Filtering of Nanoparticles with Tunable Semiconductor Membranes

Translocation dynamics of nanoparticles permeating through the nanopore in an <i>n</i>-Si semiconductor membrane is studied. With the use of Brownian Dynamics to describe the motion of the charged nanoparticles in the self-consistent membrane-electrolyte electrostatic potential, we asses the possibility of using our voltage controlled membrane for the macroscopic filtering of the charged nanoparticles. The results indicate that the tunable local electric field inside the membrane can effectively control interaction of a nanoparticle with the nanopore by either blocking its passage or increasing the translocation rate. The effect is particularly strong for larger nanoparticles due to their stronger interaction with the membrane while in the nanopore. By extracting the membrane permeability from our microsopic simulations, we compute the macroscopic sieving factors and show that the size selectivity of the membrane can be tuned by the applied voltage

Quantity as a Fish Views It: Behavior and Neurobiology

An ability to estimate quantities, such as the number of conspecifics or the size of a predator, has been reported in vertebrates. Fish, in particular zebrafish, may be instrumental in advancing the understanding of magnitude cognition. We review here the behavioral studies that have described the ecological relevance of quantity estimation in fish and the current status of the research aimed at investigating the neurobiological bases of these abilities. By combining behavioral methods with molecular genetics and calcium imaging, the involvement of the retina and the optic tectum has been documented for the estimation of continuous quantities in the larval and adult zebrafish brain, and the contributions of the thalamus and the dorsal-central pallium for discrete magnitude estimation in the adult zebrafish brain. Evidence for basic circuitry can now be complemented and extended to research that make use of transgenic lines to deepen our understanding of quantity cognition at genetic and molecular levels

Predictors of Progression and Mortality in Patients with Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Retrospective Analysis of Registry of Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Diseases

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease (ILD) resulting from an immune-mediated response in susceptible and sensitized individuals to a large variety of inhaled antigens. Chronic HP with a fibrotic phenotype is characterized by disease progression and a dismal prognosis. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of progression and mortality in patients with chronic HP in real clinical practice. Materials and methods: This retrospective, multicenter, observational study used data from a registry of 1355 patients with fibrosing ILDs. The study included 292 patients diagnosed with chronic HP based on the conclusion of a multidisciplinary discussion (MDD). Results: The patients were divided into groups with progressive (92 (30.3%) patients) and nonprogressive pulmonary fibrosis (200 (69.7%) patients). The most significant predictors of adverse outcomes were a DLco < 50% predicted, an SpO2 at the end of a six-minute walk test (6-MWT) < 85%, and a GAP score ≥ 4 points. Conclusion: Pulmonary fibrosis and a progressive fibrotic phenotype are common in patients with chronic HP. Early detection of the predictors of an adverse prognosis of chronic HP is necessary for the timely initiation of antifibrotic therapy

Nrf2-dependent and -independent Responses to Nitro-fatty Acids in Human Endothelial Cells: IDENTIFICATION OF HEAT SHOCK RESPONSE AS THE MAJOR PATHWAY ACTIVATED BY NITRO-OLEIC ACID*

Electrophilic fatty acid derivatives, including nitrolinoleic acid and nitro-oleic acid (OA-NO2), can mediate anti-inflammatory and pro-survival signaling reactions. The transcription factor Nrf2, activated by electrophilic fatty acids, suppresses redox-sensitive pro-inflammatory gene expression and protects against vascular endothelial oxidative injury. It was therefore postulated that activation of Nrf2 by OA-NO2 accounts in part for its anti-inflammatory actions, motivating the characterization of Nrf2-dependent and -independent effects of OA-NO2 on gene expression using genome-wide transcriptional profiling. Control and Nrf2-small interfering RNA-transfected human endothelial cells were treated with vehicle, oleic acid, or OA-NO2, and differential gene expression profiles were determined. Although OA-NO2 significantly induced the expression of Nrf2-dependent genes, including heme oxygenase-1 and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit, the majority of OA-NO2-regulated genes were regulated by Nrf2-independent pathways. Moreover, gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the heat shock response is the major pathway activated by OA-NO2, with robust induction of a number of heat shock genes regulated by the heat shock transcription factor. Inasmuch as the heat shock response mediates anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective actions, this mechanism is proposed to contribute to the protective cell signaling functions of nitro-fatty acids and other electrophilic fatty acid derivatives