The morphology of the labrum (epipharynx, ikrioma and aboral surface) of adult Aphodiini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae), and its implications for systematics

The morphology of the labrum (epipharynx, ikrioma and aboral surface) of adult Aphodiini is figured and discussed. An updated glossary of the constitutive parts is presented

Orbital Evolution of Dust Size Particles Released From Catastrophic Asteroid Disruption

Infrared satellite detectors, such as IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) and WISE (Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer), provide observational evidence of catastrophic asteroid disruptions in the form of zodiacal cloud dust bands. With observations of these bands, the asteroid parents and their families (fragments of disruptions) are studied to better understand the zodiacal cloud prior to disruption, as well as how asteroids contribute to the debris disk of the solar system\u27s zodiacal cloud. Before creating models that can be compared to satellite data, the dynamical evolutions of small particles resulting from different disruptions of different ages as they evolve into the inner solar system are tracked. The dynamical evolution code, written in IDL, simulates the orbital elements of small particles during disruption. It takes into consideration the gravitational and radiative forces affecting small particle orbits for specific families within their unique epochs of disruptions. Through plots of temporal variations of numerous orbital elements of the resulting disruptions, this team has begun comparing the dynamical evolution of small particles from different asteroidal disruptions, as they reach Near-Earth Space. Understanding the particles in this region is important for many reasons, including determining potential threats for spacecraft in future missions

Lower Bounds to Quality Factor of Small Radiators through Quasistatic Scattering Modes

The problem of finding the optimal current distribution supported by a small radiator yielding the minimum quality ($Q$) factor is a fundamental problem in electromagnetism. $Q$ factor bounds constrain the maximum operational bandwidth of devices including antennas, metamaterials, and open optical resonators. In this manuscript, a representation of the optimal current distribution in terms of quasistatic scattering modes is introduced. Quasi-electrostatic and quasi-magnetostatic modes describe the resonances of small plasmonic and high-permittivity particles, respectively. The introduced representation leads to analytical and closed form expressions of the electric and magnetic polarizability tensors of arbitrarily shaped objects, whose eigenvalues are known to be linked to the minimum $Q$. Hence, the minimum $Q$ and the corresponding optimal current are determined from the sole knowledge of the eigenvalues and the dipole moments associated with the quasistatic modes. It is found that, when the radiator exhibits two orthogonal reflection symmetries, its minimum $Q$ factor can be simply obtained from the $Q$ factors of its quasistatic modes, through a parallel formula. When an electric type radiator supports a spatially uniform quasistatic resonance mode, or when a magnetic type resonator supports a mode of curl type, then these modes are guaranteed to have the minimum $Q$ factor

Reduced RNA turnover as a driver of cellular senescence

Accumulation of senescent cells is an important contributor to chronic inflammation upon aging. The inflammatory phenotype of senescent cells was previously shown to be driven by cytoplasmic DNA. Here, we propose that cytoplasmic double-stranded RNA has a similar effect. We find that several cell types driven into senescence by different routes share an accumulation of long promoter RNAs and 3' gene extensions rich in retrotransposon sequences. Accordingly, these cells display increased expression of genes involved in response to double stranded RNA of viral origin downstream of the interferon pathway. The RNA accumulation is associated with evidence of reduced RNA turnover, including in some cases, reduced expression of RNA exosome subunits. Reciprocally, depletion of RNA exosome subunit EXOSC3 accelerated expression of multiple senescence markers. A senescence-like RNA accumulation was also observed in cells exposed to oxidative stress, an important trigger of cellular senescence. Altogether, we propose that in a subset of senescent cells, repeat-containing transcripts stabilized by oxidative stress or reduced RNA exosome activity participate in driving and maintaining the permanent inflammatory state characterizing cellular senescence

Even free radicals should follow some rules: a guide to free radical research terminology and methodology.

Free radicals and oxidants are now implicated in physiological responses and in several diseases. Given the wide range of expertise of free radical researchers, application of the greater understanding of chemistry has not been uniformly applied to biological studies. We suggest that some widely used methodologies and terminologies hamper progress and need to be addressed. We make the case for abandonment and judicious use of several methods and terms and suggest practical and viable alternatives. These changes are suggested in four areas: use of fluorescent dyes to identify and quantify reactive species, methods for measurement of lipid peroxidation in complex biological systems, claims of antioxidants as radical scavengers, and use of the terms for reactive species

Interactive stratospheric aerosol models' response to different amounts and altitudes of SO2 injection during the 1991 Pinatubo eruption

A previous model intercomparison of the Tambora aerosol cloud has highlighted substantial differences among simulated volcanic aerosol properties in the pre-industrial stratosphere and has led to questions about the applicability of global aerosol models for large-magnitude explosive eruptions prior to the observational period. Here, we compare the evolution of the stratospheric aerosol cloud following the well-observed June 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption simulated with six interactive stratospheric aerosol microphysics models to a range of observational data sets. Our primary focus is on the uncertainties regarding initial SO2 emission following the Pinatubo eruption, as prescribed in the Historical Eruptions SO2 Emission Assessment experiments (HErSEA), in the framework of the Interactive Stratospheric Aerosol Model Intercomparison Project (ISA-MIP). Six global models with interactive aerosol microphysics took part in this study: ECHAM6-SALSA, EMAC, ECHAM5-HAM, SOCOL-AERv2, ULAQ-CCM, and UM-UKCA. Model simulations are performed by varying the SO2 injection amount (ranging between 5 and 10 Tg S) and the altitude of injection (between 18–25 km). The comparisons show that all models consistently demonstrate faster reduction from the peak in sulfate mass burden in the tropical stratosphere. Most models also show a stronger transport towards the extratropics in the Northern Hemisphere, at the expense of the observed tropical confinement, suggesting a much weaker subtropical barrier in all the models, which results in a shorter e-folding time compared to the observations. Furthermore, simulations in which more than 5 Tg S in the form of SO2 is injected show an initial overestimation of the sulfate burden in the tropics and, in some models, in the Northern Hemisphere and a large surface area density a few months after the eruption compared to the values measured in the tropics and the in situ measurements over Laramie. This draws attention to the importance of including processes such as the ash injection for the removal of the initial SO2 and aerosol lofting through local heating.</p

Effect of Cyclooxygenase(COX)-1 and COX-2 inhibition on furosemide-induced renal responses and isoform immunolocalization in the healthy cat kidney

BACKGROUND: The role of cyclooxygenase(COX)-1 and COX-2 in the saluretic and renin-angiotensin responses to loop diuretics in the cat is unknown. We propose in vivo characterisation of isoform roles in a furosemide model by administering non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with differing selectivity profiles: robenacoxib (COX-2 selective) and ketoprofen (COX-1 selective). RESULTS: In this four period crossover study, we compared the effect of four treatments: placebo, robenacoxib once or twice daily and ketoprofen once daily concomitantly with furosemide in seven healthy cats. For each period, urine and blood samples were collected at baseline and within 48 h of treatment starting. Plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma and urinary aldosterone concentrations, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and 24 h urinary volumes, electrolytes and eicosanoids (PGE(2), 6-keto-PGF1(α,) TxB(2)), renal injury biomarker excretions [N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and Gamma-Glutamyltransferase] were measured. Urine volume (24 h) and urinary sodium, chloride and calcium excretions increased from baseline with all treatments. Plasma creatinine increased with all treatments except placebo, whereas GFR was significantly decreased from baseline only with ketoprofen. PRA increased significantly with placebo and once daily robenacoxib and the increase was significantly higher with placebo compared to ketoprofen (10.5 ± 4.4 vs 4.9 ± 5.0 ng ml(−1) h(−1)). Urinary aldosterone excretion increased with all treatments but this increase was inhibited by 75 % with ketoprofen and 65 % with once daily robenacoxib compared to placebo. Urinary PGE(2) excretion decreased with all treatments and excretion was significantly lower with ketoprofen compared to placebo. Urinary TxB(2) excretion was significantly increased from baseline only with placebo. NAG increased from baseline with all treatments. Immunohistochemistry on post-mortem renal specimens, obtained from a different group of cats that died naturally of non-renal causes, suggested constitutive COX-1 and COX-2 co-localization in many renal structures including the macula densa (MD). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that both COX-1 and COX-2 could generate the signal from the MD to the renin secreting cells in cats exposed to furosemide. Co-localization of COX isoenzymes in MD cells supports the functional data reported here. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0598-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users