Possibility of measurement of cross section and vector analyzing powers of p−^{3}He scattering at the Bronowice Cyclotron Center

A new possibility of continuation of few-nucleon dynamics studies at medium energies has appeared together with a new facility at the Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN in Kraków — The Bronowice Cyclotron Center (CCB). The new cyclotron PROTEUS provides a proton beam in an energy range of 70–230 MeV. Current progress in the theoretical calculations for four-nucleon (4N) systems is a main motivation to investigate p−^{3}He scattering. Due to the fact that the beam cannot be polarized, the only possibility to study spin observables is to build a polarized ^{3}He target system. A planned experiment assumes the construction of a cylindrical double Pyrex cell with separated pumping and target chambers with an additional polyamide film covering apertures for the passing beam and the reaction products. To polarize ^{3}He gas, the spin-exchange optical pumping method will be used

Spexin-expressing neurons in the magnocellular nuclei of the human hypothalamus

Neuropeptides are involved in numerous brain activities being responsible for a wide spectrum of higher mental functions. The purpose of this concise, structural and qualitative investigation was to map the possible immunoreactivity of the novel neuropeptide spexin (SPX) within the human magnocellular hypothalamus. SPX is a newly identified peptide, a natural ligand for the galanin receptors (GALR) 2/3, with no molecular structure similarities to currently known regulatory factors. SPX seems to have multiple physiological functions, with an involvement in reproduction and food-intake regulation recently revealed in animal studies. For the first time we describe SPX expressing neurons in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the human hypothalamus using immunohistochemical and fluorescent methods, key regions involved in the mechanisms of osmotic homeostasis, energy expenditure, consummatory behaviour, reproductive processes, social recognition and stress responses. The vast majority of neurons located in both examined neurosecretory nuclei show abundant SPX expression and this may indirectly implicate a potential contribution of SPX signalling to the hypothalamic physiology in the human brain. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Transcription regulation of the Escherichia coli pcnB gene coding for poly(A) polymerase I: roles of ppGpp, DksA and sigma factors

Poly(A) polymerase I (PAP I), encoded by the pcnB gene, is a major enzyme responsible for RNA polyadenylation in Escherichia coli, a process involved in the global control of gene expression in this bacterium through influencing the rate of transcript degradation. Recent studies have suggested a complicated regulation of pcnB expression, including a complex promoter region, a control at the level of translation initiation and dependence on bacterial growth rate. In this report, studies on transcription regulation of the pcnB gene are described. Results of in vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that (a) there are three σ70-dependent (p1, pB, and p2) and two σS-dependent (pS1 and pS2) promoters of the pcnB gene, (b) guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) and DksA directly inhibit transcription from pB, pS1 and pS2, and (c) pB activity is drastically impaired at the stationary phase of growth. These results indicate that regulation of the pcnB gene transcription is a complex process, which involves several factors acting to ensure precise control of PAP I production. Moreover, inhibition of activities of pS1 and pS2 by ppGpp and DksA suggests that regulation of transcription from promoters requiring alternative σ factors by these effectors of the stringent response might occur according to both passive and active models

Influence of the Escherichia coli oxyR gene function on λ prophage maintenance

In Escherichia coli hosts, hydrogen peroxide is one of the factors that may cause induction of λ prophage. Here, we demonstrate that H2O2-mediated λ prophage induction is significantly enhanced in the oxyR mutant host. The mRNA levels for cI gene expression were increased in a λ lysogen in the presence of H2O2. On the other hand, stimulation of the pM promoter by cI857 overproduced from a multicopy plasmid was decreased in the ΔoxyR mutant in the presence of H2O2 but not under normal growth conditions. The purified OxyR protein did bind specifically to the pM promoter region. This binding impaired efficiency of interaction of the cI protein with the OR3 site, while stimulating such a binding to OR2 and OR1 sites, in the regulatory region of the pM promoter. We propose that changes in cI gene expression, perhaps in combination with moderately induced SOS response, may be responsible for enhanced λ prophage induction by hydrogen peroxide in the oxyR mutant. Therefore, OxyR seems to be a factor stimulating λ prophage maintenance under conditions of oxidative stress. This proposal is discussed in the light of efficiency of induction of lambdoid prophages bearing genes coding for Shiga toxins

The role of brain gaseous neurotransmitters in anxiety

Although anxiety is perhaps one of the most significant current medical and social problems, the neurochemical mechanistic background of this common condition remains to be fully understood. Multifunctional regulatory gasotransmitters are novel, atypical inorganic factors of the brain that are involved in the mechanisms of anxiety responses. Nitric oxide (NO) signaling shows ambiguous action in animal models of anxiety, while NO donors exert anxiogenic or anxiolytic effect depending on their chemical structure, dose, treatment schedule and gas release rapidity. The majority of NO synthase inhibitors act as a relatively potent axiolytic agents, while hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon monoxide (CO) delivered experimentally in the form of “slow” or “fast” releasing donors have recently been considered as anxiolytic neurotransmitters. In this comprehensive review we critically summarize the literature regarding the intriguing roles of NO, H2S and CO in the neuromolecular mechanisms of anxiety in the context of their putative, yet promising therapeutic application. A possible mechanism of gasotransmitter action at the level of anxiety-related synaptic transmission is also presented. Brain gasesous neuromediators urgently require further wide ranging studies to clarify their potential value for the current neuropharmacology of anxiety disorders

Examples of good practice in SP4CE ERASMUS+ project

Projekt SP4CE, czyli Partnerstwo Strategiczne na Rzecz Kreatywności i Przedsiębiorczości (ang. Strategic Partnership for Creativity and Entrepreneurship) jest odpowiedzią na potrzeby zidentyfikowane w komunikacie z Brugii w sprawie ściślejszej europejskiej współpracy w dziedzinie kształcenia i szkolenia zawodowego w latach 2011 - 2020. W projekcie zaprojektowano i uruchomiono portal SP4CE bazujący na oprogramowaniu WordPress i Moodle. WordPress wykorzystano głównie do udostępnienia materiałów informacyjnych oraz szkoleniowych dostępnych w pięciu językach partnerskich; angielskim, greckim, polskim, słowackim i węgierskim. Moodle umożliwia współpracę konsultantów, nauczycieli i studentów oraz współpracę międzyuczelnianą wykorzystując koncepcję tzw. pokojów nauki (ang. Learning Rooms). Przykładami wykorzystania platformy SP4CE są pokoje nauki wspierające m. in. proces przygotowania prac na konferencje naukowe, organizację warsztatów, prowadzenie projektów międzyuczelnianych, kół naukowych, prac dyplomowych, doktorskich itd.The project SP4CE (Strategic Partnership for Creativity and Entrepreneurship) is a response to the needs identified in the Bruges Communiqué on enhanced European cooperation in vocational education and training for the period 2011 - 2020. In order to implement the SP4CE portal WordPress and Moodle have been used. WordPress provides information and training materials in five languages: English, Greek, Polish, Slovak and Hungarian. Moodle allows the collaboration of consultants, teachers and students from different universities using the concept of Learning Rooms. An example of using the SP4CE platform, among others, can be the process of preparation of materials for the training conferences, workshops, intercollegiate projects, scientific circles' websites, diploma works, PhDs etc., and also the effects of these works