Unraveling Deformation Mechanisms and Kinematics in Metasedimentary Rocks Along the Southern Iberian Shear Zone

The primary goal of this project is to document deformation mechanisms in quartz-rich rocks across a 100 m wide ductile shear zone to evaluate whether strain localization at the brittle-ductile transition is accompanied by variations in active or dominant deformation mechanisms. A secondary goal of this project is to evaluate whether the kinematic framework varies across a shear zone with a major rheological boundary. The Southern Iberian Shear Zone (SISZ), a major terrane bounding shear zone within the Iberian Massif, is an ideal location to study these questions because it is a regional scale shear zone currently exposed at the level of the brittle-ductile transition that has well-documented strain and kinematics. Previous studies focused largely on deformation in the Beja-Acebuches metabasite (BAM) rocks on the northern side of the shear zone; whereas this study focuses on the Pulo do Lobo (PdL) metasedimentary rocks on the south side of the shear zone. Using microstructural analysis and EBSD data on 24 oriented samples, new information was learned about the PdL unit that is in contact with the SISZ. Microstructural analyses revealed that brittle, diffusional, and dislocation deformation mechanisms were active in quartz deformation. Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) analysis of quartz provided a dataset that had helped uncover information about the kinematics of the shear zone, the slip systems that were active, and whether diffusional processes or dislocation processes dominated during ductile deformation. The EBSD data was used to generate crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) plots in quartz. Weak CPO patterns indicated that, although dislocation processes contributed to the deformation, diffusional processes dominated. CPO patterns and misorientation axis plots were also used to infer that prism is the dominant slip systems within quartz. Previous studies demonstrated that prism slip dominates at approximately 500°C, which gives a constraint on temperature during deformation. This temperature estimate is broadly consistent with the upper greenschist facies metamorphic assemblage in the PdL near the SISZ, but likely inconsistent with lower grade slates \u3e150 m away from the SISZ which have the same dominant slip systems. Further studies are needed to unravel that apparent discrepancy.A crystallographic vorticity axis (CVA) analysis, which uses the internal distortion of grains, was used to further understand the kinematics of the SISZ. The CPO and CVA analyses were used to interpret the kinematics of the SISZ within the PdL. Results were consistent with a combination of flattening and simple shear. The orientation of the vorticity vector that is associated with the noncoaxial part of the strain regime varies at the meter, or potentially even submeter scale. The simple shear varies between left-lateral, oblique, and thrust orientations. This is in contrast to the consistent left-lateral simple shear component in the BAM

Differential inflammatory microRNA and cytokine expression in pulmonary sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. The disease has an important inflammatory and immune component; however, its immunopathogenesis is not completely understood. Recently, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs), the small non-coding RNAs, has attracted attention as both being involved in pathogenesis and serving as disease markers. Accordingly, changes in the expression of some miRNAs have been also associated with different autoimmune pathologies. However, not much is known about the role of miRNAs in sarcoidosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the level of expression of selected miRNAs in healthy individuals and patients with sarcoidosis. We detected significantly increased level of miR-34a in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from sarcoidosis patients. Moreover, significantly up-regulated levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, IFN-γ inducible protein (IP-10) and vascular endothelial growth factor were detected in sera of patients when compared to healthy subjects. Our results add to a known inflammatory component in sarcoidosis. Changes in the levels of miR-34a may suggest its involvement in the pathology of this disease

Pinski Zoo

A truly original contemporary jazz outfit from the UK. Almost impossible to categorize they swing from virtuosic jazz to gritty funk with freedom and movement, veering into leftfleld territory and returning with snappy anthem-like tunes. Unpredictable and exciting, they carved a unique style in the UK and won praise from critics at home and abroad. Their eclectic fusion of style foreshadowed the move towards mixing influences in much of today's modern music. With 8 albums and extensive touring in Europe, Poland and New York in the late 80's and 90's and a "Best British Band" at the British International Jazz Awards in '91 they are back after several years of individual projects

Real-time PCR quantification of plasma DNA in non-small cell lung cancer patients and healthy controls

Abstract Introduction Free-circulating DNA is present in minute amounts in plasma of healthy individuals, whereas increased levels are found in a number of malignant pathologies including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The objective of this research was the evaluation of the plasma DNA quantification capacity to distinguish between healthy subjects and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Materials and methods Plasma samples were collected prospectively from 16 healthy volunteers and 30 untreated NSCLC patients (I-IIIA). Subsequently, free-circulating DNA extraction and quantitative real-time PCR analysis were performed. Results The values of plasma DNA concentration ranged from 0.9 up to 7.0 ng/ml in healthy individuals and from 1.5 up to 50 ng/ml in NSCLC patients before treatment. Cancer group showed several-fold higher mean free-circulating DNA concentration than that present in healthy subjects (mean 12.00 vs. 2.65 ng/ml; P Conclusion Non-small cell lung cancer is associated with elevated levels of cell-free DNA in plasma with respect to healthy controls. Real-time PCR method proved its utility in effective free-circulating DNA detection and quantification.</p

Rac2-MRC-cIII-generated ROS cause genomic instability in chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells and primitive progenitors

Chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) is induced by BCR-ABL1 oncogenic tyrosine kinase. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors eliminate the bulk of CML-CP cells, but fail to eradicate leukemia stem cells (LSCs) and leukemia progenitor cells (LPCs) displaying innate and acquired resistance, respectively. These cells may accumulate genomic instability, leading to disease relapse and/or malignant progression to a fatal blast phase. In the present study, we show that Rac2 GTPase alters mitochondrial membrane potential and electron flow through the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III (MRC-cIII), thereby generating high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in CML-CP LSCs and primitive LPCs. MRCcIII– generated ROS promote oxidative DNA damage to trigger genomic instability, resulting in an accumulation of chromosomal aberrations and tyrosine kinase inhibitor–resistant BCR-ABL1 mutants. JAK2(V617F) and FLT3(ITD)–positive polycythemia vera cells and acute myeloid leukemia cells also produce ROS via MRCcIII. In the present study, inhibition of Rac2 by genetic deletion or a smallmolecule inhibitor and down-regulation of mitochondrial ROS by disruption of MRC-cIII, expression of mitochondriatargeted catalase, or addition of ROSscavenging mitochondria-targeted peptide aptamer reduced genomic instability. We postulate that the Rac2-MRC-cIII pathway triggers ROS-mediated genomic instability in LSCs and primitive LPCs, which could be targeted to prevent the relapse and malignant progression of CML.Margaret Nieborowska-Skorska... Timothy P. Hughes... et al