LanderPick, a Remote Operated Trawled Vehicle to cost-effectively deploy and recover lightweight oceanographic landers

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A Wind Turbine Tower Design Based on the Use of Fibre-Reinforced Composites.

Abstract not availableJRC.G-Institute for the Protection and the Security of the Citizen (Ispra

Helmholtz theorem and the v-gauge in the problem of superluminal and instantaneous signals in classical electrodynamics

In this work we substantiate the applying of the Helmholtz vector decomposition theorem (H-theorem) to vector fields in classical electrodynamics. Using the H-theorem, within the framework of the two-parameter Lorentz-like gauge (so called v-gauge), we show that two kinds of magnetic vector potentials exist: one of them (solenoidal) can act exclusively with the velocity of light c and the other one (irrotational) with an arbitrary finite velocity $v$ (including a velocity more than c . We show also that the irrotational component of the electric field has a physical meaning and can propagate exclusively instantaneously.Comment: This variant has been accepted for publication in Found. Phys. Letter

Inhibition of PTP1B Restores IRS1-Mediated Hepatic Insulin Signaling in IRS2-Deficient Mice

[Objective]: Mice with complete deletion of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) develop hyperglycaemia, impaired hepatic insulin signaling and elevated gluconeogenesis, whereas mice deficient for protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B display an opposing hepatic phenotype characterized by increased sensitivity to insulin. To define the relationship between these two signaling pathways in the regulation of liver metabolism, we used genetic and pharmacological approaches to study the effects of inhibiting PTP1B on hepatic insulin signaling and expression of gluconeogenic enzymes in IRS2−/− deficient mice. [Research design and methods]: We analyzed glucose homeostasis and insulin signaling in liver and isolated hepatocytes from IRS2−/− and IRS2−/−/PTP1B−/−. Additionally, hepatic insulin signaling was assessed in control and IRS2−/− mice treated with resveratrol, an anti-oxidant present in red wine. [Results]: In livers of hyperglycaemic IRS2−/− mice, the expression levels of PTP1B and its association with the insulin receptor (IR) were increased. The absence of PTP1B in the double mutant mice restored hepatic IRS1-mediated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase/Akt/Foxo1 signaling. Moreover, resveratrol treatment of hyperglycaemic IRS2−/− mice decreased hepatic PTP1B mRNA and inhibited PTP1B activity, thereby restoring IRS1-mediated PI 3-kinase/Akt/Foxo1 signaling and peripheral insulin sensitivity. [Conclusions]: By regulating the phosphorylation state of IR, PTB1B determines sensitivity to insulin in liver and exerts a unique role in the interplay between IRS1 and IRS2 in the modulation of hepatic insulin action.This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Grants (Spain) BFU2008-02420, SAF2009- 08114 (to A.M.V.), BFU2008-04901-C03-03 (to M.R.), BFU2005-00084, and SAF2008-00011 (to D.J.B.) and the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM) (Instituto Salud Carlos III). A.G.-R. holds a postdoctoral contract from CIBERDEM.Peer reviewe

Global and regional cortical thinning in first-episode psychosis patients: relationships with clinical and cognitive features

BackgroundThe thickness of the cortical mantle is a sensitive measure for identifying alterations in cortical structure. We aimed to explore whether first episode schizophrenia patients already show a significant cortical thinning and whether cortical thickness anomalies may significantly influence clinical and cognitive features.MethodWe investigated regional changes in cortical thickness in a large and heterogeneous sample of schizophrenia spectrum patients (n=142) at their first break of the illness and healthy controls (n=83). Magnetic resonance imaging brain scans (1.5 T) were obtained and images were analyzed by using BRAINS2. The contribution of sociodemographic, cognitive and clinical characterictics was investigated.ResultsPatients showed a significant total cortical thinning (F=17.55, d=−0.62, p0.53). No significant group × gender interactions were observed (all p’s>0.15). There were no significant associations between the clinical and pre-morbid variables and cortical thickness measurements (all r’s<0.12). A weak significant negative correlation between attention and total (r=−0.24, p=0.021) and parietal cortical thickness (r=−0.27, p=0.009) was found in patients (thicker cortex was associated with lower attention). Our data revealed a similar pattern of cortical thickness changes related to age in patients and controls.ConclusionsCortical thinning is independent of gender, age, age of onset and duration of the illness and does not seem to significantly influence clinical and functional symptomatology. These findings support a primary neuro-development disorder affecting the normal cerebral cortex development in schizophrenia