Representative unit-cell models were developed for open-cell metallic foams in order to predict their effective elastic moduli and the failure strengths. Two different open-cell metallic foams were ...considered. One was just open-cell foam and the other was open-cell foam filled with an elastic material. The models were based on the metallic frames consisting of edges of tetrakaidecahedron. The filling material was modeled as elastic foundation to the tetrakaidecahedral frames. The frame structure of the unit-cell was analyzed using the finite element (FE) method. The failure strength was determined when the vertices of edges became plastic hinges under the assumption of elastic-perfectly-plastic material behavior of the metallic material. Both elastic modulus and failure strength were computed using a single step of FE analysis without any iterative or incremental procedure. In addition, a very small number of FEs was used. As a result, the unit-cell was computationally very efficient. In order to assess the representative unit-cell models, experiments were also conducted. The experimental data agreed very well with the predicted values of both stiffness and strength.
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Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) is a natural flavone commonly found in many plants. It has previously been shown to be an anti-tumor agent. In this study, we investigated whether chrysin could ...alleviate the symptoms of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and whether chrysin has an inhibitory effect on nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation in vitro. A significant blunting of weight loss and clinical signs was observed in DSS-exposed, chrysin-treated mice when compared to vehicle-treated mice. This was associated with a remarkable amelioration of the disruption of the colonic architecture, a significant reduction in colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and a decrease in the production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin (PG) E2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, chrysin inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced activation of NF-κB in IEC-6 cells. These findings suggest that chrysin exerts potentially clinically useful anti-inflammatory effects mediated through the suppression of NF-κB activation.
CD96 is a member of the poliovirus receptor (PVR, CD155)‐nectin family that includes T cell Ig and ITIM domain (TIGIT) and CD226. While CD96, TIGIT, and CD226 have important roles in regulating NK ...cell activity, and TIGIT and CD226 have also been shown to regulate T cell responses, it is unclear whether CD96 has inhibitory or stimulatory function in CD8+ T cells. Here, we demonstrate that CD96 has co‐stimulatory function on CD8+ T cells. Crosslinking of CD96 on human or mouse CD8+ T cells induced activation, effector cytokine production, and proliferation. CD96 was found to transduce its activating signal through the MEK‐ERK pathway. CD96‐mediated signaling led to increased frequencies of NUR77‐ and T‐bet‐expressing CD8+ T cells and enhanced cytotoxic effector activity, indicating that CD96 can modulate effector T cell differentiation. Antibody blockade of CD96 or genetic ablation of CD96 expression on CD8+ T cells impaired expression of transcription factors and proinflammatory cytokines associated with CD8+ T cell activation in in vivo models. Taken together, CD96 has a co‐stimulatory role in CD8+ T cell activation and effector function.
CD96 costimulatory function on CD8+ T cells is mediated through receptor crosslinking, activating the MEK/ERK signaling pathway that enhances proliferation, effector function and modulation of cell differentiation. Antibody blockade or deficiency of CD96 impairs CD8+ T cell responses, validating the role of CD96 as an activating receptor.
Highlights ► Clasmatodendrosis is an irreversible astroglial degenerative changes. ► PLPP/CIN expression level was increased in clasmatodendritic astrocytes. ► Jasplakinolide infusion decreased ...vacuoles in clasmatodendritic astrocytes. ► Latrunculin A infusion increased vacuoles in clasmatodendritic astrocytes. ► F-actin polymerization involves clasmatodendrosis in the rat brain following SE.
To propose a new and practical MRI grading method for cervical neural foraminal stenosis and to evaluate its reproducibility.
We evaluated 50 patients (37 males and 13 females, mean age 49 years) who ...visited our institution and underwent oblique sagittal MRI of the cervical spine. A total of 300 foramina and corresponding nerve roots in 50 patients were qualitatively analysed from C4-5 to C6-7. We assessed the grade of cervical foraminal stenosis at the maximal narrowing point according to the new grading system based on T2 weighted oblique sagittal images. The incidence of each of the neural foraminal stenosis grades according to the cervical level was analysed by χ(2) tests. Intra- and interobserver agreements between two radiologists were analysed using kappa statistics. Kappa value interpretations were poor (κ<0.1), slight (0.1≤κ≤0.2), fair (0.2<κ≤0.4), moderate (0.4<κ≤0.6), substantial (0.6<κ≤0.8) and almost perfect (0.8<κ≤1.0).
Significant stenoses (Grades 2 and 3) were rarely found at the C4-5 level. The incidence of Grade 3 at the C5-6 level was higher than that at other levels, a difference that was statistically significant. The overall intra-observer agreement according to the cervical level was almost perfect. The agreement at each level was almost perfect, except for only substantial agreement at the right C6-7 by Reader 2. No statistically significant differences were seen according to the cervical level. Overall kappa values of interobserver agreement according to the cervical level were almost perfect. In addition, the agreement of each level was almost perfect. Overall intra- and interobserver agreement for the presence of foraminal stenosis (Grade 0 vs Grades 1, 2 and 3) and for significant stenosis (Grades 0 and 1 vs Grades 2 and 3) showed similar results and were almost perfect. However, only substantial agreement was seen in the right C6-7.
A new grading system for cervical foraminal stenosis based on oblique sagittal MRI provides reliable assessment and good reproducibility. This new grading system is a useful and easy method for the objective evaluation of cervical neural foraminal stenosis by radiologists and clinicians.
The use of the new grading system for cervical foraminal stenosis based on oblique sagittal MRI can be a useful method for evaluating cervical neural foraminal stenosis.
Since B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration has been shown by recent studies to be elevated in patients presenting acute coronary syndrome (ACS) even in the absence of overt heart failure, ...other mechanisms for elevating plasma BNP (p-BNP) concentrations may be suggested to exist. We have studied the correlation between p-BNP level and the extent of myocardial ischemia (EMI) in non-ST elevation (NSTE) ACS and evaluated the BNP level as an objective marker of EMI. In 204 patients with NSTE ACS, we estimated the EMI by the echocardiographic wall motion score index (WMSI) and the coronary angiographic Gensini score. As the positive control group, 44 patients with stable angina were enrolled into the study. We compared their initial p-BNP levels with WMSI and the Gensini score. Additionally, peak troponin-T level was compared with p-BNP level in NSTE myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Using the multiple regression analysis, adjustments for age, left ventricle (LV) wall stress, LV mass amount and ejection fraction (EF) were made. Patients with LVEF < 45% or age > 75 years or underlying diseases that could elevate BNP levels were excluded from the study. P-BNP level was increased in NSTE ACS patients compared with stable angina patients (133.9 +/- 87.4 vs. 12.2 +/- 9.2 pg/ml, p < 0.05). P-BNP levels were found to correlate with WMSI and the Gensini score in unstable angina (r=0.519, p < 0.01; r=0.680, p < 0.01) and NSTEMI (r=0.716, p < 0.01; r=0.684, p < 0.01) patients, respectively. Additionally, p-BNP levels correlated with the peak troponin-T level in patients with NSTEMI (r=0.700, p < 0.01). P-BNP level might be a useful marker in the assessment of EMI.
Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) has been widely used in many areas, including biomedicine, cosmetics, and environmental engineering. Recently, it has become evident that some TiO(2) particles have a ...considerable cytotoxic effect in normal human cells. However, the molecular basis for the cytotoxicity of TiO(2) has yet to be defined.
In this study, we demonstrated that combined treatment with TiO(2) nanoparticles sized less than 100 nm and ultraviolet A irradiation induces apoptotic cell death through reactive oxygen species-dependent upregulation of Fas and conformational activation of Bax in normal human cells. Treatment with P25 TiO(2) nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic size distribution centered around 70 nm (TiO(2) (P25-70)) together with ultraviolet A irradiation-induced caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death, accompanied by transcriptional upregulation of the death receptor, Fas, and conformational activation of Bax. In line with these results, knockdown of either Fas or Bax with specific siRNA significantly inhibited TiO(2)-induced apoptotic cell death. Moreover, inhibition of reactive oxygen species with an antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, clearly suppressed upregulation of Fas, conformational activation of Bax, and subsequent apoptotic cell death in response to combination treatment using TiO(2) (P25-70) and ultraviolet A irradiation.
These results indicate that sub-100 nm sized TiO(2) treatment under ultraviolet A irradiation induces apoptotic cell death through reactive oxygen species-mediated upregulation of the death receptor, Fas, and activation of the preapoptotic protein, Bax. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which nanosized particles induce activation of cell death signaling pathways would be critical for the development of prevention strategies to minimize the cytotoxicity of nanomaterials.
•Non-catalytic transforming triglyceride into biodiesel.•Non-catalytic esterification of free fatty acids (FFAs).•Enhanced biodiesel conversion under the presence of CO2.•Non-catalytic biodiesel ...conversion via the continuous flow system.•High tolerance of the amount of free fatty acids.
The transformation of the lipids extracted from duck tallow into biodiesel was achieved using activated alumina and CO2 under ambient pressure (1bar). Crude fatty acids (∼98% assay) were also esterified to help us understand and validate the noncatalytic biodiesel conversion mechanisms. Its conversion efficiency was nearly 93.5(±0.5)%. The transformation of crude fatty acid into biodiesel proves that this newly developed technology for the production of biodiesel combines esterification of free fatty acids and transesterification of triglycerides into a single process that has a 98.5(±0.5)% conversion efficiency to biodiesel within 1min at 350–500°C. This paper addresses the simplest methodology for the production of biodiesel. Herein, it is confirmed that the main driving force of biodiesel conversion in the noncatalytic transesterification reaction is temperature rather than pressure. Noncatalytic biodiesel transformation can be achieved in the presence of a porous material via a thermochemical process in a continuous flow system. This noncatalytic biodiesel transformation was enhanced under the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Although inflammation is known to play a role in knee osteoarthritis (KOA), inflammation-specific imaging is not routinely performed. In this article, we evaluate the role of joint inflammation, ...measured using 11 C-PBR28, a radioligand for the inflammatory marker 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO), in KOA. Twenty-one KOA patients and 11 healthy controls (HC) underwent positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) knee imaging with the TSPO ligand 11 C-PBR28. Standardized uptake values were extracted from regions-of-interest (ROIs) semiautomatically segmented from MRI data, and compared across groups (HC, KOA) and subgroups (unilateral/bilateral KOA symptoms), across knees (most vs least painful), and against clinical variables (eg, pain and Kellgren-Lawrence KL grades). Overall, KOA patients demonstrated elevated 11 C-PBR28 binding across all knee ROIs, compared with HC (all P 's < 0.005). Specifically, PET signal was significantly elevated in both knees in patients with bilateral KOA symptoms (both P 's < 0.01), and in the symptomatic knee ( P < 0.05), but not the asymptomatic knee ( P = 0.95) of patients with unilateral KOA symptoms. Positron emission tomography signal was higher in the most vs least painful knee ( P < 0.001), and the difference in pain ratings across knees was proportional to the difference in PET signal ( r = 0.74, P < 0.001). Kellgren-Lawrence grades neither correlated with PET signal (left knee r = 0.32, P = 0.19; right knee r = 0.18, P = 0.45) nor pain ( r = 0.39, P = 0.07). The current results support further exploration of 11 C-PBR28 PET signal as an imaging marker candidate for KOA and a link between joint inflammation and osteoarthritis-related pain severity.
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