@article{BelyaevaKramarenkoStepanovetal., author = {Belyaeva, Inna A. and Kramarenko, Elena Yu and Stepanov, Gennady V. and Sorokin, Vladislav V. and Stadler, Dominik and Shamonin (Chamonine), Mikhail}, title = {Transient magnetorheological response of magnetoactive elastomers to step and pyramid excitations}, series = {SOFT MATTER}, volume = {12}, journal = {SOFT MATTER}, number = {11}, publisher = {ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY}, doi = {10.1039/c5sm02690c}, pages = {2901 -- 2913}, abstract = {Transient rheological response of magnetoactive elastomers is experimentally studied using dynamic torsion at a fixed oscillation frequency in temporally stepwise changing magnetic fields and oscillation amplitudes. For step magnetic-field excitations, at least three exponential functions are required to reasonably describe the time behavior of the storage shear modulus over long time scales (>10(3) s). The deduced characteristic time constants of the corresponding rearrangement processes of the filler network differ approximately by one order of magnitude: tau(1) less than or similar to 10(1) s, tau(2) similar to 10(2) s, and tau(3) similar to 10(3) s. The sudden imposition of the external magnetic field activates a very fast rearrangement process with the characteristic time under 10 s, which cannot be determined more precisely due to the measurement conditions. Even more peculiar transient behavior has been observed during pyramid excitations, when either the external magnetic field was first stepwise increased and then decreased in a staircase manner at a fixed strain amplitude gamma or the strain amplitude gamma was first stepwise increased and then decreased in a staircase manner at a fixed magnetic field. In particular, the so-called "cross-over effect'' has been identified in both dynamical loading programs. This cross-over effect seems to be promoted by the application of the external magnetic field. The experimental results are discussed in the context of the specific rearrangement of the magnetic filler network under the simultaneous action of the external magnetic field and shear deformation. Striking similarities of the observed phenomena to the structural relaxation processes in glassy materials and to the jamming transition of granular materials are pointed out. The obtained results are important for fundamental understanding of material behavior in magnetic fields as well as for the development of devices on the basis of magnetoactive elastomeric materials.}, language = {en} } @article{DillingerMayerSchneideretal., author = {Dillinger, Andrea Elisabeth and Mayer, Matthias and Schneider, Magdalena and Weber, Gregor R. and Goeppner, Corinna and Tamm, Ernst R. and Shamonin (Chamonine), Mikhail and Monkman, Gareth J. and Fuchshofer, Rudolf}, title = {Reactive changes in optic nerve astrocytes are mediated by CTGF, TGF beta 2 and increasing substratum stiffness}, series = {Investigative ophthalmology \& visual science}, volume = {56}, journal = {Investigative ophthalmology \& visual science}, number = {7}, publisher = {ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC}, abstract = {Purpose: Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) show a stiffer peripapillary sclera, reactive astrocytes and a remodeled lamina cribrosa (LC). The changes are thought to be mediated by TGFβ2 and its downstream mediator CTGF. Recently we developed a murine glaucoma model by overexpressing CTGF in the anterior eye (βb1CTGF). In this study we investigated the glial lamina region of βb1CTGF mice, and the changes of astrocytes in response to CTGF and TGFβ2 as well as increasing substratum stiffness. Methods: Tangential sections of the glial LC of 2-month-old βb1CTGF mice and their wild-type littermates (WT) were stained with phalloidin and antibodies against GFAP, CTGF and fibronectin (FN). Murine optic nerve (ON) astrocytes from CD1 mice were isolated, cultured and characterized by GFAP staining. The astrocytes were treated with TGFβ2 (1ng/ml) and CTGF (50ng/ml and 100ng/ml). In addition, the cells were seeded on PDMS substrata with different stiffness (10, 30 and 60 kPa). Treated cells were analyzed by Western blotting, real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Wound healing assays were performed to analyze migration rate following growth factor treatment. Results: βb1CTGF mice showed a massive increase in CTGF and GFAP in the glial LC when compared with WT mice. Moreover, an increase in FN staining and phalloidin-labeled actin was observed in the peripapillary sclera. Murine ON astrocytes reacted on increased substrate stiffness by increasing the synthesis of GFAP, vimentin and CTGF. Treatment of the cells with TGFβ2 and CTGF led to an enhanced migration rate. In addition, treatment resulted in an increased expression and synthesis of ECM proteins, including FN, tropoelastin, collagen type I and III. The in vitro findings correlated with those seen in the glaucoma mouse model. Conclusions: We conclude that changes in the ECM of LC and peripapillary sclera alter their biomechanical properties and thereby induce reactive changes in resident astrocytes. The reactive changes induced by higher stiffness of their surrounding ECM give rise to a self-amplifying process that includes increased TGFβ2/CTGF signaling and leads to synthesis of ECM and cytoskeletal proteins, a process that in turn augments the stiffness at the optic nerve head (ONH). Such a scenario may finally result in a vicious circle as the causative mechanism for ONH deformation in POAG.}, language = {en} }