271 research outputs found
Role of doped layers in dephasing of 2D electrons in quantum well structures
The temperature and gate voltage dependences of the phase breaking time are
studied experimentally in GaAs/InGaAs heterostructures with single quantum
well. It is shown that appearance of states at the Fermi energy in the doped
layers leads to a significant decrease of the phase breaking time of the
carriers in quantum well and to saturation of the phase breaking time at low
temperature.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure
Prostacyclin post-treatment improves LPS-induced acute lung injury and endothelial barrier recovery via Rap1
Protective effects of prostacyclin (PC) or its stable analog beraprost against agonist-induced lung vascular inflammation have been associated with elevation of intracellular cAMP and Rac GTPase signaling which inhibited the RhoA GTPase-dependent pathway of endothelial barrier dysfunction. This study investigated a distinct mechanism of PC-stimulated lung vascular endothelial (EC) barrier recovery and resolution of LPS-induced inflammation mediated by small GTPase Rap1. Efficient barrier recovery was observed in LPS-challenged pulmonary EC after prostacyclin administration even after 15 h of initial inflammatory insult and was accompanied by the significant attenuation of p38 MAP kinase and NFκB signaling and decreased production of IL-8 and soluble ICAM1. These effects were reproduced in cells post-treated with 8CPT, a small molecule activator of Rap1-specific nucleotide exchange factor Epac. By contrast, pharmacologic Epac inhibitor, Rap1 knockdown, or knockdown of cell junction-associated Rap1 effector afadin attenuated EC recovery caused by PC or 8CPT post-treatment. The key role of Rap1 in lung barrier restoration was further confirmed in the murine model of LPS-induced acute lung injury. Lung injury was monitored by measurements of bronchoalveolar lavage protein content, cell count, and Evans blue extravasation and live imaging of vascular leak over 6 days using a fluorescent tracer. The data showed significant acceleration of lung recovery by PC and 8CPT post-treatment, which was abrogated in Rap1a(-/-) mice. These results suggest that post-treatment with PC triggers the Epac/Rap1/afadin-dependent mechanism of endothelial barrier restoration and downregulation of p38MAPK and NFκB inflammatory cascades, altogether leading to accelerated lung recovery
Speckle tracking echocardiography: new ways of translational approaches in preeclampsia to detect cardiovascular dysfunction
Several studies have shown that women with a preeclamptic pregnancy exhibit an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Animal models are essential to investigate the causes of this increased risk and have the ability to assess possible preventive and therapeutic interventions. Using the latest technologies such as speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), it is feasible to map subclinical changes in cardiac diastolic and systolic function as well as structural changes of the maternal heart. The aim of this work is to compare cardiovascular changes in an established transgenic rat model with preeclampsia-like pregnancies with findings from human preeclamptic pregnancies by STE. The same algorithms were used to evaluate and compare the changes in echos of human and rodents. Parameters of functionality like global longitudinal strain (animal -23.54 ± 1.82 % vs. -13.79 ± 0.57 %, human -20.60 ± 0.47 % vs. -15.45 ± 1.55 %) as well as indications of morphological changes like relative wall thickness (animal 0.20 ± 0.01 vs. 0.25 ± 0.01, human 0.34 ± 0.01 vs. 0.40 ± 0.02) are significantly altered in both species after preeclamptic pregnancies. Thus, the described rat model simulates the human situation quite well and is a valuable tool for future investigations regarding cardiovascular changes. STE is a unique technique which can be applied in animal models and human with a high potential to uncover cardiovascular maladaptation and subtle pathologies
Quantum corrections to conductivity: from weak to strong localization
Results of detailed investigations of the conductivity and Hall effect in
gated single quantum well GaAs/InGaAs/GaAs heterostructures with
two-dimensional electron gas are presented. A successive analysis of the data
has shown that the conductivity is diffusive for and behaves like
diffusive one for down to the temperature T=0.4 K. It has been
therewith found that the quantum corrections are not small at low temperature
when . They are close in magnitude to the Drude conductivity so
that the conductivity becomes significantly less than (the
minimal value achieved in our experiment is about at and K). We conclude that the
temperature and magnetic field dependences of conductivity in whole
range are due to changes of quantum corrections.Comment: RevTex 4.0, 10 figures, 7 two-column page
Biofeedback treatment of proctogenic constipation in adults
Aim of investigation. To study efficacy of biological feedback treatment (BFT) at proctogenic constipation in adult patients.Material and methods. Overall 30 patients with proctogenic constipation and dyssynergia of pelvic floor muscles i.e. spasm of puborectalis muscle were included in original study and treated by BFT method. Mean age of patients was 31,2±9,8 year, men to women ratio was 1:5.Results. During treatment decrease in difficulty to defecate according to Rome-III criteria was observed in 22 (73,3%) patients. The other 8 (26,7%) patients demonstrated no improvement. According to subjective assessment of rectal evacuatory function by questioning before and after BFT statistically significant reduction of proctogenic constipation symptoms was revealed. By the data of objective investigation (profilometry and electromyography) signs of dyssynergia of pelvic floor muscles were revealed in no patient.Conclusions. The biological feedback is effective treatment method for proctogenic constipation, allowing to reduce symptoms in 73,3% of patients and to correct dyssynergia of pelvic floor muscles in all cases
Increased salt consumption induces body water conservation and decreases fluid intake
BACKGROUND: The idea that increasing salt intake increases drinking and urine volume is widely accepted. We tested the hypothesis that an increase in salt intake of 6 g/d would change fluid balance in men living under ultra-long-term controlled conditions. METHODS: Over the course of 2 separate space flight simulation studies of 105 and 205 days' duration, we exposed 10 healthy men to 3 salt intake levels (12, 9, or 6 g/d). All other nutrients were maintained constant. We studied the effect of salt-driven changes in mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid urinary excretion on day-to-day osmolyte and water balance.
RESULTS:A 6-g/d increase in salt intake increased urine osmolyte excretion, but reduced free-water clearance, indicating endogenous free water accrual by urine concentration. The resulting endogenous water surplus reduced fluid intake at the 12-g/d salt intake level. Across all 3 levels of salt intake, half-weekly and weekly rhythmical mineralocorticoid release promoted free water reabsorption via the renal concentration mechanism. Mineralocorticoid-coupled increases in free water reabsorption were counterbalanced by rhythmical glucocorticoid release, with excretion of endogenous osmolyte and water surplus by relative urine dilution. A 6-g/d increase in salt intake decreased the level of rhythmical mineralocorticoid release and elevated rhythmical glucocorticoid release. The projected effect of salt-driven hormone rhythm modulation corresponded well with the measured decrease in water intake and an increase in urine volume with surplus osmolyte excretion.
CONCLUSION: Humans regulate osmolyte and water balance by rhythmical mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid release, endogenous accrual of surplus body water, and precise surplus excretion. FUNDING: Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology/DLR; the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research; the NIH; the American Heart Association (AHA); the Renal Research Institute; and the TOYOBO Biotechnology Foundation. Food products were donated by APETITO, Coppenrath und Wiese, ENERVIT, HIPP, Katadyn, Kellogg, Molda, and Unilever
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