The upper zone of the Storkwitz Carbonatite: Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of the REE-mineralisation in the upper zone of the Storkwitz Carbonatite Complex from drill core SES-1/2012

Im Umfeld von Delitzsch befinden sich unter der etwa 100 m mächtigen Bedeckung aus tertiären Lockersedimenten mehrere magmatische Körper aus Karbonat. Im Jahr 2012 wurde durch die Deutsche Rohstoff AG bei Storkwitz eine 700 m tiefe Explorationsbohrung auf Seltene Erden Elemente abgeteuft. Im Rahmen eines Forschungsprojektes wurde der Frage nachgegangen, wie und woher die Seltenen Erden in das Gestein hineingelangten. Die Ergebnisse können Hinweise auf möglicherweise bisher unbekannte Anreicherungen von Seltenen Erden in anderen Nebengesteinen als den Karbonatiten geben. Die Veröffentlichung liegt nur in englischer Sprache vor.The Storkwitz-Carbonatite is a Late Cretaceous intrusive complex, which is well-explored by a relatively large number of exploration bore holes both from the 1970ies, 1980ies and from one more recent bore hole, SES-1/2012. The carbonatite complex hosts a (currently) marginally economic mineralisation of rare earth elements (REE) and niobium, which is technically still difficult to recover. The upper part of the carbonatitic body is located some 100-120 m below the Pre-Cenozoic land surface, which in turn is overlain by approximately 100 m of glacial, fluvio-glacial, and fluviatile sediments. The aim of this study was to characterize the mineralisation in the upper part of the intrusion geochemically and mineralogically and to try to identify indications of a supergene overprint on the late magmatic to hydrothermal mineralisation. Fresh drill core samples from the exploration bore hole SES-1/2012 have revealed that the mineralisation is associated with a carbonatitic igneous breccia body and also with several alvikite veins. The breccia body is very heterogeneous, displays a variety of matrix colours and also a range of matrix-to-clast ratios

АСР температуры и расхода гелеобразного топлива в системе топливоподачи испытательного стенда

Объектом автоматизации является система топливоподачи испытательного стенда. Цель работы – проектирование автоматической системы регулирования температуры и расхода гелеобразного топлива в системе топливоподачи испытательного стенда. В процессе выполнения работы проводились экспериментальные исследования, анализ объекта автоматизации, составление структурной схемы автоматической системы регулирования температуры и расхода гелеобразного топлива в системе топливоподачи испытательного стенда, проектирование функциональной схемы, монтажной и принципиальной электрической схем, а также разработка чертежа общего вида щита автоматизации, выбор технических средств и приборов автоматизации с последующим составлением заказной спецификации, разработка мнемосхемы проекта.The object of automation is the fuel supply system of the test stand. The purpose of the work is to design an automatic system for controlling the temperature and the flow rate of gel-like fuel in the fuel dispensing system of the test bench. In the course of the work carried out, experimental studies, analysis of the automation facility, drafting structural diagram of the automatic temperature and flow gel-like fuel management system in the test bench system were carried out, Design of the functional circuit, mounting diagram and principle electrical circuits, as well as drawing of the general kind of automation shield, selection of technical means and automation devices with subsequent elaboration of the custom specification, development of the design mnemonic diagram

Excessive Food Intake, Obesity and Inflammation Process in Zucker fa/fa Rat Pancreatic Islets

Inappropriate food intake-related obesity and more importantly, visceral adiposity, are major risk factors for the onset of type 2 diabetes. Evidence is emerging that nutriment-induced β-cell dysfunction could be related to indirect induction of a state of low grade inflammation. Our aim was to study whether hyperphagia associated obesity could promote an inflammatory response in pancreatic islets leading to ß-cell dysfunction. In the hyperphagic obese insulin resistant male Zucker rat, we measured the level of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and estimated their production as well as the expression of their receptors in pancreatic tissue and β-cells. Our main findings concern intra-islet pro-inflammatory cytokines from fa/fa rats: IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα expressions were increased; IL-1R1 was also over-expressed with a cellular redistribution also observed for IL-6R. To get insight into the mechanisms involved in phenotypic alterations, abArrays were used to determine the expression profile of proteins implicated in different membrane receptors signaling, apoptosis and cell cycle pathways. Despite JNK overexpression, cell viability was unaffected probably because of decreases in cleaved caspase3 as well as in SMAC/DIABLO and APP, involved in the induction and amplification of apoptosis. Concerning β-cell proliferation, decreases in important cell cycle regulators (Cyclin D1, p35) and increased expression of SMAD4 probably contribute to counteract and restrain hyperplasia in fa/fa rat islets. Finally and probably as a result of IL-1β and IL-1R1 increased expressions with sub-cellular redistribution of the receptor, islets from fa/fa rats were found more sensitive to both stimulating and inhibitory concentrations of the cytokine; this confers some physiopathological relevance to a possible autocrine regulation of β-cell function by IL-1β. These results support the hypothesis that pancreatic islets from prediabetic fa/fa rats undergo an inflammatory process. That the latter could contribute to β-cell hyperactivity/proliferation and possibly lead to progressive β-cell failure in these animals, deserves further investigations

Acute effects of exercise posture on executive function in transient ischemic attack patients

In patients with stroke or transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), a decline in executive function may limit an individual’s ability to process motor tasks and re-learn motor skills. The purpose of this study was to assess the acute effect of exercise posture (seated vs. supine cycle ergometry) on executive function and prefrontal cortex perfusion, in patients with TIA. Eleven TIA patients (65±10y) and 15 age-matched, healthy-controls (HC; 62±7y) completed two graded exercise tests to maximal functional capacity (1 x seated; 1 x supine) and two 30-minute sub-maximal exercise tests (1 x seated, 1 x supine). Executive function was assessed prior-to and following (1.5-min Post, 15-min Post) the submaximal exercise tests using a Stroop Task. Prefrontal cortex perfusion (total hemoglobin) was continuously recorded using near infrared spectroscopy. There was no Posture (seated, supine) by Group (TIA, HC) interaction for the Stroop task (P > .05). HC completed Stroop tasks significantly faster than TIA (51.9[10.3] vs. 64.2[8.5] s, respectively); while Stroop completion time significantly improved between Baseline and 1.5-min Post (61.3[10] vs. 58.1[9.4] s, respectively) and 1.5-min Post and 15-min Post (54.8[8.9] s). Posture and Group had no significant influence on prefrontal cortex perfusion (P > .05). In conclusion, executive function improves to a similar extent in TIA and age-matched, healthy-controls following an acute bout of exercise, regardless of exercise posture (seated vs. supine). As acute improvements in executive function were maintained for 15 minutes, there could be an important window of opportunity for assigning executive tasks following exercise rehabilitation for patients with TIA

Multiple Data Analyses and Statistical Approaches for Analyzing Data from Metagenomic Studies and Clinical Trials

Metagenomics, also known as environmental genomics, is the study of the genomic content of a sample of organisms (microbes) obtained from a common habitat. Metagenomics and other “omics” disciplines have captured the attention of researchers for several decades. The effect of microbes in our body is a relevant concern for health studies. There are plenty of studies using metagenomics which examine microorganisms that inhabit niches in the human body, sometimes causing disease, and are often correlated with multiple treatment conditions. No matter from which environment it comes, the analyses are often aimed at determining either the presence or absence of specific species of interest in a given metagenome or comparing the biological diversity and the functional activity of a wider range of microorganisms within their communities. The importance increases for comparison within different environments such as multiple patients with different conditions, multiple drugs, and multiple time points of same treatment or same patient. Thus, no matter how many hypotheses we have, we need a good understanding of genomics, bioinformatics, and statistics to work together to analyze and interpret these datasets in a meaningful way. This chapter provides an overview of different data analyses and statistical approaches (with example scenarios) to analyze metagenomics samples from different medical projects or clinical trials