Application of cuprous oxide synthesized from copper-containing waste liquid to treat aqueous reactive dye.

Cuprous oxide that was prepared from Cu-containing waste liquid from a printed circuit board manufacturer was used to carry out Fenton-like and photo-Fenton-like oxidation reactions to decolorize a reactive dye (RB19). A microwave hydrothermal method was applied in the synthesis. The highest recovery rate of Cu from wastewater was 87% and was obtained when the synthesis was performed at a power of 200 W for 15 min.

Conditional inactivation of replication proteins in fission yeast using hormone-binding domains.

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a useful model for analysing DNA replication as genetic methods to allow conditional inactivation of relevant proteins can provide important information about S-phase execution. A number of strategies are available to allow regulation of protein level or activity but there are disadvantages specific to each method and this may have limitations for particular proteins or experiments. We have investigated the utility of the inducible hormone-binding domain (HBD) system, which has been described in other organisms but little used in fission yeast, for the creation of conditional-lethal replication mutants.

Molecular alterations in colitis-associated colorectal neoplasia: study from a low prevalence area using magnifying chromo colonoscopy.

Background And Aim: Longstanding ulcerative colitis (UC) predisposes to colorectal cancer (CRC). To understand the molecular pathogenesis of colitis-associated colorectal neoplasia (UC-CRN), we studied the frequency of microsatellite instability (MSI) and mutations in p53, BRAF and KRAS genes in the tissues of patients with long standing UC with or without neoplasia and compared them with colitis patients without risk of neoplasia, and those with sporadic colorectal neoplasia (S-CRN) in an area with lower prevalence for either disease.

Methods: Biopsies were obtained during magnifying chromo colonoscopy or routine colonoscopy in consecutive UC patients with high risk (UC-HR) and low risk (UC-LR) of neoplasia, and those with S-CRN.

Development of docetaxel-loaded intravenous formulation, Nanoxel-PM™ using polymer-based delivery system.

Nanoxel-PM™, docetaxel-loaded methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(d,l-lactide) (mPEG-PDLLA) micellar formulation was prepared in an effort to develop alternative, less toxic and efficacious Tween 80-free docetaxel formulation, and its pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and toxicity were evaluated in comparison with Taxotere® in preclinical studies. The mean diameter of the Nanoxel-PM™ was 10-50 nm and the polydispersity of samples exhibited a narrow size distribution and monodisperse unimodal pattern. Pharmacokinetic study in mice, rats and beagle dogs revealed that Nanoxel-PM™ exhibited similar pharmacokinetic profiles (C(max), AUC, t(1/2), CL, V(ss)) to Taxotere, and the relative mean AUC(t) and C(max) of Nanoxel-PM™ to Taxotere® were within 80-120%.

Anthropometric measurements of nutritional status in chronic pancreatitis in India: comparison of tropical and alcoholic pancreatitis.

Aim: Undernutrition is considered to be a cause of tropical pancreatitis (TP) since this disease is commonly seen in the underprivileged populations of the world. This study was done to compare the nutritional status in patients with TP and alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP) using anthropometric measurements.

Methods: Anthropometric measurements were done in patients with TP and ACP aged >18 years and matched healthy controls.

Structure of a NADPH-dependent blue fluorescent protein revealed the unique role of Gly176 on the fluorescence enhancement.

A NADPH-dependent blue fluorescent protein from Vibrio vulnificus CKM-1 (BFPvv) emits blue fluorescence under UV-exposure. Previously, the BFPvvD7 mutant generated by directed evolution displayed a fourfold enhancement in fluorescent intensity. Herein, a further increase in fluorescence in the new BFPvvD8 mutant, with three additional mutations from BFPvvD7, was made.

Fault-tolerant strategies for an implantable centrifugal blood pump using a radially controlled magnetic bearing.

In our laboratory, an implantable centrifugal blood pump (CBP) with a two degrees-of-freedom radially controlled magnetic bearing (MB) to support the impeller without contact has been developed to assist the pumping function of the weakened heart ventricle. In order to maintain the function of the CBP after damage to the electromagnets (EMs) of the MB, fault-tolerant strategies for the CBP are proposed in this study. Using a redundant MB design, magnetic levitation of the impeller was maintained with damage to up to two out of a total of four EMs of the MB; with damage to three EMs, contact-free support of the impeller was achieved using hydrodynamic and electromagnetic forces; and with damage to all four EMs, the pump operating point, of 5 l/min against 100 mmHg, was achieved using the motor for rotation of the impeller, with contact between the impeller and the stator.

Overtaking, rear-end, and door crashes involving bicycles: an empirical investigation.

Recent emphasis on bicycling as an alternative to automobile transportation has underscored the need for research efforts directed at bicycle safety when sharing roadways with motorised vehicles. Much of the research attention is focused on junction accidents where motorists tend to infringe upon bicycles' right of way. Non-junction accidents where a motorist strikes a bicycle while overtaking it, or crashes into the rear of the bicycle, have been less frequently researched.

Motorcycle right-of-way accidents--a literature review.

Unlabelled: The most typical automobile-motorcycle collision take places when an automobile manoeuvres into the path of an approaching motorcycle by violating the motorcycle's right of way (ROW).

Aim: The present paper provides a comprehensive review of past research that examined motorcycle ROW accidents.

Methods: Articles and publications were selected for relevance and research strength through a comprehensive search of major databases such as Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS), Compendex, and Medline.

Differentiation of Crohn's disease from intestinal tuberculosis in India in 2010.

Differentiating intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn's disease (CD) is an important clinical challenge of considerable therapeutic significance. The problem is of greatest magnitude in countries where tuberculosis continues to be highly prevalent, and where the incidence of CD is increasing. The final clinical diagnosis is based on a combination of the clinical history with endoscopic studies, culture and polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, biopsy pathology, radiological investigations and response to therapy.

Application of non-destructive impedance-based monitoring technique for cyclic fatigue evaluation of endodontic nickel-titanium rotary instruments.

This study investigates the application of non-destructive testing based on the impedance theory in the cyclic fatigue evaluation of endodontic Ni-Ti rotary instruments. Fifty Ni-Ti ProTaper instruments were divided into five groups (n=10 in Groups A to E). Groups A to D were subjected to cyclic fatigue within an artificial canal (Group E was the control group).

Casimir force on a surface with shallow nanoscale corrugations: geometry and finite conductivity effects.

We measure the Casimir force between a gold sphere and a silicon plate with nanoscale, rectangular corrugations with a depth comparable to the separation between the surfaces. In the proximity force approximation (PFA), both the top and bottom surfaces of the corrugations contribute to the force, leading to a distance dependence that is distinct from a flat surface. The measured Casimir force is found to deviate from the PFA by up to 10%, in good agreement with calculations based on scattering theory that includes both geometry effects and the optical properties of the material.

Evaluation of failure risks in ceramic restorations for endodontically treated premolar with MOD preparation.

Objectives: This study evaluated the risk of failure for an endodontically treated premolar with MOD preparation and three CEREC ceramic restoration configurations.

Methods: Simulations were performed based on three 3D finite element (FE) models designed with CEREC ceramic inlay, endocrown and conventional crown restorations. Long-term failure probability in relation to varying load conditions was calculated by incorporating the Weibull function in FE analysis.

Structure and mechanism of Escherichia coli glutathionylspermidine amidase belonging to the family of cysteine; histidine-dependent amidohydrolases/peptidases.

The bifunctional Escherichia coli glutathionylspermidine synthetase/amidase (GspSA) catalyzes both the synthesis and hydrolysis of Gsp. Its amidase domain (GspA), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of Gsp into glutathione and spermidine, plays an important role in redox sensing and protein S-thiolation. To gain insight of the regulation and catalytic mechanism of and further understand the recycling of the Gsp dimer and Gsp-S-protein adducts, we solved two crystal structures of GspA and GspSA both with the C59A mutation and bound with the substrate, Gsp.

The chromosomal association/dissociation of the chromatin insulator protein Cp190 of Drosophila melanogaster is mediated by the BTB/POZ domain and two acidic regions.

Background: Chromatin insulators or boundary elements are a class of functional elements in the eukaryotic genome. They regulate gene transcription by interfering with promoter-enhancer communication. The Cp190 protein of Drosophila melanogaster is essential to the function of at least three-types of chromatin insulator complexes organized by Su(Hw), CTCF and BEAF32.

Immunopathogenic behaviors of canine transmissible venereal tumor in dogs following an immunotherapy using dendritic/tumor cell hybrid.

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is a naturally occurring tumor that can be transmitted between dogs via live tumor cell inoculation. It is also a spontaneous self-regression tumor and its behavior is closely related to host immune responses. Since CTVT had been widely used for tumor models in canine cancers, whether this self-regression may overtake the immunity elicited from an exogenous tumor vaccine remains unclear and certainly worthwhile to be investigated.

Estimation of the radial force using a disturbance force observer for a magnetically levitated centrifugal blood pump.

Evaluation of the hydraulic forces in a magnetically levitated (maglev) centrifugal blood pump is important from the point of view of the magnetic bearing design. Direct measurement is difficult due to the absence of a rotor shaft, and computational fluid dynamic analysis demands considerable computational resource and time. To solve this problem, disturbance force observers were developed, using the radial controlled magnetic bearing of a centrifugal blood pump, to estimate the radial forces on the maglev impeller.

Multiscale optics for enhanced light collection from a point source.

High-efficiency collection of photons emitted by a point source over a wide field of view (FoV) is crucial for many applications. Multiscale optics offer improved light collection by utilizing small optical components placed close to the optical source, while maintaining a wide FoV provided by conventional imaging optics. In this work, we demonstrate collection efficiency of 26% of photons emitted by a pointlike source using a micromirror fabricated in silicon with no significant decrease in collection efficiency over a 10 mm object space.

Optical transmission through double-layer, laterally shifted metallic subwavelength hole arrays.

We measure the transmission of IR radiation through double-layer metal films with periodic arrays of subwavelength holes. When the two metal films are placed in sufficiently close proximity, two types of transmission resonances emerge. For the surface plasmon mode, the electromagnetic field is concentrated on the outer surface of the entire metallic layer stack.

Spousal concordance for overall health risk status and preventive service compliance.

Purpose: In this study we examined spousal concordance for two aggregate measures of health risk status and compliance with preventive service recommendations among 9620 pairs of cohabitating, opposite-sex married couples.

Methods: Health risk appraisals were the primary data source to measure two outcome variables. Health risk status was compiled from 12 health risks and categorized into three levels (low-, medium-, and high-risk status).

Protein S-thiolation by Glutathionylspermidine (Gsp): the role of Escherichia coli Gsp synthetASE/amidase in redox regulation.

Certain bacteria synthesize glutathionylspermidine (Gsp), from GSH and spermidine. Escherichia coli Gsp synthetase/amidase (GspSA) catalyzes both the synthesis and hydrolysis of Gsp. Prior to the work reported herein, the physiological role(s) of Gsp or how the two opposing GspSA activities are regulated had not been elucidated.

Acute buried bumper syndrome: an endoscopic peg tube salvage approach.

Acute buried bumper syndrome is an uncommon complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement. If not recognized and treated appropriately, it can lead to serious complications including death. We report a case of an acute buried bumper syndrome, successfully managed with PEG tube repositioning through the original tract, without the need of replacement.

Elevated IL-17 produced by TH17 cells promotes myeloma cell growth and inhibits immune function in multiple myeloma.

Elevated cytokines in bone marrow (BM) micro-environment (interleukin-6 [IL-6], transforming growth factor-beta [TGF-beta], and IL-1beta) may play an important role in observed immune dysfunction in multiple myeloma (MM). As IL-6 and TGF-beta are important for the generation of T-helper 17 (T(H)17) cells, we evaluated and observed a significantly elevated baseline and induced frequency of T(h)17 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and BM mononuclear cells (BMMCs) from MM patients compared with healthy donors. We observed significant increase in levels of serum IL-17, IL-21, IL-22, and IL-23 in blood and BM in MM compared with healthy donors.

BREs mediate both repression and activation of oskar mRNA translation and act in trans.

Asymmetric positioning of proteins within cells is crucial for cell polarization and function. Deployment of Oskar protein at the posterior pole of the Drosophila oocyte relies on localization of the oskar mRNA, repression of its translation prior to localization, and finally activation of translation. Translational repression is mediated by BREs, regulatory elements positioned in two clusters near both ends of the oskar mRNA 3' UTR.