2,551 research outputs found
PAKing up to the endothelium
Angiogenesis recapitulates the growth of blood vessels that progressively
expand and remodel into a highly organized and stereotyped vascular network.
During adulthood, endothelial cells that formed the vascular wall retain their
plasticity and can be engaged in neo-vascularization in response to
physiological stimuli, such as hypoxia, wound healing and tissue repair,
ovarian cycle and pregnancy. In addition, numerous human diseases and
pathological conditions are characterized by an excessive, uncontrolled and
aberrant angiogenesis. The signalling pathways involving the small Rho GTPase,
Rac and its downstream effector the p21-activated serine/threonine kinase (PAK)
had recently emerged as pleiotropic modulators in these processes. Indeed, Rac
and PAK were found to modulate endothelial cell biology, such as sprouting,
migration, polarity, proliferation, lumen formation, and maturation.
Elucidating the Rac/PAK molecular circuitry will provide essential information
for the development of new therapeutic agents designed to normalize the blood
vasculature in human diseases.Comment: Cell Signal (2009) epub ahead of prin
HD 173977: An ellipsoidal d Scuti star variable
Astronomy and Astrophysics, v. 426, p. 247-252, 2004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20034068International audienc
Modulating the luminescence of an iridium(III) complex incorporating a di(2-picolyl)anilino-appended bipyridine ligand with Zn2+ cations
International audienceA novel iridium complex incorporating a di(2-picolyl)anilino-appended bipyridine ligand was synthesized and its optical properties studied. The presence of Zn2+ ions specifically perturbs the excited state, giving rise to a blue-shifted absorption and emission, and a shorter luminescence lifetime
Donor-derived Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection syndrome after simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplantation
Most cases of strongyloidiasis associated with solid organ transplantation have been due to the reactivation of a latent infection in the recipient as a result of the immunosuppressive therapy; however, donor-derived infections are becoming increasingly frequent. The case of a patient who nearly died of a Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection after receiving simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplants is described herein. No specific parasitological tests were performed pre-transplantation, despite the fact that both the recipient and the donor originated from endemic areas. Serological analysis of the donor's serum performed retrospectively revealed the origin of the infection, which if it had been done beforehand would have prevented the serious complications. Current practice guidelines need to be updated to incorporate immunological and molecular techniques for the rapid screening of Strongyloides prior to transplantation, and empirical treatment with ivermectin should be applied systematically when there is the slightest risk of infection in the donor or recipient
Str\"omgren photometry and spectroscopy of the Delta Scuti stars 7 Aql and 8 Aql
Photometric ) and spectroscopic observations of the
Scuti variables \astrobj{7 Aql} and \astrobj{8 Aql} are described. The
Str\"omgren standard indices and physical parameters of both stars are derived.
Spectral types of F0V and F2III have been assigned to \astrobj{7 Aql} and
\astrobj{8 Aql} respectively considering the results from both spectroscopy and
photometry. Differential light curves were also analyzed. A attempt of
multicolour mode identification is carried out.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in New
Astronom
Thermoregulation at birth differs between piglets from two genetic lines divergent for residual feed intake
peer-reviewedThermoregulation is essential to piglets' neonatal survival. This study used infrared thermography (IRT) to assess thermoregulation abilities of piglets from two lines divergent for residual feed intake (RFI). At birth, morphology (weight, length, width and circumference), vigour (respiration, mobility and vocalisation), and rectal temperature were recorded from piglets of the 11th generation of the low RFI (LRFI, more efficient; n = 34) and the high RFI (HRFI, less efficient; n = 28) lines. Infrared thermography images were taken at 8, 15, 30 and 60 min post partum. Temperatures of the ear base and tip, and of the back (i.e. shoulders to rumps) were extracted (Thermacam Researcher Pro 2.0) and analysed with linear mixed models (SAS 9.4). Piglets had different average hourly weight gain (HRFI = 7.1 ± 1.3 g/h, LRFI = 3.6 ± 1.3 g/h; P < 0,001) but did not differ in morphology or vigour. All temperatures increased overtime. At birth, piglets' rectal temperature was correlated with the initial temperature of the ear base and the maximum back temperature (0.37 and 0.33, respectively; P < 0.05). High residual feed intake piglets had lower ear tip temperatures than LRFI piglets at 15 (24.7 ± 0.37 °C vs. 26.3 ± 0.36 °C, respectively; F1, 63.5 = 9.11, P < 0.005) and 30 min post partum (26.2 ± 0.47 °C vs. 27.6 ± 0.44 °C, respectively; F1, 66.9 = 4.52, P < 0.05). Moreover, thermal pattern of the ear tip differed between the two genetic lines. In conclusion, IRT allowed non-invasive assessment of piglets' thermoregulation abilities and indicated an influence of genetic selection for RFI on neonatal thermoregulation abilities.SuBPi
Tuning the electrocaloric enhancement near the morphotropic phase boundary in lead-free ceramics
This project was funded by EPSRC (EP/G060940/1 and EP/P505674/1) and the Grant Agency of the Slovak
Academy of Sciences (2/0057/14)
Cartilaginous endplates: A comprehensive review on a neglected structure in intervertebral disc research
The cartilaginous endplates (CEP) are key components of the intervertebral disc (IVD) necessary for sustaining the nutrition of the disc while distributing mechanical loads and preventing the disc from bulging into the adjacent vertebral body. The size, shape, and composition of the CEP are essential in maintaining its function, and degeneration of the CEP is considered a contributor to early IVD degeneration. In addition, the CEP is implicated in Modic changes, which are often associated with low back pain. This review aims to tackle the current knowledge of the CEP regarding its structure, composition, permeability, and mechanical role in a healthy disc, how they change with degeneration, and how they connect to IVD degeneration and low back pain. Additionally, the authors suggest a standardized naming convention regarding the CEP and bony endplate and suggest avoiding the term vertebral endplate. Currently, there is limited data on the CEP itself as reported data is often a combination of CEP and bony endplate, or the CEP is considered as articular cartilage. However, it is clear the CEP is a unique tissue type that differs from articular cartilage, bony endplate, and other IVD tissues. Thus, future research should investigate the CEP separately to fully understand its role in healthy and degenerated IVDs. Further, most IVD regeneration therapies in development failed to address, or even considered the CEP, despite its key role in nutrition and mechanical stability within the IVD. Thus, the CEP should be considered and potentially targeted for future sustainable treatments
A 15 kpc outflow cone piercing through the halo of the blue compact metal-poor galaxy SBS0335-052
Context: Outflows from low-mass star-forming galaxies are a fundamental
ingredient for models of galaxy evolution and cosmology.
Aims: The onset of kpc-scale ionised filaments in the halo of the metal-poor
compact dwarf SBS 0335-052E was previously not linked to an outflow. We here we
investigate whether these filaments provide evidence for an outflow.
Methods: We obtained new VLT/MUSE WFM and deep NRAO/VLA B-configuration 21cm
data of the galaxy. The MUSE data provide morphology, kinematics, and emission
line ratios H/H and [\ion{O}{iii}]/H of the
low surface-brightness filaments, while the VLA data deliver morphology and
kinematics of the neutral gas in and around the system. Both datasets are used
in concert for comparisons between the ionised and the neutral phase.
Results: We report the prolongation of a lacy filamentary ionised structure
up to a projected distance of 16 kpc at erg s cmarcsec. The filaments exhibit
unusual low H/H and low [\ion{O}{iii}]/H typical of diffuse ionised gas. They are spectrally narrow ( km s) and exhibit no velocity sub-structure. The filaments extend
outwards of the elongated \ion{H}{I} halo. On small scales the
peak is offset from the main star-forming sites. Morphology and kinematics of
\ion{H}{I} and \ion{H}{II} reveal how star-formation driven feedback interacts
differently with the ionised and the neutral phase.
Conclusions: We reason that the filaments are a large scale manifestation of
star-formation driven feedback, namely limb-brightened edges of a giant outflow
cone that protrudes through the halo of this gas-rich system. A simple toy
model of such a conical-structure is found to be commensurable with the
observations.Comment: Accepted version in A&A after language editing. 22 pages, 24 figure
The role of the reactor size for an investment in the nuclear sector: an evaluation of not-financial parameters
The literature presents many studies about the economics of new Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). Such studies are based on Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) methods encompassing the accounts related to Construction, Operation & Maintenance, Fuel and Decommissioning. However the investment evaluation of a nuclear reactor should also include not-financial factors such as siting and grid constraints, impact on the national industrial system, etc.
The Integrated model for the Competitiveness Assessment of SMRs (INCAS), developed by Politecnico di Milano cooperating with the IAEA, is designed to analyze the choice of the better Nuclear Power Plant size as a multidimensional problem. In particular the INCAS’s module “External Factors” evaluates the impact of the factors that are not considered in the traditional DCF methods.
This paper presents a list of these factors, providing, for each one, the rationale and the quantification procedure; then each factor is quantified for the Italian case. The IRIS reactor has been chosen as SMR representative.
The approach and the framework of the model can be applied to worldwide countries while the specific results apply to most of the European countries. The results show that SMRs have better performances than LRs with respect to the external factors, in general and in the Italian scenario in particular
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