336 research outputs found
Lehmann rotation of cholesteric droplets subjected to a temperature gradient: role of the concentration of chiral molecules
International audienceWe present a systematic study of the Lehmann rotation of cholesteric droplets subjected to a temperature gradient when the concentration of chiral molecules is changed. The liquid crystal chosen is an eutectic mixture of 8CB and 8OCB doped with a small amount of the chiral molecule R811. The angular velocity of the droplets strongly depend on their size and on the concentration of chiral molecules. The Lehmann coefficient is estimated by using three different methods. Our results are consistent with a Lehmann coefficient proportional to the concentration of chiral molecules. We additionally show the existence of a critical size of the droplets below which they change texture and stop rotating
Electric-field-induced nematic-cholesteric transition and 3-D director structures in homeotropic cells
We study the phase diagram of director structures in cholesteric liquid
crystals of negative dielectric anisotropy in homeotropic cells of thickness d
which is smaller than the cholesteric pitch p. The basic control parameters are
the frustration ratio d/p and the applied voltage U. Fluorescence Confocal
Polarising Microscopy allows us to directly and unambiguously determine the 3-D
director structures. The results are of importance for potential applications
of the cholesteric structures, such as switchable gratings and eyewear with
tunable transparency based.Comment: Will be published in Physical Review
Body Mass Index in Multiple Sclerosis modulates ceramide-induced DNA methylation and disease course.
abstract
Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) results from genetic predisposition and environmental variables, including elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) in early life. This study addresses the effect ofBMI on the epigenome ofmono- cytesand diseasecourseinMS. Methods: Fifty-four therapy-naive Relapsing Remitting (RR)MS patientswith high and normal BMI received clin- ical andMRI evaluation. Blood samples were immunophenotyped, and processed for unbiased plasma lipidomic profiling and genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of circulating monocytes. The main findings at baseline were validated in an independent cohort of 91 therapy-naĂŻve RRMS patients. Disease course was evaluated by a two-year longitudinal follow up and mechanistic hypotheses tested in human cell cultures and in animal models ofMS. Findings: Higher monocytic counts and plasma ceramides, and hypermethylation of genes involved in negative regulation ofcell proliferationwere detected in the high BMI group ofMSpatients compared to normal BMI. Cer- amide treatment of monocytic cell cultures increased proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and was prevented by DNA methylation inhibitors. The high BMI group ofMS patients showed a negative correlation be- tween monocytic counts and brain volume. Those subjects at a two-year follow-up showed increased T1 lesion load, increased disease activity, and worsened clinical disability. Lastly, the relationship between body weight, monocytic infiltration, DNA methylation and disease course was validated in mouse models ofMS. Interpretation: High BMI negatively impacts disease course in Multiple Sclerosis by modulating monocyte cell number through ceramide-induced DNA methylation of anti-proliferative genes
Control over phase separation and nucleation using a laser-tweezing potential
Control over the nucleation of new phases is highly desirable but elusive. Even though there is a long history of crystallization engineering by varying physicochemical parameters, controlling which polymorph crystallizes or whether a molecule crystallizes or forms an amorphous precipitate is still a poorly understood practice. Although there are now numerous examples of control using laser-induced nucleation, the absence of physical understanding is preventing progress. Here we show that the proximity of a liquidâliquid critical point or the corresponding binodal line can be used by a laser-tweezing potential to induce concentration gradients. A simple theoretical model shows that the stored electromagnetic energy of the laser beam produces a free-energy potential that forces phase separation or triggers the nucleation of a new phase. Experiments in a liquid mixture using a low-power laser diode confirm the effect. Phase separation and nucleation using a laser-tweezing potential explains the physics behind non-photochemical laser-induced nucleation and suggests new ways of manipulating matter
Body Mass Index in Multiple Sclerosis modulates ceramide-induced DNA methylation and disease course
Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) results from genetic predisposition and environmental variables, including elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) in early life. This study addresses the effect of BMI on the epigenome of monocytes and disease course in MS. Methods: Fifty-four therapy-naive Relapsing Remitting (RR) MS patients with high and normal BMI received clinical and MRI evaluation. Blood samples were immunophenotyped, and processed for unbiased plasma lipidomic profiling and genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of circulating monocytes. The main findings at baseline were validated in an independent cohort of 91 therapy-na\uefve RRMS patients. Disease course was evaluated by a two-year longitudinal follow up and mechanistic hypotheses tested in human cell cultures and in animal models of MS. Findings: Higher monocytic counts and plasma ceramides, and hypermethylation of genes involved in negative regulation of cell proliferation were detected in the high BMI group of MS patients compared to normal BMI. Ceramide treatment of monocytic cell cultures increased proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and was prevented by DNA methylation inhibitors. The high BMI group of MS patients showed a negative correlation between monocytic counts and brain volume. Those subjects at a two-year follow-up showed increased T1 lesion load, increased disease activity, and worsened clinical disability. Lastly, the relationship between body weight, monocytic infiltration, DNA methylation and disease course was validated in mouse models of MS. Interpretation: High BMI negatively impacts disease course in Multiple Sclerosis by modulating monocyte cell number through ceramide-induced DNA methylation of anti-proliferative genes. Fund: This work was supported by funds from the Friedman Brain Institute, NIH, and Multiple Sclerosis Society
The Period Changes of the Cepheid RT Aurigae
Observations of the light curve for the 3.7-day Cepheid RT Aur both before
and since 1980 indicate that the variable is undergoing an overall period
increase, amounting to +0.082 +-0.012 s/yr, rather than a period decrease, as
implied by all observations prior to 1980. Superposed on the star's O-C
variations is a sinusoidal trend that cannot be attributed to random
fluctuations in pulsation period. Rather, it appears to arise from light travel
time effects in a binary system. The derived orbital period for the system is P
= 26,429 +-89 days (72.36 +-0.24 years). The inferred orbital parameters from
the O-C residuals differ from those indicated by existing radial velocity data.
The latter imply the most reasonable results, namely a1 sin i = 9.09 (+-1.81) x
10^8 km and a minimum secondary mass of M2 = 1.15 +-0.25 Msun. Continued
monitoring of the brightness and radial velocity changes in the Cepheid are
necessary to confirm the long-term trend and to provide data for a proper
spectroscopic solution to the orbit.Comment: Accepted for publication in PASP (November 2007
Estimation du sexe fĆtal Ă partir de lâilium
La dĂ©termination du sexe est une des problĂ©matiques les plus frĂ©quemment rencontrĂ©es en anthropologie mĂ©dico-lĂ©gale. Chez lâadulte, cette dĂ©termination est essentiellement basĂ©e sur lâos iliaque et autorise un trĂšs fort taux de classification correcte, tandis que chez le fĆtus, les Ă©tudes sont beaucoup moins nombreuses et conduisent Ă des rĂ©sultats souvent contradictoires.Nous avons recherchĂ© sur 83 paires dâilia fĆtaux de la collection ostĂ©ologique hongroise de Fazekas et Kosa quels Ă©taient les critĂšres mĂ©triques qui dĂ©crivaient le mieux le dimorphisme sexuel, en Ă©valuant les diffĂ©rentes mĂ©thodes proposĂ©es sur lâilium fĆtal et en adaptant certaines de celles proposĂ©es chez lâadulte. Nous avons pour cela Ă©tabli et validĂ© un protocole de prise de clichĂ©s photographiques et une mĂ©thode de mesure sur image numĂ©risĂ©e Ă partir du logiciel Adobe Photoshop 6â.Certains des paramĂštres retenus dans lâĂ©tude â principalement ceux qui ont Ă©tĂ© relevĂ©s sur lâĂ©chancrure ischiatique â prĂ©sentant de fortes corrĂ©lations avec le sexe, nous avons Ă©tabli une rĂ©gression logistique estimant la probabilitĂ© dâappartenir Ă lâun ou lâautre des deux sexes. Le faible pourcentage de discrimination sexuelle obtenu avec cette formule nous a amenĂ© Ă tenir compte de lâĂąge : nous avons donc structurĂ© notre Ă©chantillon en diffĂ©rents groupes dâĂąge et avons Ă©tabli une formule permettant de dĂ©terminer correctement le sexe dans plus de 85 % des cas (sur lâĂ©chantillon qui a servi Ă lâĂ©tablir) pour les fĆtus dont lâĂąge est infĂ©rieur Ă 26 semaines dâamĂ©norrhĂ©e.Sex estimation is one of the most frequently encountered issues in forensic medicine. While in the case of adults this determination is essentially based on iliac bones and provides a rather reliable classification, there are fewer studies conducted on fetuses and the results are often contradictory.Therefore, we examinated 83 pairs of fetal iliac bones in the Hungarian collection of Fazekas and Kosa and searched for metric criteria that can the best be applied for determining sexual dimorphism. During this research, we tested the different methods proposed for fetal iliac bones and adapted some others used particularly in the case of adults.For this reason, we set up and validated a protocol of taking photographs, as well as a measurement technique developed for numeric pictures with the help of a software program, Adobe Photoshop 6â.During this study, we selected certain parameters, principally the ones taken on the great sciatic notch, which showed a strong correlation with sex, and we established a logistic regression for estimating the probability of belonging to one sex or the other.The weak percentage of sexual differentiation obtained by this formula led us to take into account age: we organised our sample in different age groups and established a formula that permits correct sex determination in more than 85% of cases (in our sample) for fetuses that are less than 24 gestational weeks old
Location and function of TDP-43 in platelets, alterations in neurodegenerative diseases and arising considerations for current plasma biobank protocols
The TAR DNA Binding Protein 43 (TDP-43) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative diseases and exhibits hallmark neuropathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we explore its tractability as a plasma biomarker of disease and describe its localization and possible functions in the cytosol of platelets. Novel TDP-43 immunoassays were developed on three different technical platforms and qualified for specificity, signal-to-noise ratio, detection range, variation, spike recovery and dilution linearity in human plasma samples. Surprisingly, implementation of these assays demonstrated that biobank-archived plasma samples yielded considerable heterogeneity in TDP-43 levels. Importantly, subsequent investigation attributed these differences to variable platelet recovery. Fractionations of fresh blood revealed that â„ 95% of the TDP-43 in platelet-containing plasma was compartmentalized within the platelet cytosol. We reasoned that this highly concentrated source of TDP-43 comprised an interesting substrate for biochemical analyses. Additional characterization of platelets revealed the presence of the disease-associated phosphoserine 409/410 TDP-43 proteoform and many neuron- and astrocyte-expressed TDP-43 mRNA targets. Considering these striking similarities, we propose that TDP-43 may serve analogous functional roles in platelets and synapses, and that the study of platelet TDP-43 might provide a window into disease-related TDP-43 dyshomeostasis in the central nervous system
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