Conformal lattice of magnetic bubble domains in garnet film

We report experimental observations of magnetic bubble domain arrays with no apparent translational symmetry. Additionally the results of comparative numerical studies are discussed. Our goal is to present experimental evidence for natural occurence of conformal structures.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX2e, accepted as paper E090 at JEMS'01 (Joint European Magnetic Symposia, formerly EMMA + MRM), August 28th to September 1st, 2001, Grenoble, Franc

Influence of Temperature, Hypercapnia, and Development on the Relative Expression of Different Hemocyanin Isoforms in the Common Cuttlefish Sepia officinalis

The cuttlefish Sepia officinalis expresses several hemocyanin isoforms with potentially different pH optima, indicating their reliance on efficient pH regulation in the blood. Ongoing ocean warming and acidification could influence the oxygen-binding properties of respiratory pigments in ectothermic marine invertebrates. This study examined whether S. officinalis differentially expresses individual hemocyanin isoforms to maintain optimal oxygen transport during development and acclimation to elevated seawater pCO2 and temperature. Using quantitative PCR, we measured relative mRNA expression levels of three different hemocyanin isoforms in several ontogenetic stages (embryos, hatchlings, juveniles, and adults), under different temperatures and elevated seawater pCO2. Our results indicate moderately altered hemocyanin expression in all embryonic stages acclimated to higher pCO2, while hemocyanin expression in hatchlings and juveniles remained unaffected. During the course of development, total hemocyanin expression increased independently of pCO2 or thermal acclimation status. Expression of isoform 3 is reported for the first time in a cephalopod in this study and was found to be generally low but highest in the embryonic stages (0.2% of total expression). Despite variable hemocyanin expression, hemolymph total protein concentrations remained constant in the experimental groups. Our data provide first evidence that ontogeny has a stronger influence on hemocyanin isoform expression than the environmental conditions chosen, and they suggest that hemocyanin protein abundance in response to thermal acclimation is regulated by post-transcriptional/translational rather than by transcriptional modifications

Influence of Co doping on crystal and magnetic properties of Gd_{2}Cu_{2}In

Physical properties of $Gd_2Cu_{2 - x}Co_{x}In$ (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) samples are investigated. The paper brings results of X-ray diffraction, magnetometric as well as specific heat studies. It was found that only sample with x = 0.1 exhibits desired crystal structure. Other compositions show existence of impurities due to lack of dissolution Co atoms. For $Gd_2Cu_{1.9}Co_{0.1}In$ sample the Curie temperature of 92.5 K was evidenced. Thus, an enhancement of ferromagnetic correlations with comparison to $Gd_2Cu_2In$ sample was evidenced. It was found that $Gd_2Cu_{1.9}Co_{0.1}In$ sample exhibits magnetocaloric effect within broad temperature range

ElevatedpCO2drives lower growth and yet increased calcification in the early life history of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)

Ocean acidification is an escalating environmental issue and associated changes in the ocean carbonate system have implications for many calcifying organisms. The present study followed the growth of Sepia officinalis from early-stage embryos, through hatching, to 7-week-old juveniles. Responses of cuttlefish to elevated pCO(2) (hypercapnia) were investigated to test the impacts of near-future and extreme ocean acidification conditions on growth, developmental time, oxygen consumption, and yolk utilization as proxies for individual fitness. We further examined gross morphological characteristics of the internal calcareous cuttlebone to determine whether embryonically secreted shell lamellae are impacted by environmental hypercapnia. Embryonic growth was reduced and hatching delayed under elevated pCO(2), both at environmentally relevant levels (0.14 kPa pCO(2) similar to predicted ocean conditions in 2100) and extreme conditions (0.40 kPa pCO(2)). Comparing various metrics from control and intermediate treatments generally showed no significant difference in experimental measurements. Yet, results from the high pCO(2) treatment showed significant changes compared with controls and revealed a consistent general trend across the three treatment levels. The proportion of animal mass contributed by the cuttlebone increased in both elevated pCO(2) treatments. Gross cuttlebone morphology was affected under such conditions and cuttlebones of hypercapnic individuals were proportionally shorter. Embryonic shell morphology was maintained consistently in all treatments, despite compounding hypercapnia in the perivitelline fluid; however, post-hatching, hypercapnic animals developed denser cuttlebone laminae in shorter cuttlebones. Juvenile cuttlefish in acidified environments thus experience lower growth and yet increased calcification of their internal shell. The results of this study support recent findings that early cuttlefish life stages are more vulnerable towards hypercapnia than juveniles and adults, which may have negative repercussions on the biological fitness of cuttlefish hatchlings in future oceans

Особенности теплоемкости квазиодномерного магнетика β-TeVO₄

Изучена температурная зависимость теплоемкости СР(Т) квазиодномерной магнитной системы β-TeVO₄ в нулевом магнитном поле в температурном интервале 0,1 К ≤ Т ≤ 300 К. На зависимости СР(Т) обнаружены фазовые переходы при температурах 4,65, 3,28 и 2,32 К. Установлено, что при температуре TN = 4,65 К происходит фазовый переход из парамагнитного в антиферромагнитное состояние. Проведено теоретическое описание температурной зависимости теплоемкости.Вивчено температурну залежність теплоємності СР(Т) квазіодновимірної магнітної системи β-TeVO₄ в нульовому магнітному полі в температурному інтервалі 0,1 К ≤ Т ≤ 300 К. На залежності СР(Т) було виявлено фазові переходи при температурах 4,65, 3,28 та 2,32 К. Встановлено, що при температурі TN = 4,65 К відбувається фазовий перехід з парамагнітного в антиферомагнітний стан. Проведено теоретичний опис температурної залежності теплоємності.Temperature dependence of specific heat CP(T) of quasi-one-dimensional magnetic system β-TeVO₄ at zero magnetic field in the temperature range 0.1 K ≤ T ≤ 300 K is studied. The phase transitions on dependence CP(T) at temperatures 4.65, 3.28 and 2.32 K have been detected. It was found, the phase transition from the paramagnetic to the antiferromagnetic state occurs at TN = 4.65 K. The theoretical description of the temperature dependence of the specific heat has been obtained

Functional evolution of the colony‐stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) and its ligands in birds

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF1 or M-CSF) and interleukin 34 (IL34) are secreted cytokines that control macrophage survival and differentiation. Both act through the CSF1 receptor (CSF1R), a type III transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase. The functions of CSF1R and both ligands are conserved in birds. We have analyzed protein-coding sequence divergence among avian species. The intracellular tyrosine kinase domain of CSF1R was highly conserved in bird species as in mammals but the extracellular domain of avian CSF1R was more divergent in birds with multiple positively selected amino acids. Based upon crystal structures of the mammalian CSF1/IL34 receptor-ligand interfaces and structure-based alignments, we identified amino acids involved in avian receptor-ligand interactions. The contact amino acids in both CSF1 and CSF1R diverged among avian species. Ligand-binding domain swaps between chicken and zebra finch CSF1 confirmed the function of variants that confer species specificity on the interaction of CSF1 with CSF1R. Based upon genomic sequence analysis, we identified prevalent amino acid changes in the extracellular domain of CSF1R even within the chicken species that distinguished commercial broilers and layers and tropically adapted breeds. The rapid evolution in the extracellular domain of avian CSF1R suggests that at least in birds this ligand-receptor interaction is subjected to pathogen selection. We discuss this finding in the context of expression of CSF1R in antigen-sampling and antigen-presenting cells

Functional evolution of the colony‐stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) and its ligands in birds

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF1 or M-CSF) and interleukin 34 (IL34) are secreted cytokines that control macrophage survival and differentiation. Both act through the CSF1 receptor (CSF1R), a type III transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase. The functions of CSF1R and both ligands are conserved in birds. We have analyzed protein-coding sequence divergence among avian species. The intracellular tyrosine kinase domain of CSF1R was highly conserved in bird species as in mammals but the extracellular domain of avian CSF1R was more divergent in birds with multiple positively selected amino acids. Based upon crystal structures of the mammalian CSF1/IL34 receptor-ligand interfaces and structure-based alignments, we identified amino acids involved in avian receptor-ligand interactions. The contact amino acids in both CSF1 and CSF1R diverged among avian species. Ligand-binding domain swaps between chicken and zebra finch CSF1 confirmed the function of variants that confer species specificity on the interaction of CSF1 with CSF1R. Based upon genomic sequence analysis, we identified prevalent amino acid changes in the extracellular domain of CSF1R even within the chicken species that distinguished commercial broilers and layers and tropically adapted breeds. The rapid evolution in the extracellular domain of avian CSF1R suggests that at least in birds this ligand-receptor interaction is subjected to pathogen selection. We discuss this finding in the context of expression of CSF1R in antigen-sampling and antigen-presenting cells