Quantification of Dendritic Spines Remodeling under Physiological Stimuli and in Pathological Conditions

Numerous brain diseases are associated with abnormalities in morphology and density of dendritic spines, small membranous protrusions whose structural geometry correlates with the strength of synaptic connections. Thus, the quantitative analysis of dendritic spines remodeling in microscopic images is one of the key elements towards understanding mechanisms of structural neuronal plasticity and bases of brain pathology. In the following article, we review experimental approaches designed to assess quantitative features of dendritic spines under physiological stimuli and in pathological conditions. We compare various methodological pipelines of biological models, sample preparation, data analysis, image acquisition, sample size, and statistical analysis. The methodology and results of relevant experiments are systematically summarized in a tabular form. In particular, we focus on quantitative data regarding the number of animals, cells, dendritic spines, types of studied parameters, size of observed changes, and their statistical significance.     

Relationships of tensile strength with crosslink density for the high-carbon black-filled EPDM compounds with various softeners

Equilibrium swelling and rheological tests were adopted to systematically investigate the effects of softener type and dosage on the crosslink densities. The results turned out that the chemical crosslink density could be distinguished from the physical crosslink density by comparing the results of equilibrium swelling and rheological tests. The liquid butadiene (LB) as a softener leads to the greatest reduction in crosslink density, followed by polyethylene wax (PW) and paraffinic oil (PO). The tensile strength decreases with increasing PO content while shows peak values with increase of LB and PW contents. The dependencies of chemical crosslink density on the aging time under 150°C are quite different for the three softeners, which can be expected from the double crosslinking networks consisting of small softener and large main crosslinking networks. Further investigation has been performed to correlate the tensile strength with chemical crosslink density of ethylene propylene diene monomer elastomer vulcanizates. Three different linear relationships can be obtained for the softeners independent of the aging time. It can now be expected from this study that the role of some new softeners in rubber compounds is not only confined to plasticization but also forms crosslinking networks in the peroxide-cured rubbers.     

科帕卡格拉纳建筑 奥地利维亚纳

正科帕卡格拉纳位于新多瑙河12.5公里处,毗邻Reichsbrücke大桥。出于同旧有设计保持协调性考虑,力求能让大楼融入当地环境,迎合自身功能性需要,GERNER GERNER PLUS团队充分考虑现有周边环境,对大楼重新规划设计。新的设计突显建筑的特殊性和重要性,面向河流的立面是科帕卡格拉纳大楼最重要的部分,所以设计的重点也放在了这里。现有的城市中轴线是一个参照物,为了视觉上和氛围上形成一体化城市的感     

Omics Analysis of Blood-Responsive Regulon in Bordetella pertussis Identifies a Novel Essential T3SS Substrate

Bacterial pathogens sense specific cues associated with different host niches and integrate these signals to appropriately adjust the global gene expression. Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative, strictly human pathogen of the respiratory tract and the etiological agent of whooping cough (pertussis). Though B. pertussis does not cause invasive infections, previous results indicated that this reemerging pathogen responds to blood exposure. Here, omics RNA-seq and LC–MS/MS techniques were applied to determine the blood-responsive regulon of B. pertussis. These analyses revealed that direct contact with blood rewired global gene expression profiles in B. pertussis as the expression of almost 20% of all genes was significantly modulated. However, upon loss of contact with blood, the majority of blood-specific effects vanished, with the exception of several genes encoding the T3SS-secreted substrates. For the first time, the T3SS regulator BtrA was identified in culture supernatants of B. pertussis. Furthermore, proteomic analysis identified BP2259 protein as a novel secreted T3SS substrate, which is required for T3SS functionality. Collectively, presented data indicate that contact with blood represents an important cue for B. pertussis cells.     

ANN–supported control strategy for a solid oxide fuel cell working on demand for a public utility building

The idea of control strategy of SOFC operating to meet demand of a public utility building was presented. The strategy was formulated with the support of Artificial Neural Network. The network was used to predict the demand for electricity. The calculations were carried out on the example of a building of the Institute of Heat Engineering Warsaw University of Technology. The control strategy is influenced by various factors depending on changes in market conditions and operating characteristics of the cell. We can define different objective functions eg: working for own needs, for maximum profit and maximum service life. The article presents a simulation of SOFC operation for demand profile of the IHE building from the selected time period.     

Surface Defects on Semicoherent and Incoherent NaCl-Type Carbides Dispersed in Hot-Rolled Ferritic Steel

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - The interface structure of semicoherent titanium carbide (TiC) nanoparticles and incoherent micron-sized TiC precipitates in Fe–C–Ti alloy...     

Devastation of the environment by landslides activated by construction

Summary The landscape environment is presently formed by the system in which there are natural, as well as anthropogeneous components. There is natural direct and inverse relation between them. The possibility and method of construction of a technical work depends on specific natural conditions. Of decisive influence are mainly the rock relief, groundwater and geodynamic processes, which Matula (1976) terms the main components of the engineering geological environment. The natural conditions of the West Carpathians are suitable for the occurrence and development of slope movements. More than 3% of the total Slovakian area is covered by landslides and by other slope movements of a varied degree of activity. Based on actual examples of an incorrect procedure in erecting some of the ground, hydrotechnical and transport constructions the paper analyzes the causes of landslide reactivation and devastation of the environment. To avoid negative changes in the geological environment engineering geological documents are prepared for more important investment units, comprising predictions of changes induced by construction.

---

Dégradation de l'environnement par la réactivation de glissements sous l'influence de constructions

Résumé Le paysage est le résultante de composants naturels, ainsi que d'influences anthropiques. Il y a un rapport mutuel direct et inverse entre ees facteurs. La possibilité de construire un ouvrage et les méthodes employées dépendent des conditions naturelles spécifiques. Les facteurs principaux sont la morphologie du site, l'eau souterraine et les phénomènes géodynamiques, que Matula M. (1976) appelle les composants principaux de l'environnement de la géologie de l'ingénieur. Les conditions naturelles des Carpates Occidentales se prêtent à l'apparition et au développement de mouvements de versants. Plus de 3% de la superficie totale de la Slovaquie sont concernés par des glissements et autres mouvements de versants d'une intensité variable. A partir d'exemples concrets de mauvaises réalisations de travaux souterrains, de barrages et d'infrastructures de transport, l'article analyse les causes de la réactivation des glissements et de la dégradation de l'environnement. Pour éviter ces influences négatives sur l'environnement géologique, on prépare des documents géologiques et géotechniques pour des travaux plus importants et qui incluent la prévision des changements provoqués par les constructions.