A 3 tesla magnetic resonance imaging volumetric analysis of the hippocampal formation: dependence on handedness and age

Background: The hippocampal formation (HF) is one of the most important parts of the brain in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetric analysis in various domains, but not completely from all aspects, including the handedness. The aim of our study was to evaluate the possible differences in the volume of the right and left HF among the healthy right-handed and left-handed subjects, and to determine whether the volume differences are age related. Materials and methods: The MRI of this prospective study was performed using T1 fast field echo (FFE) sequence. The 124 subsequent coronal slices (thickness 1.5 mm) were performed in each participant. The obtained HF volumes were normalised and statistically compared. Volunteers comprised 30 persons aged 22.0 years, 12 of whom were the left-handed, and 30 persons aged 75.2 years on average, 9 of whom were the left-handed. Results: The right and left HF volumes averaged 2.986 cm3 and 2.858 cm3 in the right-handed, and 2.879 cm3 and 3.020 cm3 in the left-handed young volunteers, as well as 2.728 cm3 and 2.650 cm3 in the right-handed, and 2.617 cm3 and 2.780 cm3 in the left-handed elderly persons. The HF volume ratios in the young left-handed participants showed a significant left-greater-than-right asymmetry. A significant difference was also noticed within the right-to-left volume ratios of the right- and left-handed young and elderly participants. The latter reduction in the HF volume within the aged group can be interpreted as a slight atrophy of the HF. Conclusions: There is a significant difference in the volumes of the left and right HF of the left-handed young participants. The age related HF volume differences were proven between the groups of the young and elderly volunteers. The obtained data should be included into the future MRI studies of the HF volumes in various clinical domains.

Molekularna karakterizacija mikroorganizama izolovanih iz kontaminirane životne sredine i njihova primena za degradaciju bis(2-hidroksietil) tereftalata

Plastika kao izvor zagađenja postaje sve veći globalni problem. Većina plastike je dizajnirana za jednokratnu upotrebu, što dodatno povećava količinu plastičnog otpada. Usled preopterećenja zemlje i voda plastičnim otpadom neophodno je razviti procese koji će omogućiti efikasno uklanjanje plastike iz životne sredine [1]. Polietilen-tereftalat (PET) spada u najkorišćenije polimere za izradu plastike, te je neophodno naći efikasan način za njegovu degradaciju. Kao povoljan metod degradacije PET plastike predlaže se enzimska hidroliza korišćenjem mikroorganizama koji kao izvor ugljenika mogu koristiti PET [2]. Bis-(2-hidroksietil)-tereftalat (BHET) je intermedijer u izgradnji PET polimera, te je korišćen kao model sistem za ispitivanje degradacije PET plastike [3]. Cilj ovog rada je bila identifikacija mikroorganizama koji potencijalno razgrađuju BHET, kao i primena čistih kultura za degradaciju istog. Tokom studije testirana je osetljivost mikroorganizama na antibiotike (penicillin i nalidiksinsku kiselinu). Praćena je pojava zona inhibicije 24h nakon zasejavanja mikroorganizama. Nakon antibiograma rađeno je izolovanje DNK po protokolu za Grampozitivne i Gram-negativne bakterije. Za svaki soj mikroorganizama umnoženi su geni za 16s rRNK lančanom reakcijom polimeraze (PCR). Rađena je preparativna agarozna elektroforeza sa PCR produktima i DNK je ekstrahovana iz gela. Uzorci su poslati na sekvenciranje i dobijene sekvence su spojene u programu BioEdit. Dobijene sekvence su poređene u NCBI BLAST bazi podataka i identifikovani su rodovi izolovanih mikroorganizama. Ispitivana je degradacija BHET-a pomoću čistih kultura mikroorganizama, gde je korišćena mineralna podloga, a jedan od izvora ugljenika bio je BHET. Inkubacija je trajala 14 dana, a degradacija je praćena u prvom i poslednjem danu inkubacije pomoću tankoslojne hromatografije (TLC). Korišćen je sistem rastvarača benzen:dioksan:sirćetna kiselina (90:25:4, v/v/v). Na slici 1 su prikazani rezultati TLC-a gde su korišćeni sojevi Pseudomonas, Bacillus i Rhodococcus. Kao najefikasniji soj pokazao se Rhodococcus. Kako je pokazano da sami mikroorganizmi mogu da potpuno ili delimično transformišu BHET, dalji eksperimenti će se odvijati u smeru ispitivanja potpune degradacije pomoću konzorcijuma mikroorganizama.KNJIGA IZVODA: 9. simpozijum Hemija i zaštita životne sredine Kladovo, 4-7. jun 2023. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS : 9th Symposium Chemistry and Environmental Protection Kladovo, 4-7th June 202

Experimental and computational analysis (DFT method) of some quinoxalinones and benzoxazinones: spectroscopic investigation (FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV-Vis, NMR)

© 2019, Indian Academy of Sciences. Abstract: The selected quinoxalinones and benzoxazinones derivatives, synthesized in our laboratory earlier, were explored by spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, IR, Raman and NMR) and theoretical study (DFT calculations). In order to understand the electronic properties of these compounds, the theoretical UV spectra have been investigated by TDDFT/B3LYP method with 6-311+G(d,p) basis set in ethanol as a solvent. For all compounds, the absorption of UV radiation with a wavelength around 415 nm with an oscillator strength f = 0.90 induces the intramolecular electronic transition (n→π*). The frontiers molecular orbitals are calculated, and contributions of the electronic transitions are determined. Also, we did quantum chemical calculations to investigate the corrosion inhibition properties of these molecules. The vibrational analysis was performed at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory in vacuo. Obtained results are in very good agreement with experimental data. The calculated 13C NMR shifts in all cases are in good-to-excellent agreement. Also, 1H NMR predicted shifts are comparable with experimental results, but there are some deviations (for N–H shifts) probably as a consequence of intramolecular interactions. Graphic abstract: The previously synthesized quinoxalinones and benzoxazinones derivatives were explored by spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, IR, Raman and NMR) and theoretical study (DFT calculations). UV-Vis, IR, Raman and NMR spectra were calculated and compared with experimental data. The frontiers molecular orbitals are calculated, and contributions of the electronic transitions are determined. Besides that, we investigated the corrosion inhibition properties of these molecules using quantum chemical calculations. Compounds that contain electron donating groups (–OCH3, –NHCOCH3) exhibit better inhibitory efficiency than compounds that contain electron withdrawing groups (–NO2, alkenyl chain).[Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Effects of unsymmetrical voltage sags on industrial adjustable speed drives

This paper researches unsymmetrical voltage sag influence on torque ripple in scalar controlled (V/Hz), rotor field oriented (RFO) and direct torque controlled (DTC) drives. Electric drives performance degradation during voltage sag mainly depends on the used control algorithm. Industrial drives with all three types control methods are experimentally tested. Experiments with digital observer's application confirm the proposed solution.

Immunohistochemical expression of protein p16 in Wilms' tumor

Proliferative disorders including tumors are recognized as diseases of the cell cycle in which the crucial role belongs to the cyclin-dependent kinase family. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of protein p16 in the normal kidney, and in Wilms tumor by immunohistochemistry to correlate the obtained results with tumor stage, histological type and prognostic group. We have investigated 28 cases of Wilms tumor, two Wilms tumor metastases in the lungs and one case of normal renal tissue. Protein p16 was over expressed in 20 cases of Wilms tumor. Expression of p16 was less frequent in stages III/IV/V than in stages I/III, showing no statistically significant correlation (p > 0.05). Intermediate risk groups of Wilms tumor showed more frequent p16 expression in comparison with high risk cases, showing no statistical significance (p > 0.05). Protein p16 expression was detected in all histologic types of Wilms tumor with the highest expression in the predominantly blastemal type (50%). There was a statistically significant difference between p16 expression in this and its expression in other histological types (p lt 0.05). The correlation between p16 expression and the predominantly blastemal histological type was statistically significant and showed that in such cases tumor cells can proliferate even in the presence of p16

Brain and heart in hyperhomocysteinemia induced by methionine nutritional overload

Date: October 8th – 10th, 2015, Belgrade