Expression studies of the proteolytic p10 fragment of the neuronal Cdk5 activator in mammalian cells

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENC

Determinants of Air Quality in Building Environments: A Multi-Regression Analysis and Implications for Open Teaching Practices

In the ever-evolving educational milieu, the integration of innovative teaching methodologies is increasingly crucial to meet the changing needs of modern learners. This research meticulously explores the application of open teaching practices in the fields of building environment and energy application engineering. Through an in-depth examination of multi-regression data pertaining to various environmental factors, this study reveals significant correlations and patterns that are relevant to both educators and environmental specialists. Emphasis is placed on the student-centric ethos of this approach, combining the dual concepts of environmental science and pedagogical progression. The relationship between environmental variables, such as PM2.5, PM10, temperature, and humidity, and the air quality index (AQI) is rigorously analyzed. Such analysis underscores the educational improvements brought about by open teaching strategies. The presented findings not only offer nuanced insights into how the aforementioned variables influence air quality but also highlight the benefits and potential of open teaching methodologies in creating a more interactive and enlightening academic environment

Modification of HDL by reactive aldehydes alters select cardioprotective functions of HDL in macrophages

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154382/1/febs15034_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154382/2/febs15034.pd

Regulation of caveolin-1 membrane trafficking by the Na/K-ATPase

Here, we show that the Na/K-ATPase interacts with caveolin-1 (Cav1) and regulates Cav1 trafficking. Graded knockdown of Na/K-ATPase decreases the plasma membrane pool of Cav1, which results in a significant reduction in the number of caveolae on the cell surface. These effects are independent of the pumping function of Na/K-ATPase, and instead depend on interaction between Na/K-ATPase and Cav1 mediated by an N-terminal caveolin-binding motif within the ATPase α1 subunit. Moreover, knockdown of the Na/K-ATPase increases basal levels of active Src and stimulates endocytosis of Cav1 from the plasma membrane. Microtubule-dependent long-range directional trafficking in Na/K-ATPase–depleted cells results in perinuclear accumulation of Cav1-positive vesicles. Finally, Na/K-ATPase knockdown has no effect on processing or exit of Cav1 from the Golgi. Thus, the Na/K-ATPase regulates Cav1 endocytic trafficking and stabilizes the Cav1 plasma membrane pool

Effective Application of Solid Expandable Tubular During the Enhancement of Heavy Oil Recovery in China, Lessons Learned and Experience Shared

As the traditional thermal recovery became less effective in exploring the heavy oil reservoirs, some newly developed techniques such as chemical flooding, SAGD and HDCS are demonstrating their advantage in the recovery process in China. However, the ever increasingly used new techniques often compromised severely the well integrity as the flow of extremely high temperature fluid or gas caused quick damage to casing, leaving the wellbore less reliable. This compromise requires urgently a workover strategy that would maximize the well’s life span and guarantee the effectiveness of new techniques.Solid expandable tubular (SET) was field-proven in casing patching activities, but its application in the heavy oil recovery has not been attempted due to severe temperature challenge. We made innovations on the traditional structure of SET and got valuable results. The tubular after expansion was integrated with the original casing as a whole and the rubber was removed in-between, the wellbore size was maintained utmost and the casing was further strengthened. Meanwhile the expansion cone was put outside the tubular which is a big step forward in SET structure.Indoors experiments demonstrated sound performance of the new structure in the simulative temperature of 350 ℃, the plan for the field application was optimized based on the lessons collected in this experiment. High temperature well applications by SET were carried out in Liaohe oilfield which is famous for its heavy oil resource in China, and the detailed process as well as the outcome were compared and analyzed, finally the conclusions were drawn as a result of the whole study.We expect our work will help expand this enabling technology to better facilitate the enhancement of heavy oil recovery and maintain solid well integrity during the heavy oil production.Key words: Solid expandable tubular; Heavy oil recovery; Chin

Optical Imaging of Visual Cortical Responses Evoked by Transcorneal Electrical Stimulation With Different Parameters

Citation: Ma Z, Cao P, Sun P, et al. Optical imaging of visual cortical responses evoked by transcorneal electrical stimulation with different parameters. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014;55:5320-5331. DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-14600 PURPOSE. The use of phosphenes evoked by transcorneal electrical stimulation (TcES) has been proposed as a means of residual visual function evaluation and candidate selection before implantation of retinal prostheses. Compared to the subjective measures, measurement of neuronal activity in visual cortex can objectively and quantitatively explore their response properties to electrical stimulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate systematically the properties of cortical responses evoked by TcES. METHODS. The visual cortical responses were recorded using a multiwavelength optical imaging of intrinsic signals (OIS) combining with electrophysiological recording by a multichannel electrode array. The effects of different parameters of TcES on cortical responses, including the changes of hemoglobin oxygenation and cerebral blood volume, were examined. RESULTS. We found consistent OIS activation regions in visual cortex after TcES, which also showed strong evoked field potentials according to electrophysiological results. The OIS response regions were located mainly in cortical areas representing peripheral visual field. The extent of activation areas and strength of intrinsic signals were increased with higher current intensities and longer pulse widths, and the largest responses were acquired in the frequency range 10 to 20 Hz. CONCLUSIONS. Use of TcES through the ERG-jet corneal electrode may preferentially activate peripheral retina. Revealing the hemodynamic changes in visual cortex occurred after electrical stimulation can contribute to comprehension of neurophysiological underpinnings underlying prosthetic vision. This study provided an objective foundation for optimizing parameters of TcES and would bring considerable benefits in the application of TcES for assessment and screening in patients

Contribution of adipocyte Na/K-ATPase α1/CD36 signaling induced exosome secretion in response to oxidized LDL

IntroductionAdipose tissue constantly secretes adipokines and extracellular vesicles including exosomes to crosstalk with distinct tissues and organs for whole-body homeostasis. However, dysfunctional adipose tissue under chronic inflammatory conditions such as obesity, atherosclerosis, and diabetes shows pro-inflammatory phenotypes accompanied by oxidative stress and abnormal secretion. Nevertheless, molecular mechanisms of how adipocytes are stimulated to secrete exosomes under those conditions remain poorly understood.MethodsMouse and human in vitro cell culture models were used for performing various cellular and molecular studies on adipocytes and macrophages. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test (two-tailed, unpaired, and equal variance) for comparisons between two groups or ANOVA followed by Bonferroni's multiple comparison test for comparison among more than two groups.Results and discussionIn this work, we report that CD36, a scavenger receptor for oxidized LDL, formed a signaling complex with another membrane signal transducer Na/K-ATPase in adipocytes. The atherogenic oxidized LDL induced a pro-inflammatory response in in vitro differentiated mouse and human adipocytes and also stimulated the cells to secrete more exosomes. This was largely blocked by either CD36 knockdown using siRNA or pNaKtide, a peptide inhibitor of Na/K-ATPase signaling. These results showed a critical role of the CD36/Na/K-ATPase signaling complex in oxidized LDL-induced adipocyte exosome secretion. Moreover, by co-incubation of adipocyte-derived exosomes with macrophages, we demonstrated that oxidized LDL-induced adipocyte-derived exosomes promoted pro-atherogenic phenotypes in macrophages, including CD36 upregulation, IL-6 secretion, metabolic switch to glycolysis, and mitochondrial ROS production. Altogether, we show here a novel mechanism through which adipocytes increase exosome secretion in response to oxidized LDL and that the secreted exosomes can crosstalk with macrophages, which may contribute to atherogenesis

Periplasmic biomineralization for semi-artificial photosynthesis

Semiconductor-based biointerfaces are typically established either on the surface of the plasma membrane or within the cytoplasm. In Gram-negative bacteria, the periplasmic space, characterized by its confinement and the presence of numerous enzymes and peptidoglycans, offers additional opportunities for biomineralization, allowing for nongenetic modulation interfaces. We demonstrate semiconductor nanocluster precipitation containing single- and multiple-metal elements within the periplasm, as observed through various electron- and x-ray-based imaging techniques. The periplasmic semiconductors are metastable and display defect-dominant fluorescent properties. Unexpectedly, the defect-rich (i.e., the low-grade) semiconductor nanoclusters produced in situ can still increase adenosine triphosphate levels and malate production when coupled with photosensitization. We expand the sustainability levels of the biohybrid system to include reducing heavy metals at the primary level, building living bioreactors at the secondary level, and creating semi-artificial photosynthesis at the tertiary level. The biomineralization-enabled periplasmic biohybrids have the potential to serve as defect-tolerant platforms for diverse sustainable applications

Haemodynamic mechanism of formation and distribution of coronary atherosclerosis: A lesion-specific model

© IMechE 2020. Coronary arterial disease, as the most devastated cardiovascular disease, is caused by the atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, which blocks the blood flow to the heart, resulting in the deficient supply of oxygen and nutrition to the heart, and eventually leading to heart failure. To date, haemodynamic mechanisms for atherosclerosis development are not fully understood although it is believed that the haemodynamic disturbance at the region of the arterial bifurcation, particular, bifurcation angle, plays an important role in the atherosclerosis development. In this study, two types of computational fluid dynamics models, lesion-specific and idealized models, combined with the computer tomography imaging techniques, are used to explore the mechanism of formation and distribution of the atherosclerosis around the bifurcation of left coronary artery and its association with the bifurcation angle. The lesion-specific model is used to characterize the effect of personalized features on the haemodynamic performance, while the idealized model is focusing on the effect of single factor, bifurcation angle, on the haemodynamic performance. The simulated results from both types of the models, combined with the clinical observation, revealed that the three key areas around the bifurcations are prone to formation of the atherosclerosis. Unlike the idealized models, lesion-specific modelling results did not show the significant correlation between the wall shear stress and bifurcation angle, although the mean value of the wall shear stress in smaller bifurcation angles (less than 90°) is higher than that with larger bifurcation angles (greater than 90°). In conclusion, lesion-specific computational fluid dynamics modelling is an efficient and convenient way to predict the haemodynamic performance around the bifurcation region, allowing the comprehensive information for the clinicians to predict the atherosclerosis development. The idealized models, which only focus on single parameter, may not provide the sufficient and reliable information for the clinical application. A novel multi-parameters modelling technique, therefore, is suggested to be developed in future, allowing the effects of many parameters on the haemodynamic performance to be evaluated