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Apolipoproteins govern lipoprotein metabolism and are promising biomarkers of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Unlike immunoassays, MS enables the quantification and phenotyping of multiple apolipoproteins. Hence, here, we aimed to develop a LC-MS/MS assay that can simultaneously quantitate 18 human apolipoproteins [A-I, A-II, A-IV, A-V, B48, B100, C-I, C-II, C-III, C-IV, D, E, F, H, J, L1, M, and (a)] and determined apoE, apoL1, and apo(a) phenotypes in human plasma and serum samples. The plasma and serum apolipoproteins were trypsin digested through an optimized procedure and peptides were extracted and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The method was validated according to standard guidelines in samples spiked with known peptide amounts. The LC-MS/MS results were compared with those obtained with other techniques, and reproducibility, dilution effects, and stabilities were also assessed. Peptide markers were successfully selected for targeted apolipoprotein quantification and phenotyping. After optimization, the assay was validated for linearity, lower limits of quantification, accuracy (biases: –14.8% to 12.1%), intra-assay variability [coefficients of variation (CVs): 1.5–14.2%], and inter-assay repeatability (CVs: 4.1–14.3%). Bland-Altman plots indicated no major statistically significant differences between LC-MS/MS and other techniques. The LC-MS/MS results were reproducible over five repeated experiments (CVs: 1.8–13.7%), and we identified marked differences among the plasma and serum samples. The LC-MS/MS assay developed here is rapid, requires only small sampling volumes, and incurs reasonable costs, thus making it amenable for a wide range of studies of apolipoprotein metabolism. We also highlight how this assay can be implemented in laboratories.

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•A multidisciplinary research which explores a new path for adaptation of transportation.•This work investigates new fuels to produce high levels of temperature.•The expected impacts are compliant with carbon-free mobility.•Metal particles may be envisaged as a future carbon-free energy vector.•A cycle production/recycling makes it possible to store energy from renewables.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a critical modulator of cholesterol homeostasis. Whereas PCSK9 gain-of-function (GOF) mutations are associated with autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia (ADH) and premature atherosclerosis, PCSK9 loss-of-function (LOF) mutations have a cardio-protective effect and in some cases can lead to familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL). However, limitations of the currently available cellular models preclude deciphering the consequences of PCSK9 mutation further. We aimed to validate urine-sample-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (UhiPSCs) as an appropriate tool to model PCSK9-mediated ADH and FHBL. To achieve our goal, urine-sample-derived somatic cells were reprogrammed into hiPSCs by using episomal vectors. UhiPSC were efficiently differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs). Compared to control cells, cells originally derived from an individual with ADH (HLC-S127R) secreted less PCSK9 in the media (−38.5%; P=0.038) and had a 71% decrease (P<0.001) of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake, whereas cells originally derived from an individual with FHBL (HLC-R104C/V114A) displayed a strong decrease in PCSK9 secretion (−89.7%; P<0.001) and had a 106% increase (P=0.0104) of LDL uptake. Pravastatin treatment significantly enhanced LDL receptor (LDLR) and PCSK9 mRNA gene expression, as well as PCSK9 secretion and LDL uptake in both control and S127R HLCs. Pravastatin treatment of multiple clones led to an average increase of LDL uptake of 2.19±0.77-fold in HLC-S127R compared to 1.38±0.49 fold in control HLCs (P<0.01), in line with the good response to statin treatment of individuals carrying the S127R mutation (mean LDL cholesterol reduction=60.4%, n=5). In conclusion, urine samples provide an attractive and convenient source of somatic cells for reprogramming and hepatocyte differentiation, but also a powerful tool to further decipher PCSK9 mutations and function.

During a survey of the helminth parasites of the introduced toad, Bufo marinus, on O'ahu, Hawaii, an acanthocephalan corresponding to Acanthocephalus bufonis(Shipley, 1903) was found in the intestinal tract. This is a new host and locality record for A. bufoniswhich has only previously been recorded from amphibians in the Orient. Possible mechanisms for the introduction of A. bufonisto Hawaii, and its transmission to the toad, are discussed. Almost 98 % of toads were infected with a mean intensity of 28.6 acanthocephalans per infected toad. There was a significant negative correlation between host length and intensity of infection with subadult toads having significantly higher infection levels than adult male and female toads. Trunk length of both male and female acanthocephalans was significantly related to host length.

Heterosentis hirsutusn. sp. is described from Cnidoglanis macrocephala(Siluriformes: Plotosidae) from the Swan Estuary, Western Australia. It is distinguished by having 14 longitudinal rows of 6-7 hooks per row on the proboscis, a trunk armed anteriorly and posteriorly (=genital spines) with minute spines and lemnisci that may extend to the posterior margin of the proboscis receptacle. The new species also has prominent fragmented nuclei in its ttunk wall. New information is given for Heterosentis plotosiYamaguti, 1935 from Plotosus lineatus(Siluriformes: Plotosidae) and H. paraplagusiarum(Nickol, 1972) Amin, 1985 from Paraplagusia guttata(Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae), both from Queensland. A key to the species of HeterosentisVan Cleave, 1931 is provided. The Arhythmacanthidae subfamilies are reviewed: there is little utility in the recognition of these taxa because of the small number of genera involved and the validity of the characters on which they are based is in doubt, particularly whether ttunk spines are present or absent. Only AcanthocephaloidesMeyer, 1932, BreizacanthusGolvan, 1969, EuzetacanthusGolvan & Houin, 1964, Heterosentis, HypoechinorhynchusYamaguti, 1939 and Paracanthocephaloides Golvan, 1969 of the Arhythmacanthidae are considered valid. A key to these genera is provided. The monotypic genus NeoacanthocephaloidesCable & Quick, 1954 is considered a new synonym of Acanthocephaloidesthus creating Acanthocephaloides spinicaudatus(Cable & Quick, 1954) n. comb. ArhythmacanthusYamaguti, 1935 is maintained as a synonym of Heterosentisbecause the distinction between two and three hook types is made equivocal when the transition between the apical and subapical hooks is gradual.

In continuity with the work of the authors, a Taylor discontinuous Galerkin method is introduced to solve the thermal problem in the context of the 3D mold filling by viscous incompressible fluid. This numerical scheme is designed to deal with the physical phenomena of shear and temperature dependent viscosity, viscous heat generation and heat transfer by conduction and convection. A mixed temperature/heat flux formulation is introduced which enables to capture high temperature gradients without any polluting oscillations of the solution. The temperature and the heat flux are interpolated by a constant per element (P0 element) and an explicit solution based on the recursive time derivation of the equations is described. This approach aims to simulate non-isothermal flows of viscous fluid with moving free surfaces and more particularly the injection molding process involving thermal shocks at the interface between the cold mold wall and the hot polymer. The extension of the method in the context of the mold filling problem is given and several examples are proposed. The thermal solver is coupled to the mechanical solver which is based on a first order mixed finite element method for the kinematic and the solution of a transport equation for the flow front motion description. The proposed 3D technic is validated with known solutions and it is compared to 2D calculation obtained by different approaches.

Abstract: The active to passive transition in the oxidation of sintered α-SiC has been determined by a thermodynamic approach and then experimentally under flowing air at high temperatures (1673–1973 K) and low pressures (oxygen partial pressure from 200–2100 Pa). Then, the physico-chemical behaviour of samples was compared for two different environments such as air-plasma atmosphere generated by microwaves, and a molecular atmosphere. The thermodynamic calculation does not predict any variation of the oxidation transition when changing the chemical state of oxygen (O2 or O) but experimentally the domain characterized by the formation of a passive layer of silica is extended to lower pressure under atomic oxygen (for the same temperature range) than in the case of molecular oxygen.