Behavioural responses are the most efficient thermoregulatory responses, since relatively simple actions can prevent the need to activate the more metabolically costly autonomic responses. Dependence on behavioural responses may increase in environmental conditions where the prevailing nonthermal factors (NTF) attenuate autonomic responses and alter thermal perception (Mekjavic et al., 2003; …
The study presents the influence of increasing the amount of β-spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) as Li2O-content flux on phase composition, microstructural evolution and physical properties of high alumina porcelain material containing ~61% of Al2O3. New porcelain compositions based on clays and high amount of calcined alumina were developed with the introduction of …
Programmed cell death is a highly organized process by which multicellular organisms eliminate damaged, superfluous and potentially harmful cells. Apoptosis is the most studied form of programmed cell death. It is characterized by typical morphological and biochemical changes which are a consequence of activation of cysteine proteases, caspases. Apoptosis is …
The problem of structure determination of membrane proteins is addressed with a new combination of site-directed spin labelling (SDSL) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and structure modelling of a protein and its conformational spaces. This new approach is aimed at structural characterization of membrane proteins and intrinsically disordered proteins. In …
Complex dynamical systems are often modeled as networks, with nodes representing dynamical units which interact through the network’s links. Gene regulatory networks, responsible for the production of proteins inside a cell, are an example of system that can be described as a network of interacting genes. The behavior of a …
Microarrays are at the center of a revolution in biotechnology, allowing researchers to simultaneously monitor the expression of tens of thousands of genes. The final aim of a typical microarray experiment is to find a molecular explanation for a given macroscopic observation (e.g., which pathways are affected by the loss …
Cysteine peptidases have been demonstrated to be important virulence factors of protozoan parasites, including Trypanosoma cruzi. With genome sequence determination the existence of several novel families of cysteine peptidases can be envisioned in this parasite. We focused on two families, metacaspases from the clan CD and autophagins (or Atg4 proteases) …