The interactions of apamin and tetraethylammonium are differentially affected by single mutations in the pore mouth of small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels

in Biochemical Pharmacology (2013), 85

Valine residues in the pore region of SK2 (V366) and SK3 (V520) were replaced by either an alanine or a phenylalanine to evaluate the impact on the interactions with the allosteric blocker apamin. Unlike ... [more ▼]

Valine residues in the pore region of SK2 (V366) and SK3 (V520) were replaced by either an alanine or a phenylalanine to evaluate the impact on the interactions with the allosteric blocker apamin. Unlike TEA which showed high sensitivity to phenylalanine mutated channels, the binding affinity of apamin to the phenylalanine mutants was strongly reduced. In addition, currents from phenylalanine mutants were largely resistant to block by apamin. On the other hand, when the valine residue was replaced by an alanine residue, an increase of the binding affinity and the amount of block by apamin was observed for alanine mutated SK2 channels, but not for mutated SK3 channels. Interestingly, the VA mutation reduced the sensitivity to TEA. In silico data confirmed these experimental results. Therefore, such mutations in the pore region of SK channels show that the three-dimensional structure of the SK tetramers can be disorganized in the outer pore region leading to reduced interaction of apamin with its target. [less ▲]

An object-oriented hydrogeological data model for groundwater projects

in Environmental Modelling & Software (2013)

Geological and hydrogeological data are expensive to obtain in the field but are crucial for specific hydrogeological studies, from hydrogeological water balances to groundwater flow modelling and ... [more ▼]

Geological and hydrogeological data are expensive to obtain in the field but are crucial for specific hydrogeological studies, from hydrogeological water balances to groundwater flow modelling and contaminant transport, or for more integrated environmental investigations where groundwater plays a role. In this context, hydrogeological data are collected, transformed and exchanged at different scales, from local to international levels and between numerous institutions ranging from environmental consulting companies to the national and international environmental administrations. To guarantee that these exchanges are possible and meaningful, a clear structure and meta-information on applied hydrogeological data models is required. To make one step towards seamless management of groundwater projects, a new hydrogeological data model has been developed: Hg2O. It is described using object-oriented paradigms and it follows the recommendations of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO/TC211), the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), and the European Geospatial Information Working Group. Hydrogeological features are organized in packages of spatial feature datasets. The observations and measurements related to these features are organized in a seperate package. A particular focus is on specialized hydrogeological field experiments such as hydraulic and tracer tests. Two first implementations in the proprietary desktop ArcGIS environment and in the open-source web-based Web2GIS platform are presented, focusing on their respective standards support. [less ▲]

Novel scanning procedure enabling the vectorization of entire rhizotron-grown root systems

in Plant Methods (2013), 9(1),

"L'Heure du Nègre": Simenon au Congo

in Demoulin, Laurent (Ed.) L'Herne Georges Simenon (n°102) (2013)

A water retention model for compacted clayey soils

in 3rd International Symposium on Computational Geomechanics (ComGeo III) (2013)

The role of the Excavated Damaged Zone in HGA field-scale Experiment Modelling

in FORGE Symposium (2013)

Redox reactions in Prussian blue containing paint layers as a result of light exposure

in Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry [=JAAS] (2013)

Prussian blue, a mixed valence pigment, typically KFeIII[FeII(CN)6].xH2O, was the most widely used blue artistic pigment from ca. 1720 to the 1970's but, unfortunately, its paint layers, especially when ... [more ▼]

Prussian blue, a mixed valence pigment, typically KFeIII[FeII(CN)6].xH2O, was the most widely used blue artistic pigment from ca. 1720 to the 1970's but, unfortunately, its paint layers, especially when used in conjunction with a white pigment, tend to fade or turn green upon extended exposure to light. In order to identify the mechanism underlying these changes, paint layers have been prepared with differing amounts of these white pigments and subjected to accelerated light exposure fading. The resulting unfaded and faded paint layers as well as both the Berlin white pigment, Fe2II[FeII(CN)6], and the partially oxidized Berlin green pigment, {KFeIII[FeII(CN)6]}x{FeIII[FeIII(CN)6]}1–x, have been characterized by Raman and iron-57 Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results indicate that, upon fading, the Prussian blue pigment painted with a linseed oil binder and (PbCO3)2Pb(OH)2 or ZnO, and to a lesser extent with TiO2, undergoes a reduction at the exposed paint surface and an oxidation in the bulk of the paint layer. This combined reduction and oxidation disrupts, at least in part, the FeIII–N–C–FeII intervalent electron transfer pathways in Prussian blue thus leading to pigment fading through a reduction in the intervalent electron transfer absorbance at about 700 nm. [less ▲]

Concern-induced negative affect is associated with the occurrence and content of mind-wandering

in Consciousness & Cognition (2013), 22(2), 442-448

Previous research has shown that the content and frequency of mind-wandering episodes—the occurrence of thoughts that are both stimulus-independent and task-unrelated—are closely related to an ... [more ▼]

Previous research has shown that the content and frequency of mind-wandering episodes—the occurrence of thoughts that are both stimulus-independent and task-unrelated—are closely related to an individual’s future-related concerns. Whether this relationship is shaped by the affective changes that are usually associated with future-related concerns still remains unclear, however. In this study, we induced the anticipation of a negatively valenced event and examined whether the ensuing affective changes were related to the occurrence and content of mind-wandering during an unrelated attentional task. We found that the increase in negative affect following concern induction predicted the general frequency of mind-wandering episodes. Furthermore, mind-wandering episodes specifically directed at the induced concern were related to a lower decrease in negative affect during the attentional task. These results suggest that the negative emotional impact of future-related concerns is an important factor to be taken into consideration for the subsequent occurrence of mind-wandering episodes, which might in turn be involved in the maintenance of negative affect over time. [less ▲]

Sensitivity to tactile novelty in the terrestrial isopod, Porcellio scaber

in Behavioural Processes (2013), 92(1), 52-59

Invertebrates have been studied at biochemical, ecological, and behavioural levels, but current knowledge about the impact that learning may have on behaviour is rather sparse. The present study aimed to ... [more ▼]

Invertebrates have been studied at biochemical, ecological, and behavioural levels, but current knowledge about the impact that learning may have on behaviour is rather sparse. The present study aimed to examine the sensitivity of isolated rough woodlice (Porcellio scaber Latreille 1804) to the tactile novelty of their environment. A simple way to test this issue was to refer to the place preference paradigm, traditionally used in vertebrates. In Experiment 1, woodlice were placed in a compartment for 30 min in order to assess their ability to develop habituation in the absence of reward. In Experiment 2, woodlice were exposed to a compartment for 20 min (habituation phase) and were then given free choice between that compartment and a novel compartment for 2 min (preference phase). Depending on test conditions, rewards (humidity and/or shelter) were present or absent in the familiar compartment. The familiar and novel compartments differed with respect to the texture of the floor. In Experiment 3, the floor texture was the same in the two compartments in order to control for a novelty effect. The main results indicate that woodlice exhibited increased locomotion time, increased distance travelled, and increased speed in the novel compartment compared to the familiar compartment. There was no preference for either compartment when the floor textures of both were identical. [less ▲]

Benevolent sexism, Men's adventages and the prescription of warmth to women

in Sex Roles (2013), 68