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Background Exercise training increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, but its effect on HDL function is unclear. In hypertensives, exercise improves endothelial dysfunction, which is related to HDL function. In the present study, we assess for the first time the effects of different exercise modalities on two cell-free assays of HDL function.Design The study was conducted as a prospective randomized controlled trial in 75 hypertensive patients.Methods Patients were randomized in three groups: (a) handgrip isometric training five times weekly; (b) placebo-handgrip; and (c) aerobic exercise training at least three times per week. HDL function was assessed in serum samples at baseline and after 12 weeks of training by two independent assays that determine the proinflammatory phenotype (haptoglobin content) of a specific amount of HDL (Haptoglobin-HDL [HPHDL]) and oxidized HDL (HDLox) as a measure of reduced antioxidant function of HDL. HDL function measures were normalized by the measures of a pooled control of sera from healthy participants and by HDL-C levels (normalized ratio, no units).Results Aerobic exercise led to significant reduction of the HDLox from 0.99 ± 0.27 to 0.90 ± 0.29 (no units, p= 0.03). The HPHDL did not change in any training group. Changes of HDLox correlated with reduction of the systolic blood pressure only after aerobic exercise (R= 0.64, p= 0.03).Conclusions Aerobic but not isometric exercise improves the antioxidant function of HDL in patients with hypertension. This improvement correlates positively with reductions of blood pressure.

We present a model of the electrical resistivity structure of the lithosphere in the Central Andes between 20° and 24°S from 3‐D inversion of 56 long‐period magnetotelluric sites. Our model shows a complex resistivity structure with significant variability parallel and perpendicular to the trench direction. The continental forearc is characterized mainly by high electrical resistivity (>1,000 Ωm), suggesting overall low volumes of fluids. However, low resistivity zones (LRZs, <5 Ωm) were found in the continental forearc below areas where major trench‐parallel faults systems intersect NW‐SE transverse faults. Forearc LRZs indicate circulation and accumulation of fluids in highly permeable fault zones. The continental crust along the arc shows three distinctive resistivity domains, which coincide with segmentation in the distribution of volcanoes. The northern domain (20°–20.5°S) is characterized by resistivities >1,000 Ωm and the absence of active volcanism, suggesting the presence of a low‐permeability block in the continental crust. The central domain (20.5°–23°S) exhibits a number of LRZs at varying depths, indicating different levels of a magmatic plumbing system. The southern domain (23°–24°S) is characterized by resistivities >1,000 Ωm, suggesting the absence of large magma reservoirs below the volcanic chain at crustal depths. Magma reservoirs located below the base of the crust or in the backarc may fed active volcanism in the southern domain. In the subcontinental mantle, the model exhibits LRZs in the forearc mantle wedge and above clusters of intermediate‐depth seismicity, likely related to fluids produced by serpentinization of the mantle and eclogitization of the slab, respectively. This paper presents a three-dimensional model of the electrical resistivity structure of the Central Andes subduction zone (20°–24°S)Resistivity of the mantle wedge suggests along‐margin variability in the amount of fluids released by eclogitization of the slabResistivity structure below the arc shows distinctive domains that coincide with segmentation in the distribution of active volcanoes

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently in hospitals worldwide, but the therapeutic options are limited. Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects more and more people around the globe. The disease worsens the prognosis of AKI even further. In recent years, cell-based therapies have increasingly been applied in experimental AKI. The aim of the study was to utilize two established autophagy inducers for pharmacological preconditioning of so-called proangiogenic cells (PACs) in PAC treatment of diabetic AKI. Insulin-dependent DM was induced in male C57/Bl6N mice by intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocine. Six weeks later, animals underwent bilateral renal ischemia for 45 min, followed by intravenous injections of either native or zVAD (benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoro-methylketone)- or Z-Leu-Leu-Leu-al (MG132)-pretreated syngeneic murine PACs. Mice were analyzed 48 h (short term) and 6 wk (long term) later, respectively. DM worsened postischemic AKI, and PAC preconditioning with zVAD and MG132 resulted in a further decline of excretory kidney function. Injection of native PACs reduced fibrosis in nondiabetic mice, but cell preconditioning promoted interstitial matrix accumulation significantly. Both substances aggravated endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) under diabetic conditions; these effects occurred either exclusively in the short (zVAD) or in the short and long term (MG132). Preconditioned cells stimulated the autophagocytic flux in intrarenal endothelial cells, and all experimental groups displayed increased endothelial abundances of senescence-associated β-galactosidase, a marker of premature cell senescence. Pharmacological autophagy activation may not serve as an effective strategy for improving PAC competence in diabetic AKI in general. On the contrary, several outcome parameters (excretory function, fibrosis, EndoMT) may even be worsened.

We present a deep electrical resistivity image from the passive continental margin in Namibia. The approximately 700 km long magnetotelluric profile follows the Walvis Ridge offshore, continues onshore across the Kaoko Mobile Belt and reaches onto the Congo Craton. Two‐dimensional inversion reveals moderately resistive material offshore, atypically low for oceanic lithosphere, reaching depths of 15–20 km. Such moderate resistivities are consistent with seismic Pwave velocity models, which suggest up to 35 km thick crust. The Neoproterozoic rocks of the Kaoko Mobile Belt are resistive, but NNW‐striking major shear‐zones are imaged as subvertical, conductive structures in the upper and middle crust. Since the geophysical imprint of the shear zones is intact, opening of the South Atlantic in the Cretaceous did not alter the middle crust. The transition into the cratonic region coincides with a deepening of the high‐resistive material to depths of more than 60 km. Amphibian electrical resistivity section from a passive continental marginWalvis ridge offshore associated with thickened crust with moderate electrical resistivityElectrically conductive Proterozoic Mobile Belt shear zones unaffected by continental break‐up

The motion of tectonic plates is accommodated at fault zones. One of the unanswered questions about fault zones relates to the role they play in controlling shallow and local hydrology. This study focuses on the Arava/Araba Fault (AF) zone, the southern portion of the Dead Sea Transform (DST) in the Middle East. We combine seismic and electromagnetic methods (EM) to image the geometry and map the petro‐physical properties and water occurrence in the top 100 m of this active fault. For three profiles, P‐velocity and resistivity images were derived independently. Using a neural network cluster analysis three classes with similar P‐velocity and resistivities could then be determined from these images. These classes correspond to spatial domains of specific material and wetness. The first class occurs primarily east of the fault consisting of ‐wet‐ sand (dunes) and brecciated sediments, whereas the second class composed of similar material located west of the fault is ‐dry‐. The third class lies at depth below ca. 50 m and is composed of highly deformed and weathered Precambrian rocks that constitute the multi‐branch fault zone of the AF at this location. The combination of two independent measurements like seismics and EM linked by a stringent mathematical approach has thus shown the potential to delineate the interplay of lithology and water near active faults.

We aim to develop an open software system to handle human genome data. The system, called Integrated Genomic Database (IGD), will integrate information from many genomic databases and experimental resources into a comprehensive target-end database (IGD TED). Users will access front-end client systems (IGD FRED) to download data of interest to their computers and merge them with their own local data. FREDs will provide persistent storage of, and instant access to, retrieved data; a friendly graphical interface; tools for querying, browsing, analyzing, and editing local data; interface to external analysis; and tools for communicating with the outside world. The TED will be accessible over the network (online and offline) as a read-only resource for multiple clients. It collects data from major databases for nucleotide and protein sequences and structures, genome maps, experimental reagents, phenotypes, and bibliographic data, and sets of raw data produced at genome centers and laboratories. Beside character-based access via Gopher, WAIS, FTP, and several query language interfaces to the TED, we will develop a specialized front-end client, IGD FRED, with its own database manager, based on the ACEDB program. The FRED will support graphical display methods for sequence feature maps, chromosomal genetic and physical maps, and experimental objects like clone grids, etc. FRED will also provide an interface to important analysis software packages and tools for submitting data to external databases in their own format. Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press

In einer "langsamen", mit Methan gefüllten Wilson-Kammer, die hier beschrieben wird, wird die Streuung von Positronen aus Cu64an Elektronen untersucht. Aus 5000 Aufnahmen mit 2900 m ausgewerteter Positronenbahnlänge wird die Häufigkeit von Stößen mit verschiedener Energieübertragung im Energiebereich 100-400 ekV bestimmt und mit der Theorie von Möller-Bhabha verglichen. Innerhalb der experimentellen Unsicherheit besteht Übereinstimmung zwischen den beobachteten und den berechneten Absolutwerten. Ein Dreierstoß zwischen einem Positron und zwei Elektronen wurde beobachtet.

L’objectif de cette étude était de caractériser la fonction pulmonaire à 3 mois des patients survivants à la réanimation du SARS-CoV-2.

Chez les patients atteints d’une BPCO modérée à sévère, l’adaptation de la ventilation (V′E) lors de l’exercice physique concentrique (CONC) est limitée par une contrainte portant sur l’augmentation du volume courant (Vt). Du fait de son faible coût cardiorespiratoire, l’exercice excentrique (EXC) pourrait être une alternative au CONC chez ces patients. L’objectif de ce travail était de comparer l’adaptation ventilatoire a l’effort entre exercices de pédalage CONC et EXC.Méthodes Treize patients atteints de BPCO modérée a sévère (VEMS : 1,27±0,31L ; 44,5±10,7 %Pred) ont effectué une épreuve d’effort incrémentale CONC maximale et 4 séances de 30minutes de pédalage EXC. Le V′E maximal observé en EXC a été déterminé, et le V′E correspondant en CONC a été obtenu par interpolation linéaire. Plusieurs paramètres (Vt, fréquence respiratoire [FR], consommation d’oxygène [V′O2], quotient respiratoire [QR], fréquence cardiaque [FC], score de dyspnée [Borg]) ont été comparés a iso-V′E en CONC et en EXC.Résultats Le V′E maximum en EXC et le V′E correspondant en CONC étaient respectivement de 26,1±7,9 et 26,1±8,0L.min−1, soit 60,6±21,2 % de la VMM calculée (35×VEMS). Le Vt est plus faible d’environ 12 % en EXC qu’en CONC (981±221 vs. 1098±315mL, respectivement ; p<0,001) et la FR était 18 % plus élevée (27,8±5,2 vs. 23,8±4,0min−1). En revanche, la V′O2, la FC et le score de Borg étaient similaires dans les conditions EXC et CONC (respectivement, 0,81±0,23 vs. 0,83±0,27L ; 97±11 vs. 97±14min−1 et 2,5±2,5 vs. 1,8±1,0).Conclusion Pour la V’E maximale observée lors de l’exercice EXC chez des patients avec une BPCO modérée a sévère, le Vt est plus faible et la FR plus élevée qu’en CONC, comme observé a iso-V′O2/V′E par Lechauve et al. [1]chez des sujets sains. Même si cela ne se traduit pas par un niveau de dyspnée différent, les conséquences de cette hyperpnée lors d’un entraînement EXC dans la BPCO méritent d’être étudiées.

Large‐scale strike‐slip fault zones are often imaged as electrically conductive structures in the brittle crust. However, the relationship of conductivity and internal architecture of the fault zone remains largely unclear. This paper presents results of a study designed to compare the record of structural deformation across a fault zone with its electrical conductivity image. Two high‐resolution magnetotelluric profiles trend perpendicularly across the West fault, a branch of the Precordilleran fault system in northern Chile. The magnetotelluric and geomagnetic response functions in the frequency range from 1000 Hz to 0.1 Hz clearly image a fault zone conductor (FZC) about 350 m wide and 1500 m deep, trending along the surface trace of the fault. The position of the FZC and its geometric properties (width, dip) correlate with a region of intense fluid alteration and the orientation of fault‐related damage elements (minor faults, fractures). According to estimates of fluid salinity and rock porosity, the conductivity anomaly results from meteoric water penetrating into a permeable zone. This suggests that the increase in electrical conductivity is causally related to a mesh of minor faults and fractures, acting as a pathway for fluids. The FZC reflects the central and most fractured part of the damage zone. In view of similar published magnetotelluric studies, we infer a dependency of a fault's state of activity and the characteristics of the FZC such as its conductance, width, and depth extent. Ongoing deformation is the controlling factor for maintaining a permeable and electrically conductive fracture network.