Open source board based acoustofluidic transwells for reversible disruption of the blood–brain barrier for therapeutic delivery

Ke Wang,Chao Sun,Povilas Dumčius,Hongxin Zhang,Hanlin Liao,Zhenlin Wu,Liangfei Tian,Wang Peng,Yongqing Fu,Jun Wei,Meng Cai,Yi Zhong,Xiaoyu Li,Xin Yang,Min Cui 한국생체재료학회 2023 생체재료학회지 Vol.27 No.00

Background Blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial but dynamic structure that functions as a gatekeeper for the central nervous system (CNS). Managing sufficient substances across the BBB is a major challenge, especially in the development of therapeutics for CNS disorders. Methods To achieve an efficient, fast and safe strategy for BBB opening, an acoustofluidic transwell (AFT) was developed for reversible disruption of the BBB. The proposed AFT was consisted of a transwell insert where the BBB model was established, and a surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducer realized using open-source electronics based on printed circuit board techniques. Results In the AFT device, the SAW produced acousto-mechanical stimulations to the BBB model resulting in decreased transendothelial electrical resistance in a dose dependent manner, indicating the disruption of the BBB. Moreover, SAW stimulation enhanced transendothelial permeability to sodium fluorescein and FITC-dextran with various molecular weight in the AFT device. Further study indicated BBB opening was mainly attributed to the apparent stretching of intercellular spaces. An in vivo study using a zebrafish model demonstrated SAW exposure promoted penetration of sodium fluorescein to the CNS. Conclusions In summary, AFT effectively disrupts the BBB under the SAW stimulation, which is promising as a new drug delivery methodology for neurodegenerative diseases.

Evaluation of Renal Pathophysiological Processes Induced by an Iodinated Contrast Agent in a Diabetic Rabbit Model Using Intravoxel Incoherent Motion and Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Yongfang Wang,Xin Zhang,Bin Wang,Yang Xie,Yi Wang,Xuan Jiang,Rongjia Wang,Ke Ren 대한영상의학회 2019 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.20 No.5

Objective: To examine the potential of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging for detecting renal changes after iodinated contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) development in a diabetic rabbit model. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two rabbits were randomized into 2 groups: diabetic rabbits with the contrast agent (DCA) and healthy rabbits with the contrast agent (NCA). In each group, 6 rabbits underwent IVIM and BOLD imaging at 1 hour, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, and 4 days after an iohexol injection while 5 rabbits were selected to undergo blood and histological examinations at these specific time points. Iohexol was administrated at a dose of 2.5 g I/kg of body weight. Further, the apparent transverse relaxation rate (R2*), average pure molecular diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) were calculated. Results: The D and f values of the renal cortex (CO) and outer medulla (OM) were significantly decreased compared to baseline values in the 2 groups 1 day after the iohexol injection (p < 0.05). A marked reduction in the D* values for both the CO and OM was also observed after 1 hour in each group (p < 0.05). In the OM, a persistent elevation of the R2* was detected for 4 days in the DCA group (p < 0.05). Histopathological changes were prominent, and the pathological features of CI-AKI aggravated in the DCA group until day 4. The D, f, and R2* values significantly correlated with the histological damage scores, hypoxiainducible transcription factor-1α expression scores, and serum creatinine levels. Conclusion: A combination of IVIM and BOLD imaging may serve as a noninvasive method for detecting and monitoring CIAKI in the early stages in the diabetic kidney.

Experimental Study on Interfacial Shear Performance of RC Beams Added to Existing RC Columns

Xin-Ling Wang,Lei-Lei Jin,Ke Li,Jun-Tao Zhu 대한토목학회 2020 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.24 No.11

The primary objectives of this study were to experimentally investigate the shear characteristicsof the interface between an existing RC column and a reinforced concrete (RC) beam added to the existing RC column, and to propose a formula for estimating the shear capacity of the beam-column interface. The major test variables consisted of concrete strength, added steel reinforcement ratio and shear span to depth ratio. Failure characteristics, displacements at the loading point, slips of the beam-column interface, and shear capacities of the beam-column interface were analyzed. Test results indicate that both the shear capacity of the beam-column interface and the corresponding interfacial slip increased with a decrease in shear span to depth ratio. In addition, as concrete strength grew, the shear capacity of the beam-column interface increased, but the interfacial slip corresponding to the interfacial shear capacity remained almost unchanged. Moreover, both the shear capacity of the beam-column interface and the corresponding interfacial slip increased with an increase in the longitudinal steel reinforcement ratio of the added RC beam. A formula for predicting the shear capacity of the beam-column interface was developed. The test results validate the proposed formula and provide important guidance for the design of the RC beam added to the existing RC column.

Peptidoglycans Promotes Human Leukemic THP-1 Cell Apoptosis and Differentiation

Wang, Di,Xiao, Pei-Ling,Duan, Hua-Xin,Zhou, Ming,Liu, Jin,Li, Wei,Luo, Ke-Lin,Chen, Jian-Jun,Hu, Jin-Yue Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

The innate immune system coordinates the inflammatory response to pathogens. To do so, its cells must discriminate self from non-self utilizing receptors that identify molecules synthesized exclusively by microbes. Toll-like receptors have a crucial role in the detection of microbial infection in mammals and insects. In mammals, they have evolved to recognize conserved products unique to microbial metabolism. These include lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipotechoic acids, and peptidoglycans (PGN). We show here that TLRs, including TLR2, are expressed on the THP-1 human leukemia cell line. Activation of TLR2 signaling in THP-1 by PGN induces the synthesis of various soluble factors and proteins including interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interleukin-8 and TNF-${\alpha}$ and apoptosis of THP-1 with PGN dose and time dependence. Moreover, in this study we show that PGN induces apoptosis of THP-1 cells in a TNF-${\alpha}$-dependent manner. These findings indicate that TLR2 signaling results in a cascade leading to tumor apoptosis and differentiation, which may suggest new clinical prospects using TLR2 agonists as cytotoxic agents in certain cancers.

Geophysical methods for the investigation of a closed dumping ground

Xin, Ling,Chu, Jian,Wang, Jing-Yuan,Yin, Ke,Tong, Huan-Huan,Chia, Charles Y.H.,Mohamed Noh, Omar A. Techno-Press 2015 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.8 No.5

Reclamation of closed dumping grounds is a potential solution to solve land scarce problems. Traditional geotechnical investigations of closed dumping grounds face some problems, such as the emission of hazardous liquids and gases, and the lack of ground information due to the discontinuity between two boreholes. Thus, noninvasive and continuous investigation methods are needed to supplement traditional geotechnical investigations. In this paper, two types of geophysical investigation methods, Seismic Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW) and 2D Resistivity, were carried out to study noninvasive and continuous site investigations for dumping grounds. The two geophysical methods are able to profile the distribution of physical properties of the fill and original materials, by which the extent of the dumping ground can be found and some anomalies in the subsurface can be located. Boreholes were used to assist in locating the dumping material-ground interfaces. The results show that dumping material-ground interfaces obtained from the two geophysical methods are roughly consistent. Moreover, attempt is made in the paper to use the geophysical methods to classify the types of dumping materials. The results show that the classification of dumping materials using the geophysical methods follows the results of the manual sorting of the dumping materials from a borehole.

Fatigue behavior of concrete beams reinforced with HRBF500 steel bars

Ke Li,Xin-Ling Wang,Shuang-Yin Cao,Qing-Ping Chen 국제구조공학회 2015 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.53 No.2

The purpose of this study was to investigate experimentally the fatigue performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with hot-rolled ribbed fine-grained steel bars of yielding strength 500MPa (HRBF500). Three rectangular and three T-section RC beams with HRBF500 bars were constructed and tested under static and constant-amplitude cyclic loading. Prior to the application of repeated loading, all beams were initially cracked under static loading. The major test variables were the steel ratio, crosssectionalshape and stress range. The stress evolution of HRBF500 bars, the information about crack growth and the deflection developments of test beams were presented and analyzed. Rapid increases in deflections and tension steel stress occured in the early stages of fatigue loading, and were followed by a relatively stable period. Test results indicate that, the concrete beams reinforced with appropriate amount of HRBF500 bars can survive 2.5 million cycles of constant-amplitude cyclic loading with no apparent signs of damage, on condition that the initial extreme tensile stress in HRBF500 steel bars was controlled less than 150 MPa. It was also found that, the initial extreme tension steel stress, stress range, and steel ratio were the main factors that affected the fatigue properties of RC beams with HRBF500 bars, whose effects on fatigueproperties were fully discussed in this paper, while the cross-sectional shape had no significant influence in fatigue properties. The results provide important guidance for the fatigue design of concrete beams reinforced with HRBF500 steel bars.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Among Primary School Children in Shandong Province, China

Ke-Sheng Xin,Hui Liu,Hong-Bing Wang,Zong-Liang Yao 대한기생충학열대의학회 2015 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.53 No.4

Although Toxoplasma gondii infection in primary school children has been investigated in many countries, limited surveys have been available in primary school children in China. In the present study, we report the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in primary school children in Shandong province, China. Sera from 6,000 primary school children were evaluated for T. gondii antibodies with ELISA. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 16.0% (961/6,000), of which 14.5% (870/6,000) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, 3.4% (206/6,000) positive for IgM, and 1.9% (115/6,000) were positive for both IgG and IgM. The results of the present investigation indicated a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in primary school children in Shandong province, China. Therefore, effective measures should be taken to prevent and control T. gondii infection in primary school children in this province. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in primary school children in Shandong province, China.

Using Non-Local Features to Improve Named Entity Recognition Recall

( Xin Nian Mao ),( Wei Xu ),( Yuan Dong ),( Sai Ke He ),( Hai La Wang ) 한국언어정보학회 2007 학술대회 논문집 Vol.2007 No.-

Named Entity Recognition (NER) is always limited by its lower recall resulting from the asymmetric data distribution where the NONE class dominates the entity classes. This paper presents an approach that exploits non-local information to improve the NER recall. Several kinds of non-local features encoding entity token occurrence, entity boundary and entity class are explored under Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) framework. Experiments on SIGHAN 2006 MSRA (CityU) corpus indicate that non-local features can effectively enhance the recall of the state-of-the-art NER systems. Incorporating the non-local features into the NER systems using local features alone, our best system achieves a 23.56% (25.26%) relative error reduction on the recall and 17.10% (11.36%) relative error reduction on the F1 score; the improved F1 score 89.38% (90.09%) is significantly superior to the best NER system with F1 of 86.51% (89.03%) participated in the closed track.

Preparation and Dyeing of Superfine Down-powder/Viscose Blend Film

Wang Xin,Xu Weilin,Ke Guizhen The Korean Fiber Society 2006 Fibers and polymers Vol.7 No.3

Superfine down-powder/viscose blend films were prepared and characterized for their dyeing properties. Down-powder with average size of $2.56{\mu}m$ were suspended in viscose dope and blend films were obtained by solution casting. When the blend films were dyed with acid dye, the dye uptake and K/S values increased with the increase in down-powder content. Amino-acid analyses showed that amino acid component of the down were not affected during the film formation, which confirmed the changes of dye uptake and K/S value.

Preparation of catalytic particle electrodes from steel slag and its performance in a three-dimensional electrochemical oxidation system

Zhaoyang Wang,Jingyao Qi,Yan Feng,Ke Li,Xin Li 한국공업화학회 2014 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.20 No.5

Catalytic particle electrodes (CPEs) were developed from steel slag waste, and were used to degrade Rhodamine B (RhB). To improve degradation efficiency, Mn-loaded CPEs with good reproductive performance were constructed through ultrasound impregnation–calcination strategy. The resulting samples were characterized by XRF, SEM, EDS, XPS and XRD. Degradation efficiency of the systems with Mn-loaded CPEs were 93.22% without air supply in 80 min. And degradation efficiency for Mn-loaded CPEs reached 100% with air supply in 50 min. Furthermore, the enhanced mechanism was proposed. The high degradation efficiency could be ascribed to the increase of hydroxyl radicals originated from electro-Fenton.