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Aggregate and air void distribution determined by compaction commonly affects damage appearance and development inside asphalt mixture and is related to asphalt pavement durability and quality. The main objective of this study is to investigate the recycled aggregate (RA) effect on asphalt mixture compaction behavior under different engineering conditions. First, the aggregate fragmentation caused by compaction effort was simulated using the superpave gyratory compactor. In this regard, the influences of aggregate type and RA content were investigated. Second, the indoor experiment scheme was determined using the Taguchi method to obtain compaction data of recycled aggregate asphalt mixture (RAAM). Finally, a genetic algorithm-based backpropagation (GA-BP) artificial neural network (ANN) model using the 216 data sets of the indoor experiment was developed to predict and explore the relative contribution of engineering-conditions-related parameters to RAAM compaction difficulty. The results showed that the aggregate particles suffer fragmentation mainly in the early compaction of recycled aggregate asphalt mixture. The effect of RA on aggregate fragmentation during the compaction process is not statistically significant. The 10-14-1 GA-based BP ANN model developed in this study is an effective method in predicting the compaction energy consumption of RAAM with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 98.59% and a mean-squared error value of 0.6266. The gradation shape, NMAS, FI3d , AI3d , and T3d and incorporated content of recycled aggregate have a considerable positive correlation with the compaction difficulty. The limitation of this study is that the compaction difficulty prediction model is developed according to indoor test data. Therefore, the model's applicability to field pavement projects required further practical verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was designed to investigate the abnormal expression of plasma miR-592 and miR-217-3p in retinoblastoma (Rb) and explore the clinical diagnostic value of their expression levels for Rb. Methods: The 100 Rb patients who came to Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2018 to January 2019 were selected as the Rb group, and 100 healthy patients who came to the physical examination centre during the same period were selected as the control group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of plasma miR-592 and miR-217-3p in all subjects; analyse the relationship between plasma miR-592 and miR-217-3p levels and the clinicopathological characteristics of Rb. Pearson correlation analysis evaluated the relationship between plasma miR-592 and miR-217-3p levels and overall survival. Results: Plasma levels of miR-592 and miR-217-3p in the Rb group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.0001), and the expression of miR-592 was significantly correlated with family genetic history (p 0.0001), tumour bias (p=0.0081), lymph node metastasis (p=0.0048) and pathological grade (p=0.0025), and the expression of miR-217-3p was significantly related to family genetic history (p 0.0001), optic nerve infiltration (p 0.0001), lymph node metastasis (p=0.0090), and pathological grade (p 0.0001). The high expression of miR-592 and miR-217-3p presents a more serious pathological manifestation of Rb, and the overall survival of patients is significantly shortened with the increase of miR-592 (r=-0.2276, p = 0.0052) and miR-217-3p levels (r=-0.6461, p 0.0001). Conclusions: and miR-217-3p are highly expressed in the plasma of Rb patients, and their elevated levels present severe pathological manifestations of Rb and shortened overall survival, which is expected to become biomarkers for clinical diagnosis of Rb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the feasibility of vaginal delivery after HIFU. Methods: A total of 37 women who met the trial of labor after HIFU (TOLAH) inclusion criteria and 368 women who met the trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC) inclusion criteria gave birth at Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital between 14th June 2018 and 24th September 2021. The delivery outcomes of the two groups were compared. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the adjusted risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Results: In the Qualified Candidates for TOLAH group, vaginal delivery is substantially less common (p = 0.000). The prevalence of PPH in the Qualified Candidates for TOLAH group is lower than in the Candidates for TOLAC group (8.82% vs 10.51%, p = 0.534; 0% vs 2.51%, p = 0.418). Hemoglobin drop in the Qualified Candidates for TOLAH group is also lower (7.03 ± 7.39vs 12.11 ± 12.62, p = 0.001). The rate of using more than two types of uterotonic medications to promote contraction is significantly lower in the Qualified Candidates for TOLAH group (54.05% vs 69.84%, p = 0.04), and the percentage of abnormal uterine contraction is lower in the Qualified Candidates for TOLAH group (35.14% vs 49.18%, p = 0.072). PPH is strongly predicted by abnormal uterine contraction (aOR: 17.177, 95% CI:5.046 58.472, p = 0.000), but not by HIFU (aOR:1.105; 95% CI:0.240 5.087, p = 0.898). No uterine rupture occurred in the cases after HIFU. Conclusions: No uterine rupture occurred in our study group after HIFU. HIFU is not a risk for PPH. It is promising for those after HIFU to choose vaginal delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material of the paederine genus Lathrobium Gravenhorst, 1802 from the Nanling National Nature Reserve, southern China, is examined. Four species are identified, one of them described previously. Three species are described and illustrated for the first time, all of them micropterous and locally endemic: L. yangyihani Lin & Peng sp. nov., L. jiaxingyangi Lin & Peng sp. nov., and L. wangxingmini Lin & Peng sp. nov. The female sexual characters of L. guangdongense Peng & Li, 2014 are described and illustrated for the first time. Including the new taxa, 224 Lathrobium species are currently known from mainland China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cardiac hypertrophy is a key biological response to injurious stresses such as pressure overload and, when excessive, can lead to heart failure. Innate immune activation by danger signals, through intracellular pattern recognition receptors such as nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1 (Nod1) and its adaptor receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2), might play a major role in cardiac remodeling and progression to heart failure. We hypothesize that Nod1/RIP2 are major contributors to cardiac hypertrophy, but may not be sufficient to fully express the phenotype alone. METHODS: To elucidate the contribution of Nod1/RIP2 signaling to cardiac hypertrophy, we randomized Nod1-/-, RIP2-/-, or wild-type mice to transverse aortic constriction or sham operations. Cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and cardiac function were examined in these mice. RESULTS: Nod1 and RIP2 proteins were upregulated in the heart after transverse aortic constriction, and this was paralleled by increased expression of mitochondrial proteins, including mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS). Nod1-/- and RIP2-/- mice subjected to transverse aortic constriction exhibited better survival, improved cardiac function, and decreased cardiac hypertrophy. Downstream signal transduction pathways that regulate inflammation and fibrosis, including NF (nuclear factor) B and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)-GATA4/p300, were reduced in both Nod1-/- and RIP2-/- mice after transverse aortic constriction compared with wild-type mice. Coimmunoprecipitation of extracted cardiac proteins and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy showed that Nod1/RIP2 interaction was robust and that this complex also included MAVS as an essential component. Suppression of MAVS expression attenuated the complex formation, NF B signaling, and myocyte hypertrophy. Interrogation of mitochondrial function compared in the presence or ablation of MAVS revealed that MAVS serves to suppress mitochondrial energy output and mediate fission/fusion related dynamic changes. The latter is possibly linked to mitophagy during cardiomyocytes stress, which may provide an intriguing link between innate immune activation and mitochondrial energy balance under stress or injury conditions. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified that innate immune Nod1/RIP2 signaling is a major contributor to cardiac remodeling after stress. This process is critically joined by and regulated through the mitochondrial danger signal adapter MAVS. This novel complex coordinates remodeling, inflammatory response, and mitochondrial energy metabolism in stressed cardiomyocytes. Thus, Nod1/RIP2/MAVS signaling complex may represent an attractive new therapeutic approach toward heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honeysuckle has antiviral, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is induced by immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated inflammatory reaction. Our study investigates whether honeysuckle extract (HE) has therapeutic effect on AR. An AR model of mice was established by ovalbumin (OVA). Hematoxylin–Eosin staining was used to assess nasal mucosa damage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine serum histamine, IgE and interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-17 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) from nasal lavage fluid. Western blot was carried out to analyze the protein level from nasal mucosa tissue. We found that HE not only decreased nasal rubbing and sneezing in AR mice, but also reduced AR-induced damage to nasal mucosa. Moreover, HE lowered the levels of serum IgE and histamine and inhibited IL-4 and IL-17 levels from AR mice but raised IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in AR-induced nasal lavage fluid. Our results also showed that HE elevated the protein levels of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and T-box transcription factor (T-bet) in AR-induced nasal mucosa tissue, whereas it inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) protein levels. By regulating AR-induced inflammatory reaction and autoimmune response, HE also relieved OVA-induced AR. Thus, HE could be used as a potential drug to treat AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersive hyperspectral visible and near-infrared (VNIR) imagers using back-illuminated (BI) charge-coupled devices (CCDs) suffer from interference fringes in the near-infrared band, known as the etalon effect. This effect causes a signal modulation which can become increasingly serious (±25% or more) when the spectral resolution gets higher than 5 nm, bringing huge difficulties for subsequent processing and quantitative applications of the hyperspectral data. A mathematical model to describe the fringe pattern is established by taking both the system parameters and the interference principle of multilayer thin films into account. Then, the model is used to simulate the distribution of interference fringes as a function of wavelength, and the simulated results are verified with the measured data from a VNIR grating-based hyperspectral imager. It turns out that the model is able to describe the interference fringes accurately. In addition, quantitative analysis of the influence of related factors on interference fringes is carried out, and a single-layer model is introduced for comparison, providing the theoretical foundation for the subsequent correction of interference fringes. This paper provides an important reference for the design and application of dispersive hyperspectral VNIR imagers using BI-CCDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to study the growth performance and immunological effects of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) in broilers. A total of 128 15-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four treatments: maize-soybean meal as the basal control diet or the basal diet containing either 100, 200 or 300 mg/kg of YSE. Each treatment was consisted of four replicate pens with eight broilers per pen. The experiment lasted 28 days. Body weight gain (BWG) and European broiler index (EBI) were recorded during grower period (d 15-28) and finisher period (d 29-42), respectively. On d 28 and 42, serum was collected to measure interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations and antibody titres against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in broilers. During grower period, growth performance and serum cytokine concentrations were not exhibited differences except the decreased IL-6 concentrations. During finisher period, BWG and EBI were both increased at 100mg/kg group; IL-6 and IFN-γ concentrations were enhanced with 100mg/kg YSE incorporation, while 200 and 300 mg/kg YSE levels reduced IL-4 production. Antibody titres against NDV was improved at 100mg/kg YSE level in both grower and finisher period. We concluded that dietary YSE supplementation could improve growth performance and immunological functions in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bicycle injuries are a leading cause of accidental death among children in the world, and bicycle-related injuries are also very common in China, thus to find out bicycle injury risk factors is imperative. This study aims to identify the cyclist-, bicycle- and road-related risk factors of bicycle injury, to develop health education programs as an intervention and to provide a scientific basis for establishing policies against bicycle injury. Methods: We selected two middle schools randomly among seven schools in Chaoshan rural areas, where the main means of transportation for students from home to school was bicycle. The subjects were middle school students from 7th to 9th grades from Gucuo Middle School and Hefeng Middle School. Cyclists were surveyed through questionnaires about bicycle injury in the past 12 months. Results: Multivariable logistic analysis showed that compared with a combination-type road? motor lane and a non-intact road were both risk factors of bicycle injuries. This was followed by riding with fatigue, non-motor lane and inattentive riding. Conclusion: Bicycle injuries are frequent in China. Three risk factors on bicycle traffic injury among middle school students in Chaoshan rural areas of China were identified. This study provides important data to develop intervention strategies for China and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleus pulposus (NP) has been suggested to trigger an autoimmune response if exposed to the immune system, which plays a key role in neuropathic pain. Therefore, appropriate suppression of inflammation is a key factor for treating the radiculopathy caused by intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration. Resveratrol, a key component of red wine, has been suggested to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and in vivo. However, the effects of resveratrol on NP-mediated pain in vivo have not been studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether resveratrol may be useful in treating NP-mediated pain in an autologous NP model of radiculopathy. A total of 36 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated randomly into sham (group I), saline-treated (group II) and resveratrol-treated (group III) groups. Animal behavior in response to non-noxious mechanical stimulation with von Frey filaments was compared at days 0 (baseline), 3, 7, 14 and 21 following surgery. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were assessed at days 7 and 14. The data showed that resveratrol exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect on the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Compared with group II, the expression of TNF-α and IL-1 was significantly decreased at each time point in group III. In addition, resveratrol significantly reduced pain behavior triggered by the application of NP tissue on the dorsal root ganglion for up to 14 days. These data suggest that resveratrol has potential for the treatment of NP-mediated pain, indicating a potential clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emission from black hole binaries (BHBs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) display significant aperiodic variabilities. The most promising explanation for these variabilities is the propagating fluctuations in the accretion flow. It is natural to expect that the mechanism driving variabilities in BHBs and AGNs may operate in a black hole hyper-accretion disc, which is believed to power gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We study the variabilities of jet power in GRBs based on the model of propagating fluctuations. It is found that the variabilities of jet power and the temporal profile of erratic spikes in this scenario are similar to those in observed light curves of prompt gamma-ray emission of GRBs. Our results show that the mechanism driving X-ray variabilities in BHBs and AGNs may operate in the central engine to drive the variabilities of GRBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Haematological toxicity (HT) is common in patients with oesophageal cancer (EC) treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The Quantitative Analysis of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic guidelines provide no dose constraints for the bone marrow (BM) to avoid HT. We aimed to determine dosimetric factors associated with HT during CRT for EC. Methods: 41 patients with EC treated with neoadjuvant cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil-based CRT were retrospectively reviewed. Associations between the dose–volume histogram parameters of thoracic bones and blood cell count changes during CRT were assessed using logistic regression analyses. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were used to derive optimal dosimetric planning constraints. Vx indicates the total organ volume percentage exceeding a radiation dose of x (Gy). Results: Greater thoracic vertebrae and rib irradiation doses, including mean vertebral dose (MVD), thoracic vertebrae V5–30 (TVV5–30), mean rib dose and rib V5–20, were associated with increased leukopenia (grade ≥ 3) risk. Additional BM sites (sternum, scapulae and clavicles) did not influence HT. White blood cell and absolute neutrophil count nadirs were associated with increased irradiation doses to the thoracic vertebrae, ribs and sternum. Chemotherapy cycle number was not significantly associated with severe neutropenia or leukopenia. Cut-off values with the highest likelihood of avoiding leukopenia were MVD < 25.9 Gy, TVV20 < 70% and TVV10 < 77%. Conclusion: Thoracic bone irradiation dose was significantly associated with HT after adjusting for chemotherapy effects. Efforts to maintain MVD < 25.9 Gy, TVV10 < 77% and TVV20 < 70% could reduce HT. Advances in knowledge: This is the first study addressing issues concerning HT in patients with neoadjuvant CRT-treated EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A prospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes following posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in patients treated with a PEEK cage compared to those treated with an autologous cage using the lumbar spinous process and laminae (ACSP).Methods: Sixty-nine consecutive patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease were randomly assigned to either a PEEK cage (group A, n = 34) or an ACSP (group B, n = 35). Monosegmental PLIF was performed in all patients. Mean lumbar lordosis, mean disc height, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, functional outcomes, fusion rates and complication rates were recorded and compared. The patients were followed postoperatively for a minimum of 2 years.Results: Successful radiographic fusion was documented in all patients. No flexion-extension hypermobility or pedicle screw loosening or breakage occurred during the follow-up period. No significant difference existed between the 2 groups when comparing the mean lumbar lordosis, mean disc height, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, functional outcomes, fusion rates or complication rates. Overall satisfactory results were achieved in both groups.Conclusions: The results suggest that the ACSP appears to be equally as safe and effective as the PEEK cage.Trial Registration: ISRCTN25558534 . Retrospectively registered 16/02/2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal surgical approach for treatment of multi-level cervical disc disease is currently widely debated. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) combined with cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) has been presented as a treatment approach, but to date, there are few reports with adequate clinical and radiological data for this hybrid surgical procedure. The goal of this paper is to assess clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with cervical spondylosis in three contiguous segments after treatment with artificial disc replacement combined with fusion. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective review of 36 patients (mean age of 48.6 years) with contiguous three-level cervical spondylosis who were treated with ACDF coupled with CDA (hybrid surgery) between October 2008 and October 2012. Clinical evaluation was based on the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and postoperative JOA score improvement rate (IR). Radiographic parameters, angular range of motion (ROM) for C2-C7, and ROM for the superior and inferior adjacent segments were measured before the operation, at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperation, and at the final follow-up evaluation. All cases were followed for at least 28 months (range 28-65 months). Results: All patients exhibited significant postoperative improvement in NDI and JOA scores compared to preoperative levels (P < 0.05), and these improved scores were maintained during the follow-up period. The JOA score improvement rate was 70.83 % at the final follow-up evaluation. The mean C2-C7 ROM of all cases was significantly decreased immediately after operation but recovered to preoperative levels after 12 months (P = 0.721). The ROM of the superior and inferior adjacent segments was recovered to preoperative levels after 6 months (P > 0.05). One patient required a second surgery for symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration. Neither pseudarthrosis nor other device migration was observed in any patients during the entire follow-up period. Conclusions: These results indicate that hybrid surgery seems to be a promising, acceptable, and alternative surgical approach for the treatment of multi-level cervical disc disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence has indicated that the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain is mediated by spinal neural plasticity in the dorsal horn, which provides insight for analgesic therapy. Here, we report that the abundance of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 and NcK-interacting kinase (TNIK), a kinase that is presumed to regulate neural plasticity, was specifically enhanced in ipsilateral dorsal horn neurons after spinal nerve ligation (SNL; left L5 and L6). Spinal TNIK-associated allodynia is mediated by downstream TNIK-GluR1 coupling and the subsequent phosphorylation-dependent trafficking of GluR1 toward the plasma membrane in dorsal horn neurons. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), which is regulated by spinal F-box protein 3 (Fbxo3)-dependent F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 2 (Fbxl2) ubiquitination, contributes to SNL-induced allodynia by modifying TNIK/GluR1 phosphorylation-associated GluR1 trafficking. Although exhibiting no effect on Fbxo3/Fbxl2/TRAF2 signaling, focal knockdown of spinal TNIK expression prevented SNL-induced allodynia by attenuating TNIK/GluR1 phosphorylation-dependent subcellular GluR1 redistribution. In contrast, intrathecal administration of BC-1215 (N1,N2-Bis[[4-(2-pyridinyl)phenyl]methyl]-1,2-ethanediamine) (a novel Fbxo3 inhibitor) prevented SNL-induced Fbxl2 ubiquitination and subsequent TFAF2 de-ubiquitination to ameliorate behavioral allodynia via antagonizing TRAF2/TNIK/GluR1 signaling. By targeting spinal Fbxo3-dependent Fbxl2 ubiquitination and the subsequent TRAF2/TNIK/GluR1 cascade, spinal application of a TNF-a-neutralizing antibody ameliorated SNL-induced allodynia, and, conversely, intrathecal TNF-a injection into naive rats induced allodynia via a spinal Fbxo3/Fbxl2-dependent modification of the TRAF2/TNIK/GluR1 cascade. Together, our results suggest that spinal TNF-a contributes to the development of neuropathic pain by upregulating TRAF2/TNIK/GluR1 signaling via Fbxo3-dependent Fbxl2 ubiquitination and degradation. Thus, we propose a potential medical treatment strategy for neuropathic pain by targeting the F-box protein or TNIK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retromer, which crucially contributes to endosomal sorting machinery through the retrieval and recycling of signaling receptors away from degradation, has been identified as a critical element for glutamatergic-receptor-dependent neural plasticity at excitatory synapses. We observed it accompanied by behavioral allodynia; neuropathic injury time-dependently enhanced VPS26A and SNX27 expression; VPS26A-SNX27 coprecipitation; and VPS26A-positive, SNX27-positive, and VPS26A-SNX27 double-labeled immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of Sprague Dawley rats that were all sufficiently ameliorated through the focal knock-down of spinal VPS26A expression. Although the knock-down of spinal SNX27 expression exhibited similar effects, spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-enhanced VPS26A expression remained unaffected. Moreover, SNL also increased membrane-bound and total mGluR5 abundance, VPS26A-bound SNX27 and mGluR5 and mGluR5-bound VPS26A and SNX27 coprecipitation, and mGluR5-positive and VPS26A/SNX27/mGluR5 triple-labeled immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn, and these effects were all attenuated through the focal knock-down of spinal VPS26A and SNX27 expression. Although administration with MPEP adequately ameliorated SNL-associated allodynia, mGluR5 expression, and membrane insertion, SNL-enhanced VPS26A and SNX27 expression were unaffected. Together, these results suggested a role of spinal VPS26A-SNX27-dependent mGluR5 recycling in the development of neuropathic pain. This is the first study that links retromer-associated sorting machinery with the spinal plasticity underlying pain hypersensitivity and proposes the possible pathophysiological relevance of endocytic recycling in pain pathophysiology through the modification of glutamatergic mGluR5 recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The host response to spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to an ischemic environment that can induce cell death. Therapeutic interventions using neurotrophic factors have focused on the prevention of such reactions in order to reduce this cell death. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic and vascular permeability factor. We hypothesized in this study that batroxobin would exhibit protective effects following SCI by promoting the expression of VEGF to reduce the levels of apoptosis in a rat model of SCI. Ninety adult female Sprague Dawley rats were divided randomly into sham injury (group I), SCI (group II) and batroxobin treatment (group III) groups. The Basso-Bettie-Bresnahan (BBB) scores, number of apoptotic cells and expression of VEGF were assessed at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 28 days post-injury. The BBB scores were significantly improved in group III compared with those in group II between days 5 and 28 post-injury (P<0.05). At each time-point subsequent to the injury, the number of apoptotic cells in group III was reduced compared with that in group II. Compared with group II, treatment with batroxobin significantly increased the expression of VEGF from day 3 until 2 weeks post-SCI (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed at day 28. These data suggest that batroxobin has multiple beneficial effects on SCI, indicating a potential clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular oxidant stress are considered inducers of carcinogenesis. However, the association of ROS with cancer is both complex and, at times, paradoxical. We assessed the effects of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on the induction of ROS accumulation and on the activation of the mitochondrial signaling pathway in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. The results indicated that DHM could reduce ROS accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, with increasing concentrations of DHM, the expression of proteins that participate in the cell apoptosis program increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that a low dose of H2O2 (10 nM) could reverse DHM-induced cell apoptosis. We observed the following critical issues: first, the cellular redox balance is vital in DHM-induced apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, and second, ROS could function as a redox-active signaling messenger to determine DHM-induced cell apoptosis. In this study, we demonstrated that low levels of ROS are also critical for the function of HCC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A theoretical model of surface generation and subsurface damage was established. • The model considered the shape, size, and spatial distribution of the particles and the brittle-ductile removal effect. • The models were successfully validated by a series of lapping experiments. • The material removal mechanism and lapping tool wear characteristics were investigated. • The influence mechanism of tool load on surface and subsurface state was revealed. Fixed abrasive lapping (FAL) is a promising technology increasingly used for finishing optical mirrors and molds in a number of materials due to its high finishing efficiency, environmental friendliness, and relatively better surface and subsurface quality. A theoretical model for fixed-abrasive lapping of optical glass was developed in this paper by using indentation fracture mechanics, contact mechanics, mathematical statistics, lapping kinematics, and convolution iterative principle to provide an enhanced scientific understanding of the surface microtopography generation and subsurface damage (SSD) control mechanisms. In the modeling, the influence of the shape, size, and spatial distribution of abrasive particles and the ductile and brittle removal mechanisms of the material were considered. A series of lapping experiments on fused silica glass was carried out to quantitatively analyze the feasibility and accuracy of the model and study the influence mechanism of process parameters on the surface and subsurface state. Results indicated that the models could well predict the surface micromorphology and the SSD depth, and the range of sharpness angle of abrasive particles and tool load affected the predicted SSD range. In addition, the material removal mechanism and lapping tool wear characteristics were revealed by the surface structure and element component analysis. Finally, the FAL process was optimized by the evaluation indices of material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness, and SSD. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious public health problem worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and pathological stages of liver biopsy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: The study included 619 patients who were diagnosed with CHB from March 2005 to December 2011. AFP levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence. Liver biopsy samples were classified into five levels of inflammation (G) and fibrosis (S) stages, according to the Chinese guidelines for prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis. Two multivariable ordinal regression models were performed to determine associations between AFP, GGT, and APRI (AST/PLT ratio) and stages of inflammation and fibrosis. Results: Significant positive and moderate correlations were shown between AFP levels and inflammation stages and between AFP levels and fibrosis stages (ρ = 0.436 and 0.404, p < 0.001). Median values of AFP at liver fibrosis stages S0-1, S2, S3, and S4 were 3.0, 3.4, 5.4, and 11.3 ng/ml, respectively, and median APRI (AST/PLT ratio) was 0.41. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses revealed that the areas under the curves (AUCs) were 0.685, 0.727, and 0.755 (all p <0.001) for judging inflammation stages of G ≥ 2, G ≥ 3, G = 4 by AFP; and 0.691, 0.717, and 0.718 (all p <0.001) for judging fibrosis stages of S ≥ 2, S ≥ 3, and S = 4 by AFP. APRI levels showed significant positive and moderate correlations with inflammation stages (ρ = 0.445, p < 0.001). AST, GGT, and APRI levels showed significant positive but very weak to weak correlations with fibrosis stages (ρ = 0.137, 0.237, 0.281, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Serum AFP levels increased as pathological levels of inflammation and fibrosis increased in CHB patients. Our data showed the clinical significance of serum AFP levels in diagnosing liver inflammation and fibrosis. Assessment of liver pathology may be improved by creating a predictive mathematical model by which AFP levels with other biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To investigate the short and medium term outcomes of bone defect reconstruction with bone cement prosthesis after clavicle malignancies resection. Methods A total of 5 clavicular malignancy patients experienced bone cement prosthesis reconstruction after subtotal claviculectomy were enrolled the study from January 2005 to May 2012. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score (MSTS), Visual Analogue scale (VAS) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder outcome score (ASES) were adopted for assessment. Results The mean follow-up period was 25.8 months. All patients were performed bone cement defect reconstruction after claviculectomy. In which, 3 cases showed disease-free and other 2 cases were alive with sickness. The average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 85.40% ± 5.68%(77%-90%), Visual Analogue Scale was 1.40 ± 0.55 (1-2) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Outcome Score was 92.40 ± 3.29(87-96). Conclusions Adoption of clavicle bone cement prosthesis for bone defect reconstruction after tumor resection can maintain the contour of shoulder and reduce the complications ascribe to the claviculectomy. It is an effective and feasible therapeutic procedure in clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotational and flexion deformity of C1-C2 due to ankylosing spondylitis is rare. We did surgical correction in one such case by lateral release, resection of the posterior arch of C1 and mobilization of the vertebral arteries, wedge osteotomy of the lateral masses of C1 and internal fixation under general anesthesia. There were no vascular and neurological complications during the surgery. After operation the atlantoaxial rotational deformity was corrected and the normal cervical lordosis was restored. At 1 year followup his visual field and feeding became normal and internal fixation was stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of U0126 on the formation of glial scars following spinal cord injury (SCI) in a rat model. Ninety adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into sham injury (group I), SCI (group II) and U0126 treatment group III) groups, and functional outcome was observed during the 4 weeks following the injury. The P1 and N1 latencies and P1-N1 amplitudes of somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) were collected one day prior to surgery, on the day of surgery and 14 and 28 days postoperatively. The expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin (Vim) were assessed 14 and 28 days post-injury. Treatment with U0126 significantly increased locomotor function from the second week until 4 weeks post-SCI. At 14 and 28 days subsequent to the injury, the number of cells that were positive for GFAP expression in the U0126-treated group was significantly reduced and the GFAP-positive cells were observed to be smaller, with a reduced prominence and pale staining. Moreover, the area of glial scarring was smaller compared with that of the SCI controls. Inhibitors of MEK may reduce glial scar formation by suppressing the proliferation of astrocytes, and may improve hindlimb motor function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperation of all the members in a supply chain plays an important role in logistics service. The service integrator can encourage cooperation from service suppliers by sharing their cost during the service, which we assume can increase the sales by accumulating the reputation of the supply chain. A differential game model is established with the logistics service supply chain that consists of one service integrator and one supplier. And we derive the optimal solutions of the Nash equilibrium without cost sharing contract and the Stackelberg equilibrium with the integrator as the leader who partially shares the cost of the efforts of the supplier. The results make the benefits of the cost sharing contract in increasing the profits of both players as well as the whole supply chain explicit, which means that the cost sharing contract is an effective coordination mechanism in the long-term relationship of the members in a logistics service supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common types of primary brain tumors in adults are gliomas. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most highly aggressive type of glioma. GBM contains various numbers of cells with characteristics of activated or dysmorphic macrophages/microglia. Among them, some cell types provide significant support for tumor growth, while others are able to inhibit tumor progression. These cells are generally considered part of the tumor stroma and are often described as TAMs (tumour-associated macrophages). The presence of TAMs has been linked to increased tumor grade and poor clinical outcome in GBM, suggesting that depletion or inhibition of these cells may suppress tumor growth. A better understanding of tumor microenvironment in the brain would therefore be expected to contribute to the development of improved therapies for brain tumors that are urgently required due to a poor availability of treatments for these malignancies. This review summarizes some of the known interactions between brain tumors and different stromal cells, and also discusses potential therapeutic approaches within this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of new media technologies, the role of media in a society has been changed that leads researchers to re-construct the meaning of literacy from classic literacy to new media literacy. There have been continuing efforts to understand new media and promote the importance of becoming new media literate among researchers, educators, and policy makers. Fundamental understanding to what is new media literacy still remains unclear. There is only one paper providing the preliminary work in unpacking the framework of new media literacy. Although the developed framework has its merit, more details and information need to further elaborate and refine. In this paper, we acknowledge the two continua framework and endorse four types of literacy comprising of this two-continua. Moreover, we provide ten fine-grained indicators to reflect these four types of literacy. We also propose another new divide that distinguishes Web1.0 from Web2.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the elastoplastic deformational behavior of gravelly soils. A series of drained triaxial tests with controlled stress paths [conventional triaxial compression (CTC) and conventional triaxial extension (CTE)] were conducted using large specimens composed of gravelly soils. Experimental results reveal that the elastic and plastic deformation of gravelly soils exhibits the following characteristics: (1) the elastic shear modulus stiffens under increase of hydrostatic loading; (2) during the CTC tests, plastic deformation occurs before the failure state, and the influence of confining pressure on the plastic strain is insignificant; (3) through the CTE path, the shear strain dominates the plastic deformation; (4) based on the distribution of plastic flows, the gravelly soils follow the nonassociated flow rule; and (5) this study proposes a possible geometry of plastic potential surface for gravelly soil, which includes two parts: an approximately horizontal line and an elliptic surface in the plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NADPH oxidase is a major source of superoxide anion following stroke and reperfusion. This study evaluated the effects of apocynin, a known antioxidant and inhibitor of Nox2 NADPH, on neuronal injury and cell-specific responses to stroke induced in the conscious rat. Apocynin treatment (50 mg/kg i.p.) commencing 1 hour prior to stroke and 24 and 48 hours after stroke significantly reduced infarct volume in the cortex by ~ 60%, but had no effect on striatal damage or neurological deficits. In situ detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using dihydroethidium fluorescence revealed that increased ROS detected in OX-42 positive cells following ischemia was reduced in apocynin-treated rats by ~ 51%, but surprisingly increased in surrounding NeuN positive cells of the same rats by ~ 27%, in comparison to the contralateral hemisphere. Reduced ROS from activated microglia/macrophages treated with apocynin was associated with reduced Nox2 immunoreactivity without change to the number of cells. These findings confirm the protective effects of apocynin and indicate a novel mechanism via reduced Nox2 expression. We also reveal compensatory changes in neuronal ROS generation as a result of Nox2 inhibition and highlight the need to assess long term individual cell responses to inhibitors of oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design and implementation of a super-twisting algorithm second-order sliding mode controller (SOSMC) for a synchronous reluctance motor. SOSMC is an effective tool for the control of uncertain nonlinear systems since it overcomes themain drawbacks of conventional slidingmode control, that is, large control effort and chattering. The practical implementation of SOSMC has simple control laws and assures an improvement in sliding accuracy with respect to conventional sliding mode control. This paper proposes a control scheme based on super-twisting algorithm SOSMC. The SOSMC is mathematically derived, and its performance is verified by simulation and experiments. The proposed SOSMC is robust against motor parameter variation and mitigates chattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we demonstrated that 109(Z), 139(E)-heptadecadienylhydroquinone (HQ17-2), isolated from the lacquer tree, could decrease swarming motility and hemolysin activity but increase polymyxin B (PB) susceptibilityof Proteus mirabilis which is intrinsically highly-resistant to PB. The increased PB susceptibility induced by HQ17-2 was also observed in clinical isolates and biofilm-grown cells. HQ17-2 could inhibit swarming in the wild-type and rppA mutant but not in the rcsB mutant, indicating that HQ17-2 inhibits swarming through the RcsB-dependent pathway, a two-component signaling pathway negatively regulating swarming and virulence factor expression. The inhibition of hemolysin activity by HQ17-2 is also mediated through the RcsB-dependent pathway, because HQ17-2 could not inhibit hemolysin activity in the rcsB mutant. Moreover, the finding that HQ17-2 inhibits the expression of flhDC gene in the wild-type and rcsB-complemented strain but not in the rcsB mutant supports the notion. By contrast, HQ17-2 could increase PB susceptibility in the wild-type and rcsB mutant but not in the rppA mutant, indicating that HQ17-2 increases PB susceptibility through the RppA- dependent pathway, a signaling pathway positively regulating PB resistance. In addition, HQ17-2 could inhibit the promoter activities of rppA and pmrI, a gene positively regulated by RppA and involved in PB resistance, in the wild-type but not in the rppA mutant. The inhibition of rppA and pmrI expression caused lipopolysaccharide purified from HQ17-2-treated cells to have higher affinity for PB. Altogether, this study uncovers new biological effects of HQ17-2 and provides evidence for the potential of HQ17-2 in clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Langmuir Probes attached to plasma-facing components in a Tokamak are used to diagnose high-temperature plasma during fusion experiments. In this work, a finite element model of Langmuir Probe-Cooling Monoblock (LP-CM) is established, and structural analysis of the LP-CM is carried out. The maximum von Mises stress during the 400 s incident heat flux has been given in detail, and the relationship between the sliding friction coefficient and thermal stress has been investigated systematically. A contact design is employed between Langmuir Probe and Cooling Monoblock, which is an effective method to lower the thermal stress. The thermal stress reaches the peak on the edge of the aluminium oxide ceramic interlayer. The damaged displacement field of the LP-CM has been examined fully, and the maximum global displacement is 0.444 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6-Gingerol, a natural component of ginger, has been widely reported to possess antiinflammatory and antitumorigenic activities. Despite its potential efficacy against cancer, the anti-tumor mechanisms of 6-gingerol are complicated and remain sketchy. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the anti-tumor effects of 6-gingerol on colon cancer cells. Our results revealed that 6- gingerol treatment significantly reduced the cell viability of human colon cancer cell, LoVo, in a dose-dependent manner. Further flow cytometric analysis showed that 6-gingerol induced significant G2/ M phase arrest and had slight influence on sub-G1 phase in LoVo cells. Therefore, levels of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and their regulatory proteins involved in S-G2/ M transition were investigated. Our findings revealed that levels of cyclin A, cyclin B1, and CDK1 were diminished; in contrast, levels of the negative cell cycle regulators p27Kip1 and p21Cip1 were increased in response to 6-gingerol treatment. In addition, 6- gingerol treatment elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phosphorylation level of p53. These findings indicate that exposure of 6-gingerol may induce intracellular ROS and upregulate p53, p27Kip1, and p21Cip1 levels leading to consequent decrease of CDK1, cyclin A, and cyclin B1 as result of cell cycle arrest in LoVo cells. It would be suggested that 6-gingerol should be beneficial to treatment of colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of proline (Pro) accumulation on heat sensitivity was investigated using transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants ectopically expressing the A(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase 1 gene (AtP5CS1) under the control of a heat shock protein 17.6II gene promoter. During heat stress, the heat-inducible expression of the AtP5CS1 transgene was capable of enhancing Pro biosynthesis. Twelve-day-old seedlings were first treated with heat at 37°C for 24 h to induce Pro and then were stressed at 50°C for 4 h. After recovery at 22°C for 96 h, the growth of Pro-overproducing plants was significantly more inhibited than that of control plants that do not accumulate Pro, manifested by lower survival rate, higher ion leakage, higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde levels, and increased activity of the Pro/P5C cycle. The activities of anti-oxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, and catalase, but not those of glutathione reductase and ascorbate peroxidase, increased in all lines after heat treatment, but the increase was more significant in Pro-overproducing seedlings. Staining with MitoSox-Red, reported for being able to specifically detect superoxide formed in mitochondria, showed that Pro accumulation during heat stress resulted in elevated levels of ROS in mitochondria. Interestingly, exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene were found to partially rescue the heat-sensitive phenotype of Pro-overproducing seedlings. Measurement of ethylene and ABA levels further confirmed that these two hormones are negatively affected in Pro-overproducing seedlings during heat stress. Our results indicated that Pro accumulation under heat stress decreases the thermotolerance, probably by increased ROS production via the Pro/PSC cycle and inhibition of ABA and ethylene biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study elucidates the deformational behavior of gravelly soils by analyzing how hydrostatic pressure and pure shearing affect deformational behavior. A series of drained, triaxial compression tests have been performed using large specimens made of gravelly soils, where the grain-size distribution curve was based on the field condition. The volumetric and shear deformations of gravelly soils have been determined by performing experiments with controlled stress paths - hydrostatic pressure was applied first followed by pure shearing. A simple and innovative constitutive model is also proposed. The proposed model is characterized by the following features of gravelly soils: (i) significant shear-induced volumetric deformation prior to failure, (ii) modulus stiffening under hydrostatic loading and degradation under shearing, and (iii) stress-induced anisotropy. In the proposed model, deformational moduli K and G vary according to the stress state. The stiffening and degradation of these moduli result in diverse deformational behavior of gravelly soils. In addition, an anisotropic factor, β, is introduced to represent stress-induced anisotropy. Moreover, the proposed model only requires eight material parameters; each of which can be obtained easily from experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric wafer active sensors are small, inexpensive, noninvasive, elastic wave generators/receptors that ran be easily affixed to a structure. Piezoelectric wafer active sensor installation on the health-monitored structure is an important step that may have significant bearing on the success of the health monitoring process. The purpose of this paper is to explore the durability and survivability issues associated with various environmental conditions on piezoelectric wafer active sensors for structural health monitoring. The durability and survivability of the piezoelectric wafer active sensor transducers under various exposures (cryogenic and high temperature, temperature cycling, outdoor environment, operational fluids, large strains, fatigue load cycling) were considered over a long period of time. Both free piezoelectric wafer active sensors and bonded piezoelectric wafer active sensors on metallic structural substrates were used. Different adhesives and protective coatings were compared to find the candidate for piezoelectric wafer active sensor application in structural health monitoring. In most cases, piezoelectric wafer active sensors survived the tests successfully. The cases when piezoelectric wafer active sensors did not survive the tests were closely examined and possible causes of failure were discussed. The test results indicate that lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric wafer active sensors can be successfully used in a cryogenic environment; however, it does not seem to be a good candidate for high temperature. Repeated differential thermal expansion and extended environmental attacks can lead to piezoelectric wafer active sensor failure. This emphasizes the importance of achieving the proper design of the adhesive bond between the piezoelectric wafer active sensor and the structure, and of using a protective coating to minimize the ingression of adverse agents. The high-strain tests indicated that the piezoelectric wafer active sensors remained operational up to at least 3000 microstrain and failed beyond 6000 microstrain. In the fatigue cyclic loading, conducted up to 12 millions of cycles, the piezoelectric wafer active sensor transducers sustained at least as many fatigue cycles as the structural coupon specimens on which they were installed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite considerable evidence for contributions of both Zn2+ and Ca2+ in ischemic brain damage, the relative importance of each cation to very early events in injury cascades is not well known. We examined Ca2+ and Zn2+ dynamics in hippocampal slices subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). When single CA1 pyramidal neurons were loaded via a patch pipette with a Ca2+-sensitive indicator (fura-6F) and an ion-insensitive indicator (AlexaFluor-488), small dendritic fura-6F signals were noted after several (~6-8) minutes of OGD, followed shortly by sharp somatic signals, which were attributed to Ca2+ ("Ca2+deregulation"). At close to the time of Ca2+ deregulation, neurons underwent a terminal increase in plasma membrane permeability, indicated by loss of AlexaFluor-488 fluorescence. In neurons coloaded with fura-6F and a Zn2+-selective indicator (FluoZin-3), progressive rises in cytosolic Zn2+ levels were detected before Ca2+ deregulation. Addition of the Zn2+ chelator N,N,N',,N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN) significantly delayed both Ca2+ deregulation and the plasma membrane permeability increases, indicating that Zn2+ contributes to the degenerative signaling. Present observations further indicate that Zn2+ is rapidly taken up into mitochondria, contributing to their early depolarization. Also, TPEN facilitated recovery of the mitochondrial membrane potential and of field EPSPs after transient OGD, and combined removal of Ca2+ and Zn2+ markedly extended the duration of OGD tolerated. These data provide new clues that Zn2+ accumulates rapidly in neurons during slice OGD, is taken up by mitochondria, and contributes to consequent mitochondrial dysfunction, cessation of synaptic transmission, Ca2+ deregulation, and cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the multicomponent dynamic covalent assembly of macrocyclic structures by utilizing hydrogen bonding-driven zigzag anthranilamides as "leading" components. Two or three amino groups have been introduced to one side of hydrogen bonded anthranilamide oligomers. The preorganization of the frameworks enabled the amino groups to condense with structurally matched aldehydes to form mono- and bimacrocycles in good to quantitative yields. Reactions from up to five components have been investigated, which involved one-step formation of up to six imine bonds. The preorganization of the templates highly enhanced the stability of the macrocyclic structures. As a result, all the macrocycles could be purified by simply recrystallizing the crude products from suitable solvents. Coexisting experiments of three series of three to five components were also performed, which all revealed that the preorganized precursors possessed high self-sorting capacity. On the basis of the same approach, a hydrazone-based macrocycle was also prepared quantitatively, while an intermacrocycle hydrazone—imine exchange was revealed to facilitate the formation of the hydrazone-based macrocycle from an imine- based macrocycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a hybrid algorithm based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) for a multiobjective permutation flow shop scheduling problem, which is a typical NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem with strong engineering backgrounds. Not only does the proposed multiobjective algorithm (named MOPSO) apply the parallel evolution mechanism of PSO characterized by individual improvement, population cooperation, and competition to effectively perform exploration but it also utilizes several adaptive local search methods to perform exploitation. First, to make PSO suitable for solving scheduling problems, a ranked-order value (ROV) rule based on a random key technique to convert the continuous position values of particles to job permutations is presented. Second, a multiobjective local search based on the Nawaz-Enscore-Ham heuristic is applied to good solutions with a specified probability to enhance the exploitation ability. Third, to enrich the searching behavior and to avoid premature convergence, a multiobjective local search based on simulated annealing with multiple different neighborhoods is designed, and an adaptive meta-Lamarckian learning strategy is employed to decide which neighborhood will be used. Due to the fusion of multiple different searching operations, good solutions approximating the real Pareto front can be obtained. In addition, MOPSO adopts a random weighted linear sum function to aggregate multiple objectives to a single one for solution evaluation and for guiding the evolution process in the multiobjective sense. Due to the randomness of weights, searching direction can be enriched, and solutions with good diversity can be obtained. Simulation resuIts and comparisons based on a variety of instances demonstrate the effectiveness, efficiency, and robustness of the proposed hybrid algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple project wafers (MPWs) containing different chip designs from many customers serves as an important vehicle for gaining access to advanced semiconductor process technology for prototyping innovative designs or low-volume production. In this paper, a comprehensive study on the methods for determining dicing plans for MPW was carried out. Dicing plans can be used to determine the number of MPWs needed to be fabricated before chip fabrication and employed to saw the wafers after fabrication. Several methods based on integer linear programming formulation and a heuristic based on simulated annealing was proposed. Through conducting experiments with industrial test cases, these proposed methods can achieve up to 50% wafer reduction in some cases and on average 18% and 38% reduction for low- and high-volume production, respectively. This study makes a contribution to MPW dicing and is also instrumental in developing better reticle floorplanning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation considers imperfect production processes that require production correction and maintenance. The two states of the production process are the type I state (out-of-control state) and the type II state (in-control state). At the beginning of production of each renewal cycle, the state of the process is assumed not always to be restored to “in-control”. The type I state involves adjustment of the production mechanism, whereas the type II state does not. Production correction is either imperfect; worsening a production system, or perfect, returning it to the initial conditions. After N+ 1 type I states, the operating system must be maintained and returned to the initial condition. The mean cost per good item until the first successive N+ 1 type I states is determined. The existence of a unique and finite optimal N for an imperfect process under certain reasonable conditions is shown. Finally, a numerical example is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term potentiation (LTP), like memory, becomes progressively more resistant to disruption with time after its formation. Here we show that threshold conditions for inducing LTP cause a rapid. long-lasting increase in polymerized filamentous actin in dendritic spines of adult hippocampus. Two independent manipulations that reverse LTP disrupted this effect when applied shortly after induction but not 30 mm later. Function-blocking antibodies to β1 family integrins selectively eliminated both actin polymerization and stabilization of LTP. We propose that the initial stages of consolidation involve integrin-driven events common to cells engaged in activities that require rapid morphological changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topical pimecrolimus and narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) are both known to be effective in treating atopic dermatitis. We compared the clinical efficacy of monotherapy with either twice daily topical 1% pimecrolimus cream or twice weekly narrowband UVB, and combination therapy in 26 children and adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in a half-side manner for 6 weeks. Twenty-four patients completed the study. Monotherapy and combination therapy notably reduced the scores of the Eczema Area and Severity Index (p=0.002) and the severity of pruritus (p≤0.004). There was no significant difference in therapeutic efficacy among the treatment regimens at week 6. In conclusion, because of the lack of short-term additive therapeutic efficacy, concomitant use of pimecrolimus and narrow-band UVB is inadvisable in treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rod signals are transmitted to ON retinal ganglion cells by means of gap junctions between AII amacrine cells and ON bipolars. The AII amacrine cells are known to express connexin36 (Cx36), but previous studies of Cx36 in ON cone bipolars have been ambiguous. Here, we studied bipolar cells in a transgenic mouse line that expresses high levels of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in one type of ON cone bipolar cell. We found strong Cx36 immunostaining in the axon terminals of the GFP-labeled type 357 bipolar cells in both vertical sections and whole mounts of the retina. This finding was confirmed by single-cell immunostaining and single-cell reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). As reported previously (Maxeiner et al., 2005), Cx45 was found in some ON bipolar cells, but RT-PCR showed Cx36 and not Cx45 to be expressed by the type 357 bipolar cells. Some of the remaining GFP-negative bipolar cells expressed Cx45 but not Cx36. It appears that different types of ON cone bipolar cells express different connexins at their gap junctions with AII amacrine cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proposed that the endurance of long-term potentiation (LTP) depends on structural changes entailing reorganization of the spine actin cytoskeleton. The present study used a new technique involving intracellular and extracellular application of rhodamine-phalloidin to conventional hippocampal slices to test whether induction of LTP by naturalistic patterns of afferent activity selectively increases actin polymerization in juvenile to young adult spines. Rhodamine-phalloidin, which selectively binds to polymerized actin, was detected in perikarya and proximal dendrites of CA1 pyramidal cells that received low-frequency afferent activity but was essentially absent in spines and fine dendritic processes. Theta pattern stimulation induced LTP and caused a large (threefold), reliable increase in labeled spines and spine-like puncta in the proximal dendritic zone containing potentiated synapses. The spines frequently occurred in the absence of labeling to other structures but were also found in association with fluorescent dendritic processes. These effects were replicated (> 10-fold increase in labeled spines) using extracellular applications of rhodamine-phalloidin. Increases in labeling appeared within 2 min, were completely blocked by treatments that prevent LTP induction, and occurred in slices prepared from young adult rats. These results indicate that near-threshold conditions for inducing stable potentiation cause the rapid polymerization of actin in mature spines and suggest that the effect is both sufficiently discrete to satisfy the synapse-specificity rule of LTP as well as rapid enough to participate in the initial stages of LTP consolidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-translational modifications of proteins take place during the aging of human lens. The present study describes a newly isolated glycation product of lysine, which was found in the human lens. Cataractous and aged human lenses were hydrolyzed and fractionated using reverse-phase and ion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). One of the nonproteinogenic amino acid components of the hydrolysates was identified as a 3-hydroxypyridinium derivative of lysine, 2-ammonio-6-(3-oxidopyridinium-1-yl)hexanoate (OP-lysine). The compound was synthesized independently from 3-hydroxypyridine and methyl 2-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-6-iodohexanoate. The spectral and chromatographic properties of the synthetic OP-lysine and the substance isolated from hydrolyzed lenses were identical. HPLC analysis showed that the amounts of OP-lysine were higher in water-insoluble compared with water-soluble proteins and was higher in a pool of cataractous lenses compared with normal aged lenses, reaching 500 pmol/mg protein. The model incubations showed that an anaerobic reaction mixture of Nα-tertbutoxycarbonyllysine, glycolaldehyde, and glyceraldehyde could produce the Nα-t-butoxycarbonyl derivative of OP-lysine. The irradiation of OP-lysine with UVA under anaerobic conditions in the presence of ascorbate led to a photochemical bleaching of this compound. Our results argue that OP-lysine is a newly identified glycation product of lysine in the lens. It is a marker of aging and pathology of the lens, and its formation could be considered as a potential cataract risk-factor based on its concentration and its photochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Obg family of GTPases is widely conserved and predicted to play an as-yet-unknown role in translation. Recent reports provide circumstantial evidence that both eukaryotic and prokaryotic Obg proteins are associated with the large ribosomal subunit. Here we provide direct evidence that the Caulobacter crescentus CgtA[sub C] protein is associated with the free large (50S) ribosomal subunit but not with 70S monosomes or with translating ribosomes. In contrast to the Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli proteins, CgtA[sub C] does not fractionate in a large complex by gel filtration, indicating a moderately weak association with the 50S subunit. Moreover, binding of CgtA[sub C] to the 50S particle is sensitive to salt concentration and buffer composition but not guanine nucleotide occupancy of CgtA[sub C]. Assays of epitope-tagged wild-type and mutant variants of CgtA[sub C] indicate that the C terminus of CgtA[sub C]. is critical for 50S association. Interestingly, the addition of a C-terminal epitope tag also affected the ability of various cgtA[sub C] alleles to function in vivo. Depletion of CgtA[sub C] led to perturbations in the polysome profile, raising the possibility that CgtA[sub C] is involved in ribosome assembly or stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]