Wind Tunnel Tests of Ailerons at Various Speeds I : Ailerons of 0.20 Airfoil Chord and True Contour with 0.35 Aileron-chord Extreme Blunt Nose Balance on the NACA 66,2-216 Airfoil

Hinge-moment, lift, and pressure-distribution measurements were made in the two-dimensional test section of the NACA stability tunnel on a blunt-nose balance-type aileron on an NACA 66,2-216 airfoil at speeds up to 360 miles per hour corresponding to a Mach number of 0.475. The tests were made primarily to determine the effect of speed on the action of this type of aileron. The balance-nose radii of the aileron were varied from 0 to 0.02 of the airfoil chord and the gap width was varied from 0.0005 to 0.0107 of the airfoil chord. Tests were also made with the gap sealed

Identification of genomic regions associated with differences in fleece type in Huacaya and Suri alpacas (Vicugna pacos).

The difference in fleece type is the distinguishing trait between the two types of alpacas (Vicugna pacos), Huacaya and Suri. The Suri fleece type has been found to be inherited dominantly over the Huacaya type, resulting in offspring with the Suri phenotype. The aim of our study was to map genomic regions associated with the two different fleece types. In this study, 91 alpacas (54 Huacayas and 37 Suris) from Germany and Switzerland were genotyped using the 76k alpaca SNP array. Only 59k chromosome-localised markers map to the alpaca reference assembly VicPac3.1, and after quality control 49 866 SNPs, were retained for population structure assessment and to conduct a genome-wide association study. Both principal component and neighbour-joining tree analysis showed that the two fleece-type cohorts overlapped rather than forming two distinct clusters. Genome-wide significantly associated markers were observed in the scaffold region of chromosome 16 (NW_021964192.1), which contains a cluster of keratin genes. A haplotype predominantly found in Suri alpacas has been identified which supports dominant inheritance. Variant filtering of nine whole-genome sequenced alpacas from both fleece types in the critical interval of 0.4 Mb did not reveal perfect segregation of either fleece type for specific variants. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use the recently developed species-specific SNP array to identify genomic regions associated with differences in fleece type in alpacas. There are still some limitations, such as the preliminary status of the reference assembly and the incomplete annotation of the alpaca genome

Mitostatin Is Down-Regulated in Human Prostate Cancer and Suppresses the Invasive Phenotype of Prostate Cancer Cells

MITOSTATIN, a novel putative tumor suppressor gene induced by decorin overexpression, is expressed in most normal human tissues but is markedly down-regulated in advanced stages of mammary and bladder carcinomas. Mitostatin negatively affects cell growth, induces cell death and regulates the expression and activation levels of Hsp27. In this study, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of Mitostatin in PC3, DU145, and LNCaP prostate cancer cells not only induced a significant reduction in cell growth, but also inhibited migration and invasion. Moreover, Mitostatin inhibited colony formation in soft-agar of PC3 and LNCaP cells as well as tumorigenicity of LNCaP cells in nude mice. Conversely, targeting endogenous Mitostatin by siRNA and anti-sense strategies in PC3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells enhanced the malignant phenotype in both cell lines. In agreement of these anti-oncogenic roles, we discovered that Mitostatin was absent in ∼35% (n = 124) of prostate tumor samples and its overall reduction was associated with advanced cancer stages. Collectively, our findings indicate that MITOSTATIN may acts as a tumor suppressor gene in prostate cancer and provide a novel cellular and molecular mechanism to be further exploited and deciphered in our understanding of prostate cancer progression

Canine NAPEPLD-associated models of human myelin disorders

Canine leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP) is a juvenile-onset neurodegenerative disorder of the CNS white matter currently described in Rottweiler and Leonberger dogs. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) allowed us to map LEMP in a Leonberger cohort to dog chromosome 18. Subsequent whole genome re-sequencing of a Leonberger case enabled the identification of a single private homozygous non-synonymous missense variant located in the highly conserved metallo-beta-lactamase domain of the N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPEPLD) gene, encoding an enzyme of the endocannabinoid system. We then sequenced this gene in LEMP-affected Rottweilers and identified a different frameshift variant, which is predicted to replace the C-terminal metallo-beta-lactamase domain of the wild type protein. Haplotype analysis of SNP array genotypes revealed that the frameshift variant was present in diverse haplotypes in Rottweilers, and also in Great Danes, indicating an old origin of this second NAPEPLD variant. The identification of different NAPEPLD variants in dog breeds affected by leukoencephalopathies with heterogeneous pathological features, implicates the NAPEPLD enzyme as important in myelin homeostasis, and suggests a novel candidate gene for myelination disorders in people

Genome-Wide Analyses for Osteosarcoma in Leonberger Dogs Reveal the CDKN2A/B Gene Locus as a Major Risk Locus

Dogs represent a unique spontaneous cancer model. Osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most common primary bone tumor in dogs (OMIA 001441-9615), and strongly resembles human forms of OSA. Several large- to giant-sized dog breeds, including the Leonberger, have a greatly increased risk of developing OSA. We performed genome-wide association analysis with high-density imputed SNP genotype data from 273 Leonberger cases with a median age of 8.1 [3.1–13.5] years and 365 controls older than eight years. This analysis revealed significant associations at the CDKN2A/B gene locus on canine chromosome 11, mirroring previous findings in other dog breeds, such as the greyhound, that also show an elevated risk for OSA. Heritability (h2SNP) was determined to be 20.6% (SE = 0.08; p-value = 5.7 × 10−4) based on a breed prevalence of 20%. The 2563 SNPs across the genome accounted for nearly all the h2SNP of OSA, with 2183 SNPs of small effect, 316 SNPs of moderate effect, and 64 SNPs of large effect. As with many other cancers it is likely that regulatory, non-coding variants underlie the increased risk for cancer development. Our findings confirm a complex genetic basis of OSA, moderate heritability, and the crucial role of the CDKN2A/B locus leading to strong cancer predisposition in dogs. It will ultimately be interesting to study and compare the known genetic loci associated with canine OSA in human OSA

Условия получения и диэлектрические свойства СВЧ-керамики составов (1–x)((Mg0,2Zn0,8)TiO3–xCaTiO3

The results of investigation of the temperature and frequency dependences of the dielectric characteristics of microwave ceramics of (1–x)((Mg0,2Zn0,8)TiO3–xCaTiO3 ((1–x)(MZT)–xCT) (0.1 ≤ x< 0.6) compositions synthesized from a mixture of oxides (the first method) and from a mixture of a pre-prepared solid solution of (Mg0,2 Zn0,8)TiO3 and a CaTiO3  compounds (the second method), as well as ceramics of these compositions doped at the stage of sintering 1–2 % tin and tungsten are presented. It is shown that the synthesized ceramics is a composite consisting of a mixture of phases formed on the basis of solid solutions of (Zn, Mg)2 TiO4 , (Zn, Mg)TiO3  and the CaTiO3  compounds, the ratio of which in ceramics depends on the composition of the initial mixture and the synthesis conditions. It is established that the dielectric constant (ε) of ceramics synthe sized from a mixture of oxides increases with increasing CaTiO3 content in the (1–x)((Mg0,2Zn0,8)TiO3–xCaTiO3 system. This ceramics is characterized by small values of the temperature coefficient of dielectric constant (TKε ) and the dielectric loss tangent (tanδ) in the temperature range of 20–200 °C. For ceramics synthesized according to the second method, the high temperature stability of TKε and the small value of tanδ are observed in the temperature range of 20–150 °C. Doping ceramics with tin and tungsten oxides leads to an increase in ε and a decrease in dielectric losses.Представлены результаты исследований температурной и частотной зависимостей диэлектрических характеристик СВЧ-керамики составов (1–x)(Mg0,2 Zn0,8)TiO3 –xCaTiO3 ((1–x)(MZT)–xCT) (0,1 ≤x <0,6), синтезированной из смеси оксидов (первый способ) и из смеси предварительно полученных твердого раствора (Mg0,2 Zn0,8)TiO3 и соединения CaTiO3 (второй способ), а также керамик данных составов, допированных на стадии спекания 1–2 % олова и вольфрама. Показано, что синтезированная керамика представляет собой композит, состоящий из смеси фаз, образующихся на основе твердых растворов (Zn, Mg)2 TiO4 , (Zn, Mg)TiO3  и соединения CaTiO3 , соотношение которых в керамике зависит от состава исходной шихты и условий синтеза. Установлено, что диэлектрическая проницаемость (ε) керамики, синтезированной из смеси оксидов, увеличивается с увеличением содержания CaTiO3  в системе (1–x)(Mg0,2 Zn0,8)TiO3 –xCaTiO3. Данная керамика характеризуется малыми значениями температурного коэффициента диэлектрической проницаемости (ТКε ) и тангенса угла диэлектрических потерь (tgδ) в области температур 20–200 °C.Для керамики, синтезированной по второму способу, высокая температурная стабильность ТКε и малое значение tgδ наблюдаются в области температур 20–150 °C. Допирование керамик оксидами олова и вольфрама приводит к увеличению ε и снижению диэлектрических потерь

ВЛИЯНИЕ УЛЬТРАЗВУКОВОГО ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЯ НА КРИСТАЛЛИЧЕСКУЮ СТРУКТУРУ КЕРАМИКИ НА ОСНОВЕ ЦИРКОНАТА-ТИТАНАТА СВИНЦА

The crystal structure and electrical properties of ceramics obtained from sonicated powders of lead zirconate-titanate were investigated. It is found that ultrasonic treatment of the initial powders allows to obtain piezoelectric ceramics with the monocrystalline structure and desired physical properties.Исследованы кристаллическая структура и электрофизические свойства керамик, полученных из обработанных ультразвуком порошков цирконата-титаната свинца. Установлено, что ультразвуковое воздействие на исходные порошки дает возможность получать пьезоэлектрическую керамику с монокристаллической структурой и заданными физическими свойствами

Canine NAPEPLD-associated models of human myelin disorders

Canine leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP) is a juvenile-onset neurodegenerative disorder of the CNS white matter currently described in Rottweiler and Leonberger dogs. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) allowed us to map LEMP in a Leonberger cohort to dog chromosome 18. Subsequent whole genome re-sequencing of a Leonberger case enabled the identification of a single private homozygous non-synonymous missense variant located in the highly conserved metallo-beta-lactamase domain of the N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPEPLD) gene, encoding an enzyme of the endocannabinoid system. We then sequenced this gene in LEMP-affected Rottweilers and identified a different frameshift variant, which is predicted to replace the C-terminal metallo-beta-lactamase domain of the wild type protein. Haplotype analysis of SNP array genotypes revealed that the frameshift variant was present in diverse haplotypes in Rottweilers, and also in Great Danes, indicating an old origin of this second NAPEPLD variant. The identification of different NAPEPLD variants in dog breeds affected by leukoencephalopathies with heterogeneous pathological features, implicates the NAPEPLD enzyme as important in myelin homeostasis, and suggests a novel candidate gene for myelination disorders in people.</p