First-principles study of As interstitials in GaAs: Convergence, relaxation, and formation energy

Convergence of density-functional supercell calculations for defect formation energies, charge transition levels, localized defect state properties, and defect atomic structure and relaxation is investigated using the arsenic split interstitial in GaAs as an example. Supercells containing up to 217 atoms and a variety of {\bf k}-space sampling schemes are considered. It is shown that a good description of the localized defect state dispersion and charge state transition levels requires at least a 217-atom supercell, although the defect structure and atomic relaxations can be well converged in a 65-atom cell. Formation energies are calculated for the As split interstitial, Ga vacancy, and As antisite defects in GaAs, taking into account the dependence upon chemical potential and Fermi energy. It is found that equilibrium concentrations of As interstitials will be much lower than equilibrium concentrations of As antisites in As-rich, $n$-type or semi-insulating GaAs.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Expression and Function of Osteopontin in Vascular Adventitial Fibroblasts and Pathological Vascular Remodeling

Osteopontin is known to play important roles in various diseases including vascular disorders. However, little is known about its expression and function in vascular adventitial fibroblasts. Adventitial fibroblasts have been shown to play a key role in pathological vascular remodeling associating with various vascular disorders. In this study, we measured activation of Osteopontin and its biological functions in cultured adventitial fibroblasts and injured rat carotid injury arteries induced by balloon angioplasty. Our results showed that angiotensin II and aldosterone increased Osteopontin expression in adventitial fibroblasts in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. MAPKs and AP-1 pathways were involved in Osteopontin upregulation. In addition, Adventitial fibroblast migration stimulated by Angiotensin II and aldosterone required OPN expression. Perivascular delivery of antisense oligonucleotide for Osteopontin suppressed neointimal formation post-injury. We concluded that upregulation of Osteopontin expression in adventitial fibroblasts might be important in the pathogenesis of vascular remodeling after arterial injury

Изменение уровня металлотионеинов, цинка и меди в плазме крови пациентов с хроническим лимфоцитарным лейкозом

   Изучена взаимосвязь между содержанием металлотионеинов, ионов меди и цинка в плазме периферической крови при хронических лимфоцитарных лейкозах (ХЛЛ) в зависимости от прогрессирования заболевания. Показано, что у пациентов с ХЛЛ при прогрессирующем заболевании, частичной и полной ремиссии значения отношений цинка к меди в плазме крови достоверно снижались по сравнению с аналогичными показателями, характерными для практически здоровых доноров. Установлено, что в плазме крови у пациентов с ХЛЛ при прогрессировании заболевания уменьшается уровень металлотионеинов по сравнению с другими исследуемыми группами, что говорит об обнаруженной нами сниженной функции цистеинсодержащих белков-металлотионинов. На основании полученных данных можно заключить, что отношение концентрации цинка к меди и уровень металлотионенинов в плазме периферической крови могут быть потенциальными диагностическими и прогностическими маркерами при терапии ХЛЛ.   The relationship between the content of metallothioneins, copper and zinc ions in peripheral blood plasma in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) depending on the disease progression was studied. It was shown that in patients with CLL in blood plasma with a progressive disease, partial and complete remission, the values of the zinc-to-copper ratios significantly decreased in comparison to similar indicators of practically healthy donors. It was established that in patients with CLL, the level of metallothioneins in blood plasma decreases with the disease progression compared to other studied groups, which indicates a reduced function of cysteine-containing metallothionein proteins. Based on the obtained data, it can be concluded that the zinc-to-copper concentration ratio and the level of metallothionenins in peripheral blood plasma are potential diagnostic and prognostic markers in chronic leukemia.   Изучена взаимосвязь между содержанием металлотионеинов, ионов меди и цинка в плазме периферической крови при хронических лимфоцитарных лейкозах (ХЛЛ) в зависимости от прогрессирования заболевания. Показано, что у пациентов с ХЛЛ при прогрессирующем заболевании, частичной и полной ремиссии значения отношений цинка к меди в плазме крови достоверно снижались по сравнению с аналогичными показателями, характерными для практически здоровых доноров. Установлено, что в плазме крови у пациентов с ХЛЛ при прогрессировании заболевания уменьшается уровень металлотионеинов по сравнению с другими исследуемыми группами, что говорит об обнаруженной нами сниженной функции цистеинсодержащих белков-металлотионинов. На основании полученных данных можно заключить, что отношение концентрации цинка к меди и уровень металлотионенинов в плазме периферической крови могут быть потенциальными диагностическими и прогностическими маркерами при терапии ХЛЛ

Atrasentan and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (SONAR): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Short-term treatment for people with type 2 diabetes using a low dose of the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan reduces albuminuria without causing significant sodium retention. We report the long-term effects of treatment with atrasentan on major renal outcomes. Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at 689 sites in 41 countries. We enrolled adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)25–75 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 of body surface area, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)of 300–5000 mg/g who had received maximum labelled or tolerated renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 4 weeks. Participants were given atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily during an enrichment period before random group assignment. Those with a UACR decrease of at least 30% with no substantial fluid retention during the enrichment period (responders)were included in the double-blind treatment period. Responders were randomly assigned to receive either atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily or placebo. All patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine (sustained for ≥30 days)or end-stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 sustained for ≥90 days, chronic dialysis for ≥90 days, kidney transplantation, or death from kidney failure)in the intention-to-treat population of all responders. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01858532. Findings: Between May 17, 2013, and July 13, 2017, 11 087 patients were screened; 5117 entered the enrichment period, and 4711 completed the enrichment period. Of these, 2648 patients were responders and were randomly assigned to the atrasentan group (n=1325)or placebo group (n=1323). Median follow-up was 2·2 years (IQR 1·4–2·9). 79 (6·0%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 105 (7·9%)of 1323 in the placebo group had a primary composite renal endpoint event (hazard ratio [HR]0·65 [95% CI 0·49–0·88]; p=0·0047). Fluid retention and anaemia adverse events, which have been previously attributed to endothelin receptor antagonists, were more frequent in the atrasentan group than in the placebo group. Hospital admission for heart failure occurred in 47 (3·5%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 34 (2·6%)of 1323 patients in the placebo group (HR 1·33 [95% CI 0·85–2·07]; p=0·208). 58 (4·4%)patients in the atrasentan group and 52 (3·9%)in the placebo group died (HR 1·09 [95% CI 0·75–1·59]; p=0·65). Interpretation: Atrasentan reduced the risk of renal events in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease who were selected to optimise efficacy and safety. These data support a potential role for selective endothelin receptor antagonists in protecting renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of developing end-stage kidney disease. Funding: AbbVie

Формування множини шляхів які не перетинаються між граничними маршрутизаторами мережі MPLS

This paper proposes a way to organize multi-path routing in the MPLS network. Formation of the table tags is based on the modified method of "branch and bound", in which simultaneously generates a plurality of non-intersecting paths with minimal time complexity. For the formation of the tree stands ways, the degree vertices is the main criterion. The path is extended to the top with a minimal degree. Between boundary routers MPLS network proposed the tags tables formation algorithm. The process of formation of the table labels by using LDP label distribution protocol by exchanging signaling packets between neighboring routers. The marks tables between boundary routers MPLS network and a time chart are presented as an example. Determined the computational complexity of the proposed algorithm and provides a comparison of it with the computational complexity of Dijkstra's algorithm.References 5, figures 2, table 8.В статье предложен способ организации многопутевой маршрутизации в сети MPLS. Формирование таблиц меток осуществляется на основе модифицированного метода «ветвей и границ», при котором одновременно формируется множество непересекающихся путей с минимальной временной сложностью. В качестве основного критерия при формировании дерева путей выступает степень вершин. Путь продлевается до вершины с минимальной степенью. Предложен алгоритм формирования таблиц меток между граничными маршрутизаторами сети MPLS. Процесс формирование таблиц меток осуществляется с помощью протокола распределения меток LDP путем обмена сигнальными пакетами между смежными маршрутизаторами. Приведена временная диаграмма и пример формирования таблиц меток между граничными маршрутизаторами сети MPLS. Определена вычислительная сложность предложенного алгоритма и приведено сравнение ее с вычислительной сложностью алгоритма Дейкстры.Библ. 5, рис. 2, табл. 8.У статті запропоновано спосіб організації багатошляхової маршрутизації в мережі MPLS. Формування таблиць міток здійснюється на основі модифікованого методу «гілок і меж», при якому одночасно формується множина шляхів які не перетинаються з мінімальною часовою складністю. В якості основного критерію при формуванні дерева шляхів виступає ступінь вершин. Шлях продовжується до вершини з мінімальним ступенем. Запропоновано алгоритм формування таблиць міток між граничними маршрутизаторами мережі MPLS. Процес формування таблиць міток здійснюється за допомогою протоколу розподілу міток LDP шляхом обміну сигнальними пакетами між суміжними маршрутизаторами. Наведена часова діаграма і приклад формування таблиць міток між граничними маршрутизаторами мережі MPLS.Визначено обчислювальна складність запропонованого алгоритму та наведено порівняння її з обчислювальною складністю алгоритму Дейкстри.Бібл. 5, рис. 2, табл. 8

THE DEFINITION TECHNIQUE OF AGGREGATE COMPOSITION FROM METAL DUSTS WITH THE SET PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND DENSITY

The definition technique of aggregate composition from metal dusts with the set physical properties and density is stated in the paper with "cuprum-zinc" example

Ferromagnetic copper-doped ZnO deposited on plastic substrates

Copper-doped ZnO (ZnO:Cu) films with Cu content of up to 8.2 at. % were prepared by filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique on plastic substrates. The ZnO:Cu films with 1.3 at. % of Cu exhibited the highest saturated magnetic moment of 0.28 μB/Cu. The binding species of the Zn 2p3/2, and Cu 2p3/2 peaks are located at around 1022.1 and 933.6 eV respectively, as measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy respectively. This implies that the Cu ions in the films are mainly in divalent states. The magnetic anisotropy of the ZnO:Cu samples under strain were also studied by bending the flexible samples into various directions. The results indicate that strain plays a role in the magnetic anisotropy of the ZnO:Cu films. The electrical transport and annealing measurements of the ZnO:Cu films suggested that Zn interstitial defects have a significant role in the observed ferromagnetism in the ZnO:Cu. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version) 1

AT1 receptors in the collecting duct directly modulate the concentration of urine

10.1681/ASN.2010101095Journal of the American Society of Nephrology22122237-2246JASN