True Stress Theory of Matrix in A Composite: A Topical Review.

Whereas mechanics theories for isotropic materials are almost matured, only linear elastic theories for composites were essentially established. This is because only homogenized or approximated stresses are obtainable for a composite. Its mechanical properties must be estimated on a true stress level.

Tensile Strength Prediction of Short Fiber Reinforced Composites.

Essentially, every failure of a short fiber reinforced composite (SFRC) under tension is induced from a matrix failure, the prediction of which is of fundamental importance. This can be achieved only when the homogenized stresses of the matrix are converted into true values in terms of stress concentration factors (SCFs) of the matrix in an SFRC. Such an SCF cannot be determined in the classical way.

Analytical Micromechanics Models for Elastoplastic Behavior of Long Fibrous Composites: A Critical Review and Comparative Study.

Elasto-plastic models for composites can be classified into three categories in terms of a length scale, i.e., macro scale, meso scale, and micro scale (micromechanics) models.

CD8+ T-cell exhaustion in cancer: mechanisms and new area for cancer immunotherapy.

Immunotherapies have emerged as the most promising area in cancer treatments in recent years. CD8+ T cells, as one of the primary effector cells of anticancer immunity, however, when infiltrating in cancer tissues, are generally in dysfunctional states termed T-cell exhaustion. Exhausted CD8+ T cells are characterized by impaired activity and proliferative ability, increased apoptotic rate and reduced production of effector cytokines.

T cell exhaustion in cancer: Mechanisms and clinical implications.

During chronic viral infection or cancer, the immune system usually induces a corresponding immune response against pathogens or cancer cells so as to prevent worsening disease. T cell exhaustion in which reduced and dysfunctional effector T cells lead to immune escape is one of the mechanisms that pathogens or cancer cells get rid of control from the immune system. In this review, we discuss some mechanisms associated with T cell exhaustion and enumerate current methods of reversing T cell exhaustion.

The protective effect of total phenolics from Oenanthe Javanica on acute liver failure induced by D-galactosamine.

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: Water dropwort [Oenanthe javanica (O. javanica)] is an aquatic perennial herb cultivated in East Asian countries. It has been popularly used in traditional Chinese medicine which is beneficial for the treatment of many diseases, including jaundice and various types of chronic and acute hepatitis.

Investigations of the total flavonoids extracted from flowers of Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medic against α-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholestatic liver injury in rats.

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: The decoction of the flowers of Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medic was traditionally used for the treatment of jaundice and various types of chronic and acute hepatitis in Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces of China for hundreds of years. Phytochemical studies have indicated that total flavonoids extracted from flowers of A.

[Protective effect of extract of Apocynum venetum on kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats].

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects and mechanism of extract of Apocynum venetum (AV) on kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The indexes of the blood glucose, renal function and oxidative stress were observed.

A controlled release system of titanocene dichloride by electrospun fiber and its antitumor activity in vitro.

In order to improve both safety and efficacy of cancer chemotherapy of titanocene dichloride and overcome the shortcomings such as instability and short half-life in the human body, we report a controlled release system of titanocene dichloride by electrospun fiber and its in vitro antitumor activity against human lung tumor spca-1 cells. The system was developed by electrospinning. The release profiles of titanocene dichloride in PBS were researched by UV-Vis spectrophotometer.

Development of braided drug-loaded nanofiber sutures.

The objectives of this work are twofold. Firstly, while most work on electrospinning is limited to the development of only functional materials, a structural application of electrospun nanofibers is explored. Secondly, a drug-loaded tissue suture is fabricated and its various properties are characterized.

Fabrication and characterization of chitosan coated braided PLLA wire using aligned electrospun fibers.

The development of functionalized braided wires coated with chitosan that can be used for tissue suturing and tissue regeneration is the subject of this work. Poly(L: -lactic acid) (PLLA) braided wires were successfully fabricated by combining an electrospinning technique and alignment collection with a mini-type braiding method. The resulting PLLA wires with and without chitosan coating were characterized through a variety of methods including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectronic spectra (XPS) and tensile mechanical testing.

In vivo and in vitro anti-hepatitis B virus activity of total phenolics from Oenanthe javanica.

The traditional Chinese medicine Oenanthe javanica (OJ) has been used for many years, mainly for the treatment of inflammatory conditions including hepatitis. In this study, human hepatoma Hep G2.2.

Fabrication of drug-loaded electrospun aligned fibrous threads for suture applications.

In this work, drug-loaded fibers and threads were successfully fabricated by combining electrospinning with aligned fibers collection. Two different electrospinning processes, that is, blend and coaxial electrospinning, to incorporate a model drug tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) into poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) fibers have been used and compared with each other. The resulting composite ultrafine fibers and threads were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile testing.

Ultravilolet-radiation-induced graft polymerization of acrylamide onto the melt-blown polypropylene filter element by dynamic method.

By dynamic method under UV irradiation, commercial melt-blown polypropylene (PPMB) filter element was modified with acrylamide (AAm) using benzophenone (BP) as initiator. Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope verified that polyacrylamide chain was grafted on the fiber surface of PPMB filter element. Elemental content analysis with energy dispersive X-ray of fibers revealed that the polymerization content in the inner part of filter element was relatively higher than that in the outer.

In vivo and in vitro antiviral activity of hyperoside extracted from Abelmoschus manihot (L) medik.

Aim: To assess the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) effect of hyperoside extracted from Abelmoschus manihot (L) medik.

Methods: The human hepatoma Hep G2.2.

Effect of Oenanthe javanica flavone on human and duck hepatitis B virus infection.

Aim: To study the antiviral effect of Oenanthe javanica flavones (OjF) on human hepatoma HepG2.2.15 culture system and duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infection.

Electrospinning of gelatin fibers and gelatin/PCL composite fibrous scaffolds.

In this article, ultrafine gelatin (Gt) fibers were successfully produced with the use of the electrical spinning or electrospinning technique. A fluorinated alcohol of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) was used as the dissolving solvent. The morphology of the electrospun gelatin fibers was found to be dependent on the alteration of gelatin concentration ranging from 2.

Feasibility of knitted carbon/PEEK composites for orthopedic bone plates.

This paper focuses on fabrication and characterization of knitted carbon/PEEK fabric composites for orthopedic bone plate application. Bending performance of the knitted carbon/PEEK composite bone plates was investigated with respect to two principal knitting directions (wale- and course-directions). As a result, the wale-direction knitted composite bone plates had much scattering in bending stiffness and maximum bending moment although they exhibited the same bending behavior as that of the course-direction specimens.

Fabrication of a new composite orthodontic archwire and validation by a bridging micromechanics model.

A new technique based on tube shrinkage is proposed for the fabrication of composite archwires. Compared with a traditional pultrusion method, this new technique can avoid any fiber damage during the fabrication and can provide the archwire with a required curvature in its final clinical usage. The present paper focuses on the technique development and mechanical design and validation in terms of constituent materials by using a micromechanics bridging model.

Performance study of braided carbon/PEEK composite compression bone plates.

In addition to unidirectional laminates and short fiber reinforcements for compression bone plate developments in the literature, we have proposed using a textile structure, i.e. braid preform, for this purpose.