15 research outputs found

    Diverging dc conductivity due to a flat band in disordered pseudospin-1 Dirac-Weyl fermions

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    Several lattices, such as the dice or the Lieb lattice, possess Dirac cones and a flat band crossing the Dirac point, whose effective model is the pseudospin-1 Dirac-Weyl equation. We investigate the fate of the flat band in the presence of disorder by focusing on the density of states (DOS) and dc conductivity. While the central hub-site does not reveal the presence of the flat band, the sublattice resolved DOS on the non-central sites exhibits a narrow peak with height 1/pg with g the dimensionless disorder variance. Although the group velocity is zero on the flat band, the dc conductivity diverges as ln(1/g) with decreasing disorder due to interband transitions around the band touching point between the propagating and the flat band. Generalizations to higher pseudospin are given

    Cerebrovascular Pathology in Hypertriglyceridemic APOB-100 Transgenic Mice

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    Hypertriglyceridemia is not only a serious risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases, but it is linked to neurodegeneration, too. Previously, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing the human APOB-100 protein, a mouse model of human atherosclerosis. In this model we observed high plasma levels of triglycerides, oxidative stress, tau hyperphosphorylation, synaptic dysfunction, cognitive impairment, increased neural apoptosis and neurodegeneration. Neurovascular dysfunction is recognized as a key factor in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, but the cellular and molecular events linking cerebrovascular pathology and neurodegeneration are not fully understood. Our aim was to study cerebrovascular changes in APOB-100 transgenic mice. We described the kinetics of the development of chronic hypertriglyceridemia in the transgenic animals. Increased blood-brain barrier permeability was found in the hippocampus of APOB-100 transgenic mice which was accompanied by structural changes. Using transmission electron microscopy, we detected changes in the brain capillary endothelial tight junction structure and edematous swelling of astrocyte endfeet. In brain microvessels isolated from APOB-100 transgenic animals increased Lox-1, Aqp4, and decreased Meox-2, Mfsd2a, Abcb1a, Lrp2, Glut-1, Nos2, Nos3, Vim, and in transgenic brains reduced Cdh2 and Gfap-σ gene expressions were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. We confirmed the decreased P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) and vimentin expression related to the neurovascular unit by immunostaining in transgenic brain sections using confocal microscopy. We conclude that in chronic hypertriglyceridemic APOB-100 transgenic mice both functional and morphological cerebrovascular pathology can be observed, and this animal model could be a useful tool to study the link between cerebrovascular pathology and neurodegeneration

    Nicotinic Amidoxime Derivate BGP-15, Topical Dosage Formulation and Anti-Inflammatory Effect

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    BGP-15 is a Hungarian-developed drug candidate with numerous beneficial effects. Its potential anti-inflammatory effect is a common assumption, but it has not been investigated in topical formulations yet. The aim of our study was to formulate 10% BGP-15 creams with different penetration enhancers to ensure good drug delivery, improve bioavailability of the drug and investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effect of BGP-15 creams in vivo. Since the exact mechanism of the effect is still unknown, the antioxidant effect (tested with UVB radiation) and the ability of BGP-15 to decrease macrophage activation were evaluated. Biocompatibility investigations were carried out on HaCaT cells to make sure that the formulations and the selected excipients can be safely used. Dosage form studies were also completed with texture analysis and in vitro release with Franz diffusion chamber apparatus. Our results show that the ointments were able to reduce the extent of local inflammation in mice, but the exact mechanism of the effect remains unknown since BGP-15 did not show any antioxidant effect, nor was it able to decrease LPS-induced macrophage activation. Our results support the hypothesis that BGP-15 has a potential anti-inflammatory effect, even if it is topically applied, but the mechanism of the effect remains unclear and requires further pharmacological studies

    Models of 21st century digital university

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    From “cognition and memory” to “cognition-action” “Cognition and memory”, represented on the diagram below, is the only enhanced learning method so far. The teacher is the only holder of the information to be transferred to the student. The acquisition of knowledge is confirmed by the student’s reproduction of the information (by means of essay, etc.). Regarding the study of controversies, the information is under construction and not yet defined. As the end of the debate is not known, we can..
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