6,228 research outputs found
Four and a half LIM protein 1C (FHL1C)
No full textFour-and-a-half LIM domain protein 1 isoform A (FHL1A) is predominantly expressed in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Mutations in the FHL1 gene are causative for several types of hereditary myopathies including X-linked myopathy with postural muscle atrophy (XMPMA). We here studied myoblasts from XMPMA patients. We found that functional FHL1A protein is completely absent in patient myoblasts. In parallel, expression of FHL1C is either unaffected or increased. Furthermore, a decreased proliferation rate of XMPMA myoblasts compared to controls was observed but an increased number of XMPMA myoblasts was found in the G(0)/G(1) phase. Furthermore, low expression of K(v1.5), a voltage-gated potassium channel known to alter myoblast proliferation during the G(1) phase and to control repolarization of action potential, was detected. In order to substantiate a possible relation between K(v1.5) and FHL1C, a pull-down assay was performed. A physical and direct interaction of both proteins was observed in vitro. In addition, confocal microscopy revealed substantial colocalization of FHL1C and K(v1.5) within atrial cells, supporting a possible interaction between both proteins in vivo. Two-electrode voltage clamp experiments demonstrated that coexpression of K(v1.5) with FHL1C in Xenopus laevis oocytes markedly reduced K(+) currents when compared to oocytes expressing K(v1.5) only. We here present the first evidence on a biological relevance of FHL1C
Loss of Tpm4.1 leads to disruption of cell-cell adhesions and invasive behavior in breast epithelial cells via increased Rac1 signaling
No full textHere we report the identification and characterization of a novel high molecular weight isoform of tropomyosin, Tpm4.1, expressed from the human TPM4 gene. Tpm4.1 expression is down-regulated in a subset of breast cancer cells compared with untransformed MCF10A breast epithelial cells and in highly metastatic breast cancer cell lines derived from poorly metastatic MDA-MD-231 cells. In addition, patients with invasive ductal breast carcinoma show decreased TPM4 expression compared with patients with ductal breast carcinoma in situ, and low TPM4 expression is associated with poor prognosis. Loss of Tpm4.1 using siRNA in MCF10A cells increases cell migration in wound-healing and Boyden chamber assays and invasion out of spheroids as well as disruption of cell-cell adhesions. Down-regulation of Tpm4.1 in MDA-MB-231 cells leads to disruption of actin organization and increased cell invasion and dissemination from spheroids into collagen gels. The down-regulation of Tpm4.1 induces Rac1-mediated alteration of myosin IIB localization, and pharmacologic inhibition of Rac1 or down-regulation of myosin IIB using siRNA inhibits the invasive phenotypes in MCF10A cells. Thus Tpm4.1 plays an important role in blocking invasive behaviors through Rac1-myosin IIB signaling and our findings suggest that decreased expression of Tpm4.1 might play a crucial role during tumor progression.
The critical power function is dependent on the duration of the predictive exercise tests chosen
No full textThe linear relationship between work accomplished (W(lim)) and time to exhaustion (t(lim)) can be described by the equation: W(lim) = a + CP x t(lim). Critical power (CP) is the slope of this line and is thought to represent a maximum rate of ATP synthesis without exhaustion, presumably an inherent characteristic of the aerobic energy system. The present investigation determined whether the choice of predictive tests would elicit significant differences in the estimated CP. Ten female physical education students completed, in random order and on consecutive days, five all-out predictive tests at preselected constant-power outputs. Predictive tests were performed on an electrically-braked cycle ergometer and power loadings were individually chosen so as to induce fatigue within approximately 1-10 mins. CP was derived by fitting the linear W(lim)-t(lim) regression and calculated three ways: 1) using the first, third and fifth W(lim)-t(lim) coordinates (I135), 2) using coordinates from the three highest power outputs (I123; mean t(lim) = 68-193 s) and 3) using coordinates from the lowest power outputs (I345; mean t(lim) = 193-485 s). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that CPI123 (201.0+/-37.9W) > CPI135 (176.1+/-27.6W) > CPI345 (164.0+/-22.8W) (P<0.05). When the three sets of data were used to fit the hyperbolic Power-t(lim) regression, statistically significant differences between each CP were also found (P<0.05). The shorter the predictive trials, the greater the slope of the W(lim)-t(lim) regression; possibly because of the greater influence of 'aerobic inertia' on these trials. This may explain why CP has failed to represent a maximal, sustainable work rate. The present findings suggest that if CP is to represent the highest power output that an individual can maintain "for a very long time without fatigue" then CP should be calculated over a range of predictive tests in which the influence of aerobic inertia is minimised
Fig. 4. Topology within Peropteryx from a in A New Species of Peropteryx (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae) from Western Amazonia with Comments on Phylogenetic Relationships within the Genus
No full textFig. 4. Topology within Peropteryx from a phylogenetic analysis of Emballonuridae (Lim, 2009). The tree is a Bayesian analysis of combined genes representing each of the four genetic transmission systems in mammals. First number along the branch is the Bayesian posterior probability percentage and the second number is the bootstrap percentage from a parsimony analysis. There are two populations of P. macrotis from Central America (CA) and South America (SA).Published as part of Lim, Burton K., Engstrom, Mark D., Reid, Fiona A., Simmons, Nancy B., Voss, Robert S. & Fleck, David W., 2010, A New Species of Peropteryx (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae) from Western Amazonia with Comments on Phylogenetic Relationships within the Genus, pp. 1-20 in American Museum Novitates 3686 on page 16, DOI: 10.1206/691.1, http://zenodo.org/record/473552
High-frequency isolated ac-dc converter with stacked architecture
No full textThis paper presents a new isolated ac-dc power converter achieving both high power factor and converter miniaturization suitable for many low power ac-dc applications. The proposed ac-dc converter architecture comprises a line-frequency rectifier, a stack of capacitors, a set of regulating converters, and a multi-input isolated bus converter. Among many suitable circuit implementations, the prototype system utilizes the resonant-transition buck converter as a regulating converter, and the capacitively-aided isolated bus converter for the isolated bus converter. The converter is miniaturized by operating at high frequency (1–10 MHz range), and it buffers the ac-line frequency energy with a pair of stacked ceramic capacitors (1 μΕ and 150 μΕ, 100 V rating) without a requirement for electrolytic capacitors. The prototype converter is implemented to operate from 120 Vac to 12 V, and up to 50 W output as an example isolated ac-dc converter for power supply applications. The prototype converter demonstrates with 88 % efficiency and 0.86 power factor, and provides 50 W/in3 power density, which is five times higher than the power density of typical conventional designs.Texas Instruments Incorporate
Supplemental Material, 918708_supp_mat - Associations between diabetes and sex with peritoneal dialysis technique and patient survival: Results from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry cohort study
No full textSupplemental Material, 918708_supp_mat for Associations between diabetes and sex with peritoneal dialysis technique and patient survival: Results from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry cohort study by Jenny HC Chen, David W Johnson, Germaine Wong, Neil Boudville, Monique Borlace, Rachael Walker, Carmel Hawley, Stephen McDonald and Wai H Lim in Peritoneal Dialysis International</p
Men and Women
No full textTwo black and white prints. Image 1 photographer: Frank Boase, 42 Sheffield St, Malvern SA.IMAGE 1 -Standing: Lim Cheng Sang, Yeo Kim Seok, Henry Chan (president), David Phanchet, Willie Ooi, Lim Whye Geok
Seated: Low Koon Lui, Selana Lam, Olena Pankiw, Shirley Au-Yong (vice capt), Eddie Kok (capt), Khoo Beng Choo, Winnifred Williams, May Kuan
IMAGE 2 - FROM BACK: S Phanchett, K S Yeo, C S Lim, Miss W Williams, H W T CHan, Miss K L Lau, W G Lim, W Ooi, Miss M Kwan, Miss B C Khoo, Miss S Au-Yong, E O T Kok, Miss O Pankiw, Miss S Lam
Which Canadian Seniors Are Below the Low-Income Measure?
No full textAbout 6% of seniors in Canada have family incomes below the Low-Income Measure. (The Low-Income Measure is 50% of the median family income, adjusted for family size, and is a commonly used, if arbitrary, operational definition of relative poverty.) This is a low rate by international standards, in sharp contrast to the high rate in Canada about 35 years ago. It is lower than the comparable rates for the general Canadian population or for families with children and more Canadians leave below-LIM status during their retirement years than enter it. Canadian income tax data show that the remaining 6% are disproportionately immigrant, female, currently unmarried and supporting dependent children (possibly grandchildren). Age does not appear to be of great importance.relative poverty, Canadian income distribution, pension adequacy
Assessing Atmospheric Response to Surface Forcing in the Observations. Part II: Cross Validation of Seasonal Response Using GEFA and LIM
No full textThe authors compared the assessment of the seasonal cycle of the atmospheric response to surface forcing in three statistical methods, generalized equilibrium feedback analysis (GEFA), linear inverse modeling (LIM), and fluctuation-dissipation theorem (FDT). These methods are applied to both a conceptual climate model and the observation. It is found that LIM and GEFA are able to reproduce the major features of the seasonal response consistently, whereas FDT tends to generate a bias of the phase of the seasonal cycle. The success of LIM and GEFA for the assessment of the seasonal response is due to the slowly varying nature of the annual cycle relative to the atmospheric response time. Therefore, the authors recommend GEFA and LIM as two independent methods for the assessment of the seasonal atmospheric response in the observation.http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000309653800023&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701Meteorology & Atmospheric SciencesSCI(E)EI5ARTICLE196817-68342
Optimizing the pumping configuration for the power scaling of in-band pumped erbium doped fiber amplifiers
No full textA highly efficient (~80%), high power (18.45 W) in-band, core pumped erbium/ytterbium co-doped fiber laser is demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest reported efficiency from an in-band pumped 1.5 µm fiber laser operating in the tens of watts regime. Using a fitted simulation model, we show that the significantly sub-quantum limit conversion efficiency of in-band pumped erbium doped fiber amplifiers observed experimentally can be explained by concentration quenching. We then numerically study and experimentally validate the optimum pumping configuration for power scaling of in-band, cladding pumped erbium doped fiber amplifiers. Our simulation results indicate that a ~77% power conversion efficiency with high output power should be possible through cladding pumping of current commercially available pure Erbium doped active fibers providing the loss experienced by the cladding guided 1535 nm pump due to the coating absorption can be reduced to an acceptable level by better coating material choice. The power conversion efficiency has the potential to exceed 90% if concentration quenching of erbium ions can be reduced via improvements in fiber design and fabrication
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