Fatty Acid Composition of M. Biceps Femoris of Edible Dormouse (Glis glis L.)

This study aimed to investigate the fatty acid (FA) composition of edible dormouse m. biceps femoris in both sexes. More than 20 FA were identified in the muscle, with the 18:1cis-9 (oleic acid) being the most abundant in both sexes, comprising more than 50% of total FA in muscle. The most dominated FA were monounsaturated (MUFA), followed by saturated FA (SFA) and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), reaching 54.8%, 25.43% and 19.8% of total FA, respectively. Sums of PUFA and n-3 PUFA tended (p > 0.05) to be higher in males than in females. There were no significant differences between sexes on the FA composition. Nevertheless, the 18:2n-6 tended to differ between sexes (p = 0.063). Several long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) were detected in dormouse muscle, with the 20:4 n-6 (arachidonic acid, AA) and the 22:6 n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) being the most abundant in both sexes. The relatively high stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) indexes and the large concentration of 18:1cis-9 in dormouse muscle tissues might point to a low mobilization of the SCD products. Furthermore, finding the unusual FA 20:3 D5,D11,D14, suggests feeding on leaf and wood lipids of Coniferophytes. We demonstrated sexual size monomorphism in edible dormouse. The literature regarding the composition of dormouse meat is scarce and no studies reported the FA composition of muscle, thus, this work can contribute to increasing the knowledge on edible dormouse physiology and nutritional traitsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Communication of CD8+ T cells with mononuclear phagocytes in multiple sclerosis

Objective CD8+ T cells are the most prevailing lymphocyte population in inflammatory lesions of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) but it is not even known whether they are merely passive bystanders or actively communicate with other cells in the brain. To identify their potential interaction partners, we analyzed CD8+ T cells that contained vectorially oriented cytotoxic granules and analyzed the areas to which the granules pointed. Methods We stained cryo‐sections of active MS lesions of an index patient with antibodies to CD8 and perforin, searched for vectorially oriented perforin granules, and isolated target areas opposing the granules and control areas by laser‐microdissection. From both areas, we analyzed cell‐type specific transcripts by next‐generation sequencing. In parallel, we stained samples from the index‐patient and other patients by four‐color immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results We found transcripts of the mononuclear phagocyte (MP) specific markers CD163 and CD11b only in the microdissected target areas but not in control areas. We validated the finding that MPs are communication partners of CD8+ T cells in MS lesions by classical IHC in samples from the index‐patient and other patients with acute and progressive MS and other inflammatory neurological diseases. Interpretation Because CD163 and CD11b are specifically expressed in MPs, our findings suggest that CD8+ T cells communicate with local MPs. Although it is still unclear if these interactions lead to killing of the communication partners by CD8+ T cells, our data underline that CD8+ T cells play an active role in the pathogenesis of MS

Abundance analysis of two late A-type stars HD 32115 and HD 37594

We have performed abundance analysis of two slowly rotating, late A-type stars, HD 32115 (HR 1613) and HD 37594 (HR 1940), based on obtained echelle spectra covering the spectral range 4000-9850 AAngstrom. These spectra allowed us to identify an extensive line list for 31 chemical elements, the most complete to date for A-type stars. Two approaches to abundance analysis were used, namely a ``manual'' (interactive) and a semi-automatic procedure for comparison of synthetic and observed spectra and equivalent widths. For some elements non-LTE (NLTE) calculations were carried out and the corresponding corrections have been applied. The abundance pattern of HD 32115 was found to be very close to the solar abundance pattern, and thus may be used as an abundance standard for chemical composition studies in middle and late A stars. Further, its H-alpha line profile shows no core-to-wing anomaly like that found for cool Ap stars and therefore also may be used as a standard in comparative studies of the atmospheric structures of cool, slowly rotating Ap stars. HD 37594 shows a metal deficiency at the level of -0.3 dex for most elements and triangle-like cores of spectral lines. This star most probably belongs to the Delta Scuti group.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Measured Stark widths of several spectral lines of Pb III

The Stark full widths at half of the maximal line intensity (FWHM, ω) have been measured for 25 spectrallines of PbIII (15 measured for the first time) arising from the 5d106s8s, 5d106s7p, 5d106s5f and 5d106s5g electronic configurations, in a lead plasma produced by ablation with a Nd:YAG laser. The optical emission spectroscopy from a laser-induced plasma generated by a 10 640 Å radiation, with an irradiance of 2 × 1010 W cm− 2 on a lead target (99.99% purity) in an atmosphere of argon was analysed in the wavelength interval between 2000 and 7000 Å. The broadening parameters were obtained with the target placed in argon atmosphere at 6 Torr and 400 ns after each laser light pulse, which provides appropriate measurement conditions. A Boltzmann plot was used to obtain the plasma temperature (21,400 K) and published values of the Starkwidths in Pb I, Pb II and PbIII to obtain the electron number density (7 × 1016 cm− 3); with these values, the plasma composition was determined by means of the Saha equation. Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) conditions and plasma homogeneity has been checked. Special attention was dedicated to the possible self-absorption of the different transitions. Comparison of the new results with recent available data is also presented

Sustained Immune Complex-Mediated Reduction in CD16 Expression after Vaccination Regulates NK Cell Function

Cross-linking of FcγRIII (CD16) by immune complexes induces antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by natural killer (NK) cells, contributing to control of intracellular pathogens; this pathway can also be targeted for immunotherapy of cancerous or otherwise diseased cells. However, downregulation of CD16 expression on activated NK cells may limit or regulate this response. Here, we report sustained downregulation of CD16 expression on NK cells in vivo after intramuscular (but not intranasal) influenza vaccination. CD16 downregulation persisted for at least 12 weeks after vaccination and was associated with robust enhancement of influenza-specific plasma antibodies after intramuscular (but not intranasal) vaccination. This effect could be emulated in vitro by co-culture of NK cells with influenza antigen and immune serum and, consistent with the sustained effects after vaccination, only very limited recovery of CD16 expression was observed during long-term in vitro culture of immune complex-treated cells. CD16 downregulation was most marked among normally CD16high CD57+ NK cells, irrespective of NKG2C expression, and was strongly positively associated with degranulation (surface CD107a expression). CD16 downregulation was partially reversed by inhibition of ADAM17 matrix metalloprotease, leading to a sustained increase in both CD107a and CD25 (IL-2Rα) expression. Both the degranulation and CD25 responses of CD57+ NK cells were uniquely dependent on trivalent influenza vaccine-specific IgG. These data support a role for CD16 in early activation of NK cells after vaccination and for CD16 downregulation as a means to modulate NK cell responses and maintain immune homeostasis of both antibody and T cell-dependent pathways

A Spectroscopic study of laser-induced Tin-Lead plasma: transition probabilities for spectral lines of Sn I

In this paper, we present transition probabilities for 97 spectral lines of Sn I, corresponding to transitions n(n = 6,7,8)s → 5p2, n(n = 5,6,7)d → 5p2, 5p3 → 5p2, n(n = 7)p → 6s, determined by measuring the intensities of the emission lines of a Laser-induced breakdown (emission) spectrometry (LIBS). The optical emission spectroscopy from a laser-induced plasma generated by a 10 640 Å radiation, with an irradiance of 1.4 × 1010 Wcm− 2 on an Sn–Pb alloy (an Sn content of approximately 20%), in vacuum, was recorded at 0.8 µs, and analysed between 1900 and 7000 Å. The population-level distribution and corresponding temperature were obtained using Boltzmann plots. The electron density of the plasma was determined using well-known Stark broadening parameters of spectral lines. The plasma under study had an electron temperature of 13,200 K and an electron number density of 2 × 1016 cm− 3. The experimental relative transition probabilities were put on an absolute scale using the branching ratio method to calculate Sn I multiplet transition probabilities from available radiative lifetime data of their upper states and plotting the Sn I emission spectrum lines on a Boltzmann plot assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) to be valid and following Boltzmann's law. The LTE conditions and plasma homogeneity have been checked. Special attention was paid to the possible self-absorption of the different transitions. The experimental results obtained have been compared with the experimental values given by other authors

Outcome After Therapeutic Lymph Node Dissection in Patients with Unknown Primary Melanoma Site

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and outcome of melanoma of unknown primary site (MUP) after therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND) of palpable nodal melanoma metastases. Disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) time of MUP patients were analyzed and compared to patients undergoing a TLND for known primary melanomas (MKP). Methods: This single institution retrospective study analyzed 342 consecutive patients who were treated with 415 TLNDs for palpable nodal disease from 1982 to 2009. Univariate and multivariate analyses included: MUP versus MKP, gender, Breslow thickness, ulceration of primary tumor, site of prima