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Selected AbstractsThe acute effects of different whole body vibration amplitudes on the endocrine system of young healthy men: a preliminary studyCLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 6 2006Marco Cardinale Summary Whole body vibration (WBV) has been suggested as an alternative form of exercise producing adaptive responses similar to that of resistance training. Very limited information is available on the effects of different vibration parameters on anabolic hormones. In this study, we compared the acute effects of different WBV amplitudes on serum testosterone (T) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Nine healthy young recreationally active adult males (age 22 ± 2 years, height 181 ± 6.3 cm, weight 77·4 ± 9·5 kg) voluntarily participated in this randomized controlled (cross-over design) study. The subjects performed 20 sets of 1 min each of WBV exercise in the following conditions: Non-vibration condition (control), low amplitude vibration [low (30 Hz, 1·5 mm peak-to-peak amplitude)] and high amplitude vibration [high (30 Hz, 3 mm peak-to-peak amplitude)]. Blood samples were collected before, after 10 sets, at the end (20th set) and after 24 h of the exercise bout. WBV exercise did not produce significant changes in serum T and IGF-1 either with low or high amplitude when compared with the control condition. The results of this study demonstrate that a single session of WBV exposure with a frequency of 30 Hz and amplitudes of 1·5 and 3 mm does not noticeably alter serum T and IGF-1 levels. [source] Rhesus macaque antibody molecules: sequences and heterogeneity of alpha and gamma constant regionsIMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Franco Scinicariello Summary Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are extensively used in vaccine development. Macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV) or simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIV) are the best animal model currently available for acquired-immune-deficiency-syndrome-related studies. Recent results emphasize the importance of antibody responses in controlling HIV and SIV infection. Despite the increasing attention placed on humoral immunity in these models, very limited information is available on rhesus macaque antibody molecules. Therefore, we sequenced, cloned and characterized immunoglobulin gamma (IGHG) and alpha (IGHA) chain constant region genes from rhesus macaques of Indian and Chinese origin. Although it is currently thought that rhesus macaques express three IgG subclasses, we identified four IGHG genes, which were designated IGHG1, IGHG2, IGHG3 and IGHG4 on the basis of sequence similarities with the four human genes encoding the IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 subclasses. The four genes were expressed at least at the messenger RNA level, as demonstrated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The level of intraspecies heterogeneity was very high for IGHA genes, whereas IGHG genes were remarkably similar in all animals examined. However, single amino acid substitutions were present in IGHG2 and IGHG4 genes, indicating the presence of IgG polymorphism possibly resulting in the expression of different allotypes. Two IgA alleles were identified in several animals and RT-PCR showed that both alleles may be expressed. Presence of immunoglobulin gene polymorphism appears to reflect the unusually high levels of intraspecies heterogeneity already demonstrated for major histocompatibility complex genes in this non-human primate species. [source] An evolutionary learning approach for adaptive negotiation agentsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 1 2006Raymond Y.K. Lau Developing effective and efficient negotiation mechanisms for real-world applications such as e-business is challenging because negotiations in such a context are characterized by combinatorially complex negotiation spaces, tough deadlines, very limited information about the opponents, and volatile negotiator preferences. Accordingly, practical negotiation systems should be empowered by effective learning mechanisms to acquire dynamic domain knowledge from the possibly changing negotiation contexts. This article illustrates our adaptive negotiation agents, which are underpinned by robust evolutionary learning mechanisms to deal with complex and dynamic negotiation contexts. Our experimental results show that GA-based adaptive negotiation agents outperform a theoretically optimal negotiation mechanism that guarantees Pareto optimal. Our research work opens the door to the development of practical negotiation systems for real-world applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 21: 41,72, 2006. [source] Determination of Scattering and Absorption Coefficients for Plasma-Sprayed Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Thermal Barrier CoatingsJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 5 2008Jeffrey I. Eldridge Prediction of radiative transport through translucent thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) can only be performed if the scattering and absorption coefficients and index of refraction of the TBC are known. To date, very limited information on these coefficients, which depend on both the coating composition and the microstructure, has been available for the very commonly utilized plasma-sprayed 8 wt% yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) TBCs. In this work, the scattering and absorption coefficients of freestanding plasma-sprayed 8YSZ coatings were determined from room-temperature normal-incidence directional-hemispherical reflectance and transmittance spectra over the wavelength range from 0.8 to 7.5 ,m. Spectra were collected over a wide range of coating thickness from 60 to almost 900 ,m. From the reflectance and transmittance spectra, the scattering and absorption coefficients as a function of wavelength were obtained by fitting the reflectance and transmittance values predicted by a four flux model to the experimentally measured values at all measured 8YSZ thicknesses. While the combined effects of absorption and scattering were shown in general to exhibit a nonexponential dependence of transmittance on specimen thickness, it was shown that for sufficiently high absorption and optical thickness, an exponential dependence becomes a good approximation. In addition, the implications of the wavelength dependence of the plasma-sprayed 8YSZ scattering and absorption coefficients on (1) obtaining accurate surface-temperature pyrometer measurements and on (2) applying mid-infrared reflectance to monitor TBC delamination are discussed. [source] Successful Renal Transplantation in a Patient with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Carrying Mutations in Both Factor I and MCPAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2009J. M. Cruzado Kidney transplantation in patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) carrying mutations in the soluble complement regulators factor H (CFH) or factor I (CFI) is associated with elevated risk of disease recurrence and almost certain graft loss. In contrast, recurrence is unusual in patients with mutations in the membrane-associated complement regulator membrane cofactor protein (MCP) (CD46). Therefore, a panel of experts recently recommended the combined liver,kidney transplantation to minimize aHUS recurrence in patients with mutations in CFH or CFI. There was, however, very limited information regarding transplantation in patients carrying mutations in both soluble and membrane-associated complement regulators to support a recommendation. Here, we report the case of an aHUS patient with a heterozygous mutation in both CFI and MCP who received an isolated kidney transplant expressing normal MCP levels. Critically, the patient suffered from a severe antibody-mediated rejection that was successfully treated with plasmapheresis and IvIgG. Most important, despite the complement activation in the allograft, there was no evidence of thrombotic microangiopathy, suggesting that the normal MCP levels in the grafted kidney were sufficient to prevent the aHUS recurrence. Our results suggest that isolated kidney transplantation may be a good first option for care in aHUS patients carrying CFI/MCP combined heterozygous mutations. [source] Serum concentrations of angiogenic cytokines in Waldenstrom macroglobulinaemia: the ratio of angiopoietin-1 to angiopoietin-2 and angiogenin correlate with disease severityBRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Athanasios Anagnostopoulos Summary Angiogenesis represents an essential step of disease progression in several haematological malignancies. Microvessel density is increased in 30% of patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinaemia (WM), but there is very limited information regarding the role of angiogenic cytokines in this disease. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF-A, angiogenin, angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and -2, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were evaluated in 56 WM patients at different disease phases (24 untreated, 20 relapsed/refractory and 12 patients at remission) and 11 patients with immunoglobulin M type monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (IgM-MGUS). All patients had increased levels of angiogenin, VEGF, VEGF-A, and bFGF compared with controls. The Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio was reduced in WM but not in IgM-MGUS patients. Angiogenin levels correlated with disease status: when compared with healthy subjects, patients with IgM-MGUS and untreated WM patients had increased angiogenin serum levels, which were higher in untreated WM patients than in MGUS. WM patients at remission had lower angiogenin serum levels compared with untreated patients, but these levels were increased again in active disease post-therapy. Angiogenin also correlated with albumin levels, while VEGF-A correlated with ,2 -microglobulin (,2M). Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio showed a strong, negative correlation with ,2M, and positive correlation with albumin, haemoglobin and lymphadenopathy. Our results indicate a potential use of angiogenin levels for follow-up in WM and angiogenic molecules as targets for the development of novel anti-WM agents. [source] Can Metal,Organic Framework Materials Play a Useful Role in Large-Scale Carbon Dioxide Separations?CHEMSUSCHEM CHEMISTRY AND SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY & MATERIALS, Issue 8 2010Seda Keskin Dr. Abstract Metal,organic frameworks (MOFs) are a fascinating class of crystalline nanoporous materials that can be synthesized with a diverse range of pore dimensions, topologies, and chemical functionality. As with other well-known nanoporous materials, such as activated carbon and zeolites, MOFs have potential uses in a range of chemical separation applications because of the possibility of selective adsorption and diffusion of molecules in their pores. We review the current state of knowledge surrounding the possibility of using MOFs in large-scale carbon dioxide separations. There are reasons to be optimistic that MOFs may make useful contributions to this important problem, but there are several critical issues for which only very limited information is available. By identifying these issues, we provide what we hope is a path forward to definitively answering the question posed in our title. [source] GH administration and discontinuation in healthy elderly men: effects on body composition, GH-related serum markers, resting heart rate and resting oxygen uptakeCLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Kai Henrik Wiborg Lange BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES GH administration results in increased lean body mass (LBM), decreased fat mass (FM) and increased energy expenditure (EE). GH therapy may therefore have potential benefits, especially in the elderly, who are known to have decreased function of the GH/IGF-I axis. Several studies have focused on effects of GH administration in the elderly in the last decade. However, very limited information is available regarding changes in body composition and EE upon GH discontinuation in the elderly. The present study therefore investigated the effects of 12 weeks of GH administration and subsequent discontinuation on body composition, resting oxygen uptake (VO2), resting heart rate (HR) and GH related serum markers in healthy elderly men. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Sixteen healthy men [age 74 ± 1 years (mean ± SEM), height 174·2 ± 1·6 cm, body weight 80·7 ± 2·6 kg, body fat 27·5 ± 1·1%] completed the study protocol. Recombinant human GH (1·80 ± 0·24 IU/day) was administered for 12 weeks in a single-blinded, placebo-controlled design. Body composition (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), resting VO2 (indirect calorimetry), resting HR (telemetry) and serum IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3 and acid labile subunit (ALS) were measured at baseline, after 12 weeks of GH administration and, additionally in the GH group, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9 days after GH discontinuation. RESULTS Body weight was unchanged from baseline to 12 weeks in both groups. However, GH administration caused a decrease in FM (3·4 ± 1·0 kg, P < 0·012), paralleled by a similar increase in LBM (3·2 ± 0·4 kg, P < 0·0002). Resting VO2 and resting HR increased by 31 ± 3·6% and 7·3 ± 1·9 per minute, respectively, in the GH-group, where significant increases in serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS also were noted. None of the above parameters changed in the placebo group. Within 2,3 days after GH discontinuation, the GH related serum markers and resting HR returned to baseline levels, whereas resting VO2 remained elevated even 9 days after GH discontinuation. In addition, GH discontinuation caused a significant decrease in body weight (1·86 ± 0·35 kg), derived exclusively from a decrease in LBM (1·63 ± 0·43 kg), while the decreased FM was maintained (12 weeks: 17·93 ± 1·65 kg, +9 days: 17·74 ± 1·62 kg). CONCLUSIONS The increases in serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3, ALS and resting heart rate induced by 12 weeks of GH administration in elderly men returned to baseline levels within 2,3 days after GH discontinuation. However, resting VO2 remained elevated for a longer period. GH administration reduced fat mass but maintained body weight by increasing lean body mass. In contrast, 9 days of GH discontinuation reduced body weight exclusively by reducing lean body mass. [source] | ||||||||||