7,238 research outputs found
Role of noncoding RNA in vascular remodelling
Purpose of review: Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are becoming fundamentally important in the pathophysiology relating to injury-induced vascular remodelling. We highlight recent studies that demonstrate the involvement of ncRNAs in vein graft disease, in in-stent restenosis and in pulmonary arterial hypertension, with a particular focus on endothelial cell and vascular smooth muscle cell function. We also briefly discuss the emerging role of exosomal-derived ncRNAs and how this mechanism impacts on vascular function.
Recent findings: ncRNAs have been described as novel regulators in the pathophysiology of vascular injury, inflammation, and vessel wall remodelling. In particular, several studies have demonstrated that manipulation of miRNAs can reduce the burden of pathological vascular remodelling. Such studies have also shown that exosomal miRNA-mediated, cell-to-cell communication between endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells is critical in the disease process. In addition to miRNAs, lncRNAs are emerging as regulators of vascular function in health and disease. Although lncRNAs are complex in both their sheer numbers and mechanisms of action, identifying their contribution to vascular disease is essential.
Summary: Given the important roles of ncRNAs in vascular injury and remodelling together will their capacity for cell-to-cell communication, manipulating ncRNA might provide novel therapeutic interventions
Radiative Hydrodynamic Simulations of HD209458b: Temporal Variability
We present a new approach for simulating the atmospheric dynamics of the
close-in giant planet HD209458b that allows for the decoupling of radiative and
thermal energies, direct stellar heating of the interior, and the solution of
the full 3D Navier Stokes equations. Simulations reveal two distinct
temperature inversions (increasing temperature with decreasing pressure) at the
sub-stellar point due to the combined effects of opacity and dynamical flow
structure and exhibit instabilities leading to changing velocities and
temperatures on the nightside for a range of viscosities. Imposed on the
quasi-static background, temperature variations of up to 15% are seen near the
terminators and the location of the coldest spot is seen to vary by more than
20 degrees, occasionally appearing west of the anti-solar point. Our new
approach introduces four major improvements to our previous methods including
simultaneously solving both the thermal energy and radiative equations in both
the optical and infrared, incorporating updated opacities, including a more
accurate treatment of stellar energy deposition that incorporates the opacity
relevant for higher energy stellar photons, and the addition of explicit
turbulent viscosity.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
Structural distortions and model Hamiltonian parameters: from LSDA to a tight-binding description of LaMnO_3
The physics of manganites is often described within an effective two-band
tight-binding (TB) model for the Mn e_g electrons, which apart from the kinetic
energy includes also a local "Hund's rule" coupling to the t_{2g} core spin and
a local coupling to the Jahn-Teller (JT) distortion of the oxygen octahedra. We
test the validity of this model by comparing the energy dispersion calculated
for the TB model with the full Kohn-Sham band-structure calculated within the
local spin-density approximation (LSDA) to density functional theory. We
analyze the effect of magnetic order, JT distortions, and "GdFeO_3-type"
tilt-rotations of the oxygen octahedra. We show that the hopping amplitudes are
independent of magnetic order and JT distortions, and that both effects can be
described with a consistent set of model parameters if hopping between both
nearest and next-nearest neighbors is taken into account. We determine a full
set of model parameters from the density functional theory calculations, and we
show that both JT distortions and Hund's rule coupling are required to obtain
an insulating ground state within LSDA. Furthermore, our calculations show that
the "GdFeO_3-type" rotations of the oxygen octahedra lead to a substantial
reduction of the hopping amplitudes but to no significant deviation from the
simple TB model.Comment: replaced with final (published) version with improved presentatio
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Clinical assessment of a customized free-form progressive add lens spectacle.
PurposeTo determine whether there are significant differences in standard clinical measures of vision, progressive addition lens (PAL)-specific vision tests, or subjective ratings and preferences between customized free-form and standard non-free-form PALs in an experienced wearing population. In addition, we aim to determine whether subjective or objective clinical outcomes depend on demographic, PAL usage, spectacle prescription, or frame fitting characteristics.MethodsIn a randomized, double-masked cross-over trial, 95 experienced wearers wore Zeiss Individual customized free-form PAL spectacles (test) and standard non-free-form PAL spectacles (control) for 1 week each. At dispensing and after 1 week of wear, subjects were tested for distance and near visual acuity under both high and low contrast; in addition, 30° off-axis visual acuity was measured using a novel apparatus, as was the horizontal extent of clear, undistorted vision at reading distance. Subjects also completed a set of questionnaires detailing their satisfaction levels, adaptation times, and preferences for test or control spectacles for different visual tasks.ResultsThe test spectacles were preferred overall and for distance, midrange, transitional and active vision, and rated higher in overall satisfaction (p = 0.006). There were no clinically important differences between test and control spectacles in standard clinical vision assessments. In the PAL-specific assessments, however, the horizontal extent of clear vision at reading distance was significantly greater with the test spectacles (p = 0.004).ConclusionsThere were statistically significant preferences for the optically customized free-form lenses over the non-free-form lenses. Subjects also reported a wider field of undistorted vision when looking through the reading zone of the test spectacles. Although standard clinical vision assessments are not sufficiently refined to detect important objective differences between the spectacle types, customization taking into account back vertex distance, segment height, pantoscopic tilt, and wrap angle can result in a superior subjective wearing experience for many PAL patients
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