Allicin May Promote Reversal of T-Cell Dysfunction in Periodontitis via the PD-1 Pathway

We evaluated the role of allicin in periodontitis using an in silico and in vitro design. An in silico docking analysis was performed to assess the plausible interactions between allicin and PD-L1. The cytokine profile of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples obtained from periodontitis patients was estimated by cytometric bead array. CD3+ lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood were sorted and characterized using immunomagnetic techniques. Cultured and expanded lymphocytes were treated with the GCF samples to induce T-cell exhaustion. Optimum concentrations of allicin were added to exhausted lymphocytes to compare the expression of TIM-3 and LAG-3 gene expression at baseline and post-treatment. Allicin was found to bind to the PD-L1 molecule as revealed by the in-silico experiment, which is possibly an inhibitory interaction although not proven. GCF from periodontitis patients had significantly higher concentrations of TNF-α, CCL2, IL-6, IFN-γ, and CXCL8 than controls. GCF treatment of CD3+ lymphocytes from the periodontitis patients significantly increased expression of T-cell exhaustion markers TIM-3 and LAG-3. Allicin administration with GCF treatment resulted in significant lowering of the expression of exhaustion markers. Allicin may exert an immunostimulatory role and reverse immune-destructive mechanisms such as T-cell exhaustion.     

Weaves: A Framework for Reconfigurable Programming

This paper presents a language independent runtime framework—called Weaves—for object based composition of unmodified code modules that enables selective sharing of state between multiple control flows through a process. Furthermore, the framework allows dynamic instantiation of code modules and control flows through them. In effect, weaves create intra-process modules (similar to objects in OOP) from code written in any language. Applications can be built by instantiating Weaves to form Tapestries of dynamically interacting code. The framework enables objects to be arbitrarily shared—it is a true superset of both processes as well as threads, with code sharing and fast context switching time similar to threads. Weaves does not require any special support from either the language or application code—practically any code can be weaved. Weaves also include support runtime loading and linking of object modules enabling the next generation of highly dynamic applications. This paper presents the elements of the Weaves framework and its implementation on the Linux platform over source-code independent ELF object files. The current implementation has been validated over Sweep3D, a benchmark for 3D discrete ordinates neutron transport (Koch et al. Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc. 65 (198) [1992]), and a user-level port of the Linux 2.4 family kernel TCP/IP protocol stack.     

Photochemically reduced polyoxometalate assisted generation of silver and gold nanoparticles in composite films: a single step route

A simple method to embed noble metal (Ag, Au) nanoparticles in organic–inorganic nanocomposite films by single step method is described. This is accomplished by the assistance of Keggin ions present in the composite film. The photochemically reduced composite film has served both as a reducing agent and host for the metal nanoparticles in a single process. The embedded metal nanoparticles in composites film have been characterized by UV–Visible, TEM, EDAX, XPS techniques. Particles of less than 20 nm were readily embedded using the described approach, and monodisperse nanoparticles were obtained under optimized conditions. The fluorescence experiments showed that embedded Ag and Au nanoparticles are responsible for fluorescence emissions. The described method is facile and simple, and provides a simple potential route to fabricate self-standing noble metal embedded composite films.     

Numerical and Physical Simulation of the Fluid Flow in a Beam Blank Mold Fed Through the Center of the Web

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - Fluid flow inside a beam blank mold fed through a three-port SEN (two lateral ports and one bottom port), positioned at the center of the mold, has been...     

Studies on piezo coefficients of PLD and sol-gel grown PZT thin film for devices

Abstract

The effect of electrical (DC) contact poling processes on the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of sol–gel and pulsed laser-deposited PZT thin films has been investigated as a function of the poling field, temperature and time. The remnant polarization and piezoelectric coefficient are found to increase with and saturate at dc-poling field of 100- 300?kV/cm, temperature of 100–120?°C and poling time of 10–20?min. as compared with un-poled PZT thin films. The P-E hysteresis loops of poled PLD grown PZT films shows sharper switching behaviour as compared to imbalanced loop in sol-gel grown films. An improvement of piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of sol–gel PZT thin films is found, as compared to those deposited using pulsed laser deposition (PLD), indicating that a poling process is required for sol–gel PZT thin films.     

Urban market response for solar photovoltaic systems: An economic appraisal—South Indian case study

Electricity consumption in developing countries is increasing rapidly and even though governments commission large power plants—thermal, hydro, and nuclear—there is gap between the total capacities planned and the actual installed capacities. This has led to frequent and long power shortages to consumers, who respond by using emergency stand-by systems during power cuts. This article reports the results of a survey conducted in an urban area in South India among the commercial sector establishments to ascertain whether there is any potential for the use of solar photo voltaic systems (SPVS) as an emergency electricity supplying unit for lighting applications. Data regarding the lighting load, the duration of power shortages were obtained. The opinions of the establishments in installing SPVS were ascertained. A comparison of the economics of SPVS, a conventional engine-driven electricity generating a stand-by emergency system, and a battery system charged from the grid shows that SPVS is economically attractive. Other important advantages of SPVS have been highlighted.     

Architected poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone)/halloysite nanotube composite scaffolds enabled by 3D printing for biomedical applications

Journal of Materials Science - Herein, we report the physicochemical, thermal, mechanical and biological characteristics, including bioactivity, biodegradation and cytocompatibility of additive...     

The outage capacity of linear space-time codes

An inner space-time code, i.e., one that is complemented by an outer error-control code, calls for vastly different design strategies than a space-time code that stands alone. This letter investigates the design of a linear inner space-time code for a t-input r-output Rayleigh fading channel by examining its outage capacity, which assumes an idealized outer code. We show that a linear space-time code with rate R相似文献