Composite Hydrogels with the Simultaneous Release of VEGF and MCP-1 for Enhancing Angiogenesis for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications

Rapid new microvascular network induction was critical for bone regeneration, which required the spatiotemporal delivery of growth factors and transplantation of endothelial cells. In this study, the linear poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-b-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-mPEG) block copolymer microspheres were prepared for simultaneously delivering vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). Then, vascular endothelial cells (VECs) with growth factor loaded microspheres were composited into a star-shaped PLGA-mPEG block copolymer solution. After this, composite hydrogel (microspheres ratio: 5 wt%) was formed by increasing the temperature to 37 °C. The release profiles of VEGF and MCP-1 from composite hydrogels in 30 days were investigated to confirm the different simultaneous delivery systems. The VECs exhibited a good proliferation in the composite hydrogels, which proved that the composite hydrogels had a good cytocompatibility. Furthermore, in vivo animal experiments showed that the vessel density and the mean vessel diameters increased over weeks after the composite hydrogels were implanted into the necrosis site of the rabbit femoral head. The above results suggested that the VECs-laden hydrogel composited with the dual-growth factor simultaneous release system has the potential to enhance angiogenesis in bone tissue engineering

Relative Judgments in a Competitive Ad Context", in NA -Advances in Consumer Research

ABSTRACT -This study suggests that the competing ad in an ad-viewing context can alter participants' evaluations of the target ad and the target brand. Results of two experiments have indicated that, for a new brand, the diagnosticity and effectiveness of ad messages is determined by the uniqueness of product attributes featured in the ads. Further, findings have demonstrated that perceived ad diagnosticity affects participants' ratings of ad liking and ad persuasiveness, thereby influencing their brand evaluations. However, for a familiar brand, participants' existing brand attitudes are more diagnostic than ad messages. Therefore, when viewing an ad for a familiar brand, participants' post-exposure brand evaluations are determined by their existing brand attitudes, not by the uniqueness of the featured product attributes, ad liking or ad persuasiveness. This work is copyrighted by The Association for Consumer Research. For permission to copy or use this work in whole or in part, please contact the Copyright Clearance Center at http://www.copyright.com/. 700 Advances in Consumer Research Volume 31, © 2004 Relative Judgments in a Competitive Ad Context Chingching Chang, National Chengchi University ABSTRACT This study suggests that the competing ad in an ad-viewing context can alter participants' evaluations of the target ad and the target brand. Results of two experiments have indicated that, for a new brand, the diagnosticity and effectiveness of ad messages is determined by the uniqueness of product attributes featured in the ads. Further, findings have demonstrated that perceived ad diagnosticity affects participants' ratings of ad liking and ad persuasiveness, thereby influencing their brand evaluations. However, for a familiar brand, participants' existing brand attitudes are more diagnostic than ad messages. Therefore, when viewing an ad for a familiar brand, participants' post-exposure brand evaluations are determined by their existing brand attitudes, not by the uniqueness of the featured product attributes, ad liking or ad persuasiveness

User-Type Differential Paths for a Media Effect Model: A Test of Self-Regulation Deficiency in Drama Watching for Different Motive-Driven Users

Media users are not homogeneous, and research that treats them as such tends to yield inconsistent findings. More nuanced insights into media effect processes might emerge from an identification of qualitatively distinct subgroups, for whom unique media effect processes lead to distinctive outcomes as well. Building on an existing differential susceptibility to media effects model, the current research adds the possibility of differential paths defined by user types. In this revised model, the triggers (e.g. individual characteristics) that lead to media effects and their outcomes (e.g. sociopsychological states) vary across different groups of media users. In the context of problematic drama watching, as a type of media effect, panel data gathered from a representative sample and a latent class analysis reveal that drama viewers can be grouped into types, according to the distinct constellations of motives they have for watching. Individual characteristics identified for such groups can lead to problematic drama watching and associated negative outcomes in the future, which also vary with the types of viewers. The findings affirm that the distinct processes linked to each viewer type correspond well with their distinctive motives.</p

The Mirror Has Two Faces: Positive and Negative Media Image Effects Enhancing Self-consciousness: Implications for the Effectiveness of Ad Appeals

The Mirror Has Two Faces: Positive and Negative Media Image Effects on the SelfDirk Smeesters (Tilburg University)Naomi Mandel (Arizona State University) This research examines several factors that determine whether exposure to thin (or heavy) media images positively or negatively impacts consumers&apos; appearance self-esteem. In two studies, we demonstrate that the effects of exposure to models in advertisements depend on two moderating factors: (1) the extremity of the model&apos;s thinness or heaviness; and (2) the method by which self-esteem is measured (free responses versus rating scales). We also establish the underlying role of selfknowledge activation by examining response latencies in a lexical decision task. This work is copyrighted by The Association for Consumer Research. For permission to copy or use this work in whole or in part, please contact the Copyright Clearance Center at http://www.copyright.com/. 503 Advances in Consumer Research Volume 33, © 2006 Enhancing Self-consciousness: Implications for the Effectiveness of Ad Appeals Chingching Chang, National Chengchi University ABSTRACT This paper explored the influence of self-consciousness on responses to ad appeals. Study one established the positive relationship between self-monitoring and self-consciousness. Study two tested whether level of self-consciousness could influence ad responses. Findings showed that magazine articles written in the second-person, as opposed to the third-person, directed attention to the self and enhanced self-consciousness. Enhancing self-consciousness caused participants high in self-monitoring to generate more favorable ad responses, but it had no effect on those low in self-monitoring. In addition, enhancing self-consciousness significantly improved the effectiveness of image appeal ads, but had no effect on utilitarian appeal ads

Poly(acrylic acid) capped iron oxide nanoparticles via ligand exchange with antibacterial properties for biofilm applications

Biofilm infections pose a rising threat to public health due to its existing protective shield, which preventing biocide penetration. Here, the oleate-capped iron oxide nanoparticles (OIONPs) were synthesized by the high-temperature method first; after then, the poly(acrylic acid)-capped iron oxide nanoparticles (PIONPs) were obtained via a ligand exchange reaction between OIONPs and sodium poly(acrylic acid). The physicochemical properties of PIONPs were evaluated by Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and zeta potential. The FT-IR analysis confirmed the successful ligand exchange on the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles. STEM images displayed that the prepared PIONPs were monodisperse spherical nanoparticles. The PIONPs were stable in ultrapure water and could be kept for 5 weeks without aggregation. Next, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and fluorescent images confirmed the excellent cytocompatibility of PIONPs, while the iron concentration of PIONPs was in the range of 5∼120 mg/L. Finally, PIONPs exhibited efficient antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, and Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus Rosenbach (SASAR) biofilm could be destroyed by treating PIONPs under alternating current (AC) applied field conditions.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe