The Efficacy of Photobiomodulation Therapy in Improving Tissue Resilience and Healing of Radiation Skin Damage

The increased precision, efficacy, and safety of radiation brachytherapy has tremendously improved its popularity in cancer care. However, an unfortunate side effect of this therapy involves localized skin damage and breakdown that are managed palliatively currently. This study was motivated by prior reports on the efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy in improving tissue resilience and wound healing. We evaluated the efficacy of PBM therapy on 36 athymic mice with 125I seed (0.42 mCi) implantation over 60 days. PBM treatments were performed with either red (660 nm) or near-infrared (880 nm, NIR) LEDs irradiance of 40 mW/cm2, continuous wave, fluence of 20 J/cm2 once per week. Animals were evaluated every 7 days with digital imaging, laser Doppler flowmetry, thermal imaging, µPET-CT imaging using 18F-FDG, and histology. We observed that both PBM treatments—red and NIR—demonstrated significantly less incidence and severity and improved healing with skin radionecrosis. Radiation exposed tissues had improved functional parameters such as vascular perfusion, reduced inflammation, and metabolic derangement following PBM therapy. Histological analysis confirmed these observations with minimal damage and resolution in tissues exposed to radiation. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the successful use of PBM therapy for brachytherapy. The results from this study support future mechanistic lab studies and controlled human clinical studies to utilize this innovative therapy in managing side effects from radiation cancer treatments.

Experimental studies of a machine for collecting the Colorado potato beetle

ional Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, the Republic of Belarus The substantiation of the design and technological scheme of the machine for the mechanical collection of the Colorado potato beetle in the production of environmentally friendly potato is carried out. The parameters and modes of rotors with flexible-elastic blades and regulators of the amplitude of their oscillations, providing high-quality shaking and collection of Colorado potato beetle individuals from the tops with minimal damage, have been experimentally substantiated. A description of the laboratory installation, an experimental sample of a combined unit is presented, and a methodology for conducting experiments is described. Experimental studies were carried out in 2004-2008 in the experimental field of the Educational institution "Grodno State Agrarian University" (UO "GGAU") and in the fields of the Agricultural production cooperative (SEC) "Zanemansky" of the Mostovsky dis-trict of the Grodno region. It was found that in order to reduce the energy intensity of the process, the interaction of the rotor with the tops in its apical part, where the maximum con-centration of Colorado potato beetle individuals takes place, is expedient. The minimum amount of beetle on the tops and the absence of visible damage to it are achieved when the diameter of the nylon threads of the blade is 1.2-1.5 mm, and the rational position of the regulator from the rotor axis is 0.14-0.18 m according to the energy intensity condition. Under the condition of minimal energy consumption of the process and without visible damage to the leaves, the circumferential speed range of the rotor should be 3-4 m/s. A regression equation of the second degree is obtained, which determines the relationship of the residual number of beetle individuals on the tops after the passage of the machine with the circumferential speed of the rotor Voc, the position of the regulator on the radius of the rotor Rr and the cross section of the blade Sbl. The optimal values were determined by solving the equation: Voc = 3.7 m/s, Rr = 0.16 m, Sbl = 1800 mm2 .

Full-Scale Blast Tests on a Conventionally Designed Three-Story Steel Braced Frame with Composite Floor Slabs

This paper summarizes the findings of two full-scale blasts tests on a steel braced frame structure with composite floor slabs, which are representative of a typical office building. The aim of this research study was to experimentally characterize the behavior of conventionally designed steel braced frames to blast loads when enclosed with conventional and blast-resistant façade. The two tests involved a three-story, steel braced frame with concentrical steel braces, which are designed to resist typical gravity and wind loads without design provisions for blast or earthquake loads. During the first blast test, the structure was enclosed with a typical, non-blast-resistant, curtainwall façade, and the steel frame sustained minimal damage. For the second blast test, the structure was enclosed with a blast-resistant façade, which resulted in higher damage levels with some brace connections rupturing, but the building did not collapse. Observations from the test program indicate the appreciable reserved capacity of steel brace frame structures to resist blast loads.

A comparison of pad metallization in miniaturized microfabricated silicon microcantilever-based wafer probes for low contact force low skate on-wafer measurements

Miniaturized, microfabricated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based wafer probes are used here to evaluate different contact pad metallization at low tip forces (<mN) and low skate on the on-wafer pads. The target application is low force RF probes for on-wafer measurements which cause minimal damage to both probes and pads. Low force enables the use of softer, more conductive metallisation. We have studied four different thin film contact pad metals based on their thin film electrical resistivity and micro-hardness: gold, nickel, molybdenum, and chromium. The contact pads sizes were micrometre (1.9×1.9 µm2) and sub-micrometre (0.6×0.6 µm2). The contact resistance of Au-Au, Ni-Au, Mo-Au, and Cr-Au was measured as a function of tip deflection. The tip force (loading) of the contacts was evaluated from the deflection of the cantilever. It was observed that an overtravel of 300 nm resulting in a contact force of ~400 µN was sufficient to achieve a contact resistance <1 Ω for a sub-micrometre gold contact pad. Our results are compared with an analytical model of contact resistance in loaded metal-metal contacts—a reasonable fit was found. A larger contact resistance was observed for the other metals—but their hardness may be advantageous when probing other materials. Using a combination of a rigid silicon cantilever (>1000 Nm-1) and small contact pads enabled us to show that it is the length of the pad (in contact with the surface) which determines the contact resistivity rather than the total contact pad area.

Brachytherapy Approach Using 177Lu Conjugated Gold Nanostars and Evaluation of Biodistribution, Tumor Retention, Dosimetry and Therapeutic Efficacy in Head and Neck Tumor Model

Brachytherapy can provide sufficient doses to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with minimal damage to nearby normal tissues. In this study, the β−-emitter 177Lu was conjugated to DTPA-polyethylene glycol (PEG) decorated gold nanostars (177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS) used in surface-enhanced Raman scattering and photothermal therapy (PTT). The accumulation and therapeutic efficacy of 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS were compared with those of 177Lu-DTPA on an orthotopic HNSCC tumor model. The SPECT/CT imaging and biodistribution studies showed that 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS can be accumulated in the tumor up to 15 days, but 177Lu-DTPA could not be detected at 24 h after injection. The tumor viability and growth were suppressed by injected 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS but not nonconjugated 177Lu-DTPA, as evaluated by bioluminescent imaging. The radiation-absorbed dose of the normal organ was the highest in the liver (0.33 mSv/MBq) estimated in a 73 kg adult, but that of tumorsphere (0.5 g) was 3.55 mGy/MBq, while intravenous injection of 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS resulted in 1.97 mSv/MBq and 0.13 mGy/MBq for liver and tumorsphere, respectively. We also observed further enhancement of tumor-suppressive effects by a combination of 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS and PTT compared to 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS alone. In conclusion, 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS may be considered as a potential radiopharmaceutical agent for HNSCC brachytherapy.

TUB and ZNF532 Promote the Atoh1-Mediated Hair Cell Regeneration in Mouse Cochleae

Hair cell (HC) regeneration is a promising therapy for permanent sensorineural hearing loss caused by HC loss in mammals. Atoh1 has been shown to convert supporting cells (SCs) to HCs in neonatal cochleae; its combinations with other factors can improve the efficiency of HC regeneration. To identify additional transcription factors for efficient Atoh1-mediated HC regeneration, here we optimized the electroporation procedure for explant culture of neonatal mouse organs of Corti and tested multiple transcription factors, Six2, Ikzf2, Lbh, Arid3b, Hmg20 a, Tub, Sall1, and Znf532, for their potential to promote Atoh1-mediated conversion of SCs to HCs. These transcription factors are expressed highly in HCs but differentially compared to the converted HCs based on previous studies, and are also potential co-reprograming factors for Atoh1-mediated SC-to-HC conversion by literature review. P0.5 cochlear explants were electroporated with these transcription factors alone or jointly with Atoh1. We found that Sox2+ progenitors concentrated within the lateral greater epithelial ridge (GER) can be electroporated efficiently with minimal HC damage. Atoh1 ectopic expression promoted HC regeneration in Sox2+ lateral GER cells. Transcription factors Tub and Znf532, but not the other six tested, promoted the HC regeneration mediated by Atoh1, consistent with previous studies that Isl1 promotes Atoh1-mediated HC conversionex vivo and in vivo and that both Tub and Znf532 are downstream targets of Isl1. Thus, our studies revealed an optimized electroporation method that can transfect the Sox2+ lateral GER cells efficiently with minimal damage to the endogenous HCs. Our results also demonstrate the importance of the Isl1/Tub/Znf532 pathway in promoting Atoh1-mediated HC regeneration.

Computerized or Automated Object Recognition and Analysis of Pattern Matching in Runways Using Surface Track Data

In today’s world, accurate and fast information is vital for safe aircraft landings. The purpose of an EMAS (Engineered Materials Arresting System) is to prevent an aeroplane from overrunning with no human injury and minimal damage to the aircraft. Although various algorithms for object detection analysis have been developed, only a few researchers have examined image analysis as a landing assist. Image intensity edges are employed in one system to detect the sides of a runway in an image sequence, allowing the runway’s 3-dimensional position and orientation to be approximated. A fuzzy network system is used to improve object detection and extraction from aerial images. In another system, multi-scale, multiplatform imagery is used to combine physiologically and geometrically inspired algorithms for recognizing objects from hyper spectral and/or multispectral (HS/MS) imagery. However, the similarity in the top view of runways, buildings, highways, and other objects is a disadvantage of these methods. We propose a new method for detecting and tracking the runway based on pattern matching and texture analysis of digital images captured by aircraft cameras. Edge detection techniques are used to recognize runways from aerial images. The edge detection algorithms employed in this paper are the Hough Transform, Canny Filter, and Sobel Filter algorithms, which result in efficient detection.

Physicochemical properties of frozen tuna fish as affected by immersion ohmic thawing and conventional thawing

One of the key points in the frozen food processing is thawing with minimal damage to the quality. Since the commonly used methods for thawing of foods are slow and reduce the quality of the product, application of an efficient method seems necessary. In this research, thawing of tuna fish was performed by immersion ohmic method. Thawing rate roles a vital key in the quality and significantly increased by ohmic ([Formula: see text], the mean of ohmic group) in comparison with conventional thawing ([Formula: see text], the mean of conventional group) methods. Immersion ohmic thawing increased rate of thawing about 5 times. Parameters important in quality such as T-VBN, protein solubility, thawing evaporation loss, pH, thawing loss and press juice were measured. Group analyses showed significant difference between ohmic and conventional treatment in protein solubility, thawing evaporation and thawing loss (p < 0.05).

Design development and study of an elastic sectional screw operating tool

The results of an elastic sectional screw operating tool development and its production technique are presented in the article under consideration. The operating tool has been made to fix the elastic sections, providing the transportation of bulk materials of agricultural production, in order to ensure their minimal damage and the process minimal power capacity. The article presents constructed regression dependencies and response surfaces for the effects of the design, kinematic and technological parameters of a sectional screw operating tool on power consumption and the damage rate of grain material in the process of its transportation. As the result of the conducted experimental research, authors came to a conclusion that the arrangement of an elastic auger without a gap between its peripheral part and the inner surface of the guiding tube significantly reduces vibrations in the process of conveying bulk material.