Genetic specification of left-right asymmetry in the diaphragm muscles and their motor innervation.

The diaphragm muscle is essential for breathing in mammals. Its asymmetric elevation during contraction correlates with morphological features suggestive of inherent left-right (L/R) asymmetry. Whether this asymmetry is due to L versus R differences in the muscle or in the phrenic nerve activity is unknown. Here, we have combined the analysis of genetically modified mouse models with transcriptomic analysis to show that both the diaphragm muscle and phrenic nerves have asymmetries, which can be established independently of each other during early embryogenesis in pathway instructed by Nodal, a morphogen that also conveys asymmetry in other organs. We further found that phrenic motoneurons receive an early L/R genetic imprint, with L versus R differences both in Slit/Robo signaling and MMP2 activity and in the contribution of both pathways to establish phrenic nerve asymmetry. Our study therefore demonstrates L-R imprinting of spinal motoneurons and describes how L/R modulation of axon guidance signaling helps to match neural circuit formation to organ asymmetry

Exploration for lithium deposits in the Barroso-Alvao area, Northern Portugal

Results of a multidisciplinary study on lithium-rich pegmatites-aplite veins are presented. These results confirm the economic importance of the Banoso-Alvao area (North of Portugal). Dense swarms of pegmatite-aplites veins are encountered in metasedimentary rocks, Silurian in age, and define an almost 20 km alignment parallel to the regional Hercynian structural trend. Spodumene, with subordinate petalite, forms the main economic minerals. Subsolidus feldspar and/or muscovite alteration is the rule, with the large decrease of Li (only eucryptite in small amount is growing) which is leached out of the system. These pegmatite bodies appear to be of good quality for the ceramic industries

An Extended RBAC Model for Task Delegation in Workflow Systems

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Clinical implementation of a Monte Carlo based treatment plan QA platform for validation of Cyberknife and Tomotherapy treatments

International audienc