10,294 research outputs found
Compensatory Feto-Placental Upregulation of the Nitric Oxide System during Fetal Growth Restriction
Background: Fetal Growth Restriction is often associated with a feto-placental vascular dysfunction conceivably involving endothelial cells. Our study aimed to verify this pathogenic role for feto-placental endothelial cells and, coincidentally, demonstrate any abnormality in the nitric oxide system. Methods: Prenatal assessment of feto-placental vascular function was combined with measurement of nitric oxide (in the form of S-nitrosohemoglobin) and its nitrite byproduct, and of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine. Umbilical vein endothelial cells were also harvested to determine their gene profile. The study comprised term pregnancies with normal (n = 40) or small-for-gestational-age (n = 20) newborns, small-for-gestational-age preterm pregnancies (n = 15), and bi-chorial, bi-amniotic twin pregnancies with discordant fetal growth (n = 12). Results: Umbilical blood nitrite (p<0.001) and S-nitrosohemoglobin (p = 0.02) rose with fetal growth restriction while asymmetric dimethylarginine decreased (p = 0.003). Nitrite rise coincided with an abnormal Doppler profile from umbilical arteries. Fetal growth restriction umbilical vein endothelial cells produced more nitrite and also exhibited reciprocal changes in vasodilator (upwards) and vasoconstrictor (downwards) transcripts. Elevation in blood nitrite and S-nitrosohemoglobin persisted postnatally in the fetal growth restriction offspring. Conclusion: Fetal growth restriction is typified by increased nitric oxide production during pregnancy and after birth. This response is viewed as an adaptative event to sustain placental blood flow. However, its occurrence may modify the endothelial phenotype and may ultimately represent an element of risk for cardiovascular disease in adult life.Fil: Pisaneschi, Silvia. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Pisa; Italia. Scuola Superiore SantâAnna; ItaliaFil: Strigini, Francesca A. L.. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Pisa; ItaliaFil: Sanchez, Angel Matias. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Pisa; Italia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y BiologĂa Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Begliuomini, Silvia. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Pisa; ItaliaFil: Casarosa, Elena. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Pisa; ItaliaFil: Ripoli, Andrea. National Research Council. Institute of Clinical Physiology, ; ItaliaFil: Ghirri, Paolo. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Pisa; ItaliaFil: Boldrini, Antonio. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Pisa; ItaliaFil: Fink, Bruno. Noxygen Science Transfer and Diagnostics; AlemaniaFil: Genazzani, Andrea R.. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Pisa; ItaliaFil: Coceani, Flavio. Scuola Superiore SantâAnna; ItaliaFil: Simoncini, Tommaso. UniversitĂ degli Studi di Pisa; Itali
Tectonic framework of surface and blind structures from neotectonic and geophysical (gravimetry) analyses, Central Andes of Argentina
This work describes new evidence of NâS and oblique trending surface and blind structures in the La Cantera-GualilĂĄn tectonic depression in the Central Precordillera, San Juan Province, Argentina. Two main NâS Quaternary thrusts cross longitudinally the valley located âŒ60 km west of San Juan city (30° 50âČ- 31° 17âČ S and 68° 55âČ- 69° 05âČ W). One of them is located in the eastern piedmont of the Sierra de La Invernada (San Juan Fault) and the other in the western piedmont of the Sierra de La Cantera (La Cantera Fault System), although the northward continuation of this structure has not yet been confirmed. Besides, a smooth water divide or âportezueloâ controlled by an oblique transpressive structure (Divisadero Coba Rubia Fault) separates two NâS elongated river basins with opposite water flow directions. One of these is the GualilĂĄn River, which flows from south to north, and the other corresponds to the La Cantera River, running from north to south. In the present work, we describe some new natural exposures and subtle geomorphological evidence of Quaternary structures identified in the GualilĂĄn-La Cantera tectonic depression. We also use regional and local gravity data to analyze and interpret gravity anomalies related to these surface or blind active structures. Then, based on our geologic and geophysical interpretations, we infer the presence of several, buried cross-strike structures with NW and NE trends, one of them coincident with the drainage divide between the GualilĂĄn and La Cantera opposite river basins, possibly related to the Coba Rubia Fault. Also, we suggest the northward continuation of the La Cantera Fault System (LCFS) as a buried structure in coincidence with the GualilĂĄn River alluvial plain. In this sense, the gravity response of the basement and these river sub-basins shows a close relationship with the surface and subsurface structures. We propose that the oblique structures could represent pre-existing crustal fabrics reactivated during the Andean orogeny, segmenting the NâS Precordillera fold and thrust belt system. Finally, according to the analyzed neotectonic and gravimetric features, we consider the La Cantera-GualilĂĄn Valley as a potentially seismogenic source in this intraplate portion of the Andean Precordillera, crossed by several NâS and oblique surficial and buried/blind active structures. These tectonic features could play a significant role in a regional seismic hazard assessment.Fil: Alcacer Sanchez, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FĂsicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Rothis, Luis Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FĂsicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Haro Sanchez, Federico Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FĂsicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Colavitto, Bruno. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FĂsicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Vargas, Horacio NicolĂĄs. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, FĂsicas y Naturales. Instituto de GeologĂa "Dr. Emiliano Aparicio". Gabinete de NeotectĂłnica y GeomorfologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Vargas, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FĂsicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Onorato, Maria Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas FĂsicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Blanc, Pablo AndrĂ©s. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, FĂsicas y Naturales. Instituto de GeologĂa "Dr. Emiliano Aparicio". Gabinete de NeotectĂłnica y GeomorfologĂa; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Miranda, Silvia Alicia. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, FĂsicas y Naturales. Departamento de GeofĂsica y AstronomĂa; ArgentinaFil: Perucca, Laura Patricia A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - BahĂa Blanca. Instituto GeolĂłgico del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de GeologĂa. Instituto GeolĂłgico del Sur; Argentin
Evidence of charge carrier number fluctuations in InN thin films?
Due to its small band-gap and its high mobility, InN is a promising material for a large number of key applications like band-gap engineering for high efficiency solar cells, light emitting diodes, and high speed devices. Unfortunately, it has been reported that this material exhibits strong surface charge accumulation which may depend on the type of surface. Current investigations are conducted in order to explain the mechanisms which govern such a behavior and to look for ways of avoiding it and/or finding applications that may use such an effect. In this framework, low frequency noise measurements have been performed at different temperatures on patterned MBE grown InN layers. The evolution of the 1/f noise level with temperature in the 77 K-300 K range is consistent with carrier number fluctuations thus indicating surface mechanisms: the surface charge accumulation is confirmed by the noise measurements
The Advent of CAR T-Cell Therapy for Lymphoproliferative Neoplasms: Integrating Research Into Clinical Practice
Developement of real time diagnostics and feedback algorithms for JET in view of the next step
Real time control of many plasma parameters will be an essential aspect in
the development of reliable high performance operation of Next Step Tokamaks.
The main prerequisites for any feedback scheme are the precise real-time
determination of the quantities to be controlled, requiring top quality and
highly reliable diagnostics, and the availability of robust control algorithms.
A new set of real time diagnostics was recently implemented on JET to prove the
feasibility of determining, with high accuracy and time resolution, the most
important plasma quantities. With regard to feedback algorithms, new
model–based controllers were developed to allow a more robust control of
several plasma parameters. Both diagnostics and algorithms were successfully
used in several experiments, ranging from H-mode plasmas to configuration with
ITBs. Since elaboration of computationally heavy measurements is often
required, significant attention was devoted to non-algorithmic methods like
Digital or Cellular Neural/Nonlinear Networks. The real time hardware and
software adopted architectures are also described with particular attention to
their relevance to ITER.Comment: 12th International Congress on Plasma Physics, 25-29 October 2004,
Nice (France
Chemical and Photometric Evolution of Extended Ultraviolet Disks: Optical Spectroscopy of M83 (NGC5236) and NGC4625
We present the results from the analysis of optical spectra of 31
Halpha-selected regions in the extended UV (XUV) disks of M83 (NGC5236) and
NGC4625 recently discovered by GALEX. The spectra were obtained using IMACS at
Las Campanas Observatory 6.5m Magellan I telescope and COSMIC at the Palomar
200-inch telescope, respectively for M83 and NGC4625. The line ratios measured
indicate nebular oxygen abundances (derived from the R23 parameter) of the
order of Zsun/5-Zsun/10. For most emission-line regions analyzed the line
fluxes and ratios measured are best reproduced by models of photoionization by
single stars with masses in the range 20-40 Msun and oxygen abundances
comparable to those derived from the R23 parameter. We find indications for a
relatively high N/O abundance ratio in the XUV disk of M83. Although the
metallicities derived imply that these are not the first stars formed in the
XUV disks, such a level of enrichment could be reached in young spiral disks
only 1 Gyr after these first stars would have formed. The amount of gas in the
XUV disks allow maintaining the current level of star formation for at least a
few Gyr.Comment: 52 pages, 8 tables, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Impact of the June 2018 Saddleworth Moor wildfires on air quality in northern England
The June 2018 Saddleworth Moor fires were some of the largest UK wildfires on record and lasted for approximately three weeks. They emitted large quantities of smoke, trace gases and aerosols which were transported downwind over the highly populated regions of Manchester and Liverpool. Surface observations of PM2.5 indicate that concentrations were 4â5.5 times higher than the recent seasonal average. State-of-the-art satellite measurements of total column carbon monoxide (TCCO) from the TROPOMI instrument on the Sentinel 5âPrecursor (S5P) platform, coupled with measurements from a flight of the UK BAe-146â301 research aircraft, are used to quantify the substantial enhancement in emitted trace gases. The aircraft measured plume enhancements with near-fire CO and PM2.5 concentrations >1500 ppbv and >125 ÎŒg mâ3 (compared to ~100 ppbv and ~5 ÎŒg mâ3 background concentrations). Downwind fire-plume ozone (O3) values were larger than the near-fire location, indicating O3 production with distance from source. The near-fire O3:CO ratio was (ÎO3/ÎCO) 0.001 ppbv/ppbv, increasing downwind to 0.060â0.105 ppbv/ppbv, suggestive of O3 production enhancement downwind of the fires. Emission rates of CO and CO2 ranged between 1.07 (0.07â4.69) kg sâ1 and 13.7 (1.73â50.1) kg sâ1, respectively, similar to values expected from a medium sized power station
A Cautionary Tale: MARVELS Brown Dwarf Candidate Reveals Itself To Be A Very Long Period, Highly Eccentric Spectroscopic Stellar Binary
We report the discovery of a highly eccentric, double-lined spectroscopic
binary star system (TYC 3010-1494-1), comprising two solar-type stars that we
had initially identified as a single star with a brown dwarf companion. At the
moderate resolving power of the MARVELS spectrograph and the spectrographs used
for subsequent radial-velocity (RV) measurements (R ~ <30,000), this particular
stellar binary mimics a single-lined binary with an RV signal that would be
induced by a brown dwarf companion (Msin(i)~50 M_Jup) to a solar-type primary.
At least three properties of this system allow it to masquerade as a single
star with a very low-mass companion: its large eccentricity (e~0.8), its
relatively long period (P~238 days), and the approximately perpendicular
orientation of the semi-major axis with respect to the line of sight (omega~189
degrees). As a result of these properties, for ~95% of the orbit the two sets
of stellar spectral lines are completely blended, and the RV measurements based
on centroiding on the apparently single-lined spectrum is very well fit by an
orbit solution indicative of a brown dwarf companion on a more circular orbit
(e~0.3). Only during the ~5% of the orbit near periastron passage does the
true, double-lined nature and large RV amplitude of ~15 km/s reveal itself. The
discovery of this binary system is an important lesson for RV surveys searching
for substellar companions; at a given resolution and observing cadence, a
survey will be susceptible to these kinds of astrophysical false positives for
a range of orbital parameters. Finally, for surveys like MARVELS that lack the
resolution for a useful line bisector analysis, it is imperative to monitor the
peak of the cross-correlation function for suspicious changes in width or
shape, so that such false positives can be flagged during the candidate vetting
process.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, 6 table
- âŠ