509 research outputs found
Monovalent counterion distributions at highly charged water interfaces: Proton-transfer and Poisson-Boltzmann theory
Surface sensitive synchrotron-X-ray scattering studies reveal the
distributions of monovalent ions next to highly charged interfaces. A lipid
phosphate (dihexadecyl hydrogen-phosphate) was spread as a monolayer at the
air-water interface, containing CsI at various concentrations. Using anomalous
reflectivity off and at the Cs resonance, we provide, for the first
time, spatial counterion distributions (Cs) next to the negatively charged
interface over a wide range of ionic concentrations. We argue that at low salt
concentrations and for pure water the enhanced concentration of hydroniums
HO at the interface leads to proton-transfer back to the phosphate
group by a high contact-potential, whereas high salt concentrations lower the
contact-potential resulting in proton-release and increased surface
charge-density. The experimental ionic distributions are in excellent agreement
with a renormalized-surface-charge Poisson-Boltzmann theory without fitting
parameters or additional assumptions
The IkB kinase inhibitor nuclear factor-kB essential modulator–binding domain peptide for inhibition of balloon injury-induced neointimal formation
Objective—The activation of nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) is a crucial step in the arterial wall’s response to injury. The
identification and characterization of the NF-kB essential modulator– binding domain (NBD) peptide, which can block
the activation of the IkB kinase complex, have provided an opportunity to selectively abrogate the inflammation-induced
activation of NF-kB. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the NBD peptide on neointimal
formation.<br></br>
Methods and Results—In the rat carotid artery balloon angioplasty model, local treatment with the NBD peptide (300
microg/site) significantly reduced the number of proliferating cells at day 7 (by 40%; P<0.01) and reduced injury-induced neointimal formation (by 50%; P<0.001) at day 14. These effects were associated with a significant reduction of NF-kB activation and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 expression in the carotid arteries of rats treated with the peptide. In addition, the NBD peptide (0.01 to 1 micromol/L) reduced rat smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in
vitro. Similar results were observed in apolipoprotein E-/-, mice in which the NBD peptide (150 microg/site) reduced wire-induced neointimal formation at day 28 (by 47%; P<0.01).<br></br>
Conclusion—The NBD peptide reduces neointimal formation and smooth muscle cell proliferation/migration, both effects
associated with the inhibition of NF-kB activation
The Impact of Climate Change on Fertility
Rising global temperatures are threatening biodiversity. Studies on the impact of temperature on natural populations usually use lethal or viability thresholds, termed the ‘critical thermal limit’ (CTL). However, this overlooks important sublethal impacts of temperature that could affect species’ persistence. Here we discuss a critical but overlooked trait: fertility, which can deteriorate at temperatures less severe than an organism’s lethal limit. We argue that studies examining the ecological and evolutionary impacts of climate change should consider the ‘thermal fertility limit’ (TFL) of species; we propose that a framework for the design of TFL studies across taxa be developed. Given the importance of fertility for population persistence, understanding how climate change affects TFLs is vital for the assessment of future biodiversity impacts
Microstructure formation in electrodeposited Co-Cu/Cu multilayers with GMR effect: influence of current density during the magnetic layer deposition
The influence of the current density applied during the deposition of the magnetic layers on the microstructure formation in electrodeposited Co-Cu/Cu multilayers and on their giant magnetoresistance (GMR) was investigated using a combination of magnetoresistance measurements, wide-angle and small-angle X-ray scattering, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and chemical analysis. The magnetoresistance measurements revealed that a reduction of the current density stimulates a transition from the formation of the magnetic layers with predominantly ferromagnetic character to the formation of superparamagnetic regions. As based on electrochemical considerations, it was supposed that such a change in the magnetic properties can be caused by an increased amount of Cu codeposited with Co at low current densities. It turned out from the structural studies that a pronounced segregation of Co and Cu occurs at low current densities. In accordance with their very low mutual solubility at room temperature, no atomic scale intermixing of Co and Cu could be detected. The segregation of Cu and Co was related to the fragmentation of the magnetic layers, to the enhancement of the local lattice strains, to the increase of the interface corrugations, to the partial loss of the multilayer periodicity and finally to the formation of Co precipitates in the Cu matrix
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