Glibenclamide for the Treatment of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke

Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are associated with severe functional disability and high mortality. Except for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, therapies targeting the underlying pathophysiology of central nervous system (CNS) ischemia and hemorrhage are strikingly lacking. Sur1-regulated channels play essential roles in necrotic cell death and cerebral edema following ischemic insults, and in neuroinflammation after hemorrhagic injuries. Inhibiting endothelial, neuronal, astrocytic and oligodendroglial sulfonylurea receptor 1–transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (Sur1–Trpm4) channels and, in some cases, microglial K_ATP (Sur1–Kir6.2) channels, with glibenclamide is protective in a variety of contexts. Robust preclinical studies have shown that glibenclamide and other sulfonylurea agents reduce infarct volumes, edema and hemorrhagic conversion, and improve outcomes in rodent models of ischemic stroke. Retrospective studies suggest that diabetic patients on sulfonylurea drugs at stroke presentation fare better if they continue on drug. Additional laboratory investigations have implicated Sur1 in the pathophysiology of hemorrhagic CNS insults. In clinically relevant models of subarachnoid hemorrhage, glibenclamide reduces adverse neuroinflammatory and behavioral outcomes. Here, we provide an overview of the preclinical studies of glibenclamide therapy for CNS ischemia and hemorrhage, discuss the available data from clinical investigations, and conclude with promising preclinical results that suggest glibenclamide may be an effective therapeutic option for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.     

Biparametric Models for Elastic Wedge Foundation

In this paper, some biparametric models for an elastic foundation are proposed. It is assumed that the foundation has the shape of the wedge. The modeling procedure starts from the linear elasticity equations into which we introduce some simplifying assumptions based on the conceptions of decay functions. The simplified models are described by the ordinary differential equations. Stationary and nonstationary Green’s functions for the foundation considered are obtained by applying the Hankel and Laplace transform methods. An example of the interaction between the rigid plate and the elastic wedge foundation is studied.     

Results of Processing Data from the Automated Seismometric Monitoring System of the Zeya HPP

Power Technology and Engineering - The results of processing annual data of the automated seismometric monitoring system (ASMS) of the Zeya HPP are presented. They are compared with the results of...     

A color image watermarking framework for copyright protection of stereo images based on binocular just noticeable difference and LU decomposition

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The copyright protection of three-dimensional (3D) content is a matter of interest in artistic and creative works due to the rights of the holder for the...     

Features of the Interaction and Phase Formation in the WC–Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–C System When Heated in Vacuum and in Argon

Special features of the interactions and phase formations in carbide-oxide mixture WC 33.5 wt % Fe₂O₃ and in the WC–Fe₂O₃–C system when heated in vacuum and in argon have been studied. To add free carbon into carbide-oxide mixture, the K354 soot and saccharose, which dissociated when heated to high-clean carbon. It is established that at the absence of free carbon in the carbide-oxide system the active interaction between carbon of tungsten carbide and oxygen of iron oxide takes place that shows up in the weight loss of the samples. As a results there form the phase of the intermetallide Fe₇, W₆, the phase with a structure of the FeWO₄ and W. The addition of free carbon allows keeping tungsten carbide partly or completely and reducing iron from oxide. At the lack of free carbon some part of the tungsten carbide carbon starts to interact with oxygen and the Fe₃W₃C complex carbide forms in the system, at the excess of carbon the tungsten carbide retained and the bcc-iron forms. The heating in vacuum differs from the heating in argon by two indications: to remove the same amount of oxygen is spent more carbon than in heating in argon; the temperature of the active interaction of carbon with oxygen decreases. The largest (by 300°C) decrease of the temperature is observed when the saccharose is used as the source of free carbon.     

Polarized infrared and neutron scattering studies of α-Bi2O3

Studies on the lattice dynamics of -Bi₂O₃ have been performed including IR polarized reflectance spectra on single crystal, inelastic neutron scattering and specific heat measurements. Dispersion parameters and polarizations of IR-active phonons are presented and compared with neutron and specific heat data.     

Active time scheduling for rechargeable sensor networks

Recent progress in energy harvesting technologies made it possible to build sensor networks with rechargeable nodes which target an indefinitely long operation. In these networks, the goal of energy management is to allocate the available energy such that the important performance metrics, such as the number of detected threats, are maximized. As the harvested energy is not sufficient for continuous operation, the scheduling of the active and inactive time is one of the main components of energy management. The active time scheduling protocols need to maintain the energy equilibrium of the nodes, while considering the uncertainties of the energy income, which is strongly influenced by the weather, and the energy expenditures, which are dependent on the behavior of the targets. In this paper, we describe and experimentally compare three active time scheduling protocols: (a) static active time, (b) dynamic active time based on a multi-parameter heuristic and (c) utility-based uniform sensing. We show that protocols which take into consideration the probabilistic models of the energy income and expenditure and can dynamically adapt to changes in the environment, can provide a significant performance advantage.     

Real-time 2D–3D filtering using order statistics based algorithms

The paper presents a review of the author’s own results obtained in the last several years. Some examples of real-time processing of 2D and 3D images are described. In particular, we discuss the noise model and objective criteria that can be applied to characterize the performance of the processing algorithms. Several proposed algorithms based on RM approach are compared with other known ones, demonstrating the advantages in noise suppressing and preservation of fine image details and edges. A number of 2D and 3D image denoising filters are implemented on DSP, realizing real-time mode in the image processing. The performances of the proposed processing algorithms and the known ones are discussed and evaluated here.

Project proposal for the investigation of particle-stabilised emulsions and foams by microgravity experiments

The utilisation of particle-surfactants nanostructures as stabilising agents represents today the technologic and scientific frontier in the stabilisation of liquid films in emulsion and foams. This topic will be addressed by the proposal STEFAN (STabilisation of Emulsions and FoAms by Nanoparticles), proposed by European groups in the framework of the ESA AO-2004 for Life and Physical Sciences and Applied Research projects Similarly to what can be observed for surfactant-stabilised emulsions and foams, microgravity provides ideal conditions for the investigation of the hierarchy of involved objects: interfacial layer, liquid film, dispersed systems foam or emulsion. Microgravity experiments are planned by refurbishing the Experimental Container FASES for the ISS Fluid Science Laboratory and the facility FASTER for the European Drawer Rack, already under development in existing research programmes. Here the scientific guidelines of the project are presented together with examples and preliminary results on the effect of nano-particle-surfactant structures adsorbed at liquid interfaces. First experimental results have been achieved for particle monolayers at the water/air interface and a thermodynamic model was derived to describe the obtained surface pressure-area isotherms.     

Rheological studies with spherically shaped thin liquid films

The present work shows the first experimental and theoretical results for investigations on the rheology of liquid films. The experiments are planned to be performed under microgravity conditions. This environment will allow forming films of different thickness, which is impossible under ground conditions due to drainage. Then the films are forced to harmonic oscillations of the film area so that the film elasticity can be measured as a function of frequency. The presented theoretical model demonstrates the main relationships to be solved under corresponding boundary conditions