2,674 research outputs found
Rfx6 Maintains the Functional Identity of Adult Pancreatic β Cells.
SummaryIncreasing evidence suggests that loss of β cell characteristics may cause insulin secretory deficiency in diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that Rfx6, whose mutation leads to neonatal diabetes in humans, is essential to maintain key features of functionally mature β cells in mice. Rfx6 loss in adult β cells leads to glucose intolerance, impaired β cell glucose sensing, and defective insulin secretion. This is associated with reduced expression of core components of the insulin secretion pathway, including glucokinase, the Abcc8/SUR1 subunit of KATP channels and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, which are direct targets of Rfx6. Moreover, Rfx6 contributes to the silencing of the vast majority of âdisallowedâ genes, a group usually specifically repressed in adult β cells, and thus to the maintenance of β cell maturity. These findings raise the possibility that changes in Rfx6 expression or activity may contribute to β cell failure in humans
Valence band photoemission from the GaN(0001) surface
A detailed investigation by one-step photoemission calculations of the
GaN(0001)-(1x1) surface in comparison with recent experiments is presented in
order to clarify its structural properties and electronic structure. The
discussion of normal and off-normal spectra reveals through the identified
surface states clear fingerprints for the applicability of a surface model
proposed by Smith et al. Especially the predicted metallic bonds are confirmed.
In the context of direct transitions the calculated spectra allow to determine
the valence band width and to argue in favor of one of two theoretical bulk
band structures. Furthermore a commonly used experimental method to fix the
valence band maximum is critically tested.Comment: 8 pages, 11 eps files, submitted to PR
Terahertz dynamics of a topologically protected state: quantum Hall effect plateaus near cyclotron resonance in a GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction
We measure the Hall conductivity of a two-dimensional electron gas formed at
a GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction in the terahertz regime close to the cyclotron
resonance frequency by employing a highly sensitive Faraday rotation method
coupled with electrical gating of the sample to change the electron density. We
observe clear plateau-and step-like features in the Faraday rotation angle vs.
electron density and magnetic field (Landau-level filling factor), which are
the high frequency manifestation of quantum Hall plateaus - a signature of
topologically protected edge states. The results are compared to a recent
dynamical scaling theory.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure
Overexpression of Mcl-1 exacerbates lymphocyte accumulation and autoimmune kidney disease in lpr mice
Cell death by apoptosis has a critical role during embryonic development and in maintaining tissue homeostasis. In mammals,
there are two converging apoptosis pathways: the âextrinsicâ pathway, which is triggered by engagement of cell surface âdeath
receptorsâ such as Fas/APO-1; and the âintrinsicâ pathway, which is triggered by diverse cellular stresses, and is regulated by prosurvival
and pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Pro-survival Mcl-1, which can block activation of the proapoptotic
proteins, Bax and Bak, appears critical for the survival and maintenance of multiple haemopoietic cell types. To
investigate the impact on haemopoiesis of simultaneously inhibiting both apoptosis pathways, we introduced the vavP-Mcl-1
transgene, which causes overexpression of Mcl-1 protein in all haemopoietic lineages, into Faslpr/lpr mice, which lack functional
Fas and are prone to autoimmunity. The combined mutations had a modest impact on myelopoiesis, primarily an increase in the
macrophage/monocyte population in Mcl-1tg/lpr mice compared with lpr or Mcl-1tg mice. The impact on lymphopoiesis was
striking, with a marked elevation in all major lymphoid subsets, including the non-conventional double-negative (DN) T cells
(TCRβ+
CD4â
CD8â
B220+
) characteristic of Faslpr/lpr mice. Of note, the onset of autoimmunity was markedly accelerated in Mcl-1tg/lpr
mice compared with lpr mice, and this was preceded by an increase in immunoglobulin (Ig)-producing cells and circulating
autoantibodies. This degree of impact was surprising, given the relatively mild phenotype conferred by the vavP-Mcl-1 transgene
by itself: a two- to threefold elevation of peripheral B and T cells, no significant increase in the non-conventional DN T-cell
population and no autoimmune disease. Comparison of the phenotype with that of other susceptible mice suggests that the
development of autoimmune disease in Mcl-1tg/lpr mice may be influenced not only by Ig-producing cells but also other
haemopoietic cell types
Identification of Ag-acceptors in Ag Cd doped ZnTe and CdTe
Nominally undoped ZnTe and CdTe crystals were implanted with radioactive Ag, which decays to Cd, and investigated by photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). In ZnTe, the PL lines caused by an acceptor level at 121 meV are observed: the principal bound exciton (PBE) line, the donor-acceptor pair (DAP) band, and the two-hole transition lines. In CdTe, the PBE line and the DAP band that correspond to an acceptor level at 108 meV appear. Since the intensities of all these PL lines decrease in good agreement with the half-life of Ag of 178.8 h, both acceptor levels are concluded to be associated with defects containing a single Ag atom. Therefore, the earlier assignments to substitutional Ag on Zn- and Cd-lattice sites in the respective II-VI semiconductors are confirmed. The assignments in the literature of the S, S, and S lines in ZnTe and the X X/ C and C lines in CdTe to Ag-related defect complexes are not confirmed
Differential cross sections for muonic atom scattering in solid hydrogenic targets
The differential cross sections for low-energy muonic hydrogen atom
scattering in solid molecular H, D and T targets under low pressure
have been calculated for various temperatures. The polycrystalline fcc and hcp
structure of the solid hydrogenic targets are considered. The Bragg and phonon
scattering processes are described using the Debye model of a solid. The
calculated cross sections are used for Monte Carlo simulations of the muonic
atom slowing down in these targets. They have been successfully applied for a
description of the production of the muonic atom beams in the multilayer
hydrogenic crystals.Comment: 23 pages, 19 figures, 2 table
An interdisciplinary investigation of a recent submarine mass transport deposit at the continental margin off Uruguay
Assessing frequency and extent of mass movement at continental margins is crucial to evaluate risks for offshore constructions and coastal areas. A multidisciplinary approach including geophysical, sedimentological, geotechnical, and geochemical methods was applied to investigate multistage mass transport deposits (MTDs) off Uruguay, on top of which no surficial hemipelagic drape was detected based on echosounder data. Nonsteady state pore water conditions are evidenced by a distinct gradient change in the sulfate (SO42â) profile at 2.8 m depth. A sharp sedimentological contact at 2.43 m coincides with an abrupt downward increase in shear strength from âź10 to >20 kPa. This boundary is interpreted as a paleosurface (and top of an older MTD) that has recently been covered by a sediment package during a younger landslide event. This youngest MTD supposedly originated from an upslope position and carried its initial pore water signature downward. The kink in the SO42â profile âź35 cm below the sedimentological and geotechnical contact indicates that bioirrigation affected the paleosurface before deposition of the youngest MTD. Based on modeling of the diffusive reâequilibration of SO42â the age of the most recent MTD is estimated to be <30 years. The mass movement was possibly related to an earthquake in 1988 (âź70 km southwest of the core location). Probabilistic slope stability back analysis of general landslide structures in the study area reveals that slope failure initiation requires additional ground accelerations. Therefore, we consider the earthquake as a reasonable trigger if additional weakening processes (e.g., erosion by previous retrogressive failure events or excess pore pressures) preconditioned the slope for failure. Our study reveals the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches to accurately recognize and date recent slope failures in complex settings such as the investigated area
ESCIMO.spread (v2) : parameterization of a spreadsheet-based energy balance snow model for inside-canopy conditions
This article describes the extension of the ESCIMO.spread spreadsheet-based point energy balance snow model by (i) an advanced approach for precipitation phase detection, (ii) a method for cold content and liquid water storage consideration and (iii) a canopy sub-model that allows the quantification of canopy effects on the meteorological conditions inside the forest as well as the simulation of snow accumulation and ablation inside a forest stand. To provide the data for model application and evaluation, innovative low-cost snow monitoring systems (SnoMoS) have been utilized that allow the collection of important meteorological and snow information inside and outside the canopy. The model performance with respect to both, the modification of meteorological conditions as well as the subsequent calculation of the snow cover evolution, are evaluated using inside- and outside-canopy observations of meteorological variables and snow cover evolution as provided by a pair of SnoMoS for a site in the Black Forest mountain range (southwestern Germany). The validation results for the simulated snow water equivalent with NashâSutcliffe model efficiency values of 0.81 and 0.71 and root mean square errors of 8.26 and 18.07 mm indicate a good overall model performance inside and outside the forest canopy, respectively. The newly developed version of the model referred to as ESCIMO.spread (v2) is provided free of charge together with 1 year of sample data including the meteorological data and snow observations used in this study
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