The [4+2]‐Cycloaddition of α‐Nitrosoalkenes with Thiochalcones as a Prototype of Periselective Hetero‐Diels–Alder Reactions—Experimental and Computational Studies

The [4+2]‐cycloadditions of α‐nitrosoalkenes with thiochalcones occur with high selectivity at the thioketone moiety of the dienophile providing styryl‐substituted 4H‐1,5,2‐oxathiazines in moderate to good yields. Of the eight conceivable hetero‐Diels–Alder adducts only this isomer was observed, thus a prototype of a highly periselective and regioselective cycloaddition has been identified. Analysis of crude product mixtures revealed that the α‐nitrosoalkene also adds competitively to the thioketone moiety of the thiochalcone dimer affording bis‐heterocyclic [4+2]‐cycloadducts. The experiments are supported by high‐level DFT calculations that were also extended to related hetero‐Diels–Alder reactions of other nitroso compounds and thioketones. These calculations reveal that the title cycloadditions are kinetically controlled processes confirming the role of thioketones as superdienophiles. The computational study was also applied to the experimentally studied thiochalcone dimerization, and showed that the 1,2‐dithiin and 2H‐thiopyran isomers are in equilibrium with the monomer. Again, the DFT calculations indicate kinetic control of this process

Metabolomic assays of amoxicillin, cephapirin and ceftiofur in chicken muscle. Application to treated chicken samples by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The aim of this study was to identity metabolites and transformation products (TPs) in chicken muscle from amoxicillin (AMX), cephapirin (PIR) and ceftiofur (TIO), which are antibiotics of the β-lactam family. Liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight (QqTOF) mass spectrometry was utilized due to its high resolution, high mass accuracy and MS/MS capacity for elemental composition determination and structural elucidation. Amoxicilloic acid (AMA) and amoxicillin diketopiperazine (DKP) were found as transformation products from AMX. Desacetylcephapirin (DAC) was detected as a metabolite of PIR. Desfuroylceftiofur (DFC) and its conjugated compound with cysteine (DFC-S-Cys) were detected as a result of TIO in contact with chicken muscle tissue. The metabolites and transformation products were also monitored during the in vivo AMX treatment and slaughtering period. It was found that two days were enough to eliminate AMX and associated metabolites/transformation products after the end of administration

The Optical Alignment System of the ZEUS MicroVertex Detector

The laser alignment system of the ZEUS microvertex detector is described. The detector was installed in 2001 as part of an upgrade programme in preparation for the second phase of electron-proton physics at the HERA collider. The alignment system monitors the position of the vertex detector support structure with respect to the central tracking detector using semi-transparent amorphous-silicon sensors and diode lasers. The system is fully integrated into the general environmental monitoring of the ZEUS detector and data has been collected over a period of 5 years. The primary aim of defining periods of stability for track-based alignment has been achieved and the system is able to measure movements of the support structure to a precision around $10 \mu$m.Comment: 38 pages; 17 figure

A genetic analysis of nitric oxide-mediated signaling during chronological aging in the yeast

In mammals, NO•, a signaling molecule is implicated in the regulation of vasodilation, neurotransmission and immune response. It is believed that NO• is a signaling molecule also in unicellular organism like yeast and may be involved in the regulation of apoptosis and sporulation. It has been reported that NO• is produced during chronological aging (CA) leading to an increase of the superoxide level, which in turn mediates apoptosis. Since this conclusion was based on indirect measurements of NO• by the Griess reaction, the role of NO• signaling during CA in the yeast remains uncertain. We investigated this issue more precisely using different genetic and biochemical methodologies. We used cells lacking the factors influencing nitrosative stress response like flavohemoglobin metabolizing NO•, S-nitrosoglutathione reductase metabolizing S-nitrosoglutathione and the transcription factor Fzf1p mediating NO• response. We measured the standard parameters describing CA and found an elevation in the superoxide level, percentage of death cells, the level of TUNEL positive cells and a decrease in proliferating potential. These observations showed no significant differences between wild type cells and the disruptants except for a small elevation of the superoxide level in the Δsfa1 mutant. The intracellular NO• level and flavohemoglobin expression decreased rather than increased during CA. Products of general nitrogen metabolism and protein tyrosine nitration were slightly decreased during CA, the magnitude of changes showing no differences between the wild type and the mutant yeast. Altogether, our data indicate that apoptosis during yeast CA is mediated by superoxide signaling rather than NO• signaling

Impact of dietary porcine blood by-products in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) physiology, evaluated by welfare biomarkers and the antibacterial properties of the skin mucus

Tools are required for quick and easy preliminary evaluation of functional feeds efficiency on fisheries. The analysis of skin mucus biomarkers is a recent alternative approach providing a faster feed-back from the laboratory which is characterized by being less invasive, more rapid and with reduced costs. The effect of replacing fishmeal and fish protein hydrolysates by means of two porcine by-products, the porcine spray-dried plasma (SDPP) and pig protein hydrolysate (PPH), in compound diets (50.4% crude protein, 16.2% crude protein, 22.1 MJ/kg feed) was evaluated in juvenile meagre (Argyrosomus regius) during a two-months period. To determine the impact of these dietary replacements, growth and food performance were measured together with digestive enzymes activities and filet proximal composition. Additionally, skin mucus was collected and characterized by determining main mucus biomarkers (protein, glucose, lactate, cortisol, and antioxidant capacity) and its antibacterial properties, measured by the quick in vitro co-culture challenges. In comparison to the control group, the inclusion of PPH and SDPP, in meagre diets reduced growth (7.4–8.8% in body weight), increased feed conversion ratios (9.0–10.0%), results that were attributed to a reduction in feed intake values (24.2–33.0%) (P 0.05). In contrast, a reduction in fillet lipid content associated to an increase in fillet protein levels were found in fish fed SDPP and PPH diets (P 0.05). Interestingly, regardless of the worst performance in somatic growth, meagre fed diets containing both tested porcine by-products showed a significantly improved antibacterial capacity of their skin mucus. This enhancement was more prominent for fish fed with the PPH diet, which may be attributed to a higher content of immunomodulatory bioactive compounds in PPH. Further research will be necessary to provide insights on how the inclusion of SDPP and PPH, at the expense of dietary fishmeal and fish protein hydrolysates, affects feed intake and growth performance in meagre. However, the use of skin mucus biomarkers has been demonstrated to be an excellent methodology for a preliminary characterization of the functional feeds, in particular for their prophylactic properties by the study of mucus antibacterial activity.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Polish-Russian Cross-border Cooperation from the Perspective of Polish Foreign Policy. General View

Due to geopolitical location, North-Eastern Polish regions (voivodships) have a big potential for the development of cross-border cooperation. This kind of international activity can have impact on regional development. Polish authorities on the central, regional and local levels initiate, run and co-finance cross-border projects designed to promote integration, understanding and co-operation across the border. According to the aims of the Polish foreign policy the basis of the long-term strategy of regional development of the North-Eastern Poland could be its geographical position and long-established co-operation with Kaliningrad Oblast. Institutional framework of contacts are: intergovernmental agreements, agreements establishing Euroregions, agreements between regional and local authorities. The cross-border cooperation between Warmia and Mazury Region and the Kaliningrad Oblast could be important part of the Polish foreign policy towards Russia. KEYWORDS: Cross-border cooperation, Kaliningrad Oblast, Warmia and Mazury Region, Foreign Policy of Poland, Polish-Russian Relations

Statystyczny obraz Bydgosko-Toruńskiego Obszaru Metropolitalnego na tle wybranych obszarów metropolitalnych w Polsce według typologii OECD

The main aim of the article is present delimitation and diversity of metropolitan areas in Poland in the field of demographic, social and economic issues, with particular emphasis on the Bydgoszcz-Toruń Metropolitan Area. To assess internal diversity of metropolitan area in Poland there was used OECD typology – its allow in terms of functional units show the scale of suburbanization processes.W artykule poruszono kwestie delimitacji i zróżnicowania obszarów metropolitalnych w zakresie zagadnień demograficzno-społecznych i ekonomicznych w Polsce, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem Bydgosko-Toruńskiego Obszaru Metropolitalnego. Podstawę analiz stanowiły wybrane, ujęte w statystyce publicznej obszary metropolitalne w 2010 r. Do oceny ich wewnętrznego zróżnicowania posłużono się typologią OECD, która pozwoliła w ujęciu jednostek funkcjonalnych ukazać skalę procesów suburbanizacji

ECFA Detector R&D Panel, Review Report

Two special calorimeters are foreseen for the instrumentation of the very forward region of an ILC or CLIC detector; a luminometer (LumiCal) designed to measure the rate of low angle Bhabha scattering events with a precision better than 10$^{-3}$ at the ILC and 10$^{-2}$ at CLIC, and a low polar-angle calorimeter (BeamCal). The latter will be hit by a large amount of beamstrahlung remnants. The intensity and the spatial shape of these depositions will provide a fast luminosity estimate, as well as determination of beam parameters. The sensors of this calorimeter must be radiation-hard. Both devices will improve the e.m. hermeticity of the detector in the search for new particles. Finely segmented and very compact electromagnetic calorimeters will match these requirements. Due to the high occupancy, fast front-end electronics will be needed. Monte Carlo studies were performed to investigate the impact of beam-beam interactions and physics background processes on the luminosity measurement, and of beamstrahlung on the performance of BeamCal, as well as to optimise the design of both calorimeters. Dedicated sensors, front-end and ADC ASICs have been designed for the ILC and prototypes are available. Prototypes of sensor planes fully assembled with readout electronics have been studied in electron beams.Comment: 61 pages, 51 figure