272 research outputs found
A Monolayer of Primary Colonic Epithelium Generated on a Scaffold with a Gradient of Stiffness for Drug Transport Studies
Animal models are frequently used for in vitro physiologic and drug transport studies of the colon, but there exists significant pressure to improve assay throughput as well as to achieve tighter control of experimental variables than can be achieved with animals. Thus, development of a primary in vitro colonic epithelium cultured as high resistance with transport protein expression and functional behavior similar to that of a native colonic would be of enormous value for pharmaceutical research. A collagen scaffold, in which the degree of collagen cross-linking was present as a gradient, was developed to support the proliferation of primary colonic cells. The gradient of cross-linking created a gradient in stiffness across the scaffold, enabling the scaffold to resist deformation by cells. mRNA expression and quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry of cells growing on these surfaces as a monolayer suggested that the transporters present were similar to those in vivo. Confluent monolayers acted as a barrier to small molecules so that drug transport studies were readily performed. Transport function was evaluated using atenolol (a substrate for passive paracellular transport), propranolol (a substrate for passive transcellular transport), rhodamine 123 (Rh123, a substrate for P-glycoprotein), and riboflavin (a substrate for solute carrier transporters). Atenolol was poorly transported with an apparent permeability (Papp) of < 5 Ă— 10-7 cm s-1, while propranolol demonstrated a Papp of 9.69 Ă— 10-6 cm s-1. Rh123 was transported in a luminal direction (Papp,efflux/Papp,influx = 7) and was blocked by verapamil, a known inhibitor of P-glycoprotein. Riboflavin was transported in a basal direction, and saturation of the transporter was observed at high riboflavin concentrations as occurs in vivo. It is anticipated that this platform of primary colonic epithelium will find utility in drug development and physiological studies, since the tissue possesses high integrity and active transporters and metabolism similar to that in vivo
Comparison of Strangeness Production between A+A and p+p Reactions from 2 to 160 AGeV
The measured K ratios from heavy-ion reactions are compared with
the K ratios from p+p reactions over the energy range 2-160 AGeV. The
K/ enhancement in heavy-ion reactions is largest at the lower energies,
consistent with strangeness production in secondary scattering becoming
relatively more important than initial collisions near the kaon production
threshold. The enhancement decreases steadily from 4 to 160 AGeV, suggesting
that the same enhancement mechanism of hadronic rescattering and decay of
strings may be applicable over this full energy range. Based on existing data,
the mid-rapidity K ratio is predicted to be for the
forthcoming Pb+Pb reactions at 40 AGeV/c.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Two-band second moment model and an interatomic potential for caesium
A semi-empirical formalism is presented for deriving interatomic potentials
for materials such as caesium or cerium which exhibit volume collapse phase
transitions. It is based on the Finnis-Sinclair second moment tight binding
approach, but incorporates two independent bands on each atom. The potential is
cast in a form suitable for large-scale molecular dynamics, the computational
cost being the evaluation of short ranged pair potentials. Parameters for a
model potential for caesium are derived and tested
Familial influences on sustained attention and inhibition in preschoolers
Background: In this study several aspects of attention were studied in 237 nearly 6-year-old twin pairs. Specifically, the ability to sustain attention and inhibition were investigated using a computerized test battery (Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks). Furthermore, the Teacher's Report Form (TRF) was filled out by the teacher of the child and the attention subscale of this questionnaire was analyzed. Methods: The variance in performance on the different tasks of the test battery and the score on the attention scale of the TRF were decomposed into a contribution of the additive effects of many genes (A), environmental effects that are shared by twins (C) and unique environmental influences not shared by twins (E) by using data from MZ and DZ twins. Results: The genetic model fitting results showed an effect of A and E for the attention scale of the TRF, and for some of the inhibition and sustained attention measures. For most of the attention variables, however, it was not possible to decide between a model with A and E or a model with C and E. Time-on-task effects on reaction time or number of errors and the delay after making an error did not show familial resemblances. A remarkable finding was that the heritability of the attention scale of the TRF was found to be higher than the heritability of indices that can be considered to be more direct measures of attention, such as mean tempo in the sustained attention task and response speed in the Go-NoGo task. Conclusion: In preschoolers, familial resemblances on sustained attention and inhibition were observed. © Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2004
On non-local variational problems with lack of compactness related to non-linear optics
We give a simple proof of existence of solutions of the dispersion manage-
ment and diffraction management equations for zero average dispersion,
respectively diffraction. These solutions are found as maximizers of non-linear
and non-local vari- ational problems which are invariant under a large
non-compact group. Our proof of existence of maximizer is rather direct and
avoids the use of Lions' concentration compactness argument or Ekeland's
variational principle.Comment: 30 page
Theory of spin-polarized bipolar transport in magnetic p-n junctions
The interplay between spin and charge transport in electrically and
magnetically inhomogeneous semiconductor systems is investigated theoretically.
In particular, the theory of spin-polarized bipolar transport in magnetic p-n
junctions is formulated, generalizing the classic Shockley model. The theory
assumes that in the depletion layer the nonequilibrium chemical potentials of
spin up and spin down carriers are constant and carrier recombination and spin
relaxation are inhibited. Under the general conditions of an applied bias and
externally injected (source) spin, the model formulates analytically carrier
and spin transport in magnetic p-n junctions at low bias. The evaluation of the
carrier and spin densities at the depletion layer establishes the necessary
boundary conditions for solving the diffusive transport equations in the bulk
regions separately, thus greatly simplifying the problem. The carrier and spin
density and current profiles in the bulk regions are calculated and the I-V
characteristics of the junction are obtained. It is demonstrated that spin
injection through the depletion layer of a magnetic p-n junction is not
possible unless nonequilibrium spin accumulates in the bulk regions--either by
external spin injection or by the application of a large bias. Implications of
the theory for majority spin injection across the depletion layer, minority
spin pumping and spin amplification, giant magnetoresistance, spin-voltaic
effect, biasing electrode spin injection, and magnetic drift in the bulk
regions are discussed in details, and illustrated using the example of a GaAs
based magnetic p-n junction.Comment: 36 pages, 11 figures, 2 table
Resummation of the Divergent Perturbation Series for a Hydrogen Atom in an Electric Field
We consider the resummation of the perturbation series describing the energy
displacement of a hydrogenic bound state in an electric field (known as the
Stark effect or the LoSurdo-Stark effect), which constitutes a divergent formal
power series in the electric field strength. The perturbation series exhibits a
rich singularity structure in the Borel plane. Resummation methods are
presented which appear to lead to consistent results even in problematic cases
where isolated singularities or branch cuts are present on the positive and
negative real axis in the Borel plane. Two resummation prescriptions are
compared: (i) a variant of the Borel-Pade resummation method, with an
additional improvement due to utilization of the leading renormalon poles (for
a comprehensive discussion of renormalons see [M. Beneke, Phys. Rep. vol. 317,
p. 1 (1999)]), and (ii) a contour-improved combination of the Borel method with
an analytic continuation by conformal mapping, and Pade approximations in the
conformal variable. The singularity structure in the case of the LoSurdo-Stark
effect in the complex Borel plane is shown to be similar to (divergent)
perturbative expansions in quantum chromodynamics.Comment: 14 pages, RevTeX, 3 tables, 1 figure; numerical accuracy of results
enhanced; one section and one appendix added and some minor changes and
additions; to appear in phys. rev.
Horizontal Branch Stars: The Interplay between Observations and Theory, and Insights into the Formation of the Galaxy
We review HB stars in a broad astrophysical context, including both variable
and non-variable stars. A reassessment of the Oosterhoff dichotomy is
presented, which provides unprecedented detail regarding its origin and
systematics. We show that the Oosterhoff dichotomy and the distribution of
globular clusters (GCs) in the HB morphology-metallicity plane both exclude,
with high statistical significance, the possibility that the Galactic halo may
have formed from the accretion of dwarf galaxies resembling present-day Milky
Way satellites such as Fornax, Sagittarius, and the LMC. A rediscussion of the
second-parameter problem is presented. A technique is proposed to estimate the
HB types of extragalactic GCs on the basis of integrated far-UV photometry. The
relationship between the absolute V magnitude of the HB at the RR Lyrae level
and metallicity, as obtained on the basis of trigonometric parallax
measurements for the star RR Lyrae, is also revisited, giving a distance
modulus to the LMC of (m-M)_0 = 18.44+/-0.11. RR Lyrae period change rates are
studied. Finally, the conductive opacities used in evolutionary calculations of
low-mass stars are investigated. [ABRIDGED]Comment: 56 pages, 22 figures. Invited review, to appear in Astrophysics and
Space Scienc
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