Protein profiling of low-density lipoprotein from obese subjects

Although obesity and high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are well-known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the precise role(s) of different LDL constituents in obesity has not been explored. In the present study, we compared the LDL proteome of healthy control adults (body mass index<25) and obese subjects (body mass index>30). LDL was isolated by density-gradient ultracentrifugation and proteins were separated with 2-D PAGE, quantified, and identified by peptide mass fingerprinting using MALDI-TOF MS. A new LDL-associated protein was identified as transthyretin and found to be significantly more abundant in LDL from the obese subjects. In addition, LDL from the obese subjects contained relatively more α(1) -antitrypsin, apo J, apo C-II, than LDL from controls, and also more of an acidic isoform (pI/Mr; 5.2/23 100) of apo A-I. On the other hand, the relative amounts of apo A-IV and the major isoform of apo A-I (pI/Mr; 5.3/23 100) were significantly less in LDL from the obese subjects. Apo E was less and non-sialylated apo C-III more abundant in LDL from obese men than control men, while there were no such differences between LDL from obese and control women. These findings illustrate that obesity is not only associated with increased LDL-cholesterol levels but also with alterations in the LDL protein composition. The presence of transthyretin in LDL from obese subjects may reflect over-nutrition and affect the lipid metabolism in obesity.     

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)-specific reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors may suppress the replication of specific drug-resistant (E138K)RT HIV-1 mutants or select for highly resistant (Y181C-->C181I)RT HIV-1 mutants

Mutant HIV-1 that expresses a Glu138-->Lys substitution in its RT [(E138K)RT] is resistant to the HIV-1-specific RT inhibitor 2',5'-bis-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3'-spiro-5"-(4"-amino-1",2"- oxathiole-2",2"-dioxide)pyrimidine (TSAO). However, cell cultures infected with this mutant were completely protected against virus-mediated destruction by micromolar concentrations of the HIV-1-specific RT inhibitors tetrahydroimidazo[4,5,1-jk][1,4]benzodiazepin-2(1H)-one and -thione (TIBO), nevirapine, and bis(heteroaryl)piperazine (BHAP). In contrast, cells infected with a virus mutant that expresses a Tyr181-->Cys substitution in its RT [(Y181C)RT] were not protected by nevirapine and TIBO and were only temporarily protected by BHAP. HIV-1 mutant that emerged under the latter conditions contained a Cys181-->Ile substitution in their RT [(LC181I)RT]. This mutant proved highly resistant to all HIV-1-specific RT inhibitors tested, except for several 1-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT) derivatives. When recombinant (C181I)RT was evaluated for susceptibility to the HIV-1-specific RT inhibitors, it was resistant to all inhibitors except the HEPT compounds. Since a (Y181F)RT HIV mutant strain was isolated from cells infected with (Y181C)RT HIV-1 and treated with BHAP, we postulate that the Ile codon was derived from a Cys-->Phe transversion mutation (TGT-->TTT), followed by a Phe-->Ile transversion mutation (TTT-->ATT).     

Optical acceptance function of modified compound parabolic concentrators with linear corrugated reflectors

For reflective cylindrical concentrators the acceptance function, as determined in the meridian plane, remains constant for more oblique planes of incidence. However, if the reflective surface has a linear corrugated structure, it is possible to increase the acceptance in the meridian plane at the expense of reduced acceptance at a more oblique incidence. A ray-tracing study has been performed on the optical properties of troughlike compound parabolic concentrators (CPC's) with linear corrugated reflectors. Calculations of angular acceptance for a modified CPC with concentration C = x is presented. A possible application of this new concentrator is as a secondary concentrator for tracking parabolic troughs.     

T-matrix computations of light scattering by red blood cells

The electromagnetic far field, as well as the near field, originating from light interaction with a red blood cell (RBC)volume-equivalent spheroid, was analyzed by utilizing theT-matrix theory. This method is a powerful tool thatmakes it possible to study the influence of cell shape on the angulardistribution of scattered light. General observations were that thethree-dimensional shape, as well as the optical thickness apparent tothe incident field, affects the forward scattering. Thebackscattering was influenced by the shape of the surface facing theincident beam. Furthermore sphering as well as elongation of anoblate RBC into a volume-equivalent sphere or a prolate spheroid, respectively, was theoretically modeled to imitate physiologicalphenomena caused, e.g., by heat or the increased shear stress offlowing blood. Both sphering and elongation were shown to decreasethe intensity of the forward-directed scattering, thus yielding lowerg factors. The sphering made the scattering patternindependent of azimuthal scattering angle phi(s), whereas the elongation induced more apparent phi(s)-dependent patterns. The lightscattering by a RBC volume-equivalent spheroid was thus found to behighly influenced by the shape of the scattering object. Anear-field radius r(nf) was evaluated as thedistance to which the maximum intensity of the total near field haddecreased to 2.5 times that of the incident field. It was estimatedto 2-24.5 times the maximum radius of the scattering spheroid, corresponding to 12-69 mum. Because the near-field radiuswas shown to be larger than a simple estimation of the distance betweenthe RBC's in whole blood, the assumption of independent scattering, frequently employed in optical measurements on whole blood, seemsinappropriate. This also indicates that one cannot extrapolate theresults obtained from diluted blood to whole blood by multiplying witha simple concentration factor.     

Efficient Nd:YAG Laser Frequency Doubling with Periodically Poled KTP

Periodically poled flux-grown KTiOPO(4) was used for efficient extracavity 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser frequency doubling. A conversion efficiency exceeding 65% was obtained in Q-switched operation, and 1.34 W of average frequency-doubled power was generated with 2.2 W of mode-locked laser output. The conversion efficiency is approximately two times higher for periodically poled KTP than for conventional type II phase-matched KTP. The measurements indicate that periodically poled KTP is less susceptible to optical damage than type II KTP.     

Development of a Solid Phase Carbon Trap for Simultaneous Determination of PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs, and Pesticides in Environmental Samples Using SFE-LC

The purpose of this study was to find materials that can be used as a solid phase trap in a commercial supercritical fluid extraction instrument. PX-21 active carbon mixed with ODS proved to yield the best results. After SFE of the target compounds, the planar fraction containing the environmental pollutants PCDDs, PCDFs, and planar PCBs was successfully separated on a PX-21 solid phase trap from the nonplanar fraction containing the other PCBs and pesticides. Direct injection of the concentrated fractions on GC/MS was possible without further cleanup. SFE followed by on-line carbon column chromatography was tested using standard solutions (applied on filter paper) as well as biological samples (human adipose tissue).     

Measurements of indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide concentrations using a diffusive sampler

The Willems badge, a short-term diffusion sampler, was used to measure nitrogen dioxide concentrations inside and outside the homes of participants in the European study "PEACE' (Pollution Effects on Asthmatic Children in Europe). The main aim of the study was to determine levels of nitrogen dioxide concentrations both outside and inside children's homes, and to estimate the indoor/outdoor ratios for nitrogen dioxide in an urban area, in comparison with a less urbanized control area. We conducted measurements in 23 homes in Ume?, a city of about 100,000 inhabitants in the northern part of Sweden, in addition to 20 homes in a less urbanized control area situated about 20 km from Ume?. Measurements were made on two different occasions in each home during the period January-March, 1994. The houses were not equipped with any gas appliances. The mean outdoor 24-h concentration in Ume? was 28 micrograms m-3 and the mean indoor concentration was 11 micrograms m-3. The mean indoor: outdoor ratio was 0.44 (s = 0.23). The highest outdoor value, measured in the city centre of Ume?, was 54 micrograms m-3. In the control area the mean ambient 24-h concentration was 12 micrograms m-3, approximately half as high as in the urban area, and the mean indoor concentration was 6 micrograms m-3. The mean indoor: outdoor ratio was 0.67 (s = 0.55). The correlation coefficient between indoor and outdoor concentrations was higher in the control area, r = 0.79 (p < 0.001), in comparison with the urban area, r = 0.43 (p < 0.01). It is concluded that the outdoor as well as the indoor concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were approximately twice as high in Ume? as in the control area. This could be explained by heavier traffic density in Ume?. The mean 24-h concentration outside homes in Ume? was, however, below the 24-h national standard level of 75 micrograms m-3. The higher correlation between indoor and outdoor concentrations, combined with higher indoor: outdoor ratio, in the control area is interpreted as a sign of a lower level of penetration of outdoor air into the houses in the urban area. This was not explained by differences in types of buildings between the two areas, but possibly by differences in air-exchange rates and in habits of ventilating rooms with open windows.     

Performance analysis of opportunistic broadcast for delay-tolerant wireless sensor networks

This paper investigates a class of mobile wireless sensor networks that are unconnected most of the times; we refer to them as delay-tolerant wireless sensor networks (DTWSN). These networks inherit their characteristics from both delay tolerant networks (DTN) and traditional wireless sensor networks. After introducing DTWSNs, three main problems in the design space of these networks are discussed: routing, data gathering, and neighbor discovery. A general protocol is proposed for DTWSNs based on opportunistic broadcasting in delay-tolerant networks with radio device on-off periods. Three performance measures are defined in the study: the energy for sending queries to ask for data from possible neighbors (querying energy), data transfer energy, and absorption time (delay). A simple yet accurate approximation for the data-transfer energy is proposed. An analytic model is provided to evaluate the querying energy per contact (epc). Simulation results for the data propagation delay show that the querying energy per contact measure obtained from the analytic model is proportional to the product of the querying energy and the delay. A practical rule of thumb for an optimal query interval in terms of delay and energy is derived from different parts of the study.     

Will musculoskeletal and visual stress change when Visual Display Unit (VDU) operators move from small offices to an ergonomically optimized office landscape?

This study investigated the effect of moving from small offices to a landscape environment for 19 Visual Display Unit (VDU) operators at Alcatel Denmark AS. The operators reported significantly improved lighting condition and glare situation. Further, visual discomfort was also significantly reduced on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). There was no significant correlation between lighting condition and visual discomfort neither in the small offices nor in the office landscape. However, visual discomfort correlated significantly with glare in small offices i.e. more glare is related to more visual discomfort. This correlation disappeared after the lighting system in the office landscape had been improved. There was also a significant correlation between glare and itching of the eyes as well as blurred vision in the small offices, i.e. more glare more visual symptoms. Experience of pain was found to reduce the subjective assessment of work capacity during VDU tasks. There was a significant correlation between visual discomfort and reduced work capacity in small offices and in the office landscape. When moving from the small offices to the office landscape, there was a significant reduction in headache as well as back pain. No significant changes in pain intensity in the neck, shoulder, forearm, and wrist/hand were observed.The pain levels in different body areas were significantly correlated with subjective assessment of reduced work capacity in small offices and in the office landscape.By careful design and construction of an office landscape with regard to lighting and visual conditions, transfer from small offices may be acceptable from a visual-ergonomic point of view.