Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is the main protein of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). As apoB is translated and moves through the secretory pathway, lipids from cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) are added to form VLDL particles. Without adequate lipid availability, apoB is misfolded and undergoes proteasomal degradation; however, evidence now shows that apoB can be degraded through autophagy. Inhibiting autophagy decreased apoB localization to autophagosomes in HepG2 cells, but also decreased apoB recovered from cells and media. Inducing autophagy increased apoB localization to autophagosomes and decreased apoB recovery. LDs are also degraded through autophagy however LDs were not affected by autophagy modulation in HepG2 cells. In primary hamster hepatocytes, inhibiting autophagy reduced apoB-autophagosome co-localization and increased LD numbers. These data suggest that autophagy may play a complex role in VLDL assembly by regulating degradation of both apoB and LDs. This dual role is more evident in primary hepatocytes indicating a potential physiological role.

The primary objective of this research was to explore the impact of glucose ingestion on 2-back task performance (accuracy, discrimination, and reaction times (RT) to target), its relationship to neural activation, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, and potential modulation by insulin resistance (IR) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in hypertensive but otherwise healthy older adults. While there was no effect of glucose ingestion on task performance or task-relevant neural activation patterns, this study uniquely observed that IR and LDL associated with all 3 measures of 2-back performance and task-relevant neural activation patterns. The left and right precuneus, left cingulate, and left insula were identified as task-associated regions according to our specific target minus nontarget contrast. Of particular importance was the task activation in the right precuneus as it both showed sensitivity to IR and predicted task RTs to targets, suggesting it plays a modulatory role linking IR to task performance.

No description available.

No description available.

Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is the main protein of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). As apoB is translated and moves through the secretory pathway, lipids from cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) are added to form VLDL particles. Without adequate lipid availability, apoB is misfolded and undergoes proteasomal degradation; however, evidence now shows that apoB can be degraded through autophagy. Inhibiting autophagy decreased apoB localization to autophagosomes in HepG2 cells, but also decreased apoB recovered from cells and media. Inducing autophagy increased apoB localization to autophagosomes and decreased apoB recovery. LDs are also degraded through autophagy however LDs were not affected by autophagy modulation in HepG2 cells. In primary hamster hepatocytes, inhibiting autophagy reduced apoB-autophagosome co-localization and increased LD numbers. These data suggest that autophagy may play a complex role in VLDL assembly by regulating degradation of both apoB and LDs. This dual role is more evident in primary hepatocytes indicating a potential physiological role.

The primary objective of this research was to explore the impact of glucose ingestion on 2-back task performance (accuracy, discrimination, and reaction times (RT) to target), its relationship to neural activation, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, and potential modulation by insulin resistance (IR) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in hypertensive but otherwise healthy older adults. While there was no effect of glucose ingestion on task performance or task-relevant neural activation patterns, this study uniquely observed that IR and LDL associated with all 3 measures of 2-back performance and task-relevant neural activation patterns. The left and right precuneus, left cingulate, and left insula were identified as task-associated regions according to our specific target minus nontarget contrast. Of particular importance was the task activation in the right precuneus as it both showed sensitivity to IR and predicted task RTs to targets, suggesting it plays a modulatory role linking IR to task performance.

In this study the effects of compatibilizer type, organoclay type, and the addition order of components on the morphological, thermal, mechanical and flow properties of ternary nanocomposites based on low density polyethylene, LDPE were investigated. As compatibilizer, ethylene/methyl acrylate/glycidyl methacrylate, ethylene/glycidyl methacrylate, and ethylene/butyl acrylate/maleic anhydride / as organoclay Cloisite&amp / #61666 / 15A, Cloisite&amp / #61666 / 25A and Cloisite&amp / #61666 / 30B were used. All samples were prepared by a co-rotating twin screw extruder, followed by injection molding. Before producing the ternary nanocomposites, in order to determine the optimum amount of the organoclay and compatibilizer, binary mixtures of LDPE/organoclay and LDPE/compatibilizer blends with different compositions were prepared. Based on the results of the mechanical tests, compatibilizer and organoclay contents were determined as 5 wt. % and 2 wt % respectively. After that, ternary nanocomposites were prepared with each compatibilizer/organoclay system and characterization of these nanocomposites was performed. Among the investigated addition orders, mechanical test results showed that the best sequence of component addition was (PCoC), in which LDPE, compatibilizer and organoclay were simultaneously compounded in the first run of the extrusion. Considering the ternary nanocomposites, compositions of LDPE/E-MA-GMA/15A, LDPE/E-GMA/15A and LDPE/E-nBA-MAH/30B showed the highest improvement in mechanical properties. According to the DSC analysis, addition of organoclay and compatibilizer does not influence the melting behavior of the compositions and both compatibilizers and organoclay types have no nucleation activity in LDPE. In the X-Ray analysis, the highest increase of the basal spacing for ternary nanocomposites obtained for LDPE/E-BA-MAH/organoclay nanocomposites. This increase was 83 %, 198 %, and 206 % for samples containing 15A, 25A and 30B respectively.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-118) Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-118) Also available online.

Zugl.: Bremen, Univ., Diss., 2009