Direct observation of the influence of the As-Fe-As angle on the Tc of superconducting SmFeAsO1−x_{1-x}Fx_{x}

The electrical resistivity, crystalline structure and electronic properties calculated from the experimentally measured atomic positions of the compound SmFeAsO$_{0.81}$F$_{0.19}$ have been studied up to pressures ~20GPa. The correlation between the pressure dependence of the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) and crystallographic parameters on the same sample shows clearly that a regular FeAs$_{4}$ tetrahedron maximizes Tc, through optimization of carrier transfer to the FeAs planes as indicated by the evolution of the electronic band structures.Comment: 15pages, 4 figure

Imágenes urológicas ITU por cuerpo extraño vesical

Three patients aged (a) 52 years, (b) 60 years and (c) 42 years intervened 5 years, 3 years and 2 years ago, respectively, for stress urinary incontinence using the Burch procedure via the abdominal route.Tres pacientes de (a) 52 años, (b) 60 años y (c) 42 años de edad intervenidos hace 5 años, 3 años y 2 años respectivamente de incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo mediante la intervención de Burch vía abdominal

Three novel polymorphic microsatellite markers for the glaucoma locus GLC1B by datamining tetranucleotide repeats on chromosome 2p12-q12

In order to identify new markers around the glaucoma locus GLC1B as a tool to refine its critical region at 2p11.2-2q11.2, we searched the critical region sequence obtained from the UCSC database for tetranucleotide (GATA)n and (GTCT)n repeats of at least 10 units in length. Three out of four potential microsatellite loci were found to be polymorphic, heterozygosity ranging from 64.56% to 79.59%. The identified markers are useful not only for GLC1B locus but also for the study of other disease loci at 2p11.2-2q11.2, a region with scarcity of microsatellite markers

Comportamiento productivo y características morfométricas y mineralización de tibias de pollos de engorde suplementados con fosfatos inorgánicos de cinco fuentes comerciales

The aim of this study was to evaluate the productive performance of broilers and the morphometric characteristics and indicators of tibial mineralization as an effect of the inclusion of five sources of commercial inorganic phosphate in the diet. Three hundred male BB chickens from the Cobb 500 Line were used, randomly distributed in six treatments with 10 repetitions per treatment and five birds per repetition. The birds were fed for 21 days with the following diets: T1, basal diet + food grade monosodium phosphate (MNaP); T2, basal diet + dicalcium phosphate (DCP); T3, basal diet + monodicalcium phosphate 1 (MDCP 1); T4, basal diet + monodicalcium phosphate 2 (MDCP 2); T5: basal diet + monocalcium phosphate 1 (MCP 1); T6, basal diet + monocalcium phosphate 2 (MCP 2). Productive variables were recorded: body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion. The birds were slaughtered at 21 days and the tibiae were removed to determine their morphometry (weight, length, diaphysis diameter and volume) and indicators of bone mineralization (density, Seedor index, robustness index and tibia resistance). Additionally, the percentages of ash, calcium and phosphorus in the tibia were determined. The treatments did not have a significant influence on the productive response of the birds, as well as on the bone morphometry and indicators of tibial mineralization. However, the percentage of P at the level of the tibia was affected (p<0.05) by the phosphate source used, with T2 (DCP) presenting the highest percentage. It is concluded that the phosphate source did not affect the productive performance, but that the DCP had a higher phosphorus retention in the tibia.  El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el comportamiento productivo de pollos de engorde y las características morfométricas e indicadores de mineralización de las tibias como efecto de la inclusión de cinco fuentes de fosfato inorgánico comerciales en la dieta. Se utilizaron 300 pollos BB macho de la Línea Cobb 500, distribuidos al azar en seis tratamientos con 10 repeticiones por tratamiento y cinco aves por repetición. Las aves fueron alimentadas por 21 días con las siguientes dietas: T1, dieta basal + fosfato monosódico grado alimenticio (MNaP); T2, dieta basal + fosfato dicálcico (DCP); T3, dieta basal + fosfato monodicálcico 1 (MDCP 1); T4, dieta basal + fosfato monodicálcico 2 (MDCP 2); T5: dieta basal + fosfato monocálcico 1 (MCP 1); T6, dieta basal + fosfato monocálcico 2 (MCP 2). Se registraron variables productivas: peso vivo, ganancia de peso, consumo de alimento y conversión alimenticia. Las aves fueron sacrificadas a los 21 días y se retiraron las tibias para determinar su morfometría (peso, largo, diámetro de diáfisis y volumen) e indicadores de mineralización ósea (densidad, índice de Seedor, índice de robusticidad y resistencia de tibia). Adicionalmente, se determinaron los porcentajes de cenizas, calcio y fósforo en la tibia. Los tratamientos no tuvieron influencia significativa sobre la respuesta productiva de las aves, así como en la morfometría ósea e indicadores de mineralización de la tibia. Sin embargo, el porcentaje de P a nivel de la tibia fue afectado (p<0.05) por la fuente de fosfato utilizado, siendo T2 (DCP) el que presentó mayor porcentaje. Se concluye que la fuente de fosfato no afectó el comportamiento productivo, pero que el DCP presentó una mayor retención de fósforo a en la tibia

Telescope Fabra ROA Montsec: a new robotic wide-field Baker-Nunn facility

A Baker–Nunn Camera (BNC), originally installed at the Real Instituto y Observatorio de la Armada (ROA) in 1958, was refurbished and robotized. The new facility, called Telescope Fabra ROA Montsec (TFRM), was installed at the Observatori Astronòmic del Montsec (OAdM). The process of refurbishment is described in detail. Most of the steps of the refurbishment project were accomplished by purchasing commercial components, which involve little posterior engineering assembling work. The TFRM is a 0.5 m aperture f/0.96 optically modified BNC, which offers a unique combination of instrumental specifications: fully robotic and remote operation, wide field of view (4°.4 × 4°.4), moderate limiting magnitude (V ∼ 19.5 mag), ability of tracking at arbitrary right ascension (α) and declination (δ) rates, as well as opening and closing CCD shutter at will during an exposure. Nearly all kinds of image survey programs can benefit from those specifications. Apart from other less time-consuming programs, since the beginning of science TFRM operations we have been conducting two specific and distinct surveys: super-Earths transiting around M-type dwarfs stars, and geostationary debris in the context of Space Situational Awareness/Space Surveillance and Tracking (SSA/SST) programs. Preliminary results for both cases will be shown

Efecto del resveratrol en el porcentaje y calidad de embriones in vitro generados por separación de blastómeras en bovinos

The oxidative state is an important factor that determines the development of bovine embryos. The objective in this study was to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on the quality of in vitro embryos generated by separation of blastomeres in cattle. Oocytes from the slaughterhouse were matured and fertilized in vitro by the conventional method. After 18 hours of fertilization, the zygotes were cultured for 3 days in synthetic oviductual fluid medium (SOF) for control and supplemented with 2 μM and 0.5 μM for the treatments. On day 3 they were stripped of their zona pellucida (ZP) to be cultivated at a rate of four blastomeres in well of the well (WOW) for 6 days in medium SOF supplemented with resveratrol. We evaluated percentage data of cleavage and embryonic division (8 to 10 blastomeres) after 3 days of culture, finding a significant difference p<0.05 with supplementation with 0.5 μM of resveratrol. At 6 days after blastomeres separation, percentage of embryos, number of total cells, live cells and dead cells were evaluated using Hoechst, FDA and PI staining respectively. There were no differences in the percentage of blastocysts between treatments; however, supplementation with 0.5 μM of resveratrol to the SOF medium had a greater amount of total cells and living cells (p<0.05). In conclusion, supplementation with resveratrol in the SOF medium does not increase the percentage of blastocysts but improves its quality using a concentration of 0.5 μM.El estado oxidativo es un factor importante que determina el desarrollo de embriones bovinos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del resveratrol en el porcentaje y calidad de embriones in vitro generados por separación de blastómeras en ganado bovino. Ovocitos provenientes de matadero fueron madurados y fecundados in vitro por el método convencional. Terminada las 18 horas de fecundación, los cigotos se cultivaron por 3 días en medio fluido oviductual sintético (SOF) para el control y suplementado con 2 µM y 0,5 µM para los tratamientos. Al día 3 se despojaron de su zona pelúcida (ZP) para ser cultivados a razón de cuatro blastómeras en well of thewell (WOW) por 6 días en medio SOF suplementado con resveratrol. Se evaluaron datos porcentuales de clivaje y división embrionaria (8 a 10 blastómeros) a los 3 días de cultivo superando la suplementación con 0.5µM de resveratrol (p<0,05). A los 6 días post separación de blastómeras se evaluó porcentaje de embriones, cantidad de células totales, células vivas y células muertas, utilizando la tinción Hoechst, FDA y PI respectivamente. No hubo diferencias en el porcentaje de blastocistos entre tratamientos; sin embargo, la suplementación con 0,5 µM de resveratrol al medio SOF tuvo mayor cantidad de células totales y células vivas (p<0,05). Finalmente la suplementación con resveratrol al medio SOF no aumenta el porcentaje de blastocistos pero sí mejora su calidad usando una concentración de 0,5 µM

Rpgrip1 is required for rod outer segment development and ciliary protein trafficking in zebrafish

The authors would like to thank the Royal Society of London, the National Eye Research Centre, the Visual Research Trust, Fight for Sight, the W.H. Ross Foundation, the Rosetrees Trust, and the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for supporting this work. This work was also supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this research (Research Project) grant number ‘RGP – VPP – 219’.Mutations in the RPGR-interacting protein 1 (RPGRIP1) gene cause recessive Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), juvenile retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and cone-rod dystrophy. RPGRIP1 interacts with other retinal disease-causing proteins and has been proposed to have a role in ciliary protein transport; however, its function remains elusive. Here, we describe a new zebrafish model carrying a nonsense mutation in the rpgrip1 gene. Rpgrip1homozygous mutants do not form rod outer segments and display mislocalization of rhodopsin, suggesting a role for RPGRIP1 in rhodopsin-bearing vesicle trafficking. Furthermore, Rab8, the key regulator of rhodopsin ciliary trafficking, was mislocalized in photoreceptor cells of rpgrip1 mutants. The degeneration of rod cells is early onset, followed by the death of cone cells. These phenotypes are similar to that observed in LCA and juvenile RP patients. Our data indicate RPGRIP1 is necessary for rod outer segment development through regulating ciliary protein trafficking. The rpgrip1 mutant zebrafish may provide a platform for developing therapeutic treatments for RP patients.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Epigenome-wide analysis of T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia identifies BCL11B as a potential biomarker

Background: The molecular pathogenesis of T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL), a mature T-cell leukemia arising commonly from T-cell receptor alpha beta-positive CD8(+) memory cytotoxic T cells, is only partly understood. The role of deregulated methylation in T-LGLL is not well known. We analyzed the epigenetic profile of T-LGLL cells of 11 patients compared to their normal counterparts by array-based DNA methylation profiling. For identification of molecular events driving the pathogenesis of T-LGLL, we compared the differentially methylated loci between the T-LGLL cases and normal T cells with chromatin segmentation data of benign T cells from the BLUEPRINT project. Moreover, we analyzed gene expression data of T-LGLL and benign T cells and validated the results by pyrosequencing in an extended cohort of 17 patients, including five patients with sequential samples. Results: We identified dysregulation of DNA methylation associated with altered gene expression in T-LGLL. Since T-LGLL is a rare disease, the samples size is low. But as confirmed for each sample, hypermethylation of T-LGLL cells at various CpG sites located at enhancer regions is a hallmark of this disease. The interaction of BLC11B and C14orf64 as suggested by in silico data analysis could provide a novel pathogenetic mechanism that needs further experimental investigation. Conclusions: DNA methylation is altered in T-LGLL cells compared to benign T cells. In particular, BCL11B is highly significant differentially methylated in T-LGLL cells. Although our results have to be validated in a larger patient cohort, BCL11B could be considered as a potential biomarker for this leukemia. In addition, altered gene expression and hypermethylation of enhancer regions could serve as potential mechanisms for treatment of this disease. Gene interactions of dysregulated genes, like BLC11B and C14orf64, may play an important role in pathogenic mechanisms and should be further analyzed

Gut microbiome variation modulates the effects of dietary fiber on host metabolism

Background: There is general consensus that consumption of dietary fermentable fiber improves cardiometabolic health, in part by promoting mutualistic microbes and by increasing production of beneficial metabolites in the distal gut. However, human studies have reported variations in the observed benefits among individuals consuming the same fiber. Several factors likely contribute to this variation, including host genetic and gut microbial differences. We hypothesized that gut microbial metabolism of dietary fiber represents an important and differential factor that modulates how dietary fiber impacts the host. Results: We examined genetically identical gnotobiotic mice harboring two distinct complex gut microbial communities and exposed to four isocaloric diets, each containing different fibers: (i) cellulose, (ii) inulin, (iii) pectin, (iv) a mix of 5 fermentable fibers (assorted fiber). Gut microbiome analysis showed that each transplanted community preserved a core of common taxa across diets that differentiated it from the other community, but there were variations in richness and bacterial taxa abundance within each community among the different diet treatments. Host epigenetic, transcriptional, and metabolomic analyses revealed diet-directed differences between animals colonized with the two communities, including variation in amino acids and lipid pathways that were associated with divergent health outcomes. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that interindividual variation in the gut microbiome is causally linked to differential effects of dietary fiber on host metabolic phenotypes and suggests that a one-fits-all fiber supplementation approach to promote health is unlikely to elicit consistent effects across individuals. Overall, the presented results underscore the importance of microbe-diet interactions on host metabolism and suggest that gut microbes modulate dietary fiber efficacy. [MediaObject not available: see fulltext.]Fil: Murga Garrido, Sofia M.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. University of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Hong, Qilin. University of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Cross, Tzu Wen L.. University of Wisconsin; Estados Unidos. Purdue University; Estados UnidosFil: Hutchison, Evan R.. University of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Han, Jessica. Wisconsin Institute for Discovery; Estados UnidosFil: Thomas, Sydney P.. Wisconsin Institute for Discovery; Estados UnidosFil: Vivas, Eugenio I.. University of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Denu, John. Wisconsin Institute for Discovery; Estados UnidosFil: Ceschin, Danilo Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra; Argentina. Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Biomédicas de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Tang, Zheng Zheng. University of Wisconsin; Estados Unidos. Wisconsin Institute for Discovery; Estados UnidosFil: Rey, Federico E.. University of Wisconsin; Estados Unido