There is a long history of research into body fluid biomarkers in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. However, only a few biomarkers in CSF are being used in clinical practice. One of ...the most critical factors in CSF biomarker research is the inadequate powering of studies because of the lack of sufficient samples that can be obtained in single-center studies. Therefore, collaboration between investigators is needed to establish large biobanks of well-defined samples. Standardized protocols for biobanking are a prerequisite to ensure that the statistical power gained by increasing the numbers of CSF samples is not compromised by preanalytical factors. Here, a consensus report on recommendations for CSF collection and biobanking is presented, formed by the BioMS-eu network for CSF biomarker research in multiple sclerosis. We focus on CSF collection procedures, preanalytical factors, and high-quality clinical and paraclinical information. The biobanking protocols are applicable for CSF biobanks for research targeting any neurologic disease.
We present for the first time a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the experimental results that set the current world sensitivity limit on the magnitude of the electric dipole moment (EDM) of ...the neutron. We have extended and enhanced our earlier analysis to include recent developments in the understanding of the effects of gravity in depolarizing ultracold neutrons (UCN); an improved calculation of the spectrum of the neutrons; and conservative estimates of other possible systematic errors, which are also shown to be consistent with more recent measurements undertaken with the apparatus. We obtain a net result of $d_\mathrm{n} = -0.21 \pm 1.82 \times10^{-26}$ $e$cm, which may be interpreted as a slightly revised upper limit on the magnitude of the EDM of $3.0 \times10^{-26}$ $e$cm (90% CL) or $ 3.6 \times10^{-26}$ $e$cm (95% CL). This paper is dedicated by the remaining authors to the memory of Prof. J. Michael Pendlebury.
On Parameter Selection in Cold Spraying Assadi, H.; Schmidt, T.; Richter, H. ...
Journal of thermal spray technology,
12/2011, Letnik:
20, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
For cold spraying, a method for the construction of the window of deposition and the selection of optimum process parameters is presented. Initially, particle impact velocity and the critical ...particle velocity for bonding are worked out and expressed explicitly in terms of key process and material parameters. Subsequently, the influence of particle velocity on coating characteristics is examined in view of the results of experiments and simulations. It has been found that main coating characteristics can be described as a unique function of the ratio of particle velocity to critical velocity, here referred to as η. Finally, coating properties are linked directly to primary process parameters via parameter selection maps, where contours of constant η are plotted on a plane of gas temperature versus gas pressure. Inferences of the presented method and the resulting parameter selection maps are discussed for the example of copper as feedstock material.
Higher circulating levels of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs; i.e., isoleucine, leucine, and valine) are strongly associated with higher type 2 diabetes risk, but it is not known whether this ...association is causal. We undertook large-scale human genetic analyses to address this question.
Genome-wide studies of BCAA levels in 16,596 individuals revealed five genomic regions associated at genome-wide levels of significance (p < 5 × 10-8). The strongest signal was 21 kb upstream of the PPM1K gene (beta in standard deviations SDs of leucine per allele = 0.08, p = 3.9 × 10-25), encoding an activator of the mitochondrial branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKD) responsible for the rate-limiting step in BCAA catabolism. In another analysis, in up to 47,877 cases of type 2 diabetes and 267,694 controls, a genetically predicted difference of 1 SD in amino acid level was associated with an odds ratio for type 2 diabetes of 1.44 (95% CI 1.26-1.65, p = 9.5 × 10-8) for isoleucine, 1.85 (95% CI 1.41-2.42, p = 7.3 × 10-6) for leucine, and 1.54 (95% CI 1.28-1.84, p = 4.2 × 10-6) for valine. Estimates were highly consistent with those from prospective observational studies of the association between BCAA levels and incident type 2 diabetes in a meta-analysis of 1,992 cases and 4,319 non-cases. Metabolome-wide association analyses of BCAA-raising alleles revealed high specificity to the BCAA pathway and an accumulation of metabolites upstream of branched-chain alpha-ketoacid oxidation, consistent with reduced BCKD activity. Limitations of this study are that, while the association of genetic variants appeared highly specific, the possibility of pleiotropic associations cannot be entirely excluded. Similar to other complex phenotypes, genetic scores used in the study captured a limited proportion of the heritability in BCAA levels. Therefore, it is possible that only some of the mechanisms that increase BCAA levels or affect BCAA metabolism are implicated in type 2 diabetes.
Evidence from this large-scale human genetic and metabolomic study is consistent with a causal role of BCAA metabolism in the aetiology of type 2 diabetes.
Honeybees that sting vertebrate predators embed and leave their stingers in the flesh of the stung animal and die shortly thereafter. To determine whether bees make life-or-death decisions based upon ...risk–benefit evaluations, the vigor of defenses of colonies that had a small loss potential versus those that have large loss potential was compared. Colonies 3–4 days old have small reserves, and thus, risk fewer reserves to lose to a potential predator. In contrast, colonies 19–22 days old risk large quantities of vulnerable immature brood, constructed wax comb, nectar/honey, and pollen and have limited future reproductive potential if their nest is abandoned. As predicted by a risk–benefit hypothesis, older colonies with much at risk sent proportionately larger percentages of stinging defenders to confront threats than younger colonies with less to lose. The percentage of defenders that issue from the 19–22-day-old colonies correlated with the population of workers within the colonies. The percentage of workers that attack strongly increased as the weight of colony-fixed resources within the combs increased. In queenless colonies having no potential to reproduce by swarming and little, or no, reserves of nectar or pollen, only a small percentage of workers defended the colony. These results provide support for the ability of defending honeybee workers to make life-or-death decisions based on evaluating risks of colony loss versus the benefit derived from their personal loss of life.
The kissing bugs—Triatoma rubida (Uhler), Triatoma protracta (Uhler), and Triatoma recurva (Stal)—are common hematophagous bugs in southeastern Arizona and responsible for severe allergic reactions ...in some individuals who are bitten. They also possess the potential to transmit the blood parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. We previously found the essential oil, citronella, to be an excellent deterrent of feeding of T. rubida on a restrained mouse. In this work, we tested major components—alcohols, aldehydes, and monoterpenes—of citronella oil for repellency against the three common triatome species endemic in southern Arizona. The following citronella oil components—geraniol, citronellol, limonene, and citronellal—in different concentrations and combinations were tested. All components of citronella oil demonstrated some inhibition of feeding, ranging from very weak inhibition (limonene) to significant inhibition (geraniol and citronellol). A mixture of geraniol and citronellol was found to be repellant at concentrations of .165 and .165 vol%, respectively, for all three triatome species. Citronellal and limonene had no significant repellent activity. The repellent activity of citronella oil appears to be acting through direct contact with the bugs rather than diffusion of vapors.
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