Search results for "Biophysic"

Data from: Interactive effects between physical forces and ecosystem engineers on seed burial: a case study using Spartina anglica

2015

Seed burial (i.e. vertical seed dispersal) has become increasingly valued for its relevance for seed fate and plant recruitment. While ecosystem engineers have been generally considered as the most important drivers of seed burial, the role of physical forces, such as wind or water flow, has been largely overlooked. Using tidal habitats as a model system, and a combination of flume and mesocosm experiments, we investigated the effects of 1) currents, 2) benthic animals with different engineering activities and 3) their interplay on seed burial of a common salt marsh pioneer plant, Spartina anglica. Our results reveal that in such systems, water flow can be of equal or higher importance than…

Image-based MRI Gradient Estimation

2017

In order to reduce geometric distortion phenomena in MR images, every MRI system main magnet undergoes a shimming process. Since this process aims at optimizing magnetic field homogeneity within a so-called uniformity sphere, image quality outside this sphere is neglected. Since the fields vary smoothly in space, MR signal-to-noise ratio is still non-zero just outside the uniformity region, but correction of MR image distortion fails due to lack of magnetic field knowledge outside it. We propose a novel algorithm for measuring all the fields involved in the generation of images. Our proposal is based on exploitation of the distortion which can be observed in images of a known phantom. The p…

Modelling genetic regulation of growth and form in a branching sponge

2008

We present a mathematical model of the genetic regulation controlling skeletogenesis and the influence of the physical environment on a branching sponge with accretive growth (e.g.Haliclona oculataorLubomirskia baikalensis). From previous work, it is known that high concentrations of silicate induce spicule formation and upregulate thesilicateingene. The upregulation of this gene activates locally the production of spicules in the sponge and the deposition of the skeleton. Furthermore, it is known that the expression of the geneIroquoisinduces the formation of an aquiferous system, consisting of exhalant and inhalant pores. We propose a model of the regulatory network controlling the separa…

The effect of wind on jumping distance in ski jumping depends on jumpers’ aerodynamic characteristics

2022

Several studies have suggested re-evaluation of the wind compensation system (WCS) of the International Ski Federation (FIS). It was introduced in 2009, and since then, the system has been modified considerably, but major shortcomings have still remained. The present study compared the effect of tail/head wind on two reference jumps with different aerodynamic properties (Cd and Cl) during the flight phase. Jump distance and total tangential wind speed data of world cup competitions of the season 2020/2021 were used to analyse the FIS WCS and to offer basic information of wind effects. The correlation between the total tangential wind speed and the jump distance varied strongly among the ana…

Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry and imaging for dosimetry with agarose Fricke gel

2016

Flanking regions determine the structure of the poly-glutamine homo- repeat in huntingtin through mechanisms common among glutamine-rich human protei…

2020

International audience; The causative agent of Huntington's disease, the poly-Q homo-repeat in the N-terminal region of huntingtin (httex1), is flanked by a 17-residue-long fragment (N17) and a proline-rich region (PRR), which promote and inhibit the aggregation propensity of the protein, respectively, by poorly understood mechanisms. Based on experimental data obtained from site-specifically labeled NMR samples, we derived an ensemble model of httex1 that identified both flanking regions as opposing poly-Q secondary structure promoters. While N17 triggers helicity through a promiscuous hydrogen bond network involving the side chains of the first glutamines in the poly-Q tract, the PRR prom…

126. Dosimetric analysis of phenolic solid state pellets exposed to radio-therapeutic photon and electron beams through electron spin resonance techn…

2018

Abstract Purpose Among the various dosimetric techniques used for characterizing the radiation beams used in radiation therapy, the electron spin resonance (ESR) arouses increasing interest for applications in various therapy procedures. In this work we report the ESR investigation of particular phenol compounds exposed to clinical photon and electron beams [1] . Materials and methods Pellets were produced by mixing Phenol (IRGANOX 1076® Sigma Aldrich) and paraffin (10% by weight). The irradiations of dosimeters were performed with photon and electron beams with absorbed doses ranging from 0 to 13 Gy. Basic dosimetric properties of phenolic dosimeters, such as reproducibility, dose-response…

Mikrostruktur der Lunge: Untersuchung mittels Diffusionsmessung von hochpolarisiertem 3Helium

2006

Imaging methods to study the lung are traditionally based on x-ray or on radioactive contrast agents. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has only limited applications for lung imaging because of the low tissue density of protons concentration of hydrogen atoms, which are usually the basis for the imaging. The introduction of hyperpolarized noble gases as a contrast agent in MRI has opened new possibilities for lung diagnosis. The present paper describes this new technique. Diffusion-weighted MRI for assessment of the lung microstructure is presented here as an example of the new possibilities of functional imaging. Studies to determine the sensitivity of the diffusion measurement…

Effects of cluster training on body composition and strength in resistance-trained men

2020

BACKGROUND: Cluster Training (CL) is an alternative to traditional training where intra-set breaks are incorporated. Positive effects have been reported on sports performance. However, there is little research on body composition in trained subjects. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three cluster training (CL) protocols comprised of different intra-set rest (RIntra) and blocks of repetitions (BK) on strength, power and body composition in individuals maintaining a high protein diet. METHODS: Twenty-nine resistance-trained male participants were randomized to RIntra 20 s and BK 3 RM (n= 8, CL1), RIntra 40 s and BK 3 RM (n= 7, CL2), RIntra 20 s and BK 6 RM (n…

The peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE) present at positions -681/-669 in the rat liver 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase B gene functionally inter…

2000

Although previous data showed that the putative thiolase B PPRE located at -681/-669 bind the PPARalpha-RXRalpha heterodimer in vitro (Kliewer et al. (1992) Nature 358, 771-774), there is no evidence about the functional role of this element. By gel mobility-shift assay, we found an interaction of this PPRE with not only PPARalpha but also with HNF-4. By transfection of cells with the putative PPRE-driven luciferase reporter vector and PPARalpha, we found no significant activation of the luciferase gene expression, in contrast to the case with reporter expression driven by the PPRE of the peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme. On the other hand, HNF-4 activated the luciferase gene expression driv…