1,178 research outputs found
Measurement of calcium isotopes (ÎŽ44Ca) using a multicollector TIMS technique
We propose a newâmulticollector techniqueâ for the thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) measurement of calcium (Ca) isotope ratios improving average internal statistical uncertainty of the 44Ca/40Ca measurements by a factor of 2â4 and average sample throughput relative to the commonly used âpeak jumping methodâ by a factor of 3. Isobaric interferences with potassium (40K+) and titanium (48Ti+) or positively charged molecules like 24Mg19F+, 25Mg19F+, 24Mg16O+ and 27Al16O+ can either be corrected or are negligible. Similar, peak shape defects introduced by the large dispersion of the whole Ca isotope mass range from 40â48 atomic mass units (amu) do not influence Ca-isotope ratios. We use a 43Ca/48Ca double spike with an iterative double spike correction algorithm for precise isotope measurement
Improving transferability between different engineering stages in the development of automated material flow modules
For improving flexibility and robustness of the engineering of automated
production systems (aPS) in case of extending, reducing or modifying parts,
several approaches propose an encapsulation and clustering of related
functions, e.g. from the electrical, mechanical or software engineering, based
on a modular architecture. Considering the development of these modules, there
are different stages, e.g. module planning or functional engineering, which
have to be completed. A reference model that addresses the different stages for
the engineering of aPS is proposed by AutomationML. Due to these different
stages and the integration of several engineering disciplines, e.g. mechanical,
electrical/electronic or software engineering, information not limited to one
discipline are stored redundantly increasing the effort to transfer information
and the risk of inconsistency. Although, data formats for the storage and
exchange of plant engineering information exist, e.g. AutomationML, fixed
domain specific structures and relations of the information, e.g. for automated
material flow systems (aMFS), are missing. This paper presents the integration
of a meta model into the development of modules for aMFS to improve the
transferability and consistency of information between the different
engineering stages and the increasing level of detail from the coarse-grained
plant planning to the fine-grained functional engineering.Comment: 11 pages, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7499821
Lotus leaf extract and L-carnitine influence different processes during the adipocyte life cycle
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The cellular and molecular mechanisms of adipose tissue biology have been studied extensively over the last two decades. Adipose tissue growth involves both an increase in fat cell size and the formation of mature adipocytes from precursor cells. To investigate how natural substances influence these two processes, we examined the effects of lotus leaf extract (<it>Nelumbo nucifera</it>-extract solution obtained from Silab, France) and L-carnitine on human preadipocytes and adipocytes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For our <it>in vitro </it>studies, we used a lotus leaf extract solution alone or in combination with L-carnitine. Utilizing cultured human preadipocytes, we investigated lotus leaf extract solution-induced inhibition of triglyceride incorporation during adipogenesis and possible effects on cell viability. Studies on human adipocytes were performed aiming to elucidate the efficacy of lotus leaf extract solution to stimulate lipolytic activity. To further characterize lotus leaf extract solution-mediated effects, we determined the expression of the transcription factor adipocyte determination and differentiation factor 1 (ADD1/SREBP-1c) on the RNA- and protein level utilizing qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence analysis. Additionally, the effect of L-carnitine on beta-oxidation was analyzed using human preadipocytes and mature adipocytes. Finally, we investigated additive effects of a combination of lotus leaf extract solution and L-carnitine on triglyceride accumulation during preadipocyte/adipocyte differentiation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our data showed that incubation of preadipocytes with lotus leaf extract solution significantly decreased triglyceride accumulation during adipogenesis without affecting cell viability. Compared to controls, adipocytes incubated with lotus leaf extract solution exhibited a significant increase in lipolysis-activity. Moreover, cell populations cultivated in the presence of lotus leaf extract solution showed a decrease in adipocyte differentiation capacity as indicated by a decrease in the ADD1/SREBP-1c signal. Importantly, our results demonstrated that a combination of lotus leaf extract solution and L-carnitine reduced triglyceride accumulation to a greater extent compared to incubation with either substance alone.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Overall, our data demonstrate that a combination of lotus leaf extract and L-carnitine reduced triglyceride accumulation in human (pre)adipocytes by affecting different processes during the adipocyte life cycle. For this reason, this combination might represent a treatment option for obesity-related diseases.</p
Presence and Diversity of Different Enteric Viruses in Wild Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus)
Abstract:
Rodents are common reservoirs for numerous zoonotic pathogens, but knowledge about
diversity of pathogens in rodents is still limited. Here, we investigated the occurrence and genetic
diversity of enteric viruses in 51 Norway rats collected in three different countries in Europe. RNA of
at least one virus was detected in the intestine of 49 of 51 animals. Astrovirus RNA was detected
in 46 animals, mostly of rat astroviruses. Human astrovirus (HAstV-8) RNA was detected in one,
rotavirus group A (RVA) RNA was identified in eleven animals. One RVA RNA could be typed as
rat G3 type. Rat hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA was detected in five animals. Two entire genome
sequences of ratHEV were determined. Human norovirus RNA was detected in four animals
with the genotypes GI.P4-GI.4, GII.P33-GII.1, and GII.P21. In one animal, a replication competent
coxsackievirus A20 strain was detected. Additionally, RNA of an enterovirus species A strain was
detected in the same animal, albeit in a different tissue. The results show a high detection rate and
diversity of enteric viruses in Norway rats in Europe and indicate their significance as vectors for
zoonotic transmission of enteric viruses. The detailed role of Norway rats and transmission pathways
of enteric viruses needs to be investigated in further studies.Peer Reviewe
Adynamia episodica hereditaria with myotonia: A non-inactivating sodium current and the effect of extracellular pH
To study the mechanism of periodic paralysis, we investigated the properties of intact muscle fibers biopsied from a patient who had adynamia episodica hereditaria with electromyographic signs of myotonia. When the potassium concentration in the extracellular medium, [K]e, was 3.5 mmol/l, force of contraction, membrane resting potential, and intracellular sodium activity were normal, but depolarizing voltage clamp steps revealed the existence of an abnormal inward current. This current was activated at membrane potentials less negative than -80 mV, reached a maximum within 50 msec, and was not inactivated with time. The inward current was completely and reversibly blocked by tetrodotoxin, which indicates that it was carried by sodium ions. In a solution containing 9 mmol/l potassium, normal muscle would depolarize to -63 mV and yet be capable of developing full tetanic force upon stimulation. The muscle from the patient depolarized to -57 mV and became inexcitable, i.e., it was paralyzed. A contracture did not develop. Lowering of the extracellular pH did not influence the resting potential, but it effectively antagonized or prevented the paralytic effect of high [K]e by changing the inactivation characteristics of the sodium channels. Hydrochlorothiazide, which had a therapeutic effect on the patient, did not prevent paralysis in vitro. An abnormal rise of the intracellular sodium activity was recorded when the extracellular potassium concentration was raised to 10 mmol/l
An Automated and Scalable Formal Process for Detecting Fault Injection Vulnerabilities in Binaries
Fault injection has increasingly been used both to attack software applications, and to test system robustness. Detecting fault injection vulnerabilities has been approached with a variety of different but limited methods. This paper proposes an extension of a recently published general model checking based process to detect fault injection vulnerabilities in binaries. This new extension makes the general process scalable to real-world implementions which is demonstrated by detecting vulnerabilities in different cryptographic implementations
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