Structure, Wettability, Corrosion and Biocompatibility of Nitinol Treated by Alkaline Hydrothermal and Hydrophobic Functionalization for Cardiovascular Applications

The main objective of this study is to hydrophobize nitinol (Ni-Ti alloy) for cardiovascular applications. For this purpose, medical nitinol samples were subjected to sodium hydroxide hydrothermal treatments at various temperatures, followed by hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) functionalization. Then, the structure, wettability, corrosion, cytocompatibility and cell adhesion of the prepared samples were evaluated. According to the results, porous blade-shaped layers of sodium titanate were formed on the substrate surface as a result of the alkaline treatment. These nano-rough features offered considerable hydrophobicity after HDTMS processing, where a maximum water contact angle of about 140° was obtained for the sample treated at 120 °C, followed by the HDTMS coating. In contrast to the individual application of the alkaline treatments, the subsequent HDTMS processing improved corrosion resistance in the simulated body fluid. Although all the samples presented appropriate cytocompatibility with respect to human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the cells did not show an adhesion tendency to the hydrophobic surfaces. It is concluded that alkaline hydrothermal and HDTMS processed nitinol can be considered for cardiovascular applications demanding hydrophobic surfaces

Traffic prediction using a self-adjusted evolutionary neural network

Short-term prediction of traffic flow is one of the most essential elements of all proactive traffic control systems. The aim of this paper is to provide a model based on neural networks (NNs) for multi-step-ahead traffic prediction. NNs’ dependency on parameter setting is the major challenge in using them as a predictor. Given the fact that the best combination of NN parameters results in the minimum error of predicted output, the main problem is NN optimization. So, it is viable to set the best combination of the parameters according to a specific traffic behavior. On the other hand, an automatic method—which is applicable in general cases—is strongly desired to set appropriate parameters for neural networks. This paper defines a self-adjusted NN using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) as a multi-objective optimizer for short-term prediction. NSGA-II is used to optimize the number of neurons in the first and second layers of the NN, learning ratio and slope of the activation function. This model addresses the challenge of optimizing a multi-output NN in a self-adjusted way. Performance of the developed network is evaluated by application to both univariate and multivariate traffic flow data from an urban highway. Results are analyzed based on the performance measures, showing that the genetic algorithm tunes the NN as well without any manually pre-adjustment. The achieved prediction accuracy is calculated with multiple measures such as the root mean square error (RMSE), and the RMSE value is 10 and 12 in the best configuration of the proposed model for single and multi-step-ahead traffic flow prediction, respectively. Document type: Articl

Tubular cell phenotype in HIV-associated nephropathy: Role of phospholipid lysophosphatidic acid

Collapsing glomerulopathy and microcysts are characteristic histological features of HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). We have previously reported the role of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the development of glomerular and tubular cell phenotypes in HIVAN. Since persistent tubular cell activation of NF kappa B has been reported in HIVAN, we now hypothesize that HIV may be contributing to tubular cell phenotype via lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) mediated downstream signaling. Interestingly, LPA and its receptors have also been implicated in the tubular interstitial cell fibrosis (TIF) and cyst formation in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Primary human proximal tubular cells (HRPTCs) were transduced with either empty vector (EV/HRPTCs), HIV (HIV/HRPTCs) or treated with LPA (LPA/HRPTC). Immunoelectrophoresis of HIV/HRPTCs and LPA/HRPTCs displayed enhanced expression of pro-fibrotic markers: a) fibronectin (2.25 fold), b) connective tissue growth factor (CTGF; 4.8 fold), c) alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA; 12 fold), and d) collagen 1(5.7 fold). HIV enhanced tubular cell phosphorylation of ILK-1, FAK, PI3K, Akt, ERKs and P38 MAPK HIV increased tubular cell transcriptional binding activity of NF-kappa B; whereas, a LPA biosynthesis inhibitor (AACOCF3), a DAG kinase inhibitor, a LPA receptor blocker (Ki16425), a NF-kappa B inhibitor (PDTC) and NF kappa B-siRNA not only displayed downregulation of a NF kappa B activity but also showed attenuated expression of profibrotic/EMT genes in HIV milieu. These findings suggest that LPA could be contributing to HIV-induced tubular cell phenotype via NF kappa B activation in HIVAN. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Cu2+-induced self-assembly and amyloid formation of a cyclic d,l-α-peptide: Structure and function

In a wide spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases, self-assembly of pathogenic proteins to cytotoxic intermediates is accelerated by the presence of metal ions such as Cu2+. Only low concentrations of these early transient oligomeric intermediates are present in a mixture of species during fibril formation, and hence information on the extent of structuring of these oligomers is still largely unknown. Here, we investigate dimers as the first intermediates in the Cu2+-driven aggregation of a cyclic D,L-alpha-peptide architecture. The unique structural and functional properties of this model system recapitulate the self-assembling properties of amyloidogenic proteins including beta-sheet conformation and cross-interaction with pathogenic amyloids. We show that a histidine-rich cyclic D,L-alpha-octapeptide binds Cu2+ with high affinity and selectivity to generate amyloid-like cross-beta-sheet structures. By taking advantage of backbone amide methylation to arrest the self-assembly at the dimeric stage, we obtain structural information and characterize the degree of local order for the dimer. We found that, while catalytic amounts of Cu2+ promote aggregation of the peptide to fibrillar structures, higher concentrations dose-dependently reduce fibrillization and lead to formation of spherical particles, showing self-assembly to different polymorphs. For the initial self-assembly step to the dimers, we found that Cu2+ is coordinated on average by two histidines, similar to self-assembled peptides, indicating that a similar binding interface is perpetuated during Cu2+-driven oligomerization. The dimer itself is found in heterogeneous conformations that undergo dynamic exchange, leading to the formation of different polymorphs at the initial stage of the aggregation process

Structural and morphological analysis of zinc incorporated non-stoichiometric hydroxyapatite nano powders

ABSTRACT In this study, Zn incorporated non-stoichiometric hydroxyapatite (nHAp) was synthesized via precipitation method and effect of the incorporation of Zn (fraction: 2, 4, 6 and 8 mol-%) on the microstructure of nHAp was studied by XRD, FTIR analysis and SEM-EDS techniques. The formation of nHAp was confirmed by XRD and FTIR those showed that no secondary phase was formed through the Zn incorporation. The SEM studies also revealed that particles were formed in nano-metric size (30-60 nm). It was found that crystallite and particle size of Zn incorporated nHAp gradually decreased up to 6 mol-%, and started to increase while the Zn fraction reached up to the 8 mol-% and hence the morphology of the aggregated products was also changed. It can be concluded that the incorporation of Zn cations cause to form nHAp phase. Furthermore, the nHAp microstructure has deviated from stoichiometric condition by incorporation of more Zn cations

Algebraic Properties of Modular Addition Modulo a Power of Two

Abstract; Modular addition modulo a power of two, is one of the most applicable operators in symmetric cryptography; therefore, investigating cryptographic properties of this operator has a significant role in design and analysis of symmetric ciphers. Algebraic properties of modular addition modulo a power of two have been studied for two operands by Braeken in fse’05. Also, the authors of this paper, have studied this operator, in some special cases, before. In this paper, taking advantage of previous researches in this area, we generalize algebraic properties of this operator for more than two summands. More precisely, we determine the algebraic degree of the component Boolean functions of modular addition of arbitrary number of summands modulo a power of two, as a vectorial Boolean function, along with the number of terms and variables in these component functions. As a result, algebraic degrees of the component Boolean functions of Generalized Pseudo-Hadamard Transforms are computed

Docosahexaenoic acid sensitizes Ramos cells to Gamma-irradiation-induced apoptosis through involvement of PPAR-γ activation and NF-κB suppression

Gamma-irradiation (Gamma-IR) resistance is a character of many malignant cells that decreases the efficacy of radiotherapy. Although ionizing radiation activates multiple cellular factors that vary depending on dose and tissue specificity, the activation of nuclear factor-κB appears to be a well-conserved response in tumor cells exposed to Gamma-IR which can lead to the inhibition of radiation-induced apoptosis. Thus, inhibition of NF-kappa;B activation is an important strategy to abolish radioresistance. Recently, we have demonstrated that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)-induced apoptosis may occur via ligand-dependent transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-gamma. Moreover, many reports described that activation of PPAR-γ can lead to the induction of apoptosis through NF-κB inhibition. Therefore, we addressed the mechanism that NF-κB is a downstream target of DHA and may be involved in the process of radiosensitization. Ramos cells are a highly radiation-resistant and p53-deficient Burkitt's lymphoma cell line. The results of present study showed that cotreatment of Ramos cells with low doses of DHA and Gamma-IR leads to marked phosphorylation of κB and translocation of p65/NF-κB to nucleus in parallel with increase in apoptosis. Preincubation of the cells with GW9662, a selective antagonist for PPAR-γ, significantly prevented NF-κB activation profile. Taken together, these results suggest that low concentration of DHA inhibited Gamma-IR-induced activation of NF-κB and sensitized Ramos cells to IR-induced cytotoxicity. Pretreatment of Ramos cells with GW9662 abrogated the ability of DHA to inhibit Gamma-IR-induced activation of NF-κB and diminished the DHA radiosensitizing effect indicating that PPAR-γ may act as a mediator of DHA in inhibition of NF-κB. Taken together, these results suggest that low concentration of DHA inhibited Gamma-IR-induced activation of NF-κB and sensitized Ramos cells to IR-induced cytotoxicity. Pretreatment of Ramos cells with GW9662 abrogated the ability of DHA to inhibit Gamma-IR-induced activation of NF-κB and diminished the DHA radiosensitizing effect indicating that PPAR-γ may act as a mediator of DHA in inhibition of NF-κB. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. 2008

Hydrothermal synthesis of aligned hydroxyapatite nanorods with ultra-high crystalinity

Hydroxyapatite nanorods aligned with ultrahigh crystallinity and high-yield were successfully synthesized through a hydrothermal approach. In this experiment, a new composition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide ((CH3 (CH2 )15N + (CH3 )3Br - ) was designated as CTAP)/Ca(NO3 )2 / (NH4)2HPO4/NaOH and distilled water under hydrothermal condition, to synthesize single crystal HAp nanorods with diameter of 20 ± 10 nm and length of 80 ± 20 nm, was introduced. Crystal phases were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was applied to investigate the morphology. The microstructure of the HAp products were further observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The purity and chemical composition of the as-synthesized powder was analyzed by FTIR and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP)

Large scale and low cost synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes by mechanothermal absence catalysts

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were obtained by mechanothermal activation under argon atmosphere and subsequent annealing. The chemical activity and crystallinity grade of carbon atoms were studied at different milling times and annealing temperatures. The synthesised MWCNTs were characterised by X-ray diffraction, and their morphologies were observed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Efficiency examination was measured using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) after heat treatment. In addition, the crystal structures were analysed in terms of their bright field images and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern of high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The mechanothermal method is of interest for fundamental understanding and for improvement of commercial synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In fact, the mechanothermal method guarantees the production of CNTs for different applications especially reinforcement materials in ceramic matrix composites (CMCs)

HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS OF ALIGNED HYDROXYAPATITE NANORODS WITH ULTRA-HIGH CRYSTALLINITY

Abstract Hydroxyapatite nanorods aligned with ultrahigh crystallinity and high-yield were successfully synthesized through a hydrothermal approach. In this experiment, a new composition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide ((CH 3 (CH 2 ) 15 N + (CH 3 ) 3 Br -) was designated as CTAP)/Ca(NO 3 ) 2 / (NH 4 ) 2 HPO 4 /NaOH and distilled water under hydrothermal condition, to synthesize single crystal HAp nanorods with diameter of 20 ± 10 nm and length of 80 ± 20 nm, was introduced. Crystal phases were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was applied to investigate the morphology. The microstructure of the HAp products were further observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The purity and chemical composition of the as-synthesized powder was analyzed by FTIR and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP)