L'estat actual de les Biblioteques del CSIC a Catalunya : objectius aconseguits i mancances

S'analitza l'estat actual de les biblioteques del Consell Superior d'Investigacions Científiques a Catalunya, en tant que pertanyents a la Xarxa de Biblioteques del CSIC, en particular la seva dependència de les comunicacions, els seus aspectes cooperatius, la informatització dels seus catàlegs, l'increment dels seus serveis, i la seva incorporació a les noves tecnologies de la informació. S'exposa la futura estructura de la Xarxa.Se analiza el estado actual de las bibliotecas del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas en Cataluña considerando que pertenecen a la Red de Bibliotecas del CSIC, en particular su dependencia de las comunicaciones, aspectos cooperativos, informatización de sus catálogos, incremento de sus servicios y la incorporación de nuevas tecnologías de la información. Se expone la futura estructura de la Red

Data and Services at the Integrated Climate Data Center (ICDC) at the University of Hamburg

KlimawandelEarth observation data obtained from remote sensing sensors and in-situ data archives are fundamental for our current understanding of the Earth’s climate system. Such data are an important pre-requisite for Earth System research and should be easy to access and easy to use. In addition such data should be quality assessed and attached with information about uncertainties and long-term stability. If these data sets are stored in a self-explanatory, easy-to-use format, their usefulness and scientific value increase. This is the guideline for the Integrated Climate Data Center (ICDC) at the Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), University of Hamburg. ICDC offers a reliable, quick and easy data access along with expert support for users and data providers. The ICDC provides several types of worldwide accessible in situ and satellite Earth observation data of the atmosphere, ocean, land surface, and cryosphere via the web portal http://icdc.zmaw.de. Recently, data from socio-economic sciences have been integrated into ICDC’s data base to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration. On ICDC’s web portal, each data set has its own page. It contains the data access points, a short data description, information about spatiotemporal coverage and resolution, data quality, important reference documents and contacts, and about how to cite the data set. The data are converted into netCDF or ASCII format. Consistency and quality checks are carried out – often in the framework of international collaborations. Literature studies are conducted to learn about potential limitations or preferred application areas of the data offered. The data sets can be accessed through the web page via FTP, HTTP or OPeNDAP. Using the Live Access Server, users can visualize data as maps, along transects and profiles, zoom into key regions, and create time series. In both fields, visualization and data access, ICDC tries to provide fast response times and high reliability

Колесный робот автосопровождения

В работе рассмотрен процесс проектирования и сборки мобильного робота автоматического слежения на базе микроконтроллера Arduino Uno. Была подобрана материально-техническая база для реализации, изучены и внедрены алгоритмы ПИД-регулирования и широтно-импульсной модуляции. Была произведена сборка робота и апробация его работы.Arduino based mobile robot of automatic following design and assembling are considered. Components and devices were selected. PID-control and pulse-width modulation algorithms were studied and implemented. Final assembling and testing were provided

Local amplifiers of IL-4Rα-mediated macrophage activation promote repair in lung and liver

The type 2 immune response controls helminth infection and maintains tissue homeostasis but can lead to allergy and fibrosis if not adequately regulated. We have discovered local tissue-specific amplifiers of type 2-mediated macrophage activation. In the lung, surfactant protein A (SP-A) enhanced interleukin-4 (IL-4)-dependent macrophage proliferation and activation, accelerating parasite clearance and reducing pulmonary injury after infection with a lung-migrating helminth. In the peritoneal cavity and liver, C1q enhancement of type 2 macrophage activation was required for liver repair after bacterial infection, but resulted in fibrosis after peritoneal dialysis. IL-4 drives production of these structurally related defense collagens, SP-A and C1q, and the expression of their receptor, myosin 18A. These findings reveal the existence within different tissues of an amplification system needed for local type 2 responses

Knockout of the Bcmo1 gene results in an inflammatory response in female lung, which is suppressed by dietary beta-carotene

Beta-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase 1 knockout (Bcmo1−/−) mice accumulate beta-carotene (BC) similarly to humans, whereas wild-type (Bcmo1+/+) mice efficiently cleave BC. Bcmo1−/− mice are therefore suitable to investigate BC-induced alterations in gene expression in lung, assessed by microarray analysis. Bcmo1−/− mice receiving control diet had increased expression of inflammatory genes as compared to BC-supplemented Bcmo1−/− mice and Bcmo1+/+ mice that received either control or BC-supplemented diets. Differential gene expression in Bcmo1−/− mice was confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR. Histochemical analysis indeed showed an increase in inflammatory cells in lungs of control Bcmo1−/− mice. Supported by metabolite and gene-expression data, we hypothesize that the increased inflammatory response is due to an altered BC metabolism, resulting in an increased vitamin A requirement in Bcmo1−/− mice. This suggests that effects of BC may depend on inter-individual variations in BC-metabolizing enzymes, such as the frequently occurring human polymorphisms in BCMO1

A Family of Helminth Molecules that Modulate Innate Cell Responses via Molecular Mimicry of Host Antimicrobial Peptides

Over the last decade a significant number of studies have highlighted the central role of host antimicrobial (or defence) peptides in modulating the response of innate immune cells to pathogen-associated ligands. In humans, the most widely studied antimicrobial peptide is LL-37, a 37-residue peptide containing an amphipathic helix that is released via proteolytic cleavage of the precursor protein CAP18. Owing to its ability to protect against lethal endotoxaemia and clinically-relevant bacterial infections, LL-37 and its derivatives are seen as attractive candidates for anti-sepsis therapies. We have identified a novel family of molecules secreted by parasitic helminths (helminth defence molecules; HDMs) that exhibit similar biochemical and functional characteristics to human defence peptides, particularly CAP18. The HDM secreted by Fasciola hepatica (FhHDM-1) adopts a predominantly α-helical structure in solution. Processing of FhHDM-1 by F. hepatica cathepsin L1 releases a 34-residue C-terminal fragment containing a conserved amphipathic helix. This is analogous to the proteolytic processing of CAP18 to release LL-37, which modulates innate cell activation by classical toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We show that full-length recombinant FhHDM-1 and a peptide analogue of the amphipathic C-terminus bind directly to LPS in a concentration-dependent manner, reducing its interaction with both LPS-binding protein (LBP) and the surface of macrophages. Furthermore, FhHDM-1 and the amphipathic C-terminal peptide protect mice against LPS-induced inflammation by significantly reducing the release of inflammatory mediators from macrophages. We propose that HDMs, by mimicking the function of host defence peptides, represent a novel family of innate cell modulators with therapeutic potential in anti-sepsis treatments and prevention of inflammation

Surfactant protein-D and pulmonary host defense

Surfactant protein-D (SP-D) participates in the innate response to inhaled microorganisms and organic antigens, and contributes to immune and inflammatory regulation within the lung. SP-D is synthesized and secreted by alveolar and bronchiolar epithelial cells, but is also expressed by epithelial cells lining various exocrine ducts and the mucosa of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. SP-D, a collagenous calcium-dependent lectin (or collectin), binds to surface glycoconjugates expressed by a wide variety of microorganisms, and to oligosaccharides associated with the surface of various complex organic antigens. SP-D also specifically interacts with glycoconjugates and other molecules expressed on the surface of macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes. In addition, SP-D binds to specific surfactant-associated lipids and can influence the organization of lipid mixtures containing phosphatidylinositol in vitro. Consistent with these diverse in vitro activities is the observation that SP-D-deficient transgenic mice show abnormal accumulations of surfactant lipids, and respond abnormally to challenge with respiratory viruses and bacterial lipopolysaccharides. The phenotype of macrophages isolated from the lungs of SP-D-deficient mice is altered, and there is circumstantial evidence that abnormal oxidant metabolism and/or increased metalloproteinase expression contributes to the development of emphysema. The expression of SP-D is increased in response to many forms of lung injury, and deficient accumulation of appropriately oligomerized SP-D might contribute to the pathogenesis of a variety of human lung diseases

Charakterisierung eines neuartigen Zuckertransporters aus Arabidopsis thaliana

Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Doktorarbeit wurde das Protein AtMSBP1 (Arabidopsis thaliana Monosaccharid Binding Protein 1) aus der Familie der Zuckertransporter auf molekularer und biochemischer Ebene untersucht. Dieses Protein weist sowohl strukturelle, als auch funktionelle Besonderheiten im Vergleich zu anderen bisher untersuchten Zuckertransportern aus Arabidopsis thaliana auf. Die MSBP-Proteine stellen eine eigene Gruppe innerhalb der Monosaccharid-Transporter der Pflanzen dar. Sie haben wie andere Zuckertransporter 12 transmembrane Helices, die zwischen Helix 6 und 7 durch einen großen zentralen Loop miteinander verbunden sind. Dieser hydrophile Loop ist bei den MSBP-Proteinen 4 bis 5 mal so lang wie bei anderen Zuckertransportern und spielt für die Funktion der MSBP-Proteine wahrscheinlich eine wichtige Rolle. Die MSBP-Proteine weisen mehr Ähnlichkeit zu bakteriellen als zu plasmamembranständigen pflanzlichen Monosaccharidtransportern auf. Die Proteine des MSBP-Typs wurden in verschiedenen Spezies der Angiospermen identifiziert. In Arabidopsis thaliana kommen drei Isoformen der MSBP-Proteine vor, die auf mRNA-Ebene in verschieden Geweben nachgewiesen wurden und ein spezifisches Expressionsmuster zeigen. Der AtMSBP1 ist in der äußeren Plastidenmembran lokalisiert, trägt dort aber nicht signifikant zum Glukosetransport bei. Bei der Anzucht von AtMSBP1::T-DNA- und AtMSBP2::T-DNA-"knock out"-Mutanten auf Erde gibt es keine signifikanten phänotypischen Unterschiede im Vergleich zu Wildtyppflanzen. Bei erhöhten Konzentrationen verschiedener Zucker zeigen aber die "knock out"-Mutanten auf morphologischer und molekularer Ebene einen sensitiveren Phänotyp im Vergleich zu Wildtyppflanzen. Die Ergebnisse lassen auf eine Verknüpfung der MSBP-Proteine mit den "Zuckersensing-Wegen" der Pflanzen schließen

Charakterisierung eines neuartigen Zuckertransporters aus Arabidopsis thaliana

Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Doktorarbeit wurde das Protein AtMSBP1 (Arabidopsis thaliana Monosaccharid Binding Protein 1) aus der Familie der Zuckertransporter auf molekularer und biochemischer Ebene untersucht. Dieses Protein weist sowohl strukturelle, als auch funktionelle Besonderheiten im Vergleich zu anderen bisher untersuchten Zuckertransportern aus Arabidopsis thaliana auf. Die MSBP-Proteine stellen eine eigene Gruppe innerhalb der Monosaccharid-Transporter der Pflanzen dar. Sie haben wie andere Zuckertransporter 12 transmembrane Helices, die zwischen Helix 6 und 7 durch einen großen zentralen Loop miteinander verbunden sind. Dieser hydrophile Loop ist bei den MSBP-Proteinen 4 bis 5 mal so lang wie bei anderen Zuckertransportern und spielt für die Funktion der MSBP-Proteine wahrscheinlich eine wichtige Rolle. Die MSBP-Proteine weisen mehr Ähnlichkeit zu bakteriellen als zu plasmamembranständigen pflanzlichen Monosaccharidtransportern auf. Die Proteine des MSBP-Typs wurden in verschiedenen Spezies der Angiospermen identifiziert. In Arabidopsis thaliana kommen drei Isoformen der MSBP-Proteine vor, die auf mRNA-Ebene in verschieden Geweben nachgewiesen wurden und ein spezifisches Expressionsmuster zeigen. Der AtMSBP1 ist in der äußeren Plastidenmembran lokalisiert, trägt dort aber nicht signifikant zum Glukosetransport bei. Bei der Anzucht von AtMSBP1::T-DNA- und AtMSBP2::T-DNA-"knock out"-Mutanten auf Erde gibt es keine signifikanten phänotypischen Unterschiede im Vergleich zu Wildtyppflanzen. Bei erhöhten Konzentrationen verschiedener Zucker zeigen aber die "knock out"-Mutanten auf morphologischer und molekularer Ebene einen sensitiveren Phänotyp im Vergleich zu Wildtyppflanzen. Die Ergebnisse lassen auf eine Verknüpfung der MSBP-Proteine mit den "Zuckersensing-Wegen" der Pflanzen schließen

Surfactant protein-A modulates LPS-induced TLR4 localization and signaling via β-arrestin 2.

The soluble C-type lectin surfactant protein (SP)-A mediates lung immune responses partially via its direct effects on alveolar macrophages (AM), the main resident leukocytes exposed to antigens. SP-A modulates the AM threshold of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activity towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype both in vitro and in vivo through various mechanisms. LPS responses are tightly regulated via distinct pathways including subcellular TLR4 localization and thus ligand sensing. The cytosolic scaffold and signaling protein β-arrestin 2 acts as negative regulator of LPS-induced TLR4 activation. Here we show that SP-A neither increases TLR4 abundancy nor co-localizes with TLR4 in primary AM. SP-A significantly reduces the LPS-induced co-localization of TLR4 with the early endosome antigen (EEA) 1 by promoting the co-localization of TLR4 with the post-Golgi compartment marker Vti1b in freshly isolated AM from rats and wild-type (WT) mice, but not in β-arrestin 2(-/-) AM. Compared to WT mice pulmonary LPS-induced TNF-α release in β-arrestin 2(-/-) mice is accelerated and enhanced and exogenous SP-A fails to inhibit both lung LPS-induced TNF-α release and TLR4/EEA1 positioning. SP-A, but not LPS, enhances β-arrestin 2 protein expression in a time-dependent manner in primary rat AM. The constitutive expression of β-arrestin 2 in AM from SP-A(-/-) mice is significantly reduced compared to SP-A(+/+) mice and is rescued by SP-A. Prolonged endosome retention of LPS-induced TLR4 in AM from SP-A(-/-) mice is restored by exogenous SP-A, and is antagonized by β-arrestin 2 blocking peptides. LPS induces β-arrestin 2/TLR4 association in primary AM which is further enhanced by SP-A. The data demonstrate that SP-A modulates LPS-induced TLR4 trafficking and signaling in vitro and in vivo engaging β-arrestin 2