Activation of Extracellular-signal Regulated Kinase (ERK1/2) by Fluid Shear is Ca\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e- and ATP-dependent in MC3T3-E1 Osteoblasts

To determine the role of Ca2+ signaling in activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway, we subjected MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cells to inhibitors of Ca2+ signaling during application of fluid shear stress (FSS). FSS only activated ERK1/2, rapidly inducing phosphorylation within 5 min of the onset of shear. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) was significantly reduced when Cai2+ was chelated with BAPTA or when Ca2+ was removed from the flow media. Inhibition of both the L-type voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel and the mechanosensitive cation-selective channel blocked FSS-induced pERK1/2. Inhibition of phospholipase C with U73122 significantly reduced pERK1/2. This inhibition did not result from blockage of intracellular Ca2+ release, but a loss of PKC activation. Recent data suggests a role of ATP release and purinergic receptor activation in mechanotransduction. Apyrase-mediated hydrolysis of extracellular ATP completely blocked FSS-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, while the addition of exogenous ATP to static cells mimicked the effects of FSS on pERK1/2. Two P2 receptors, P2Y2 and P2X7, have been associated with the anabolic responses of bone to mechanical loading. Using both iRNA techniques and primary osteoblasts isolated from P2X7 knockout mice, we found that the P2X7, but not the P2Y2, purinergic receptor was involved in ERK1/2 activation under FSS. These data suggest that FSS-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation requires Ca2+-dependent ATP release, however both increased Cai2+ and PKC activation are needed for complete activation. Further, this ATP-dependent ERK1/2 phosphorylation is mediated through P2X7, but not P2Y2, purinergic receptors

Effect of Multi- Steel Bolt Anchorages on Composite Beams

Using fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) to retrofit or strengthen the concrete structures is an attractive option in construction areas nowadays. However, premature debonding failures limit the efficacy of fiber utilization. It is presently accepted that anchorage system is an attractive option to solve this problem. Much efforts has been made through experimental testing and numerical modeling to investigate the anchorage systems, meanwhile various systems were created and developed. However, researches on the mechanism of the anchorage systems are still too rare to build a countable and union design guideline with respect to different premature debonding failure modes. The present paper focused on two commonly documented anchorage methods: steel bolt anchorage and CFRP end wrapping anchorage and conducted a specially design experiment to further analyze the mechanism of effect of both systems on premature debonding failures (concrete cover separation and IC debonding). Results show that CFRP wrapping and Steel bolts can both effectively stop or suppress the propagation of IC debonding. And the ultimate load is effected by the finally failure mode, which could be changed with different height of steel bolt

Chiral Quantum Walks

Given its importance to many other areas of physics, from condensed matter physics to thermodynamics, time-reversal symmetry has had relatively little influence on quantum information science. Here we develop a network-based picture of time-reversal theory, classifying Hamiltonians and quantum circuits as time-symmetric or not in terms of the elements and geometries of their underlying networks. Many of the typical circuits of quantum information science are found to exhibit time-asymmetry. Moreover, we show that time-asymmetry in circuits can be controlled using local gates only, and can simulate time-asymmetry in Hamiltonian evolution. We experimentally implement a fundamental example in which controlled time-reversal asymmetry in a palindromic quantum circuit leads to near-perfect transport. Our results pave the way for using time-symmetry breaking to control coherent transport, and imply that time-asymmetry represents an omnipresent yet poorly understood effect in quantum information science.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, REVTeX 4.1 - published versio

Design of Planar Double Inverted-F Antenna for Ultra-Wideband Applications.

yesA novel miniaturized planar double inverted-F antenna is presented. The antenna design is based on the electromagnetic coupling of two air dielectric PIFA antennas, combined with a broadband rectangular plate feed structure to achieve ultra-wideband characteristics. The computed and experimental impedance bandwidths show good agreement over an UWB frequency band from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz for |S11| < -10dB. The antenna is electrically small, with size 0.31 x 0.16 x 0.09 wavelengths at 3.1 GHz and 1.06 x 0.55 x 0.31 wavelengths at 10.6 GHz. The simulated and measured gain and radiation patterns show acceptable agreement and confirm that the antenna has appropriate characteristics for short range wireless applications.MSCR