Magnetic field tuning of antiferromagnetic Yb3_{3}Pt4_{4}

We present measurements of the specific heat, magnetization, magnetocaloric effect and magnetic neutron diffraction carried out on single crystals of antiferromagnetic Yb$_{3}$Pt$_{4}$, where highly localized Yb moments order at $T_{\rm N}=2.4$ K in zero field. The antiferromagnetic order was suppressed to $T_{\rm N}\rightarrow 0$ by applying a field of 1.85 T in the $ab$ plane. Magnetocaloric effect measurements show that the antiferromagnetic phase transition is always continuous for $T_{\rm N}>0$, although a pronounced step in the magnetization is observed at the critical field in both neutron diffraction and magnetization measurements. These steps sharpen with decreasing temperature, but the related divergences in the magnetic susceptibility are cut off at the lowest temperatures, where the phase line itself becomes vertical in the field-temperature plane. As $T_{\rm N}\rightarrow0$, the antiferromagnetic transition is increasingly influenced by a quantum critical endpoint, where $T_{\rm N}$ ultimately vanishes in a first order phase transition.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

743-2 Superiority of 3D Echo vs 2D Echo for Quantitating Wall Motion Abnormality as an Index of Myocardial Infarction Size

Two-dimensional echo estimations of the fraction of myocardium showing abnormal wall motion (AWM) are often used as an index of infarct size, to establish prognosis and guide therapy. However 2D echo methods rely on image plane and geometric assumptions which may not be valid when infarction affects ventricular shape. 3D echo reconstruction of the endocardial surface can eliminate the need for these assumptions. Purpose; To use 3D echo and 2D echo to quantitate AWM in experimental acute infarction, and to correlate the extent of AWM with the pathologic determination of infarct size.MethodsCoronary ligation was performed in 14 open chest dogs, and echo imaging performed after 6 hours. 3D echo used 7–8 spatially registered short axis cross-sections to measure % of endocardial surface showing AWM. Two 2D echo methods using multiple, non-spatially registered images were evaluated. Both compared summed endocardial length showing AWM to the total of the endocardial circumferences, expressed as %. Method #1 used 7-8 short-axis slices. Method #2 used basal, mid, apical short axis + apical 4-and 2-chamber views. Percent LV mass (% mass) infarcted was determined by a standard technique.Resultsregression of [x = echo %AWM] vs [y = %mass infarcted]Echo Methodr valueStandard Error of the EstimateEquationp value3D0.94±2.6%y =0.71x-1.81%<0.000120-#10.82±4.3%y =0.50x-0.66%0.001520-#2074±5,1%Y =0.47x-1.25%0.0058ConclusionThree-dimensional echocardiography is a more accurate means of non-invasively estimating myocardial infarct size in this animal model, compared to 2D echo methods

Wavelet Based Fractal Analysis of Airborne Pollen

The most abundant biological particles in the atmosphere are pollen grains and spores. Self protection of pollen allergy is possible through the information of future pollen contents in the air. In spite of the importance of airborne pol len concentration forecasting, it has not been possible to predict the pollen concentrations with great accuracy, and about 25% of the daily pollen forecasts have resulted in failures. Previous analysis of the dynamic characteristics of atmospheric pollen time series indicate that the system can be described by a low dimensional chaotic map. We apply the wavelet transform to study the multifractal characteristics of an a irborne pollen time series. We find the persistence behaviour associated to low pollen concentration values and to the most rare events of highest pollen co ncentration values. The information and the correlation dimensions correspond to a chaotic system showing loss of information with time evolution.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure

Symmetric Versus Nonsymmetric Structure of the Phosphorus Vacancy on InP(110)

The atomic and electronic structure of positively charged P vacancies on InP(110) surfaces is determined by combining scanning tunneling microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, and density-functional theory calculations. The vacancy exhibits a nonsymmetric rebonded atomic configuration with a charge transfer level 0.75+-0.1 eV above the valence band maximum. The scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images show only a time average of two degenerate geometries, due to a thermal flip motion between the mirror configurations. This leads to an apparently symmetric STM image, although the ground state atomic structure is nonsymmetric.Comment: 5 pages including 3 figures. related publications can be found at http://www.fhi-berlin.mpg.de/th/paper.htm

A Field Approach to 3D Gene Expression Pattern Characterization

We present a vector field method for obtaining the spatial organization of 3D patterns of gene expression based on gradients and lines of force obtained by numerical integration. The convergence of these lines of force in local maxima are centers of gene expression, providing a natural and powerful framework to characterize the organization and dynamics of biological structures. We apply this novel methodology to analyze the expression pattern of the Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) driven by the promoter of light chain myosin II during zebrafish heart formation.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, The following article has been submitted to Applied Physics Letters. If it is published, it will be found online at http://apl.aip.or

Associations Between the Modified Food Standard Agency Nutrient Profiling System Dietary Index and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in an Elderly Population

Background: Helping consumers to improve the nutritional quality of their diet is a key public health action to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The modified version of the Food Standard Agency Nutrient Profiling System Dietary Index (FSAm-NPS DI) underpinning the Nutri-Score front-of-pack label has been used in public health strategies to address the deleterious consequences of poor diets. This study aimed to assess the association between the FSAm-NPS DI and some CVD risk factors including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, plasma glucose levels, triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Materials and Methods: Dietary intake was assessed at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up using a 143-item validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Dietary indices based on FSAm-NPS applied at an individual level were computed to characterize the diet quality of 5,921 participants aged 55-75 years with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome from the PREDIMED-plus cohort. Associations between the FSAm-NPS DI and CVD risk factors were assessed using linear regression models. Results: Compared to participants with a higher nutritional quality of diet (measured by a lower FSAm-NPS DI at baseline or a decrease in FSAm-NPS DI after 1 year), those participants with a lower nutritional quality of diet (higher FSAm-NPS DI or an increase in score) showed a significant increase in the levels of plasma glucose, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure, BMI, and waist circumference (beta coefficient [95% confidence interval]; P for trend) (1.67 [0.43, 2.90]; <0.001; 6.27 [2.46, 10.09]; <0.001; 0.56 [0.08, 1.05]; 0.001; 0.51 [0.41, 0.60]; <0.001; 1.19 [0.89, 1.50]; <0.001, respectively). No significant associations in relation to changes in HDL and LDL-cholesterol nor with systolic blood pressure were shown. Conclusion: This prospective cohort study suggests that the consumption of food items with a higher FSAm-NPS DI is associated with increased levels of several major risk factors for CVD including adiposity, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, and diastolic blood pressure. However, results must be cautiously interpreted because no significant prospective associations were identified for critical CVD risk factors, such as HDL and LDL-cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure

Associations Between the Modified Food Standard Agency Nutrient Profiling System Dietary Index and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in an Elderly Population

BackgroundHelping consumers to improve the nutritional quality of their diet is a key public health action to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The modified version of the Food Standard Agency Nutrient Profiling System Dietary Index (FSAm-NPS DI) underpinning the Nutri-Score front-of-pack label has been used in public health strategies to address the deleterious consequences of poor diets. This study aimed to assess the association between the FSAm-NPS DI and some CVD risk factors including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, plasma glucose levels, triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and diastolic and systolic blood pressure.Materials and MethodsDietary intake was assessed at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up using a 143-item validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Dietary indices based on FSAm-NPS applied at an individual level were computed to characterize the diet quality of 5,921 participants aged 55–75 years with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome from the PREDIMED-plus cohort. Associations between the FSAm-NPS DI and CVD risk factors were assessed using linear regression models.ResultsCompared to participants with a higher nutritional quality of diet (measured by a lower FSAm-NPS DI at baseline or a decrease in FSAm-NPS DI after 1 year), those participants with a lower nutritional quality of diet (higher FSAm-NPS DI or an increase in score) showed a significant increase in the levels of plasma glucose, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure, BMI, and waist circumference (β coefficient [95% confidence interval]; P for trend) (1.67 [0.43, 2.90]; &lt;0.001; 6.27 [2.46, 10.09]; &lt;0.001; 0.56 [0.08, 1.05]; 0.001; 0.51 [0.41, 0.60]; &lt;0.001; 1.19 [0.89, 1.50]; &lt;0.001, respectively). No significant associations in relation to changes in HDL and LDL-cholesterol nor with systolic blood pressure were shown.ConclusionThis prospective cohort study suggests that the consumption of food items with a higher FSAm-NPS DI is associated with increased levels of several major risk factors for CVD including adiposity, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, and diastolic blood pressure. However, results must be cautiously interpreted because no significant prospective associations were identified for critical CVD risk factors, such as HDL and LDL-cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure

Albian-Cenomanian depositional sequences and larger foraminifera biozonation ofthe Puerto del Remolcador section (Iberian Ranges, Maestrat, Castelló)

Preliminary results of micropa/eontological and sequential studies of the thickest and most marine A/bian-Cenomanian series in the Iberian Ranges are presented. Numerous larger foraminifera indicate Late Albian, Vraconian as well as Early and Middle Cenomanian age. Based on the platform model elaborated by García et al. (1993), the sequentia/ ana/ysis of the section allows the identification of the U.Z.A- 1.5, U.Z.A-2.1, U.Z.A-2.2 and U.Z.A-2.3 sequences ofHaq etal. (1988). New and more precise data on the distribution oftheMid-Cretaceous large foraminifera in eastern Spain are obtaine

Effects of catecholamines on hepatic and skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration after prolonged exposure to faecal peritonitis in pigs

Use of norepinephrine to increase blood pressure in septic animals has been associated with increased efficiency of hepatic mitochondrial respiration. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the same effect could be reproduced in isolated hepatic mitochondria after prolonged in vivo exposure to faecal peritonitis. Eighteen pigs were randomized to 27 h of faecal peritonitis and to a control condition (n = 9 each group). At the end, hepatic mitochondria were isolated and incubated for one hour with either norepinephrine or placebo, with and without pretreatment with the specific receptor antagonists prazosin and yohimbine. Mitochondrial state 3 and state 4 respiration were measured for respiratory chain complexes I and II, and state 3 for complex IV using high-resolution respirometry, and respiratory control ratios were calculated. Additionally, skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration was evaluated after incubation with norepinephrine and dobutamine with and without the respective antagonists (atenolol, propranolol and phentolamine for dobutamine). Faecal peritonitis was characterized by decreasing blood pressure and stroke volume, and maintained systemic oxygen consumption. Neither faecal peritonitis nor any of the drugs or drug combinations had measurable effects on hepatic or skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration. Norepinephrine did not improve the efficiency of complex I- and complex II-dependent isolated hepatic mitochondrial respiration [respiratory control ratio (RCR) complex I: 5.6 ± 5.3 (placebo) vs. 5.4 ± 4.6 (norepinephrine) in controls and 2.7 ± 2.1 (placebo) vs. 2.9 ± 1.5 (norepinephrine) in septic animals; RCR complex II: 3.5 ± 2.0 (placebo) vs. 3.5 ± 1.8 (norepinephrine) in controls; 2.3 ± 1.6 (placebo) vs. 2.2 ± 1.1 (norepinephrine) in septic animals]. Prolonged faecal peritonitis did not affect either hepatic or skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration. Subsequent incubation of isolated mitochondria with norepinephrine and dobutamine did not significantly influence their respiration