Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene variation and progression of carotid artery plaque

Background and Purpose - Coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (cSNPs) in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene have been associated with lipoprotein phenotypes and vascular disease risk. We studied the association between LPL cSNPs and a novel noninvasive measure of disease, namely, cross-sectional carotid plaque area (CPA) on B-mode ultrasound. Methods - Four hundred fifty-two patients from an atherosclerosis prevention clinic had determinations of baseline and total CPA. Traditional atherosclerosis risk factors were recorded, and the LPL D9N, N291S, and S447X cSNPs were genotyped. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify determinants of CPA. Results - Minor allele frequencies for LPL D9N, N291S, and S447X were 2.8%, 0.9%, and 4.4%, respectively. There were no significant between-genotype differences in treated fasting lipids. The LPL D9N genotype was a significant predictor of both baseline CPA (P=0.008) and plaque progression from baseline to 1 year later (P=0.001). Heterozygotes for the N9 allele had higher mean baseline CPA and plaque progression than did LPL D9/D9 homozygotes. Conclusions - LPL D9N genotype may be a determinant of atherosclerosis as estimated by static baseline CPA and by progression of CPA

Enhanced Southern Ocean CO2 outgassing as a result of stronger and poleward shifted southern hemispheric westerlies

While the Southern Ocean (SO) provides the largest oceanic sink of carbon, some observational studies have suggested that the total SO CO2 uptake exhibited large (~0.3 GtC/yr) decadal-scale variability over the last 30 years, with a similar SO CO2 uptake in 2016 than in the early 1990s. Here, using an eddy-rich ocean, sea-ice, carbon cycle model, with a nominal resolution of 1/10th degree, we explore the changes in total, natural and anthropogenic CO2 fluxes in the Southern Ocean over the period 1970&ndash;2021 and the processes leading to the CO2 flux variability. Over that period, the simulated total CO2 uptake increases by 0.5 GtC/yr, half of which occurs between 1970 and 1982. The simulated total CO2 flux exhibits decadal-scale variability with an amplitude of ~0.1 GtC/yr in phase with observations and with variability in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). Notably, a stagnation of the total CO2 uptake is simulated between 1982 and 2000, while a re-invigoration is simulated between 2000 and 2012. This decadal-scale variability results from enhanced outgassing of natural CO2 south of the sub-Antarctic front due to the strengthening and poleward shift of the southern hemispheric (SH) westerlies. These wind changes also lead to enhanced anthropogenic CO2 uptake south of the polar front, even though the correlation is low and the amplitude 75 % smaller than for natural CO2 changes. The total SO CO2 uptake capability thus reduced since 1970 in response to a shift towards positive phases of the SAM. Both the multi-decadal and annual changes in SO fluxes can be mostly explained by variations in surface dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) brought about by a combination of Ekman-driven vertical advection and DIC diffusion at the base of the mixed layer, thus indicating that even in an eddy-rich ocean model a strengthening and/or poleward shift of the southern hemispheric westerlies enhance CO2 outgassing. The projected poleward strengthening of the SH westerlies over the coming century will thus reduce the capability of the SO to mitigate the increase in atmospheric CO2.</p

Feshbach Spectroscopy of Cs Atom Pairs in Optical Tweezers

We prepare pairs of 133Cs atoms in a single optical tweezer and perform Feshbach spectroscopy for collisions of atoms in the states (f = 3, mf = ±3). We detect enhancements in pair loss using a detection scheme where the optical tweezers are repeatedly subdivided. For atoms in the state (3, −3), we identify resonant features by performing inelastic loss spectroscopy. We carry out coupled-channel scattering calculations and show that at typical experimental temperatures the loss features are mostly centred on zeroes in the scattering length, rather than resonance centres. We measure the number of atoms remaining after a collision, elucidating how the different loss processes are influenced by the tweezer depth. These measurements probe the energy released during an inelastic collision, and thus give information on the states of the collision products. We also identify resonances with atom pairs prepared in the absolute ground state (f = 3, mf = 3), where two-body radiative loss is engineered by an excitation laser blue-detuned from the Cs D2 line. These results demonstrate optical tweezers to be a versatile tool to study two-body collisions with number-resolved detection sensitivity

Synthesis of 3-D coronal-solar wind energetic particle acceleration modules

1. Introduction Acute space radiation hazards pose one of the most serious risks to future human and robotic exploration. Large solar energetic particle (SEP) events are dangerous to astronauts and equipment. The ability to predict when and where large SEPs will occur is necessary in order to mitigate their hazards. The Coronal-Solar Wind Energetic Particle Acceleration (C-SWEPA) modeling effort in the NASA/NSF Space Weather Modeling Collaborative [Schunk, 2014] combines two successful Living With a Star (LWS) (http://lws. gsfc.nasa.gov/) strategic capabilities: the Earth-Moon-Mars Radiation Environment Modules (EMMREM) [Schwadron et al., 2010] that describe energetic particles and their effects, with the Next Generation Model for the Corona and Solar Wind developed by the Predictive Science, Inc. (PSI) group. The goal of the C-SWEPA effort is to develop a coupled model that describes the conditions of the corona, solar wind, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and associated shocks, particle acceleration, and propagation via physics-based modules. Assessing the threat of SEPs is a difficult problem. The largest SEPs typically arise in conjunction with X class flares and very fast (\u3e1000 km/s) CMEs. These events are usually associated with complex sunspot groups (also known as active regions) that harbor strong, stressed magnetic fields. Highly energetic protons generated in these events travel near the speed of light and can arrive at Earth minutes after the eruptive event. The generation of these particles is, in turn, believed to be primarily associated with the shock wave formed very low in the corona by the passage of the CME (injection of particles from the flare site may also play a role). Whether these particles actually reach Earth (or any other point) depends on their transport in the interplanetary magnetic field and their magnetic connection to the shock

Imaging atherosclerosis with hybrid [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging: What Leonardo da Vinci could not see

Prodigious efforts and landmark discoveries have led toward significant advances in our understanding of atherosclerosis. Despite significant efforts, atherosclerosis continues globally to be a leading cause of mortality and reduced quality of life. With surges in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes, atherosclerosis is expected to have an even more pronounced impact upon the global burden of disease. It is imperative to develop strategies for the early detection of disease. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging utilizing [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) may provide a non-invasive means of characterizing inflammatory activity within atherosclerotic plaque, thus serving as a surrogate biomarker for detecting vulnerable plaque. The aim of this review is to explore the rationale for performing FDG imaging, provide an overview into the mechanism of action, and summarize findings from the early application of FDG PET imaging in the clinical setting to evaluate vascular disease. Alternative imaging biomarkers and approaches are briefly discussed. © 2012 The Author(s)

The role of the right temporoparietal junction in perceptual conflict: detection or resolution?

The right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) is a polysensory cortical area that plays a key role in perception and awareness. Neuroimaging evidence shows activation of rTPJ in intersensory and sensorimotor conflict situations, but it remains unclear whether this activity reflects detection or resolution of such conflicts. To address this question, we manipulated the relationship between touch and vision using the so-called mirror-box illusion. Participants' hands lay on either side of a mirror, which occluded their left hand and reflected their right hand, but created the illusion that they were looking directly at their left hand. The experimenter simultaneously touched either the middle (D3) or the ring finger (D4) of each hand. Participants judged, which finger was touched on their occluded left hand. The visual stimulus corresponding to the touch on the right hand was therefore either congruent (same finger as touch) or incongruent (different finger from touch) with the task-relevant touch on the left hand. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was delivered to the rTPJ immediately after touch. Accuracy in localizing the left touch was worse for D4 than for D3, particularly when visual stimulation was incongruent. However, following TMS, accuracy improved selectively for D4 in incongruent trials, suggesting that the effects of the conflicting visual information were reduced. These findings suggest a role of rTPJ in detecting, rather than resolving, intersensory conflict

Brief Report: Testing the Psychometric Properties of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Anxiety is a prevalent and impairing co-morbidity among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet assessment measures, including screening tools, are seldom validated with autism samples. We explored the psychometric properties of the child and parent reports of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and the Screen for Anxiety Related Disorder-71 (SCARED-71) with 49 males with ASD (10–16 years, 63% co-occurring anxiety). Both measures had excellent internal consistency and fair-good parent–child agreement. The SCAS has a higher proportion of items evaluating observable behaviors. Predictive power of the measures did not differ. Higher cut-points in the parent reports (SCARED only) and lower cut-points in the child reports may enhance prediction in this sample. Choice of measure and cut-points should be considered alongside intended purpose

The Effects Combining Cryocompression Therapy following an Acute Bout of Resistance Exercise on Performance and Recovery

Compression and cold therapy used separately have shown to reduce negative effects of tissue damage. The combining compression and cold therapy (cryocompression) as a single recovery modality has yet to be fully examined. To examine the effects of cryocompression on recovery following a bout of heavy resistance exercise, recreationally resistance trained men (n =16) were recruited, matched, and randomly assigned to either a cryocompression group (CRC) or control group (CON). Testing was performed before and then immediately after exercise, 60 minutes, 24 hours, and 48 hours after a heavy resistance exercise workout (barbell back squats for 4 sets of 6 reps at 80% 1RM, 90 sec rest between sets, stiff legged deadlifts for 4 sets of 8 reps at 1.0 X body mass with 60 sec rest between sets, 4 sets of 10 eccentric Nordic hamstring curls, 45 sec rest between sets). The CRC group used the CRC system for 20-mins of cryocompression treatment immediately after exercise, 24 hours, and 48 hours after exercise. CON sat quietly for 20-mins at the same time points. Muscle damage [creatine kinase], soreness (visual analog scale, 0-100), pain (McGill Pain Q, 0-5), fatigue, sleep quality, and jump power were significantly (p \u3c 0.05) improved for CRC compared to CON at 24 and 48 hours after exercise. Pain was also significantly lower for CRC compared to CON at 60-mins post exercise. These findings show that cryocompression can enhance recovery and performance following a heavy resistance exercise workout