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- Andersson, Cecilia K, et al.
(author)
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Alterations in Lung Mast Cell Populations in Patients with COPD.
- 2010
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In: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. - 1535-4970. ; 181:3, s. 206-217
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- RATIONALE: Mast cells have important roles in innate immunity and tissue remodeling but have remained poorly studied in inflammatory airway diseases like COPD. OBJECTIVES: To perform a detailed histological characterization of human lung mast cell popu-lations at different severities of COPD, comparing with smoking and never-smoking controls. METHODS: Mast cells were analyzed in lung tissues from patients with mild to very severe COPD, GOLD IâIV (n = 25, 10 of whom were treated with corticosteroids). Never-smokers and smokers served as controls. The density, morphology and molecular characteristics of mucosal and connective tissue mast cells (MCT and MCTC, respectively) were analyzed in several lung regions. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In all compartments of COPD lungs, especially at severe stages, the MCTC population increased in density while the MCT population decreased. The net result was a reduction in total mast cell density. This phenomenon was paralleled by in-creased numbers of luminal mast cells whereas the numbers of TUNEL(+) apoptotic mast cells remained unchanged. In COPD lungs, the MCT and MCTC populations showed alterations in morphology and expression of CD88 (C5a-R), TGF-beta, and renin. Statistically significant cor-relations were found between several COPD-related mast cell alterations and lung function parameters. CONCLUSIONS: As COPD progresses to its severe stages, the mast cell population in the lung undergoes changes in density, distribution, and molecular expression. In COPD lungs, these novel histopathological features were found to be correlated to lung function and they may thus have clinical consequences.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Marinado, Tannia, et al.
(author)
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How the Nature of Triphenylamine-Polyene Dyes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Affects the Open-Circuit Voltage and Electron Lifetimes
- 2010
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In: Langmuir. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 26:4, s. 2592-2598
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Three donor-linker-acceptor triphenylamine-based cyanoacrylic acid organic dyes used For dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have been examined with respect to their effect on the open-circuit voltage (V-oc). Our previous study showed a decrease in V-oc for DSCs based oil dyes with increased molecular size (increased linker conjugation). In the present study, we investigate the origin of V-oc with respect to (i) conduction band (E-CB) positions of TiO2 and (ii) degree of recombination between electrons in TiO2 and electrolyte acceptor species at the interface. These parameters were Studied its it function of dye structure, dye load, and I-2 concentration. Two types of behavior were identified: the smaller polyene dyes show a surface-protecting effect preventing recombination upon increased dye loading, whereas the larger dyes enhance the recombination. How the different dye structures affect the recombination is discussed in terms of dye surface blocking and intermolecular interactions between dyes and electrolyte acceptor species.
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| 4. |
- Mori, R. Alonso, et al.
(author)
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Sulfur-Metal Orbital Hybridization in Sulfur-Bearing Compounds Studied by X-ray Emission Spectroscopy
- 2010
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In: Inorganic Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0020-1669 .- 1520-510X. ; 49:14, s. 6468-6473
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The electronic structure and ligand environment of sulfur was investigated in various sulfur-containing compounds with different structures and chemical states by using X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES). Calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT) as implemented in the StoBe code. The sulfur chemical state and atomic environment is discussed in terms of the molecular orbitals and partial charges that are obtained from the calculations. The main spectral features can be modeled using our calculational approach. The sensitivity of the K beta emission to the cation and the local symmetry is discussed.
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