Reduced Maternal Erythrocyte Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Exist in Early Pregnancy in Preeclampsia

The present prospective study examines proportions of maternal erythrocyte fatty acids across gestation and their association with cord erythrocyte fatty acids in normotensive control (NC) and preeclamptic pregnancies. We hypothesize that maternal fatty acid status in early pregnancy influences fetal fatty acid stores in preeclampsia. 137 NC women and 58 women with preeclampsia were included in this study. Maternal blood was collected at 3 time points during pregnancy (16–20th weeks, 26–30th weeks and at delivery). Cord blood was collected at delivery. Fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography. The proportions of maternal erythrocyte α‐linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, nervonic acid, and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (p < 0.05 for all) were lower while total n‐6 fatty acids were higher (p < 0.05) at 16–20th weeks of gestation in preeclampsia as compared with NC. Cord 18:3n‐3, 22:6n‐3, 24:1n‐9, MUFA, and total n‐3 fatty acids (p < 0.05 for all) were also lower in preeclampsia as compared with NC. A positive association was observed between maternal erythrocyte 22:6n‐3 and 24:1n‐9 at 16–20th weeks with the same fatty acids in cord erythrocytes (p < 0.05 for both) in preeclampsia. Our study for the first time indicates alteration in maternal erythrocyte fatty acids at 16th weeks of gestation which is further reflected in cord erythrocytes at delivery in preeclampsia.     

Capacitive gas and vapor sensors using nanomaterials

An immense number of sensors has been reported in the literature employing various methods for the detection of different gases and vapors. This article summarizes those sensors whose sensing layer is made up of nanostructured materials and a change in capacitance value of device is the key parameter for detecting a gas or vapor. Now-a-days, capacitive sensors are emerging as they consume less power, operate well at room temperature and show decent response and recovery time. The sensing principles, configurations, mechanisms and performances of capacitive sensors based on different nanostructures are summarized and discussed in the current article. Emerging carbon based nanomaterials like carbon nanotube and graphene are also highlighted for capacitive mode detection of gases and vapors. Finally, an outlook of primary challenges in this field are identified and discussed at the end of the review.     

Experimental Investigation and Simulation of Magnetic Flux Leakage from Metal Loss Defects

Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention - Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) principle is widely used in detecting defects in cross-country pipelines. The tools based on the MFL techniques termed as...     

Tunable Thermoelectric Performance in Porous Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons as a Function of Strain,Pore Morphology and Temperature

In this paper, the thermoelectric performance of porous armchair graphene nanoribbons under tensile and compressive strain is investigated as a function of pore morphology and temperature. For all the porous structures irrespective of their pore size, the performance improves at a compressive strain of 10%, while for tensile nature, the minimum cut-off strain required for improved thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) shows an inverse relation with the pore size. In addition, optimal pore shape geometry can yield better performance, even at lower values of strain. Further analysis reveals that tensile strain is not able to improve the performance at low and intermediate temperatures of around 300 K, whereas tensile/compressive strain is effective in enhancing the performance of porous armchair graphene nanoribbons at higher temperatures. Furthermore, the structures are found to be more sensitive to compressive strain than the tensile one since the effect of compressive strain is found to improve ZT more significantly. Our analysis based on Non-Equilibrium Green’s function calculations suggests a possible route for tailoring the functionality of nanomaterials so as to achieve great potentials for thermoelectric applications at various temperatures.     

Optical Kerr switching technique for the production of a picosecond,multiwavelength CO2 laser pulse

A wavelength-independent method for optical gating, based on the optical Kerr effect, has been demonstrated. Using this method, we produced 100-ps, 10-kW, two-wavelength pulses (10.3 and 10.6 microm) with a signal-to-background ratio contrast of 10(5) by slicing a long CO2 pulse. The capability of gating consecutive pulses separated on a picosecond time scale with this method is also shown.     

Practical calculation of switching surges at motor terminals

Switching of motors results in steep-fronted surges which cause a relatively large turn-to-turn stress in windings. Simplified and detailed methods are presented for calculating the surge level and risetime at the motor terminals for particular configurations. The levels are shown to be strongly affected by shield or conduit grounding practices and are less dependent on motor size or the number of other loads supplied by the metal-clad bus. The risetimes depend mainly on the motor cable impedance, the shield grounding practices, and an equivalent motor capacitance. Less sensitive parameters include metal-clad bus length, the breaker position, and cable losses associated with the dielectric, skin effect, and semiconductive layers. Comparisons are made with surges monitored during normal switching     

Metabolic and endocrine aspects of the ventromedial hypothalamic syndrome in the rat.

Subjected 8 male Long-Evans hooded rats to parasagittal knife cuts that separated the medial from the lateral hypothalamic areas; following surgery, some Ss were given free access to food while others were restricted to normal quantities. Compared with 6 sham-operated controls, the restricted-food Ss exhibited hyperinsulinemia as early as 36 hr after surgery without any change in plasma glucose levels. The blood samples of free-food Ss which had become obese, showed hyperinsulinemia, mild hyperglycemia, and elevated levels of free fatty acids. These results suggest that the interruption of mediolateral hypothalamic connections produces hyperinsulinemia directly, and that further increases in insulin, glucose, and free fatty acid levels are caused by overeating. The surgical cuts produced an increase in aggressive behavior but no change in the circulating levels of testosterone. (41 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hypothalamic and midbrain neural pathways involved in eating, drinking, irritability, aggression, and copulation in rats.

Investigated in 3 experiments with male hooded rats (N = 61) the effects of parasagittal cuts placed at 3 anterior-posterior positions. Cuts that separated portions of the medial from the lateral hypothalamus produced severe hyposexuality if they lay lateral to the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamic continuum. Hyperphagia, irritability, and modest sexual impairment were produced if the cuts lay lateral to the anterior tips of the ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei and slightly invaded the anterior hypothalamus. Posterior, but not anterior, medial-forebrain-bundle (MFB) cuts disrupted copulation. Central gray cuts resulted in slight hyperphagia, and reticular formation cuts resulted in hyposexuality. It is concluded that the medial hypothalamic nuclei exert their effects on eating, irritability, and copulation through their lateral connections with the lateral hypothalamus and those components of the MFB that descend on (or ascend from) the lower brainstem. (40 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Study of the effect of dilution on the lubricity of hydrotreated jet engine fuels

Hydrotreated fuels lack lubricity. Dilution with chemically treated conventional fuels is reported to restore lubricity. Studies revealed that some conventional fuels have lubricity inferior to the hydrotreated fuels. Thus dilution with conventional fuel is not a sure cure.