Variable Stiffness Fibers Enabled Universal and Programmable Re-Foldability Strategy for Modular Soft Robotics

Origami is a rich source of inspiration for creating soft actuators with complex deformations. However, implementing the re-foldability of origami on soft actuators remains a significant challenge. Herein, a universal and programmable re-foldability strategy is reported to integrate multiple origami patterns into a single soft origami actuator, thereby enabling multimode morphing capability. This strategy can selectively activate and deactivate origami creases through variable stiffness fibers. The utilization of these fibers enables the programmability of crease pattern quantity and types within a single actuator, which expands the morphing modes and deformation ranges without increasing their physical size and chamber number. The universality of this approach is demonstrated by developing a series of re-foldable soft origami actuators. Moreover, these soft origami actuators are utilized to construct a bidirectional crawling robot and a multimode soft gripper capable of adapting to object size, grasping orientation, and placing orientation. This work represents a significant step forward in the design of multifunctional soft actuators and holds great potential for the advancement of agile and versatile soft robots.

Monitoring and Prediction of Horizontal Displacement of Underground Enclosure Piles in Subway Foundation Pits

Urban rail transportation and underground space development and utilization are initiatives to solve urban traffic congestion. The monitoring and prediction of the stability of underground enclosure piles in foundation pits is a key index for the dynamic evaluation of the stability of underground space engineering. In this paper, we focused on the problem that the dynamic prediction accuracy and stability of foundation pit retaining piles in the Qingdao area are not high. Based on the analysis of various time function curves and the physical meaning of the parameters, we proposed the Adjusted-Logistic time function model, which introduces three physical parameters to adjust the deformation velocity and deformation acceleration in different stages for better accuracy. It could predict the deformation process of underground enclosure piles under different geological engineering conditions. It was verified in the field that the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the Adjusted-Logistic function was 0.5316, MAE was 0.3752, and R² was 0.9937, which were better than those of Gompertz, Weibull, and Knothe time function models. Meanwhile, it showed that with the increase of excavation depth, the maximum horizontal displacement of the underground enclosure piles gradually decreased and finally stabilized at 0.62-0.71 H. We established a catastrophe model of the horizontal displacement cusp at the observation point of the underground enclosure piles by using the time series of the measured data. It could determine the weak location of the underground enclosure pile stability and realize the multipoint warning of the foundation pit stability, which would ensure safe construction.

Pericardial adipose tissue-derived leptin promotes myocardial apoptosis in high fat diet-induced obese rats through JAK2/ROS/NKA signaling pathway

Background

Pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying cardiac structural and functional changes in obesity are complex and linked to adipocytokines released from pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Although leptin is involved in various pathological conditions, its role in paracrine action of pericardial adipose tissue on myocardial apoptosis remains unknown.

Purpose

This study was designed to investigate the role of PAT-derived leptin on myocardial apoptosis in high fat diet-induced obese rats.

Methods and results

Hearts were isolated from lean or high fat diet-induced obese Wistar rats for myocardial remodeling studies. Obese rats had abnormal myocardial structure, diastolic dysfunction, greatly elevated cardiac apoptosis and increased oxidative stress level. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected significantly higher than circulating leptin level in PAT of obese, but not lean rats. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated increased leptin receptor density in obese heart. H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts after exposed to PAT-conditioned medium of obese rats exhibited pronounced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis, which was partially reversed by leptin antagonist. Moreover, leptin derived from PAT of obese rats inhibited Na+/K+-ATPase activity of H9c2 cells through stimulating ROS, thereby activating calcium-dependent apoptosis. Pretreatment with specific inhibitors revealed that JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways was involved in the leptin-induced myocardial apoptosis.

Conclusion

PAT-derived leptin induces myocardial apoptosis in high fat diet-induced obese rats via activating JAK2/STAT3/ROS signaling pathway and inhibiting its downstream Na+/K+-ATPase activity.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Nature Science Foundation of ChinaKey Projects of Shaanxi Science and Technology Research and Development Plan

Cardioprotection against experimental myocardial ischemic injury using cornin

Phosphorylated-cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (Phospho-CREB) has an important role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia. We isolated the iridoid glycoside cornin from the fruit of Verbena officinalis L, investigated its effects against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury in vivo, and elucidated its potential mechanism in vitro. Effects of cornin on cell viability, as well as expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt in hypoxic H9c2 cells in vitro, and myocardial I/R injury in vivo, were investigated. Cornin attenuated hypoxia-induced cytotoxicity significantly in H9c2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of H9c2 cells with cornin (10 µM) blocked the reduction of expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt in a hypoxic condition. Treatment of rats with cornin (30 mg/kg, iv) protected them from myocardial I/R injury as indicated by a decrease in infarct volume, improvement in hemodynamics, and reduction of severity of myocardial damage. Cornin treatment also attenuated the reduction of expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt in ischemic myocardial tissue. These data suggest that cornin exerts protective effects due to an increase in expression of phospho-CREB and phospho-Akt.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial cell-specific mitogen involved in a number of pathologic processes, including angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. Polymorphisms of the VEGF gene have been associated with susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the specific association still remains controversial. We made a meta-analysis of the association between VEGF gene polymorphisms and CRC risk. Only eight case-control studies were retrieved, with a total of 2337 CRC patients and 2032 healthy controls. Six VEGF gene polymorphisms were addressed in all studies included, +936C>T (rs3025039), -2578C>A (rs699947), -1154G>A (rs1570360), -634G>C (rs2010963), -460C>T (rs833061), and +405C>G (rs2010963). There was a significant association between -2578C>A polymorphism and susceptibility to CRC in the comparison of C allele carriers (CC + CA) versus AA (odds ratio = 0.77, 95% confidence interval = 0.62-0.96, P = 0.02). No association was found between +936C>T, -1154G>A, -634G>C, -460C>T, and +405C>G with susceptibility to CRC. We conclude that the C allele carrier (CC + CA) of VEGF -2578C>A polymorphism appears to be a protective factor for CRC.

Head movements produced during linear translations in unexpected directions

Passive translation of the body in space elicits a complex combination of directionally-specific torques that are exerted on the neck. The inertial torques that are produced by linear translation are counteracted by linear vestibular and proprioceptive reflexes that maintain head stability. A novel experimental apparatus was used in this study to translate human subjects in a random and unpredictable direction in order to quantify the head's 3-D movement with respect to the direction of translation. Head movements were found to be produced in systematic patterns as a function of stimulus direction. Roll and yaw head movements were produced in proportion to the magnitude of the lateral component of the translation. Pitch head movements were proportionate to the magnitude of the fore-aft component of the translation. One surprising observation was that head movements produced during lateral translations were, on average, 17% smaller than those produced during fore-aft translations. This suggests that linear vestibular reflexes that stabilize the head may be directionally-specific and more active during lateral whole body translations.

Current concepts of vestibular nucleus function: transformation of vestibular signals in the vestibular nuclei

The vestibular nerve sends signals to the brain that code the movement and position of the head in space. These signals are used for a variety of functions, including the control of reflex and voluntary movements and the construction of a sense of self-motion. In order to carry out these functions, sensory vestibular signals need to be transformed in a variety of ways. Transformations are thought to occur at an early stage of sensory processing in the brain, and in many cases are apparent in the responses of neurons in the vestibular nuclei that receive direct inputs from the vestibular nerve. Several specific examples of sensory transformation in the vestibular nuclei are presented, and current hypotheses about the mechanisms that are used to produce the transformations are discussed.

Difference between horizontal and vertical optokinetic nystagmus in cats at upright position

The slow-phase velocity (SPV) of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and optokinetic after nystagmus (OKAN) in response to a velocity step of surround rotation in the horizontal direction is composed of the rapid and slow components in the cat: a rapid rise, a slow rise to a steady state, a rapid fall, and a slow decline to 0 deg/s. The rapid and slow components are attributed to the direct pathway and velocity storage neuronal mechanisms, respectively. The difference between horizontal and vertical OKN has been reported in the monkey at the upright position, but the slow and rapid components have not been distinguished. The present study compared horizontal OKN-OKAN with vertical OKN-OKAN in the cat at the upright position, distinguishing the rapid and slow components. Constant velocity rotation of a random dot pattern at a velocity of 5 to 160 deg/s was used for optokinetic stimulation.

THE RESULTS

First, the amplitude of the rapid rise was relatively small in all SPV directions and all stimulus velocities investigated, with a slight upward-SPV preference to the downward-SPV (maximum 6.4, 6.0, and 3.4 deg/s in horizontal, upward, and downward SPV directions, respectively). Second, the steady state velocity was large during horizontal OKN (maximum 69.0 deg/s), small during upward-SPV OKN (12.9 deg/s), and missing (SPV is negligibly small and irregular) during downward-SPV OKN, indicating a large directional difference of OKN. Third, the acceleration of the slow rise decreased with the stimulus velocity at higher stimulus velocities >20 deg/s during both horizontal and upward-SPV OKN, suggesting strong nonlinearity in the velocity charge system. Fourth, the decay time course of the OKAN was described by the time constant of the exponential function, and the time constant was longer during horizontal (mean, 8.3 s at a stimulus velocity of 20 deg/s) than during upward-SPV (5.4 s) OKAN, suggesting that the velocity discharge system is relatively linear compared with the velocity charge system. It is concluded that horizontal OKN-OKAN is much larger than vertical OKN-OKAN in the cat at the upright position, and this directional difference is caused mainly by the directional difference in the velocity storage mechanism, but not in the direct pathway mechanism.

Hemolysis of 40% hematocrit, Albunex-supplemented human erythrocytes by pulsed ultrasound: frequency, acoustic pressure and pulse length dependence

The dependence of hemolysis produced by pulsed ultrasound on ultrasound frequency, acoustic pressure and pulse length was explored. Human erythrocytes (40% hematocrit; in Albunex-supplemented autologous plasma) were exposed (60 s) to 20 or 200 microns pulses of ultrasound at frequencies of 1.02, 2.24 or 3.46 MHz and at peak negative pressures [P-] ranging from 0.0 to approximately 3.0 MPa in 0.5 MPa increments. The duty factor was 0.01. At each frequency, hemolysis increased with increasing acoustic pressure and depended weakly on pulse duration. At relatively high acoustic pressures, hemolysis depended strongly on ultrasound frequency; at lower pressures, the frequency dependence was weaker. The potential clinical significance of ultrasonic hemolysis is discussed.

Spontaneous malignant transformation of fibrous dysplasia

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical and radiological findings in diagnosing spontaneous malignant transformation of fibrous dysplasia.

METHODS

Fifteen cases of sarcomatous transformation proved by operation and pathological examinations were found in a group of 356 patients with fibrous dysplasia, and their radiological manifestations were retrospectively studied. The 15 cases included 8 osteosarcomas, 5 fibrosarcomas and 2 chondrosarcomas. All the 15 patients were known to have long-standing fibrous dysplasia, but no radiation therapy was ever received. Eleven patients had polyostotic fibrous dysplasia and 4 had monostotic type.

RESULTS

Malignant transformation most frequently occurs in the cystic expansive lesion of the long tubular bone. Pains, swelling and late appearance of a bony mass are the main clinical manifestations. The early radiological features of sarcomatous transformation in fibrous dysplasia are moth-eaten or cystic areas of osteolysis located in the involved bone. The cortical destruction and gradual formation of a soft tissue mass that contains tumor-bone are highly suspicious of osteosarcomatous transformation, while ring-like and spotty calcification in the tumor matrix is indicative of chondrosarcoma. Fibrosarcoma usually shows simple osteolytic destruction.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the clinical radiological findings, patients of sarcomatous transformation can be detected in the early stage. These radiological findings may be used as a clue for differentiating various kinds of sarcomatous transformation.