50,568 research outputs found
Coordinated balancing of muscle oxidative metabolism through PGC-1α increases metabolic flexibility and preserves insulin sensitivity
The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) enhances oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle. Excessive lipid oxidation and electron transport chain activity can, however, lead to the accumulation of harmful metabolites and impair glucose homeostasis. Here, we investigated the effect of over-expression of PGC-1α on metabolic control and generation of insulin desensitizing agents in extensor digitorum longus (EDL), a muscle that exhibits low levels of PGC-1α in the untrained state and minimally relies on oxidative metabolism. We demonstrate that PGC-1α induces a strictly balanced substrate oxidation in EDL by concomitantly promoting the transcription of activators and inhibitors of lipid oxidation. Moreover, we show that PGC-1α enhances the potential to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation. Thereby, PGC-1α boosts elevated, yet tightly regulated oxidative metabolism devoid of side products that are detrimental for glucose homeostasis. Accordingly, PI3K activity, an early phase marker for insulin resistance, is preserved in EDL muscle. Our findings suggest that PGC-1α coordinately coactivates the simultaneous transcription of gene clusters implicated in the positive and negative regulation of oxidative metabolism and thereby increases metabolic flexibility. Thus, in mice fed a normal chow diet, over-expression of PGC-1α does not alter insulin sensitivity and the metabolic adaptations elicited by PGC-1α mimic the beneficial effects of endurance training on muscle metabolism in this context
Hydrogen storage in the form of metal hydrides
Reversible reactions between hydrogen and such materials as iron/titanium and magnesium/ nickel alloy may provide a means for storing hydrogen fuel. A demonstration model of an iron/titanium hydride storage bed is described. Hydrogen from the hydride storage bed powers a converted gasoline electric generator
On FRW Model in Conformal Teleparallel Gravity
In this paper we use the conformal teleparallel gravity to study an isotropic
and homogeneous Universe which is settled by the FRW metric. We solve the field
equations and we obtain the behavior of some cosmological parameters such as
scale factor, deceleration parameter and the energy density of the perfect
fluid which is the matter field of our model. The field equations, that we
called modified Friedmann equations, allow us to define a dark fluid, with dark
energy density and dark pressure, responsible for the acceleration in the
Universe.Comment: Accepted in EPJ
Bifurcations in the theory of current transfer to cathodes of dc discharges and observations of transitions between different modes
General scenarios of transitions between different spot patterns on
electrodes of dc gas discharges and their relation to bifurcations of
steady-state solutions are analyzed. In the case of cathodes of arc discharges,
it is shown that any transition between different modes of current transfer is
related to a bifurcation of steady-state solutions. In particular, transitions
between diffuse and spot modes on axially symmetric cathodes, frequently
observed in the experiment, represent an indication of the presence of
pitchfork or fold bifurcations of steady-state solutions. Experimental
observations of transitions on cathodes of dc glow microdischarges are analyzed
and those potentially related to bifurcations of steady-state solutions are
identified. The relevant bifurcations are investigated numerically and the
computed patterns are found to conform to those observed in the course of the
corresponding transitions in the experiment
ARES v2 - new features and improved performance
Aims: We present a new upgraded version of ARES. The new version includes a
series of interesting new features such as automatic radial velocity
correction, a fully automatic continuum determination, and an estimation of the
errors for the equivalent widths. Methods: The automatic correction of the
radial velocity is achieved with a simple cross-correlation function, and the
automatic continuum determination, as well as the estimation of the errors,
relies on a new approach to evaluating the spectral noise at the continuum
level. Results: ARES v2 is totally compatible with its predecessor. We show
that the fully automatic continuum determination is consistent with the
previous methods applied for this task. It also presents a significant
improvement on its performance thanks to the implementation of a parallel
computation using the OpenMP library.Comment: 4 pages, 2 Figures; accepted in A&A; ARES Webpage:
www.astro.up.pt/~sousasag/are
On the functional form of the metallicity-giant planet correlation
It is generally accepted that the presence of a giant planet is strongly
dependent on the stellar metallicity. A stellar mass dependence has also been
investigated, but this dependence does not seem as strong as the metallicity
dependence. Even for metallicity, however, the exact form of the correlation
has not been established. In this paper, we test several scenarios for
describing the frequency of giant planets as a function of its host parameters.
We perform this test on two volume-limited samples (from CORALIE and HARPS). By
using a Bayesian analysis, we quantitatively compared the different scenarios.
We confirm that giant planet frequency is indeed a function of metallicity.
However, there is no statistical difference between a constant or an
exponential function for stars with subsolar metallicities contrary to what has
been previously stated in the literature. The dependence on stellar mass could
neither be confirmed nor be discarded.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted in A&
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