Inhalational Anesthetics Inhibit Neuroglioma Cell Proliferation and Migration via miR-138, -210 and -335

Inhalational anesthetics was previously reported to suppress glioma cell malignancy but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aims to investigate the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on glioma cell malignancy changes via microRNA (miRNA) modulation. The cultured H4 cells were exposed to 3.6% sevoflurane or 10.3% desflurane for 2 h. The miR-138, -210 and -335 expression were determined with qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed with wound healing assay, Ki67 staining and cell count kit 8 (CCK8) assay with/without miR-138/-210/-335 inhibitor transfections. The miRNA downstream proteins, hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), were also determined with immunofluorescent staining. Sevoflurane and desflurane exposure to glioma cells inhibited their proliferation and migration. Sevoflurane exposure increased miR-210 expression whereas desflurane exposure upregulated both miR-138 and miR-335 expressions. The administration of inhibitor of miR-138, -210 or -335 inhibited the suppressing effects of sevoflurane or desflurane on cell proliferation and migration, in line with the HIF-1α and MMP9 expression changes. These data indicated that inhalational anesthetics, sevoflurane and desflurane, inhibited glioma cell malignancy via miRNAs upregulation and their downstream effectors, HIF-1α and MMP9, downregulation. The implication of the current study warrants further study.     

Spherulitic formation and characterization of partially fluorinated copolymers and their nanohybrids with functional fillers

Poly[vinylidenefluoride‐co‐(tetrafluoroethylene)] (P(VDF‐TeFE)) exhibited clear spherulitic texture with negative birefringence. The number and growth rates of the spherulites decreased at high crystallization temperature than at low crystallization temperature. Nonetheless, overall larger spherulites were found at high crystallization temperature and the brightness of the spherulites increased very fast at low crystallization temperature, thereafter it seemed as diminution of birefringence. AFM was used to investigate the impact of organo modified nanodiamond(ND) on spherulitic textures, lamellar thickness, and thickness distribution of P(VDF‐TeFE) copolymer. Poly[ethylene‐co‐(tetrafluoroethylene)] (ETFE) also confirmed spherulites structure and the boundaries could be clearly observed. By incorporation of the organo modified nanodiamond (ND) and organo‐modified montmorillonite (MMT) in fluropolymer matrix, it was found that spherulitic texture was seriously disordered and their nanohybrids was found only to have poorly developed spherulite structure. Both of the nanohybrids samples show better crystallization temperature as compared to their neat copolymer samples. Furthermore, the incorporation of nanoparticles decreased the size of the spherulites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:161–171, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Aluminium content of foods originating from aluminium-containing food additives

Aluminium (Al) levels of 90 food samples were investigated. Nineteen samples contained Al levels exceeding the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for young children [body weight (bw): 16 kg] when consuming two servings/week. These samples were purchased multiple times at specific intervals and were evaluated for Al levels. Al was detected in 27 of the 90 samples at levels ranging from 0.01 (limit of quantitation) to 1.06 mg/g. Of these, the Al intake levels in two samples (cookie and scone mix, 1.3 and 2 mg/kg bw/week, respectively) exceeded the TWI as established by European Food Safety Authority, although the level in the scone mix was equivalent to the provisional TWI (PTWI) as established by Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives. The Al levels markedly decreased in 14 of the 19 samples with initially high Al levels. These results indicated reductions in the Al levels to below the PTWI limits in all but two previously identified food samples.     

Thickness estimation of interface films formed on Li1−xCoO2 electrodes by hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Solid electrolyte interface (SEI) films formed on Li_1−xCoO₂ electrodes were observed with hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HX-PES). This paper particularly focuses on film thickness estimation using HX-PES with theoretical calculation. The validity of the calculation was proven by experiments using model SEI films. The native film formed on a LiCoO₂ composite electrode was estimated to be LiF with its thickness of 5 nm. Formation of Co (II) species on top of LiCoO₂ was also indicated. Storage of the electrode at 60 °C brought about considerable film growth (30-40 nm) with carbonate compounds formation. SEI film changes during charging of the LiCoO₂ electrode were also examined. The main component in the film was deduced to be LiF or a kind of fluorite, with its thickness decreased during charging. The SEI formation mechanisms are also elucidated.     

Preparation of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites Composed of Sustainable Organo-Modified Needlelike Nanoparticles and Their Particle Dispersion States in the Matrix

Polymer-based nanohybrid materials were created using sustainable sepiolite clay composed from ubiquitous elements. Although sepiolite is generally recognized as a fibrous natural clay mineral, it turned out to be an acicular microcrystal because of the organo-modification of the outermost surface. Surface modification was performed using phosphonic acid derivatives containing hydrocarbon chains or fluorocarbon chains. Formation of a bidentate bond enhanced the desorption temperature and made nanocomposite preparation possible by melt compounding with polymers having a high melting point. As a result of organo-modification, amphiphilic sepiolite was obtained, and nanodispersion in an organic solvent was achieved. This technology was useful for detailed evaluation of sepiolite morphology. The nanocomposite of crystalline polymers/organo-modified sepiolites achieved uniform dispersion of these nanofillers in the matrix polymer. The introduction of 1 wt% nanofillers did not impair the transparency of the matrix polymer. As a result, a lamellae structure of the polymer developed, the crystallinity increased, and the mechanical properties improved. In addition, the crystallization temperature was improved, indicating that organo-modified sepiolites may act as a nucleating agent. It was found that sepiolite nanofiller with a highly aggregated tendency can achieve a well-nanodispersed state, even in phase-separable fluoropolymers, by applying fluorocarbon modification. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:541–552, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Growth and differentiation potentials in confluent state of culture of human skeletal muscle myoblasts

The transitional behaviors of myoblasts toward differentiation were investigated in the cultures at the low and high seeding densities (respectively, X₀ = 1.0 × 10³ and 2.0 × 10⁵ cells/cm²). In the culture at the low seeding density, an increase in confluence degree accompanied a decrease in growth potential (R_p), being R_p = 0.85 and 0.11 at t = 48 and 672 h, respectively. Myoblasts seeded at the high density resulted in the immediate cessation of growth with keeping the low range of R_p = 0.02–0.09 throughout the culture. The reduction of R_p led to the generation of three subpopulations of cells in proliferative, quiescent and differentiated states. Close cell contacts in the confluent state of high seeding culture induced cell quiescence to a higher extent with suppressing differentiation.     

SIR Weighting Combining Diversity Using Matched Filter for Personal Communication Systems

We propose a novel SIR weighting postdetection combining diversity scheme with a new accurate SIR estimation method. The SIR is estimated and used as the weighting factor to compensate severe cochannel interference, one of the most important issues for PCS in terms of frequency utilization. Theimprovement offered by the proposal depends on SIR estimation accuracy.The SIR is, in this paper, estimated by a matched filter where theauto-correlation between received signal and unique word is calculated. Computer simulationsconfirm that the SIR of each diversity branch can be estimated easily andaccuratelyby the proposed SIR estimation method. The proposed diversity scheme achievesaperformance very close to that of ideal SINR weighting diversity underRayleighfading with severe cochannel interference. When average SIR = 10 dB and thenumber of branches(L)=4, the proposed diversity scheme lowers the requiredE_b/N₀ by 5 dB at BER = 1×10^-3compared to conventional maximal ratio combining diversity. This paper alsopresentsthe unique word length required to realize adequate performance, i.e.,robustnessagainst high-pitch Rayleigh fading.     

Application of regional earthquake mitigation optimization

A linear program was developed to help seismically active communities decide: (1) how much to spend on pre-earthquake mitigation that aims to reduce future losses versus waiting until after an event and paying for reconstruction, and (2) which of the many possible mitigation activities to fund so as to minimize overall risk. The mitigation alternatives considered are structural upgrading policies for groups of buildings. Benefits of mitigation are losses avoided in future earthquakes, including structural, non-structural, contents, and time-related losses, and casualties. The model is intended to be used as a tool to support the public regional mitigation planning process. In realistic applications, the model includes millions of variables, thus requiring a special solution method. This paper focuses on two efficient solution algorithms to solve the model—a Dantzig–Wolfe decomposition algorithm and a greedy heuristic algorithm. A comprehensive numerical study compares the two algorithms in terms of solution quality and solution time. The study shows that, compared to the Dantzig–Wolfe algorithm, the heuristic algorithm is much faster as expected, and provides comparable solution quality.