ADRIA LITHOSPHERE INVESTIGATION ALPHA - Cruise No. M86/3, January 20 - February 04, 2012, Brindisi (Italy) - Dubrovnik (Croatia)

The Adriatic Sea and underlying lithosphere remains the least investigated part of the Mediterranean Sea. To shed light on the plate tectonic setting in this central part of southern Europe, R/V METEOR cruise M86/3 set out to acquire deep penetrating seismic data in the Adriatic Sea. M86/3 formed the core of an amphibious investigation crossing Adria from the Italian Peninsula into Montenegro/Albania. A total of 111 OBS/OBH deployments were successfully carried out, in addition to 47 landstations both in Italy and Montenegro/Albania, which recorded the offshore airgun shots. In the scope of this shoreline-crossing study, the aim is to quantify the shallow geometry, deep boundaries and the architecture of the southern Adriatic crust and lithosphere and to provide insights on a possible decoupling zone between the northern and southern Adriatic domains. Investigating the structure of the Adriatic crust and lithospheric mantle and analyzing the tectonic activity are essential for understanding the mountain-building processes that underlie the neotectonics and earthquake hazard of the Periadriatic region, especially in the vicinity of local decoupling zones

IgG Fc N-glycosylation translates MHCII haplotype into autoimmune skin disease

The major histocompatibility complex haplotype represents the most prevalent genetic risk factor for the development of autoimmune diseases. However, the mechanisms by which major histocompatibility complex-associated genetic susceptibility translates into autoimmune disease are not fully understood. Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is an autoimmune skin-blistering disease driven by autoantibodies to type VII collagen. Here, we investigated autoantigen-specific plasma cells, CD4(+) T cells, and IgG fraction crystallizable glycosylation in murine epidermolysis bullosa acquisita in congenic mouse strains with the disease-permitting H2s or disease-nonpermitting H2b major histocompatibility complex II haplotypes. Mice with an H2s haplotype showed increased numbers of autoreactive CD4(+) T cells and elevated IL-21 and IFN-gamma production, associated with a higher frequency of IgG autoantibodies with an agalactosylated, proinflammatory N-glycan moiety. Mechanistically, we show that the altered antibody glycosylation leads to increased ROS release from neutrophils, the main drivers of autoimmune inflammation in this model. These results indicate that major histocompatibility complex II-associated susceptibility to autoimmune diseases acuminates in a proinflammatory IgG fraction crystallizable N-glycosylation pattern and provide a mechanistic link to increased ROS release by neutrophils.Proteomic

Projekt miniaturowego, trójwymiarowego laserowego skanera przestrzeni dla BSP pionowego startu i lądowania

An avionics module, based on a commercially available LIDAR, which perform scans in a single plane, was developed. The module enables to obtain three dimensional point map of the area around aircraft. Spherical coordinates of each point are forwarded to the main avionics computer, where final computations are done accordingly to the implemented algorithm. Received data can be used to determine areas dangerous for flight, specify flight trajectory that avoid obstacles or just for visualization of the aircraft surroundings. In this article designed structure of the module was presented as well as developed operational algorithm. Finally, obtained measurement results were discussed and usage constraints consequential to a specific structure of the module were presented.Wykorzystując komercyjny, laserowy skaner wykonujący pomiary w jednej płaszczyźnie, opracowano moduł awioniczny umożliwiający uzyskanie trójwymiarowej chmury punktów obrazujących przestrzeń wokół statku powietrznego. Współrzędne sferyczne każdego z tych punktów przekazywane są do komputera pokładowego systemu awionicznego. W zależności od zaimplementowanego w nim algorytmu, odebrane dane mogą służyć do określenia obszarów niebezpiecznych dla lotu, wyznaczenia trajektorii lotu z ominięciem przeszkód lub wizualizacji otoczenia statku powietrznego. W artykule przedstawiono zastosowaną konstrukcję modułu awionicznego i opracowany algorytm pracy urządzenia, omówiono otrzymane wyniki oraz przedstawiono ograniczenia możliwości zastosowania modułu wynikające ze specyfiki zaproponowanego rozwiązania

Implementation of a dose gradient method into optimization of dose distribution in prostate cancer 3D-CRT plans

AimThe aim of this work is to present a method of beam weight and wedge angle optimization for patients with prostate cancer.Background3D-CRT is usually realized with forward planning based on a trial and error method. Several authors have published a few methods of beam weight optimization applicable to the 3D-CRT. Still, none on these methods is in common use.Materials and methodsOptimization is based on the assumption that the best plan is achieved if dose gradient at ICRU point is equal to zero. Our optimization algorithm requires beam quality index, depth of maximum dose, profiles of wedged fields and maximum dose to femoral heads. The method was tested for 10 patients with prostate cancer, treated with the 3-field technique. Optimized plans were compared with plans prepared by 12 experienced planners. Dose standard deviation in target volume, and minimum and maximum doses were analyzed.ResultsThe quality of plans obtained with the proposed optimization algorithms was comparable to that prepared by experienced planners. Mean difference in target dose standard deviation was 0.1% in favor of the plans prepared by planners for optimization of beam weights and wedge angles. Introducing a correction factor for patient body outline for dose gradient at ICRU point improved dose distribution homogeneity. On average, a 0.1% lower standard deviation was achieved with the optimization algorithm. No significant difference in mean dose–volume histogram for the rectum was observed.ConclusionsOptimization shortens very much time planning. The average planning time was 5[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]min and less than a minute for forward and computer optimization, respectively

Record of fluvial and biogenic sedimentation processes in sediments of the Lower Vistula Valley floor

W artykule przedstawiono przegląd osadów powodziowych i biogenicznych zdeponowanych w dnie Doliny Dolnej Wisły od okolic Górska, w środkowej części Kotliny Toruńskiej, po okolice Grudziądza. Omówiono piaszczyste osady powodziowe, osady basenów popowodziowych i mineralne osady jeziorzysk dolinnych. Dokonano analizy podstawowych własności utworów biogenicznych i ich interpretacji genetycznej. Omówiono też wyniki badań nad rekonstrukcją układu koryta Wisły w ciągu ostatnich 200 lat w Kotlinie Grudziądzkiej i Basenie Unisławskim oraz problem powolnego zamulania starorzeczy powstałych przed regulacją i po regulacji hydrotechnicznej w końcu XIX w. Wyjaśniono kwestię gradientu zawartości węglanowej materii rozpuszczonej w dnie doliny i jego wpływ na sedymentację osadów. Zwrócono uwagę na podobieństwa i różnice w transporcie materii rozpuszczonej i zawieszonej między korytem Wisły i starorzeczami na przykładzie starorzecza Starej Wisły i koryta Wisły w Bratwinie.The paper is a review of flood and biogenic sediments which have been deposited on the Lower Vistula Valley floor from the vicinity of Górsk to Grudziądz town. Sandy flood sediments, flood basin sediments and mineral infillings of former back swamps are described. Biogenic sediments are also discussed and genetically interpreted. The results of the Vistula channel reconstruction in Grudziądz Basin and Unisław Basin in the last 200 years are also presented. The reconstruction is strongly linked with the problem of relatively slow siltation of oxbows after the hydrotechnical regulation at the end of XIX-th century. The question of the carbonates gradient in floodplain sediments is also explained. The differences and similarities of the dissolved and suspended matter transport between the main channel and fluvial lake is shown on the example of the oxbow lake and Vistula river channel in Bratwin