Multidisciplinary Approach in the Implementation of ATL Methods in Teaching of Animal Sciences I. Presentation of Scenarios

One of the problems Serbian HE faces is summing up of knowledge thaught in different courses and its application in real life by professional decision making. In order to give an example of possibilities of interactive teaching methodology and contribute to the transformation of students from knowledge recipients to knowledge co-constructors, a set of scenarios for a multidisciplinary approach in teaching/learning is presented. The set consists of 4 scenarios for knowledge refreshment followed by a final workshop – a debate similar to the real life situation. A multidisciplinary approach to the topic of aquaculture development, water and fish quality in aquaculture is presented in this case. By participating interactive classes and a debate, 4 year students in animal sciences work in groups to exercise solving problems, to make professional decision, and develop other professional and generic skills. This paper presents the result of the process of development o scenarios for such exercise and results of the exercise will be presented in another paper (Part 2)

Temporal Dynamics of Spontaneous Ca2+ Transients, ERBB4, vGLUT1, GAD1, Connexin, and Pannexin Genes in Early Stages of Human Stem Cell Neurodifferentiation

Spontaneous Ca2+ transients drive stem cell proliferation and neurodifferentiation. Deciphering the relationship between neuronal and glial human genes on one side and spontaneous Ca2+ activity on the other side is essential for our understanding of normal brain development, and for insights into the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. In the present study, forebrain neurons were derived from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (hESC-H9 and iPSC-15; 22q11.2 deletion) over a period of 21 days in vitro (DIV). Every 1–2 days, multisite optical imaging technique was applied to detect populations of cells with spontaneous Ca2+ transients. The expression levels of 14 genes of interest were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) on the same biological samples where physiological recordings were performed. The genes analyzed include: the schizophrenia candidate gene ERBB4, connexin (Cx) genes Cx26, Cx36, Cx43, Cx45, Cx47, pannexin-1 (PNX1), neuronal markers PAX6, vGLUT1, GAD1, TUBB3, glial lineage markers BLBP, GFAP, and housekeeping gene ACTB. We found that Ca2+ signals decrease in amplitude, decrease in duration, and increase in frequency during the first 21 days of human neurodifferentiation. The expression levels of ERBB4, PAX6, GAD1, vGLUT1, BLBP, Cx36, Cx45, and PNX1 were found to be strongly positively correlated with the percentage of cells exhibiting spontaneous Ca2+ transients (“Active Cells”). While expression of BLBP, Cx45, ERBB4, GAD1, PAX6, PNX1, and vGLUT1 were correlated with short-duration and long-amplitude Ca2+ transients, Cx43, TUBB3, and Cx47 were better correlated with long-duration and short-amplitude transients. The expression dynamics of Cx26 was unrelated to any aspect of spontaneous Ca2+ activity. Four genes showed an exponential time course with a distinct onset on a given DIV. The onset of PNX1, ERBB4, and vGLUT1 occurred before, while the onset of Cx36 occurred after the first action potentials were detected in early differentiating human neurons

Optical spectra, crystal-field parameters, and magnetic susceptibility of multiferroic Nd Fe3 (B O3) 4

We report high-resolution optical absorption spectra for Nd Fe3 (B O3) 4 trigonal single crystal, which is known to exhibit a giant magnetoelectric effect below the temperature of magnetic ordering TN =33 K. The analysis of the temperature-dependent polarized spectra reveals the energies and, in some cases, symmetries and exchange splittings of Nd3+ 84 Kramers doublets. We perform crystal-field calculations starting from the exchange-charge model, obtain a set of six real crystal-field parameters, and calculate wave functions and magnetic g factors. In particular, the values g =2.385 and g =1.376 were found for the Nd3+ ground-state doublet. We obtain Bloc =7.88 T and JFN =0.48 K for the values of the local effective magnetic field at liquid-helium temperatures at the Nd3+ site and the Nd-Fe exchange integral, respectively, using the experimentally measured Nd3+ ground-state splitting of 8.8 cm-1. To check the reliability of our set of crystal-field parameters, we model the magnetic susceptibility data from literature. A dimer containing two nearest-neighbor iron ions in the spiral chain is considered to partly account for quasi-one-dimensional properties of iron borates, and then the mean-field approximation is used. The results of calculations with the exchange parameters for Fe3+ ions Jnn =-6.25 K (intrachain interactions) and Jnnn =-1.92 K (interchain interactions) obtained from fitting agree well with the experimental data. © 2007 The American Physical Society

Primer to Voltage Imaging With ANNINE Dyes and Two-Photon Microscopy

ANNINE-6 and ANNINE-6plus are voltage-sensitive dyes that when combined with two-photon microscopy are ideal for recording of neuronal voltages in vivo, in both bulk loaded tissue and the dendrites of single neurons. Here, we describe in detail but for a broad audience the voltage sensing mechanism of fast voltage-sensitive dyes, with a focus on ANNINE dyes, and how voltage imaging can be optimized with one-photon and two-photon excitation. Under optimized imaging conditions the key strengths of ANNINE dyes are their high sensitivity (0.5%/mV), neglectable bleaching and phototoxicity, a linear response to membrane potential, and a temporal resolution which is faster than the optical imaging devices currently used in neurobiology (order of nanoseconds). ANNINE dyes in combination with two-photon microscopy allow depth-resolved voltage imaging in bulk loaded tissue to study average membrane voltage oscillations and sensory responses. Alternatively, if ANNINE-6plus is applied internally, supra and sub threshold voltage changes can be recorded from dendrites of single neurons in awake animals. Interestingly, in our experience ANNINE-6plus labeling is impressively stable in vivo, such that voltage imaging from single Purkinje neuron dendrites can be performed for 2 weeks after a single electroporation of the neuron. Finally, to maximize their potential for neuroscience studies, voltage imaging with ANNINE dyes and two-photon microscopy can be combined with electrophysiological recording, calcium imaging, and/or pharmacology, even in awake animals

Interventional Treatment of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome during Severe Acute Pancreatitis: Current Status and Historical Perspective

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a marker of severe disease. It occurs as combination of inflammation of retroperitoneum, visceral edema, ascites, acute peripancreatic fluid collections, paralytic ileus, and aggressive fluid resuscitation. The frequency of ACS in SAP may be rising due to more aggressive fluid resuscitation, a trend towards conservative treatment, and attempts to use a minimally invasive approach. There remains uncertainty about the most appropriate surgical technique for the treatment of ACS in SAP. Some unresolved questions remain including medical treatment, indications, timing, and interventional techniques. This review will focus on interventional treatment of this serious condition. First line therapy is conservative treatment aiming to decrease IAP and to restore organ dysfunction. If nonoperative measures are not effective, early abdominal decompression is mandatory. Midline laparostomy seems to be method of choice. Since it carries significant morbidity we need randomized studies to establish firm advantages over other described techniques. After ACS resolves efforts should be made to achieve early primary fascia closure. Additional data are necessary to resolve uncertainties regarding ideal timing and indication for operative treatment

Experimental and theoretical study of α–Eu2(MoO4)3 under compression

The compression process in the α-phase of europium trimolybdate was revised employing several experimental techniques. X-ray diffraction (using synchrotron and laboratory radiation sources), Raman scattering and photoluminescence experiments were performed up to a maximum pressure of 21 GPa. In addition, the crystal structure and Raman mode frequencies have been studied by means of first-principles density functional based methods. Results suggest that the compression process of α-Eu2(MoO4)3 can be described by three stages. Below 8 GPa, the α-phase suffers an isotropic contraction of the crystal structure. Between 8 and 12 GPa, the compound undergoes an anisotropic compression due to distortion and rotation of the MoO4 tetrahedra. At pressures above 12 GPa, the amorphization process starts without any previous occurrence of a crystalline-crystalline phase transition in the whole range of pressure. This behavior clearly differs from the process of compression and amorphization in trimolybdates with β′-phase and tritungstates with α-phase.We thank Diamond Light Source for access to beamline I15 (EE1746) that contributed to the results presented here. Part of the diffraction measurements were performed at the 'Servicio Integrado de Difraccion de Rayos X (SIDIX)' of University of La Laguna. This work has been supported by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad of Spain (MINECO) for the research projects through the National Program of Materials (MAT2010-21270-C04-01/02/03/04, MAT2013-46649-C41/2/3/4-P and MAT2013-43319-P), the Consolider-Ingenio 2010 MALTA (CSD2007-00045), the project of Generalitat Valenciana (GVA-ACOMP/2014/243) and by the European Union FEDER funds. C Guzman-Afonso wishes to thank ACIISI and FSE for a fellowship. J A Sans thanks the FPI and 'Juan de la Cierva' programs for fellowships.Guzmán-Afonso, C.; León-Luis, S.; Sans-Tresserras, JÁ.; González -Silgo, C.; Rodríguez-Hernández, P.; Radescu, S.;  muñoz, A.... (2015). Experimental and theoretical study of α–Eu2(MoO4)3 under compression. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter. 27(46):465401-1-465401-11. https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/27/46/465401S465401-1465401-11274

Quinones and non-quinones from the defensive secretion of unciger transsilvanicus (Verhoeff, 1899) (diplopoda, julida, julidae), from Serbia

A complex mixture of compounds was identified from the secretion of specimens of Unciger transsilvanicus. Phenol and p-cresol were detected for the first time in the family Julidae, and for the second time in the order Julida. Thirteen quinones were identified, with a great relative abundance of toloquinone and 2-methoxy-3-methyl- 1,4-benzoquinone. Hydroquinone was detected for the first time in the order Julida. Besides these compounds, isopentyl hexacosatetraenoate and isopentyl esters of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with chain lengths from C-14 to C(20)were identified. The most abundant non-quinone compound was isopentyl eicosenoate. The relative abundance of quinone and non-quinone in the defensive fluid of U transsilvanicus was 77% and 23%, respectively. The phylogenetic importance of the registered compounds is briefly discussed