Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Beneficial Effects of Exercise on Brain Function and Neurological Disorders

As life expectancy has increased, particularly in developed countries, due to medical advances and increased prosperity, age-related neurological diseases and mental health disorders have become more prevalent health issues, reducing the well-being and quality of life of sufferers and their families. In recent decades, due to reduced work-related levels of physical activity, and key research insights, prescribing adequate exercise has become an innovative strategy to prevent or delay the onset of these pathologies and has been demonstrated to have therapeutic benefits when used as a sole or combination treatment. Recent evidence suggests that the beneficial effects of exercise on the brain are related to several underlying mechanisms related to muscle–brain, liver–brain and gut–brain crosstalk. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the most relevant current knowledge of the impact of exercise on mood disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, and to highlight the established and potential underlying mechanisms involved in exercise–brain communication and their benefits for physiology and brain function.     

Molecular Genetics of Conjunctival Melanoma and Prognostic Value of TERT Promoter Mutation Analysis

The aim of this study was exploration of the genetic background of conjunctival melanoma (CM) and correlation with recurrent and metastatic disease. Twenty-eight CM from the Rotterdam Ocular Melanoma Study group were collected and DNA was isolated from the formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue. Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed using a panel covering GNAQ, GNA11, EIF1AX, BAP1, BRAF, NRAS, c-KIT, PTEN, SF3B1, and TERT genes. Recurrences and metastasis were present in eight (29%) and nine (32%) CM cases, respectively. TERT promoter mutations were most common (54%), but BRAF (46%), NRAS (21%), BAP1 (18%), PTEN (14%), c-KIT (7%), and SF3B1 (4%) mutations were also observed. No mutations in GNAQ, GNA11, and EIF1AX were found. None of the mutations was significantly associated with recurrent disease. Presence of a TERT promoter mutation was associated with metastatic disease (p-value = 0.008). Based on our molecular findings, CM comprises a separate entity within melanoma, although there are overlapping molecular features with uveal melanoma, such as the presence of BAP1 and SF3B1 mutations. This warrants careful interpretation of molecular data, in the light of clinical findings. About three quarter of CM contain drug-targetable mutations, and TERT promoter mutations are correlated to metastatic disease in CM.     

Electron Microscopy Imaging Applications of Room Temperature Ionic Liquids in the Biological Field: A Review

For biological imaging using electron microscopy (EM), the use of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) has been proposed as an alternative to traditional lengthy preparation methods. With their low vapor pressures and conductivity, RTILs can be applied onto hard-to-image soft and/or wet samples without dehydration – allowing for a more representative, hydrated state of material and opening the possibility for visualization of in situ physiological processes using conventional EM systems. However, RTILs have yet to be utilized to their full potential by microscopists and microbiologists alike. To this end, this review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of biological applications of RTILs for EM to bridge the RTIL, in situ microscopy, and biological communities. We outline future research avenues for the use of RTILs for the EM observation of biological samples, notably i) RTIL selection and optimization, ii) applications for live cell processes and iii) electron beam and ionic liquid interaction studies.     

Detection of water ingress in composite sandwich structures: a magnetic resonance approach

Water ingress inside honeycomb sandwich panels during service has been linked to in-flight failure in some aircraft. There is an ongoing effort to develop nondestructive testing methods to detect the presence of water within the panels. Magnetic resonance (MR) represents an attractive approach in that it is sensitive to moisture. Using a unilateral MR sensor, testing can be applied directly to the surface of the panel. The viability of MR is demonstrated through laboratory imaging of both water within sandwich panels, as well as the adhesive itself. The detection of water using a one-sided handheld MR sensor is presented. It is shown that simple detection, as well as spatial localization of water within sandwich panels is possible.     

Catalytic oxidation of hydrogen sulphide on activated carbons

Activated carbon is a suitable adsorbent for removal of hydrogen sulphide from natural, synthesis or other product gases. The process depends predominantly on physical adsorption, though catalytic oxidation is also involved. During catalytic oxidation the H₂S is converted in the presence of oxygen to elemental sulphur, which is adsorbed onto the internal surface of the activated carbon, thus leading to a sulphur load of up to 120% by weight. The oxidation rate depends on the partial pressure of both reactants, H₂S and O₂ and is largely controlled by the characteristics of the activated carbon. The activity of the catalyst can be improved by impregnating the activated carbon with promoters such as iron and iodine. The regeneration of spent carbon is currently carried out using hot gas desorption methods at temperatures around 450 °C.     

Sulfonated latex particle as acid catalysts for the continuous inversion of sucrose

Sulfonated polystyrene latex particles were used as acid catalysts in the continuous inversion of sucrose at 50–70°C. The particles (surface charge 168 μeq/g) were confined in a stirred reactor with a semipermeable membrane; sucrose solution was pumped in, and product solution was pumped out. The catalytic activity of the particles was unchanged after 20 days continuous use. Variation of particle size (0.13 and 0.42 μm) and stirring rate showed that internal and external mass transfer was not a controlling factor. The kinetics were pseudo-first-order; the rate constant at 70°C was 2.30/N min as compared with 0.07/N min for macroporous sulfonated ion-exchange resin; the apparent activation energy was 111 kJ/mol as compared with 121 kJ/mol for the homogeneous acid-catalyzed reaction. The faster rate was attributed to the very great surface area, high charge density, and lack of internal diffusional resistance of the latex particles. The proposed mechanism comprised adsorption of sucrose on the particle surface, followed by inversion and desorption of product.     

Analysis and tuning of adaptive generalized predictive control

The adaptive Generalized Predictive Controller (Clarke et al., 1987a, b) is capable of controlling plants with variable dead-time, unknown model orders and unstable poles and zeros. This paper shows how the GPC control law can be written in an equivalent general linear transfer function form which simplifies closed-loop (eg. root locus) analysis. Three recommended strategies for selecting the design parameters during the commissioning stage allow the user to adjust the closed-loop speed of response on-line using only a single active tuning parameter. Experimental runs confirm the ability of adaptive GPC to provide a consistent closed-loop response in spite of large process changes.     

Structural and transport effects of doping perfluorosulfonic acid polymers with the heteropoly acids, H3PW12O40 or H4SiW12O40

A perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer with pendant side chain -O(CF₂)₄SO₃H was doped with the heteropoly acids (HPAs), H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ and H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀. Infrared spectroscopy revealed a strong interaction between the HPA and the PFSA ionomer. Modes associated with the peripheral bonds of the HPA were shifted to lower wave numbers when doped into PFSA membranes. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements showed the presence of large crystallites of HPA in the membrane with d spacings of ca. 10 Å, close to the lattice spacing observed in bulk HPA crystals. Under wet conditions the HPA was more dispersed and constrained the size of the sulfonic acid clusters to 20 Å at a 5 wt% HPA doping level, the same as in the vacuum treated ionomer samples. Under conditions of minimum hydration the HPA decreased the E_a for the self-diffusion of water from 27 to 15 kJ mol⁻¹. The reverse trend was seen under 100% RH conditions. Proton conductivity measurements showed improved proton conductivity of the HPA doped PFSAs at a constant dew point of 80 °C for all temperatures up to 120 °C and at all relative hummidities up to 80%. The activation energy for proton conduction generally was lower than for the undoped materials at RH ≤80%. Significantly the E_a was 1/2 that of the undoped material at RHs of 40 and 60%. A practical proton conductivity of 113 mS cm⁻¹ was observed at 100 °C and 80% RH.     

The role of adsorbate overlayers in thiophene hydrodesulfurization over molybdenum and rhenium single crystals

Thiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) has been investigated over model single crystal catalysts of molybdenum and rhenium. Thiophene HDS is a structure sensitive reaction over rhenium and a structure insensitive reaction over molybdenum. Adsorbed sulfur decreases the activity of both Re(0001) and Mo(100) surfaces while adsorbed carbon has distinctly different effects on the catalytic properties of the two metals. Carbon overlayers deactivate the Re(0001) surface but have no effect on the HDS activity of the Mo(100) surface. Radiotracer³⁵S and¹⁴C studies indicate that HDS occurs on an adsorbate overlayer on molybdenum comprised primarily of carbon. HDS over rhenium, on the other hand, occurs on the bare metal surface. This appears to be responsible for the observed differences in the influence of surface structure on HDS activity.