University of Graz

About: University of Graz is a education organization based out in Graz, Steiermark, Austria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Quantum chromodynamics. The organization has 17934 authors who have published 37489 publications receiving 1110980 citations. The organization is also known as: Carolo Franciscea Graecensis & Karl Franzens Universität.

The Origin, Early Evolution and Predictability of Solar Eruptions

Abstract: Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were discovered in the early 1970s when space-borne coronagraphs revealed that eruptions of plasma are ejected from the Sun. Today, it is known that the Sun produces eruptive flares, filament eruptions, coronal mass ejections and failed eruptions; all thought to be due to a release of energy stored in the coronal magnetic field during its drastic reconfiguration. This review discusses the observations and physical mechanisms behind this eruptive activity, with a view to making an assessment of the current capability of forecasting these events for space weather risk and impact mitigation. Whilst a wealth of observations exist, and detailed models have been developed, there still exists a need to draw these approaches together. In particular more realistic models are encouraged in order to asses the full range of complexity of the solar atmosphere and the criteria for which an eruption is formed. From the observational side, a more detailed understanding of the role of photospheric flows and reconnection is needed in order to identify the evolutionary path that ultimately means a magnetic structure will erupt.

MDR3 (ABCB4) defects: a paradigm for the genetics of adult cholestatic syndromes.

Abstract: Because ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are important for normal bile secretion, hereditary and acquired ABC transporter defects play a central role in the pathogenesis of cholestasis. Defects of the phospholipid export pump MDR3 ( ABCC4) result in impaired biliary excretion of phosphatidylcholine and a variety of cholestatic syndromes ranging from progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis in neonates to biliary cirrhosis in adults. Moreover, MDR3 mutations predispose to cholestasis of pregnancy and drug-induced cholestasis. Because MDR2 (rodent orthologue of human MDR3) knockout mice develop sclerosing cholangitis, it is attractive to speculate that MDR3 defects could also play an important role in cholangiopathies in humans. Indeed, MDR3 variants could play a role as modifier gene in primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis, but their exact role needs further clarification. Impaired biliary phosphatidylcholine excretion has also been reported in total parenteral nutrition-induced cholestasis and bile duct injury following liver transplantation, but a genetic basis for these findings remains to be explored. Several drugs for the treatment of cholestatic liver diseases target MDR3 expression and function, further underscoring the clinical significance of this transport system.