Absolute Mass Research Articles

Neutrino Mass Measurements Using Cryogenic Detectors

The determination of the absolute mass scale of neutrinos is one of the most important challenges in Particle Physics. The shape of the endpoint region of beta ^--decay and electron capture (EC) spectra depends on the phase space factor, which, in turn, is function of the masses of the neutrino mass eigenstates. High energy resolution and high statistics measurements of beta ^- and EC spectra are therefore considered a model-independent way for the determination of the neutrino mass scale. Since almost four decades, low temperature microcalorimeters are used for the measurement of low energy beta ^- and EC spectra. The first efforts were focused on the development of large arrays for the measurement of the ^{187}Re beta ^--spectrum. In the last ten years, the attention moved to EC of ^{163}Ho. This choice was mainly motivated by the very good performance which could be achieved with low temperature microcalorimeters enclosing ^{163}Ho with respect to microcalorimeters with absorber containing ^{187}Re. The development of low temperature microcalorimeters for the measurement of the finite neutrino mass is discussed and, in particular, the reasons for moving from ^{187}Re to ^{163}Ho. The possibility to reach sub-eV sensitivity on the effective electron neutrino mass with ^{163}Ho, thanks to the multiplexing of large microcalorimeter arrays is demonstrated. In conclusion, an overview on other nuclides which have been proposed as good candidates, motivated by the excellent performance of low temperature microcalorimeters is presented.

Probing the Neutrino-Mass Scale with the KATRIN Experiment

The absolute mass scale of neutrinos is an intriguing open question in contemporary physics. The as-yet-unknown mass of the lightest and, at the same time, most abundant massive elementary particle species bears fundamental relevance to theoretical particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. The most model-independent experimental approach consists of precision measurements of the kinematics of weak decays, notably tritium β decay. With the KATRIN experiment, this direct neutrino-mass measurement has entered the sub-eV domain, recently pushing the upper limit on the electron-based neutrino mass down to 0.8 eV (90% CL) on the basis of first-year data out of ongoing, multiyear operations. Here, we review the experimental apparatus of KATRIN, the progress of data taking, and initial results. While KATRIN is heading toward the target sensitivity of 0.2 eV, other scientific goals are pursued. We discuss the search for light sterile neutrinos and an outlook on future keV-scale sterile-neutrino searches as well as further physics opportunities beyond the Standard Model.

(Digital Presentation) Realistic Molecular Dynamics Modeling of ssDNA/SWCNT Hybrids

Despite the importance of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) coated with short oligos of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), the structure-specific interactions in these hybrids remain poorly understood. It is known that the interactions can depend on the DNA base sequence and length, and on the nanotube diameter and roll-up angle. To study these phenomena, we are applying a combination of computational and experimental methods. A major goal for guiding and validating molecular dynamics simulations of the hybrid structures is finding the average length of nanotube covered by each ssDNA oligo. We have quantified this by carefully preparing dialyzed aqueous dispersions of SWCNTs in specific oligos and then measuring the absolute mass concentrations of both components using total organic carbon analysis. Corresponding absorption spectra were also measured to deduce ultraviolet SWCNT molar absorptivities (structurally averaged), which in combination with known ssDNA nucleobase absorptivities allow quicker determinations of mass ratios in the hybrids. Our results for a library of hybrids indicate that purine nucleobases on average cover a larger region on the nanotube surface than do pyrimidine nucleobases, as is consistent with the sizes of those aromatic structures. This average coverage is key to developing realistic atomistic molecular dynamics models for the conformations of ssDNA adsorbed on SWCNT sidewalls. Examples of such computed hybrid structures and their significance will be presented.

Monitoring of Anthropogenic Sediment Plumes in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, NE Equatorial Pacific Ocean

The abyssal seafloor in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the NE Pacific hosts the largest abundance of polymetallic nodules in the deep sea and is being targeted as an area for potential deep-sea mining. During nodule mining, seafloor sediment will be brought into suspension by mining equipment, resulting in the formation of sediment plumes, which will affect benthic and pelagic life not naturally adapted to any major sediment transport and deposition events. To improve our understanding of sediment plume dispersion and to support the development of plume dispersion models in this specific deep-sea area, we conducted a small-scale, 12-hour disturbance experiment in the German exploration contract area in the CCZ using a chain dredge. Sediment plume dispersion and deposition was monitored using an array of optical and acoustic turbidity sensors and current meters placed on platforms on the seafloor, and by visual inspection of the seafloor before and after dredge deployment. We found that seafloor imagery could be used to qualitatively visualise the redeposited sediment up to a distance of 100 m from the source, and that sensors recording optical and acoustic backscatter are sensitive and adequate tools to monitor the horizontal and vertical dispersion of the generated sediment plume. Optical backscatter signals could be converted into absolute mass concentration of suspended sediment to provide quantitative data on sediment dispersion. Vertical profiles of acoustic backscatter recorded by current profilers provided qualitative insight into the vertical extent of the sediment plume. Our monitoring setup proved to be very useful for the monitoring of this small-scale experiment and can be seen as an exemplary strategy for monitoring studies of future, upscaled mining trials. We recommend that such larger trials include the use of AUVs for repeated seafloor imaging and water column plume mapping (optical and acoustical), as well as the use of in-situ particle size sensors and/or particle cameras to better constrain the effect of suspended particle aggregation on optical and acoustic backscatter signals.

Absolute mass calibration of fission product distributions measured with the E-[formula omitted] method

The mass calibration of fission product distributions measured with the energy–velocity (E-υ) method constitutes a technical challenge. The energy loss of the fission fragments in the various dead layers of the spectrometer and other sources of pulse-height defects of the energy detectors are a significant source of systematic uncertainty in the mass calculations used to determine the measured fission product yields. In this study, the absolute calibration of the fission mass distributions is accomplished by measuring prompt γ-rays in coincidence with the fission fragments. This allows for the direct calibration of the mass spectra and eliminates any dependence on potentially complicated energy corrections. The first test measurement was performed at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center employing the SPectrometer for Ion DEtermination in fission Research (SPIDER). SPIDER is a 2E-2υ spectrometer designed for measuring independent fission product yields from neutron-induced fission. In this test, the single-arm SPIDER (E-υ) system and an array of 252Cf sources were used. The single-arm system consisted of two time pick-off detectors for measuring the time-of-flight of the fission fragments and a double-sided silicon strip detector (DSSD) for measuring the kinetic energy. Characteristic γ-rays from fission fragments were detected using three high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. For the mass calibration, γ–mass coincidence events from twelve product isotopes were used. The measured FPYs from 252Cf spontaneous fission were found to be in excellent agreement with the evaluated data after applying the absolute mass calibration. From the γ–mass coincidence events, the mass resolution of the system was also extracted. An average mass resolution of ∼1.4 AMU (FWHM) for the light fragments and ∼2.4 AMU (FWHM) for the heavy fragments were found. This was the first in-situ calibration and characterization of the SPIDER spectrometer, which paves the way for high-quality FPY measurements with this instrument.

Testing the Role of Environmental Harshness and Sexual Selection in Limb Muscle Mass in Anurans

Sexual dimorphism is regarded as the consequence of differential responses by males and females to selection pressures. Limb muscle plays a very important role during amplexus, which is likely to be under both natural and sexual selection in anurans. Here, we studied the effects of natural and sexual selection on limb muscle mass in males and females across 64 species of anurans. The results showed that there were non-significant differences in relative limb muscle mass between the sexes among species, exhibiting no sexual dimorphism in limb muscle. Absolute and relative limb muscle mass positively displayed correlations with snout-vent length (SVL)for both sexes. However, neither male-biased operational sex ratio (OSR) nor environmental harshness [e.g., coefficient of variation (CV) in temperature and CV in rainfall] can explain relative limb muscle mass (e.g., forelimb, hindlimb, and total limb muscle) within each sex. The findings suggest that environmental harshness and sexual selection cannot play important roles in promoting variations in limb muscle among anuran species.

Toward deconstructing the simplest seesaw mechanism

The triplet or type-II seesaw mechanism is the simplest way to endow neutrinos with mass in the Standard Model (SM). Here we review its associated theory and phenomenology, including restrictions from $S$, $T$, $U$ parameters, neutrino experiments, charged lepton flavour violations as well as collider searches. We also examine restrictions coming from requiring consistency of electroweak symmetry breaking, i.e. perturbative unitarity and stability of the vacuum. Finally, we discuss novel effects associated to the scalar mediator of neutrino mass generation namely, (i) rare processes, e.g. $l_\alpha \to l_\beta \gamma$ decays, at the intensity frontier, and also (ii) four-lepton signatures in colliders at the high-energy frontier. These can be used to probe neutrino properties in an important way, providing a test of the absolute neutrino mass and mass-ordering, as well as of the atmospheric octant. They may also provide the first evidence for charged lepton flavour violation in nature. In contrast, neutrino non-standard interaction strengths are found to lie below current detectability.

Vascular aging in the young: New carotid stiffness centiles and association with general and abdominal obesity – The KIGGS cohort

Background and aimsThe evidence for an association between obesity and increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid stiffness (CS) in the young has been limited by methodological challenges related to study populations, measurements, methods of percentile derivation and comprehensiveness of obesity markers investigated. This nationwide general population study developed new CS and CIMT centiles in the young and used them to study associations with body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height-ratio, bioimpedance-derived absolute and relative fat mass, fat-free mass, subscapular skinfold thickness and blood pressure. MethodsIn its 11-year follow-up, the KiGGS cohort, which is based on a nationally representative sample, included semi-automated state-of-the-art sonographic CIMT and CS measurements in 4,709 participants aged 14 to 28. Distensibility coefficient (DC), stiffness index β, Young's elastic modulus (YEM) and Peterson's elastic modulus (Ep) centiles were modelled by sex, age and height simultaneously. ResultsCS increased with age in both sexes, and young men had stiffer arteries than young women at all ages. All obesity measures at baseline and at follow-up, except for subscapular skinfold thickness, were positively associated with several CS parameters with moderate relative risks (RR), e.g. cross-sectional RR 2.23 (95% CI 1.26–3.93) for DC ≥ 90th percentile when waist circumference ≥90th percentile; RR 5.98 (3.38–10.56) for elevated DC associated with simultaneously elevated waist circumference and BP. ConclusionsThese new state-of-the-art CS percentiles show consistent associations of obesity with CS in the young and support primary prevention efforts starting at a young age.

Вплив солей кадмію на морфометричні показники яєчників щурів в експерименті

The purpose of the study was to experimentally study and compare the morphometric parameters of the ovaries of rats against the background of exposure to chloride and cadmium citrate during 13 or 20 days of gestation. Materials and methods. The study was carried out on 60 adult white female Wistar rats weighing 170–200 g, divided into 3 groups, depending on the intragastric administration of solutions of the studied metals – rats receiving cadmium chloride at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg – Group 1 (n females = 20); cadmium citrate at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg – Group 2 (n females = 20), Group 3 – control (n females = 20) – a proportional volume of sterile saline in the same way. In each experimental group, the females were divided into 2 subgroups of 10 animals each, depending on the duration of the administration of the test substances (13 or 20 days), the possible effect of which on the morphometric parameters of the ovaries was determined by the change in the average absolute and relative weight, volume, specific gravity and number of corpus luteum in the ovaries. Results and discussion. It was established that under the action of cadmium salts (chloride and citrate) the weight indices of rats of the experimental groups decreased by 4.2%-8.9% relative to the control group. In the cadmium chloride exposure group, the indicators of absolute mass, relative mass and volume of the ovaries increased as on the 13th day by 7.1%; 14.4%; 14.6%, and on the 20th day by 9.3%; 15.0%; 5.2% respectively. The same trend was observed in the group of action of cadmium citrate: the listed indicators increased by 3.2% on the 13th day of gestation by 12.0%; 5.63%, and on the 20th day by 3.7%; 5.4%; 13.9%, respectively, which is presumably due to edema and hypertrophy. When analyzing the specific gravity of the ovaries – an integral indicator that reflects the mass, linear dimensions and volume of organs, it was found that on the 13th day of gestation, both under the action of cadmium chloride and cadmium citrate, this indicator decreased by 3.12% (D No.1) and 2.08% (D No.2). On the 20th day of pregnancy in the experimental group No. 1, this indicator decreased by 1.03%, while in the experimental group No. 2 it increased by 2.1%, which indicates the compaction of the organ. The analysis of the obtained results showed that on the 13th day of gestation, the lowest average value of the number of corpus luteum per 1 female was observed in the group exposed to cadmium chloride and amounted to 10.00±0.27, the highest one was in the control group on the 20th day and amounted to 11.00±0.71. Conclusion. The results obtained demonstrate changes in the morphometric parameters of the ovaries of pregnant female rats with intragastric administration of cadmium chloride and cadmium citrate to Wistar rats at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg (in terms of metal), and are expressed in an increase in absolute and relative weight and indicate the toxic effect of the studied substances on the gonads of experimental animals

The outer orbit of the high-mass stellar triple system Herschel 36 determined with the VLTI

ABSTRACT Multiplicity is a ubiquitous characteristic of massive stars. Multiple systems offer us a unique observational constraint on the formation of high-mass systems. Herschel 36 A is a massive triple system composed of a close binary (Ab1-Ab2) and an outer component (Aa). We measured the orbital motion of the outer component of Herschel 36 A using infrared interferometry with the AMBER and PIONIER instruments of ESO’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer. Our immediate aims are to constrain the masses of all components of this system and to determine if the outer orbit is co-planar with the inner one. Reported spectroscopic data for all two components of this system and our interferometric data allow us to derive full orbital solutions for the outer orbit Aa-Ab and the inner orbit Ab1-Ab2. For the first time, we derive the absolute masses of mAa = 22.3 ± 1.7, mAb1 = 20.5 ± 1.5, and mAb2 = 12.5 ± 0.9 M⊙. Despite not being able to resolve the close binary components, we infer the inclination of their orbit by imposing the same parallax as the outer orbit. Inclinations derived from the inner and outer orbits imply a modest difference of about 22° between the orbital planes. We discuss this result and the formation of Herschel 36 A in the context of Core Accretion and Competitive Accretion models, which make different predictions regarding the statistic of the relative orbital inclinations.

Morphology of the adrenal gland blue rock pigeon (Columba livia L.)

The blue rock pigeon (Columba livia L.) is a cosmopolitan, synanthropic or urbanist bird. Its use as a biological model to clarify the features of the structure of organs, systems and devices is incomplete. The adrenal gland plays an important role in the body of birds. Its hormones affect the growth and differentiation of tissues, regulate metabolism, affect the body's resistance to infections, stress, intoxication, low temperatures. The aim of the work was to find out the features of the morphology of the adrenal gland of the blue rock pigeon. Anatomical, histological, morphometric and statistical research methods were used. It was found that in the blue rock pigeon, the adrenal gland is a paired organ located ventrally from the cranial lobe of the kidneys. It has a pale yellow color, elongated-pyramidal or elongated-rounded shape, absolute mass of 0.019 ± 0.001 g. of the linear dimensions of the adrenal gland of the blue rock pigeon, the largest is the length (3.53 ± 0.04 mm), slightly smaller – the width (2.59 ± 0.16 mm), the smallest – the thickness (1.33 ± 0.03 mm). The left adrenal gland is longer and wider than the right adrenal gland. The adrenal parenchyma of the blue rock pigeon is represented by cellular strands of interrenal and suprarenal tissues, which are intertwined with each other. Indicators of their relative area in the peripheral zone (71.50 ± 3.46 and 25.83 ± 3.51 %, respectively), compared with the central zone (71.00 ± 3.50 and 26.17 ± 3.56 %, respectively), do not differ. Cells of the interrenal tissue of the adrenal gland of the blue rock pigeon are columnar or cubic in shape, with an eosinophilic colored cytoplasm and a rounded or oval nucleus, which is placed eccentrically. Relative to the cells of suprarenal tissue, they have a polygonal shape, basophilic cytoplasm, and a rounded, centrally located nucleus. Venous sinuses are registered between the cell strands of interrenal and suprarenal tissues. The wall of the venous sinuses is formed by flat endotheliocytes, in some places sinusoidal hemocapillaries invaginate in it. The relative area of venous sinuses in the peripheral and central zones of the adrenal gland of the blue rock pigeon is almost the same – 2.67 ± 0.33 and 2.83 ± 0.48 %, respectively. Clusters of multipolar neurons and nodes of the autonomic nervous system are recorded in the capsule, parenchyma, or outside the adrenal capsule of the blue rock pigeon. The established features of the macro- and microscopic structure, morphometric indicators of the adrenal gland of the blue rock pigeon can be used to create a base for its normal morphological characteristics, which will make it possible to assess the Morpho-functional state of the adrenal gland of birds of this species under the influence of various factors and pathology.

Expression profiles of protein markers regulating the mitochondrial lifecycle in skeletal muscle of acute spinal cord transected rats

Spinal cord transection (ST) inactivates the neuromuscular complex and triggers progressive muscular atrophy of the affected skeletal muscles. Disruption in neural input also leads to a reduction in mitochondrial volume. The mitochondria lifecycle can be generally divided into processes of biogenesis, expression of OXPHOS proteins, fusion, fission, and mito/autophagy; specifically, the balance between biogenesis vs. mitophagy dictates the rate of formation and destruction, respectively. Here, we examined the expression profiles of the markers associated with the mitochondrial lifecycle up to one month following ST in phenotypically slow (soleus; SOL) and mixed (plantaris; PLT) skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that ST would induce a reduction in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, decrease expression in markers associated with biogenesis, and increased proteins that regulate mito/autophagy. Adult female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (CON; n=6), 1 day (1dST; n=5), 8 day (8dST; n=8), and 28 day post‐ST (28dST; n=8). Compared to CON relative SOL and PLT muscle masses (absolute mass / body mass) were 98, 65, and 62% and 85, 60, and 73% at 1, 8 and 28d post‐ST, respectively (p<0.05). Compared to CON, no significant changes were observed in mtDNA copy number in ST muscles following amplification using standard end‐point PCR protocols for mtDNA (ND1, COX1, or ATP6) and nuclear (β2M) genes (p>0.05). Total protein was isolated from SOL and PLT, separated using standard SDS‐PAGE protocol, and probed for markers associated with various stages of the mitochondrial lifecycle using standard western blot protocols. Upstream markers known to influence mitochondrial lifecycle signaling (Rev‐Erbα, AMPK) showed a varied temporal and muscle‐specific response: in 1dST SOL muscles, Rev‐Erbα increased 74% from CON then decreased 43% at 28dST, whereas 8dST PLT muscle exhibited a 44% increase (p<0.05). In 8dST SOL and PLT muscles, the pAMPK:AMPK ratio was elevated 366 and 85% from CON, respectively (p<0.05). Markers for mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC‐1α, NRF1, NRF2) in SOL and PLT muscles were largely unchanged, although a ~50% decrease in Tfam protein expression was observed at each ST time point compared to CON (p<0.05). Mitofusion2, a marker for mitochondrial fusion, was unchanged (p>0.05). However, for markers detecting mitochondrial fission (MFF, Drp1, Fis1), we observed a ~60% increase in MFF expression in 1dST SOL and PLT muscles (p<0.05). As expected markers for mitophagy (Parkin, PINK, p62, LC3 I/II) were significantly elevated: Parkin increased ~70% at 28dST (p<0.05), whereas LC3 I/II increased 65% and 112% at 1dST in in SOL and PLT muscles, respectively (p<0.05), and remained significantly elevated in PLT muscles at 8dST (27%) and 28d (37%) (p<0.05). Taken together, these data suggest that mitochondrial volume and expression of markers regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion are not influenced by acute ST despite a decrease in muscle mass. However, selective markers for fission and mitophagy are significantly elevated in both SOL and PLT muscles, suggesting that mitochondrial destruction mechanism are activated acutely following ST injury. Lastly, selective proteins of the OXPHOS protein complex significantly increased in 1dST SOL and PLT muscles suggesting possible activity‐dependent regulation of mitochondrial gene expression.

SOMATOMETRIC FEATURES OF THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF YAKUT MEN ACCORDING TO THE REES-EISENCK INDEX

Background. Physical development is one of the generally recognized indicators of health. Scientific research aimed at studying the constitution and composition of the body of the male population using various techniques is an urgent task of modern medicine and human biology.
 The aim of the study was to determine the somatotypological features of the physical development of yakut men according to the Rees-Eisenck index.
 Materials and methods. An anthropometric and bioimpedance examination of 55 men of yakut nationality, the first and second periods of adulthood was conducted. The anthropometric part of the study included the measurement of body length and weight, waist and hip circumference, pelvic diameter and transverse chest diameter. Somatometric indices were calculated: BMI, Rohrer index, the ratio of waist circumference to buttocks. The definition of body types was carried out according to the Rees-Eisenck index. Bioimpedance measurement was carried out using the analyzer of body composition and balance of water sectors of the body ABC – 01 “Medass”. The amounts of relative and absolute fat mass, musculoskeletal mass, lean mass, active cell mass were determined. Statistical processing of the obtained material was carried out by parametric and nonparametric methods using the SPSS 17,0 application software package.
 Results. The predominant body type was the picnic type (76,6%). Comparison of the indicators revealed significantly large values of body weight, BMI, waist and buttock circumference, transverse chest diameter, pelvic diameter and relative fat mass in persons with a picnic body type. Parameters of musculoskeletal mass, lean mass and total hydration of the body in picnics were significantly lower than those of normostenics. Overweight and obesity were significantly more often registered in persons with picnic somatotype.
 Conclusion. Thus, the obtained anthropometric and bioimpedance data allow us to classify men with a picnical type of physique into a risk group for the development of pathology of different body systems.

Deep extragalactic visible legacy survey (DEVILS): the emergence of bulges and decline of disc growth since z = 1

ABSTRACT We present a complete structural analysis of the ellipticals (E), diffuse bulges (dB), compact bulges (cB), and discs (D) within a redshift range 0 < z < 1, and stellar mass log10(M*/M⊙) ≥ 9.5 volume-limited sample drawn from the combined DEVILS and HST-COSMOS region. We use the profit code to profile over ∼35 000 galaxies for which visual classification into single or double component was pre-defined in Paper-I. Over this redshift range, we see a growth in the total stellar mass density (SMD) of a factor of 1.5. At all epochs we find that the dominant structure, contributing to the total SMD, is the disc, and holds a fairly constant share of $\sim 60{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the total SMD from z = 0.8 to z = 0.2, dropping to $\sim 30{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ at z = 0.0 (representing $\sim 33{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ decline in the total disc SMD). Other classes (E, dB, and cB) show steady growth in their numbers and integrated stellar mass densities. By number, the most dramatic change across the full mass range is in the growth of diffuse bulges. In terms of total SMD, the biggest gain is an increase in massive elliptical systems, rising from 20 per cent at z = 0.8 to equal that of discs at z = 0.0 (30 per cent) representing an absolute mass growth of a factor of 2.5. Overall, we see a clear picture of the emergence and growth of all three classes of spheroids over the past 8 Gyr, and infer that in the later half of the Universe’s timeline spheroid-forming processes and pathways (secular evolution, mass-accretion, and mergers) appear to dominate mass transformation over quiescent disc growth.

Erosion of neutron-producing targets at ISIS spallation neutron source

Rates of erosion of neutron-producing targets at the ISIS Spallation Neutron and Muon Source are deduced on the basis of gamma-ray spectrometry. The results suggest that for TS-1 targets erosion rates decrease with time, whereas erosion rates for TS-2 targets increase with time. Absolute masses eroded over typical target lifetimes are several milligrams of tantalum for TS-1 targets, and ∼1 g of tungsten for TS-2 targets.

Influence of the bull genotype on the morphological composition of the carcass

The article presents the results of studying the morphological composition of the carcass of bull-calves of different directions of productivity. The object of the study was bulls of the Red Steppe (I group), Simmental (II group) and Kazakh white-headed breeds (III group). During the control slaughter of three bulls from each group at the age of 18 months, the morphological composition of the right half-carcasses of young animals of each genotype was studied using the VASHNIL, VISH, VNIIMP method. At the same time, the mass of the half-carcass, absolute and relative masses of pulp, muscle and adipose tissue, bones and connective tissue formations were established. The arithmetic mean, the mean square deviation, and the coefficient of variation were determined. Indicators of variation statistics were calculated using the guidelines of N.A. Plokhinsky. The reliability of indicators was determined using Student’s t-test. When studying the morphological composition of the half carcass, it was found that the absolute weight of the pulp in bulls of the red steppe breed was 87.8 kg, relative — 76.4%, young animals of the Simmental breed, respectively, 104.0 kg and 77.6%, animals of the Kazakh whiteheaded breed — 102, 3 kg and 79.2%. The yield of muscle tissue in the bulls of the experimental groups was, respectively, 76.3 kg and 66.4%, 91.5 kg and 68.3%, 90.6 kg and 70.1%,respectively, the output of adipose tissue was 11.5 kg and 10. 0%, 12.5 kg and 9.3%, 11.7 kg and 9.1%, bone yield — 22.9 kg and 19.9%, 24.8 kg and 18.5%, 17.8 kg and 17.8%.

Pep19 Has a Positive Effect on Insulin Sensitivity and Ameliorates Both Hepatic and Adipose Tissue Phenotype of Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Peptide DIIADDEPLT (Pep19) has been previously suggested to improve metabolic parameters, without adverse central nervous system effects, in a murine model of diet-induced obesity. Here, we aimed to further evaluate whether Pep19 oral administration has anti-obesogenic effects, in a well-established high-fat diet-induced obesity model. Male Swiss mice, fed either a standard diet (SD) or high-fat diet (HFD), were orally administrated for 30 consecutive days, once a day, with saline vehicle or Pep19 (1 mg/kg). Next, several metabolic, morphological, and behavioral parameters were evaluated. Oral administration of Pep19 attenuated HFD body-weight gain, reduced in approximately 40% the absolute mass of the endocrine pancreas, and improved the relationship between circulating insulin and peripheral insulin sensitivity. Pep19 treatment of HFD-fed mice attenuated liver inflammation, hepatic fat distribution and accumulation, and lowered plasma alanine aminotransferase activity. The inguinal fat depot from the SD group treated with Pep19 showed multilocular brown-fat-like cells and increased mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), suggesting browning on inguinal white adipose cells. Morphological analysis of brown adipose tissue (BAT) from HFD mice showed the presence of larger white-like unilocular cells, compared to BAT from SD, Pep19-treated SD or HFD mice. Pep19 treatment produced no alterations in mice behavior. Oral administration of Pep19 ameliorates some metabolic traits altered by diet-induced obesity in a Swiss mice model.

Prolonged Endurance Exercise Adaptations Counteract Doxorubicin Chemotherapy-Induced Myotoxicity in Mice

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent chemotherapeutic agent widely used for various types of cancer; however, its accumulation causes myotoxicity and muscle atrophy. Endurance exercise (EXE) has emerged as a vaccine against DOX-induced myotoxicity. However, potential molecular mechanisms of EXE-mediated myocyte protection for the unfavorable muscle phenotype remain unelucidated. In addition, most studies have identified the short-term effects of DOX and EXE interventions, but studies on the prolonged EXE effects used as adjuvant therapy for chronic DOX treatment are lacking. Twelve-week-old adult male C57BL/6J mice were assigned to four groups: sedentary treated with saline (SED-SAL, n = 10), endurance exercise treated saline (EXE-SAL, n = 10), sedentary treated with doxorubicin (SED-DOX, n = 10), and endurance exercise treated with doxorubicin (EXE-DOX, n = 10). Mice were intraperitoneally injected with DOX (5 mg/kg) or saline five times biweekly for eight weeks, while a treadmill running exercise was performed. Body composition was assessed and then soleus muscle tissues were excised for histological and biochemical assays. Our data showed that DOX aggravated body composition, absolute soleus muscle mass, and distinct pathological features; also, TOP2B upregulation was linked to DOX-induced myotoxicity. We also demonstrated that EXE-DOX promoted mitochondrial biogenesis (e.g., citrate synthase). However, no alterations in satellite cell activation and myogenesis factors in response to DOX and EXE interventions were observed. Instead, SED-DOX promoted catabolic signaling cascades (AKT-FOXO3α-MuRF-1 axis), whereas EXE-DOX reversed its catabolic phenomenon. Moreover, EXE-DOX stimulated basal autophagy. We showed that the EXE-mediated catabolic paradigm shift is likely to rescue impaired muscle integrity. Thus, our study suggests that EXE can be recommended as an adjuvant therapy to ameliorate DOX-induced myotoxicity.

Mass effects for thermodiffusion in dilute aqueous solutions.

Thermodiffusion is the phenomenon by which molecules in a mixture present concentration gradients in response to an imposed temperature gradient. Despite decades of investigations, this effect remains poorly understood at a molecular level. A common, phenomenological approach is to individuate the molecular factors that influence the Soret coefficient, the parameter that quantifies the resulting concentration-gradient. Experimental studies, often performed on organic mixtures, as well as simulations of model particle systems have evidenced that the difference in masses between the mixture components has an important effect on the amplitude of the Soret coefficient. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations of a thermophoretic setting to investigate the mass dependence of the Soret coefficient in dilute aqueous solutions. An advantage of simulation approaches is that they are not limited in the range of explored molecular masses, which is often limited to isotopic substitutions in the experiments. Our simulations reveal that the mass dependence of the Soret coefficient in these solutions is in agreement with previous experimental and simulation work on molecular-size systems. In particular, it is sensitive to the relative mass difference between the solute and the solvent, but not to their absolute mass. Adjusting the mass of the solvent and of the solute can turn a thermophobic solution into a thermophilic one, where solute accumulation is reversed. This demonstrates that the mass effect can indeed compensate for the other contributions to the Soret coefficient. Finally, we find that changing the molecular moments of inertia has a much more limited impact as compared to a change in the total molecular mass.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Coated Optical Waveguide for Attogram Sensing.

Ultrahigh sensitivity and selectivity are the ultimate goals of sensor development. For such purposes, we propose a sensing platform in which an optical fiber-waveguide-fiber (OFWF) structure is integrated with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The OFWF works as a highly efficient probe light launcher and signal light collector, and the MIP layer acts as a highly selective and sensitive sensing interface. In the MIP design, a high-molecular refractive index monomer (2-phenylphenoxyethyl acrylate) was copolymerized with a MIP functional monomer (acrylic acid). The resulting high-refractive index MIP layers could effectively extract the probe light from the waveguide and send it to the MIP sensing interface. Moreover, a highly elastic cross-linker (poly(ethylene glycol) 600 diacrylate) was employed to increase the MIP mesh size, which could effectively increase the penetrability of the analyte. Rhodamine B (Rh B) is widely used in the textile industry, and its contamination may lead to serious public health problems. As a proof of concept, the Rh B chromophore was used as a molecular template, and the thin MIP layer was cured on the waveguide surface by utilizing the evanescent wave of the 405 nm propagating light in the waveguide. The MIP-OFWF sensing platform afforded highly selective monitoring of the absorption spectra of the components in a mixture solution of Rh B and methyl blue. It also afforded an extremely low detection limit of approximately 6.5 × 10-17 g/mL, with an absolute mass of 20-30 ag.