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This paper presents a hybrid variable neighbourhood search/tabu search (HVNTS) method and a neighbourhood generation strategy called pairwise inter-reshuffle (PIR) for process planning of 5-axis electrical discharge machining (EDM) drilling processes, which aims to minimize the total non-productive time of the machining process, including tool travelling time, tool switching time and Z-axis compensation moving time. To obtain a mathematical model of the non-productive time, a kinematic transformation and a Chebyshev distance function are then utilized. To solve the mathematical model efficiently, an HVNTS algorithm is applied as the model has a large number of 0–1variables. To improve the solution quality, the PIR method and a dynamic neighbourhood strategy are applied simultaneously and verified. The obtained simulation results demonstrate that the proposed basic and the improved HVNTS have a significant contribution in optimizing the non-productive time of the 5-axis EDM drilling process effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction: In China Herba Epimedii is one of the most common herbs that could be prescribed for treating osteoporosis. It is known to increase the overall mineral content, therefore, [...]

Copyright of Progress in Modern Biomedicine is the property of Publishing House of Progress in Modern Biomedicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Progress in Modern Biomedicine is the property of Publishing House of Progress in Modern Biomedicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Described is a facile helix-nucleating template based on a tethered aspartic acid at the N-terminus [terminal aspartic acid (TD)]. The nucleating effect of the template is subtly influenced by the substituent at the end of the side-chain-end tether as indicated by circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance, and molecular dynamics simulations. Unlike most nucleating strategies, the N-terminal amine is preserved, thus enabling further modification. Peptidomimetic estrogen receptor modulators (PERMs) constructed using this strategy show improved therapeutic properties. The current strategy can be regarded as a good complement to existing helix-stabilizing methods., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The authors have previously proposed a novel refractive index two-dimensional sensing technique named "parallel scan spectral surface plasmon resonance imaging". In the technique, with a line-shaped light illumination, an image acquired with CCD detector could provide both SPR wavelength information and one-dimensional spatial distribution, and then provide one-dimensional distribution of refractive index with further calculation. Thus, two-dimensional distribution of refractive index of the entire sensing area can be obtained with one-dimensional optical line parallel scan. The technique offers advantages of both high sensitivity and high throughput, and could have potential applications in microarray analysis. In the present paper, the authors improve the data processing methods of the technique. The authors use the refractive index of air as a reference to get over the problem of precision of the incident angle. The authors also sense a manually dotted Legionella pneumophila mip DNA probe array with this technique and prove the feasibility of sensing microarrays by this highly sensitive and label-free technique. The relation between the equivalent refractive indices and the concentrations of the dotted Legionella pneumophila mip DNA probes is obtained, which has important reference value for further study.

Aim: To investigate the effect of interleukin-8 (IL-8) on the differentiation and clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte during the differentiation period., Methods: The morphological changes of 3T3-L1 cells during differentiation after the treatment of IL-8 was observed by Oil-Red O staining. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was measured by a spectrophotometric method. MTT method and 3H-TdR incorporation were applied to examine the changes of cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 cells. Cell cycle analysis was taken by flow cytometry., Results: IL-8 could inhibit the differentiation and GDPH activity in a dose dependent manner. IL-8 decreased the cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in clonal expansion after induction. Also, the proportion of cells in G1 phase was increased and that of cells in S and G2 phase was declined after the treatment of IL-8., Conclusion: IL-8 inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by decreasing the clonal expansion of the cells.

Aim: To study the effect of WeiJia on chronic liver injury using carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver injury animal model., Methods: Wistar rats weighing 180-220g were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (Group A), CCl(4) induced liver injury control group (Group B) and CCl(4) induction with WeiJia treatment group (Group C). Each group consisted of 14 rats. Liver damage and fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection with 40% CCl(4) in olive oil at 3 mL/kg body weight twice a week for eight weeks for Groups B and C rats whereas olive oil was used for Group A rats. Starting from the third week, Group C rats also received daily intraperitoneal injection of WeiJia at a dose of 1.25 microg/kg body weight. Animals were sacrificed at the fifth week (4 male, 3 female), and eighth week (4 male, 3 female) respectively. Degree of fibrosis were measured and serological markers for liver fibrosis and function including hyaluronic acid (HA), type IV collagen (CIV), gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined. Alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry were also performed., Results: CCl(4) induction led to the damage of liver and development of fibrosis in Group B and Group C rats when compared to Group A rats. The treatment of WeiJia in Group C rats could reduce the fibrosis condition significantly compared to Group B rats. The effect could be observed after three weeks of treatment and was more obvious after eight weeks of treatment. Serum HA, CIV, ALT, AST and gamma-GT levels after eight weeks of treatment for Group C rats were 58+/-22 microg/L (P<0.01), 57+/-21 microg/L (P<0.01), 47+/-10 U/L (P<0.01), 139+/-13 U/L (P<0.05) and 52+/-21 U/L (P>0.05) respectively, similar to normal control group (Group A), but significantly different from CCl(4) induced liver injury control group (Group B). An increase in PCNA and decrease in alpha-SMA expression level was also observed., Conclusion: WeiJia could improve liver function and reduce liver fibrosis which might be through the inhibition of stellate cell activity.