Siri, What Should I Eat?

Zeevi et al. report that extensive monitoring of a human cohort for variations in dietary intake, lifestyle, host phenotype, and the gut microbiome has enabled the development of a machine-learning algorithm that accurately predicts the individual glycemic response to meals, providing an important first step toward personalized nutrition

Oral vitamins C and E as additional treatment in patients with acute anterior uveitis

AIM: To investigate the effect of additional oral vitamins C and E on acute anterior uveitis. METHODS: A placebo controlled double masked study on the effect of vitamin C 500 mg in combination wit

Reaction and proton-removal cross sections of 6^6Li, 7^7Be, 10^{10}B, 9,10,11^{9,10,11}C, ^{12N, 13,15^{13,15}O and 17^{17}Ne on Si at 15 to 53 MeV/nucleon

Excitation functions for total reaction cross sections, $\sigma_R$, were measured for the light, mainly proton-rich nuclei $^6$Li, $^7$Be, $^{10}$B, $^{9,10,11}$C, $^{12}$N, $^{13,15}$O, and $^{17}$Ne incident on a Si telescope at energies between 15 and 53 MeV/nucleon. The telescope served as target, energy degrader and detector. Proton-removal cross sections, $\sigma_{2p}$ for $^{17}$Ne and $\sigma_p$ for most of the other projectiles, were also measured. The strong absorption model reproduces the $A$-dependence of $\sigma_R$, but not the detailed structure. Glauber multiple scattering theory and the JLM folding model provided improved descriptions of the measured $\sigma_R$ values. $rms$ radii, extracted from the measured $\sigma_R$ using the optical limit of Glauber theory, are in good agreement with those obtained from high energy data. One-proton removal reactions are described using an extended Glauber model, incorporating second order noneikonal corrections, realistic single particle densities, and spectroscopic factors from shell model calculations.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure

Magnetismo de Ferritas Nanoestruturadas Preparadas por Mecanossíntese e Sol-Gel Protéico.

As propriedades magnéticas dos sistemas AFe2O4 (A = Ni, Zn e Co) tipo espinélio processados mecanicamente e as das ferritas NiFe2O4 preparadas pela técnica de sol-gel protéico foram sistematicamente estudadas via espectroscopia Mössbauer do 57Fe sem campo aplicado e via medidas de magnetização, enquanto a estrutura cristalina foi investigada usando difração de raios X. Especificamente, para o NiFe2O4 mecanicamente processado, medidas de espectroscopia Mössbauer do 57Fe com campo também foram realizadas. Para a ferrita nanocristalina mecanicamente processada do tipo espinélio, a estrutura hiperfina estudada pela espectroscopia Mössbauer nos permitiu distinguir duas principais contribuições magnéticas: uma atribuída ao núcleo do grão cristalino (n-G), o qual possui propriedades magnéticas similares às volumétricas (n-AFe2O4) da estrutura tipo espinélio AFe2O4 (A = Ni, Zn e Co) e outra devido a uma região de contorno de grão (CG), a qual apresenta desordens topológicas e químicas (d-AFe2O4). A espectroscopia Mössbauer determinou uma grande fração para a região d-AFe2O4 das ferritas nanocristalinas AFe2O4 moídas por longos tempos (maiores que 80 horas). Da espectroscopia Mössbauer com campo magnético aplicado, foi determinado que os spins do n-NiFe2O4 são inclinados (canted) em relação ao campo magnético aplicado, com isso, uma estrutura do tipo esperomagnética é sugerida para o d-NiFe2O4 com 63% da área do espectro Mössbauer. Os dados Mössbauer para o NiFe2O4 nanocristalino também mostraram que mesmo com campo aplicado de 12 T, a saturação magnética não foi alcançada para as duas fases magnéticas (n-NiFe2O4 e d-NiFe2O4). Em geral, as curvas de histerese para os AFe2O4 (A = Ni, Zn e Co), obtidos no protocolo de resfriamento com campo e registrados para campos de varredura (com campos máximos de 7 T), são deslocadas em ambos os eixos (magnetização e campo magnético), para temperaturas abaixo de 50 K. Também foi demonstrado que a XI configuração da fase tipo vidro de spin da ferrita NiFe2O4 é fortemente modificada pelos consecutivos ciclos de campo, consequentemente a interação magnética NiFe2O4/d-NiFe2O4 é também afetada neste processo. Temos que enfatizar que a ferrita ZnFe2O4 mecanicamente processada tem estrutura do tipo espinélio inversa com uma temperatura de ordem magnética (acima de 40 K) alta em relação a seu equivalente volumétrico (11 K). Por sua vez, mostra-se neste trabalho que as ferritas nanocristalinas de NiFe2O4, preparadas pelo método de sol-gel protéico, não apresentaram deslocamentos na curva de histerese, após o resfriamento com campo magnético e, ao mesmo tempo, as curvas de histerese não estavam saturadas. A aparente ausência do efeito de descolamento horizontal (exchange bias) é explicada pelo fato de que no método de sol-gel os grãos cristalinos são grandes (~19 nm) e, consequentemente, o campo de exchange bias vai a zero, uma vez que o HEB α 1/tFI , onde o parâmetro tFI é a espessura ferrimagnética, assumida ser do tamanho de grão. Comparando os resultados magnéticos obtidos para a ferrita nanocristalina NiFe2O4 preparada pela moagem em altas energias e pelo método sol-gel, pode-se concluir que os deslocamentos nas curvas de histerese são extremamente dependentes da alta anisotropia da fase d-AFe2O4 (A = Ni e Zn). Portanto, os efeitos de deslocamentos nas curvas são devidos ao campo de exchange bias nas interfaces d-AFe2O4/n-AFe2O4 e, também, ao efeito de congelamento de spins causados pelo resfriamento da fase tipo vidro de spin com campo magnético aplicado

Multifunctional photo/thermal catalysts for the reduction of carbon dioxide

The photochemical fixation of CO2 to energy rich products for solar energy storage or feedstock chemicals is an attractive, albeit daunting, challenge. The overall feasibility of CO2 conversion is limited by the availability of efficient photo-active materials that meet the energetic requirements for CO2 reduction and are optically matched to the solar spectrum. Surface modification of TiO2 with earth abundant metal oxides presents one approach to develop visible active photocatalysts through band gap narrowing, while providing catalytic sites to lower the activation energy for CO2 reduction. In this work density functional theory was used to model the effect of surface modification of rutile and anatase using MnOx nanoclusters. The results indicate the formation of inter-band gap states following surface modification with MnOx, but surface water can change this. Oxygen vacancies are predicted to form in supported MnOx and the interaction with CO2 was investigated. MnOx-TiO2 was synthesized and characterised using surface analytical methods and photoelectrochemistry. The interaction of CO2 with the materials under irradiation was probed using in-situ FTIR to interrogate the role of oxygen vacancies in CO2 binding and reaction. These results provide insights into the requirements of a multifunctional catalyst for CO2 conversion

The Low Surface Brightness Extent of the Fornax Cluster

We have used a large format CCD camera to survey the nearby Fornax cluster and its immediate environment for low luminosity low surface brightness galaxies. Recent observations indicate that these are the most dark matter dominated galaxies known and so they are likely to be a good tracer of the dark matter in clusters. We have identified large numbers of these galaxies consistent with a steep faint end slope of the luminosity function (alpha~ -2) down to MB ~ -12. These galaxies contribute almost the same amount to the total cluster light as the brighter galaxies and they have a spatial extent that is some four times larger. They satisfy two of the important predictions of N-body hierarchical simulations of structure formation using dark halos. The luminosity (mass ?) function is steep and the mass distribution is more extended than that defined by the brighter galaxies. We also find a large concentration of low surface brightness galaxies around the nearby galaxy NGC1291.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure

Palliative treatment of uncontrollable hypercalcemia due to parathyrotoxicosis: denosumab as rescue therapy

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare disease leading to severe hypercalcemia due to hyperparathyroidism. Surgery is the primary treatment option. A more progressive form of the disease is characterized by parathyrotoxicosis, and subsequent hypercalcemia is the most common cause of death. We report a case presenting with severe hypercalcemia due to parathyrotoxicosis from parathyroid carcinoma treated for the first time using the monoclonal antibody denosumab as a rescue therapy and present long-term follow-up data. The 71-year-old patient presented with severe hypercalcemia due to metastatic parathyroid carcinoma. Despite undergoing treatment with bisphosphonates, cinacalcet hydrochloride, and forced diuresis, the patient's condition deteriorated rapidly due to resistant hypercalcemia. Surgery performed because of spinal metastasis and forced diuresis lowered calcium levels, albeit they remained in the hypercalcemic range and significantly increased when forced diuresis was stopped. Considering a palliative situation to overcome hypercalcemia, we decided to administer denosumab, a monoclonal antibody that binds to the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand. After a single subcutaneous administration of 60 mg denosumab, calcium levels normalized within one day. Subsequent denosumab injections led to permanent control of serum calcium for more than 2 years despite rising parathyroid hormone levels and repeated surgeries. Together with recent cases in the literature supporting our observation, we believe that denosumab is relevant for future trials and represents an effective tool to control hypercalcemia in patients with advanced stages of parathyroid cancer

Circulating Apoptotic Progenitor Cells in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

Background: Circulating CD34+ endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are capable of differentiating into mature endothelial cells to assist in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. We sought to quantify the numbers of apoptotic progenitors in patients with congestive heart failure. Methods and Results: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll density-gradient from 58 patients with various degrees of heart failure and 23 matched controls. Apoptosis in progenitor CD34+ cells was assessed using the Annexin V-PE/PI detection kit, and FACS analysis was performed with triple staining for CD34, annexin-V and propidium iodide. The percentage of early and late apoptotic progenitor cells was determined in the subject groups and was correlated with clinical characteristics. While there was no significant difference in total CD34 positive cells or early apoptotic progenitors between control subjects and CHF patients (p = 0.42) or between severe and mild/moderate CHF groups (p = 0.544), there was an elevated number of late apoptotic progenitors in the severe CHF group compared with the mild/moderate CHF group (p = 0.03). Late apoptotic progenitors were significantly increased in CHF patients as compared to matched controls. There was also an inverse correlation between late apoptotic progenitors and ejection fraction (r = 20.252, p = 0.028) as well as a positive association with NYHA class (r = 0.223, p = 0.046). Conclusion: Severe heart failure patients exhibited higher numbers of late apoptotic progenitors, and this was positivel

Atrial natriuretic peptide and leptin interactions in healthy men

INTRODUCTION: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a hormone secreted from the heart, controls cardiovascular and renal functions including arterial blood pressure and natriuresis. ANP also exerts metabolic effects in adipose tissue, liver and skeletal muscle, and interacts with the secretion of adipokines. We tested the hypothesis that ANP lowers concentrations of the anorexigenic adipokine leptin in healthy humans in vivo. METHODS: Human ANP or matching placebo was infused intravenously (iv) into healthy men in a controlled clinical trial. RESULTS: Within 135 minutes of iv ANP infusion, we observed an acute decrease in plasma leptin levels compared to controls. Free fatty acids markedly increased with ANP infusion in vivo, indicating activated lipolysis. In human SGBS adipocytes, ANP suppressed leptin release. DISCUSSION: The study shows that the cardiac hormone ANP reduces the levels of the anorexigenic adipokine leptin in healthy humans, providing further support for ANP as a cardiomyokine in a heart - adipose tissue axis. (registered in the German Clinical Trials Register and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform was granted under DRKS00024559

Atrial natriuretic peptide and leptin interactions in healthy men

Introduction: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a hormone secreted from the heart, controls cardiovascular and renal functions including arterial blood pressure and natriuresis. ANP also exerts metabolic effects in adipose tissue, liver and skeletal muscle, and interacts with the secretion of adipokines. We tested the hypothesis that ANP lowers concentrations of the anorexigenic adipokine leptin in healthy humans in vivo. Methods: Human ANP or matching placebo was infused intravenously (iv) into healthy men in a controlled clinical trial. Results: Within 135 minutes of iv ANP infusion, we observed an acute decrease in plasma leptin levels compared to controls. Free fatty acids markedly increased with ANP infusion in vivo, indicating activated lipolysis. In human SGBS adipocytes, ANP suppressed leptin release. Discussion: The study shows that the cardiac hormone ANP reduces the levels of the anorexigenic adipokine leptin in healthy humans, providing further support for ANP as a cardiomyokine in a heart - adipose tissue axis. (registered in the German Clinical Trials Register and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform was granted under DRKS00024559)