702 research outputs found
Circadian Entrainment Triggers Maturation of Human In Vitro Islets
Stem-cell-derived tissues could transform disease research and therapy, yet most methods generate functionally immature products. We investigate how human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) differentiate into pancreatic islets in vitro by profiling DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and histone modification changes. We find that enhancer potential is reset upon lineage commitment and show how pervasive epigenetic priming steers endocrine cell fates. Modeling islet differentiation and maturation regulatory circuits reveals genes critical for generating endocrine cells and identifies circadian control as limiting for in vitro islet function. Entrainment to circadian feeding/fasting cycles triggers islet metabolic maturation by inducing cyclic synthesis of energy metabolism and insulin secretion effectors, including antiphasic insulin and glucagon pulses. Following entrainment, hPSC-derived islets gain persistent chromatin changes and rhythmic insulin responses with a raised glucose threshold, a hallmark of functional maturity, and function within days of transplantation. Thus, hPSC-derived tissues are amenable to functional improvement by circadian modulation
Elevated plasma and urinary concentration of green tea catechins associated with improved plasma lipid profile in healthy Japanese women
This study investigated green tea catechins in plasma and urine and chronic disease biomarkers. We hypothesized that plasma and urinary concentration of green tea catechins are associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes biomarkers. First void urine and fasting plasma samples were collected from 57 generally healthy females aged 38 to 73 years (mean, 52 ± 8 years) recruited in Himeji, Japan. The concentrations of plasma and urinary green tea catechins were determined by liquid chromatography coupled with mass tandem spectrometer. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin, and C-reactive protein in plasma/serum samples were analyzed by a commercial diagnostic laboratory. Statistical associations were assessed using Spearman correlation coefficients. The results showed weak associations between plasma total catechin and triglyceride (r = -0.30) and LDL cholesterol (r = -0.28), whereas plasma (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin, (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate, and (-)-epicatechin exhibited weak to moderate associations with triglyceride or LDL cholesterol, but little associations with HDL cholesterol, body fat, and body mass index were evident. Urinary total catechin was weakly associated with triglyceride (r = -0.19) and LDL cholesterol (r = -0.15), whereas urinary (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (r = -0.33), (-)-epigallocatechin (r = -0.23), and (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (r = -0.33) had weak to moderate correlations with triglyceride and similarly with body fat and body mass index. Both plasma (r = -0.24) and urinary (r = -0.24) total catechin, as well as individual catechins, were weakly associated with glycated hemoglobin. Plasma total and individual catechins were weakly to moderately associated with C-reactive protein, but not the case for urinary catechins. In conclusion, we found weak to moderate associations between plasma and urinary green tea catechin concentrations and plasma biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and diabetes
Nonequilibrium spin distribution in single-electron transistor
Single-electron transistor with ferromagnetic outer electrodes and
nonmagnetic island is studied theoretically. Nonequilibrium electron spin
distribution in the island is caused by tunneling current. The dependencies of
the magnetoresistance ratio on the bias and gate voltages show the
dips which are directly related to the induced separation of Fermi levels for
electrons with different spins. Inside a dip can become negative.Comment: 11 pages, 2 eps figure
Indirect exchange in GaMnAs bilayers via spin-polarized inhomogeneous hole gas: Monte Carlo simulation
The magnetic order resulting from an indirect exchange between magnetic
moments provided by spin-polarized hole gas in the metallic phase of a GaMnAs
double layer structure is studied via Monte Carlo simulation. The coupling
mechanism involves a perturbative calculation in second order of the
interaction between the magnetic moments and carriers (holes). We take into
account a possible polarization of the hole gas due to the existence of an
average magnetization in the magnetic layers, establishing, in this way, a
self-consistency between the magnetic order and the electronic structure. That
interaction leads to an internal ferromagnetic order inside each layer, and a
parallel arrangement between their magnetizations, even in the case of thin
layers. This fact is analyzed in terms of the inter- and intra-layer
interactions.Comment: 17 pages and 14 figure
Spin flip scattering in magnetic junctions
Processes which flip the spin of an electron tunneling in a junction made up
of magnetic electrodes are studied. It is found that: i) Magnetic impurities
give a contribution which increases the resistance and lowers the
magnetoresistance, which saturates at low temperatures. The conductance
increases at high fields. ii) Magnon assisted tunneling reduces the
magnetoresistance as , and leads to a non ohmic contribution to the
resistance which goes as , iii) Surface antiferromagnetic magnons,
which may appear if the interface has different magnetic properties from the
bulk, gives rise to and contributions to the magnetoresistance and
resistance, respectively, and, iv) Coulomb blockade effects may enhance the
magnetoresistance, when transport is dominated by cotunneling processes.Comment: 5 page
A model for spin-polarized transport in perovskite manganite bi-crystal grain boundaries
We have studied the temperature dependence of low-field magnetoresistance and
current-voltage characteristics of a low-angle bi-crystal grain boundary
junction in perovskite manganite La_{2/3}Sr_{1/3}MnO_3 thin film. By gradually
trimming the junction we have been able to reveal the non-linear behavior of
the latter. With the use of the relation M_{GB} \propto M_{bulk}\sqrt{MR^*} we
have extracted the grain boundary magnetization. Further, we demonstrate that
the built-in potential barrier of the grain boundary can be modelled by
V_{bi}\propto M_{bulk}^2 - M_{GB}^2. Thus our model connects the
magnetoresistance with the potential barrier at the grain boundary region. The
results indicate that the band-bending at the grain boundary interface has a
magnetic origin.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure
Nanosized Sodium-Doped Lanthanum Manganites: Role of the Synthetic Route on their Physical Properties
In this paper we present the results of the synthesis and characterisation of
nanocrystalline La1-xNaxMnO3+delta samples. Two synthetic routes were employed:
polyacrylamide-based sol-gel and propellant synthesis. Pure, single phase
materials were obtained with grain size around 35 nm for the sol-gel samples
and around 55 nm for the propellant ones, which moreover present a more broaden
grain size distribution. For both series a superparamagnetic behaviour was
evidenced by means of magnetisation and EPR measurements with peculiar features
ascribable to the different grain sizes and morphology. Preliminary
magnetoresistivity measurements show enhanced low-field (< 1 T)
magnetoresistance values which suggest an interesting applicative use of these
manganites.Comment: 31 Pages 10 Figures to appear in Chem. Mate
Causal attribution of mental illness in south-eastern Nigeria
Background:
Understanding of mental illness in sub-Saharan Africa has remained under-researched in spite of the high and increasing neuropsychiatric burden of disease in the region.
Aims:
This study investigated the causal beliefs that the Igbo people of south-eastern Nigeria hold about schizophrenia, with a view to establishing the extent to which the population makes psychosocial, biological and supernatural attributions.
Method:
Multi-stage sampling was used to select participants (N = 200) to which questionnaires were administered.
Results:
Mean comparison of the three causal models revealed a significant endorsement of supernatural causation. Logistic regressions revealed significant contributions of old age and female gender to supernatural attribution; old age, high education and Catholic religious denomination to psychosocial attributions; and high education to biological attributions.
Conclusions:
It is hoped that the findings would enlighten, augment literature and enhance mental health care service delivery
Gender differences in beliefs about health:A comparative qualitative study with Ghanaian and Indian migrants living in the United Kingdom
Background
There is a well-established association between migration to high income countries and health status, with some groups reporting poorer health outcomes than the host population. However, processes that influence health behaviours and health outcomes across minority ethnic groups are complex and in addition, culture ascribes specific gender roles for men and women, which can further influence perspectives of health.
The aim of this study was to undertake a comparative exploration of beliefs of health among male and female Ghanaian and Indian migrants and White British participants residing in an urban area within the UK.
Methods
Thirty-six participants (12 each Ghanaian, Indian and White British) were recruited through community settings and participated in a semi-structured interview focusing on participant’s daily life in the UK, perceptions of their own health and how they maintained their health. Interviews were analyzed using a Framework approach.
Results
Three super ordinate themes were identified and labelled (a) beliefs about health; (b) symptom interpretation and (c) self-management and help seeking. Gender differences in beliefs and health behaviour practices were apparent across participants.
Conclusions
This is the first study to undertake a comparative exploration of health beliefs among people who have migrated to the UK from Ghana and India and to compare with a local (White British) population. The results highlight a need to consider both cultural and gender-based diversity in guiding health behaviours, and such information will be useful in the development of interventions to support health outcomes among migrant populations
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