7 research outputs found
Potential and current distribution in strongly anisotropic Bi(2)Sr(2) CaCu(2)O(8) single crystals at current breakdown
Experiments on potential differences in the low-temperature vortex solid
phase of monocrystalline platelets of superconducting Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8)
(BSCCO) subjected to currents driven either through an "ab" surface or from one
such surface to another show evidence of a resistive/nonresistive front moving
progressively out from the current contacts as the current increases. The depth
of the resistive region has been measured by a novel in-depth voltage probe
contact. The position of the front associated with an injection point appears
to depend only on the current magnitude and not on its withdrawal point. It is
argued that enhanced nonresistive superconducting anisotropy limits current
penetration to less than the London length and results in a flat rectangular
resistive region with simultaneous "ab" and "c" current breakdown which moves
progressively out from the injection point with increasing current.
Measurements in "ab" or "c" configurations are seen to give the same
information, involving both ab-plane and c-axis conduction properties.Comment: 9 pages, 13 figures, typo error corrected, last section was refine
PIBF+ extracellular vesicles from mouse embryos affect IL-10 production by CD8+ cells
Earlier evidence suggests, that the embryo signals to the maternal immune system. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are produced by all types of cells, and because they transport different kinds of molecules from one cell to the other, they can be considered as means of intercellular communication. The aim of this work was to test, whether the embryo is able to produce sufficient amounts of EVs to alter the function of peripheral lymphocytes. Embryo-derived EVs were identified by their Annexin V biding capacity, and sensitivity to Triton X dependent lysis, using flow cytometry. Transmission electron microscopy was used to detect EVs at the implantation site. Progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) expression in embryo-derived EVs was demonstrated with immuno-electron microscopy. The % of IL-10 + murine lymphocytes was determined by flow cytometry. EVs were present in embryo culture media, but not in empty media. Mouse embryo-derived EVs adhere to the surface of both CD4+ and CD8+ murine peripheral T lymphocytes, partly, via phosphatidylserine binding. The number of IL-10+ murine peripheral CD8+ cells increases in the presence of embryo-derived EVS, and this effect is counteracted by pre-treatment of EVs with an anti-PIBF antibody, suggesting that the embryo communicates with the maternal immune system via EVs