Release kinetics and in vitro bioactivity of basic fibroblast growth factor: effect of the thickness of fibrous matrices

In this study, we fabricated non‐woven matrices using blends of polycaprolactone and gelatin with various spinning volumes to control the immobilized heparin content, which was ultimately intended to increase the immobilization efficiency of bFGF. The amount of bFGF on the heparin conjugated fibrous matrices depended on the thicknesses of the swollen matrices ranging from 35.4 ± 6.5 to 162.3 ± 14.0 ng and ≈90% of the bFGF was gradually released over a period of up to 56 d. The released bFGF enhanced the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human mesenchymal stem cells. In conclusion, our heparin‐conjugated fibrous matrices have the potential to be used as a growth factor delivery system in tissue engineering applications.

     

Hydrothermal calcium-carbonate veins reveal past ocean chemistry

Records of past ocean chemistry provide an integrated history of fundamental Earth processes, including the evolution of its continents, climate, and life. Here, we describe a recent dramatic shift in appreciation of the value and the application of studies of ocean crustal hydrothermal processes, which can be used to both reconstruct records of past ocean chemistry and decipher the past changes to global conditions responsible for any variations in these records. In particular, we describe a recently developed method for the determination of past seawater cation ratios using hydrothermal calcium-carbonate veins precipitated from seawater-derived fluids in the upper ocean crust.     

Cryolitic vein XPS imaging from an industrial grade carbon

Aluminium carbide formation and subsequent dissolution is a generally accepted mechanism to explain the cathode wear in the Hall-Héroult industry. Carbide formation is thought to occur inside the cathode pores. Being dependent upon cathodic current density, it is believed to be an electrochemical process. It is also associated with the presence of cryolitic bath species involved in the dissolution of the carbide layer and thus enabling further carbide formation.     

手掌静脉识别典型波长选择

目前的手掌静脉识别系统均采取主动光源来获取掌脉图像,光源波长的选择直接影响掌脉图像的清晰度与识别性能。典型的掌脉识别成像波长为760,850,890,940 nm,但没有指出哪种波长识别性能最佳。从两个角度解决此问题,从识别特征提取角度,建立了基于Fisher判别率的掌脉成像清晰度模型,对4种波长拍摄的掌脉清晰度进行比较;从特征匹配角度,以3种典型的生物特征识别算法对4种波长拍摄的掌脉图像进行识别性能比较。在包含4种波长共2400幅掌脉图像的自建图库中进行实验,模型选择和典型算法实验结果都表明,850 nm优于其他3种波长。证明了850 nm拍摄的掌脉图像的识别性能最佳。     

Photonic dark matter portal and quantum physics

We study a model of dark matter in which the hidden sector interacts with standard model particles via a hidden photonic portal.We investigate the effects of this new interaction on the hydrogen atom,including the Stark,Zeeman and hyperfine effects.Using the accuracy of the measurement of energy,we obtain an upper bound for the coupling constant of the model as f≤10~(-12).We also calculate the contribution from the hidden photonic portal to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon as α_μ≤ 2.2 × 10~(-23)(for the dark particle mass scale 100MeV),which provides an important probe of physics beyond the standard model.     

泰和鸡(Gallus gallus domesticus)胰腺微血管构筑的扫描电镜观察

本文采用甲基丙烯酸甲酯制备泰和鸡的胰腺微血管铸型,用扫描电镜观察其微血管构筑。结果表明:泰和鸡胰腺的微血管构筑是复杂而多样的。小叶内动脉发出入岛微动脉、腺泡微动脉和导管周围微动脉。入岛微动脉进入胰岛后分支形成毛细血管网的位置不恒定。出岛血管呈放射状离开胰岛,     

Expression of integrin beta1 and its roles on adhesion between different cell cycle hepatocellular carcinoma cells (SMMC-7721) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells

To investigate expression of integrin β₁ and its roles on adhesion between different cell cycle hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HCC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), the synchronous G₁ and S phase HCC were achieved through thymine-2-deoxyriboside and colchicines sequential blockage method and double thymine-2-deoxyriboside blockage method, respectively. Expression of integrin β₁ on hepatocellular carcinoma cells was detected with flow cytometer. Further, the adhesive force of HCC to HUVEC and the role of integrin β₁ in this adhesive course were studied by micropipette aspiration technique. The results showed that percentage of each cyclic phases of the controlled HCC (non-synchronous) are: G₂+M phase, 11%; G₁ phase, 54%; S phase, 36%; the synchronous rates of G₁ and S phase HCC amount to 74 and 98%, respectively. The expressive fluorescent intensity of integrin β₁ in G₁ phase HCC is depressed significantly than the values of S phase and controlled HCC. Accordingly, the adhesive forces of G₁ phase HCC to HUVEC was significantly lower than the value of S phase cells (P<0.01), but it has no remarkable difference when compared the adhesive force values of S phase HCC with control; the contribution of integrin β₁ was about 50% in the adhesion of HCC to HUVEC. It suggested that HCC would be synchronized preferably in G₁ and S phase with thymine-2-deoxyriboside and colchicines, the adhesive molecule integrin β₁ expressed in a high lever in HCC and presented differences in vary cell cycle, and integrin β₁ played an important roles in adhesion of HCC to HUVEC. Possibly, S phase HCC take a great action in this adhesive course.     

Identification of efferent flow in the superior vena cava and azygos vein confluence using cine phase-contrast MRI: speculation of the role of the azygos arch valves

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate flow patterns in the superior vena cava (SVC) and azygos vein confluence with cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging with consideration for the role played by the azygos arch valves.

Materials and Methods

Two-dimensional cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance images of the SVC and azygos vein confluence were prospectively acquired in 10 healthy volunteers. Flow directions during the cardiac cycle were evaluated quantitatively using sequential flow profile graphs obtained from each orthogonal image and affirmed visually by two radiologists from the oblique sagittal cine images.

Results

Although the blood in the SVC and azygos vein confluence had an afferent flow during the systolic phase, a slight temporal efferent flow during the diastolic phase was quantitatively observed in all cases. Flow in the SVC can also be confirmed visually. The average velocity, average maximum afferent velocity during the systolic phase and average maximum efferent velocity during the diastolic phase of the SVC were 8.7±2.4, 19.9±3.7 and −1.0±3.2 cm/s, respectively; for the azygos vein confluence, these values were 2.2±1.5, 7.1±2.6 and −1.5±1.1 cm/s, respectively.

Conclusion

We verified that a slight temporal efferent flow exists in the SVC and azygos vein confluence during the diastolic phase, which suggests that the usual role of the azygos arch valves is to prevent this physiological retrograde flow.     

下肢静脉曲张腔内激光治疗与传统剥脱手术治疗的远期疗效对比研究

目的 比较静脉腔内激光治疗（EVLT）和传统剥脱手术治疗下肢静脉曲张（VVLE）的远期疗效。方法 选取VVLE患者120例,随机分为EVLT 组与对照组,每组各60例。EVLT组采用EVLT治疗,对照组采用传统剥脱手术治疗。分别对两组患者手术并发症、术后1、2、3 年复发率以及术后生活质量进行对比评价。结果 术后3 个月EVLT 组患者生活质量调查表（CIVIQ）评分显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）,术后6 个月两组患者CIVIQ 评分比较则无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。EVLT 组患者术后皮下瘀血、感觉麻木、硬结、皮下脂肪液化感染的发生率均显著低于对照组（均P＜0.01）,皮肤灼伤的发生率则高于对照组（P＜0.05）,两组患者静脉炎的发生率无统计学差异（P＞0.05）;两组患者术后1、2、3年复发率比较均无统计学差异（均P＞0.05）。结论 应用EVLT治疗VVLE 手术并发症少,患者术后恢复较快,远期疗效理想,值得临床推广应用。     

Evaluation of knowledge portal development tools using a fuzzy AHP approach: The case of Taiwanese stone industry

The mission of Stone Industry Development Center (SIDC) at Taiwan attempts to promote the upgrading of the Taiwanese stone industry which recently has suffered a severe depression. After several years of technical developments, SIDC tends to shift focus to efficient use of existing knowledge/information. Consequently, a knowledge portal system (KPS) is expected to be a strategic tool to improve the competitiveness of the Taiwanese stone industry. This study proposes a fuzzy AHP approach to help five domain experts individually evaluate three KPS development tools. Then, a technique to determine the weights of experts, which is used while aggregating group decisions, is addressed. Finally, the weighted geometric mean method is applied to reach the final decision.