Aims. We performed an optical/infrared study of the counterpart of the low-mass X-ray binary KS 1731–260 to test its identification and obtain information about the donor. Methods. Optical and ...infrared images of the counterpart of KS 1731–260 were taken in two different epochs (2001 and 2007) after the source returned to quiescence in X-rays. We compared these observations with those obtained when KS 1731–260 was still active. Results. We confirm the identification of KS 1731–260 with the previously proposed counterpart and improve its position to $\alpha=17$:34:13.46 and $\delta=-26$:05:18.60. The H-band magnitude of this candidate showed a decline of ~1.7 mag from outburst to quiescence. In 2007 April we obtained $R =22.8\pm 0.1$ and I = 20.9 ± 0.1 for KS 1731–260. Similar optical brightness was measured in June 2001 and July 2007. The intrinsic optical color $R-I$ is consistent with spectral types from F to G for the secondary although there is a large excess over that from the secondary at the infrared wavelengths. This may be due to emission from the cooler outer regions of the accretion disk. We cannot rule out a brown dwarf as a donor star, although it would require that the distance to the source is significantly lower than the 7 kpc reported by Muno et al. (2000, ApJ, 542, 1016).
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The size and shape of dendrites and axons are strong determinants of neuronal information processing. Our knowledge on neuronal structure and function is primarily based on brains of laboratory ...animals. Whether it translates to human is not known since quantitative data on "full" human neuronal morphologies are lacking. Here, we obtained human brain tissue during resection surgery and reconstructed basal and apical dendrites and axons of individual neurons across all cortical layers in temporal cortex (Brodmann area 21). Importantly, morphologies did not correlate to etiology, disease severity, or disease duration. Next, we show that human L(ayer) 2 and L3 pyramidal neurons have 3-fold larger dendritic length and increased branch complexity with longer segments compared with temporal cortex neurons from macaque and mouse. Unsupervised cluster analysis classified 88% of human L2 and L3 neurons into human-specific clusters distinct from mouse and macaque neurons. Computational modeling of passive electrical properties to assess the functional impact of large dendrites indicates stronger signal attenuation of electrical inputs compared with mouse. We thus provide a quantitative analysis of "full" human neuron morphologies and present direct evidence that human neurons are not "scaled-up" versions of rodent or macaque neurons, but have unique structural and functional properties.
Mildly cobalamin-deficient elderly were supplemented with 1000 micrograms cobalamin (group C, n=34), 1000 micrograms cobalamin with 400 micrograms folic acid (group CF, n=31) or a placebo (n=30) for ...6 months. Participants provided one single blood sample 3, 5 or 7 months after cessation of supplementation to monitor early changes in plasma concentrations of cobalamin, holotranscobalamin (holoTC) and methylmalonic acid (MMA). At the end of supplementation (groups C+CF), one participant met our criteria for mild cobalamin deficiency, as did 13, 14 and 43% of the participants assessed at respectively 3, 5 and 7 months post-supplementation. Cobalamin and holoTC declined on average with 47 and 56% relative to concentrations at the end of supplementation for the group assessed at 7 months post-supplementation. Essentially similar declines were observed for those participants assessed at 3 and 5 months post-supplementation. Mean MMA concentrations increased by 15% (P=0.07) in those participants assessed at 3 and 5 months post-supplementation, and increased by 50% (P=0.002) in those participants assessed at 7 months post-supplementation. Considering MMA as a sensitive tissue marker for cobalamin status, oral supplementation may afford adequate cobalamin status for a period of up to 5 months after cessation in the majority of participants.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, VSZLJ, ZAGLJ
Background: During invasive meningococcal disease, severe thrombocytopenia is strongly associated with a poor outcome. Objectives: In order to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanism behind the ...development of thrombocytopenia, we studied the role of von Willebrand factor (VWF) in meningococcal disease. Patients/methods: Thirty‐two children with severe meningococcal disease admitted to our university hospital were included in this study. VWF and related parameters were measured and results were correlated with the development of shock and thrombocytopenia. Results: At admission, all patients had increased levels of (active) VWF and VWF propeptide. The highest VWF propeptide levels were observed in patients with shock, indicating acute endothelial activation. Although VWF propeptide levels in patients with shock, with or without thrombocytopenia, were similar, increased active VWF was significantly lower in patients with thrombocytopenia as compared with patients without thrombocytopenia. ADAMTS13 was moderately decreased. However, the VWF multimeric pattern was minimally increased. We assume that these findings are explained by VWF consumption and perhaps by granzyme B (GrB). In vitro experiments showed that GrB is able to cleave VWF multimers in plasma, whereas GrB was high in patients with shock, who developed thrombocytopenia. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that consumption of VWF, derived from endothelial cells, could be a key feature of meningococcal disease and primary to the development of thrombocytopenia during shock.
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FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
OBJECTIVES: Whereas evidence exists about the benefits of intensive exercise on cardiovascular outcomes in older adults, data are lacking regarding long-term effects of physical fitness and physical ...activity on cardiovascular health. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the longitudinal association of physical fitness, physical activity and muscle strength with arterial stiffness measures. DESIGN: a longitudinal follow-up study (2 years) of data from the B-PROOF study. SETTING: a subgroup of the B-PROOF study (n=497). PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred ninety-seven participants with a mean age of 72.1 years (SD 5.4) of which 57% was male. MEASUREMENTS: All performed at baseline and after two-year follow-up. Arterial stiffness was estimated by pulse wave velocity (PWV) measured with applanation tonometry. Furthermore, augmentation index (AIx) and aortic pulse pressure (PP) were assessed. Physical activity was estimated using a validated questionnaire regarding daily activities. Physical fitness was measured with a physical performance score, resulting from a walking, chair-stand and balance test. Muscle strength was assessed with hand-grip strength using a handheld dynamometer. RESULTS: The median performance score was 9.0 IQR 8.0–11.0, the mean physical activity was 744.4 (SD 539.4) kcal/day and the mean hand-grip strength was 33.1 (SD 10.2) kg. AIx differed between the baseline and follow-up measurement (26.2% (SD 10.1) vs. 28.1% (SD 9.9); p < 0.01), whereas PWV and aortic PP did not. In multivariable linear regression analysis, physical performance, physical activity and hand-grip strength at baseline were not associated with the amount of arterial stiffness after two years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Physical fitness, activity and muscle strength were not associated with arterial stiffness. More research is warranted to elucidate the long-term effects of daily and intensive physical activity on arterial stiffness in an elderly population.
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EMUNI, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, VKSCE, VSZLJ, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has been instrumental in obtaining a homogeneous sample of the rare AM CVn stars: mass-transferring binary white dwarfs. As part of a campaign of spectroscopic follow-up ...on candidate AM CVn stars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we have obtained time-resolved spectra of the g= 20.2 candidate SDSS J155252.48+320150.9 on the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory. We report an orbital period Porb= 3376.3 ± 0.3 s, or 56.272 ± 0.005 min, based on an observed ‘S-wave’ in the helium emission lines of the spectra. This confirms the ultracompact nature of the binary. Despite its relative closeness to the orbital period minimum for hydrogen-rich donors, there is no evidence for hydrogen in the spectra. We thus classify SDSS J1552 as a new bona fide AM CVn star, with the second-longest orbital period after V396 Hya (P= 65.5 min). The continuum of SDSS J1552 is compatible with either a blackbody or helium atmosphere of Teff= 12 000–15 000 K. If this represents the photosphere of the accreting white dwarf, as is expected, it puts the accretor at the upper end of the temperature range predicted by thermal evolution models. This suggests that SDSS J1552 consists of (or formerly consisted of) relatively high-mass components.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The INT Galactic Plane Survey (IGAPS) is the merger of the optical photometric surveys IPHAS and UVEX based on data from the
Isaac Newton
Telescope (INT) obtained between 2003 and 2018. It captures ...the entire northern Galactic plane within the Galactic coordinate range |
b
|< 5° and 30° <
ℓ
< 215°. From the beginning, the incorporation of narrow-band H
α
imaging has been a unique and distinctive feature of this effort. Alongside a focused discussion of the nature and application of the H
α
data, we present the IGAPS world-accessible database of images for all five survey filters,
i
,
r
,
g
,
U
RGO
, and narrow-band H
α
, observed on a pixel scale of 0.33 arcsec and at an effective (median) angular resolution of 1.1−1.3 arcsec. The background, noise, and sensitivity characteristics of the narrow-band H
α
filter images are outlined. Typical noise levels in this band correspond to a surface brightness at full ∼1 arcsec resolution of around 2 × 10
−16
erg cm
−2
s
−1
arcsec
−2
. Illustrative applications of the H
α
data to planetary nebulae and Herbig-Haro objects are outlined and, as part of a discussion of the mosaicking technique, we present a very large background-subtracted narrow-band mosaic of the supernova remnant Simeis 147. Finally, we lay out a method that exploits the database via an automated selection of bright ionised diffuse interstellar emission targets for the coming generation of wide-field massive-multiplex spectrographs. Two examples of the diffuse H
α
map output from this selection process are presented and compared with previously published data.
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Carbon/epoxy material in the form of a unidirectional composite was loaded under different conditions to determine the frequency content of acoustic emission signals. Special specimens, designed to ...fail under well-defined modes such as matrix cracking, debonding, fibre pull-out and fibre failure, were tested from zero load to failure. Real-time analysis of the acoustic signals was performed with a Dantec burst spectrum analyser permitting the detection of frequencies in a wide band around a certain central frequency. The signals analyzed ranged from 50 to 600 kHz and were distinguished as being released from four special types of failure. By using different types of specimen it was concluded that matrix cracking released frequencies between 90 and 180 kHz, fibre failure frequencies above 300 kHz, debonding frequencies between 240 and 310 kHz and pull-out frequencies between 180 and 240 kHz. A comparison with published values shows agreement with the frequency bands determined for matrix and fibre failure, while for the debonding and pull-out mechanisms the frequency bands turned out to be interchanged. It can still be concluded that these failure mechanisms generate frequencies between those of matrix failure and fibre fraction.
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499.
Genetic Variation in Pea Seed Globulin Composition Tzitzikas, Emmanouil N; Vincken, Jean-Paul; de Groot, Jolan ...
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry,
01/2006, Volume:
54, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
A quantitative characterization of seeds from 59 pea (Pisum sativum L.) lines and relative taxa with various external characteristics and wide geographical origin was performed to explore the genetic ...variation of pea concerning its starch and protein contents and globulin composition. Pea lines, which produce round, wrinkled, flat, and round-dimpled seeds, have starch as the major reserve, with an average content of 46%. Protein content varied from 13.7 to 30.7% of the seed dry matter, with an overall average of 22.3%. Densitometric quantification of the individual globulins (legumin, vicilin, convicilin, and globulin-related proteins) based on SDS-PAGE gels showed no lines lacking any particular globulin. Among the lines tested, variation was shown in both their total globulins content and their globulin composition. The total globulin content ranged from 49.2 to 81.8% of the total pea protein extract (TPPE). Legumin content varied between 5.9 and 24.5% of the TPPE. Vicilin was the most abundant protein of pea, and its content varied between 26.3 and 52.0% of the TPPE. Both processed and nonprocessed vicilins occurred. The processed vicilin was the predominant one, with values between 17.8 and 40.8%, whereas the nonprocessed ones constituted between 3.1 and 13.5% of the TPPE. Convicilin was the least abundant globulin, and its content ranged from 3.9 to 8.3%. Finally, the globulin-related proteins were present in amounts ranging from 2.8 to 17.3%. They were less abundant in comparison with legumin and vicilin, but they showed the largest relative variation of the four globulin classes. Correlations between the different external characteristics and globulin composition were determined. Comparison with soybean showed that pea lines show more variety in the abundance of globulin proteins, enabling a wider range of food application. Keywords: Peas; Pisum sativum L.; globulins; vicilin; convicilin; legumin; seed proteins; SDS−polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; in vivo processing
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CandidaDB is a database dedicated to the genome of the most prevalent systemic fungal pathogen of humans, Candida albicans. CandidaDB is based on an annotation of the Stanford Genome Technology ...Center C.albicans genome sequence data by the European Galar Fungail Consortium. CandidaDB Release 2.0 (June 2004) contains information pertaining to Assembly 19 of the genome of C.albicans strain SC5314. The current release contains 6244 annotated entries corresponding to 130 tRNA genes and 5917 protein-coding genes. For these, it provides tentative functional assignments along with numerous pre-run analyses that can assist the researcher in the evaluation of gene function for the purpose of specific or large-scale analysis. CandidaDB is based on GenoList, a generic relational data schema and a World Wide Web interface that has been adapted to the handling of eukaryotic genomes. The interface allows users to browse easily through genome data and retrieve information. CandidaDB also provides more elaborate tools, such as pattern searching, that are tightly connected to the overall browsing system. As the C.albicans genome is diploid and still incompletely assembled, CandidaDB provides tools to browse the genome by individual supercontigs and to examine information about allelic sequences obtained from complementary contigs. CandidaDB is accessible at http://genolist.pasteur.fr/CandidaDB.
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