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Vapor-solid reactions were applied to monofilament and 6-filament AIMI MgB 2 wires. A layer J c of ∼ 105 A cm−2 was achieved by the generation of a highly dense MgB 2 layer after reaction at 625 °C for 8 to 16 h. It was found that the critical current, I c , and engineering current density, J e , reached maximum values of 92.3 A and 1.15 × 104 A cm−2 at 4.2 K, 10 T when the multifilament AIMI wire was heat-treated at 625 °C for 14 h. Transport I c s were also measured at 10–20 K for the wire heat-treated at 625 °C for 16 h. Phase formation investigations suggested that even better performance of I c and J e could be attained in multifilamentary AIMI MgB 2 wires after further conductor optimization. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The OPTE composites were fabricated from VARTM technique. • Three different zones of OPTE composite were assigned. • Epoxy impregnated in OPT improved the flexural properties of OPTE composite. • The correlation between flexural strength and MOE were predicted by using linear regression study. Nowadays, the utilization of oil palm trunk (OPT) biomass has gained more interest in composite applications. This research presents the flexural properties of unimpregnated OPT and OPT impregnated with epoxy (OPTE) composites. The OPTE composites were fabricated using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM) technique. The unimpregnated OPT and OPTE composite specimens were selected from three different zones of longitudinal zone OPT namely Zone I (outer), Zone II (middle) and Zone III (inner), respectively. The flexural test was conducted according to ASTM D790. The results showed promising increases in flexural strength and flexural modulus of the OPTE composite in Zones I, II, and III compared to unimpregnated specimens, with increases of 254.09 % (49.79 MPa) and 158.78 % (4.14 GPa) in Zone I, 297.43 % (37.28 MPa) and 309.51 % (3.58 GPa) in Zone II, and 242.67 % (29.34 MPa) and 305.84 % (2.94 GPa) in Zone III, respectively. There was positive trend linear regression significantly observed in the relationship between flexural strength and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of OPTE composites and unimpregnated OPT of all three zones, respectively. The fractured flexural specimens of three different zones were analysed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The improvement of OPTE composites is a possible as an alternative to replace the existence of commercial wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemically protected sodium butyrate (CSB) is a new kind of sodium butyrate. Our previous study found that 1,000 mg/kg of CSB had the potential capacity of improving growth performance and promoting early development of small intestine in broilers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of long-term antibiotics or CSB supplementation for intestinal microflora dynamical regulation in broilers. One hundred ninety-two 1-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly allocated into 3 dietary treatment (8 replicates per treatment) and fed with a basal diet (CON), a diet supplemented with the antibiotics (enramycin, 8 mg/kg and aureomycin, 100 mg/kg) (ANT), or a diet supplemented with 1,000 mg/kg of CSB, respectively. Results showed that dietary supplementation of CSB or ANT treatment elevated the weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR; P < 0.05), as compared with control (CON) group. Additionally, CON, CSB, or ANT administration dynamically altered the gut microbiota composition as time goes on. The increased presence of potential pathogens, such as Romboutsia and Shuttleworthia , and decreased beneficial bacteria such as Alistipes, Akkermansia , and Bacteroides were verified in new gut homeostasis reshaped by long-term antibiotics treatment, which has adverse effects on intestinal development and health of broilers. Conversely, CSB supplementation could dynamically enhance the relative abundance of Bacteroides , and decrease Romboutsia and Shuttleworthia in new microflora, which has positive effects on intestinal bacteria of broilers compared with CON group. Meanwhile, CSB supplementation was significantly increased the concentration of propionic acid and total short chain fatty acids (total SCFA ; P < 0.05) in comparison with CON and ANT groups. Moreover, CSB treatment significantly increased anti-inflammatory and antioxidative capacities (P < 0.05) of broilers compared with ANT group. Taken together, we revealed characteristic structural changes of gut microbiota throughout long-term CSB or ANT supplementation in broilers, which provided a basic data for evaluating the mechanism of action affecting intestinal health by CSB or ANT administration and CSB as an alternative to antibiotics in the broilers industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compressive behavior of nanocomposite foams is studied by both experimental and computational micro-mechanics approaches with the aim of providing an efficient computational model for this kind of material. The nanocomposites based on polypropylene (PP) and different contents of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are prepared by melt mixing method. The nanocomposite samples are foamed using super-critical carbon dioxide (ScCO 2 ) as blowing agent at different soaking temperatures. The influence of this foaming parameter on the morphological characteristics of the foam micro-structure is discussed. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements are used to quantify the crystallinity degree of both nanocomposites and foams showing that the crystallinity degree is reduced after the foaming process. This modification leads to mechanical properties of the foam cell walls that are different from the raw nanocomposite PP/CNTs material. Three-point bending tests are performed on the latter to measure the flexural modulus in terms of the crystallinity degree. Uniaxial compression tests are then performed on the foamed samples under quasi-static conditions in order to extract the macro-scale compressive response. Next, a two-level multi-scale approach is developed to model the behavior of the foamed nanocomposite material. On the one hand, the micro-mechanical properties of nanocomposite PP/CNTs cell walls are evaluated from a theoretical homogenization model accounting for the micro-structure of the semi-crystalline PP, for the degree of crystallinity, and for the CNT volume fraction. The applicability of this theoretical model is demonstrated via the comparison with experimental data from the described experimental measurements and from literature. On the other hand, the macroscopic behavior of the foamed material is evaluated using a computational micro-mechanics model using tetrakaidecahedron unit cells and periodic boundary conditions to estimate the homogenized properties. The unit cell is combined with several geometrical imperfections in order to capture the elastic collapse of the foamed material. The numerical results are compared to the experimental measurements and it is shown that the proposed unit cell computational micro-mechanics model can be used to estimate the homogenized behavior, including the linear and plateau regimes, of nanocomposite foams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Aneurysm of the extracranial internal carotid artery (AEICA) is extremely rare catastrophic pathology associated with cerebral embolism and rupture. There was no report on AEICA associated with bullous lung disease. Report: We report a case of AECIA in a 44-year-old female patient combined with asymptomatic pulmonary bulla, and successfully treated by autologous carotid artery reconstruction. Conclusion: The possibility of a relationship between AEICA and bullous lung disease is discussed about the level of alpha 1-antitrypsin (α1-AT). The using of external carotid artery (ECA) replace of the internal carotid artery (ICA) combined with resection of the AEICA is an autologous reconstruction to restore arterial continuity and avoiding the use of synthetic or vein graft with their potential complications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The existence of a porphyrin uptake transporter in hepatocytes has been hypothesized in recent years, but to date it has not been identified. While the linear tetrapyrrole bilirubin has been shown to be a substrate for the organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1), similar studies have not been conducted for the cyclic tetrapyrroles (porphyrins). The aim of this study was to determine the structural features of linear and cyclic tetrapyroles necessary for interaction with OATP1B1. The interaction was quantified using HEK cells stably expressing OATP1B1 and measuring the inhibition of OATP1B1-mediated uptake of estradiol 17β-d-glucuronide in the presence or absence of various linear and cyclic tetrapyrroles. Ditaurine-conjugated bilirubin was the most potent inhibitor of uptake, with an IC50 of 5nM, while the substitution of the taurine side chains with methyl ester eliminated the inhibition of estradiol 17β-d-glucuronide uptake. Hematoporphyrin, a cyclic tetrapyrrole with carboxyalcohol side chains at positions C-3 and C-8 and carboxyethyl side chains at positions 13 and 17 had an IC50 of 60nM, while porphyrins lacking charged side chains such as etioporphyrin I and phthalocyanine did not inhibit OATP1B1. Chlorin e6 and hematoporphyrin were shown to be competitive inhibitors of OATP1B1-mediated uptake of bromosulfophthalein with Kis of 5.8±0.3 and 1.6±0.3μM, respectively. While these studies do not provide direct evidence, they do support the assumption that tetrapyrroles are transported by OATP1B1. Additionally, these findings offer a possible explanation for the clinical observation that patients suffering from certain porphyrietic diseases have a reduced ability to excrete organic anions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study compared outcomes in infants supported with VADs with intractable heart failure who had single ventricle (SVAD) vs two ventricle (2VAD) anatomy to add to the limited reported experience with SVAD support. Indications for VAD support (intractable heart failure defined as mechanical ventilation and multiple inotropes ± ECMO) and post-VAD management was the same for both groups. Competing outcome analysis for death on VAD, heart transplant, and recovery/explant between the groups were compared with cumulative incidence curves between SVAD and 2VAD using the Gray's test and the hazard ratio for the difference was estimated using the Fine-Gray competing risk model. Long-term survival after VAD implantation and transplant were assessed with Kaplan Meier analysis. 23 SVAD and 20 2VAD subjects implanted from 2005-21 were compared. SVAD patients had significantly lower median BSA [0.22 m2 (0.16-0.4) vs 0.30 m2 (0.19-0.43)], p=0.028 and median weight [3.9 kg (2.7-8.6) vs 5.1 kg (3-10.5)], p=0.0351 than 2VAD patients. Figure shows cumulative incidence of the competing outcomes. Events mainly occurred within 150 days after implant. SVAD patients had a significantly greater proportion of recovery/explant (p=0.023) compared to 2VAD patients. 2VAD patient showed a trend (0.091) to a greater transplant rate. Survival 1, 3, and 5 years after transplant trended (100% vs 78%, p=0.09) to favor 2VAD vs SVAD subjects. 1, 3, and 5 year survival after VAD implant was not significantly better (63% vs 46%) in 2VAD vs SVAD patients (p=0.477). This single center study suggests SVAD implantation is associated with a greater chance of myocardial recovery than 2VAD implants in infants with perhaps poorer long-term survival after implantation and transplant. Further analysis is needed to confirm these findings in a larger multicenter study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Ba,Sr) 1- x K x Fe 2 As 2 superconductor is of great interest as a wire for practical applications. In this paper, Ba 0.6 K 0.4 Fe 2 As 2 precursor powder was prepared by high-energy ball-milling aided sintering (12 h/750 °C). The prepared precursor was drawn to powder-in-tube round wire. Partial as-drawn wires were subjected to biaxial cold pressure densification (BCPD) at 0.5 and 1.0 GPa, followed by an annealing for 1 min/770 °C. According to our results, the BCPD improved the grain connectivity of the BCPDed wires without degrading the superconductivity. A (Ba,Sr) 1- x K x Fe 2 As 2 round-wire record transport critical current density, 1.14 × 10 5 A/cm 2 (4.2 K, 2 T), was observed in our BCPDed samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pipeline replacement ‘on line’ has been practised for many years using pipe bursting technologies, which typically involve multiple fracture and outward displacement of fragments of the existing pipeline using either pneumatic or hydraulic means. One of the most important considerations for the design of a pipe bursting operation is the pattern of ground displacement caused, and consequently the possible damage to existing adjacent services and structures. Due to the requirement for overburst, the magnitude of the typical outward pattern of displacements caused by pipe bursting following construction is much smaller than the temporary displacements that occur while the process is being carried out. The ground movements during construction will often, therefore, provide the worst case for design. However, this pattern of behaviour is complicated by the possibility of residual ground settlements if the works are carried out in loose granular soils or in soft cohesive deposits in which positive pore water pressures are generated. The pattern and magnitude of displacements have been shown by the first two authors to be dependent on several parameters following a comprehensive programme of laboratory modelling and field trials. Parallel work by Advantica Technologies Limited (formerly research, technology and engineering arms of British Gas) has resulted in the publication of tables and charts detailing ‘safe working distances’ for pipe bursting in relation to cast iron gas mains. Prediction of the ground displacements is clearly vital for the safe operation of these replacement techniques. Pipe splitting is a more recently developed technique that has been proposed for ‘on line’ replacement of ductile iron and steel pipes. This technique has advantages associated with the continuous and pseudo-static, rather than discontinuous and generally dynamic, form of expansion employed. Prior to its adoption in routine industrial practice, however, it is important that differences in the patterns of displacement to those of pipe bursting are known. To this end, Advantica Technologies Limited is currently sponsoring a programme of full-scale laboratory model testing of pipe splitting operations at the University of Birmingham. This paper describes the testing equipment used to determine the effects on the surrounding ground of the pipe splitting operation, details the programme of tests and reports the results of tests conducted in both clays and sands. From the results it was observed that the McElroy Manufacturing Inc. ‘Bullet’ pipe splitting device produced a clean split in the ductile iron pipe whereas the U-Mole Ltd. ‘Clampburster’ produced a much more fragmented host pipe. It has also been found that the orientation of the blade of the pipe splitting device has a considerable impact on the resulting ground displacements. The ‘Bullet’ device allows the orientation of the blade to remain fixed during the operation, whereas the ‘Clampburster’ device currently allows rotation of the blade during the operation. The maximum displacements resulting from both splitting devices are very similar. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Intestinal barrier damage after scald and burns, other trauma or major operations result in severe intestinal infections that cause serious consequences. Therefore, it is important to develop methods to protect intestinal barrier after severe burns. This study used rats that had full-thickness burn of approximately 30% of the total body surface area to investigate the effect and mechanism of glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) and provide experimental evidence for application of GIK in protecting the intestine after burns or other trauma and major surgeries. The results show that the degree of intestinal damage and plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) levels in GIK (the concentrations of glucose, insulin, sodium chloride and potassium chloride were 100gl(-1), 70Ul(-1), 9gl(-1) and 5gl(-1), respectively) and insulin (30IUl(-1)) treatment groups were significantly lower than that in control group; the status of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines and the ratio between them in GIK and insulin groups also significantly improved compared to those in control group; intestinal tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF[alpha]), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-[kappa]B) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and IL10/TNF[alpha] in GIK and insulin groups 2 days after the injury were also improved significantly compared to those in control group. All the indices including body weight detected in GIK group were improved to those in insulin group. Taken together, these results show that GIK and insulin show protective effect on intestine after severe burn, which may relate to controlling hyperglycaemia and regulating intestinal expression of NF[kappa]B and pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes by GIK and insulin; the protective effect of GIK on intestinal tissue after severe burn is superior to that of using insulin alone, which may attribute to improving the nutritional status by glucose supplement and the relatively higher dose of insulin in the GIK group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the underlying alteration in the expression of epithelial markers involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and elucidate the potential mechanism(s) for Tβ4-induced EMT-like phenotypic changes in bladder cancer cells.Materials and Methods: All tissue samples in this study were obtained from clinical patients of the Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, and were confirmed by surgery and pathology. Of these, normal bladder tissues (control), primary urothelial carcinoma of different grades (Stage pTa, Stage pT3), bladder paracancerous tissues, accompanied with 2 bladder cancer cell lines (BIU-87 and T24), were divided into 6 groups. Quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical study of adhesion molecules Tβ4, ILK, E-cadherin, and β-catenin involved in EMT were carried out. A lentiviral gene transferring vector containing the RNA polymerase III-dependent U6 promoter to express short hairpin RNA (shRNA) directed against Tβ4 was also applied. In the present study, all agents were evaluated using commercial kits.Results: A strong correlation between the expression levels of Tβ4, ILK, E-cadherin, and β-catenin was found in the bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) patients. In the BIU-87 and T24 bladder cancer cells overexpressing Tβ4, which were accompanied by a loss of E-cadherin as well as a cytosolic accumulation of β-catenin, up-regulation of ILK was also revealed. The inhibition of the Tβ4 expression with lentiviral shRNA vector could raise EMT-like phenotypic changes, significantly depressed motility, and subsequent invasiveness of bladder cancer cells.Conclusions: Our results imply that the Tβ4 is likely to play a crucial role in EMT progression, and that inhibition of the Tβ4 expression or interactions with other genes should be novel therapeutic targets for bladder cancers with high invasive and metastatic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A burn is a severe injury, and the resulting pain can be very significant. Currently, opioids are the primary method of pain management, but these drugs have side effects; thus, it is of prime focus to research the mechanisms of pain formation and analgesic drugs. Objective: To investigate the effects of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on burn pain mediated by the P2X3 receptor. Methods: First-degree and superficial second-degree burn models were used. The mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured, and P2X3 receptor expression on nerve terminals in burn-injured skin were detected by immunohistochemistry. The effects of TMP on the P2X receptor agonist-activated currents in freshly isolated burn-injured rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were studied by whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Main Results: One hour following the procedure, MWT and TWL in first and second-degree paw-burns with normal saline (NS) treatment were lower than those in the unburned control group and lasted for 24 or 96 h, respectively (p < 0.01). After 24 h, MWT and TWL in the first-degree paw-burn with TMP treatment were significantly increased as compared with NS treatment; no difference was found when compared to the unburned control group. MWT and TWL in the second-degree paw-burn in the TMP treatment group were significantly increased at 48 h compared to NS treatment. No difference was found with the values for the unburned control group after 72 h. On day 3 after the burn, P2X3-receptor expression in the nerve terminal in the burn-injured skin of the first- and second-degree dorsal burns in the NS treatment group was higher than those in other groups (p < 0.05). After treatment with TMP, P2X3-receptor expression of the nerve terminal in the first- and second-degree dorsal burns of the TMP treatment group was significantly decreased. ATP-activated currents (IATP) on the DRG neurons of the second-degree dorsal burn in the NS treatment group were markedly higher than those in the second-degree dorsal burns in the TMP treatment group and the unburned control group (p < 0.05); there were no significant differences between the second-degree dorsal burn in the TMP treatment group and the unburned control group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: TMP alleviates nociceptive transmission of burn-injury pain mediated by the P2X3 receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of retro-binding inhibitors of human α-thrombin was prepared to elucidate structure–activity relationships (SAR) and optimize in vivo performance. Compounds 9 and 11, orally active inhibitors of thrombin catalytic activity, were identified to be efficacious in a thrombin-induced lethality model in mice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Early diagnosis of acute graft rejection is important in the clinic. To explore a reliable diagnostic marker, we selected skin-grafted rabbits as an animal model to study peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) major histocompatibility complex 1 (MHC I) and MHC II gene mRNA in acute graft rejection (AGR). Methods: Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups to observe skin graft rejection: three rabbits were in the autograft control group; six rabbits in a cyclosporine (CsA) treated allografted group; and the other six rabbits in untreated allografted group. The CsA-treated allografted group was given CsA (5 mg/kg) daily intramuscularly. PBMC samples were obtained every 2 days to detect by real-time polymerase chain reaction, PBMC MHC I and MHC II gene mRNA. Results: MHC I and MHC II gene mRNA levels did not show any obvious change in the autografted controls. MHC I gene mRNA levels showed a slow increase in the CsA-treated allografted group, but no obvious change in the untreated allografted group. MHC II gene mRNA reached the highest level at 2 to 3 days before graft rejection appeared macroscopically in the CsA-treated allografted group and untreated allografted group, then decreasing to a low level. Conclusion: Compared with MHC I gene mRNA expression, PBMC MHC II gene mRNA expression may be considered to be an earlier marker for AGR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.