Co-Expression and Co-Localization of Cartilage Glycoproteins CHI3L1 and Lubricin in Osteoarthritic Cartilage: Morphological,Immunohistochemical and Gene Expression Profiles

Osteoarthritis is the most common human arthritis characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage. Several studies reported that levels of human cartilage glycoprotein chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) are known as a potential marker for the activation of chondrocytes and the progression of Osteoarthritis (OA), whereas lubricin appears to be chondroprotective. The aim of this study was to investigate the co-expression and co-localization of CHI3L1 and lubricin in normal and osteoarthritic rat articular cartilage to correlate their modified expression to a specific grade of OA. Samples of normal and osteoarthritic rat articular cartilage were analyzed by the Kellgren–Lawrence OA severity scores, the Kraus’ modified Mankin score and the Histopathology Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) system for histomorphometric evaluations, and through CHI3L1 and lubricin gene expression, immunohistochemistry and double immuno-staining analysis. The immunoexpression and the mRNA levels of lubricin increased in normal cartilage and decreased in OA cartilage (normal vs. OA, p < 0.01). By contrast, the immunoexpression and the mRNA levels of CHI3L1 increased in OA cartilage and decreased in normal cartilage (normal vs. OA, p < 0.01). Our findings are consistent with reports suggesting that these two glycoproteins are functionally associated with the development of OA and in particular with grade 2/3 of OA, suggesting that in the future they could be helpful to stage the severity and progression of the disease.     

Relaxation processes and intermolecular interactions in PVME hydrogels in sub-zero temperatures: Glass transition and pre-melting of ice

The phase transition observed by various methods in poly(vinyl methyl ether)/water systems at around 18 °C has been assigned by some investigators to the pre-melting of water and by others to a glass transition of the polymer. In this study, broadband dielectric spectroscopy and temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry were used to identify this transition in radiationally crosslinked poly(vinyl methyl ether) hydrogels, as well as to analyse sub-zero relaxation processes in such a three-phase (polymer/ice/liquid water) system. The process at 18 °C was related to the pre-melting of water induced by the segmental motions of the polymer; however, it was seen to be one transition due to the cooperative motions of both compounds. The atypical (two regimes) temperature dependence of the segmental motion process was observed and was related to confinement of the polymer chains between ice clusters below approximately ?24 °C; furthermore, the main dielectric process of hexagonal ice was identified and a Maxwell-Wagner effect was observed.     

Partial characterization of white cabbages (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba) from different regions by glucosinolates, bioactive compounds, total antioxidant activities and proteins

Glucosinolates (GLS), antioxidative compounds, total radical scavenging activities (TRSAs) and proteins of white cabbage samples derived from different regions of Europe, collected in the spring and autumn, were studied. Glucobrassicin and sinigrin were the dominating GLS in all analyzed cabbage samples. Depending on origin, these two GLS accounted for ∼30% to ∼70% of the total. The total GLS content ranged from 3.3 to 7.7 μmol/g dw in lyophilized vegetables. Assays based on electron transfer [total phenols by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent (FCR), 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] radical cation (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)] were used to compare the TRSAs and the main bioactive compounds in cabbage. Total polyphenols varied from 2.4 to 4.9 GAE/g dw. The TRSAs ranged from 2.7 to 8.2 μmol TE/g dw in ABTS test and from 2.4 to 5.4 μmol TE/g dw in DPPH assay. The maximum amount of polyphenol compounds, antioxidant activity, as well as total GLS content, were recorded in Belgian cabbage harvested in the autumn and the lowest ones were found for Poland 2 cabbage harvested in the spring. In extracted and separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) proteins from cabbage leaves only in samples from England and Belgium some differences in patterns were found in the regions of 60 and 97 kDa. The calculated correlations between antioxidative potency and the abundance of bioactive compounds were highly statistically significant. This suggests that TRSA could serve as a means of standardization of natural mixtures, at least in the case of cabbage, necessary to compare results of biological studies carried out for vegetable derived samples.     

Electrodeposition and heat treatment of nickel/silicon carbide composites

Electrodeposited Ni/SiC composite coatings were obtained in a Watts-type bath. The effect of fine SiC particles on polarization curves of the cathodic reduction of nickel ions was discussed. The incorporation of the particles into the deposit with respect to current density and SiC concentration in the bath was tested. Cathodic current efficiencies were also calculated. Structure of as-plated and heat-treated Ni/SiC composites were examined by means of metallography observations as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy methods. Two phase transformations in the temperatures range of 20-700 °C were found. For annealed samples, Ni₂Si and Ni₃Si₂ phases were identified. Hardening of the Ni/SiC composites as a function of the particle content in the deposit and annealing temperature was determined by means of the microhardness testing method.     

威远页岩气区块某平台配液用水与采出水细菌群落演替规律

目的探究在页岩气生产过程中的关键腐蚀细菌,解析其中细菌潜在的演替规律。方法利用16S rRNA高通量测序分析技术对威远地区页岩气某平台配液用水和采出水菌群进行检测。结果清水配液的细菌结构与采出水、回用返排液完全不同,压裂后细菌的丰富度及多样性降低;关键腐蚀细菌包括弓形杆菌属(Arcobacter)、海细菌属(Marinobacterium)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)等;清水配液中细菌群落是由嗜温、好氧、硫酸盐还原和产酸等功能较弱的细菌为主,而回用返排液中存在大量具有硫代谢、产酸和产生物膜功能的细菌,经压裂后,采出水中以兼性厌氧、厌氧或严格厌氧,即具有硫酸盐还原、硫还原、硫氧化、产酸、产生物膜、铁还原等功能的细菌为主,并鉴定出部分嗜热细菌。结论可为进一步研究集输管道细菌腐蚀及管道防护提供理论与技术支持。     

Deforestation and foreign transfers: a Stackelberg differential game approach

In this paper, our concern is with deforestation as a global environmental issue. Foreign transfers from developed or Northern countries to developing or Southern countries have been proposed to deal with that issue. We use a Stackelberg differential game approach where the two players are: a donor community (the leader) and a recipient country (the follower). We study the impact of different specifications for the transfer function, related to the different information structures the players can consider when playing the Stackelberg game. The different scenarios are compared both from the environmental and economic points of view.     

Thermal and electrical properties of nitrile‐containing polyimide/BaTiO3 composite films

Polyimide composite films were prepared by mixing the BaTiO₃ particles into poly(amic acid) solution followed by film casting and thermal imidization under controlled temperature conditions. The poly(amic acid) was synthesized by solution polycondensation reaction of 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride with 2,6‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)benzonitrile, using N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone as solvent. The surface of BaTiO₃ particles was modified by treating with an aminosilane coupling agent, 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the structure and properties of the composites. The influence of BaTiO₃ content on the composite film properties was evidenced. The films exhibited good thermal stability having the initial decomposition temperature above 520°C. They had stable dielectric properties over large intervals of temperature and frequency. The dielectric constant and the dielectric loss increased with the increase of BaTiO₃ content. The dynamic mechanical analysis and dielectric spectroscopy revealed subglass transitions γ and β. At higher temperature an α‐relaxation that corresponds to the glass transition and a conductivity process were evidenced. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A provable-secure and practical two-party distributed signing protocol for SM2 signature algorithm

Mobile devices are widely used for data access,communications and storage.However,storing a private key for signature and other cryptographic usage on a single mobile device can be challenging,due to its computational limitations.Thus,a number of(t,n)threshold secret sharing schemes designed to minimize private key from leakage have been proposed in the literature.However,existing schemes generally suffer from key reconstruction attack.In this paper,we propose an efficient and secure two-party distributed signing protocol for the SM2 signature algorithm.The latter has been mandated by the Chinese government for all electronic commerce applications.The proposed protocol separates the private key to storage on two devices and can generate a valid signature without the need to reconstruct the entire private key.We prove that our protocol is secure under nonstandard assumption.Then,we implement our protocol using MIRACL Cryptographic SDK to demonstrate that the protocol can be deployed in practice to prevent key disclosure.     

Shear Strength of Pre-Cast Prestressed Composite Beams with Discontinuous Connections Made of Cast-in-Place Shear Keys

This work investigates the horizontal and web shear resistance of continuous and discontinuous slab-web connections in pre-cast pre-tensioned bridge systems. The beams were full scale pre-cast pre-tensioned girders and the slabs were made of ordinary reinforced concrete either cast in place, for continuous connections, or pre-cast slabs with holes spaced at 312.5 mm to be set in place, for discontinuous connections. The main variables were the connection type (continuous or discontinuous) and the ratio of the connection steel. From the test results and the numerical analysis performed, a modified stress field for the inclined compressive strut in the truss model is proposed for continuous and discontinuous slab-web connections. The analytical results obtained with the proposed modified stress field in the truss model compared well with the tests results. Design procedures for these types of elements are also discussed.