Multi-Objective Optimization of Curing Profile for Autoclave Processed Composites: Simultaneous Control of Curing Time and Process-Induced Defects.

The contribution of this work is introducing a multi-objective optimization method based on finite element (FE) numerical simulation to simultaneously control the curing time and cure-induced defects of C-shaped composites during a curing cycle. Thermochemical and thermomechanical coupled analysis is performed and validated experimentally to understand the evolution details of temperature, degree of cure and curing deformation. Aiming to achieve the simultaneous control of manufacturing cost and composite quality, the curing profile is optimized by employing the critical factors including the total curing time, the maximum degree of cure difference, and the curing deformation.

Chiari Malformations Type I without Basilar Invagination in Adults: Morphometric and Volumetric Analysis.

Background: Chiari malformation type I (CMI) cases are frequently associated with basilar invagination (BI), which complicates the understanding of the pathology of CMI. We specifically evaluated the morphometric and volumetric alterations in the bony structures of CMI patients without BI.

Methods: Fifty adult CMI patients without BI treated at our institution from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively studied.

Preparation and evaluation of regioselectively substituted amylose derivatives for chiral separations.

Six novel regioselectively substituted amylose derivatives with a benzoate at 2-position and two different phenylcarbamates at 3- and 6-positions were synthesized and their structures were characterized by H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Their enantioseparation abilities were then examined as chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after they were coated on 3-aminopropyl silica gels. Investigations indicated that the substituents at the 3- and 6-positions played an important role in chiral recognition of these amylose 2-benzoate serial derivatives.

Serotonergic projections to lumbar levels and its plasticity following spinal cord injury.

The descending serotonergic pathway, which originates in various populations of brainstem neurons, plays an important role in generating the rhythmic motor pattern associated with locomotor movement. Although the development of its innervation has been studied in rodent spinal cord, it has not been clearly identified how the projection of serotonergic pathway is related to its function. Here, we evaluated the pattern of serotonergic innervation on the lumbar spinal cord from embryonic day 14.

Resistance of interleukin-6 to the extracellular inhibitory environment promotes axonal regeneration and functional recovery following spinal cord injury.

Interleukin-6 (IL)-6 was originally discovered as a factor that contributes to the secondary pathological and inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS) following injury. However, accumulating evidence suggests that IL-6 is also involved in functional and structural recovery following CNS injury by promoting axonal sprou-ting. This suggests a potential dual role of IL-6 in CNS injury.

The Critical Role of SRPK1 in EMT of Human Glioblastoma in the Spinal Cord.

Up to now, the serine-arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1) has been suggested as an important signal mediator, which is implicated in the development of cancers. Unfortunately, some molecular pathways in SRPK1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human spinal glioblastoma have been not elucidated. In this work, we detected the expression of SRPK1 in human spinal glioblastoma tissues and GBM cell lines and analyzed the relevant molecular proteins using in vitro experiments, including RT-PCR, gene silencing, and Western blot.

Syntenin is expressed in human gliomas and may correlate with tumor migration.

Introduction: Invasion is usually recognized as the main reason for the high recurrence and death rates of gliomas. Therefore, properly understanding the molecular mechanisms of migration and invasion of human gliomas has become a focus and will be helpful for the treatment of gliomas. Syntenin has been demonstrated to be implicated in the migration, invasion and metastasis of many types of malignant tumors.

[Impact of topographic features of electrospun polymethylmethacrylate nanofibers on growth pattern of rat primary astrocytes].

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the topographic features of electrospun polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanofibers on growth pattern of primary rat astrocytes.

Methods: Rat astrocytes were cultured on fabricated random and aligned electrospun nanofibers. Using PMMA film as the control, the cells were transfected with a lentivirus harboring GFP gene to reveal the cell growth pattern on different substrates.

The synthesis and characterization of monodispersed chitosan-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles via a facile one-step solvothermal process for adsorption of bovine serum albumin.

Preparation of magnetic nanoparticles coated with chitosan (CS-coated Fe3O4 NPs) in one step by the solvothermal method in the presence of different amounts of added chitosan is reported here. The magnetic property of the obtained magnetic composite nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and magnetic measurements (VSM). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allowed the identification of spherical nanoparticles with about 150 nm in average diameter.

Directed neurite growth of rat dorsal root ganglion neurons and increased colocalization with Schwann cells on aligned poly(methyl methacrylate) electrospun nanofibers.

Electrospun nanofibers are promising scaffolds for peripheral and central nervous system repair. The aim of this study was to examine the details of neurite growth of rat dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRGn) on randomly oriented and aligned poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers and the relationship between neurites and nanofibers on each substrate. Our substrate design involved electrospinning PMMA nanofibers directly onto bare glass coverslips with acceptable biocompatibility.

Mda-9/syntenin promotes human brain glioma migration through focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-JNK and FAK-AKT signaling.

Invasion is usually recognized as the main reason for the high recurrence and death rates of glioma and restricts the efficacy of surgery and other therapies. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the mechanism involved in promotion effects of mda-9/syntenin on human glioma cell migration. The wound healing method was used to test the migration ability of human glioma cells CHG-5 and CHG-hS, stably overexpressing mda-9/syntenin.

Small interfering RNA targeting Krüppel-like factor 8 inhibits U251 glioblastoma cell growth by inducing apoptosis.

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, comprising 21-23 nucleotides that regulate gene expression by transcriptionally repressing their complementary mRNAs. In particular, Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) has been postulated to function as a tumor activator in various cancer cells, but not in glioblastoma. In the present study, we investigated the anti-tumorigenic effect of KLF8 siRNA in glioblastoma cells.

Quantitative analysis of glioma cell invasion by diffusion tensor imaging.

We aimed to quantitatively analyze the invasion of glioma cells by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Twenty patients with glioma, who required surgical decompression, were included in this study. Peritumoral edematous regional tissues were harvested for tumor cell counting and cell density analysis to establish standards for degrees of tumor infiltration.

Cerebral oxygen metabolism and neuroelectrophysiology in a clinical study of severe brain injury and mild hypothermia.

Mild hypothermia has an important role in the treatment of severe brain injury and there are therapeutic windows for this technique for patients with severe brain injury. We used a randomized, controlled, clinical study to investigate indexes of cerebral oxygen metabolism and neuroelectrophysiology to evaluate the efficacy of mild hypothermia treatment in severe brain injury. A total of 148 patients (106 males and 42 females), aged 18 to 64 years with acute severe brain injury were selected from June 1998 to June 2004 from the Department of Neurosurgery at The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.

Isolated cerebellopontine angle craniopharyngioma.

Primary cerebellopontine angle craniopharyngioma is rare; only 5 surgically treated patients have been reported. We report a 54-year-old female with craniopharyngioma occurring in isolation in the cerebellopontine angle and compare this patient with previously published reports. The origin of and surgical strategy for such tumors are discussed.

Correlation between APOE -491AA promoter in epsilon4 carriers and clinical deterioration in early stage of traumatic brain injury.

The objective of this work was to investigate the relationship between apolipoprotein E (APOE) promoters (G-219T, C-427T, A-491T) polymorphisms and the clinical deterioration in early stage of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a cohort of Chinese patients. In this study, we used the cohort of patients which has been reported previously. A total of 110 subjects with TBI (80 males and 30 females, with mean age of 43.

[Correlation analysis of increased blood glucose and insulin resistance after traumatic brain injury in rats].

Objective: To study the pattern of the alterations of blood glucose, insulin and insulin sensitivity after traumatic brain injury in rats, and verify the occurrence of insulin resistance after the injury.

Methods: Based on Feeney's model of brain injury, the blood glucose and insulin concentration of the dogs measured 30 min before and at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 120 h after injury. BG60-120, GIR60-120, and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) reflecting the insulin sensitivity were measured at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours following severe traumatic brain injury using euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp.

[Clinical research about brain oxygen metabolism and neuroelectrophysiology during mild hypothermia in patients with severe head injury].

Objective: To observe the changes of brain oxygen metabolism and neuroelectrophysiology after severe brain injury, and the effects of hypothermia on severe brain injury.

Methods: 148 patients with severe brain injury (GCS 3 - 8, admitted within 10 hours from injury) were selected for this study. Patients were divided into 3 groups, Group GCS 7 - 8, Group GCS 5 - 6 and Group GCS 3 - 4.

Effect of APOE polymorphisms on early responses to traumatic brain injury.

To investigate the relationship between apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphisms and the severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in acute stage in the cohort of mainland Chinese patients. We prospectively identified admissions to the two neurosurgical departments for head injury. A total of 110 subjects with TBI (80 males and 30 females, with mean age of 43.

Ultrastructural observation of effect of moderate hypothermia on axonal damage in an animal model of diffuse axonal injury.

Objective: To investigate the effect of moderate hypothermia on responses of axonal cytoskeleton to axonal injury in the acute stage of injury.

Methods: Of fifteen adult guinea pigs, twelve animals were subjected to stretch injury to the right optic nerves and divided into the normothermic group (n = 6) in which the animal's core temperature was maintained at 36.0-37.