Peripheral Sensitization

Peripheral sensitization indicates increased responsiveness and reduced threshold of nociceptive neurons in the periphery to the stimulation, which usually occurs after peripheral tissue injury and inflammation. As an integral part of pain, peripheral sensitization and its mechanisms have received much attention, and numerous types of neurotransmitters and chemicals related to peripheral sensitization were investigated. We developed an animal model of peripheral sensitization, and it provides evidence that some neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and substance P, release from adjacent peripheral nerves contributing to the peripheral sensitization of pathological pain. In this chapter, we reviewed the advances in peripheral sensitization, and it will provide a basis for new targets to attenuate pain of peripheral origin

Universal factorial Schur P,QP,Q-functions and their duals

We define universal factorial Schur $P,Q$-functions and their duals, which specialize to generalized (co)-homology "Schubert basis" for loop spaces of the classical groups. We also investigate some of their properties.Comment: 10 pages, old paper written in 2012.1

A new numerical method for the analysis of monolithic seepage problems with complex drainage systems in a groundwater recharge area for a hydropower station in China

After construction of a dam impounding water in a reservoir, a monolithic seepage field develops in the surrounding rock mass. Here, a new finite element method is proposed for determining the shape and characteristics of the 3D monolithic seepage field including the free surface, considering complex drainage systems consisting of densely-spaced drainage holes and drainage galleries. To this end, the previously proposed virtual flux method is improved by a refined numerical integration scheme and a regularized Heaviside function for distinguishing the subregions below and above the free surface within a particular finite element. Leakage and overflow drainage holes are modeled as internal boundaries. The proposed numerical method is verified by an academic example, for which the analytical solution is available. Finally, the numerical simulation of the seepage field developing in the vicinity of a high dam and underground power house, constructed in the context of a hydropower plant project in China is used to show its application to a problem in engineering practice.</p

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution over untrustful metropolitan network

Quantum cryptography holds the promise to establish an information-theoretically secure global network. All field tests of metropolitan-scale quantum networks to date are based on trusted relays. The security critically relies on the accountability of the trusted relays, which will break down if the relay is dishonest or compromised. Here, we construct a measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDIQKD) network in a star topology over a 200 square kilometers metropolitan area, which is secure against untrustful relays and against all detection attacks. In the field test, our system continuously runs through one week with a secure key rate ten times larger than previous result. Our results demonstrate that the MDIQKD network, combining the best of both worlds --- security and practicality, constitutes an appealing solution to secure metropolitan communications.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure

Decreased brain-expressed X-linked 4 (BEX4) expression promotes growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma

© 2016 Gao et al.Background: Brain-expressed X-linked (BEX) 4 is a member of BEX family. The functional role of BEX4 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unknown. Methods: Expression level of BEX family members (BEX1-5) in OSCC tissues and the paired normal epithelial were examined. Functions of epigenetic changes (DNA methylation and histone modifications) on BEX4 suppression in OSCC were examined by zebularine and trichostatin A (TSA) treatment on OSCC cell lines. Lentivector containing full-length BEX4 was used to generate OSCC cell lines with stable BEX4 expression. Effects of BEX4 expression on OSCC proliferation were monitored with xCELLigence RTCA real-time cell analyzer. BEX4-overexpressing CAL27 was implanted into nude mice to evaluate the effects on tumor growth in vivo. The signaling pathways regulated by BEX4 in OSCC was explored using human whole-transcript expression microarray. Results: Among the 5 BEX family members, BEX1 and BEX4 showed significant down-regulation in OSCC (P < 0.001). BEX3, in comparison, was overexpressed in the primary tumor. BEX4 expression in OSCC cell lines was re-activated after zebularine and TSA treatment. High BEX4 expression could suppress proliferation of OSCC in vitro. Subcutaneous tumor volume of BEX4-overexpressing CAL27 was remarkably reduced in nude mice. Microarray experiment showed that S100A family members (S100A7, S100A7A, S100A8, S100A9 & S100A12) might be the downstream targets of BEX4 in OSCC. Conclusions: BEX4 functions as tumor suppressor by inhibiting proliferation and growth of oral cancer. Decreased BEX4 contributes to the increased proliferative propensity of OSCC.published_or_final_versio