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Objectives: To reveal the heterogeneity of different cell types of osteoarthritis (OA) synovial tissues at a single-cell resolution, and determine by novel methodology whether bulk-RNA-seq data could be deconvoluted to create in silico scRNA-seq data for synovial tissue analyses.Methods: OA scRNA-seq data (102,077 synoviocytes) were provided by 17 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty; 9 tissues with matched scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data were used to evaluate six in silico gene deconvolution tools. Predicted and observed cell types and proportions were compared to identify the best deconvolution tool for synovium.Results: We identified seven distinct cell types in OA synovial tissues. Gene deconvolution identified three (of six) platforms as suitable for extrapolating cellular gene expression from bulk RNA-seq data. Using paired scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data, an "arthritis" specific signature matrix was created and validated to have a significantly better predictive performance for synoviocytes than a default signature matrix. Use of the machine learning tool, Cell-type Identification By Estimating Relative Subsets of RNA Transcripts x (CIBERSORTx), to analyze rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and OA bulk RNA-seq data yielded proportions of T cells and fibroblasts that were similar to the gold standard observations from RA and OA scRNA-seq data, respectively.Conclusion: This novel study revealed heterogeneity of synovial cell types in OA and the feasibility of gene deconvolution for synovial tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore mechanisms underlying the association of TSG-6 with osteoarthritis (OA) progression.Methods: TSG-6-mediated heavy chain (HC) transfer (TSG-6 activity) and its association with inflammatory mediators were quantified in knee OA (n=25) synovial fluids (SFs). Paired intact and damaged cartilages from the same individuals (20 tibial and 12 meniscal) were analyzed by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for gene and protein expression of TSG-6 and components of Inter-alpha-Inhibitor (IαI) and TSG-6 activity ± spiked in IαI. Primary chondrocyte cultures (n=5) ± IL1β or TNFα were evaluated for gene expression. The effects of TSG-6 activity on cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) assembly were explored using quantitative hyaluronan (HA)-aggrecan binding assays.Results: TSG-6 activity was significantly associated (R > 0.683, P < 0.0002) with inflammatory mediators including TIMP-1, A2M, MMP3, VEGF, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and IL-6. Although TSG-6 protein and mRNA were highly expressed in damaged articular and meniscal cartilage and cytokine-treated chondrocytes, there was little or no cartilage expression of components of the IαI complex (containing HC1). By IHC, TSG-6 was present throughout lesioned cartilage but HC1 only at lesioned surfaces. TSG-6 impaired HA-aggrecan assembly, but TSG-6 mediated HA-HC formation reduced this negative effect.Conclusions: TSG-6 activity is a global inflammatory biomarker in knee OA SF. IαI, supplied from outside cartilage, only penetrates the cartilage surface, restricting TSG-6 activity (HC transfer) to this region. Therefore, unopposed TSG-6 in intermediate and deep regions of OA cartilage could possibly block matrix assembly, leading to futile synthesis and account for increased risk of OA progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic polymer microarray technology holds remarkable promise to rapidly identify suitable biomaterials for stem cell and tissue engineering applications. However, most of previous microarrayed synthetic polymers do not possess biological ligands (e.g., peptides) to directly engage cell surface receptors. Here, we report the development of peptide-functionalized hydrogel microarrays based on light-assisted copolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylates (PEGDA) and methacrylated-peptides. Using solid-phase peptide/organic synthesis, we developed an efficient route to synthesize methacrylated-peptides. In parallel, we identified PEG hydrogels that effectively inhibit non-specific cell adhesion by using PEGDA-700 (M. W. = 700) as a monomer. The combined use of these chemistries enables the development of a powerful platform to prepare peptide-functionalized PEG hydrogel microarrays. Additionally, we identified a linker composed of 4 glycines to ensure sufficient exposure of the peptide moieties from hydrogel surfaces. Further, we used this system to directly compare cell adhesion abilities of several related RGD peptides: RGD , RGD S, RGD SG and RGD SP. Finally, we combined the peptide-functionalized hydrogel technology with bioinformatics to construct a library composed of 12 different RGD peptides, including 6 unexplored RGD peptides, to develop culture substrates for hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), a cell type known for poor adhesion to synthetic substrates. 2 out of 6 unexplored RGD peptides showed substantial activities to support hiPSC-CMs. Among them, PMQKM RGD VFSP from laminin β4 subunit was found to support the highest adhesion and sarcomere formation of hiPSC-CMs. With bioinformatics, the peptide-functionalized hydrogel microarrays accelerate the discovery of novel biological ligands to develop biomaterials for stem cell and tissue engineering applications. Statement of Significance In this manuscript, we described the development of a robust approach to prepare peptide-functionalized synthetic hydrogel microarrays. Combined with bioinformatics, this technology enables us to rapidly identify novel biological ligands for the development of the next generation of functional biomaterials for stem cell and tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circadian clock orchestrates ∼24-hour oscillations of gastrointestinal epithelial structure and function that drive diurnal rhythms in gut microbiota. Here, we use experimental and computational approaches in intestinal organoids to reveal reciprocal effects of gut microbial metabolites on epithelial timekeeping by an epigenetic mechanism. We cultured enteroids in media supplemented with sterile supernatants from the altered Schaedler Flora (ASF), a defined murine microbiota. Circadian oscillations of bioluminescent PER2 and Bmal1 were measured in the presence or absence of individual ASF supernatants. Separately, we applied machine learning to ASF metabolomics to identify phase-shifting metabolites. Sterile filtrates from 3 of 7 ASF species (ASF360 Lactobacillus intestinalis , ASF361 Ligilactobacillus murinus , and ASF502 Clostridium species) induced minimal alterations in circadian rhythms, whereas filtrates from 4 ASF species (ASF356 Clostridium species, ASF492 Eubacterium plexicaudatum , ASF500 Pseudoflavonifactor species, and ASF519 Parabacteroides goldsteinii) induced profound, concentration-dependent phase shifts. Random forest classification identified short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) (butyrate, propionate, acetate, and isovalerate) production as a discriminating feature of ASF "shifters." Experiments with SCFAs confirmed machine learning predictions, with a median phase shift of 6.2 hours in murine enteroids. Pharmacologic or botanical histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors yielded similar findings. Further, mithramycin A, an inhibitor of HDAC inhibition, reduced SCFA-induced phase shifts by 20% (P <.05) and conditional knockout of HDAC3 in enteroids abrogated butyrate effects on Per2 expression. Key findings were reproducible in human Bmal1- luciferase enteroids, colonoids, and Per2- luciferase Caco-2 cells. Gut microbe-generated SCFAs entrain intestinal epithelial circadian rhythms by an HDACi-dependent mechanism, with critical implications for understanding microbial and circadian network regulation of intestinal epithelial homeostasis. [Display omitted] Circadian timekeeping in intestinal organoids is reset by gut microbe-generated short- chain fatty acids through an epigenetic mechanism of histone deacetylases inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Objective To identify disease relevant genes and pathways associated with knee Osteoarthritis (OA) progression in human subjects using medial and lateral compartment dominant OA knee tissue. Design Gene expression of knee cartilage was comprehensively assessed for three regions of interest from human medial dominant OA ( n = 10) and non-OA ( n = 6) specimens. Histology and gene expression were compared for the regions with minimal degeneration, moderate degeneration and significant degeneration. Agilent whole-genome microarray was performed and data were analyzed using Agilent GeneSpring GX11.5. Significant differentially regulated genes were further investigated by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to identify functional categories. To confirm their association with disease severity as opposed to site within the knee, 30 differentially expressed genes, identified by microarray, were analyzed by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction on additional medial ( n = 16) and lateral ( n = 10) compartment dominant knee OA samples. Results A total of 767 genes were differentially expressed ≥two-fold ( P ≤ 0.05) in lesion compared to relatively intact regions. Analysis of these data by IPA predicted biological functions related to an imbalance of anabolism and catabolism of cartilage matrix components. Up-regulated expression of IL11, POSTN, TNFAIP6, and down-regulated expression of CHRDL2, MATN4, SPOCK3, VIT, PDE3B were significantly associated with OA progression and validated in both medial and lateral compartment dominant OA samples. Conclusions Our study provides a strategy for identifying targets whose modification may have the potential to ameliorate pathological alternations and progression of disease in cartilage and to serve as biomarkers for identifying individuals susceptible to progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: To evaluate the interaction of articular cartilage (AC) and subchondral bone (SB) through analysis of osteoarthritis (OA)-related genes of site-matched tissue. Design: We developed a novel method for isolating site-matched overlying AC and underlying SB from three and four regions of interest respectively from the human knee tibial plateau (n = 50). For each site, the severity of cartilage changes of OA were assessed histologically, and the severity of bone abnormalities were assessed by microcomputed tomography. An RNA isolation procedure was optimized that yielded high quality RNA from site-matched AC and SB tibial regions. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) analysis was performed to evaluate gene expression of 61 OA-associated genes for correlation with cartilage integrity and bone structure parameters. Results: A total of 27 (44%) genes were coordinately up- or down-regulated in both tissues. The expression levels of 19 genes were statistically significantly correlated with the severity of AC degeneration and changes of SB structure; these included: ADAMTS1, ASPN, BMP6, BMPER, CCL2, CCL8, COL5A1, COL6A3, COL7A1, COL16A1, FRZB, GDF10, MMP3, OGN, OMD, POSTN, PTGES, TNFSF11 and WNT1. Conclusions: These results provide a strategy for identifying targets whose modification may have the potential to ameliorate pathological alterations and progression of disease in both AC and SB simultaneously. In addition, this is the first study, to our knowledge, to overcome the major difficulties related to isolation of high quality RNA from site-matched joint tissues. We expect this method to facilitate advances in our understanding of the coordinated molecular responses of the whole joint organ. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Extravillus trophoblast (EVT) invasion plays a critical role in placental development. Integrins bind to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins to mediate EVT cell adhesion, migration, and invasion. Changes in O-glycans on β1-integrin have been found to regulate cancer cell behavior. We hypothesize that O-glycosyltransferases can regulate EVT invasion through modulating the glycosylation and function of β1-integrin. Here, we found that the GALNT1 and GALNT2 mRNA were highly expressed in HTR8/SVneo and first trimester EVT cells. Immunohistochemstry and immunofluorescence staining showed that GALNT2 was expressed in subpopulations of EVT cells in deciduas, but not in syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts of placental villi. The percentage of GALNT2-positive EVT cells increased with gestational ages. Overexpression of GALNT2 in HTR8/SVneo cells significantly enhanced cell-collagen IV adhesion, but suppressed cell migration and invasion. Notably, we found that GALNT2 increased the expression of Tn antigen (GalNAc-Ser/Thr) on β1-integrin as revealed by Vicia Villosa agglutinin (VVA) binding. Furthermore, GALNT2 suppressed the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a crucial downstream signaling molecule of β1-integrin. Our findings suggest that GALNT2 is a critical initiating enzyme of O-glycosylation for regulating EVT invasion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Therapeutic proteins require correct disulfide bond formation for biological activity and stability. This makes their manufacturing and storage inherently challenging since disulfide bonds can be aberrantly formed and/or undergo significant structural changes. In this paper the mechanisms of disulfide bond formation and scrambling are reviewed, with a focus on their impact on the biological activity and storage stability of recombinant proteins. After assessing the research progress in detecting disulfide bond scrambling, strategies for preventing this phenomenon are proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This experimental study uses a wind tunnel and scale model to investigate turbulence effects on the discharge coefficient and mean flow rate of wind-driven cross-ventilation. The approaching flows include low turbulence smooth flow and grid-generated turbulent flow. Two different cross-ventilation configurations are considered in this study: (1) two opposite walls, each with one opening, and (2) two adjacent walls, each with one opening. The discharge coefficients of different flow conditions are determined by a fan technique. It is found that the discharge coefficient is a function of Reynolds number, wind incidence angle and direction of air flow (inhale or exhale), but independent of external turbulence intensity and wall porosity. However, because the leeward pressure is affected by external turbulence, the internal pressure and inlet velocity are dependent on external turbulence when the openings are on the opposite walls. The experimental results also verify that internal pressure and mean air flow rate can be predicted once the external pressure distribution and opening areas are known, regardless of whether the openings are on opposite walls or on adjacent walls. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We designed and synthesized a series of novel hybrid histone deacetylase inhibitors based on conjugation of benzamide-type inhibitors with either linear or cyclic peptides. Linear tetrapeptides (compounds 13 and 14), cyclic tetrapeptides (compounds 1 and 11), and heptanediamide–peptide conjugates (compounds 10, 12, 15 and 16) were synthesized through on-resin solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). All compounds were found to be moderate HDAC1 and HDAC3 inhibitors, with IC50 values ranging from 1.3μM to 532μM. Interestingly, compound 15 showed 19-fold selectivity for HDAC3 versus HDAC1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The aims of the study were to identify pathways from parent marijuana use to child problem behavior and parent-child relationships, and to evaluate whether effects of an earlier prevention program delivered to parents when they themselves were early adolescents would have a protective effect on these relationships one generation later.Methods: Structural equation models were applied to the data of a second-generation study of a drug abuse prevention trial. Models assessed whether there were sustained marijuana prevention effects on adults who had at least one school-age child at the end of the emerging adulthood period (age 26, n=257), and whether these effects mediated subsequent parent-child relationships and child impulsivity when parents were between the ages of 28 and 34.Results: Participants originally assigned to the program group used significantly less marijuana in early adulthood than did controls. In turn, parental marijuana use was positively related to child impulsivity and negatively to parental warmth, but not significantly related to parental aggression.Conclusions: Results suggest both a direct relationship from parental marijuana use to child impulsivity, as well as indirect relationships through parent-child interactions. Results also strongly support a role for early adolescent prevention programs for drug use, both for participants' own long-term benefit, as well as for the benefit of their future children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients presenting with pleural effusion of undetermined aetiology were prospectively enrolled, and an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay on pleural fluid and peripheral blood was performed. Forty patients were studied, including 19 with culture- or biopsy-confirmed ( n = 15) or clinically compatible ( n = 4) tuberculous pleurisy, and 21 with pleural effusions due to non-tuberculous causes. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the assay were 94.7%, 85.7%, 85.7% and 94.7%, respectively, on pleural fluid, and 77.8%, 90.5%, 87.5% and 82.6%, respectively, on blood. Antigen-specific, interferon-gamma-secreting T-cells were concentrated eight to ten times in pleural fluid as compared with blood. Among the seven patients not suitable for pleural biopsy and three patients whose biopsy results were non-diagnostic, nine had positive ELISPOT result with pleural fluid. The ELISPOT assay for interferon-gamma can accurately diagnose tuberculous pleurisy and is helpful for patients not suitable for pleural biopsy and those whose biopsy results are non-diagnostic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of accumulation phase, fat-suppressed, T1-weighted imaging (FS-T1WI) when detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by ferucarbotran-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and methods: Thirty patients who underwent ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI, which resulted in 35 confirmed HCCs, were included in this prospective study. Two image sets were prepared and two radiologists independently reviewed these in two reading sessions; set A was without contrast-enhanced accumulation phase FS-T1WI and set B included contrast-enhanced accumulation phase FS-T1WI. All HCCs had been confirmed by operation (n =4), by biopsy (n =28), and by follow-up study for at least 1 year (n =3). Results: The contrast-to-noise ratio significantly increased from −1.2±7.5 to 12.7±7.3 with contrast-enhanced accumulation phase FS-T1WI, but was only slightly increased from 12.2±10.3 to 15.5±12.2 with contrast-enhanced T2WI (p <0.001). The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was decreased with T1WI and T2WI for liver parenchyma. With T2WI, the SNR for HCCs was decreased; however, it was slightly increased with T1WI (p <0.001). Overall, 29 HCCs were detected using set A, and 35 nodules were identified using set B, which included the contrast-enhanced accumulation phase FS-T1WI. Thus, the detection rate significantly increased using post-contrast medium accumulation phase FS-T1WI (p <0.05). Conclusion: Due to the improved CNR with the post-contrast medium accumulation phase FS-T1WI, which helped to increase HCC detection, accumulation phase FS-T1WI is recommended as one of the routine protocols for inclusion in HCC detection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, including various benzamides and hydroxamates, are currently in clinical development for a broad range of human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. We recently reported the identification of a family of benzamide-type HDAC inhibitors that are relatively non-toxic compared with the hydroxamates. Members of this class of compounds have shown efficacy in cell-based and mouse models for the neurodegenerative diseases Friedreich ataxia and Huntington disease. Considerable differences in IC50 values for the various HDAC enzymes have been reported for many of the HDAC inhibitors, leading to confusion as to the HDAC isotype specificities of these compounds. Here we show that a benzamide HDAC inhibitor, a pimelic diphenylamide (106), is a class I HDAC inhibitor, demonstrating no activity against class II HDACs. 106 is a slow, tight-binding inhibitor of HDACs 1, 2, and 3, although inhibition for these enzymes occurs through different mechanisms. Inhibitor 106 also has preference toward HDAC3 with Ki of ∼14 nM, 15 times lower than the Ki for HDAC1. In comparison, the hydroxamate suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid does not discriminate between these enzymes and exhibits a fast-on/fast-off inhibitory mechanism. These observations may explain a paradox involving the relative activities of pimelic diphenylamides versus hydroxamates as gene activators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: When enhanced yellow fluorescence protein (EYFP) was displayed on the cell surface of Escherichia coli using EstA* as a carrier, the integrity of the cell envelope was compromised and cell physiology was severely impaired, resulting in poor display performance. Coexpression of fkpA, a gene encoding periplasmic chaperone, was demonstrated to be effective for restoring cell physiology and enhancing display performance. On the basis of monitoring the promoter activities of degP, rpoH, and cpxP under various culture conditions, we also showed that cell-surface display using EstA* as a carrier induced the extracytoplasmic stress response and the stress could be partially alleviated by fkpA coexpression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study investigated the flow patterns and wall stresses in a two-dimensional moving granular filter bed with a curved and symmetric louvered wall. A digital camcorder was used to record the flow pattern histories of the granular solids in the moving granular filter bed. The numerical predictions of the flow patterns were implemented using the discrete element method and compared with the experimental results. The variations in the dynamic wall stresses with time were obtained using a pressure gauge, which could simultaneously measure the normal and shear stresses of the granular solids. The effects of the curvature of the louvered wall and the exit width upon the flow patterns and the wall stresses were also elucidated. For a fixed value of radius of curvature, the ratio of the quasi-stagnant zone (Q-SZ) area in the third stage to the granular bed area in the third stage increases with decreasing width of the exit, but the average dynamic normal stress on the curved louvered wall increases with increasing width of the exit. For a fixed value of the exit width, both the ratio of the Q-SZ area in the third stage to the granular bed area in the third stage and the average dynamic normal stress on the curved louvered wall increase with increasing radius of curvature. Additionally, the curved louvered wall can not only shrink the area of the Q-SZ in the granular bed, but also reduce the dynamic normal stress on the louvered wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron-dependent regulator (IdeR) protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and its better characterized homologue, the diphtheria toxin repressor (DtxR) from Corynebacterium diphtheriae, are iron-dependent regulatory proteins that control gene expression in response to iron availability in bacteria. IdeR regulates several genes required for iron uptake and storage including those involved in the synthesis of transition metal chelators called siderophores that are linked to the M. tuberculosis virulence. In this study, the metal ion and binding affinities for IdeR binding to an fxbA operator duplex DNA were estimated using fluorescence assays. The Fe2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ affinities of the two metal ion binding sites in IdeR that are involved in the activation of the regulator DNA binding process in vitro were independently estimated. Binding to the two metal ion binding sites is apparently cooperative and the two affinities differ significantly. Occupation of the first metal ion binding site causes dimerization of IdeR, and the metal ion affinity is about 4 µM for Ni2+ and much less for Fe2+ and Co2+. Binding of the second metal ion fully activates IdeR for binding to the fxbA operator. The equilibrium metal ion dissociation constants for IdeRfxbA operator binding are ∼9 µM for Fe2+, 13 µM for Ni2+, and 23 µM for Co2+. Interestingly, the natural IdeR cofactor, Fe2+, shows high affinities toward both binding sites. These results provide insight into the possible roles for each metal binding site in IdeR activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow patterns and stresses on the wall in a two-dimensional bin-hopper with the placement of an equilateral triangle flow corrective insert were investigated. The geometric shape and location of five kinds of equilateral triangle insert used in this study were obtained using the method previously proposed by Johanson. The flow pattern histories of the quartz sand in the bin-hopper were recorded using a digital camcorder. The static wall stress distributions above the insert produced by the quartz sand were measured. The variations in the dynamic wall stresses with time were obtained. As the insert half-angle increased, the region of the quasi-stagnant zone, which sat on the equilateral triangle insert, became larger and the position of the static normal stress peak moved downward. In general, the values of the dynamic normal wall stress measured by the pressure gauge, which was not close to the insert, were smaller than those under the test without the placement of an insert during the most part of material withdrawal. Nevertheless, some of the dynamic normal wall stress peaks were measured by the pressure gauge, which was close to the insert, as the insert half-angle was between 30° and 50°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical model for turbulent opposed-jet mixing flows is developed with a one-dimensional (1-D) formulation with various turbulence models. Calculations with different combinations of turbulence and scalar models are conducted. The performances of various models are evaluated by extensive comparisons with existing experimental data. The numerical model is then used for studying the dependence of predicted scalar field on exit bulk velocity and turbulence intensity. Model results in general agree well with trends observed experimentally. The importance of non-zero velocity gradient at jet exit on the predicted results is illustrated through exploration runs. The distribution of mechanical-to-scalar time scale ratio, CD, is deduced from results obtained with a Reynolds stress model. The value of CD is found to deviate substantially from the commonly used value of 2, especially when the density variation is large. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

PURPOSE: To examine interactions between emotional intelligence (EI) and smoking risk factors on smoking intentions in adolescents. METHODS: EI ios defined as the ability to: accurately perceive, appraise, and express emotion; access and/or generate feelings in facilitating thought; understand emotion and emotional knowledge; and regulate emotions. EI of 416 6th graders (53% girls) from middle schools in the Los Angeles area (mean age = 11.3 years; 32% Latino, 29% Asian/Pacific Islander, 13% white, 19% Multiethnic, 6% Other) was assessed with an abbreviated version of the Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale, Adolescent Version (MEIS). This was a competence-based measure assessing an individual's ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotion. Logistic regression models were fit to test interactions between EI and ever trying cigarettes, hostility, and perceived ability to refuse a cigarette from someone just met, on intentions to smoke in the next year. RESULTS: High EI adolescents were more likely to intend to smoke in the next year if they had previously experimented with smoking. Those with low EI were more likely to intend to smoke if their perceived ability to refuse a cigarette offer from a person they just met was low or hostility level was high. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results indicate that EI interacts with risk factors to reduce smoking intentions, and contributes evidence to a link between EI and smoking in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing the kinematic model proposed by Nedderman and Tüzün and the boundary conditions for granular media in a two-dimensional flat-bottomed hopper with eccentric and centric discharge, two boundary-value problems were constructed. The heights of the stagnant zone for two kinds of granular materials after hopper eccentric and centric discharge were experimentally measured. We postulated that the kinematic constant would be proportional to the height of the stagnant zone. Employing experimental results and the Newton-Raphson method, the kinematic constants under eccentric discharge were obtained. The profiles of the horizontal and vertical velocity components for eccentric as well as centric discharge were then calculated. The theoretical predictions obtained using the kinematic model qualitatively agree with experimental results obtained using a simple image analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To investigate the pattern of weight perception and its relationship with psychological distress among Chinese adolescents. METHODS: A sub-cohort of 2179 healthy Chinese adolescents randomly selected from schools in Wuhan, China, including 1156 boys and 1023 girls 11 to 15 years of age was included in the current study. Weight, height, self-perceptions of weight status, depressive psychological symptoms including anxiety, depression, perceived peer isolation, and other constructs were measured by a structured questionnaire. A General Linear Model was used to compare psychological differences between actual and perceived weight groups. RESULTS: Perceived underweight was more likely to occur in boys, whereas perceived overweight was more likely to occur in girls. Compared with objective body weight status defined by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) age- and gender-specific body mass index (BMI) cutoffs, girls were more likely to misperceive themselves as overweight, whereas relatively more boys misclassified their weight status as underweight. After adjusting for age, parents' educational attainment, and urban residence, perceived overweight boys and girls were more likely to experience anxiety and depression than perceived normal and underweight subjects (p <.05). Perceived overweight girls and perceived underweight boys experienced higher peer isolation than other groups (p <.05). Significant differences were not found in social support, school connectedness, trouble with teachers, and family disharmony among different weight-perception groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested distortion of weight perception was prevalent, and may have detrimental psychological influences in Chinese adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stresses on the wall in a circulatory two-dimensional (2D) wedge hopper were theoretically and experimentally investigated. By extending the differential slice method of Walters, an ordinary differential equation for the vertical stress in the wedge hopper was derived. Employing the Runge-Kutta (order 4) method, the static wall stress distributions in the wedge hopper were numerically calculated. A pressure gauge for simultaneously measuring the normal and shear stresses of the granular solids was used. The static wall stress distributions produced by the granular solids were measured and compared with the theoretical prediction using the differential slice and Runge-Kutta (order 4) methods. The variations in the dynamic wall stresses with time in a circulatory 2D wedge hopper were obtained during granular material circulation. In addition, the variations in measured dynamic normal and shear stress results on the left-side wall with bed height were observed and compared with the theoretical results using the Silo Stress Tool. The research work reported here provides additional theoretical and experimental knowledge about granular flows in a wedge hopper to workers in this field, and also enhances the differential slice method application to granular flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas compositions of mud volcanoes reveal multiple sources for gas exhalation in SW Taiwan. For comparison, two sites, Yan-chao (YC) and Chung-lun (CL), were chosen for measurements of soil Rn concentrations using a portable radon detector. The 222Rn concentrations at the YC site were ca. 5200Bq/m3. However, the average 222Rn concentrations at the CL site exhibited higher value of ca. 16,800Bq/m3. With the reference of the gas flux and compositions from the nearby mud pool, the soil 222Rn concentrations are largely controlled by the flux of carrier gases exhaled from deep reservoirs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The flow patterns and stresses on the wall in a moving granular bed with eccentric discharge were investigated experimentally. The flow pattern histories of granular solids in the moving bed were recorded using a digital camcorder. The image processing system included a frame grabber. A new pressure gauge for simultaneously measuring the normal and shear stresses of granular solids was used. During filling the granular material, the variations in stresses acting on the side walls with time in a granular bed were observed. Also, the dynamic wall stresses were obtained during the eccentric discharge. Employing the results obtained by stress measurements and image processing, the pressure pulsation phenomena in a moving granular bed may be understood further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing the stack disk method in the louvered-wall configuration described in the Appendix, the initial coordinates of the disks' center and the filter boundary were defined. The flow pattern histories of granular solids, velocity field and development of quasi-stagnant zones close to the louvered walls of three kinds of two-dimensional (2D) symmetrical moving granular filter beds and 2D hybrid moving granular filter beds were studied numerically. The discrete element method was used in this study. The numerical results reported here and experimental results provide fundamental and important information for designing moving granular bed for high-temperature flue gas clean-up filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]