Platelet/polymorphonuclear leukocyte interaction in dynamic conditions: evidence of adhesion cascade and cross talk between P-selectin and the beta 2 integrin CD11b/CD18

Adhesion between platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is a key event in thrombosis and inflammation. Double color fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis was used to determine the extent and kinetics of adhesion of thrombin-activated platelets to resting or activated PMN when mixed cell populations were incubated in dynamic conditions. Activated platelets bound very rapidly to PMN. Mixed cell conjugates reached a maximum at 1 minute and were reversible within 10 minutes. Platelet/PMN adhesion required both Ca2+ and Mg2+ and was markedly increased by the presence of Mn2+. The latter made mixed cell conjugates stable up to 10 minutes. Adhesion of platelets required metabolic activity of PMN and was abolished by tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Furthermore, adhesion of platelets to PMN resulted in binding of a monoclonal antibody (MoAb 24) known as beta 2 integrins "activation reporter." When PMN were activated by exogenous stimuli, the adhesion of platelets was markedly increased: fMLP induced a rapid and transient effect, while PMA resulted in a slower, but stable, increase in mixed conjugates formation. The hypothesis that activated PMN beta 2 integrins are able to bind a counter-receptor on platelets was directly demonstrated by the increase of mixed cell conjugates following PMN treatment with KIM127 and KIM185, two anti-CD18 antibodies able to induce the active conformation of beta 2 integrins. Consistently, two other anti-CD18, as well as an anti-CD11b inhibitory antibody abolished platelet/PMN adhesion. PMN beta 2 integrin activation was not the only mechanism for activated platelet/PMN adhesion to occur: indeed, this phenomenon could also be inhibited by two anti-P-selectin antibodies. Resting platelets did not adhere to resting PMN, but markedly adhered to fMLP- or PMA-activated PMN. Resting platelet/fMLP-activated PMN adhesion was abolished by anti-CD18 antibodies, but not by anti-P-selectin antibodies. In conclusion, activated platelet/PMN interaction can be modeled as an adhesion cascade involving a P-selectin-dependent recognition step and a functional signal. The latter proceeds through tyrosine kinase activation and enables a beta 2 integrin-dependent adhesion to a not yet identified counter-receptor constitutively expressed on platelet surface.     

MgWO4–A new crystal scintillator

Magnesium tungstate (MgWO₄) crystals of ~1 cm³ volume were obtained for the first time using a flux growth technique. The crystal was subjected to comprehensive characterisation that included room-temperature measurements of the transmittance, X-ray luminescence spectra, afterglow under X-ray excitation, relative photoelectron output, energy resolution, non-proportionality of scintillation response to γ-quanta, response to α-particles, and pulse shape for γ-quanta and α-particles. The light output and decay kinetics of MgWO₄ were studied over the temperature range 7–305 K. Under X-ray excitation the crystal exhibits an intense luminescence band peaking at a wavelength of 470 nm; the intensity of afterglow after 20 ms is 0.035%. An energy resolution of 9.1% for 662 keV γ-quanta of ¹³⁷Cs was measured with a small (≈0.9 g) sample of the MgWO₄ crystal. The photoelectron output of the MgWO₄ crystal scintillator is 35% that of CdWO₄ and 27% that of NaI(Tl). The detector showed pulse-shape discrimination ability in measurements with α-particles and γ-quanta, which enabled us to assess the radioactive contamination of the scintillator. The results of these studies demonstrate the prospect of this material for a variety of scintillation applications, including rare event searches.     

Plasmon resonances in a gated two-dimensional electron system with lateral contacts

It is shown that strong plasmon resonances can be excited in the totally gated two-dimensional electron gas with lateral contacts by incoming electromagnetic wave. In such a structure, the plasmon resonance linewidth shrinks down to the minimal theoretical value determined by the electron scattering in two-dimensional electron system.     

Features of the Damping and Amplification of Terahertz Plasmon Eigenmodes in Graphene Taking the Spatial Dispersion into Account

Semiconductors - Abstract—The effect of charge-carrier drift on the plasmon excitation modes (plasmons) in a Dirac electron liquid in graphene with a displaced Fermi level is considered. The...     

Analysis of the texture of heterogeneous Al–Cu–Fe coatings containing quasicrystalline phase

The structure of heterogeneous Al–Cu–Fe coatings produced by electron beam physical vapour deposition was studied. The coating compositions were varied close to the optimal composition of icosahedral phase. Axial textures of both icosahedral and β-cubic phase were observed. The type of axial texture of quasicrystalline component correlates with the texture type of the crystalline phase.     

On the Amplification of Terahertz Radiation by High-Q Resonant Plasmons in a Periodic Graphene Bilayer under Plasmon-Mode Anticrossing

Semiconductors - The spectrum of amplification of terahertz radiation in a structured active graphene bilayer consisting of two identical periodic graphene microribbon arrays separated by a thin...     

Wide-aperture total absorption of a terahertz wave in a nanoperiodic graphene-based plasmon structure

The terahertz absorption spectrum in a periodic array of graphene nanoribbons located on the surface of a dielectric substrate with a high refractive index (terahertz prism) is studied theoretically. The total absorption of terahertz radiation is shown to occur in the regime of total internal reflection of the terahertz wave from the periodic array of graphene nanoribbons, at the frequencies of plasma oscillations in graphene, in a wide range of incidence angles of the external terahertz wave even at room temperature.     

Electromagnetic emission from two-dimensional plasmons in a semiconductor-dielectric structure with metal grating: Rigorous theory

The spectrum of electromagnetic (EM) radiation from two-dimensional(2D) plasmons in a semiconductor-dielectric structure with metal grating has been calculated in a strict electromagnetic approach. It is shown that radiation frequency and linewidth vary over a broad range of magnitude as a function of the grating parameters. The radiative decay linewidth is found to be two orders of magnitude larger than expected from the perturbation theory. Comparison of the results with previously published experimental data on 2D plasmons in GaAs heterostructures makes us conclude that the main contribution to the experimental decay linewidth arises from dielectric losses in the layers of the structure.     

ZnWO4 scintillators for cryogenic dark matter experiments

The scintillation properties of a zinc tungstate crystal, shaped as a hexagonal prism (height 40 mm, diagonal 40 mm) were determined. An energy resolution of 10.7% for the 662 keV γ-line of ¹³⁷Cs was measured with the scintillator placed in a light collection setup similar to that used by the CRESST dark matter search. The light output and decay kinetics of ZnWO₄ were examined over the temperature range 7–300 K and confirmed to be competitive with those of CaWO₄. The radioactive contaminations of the ZnWO₄ scintillator measured in the Solotvina Underground Laboratory do not exceed 0.1–10 mBq/kg (depending on radionuclide). Our study highlights the excellent feasibility of this ZnWO₄ scintillator for a cryogenic dark matter experiment.