Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Blockade after Stroke Onset Protects Normal but Not Diabetic Mice

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is abundant in the brain, is upregulated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), and is possible mediator of ischemic injury via the breakdown of neuroprotective epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs). Prophylactic, pre-ischemic sEH blockade with 4-[[trans-4-[[(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-1-ylamino)carbonyl]amino]cyclohexyl]oxy]-benzoic acid (tAUCB) reduces stroke-induced infarct in normal and diabetic mice, with larger neuroprotection in DM2. The present study tested whether benefit occurs in normal and DM2 mice if tAUCB is administered after stroke onset. We performed 60 min middle cerebral artery occlusion in young adult male C57BL mice divided into four groups: normal or DM2, with t-AUCB 2 mg/kg or vehicle 30 min before reperfusion. Endpoints were (1) cerebral blood flow (CBF) by laser Doppler, and (2) brain infarct at 24 h. In nondiabetic mice, t-AUCB reduced infarct size by 30% compared to vehicle-treated mice in the cortex (31.4 ± 4 vs. 43.8 ± 3 (SEM)%, respectively) and 26% in the whole hemisphere (26.3 ± 3 vs. 35.2 ± 2%, both p < 0.05). In contrast, in DM2 mice, tAUCB failed to ameliorate either cortical or hemispheric injury. No differences were seen in CBF. We conclude that tAUCB administered after ischemic stroke onset exerts brain protection in nondiabetic but not DM2 mice, that the neuroprotection appears independent of changes in gross CBF, and that DM2-induced hyperglycemia abolishes t-AUCB-mediated neuroprotection after stroke onset.     

Effect of nano-sized PbO on the transport critical current density of (Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10)/Ag tapes

The effect of nano-sized PbO (10–30 nm) addition on the transport critical current density, J_c of (Bi_1.6Pb_0.4)Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ (PbO)_x (x=0–0.15 wt%) was investigated. J_c of PbO added pellet samples showed the maximal value at x=0.05 wt%. Using this result, Ag-sheathed (Bi_1.6Pb_0.4)Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ (PbO)_x/Ag tapes (x=0 and 0.05 wt %) were fabricated by the powder-in-tube (PIT) method. The tapes were sintered for 50 h and 100 h at 845 °C. The temperature dependence of J_c for the non-added and PbO added tapes in applied field was investigated. J_c of the non-added tapes was 4510 A/cm² at 40 K and 949 A/cm² at 77 K. J_c of (Bi_1.6Pb_0.4)Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ (PbO)_0.05/Ag tape sintered for 100 h was 26,800 A/cm² at 40 K and 10,700 A/cm² at 40 K, which was higher than the tapes sintered for 50 h (8590 A/cm² at 40 K and 1880 A/cm² at 77 K). Nano-sized PbO added tapes sintered for 100 h showed a higher J_c (more than 10 times) under magnetic field (0–0.75 T) compared with the non-added tape. A combined effect of enhanced flux pinning and improved microstructure led to the significant increase in J_c of the nano-sized PbO added tapes.     

Patterns of Innovation Capabilities in KIBS Firms: Evidence from the 2003 Statistics Canada Innovation Survey on Services

The aim of this paper is to shed light on complementarities and substitutions between various types of innovation capabilities in knowledge-intensive-based service (KIBS) firms. The data used in this study are the responses of 2,625 innovative firms to the 2003 Statistics Canada Innovation Survey on services. The empirical results suggest the presence of three patterns of complementary innovation capabilities, one pattern of substitute activities and finally, four patterns of innovation capabilities that are independent from each other. Hence, the results suggest the presence of complementarities: first, between internal R&D, external R&D, acquisition of equipment and machinery, and marketing activities; second, between external R&D, acquisition of equipment and machinery, acquisition of external knowledge and marketing activities; third, between acquisition of equipment and machinery, acquisition of external knowledge and marketing activities. Such complementarities lead to the conclusion that, in practice, managers of KIBS firms consider the consolidation of these capabilities jointly instead of separately. The paper also discusses issues related to patterns of capabilities that are substitutes and independent from each other. The results of this study also show significant heterogeneity in the determinants of the different patterns of innovation capabilities.     

An ASN.1 Model and Integration Approach for Structured Text

A language for manipulating ASN.1 print files is defined as an addition to the ASN.1 data definition language as specified in the ISO standards 8824 and 8825. The language has syntax similar in spirit to SQL, and provides analogous operations. Together, ASN.1 and the manipulation language define a model that can represent attribute hierarchies, multivalued attributes, optional attributes, both ordered and unordered attributes and tuples, and unnamed attributes—constructs that are absent in the traditional relational model. In addition, the proposed model allows the semantics of order, homogeneity, optionality, choosability, and uniqueness to be attached to constructs and construct elements. The approach is well suited for modeling data where form is important, such as text and flat file databases having ad hoc formats. It also supports modeling relations. The primary motivation for developing this language is to provide a common model for a database integration approach where some of the databases are in the form of formatted flat file text, while others are relational. Although the approach is general and can be applied in many different areas, scientific database and tool integration was the primary motive for its development.     

Self-tuning dynamic models of HVAC system components

A great majority of modern buildings are equipped with Energy Management and Control Systems (EMCS) which monitor and collect operating data from different components of heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Models derived and tuned by using the collected data can be incorporated into the EMCS for online prediction of the system performance. To that end, HVAC component models with self-tuning parameters were developed and validated in this paper. The model parameters were tuned online by using a genetic algorithm which minimizes the error between measured and estimated performance data. The developed models included: a zone temperature model, return air enthalpy/humidity and CO₂ concentration models, a cooling and heating coil model, and a fan model. The study also includes tools for estimating the thermal and ventilation loads. The models were validated against real data gathered from an existing HVAC system. The validation results show that the component models augmented with an online parameter tuner, significantly improved the accuracy of predicted outputs. The use of such models offers several advantages such as designing better real-time control, optimization of overall system performance, and online fault detection.     

Effect of Pulsed Electric Field and Osmotic Dehydration Pretreatment on the Convective Drying of Carrot Tissue

The influence of pulsed electric field (PEF) and subsequent centrifugal osmotic dehydration (OD) on the convective drying behavior of carrot is investigated. The PEF was carried out at an intensity of E = 0.60 kV/cm and a treatment duration of t_PEF = 50 ms. The following centrifugal OD was performed in a sucrose solution of 65% (w/w) at 40°C for 0, 1, 2, or 4 h under 2400 × g. The drying was performed after the centrifugal OD for temperatures 40-60°C and at constant air rate (6 m³/h).

With the increase of OD duration the air drying time is reduced spectacularly. The dimensionless moisture ratio Xr = 0.1 is reached for PEF-untreated carrots after 370 min of air drying at 60°C in absence of centrifugal OD against 90 min of air drying after the 240 min of centrifugal OD. The PEF treatment reduces additionally the air drying time. The total time of dehydration operations can be shortened when OD time is optimized. For instance, the minimal time required to dehydrate untreated carrots until Xr = 0.1 is 260 min (120 min of OD at 40°C and 140 min of drying at 60°C). It is reduced to 230 min with PEF-treated carrots.

The moisture effective diffusivity D_eff is calculated for the convective air drying based on Fick's law. The centrifugal OD pretreatment increases drastically the value of D_eff. For instance, 4 h of centrifugal OD permitted increasing the value of D_eff from 0.93 · 10^-9 to 3.85 · 10^-9 m²/s for untreated carrots and from 1.17 · 10^-9 to 5.10 · 10^-9 m²/s for PEF-treated carrots.     

Towards a suite of quality metrics for KADS-domain knowledge

In this paper, the quality metrics suite for object oriented (OO) design is partially used as an initial concept to develop metrics for statically measuring quality of KADS-domain knowledge bases. KADS-domain knowledge bases have common characteristics with OO, and other distinct features that limit the usage of some OO quality metrics. Therefore, new sets of domain knowledge quality metrics are proposed. The proposed matrices are enriched with an automatic tool used to measure quality of real world expert systems. In order to assess the effectiveness of these proposed quality metrics, these metrics were applied on a sample of real world agriculture application domains developed by CLAES (The Central Laboratory of Agriculture Expert System). Finally, complete analysis of the results obtained due to applying these metrics is presented.     

Fabrication of CdSe‐Nanofibers with Potential for Biomedical Applications

The design and synthesis of nanostructured functional hybrid biomaterials are essential for the next generation of advanced diagnostics and the treatment of disease. A simple route to fabricate semiconductor nanofibers by self‐assembled, elastin‐like polymer (ELP)‐templated semiconductor nanoparticles is reported. Core–shell nanostructures of CdSe nanoparticles with a shell of ELPs are used as building blocks to fabricate functional one‐dimensional (1D) nanostructures. The CdSe particles are generated in situ within the ELP matrix at room temperature. The ELP controls the size and the size‐distribution of the CdSe nanoparticles in an aqueous medium and simultaneously directs the self‐assembly of core–shell building blocks into fibril architectures. It was found that the self‐assembly of core–shell building blocks into nanofibers is strongly dependent on the pH value of the medium. Results of cytotoxicity and antiproliferation of the CdSe‐ELP nanofibers demonstrate that the CdSe‐ELP does not exhibit any toxicity towards B14 cells. Moreover, these are found to be markedly capable of crossing the cell membrane of B14. In contrast, unmodified CdSe nanoparticles with ELPs cause a strong toxic response and reduction in the cell proliferation. This concept is valid for the fabrication of a variety of metallic and semiconductor 1D‐architectures. Therefore, it is believed that these could be used not only for biomedical purposes but for application in a wide range of advanced miniaturized devices.