Niemann-Pick type C disease as proof-of-concept for intelligent biomarker panel selection in neurometabolic disorders.

Aim: Using Niemann-Pick type C disease (NPC) as a paradigm, we aimed to improve biomarker discovery in patients with neurometabolic disorders.

Method: Using a multiplexed liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry dried bloodspot assay, we developed a selective intelligent biomarker panel to monitor known biomarkers N-palmitoyl-O-phosphocholineserine and 3β,5α,6β-trihydroxy-cholanoyl-glycine as well as compounds predicted to be affected in NPC pathology. We applied this panel to a clinically relevant paediatric patient cohort (n = 75; 35 males, 40 females; mean age 7 years 6 months, range 4 days-19 years 8 months) presenting with neurodevelopmental and/or neurodegenerative pathology, similar to that observed in NPC.

Taste sensing and sugar detection mechanisms in larval primary taste center.

Despite the small number of gustatory sense neurons, larvae are able to sense a wide range of chemicals. Although evidence for taste multimodality has been provided in single neurons, an overview of gustatory responses at the periphery is missing and hereby we explore whole-organ calcium imaging of the external taste center. We find that neurons can be activated by different combinations of taste modalities, including opposite hedonic valence and identify distinct temporal dynamics of response.

The chemosensory system of the larva: an overview of current understanding.

Animals must sense their surroundings and be able to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant cues. An enticing area of research aims to uncover the mechanisms by which animals respond to chemical signals that constitute critical sensory input. In this review, we describe the principles of a model chemosensory system: the larva.

Pulsed X-ray source with the pulse duration of 50 ns and the peak power of 70 MW for capturing moving objects.

Background: Traditionally, X-ray systems for capturing moving objects consist of a continuous X-ray source and a detector that operates at a predetermined frame rate.

Objective: This study investigates the possibility of using pulsed X-ray source with an inductive energy storage device and a semiconductor opening switch for shooting moving objects.

Methods: The study uses a high-voltage pulse generator that has the following parameters namely, the pulse voltage amplitude up to 320 kV, the pulse current up to 240 A, the current pulse duration of about 50 ns, and the pulse repetition rate up to 2 kHz.

New atomic-scale insights into the I/Ni(100) system: phase transitions and growth of an atomically thin NiI film.

We use a traditional surface science approach to create and study an atomically thin NiI2 film (a promising two-dimensional ferromagnetic material) formed on nickel substrate as a result of molecular iodine adsorption. The I/Ni(100) system was examined with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and density functional theory calculations. We found out that the iodine adsorption on Ni(100) at 300 K leads to the formation of non-equilibrium phases, whereas the adsorption at elevated temperature (≥390 K) gives rise to the thermodynamically stable phases.