Extracellular Vesicles in CNS Developmental Disorders

The central nervous system (CNS) is the most complex structure in the body, consisting of multiple cell types with distinct morphology and function. Development of the neuronal circuit and its function rely on a continuous crosstalk between neurons and non-neural cells. It has been widely accepted that extracellular vesicles (EVs), mainly exosomes, are effective entities responsible for intercellular CNS communication. They contain membrane and cytoplasmic proteins, lipids, non-coding RNAs, microRNAs and mRNAs. Their cargo modulates gene and protein expression in recipient cells. Several lines of evidence indicate that EVs play a role in modifying signal transduction with subsequent physiological changes in neurogenesis, gliogenesis, synaptogenesis and network circuit formation and activity, as well as synaptic pruning and myelination. Several studies demonstrate that neural and non-neural EVs play an important role in physiological and pathological neurodevelopment. The present review discusses the role of EVs in various neurodevelopmental disorders and the prospects of using EVs as disease biomarkers and therapeutics.     

Novel strategy for encapsulation and targeted delivery of poorly water-soluble active substances

Carriers for targeted delivery and controlled release of poorly water-soluble active substances (PWSAS) are facing three challenges: (a) the encapsulation issues, (b) limitations of PWSAS water solubility, and (c) burst drug release which can be pharmacologically dangerous and economically inefficient. The present study brings a novel strategy for encapsulation and controlled release of PWSAS—caffeine in concentrations which are higher than its maximal water solubility without the possibility of burst effect. The modification of hydrophilic carrier based on poly(methacylic acid) was done using casein and liposomes. To further increase the maximal caffeine loading inside the carrier nicotinamide was used. The release study of the encapsulated PWSAS was elaborated with respect to morphology of the carriers and interactions that could be established between its structural components. The carriers swelling and the release of caffeine and nicotinamide were also investigated depending on caffeine concentration, the presence of different liposomal formulations and the volume ratio of liposomal formulation, in three media with different pH simulating the path of the carrier through the human gastrointestinal tract. The synthesized carriers are promising candidates for encapsulation of PWSAS in concentrations which are higher than its maximal water solubility and for the targeted delivery of those dosages.     

Ionic conductivities and high resolution microscopic evaluation of grain and grain boundaries of cerium-based codoped solid electrolytes

Doped CeGdO and codoped CeGdOSmO compositions were synthesized, giving rise to nanoparticulate powders. Ionic conductivities at bulk and grain boundaries of the sintered samples were determined, exhibiting increased conductivity in the samaria-codoped samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a significant reduction in the grain size of samaria-codoped electrolytes. This reduced grain size of the codoped samples caused a reduction in Schottky barrier height, increasing oxygen vacancy concentration in the space-charge layer of the grain boundary and culminating in greater ionic conductivity in the boundary region. For the gadolinium doped samples, high resolution transmission electron microscopy images at grains showed the presence of large cluster of defects (nanodomains), hindering the movement of charge carriers and reducing ionic conductivity. However, the samaria-codoped system displayed better homogeneity at atomic level, resulting in reduced oxygen vacancy ordering and, consequently, smaller nanodomains and higher bulk (grain) conductivity. The reduced grain sizes and smaller nanodomains caused by codoping favor the ionic conductivity of ceria-based ceramics, doped with gadolinia and codoped with samaria.     

Approximation of ill-posed boussinesq equations

In this paper we compare the dynamics on the centre manifold of the solutions of an ill-posed Boussinesq equation with a well-posed version. We show that the dynamics in the centre manifold of the ill-posed equation tracks the dynamics of the well-posed equation. Our results give partial justification to the long-wave perturbation theory.     

Heavy Metals Bioremediation from Polluted Water by Glass-Ceramic Materials

The objective of this research was to study the removal of cadmium and lead from an aqueous solution through a biological treatment. For this purpose a glass-ceramic material was manufactured from industrial and urban wastes. Biofilms of microorganisms found in wastewater were developed on its surface, and continuous tests were conducted in the presence and absence of the biofilm to analyze the glass-ceramic's ability to remove the heavy metals from an aqueous environment. The results suggest that this bioremediation process, developed on an industrial scale, could represent an alternative to the chemical processes currently used.     

A formal description of open distributed processing (ODP) trading based on guidelines for the definition of managed objects (GDMO)

New requirements of growing computer networks and information systems have an influence on extended client/server models with increased functionality. This forms the basis for service management in distributed systems which is realized by a service trading concept. This paper studies the requirements derived from the Open Distributed Processing (ODP) Reference Model in order to consider an open service market. Furthermore, it examines management possibilities for describing the service trading scenario. Because of similar architectures and properties ODP services, service offers, types, exporters and traders are mapped onto management components and modeled as managed objects. Therefore, the Guidelines for the Definition of Managed Objects (GDMO) are used. The final concept allows a precise and unambiguous study of the service trading scenario and provides means for exporting and importing of service offers in a distributed environment.