Oxidative stress mediated cytotoxicity of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles in human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cell line

The goal of the present study was to investigate the toxicity of biologically prepared small size of silver nanoparticles in human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cells A549. Herein, we describe a facile method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by treating the supernatant from a culture of Escherichia coli with silver nitrate. The formation of silver nanoparticles was characterized using various analytical techniques. The results from UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis show a characteristic strong resonance centered at 420 nm and a single crystalline nature, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the possible bio-molecules responsible for the reduction of silver from silver nitrate into nanoparticles. The particle size analyzer and transmission electron microscopy results suggest that silver nanoparticles are spherical in shape with an average diameter of 15 nm. The results derived from in vitro studies showed a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability when A549 cells were exposed to silver nanoparticles. This decrease in cell viability corresponded to increased leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), increased intracellular reactive oxygen species generation (ROS), and decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP). Furthermore, uptake and intracellular localization of silver nanoparticles were observed and were accompanied by accumulation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes in A549 cells. The results indicate that silver nanoparticles play a significant role in apoptosis. Interestingly, biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles showed more potent cytotoxicity at the concentrations tested compared to that shown by chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles. Therefore, our results demonstrated that human lung epithelial A549 cells could provide a valuable model to assess the cytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles.     

Thermistor behavior of PEDOT:PSS thin film

The temperature-dependent resistance changing characteristics (thermistor behaviors) of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin film are investigated in the 30–100 °C range using Greek-cross and bar patterns. The PEDOT:PSS film was spin-coated onto a Si wafer passivated with a SiO₂ layer, and a conventional dry etching technique was used to pattern the PEDOT:PSS film in conjunction with a nitride etch mask layer. Cr/Au was used for the electrode material. It was found that the characteristic temperature (T₀) and resistivity of the PEDOT:PSS film have an inversely proportional relationship with the number of coatings and the number of interfaces between multiply coated PEDOT:PSS layers. It was also found that as the number of coatings and the number of the interfaces increase, lower temperature-dependent resistance changes are observed. The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) value of 60 nm thick PEDOT:PSS film was slightly larger than or comparable to that of a conventional metal (Au or Pt) thermistor. The possibility of utilizing the PEDOT:PSS thin film in thermistor applications is discussed.     

The benefits of using instantaneous energy to monitor the transient state of the wire EDM process

This paper deals with the implementation and analysis of real-time energy monitoring of the transient state of the wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process. Recently, sparking frequency information has been applied to control of the WEDM process, making more stable and efficient machining. Experimental results, however, show the limitations and insufficiency of that method. Instead of using the sparking frequency monitoring method, the use of a real-time instantaneous energy monitoring system is suggested for interpreting the state of the WEDM process in more precise detail. The transient state of the WEDM process is analyzed in detail with the developed system, and a transient stability criterion of the WEDM process is suggested.     

Optimization of a Wolter type I mirror for a soft X-ray microscope

The demand for an X-ray microscope has received much attention because of the desire to study living cells under high resolution. A Wolter type I mirror used for soft X-ray microscope optics has a number of advantages. Although much progress has been made, it is still not easy to fabricate this mirror and satisfy the surface roughness and figure error requirements. From the mirror fabrication point of view, it is necessary to see the mirror design and the tolerance budget, especially with respect to the surface roughness and the figure errors. This paper deals with the design and optimization of a Wolter type I microscope mirror. The optimization was carried out by choosing an optimum central grazing incidence angle for which a merit function had the maximum value. The image quality of the mirror was also examined. A smaller diameter gave better image quality because of the Abbe sine condition. Finally, the figure errors for the axial and the radial directions were simulated by sinusoidal deformation waves, and the figure tolerance was obtained.     

Robustness analysis under second-order plant and delay uncertainties for symmetrically coupled systems with time delay

This paper aims at presenting robustness analysis under the uncertainties of the time delay and plant parameters in symmetrically coupled dynamic systems connected through network having time delay. The delay-involved closed loop characteristic function is mathematically formulated, incorporated with active synchronization control. And the robust stability of the corresponding system is analyzed by investigating the formation of characteristic equation containing secondorder terms of uncertainty variables representing delay and plant dynamics mismatches. For the two individual types of uncertainties, we elucidate details of how to compute the bounds and what they imply physically. To support the validity of the mathematical claims, numerical examples and simulations are presented.     

Quadrilateral mesh generation on trimmed NURBS surfaces

An automatic mesh generation scheme with unstructured quadrilateral elements on trimmed NURBS surfaces has been developed. In this paper NURBS surface geometries in the IGES format have been employed to represent geometric models. For unstructured mesh generation with quadrilateral elements, a domain decomposition algorithm employing loop operators has been modified. As for the surface meshing, an indirect 2D approach is proposed in which both quasi-expanded planes and projection planes are employed. Sample meshes for complex models are presented to demonstrate the robustness of the algorithm.     

Flow visualizations and hot-wire measurements on air flow in two different neonate incubators

Flow visualizations and hot-wire measurements on the inside flows of two different incubators are presented in this paper. An anatomically-correct neonate model was fabricated using the rapid prototyping machine, based on the 3-D scanned data. The result showed that air flow in the incubator was affected not only by the air circulation system but also by the design of incubator chamber. Large rotating motions were located around the corners of free space. A number of small eddies were found in regions of high shear flow, in areas such as that between the air inlet and the neonate. But, these small eddies were found to be stationary at that locations. Those small eddies might interfere with convective and evaporative heat transfers from the neonate. This study has led to a better understanding of flow mechanism in an incubator chamber and provided the guidance needed for the advancement of improved computational fluid dynamic models.     

Construction and evaluation of scaled korean side impact dummies

It is necessary to have a dummy that describes the anthropometry of a victim with accuracy. This study presents three scaled side impact dummies constructed for the use of MADYMO. They represent five, fifty and ninety-five percentile Korean males ranged from the age of 25 through 39. Thirty-five anthropometric data were used to scale input files required for MADYSCALE. Geometries, inertia, joints and other parameters for dummies were scaled based on the configurations of EuroSID-1. This study proposes the lateral impact response requirements for head, thorax and pelvis of Korean side impact dummies. A lateral drop impact test was conducted for the head at the height of 200 mm. Lateral pendulum impact tests were also carried out for thorax and pelvis at three specific impact velocities. All these test results were obtained from simulation based on MADYMO. All the procedures of the three tests followed the requirement of ISO/TR 9790.     

Comparison of the fatigue behaviors of FRP bridge decks and reinforced concrete conventional decks under extreme environmental conditions

This paper summarizes the results of the fatigue test of four composite bridge decks in extreme temperatures (-30°C and 50°C). The work was performed as part of a research program to evaluate and install multiple FRP bridge deck systems in Dayton, Ohio. A two-span continuous concrete deck was also built on three steel girders for the benchmark tests. Simulated wheel loads were applied simultaneously at two points by two servo-controlled hydraulic actuators specially designed and fabricated to perform under extreme temperatures. Each deck was initially subjected to one million wheel load cycles at low temperature and another one million cycles at high temperature. The results presented in this paper correspond to the fatigue response of each deck for four million load cycles at low temperature and another four million cycles at high temperature. Thus, the deck was subjected to a total of ten million cycles. Quasi-static load-deflection and load-strain responses were determined at predetermined fatigue cycle levels. Except for the progressive reduction in stiffness, no significant distress was observed in any of the composite deck prototypes during ten million load cycles. The effects of extreme temperatures and accumulated load cycles on the load-deflection and load-strain response of FRP composite and FRP-concrete hybrid bridge decks are discussed based on the experimental results.     

Evaluation of the critical stroke of an earthworm-like robot for capsule endoscopes

Recently, the capsule endoscope has been highlighted for the patient's convenience and the possibility of application in the small intestine. However, the capsule endoscope has some limitations in obtaining an image of the digestive organ because its movement depends only on the peristaltic motion. In order to solve these problems, it is necessary to determine the locomotive mechanism of the capsule endoscope. Therefore, the present authors have already proposed an earthworm-like robot, which has a locomotive mechanism. However, this mechanism should be designed so that the earthworm-like robot has a larger stroke than the critical stroke required to perform motion inside the small intestine. In this study, therefore, not only is the modelling of the locomotive process based on a biomechanical study presented but also the movement of the earthworm-like robot in the small intestine is simulated. Through the simulation process, the variation in the critical stroke with regard to the elastic modulus of the mesentery is investigated. Finally, from an in vitro test of the proposed robot, it is found that the experimental result is very similar to that of the simulation. Consequently, the present work will provide guidelines for designing an earthworm-like robot for diagnosis of the small intestine.