258 research outputs found
MOCVD-Fabricated TiO2 Thin Films: Influence of Growth Conditions on Fibroblast Cells Culture
TiO2 thin films with various morphologies were grown on Ti substrates by the LP-MOCVD technique (Low Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition from Metal-Organic precursor), with titanium tetra-iso-propoxide as a precursor. All the films were prepared in the same conditions except the deposition time. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, optical 15 interferometry, water contact angle measurements. MOCVD-fabricated TiO2 thin films are known to be adapted to cell culture for implant requirements. Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured on the various TiO2 deposits. Differences in cell viability (MTT tests) and cell spreading (qualitative assessment) were observed and related to film roughness, wettability and allotropic composition
ROSAT observations of X-ray emission from planetary nebulae
We have searched the entire ROSAT archive for useful observations to study
X-ray emission from Galactic planetary nebulae (PNs). The search yields a
sample of 63 PNs, which we call the ROSAT PN sample. About 20-25% of this
sample show X-ray emission; these include 13 definite detections and three
possible detections (at a 2-sigma level). All X-ray sources in these PNs are
concentrated near the central stars. Only A 30, BD+30 3639, and NGC 6543 are
marginally resolved by the ROSAT instruments. Three types of X-ray spectra are
seen in PNs. Type 1 consists of only soft X-ray emission (<0.5 keV), peaks at
0.1-0.2 keV, and can be fitted by blackbody models at temperatures 1-2 10^5 K.
Type 2 consists of harder X-ray emission, peaks at >0.5 keV, and can be fitted
by thin plasma emission models at temperatures of a few 10^6 K. Type 3 is a
composite of a bright Type 1 component and a fainter Type 2 component.
Unresolved soft sources with Type 1 spectra or the soft component of Type 3
spectra are most likely photospheric emission from the hot central stars.
Absorption cross sections are large for these soft-energy photons; therefore,
only large, tenuous, evolved PNs with hot central stars and small absorption
column densities have been detected. The origin of hard X-ray emission from PNs
is uncertain. PNs with Type 2 spectra are small, dense, young nebulae with
relatively cool (<<10^5 K) central stars, while PNs with Type 3 X-ray spectra
are large, tenuous, evolved nebulae with hot central stars. The hard X-ray
luminosities are also different between these two types of PNs, indicating
perhaps different origins of their hard X-ray emission. Future Chandra and XMM
observations with high spatial and spectral resolution will help to understand
the origin of hard X-ray emission from PNs.Comment: To be published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 21
pages, 7 figures, 5 table
The biocompatibility of titanium in a buffer solution: compared effects of a thin film of TiO2 deposited by MOCVD and of collagen deposited from a gel
This study aims at evaluating the biocompatibility of titanium surfaces modified according two different ways: (i) deposition of a bio-inert, thin film of rutile TiO2 by chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD), and (ii) biochemical treatment with collagen gel, in order to obtain a bio-interactive coating. Behind the comparison is the idea that either the bio-inert or the bio-active coating has specific advantages when applied to implant treatment, such as the low price of the collagen treatment for instance. The stability in buffer solution was evaluated by open circuit potential (OCP) for medium time and cyclic voltametry. The OCP stabilized after 5104 min for all the specimens except the collagen treated sample which presented a stable OCP from the first minutes. MOCVD treated samples stabilized to more electropositive values. Numeric results were statistically analysed to obtain the regression equations for long time predictable evolution. The corrosion parameters determined from cyclic curves revealed that the MOCVD treatment is an efficient way to improve corrosion resistance. Human dermal fibroblasts were selected for cell culture tests, taking into account that these cells are present in all bio-interfaces, being the main cellular type of connective tissue. The cells grew on either type of surface without phenotype modification. From the reduction of yellow, water-soluble 3-(4,5-dimethyldiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT cytotoxicity test), MOCVD treated samples offer better viability than mechanically polished Ti and collagen treated samples as well. Cell spreading, as evaluated from microscope images processed by the program Sigma Scan, showed also enhancement upon surface modification. Depending on the experimental conditions, MOCVD deposited TiO2 exhibits different nanostructures that may influence biological behaviour. The results demonstrate the capacity of integration in simulated physiologic liquids for an implant pretreated by either method
Collisional kinetics of non-uniform electric field, low-pressure, direct-current discharges in H
A model of the collisional kinetics of energetic hydrogen atoms, molecules,
and ions in pure H discharges is used to predict H emission
profiles and spatial distributions of emission from the cathode regions of
low-pressure, weakly-ionized discharges for comparison with a wide variety of
experiments. Positive and negative ion energy distributions are also predicted.
The model developed for spatially uniform electric fields and current densities
less than A/m is extended to non-uniform electric fields, current
densities of A/m, and electric field to gas density ratios MTd at 0.002 to 5 Torr pressure. (1 Td = V m and 1 Torr =
133 Pa) The observed far-wing Doppler broadening and spatial distribution of
the H emission is consistent with reactions among H, H,
H, and H ions, fast H atoms, and fast H molecules, and with
reflection, excitation, and attachment to fast H atoms at surfaces. The
H excitation and H formation occur principally by collisions of
fast H, fast H, and H with H. Simplifications include using a
one-dimensional geometry, a multi-beam transport model, and the average
cathode-fall electric field. The H emission is linear with current
density over eight orders of magnitude. The calculated ion energy distributions
agree satisfactorily with experiment for H and H, but are only in
qualitative agreement for H and H. The experiments successfully modeled
range from short-gap, parallel-plane glow discharges to beam-like,
electrostatic-confinement discharges.Comment: Submitted to Plasmas Sources Science and Technology 8/18/201
neXtProt: a knowledge platform for human proteins
neXtProt (http://www.nextprot.org/) is a new human protein-centric knowledge platform. Developed at the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), it aims to help researchers answer questions relevant to human proteins. To achieve this goal, neXtProt is built on a corpus containing both curated knowledge originating from the UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot knowledgebase and carefully selected and filtered high-throughput data pertinent to human proteins. This article presents an overview of the database and the data integration process. We also lay out the key future directions of neXtProt that we consider the necessary steps to make neXtProt the one-stop-shop for all research projects focusing on human proteins
Analytical Bethe Ansatz for closed and open gl(n)-spin chains in any representation
We present an "algebraic treatment" of the analytical Bethe Ansatz. For this
purpose, we introduce abstract monodromy and transfer matrices which provide an
algebraic framework for the analytical Bethe Ansatz. It allows us to deal with
a generic gl(n)-spin chain possessing on each site an arbitrary
gl(n)-representation. For open spin chains, we use the classification of the
reflection matrices to treat all the diagonal boundary cases. As a result, we
obtain the Bethe equations in their full generality for closed and open spin
chains. The classifications of finite dimensional irreducible representations
for the Yangian (closed spin chains) and for the reflection algebras (open spin
chains) are directly linked to the calculation of the transfer matrix
eigenvalues. As examples, we recover the usual closed and open spin chains, we
treat the alternating spin chains and the closed spin chain with impurity
Are He and N Abundances in Type I PNe as High as Empirically Derived?
Type I planetary nebulae (PNe) are defined as those with high He and N
abundances (Peimbert & Torres-Peimbert 1983). These objects present in general
bipolar geometries and have high stellar temperatures (Corradi & Schwarz 1995,
Torres-Peimbert & Peimbert 1997). In this paper we analyse the empirical
methods for abundance determination in order to check if the He and N
overabundances in Type I PNe are a consequence of a geometrical effect, due to
the bipolarity, or the ionization stratification, due to the stellar
temperature. For this, we obtain simulated spherically symmetrical as well as
bipolar nebulae, using a 3D photoionization code. From the projected emission
line intensities for: a) the whole nebula; b) for a slit crossing the nebula;
as well as c) for different positions in the nebula, we applied the formulae
used in the literature to obtain empirical abundances. These empirical
abundances are then compared with the adopted ones. We show that empirical
abundances depend on the particular line of sight covered by the observation
and can simulate an overabundance and/or the presence of abundance gradients of
He and N in planetary nebulae with high stellar temperature. The geometrical
effects are also discussed. Systematic errors in abundance determinations by
empirical methods are higher for the N/H ratio than for N/O. Thus, it seems
better to use the N/O value when discussing N rich objects.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, aastex package, to be published at Ap.
Temperature of the central stars of planetary nebulae and the effect of the nebular optical depth
The effect of the nebula optical depth on the determination of the
temperature (T*) of the central stars in planetary nebulae is discussed. Based
on photoionization models for planetary nebulae with different optical depths,
we show, quantitatively, that the details of the distribution of the H and He
II Zanstra temperatures are mainly explained by an optical depth effect; in
particular, that the discrepancy is larger for low stellar temperatures. The
results also show that for high stellar temperatures the He II Zanstra
temperature underestimates the stellar temperature, even for high optical
depths. The stellar temperature, as well as the optical depth, can be obtained
from a Zanstra temperature ratio (ZR) plot ZR = Tz(He II)/Tz(H) versus Tz(He
II). The effects of departures from a blackbody spectrum, as well as of the He
abundance in the nebulae, are also discussed. For nebulae of very low optical
depth and/or high stellar temperature the distribution ZR versus Tz(He II) only
provides lower limits for T*. In order to obtain better values for the optical
depth and T*, we propose the use of the line intensity ratio He II/He I versus
Tz(He II) diagram.Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures; to appear in ApJ, Nov 200
Ribosomal protein gene RPL9 variants can differentially impair ribosome function and cellular metabolism
Variants in ribosomal protein (RP) genes drive Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), a bone marrow failure syndrome that can also predispose individuals to cancer. Inherited and sporadic RP gene variants are also linked to a variety of phenotypes, including malignancy, in individuals with no anemia. Here we report an individual diagnosed with DBA carrying a variant in the 5'UTR of RPL9 (uL6). Additionally, we report two individuals from a family with multiple cancer incidences carrying a RPL9 missense variant. Analysis of cells from these individuals reveals that despite the variants both driving pre-rRNA processing defects and 80S monosome reduction, the downstream effects are remarkably different. Cells carrying the 5'UTR variant stabilize TP53 and impair the growth and differentiation of erythroid cells. In contrast, ribosomes incorporating the missense variant erroneously read through UAG and UGA stop codons of mRNAs. Metabolic profiles of cells carrying the 5'UTR variant reveal an increased metabolism of amino acids and a switch from glycolysis to gluconeogenesis while those of cells carrying the missense variant reveal a depletion of nucleotide pools. These findings indicate that variants in the same RP gene can drive similar ribosome biogenesis defects yet still have markedly different downstream consequences and clinical impacts
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