The intradermal effects of the H3 receptor agonist R alpha methylhistamine in human skin

We have investigated the possible existence of the H3 histamine receptor in human skin with the highly selective ligands R alpha methylhistamine (RAMHA) (H3 agonist) and thioperamide (H3 antagonist). We compared the intradermal effects of RAMHA with histamine, and studied their potential modulation by the H1 antagonist terfenadine, and H2 antagonist cimetidine. The effects of RAMHA and thioperamide on codeine phosphate-, substance P- and histamine-induced weal and flare responses were also studied. RAMHA produced dose-related weal and flare responses that were approximately 10- and fivefold less, respectively, than responses to histamine. Flare responses to RAMHA were significantly inhibited by oral terfenadine (P < 0.05). Weal and flare responses to histamine after oral cimetidine showed much intersubject variation, and cimetidine did not significantly alter either RAMHA- or histamine-induced weal and flare responses. Codeine phosphate-, substance P- and histamine-induced responses were not significantly affected by concurrent administration of RAMHA. Thioperamide was not found to influence codeine phosphate-, substance P-, RAMHA- or histamine-induced effects. RAMHA induces vascular (weal and flare) responses in human skin, and these responses are partially inhibited by terfenadine. There is a trend for RAMHA to have an additive effect to the weal induced by substance P and histamine, although our results largely do not reach statistical significance. Thioperamide does not affect the vascular responses to RAMHA, codeine phosphate, histamine or substance P. We cannot conclude that the effects of RAMHA are induced by H3 receptors on cutaneous endothelial or mast cells.     

Craniofacial electromyogram activation response: another indicator of anesthetic depth

The female gametophyte is an absolutely essential structure for angiosperm reproduction. It produces the egg cell and central cell (which give rise to the embryo and endosperm, respectively) and mediates several reproductive processes including pollen tube guidance, fertilization, the induction of seed development, and perhaps also maternal control of embryo development. Although much has been learned about these processes at the cytological level, specific molecules mediating and controlling megagametogenesis and female gametophyte function have not been identified. A genetic approach to the identification of such molecules has been initiated in Arabidopsis and maize. Although genetic analyses are still in their infancy, mutations affecting female gametophyte function and specific steps of megagametogenesis have already been identified. Large-scale genetic screens aimed at identifying mutants affecting every step of megagametogenesis and female gametophyte function are in progress; the characterization of genes identified in these screens should go a long way toward defining the molecules that are required for female gametophyte development and function.     

Diagnosis of fatty infiltration of the liver on contrast enhanced CT: limitations of liver-minus-spleen attenuation difference measurements

Fatty acid oxidation has been studied with the tritium release assay in cultured fibroblasts from patients with defects in beta-oxidation and in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Cells from all patients with beta-oxidation defects and cells from 10 of 16 patients with respiratory chain defects showed an impairment of fatty acid oxidation. The result of the tritium release assay is not only dependent on the proper function of the beta-oxidation cycle but is also influenced by the reoxidation of reduced cofactors. The assay can thus be used to study the expression of respiratory chain defects in cultured fibroblasts.     

Growth method,composition, and defect structure dependence of mercury diffusion in CdxHg1–xTe

Mercury radiotracer diffusion results are presented, in the range 254 to 452°C, for bulk and epitaxial Cd_xHg_1–xTe, and we believe this to be the first report for metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) grown Cd_xHg_1–xTe. For all growth types studied, with compositions of x_Cd=0.2±0.04, the variation of the lattice diffusion coefficient, D_Hg, with temperature, under saturated mercury partial pressure, obeyed the equation: D_Hg=3×10⁻³ exp(−1.2 eV/kT) cm² s⁻¹. It was found to have a strong composition dependence but was insensitive to changes of substrate material or crystal orientation. Autoradiography was used to show that mercury also exploited defect structure to diffuse rapidly from the surface. Dislocation diffusion analysis is used to model defect tails in MOVPE Cd_xHg_1–xTe profiles.     

Specifying and proving properties of timed I/O automata using Tempo

Timed I/O automata (TIOA) is a mathematical framework for modeling and verification of distributed systems that involve discrete and continuous dynamics. TIOA can be used for example, to model a real-time software component controlling a physical process. The TIOA model is sufficiently general to subsume other models in use for timed systems. The Tempo Toolset, currently under development, is aimed at supporting system development based on TIOA specifications. The Tempo Toolset is an extension of the IOA toolkit, which provides a specification simulator, a code generator, and both model checking and theorem proving support for analyzing specifications. This paper focuses on the modeling of timed systems and their properties with TIOA and on the use of TAME4TIOA, the TAME (Timed Automata Modeling Environment) based theorem proving support provided in Tempo, for proving system properties, including timing properties. Several examples are provided by way of illustration.     

Long Non-Coding RNAs as Master Regulators in Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for nearly one in every seven deaths. Over the last decade, various targeted therapeutics have been introduced, but there has been no corresponding improvement in patient survival. Since the mortality rate of cardiovascular disease has not been significantly decreased, efforts have been made to understand the link between heart disease and novel therapeutic targets such as non-coding RNAs. Among multiple non-coding RNAs, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has emerged as a novel therapeutic in cardiovascular medicine. LncRNAs are endogenous RNAs that contain over 200 nucleotides and regulate gene expression. Recent studies suggest critical roles of lncRNAs in modulating the initiation and progression of cardiovascular diseases. For example, aberrant lncRNA expression has been associated with the pathogenesis of ischemic heart failure. In this article, we present a synopsis of recent discoveries that link the roles and molecular interactions of lncRNAs to cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, we describe the prevalence of circulating lncRNAs and assess their potential utilities as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of heart disease.     

An apparatus for the study of wear under dynamic loading conditions

A multipurpose wear testing apparatus has been designed, constructed and calibrated. The apparatus is primarily an impact wear testing device, but it may also be used for vibratory and oscillatory wear experimentation. The system utilizes a versatile displacement- and force-controlled device, which allows accurate control and measurement of the load cycles and their frequencies and the relative normal and transverse velocities between the wear surfaces as well as their time of contact. Features of this design permit testing at elevated frequencies and investigation of the effect of individual parameters on the wear process. These features include a facility to manipulate the system stiffness, the ability to control the impact and rotational velocities independently, feedback to maintain a constant nominal stress parameter, the ability to use spherical or cylindrical wear specimens and a method of applying the load and relative transverse motion in a constant, random or prescribed manner. The design facilitates modifications to include lubrication and environmental control, measurement of friction forces and fretting wear capabilities. Some initial results are included.     

Rechargeable Lithium Metal Batteries with an In-Built Solid-State Polymer Electrolyte and a High Voltage/Loading Ni-Rich Layered Cathode

Solid-state batteries enabled by solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are under active consideration for their promise as cost-effective platforms that simultaneously support high-energy and safe electrochemical energy storage. The limited oxidative stability and poor interfacial charge transport in conventional polymer electrolytes are well known, but difficult challenges must be addressed if high-voltage intercalating cathodes are to be used in such batteries. Here, ether-based electrolytes are in situ polymerized by a ring-opening reaction in the presence of aluminum fluoride (AlF₃) to create SPEs inside LiNi_0.6Co_0.2 Mn_0.2O₂ (NCM) || Li batteries that are able to overcome both challenges. AlF₃ plays a dual role as a Lewis acid catalyst and for the building of fluoridized cathode–electrolyte interphases, protecting both the electrolyte and aluminum current collector from degradation reactions. The solid-state NCM || Li metal batteries exhibit enhanced specific capacity of 153 mAh g⁻¹ under high areal capacity of 3.0 mAh cm⁻². This work offers an important pathway toward solid-state polymer electrolytes for high-voltage solid-state batteries.