Roles of reconstituted high-density lipoprotein nanoparticles in cardiovascular disease: A new paradigm for drug discovery

Epidemiological results revealed that there is an inverse correlation between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Mounting evidence supports that HDLs are atheroprotective, therefore, many therapeutic approaches have been developed to increase HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Nevertheless, HDL-raising therapies, such as cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors, failed to ameliorate cardiovascular outcomes in clinical trials, thereby casting doubt on the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by increasing HDL-C levels. Therefore, HDL-targeted interventional studies were shifted to increasing the number of HDL particles capable of promoting ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)-mediated cholesterol efflux. One such approach was the development of reconstituted HDL (rHDL) particles that promote ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux from lipid-enriched macrophages. Here, we explore the manipulation of rHDL nanoparticles as a strategy for the treatment of CVD. In addition, we discuss technological capabilities and the challenge of relating preclinical in vivo mice research to clinical studies. Finally, by drawing lessons from developing rHDL nanoparticles, we also incorporate the viabilities and advantages of the development of a molecular imaging probe with HDL nanoparticles when applied to ASCVD, as well as gaps in technology and knowledge required for putting the HDL-targeted therapeutics into full gear

Improvement in burning velocity models for hydrogen in the gas explosion simulator FLACS

Master's Thesis in Process TechnologyPRO399MAMN-PR

The Effect of Output Task on EFL Writing: How Far Can It Go?

The present study attempts to further the understanding of the effect of output in SLA by investigating to what extent an output task (i.e., reconstruction task) is effective in EFL writing. Data in the form of pre-, post- and delayed post-tests were collected from 28 students (14 in input-oriented group while 14 in output group) at one Chinese University. The results revealed a positive and enduring effect of the output task on learners’ grammatical accuracy in writing as compared with input-oriented instruction that has long been prevalent in Chinese EFL classroom. However the results did not find an equal impact of the task on different rules: The rules carrying meaning (e.g., connective) or having semantic equivalents in target language (e.g. passive “-ed” or comparative “-er” or superlative “-est”) are produced more accurately by the output group while less meaningful morphology (e.g. plural noun “-s”, third singular “-s”) or local rule (e.g. prepositions) were most difficult for these EFL learners. We argue semantic and functional awareness is the key format for learners to acquire and internalise the grammatical forms

Human-powered inertial energy harvesters: the effect of orientation, location and activity on the obtainable electrical power

Human-powered inertial energy harvesting is an emerging technology that can power electronic devices using electrical energy scavenged from human motion. Traditional energy harvesters generate energy only from a single axis, and are referred to one degree-of-freedom (1-DOF) energy harvesters. In this thesis, a two degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) energy harvester consisting of two orthogonal 1-DOF energy harvesters is studied. This research theoretically and experimentally investigates the effect of orientation, location and activity on the obtainable power from 2-DOF human-powered inertial energy harvesters.An on-body measurement study has been conducted to collect acceleration data from five key locations on the body during both walking and running. The collected data have been analyzed to evaluate the harvestable power along different orientations of both 1-DOF and 2-DOF inertial energy harvesters. The results show that the orientation of 1-DOF generators on the body greatly affects the output power. 2-DOF generators can maintain a more constant power output with rotation, thus are more reliable than 1-DOF generators. For 1-DOF generators, and for each location and activity, only 6% of the tested orientations harvest over 90% of the maximum power. For 2-DOF generators, this is increased to 32%, showing a considerable improvement.To validate the analytical results, 1-DOF mechanical- and magnetic-spring electromagnetic generators have been designed and prototyped. A novel design has been proposed to linearise magnetic springs for low frequency use. Experimental validation shows that the design exhibits a linearity of 2% across a ±25 mm displacement range, presenting a significant improvement over the state-of-the-art. A 2-DOF inertial generator that consists of two orthogonal 1-DOF mechanical-spring generators has been tested at three locations around the knee while running. At each location, the 2-DOF generator has been rotated to four different angles. The results show that 2-DOF generators can generate over 81% of the maximum power in all orientations. For 1-DOF generators, it is only 35%