Radiation-Induced Senescence Reprograms Secretory and Metabolic Pathways in Colon Cancer HCT-116 Cells

Understanding the global metabolic changes during the senescence of tumor cells can have implications for developing effective anti-cancer treatment strategies. Ionizing radiation (IR) was used to induce senescence in a human colon cancer cell line HCT-116 to examine secretome and metabolome profiles. Control proliferating and senescent cancer cells (SCC) exhibited distinct morphological differences and expression of senescent markers. Enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory chemokines and IL-1, anti-inflammatory IL-27, and TGF-β1 was observed in SCC. Significantly reduced levels of VEGF-A indicated anti-angiogenic activities of SCC. Elevated levels of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases from SCC support the maintenance of the extracellular matrix. Adenylate and guanylate energy charge levels and redox components NAD and NADP and glutathione were maintained at near optimal levels indicating the viability of SCC. Significant accumulation of pyruvate, lactate, and suppression of the TCA cycle in SCC indicated aerobic glycolysis as the predominant energy source for SCC. Levels of several key amino acids decreased significantly, suggesting augmented utilization for protein synthesis and for use as intermediates for energy metabolism in SCC. These observations may provide a better understanding of cellular senescence basic mechanisms in tumor tissues and provide opportunities to improve cancer treatment.     

Grafting of vinyl monomers onto silk fibers: Trivalent-manganese-initiated graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto silk fibers

Graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) onto silk fibers, using Mn(III)–sulphate as initiator, has been investigated, in aqueous sulphuric acid in the temperature range of 30–55°C. Grafting reaction has been studied by varying the concentration of monomer, Mn(III), sulphuric acid, temperature, and also with the modified silk. The graft yield increases significantly with increase of monomer concentrations to the extent of 0.85M, after which the rate falls. With increase in Mn(III) concentration and H⁺ ion concentration the graft yield increases, but after an optimum concentration a depression in the graft yield is noticed. The rate of the reaction is temperature-dependent; with increase of temperature the graft-on increases. Among the solvent composition studied a solvent/water mixture containing 10% of the solvent seems to constitute the most favorable medium for grafting, and a further increase of solvent composition decreases the graft yield. The effect of various additives such as transition metal salts, aromatic and heterocyclic amines on grafting reaction has been studied. A suitable mechanism for grafting has been proposed. Finally physical characterization such as thermal analysis (TGA) of the grafted samples has been carried out in order to ensure grafting and to study the change in the properties of the fibers.     

Probabilistic risk analysis of corrosion associated failures in cast iron water mains

This paper proposes a method using probabilistic risk analysis for application to corrosion associated failures in grey cast iron water mains. External corrosion reduces the capacity of the pipeline to resist stresses. When external stresses exceed the residual ultimate strength, pipe breakage becomes imminent, and the overall reliability of a water distribution network is reduced. Modelling stresses and external corrosion acting on a pipe involves uncertainties inherent in the mechanistic/statistical models and their input parameters. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were used to perform the probabilistic analysis. The reduction in the factor of safety (FOS) of water mains over time was computed, with a failure defined as a situation in which FOS becomes smaller than 1. The MC simulations yielded an empirical probability density function of time to failure, to which a lognormal distribution was fitted leading to the derivation of a failure hazard function. A sensitivity analysis revealed that the contribution of corrosion parameters to the variability of time to failure was more significant than the combined contributions of all other parameters. Areas where more research is needed are identified.     

An improved auto-tuning scheme for PI controllers

Ziegler-Nichols tuned PI and PID controllers are usually found to provide poor performances for high-order and nonlinear systems. In this study, an improved auto-tuning scheme is presented for Ziegler-Nichols tuned PI controllers (ZNPICs). With a view to improving the transient response, the proportional and integral gains of the proposed controller are continuously modified based on the current process trend. The proposed controller is tested for a number of high-order linear and nonlinear dead-time processes under both set-point change and load disturbance. It exhibits significantly improved performance compared to ZNPIC, and Refined Ziegler-Nichols tuned PI controller (RZNPIC). Robustness of the proposed scheme is established by varying the controller parameters as well as the dead-time of the process under control.     

The role of rotation speed on intermetallic compounds formation and mechanical behavior of friction stir welded brass/aluminum 1050 couple

In this paper, the intermetallic compounds formation during dissimilar friction stir welding of brass to aluminum 1050 and its effect on the mechanical behavior of joint were studied. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis (EDS) and X-ray Diffraction analysis were used to characterize intermetallics. In addition, tensile tests and microhardness measurements were performed to evaluate mechanical properties. The results showed that utilizing rotation speeds higher than 400 rpm leads to gradual formation of intermetallic compounds in the stir zone and at the interface. CuAl₂ is the dominant compound in the composite structure of the stir zone, whereas four intermetallic bands are detected at the interface. From aluminum to brass, two middle layers were formed. Then, CuAl₂, Cu₉Al₄ and CuZn were detected. The increase in rotation speed is accompanied by thickening and development of interfacial intermetallic compounds. The optimum rotation speed of 450 rpm yielded a narrow interfacial intermetallic compound and a lamellar composite structure within the stir zone which enhances the tensile strength of the weld. On the other hand, further increase of rotation speed lowers the tensile strength of the weld which is accompanied by disappearance of lamellar composite structure, increment of weld defects and thickening of interfacial intermetallic layer.     

Synthesis and characterisation of 4-picrylamino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (PADNT): a new insensitive explosive

A chemoselective reductive method has been achieved for the preparation of 4-picrylamino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (PADNT), a new insensitive energetic material which has been characterised by spectral data and elemental analysis. Some explosive properties of the compound have also been determined and the results indicate that PANDT is quite safe to impact and friction.     

Optical and electrical properties and phonon drag effect in low temperature TEP measurements of AgSbSe2 thin films

Polycrystalline thin films of silver antimony selenide have been deposited using a reactive evaporation technique onto an ultrasonically cleaned glass substrate at a vacuum of 10-5 torr. The preparative parameters, like substrate temperature and incident fluxes, have been properly controlled in order to get stoichiometric, good quality and reproducible thin film samples. The samples are characterized by XRD, SEM, AFM and a UV-vis-NIR spectrophotometer. The prepared sample is found to be polycrystalline in nature. From the XRD pattern, the average particle size and lattice constant are calculated. The dislocation density, strain and number of crystallites per unit area are evaluated using the average particle size. The dependence of the electrical conductivity on the temperature has also been studied and the prepared AgSbSe2 samples are semiconducting in nature. The AgSbSe2 thin films exhibited an indirect allowed optical transition with a band gap of 0.64 eV. The compound exhibits promising thermoelectric properties, a large Seebeck coefficient of 30 mV/K at 48 K due to strong phonon electron interaction. It shows a strong temperature dependence on thermoelectric properties, including the inversion of a dominant carrier type from p to n over a low temperature range 9-300 K, which is explained on the basis of a phonon drag effect.     

Ann Algorithm for Incremental Machine Learning: Heuristics in a Bayesian Technique

A neural network formulation of a leader independent, nonparametric, Bayes' risk consistent algorithm [8] for incremental machine learning is presented. Implementation of the computing algorithm on a medical data base is compared with some recently reported ANN algorithms for classification/clustering. Importance of the approach is highlighted.     

Biomechanics of atherosclerotic plaque

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the U.S. In balloon angioplasty, pressure is applied directly to atherosclerotic plaque to reopen the occluded blood vessel. The mechanical behavior of the plaque often determines the outcome of the angioplasty. Little information on the material properties of atherosclerotic plaque is available, yet the properties govern the plaque's behavior. Our discussion of the experimental testing and numerical analysis of plaque is directed toward summarizing the current knowledge of plaque material properties. Atherosclerotic plaque exhibits a wide range of behaviors consistent with the variability in the underlying composition. Overall, plaques exhibit nonlinear and inelastic mechanical behavior, although geometry and material properties are not well known. The histomorphological composition is critical in determining the plaque's mechanical response. Finite element approximations have been used to study the stresses developed in the diseased vessel; however, material properties are a critical component of a finite element analysis: the predictive capabilities depend on how accurately the material is modeled. When more information on plaque behavior is generated through careful and extensive experimental investigations, better models will be constructed to more accurately predict plaque responses. As the biomechanics community learns about plaque mechanics, we can use the knowledge to enhance the reliability of interventional procedures.     

Hexavalent-chromium-initiated graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto cellulose

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto cotton–cellulose has been carried out using hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) as initiator. Aqueous-methanolic solution of perchloric acid has been chosen as the reaction medium. The effect of monomer, initiator, acid, reaction medium, and temperature on the graft percentage has been found out. The reactions have also been carried out in the presence of polymerization, inhibitors, and retarders, such as hydroquinone and transition metal salts like CuSO₄, FeCl₃, etc. The grafted samples, after exhaustive separation of homopolymers and purification, were subjected to various chemical, mechanical, and thermal testings. The results of various analyses have been compared with the reference, and the improvement in the graft has been evaluated. A suitable mechanism for the grafting processes has been suggested, in accordance with the experimental results.