The role of N-glycan in folding, trafficking and pathogenicity of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)

AbstractMyelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is a type I integral membrane protein that is expressed in the central nervous system. MOG has a single N-glycosylation site within its extracellular domain. MOG has been linked with pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis; anti-MOG antibodies have been detected in the sera of multiple sclerosis patients. N-glycosylation is an important post-translational modification of protein that might impact their folding, localization and function. However, the role of sugar in the biology of MOG is not well understood. In this study, we created a mutant MOG lacking N-linked glycan and tested its properties. We concluded that the lack of sugar did not impact on MOG abundance in the absence of endoplasmic reticulum molecular chaperone calnexin. We also show that the absence of N-glycan did not interfere with MOG's subcellular localization and it did not result in activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 13th European Symposium on Calcium

EVOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS TOPICS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA IN 80 YEARS PERIOD

Background: Environment and culture are shown to be an important factor influencing characteristics of psychotic symptoms. Content of hallucinations and delusions is a projection of internal processes on external world. Religion plays a central role to lives of many people, but in schizophrenia religious experience and spirituality is confounded by psychotic symptoms. The aim of this study was to find how content of hallucinations and delusions interact with cultural conditions, that were changing over the decades. Subjects and methods: 100 of case histories from 2012 were randomly selected. From the medical record, content of hallucinations and delusion was extracted and categorized. Data from 2012 was compared with previous study by the authors, obtaining perspective of 80 years of history in the one hospital. Results: Religious content of delusions and hallucinations appeared in 26% of patients. Diversity of the religious and spiritual themes in schizophrenia has been gradually decreasing. Many minor religious entities and figures such as “saints” and “angels” disappeared in 2012. Although, occurrence of contact with God and other religious figures was similar as in previous years, number of “visions” abruptly decreased. All of the religious content was culture-specific. Conclusions: Religious topics express general plasticity over a time, following cultural changes in society

Quantum Rotational Spectra and Classical Rotors

We consider the generalized rotor Hamiltonians capable of describing quantum systems invariant with respect to symmetry point-groups that go beyond the usual D_2-symmetry of a tri-axial rotor. We discuss the canonical de-quantisation procedure to obtain the classical analogs of the original quantum Hamiltonians. Classical and quantum solutions to the Hamiltonians relevant in the nuclear physics applications are illustrated and compared using the 'usual' (D_2) and an 'exotic' (T_d) symmetries.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Zero-contrast percutaneous coronary interventions to preserve kidney function in patients with severe renal impairment and hemodialysis subjects

Introduction: Zero-contrast percutaneous coronary intervention (zero-PCI) is a new method for prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, evidence for its feasibility, safety and clinical utility is limited to reports of single cases or series of patients. Aim: To present outcomes of zero-PCI in patients with severe CKD, including hemodialysis subjects, who were treated with this procedure in order to preserve their renal function. Material and methods: Twenty-nine zero-PCIs were performed, mostly as a staged procedure, in 20 patients with advanced CKD. In this group, 4 patients were treated with hemodialysis but presented preserved residual renal function. The estimated median risk for contrast-induced AKI in non-dialysis patients was 26% (26–57%). Results: Zero-PCI was feasible in each intended patient, including those with complex left main stenosis or lesion within a saphenous vein graft, and there was no specific complication associated with this technique. After the procedure, the factual AKI prevalence was 10% and no patient required renal replacement therapy. Three of 4 hemodialysis patients preserved their residual renal function. During the median follow-up of 3.2 (1.2–5.3) months no patient experienced an acute coronary event or required revascularization. Conclusions: Zero-PCI is a safe and promising method to preserve renal function in patients with CKD and hemodialysis patients. Such an approach is feasible even in complex coronary lesions and yields good clinical outcomes in mid-term observation

Morphology and electrical conductivity of carbon nanocoatings prepared from pyrolysed polymers

Conductive carbon nanocoatings (conductive carbon layers-CCL) were formed on \alpha-Al_{2}O_{3} model support using three different polymer precursors and deposition methods. This was done in an effort to improve electrical conductivity of the material through creating the appropriate morphology of the carbon layers. The best electrical properties were obtained with use of a precursor that consisted of poly-N-vinylformamide modified with pyromellitic acid (PMA). We demonstrate that these properties originate from a specific morphology of this layer that showed nanopores (3-4 nm) capable of assuring easy pathways for ion transport in real electrode materials. The proposed, water mediated, method of carbon coating of powdered supports combines coating from solution and solid phase and is easy to scale up process. The optimal polymer carbon precursor composition was used to prepare conductive carbon nanocoatings on LiFePO_{4} cathode material. Charge-discharge tests clearly show that C/LiFePO_{4} composites obtained using poly-N-vinylformamide modified with pyromellitic acid exhibit higher rechargeable capacity and longer working time in a battery cell than standard carbon/lithium iron phosphate composites

Funkcjonalizacja mezoporowatej krzemionki SBA-15 w wyniku szczepienia poliwinyloaminy na powierzchni modyfikowanej grupami epoksydowymi

Mesoporous SBA-15 silica was modified by grafting of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). An influence of GPTMS/SBA-15 mass ratio used during this pre-functionalization step on the real amount of epoxy-silane grafted on the SBA-15 surface was studied by thermogravimetry and elemental analysis. The pre-functionalized SBA-15 was subsequently used to attach polyvinylamine (PVAm) chains by the opening of oxirane rings and the formation of bonds with NH2 groups from PVAm. The yield of this process was determined. Furthermore, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), DRIFT (diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) as well as zeta potential measurements were applied to observe the changes in the chemical composition of SBA-15 surface and morphology of the synthesized materials. Various types of organic functionalities present on the modified SBA-15 were identified and analyzed quantitatively.Powierzchnię mezoporowatej krzemionki SBA-15 zmodyfikowano na drodze szczepienia 3-glicydoksypropylotrimetoksysilanu (GPTMS). Z wykorzystaniem metod analiz elementarnej oraz termograwimetrycznej badano wpływ stosunku masowego GPTMS/SBA-15 zastosowanego we wstępnej modyfikacji na rzeczywistą zawartość wprowadzonych na powierzchnię krzemionki grup epoksydowych. Do powierzchni zmodyfikowanego SBA-15 przyłączono następnie łańcuchy poliwinyloaminy (PVAm) w wyniku reakcji otwierania pierścieni oksiranowych połączonej z utworzeniem wiązań z grupami NH2 pochodzącymi od PVAm. Określono wydajność tego procesu. Badania SEM (skaningowej mikroskopii elektronowej), DRIFT (spektroskopii odbicia rozproszonego w podczerwieni), XPS (spektroskopii fotoelektronów) oraz pomiary potencjału zeta pozwoliły na ocenę zmian składu chemicznego powierzchni SBA-15 oraz morfologii zsyntetyzowanych materiałów. Zidentyfikowano oraz oznaczono ilościowo różne rodzaje grup funkcyjnych obecnych na powierzchni modyfikowanej krzemionki SBA-15

Analysis of changes in shopping behaviour of package holidays purchasers caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

PURPOSE: The study aims to identify the direction of changes in shopping behaviour regarding package holidays caused by the COVID-19.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research on tourists purchasing travel packages during the COVID-19 was quantitative on a nationwide online panel of respondents (N=1502), characterized by a representative distribution for the general population of Poles. Using the contingency table and correspondence analysis, authors identify purchasing behaviour before and during the pandemic.FINDINGS: The research results indicate significant changes in purchasing package holidays process caused by the COVID-19, particularly on the stage of travel planning (including the search for information and the pattern of closing the purchase of tourist packages)-the conducted analysis allowed to distinguish four segments of buyers during the pandemic and to create their profiles.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The knowledge of changes in travel packages purchasing behaviour is essential for travel agencies to design effective marketing strategies.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The originality and value of the research is based on three pillars: (1) timeliness and importance of the research problems for the travel agency sector, (2) lack of knowledge about the purchasing decision-making process during the pandemic threat, (3) the deficit of quantitative research on the role of online purchase channels versus the traditional ones in making these decisions.The project is financed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland under the programme "Regional Initiative of Excellence" 2019-2022 project number 015/RID/2018/19 total funding amount 10 721 040.00 PLN.peer-reviewe

An influence of thermal treatment conditions of hydrotalcite-like materials on their catalytic activity in the process of N2ON_2O decomposition

Hydrotalcite-like materials containing apart from magnesium and aluminum also copper, cobalt, nickel, and iron were prepared by a co-precipitation method. Thermal transformations of hydrotalcite-like materials were studied by thermal analysis methods as well as XRD, UV-vis-DRS, and XPS measurements of the samples calcined at various temperatures (600, 700, and 800 {\textdegree}C). Calcined hydrotalcites, especially those containing cobalt and copper, were found to be active and selective catalysts of N2O decomposition. It was shown that an increase in the calcination temperature significantly activated the Co-containing catalysts. Promotion of the samples with potassium resulted in activation of the hydrotalcite-based catalysts