Effect of nanoliposomes on the stabilization of incorporated retinol

Nanoliposomes containing retinol were prepared, and the stability of the incorporated retinol was evaluated. Average particle size of nanoliposomes was 98 nm. Retinol was readily incorporated into nanoliposomes with incorporation efficiencies higher than 99%. The bare retinol in the buffer was almost degraded within 2 days of storage, while at least, over 20% of the initial retinol in nanoliposomes was kept until 8 days in all experimental conditions tested. The incorporated retinol in nanoliposomes was more rapidly degraded as temperature increases under both dark and UV light condition during the whole period of storage, and UV light slightly decreased the stability of retinol in nanoliposomes.Key words: Retinol, nanoliposome, stability

Phosphorylation of Ser78 of Hsp27 correlated with HER-2/neu status and lymph node positivity in breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Abnormal amplification/expression of HER-2/<it>neu </it>oncogene has been causally linked with tumorigenesis and metastasis in breast cancer and associated with shortened overall survival of patients. Recently, heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) was reported to be highly expressed in HER-2/<it>neu </it>positive tumors and cell lines. However, putative functional links between phosphorylation of Hsp27 with HER-2/<it>neu </it>status and other clinicopathological features remain to be elucidated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparative phosphoproteomic studies of HER-2/<it>neu </it>positive and -negative breast tumors revealed that Hsp27, one of the identified phosphoproteins, was highly phosphorylated in HER-2/<it>neu </it>positive tumors. The extent of Hsp27 phosphorylation at its Ser¹⁵, Ser⁷⁸and Ser⁸²residues were further evaluated with site-specific antibodies in tumor samples by tissue lysate array- and tissue microarray-based analyses, and in the BT474 breast cancer cell line treated with heregulin α1 (HRG α1) or the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580. The tissue lysate array study indicated that only the level of pSer⁷⁸in HER-2/<it>neu </it>positive tumors was more than 2-fold that in HER-2/<it>neu </it>negative tumors. Treatment of BT474 cells with HRG α1 and SB203580 indicated that Ser⁷⁸phosphorylation was mainly regulated by the HER-2/<it>neu</it>-p38 MAPK pathway. Immunohistochemical staining of sections from a tissue microarray with 97 breast tumors showed that positive staining of pSer⁷⁸significantly correlated with HER-2/<it>neu </it>(<it>p </it>= 0.004) and lymph node positivity (<it>p </it>= 0.026).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This investigation demonstrated the significant correlation of enhanced phosphorylation of the Ser⁷⁸residue of Hsp27 with HER-2/<it>neu </it>and lymph node positivity in breast cancer.</p

General Steady-State Analysis and Control Principle of Electric Springs With Active and Reactive Power Compensations

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Real-time estimation of lane-based queue lengths at isolated signalized junctions

In this study, we develop a real-time estimation approach for lane-based queue lengths. Our aim is to determine the numbers of queued vehicles in each lane, based on detector information at isolated signalized junctions. The challenges involved in this task are to identify whether there is a residual queue at the start time of each cycle and to determine the proportions of lane-to-lane traffic volumes in each lane. Discriminant models are developed based on time occupancy rates and impulse memories, as calculated by the detector and signal information from a set of upstream and downstream detectors. To determine the proportions of total traffic volume in each lane, the downstream arrivals for each cycle are estimated by using the Kalman filter, which is based on upstream arrivals and downstream discharges collected during the previous cycle. Both the computer simulations and the case study of real-world traffic show that the proposed method is robust and accurate for the estimation of lane-based queue lengths in real time under a wide range of traffic conditions. Calibrated discriminant models play a significant role in determining whether there are residual queued vehicles in each lane at the start time of each cycle. In addition, downstream arrivals estimated by the Kalman filter enhance the accuracy of the estimates by minimizing any error terms caused by lane-changing behavior.postprin

The likelihood of achieving quantified road safety targets: A binary logistic regression model for possible factors

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Comparison of the functional features of the pump organs of Anopheles sinensis and Aedes togoi

Mosquitoes act as vectors for severe tropical diseases. Mosquito-borne diseases are affected by various factors such as environmental conditions, host body susceptibility, and mosquito feeding behavior. Among these factors, feeding behavior is affected by the feeding pump system located inside the mosquito head and also depends on the species of mosquito. Therefore, the 3D morphological structures of the feeding pumps of Aedes togoi and Anopheles sinensis were comparatively investigated using synchrotron X-ray microscopic computed tomography. In addition, the feeding behaviors of their pumping organs were also investigated using a 2D X-ray micro-imaging technique. An. sinensis, a malarial vector mosquito, had a larger feeding pump volume than Ae. togoi in the static or resting position. Interestingly, the two species of mosquitoes exhibited different feeding behaviors. Ae. togoi had a higher feeding frequency and expansion ratio than An. sinensis. Ae. togoi also exhibited F-actin localization more clearly. These distinctive variations in feeding volumes and behaviors provide essential insight into the blood-feeding mechanisms of female mosquitoes as vectors for tropical diseases.1124Ysciescopu