ALBERT

Description: Virtual-force algorithms (VFAs) have been widely studied for accurate node deployment in wireless-sensor-network (WSN) applications. Their main purpose is to achieve the maximum coverage area with the minimum number of sensor nodes in the target area. Recently, we reported a new VFA based on virtual spring force (VFA-SF) and discussed in detail the corresponding efficiency via statistical analysis. The optimized strategy by adding an external central force (VFA-SF-OPT) was presented, which effectively eliminates the coverage hole or twisted structure in the final network distribution. In this paper, the parameter effects on VFA-SF and the VFA-SF-OPT were further investigated: (1) Node velocity dramatically affects the convergence rate of the node-deployment process. (2) A suitable external central force improves equilibrium distance and reduces energy consumption. (3) The effects of VFA-SF and VFA-SF-OPT for different types of obstacles are discussed. Generally, by choosing suitable parameters, both VFA-SF and VFA-SF-OPT can effectively improve node deployment and energy consumption for the whole sensor network. The results give important insight in parameter selection and information fusion in the application of a large-scale WSN.

Description: TC18 titanium alloy has been widely applied, but is considered as a difficult machining material. Taking the kerf angle as the quality criterion, this paper studied the cutting performance of TC18 by the use of an abrasive slurry jet (ASJ), based upon multivariate nonlinear regression and SA-BP-AGA. Cutting experiments were carried out according to the Taguchi orthogonal method. The experimental factors included traverse speed, standoff distance, pressure and slurry concentration, with five levels set, respectively. Meanwhile, a characterization method of the major influencing factors was proposed. A multiple nonlinear regression model and a back propagation artificial neural network (BP) prediction model, based on adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA), were established. The reliability was verified by statistics equations for the 22 groups of the fitting or training model and the three groups of experimental results. The BP-AGA and Simulated annealing algorithm (SA) were used to form a set of prediction optimization systems, called integrated SA-BP-AGA. Finally, the results showed that the main factor influencing the kerf angle is the slurry concentration. BP-AGA is easier to model, offers better robustness and is more accurate than a multivariate nonlinear regression model. The best kerf angle can be predicted by the integration system. The study results can improve the performance for the machining of TC18 by ASJ.

Description: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which originate from painting, oil refining and vehicle exhaust emissions, are hazardous gases that have significant effects on air quality and human health. The detection of VOCs is of special importance to environmental safety. Among the various detection methods, chemoresistive semiconductor metal oxide gas sensors are considered to be the most promising technique due to their easy production, low cost and good portability. Sensitivity is an important parameter of gas sensors and is greatly affected by the microstructure, defects, catalyst, heterojunction and humidity. By adjusting the aforementioned factors, the sensitivity of gas sensors can be improved further. In this review, attention will be focused on how to improve the sensitivity of chemoresistive gas sensors towards certain common VOCs with respect to the five factors mentioned above.

Description: A quaternized cotton linter fiber (QCLF) based adsorbent for removal of phosphate was prepared by grafting glycidyl methacrylate onto cotton linter and subsequent ring-opening reaction of epoxy groups and further quaternization. The adsorption behavior of the QCLF for phosphate was evaluated in a batch and column experiment. The batch experiment demonstrated that the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics with an R2 value of 0.9967, and the Langmuir model with R2 value of 0.9952. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity reached 152.44 mg/g. The experimental data of the fixed-bed column were well fitted with the Thomas and Yoon–Nelson models, and the adsorption capacity of phosphate at 100 mg/L and flow rate 1 mL/min reached 141.58 mg/g. The saturated QCLF could be regenerated by eluting with 1 M HCl.

Description: The road friction coefficient is a key parameter for autonomous vehicles and vehicle dynamic control. With the development of autonomous vehicles, increasingly, more environmental perception sensors are being installed on vehicles, which means that more information can be used to estimate the road friction coefficient. In this paper, a nonlinear observer aided by vehicle lateral displacement information for estimating the road friction coefficient is proposed. First, the tire brush model is modified to describe the tire characteristics more precisely in high friction conditions using tire test data. Then, on the basis of vehicle dynamics and a kinematic model, a nonlinear observer is designed, and the self-aligning torque of the wheel, lateral acceleration, and vehicle lateral displacement are used to estimate the road friction coefficient during steering. Finally, slalom tests and DLC (Double Line Change) tests in high friction conditions are conducted to verify the proposed estimation algorithm. Test results showed that the proposed method performs well during steering and the estimated road friction coefficient converges to the reference value rapidly.

Description: Key Points Novel crosstalk between SMO and NF-κB representing additional level of NF-κB regulation independent of genetic constitutive activation. SMO activates NF-κB by recruiting Gαi and Gα12 to activate PKCβ/CARMA1 and assembling CARMA1/BCL10/MALT1/TRAF6 to SMO.

Description: Key Points Elevated Jun signaling promotes lymphoma growth and dissemination to extranodal sites. Jun-regulated genes mediate the interaction of malignant cells with stromal cells and adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins.

Description: Abstract 1120 Background: Leukoreduction (LR) is a process by which leukocytes (WBC) are filtered from blood or blood component, as the leukocytes may increase the incidence of alloimmunization to human leukocyte antigens and may cause febrile nonhemolytic adverse transfusion reactions. Current transfusion practice also requires that, at minimum, blood selected for transfusion to a patient be checked (phenotyped) to be antigen negative to the existing alloantibodies in the patient's serum. Human Erythrocyte Antigen (HEA) Beadchip™ (Hashmi, G. et al. Transfusion, 47, April 2007, 736–747) has been adopted by blood centers and transfusion services for routine antigen-negative screening. A recent prospective study (Klapper, E. et al. Transfusion, 50, March 2010, 536–546) conducted in four large hospital transfusion services concluded that it is theoretically feasible to establish an inventory of DNA tested donor components from existing hospital inventories to result in the provision of more extensively matched RBC components than is the current standard of practice. Here described is a HEA LR eMAP-S BeadChip™ platform developed based on a combination of a novel DNA extraction protocol and a novel proprietary assay platform for Human Erythrocyte Antigens determination from leukoreduced blood samples. Methods: The BioArray Solutions HEA LR eMAP-S BeadChip Kit uses the novel Elongation Mediated Multiplexed Analysis of Polymorphisms in Solution (eMAP-S) technology (Lin, X. et al., 2010). The multiplex PCR amplifies 21 DNA fragments covering 24 allele variants associated with 32 human erythrocyte antigens plus one mutation for hemoglobin S. The PCR, is then followed by clean-up, multiplex allele specific primer extension (ASPE), and on-Beadchip™ detection and read-out by using the AIS-400 Array Imaging System. Verification studies was performed using 203 leukoreduced blood segments collected from various blood centers and transfusion services in US. A set of 30 blood samples was also obtained from before leukoreduction (whole blood, WBC count: 2308–6052 cells/ μL) and after leukoreduction (LR blood, WBC count:0.36-2.63 cells/μL), DNAs from LR blood samples were extracted by a novel DNA extraction method (BAS) using commercial reagents ((Qiagen, Inc., Valencia, CA). To evaluate the performance of HEA LR eMAP-S Beadchip™ Kit, the extracted DNA samples from before and after LR were analyzed by both HEA LR eMAP-S Beadchip™ and commercially available HEA 1.2 Beadchip™ Kit along with 88 whole blood DNA samples and positive controls with known HEA calls and analyzed for 10 red blood group systems (Rh, K, JK, FY, MNS, DO, Lu, Yt, Di, Co); and one mutation associated with hemoglobinopathies. Phenotype results obtained from HEA LR eMAP-S BeadChip™ Kit during the studies were compared to the data from the HEA 1.2 BeadChip™ Kit. Results: DNA was successfully extracted from 30 donor DNA samples before (DNA ng/ul: 20–56) and after LR (DNA ng/ul: 8–20) and analyzed using HEA LR eMAP-S Beadchip™ Kit with 100% concordance in HEA phenotype results. The WB DNAs were further analyzed using HEA 1.2 Beadchip™ kit and the results showed 100% concordance with LR DNA results. In addition, results from positive controls (HEA Ref-pA, HEA Ref-pB and cell line DNAs) all produced correct calls, and HEA LR eMAP-S assay and HEA 1.2 assay testing results on 88 donor whole-blood DNAs showed 100% concordance. Conclusion: HEA LR eMAP-S Beadchip™ Kit could be used for reliable determination of human erythrocyte antigens for leukoreduced blood samples. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Abstract 3255 Introduction: Microvascular abnormalities underlie much of the morbidity observed in sickle cell disease (SCD). Adherence of sickle erythrocytes and leukocytes to the microvascular endothelium leads to vaso-occlusion and end organ ischemia/reperfusion injury. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine involved in the recruitment of monocytes to sites of endothelial activation or injury and thus contributes to the pathophysiology of vascular disease. In SCD patients, circulating MCP-1 concentrations are elevated during both steady state and vaso-occlusive crisis. However, the relationship between MCP-1 and microvascular abnormalities in SCD patients has not been assessed. In the present study, we measured a panel of circulating cytokines including serum MCP-1 and hematological biomarkers including serum ferritin in SCD patients who were being monitored by computer-assisted intravital microscopy (CAIM) to assess severity of microvasculopathy. Methods: The study included 31 steady state SCD patients (22 females, 9 males) ranging in age from 4–61 years. MCP-1 concentrations were measured by Luminex multiple analyte profiling. Ferritin concentrations were measured by chemiluminometric immunossay. The conjunctival microvasculature was assessed using CAIM. A severity index on a scale of 0–15 was calculated as described previously (Cheung et al, Am J Hematol 85:899, 2010) to quantify the degree of microvasculopathy observed among the patients. Results: The mean ± SD MCP-1 concentration was 445 ± 253 pg/ml (range: 122–1180 pg/ml), mean ± SD ferritin concentration was 1675 ± 1883 ng/ml (range 18–5825 ng/ml), and mean ± SD severity index was 5.0 ± 2.5 (range: 0–9). By multiple regression analysis, with controlling for age and gender, MCP-1 was directly correlated with severity index (p = 0.046), and serum ferritin was directly correlated with MCP-1 (p = 0.019). Conclusions: Monocyte recruitment to the site of endothelial injury involves chemotactic signaling mediated in part by MCP-1, levels of which rise in SCD. Our results indicate that MCP-1 is associated with and may directly contribute to the microvasculopathy observed in SCD patients. Furthermore, we find that MCP-1 levels are correlated with ferritin concentrations. Ferritin reflects body iron stores, and an increase of iron stores in SCD resulting from chronic blood transfusion as well as increased iron absorption associated with hemolysis may thus lead to monocyte/macrophage recruitment to the vascular endothelium and contribute to vasculopathy. Measurements of MCP-1 and ferritin may also serve as surrogate biomarkers of microvasculopathy severity and inflammation. Disclosures: Green: Emisphere - Consultancy : Consultancy; Teva Pharmaceuticals - expert testimony: Consultancy.

Description: Abstract 246 Introduction: Inflammation and abnormal adhesion of sickle red blood cells (RBCs), leukocytes and platelets to the vascular endothelium are postulated to play a central role in the pathogenesis of vaculopathy associated with sickle cell disease (SCD). Dysfunctional endothelial cells in the SCD vaso-occlusive process display vasoconstriction, proinflammatory and prothrombotic changes. Sickle RBCs may damage or activate the endothelium via enhanced expression of cell surface adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM), platelet endothelial cellular adhesion marker (PECAM), E- selectin, and P-selectin. In addition, SCD modulates high levels of circulating soluble adhesion molecules especially during the sickle cell crisis. Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is an endothelial cell receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein. The enhanced expression of LOX-1 in endothelial cells has been identified in a variety of pathologic conditions including atherosclerosis, diabetic vasculopathy, hyperlipidemia and inflammation. The purpose of this study is to investigate changes in the expression of LOX-1 and its potential role in the pathogenesis of SCD vasculopathy. Methods: Using real time quantitative PCR, we analyzed LOX-1 gene expression in cultured human coronary endothelial cells (HCEC) following static incubation with sickle RBCs. We also measured circulating soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1) concentrations by sandwich ELISA assay in SCD patient plasma. The statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test. Results: LOX-1 gene expression in HCEC was significantly increased by incubation with sickle RBCs compared with normal RBCs. Upregulation was detected after 1 hour of incubation, and reached a peak after 6 hours. We studied 48 SCD (hemoglobin SS) patients (26 female, 22 male); vs 17 healthy (hemoglobin AA) control subjects (12 female, 5 male). The SCD cohort comprised pediatric and adult patients in steady-state (33 patients) and vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC; 15 patients). The concentration of circulating sLOX-1 protein in plasma of SCD patients (mean: 3.05±2.53 ng/mL; range 0.30 – 11.30 ng/mL) was significantly higher (p=0.0046) than in control healthy subjects (mean: 1.27±0.81 ng/mL). In the 15 SCD patients with VOC, sLOX-1 concentrations were higher, (mean: 3.65±2.40 ng/mL). Conclusions: Our study reveals that LOX-1 gene expression in endothelial cells is upregulated by incubation with SCD erythrocytes. Baseline circulating sLOX-1 levels are elevated in SCD patients compared with healthy controls. sLOX-1 levels are further elevated in VOC. Enhanced LOX-1 expression in endothelial cells may play a role in the pathophysiology of SCD vasculopathy. Studies of sLOX-1 in SCD may provide new insights into risk stratification, and may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for sickle cell patients with acute vascular complications. Disclosures: Green: Emisphere - Consultancy: Consultancy; Teva Pharmaceuticals - expert testimony: Consultancy.