Activity of microemulsion-based nanoparticles at the human bio-nano interface: concentration-dependent effects on thrombosis and hemolysis in whole blood

Background: Although microemulsion-based nanoparticles (MEs) may be useful for drug delivery or scavenging, these benefits must be balanced against potential nanotoxicological effects in biological tissue (bio-nano interface). We investigated the actions of assembled MEs and their individual components at the bio-nano interface of thrombosis and hemolysis in human blood. Methods: Oil-in-water MEs were synthesized using ethylbutyrate, sodium caprylate, and pluronic F-68 (ME4) or F-127 (ME6) in 0.9% NaCl_w/v. The effects of MEs or components on thrombosis were determined using thrombo-elastography, platelet contractile force, clot elastic modulus, and platelet counting. For hemolysis, ME or components were incubated with erythrocytes, centrifuged, and washed for measurement of free hemoglobin by spectroscopy. Results and conclusions: The mean particle diameters (polydispersity index) for ME6 and ME4 were 23.6 ± 2.5 nm (0.362) and 14.0 ± 1.0 nm (0.008), respectively. MEs (0, 0.03, 0.3, 3 mM) markedly reduced the thromboelastograph maximal amplitude in a concentration-dependent manner (49.0 ± 4.2, 39.0 ± 5.6, 15.0 ± 8.7, 3.8 ± 1.3 mm, respectively), an effect highly correlated (r2 = 0.94) with similar changes caused by pluronic surfactants (48.7 ± 10.9, 30.7 ± 15.8, 20.0 ± 11.3, 2.0 ± 0.5) alone. Neither oil nor sodium caprylate alone affected the thromboelastograph. The clot contractile force was reduced by ME (27.3 ± 11.1–6.7 ± 3.4 kdynes/cm², P = 0.02, n = 5) whereas the platelet population not affected (175 ± 28–182 ± 23 10⁶/ml, P = 0.12, n = 6). This data suggests that MEs reduced platelet activity due to associated pluronic surfactants, but caused minimal changes in protein function necessary for coagulation. Although pharmacological concentrations of sodium caprylate caused hemolysis (EC₅₀ = 213 mM), MEs and pluronic surfactants did not disrupt erythrocytes. Knowledge of nanoparticle activity and potential associated nanotoxicity at this bio-nano interface enables rational ME design for in vivo applications.     

Reconstruction of the Point-Spread Function of the Human Eye Using a New Phase-Retrieval Algorithm

The double-pass method is thought to obtain the point spread function (PSF) in human eyes based on two techniques: the symmetric double-pass method using the same pupil size and the asymmetric double-pass method using a different pupil size. The symmetric double-pass method provides autocorrelation of the retinal PSF and, thus, the modulation transfer function. The asymmetric double-pass method provides low-frequency partial-phase information and the partial phase-retrieval algorithm is applied to obtain the complete-phase information, and to estimate the PSF. The partial phase-retrieval algorithm is based on the iteration method proposed by Fineup and Kowalczyk and requires a lengthy computation. In this study, we propose a new high-speed phase-retrieval algorithm based on the property that the real and imaginary parts of optical transfer functions (OTFs) continuously change in value.     

Nanoparticulate materials and regulatory policy in Europe: An analysis of stakeholder perspectives

The novel properties of nanoparticulate materials (NPM) and the rapid development of NPM based products have raised many unanswered questions and concerns by different stakeholders over its consequences for the environment and human health. These concerns have led to an increasing discussion in both the US and Europe about possible regulatory policies for NPM. In this article a comparative study of stakeholders’ perceptions on regulatory policy issues with NPM in Europe is presented. It was found that industry wants to regulate this area if the scientific evidence demonstrates that NPM are harmful, but also that the regulatory bodies do not find it necessary at this point of time to regulate until scientific evidence demonstrates that NPM are harmful. This research therefore shows that there will most likely not be any regulatory interventions until there is an established and convincing scientific knowledge base demonstrating that NPM can be hazardous. It is furthermore discussed in this article the different roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders in financing the research required to establish the necessary level of fundamental scientific evidence. It was also found that the activity of the regulatory bodies on this issue differ between the European countries.     

基于随机矩阵理论的城市人群移动行为分析

移动通信应用为人类移动规律的研究提供了独特的数据来源. 本文通过城市手机用户的分布数据,研究城市移动人群的整体动力学行为. 借助随机矩阵理论的方法,通过比较移动人群数据与随机数据在互相关矩阵谱分布上的差异,发现移动人群数据互相关矩阵的相关系数均值、最大本征值及其对应的本征向量明显偏离于随机互相关矩阵的分布,指出这种差异体现了城市移动人群的整体行为特性,且这种差异在不同时间段也会有所不同. 研究结果体现出相关系数的均值和最大本征值的波动趋势,并指出本征向量成员权重的时空模式与城市移动人群整体行为特征的波动过 关键词： 随机矩阵理论 移动人群 宏观行为     

直视型微光夜视系统最小可分辨对比度模型

从信号检测和人眼视觉角度出发,研究了直视微光夜视系统综合性能评估理论,推导出直视型微光成像系统的MRC（最小可分辨对比度）模型。该模型将光学传递特性与系统信噪比结合,建立了系统直视微光夜视MRC与目标特性、直视微光夜视仪以及人眼各部分参数之间的数学关系。验证结果表明,由该模型得到的系统极限分辨率相较于系统实际测出的分辨率相对误差为3.08%。     

手分为多节段的人体热调节模型研究

将人体热调节柱状模型和手的多节段模型结合起来,建立了更完整的人体热调节模型。利用有限元方法对人体热调节数学模型进行了数值求解,并设计试验证明了模型的正确性。结果表明: (1)当取合适的血流量时,实验值和计算值的变化趋势一致,且手部温度稳定时,血流量都在确定的范围内;(2)血液流量是手部温度场变化的主要因素,人体组织和动脉入口温度对手部温度影响较小。     

Perspective methods of human identification: Ear biometrics

Geometrical methods of feature extraction from ear images in order to perform human identification are presented. Geometrical approach is motivated by the actual procedures used by police and forensic experts (so-called ear otoscopy). In their work, geometrical features of ears such as size, height, width, and shapes of earlobe are useful and valid proofs of identity. The contribution of the article is development of the new and original methods of geometrical feature extraction from 2D ear images. Four novel algorithms of ear feature extraction from contour images are described in detail. Moreover, identification results obtained for each of the methods, based on the distance of feature vectors in the feature space, are presented.     

基于神经元电响应的人体热舒适性评价理论

本文提出一种利用神经元电响应频率定量评价人体热舒适性的理论方法和准则。利用Hodgkin-Huxley方程和Pennes生物传热方程描述皮下神经元在瞬态温度场下的电响应特性,并研究了环境温度、对流换热系数,血液灌注率和组织导热率等参数对它的影响,结果表明神经元动作电位频率在等效温度发生0.1℃时就会发生明显变化,可以组合多个环境和热物性参数评价人体热舒适性。     

基于屋顶二值红外传感器网络的人体定位和行为识别系统设计

为了解决个人隐私的保护、受光照条件和障碍物等因素的影响,设计了一种基于屋顶二值红外传感器网络的人体行为识别系统。系统采用STM32芯片和ZigBee协调器建立ZigBee网络。当实验者在安装在屋顶的20个互连的AMN31111红外传感器下面做出一系列行为时,传感器对其进行二值数据采集,ZigBee协调器将数据通过串口发送到PC机上实时动态显示,通过Keil 5系统软件对采集的二值数据以txt文本格式存储。提出了像素值法对人体进行定位和BP神经网络算法在模拟的居家环境中对7种不同人物行为进行识别。实验结果表明：该系统实现了人体多种行为的识别,其识别率为84.7%,4名实验者得到平均识别精度相比固定在居家电器传感器设备要高4.7%左右,并且该系统采集精度高、性能稳定、可靠性高、成本低、功耗低,解决了一些目前人体行为识别监测系统存在的问题。     

新型Gd基T2造影剂的制备和应用

设计并合成了结构为TPP-Lys（Acp-DOTA-Gd）-COOH（简称Gd-DOTA-TPP）的小分子磁共振探针,通过电转染的方式用探针标记人源脐带间充质干细胞（hMSCs）.11.7 T磁共振成像（MRI）扫描结果表明,Gd-DOTA-TPP标记的hMSCs在细胞内Gd含量为9×10⁹ Gd/cell时,T₂加权信号强度即可低至背景信号强度,呈现较强暗信号.将Gd-DOTA-TPP标记的hMSCs移植入小鼠脑室,可明显提高移植干细胞在MRI设备上的检测灵敏度,检测限可低至10³个细胞.