Congruency of estimated positions and effects of QTL in different samples (of the same cross or different crosses is an indicaior of the reliability of these estimates and their usefulness in ...marker-assisted selection (MAS). We investigated the influence of the sample and genetic background on QTL congruency among five populations of European maize (Zea mays L.). Three samples derived from the same cross comprised 344 (A × B^sup I^) and 109 (A × B^sup II^) F^sub 2:3^ as well an 71 F^sub 4:5^ (A × B^sup III^) lines. Two other crosses comprised 109 (A × C) and 84 (C × D) F^3:4^ lines. All lines were topcrossed to the same inbred tester and evaluated in four or five environments. A combined linkage map of RFLP marker data from all five populations was used in composite interval mapping (CIM). The total number of QTL identified for five agronomically important traits was 42 in A × B^sup I^, 18 in A × B^sup II^, 20 in A × B^sup III^, 28 in A × C, and 23 in C × D. Averaged across traits, the proportion p of the genetic variance explained by these QTL varied between 50.4% in the largest population A × B^sup I^ and 30.7% in a population of considerably smaller size (A × B^sup II^). Cross validalion (CV) yielded substantially lower estimates of p. Between 10 and 24% of the 42 QTL from A × B^sup I^ were also detected within a 20-cM interval in the other four populations. Incongruent QTL among A × B samples were due to the low power of QTL detection and the large bias in QTL estimates. The genetic correlations between predicted (based on QTL positions from one population) and observed phenotypic values in another population were highest among A × B samples with a maximum of 0.68 for plant height. Congruency of QTL was found for kernel weight, protein concentration, and plant height and was mainly attributable to one or few QTL of moderate to large size. If more cost-effecfive than phenotypic selection, MAS will be promising for these traits. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
The aqueous reaction of mellitic acid (H6mell) with 242PuBr3·nH2O forms two plutonium mellitates, 242Pu2(mell)(H2O)9·H2O (Pu-1α) and 242Pu2(mell)(H2O)8·2H2O (Pu-1β). These compounds are compared to ...the isomorphous lanthanide mellitates with similar ionic radii via bond length analysis. Both plutonium compounds form three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks, with Pu-1α having two unique metal centers and Pu-1β having one. All plutonium metal centers exhibit nine-coordinate geometries. Our results show metal–oxygen bond lengths for plutonium significantly shorter than those of the previously reported lanthanum and herein reported cerium analogues, consistent with the nine-coordinate ionic radii. Clear Laporte-forbidden 5f → 5f transitions are observed in the ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared spectra and are assigned to trivalent plutonium. However, there is a distinct color difference between the two plutonium compounds.
Abstract
Background/Introduction
Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using a cryo balloon is well-established for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Compared to other available ...technologies, the usage of a stable, low pressure cryo balloon (POLARx, Boston Scientific) has demonstrated lower nadir temperatures and longer thawing times. However, long term efficacy and safety still needs to be proven.
Purpose
The aim of the POLAR-ICE Study was to evaluate long-term efficacy and safety outcome of cryo balloon ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Methods
POLAR ICE, a prospective, non-randomized, international, multicenter study, enrolled 399 patients across 19 centers, between Aug 2020 and May 2021. Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing de novo PVI were included into the study. During the index procedure, procedural characteristics, such as time to isolation (TTI), cryoablations per pulmonary vein, balloon nadir temperature, and occlusion grade were recorded. Procedural success was defined as successful isolation of each vein proven by entrance block. Follow up visits were at 3, 6, and 12 months. Recurrence is defined as any documented (ECG/Holter) episode of atrial fibrillation / atrial tachycardia longer than 30sec. after a blanking period of 3 months.
Results
399 patients (mean age 61 years, 36% female) were included into the study. After 12 months, freedom from any arrhythmia was 83.5% and freedom from atrial fibrillation 88.1% (Figure 1). Procedure/ablation related Serious adverse events occurred in 8.7% of patients, and included access complications (2.6%), cardiac tamponade (0.5%), air embolism (0.3%), AV block (0.3%), effusion (0.3%) phrenic nerve palsy (0.3%), stroke (0.3%), transient ischemic attack (0.3%). Redo procedures have been conducted in 19 patients. In 14/19 pts reconnection of at least one PV could be identified (RSPV n=8, RIPV n=12, LSPV n=9, LIPV n=11). Freedom from any arrhythmia was associated with lower nadir temperature (p=0.008) and longer time to thaw (p=0.05) during the index procedure.
Conclusions
In this prospective, non-randomized, international, multicenter study, isolation of the pulmonary veins using a stable, low pressure cryo balloon was highly effective and safe in patients treated for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Lower nadir temperatures and a longer thawing time were predictors of clinical success.
It is shown that U(V) O2 (+) ions can reside at U(VI) O2 (2+) lattice sites during mild reduction and crystallization process under solvothermal conditions, yielding a complicated and rare ...mixed-valent uranium phosphonate compound that simultaneously contains U(IV) , U(V) , and U(VI) . The presence of uranium with three oxidation states was confirmed by various characterization techniques, including X-ray crystallography, X-ray photoelectron, electron paramagnetic resonance, FTIR, UV/Vis-NIR absorption, and synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and magnetism measurements.
Systematic control of the reactions between U(VI) and 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene))bis(phosphonic acid) (pmbH 4 ) allows for alterations in the bonding between these constituents and affords three ...uranyl phosphonate compounds with chiral one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D), and three-dimensional (3D) structures, namely, TPAUO2(pmbH3)(pmbH2)H2O·2H2O (1), NH42UO2(pmb) (2), UO2(pmbH2) (3), and the first uranyl mixed phosphite/phosphonate compound TMA2(UO2)2(pmb)(HPO3) (4) (TPA = NPr4 +, TMA = NMe4 +). These compounds crystallize in the space groups P212121, P1̅, P21/c, and Cmcm, respectively. Further investigation of the local uranyl coordination environment reveals that in 1 only oxygen atoms from PO moieties ligate the uranium centers; whereas in 2 only P–O– oxygen atoms are involved in bonding and yield a layered topology. Compound 3 differs sharply from the first two in that conjugated PO and P–O– oxygen atoms chelate the uranium centers resulting in a 3D framework. In compound 4, a phosphonate group bridges three uranyl centers further coordinated with a phosphite ligand HPO3 2–, which is a product of pmbH4 decomposing, forming a 2D layered structure. Compounds 3 and 4 also contain a different coordination environment for U(VI) than that found in 1 or 2. In this case, tetragonal bipyramidal UO6 units occur instead of the far more common UO7 pentagonal bipyramids found in 1 and 2. Interestingly, 1 converts to 3 at elevated reaction temperatures, indicating that the formation of 1 is likely under kinetic control. This is supported by thermal analysis, which reveals that 3 has higher thermal stability than 1 or 2. UV–vis–near-IR absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy show that the absorption and photoluminescence intensity increases from 1 to 4. Density functional theory electronic structure calculations provide insight into the nature of the interactions between U(VI) and the phosphonate ligands.
Substantial advances in our understanding of placental function have resulted from recent establishment of in vitro approaches, such as cell culture, and application of molecular methods to study ...placental steroidogenesis. Insight into the processes of placental cell differentiation and hormonal function has been gained from culture of relatively pure preparations of cytotrophoblast. Various factors, e.g. cAMP and peptide growth factors, have been shown to have striking effects on progesterone and estrogen formation by placental tissue under in vitro conditions. Using advanced molecular approaches, the genes governing specific enzymes critical to placental steroidogenesis have been identified. Regulation of the mRNAs encoding specific enzyme peptides and thus expression of the genes by factors, such as cAMP, have been elucidated by Northern analysis and other techniques. It is critical that these contemporary approaches continue to be implemented aggressively to further elucidate placental function. However, it is clear from a survey of the literature, particularly of the past decade, that the vast majority of investigation in the area has been conducted in vitro. It is essential to determine whether the factors that have been observed to regulate placental endocrine function in vitro are operable in vivo. It is only with in vivo study that the dynamics of steroidogenesis and the complex functional relationships between placenta, fetus, and mother will be uncovered and understood. It is increasingly evident that the regulation of placental steroidogenesis involves autocrine and/or paracrine mechanisms, similar to those integral to hormone biosynthesis within other reproductive organs, e.g. ovary and testis. For example, as discussed above, estrogen regulates LDL uptake and P-450scc, and thus apparently is involved in generating substrate for progesterone production within the placenta. Conversely, progesterone has effects on 17 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase and thus the metabolism of estradiol, while androgens exert marked inhibitory effects on placental progesterone formation, at least in vitro. Not surprisingly, the regulation of placental progesterone and estrogen formation also is multifactorial. Thus, aromatase activity is stimulated synergistically by cAMP and phorbol esters, an effect that is suppressed by peptide growth factors. Therefore, the autocrine/paracrine and multifactorial regulation of hormone biosynthesis that has been relatively well documented in other tissues should be recognized as important in the primate placenta. Finally, the basic mechanisms underlying regulation of steroidogenesis within the fetoplacental unit during primate pregnancy appear similar, in important ways, to those of widely used laboratory animals, such as the rat and rabbit.
For the further elucidation of the central functions of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (noc/OFQ), the endogenous ligand of the G protein‐coupled opioid receptor‐like receptor ORL1, centrally acting specific ...antagonists will be most helpful. In this study it was found that the hexapeptide acetyl‐RYYRIK‐NH2 (Ac‐RYYRIK‐NH2), described in literature as partial agonist on ORL1 transfected in CHO cells, antagonizes the stimulation of 35S‐GTPγS binding to G proteins by noc/OFQ in membranes and sections of rat brain. The antagonism of the peptide was competitive, of high affinity (Schild constant 6.58 nM), and specific for noc/OFQ in that the stimulation of GTP binding by agonists for the μ‐, δ‐, and κ‐opioid receptor was not inhibited. The hexapeptide also fully inhibited the chronotropic effect of noc/OFQ on neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. It is suggested that Ac‐RYYRIK‐NH2 may provide a promising starting point for in vivo tests for antagonism of the action of noc/OFQ and for the further development of highly active and specific antagonists.
British Journal of Pharmacology (1999) 126, 555–558; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0702353
Abstract The dynamics of human and animal adipogenesis has been defined using several traditional cell systems including stromal vascular cells and adipocyte-related cell lines. But a relatively new ...cell system using progeny cells stemming from the dedifferentiation of purified cultures of mature adipocytes may be used for studying the development and biology of adipocytes. In this research, we show that isolated (and purified) mature adipocytes derived from Wagyu cattle dedifferentiate into progeny cells, and that these spindle-shaped, proliferative-competent daughter cells possess ability to proliferate. We outline the optimum cell culture system and offer precautionary thoughts for effective mature adipocyte culture. Collectively, this represents a novel cell model which may provide new insights into cell development, physiology and use as a model for animal production/composition, tissue engineering and disease treatment.
Two of the most significant changes affecting U.S. society during the 20th century were transformations in family structure and the transition from a nonmetropolitan/farm society to a largely ...metropolitan society. In this study, classic sociological theory, developed to understand differences between metro and nonmetro society, was employed. Despite contentions that the residence variable is no longer viable, we hypothesized that nonmetro interaction patterns would result in nonmetro residents making more traditional and conservative choices relative to family formation. Analysis of data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth provided support for these contentions. Nonmetropolitan women were significantly more likely than metropolitan women to be married at the time of conception. Further, when comparing women who were not married at conception, nonmetro women were significantly more likely than metro women to get married prior to the birth of the child, and were significantly more likely to have the pregnancy result in a live birth.
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