Purpose: Single-neutron adding data was collected in order to determine the distribution of the single-neutron strength of the \(0f_{7/2}\), \(1p_{3/2}\), \(1p_{1/2}\) and \(0f_{5/2}\) orbitals ...outside of \(Z=16, N=18\), \(^{34}\)S. Methods: The \(^{34}\)S(\(d\),\(p\))\(^{35}\)S reaction has been measured at 8 MeV/u to investigate cross sections to excited states in \(^{35}\)S. Outgoing proton yields and momenta were analyzed by the Super-Enge Split-Pole Spectrograph in conjunction with the CeBrA demonstrator located at the John D. Fox Laboratory at Florida State University. Angular distributions were compared with Distorted Wave Born Approximation calculations in order to extract single-neutron spectroscopic overlaps. Results: Spectroscopic overlaps and strengths were determined for states in \(^{35}\)S up through 6 MeV in excitation energy. Each orbital was observed to have fragmented strength where a single level carried the majority. The single-neutron centroids of the \(0f_{7/2}\), \(1p_{3/2}\), \(1p_{1/2}\) and \(0f_{5/2}\) orbitals were determined to be \(2360^{+90}_{-40}\) keV, \(3280^{+80}_{-50}\) keV, \(4780^{+60}_{-40}\) keV, and \(\gtrsim7500\) keV, respectively. Conclusion: A previous discrepancy in the literature with respect to distribution of the neutron \(1p_{1/2}\) strength was resolved. The integration of the normalized spectroscopic strengths, up to 5.1 MeV in excitation energy, revealed fully-vacant occupancies for the \(0f_{7/2}\), \(1p_{3/2}\), and \(1p_{1/2}\) orbitals, as expected. The spacing in the single-neutron energies highlighted a reduction in the traditional \(N=28\) shell-gap, relative to both the \(1p\) spin-orbit energy difference (\(N=32\)) and the lower limit on the \(N=34\) shell spacing.
In this article, we cross-examine three well-established electrochemical approaches, namely cyclic voltammetry (CV), cyclic square-wave voltammetry (SWV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy ...(EIS) to dissect the electron transfer (ET) rate of electrostatically immobilized cytochrome c on Ag electrodes. A detailed analysis supported by simulations of redox transition provided three distinct values for the heterogeneous electron transfer (HET) rate constant of cyt c interfaced on COOH-terminated C10-long alkanethiol, i.e., kHET= 47.8 (±2,91) s−1 in CV, kHET= 64.8 (±1,27) s−1 in SWV, and kHET= 26.5 s−1 in EIS. We discuss the obtained discrepancies obtained from electrochemical methods and compare them with the data from spectro-electrochemical experiments. A comprehensive selection list is created from which the most applicable approach can be chosen for studying proteins of interest. CV is most applicable to study the interfaced proteins exhibiting kHET of ca. 0.5 - 70 s−1, SWV is suitable for a broader range of kHET of 5 – 120 s−1 and EIS for kHET of 0.5 to 5 s−1 if alkanethiols are used as immobilization strategy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by the presence of disordered breathing events that occur during sleep, as well as symptoms such as sleepiness and snoring. OSAS is ...associated with a number of adverse health consequences, and a growing literature focuses on its cognitive correlates. Although research in this field is mixed, multiple studies indicate that OSAS patients show impairment in attention, memory, and executive function. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most effective and widely used treatment of OSAS, and supplemental medications may supplement CPAP treatment to ameliorate associated symptoms. Here, we review the literature on OSAS and cognition, including studies that have investigated the impact of CPAP and stimulant medication on cognitive performance in patients with OSAS. In general, no consistent effect of CPAP use on cognitive performance was evident. This may be due, in part, to variability in study design and sampling methodology across studies. Studies of stimulant medications generally reported positive effects on cognitive performance. We conclude with a discussion of the mechanisms that have been proposed to explain cognitive dysfunction in OSAS and directions for future research.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Simplified presentation of the LEGO-like MIP-interaction with the BM3-domains: The MIP synthesized with the BMR-domain recognizes its target whilst the BMO-domain and the holoenzyme are not bound. ...Obviously, a cavity is formed during the imprinting process which cannot accommodate the broader BMO.
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Electrosynthesis of the MIP nano-film after binding of the separated domains or holo-cytochrome BM3 via an engineered anchor should result in domain-specific cavities in the polymer layer.
Both the two domains and the holo P450 BM3 have been bound prior polymer deposition via a N-terminal engineered his6-anchor to the electrode surface. Each step of MIP preparation was characterized by cyclic voltammetry of the redox-marker ferricyanide. Rebinding after template removal was evaluated by quantifying the suppression of the diffusive permeability of the signal for ferricyanide and by the NADH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c by the reductase domain (BMR).
The working hypothesis is verified by the discrimination of the two domains by the respective MIPs: The holoenzyme P450 BM3 was ca. 5.5 times more effectively recognized by the film imprinted with the oxidase domain (BMO) as compared to the BMR-MIP or the non-imprinted polymer (NIP). Obviously, a cavity is formed during the imprinting process around the his6-tag-anchored BMR which cannot accommodate the broader BMO or the P450 BM3.
The affinity of the MIP towards P450 BM3 is comparable with that to the monomer in solution. The his6-tagged P450 BM3 binds (30 percent) stronger which shows the additive effect of the interaction with the MIP and the binding to the electrode.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Early identification of mastitis is a serious challenge for dairy farmers and veterinarians in ensuring the health of an animal and the hygienic quality of the produced milk. The purpose of this ...study was to detect the occurrence and aetiology of mastitis in a dairy herd of 153 milked cows localised in a farm in west Slovakia. During the complex investigation, 606 quarter milk samples were examined (6 quarters were discarded) and classified based on the clinical status, the presence of abnormal udder secretions, the result of the California mastitis test (CMT), the somatic cell count (SCC) and the bacteriological identification of the pathogens causing the intramammary infection (IMI). The study was augmented by the detection of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the milk and the measurements of the blood enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as potential biomarkers for the udder health screening. A positive CMT score was recorded in 19.5% (118) of the examined quarters and 12.5% (76) of the quarters were infected with bacterial pathogens causing latent mastitis (LM; 1.3%), subclinical mastitis (SM; 8.3%), and clinical mastitis (CM; 2.9%). The most commonly isolated bacteria from the infected quarters were coagulase-negative staphylococci (55.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (11.8%) and streptococci (10.5%). The concentration of MDA and SCC were significantly higher from both the SM and CM cases than in the milk samples from the healthy cows, while the blood activities of SOD and GPx were lower in the cows with CM compared to the healthy cows. The higher MDA concentrations in the SM and CM milk observed in this study showed the presence of an oxidative stress in the infected milk, accompanied by a decrease in the antioxidative enzymatic activity in the blood of the cows. Therefore, the measurement of the milk MDA concentration and the activity of the blood SOD and GPx may prove insightful for the better screening of the udder health in the early diagnosis of mastitis.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This work presents a novel way to calculate the response amplitude of an elastically supported cylinder experiencing vortex-induced vibrations. The method couples a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) ...model of the shedding vortex flow to a structural model representation of the elastically supported cylinder. The aerodynamic forces on the cylinder are calculated using a harmonic balance, frequency domain solver. Three cases are considered: the cylinder vibrating transverse to the flow, in-line with the flow, and with both degrees of freedom. Two shedding patterns are observed, symmetric and antisymmetric, depending on the lock-in region considered. The in-line degree of freedom does not have a significant effect on the cylinder cross-flow response, except for very low mass or very low damping.
•We characterized the shedding patterns for transverse and in-line lock-in regions.•We used a fluid-structure interaction model with a frequency domain CFD code.•The transverse lock-in region is more accurately captured and matches experiments.•The in-line amplitude is insignificant except at very low mass and damping.•For very low mass ratios, it is necessary to model both degrees of freedom.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
OBJECTIVETo study longitudinal relationships between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cortical thickness, and cognitive function in older people with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and ...Alzheimer disease (AD).
METHODSThe sample was derived from the Alzheimerʼs Disease Neuroimaging Initiative cohort who underwent brain MRI and cognitive tests annually for 5 years. Presence of T2DM was based on fasting blood glucose ≥7.0mml/L or the use of glucose-lowering agents. We used latent growth curve modeling to explore longitudinal relationships between T2DM, cortical thickness, and cognitive function, adjusting for relevant covariates and testing for interactions.
RESULTSThere were 124 people with T2DM (mean age 75.5 years, SD 6.2) and 693 without T2DM (mean age 75.1 years, SD 6.9) with at least 1 MRI available. AD and lower cortical thickness at study entry was associated with a lower chance of having a MRI available at each follow-up phase (all p < 0.001). T2DM was associated with lower baseline cortical thickness (p = 0.01). We found no direct effect of T2DM on decline in cortical thickness or cognitive function, but there was an indirect pathway linking T2DM and cognitive decline via baseline cortical thickness (β = −0.17, p = 0.022). There was an interaction between T2DM and education whereby the negative effect of T2DM on baseline cortical thickness was reduced in those with greater education (β = 0.34, p = 0.037). These associations changed minimally when adjusted for baseline cognitive diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONSIn an older cohort with low cerebrovascular disease burden, T2DM contributes to cognitive decline via neurodegeneration. Prior brain and cognitive reserve may protect against this effect.
We report on a highly selective experimental setup for particle-$\gamma$
coincidence experiments at the Super-Enge Split-Pole Spectrograph (SE-SPS) of
the John D. Fox Superconducting Linear ...Accelerator Laboratory at Florida State
University (FSU) using fast CeBr$_3$ scintillators for $\gamma$-ray detection.
Specifically, we report on the results of characterization tests for the first
five CeBr$_3$ scintillation detectors of the CeBr$_3$ Array (CeBrA) with
respect to energy resolution and timing characteristics. We also present
results from the first particle-$\gamma$ coincidence experiments successfully
performed with the CeBrA demonstrator and the FSU SE-SPS. We show that with the
new setup, $\gamma$-decay branching ratios and particle-$\gamma$ angular
correlations can be measured very selectively using narrow excitation energy
gates, which are possible thanks to the excellent particle energy resolution of
the SE-SPS. In addition, we highlight that nuclear level lifetimes in the
nanoseconds regime can be determined by measuring the time difference between
particle detection with the SE-SPS focal-plane scintillator and $\gamma$-ray
detection with the fast CeBrA detectors. Selective excitation energy gates with
the SE-SPS exclude any feeding contributions to these lifetimes.
Urologic and kidney problems are common in women across their life span and affect their daily life, including physical activity, sexual relations, social life, and future health. Urological health ...in women is still understudied and the underlying mechanisms of female urological dysfunctions are not fully understood. The Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR
) recognized the need to have a roundtable discussion where researchers and clinicians would define the current state of knowledge, gaps, and recommendations for future research directions to transform women's urological health. This report summarizes the discussions, which focused on epidemiology, clinical presentation, basic science, prevention strategies, and efficacy of current therapies. Experts around the table agreed on a set of research, education, and policy recommendations that have the potential to dramatically increase awareness and improve women's urological health at all stages of life.
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