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- Arndt, D. S., et al.
(author)
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STATE OF THE CLIMATE IN 2017
- 2018
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In: Bulletin of The American Meteorological Society - (BAMS). - : American Meteorological Society. - 0003-0007 .- 1520-0477. ; 99:8, s. S1-S310
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Research review (peer-reviewed)
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2. |
- Mosquera, Adolfo, et al.
(author)
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Thermal decomposition and fractal properties of sputter-deposited platinum oxide thin films
- 2012
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In: Journal of Materials Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0884-2914 .- 2044-5326. ; 27:5, s. 829-836
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Porous platinum thin films were prepared by thermal decomposition at temperatures from 25 to 675 degrees C of platinum oxide films deposited by a pulsed reactive sputtering technique. The samples' chemistry and structure were investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), showing that the decomposition of the oxide begins as low as 400 degrees C and follows a sigmoidal trend with increasing annealing temperature. In the XRD spectra, only an amorphous-like signature was observed for temperatures below 575 degrees C, while Pt 4f XPS showed that the deposited oxide was a mixture of PtO2 and PtO. Pt-L-3 edge XANES and Pt 4f XPS spectra showed that the Pt concentration and electronic structure are predominant for temperatures equal to or above 575 degrees C. The morphologies of the films were investigated by the area-perimeter method from atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, indicating that the surfaces exhibit a combination of Euclidian and fractal characteristics. Moreover, the thermal evolution of these characteristics indicates the agglomeration of the grains in the film as observed by SEM.
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3. |
- Vicario, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Increased humoral immunity in the jejunum of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome associated with clinical manifestations
- 2015
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In: Gut. - : BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. - 0017-5749 .- 1468-3288. ; 64:9, s. 1379-1388
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and aims Altered intestinal barrier is associated with immune activation and clinical symptoms in diarrhoea-predominant IBS (IBS-D). Increased mucosal antigen load may induce specific responses; however, local antibody production and its contribution to IBS aetiopathogenesis remain undefined. This study evaluated the role of humoral activity in IBS-D. Methods A single mucosal jejunal biopsy, luminal content and blood were obtained from healthy volunteers (H; n = 30) and IBS-D (n = 49; Rome III criteria) participants. Intraepithelial lymphocytes, mast cells, B lymphocytes and plasma cells were studied by imaging techniques. Differential gene expression and pathway analysis were assessed by microarray and PCR techniques. Blood and luminal immunoglobulins (Igs) were quantified. Gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory atopy and stress and depression were also recorded. Results Patients with IBS-D showed a higher number and activation of mucosal B lymphocytes and plasma cells (p less than 0.05). Mast cell density was increased in patients with IBS-D (non-atopic) and in close proximity to plasma cells (p less than 0.05). Microarray profiling identified differential humoral activity in IBS-D, involving proliferation and activation of B lymphocytes and Igs production (p less than 0.001). Mucosal humoral activity was higher in IBS-D, with upregulation of germline transcripts and Ig genes (1.3-fold-1.7-fold increase; p less than 0.05), and increased IgG(+) cells and luminal IgG compared with H (p less than 0.05), with no differences in blood. Biological markers of humoral activity correlated positively with bowel movements, stool form and depression. Conclusions Enhanced small bowel humoral immunity is a distinctive feature of IBS-D. Mucosal Ig production contributes to local inflammation and clinical manifestations in IBS-D.
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