75 research outputs found
Exploiting macrophage autophagy-lysosomal biogenesis as a therapy for atherosclerosis
Get PDFMacrophages specialize in removing lipids and debris present in the atherosclerotic plaque. However, plaque progression renders macrophages unable to degrade exogenous atherogenic material and endogenous cargo including dysfunctional proteins and organelles. Here we show that a decline in the autophagy-lysosome system contributes to this as evidenced by a derangement in key autophagy markers in both mouse and human atherosclerotic plaques. By augmenting macrophage TFEB, the master transcriptional regulator of autophagy-lysosomal biogenesis, we can reverse the autophagy dysfunction of plaques, enhance aggrephagy of p62-enriched protein aggregates and blunt macrophage apoptosis and pro-inflammatory IL-1β levels, leading to reduced atherosclerosis. In order to harness this degradative response therapeutically, we also describe a natural sugar called trehalose as an inducer of macrophage autophagy-lysosomal biogenesis and show trehalose's ability to recapitulate the atheroprotective properties of macrophage TFEB overexpression. Our data support this practical method of enhancing the degradative capacity of macrophages as a therapy for atherosclerotic vascular disease
Damage Detection Using Measurement Response Data of Beam Structure Subject to a Moving Mass
Full text linkSENSITIVITY ANALYSIS ON THE EFFECTIVE PARAMETERS OF GROUND DEFORMATION VALUE BY MICRO TUNNELING METHOD WHILE PIPE JACKING OPERATES
No full textIn recent years, micro tunneling method has been developed quickly in comparison to other open excavation methods. Micro tunneling is a method for installing the pipelines, channels and underground conduits.In recent years, micro tunneling method has been developed quickly compared to other open excavation methods. In this method, hydraulic jacks are used for pipe driving with a special design. The pipes are placed behind the excavation drill, driven into the ground along with the ground excavation simultaneously. The result of this method is a flexible, impermeable and resistant structure construction pipelines. The micro tunneling method reduces the requirement number of transporting materials for operation activities and the machines traffic and devices. Too As a result, its events are reduced. According to this method, almost all the activities are performed underground. Hence, the negligible interferences are occurred with environment. Thus, the amount of environmental deterioration is very low. In some cases, performing the operation, increases the negative effects of vibrations from pipe driving and causes the problems such as settlements or swelling (heaving) of the ground surface. Upon analysis, some parameters have more influences rather than others, and some of them could be ignored due to low importance in the model. Therefore, investigating the effect of various independent parameters is important, i.e. sensitive analysis. The aim of this study is to compare the actual deformations occurred in ground surface due to behavior survey with the values of numerical modeling. In addition, this study aims to investigate the effect of various parameters on soil settlement values
Colon Lipoma: a Case Report and Review of the Literature
No full textABSTRACT Colon lipomas are rare.They are almost always asymptomatic;only when their diameter is more than 3 cm do they become symptomatic.They tend to occur in an older population and most of the cases are located at the right side of the large bowel. Usually the diagnosis is not made until operation is performed.We describe a 67-year-old woman with a large colonic submucosal lipoma causing left-sided abdominal pain and altered bowel habit.Abdominal sonography,CT scan and colonoscopy showed a mass 5 c
Colon Lipoma: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature
No full textColon lipomas are rare. They are almost always asymptomatic; only when
their diameter is more than 3 cm do they become symptomatic. They tend
to occur in an older population and most of the cases are located at
the right side of the large bowel. Usually the diagnosis is not made
until operation is performed. We describe a 67-year-old woman with a
large colonic submucosal lipoma causing left-sided abdominal pain and
altered bowel habit. Abdominal sonography, CT scan and colonoscopy
showed a mass 5 cm x 4.5cm x 4 cm located 90cm from the anal verge.
Left hemicolectomy was performed, and histologic examination revealed
the mass to be a benign colonic lipoma. We also reviewed the literature
on the subject to examine the main characteristics of lipoma of the
colon
Application of Impregnated Almond Shell Activated Carbon by Zinc and Zinc Sulfate for Nitrate Removal from Water
No full textIn this study impregnated almond shell activated carbon by Zn° and
ZnSO4 were used as adsorbent with a particle size of 10-20 mesh. The
objective of this research was to determine the ability of impregnated
activated carbon in nitrate removal. The modified activated carbon had
1mm effective size, with a uniformity coefficient of 1.18. Potassium
nitrate solution was used in batch adsorption experiments for nitrate
removal from water. The effects of nitrate concentration, activated
carbon dosage and time of contact were studied. Experimental data
showed that modified activated carbon by Zn° and ZnSO4 was more
effective than virgin almond activated carbon for nitrate removal. The
maximum nitrate removal was 64%-80% and 5%-42% for modified activated
carbon and virgin activated carbon, respectively. While virgin
activated carbon used, nitrate-N decreased from 20 to 15mg/L in 30min
reaction. The final nitrate concentration was not in the standard range
of WHO recommendations for water quality; while impregnated activated
carbons were used, nitrate drcreased to <10mg/L. Maximum removal was
over 16-17mg nitrate-N per 1g activated carbon for impregnated
activated carbon. The experiments were conducted at pH=6.2, 20ºC
and initial concentrations of 20mg/L nitrate-N. Increase in modified
activated carbon dosage increased the nitrate removal efficiency. The
equilibrium time was found to be 45min for modified activated carbon
Exogenous potassium phosphite application improved PR-protein expression and associated physio-biochemical events in cucumber challenged by Pseudoperonospora cubensis
No full textIn the present study, the effect of potassium phosphite on Pseudoperonospora cubensis-inoculated cucumber plants was investigated. Different defense-related enzymes including laccase, polyphenoloxidase and glucanase as well as total protein and lignin contents were analyzed. Anatomical alterations in plant tissues were analyzed using a light microscope. Expression changes in major pathogenesis-related genes were studied at different time courses. The highest expression of glucanase was observed in pre-inoculated plants (97 higher than control) at 24 h with 97 increase compared to the control plants, while Chitinase transcripts were accumulated at a maximum level in potassium phosphite-treated plants 96 h after inoculation with 93 increase over control plants. Analysis of polygalacturonase inhibitor proteins gene expression revealed a transcription peak (96 increase over control plants) 48 h after inoculation. The potassium phosphite-treated plants exhibited an increase in β-1,3-glucanase (82) enzymatic activity as well as total protein (53), polyphenoloxidase (21), laccase (11) and lignin contents (15) in comparison to the control. The results of the anatomical assay showed an increase in the vascular bundle diameter in potassium phosphite-treated plants (174 μm) and a decrease in pathogen-treated leaves (66 μm) compared with the control (100 μm). It can be suggested that potassium phosphite treatment induced higher expression of plant defense genes and increased laccase and polyphenoloxidase activities which in turn enhanced lignin deposition in plant tissues. The findings of the present study would be implemented for designing a controlling program to decrease the adverse effect of Pseudoperonospora cubensis on cucumber plants. © 2018 Elsevier B.V
Design of a Micro-Probe For Direct Measurement of Convection Heat Transfer on a Vertical
Full text linkA proximity probe with two k-type thermocouples, 1.5 mm apart, was designed, built to simultaneously measure local surface and air temperatures on the PV and to quantify local convention heat transfer coefficient. Experimental investigations of natural convection on a vertical photovoltaic (PV) panel exposed to solar radiations are presented. The variation of non-isothermal surface temperature of a PV is expressed with a second-order polynomial relation. In the absence of any correlation to predict the natural convection heat transfer coefficient on a PV, experimental results are presented in the form of variations of the local Nusselt numbers (Nuz), and the average Nusselt numbers (Nu), with Rayleigh number (Ra). The variations are best expressed with a power law correlation form of Nu=a*(Ra)^b for the range 10^6 <Ra<10^8 where a and b are determined experimentally. The power-law correlations for photovoltaic were compared with a number of correlations developed from natural convection research in laboratories. The analysis showed that for a given Rayleigh number, the predicted value of Nusselt number by the PV correlations are within the range covered by others. However, the PV correlations overestimate the Nusselt number by 20% in Rayleigh number higher than 10^6 . The work is in progress to further extend the correlation to predict the combined radiation and convection on all PV configurations, as required in the efficient design of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems
Exogenous potassium phosphite application improved PR-protein expression and associated physio-biochemical events in cucumber challenged by Pseudoperonospora cubensis
No full textIn the present study, the effect of potassium phosphite on Pseudoperonospora cubensis-inoculated cucumber plants was investigated. Different defense-related enzymes including laccase, polyphenoloxidase and glucanase as well as total protein and lignin contents were analyzed. Anatomical alterations in plant tissues were analyzed using a light microscope. Expression changes in major pathogenesis-related genes were studied at different time courses. The highest expression of glucanase was observed in pre-inoculated plants (97 higher than control) at 24 h with 97 increase compared to the control plants, while Chitinase transcripts were accumulated at a maximum level in potassium phosphite-treated plants 96 h after inoculation with 93 increase over control plants. Analysis of polygalacturonase inhibitor proteins gene expression revealed a transcription peak (96 increase over control plants) 48 h after inoculation. The potassium phosphite-treated plants exhibited an increase in β-1,3-glucanase (82) enzymatic activity as well as total protein (53), polyphenoloxidase (21), laccase (11) and lignin contents (15) in comparison to the control. The results of the anatomical assay showed an increase in the vascular bundle diameter in potassium phosphite-treated plants (174 μm) and a decrease in pathogen-treated leaves (66 μm) compared with the control (100 μm). It can be suggested that potassium phosphite treatment induced higher expression of plant defense genes and increased laccase and polyphenoloxidase activities which in turn enhanced lignin deposition in plant tissues. The findings of the present study would be implemented for designing a controlling program to decrease the adverse effect of Pseudoperonospora cubensis on cucumber plants. © 2018 Elsevier B.V
Isolation And Characterization Of A Novel Denitrifying Bacterium With High Nitrate Removal: Pseudomonas Stutzeri
No full textThe aim of this study was to isolate and characterize a high efficiency
denitrifier bacterium for reducing nitrate in wastewater. Six
denitrifier bacteria with nitrate removal activities were isolated from
a petrochemical industry effluent with high salinity and high nitrogen
concentrations without treatment. The isolated bacteria were tested for
nitrate reomoval activity. One of the bacterium displayed the highest
reduction of nitrate. The strain was preliminarily identified using
biochemical tests and further identified based on similarity of PCR-16S
rRNA using universal primers. Biochemical and molecular experiments
showed that the best bacterium with high nitrate removal potential was
Pseudomonas stutzeri, a member of the α subclass of the class
Proteobacteria. The extent of nitrate removal efficiency was 99% at 200
mg/L NO3 and the nitrite content of the effluent was in the prescribed
limit. The experiments showed the ability of Pseudomonas stutzeri to
rapidly remove nitrate under anoxic conditions. The strain showed to be
potentially good candidate for biodenitrification of high nitrate
solutions
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