Test results and facility description for a 40-kilowatt stirling engine

A 40 kilowatt Stirling engine, its test support facilities, and the experimental procedures used for these tests are described. Operating experience with the engine is discussed, and some initial test results are presente

The Seyfert Population in the Local Universe

The magnitude-limited catalog of the Southern Sky Redshift Survey (SSRS2), is used to characterize the properties of galaxies hosting Active Galactic Nuclei. Using emission-line ratios, we identify a total of 162 (3%) Seyfert galaxies out of the parent sample with 5399 galaxies. The sample contains 121 Seyfert 2 galaxies and 41 Seyfert 1. The SSRS2 Seyfert galaxies are predominantly in spirals of types Sb and earlier, or in galaxies with perturbed appearance as the result of strong interactions or mergers. Seyfert galaxies in this sample are twice as common in barred hosts than the non-Seyferts. By assigning galaxies to groups using a percolation algorithm we find that the Seyfert galaxies in the SSRS2 are more likely to be found in binary systems, when compared to galaxies in the SSRS2 parent sample. However, there is no statistically significant difference between the Seyfert and SSRS2 parent sample when systems with more than 2 galaxies are considered. The analysis of the present sample suggests that there is a stronger correlation between the presence of the AGN phenomenon with internal properties of galaxies (morphology, presence of bar, luminosity) than with environmental effects (local galaxy density, group velocity dispersion, nearest neighbor distance).Comment: 35 pages, 13 figures, Accepted to be publised in Astronomical Journa

Brain Regional Differences in the Effect of Ethanol on GABA Release from Presynaptic Terminals

Whereas ethanol has behavioral actions consistent with increased GABAergic function, attempts to demonstrate a direct enhancement of GABA-gated currents by ethanol have produced mixed results. Recent work has suggested that a part of the GABAergic profile of ethanol may result from enhanced GABA release from presynaptic terminals. The present study examines the effect of ethanol on GABA release in several brain regions to assess the regional nature of ethanol-induced GABA release. Whole-cell voltage clamp recording of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) from mechanically dissociated neurons and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) and paired-pulse ratio (PPR) from a slice preparation were used to quantify GABA release. Ethanol produced a concentration-dependent increase in the frequency of sIPSCs recorded from mechanically dissociated cerebellar Purkinje neurons and mIPSCs from substantia nigra neurons without having an effect on sIPSCs recorded from lateral septal or cerebrocortical neurons. This regional difference in the effect of ethanol on GABA release was confirmed with PPR recording from brain slices. These data indicate that ethanol can act on presynaptic terminals to increase GABA release in some brain regions while having little or no effect on GABA release in others. This regional difference is consistent with earlier in vivo studies in which ethanol affected neural activity and sensitivity to GABA in some, but not all, brain sites

Small-scale systems of galaxies. II. Properties of the NGC 4756 group of galaxies

We present results from a study of the NGC 4756 group which is dominated by the elliptical galaxy NGC 5746. The characteristics of the group are investigated through (a) the detailed investigation of the morphological, photometric and spectroscopic properties of nine galaxies among the dominant members of the group (b) the determination of the photometric parameters of the faint galaxy population in an area of 34'x34' centered on NGC 4756 and (c) an analysis of the X-ray emission in the area based upon archival data. The 9 member galaxies are located in the core part of the NGC 4756 group (a strip diameter about 300 kpc in diameter which has a very loose configuration. The central part of the NGC 4756 group contains a significant fraction of early-type galaxies. Three new group members with previously unknown systemic velocities are identified, one of which is a dE. At about 7.5' SW of NGC 4756 a sub-structure of the group is detected, including IC 829, MCG -2-33-35, MCG -2-33-36 and MCG -2-33-38, which meets the Hickson criteria for being a compact group. Most of the galaxies in this sub-structure show interaction signatures. We do not detect apparent fine structure and signatures of recent interaction events in the early-type galaxy population, with the exception of a strong dust lane in the elliptical MCG -2-33-38. This galaxy displays however signatures of nuclear activity. Strong [O III], [N II] and [S II] line emission, combined with comparatively weak, but broad H alpha emission suggest an intermediate Seyfert type classification. Although the area is heavily contaminated by the background cluster Abell 1631, X-ray data suggest the presence of a hot intergalactic medium related to the group to the X-ray emission detected. The present results are discussed in the context of group evolution.Comment: 45 pages including 10 figures and 8 tables accepted for publication in A

An orifice shape-based reduced order model of patient-specific mitral valve regurgitation

Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is one of the most prevalent valvular heart diseases. Its quantitative assessment is challenging but crucial for treatment decisions. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), we developed a reduced order model (ROM) describing the relationship between MR flow rates, transvalvular pressure differences, and the size and shape of the regurgitant valve orifice. Due to its low computational cost, this ROM could easily be implemented into clinical workflows to support the assessment of MR. We reconstructed mitral valves of 43 patients from 3D transesophageal echocardiographic images and estimated the 3D anatomic regurgitant orifice areas using a shrink-wrap algorithm. The orifice shapes were quantified with three dimensionless shape parameters. Steady-state CFD simulations in the reconstructed mitral valves were performed to analyse the relationship between the regurgitant orifice geometry and the regurgitant hemodynamics. Based on the results, three ROMs with increasing complexity were defined, all of which revealed very good agreement with CFD results with a mean bias below 3% for the MR flow rate. Classifying orifices into two shape groups and assigning group-specific flow coefficients in the ROM reduced the limit of agreement predicting regurgitant volumes from 9.0 ml to 5.7 ml at a mean regurgitant volume of 57 ml

DNA methylome analysis identifies accelerated epigenetic aging associated with postmenopausal breast cancer susceptibility

Aim of the study A vast majority of human malignancies are associated with ageing, and age is a strong predictor of cancer risk. Recently, DNA methylation-based marker of ageing, known as ‘epigenetic clock’, has been linked with cancer risk factors. This study aimed to evaluate whether the epigenetic clock is associated with breast cancer risk susceptibility and to identify potential epigenetics-based biomarkers for risk stratification. Methods Here, we profiled DNA methylation changes in a nested case–control study embedded in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort (n = 960) using the Illumina HumanMethylation 450K BeadChip arrays and used the Horvath age estimation method to calculate epigenetic age for these samples. Intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA) was estimated as the residuals by regressing epigenetic age on chronological age. Results We observed an association between IEAA and breast cancer risk (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.007–1.076, P = 0.016). One unit increase in IEAA was associated with a 4% increased odds of developing breast cancer (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.007–1.076). Stratified analysis based on menopausal status revealed that IEAA was associated with development of postmenopausal breast cancers (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.020–1.11, P = 0.003). In addition, methylome-wide analyses revealed that a higher mean DNA methylation at cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) islands was associated with increased risk of breast cancer development (OR per 1 SD = 1.20; 95 %CI: 1.03–1.40, P = 0.02) whereas mean methylation levels at non-island CpGs were indistinguishable between cancer cases and controls. Conclusion Epigenetic age acceleration and CpG island methylation have a weak, but statistically significant, association with breast cancer susceptibility

Nitrosopersulfide (SSNO-) targets soluble guanylyl cyclase and induces vasodilation in vivo

Background Recent experimental evidence suggests that nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide signaling pathways are intimately intertwined particularly in the vasculature, with mutual attenuation or potentiation of biological responses under control of the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) / phopshodiesterase (PDE) pathway. There is now compelling evidence that part of the NO/sulfide cross talk has a chemical foundation via the formation of S/N-hybrid molecules including thionitrous acid (HSNO) and nitrosopersulfde (SSNO-). The aim of this study was to characterize the bioactive products of the interaction between sulfide and NO metabolites targeting sGC that may potentially regulate vasodilation. Results We found that the chemical interaction of sulfide with NO or nitrosothiols leads to formation of S/N-hybrid metabolites including SSNO- via intermediate formation of HSNO. Contrary to a recent report in the literature but consistent with the transient nature of HSNO, its formation was not detectable by high-resolution mass spectrometry under physiologically relevant conditions. SSNO- is also formed in non-aqueous media by the reaction of nitrite with oxidized sulfur species including colloidal sulfur and polysulfides. SSNO- is stable in the presence of high concentrations of thiols, release NO, and activates sGC in RFL-6 cells in an NO-dependent fashion. Moreover, SSNO- is a potent vasodilator in aortic rings in vitro and lowers blood pressure in rats in vivo. The presence of high concentrations of SOD or thiols does not affect SSNO- mediated sGC activation, while it potentiates and inhibits the effects of the nitroxyl (HNO) donor Angeli's salt, suggesting that HNO release from SSNO- is not involved in sGC activation. Conclusion The reaction between NO and sulfide leads to fomation of S/N-hybrid molecules including SSNO-, releasing NO, activating sGC and inducing vasodilation. SSNO- is considerably more stable than HSNO at pH 7.4 and thus a more likely biological mediator that can account for the chemical cross-talk between NO and sulfide

Synthesis and characterization of BaTiO3/-Fe2O3 core/shell structure

Multiferroic materials attracted a lot of attention in recent years because of their significant scientific interest and technological applications. The multiferroic core/shell powders have a better connectivity between the phases, resulting in superior dielectric and magneto electric properties. In this study, the influence of preparation condition on structure and properties of BaTiO3/-Fe2O3 core/shell composite materials was examined. The five samples were obtained by varying synthesis conditions, such as synthesized method (co-precipitation and sonochemical method) and pH values of solution. XRD and Raman spectroscopy analyses were performed in order to determine phase composition and structural changes within samples. Morphology modifications were examined by SEM and EDS analyses. Finally, effect of structural and microstructural changes on magnetic and electrical properties was detected and explained

Nε−Lysine Acetylation of a Bacterial Transcription Factor Inhibits Its DNA-Binding Activity

Evidence suggesting that eukaryotes and archaea use reversible Nε-lysine (Nε-Lys) acetylation to modulate gene expression has been reported, but evidence for bacterial use of Nε-Lys acetylation for this purpose is lacking. Here, we report data in support of the notion that bacteria can control gene expression by modulating the acetylation state of transcription factors (TFs). We screened the E. coli proteome for substrates of the bacterial Gcn5-like protein acetyltransferase (Pat). Pat acetylated four TFs, including the RcsB global regulatory protein, which controls cell division, and capsule and flagellum biosynthesis in many bacteria. Pat acetylated residue Lys180 of RcsB, and the NAD+-dependent Sir2 (sirtuin)-like protein deacetylase (CobB) deacetylated acetylated RcsB (RcsBAc), demonstrating that Nε-Lys acetylation of RcsB is reversible. Analysis of RcsBAc and variant RcsB proteins carrying substitutions at Lys180 provided biochemical and physiological evidence implicating Lys180 as a critical residue for RcsB DNA-binding activity. These findings further the likelihood that reversible Nε-Lys acetylation of transcription factors is a mode of regulation of gene expression used by all cells