Peptide Biomarkers for Identifying the Species Origin of Gelatin Using Coupled UPLC-MS/MS

Liquid chromatography linked with mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was used to analyse gelatin from four different species after a trypsin digest. Using chemometric software to analyse the data it was possible to find peptide fragments that were specific to each species of gelatin: porcine, bovine, chicken or fish. Identification of these peptides was challenging due to the destructive nature of gelatin manufacture. The untargeted workflow method developed allowed identification of 21 unknown gelatin samples with 100% accuracy. Fish gelatin is made from a large range of different species that do not share a common differentiating protein but it was shown that the protein from a parasitic bacteria could be used to identify fish gelatin.</p

The process and utility of classification and regression tree methodology in nursing research

Aim: This paper presents a discussion of classification and regression tree analysis and its utility in nursing research. Background: Classification and regression tree analysis is an exploratory research method used to illustrate associations between variables not suited to traditional regression analysis. Complex interactions are demonstrated between covariates and variables of interest in inverted tree diagrams. Design: Discussion paper. Data sources: English language literature was sourced from eBooks, Medline Complete and CINAHL Plus databases, Google and Google Scholar, hard copy research texts and retrieved reference lists for terms including classification and regression tree* and derivatives and recursive partitioning from 1984-2013. Discussion: Classification and regression tree analysis is an important method used to identify previously unknown patterns amongst data. Whilst there are several reasons to embrace this method as a means of exploratory quantitative research, issues regarding quality of data as well as the usefulness and validity of the findings should be considered. Implications for Nursing Research: Classification and regression tree analysis is a valuable tool to guide nurses to reduce gaps in the application of evidence to practice. With the ever-expanding availability of data, it is important that nurses understand the utility and limitations of the research method. Conclusion: Classification and regression tree analysis is an easily interpreted method for modelling interactions between health-related variables that would otherwise remain obscured. Knowledge is presented graphically, providing insightful understanding of complex and hierarchical relationships in an accessible and useful way to nursing and other health professions

Ethane-beta-Sultam Modifies the Activation of the Innate Immune System Induced by Intermittent Ethanol Administration in Female Adolescent Rats

Intermittent ethanol abuse or ‘binge drinking’ during adolescence induces neuronal damage, which may be associated with cognitive dysfunction. To investigate the neurochemical processes involved, rats were administered either 1 g/kg or 2 g/kg ethanol in a ‘binge drinking’ regime. After only 3 weeks, significant activation of phagocytic cells in the peripheral (alveolar macrophages) and the hippocampal brain region (microglia cells) was present,as exemplified by increases in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the macrophages and of iNOS in the microglia. This was associated with neuronal loss in the hippocampus CA1 region. Daily supplementation with a taurine prodrug, ethane-β-sultam, 0.028 g/kg, during the intermittent ethanol loading regime, supressed the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and of reactive nitrogen species, as well as neuronal loss, particularly in the rats administered the lower dose of ethanol, 1 g/kg. Plasma, macrophage and hippocampal taurine levels increased marginally after ethane-β-sultam supplementation. The ‘binge drinking’ ethanol rats administered 1 g/kg ethanol showed increased latencies to those of the control rats in their acquisition of spacial navigation in the Morris Water Maze, which was normalised to that of the controls values after ethane-β-sultam administration. Such results confirm that the administration of ethane-β-sultam to binge drinking rats reduces neuroinflammation in both the periphery and the brain, suppresses neuronal loss, and improved working memory of rats in a water maze study

Physiotherapy based on problem-solving in upper limb function and neuroplasticity in chronic stroke patients: A case series

Rationale, aims, and objectives: Upper limb recovery is one of the main concerns of stroke neurorehabilitation. Neuroplasticity might underlie such recovery, particularly in the chronic phase. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of physiotherapy based on problem-solving in recovering arm function in chronic stroke patients and explore its neuroplastic changes. Methods: A small sample research design with a n of 3 using a pre-post test design was carried out. Neuroplasticity and function were assessed by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (during motor imagery and performance), action research arm test, motor assessment scale, and Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, at 3 sequential time periods: baseline(m0before a 4-week period without physiotherapy), pre-treatment(m1), and post-treatment(m2). Minimal clinical important differences and a recovery score were assessed. Assessors were blinded to moment assignment. Patients(1) underwent physiotherapy sessions, 50minutes, 5days/week for 4weeks. Four control subjects served as a reference for functional magnetic resonance imaging changes. Results: All patients recovered more than 20% after intervention. Stroke patients had similar increased areas as healthy subjects during motor execution but not during imagination at baseline. Consequently, all patients increased activity in the contralateral precentral area after intervention. Conclusions: This study indicates that 4weeks of physiotherapy promoted the recovery of arm function and neuroplasticity in all chronic stroke patients. Future research is recommended to determine the efficacy of this therapy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The recovery of semen from bathwater using the Evidence Recovery System (ERS)

Sexual offences are under-reported and ascertaining accurate offence numbers is difficult. Any methods which could increase the ability to obtain biological evidence or reduce the additional distress associated with reporting a sexual offence may result in an increase in reporting this crime type. The Evidence Recovery System (ERS) is designed to collect trace evidence, including hairs, fibres and biological evidence, from bath or shower water in a non-invasive manner. Initially, samples of semen were placed in baths filled with water, and washing was simulated using a range of body wash products. The water was then drained through the ERS before its filters were subjected to acid phosphatase testing and haematoxylin and eosin staining of spermatozoa. Recovered spermatozoa were then graded accordingly. Following this, the experiment was repeated with the addition of dirt/dust particulates during the washing stage, to simulate recovery of biological evidence in a more realistic environment. The results showed that spermatozoa considered ‘easy to find’ could regularly be obtained from bathwater using the ERS. It appeared that this recovery was not affected by the presence of different body wash products. When dust/dirt particles were added, the number of spermatozoa recovered increased at two of the evidence collection stages. The difference in recovery was considered to be statistically significant. This study provides evidence to suggest the feasibility of use of the ERS as a method to collect semen evidence from individuals subjected to sexual offences. The recovery of spermatozoa does not appear to be affected by the presence of a body wash, but does appear to be improved when skin cells, hair and other debris are transferred into the water, as would be likely during a bath/shower. Further to this, the possibility of obtaining spermatozoa from the home bath or shower of a victim following a post-offence bathing experience is implied

Orientifolds and Slumps in G_2 and Spin(7) Metrics

We discuss some new metrics of special holonomy, and their roles in string theory and M-theory. First we consider Spin(7) metrics denoted by C_8, which are complete on a complex line bundle over CP^3. The principal orbits are S^7, described as a triaxially squashed S^3 bundle over S^4. The behaviour in the S^3 directions is similar to that in the Atiyah-Hitchin metric, and we show how this leads to an M-theory interpretation with orientifold D6-branes wrapped over S^4. We then consider new G_2 metrics which we denote by C_7, which are complete on an R^2 bundle over T^{1,1}, with principal orbits that are S^3\times S^3. We study the C_7 metrics using numerical methods, and we find that they have the remarkable property of admitting a U(1) Killing vector whose length is nowhere zero or infinite. This allows one to make an everywhere non-singular reduction of an M-theory solution to give a solution of the type IIA theory. The solution has two non-trivial S^2 cycles, and both carry magnetic charge with respect to the R-R vector field. We also discuss some four-dimensional hyper-Kahler metrics described recently by Cherkis and Kapustin, following earlier work by Kronheimer. We show that in certain cases these metrics, whose explicit form is known only asymptotically, can be related to metrics characterised by solutions of the su(\infty) Toda equation, which can provide a way of studying their interior structure.Comment: Latex, 45 pages; minor correction

The X-ray warm absorber and nuclear obscuration in the Seyfert 1.8 galaxy ESO 113-G010

We present the first analysis of the X-ray warm absorber and nuclear obscuration in the Seyfert 1.8 galaxy ESO 113-G010. We used archival data from a 100 ks XMM-Newton observation made in 2005. From high resolution spectroscopy analysis of the RGS data, we detect absorption lines originating from a warm absorber consisting of two distinct phases of ionisation, with log xi ~ 3.2 and 2.3 respectively. The higher-ionised component has a larger column density and outflow velocity (N_H ~ 1.6 x 10^22 cm^-2, v ~ -1100 km/s) than the lower-ionised component (N_H ~ 0.5 x 10^22 cm^-2, v ~ -700 km/s). The shape of the optical-UV continuum and the large Balmer decrement (H_alpha/H_beta ~ 8) indicate significant amount of reddening is taking place in our line of sight in the host galaxy of the AGN; however, the X-ray spectrum is not absorbed by cold neutral gas intrinsic to the source. We discuss different explanations for this discrepancy between the reddening and the X-ray absorption, and suggest that the most likely solution is a dusty warm absorber. We show that dust can exist in the lower-ionised phase of the warm absorber, which causes the observed reddening of the optical-UV emission, whereas the X-rays remain unabsorbed due to lack of cold neutral gas in the ionised warm absorber. Furthermore, we have investigated the uncertainties in the construction of the Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) of this object due to obscuration of the nuclear source and the effects this has on the photoionisation modelling of the warm absorber. We show how the assumed SEDs influence the thermal stability of each phase and whether or not the two absorber phases in ESO 113-G010 can co-exist in pressure equilibrium.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Detection of HER2 amplification in circulating free DNA in patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is amplified and overexpressed in 20-25% of breast cancers. This study investigated circulating free DNA (cfDNA) for detection of HER2 gene amplification in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Circulating free DNA was extracted from plasma of unselected patients with primary breast cancer (22 before surgery and 68 following treatment), 30 metastatic patients and 98 female controls using the QIAamp Blood DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen). The ratio of HER2 to an unamplified reference gene (contactin-associated protein 1 (CNTNAP1)) was measured in cfDNA samples by quantitative PCR (qPCR) using SK-BR-3 cell line DNA as a positive control. RESULTS: We validated the qPCR assay with DNA extracted from 23 HER2 3+ and 40 HER2-negative tumour tissue samples; the results agreed for 60 of 63 (95.2%) tumours. Amplification was detected in cfDNA for 8 of 68 patients following primary breast cancer treatment and 5 of 30 metastatic patients, but was undetected in 22 patients with primary breast cancer and 98 healthy female controls. Of the patients with amplification in cfDNA, 10 had HER2 3+ tumour status by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate for the first time the existence of amplified HER2 in cfDNA in the follow-up of breast cancer patients who are otherwise disease free. This approach could potentially provide a marker in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer

Sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine as biomarkers for multiple sclerosis identified by metabolomic profiling using coupled UPLC-MS

The project aim was to identify differences in the metabolomic profiles in the serum of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), those with neuropathic pain (NP) and those with both MS and NP compared with controls and to identify potential biomarkers of each disease state. Metabolomic profiling was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and the data analysis involved parametric methods, principal component analysis, and discriminating filter analysis to determine the differences between disease and control serum samples. Sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine were identified as significant biomarkers

A reflection origin for the soft and hard X-ray excess of Ark 120

Over the last few years several models have been proposed to interpret the widespread soft excess observed in the X-ray spectra of type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN). In particular, reflection from the photoionized accretion disc blurred by relativistic effects has proven to be successful in reproducing both the spectral shape and the variability pattern of many sources. As a further test to this scenario we present the analysis of a recent ~100 ks long Suzaku observation of Arakelian 120, a prototypical 'bare' Seyfert 1 galaxy in which no complex absorption system is expected to mimic a soft excess or mask the intrinsic properties of this key component. We show that a reflection model allowing for both warm/blurred and cold/distant reprocessing provides a self-consistent and convincing interpretation of the broadband X-ray emission of Ark 120, also characterized by a structured iron feature and a high-energy hump. Although warm absorbers, winds/outflows and multiple Comptonizing regions may play significant roles in sources with more spectral complexity, this case study adds evidence to the presence of blurred disc reflection as a basic component of the X-ray spectra of type 1 AGN.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA