No description available.

Abstract The carbonic anhydrases (CAs) participate in the maintenance of pH homeostasis in various tissues of the human body by catalyzing the reversible reaction CO2 + H2O ⇔ HCO3- + H+. Carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme VI (CA VI) is secreted into the human saliva by the serous acinar cells of the parotid and submandibular glands. The present work was undertaken in order to gain an understanding of the physiological role of CA VI in the oral cavity. CA VI concentrations were compared with other salivary characteristics and with the clinical dental status of the subjects. Saliva samples were collected under strictly controlled conditions from 209 young, healthy men and their CA VI concentrations determined by means of a specific time-resolved immunofluorometric assay. Salivary secretion rate, pH, buffering capacity, α-amylase activity level and counts of lactobacilli and mutans streptococci were also determined. Salivary CA VI concentrations showed positive correlations with salivary secretion rate (r = 0.20, p = 0.003) and amylase activity level (r = 0.46, p < 0.001), but not with pH, buffering capacity, or counts of mutans streptococci or lactobacilli. Salivary CA VI concentration, pH and buffering capacity correlated negatively with the number of decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT index). The correlation between salivary CA VI concentration and DMFT index was closest in the subjects with poor oral hygiene. No correlation was found between salivary secretion rate or amylase activity and the DMFT index. The location of CA VI in the enamel pellicle, a thin layer of proteins on dental surfaces providing a protective interface between the tooth surface and the external environment, was demonstrated in samples of extracted teeth using immunostaining with anti-CA VI antibody. Immunostaining for salivary α-amylase, which was used as a positive control, produced virtually the same staining patterns. The presence of CA VI in the natural enamel pellicle was confirmed by Western blotting of pellicle proteins. Histochemical staining of enamel pellicle formed in vitro showed that the bound enzyme retains its CA activity. To determine whether CA VI is transferred into the circulation, blood and saliva samples were collected from four healthy male volunteers at 3-h intervals throughout a 24-h period and assayed for CA VI concentration. CA VI was present in all the serum samples, although its concentration was about 22 times lower than in the saliva. The presence of CA VI in serum was confirmed using a sensitive Western blotting method. Western blotting also showed that serum CA VI is associated with IgG, which may protect the enzyme from proteolytic degradation or target it to sites that do not contain CA VI. The present results suggest that salivary CA VI is not involved in regulation of the actual pH or buffering capacity of the saliva, but it does seem to have a specific role in the oral cavity. High salivary concentrations of CA VI appear to be associated with low caries experience. Since active CA VI is located in the enamel pellicle, it may function locally in the microenvironment of the dental surfaces and accelerate the neutralization of the acid metabolic products of bacterial plaque.

No description available.

Isoelectric trapping (IET) in multicompartment electrolyzers (MCE) has been widely used for the electrophoretic separation of ampholytic compounds such as proteins. In IET, the separation occurs in the buffering membranes that form a step-wise pH gradient in the MCE. Typically, buffering membranes have been made by copolymerizing acrylamide with Immobiline compounds, which are acidic and basic acylamido buffers. One major problem, however, is that these buffering membranes are not stable when exposed to high concentrations of acid and base due to hydrolysis of the amide bonds. Poly(vinyl alcohol)-based, or PVA-based, membranes were made as an alternative to the polyacrylamide-based membranes since they provide more hydrolytic and mechanical stability. Four mid-pH, PVA-based buffering membranes that contain single ampholytes were synthesized. These buffering membranes were used to trap small molecular weight pI markers for up to three hours, and were also used in desalting experiments to remove strong electrolytes from a solution of ampholytes. Additionally, the membranes were used in IET experiments to separate mixtures of pI markers, and to fractionate the major proteins in chicken egg white. The membranes did not show any degradation when stored in 3 M NaOH for up to 6 months and were shown to tolerate current densities as high as 16 mA/cm2. In addition, six series of PVA-based membranes, whose pH values can be tuned over the 3 < pH < 10 range, were synthesized by covalently binding aminodicarboxylic acids, and monoamines or diamines to the PVA matrix. These tunable buffering membranes were used in trapping experiments to trap ampholytes for up to three hours, and in desalting experiments to remove strong electrolytes from a solution of ampholytes. These tunable buffering membranes were also used in IET experiments to separate proteins, some with pI values that differ by only 0.1 pH unit. The tunable buffering membranes did not show any signs of degradation when exposed to 3 M NaOH for up to 3 months, and could be used in IET experiments with current densities as high as 20 mA/cm2. These tunable buffering membranes are expected to broaden the application areas of isoelectric trapping separations.

Isoelectric trapping (IET) in multicompartment electrolyzers (MCE) has been widely used for the electrophoretic separation of ampholytic compounds such as proteins. In IET, the separation occurs in the buffering membranes that form a step-wise pH gradient in the MCE. Typically, buffering membranes have been made by copolymerizing acrylamide with Immobiline compounds, which are acidic and basic acylamido buffers. One major problem, however, is that these buffering membranes are not stable when exposed to high concentrations of acid and base due to hydrolysis of the amide bonds. Poly(vinyl alcohol)-based, or PVA-based, membranes were made as an alternative to the polyacrylamide-based membranes since they provide more hydrolytic and mechanical stability. Four mid-pH, PVA-based buffering membranes that contain single ampholytes were synthesized. These buffering membranes were used to trap small molecular weight pI markers for up to three hours, and were also used in desalting experiments to remove strong electrolytes from a solution of ampholytes. Additionally, the membranes were used in IET experiments to separate mixtures of pI markers, and to fractionate the major proteins in chicken egg white. The membranes did not show any degradation when stored in 3 M NaOH for up to 6 months and were shown to tolerate current densities as high as 16 mA/cm2. In addition, six series of PVA-based membranes, whose pH values can be tuned over the 3 < pH < 10 range, were synthesized by covalently binding aminodicarboxylic acids, and monoamines or diamines to the PVA matrix. These tunable buffering membranes were used in trapping experiments to trap ampholytes for up to three hours, and in desalting experiments to remove strong electrolytes from a solution of ampholytes. These tunable buffering membranes were also used in IET experiments to separate proteins, some with pI values that differ by only 0.1 pH unit. The tunable buffering membranes did not show any signs of degradation when exposed to 3 M NaOH for up to 3 months, and could be used in IET experiments with current densities as high as 20 mA/cm2. These tunable buffering membranes are expected to broaden the application areas of isoelectric trapping separations.

This work focuses on improving video transmission quality over a mobile link. More specifically, the impact of buffering and link outages on the freeze probability of transmitted videos is studied. It introduces a new fluid flow model that provides an approximation of the freeze probability in the presence of play-out hysteresis. The proposed model is used to study the impact of two streaming buffer sizes over different possible combinations of outage parameters (data channel on/off times). The outcome of this thesis shows that outage parameters play a dominant role in freezing of streaming video content, and that an increase in these parameters cannot be easily compensated for by an increase in the size of the receiving buffer. Generally, in most cases when there is a variation in outage parameters, an increased buffer size has a negative impact on the freeze probability. To lower the probability of freeze during video playback over a weak mobile link, it is better to sacrifice resolution just to keep the video content playing. Similarly, shifting focus from off to on times brings better results than increasing buffer size.

INTRODUÇÃO: A carnosina é um dipeptídeo com capacidade tamponante presente no músculo esquelético, que pode ser obtido pela ingestão de carnes. Estudos transversais relatam que atletas engajados em exercícios de alta intensidade possuem um maior conteúdo de carnosina muscular (CarnM) comparados a destreinados, sugerindo que o treinamento pode modular a CarnM, apesar da ausência de estudos longitudinais. OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos do treinamento intermitente (TI) de alta intensidade sobre a CarnM e seus genes associados. MÉTODOS: Vinte homens saudáveis e vegetarianos (eliminando a influência da dieta) foram pareados pelo consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2máx), e aleatoriamente designados a um grupo Controle (C, N=10) ou Treinado (T, N=10). O grupo T realizou TI em cicloergômetro 3 dias por semana durante 12 semanas, com progressão do volume (6-12 séries) e intensidade (140-170% do limiar de lactato [LL]). O grupo C manteve a rotina habitual. Antes e após a intervenção, biópsias musculares foram realizadas para a determinação da CarnM, da expressão de genes relacionados à CarnM e da capacidade tamponante muscular in vitro (&#946;&#924;invitro). Foram realizados teste de Wingate e VO2máx para a avaliação do trabalho total (TT), do VO2máx, dos limiares ventilatórios (LV) e do LL. Foi conduzido o Modelo Misto para análise dos dados. RESULTADOS: Um efeito de interação foi observado para CarnM (F = 4.72; P=0.04), com aumentos significantes para o grupo T (Pré: 15.8±5.7 e Pós: 20.6±5.3 mmoL/kg músculo seco; +36.0%, P=0.01) e nenhuma alteração no grupo C (Pré: 14.3±5.3 e Pós: 15.0±4.9 mmoL/Kg músculo seco; +6.3%, P=0.99). Houve melhora no TT, LV, LL, VO2máx e &#946;&#924;invitro no grupo T (todos P<0.05), mas sem mudanças no grupo C (P>0.05). Não houve alteração na expressão gênica das enzimas e transportadores avaliados nos grupos T ou C. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo sugere que o TI pode aumentar a CarnM, sem alterar os seus genes. Tal aumento, associado ao da &#946;&#924;invitro, pode ajudar a explicar o potente efeito deste tipo de treino sobre a aptidão física e cardiorrespiratória / INTRODUCTION: Carnosine is a dipeptide with buffering capacity present within the skeletal muscle, which can be obtained by meat ingestion. Cross-sectional studies report that athletes engaged in high-intensity exercises have a greater muscle carnosine (MCarn) content compared to their untrained counterparts, suggesting that exercise training can modulate MCarn, despite of the absence of longitudinal studies. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) on CarnM and its associated genes. METHODS: Twenty healthy and vegetarian men (eliminating dietary influences) were matched by maximal oxygen uptake (VO2máx), and randomly assigned to a Control (C, N = 10) or Trained (T, N = 10) group. The T group performed HIIT on cycle ergometer 3 days per week for 12 weeks, with progressive volume (6-12 series) and intensity (140-170% lactate threshold [LT]). The C group kept their usual routine. Prior to the intervention, muscle biopsies were performed for MCarn determination, expression MCarn-related genes and the muscle buffering capacity in vitro (&#946;&#924;invitro). Wingate and VO2máx tests were performed to evaluate total work done (TWD), VO2máx, ventilatory thresholds (VT) and LT. The Mixed Model was conducted for data analysis. RESULTS: An interaction effect was observed for MCarn (F = 4.72, P = 0.04), with significant increases for the T group (Pre: 15.8 ± 5.7 and Post: 20.6 ± 5.0 mmoL.kg-1 dry muscle; +36%; P = 0.01), but not in C (Pre: 14.3 ± 5.3 and Post: 15.0 ± 4.9 mmoL.kg-1 dry muscle; +6.3%, P = 0.99). There was no change in the gene expression of the enzymes and transporters evaluated in the T or C groups. There was an improvement in TWD, VT, LT, VO2máx and &#946;&#924;invitro in the T group (all P<0.05), but no changes in C (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that HIIT can increase MCarn without altering its genes. This increase, associated with &#946;&#924;invitro, may help to explain the potent effect of this type of training on physical and cardiorespiratory fitness

The integration of heterogeneous access networks is becoming a possible feature of 4G wireless networks. It is challenging to deliver the multimedia services over such integrated networks because of the discrepancy in the bandwidth of different networks. This thesis presents an adaptive approach that combines source rate adaptation and buffering to achieve high quality VBR video streaming with less quality variation over an integrated two-tier network. Statistical information of the residence time in each network or localization information are utilized to anticipate the handoff occurrence. The performance of this approach is analyzed under the CBR case using a Markov reward model. Simulation under the CBR and VBR cases is conducted for different types of network models. The results are compared with a dynamic programming algorithm as well as other naive or intuitive algorithms, and proved to be promising.

The integration of heterogeneous access networks is becoming a possible feature of 4G wireless networks. It is challenging to deliver the multimedia services over such integrated networks because of the discrepancy in the bandwidth of different networks. This thesis presents an adaptive approach that combines source rate adaptation and buffering to achieve high quality VBR video streaming with less quality variation over an integrated two-tier network. Statistical information of the residence time in each network or localization information are utilized to anticipate the handoff occurrence. The performance of this approach is analyzed under the CBR case using a Markov reward model. Simulation under the CBR and VBR cases is conducted for different types of network models. The results are compared with a dynamic programming algorithm as well as other naive or intuitive algorithms, and proved to be promising.

Mobile IPv6 supports host mobility by dynamically changing IP addresses while mobile nodes roaming in the Internet. However, there still exist performance problems during handoffs, such as handoff latency, packet loss. When a mobile node increases its mobility, performance degradation induced by frequent handoffs grows drastically. In this thesis, we propose a dual-tunnel with buffering (DTWB) mechanism to reduce packet loss ratio during multiple handoffs. Packet buffering at access routers is initiated by mobile nodes when the received signal strength goes below a predefined threshold. The buffered packets are forwarded through dual tunnels, of which the first tunnel is established between the old access router and the new access router, and the second tunnel is established between the new access router and the mobile nodes. For the purpose of evaluation, we perform experiments on NS-2 simulation. The simulation results demonstrate that our proposed mechanism can minimize the packet loss ratio and increase the throughput during multiple handoffs.