Carta particolare della Gronlandia orientale : la longitudine comincia da l'isola di Pico d'Asores [i.e. Pico Azores] : di Europa carta LI

Julkaisussa: Dell' arcano del mare di Ruberto Dudleo ... parte seconda del tomo terzo contenente il libro sesto. Vol III

Questa e la perfetta et vera descrittione et il vero disegno et sito del Mare Adriatico, di Larcipelago, del Mare di Soria, et del Mare Egeo, con li nomi volgari che hoggidi Seusano da Italiani, de l'Isole, Scogli, Capi, Golfi, Porti, et luochi che in ditti mari se ritruovano à o de l'Isole quanto delle infrascritte Prouicie di tema ferma, cioè di Bytinia, Misia, Licia, e Cilicia, del Peloponneso detto Morea, de l'Albania, et della Dalmatia, con la maggior parte dell'Italia, descritte secondo che in le carte da navigar se co[n]tegono

Kartta kuuluu A. E. Nordenskiöldin kokoelmaan

Tre canzoni nelle parole di Li-Tai-Pe

Soitinnus: lauluääni, piano.

Keskitehoestimaattorin lisääminen diesel-sähköiseen hybridijärjestelmään

Nykyajan jatkuvasti kiristyvät päästörajoitukset ja ilmastonmuutoksen uhka ovat ajavia voimia kehittämään voimalaitosten tekniikkaa energiatehokkaampaan ja ympäristöystävällisempään suuntaan. Polttomoottoritekniikan parantaminen on tärkeä osa tätä kehitystä, mutta jo nykyisiä moottoreita voitaisiin ajaa energiate-hokkaammin käyttämällä akustoa ja älykästä säätöjärjestelmää apuna. Työssä tutkitaan simulaatioiden avulla voidaanko ulkomerellä toimivan huolto-aluksen energiatehokkuutta parantaa muokkaamalla sen tehon tuottoa keskitehoes-timaattorin ja akuston avulla.

An acid-sensing ion channel that detects ischemic pain

Ischemic pain occurs when there is insufficient blood flow for the metabolic needs of an organ. The pain of a heart attack is the prototypical example. Multiple compounds released from ischemic muscle likely contribute to this pain by acting on sensory neurons that innervate muscle. One such compound is lactic acid. Here, we show that ASIC3 (acid-sensing ion channel #3) has the appropriate expression pattern and physical properties to be the detector of this lactic acid. In rats, it is expressed only in sensory neurons and then only on a minority (~40%) of these. Nevertheless, it is expressed at extremely high levels on virtually all dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons that innervate the heart. It is extraordinarily sensitive to protons (Hill slope 4, half-activating pH 6.7), allowing it to readily respond to the small changes in extracellular pH (from 7.4 to 7.0) that occur during muscle ischemia. Moreover, both extracellular lactate and extracellular ATP increase the sensitivity of ASIC3 to protons. This final property makes ASIC3 a "coincidence detector" of three molecules that appear during ischemia, thereby allowing it to better detect acidosis caused by ischemia than other forms of systemic acidosis such as hypercapnia.

Solid-state reference and ion-selective electrodes : towards portable potentiometric sensing

Potentiometric sensors are very attractive tools for chemical analysis because of their simplicity, low power consumption and low cost. They are extensively used in clinical diagnostics and in environmental monitoring. Modern applications of both fields require improvements in the conventional construction and in the performance of the potentiometric sensors, as the trends are towards portable, on-site diagnostics and autonomous sensing in remote locations. The aim of this PhD work was to improve some of the sensor properties that currently hamper the implementation of the potentiometric sensors in modern applications. The first part of the work was concentrated on the development of a solid-state reference electrode (RE) compatible with already existing solid-contact ion-selective electrodes (ISE), both of which are needed for all-solid-state potentiometric sensing systems. A poly(vinyl chloride) membrane doped with a moderately lipophilic salt, tetrabutylammonium-tetrabutylborate (TBA-TBB), was found to show a satisfactory stability of potential in sample solutions with different concentrations. Its response time was nevertheless slow, as it required several minutes to reach the equilibrium. The TBA-TBB membrane RE worked well together with solid-state ISEs in several different situations and on different substrates enabling a miniature design. Solid contacts (SC) that mediate the ion-to-electron transduction are crucial components of well-functioning potentiometric sensors. This transduction process converting the ionic conduction of an ion-selective membrane to the electronic conduction in the circuit was studied with the help of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The solid contacts studied were (i) the conducting polymer (CP) poly(3,4-ethylienedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and (ii) a carbon cloth having a high surface area. The PEDOT films were doped with a large immobile anion poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS-) or with a small mobile anion Cl-. As could be expected, the studied PEDOT solid-contact mediated the ion-toelectron transduction more efficiently than the bare glassy carbon substrate, onto which they were electropolymerized, while the impedance of the PEDOT films depended on the mobility of the doping ion and on the ions in the electrolyte. The carbon cloth was found to be an even more effective ion-to-electron transducer than the PEDOT films and it also proved to work as a combined electrical conductor and solid contact when covered with an ion-selective membrane or with a TBA-TBB-based reference membrane. The last part of the work was focused on improving the reproducibility and the potential stability of the SC-ISEs, a problem that culminates to the stability of the standard potential E°. It was proven that the E° of a SC-ISE with a conducting polymer as a solid contact could be adjusted by reducing or oxidizing the CP solid contact by applying current pulses or a potential to it, as the redox state of the CP solid-contact influences the overall potential of the ISE. The slope and thus the analytical performance of the SC-ISEs were retained despite the adjustment of the E°. The shortcircuiting of the SC-ISE with a conventional large-capacitance RE was found to be a feasible instrument-free method to control the E°. With this method, the driving force for the oxidation/reduction of the CP was the potential difference between the RE and the SC-ISE, and the position of the adjusted potential could be controlled by choosing a suitable concentration for the short-circuiting electrolyte. The piece-to-piece reproducibility of the adjusted potential was promising, and the day-today reproducibility for a specific sensor was excellent. The instrumentfree approach to control the E° is very attractive considering practical applications.

Interaction between human cytomegalovirus UL136 protein and ATP1B1 protein

Interplay between the host and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has a pivotal role in the outcome of infection. A region (referred to as UL/b’) present in the Toledo strain of HCMV and low passage clinical isolates contains 19 additional genes, which are absent in the highly passaged laboratory strain AD169. Products of the UL/b’ genes may determine the manifestations of HCMV infection in vivo. However, little is known about the host factors, which interact with UL/b’ proteins. This study was conducted to investigate the function of the HCMV UL136 protein. By yeast two-hybrid screening, the β1 subunit of the host Na+/K+-ATPase (ATP1B1) was identified to be a candidate protein, which interacts with the HCMV UL136 protein. The interaction was further evaluated both in vitro by pull-down assay and in vivo by immunofluorescent co-localization. The results showed that the UL136 protein can interact with ATP1B1 in vitro. Co-localization of UL136-EGFP and ATP1B1-DsRed in cell membranes suggests that ATP1B1 was a partner of the UL136 protein. It can be proposed that the HCMV UL136 protein may have important roles in processes such as cell-to-cell spread, and in maintaining cell osmotic pressure and intracellular ion homeostasis during HCMV infection.

Hypoxic-ischemic injury decreases anxiety-like behavior in rats when associated with loss of tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons of the substantia nigra

Neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control, mild hypoxia-ischemia (HI), and severe HI groups (N = 10 in each group at each time) on postnatal day 7 (P7) to study the effect of mild and severe HI on anxiety-like behavior and the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the substantia nigra (SN). The mild and severe HI groups were exposed to hypoxia (8% O2/92% N2) for 90 and 150 min, respectively. The elevated plus-maze (EPM) test was performed to assess anxiety-like behavior by measuring time spent in the open arms (OAT) and OAT%, and immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of TH in the SN at P14, P21, and P28. OAT and OAT% in the EPM were significantly increased in both the mild (1.88-, 1.99-, and 2.04-fold, and 1.94-, 1.51-, and 1.46-fold) and severe HI groups (1.69-, 1.68-, and 1.87-fold, and 1.83-, 1.43-, and 1.39-fold, respectively; P < 0.05). The percent of TH-positive cells occupying the SN area was significantly and similarly decreased in both the mild (17.7, 40.2, and 47.2%) and severe HI groups (16.3, 32.2, and 43.8%, respectively; P < 0.05). The decrease in the number of TH-positive cells in the SN and the level of protein expression were closely associated (Pearson correlation analysis: r = 0.991, P = 0.000 in the mild HI group and r = 0.974, P = 0.000 in the severe HI group) with the impaired anxiety-like behaviors. We conclude that neonatal HI results in decreased anxiety-like behavior during the juvenile period of Sprague-Dawley rats, which is associated with the decreased activity of TH in the SN. The impairment of anxiety and the expression of TH are not likely to be dependent on the severity of HI.

Secretory TAT-peptide-mediated protein transduction of LIF receptor α-chain distal cytoplasmic motifs into human myeloid HL-60 cells

The distal cytoplasmic motifs of leukemia inhibitory factor receptor α-chain (LIFRα-CT3) can independently induce intracellular myeloid differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells by gene transfection; however, there are significant limitations in the potential clinical use of these motifs due to liposome-derived genetic modifications. To produce a potentially therapeutic LIFRα-CT3 with cell-permeable activity, we constructed a eukaryotic expression pcDNA3.0-TAT-CT3-cMyc plasmid with a signal peptide (ss) inserted into the N-terminal that codes for an ss-TAT-CT3-cMyc fusion protein. The stable transfection of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells via this vector and subsequent selection by Geneticin resulted in cell lines that express and secrete TAT-CT3-cMyc. The spent medium of pcDNA3.0-TAT-CT3-cMyc-transfected CHO cells could be purified using a cMyc-epitope-tag agarose affinity chromatography column and could be detected via SDS-PAGE, with antibodies against cMyc-tag. The direct administration of TAT-CT3-cMyc to HL-60 cell culture media caused the enrichment of CT3-cMyc in the cytoplasm and nucleus within 30 min and led to a significant reduction of viable cells (P < 0.05) 8 h after exposure. The advantages of using this mammalian expression system include the ease of generating TAT fusion proteins that are adequately transcripted and the potential for a sustained production of such proteins in vitro for future AML therapy.

De veritate occulta, Psalm. LI. 8

Invokaatio: I.N.J.

Processing of spent nickelcatalyst for fat recovery

Spent nickel catalyst (SNC) has the potential of insulting the quality of the environment in a number of ways. Its disposal has a pollution effect. Optimum recovery of fat from SNC, could save the environment and reduce the oil loss. Hexane has been the solvent of choice for oil extraction. Alternative solvents considered to have been safer have been evaluated. Hexane, isopropanol, ethanol and heptane were examined using soxhlet extraction. While hexane is more efficient in oil recovery from SNC, isopropanol proved to be very good in clear separation of oil from waste material and also provides high solvent recovery compared to other solvents. Isopropanol extraction with chill separation of miscella into lower oil-rich phase, and an upper, solvent-rich recyclable phase save mush energy of vaporization for distilling. An aqueous extraction process with immiscible solvent assisted was tested. Solvent like hexane added to SNC, and water added later with continuous stirring. The mixture was stirred for about 30 minutes, prior to centrifugation. Aqueous process extracted less amount of oil compared to solvent extraction.

Paper- and membrane-based ion-modulated electronics

Avhandlingen handlar om pappers- och membranbaserad jonmodulerad elektronik. Målet med forskningen har varit att utveckla billig, miljövänlig och brännbar elektronik, som kan användas i vardagliga engångsprodukter. Baskomponenterna som utvecklas och presenteras i avhandlingen är transistorer och kondensatorer. Mer komplicerad logisk kretselektronik demonstreras också med hjälp av dessa komponenter. Substraten som utnyttjas vid framställningen av dessa elektroniska komponenter är papper och membran. Dessa substrat är flexibla, hållbara, billiga, miljövänliga, etc. och därför väl anpassade för befintliga tryckteknologier. Själva baskomponenterna framställs sedan på dessa substrat genom att trycka flera skikt på varandra, där varje enskilt skikt är ett individuellt material. Detta är möjligt eftersom de organiska materialen som används i dessa komponenter är upplösta i ett lösningsmedel och kan därmed tryckas på samma sätt som ett vanligt bläck. Ett tredimensionellt objekt kan på detta sätt framställas. I avhandlingen presenteras flera olika typer av transistorer, men den gemensamma nämnaren bland dessa är att isolatorn är en jonledare. Denna, ganska ovanliga, transistormodellen har den stora fördelen att lågspänningskomponenter kan relativt enkelt framställas. Det som är speciellt med våra transistorer är att vi har använt miljövänliga jonledare. Detta, bl.a., leder till att våra komponenter visar både god prestanda, tillika som de är miljövänliga. I avhandlingen demonstrerar vi även tryckta superkondensatorer, en motsvarighet till laddningsbara batterier, konstruerade på papper med aktiverat kol och miljövänliga jonledare. De mest komplicerade logiska kretsar som demonstreras i denna avhandling är ring-oscillatorer och 1-bits-minnen konstruerade på papper. --------------------------------------------- Väitöskirja käsittelee paperille ja polymeerikalvolle tulostettua ionimoduloitua elektroniikkaa. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli kehittää edullista, ympäristöystävällistä ja polttokelpoista elektroniikkaa, jota voidaan käyttää esim. tavanomaisissa kertakäyttötuotteissa. Väitöskirjassa esitellään erilaisia transistoreita ja kondensaattoreita. Näitä elektronisia peruskomponentteja käyttäen demonstroidaan myös monimutkaisempia loogisia piirejä. Komponenttien valmistuksessa alustana käytettiin paperia ja polymeerikalvoa. Valitut alustat ovat joustavia ja kestäviä, ja ovat siksi hyvin yhteensopivia olemassa olevien tulostusmenetelmien kanssa. Peruskomponentit valmistettiin tulostamalla eri materiaaleja päällekkäin. Komponenteissa käytettävät orgaaniset aineet ovat liuenneessa muodossa musteessa, joka voidaan tulostaa samalla periaatteella kuin mikä tahansa normaali muste. Tällä menetelmällä voidaan valmistaa myös kolmiulotteisia tuotteita. Väitöskirjassa esitellään useita erityyppisiä transistoreita, joissa yhdistävänä tekijänä on ionisesti johtava eriste. Tällaista suhteellisen harvinaista transistorityyppiä käyttämällä voidaan mahdollistaa matala-jännitteisten komponenttien yksinkertainen valmistus. Valmistettujen transistoreiden etu on ionisten nesteiden ympäristöystävällisyys. Elektroniset komponentit ovat täten hyviä suorituskyvyltään, mutteivät haitallisia ympäristölle. Väitöskirjassa demonstroidaan myös tulostettujen superkondensaattoreiden, eli ladattavien paristojen vastineiden, valmistus paperille aktiivihiiltä ja ionisia nesteitä käyttäen. Kaikkein monimutkaisimmat loogiset piirit, jotka tässä väitöskirjassa esitellään, ovat rengasoskillaattorit sekä 1-bittinen paperille valmistettu muisti.

Metal-Ion-Binding Oligonucleotides: High-Affinity Probes for Nucleic Acid Sequences

Small non-coding RNAs have numerous biological functions in cell and are divided into different classes such as: microRNA, snoRNA, snRNA and siRNA. MicroRNA (miRNA) is the most studied non-coding RNA to date and is found in plants, animals and some viruses. miRNA with short sequences is involved in suppressing translation of target genes by binding to their mRNA post-transcriptionally and silencing it. Their function besides silencing of the viral gene, can be oncogenic and therefore the cause of cancer. Hence, their roles are highlighted in human diseases, which increases the interest in using them as biomarkers and drug targets. One of the major problems to overcome is recognition of miRNA. Owing to a stable hairpin structure, chain invasion by conventional Watson-Crick base-pairing is difficult. One way to enhance the hybridization is exploitation of metal-ion mediated base-pairing, i. e. oligonucleotide probes that tightly bind a metal ions and are able to form a coordinative bonds between modified and natural nucleobases. This kind of metallo basepairs containing short modified oligonucleotides can also be useful for recognition of other RNA sequences containing hairpin-like structural motives, such as the TAR sequence of HIV. In addition, metal-ion-binding oligonucleotides will undoubtedly find applications in DNA-based nanotechnology. In this study, the 3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl substituted purine derivatives were successfully incorporated within oligonucleotides, into either a terminal or non-terminal position. Among all of the modified oligonucleotides studied, a 2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-6-oxopurine base containing oligonucleotide was observed to bind most efficiently to their unmodified complementary sequences in the presence of both Cu2+ or Zn2+. The oligonucleotide incorporating 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)purine base also markedly increased the stability of duplexes in the presence of Cu2+ without losing the selectivity.

Screening of iron-enriched fungus from natural environment and evaluation of organically bound iron bioavailability in rats

Iron is an essential element for nearly all living organisms, and its deficiency is the most common form of malnutrition in the world. The organic forms of trace elements are considered more bioavailable than the inorganic forms. Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae can enrich metal elements and convert inorganic iron to organic species, its tolerability and transforming capacity are limited. The aim of this study was to screen higher biomass and other iron-enriched fungi strains besides Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the natural environment. A PDA medium containing 800 μg/mL iron was used for initial screening. Fifty strains that tolerated high iron concentration were isolated from the natural environment, and only one strain, No.BY1109, grew well at Fe (II) concentration of 10,000μg/ml. According to morphological characterization, 18S rDNA sequence analysis, and biophysical and biochemical characterization, the strain No.BY1109 was identified as Rhodotorula. The iron content of No.BY1109 (10 mg Fe/g dry cell) was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. The results of distribution of iron in the cells showed that iron ion was mainly chelated in the cell walls and vacuoles. The bioavailability in rats confirmed that strain No.BY1109 had higher absorption efficiency than that of ferrous sulfate after single dose oral administration. The present study introduces new iron supplements, and it is a basis for finding new iron supplements from natural environment.