Gravitational lensing is a powerful astrophysical and cosmological probe and is particularly valuable at submillimeter wavelengths for the study of the statistical and individual properties of dusty ...star-forming galaxies. However, the identification of gravitational lenses is often time-intensive, involving the sifting of large volumes of imaging or spectroscopic data to find few candidates. We used early data from the Herschel Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey to demonstrate that wide-area submillimeter surveys can simply and easily detect strong gravitational lensing events, with close to 100% efficiency.
We report ground-based follow-up observations of the exceptional source, ID 141, one of the brightest sources detected so far in the Herschel Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey cosmological ...survey. ID 141 was observed using the IRAM 30 m telescope and Plateau de Bure interferometer (PdBI), the Submillimeter Array, and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment submillimeter telescope to measure the dust continuum and emission lines of the main isotope of carbon monoxide and carbon (C I and C II). The detection of strong CO emission lines with the PdBI confirms that ID 141 is at high redshift (z = 4.243 ? 0.001). The strength of the continuum and emission lines suggests that ID 141 is gravitationally lensed. The width ( Delta *DV FWHM ~ 800 km s--1) and asymmetric profiles of the CO and carbon lines indicate orbital motion in a disk or a merger. The properties derived for ID 141 are compatible with an ultraluminous (L FIR ~ (8.5 ? 0.3) X 1013 Delta *m--1 L L , where Delta *mL is the amplification factor), dense (n 104 cm--3), and warm (T kin 40 K) starburst galaxy, with an estimated star formation rate of (0.7-1.7) X 104 Delta *m--1 L M yr--1. The carbon emission lines indicate a dense (n 104 cm--3) photon-dominated region, illuminated by a far-UV radiation field a few thousand times more intense than that in our Galaxy. In conclusion, the physical properties of the high-z galaxy ID 141 are remarkably similar to those of local ultraluminous infrared galaxies.
This paper presents the design of a front-end circuit for monolithic active pixel sensors. The circuit operates with a sensor featuring a small, low-capacitance (< 2 fF) collection electrode and is ...integrated in the DPTS chip, a proof-of-principle prototype of 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm including a matrix of 32 × 32 pixels with a pitch of 15 μm. The chip is implemented in the 65 nm imaging technology from the Tower Partners Semiconductor Co. foundry and was developed in the framework of the EP-R&D program at CERN to explore this technology for particle detection. The front-end circuit has an area of 42 μm 2 and can operate with a power consumption as low as 12 nW. Measurements on the prototype relevant to the front-end will be shown to support its design.
Estrogen catabolism is a major function of CYP2C19. The effect of
CYP2C19
polymorphisms on tamoxifen sensitivity may therefore not only be mediated by a variation in tamoxifen metabolite levels but ...also by an effect on breast cancer risk and molecular subtype due to variation in lifelong exposure to estrogens. We determined the association between these polymorphisms and tamoxifen sensitivity in the context of a randomized trial, which allows for the discernment of prognosis from prediction. We isolated primary tumor DNA from 535 estrogen receptor-positive, stages I–III, postmenopausal breast cancer patients who had been randomized to tamoxifen (1–3 years) or no adjuvant therapy. Recurrence-free interval improvement with tamoxifen versus control was assessed according to the presence or absence of
CYP2C19*2
and
CYP2C19*17
. Hazard ratios and interaction terms were calculated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, stratified for nodal status. Tamoxifen benefit was not significantly affected by
CYP2C19*17
. Patients with at least one
CYP2C19*2
allele derived significantly more benefit from tamoxifen (HR 0.26;
p
= 0.001) than patients without a
CYP2C19*2
allele (HR 0.68;
p
= 0.18) (
p
for interaction 0.04). In control patients,
CYP2C19*2
was an adverse prognostic factor. In conclusion, breast cancer patients carrying at least one
CYP2C19*2
allele have an adverse prognosis in the absence of adjuvant systemic treatment, which can be substantially improved by adjuvant tamoxifen treatment.
Summary Objective The study aims to provide an overview of risk factors for hypertrophic scarring. Background Hypertrophic skin scarring remains a major concern in medicine and causes considerable ...morbidity. Despite extensive research on this topic, the precise mechanism of excessive scarring is still unknown. In addition, the current literature lacks an overview of the possible risk factors in the development of hypertrophic scars. Methods PubMed searches were performed on risk factors for hypertrophic scar (HTS) formation. Results Eleven studies suggesting nine factors associated with HTS formation were found. Studies concerning chemotherapy, age, stretch, infection, and smoking have a moderate to high strength of evidence, but some other factors have not been studied in a convincing manner or are still disputed. Conclusions Risk factors for HTS formation are young age, bacterial colonization, and skin subjected to stretch. Chemotherapy, statins, and smoking seem to play a protective role in HTS formation.
Macrophages in skin injury and repair Delavary, Babak Mahdavian; van der Veer, Willem M; van Egmond, Marjolein ...
Immunobiology (1979),
07/2011, Letnik:
216, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Abstract After recruitment to the wound bed, monocytes differentiate into macrophages. Macrophages play a central role in all stages of wound healing and orchestrate the wound healing process. Their ...functional phenotype is dependent on the wound microenvironment, which changes during healing, hereby altering macrophage phenotype. During the early and short inflammatory phase macrophages exert pro-inflammatory functions like antigen-presenting, phagocytosis and the production of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors that facilitate the wound healing process. As such, the phenotype of wound macrophages in this phase is probably the classically activated or the so-called M1 phenotype. During the proliferative phase, macrophages stimulate proliferation of connective, endothelial and epithelial tissue directly and indirectly. Especially fibroblasts, keratinocytes and endothelial cells are stimulated by macrophages during this phase to induce and complete ECM formation, reepithelialization and neovascularization. Subsequently, macrophages can change the composition of the ECM both during angiogenesis and in the remodelling phase by release of degrading enzymes and by synthesizing ECM molecules. This suggests an important role for alternatively activated macrophages in this phase of wound healing. Pathological functioning of macrophages in the wound healing process can result in derailed wound healing, like the formation of ulcers, chronic wounds, hypertrophic scars and keloids. However, the exact role of macrophages in these processes is still incompletely understood. For treating wound repair disorders more should be elucidated on the role of macrophages in these conditions, especially their functional phenotype, to find more therapeutic opportunities. This review summarizes macrophage function in skin injury repair, thereby providing more insight in macrophage function in wound healing and possible interventions in this process.
Background. Long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) is associated with the development of functional and structural alterations of the peritoneal membrane. In this study, we investigated the contribution ...of low pH lactate buffer, high glucose concentration and glucose degradation products to peritoneal injury in a rat peritoneal exposure model. Methods. Rats received daily 10 ml of either heat-sterilized (3.86% glucose, pH 5.2, n = 8) or filter-sterilized PD fluid (3.86% glucose, pH 5.2, n = 8), or lactate buffer (pH 5.2, n = 8) via a mini vascular access port during a 10 week period. Untreated rats served as controls. Results. The low pH lactate buffer instillation induced pronounced morphological changes including the induction of angiogenesis in various peritoneal tissues and mild damage to the mesothelial cell layer covering the peritoneum. It also evoked a cellular response characterized by an increased mesothelial cell density on the liver, the induction of milky spots and accumulation of omental mast cells in the omentum, and significant changes in the composition of peritoneal leukocytes. The addition of glucose to low pH lactate buffer (filter-sterilized PD fluid) strengthened most, but not all of the responses described above and induced a fibrogenic response. In addition to glucose and low pH lactate buffer, the presence of glucose degradation products (heat-sterilized PD fluid) significantly induced an additional omental milky spot response (P < 0.03) and caused profound mesothelial damage. The vessel density in the omentum and the mesentery was significantly correlated to both the number of tissue mast cells and the hyaluronan content in the peritoneal lavage, which might suggest a role for mast cells and hyaluronan in the induction of angiogenesis. Conclusions. Instillations of low pH lactate buffer, a high glucose concentration and glucose degradation products contribute differently and often cumulatively to peritoneal injury in vivo.
Wounds in adults are frequently accompanied by scar formation. This scar can become fibrotic due to an imbalance between extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and ECM degradation. Oral mucosal wounds, ...however, heal in an accelerated fashion, displaying minimal scar formation. The exact mechanisms of scarless oral healing are yet to be revealed. This review highlights possible mechanisms involved in the difference between scar‐forming dermal vs. scarless oral mucosal wound healing. Differences were found in expression of ECM components, such as procollagen I and tenascin‐C. Oral wounds contained fewer immune mediators, blood vessels, and profibrotic mediators but had more bone marrow–derived cells, a higher reepithelialization rate, and faster proliferation of fibroblasts compared with dermal wounds. These results form a basis for further research that should be focused on the relations among ECM, immune cells, growth factors, and fibroblast phenotypes, as understanding scarless oral mucosal healing may ultimately lead to novel therapeutic strategies to prevent fibrotic scars.
We report on the R&D results for a Very High Momentum Particle Identification (VHMPID) detector, which was proposed to extend the charged hadron track-by-track identification in the momentum range ...from 5 to 25 GeV/c in the ALICE experiment at CERN. It is a RICH detector with focusing geometry using pressurized perfluorobutane (C sub(4)F sub(8)O) as a Cherenkov radiator. A MWPC with a CsI photocathode was investigated as the baseline option for the photon detector. The results of beam tests performed on RICH prototypes using both liquid C sub(6)F sub(14) radiator (in proximity focusing geometry for reference measurements) and pressurized C sub(4)F sub(8)O gaseous radiator will be shown in this paper. In addition, we present studies of a CsI based gaseous photon detector equipped with a MWPC having an adjustable anode-cathode gap, aiming at the optimization of the chamber layout and performance in the detection of single photoelectrons.
We report on studies of layout and performance of a new Ring Imaging Cherenkov detector using for the first time pressurized C4F8O radiator gas and a photon detector consisting of a MWPC equipped ...with a CsI photocathode. In particular, we present here the results of beam tests of a MWPC having an adjustable anode–cathode gap, aiming at the optimization of single photoelectron detection and Cherenkov angle resolution. This system was proposed as a Very High Momentum Particle Identification (VHMPID) upgrade for the ALICE experiment at LHC to provide charged hadron track-by-track identification in the momentum range 5–25GeV/c.
•The concept and design of a novel RICH counter operated with pressurized gaseous Cherenkov radiator have been validated.•We used for the first time C4F8O gaseous Cherenkov radiator pressurized up to 3.5atm in a RICH counter.•The refractive index of C4F8O in the UV range is similar to the per-mil level to that of C4F10.•A variable gap MWPC has been used to optimize the layout of the gaseous photon counter, based on CsI photocathodes and MWPC, for the detection of single photoelectrons.
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