Mitochondrial fusion and Bid-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis are perturbed by alcohol with distinct dependence on its metabolism

Environmental stressors like ethanol (EtOH) commonly target mitochondria to influence the cell’s fate. Recent literature supports that chronic EtOH exposure suppresses mitochondrial dynamics, central to quality control, and sensitizes mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening to promote cell death. EtOH-induced tissue injury is primarily attributed to its toxic metabolic products but alcoholism also impairs tissues that poorly metabolize EtOH. We embarked on studies to determine the respective roles of EtOH and its metabolites in mitochondrial fusion and tBid-induced mitochondrial apoptosis. We used HepG2 cells that do not metabolize EtOH and its engineered clone that expresses EtOH-metabolizing Cytochrome P450 E2 and alcohol dehydrogenase (VL-17A cells). We found that fusion impairment by prolonged EtOH exposure was prominent in VL-17A cells, probably owing to reactive oxygen species increase in the mitochondrial matrix. There was no change in fusion protein abundance, mitochondrial membrane potential or Ca2+ uptake. By contrast, prolonged EtOH exposure promoted tBid-induced outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and cell death only in HepG2 cells, owing to enhanced Bak oligomerization. Thus, mitochondrial fusion inhibition by EtOH is dependent on its metabolites, whereas sensitization to tBid-induced death is mediated by EtOH itself. This difference is of pathophysiological relevance because of the tissue-specific differences in EtOH metabolism. © 2018, The Author(s)

Computational model of a modulatory cell type in the feeding network of the snail, Lymnaea stagnalis

Realistic mathematical models of single neurons are significant in assessing the contribution of specific ionic conductances to neuronal excitability. This study presents a detailed computational model of the Cerebral Giant Cells (CGCs), a pair of serotonergic neurons in the feeding network of Lymnaea stagnalis, which are critical for the expression of motor behaviour (feeding) and the formation of long-term memory

Phase transitions for rock-scissors-paper game on different networks

Monte Carlo simulations and dynamical mean-field approximations are performed to study the phase transitions in rock-scissors-paper game on different host networks. These graphs are originated from lattices by introducing quenched and annealed randomness simultaneously. In the resulting phase diagrams three different stationary states are identified for all structures. The comparison of results on different networks suggests that the value of clustering coefficient plays an irrelevant role in the emergence of a global oscillating phase. The critical behavior of phase transitions seems to be universal and can be described by the same exponents.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to be published in PR

The measurement of dissolved oxygen today - tradition and topicality

Today, the determination of the dissolved oxygen content of natural waters is practically an essential duty whenever background data is collected for investigations of a hydrobiological, ecological, and nature or environmental protection viewpoint. If the method by which the measurements are carried out is concerned, it can be stated that the 120 year old, classical Winkler-method is inevitable even today. However the development of hydroecological sciences have laid claim to such expectations that the necessity of in situ oxygen determinations have become increasingly important. In our work we present the survival of the traditional Winkler-method in the present practice, we review all those viewpoints which have facilitated the widespread application of in situ oxygen determinations as well as the methods of all the measurements that are presently regularly applied in the investigations of natural waters

Investigation of Ductile Fracture of Nanostructured Al-6082 Material

In this paper we are going to investigate the ductile fracture in cold forming of nanostructured Al - 6082 alloy material during axi-symmetric collar (flanged) tests and cylindrical upsetting tests by using eight types of fracture criteria. The material of specimens were taken out of ECAP was made by one, four, and eight passes (route C) in three perpendicular axes. The material has ultrafine grain size and an anisotropic behaviour. A simple yield criterion and material law are used to describe the plastic deformation of the nanostructured material. The collar tests and cylindrical upsetting tests produced typical ductile fractures in all types of specimens

Metal-ligand interplay in strongly-correlated oxides: a parametrized phase diagram for pressure induced spin transitions

We investigate the magnetic properties of archetypal transition-metal oxides MnO, FeO, CoO and NiO under very high pressure by x-ray emission spectroscopy at the K\beta line. We observe a strong modification of the magnetism in the megabar range in all the samples except NiO. The results are analyzed within a multiplet approach including charge-transfer effects. The pressure dependence of the emission line is well accounted for by changes of the ligand field acting on the d electrons and allows us to extract parameters like local d-hybridization strength, O-2p bandwidth and ionic crystal field across the magnetic transition. This approach allows a first-hand insight into the mechanism of the pressure induced spin transition.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Onset of chaotic advection in open flows

Non peer reviewedPublisher PD

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PUSH-OUT TEST FOR IMPROVING OF COMPOSITE INSULATOR END FITTING PERFORMANCE

Destructive push-out test of composite rod joint was prepared in order to estimate ultimate load capacity of composite insulators end fitting joint. Plane strain and axisymmetric finite element models were developed. Imperfect interface with large allowed slipping and Coulomb friction was analysed. Experimental results were preliminary processed and ultimate load criteria chosen for appropriate manipulation and comparison. Results show that composite joints with contact pressures higher than the radial strength do not obey Coulomb friction law due to partial damage effect on the composite rod surface. However, for joints with limited contact pressure good agreement with classical friction model was obtained. Generalised relation between ultimate axial stress and contact pressure was also presented

Tensile behavior of multiple forged 6082 Al alloy

The present study focus on the influence of multiple forging (MF) on the tensile behavior of 6082 aluminium alloy, where the MF specimens were achieved using multi-step closed die forging. Cylindrical tensile specimens were machined from the MF specimens then subjected to tensile testing. Beside the main target of the study, the effect of MF on microstructure homogeneity and the fracture surface of the samples were studied using hardness testing, optical and scanning electron microscopy respectively. The results show the influence of MF on the tensile strength and the maximum elongation; with increasing passes of MF the strength increases while the maximum elongation decreases. The hardness measurement results demonstrate the structure homogeneity, the fractography pictures show ductile fracture of the specimen, and the micrographs describe the microstructure development during MF process.