1,997 research outputs found
Salivary glands in predatory mollusks: Evolutionary considerations
No full textMany marine mollusks attain or increase their predatory efficiency using complex chemical secretions, which are often produced and delivered through specialized anatomical structures of the foregut. The secretions produced in venom glands of Conus snails and allies have been extensively studied, revealing an amazing chemical diversity of small, highly constrained neuropeptides, whose characterization led to significant pharmacological developments. Conversely, salivary glands, the other main secretory structures of molluscan foregut, have been neglected despite their shared occurrence in the two lineages including predatory members: Gastropoda and Cephalopoda. Over the last few years, the interest for the chemistry of salivary mixtures increased based on their potential biomedical applications. Recent investigation with -omics technologies are complementing the classical biochemical descriptions, that date back to the 1950s, highlighting the high level of diversification of salivary secretions in predatory mollusks, and suggesting they can be regarded as a pharmaceutical cornucopia. As with other animal venoms, some of the salivary toxins are reported to target, for example, sodium and/or potassium ion channels or receptors and transporters for neurotransmitters such as, glutamate, serotonin, neurotensin, and noradrenaline, thus manipulating the neuromuscular system of the preys. Other bioactive components possess anticoagulant, anesthetic and hypotensive activities. Here, we overview available knowledge on the salivary glands of key predatory molluscan taxa, gastropods, and cephalopods, summarizing their anatomical, physiological and biochemical complexity in order to facilitate future comparative studies on main evolutionary trends and functional convergence in the acquisition of successful predatory strategies
Phenotypic diversity of Thuridilla hopei (Vérany, 1853) (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Sacoglossa). A DNA-barcoding approach
No full textPhenotypic diversity of Thuridilla hopei (Vérany, 1853) (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Sacoglossa). A DNA-barcoding approach
DNA-barcoding of sympatric species of ectoparasitic gastropods of the genus Cerithiopsis (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Cerithiopsidae) from Croatia
No full textPhenotypic diversity of Thuridilla hopei (Verany, 1853) (Gastropoda Heterobranchia Sacoglossa). A DNA-barcoding approach
No full textThe sacoglossan Thuridilla hopei (Verany, 1853) shows highly diverse chromatic patterns. Based on the morphological examination of specimens from different Mediterranean localities, we have observed that in spite of this great variability in colours of T. hopei, two major chromatic morphotypes are related to bathymetry. Specimens from deeper water exhibit blue darker and more uniform patterns than individuals from shallower water, which show a more variable, dashed and spotted arrangement of light blue, yellow, orange, white and black pigmentation. A molecular genetic analysis using the mitochondrial COI and 16S rDNA markers has confirmed that all these extremely different chromatic morphotypes belong to a single specific entity, i.e. T. hopei, a sacoglossan with a wide distribution, from Macaronesia in the Atlantic, to the easternmost Mediterranean Sea
State-homomorphisms on -algebras
No full textsummary:Riečan [12] and Chovanec [1] investigated states in -algebras. Earlier, Riečan [11] had dealt with analogous ideas in -posets. In the monograph of Riečan and Neubrunn [13] (Chapter 9) the notion of state is applied in the theory of probability on -algebras. We remark that a different definition of a state in an -algebra has been applied by Mundici [9], [10] (namely, the condition (iii) from Definition 1.1 above was not included in his definition of a state; in other words, only finite additivity was assumed). Below we work with the definition from [13]; but, in order to avoid terminological problems we use the term “state-homomorphism” (instead of “state”). The author is indebted to the referee for his suggestion concerning terminology. Let be an -algebra which is defined on a set with . In the present paper we show that there exists a one-to-one correspondence between the system of all state-homomorphisms on and the system of all -closed maximal ideals of . For -algebras we apply the notation and the definitions as in Gluschankof [3]. The relations between -algebras and abelian lattice ordered groups (cf. Mundici [8]) are substantially used in the present paper
A 60 mV Input Voltage, Process Tolerant Start-Up System for Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting
No full textThis paper presents a 60 mV input voltage start-up system for thermoelectric energy harvesting. A new process tolerant inverter cell is proposed, which is functional at supply voltages as low as 60 mV. Using the proposed unit cell, a ring oscillator has been implemented. The ring oscillator is followed by 40 charge-pump stages, an ultra-low-power level detector, and a boost converter. The energy harvesting system can generate an output voltage of 1 V and delivers a maximum power of 4.5 μW from a 60 mV supply. This system has been implemented in a standard 0.18 μm CMOS technology, uses neither zerothreshold voltage (normally-on) negative-channel metal-oxide semiconductor nor microelectromechanical systems switches and occupies 3.3 mm2.Accepted author manuscriptBio-Electronic
On some properties of quasi-MV algebras and √′ quasi-MV algebras. Part II
No full textThe present paper is a sequel to Paoli F, Ledda A, Giuntini R, Freytes H (On some properties of QMV algebras and √′ QMV algebras, submitted). We provide two representation results for quasi-MV algebras in terms of MV algebras enriched with additional structure; we investigate the lattices of subvarieties and subquasivarieties of quasi-MV algebras; we show that quasi-MV algebras, as well as cartesian and flat √′ quasi-MV algebras, have the amalgamation property. © Springer-Verlag 2007.We gratefully acknowledge the precious information and insights we gathered from conversations or e-mail exchanges with Roberto Giuntini and Danica Jakubikova-Studenovska. We are especially indebted to Matthew Spinks for his extensive and detailed comments on a preliminary draft of the paper. The first author is partially supported by Grants MTM2004-03101 and TIN2004-07933-C03-02 from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia and Grant 2001SGR-00017 from the Generalitat de CatalunyaPeer Reviewe
Measles virus causes immunogenic cell death in human melanoma
No full textNoOncolytic viruses (OV) are promising treatments for cancer, with several currently undergoing testing in randomised clinical trials. Measles virus (MV) has not yet been tested in models of human melanoma. This study demonstrates the efficacy of MV against human melanoma. It is increasingly recognised that an essential component of therapy with OV is the recruitment of host antitumour immune responses, both innate and adaptive. MV-mediated melanoma cell death is an inflammatory process, causing the release of inflammatory cytokines including type-1 interferons and the potent danger signal HMGB1. Here, using human in vitro models, we demonstrate that MV enhances innate antitumour activity, and that MV-mediated melanoma cell death is capable of stimulating a melanoma-specific adaptive immune response
A 10-mV-Startup-Voltage Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting System With a Piezoelectric Starter
No full textAn ultra-low-startup-voltage thermoelectric energy harvesting system assisted by a piezoelectric generator (PEG) is presented in this paper. When the energy harvesting system is implemented in a place where there is mechanical vibration, the associated PEG can generate a stable clock signal and drive the boost converter to start from the cold state even at extremely low thermoelectric generator (TEG) voltage. The proposed system is designed and simulated in a 180-nm BCD process. The simulations show that the proposed system can start the TEG system from the cold state from as low as 10 mV of TEG voltage while keeping a 63.9% efficiency. The peak power conversion efficiency is achieved at 74.9% when the TEG voltage is 50 mV.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Electronic Instrumentatio
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