3-dimensional characterization of membrane with nanoporous structure using TEM tomography and image analysis

The nanoporous structure of membrane varies in 3-dimensional (3-D) space and has remarkable influences on the filtration or desalination achieved, fouling potentials and therefore, the quality of yielded water. Knowledge of the 3-D nanoporous structure is thus vital to understanding and predicting its performance. A novel method by incorporating transmission electronic microtomography, image processing and 3-D reconstruction is introduced to characterize membranes with nano structures. The reconstruction algorithm allows for the visualization of 3-D nanoporous structure in a non-destructive way from any directions. This novel technique Ieads to in-depth understanding and accurate prediction of filtration performance.

Influence of temperature on evaporative water loss and cutaneous resistance to water vapour diffusion in the orange-thighed frog (Litoria xanthomera)

We evaluated the effect of ambient temperatures between 25 and 43°C on the rate of evaporative water loss (EWL) in eight adult Litoria xanthomera (average body mass = 7.3 ± 0.6 g). Frogs were placed in a cylindrical chamber that permitted them to fully conceal their ventral surfaces using a water-conserving posture. Their EWL was 7.1 ± 0.7 mg g^–1 h^–1 at 25°C and reached 28.0 ± 2.5 mg g^–1 h^–1 at 43°C. Agar replicas of the frogs were used to evaluate boundary-layer resistances associated with the EWL measurements and, thus, to permit evaluation of cutaneous resistance to vapour diffusion (r_c) in live frogs. The r_c of L. xanthomera was stable over the temperature range of 25–35°C, averaging about 28 s cm^–1, and then declined stepwise with ambient temperatures above 37°C. The highest r_c recorded for each individual over the range of temperatures studied averaged 32.0 ± 1.2 s cm^–1. The thermolabile nature of r_c demonstrates a well developed thermoregulatory control of EWL in this species, a trait very similar in pattern and extent to that previously measured in the closely related Litoria chloris.

Measurement of the mass transfer coefficient at workpiece surfaces in heat treatment furnaces

The mass (e.g. carbon) transfer coefficient at a workpiece surface is an important kinetic factor to control the heat treatment process of the workpiece and to evaluate heat treatment equipment. The coefficient can be calculated from the carbon concentration at the surface of a sample carburized in a carburizing furnace for a given time. Two common measurement methods which use a thin plate and employ a component as samples respectively are evaluated and compared for sensitivity and uncertainty. The comparison shows that the use of a component produces higher measurement precision and also has the advantage in measuring the carbon transfer coefficients at different treated positions. This method is then extended and discussed methodologically. Also two equations are proposed to calculate the carbon transfer coefficient and its uncertainty, respectively. This method is also applied to measure the carbon transfer coefficient in a fluidized bed heat treatment furnace.

Heterometallic CeIII–FeIII–salicylate networks : models for corrosion mitigation of steel surfaces by the ′Green′ inhibitor, Ce(salicylate)3

The syntheses and structures of the novel Ce–Fe bimetallic complexes [{Fe(sal)₂(bpy)}₂Ce(NO₃)(H₂O)₃]·EtOH and [{Fe(sal)₂(bpy)}₄Ce₂(H₂O)₁₁][salH]₂·EtOH·3H₂O (salH₂ = salicylic acid) suggest Fe³⁺–sal^2− units and Ce–OC(R)O–Fe bridging contribute to the formation of corrosion inhibitive layers on steel surfaces exposed to [Ce(salH)₃(H₂O)].

Obstacles in the optimization of bone health outcomes in the female athlete triad

Maintaining low body weight for the sake of performance and aesthetic purposes is a common feature among young girls and women who exercise on a regular basis, including elite, college and high-school athletes, members of fitness centres, and recreational exercisers. High energy expenditure without adequate compensation in energy intake leads to an energy deficiency, which may ultimately affect reproductive function and bone health. The combination of low energy availability, menstrual disturbances and low bone mineral density is referred to as the ‘female athlete triad’. Not all athletes seek medical assistance in response to the absence of menstruation for 3 or more months as some believe that long-term amenorrhoea is not harmful. Indeed, many women may not seek medical attention until they sustain a stress fracture.
This review investigates current issues, controversies and strategies in the clinical management of bone health concerns related to the female athlete triad. Current recommendations focus on either increasing energy intake or decreasing energy expenditure, as this approach remains the most efficient strategy to prevent further bone health complications. However, convincing the athlete to increase energy availability can be extremely challenging.
Oral contraceptive therapy seems to be a common strategy chosen by many physicians to address bone health issues in young women with amenorrhoea, although there is little evidence that this strategy improves bone mineral density in this population. Assessment of bone health itself is difficult due to the limitations of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to estimate bone strength. Understanding how bone strength is affected by low energy availability, weight gain and resumption of menses requires further investigations using 3-dimensional bone imaging techniques in order to improve the clinical management of the female athlete triad.

Protein interactions within the SET1 complex and their roles in the regulation of histone 3 lysine 4 methylation

Set1 is the catalytic subunit and the central component of the evolutionarily conserved Set1 complex (Set1C) that methylates histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4). Here we have determined protein/protein interactions within the complex and related the substructure to function. The loss of individual Set1C subunits differentially affects Set1 stability, complex integrity, global H3K4 methylation, and distribution of H3K4 methylation along active genes. The complex requires Set1, Swd1, and Swd3 for integrity, and Set1 amount is greatly reduced in the absence of the Swd1-Swd3 heterodimer. Bre2 and Sdc1 also form a heteromeric subunit, which requires the SET domain for interaction with the complex, and Sdc1 strongly interacts with itself. Inactivation of either Bre2 or Sdc1 has very similar effects. Neither is required for complex integrity, and their removal results in an increase of H3K4 mono- and dimethylation and a severe decrease of trimethylation at the 5′ end of active coding regions but a decrease of H3K4 dimethylation at the 3′ end of coding regions. Cells lacking Spp1 have a reduced amount of Set1 and retain a fraction of trimethylated H3K4, whereas cells lacking Shg1 show slightly elevated levels of both di- and trimethylation. Set1C associates with both serine 5- and serine 2-phosphorylated forms of polymerase II, indicating that the association persists to the 3′ end of transcribed genes. Taken together, our results suggest that Set1C subunits stimulate Set1 catalytic activity all along active genes.

Forces between mica surfaces in ethylene glycol

Measurements are presented of the force as a function of separation between two molecularly smooth mica surfaces immersed in ethylene glycol, and in solutions of lithium chloride and sulfuric acid in ethylene glycol. At surface separations greater than 3 nm the measured force is in very good agreement with double-layer theory, but at smaller separations there is an oscillatory solvation force which is superimposed on the double-layer repulsion. In contrast to the case in water, the adsorption of hydrogen ions at the mica surface does not markedly affect the short-range forces.

Corticospinal adaptations and strength maintenance in the immobilized arm following 3 weeks unilateral strength training

Cross-education strength training has being shown to retain strength and muscle thickness in the immobilized contralateral limb. Corticospinal mechanisms have been proposed to underpin this phenomenon; however, no transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) data has yet been presented. This study used TMS to measure corticospinal responses following 3 weeks of unilateral arm training on the contralateral, immobilize arm. Participants (n = 28) were randomly divided into either immobilized strength training (Immob + train) immobilized no training (Immob) or control. Participants in the immobilized groups had their nondominant arm rested in a sling, 15 h/day for 3 weeks. The Immob + train group completed unilateral arm curl strength training, while the Immob and control groups did not undertake training. All participants were tested for corticospinal excitability, strength, and muscle thickness of both arms. Immobilization resulted in a group x time significant reduction in strength, muscle thickness and corticospinal excitability for the untrained limb of the Immob group. Conversely, no significant change in strength, muscle thickness, or corticospinal excitability occurred in the untrained limb of the Immob + train group. These results provide the first evidence of corticospinal mechanisms, assessed by TMS, underpinning the use of unilateral strength training to retain strength and muscle thickness following immobilization of the contralateral limb.

Somatization, but not depression, is characterized by disorders in the tryptophan catabolite (TRYCAT) pathway, indicating increased indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and lowered kynurenine aminotransferase activity

BACKGROUND: Reduced plasma tryptophan occurs in depression and somatization. Induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) with consequent synthesis of tryptophan catabolites (TRYCATs) and lowered tryptophan are associated with the onset of depression in the puerperium and during interferon-alpha treatment. Depression is accompanied by lowered kynurenic acid, a neuroprotectant, or increased kynurenine, a neurotoxic TRYCAT.

AIMS AND METHODS: To examine plasma tryptophan; kynurenine; kynurenic acid; the kynurenine / tryptophan (KY/TRP) ratio, indicating IDO activity; and the kynurenine / kynurenic acid (KY/KA) ratio, indicating kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) activity, in somatization; depression; somatization + depression; and controls. Illness severity is measured by the Somatic Symptom Index (SSI), the Screening for Somatoform Symptoms (SOMS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

RESULTS: Tryptophan is significantly lower in patients than in controls and lower in somatization than in depression. KY/TRP is significantly increased in somatization. Kynurenic acid is significantly lower in patients than in controls, and lower in somatization than in depression. KY/KA is significantly higher in somatization and somatization + depression than in depression and controls. There are significant correlations between the severity of somatization, but not depression, and KY/TRP and KY/KA (positive) and tryptophan (negative). Kynurenine and kynurenic acid are significantly correlated in controls, somatization + depression, and depression, but not in somatization.

CONCLUSIONS: Somatization is characterized by increased IDO activity and disorders in KAT activity and an increased neurotoxic potential. The TRYCAT pathway may play a role in the pathophysiology of somatizing and “psychosomatic” symptoms through effects on pain, gut motility, the autonomic nervous system, peripheral NMDA receptors, etc. Even more, biological disorders, such as aberrations in the TRYCAT pathway, which are considered to be a hallmark for depression, are in fact attributable to somatization rather than to depression per se. Future research in depression on the TRYCAT pathway should always control for the possible effects of somatization.