Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz

About: Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz is a education organization based out in Bydgoszcz, Poland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Luminescence & Population. The organization has 1109 authors who have published 2923 publications receiving 19548 citations. The organization is also known as: Casimir the Great University & Uniwersytet Kazimierza Wielkiego w Bydgoszczy.

Different positions of tropomyosin isoforms on actin filament are determined by specific sequences of end-to-end overlaps.

Abstract: Tropomyosins are dimeric rod-like proteins which polymerize along actin filaments and regulate interactions with other actin-binding proteins. Homologous sequences responsible for the binding of tropomyosin to consecutive actin monomers repeat along tropomyosin and are called actin-binding periods. In this work, the localization of tropomyosin isoforms on actin alone and on actin–myosin complex was evaluated by measuring Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) distances between a donor (AEDANS) attached to either the N-terminal actin-binding period 1 or to the central actin-binding period 5 and an acceptor (DABMI) bound to actin's Cys374. The recombinant α-tropomyosin isoforms – TM2, TM5a, and TM1b9a, used in this study, had various amino acid sequences of the N- and C-termini forming the end-to-end overlap. Although the sequences of actin-binding period 5 of the three isoforms were identical, the donor–acceptor distances calculated for each isoform varied between 38.6 and 41.5 A. Differences in FRET distances between the three tropomyosin isoforms labeled in actin-binding period 1 varied between 34.8 and 40.2 A. Rigor binding of myosin heads to actin increased all measured distances. The degree and cooperativity of myosin-induced shift was different for each of the isoforms and actin-binding periods. The structural differences correlate with cooperative regulation of actin-activated S1 ATPase by the three tropomyosins. The results indicate that amino acid sequences of the end-to-end overlap determine specific orientation of tropomyosin isoform on actin. This can be important for steric and cooperative regulation of the actin filament and determine functional specificity of multiple tropomyosin isoforms present in eucaryotic cells. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

External morphology of Oppiidae (Acari: Oribatida) in the light of the ontogeny of three species and genera

Abstract: External morphology of juveniles and ontogeny of Oppia denticulata (R. & G. Canestrini, 1882), Multioppia laniseta Moritz, 1966 and Oppiella uliginosa (Willmann, 1919) are described and illustrated for the first time. The juveniles of these species are unpigmented and have a soft body, with smooth integument that is covered with microtuberculate cerotegument; they also have a similar number of setae on the prodorsum, gastronotum and in the anal, anogenital and epimeral regions. They differ mainly by the length of seta c2 in all juveniles, length of setae in and ex in the larva and seta le in the nymphs, and leg setation. The juveniles of Op. uliginosa have coupled seta d at some leg solenidia (σ on leg I, σ and φ on legs II and III, and φ on leg IV), whereas those of other species and the adults of all species lack this seta. The juveniles of O. denticulata and M. laniseta have sunken famulus e on tarsus I, whereas those of Op. uliginosa and the adults of all species have it emergent. All instars of these...

Luminescence of lead-related centres in single crystalline films of Lu2SiO5

Abstract: The steady-state and time-resolved emission and excitation spectra and luminescence decay kinetics of nominally undoped Lu2SiO5 single crystalline films (SCFs) grown by the liquid phase epitaxy method from the PbO-based flux are studied in the range 4.2–300 K. Due to the preparation method, the films contain lead ions. Luminescence characteristics of Pb-related centres of different types are identified. A weak 3.65 eV emission is ascribed to the radiative decay of the triplet relaxed excited state (RES) of Pb2+ ions substituting for Lu3+ ions in the Lu1 lattice sites of the X2 structure. Possible origins of the intense complex lead-related ≈2.8 eV emission are discussed. We propose phenomenological models describing the excited-state dynamics of the studied luminescence centres. We also determine the characteristic parameters of the corresponding RESs, in particular, the energy separations between the excited states and the rates of the radiative and non-radiative transitions from these states.

Association between physical fitness and cognitive performance in 19-24 year old males

Abstract: The present study aimed to explore the association between physical fitness (PF) and cognitive performance in a sample of 19-24 year old males. Two hundred and eleven young males (20.2±1.5 years) participated in the study. Cognitive functioning tasks including information processing speed and inhibitory control were measured in addition to PF and motor fitness components such as aerobic fitness, static strength, explosive strength, agility and speed. Regression analysis showed that after adjustment for potential confounders (e.g. age, socioeconomic status, adiposity and physical activity), aerobic fitness (represented by shorter time in the one-mile run) was positively associated with composite inhibitory control scores (standardized β=0.17; p=0.04) and negatively associated with ∆ Simon (standardized β= -0.21; p=0.04). Explosive strength was negatively associated with composite information processing scores (standardized β= -0.24; P=0.01), and composite inhibitory control scores (standardized β= -0.22; p=0.02). Speed of movement, agility and static strength were not associated with any of the cognitive tests. In conclusion, aerobic fitness and explosive strength but not speed, agility or static strength might be indicators of underlying cognitive functioning tasks in 19-24 year old males.

Ordered Fuzzy Numbers Approach to an Investment Project Evaluation

Abstract: Accepted: 10 June 2013 Aim of the paper is to propose a new tool for a decision supporting system concerning the financial project evaluation. It is based on the determination of the internal rate of return (IRR) of a investment project in which all expenditure and anticipated incomes are vague, and described by Ordered Fuzzy Numbers (OFNs). It means that the probabilistic approach is neglected in this paper and the use of the well developed arithmetics of OFNs is made to find a positive fuzzy root of a fuzzy polynomial representing the fuzzy net present value of the project. Since in the space of OFNs a partial order relation is defined together with a number of defuzzification functionals, the authors can construct a decision support system for investors helping them in acceptance procedure of most profitable investment projects.