Determination of incommensurate modulated structure in Bi2Sr1.6La0.4CuO6+{\delta} by aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy

Incommensurate modulated structure (IMS) in Bi2Sr1.6La0.4CuO6+{\delta} (BSLCO) has been studied by aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy in combination with high-dimensional (HD) space description. Two images in the negative Cs imaging (NCSI) and passive Cs imaging (PCSI) modes were deconvoluted, respectively. Similar results as to IMS have been obtained from two corresponding projected potential maps (PPMs), but meanwhile the size of dots representing atoms in the NCSI PPM is found to be smaller than that in PCSI one. Considering that size is one of influencing factors of precision, modulation functions for all unoverlapped atoms in BSLCO were determined based on the PPM obtained from the NCSI image in combination with HD space description

Influence of Solute Charge and Hydrophobicity on Partitioning and Diffusion in a Genetically Engineered Silk-Elastin-Like Protein Polymer Hydrogel

The influence of solute hydrophobicity and charge on partitioning and diffusion in physically crosslinked networks of a genetically engineered SELP polymer was investigated. A series of fluorescent dyes were used to assess the impact of solute charge and hydrophobicity on release behavior. The mechanism of solute release from the SELP hydrogel appeared to vary as a function of dye hydrophobicity. The extent of FITC attachment to amine-terminated G4 dendrimers influenced SELP hydrogel partitioning more than dendrimer diffusion properties. Results suggest the possibility of controlling solute release from SELP hydrogels by modifying the hydrophobicity and surface charge of drugs and drug/polymer conjugates as well as the possibility of “designing-in” solute-specific interactions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78240/1/1235_ftp.pd

A Reliable Energy-Efficient Multi-Level Routing Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks Using Fuzzy Petri Nets

A reliable energy-efficient multi-level routing algorithm in wireless sensor networks is proposed. The proposed algorithm considers the residual energy, number of the neighbors and centrality of each node for cluster formation, which is critical for well-balanced energy dissipation of the network. In the algorithm, a knowledge-based inference approach using fuzzy Petri nets is employed to select cluster heads, and then the fuzzy reasoning mechanism is used to compute the degree of reliability in the route sprouting tree from cluster heads to the base station. Finally, the most reliable route among the cluster heads can be constructed. The algorithm not only balances the energy load of each node but also provides global reliability for the whole network. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm effectively prolongs the network lifetime and reduces the energy consumption

Outer membrane vesicles of the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis promote aggregation and phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic Gram-positive bacterial pathogen that causes a wide variety of infectious diseases, including S. aureus bacteremia (SAB). Recent studies showed that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a risk factor for SAB, as RA patients appear to be more susceptible to SAB and display higher degrees of disease severity or complications, such as osteoarticular infections. On the other hand, Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative bacterial oral pathogen, which is notable for its implication in the etiopathogenesis of RA due to its unique citrullinating enzyme PPAD and its highly effective proteases, known as gingipains. Both PPAD and gingipains are abundant in P. gingivalis outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), which are secreted nanostructures that originate from the outer membrane. Here we show that P. gingivalis OMVs cause the aggregation of S. aureus bacteria in a gingipain- and PPAD-dependent fashion, and that this aggregation phenotype is reversible. Importantly, we also show that the exposure of S. aureus to OMVs of P. gingivalis promotes the staphylococcal internalization by human neutrophils with no detectable neutrophil killing. Altogether, our observations suggest that P. gingivalis can eliminate its potential competitor S. aureus by promoting staphylococcal aggregation and the subsequent internalization by neutrophils. We hypothesize that this phenomenon may have repercussions for the host, since immune cells with internalized bacteria may facilitate bacterial translocation to the blood stream, which could potentially contribute to the association between RA and SAB

Cardiac Biomarker Release After Exercise in Healthy Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: The authors evaluated the impact of acute exercise and 24-hour recovery on serum concentration of cardiac troponins T and I (cTnT and cTnI) and N-terminal fragment of the prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in healthy children and adolescents. The authors also determined the proportion of participants exceeding the upper reference limits and acute myocardial infarction cutoff for each assay. METHOD: Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases were systematically searched up to November 2017. Studies were screened and quality-assessed; the data was systematically extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: From 751 studies initially identified, 14 met the inclusion criteria for data extraction. All 3 biomarkers were increased significantly after exercise. A decrease from postexercise to 24 hours was noted in cTnT and cTnI, although this decrease was only statistically significant for cTnT. The upper reference limit was exceeded by 76% of participants for cTnT, a 51% for cTnI, and a 13% for NT-proBNP. Furthermore, the cutoff value for acute myocardial infarction was exceeded by 39% for cTnT and a 11% for cTnI. Postexercise peak values of cTnT were associated with duration and intensity (Q(3) = 28.3, P < .001) while NT-proBNP peak values were associated with duration (Q(2) = 11.9, P = .003). CONCLUSION: Exercise results in the appearance of elevated levels of cTnT, cTnI, and NT-proBNP in children and adolescents. Postexercise elevations of cTnT and NT-proBNP are associated with exercise duration and intensity

Retrospective comparison between a regular and a split-dose protocol of 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and mitoxantrone for the treatment of far advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), combination chemotherapy using 5- fluorouracil, cisplatin, and mitoxantrone (FMP) could achieve a response rate > 20%, but the beneficial effect was compromised by formidable adverse events. Chemotherapy given in a split-dose manner was associated with reduced toxicities. In this retrospective study, we compared the efficacies and side effects between a regular and a split-dose FMP protocol approved in our medical center.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From 2005 to 2008, the clinical data of 84 patients with far advanced HCC, who had either main portal vein thrombosis and/or extrahepatic metastasis, were reviewed. Of them, 65 were treated by either regular (n = 27) or split-dose (n = 38) FMP and had completed at least one therapeutic course. The remaining 19 patients were untreated. Clinical parameters, therapeutic responses, survivals and adverse events were compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median overall survival was 6.0, 5.2, and 1.5 months, respectively, in patients receiving regular FMP, split-dose FMP, and no treatment (regular versus split-dose group, P = 0.447; regular or split-dose versus untreated group; P < 0.0001). Patients receiving split-dose treatment had a significantly lower risk of grade 3/4 neutropenia (51.9 versus 10.5%, P = 0.0005). When the two treated groups were combined, the median overall survival was 10.6 and 3.8 months respectively for patients achieving disease control and progressive disease (P < 0.001). Cox proportion hazard model identified Child-Pugh stage B (hazard ratio [HR], 2.216; P = 0.006), presence of extrahepatic metastasis (HR, 0.574; P = 0.048), and achievement of disease control (HR, 0.228; P < 0.001) as independent factors associated with overall survival. Logistic regression analysis revealed that anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (odds ratio [OR], 9.219; P = 0.002) tumor size (OR, 0.816; P = 0.036), and previous anti-cancer therapy (OR, 0.195; P = 0.017) were significantly associated with successful disease control.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Comparable overall survival was observed between patients receiving regular and split-dose FMP therapies. Patients receiving split-dose therapy had a significantly lower risk of grade 3/4 neutropenia. Positive anti-hepatitis C virus antibody, smaller tumor size, and absence of previous anti-cancer therapy were independent predictors for successful disease control.</p