Information sharing within a social network is key to behavioral flexibility-Lessons from mice tested under seminaturalistic conditions.

Being part of a social structure offers chances for social learning vital for survival and reproduction. Nevertheless, studying the neural mechanisms of social learning under laboratory conditions remains challenging. To investigate the impact of socially transmitted information about rewards on individual behavior, we used Eco-HAB, an automated system monitoring the voluntary behavior of group-housed mice under seminaturalistic conditions.

High-Statistics Measurement of the Cosmic-Ray Electron Spectrum with H.E.S.S.

Owing to their rapid cooling rate and hence loss-limited propagation distance, cosmic-ray electrons and positrons (CRe) at very high energies probe local cosmic-ray accelerators and provide constraints on exotic production mechanisms such as annihilation of dark matter particles. We present a high-statistics measurement of the spectrum of CRe candidate events from 0.3 to 40 TeV with the High Energy Stereoscopic System, covering 2 orders of magnitude in energy and reaching a proton rejection power of better than 10^{4}.

Acceleration and transport of relativistic electrons in the jets of the microquasar SS 433.

SS 433 is a microquasar, a stellar binary system that launches collimated relativistic jets. We observed SS 433 in gamma rays using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.

Targeted therapy of cognitive deficits in fragile X syndrome.

Breaking an impasse in finding mechanism-based therapies of neuropsychiatric disorders requires a strategic shift towards alleviating individual symptoms. Here we present a symptom and circuit-specific approach to rescue deficits of reward learning in Fmr1 knockout mice, a model of Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common monogenetic cause of inherited mental disability and autism. We use high-throughput, ecologically-relevant automated tests of cognition and social behavior to assess effectiveness of the circuit-targeted injections of designer nanoparticles, loaded with TIMP metalloproteinase inhibitor 1 protein (TIMP-1).

Chronic fluoxetine treatment impairs motivation and reward learning by affecting neuronal plasticity in the central amygdala.

Background And Purpose: The therapeutic effects of fluoxetine are believed to be due to increasing neuronal plasticity and reversing some learning deficits. Nevertheless, a growing amount of evidence shows adverse effects of this drug on cognition and some forms of neuronal plasticity.

Experimental Approach: To study the effects of chronic fluoxetine treatment, we combine an automated assessment of motivation and learning in mice with an investigation of neuronal plasticity in the central amygdala and basolateral amygdala.

Eco-HAB as a fully automated and ecologically relevant assessment of social impairments in mouse models of autism.

Eco-HAB is an open source, RFID-based system for automated measurement and analysis of social preference and in-cohort sociability in mice. The system closely follows murine ethology. It requires no contact between a human experimenter and tested animals, overcoming the confounding factors that lead to irreproducible assessment of murine social behavior between laboratories.

DNA binding and cleavage studies of copper(II) complexes with 2'-deoxyadenosine modified histidine moiety.

This work is focused on the study of DNA binding and cleavage properties of 2'-deoxyadenosines modified with ester/amide of histidine (his(6)dA ester, his(6)dA amide) and their copper(II) complexes. To determine the coordination mode of the complex species potentiometric and spectroscopic (UV-visible, CD, EPR) studies have been performed. The analysis of electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra has been used to find the nature of the interactions between the compounds and calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA).

V3 interneuron subpopulations in the mouse spinal cord undergo distinctive postnatal maturation processes.

Mice develop weight-bearing locomotion within the first 2-3 weeks of birth, a period during which motoneurons (MNs) and interneurons (INs) that control locomotor activities undergo rapid maturation. In this study, we investigate the maturation of two subpopulations of V3 INs in the mouse spinal cord during this period. To do this, we conducted whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of tdTomato fluorescent protein-expressing spinal V3 INs from Sim1(Cre/+);tdTom mice at post-natal day (P) 0, P4, P9 and P14 and compared their properties to those at P21.

Synthesis and anticancer activity of 7-hydroxycoumarinyl gallates.

Background: The search for anti-cancer agents includes naturally occurring substances and theirs modifications. Therefore we invented and designed compounds that represent fused derivatives of gallic acid with coumarins.

Methods: As a result, a series of 8 novel esters of gallic acid and 7-hydroxycoumarins were synthesized and evaluated for anticancer activity.

Motoneurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells develop mature phenotypes typical of endogenous spinal motoneurons.

Induced pluripotent cell-derived motoneurons (iPSCMNs) are sought for use in cell replacement therapies and treatment strategies for motoneuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, much remains unknown about the physiological properties of iPSCMNs and how they compare with endogenous spinal motoneurons or embryonic stem cell-derived motoneurons (ESCMNs). In the present study, we first used a proteomic approach and compared protein expression profiles between iPSCMNs and ESCMNs to show that <4% of the proteins identified were differentially regulated.

Functional subpopulations of V3 interneurons in the mature mouse spinal cord.

V3 interneurons (INs) are a major group of excitatory commissural interneurons in the spinal cord, and they are essential for producing a stable and robust locomotor rhythm. V3 INs are generated from the ventral-most progenitor domain, p3, but migrate dorsally and laterally during postmitotic development. At birth, they are located in distinctive clusters in the ventral horn and deep dorsal horn.

Intrinsic oscillatory activity arising within the electrically coupled AII amacrine-ON cone bipolar cell network is driven by voltage-gated Na+ channels.

In the rd1 mouse model for retinal degeneration, the loss of photoreceptors results in oscillatory activity (∼10–20 Hz) within the remnant electrically coupled network of retinal ON cone bipolar and AII amacrine cells. We tested the role of hyperpolarization-activated currents (I(h)), voltage-gated Na(+) channels and gap junctions in mediating such oscillatory activity. Blocking I(h) (1 mm Cs(+)) hyperpolarized the network and augmented activity, while antagonizing voltage-dependent Na(+) channels (1 μm TTX) abolished oscillatory activity in the AII amacrine-ON cone bipolar cell network.

An intrinsic neural oscillator in the degenerating mouse retina.

The loss of photoreceptors during retinal degeneration (RD) is known to lead to an increase in basal activity in remnant neural networks. To identify the source of activity, we combined two-photon imaging with patch-clamp techniques to examine the physiological properties of morphologically identified retinal neurons in a mouse model of RD (rd1). Analysis of activity in rd1 ganglion cells revealed sustained oscillatory (∼10 Hz) synaptic activity in ∼30% of all classes of cells.

Effects of heavy metals on insect immunocompetent cells.

The influence of the following heavy metals, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), on haemocytes of the house fly Musca domestica L. was studied under laboratory conditions. House fly larvae were exposed to low or high, semi-lethal concentrations of metals.

Elemental changes in the brain, muscle, and gut cells of the housefly, Musca domestica, exposed to heavy metals.

The toxic effects of heavy metals on organisms are well established. However, their specific action at the cellular level in different tissues is mostly unknown. We have used the housefly, Musca domestica, as a model organism to study the toxicity of four heavy metals: copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb).

Nutritional value of broad bean seeds. Part 3: Changes of dietary fibre and starch in the production of commercial flours.

We report on the impact of flour production from small- and large-seed varieties of broad bean on the quantitative and qualitative distribution of dietary fibre and starch. The experimental material consisted of the seeds of small-seed varieties of broad bean: Gobik and Goral, large-seed varieties of broad bean: Windsor Bialy and Bartom, and pea seeds of Albatros, Karat and Miko varieties (for comparison). The seeds were at full physiological maturity.

Nutritional value of broad bean seeds. Part 2: Selected biologically active components.

Selected biologically active non-nutrient components (BANS) were determined in broad bean seeds of fine-size and large-size seed varieties and in pea seeds for comparison. Among the analysed biologically active substances the broad bean seeds of fine-size and large-size seed varieties were differentiated mainly by phenolic compounds (including flavanols and proantocyanidines) which appear in twice as large quantities in large-size seed varieties. It was shown that in comparison to pea, broad bean seeds are characterised by a higher content of phenolic compounds, phytates as well as a higher activity of inhibitors of trypsin and amylases.

Nutritional value of broad bean seeds. Part 1: Starch and fibre.

This paper characterizes starch and dietary fibre in the seeds of fine-size and large-size seed varieties of broad bean and in edible varieties of pea for comparison. The experimental material included seeds at full physiological maturity. The fine-size seed varieties of broad bean, Gobik and Goral, contained slightly less total starch (62.

Effect of hydrothermal processing on carrot carotenoids changes and interactions with dietary fiber.

The aim of the studies was to determine the effect of different methods of heat treatment on carotenoids changes and their interactions with insoluble and soluble dietary fiber. Three industrial varieties of carrot--Simba, Caropak and Fayette constituted the experimental material. Carrot cubes were subjected to heat treatment by putting in water with or without citric acid, or in a convection-type steam furnace.

Isolates from faba bean and soybean with lowered content of phytic acid and activity of the trypsin inhibitors.

For obtaining protein isolates, water, whey, and waste effluents from a potato processing plant were used as extraction solvents. Isolates obtained on laboratory conditions were subjected to chemical and organoleptic tests. It was shown that proper steering of the processing allowed for obtaining isolates with lower phytic acid content and decreased activity of the trypsin inhibitors, although the efficiency of the process decreased also.

[Improvement in the quality of rape seed by combining silage with fodder sugar beets. 2. Changes in glucosinolate derivatives and fat contents].

Industrial and laboratory-scale studies showed that the combined silage fermentation of rape-seed flakes with half sugar mangels leds to a very beneficial reduction in the content of glucosinolate derivatives, especially during the first week of fermentation and storage processes on the qualitative and quantitative fatty-acid parameters were but significant.

[Improvement in the quality of rape seed by combining silage with fodder sugar beets. 1. Quality evaluation of the silages].

Industrial-scale studies showed that the addition of rape-seed flakes to half sugar mangels improves the feeding value and the quality of the silages. Furthermore, it was found that the development of yeasts was inhibited and that the propagation of acidifiers was retarded as the proportion of rape-seed increased. The microbiological analysis indicates that the amount of rape-seed added to the half sugar mangels should not exceed 10%.

On rapeseed meals. Part XXVI. Some remarks on the biological value of rapeseed meal proteins after silage.

The influence of propionic bacteria on the biological value of potato-rapeseed meal protein ensilage was investigated. The inoculation of the ensilage with Propionibacterium Petersoni T 112 led to the reduction of the content of goitrogenous compounds (isothiocyanates and oxazolidinethiones) and to an increase of the nutritive value (NPU, PER) of the rapeseed protein. The increase of the protein value is greater by the application of propionic bacteria than by toasting of rapeseed meal.