Validation of CTmax Protocols Using Cased and Uncased \u3ci\u3ePycnopsyche Guttifer\u3c/i\u3e (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) Larvae

The critical thermal maximum (CTmax) of a northern Lower Michigan population of Pycnopsyche guttifer was determined using four rates of temperature increase (0.10, 0.33, 0.50, and 0.70oC per minute), and two case states (intact and removed). Across all temperature increase rates, larvae removed from their cases had a significantly lower mean CTmax than those remaining in their cases, suggesting that the case can increase the larva’s ability to tolerate thermal stress, possibly due to respiratory advantages. Regardless of case state, mean CTmax was significantly lower at the 0.10oC per minute increase rate than the other three rates, likely due to increased exposure time. Our results indicate that CTmax studies done using 0.33–0.70oC per minute increase protocols would be comparable with each other, but not with studies using an increase rate of 0.10oC per minute

The role of the Amyloid Precursor Protein mutations and PERK-dependent signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a highly complex, progressive, age-related neurodegenerative human disease entity. The genetic basis of AD is strictly connected with occurrence of mutations in Amyloid Precursor (APP) gene on chromosome 21. Molecular mechanism that leads to AD development still remains unclear. Recent data reported that it is closely correlated with Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress conditions, which subsequently activate Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) signaling pathways, via the induction of protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), as a self-protective, adaptive response to adverse stress conditions. That results in the attenuation of global protein synthesis and, on the contrary, selective translation of Activating Transcriptor Factor 4 (ATF4) and secretase β. Interestingly, under prolonged, severe ER stress UPR may switch its signal into apoptotic cell death. That ensues by ATF4-CHOP-mediated activation of a range of pro-apoptotic genes and, on the other hand, downregulation of the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) genes. Current investigations suggest that inhibitions of PERK activity may contribute to the attenuation of the deposition of toxic senile plaques in the brain tissue and, as a result, prevent degeneration of neurons and decline in cognitive abilities

Constructing new optimal entanglement witnesses

We provide a new class of indecomposable entanglement witnesses. In 4 x 4 case it reproduces the well know Breuer-Hall witness. We prove that these new witnesses are optimal and atomic, i.e. they are able to detect the "weakest" quantum entanglement encoded into states with positive partial transposition (PPT). Equivalently, we provide a new construction of indecomposable atomic maps in the algebra of 2k x 2k complex matrices. It is shown that their structural physical approximations give rise to entanglement breaking channels. This result supports recent conjecture by Korbicz et. al.Comment: 9 page

Optimal entanglement witnesses from generalized reduction and Robertson maps

We provide a generalization of the reduction and Robertson positive maps in matrix algebras. They give rise to a new class of optimal entanglement witnesses. Their structural physical approximation is analyzed. As a byproduct we provide a new examples of PPT (Positive Partial Transpose) entangled states.Comment: 14 page

A Progress Report on Numerical Solutions of Least Squares Adjustment in GNU Project Gama

GNU project Gama for adjustment of geodetic networks is presented. Numerical solution of Least Squares Adjustment in the project is based on Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and General Orthogonalization Algorithm (GSO). Both algorithms enable solution of singular systems resulting from adjustment of free geodetic networks.

Dense Plasma Focus: physics and applications (radiation material science, single-shot disclosure of hidden illegal objects, radiation biology and medicine, etc.)

The paper presents some outcomes obtained during the year of 2013 of the activity in the frame of the International Atomic Energy Agency Co-ordinated research project "Investigations of Materials under High Repetition and Intense Fusion-Relevant Pulses". The main results are related to the effects created at the interaction of powerful pulses of different types of radiation (soft and hard X-rays, hot plasma and fast ion streams, neutrons, etc. generated in Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) facilities) with various materials including those that are counted as perspective ones for their use in future thermonuclear reactors. Besides we discuss phenomena observed at the irradiation of biological test objects. We examine possible applications of nanosecond powerful pulses of neutrons to the aims of nuclear medicine and for disclosure of hidden illegal objects. Special attention is devoted to discussions of a possibility to create extremely large and enormously diminutive DPF devices and probabilities of their use in energetics, medicine and modern electronics

White communicating rami in human embryos at the end of the fifth week

White communicating rami were traced in 8 human embryos of developmental stages 14 and 15 (aged 33 and 36 postovulatory days, respectively). In embryos at stage 14 the white communicating rami were found in the spinal nerves T1 to T9. In embryos at stage 15 the white communicating rami were present at the spinal cord levels T1 to L3. (Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 2: 75-77

The LAGUNA design study- towards giant liquid based underground detectors for neutrino physics and astrophysics and proton decay searches

The feasibility of a next generation neutrino observatory in Europe is being considered within the LAGUNA design study. To accommodate giant neutrino detectors and shield them from cosmic rays, a new very large underground infrastructure is required. Seven potential candidate sites in different parts of Europe and at several distances from CERN are being studied: Boulby (UK), Canfranc (Spain), Fr\'ejus (France/Italy), Pyh\"asalmi (Finland), Polkowice-Sieroszowice (Poland), Slanic (Romania) and Umbria (Italy). The design study aims at the comprehensive and coordinated technical assessment of each site, at a coherent cost estimation, and at a prioritization of the sites within the summer 2010.Comment: 5 pages, contribution to the Workshop "European Strategy for Future Neutrino Physics", CERN, Oct. 200

The high-resolution crystal structure of a parallel intermolecular DNA G-4 quadruplex/drug complex employing syn glycosyl linkages

We have determined the X-ray structure of the complex between the DNA quadruplex d(5′-GGGG-3′)4 and daunomycin, as a potential model for studying drug–telomere interactions. The structure was solved at 1.08 Å by direct methods in space group I4. The asymmetric unit comprises a linear arrangement of one d(GGGG) strand, four daunomycin molecules, a second d(GGGG) strand facing in the opposite direction to the first, and Na and Mg cations. The crystallographic 4-fold axis generates the biological unit, which is a 12-layered structure comprising two sets of four guanine layers, with four layers each of four daunomycins stacked between the 5′ faces of the two quadruplexes. The daunomycin layers fall into two groups which are novel in their mode of self assembly. The only contacts between daunomycin molecules within any one of these layers are van der Waals interactions, however there is substantial π–π stacking between successive daunomycin layers and also with adjacent guanine layers. The structure differs significantly from all other parallel d(TGGGGT)4 quadruplexes in that the 5′ guanine adopts the unusual syn glycosyl linkage, refuting the widespread belief that such conformations should all be anti. In contrast to the related d(TGGGGT)/daunomycin complex, there are no ligand–quadruplex groove insertion interactions

Minocycline but not valproic acid influence the density of NogoA-immunoreactive neurons in the hilus of the dentate gyrus of the rats subjected to intracerebral haematoma

Intracerebral haemorrhage is a devastating neurological disease with high mortality rate and poor prognosis. The most prominent manifestation of the disease arethe movement disorders, but many patients also suffer from cognitive impairment. Taking into account vulnerability of the neurons located within the hilus of the dentate gyrus (HDG) to many brain insults we decided to study the effectof experimentally induced intracerebral haematoma on density of neurons expressing NogoA protein in HDG. In addition, we studied how administration of valproic acid and minocycline, the two drugs generally believed to be neuroprotective agents, influences the density of these neurons. Our study revealed that 4 weeks after intracerebral haematoma induction, minocycline and valproic acid treatment increased the densities of NogoA-ir neurons in the hilus of contralateral dentate gyrus once the data were compared to ipsilateral hemispheres within the same group. The analysis of contralateral hemisphere data, however, revealed increased densities of NogoA-positive neurons in haematoma and valproic acidtreated animals when compared to contralateral hemispheres of control animals.The administration of minocycline was, however, able to alleviate this increase.These changes may influence the haematoma-induced reorganisation of neuronal circuitries in the dentate gyrus