Search

(1) Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized as a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a significant incidence rate. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AD remain incompletely understood. However, extensive research demonstrates that a complex interplay among genetic, immune, and environmental factors contributes to the disruption of skin barrier function. Inflammation is identified as one of the pathological mechanisms in AD. Recombined mussel adhesive protein exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. However, recombinant mussel adhesive protein has been used less frequently for AD, so we explored the therapeutic effect of recombinant mussel adhesive protein for AD and the potential mechanism. (2) Methods: We established a mice model of AD in vivo and an LPS-induced inflammation model in HaCaT cells in vitro. Through assessment of skin lesion scores, itch frequency, transepidermal water loss, skin microcirculation, HE staining, Elisa assays for IL-6, IL-12, IL-13, IL-4, IL-5, IFN-γ, IgE, and TNF-α, immunohistochemical staining for filaggrin and CK14, Masson staining, and Western blot analysis of NF-κB p65, P-P65, Keap1, and Nrf2, the effects of recombined mussel adhesive protein on AD symptoms, pathology, inflammation, and its mechanisms are investigated. (3) Results: The recombined mussel adhesive protein significantly improved the compromised skin barrier, reduced scratching frequency in mice, decreased transepidermal water loss, and lowered the expression of inflammatory factors, thus ameliorating skin inflammation damage. Mechanistically, recombined mussel adhesive protein downregulated the expression of P-p65/p65 and Keap1 while upregulating the level of Nrf2. (4) Conclusions: Overall, our results demonstrate the effectiveness of recombined mussel adhesive protein in attenuating DNFB-induced AD by inhibiting NF-κB and activating the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. Thus, recombined mussel adhesive protein is a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solidification process of NH4Cl-70% H2O ingots was simulated and experimentally investigated based on the solidification theory and a volume-averaged multiphase solidification method. Although the solidification process of NH4Cl-70% H2O ingots has been investigated previously,but these researches are mainly focused on the single phenomenon of the process such as the formation of channel segregation,convection or the formation of grains. On the basis of fore-researches,combining numerical simulation with experiment,nearly all the phenomena occurring in the solidification process of the ingot were investigated in this paper,especially the equiaxed crystals' floating and settling down on the bottom of the ingot,and the convection induced by such floating of equiaxed crystals which was reproduced by the simulation. Finally,the mechanism of the forming of macro-segregation was deeply discussed.The calculation showed that equiaxed grains floated down from the mold wall and tended to settle down on the bottom of the ingot.When the volume fraction of equiaxed grains accumulated up to a critical value,columnar grains would stop their growth,and so the columnar-to-equiaxed transition(CET) process was to the end. Owing to solute partitioning and the sedimentation of equiaxed grains,there was negative macro-segregation in triangle shape on the bottom of the ingot,while a wide range of positive macro-segregation was constructed on the upper part of the ingot. The calculated results are relatively conformed to the experimental ones in aspects of the sedimentation of equiaxed grains and the induced fluid convection,indicating that the key factors leading to macro-segregation are crystal sedimentation and fluid convection.

Lightning strikes have current risetimes ranging from 0.1 to several [mu] s and can produce transient overvoltages substantially greater than the BIL of many distribution systems in spite of lightning arresters, the value of which is often compromised by excessive lead lengths. We compute the lightning induced overvoltages over distribution transformers connected through cables to an overhead distribution system as a function of ZnO arrester lead length, lightning current rising time, the type of cable, and the length of cable employed. We also compute the voltage across the top 10% of turns of distribution transformers resulting from the high dV/dt of the voltage incident on the transformers. Two types of cable, TR-XLPE and EPR, were considered. The attenuations of the cables were measured as a function of frequency and these propagation characteristics were modeled in the ATP-EMTP program. The computed data indicate that the arrester lead length, lightning rising time, the type of cable, and the length of cable employed have substantial impact on the overvoltage on transformer and the voltage across the top few turns of the transformer winding. The greater high frequency losses of EPR cable can reduce substantially the lightning-induced overvoltages to which distribution transformers are exposed. Index Terms--Distribution cable, power cable, surge overvoltages.