Decrease of Pdzrn3 is required for heart maturation and protects against heart failure

Heart failure is the final common stage of most cardiopathies. Cardiomyocytes (CM) connect with others via their extremities by intercalated disk protein complexes. This planar and directional organization of myocytes is crucial for mechanical coupling and anisotropic conduction of the electric signal in the heart. One of the hallmarks of heart failure is alterations in the contact sites between CM. Yet no factor on its own is known to coordinate CM polarized organization. We have previously shown that PDZRN3, an ubiquitine ligase E3 expressed in various tissues including the heart, mediates a branch of the Planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling involved in tissue patterning, instructing cell polarity and cell polar organization within a tissue. PDZRN3 is expressed in the embryonic mouse heart then its expression dropped significantly postnatally corresponding with heart maturation and CM polarized elongation. A moderate CM overexpression of Pdzrn3 (Pdzrn3 OE) during the first week of life, induced a severe eccentric hypertrophic phenotype with heart failure. In models of pressure-overload stress heart failure, CM-specific Pdzrn3 knockout showed complete protection against degradation of heart function. We reported that Pdzrn3 signaling induced PKC ζ expression, c-Jun nuclear translocation and a reduced nuclear ß catenin level, consistent markers of the planar non-canonical Wnt signaling in CM. We then show that subcellular localization (intercalated disk) of junction proteins as Cx43, ZO1 and Desmoglein 2 was altered in Pdzrn3 OE mice, which provides a molecular explanation for impaired CM polarization in these mice. Our results reveal a novel signaling pathway that controls a genetic program essential for heart maturation and maintenance of overall geometry, as well as the contractile function of CM, and implicates PDZRN3 as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of human heart failure.

Electrically Tunable Lens (ETL)-Based Variable Focus Imaging System for Parametric Surface Texture Analysis of Materials

Electrically tunable lenses (ETLs) are those with the ability to alter their optical power in response to an electric signal. This feature allows such systems to not only image the areas of interest but also obtain spatial depth perception (depth of field, DOF). The aim of the present study was to develop an ETL-based imaging system for quantitative surface analysis. Firstly, the system was calibrated to achieve high depth resolution, warranting the accurate measurement of the depth and to account for and correct any influences from external factors on the ETL. This was completed using the Tenengrad operator which effectively identified the plane of best focus as demonstrated by the linear relationship between the control current applied to the ETL and the height at which the optical system focuses. The system was then employed to measure amplitude, spatial, hybrid, and volume surface texture parameters of a model material (pharmaceutical dosage form) which were validated against the parameters obtained using a previously validated surface texture analysis technique, optical profilometry. There were no statistically significant differences between the surface texture parameters measured by the techniques, highlighting the potential application of ETL-based imaging systems as an easily adaptable and low-cost alternative surface texture analysis technique to conventional microscopy techniques.

Efficiency of ultrasonic treatment of polysaccharide from brown algae

Ultrasonic exposure can be used for depolymerization of brown algae polysaccharides. However, its effectiveness depends on several factors, including cavitation activity in the treatment medium. Therefore, the purpose of the work was to determine the cavitation activity and the effectiveness of the ultrasonic exposure to fucoidan in order to optimize the processing processes of polysaccharide from brown algae. A change in cavitation activity was revealed depending on the composition of the processing environment, as well as on the intensity of ultrasonic exposure with a constant frequency of the ultrasonic wave. Similar dynamics of change of cavitation activity were established at the intensity of ultrasonic treatment of 100 and 133 W/cm2 with amplification of electric signal at the increase of ultrasound intensity. The use of SDS in the processing medium led to an increase in cavitation activity to 14.9±0.47 mV. Treatment of the fucoidan solution for 40 minutes under various conditions allowed to obtain fractions with a change in the average hydrodynamic particle diameter from 113 nm (100 W/cm2) to 85 nm (200 W/cm2) and 124 nm (SDS).

2-DOF Small-Size Piezoelectric Locomotion Platform with the Unlimited Motion Range

This paper presents numerical and experimental investigations of a small size piezoelectric locomotion platform that provides unlimited planar motion. The platform consists of three piezoelectric bimorph plates attached to the equilateral triangle-shaped structure by an angle of 60 degrees. Alumina spheres are glued at the bottom of each plate and are used as a contacting element. The planar motion of the platform is generated via excitation of the first bending mode of the corresponding plate using a single harmonic signal while the remaining plates operate as passive supports. The direction of the platform motion controlled by switching electric signal between piezoelectric plates. A numerical investigation of the 2-DOF platform was performed, and it was found out that the operation frequency of the bimorph plates is 23.67 kHz, while harmonic response analysis showed that the maximum displacement amplitude of the contact point reached 563.6 µm in the vertical direction while an excitation signal of 210 Vp-p is applied. Prototype of the 2-DOF piezoelectric platform was made, and an experimental study was performed. The maximum linear velocity of 44.45 mm/s was obtained when preload force and voltage of 0.546 N and 210 Vp-p were applied, respectively.

The analysis of applicability of thermoelectric radiation detectors for heat flux measurements behind a reflected shock wave

The study is devoted to assessing the applicability of the manufactured thermoelectric sensor to measure pulsed heat fluxes in shock-wave processes. It is shown that the created thermoelectric sensor has fast response time and sufficient level of electric signal and can be successfully used in short duration high speed gas dynamic experiments.

Afferent System Overview

The afferent, or sensory, systems include visual, auditory, somatosensory, and interoceptive (ie, pain, temperature, and visceral sensation) inputs to the central nervous system. This chapter briefly reviews principles of transduction, relay, and processing of sensory information. The dorsal column–medial lemniscal system is reviewed in more detail. However, pain, vision, olfaction, and hearing are reviewed in subsequent chapters. Sensory transduction refers to the transformation of a stimulus into an electric signal. This process involves several distinct families of cation channels and associated receptor types.

A Facile Strategy for the Ion Current and Fluorescence Dual-Lock in Detection: Naphthalic Anhydride Azide (NAA)-Modified Biomimetic Nanochannel Sensor towards H2S

Inspired by biological channels, the electric signal-based artificial nanochannel system exhibits high sensitivity in various analyses. However, ion current may be affected by many other factors, leading to false-positive signals. For reliable detection, in this work, we apply a facile strategy to combine both current signal and fluorescence. Fluorescent probes were conjugated to the nanochannel surface by covalent bonds. By utilizing the specific reduction of azide groups in the probe to amino groups by H2S, a synchronizing change in fluorescence and nanochannel surface charge was established. As a result, both transmembrane ion current and fluorescence intensity showed significant changes. The photoelectric double-checked locking from temporal and spatial variation validly confirmed the response process and protected detection accuracy. The work may provide new ideas for the development of more sophisticated current and fluorescence dual-index nanochannel systems.

THE PHYSICAL NATURE OF THE NETWORK SPACE AND LAW: SOME METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

In modern legal science, few studies are devoted to the issues of the legal nature of technical and physical phenomena that make up an encoded signal transmitted in the form of a file and containing a certain number of bits of information. At the same time, a set of questions relating to the legal nature of the information flow in its technical and physical sense and the legal nature of the transmitted signal from the emitter to the receiver remains unexplored. A closer look also reveals that the signal transmitted on the Internet by broadcasters is not unambiguous in terms of copyright law and principles. This, in turn, makes the issue of legal protection of the signal broadcast on the Internet topical. The paper suggests that the Web, the World Wide Web, is a continuous interaction of the physical (electrical) and information beginnings. Furthermore, physically the electric signal is transmitted in a coded form and has logically organized information content. This binary nature of the signal transmitted from source to consumer has not been properly described in legal studies. The purpose of the work is to study current trends in understanding the legal nature of the encoded electrical signal, transmitted in the network space by the relevant source and accepted by the consumer. The methods used in the research are of two types: firstly, this is a formal legal method associated with understanding and interpreting legal norms, clarifying the current situation in the legal regulation of the Internet space; secondly, the methods of analysis and synthesis, implying a consistent disclosure of the technical, social and cultural nature of the Internet space. The results of the study reveal the dual nature of the signal, which is a means of transmitting information on the information network. The nature of the signal (energy) has a coded form, which makes it possible to receive the information transmitted by the signal source. The legal regulation of the transmission and reception of such signals requires substantial additions.

Influencing Factors of Rock Electrical Signal Analysis Based on Artificial Intelligence

To get the generation mechanism and influence factors of the coal-rock electrical signal, it provides a reference for coal-rock electric signal prediction and dynamic disaster. Firstly, the law of charge energy relation is deduced by using the universal or functional relation of Newton’s law, and then coal and rock mass with different properties such as coal, granite, and sandstone are selected. Using the established test system, the influence of coal and rock electric signal is analyzed from the coal-rock temperature, coal and rock properties, coal-rock friction, coal-rock loading speed, and coal-rock load size. The chief results can be summarized as follows: in the process of coal-rock rising with temperature, the change rule of electrical signals can be divided into three stages according to the strength of electrical signals generated. The amplitudes of electrical signals generated by uniaxial compression of coal-rock mass with different properties are obviously different. Electrical signals can be generated during the friction of coal and rock. With the augment of loading speed, the electrical semaphore generated when the coal rock is about to fracture tends to be enhanced. The size of the electrical signal is not proportional to the size of the load, but the electrical signal is greatest when the rupture is imminent. The analysis of the influence factors of coal and rock electrical signals can provide a reference for the research on the generation mechanism of coal-rock electrical signals.