An animal model of Peyronie's-like condition associated with an increase of transforming growth factor beta mRNA and protein expression

PURPOSE: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is involved in numerous vital processes including tissue fibrosis. Our objective was to study the role of TGF-beta in the induction of a Peyronie's-like condition and to produce an animal model for the further study of Peyronie's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups. Different concentrations of cytomodulin, a synthetic heptopeptide with TGF-beta-like activity, were injected into the tunica of each rat from the first group (n = 18). Rats in the second group (n = 6) received saline injections as a control. The tunical tissues were taken after 3 days, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks and were examined using Hart and Trichrome stains. In the same tissue samples, TGF-beta mRNA and protein expression were studied. RESULTS: Histological alterations were observed in 15 out of 18 cytomodulin-injected rats, especially in tissue examined after 6 weeks. The most prominent changes were chronic cellular infiltration, focal and diffuse elastosis, thickening, disorganization and clumping of the collagen bundles. Results from immunoblot revealed remarkable TGF-beta1 protein expression in all the cytomodulin-injected rats only after 2 and 6 weeks. No remarkable TGF-beta2 or TGF-beta3 protein expression was observed. TGF-beta1 mRNA expression in the cytomodulin-injected rats was noticed in rats injected with higher concentrations after 3 days, while it was expressed in all rats after 2 weeks. There was no expression in the control group after either 3 days or 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Cytomodulin can induce Peyronie's-like condition in the rat penis, which may explain the role of TGF-beta in the pathogenesis of Peyronie's disease.     

Study on friction factor of developing and developed laminar flow in annular-sector ducts

The pressure drops of laminar developing and developed flow in annular-sector ducts with small round corner have been investigated experimentally. Numerical simulation has been performed to study the effect of the small round corner on the friction factor in the developed region. It has been found that with the increase in corner radius, the value off Re decreases. In the range ofr _c/r_ofrom 0.031 to 0.12, the decrease inf Re varies from 0.048% to 0.1% for the five apex angle computed.     

Analysis of neuronal nitric oxide synthase isoform expression and identification of human nNOS-mu

Basonuclin was first described as a human keratinocyte zinc finger protein present in the nuclei of proliferative basal keratinocytes in the epidermis. It disappears from keratinocytes that have lost their proliferative ability and have entered terminal differentiation. We now report that basonuclin is present also in the germ cells of the mouse testis and ovary. Immunocytochemical staining detected basonuclin in the nuclei of spermatogonia and spermatocytes at various developmental stages. During spermiogenesis, it relocated from the nucleus to the midpiece of the flagellum of the spermatozoa. In the ovary, basonuclin was found mainly in the nuclei of developing oocytes. The dual presence of basonuclin in differentiated spermatozoa and oocytes suggests that it may play a role in their differentiation and the early development of an embryo.     

System structure and contour tracking for a hybrid motion platform

This work investigates the spatial contour tracking on a new kind of motion platform that is constructed by extending the parallel platform with a proven planar motion table. Multi-axis cross-coupled tracking control schemes were developed on the basis of this hybrid structured Stewart platform, which formed a 5-axis working machine. A framework for the functions of this system was established. Roadmap for further development that leads to a highly versatile and efficient precision motion platform was made.     

A new method developed in measuring the dielectric constants of metallic nanoparticles by a microwave double-cavity dielectric resonator

A microwave double dielectric resonator is implemented to measure the dielectric constants of nano-metallic powders. The metallic nanoparticles prepared by vacuum evaporation in inert gas are collected and mixed with alumina powder to fill the inner hole of a sapphire disc by which the resonant frequency and Q factor are measured at the TE/sub 011/ mode to derive the complex dielectric constant.     

Lipase‐catalyzed esterification of cinnamic acid and oleyl alcohol in organic solvent media

The esterification of cinnamic acid (CA) and oleyl alcohol (OA) in organic solvent media by immobilized lipase Novozym 435 was optimized in terms of selected parameters, including the logarithm of the 1‐octanol/water partition coefficient of the organic solvent (log P, 0.29–4.5), initial water activity (a_w, 0.05–0.75), agitation speed (0–200 rpm), temperature (35–65 °C) and ratio of substrates (CA/OA, 1.0:0.5–1.0:6.0). The results showed that the more hydrophobic solvent mixtures and lower initial a_w values resulted in a higher enzymatic activity and bioconversion yield. The most appropriate solvent medium and initial a_w value was the mixture of iso‐octane/2‐butanone (85:15, v/v) and 0.05, respectively. The results also showed that an agitation speed of 150 rpm and a reaction temperature of 55 °C were optimal for the reaction system. The activation energy (E_a) of the esterification reaction was calculated as 43.6 kJ mol^?1. The optimal ratio of CA to OA was 1.0:6.0, with the absence of any inhibition by OA. Using the optimized conditions, the maximum enzymatic activity was 390.3 nmol g^?1 min^?1, with a bioconversion yield of 100% after 12 days of reaction. In addition, the electrospray ionization‐mass spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the major end product of the esterification reaction was oleyl cinnamate. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Second harmonic generation with focused broadband and high-ordertransverse mode lasers

A theoretical study on the optimum conditions of second-harmonic generation with focused high-order transverse-mode and broadband longitudinal-mode lasers is presented. It is shown that the ratio of the second-harmonic intensities for TEM₀₀, TEM₁₀, and TEM₁₁, modes are 1:3/4:9/64, indicating that the deviation from phase matching beyond the focus for high-order-mode lasers is catastrophic. Phase coherence of each longitudinal mode of a broadband laser yields a higher parametric generation than a randomly distributed laser. Line-width narrowing and the acceptance-angle widening of the output wave become pronounced as the bandwidth and the fundamental mode number increase     

Transition‐Metal Dichalcogenide NiTe2: An Ambient‐Stable Material for Catalysis and Nanoelectronics

By means of theory and experiments, the application capability of nickel ditelluride (NiTe₂) transition‐metal dichalcogenide in catalysis and nanoelectronics is assessed. The Te surface termination forms a TeO₂ skin in an oxygen environment. In ambient atmosphere, passivation is achieved in less than 30 min with the TeO₂ skin having a thickness of about 7 Å. NiTe₂ shows outstanding tolerance to CO exposure and stability in water environment, with subsequent good performance in both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. NiTe₂‐based devices consistently demonstrate superb ambient stability over a timescale as long as one month. Specifically, NiTe₂ has been implemented in a device that exhibits both superior performance and environmental stability at frequencies above 40 GHz, with possible applications as a receiver beyond the cutoff frequency of a nanotransistor.