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The gene encoding the melatonin-related receptor (GPR50) is highly expressed within hypothalamic nuclei concerned with the control of body weight and metabolism. We screened GPR50 for mutations in an obese cohort and identified an insertion of four amino acid residues (TTGH) at position 501, two common coding polymorphisms (T528A and V602I), and one noncoding polymorphism (C-16X2GPR50T). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms were then typed in 500 English Caucasian subjects, and associations were sought to intermediate obesity phenotypes. Although no association was seen with body mass index, carriers of two copies of the mutant allele at C-16X2GPR50T, Ins501Del, and A1582G had significantly higher fasting circulating triglyceride levels (P < 0.05). In a separate set of 585 subjects, the associations were replicated, with statistically significant effects of similar magnitude and direction. The association of C-16X2GPR50T with fasting triglycerides was highly significant (P < 0.001). In addition, a significant association between C-16X2GPR50T and circulating HDL levels was observed in the combined population, with C-16X2GPR50T carriers having significantly lower circulating HDL-cholesterol levels (1.39 mM) than wild-type subjects (1.47 mM) (P < 0.01). These findings suggest a previously unexpected role for this orphan receptor in the regulation of lipid metabolism that warrants further investigation.

Catcher bearings (CBs) provide backup protection for rotating machines with active magnetic bearings (AMBs). The CBs are required in the event of an AMB failure or high transient loads. Numerical simulations of a rotor drop on CBs in flywheel energy storage system are conducted with a detailed CB model which includes a Hertzian load–deflection relationship between mechanical contacts, speed-and-preload-dependent bearing stiffness due to centrifugal force, and a Palmgren's drag friction torque. The transient simulation results show the rotor shaft response variations with the design parameters: shaft/bearing friction coefficients, axial preload, support damping of damper liner, and side loads from magnetic bearings. The results reveal that friction coefficients, support damping, and side loads are critical parameters to satisfy CB design objectives and prevent backward (super) whirl.

Jet engines may experience severe vibration due to the sudden imbalance caused by blade failure. The current research investigates employment of piezoelectric actuators to suppress this using active vibration control. This requires identification of the source of the vibrations via an expert system, determination of the required phase angles and amplitudes for the correction forces, and application of the desired control signals to the piezoelectric actuators. Correction forces may exceed the physical limitations of the actuators; hence results of “constrained force” quadratic programming, least squares and multi-point correction algorithms will be compared. It is demonstrated that simply scaling down the least squares predicted correction forces to satisfy the actuator saturation constraints does not necessarily yield optimal reductions in vibration. In this paper test results are shown for sudden imbalance, and the computational time requirements and balancing effectiveness for the various approaches are compared.

Congestive heart failure is a potentially debilitating disorder that affects a significant number of patients. The age-adjusted death rate has doubled over the past decade. Patients live an average of 4 to 5 years, and nearly all suffer from fatigue and breathlessness, which limits exercise capacity and produces a poor quality of life. Patients have usually been advised to avoid exercise because of concerns that they would experience a further decline in cardiac function. However, it has been demonstrated that exercise capacity is not related to the degree of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. This has led to the suggestion that peripheral changes in skeletal muscle and blood supply may play a major role in determining the exercise capacity of patients with congestive heart failure. Studies have demonstrated abnormalities of skeletal muscle blood flow, metabolism and structure, all of which are consistent with the impaired performance observed in these patients. Although the effects of exercise training have been examined in only a relatively few number of patients, the results have been promising. Exercise training has been found to improve exercise capacity and reduce symptoms. However, to our knowledge no data exist as to the impact of exercise training on left ventricular function, hospital stay or mortality in this population. Even though the early results are promising, they require confirmation of feasibility, clinical benefit and safety in larger, long-term randomized trials. It should be determined whether training has a long-term beneficial impact on measures more closely related to daily activities and quality of life. Ultimately, it would be important to determine whether training has an impact on mortality and morbidity.

A case of primary Candida endocarditis with massive embolization of mycotic material to the vessels of the legs is presented. Treatment by bilateral femoral embolectomies, early aortic valve replacement by a fresh-frozen stented homograft, and intensive medical therapy with 5-fluorocytosine was successful. Despite an early perivalvular leak requiring valve replacement with another homograft, the patient survived. The Candida growth was controlled with initial treatment. The successful outcome in this patient would seem to strengthen further the case for an early aggressive surgical approach in combination with antifungal therapy.