749 research outputs found
Charge analysis on lightning discharges to the ground in Chinese inland plateau (close to Tibet)
International audienceSince the summer of 1996, scientists from China and Japan have conducted a joint observation of natural cloud-to-ground lightning discharges in the Zhongchuan area that is located close to Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau, China. It has been found that the long-duration of intracloud discharge processes, just before the first return stroke, lasted more than 120 ms for 85% of cloud-to-ground flashes in this area, with a mean duration of 189.7 ms and a maximum of 300 ms. We present the results of charge sources neutralized by four ground flashes and two intracloud discharge processes, just before the first return stroke, by using the data from a 5-site slow antenna network synchronized by GPS with 1 µs time resolution. The result shows that the altitudes of the neutralized negative charge for three negative ground flashes were between 2.7 to 5.4 km above the ground, while that of neutralized positive charges for one positive ground flash and one continuing current process were at about 2.0 km above the ground. The comparison with radar echo showed that the negative discharges initiated in the region greater than 20 dBZ or near the edge of the region with intense echoes greater than 40 dBZ, while positive discharge initiated in the weak echo region.Key words: Meterology and atmospheric dynamics (atmospheric electricity; convective processes; lightning) <p style="line-height: 20px;"
Direct Sensing of Endothelial Oxidants by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 and c-Src
BACKGROUND: ADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important roles in redox homeostasis and signal transduction in endothelial cells (ECs). We previously demonstrated that c-Src plays a key role in VEGF-induced, ROS-dependent selective activation of PI3K-Akt but not PLCγ-1-ERK1/2 signaling pathways. The aim of the present study was to understand how VEGFR-2-c-Src signaling axis 'senses' NADPH oxidase-derived ROS levels and couples VEGF activation of c-Src to the redox state of ECs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using biotinylated probe that detects oxidation of cysteine thiol (cys-OH) in intracellular proteins, we demonstrate that VEGF induced oxidative modification in c-Src and VEGFR-2, and that reduction in ROS levels using siRNA against p47(phox) subunit of Rac1-dependent NADPH oxidase inhibited this phenomenon. Co-immunoprecipitation studies using human coronary artery ECs (HCAEC) showed that VEGF-induced ROS-dependent interaction between VEGFR-2 and c-Src correlated with their thiol oxidation status. Immunofluorescence studies using antibodies against internalized VEGFR-2 and c-Src demonstrated that VEGF-induced subcellular co-localization of these tyrosine kinases were also dependent on NADPH oxidsase-derived ROS. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These results demonstrate that VEGF induces cysteine oxidation in VEGFR-2 and c-Src in an NADPH oxidase-derived ROS-dependent manner, suggesting that VEGFR-2 and c-Src can 'sense' redox levels in ECs. The data also suggest that thiol oxidation status of VEGFR-2 and c-Src correlates with their ability to physically interact with each other and c-Src activation. Taken together, these findings suggest that prior to activating downstream c-Src-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, VEGFR-2-c-Src axis requires an NADPH oxidase-derived ROS threshold in ECs
β5t shapes CD8 T cells without negative selection
The thymoproteasome expressed specifically in thymic cortical epithelium optimizes the generation of CD8+ T cells; however, how the thymoproteasome contributes to CD8+ T cell development is unclear. Here, we show that the thymoproteasome shapes the TCR repertoire directly in cortical thymocytes before migration to the thymic medulla. We further show that the thymoproteasome optimizes CD8+ T cell production independent of the thymic medulla; independent of additional antigen-presenting cells, including medullary thymic epithelial cells and dendritic cells; and independent of apoptosis-mediated negative selection. These results indicate that the thymoproteasome hardwires the TCR repertoire of CD8+ T cells with cortical positive selection independent of negative selection in the thymus
Quantum magneto-optics of graphite family
The optical conductivity of graphene, bilayer graphene, and graphite in
quantizing magnetic fields is studied. Both dynamical conductivities,
longitudinal and Hall's, are analytically evaluated. The conductivity peaks are
explained in terms of electron transitions. We have shown that trigonal warping
can be considered within the perturbation theory for strong magnetic fields
larger than 1 T and in the semiclassical approach for weak fields when the
Fermi energy is much larger than the cyclotron frequency. The main optical
transitions obey the selection rule with \Deltan = 1 for the Landau number n,
however the \Deltan = 2 transitions due to the trigonal warping are also
possible. The Faraday/Kerr rotation and light transmission/reflection in the
quantizing magnetic fields are calculated. Parameters of the
Slonczewski-Weiss-McClure model are used in the fit taking into account the
previous dHvA measurements and correcting some of them for the case of strong
magnetic fields.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with
arXiv:1106.340
Mouse models for preeclampsia: disruption of redox-regulated signaling
The concept that oxidative stress contributes to the development of human preeclampsia has never been tested in genetically-defined animal models. Homozygous deletion of catechol-Omethyl transferase (Comt-/-) in pregnant mice leads to human preeclampsia-like symptoms (high
blood pressure, albuminurea and preterm birth) resulting from extensive vasculo-endothelial pathology, primarily at the utero-fetal interface where maternal cardiac output is dramatically increased during pregnancy. Comt converts estradiol to 2-methoxyestradiol 2 (2ME2) which
counters angiogenesis by depleting hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) at late pregnancy. We propose that in wild type (Comt++) pregnant mice, 2ME2 destabilizes HIF-1 alpha by inhibiting mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Thus, 2ME2 acts as a pro-oxidant, disrupting
redox-regulated signaling which blocks angiogenesis in wild type (WT) animals in physiological pregnancy. Further, we suggest that a lack of this inhibition under normoxic conditions in mutant animals (Comt-/-) stabilises HIF-1 alpha by inactivating prolyl hydroxlases (PHD). We predict that a lack of inhibition of MnSOD, leading to persistent accumulation of HIF-1 alpha, would trigger
inflammatory infiltration and endothelial damage in mutant animals. Critical tests of this hypothesis would be to recreate preeclampsia symptoms by inducing oxidative stress in WT animals or to ameliorate by treating mutant mice with Mn-SOD-catalase mimetics or activators of PHD
Magnetic Moments of the Octet Baryons in the Colour-Dielectric Model
Baryon magnetic moments are calculated in the colour-dielectric model with
pion and kaon loops. The only free parameter of the model is determined from
the nucleon isoscalar radius, and all SU(3) symmetry breaking, including that
in the quark sector, is determined by mesonic masses and decay constants. Good
agreement with experiment is obtained for the ratios of the magnetic moments,
but the inclusion of kaons does not improve the results. The results obtained
in this approach are significantly better than any that have been obtained in
hedgehog-based models.Comment: LaTeX file, 19 pages, 4 postscript figure
Revealing the High Energy Emission from the Obscured Seyfert Galaxy MCG -5-23-16 with Suzaku
We report on a 100 ks Suzaku observation of the bright, nearby (z=0.008486)
Seyfert 1.9 galaxy MCG -5-23-16. The broad-band (0.4-100 keV) X-ray spectrum
allows us to determine the nature of the high energy emission with little
ambiguity. The X-ray continuum consists of a cutoff power-law of photon index
, absorbed through Compton-thin matter of column density cm. A soft excess is observed below 1 keV and is
likely a combination of emission from scattered continuum photons and distant
photoionized gas. The iron K line profile is complex, showing narrow neutral
iron K and K emission, as well as a broad line which can be
modeled by a moderately inclined accretion disk. The line profile shows either
the disk is truncated at a few tens of gravitational radii, or the disk
emissivity profile is relatively flat. A strong Compton reflection component is
detected above 10 keV, which is best modeled by a combination of reflection off
distant matter and the accretion disk. The reflection component does not appear
to vary. The overall picture is that this Seyfert 1.9 galaxy is viewed at
moderate (50 degrees) inclination through Compton-thin matter at the edge of a
Compton-thick torus covering steradians, consistent with unified models.Comment: 14 pages, inc 9 figures. Accepted for publication in PASJ (Suzaku
Special Issue
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