12,049 research outputs found
Ion collection by oblique surfaces of an object in a transversely-flowing strongly-magnetized plasma
The equations governing a collisionless obliquely-flowing plasma around an
ion-absorbing object in a strong magnetic field are shown to have an exact
analytic solution even for arbitrary (two-dimensional) object-shape, when
temperature is uniform, and diffusive transport can be ignored. The solution
has an extremely simple geometric embodiment. It shows that the ion collection
flux density to a convex body's surface depends only upon the orientation of
the surface, and provides the theoretical justification and calibration of
oblique `Mach-probes'. The exponential form of this exact solution helps
explain the approximate fit of this function to previous numerical solutions.Comment: Four pages, 2 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Letter
Morphine activates neuroinflammation in a manner parallel to endotoxin
Opioids create a neuroinflammatory response within the CNS, compromising opioid-induced analgesia and contributing to various unwanted actions. How this occurs is unknown but has been assumed to be via classic opioid receptors. Herein, we provide direct evidence that morphine creates neuroinflammation via the activation of an innate immune receptor and not via classic opioid receptors. We demonstrate that morphine binds to an accessory protein of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD-2), thereby inducing TLR4 oligomerization and triggering proinflammation. Small-molecule inhibitors, RNA interference, and genetic knockout validate the TLR4/MD-2 complex as a feasible target for beneficially modifying morphine actions. Disrupting TLR4/MD-2 protein–protein association potentiated morphine analgesia in vivo and abolished morphine-induced proinflammation in vitro, the latter demonstrating that morphine-induced proinflammation only depends on TLR4, despite the presence of opioid receptors. These results provide an exciting, nonconventional avenue to improving the clinical efficacy of opioids.Xiaohui Wang, Lisa C. Loram, Khara Ramos, Armando J. de Jesus, Jacob Thomas, Kui Cheng, Anireddy Reddy, Andrew A. Somogyi, Mark R. Hutchinson, Linda R. Watkins and Hang Yi
Space station stabilization and control study Final engineering report
Simulation of stabilization and control for spinning, manned space station to provide artificial gravity station environmen
- …