Domain wall dynamics in amorphous and nanocrystalline FeCoMoB microwires

We have studied the domain wall dynamics in amorphous and nanocrystalline FeCoMoB microwires. The domain wall propagation velocity has been found very fast (up to 5000 m/s) for the as-cast sample. Annealing at 575 K/1 h leads to the stress relief and sample homogenization and the domain wall velocity even increases to 5300 m/s. However, the domain wall dynamics is highly sensible to the temperature of a measurement. Annealing at 775 K/1 h leads to the appearance of the nanocrystalline structure with much higher temperature stability. The maximum domain wall velocity decreases (2800 m/s), however the domain wall dynamics is much stable with the temperature.

Analysis of the PKR-eIF2alpha phosphorylation homology domain (PePHD) of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 in HIV-coinfected patients by ultra-deep pyrosequencing and its relationship to responses to pegylated interferon-ribavirin treatment

Chronic coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is among the greatest challenges facing public health worldwide. In this population, the response to hepatitis C therapy by treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN+RBV) is lower than in HCV-monoinfected patients, particularly in those infected by HCV genotype 1. A PKR/eIF-2α phosphorylation homology domain (PePHD) within the E2 protein has been found to interact with PKR and inhibit PKR in vitro, suggesting a possible mechanism for HCV to evade the antiviral effects of IFN. The aim of this work was to analyze the amino acid conservation in the HCV-E2-PePHD and quasispecies diversity among HCV-HIV-coinfected patients exhibiting sustained virological response, non-response, or partial response with viral relapse to PEG-IFN+RBV by ultra-deep pyrosequencing. For this purpose, HCV-E2-PePHD PCR products were generated and sequenced directly for four patients with a sustained response, seven patients with no virological response, and four patients with viral relapse before and after treatment with PEG-IFN+RBV. HCV-E2-PePHD amino acid sequences were obtained for isolates from serum collected before and during treatment (24 h, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks). Quasispecies analysis of the HCV-E2-PePHD and flanking genomic regions was performed using 454/Roche pyrosequencing, analyzing 39,364 sequence reads in total. The HCV-E2-PePHD sequence at the amino acid and nucleotide level was highly conserved among HCV genotype 1 strains, irrespective of the PEG-IFN+RBV response. This high degree of amino acid conservation and sporadic mutations in the HCV-E2-PePHD domain do not appear to be associated with treatment outcome. The HCV-E2-PePHD sequence before or during treatment cannot be used to predict reliably the outcome of treatment in patients coinfected with HCV genotype 1 and HIV.

Adenosine A2A and A2B receptor expression in neuroendocrine tumours: potential targets for therapy

The clinical management of neuroendocrine tumours is complex. Such tumours are highly vascular suggesting tumour-related angiogenesis. Adenosine, released during cellular stress, damage and hypoxia, is a major regulator of angiogenesis. Herein, we describe the expression and function of adenosine receptors (A(1), A(2A), A(2B) and A(3)) in neuroendocrine tumours. Expression of adenosine receptors was investigated in archival human neuroendocrine tumour sections and in two human tumour cell lines, BON-1 (pancreatic) and KRJ-I (intestinal). Their function, with respect to growth and chromogranin A secretion was carried out in vitro. Immunocytochemical data showed that A(2A) and A(2B) receptors were strongly expressed in 15/15 and 13/18 archival tumour sections. Staining for A(1) (4/18) and A(3) (6/18) receptors was either very weak or absent. In vitro data showed that adenosine stimulated a three- to fourfold increase in cAMP levels in BON-1 and KRJ-1 cells. The non-selective adenosine receptor agonist (adenosine-5'N-ethylcarboxamide, NECA) and the A(2A)R agonist (CGS21680) stimulated cell proliferation by up to 20-40% which was attenuated by A(2B) (PSB603 and MRS1754) and A(2A) (SCH442416) receptor selective antagonists but not by the A(1) receptor antagonist (PSB36). Adenosine and NECA stimulated a twofold increase in chromogranin A secretion in BON-1 cells. Our data suggest that neuroendocrine tumours predominantly express A(2A) and A(2B) adenosine receptors; their activation leads to increased proliferation and secretion of chromogranin A. Targeting adenosine signal pathways, specifically inhibition of A(2) receptors, may thus be a useful addition to the therapeutic management of neuroendocrine tumours.

On the mean and variance of the writhe of random polygons

We here address two problems concerning the writhe of random polygons. First, we study the behavior of the mean writhe as a function length. Second, we study the variance of the writhe. Suppose that we are dealing with a set of random polygons with the same length and knot type, which could be the model of some circular DNA with the same topological property. In general, a simple way of detecting chirality of this knot type is to compute the mean writhe of the polygons; if the mean writhe is non-zero then the knot is chiral. How accurate is this method? For example, if for a specific knot type K the mean writhe decreased to zero as the length of the polygons increased, then this method would be limited in the case of long polygons. Furthermore, we conjecture that the sign of the mean writhe is a topological invariant of chiral knots. This sign appears to be the same as that of an "ideal" conformation of the knot. We provide numerical evidence to support these claims, and we propose a new nomenclature of knots based on the sign of their expected writhes. This nomenclature can be of particular interest to applied scientists. The second part of our study focuses on the variance of the writhe, a problem that has not received much attention in the past. In this case, we focused on the equilateral random polygons. We give numerical as well as analytical evidence to show that the variance of the writhe of equilateral random polygons (of length n) behaves as a linear function of the length of the equilateral random polygon.

Preparation and magnetic properties of cylindrical NiFe films and antidot arrays

Continuous NiFe (Permalloy) cylindrical films and arrays of cylindrical NiFe antidots 7 nm thick have been prepared by sputtering onto cylindrical aluminum wires and onto wires anodized to form a porous anodic alumina layer. The antidots are arranged in a close-packed pattern determined by the hexagonal pore arrangement in the porous alumina, with period 103 nm and diameter 42 nm. Hysteresis loops were measured at different angles with respect to the cylinder axis and indicate an easy plane normal to the radius of the wire. The antidots enhance the coercivity compared to the continuous cylindrical film.

Rad21-cohesin haploinsufficiency impedes DNA repair and enhances gastrointestinal radiosensitivity in mice

Approximately half of cancer-affected patients receive radiotherapy (RT). The doses delivered have been determined upon empirical experience based upon average radiation responses. Ideally higher curative radiation doses might be employed in patients with genuinely normal radiation responses and importantly radiation hypersensitive patients would be spared the consequences of excessive tissue damage if they were identified before treatment. Rad21 is an integral subunit of the cohesin complex, which regulates chromosome segregation and DNA damage responses in eukaryotes. We show here, by targeted inactivation of this key cohesin component in mice, that Rad21 is a DNA-damage response gene that markedly affects animal and cell survival. Biallelic deletion of Rad21 results in early embryonic death. Rad21 heterozygous mutant cells are defective in homologous recombination (HR)-mediated gene targeting and sister chromatid exchanges. Rad21+/- animals exhibited sensitivity considerably greater than control littermates when challenged with whole body irradiation (WBI). Importantly, Rad21+/- animals are significantly more sensitive to WBI than Atm heterozygous mutant mice. Since supralethal WBI of mammals most typically leads to death via damage to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) or the haematopoietic system, we determined the functional status of these organs in the irradiated animals. We found evidence for GIT hypersensitivity of the Rad21 mutants and impaired bone marrow stem cell clonogenic regeneration. These data indicate that Rad21 gene dosage is critical for the ionising radiation (IR) response. Rad21 mutant mice thus represent a new mammalian model for understanding the molecular basis of irradiation effects on normal tissues and have important implications in the understanding of acute radiation toxicity in normal tissues.

A performance analysis of echographic ultrasonic techniques for non-invasive temperature estimation in hyperthermia range using phantoms with scatterers

Optimization of efficiency in hyperthermia requires a precise and non-invasive estimation of internal distribution of temperature. Although there are several research trends for ultrasonic temperature estimation, efficient equipments for its use in the clinical practice are not still available. The main objective of this work was to research about the limitations and potential improvements of previously reported signal processing options in order to identify research efforts to facilitate their future clinical use as a thermal estimator. In this document, we have a critical analysis of potential performance of previous ultrasonic research trends for temperature estimation inside materials, using different processing techniques proposed in frequency, time and phase domains. It was carried out in phantom with scatterers, assessing at their specific applicability, linearity and limitations in hyperthermia range. Three complementary evaluation indexes: technique robustness, Mat-lab processing time and temperature resolution, with specific application protocols, were defined and employed for a comparative quantification of the behavior of the techniques. The average increment per degrees C and mm was identified for each technique (3 KHz/ degrees C in the frequency analysis, 0.02 rad/ degrees C in the phase domain, while increments in the time domain of only 1.6 ns/ degrees C were found). Their linearity with temperature rising was measured using linear and quadratic regressions and they were correlated with the obtained data. New improvements in time and frequency signal processing in order to reveal the potential thermal and spatial resolutions of these techniques are proposed and their subsequent improved estimation results are shown for simulated and measured A-scans registers. As an example of these processing novelties, an excellent potential resolution of 0.12 degrees C into hyperthermia range, with near-to-linear frequency dependence, could be achieved. Specifically defined "numerical" and physical multi-scatter phantoms are described, which mimic ultrasound velocity in tissues of about 1560 m/s @ 35 degrees C and have a quasi-uniform internal scattering structure designed to assure standard signal patterns adequate for processing comparisons in the same time and sound velocity conditions for all the techniques analyzed, and to obtain easily repeatable multi-pulse echo-patterns. A perfect lineal dependence (100% of correlation coefficient) between the unitary average increment measured by each technique and temperature rising was observed while working with simulated A-scan registers, where all the parameters are under an accurate control. Nevertheless a very small quadratic tendency appeared in the results obtained from experimental echo registers, which are more similar to a real tissues case. It would be an interesting future work to analyze the behavior of these techniques in real tissues in order to confirm or reject this light quadratic tendency. Finally, new methods were detailed and applied in order to precisely quantify the advantages of each estimation technique; their respective intrinsic limitations were also underlined.

Duplex ultrasound evaluation for dialysis access selection and maintenance: a practical guide

Detailed case directed history and examination is the mainstay of dialysis access modality selection, ie site and type of access, as well as for maintenance of dialysis access for longevity. As a logical step following history and physical examination, duplex ultrasound evaluation (DUE) is the most cost effective and non-invasive screening tool for evaluation for access placement and for assessment of an established access. Pre-operative vascular mapping allows selection of the optimal dialysis access modality and site. In established accesses, duplex ultrasound testing will diagnose the majority of vascular access complications and direct proper surgical or interventional radiology management. This review outlines a practical decision-making algorithm using DUE for choosing and managing the dialysis access.

Objects are highlighted by spatial attention

Selective attention may be focused upon a region of interest within the visual surroundings, thereby improving the perceptual quality of stimuli at that location. It has been debated whether this spatially selective mechanism plays a role in the attentive selection of whole objects in a visual scene. The relationship between spatial and object-selective attention was investigated here through recordings of event-related brain potentials (ERPs) supplemented with functional magnetic brain imaging (fMRI). Subjects viewed a display consisting of two bar-shaped objects and directed attention to sequences of stimuli (brief corner offsets) at one end of one of the bars. Unattended stimuli belonging to the same object as the attended stimuli elicited spatiotemporal patterns of neural activity in the visual cortex closely resembling those elicited by the attended stimuli themselves, albeit smaller in amplitude. This enhanced neural activity associated with object-selective attention was localized by use of ERP dipole modeling and fMRI to the lateral occipital extrastriate cortex. We conclude that object-selective attention shares a common neural mechanism with spatial attention that entails the facilitation of sensory processing of stimuli within the boundaries of an attended object.

Objects Are Highlighted by Spatial Attention

Selective attention may be focused upon a region of interest within the visual surroundings, thereby improving the perceptual quality of stimuli at that location. It has been debated whether this spatially selective mechanism plays a role in the attentive selection of whole objects in a visual scene. The relationship between spatial and object-selective attention was investigated here through recordings of event-related brain potentials (ERPs) supplemented with functional magnetic brain imaging (fMRI). Subjects viewed a display consisting of two bar-shaped objects and directed attention to sequences of stimuli (brief corner offsets) at one end of one of the bars. Unattended stimuli belonging to the same object as the attended stimuli elicited spatiotemporal patterns of neural activity in the visual cortex closely resembling those elicited by the attended stimuli themselves, albeit smaller in amplitude. This enhanced neural activity associated with object-selective attention was localized by use of ERP dipole modeling and fMRI to the lateral occipital extrastriate cortex. We conclude that object-selective attention shares a common neural mechanism with spatial attention that entails the facilitation of sensory processing of stimuli within the boundaries of an attended object.

Fumonisins in foods from Cordoba (Argentina), presence and genotoxicity

Fumonisins B(1), B(2)yB(3) (FB(1), FB(2)yFB(3)), are a group of toxins produced by different mold species, Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum being the most important ones. Its compounds were tested in chromosome aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), and micronucleus (MN) in human lymphocytes, and, in Allium cepa (onion), the chromosomal aberrations (CA) assay was used. Moreover, the presence of fumonisins and their producer moulds was determined in different food substrata in Cordoba city, Argentina. Cytogenetic studies using FB(1), FB(2) and FB(3) levels gave positive results for the higher concentrations (5 and 10mug/g) with FB(1). As regards the cytogenetic aspect of FB(1), we found an increase in the incidence of genetic damage measured by chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchange, micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa. These results indicate that human lymphocytes cells and plants cells (Allium cepa) have a very sensitive cellular response to the mycotoxin fumonisin B(1) as observed at the highest concentrations.

In vivo mammary tumourigenesis in the Sprague-Dawley rat and microdosimetric correlates

Standard methods for risk assessments resulting from human exposures to mixed radiation fields in Space consisting of different particle types and energies rely upon quality factors. These are generally defined as a function of linear energy transfer (LET) and are assumed to be proportional to the risk. In this approach, it is further assumed that the risks for single exposures from each of the radiation types add linearly. Although risks of cancer from acute exposures to photon radiations have been measured in humans, quality factors for protons and ions of heavier atomic mass are generally inferred from animal and/or cellular data. Because only a small amount of data exists for such particles, this group has been examining tumourigenesis initiated by energetic protons and iron ions. In this study, 741 female Sprague-Dawley rats were irradiated or sham irradiated at approximately 60 days of age with 250 MeV protons, 1 GeV/nucleon iron ions or both protons and iron ions. The results suggest that the risk of mammary tumours in the rats sequentially irradiated with 1 GeV/nucleon 56Fe ions and 250 MeV protons is less than additive. These data in conjunction with earlier results further suggest that risk assessments in terms of only mean LETs of the primary cosmic rays may be insufficient to accurately evaluate the relative risks of each type of particle in a radiation field of mixed radiation qualities.

Mice heterozygous for the ATM gene are more sensitive to both X-ray and heavy ion exposure than are wildtypes

Previous studies have shown that the eyes of ATM heterozygous mice exposed to low-LET radiation (X-rays) are significantly more susceptible to the development of cataracts than are those of wildtype mice. The findings, as well as others, run counter to the assumption underpinning current radiation safety guidelines, that individuals are all equally sensitive to the biological effects of radiation. A question, highly relevant to human space activities is whether or not, in similar fashion there may exist a genetic predisposition to high-LET radiation damage. Mice haplodeficient for the ATM gene and wildtypes were exposed to 325 mGy of 1 GeV/amu 56Fe ions at the AGS facility of Brookhaven National Laboratory. The fluence was equivalent to 1 ion per lens epithelial cell nuclear area. Controls consisted of irradiated wildtype as well as unirradiated wildtype and heterozygous mice. Prevalence analyses for stage 0.5-3.0 cataracts indicated that not only cataract onset but also progression were accelerated in the mice haplo-deficient for the ATM gene. The data show that heterozygosity for the ATM gene predisposes the eye to the cataractogenic influence of heavy ions and suggest that ATM heterozygotes in the human population may also be radiosensitive. This may have to be considered in the selection of individuals who will be exposed to both HZE particles and low-LET radiation as they may be predisposed to increased late normal tissue damage.

Chromosome spatial clustering inferred from radiogenic aberrations

PURPOSE

Analysing chromosome aberrations induced by low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation in order to characterize systematic spatial clustering among the 22 human autosomes in human lymphocytes and to compare their relative participation in interchanges.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH) data set, specifying colour junctions in metaphases of human peripheral blood lymphocytes 72 h after in vitro exposure to low LET radiation, was analysed separately and in combination with previously published results. Monte Carlo computer simulations and mathematical modelling guided data analysis.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Statistical tests on aberration data confirmed two clusters of chromosomes, [1, 16, 17, 19, 22] and [13, 14, 15, 21, 22], as having their members being on average closer to each other than randomness would predict. The first set has been reported previously to be near the centre of the interphase nucleus and to be formed mainly by gene-rich chromosomes, while the second set comprises the nucleolus chromosomes. The results suggest a possible interplay between chromosome positioning and transcription. A number of other clusters suggested in the literature were not confirmed and considerable randomness of chromosome-chromosome juxtapositions was present. In addition, and consistent with previous results, it was found that chromosome participation in interchanges is approximately proportional to the two-thirds power of the DNA content.

Effects of heavy ions on visual function and electrophysiology of rodents: the ALTEA-MICE project

ALTEA-MICE will supplement the ALTEA project on astronauts and provide information on the functional visual impairment possibly induced by heavy ions during prolonged operations in microgravity. Goals of ALTEA-MICE are: (1) to investigate the effects of heavy ions on the visual system of normal and mutant mice with retinal defects; (2) to define reliable experimental conditions for space research; and (3) to develop animal models to study the physiological consequences of space travels on humans. Remotely controlled mouse setup, applied electrophysiological recording methods, remote particle monitoring, and experimental procedures were developed and tested. The project has proved feasible under laboratory-controlled conditions comparable in important aspects to those of astronauts' exposure to particle in space. Experiments are performed at the Brookhaven National Laboratories [BNL] (Upton, NY, USA) and the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung mbH [GSI]/Biophysik (Darmstadt, FRG) to identify possible electrophysiological changes and/or activation of protective mechanisms in response to pulsed radiation. Offline data analyses are in progress and observations are still anecdotal. Electrophysiological changes after pulsed radiation are within the limits of spontaneous variability under anesthesia, with only indirect evidence of possible retinal/cortical responses. Immunostaining showed changes (e.g. increased expression of FGF2 protein in the outer nuclear layer) suggesting a retinal stress reaction to high-energy particles of potential relevance in space.

Detection of microlesions induced by heavy ions using liposomes filled with fluorescent dye

In cells irradiation by heavy ions has been hypothesized to produce microlesions, regions of local damage. In cell membranes this damage is thought to manifest itself in the form of holes. The primary evidence for microlesions comes from morphological studies of cell membranes, but this evidence is still controversial, especially since holes also have been observed in membranes of normal, nonirradiated, cells. However, it is possible that damage not associated with histologically discernable disruptions may still occur. In order to resolve this issue, we developed a system for detecting microlesions based on liposomes filled with fluorescent dye. We hypothesized that if microlesions form in these liposomes as the result of irradiation, then the entrapped dye will leak out into the surrounding medium in a measurable way. Polypropylene vials containing suspensions of vesicles composed of either dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, or a combination of egg phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol were irradiated at the Brookhaven National Laboratory using 56Fe ions at 1 GeV/amu. In several cases we obtained a significant loss of the entrapped dye above the background level. Our results suggest that holes may form in liposomes as the result of heavy ion irradiation, and that these holes are large enough to allow leakage of cell internal contents that are at least as large as a 1 nm diameter calcein molecule.

The ALTEA/ALTEINO projects: studying functional effects of microgravity and cosmic radiation

The ALTEA project investigates the risks of functional brain damage induced by particle radiation in space. A modular facility (the ALTEA facility) is being implemented and will be operated in the International Space Station (ISS) to record electrophysiological and behavioral descriptors of brain function and to monitor their time dynamics and correlation with particles and space environment. The focus of the program will be on abnormal visual perceptions (often reported as "light flashes" by astronauts) and the impact on retinal and brain visual structures of particle in microgravity conditions. The facility will be made available to the international scientific community for human neurophysiological, electrophysiological and psychophysics experiments, studies on particle fluxes, and dosimetry. A precursor of ALTEA (the 'Alteino' project) helps set the experimental baseline for the ALTEA experiments, while providing novel information on the radiation environment onboard the ISS and on the brain electrophysiology of the astronauts during orbital flights. Alteino was flown to the ISS on the Soyuz TM34 as part of mission Marco Polo. Controlled ground experiments using mice and accelerator beams complete the experimental strategy of ALTEA. We present here the status of progress of the ALTEA project and preliminary results of the Alteino study on brain dynamics, particle fluxes and abnormal visual perceptions.