Assimilation of GPM-Retrieved Marine Surface Meteorology Variables for Two Winter Storms

No abstract availabl

Collagen Content in Skin and Internal Organs of the Tight Skin Mouse: An Animal Model of Scleroderma.

The Tight Skin mouse is a genetically induced animal model of tissue fibrosis caused by a large in-frame mutation in the gene encoding fibrillin-1 (Fbn-1). We examined the influence of gender on the collagen content of tissues in C57BL/6J wild type (+/+) and mutant Tight Skin (Tsk/+) mice employing hydroxyproline assays. Tissue sections were stained with Masson\u27s trichrome to identify collagen in situ. Adult Tsk/+ mice skin contains ~15% more collagen, on average, than skin from +/+ mice of the same gender. The heart of Tsk/+ males had significantly more collagen than that of +/+ males. No significant gender differences were found in lungs and kidney collagen content. Overall, the collagen content of Tsk/+ males and +/+ males was higher than that of their Tsk/+ and +/+ female counterparts, respectively. Our data confirm increased deposition of collagen in skin and hearts of Tsk/+ mice; however, the effects of the Tsk mutation on collagen content are both tissue specific and gender specific. These results indicate that comparative studies of collagen content between normal and Tsk/+ mice skin and internal organs must take into account gender differences caused by expression of the androgen receptor

Factors Responsible for the Stability and the Existence of a Clean Energy Gap of a Silicon Nanocluster

We present a critical theoretical study of electronic properties of silicon nanoclusters, in particular the roles played by symmetry, relaxation, and hydrogen passivation on the the stability, the gap states and the energy gap of the system using the order-N [O(N)] non-orthogonal tight-binding molecular dynamics and the local analysis of electronic structure.Comment: 26 pages including figure

A tandem duplication within the fibrillin 1 gene is associated with the mouse tight skin mutation.

Mice carrying the Tight skin (Tsk) mutation have thickened skin and visceral fibrosis resulting from an accumulation of extracellular matrix molecules. These and other connective tissue abnormalities have made Tskl + mice models for scleroderma, hereditary emphysema, and myocardial hypertrophy. Previously we localized Tsk to mouse chromosome 2 in a region syntenic with human chromosome 15. The microfibrillar glycoprotein gene, fibrillin 1 (FBN1), on human chromosome 15q, provided a candidate for the Tsk mutation. We now demonstrate that the Tsk chromosome harbors a 30- to 40-kb genomic duplication within the Fbn1 gene that results in a larger than normal in-frame Fbn1 transcript. These findings provide hypotheses to explain some of the phenotypic characteristics of Tskl + mice and the lethality of Tsk/Tsk embryos

Studi Kualitas Dan Potensi Pemanfaatan Airtanah Dangkal Di Pesisir Surabaya Timur

Bagian timur wilayah pesisir merupakan salah satu daerah perkotaan yang berkembang pesat di Surabaya. Peningkatan populasi dan pertumbuhan industri telah mendorong meningkatnya permintaan untuk sumber daya alam, terutama air. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi kualitas air tanah pesisir melalui pengukuran insitu dan analisis laboratorium, dan untuk mengetahui potensinya untuk dimanfaatkan sebagai sumber air untuk budidaya pesisir. Sampel air tanah dari 70 sampel stasiun telah diambil dari wilayah pesisir timur Surabaya. Pengukuran suhu, pH, dan oksigen terlarut sampel dilakukan langsung insitu, dan pengukuran konsentrasi nitrat, nitrit, amonia, sulfida, dan fosfat telah dilakukan di Laboratorium Lingkungan ITS. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tanah pesisir di bagian barat dari wilayah studi, hanya daerah yang sangat kecil, dapat digunakan sebagai air minum, dan di hampir semua daerah pesisir timur Surabaya tidak diizinkan. Di bagian tengah dan selatan dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai sumber dari budidaya pesisir, namun di bagian utara tidak potensial, di daerah sentral menengah, dan di bagian selatan dikategorikan sebagai potensi tinggi. The eastern part of coastal area is one of the fast growing urban area in Surabaya. Increasing in population and industrial growth have driven increasing demands for natural resources, particularly water. The objectives of this study are to identify the quality of the coastal groundwater through insitu measurement and laboratory analysis, and to find out its potential to be utilized as a source of water for coastal aquaculture. Groundwater samples from 70 sampling stasiun have been taken from east Surabaya coastal area. Measurements of the temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen of the samples were carried out directly insitu, and measurements of concentration of nitrate, nitrit, ammonia, sulphide, and posphate conducted in the Environmental Laboratory of ITS. The results show that coastal groundwater in west part of the study area, in only very small area, can be used as a drinking water, and in almost all area of the east Surabaya coastal area is not permitted. In the central and south part can be utilized as a source of the coastal aquaculture, however in the north part is not potential, in the central area is medium, and in the south part is categorized as a high potential

Vitamin C Intravenous Treatment In the Setting of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Results From the Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled CITRIS-AF Pilot Study

BackgroundCatheter ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), but high levels of post-procedure inflammation predict adverse clinical events. Ascorbic acid (AA) has shown promise in reducing inflammation but is untested in this population. We sought to test the feasibility, safety, and preliminary effects on inflammatory biomarkers in the CITRIS-AF (Vitamin C Intravenous Treatment In the Setting of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation) pilot study. Methods and ResultsPatients scheduled to undergo AF ablation (N=20) were randomized 1:1 to double-blinded treatment with AA (200 mg/kg divided over 24 hours) or placebo. C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were obtained before the first infusion and repeated at 24 hours and 30 days. Pain levels within 24 hours and early recurrence of AF within 90 days were recorded. Median and interquartile range were aged 63 (56–70) years, 13 (65%) men, and 18 (90%) white. Baseline data were similar between the 2 groups except ejection fraction. Baseline C-reactive protein levels were 2.56 (1.47–5.87) mg/L and similar between groups (P=0.48). Change in C-reactive protein from baseline to 24 hours was +10.79 (+6.56–23.19) mg/L in the placebo group and +3.01 (+0.40–5.43) mg/L in the AA group (P=0.02). Conversely, change in interleukin-6 was numerically higher in the AA group, though not statistically significant (P=0.32). One patient in each arm developed pericarditis; no adverse events related to the infusions were seen. There were no significant differences between aggregated post-procedure pain levels within 24 hours or early recurrence of AF (both P\u3e0.05). ConclusionsHigh-dose AA is safe and well tolerated at the time of AF ablation and may be associated with a blunted rise in C-reactive protein, although consistent findings were not seen in interleukin-6 levels. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the potential benefit in improving clinically relevant outcomes

Criblage au champ de l'arachide pour la résistance à l'infestation des graines par A. flavus

1107 génotypes d'arachide, au total, ont été criblés pour l'infestation naturelle des graines par Aspergillus flavus dans des essais avec répétitions au champ au centre ICRISAT, à Patancheru, Inde, de 1984 à 1989. Par la suite, les plus intéressants ont été évalués pour leur résistance à l'infestation des graines au champ par A. flavus dans des essais de criblage plus poussés au centre ICRISAT et au Sénégal pendant la saison des pluies et la saison sèche de 1985 à 1990. Vingt-cinq génotypes se sont avérés résistants à l'infestation des graines par A. flavus, dont 9 testés au Sénégal ont également montré leur résistance dans des situations différentes. La résistance à l'infestation des graines au champ par A. flavus est restée stable dans toutes les situations. Une sécheresse sévère en fin de culture, surtout pendant la maturation des gousses, a joué un rôle important pour un bon criblage de la résistance. Certains génotypes sensibles à la colonisation in vitro des graines par A. flavus (Exotie 6, U4-7-5 et VRR 245) ont présenté une résistance à l'infestation des graines au champ. Le rendement en gousse et la qualité commerciale de certains génotypes résistants au champ (55-437, J11, U4-7-5 et VRR 245) sont satisfaisants. L'intérêt d'une telle résistance est considér

Strain Relaxation Mechanisms and Local Structural Changes in Si_{1-x}$Ge_{x} Alloys

In this work, we address issues pertinent to the understanding of the structural and electronic properties of Si_{1-x} Ge_{x}alloys, namely, (i) how does the lattice constant mismatch between bulk Si and bulk Ge manifests itself in the alloy system? and (ii) what are the relevant strain release mechanisms? To provide answers to these questions, we have carried out an in-depth study of the changes in the local geometric and electronic structures arising from the strain relaxation in Si_{1-x} Ge_{x} alloys using an ab initio molecular dynamics scheme. The optimized lattice constant, while exhibiting a general trend of linear dependence on the composition (Vegard's law), shows a negative deviation from Vegard's law in the vicinity of x=0.5. We delineate the mechanisms responsible for each one of the above features. We show that the radial-strain relaxation through bond stretching is responsible for the overall trend of linear dependence of the lattice constant on the composition. On the other hand, the negative deviation from Vegard's law is shown to arise from the angular-strain relaxation.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figure

Assimilation of GPM Retrieved Surface Meteorology Variables with ICE-POP Case Studies

Built upon Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) legacy for next-generation global observation of rain and snow. The GPM has a broad global coverage ~70S 70N with a swath of 245/125-km for the Ka (35.5 GHz)/Ku (13.6 GHz) band radar, and 850-km for the 13-channel GMI. GPM also features better retrievals for heavy, moderate, and light rain and snowfall

Protective Role for Properdin in Progression of Experimental Murine Atherosclerosis

Genetic, dietary and immune factors contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in humans and mice. Complement activation is an integral part of the innate immune defence but also shapes cellular responses and influences directly triglyceride synthesis. Deficiency of Factor B of the alternative pathway (AP) of complement is beneficial in LDLR−/− mice fed a high fat diet. The serum glycoprotein properdin is a key positive regulator of the AP but has not been studied in experimental atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis was assessed after feeding low fat (LFD) or high fat (HFD) Western type diets to newly generated LDLR−/− ProperdinKO (LDLR−/−PKO) and LDLR−/−PWT mice. Lipids, lymphocytes and monocytes were similar among genotypes, genders and diets. Complement C3, but not C3adesarg, levels were enhanced in LDLR−/−PKO mice regardless of diet type or gender. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were decreased in male LDLR−/−PKO fed a HFD compared with controls. All mice showed significant atherosclerotic burden in aortae and at aortic roots but male LDLR−/− mice fed a LFD were affected to the greatest extent by the absence of properdin. The protective effect of properdin expression was overwhelmed in both genders of LDLR−/−mice when fed a HFD. We conclude that properdin plays an unexpectedly beneficial role in the development and progression of early atherosclerotic lesions