Coronary Atherosclerosis T₁-Weighed Characterization With Integrated Anatomical Reference

Xie, Y.,Kim, Y.J.,Pang, J.,Kim, J.S.,Yang, Q.,Wei, J.,Nguyen, C.T.,Deng, Z.,Choi, B.W.,Fan, Z.,Bairey Merz, C.N.,Shah, P.K.,Berman, D.S.,Chang, H.J.,Li, D. Elsevier Science B.V. Amsterdam 2017 JACC CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING Vol.10 No.6

Objectives: The aim of this work is the development of coronary atherosclerosis T<SUB>1</SUB>-weighted characterization with integrated anatomical reference (CATCH) technique and the validation by comparison with high-risk plaque features (HRPF) observed on intracoronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) and invasive coronary angiography. Background: T<SUB>1</SUB>-weighted cardiac magnetic resonance with or without contrast media has been used for characterizing coronary atherosclerosis showing promising prognostic value. Several limitations include: 1) coverage is limited to proximal coronary segments; 2) spatial resolution is low and often anisotropic; and 3) a separate magnetic resonance angiography acquisition is needed to localize lesions. Methods: CATCH acquired dark-blood T<SUB>1</SUB>-weighted images and bright-blood anatomical reference images in an interleaved fashion. Retrospective motion correction with 100% respiratory gating efficiency was achieved. Reference control subjects (n = 13) completed both pre- and post-contrast scans. Stable angina patients (n = 30) completed pre-contrast scans, among whom 26 eligible patients also completed post-contrast scans. After cardiac magnetic resonance, eligible patients (n = 22) underwent invasive coronary angiography and OCT for the interrogation of coronary atherosclerosis. OCT images were assessed and scored for HRPF (lipid-richness, macrophages, cholesterol crystals, and microvessels) by 2 experienced analysts blinded to magnetic resonance results. Results: Per-subject analysis showed none of the 13 reference control subjects had coronary hyperintensive plaques (CHIP) in either pre-contrast or post-contrast CATCH. Five patients had CHIP on pre-contrast CATCH and 5 patients had CHIP on post-contrast CATCH. Patients with CHIP had greater lipid abnormality than those without. Per-segment analysis showed elevated pre- and post-contrast plaque to myocardium signal ratio in the lesions with HRPF versus those without. Positive correlation was observed between plaque to myocardium signal ratio and OCT HRPF scoring. CHIP on pre-contrast CATCH were associated with significantly higher stenosis level than non-CHIP on invasive coronary angiography. Conclusions: CATCH provided accelerated whole heart coronary plaque characterization with simultaneously acquired anatomical reference. CHIP detected by CATCH showed positive association with high-risk plaque features on invasive imaging studies.

Disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymer thin film composite membrane fabricated using a benign solvent for reverse osmosis applications

Lee, C.H.,McCloskey, B.D.,Cook, J.,Lane, O.,Xie, W.,Freeman, B.D.,Lee, Y.M.,McGrath, J.E. Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co 2012 Journal of membrane science Vol.389 No.-

High performance thin film composite (TFC) membranes for reverse osmosis applications were fabricated by coating solutions of highly chlorine-tolerant disulfonated directly copolymerized poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymers (BPS-XX, e.g., BPS-20 and 32) on a commercially available porous polysulfone (e.g., Udel<SUP>(</SUP>R)) support. Solvents used in the formation of the TFCs must dissolve the sulfonated polysulfones used as the skin materials, while not harming the non-sulfonated polysulfone support membrane. For this purpose, environmentally friendly solvents were selected via a systematic screening process using a triangular solubility diagram. However, these benign solvents [e.g., di(ethylene glycol)] generally have high boiling points (>∼190<SUP>o</SUP>C). Thus, they necessitate the use of a special TFC formation process, since solvent evaporation at high temperatures caused pore shrinkage in the polysulfone support membrane and could lead to a catastrophic decrease in membrane water permeance. Support membranes were initially immersed in an IPA/glycerin mixture, after which the IPA was allowed to evaporate, leaving glycerin within the membrane pore structure. After a repeated coating procedure using dilute BPS-XX solutions, the TFC membranes were dried under vacuum at elevated temperatures. During this process, the glycerin reduced pore penetration of BPS-XX and prevented pore collapse during the drying procedures. Finally, water-miscible glycerin was eliminated via water treatment. The newly developed coating method formed ultra-thin and defect-free BPS-XX layers on a micro-porous Udel<SUP>(</SUP>R) support membrane. For example, BPS-32 TFC membranes showed NaCl rejection (∼97%), similar to that of its dense membranes. Furthermore, decreasing the amount of coating solution and, therefore, the BPS-32 coating thickness, resulted in improved pure water flux. The TFC water flux was further improved and was accompanied by small reduction in salt rejection after various TFC membrane treatments (e.g., in situ acidification or IPA treatment).

Comparative genomics of clinical and environmental Vibrio mimicus

Hasan, N. A.,Grim, C. J.,Haley, B. J.,Chun, J.,Alam, M.,Taviani, E.,Hoq, M.,Munk, A. C.,Saunders, E.,Brettin, T. S.,Bruce, D. C.,Challacombe, J. F.,Detter, J. C.,Han, C. S.,Xie, G.,Nair, G. B.,Huq, A. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2010 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF Vol.107 No.49

Dual-band photoluminescence of lead selenide quantum dots doped oxyfluoride glass-ceramics containing BaF₂ nanocrystals

Yin, Q.,Zhang, J.,Liu, C.,Xie, J.,So, B.J.,Heo, J.,Zhao, X. North-Holland 2014 Journal of non-crystalline solids Vol.385 No.-

In this work, PbSe QDs were precipitated in oxyfluoride glass-ceramics containing BaF<SUB>2</SUB> nanocrystals. Tunable and broad absorption and photoluminescence from PbSe QDs doped glass-ceramics were observed in the near-infrared wavelength range. When the glasses were heat-treated at temperatures below 560<SUP>o</SUP>C using one-step heat-treatment schedule, single photoluminescence band was observed from each sample. Upon high temperature (560<SUP>o</SUP>C or 570<SUP>o</SUP>C) one-step or two-step heat-treatment, dual-band photoluminescence was observed. These two photoluminescence bands in each spectrum were separated by a gap of ~110-150meV, and as a result, effective full width at half maximum as large as ~500nm was recorded.

Aplysia kurodai-derived glycosaminoglycans increase the phagocytic ability of macrophages via the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase and cytoskeletal reorganization in RAW264.7 cells

Ryu, J.H.,Sung, J.,Xie, C.,Shin, M.K.,Kim, C.W.,Kim, N.G.,Choi, Y.J.,Choi, B.D.,Kang, S.S.,Kang, D. Elsevier 2016 Journal of Functional Foods Vol.27 No.-

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) control a variety of physiological processes, but the roles of GAGs in inflammatory processes are unclear. Compared to mammals, sea hares are safer and good materials for massive production of GAG. This study was performed to identify the role of GAG isolated from the sea hare Aplysia kurodai (A.@?kurodai) in macrophage phagocytosis. Treatment with GAG activated macrophage RAW264.7 cells and increased the phagocytic ability. The GAG-induced activation and phagocytosis of macrophages were reduced with compound C, an inhibitor of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Compound C primarily inhibited cellular spreading. In addition, disruption of cytoskeletal reorganization with nocodazole and cytochalasin D reduced the GAG-activated phagocytic ability, cellular spreading, and vacuolization of RAW264.7 cells. These results indicate that GAG increases the phagocytic ability of macrophages via AMPK activation and cytoskeletal reorganization. Our results suggest that A.kurodai-derived GAG may have potential therapeutic agent with immunostimulatory activity.

Tensile deformation behaviors of Zircaloy-4 alloy at ambient and elevated temperatures: In situ neutron diffraction and simulation study

Li, H.,Sun, G.,Woo, W.,Gong, J.,Chen, B.,Wang, Y.,Fu, Y.Q.,Huang, C.,Xie, L.,Peng, S. North Holland Pub. Co 2014 JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS Vol.446 No.1

Tensile stress-strain relationship of a rolled Zircaloy-4 (Zr-4) plate was examined in situ using a neutron diffraction method at room temperature (RT, 25<SUP>o</SUP>C) and an elevated temperature (250<SUP>o</SUP>C). Variations of lattice strains were obtained as a function of macroscopic bulk strains along prismatic (101@?0), basal (0002) and pyramidal (101@?1) planes in the hexagonal close-packed structure of the Zr-4. The mechanisms of strain responses in these three major planes were simulated using elastic-plastic self-consistent (EPSC) model based on Hill-Hutchinson method, thus the inter-granular stresses and deformation systems of each individual grain under loading were obtained. Results show that there is a good agreement between the EPSC modeling and neutron diffraction measurements in terms of macroscopic stress-strain relationship and lattice strain evolutions of the planes at RT. However, there is a slight discrepancy in the lattice strains obtained from the EPSC modeling and neutron diffraction when the specimen was deformed at 250<SUP>o</SUP>C. Analysis of grain structure and texture obtained using electron back-scattered diffraction suggests that dynamic recovery process is significant during the tensile deformation at the elevated temperature, which was not considered in the simulation.

KNOCK IN DUAL-FUEL DIESEL COMBUSTION WITH AN E85 ETHANOL/GASOLINE BLEND BY MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SIMULATION

C. B. YIN,Z. D. ZHANG,N. L. XIE,Y. D. SUN,T. SUN 한국자동차공학회 2016 International journal of automotive technology Vol.17 No.4

−In this paper, knocking combustion in dual-fuel diesel engine is modeled and investigated using the CFD code coupled with detailed chemical kinetics. The ethanol/gasoline blend E85 is used as the primary fuel in a dual-fuel combustion concept based on a light-duty diesel engine equipped with a common-rail injection system. The E85 blend is injected and well mixed with intake air in the intake manifold and is ignited by the direct injection diesel fuel. A 46-species, 187-reaction Multicomponent mechanism is adopted to model the auto-ignition process of the E85/air/diesel mixture ahead of the flame front. Based on the model validation, knocking combustion under boost and full load operating condition for 0 %, 20 %, 50 %, as well as 70 % E85 substitute energy is simulated. The effects of E85 substitute rate and two stage injection strategies on knock intensity, power output, as well as location of the auto-ignition initiation is clearly reproduced by the model. The calculation result shows that, for a high E85 rate of 50 % and 70 % with single injection strategies, the most serious knock and the origin of auto-ignition always occurs far away from where the flame of diesel spray is first generated, at the center of combustion chamber, due to higher pressure wave, relatively richer E85 mixture and longer distances of flame propagation. The two stage injection strategies with a small amount of diesel pilot injection ahead of the main injection primarily influence the ignition behavior of the directly injected fuel, leads to a lower pressure rise rate and a reduced propagation distance, both of which contribute to the attenuation of knock intensity for a higher E85 rate.

Hydrophilic silica additives for disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymer membranes

Lee, C.H.,Xie, W.,VanHouten, D.,McGrath, J.E.,Freeman, B.D.,Spano, J.,Wi, S.,Park, C.H.,Lee, Y.M. Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co 2012 Journal of membrane science Vol.392 No.-

Hydrophilic silica (SiO<SUB>2</SUB>) nanoparticles (average size=7nm), which act as inorganic acids at low pH (<2), were added together with a PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer dispersant to a random disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) copolymer in the potassium salt (?SO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>-</SUP>K<SUP>+</SUP>) form in order to control permeation and rejection characteristics of the homopolymer. The dispersants (shell) absorbed on the surface of SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanoparticles (core) formed a distinctive core-shell structure. The PEO units located at the outside of the dispersant formed complexes with ?SO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>-</SUP>K<SUP>+</SUP> groups of BPS-20 via ion-dipole interactions. These interactions induced a compatible binary system following the Flory-Fox equation associated with glass transition temperature (T<SUB>g</SUB>) depression and prevented extraction of the water-soluble dispersant even under aqueous conditions. The ion-dipole interaction, combined with hydrogen bonding between SiO<SUB>2</SUB> and the dispersant, caused SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanoparticles to be well distributed within the BPS-20 matrix up to a limit of 1wt.% of SiO<SUB>2</SUB> and minimized the formation of non-selective cavities within the matrix's hydrophilic water channels. The resulting BPS-20_SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanocomposites showed improved salt rejection and reduced ionic conductivity. These trends are analogous to those of disulfonated copolymer systems, with polar groups creating hydrogen bonding or acid-base complexation with ?SO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>-</SUP>K<SUP>+</SUP> groups in BPS copolymers. Well dispersed SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanoparticles in highly water-permeable desalination membranes are expected to result in an increase in salt rejection but very little change in water permeability. The addition of nanoparticles to desalination membranes may offset the permeability-selectivity tradeoff observed in polymer membranes. Above 1wt.%, SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanoparticles increased both the interchain distance between polymer chains and the water uptake. However, the increased hydrophilicity due to high SiO<SUB>2</SUB> content did not yield improved water permeation of the nanocomposite membranes. The SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanoparticles acted as barriers, hindering water passage (restrictive diffusion) and lowering water permeability. Meanwhile, acidic hydroxyl groups (OH<SUB>2</SUB><SUP>+</SUP>) on the SiO<SUB>2</SUB> surface in the sulfonate matrix led to improved ionic conductivity, but NaCl rejection capability decreased because the concentration of ?SO<SUB>3</SUB><SUP>-</SUP>K<SUP>+</SUP> was diluted by highly absorbed water molecules, resulting in weakened Donnan exclusion. The mechanical properties and chlorine resistance of all BPS-20_SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanocomposites were comparable to those of BPS-20.

Effect of High Dietary Carbohydrate on the Growth Performance and Physiological Responses of Juvenile Wuchang Bream, Megalobrama amblycephala

Zhou, C.P.,Ge, X.P.,Liu, B.,Xie, J.,Miao, L.H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2013 Animal Bioscience Vol.26 No.11

An optimum dietary carbohydrate content is important for maximum fish growth. In this study, we fed Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) with either control diet (30.42%) or high carbohydrate diet (52.92%) for 90 d. Fish were fed to apparent satiation three times daily in an aquarium with automatic temperature control and circulated water. Growth performance, plasma biochemical parameters, hepatic morphology and enzyme activities were determined. It was shown that compared to fish fed control diet, fish fed high carbohydrate diet had higher plasma triglyceride and cortisol levels for d 90, and lower alkaline phosphatase level for d 45, lower hepatic superoxide dismutase and total antioxidative capacity for d 90, higher malondialdehyde for d 45 and glycogen content for d 45 and 90 (p<0.05). Histological and transmission electron microscopy studies showed that hepatocytes of fish fed high carbohydrate diet contained large lipid droplets, causing displacement of cellular organelles to periphery of hepatocytes. The relative level of hepatic heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA of Wuchang bream fed high carbohydrate diet was significantly higher than that of fish fed the control diet for 90 d (p<0.05). These changes led to decreased specific growth rate and increased feed conversion ratio (p<0.05). Upon hypoxia challenge, fish fed high carbohydrate diet had higher cumulative mortality than those fed the control diet (p<0.05). These results suggested that high dietary carbohydrate (52.92%) was detrimental to the growth performance and health of Wuchang bream.

A Timetable of the Early Development Stage of Silkies Embryo

Li, B.C.,Chen, G.H.,Qin, J.,Wang, K.H.,Xiao, X.J.,Xie, K.Z.,Wu, X.S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2003 Animal Bioscience Vol.16 No.6

The early embryos are obtained in different time after the former egg had been laid, and the aim of the present study was to observe the development law of chicken early embryo.The embryo development has been divided into the two periods according to morphology of blastodisc. Cleavage period, from 5.5 h (0 h uterine age) to 15.5 h (10-10.5 h uterine age) after the former egg had laid, formation blastodisc of 6-7 layers cell. Later blastocyst period, from 17.5 h (12-12.5 h uterine age) to area pellucida formation after the former egg had been laid. The first division took place at 5 h (0 h uterine age), morular at 11.5 h (6-6.5 h uterine age), and blastocyst at 15.5 h (10-10.5 h uterine age) after the former egg had been laid.