582 research outputs found
Electronic excitation spectra of cerium oxides: from ab initio dielectric response functions to Monte Carlo electron transport simulations
Nanomaterials made of the cerium oxides CeO and CeO have a broad
range of applications, from catalysts in automotive, industrial or energy
operations to promising materials to enhance hadrontherapy effectiveness in
oncological treatments. To elucidate the physico-chemical mechanisms involved
in these processes, it is of paramount importance to know the electronic
excitation spectra of these oxides, which are obtained here through
high-accuracy linear-response time-dependent density functional theory
calculations. In particular, the macroscopic dielectric response functions
of both bulk CeO and CeO are derived, which compare
remarkably well with the available experimental data. These results stress the
importance of appropriately accounting for local field effects to model the
dielectric function of metal oxides. Furthermore, we reckon the materials
energy loss functions \mbox{Im} (-1/\bar{\epsilon}), including the accurate
evaluation of the momentum transfer dispersion from first-principles. In this
respect, by using a Mermin-type parametrization we are able to model the
contribution of different electronic excitations to the dielectric loss
function. Finally, from the knowledge of the electron inelastic mean free path,
together with the elastic mean free path provided by the relativistic Mott
theory, we carry out statistical Monte Carlo (MC) charge transport simulations
to reproduce the major features of the reported experimental reflection
electron energy loss (REEL) spectra of cerium oxides. The good agreement with
REEL experimental data strongly supports our approach based on MC modelling
informed by ab initio calculated electronic excitation spectra in a broad range
of momentum and energy transfers.Comment: 21 pages, 19 figure
The Gut Microbiome in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and its Association with Metabolic Traits
This work was funded by Estonian Research Council grants PUT 1371 (to E.O.),
EMBO Installation grant 3573 (to E.O.) …
E.O. was supported by European Regional Development Fund Project No. 15-0012
GENTRANSMED and Estonian Center of Genomics/Roadmap II project No 16-0125.
S.A. was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness
(MINECO) and European Regional Development Fund (FEDER): grants RYC-2016-21199 and
ENDORE (SAF2017-87526-R); and by FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Economía y
Conocimiento: MENDO (B-CTS-500-UGR18).Purpose: Despite gut microbiome being widely studied in metabolic diseases, its role in
polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been scarcely investigated. The aim of our study was to
test for possible associations between gut microbiome and PCOS in late fertile age women and
investigate whether changes in the gut microbiome correlate with PCOS-related metabolic
parameters. Methods: We compared the 16S rRNA sequenced gut microbiome of 102 PCOS women
with 201 age- and body mass index (BMI) matched non-PCOS women. Clinical and biochemical
characteristics of the participants were assessed at ages 31 and 46 and analyzed in the context of
gut microbiome data at the age of 46.
Results: Bacterial diversity indices did not differ significantly between PCOS and controls.
We identified four genera whose balance helps to differentiate between PCOS and non-PCOS. In
the whole cohort, the abundance of two genera from the order Clostridiales was correlated with
several PCOS-related markers. When investigating the gut microbiome composition in PCOS
women with different BMI and glucose tolerance groups, prediabetic PCOS women had
significantly lower alpha diversity and markedly increased abundance of genus Dorea compared
to women with normal glucose tolerance.
Conclusions: Our data indicate that PCOS and non-PCOS women at late fertile age with
similar BMI do not signficantly differ in gut microbiota. However, there are significant microbial
changes in PCOS individuals depending on their metabolic health. Further studies are needed in
order to further understand these changes in more detail.Estonian Research Council grants PUT 1371EMBO Installation grant 3573European Regional Development Fund Project No. 15-0012
GENTRANSMEDEstonian Center of Genomics/Roadmap II project No 16-0125Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness
(MINECO) European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) RYC-2016-21199 and
ENDORE (SAF2017-87526-R)FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Economía y
Conocimiento: MENDO (B-CTS-500-UGR18
One-Year Risk of Stroke after Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke
Previous studies conducted between 1997 and 2003 estimated that the risk of stroke or an acute coronary syndrome was 12 to 20% during the first 3 months after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke. The TIAregistry.org project was designed to describe the contemporary profile, etiologic factors, and outcomes in patients with a TIA or minor ischemic stroke who receive care in health systems that now offer urgent evaluation by stroke specialists.We recruited patients who had had a TIA or minor stroke within the previous 7 days. Sites were selected if they had systems dedicated to urgent evaluation of patients with TIA. We estimated the 1-year risk of stroke and of the composite outcome of stroke, an acute coronary syndrome, or death from cardiovascular causes. We also examined the association of the ABCD(2) score for the risk of stroke (range, 0 [lowest risk] to 7 [highest risk]), findings on brain imaging, and cause of TIA or minor stroke with the risk of recurrent stroke over a period of 1 year.From 2009 through 2011, we enrolled 4789 patients at 61 sites in 21 countries. A total of 78.4% of the patients were evaluated by stroke specialists within 24 hours after symptom onset. A total of 33.4% of the patients had an acute brain infarction, 23.2% had at least one extracranial or intracranial stenosis of 50% or more, and 10.4% had atrial fibrillation. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the 1-year event rate of the composite cardiovascular outcome was 6.2% (95% confidence interval, 5.5 to 7.0). Kaplan-Meier estimates of the stroke rate at days 2, 7, 30, 90, and 365 were 1.5%, 2.1%, 2.8%, 3.7%, and 5.1%, respectively. In multivariable analyses, multiple infarctions on brain imaging, large-artery atherosclerosis, and an ABCD(2) score of 6 or 7 were each associated with more than a doubling of the risk of stroke.We observed a lower risk of cardiovascular events after TIA than previously reported. The ABCD(2) score, findings on brain imaging, and status with respect to large-artery atherosclerosis helped stratify the risk of recurrent stroke within 1 year after a TIA or minor stroke
Differential Role of Human Choline Kinase α and β Enzymes in Lipid Metabolism: Implications in Cancer Onset and Treatment
11 pages, 6 figures, 1 table.Background
The Kennedy pathway generates phosphocoline and phosphoethanolamine through its two branches. Choline Kinase (ChoK) is the first enzyme of the Kennedy branch of synthesis of 1phosphocholine, the major component of the plasma membrane. ChoK family of proteins is composed by ChoKα and ChoKβ isoforms, the first one with two different variants of splicing. Recently ChoKα has been implicated in the carcinogenic process, since it is over-expressed in a variety of human cancers. However, no evidence for a role of ChoKβ in carcinogenesis has been reported.
Methodology/Principal Findings
Here we compare the in vitro and in vivo properties of ChoKα1 and ChoKβ in lipid metabolism, and their potential role in carcinogenesis. Both ChoKα1 and ChoKβ showed choline and ethanolamine kinase activities when assayed in cell extracts, though with different affinity for their substrates. However, they behave differentially when overexpressed in whole cells. Whereas ChoKβ display an ethanolamine kinase role, ChoKα1 present a dual choline/ethanolamine kinase role, suggesting the involvement of each ChoK isoform in distinct biochemical pathways under in vivo conditions. In addition, while overexpression of ChoKα1 is oncogenic when overexpressed in HEK293T or MDCK cells, ChoKβ overexpression is not sufficient to induce in vitro cell transformation nor in vivo tumor growth. Furthermore, a significant upregulation of ChoKα1 mRNA levels in a panel of breast and lung cancer cell lines was found, but no changes in ChoKβ mRNA levels were observed. Finally, MN58b, a previously described potent inhibitor of ChoK with in vivo antitumoral activity, shows more than 20-fold higher efficiency towards ChoKα1 than ChoKβ.
Conclusion/Significance
This study represents the first evidence of the distinct metabolic role of ChoKα and ChoKβ isoforms, suggesting different physiological roles and implications in human carcinogenesis. These findings constitute a step forward in the design of an antitumoral strategy based on ChoK inhibition.This work has been supported by grants to JCL from Comunidad de Madrid (GR-SAL-0821-2004), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SAF2008-03750, RD06/0020/0016), Fundación Mutua Madrileña, and by a grant to ARM from Fundación Mutua Madrileña.Peer reviewe
Differences between <i>Trypanosoma brucei gambiense</i> groups 1 and 2 in their resistance to killing by Trypanolytic factor 1
<p><b>Background:</b> The three sub-species of <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> are important pathogens of sub-Saharan Africa. <i>T. b. brucei</i> is unable to infect humans due to sensitivity to trypanosome lytic factors (TLF) 1 and 2 found in human serum. <i>T. b. rhodesiense</i> and <i>T. b. gambiense</i> are able to resist lysis by TLF. There are two distinct sub-groups of <i>T. b. gambiense</i> that differ genetically and by human serum resistance phenotypes. Group 1 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> have an invariant phenotype whereas group 2 show variable resistance. Previous data indicated that group 1 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> are resistant to TLF-1 due in-part to reduced uptake of TLF-1 mediated by reduced expression of the TLF-1 receptor (the haptoglobin-hemoglobin receptor (<i>HpHbR</i>)) gene. Here we investigate if this is also true in group 2 parasites.</p>
<p><b>Methodology:</b> Isogenic resistant and sensitive group 2 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> were derived and compared to other T. brucei parasites. Both resistant and sensitive lines express the <i>HpHbR</i> gene at similar levels and internalized fluorescently labeled TLF-1 similar fashion to <i>T. b. brucei</i>. Both resistant and sensitive group 2, as well as group 1 <i>T. b. gambiense</i>, internalize recombinant APOL1, but only sensitive group 2 parasites are lysed.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions:</b> Our data indicate that, despite group 1 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> avoiding TLF-1, it is resistant to the main lytic component, APOL1. Similarly group 2 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> is innately resistant to APOL1, which could be based on the same mechanism. However, group 2 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> variably displays this phenotype and expression does not appear to correlate with a change in expression site or expression of <i>HpHbR</i>. Thus there are differences in the mechanism of human serum resistance between <i>T. b. gambiense</i> groups 1 and 2.</p>
Classical and semi-classical energy conditions
The standard energy conditions of classical general relativity are (mostly)
linear in the stress-energy tensor, and have clear physical interpretations in
terms of geodesic focussing, but suffer the significant drawback that they are
often violated by semi-classical quantum effects. In contrast, it is possible
to develop non-standard energy conditions that are intrinsically non-linear in
the stress-energy tensor, and which exhibit much better well-controlled
behaviour when semi-classical quantum effects are introduced, at the cost of a
less direct applicability to geodesic focussing. In this article we will first
review the standard energy conditions and their various limitations. (Including
the connection to the Hawking--Ellis type I, II, III, and IV classification of
stress-energy tensors). We shall then turn to the averaged, nonlinear, and
semi-classical energy conditions, and see how much can be done once
semi-classical quantum effects are included.Comment: V1: 25 pages. Draft chapter, on which the related chapter of the book
"Wormholes, Warp Drives and Energy Conditions" (to be published by Springer),
will be based. V2: typos fixed. V3: small typo fixe
A web-based bioinformatics interface applied to the GENOSOJA project: databases and pipelines
Jet energy measurement with the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collisions at root s=7 TeV
The jet energy scale and its systematic uncertainty are determined for jets measured with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 38 pb-1. Jets are reconstructed with the anti-kt algorithm with distance parameters R=0. 4 or R=0. 6. Jet energy and angle corrections are determined from Monte Carlo simulations to calibrate jets with transverse momenta pT≥20 GeV and pseudorapidities {pipe}η{pipe}<4. 5. The jet energy systematic uncertainty is estimated using the single isolated hadron response measured in situ and in test-beams, exploiting the transverse momentum balance between central and forward jets in events with dijet topologies and studying systematic variations in Monte Carlo simulations. The jet energy uncertainty is less than 2. 5 % in the central calorimeter region ({pipe}η{pipe}<0. 8) for jets with 60≤pT<800 GeV, and is maximally 14 % for pT<30 GeV in the most forward region 3. 2≤{pipe}η{pipe}<4. 5. The jet energy is validated for jet transverse momenta up to 1 TeV to the level of a few percent using several in situ techniques by comparing a well-known reference such as the recoiling photon pT, the sum of the transverse momenta of tracks associated to the jet, or a system of low-pT jets recoiling against a high-pT jet. More sophisticated jet calibration schemes are presented based on calorimeter cell energy density weighting or hadronic properties of jets, aiming for an improved jet energy resolution and a reduced flavour dependence of the jet response. The systematic uncertainty of the jet energy determined from a combination of in situ techniques is consistent with the one derived from single hadron response measurements over a wide kinematic range. The nominal corrections and uncertainties are derived for isolated jets in an inclusive sample of high-pT jets. Special cases such as event topologies with close-by jets, or selections of samples with an enhanced content of jets originating from light quarks, heavy quarks or gluons are also discussed and the corresponding uncertainties are determined. © 2013 CERN for the benefit of the ATLAS collaboration
Carotenoid extraction from the gonad of the scallop Nodipecten nodosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Bivalvia: Pectinidae)
The Alpine Cushion Plant Silene acaulis as Foundation Species: A Bug’s-Eye View to Facilitation and Microclimate
Alpine ecosystems are important globally with high levels of endemic and rare species. Given that they will be highly impacted by climate change, understanding biotic factors that maintain diversity is critical. Silene acaulis is a common alpine nurse plant shown to positively influence the diversity and abundance of organisms–predominantly other plant species. The hypothesis that cushion or nurse plants in general are important to multiple trophic levels has been proposed but rarely tested. Alpine arthropod diversity is also largely understudied worldwide, and the plant-arthropod interactions reported are mostly negative, that is,. herbivory. Plant and arthropod diversity and abundance were sampled on S. acaulis and at paired adjacent microsites with other non-cushion forming vegetation present on Whistler Mountain, B.C., Canada to examine the relative trophic effects of cushion plants. Plant species richness and abundance but not Simpson’s diversity index was higher on cushion microsites relative to other vegetation. Arthropod richness, abundance, and diversity were all higher on cushion microsites relative to other vegetated sites. On a microclimatic scale, S. acaulis ameliorated stressful conditions for plants and invertebrates living inside it, but the highest levels of arthropod diversity were observed on cushions with tall plant growth. Hence, alpine cushion plants can be foundation species not only for other plant species but other trophic levels, and these impacts are expressed through both direct and indirect effects associated with altered environmental conditions and localized productivity. Whilst this case study tests a limited subset of the membership of alpine animal communities, it clearly demonstrates that cushion-forming plant species are an important consideration in understanding resilience to global changes for many organisms in addition to other plants
- …