Evidence That β1-Integrin Is Required for the Anti-Viability and Anti-Proliferative Effect of Resveratrol in CRC Cells

The β1-integrin receptor is broadly expressed on tumor and other cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and is an unfavorable prognostic factor for cancers. Nature-derived resveratrol has preventive and apoptotic effects on tumors, but whether resveratrol can exert its suppressive actions on TME-induced tumorigenesis through β1-integrin on the surface of CRC cells is still unknown. HCT116 or SW480 cells were exposed to inhibitory antibodies against β1-integrin, bacitracin (selective β1-integrin inhibitor), integrin-binding RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) peptide, and/or resveratrol. We evaluated the anti-tumor actions and signaling impacts of resveratrol in colorectal cancer (CRC)-TME. We found that resveratrol completely altered the β1-integrin distribution pattern and expression on the surface of CRC cells in TME. Moreover, resveratrol down-regulated CRC cell proliferation, colony formation, viability, and up-regulated apoptosis in a concentration-dependent way. These actions of resveratrol were antagonized mainly by inhibitory antibodies against β1-integrin but not β5-integrin, and by an integrin-binding RGD peptide but not by RGE peptide, and by bacitracin in TME. Similarly, resveratrol-blocked TME-induced p65-NF-kB and its promoted gene markers linked to proliferation (cyclin D1), invasion (focal adhesion kinase, FAK), or apoptosis (caspase-3), were largely abrogated by anti-β1-integrin or RGD peptide, suggesting that β1-integrin is a potential transmission pathway for resveratrol/integrin down-stream signaling in CRC cells. The current results highlight, for the first time, the important gateway role of β1-integrins as signal carriers for resveratrol on the surfaces of HCT116 and SW480 cells, and their functional cooperation for the modulatory effects of resveratrol on TME-promoted tumorigenesis.     

A Review on Wearable Electrospun Polymeric Piezoelectric Sensors and Energy Harvesters

In recent years, wearable sensors and energy harvesters have shown great potential for a wide range of applications in personalized healthcare, robotics, and human–machine interfaces. Among different types of materials used in wearable electronics, piezoelectric materials have gained enormous attention due to their exclusive ability to harvest energy from ambient sources. Piezoelectric materials can be utilized as sensing elements in wearable sensors while harvesting biomechanical energy. Electrospun piezoelectric polymer nanofibers are extensively investigated due to their high flexibility, ease of processing, biocompatibility, and higher piezoelectric property (in contrast to their corresponding cast films). However, as compared to piezoceramic materials, they mostly exhibit relatively lower piezoelectric coefficients. Therefore, considerable efforts have been devoted to improving the piezoelectricity of electrospun polymer nanofibers recently, resulting in significant advances. This review presents a broad overview of these advances including new material, structure designs as well as new strategies to enhance piezoelectricity of electrospun polymer nanofibers. The challenges in achieving high mechanical performance as well as high piezoelectricity are particularly discussed. The main motivation of this review is to examine these challenges and highlight effective approaches to achieving high-performance piezoelectric sensors and energy harvesters for wearable technologies.     

Effect of zeolite particulate filler on the properties of polyurethane composites

Polymer-Zeolites composites have been prepared, using castor oil based polyurethane (PU) as a host and AlPO₄-5 as particulate filler. The prepared PU/zeolite composites have been characterized for mechanical properties such as tensile strength and tensile modulus. These PU composites exhibited an improved mechanical performance compared to the unfilled PU. Thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA) curve shows that all the chain-extended PUs are stable up to 250 °C and maximum weight loss occurs at 490 °C. The thermal stability of composites increases with increase in zeolite content. Microcrystalline parameters and micro voids of composites have been measured by using wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and Positron Annihilation Lifetime (PALS) methods respectively. The microcrystalline parameters and micro-voids from PALS indicate the interaction of the filler with the matrix is stronger beyond 5% of the filler which reflect the mechanical performance as well. Surface morphology of composites has been studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The photomicrograph of SEM indicates a uniform distribution of zeolite filler in the PU matrix.     

Optimal online pricing with network externalities

We study the optimal pricing strategy for profit maximization in presence of network externalities where a decision to buy a product depends on the price offered to the buyer and also on the set of her friends who have already bought that product. We model the network influences by a weighted graph where the utility of each buyer is the sum of her initial value on the product, and the linearly additive influence from her friends. We assume that the buyers arrive online and the seller should offer a price to each buyer when she enters the market. We also take into account the manufacturing cost. In this paper, we first assume that the monopolist defines a unique price for the product and commits to it for all buyers. In this case, we present an FPTAS algorithm that approximates the optimal price with a high probability. We also prove that finding the optimum price is NP-hard. Second, we consider a market with positive network externalities and assume that the monopolist could offer a private price to each customer. We prove that this problem is also hard to approximate for linear influences. On the positive side, we present a polynomial time algorithm for the problem when influences are symmetric. At last, we show that the seller has more ability to extract influences with price discrimination.     

Genetic algorithm for facilities layout problems based on slicing tree structure

The use of genetic algorithms to solve facility layout problems has gained popularity in recent years among researchers. A difficult requirement for the use of genetic algorithms in layout problems is an efficient method of coding the relevant features of a layout as a chromosome. The slicing tree structure has gained popularity in developing genetic algorithms for layout problems. However, previous implementations based on slicing tree structure mostly require repairing procedures to ensure that the chromosomes represent legal layouts after application of genetic operators. Some representations do not permit an exhaustive search. This paper reports on design, development and experimentation results of a new genetic algorithm named (GA.FLP.STS), which always produces legal chromosomes without any need for repairing procedures. A penalty system was introduced to facilitate generating facilities with acceptable dimensions. (GA.STS.FLP) required insignificant processing times even for test problems of 100 facilities solved.     

Where is AAR heading after the 10th International Conference?

A brief overview of research on AAR presented at the 10th AARC is given and new areas of research and future needs are highlighted. Some recent experimental data are presented as examples of details that we would need to understand in order to be able to interpret the effects of parameters such as temperature and chemical environment on the nature of the reactions occurring in the concrete, and on the results of tests carried out to determine the expansion behaviour of aggregates or concrete mixtures. Similar examples are needed for other areas and it appears that understanding AAR and its practical management need further research efforts.     

Modelling of a continuous food pressing process by dimensional analysis

This paper focuses on the development of a mathematical model of a continuous pressing operation where biscuit shape is formed. It identifies a functional relationship and predicts its parameter values using a set of observed data. Dimensional analysis was used to model biscuit thickness as a non-linear function of a number of predictor variables and multiple regression was applied for parameter estimation of the model. The results were satisfactorily tested against real data.     

Cellular design for injection moulding shop

This paper attempts to highlight the fact that application of GT does not always lead to a productive cell formation regardless of the algorithm used. The reason is that some practical issues are impossible to be included in the GT process. However a careful systematic IE analysis of the cell formed by GT may reveal new opportunities for improvements eventually leading to a more effective cell. A successful case demonstrates the idea.     

Polyethylene friction stir welding parameter optimization and temperature characterization

The use of friction stir welding (FSW) to join thermoplastics has proven to produce strong welds with good surface quality when compared to conventional welding methods. In this study, a Teflon stationary shoulder was developed to weld 3-mm-thick plates of high molecular weight polyethylene in butt-joint configuration. Different sets of welding parameters were chosen and tested to evaluate their effect on the weld strength. Also, in order to increase joint performance, the temperature generated during welding was measured. For that purpose, thermocouples were located underneath of the weld nugget surface to measure the generated frictional heat for different tool diameters and parameters. Tool diameter and rotational and welding speeds are the most influential parameters regarding the welding temperature; however, all the input parameters had statistically significant effect on the weld quality. Unlike FSW in metals, using this tool, the heat is generated mainly by surface contact of the rotating probe and copper sleeve than the base material. The strongest welded joint was able to withstand 97% of the force that is necessary to fracture the base material, without using an external heating source.