2,206 research outputs found
Tailoring the Gut Microbiome Through Diet to Target Short Chain Fatty Acids and Trimethylamine N-Oxide for Heart Failure Prevention
The number of people diagnosed with heart failure is on the rise—it’s becoming an epidemic. There are treatment options available for heart failure, but unfortunately there is not a cure. However, most cases of heart failure can be prevented. One mechanism that provides promise for preventing heart failure is the implementation of a heart healthy diet. However, not in the context that most are familiar with. In this case, a heart healthy diet is in reference to the ability of diet to tailor the gut microbiome in order to target specific metabolites that are associated with heart failure. Diet plays a huge role in the compositional makeup of the gut microbiome and affects the metabolites produced by the gut microbiome. Heart failure is associated with a decrease in short chain fatty acids and an increase in trimethylamine N-oxide. The gut microbiome of someone with heart failure is in a state of dysbiosis. Diet can be used to manipulate the gut microbiome back to a state of symbiosis and help counter the imbalances found in patients with heart failure. A diet high in plant-based foods can increase the bacteria responsible for producing short chain fatty acids. A diet low in animal products can decrease the bacteria involved in the production of trimethylamine N-oxide. Following a diet that combines the two can potentially alter the gut microbiome and induce favorable changes to prevent the development or progression of heart failure
Evaluating On-Farm Biodiversity: A Comparison of Assessment Methods
Strategies to stop the loss of biodiversity in agriculture areas will be more successful if farmers have the means to understand changes in biodiversity on their farms and to assess the effectiveness of biodiversity promoting measures. There are several methods to assess on-farm biodiversity but it may be difficult to select the most appropriate method for a farmer’s individual circumstances. This study aims to evaluate the usability and usefulness of four biodiversity assessment methods that are available to farmers in Switzerland. All four methods were applied to five case study farms, which were ranked according to the results. None of the methods were able to provide an exact statement on the current biodiversity status of the farms, but each method could provide an indication, or approximation, of one or more aspects of biodiversity. However, the results also showed that it is possible to generate different statements on the state of biodiversity on the same farms by using different biodiversity assessment methods. All methods showed strengths and weaknesses so, when choosing a method, the purpose of the biodiversity assessment should be kept in the foreground and the limitations of the chosen methods should be considered when interpreting the outcomes
Elemental Abundances in NGC 3516
We present RGS data from an XMM-Newton observation of the Seyfert 1 galaxy
NGC 3516, taken while the continuum source was in an extreme low state. The
spectrum shows numerous emission lines including the H-like lines of C, N and O
and the He-like lines of N, O and Ne. These data show that the N lines are far
stronger than would be expected from gas of solar abundances. Based on our
photoionization models, we find that N is overabundant compared to C, O and Ne
by at least a factor of 2.5. We suggest this is the result of secondary
production of N in intermediate mass stars, and indicative of the history of
star formation in NGC 3516.Comment: 19 pages, 3 color figures. ApJ in pres
Ensiling of Tannin-Containing Sorghum Grain
Sorghum is known as important feed-stuff in tropical regions where rainfall is insufficient for the cultivation of maize. Furthermore, those sorghum cultivars rich in tannins are naturally protected to a certain extent against bird damage, insect pests and moulds. Nevertheless, tannins impair the feed quality. Thus, the objectives of this study were to investigate whether ensiling could be a suitable preservation method for sorghum grain originally rich in tannins and if it is possible to reduce tannin content during fermentation
Antarctic meteorite newsletter. Volume 4: Number 1, February 1981: Antarctic meteorite descriptions, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
This issue of the Newsletter is essentially a catalog of all antarctic meteorites in the collections of the Johnson Space Center Curation Facility and the Smithsonian except for 288 pebbles now being classed. It includes listings of all previously distributed data sheets plus a number of new ones for 1979. Indexes of samples include meteorite name/number, classification, and weathering category. Separate indexes list type 3 and 4 chondrites, all irons, all achondrites, and all carbonaceous chondrites
Antarctic meteorite descriptions 1976-1977-1978-1979
All previously distributed meteorite data sheets, plus a number of new ones for 1979 chondrites are included. A comprehensive sample index listing meteorite name/number, classification, and weathering category is also included. Separate indexes listing all petrologic type 3 and type 4 chondrites, all irons, all achondrites, and all carbonaceous chondrites in the collection is provided
One dimensional chain of quantum molecule motors as a mathematical physics model for muscle fibre
A quantum chain model of many molecule motors is proposed as a mathematical
physics theory on the microscopic modeling of classical force-velocity relation
and tension transients of muscle fibre. We proposed quantum many-particle
Hamiltonian to predict the force-velocity relation for the slow release of
muscle fibre which has no empirical relation yet, it is much more complicate
than hyperbolic relation. Using the same Hamiltonian, we predicted the
mathematical force-velocity relation when the muscle is stimulated by
alternative electric current. The discrepancy between input electric frequency
and the muscle oscillation frequency has a physical understanding by Doppler
effect in this quantum chain model. Further more, we apply quantum physics
phenomena to explore the tension time course of cardiac muscle and insect
flight muscle. Most of the experimental tension transients curves found their
correspondence in the theoretical output of quantum two-level and three-level
model. Mathematically modeling electric stimulus as photons exciting a quantum
three-level particle reproduced most tension transient curves of water bug
Lethocerus Maximus.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, Arguments are adde
The AGN Outflow in the HDFS Target QSO J2233-606 from a High-Resolution VLT/UVES Spectrum
We present a detailed analysis of the intrinsic UV absorption in the central
HDFS target QSO J2233-606, based on a high-resolution, high S/N (~25 -- 50)
spectrum obtained with VLT/UVES. This spectrum samples the cluster of intrinsic
absorption systems outflowing from the AGN at radial velocities v ~ -5000 --
-3800 km/s in the key far-UV diagnostic lines - the lithium-like CNO doublets
and H I Lyman series. We fit the absorption troughs using a global model of all
detected lines to solve for the independent velocity-dependent covering factors
of the continuum and emission-line sources and ionic column densities. This
reveals increasing covering factors in components with greater outflow
velocity. Narrow substructure is revealed in the optical depth profiles,
suggesting the relatively broad absorption is comprised of a series of multiple
components. We perform velocity-dependent photoionization modeling, which
allows a full solution to the C, N, and O abundances, as well as the velocity
resolved ionization parameter and total column density. The absorbers are found
to have supersolar abundances, with [C/H] and [O/H] ~0.5 -- 0.9, and [N/H] ~
1.1 -- 1.3, consistent with enhanced nitrogen production expected from
secondary nucleosynthesis processes. Independent fits to each kinematic
component give consistent results for the abundances. The lowest-ionization
material in each of the strong absorbers is modeled with similar ionization
parameters. Components of higher-ionization (indicated by stronger O VI
relative to C IV and N V) are present at velocities just redward of each
low-ionization absorber. We explore the implications of these results for the
kinematic-geometric-ionization structure of the outflow.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, emulateapj, accepted for publication in Ap
A new method for microscale cyclic crack growth characterization from notched microcantilevers and application to single crystalline tungsten and a metallic glass
The lifetime of most metals is limited by cyclic loads, ending in fatigue
failure. The progressive growth of cracks ends up in catastrophic failure. An
advanced method is presented for the determination of cyclic crack growth on
the microscale using a nanoindenter, which allows the characterization of >
10,000 loading cycles. It uses focused ion beam fabricated notched
microcantilevers. The method has been validated by cyclic bending metallic
glass and tungsten microcantilevers. The experiments reveal a stable crack
growth during the lifetime of both samples. The metallic glass shows less
plasticity due to the absence of dislocations, but shows shearing caused by the
deformation. The crack growth rates determined in the tests follow Paris' power
law relationship. The results are reliable, reproducible and comparable with
macroscopic setups. Due to the flexibility of the method, it is suitable for
the characterization of specific microstructural features, like single phases,
grain boundaries or different grain orientations
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