Prevalence and cardiometabolic associations of the glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms N363S and Bcl1 in obese and non-obese black and white Mississippians

AbstrAct ObJEctIVE: Polymorphisms (sNP) in the glucocorticoid receptor (Gr) gene can alter sensitivity to glucocorticoids. Previous studies of the N363s and BclI sNP in the Gr gene have shown a metabolic syndrome phenotype in mostly non-African populations. the obesity phenotype of African Americans (AA) seems to be more severe than that of caucasians. DEsIGN: We aimed to assess the prevalence of N363s and BclI in obese and non-obese caucasian (n=26) and African (n=23) Mississippians (age: 23-63 years) to investigate associations with body composition (body mass index/bMI, waist-to-hip ratio), metabolic parameters (salivary cortisol, fasting glucose and insulin, hemoglobin A1c, fructosamine, HOMA-Ir index), and psychological stress perception (blood pressure/bP, perceived stress scale/Pss). rEsULts: All subjects were homozygous for wildtype N363N. BclI polymorphism genotype frequencies among the 23 AA were: homozygous cc (57%), GG (4%), and heterozygous cG (39%), and among the 26 white women: homozygous cc (35%), GG (19%), and heterozygous cG (46%). Linear and logistic regression analyses including a parsimonious model identified bMI as a statistically significant parameter between the two ethnic groups (bMI was 3.13 kg/m 2 higher in AA). Within the AA group, bMI, waist-to-hip ratio, log (HOMA-Ir), Pss scores, bP, and hyperlipidemia showed no statistically significant relationships for the BclI polymorphism. Pss scores were 15.2 for AA vs. 14.7 for white women (normal mean: 14.7 vs. 12.8). cONcLUsION: black Mississippians HORMONES 2012, 11(2):166-17

Comprehensive overview of the structure and regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor

Glucocorticoids are among the most prescribed drugs worldwide for the treatment of numerous immune and inflammatory disorders. They exert their actions by binding to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. There are several GR isoforms resulting from alternative RNA splicing and translation initiation of the GR transcript. Additionally, these isoforms are all subject to several transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational modifications, all of which affect the protein's stability and/or function. In this review, we summarize recent knowledge on the distinct GR isoforms and the processes that generate them. We also review the importance of all known transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational modifications, including the regulation of GR by microRNAs. Moreover, we discuss the crucial role of the putative GR-bound DNA sequence as an allosteric ligand influencing GR structure and activity. Finally, we describe how the differential composition and distinct regulation at multiple levels of different GR species could account for the wide and diverse effects of glucocorticoids

Outer rotor eddy current heater for wind turbines

This paper proposes a conversion system of wind energy into thermal energy by means of an outer rotor permanent magnet eddy current heater. The main advantages of this device are the following: compactness, easy temperature control by water flow rate regulation, reduced energy cost per kWh, possibility of combination with other heating systems. The analysis presented in the paper is based on the finite element method and its purpose is to optimize the device and to evaluate its performance and operation characteristics such as: analysis of demagnetization level of permanent magnets, output power–rotor speed and electromagnetic torque–rotor speed curves

Analysis of a Permanent Magnet Eddy Current Heater Driven by a Wind Turbine

This paper deals with the numerical analysis and optimal design of a Permanent Magnet Eddy Current Heater (PMECH) driven by a wind turbine. This study includes a preliminary sizing of the wind turbine, an optimal design of the PMECH from cost reduction point of view, a heat transfer analysis of the device and a study of the dynamic response of the wind system. The electromagnetic and heat transfer analysis is based on Finite Element Method (FEM) implemented in the Flux software package and the dynamic response of the wind system is analyzed using a dedicated model developed under Matlab/Simulink environment

A new 4/6 pole-changing double layer winding for three phase electrical machines

19th International Conference on Electrical Machines, ICEM 2010 -- 6 September 2010 through 8 September 2010 -- Rome -- 82728The paper presents a new double layer three phase 4 to 6 pole-changing winding, with 48 slots and 6 terminals. In order to obtain a higher fundamental winding factor when winding is 6-pole connected, a degree of asymmetry is accepted for the winding when 4-pole connected. The new winding is compared with a well known two-layer winding presented in literature. An experimental motor equipped with the new winding was built on a 4-pole base and frame 100 (2.2/1.5 kW) and tested. At the same time, 2D FEM field-circuit models were developed to simulate the operation of the experimental model equipped with the newly proposed winding, and model equipped with the well known two-layer winding. ©2010 IEEE

Design and Development of a Hybrid Excited Claw Pole Synchronous Machine

The paper presents a new contactless hybrid excited claw pole synchronous machine. The excitation field is produced by both NdFeB permanent magnets mounted on the rotor, and two fixed cods embedded within machine shields, and fed from a controlled DC source. A 3-D numerical model based on the Finite Element Method (FEAT) that takes into account the magnetic circuit nonlinearity and movement of the armature is used to demonstrate the principle of the new excitation system The no-load and magnetization characteristics, as well as the e.mf: time dependence are calculated The main operating characteristics of the manufactured machine have been determined experimentally for motor and generator regimes