Understanding the high-resolution spectral signature of the N2-H2O van der Waals complex in the 2OH stretch region

We present the observation of the N2-H2O van der Waals complex in the 2OH stretch overtone region. The high-resolution jet cooled spectra were measured using a sensitive continuous wave cavity ringdown spectrometer. Several bands were observed and vibrationally assigned in terms of ν1, ν2, and ν3, the vibrational quantum numbers of the isolated H2O molecule, as (ν1'ν2'ν3')←(ν1″ν2″ν3″)=(200)←(000) and (101) ← (000). A combination band involving the excitation of the in-plane bending motion of N2 and the (101) vibration of water is also reported. The spectra were analyzed using a set of four asymmetric top rotors, each associated with a nuclear spin isomer. Several local perturbations of the (101) vibrational state were observed. These perturbations were assigned to the presence of the nearby (200) vibrational state and to the combination of (200) with intermolecular modes.

Spectroscopic study of the tunneling dynamics in N2-water observed in the O-D stretch region

The O-D stretch rovibrational spectra of N₂-D₂O and N₂-DOH were measured and analyzed. A combination band involving the in-plane N₂ bending vibration was also observed. These bands were recorded using a pulsed-slit supersonic jet expansion and a mid-infrared tunable optical parametric oscillator. The spectra were analyzed by considering the feasible tunneling motions, and transitions were fitted to independent asymmetric rotors for each tunneling state. The rotational constants of the four tunneling components of N₂-D₂O were retrieved for the excited vibrational states. A two order of magnitude increase in the tunneling splittings is observed for the asymmetric O-D stretch (ν₃ in D₂O) excitation compared to the symmetric stretch (ν₁ in D₂O) and to the ground vibrational state. This last finding indicates that the ν₃ vibrational state is likely perturbed by a combination state that includes ν₁. Finally, the observation of a local perturbation in the ν₃ vibrational band, affecting the positions of few rovibrational levels, provides an experimental lower limit of the dissociation energy of the complex, D₀ > 120 cm^-1.

Interactions Between Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Genetic Variants in the ChREBP Locus on Lipoprotein Concentrations in the UK Biobank: A Replication Study

Objectives

A meta-analysis of 11 CHARGE cohorts (N = 63,599) suggested that genetic variants within or near the CHREBP locus may modify the associations between sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations. The study objective was to replicate these findings in a large independent cohort.

Methods

Blood lipids and 24-hour recalls were available for 57,794 adults of European ancestry in the UK Biobank (2006-‘10). SSBs included “squash” and “fizzy” drinks derived from a single 24-hr recall. A total of 875 SNPs within or near the CHREBP locus were identified and included in this analysis. Associations between these SNPs and HDL-C and TG concentrations were quantified among participants who did not report SSB consumption (non-consumers, n = 45,866), reported ≥0.5 servings/day of SSB (consumers, n = 11,928), and a subset of consumers who reported ≥2 servings/day of SSB (high consumers, n = 3742). Interaction between SSB and selected SNPs on HDL-C and TG concentrations was evaluated by examining the difference in beta coefficients between strata. Results were considered statistically significant at a Bonferroni-corrected pinteract < 0.0001 (0.05/499 effective tests).

Results

A significant interaction between SSB consumption and TBL2-rs71556729 on HDL-C concentration previously observed in the meta-analysis was replicated in UK Biobank. However, we observed a stronger interaction for a SNP in high linkage disequilibrium (R2 = 0.93) FZD9-rs34821369 (MAF = 0.03, pinteract = 8.2E-05) with TBL2-rs71556729 (MAF = 0.03, pinteract = 0.0004). Among only SSB consumers, each additional minor G allele at FZD9-rs34821369 was associated with mean HDL-C concentrations 1.63 mg/dL (SE = 0.53, P = 0.002) higher than those with the major T allele.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that adults with the minor allele at FZD9-rs34821369 may be protected against SSB-induced low HDL-C concentrations. These results are consistent the findings from a prior meta-analysis of 11 cohorts.

Funding Sources

NIH, AHA, USDA-ARS. This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource (Application Number 35,835).

Associations Between Genetic Variants near the CHREBP Locus and Lipoprotein Concentrations May Be Modified by Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption

Objectives

Carbohydrate responsive element binding protein (ChREBP) is a transcription factor that responds to sugar consumption. Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and genetic variants at the CHREBP (also known as MLXIPL) locus have separately been linked to dyslipidemia. We hypothesized that SSB intake may modify the associations between CHREBP variants and HDL-C and TG concentrations.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from 11 Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium cohorts (N = 63,599). A total of 1606 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected within or near the CHREBP locus. SSB intake (sodas, fruit punches, lemonades, or other fruit drinks) was estimated from food-frequency questionnaires. Participants were grouped by five categories of SSB intake (ranging from < 1 serving/month to > 1 serving/day). Inverse-variance weighted fixed- and random-effect meta-analyses were used to quantify the following associations: 1) SSB consumption and HDL-C and TG concentrations; 2) selected SNPs and HDL-C and TG concentrations; and 3) interactions between SSB consumption and selected SNPs, and HDL-C and TG concentrations. Results were corrected for multiple testing to achieve a global p < 0.05.

Results

SSB intake was inversely associated with HDL-C and positively associated with TG concentrations (ptrend  < 0.0001). We replicated previously observed GWAS associations between one distinct SNP on HDL-C (rs71556736) and two distinct SNPs (rs71556736 and rs13225660) on TG concentrations (Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.0001). Additionally, we identified two distinct novel SNP associations with TG concentrations (rs42124 and rs10245965). One distinct SNP displayed a statistically significant difference in effect size by category of SSB intake with HDL-C, where each additional minor allele at rs71556729 was significantly associated with HDL-C concentrations only among the highest SSB consumers [>1 serving/day: β (SE) = 4.47 (1.10) mg/dl, P = 5.0E-05; pinteract = 0.0001]. Additional SNPs displayed a suggestive difference in effect size for both HDL-C and TG concentrations.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that high SSB consumption may modify the association between genetic variants within or near the CHREBP locus and HDL-C and TG concentrations.

Funding Sources

NIH, AHA, USDA-ARS.

Results of the Collaborative International Evaluated Library Organisation (CIELO) Project

Simulation of nuclear systems requires complete data that represents the relevant nuclear physics. This requires many types of experimental measurements, theoretical physics, semi-empirical models and software systems, as well as experts to integrate and guide the process. This discipline is collectively known as nuclear data, and separate programmes within various European countries, the USA, Japan, Russia, and other OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) member countries have been operating for many decades. The NEA Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC) exists to improve the quality and completeness of nuclear data by bringing together representatives of the major nuclear data evaluation projects of NEA member countries and selected Invitees. The Sub- and Expert Groups of the WPEC typically focus on specific technical topics, while the Collaborative International Evaluated Library Organisation Pilot Project (CIELO) was established to generate complete evaluations for a selection of the most important isotopes for criticality in nuclear technologies: 235,238U, 239Pu, 56Fe, 16O and 1H.

This project stimulated numerous activities, resulting in major contributions to the Special Issue of the Nuclear Data Sheets journal and the production of a suite of new nuclear data evaluations that have been incorporated in major nuclear data libraries ENDF and JEFF. The outcomes of these evaluations include significant harmonisa-tion of discrepancies between the independent programmes, improvement in the performance for international standard nuclear criticality and neutron transmission benchmarks, complete uncertainties for nearly all parameters and the utilisation of modern data storage technologies. This work has leveraged the considerable, parallel experimental work in collecting improved experimental measurements to support nuclear data and highlighted high-priority areas for further study. A productive and durable framework for international evaluation has been established which will build upon the lessons learned. These will continue through new WPEC groups and a new IAEA evaluation network, which has been initiated in response to the success of the CIELO project. This article summaries some performance feedback on the CIELO evaluations, including recent results, and will describe ongoing and future, planned CIELO-related collaborations to further advance our understanding.

Overview of the OECD-NEA Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC)

The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Cooperation (WPEC) was established in 1989 to facilitate collaboration in nuclear data activities. Over its thirty year history, different Subgroups have been created to address topics in nearly every aspect of nuclear data, including: experimental measurements, evaluation, validation, model development, quality assurance of databases and the development of software tools.

WPEC has recently completed activities on fission yield evaluation, the general nuclear database structure (GNDS) to replace the ENDF-6 format, methods to provide feedback to evaluation, studies of specific capture cross sections, new methods in thermal scattering kernel evaluation and the Collaborative International Evaluated Library Organisation (CIELO) Pilot Project. Ongoing activities in GNDS application programming interface (API) development, methods for covariance evaluation and quality assurance in nuclear data validation using the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) database are complemented by the work of two Expert Groups that oversee the High-Priority Request List (HPRL) for Nuclear Data and the continuous development of the GNDS. New activities on the use of integral experiments for nuclear data validation and adjustment, as well as the use of the Shielding Integral Benchmark Archive and Database (SINBAD) for validation have begun and will be coordinated alongside future Subgroups.

After three decades we will review the status of WPEC, how it integrates other collections and activities organised by the NEA and how it dovetails with the initiatives of the IAEA and other bodies to effectively coordinate international activities in nuclear data.

New paradigm for nuclear data evaluation

A new paradigm for nuclear reaction data evaluations is proposed to produce adjusted libraries that take into account integral experiments on the same footing as the differential ones. These evaluations will provide comprehensive covariance matrices including cross-correlations among different materials/reactions that are critical for realistic propagation of data uncertainties to integral quantities. The new approach should also reduce error compensation issues and facilitate updating of the library to account for new or corrected experiments and advances in reaction modeling.

Beverage Consumption and Longitudinal Changes in Lipid Concentrations and Incident Dyslipidemia in U.S. Adults: The Framingham Heart Study (P18-017-19)

Objectives

Limited data are available on the prospective relationship between beverage consumption and plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in population-based studies. Two major sources of sugar in the US diet are sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB; sodas and fruit drinks) and 100% fruit juices (FJ). Low-calorie sweetened beverages (LCSB) are common replacements for SSB and FJ.

Methods

Fasting plasma triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were measured at up to 5 exams in the Framingham Heart Study offspring and up to 2 exams in generation 3 cohorts (1998–2005; N = 6730). Consumption of SSB, FJ, and LCSB were estimated from food frequency questionnaires and intakes were categorized. Mixed-effect linear regression models were used to examine changes in lipid concentrations, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for incident dyslipidemia, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results were statistically significant at a Bonferroni-corrected P-value < 0.017 (0.05/3 outcomes).

Results

In multivariate-adjusted models, SSB intake was associated with smaller mean 4-year changes in HDL-C [high (>1 serving/day) vs. low intake category (<1 serving/month) (H vs. L): β ± SE: −1.0 ± 0.3 mg/dl, p trend < 0.0001] and greater mean 4-year changes in TG concentrations (H vs. L: β ± SE: 5.7 ± 2.1 mg/dl, p trend = 0.0003), along with a higher incidence of low HDL-C [H vs. L HR (95% CI): 1.64 (1.06–2.54), p for trend = 0.01] and high TG concentrations [H vs. L HR (95% CI): 1.46 (1.05–2.03); p trend = 0.009]. LCSB intake was associated with a higher incidence of low HDL-C [H vs. L HR (95% CI): 1.38 (1.02–1.86), p trend = 0.01] and high LDL-C concentrations [H vs. L HR (95% CI): 1.19 (1.00–1.41); p trend = 0.01]. No other significant associations between beverage consumption and lipid concentrations or incident dyslipidemia were observed.

Conclusions

SSB intake was associated with changes in HDL-C and TG concentrations and higher risk of dyslipidemia, suggesting that SSB consumption should be limited. LCSB intake was not associated with changes in lipid concentrations, but higher intake was associated with risk of dyslipidemia. Thus, limiting LCSB intake is recommended based on these study findings.

Funding Sources

NIH, AHA, and ARS, USDA.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 and fructose dynamics in humans

Objective

Fructose consumption is a risk factor for metabolic disease. We recently demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a metabolic hormone involved in lipid and glucose metabolism, is acutely stimulated in humans by 75 g oral fructose, with peak levels occurring 2 h after consumption. This study reports on the dose dependency and reproducibility of the FGF21 response to fructose.

Methods

Lean, healthy adults drank either five different doses of fructose dissolved in water, each separated by 2 weeks, or the same dose on three occasions, each separated by 1 week.

Results

Fibroblast growth factor 21 levels peaked at 2 h in a dose-dependent manner. No significant increase in FGF21 was seen after consumption of 10 g fructose, while robust increases were seen after drinking solutions containing 30, 50 and 75 g. At 2 h, the minimal fold change of FGF21 was highest following a 75 g fructose drink, and all subjects demonstrated at least a doubling of FGF21 levels following consumption of this dose.

Conclusions

The increase in FGF21 following an oral fructose challenge is dose dependent, with levels peaking at 2 h independent of dose. The FGF21 response to 75 g fructose is also highly reproducible within individuals.

Clinical Implications

By demonstrating that the FGF21 response to fructose is dose dependent and reproducible, this study deepens current understanding of FGF21 fructose dynamics and physiology in humans. This is an important area of clinical interest given associations between fructose intake and a wide variety of metabolic derangements.

Aldolase B-Mediated Fructose Metabolism Drives Metabolic Reprogramming of Colon Cancer Liver Metastasis

Cancer metastasis accounts for the majority of cancer-related deaths and remains a clinical challenge. Metastatic cancer cells generally resemble cells of the primary cancer, but they may be influenced by the milieu of the organs they colonize. Here, we show that colorectal cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming after they metastasize and colonize the liver, a key metabolic organ. In particular, via GATA6, metastatic cells in the liver upregulate the enzyme aldolase B (ALDOB), which enhances fructose metabolism and provides fuel for major pathways of central carbon metabolism during tumor cell proliferation. Targeting ALDOB or reducing dietary fructose significantly reduces liver metastatic growth but has little effect on the primary tumor. Our findings suggest that metastatic cells can take advantage of reprogrammed metabolism in their new microenvironment, especially in a metabolically active organ such as the liver. Manipulation of involved pathways may affect the course of metastatic growth.

Neuronal Coding of Serial Order: Syntax of Grooming in the Neostriatum

How does the brain create rule-governed sequences of behavior? An answer to this question may come from a surprising source: the neostriatum (caudate nucleus and putamen). Traditionally, the neostriatum has been considered part of the brain's motor system, but its contribution to the preparation or execution of movement is recognized generally to concern high-level motor functions. Recent work implicates the neostriatum in disorders of sequential action and thought, as in the repetition of thoughts or habits in human obsessive-compulsive disorder and movements or speech in Tourette's syndrome. Yet there is no direct evidence to support the idea that the neostriatum controls sequences of behavior. Using ethological and neurophysiological techniques to study neural activity in the rat neostriatum during syntactic grooming sequences, we found that neuronal activity in the anterolateral neostriatum depended on the execution of syntactic sequences of grooming actions. The individual grooming movements themselves did not activate the neostriatum; activation was determined by the syntactic sequence in which grooming movements were performed. These data provide the first direct evidence that the neostriatum coordinates the control of rule-governed behavioral sequences.

The Benefits of High Relaxivity for Brain Tumor Imaging: Results of a Multicenter Intraindividual Crossover Comparison of Gadobenate Dimeglumine with Gadoterate Meglumine (The BENEFIT Study)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Gadobenate dimeglumine (MultiHance) has higher r1 relaxivity than gadoterate meglumine (Dotarem) which may permit the use of lower doses for MR imaging applications. Our aim was to compare 0.1- and 0.05-mmol/kg body weight gadobenate with 0.1-mmol/kg body weight gadoterate for MR imaging assessment of brain tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed crossover, intraindividual comparison of 0.1-mmol/kg gadobenate with 0.1-mmol/kg gadoterate (Arm 1) and 0.05-mmol/kg gadobenate with 0.1-mmol/kg gadoterate (Arm 2). Adult patients with suspected or known brain tumors were randomized to Arm 1 (70 patients) or Arm 2 (107 patients) and underwent 2 identical examinations at 1.5 T. The agents were injected in randomized-sequence order, and the 2 examinations were separated by 2-14 days. MR imaging scanners, imaging sequences (T1-weighted spin-echo and T1-weighted high-resolution gradient-echo), and acquisition timing were identical for the 2 examinations. Three blinded readers evaluated images for diagnostic information (degree of definition of lesion extent, lesion border delineation, visualization of lesion internal morphology, contrast enhancement) and quantitatively for percentage lesion enhancement and lesion-to-background ratio. Safety assessments were performed.

RESULTS

In Arm 1, a highly significant superiority (P < .002) of 0.1-mmol/kg gadobenate was demonstrated by all readers for all end points. In Arm 2, no significant differences (P > .1) were observed for any reader and any end point, with the exception of percentage enhancement for reader 2 (P < .05) in favor of 0.05-mmol/kg gadobenate. Study agent-related adverse events were reported by 2/169 (1.2%) patients after gadobenate and by 5/175 (2.9%) patients after gadoterate.

CONCLUSIONS

Significantly superior morphologic information and contrast enhancement are demonstrated on brain MR imaging with 0.1-mmol/kg gadobenate compared with 0.1-mmol/kg gadoterate. No meaningful differences were recorded between 0.05-mmol/kg gadobenate and 0.1-mmol/kg gadoterate.

Are there differences between macrocyclic gadolinium contrast agents for brain tumor imaging? Results of a multicenter intraindividual crossover comparison of gadobutrol with gadoteridol (the TRUTH study)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Gadobutrol (Gadavist) and gadoteridol (ProHance) have similar macrocyclic molecular structures, but gadobutrol is formulated at a 2-fold higher (1 mol/L versus 0.5 mol/L) concentration. We sought to determine whether this difference impacts morphologic contrast-enhanced MR imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred twenty-nine adult patients with suspected or known brain tumors underwent two 1.5T MR imaging examinations with gadoteridol or gadobutrol administered in randomized order at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg of body weight. Imaging sequences and T1 postinjection timing were identical for both examinations. Three blinded readers evaluated images qualitatively and quantitatively for lesion detection and for accuracy in characterization of histologically confirmed brain tumors. Data were analyzed by using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, the McNemar test, and a mixed model.

RESULTS

Two hundred nine patients successfully completed both examinations. No reader noted a significant qualitative or quantitative difference in lesion enhancement, extent, delineation, or internal morphology (P values = .69-1.00). One hundred thirty-nine patients had at least 1 histologically confirmed brain lesion. Two readers found no difference in the detection of patients with lesions (133/139 versus 135/139, P = .317; 137/139 versus 136/139, P = .564), while 1 reader found minimal differences in favor of gadoteridol (136/139 versus 132/139, P = .046). Similar findings were noted for the number of lesions detected and characterization of tumors (malignant/benign). Three-reader agreement for characterization was similar for gadobutrol (66.4% [κ = 0.43]) versus gadoteridol (70.3% [κ = 0.45]). There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events (P = .199).

CONCLUSIONS

Gadoteridol and gadobutrol at 0.1 mmol/kg of body weight provide similar information for visualization and diagnosis of brain lesions. The 2-fold higher gadolinium concentration of gadobutrol provides no benefit for routine morphologic imaging.