Autophagy in synapse formation and brain wiring

A recent characterization of the role of autophagy in two different neuron types during brain development in Drosophila revealed two different mechanisms to regulate synapse formation. In photoreceptor neurons, autophagosome formation in synaptogenic filopodia destabilizes presumptive synaptic contacts and thereby restricts incorrect synaptic partnerships. In dorsal cluster neurons, autophagy is actively suppressed to keep mature synapses stable during axonal branching. These findings indicate that different neuron types can require activation or suppression of synaptic autophagy during the same developmental period to ensure proper synapse formation and brain connectivity

Genetics in the Age of Systems Biology

Systems biology has become a fashionable label for a new generation of large-scale experiments. This Essay explores how classical approaches such as forward genetics fit into this emerging framework

A design framework for developing a reconfigurable driving simulator

Fahrsimulatoren werden seit Jahrzehnten erfolgreich in verschiedenen Anwendungsbe-reichen eingesetzt. Sie unterscheiden sich weitgehend in ihrer Struktur, Genauigkeit, Komplexität und in ihren Kosten. Heutzutage werden Fahrsimulatoren in der Regel in-dividuell für eine spezielle Aufgabe entwickelt und haben typischerweise eine festgeleg-te Struktur. Bei der Nutzung eines Fahrsimulators in einem Anwendungsbereich wie der Entwicklung von fortgeschrittenen Fahrerassistenzsystemen (FFAS) werden jedoch mehrere Varianten des Fahrsimulators benötigt. Es besteht daher Handlungsbedarf für die Entwicklung eines rekonfigurierbaren Fahrsimulators, der es dem Betreiber des Fahrsimulators ermöglicht, ohne umfassende Fachkenntnisse problemlos verschiedene Varianten zu erstellen. Um diese Herausforderung zu bewältigen wurde eine Entwick-lungssystematik für die Entwicklung eines rekonfigurierbaren Fahrsimulators entwi-ckelt. Die Entwicklungssystematik besteht aus einem Vorgehensmodell und einem Kon-figurationswerkzeug. Das Vorgehensmodell beschreibt die benötigten Entwicklungspha-sen, die vollständigen Aufgaben jeder Phase und die in der Entwicklung eingesetzten Methoden. Das Konfigurationswerkzeug organisiert die Lösungselemente des Fahrsimu-lators und ermöglicht dem Betreiber des Fahrsimulators, durch Auswählen einer Kombi-nation von Lösungselementen nach dem Baukastenprinzip verschiedene Varianten des Fahrsimulators zu erstellen. Die Entwicklungssystematik wird durch die Entwicklung eines rekonfigurierbaren FFAS-Fahrsimulators und durch die Erstellung von drei unter-schiedlichen Varianten dieses Fahrsimulators validiert.Driving simulators have been used successfully in various application fields for decades. They vary widely in their structure, fidelity, complexity and cost. Nowadays, driving simulators are usually custom-designed for a specific task and they typically have a fixed structure. Nevertheless, using the driving simulator in an application field, such as the development of the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), requires several variants of the driving simulator. Therefore, there is a need to develop a reconfigurable driving simulator which allows its operator to easily create different variants without in-depth expertise in the system structure. In order to solve this challenge, a Design Framework for Developing a Reconfigurable Driving Simulator has been developed. The design framework consists of a procedure model and a configuration tool. The pro-cedure model describes the required development phases, the entire tasks of each phase and the used methods in the development. The configuration tool organizes the driving simulators solution elements and allows its operator to create different variants of the driving simulator by selecting a combination of the solution elements, which are like building blocks. The design framework is validated by developing an ADAS reconfigu-rable driving simulator and by creating three variants of this driving simulator.Tag der Verteidigung: 13.06.2014Paderborn, Univ., Diss., 201

Lead uptake by new silica-carbon nanoparticles

Silica-carbon nanoparticles (SCNP) were prepared from sonication of silica and anthracene. The size of homogenous nanoparticle is around 5-20 nm confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). SEM analysis indicated surface porosity. SCNP were used to remove lead ions (Pb(II)) from aqueous solutions. Adsorption isotherm of Pb(II) on SCNP was well fitted in terms of the Freundlich and Langmuir models. The maximum adsorption capacity of SCNP for Pb(II) was found to be 385 mg/g (1.86 mmol/g) in batch experiment. Thermodynamic studies indicated that sorption process of lead onto SCNP was spontaneous and exothermic. A pseudo-second order model has been employed in order to describe the kinetic adsorption processes, and the thermodynamic activation parameters were calculated. In a column studies, qy the Yan adsorption capacity of SCNP for Pb(II) was found to be 130.66 mg/g (0.63 mmol/g)

A Signaling Network for Patterning of Neuronal Connectivity in the Drosophila Brain

The precise number and pattern of axonal connections generated during brain development regulates animal behavior. Therefore, understanding how developmental signals interact to regulate axonal extension and retraction to achieve precise neuronal connectivity is a fundamental goal of neurobiology. We investigated this question in the developing adult brain of Drosophila and find that it is regulated by crosstalk between Wnt, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor, and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, but independent of neuronal activity. The Rac1 GTPase integrates a Wnt-Frizzled-Disheveled axon-stabilizing signal and a Branchless (FGF)-Breathless (FGF receptor) axon-retracting signal to modulate JNK activity. JNK activity is necessary and sufficient for axon extension, whereas the antagonistic Wnt and FGF signals act to balance the extension and retraction required for the generation of the precise wiring pattern

Copper(II)-oxaloyldihydrazone complexes: Physico-chemical studies: Energy band gap and inhibition evaluation of free oxaloyldihydrazones toward the corrosion of copper metal in acidic medium

AbstractA series of oxaloyldihydrazone ligands were prepared essentially by the conventional condensation reaction between oxaloyldihydrazide and different aldehydes e.g., salicylaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, 2-hydroxyacetophenone and 2-methoxybenzaldehyde in 1:2M ratio. The synthesized compounds were purified to give bis(salicylaldehyde)oxaloyldihydrazone (L1), bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde)oxaloyldihydrazone (L2), bis(2-hydroxyacetophenone)oxaloyldihydrazone (L3) and bis(2-methoxybenzaldehyde)oxaloyldihydrazone (L4). All the oxaloyldihydrazones (L1–L4) and their relevant solid copper(II) complexes have been isolated and characterized by various physicochemical techniques. The identity of the synthesized compounds has been ascertained on the basis of elemental analyses, spectral (UV–Vis, IR, ESR, mass, 1H NMR), magnetism and thermal (TG) measurements. The dihydrazones coordinate to the metal center forming binuclear complexes. Upon chelation, the metal center can form a trigonal distorted octahedral structure with L1 and pseudo tetrahedral configuration with L2 & L3 & L4. The optical band gap energy for all compounds underlies the range of semiconductor materials. The investigated ligands were assayed for their corrosion inhibitive and adsorptive properties on copper surface in 1M HCl solution using weight loss technique. The results pointed out that, the ligands have a plausible inhibition toward the corrosion of copper specimen. The adsorption reaction on copper surface was found to be spontaneous first order and agreed with physical adsorption mechanism. The adsorption data fitted well to Freundlich, Langmuir and Frumkin adsorption isotherms

Kinetic design principles for structural systems for architectural spaces

Research presents a study of the role of kinetic design in the flexible preparation of transformed architectural spaces through several points that are, in their entirety, principles that must be addressed during the application. Beginning with explaining the concept of dynamism (scientifically and literally), and The relationship of the term to interior design and the development of its application in and the resulting effects on design and construction structure of the architectural space.This is followed by a discussion of the classifications of kinematic systems on a variety of grounds and their role in determining the types of movement and its methods, which helps to analyze and know their characteristics, which were reviewed by research in the form of providing definitions of the morphological transformations.All of the above requires detailed knowledge of the kinetic structural systems that were present in the research as well by studying the concepts of these systems and their development until they reach the stage of the intelligent dynamic structure with compound movement. This is in addition to the important study of the foundations and structural relationships of kinetic design and the methods of generation and morphology built on it of kinetic systems.On the other hand, there is an aspect related to the application of kinetic design, which is the considerations that must be followed during the application to achieve the desired goal of design in a sound manner, namely: architectural considerations, technical considerations, and finally considerations of the stages of preparing the design process

Proper connectivity of Drosophila motion detector neurons requires Atonal function in progenitor cells

BACKGROUND: Vertebrates and invertebrates obtain visual motion information by channeling moving visual cues perceived by the retina through specific motion sensitive synaptic relays in the brain. In Drosophila, the series of synaptic relays forming the optic lobe are known as the lamina, medulla, lobula and lobula plate neuropiles. The fly’s motion detection output neurons, called the T4 and T5 cells, reside in the lobula plate. Adult optic lobe neurons are derived from larval neural progenitors in two proliferating compartments known as the outer and inner proliferation centers (OPC and IPC). Important insight has been gained into molecular mechanisms involved in the development of the lamina and medulla from the OPC, though less is known about the development of the lobula and lobula plate. RESULTS: Here we show that the proneural gene Atonal is expressed in a subset of IPC progenitors that give rise to the higher order motion detection neurons, T4 and T5, of the lobula plate. We also show that Atonal does not act as a proneural gene in this context. Rather, it is required specifically in IPC neural progenitors to regulate neurite outgrowth in the neuronal progeny. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal that a proneural gene is expressed in progenitors but is required for neurite development of their progeny neurons. This suggests that transcriptional programs initiated specifically in progenitors are necessary for subsequent neuronal morphogenesis

Interior design of administrative spaces according to the theory of user - centered design

The office environment represents an important stage in the life of the employee working inside it, with its psychological and physiological aspects and effects on his person and on his performance, hence the idea of the priority for this person in helping him to reach the choice of his suitable environment for him and the nature of his work, to translate this principle a number of theories supporting this idea in different perceptions Among them was the "user center of design" theory, with many design bodies adopting this theory and applying it in different ways in their design work and products.The above constitutes an incentive to conduct a scientific and field study survey to stand on both sides of the problem (requirements - solutions). Whereas the needs of the human element in the contemporary administrative environment have complex characteristics, the result is intense endeavors to reach solutions that satisfy these. The research dealt with the issue represented in reviewing the elements of the two sides of the problem through the contemporary vision of the design of the work environment and the types of main activities in it and its spatial planning, taking into account the general functional criteria. All through the principles of user theory and a design center that seeks to fulfill the requirements of security, privacy, self-fulfillment, stimulation of attention, appreciation, ease of interaction, and a sense of happiness as general requirements. To translate the solutions in the concept of design elements and furnishing systems expressing this theory