The participation of soluble factors in the ω-oxidation of fatty acids in the liver of the sheep

The removal of soluble components from an ovine hepatic microsomal preparation decreased the ω-hydroxylation of dodecanoic and hexadecanoic acids. The results suggest that one or more soluble components play a role in the microsomal ω-hydroxylation of fatty acids. The possible roles in the reaction of catalase (known to stimulate the microsomal desaturations of fatty acids and alkylglycerols) and superoxide dismutase were investigated. The addition of these enzymes to the complete (but not the washed) microsomal preparation stimulated both the initial ω-hydroxylation reaction and the subsequent dehydrogenation reactions of the ω-oxidation pathway. The similarity of the effects of catalase and superoxide dismutase and stimulation of two different steps of the ω-oxidation pathway suggest that these agents are acting indirectly by removing active oxygen species rather than directly on the enzymes of microsomal fatty acid ω-hydroxylation.     

From IMS Management to SOA Based NGN Management

Although IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) based Next Generation Networks (NGNs) are already emerging as the common session control platform for converging fixed, mobile and cable networks, harmonized solutions for the management of these converged platforms have still got to be developed. This document describes a hands-on approach to NGN Management. Started with IMS specific management systems, succeeding research had to take into account the importance of the management of NGN SDPs as well. This work shows that the hybrid nature of an NGN, where services can be delivered at the IMS layer, by SIP signaling mechanisms, as well as at the SDP, via Web Services, requires a harmonized management approach. Taking into account Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) principles and policy based model driven architectures, this work shows that a unification of service composition and service management already at the workflow creation level, bares significant benefits in terms of automation and harmonization. Following the SOA paradigm, the approach presented here does not differentiate between business process management (BPM) and management process management. Focusing on Telemanagement Forum’s enhanced Telecom Operations Map service fulfillment and service assurance operations, this document describes an New Generation Software and Services (NGOSS) based implementation of a unified Operation Support System (OSS) for NGNs that encompasses many problems of former stovepipe management solutions in terms of automation, flexibility and manageability.     

A Microscopic Simulator for Freeway Traffic

In this contribution a micro-simulator for freeway traffic which is coupled to a stream of on-line data stemming from inductive loops is presented. In order to provide network-wide information about the current traffic state a cellular automaton traffic flow model is combined with the measured data. The framework is applied to the freeway network of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), where data from about 3,500 inductive loops are provided on-line minute by minute. Special attention is paid to the technical aspects of the simulation like the network structure. Results are presented and discussed.     

Plasma Lipid Peroxidation and Vitamin E Supplementation during High Intakes of Fish-Oil Fatty Acids

High intakes of fish oil concentrates (15g/day MaxEPA) resulted in increased TBARS in plasma after 2 weeks irrespective of the vitamin E intake and plasma content. After 4 weeks TBARS values returned to normal despite continued MaxEPA supplementation and different vitamin E levels. Fish oil supplements resulted in increased whole-blood aggregation and higher plasma glucose concentrations which did not occur when extra vitamin E was given. No significant differences in plasma cholesterol levels were observed.     

Local Hall Effect and Ballistic Transport in Multi-terminal InAs-Based Lateral Spin-Valve Tunnelling Devices

A multi-terminal InAs-based lateral spin-valve tunnelling device is presented, which enables individual electrical characterization of all spin-valve components in two-terminal configuration. Both the spin-valve and the non-local geometry are available for studying spin-dependent transport. Furthermore, we propose a measurement geometry in which the spin-dependent contact resistance of the sensor electrode can be measured in three-terminal configuration. Longitudinal magnetoresistance in spin-valve geometry reveal hysteresis loops of 1 mΩ deflection as known from Hall magnetometry. In non-local geometry a polarity-dependent current–voltage characteristic at 2 K is observed. This can be understood in terms of a superposition of a diffusive resistive component with a polarity-dependent ballistic component.     

Assessment of diffuse coronary artery disease by quantitative analysis of coronary morphology based upon 3-D reconstruction from biplane angiograms

Quantitative evaluations on coronary vessel systems are of increasing importance in cardiovascular diagnosis, therapy planning, and surgical verification. Whereas local evaluations, such as stenosis analysis, are already available with sufficient accuracy, global evaluations of vessel segments or vessel subsystems are not yet common. Especially for the diagnosis of diffuse coronary artery diseases, the authors combined a 3D reconstruction system operating on biplane angiograms with a length/volume calculation. The 3D reconstruction results in a 3D model of the coronary vessel system, consisting of the vessel skeleton and a discrete number of contours. To obtain an utmost accurate model, the authors focussed on exact geometry determination. Several algorithms for calculating missing geometric parameters and correcting remaining geometry errors were implemented and verified. The length/volume evaluation can be performed either on single vessel segments, on a set of segments, or on subtrees. A volume model based on generalized elliptical conic sections is created for the selected segments. Volumes and lengths (measured along the vessel course) of those elements are summed up. In this way, the morphological parameters of a vessel subsystem can be set in relation to the parameters of the proximal segment supplying it. These relations allow objective assessments of diffuse coronary artery diseases.     

Regulation of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in tissue phospholipids of obese (fa/fa) and lean (fa/−) Zucker rats. 1. Effect of dietary lipids on cardiac tissue

The present investigation addressed three questions: (i) Does the obese syndrome alter the fatty acid composition of cardiac tissue and membrane phospholipids in obese (fa/fa) rats? (ii) Are changes, if they occur, similar to those reported for tissues of the genetically obese (ob/ob) mouse? (iii) Can cardiac tissue phospholipids and their component fatty acids be modified by dietary lipids and if so does this occur to the same extent in both fa/fa and lean (Fa/?) rats? Proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in cardiac total phospholipids of fa/fa rats differed significantly from those of Fa/? rats and from those reported for ob/ob mice. Increased 18∶2n?6 and decreased 20∶4n?6 and 22∶6n?3 in fa/fa rats indicated impaired PUFA metabolism, possibly reduced Δ6 and/or Δ5 desaturase activity, compared with Fa/? rats. No differences in hepatic Δ6 and Δ5 desaturase activity between fa/fa and Fa/? were found but enhanced activity of Δ9 desaturase activity in fa/fa as compared to Fa/? was evident. Inclusion of sunflower oil (SO) or triolein (TO) at 5% and 20% by weight in the diet elicited marked changes in the fatty acyl composition of cardiac phospholipids in both fa/fa and Fa/? rats when compared with animals fed the control Oxoid diet alone. Supplementation with triolein was most effective, reducing 18∶2n?6 and increasing 20∶4n?6 proportions in fa/fa rats so that they resembled those in Fa/? rats fed the control Oxoid diet. The type of fat rather than the amount of its dietary intake appears to be the main determinant of the observed changes in phospholipid composition. Pair feeding hyperphagic fa/fa rats to the lower intakes of Fa/? rats did not abolish the characteristic differences in the proportions of PUFA in cardiac phospholipids between the two phenotypes. The effect of triolein on cardiac phospholipid fatty acid composition in the present studies is intriguing and may be relevant in understanding the beneficial role of dietary olive oil in ameliorating cardiovascular disease in man.