Physical property characterization of single step synthesized NdFeAsO0.80F0.20 bulk 50K superconductor

We report an easy single step synthesis route of title compound NdFeAsO0.80F0.20 superconductor having bulk superconductivity below 50 K. The title compound is synthesized via solid-state reaction route by encapsulation in an evacuated (10-3 Torr) quartz tube. Rietveld analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data shows that compound crystallized in tetragonal structure with space group P4/nmm. R(T)H measurements showed superconductivity with Tc (R=0) at 48 K and a very high upper critical field (Hc2) of up to 345 Tesla. Magnetic measurements exhibited bulk superconductivity in terms of diamagnetic onset below 50 K. The lower critical field (Hc1) is around 1000 Oe at 5 K. In normal state i.e., above 60 K, the compound exhibited purely paramagnetic behavior and thus ruling out the presence of any ordered FeOx impurity in the matrix. In specific heat measurements a jump is observed in the vicinity of superconducting transition (Tc) along with an upturn at below T=4 K due to the AFM ordering of Nd+3 ions in the system. The Thermo-electric power (TEP) is negative down to Tc, thus indicating dominant carriers to be of n-type in NdFeAsO0.80F0.20 superconductor. The granularity of the bulk superconducting NdFeAsO0.8F0.2 sample is investigated and the intra and inter grain contributions have been individuated by looking at various amplitude and frequencies of the applied AC drive magnetic field.Comment: 26pages text + Figures: comments/suggestions welcome ([email protected] & http://www.freewebs.com/vpsawana

Exhaled breath profiling in diagnosing wheezy preschool children

Although wheeze is common in preschool children, the underlying pathophysiology has not yet been disentangled. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath may serve as noninvasive markers of early wheeze. We aimed to assess the feasibility of VOC collection in preschool children, and to study whether a VOC profile can differentiate between children with and without recurrent wheeze. We included children (mean (range) age 3.3 (1.9-4.5) yrs) with (n=202) and without (n=50) recurrent wheeze. Exhaled VOCs were analysed by gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. VOC profiles were generated by ANOVA simultaneous component analysis (ASCA) and sparse logistic regression (SLR). Exhaled breath collection was possible in 98% of the children. In total, 913 different VOCs were detected. The signal-to-noise ratio improved after correction for age, sex and season using ASCA pre-processing. An SLR model with 28 VOCs correctly classified 83% of the children (84% sensitivity, 80% specificity). After six-fold cross-validation, 73% were correctly classified (79% sensitivity, 50% specificity). Assessment of VOCs in exhaled breath is feasible in young children. VOC profiles are able to distinguish children with and without recurrent wheeze with a reasonable accuracy. This proof of principle paves the way for additional research on VOCs in preschool wheezing

Production of Shistosoma mansoni cercariae by Biomphalaria glabrata from a focus in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Produção de cercárias de Schistosoma mansoni por Biomphalaria glabrata de foco em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais

The snail density, levels of infection and the monthly production of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae by Biomphalaria glabrata were determined in a focus of Barreiro de Baixo (Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil). During a period of 38 months (1984 to 1987) 5,366 snails were collected of which 324 (6.03%) were infected with S. mansoni. The total number of cercariae shed was 5,667,312. Each snail shed an average of 17,422 cercariae during the time that it was under study in the laboratory. The greatest longevity of infected snails was 218 days. Natural cure was observed in 42 (12.9%) of the infected specimens about 130 days after collection. The average snail density in the focus during the period of study was 16.3 snails per scoop. The shedding of cercariae by snails collected from the field was compared with laboratory bred specimens infected in mass with the LE strain of S. mansoni from Belo Horizonte. The laboratory infected snails shed an average of 6,061 cercariae each, a value 2.8 times less than the field specimens due to a shorter life span. The prevalence of schistosomiasis in the focus was 14.3%.<br>A densidade planorbídica, as taxas de infecção e a produção mensal de cercárias de Schistosoma mansoni por Biomphalaria glabrata, foram determinadas em foco do Barreiro de Baixo (Belo Horizonte MG, Brasil). Durante 38 meses, de 1984 a 1987, foram capturados 5.366 moluscos dentre os quais 324 (6,03%) estavam infectados com o S. mansoni. O total de cercárias eliminadas foi de 5.667.312. Cada molusco eliminou em média 17.422 cercárias durante sua permanência no laboratório. A maior longevidade dos moluscos infectados foi de 218 dias. Foi observada a cura natural de 42 (12,9%) dos exemplares infectados, após cerca de 130 dias de captura. A densidade planorbídica média, no foco durante esse período foi de 16,3 moluscos por conchada. A eliminação de cercárias pelos moluscos do campo foi comparada com a de exemplares criados no laboratório, infectados em massa com a linhagem LE de S. mansoni de Belo Horizonte. Os moluscos do laboratório eliminaram em média 6.061 cercárias por exemplar, número 2,8 vezes menor do que os moluscos do campo, devido a longevidade menor. A taxa de prevalência da esquistossomose no foco foi de 14,3%

Cellular senescence drives age-dependent hepatic steatosis

The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increases with age. Cellular senescence refers to a state of irreversible cell-cycle arrest combined with the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and mitochondrial dysfunction. Senescent cells contribute to age-related tissue degeneration. Here we show that the accumulation of senescent cells promotes hepatic fat accumulation and steatosis. We report a close correlation between hepatic fat accumulation and markers of hepatocyte senescence. The elimination of senescent cells by suicide gene-meditated ablation of p16Ink4a-expressing senescent cells in INK-ATTAC mice or by treatment with a combination of the senolytic drugs dasatinib and quercetin (D+Q) reduces overall hepatic steatosis. Conversely, inducing hepatocyte senescence promotes fat accumulation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we show that mitochondria in senescent cells lose the ability to metabolize fatty acids efficiently. Our study demonstrates that cellular senescence drives hepatic steatosis and elimination of senescent cells may be a novel therapeutic strategy to reduce steatosis. © The Author(s) 2017

MRPL53, a new candidate gene for orofacial clefting, identified using an eQTL approach

A valuable approach to understand how individual and population genetic differences can predispose to disease is to assess the impact of genetic variants on cellular functions (e.g., gene expression) of cell and tissue types related to pathological states. To understand the genetic basis of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) susceptibility, a complex and highly prevalent congenital malformation, we searched for genetic variants with a regulatory role in a disease-related tissue, the lip muscle (orbicularis oris muscle [OOM]), of affected individuals. From 46 OOM samples, which are frequently discarded during routine corrective surgeries on patients with orofacial clefts, we derived mesenchymal stem cells and correlated the individual genetic variants with gene expression from these cultured cells. Through this strategy, we detected significant cis-eQTLs (i.e., DNA variants affecting gene expression) and selected a few candidates to conduct an association study in a large Brazilian cohort (624 patients and 668 controls). This resulted in the discovery of a novel susceptibility locus for NSCL/P, rs1063588, the best eQTL for the MRPL53 gene, where evidence for association was mostly driven by the Native American ancestry component of our Brazilian sample. MRPL53 (2p13.1) encodes a 39S protein subunit of mitochondrial ribosomes and interacts with MYC, a transcription factor required for normal facial morphogenesis. Our study illustrates not only the importance of sampling admixed populations but also the relevance of measuring the functional effects of genetic variants over gene expression to dissect the complexity of disease phenotypes.</jats:p

Nootkatone Inhibits Acute and Chronic Inflammatory Responses in Mice

Nootkatone (NTK) is a sesquiterpenoid found in essential oils of many species of Citrus (Rutaceae). Considering previous reports demonstrating that NTK inhibited inflammatory signaling pathways, this study aimed to investigate the effects of this compound in mice models of acute and chronic inflammation. Murine models of paw edema induced by carrageenan, dextran, histamine, and arachidonic acid, as well as carrageenan-induced peritonitis and pleurisy, were used to evaluate the effects of NTK on acute inflammation. A murine model of granuloma induced by cotton pellets was used to access the impact of NTK treatment on chronic inflammation. In the acute inflammation models, NTK demonstrated antiedematogenic effects and inhibited leukocyte recruitment, which was associated with decreased vascular permeability, inhibition of myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin (IL)1-\u3b2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-\u3b1 production. In silico analysis suggest that NTZ anti-inflammatory effects may also occur due to inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 activity and antagonism of the histamine receptor type 1 (H1). These mechanisms might have contributed to the reduction of granuloma weight and protein concentration in the homogenates, observed in the chronic inflammation model. In conclusion, NTK exerted anti-inflammatory effects that are associated with inhibition of IL1-\u3b2 and TNF-\u3b1 production, possibly due to inhibition of COX-2 activity and antagonism of the H1 receptor. However, further studies are required to characterize the effects of this compound on chronic inflammation