Dihydroisotanshinone I as a Treatment Option for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are the most common cancers of the head and neck, and their prevalence is rapidly increasing. HNSCCs present a clinical challenge because of their high recurrence rate, therapeutic resistance to radiation and chemotherapy drugs, and adverse effects. Hence, traditional Chinese herbal treatment may be advantageous to therapeutic strategies for HNSCCs. Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), a well-known Chinese herb, has been extensively applied in treatments for various diseases, including cancer, because of its high degree of safety and low rate of adverse effects despite its unclear mechanism. Thus, we aimed to explore the possible anticancer effects and mechanisms of dihydroisotanshinone I (DT), a compound in danshen (extract from danshen), on HNSCCs. Three HNSCCs cell lines were used for in vitro studies, and a Detroit 562 xenograft mouse model was chosen for in vivo studies. Our in vitro results showed that DT could initiate apoptosis, resulting in cell death, and the p38 signaling partially regulated DT-initiated cell apoptosis in the Detroit 562 model. In the xenograft mouse model, DT reduced tumor size with no obvious adverse effect of hepatotoxicity. The present study suggests that DT is a promising novel candidate for anti-HNSCCs therapy.     

An investigation into superficial embedment in mirror-like machining using abrasive jet polishing

This study performs experimental investigation into the application of abrasive jet polishing (AJP) to the surface finishing of electrical-discharge-machined SKD61 mold steel workpieces. The results indicate that the AJP processing conditions which optimize the surface quality of the SKD61 workpiece when polishing using #2000SiC abrasives are as follows: an abrasive material to additive ratio of 1:2, an impact angle of 30°, a gas pressure of 4 kg/cm² (0.4 MPa), a nozzle-to-workpiece height of 10 mm, a platform rotational velocity of 200 rpm, and a platform travel speed of 150 mm/s. Under these processing conditions, a polishing time of 20 min is sufficient to reduce the surface roughness from an initial value of Ra?=?1.7 μm to a final value of Ra?=?0.27 μm, corresponding to an improvement of 84.12%. The experimental results demonstrate that the maximum attainable improvement in the surface quality of the polished workpiece is limited by a surface-hardening effect caused by the ball-impact phenomenon and the embedment of #2000SiC fragments in the workpiece surface.     

Applications of integrated motion controllers for precise CNC machines

The error resources of precise motion control systems are basically categorized into linear and nonlinear effects. To realize the precise motion of industrial computer numerical control (CNC) machines, this paper presents an integrated motion control structure with modular algorithms, including both the linear control and the nonlinear compensation. In the linear control design, this study applies three algorithms: (1) feedforward control to address the tracking errors, (2) cross-coupled control to reduce the contouring errors, and (3) digital disturbance observer to lessen the effects of modeling errors and disturbances in real applications. The results indicate that the linear motion controller achieves greatly improved accuracy in both tracking and contouring by reducing the servo lags and mismatched dynamics of the different axes. However, the adverse effect due to friction still exists and cannot be eliminated by applying the linear motion controller only. This study further integrates the nonlinear compensator and develops friction estimation and compensation rules for CNC machines. The digital signal processors are suitable to implement all the developed linear and nonlinear algorithms, and the present controllers have been successfully applied to industrial CNC machines. Experimental results on a vertical machining center indicate that, under different feed rates, the CNC machine with the integrated motion controller significantly reduces the maximum contouring error by 135% on average.     

Generating NC tool paths from random scanned data using point-based models

This paper presents a new approach for the generation of NC tool paths from random scanned data. Instead of using smooth or triangulated surfaces reconstructed from raw data, which is usually a time-consuming reverse engineering approach, the point-based surfel models computed by a GPU (graphics processing unit) are used to generate NC tool paths. The tool-path generation is highly efficient and still maintains the advantage of having accurate and smooth machining result. The word “surfel” itself is the combination of the two words “surface” and “element”. It is originally applied to the rendering of scanned data. In this paper, the point-based model is created using an elliptical Gaussian re-sampling filter that is based on a signal re-sampling algorithm. Since the input scanned data is of discrete and random nature, the warping process is utilized to transform the input data into a continuous surface and then re-sample the continuous surface by using GPU. Because the re-sampled data can accurately represent the original surface, tool paths can be generated based on the point data set. For cutting tools with various sizes, adaptive re-sampling schemes are employed to generate sufficient sampled points for the generation of accurate and smooth tool-paths.     

Adding enzymatically modified gelatin to enhance the rehydration abilities and mechanical properties of bacterial cellulose

Bacterial cellulose (BC) possesses excellent water holding capacity. However, increased crystallization causes a decrease in the rehydration ability of dried BC. Due to its excellent hydrophilic properties, we used gelatin and its enzymatically modified form (EMG) to prepare BC nano-composites in an attempt to enhance the rehydration abilities properties of BC. The polar peptide fraction was increased by extended hydrolysis of fish gelatin in Alcalase. Peptides smaller than 10 kDa were obtained by hydrolysis at 50 °C for 20 min. Protein contents of composites prepared by immersing BC in 5% gelatin (Gelatin/BC) or EMG (EMG/BC) solution were 81% and 92%, respectively, both of which then formed high gelatin/BC composites (HGBC). The protein content of EMG/BC was higher than that of Gelatin/BC, as compared with low gelatin/BC composites (LGBC) that were formed by immersion in a corresponding 0.5% solution. Among both HGBC and LGBC composites, EMG/BC exhibited the best rehydration abilities. Freeze-dried EMG/BC also exhibited the fastest rehydration rate and the best ability to restore wet-type composites. Composite microstructures revealed that BC was enveloped by gelatin when non-polar EMG (NPEMG) and polar EMG (PEMG) entered the BC network and adsorbed onto cellulose ribbons. The microstructure of EMG/BC contained both PEMG/BC and NPEMG/BC structures. Gelatin hydrolysates, penetrating BC networks and forming stable composites, improved the rehydration ability of dried BC. The polar functional groups of gelatin and its hydrolysates represent the key factors contributing to the hydrophilic nature of composites.     

Effect of different acids on the extraction of pepsin-solubilised collagen containing melanin from silky fowl feet

Four acid treatments: acetic acid (FA), citric acid (FC), hydrochloric acid (FH) and lactic acid (FL) were used in this study to extract the pepsin-solubilised collagen (PSC) containing melanin from silky fowl feet. The collagen content, melanin content, electrophoresis and ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra (200–400 nm) were determined in order to develop a collagen with UV protection. Among four acid extractions, the acetic acid treatment had both the highest extracting yield (7.3%) and collagen content (516.6 mg/g). PSCs obtained from silky fowl feet using four acid extractions exhibited melanin content; whereas no similar observations were found in that of broiler feet by acetic acid extraction (FB). Moreover, the PSC via acetic acid extraction resulted in the significantly highest melanin content (210 mg/g) (P < 0.05), which contributed to UV absorption. In electrophoresis, three subunits were found in PSCs from silky fowl feet using the four acid extractions, which were different from typical type I collagen and assumed that the PSCs obtained from silky fowl feet consisted of more than two types of collagens.     

Tiered bandwidth reservation scheme for multimedia wireless networks

It is important to provide quality of service (QoS) guarantees if we want to support multimedia applications over wireless networks. In this paper, considering the features of tiering in sectored cellular networks, we propose a novel scheme for bandwidth reservation to approach QoS provisioning. By predicting the movement of each connection, the reserving of bandwidth is only required in needful neighboring cells instead of in all neighboring cells. In addition, an admission control mechanism incorporated with bandwidth borrowing assists in distributing scarce wireless bandwidth in more adaptive way. Through mathematical analysis, we proof the advantages of tier‐based approach and the bound for the selection of tiered boundary. The simulation results also verify that our scheme can achieve superior performance than traditional schemes regarding no bandwidth reserving, fixed bandwidth reserving, and bandwidth borrowing in sectored cellular networks when performance metrics are measured in terms of the connection dropping probability (CDP), connection blocking probability (CBP), and bandwidth utilization (BU). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of glycative products in sauces and sauce-treated foods

Content of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) such as pentosidine, carboxymethyllysine and furosine in soybean sauce, sour-sweet sauce, tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, and sauce-treated chicken, pork, beef, salmon and cod was analysed. In test sauces, MRP content was in the range of 10–692 μg/100 mL sample. MRP content in raw, boiled, fried and baked foods was in the range of 10–76 μg/100 g sample. Boiling, frying and baking caused significantly higher MRP levels in test foods (P < 0.05). MRP levels in soybean sauce, sour-sweet sauce and barbecue sauce-treated foods were in the range of 1094–2424, 1494–3146 and 1400–2926 μg/100 g sample. The interactions of sauce, heating and frying oil markedly enhanced the formation of MRPs in sauce-treated foods. Because MRPs are glycative products; thus, patients with glycation associated diseases may consider limiting the dietary use of these sauces.     

光纤通信中声子损耗对受激布里渊散射的影响

对光纤通信系统中的受激布里渊散射（SBS）以及声子损耗对SBS的影响进行了研究.理论上,通过数值计算得出增大声子损耗能够提高布里渊阈值的结论;实验上,测量了不同长度的光纤在不同输入光功率下的反向Stokes光及输出光,观察了光纤中加入声子阻塞器对SBS阈值的影响,并测量了阻塞器位于光纤中不同位置时的SBS.研究结果表明,在光纤线路中加入声子阻塞器可以提高SBS阈值,而且在光纤的不同位置的阻塞器对SBS影响有所不同,在被测的60 km光纤上起点30 km处插入阻塞器时的布里渊阈值最高.     

Preparation of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3–δ Based Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Anode Functional Layers by Tape Casting

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on the proton conducting BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2O_3–δ (BZCY) electrolyte were prepared and tested in 500–700 °C using humidified H₂ as fuel (100 cm³ min^–1 with 3% H₂O) and dry O₂ (50 cm³ min^–1) as oxidant. Thin NiO‐BZCY anode functional layers (AFL) with 0, 5, 10 and 15 wt.% carbon pore former were inserted between the NiO‐BZCY anode and BZCY electrolyte to enhance the cell performance. The anode/AFL/BZCY half cells were prepared by tape casting and co‐sintering (1,300 °C/8 h), while the Sm_0.5Sr_0.5CoO_3–δ (SSC) cathodes were prepared by thermal spray deposition. Well adhered planar SOFCs were obtained and the test results indicated that the SOFC with an AFL containing 10 wt.% pore former content showed the best performance: area specific resistance as low as 0.39 Ω cm² and peak power density as high as 0.863 W cm^–2 were obtained at 700 °C. High open circuit voltages ranging from 1.00 to 1.12 V in 700–500 °C also indicated negligible leakage of fuel gas through the electrolyte.