Solenoid above Ground Plane - Equivalent Circuit

Wide-band vector measurements of transmission structures formed by solenoids with 2, 4 and 6 turns above ground plane were performed in the frequency band 45 MHz to 18 GHz. Novel equivalent circuits of these structures were designed. The equivalent circuits fit the measured data very well in the frequency band DC to 11 GHz. Comparison with models known up to now are given

Noise Figure Measurement of Highly Mismatched DUT

A device mismatch seriously degrades the accuracy of its noise figure characterization. A new second stage correction technique for highly mismatched device under test is proposed and compared to the standard technique. The presented method is based on additional vector measurement. It takes into account measuring receiver noise figure dependence on the DUT output mismatch besides an available gain correction. Significant accuracy improvement of measured data and decreased error variation is demonstrated. The suggested method is in principle able to eliminate all systematic errors in noise figure measurement

Wogonin Improves Histological and Functional Outcomes, and Reduces Activation of TLR4/NF-κB Signaling after Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) initiates a neuroinflammatory cascade that contributes to neuronal damage and behavioral impairment. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of wogonin, a flavonoid with potent anti-inflammatory properties, on functional and histological outcomes, brain edema, and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)- and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-related signaling pathways in mice following TBI.Mice subjected to controlled cortical impact injury were injected with wogonin (20, 40, or 50 mg·kg(-1)) or vehicle 10 min after injury. Behavioral studies, histology analysis, and measurement of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and brain water content were carried out to assess the effects of wogonin. Levels of TLR4/NF-κB-related inflammatory mediators were also examined. Treatment with 40 mg·kg(-1) wogonin significantly improved functional recovery and reduced contusion volumes up to post-injury day 28. Wogonin also significantly reduced neuronal death, BBB permeability, and brain edema beginning at day 1. These changes were associated with a marked reduction in leukocyte infiltration, microglial activation, TLR4 expression, NF-κB translocation to nucleus and its DNA binding activity, matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity, and expression of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, and cyclooxygenase-2.Our results show that post-injury wogonin treatment improved long-term functional and histological outcomes, reduced brain edema, and attenuated the TLR4/NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response in mouse TBI. The neuroprotective effects of wogonin may be related to modulation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

The 70 kDa heat shock protein protects against experimental traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes disruption of the blood brain barrier (BBB) leading to hemorrhage which can complicate an already catastrophic illness. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) involved in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix may lead to brain hemorrhage. We explore the contribution of the 70 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) to outcome and brain hemorrhage in a model of TBI. Male, wildtype (Wt), Hsp70 knockout (Ko) and transgenic (Tg) mice were subjected to TBI using controlled cortical impact (CCI). Motor function, brain hemorrhage and lesion size were assessed at 3, 7 and 14 days. Brains were evaluated for the effects of Hsp70 on MMPs. In Hsp70 Tg mice, CCI led to smaller brain lesions, decreased hemorrhage and reduced expression and activation of MMPs compared to Wt. CCI also significantly decreased right-biased swings and corner turns in the Hsp70 Tg mice. Conversely, Hsp70 Ko mice had significantly increased lesion size, worsened brain hemorrhage and increased expression and activation of MMPs with worsened behavioral outcomes compared to Wt. Hsp70 is protective in experimental TBI. To our knowledge, this is the direct demonstration of brain protection by Hsp70 in a TBI model. Our data demonstrate a new mechanism linking TBI-induced hemorrhage and neuronal injury to the suppression of MMPs by Hsp70, and support the development of Hsp70 enhancing strategies for the treatment of TBI

Biochemical diagnostics of expansive brain contusions

TBI is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Outcome for brain-injured patients is determined by the type, severity, location of the injury, ischemia and inflammatory response following TBI. Aim of the study: We focused on the relevance of a risk factor, kinetics of all markers in the blood reflecting different types of pathophysiological changes of the BBB in focal and diffuse injuries. We analyzed the BBB impairment in focal and diffuse brain injuries by immunohistochemistry and electon microscopy. Methods: The patients (n=38) were divided into group of diffuse axonal (DAI, n=10) and focal (n=28) brain injuries. Blood samples were collected during 10 days after admission to the hospital. Serum protein (S-100B, NSE) concentrations were measured on immunoassay analyzer Roche Cobas e411, GFAP by Biotrak activity assay systém, NF-H by ELISA immunoassay, and inflammatory markers on immunoassay analyzer. The BBB was studied by immunohistochemistry and electon microscopy. Results: With regard to the kinetics of NSE and S-100B we found the decrease of value of NSE and S-100B protein in survived patients with focal brain injury, on the other hand the increase of NSE (32,72 μg/l up to 86,95 μg/l) and S-100B protein (3,41 μg/l up to 5,80 μg/l) 2 up to 3 day was observed in 5 patrients who died. Within..

Automated nucleic acids isolation using paramagnetic microparticles coupled with electrochemical detection

Easy, efficient and low demanding separation of mRNA from biological material is needed to study gene expression and to use in chip technologies. It is common knowledge that each mRNA molecule contains sequence of 25 adenines. This feature can be used for binding mRNA on the surface of the particles coated by thymine chains. The present work reports on suggesting and optimizing of mRNA separation and detection from biological material via paramagnetic microparticles coupled with electrochemical detection. Primarily we optimized cyclic and square wave voltammetric conditions to detect poly(A),which was used as standard to mimic behaviour of mRNA. Under the optimized square wave voltammetric conditions (frequency 280 Hz, accumulation time 200 s, supporting electrolyte and its temperature: acetate buffer 4.6 and 35 degrees C) we estimated detection limit down to 1 ng of poly(A) per ml. To enhance effectiveness and repeatability of isolation of nucleic acid automated approach for rinsing and hybridizing was proposed. We optimized the whole procedure and experimental conditions. Using automated way of isolation and under optimized conditions the yield of poly(A) (isolated concentration of poly(A)/given concentration of poly(A)*100) was approximately 75%. The suggested and optimized method for poly(A) isolation and detection was utilized for the analysis of brain tissues of patients with traumatic brain injury. The total amount of isolated mRNA varied from 40 to 760 g of mRNA per g of brain tissue. The isolation of mRNA from six samples per run was not longer than 2.5 h. Moreover, we applied the optimized procedure on fully automated pipetting instrument to isolate mRNA. The instrument was successfully tested on the analysis of extracts from roots of maize plants treated with cadmium(II) ions. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved