Splenic CD8(+) T cells secrete TGF-beta 1 to exert suppression in mice with anterior chamber-associated immune deviation

Background CD8(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) have been considered to be involved in a model of ocular-induced tolerance, known as anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID). The mechanisms of suppression by CD8(+) T cells in ACAID remain only poorly understood. TGF-beta 1 is considered as an inhibitory cytokine for immunosuppression in some models. The production of TGF-beta 1 by CD8(+) T cells in ACAID, and whether CD8+ T cells exert suppression through TGF-beta 1, is unknown. Methods The suppressive effect of CD8(+) T cells in ACAID mice was determined by a local adoptive transfer (LAT) assay. The production of TGF-beta 1 by CD8(+) T cells was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti-TGF-beta 1 antibodies were used in the LAT assay to test if they could block the inhibitory effect of CD8(+) T cells. Results CD8(+) T cells from ACAID mice were shown to block the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in an antigen-specific manner in a LAT assay. These CD8+ T cells secreted TGF-beta 1, and their suppression could partially be blocked by anti-TGF-beta 1 antibodies. Conclusions Our study confirms that CD8+ T cells from ACAID mice possess inhibitory properties. This population exerts part of its suppressive function via the production of TGF-beta 1

Ginkgo biloba extract for essential hypertension: A systemic review

AbstractBackgroundGinkgo biloba extract (GBE), a traditional natural herbal product, is often used in the treatment of essential hypertension (EH) as complementary therapy in China and European countries.AimTo critically assess the current clinical evidence of efficacy and safety of GBE for EH.Methods7 electronic databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, VIP, CBM, Wanfang data, and CNKI) were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GBE for EH. Methodological quality was assessed independently using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.ResultsA total of 9 RCTs with 1012 hypertensive patients were identified and reviewed. Most RCTs were of high risk of bias with flawed study design and poor methodological quality. 6 trials demonstrated potential positive effect of GBE as complementary therapy on BP reduction when compared with antihypertensive drug therapy; however, it was not associated with a statistically significant effect on both SBP and DBP reduction in 3 other trials. Despite the positive findings, there were so many methodological limitations and significant clinical heterogeneity. Most of the trials did not report adverse effects, and the safety of GBE is still uncertain.ConclusionNo confirmative conclusions on the efficacy and safety of GBE for EH could be drawn. More rigorous trials are warranted to support their clinical use

A first-principles study of MgB2 (0001) surfaces

We report self-consistent {\it ab initio} calculations of structural and electronic properties for the B- and Mg-terminated MgB$_{2}$ (0001) surfaces. We employ ultra-soft pseudopotentials and plane wave basis sets within the generalized gradient approximation. The surface relaxations are found to be small for both B- and Mg-terminated surfaces. For the B-terminated surface, both B ${\sigma}$ and ${\pi}$ surface bands appear, while only one B ${\pi}$ surface band exists near the Fermi level for the Mg-terminated surface. The superconductivity of the MgB$_2$ surfaces is discussed. The work function is predicted to be 5.95 and 4.25 eV for the B- and Mg-terminated surfaces respectively. The simulated scanning tunneling microscopy images of the surfaces are not sensitive to the sign and value of the bias voltages, but depend strongly on the tip-sample distance. An image reversal is predicted for the Mg-terminated surface.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, Revte

Multiband model for tunneling in MgB2 junctions

A theoretical model for quasiparticle and Josephson tunneling in multiband superconductors is developed and applied to MgB2-based junctions. The gap functions in different bands in MgB2 are obtained from an extended Eliashberg formalism, using the results of band structure calculations. The temperature and angle dependencies of MgB2 tunneling spectra and the Josephson critical current are calculated. The conditions for observing one or two gaps are given. We argue that the model may help to settle the current debate concerning two-band superconductivity in MgB2.Comment: minor corrections, published in Phys. Rev. B 65, 180517(R) (2002

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on Late Cryogenian to Early Ediacaran magmatic rocks on the northern Tarim Craton:implications for tectonic setting and affinity with Gondwana

The Tarim Craton provides a geologic record of both the fragmentation of the Rodinian supercontinent and the subsequent assembly of Gondwana. However, the timing and interactions of these radically different tectonic processes remain contested. A critical part of this debate revolves around the Late Cryogenian-Ediacaran igneous rocks along the Craton’s northern margin, specifically, whether they record super-plume related Rodinian breakup or Gondwanan orogeny. To address this issue, we present zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic data and whole rock geochemistry from Late Cryogenian to Early Ediacaran granitoids of the northern Tarim Craton. U-Pb zircon ages reveal three magmatic periods along the northern Tarim margin: ca. 660–640 Ma, 635–625 Ma and 620–600 Ma, associated with small scale felsic and mafic magmas. These granitoids have an A2-type affinity and are enriched in alkalines, but are depleted in Nb, Ta, Sr, P and Ti. Elemental data and generally negative εHf(t) values (−13.96 to 1.65) suggest that they were mainly derived from partial melting of enriched, subduction-modified lithospheric mantle triggered by upwelling of the asthenospheric mantle along the active continental margin of northern Tarim. We suggest that the Tarim Craton travelled as an isolated plate for much of the Late Neoproterozoic, near the outer part of Rodinia and subsequently Gondwana. During this time it was affected by localized and periodic subduction-related intrusion and eruption. However, within the samples of this study, there is no U-Pb-Hf isotopic and whole-rock geochemical evidence to support either super-plume-related rifting (i.e. Rodinian breakup) or Pan-African orogeny (i.e. Gondwanan assembly).</p

Multiband model for penetration depth in MgB2

The results of first principles calculations of the electronic structure and the electron-phonon interaction in MgB2 are used to study theoretically the temperature dependence and anisotropy of the magnetic field penetration depth. The effects of impurity scattering are essential for a proper description of the experimental results. We compare our results with experimental data and we argue that the two-band model describes the data rather well.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.

Reversible magnetization of MgB2 single crystals with a two-gap nature

We present reversible magnetization measurements on MgB2 single crystals in magnetic fields up to 2.5 T applied parallel to the crystal's c-axis. This magnetization is analyzed in terms of the Hao-Clem model, and various superconducting parameters, such as the critical fields [Hc(0) and Hc2(0)], the characteristic lengths [xi(0) and lambda(0)], and the Ginzburg-Landau parameter, kappa, are derived. The temperature dependence of the magnetic penetration depth, lambda(T), obtained from the Hao-Clem analysis could not be explained by theories assuming a single gap. Our data are well described by using a two-gap model.Comment: 20 pages, 1 table, 4 figures, will be published in Phys. Rev.

Influence of infiltration temperature on the microstructure and oxidation behavior of SiC-ZrC ceramic coating on C/C composites prepared by reactive melt infiltration

SiC–ZrC ceramic coating on C/C composites was prepared by reactive melt infiltration (RMI) using a powder mixture composed of Zr, Si and C as the infiltrator. The phase composition and microstructure of the ceramic coating were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The oxidation resistance of the as-prepared composites was tested at 1550 °C in static air. The results indicate that the infiltration temperature has remarkable effects on the phase composition and microstructure of the ceramic coating, as well as on the oxidation resistance of the composites. The SiC–ZrC coated C/C composites prepared at 2000 °C exhibit an excellent oxidation resistance. They gain weight about 5.9 wt% after oxidation at 1550 °C in static air for 5 h, whereas the SiC–ZrC coated C/C composites prepared at 1800 °C lose weight about 3.2 wt%. As a comparison, SiC coated C/C composites prepared at 2000 °C by RMI show an inferior oxidation resistance. After 5 h oxidation, SiC coated C/C composites are severely damaged and their weight loss reaches up to 44.3 wt%. The outstanding oxidation resistance of the SiC–ZrC coated C/C composites prepared at 2000 °C can be attributed to the rapid formation of a continuous glass-like layer composed of ZrO2, ZrSiO4 and SiO2, which covers the surface of the composites and retards the oxygen diffusion and the attack on the underlying C/C substrate. For SiC coated C/C composites, the large SiC particles formed on the surface of the composites are difficult to oxidize rapidly and so a continuous and dense SiO2 layer cannot be formed in time to significantly hinder fast oxygen diffusion leading to the consequent severe oxidation of the C/C substrate

Quantifying atmospheric nitrogen deposition through a nationwide monitoring network across China

A Nationwide Nitrogen Deposition Monitoring Network (NNDMN) containing 43 monitoring sites was established in China to measure gaseous NH3, NO2, and HNO3 and particulate NH4+ and NO3− in air and/or precipitation from 2010 to 2014. Wet/bulk deposition fluxes of Nr species were collected by precipitation gauge method and measured by continuous-flow analyzer; dry deposition fluxes were estimated using airborne concentration measurements and inferential models. Our observations reveal large spatial variations of atmospheric Nr concentrations and dry and wet/bulk Nr deposition. On a national basis, the annual average concentrations (1.3–47.0 μg N m−3) and dry plus wet/bulk deposition fluxes (2.9–83.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1) of inorganic Nr species are ranked by land use as urban > rural > background sites and by regions as north China > southeast China > southwest China > northeast China > northwest China > Tibetan Plateau, reflecting the impact of anthropogenic Nr emission. Average dry and wet/bulk N deposition fluxes were 20.6 ± 11.2 (mean ± standard deviation) and 19.3 ± 9.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1 across China, with reduced N deposition dominating both dry and wet/bulk deposition. Our results suggest atmospheric dry N deposition is equally important to wet/bulk N deposition at the national scale. Therefore, both deposition forms should be included when considering the impacts of N deposition on environment and ecosystem health