Copper effect on the protein composition of photosystem II

The definitive version is available at: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1399-3054.2000.1100419.xWe provide data from in vitro experiments on the polypeptide composition, photosynthetic electron transport and oxygen evolution activity of intact photosystem II (PSII) preparations under Cu(II) toxicity conditions. Low Cu(II) concentrations (Cu(II) per PSII reaction centre unit≤230) that caused around 50% inhibition of variable chlorophyll a fluorescence and oxygen evolution activity did not affect the polypeptide composition of PSII. However, the extrinsic proteins of 33, 24 and 17 kDa of the oxygen-evolving complex of PSII were removed when samples were treated with 300 μM CuCl2 (Cu(II) per PSII reaction centre unit=1 400). The LHCII antenna complex and D1 protein of the reaction centre of PSII were not affected even at these Cu(II) concentrations. The results indicated that the initial inhibition of the PSII electron transport and oxygen-evolving activity induced by the presence of toxic Cu(II) concentrations occurred before the damage of the oxygen-evolving complex. Indeed, more than 50% inhibition could be achieved in conditions where its protein composition and integrity was apparently preserved.This work was supported by the Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica (Grant PB98-1632).Peer reviewe

Evaluation of Clinical Risk Factors to Predict High On-Treatment Platelet Reactivity and Outcome in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease (PREDICT-STABLE)

Objectives This study was designed to identify the multivariate effect of clinical risk factors on high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) and 12 months major adverse events (MACE) under treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel in patients undergoing non-urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods 739 consecutive patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing PCI were recruited. On-treatment platelet aggregation was tested by light transmittance aggregometry. Clinical risk factors and MACE during one-year follow-up were recorded. An independent population of 591 patients served as validation cohort. Results Degree of on-treatment platelet aggregation was influenced by different clinical risk factors. In multivariate regression analysis older age, diabetes mellitus, elevated BMI, renal function and left ventricular ejection fraction were independent predictors of HPR. After weighing these variables according to their estimates in multivariate regression model, we developed a score to predict HPR in stable CAD patients undergoing elective PCI (PREDICT-STABLE Score, ranging 0-9). Patients with a high score were significantly more likely to develop MACE within one year of follow-up, 3.4% (score 0-3), 6.3% (score 4-6) and 10.3% (score 7-9); odds ratio 3.23, P=0.02 for score 7-9 vs. 0-3. This association was confirmed in the validation cohort. Conclusions Variability of on-treatment platelet function and associated outcome is mainly influenced by clinical risk variables. Identification of high risk patients (e.g. with high PREDICT-STABLE score) might help to identify risk groups that benefit from more intensified antiplatelet regimen. Additional clinical risk factor assessment rather than isolated platelet function-guided approaches should be investigated in future to evaluate personalized antiplatelet therapy in stable CAD-patients

Cymbopogon winterianus essential oil attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a murine model

The essential oil of Cymbopogon winterianus (EOCW) is a natural product with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties. We studied the effect of EOCW in the progression of histological changes of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in a rodent model. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and characterized using gas chromatographymass spectrometry. Intratracheal instillation of bleomycin was performed in 30 rats to induce PF, while Sham animals were subjected to instillation of saline solution. The treatment was performed using daily oral administration of distilled water, EOCW at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, and deflazacort (DFC). After 28 days, hemogram and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were assayed. Histological grading of PF, immunohistochemical expression of -smooth muscle actin (-SMA), and transforming growth factor- (TGF-) were also analyzed. The EOCW major compounds were found to be citronellal, geraniol, and citronellol. EOCW significantly reduced inflammation in BALF, reduced MDA levels, and increased SOD activity. EOCW attenuated histological grading of PF and reduced immunohistochemical expression of -SMA and TGF- in a dose-dependent way, likely due to the reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and TGF--induced myofibroblast differentiation.This research was financed by the Coordenação Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Sergipe (FAPITEC), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). EBS wishes to acknowledge the sponsorship of the project UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund) from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation, Ministry of Science and Education (FCT/MEC) through national funds, and was co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Vibrations Simulation of Wheeled Vehicles

The paper deals with vibration analysis for wheeled vehicles and effect of suspension system on ride comfort. Subject of the analysis constitutes a vehicle wheel suspension system designed for special applications. The results of the contribution present an analysis of simulation of different suspension systems for riding over terrain obstacles

Self-organized 2d Ni Particles Deposited On Titanium Oxynitride-coated Si Sculpted By A Low Energy Ion Beam

Self-ordered Ni nanoparticles grown on TiNxOy-coated crystalline silicon previously sculpted by ion beam bombardment are reported. The samples are obtained following a sequential in situ routine deposition procedure. First, crystalline Si is Xe+ bombarded, generating regular patterns. Second, a thin TiNxOy film is grown on the patterned Si substrate. Immediately, nano-sized nickel particles are deposited by ion beam sputtering and temperature-annealed forming a 2D lattice. The self-organized Ni islands are induced by preferential Ni site nucleation on the coated sculpted Si grooves. © 2014 IOP Publishing Ltd.4719Oates, T.W.H., Aligned metallic nanoparticles on rippled surfaces: Optical characterization using generalized ellipsometry (2012) Appl. Surf. Sci., 258, pp. 9278-9282. , 10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.07.110 0169-4332Zhou, Z., Gao, F., Wayne Goodman, D., Deposition of metal clusters on single-layer graphene/Ru(0 0 0 1): Factors that govern cluster growth (2010) Surf. 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Analiza struktur podwozi pojazdów pod względem zabezpieczenia przed skutkami wybuchu przy pomocy programu LS-DYNA

This paper is about the current military situation in the World, which is specific with asymmetric warfare. In this specific warfare, improvised explosive devices situated under or near a road are often used. The paper describes formation and spread of a shock wave after blast of an explosion. It specifies negative effects of the blast of an explosive device directly situated under a vehicle, vulnerabilities for the occupants or the vehicle structure. The main goal of this paper was aimed at the numerical simulations of different types of vehicles bottoms. The Simulations are made by a finite element method in program called LS-DYNA, based on the conditions from STANAG 4569 and AEP-55 Volume II. In the end to sum the paper up there are some specific comparisons of the solutions for the safety of the occupants, which include the solutions of the vehicle bottom.W pracy przedstawiono obecną sytuację militarną na świecie dotyczącą asymetrycznych działań wojennych. W tych działaniach często stosowane są improwizowane urządzenia wybuchowe sytuowane pod drogą lub w jej pobliżu. W artykule opisano tworzenie się i rozprzestrzenianie fali wybuchowej powstałej po wybuchu. Określono negatywne efekty wybuchu usytuowanego pod pojazdem, możliwość zranienia ludzi lub uszkodzenia struktury pojazdu. Celem pracy była numeryczna symulacja różnych typów podwozi pojazdów. Symulację wykonano przy użyciu metody elementów skończonych w programie LS-DYNA, bazując na warunkach STANAG 4569 i AEP-55 Volume II. Porównano różne rozwiązania zapewniające bezpieczeństwo żołnierzy, w tym dotyczące podwozia pojazdu

Hybrid drive vibration sources analysis

The paper is an introductory session dedicated to the sources of vibrations in a hybrid drive, which is meant to propel special tracked vehicle. The analysis was performed according to stand test results of a hybrid drive. It is aimed on individual modes of operation and modes ensuing from cooperation of diesel drive and electric drive