| 1. |
- Deng, R., et al.
(författare)
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Surface morphology, structural and optical properties of polar and non-polar ZnO thin films : A comparative study
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Crystal Growth. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-0248. ; 311:19, s. 4398-4401
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The polar and non-polar ZnO thin films were fabricated on cubic MgO (1 1 1) and (0 0 1) substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Based on X-ray diffraction analysis, the ZnO thin films grown on MgO (1 1 1) and (1 0 0) substrates exhibit the polar c-plane and non-polar m-plane orientation, respectively. Comparing with the c-plane ZnO film, the non-polar m-plane ZnO film shows cross-hatched stripes-like morphology, lower surface roughness and slower growth rate. However, low-temperature photoluminescence measurement indicates the m-plane ZnO film has a stronger 3.31 eV emission, which is considered to be related to stacking faults. Meanwhile, stronger band tails absorbance of the m-plane ZnO film is observed in optical absorption spectrum.
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| 2. |
- Guo, Xiao-Hua, et al.
(författare)
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Advanced glycation end products induce actin rearrangement and subsequent hyperpermeability of endothelial cells
- 2006
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Ingår i: APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 1600-0463 .- 0903-4641. ; 114:12, s. 874-883
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aimed to determine the effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on endothelial cytoskeleton morphology and permeability, and to detect the underlying signaling mechanisms involved in these responses. Cultured endothelial cells (ECs) were exposed to AGE-modified human serum albumin (AGE-HSA), and EC cytoskeletal changes were evaluated by observing fluorescence of F-actin following ligation with labeled antibodies. Endothelial permeability was detected by measuring the flux of TRITC-albumin across the EC monolayers. To explore the signaling pathways behind AGE-induced EC alteration, ECs were treated with either soluble anti-AGE receptor (RAGE) IgG, or the MAPK inhibitors PD98059 and SB203580 before AGE-HSA administration. To further elucidate possible involvement of the ERK and p38 pathways in AGE-induced EC changes, adenovirus-carried recombinant constitutive dominant-negative forms of upstream ERK and p38 kinases, namely MEK1(A) and MKK6b(A), were pre-infected into ECs 24 h prior to AGE-HSA exposure. AGE-HSA induced actin cytoskeleton rearrangement, as well as EC hyperpermeability, in a dose and time-dependent manner. The effects were attenuated in cells pretreated with anti-RAGE IgG, PD98059 or SB203580, respectively. EC pre-infection with MEK1(A) and MKK6b(A) also alleviated the effect of AGEs. Furthermore, adenovirus-mediated administration of activated forms of either MEK1 or MKK6b alone induced rearrangement of F-actin and hyperpermeability. The results indicate that ERK and p38 MAPK play important roles in the mediation of AGE-induced EC barrier dysfunction associated with morphological changes of the F-actin.
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| 3. |
- Li, Longkun, et al.
(författare)
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Changes in T-type calcium channel and its subtypes in overactive detrusor of the rats with partial bladder outflow obstruction
- 2007
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Ingår i: Neurourology and Urodynamics. - : Wiley. - 0733-2467 .- 1520-6777. ; 26:6, s. 870-878
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimsTo investigate the activity of the T-type calcium channel (TCC) and the expression of its subtypes in overactive detrusor (OD) myocytes in rats after partial bladder outflow obstruction (PBOO).MethodsThirteen male Wistar rats with OD after PBOO (OD group) and eight sham-operated rats (control group) were studied. The two groups were compared regarding the expression of TCC subtype genes by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the TCC kinetics and cell action potential by whole-cell patch-clamp.ResultsThe time course and density of the current were significantly higher in the OD cells than those in the control detrusor. Whole-cell patch-clamp analysis showed that the activation of TCCs in detrusor myocytes in the OD group was faster than the control group, but inactivation was almost the same in both groups, suggesting a significant enhancement of the Ca2+ window current in the OD group. Patch-clamp recording of action potentials in the OD cells indicated an increase in excitability and a decrease in the repolarization interval. RT-PCR assay showed an abnormal expression of 1G subtype in the OD cells.ConclusionsTCCs could be one of the crucial factors for the abnormal excitation in OD cells. The development of OD after PBOO presumably relates to the increase in TCC current in the bladder cells, the enhancement of the Ca2+ window current for Ca2+ inflow, the prolongation of the intracellular calcium oscillations, and the acceleration of the cell depolarization.
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| 4. |
- Li, Yang, et al.
(författare)
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VEGF-B inhibits apoptosis via VEGFR-1-mediated suppression of the expression of BH3-only protein genes in mice and rats.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Investigation. - 0021-9738 .- 1558-8238. ; 118:3, s. 913-923
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite its early discovery and high sequence homology to the other VEGF family members, the biological functions of VEGF-B remain poorly understood. We revealed here a novel function for VEGF-B as a potent inhibitor of apoptosis. Using gene expression profiling of mouse primary aortic smooth muscle cells, and confirming the results by real-time PCR using mouse and rat cell lines, we showed that VEGF-B inhibited the expression of genes encoding the proapoptotic BH3-only proteins and other apoptosis- and cell death-related proteins, including p53 and members of the caspase family, via activation of VEGFR-1. Consistent with this, VEGF-B treatment rescued neurons from apoptosis in the retina and brain in mouse models of ocular neurodegenerative disorders and stroke, respectively. Interestingly, VEGF-B treatment at the dose effective for neuronal survival did not cause retinal neovascularization, suggesting that VEGF-B is the first member of the VEGF family that has a potent antiapoptotic effect while lacking a general angiogenic activity. These findings indicate that VEGF-B may potentially offer a new therapeutic option for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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| 5. |
- Zhang, Fan, et al.
(författare)
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VEGF-B is dispensable for blood vessel growth but critical for their survival, and VEGF-B targeting inhibits pathological angiogenesis
- 2009
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 106:15, s. 6152-6157
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- VEGF-B, a homolog of VEGF discovered a long time ago, has not been considered an important target in antiangiogenic therapy. Instead, it has received little attention from the field. In this study, using different animal models and multiple types of vascular cells, we revealed that although VEGF-B is dispensable for blood vessel growth, it is critical for their survival. Importantly, the survival effect of VEGF-B is not only on vascular endothelial cells, but also on pericytes, smooth muscle cells, and vascular stem/progenitor cells. In vivo, VEGF-B targeting inhibited both choroidal and retinal neovascularization. Mechanistically, we found that the vascular survival effect of VEGF-B is achieved by regulating the expression of many vascular prosurvival genes via both NP-1 and VEGFR-1. Our work thus indicates that the function of VEGF-B in the vascular system is to act as a "survival," rather than an "angiogenic" factor and that VEGF-B inhibition may offer new therapeutic opportunities to treat neovascular diseases.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Fan, Y., et al.
(författare)
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Mechanical preparation of nano titanium dioxide powder and its optical properties
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of the Chinese Ceramic Society. - 0454-5648. ; 35:7, s. 832-837
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- mechanical preparation of the nano-sized particles of TiO2 powder by a stirred bead mill was investigated. The particle sizes of the ground products were determined by the acoustic particle sizer, the nitrogen gas adsorption method and a scanning electron microscopy. The diameter of the nano-sized particles, which were obtained after milling for 7 h, is about 50 nm and the specific surface area is up to 70 m2/g. The surface and structure of the samples have been investigated with X-ray diffraction. It is indicated that an intense comminution in the mill leads to a progressive loss in crystallinity of TiO2. The catalytic degradation of methyl orange in water was also studied by a photometer. The results show that the nano-sized particles of TiO2 powder prepared by milling possess photocatalysis effect and are capable of absorption of ultraviolet radiation
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| 8. |
- Fu, Ying, et al.
(författare)
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Nonperturbative dynamic photon absorption of quantum wells
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Physics. - : AIP Publishing. - 0021-8979 .- 1089-7550. ; 99:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optical photoresponse of quantum wells in the nonperturbative regime has been studied by high-power and ultrafast-oscillating free-electron laser (FEL) experiments, which revealed a profound deviation of the nonlinear power from conventional perturbative multiple photon absorption processes. By combining the experimental and theoretical works we have shown that the nonperturbative solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation is essential to understand the experimental observations. Optical transitions of electrons are dynamic. One photon is absorbed or emitted when an electron transits from one electron state to the other. The rates of absorption and emission are proportional to the time interval in the femtosecond time scale. In the picosecond time scale, multiphoton processes emerge. The strong and fast-oscillating FEL source intensifies the dynamic photon absorption and emission processes in the quantum wells, resulting in a much enhanced nonlinearity in the photoresponse spectrum.
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| 9. |
- Kang, YoungJo, et al.
(författare)
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Mechanism study on the formation of liquid calcium aluminate inclusion from MgO.Al(2)O(3) Spinel
- 2006
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Ingår i: Steel Research International. - : Wiley. - 1611-3683. ; 77:11, s. 785-792
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A study on the formation mechanism of liquid calcium aluminate inclusions from MgO center dot Al2O3 spinel was carried out. It was found that spinel reacted with dissolved Ca in liquid steel forming liquid calcium aluminate phase. Stability calculations showed good agreement with the experimental result. According to the thermodynamic calculation, liquid calcium aluminate inclusions would form from spinel even at very low level of dissolved Ca content at 1873 K. At lower temperatures, the compound CaO center dot 2Al(2)O(3) was found to be the stable phase at the spinel-metal interface. Potential sources of dissolved Ca during ladle processes were also discussed.
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| 10. |
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