An adeno-associated viral vector transduces the rat hypothalamus and amygdala more efficient than a lentiviral vector

Background  

This study compared the transduction efficiencies of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector, which was pseudotyped with an AAV1 capsid and encoded the green fluorescent protein (GFP), with a lentiviral (LV) vector, which was pseudotyped with a VSV-G envelop and encoded the discosoma red fluorescent protein (dsRed), to investigate which viral vector transduced the lateral hypothalamus or the amygdala more efficiently. The LV-dsRed and AAV1-GFP vector were mixed and injected into the lateral hypothalamus or into the amygdala of adult rats. The titers that were injected were 1 × 10⁸ or 1 × 10⁹ genomic copies of AAV1-GFP and 1 × 10⁵ transducing units of LV-dsRed.     

Nuclear magnetic triple resonance studies on formamide-14N

The magnitudes of the two spin-spin coupling constants J(N¹H …? ¹³C), and all relatives signs of the couplings J(¹H …? ¹H) and J(¹H …? ¹³C) of formamide-¹⁴N, were determined by triple resonance experiments of the types ¹H—{¹³C}—{¹⁴N} and ¹H—{¹H}—{¹⁴N}.     

The effect of topical anesthesia on vocal fold motion

The objective of this study was to determine if topical anesthesia to the larynx and pharynx affects vocal fold motion during dynamic voice evaluation with transnasal flexible endoscopy. Transnasal dynamic laryngeal examinations of 10 patients with no voice complaints were evaluated by five blinded fellowship-trained laryngologists. Each patient was examined before and after application of topical anesthetic. Reviewers rated briskness of right and left vocal fold movement and longitudinal tension on a visual analogue scale. Statistical comparisons were made between individual subject scores before and after anesthetic application. Inter-rater reliability was also assessed. No statistical difference was observed between subject scores before and after anesthetic application. Average intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.643 and 0.591 for pre- and postanesthesia scores, respectively. Application of topical anesthesia to the larynx and pharynx does not affect vocal fold motion.     

Optimization Modeling of Irreversible Carnot Engine from the Perspective of Combining Finite Speed and Finite Time Analysis

An irreversible Carnot cycle engine operating as a closed system is modeled using the Direct Method and the First Law of Thermodynamics for processes with Finite Speed. Several models considering the effect on the engine performance of external and internal irreversibilities expressed as a function of the piston speed are presented. External irreversibilities are due to heat transfer at temperature gradient between the cycle and heat reservoirs, while internal ones are represented by pressure losses due to the finite speed of the piston and friction. Moreover, a method for optimizing the temperature of the cycle fluid with respect to the temperature of source and sink and the piston speed is provided. The optimization results predict distinct maximums for the thermal efficiency and power output, as well as different behavior of the entropy generation per cycle and per time. The results obtained in this optimization, which is based on piston speed, and the Curzon–Ahlborn optimization, which is based on time duration, are compared and are found to differ significantly. Correction have been proposed in order to include internal irreversibility in the externally irreversible Carnot cycle from Curzon–Ahlborn optimization, which would be equivalent to a unification attempt of the two optimization analyses.     

Thermo-physical characterization of some paraffins used as phase change materials for thermal energy storage

Three phase change paraffinic materials (PCMs) were thermophysically (phase-transition temperatures, latent heat, heat capacity at constant pressure, density, and thermal conductivity) investigated in order to be used as latent heat storage media in a pilot plant developed in Plovdiv Bulgaria. Raman structural investigation probes aliphatic character of the E53 sample, while the E46 and ECP samples contain also unsaturated components due to their Raman features within 1,500–1,700 cm^?1 range. Orthorhombic structure of the three PCMs was evidenced by the Raman modes at the 1,417 cm^?1. The highest latent heat value, ΔH, of phase transitions among the three materials was represented by summation of a solid order–disorder, and melting latent heat was encountered by the E53 paraffin, i.e., 194.32 J g^?1 during a μ-DSC scan of 1 °C min^?1. Conversely, the ECP composite containing ceresin component shows the lowest latent heat value of 143.89 J g^?1 and the highest thermal conductivity of 0.46 W m^?1 K^?1 among the three phase change materials (PCMs). More facile melt-disordered solid transition with the activation energy of 525.45 kJ mol^?1 than the lower temperature transition of disorder–order (E _a of 631.73 kJ mol^?1) during the two-step process of solidification for the E53 melt are discussed in terms of structural and molecular motion changes.     

Thermally Stimulated Depolarization Currents and Optical Transmission Studies on UV Cured Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films

Polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal films were obtained using the photopolymerization-induced-phase-separation method. The thermally stimulated depolarization current measurements indicate a space-charge-limited current. Conduction of electronic type was proven and the activation energy, specific to the conduction process, was calculated. Optical measurements have been performed simultaneously with the measurements of thermally stimulated currents and the nematic-isotropic phase transition was detected by the switch of the optical transmission. The change of the optical transmission versus applied a.c. voltage was the indication for the on-off switch behavior, useful in electro-optic applications.     

Neuropeptide delivery to the brain: a von Willebrand factor signal peptide to direct neuropeptide secretion

Background  

Multiple neuropeptides, sometimes with opposing functions, can be produced from one precursor gene. To study the roles of the different neuropeptides encoded by one large precursor we developed a method to overexpress minigenes and establish local secretion.     

Laser processing of ormosils for tissue engineering applications

Hybrid methacrylates based on silane derivates (ormosils) have been considered for applications in electronics, microtechnology, corrosion resistant coatings, dentistry, and biomedical implants. The presence of both inorganic chains, responsible for chemical and thermal stability, hardness, and transparency, and organic groups, which bring new advantages such as the possibility of functionalization and easy, low temperature processing, can result in the appearance of unique properties.