We demonstrate the feasibility of Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy on solids by means of femtosecond soft x-ray pulses from a free-electron laser (FEL). Our experiments, carried out at the Free-Electron Laser at Hamburg (FLASH), used a special sample geometry, spectrographic energy dispersion, single shot position-sensitive detection and a data normalization proce...

The molten salt technique was employed to prepare the Aurivillius phases SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) and Sr0.9La0.1Bi2Ta1.9Ti0.1O9 (SLBTT). XRD data Le Bail refinement approach demonstrate that both samples formed double-layer phase with orthorhombic A21am structure successfully. SLBTT cell volume is smaller compared SBT substitution of La3+ Ti4+ ions increased size plate-like grains. FTIR analysis indica...

Ca2+ oscillations are one of the most important signals within the cell. The mechanism for generation of Ca2+ oscillations is still not yet fully elucidated. We studied the role of capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) on intracellular Ca2+ oscillations induced by testosterone at the single-cell level in primary myotubes. Testosterone (100 nM) rapidly induced an intracellular Ca2+ rise, accompanied by ...

Relativistic Hartree–Fock and multiconfigurational Dirac–Fock calculations of atomic structure and transition rates have been carried out in trebly ionized lanthanum (La3+, Z = 57). The calculations have to cope with configuration interaction effects but also with the very complex situation of the collapse of the 4f wave function. The calculations are compared to experimental data obtained with...

In circular smooth muscle bundles isolated from the guinea-pig stomach antrum, the effects of quinidine, Ni2+, flufenamic acid, niflumic acid, La3+, SKF-96365 and 4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS) on acetylcholine (ACh)-induced depolarization were investigated. Recording membrane potentials from smooth muscle cells with intracellular microelectrodes revealed that ACh (1 m...

Background and purpose: The glycerol-based lysophospholipid lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) is an endogenous agonist of the G-protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) exhibiting cannabinoid receptor-like properties in endothelial cells. To estimate the contribution of GPR55 to the physiological effects of LPI, the GPR55-dependent and -independent electrical responses in this cell type were investigat...