Temperature Measurement of Stored Biomass Using Low-frequency Acoustic Waves and Correlation Signal Processing Techniques

As a substitute of traditional fossil fuels, biomass is widely used to generate electricity and heat. The temperature of stored biomass needs to be monitored continuously to prevent the biomass from self-ignition. This paper proposes a non-intrusive method for the temperature measurement of stored biomass based on acoustic sensing techniques. A characteristic factor is introduced to obtain the sound speed in free space from the measured time of flight of acoustic waves in stored biomass. After analysing the relationship between the defined characteristic factor and air temperature, an updating procedure on the characteristic factor is proposed to reduce the influence of air temperature. By measuring the sound speed in free space air temperature is determined which is the same as biomass temperature. The proposed methodology is examined using a single path acoustic system which consists of a source and two sensors. A linear chirp signal with a duration of 0.1 s and frequencies of 200-500 Hz is generated and transmitted through stored biomass pellets. The time of flight of sound waves between the two acoustic sensors is measured through correlation signal processing. The relative error of measurement results using the proposed method is no more than 4.5% over the temperature range from 22? to 48.9?. Factors that affect the temperature measurement are investigated and quantified. The experimental results indicate that the proposed technique is effective for the temperature measurement of stored biomass with a maximum error of 1.5? under all test conditions

Conditioned Media from Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Efficiently Induced the Apoptosis and Differentiation in Human Glioma Cell Lines In Vitro

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have an intrinsic property for homing towards tumor sites and can be used as tumor-tropic vectors for tumor therapy. But very limited studies investigated the antitumor properties of MSCs themselves. In this study we investigated the antiglioma properties of two easily accessible MSCs, namely, human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) and umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs). We found (1) MSC conditioned media can significantly inhibit the growth of human U251 glioma cell line; (2) MSC conditioned media can significantly induce apoptosis in human U251 cell line; (3) real-time PCR experiments showed significant upregulation of apoptotic genes of both caspase-3 and caspase-9 and significant downregulation of antiapoptotic genes such as survivin and XIAP after MSC conditioned media induction in U 251 cells; (4) furthermore, MSCs conditioned media culture induced rapid and complete differentiation in U251 cells. These results indicate MSCs can efficiently induce both apoptosis and differentiation in U251 human glioma cell line. Whereas UC-MSCs are more efficient for apoptosis induction than ASCs, their capability of differentiation induction is not distinguishable from each other. Our findings suggest MSCs themselves have favorable antitumor characteristics and should be further explored in future glioma therapy

Synthesis and Properties of pH-, Thermo-, and Salt-Sensitive Modified Poly(aspartic acid)/Poly(vinyl alcohol) IPN Hydrogel and Its Drug Controlled Release

Modified poly(aspartic acid)/poly(vinyl alcohol) interpenetrating polymer network (KPAsp/PVA IPN) hydrogel for drug controlled release was synthesized by a simple one-step method in aqueous system using poly(aspartic acid) grafting 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH-550) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as materials. The hydrogel surface morphology and composition were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal stability was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The swelling properties and pH, temperature, and salt sensitivities of KPAsp, KPAsp/PVA semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN), and KPAsp/PVA IPN hydrogels were also investigated. All of the three hydrogels showed ampholytic pH-responsive properties, and swelling behavior was also extremely sensitive to the temperature, ionic strength, and cationic species. Finally, the drug controlled release properties of the three hydrogels were evaluated and results indicated that three hydrogels could control drug release by external surroundings stimuli. The drug controlled release properties of KPAsp/PVA IPN hydrogel are the most outstanding, and the correlative measured release profiles of salicylic acid at 37°C were 32.6 wt% at pH = 1.2 (simulated gastric fluid) and 62.5 wt% at pH = 7.4 (simulated intestinal fluid), respectively. These results indicated that KPAsp/PVA IPN hydrogels are a promising carrier system for controlled drug delivery

The Molecular Profiles of Neural Stem Cell Niche in the Adult Subventricular Zone

<div><p>Neural stem cells (NSCs) reside in a unique microenvironment called the neurogenic niche and generate functional new neurons. The neurogenic niche contains several distinct types of cells and interacts with the NSCs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle. While several molecules produced by the niche cells have been identified to regulate adult neurogenesis, a systematic profiling of autocrine/paracrine signaling molecules in the neurogenic regions involved in maintenance, self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation of NSCs has not been done. We took advantage of the genetic inducible fate mapping system (GIFM) and transgenic mice to isolate the SVZ niche cells including NSCs, transit-amplifying progenitors (TAPs), astrocytes, ependymal cells, and vascular endothelial cells. From the isolated cells and microdissected choroid plexus, we obtained the secretory molecule expression profiling (SMEP) of each cell type using the Signal Sequence Trap method. We identified a total of 151 genes encoding secretory or membrane proteins. In addition, we obtained the potential SMEP of NSCs using cDNA microarray technology. Through the combination of multiple screening approaches, we identified a number of candidate genes with a potential relevance for regulating the NSC behaviors, which provide new insight into the nature of neurogenic niche signals.</p> </div

The self-renewal capacity and multipotency of GFP+/tdTomato+ cells.

<p>(A) FACS isolated GFP+/tdTomato+ cells from <i>Gli1^CreER/+;hGFAP-GFP;R26^tdTomato/+</i> mice formed neurospheres and express NSC markers Sox2 and Nestin. (B) Neurospheres or neurosphere-derived dissociated cells (insets) cultured in the differentiation medium differentiated into neurons (TuJ1+), astrocytes (GFAP+) and oligodendrocytes (O4+, inset: CNPase+). Immunofluorescent staining results were pseudocolored (green) and nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33258 (blue).</p

Top enriched annotation terms for secretory molecule expression profile (SMEP) from subventricular zone niche cells.

<p>Top enriched annotation terms for secretory molecule expression profile (SMEP) from subventricular zone niche cells.</p

FACS isolation of SVZ niche cells.

<p>(A–D) FACS plots of dissociated SVZ cells from <i>Gli1^CreER/+;hGFAP-GFP;R26^tdTomato/+</i> mice. (A) Gate was set using wild-type mice as a negative control. (B) Gate setting for GFP using <i>hGFAP-GFP</i> mice. (C) Gate setting for tdTomato using <i>Nestin-Cre;R26^tdTomato/+</i> mice. (D) FACS plot of the isolation of GFP+/tdTomato+ cells (NSCs), GFP−/tdTomato+ cells (TAPs), and GFP+/tdTomato− cells (astrocytes) from <i>Gli1^CreER/+;hGFAP-GFP;R26^tdTomato/+</i> mice. (E-F) FACS plots of dissociated SVZ cells from <i>FoxJ1-Cre;R26^YFP/+</i> mice. (E) Gate setting for a negative control using wild-type mice. (F) FACS plot of the isolation of YFP+ ependymal cells. (G-H) FACS plots of dissociated SVZ cells from <i>Tie2-GFP</i> mice. (G) Gate setting for a negative control using wild-type mice. (H) FACS plot of the isolation of GFP+ endothelial cells. (I-N) Validation of FACS-Isolated NSC niche cells by immunofluorescent staining. Nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33258 (blue). (I) GFAP, Sox2, and Nestin label NSCs (GFP+/tdTomato+). (J) Mash1 and Sox2 label TAPs (GFP−/tdTomato+). (K) GFAP and S100β label astrocytes (GFP+/tdTomato−). (L) S100β and CD24 label ependymal cells (YFP+). (M) CD31 labels endothelial cells (GFP+). (N) Quantification of immunocytochemical validation. Data represent the ratio of total antibody marker expressing cells to transgenic marker expressing cells. The results are sum of at least 2 independent experiments.</p

Transgenic markers are expressed by specific NSC niche cell types.

<p>(A) A schematic of the adult mouse forebrain in the coronal plane and cellular components of the neural stem cell (NSC) niche. Ependymal cells in <i>FoxJ1-Cre;R26^YFP/+</i> mice express YFP. NSCs, transit-amplifying progenitors (TAPs), and astrocytes in <i>Gli1^CreER/+;hGFAP-GFP;R26^tdTomato/+</i> mice express GFP/tdTomato, only tdTomato, and only GFP, respectively. Vascular endothelial cells in <i>Tie2-GFP</i> mice express GFP. LV: lateral ventricle, SVZ: subventricular zone. (B) A schema represents the induction of transgene in <i>Gli1^CreER/+;hGFAP-GFP;R26^tdTomato/+</i> mice by tamoxifen treatment. Three weeks after the treatment, SVZs were dissected, dissociated, and subjected to FACS or analyzed for the <i>in vivo</i> transgene expression. <i>FoxJ1-Cre;R26^YFP/+</i> or <i>Tie2-GFP</i> mice were also used for FACS or the <i>in vivo</i> transgene expression analysis. (C and D) A coronal section of the SVZ of <i>Gli1^CreER/+;hGFAP-GFP;R26^tdTomato/+</i> mouse. <i>GFP</i> expressing cells (green) are localized in the SVZ as well as in the striatum (St). <i>Gli1</i> lineage cells (tdTomato+, red) are located predominantly in the SVZ. Dashed line indicates the border between the lumen of the LV and the SVZ. (C) Immunofluorescent staining for GFAP (magenta) labels NSCs (GFP+/tdTomato+, arrow) and astrocytes (GFP+/tdTomato−, arrow head) in the striatum. TAPs (GFP−/tdTomato+, open arrow head) are not stained by GFAP. (D) Immunofluorescent staining for Sox2 (magenta) labels NSCs (GFP+/tdTomato+, arrow) and TAPs (GFP−/tdTomato+, open arrow head). (E) A coronal section of the SVZ of <i>FoxJ1-Cre;R26^YFP/+</i> mouse. YFP expressing <i>FoxJ1</i> lineage cells were stained by anti-GFP antibody to enhance fluorescence signal (green). S100β (red) labels GFP+ ependymal cells in the ventricular wall of the LV. (F) A coronal section of the SVZ of <i>Tie2-GFP</i> mouse. CD31 (red) labels GFP+ endothelial cells (green) in the SVZ. Scale bars: 20 µm (C,F), 10 µm (D,E). Nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst 33258 (blue).</p

Secretory molecule expression profiles (SMEP) of niche cells from the adult mouse SVZ.

<p>Secretory molecule expression profiles (SMEP) of niche cells from the adult mouse SVZ.</p