Quantitative (Non-qualitative) Changes of IgG Anti-Mumps After Freeze-‎Thaw Cycles

Object. The result of freeze-thaw (FT) tested sera is always doubtful, and is a matter of question which is accompanied by false negative results. Aim: To determine the effect of repeated FT cycles, on the assay results of mumps IgG antibody. Material and Methods. This prospective laboratory study includes 25 volunteers. 25 sera underwent tests for first Mumps IgG antibody, and then were frozen at -20 degrees centigrade. One week later, they were thawed and stored again at 4 degrees centigrade for one more week when the second assays, were performed. The results for mumps IgG ELISA as an effect of two FT cycles and storage temperature were reported. The results were recorded by first and second Immune Serum Ratio (ISR) value (for first and second assay) and the percentage change of ISR. A linear regression model applied for analyzing ISR change percentage. Results. There were three kinds of ISR value change as: 1-The stable ISR value (44%). 2-The decreasing change of ISR value (32%) mainly among males, older in age (14-19 years) and the first ISR more than the value of four. 3-The increasing change of ISR value (24%) which occurred in males 10-12 years with the first ISR value of 1-2 (lowest concentration). Based on regression model, level of the first ISR and group of test were significant factor for change percentage of ISR, but neither gender nor age, were significant. Discussions. Mumps IgG antibody , as a function of two FT cycles, was affected by quantitative but not qualitative alteration. If the first ISR has value of 3-4, most probably it wills no any significant changes due to at least two FT cycles

The lag and duration-luminosity relations of gamma-ray burst pulses

Relations linking the temporal or/and spectral properties of the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (hereafter GRBs) to the absolute luminosity are of great importance as they both constrain the radiation mechanisms and represent potential distance indicators. Here we discuss two such relations: the lag-luminosity relation and the newly discovered duration-luminosity relation of GRB pulses. We aim to extend our previous work on the origin of spectral lags, using the duration-luminosity relation recently discovered by Hakkila et al. to connect lags and luminosity. We also present a way to test this relation which has originally been established with a limited sample of only 12 pulses. We relate lags to the spectral evolution and shape of the pulses with a linear expansion of the pulse properties around maximum. We then couple this first result to the duration-luminosity relation to obtain the lag-luminosity and lag-duration relations. We finally use a Monte-Carlo method to generate a population of synthetic GRB pulses which is then used to check the validity of the duration-luminosity relation. Our theoretical results for the lag and duration-luminosity relations are in good agreement with the data. They are rather insensitive to the assumptions regarding the burst spectral parameters. Our Monte Carlo analysis of a population of synthetic pulses confirms that the duration-luminosity relation must be satisfied to reproduce the observational duration-peak flux diagram of BATSE GRB pulses. The newly discovered duration-luminosity relation offers the possibility to link all three quantities: lag, duration and luminosity of GRB pulses in a consistent way. Some evidence for its validity have been presented but its origin is not easy to explain in the context of the internal shock model.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

Simulation on the shock attenuation behavior of coupled RHA and sandwich composite panel under blast loading

This paper presents the shock attenuation behavior of engineering materials namely Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA) and sandwich composite when subject to blast loadings. Blast loading on sandwich composite structure and monolithic material are investigated using LSDYNA 3D with Arbitrary LagrangianEulerian (ALE) method. Dynamic response in terms of shock was analyzed in order to understand the shock attenuation of monolithic structure and sandwich structures. Based from the results, coupled RHA and sandwich composite structure configuration exhibit highest  attenuation capability of 61.3% respectively. The study can be used as reference tool for the application related to automotive, naval and aeronautical structures, oil and gas industry.Keywords: shock attenuation; composite; survivability; honeycomb

A highly sensitive multiplexed FBG pressure transducer based on natural rubber diaphragm and ultrathin aluminium sheet

Pressure measurement with a good sensitivity has always been a concern in most of the engineering applications and biomedical field. In this paper, a multiplexed FBG bonded on an ultrathin aluminium sheet which act as a cantilever deflected due to a deformation from a natural rubber based diaphragm has been proposed and studied. By using two gratings inscribed on a single optical fibre which senses the positive and negative strain has enhanced the sensitivity of the pressure transducer recorded at 329.56 pm/kPa or corresponding to 10.7893 kPa−1 across the range of 0 to 10 kPa with a good linearity of 99.76%. Furthermore, the thermal cross-sensitivity is compensated

Experimental and numerical investigation on blast wave propagation in soil structure

No Abstract

Axl-EGFR receptor tyrosine kinase hetero-interaction provides EGFR with access to pro-invasive signalling in cancer cells

© The Author(s) 2016. Acquired resistance to conventional and targeted therapies is becoming a major hindrance in cancer management. It is increasingly clear that cancer cells are able to evolve and rewire canonical signalling pathways to their advantage, thus evading cell death and promoting cell invasion. The Axl receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) has been shown to modulate acquired resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies in both breast and lung cancers. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly infiltrative and invasive form of brain tumour with little response to therapy. Both Axl and EGFR have been identified as major players in gliomagenesis and invasiveness. However, the mechanisms underlying a potential signalling crosstalk between EGFR and Axl RTKs are unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate this novel and unconventional interaction among RTKs of different families in human GBM cells. With the use of western blotting, in vitro kinase activity, co-immunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, we show that EGF stimulates activation of Axl kinase and that there is a hetero-interaction between the two RTKs. Through small interfering RNA knockdown and quantitative PCR screening, we identified distinct gene expression patterns in GBM cells that were specifically regulated by signalling from EGFR-EGFR, Axl-Axl and EGFR-Axl RTK parings. These included genes that promote invasion, which were activated only via the EGFR-Axl axis (MMP9), while EGFR-EGFR distinctly regulated the cell cycle and Axl-Axl regulated invasion. Our findings provide critical insights into the role of EGFR-Axl hetero-dimerisation in cancer cells and reveal regulation of cell invasion via Axl as a novel function of EGFR signalling

Heavy Military Land Vehicle Mass Properties Estimation Using Hoisting and Pendulum Motion Method

Mass properties such as the centre of gravity location, moments of inertia, and total mass are of great importance for vehicle stability studies and deployment. Certain parameters are required when these vehicles need to be arranged inside an aircraft for the carrier to achieve proper mass balance and stability during a flight. These parameters are also important for the design and modelling process of vehicle rollover crash studies. In this study, the mass properties of a military armoured vehicle were estimated using hoisting and pendulum method. The gross total weight, longitudinal and vertical measurements were recorded by lifting the vehicle using a mobile crane and the data were used to estimate the centre of gravity. The frequency of vehicle oscillation was measured by applying swing motion with a small angle of the vehicle as it is suspended on air. The centre of gravity and mass moment of inertia were calculated using the vector mechanics approach. The outcomes and limitations of the approach as discussed in details

Filtering Efficiency and Design Properties of Medical- and Non-Medical-Grade Face Masks: A Multiscale Modeling Approach

Data Availability Statement: The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author due to privacy and ethical restrictions.Approved medical face masks have been shown to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets associated with coronavirus transmission in specific settings. The primary goal of this study was to develop a new strategy to assess the filtering and transmissibility properties of medical- and non-medical-grade face masks. In this study, we designed and assessed the filtering efficiency of particles through six different masks with a diverse set of fabrics, textures (woven and non-woven), fiber diameters, and porosity. The filtering and transmissibility properties of face mask layers individually and in combination have been assessed using mathematical analyses and new experimental data. The latter provided velocity profiles and filtration efficiencies for which the data were shown to be predictable. The filtration efficacy and pressure drop across each fabric have been tested using an aerosol particle spray and scanning electron microscopy. To assess clinical significance, the temperature and humidity of the masks were tested on a group of healthy volunteers spanning various age ranges (9–79 years old), utilizing an embedded temperature sensor disc. Also, a mask filter model was developed using fluid dynamic simulations (Solidworks Flow) to evaluate the aerodynamic dispersion of respiratory droplets. Overall, the FFP2 and FFP3 masks demonstrated the highest filtration efficiencies, each exceeding 90%, a feature of multi-layered masks that is consistent with simulations demonstrating higher filtering efficiencies for small particles (<5 µm). The velocity and temperature simulations of all six masks revealed a low air velocity (~1 m/s) inside the mask and a temperature variation of approximately 3 °C during the breathing cycle.No funding was received for conducting this study