How the Liquid-Liquid Transition Affects Hydrophobic Hydration in Deeply Supercooled Water

We determine the phase diagram of liquid supercooled water by extensive computer simulations using the TIP5P-E model [J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 120}, 6085 (2004)]. We find that the transformation of water into a low density liquid in the supercooled range strongly enhances the solubility of hydrophobic particles. The transformation of water into a tetrahedrally structured liquid is accompanied by a minimum in the hydration entropy and enthalpy. The corresponding change in sign of the solvation heat capacity indicates a loss of one characteristic signature of hydrophobic hydration. The observed behavior is found to be qualitatively in accordance with the predictions of the information theory model of Garde et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 77}, 4966 (1996)].Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, twocolumn Revtex, modified text applied changes to figure 1, 2d, 3,

Case Reports1. A Late Presentation of Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: Beware of TGFβ Receptor Mutations in Benign Joint Hypermobility

Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and dissections are not uncommon causes of sudden death in young adults. Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare, recently described, autosomal dominant, connective tissue disease characterized by aggressive arterial aneurysms, resulting from mutations in the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) receptor genes TGFBR1 and TGFBR2. Mean age at death is 26.1 years, most often due to aortic dissection. We report an unusually late presentation of LDS, diagnosed following elective surgery in a female with a long history of joint hypermobility. Methods: A 51-year-old Caucasian lady complained of chest pain and headache following a dural leak from spinal anaesthesia for an elective ankle arthroscopy. CT scan and echocardiography demonstrated a dilated aortic root and significant aortic regurgitation. MRA demonstrated aortic tortuosity, an infrarenal aortic aneurysm and aneurysms in the left renal and right internal mammary arteries. She underwent aortic root repair and aortic valve replacement. She had a background of long-standing joint pains secondary to hypermobility, easy bruising, unusual fracture susceptibility and mild bronchiectasis. She had one healthy child age 32, after which she suffered a uterine prolapse. Examination revealed mild Marfanoid features. Uvula, skin and ophthalmological examination was normal. Results: Fibrillin-1 testing for Marfan syndrome (MFS) was negative. Detection of a c.1270G > C (p.Gly424Arg) TGFBR2 mutation confirmed the diagnosis of LDS. Losartan was started for vascular protection. Conclusions: LDS is a severe inherited vasculopathy that usually presents in childhood. It is characterized by aortic root dilatation and ascending aneurysms. There is a higher risk of aortic dissection compared with MFS. Clinical features overlap with MFS and Ehlers Danlos syndrome Type IV, but differentiating dysmorphogenic features include ocular hypertelorism, bifid uvula and cleft palate. Echocardiography and MRA or CT scanning from head to pelvis is recommended to establish the extent of vascular involvement. Management involves early surgical intervention, including early valve-sparing aortic root replacement, genetic counselling and close monitoring in pregnancy. Despite being caused by loss of function mutations in either TGFβ receptor, paradoxical activation of TGFβ signalling is seen, suggesting that TGFβ antagonism may confer disease modifying effects similar to those observed in MFS. TGFβ antagonism can be achieved with angiotensin antagonists, such as Losartan, which is able to delay aortic aneurysm development in preclinical models and in patients with MFS. Our case emphasizes the importance of timely recognition of vasculopathy syndromes in patients with hypermobility and the need for early surgical intervention. It also highlights their heterogeneity and the potential for late presentation. Disclosures: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Chronic Delta(9)-THC Exposure Differently Affects Histone Modifications in the Adolescent and Adult Rat Brain

Adolescence represents a vulnerable period for the psychiatric consequences of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) exposure, however, the molecular underpinnings of this vulnerability remain to be established. Histone modifications are emerging as important epigenetic mechanisms involved in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric diseases, thus, we investigated the impact of chronic Delta(9)-THC exposure on histone modifications in different brain areas of female rats. We checked histone modifications associated to both transcriptional repression (H3K9 di- and tri-methylation, H3K27 tri-methylation) and activation (H3K9 and H3K14 acetylation) after adolescent and adult chronic Delta(9)-THC exposure in the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala. Chronic exposure to increasing doses of Delta(9)-THC for 11 days affected histone modifications in a region- and age-specific manner. The primary effect in the adolescent brain was represented by changes leading to transcriptional repression, whereas the one observed after adult treatment led to transcriptional activation. Moreover, only in the adolescent brain, the primary effect was followed by a homeostatic response to counterbalance the Delta(9)-THC-induced repressive effect, except in the amygdala. The presence of a more complex response in the adolescent brain may be part of the mechanisms that make the adolescent brain vulnerable to Delta(9)-THC adverse effects

A sterically hindered bis-eta-alkylcyclopentadienyl zirconium compound as catalyst for the polymerizaiton of ethene and propene

The compound bis[η-(1,3,3,5,5-pentamethylcyclohexyl)-cyclopentadienyl] zirconium dichloride has been prepared and the crystal structure determined. The compound together with the cocatalyst methylaluminoxane will catalyse the polymerisation of ethene and propene

On the design and control of an empowering manipulator to increase the capabilities of humans in industrial applications

Empowering robotic solutions are exploited for industrial applications in order to reduce/limit risk factors related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and to improve the capabilities of humans. This paper aims at proposing both (a) the design and (b) the control of a cooperative manipulator in order to empower humans in onerous industrial tasks execution. (a) a dual driven actuation (DDA) is proposed and described for the shoulder joint of an empowering robotic system. (b) a fuzzy impedance control based approach to assist the human operator while lifting (partially) unknown weight components is proposed. The control method has been validated in a hatrack-like component installation, case-study related to the H2020 CleanSky 2 EURECA project. The proposed application has been shown during the KUKA Innovation Award. As a test platform, a KUKA iiwa 14 R820 has been used