Experimental set-up for detecting blood pressure, heart rate, and lymphocyte redistribution in the running rat

An experimental set--up for detecting lymphocyte redistribution blood pressureand heart rate in the running rat is presented.The design is based 011 caterisation of the carotid anery which previously has been described. The design offers direct access to the blood stream making it possible to examine different cells and biochemical parameters.Furthermore, eontinnusly monitorering of blood pressure and heart rate both at rest and during exercise is described

Steepening of waves at the duskside magnetopause

Surface waves at the magnetopause flanks typically feature steeper, i.e., more inclined leading (antisunward facing) than trailing (sunward facing) edges. This is expected for Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability (KHI) amplified waves. Very rarely, during northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions, anomalous/inverse steepening has been observed. The small‐scale tetrahedral configuration of the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft and their high time resolution measurements enable us to routinely ascertain magnetopause boundary inclinations during surface wave passage with high accuracy by four‐spacecraft timing analysis. At the dusk flank magnetopause, 77%/23% of the analyzed wave intervals exhibit regular/inverse steepening. Inverse steepening happens during northward IMF conditions, as previously reported and, in addition, during intervals of dominant equatorial IMF. Inverse steepening observed under the latter conditions may be due to the absence of KHI or due to instabilities arising from the alignment of flow and magnetic fields in the magnetosheath.Key PointsThe MMS spacecraft configuration, orbits, and data resolution enable us to ascertain magnetopause (wave) inclinations with high accuracyInverse wave steepening (steeper trailing edges) occurs also when the IMF is in the GSM x‐y plane, not only during mainly northward IMFInverse steepening may be associated to the absence of KHI or to instabilities from the alignment of flow and magnetic fields in the sheathPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134254/1/grl54723.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134254/2/grl54723_am.pd

Views on and experiences of electronic cigarettes: a qualitative study of women who are pregnant or have recently given birth.

Background Electronic cigarettes (ECs) are increasingly used for reducing or stopping smoking, with some studies showing positive outcomes. However, little is known about views on ECs during pregnancy or postpartum and previous studies have nearly all been conducted in the US and have methodological limitations, such as not distinguishing between smokers and ex/non-smokers. A greater understanding of this topic will help to inform both clinicians and EC interventions. We elicited views and experiences of ECs among UK pregnant or recently pregnant women. Methods We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews, using topic guides, with pregnant or recently pregnant women, who were current or recent ex-smokers. To ensure broad views of ECs were obtained, recruitment was from several geographical locations and via various avenues of recruitment. This included stop smoking services, antenatal and health visitor clinics, a pregnancy website and an informal network. Participants were 15 pregnant and 15 postpartum women, including nine current EC users, 11 ex-users, and 10 never-users. Five women who were interviewed in pregnancy were later interviewed in postpartum to explore if their views had changed. Audio data was transcribed verbatim and framework analysis was applied. Results Five main themes emerged: motivations for use (e.g., for stopping or reducing smoking), social stigma (e.g., avoiding use in public, preferring ‘discrete’ NRT), using the EC (e.g., mostly used at home); consumer aspects (e.g., limited advice available), and harm perceptions (e.g., viewed as less harmful than smoking; concerns about safety and addiction). Conclusions ECs were viewed positively by some pregnant and postpartum women and seen as less harmful than smoking and useful as aids for reducing and stopping smoking. However, due to perceived social stigma, some women feel uncomfortable using ECs in public, especially during pregnancy, and had concerns about safety and nicotine dependence. Health professionals and designers of EC interventions need to provide women with up-to-date and consistent information and advice about safety and dependence, as well as considering the influence of social stigma

Colouring crystals with inorganic nanoparticles

A simple, one-pot method is presented whereby gold nanoparticles coated with a zwitterionic diblock copolymer are incorporated within single crystals of calcite. This may provide a versatile alternative to dyeing crystal with organic molecules and could be extended to create a series of new nanocomposite crystals with novel properties

Germline mutations in ETV6 are associated with thrombocytopenia, red cell macrocytosis and predisposition to lymphoblastic leukemia

Some familial platelet disorders are associated with predisposition to leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or dyserythropoietic anemia. We identified a family with autosomal dominant thrombocytopenia, high erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and two occurrences of B cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Whole-exome sequencing identified a heterozygous single-nucleotide change in ETV6 (ets variant 6), c.641C>T, encoding a p.Pro214Leu substitution in the central domain, segregating with thrombocytopenia and elevated MCV. A screen of 23 families with similar phenotypes identified 2 with ETV6 mutations. One family also had a mutation encoding p.Pro214Leu and one individual with ALL. The other family had a c.1252A>G transition producing a p.Arg418Gly substitution in the DNA-binding domain, with alternative splicing and exon skipping. Functional characterization of these mutations showed aberrant cellular localization of mutant and endogenous ETV6, decreased transcriptional repression and altered megakaryocyte maturation. Our findings underscore a key role for ETV6 in platelet formation and leukemia predisposition

Efficient and rapid screening of novel adsorbents for carbon capture in the UK IGSCC project

Here we present the results of the rapid screening of novel adsorbents for CO capture. The materials were synthesized as part of the Innovative Gas Separations for Carbon Capture (IGSCC) project, a UK wide consortium which involves the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with the University of St. Andrews, Cardiff University, Imperial College London, the University of Manchester and University College London. For the first time a wide range of materials relevant for carbon capture are investigated with regard to the CO capacity at the same conditions and using the same technique. More than 120 samples, belonging to different classes of adsorbents, were investigated: MOFs, zeolites, PIMs, carbons and silicas. The conditions chosen are the ones of interest for post-combustion applications: 0.1 bar and 35 °C. All the samples were tested using the Zero Length Column (ZLC) method. Relative to other technique, the ZLC presents the advantage of requiring a very small amount of sample (<15 mg) allowing to obtain rapidly kinetic and equilibrium properties of the novel materials. For each class of materials one typical sample will be shown and compared to typical commercial materials as benchmarks.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

NETosing neutrophils activate complement both on their own NETs and bacteria via alternative and non-alternative pathways

Neutrophils deposit antimicrobial proteins such as myeloperoxidase and proteases on chromatin, which they release as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Neutrophils also carry key components of the complement alternative pathway (AP) such as properdin or complement factor P (CFP), complement factor B (CFB) and C3. However, the contribution of these complement components and complement activation during NET formation in the presence and absence of bacteria is poorly understood. We studied complement activation on NETs and a Gram-negative opportunistic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA01, PAKwt, PAKgfp). Here we show that anaphylatoxin C5a, formyl-Methionyl-Leucyl-Phenylalanine (fMLP), and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) that activates NADPH oxidase induce the release of CFP, CFB and C3 from neutrophils. In response to PMA or P. aeruginosa, neutrophils secrete CFP, deposit it on NETs and bacteria, and induce the formation of terminal complement complexes (C5b-9). A blocking anti-CFP antibody inhibited AP-mediated but not non-AP-mediated complement activation on NETs and P. aeruginosa. Therefore, NET-mediated complement activation occurs via both AP- and non AP-based mechanisms, and AP-mediated complement activation during NETosis is dependent on CFP. These findings suggest that neutrophils could use their AP tool kit to readily activate complement on NETs and Gram-negative bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, whereas additional components present in the serum help to fix non-AP-mediated complement both on NETs and bacteria. This unique mechanism may play important roles in host defense, and help to explain specific roles of complement activation in NET-related diseases