CD9 shapes glucocorticoid sensitivity in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Resistance to glucocorticoids (GCs), the common agents for remission induction in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), poses a significant therapeutic hurdle. Therefore, dissecting the mechanisms shaping GC resistance could lead to new treatment modalities. Here, we showed that CD9- BCP-ALL cells were preferentially resistant to prednisone and dexamethasone over other standard cytotoxic agents. Concordantly, we identified significantly more poor responders to the prednisone prephase among BCP-ALL patients with a CD9- phenotype, especially for those with adverse presenting features including older age, higher white cell count and BCR-ABL1. Furthermore, gain- and loss-of-function experiments dictated a definitive functional linkage between CD9 expression and GC susceptibility, as demonstrated by the reversal and acquisition of relative GC resistance in CD9low and CD9high BCP-ALL cells, respectively. Despite physical binding to the GC receptor NR3C1, CD9 did not alter its expression, phosphorylation or nuclear translocation but potentiated the induction of GC-responsive genes in GCresistant cells. Importantly, the MEK inhibitor trametinib exhibited higher synergy with GCs against CD9- than CD9+ lymphoblasts to reverse drug resistance in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our results elucidate a previously unrecognized regulatory function of CD9 in GC sensitivity, and inform new strategies for management of children with resistant BCP-ALL

The effects of backward adjustable thoracic support in wheelchair on spinal curvature and back muscle activation for elderly people.

To investigate the effects of backward adjustable thoracic support on spinal curvature and back muscle activation during wheelchair sitting.Twenty elderly people were recruited for this study. The backward adjustable thoracic support sitting posture was compared with the slumped, normal, and lumbar support sitting postures. Spinal curvatures (pelvic, lumbar, and thoracic angles) and muscle activations of 4 back muscles on both sides (maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the lumbar multifidus, lumbar erector spinae, iliocostalis lumborum pars thoracis, and thoracic erector spinae at T9) were measured and compared between the different sitting postures using one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures.The backward adjustable thoracic support sitting posture showed a relatively neutral pelvic tilt (-0.32±4.80°) when compared with the slumped (22.84±5.27°) and lumbar support (-8.97±3.31°) sitting postures (P<0.001), and showed relatively higher lumbar lordosis (-23.38±6.50°) when compared with the slumped (14.77±7.83°), normal (0.44±7.47°), and lumbar support (-16.76±4.77°) sitting postures (P<0.05). It also showed relatively lower back muscle activity when compared with the normal and lumbar support sitting postures (P<0.05).The backward adjustable thoracic support sitting concept was suggested because it maintains a more neutral pelvic tilt, higher lumbar lordosis, and lower back muscle activation, which may help maintain a better sitting posture and reduce the risk of back pain

Fuzzy Quality Evaluation and Analysis Model for Improving the Quality of Unleaded Gasoline to Reduce Air Pollution

It is important to estimate the sample data when inspecting the quality of products. Therefore, sampling error and uncertainty in the measurement are inevitable, which may lead to misjudgment in product performance evaluation. Since the important quality characteristics of gasoline belong to one-sided specifications, a one-sided specification capability index was proposed to evaluate whether the process capabilities of various quality characteristics of gasoline reach the required quality levels. The 100(1&minus;&alpha;)% upper confidence limits of the index were obtained to ensure low producer&rsquo;s risk and reduce sampling errors. To deal with fuzzy data and limited sample sizes, a fuzzy testing model based on the 100(1&minus;&alpha;)% upper confidence limits of the index was developed. A practice example of 95 unleaded gasoline was used to illustrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed method. The result shows that two quality characteristics&mdash;Reid vapor pressure and oxygen content&mdash;of the nine quality characteristics of the 95 unleaded gasoline should be considered for improvements. This study provided an evaluation procedure to facilitate quality managers to take the opportunity to improve product quality, promoting the improvement of air quality, and the sustainability of industrial processes or products

Fuzzy Quality Evaluation and Analysis Model for Improving the Quality of Unleaded Gasoline to Reduce Air Pollution

It is important to estimate the sample data when inspecting the quality of products. Therefore, sampling error and uncertainty in the measurement are inevitable, which may lead to misjudgment in product performance evaluation. Since the important quality characteristics of gasoline belong to one-sided specifications, a one-sided specification capability index was proposed to evaluate whether the process capabilities of various quality characteristics of gasoline reach the required quality levels. The 100(1−α)% upper confidence limits of the index were obtained to ensure low producer’s risk and reduce sampling errors. To deal with fuzzy data and limited sample sizes, a fuzzy testing model based on the 100(1−α)% upper confidence limits of the index was developed. A practice example of 95 unleaded gasoline was used to illustrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed method. The result shows that two quality characteristics—Reid vapor pressure and oxygen content—of the nine quality characteristics of the 95 unleaded gasoline should be considered for improvements. This study provided an evaluation procedure to facilitate quality managers to take the opportunity to improve product quality, promoting the improvement of air quality, and the sustainability of industrial processes or products

A lab-on-phone instrument with varifocal microscope via a liquid-actuated aspheric lens (LAL)

<div><p>In this paper, we introduce a novel concept of liquid-actuated aspheric lens (LAL) with a built-in aspheric polydimethylsiloxane lens (APL) to enable the design of compact optical systems with varifocal microscopic imaging. The varifocal lens module consists of a sandwiched structures such as 3d printed syringe pump functionally serves as liquid controller. Other key components include two acrylic cylinders, a rigid separator, a APL/membrane composite (APLMC) embedded PDMS membrane. In functional operation, the fluidic controller was driven to control the pressure difference and ALPMC deformation. The focal length can be changed through the pressure difference. This is achieved by the adjustment of volume change of injected liquid such that a widely tunable focal length. The proposed LAL can transform to 3 modes: microscopic mode (APLMC only), convex-concave mode and biconcave mode. It is noticeable that LAL in the operation of microscopic mode is tunable in focus via the actuation of APLMC (focal length is from 4.3 to 2.3 mm and magnification 50X) and can rival the images quality of commercial microscopes. A new lab-on-phone device is economically feasible and functionally versatile to offer a great potential in the point of care applications.</p></div

A lab-on-phone instrument with varifocal microscope via a liquid-actuated aspheric lens (LAL) - Fig 1

<p>Schematics of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) lens fabrication process via heat-assisted approach as illustrated (a) by controlling both preheat platform surface temperature and the volume of the PDMS droplet, thermally curing and stabilizing by heating ~200°C and 30 sec. (b) Schematic for the construction of LAL with an exploded diagram, showing the key components of deformable PDMS membrane, acrylic cylinder, syringe pump, rigid separator (glass slide, refractive index 1.523) and aspheric PDMS lens membrane composite (APLMC). Demonstration of microscopic mode with varifocal capability in the focal length tunability of 2.3–4.3mm for (c) the biological characteristics of wings, mouthparts and compound eyes of Eurema hecabe. (d) microelectronic components of the printed circuit board. (e) Schematically illustrated for 3 types of microscopic mode, focal length is in the range of 4.3 mm to 2.3 mm.</p

Correlation of Impedance Matching and Optical Emission Spectroscopy during Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of Nanocrystalline Silicon Thin Films

In this paper, the correlation of impedance matching and optical emission spectroscopy during plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) was systematically investigated in SiH4 plasma diluted by various hydrogen dilution ratios. At the onset of nanocrystallinity in SiH4&#8722; depleted plasma condition, the SiH+ radical reached a threshold value as the dominant radical, such that a-Si to nc-Si transition was obtained. Furthermore, the experimental data of impedance analysis showed that matching behavior can be greatly influenced by variable plasma parameters due to the change of various hydrogen dilution ratios, which is consistent with the recorded optical emission spectra (OES) of H&#945;* radicals. Quadruple mass spectrometry (QMS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed as associated diagnostic and characterization tools to confirm the phase transformation and existence of silicon nanocrystals

Photographic images at various focal lengths as captured by a smartphone CCD image sensor.

<p>(a) The focal length is 1.2 cm, (b) 1.9 cm and (c) 2.5 cm, respectively in the mode of concave-convex; similarly in the bi-convex mode to tune the focal length for (d) 6.2 cm, (e)8.3 cm, (f) 16 cm (g) 33.3 cm and (h) 62.5 cm, respectively. Scale bar: 1cm.</p