Digital In-Line X-Ray Holographic Microscopy with Synchrotron Radiation

In-line holography is a lensless microscopy method yielding three-dimensional images of the object, where the resolution limit depends on the illuminating wavelength and the numerical aperture of the system, only. In this work, an in-line holographic setup was implemented with radiation in the vacuum-ultraviolet and soft X-ray region. Diverging wavefronts were generated by diffraction of the synchrotron radiation from a pinhole with suitable diameter. The holographic interference pattern was recorded with a CCD camera, and the images were numerically reconstructed using the Kreuzer implementation of the Kirchhoff-Helmholtz transform. With this microscopic technique, lithographic structures in photo resist, mixtures of polystyrene beads and iron oxide particles, and dried biological samples such as rat embryonic fibroblast cells, green algae Ulva linza, and human chromosomes were imaged. The achieved resolution was determined via different criteria and was compared to the theoretical expectations. It was shown, that by increasing the numerical aperture with smaller pinholes and by correcting for drift effects, the experimental resolution could be improved from delta(exp) = 1.13 +- 0.35 µm to delta(exp) = 0.37 +- 0.04 µm, meeting the theoretical prediction of delta(theo) = 0.34 µm. Furthermore, by recording holograms at different energies, element contrast was obtained

Big five personality characteristics and commitment levels in romantic relationships

While numerous empirical studies have looked at commitment levels across various aspects of life, little research has attempted to integrate these disparate literatures. Accordingly, this study attempts to address this gap by adapting a taxonomy of commitment commonly used in the workplace to the analysis of commitment in romantic relationships. Additionally, the relationship between personality and levels of commitment in romantic relationships were investigated utilizing the Big Five personality factors. Results indicated that personality does relate to commitment and that the affective (emotional) and continuance (economic) facets of commitment have specific relevance to understanding commitment expressed in romantic relationships. Gender similarities and differences, as well as directions for future research, are discussed

Grüne Gentechnik und ökologische Landwirtschaft

Weltweit findet sich als Rechtsnorm in allen entsprechenden Verbraucherschutzgesetzen die Vorgabe, in der ökologischen Landwirtschaft keine gentechnisch veränderten Organismen einzusetzen. Auf europäischer Ebene enthalten weder die EU-Öko-Verordnung noch die Saatgutverkehrsrichtlinien Regelungen, aufgrund derer Schutzmaßnahmen zur Verhinderung oder Vermeidung von GVO-Einkreuzungen in ökologische Kulturen vorgeschrieben werden können. Eine Prüfung der neuen Freisetzungsrichtlinie ergibt aber, dass bei der Genehmigung zum Inverkehrbringen als „besondere Bedingungen für die Verwendung und Handhabung“ eines GVO auch Maßnahmen zum Schutz vor Sachschäden durch GVO-Einkreuzung vorgeschrieben werden können. Als Maßnahmen zum Schutz vor Sachschäden werden hauptsächlich Sicherheitsabstände zwischen Feldern mit GVO-Pflanzen und ökologisch bewirtschafteten Kulturen sowie zusätzlich gentechnikfreie Gebiete diskutiert. Bei der Analyse der Datenlage zur Definition von Sicherheitsabständen treten viele Lücken in der empirischen Datenbasis zu Tage, sodass sich hier dringender Forschungsbedarf abzeichnet. Es werden pragmatisch Hinweise zu Sicherheitsabständen abgeleitet. Gentechnikfreie Gebiete resp. geschlossene Anbaugebiete werden in Zusammenhang mit der Saatgutproduktion vorgeschlagen. Bisher ermöglicht nur das Zivilrecht in Deutschland einen privaten Ausgleich der Rechts- und Interessensphären der Bio-Bauern und der Nutzer transgener Sorten. § 906 BGB lässt sich hier als zentrale Steuerungsnorm des Umweltprivatrechts heranziehen. Dessen System von Unterlassungs- und Ausgleichsansprüchen ist hochkomplex und wird nur schwer zu einer zufriedenstellenden Koexistenz beitragen können. Eine Lösung wäre daher eine wirksame Selbstorganisation des Wirtschaftszweigs der Saatgutindustrie, die transgene Pflanzen züchtet und das Saatgut in Verkehr bringt. Sollte diese nicht möglich sein, bietet sich eine öffentlich-rechtliche Regelung an. Dazu könnten gehören: Die Einrichtung eines Anbaukatasters, die Einführung einer guten fachlichen Praxis des GVO-Anbaus (GfP), die Festlegung einer Instruktionspflicht auf der Saatgutverpackung sowie der Schutz der ökologischen Saatgutproduktion

Harnessing the Power of Genomics to Secure the Future of Seafood

Best use of scientific knowledge is required to maintain the fundamental role of seafood in human nutrition. While it is acknowledged that genomic-based methods allow the collection of powerful data, their value to inform fisheries management, aquaculture, and biosecurity applications remains underestimated. We review genomic applications of relevance to the sustainable management of seafood resources, illustrate the benefits of, and identify barriers to their integration. We conclude that the value of genomic information towards securing the future of seafood does not need to be further demonstrated. Instead, we need immediate efforts to remove structural roadblocks and focus on ways that support integration of genomic-informed methods into management and production practices. We propose solutions to pave the way forward.Peer reviewe

Plasma membrane cholesterol as a regulator of human and rodent P2X7 receptor activation and sensitization.

P2X7 receptors are nonselective cation channels gated by high extracellular ATP, but with sustained activation, receptor sensitization occurs, whereby the intrinsic pore dilates, making the cell permeable to large organic cations, which eventually leads to cell death. P2X7 receptors associate with cholesterol-rich lipid rafts, but it is unclear how this affects the properties of the receptor channel. Here we show that pore-forming properties of human and rodent P2X7 receptors are sensitive to perturbations of cholesterol levels. Acute depletion of cholesterol with 5 mm methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD) caused a substantial increase in the rate of agonist-evoked pore formation, as measured by the uptake of ethidium dye, whereas cholesterol loading inhibited this process. Patch clamp analysis of P2X7 receptor currents carried by Na(+) and N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG(+)) showed enhanced activation and current facilitation following cholesterol depletion. This contrasts with the inhibitory effect of methyl-β-cyclodextrin reported for other P2X subtypes. Mutational analysis suggests the involvement of an N-terminal region and a proximal C-terminal region that comprises multiple cholesterol recognition amino acid consensus (CRAC) motifs, in the cholesterol sensitivity of channel gating. These results reveal cholesterol as a negative regulator of P2X7 receptor pore formation, protecting cells from P2X7-mediated cell death.This work was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/F001320/1), the David James Studentship, Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge and the Marshall Scholarship.This paper was originally published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry (Robinson LE, Shridar M, Smith P, Murrell-Lagnado RD, The Journal of Biological Chemistry 2014, 289, 46, 31983–31994, doi:10.1074/jbc.M114.574699

Cannabinoid receptors in GtoPdb v.2023.1

Cannabinoid receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Cannabinoid Receptors [119]) are activated by endogenous ligands that include N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), N-homo-γ-linolenoylethanolamine, N-docosatetra-7,10,13,16-enoylethanolamine and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. Potency determinations of endogenous agonists at these receptors are complicated by the possibility of differential susceptibility of endogenous ligands to enzymatic conversion [5].There are currently three licenced cannabinoid medicines each of which contains a compound that can activate CB1 and CB2 receptors [111]. Two of these medicines were developed to suppress nausea and vomiting produced by chemotherapy. These are nabilone (Cesamet®), a synthetic CB1/CB2 receptor agonist, and synthetic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Marinol®; dronabinol), which can also be used as an appetite stimulant. The third medicine, Sativex®, contains mainly Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, both extracted from cannabis, and is used to treat multiple sclerosis and cancer pain

Wait Up!: Attachment and Sovereign Power.

Sociologists and feminist scholars have, over many decades, characterised attachment as a social construction that functions to support political and gender conservatism. We accept that attachment theory has seen use to these ends and consider recent deployments of attachment theory as justification for a minimal State within conservative political discourse in the UK since 2009. However, we contest that attachment is reducible to its discursive construction. We consider Judith Butler's depiction of the infant attached to an abusive caregiver as a foundation and parallel to the position of the adult citizen subjected to punitive cultural norms and political institutions. We develop and qualify Butler's account, drawing on the insights offered by the work of Lauren Berlant. We also return to Foucault's Psychiatric Power lectures, in which familial relations are situated as an island of sovereign power within the sea of modern disciplinary institutions. These reflections help advance analysis of three important issues: the social and political implications of attachment research; the relationship between disciplinary and sovereign power in the affective dynamic of subjection; and the political and ethical status of professional activity within the psy disciplines.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10767-014-9192-

Consensus on the reporting and experimental design of clinical and cognitive-behavioural neurofeedback studies (CRED-nf checklist)

Neurofeedback has begun to attract the attention and scrutiny of the scientific and medical mainstream. Here, neurofeedback researchers present a consensus-derived checklist that aims to improve the reporting and experimental design standards in the field.</p