1,286 research outputs found
InP-quantum dots in Al0.20Ga0.80InP with different barrier configurations
Systematic ensemble photoluminescence studies have been performed on type-I
InP-quantum dots in Al0.20Ga0.80InP barriers, emitting at approximately 1.85 eV
at 5 K. The influence of different barrier configurations as well as the
incorporation of additional tunnel barriers on the optical properties has been
investigated. The confinement energy between the dot barrier and the
surrounding barrier layers, which is the sum of the band discontinuities for
the valence and the conduction bands, was chosen to be approximately 190 meV by
using Al0.50Ga0.50InP. In combination with 2 nm thick AlInP tunnel barriers,
the internal quantum efficiency of these barrier configurations can be
increased by up to a factor of 20 at elevated temperatures with respect to
quantum dots without such layers.Comment: physica status solidi (c) (Proceedings of QD 2008
Visible-to-telecom quantum frequency conversion of light from a single quantum emitter
Quantum frequency conversion (QFC), a nonlinear optical process in which the
frequency of a quantum light field is altered while conserving its
non-classical correlations, was first demonstrated 20 years ago. Meanwhile, it
is considered an essential tool for the implementation of quantum repeaters
since it allows for interfacing quantum memories with telecom-wavelength
photons as quantum information carriers. Here we demonstrate efficient (>30%)
QFC of visible single photons (711 nm) emitted by a quantum dot (QD) to a
telecom wavelength (1,313 nm). Analysis of the first and second-order coherence
before and after wavelength conversion clearly proves that important
properties, such as the coherence time and photon antibunching, are fully
conserved during the frequency translation process. Our findings underline the
great potential of single photon sources on demand in combination with QFC as a
promising technique for quantum repeater schemes.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
Treatment of experimental aneurysms with a GPX embolic agent prototype: preliminary angiographic and histological results
Background Recently, liquid embolic agents have
emerged for the endovascular treatment of cerebral
aneurysms. Here we describe the in vivo performance of
a novel liquid embolization agent (GPX Embolic Device).
Methods Elastase-induced aneurysms were embolized
with a GPX prototype under balloon assistance. Digital
subtraction angiography was performed pre-deployment
and immediately after, and at 5, 10, and 30min postdeployment in 10 rabbits and at 1month in 8 rabbits. The
early post-deployment intra-aneurysmal flow was graded
as unchanged, moderately diminished, or completely
absent. At 1month the status of aneurysm occlusion was
evaluated. Adhesion to catheter material and migration
of GPX was assessed.
Results The mean aneurysm neck diameter, width, and
height were 3.6±1.0mm, 3.0±0.8mm, and 7.4±1.4mm,
respectively. The mean dome-to-neck ratio was 0.9±0.2.
Complete stagnation of intra-aneurysmal flow was
observed in 9 of 10 aneurysms (90%) within 30min of
device deployment. One aneurysm showed moderately
diminished intra-aneurysmal flow at 30min. At 1month,
8 aneurysms were completely occluded. There was no
evidence of GPX adhesion to the catheter material.
Histologically, a leukocyte and foreign body reaction to
GPX was detectable 28 days after embolization.
Conclusions This is the first preclinical study reporting
the performance of a protype version of the GPX Embolic
Device in a wide-neck aneurysm model. GPX showed
promising results by achieving and maintaining high
rates of complete angiographic occlusion, but may
induce an inflammatory reaction
Introducing DASC-PM: A Data Science Process Model
Data-driven disciplines like data mining and knowledge management already provide process-based frameworks for data analysis projects, such as the well-known cross-industry standard process for data mining (CRISP-DM) or knowledge discovery in databases (KDD). Although the domain of data science addresses a much broader problem space, i.e., also considers economic, social, and ecological impacts of data-driven projects, a corresponding domain-specific process model is still missing. Consequently, based on a total of four identified meta requirements and 17 corresponding requirements that were collected from experts of theory and practice, this contribution proposes the empirically grounded data science process model (DASC-PM)—a framework that maps a data science project as a four-step process model and contextualizes it among scientific procedures, various areas of application, IT infrastructures, and impacts. To illustrate the phase-oriented specification capabilities of the DASCPM, we exemplarily present competence and role profiles for the analysis phase of a data science project
Radiation–Induced Signaling Results in Mitochondrial Impairment in Mouse Heart at 4 Weeks after Exposure to X-Rays
BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy treatment of breast cancer, Hodgkin's disease or childhood cancers expose the heart to high local radiation doses, causing an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the survivors decades after the treatment. The mechanisms that underlie the radiation damage remain poorly understood so far. Previous data show that impairment of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism is directly linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, the radiation-induced in vivo effects on cardiac mitochondrial proteome and function were investigated. C57BL/6N mice were exposed to local irradiation of the heart with doses of 0.2 Gy or 2 Gy (X-ray, 200 kV) at the age of eight weeks, the control mice were sham-irradiated. After four weeks the cardiac mitochondria were isolated and tested for proteomic and functional alterations. Two complementary proteomics approaches using both peptide and protein quantification strategies showed radiation-induced deregulation of 25 proteins in total. Three main biological categories were affected: the oxidative phophorylation, the pyruvate metabolism, and the cytoskeletal structure. The mitochondria exposed to high-dose irradiation showed functional impairment reflected as partial deactivation of Complex I (32%) and Complex III (11%), decreased succinate-driven respiratory capacity (13%), increased level of reactive oxygen species and enhanced oxidation of mitochondrial proteins. The changes in the pyruvate metabolism and structural proteins were seen with both low and high radiation doses. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study showing the biological alterations in the murine heart mitochondria several weeks after the exposure to low- and high-dose of ionizing radiation. Our results show that doses, equivalent to a single dose in radiotherapy, cause long-lasting changes in mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and mitochondria-associated cytoskeleton. This prompts us to propose that these first pathological changes lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease after radiation exposure
Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Insulin Sensitivity in Overweight or Obese Subjects May Be Linked Through Intrahepatic Lipid Content
Objective: Low cardiorespiratory fitness predisposes to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in part independently of body weight. Given the close relationship between intrahepatic lipid content (IHL) and insulin sensitivity, we hypothesized that the direct relationship between fitness and insulin sensitivity may be explained by IHL. Research Design and Methods: We included 138 overweight to obese, otherwise healthy subjects (age: 43.6 +/- 8.9 yrs., body mass index: 33.8 +/- 4 kg/m(2)). Body composition was estimated by bio-impedance analyses. Abdominal fat distribution, intramyocellular, and intrahepatic lipid content were assessed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy and tomography. Incremental exercise testing was performed to estimate individual's cardiorespiratory fitness. Insulin sensitivity was determined during an oral glucose tolerance test. Results: For all subjects, cardiorespiratory fitness was related to insulin sensitivity (r=0.32, p<0.05), IHL (r=-0.27, p<0.05), visceral (r=-0.25, p<0.05) and total fat mass (r=-0.32, p<0.05), but not to intramyocellular lipids (r=-0.08, ns). Insulin sensitivity correlated significantly with all fat depots. In multivariate regression analyses, independent predictors of insulin sensitivity were IHL, visceral fat and fitness (r(2)=-0.43, p<0.01; r(2)=-0.34 and r(2)=0.29, p<0.05, respectively). However, the positive correlation between fitness and insulin sensitivity was abolished after adjustment for IHL (r=0.16, ns), whereas it remained significant when adjusted for visceral- or total body fat. Further, when subjects were grouped into high versus low IHL, insulin sensitivity was higher in those subjects with low IHL, irrespective of fitness levels. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the positive effect of increased cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight to obese subjects on insulin sensitivity may be mediated indirectly through IHL reduction
Effects of ultrafine particles on the allergic inflammation in the lung of asthmatics : results of a double-blinded randomized cross-over clinical pilot study
Background: Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) might aggravate the allergic inflammation of the lung in asthmatics.
Methods: We exposed 12 allergic asthmatics in two subgroups in a double-blinded randomized cross-over design, first to freshly generated ultrafine carbon particles (64 μg/m3; 6.1 ± 0.4 × 105 particles/cm3 for 2 h) and then to filtered air or vice versa with a 28-day recovery period in-between. Eighteen hours after each exposure, grass pollen was instilled into a lung lobe via bronchoscopy. Another 24 hours later, inflammatory cells were collected by means of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). (Trial registration: NCT00527462)
Results: For the entire study group, inhalation of UFP by itself had no significant effect on the allergen induced
inflammatory response measured with total cell count as compared to exposure with filtered air (p = 0.188). However, the subgroup of subjects, which inhaled UFP during the first exposure, exhibited a significant increase in total BAL cells (p = 0.021), eosinophils (p = 0.031) and monocytes (p = 0.013) after filtered air exposure and subsequent allergen challenge 28 days later. Additionally, the potential of BAL cells to generate oxidant radicals was
significantly elevated at that time point. The subgroup that was exposed first to filtered air and 28 days later to UFP did not reveal differences between sessions.
Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that pre-allergen exposure to UFP had no acute effect on the allergic inflammation. However, the subgroup analysis lead to the speculation that inhaled UFP particles might have a long-term effect on the inflammatory course in asthmatic patients. This should be reconfirmed in further studies with an appropriate study design and sufficient number of subjects
Immunometabolic Markers in a Small Patient Cohort Undergoing Immunotherapy
Although the discovery of immune checkpoints was hailed as a major breakthrough in can cer therapy, generating a sufficient response to immunotherapy is still limited. Thus, the objective of
this exploratory, hypothesis-generating study was to identify potentially novel peripheral biomarkers
and discuss the possible predictive relevance of combining scarcely investigated metabolic and hor monal markers with immune subsets. Sixteen markers that differed significantly between responders
and non-responders were identified. In a further step, the correlation with progression-free survival
(PFS) and false discovery correction (Benjamini and Hochberg) revealed potential predictive roles
for the immune subset absolute lymphocyte count (rs = 0.51; p = 0.0224 *), absolute basophil count
(rs = 0.43; p = 0.04 *), PD-1+ monocytes (rs = −0.49; p = 0.04 *), hemoglobin (rs = 0.44; p = 0.04 *),
metabolic markers LDL (rs = 0.53; p = 0.0224 *), free androgen index (rs = 0.57; p = 0.0224 *) and CRP
(rs = −0.46; p = 0.0352 *). The absolute lymphocyte count, LDL and free androgen index were the
most significant individual markers, and combining the immune subsets with the metabolic markers
into a biomarker ratio enhanced correlation with PFS (rs = −0.74; p ≤ 0.0001 ****). In summary, in
addition to well-established markers, we identified PD-1+ monocytes and the free androgen index as
potentially novel peripheral markers in the context of immunotherapy. Furthermore, the combination
of immune subsets with metabolic and hormonal markers may have the potential to enhance the
power of future predictive scores and should, therefore, be investigated further in larger trials
Memory Concerns, Memory Performance and Risk of Dementia in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Background: Concerns about worsening memory ("memory concerns"; MC) and impairment in memory performance are both predictors of Alzheimer's dementia (AD). The relationship of both in dementia prediction at the pre-dementia disease stage, however, is not well explored. Refined understanding of the contribution of both MC and memory performance in dementia prediction is crucial for defining at-risk populations. We examined the risk of incident AD by MC and memory performance in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: We analyzed data of 417 MCI patients from a longitudinal multicenter observational study. Patients were classified based on presence (n=305) vs. absence (n=112) of MC. Risk of incident AD was estimated with Cox Proportional-Hazards regression models. Results: Risk of incident AD was increased by MC (HR=2.55, 95% CI: 1.33-4.89), lower memory performance (HR=0.63, 95% CI: 0.56-0.71) and ApoE4-genotype (HR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.18-3.02). An interaction effect between MC and memory performance was observed. The predictive power of MC was greatest for patients with very mild memory impairment and decreased with increasing memory impairment. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the power of MC as a predictor of future dementia at the MCI stage varies with the patients' level of cognitive impairment. While MC are predictive at early stage MCI, their predictive value at more advanced stages of MCI is reduced. This suggests that loss of insight related to AD may occur at the late stage of MCI
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