Cerebral Pericytes and Endothelial Cells Communicate through Inflammasome-Dependent Signals

By upregulation of cell adhesion molecules and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, cells of the neurovascular unit, including pericytes and endothelial cells, actively participate in neuroinflammatory reactions. As previously shown, both cell types can activate inflammasomes, cerebral endothelial cells (CECs) through the canonical pathway, while pericytes only through the noncanonical pathway. Using complex in vitro models, we demonstrate here that the noncanonical inflammasome pathway can be induced in CECs as well, leading to a further increase in the secretion of active interleukin-1β over that observed in response to activation of the canonical pathway. In parallel, a more pronounced disruption of tight junctions takes place. We also show that CECs respond to inflammatory stimuli coming from both the apical/blood and the basolateral/brain directions. As a result, CECs can detect factors secreted by pericytes in which the noncanonical inflammasome pathway is activated and respond with inflammatory activation and impairment of the barrier properties. In addition, upon sensing inflammatory signals, CECs release inflammatory factors toward both the blood and the brain sides. Consequently, CECs activate pericytes by upregulating their expression of NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3), an inflammasome-forming pattern recognition receptor. In conclusion, cerebral pericytes and endothelial cells mutually activate each other in inflammation.     

The behaviour of thin deuterated-polyethylene targets enclosed in gold layers

Deuterated-polyethylene targets with thicknesses of 0.5 mg cm⁻² were bombarded with 1 MeV deuterons in order to estimate the deuterium deterioration. The (CD₂)_n foils enclosed in gold layers were shown to be suitable targets for the d + d reaction experiments in the low energy region.     

Short-wavelength capillary lasers with tunable spatial coherence

We present a method to continuously tune the degree of spatial coherence of a short-wavelength laser. The method is based on the optical properties of the hollow-waveguide Fabry-Perot resonators with external mirrors. The potential of the technique is demonstrated experimentally on a capillary nitrogen laser (λ=337.1 nm). The results of the work can be used for the construction of short-wavelength lasers with tunable spatial coherence     

From neurocomputation to immunocomputation - a model and algorithmfor fluctuation-induced instability and phase transition in biologicalsystems

Explores bioinformatics-based modeling of immunological instabilities. We develop an algorithm for analyzing stability-instability properties of complex systems and use the developed technique to induce transitions in physical, biological and engineering systems. As a case study, we analyze the phenomena of tumor destabilization or spontaneous biological regression of a malignant focus-lymphocyte interactive system. Using stochastic noise analysis, we model high-dimensional collective oscillations of nonlinear elements and study nonautonomous systems with oscillation-induced phase transitions between lowand high-dimensional states. The associated nonlinear immunodynamical phenomenon of nonequilibrial destabilization of a malignant tumor is analyzed in terms of the Prigogine-Glansdorff (1971) stability theorem of dynamical systems theory     

Spectrophotometric method for determining the pigment content of ground paprika

A rapid and reliable method has been developed for determining the red, yellow and total pigment contents of ground paprika.     

Multiple shooting for distributed systems with applications in hydro electricity production

The aim of this paper is to introduce a new method for the solution of optimal control problems for which the system is composed by many subsystems whose dynamics are coupled through input-ouput connections. The proposed approach can be regarded as a generalization of the direct multiple shooting method and exploits the structure of the problem to achieve a highly parallelizable algorithm. To demonstrate its effectiveness, the new method is applied to the control of a hydro power plant composed of several connected reaches.     

Load‐carrying capacity of lubricated and dry sliding elements

The factors influencing the load‐carrying capacity of tribological contacts are reviewed. The load‐carrying capacity depends in part on the lubrication regime, and hydrodynamic, hydrostatic, and elastohydrodynamic lubrication are discussed. In some circumstances, lubrication is not possible. The parameters of dry rubbing are described, and approaches to the design and operation of dry bearings are discussed, particularly the choice of suitable non‐metallic materials for use in the wear couple.     

The role of South African researchers in intercontinental collaboration

Scientometrics - The analysis presented here focuses on mapping, based on publication output, the scientific collaboration of African based researchers and the role of the South African research...     

Bio‐orthogonal Fluorescent Labelling of Biopolymers through Inverse‐Electron‐Demand Diels–Alder Reactions

Bio‐orthogonal labelling schemes based on inverse‐electron‐demand Diels–Alder (IEDDA) cycloaddition have attracted much attention in chemical biology recently. The appealing features of this reaction, such as the fast reaction kinetics, fully bio‐orthogonal nature and high selectivity, have helped chemical biologists gain deeper understanding of biochemical processes at the molecular level. Listing the components and discussing the possibilities and limitations of these reagents, we provide a recent snapshot of the field of IEDDA‐based biomolecular manipulation with special focus on fluorescent modulation approaches through the use of bio‐orthogonalized building blocks. At the end, we discuss challenges that need to be addressed for further developments in order to overcome recent limitations and to enable researchers to answer biomolecular questions in more detail.     

The effect of surface roughness on contact and stress states of spur gears

The contact characteristics of spur gears are analysed, taking into consideration real surface micro-geometry, and using numerical algorithms. The contact pressure distribution, contact area, and rigid body rotation of the gears have been calculated for different types of gear surface according to machining: shaping, grinding, or milling. Finally, the sub-surface stress state is evaluated for different pressure distributions, by finite element method.