Diffraction coefficients related to cylindrically curved soft-hard surfaces

An asymptotic solution to the problem of the diffraction of high-frequency waves by the edge of a cylindrically curved surface whose convex and concave faces present soft and hard boundary conditions is obtained. The results permit us to define new diffraction coefficients related to this kind of mixed boundary conditions. When the radius of the curvature becomes infinitely large, the edgediffraction coefficient reduces to this known for the softhard half-plane.     

S-N-P curves in 7075 T7351 and 2024 T3 aluminium alloys subjected to surface treatments

The S-N-P (stress, number of cycles, failure probability) curves for 2024 T3 and 7075 T7351 aluminium alloys were obtained. Previously, surface treatments of degreasing and different types of anodizing were applied to samples, evaluating the influence of these treatments on the fatigue life of the alloys. The determination of the S-N-P curves was done using Maennig's method. Rotary fatigue was used because this technique produces greater stress on the sample surfaces, the zone in which it is important to evaluate fatigue resistance. Both the transition range and the finite life range were evaluated, calculating the 1, 50 and 99% fracture probability. SEM was performed in order to characterize the fracture micromechanism. The conclusions were that Maennig's method is useful to evaluate fatigue life of these materials in a fast and efficient manner. Moreover, surface treatments produce a decrease in the fatigue life of both alloys, associating this effect with the surface damage produced on each sample during the treatment.     

Rectus abdominis muscle flap (RAMF) technique for the management of bladder exstrophies: late clinical outcome and urodynamic findings

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of the rectus abdominis muscle flap (RAMF) technique for the closure and augmentation of small, non-compliant bladder exstrophies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The RAMF technique was used in two girls and two boys (mean age at operation, 31.7 months, range 3-72) with bladder exstrophy. The clinical outcome and urodynamics were assessed during a follow-up of 29 months to 6 years (mean 49.2 months) and included imaging, cystoscopy, biochemical and microbiological studies. RESULTS: There were no urinary tract infections, metabolic problems or electrolyte disturbances and kidney function remained normal in all patients. Radiography confirmed intact function and anatomy of the urinary tract and cystoscopy showed complete coverage of the inner peritoneal layer of RAMF with uroepithelium. No stone formation or mucus production were detected. Currently, three patients void using clean intermittent catheterization through the native urethra and the fourth through an appendiceal Mitrofanoff valve. However, the bladder volume was insufficient at the late follow-up and three patients required bladder augmentation. CONCLUSIONS: The RAMF technique is a good alternative for closing bladder exstrophies and achieves an increase in bladder capacity; however, although there is a mild improvement in bladder capacity and compliance. RAMF should not be used as a bladder augmentation procedure. The technique is indicated in the closure of large bladder defects, bladder exstrophies with small, inelastic, non-compliant bladder remnants and failed primary closures.     

A genetic model for undifferentiated cell tumor formation: similar tumors formed by different cell lines transformed by the E1A oncogene

The activation of oncogenes and the mutation/deletion of suppressor genes may be involved in tumor heterogeneity. In an attempt to study tumor heterogeneity, we transformed cell lines from epithelial (PAM 212), mesenchymal (NIH-3T3), or melanocytic origin (L-BIOBR) with the wild type E1a oncogene. To make the cell lines tumorigenic, cells were infected with Harvey sarcoma virus carrying the v-H-ras oncogene. The transformed cells were injected into nude mice and the tumors studied by optical and electron microscopy. The tumors formed by v-H-ras-transformed cells consisted of epitheliod melanomas, spindle cells sarcomas and poorly-differentiated carcinomas, depending on the cell of origin. In contrast, the tumors obtained from cells also carrying the E1a oncogene showed a predominant small and undifferentiated cell pattern regardless of the cell of origin. We conclude that the E1a oncogene products induce a negative control of differentiation, independent of the cell type, and that tumors formed by cells carrying the E1a oncogene display an undifferentiated cell pattern.     

Chronically Elevated Exogenous Glucose Elicits Antipodal Effects on the Proteome Signature of Differentiating Human iPSC-Derived Pancreatic Progenitors

The past decade revealed that cell identity changes, such as dedifferentiation or transdifferentiation, accompany the insulin-producing β-cell decay in most diabetes conditions. Mapping and controlling the mechanisms governing these processes is, thus, extremely valuable for managing the disease progression. Extracellular glucose is known to influence cell identity by impacting the redox balance. Here, we use global proteomics and pathway analysis to map the response of differentiating human pancreatic progenitors to chronically increased in vitro glucose levels. We show that exogenous high glucose levels impact different protein subsets in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, regardless of concentration, glucose elicits an antipodal effect on the proteome landscape, inducing both beneficial and detrimental changes in regard to achieving the desired islet cell fingerprint. Furthermore, we identified that only a subgroup of these effects and pathways are regulated by changes in redox balance. Our study highlights a complex effect of exogenous glucose on differentiating pancreas progenitors characterized by a distinct proteome signature.     

Absorption by rats of tocopherols present in edible vegetable oils

The absorption of tocopherols (α, γ, and σ) and fatty acids from rapeseed (RO), soybean (SOO), and sunflower (SUO) oil, both from the natural oils and from the oils following moderate heating (180°C for 15 min), was measured in lymphcannulated rats. Oils were administered as emulsions through a gastrostomy tube, and lymph samples were collected for 24 h. The composition of tocopherols in oils and lymph fractions was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and fatty acids were measured by gas-liquid chromatography. The highest accumulated transport of α-tocopherol was observed after SUO administration, the lowest after SOO, with RO in between, corresponding to their relative contents (41.6±8.8, 32.7±5.0, and 24.9±4.3 μg at 24 h after administration of SUO, RO, and SOO, respectively). The calculated recoveries (in %) 24 h after oil administration were 21.4±4.5, 45.7±7.0, and 78.8±13.5 for SUO, RO, and SOO, respectively, suggesting that the absorption efficiency decreased when the α-tocopherol concentration increased. The recovery of α-tocopherol was higher than the recoveries of γ-and σ-tocopherol, indicating that the different tocopherols were not absorbed to the same extent or with similar rates. No differences between unheated and heated oils were observed in the absorption of tocopherols, whereas heating led to lower absorption of fatty acids, thus showing no direct association between absorption of tocopherols and fatty acids.     

Dietary linoleic acid and the fatty acid profiles in rats fed partially hydrogenated marine oils

The influence of the linoleic acid levels of diets containing partially hydrogenated marine, oils (HMO) rich in isomeric 16∶1, 18∶1, 20∶1 and 22∶1 fatty acids on the fatty acid profiles of lipids from rat liver, heart and adipose tissue was examined. Five groups of rats were fed diets containing 20 wt% fat−16% HMO+4% vegetable oils. In these diets, the linoleic acid contents varied between 1.9% and 14.5% of the dietary fatty acids, whereas the contents oftrans fatty acids were 33% in all groups. A sixth group was fed a partially hydrogenated soybean oil (HSOY) diet containing 8% linoleic acid plus 32%trans fatty acids, mainly 18∶1, and a seventh group, 20% palm oil (PALM), with 10% linoleic acid and notrans fatty acids. As the level of linoleic acid in the HMO diets increased from 1.9% to 8.2%, the contents of (n−6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the phospholipids increased correspondingly. At this dietary level of linoleic acid, a plateau in (n−6) PUFA was reached that was not affected by further increase in dietary 18∶2(n−6) up to 14.5%. Compared with the HSOY- or PALM-fed rats, the plateau value of 20∶4(n−6) were considerably lower and the contents of 18∶2(n−6) higher in liver phosphatidylcholines (PC) and heart PC. Heart phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) on the contrary, had elevated contents of 20∶4(n−6), but decreased 22∶5(n−6) compared with the PALM group. All groups fed HMO had similar contents oftrans fatty acids, mainly 16∶1 and 18∶1, in their phospholipids, irrespective of the dietary 18∶2 levels, and these contents were lower than in the HSOY group. High levels of linoleic acid consistently found in triglycerides of liver, heart and adipose tissue of rats fed HMO indicated that feeding HMO resulted in a reduction of the conversion of linoleic acid into long chain PUFA that could not be overcome by increasing the dietary level of linoleic acid.