TRPA1 Role in Inflammatory Disorders: What Is Known So Far?

The transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), a member of the TRP superfamily of channels, is primarily localized in a subpopulation of primary sensory neurons of the trigeminal, vagal, and dorsal root ganglia, where its activation mediates neurogenic inflammatory responses. TRPA1 expression in resident tissue cells, inflammatory, and immune cells, through the indirect modulation of a large series of intracellular pathways, orchestrates a range of cellular processes, such as cytokine production, cell differentiation, and cytotoxicity. Therefore, the TRPA1 pathway has been proposed as a protective mechanism to detect and respond to harmful agents in various pathological conditions, including several inflammatory diseases. Specific attention has been paid to TRPA1 contribution to the transition of inflammation and immune responses from an early defensive response to a chronic pathological condition. In this view, TRPA1 antagonists may be regarded as beneficial tools for the treatment of inflammatory conditions.     

Fibrosis of Peritoneal Membrane as Target of New Therapies in Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an efficient renal replacement therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease. Even if it ensures an outcome equivalent to hemodialysis and a better quality of life, in the long-term, PD is associated with the development of peritoneal fibrosis and the consequents patient morbidity and PD technique failure. This unfavorable effect is mostly due to the bio-incompatibility of PD solution (mainly based on high glucose concentration). In the present review, we described the mechanisms and the signaling pathway that governs peritoneal fibrosis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition of mesothelial cells, and angiogenesis. Lastly, we summarize the present and future strategies for developing more biocompatible PD solutions.     

大型公路桥梁施工监理探讨

根据广深高速公路等施工实践经验,对公路桥梁水下混凝土灌注桩、主体钢筋混凝土、后张法预应力箱梁制作、桥梁架设的施工与监理过程中控制关键点进行探讨,以期加强施工与监理的工作质量。     

Neurochemical Alterations in Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): A Systematic Review of Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Studies

(1) Objective: Considering that current knowledge of mechanisms involved in the molecular pathogenesis of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is limited, we conducted a systematic review to evaluate cumulative data obtained by Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic (¹H MRS) studies. (2) Methods: A computer-based literature search of Medline, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and ProQuest was performed. Only cross-sectional studies using ¹H MRS techniques in participants with SAD and healthy controls (HCs) were selected. (3) Results: The search generated eight studies. The results indicated regional abnormalities in the ‘fear neurocircuitry’ in patients with SAD. The implicated regions included the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), insula, occipital cortex (OC), as well as the subcortical regions, including the thalamus, caudate, and the putamen. (4) Conclusions: The evidence derived from eight studies suggests that possible pathophysiological mechanisms of SAD include impairments in the integrity and function of neurons and glial cells, including disturbances in energy metabolism, maintenance of phospholipid membranes, dysregulations of second messenger systems, and excitatory/inhibitory neurocircuitry. Conducting more cross-sectional studies with larger sample sizes is warranted given the limited evidence in this area of research.     

Robustness of interdependent multi-model addressing networks

Dear editor, Many complicated real-world systems can be considered as complex networks to analyze their macroscopic properties,e.g.,the Internet,power grids,and...     

Optimization for simulation of WL-CSP subjected to drop-test with plasticity behavior

A simulation of the board-level drop-test is performed to evaluate some WL-CSP (wafer-level chip-scale packages) performances. An elasto-plastic model is applied on both solder bump and copper pad materials. It intends to demonstrate that copper plasticity is mandatory due to the large plastic strain occuring in these materials. A statistical analysis discusses the required accuracy for the modeling analysis. This analysis is combined with a components’ lifetime prediction based on a representative plastic strain. Finally, it is possible to do a relatively fast calculation while meeting the determined accuracy.     

DUVEX: An X-ray counting system based on YAG:Ce scintillator

A detector system, called DUVEX, has been developed for the soft-x-ray and extreme ultraviolet domain. It consists of a YAG:Ce scintillator coupled to a photomultiplier module working under vacuum in counting mode. The design and the performances of this detector in terms of yield, absolute efficiency, response and noise are reported. Spectra in the soft x-ray range of different elements (W, Ag, Al, Mg, Cu, N, C and B) obtained in WDS mode using this detector are presented. DUVEX appears as a competitive detection tool in terms of cost and easiness of implementation.     

Rare earth organic complexes as down-shifters to improve Si-based solar cell efficiency

This work reports on the optical and electrical characterization of crystalline silicon based solar modules encapsulated with ethylene-vinyl-acetate layers (that is the encapsulating matrix used nowadays by the photovoltaic industry) doped with a single europium complex whose sensitized region is broadened due to the presence of a co-ligand. Such europium doped EVA layers are able to realize down-shifting of photons with wavelength lower than 460 nm without introducing modifications of the industrial process leading to the fabrication of the photovoltaic modules. This effect has been proven under Air Mass 1.5 conditions (simulating terrestrial applications), where a 2.9% relative increase of the total power delivered by the encapsulated modules has been observed, allowing a reduction in the watt-peak price.     

基于有限元法的汽轮机轴系磨损故障处理

汽轮机轴系磨损部位的合理处理关系到机组的运行安全,为了使处理方案更加科学合理,采用有限元软件ANSYS建立轴系磨损部位的局部有限元模型;通过合理设置边界条件,求出了不同处理方案下磨损部位的应力集中系数,为方案的优化选择提供依据。以某电厂磨损故障为例,采用该方法对处理方案进行优化,计算结果表明,优化后的方案较大幅度地降低了磨损部位的应力集中系数,为机组的安全运行提供了可靠的保障,说明该方法是有效可行的。本文提出的方法适用于类似故障的处理。