Mean Particle Diameter in an Analysis of a Particulate Process

In the study of a participate process, one of the most important subjects to consider is what mean particle diameter to employ. In this study, an experimental value is divided into two terms, one with some interaction between particles and the other without such interaction (the linear term). The mean particle diameter is defined only in terms of the latter, that is the linear term. It is shown that the scattering in previously published data for the particulate process, is attributable to the fact that the mean diameter is not determined correctly. Further, if such a diameter as determined in this study is used, a satisfactory result with little scattering in the data is achieved. In connection with the definition, the practical method for determining the mean particle diameter and suggestions as to its use are given, and the relation between the process variables observed when the distribution is log-normal, is also discussed

A novel magnetic resonance imaging postprocessing technique for the assessment of intervertebral disc degeneration-Correlation with histological grading in a rabbit disc degeneration model.

Introduction:Estimation of intervertebral disc degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is challenging. Qualitative schemes used in clinical practice correlate poorly with pain and quantitative techniques have not entered widespread clinical use. Methods:As part of a prior study, 25 New Zealand white rabbits underwent annular puncture to induce disc degeneration in 50 noncontiguous lumbar discs. At 16 weeks, the animals underwent multi-echo T2 MRI scanning and were euthanized. The discs were stained and examined histologically. Quantitative T2 relaxation maps were prepared using the nonlinear least squares method. Decay Variance maps were created using a novel technique of aggregating the deviation in the intensity of each echo signal from the expected intensity based on the previous rate of decay. Results:Decay Variance maps showed a clear and well demarcated nucleus pulposus with a consistent rate of decay (low Decay Variance) in healthy discs that showed progressively more variable decay (higher Decay Variance) with increasing degeneration. Decay Variance maps required significantly less time to generate (1.0 ± 0.0 second) compared with traditional T2 relaxometry maps (5 (±0.9) to 1788.9 (±116) seconds). Histology scores correlated strongly with Decay Variance scores (r = 0.82, P < .01) and weakly with T2 signal intensity (r = 0.32, P < .01) and quantitative T2 relaxometry (r = 0.39, P < .01). Decay Variance had superior sensitivity and specificity for the detection of degenerate discs when compared to T2 signal intensity or Quantitative T2 mapping. Conclusion:Our results show that using a multi-echo T2 MRI sequence, Decay Variance can quantitatively assess disc degeneration more accurately and with less image-processing time than quantitative T2 relaxometry in a rabbit disc puncture model. The technique is a viable candidate for quantitative assessment of disc degeneration on MRI scans. Further validation on human subjects is needed

Studies on optical properties of SnO-based glasses as lead-free glasses

The preparation of SnO-SiO(2), SnO-B(2)O(3), and SnO-GeO(2) glasses by melting in air was performed. The prepared SnO-GeO(2) glasses were large enough to measure optical properties whereas the vitrification in SnO-SiO(2) and SnO-B(2)O(3) systems was difficult. PbO-GeO(2) and BiO(1.5)-GeO(2) glasses were also prepared for comparison with SnO-GeO(2) glasses. The densities, glass transition temperatures, and optical properties such as refractive indices, dispersion, and transmission spectra of SnO-GeO(2), PbO-GeO(2), and BiO(1.5)-GeO(2) glasses were measured. On the basis of the results, the potential for SnO-GeO(2) glasses as lead-free glasses is particularly discussed from the viewpoint of optical properties

Neurotropin suppresses inflammatory cytokine expression and cell death through suppression of NF-κB and JNK in hepatocytes.

Inflammatory response and cell death in hepatocytes are hallmarks of chronic liver disease, and, therefore, can be effective therapeutic targets. Neurotropin® (NTP) is a drug widely used in Japan and China to treat chronic pain. Although NTP has been demonstrated to suppress chronic pain through the descending pain inhibitory system, the action mechanism of NTP remains elusive. We hypothesize that NTP functions to suppress inflammatory pathways, thereby attenuating disease progression. In the present study, we investigated whether NTP suppresses inflammatory signaling and cell death pathways induced by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in hepatocytes. NTP suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation induced by IL-1β and TNFα assessed by using hepatocytes isolated from NF-κB-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter mice and an NF-κB-luciferase reporter system. The expression of NF-κB target genes, Il6, Nos2, Cxcl1, ccl5 and Cxcl2 induced by IL-1β and TNFα was suppressed after NTP treatment. We also found that NTP suppressed the JNK phosphorylation induced by IL-1β and TNFα. Because JNK activation contributes to hepatocyte death, we determined that NTP treatment suppressed hepatocyte death induced by IL-1β and TNFα in combination with actinomycin D. Taken together, our data demonstrate that NTP attenuates IL-1β and TNFα-mediated inflammatory cytokine expression and cell death in hepatocytes through the suppression of NF-κB and JNK. The results from the present study suggest that NTP may become a preventive or therapeutic strategy for alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in which NF-κB and JNK are thought to take part