Comparative transcriptome analysis of inner blood-retinal barrier and blood-brain barrier in rats.

Although retinal microvessels (RMVs) and brain microvessels (BMVs) are closely related in their developmental and share similar blood-neural barriers, studies have reported markedly different responses to stressors such as diabetes. Therefore, we hypothesized that RMVs and BMVs will display substantial differences in gene expression levels even though they are of the same embryological origin. In this study, both RMVs and BMVs were mechanically isolated from rats. Full retinal and brain tissue samples (RT, BT) were collected for comparisons. Total RNA extracted from these four groups were processed on Affymetrix rat 2.0 microarray Chips. The transcriptional profiles of these tissues were then analyzed. In the present paper we looked at differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in RMVs (against RT) and BMVs (against BT) using a rather conservative threshold value of ≥  ± twofold change and a false discovery rate corrected for multiple comparisons (p < 0.05). In RMVs a total of 1559 DEGs were found, of which 1004 genes were higher expressed in RMVs than in RT. Moreover, 4244 DEGs between BMVs and BT were identified, of which 1956 genes were ≥ twofold enriched in BMVs. Using these DEGs, we comprehensively analyzed the actual expression levels and highlighted their involvement in critical functional structures in RMVs and BMVs, such as junctional complex, transporters and signaling pathways. Our work provides for the first time the transcriptional profiles of rat RMVs and BMVs. These results may help to understand why retina and brain microvasculature show different susceptibilities to stressors, and they might even provide new insight for pharmacological interventions

Investigation of multi-phase tubular permanent magnet linear generator for wave energy converters

In this article, an investigation into different magnetization topologies for a long stator tubular permanent magnet linear generator is performed through a comparison based on the cogging force disturbance, the power output, and the cost of the raw materials of the machines. The results obtained from finite element analysis simulation are compared with an existing linear generator described in [1]. To ensure accurate results, the generator developed in [1] is built with 3D CAD and simulated using the finite-element method, and the obtained results are verified with the source.The PRIMaRE project

Competing risks for reliability analysis using Cox’s model

Purpose – Cox’s model with Weibull distribution and Cox’s with exponential distribution are the most important models in reliability analysis. This paper seeks to show that, with a large sample size based on expectation maximization (EM) algorithm, both models give similar results. Design/methodology/approach – The parameters of the models have been estimated by method of maximum likelihood based on EM algorithm. The objective of this analysis is to fit the modification of Cox’s model with Weibull distribution and Cox’s with exponential distribution, examine its performance and compare their results with Crowder et al. Findings – A simulation study indicates that the parametric Cox’s model with Weibull distribution gives similar results to Cox’s with exponential distribution, especially for a large sample size. Also, the modification of the two models showed better results compared with Crowder et al., especially for the second causes of failure. Originality/value – A modification of the two competing risk models has mostly been applied in failure time data and simulation data. The results of the simulation study indicate that the Weibull and exponential are suitable for Cox’s model as they are easy to use and it can achieve even higher accuracy compared with other distribution models

Studi Harmonisa Akibat Komponen Penyearah Pada Gardu Traksi Kereta Rel Listrik (KRL)

The electrification system on the Jabodetabek Electric Train uses a direct current system of 1500 VDC. The 1,500 VDC overhead system is supplied from the traction substation which is equipped with a silicon rectifier component. This rectifier component can produce harmonics that can distort the medium voltage source of 20 kV PLN and in the long run, can cause damage to electrical equipment. This study aims to determine the value of the harmonic voltage and current and to design a harmonic filter on the KRL traction substation. The results of harmonic distortion measurements on 20kV / 1.2kV cubicle at traction substations with PQA show a maximum THD-v of 3.43% (according to IEEE standards) and a maximum THD-i of 94.86%.  The maximum TDD value is 0.73% (according to the IEEE standard), but the 5th, 7th and 11th IHD-i exceed the IEEE standard, with values of 70.04%, 43.38%, and 21.5%. The design of harmonic filters using ETAP 12.6.0 shows the value of THD-i dropped to 0.00%

High sensitivity and specificity of a 5-analyte protein and microRNA biosignature for identification of active tuberculosis.

Objectives: Non-sputum-based tests to accurately identify active tuberculosis (TB) disease and monitor response to therapy are urgently needed. This study examined the biomarker capacity of a panel of plasma proteins alone, and in conjunction with a previously identified miRNA signature, to identify active TB disease. Methods: The expression of nine proteins (IP-10, MCP-1, sTNFR1, RANTES, VEGF, IL-6, IL-10, TNF and Eotaxin) was measured in the plasma of 100 control subjects and 100 TB patients, at diagnosis (treatment naïve) and over the course of treatment (1-, 2- and 6-month intervals). The diagnostic performance of the nine proteins alone, and with the miRNA, was assessed. Results: Six proteins were significantly up-regulated in the plasma of TB patients at diagnosis compared to controls. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that IP-10 with an AUC = 0.874, sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 87% was the best single biomarker candidate to distinguish TB patients from controls. IP-10 and IL-6 levels fell significantly within one month of commencing treatment and may have potential as indicators of a positive response to therapy. The combined protein and miRNA panel gave an AUC of 1.00. A smaller panel of only five analytes (IP-10, miR-29a, miR-146a, miR-99b and miR-221) showed an AUC = 0.995, sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 97%. Conclusions: A novel combination of miRNA and proteins significantly improves the sensitivity and specificity as a biosignature over single biomarker candidates and may be useful for the development of a non-sputum test to aid the diagnosis of active TB disease

Negative refraction metamaterial with low loss property at millimeter wave spectrum

The design of the millimetre-wave (MMW) metamaterials (MMs) unit cell operates at 28 GHz is presented and numerically investigated. The proposed structure composed of a modified split ring resonator (MSRR) printed on both sides of the substrate layer. Popular MM structures such as S-shape, G-shape, and Ω-shape are adjusted to operate at the 28 GHz for comparison purpose. MSRR achieves a wide bandwidth of 1.1 GHz in comparison with its counterparts at the resonance frequency. Moreover, the proposed structure presents very low losses by providing the highest transmission coefficient, S21, at the corresponding frequency region. The radiation loss is substantially suppressed and the negativity of the constitutive parameters of the proposed MM structure is maintained. By applying the principle of the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) phenomenon, the MSRR unit cell induces opposite currents on both sides of the substrate which leads to cancelling out the scattering fields and suppresses the radiation loss. The constitutive parameters of the MM structures are retrieved using well-known retrieval algorithm. The proposed structure can be used to enhance the performance of fifth-generation (5G) antenna such as the gain and bandwidth

Thermal oxidation process improved corrosion in cobalt chromium molybdenum alloys

The corrosion phenomena are always give bad impact to any metal products including human implants. This is due to the corrosion impacts are harmful for hard tissues and soft tissues. There are many methods to prevent the process of corrosion on implant materials such as coating with bioceramic materials and modify the implant surface with surface modification techniques. However, until now there is still no gold standard to overcome this problem and it is remain in researching process. Thus, the aim of this research is to investigate the potential and economical surface modification method to reduce the corrosion effects on Cobalt-Chromium-Molybdenum (Co-Cr-Mo) based alloy when insert in human body. The thermal oxidation process was selected to treat Co-Cr-Mo surface substrate. Firstly, Co-Cr-Mo alloy was heated in muffle furnace at constant temperature of 850 C with different duration of heating such as 3 hours and 6 hours in order to analyze the formation of oxide layer. The corrosion behaviours of untreated sample and oxidized sample were investigated utilizing potentiodynamic polarization tests in simulated body fluids (SBF). The Vickers hardness after corrosion testing was measured in order to evaluate the effect of thermal oxidation in reducing corrosion rate. Based on the results obtained it is clearly showed that substrates undergone thermal oxidation with 6 hours duration time performed better than 3 hours duration, with the hardness value 832.2HV vs. 588HV respectively. Dense oxide layer and uniform thickness formed on the oxidized substrates able to help in reducing the corrosion effects on Co-Cr-Mo alloy without degraded its excellent mechanical properties. The microstructures of oxidized substrates before and after corrosion test were also analyzed using FESEM images for better observations. It was determined that corrosion resistance of Co-Cr-Mo substrate can be increased with oxide layer formed on the alloys using thermal oxidation process. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by IASE

Purification and functional characterisation of rhiminopeptidase A, a novel aminopeptidase from the venom of Bitis gabonica rhinoceros

This study describes the discovery and characterisation of a novel aminopeptidase A from the venom of B. g. rhinoceros and highlights its potential biological importance. Similar to mammalian aminopeptidases, rhiminopeptidase A might be capable of playing roles in altering the blood pressure and brain function of victims. Furthermore, it could have additional effects on the biological functions of other host proteins by cleaving their N-terminal amino acids. This study points towards the importance of complete analysis of individual components of snake venom in order to develop effective therapies for snake bites

A NEW METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TOXIC DYE USING FTIR SPECTROSCOPY

A new method was developed to determine toxic dyes content in textile and other products using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) element and KBr transmission cell. The wavelengths used were selected using pure dyes and dye mixtures. Transmittance values from the wavelengths regions 3500 – 2650 and 1675 – 1500 cm-1 and partial least square (PLS) regression method were used to derive FTIR spectroscopic calibration model for dyes containing –N=N– in their structure. The coefficient of determinations (R2) for the models were computed by comparing the results obtained from FTIR spectroscopy against the actual values of the dyes concentrations. R2 were 0.9321 and 0.9819 for two samples of toxic dyes respectively. The standard errors (SE) of calibrations were 1.84 and 1.36 respectively. The calibration model was cross validated within the same set of samples and the standard deviation (SD) of the difference for repeatability and accuracy of the FTIR method were determined. With its speed and ease of data manipulation, FTIR spectroscopy is a useful alternative method to wet chemical methods for rapid and routine detection of azo dyes as toxic dyes in such products for quality control