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The behaviour of the waterproof adhesive material is closely related to the interfacial failure mode and mechanism. This paper studied the interlaminar failure and mechanism of different materials, including crumb rubber-modified asphalt, styrene-butadiene-styrene-modified emulsified asphalt and epoxy resin adhesive, used in waterproof adhesive layer (WAL). The results indicate that the shear strength of WAL is affected by the WAL's thickness, the concrete surface treatment, the synchronous gravels size and the test temperature. According to the shearing test, the WAL fails in three modes: the cohesive failure, separation of the WAL and cement-concrete deck interface, and separation of the WAL and asphalt concrete interface. In order to develop the maximum effectiveness of WAL in the design and construction, the failure mechanism of WAL was also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a newly-recognized protein, plays a key role in regulating cholesterol homeostasis. PCSK9 reduces hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLRs) thereby increasing LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C). Recently, biologic and genetic research proposed several approaches to inhibit or reduce PCSK9 to improve lipid profile and cardiovascular performance in patients with dyslipidemia, particularly hypercholesterolemia. Of note, PCSK9 is a secreted protein under tight control by multiple modulators. Therefore, elucidating the factors that influence PCSK9 would enhance our understanding of PCSK9 and potentially day-to-day management of these patients at high cardiovascular risk. This review will focus on genetic variants, physiologic processes, pharmacologic agents and pathologic conditions related to PCSK9 in order to assess current and future therapeutic strategies targeting this molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HPAM forms mixed adsorption film, while HMPAM forms interfacial associations with ASB molecules. • The tight interfacial film and steric hindrance make HPAM and HMPAM have little influence on the IFTs for BSB. • The mixed adsorption of oleic acid and betaine molecules results in a significant decrease in IFTs, especially for BSB. • The strong synergistic effect between oleic acid and BSB is disrupted by polymers, thus IFTs increase significantly. To facilitate the understanding of the intrinsic mechanism responsible for the IFTs of betaine solutions, partly hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide (HMPAM) were employed to investigate their effect on IFTs of different betaine solutions against decane using a spinning drop interfacial tensiometer. Moreover, the effects of oleic acid on the IFTs of betaine-polymer systems were also studied. The results show that the water-soluble polymers (HPAM) form the mixed adsorption film with alkyl sulfobetaine (ASB) molecules and prevent the hydrophilic groups of ASB from lying flat, which produces a minimum IFT with aging time. Besides, the hydrophobic HMPAM forms mixed micelle-like interfacial associations with ASB molecules, which results in a stronger disruption tendency for the interfacial film. The branched xylyl substituted alkyl sulfobetaine (BSB) molecules will form a tight interfacial film, therefore HPAM can't insert into the interfacial film easily. Meanwhile, steric hindrance makes it difficult to form interfacial aggregates with HMPAM. Thus, the addition of HPAM and HMPAM polymers has little influence on the IFTs in the BSB system. The mixed adsorption of oleic acid and betaine molecules results in a significant decrease in IFTs, especially for BSB. However, in the ASB-polymer system, HPAM forms mixed adsorption film with ASB molecules and hinders the adsorption of oleic acid, accordingly IFTs change little. In contrast, the hydrophobic interaction of HMPAM promotes the adsorption of oleic acid, so the synergistic effect reduces IFTs to some extent. In the BSB-polymer system, the strong synergistic effect between oleic acid and BSB molecules is disrupted by polymers, which results in a significant increase in IFTs. The relevant results are helpful for the design of novel and efficient chemical flooding systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new secoanthraquinone derivatives, wentiquinones A ( 1) and B ( 2), together with the eight known compounds 3- 10, were isolated from the culture extracts of Aspergillus wentii EN-48, an endophytic fungus derived from an unidentified marine brown algal species of the genus Sargassum. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is a causal risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, while its role in vascular calcification has not been well-established. Here, we investigated an association of Lp(a) with vascular calcification using population-based and in vitro study designs. A total of 2806 patients who received coronary computed tomography were enrolled to assess the correlation of Lp(a) with the severity of coronary artery calcification (CAC). Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were used to explore mechanisms of Lp(a)-induced vascular calcification. In the population study, Lp(a) was independently correlated with the presence and severity of CAC (all p < 0.05). In vitro study showed that cell calcific depositions and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were increased and the expression of pro-calcific proteins, including bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) and osteopontin (OPN), were up-regulated by Lp(a) stimulation. Interestingly, Lp(a) activated Notch1 signaling, resulting in cell calcification, which was inhibited by the Notch1 signaling inhibitor, DAPT. Lp(a)-induced Notch1 activation up-regulated BMP2-Smad1/5/9 pathway. In contrast, Noggin, an inhibitor of BMP2-Smad1/5/9 pathway, significantly blocked Lp(a)-induced HASMC calcification. Notch1 activation also induced translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) accompanied by OPN overexpression and elevated inflammatory cytokines production, while NF-κB silencing alleviated Lp(a)-induced vascular calcification. Elevated Lp(a) concentrations are independently associated with the presence and severity of CAC and the impact of Lp(a) on vascular calcification is involved in the activation of Notch1-NF-κB and Notch1-BMP2-Smad1/5/9 pathways, thus implicating Lp(a) as a potential novel therapeutic target for vascular calcification. • Lp(a) levels are independently associated with the presence and severity of CAC. • Lp(a) activates Notch1 signal to result in smooth muscle cell calcification. • The Lp(a)-induced Notch1 activation up-regulates BMP2-Smad1/5/9 signaling pathway. • Lp(a) mediates Notch1-NF-κB pathway with inflammatory response in cell calcification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between ultrasonographic thickness and EMG activity of the masseter muscle in subjects with different vertical craniofacial morphology. METHODS: Thirty female students were separated into two groups (14 cases with high-angle, 16 cases with low-angle) based on SN-MP angle ,FH-MP angle, and FHI. The thickness of the masseter muscle under related conditions and during maximal clenching was assessed by ultrasonography, EMG activity of the masseter muscle under relaxed conditions and during maximal clenching was recorded with bipolar surface electrodes. All measurements were analyzed with SPSS 11.0 software package. Differences between groups were tested for statistical significance using Student's t test. The relationship between masseter muscle thickness and its EMG activity was estimated by Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS : The thickness of the masseter muscle in the low-angle individuals was significantly greater than that in the high-angle individuals under relaxed conditions (P=0.009) and during maximal clenching (P=0.000). Although there was no significant difference in resting EMG activity between the two groups, the EMG activity of masseter muscle in the low-angle individuals was also significantly higher than that in the high-angle individuals during maximal clenching (P=0.022). Relaxed thickness of masseter muscle was significantly correlated with its mean maximum EMG activity in the low-angle group (r=0.61. P=0.003) and moderately correlated with that in the high-angle group (r=0.38. P=0.023). Similar correlation was found between contracted thickness of masseter muscle and the metro maximum EMG activity, being significantly correlated in the low-angle group (r=0.73, P=0.002) and moderately correlated in the high-angle group (r=0.53, P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings support the concept that subjects with different vertical craniofacial morphology have different form and function of masseter muscle. The ultrasonographic thickness and EMG activity of masseter muscle in the low-angle individuals are both greater than those in the high-angle individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asperamides A ( 1) and B ( 2), a sphingolipid and their corresponding glycosphingolipid possessing a hitherto unreported 9-methyl-C20-sphingosine moiety, were characterized from the culture extract of Aspergillus niger EN-13, an endophytic fungus isolated from marine brown alga Colpomenia sinuosa. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods as (2 S,2′ R,3 R,3′ E,4 E,8 E)- N-(2′-hydroxy-3′-hexadecenoyl)-9-methyl-4,8-icosadien-1,3-diol ( 1) and 1- O-β- d-glucopyranosyl-( 2S, 2′R, 3R, 3′E, 4E, 8E)- N-(2′-hydroxy-3′-hexadecenoyl)-9-methyl-4,8-icosadien-1,3-diol ( 2). In the antifungal assay, asperamide A ( 1) displayed moderate activity against Candida albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]