Photoelectrochemical properties of metal-cluster oxide compounds, A<SUB>2</SUB>Mo<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>8</SUB> and (LiY)Mo<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>8</SUB>

PEC studies on the single crystals of the metal-cluster oxide compounds. A2Mo3O8 (A = Zn, Mg, Fe), and polycrystalline LiYMo3O8 are reported. The photoresponse behaviour is attributed to the Mo d-d transition. The photopotential, the photocurrent vs applied voltage and the wavelength data indicate that n-Zn2Mo3O8 is stable and possesses a small and indirect band gap of 1.55 eV and a direct band gap of 1.9 eV. With change in A ions in A2Mo3O8, there is no significant change in the PEC properties. LiYMo3O8 is found to be of p-type. PEC studies show that excepting for poor electronic conductivity, A2Mo3O8 possesses all the requisitie characteristics of an ideal photoanode for PAE of water for trapping solar energy

How can power discourses be changed? - Contrasting the ‘daughter deficit’ policy of the Delhi government with Gandhi and King’s transformational reframing

Social policy impact is partly determined by how policy is articulated and advocated, including which values are highlighted and how. In this paper, we examine the influence of policy framing and reframing on outcomes, with particular reference to the policies of the Delhi state government in India that target the practices of female feticide, infanticide and neglect that underlie the ‘daughter deficit’. Using Snow and Benford’s categories for understanding reframing processes, the paper outlines and applies a ‘model’ of reframing disputed issues derived from looking at two famous campaigns – Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March in the struggle for Indian freedom from British rule and the African-American civil rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s. It argues that ‘carrot and stick’ policy measures, such as financial incentives and legal prohibitions, to counteract the ‘daughter deficit’ must be complemented by well crafted discursive interventions

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA alteration in new phenotype ACOS

BACKGROUND: Mitochondria contain their own DNA (MtDNA) that is very sensitive to oxidative stress and as a consequence could be damaged in quantity. Oxidative stress is largely recognized to play a key role in the pathogenesis of asthma and COPD and might have a role in the new intermediate phenotype ACOS (asthma-COPD overlap syndrome). The aim of this study was to investigate MtDNA alterations, as an expression of mitochondrial dysfunction, in ACOS and to verify whether they might help in the identification of this new phenotype and in its differentiation from asthma and COPD. METHODS: Ten (10) ACOS according to Spanish guidelines, 13 ACOS according to GINA guidelines, 13 COPD, 14 asthmatic patients and ten normal subjects were enrolled. They further underwent a blood, induced sputum and exhaled nitric oxide collection. Content of MtDNA and nuclear DNA (nDNA) were measured in the blood cells of patients by Real Time PCR. RESULTS: ACOS patients showed an increase of MtDNA/nDNA ratio. Dividing ACOS according to guidelines, those from the Spanish showed a higher value of MtDNA/nDNA compared to those from GINA/GOLD (92.69 ± 7.31 vs 80.68 ± 4.16). Spanish ACOS presented MtDNA/nDNA ratio closer to COPD than asthma. MtDNA was higher in asthmatic, COPD, GINA and Spanish ACOS patients compared to healthy subjects (73.30 ± 4.47–137.0 ± 19.45–80.68 ± 4.16–92.69 ± 7.31 vs 65.97 ± 20.56). CONCLUSION: We found an increase of MtDNA/nDNA ratio in ACOS subjects that led us to conclude that there is presence of mitochondrial dysfunction in this disease, that makes it closer to COPD than to asthma. Although the MtDNA/nDNA ratio results are a useful marker for differential diagnosis from asthma, COPD and ACOS, further studies are needed to confirm the potentiality of MtDNA/nDNA ratio and to a better characterization of ACOS. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12890-016-0192-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Caveolin contributes to the modulation of basal and β-adrenoceptor stimulated function of the adult rat ventricular myocyte by simvastatin: A novel pleiotropic effect

The number of people taking statins is increasing across the globe, highlighting the Importance of fully understanding statins effects on the cardiovascular system. The beneficial impact of statins extends well beyond regression of atherosclerosis to include direct effects on tissues of the cardiovascular system (pleiotropic effects). Pleiotropic effects on the cardiac myocyte are often overlooked. Here we consider the contribution of the caveolin protein, whose expression and cellular distribution is dependent on cholesterol, to statin effects on the cardiac myocyte. Caveolin is a structural and regulatory component of caveolae, and is a key regulator of cardiac contractile function and adrenergic responsiveness. We employed an experimental model in which inhibition of myocyte HMG CoA reductase could be studied in the absence of paracrine influences from non-myocyte cells. Adult rat ventricular myocytes were treated with 10 μM simvastatin for 2 days. Simvastatin treatment reduced myocyte cholesterol, caveolin 3 and caveolar density. Negative inotropic and positive lusitropic effects (with corresponding changes in [Ca2]¡) were seen in statin-treated cells. Simvastatin significantly potentiated the inotropic response to β2-, but not β1-, adrenoceptor stimulation. Under conditions of β2-adrenoceptor stimulation, phosphorylation of phospholamban at Ser16and troponin I at Ser23/24was enhanced with statin treatment. Simvastatin increased NO production without significant effects on eNOS expression or phosphorylation (Ser1177), consistent with the reduced expression of caveolin 3, its constitutive Inhibitor. In conclusion, statin treatment can reduce caveolin 3 expression, with functional consequences consistent with the known role of caveolae in the cardiac cell. These data are likely to be of significance, particularly during the early phases of statin treatment, and in patients with heart failure who have altered ß-adrenoceptor signalling. In addition, as caveolin is ubiquitously expressed and has myriad tissue-specific functions, the impact of statin-dependent changes in caveolin is likely to have many other functional sequelae

The Satellite Cell in Male and Female, Developing and Adult Mouse Muscle: Distinct Stem Cells for Growth and Regeneration

Satellite cells are myogenic cells found between the basal lamina and the sarcolemma of the muscle fibre. Satellite cells are the source of new myofibres; as such, satellite cell transplantation holds promise as a treatment for muscular dystrophies. We have investigated age and sex differences between mouse satellite cells in vitro and assessed the importance of these factors as mediators of donor cell engraftment in an in vivo model of satellite cell transplantation. We found that satellite cell numbers are increased in growing compared to adult and in male compared to female adult mice. We saw no difference in the expression of the myogenic regulatory factors between male and female mice, but distinct profiles were observed according to developmental stage. We show that, in contrast to adult mice, the majority of satellite cells from two week old mice are proliferating to facilitate myofibre growth; however a small proportion of these cells are quiescent and not contributing to this growth programme. Despite observed changes in satellite cell populations, there is no difference in engraftment efficiency either between satellite cells derived from adult or pre-weaned donor mice, male or female donor cells, or between male and female host muscle environments. We suggest there exist two distinct satellite cell populations: one for muscle growth and maintenance and one for muscle regeneration

A new method for the titrimetric determination of perchlorate

A new method for the titrimetric determination of perchlorate has been developed, based on its reduction to chloride by iron(II) in a strong sulphuric acid medium at high temperature. The effect of variables, such as the sulphuric acid concentration, the temperature and the period of heating, on the extent of reduction has been studied and the optimal conditions for analytical determination of perehlorate derived

Preparation and properties of potassium trioxalatoferrate (III) trihydrate

The authors report on an exercise involving potassium trioxalatoferrate(III) trihydrate as an illustrative exercise in general chemistry laboratory courses