Green Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles (via Thermal Decomposition Method) with Controllable Size and Shape

Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles with controllable size and shape were synthesized by the thermal decomposition method. In contrast to previously reported thermal decomposition methods, our synthesis method had utilized a much cheaper and less toxic iron precursor, iron acetylacetonate (Fe(acac)3), and environmentally benign and non-toxic polyethylene oxide (PEO) was being used as the solvent and surfactant simultaneously. Fe3O4 nanoparticles of controllable size and shape were prepared by manipulating the synthesis parameters such as precursor concentrations, reaction durations and surfactants

Fabric defect detection by Fourier analysis

Many fabric defects are very small and undistinguishable, which are very difficult to detect by only monitoring the intensity change. Faultless fabric is a repetitive and regular global texture and Fourier transform can be applied to monitor the spatial frequency spectrum of a fabric. When a defect occurs in fabric, its regular structure is changed so that the corresponding intensity at some specific positions of the frequency spectrum would change. However, the three-dimensional frequency spectrum is very difficult to analyze. In this paper, a simulated fabric model is used to understand the relationship between the fabric structure in the image space and in the frequency space. Based on the three-dimensional frequency spectrum, two significant spectrum diagrams are defined and used for analyzing the fabric defect. These two diagrams are called the central spatial frequency spectrums. The defects are broadly classified into four classes: (1) double yarn; (2) missing yarn; (3) webs or broken fabric; and (4) yarn densities variation. After evaluating these four classes of defects using some simulated models and real samples, seven characteristic parameters for central spatial frequency spectrum are extracted for defect classification.published_or_final_versio

Fabric defect detection by Fourier analysis

Many fabric defects are very small and undistinguishable, which are very difficult to detect by only monitoring the intensity change. Faultless fabric is a repetitive and regular global texture and Fourier transform can be applied to monitor the spatial frequency spectrum of a fabric. When a defect occurs in fabric, its regular structure is changed so that the corresponding intensity at some specific positions of the frequency spectrum would change. However, the three-dimensional frequency spectrum is very difficult to analyze. In this paper, a simulated fabric model is used to understand the relationship between the fabric structure in the image space and in the frequency space. Based on the three-dimensional frequency spectrum, two significant spectrum diagrams are defined and used for analyzing the fabric defect. These two diagrams are called the central spatial frequency spectrums. The defects are broadly classified into four classes: (1) double yarn; (2) missing yarn; (3) webs or broken fabric; and (4) yarn densities variation. After evaluating these four classes of defects using some simulated models and real samples, seven characteristic parameters for central spatial frequency spectrum are extracted for defect classification.published_or_final_versio

Human thymic epithelial cells express an endogenous lectin, galectin-1, which binds to core 2 O-glycans on thymocytes and T lymphoblastoid cells.

Thymic epithelial cells play a crucial role in the selection of developing thymocytes. Thymocyte-epithelial cell interactions involve a number of adhesion molecules, including members of the integrin and immunoglobulin superfamilies. We found that human thymic epithelial cells synthesize an endogenous lectin, galectin-1, which binds to oligosaccharide ligands on the surface of thymocytes and T lymphoblastoid cells. Binding of T lymphoblastoid cells to thymic epithelial cells was inhibited by antibody to galectin-1 on the epithelial cells, and by two antibodies, T305 and 2B11, that recognize carbohydrate epitopes on the T cell surface glycoproteins CD43 and CD45, respectively. T lymphoblastoid cells and thymocytes bound recombinant galectin-1, as demonstrated by flow cytometric analysis, and lectin binding was completely inhibited in the presence of lactose. The degree of galectin-1 binding to thymocytes correlated with the maturation stage of the cells, as immature thymocytes bound more galectin-1 than did mature thymocytes. Preferential binding of galectin-1 to immature thymocytes may result from regulated expression of preferred oligosaccharide ligands on those cells, since we found that the epitope recognized by the T305 antibody, the core 2 O-glycan structure on CD43, was expressed on cortical, but not medullary cells. The level of expression of the UDP-GlcNAc:Gal beta 1,3GalNAc-R beta 1, 6GlcNAc transferase (core 2 beta 1, 6 GlcNAc transferase, or C2GnT), which creates the core 2 O-glycan structure, correlated with the glycosylation change between cortical and medullary cells. Expression of mRNA encoding the C2GnT was high in subcapsular and cortical thymocytes and low in medullary thymocytes, as demonstrated by in situ hybridization. These results suggest that galectin-1 participates in thymocyte-thymic epithelial cell interactions, and that this interaction may be regulated by expression of relevant oligosaccharide ligands on the thymocyte cell surface

LED Traffic Light as Communication Device

The visible light from an LED (light emitting diode) traffic light can be modulated and encoded with information. Hence, it can be used for the broadcasting of audio messages or any traffic or road information. Essentially all LED traffic lights can be used as communications devices. The paper focuses on the description of an audio information system made up of high brightness, visible light emitting diodes (LEDs) in which one or more LEDs are modulated and encoded with audio messages. The system also comprises a receiver combined with a speaker which is located at a distance from the LED traffic light. The receiver is designed to demodulate the optically transmitted audio information and broadcast the messages with the speaker. The optical link employs intensity modulation with direct detection. The audio information system implemented on an LED traffic light can provide the function of open space, wireless broadcasting of audio messages.published_or_final_versio

LED wireless

High-brightness light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are getting more popular and are opening up a number of new applications. In this paper, the novel idea based on the fast switching of LEDs and the modulation of visible light is developed into a new kind of information system. A visible-LED audio system that makes use of visual-light rays to transmit audio messages to a remotely located receiver is described. Such a system made up of high-brightness visible LEDs can provide the function of open space, wireless broadcasting of audio signals. It can be used as an information beacon for short-distance communication.published_or_final_versio

Anti-tumorigenic and Pro-apoptotic effects of CKBM on gastric cancer growth in nude mice

Natural botanical products can be integrated with western medicine to optimize the treatment outcome, increase immune function and minimize the side effects from western drug treatment. CKBM is a combination of herbs and yeasts formulated based on traditional Chinese medicinal principles. Previous study has demonstrated that CKBM is capable of improving immune responsiveness through the induction of cytokine mediators, such as TNF-α and IL-6. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of this immunomodulatory drug on gastric cancer growth using a human xenograft model. Gastric cancer tissues were implanted subcutaneously into athymic nude mice followed by a 14-day or 28-day of CKBM treatment. Results showed that higher doses of CKBM (0.4 or 0.8 ml/mouse/day) produced a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on gastric tumor growth after 28-day drug treatment. This was associated with a decrease of cellular proliferation by 30% with concomitant increase in apoptosis by 97% in gastric tumor cells when compared with the control group. In contrast, CKBM showed no effect on angiogenesis in gastric tumors. This study demonstrates the anti-tumorigenic action of CKBM on gastric cancer probably via inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis, and provides future potential targets of this drug candidate on cancer therapy.published_or_final_versio

Quantification of vaporized targeted nanodroplets using high-frame-rate ultrasound and optics

Owing to their ability to efficiently deliver biological cargo and sense the intracellular milieu, vertical arrays of high aspect ratio nanostructures, known as nanoneedles,are being developed as minimally invasive tools for cell manipulation. However, little is known of the mechanisms of cargo transfer across the cell membrane-nanoneedle interface. Particularly,the contributions of membrane piercing, modulation of membrane permeability and endocytosis to cargo transfer remain largelyunexplored. Here, combining state-of-the-art electron and scanning ion conductance microscopy with molecular biology techniques, we show that porous silicon nanoneedle arrays concurrently stimulate independent endocytic pathways which contribute to enhanced biomolecule delivery into human mesenchymal stem cells. Electron microscopy of the cell membrane at nanoneedle sites shows an intact lipid bilayer, accompanied by an accumulation of clathrin-coated pits and caveolae. Nanoneedles enhance the internalisation of biomolecular markers of endocytosis, highlighting the concurrent activation of caveolae-and clathrin-mediated endocytosis, alongside macropinocytosis. These events contribute to the nanoneedle-mediated delivery (nanoinjection) of nucleic acids into human stem cells, which distribute across the cytosol and the endolysosomal system. This data extends the understanding of how nanoneedles modulate biological processes to mediate interaction with the intracellular space, providing indications for the rational design of improved cell-manipulation technologies

Diabetes incidence and prevalence in Hong Kong, China during 2006-2014

postprin

A M\"ossbauer study of the magneto-structural coupling effect in SrFe2_2As2_2 and SrFeAsF

In the present paper, we report a comparison study of SrFe$_2$As$_2$ and SrFeAsF using M\"ossbauer spectroscopy. The temperature dependence of the magnetic hyperfine field is fitted with a modified Bean-Rodbell model. The results give much smaller magnetic moment and magneto-structural coupling effect for SrFeAsF, which may be understood as due to different inter-layer properties of the two compounds.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures,conference ICAME2011, to be appear in Hyperfine Interaction