Поховання на човнах у давніх слов'ян

У статті розповідається про ранньослов’янський обряд поховання на човнах. Наводяться данні археологічних розкопок на території України, середньовічні письмові джерела, елементи фольклору, що свідчать про наявність такого обряду.В статье рассказывается о древнеславянском обряде захоронения на лодках. Приводятся данные археологических раскопок на территории Украины, средневековые письменные источники, элементы фольклора, свидетельствующие о наличии такого обряда.In the article is told about the ancient-Slavonic ceremony of burial place on boats. Data of archaeological excavations on territories of Ukraine, medieval writing sources

Investigation of fullerenol-induced changes in poroelasticity of human hepatocellular carcinoma by AFM-based creep tests

In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to investigate the alterations of the poroelastic properties of hepatocellular carcinoma (SMMC-7721) cells treated with fullerenol. The SMMC-7721 cells were subject to AFM-based creep tests, and a corresponding poroelastic indentation model was used to determine the poroelastic parameters by curve fitting. Comparative analyses indicated that the both permeability and diffusion of fullerenol-treated cells increased significantly while their elastic modulus decreased by a small amount. From the change in the trend of the determined parameter, we verified the corresponding alternations of cytoskeleton (mainly filaments actin), which was reported by the previous study using confocal imaging method. Our investigation on SMMC-7721 cell reveals that the poroelastic properties could provide a better understanding how the cancer cells are affected by fullerenol or potentially other drugs which could find possible applications in drug efficacy test, cancer diagnosis and secure therapies.EU Horizon 2020 projec

Computer simulation of syringomyelia in dogs

Syringomyelia is a pathological condition in which fluid-filled cavities (syringes) form and expand in the spinal cord. Syringomyelia is often linked with obstruction of the craniocervical junction and a Chiari malformation, which is similar in both humans and animals. Some brachycephalic toy breed dogs such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) are particularly predisposed. The exact mechanism of the formation of syringomyelia is undetermined and consequently with the lack of clinical explanation, engineers and mathematicians have resorted to computer models to identify possible physical mechanisms that can lead to syringes. We developed a computer model of the spinal cavity of a CKCS suffering from a large syrinx. The model was excited at the cranial end to simulate the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the spinal cord due to the shift of blood volume in the cranium related to the cardiac cycle. To simulate the normal condition, the movement was prescribed to the CSF. To simulate the pathological condition, the movement of CSF was blocked

C/EBP-induced transdifferentiation reveals granulocyte-macrophage precursor-like plasticity of B cells

The lymphoid-myeloid transdifferentiation potentials of members of the C/EBP family (C/EBP{alpha}, {beta}, {delta}, and {epsilon}) were compared in v-Abl-immortalized primary B cells. Conversion of B cells to macrophages was readily induced by the ectopic expression of any C/EBP, and enhanced by endogenous C/EBP{alpha} and {beta} activation. High transgene expression of C/EBP{beta} or C/EBP{epsilon}, but not of C/EBP{alpha} or C/EBP{delta}, also induced the formation of granulocytes. Granulocytes and macrophages emerged in a mutually exclusive manner. C/EBP{beta}-expressing B cells produced granulocyte-macrophage progenitor (GMP)-like progenitors when subjected to selective pressure to eliminate lymphoid cells. The GMP-like progenitors remained self-renewing and cytokine-independent, and continuously produced macrophages and granulocytes. In addition to their suitability to study myelomonocytic lineage bifurcation, lineage-switched GMP-like progenitors could reflect the features of the lympho-myeloid lineage switch observed in leukemic progression

Notch pathway inhibition controls myeloma bone disease in the murine MOPC315.BM model

Despite evidence that deregulated Notch signalling is a master regulator of multiple myeloma (MM) pathogenesis, its contribution to myeloma bone disease remains to be resolved. Notch promotes survival of human MM cells and triggers human osteoclast activity in vitro. Here, we show that inhibition of Notch through the γ-secretase inhibitor XII (GSI XII) induces apoptosis of murine MOPC315.BM myeloma cells with high Notch activity. GSI XII impairs murine osteoclast differentiation of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in vitro. In the murine MOPC315.BM myeloma model GSI XII has potent anti-MM activity and reduces osteolytic lesions as evidenced by diminished myeloma-specific monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig)-A serum levels and quantitative assessment of bone structure changes via high-resolution microcomputed tomography scans. Thus, we suggest that Notch inhibition through GSI XII controls myeloma bone disease mainly by targeting Notch in MM cells and possibly in osteoclasts in their microenvironment. We conclude that Notch inhibition is a valid therapeutic strategy in MM

Feeding habits of the golden jackal (Canis Aureus) on the basis of new examinations

The aim of our study based on field research was to evaluate the diet composition and feeding habits of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) living in the area of Vajszló (Ormánság region, SW Hungary). During the research period (from autumn 2010 to spring 2012) n=268 jackal scats (feces) were collected on a 13.6 km transect. On the basis of scat analysis we found that jackals consumed primarily small mammals (B%: percentage of biomass consumed, mean 68%), all of which the most dominant species was the common vole (a pest species). Small mammal consumption varied seasonally between 48% and 96%. The secondary food for the jackal was usually the wild boar (including piglets and inwards) with an annual 12%, or plants (16%). Wildlife management point of view is important that jackals consumed cervids mainly in winter (B%, 5.6%). Consumption of cervids during the reproductive period was only occasional (B%, 2.9%), and was not detected in the summer scat samples. Our examination confirms earlier results from Hungary, i.e. the jackal has opportunistic feeding strategy, its diet varies depending on the seasonal food availability, but small mammals are the primary foods in all seasons. The jackal prey mainly on small-sized, open-field living, terrestrial and wild living animals. These shows that the jackal characteristically hunts alone, but occasionally it hunts in pairs or groups. The research was supported by the Hungarian-Serbian bilateral programme entitled “Population density and feeding habits of the golden jackal (Canis aureus L. 1758) in different habitats in the Pannonian ecoregion” (project number: RS-14/09). Report was supported by the Ministry of Human Resources. (Research Faculty) (registration number: 7 629- 24/2013/TUDPOL)