Stimulation of MAP kinase pathways after maternal IL-1β exposure induces fetal lung fluid absorption in guinea pigs

BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that maternal interleukin-1β (IL-1β) pretreatment and induction of fetal cortisol synthesis activates MAP kinases and thereby affects lung fluid absorption in preterm guinea pigs. METHODS: IL-1β was administered subcutaneously daily to timed-pregnant guinea pigs for three days. Fetuses were obtained by abdominal hysterotomy and instilled with isosmolar 5% albumin into the lungs and lung fluid movement was measured over 1 h by mass balance. MAP kinase expression was measured by western blot. RESULTS: Lung fluid absorption was induced at 61 days (D) gestation and stimulated at 68D gestation by IL-1β. Maternal IL-1β pretreatment upregulated ERK and upstream MEK expression at both 61 and 68D gestation, albeit being much more pronounced at 61D gestation. U0126 instillation completely blocked IL-1β-induced lung fluid absorption as well as IL-1β-induced/stimulated ERK expression. Cortisol synthesis inhibition by metyrapone attenuated ERK expression and lung fluid absorption in IL-1β-pretreated fetal lungs. JNK expression after maternal IL-1β pretreatment remained unaffected at either gestation age. CONCLUSION: These data implicate the ERK MAP kinase pathway as being important for IL-1β induction/stimulation of lung fluid absorption in fetal guinea pigs

Violet diode laser in time-resolved stored-ion spectroscopy

Lifetime measurements of the metastable 3d D-2(3/2) level in singly charged calcium were performed using the newly developed violet diode laser operated in an external cavity arrangement. The laser was employed on stored ions at the CRYRING facility to optically pump the resonance line at 397 nm. In combination with laser probing at 866 nm this detection scheme gave the possibility to record the lifetime of this level. which has a radiative lifetime of about 1 s

Visualization of heavy ion-induced charge production in a CMOS image sensor

A commercial CMOS image sensor was irradiated with heavy ion beams in the several MeV energy range. The image sensor is equipped with a standard video output. The data were collected on-line through frame grabbing and analysed off-line after digitisation. It was shown that the response of the image sensor to the heavy ion bombardment varied with the type and energy of the projectiles. The sensor will be used for the CMS Barrel Muon Alignment system

Monte-Carlo simulation of the charged particle detector used in the NORDBALL gamma-ray spectrometer

The NORDBALL silicon detector array for detecting light charged particles emitted in fusion evaporation reactions was simulated with the Monte-Carlo method. The data from the reaction of 261 MeV Ni-58 ions with Cr-50 nuclei in a 4.8 mg/cm(2) thick target was used to adjust the simulation parameters. Relative population of residual nuclei in the reaction was determined, by comparing the intensities of gamma -rays. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

In beam spectroscopy at the proton drip line first observation of excited states in 106Sb and 107Sb

Neutron deficient nuclei close to Sn 100 have been investigated in beam using the NORDBALL detector array. A target of Fe 54 was bombarded with a beam of Ni 58 at 270 MeV. Evaporation residues were identified by detecting protons and alpha particles in a 4 pi charged particle multi detector set up and neutrons in a 1 pi neutron detector wall in coincidence with gamma rays. Excited states of the proton drip line nucleus Sb 106 and of Sb 107 were identified for the first time. The yrast level schemes constructed from gamma gamma particle coincidence and gamma gamma angular correlation analysis are presented and discussed within the framework of the nuclear shell mode

Cd-98(48)50:The two-proton-hole spectrum in Sn-100(50)50

Excited states in Cd-98, two proton holes from Sn-100, were identified and studied for the first time, using in-beam spectroscopy with highly selective ancillary detectors. The structure of the (pi g(9/2))(-2) two-proton-hole spectrum below a T-1/2 = 0.48(16) mu s isomer is deduced and compared to shell-model predictions. A tentative I-pi = (8(+)) assignment, as suggested by systematics, yields a strongly reduced B(E2,8(+) --> 6(+)) = 0.44((+20)(-10)) W.u., corresponding to an effective proton charge of e(pi) = 0.85((+20)(-10))e, which is at variance with existing theoretical predictions

Maximally aligned states in ⁹⁹Ag

Excited states of $^{99}$Ag were populated via the $^{50}$Cr + $^{58}$Ni (261 MeV) reaction using the Nordball detector array equipped with charged-particle and neutron detector systems for reaction channel separation. On the basis of the measured $\gamma\gamma$-coincidence relations and angular distribution ratios a significantly extended level scheme has been constructed up to $E_x\sim 7.8$ MeV and $I=35/2$. The experimental results were described within the framework of the shell model. Candidates for states fully aligned in the $\pi g_{9/2}^{-3}\nu (d_{5/2},g_{7/2})^2$ valence configuration space were found at 4109 and 6265 keV

Structure of high-spin states in ¹⁰⁰Pd

High-spin states of the neutron deficient 100 Pd nucleus have been investigated via the 50 Cr( 58 Ni, 4p α ) and 70 Zn( 36 S,6n) heavy-ion induced reactions. For the detection of evaporated particles and γ rays the Nordball array equipped with ancillary detectors and the Eurogam II detector system were utilized. By the use of in-beam spectroscopic methods 89 transitions belonging to 100 Pd have been observed, 49 of which were identified for the first time. The level scheme has been extended up to E x ≈16 MeV excitation energy and I≈25 ℏ . The experimental results were compared with the predictions of cranked shell model calculations. Maximal spin alignments were found in the (πg 9/2 ) −4 12 + (νd 5/2 ,g 7/2 3 h 11/2 ) 13 − and (πg 9/2 −3 p 1/2 ) 11 − (νd 5/2 ,g 7/2 3 h 11/2 ) 13 − configurations. Possible existence of octupole correlations is discussed on the basis of B( E 1)/B( E 2) values deduced for the decays of high-spin levels in the yrast negative-parity band. (Elsevier