Tolerance of human embryonic stem cell derived islet progenitor cells to vitrification-relevant solutions

We have previously shown that human embryonic stem cell derived islet progenitors (hESC-IPs), encapsulated inside an immunoprotective device, mature in vivo and ameliorate diabetes in mice. The ability to cryopreserve hESC-IPs preloaded in these devices would enhance consistency and portability, but traditional ‘slow freezing’ methods did not work well for cells encapsulated in the device. Vitrification is an attractive alternative cryopreservation approach. To assess the tolerance of hESC-IPs to vitrification relevant conditions, we here are reporting cell survival following excursions in tonicity, exposure to fifteen 40% v/v combinations of 4 cryoprotectants, and varied methods for addition and elution. We find that 78% survival is achieved using a protocol in which cells are abruptly (in one step) exposed to a solution containing 10% v/v each dimethyl sulfoxide, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol on ice, and eluted step-wise with DPBS + 0.5 M sucrose at 37 °C. Importantly, the hESC-IPs also maintain expression of the critical islet progenitor markers PDX-1, NKX6.1, NGN3 and NEURO-D1. Thus, hESC-IPs exhibit robust tolerance to exposure to vitrification solutions in relevant conditions

Activity of the right cardiac ventricle and metabolism in healthy persons during an orthostatic test after short term immobilization

A 15 minute orthostatic test was performed on healthy male volunteers under conditions of catheterization of the right ventricle of the heart and the radial (or brachial) artery before and after 5 day bedrest in an antiorthostatic position of the body (with the foot of the bed raised 4.5 degrees). The change to a vertical position after immobilization was attended by a more marked increase in the rate of cardiac contractions, an increase of max dp/dt pressure in the right ventricle, and a decrease of cardiac and stroke indices. The decrease of the cardiac index was compensated for, to a certain measure, by a further increase in the extraction and utilization of O2 by the tissues. The arterial blood pH did not change essentially, while the decrease in pCO2 and content of standard bicarbonate was more marked

Pair creation by a photon in a strong magnetic field

The process of pair creation by a photon in a strong magnetic field is investigated basing on the polarization operator in the field. The total probability of the process is found in a relatively simple form. The probability exhibits a "saw-tooth" pattern because of divergences arising when the electron and positron are created at threshold of the Landau energy levels. The pattern will be washed out at averaging over any smooth photon energy distribution. The new results are obtained in the scope of the quasiclassical approach: 1) in the case when the magnetic field $B \ll B_0, (B_0$ is the critical field) the new formulation extends the photon energy interval to the case when the created particles are not ultrarelativistic; 2) the correction to the standard quasiclassical approximation is found showing the range of applicability of the approach at high photon energy as well. The very important conclusion is that for both cases $B \ll B_0$ and $B \geq B_0$ the results of the quasiclassical calculation are very close to averaged probabilities of exact theory in a very wide range of photon energies. The quasiclassical approximation is valid also for the energy distribution if the electron and positron are created on enough high levels.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figure

Multi-photon effects in energy losses spectra

Effect of radiation of many photons by a single electron traversing a target is discussed. When the summary energy of emitted photons (the energy losses spectrum) is measured only, the photon spectrum is distorted comparing with the photon spectrum in one interaction. Influence of this effect is discussed for the cases (1) bremsstrahlung (described by Bethe-Heitler formula), (2) the strong Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effect and (3) transition radiation. Qualitative picture of the phenomenon is discussed in detail. Comparison with the recent SLAC experiment in relatively thick target (2.7% of the radiation length), where the effect of emission of many photons by a projectile is very essential, shows perfect agreement of the theory and data.Comment: LaTeX2.09, 19 pages, 5 PostScript figure

Group Analysis of Variable Coefficient Diffusion-Convection Equations. I. Enhanced Group Classification

We discuss the classical statement of group classification problem and some its extensions in the general case. After that, we carry out the complete extended group classification for a class of (1+1)-dimensional nonlinear diffusion--convection equations with coefficients depending on the space variable. At first, we construct the usual equivalence group and the extended one including transformations which are nonlocal with respect to arbitrary elements. The extended equivalence group has interesting structure since it contains a non-trivial subgroup of non-local gauge equivalence transformations. The complete group classification of the class under consideration is carried out with respect to the extended equivalence group and with respect to the set of all point transformations. Usage of extended equivalence and correct choice of gauges of arbitrary elements play the major role for simple and clear formulation of the final results. The set of admissible transformations of this class is preliminary investigated.Comment: 25 page

Inner Polar Rings and Disks: Observed Properties

A list of galaxies with inner regions revealing polar (or strongly inclined to the main galactic plane) disks and rings is compiled from the literature data. The list contains 47 galaxies of all morphological types, from E to Irr. We consider the statistics of the parameters of polar structures known from observations. The radii of the majority of them do not exceed 1.5 kpc. The polar structures are equally common in barred and unbarred galaxies. At the same time, if a galaxy has a bar (or a triaxial bulge), this leads to the polar disk stabilization - its axis of rotation usually coincides with the major axis of the bar. More than two thirds of all considered galaxies reveal one or another sign of recent interaction or merging. This fact indicates a direct relation between the external environment and the presence of an inner polar structure.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted to Astrophysical Bulletin. Minor changes and corrections are still possibl

A search for point sources of EeV photons

Measurements of air showers made using the hybrid technique developed with the fluorescence and surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory allow a sensitive search for point sources of EeV photons anywhere in the exposed sky. A multivariate analysis reduces the background of hadronic cosmic rays. The search is sensitive to a declination band from -85{\deg} to +20{\deg}, in an energy range from 10^17.3 eV to 10^18.5 eV. No photon point source has been detected. An upper limit on the photon flux has been derived for every direction. The mean value of the energy flux limit that results from this, assuming a photon spectral index of -2, is 0.06 eV cm^-2 s^-1, and no celestial direction exceeds 0.25 eV cm^-2 s^-1. These upper limits constrain scenarios in which EeV cosmic ray protons are emitted by non-transient sources in the Galaxy.Comment: 28 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa