Expression of calpain-calpastatin system (CCS) member proteins in human lymphocytes of young and elderly individuals; pilot baseline data for the CALPACENT project.

Ubiquitous system of regulatory, calcium-dependent, cytoplasmic proteases – calpains – and their endogenous inhibitor – calpastatin – is implicated in the proteolytic regulation of activation, proliferation, and apoptosis of many cell types. However, it has not been thoroughly studied in resting and activated human lymphocytes yet, especially in relation to the subjects’ ageing process. The CALPACENT project is an international (Polish-Italian) project aiming at verifying the hypothesis of the role of calpains in the function of peripheral blood immune cells of Polish (Pomeranian) and Italian (Sicilian) centenarians, apparently relatively preserved in comparison to the general elderly population. In this preliminary report we aimed at establishing and comparing the baseline levels of expression of μ- and m-calpain and calpastatin in various, phenotypically defined, populations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes for healthy elderly Sicilians and Poles, as compared to these values observed in young cohort

Pulsar shadow as the origin of double notches in radio pulse profiles

We present the model of eclipsing a rotating, spatially extended source of directional emission by a central absorber, and apply it to the pulsar magnetosphere. The model assumes the radially extended inward radio emission along the local direction of the magnetic field, and the pulsar as the absorber. The geometry of the magnetic field lines of the rotating dipole is favourable for the double eclipse events, which we identify with the double notches observed in pulse profiles of nearby pulsars. For pulsars with large dipole inclinations 70 <~ alpha <~ 110 deg the double notches are predicted to occur within a narrow phase range of 20 to 30 deg before the main radio peak. Application of the model to PSR B0950+08 establishes it as a nearly orthogonal rotator (alpha =~ 75 deg, beta =~ -10 deg) with many pulse components naturally interpreted in terms of the inward radio emission from a large range of altitudes. The inward components include the intermittently strong, leading component of the main pulse, which would traditionally have been interpeted as a conal emission in the outward direction. The model also identifies the magnetic field lines along which the radially extended inward radio emission occurs in B0950+08. These have a narrow range of the footprint parameter s close to 1.1 (closed field line region, near the last open field lines). We describe directional characteristics of inward emission from the radially extended region and compare them with characteristics of extended outward emission. Our work shows that pulse profiles of at least some pulsars may be a superposition of both inward and outward emission.Comment: 28 pages, 13 figures, accepted by ApJ, high-quality figures are available from http://www.ncac.torun.pl/~michalf/inward1_figs

Keratinocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles supply antigens for CD1a-resticted T cells and promote their type 2 bias in the context of filaggrin insufficiency

IntroductionExosome-enriched small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are nanosized organelles known to participate in long distance communication between cells, including in the skin. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease for which filaggrin (FLG) gene mutations are the strongest genetic risk factor. Filaggrin insufficiency affects multiple cellular function, but it is unclear if sEV-mediated cellular communication originating from the affected keratinocytes is also altered, and if this influences peptide and lipid antigen presentation to T cells in the skin.MethodsAvailable mRNA and protein expression datasets from filaggrin-insufficient keratinocytes (shFLG), organotypic models and AD skin were used for gene ontology analysis with FunRich tool. sEVs secreted by shFLG and control shC cells were isolated from conditioned media by differential centrifugation. Mass spectrometry was carried out for lipidomic and proteomic profiling of the cells and sEVs. T cell responses to protein, peptide, CD1a lipid antigens, as well as phospholipase A2-digested or intact sEVs were measured by ELISpot and ELISA.ResultsData analysis revealed extensive remodeling of the sEV compartment in filaggrin insufficient keratinocytes, 3D models and the AD skin. Lipidomic profiles of shFLGsEV showed a reduction in the long chain (LCFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs; permissive CD1a ligands) and increased content of the bulky headgroup sphingolipids (non-permissive ligands). This resulted in a reduction of CD1a-mediated interferon-γ T cell responses to the lipids liberated from shFLG-generated sEVs in comparison to those induced by sEVs from control cells, and an increase in interleukin 13 secretion. The altered sEV lipidome reflected a generalized alteration in the cellular lipidome in filaggrin-insufficient cells and the skin of AD patients, resulting from a downregulation of key enzymes implicated in fatty acid elongation and desaturation, i.e., enzymes of the ACSL, ELOVL and FADS family.DiscussionWe determined that sEVs constitute a source of antigens suitable for CD1a-mediated presentation to T cells. Lipids enclosed within the sEVs secreted on the background of filaggrin insufficiency contribute to allergic inflammation by reducing type 1 responses and inducing a type 2 bias from CD1a-restricted T cells, thus likely perpetuating allergic inflammation in the skin

Affective interpersonal touch in close relationships: A cross-cultural perspective

Interpersonal touch behavior differs across cultures, yet no study to date has systematically tested for cultural variation in affective touch, nor examined the factors that might account for this variability. Here, over 14,000 individuals from 45 countries were asked whether they embraced, stroked, kissed, or hugged their partner, friends, and youngest child during the week preceding the study. We then examined a range of hypothesized individual-level factors (sex, age, parasitic history, conservatism, religiosity, and preferred interpersonal distance) and cultural-level factors (regional temperature, parasite stress, regional conservatism, collectivism, and religiosity) in predicting these affective-touching behaviors. Our results indicate that affective touch was most prevalent in relationships with partners and children, and its diversity was relatively higher in warmer, less conservative, and religious countries, and among younger, female, and liberal people. This research allows for a broad and integrated view of the bases of cross-cultural variability in affective touch.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Theoretical and Mössbauer Effect Study of Magnetic and Electronic Properties of Fe3\text{}_{3}Al Compound

The electronic properties of Fe$\text{}_{3}$Al were determined experimentally, with the use of the Mossbauer spectroscopy, and theoretically. The band structure of the compounds was investigated applying the self-consistent tight-binding linear muffin tin orbital method. The calculated Fermi contact term of hyperfine fields and the isomer shifts are in good agreement with the values resulting from analysis of experimental data. The different kinds of electron transfer estimated on the base of the proposed "additive model" are also strongly supported by calculations

57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of annealed metamict davidite

This paper reports preliminary results of 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies of metamict davidite samples (La,Ce,Ca,Th)(Y,U,Fe)(Ti,Fe,Mn)20(O,OH)38 after high temperature annealing in an argon atmosphere. The Mössbauer spectra show a gradual decrease of quadrupole splitting and line width values of an Fe3+ doublet with increasing annealing temperature. Rather unexpected feature of these spectra for an Fe2+ doublet is a considerable increase of the line width with progressive crystallinity and a simultaneous decrease of both quadrupole splitting and isomer shift values. Changes of the hyperfine parameters as a function of the annealing temperature appeared as sensitive indicators of the thermal recrystallization process of metamict davidite similar to metamict silicates

Machine induced changes of caprine teats diagnosed by ultrasonography

Analyses were performed on 10 nanny goats of the Polish White Improved breed aged 2 to 5 years. Ultrasound images of the longitudinal cross-section of teats were taken in 9 replications, 4 times daily before and immediately after morning milking, and then 4 and 10 h after milking, using a Hitachi EUB405+ apparatus with a 10 MHz linear probe. The ultrasound probe was placed in a plastic cup filled with water (approximately 30 - 35°C), in which teats were immersed. Measurements of the diameter and length of the teat canals and the thickness of the teat wall were taken on ultrasound images in the MultiScan® 12.05. computer software. Immediately after milking a marked thickening (swelling) of the teat wall, an elongation of the teat canal was observed by approximately 40 and 18%, respectively (p &lt; 0.01). Four hours after milking, the swelling was still considerable and teat walls were thicker byapproximately 30% (p &lt; 0.01). These changes started to subside after approximately 10 h after milking, at that time reaching a level close to the initial condition, which may indicate the necessity to provide animals with an approximately 10 to 12 h intervals between milkings to ensure teat regeneration. Less marked changes in teat morphology is concerned with the measurement of the diameter of the teat canal. No definite effect of age of animals (lactation) and the shape of the udder on teat morphology were observed. Results of analyses indicate considerable suitability of ultrasonography in the monitoring of caprine teat morphology; however, thorough training of operators is required, sincesignificant differences were observed in values of individual measurements between operators with varying professional experience.Keywords: Goat, teat reaction, machine milking, ultrasonograph

New Ceramics Precursors Containing Si and Ge Atoms—Cubic Germasilsesquioxanes—Synthesis, Thermal Decomposition and Spectroscopic Analysis

Compounds of the silsesquioxane type are attractive material precursors. High molecular weights and well-defined structures predestine them to create ceramics with a controlled composition at the molecular level. New molecular precursors of ceramic materials with the ratio of Si:Ge = 7:1 atoms were obtained. The influence of organic substituents on the thermal decomposition processes of germasilsesquioxanes was investigated. Some of the structures obtained are characterized by a high non-volatile residue after the thermal decomposition process. The introduction of the germanium atom to the structure of the silsesquioxane molecular cage reduces the thermal stability of the obtained structures