Laser Emission from Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers Camposeo, Andrea; Di Benedetto, Francesca; Stabile, Ripalta ...
Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany),
March 6, 2009, Letnik:
5, Številka:
5
Journal Article
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Odprti dostop
Fully organic nanofiber lasers, made by a polymer matrix doped with gain molecules, are demonstrated. They exhibit emission in the visible and near infrared range (see image), supporting efficient ...waveguiding of the self‐emitted light. Individual fibers can operate as optical cavities, emitting single‐mode laser light at visible wavelengths with a threshold of tens of µJ cm−2.
The objectives, instrumentation, methods and data leading up to launch of the NASA Living With a Star (LWS) Space Environment Testbed (SET) payload onboard the Air Force Research Laboratory ...Demonstration and Science Experiments (DSX) spacecraft are described. The experiments characterize the space radiation environment and how it affects hardware performance. The payload consists of a compact space weather instrument and a carrier containing four board experiments.
Purpose
Underwater divers face several potential neurological hazards when breathing compressed gas mixtures including nitrogen narcosis which can impact diver’s safety. Various human studies have ...clearly demonstrated brain impairment due to nitrogen narcosis in divers at 4 ATA using critical flicker fusion frequency (CFFF) as a cortical performance indicator. However, recently some authors have proposed a probable adaptive phenomenon during repetitive exposure to high nitrogen pressure in rats, where they found a reversal effect on dopamine release.
Methods
Sixty experienced divers breathing Air, Trimix or Heliox, were studied during an open water dive to a depth of 6 ATA with a square profile testing CFFF measurement before (
T
0
), during the dive upon arriving at the bottom (6 ATA) (
T
1
), 20 min of bottom time (T
2
), and at 5 m (1.5 ATA) (
T
3
).
Results
CFFF results showed a slight increase in alertness and arousal during the deep dive regardless of the gas mixture breathed. The percent change in CFFF values at
T
1
and
T
2
differed among the three groups being lower in the air group than in the other groups. All CFFF values returned to basal values 5 min before the final ascent at 5 m (
T
3
), but the Trimix measurements were still slightly better than those at
T
0
.
Conclusions
Our results highlight that nitrogen and oxygen alone and in combination can produce neuronal excitability or depression in a dose-related response.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory skin disease with no well-delineated cause or effective cure. Here we show that the p53 family member p63, specifically the ΔNp63, isoform has a ...key role in driving keratinocyte activation in AD. We find that overexpression of ΔNp63 in transgenic mouse epidermis results in a severe skin phenotype that shares many of the key clinical, histological and molecular features associated with human AD. This includes pruritus, epidermal hyperplasia, aberrant keratinocyte differentiation, enhanced expression of selected cytokines and chemokines and the infiltration of large numbers of inflammatory cells including type 2 T-helper cells - features that are highly representative of AD dermatopathology. We further demonstrate several of these mediators to be direct transcriptional targets of ΔNp63 in keratinocytes. Of particular significance are two p63 target genes, IL-31 and IL-33, both of which are key players in the signaling pathways implicated in AD. Importantly, we find these observations to be in good agreement with elevated levels of ΔNp63 in skin lesions of human patients with AD. Our studies reveal an important role for ΔNp63 in the pathogenesis of AD and offer new insights into its etiology and possible therapeutic targets.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE DF 2156A is a new dual inhibitor of IL‐8 receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 with an optimal pharmacokinetic profile. We characterized its binding mode, molecular mechanism of action and ...selectivity, and evaluated its therapeutic potential.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The binding mode, molecular mechanism of action and selectivity were investigated using chemotaxis of L1.2 transfectants and human leucocytes, in addition to radioligand and 35S‐GTPγS binding approaches. The therapeutic potential of DF 2156A was evaluated in acute (liver ischaemia and reperfusion) and chronic (sponge‐induced angiogenesis) experimental models of inflammation.
KEY RESULTS A network of polar interactions stabilized by a direct ionic bond between DF 2156A and Lys99 on CXCR1 and the non‐conserved residue Asp293 on CXCR2 are the key determinants of DF 2156A binding. DF 2156A acted as a non‐competitive allosteric inhibitor blocking the signal transduction leading to chemotaxis without altering the binding affinity of natural ligands. DF 2156A effectively and selectively inhibited CXCR1/CXCR2‐mediated chemotaxis of L1.2 transfectants and leucocytes. In a murine model of sponge‐induced angiogenesis, DF 2156A reduced leucocyte influx, TNF‐α production and neovessel formation. In vitro, DF 2156A prevented proliferation, migration and capillary‐like organization of HUVECs in response to human IL‐8. In a rat model of liver ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury, DF 2156A decreased PMN and monocyte‐macrophage infiltration and associated hepatocellular injury.
CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS DF 2156A is a non‐competitive allosteric inhibitor of both IL‐8 receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2. It prevented experimental angiogenesis and hepatic I/R injury in vivo and, therefore, has therapeutic potential for acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Flight data on bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are recorded and the effects of low dose rate space irradiation on BJTs are characterized, leading to results comparable to ground-based testing. ...Additionally, Gummel plots of mission data are compared for different experimental parameters.
Remarkable scientific and technological progress during the last years has led to the construction of accelerator based facilities dedicated to hadron therapy. This kind of technology requires ...precise and continuous control of position, intensity and shape of the ions or protons used to irradiate cancers. Patient safety, accelerator operation and dose delivery should be optimized by a real time monitoring of beam intensity and profile during the treatment, by using non-destructive, high spatial resolution detectors. In the framework of AMIDERHA (AMIDERHA -
Enhanced Radiotherapy with HAdron
) project funded by the Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (Italian Ministry of Education and Research) the authors are studying and developing an innovative beam monitor based on Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPDGs) characterized by a high spatial resolution and rate capability. The Monte Carlo simulation of the beam monitor prototype was carried out to optimize the geometrical set up and to predict the behavior of the detector. A first prototype has been constructed and successfully tested using
55
Fe,
90
Sr and also an X-ray tube. Preliminary results on both simulations and tests will be presented.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome of operative versus nonoperative treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency and to define its relationship with ...sports activity. Forty-six patients (37 male, 9 female, mean age, 33.6 +/- 8.0 years) who underwent open ACL reconstruction using patellar tendon autograft and 25 patients (18 male, 7 female, mean age, 32.3 +/- 9.9 years) who were treated nonoperatively were evaluated by the same two examiners at 5 - 7 and 10 - 13 years following injury. The evaluations included objective and subjective scoring (Lysholm, OAK, IKDC), instrumented testing (Cybex, KT 1000), radiographic evaluation, and assessments of sports activity, with respect to type, frequency and associated symptoms. According to Lysholm, OAK and IKDC scores, the operative group performed significantly (p < 0.05) better and was able to maintain increased involvement in sports, although both groups participated less over time. However, risks for degenerative joint changes were similar for both the operative and the nonoperative group. A significant (p < 0.05) correlation between participation in high-risk pivoting sports, such as soccer or basketball and osteoarthritic changes could be found for the nonoperative group, only. Sports activity represents an important variable not only affecting the outcome, but also influencing treatment decisions following ACL injuries.
Abstract Aim The best way to treat pregnant patients who have type 1 diabetes is still unclear. For this reason, the present study compared metabolic control and maternal–fetal outcomes in patients ...treated with continuous subcutaneous infusions of rapid-acting insulin analogues (CSII) or with insulin glargine and multiple daily injections of rapid-acting insulin analogues (glargine–MDI). Methods This retrospective multicentre study involved 144 women with type 1 diabetes, 100 of whom were using CSII and 44 glargine–MDI. Outcomes analyzed were metabolic control, diabetes complications, pregnancy outcome, perinatal morbidity and mortality, and fetal malformations. Results The two groups were comparable for age, prepregnancy BMI, primiparous rate and diabetes complications, although patients using CSII had longer duration of diabetes ( P = 0.03) and higher White classifications ( P = 0.04). In both groups, metabolic control improved during pregnancy, but good control was reached earlier among patients using CSII. At parturition, patients using CSII had lower HbA1c (6.2 ± 0.7% vs 6.5 ± 0.8%; P = 0.02) and required less insulin ( P < 0.01). Weight gain was similar in both groups, and maternal–fetal outcomes did not differ. Conclusion In pregnant patients with type 1 diabetes, MDI and CSII are equivalent in terms of metabolic control and fetal–maternal outcomes, although patients using CSII achieved good control earlier and with less insulin.
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