applications in the fields of bioremediation and bioenergy production. The optimization of these technologies involves efforts from several different disciplines, ranging from microbiology to materials science. Geobacter bacteria have served as a model for understanding the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of extracellular electron transfer, which is highly dependent on a multitude of multiheme cytochromes (MCs). MCs are, therefore, logical targets for rational protein engineering to improve the extracellular electron transfer rates of these bacteria. However, the presence of several heme groups complicates the detailed redox characterization of MCs. In this Review, the main characteristics of electroactive Geobacter bacteria, their potential to develop microbial electrochemical technologies and the main features of MCs are initially highlighted. This is followed by a detailed description of the current methodologies that assist the characterization of the functional redox networks in MCs. Finally, it is discussed how this information can be explored to design optimal Geobacter-mutated strains with improved capabilities in METs.publishersversionpublishe
Effects of nematic fluctuations on the elastic properties of iron arsenide superconductors
We demonstrate that the changes in the elastic properties of the FeAs
systems, as seen in our resonant ultrasound spectroscopy data, can be naturally
understood in terms of fluctuations of emerging nematic degrees of freedom.
Both the softening of the lattice in the normal, tetragonal phase as well as
its hardening in the superconducting phase are consistently described by our
model. Our results confirm the view that structural order is induced by
magnetic fluctuations.Comment: revised version with changed title accepted for publication in PR
Toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in the developing male Wistar(Han) rat II: chronic dosing causes developmental delay
We have investigated whether fetal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) causes defects in the male reproductive system of the rat, using chronically exposed rats to ensure continuous exposure of the fetus. 5-6 week old rats were exposed to control diet, or diet containing TCDD, to attain an average dose of 2.4, 8 and 46 ng TCDD kg-1 day-1 for twelve weeks, whereupon the rats were mated, and allowed to litter; rats were switched to control diet after parturition. Male offspring were allowed to develop until kills on PND70 (25 per group), or PND120 (all remaining animals). Offspring from the high dose group showed an increase in total litter loss, and the number of animals alive on post-natal day (PND) 4 in the high dose group was ~26% less than control. The high and medium dose offspring showed decreased weights at various ages. Balano-preputial separation was significantly delayed in all three dose groups, compared to control. There were no significant effects of maternal treatment when the offspring were subjected to a functional observational battery, or learning tests, with the exception that the high dose group showed a deficit in motor activity. 20 rats per group were mated to females, and there were no significant effects of maternal treatment on the fertility of these rats, nor on the F1 or F2 sex ratio. Sperm parameters at PND70 and 120 showed no significant effect of maternal treatment, with the exception that there was an increase in the proportion of abnormal sperm in the high dose group at PND70; this is associated with the developmental delay in puberty in this dose group. There were no remarkable findings of maternal treatment on organ weights, with the exception that testis weights were reduced by ~10% at PND70 (but not PND120), and although the experiment was sufficiently powered to detect small changes, ventral prostate weight was not reduced. There were no significant effects of maternal treatment upon histopathological comparison of high dose and control group organs. These data confirm that developmental exposure to TCDD shows no potent effect on adult sperm parameters or accessory sexual organs, but show that delay in BPS occurs after exposure to low doses of TCDD, and this is dependent upon whether TCDD is administered acutely or chronically
Magnetic excitations in underdoped Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 with x=0.047
The magnetic excitations in the paramagnetic-tetragonal phase of underdoped
Ba(Fe0.953Co0.047)2As2, as measured by inelastic neutron scattering, can be
well described by a phenomenological model with purely diffusive spin dynamics.
At low energies, the spectrum around the magnetic ordering vector Q_AFM
consists of a single peak with elliptical shape in momentum space. At high
energies, this inelastic peak is split into two peaks across the direction
perpendicular to Q_AFM. We use our fittings to argue that such a splitting is
not due to incommensurability or propagating spin-wave excitations, but is
rather a consequence of the anisotropies in the Landau damping and in the
magnetic correlation length, both of which are allowed by the tetragonal
symmetry of the system. We also measure the magnetic spectrum deep inside the
magnetically-ordered phase, and find that it is remarkably similar to the
spectrum of the paramagnetic phase, revealing the strongly overdamped character
of the magnetic excitations.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure
Transforming ideas and developing entrepreneurship skills in computing sciences and informatics engineering courses
This paper presents an approach on entrepreneurship education which helps to turn ideas into Minimum Viable Products (MVP) and to capacitate students to become entrepreneurs. In this approach, we integrate development and management project to different business models. Students acquire, in addition to technical competencies, skills on market knowledge and business modeling. This approach has been applied for several years in an informatics engineering course and suggests a set of activities on 18 weeks. Teachers’ perceptions and students’ opinions were collected through direct observations and using a questionnaire in order to evaluate the process behind this pedagogical project which goes beyond the walls of the university. Most of the students are satisfied with the process since they develop projects that have a good fit with the market needs and opportunities and some of them are close to creating a startup.(undefined
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