Epimorphin Regulates Bile Duct Formation via Effects on Mitosis Orientation in Rat Liver Epithelial Stem-Like Cells

Understanding how hepatic precursor cells can generate differentiated bile ducts is crucial for studies on epithelial morphogenesis and for development of cell therapies for hepatobiliary diseases. Epimorphin (EPM) is a key morphogen for duct morphogenesis in various epithelial organs. The role of EPM in bile duct formation (DF) from hepatic precursor cells, however, is not known. To address this issue, we used WB-F344 rat epithelial stem-like cells as model for bile duct formation. A micropattern and a uniaxial static stretch device was used to investigate the effects of EPM and stress fiber bundles on the mitosis orientation (MO) of WB cells. Immunohistochemistry of liver tissue sections demonstrated high EPM expression around bile ducts in vivo. In vitro, recombinant EPM selectively induced DF through upregulation of CK19 expression and suppression of HNF3α and HNF6, with no effects on other hepatocytic genes investigated. Our data provide evidence that EPM guides MO of WB-F344 cells via effects on stress fiber bundles and focal adhesion assembly, as supported by blockade EPM, β1 integrin, and F-actin assembly. These blockers can also inhibit EPM-induced DF. These results demonstrate a new biophysical action of EPM in bile duct formation, during which determination of MO plays a crucial role

Giant All-Optical Modulation of Second-Harmonic Generation Mediated by Dark Excitons.

All-optical control of nonlinear photonic processes in nanomaterials is of significant interest from a fundamental viewpoint and with regard to applications ranging from ultrafast data processing to spectroscopy and quantum technology. However, these applications rely on a high degree of control over the nonlinear response, which still remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate giant and broadband all-optical ultrafast modulation of second-harmonic generation (SHG) in monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides mediated by the modified excitonic oscillation strength produced upon optical pumping. We reveal a dominant role of dark excitons to enhance SHG by up to a factor of ∼386 at room temperature, 2 orders of magnitude larger than the current state-of-the-art all-optical modulation results. The amplitude and sign of the observed SHG modulation can be adjusted over a broad spectral range spanning a few electronvolts with ultrafast response down to the sub-picosecond scale via different carrier dynamics. Our results not only introduce an efficient method to study intriguing exciton dynamics, but also reveal a new mechanism involving dark excitons to regulate all-optical nonlinear photonics

Use of electrical impedance tomography to monitor dehydration treatment of cerebral edema: a clinical study

In this study EIT was used to monitor brain impedance changes due to variations in cerebral fluid content during dehydration treatment of edema patients. 30 patients with cerebral edema were continuously imaged for two hours after the initiation of dehydration treatment. Results show that overall impedance across the brain increased significantly 5 minutes after dehydration treatment started. And different brain tissues have different reactions towards dehydration

A rapid and nondestructive method to determine the distribution map of protein, carbohydrate and sialic acid on Edible bird’s nest by hyper-spectral imaging and chemometrics

Edible bird’s nest (EBN) is a precious functional food in Southeast Asia. A rapid and nondestructive method for determining the distribution map of protein content (PC), carbohydrate content (CC) and sialic acid content (SAC) on EBN sample was proposed. Firstly, 60 EBNs were used for hyperspectral image acquisition, and components content (PC, CC and SAC) were determined by chemical analytical methods. Secondly, the spectral signals of EBN hyperspectral image and EBN components content were used to build calibration models. Thirdly, spectra of each pixel in EBN hyperspectral image were extracted, and these spectra were substituted in the calibration models to predict the PC, CC and SAC of each pixel in the EBN image, so the visual distribution maps of PC, CC and SAC on the whole EBN were obtained. It is the first time to show the distribution tendency of PC, CC and SAC on the whole EBN sample

Fair allocation and trading of surface water rights under the Riparian Doctrine

One key water resource challenge that faces the eastern United States today is how to regulate water withdrawals by offstream users, while preserving the fair sharing philosophy of the common-law Riparian Doctrine. Traditionally, this doctrine requires that riparians (users owning land adjacent to a stream) limit their withdrawals to what can be judged as ???reasonable use.??? Water allocation regulations are currently being formed amid emerging water competition, due to rapidly growing water demand and increasingly frequent water shortages. The study reported in the present dissertation develops a new type of water allocation scheme called the Proportionally Fair (ProFair) Program, which stresses on the fair sharing of water among withdrawers. The ProFair program is based on the Proportional Fairness Criterion, which is originally developed for bandwidth allocation in electronic communication networks. Three different methods are developed to attain the proportionally fair allocation, namely a log-linear programming model, a quadratic programming model, and a greedy procedure called the ???Bottleneck Algorithm???. The performance of the ProFair program, both in terms of equity and economic efficiency, is compared with four alternative hypothetical regulatory programs which are rooted in three different regulatory principles: the Benefit Maximizing (MaxBen) program, based on the principle of maximizing economic benefit, the Downstream Priority (DPrio) and the Upstream Priority with Municipal and Industrial User Privilege (UMIPrio) programs, based on the principle of prioritization according to type of use and/or geographical location, and the No-Rule (NR) program, which represents the status quo in many eastern states, and which is based on the principle of minimal regulation. Mathematical models are developed for each water allocation program. Economic efficiency and equity are measured by aggregate net benefit and a measurement called the Equity Index, respectively. Following the primary allocation programs, this study further develops a trading model to simulate a water rights market under each of the alternative programs. Water allocation and water market simulations under the five allocation programs are performed for the Sangamon River system in Illinois under two economic scenarios and various reservoir capacities over a 30-year period. The simulation results show that the ProFair program dominates all other programs in fairness, generating the highest equity index in any year under any condition. Although the ProFair program results in lower net benefit than the MaxBen and UMIPrio programs, its economic efficiency can be improved through a properly instituted water rights market with complete information and minimum transaction costs. The results also demonstrate that changing supply and demand conditions have significant impacts on benefit, fairness, and market activities of all programs. Based on those findings, the dissertation recommends that policy makers give more consideration to the proportionally fair allocation due to its consistency with the Riparian Doctrine