A transgenic Camelina sativa seed oil effectively replaces fish oil as a dietary source of eicosapentaenoic acid in mice

Background: Fish currently supplies only 40% of the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) required to allow all individuals globally to meet the minimum intake recommendation of 500 mg/d. Therefore, alternative sustainable sources are needed. Objective: The main objective was to investigate the ability of genetically engineered Camelina sativa (20% EPA) oil (CO) to enrich tissue EPA and DHA relative to an EPA-rich fish oil (FO) in mammals. Methods: Six-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 10 wk either a palm oil–containing control (C) diet or diets supplemented with EPA-CO or FO, with the C, low-EPA CO (COL), high-EPA CO (COH), low-EPA FO (FOL), and high-EPA FO (FOH) diets providing 0, 0.4, 3.4, 0.3, and 2.9 g EPA/kg diet, respectively. Liver, muscle, and brain were collected for fatty acid analysis, and blood glucose and serum lipids were quantified. The expression of selected hepatic genes involved in EPA and DHA biosynthesis and in modulating their cellular impact was determined. Results: The oils were well tolerated, with significantly greater weight gain in the COH and FOH groups relative to the C group (P < 0.001). Significantly lower (36–38%) blood glucose concentrations were evident in the FOH and COH mice relative to C mice (P < 0.01). Hepatic EPA concentrations were higher in all EPA groups relative to the C group (P < 0.001), with concentrations of 0.0, 0.4, 2.9, 0.2, and 3.6 g/100 g liver total lipids in the C, COL, COH, FOL, and FOH groups, respectively. Comparable dose-independent enrichments of liver DHA were observed in mice fed CO and FO diets (P < 0.001). Relative to the C group, lower fatty acid desaturase 1 (Fads1) expression (P < 0.005) was observed in the COH and FOH groups. Higher fatty acid desaturase 2 (Fads2), peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor α (Ppara), and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ (Pparg) (P < 0.005) expressions were induced by CO. No impact of treatment on liver X receptor α (Lxra) or sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (Srebp1c) was evident. Conclusions: Oil from transgenic Camelina is a bioavailable source of EPA in mice. These data provide support for the future assessment of this oil in a human feeding trial

The origin of Tel Dor Hacksilver and the westward expansion of the phoenicians in the early iron age: The cypriot connection

A recent reanalysis of compositional and lead isotope legacy data from the early silver hoards of the southern Levant (ca. twelfth–ninth centuries BCE) identified that not only was most of this hacksilver mixed but that it probably derived from the Pyritic belt of southern Iberia, the Taurus mountains in Anatolia, and a third unknown source. We propose that the unknown component of Tel Dor’s hacksilver was silver potentially derived from ores mined at Kalavasos on Cyprus. The presence of Cypriot silver in the southern Levant complements finds of Phoenician pottery on Cyprus, supporting that there was continuity of trade from the end of the Bronze Age to the beginning of the Iron Age between Cyprus and the Levant. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the technology required to smelt and cupellate argentiferous jarosite ores was first practiced on Cyprus prior to risky and costly ventures to Iberia

Young tableau reconstruction via minors

The tableau reconstruction problem, posed by Monks (2009), asks the following. Starting with a standard Young tableau $T$, a 1-minor of $T$ is a tableau obtained by first deleting any cell of $T$, and then performing jeu de taquin slides to fill the resulting gap. This can be iterated to arrive at the set of $k$-minors of $T$. The problem is this: given $k$, what are the values of $n$ such that every tableau of size $n$ can be reconstructed from its set of $k$-minors? For $k=1$, the problem was recently solved by Cain and Lehtonen. In this paper, we solve the problem for $k=2$, proving the sharp lower bound $n \geq 8$. In the case of multisets of $k$-minors, we also give a lower bound for arbitrary $k$, as a first step toward a sharp bound in the general multiset case.Comment: 24 pages, 18 figure

Effects of random vibration in high-speed phase-shifting speckle pattern interferometry

The influence of random vibrations on a dynamic phase shifting speckle pattern interferometer, in which phase difference evaluation is performed using temporal phase shifting and temporal phase unwrapping, is investigated by means of experiments and numerical simulations. A well-defined velocity spectral density function, typical of the spectra found under non-vibration-isolated conditions, is used throughout. Five phase-shifting formulae are studied, with camera framing rates (1,2 and 4 kHz) typical of current dynamic speckle pattern interferometers. Two main aspects were evaluated: firstly the unwrapping reliability, and secondly the noise induced in the phase maps by the vibration. The former was found to be a significant constraint, even for peak velocities well below the Nyquist velocity limit of the interferometer, and is therefore likely to be more important than the latter in many applications. Three analytical criteria for determining the expected unwrapping success rate are proposed and their predictions compared with the measured values. It is demonstrated that shorter sampling windows and higher framing rates are preferred in order to increase the unwrapping success rate, but that longer windows reduce the root mean square error in the phase change maps due to the vibration

Failed limb salvage by microsurgery, resolved by super-microsurgery

Advances in perforating artery flaps have improved reconstruction in various body parts, particularly the lower extremities, offering benefits in patient quality of life and reduced public health service costs. The use of flaps and microsurgery extends beyond trauma to address conditions like osteomyelitis, tumor resection, osteoarthritis, and post-radiation necrosis. Notably, the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap (SCIP) is highlighted for its thin profile and utility in limb coverage, minimizing donor site morbidity. Microsurgical techniques contribute to limb salvage, reducing amputation risks in severe fractures and post-osteosynthesis complications. A 29-year-old male with cerebral palsy suffered bimalleolar fracture from a high-energy motor vehicle accident. Initial ALT flap reconstruction failed, leading to flap removal and osteosynthesis exposure. After 48 hours, removal of the flap was necessary due to venous thrombosis. Salvage with SCIP flap involved anastomosis to perforators of both posterior tibial artery and vein. This case details a patient with a bimalleolar fracture post-motorcycle accident, initially treated with conventional microsurgery using an ALT flap. Complications arose from venous thrombosis, necessitating flap removal. Salvage was achieved through a SCIP flap with supermicrosurgery techniques, employing 0.5 mm anastomosis for improved functionality and reduced complications in flap recovery and donor site comorbidities. Successful outcomes in microsurgery and supermicrosurgery necessitate comprehensive training. Specialized limb salvage centers must possess specific equipment and instruments for these techniques. The literature reviewed doesn't indicate contraindications related to the patient's mental state for the execution of microsurgery and supermicrosurgery

Toxicity and pathophysiology of palytoxin congeners after intraperitoneal and aerosol administration in rats

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2018. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here under a nonexclusive, irrevocable, paid-up, worldwide license granted to WHOI. It is made available for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Toxicon 150 (2018): 235-250, doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.06.067.Preparations of palytoxin (PLTX, derived from Japanese Palythoa tuberculosa) and the congeners 42-OH-PLTX (from Hawaiian P. toxica) and ovatoxin-a (isolated from a Japanese strain of Ostreopsis ovata), as well as a 50:50 mixture of PLTX and 42-OH-PLTX derived from Hawaiian P. tuberculosa were characterized as to their concentration, composition, in-vitro potency and interaction with an anti-PLTX monoclonal antibody (mAb), after which they were evaluated for lethality and pathophysiological effects by intraperitoneal (IP) and aerosol administration to rats. Once each preparation was characterized as to its toxin composition by LC-HRMS and normalized to a total PLTX/OVTX concentration using HPLC-UV, all four preparations showed similar potency towards mouse erythrocytes in the erythrocyte hemolysis assay and interactions with the anti-PLTX mAb. The IP LD50 values derived from these experiments (1-3 μg/kg for all) were consistent with published values, although some differences from the published literature were seen. The aerosol LD50 values (.03-.06 μg/kg) confirmed the exquisite potency of PLTX suggested by the literature. The pathophysiological effects of the different toxin preparations by IP and aerosol administration were similar, albeit with some differences. Most commonly affected tissues were the lungs, liver, heart, kidneys, salivary glands, and adrenal glands. Despite some differences, these results suggest commonalities in potency and mechanism of action among these PLTX congeners.This work was supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, through the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense, Contract number CB10396. Additional support to DMA and DLK was provided by National Science Foundation (Grant OCE-1314642) and National Institutes of Health (NIEHS-1P50-ES021923-01) through the Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health

Comportamiento mecánico de restos de pirámides y templos americanos y los edificios históricos construidos sobre ellos

Una característica bastante habitual de monumentos y edificios históricos suele ser el estar construidos sobre otros edificios que bien fueron demolidos para levantar los actuales o bien fueron olvidados. Las nuevas construcciones suelen estar edificadas en parte sobre rellenos artificiales relativamente blandos y sobre zonas rígidas, restos de los muros anteriores. Esta disposición llega a provocar una serie de patologías características. Un caso singular de este tipo de levantamientos es la construcción de iglesias y palacios en Hispanoamérica sobre los restos de las antiguas pirámides. Además de los casos en México D.F., existen bastantes poblaciones en Guatemala y en el resto de México con pirámides parcialmente destruidas que están siendo o fueron utilizadas como base para cimentaciones de “nuevos” edificios históricos. Existen también otros casos en los que, al no disponer de cubrición en su parte superior, permiten el paso del agua de lluvia. En este artículo se muestra como el comportamiento de estas pirámides y construcciones antiguas incluidas en el terreno es más parecido al de estructuras de contención (muros) que al de plataformas horizontales debido a que el agua de lluvia aumenta los empujes sobre las capas exteriores y estos edificios, como sucede con pirámides de Guatemala y México, sufren una degradación importante. Además, se demuestra el efecto de rigidización lateral del terreno y reducción de asientos en las construcciones cimentadas sobre suelos que contienen estos restos, los cuales suponen una mejora importante de la capacidad portante.Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran CanariaColegio Oficial de Ingenieros Industriales de CanariasAgencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Informació

Order and Frustration in Chiral Liquid Crystals

This paper reviews the complex ordered structures induced by chirality in liquid crystals. In general, chirality favors a twist in the orientation of liquid-crystal molecules. In some cases, as in the cholesteric phase, this favored twist can be achieved without any defects. More often, the favored twist competes with applied electric or magnetic fields or with geometric constraints, leading to frustration. In response to this frustration, the system develops ordered structures with periodic arrays of defects. The simplest example of such a structure is the lattice of domains and domain walls in a cholesteric phase under a magnetic field. More complex examples include defect structures formed in two-dimensional films of chiral liquid crystals. The same considerations of chirality and defects apply to three-dimensional structures, such as the twist-grain-boundary and moire phases.Comment: 39 pages, RevTeX, 14 included eps figure