Effects of long-term active immunization with the second extracellular loop of human β1- or β3-adrenoceptors in thoracic aorta and mesenteric arteries in Lewis rats

Objective To evaluate whether active immunization producing β1- or β3-antibodies (β1-ABs and β3-ABs) detected in sera of patients with dilated cardiomyopathies has deleterious effects on vascular reactivity in Lewis rat thoracic aorta (TA) and small mesenteric arteries (SMA). Design and method Lewis rats were immunized for 6 months with peptidic sequences corresponding to the second extracellular loop of β1- and β3-adrenoceptors (ARs). During the immunization, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was monitored using the tail cuff method. The vascular reactivity of immunized rats was assessed by ex vivo studies on SMA and TA using various β-AR agonists, phenylephrine and KCl. Results The immunizations producing functional β1-ABs and β3-ABs did not affect the SBP. However, in TA from β1-AR-immunized rats, the relaxations mediated by dobutamine and salbutamol were significantly impaired in comparison with adjuvant rats whereas nebivolol-induced relaxation was not modified. Moreover, phenylephrine and KCl-mediated contractions were enhanced in these rats. In contrast, immunization with β3-AR peptide led to the increase of relaxations induced by dobutamine in TA but did not change those induced by salbutamol and nebivolol. Surprisingly, in SMA from both rats immunized with β1- or β3-peptides, relaxations induced by the various β-agonists were not changed whereas phenylephrine and KCl-mediated contractions were impaired. Conclusions Our study shows that β1- and β3-ABs can affect vascular reactivity. β1-ABs would have a pathogenic action whereas β3-ABs would have a beneficial effect on aorta reactivity. Array ( [0] => public://js/js_NhB8QqEMkIRnGegV_fyHSoTNS4QcuYAxmtYDZC610gE.js.gz : fichier présent sur le disque mais absent dans la base de données [1] => public://js/js_YqvqIXMHR_JA_6L7V5VgwgrhCDVtmWC_wCWsaINFQtk.js : fichier présent sur le disque mais absent dans la base de données [2] => public://js/js_YqvqIXMHR_JA_6L7V5VgwgrhCDVtmWC_wCWsaINFQtk.js.gz : fichier présent sur le disque mais absent dans la base de données [3] => public://js/js_NhB8QqEMkIRnGegV_fyHSoTNS4QcuYAxmtYDZC610gE.js : fichier présent sur le disque mais absent dans la base de données

On the particle paths and the stagnation points in small-amplitude deep-water waves

In order to obtain quite precise information about the shape of the particle paths below small-amplitude gravity waves travelling on irrotational deep water, analytic solutions of the nonlinear differential equation system describing the particle motion are provided. All these solutions are not closed curves. Some particle trajectories are peakon-like, others can be expressed with the aid of the Jacobi elliptic functions or with the aid of the hyperelliptic functions. Remarks on the stagnation points of the small-amplitude irrotational deep-water waves are also made.Comment: to appear in J. Math. Fluid Mech. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1106.382

Alquimia, Ocultismo, Maçonaria: o ouro e o simbolismo hermético dos cadinhos (Séculos XVIII e XIX)

Este artigo apresenta a arqueologia das enigmáticas marcas impressas na base de cadinhos dos séculos XVIII e XIX recuperados nas escavações da Casa da Moeda do Rio de Janeiro, na década de 1980, e a explanação do seu significado simbólico à luz da alquimia, do ocultismo e da Maçonaria. Espraiando-se extraordinariamente mundo afora através de uma bem-sucedida estratégia de comunicação visual, a Maçonaria utilizou símbolos herméticos para a difusão de seus princípios nos mais diferentes suportes. Aparentemente estamos diante de um sinal de reconhecimento maçônico, o sinal exterior de uma organização oculta, só partilhado por iniciados e incompreensível para os demais, que contribuiu para difundir veladamente a doutrina maçônica por diferentes pontos do globo

Nonlinear water waves

This introduction to the issue provides a review of some recent developments in the study of water waves. The content and contributions of the papers that make up this Theme Issue are also discussed.</p