Reduction of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 and Interleukin-8 Levels by Ticlopidine in TNF-α Stimulated Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Atherosclerosis and its associated complications represent major causes of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized or Western countries. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is critical for the initiating and developing of atherosclerotic lesions. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a CXC chemokine, stimulates neutrophil chemotaxis. Ticlopidine is one of the antiplatelet drugs used to prevent thrombus formation relevant to the pathophysiology of atherothrombosis. In this study, we found that ticlopidine dose-dependently decreased the mRNA and protein levels of TNF-α-stimulated MCP-1, IL-8, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Ticlopidine declined U937 cells adhesion and chemotaxis as compared to TNF-α stimulated alone. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects were neither due to decreased HUVEC viability, nor through NF-kB inhibition. These results suggest that ticlopidine decreased TNF-α induced MCP-1, IL-8, and VCAM-1 levels in HUVECs, and monocyte adhesion. Therefore, the data provide additional therapeutic machinery of ticlopidine in treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis

The effect of full or partial pricing integration on supply chain management

A previous paper proposed a supply chain model, comprised of a retailer and manufacturer, in which the manufacturer uses product pricing to maximize the profit of the entire supply chain. The increased profits gained from integration are then shared among all the supply chain members. The optimal pricing strategy was shown to be “products on consignment” for sale. The present study extends this simple two-layer supply chain model to a more complicated three-layer model, in which the supply chain comprises not only the retailer and manufacturer, but also an intermediate distributor. In contrast to the previous model, the present model not only considers the role of the distributor, but also the effects of product nonconformance at each facility in the supply chain. The profit function of each facility in the supply chain is established, including the sales revenue, procurement cost, and quality control cost. The investment cost at the retailer to improve the service level is also considered. It is shown that the total profit of the supply chain is maximized when the retailer’s optimal service level is adopted, where this service level is adjusted in accordance with the distributor’s unit sale price. Furthermore, after price integration, the overall profit of the supply chain is found to equal the retailer’s profit. In other words, the total profit of the manufacturer and distributor is equal to zero. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the proposed pricing integration model under different quality environments. The results are contrasted with those obtained using a traditional pricing model, namely the “make up on cost’’ model. Overall, the present results show that the manufacturer is always the winner under partial price integration (i.e., only the retailer and distributor join the integration). Furthermore, partial integration is far less profitable for the retailer and distributor than full integration

[[alternative]]A Study on Online Graphic Adaptations to The Lotus Sutra’s Universal Gate Chapter on Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

[[abstract]]　　〈普門品〉是觀世音菩薩於娑婆世界教化利益眾生的經典，隨著觀音信仰的普及，中國佛教藝術的開展，出現了以〈普門品〉為題材的觀音變相，涵蓋石窟壁畫、插畫繪本、絹畫、雕塑等不同媒材。在時代的演變及科技的進步知下，當今更重視圖像的傳達、創作，如圖像、影音等，這些是弘傳佛教經典的重要媒介與方式，在網絡便捷的21世紀，當代〈普門品〉變相在台灣、日本也出現了當代的圖文改編，為佛教藝術帶來演變與新意。　　本研究第二章爬梳〈普門品〉變相的起源，從印度流傳至中國的發展、傳播媒材、類型、人物形象、特色，提供〈普門品〉變相發展的前理解與背景知識。〈普門品〉流傳至今，當代變相發展則有漫畫、影音、繪本，本研究主要探討網路圖文，又以第三章探討《觀世因果》漫畫改編〈普門品〉之特色，從劇情、圖像、分格三個面向切入，劇情方面運用敘事學，探討故事主題思想、情節表現；圖像分析則運用圖像學及符號學，分析單元頁設計、角色造型以及漫符的運用，分格則探討其分鏡構成、格與格之間的轉換，從中得出漫畫的通俗性，貼近當代人的閱讀模式，讓讀者容易契入〈普門品〉的思想。第四章《観音経意訳絵本／かんのんきょう》繪本作品，從版面設計、內容分析及視覺設計特色三方面切入，運用圖像學、符號學、改編理論，探討圖與文之間的關係、分析文字與圖畫的敘事方法、創作者與作品的連結，為了因應時代潮流變化，繪本變相趨向精緻化且原創性強。　　本研究透由當代〈普門品〉的變相改編分析，目的旨在探討傳統與現代間變相的差異及特色，了解當代符合大眾審美的佛教藝術，以讓人懂的語言、藝術形式，為大眾所接受，當今更透過網路將〈普門品〉當代變相，無遠弗屆的傳播出去，實為佛教經典流傳的重要方式，進而接引人們趣入佛道，使人們開始重視傳播媒介對佛教經典傳播的重要性。[[abstract]]　　The Universal Gate Chapter is the Buddhist text that Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva teaches and benefits sentient beings in the Saha world. With the popularization of the belief in Avalokitesvara and the development of Buddhist art in China, there have been many graphic adaptations of Avalokitesvara based on the Universal Gate Chapter, including cave paintings, illustrations, silk paintings, and sculptures. With the evolution of the times and the advancement of technology, more emphasis is now placed on the transmission and creation of images, such as pictures and audio-visuals, which are important media and means of propagating Buddhist texts. In the 21st century, with the convenience of the Internet, modern graphic adaptations of the Universal Gate Chapter have emerged in Taiwan and Japan, bringing evolution and new ideas to Buddhist art.　　The second chapter of this study explores the origins of the graphic adaptation of the Universal Gate Chapter, its development, transmission medium, genres, character, and characteristics from India to China, providing prior understanding and background knowledge. Since the circulation of the Universal Gate Chapter to modern times, contemporary pictorial adaptations have extended to comics, audio-visuals, and picture books. Focusing on online graphic adaptations in this research, the third chapter examines the characteristics of the comic book adaptation of the Universal Gate Chapter, named Guanshiyinguo《觀世因果》through the plot, images, and the storyboard. Analysis of the storyline will be done through narratology, to discuss its main theme and how it is being presented; while analysis of the images will be through iconography and semiotics, on the design of the unit pages, character modeling, and the use of the manga symbols. The analysis of the storyboard will be on its structure and its transition, to derive the popularity of comics—how it adapts to the reading habits of people nowadays. The fourth chapter [looks into] the picture book named ”観音経意訳絵本／かんのんきょう”, examining the relationship between pictures and text, the narrative methods of words and pictures, and the connection between creators and their works, using iconography, semiotics, and the theory on adaptation to explore the three aspects of layout, content analysis, and visual design features. In response to the changing trends of the times, picture book adaptations are becoming more refined and original.　　The purpose of this study is to explore the differences and characteristics between traditional and modern variations of the Universal Gate Chapter and to understand the contemporary Buddhist art that meets the aesthetics and is accepted by the public in an understandable language and art form. Contemporary adaptations of the Universal Gate Chapter through the internet, enabling it to pervade vast and wide, thus truly an important method to the propagation of Buddhist texts. These adaptations in turn guide and bring interest in people to learn Buddhism, placing emphasis on the importance of media tools in the dissemination of Buddhist texts

Microwave-Synthesized Platinum-Embedded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Dual-Modality Contrast Agents: Computed Tomography and Optical Imaging

Nanoparticle-based imaging contrast agents have drawn tremendous attention especially in multi-modality imaging. In this study, we developed mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for use as dual-modality contrast agents for computed tomography (CT) and near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging (OI). A microwave synthesis for preparing naked platinum nanoparticles (nPtNPs) on MSNs (MSNs-Pt) was developed and characterized with physicochemical analysis and imaging systems. The high density of nPtNPs on the surface of the MSNs could greatly enhance the CT contrast. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed the MSNs-Pt compositions to be ~14% Pt by weight and TEM revealed an average particle diameter of ~50 nm and covered with ~3 nm diameter nPtNPs. To enhance the OI contrast, the NIR fluorescent dye Dy800 was conjugated to the MSNs-Pt nanochannels. The fluorescence spectra of MSNs-Pt-Dy800 were very similar to unconjugated Dy800. The CT imaging demonstrated that even modest degrees of Pt labeling could result in substantial X-ray attenuation. In vivo imaging of breast tumor-bearing mice treated with PEGylated MSNs-Pt-Dy800 (PEG-MSNs-Pt-Dy800) showed significantly improved contrasts in both fluorescence and CT imaging and the signal intensity within the tumor retained for 24 h post-injection

Anatomical Correlates of Non-Verbal Perception in Dementia Patients

Purpose: Patients with dementia who have dissociations in verbal and non-verbal sound processing may offer insights into the anatomic basis for highly related auditory modes. Methods: To determine the neuronal networks on non-verbal perception, 16 patients with Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), 15 with behavior variant fronto-temporal dementia (bv-FTD), 14 with semantic dementia (SD) were evaluated and compared with 15 age-matched controls. Neuropsychological and auditory perceptive tasks were included to test the ability to compare pitch changes, scale-violated melody and for naming and associating with environmental sound. The brain 3D T1 images were acquired and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to compare and correlated the volumetric measures with task scores. Results: The SD group scored the lowest among 3 groups in pitch or scale-violated melody tasks. In the environmental sound test, the SD group also showed impairment in naming and also in associating sound with pictures. The AD and bv-FTD groups, compared with the controls, showed no differences in all tests. VBM with task score correlation showed that atrophy in the right supra-marginal and superior temporal gyri was strongly related to deficits in detecting violated scales, while atrophy in the bilateral anterior temporal poles and left medial temporal structures was related to deficits in environmental sound recognition. Conclusions: Auditory perception of pitch, scale-violated melody or environmental sound reflects anatomical degeneration in dementia patients and the processing of non-verbal sounds is mediated by distinct neural circuits