Effects of metformin treatment on glioma-induced brain edema.

PubMed

Zhao, Bin; Wang, Xiaoke; Zheng, Jun; Wang, Hailiang; Liu, Jun

2016-01-01

Considerable evidence has demonstrated that metformin can activate 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, which plays a critical role in protection of endothelial cell permeability. Hence, the present study evaluated the effects of metformin on blood brain barrier permeability and AQP4 expression in vitro, and assessed the effects of metformin treatment on tumor-induced brain edema in vivo. Hypoxia or VEGF exposure enhanced bEnd3 endothelial cell monolayer permeability and attenuated the expression of tight junction proteins including Occludin, Claudin-5, ZO-1, and ZO-2. However, 0.5 mM metformin treatment protected bEnd3 endothelial cell monolayer from hypoxia or VEGF-induced permeability, which was correlated with increased expression of tight junction proteins. Furthermore, metformin treatment attenuated AQP4 protein expression in cultured astrocytes. Such an effect involved the activation of AMPK and inhibition of NF-κB. Finally, metformin treatment dose-dependently reduced glioma induced vascular permeability and cerebral edema in vivo in rats. Thus, our results suggested that metformin may protect endothelial cell tight junction, prevent damage to the blood brain barrier induced by brain tumor growth, and alleviate the formation of cerebral edema. Furthermore, since the formation of cytotoxic edema and AQP4 expression was positively correlated, our results indicated that metformin may reduce the formation of cytotoxic edema. However, given that AQP4 plays a key role in the elimination of cerebral edema, attenuation of AQP4 expression by metformin may reduce the elimination of cerebral edema. Hence, future studies will be necessary to dissect the specific mechanisms of metformin underlying the dynamics of tumor-induced brain edema in vivo.

Tetramethylpyrazine-2'-O-sodium ferulate attenuates blood-brain barrier disruption and brain oedema after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

PubMed

Xu, S-H; Yin, M-S; Liu, B; Chen, M-L; He, G-W; Zhou, P-P; Cui, Y-J; Yang, D; Wu, Y-L

2017-07-01

Disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB) and subsequent oedema are major causes of the pathogenesis in ischaemic stroke with which the current clinical therapy remains unsatisfied. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effect of tetramethylpyrazine-2'-O-sodium ferulate (TSF)-a novel analogue of tetramethylpyrazine in alleviating BBB breakdown and brain oedema after cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R). Then, we explored the potential mechanism of the protection on BBB disruption in cerebral I/R rat models. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) were subjected to 120 min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by 48 h reperfusion. TSF (10.8, 18 and 30 mg kg -1 ) and ozagrel (18 mg kg -1 ) were administrated by intravenous injection immediately for the first time and then received the same dose every 24 h for 2 days. We found that TSF treatment significantly attenuated the cerebral water content, infarction volume and improved neurological outcomes in MCAO rats compared to I/R models. Moreover, we investigated the effect of TSF on the BBB for that cerebral oedema is closely related to the permeability of the BBB. We found that the permeability of BBB was improved significantly in TSF groups compared to I/R model group by Evans blue leakage testing. Furthermore, the expressions of tight junction (TJ) proteins junction adhesion molecule-1 and occludin significantly decreased, but the protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) increased after cerebral I/R, all of which were alleviated by TSF treatment. In conclusion, TSF significantly reduced BBB permeability and brain oedema, which were correlated with regulating the expression of TJ proteins, MMP-9 and AQP4. These findings provide a novel approach to the treatment of ischaemic stroke.

Dabigatran abrogates brain endothelial cell permeability in response to thrombin

PubMed Central

Hawkins, Brian Thomas; Gu, Yu-Huan; Izawa, Yoshikane; del Zoppo, Gregory John

2015-01-01

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk and severity of thromboembolic stroke. Generally, antithrombotic agents increase the hemorrhagic risk of thromboembolic stroke. However, significant reductions in thromboembolism and intracerebral hemorrhage have been shown with the antithrombin dabigatran compared with warfarin. As thrombin has been implicated in microvessel injury during cerebral ischemia, we hypothesized that dabigatran decreases the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage by direct inhibition of the thrombin-mediated increase in cerebral endothelial cell permeability. Primary murine brain endothelial cells (mBECs) were exposed to murine thrombin before measuring permeability to 4-kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran. Thrombin increased mBEC permeability in a concentration-dependent manner, without significant endothelial cell death. Pretreatment of mBECs with dabigatran completely abrogated the effect of thrombin on permeability. Neither the expressions of the endothelial cell β1-integrins nor the tight junction protein claudin-5 were affected by thrombin exposure. Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) also increased permeability; this effect was abrogated by treatment with dabigatran, as was the additive effect of thrombin and OGD on permeability. Taken together, these results indicate that dabigatran could contribute to a lower risk of intracerebral hemorrhage during embolism-associated ischemia from AF by protection of the microvessel permeability barrier from local thrombin challenge. PMID:25669912

Inhibition of SUR1 Decreases the Vascular Permeability of Cerebral Metastases1

PubMed Central

Thompson, Eric M; Pishko, Gregory L; Muldoon, Leslie L; Neuwelt, Edward A

2013-01-01

Inhibition of sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1) by glyburide has been shown to decrease edema after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We investigated if inhibiting SUR1 reduces cerebral edema due to metastases, the most common brain tumor, and explored the putative association of SUR1 and the endothelial tight junction protein, zona occludens-1 (ZO-1). Nude rats were intracerebrally implanted with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) LX1 or A2058 melanoma cells (n = 36). Rats were administered vehicle, glyburide (4.8 µg twice, orally), or dexamethasone (0.35 mg, intravenous). Blood-tumor barrier (BTB) permeability (Ktrans) was evaluated before and after treatment using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. SUR1 and ZO-1 expression was evaluated using immunofluorescence and Western blots. In both models, SUR1 expression was significantly increased (P < .05) in tumors. In animals with SCLC, control mean Ktrans (percent change ± standard error) was 101.8 ± 36.6%, and both glyburide (-21.4 ± 14.2%, P < .01) and dexamethasone (-14.2 ± 13.1%, P < .01) decreased BTB permeability. In animals with melanoma, compared to controls (117.1 ± 43.4%), glyburide lowered BTB permeability increase (3.2 ± 15.4%, P < .05), while dexamethasone modestly lowered BTB permeability increase (63.1 ± 22.1%, P > .05). Both glyburide (P < .001) and dexamethasone (P < .01) decreased ZO-1 gap formation. By decreasing ZO-1 gaps, glyburide was at least as effective as dexamethasone at halting increased BTB permeability caused by SCLC and melanoma. Glyburide is a safe, inexpensive, and efficacious alternative to dexamethasone for the treatment of cerebral metastasis-related vasogenic edema. PMID:23633925

Rapamycin decreased blood-brain barrier permeability in control but not in diabetic rats in early cerebral ischemia.

PubMed

Chi, Oak Z; Kiss, Geza K; Mellender, Scott J; Liu, Xia; Weiss, Harvey R

2017-07-27

Diabetes causes functional and structural changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB). The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been associated with glucose metabolism, diabetes, and altering BBB permeability. Since there is only a narrow therapeutic window (3h) for stroke victims, it is important to investigate BBB disruption in the early stage of cerebral ischemia. We compared the degree of BBB disruption in diabetic and in control rats at two hours of reperfusion after one hour of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion with or without inhibition of mTOR. Two weeks after streptozotocin ip to induce diabetes, MCA occlusion was performed. In half of the rats, an mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin was given for 2days before MCA occlusion. After one hour of MCA occlusion and two hours of the reperfusion, the transfer coefficient (K i ) of 14 C-α-aminoisobutyric acid was determined to quantify degree of BBB disruption. Ischemia-reperfusion increased the K i in the control animals. Streptozotocin increased the K i in the ischemic-reperfused (IR-C, +22%) as well as in the contralateral cortex (CC, +40%). Rapamycin decreased the K i in the IR-C (-32%) as well as in the CC (-26%) in the control rats. However, rapamycin did not affect K i in the IR-C or in the CC in the diabetic rats. Our data demonstrated a greater BBB disruption in diabetes in the ischemic as well as non-ischemic cortex even in the early stage of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and that acute administration of rapamycin did not significantly affect BBB permeability in diabetes. From our quantitative analysis of BBB disruption, the vulnerability of BBB in diabetes has been emphasized in the early stage of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and a less important role of the mTOR pathway is suggested in altering BBB permeability in diabetes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hypertonic saline alleviates experimentally induced cerebral oedema through suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor VEGFR2 expression in astrocytes.

PubMed

Huang, Linqiang; Cao, Wei; Deng, Yiyu; Zhu, Gaofeng; Han, Yongli; Zeng, Hongke

2016-10-13

Cerebral oedema is closely related to the permeability of blood-brain barrier, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) all of which are important blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability regulatory factors. Zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and claudin-5 are also the key components of BBB. Hypertonic saline is widely used to alleviate cerebral oedema. This study aimed to explore the possible mechanisms underlying hypertonic saline that ameliorates cerebral oedema effectively. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and of oxygen-glucose deprivation model in primary astrocytes were used in this study. The brain water content (BWC) was used to assess the effect of 10 % HS on cerebral oedema. The assessment of Evans blue (EB) extravasation was performed to evaluate the protective effect of 10 % HS on blood-brain barrier. The quantification of VEGF, VEGFR2, ZO-1 and claudin-5 was used to illustrate the mechanism of 10 % HS ameliorating cerebral oedema. BWC was analysed by wet-to-dry ratios in the ischemic hemisphere of SD rats; it was significantly decreased after 10 % HS treatment (P < 0.05). We also investigated the blood-brain barrier protective effect by 10 % HS which reduced EB extravasation effectively in the peri-ischemic brain tissue. In parallel to the above notably at 24 h following MCAO, mRNA and protein expression of VEGF and VEGFR2 in the peri-ischemic brain tissue was down-regulated after 10 % HS treatment (P < 0.05). Along with this, in vitro studies showed increased VEGF and VEGFR2 mRNA and protein expression in primary astrocytes under hypoxic condition (P < 0.05), but it was suppressed after HS treatment (P < 0.05). In addition, HS inhibited the down-regulation of ZO-1, claudin-5 effectively. The results suggest that 10 % HS could alleviate cerebral oedema possibly through reducing the ischemia induced BBB permeability as a consequence of inhibiting VEGF-VEGFR2-mediated down-regulation of ZO-1, claudin-5.

Delayed astrocytic contact with cerebral blood vessels in FGF-2 deficient mice does not compromise permeability properties at the developing blood-brain barrier.

PubMed

Saunders, Norman R; Dziegielewska, Katarzyna M; Unsicker, Klaus; Ek, C Joakim

2016-11-01

The brain functions within a specialized environment tightly controlled by brain barrier mechanisms. Understanding the regulation of barrier formation is important for understanding brain development and may also lead to finding new ways to deliver pharmacotherapies to the brain; access of many potentially promising drugs is severely hindered by these barrier mechanisms. The cellular composition of the neurovascular unit of the blood-brain barrier proper and their effects on regulation of its function are beginning to be understood. One hallmark of the neurovascular unit in the adult is the astroglial foot processes that tightly surround cerebral blood vessels. However their role in barrier formation is still unclear. In this study we examined barrier function in newborn, juvenile and adult mice lacking fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), which has been shown to result in altered astroglial differentiation during development. We show that during development of FGF-2 deficient mice the astroglial contacts with cerebral blood vessels are delayed compared with wild-type animals. However, this delay did not result in changes to the permeability properties of the blood brain barrier as assessed by exclusion of either small or larger sized molecules at this interface. In addition cerebral vessels were positive for tight-junction proteins and we observed no difference in the ultrastructure of the tight-junctions. The results indicate that the direct contact of astroglia processes to cerebral blood vessels is not necessary for either the formation of the tight-junctions or for basic permeability properties and function of the blood-brain barrier. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 1201-1212, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cerebral ketone body metabolism.

PubMed

Morris, A A M

2005-01-01

Ketone bodies (KBs) are an important source of energy for the brain. During the neonatal period, they are also precursors for the synthesis of lipids (especially cholesterol) and amino acids. The rate of cerebral KB metabolism depends primarily on the concentration in blood; high concentrations occur during fasting and on a high-fat diet. Cerebral KB metabolism is also regulated by the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which depends on the abundance of monocarboxylic acid transporters (MCT1). The BBB's permeability to KBs increases with fasting in humans. In rats, permeability increases during the suckling period, but human neonates have not been studied. Monocarboxylic acid transporters are also present in the plasma membranes of neurons and glia but their role in regulating KB metabolism is uncertain. Finally, the rate of cerebral KB metabolism depends on the activities of the relevant enzymes in brain. The activities vary with age in rats, but reliable results are not available for humans. Cerebral KB metabolism in humans differs from that in the rat in several respects. During fasting, for example, KBs supply more of the brain's energy in humans than in the rat. Conversely, KBs are probably used more extensively in the brain of suckling rats than in human neonates. These differences complicate the interpretation of rodent studies. Most patients with inborn errors of ketogenesis develop normally, suggesting that the only essential role for KBs is as an alternative fuel during illness or prolonged fasting. On the other hand, in HMG-CoA lyase deficiency, imaging generally shows asymptomatic white-matter abnormalities. The ability of KBs to act as an alternative fuel explains the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet in GLUT1 deficiency, but its effectiveness in epilepsy remains unexplained.

Rapid transport within cerebral perivascular spaces underlies widespread tracer distribution in the brain after intranasal administration.

PubMed

Lochhead, Jeffrey J; Wolak, Daniel J; Pizzo, Michelle E; Thorne, Robert G

2015-03-01

The intranasal administration route is increasingly being used as a noninvasive method to bypass the blood-brain barrier because evidence suggests small fractions of nasally applied macromolecules may reach the brain directly via olfactory and trigeminal nerve components present in the nasal mucosa. Upon reaching the olfactory bulb (olfactory pathway) or brainstem (trigeminal pathway), intranasally delivered macromolecules appear to rapidly distribute within the brains of rodents and primates. The mechanisms responsible for this distribution have yet to be fully characterized. Here, we have used ex vivo fluorescence imaging to show that bulk flow within the perivascular space (PVS) of cerebral blood vessels contributes to the rapid central distribution of fluorescently labeled 3 and 10 kDa dextran tracers after intranasal administration in anesthetized adult rats. Comparison of tracer plasma levels and fluorescent signal distribution associated with the PVS of surface arteries and internal cerebral vessels showed that the intranasal route results in unique central access to the PVS not observed after matched intravascular dosing in separate animals. Intranasal targeting to the PVS was tracer size dependent and could be regulated by modifying nasal epithelial permeability. These results suggest cerebral perivascular convection likely has a key role in intranasal drug delivery to the brain.

Glutamate-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Opening: Implications for Neuroprotection and Drug Delivery.

PubMed

Vazana, Udi; Veksler, Ronel; Pell, Gaby S; Prager, Ofer; Fassler, Michael; Chassidim, Yoash; Roth, Yiftach; Shahar, Hamutal; Zangen, Abraham; Raccah, Ruggero; Onesti, Emanuela; Ceccanti, Marco; Colonnese, Claudio; Santoro, Antonio; Salvati, Maurizio; D'Elia, Alessandro; Nucciarelli, Valter; Inghilleri, Maurizio; Friedman, Alon

2016-07-20

The blood-brain barrier is a highly selective anatomical and functional interface allowing a unique environment for neuro-glia networks. Blood-brain barrier dysfunction is common in most brain disorders and is associated with disease course and delayed complications. However, the mechanisms underlying blood-brain barrier opening are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate the role of the neurotransmitter glutamate in modulating early barrier permeability in vivo Using intravital microscopy, we show that recurrent seizures and the associated excessive glutamate release lead to increased vascular permeability in the rat cerebral cortex, through activation of NMDA receptors. NMDA receptor antagonists reduce barrier permeability in the peri-ischemic brain, whereas neuronal activation using high-intensity magnetic stimulation increases barrier permeability and facilitates drug delivery. Finally, we conducted a double-blind clinical trial in patients with malignant glial tumors, using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to quantitatively assess blood-brain barrier permeability. We demonstrate the safety of stimulation that efficiently increased blood-brain barrier permeability in 10 of 15 patients with malignant glial tumors. We suggest a novel mechanism for the bidirectional modulation of brain vascular permeability toward increased drug delivery and prevention of delayed complications in brain disorders. In this study, we reveal a new mechanism that governs blood-brain barrier (BBB) function in the rat cerebral cortex, and, by using the discovered mechanism, we demonstrate bidirectional control over brain endothelial permeability. Obviously, the clinical potential of manipulating BBB permeability for neuroprotection and drug delivery is immense, as we show in preclinical and proof-of-concept clinical studies. This study addresses an unmet need to induce transient BBB opening for drug delivery in patients with malignant brain tumors and effectively facilitate BBB closure in neurological disorders. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/367727-13$15.00/0.

Glutamate-Mediated Blood–Brain Barrier Opening: Implications for Neuroprotection and Drug Delivery

PubMed Central

Vazana, Udi; Veksler, Ronel; Pell, Gaby S.; Prager, Ofer; Fassler, Michael; Chassidim, Yoash; Roth, Yiftach; Shahar, Hamutal; Zangen, Abraham; Raccah, Ruggero; Onesti, Emanuela; Ceccanti, Marco; Colonnese, Claudio; Santoro, Antonio; Salvati, Maurizio; D'Elia, Alessandro; Nucciarelli, Valter; Inghilleri, Maurizio

2016-01-01

The blood–brain barrier is a highly selective anatomical and functional interface allowing a unique environment for neuro-glia networks. Blood–brain barrier dysfunction is common in most brain disorders and is associated with disease course and delayed complications. However, the mechanisms underlying blood–brain barrier opening are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate the role of the neurotransmitter glutamate in modulating early barrier permeability in vivo. Using intravital microscopy, we show that recurrent seizures and the associated excessive glutamate release lead to increased vascular permeability in the rat cerebral cortex, through activation of NMDA receptors. NMDA receptor antagonists reduce barrier permeability in the peri-ischemic brain, whereas neuronal activation using high-intensity magnetic stimulation increases barrier permeability and facilitates drug delivery. Finally, we conducted a double-blind clinical trial in patients with malignant glial tumors, using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to quantitatively assess blood–brain barrier permeability. We demonstrate the safety of stimulation that efficiently increased blood–brain barrier permeability in 10 of 15 patients with malignant glial tumors. We suggest a novel mechanism for the bidirectional modulation of brain vascular permeability toward increased drug delivery and prevention of delayed complications in brain disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In this study, we reveal a new mechanism that governs blood–brain barrier (BBB) function in the rat cerebral cortex, and, by using the discovered mechanism, we demonstrate bidirectional control over brain endothelial permeability. Obviously, the clinical potential of manipulating BBB permeability for neuroprotection and drug delivery is immense, as we show in preclinical and proof-of-concept clinical studies. This study addresses an unmet need to induce transient BBB opening for drug delivery in patients with malignant brain tumors and effectively facilitate BBB closure in neurological disorders. PMID:27445149

[Acid-base equilibrium and the brain].

PubMed

Rabary, O; Boussofara, M; Grimaud, D

1994-01-01

In physiological conditions, the regulation of acid-base balance in brain maintains a noteworthy stability of cerebral pH. During systemic metabolic acid-base imbalances cerebral pH is well controlled as the blood/brain barrier is slowly and poorly permeable to electrolytes (HCO3- and H+). Cerebral pH is regulated by a modulation of the respiratory drive, triggered by the early alterations of interstitial fluid pH, close to medullary chemoreceptors. As blood/brain barrier is highly permeable to Co2, CSF pH is corrected in a few hours, even in case of severe metabolic acidosis and alkalosis. Conversely, during ventilatory acidosis and alkalosis the cerebral pH varies in the same direction and in the same range than blood pH. Therefore, the brain is better protected against metabolic than ventilatory acid-base imbalances. Ventilatory acidosis and alkalosis are able to impair cerebral blood flow and brain activity through interstitial pH alterations. During respiratory acidosis, [HCO3-] increases in extracellular fluids to control cerebral pH by two main ways: a carbonic anhydrase activation at the blood/brain and blood/CSF barriers level and an increase in chloride shift in glial cells (HCO3- exchanged for Cl-). During respiratory alkalosis, [HCO3-] decreases in extracellular fluids by the opposite changes in HCO3- transport and by an increase in lactic acid synthesis by cerebral cells. The treatment of metabolic acidosis with bicarbonates may induce a cerebral acidosis and worsen a cerebral oedema during ketoacidosis. Moderate hypocapnia carried out to treat intracranial hypertension is mainly effective when cerebral blood flow is high and vascular CO2 reactivity maintained. Hypocapnia may restore an altered cerebral blood flow autoregulation. Instrumental hypocapnia requires a control of cerebral perfusion pressure and cerebral arteriovenous difference for oxygen, to select patients for whom this kind of treatment may be of benefit, to choose the optimal level of hypocapnia and to avoid any deleterious effect. If hypocapnia is maintained over several days, an adaptation of CSF pH may limit the therapeutic effect on the cerebral blood flow and the intracranial pressure.

Assessment of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability by Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model after Localized Brain Cooling in Rats.

PubMed

Kim, Eun Soo; Lee, Seung-Koo; Kwon, Mi Jung; Lee, Phil Hye; Ju, Young-Su; Yoon, Dae Young; Kim, Hye Jeong; Lee, Kwan Seop

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of localized brain cooling on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in rats, by using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI. Thirty rats were divided into 3 groups of 10 rats each: control group, localized cold-saline (20℃) infusion group, and localized warm-saline (37℃) infusion group. The left middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded for 1 hour in anesthetized rats, followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. In the localized saline infusion group, 6 mL of cold or warm saline was infused through the hollow filament for 10 minutes after MCA occlusion. DCE-MRI investigations were performed after 3 hours and 24 hours of reperfusion. Pharmacokinetic parameters of the extended Tofts-Kety model were calculated for each DCE-MRI. In addition, rotarod testing was performed before tMCAO, and on days 1-9 after tMCAO. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) immunohisto-chemistry was performed to identify infiltrating neutrophils associated with the inflammatory response in the rat brain. Permeability parameters showed no statistical significance between cold and warm saline infusion groups after 3-hour reperfusion 0.09 ± 0.01 min(-1) vs. 0.07 ± 0.02 min(-1), p = 0.661 for K(trans); 0.30 ± 0.05 min(-1) vs. 0.37 ± 0.11 min(-1), p = 0.394 for kep, respectively. Behavioral testing revealed no significant difference among the three groups. However, the percentage of MPO-positive cells in the cold-saline group was significantly lower than those in the control and warm-saline groups (p < 0.05). Localized brain cooling (20℃) does not confer a benefit to inhibit the increase in BBB permeability that follows transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in an animal model, as compared with localized warm-saline (37℃) infusion group.

Assessment of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability by Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model after Localized Brain Cooling in Rats

PubMed Central

Kim, Eun Soo; Kwon, Mi Jung; Lee, Phil Hye; Ju, Young-Su; Yoon, Dae Young; Kim, Hye Jeong; Lee, Kwan Seop

2016-01-01

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of localized brain cooling on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in rats, by using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI. Materials and Methods Thirty rats were divided into 3 groups of 10 rats each: control group, localized cold-saline (20℃) infusion group, and localized warm-saline (37℃) infusion group. The left middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded for 1 hour in anesthetized rats, followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. In the localized saline infusion group, 6 mL of cold or warm saline was infused through the hollow filament for 10 minutes after MCA occlusion. DCE-MRI investigations were performed after 3 hours and 24 hours of reperfusion. Pharmacokinetic parameters of the extended Tofts-Kety model were calculated for each DCE-MRI. In addition, rotarod testing was performed before tMCAO, and on days 1-9 after tMCAO. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) immunohisto-chemistry was performed to identify infiltrating neutrophils associated with the inflammatory response in the rat brain. Results Permeability parameters showed no statistical significance between cold and warm saline infusion groups after 3-hour reperfusion 0.09 ± 0.01 min-1 vs. 0.07 ± 0.02 min-1, p = 0.661 for Ktrans; 0.30 ± 0.05 min-1 vs. 0.37 ± 0.11 min-1, p = 0.394 for kep, respectively. Behavioral testing revealed no significant difference among the three groups. However, the percentage of MPO-positive cells in the cold-saline group was significantly lower than those in the control and warm-saline groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion Localized brain cooling (20℃) does not confer a benefit to inhibit the increase in BBB permeability that follows transient cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in an animal model, as compared with localized warm-saline (37℃) infusion group. PMID:27587960

Alterations of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the brain of rats chronically exposed to lead acetate.

PubMed

López-Larrubia, Pilar; Cauli, Omar

2011-03-15

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) allows the assessment of the water apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), a measure of tissue water diffusivity which is altered during different pathological conditions such as cerebral oedema. By means of DWI, we repeatedly measured in the same rats apparent diffusion coefficient ADC in different brain areas (motor cortex (MCx), somato-sensory cortex (SCx), caudate-putamen (CPu), hippocampus (Hip), mesencephalic reticular formation (RF), corpus callosum (CC) and cerebellum (Cb)) after 1 week, 4 and 12 weeks of lead acetate exposure via drinking water (50 or 500 ppm). After 12 weeks of lead exposure rats received albumin-Evans blue complex administration and were sacrificed 1h later. Blood-brain barrier permeability and water tissue content were determined in order to evaluate their relationship with ADC changes. Chronic exposure to lead acetate (500 ppm) for 4 weeks increased ADC values in Hip, RF and Cb but no in other brain areas. After 12 weeks of lead acetate exposure at 500 ppm ADC is significantly increased also in CPu and CC. Brain areas displaying high ADC values after lead exposure showed also an increased water content and increased BBB permeability to Evans blue-albumin complex. Exposure to 50 ppm for 12 weeks increased ADC values and BBB permeability in the RF and Cb. In summary, chronic lead exposure induces cerebral oedema in the adult brain depending on the brain area and the dose of exposure. RF and Cb appeared the most sensitive brain areas whereas cerebral cortex appears resistant to lead-induced cerebral oedema. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of protein kinase C in the opening of blood-brain barrier induced by electromagnetic pulse.

PubMed

Qiu, Lian-Bo; Ding, Gui-Rong; Li, Kang-Chu; Wang, Xiao-Wu; Zhou, Yan; Zhou, Yong-Chun; Li, Yu-Rong; Guo, Guo-Zhen

2010-06-29

The aim of this study was to determine the role of protein kinase C signaling in electromagnetic pulse (EMP)-induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability change in rats. The protein level of total PKC and two PKC isoforms (PKC-alpha, and PKC-beta II) were determined in brain cerebral cortex microvessels by Western blot after exposing rats to EMP at 200kV/m for 200 pulses with 1Hz repetition rate. It was found that the protein level of PKC and PKC-betaII (but not PKC-alpha) in cerebral cortex microvessels increased significantly at 0.5h and 1h after EMP exposure compared with sham-exposed animals and then recovered at 3h. A specific PKC antagonist (H7) almost blocked EMP-induced BBB permeability change. EMP-induced BBB tight junction protein ZO-1 translocation was also inhibited. Our data indicated that PKC signaling was involved in EMP-induced BBB permeability change and ZO-1 translocation in rat.

Real-time estimation of paracellular permeability of cerebral endothelial cells by capacitance sensor array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hyun Jo, Dong; Lee, Rimi; Hyoung Kim, Jin; Oh Jun, Hyoung; Geol Lee, Tae; Hun Kim, Jeong

2015-06-01

Vascular integrity is important in maintaining homeostasis of brain microenvironments. In various brain diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis, increased paracellular permeability due to breakdown of blood-brain barrier is linked with initiation and progression of pathological conditions. We developed a capacitance sensor array to monitor dielectric responses of cerebral endothelial cell monolayer, which could be utilized to evaluate the integrity of brain microvasculature. Our system measured real-time capacitance values which demonstrated frequency- and time-dependent variations. With the measurement of capacitance at the frequency of 100 Hz, we could differentiate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a representative permeability-inducing factor, on endothelial cells and quantitatively analyse the normalized values. Interestingly, we showed differential capacitance values according to the status of endothelial cell monolayer, confluent or sparse, evidencing that the integrity of monolayer was associated with capacitance values. Another notable feature was that we could evaluate the expression of molecules in samples in our system with the reference of real-time capacitance values. We suggest that this dielectric spectroscopy system could be successfully implanted as a novel in vitro assay in the investigation of the roles of paracellular permeability in various brain diseases.

Normobaric Hyperoxia Reduces Blood Occludin Fragments in Rats and Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke.

PubMed

Shi, Shuhai; Qi, Zhifeng; Ma, Qingfeng; Pan, Rong; Timmins, Graham S; Zhao, Yongmei; Shi, Wenjuan; Zhang, Yunzhou; Ji, Xunming; Liu, Ke Jian

2017-10-01

Damage of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) increases the incidence of neurovascular complications, especially for cerebral hemorrhage after tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) therapy. Currently, there is no effective method to evaluate the extent of BBB damage to guide tPA use. Herein, we investigated whether blood levels of tight junction proteins could serve as biomarker of BBB damages in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in both rats and patients. We examined whether this biomarker could reflect the extent of BBB permeability during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and the effects of normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) on BBB damage. Rats were exposed to NBO (100% O 2 ) or normoxia (21% O 2 ) during middle cerebral artery occlusion. BBB permeability was determined. Occludin and claudin-5 in blood and cerebromicrovessels were measured. Patients with AIS were assigned to oxygen therapy or room air for 4 hours, and blood occludin and claudin-5 were measured at different time points after stroke. Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion resulted in the degradation of occludin and claudin-5 in microvessels, leading to increased BBB permeability in rats. In blood samples, occludin increased with 4-hour ischemia and remained elevated during reperfusion, correlating well with its loss from ischemic cerebral microvessels. NBO treatment both prevented occludin degradation in microvessels and reduced occludin levels in blood, leading to improved neurological functions in rats. In patients with AIS receiving intravenous tPA thrombolysis, the blood occludin was already elevated when patients arrived at hospital (within 4.5 hours since symptoms appeared) and remained at a high level for 72 hours. NBO significantly lowered the level of blood occludin and improved neurological functions in patients with AIS. Blood occludin may be a clinically viable biomarker for evaluating BBB damage during ischemia/reperfusion. NBO therapy has the potential to reduce blood occludin, protect BBB, and improve outcome in AIS patients with intravenous tPA thrombolysis. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02974283. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Quantification of transient increase of the blood–brain barrier permeability to macromolecules by optimized focused ultrasound combined with microbubbles

PubMed Central

Shi, Lingyan; Palacio-Mancheno, Paolo; Badami, Joseph; Shin, Da Wi; Zeng, Min; Cardoso, Luis; Tu, Raymond; Fu, Bingmei M

2014-01-01

Radioimmunotherapy using a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody that targets tumor cells has been shown to be efficient for the treatment of many malignant cancers, with reduced side effects. However, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) inhibits the transport of intravenous antibodies to tumors in the brain. Recent studies have demonstrated that focused ultrasound (FUS) combined with microbubbles (MBs) is a promising method to transiently disrupt the BBB for the drug delivery to the central nervous system. To find the optimal FUS and MBs that can induce reversible increase in the BBB permeability, we employed minimally invasive multiphoton microscopy to quantify the BBB permeability to dextran-155 kDa with similar molecular weight to an antibody by applying different doses of FUS in the presence of MBs with an optimal size and concentration. The cerebral microcirculation was observed through a section of frontoparietal bone thinned with a micro-grinder. About 5 minutes after applying the FUS on the thinned skull in the presence of MBs for 1 minute, TRITC (tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate)-dextran-155 kDa in 1% bovine serum albumin in mammalian Ringer’s solution was injected into the cerebral circulation via the ipsilateral carotid artery by a syringe pump. Simultaneously, the temporal images were collected from the brain parenchyma ~100–200 μm below the pia mater. Permeability was determined from the rate of tissue solute accumulation around individual microvessels. After several trials, we found the optimal dose of FUS. At the optimal dose, permeability increased by ~14-fold after 5 minutes post-FUS, and permeability returned to the control level after 25 minutes. FUS without MBs or MBs injected without FUS did not change the permeability. Our method provides an accurate in vivo assessment for the transient BBB permeability change under the treatment of FUS. The optimal FUS dose found for the reversible BBB permeability increase without BBB disruption is reliable and can be applied to future clinical trials. PMID:25258533

Design and evaluation of radiotracers for determination of regional cerebral blood flow with PET

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lambrecht, R.M.; Duncan, C.C.; Shiue, C.Y.

The tracer kinetics of 4-Fluoro(/sup 18/F)-, 4-Bromo(/sup 82/Br)- and 4-Iodo(/sup 125/I)-antipyrine and /sup 15/O-water were compared in a cat or baboon animal model. First-pass cerebral extraction and clearance with alterations in PaCO/sub 2/ were measured for whole brain. The Renkin/Crone model was used to evaluate brain capillary permeability-surface area product for 4-/sup 18/FAP in cats. Positron-emission-tomographic measurements required development of an instrument and technique for control of the arterial concentration of the radiotracer as a ramp function, so that tracer concentration changes due to radioactive decay or altered physiological processes could be accurately described with PET. Pharmacokinetic and tissue-distribution studiesmore » in cats were used to determine dosimetry for 4-/sup 18/FAP. 4-Bromoantipyrine labeled with /sup 78/Br (t = 6.5 m) is suggested as a tracer for determination of rCBF with PET.« less

Drug Delivery to the Brain by Focused Ultrasound Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption: Quantitative Evaluation of Enhanced Permeability of Cerebral Vasculature Using Two-Photon Microscopy

PubMed Central

Nhan, Tam; Burgess, Alison; Cho, Eunice E.; Stefanovic, Bojana; Lilge, Lothar; Hynynen, Kullervo

2013-01-01

Reversible and localized blood-brain barrier disruption (BBBD) using focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with intravascularly administered microbubbles (MBs) has been established as a non-invasive method for drug delivery to the brain. Using two-photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM), we imaged the cerebral vasculature during BBBD and observed the extravasation of fluorescent dye in real-time in vivo. We measured the enhanced permeability upon BBBD for both 10kDa and 70kDa dextran conjugated Texas Red (TR) at the acoustic pressure range of 0.2-0.8 MPa and found permeability constants of TR10kDa and TR70kDa vary from 0.0006 to 0.0359 min−1 and 0.0003 to 0.0231 min−1, respectively. For both substances, a linear regression was applied on the permeability constant against the acoustic pressure and the slope from best-fit was found to be 0.039±0.005 min−1/MPa and 0.018±0.005 min−1/MPa, respectively. In addition, the pressure threshold for successfully induced BBBD was confirmed to be 0.4-0.6 MPa. Finally, we identified two types of leakage kinetics (fast and slow) that exhibit distinct permeability constants and temporal disruption onsets, as well as demonstrated their correlations with the applied acoustic pressure and vessel diameter. Direct assessment of vascular permeability and insights on its dependency on acoustic pressure, vessel size and leakage kinetics are important for treatment strategies of BBBD-based drug delivery. PMID:24008151

[Cerebral metabolism and permeability of the hemato-encephalic barrier in an experimental model for brain radiotherapy].

PubMed

Cicciarello, R; Russi, E; Albiero, F; Mesiti, M; Torre, E; D'Aquino, A; Raffaele, L; Bertolani, S; D'Avella, D

1990-11-01

Whole brain irradiation (WBR) can produce acute and chronic neurological adverse effects, which are usually divided into acute, early delayed and late delayed reactions according to the time of onset. To assess the impact of WBR on brain functional parameters during the early-delayed phase, we employed the [14C]-2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) and the [14C]-alfa-aminoisobutyric (AIB) acid quantitative autoradiographic techniques to study local cerebral glucose utilization and blood-brain barrier permeability, respectively. Sprague-Dowley albino rats were exposed to conventional fractionation (200 Gy/day 5 days a week) for a total dose of 4000 Gy. Experiments were made 3 weeks after completion of the radiation exposure. In comparison with control and sham-irradiated animals, cerebral metabolic activity was diffusely decreased following irradiation. As a rule, brain areas with the highest basal metabolic rates showed the highest percentage drop in glucose utilization. Changes in blood-brain barrier function, as assessed by an increased transcapillary transport of AIB, were also demonstrated in specific brain regions. This study illustrates how moderate doses of WBR induce well-defined changes in brain metabolism and BBB function, which are possibly involved in the pathogenesis of the early-delayed radiation-induced cerebral dysfunction in humans.

Examination of Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Integrity In A Mouse Brain Tumor Model

PubMed Central

On, Ngoc; Mitchell, Ryan; Savant, Sanjot D.; Bachmeier, Corbin. J.; Hatch, Grant M.; Miller, Donald W.

2013-01-01

The present study evaluates, both functionally and biochemically, brain tumor-induced alterations in brain capillary endothelial cells. Brain tumors were induced in Balb/c mice via intracranial injection of Lewis Lung carcinoma (3LL) cells into the right hemisphere of the mouse brain using stereotaxic apparatus. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was assessed at various stages of tumor development, using both radiolabeled tracer permeability and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium diethylene-triamine-pentaacetate contrast enhancement (Gad-DTPA). The expression of the drug efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), in the BBB at various stages of tumor development was also evaluated by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Median mouse survival following tumor cell injection was 17 days. The permeability of the BBB to 3H-mannitol was similar in both brain hemispheres at 7 and 10 days post-injection. By day 15, there was a 2-fold increase in 3H-mannitol permeability in the tumor bearing hemispheres compared to the non-tumor hemispheres. Examination of BBB permeability with Gad-DTPA contrast enhanced MRI indicated cerebral vascular permeability changes were confined to the tumor area. The permeability increase observed at the later stages of tumor development correlated with an increase in cerebral vascular volume suggesting angiogenesis within the tumor bearing hemisphere. Furthermore, the Gad-DPTA enhancement observed within the tumor area was significantly less than Gad-DPTA enhancement within the circumventricular organs not protected by the BBB. Expression of P-gp in both the tumor bearing and non-tumor bearing portions of the brain appeared similar at all time points examined. These studies suggest that although BBB integrity is altered within the tumor site at later stages of development, the BBB is still functional and limiting in terms of solute and drug permeability in and around the tumor. PMID:23184143

Dimebon Inhibits Calcium-Induced Swelling of Rat Brain Mitochondria But Does Not Alter Calcium Retention or Cytochrome C Release

PubMed Central

Naga, Kranthi Kumari

2012-01-01

Dimebon was originally introduced as an antihistamine and subsequently investigated as a possible therapeutic for a variety of disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. One putative mechanism underlying the neuroprotective properties of Dimebon is inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition, based on the observation that Dimebon inhibited the swelling of rat liver mitochondria induced by calcium and other agents that induce permeability transition. Because liver and brain mitochondria differ substantially in their properties and response to conditions associated with opening of the permeability transition pore, we sought to determine whether Dimebon inhibited permeability transition in brain mitochondria. Dimebon reduced calcium-induced mitochondrial swelling but did not enhance the calcium retention capacity or impair calcium-induced cytochrome C release from non-synaptic mitochondria isolated from rat brain cerebral cortex. These findings indicate that Dimebon does not inhibit mitochondrial permeability transition, induced by excessive calcium uptake, in brain mitochondria. PMID:20625939

Dimebon inhibits calcium-induced swelling of rat brain mitochondria but does not alter calcium retention or cytochrome C release.

PubMed

Naga, Kranthi Kumari; Geddes, James W

2011-03-01

Dimebon was originally introduced as an antihistamine and subsequently investigated as a possible therapeutic for a variety of disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. One putative mechanism underlying the neuroprotective properties of Dimebon is inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition, based on the observation that Dimebon inhibited the swelling of rat liver mitochondria induced by calcium and other agents that induce permeability transition. Because liver and brain mitochondria differ substantially in their properties and response to conditions associated with opening of the permeability transition pore, we sought to determine whether Dimebon inhibited permeability transition in brain mitochondria. Dimebon reduced calcium-induced mitochondrial swelling but did not enhance the calcium retention capacity or impair calcium-induced cytochrome C release from non-synaptic mitochondria isolated from rat brain cerebral cortex. These findings indicate that Dimebon does not inhibit mitochondrial permeability transition, induced by excessive calcium uptake, in brain mitochondria.

Host matrix metalloproteinases in cerebral malaria: new kids on the block against blood–brain barrier integrity?

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a life-threatening complication of falciparum malaria, associated with high mortality rates, as well as neurological impairment in surviving patients. Despite disease severity, the etiology of CM remains elusive. Interestingly, although the Plasmodium parasite is sequestered in cerebral microvessels, it does not enter the brain parenchyma: so how does Plasmodium induce neuronal dysfunction? Several independent research groups have suggested a mechanism in which increased blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability might allow toxic molecules from the parasite or the host to enter the brain. However, the reported severity of BBB damage in CM is variable depending on the model system, ranging from mild impairment to full BBB breakdown. Moreover, the factors responsible for increased BBB permeability are still unknown. Here we review the prevailing theories on CM pathophysiology and discuss new evidence from animal and human CM models implicating BBB damage. Finally, we will review the newly-described role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and BBB integrity. MMPs comprise a family of proteolytic enzymes involved in modulating inflammatory response, disrupting tight junctions, and degrading sub-endothelial basal lamina. As such, MMPs represent potential innovative drug targets for CM. PMID:24467887

Anti-excitotoxic effects of cannabidiol are partly mediated by enhancement of NCX2 and NCX3 expression in animal model of cerebral ischemia.

PubMed

Khaksar, Sepideh; Bigdeli, Mohammad Reza

2017-01-05

Excitotoxicity and imbalance of sodium and calcium homeostasis trigger pathophysiologic processes in cerebral ischemia which can accelerate neuronal death. Neuroprotective role of cannabidiol (CBD), one of the main non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids of the cannabis plant, has attracted attention of many researchers in the neurodegenerative diseases studies. The present investigation was designed to determine whether cannabidiol can alleviate the severity of ischemic damages and if it is able to exert its anti-excitotoxic effects through sodium and calcium regulation. By using stereotaxic surgery, a guide cannula was implanted into the lateral ventricle. Cannabidiol (50, 100, and 200ng/rat; i.c.v.) was administrated for 5 consecutive days. After pretreatment, the rats were subjected to 60min of right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). After 24h, neurological deficits score, infarct volume, brain edema, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in total of hemisphere, cortex, piriform cortex-amygdala, and striatum were assessed. The expression of Na + /Ca 2+ exchangers (NCXs) protein as an endogenous target in these regions was also studied. The present results indicate that administration of cannabidiol (100 and 200ng/rat) in the MCAO-induced cerebral ischemia caused a remarkable reduction in neurological deficit, infarction, brain edema, and BBB permeability in comparison with the vehicle group. Up-regulation of NCX2 and NCX3 in cannabidiol-received groups was also observed. These findings support the view that the reduction of ischemic injuries elicited by cannabidiol can be at least partly due to the enhancement of NCX protein expression and its cerebro-protective role in those cerebral territories supplied by MCA. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Study of neuron-protective effect and mechanism of neuregulin1β against cerebral ischemia reperfusion-induced injury in rats].

PubMed

Ji, Y Q; Zhang, R; Teng, L; Li, H Y; Guo, Y L

2017-07-18

Objective: Thecurrent study is to explore the neuron-protective mechanism of neuregulin1β (NRG1β) in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) through inhibiting the c-Jun phosphorylation. Methods: After 24 h of MCAO/R (referring to Longa's method), neurobehavioral function was measured by modified neurological severity score (mNSS) test; the cerebral infarction volume was detected by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining; the blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability was measured by Evans Blue (EB); the neuron morphology of brain tissue was observed by Nissl stain; the ultra-structures of the neurons were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM); the apoptotic neurons were counted by in situ cell death detection kit colocalized with NeuN; the expressions of phospho-c-Jun was determined by immunofluorescent labeling and Western blot analysis. Results: Compared with the sham-operation rats, the rats receiving MCAO/R showed increased mNSS (9.7±1.2), cerebral infarction volume (41.4±3.0)%, permeability of BBB, deformation of neurons, ischemia-induced apoptosis (0.63±0.04), and enhanced expression of phospho-c-Jun protein (0.90±0.07) (all P <0.05). Our data indicated that NRG1β attenuated neurologic deficits (6.4±0.9), decreased the cerebral infarction volume (10.4±0.5), reduced EB extravasation (1.55±0.13) and the deformation of neurons, protected the ultra-structure of neurons, blocked ischemia-induced apoptosis (0.23±0.02), through down-regulated phospho-c-Jun expression (0.40±0.03) in MCAO/R rats ( P <0.05). Conclusion: NRG1β exerts neuron-protective effects against ischemia reperfusion-induced injury in rats through inhibiting the c-Jun phosphorylation.

TRPM2 Channel Aggravates CNS Inflammation and Cognitive Impairment via Activation of Microglia in Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion.

PubMed

Miyanohara, Jun; Kakae, Masashi; Nagayasu, Kazuki; Nakagawa, Takayuki; Mori, Yasuo; Arai, Ken; Shirakawa, Hisashi; Kaneko, Shuji

2018-04-04

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion is a characteristic seen in widespread CNS diseases, including neurodegenerative and mental disorders, and is commonly accompanied by cognitive impairment. Recently, several studies demonstrated that chronic cerebral hypoperfusion can induce the excessive inflammatory responses that precede neuronal dysfunction; however, the precise mechanism of cognitive impairment due to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion remains unknown. Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) is a Ca 2+ -permeable channel that is abundantly expressed in immune cells and is involved in aggravation of inflammatory responses. Therefore, we investigated the pathophysiological role of TRPM2 in a mouse chronic cerebral hypoperfusion model with bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS). When male mice were subjected to BCAS, cognitive dysfunction and white matter injury at day 28 were significantly improved in TRPM2 knock-out (TRPM2-KO) mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice, whereas hippocampal damage was not observed. There were no differences in blood-brain barrier breakdown and H 2 O 2 production between the two genotypes at 14 and 28 d after BCAS. Cytokine production was significantly suppressed in BCAS-operated TRPM2-KO mice compared with WT mice at day 28. In addition, the number of Iba1-positive cells gradually decreased from day 14. Moreover, daily treatment with minocycline significantly improved cognitive perturbation. Surgical techniques using bone marrow chimeric mice revealed that activated Iba1-positive cells in white matter could be brain-resident microglia, not peripheral macrophages. Together, these findings suggest that microglia contribute to the aggravation of cognitive impairment by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, and that TRPM2 may be a potential target for chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-related disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion is manifested in a wide variety of CNS diseases, including neurodegenerative and mental disorders that are accompanied by cognitive impairment; however, the underlying mechanisms require clarification. Here, we used a chronic cerebral hypoperfusion mouse model to investigate whether TRPM2, a Ca 2+ -permeable cation channel highly expressed in immune cells, plays a destructive role in the development of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced cognitive impairment, and propose a new hypothesis in which TRPM2-mediated activation of microglia, not macrophages, specifically contributes to the pathology through the aggravation of inflammatory responses. These findings shed light on the understanding of the mechanisms of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-related inflammation, and are expected to provide a novel therapeutic molecule for cognitive impairment in CNS diseases. Copyright © 2018 the authors 0270-6474/18/383521-14$15.00/0.

Irisin Peptide Protects Brain Against Ischemic Injury Through Reducing Apoptosis and Enhancing BDNF in a Rodent Model of Stroke.

PubMed

Asadi, Yasin; Gorjipour, Fazel; Behrouzifar, Sedigheh; Vakili, Abedin

2018-06-07

Evidence has shown therapeutic potential of irisin in cerebral stroke. The present study aimed to assess the effects of recombinant irisin on the infarct size, neurological outcomes, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, apoptosis and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in a mouse model of stroke. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 45 min and followed reperfusion for 23 h in mice. Recombinant irisin was administrated at doses of 0.1, 0.5, 2.5, 7.5, and 15 µg/kg, intracerebroventricularly (ICV), on the MCAO beginning. Neurological outcomes, infarct size, brain edema and BBB permeability were evaluated by modified neurological severity score (mNSS), 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and Evans blue (EB) extravasation methods, respectively, at 24 h after ischemia. Apoptotic cells and BDNF protein were detected by TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry techniques. The levels of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 proteins were measured by immunoblotting technique. ICV irisin administration at doses of 0.5, 2.5, 7.5 and 15 µg/kg, significantly reduced infarct size, whereas only in 7.5 and 15 µg/kg improved neurological outcome (P < 0.001). Treatment with irisin (7.5 µg/kg) reduced brain edema (P < 0.001) without changing BBB permeability (P > 0.05). Additionally, irisin (7.5 µg/kg) significantly diminished apoptotic cells and increased BDNF immunoreactivity in the ischemic brain cortex (P < 0.004). Irisin administration significantly downregulated the Bax and caspase-3 expression and upregulated the Bcl-2 protein. The present study indicated that irisin attenuates brain damage via reducing apoptosis and increasing BDNF protein of brain cortex in the experimental model of stroke in mice.

Studying the Variation in Gas Permeability of Porous Building Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Townsend, L.; Savidge, C. R.; Hu, L.; Rizzo, D. M.; Hayden, N. J.; Dewoolkar, M.

2009-12-01

Understanding permeability of building materials is important for problems involving studies of contaminant transport. Examples include contamination from fire, acid rain, and chemical and biological weapons. Our research investigates the gas permeability of porous building substrates such as concretes, limestones, sandstones, and bricks. Each sample was cored to produce 70 mm (2.75”) diameter cores approximately 75-130 mm (3-5”) tall. The surface gas permeability was measured on the top surface of these specimens using the AutoScan II device manufactured by New England Research, Inc. The measurements were taken along a 3 mm grid producing a map of surface gas permeability. An example map is shown in Figure 1. The macroscopic measurements were performed along the entire cored specimen. A second set of measurements were made on a 5 mm thick slice cut from the top of each specimen to examine whether these measurements compare better with the surface measurements. The macroscopic gas permeability was measured for all specimens using ASTM D 4525. The results are summarized in Table 1. In general, the surface and macroscopic gas permeability measurements (Table 1) compare reasonably well (within one order of magnitude). The permeability of the 5 mm slices is not significantly different from the entire core for the specimens tested. Figure 1. Results of surface permeability mappingof Ohio Sandstone using the AutoScan II device. a) Map of gas permeability b) Range of gas permeability c) Density function of permeability. Table 1. Gas permeability values (mD)

Recombinant Human Sonic Hedgehog Protein Regulates the Expression of ZO-1 and Occludin by Activating Angiopoietin-1 in Stroke Damage

PubMed Central

Chen, Sheng-cai; Huang, Ming; Wang, Yong; Gao, Yuan; Huang, Yan; Wang, Meng-die; Mao, Ling; Hu, Bo

2013-01-01

This study examines the regulating effect of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in cerebral ischemia. By employing permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) model, we find that Shh significantly decreases brain edema and preserves BBB permeability. Moreover, Shh increases zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin and angiopiotetin-1 (Ang-1) expression in the ischemic penumbra. Blockage of Shh with cyclopamine abolishes the effects of Shh on brain edema, BBB permeability and ZO-1, occludin, Ang-1 expression. Primary brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMECs) and astrocytes were pre-treated with Shh, cyclopamine, Ang-1-neutralizing antibody, and subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Results show that the Ang-1 protein level in the culture medium of Shh-treated astrocytes is significantly higher. Shh also increased ZO-1, occludin and Ang-1 expression in BMECs, while cyclopamine and Ang-1-neutralizing antibody inhibited the effects of Shh on the ZO-1 and occludin expression, respectively. This study suggests that, under ischemic insults, Shh triggers Ang-1 production predominantly in astrocytes, and the secreted Ang-1 acts on BMECs, thereby upregulating ZO-1 and occludin to repair the tight junction and ameliorate the brain edema and BBB leakage. PMID:23894369

The adaptation of the cerebral circulation to pregnancy: mechanisms and consequences

PubMed Central

Cipolla, Marilyn J

2013-01-01

The adaptation of the cerebral circulation to pregnancy is unique from other vascular beds. Most notably, the growth and vasodilatory response to high levels of circulating growth factors and cytokines that promote substantial hemodynamic changes in other vascular beds is limited in the cerebral circulation. This is accomplished through several mechanisms, including downregulation of key receptors and transcription factors, and production of circulating factors that counteract the vasodilatory effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor. Pregnancy both prevents and reverses hypertensive inward remodeling of cerebral arteries, possibly through downregulation of the angiotensin type 1 receptor. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) importantly adapts to pregnancy by preventing the passage of seizure provoking serum into the brain and limiting the permeability effects of VEGF that is more highly expressed in cerebral vasculature during pregnancy. While the adaptation of the cerebral circulation to pregnancy provides for relatively normal cerebral blood flow and BBB properties in the face of substantial cardiovascular changes and high levels of circulating factors, under pathologic conditions, these adaptations appear to promote greater brain injury, including edema formation during acute hypertension, and greater sensitivity to bacterial endotoxin. PMID:23321787

Tracer kinetic modelling for DCE-MRI quantification of subtle blood-brain barrier permeability.

PubMed

Heye, Anna K; Thrippleton, Michael J; Armitage, Paul A; Valdés Hernández, Maria Del C; Makin, Stephen D; Glatz, Andreas; Sakka, Eleni; Wardlaw, Joanna M

2016-01-15

There is evidence that subtle breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a pathophysiological component of several diseases, including cerebral small vessel disease and some dementias. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) combined with tracer kinetic modelling is widely used for assessing permeability and perfusion in brain tumours and body tissues where contrast agents readily accumulate in the extracellular space. However, in diseases where leakage is subtle, the optimal approach for measuring BBB integrity is likely to differ since the magnitude and rate of enhancement caused by leakage are extremely low; several methods have been reported in the literature, yielding a wide range of parameters even in healthy subjects. We hypothesised that the Patlak model is a suitable approach for measuring low-level BBB permeability with low temporal resolution and high spatial resolution and brain coverage, and that normal levels of scanner instability would influence permeability measurements. DCE-MRI was performed in a cohort of mild stroke patients (n=201) with a range of cerebral small vessel disease severity. We fitted these data to a set of nested tracer kinetic models, ranking their performance according to the Akaike information criterion. To assess the influence of scanner drift, we scanned 15 healthy volunteers that underwent a "sham" DCE-MRI procedure without administration of contrast agent. Numerical simulations were performed to investigate model validity and the effect of scanner drift. The Patlak model was found to be most appropriate for fitting low-permeability data, and the simulations showed vp and K(Trans) estimates to be reasonably robust to the model assumptions. However, signal drift (measured at approximately 0.1% per minute and comparable to literature reports in other settings) led to systematic errors in calculated tracer kinetic parameters, particularly at low permeabilities. Our findings justify the growing use of the Patlak model in low-permeability states, which has the potential to provide valuable information regarding BBB integrity in a range of diseases. However, absolute values of the resulting tracer kinetic parameters should be interpreted with extreme caution, and the size and influence of signal drift should be measured where possible. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Tracer kinetic modelling for DCE-MRI quantification of subtle blood–brain barrier permeability

PubMed Central

Heye, Anna K.; Thrippleton, Michael J.; Armitage, Paul A.; Valdés Hernández, Maria del C.; Makin, Stephen D.; Glatz, Andreas; Sakka, Eleni; Wardlaw, Joanna M.

2016-01-01

There is evidence that subtle breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a pathophysiological component of several diseases, including cerebral small vessel disease and some dementias. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) combined with tracer kinetic modelling is widely used for assessing permeability and perfusion in brain tumours and body tissues where contrast agents readily accumulate in the extracellular space. However, in diseases where leakage is subtle, the optimal approach for measuring BBB integrity is likely to differ since the magnitude and rate of enhancement caused by leakage are extremely low; several methods have been reported in the literature, yielding a wide range of parameters even in healthy subjects. We hypothesised that the Patlak model is a suitable approach for measuring low-level BBB permeability with low temporal resolution and high spatial resolution and brain coverage, and that normal levels of scanner instability would influence permeability measurements. DCE-MRI was performed in a cohort of mild stroke patients (n = 201) with a range of cerebral small vessel disease severity. We fitted these data to a set of nested tracer kinetic models, ranking their performance according to the Akaike information criterion. To assess the influence of scanner drift, we scanned 15 healthy volunteers that underwent a “sham” DCE-MRI procedure without administration of contrast agent. Numerical simulations were performed to investigate model validity and the effect of scanner drift. The Patlak model was found to be most appropriate for fitting low-permeability data, and the simulations showed vp and KTrans estimates to be reasonably robust to the model assumptions. However, signal drift (measured at approximately 0.1% per minute and comparable to literature reports in other settings) led to systematic errors in calculated tracer kinetic parameters, particularly at low permeabilities. Our findings justify the growing use of the Patlak model in low-permeability states, which has the potential to provide valuable information regarding BBB integrity in a range of diseases. However, absolute values of the resulting tracer kinetic parameters should be interpreted with extreme caution, and the size and influence of signal drift should be measured where possible. PMID:26477653

EMP-induced alterations of tight junction protein expression and disruption of the blood-brain barrier.

PubMed

Ding, Gui-Rong; Qiu, Lian-Bo; Wang, Xiao-Wu; Li, Kang-Chu; Zhou, Yong-Chun; Zhou, Yan; Zhang, Jie; Zhou, Jia-Xing; Li, Yu-Rong; Guo, Guo-Zhen

2010-07-15

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is critical to maintain cerebral homeostasis. In this study, we examined the effects of exposure to electromagnetic pulse (EMP) on the functional integrity of BBB and, on the localization and expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins (occludin and ZO-1) in rats. Animals were sham or whole-body exposed to EMP at 200 kV/m for 400 pulses. The permeability of BBB in rat cerebral cortex was examined by using Evans Blue (EB) and lanthanum nitrate as vascular tracers. The localization and expression of TJ proteins were assessed by western blot and immunofluorescence analysis, respectively. The data indicated that EMP exposure caused: (i) increased permeability of BBB, and (ii) altered localization as well as decreased levels of TJ protein ZO-1. These results suggested that the alteration of ZO-1 may play an important role in the disruption of tight junctions, which may lead to dysfunction of BBB after EMP exposure. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Atorvastatin prevents angiotensin II-induced high permeability of human arterial endothelial cell monolayers via ROCK signaling pathway.

PubMed

Yi, Ren; Xiao-Ping, Gao; Hui, Liang

2015-03-27

Intracranial aneurysm, as a common cause of cerebral hemorrhage, is often discovered when the aneurysm ruptures, causing subarachnoid hemorrhage. Unfortunately, the formation of cerebral aneurysm, which is associated with endothelial damage and macrophage migration, still cannot be prevented now. Tight junctions (TJs) open due to the disappearance of TJ proteins occludin and zona occludens-1 (ZO-1) in damaged endothelia, thus allowing macrophage migration and forming cerebral aneurysm. Therefore, cerebral aneurysm formation can be prevented by increasing TJs of the artery endothelium. Interestingly, statin, which can reduce saccular aneurysm, may prevent aneurysm formation through acting on different steps, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, angiotensin II (Ang II) significantly increased the permeability of human arterial endothelial cell (HAEC). Moreover, the distribution of ZO-1 in cell-cell junction area and the total expression in HAECs were significantly decreased by Ang II treatment. However, the abnormal distribution and decreased expression of ZO-1 and hyperpermeability of HAECs were significantly reversed by pretreatment with atorvastatin. Furthermore, Ang II-induced phosphorylations of MYPT1, LIMK and MLC2 were significantly inhibited with atorvastatin or Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor (H1152) pretreatment. Knockdown of ROCK-II probably abolished Ang II-induced abnormal ZO-1 distribution and expression deficiency and hyperpermeability of HAECs. In conclusion, atorvastatin prevented Ang II-induced rupture of HAEC monolayers by suppressing the ROCK signaling pathway. Our results may explain, at least in part, some beneficial effects of statins on cardiovascular diseases such as intracranial aneurysm. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Placental ischemia-induced increases in brain water content and cerebrovascular permeability: role of TNF-α

PubMed Central

Warrington, Junie P.; Drummond, Heather A.; Granger, Joey P.

2015-01-01

Cerebrovascular complications and increased risk of encephalopathies are characteristic of preeclampsia and contribute to 40% of preeclampsia/eclampsia-related deaths. Circulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is elevated in preeclamptic women, and infusion of TNF-α into pregnant rats mimics characteristics of preeclampsia. While this suggests that TNF-α has a mechanistic role to promote preeclampsia, the impact of TNF-α on the cerebral vasculature during pregnancy remains unclear. We tested the hypothesis that TNF-α contributes to cerebrovascular abnormalities during placental ischemia by first infusing TNF-α in pregnant rats (200 ng/day ip, from gestational day 14 to 19) at levels to mimic those reported in preeclamptic women. TNF-α increased mean arterial pressure (MAP, P < 0.05) and brain water content in the anterior cerebrum (P < 0.05); however, TNF-α infusion had no effect on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in the anterior cerebrum or posterior cerebrum. We then assessed the role of endogenous TNF-α in mediating these abnormalities in a model of placental ischemia induced by reducing uterine perfusion pressure followed by treatment with the soluble TNF-α receptor (etanercept, 0.8 mg/kg sc) on gestational day 18. Etanercept reduced placental ischemia-mediated increases in MAP, anterior brain water content (P < 0.05), and BBB permeability (202 ± 44% in placental ischemic rats to 101 ± 28% of normal pregnant rats). Our results indicate that TNF-α mechanistically contributes to cerebral edema by increasing BBB permeability and is an underlying factor in the development of cerebrovascular abnormalities associated with preeclampsia complicated by placental ischemia. PMID:26400187

Use of O-15 water and C-11 butanol to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF) and water permeability with positron emission tomography (PET)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Herscovitch, P.; Raichle, M.E.; Kilbourn, M.R.

1985-05-01

Tracers used to measure CBF with PET and the Kety autoradiographic approach should freely cross the blood-brain barrier. 0-15 water, which is not freely permeable, may underestimate CBF, especially at higher flows. The authors determined this under-estimation relative to flow measured with a freely diffusible tracer, C-11 butanol and used these data to calculate the extraction (E) and permeability surface area product (PS) for 0-15 water. Paired flow measurements were made with 0-15 water (CBF-wat) and C-11 butanol (CBF-but) in eight normal human subjects. Average CBF-but, 55.6 ml/(min . 100g) was significantly greater than CBF-water, 47.6 ml/(min . 100g). Themore » ratio of regional gray matter (GM) flow to white matter (WM) flow was significantly greater with C-11 butanol, indicating a greater underestimation of CBF with 0-15 water in the higher flow GM. Average E for water was 0.92 in WM and 0.82 in GM. The mean PS in GM, 148 ml/(min . 100g), was significantly greater than in WM, 94 ml/(min . 100g). Simulation studies demonstrated that a measurement error in CBF-wat or CBF-but causes an approximately equivalent error in E but a considerably larger error in PS due to the sensitivity of the equation, PS=-CBF . ln(1-E), to variations in E. Modest errors in E and PS result from tissue heterogeneity that occurs due to the limited spatial resolution of PET. The authors' measurements of E and PS for water are similar to data obtained by more invasive methods and demonstrate the ability of PET to measure brain water permeability.« less

EPA Permeable Surface Research - Poster

EPA Science Inventory

EPA recognizes permeable surfaces as an effective post-construction infiltration-based Best Management Practice to mitigate the adverse effects of stormwater runoff. The professional user community conceptually embraces permeable surfaces as a tool for making runoff more closely...

EPA Permeable Surface Research

EPA Science Inventory

EPA recognizes permeable surfaces as an effective post-construction infiltration-based Best Management Practice to mitigate the adverse effects of stormwater runoff. The professional user community conceptually embraces permeable surfaces as a tool for making runoff more closely...

Mapping permeability over the surface of the Earth

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gleeson, T.; Smith, L.; Moosdorf, N.; Hartmann, J.; Durr, H.H.; Manning, A.H.; Van Beek, L. P. H.; Jellinek, A. Mark

2011-01-01

Permeability, the ease of fluid flow through porous rocks and soils, is a fundamental but often poorly quantified component in the analysis of regional-scale water fluxes. Permeability is difficult to quantify because it varies over more than 13 orders of magnitude and is heterogeneous and dependent on flow direction. Indeed, at the regional scale, maps of permeability only exist for soil to depths of 1-2 m. Here we use an extensive compilation of results from hydrogeologic models to show that regional-scale (>5 km) permeability of consolidated and unconsolidated geologic units below soil horizons (hydrolithologies) can be characterized in a statistically meaningful way. The representative permeabilities of these hydrolithologies are used to map the distribution of near-surface (on the order of 100 m depth) permeability globally and over North America. The distribution of each hydrolithology is generally scale independent. The near-surface mean permeability is of the order of ???5 ?? 10-14 m2. The results provide the first global picture of near-surface permeability and will be of particular value for evaluating global water resources and modeling the influence of climate-surface-subsurface interactions on global climate change. Copyright ?? 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.

Mapping permeability over the surface of the Earth

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gleeson, Tom; Smith, Leslie; Moosdorf, Nils; Hartmann, Jens; Durr, Hans H.; Manning, Andrew H.; van Beek, Ludovicus P. H.; Jellinek, A. Mark

2011-01-01

Permeability, the ease of fluid flow through porous rocks and soils, is a fundamental but often poorly quantified component in the analysis of regional-scale water fluxes. Permeability is difficult to quantify because it varies over more than 13 orders of magnitude and is heterogeneous and dependent on flow direction. Indeed, at the regional scale, maps of permeability only exist for soil to depths of 1-2 m. Here we use an extensive compilation of results from hydrogeologic models to show that regional-scale (>5 km) permeability of consolidated and unconsolidated geologic units below soil horizons (hydrolithologies) can be characterized in a statistically meaningful way. The representative permeabilities of these hydrolithologies are used to map the distribution of near-surface (on the order of 100 m depth) permeability globally and over North America. The distribution of each hydrolithology is generally scale independent. The near-surface mean permeability is of the order of -5 x 10-14 m2. The results provide the first global picture of near-surface permeability and will be of particular value for evaluating global water resources and modeling the influence of climate-surface-subsurface interactions on global climate change.

Analysis of dispersion and attenuation of surface waves in poroelastic media in the exploration-seismic frequency band

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zhang, Y.; Xu, Y.; Xia, J.

2011-01-01

We analyse dispersion and attenuation of surface waves at free surfaces of possible vacuum/poroelastic media: permeable-'open pore', impermeable-'closed pore' and partially permeable boundaries, which have not been previously reported in detail by researchers, under different surface-permeable, viscous-damping, elastic and fluid-flowing conditions. Our discussion is focused on their characteristics in the exploration-seismic frequency band (a few through 200 Hz) for near-surface applications. We find two surface-wave modes exist, R1 waves for all conditions, and R2 waves for closed-pore and partially permeable conditions. For R1 waves, velocities disperse most under partially permeable conditions and least under the open-pore condition. High-coupling damping coefficients move the main dispersion frequency range to high frequencies. There is an f1 frequency dependence as a constant-Q model for attenuation at high frequencies. R1 waves for the open pore are most sensitive to elastic modulus variation, but least sensitive to tortuosities variation. R1 waves for partially permeable surface radiate as non-physical waves (Im(k) < 0) at low frequencies. For R2 waves, velocities are slightly lower than the bulk slow P2 waves. At low frequencies, both velocity and attenuation are diffusive of f1/2 frequency dependence, as P2 waves. It is found that for partially permeable surfaces, the attenuation displays -f1 frequency dependence as frequency increasing. High surface permeability, low-coupling damping coefficients, low Poisson's ratios, and low tortuosities increase the slope of the -f1 dependence. When the attenuation coefficients reach 0, R2 waves for partially permeable surface begin to radiate as non-physical waves. ?? 2011 The Authors Geophysical Journal International ?? 2011 RAS.

Limitations of the hCMEC/D3 cell line as a model for Aβ clearance by the human blood-brain barrier.

PubMed

Biemans, Elisanne A L M; Jäkel, Lieke; de Waal, Robert M W; Kuiperij, H Bea; Verbeek, Marcel M

2017-07-01

Alzheimer's disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy are characterized by accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) at the cerebrovasculature due to decreased clearance at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, the exact mechanism of Aβ clearance across this barrier has not been fully elucidated. The hCMEC/D3 cell line has been characterized as a valid model for the BBB. In this study we evaluated the use of this model to study Aβ clearance across the BBB, with an emphasis on brain-to-blood directional permeability. Barrier integrity of hCMEC/D3 monolayers was confirmed for large molecules in both the apical to basolateral and the reverse direction. However, permeability for smaller molecules was substantially higher, especially in basolateral to apical direction, and barrier formation for Aβ was completely absent in this direction. In addition, hCMEC/D3 cells failed to develop a high TEER, possibly caused by incomplete formation of tight junctions. We conclude that the hCMEC/D3 model has several limitations to study the cerebral clearance of Aβ. Therefore, the model needs further characterization before this cell system can be generally applied as a model to study cerebral Aβ clearance. © 2016 The Authors Journal of Neuroscience Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 The Authors Journal of Neuroscience Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Brain Barrier Disruption and Region-Specific Neuronal Degeneration during Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Pigs.

PubMed

Brunse, Anders; Abbaspour, Afrouz; Sangild, Per Torp

2018-06-06

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) increases the risk of brain injury and impaired neurodevelopment. Rapid brain maturation prior to birth may explain why preterm brains are particularly vulnerable to serious infections. Using pigs as models, we hypothesized that preterm birth was associated with altered blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier (BCSFB) function and cerebral structural deficits, and that NEC was associated with systemic inflammation, BCSFB disruption, and neuroinflammation. First, cesarean-delivered preterm and term pigs (n = 43-44) were euthanized at birth to investigate BCSFB function and markers of brain structural maturation, or on day 5 to measure markers of blood-brain barrier maturation in the hippocampus and striatum (experiment 1). Next, preterm pigs (n = 162) were fed increasing volumes of infant formula to assess NEC lesions, systemic inflammation, BCSFB permeability, cerebral histopathology, hippocampal micro-glial density, and cytokine levels on day 5 (experiments 2 and 3). In experiment 1, preterm newborns had increased CSF-plasma ratios of albumin and raffinose, reduced CSF glucose levels, as well as increased cerebral hydration and reduced white matter myelination compared with term animals. We observed lower hippocampal (but not striatal) perivascular astrocyte coverage for the first 5 days after preterm birth, accompanied by altered cell junction protein levels. In experiments 2 and- 3, piglets with severe NEC lesions showed reduced blood thrombocytes and increased plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels. NEC was associated with increased CSF-plasma albumin and raffinose ratios, reduced CSF leukocyte numbers, and increased cerebral hydration. In the hippocampus, NEC was associated with pyramidal neuron loss and increased interleukin-6 levels. In the short term, NEC did not affect cerebral myelination or microglia density. In conclusion, altered BCSFB properties and brain structural deficits were observed in pigs after preterm birth. Acute gastrointestinal NEC lesions were associated with systemic inflammation, increased BCSFB permeability and region-specific neuronal damage. The results demonstrate the importance of early interventions against NEC to prevent brain injury in preterm infants. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Permeability-diffusivity modeling vs. fractional anisotropy on white matter integrity assessment and application in schizophrenia.

PubMed

Kochunov, P; Chiappelli, J; Hong, L E

2013-01-01

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) assumes a single pool of anisotropically diffusing water to calculate fractional anisotropy (FA) and is commonly used to ascertain white matter (WM) deficits in schizophrenia. At higher b-values, diffusion-signal decay becomes bi-exponential, suggesting the presence of two, unrestricted and restricted, water pools. Theoretical work suggests that semi-permeable cellular membrane rather than the presence of two physical compartments is the cause. The permeability-diffusivity (PD) parameters measured from bi-exponential modeling may offer advantages, over traditional DTI-FA, in identifying WM deficits in schizophrenia. Imaging was performed in N = 26/26 patients/controls (age = 20-61 years, average age = 40.5 ± 12.6). Imaging consisted of fifteen b-shells: b = 250-3800 s/mm(2) with 30 directions/shell, covering seven slices of mid-sagittal corpus callosum (CC) at 1.7 × 1.7 × 4.6 mm. 64-direction DTI was also collected. Permeability-diffusivity-index (PDI), the ratio of restricted to unrestricted apparent diffusion coefficients, and the fraction of unrestricted compartment (Mu) were calculated for CC and cingulate gray matter (GM). FA values for CC were calculated using tract-based-spatial-statistics. Patients had significantly reduced PDI in CC (p ≅ 10(- 4)) and cingulate GM (p = 0.002), while differences in CC FA were modest (p ≅ .03). There was no group-related difference in Mu. Additional theoretical-modeling analysis suggested that reduced PDI in patients may be caused by reduced cross-membrane water molecule exchanges. PDI measurements for cerebral WM and GM yielded more robust patient-control differences than DTI-FA. Theoretical work offers an explanation that patient-control PDI differences should implicate abnormal active membrane permeability. This would implicate abnormal activities in ion-channels that use water as substrate for ion exchange, in cerebral tissues of schizophrenia patients.

Effects of agmatine on blood-brain barrier stabilization assessed by permeability MRI in a rat model of transient cerebral ischemia.

PubMed

Ahn, S S; Kim, S H; Lee, J E; Ahn, K J; Kim, D J; Choi, H S; Kim, J; Shin, N-Y; Lee, S-K

2015-02-01

BBB disruption after acute ischemic stroke and subsequent permeability increase may be enhanced by reperfusion. Agmatine has been reported to attenuate BBB disruption. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of agmatine on BBB stabilization in a rat model of transient cerebral ischemia by using permeability dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging at early stages and subsequently to demonstrate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging for the investigation of new therapies. Thirty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to transient MCA occlusion for 90 minutes. Immediately after reperfusion, agmatine (100 mg/kg) or normal saline was injected intraperitoneally into the agmatine-treated group (n = 17) or the control group, respectively. MR imaging was performed after reperfusion. For quantitative analysis, regions of interest were defined within the infarct area, and values for volume transfer constant, rate transfer coefficient, volume fraction of extravascular extracellular space, and volume fraction of blood plasma were obtained. Infarct volume, infarct growth, quantitative imaging parameters, and numbers of factor VIII-positive cells after immunohistochemical staining were compared between control and agmatine-treated groups. Among the permeability parameters, volume transfer constant and volume fraction of extravascular extracellular space were significantly lower in the agmatine-treated group compared with the control group (0.05 ± 0.02 minutes(-1) versus 0.08 ± 0.03 minute(-1), P = .012, for volume transfer constant and 0.12 ± 0.06 versus 0.22 ± 0.15, P = .02 for volume fraction of extravascular extracellular space). Other permeability parameters were not significantly different between the groups. The number of factor VIII-positive cells was less in the agmatine-treated group than in the control group (3-fold versus 4-fold, P = .037). In ischemic stroke, agmatine protects the BBB, which can be monitored in vivo by quantification of permeability by using dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Therefore, dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging may serve as a potential imaging biomarker for assessing the BBB stabilization properties of pharmacologic agents. © 2015 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

The permeability of puerarin loaded poly(butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles coated with polysorbate 80 on the blood-brain barrier and its protective effect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

PubMed

Zhao, Li-xia; Liu, An-chang; Yu, Shu-wen; Wang, Zeng-xin; Lin, Xiao-qian; Zhai, Guang-xi; Zhang, Qing-zhu

2013-01-01

Puerarin (PUE) is a good candidate for treating stroke, but its low concentration in brain after administration limits its curative efficacy. The aim of the present work was to design and characterize PUE loaded poly(butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles (PBCN) coated with polysorbate 80 (Ps 80), and to evaluate the effect of PBCN on the permeability of PUE across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the effect of PUE loaded PBCN on the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. PUE loaded PBCN were successfully prepared by anionic polymerization method with the mean particle size of 201.2 nm and the zeta potential of -7.72 mV. The in vitro release behavior of PUE from the nanoparticles showed a biphasic profile manner with an initial burst release followed by a sustained release. The results of pharmacokinetic and biodistribution to brain performed in mice after intravenous administration showed that the drug concentrations in blood and brain for PUE loaded PBCN were both greater than these for the free drug. Moreover, compared with free drug, the vein injection of PUE loaded PBCN exerted the better neuroprotective effect in rats with focal cerebral ischemic injury via significantly decreasing neurological deficit scores, increasing body weight, lowing brain water content, and reducing the infarct volume. The results indicated that this preparation may reduce the total dose required for the stroke therapy with concurrent reduction in dose related toxicity. All these findings suggest that PBCN could enhance the transport of PUE to brain and have a potential as a neuroprotective agent in the focal cerebral ischemic injury.

In vitro and in vivo assessment of cellular permeability and pharmacodynamics of S-nitrosylated Captopril, a nitric oxide donor

PubMed Central

Jia, Lee; Wong, Hong

2001-01-01

The present studies were aimed at testing the hypothesis that S-nitrosylated captopril (CapNO), a novel crystalline nitric oxide (NO) donor, readily permeates both in vitro and in vivo endothelial monolayers, resulting in its pharmacodynamic effects. CapNO and Captopril (Cap) were added to apical side of endothelial monolayers formed on microporous membranes, and the permeated drugs were collected from basolateral side and detected by a HPLC method. The permeability coefficient (Papp; cm sec−1) of CapNO across the endothelial monolayers was 6.0×10−5, higher than that of Cap (3.13×10−5), indicating the enhancement effect of the attached NO group in CapNO on cellular permeability. The Papp of CapNO and Cap across Caco-2 cells were 3.15×10−5 and 1.53×10−5, respectively. The low Papp of CapNO to Caco-2 cells may be attributed to the high membrane resistance of Caco-2 cells. A bolus injection of CapNO to epicardial coronary artery of chronically-instrumented awake dogs caused significant increases in coronary blood flow and coronary diameters dose-dependently without significant changes in aortic pressure. In contrast, the equimolar doses of Cap did not produce haemodynamic responses. Intravenous CapNO caused an instant increase in the regional cerebral blood flow determined by H2-clearance, whereas the equimolar doses of Cap did not enhance the cerebral blood flow. These results conclude that the NO group, an active component of CapNO, enhances both in vitro and in vivo endothelial permeability to the entire compound, resulting in instant increases in blood flow and vascular diameters. In contrast, the equimolar Cap does not have the instant vascular effects. PMID:11739246

In vitro and in vivo assessment of cellular permeability and pharmacodynamics of S-nitrosylated captopril, a nitric oxide donor.

PubMed

Jia, L; Wong, H

2001-12-01

1. The present studies were aimed at testing the hypothesis that S-nitrosylated captopril (CapNO), a novel crystalline nitric oxide (NO) donor, readily permeates both in vitro and in vivo endothelial monolayers, resulting in its pharmacodynamic effects. 2. CapNO and Captopril (Cap) were added to apical side of endothelial monolayers formed on microporous membranes, and the permeated drugs were collected from basolateral side and detected by a HPLC method. The permeability coefficient (P(app); cm sec(-1)) of CapNO across the endothelial monolayers was 6.0 x 10(-5), higher than that of Cap (3.13 x 10(-5)), indicating the enhancement effect of the attached NO group in CapNO on cellular permeability. The P(app) of CapNO and Cap across Caco-2 cells were 3.15 x 10(-5) and 1.53 x 10(-5), respectively. The low P(app) of CapNO to Caco-2 cells may be attributed to the high membrane resistance of Caco-2 cells. 3. A bolus injection of CapNO to epicardial coronary artery of chronically-instrumented awake dogs caused significant increases in coronary blood flow and coronary diameters dose-dependently without significant changes in aortic pressure. In contrast, the equimolar doses of Cap did not produce haemodynamic responses. 4. Intravenous CapNO caused an instant increase in the regional cerebral blood flow determined by H(2)-clearance, whereas the equimolar doses of Cap did not enhance the cerebral blood flow. 5. These results conclude that the NO group, an active component of CapNO, enhances both in vitro and in vivo endothelial permeability to the entire compound, resulting in instant increases in blood flow and vascular diameters. In contrast, the equimolar Cap does not have the instant vascular effects.

Nitric Oxide Protects against Infection-Induced Neuroinflammation by Preserving the Stability of the Blood-Brain Barrier

PubMed Central

Olivera, Gabriela C.; Ren, Xiaoyuan; Vodnala, Suman K.; Lu, Jun; Coppo, Lucia; Leepiyasakulchai, Chaniya; Holmgren, Arne; Kristensson, Krister; Rottenberg, Martin E.

2016-01-01

Nitric oxide (NO) generated by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) is critical for defense against intracellular pathogens but may mediate inflammatory tissue damage. To elucidate the role of iNOS in neuroinflammation, infections with encephalitogenic Trypanosoma brucei parasites were compared in inos -/- and wild-type mice. Inos -/- mice showed enhanced brain invasion by parasites and T cells, and elevated protein permeability of cerebral vessels, but similar parasitemia levels. Trypanosome infection stimulated T cell- and TNF-mediated iNOS expression in perivascular macrophages. NO nitrosylated and inactivated pro-inflammatory molecules such as NF-κΒp65, and reduced TNF expression and signalling. iNOS-derived NO hampered both TNF- and T cell-mediated parasite brain invasion. In inos -/- mice, TNF stimulated MMP, including MMP9 activity that increased cerebral vessel permeability. Thus, iNOS-generated NO by perivascular macrophages, strategically located at sites of leukocyte brain penetration, can serve as a negative feed-back regulator that prevents unlimited influx of inflammatory cells by restoring the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. PMID:26915097

Effect of Flow on Gene Regulation in Smooth Muscle Cells and Macromolecular Transport Across Endothelial Cell Monolayers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McIntire, Larry V.; Wagner, John E.; Papadaki, Maria; Whitson, Peggy A.; Eskin, Suzanne G.

1996-01-01

Endothelial cells line all of the vessels of the circulatory system, providing a non-thrombogenic conduit for blood flow; they regulate many complex functions in the vasculature, such as coagulation, fibrinolysis, platelet aggregation, vessel tone and growth, and leukocyte traffic; and they form the principal barrier to transport of substances between the blood and the surrounding tissue space. The permeability of endothelial cell changes with environmental stimuli; shear stress, in particular, applied either in vivo, or in vitro, induces changes in protein expression and secretion of vasoactive factors by endothelial cells. The ability to study the effects of shear on the macromolecular permeability of the cerebral vasculature is particularly important, since in no other place is the barrier function of the endothelium more important than in the brain. The endothelial cells of this organ have developed special barrier properties that keep the cerebral system from experiencing any drastic change in composition; together with glial cells, they form the blood brain barrier (BBB). We have studied the effect of flow on bovine BBB using flow chambers and tissue culture systems.

Study on Surface Permeability of Concrete under Immersion

PubMed Central

Liu, Jun; Xing, Feng; Dong, Biqin; Ma, Hongyan; Pan, Dong

2014-01-01

In this paper, concrete specimens are immersed in ultrapure water, to study the evolutions of surface permeability, pore structure and paste microstructure following the prolonging of immersion period. According to the results, after 30-day immersion, the surface permeability of concrete becomes higher as compared with the value before immersion. However, further immersion makes the surface permeability decrease, so that the value measured after 150-day immersion is only half that measured after 30-day immersion. The early increase in surface permeability should be mainly attributed to the leaching of calcium hydroxide, while the later decrease to the refinement of pore structure due to hydration. The two effects work simultaneously and compete throughout the immersion period. The proposed mechanisms get support from microscopic measurements and observations. PMID:28788490

[Evolution of superolateral surface of the cerebral hemisphere on 16-21 weeks fetus].

PubMed

Varlam, H; St Antohe, D

2002-01-01

Edification of neocortex is accompanied by the development and growth of the cerebral hemisphere, both processes being part of the more complex one, known under the name of telencephalization. The expression of this process is more acute on the superolateral surface of the cerebral hemisphere that expands laterally by growth of the frontal, temporal and parietal lobes. We describe the modifications of shape and deepness of the lateral cerebral fossa including the stages of its closure. We consider this event as the beginning of the appearance of gyri and sulci on the superolateral surface of the cerebral hemisphere.

Altered expression of zonula occludens-2 precedes increased blood-brain barrier permeability in a murine model of fulminant hepatic failure.

PubMed

Shimojima, Naoki; Eckman, Christopher B; McKinney, Michael; Sevlever, Daniel; Yamamoto, Satoshi; Lin, Wenlang; Dickson, Dennis W; Nguyen, Justin H

2008-01-01

Brain edema secondary to increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is a lethal complication in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Intact tight junctions (TJ) between brain capillary endothelial cells are critical for normal BBB function. However, the role of TJ in FHF has not been explored. We hypothesized that alterations in the composition of TJ proteins would result in increased BBB permeability in FHF. In this study, FHF was induced in C57BL/6J mice by using azoxymethane. BBB permeability was assessed with sodium fluorescein. Expression of TJ proteins was determined by Western blot, and their cellular distribution was examined using immunofluorescent microscopy. Comatose FHF mice had significant cerebral sodium fluorescein extravasation compared with control and precoma FHF mice, indicating increased BBB permeability. Western blot analysis showed a significant decrease in zonula occludens (ZO)-2 expression starting in the precoma stage. Immunofluorescent microscopy showed a significantly altered distribution pattern of ZO-2 in isolated microvessels from precoma FHF mice. These changes were more prominent in comatose FHF animals. Significant alterations in ZO-2 expression and distribution in the tight junctions preceded the increased BBB permeability in FHF mice. These results suggest that ZO-2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of brain edema in FHF.

Study on road surface source pollution controlled by permeable pavement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Chaocheng

2018-06-01

The increase of impermeable pavement in urban construction not only increases the runoff of the pavement, but also produces a large number of Non-Point Source Pollution. In the process of controlling road surface runoff by permeable pavement, a large number of particulate matter will be withheld when rainwater is being infiltrated, so as to control the source pollution at the source. In this experiment, we determined the effect of permeable road surface to remove heavy pollutants in the laboratory and discussed the related factors that affect the non-point pollution of permeable pavement, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the application of permeable pavement.

High Intracranial Pressure Induced Injury in the Healthy Rat Brain.

PubMed

Dai, Xingping; Bragina, Olga; Zhang, Tongsheng; Yang, Yirong; Rao, Gutti R; Bragin, Denis E; Statom, Gloria; Nemoto, Edwin M

2016-08-01

We recently showed that increased intracranial pressure to 50 mm Hg in the healthy rat brain results in microvascular shunt flow characterized by tissue hypoxia, edema, and increased blood-brain barrier permeability. We now determined whether increased intracranial pressure results in neuronal injury by Fluoro-Jade stain and whether changes in cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen suggest nonnutritive microvascular shunt flow. Intracranial pressure was elevated by a reservoir of artificial cerebrospinal fluid connected to the cisterna magna. Arterial blood gases, cerebral arterial-venous oxygen content difference, and cerebral blood flow by MRI were measured. Fluoro-Jade stain neurons were counted in histologic sections of the right and left dorsal and lateral cortices and hippocampus. University laboratory. Male Sprague Dawley rats. Arterial pressure support if needed by IV dopamine infusion and base deficit corrected by sodium bicarbonate. Fluoro-Jade stain neurons increased 2.5- and 5.5-fold at intracranial pressures of 30 and 50 mm Hg and cerebral perfusion pressures of 57 ± 4 (mean ± SEM) and 47 ± 6 mm Hg, respectively (p < 0.001) (highest in the right and left cortices). Voxel frequency histograms of cerebral blood flow showed a pattern consistent with microvascular shunt flow by dispersion to higher cerebral blood flow at high intracranial pressure and decreased cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen. High intracranial pressure likely caused neuronal injury because of a transition from normal capillary flow to nonnutritive microvascular shunt flow resulting in tissue hypoxia and edema, and it is manifest by a reduction in the cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen.

Influence of multi-wavelength laser irradiation of enamel and dentin surfaces at 0.355, 2.94, and 9.4 μm on surface morphology, permeability, and acid resistance.

PubMed

Chang, Nai-Yuan N; Jew, Jamison M; Simon, Jacob C; Chen, Kenneth H; Lee, Robert C; Fried, William A; Cho, Jinny; Darling, Cynthia L; Fried, Daniel

2017-12-01

Ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) lasers can be used to specifically target protein, water, and mineral, respectively, in dental hard tissues to produce varying changes in surface morphology, permeability, reflectivity, and acid resistance. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of laser irradiation and topical fluoride application on the surface morphology, permeability, reflectivity, and acid resistance of enamel and dentin to shed light on the mechanism of interaction and develop more effective treatments. Twelve bovine enamel surfaces and twelve bovine dentin surfaces were irradiated with various combinations of lasers operating at 0.355 (Freq.-tripled Nd:YAG (UV) laser), 2.94 (Er:YAG laser), and 9.4 μm (CO 2 laser), and surfaces were exposed to an acidulated phosphate fluoride gel and an acid challenge. Changes in the surface morphology, acid resistance, and permeability were measured using digital microscopy, polarized light microscopy, near-IR reflectance, fluorescence, polarization sensitive-optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT), and surface dehydration rate measurements. Different laser treatments dramatically influenced the surface morphology and permeability of both enamel and dentin. CO 2 laser irradiation melted tooth surfaces. Er:YAG and UV lasers, while not melting tooth surfaces, showed markedly different surface roughness. Er:YAG irradiation led to significantly rougher enamel and dentin surfaces and led to higher permeability. There were significant differences in acid resistance among the various treatment groups. Surface dehydration measurements showed significant changes in permeability after laser treatments, application of fluoride and after exposure to demineralization. CO 2 laser irradiation was most effective in inhibiting demineralization on enamel while topical fluoride was most effective for dentin surfaces. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:913-927, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Update to Permeable Pavement Research at the Edison ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The EPA’s Urban Watershed Management Branch (UWMB) has been monitoring the permeable pavement demonstration site at the Edison Environmental Center, NJ since 2010. This site has three different types of permeable pavements including interlocking concrete permeable pavers, pervious concrete, and porous asphalt. The permeable pavements are limited to parking spaces while adjacent driving lanes are impermeable and drain to the permeable surfaces. The parking lot is instrumented for continuous monitoring with thermistors and water content reflectometers that measure moisture as infiltrate passes through the storage gallery beneath the permeable pavements into the underlying native soil. Each permeable surface of the parking lot has four lined sections that capture infiltrate in tanks for water quality analyses; these tanks are capable of holding volumes up to 4.1 m3, which represents up to 38 mm (1.5 in.) for direct rainfall on the porous pavement and runoff from adjacent driving lanes that drain into the permeable surface.Previous technical releases concerning the demonstration site focused on monitoring techniques, observed chloride and nutrient concentrations, surface hydrology, and infiltration and evaporation rates. This presentation summarizes these past findings and addresses current water quality efforts including pH, solids analysis, total organic carbon, and chemical oxygen demand. Stormwater runoff continues to be a major cause of water pollution in

A Systematic Procedure to Describe Shale Gas Permeability Evolution during the Production Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, B.; Tsau, J. S.; Barati, R.

2017-12-01

Gas flow behavior in shales is complex due to the multi-physics nature of the process. Pore size reduces as the in-situ stress increases during the production process, which will reduce intrinsic permeability of the porous media. Slip flow/pore diffusion enhances gas apparent permeability, especially under low reservoir pressures. Adsorption not only increases original gas in place but also influences gas flow behavior because of the adsorption layer. Surface diffusion between free gas and adsorption phase enhances gas permeability. Pore size reduction and the adsorption layer both have complex impacts on gas apparent permeability and non-Darcy flow might be a major component in nanopores. Previously published literature is generally incomplete in terms of coupling of all these four physics with fluid flow during gas production. This work proposes a methodology to simultaneously take them into account to describe a permeability evolution process. Our results show that to fully describe shale gas permeability evolution during gas production, three sets of experimental data are needed initially: 1) intrinsic permeability under different in-situ stress, 2) adsorption isotherm under reservoir conditions and 3) surface diffusivity measurement by the pulse-decay method. Geomechanical effects, slip flow/pore diffusion, adsorption layer and surface diffusion all play roles affecting gas permeability. Neglecting any of them might lead to misleading results. The increasing in-situ stress during shale gas production is unfavorable to shale gas flow process. Slip flow/pore diffusion is important for gas permeability under low pressures in the tight porous media. They might overwhelm the geomechanical effect and enhance gas permeability at low pressures. Adsorption layer reduces the gas permeability by reducing the effective pore size, but the effect is limited. Surface diffusion increases gas permeability more under lower pressures. The total gas apparent permeability might keep increasing during the gas production process when the surface diffusivity is larger than a critical value. We believe that our workflow proposed in this study will help describe shale gas permeability evolution considering all the underlying physics altogether.

Systematization, distribution and territory of the middle cerebral artery on the brain surface in chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera).

PubMed

De Araujo, A C P; Campos, R

2009-02-01

The aim of the present study was to analyse thirty chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) brains, injected with latex, and to systematize and describe the distribution and the vascularization territories of the middle cerebral artery. This long vessel, after it has originated from the terminal branch of the basilar artery, formed the following collateral branches: rostral, caudal and striated (perforating) central branches. After crossing the lateral rhinal sulcus, the middle cerebral artery emitted a sequence of rostral and caudal convex hemispheric cortical collateral branches on the convex surface of the cerebral hemisphere to the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes. Among the rostral convex hemispheric branches, a trunk was observed, which reached the frontal and parietal lobes and, in a few cases, the occipital lobe. The vascular territory of the chinchilla's middle cerebral artery included, in the cerebral hemisphere basis, the lateral cerebral fossa, the caudal third of the olfactory trigone, the rostral two-thirds of the piriform lobe, the lateral olfactory tract, and most of the convex surface of the cerebral hemisphere, except for a strip between the cerebral longitudinal fissure and the vallecula, which extended from the rostral to the caudal poles bordering the cerebral transverse fissure.

Brain microvascular function during cardiopulmonary bypass

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sorensen, H.R.; Husum, B.; Waaben, J.

1987-11-01

Emboli in the brain microvasculature may inhibit brain activity during cardiopulmonary bypass. Such hypothetical blockade, if confirmed, may be responsible for the reduction of cerebral metabolic rate for glucose observed in animals subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass. In previous studies of cerebral blood flow during bypass, brain microcirculation was not evaluated. In the present study in animals (pigs), reduction of the number of perfused capillaries was estimated by measurements of the capillary diffusion capacity for hydrophilic tracers of low permeability. Capillary diffusion capacity, cerebral blood flow, and cerebral metabolic rate for glucose were measured simultaneously by the integral method, different tracersmore » being used with different circulation times. In eight animals subjected to normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, and seven subjected to hypothermic bypass, cerebral blood flow, cerebral metabolic rate for glucose, and capillary diffusion capacity decreased significantly: cerebral blood flow from 63 to 43 ml/100 gm/min in normothermia and to 34 ml/100 gm/min in hypothermia and cerebral metabolic rate for glucose from 43.0 to 23.0 mumol/100 gm/min in normothermia and to 14.1 mumol/100 gm/min in hypothermia. The capillary diffusion capacity declined markedly from 0.15 to 0.03 ml/100 gm/min in normothermia but only to 0.08 ml/100 gm/min in hypothermia. We conclude that the decrease of cerebral metabolic rate for glucose during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass is caused by interruption of blood flow through a part of the capillary bed, possibly by microemboli, and that cerebral blood flow is an inadequate indicator of capillary blood flow. Further studies must clarify why normal microvascular function appears to be preserved during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.« less

Compiling and Mapping Global Permeability of the Unconsolidated and Consolidated Earth: GLobal HYdrogeology MaPS 2.0 (GLHYMPS 2.0)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huscroft, Jordan; Gleeson, Tom; Hartmann, Jens; Börker, Janine

2018-02-01

The spatial distribution of subsurface parameters such as permeability are increasingly relevant for regional to global climate, land surface, and hydrologic models that are integrating groundwater dynamics and interactions. Despite the large fraction of unconsolidated sediments on Earth's surface with a wide range of permeability values, current global, high-resolution permeability maps distinguish solely fine-grained and coarse-grained unconsolidated sediments. Representative permeability values are derived for a wide variety of unconsolidated sediments and applied to a new global map of unconsolidated sediments to produce the first geologically constrained, two-layer global map of shallower and deeper permeability. The new mean logarithmic permeability of the Earth's surface is -12.7 ± 1.7 m2 being 1 order of magnitude higher than that derived from previous maps, which is consistent with the dominance of the coarser sediments. The new data set will benefit a variety of scientific applications including the next generation of climate, land surface, and hydrology models at regional to global scales.

Mitochondrial Superoxide Production Negatively Regulates Neural Progenitor Proliferation and Cerebral Cortical Development

PubMed Central

Hou, Yan; Ouyang, Xin; Wan, Ruiqian; Cheng, Heping; Mattson, Mark P.; Cheng, Aiwu

2012-01-01

Although high amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can damage cells, ROS can also play roles as second messengers, regulating diverse cellular processes. Here we report that embryonic mouse cerebral cortical neural progenitor cells (NPCs) exhibit intermittent spontaneous bursts of mitochondrial superoxide (SO) generation (mitochondrial SO flashes) that require transient opening of membrane permeability transition pores (mPTP). This quantal SO production negatively regulates NPC self-renewal. Mitochondrial SO scavengers and mPTP inhibitors reduce SO flash frequency and enhance NPC proliferation, whereas prolonged mPTP opening and SO generation increase SO flash incidence and decrease NPC proliferation. The inhibition of NPC proliferation by mitochondrial SO involves suppression of extracellular signal-regulated kinases. Moreover, mice lacking SOD2 (SOD2−/− mice) exhibit significantly fewer proliferative NPCs and differentiated neurons in the embryonic cerebral cortex at mid-gestation compared with wild type littermates. Cultured SOD2−/− NPCs exhibit a significant increase in SO flash frequency and reduced NPC proliferation. Taken together, our findings suggest that mitochondrial SO flashes negatively regulate NPC self-renewal in the developing cerebral cortex. PMID:22949407

Delineation and segmentation of cerebral tumors by mapping blood-brain barrier disruption with dynamic contrast-enhanced CT and tracer kinetics modeling-a feasibility study.

PubMed

Bisdas, S; Yang, X; Lim, C C T; Vogl, T J; Koh, T S

2008-01-01

Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging is a promising approach for in vivo assessment of tissue microcirculation. Twenty patients with clinical and routine computed tomography (CT) evidence of intracerebral neoplasm were examined with DCE-CT imaging. Using a distributed-parameter model for tracer kinetics modeling of DCE-CT data, voxel-level maps of cerebral blood flow (F), intravascular blood volume (vi) and intravascular mean transit time (t1) were generated. Permeability-surface area product (PS), extravascular extracellular blood volume (ve) and extraction ratio (E) maps were also calculated to reveal pathologic locations of tracer extravasation, which are indicative of disruptions in the blood-brain barrier (BBB). All maps were visually assessed for quality of tumor delineation and measurement of tumor extent by two radiologists. Kappa (kappa) coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to determine the interobserver agreement for each DCE-CT map. There was a substantial agreement for the tumor delineation quality in the F, ve and t1 maps. The agreement for the quality of the tumor delineation was excellent for the vi, PS and E maps. Concerning the measurement of tumor extent, excellent and nearly excellent agreement was achieved only for E and PS maps, respectively. According to these results, we performed a segmentation of the cerebral tumors on the base of the E maps. The interobserver agreement for the tumor extent quantification based on manual segmentation of tumor in the E maps vs. the computer-assisted segmentation was excellent (kappa = 0.96, CI: 0.93-0.99). The interobserver agreement for the tumor extent quantification based on computer segmentation in the mean images and the E maps was substantial (kappa = 0.52, CI: 0.42-0.59). This study illustrates the diagnostic usefulness of parametric maps associated with BBB disruption on a physiology-based approach and highlights the feasibility for automatic segmentation of cerebral tumors.

The use of reflective and permeable pavements as a potential practice for heat island mitigation and stormwater management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, H.; Harvey, J. T.; Holland, T. J.; Kayhanian, M.

2013-03-01

To help address the built environmental issues of both heat island and stormwater runoff, strategies that make pavements cooler and permeable have been investigated through measurements and modeling of a set of pavement test sections. The investigation included the hydraulic and thermal performance of the pavements. The permeability results showed that permeable interlocking concrete pavers have the highest permeability (or infiltration rate, ˜0.5 cm s-1). The two permeable asphalt pavements showed the lowest permeability, but still had an infiltration rate of ˜0.1 cm s-1, which is adequate to drain rainwater without generating surface runoff during most typical rain events in central California. An increase in albedo can significantly reduce the daytime high surface temperature in summer. Permeable pavements under wet conditions could give lower surface temperatures than impermeable pavements. The cooling effect highly depends on the availability of moisture near the surface layer and the evaporation rate. The peak cooling effect of watering for the test sections was approximately 15-35 °C on the pavement surface temperature in the early afternoon during summer in central California. The evaporative cooling effect on the pavement surface temperature at 4:00 pm on the third day (25 h after watering) was still 2-7 °C lower compared to that on the second day, without considering the higher air temperature on the third day. A separate and related simulation study performed by UCPRC showed that full depth permeable pavements, if designed properly, can carry both light-duty traffic and certain heavy-duty vehicles while retaining the runoff volume captured from an average California storm event. These preliminarily results indicated the technical feasibility of combined reflective and permeable pavements for addressing the built environment issues related to both heat island mitigation and stormwater runoff management.

Desensitizing Mitochondrial Permeability Transition by ERK-Cyclophilin D Axis Contributes to the Neuroprotective Effect of Gallic Acid against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

PubMed Central

Sun, Jing; Ren, Da-Dui; Wan, Jin-Yi; Chen, Chen; Chen, Dong; Yang, Huan; Feng, Chun-Lai; Gao, Jing

2017-01-01

Ischemic stroke is a devastating disease with complex pathophysiology. Much evidence confirms that opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) is related with mitochondrial dysfunction to apoptosis in ischemic stroke, thus elucidating its signaling mechanism and screening novel MPTP inhibitor is therefore of paramount importance. Our earlier studies identified that gallic acid (GA), a naturally occurring plant phenol, endows with effect on inhibition of mitochondrial dysfunction, which has significant neuroprotective effect in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, its molecular mechanisms regulating mitochondrial dysfunction remain elusive. Here, we uncover a role of GA in protecting mitochondria via MPTP inhibition. In addition to inhibit CypD binding to adenine nucleotide translocator, GA potentiates extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) phosphorylation, leading to a decrease in cyclophilin D (CypD) expression, resulting in a desensitization to induction of MPTP, thus inhibiting caspase activation and ultimately giving rise to cellular survival. Our study firstly identifies ERK-CypD axis is one of the cornerstones of the cell death pathways following ischemic stroke, and confirms GA is a novel inhibitor of MPTP, which inhibits apoptosis depending on regulating the ERK-CypD axis. PMID:28428752

Activation of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER-1) ameliorates blood-brain barrier permeability after global cerebral ischemia in ovariectomized rats.

PubMed

Lu, Dan; Qu, Yan; Shi, Fei; Feng, Dayun; Tao, Kai; Gao, Guodong; He, Shiming; Zhao, Tianzhi

2016-08-19

G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER-1) plays important roles in estrogen-mediated neuroprotection. However, protective effects of GPER-1 on blood-brain barrier (BBB) after ischemic stroke have not been determined. The aim of present study was to determine whether GPER-1 activation ameliorates BBB permeability in ovariectomized rats with induced global cerebral ischemia (GCI). GCI was induced by 4-vessel occlusion for 20 min followed by 24 h reperfusion period. The GPER-1 agonist (G1) was bilaterally administered immediately upon reperfusion by intracerebroventricular (icv) injection. We found that the GPER-1 agonist could significantly decrease immunoglobulin G (IgG) extravasation and increase the levels of tight junctions (occludin and claudin-5) in the CA1 at 24 h of reperfusion after GCI. Further, protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) was significantly decreased in the ischemic CA1 by G1. Our results suggest that GPER-1 activation reduce tight junctions disruption via inhibition of VEGF-A expression after ischemic injury. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A surface lipid may control the permeability slump associated with entry into anhydrobiosis in the plant parasitic nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci.

PubMed

Wharton, D A; Petrone, L; Duncan, A; McQuillan, A J

2008-09-01

The anhydrobiotic plant-parasitic nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci undergoes a decrease in permeability (the permeability slump) during the early stages of desiccation and this produces the slow rate of water loss necessary for its survival. There were no changes in annulation spacing, followed in individual nematodes by confocal microscopy, that would account for the permeability slump. Nile Red staining reveals that the surface of the nematode is coated with an extracuticular layer of lipid. This material can be seen in unstained desiccated nematodes where it forms an oil that adheres to the coverslip and to adjacent nematodes. The oily material leaves impressions on the coverslip (cuticle prints) after the nematode has detached upon rehydration. The presence of the surface lipid was confirmed using attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy. This material was shown to be a triglyceride and the proportion of fatty acids determined, using thin layer and gas chromatography. The production of the surface lipid material may be responsible for the permeability slump observed during the early phases of desiccation and its removal upon immersion in water may explain the paradox that cuticular permeability decreases during the permeability slump and yet desiccated nematodes are more permeable than are fully hydrated nematodes.

Intracarotid tumor necrosis factor-alpha administration increases the blood-brain barrier permeability in cerebral cortex of the newborn pig: quantitative aspects of double-labelling studies and confocal laser scanning analysis.

PubMed

Abraham, C S; Deli, M A; Joo, F; Megyeri, P; Torpier, G

1996-04-19

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of the central nervous system infections. The aim of the present study was to analyze quantitatively the changes in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability after the intracarotid injection of TNF-alpha. Recombinant human TNF-alpha was injected into the left internal carotid artery of anesthetized newborn pigs (n = 48) in the doses of 0, 1000, 10 000 and 100 000 IU, respectively. Before, as well as 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 h after the challenge, the extravasation of a small (sodium fluorescein (SF), mw 376), and a large (Evan's blue-albumin (EBA), mw 67 000) tracer was determined concomitantly by spectrophotometry in the cerebral cortex of the animals. There was a time- and dose-dependent increase in BBB permeability both for SF and EBA; however, significant (P < 0.05) BBB opening for albumin only developed 2 h after the challenge. In the morphological study the same excitable tracers, identical experimental protocol and groups were used. Cryostat sections of brain tissue were viewed for optical sectioning with a confocal laser scanning microscope equipped with an argon/krypton ion laser. A diffuse BBB opening for SF and a moderate perivascular extravasation for EBA were found in the cortices of TNF-alpha-treated animals. We conclude that significant increases in intravascular TNF-alpha-concentration during neonatal infections may result in vasogenic brain edema formation.

Exposure to traffic-generated air pollutants mediates alterations in brain microvascular integrity in wildtype mice on a high-fat diet.

PubMed

Suwannasual, Usa; Lucero, JoAnn; McDonald, Jacob D; Lund, Amie K

2018-01-01

Air pollution-exposure is associated with detrimental outcomes in the central nervous system (CNS) such as cerebrovascular disorders, including stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. While the mechanisms of these CNS-related outcomes involved have not been fully elucidated, exposure to traffic-generated air pollutants has been associated with altered blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity and permeability. The current study investigated whether inhalation exposure to mixed vehicle emissions (MVE) alters cerebral microvascular integrity in healthy 3 mo old C57BL/6 mice, as well as whether exposure-mediated effects were exacerbated by a high-fat (HF) vs. low-fat (LF) diet. Mice on each diet were randomly assigned to be exposed to either filtered air (FA) or MVE [100PM/m 3 vehicle emissions mixture: 30µg PM/m 3 gasoline engine + 70µg PM/m 3 diesel engine emissions; median size ~ 60nm; particle mass size distribution median of ~ 1µm (range: < 0.5-20µm)] for 6h/d, 7d/wk, for 30d. Using sodium fluorescein as a tracer, we observed a significant increase in BBB permeability in both HF + MVE exposed and HF + FA animals, compared to LF + FA controls. Exposure to HF + MVE also led to a significant increase plasma ox-LDL and ox-LDL scavenger receptors (LOX-1 and CD-36) expression in the cerebral vasculature. Histological analysis revealed decreased expression of TJ protein, claudin-5, associated with increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity and oxidative stress in the cerebral vasculature of HF + MVE mice, compared to LF + MVE. Such findings indicate that inhalation exposure to traffic-generated pollutants, coupled with a HF diet, results in altered BBB integrity and increased ox-LDL signaling in the cerebral vasculature in a wildtype animal model. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PETROCLEAN™

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Technical product bulletin: this bioremediation agent is suitable for use in oil cleanups on hard surfaces with limited permeability such as concrete, permeable surfaces such as sand, and fresh or salt water.

Surface-subsurface turbulent interaction at the interface of a permeable bed: influence of the wall permeability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, T.; Blois, G.; Best, J.; Christensen, K. T.

2017-12-01

Coarse-gravel river beds possess a high degree of permeability. Flow interactions between surface and subsurface flow across the bed interface is key to a number of natural processes occurring in the hyporheic zone. In fact, it is increasingly recognized that these interactions drive mass, momentum and energy transport across the interface, and consequently control biochemical processes as well as stability of sediments. The current study explores the role of the wall permeability in surface and subsurface flow interaction under controlled experimental conditions on a physical model of a gravel bed. The present wall model was constructed by five layers of cubically arranged spheres (d=25.4mm, where d is a diameter) providing 48% of porosity. Surface topography was removed by cutting half of a diameter on the top layer of spheres to render the flow surface smooth and highlight the impact of the permeability on the overlying flow. An impermeable smooth wall was also considered as a baseline of comparison for the permeable wall flow. To obtain basic flow statistics, low-frame-rate high-resolution PIV measurements were performed first in the streamwise-wall-normal (x-y) plane and refractive-index matching was employed to optically access the flow within the permeable wall. Time-resolved PIV experiments in the same facility were followed to investigate the flow interaction across the wall interface in sptaio-temporal domain. In this paper, a detailed analysis of the first and second order velocity statistics as well as the amplitude modulation for the flow overlying the permeable smooth wall will be presented.

Thermophoretic separation of aerosol particles from a sampled gas stream

DOEpatents

Postma, Arlin K.

1986-01-01

A method for separating gaseous samples from a contained atmosphere that includes aerosol particles uses the step of repelling particles from a gas permeable surface or membrane by heating the surface to a temperature greater than that of the surrounding atmosphere. The resulting thermophoretic forces maintain the gas permeable surface clear of aerosol particles. The disclosed apparatus utilizes a downwardly facing heated plate of gas permeable material to combine thermophoretic repulsion and gravity forces to prevent particles of any size from contacting the separating plate surfaces.

Hydraulic, water-quality, and temperature performance of three types of permeable pavement under high sediment loading conditions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Selbig, William R.; Buer, Nicolas

2018-05-11

Three permeable pavement surfaces - asphalt (PA), concrete (PC), and interlocking pavers (PIP) - were evaluated side-by-side to measure changes to the infiltrative capacity and water quality of stormwater runoff originating from a conventional asphalt parking lot in Madison, Wisconsin. During the 24-month monitoring period (2014-16), all three permeable pavements resulted in statistically significant reductions in the cumulative load of solids (total suspended solids and suspended sediment), total phosphorus, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Enterococci. Most of the removal occurred through capture and retention in the void spaces of each permeable surface and aggregate base. The largest reduction in total suspended solids was for PC at 80 percent, followed by PIP and PA at 69 and 65 percent, respectively. Reductions (generally less than 50 percent) in total phosphorus also were observed, which might have been tempered by increases in the dissolved fraction observed in PIP and PA. Conversely, PC results indicated a slight reduction in dissolved phosphorus but failed to meet statistical significance. E. coli and Enterococci were reduced by about 80 percent for PC, almost twice the amount observed for PIP and PA.Results for the PIP and PC surfaces initially indicated higher pollutant load reduction than results for the PA surface. The efficiency of PIP and PC surfaces capturing sediment, however, led to a decline in infiltration rates that resulted in more runoff flowing over, not through, the permeable surface. This result led to a decline in treatment until the permeable surface was partially restored through maintenance practices, to which PIP responded more dramatically than PC or PA. Conversely, the PA surface was capable of infiltrating most of the influent runoff volume during the monitoring period and, thus, continued to provide some level of treatment. The combined effect of underdrain and overflow drainage resulted in similar pollutant treatment for all three permeable surfaces.Temperatures below each permeable surface generally followed changes in air temperature with a more gradual response observed in deeper layers. Therefore, permeable pavement may do little to mitigate heated runoff during summer. During winter, deeper layers remained above freezing even when air temperature was below freezing. Although temperatures were not high enough to melt snow or ice accumulated on the surface, temperatures below each permeable pavement did allow void spaces to remain open, which promoted infiltration of melted ice and snow as air temperatures rose above freezing. These open void spaces could potentially reduce the need for application of deicing agents in winter because melted snow and ice would infiltrate, thereby preventing refreezing of pooled water in what is known as the “black ice” effect.

Dispersion controlled by permeable surfaces: surface properties and scaling

DOE PAGES

Ling, Bowen; Tartakovsky, Alexandre M.; Battiato, Ilenia

2016-08-25

Permeable and porous surfaces are common in natural and engineered systems. Flow and transport above such surfaces are significantly affected by the surface properties, e.g. matrix porosity and permeability. However, the relationship between such properties and macroscopic solute transport is largely unknown. In this work, we focus on mass transport in a two-dimensional channel with permeable porous walls under fully developed laminar flow conditions. By means of perturbation theory and asymptotic analysis, we derive the set of upscaled equations describing mass transport in the coupled channel–porous-matrix system and an analytical expression relating the dispersion coefficient with the properties of themore » surface, namely porosity and permeability. Our analysis shows that their impact on the dispersion coefficient strongly depends on the magnitude of the Péclet number, i.e. on the interplay between diffusive and advective mass transport. Additionally, we demonstrate different scaling behaviours of the dispersion coefficient for thin or thick porous matrices. Our analysis shows the possibility of controlling the dispersion coefficient, i.e. transverse mixing, by either active (i.e. changing the operating conditions) or passive mechanisms (i.e. controlling matrix effective properties) for a given Péclet number. By elucidating the impact of matrix porosity and permeability on solute transport, our upscaled model lays the foundation for the improved understanding, control and design of microporous coatings with targeted macroscopic transport features.« less

ACT TERRA FIRMA

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Technical product bulletin: this bioremediation agent is suitable for use in oil cleanups on hard surfaces with limited permeability such as concrete, permeable surfaces such as sand, and fresh or salt water.

IMM-H004, A New Coumarin Derivative, Improved Focal Cerebral Ischemia via Blood-Brain Barrier Protection in Rats.

PubMed

Niu, Fei; Song, Xiu-Yun; Hu, Jin-Feng; Zuo, Wei; Kong, Ling-Lei; Wang, Xiao-Feng; Han, Ning; Chen, Nai-Hong

2017-10-01

IMM-H004 (7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-4-methyl-3-[4-methylpiperazin-1-yl]-2H-chromen-2-one) is a novel coumarin derivative that showed better effect in improving global cerebral ischemia in rats. However, the effects and mechanisms in focal cerebral ischemia were not clear. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) protection is a vital strategy for the treatment of cerebral ischemia. This study is to investigate whether IMM-H004 improves brain ischemia injury via BBB protection. Focal brain ischemia model was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1 hour and reperfusion (MCAO/R) for 24 hours in rats. IMM-H004 (1.5, 3, 6 mg/kg) and edaravone (positive drug, 6 mg/kg) were administered after 5 minutes of occlusion. Neurological score and TTC staining were used to evaluate the effect of IMM-H004. Evans Blue (EB) staining and electron microscopy were used to assess BBB permeability. Western blot, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of BBB structure-related proteins. Compared with the model group, IMM-H004 in the focal brain ischemia model improved neurological function and reduced cerebral infarction size and edema content. IMM-H004 sharply reduced the EB content and alleviated BBB structure. In addition, IMM-H004 increased the level of zonula occludens (ZO-1) and occluding, decreased the level of aquaporin 4 and matrix metalloproteinase 9, either in cortex or in hippocampus. And all of these changed were related to BBB protection. IMM-H004 improved cerebral ischemia injury via BBB protection. For a potential therapy drug of cerebral ischemia, IMM-H004 merits further study. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Identification of Reversible Disruption of the Human Blood-Brain Barrier Following Acute Ischemia.

PubMed

Simpkins, Alexis N; Dias, Christian; Leigh, Richard

2016-09-01

Animal models of acute cerebral ischemia have demonstrated that diffuse blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption can be reversible after early reperfusion. However, irreversible, focal BBB disruption in humans is associated with hemorrhagic transformation in patients receiving intravenous thrombolytic therapy. The goal of this study was to use a magnetic resonance imaging biomarker of BBB permeability to differentiate these 2 forms of BBB disruption. Acute stroke patients imaged with magnetic resonance imaging before, 2 hours after, and 24 hours after treatment with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator were included. The average BBB permeability of the acute ischemic region before and 2 hours after treatment was calculated using a T2* perfusion-weighted source images. Change in average permeability was compared with percent reperfusion using linear regression. Focal regions of maximal BBB permeability from the pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging were compared with the occurrence of parenchymal hematoma (PH) formation on the 24-hour magnetic resonance imaging scan using logistic regression. Signals indicating reversible BBB permeability were detected in 18/36 patients. Change in average BBB permeability correlated inversely with percent reperfusion (P=0.006), indicating that early reperfusion is associated with decreased BBB permeability, whereas sustained ischemia is associated with increased BBB disruption. Focal regions of maximal BBB permeability were significantly associated with subsequent formation of PH (P=0.013). This study demonstrates that diffuse, mild BBB disruption in the acutely ischemic human brain is reversible with reperfusion. This study also confirms prior findings that focal severe BBB disruption confers an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation in patients treated with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

The formation of inflammatory demyelinated lesions in cerebral white matter

PubMed Central

Maggi, Pietro; Cummings Macri, Sheila M.; Gaitán, María I.; Leibovitch, Emily; Wholer, Jillian E; Knight, Heather L.; Ellis, Mary; Wu, Tianxia; Silva, Afonso C.; Massacesi, Luca; Jacobson, Steven; Westmoreland, Susan; Reich, Daniel S.

2016-01-01

Objective Vascular permeability and inflammatory demyelination are intimately linked in the brain, but what is their temporal relationship? We aimed to determine the radiological correlates of the earliest tissue changes accompanying demyelination in a primate model of multiple sclerosis (MS), experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the common marmoset. Methods At 7 tesla MRI, T1 maps, proton density and T2-weighted images were acquired before and after EAE induction in 5 marmosets (every other week before lesions appeared, weekly thereafter). From scans before and after intravenous injection of contrast material, we measured the evolution of lesional blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability, comparing in vivo MRI to postmortem tissue examination. Results On average, BBB permeability increased 3.5 fold (p<0.0001) over the 4 weeks prior to lesion appearance. Permeability gradually decreased after lesion appearance, with attendant changes in the distribution of inflammatory cells (predominantly macrophages and microglia) and demyelination. On tissue analysis, we also identified small perivascular foci of microglia and T cells without blood-derived macrophages or demyelination. These foci had no visible MRI correlates, though permeability within the foci, but not outside, increased in the weeks before the animals died (p<0.0001). Interpretation This study provides compelling evidence that in marmoset EAE, which forms lesions strongly resembling those of MS, early changes in vascular permeability are associated with perivascular inflammatory cuffing and parenchymal microglial activation but precede the arrival of blood-derived monocytes that accompany demyelination. Prospective detection of transient permeability changes could afford an opportunity for early intervention to forestall tissue damage in newly forming lesions. PMID:25088017

The formation of inflammatory demyelinated lesions in cerebral white matter.

PubMed

Maggi, Pietro; Macri, Sheila M Cummings; Gaitán, María I; Leibovitch, Emily; Wholer, Jillian E; Knight, Heather L; Ellis, Mary; Wu, Tianxia; Silva, Afonso C; Massacesi, Luca; Jacobson, Steven; Westmoreland, Susan; Reich, Daniel S

2014-10-01

Vascular permeability and inflammatory demyelination are intimately linked in the brain, but what is their temporal relationship? We aimed to determine the radiological correlates of the earliest tissue changes accompanying demyelination in a primate model of multiple sclerosis (MS), experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the common marmoset. By 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), T1 maps, proton density, and T2-weighted images were acquired before and after EAE induction in 5 marmosets (every other week before lesions appeared, weekly thereafter). From scans before and after intravenous injection of contrast material, we measured the evolution of lesional blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, comparing in vivo MRI to postmortem tissue examination. On average, BBB permeability increased 3.5-fold (p < 0.0001) over the 4 weeks prior to lesion appearance. Permeability gradually decreased after lesion appearance, with attendant changes in the distribution of inflammatory cells (predominantly macrophages and microglia) and demyelination. On tissue analysis, we also identified small perivascular foci of microglia and T cells without blood-derived macrophages or demyelination. These foci had no visible MRI correlates, although permeability within the foci, but not outside, increased in the weeks before the animals died (p < 0.0001). This study provides compelling evidence that in marmoset EAE, which forms lesions strongly resembling those of MS, early changes in vascular permeability are associated with perivascular inflammatory cuffing and parenchymal microglial activation but precede the arrival of blood-derived monocytes that accompany demyelination. Prospective detection of transient permeability changes could afford an opportunity for early intervention to forestall tissue damage in newly forming lesions. © 2014 American Neurological Association.

Surface Infiltration Rates of Permeable Surfaces: Six Month ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

At the end of October 2009, EPA opened a parking lot on the Edison Environmental Center that included three parking rows of permeable pavement. The construction was a cooperative effort among EPA’s Office of Administration and Resources Management, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, and the facility owner, Region 2. The lot serves as an active parking area for facility staff and visitors and also as a research platform. Key unknowns in the application of green infrastructure include the long term performance and the maintenance requirements. The perceived uncertainty in these is a barrier to widespread adoption of the installation of permeable surfaces for stormwater management. EPA recognizes the need for credible long-term performance maintenance data and has begun a long-term monitoring effort on this installation. This document outlines the methods and results of the surface infiltration monitoring of the permeable parking surfaces during the first six months of operation. To inform the public.

MEAUSREMENT OF THE SURFACE PERMEABILITY OF BASEMENT CONCRETES

EPA Science Inventory

The report discusses the development, testing, and use of a portable surface permeameter suitable for field use in measuring the surface permeability of concrete in new houses. he permeameter measures the airflow induced by a pressure difference across a temporary test seal appli...

Permeability Surface Area Product Using Perfusion Computed Tomography Is a Valuable Prognostic Factor in Glioblastomas Treated with Radiotherapy Plus Concomitant and Adjuvant Temozolomide.

PubMed

Saito, Taiichi; Sugiyama, Kazuhiko; Ikawa, Fusao; Yamasaki, Fumiyuki; Ishifuro, Minoru; Takayasu, Takeshi; Nosaka, Ryo; Nishibuchi, Ikuno; Muragaki, Yoshihiro; Kawamata, Takakazu; Kurisu, Kaoru

2017-01-01

The current standard treatment protocol for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) includes surgery, radiotherapy, and concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ). We hypothesized that the permeability surface area product (PS) from a perfusion computed tomography (PCT) study is associated with sensitivity to TMZ. The aim of this study was to determine whether PS values were correlated with prognosis of GBM patients who received the standard treatment protocol. This study included 36 patients with GBM that were newly diagnosed between October 2005 and September 2014 and who underwent preoperative PCT study and the standard treatment protocol. We measured the maximum value of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBVmax) and the maximum PS value (PSmax). We statistically examined the relationship between PSmax and prognosis using survival analysis, including other clinicopathologic factors (age, Karnofsky performance status [KPS], extent of resection, O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase [MGMT] status, second-line use of bevacizumab, and rCBVmax). Log-rank tests revealed that age, KPS, MGMT status, and PSmax were significantly correlated with overall survival. Multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model showed that PSmax was the most significant prognostic factor. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that PSmax had the highest accuracy in differentiating longtime survivors (LTSs) (surviving more than 2 years) from non-LTSs. At a cutoff point of 8.26 mL/100 g/min, sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 70%, respectively. PSmax from PCT study can help predict survival time in patients with GBM receiving the standard treatment protocol. Survival may be related to sensitivity to TMZ. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Long-term Metal Performance of Three Permeable Pavements

EPA Science Inventory

EPA constructed a 4,000-m2 parking lot surfaced with three permeable pavements (permeable interlocking concrete pavers, pervious concrete, and porous asphalt) on the Edison Environmental Center in Edison, NJ in 2009. Samples from each permeable pavement infiltrate were collected...

Three mechanisms model of shale gas in real state transport through a single nanopore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Dongdong; Zhang, Yanyu; Sun, Xiaofei; Li, Peng; Zhao, Fengkai

2018-02-01

At present, the apparent permeability models of shale gas consider only the viscous flow and Knudsen diffusion of free gas, but do not take into account the influence of surface diffusion. Moreover, it is assumed that shale gas is in ideal state. In this paper, shale gas is assumed in real state, a new apparent permeability model for shale gas transport through a single nanopore is developed that captures many important migration mechanisms, such as viscous flow and Knudsen diffusion of free gas, surface diffusion of adsorbed gas. According to experimental data, the accuracy of apparent permeability model was verified. What’s more, the effects of pressure and pore radius on apparent permeability, and the effects on the permeability fraction of viscous flow, Knudsen diffusion and surface diffusion were analysed, separately. Finally, the results indicate that the error of the developed model in this paper was 3.02%, which is less than the existing models. Pressure and pore radius seriously affect the apparent permeability of shale gas. When the pore radius is small or pressure is low, the surface diffusion cannot be ignored. When the pressure and the pore radius is big, the viscous flow occupies the main position.

Stereotactic Administration of Edaravone Ameliorates Collagenase-Induced Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Rat.

PubMed

Zhang, Yan; Yang, Yang; Zhang, Guang-Zhu; Gao, Mou; Ge, Guang-Zhi; Wang, Qin-Qin; Ji, Xin-Chao; Sun, Yi-Lin; Zhang, Hong-Tian; Xu, Ru-Xiang

2016-10-01

Edaravone is widely used for treating ischemic stroke, but it is not still confirmed in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) as an ideal medication targeting the brain parenchyma. We aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of stereotactic administration of edaravone (SI) into the brain parenchyma. Intracerebral hemorrhage rat models were established by infusion of collagenase into the caudate nucleus. Neural functional recovery was assessed using modified neurological severity scores (mNSS). A comparative study of therapeutic effects between SI and intraperitoneal injection of edaravone (IP) involved in cerebral edema, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, hematoma absorption, inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis. Compared with IP, the mNSS was significantly (P < 0.05) improved by SI; cerebral edema and BBB permeability were dramatically ameliorated (P < 0.05); IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased, but IL-1β and TNF-α levels significantly decreased; neuron apoptosis decreased markedly (P < 0.05); and caspase-3 and Bax expression significantly dropped, but Bcl-2 increased in SI group (P < 0.05). SI markedly improved neurological deficits in ICH rat models via antiinflammatory and antiapoptosis mechanisms and promoted M2-type microglia differentiation. SI was effective in rats with collagenase-induced ICH. © 2016 The Authors. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Histogram analysis of T2*-based pharmacokinetic imaging in cerebral glioma grading.

PubMed

Liu, Hua-Shan; Chiang, Shih-Wei; Chung, Hsiao-Wen; Tsai, Ping-Huei; Hsu, Fei-Ting; Cho, Nai-Yu; Wang, Chao-Ying; Chou, Ming-Chung; Chen, Cheng-Yu

2018-03-01

To investigate the feasibility of histogram analysis of the T2*-based permeability parameter volume transfer constant (K trans ) for glioma grading and to explore the diagnostic performance of the histogram analysis of K trans and blood plasma volume (v p ). We recruited 31 and 11 patients with high- and low-grade gliomas, respectively. The histogram parameters of K trans and v p , derived from the first-pass pharmacokinetic modeling based on the T2* dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2* DSC-PW-MRI) from the entire tumor volume, were evaluated for differentiating glioma grades. Histogram parameters of K trans and v p showed significant differences between high- and low-grade gliomas and exhibited significant correlations with tumor grades. The mean K trans derived from the T2* DSC-PW-MRI had the highest sensitivity and specificity for differentiating high-grade gliomas from low-grade gliomas compared with other histogram parameters of K trans and v p . Histogram analysis of T2*-based pharmacokinetic imaging is useful for cerebral glioma grading. The histogram parameters of the entire tumor K trans measurement can provide increased accuracy with additional information regarding microvascular permeability changes for identifying high-grade brain tumors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biopharmaceutical evaluation of surface active ophthalmic excipients using in vitro and ex vivo corneal models.

PubMed

Juretić, Marina; Cetina-Čižmek, Biserka; Filipović-Grčić, Jelena; Hafner, Anita; Lovrić, Jasmina; Pepić, Ivan

2018-07-30

The objective of this study was to systematically investigate the effects of surface active ophthalmic excipients on the corneal permeation of ophthalmic drugs using in vitro (HCE-T cell-based model) and ex vivo (freshly excised porcine cornea) models. The permeation of four ophthalmic drugs (i.e., timolol maleate, chloramphenicol, diclofenac sodium and dexamethasone) across in vitro and ex vivo corneal models was evaluated in the absence and presence of four commonly used surface active ophthalmic excipients (i.e., Polysorbate 80, Tyloxapol, Cremophor® EL and Pluronic® F68). The concentration and self-aggregation-dependent effects of surface active ophthalmic excipients on ophthalmic drug permeability were studied from the concentration region where only dissolved monomer molecules of surface active ophthalmic excipients exist, as well as the concentration region in which aggregates of variable size and dispersion are spontaneously formed. Neither the surface active ophthalmic excipients nor the ophthalmic drugs at all concentrations that were tested significantly affected the barrier properties of both corneal models, as assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) monitoring during the permeability experiments. The lowest concentration of all investigated surface active ophthalmic excipients did not significantly affect the ophthalmic drug permeability across both of the corneal models that were used. For three ophthalmic drugs (i.e., chloramphenicol, diclofenac sodium and dexamethasone), depressed in vitro and ex vivo permeability were observed in the concentration range of either Polysorbate 80, Tyloxapol, Cremophor® EL or Pluronic® F68, at which self-aggregation is detected. The effect was the most pronounced for Cremophor® EL (1 and 2%, w/V) and was the least pronounced for Pluronic® F68 (1%, w/V). However, all surface active ophthalmic excipients over the entire concentration range that was tested did not significantly affect the in vitro and ex vivo permeability of timolol maleate, which is the most hydrophilic ophthalmic drug that was investigated. The results of the dynamic light scattering measurements point to the association of ophthalmic drugs with self-aggregates of surface active ophthalmic excipients as the potential mechanism of the observed permeability-depressing effect of surface active ophthalmic excipients. A strong and statistically significant correlation was observed between in vitro and ex vivo permeability of ophthalmic drugs in the presence of surface active ophthalmic excipients, which indicates that the observed permeability-altering effects of surface active ophthalmic excipients were comparable and were mediated by the same mechanism in both corneal models. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Targeted delivery of erythropoietin by transcranial focused ultrasound for neuroprotection against ischemia/reperfusion-induced neuronal injury: a long-term and short-term study.

PubMed

Wu, Sheng-Kai; Yang, Ming-Tao; Kang, Kai-Hsiang; Liou, Houng-Chi; Lu, Dai-Hua; Fu, Wen-Mei; Lin, Win-Li

2014-01-01

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a neuroprotective agent against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced brain injury. However, its crossing of blood-brain barrier is limited. Focused ultrasound (FUS) sonication with microbubbles (MBs) can effectively open blood-brain barrier to boost the vascular permeability. In this study, we investigated the effects of MBs/FUS on extending the therapeutic time window of EPO and its neuroprotective effects in both acute and chronic phases. Male Wistar rats were firstly subjected to two common carotid arteries and right middle cerebral artery occlusion (three vessels occlusion, 3VO) for 50 min, and then the rats were treated with hEPO (human recombinant EPO, 5000 IU/kg) with or without MBs/FUS at 5 h after occlusion/reperfusion. Acute phase investigation (I/R, I/R+MBs/FUS, I/R+hEPO, and I/R+hEPO+MBs/FUS) was performed 24 h after I/R; chronic tests including cylinder test and gait analysis were performed one month after I/R. The experimental results showed that MBs/FUS significantly increased the cerebral content of EPO by bettering vascular permeability. In acute phase, both significant improvement of neurological score and reduction of infarct volume were found in the I/R+hEPO+MBs/FUS group, as compared with I/R and I/R+hEPO groups. In chronic phase, long-term behavioral recovery and neuronal loss in brain cortex after I/R injury was significantly improved in the I/R+hEPO+MBs/FUS group. This study indicates that hEPO administration with MBs/FUS sonication even at 5 h after occlusion/reperfusion can produce a significant neuroprotection.

The influence of interfacial slip on two-phase flow in rough pores

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kucala, Alec; Martinez, Mario J.; Wang, Yifeng

The migration and trapping of supercritical CO 2 (scCO 2) in geologic carbon storage is strongly dependent on the geometry and wettability of the pore network in the reservoir rock. During displacement, resident fluids may become trapped in the pits of a rough pore surface forming an immiscible two-phase fluid interface with the invading fluid, allowing apparent slip flow at this interface. We present a two-phase fluid dynamics model, including interfacial tension, to characterize the impact of mineral surface roughness on this slip flow. We show that the slip flow can be cast in more familiar terms as a contact-anglemore » (wettability)-dependent effective permeability to the invading fluid, a nondimensional measurement which relates the interfacial slip to the pore geometry. The analysis shows the surface roughness-induced slip flow can effectively increase or decrease this effective permeability, depending on the wettability and roughness of the mineral surfaces. Configurations of the pore geometry where interfacial slip has a tangible influence on permeability have been identified. The results suggest that for large roughness features, permeability to CO 2 may be enhanced by approximately 30% during drainage, while the permeability to brine during reimbibition may be enhanced or diminished by 60%, depending on the contact angle with the mineral surfaces and degrees of roughness. For smaller roughness features, the changes in permeability through interfacial slip are small. As a result, a much larger range of effective permeabilities are suggested for general fluid pairs and contact angles, including occlusion of the pore by the trapped phase.« less

The influence of interfacial slip on two-phase flow in rough pores

DOE PAGES

Kucala, Alec; Martinez, Mario J.; Wang, Yifeng; ...

2017-08-01

The migration and trapping of supercritical CO 2 (scCO 2) in geologic carbon storage is strongly dependent on the geometry and wettability of the pore network in the reservoir rock. During displacement, resident fluids may become trapped in the pits of a rough pore surface forming an immiscible two-phase fluid interface with the invading fluid, allowing apparent slip flow at this interface. We present a two-phase fluid dynamics model, including interfacial tension, to characterize the impact of mineral surface roughness on this slip flow. We show that the slip flow can be cast in more familiar terms as a contact-anglemore » (wettability)-dependent effective permeability to the invading fluid, a nondimensional measurement which relates the interfacial slip to the pore geometry. The analysis shows the surface roughness-induced slip flow can effectively increase or decrease this effective permeability, depending on the wettability and roughness of the mineral surfaces. Configurations of the pore geometry where interfacial slip has a tangible influence on permeability have been identified. The results suggest that for large roughness features, permeability to CO 2 may be enhanced by approximately 30% during drainage, while the permeability to brine during reimbibition may be enhanced or diminished by 60%, depending on the contact angle with the mineral surfaces and degrees of roughness. For smaller roughness features, the changes in permeability through interfacial slip are small. As a result, a much larger range of effective permeabilities are suggested for general fluid pairs and contact angles, including occlusion of the pore by the trapped phase.« less

The influence of interfacial slip on two-phase flow in rough pores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kucala, Alec; Martinez, Mario J.; Wang, Yifeng; Noble, David R.

2017-08-01

The migration and trapping of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) in geologic carbon storage is strongly dependent on the geometry and wettability of the pore network in the reservoir rock. During displacement, resident fluids may become trapped in the pits of a rough pore surface forming an immiscible two-phase fluid interface with the invading fluid, allowing apparent slip flow at this interface. We present a two-phase fluid dynamics model, including interfacial tension, to characterize the impact of mineral surface roughness on this slip flow. We show that the slip flow can be cast in more familiar terms as a contact-angle (wettability)-dependent effective permeability to the invading fluid, a nondimensional measurement which relates the interfacial slip to the pore geometry. The analysis shows the surface roughness-induced slip flow can effectively increase or decrease this effective permeability, depending on the wettability and roughness of the mineral surfaces. Configurations of the pore geometry where interfacial slip has a tangible influence on permeability have been identified. The results suggest that for large roughness features, permeability to CO2 may be enhanced by approximately 30% during drainage, while the permeability to brine during reimbibition may be enhanced or diminished by 60%, depending on the contact angle with the mineral surfaces and degrees of roughness. For smaller roughness features, the changes in permeability through interfacial slip are small. A much larger range of effective permeabilities are suggested for general fluid pairs and contact angles, including occlusion of the pore by the trapped phase.

Endophilin-1 regulates blood-brain barrier permeability via EGFR-JNK signaling pathway.

PubMed

Chen, Lin; Liu, Wenjing; Wang, Ping; Xue, Yixue; Su, Qingjie; Zeng, Chaosheng; Shang, Xiuli

2015-05-05

Endophilin-1 (Endo1), a multifunctional protein, is essential for synaptic vesicle endocytosis. However, the role and mechanism of endophilin-1 in blood-brain barrier (BBB) function are still unclear. This study was performed to determine whether endophilin-1 regulated BBB permeability via the EGFR-JNK signaling pathway. In the present study, we found that endophilin-1 over-expression in human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell (hCMEC/D3) increased BBB permeability and meanwhile reduced the expression levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK). While endophilin-1 knockdown led to the contrary results. After JNK inhibitor SP600125 was administered to the endophilin-1 silenced hCMEC/D3 cells, the transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) value was decreased and the permeability coefficient values to 4kDa and 40kDa FITC-dextran were increased. Results observed by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that tight junctions (TJs) were opened. Moreover, immunofluorescence and Western blot assays revealed the discontinuous distribution of TJ-associated proteins ZO-1, occludin on cell-cell boundaries and a significant decrease in protein expressing levels. Therefore, these results indicated that endophilin-1 positively regulated BBB permeability via the EGFR-JNK signaling pathway in hCMEC/D3 cells, which would provide an experimental basis for further research on endophilin-1 mediated the opening of BBB. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Estimation of hydraulic permeability considering the micro morphology of rocks of the borehole YAXCOPOIL-1 (Impact crater Chicxulub, Mexico)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mayr, S. I.; Burkhardt, H.; Popov, Yu.; Wittmann, A.

2008-04-01

Internal surface, formation factor, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-T2 relaxation times and pore radius distributions were measured on representative core samples for the estimation of hydraulic permeability. Permeability is estimated using various versions of the classic Kozeny-Carman-equation (K-C) and a further development of K-C, the fractal PaRiS-model, taking into account the internal surface. In addition to grain and pore size distribution, directly connected to permeability, internal surface reflects the internal structure (“micro morphology”). Lithologies could be grouped with respect to differences in internal surface. Most melt rich impact breccia lithologies exhibit large internal surfaces, while Tertiary post-impact sediments and Cretaceous lithologies in displaced megablocks display smaller internal surfaces. Investigations with scanning electron microscopy confirm the correlation between internal surface and micro morphology. In addition to different versions of K-C, estimations by means of NMR, pore radius distributions and some gas permeability measurements serve for cross-checking and calibration. In general, the different estimations from the independent methods and the measurements are in satisfactory accordance. For Tertiary limestones and Suevites bulk with very high porosities (up to 35%) permeabilites between 10-14 and 10-16 m2 are found, whereas in lower Suevite, Cretaceous anhydrites and dolomites, bulk permeabilites are between 10-15 and 10-23 m2.

In vivo assessment of the human cerebral microcirculation and its glycocalyx: A technical report.

PubMed

Haeren, R H L; Rijkers, K; Schijns, O E M G; Dings, J; Hoogland, G; van Zandvoort, M A M J; Vink, H; van Overbeeke, J J

2018-06-01

The cerebral microcirculation and its glycocalyx, a matrix coating the luminal endothelium, are key regulators of capillary permeability and cerebral blood flow. Microvascular abnormalities are described in several neurological disorders. However, assessment of the cerebral microcirculation and glycocalyx has mainly been performed ex vivo. Here, the technical feasibility of in vivo assessment of the human cerebral microcirculation and its glycocalyx using sidestream dark field (SDF) imaging is discussed. Intraoperative assessment requires the application of a sterile drape covering the camera (slipcover). First, sublingual measurements with and without slipcover were performed in a healthy control to assess the impact of this slipcover. Subsequently, using SDF imaging, the sublingual (reference), cortical, and hippocampal microcirculation and glycocalyx were evaluated in patients who underwent resective brain surgery as treatment for drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Finally, vessel density, and the perfused boundary region (PBR), a validated gauge of glycocalyx health, were calculated using GlycoCheck © software. The addition of a slipcover affects vessel density and PBR values in a control subject. The cerebral measurements in five patients were more difficult to obtain than the sublingual ones. This was probably at least partly due to the introduction of a sterile slipcover. Results on vessel density and PBR showed similar patterns at all three measurement sites. This is the first report on in vivo assessment of the human cerebrovascular glycocalyx. Assessment of the glycocalyx is an additional application of in vivo imaging of the cerebral microcirculation using SDF technique. This method enables functional analysis of the microcirculation and glycocalyx, however the addition of a sterile slipcover affects the measurements. SDF imaging is a safe, quick, and straightforward technique to evaluate the functional cerebral microcirculation and glycocalyx. Because of their eminent role in cerebral homeostasis, this method may significantly add to research on the role of vascular pathophysiology underling various neurological disorders. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Step Permeability on the Pt(111) Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altman, Michael

2005-03-01

Surface morphology will be affected, or even dictated, by kinetic limitations that may be present during growth. Asymmetric step attachment is recognized to be an important and possibly common cause of morphological growth instabilities. However, the impact of this kinetic limitation on growth morphology may be hindered by other factors such as the rate limiting step and step permeability. This strongly motivates experimental measurements of these quantities in real systems. Using low energy electron microscopy, we have measured step flow velocities in growth on the Pt(111) surface. The dependence of step velocity upon adjacent terrace width clearly shows evidence of asymmetric step attachment and step permeability. Step velocity is modeled by solving the diffusion equation simultaneously on several adjacent terraces subject to boundary conditions at intervening steps that include asymmetric step attachment and step permeability. This analysis allows a quantitative evaluation of step permeability and the kinetic length, which characterizes the rate limiting step continuously between diffusion and attachment-detachment limited regimes. This work provides information that is greatly needed to set physical bounds on the parameters that are used in theoretical treatments of growth. The observation that steps are permeable even on a simple metal surface should also stimulate more experimental measurements and theoretical treatments of this effect.

Multiparameter Analysis of Gas Transport Phenomena in Shale Gas Reservoirs: Apparent Permeability Characterization.

PubMed

Shen, Yinghao; Pang, Yu; Shen, Ziqi; Tian, Yuanyuan; Ge, Hongkui

2018-02-08

The large amount of nanoscale pores in shale results in the inability to apply Darcy's law. Moreover, the gas adsorption of shale increases the complexity of pore size characterization and thus decreases the accuracy of flow regime estimation. In this study, an apparent permeability model, which describes the adsorptive gas flow behavior in shale by considering the effects of gas adsorption, stress dependence, and non-Darcy flow, is proposed. The pore size distribution, methane adsorption capacity, pore compressibility, and matrix permeability of the Barnett and Eagle Ford shales are measured in the laboratory to determine the critical parameters of gas transport phenomena. The slip coefficients, tortuosity, and surface diffusivity are predicted via the regression analysis of the permeability data. The results indicate that the apparent permeability model, which considers second-order gas slippage, Knudsen diffusion, and surface diffusion, could describe the gas flow behavior in the transition flow regime for nanoporous shale. Second-order gas slippage and surface diffusion play key roles in the gas flow in nanopores for Knudsen numbers ranging from 0.18 to 0.5. Therefore, the gas adsorption and non-Darcy flow effects, which involve gas slippage, Knudsen diffusion, and surface diffusion, are indispensable parameters of the permeability model for shale.

Urban evaporation rates for water-permeable pavements.

PubMed

Starke, P; Göbel, P; Coldewey, W G

2010-01-01

In urban areas the natural water balance is disturbed. Infiltration and evaporation are reduced, resulting in a high surface runoff and a typical city climate, which can lead to floods and damages. Water-permeable pavements have a high infiltration rate that reduces surface runoff by increasing the groundwater recharge. The high water retention capacity of the street body of up to 51 l/m(2) and its connection via pores to the surface lead to higher evaporation rates than impermeable surfaces. A comparison of these two kinds of pavements shows a 16% increase in evaporation levels of water-permeable pavements. Furthermore, the evaporation from impermeable pavements is linked directly to rain events due to fast-drying surfaces. Water-permeable pavements show a more evenly distributed evaporation after a rain event. Cooling effects by evaporative heat loss can improve the city climate even several days after rain events. On a large scale use, uncomfortable weather like sultriness or dry heat can be prevented and the urban water balance can be attenuated towards the natural.

Neuroprotective effect of hydroxy safflor yellow A against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats: putative role of mPTP.

PubMed

Ramagiri, Sruthi; Taliyan, Rajeev

2016-01-01

Hydroxy safflor yellow A (HSYA) has been translated clinically for cardiovascular diseases. HSYA is also greatly acknowledged for its protective effects against cerebral ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Although the precise mechanism of cerebral I/R injury is not fully understood, oxygen-derived free radicals and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening during I/R injury are widely recognized as an important contributor to neuronal injury. Thus, we speculated that the neuroprotective effects of HSYA against cerebral I/R injury may be associated with mPTP modulation. Induction of I/R injury was achieved by 60 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion, followed by reperfusion for 24 h. For behavior and cognitive assessment, neurological scoring (NSS), rotarod, and Y-maze task were performed. Oxidative damage was measured in terms of markers such as malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, and catalase levels and cerebral infarct volumes were quantified using 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolinium chloride staining. I/R injury-induced inflammation was determined using tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. Animals exposed to I/R injury showed neurological severity, functional and cognitive disability, elevated oxidative markers, and TNF-α levels along with large infarct volumes. HSYA treatment during onset of reperfusion ameliorated performance in NSS, rotarod and Y-maze attenuated oxidative damage, TNF-α levels, and infarction rate. However, treatment with carboxyatractyloside, an mPTP opener, 20 min before HSYA, attenuated the protective effect of HSYA. Our study confirmed that protective effect of HSYA may be conferred through its free radical scavenger action followed by inhibiting the opening of mPTP during reperfusion and HSYA might act as a promising therapeutic agent against cerebral I/R injury.

Green tea polyphenols alleviate early BBB damage during experimental focal cerebral ischemia through regulating tight junctions and PKCalpha signaling.

PubMed

Liu, Xiaobai; Wang, Zhenhua; Wang, Ping; Yu, Bo; Liu, Yunhui; Xue, Yixue

2013-07-21

It has been supposed that green tea polyphenols (GTPs) have neuroprotective effects on brain damage after brain ischemia in animal experiments. Little is known regarding GTPs' protective effects against the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption after ischemic stroke. We investigated the effects of GTPs on the expression of claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1, and the corresponding cellular mechanisms involved in the early stage of cerebral ischemia. Male Wistar rats were subjected to a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 0, 30, 60, and 120 min. GTPs (400 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was administered by intragastric gavage twice a day for 30 days prior to MCAO. At different time points, the expression of claudin-5, occludin, ZO-1, and PKCα signaling pathway in microvessel fragments of cerebral ischemic tissue were evaluated. GTPs reduced BBB permeability at 60 min and 120 min after ischemia as compared with the vehicle group. Transmission electron microscopy also revealed that GTPs could reverse the opening of tight junction (TJ) barrier at 60 min and 120 min after MACO. The decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1 in microvessel fragments of cerebral ischemic tissue were significantly prevented by treatment with GTPs at the same time points after ischemia in rats. Furthermore, GTPs could attenuate the increase in the expression levels of PKCα mRNA and protein caused by cerebral ischemia. These results demonstrate that GTPs may act as a potential neuroprotective agent against BBB damage at the early stage of focal cerebral ischemia through the regulation of TJ and PKCα signaling.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hauser, H.D.; Walters, K.D.; Berg, V.S.

Plants in the field are frequently exposed to anthropogenic acid precipitation with pH values of 4 and below. For the acid to directly affect leaf tissues, it must pass through the leaf cuticle, but little is known about the permeability of cuticles to protons, of about the effect of different anions on this permeability. We investigated the movement of protons through isolated astomatous leaf cuticles of grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi Macfady.), rough lemon (Citrus limon [L.] Burm. fils cv Ponderosa), and pear (Pyrus communis L.) using hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids. Cuticles were enzymically isolated from leaves and placed inmore » a diffusion apparatus with pH 4 acid on the morphological outer surface of the cuticle and degassed distilled water on the inner surface. Changes in pH of the solution on the inner surface were used to determine rates of effective permeability of the cuticles to the protons of these acids. Most cuticles exhibited an initial low permeability, lasting hours to days, then after a short transition displayed a significant higher permeability, which persisted until equilibrium was approached. The change in effective permeability appears to be reversible. Effective permeabilities were higher for sulfuric acid than for the others. A model of the movement of protons through the cuticle is presented, proposing that dissociated acid groups in channels within the cutin are first protonated by the acid, accounting for the low initial effective permeability; then protons pass freely through the channels, resulting in a higher effective permeability. 26 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.« less

Development of a Digital Aquifer Permeability Map for the ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Researchers at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Western Ecology Division have been developing hydrologic landscape maps for selected U.S. states in an effort to create a method to identify the intrinsic watershed attributes of landscapes in regions with little data. Each hydrologic landscape unit is assigned a categorical value from five key indices of macro-scale hydrologic behavior, including annual climate, climate seasonality, aquifer permeability, terrain, and soil permeability. The aquifer permeability index requires creation of a from-scratch dataset for each state. The permeability index for the Pacific Southwest (California, Nevada, and Arizona) expands and modifies the permeability index for the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, and Idaho), which preceded it. The permeability index was created by assigning geologic map units to one of 18 categories with presumed similar values of permeability to create a hydrolithologic map. The hydrolithologies were then further categorized into permeability index classifications of high, low, unknown and surface water. Unconsolidated, carbonate, volcanic, and undifferentiated units are classified more conservatively to better address uncertainty in source data. High vs. low permeability classifications are assigned qualitatively but follow a threshold guideline of 8.5x10-2 m/day hydraulic conductivity. Estimates of permeability from surface lithology is the current best practice for broad-sca

Lesion dehydration rate changes with the surface layer thickness during enamel remineralization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Nai-Yuan N.; Jew, Jamison M.; Fried, Daniel

2018-02-01

A transparent highly mineralized outer surface zone is formed on caries lesions during remineralization that reduces the permeability to water and plaque generated acids. However, it has not been established how thick the surface zone should be to inhibit the penetration of these fluids. Near-IR (NIR) reflectance coupled with dehydration can be used to measure changes in the fluid permeability of lesions in enamel and dentin. Based on our previous studies, we postulate that there is a strong correlation between the surface layer thickness and the rate of dehydration. In this study, the rates of dehydration for simulated lesions in enamel with varying remineralization durations were measured. Reflectance imaging at NIR wavelengths from 1400-2300 nm, which coincides with higher water absorption and manifests the greatest sensitivity to contrast changes during dehydration measurements, was used to image simulated enamel lesions. The results suggest that the relationship between surface zone thickness and lesion permeability is highly non-linear, and that a small increase in the surface layer thickness may lead to a significant decrease in permeability.

Permeability of stylolite-bearing chalk

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lind, I.; Nykjaer, O.; Priisholm, S.

1994-11-01

Permeabilities were measured on core plugs from stylolite-bearing chalk of the Gorm field in the Danish North Sea. Air and liquid permeabilities were measured in directions parallel to and perpendicular to the stylolite surface. Permeability was measured with sleeve pressure equal to in-situ reservoir stress. Permeabilities of plugs with stylolites but without stylolite-associated fractures were equal in the two directions. The permeability is equal to the matrix permeability of non-stylolite-bearing chalk. In contrast, when fractures were associated with the stylolites, permeability was enhanced. The enhancement was most significant in the horizontal direction parallel to the stylolites.

Detection of semi-volatile organic compounds in permeable ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Abstract The Edison Environmental Center (EEC) has a research and demonstration permeable parking lot comprised of three different permeable systems: permeable asphalt, porous concrete and interlocking concrete permeable pavers. Water quality and quantity analysis has been ongoing since January, 2010. This paper describes a subset of the water quality analysis, analysis of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) to determine if hydrocarbons were in water infiltrated through the permeable surfaces. SVOCs were analyzed in samples collected from 11 dates over a 3 year period, from 2/8/2010 to 4/1/2013.Results are broadly divided into three categories: 42 chemicals were never detected; 12 chemicals (11 chemical test) were detected at a rate of less than 10% or less; and 22 chemicals were detected at a frequency of 10% or greater (ranging from 10% to 66.5% detections). Fundamental and exploratory statistical analyses were performed on these latter analyses results by grouping results by surface type. The statistical analyses were limited due to low frequency of detections and dilutions of samples which impacted detection limits. The infiltrate data through three permeable surfaces were analyzed as non-parametric data by the Kaplan-Meier estimation method for fundamental statistics; there were some statistically observable difference in concentration between pavement types when using Tarone-Ware Comparison Hypothesis Test. Additionally Spearman Rank order non-parame

Corneal and conjunctival drug permeability: Systematic comparison and pharmacokinetic impact in the eye.

PubMed

Ramsay, Eva; Del Amo, Eva M; Toropainen, Elisa; Tengvall-Unadike, Unni; Ranta, Veli-Pekka; Urtti, Arto; Ruponen, Marika

2018-07-01

On the surface of the eye, both the cornea and conjunctiva are restricting ocular absorption of topically applied drugs, but barrier contributions of these two membranes have not been systemically compared. Herein, we studied permeability of 32 small molecular drug compounds across an isolated porcine cornea and built a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model for the permeability. Corneal drug permeability (data obtained for 25 drug molecules) showed a 52-fold range in permeability (0.09-4.70 × 10 -6  cm/s) and the most important molecular descriptors in predicting the permeability were hydrogen bond donor, polar surface area and halogen ratio. Corneal permeability values were compared to their conjunctival drug permeability values. Ocular drug bioavailability and systemic absorption via conjunctiva were predicted for this drug set with pharmacokinetic calculations. Drug bioavailability in the aqueous humour was simulated to be <5% and trans-conjunctival systemic absorption was 34-79% of the dose. Loss of drug across the conjunctiva to the blood circulation restricts significantly ocular drug bioavailability and, therefore, ocular absorption does not increase proportionally with the increasing corneal drug permeability. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A new structure of permeable pavement for mitigating urban heat island.

PubMed

Liu, Yong; Li, Tian; Peng, Hangyu

2018-09-01

The urban heat island (UHI) effect has been a great threat to human habitation, and how to mitigate this problem has been a global concern over decades. This paper addresses the cooling effect of a novel permeable pavement called evaporation-enhancing permeable pavement, which has capillary columns in aggregate and a liner at the bottom. To explore the efficiency of mitigating the UHI, bench-scale permeable pavement units with capillary columns were developed and compared with conventional permeable pavement. Criteria of capillary capacities of the column, evaporation rates, and surface temperature of the pavements were monitored under simulated rainfall and Shanghai local weather conditions. Results show the capillary column was important in increasing evaporation by lifting water from the bottom to the surface, and the evaporation-enhancing permeable pavement was cooler than a conventional permeable pavement by as much as 9.4°C during the experimental period. Moreover, the cooling effect of the former pavement could persist more than seven days under the condition of no further rainfall. Statistical analysis result reveals that evaporation-enhancing permeable pavement can mitigate the UHI effect significantly more than a conventional permeable pavement. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of Plasma Treatment on Air and Water-Vapor Permeability of Bamboo Knitted Fabric

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash, C.; Ramakrishnan, G.; Chinnadurai, S.; Vignesh, S.; Senthilkumar, M.

2013-11-01

In this paper, the effects of oxygen and atmospheric plasma on air and water-vapor permeability properties of single jersey bamboo fabric have been investigated. The changes in these properties are believed to be related closely to the inter-fiber and inter-yarn friction force induced by the plasma treatments. The outcomes showed that the water-vapor permeability increased, although the air permeability decreased along with the plasma treatments. The SEM images clearly showed that the plasma modified the fiber surface outwardly. The results showed that the atmospheric plasma has an etching effect and increases the functionality of a bamboo surface, which is evident from SEM and FTIR-ATR analysis. These results reveal that atmospheric pressure plasma treatment is an effective method to improve the performance of bamboo fabric. Statistical analysis also indicates that the results are significant for air permeability and water-vapor permeability of the plasma-treated bamboo fabric.

Long-term stormwater quantity and quality performance of permeable pavement systems.

PubMed

Brattebo, Benjamin O; Booth, Derek B

2003-11-01

This study examined the long-term effectiveness of permeable pavement as an alternative to traditional impervious asphalt pavement in a parking area. Four commercially available permeable pavement systems were evaluated after 6 years of daily parking usage for structural durability, ability to infiltrate precipitation, and impacts on infiltrate water quality. All four permeable pavement systems showed no major signs of wear. Virtually all rainwater infiltrated through the permeable pavements, with almost no surface runoff. The infiltrated water had significantly lower levels of copper and zinc than the direct surface runoff from the asphalt area. Motor oil was detected in 89% of samples from the asphalt runoff but not in any water sample infiltrated through the permeable pavement. Neither lead nor diesel fuel were detected in any sample. Infiltrate measured 5 years earlier displayed significantly higher concentrations of zinc and significantly lower concentrations of copper and lead.

Comparison of histamine and hyperosmotic arabinose infusion on brain capillary permeability to hydrophilic solutes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lucchesi, K.J.

1986-03-01

The effect of bilateral intracarotid infusion of histamine (HA) on capillary permeability-surface area products (PS) of two metabolically inert tracers was determined and compared to that of L(+)arabinose (ARAB) in rat brain. Ringer's solution alone, or with 1 mg/kg HA diphosphate or 1.6M ARAB added, was infused (0.9 ml over 0.5 min) into each external carotid artery (CA). Five minutes later, a bolus of /sup 14/C-sucrose and /sup 3/H-L-glucose was injected i.v. Estimates of PS for both tracers were computed by the method of Ohno et al after brain concentration was corrected for tracer within cerebral blood vessels. Brain bloodmore » volume, based on the /sup 14/C-dextran space, was the same (.016 ml/g) in discrete cortical and midbrain regions of all rats except those treated with ARAB. The latter yielded .033 ml/g, presumably due to dextran extravasation. Infusion of ARAB, HA and Ringer's increased the PS's of sucrose and L-glucose by 10x, 8x, and 3x in brain regions perfused by the internal CA's. The ratio, PS-sucrose/PS-L-glucose was unchanged by any treatment. Both ARAB and HA caused transient falls in arterial pressure, but only ARAB caused deaths (3 of 9 rats). While as effective as ARAB in opening the blood-brain barrier, HA may be safer than hyperosmotic shock to enhance delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to brain tumors.« less

Anticerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Activity of Synthesized Puerarin Derivatives

PubMed Central

Ji, Yubin; Yan, Xinjia

2016-01-01

When cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury happened in patients, multiple pathological processes occur, such as leukocyte infiltration, platelet, and complement activation, which would result in cognitive dysfunction and inflammation. Puerarin has shown protective effect on injury of neural cell. In order to enhance this protective effect of puerarin, puerarin derivatives with different log⁡P values were designed and synthesized. The original phenolic hydroxyl in the puerarin molecules was substituted in order to change the blood-brain barrier permeability and thus enhance the efficacy for preventing cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. And the structure of the newly synthesized molecules was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The mouse model of cerebral artery ischemia/reperfusion injury was established to test the anticerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury activity of the puerarin derivatives. The assays of the water maze, Y maze, brain cortex Ca2+-Mg2+-ATP enzyme, and iNOS enzyme activity were performed in this mouse model. The results showed that puerarin derivative P1-EA and P2-EA were resulting in an increased lipophilicity that enabled the derivatives to pass more efficiently through the blood-brain barrier, thus, improving the protective effects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, derivatives of puerarin may serve as promising approach to improve neuron function in ischemia-reperfusion brain injury-related disorders. PMID:27807543

Blood-brain barrier transport of an essential amino acid after cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.

PubMed

Suzuki, Toyofumi; Miyazaki, Yumiko; Ohmuro, Aya; Watanabe, Masaki; Furuishi, Takayuki; Fukami, Toshiro; Tomono, Kazuo

2013-01-01

Under pathophysiological conditions such as -cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR), damage to cerebrovascular endothelial cells causes alterations in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) function that can exacerbate neuronal cell injury and death. Clarifying changes in BBB transport in the early period of IR is important for understanding BBB function during therapy after cerebral ischemia. The present study was aimed at clarifying changes during IR in the BBB transport of L-phenylalanine (Phe) as a substrate of L-type amino acid transporter 1. An IR model was produced in mice by blood recirculation following occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Permeability of the BBB to [(3)H]Phe was measured after IR injury using the brain perfusion method. Confocal microscopy of the IR injury showed no brain penetration of fluorescent tracer, thus confirming BBB integrity during 45 min of ischemia. Tight junction opening was not observed at 30 min after reperfusion following ischemia for 45 min. At the time of IR, [(3)H]Phe uptake into the brain appeared saturated. The Michaelis constant and maximum transport velocity in the IR group was reduced by 22 % compared with those in controls. These results suggest that the intrinsic transport clearance of Phe is slightly decreased in the early phase of IR.

[Blood-brain barrier part III: therapeutic approaches to cross the blood-brain barrier and target the brain].

PubMed

Weiss, N; Miller, F; Cazaubon, S; Couraud, P-O

2010-03-01

Over the last few years, the blood-brain barrier has come to be considered as the main limitation for the treatment of neurological diseases caused by inflammatory, tumor or neurodegenerative disorders. In the blood-brain barrier, the close intercellular contact between cerebral endothelial cells due to tight junctions prevents the passive diffusion of hydrophilic components from the bloodstream into the brain. Several specific transport systems (via transporters expressed on cerebral endothelial cells) are implicated in the delivery of nutriments, ions and vitamins to the brain; other transporters expressed on cerebral endothelial cells extrude endogenous substances or xenobiotics, which have crossed the cerebral endothelium, out of the brain and into the bloodstream. Recently, several strategies have been proposed to target the brain, (i) by by-passing the blood-brain barrier by central drug administration, (ii) by increasing permeability of the blood-brain barrier, (iii) by modulating the expression and/or the activity of efflux transporters, (iv) by using the physiological receptor-dependent blood-brain barrier transport, and (v) by creating new viral or chemical vectors to cross the blood-brain barrier. This review focuses on the illustration of these different approaches. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Effect of surface preparation on gas permeability of wood

Treesearch

E.T. Choong; C.W. McMillin; F.O. Tesoro

1975-01-01

Surface preparation has a profound effect on the rate of flow of fluid through wood, particularly in the longitudinal direction of flow. For best results, the surface must be devoid of any debris and/or obstruction. The use of a sharp, thin knife appears to be an effective way of preparing samples for natural permeability measurements.

Simulation-based validation and arrival-time correction for Patlak analyses of Perfusion-CT scans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bredno, Jörg; Hom, Jason; Schneider, Thomas; Wintermark, Max

2009-02-01

Blood-brain-barrier (BBB) breakdown is a hypothesized mechanism for hemorrhagic transformation in acute stroke. The Patlak analysis of a Perfusion Computed Tomography (PCT) scan measures the BBB permeability, but the method yields higher estimates when applied to the first pass of the contrast bolus compared to a delayed phase. We present a numerical phantom that simulates vascular and parenchymal time-attenuation curves to determine the validity of permeability measurements obtained with different acquisition protocols. A network of tubes represents the major cerebral arteries ipsi- and contralateral to an ischemic event. These tubes branch off into smaller segments that represent capillary beds. Blood flow in the phantom is freely defined and simulated as non-Newtonian tubular flow. Diffusion of contrast in the vessels and permeation through vessel walls is part of the simulation. The phantom allows us to compare the results of a permeability measurement to the simulated vessel wall status. A Patlak analysis reliably detects areas with BBB breakdown for acquisitions of 240s duration, whereas results obtained from the first pass are biased in areas of reduced blood flow. Compensating for differences in contrast arrival times reduces this bias and gives good estimates of BBB permeability for PCT acquisitions of 90-150s duration.

Learning from our failures in blood-brain permeability: what can be done for new drug discovery?

PubMed

Martel, Sylvain

2015-03-01

Many existing pharmaceuticals are rendered ineffective in the treatment of cerebral diseases due to a permeability barrier well known as the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Such barrier between the blood within brain capillaries and the extracellular fluid in brain tissue has motivated several approaches aimed at delivering therapeutics to the brain. These approaches rely on strategies that can be classified as molecular modifications, the use of BBB bypassing pathways, and BBB disruptions. Although several of these approaches that have been investigated so far show promising results, none has addressed the optimization of the ratio of the dose of the drug molecules that contributes to the therapeutic effects. As such, the extensive research efforts, such as prioritizing the enhancement of the BBB permeability alone is likely to fail to provide the best therapeutic effects for a given dose if prior systemic circulation is not avoided while enhancing the spatial targeting only to regions of the brain that need treatment. Hence, new therapeutics for the brain could be synthesized to take advantage of recent technologies for non-systemic delivery and spatially targeted brain uptake.

Ignition technique for an in situ oil shale retort

DOEpatents

Cha, Chang Y.

1983-01-01

A generally flat combustion zone is formed across the entire horizontal cross-section of a fragmented permeable mass of formation particles formed in an in situ oil shale retort. The flat combustion zone is formed by either sequentially igniting regions of the surface of the fragmented permeable mass at successively lower elevations or by igniting the entire surface of the fragmented permeable mass and controlling the rate of advance of various portions of the combustion zone.

Permeable Pavement Research - Edison, New Jersey

EPA Science Inventory

This presentation provides the background and summary of results collected at the permeable pavement parking lot monitored at the EPA facility in Edison, NJ. This parking lot is surfaced with permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP), pervious concrete, and porous asphalt. ...

Pharmacokinetic Study of Piracetam in Focal Cerebral Ischemic Rats.

PubMed

Paliwal, Pankaj; Dash, Debabrata; Krishnamurthy, Sairam

2018-04-01

Cerebral ischemia affects hepatic enzymes and brain permeability extensively. Piracetam was investigated up to phase III of clinical trials and there is lack of data on brain penetration in cerebral ischemic condition. Thus, knowledge of the pharmacokinetics and brain penetration of piracetam during ischemic condition would aid to improve pharmacotherapeutics in ischemic stroke. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2 h in male Wistar rats followed by reperfusion. After 24 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion or 22 h of reperfusion, piracetam was administered for pharmacokinetic, brain penetration, and pharmacological experiments. In pharmacokinetic study, blood samples were collected at different time points after 200-mg/kg (oral) and 75-mg/kg (intravenous) administration of piracetam through right external jugular vein cannulation. In brain penetration study, the cerebrospinal fluid, systemic blood, portal blood, and brain samples were collected at pre-designated time points after 200-mg/kg oral administration of piracetam. In a separate experiment, the pharmacological effect of the single oral dose of piracetam in middle cerebral artery occlusion was assessed at a dose of 200 mg/kg. All the pharmacokinetic parameters of piracetam including area under curve (AUC 0-24 ), maximum plasma concentration (C max ), time to reach the maximum plasma concentration (t max ), elimination half-life (t 1/2 ), volume of distribution (V z ), total body clearance, mean residence time, and bioavailability were found to be similar in ischemic stroke condition except for brain penetration. Piracetam exposure (AUC 0-2 ) in brain and CSF were found to be 2.4- and 3.1-fold higher, respectively, in ischemic stroke compared to control rats. Piracetam significantly reduced infarct volume by 35.77% caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion. There was no change in the pharmacokinetic parameters of piracetam in the ischemic stroke model except for brain penetration. This indicates that variables influencing brain penetration may not be limiting factors for use of piracetam in ischemic stroke.

Dl-3-n-butylphthalide protects the blood brain barrier of cerebral infarction by activating the Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway in mice.

PubMed

Zhao, Y-J; Nai, Y; Ma, Q-S; Song, D-J; Ma, Y-B; Zhang, L-H; Mi, L-X

2018-04-01

The aim of this study was to explore whether Dl-3-n-butylphthalide (DBT) could protect blood-brain barrier (BBB) of mice with experimental cerebral infarction and the relevant mechanism. Adult male CD-1 mice were selected as the study objects. The permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was prepared by Longa's modified suture-occluded method. The mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: the sham operation group (Sham group), the cerebral infarction model group (CI group) and the DBT (120 mg/kg) intervention group (DBT group). Neurologic function deficits were evaluated by Longa's modified scoring method after 24 h of permanent MCAO. The wet and dry weight method was used for measuring water content in brain tissues. 2% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining method was applied to determine the volume of cerebral infarction. Changes in the protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression levels of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), claudin-5, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in ischemic brain tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Ultrastructure changes in BBBs were observed under an electron microscope. DBT improved the neurologic function deficits of mice and reduced the infarction volume of mice with cerebral infarction. DBT alleviated edema and decreased the permeability of BBBs of mice with cerebral infarction. DBT down-regulated the expression of MMP-9 and up-regulated the expression of claudin-5 in brain tissues of mice with cerebral infarction. DBT increased the expressions of VEGF and GFAP. DBT improved the ultrastructure in capillary endothelial cells of BBBs and increased the expressions of Nrf-2 and HO-1. DBT may protect BBB by activating the Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway, thus achieving its protective effect on the brain.

Microglia cyclooxygenase-2 activity in experimental gliomas: possible role in cerebral edema formation.

PubMed

Badie, Behnam; Schartner, Jill M; Hagar, Aaron R; Prabakaran, Sakthivel; Peebles, Todd R; Bartley, Becky; Lapsiwala, Samir; Resnick, Daniel K; Vorpahl, Jessica

2003-02-01

Cerebral edema is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in patients harboring malignant gliomas. To examine the role of inflammatory cells in brain edema formation, we studied the expression cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, a key enzyme in arachidonic acid metabolism, by microglia in the C6 rodent glioma model. The expression of COX-2 in primary microglia cultures obtained from intracranial rat C6 gliomas was examined using reverse transcription-PCR, Western analysis, and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) enzyme immunoassay. Blood-tumor barrier permeability was studied in the same tumor model using magnetic resonance imaging. In contrast to C6 glioma cells, microglia isolated from intracranial C6 tumors produced high levels of PGE(2) through a COX-2-dependent pathway. To test whether the observed microglia COX-2 activity played a role in brain edema formation in gliomas, tumor-bearing rats were treated with rofecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor. Rofecoxib was as effective as dexamethasone in decreasing the diffusion of contrast material into the brain parenchyma (P = 0.01, rofecoxib versus control animals), suggesting a reduction in blood-tumor barrier permeability. These findings suggest that glioma-infiltrating microglia are a major source of PGE(2) production through the COX-2 pathway and support the use of COX-2 inhibitors as possible alternatives to glucocorticoids in the treatment of peritumoral edema in patients with malignant brain tumors.

[Correlations of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a combined preparation containing pyrrolidone and pyroglutamic acid].

PubMed

Sariev, A K; Lun'shina, E V; Zherdev, V P; Mirzoian, N R

2006-01-01

Experiments showed that a new drug composition containing pyrrolidone and pyroglutamic acid exhibits a significant cerebrovascular effect upon peroral administration in rats. The pharmacokinetics of pyrrolidone monitored upon its combined administration with pyroglutamic acid shows that this drug, as a component of the composition, is characterized by a high absolute bioavailability and permeability trough the blood-brain barrier. The presence of pyroglutamic acid slows down the absorption and elimination of pyrrolidone and enhances its distribution in the organs and tissues. There is a correlation between the concentration of pyrrolidone in the brain, on the one hand, and the levels of cerebral microcirculation and arterial pressure on the other hand. An increase in the concentration of pyrrolidone in the brain is accompanied by more intensive cerebral blood flow and by a decrease in the arterial pressure.

Measuring Clogging with Pressure Transducers in Permeable Pavement Strips

EPA Science Inventory

Two issues that have a negative affect on the long term hydrologic performance of permeable pavement systems are surface clogging and clogging at the interface with the underlying soil. Surface clogging limits infiltration capacity and results in bypass if runoff rate exceeds in...

Monitoring Strategies in Permeable Pavement Systems to Optimize Maintenance Scheduling

EPA Science Inventory

As the surface in a permeable pavement system clogs and performance decreases, maintenance is required to preserve the design function. Currently, guidance is limited for scheduling maintenance on an as needed basis. Previous research has shown that surface clogging in a permea...

Monitoring Strategies in Permeable Pavement Systems to Optimize Maintenance Scheduling - abstract

EPA Science Inventory

As the surface in a permeable pavement system clogs and performance decreases, maintenance is required to preserve the design function. Currently, guidance is limited for scheduling maintenance on an as needed basis. Previous research has shown that surface clogging in a permea...

Techniques to Determine Maintenace Frequency of Permeable Pavement Systems with Time Domain Reflectometers (TDRs

EPA Science Inventory

As the surface clogs in permeable pavement systems, they lose effectiveness and require maintenance. There is limited direct guidance for determining when maintenance is needed to prevent surface runoff bypass. Research is being conducted using multiple time domain reflectomete...

Evaluation of Surface and Subsurface Processes in Permeable Pavement Infiltration Trenches

EPA Science Inventory

The hydrologic performance of permeable pavement systems can be affected by clogging of the pavement surface and/or clogging at the interface where the subsurface storage layer meets the underlying soil. As infiltration and exfiltration are the primary functional mechanisms for ...

Pore-scale lattice Boltzmann simulation of micro-gaseous flow considering surface diffusion effect

DOE PAGES

Wang, Junjian; Kang, Qinjun; Chen, Li; ...

2016-11-21

Some recent studies have shown that adsorbed gas and its surface diffusion have profound influence on micro-gaseous flow through organic pores in shale gas reservoirs. Here, a multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) LB model is adopted to estimate the apparent permeability of organic shale and a new boundary condition, which combines Langmuir adsorption theory with Maxwellian diffusive reflection boundary condition, is proposed to capture gas slip and surface diffusion of adsorbed gas. The simulation results match well with previous studies carried out using Molecular Dynamics (MD) and show that Maxwell slip boundary condition fails to characterize gas transport in the near wall regionmore » under the influence of the adsorbed gas. The total molar flux can be either enhanced or reduced depending on variations in adsorbed gas coverage and surface diffusion velocity. The effects of pore width, pressure as well as Langmuir properties on apparent permeability of methane transport in organic pores are further studied. It is found that the surface transport plays a significant role in determining the apparent permeability, and the variation of apparent permeability with pore size and pressure is affected by the adsorption and surface diffusion.« less

Effect of surface protection on the permeability of eroded dentin

PubMed Central

Martins, Vivian Leite; da Costa Ramos, Rodrigo Vitoria; Pimenta Lima, Max José; Correia de Araújo, Roberto Paulo; Cavalcanti, Andrea Nóbrega

2018-01-01

Context: Eroded dentin might present the opening of dentinal tubules, increasing permeability, and consequently dentinal hypersensitivity. Aims: This study evaluated the permeability of dentin surfaces exposed to different levels of erosion and methods of surface protection. Materials and Methods: Dentine samples (3 mm × 3 mm × 1 mm) were prepared from bovine incisors (n = 90) and divided into three groups according to the method of controlling erosive challenge: Negative control, topical fluoride application, and glass ionomer sealant. Subsequently, they were randomly divided into three subgroups according to the exposure of simulated gastric acid solution (Demineralization – DES) (5% HCl, pH = 2.2), and remineralization (RE); negative control, 9 and 18 cycles DES-RE. The dentin permeability was measured by assessing the hydraulic conductance (μl/min.cmH2O.cm2). Statistical analysis was performed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. Results and Conclusions: Greater permeability was observed after 18 erosive cycles, followed by exposure to 9 cycles and negative control (P < 0.0001). The application of glass ionomer sealant resulted in a major reduction of the hydraulic conductivity, regardless of the erosive challenge. Control groups and topical fluoride application showed similar results. In conclusion, the severity of erosive challenge contributed to the increase of dentin permeability. Besides, the glass ionomer sealant was the only protection agent that promoted significant effects in dentin permeability. PMID:29628641

Systematization and distribution of the middle cerebral artery on the brain surface in pampas fox (Pseudalopex gymnocercus).

PubMed

Depedrini, J S; Campos, R

2007-12-01

The present study has analysed 30 pampas fox brains (Pseudalopex gymnocercus), injected with latex, aiming to systematize and describe the distribution and vascularization territories of the middle cerebral artery. After being originated from the rostral branch of the internal carotid artery this vessel formed the following collateral branches: rostral choroidal artery, rostral and caudal central branches and cortical branches. Before crossing the lateral rhinal sulcus, the common trunk of the middle cerebral artery frequently bifurcated in a rostral and a caudal branch. In a smaller amount, the common trunk did not show any bifurcation, ramifying in arborescence. The vascular territory of the pampas fox middle cerebral artery included the lateral cerebral fossa, the lateral third of the olfactory trigone, the two rostral thirds of the piriform lobe, the lateral olfactory tract and most of the convex surface of the cerebral hemisphere, except for the more rostromedial areas of the frontal lobe bordering the endomarginal sulcus in the parietal and occipital lobes as well as the transverse fissure at the caudal pole of the cerebral hemisphere.

Evaluation of Surface Resistivity Measurements as an Alternative to the Rapid Chloride Permeability Test for Quality Assurance and Acceptance - Implementation Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-10-01

Many contracting agencies currently use permeability specifications in portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements and structures. This project followed the implementation of the surface resistivity test (TR 233) on a field project in Louisiana. Additio...

Use of Time Domain Reflectometers (TDRs) in Permeable Pavement Systems to Predict Maintenance Needs and Effectiveness

EPA Science Inventory

As the surface in permeable pavement systems clogs, infiltration capacity decreases, so maintenance is required to maintain hydrologic performance. There is limited direct guidance for determining when maintenance is needed to prevent surface runoff bypass. Research is being co...

Evaluation of surface resistivity measurements as an alternative to the rapid chloride permeability test for quality assurance and acceptance.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-07-01

Many entities currently use permeability specifications in portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements and structures. This project investigated the use of a surface resistivity device as an indication of concretes ability to resist chloride ion pene...

Long-term Metal Performance of Three Permeable Pavements ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA constructed a 4,000-m2 parking lot surfaced with three permeable pavements (permeable interlocking concrete pavers, pervious concrete, and porous asphalt) on the Edison Environmental Center in Edison, NJ in 2009. Samples from each permeable pavement infiltrate were collected for six years beginning in January 2010 and analyzed for twenty-two metals. Although the infiltrate metals concentrations varied by surface, metal concentrations in more than 99% of the permeable pavement infiltrate samples met both the groundwater effluent limitations and maximum contaminant levels in national primary drinking water regulations for barium, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel and zinc. Arsenic, cadmium, lead and antimony met those standards in 60% to 98% of the samples with no measurable difference found among pavements. Aluminum and iron in pervious concrete and porous asphalt infiltrates met standards at more than 90%, however permeable interlocking concrete paver infiltrates have 50% and 93% samples exceeds standards, respectively. Concentrations of arsenic, iron, potassium, lithium, magnesium, antimony, tin, manganese, and zinc in all permeable pavement infiltrates decreased with time, whereas, aluminum, barium, calcium, chromium and strontium in porous asphalt infiltrates increased. Most metal concentrations in permeable pavement infiltrates either exhibited no significant difference between snow/no-snow seasons or showed statistically larger concentrations

Inhibition of CD147 (Cluster of Differentiation 147) Ameliorates Acute Ischemic Stroke in Mice by Reducing Thromboinflammation.

PubMed

Jin, Rong; Xiao, Adam Y; Chen, Rui; Granger, D Neil; Li, Guohong

2017-12-01

Inflammation and thrombosis currently are recognized as critical contributors to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. CD147 (cluster of differentiation 147), also known as extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, can function as a key mediator of inflammatory and immune responses. CD147 expression is increased in the brain after cerebral ischemia, but its role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke remains unknown. In this study, we show that CD147 acts as a key player in ischemic stroke by driving thrombotic and inflammatory responses. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in C57BL/6 mice by a 60-minute transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Animals were treated with anti-CD147 function-blocking antibody (αCD147) or isotype control antibody. Blood-brain barrier permeability, thrombus formation, and microvascular patency were assessed 24 hours after ischemia. Infarct size, neurological deficits, and inflammatory cells invaded in the brain were assessed 72 hours after ischemia. CD147 expression was rapidly increased in ischemic brain endothelium after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Inhibition of CD147 reduced infarct size and improved functional outcome on day 3 after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. The neuroprotective effects were associated with (1) prevented blood-brain barrier damage, (2) decreased intravascular fibrin and platelet deposition, which in turn reduced thrombosis and increased cerebral perfusion, and (3) reduced brain inflammatory cell infiltration. The underlying mechanism may include reduced NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) activation, MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9) activity, and PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) expression in brain microvascular endothelial cells. Inhibition of CD147 ameliorates acute ischemic stroke by reducing thromboinflammation. CD147 might represent a novel and promising therapeutic target for ischemic stroke and possibly other thromboinflammatory disorders. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Methods to Use Surface Infiltration Tests in Permeable Pavement Systems to Determine Maintenance Frequency

EPA Science Inventory

Currently, there is limited guidance on selecting test sites to measure surface infiltration rates in permeable pavement systems to determine maintenance frequency. The ASTM method (ASTM C1701) for measuring infiltration rate of in-place pervious concrete suggest to either (1) p...

Surface Infiltration Rates of Permeable Surfaces: Six Month Update (November 2009 through April 2010)

EPA Science Inventory

At the end of October 2009, EPA opened a parking lot on the Edison Environmental Center that included three parking rows of permeable pavement. The construction was a cooperative effort among EPA’s Office of Administration and Resources Management, National Risk Management Resea...

Evaluation of Surface Resistivity Measurements as an Alternative to the Rapid Chloride Permeability Test for Quality Assurance and Acceptance : Tech Summary

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-10-01

Many contracting agencies currently use permeability specifi cations in Portland cement concrete (PCC) : pavements and structures. This project followed the implementation of the surface resistivity test TR 233 : on a fi eld project in Louisiana. Add...

Performances of Metal Concentrations from Three Permeable Pavement Infiltrates

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designed and constructed a 4000-m2 parking lot in Edison, New Jersey in 2009. The parking lot is surfaced with three permeable pavements: permeable interlocking concrete pavers, pervious concrete, and porous asphalt. Water sampling was con...

Performances of Metal Concentrations from Three Permeable Pavement Infiltrates

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency constructed a 4000-m2 parking lot in Edison, New Jersey in 2009. The parking lot is surfaced with three permeable pavements [permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP), pervious concrete (PC), and porous asphalt (PA)]. Samples of each p...

Permeability study of cancellous bone and its idealised structures.

PubMed

Syahrom, Ardiyansyah; Abdul Kadir, Mohammed Rafiq; Harun, Muhamad Nor; Öchsner, Andreas

2015-01-01

Artificial bone is a suitable alternative to autografts and allografts, however their use is still limited. Though there were numerous reports on their structural properties, permeability studies of artificial bones were comparably scarce. This study focused on the development of idealised, structured models of artificial cancellous bone and compared their permeability values with bone surface area and porosity. Cancellous bones from fresh bovine femur were extracted and cleaned following an established protocol. The samples were scanned using micro-computed tomography (μCT) and three-dimensional models of the cancellous bones were reconstructed for morphology study. Seven idealised and structured cancellous bone models were then developed and fabricated via rapid prototyping technique. A test-rig was developed and permeability tests were performed on the artificial and real cancellous bones. The results showed a linear correlation between the permeability and the porosity as well as the bone surface area. The plate-like idealised structure showed a similar value of permeability to the real cancellous bones. Copyright © 2014 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

a Predictive Model of Permeability for Fractal-Based Rough Rock Fractures during Shear

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Na; Jiang, Yujing; Liu, Richeng; Li, Bo; Zhang, Zhenyu

This study investigates the roles of fracture roughness, normal stress and shear displacement on the fluid flow characteristics through three-dimensional (3D) self-affine fractal rock fractures, whose surfaces are generated using the modified successive random additions (SRA) algorithm. A series of numerical shear-flow tests under different normal stresses were conducted on rough rock fractures to calculate the evolutions of fracture aperture and permeability. The results show that the rough surfaces of fractal-based fractures can be described using the scaling parameter Hurst exponent (H), in which H = 3 - Df, where Df is the fractal dimension of 3D single fractures. The joint roughness coefficient (JRC) distribution of fracture profiles follows a Gauss function with a negative linear relationship between H and average JRC. The frequency curves of aperture distributions change from sharp to flat with increasing shear displacement, indicating a more anisotropic and heterogeneous flow pattern. Both the mean aperture and permeability of fracture increase with the increment of surface roughness and decrement of normal stress. At the beginning of shear, the permeability increases remarkably and then gradually becomes steady. A predictive model of permeability using the mean mechanical aperture is proposed and the validity is verified by comparisons with the experimental results reported in literature. The proposed model provides a simple method to approximate permeability of fractal-based rough rock fractures during shear using fracture aperture distribution that can be easily obtained from digitized fracture surface information.

Enhancement and inhibition effects on the corneal permeability of timolol maleate: Polymers, cyclodextrins and chelating agents.

PubMed

Rodríguez, Isabel; Vázquez, José Antonio; Pastrana, Lorenzo; Khutoryanskiy, Vitaliy V

2017-08-30

This study investigates how both bioadhesive polymers (chitosan, hyaluronic acid and alginate) and permeability enhancers (ethylene glycol- bis(2-aminoethylether)- N, N, N', N'- tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin) influence the permeability of the anti-glaucoma drug timolol maleate through ex vivo bovine corneas. Our results showed that only the permeability enhancers alone were able to increase drug permeability, whereas the polymers significantly reduced drug permeation, and however, they increased the pre-corneal residence of timolol. Ternary systems (polymer-enhancer-drug) showed a reduced drug permeability compared to the polymers alone. Fluorescence microscopy analysis of the epithelium surface confirmed there was no evidence of epithelial disruption caused by these formulations, suggesting that polymer-enhancer interactions reduce drug solubilization and counteract the disruptive effect of the permeability enhancers on the surface of the cornea. Further mucoadhesive tests, revealed a stable interaction of chitosan and hyaluronic acid with the epithelium, while alginate showed poor mucoadhesive properties. The differences in mucoadhesion correlated with the permeability of timolol maleate observed, i.e. formulations containing mucoadhesive polymers showed lower drug permeabilities. The results of the present study indicate polymers acting as an additional barrier towards drug permeability which is even more evident in the presence of permeability enhancers like EGTA and hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin. Then, this study highlights the need to adequately select additives intended for ocular applications since interactions between them can have opposite results to what expected in terms of drug permeability. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Permeability predictions for sand-clogged Portland cement pervious concrete pavement systems.

PubMed

Haselbach, Liv M; Valavala, Srinivas; Montes, Felipe

2006-10-01

Pervious concrete is an alternative paving surface that can be used to reduce the nonpoint source pollution effects of stormwater runoff from paved surfaces such as roadways and parking lots by allowing some of the rainfall to permeate into the ground below. This infiltration rate may be adversely affected by clogging of the system, particularly clogging or covering by sand in coastal areas. A theoretical relation was developed between the effective permeability of a sand-clogged pervious concrete block, the permeability of sand, and the porosity of the unclogged block. Permeabilities were then measured for Portland cement pervious concrete systems fully covered with extra fine sand in a flume using simulated rainfalls. The experimental results correlated well with the theoretical calculated permeability of the pervious concrete system for pervious concrete systems fully covered on the surface with sand. Two different slopes (2% and 10%) were used. Rainfall rates were simulated for the combination of direct rainfall (passive runoff) and for additional stormwater runoff from adjacent areas (active runoff). A typical pervious concrete block will allow water to pass through at flow rates greater than 0.2 cm/s and a typical extra fine sand will have a permeability of approximately 0.02 cm/s. The limit of the system with complete sand coverage resulted in an effective system permeability of approximately 0.004 cm/s which is similar to the rainfall intensity of a 30 min duration, 100-year frequency event in the southeastern United States. The results obtained are important in designing and evaluating pervious concrete as a paving surface within watershed management systems for controlling the quantity of runoff.

The Effect of an Experimental Missile Wound to the Brain on Brain Electrolytes, Regional Cerebral Blood Flow and Blood Brain Barrier Permeability.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-02-10

lung: 2 of 76 missile-wounded cats died from fulminant lung failure - C and probable neurogenic pulmonary edema. Phenomena affecting lung function w...have observed at least 3 mild cases of pulmonary decompensation plus 2 fulminating , fatal instances of neurogenic pulmonary edema. These findings suggest...can be artificially elevated owing to their rapid synthesis following decapitation and before freezing. This process itself subjects brain cells to

Identifying homologous anatomical landmarks on reconstructed magnetic resonance images of the human cerebral cortical surface

PubMed Central

MAUDGIL, D. D.; FREE, S. L.; SISODIYA, S. M.; LEMIEUX, L.; WOERMANN, F. G.; FISH, D. R.; SHORVON, S. D.

1998-01-01

Guided by a review of the anatomical literature, 36 sulci on the human cerebral cortical surface were designated as homologous. These sulci were assessed for visibility on 3-dimensional images reconstructed from magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brains of 20 normal volunteers by 2 independent observers. Those sulci that were found to be reproducibly identifiable were used to define 24 landmarks around the cortical surface. The interobserver and intraobserver variabilities of measurement of the 24 landmarks were calculated. These reliably reproducible landmarks can be used for detailed morphometric analysis, and may prove helpful in the analysis of suspected cerebral cortical structured abnormalities in patients with such conditions as epilepsy. PMID:10029189

A role for intermediate radial glia in the tangential expansion of the mammalian cerebral cortex.

PubMed

Reillo, Isabel; de Juan Romero, Camino; García-Cabezas, Miguel Ángel; Borrell, Víctor

2011-07-01

The cerebral cortex of large mammals undergoes massive surface area expansion and folding during development. Specific mechanisms to orchestrate the growth of the cortex in surface area rather than in thickness are likely to exist, but they have not been identified. Analyzing multiple species, we have identified a specialized type of progenitor cell that is exclusive to mammals with a folded cerebral cortex, which we named intermediate radial glia cell (IRGC). IRGCs express Pax6 but not Tbr2, have a radial fiber contacting the pial surface but not the ventricular surface, and are found in both the inner subventricular zone and outer subventricular zone (OSVZ). We find that IRGCs are massively generated in the OSVZ, thus augmenting the numbers of radial fibers. Fanning out of this expanding radial fiber scaffold promotes the tangential dispersion of radially migrating neurons, allowing for the growth in surface area of the cortical sheet. Accordingly, the tangential expansion of particular cortical regions was preceded by high proliferation in the underlying OSVZ, whereas the experimental reduction of IRGCs impaired the tangential dispersion of neurons and resulted in a smaller cortical surface. Thus, the generation of IRGCs plays a key role in the tangential expansion of the mammalian cerebral cortex.

[Relation between expression of cerebral beta-APP in the chronic alcoholism rats and death caused by TSAH].

PubMed

Wei, Lai; Lei, Huai-Cheng; Yu, Xiao-Jun; Lai, Xiao-Ping; Qian, Hong; Xu, Xiao-Hu; Zhu, Fang-Cheng

2013-04-01

By observing the cerebral beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) expression in the chronic alcoholism rats with slight cerebral injury, to discuss the correlation of chronic alcoholism and death caused by traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage (TSAH). Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into watering group, watering group with strike, alcoholism group and alcoholism group with strike. Among them, the alcohol was used for continuous 4 weeks in alcoholism groups and the concussion was made in groups with strike. In each group, HE staining and immunohistochemical staining of the cerebral tissues were done and the results were analyzed by the histopathologic image system. In watering group, there was no abnormal. In watering group with strike, mild neuronic congestion was found. In alcoholism group, vascular texture on cerebral surface was found. And the neurons arranged in disorder with dilated intercellular space. In alcoholism group with strike, diffuse congestion on cerebral surface was found. And there was TSAH with thick-layer patches around brainstem following irregular axonotmesis. The quantity of beta-APP IOD in alcoholism group was significantly higher in the frontal lobe, hippocampus, cerebellum, brainstem than those in watering group with strike and alcoholism group with strike. The cerebral tissues with chronic alcoholism, due to the decreasing tolerance, could cause fatal TSAH and pathological changes in cerebral tissues of rats under slight cerebral injury.

On the Examination of Darcy Permeability a Thin Fibrous Porous Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Zenghao; Wang, Qiuyun; Wu, Qianhong; Vucbmss Team

2016-11-01

In this paper, we report a novel experimental approach to investigate the Darcy permeability of a soft and thin fibrous porous layer. The project is inspired by recent studies involved compression of very thin porous films and the resultant pore fluid flow inside the confined porous structure. The Darcy permeability plays a critical role during the process, which however, is tricky to measure due to the very thin nature of the porous media. In the current study, a special micro-fluidic device is developed that consists of a rectangular flow channel with adjustable gap height ranging from 20 mm to 0.5 mm. Air is forced through the thin gap filled with testing fibrous materials. By measuring the flow rate and the pressure drop, we have successfully obtained the Darcy permeability of different thin porous sheets at different compression ratios. Furthermore, the surface area of the fibers are evaluated using a Micromeritics® ASAP 2020 (Accelerated Surface Area and Porosimetry) system. We found that, although the functions relating the permeability and porosities are different for different fibrous materials, these functions collapse to a single relationship if one express the permeability as a function of the solid phase surface area per unit volume. This finding provides a useful approach to evaluate the permeability of very thin fibrous porous sheet, which otherwise is difficult to measure directly. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation under Award #1511096.

The influence of different factors on in vitro enamel erosion.

PubMed

Lussi, A; Jäggi, T; Schärer, S

1993-01-01

The aim of this study was to use two demineralization test methods to analyze the erosive potential of beverages and foodstuffs. In addition, the surface microhardness test and the iodide permeability test were compared. Surface microhardness and iodide permeability were measured before and after exposure. To characterize the beverages and foodstuffs the content of phosphate, calcium and fluoride, pH, the titrable amount of base to pH 5.5 and 7.0 as well as the buffer capacity at pH 5.5 were determined. Sprite light showed the highest significant decrease in surface microhardness (p < or = 0.05) followed by grapefruit juice, apple juice and salad dressing. The highest significant increase in iodide permeability (p < or = 0.05) was caused by exposure to grapefruit juice followed by apple juice (Sprite light was not tested). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the erosive capacity of different drinks, juices and foodstuffs are statistically significantly associated with their acidity, pH values, phosphate and fluoride contents as well as the baseline surface microhardness or iodide permeability values of the exposed enamel.

Diabetic microangiopathy: impact of impaired cerebral vasoreactivity and delayed angiogenesis after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion on stroke damage and cerebral repair in mice.

PubMed

Poittevin, Marine; Bonnin, Philippe; Pimpie, Cynthia; Rivière, Léa; Sebrié, Catherine; Dohan, Anthony; Pocard, Marc; Charriaut-Marlangue, Christiane; Kubis, Nathalie

2015-03-01

Diabetes increases the risk of stroke by three, increases related mortality, and delays recovery. We aimed to characterize functional and structural alterations in cerebral microvasculature before and after experimental cerebral ischemia in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes. We hypothesized that preexisting brain microvascular disease in patients with diabetes might partly explain increased stroke severity and impact on outcome. Diabetes was induced in 4-week-old C57Bl/6J mice by intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). After 8 weeks of diabetes, the vasoreactivity of the neurovascular network to CO2 was abolished and was not reversed by nitric oxide (NO) donor administration; endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) mRNA, phospho-eNOS protein, nNOS, and phospho-nNOS protein were significantly decreased; angiogenic and vessel maturation factors (vascular endothelial growth factor a [VEGFa], angiopoietin 1 (Ang1), Ang2, transforming growth factor-β [TGF-β], and platelet-derived growth factor-β [PDGF-β]) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) occludin and zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) expression were significantly decreased; and microvessel density was increased without changes in ultrastructural imaging. After permanent focal cerebral ischemia induction, infarct volume and neurological deficit were significantly increased at D1 and D7, and neuronal death (TUNEL+ / NeuN+ cells) and BBB permeability (extravasation of Evans blue) at D1. At D7, CD31+ / Ki67+ double-immunolabeled cells and VEGFa and Ang2 expression were significantly increased, indicating delayed angiogenesis. We show that cerebral microangiopathy thus partly explains stroke severity in diabetes. © 2015 by the American Diabetes Association. Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered.

Blood -brain barrier disruption was less under isoflurane than pentobarbital anesthesia via a PI3K/Akt pathway in early cerebral ischemia.

PubMed

Chi, Oak Z; Mellender, Scott J; Kiss, Geza K; Liu, Xia; Weiss, Harvey R

2017-05-01

One of the important factors altering the degree of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in cerebral ischemia is the anesthetic used. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway has been reported to be involved in modulating BBB permeability and in isoflurane induced neuroprotection. This study was performed to compare the degree of BBB disruption in focal cerebral ischemia under isoflurane vs pentobarbital anesthesia and to determine whether inhibition of PI3K/Akt would affect the disruption in the early stage of focal cerebral ischemia. Permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion was performed in rats under 1.4% isoflurane or pentobarbital (50mg/kg i.p.) anesthesia with controlled ventilation. In half of each group LY294002, which is a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, was applied on the ischemic cortex immediately after MCA occlusion. After one hour of MCA occlusion, the transfer coefficient (K i ) of 14 C-α-aminoisobutyric acid ( 14 C-AIB) was determined to quantify the degree of BBB disruption. MCA occlusion increased the K i both in the isoflurane and pentobarbital anesthetized rats. However, the value of K i was lower under isoflurane (11.5±6.0μL/g/min) than under pentobarbital (18.3±7.1μL/g/min) anesthesia. The K i of the contralateral cortex of the pentobarbital group was higher (+74%) than that of the isoflurane group. Application of LY294002 on the ischemic cortex increased the K i (+99%) only in the isoflurane group. The degree of BBB disruption by MCA occlusion was significantly lower under isoflurane than pentobarbital anesthesia in the early stage of cerebral ischemia. Our data demonstrated the importance of choice of anesthetics and suggest that PI3K/Akt signaling pathway plays a significant role in altering BBB disruption in cerebral ischemia during isoflurane but not during pentobarbital anesthesia. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Aspects on the Physiological and Biochemical Foundations of Neurocritical Care

PubMed Central

Nordström, Carl-Henrik; Koskinen, Lars-Owe; Olivecrona, Magnus

2017-01-01

Neurocritical care (NCC) is a branch of intensive care medicine characterized by specific physiological and biochemical monitoring techniques necessary for identifying cerebral adverse events and for evaluating specific therapies. Information is primarily obtained from physiological variables related to intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) and from physiological and biochemical variables related to cerebral energy metabolism. Non-surgical therapies developed for treating increased ICP are based on knowledge regarding transport of water across the intact and injured blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the regulation of CBF. Brain volume is strictly controlled as the BBB permeability to crystalloids is very low restricting net transport of water across the capillary wall. Cerebral pressure autoregulation prevents changes in intracranial blood volume and intracapillary hydrostatic pressure at variations in arterial blood pressure. Information regarding cerebral oxidative metabolism is obtained from measurements of brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2) and biochemical data obtained from intracerebral microdialysis. As interstitial lactate/pyruvate (LP) ratio instantaneously reflects shifts in intracellular cytoplasmatic redox state, it is an important indicator of compromised cerebral oxidative metabolism. The combined information obtained from PbtO2, LP ratio, and the pattern of biochemical variables reveals whether impaired oxidative metabolism is due to insufficient perfusion (ischemia) or mitochondrial dysfunction. Intracerebral microdialysis and PbtO2 give information from a very small volume of tissue. Accordingly, clinical interpretation of the data must be based on information of the probe location in relation to focal brain damage. Attempts to evaluate global cerebral energy state from microdialysis of intraventricular fluid and from the LP ratio of the draining venous blood have recently been presented. To be of clinical relevance, the information from all monitoring techniques should be presented bedside online. Accordingly, in the future, the chemical variables obtained from microdialysis will probably be analyzed by biochemical sensors. PMID:28674514

The basic nonuniformity of the cerebral cortex

PubMed Central

Herculano-Houzel, Suzana; Collins, Christine E.; Wong, Peiyan; Kaas, Jon H.; Lent, Roberto

2008-01-01

Evolutionary changes in the size of the cerebral cortex, a columnar structure, often occur through the addition or subtraction of columnar modules with the same number of neurons underneath a unit area of cortical surface. This view is based on the work of Rockel et al. [Rockel AJ, Hiorns RW, Powell TP (1980) The basic uniformity in structure of the neocortex. Brain 103:221–244], who found a steady number of approximately 110 neurons underneath a surface area of 750 μm2 (147,000 underneath 1 mm2) of the cerebral cortex of five species from different mammalian orders. These results have since been either corroborated or disputed by different groups. Here, we show that the number of neurons underneath 1 mm2 of the cerebral cortical surface of nine primate species and the closely related Tupaia sp. is not constant and varies by three times across species. We found that cortical thickness is not inversely proportional to neuronal density across species and that total cortical surface area increases more slowly than, rather than linearly with, the number of neurons underneath it. The number of neurons beneath a unit area of cortical surface varies linearly with neuronal density, a parameter that is neither related to cortical size nor total number of neurons. Our finding of a variable number of neurons underneath a unit area of the cerebral cortex across primate species indicates that models of cortical organization cannot assume that cortical columns in different primates consist of invariant numbers of neurons. PMID:18689685

The basic nonuniformity of the cerebral cortex.

PubMed

Herculano-Houzel, Suzana; Collins, Christine E; Wong, Peiyan; Kaas, Jon H; Lent, Roberto

2008-08-26

Evolutionary changes in the size of the cerebral cortex, a columnar structure, often occur through the addition or subtraction of columnar modules with the same number of neurons underneath a unit area of cortical surface. This view is based on the work of Rockel et al. [Rockel AJ, Hiorns RW, Powell TP (1980) The basic uniformity in structure of the neocortex. Brain 103:221-244], who found a steady number of approximately 110 neurons underneath a surface area of 750 microm(2) (147,000 underneath 1 mm(2)) of the cerebral cortex of five species from different mammalian orders. These results have since been either corroborated or disputed by different groups. Here, we show that the number of neurons underneath 1 mm(2) of the cerebral cortical surface of nine primate species and the closely related Tupaia sp. is not constant and varies by three times across species. We found that cortical thickness is not inversely proportional to neuronal density across species and that total cortical surface area increases more slowly than, rather than linearly with, the number of neurons underneath it. The number of neurons beneath a unit area of cortical surface varies linearly with neuronal density, a parameter that is neither related to cortical size nor total number of neurons. Our finding of a variable number of neurons underneath a unit area of the cerebral cortex across primate species indicates that models of cortical organization cannot assume that cortical columns in different primates consist of invariant numbers of neurons.

Application of histogram analysis for the evaluation of vascular permeability in glioma by the K2 parameter obtained with the dynamic susceptibility contrast method: Comparisons with Ktrans obtained with the dynamic contrast enhance method and cerebral blood volume.

PubMed

Taoka, Toshiaki; Kawai, Hisashi; Nakane, Toshiki; Hori, Saeka; Ochi, Tomoko; Miyasaka, Toshiteru; Sakamoto, Masahiko; Kichikawa, Kimihiko; Naganawa, Shinji

2016-09-01

The "K2" value is a factor that represents the vascular permeability of tumors and can be calculated from datasets obtained with the dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) method. The purpose of the current study was to correlate K2 with Ktrans, which is a well-established permeability parameter obtained with the dynamic contrast enhance (DCE) method, and determine the usefulness of K2 for glioma grading with histogram analysis. The subjects were 22 glioma patients (Grade II: 5, III: 6, IV: 11) who underwent DSC studies, including eight patients in which both DSC and DCE studies were performed on separate days within 10days. We performed histogram analysis of regions of interest of the tumors and acquired 20th percentile values for leakage-corrected cerebral blood volume (rCBV20%ile), K2 (K220%ile), and for patients who underwent a DCE study, Ktrans (Ktrans20%ile). We evaluated the correlation between K220%ile and Ktrans20%ile and the statistical difference between rCBV20%ile and K220%ile. We found a statistically significant correlation between K220%ile and Ktrans20%ile (r=0.717, p<0.05). rCBV20%ile showed a significant difference between Grades II and III and between Grades II and IV, whereas K220%ile showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) difference between Grades II and IV and between Grades III and IV. The K2 value calculated from the DSC dataset, which can be obtained with a short acquisition time, showed a correlation with Ktrans obtained with the DCE method and may be useful for glioma grading when analyzed with histogram analysis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Imaging Findings Associated with Space-Occupying Edema in Patients with Large Middle Cerebral Artery Infarcts.

PubMed

Horsch, A D; Dankbaar, J W; Stemerdink, T A; Bennink, E; van Seeters, T; Kappelle, L J; Hofmeijer, J; de Jong, H W; van der Graaf, Y; Velthuis, B K

2016-05-01

Prominent space-occupying cerebral edema is a devastating complication occurring in some but not all patients with large MCA infarcts. It is unclear why differences in the extent of edema exist. Better knowledge of factors related to prominent edema formation could aid treatment strategies. This study aimed to identify variables associated with the development of prominent edema in patients with large MCA infarcts. From the Dutch Acute Stroke Study (DUST), 137 patients were selected with large MCA infarcts on follow-up NCCT (3 ± 2 days after stroke onset), defined as ASPECTS ≤4. Prominent edema was defined as a midline shift of ≥5 mm on follow-up. Admission patient and treatment characteristics were collected. Admission CT parameters used were ASPECTS on NCCT and CBV and MTT maps, and occlusion site, clot burden, and collaterals on CTA. Permeability on admission CTP, and day 3 recanalization and reperfusion statuses were obtained if available. Unadjusted and adjusted (age and NIHSS) odds ratios were calculated for all variables in relation to prominent edema. Prominent edema developed in 51 patients (37%). Adjusted odds ratios for prominent edema were higher with lower ASPECTS on NCCT (adjusted odds ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.13-1.55) and CBV (adjusted odds ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.07-1.49), higher permeability (adjusted odds ratio, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.30-4.24), more proximal thrombus location (adjusted odds ratio, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.57-7.37), higher clot burden (adjusted odds ratio, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.11-7.45), and poor collaterals (adjusted odds ratio, 3.93; 95% CI, 1.78-8.69). Extensive proximal occlusion, poor collaterals, and larger ischemic deficits with higher permeability play a role in the development of prominent edema in large MCA infarcts. © 2016 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

Magnetic resonance imaging of post-ischemic blood-brain barrier damage with PEGylated iron oxide nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Dong-Fang; Qian, Cheng; An, Yan-Li; Chang, Di; Ju, Sheng-Hong; Teng, Gao-Jun

2014-11-01

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage during ischemia may induce devastating consequences like cerebral edema and hemorrhagic transformation. This study presents a novel strategy for dynamically imaging of BBB damage with PEGylated supermagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as contrast agents. The employment of SPIONs as contrast agents made it possible to dynamically image the BBB permeability alterations and ischemic lesions simultaneously with T2-weighted MRI, and the monitoring could last up to 24 h with a single administration of PEGylated SPIONs in vivo. The ability of the PEGylated SPIONs to highlight BBB damage by MRI was demonstrated by the colocalization of PEGylated SPIONs with Gd-DTPA after intravenous injection of SPION-PEG/Gd-DTPA into a mouse. The immunohistochemical staining also confirmed the leakage of SPION-PEG from cerebral vessels into parenchyma. This study provides a novel and convenient route for imaging BBB alteration in the experimental ischemic stroke model.

Implementation of Biofilm Permeability Models for Mineral Reactions in Saturated Porous Media

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Freedman, Vicky L.; Saripalli, Kanaka P.; Bacon, Diana H.

2005-02-22

An approach based on continuous biofilm models is proposed for modeling permeability changes due to mineral precipitation and dissolution in saturated porous media. In contrast to the biofilm approach, implementation of the film depositional models within a reactive transport code requires a time-dependent calculation of the mineral films in the pore space. Two different methods for this calculation are investigated. The first method assumes a direct relationship between changes in mineral radii (i.e., surface area) and changes in the pore space. In the second method, an effective change in pore radii is calculated based on the relationship between permeability andmore » grain size. Porous media permeability is determined by coupling the film permeability models (Mualem and Childs and Collis-George) to a volumetric model that incorporates both mineral density and reactive surface area. Results from single mineral dissolution and single mineral precipitation simulations provide reasonable estimates of permeability, though they under predict the magnitude of permeability changes relative to the Kozeny and Carmen model. However, a comparison of experimental and simulated data show that the Mualem film model is the only one that can replicate the oscillations in permeability that occur as a result of simultaneous dissolution and precipitation reactions occurring within the porous media.« less

Microwave absorbing performance enhancement of Fe75Si15Al10 composites by selective surface oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Nan; Wang, Xin; Liu, Tao; Xie, Jianliang; Deng, Longjiang

2017-09-01

An excessively large dielectric constant is a challenge to improve the performances of the Fe-based absorbing material. Here, we propose a selective surface oxidation method to reduce the permittivity without sacrificing the permeability, by annealing under 5%H2—95%N2 (H2/N2). It is found that a thin layer of aluminum and silicon oxides formed on the surface of Fe75Si15Al10 particles during annealing in the range of 500-780 °C under H2/N2, thereby leading to an obvious decrease of permittivity of the Fe75Si15Al10 composite. According to Gibbs free energy, aluminum and silicon oxides are formed and iron oxides are reduced during annealing under H2/N2 at above 500 °C. Interestingly, the XPS result shows that the atomic ratio of Fe decreases significantly on the particle surface, which infers that the reduced Fe atoms diffuse to the interior of the particles. The surface oxide layer can protect the inner part of the alloy from further oxidation, which contributes to a high permeability. Meanwhile, the XRD result shows the formation of DO3-type ordering, which leads to the promotion of permeability. The two reasons lead to the improvement of permeability of the Fe75Si15Al10 composite after annealing. The composite is confirmed to have high permeability and low permittivity, exhibiting better electromagnetic wave absorption properties.

Comparative field permeability measurement of permeable pavements using ASTM C1701 and NCAT permeameter methods.

PubMed

Li, Hui; Kayhanian, Masoud; Harvey, John T

2013-03-30

Fully permeable pavement is gradually gaining support as an alternative best management practice (BMP) for stormwater runoff management. As the use of these pavements increases, a definitive test method is needed to measure hydraulic performance and to evaluate clogging, both for performance studies and for assessment of permeability for construction quality assurance and maintenance needs assessment. Two of the most commonly used permeability measurement tests for porous asphalt and pervious concrete are the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) permeameter and ASTM C1701, respectively. This study was undertaken to compare measured values for both methods in the field on a variety of permeable pavements used in current practice. The field measurements were performed using six experimental section designs with different permeable pavement surface types including pervious concrete, porous asphalt and permeable interlocking concrete pavers. Multiple measurements were performed at five locations on each pavement test section. The results showed that: (i) silicone gel is a superior sealing material to prevent water leakage compared with conventional plumbing putty; (ii) both methods (NCAT and ASTM) can effectively be used to measure the permeability of all pavement types and the surface material type will not impact the measurement precision; (iii) the permeability values measured with the ASTM method were 50-90% (75% on average) lower than those measured with the NCAT method; (iv) the larger permeameter cylinder diameter used in the ASTM method improved the reliability and reduced the variability of the measured permeability. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An integrated software suite for surface-based analyses of cerebral cortex.

PubMed

Van Essen, D C; Drury, H A; Dickson, J; Harwell, J; Hanlon, D; Anderson, C H

2001-01-01

The authors describe and illustrate an integrated trio of software programs for carrying out surface-based analyses of cerebral cortex. The first component of this trio, SureFit (Surface Reconstruction by Filtering and Intensity Transformations), is used primarily for cortical segmentation, volume visualization, surface generation, and the mapping of functional neuroimaging data onto surfaces. The second component, Caret (Computerized Anatomical Reconstruction and Editing Tool Kit), provides a wide range of surface visualization and analysis options as well as capabilities for surface flattening, surface-based deformation, and other surface manipulations. The third component, SuMS (Surface Management System), is a database and associated user interface for surface-related data. It provides for efficient insertion, searching, and extraction of surface and volume data from the database.

An integrated software suite for surface-based analyses of cerebral cortex

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Van Essen, D. C.; Drury, H. A.; Dickson, J.; Harwell, J.; Hanlon, D.; Anderson, C. H.

2001-01-01

The authors describe and illustrate an integrated trio of software programs for carrying out surface-based analyses of cerebral cortex. The first component of this trio, SureFit (Surface Reconstruction by Filtering and Intensity Transformations), is used primarily for cortical segmentation, volume visualization, surface generation, and the mapping of functional neuroimaging data onto surfaces. The second component, Caret (Computerized Anatomical Reconstruction and Editing Tool Kit), provides a wide range of surface visualization and analysis options as well as capabilities for surface flattening, surface-based deformation, and other surface manipulations. The third component, SuMS (Surface Management System), is a database and associated user interface for surface-related data. It provides for efficient insertion, searching, and extraction of surface and volume data from the database.

Can brain impermeable BACE1 inhibitors serve as anti-CAA medicine?

PubMed

Li, Jian-Ming; Huang, Li-Ling; Liu, Fei; Tang, Bei-Sha; Yan, Xiao-Xin

2017-08-25

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by the deposition of ß-amyloid peptides (Aß) in and surrounding the wall of microvasculature in the central nervous system, together with parenchymal amyloid plaques collectively referred to as cerebral amyloidosis, which occurs in the brain commonly among the elderly and more frequently in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). CAA is associated with vascular injury and may cause devastating neurological outcomes. No therapeutic approach is available for this lesion to date. ß-Secretase 1 (BACE1) is the enzyme initiating Aß production. Brain permeable BACE1 inhibitors targeting primarily at the parenchymal plaque pathology are currently evaluated in clinical trials. This article presents findings in support of a role of BACE1 elevation in the development of CAA, in addition to plaque pathogenesis. The rationale, feasibility, benefit and strategic issues for developing BACE1 inhibitors against CAA are discussed. Brain impermeable compounds are considered preferable as they might exhibit sufficient anti-CAA efficacy without causing significant neuronal/synaptic side effects. Early pharmacological intervention to the pathogenesis of CAA is expected to provide significant protection for cerebral vascular health and hence brain health. Brain impermeable BACE1 inhibitors should be optimized and tested as potential anti-CAA therapeutics.

Performances of metal concentrations from three permeable pavement infiltrates.

PubMed

Liu, Jiayu; Borst, Michael

2018-06-01

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency constructed a 4000-m 2 parking lot in Edison, New Jersey in 2009. The parking lot is surfaced with three permeable pavements [permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP), pervious concrete (PC), and porous asphalt (PA)]. Samples of each permeable pavement infiltrate, surface runoff from traditional asphalt, and rainwater were analyzed in duplicate for 22 metals (total and dissolved) for 6 years. In more than 99% of the samples, the concentration of barium, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel and zinc, and in 60%-90% of the samples, the concentration of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and antimony in infiltrates from all three permeable pavements met both the groundwater effluent limitations (GEL) and maximum contaminant levels (MCL). The concentration of aluminum (50%) and iron (93%) in PICP infiltrates samples exceed the GELs; however, the concentration in more than 90% samples PA and PC infiltrates met the GELs. No measurable difference in metal concentrations was found from the five sources for arsenic, cadmium, lead, antimony, and tin. Large concentrations of eleven metals, including manganese, copper, aluminum, iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, silica, strontium and vanadium, were detected in surface runoff than the rainwater. Chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, aluminum, zinc, iron and magnesium concentrations in PICP infiltrates; calcium, barium, and strontium concentrations in PA infiltrates; sodium, potassium and vanadium concentrations in PC infiltrates were statistically larger than the other two permeable pavement infiltrates. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Evaluation of surface resistivity measurements as an alternative to the rapid chloride permeability test for quality assurance and acceptance : LTRC research project capsule 10-1C.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-02-01

Many entities currently use permeability specifications in Portland cement : concrete (PCC) pavements and structures. For those states using : permeability specifications, two test methods are generally used and include : ASTM C 1202 (Standard Test M...

Three Permeable Pavements Performances for Priority Metal Pollutants and Metals Associated with Deicing Chemicals from Edison Parking Lot, NJ

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency constructed a 4000-m2 parking lot in Edison, New Jersey in 2009. The parking lot is surfaced with three permeable pavements [permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP), pervious concrete (PC), and porous asphalt (PA)]. Samples of each p...

Trench infiltration for managed aquifer recharge to permeable bedrock

USGS Publications Warehouse

Heilweil, V.M.; Watt, D.E.

2011-01-01

Managed aquifer recharge to permeable bedrock is increasingly being utilized to enhance resources and maintain sustainable groundwater development practices. One such target is the Navajo Sandstone, an extensive regional aquifer located throughout the Colorado Plateau of the western United States. Spreading-basin and bank-filtration projects along the sandstone outcrop's western edge in southwestern Utah have recently been implemented to meet growth-related water demands. This paper reports on a new cost-effective surface-infiltration technique utilizing trenches for enhancing managed aquifer recharge to permeable bedrock. A 48-day infiltration trench experiment on outcropping Navajo Sandstone was conducted to evaluate this alternative surface-spreading artificial recharge method. Final infiltration rates through the bottom of the trench were about 0.5 m/day. These infiltration rates were an order of magnitude higher than rates from a previous surface-spreading experiment at the same site. The higher rates were likely caused by a combination of factors including the removal of lower permeability soil and surficial caliche deposits, access to open vertical sandstone fractures, a reduction in physical clogging associated with silt and biofilm layers, minimizing viscosity effects by maintaining isothermal conditions, minimizing chemical clogging caused by carbonate mineral precipitation associated with algal photosynthesis, and diminished gas clogging associated with trapped air and biogenic gases. This pilot study illustrates the viability of trench infiltration for enhancing surface spreading of managed aquifer recharge to permeable bedrock. ?? 2010.

Electrical and fluid transport in consolidated sphere packs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhan, Xin; Schwartz, Lawrence M.; Toksöz, M. Nafi

2015-05-01

We calculate geometrical and transport properties (electrical conductivity, permeability, specific surface area, and surface conductivity) of a family of model granular porous media from an image based representation of its microstructure. The models are based on the packing described by Finney and cover a wide range of porosities. Finite difference methods are applied to solve for electrical conductivity and hydraulic permeability. Two image processing methods are used to identify the pore-grain interface and to test correlations linking permeability to electrical conductivity. A three phase conductivity model is developed to compute surface conductivity associated with the grain-pore interface. Our results compare well against empirical models over the entire porosity range studied. We conclude by examining the influence of image resolution on our calculations.

Magnetic resonance imaging indicators of blood-brain barrier and brain water changes in young rats with kaolin-induced hydrocephalus.

PubMed

Del Bigio, Marc R; Slobodian, Ili; Schellenberg, Angela E; Buist, Richard J; Kemp-Buors, Tanya L

2011-08-11

Hydrocephalus is associated with enlargement of cerebral ventricles. We hypothesized that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging parameters known to be influenced by tissue water content would change in parallel with ventricle size in young rats and that changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability would be detected. Hydrocephalus was induced by injection of kaolin into the cisterna magna of 4-week-old rats, which were studied 1 or 3 weeks later. MR was used to measure longitudinal and transverse relaxation times (T1 and T2) and apparent diffusion coefficients in several regions. Brain tissue water content was measured by the wet-dry weight method, and tissue density was measured in Percoll gradient columns. BBB permeability was measured by quantitative imaging of changes on T1-weighted images following injection of gadolinium diethylenetriamine penta-acetate (Gd-DTPA) tracer and microscopically by detection of fluorescent dextran conjugates. In nonhydrocephalic rats, water content decreased progressively from age 3 to 7 weeks. T1 and T2 and apparent diffusion coefficients did not exhibit parallel changes and there was no evidence of BBB permeability to tracers. The cerebral ventricles enlarged progressively in the weeks following kaolin injection. In hydrocephalic rats, the dorsal cortex was more dense and the white matter less so, indicating that the increased water content was largely confined to white matter. Hydrocephalus was associated with transient elevation of T1 in gray and white matter and persistent elevation of T2 in white matter. Changes in the apparent diffusion coefficients were significant only in white matter. Ventricle size correlated significantly with dorsal water content, T1, T2, and apparent diffusion coefficients. MR imaging showed evidence of Gd-DTPA leakage in periventricular tissue foci but not diffusely. These correlated with microscopic leak of larger dextran tracers. MR characteristics cannot be used as direct surrogates for water content in the immature rat model of hydrocephalus, probably because they are also influenced by other changes in tissue composition that occur during brain maturation. There is no evidence for widespread persistent opening of BBB as a consequence of hydrocephalus in young rats. However, increase in focal BBB permeability suggests that periventricular blood vessels may be disrupted.

Fractured rock stress-permeability relationships from in situ data and effects of temperature and chemical-mechanical couplings

DOE PAGES

Rutqvist, J.

2014-09-19

The purpose of this paper is to (i) review field data on stress-induced permeability changes in fractured rock; (ii) describe estimation of fractured rock stress-permeability relationships through model calibration against such field data; and (iii) discuss observations of temperature and chemically mediated fracture closure and its effect on fractured rock permeability. The field data that are reviewed include in situ block experiments, excavation-induced changes in permeability around tunnels, borehole injection experiments, depth (and stress) dependent permeability, and permeability changes associated with a large-scale rock-mass heating experiment. Data show how the stress-permeability relationship of fractured rock very much depends on localmore » in situ conditions, such as fracture shear offset and fracture infilling by mineral precipitation. Field and laboratory experiments involving temperature have shown significant temperature-driven fracture closure even under constant stress. Such temperature-driven fracture closure has been described as thermal overclosure and relates to better fitting of opposing fracture surfaces at high temperatures, or is attributed to chemically mediated fracture closure related to pressure solution (and compaction) of stressed fracture surface asperities. Back-calculated stress-permeability relationships from field data may implicitly account for such effects, but the relative contribution of purely thermal-mechanical and chemically mediated changes is difficult to isolate. Therefore, it is concluded that further laboratory and in situ experiments are needed to increase the knowledge of the true mechanisms behind thermally driven fracture closure, and to further assess the importance of chemical-mechanical coupling for the long-term evolution of fractured rock permeability.« less

Fractured rock stress-permeability relationships from in situ data and effects of temperature and chemical-mechanical couplings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rutqvist, J.

The purpose of this paper is to (i) review field data on stress-induced permeability changes in fractured rock; (ii) describe estimation of fractured rock stress-permeability relationships through model calibration against such field data; and (iii) discuss observations of temperature and chemically mediated fracture closure and its effect on fractured rock permeability. The field data that are reviewed include in situ block experiments, excavation-induced changes in permeability around tunnels, borehole injection experiments, depth (and stress) dependent permeability, and permeability changes associated with a large-scale rock-mass heating experiment. Data show how the stress-permeability relationship of fractured rock very much depends on localmore » in situ conditions, such as fracture shear offset and fracture infilling by mineral precipitation. Field and laboratory experiments involving temperature have shown significant temperature-driven fracture closure even under constant stress. Such temperature-driven fracture closure has been described as thermal overclosure and relates to better fitting of opposing fracture surfaces at high temperatures, or is attributed to chemically mediated fracture closure related to pressure solution (and compaction) of stressed fracture surface asperities. Back-calculated stress-permeability relationships from field data may implicitly account for such effects, but the relative contribution of purely thermal-mechanical and chemically mediated changes is difficult to isolate. Therefore, it is concluded that further laboratory and in situ experiments are needed to increase the knowledge of the true mechanisms behind thermally driven fracture closure, and to further assess the importance of chemical-mechanical coupling for the long-term evolution of fractured rock permeability.« less

Impact of Chemical Structure on Conjunctival Drug Permeability: Adopting Porcine Conjunctiva and Cassette Dosing for Construction of In Silico Model.

PubMed

Ramsay, Eva; Ruponen, Marika; Picardat, Théo; Tengvall, Unni; Tuomainen, Marjo; Auriola, Seppo; Toropainen, Elisa; Urtti, Arto; Del Amo, Eva M

2017-09-01

Conjunctiva occupies most of the ocular surface area, and conjunctival permeability affects ocular and systemic drug absorption of topical ocular medications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to obtain a computational in silico model for structure-based prediction of conjunctival drug permeability. This was done by employing cassette dosing and quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) approach. Permeability studies were performed ex vivo across fresh porcine conjunctiva and simultaneous dosing of a cassette mixture composed of 32 clinically relevant drug molecules with wide chemical space. The apparent permeability values were obtained using drug concentrations that were quantified with liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. The experimental data were utilized for building a QSPR model for conjunctival permeability predictions. The conjunctival permeability values presented a 17-fold range (0.63-10.74 × 10 -6 cm/s). The final QSPR had a Q 2 value of 0.62 and predicted the external test set with a mean fold error of 1.34. The polar surface area, hydrogen bond donor, and halogen ratio were the most relevant descriptors for defining conjunctival permeability. This work presents for the first time a predictive QSPR model of conjunctival drug permeability and a comprehensive description on conjunctival isolation from the porcine eye. The model can be used for developing new ocular drugs. Copyright © 2017 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Front gardens to car parks: changes in garden permeability and effects on flood regulation.

PubMed

Warhurst, Jennifer R; Parks, Katherine E; McCulloch, Lindsay; Hudson, Malcolm D

2014-07-01

This study addresses the consequences of widespread conversion of permeable front gardens to hard standing car parking surfaces, and the potential consequences in high-risk urban flooding hotspots, in the city of Southampton. The last two decades has seen a trend for domestic front gardens in urban areas to be converted for parking, driven by the lack of space and increased car ownership. Despite media and political attention, the effects of this change are unknown, but increased and more intense rainfall, potentially linked to climate change, could generate negative consequences as runoff from impermeable surfaces increases. Information is limited on garden permeability change, despite the consequences for ecosystem services, especially flood regulation. We focused on eight flooding hotspots identified by the local council as part of a wider urban flooding policy response. Aerial photographs from 1991, 2004 and 2011 were used to estimate changes in surface cover and to analyse permeability change within a digital surface model in a GIS environment. The 1, 30 and 100 year required attenuation storage volumes were estimated, which are the temporary storage required to reduce the peak flow rate given surface permeability. Within our study areas, impermeable cover in domestic front gardens increased by 22.47% over the 20-year study period (1991-2011) and required attenuation storage volumes increased by 26.23% on average. These increases suggest that a consequence of the conversion of gardens to parking areas will be a potential increase in flooding frequency and severity - a situation which is likely to occur in urban locations worldwide. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Permeability-porosity relationships in sedimentary rocks

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nelson, Philip H.

1994-01-01

In many consolidated sandstone and carbonate formations, plots of core data show that the logarithm of permeability (k) is often linearly proportional to porosity (??). The slope, intercept, and degree of scatter of these log(k)-?? trends vary from formation to formation, and these variations are attributed to differences in initial grain size and sorting, diagenetic history, and compaction history. In unconsolidated sands, better sorting systematically increases both permeability and porosity. In sands and sandstones, an increase in gravel and coarse grain size content causes k to increase even while decreasing ??. Diagenetic minerals in the pore space of sandstones, such as cement and some clay types, tend to decrease log(k) proportionately as ?? decreases. Models to predict permeability from porosity and other measurable rock parameters fall into three classes based on either grain, surface area, or pore dimension considerations. (Models that directly incorporate well log measurements but have no particular theoretical underpinnings from a fourth class.) Grain-based models show permeability proportional to the square of grain size times porosity raised to (roughly) the fifth power, with grain sorting as an additional parameter. Surface-area models show permeability proportional to the inverse square of pore surface area times porosity raised to (roughly) the fourth power; measures of surface area include irreducible water saturation and nuclear magnetic resonance. Pore-dimension models show permeability proportional to the square of a pore dimension times porosity raised to a power of (roughly) two and produce curves of constant pore size that transgress the linear data trends on a log(k)-?? plot. The pore dimension is obtained from mercury injection measurements and is interpreted as the pore opening size of some interconnected fraction of the pore system. The linear log(k)-?? data trends cut the curves of constant pore size from the pore-dimension models, which shows that porosity reduction is always accompanied by a reduction in characteristic pore size. The high powers of porosity of the grain-based and surface-area models are required to compensate for the inclusion of the small end of the pore size spectrum.

A Visual Description of the Dissection of the Cerebral Surface Vasculature and Associated Meninges and the Choroid Plexus from Rat Brain

PubMed Central

Bowyer, John F.; Thomas, Monzy; Patterson, Tucker A.; George, Nysia I.; Runnells, Jeffrey A.; Levi, Mark S.

2012-01-01

This video presentation was created to show a method of harvesting the two most important highly vascular structures, not residing within the brain proper, that support forebrain function. They are the cerebral surface (superficial) vasculature along with associated meninges (MAV) and the choroid plexus which are necessary for cerebral blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) homeostasis. The tissue harvested is suitable for biochemical and physiological analysis, and the MAV has been shown to be sensitive to damage produced by amphetamine and hyperthermia 1,2. As well, the major and minor cerebral vasculatures harvested in MAV are of potentially high interest when investigating concussive types of head trauma. The MAV dissected in this presentation consists of the pial and some of the arachnoid membrane (less dura) of the meninges and the major and minor cerebral surface vasculature. The choroid plexus dissected is the structure that resides in the lateral ventricles as described by Oldfield and McKinley3,4,5,6. The methods used for harvesting these two tissues also facilitate the harvesting of regional cortical tissue devoid of meninges and larger cerebral surface vasculature, and is compatible with harvesting other brain tissues such as striatum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, etc. The dissection of the two tissues takes from 5 to 10 min total. The gene expression levels for the dissected MAV and choroid plexus, as shown and described in this presentation can be found at GSE23093 (MAV) and GSE29733 (choroid plexus) at the NCBI GEO repository. This data has been, and is being, used to help further understand the functioning of the MAV and choroid plexus and how neurotoxic events such as severe hyperthermia and AMPH adversely affect their function. PMID:23183685

A visual description of the dissection of the cerebral surface vasculature and associated meninges and the choroid plexus from rat brain.

PubMed

Bowyer, John F; Thomas, Monzy; Patterson, Tucker A; George, Nysia I; Runnells, Jeffrey A; Levi, Mark S

2012-11-14

This video presentation was created to show a method of harvesting the two most important highly vascular structures, not residing within the brain proper, that support forebrain function. They are the cerebral surface (superficial) vasculature along with associated meninges (MAV) and the choroid plexus which are necessary for cerebral blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) homeostasis. The tissue harvested is suitable for biochemical and physiological analysis, and the MAV has been shown to be sensitive to damage produced by amphetamine and hyperthermia. As well, the major and minor cerebral vasculatures harvested in MAV are of potentially high interest when investigating concussive types of head trauma. The MAV dissected in this presentation consists of the pial and some of the arachnoid membrane (less dura) of the meninges and the major and minor cerebral surface vasculature. The choroid plexus dissected is the structure that resides in the lateral ventricles as described by Oldfield and McKinley. The methods used for harvesting these two tissues also facilitate the harvesting of regional cortical tissue devoid of meninges and larger cerebral surface vasculature, and is compatible with harvesting other brain tissues such as striatum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, etc. The dissection of the two tissues takes from 5 to 10 min total. The gene expression levels for the dissected MAV and choroid plexus, as shown and described in this presentation can be found at GSE23093 (MAV) and GSE29733 (choroid plexus) at the NCBI GEO repository. This data has been, and is being, used to help further understand the functioning of the MAV and choroid plexus and how neurotoxic events such as severe hyperthermia and AMPH adversely affect their function.

An Integrated Software Suite for Surface-based Analyses of Cerebral Cortex

PubMed Central

Van Essen, David C.; Drury, Heather A.; Dickson, James; Harwell, John; Hanlon, Donna; Anderson, Charles H.

2001-01-01

The authors describe and illustrate an integrated trio of software programs for carrying out surface-based analyses of cerebral cortex. The first component of this trio, SureFit (Surface Reconstruction by Filtering and Intensity Transformations), is used primarily for cortical segmentation, volume visualization, surface generation, and the mapping of functional neuroimaging data onto surfaces. The second component, Caret (Computerized Anatomical Reconstruction and Editing Tool Kit), provides a wide range of surface visualization and analysis options as well as capabilities for surface flattening, surface-based deformation, and other surface manipulations. The third component, SuMS (Surface Management System), is a database and associated user interface for surface-related data. It provides for efficient insertion, searching, and extraction of surface and volume data from the database. PMID:11522765

Three Permeable Pavements Performances for Priority Metal Pollutants and Metals associated with Deicing Chemicals from Edison Parking Lot, NJ - abstract

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency constructed a 4000-m2 parking lot in Edison, New Jersey in 2009. The parking lot is surfaced with three permeable pavements [permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP), pervious concrete (PC), and porous asphalt (PA)]. Samples of each p...

Permeability enhancement by shock cooling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griffiths, Luke; Heap, Michael; Reuschlé, Thierry; Baud, Patrick; Schmittbuhl, Jean

2015-04-01

The permeability of an efficient reservoir, e.g. a geothermal reservoir, should be sufficient to permit the circulation of fluids. Generally speaking, permeability decreases over the life cycle of the geothermal system. As a result, is usually necessary to artificially maintain and enhance the natural permeability of these systems. One of the methods of enhancement -- studied here -- is thermal stimulation (injecting cold water at low pressure). This goal of this method is to encourage new thermal cracks within the reservoir host rocks, thereby increasing reservoir permeability. To investigate the development of thermal microcracking in the laboratory we selected two granites: a fine-grained (Garibaldi Grey granite, grain size = 0.5 mm) and a course-grained granite (Lanhelin granite, grain size = 2 mm). Both granites have an initial porosity of about 1%. Our samples were heated to a range of temperatures (100-1000 °C) and were either cooled slowly (1 °C/min) or shock cooled (100 °C/s). A systematic microstructural (2D crack area density, using standard stereological techniques, and 3D BET specific surface area measurements) and rock physical property (porosity, P-wave velocity, uniaxial compressive strength, and permeability) analysis was undertaken to understand the influence of slow and shock cooling on our reservoir granites. Microstructurally, we observe that the 2D crack surface area per unit volume and the specific surface area increase as a result of thermal stressing, and, for the same maximum temperature, crack surface area is higher in the shock cooled samples. This observation is echoed by our rock physical property measurements: we see greater changes for the shock cooled samples. We can conclude that shock cooling is an extremely efficient method of generating thermal microcracks and modifying rock physical properties. Our study highlights that thermal treatments are likely to be an efficient method for the "matrix" permeability enhancement of granitic geothermal reservoirs.

Identification of Spurious Signals from Permeable Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings Surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lopes, Leonard V.; Boyd, David D., Jr.; Nark, Douglas M.; Wiedemann, Karl E.

2017-01-01

Integral forms of the permeable surface formulation of the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation often require an input in the form of a near field Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solution to predict noise in the near or far field from various types of geometries. The FW-H equation involves three source terms; two surface terms (monopole and dipole) and a volume term (quadrupole). Many solutions to the FW-H equation, such as several of Farassat's formulations, neglect the quadrupole term. Neglecting the quadrupole term in permeable surface formulations leads to inaccuracies called spurious signals. This paper explores the concept of spurious signals, explains how they are generated by specifying the acoustic and hydrodynamic surface properties individually, and provides methods to determine their presence, regardless of whether a correction algorithm is employed. A potential approach based on the equivalent sources method (ESM) and the sensitivity of Formulation 1A (Formulation S1A) is also discussed for the removal of spurious signals.

Permeable reactive barrier of surface hydrophobic granular activated carbon coupled with elemental iron for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol in water.

PubMed

Yang, Ji; Cao, Limei; Guo, Rui; Jia, Jinping

2010-12-15

Granular activated carbon was modified with dimethyl dichlorosilane to improve its surface hydrophobicity, and therefore to improve the performance of permeable reactive barrier constructed with the modified granular activated carbon and elemental iron. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the surface silicon concentration of the modified granular activated carbon is higher than that of the original one, leading to the increased surface hydrophobicity. Although the specific surface area decreased from 895 to 835 m(2)g(-1), the modified granular activated carbon could adsorb 20% more 2,4-dichlorophenol than the original one did in water. It is also proven that the permeable reactive barrier with the modified granular activated carbon is more efficient at 2,4-dichlorophenol dechlorination, in which process 2,4-dichlorophenol is transformed to 2-chlorophenol or 4-chlorophenol then to phenol, or to phenol directly. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface Properties and Permeability of Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)-Clays (PVDF/Clays) Composite Membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pramono, E.; Ahdiat, M.; Simamora, A.; Pratiwi, W.; Radiman, C. L.; Wahyuningrum, D.

2017-07-01

Surface properties are important factors that determine the performance of ultrafiltration membranes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of clay addition on the surface properties and membrane permeability of PVDF (poly-vinylidene fluoride) membranes. Three types of clay with different particle size were used in this study, namely montmorillonite-MMT, bentonite-BNT and cloisite 15A-CLS. The PVDF-clay composite membranes were prepared by phase inversion method using PEG as additive. The hydrophobicity of membrane surface was characterized by contact angle. The membrane permeability was determined by dead- end ultrafiltration with a trans-membrane pressure of 2 bars. In contact angle measurement, water contact angle of composite membranes is higher than PVDF membrane. The addition of clays decreased water flux but increased of Dextran rejection. The PVDF-BNT composite membranes reach highest Dextran rejection value of about 93%. The type and particle size of clay affected the hydrophobicity of membrane surface and determined the resulting membrane structure as well as the membrane performance.

Update to permeable pavement research at the Edison ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Abstract: The EPA’s Urban Watershed Management Branch (UWMB) has been monitoring the permeable pavement demonstration site at the Edison Environmental Center, NJ since 2010. This site has three different types of permeable pavement including: interlocking concrete permeable pavers; porous concrete; and permeable asphalt. The parking lot is instrumented with water content reflectometers and thermistors for continuous monitoring and has four lined sections for each surface to capture permeable pavement infiltrate for water quality analyses.Previous technical releases concerning the demonstration site focused on monitoring techniques, observed chloride and nutrient concentrations, and infiltration and evaporation rates. Thispresentation summarizes past findings and addresses current water quality efforts. This presentation summarizes past findings and addresses current water quality efforts.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cobb, M. A.; Dockter, R. E.

The permeability of ground surfaces within the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hanford Site strongly influences boundary conditions when simulating the movement of groundwater using the Subsurface Transport Over Multiple Phases model. To conduct site-wide modeling of cumulative impacts to groundwater from past, current, and future waste management activities, a site-wide assessment of the permeability of surface conditions is needed. The surface condition of the vast majority of the Hanford Site has been and continues to be native soils vegetated with dryland grasses and shrubs.

Synthetic estrogen derivatives demonstrate the functionality of intracellular GPR30.

PubMed

Revankar, Chetana M; Mitchell, Hugh D; Field, Angela S; Burai, Ritwik; Corona, Cesear; Ramesh, Chinnasamy; Sklar, Larry A; Arterburn, Jeffrey B; Prossnitz, Eric R

2007-08-17

Estrogen mediates its effects through multiple cellular receptors. In addition to the classical nuclear estrogen receptors (ERalpha and ERbeta), estrogen also signals through the seven-transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) GPR30. Although estrogen is a cell-permeable ligand, it is often assumed that all GPCRs function solely as cell surface receptors. Our previous results showed that GPR30 appeared to be expressed predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum. A critical question that arises is whether this localization represents the site of functional receptor. To address this question, we synthesized a collection of cell-permeable and cell-impermeable estrogen derivatives. We hypothesized that if functional GPR30 were expressed at the cell surface, both permeable and impermeable derivatives would show activity. However, if functional GPR30 were predominantly intracellular, like ERalpha, only the permeable ligands should show activity. Cell permeability was assessed using cells expressing ERalpha as a model intracellular estrogen-binding receptor. Our results reveal that despite exhibiting similar binding affinities for GPR30, only the cell-permeable ligands are capable of stimulating rapid calcium mobilization and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activation. We conclude that GPR30 expressed intracellularly is capable of initiating cellular signaling and that there is insufficient GPR30 expressed on the cell surface to initiate signaling in response to impermeable ligands in the cell lines examined. To our knowledge, this is the first definitive demonstration of a functional intracellular transmembrane estrogen receptor.

Foot agility and toe gnosis/graphaesthesia as potential indicators of integrity of the medial cerebral surface: normative data and comparison with clinical populations.

PubMed

Persinger, M A; Richards, P M

1995-06-01

A protocol was designed to identify quantitative indicators of the function of the medial surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres. Normative data were collected from 40 volunteers for foot agility, toe gnosis, and toe graphaesthesia. A total of 100 patients (most of whom had been referred for possible closed-head injuries) completed thorough neuropsychological and cognitive assessments. Deficits for toe graphaesthesia were most consistently correlated with general brain impairment and with scores for tasks whose normal performance requires the integrity of structures within the dorsal half of the medial cerebral hemispheres.

The growth and differentiation of transitional epithelium in vitro.

PubMed

Chlapowski, F J; Haynes, L

1979-12-01

The development of rat transitional epithelial cells grown on conventional non-permeable surfaces was compared with development on permeable collagen supports. On glass or plastic surfaces, cells grew as expanding nomolayer sheets. Once confluent, growth continued with a bilayer being formed in most areas and apical cells being continuously sloughed off. Although most cells were interconnected by desmosomes, and junctional complexes were formed, no other indications of differentiation were observed. After 2-3 wk of growth, division stopped and cel death ensued. In contrast, single-cell suspensions plated on collagen-coated nylon disks reassociated into multicellular islands and commenced growth. Mitoses were confined to the basal cells in contact with the permeable substrate. The islands developed into epithelial trilayers, tapering to monolayers along spreading edges. Once the islands were confluent, stratification was completed and appeared similar to that observed in vivo. Germinal cells formed a basal lamina, and the upper layer was composed of large, flattened cells with an unusually thick asymmetrical plasma membrane on the apical surface. Electron microscopic and radioactive tracers demonstrated "leaky" zonulae occludentes with a restricted permeability to small molecules. The movement of urea was retarded in comparison to water. Unlike the slow turnover of adult epithelium in vivo, maturation and sloughing of apical cells were measurable. Transfer of cells could be effected and growth maintained for up to 4 mo. These results may indicate the necessity of a nutrient-permeable growth surface for the polarized differentiation of adult transitional epithelium.

The growth and differentiation of transitional epithelium in vitro

PubMed Central

1979-01-01

The development of rat transitional epithelial cells grown on conventional non-permeable surfaces was compared with development on permeable collagen supports. On glass or plastic surfaces, cells grew as expanding nomolayer sheets. Once confluent, growth continued with a bilayer being formed in most areas and apical cells being continuously sloughed off. Although most cells were interconnected by desmosomes, and junctional complexes were formed, no other indications of differentiation were observed. After 2-3 wk of growth, division stopped and cel death ensued. In contrast, single-cell suspensions plated on collagen-coated nylon disks reassociated into multicellular islands and commenced growth. Mitoses were confined to the basal cells in contact with the permeable substrate. The islands developed into epithelial trilayers, tapering to monolayers along spreading edges. Once the islands were confluent, stratification was completed and appeared similar to that observed in vivo. Germinal cells formed a basal lamina, and the upper layer was composed of large, flattened cells with an unusually thick asymmetrical plasma membrane on the apical surface. Electron microscopic and radioactive tracers demonstrated "leaky" zonulae occludentes with a restricted permeability to small molecules. The movement of urea was retarded in comparison to water. Unlike the slow turnover of adult epithelium in vivo, maturation and sloughing of apical cells were measurable. Transfer of cells could be effected and growth maintained for up to 4 mo. These results may indicate the necessity of a nutrient-permeable growth surface for the polarized differentiation of adult transitional epithelium. PMID:574872

Loss of the Endothelial Glycocalyx Links Albuminuria and Vascular Dysfunction

PubMed Central

Ferguson, Joanne K.; Burford, James L.; Gevorgyan, Haykanush; Nakano, Daisuke; Harper, Steven J.; Bates, David O.; Peti-Peterdi, Janos

2012-01-01

Patients with albuminuria and CKD frequently have vascular dysfunction but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Because the endothelial surface layer, a meshwork of surface-bound and loosely adherent glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, modulates vascular function, its loss could contribute to both renal and systemic vascular dysfunction in proteinuric CKD. Using Munich-Wistar-Fromter (MWF) rats as a model of spontaneous albuminuric CKD, multiphoton fluorescence imaging and single-vessel physiology measurements revealed that old MWF rats exhibited widespread loss of the endothelial surface layer in parallel with defects in microvascular permeability to both water and albumin, in both continuous mesenteric microvessels and fenestrated glomerular microvessels. In contrast to young MWF rats, enzymatic disruption of the endothelial surface layer in old MWF rats resulted in neither additional loss of the layer nor additional changes in permeability. Intravenous injection of wheat germ agglutinin lectin and its adsorption onto the endothelial surface layer significantly improved glomerular albumin permeability. Taken together, these results suggest that widespread loss of the endothelial surface layer links albuminuric kidney disease with systemic vascular dysfunction, providing a potential therapeutic target for proteinuric kidney disease. PMID:22797190

Targeted Vascular Drug Delivery in Cerebral Cancer.

PubMed

Humle, Nanna; Johnsen, Kasper Bendix; Arendt, Gitte Abildgaard; Nielsen, Rikke Paludan; Moos, Torben; Thomsen, Louiza Bohn

2016-01-01

This review presents the present-day literature on the anatomy and physiological mechanisms of the blood-brain barrier and the problematic of cerebral drug delivery in relation to malignant brain tumors. First step in treatment of malignant brain tumors is resection, but there is a high risk of single remnant infiltrative tumor cells in the outer zone of the brain tumor. These infiltrative single-cells will be supplied by capillaries with an intact BBB as opposed to the partly leaky BBB found in the tumor tissue before resection. Even though BBB penetrance of a chemotherapeutic agent is considered irrelevant though the limited success rate for chemotherapeutic treatability of GBM tumors indicate otherwise. Therefore drug delivery strategies to cerebral cancer after resection should be tailored to being able to both penetrate the intact BBB and target the cancer cells. In this review the intact bloodbrain barrier and cerebral cancer with main focus on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is introduced. The GBM induced formation of a blood-tumor barrier and the consequences hereof is described and discussed with emphasis on the impact these changes of the BBB has on drug delivery to GBM. The most commonly used drug carriers for drug delivery to GBM is described and the current drug delivery strategies for glioblastoma multiforme including possible routes through the BBB and epitopes, which can be targeted on the GBM cells is outlined. Overall, this review aims to address targeted drug delivery in GBM treatment when taking the differing permeability of the BBB into consideration.

Novel vascular endothelial growth factor blocker improves cellular viability and reduces hypobaric hypoxia-induced vascular leakage and oedema in rat brain.

PubMed

Saraswat, Deepika; Nehra, Sarita; Chaudhary, Kamal; CVS, Siva Prasad

2015-05-01

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important cerebral angiogenic and permeability factor under hypoxia. There is a need to find effective molecules that may ameliorate hypoxia-induced cerebral oedema. In silico identification of novel candidate molecules that block VEGF-A site were identified and validated with a Ramachandran plot. The active site residues of VEGF-A were detected by Pocketfinder, CASTp, and DogSiteScorer. Based on in silico data, three VEGF-A blocker (VAB) candidate molecules (VAB1, VAB2, and VAB3) were checked for improvement in cellular viability and regulation of VEGF levels in N2a cells under hypoxia (0.5% O2 ). Additionally, the best candidate molecule's efficacy was assessed in male Sprague-Dawley rats for its ameliorative effect on cerebral oedema and vascular leakage under hypobaric hypoxia 7260 m. All experimental results were compared with the commercially available VEGF blocker sunitinib. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A blocker 1 was found most effective in increasing cellular viability and maintaining normal VEGF levels under hypoxia (0.5% oxygen) in N2a cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A blocker 1 effectively restored VEGF levels, decreased cerebral oedema, and reduced vascular leakage under hypobaric hypoxia when compared to sunitinib-treated rats. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A blocker 1 may be a promising candidate molecule for ameliorating hypobaric hypoxia-induced vasogenic oedema by regulating VEGF levels. © 2015 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Effect of Seat Surface Inclination on Postural Stability and forward Reaching Efficiency in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cherng, Rong-Ju; Lin, Hui-Chen; Ju, Yun-Huei; Ho, Chin-Shan

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of seat surface inclination on postural stability and forward reaching efficiency in 10 children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and 16 typically developing (TD) children. The children performed a static sitting and a forward reaching task while sitting on a height- and inclination-adjustable…

Retinal pathology is associated with increased blood-retina barrier permeability in a diabetic and hypercholesterolaemic pig model: Beneficial effects of the LpPLA2 inhibitor Darapladib.

PubMed

Acharya, Nimish K; Qi, Xin; Goldwaser, Eric L; Godsey, George A; Wu, Hao; Kosciuk, Mary C; Freeman, Theresa A; Macphee, Colin H; Wilensky, Robert L; Venkataraman, Venkat; Nagele, Robert G

2017-05-01

Using a porcine model of diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia, we previously showed that diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia is associated with a chronic increase in blood-brain barrier permeability in the cerebral cortex, leading to selective binding of immunoglobulin G and deposition of amyloid-beta 1-42 peptide in pyramidal neurons. Treatment with Darapladib (GlaxoSmithKline, SB480848), an inhibitor of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2, alleviated these effects. Here, investigation of the effects of chronic diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia on the pig retina revealed a corresponding increased permeability of the blood-retina barrier coupled with a leak of plasma components into the retina, alterations in retinal architecture, selective IgG binding to neurons in the ganglion cell layer, thinning of retinal layers due to cell loss and increased glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in Müller cells, all of which were curtailed by treatment with Darapladib. These findings suggest that chronic diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia induces increased blood-retina barrier permeability that may be linked to altered expression of blood-retina barrier-associated tight junction proteins, claudin and occludin, leading to structural changes in the retina consistent with diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, results suggest that drugs with vascular anti-inflammatory properties, such as Darapladib, may have beneficial effects on eye diseases strongly linked to vascular abnormalities such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging assessment of vascular targeting agent effects in rat intracerebral tumor models

PubMed Central

Muldoon, Leslie L.; Gahramanov, Seymur; Li, Xin; Marshall, Deborah J.; Kraemer, Dale F.; Neuwelt, Edward A.

2011-01-01

We used dynamic MRI to evaluate the effects of monoclonal antibodies targeting brain tumor vasculature. Female athymic rats with intracerebral human tumor xenografts were untreated or treated with intetumumab, targeting αV-integrins, or bevacizumab, targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (n = 4–6 per group). Prior to treatment and at 1, 3, and 7 days after treatment, we performed standard MRI to assess tumor volume, dynamic susceptibility-contrast MRI with the blood-pool iron oxide nanoparticle ferumoxytol to evaluate relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to assess tumor vascular permeability. Tumor rCBV increased by 27 ± 13% over 7 days in untreated rats; intetumumab increased tumor rCBV by 65 ± 10%, whereas bevacizumab reduced tumor rCBV by 31 ± 10% at 7 days (P < .001 for group and day). Similarly, intetumumab increased brain tumor vascular permeability compared with controls at 3 and 7 days after treatment, whereas bevacizumab decreased tumor permeability within 24 hours (P = .0004 for group, P = .0081 for day). All tumors grew over the 7-day assessment period, but bevacizumab slowed the increase in tumor volume on MRI. We conclude that the vascular targeting agents intetumumab and bevacizumab had diametrically opposite effects on dynamic MRI of tumor vasculature in rat brain tumor models. Targeting αV-integrins increased tumor vascular permeability and blood volume, whereas bevacizumab decreased both measures. These findings have implications for chemotherapy delivery and antitumor efficacy. PMID:21123368

Protein kinase C activation modulates reversible increase in cortical blood-brain barrier permeability and tight junction protein expression during hypoxia and posthypoxic reoxygenation.

PubMed

Willis, Colin L; Meske, Diana S; Davis, Thomas P

2010-11-01

Hypoxia (Hx) is a component of many disease states including stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs when there is a restriction of cerebral blood flow and oxygen to part of the brain. During the ischemic, and subsequent reperfusion phase of stroke, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity is lost with tight junction (TJ) protein disruption. However, the mechanisms of Hx and reoxygenation (HR)-induced loss of BBB integrity are not fully understood. We examined the role of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in modifying TJ protein expression in a rat model of global Hx. The Hx (6% O(2)) induced increased hippocampal and cortical vascular permeability to 4 and 10 kDa dextran fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and endogenous rat-IgG. Cortical microvessels revealed morphologic changes in nPKC-θ distribution, increased nPKC-θ and aPKC-ζ protein expression, and activation by phosphorylation of nPKC-θ (Thr538) and aPKC-ζ (Thr410) residues after Hx treatment. Claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1 showed disrupted organization at endothelial cell margins, whereas Western blot analysis showed increased TJ protein expression after Hx. The PKC inhibition with chelerythrine chloride (5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) attenuated Hx-induced hippocampal vascular permeability and claudin-5, PKC (θ and ζ) expression, and phosphorylation. This study supports the hypothesis that nPKC-θ and aPKC-ζ signaling mediates TJ protein disruption resulting in increased BBB permeability.

Anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibody modulates blood-brain barrier function in the ovine fetus.

PubMed

Zhang, Jiyong; Sadowska, Grazyna B; Chen, Xiaodi; Park, Seon Yeong; Kim, Jeong-Eun; Bodge, Courtney A; Cummings, Erin; Lim, Yow-Pin; Makeyev, Oleksandr; Besio, Walter G; Gaitanis, John; Banks, William A; Stonestreet, Barbara S

2015-05-01

Impaired blood-brain barrier function represents an important component of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the perinatal period. Proinflammatory cytokines could contribute to ischemia-related blood-brain barrier dysfunction. IL-6 increases vascular endothelial cell monolayer permeability in vitro. However, contributions of IL-6 to blood-brain barrier abnormalities have not been examined in the immature brain in vivo. We generated pharmacologic quantities of ovine-specific neutralizing anti-IL-6 mAbs and systemically infused mAbs into fetal sheep at 126 days of gestation after exposure to brain ischemia. Anti-IL-6 mAbs were measured by ELISA in fetal plasma, cerebral cortex, and cerebrospinal fluid, blood-brain barrier permeability was quantified using the blood-to-brain transfer constant in brain regions, and IL-6, tight junction proteins, and plasmalemma vesicle protein (PLVAP) were detected by Western immunoblot. Anti-IL-6 mAb infusions resulted in increases in mAb (P < 0.05) in plasma, brain parenchyma, and cerebrospinal fluid and decreases in brain IL-6 protein. Twenty-four hours after ischemia, anti-IL-6 mAb infusions attenuated ischemia-related increases in blood-brain barrier permeability and modulated tight junction and PLVAP protein expression in fetal brain. We conclude that inhibiting the effects of IL-6 protein with systemic infusions of neutralizing antibodies attenuates ischemia-related increases in blood-brain barrier permeability by inhibiting IL-6 and modulates tight junction proteins after ischemia. © FASEB.

A polymeric micelle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent reveals blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability for macromolecules in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

PubMed

Shiraishi, Kouichi; Wang, Zuojun; Kokuryo, Daisuke; Aoki, Ichio; Yokoyama, Masayuki

2017-05-10

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening is a key phenomenon for understanding ischemia-reperfusion injuries that are directly linked to hemorrhagic transformation. The recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator (rtPA) increases the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages. Recent imaging technologies have advanced our understanding of pathological BBB disorders; however, an ongoing challenge in the pre-"rtPA treatment" stage is the task of developing a rigorous method for hemorrhage-risk assessments. Therefore, we examined a novel method for assessment of rtPA-extravasation through a hyper-permeable BBB. To examine the image diagnosis of rtPA-extravasation for a rat transient occlusion-reperfusion model, in this study we used a polymeric micelle MRI contrast-agent (Gd-micelles). Specifically, we used two MRI contrast agents at 1h after reperfusion. Gd-micelles provided very clear contrast images in 15.5±10.3% of the ischemic hemisphere at 30min after i.v. injection, whereas a classic gadolinium chelate MRI contrast agent provided no satisfactorily clear images. The obtained images indicate both the hyper-permeable BBB area for macromolecules and the distribution area of macromolecules in the ischemic hemisphere. Owing to their large molecular weight, Gd-micelles remained in the ischemic hemisphere through the hyper-permeable BBB. Our results indicate the feasibility of a novel clinical diagnosis for evaluating rtPA-related hemorrhage risks. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Growth and dissolution of an encapsulated contrast microbubble: effects of encapsulation permeability

PubMed Central

Sarkar, Kausik; Katiyar, Amit; Jain, Pankaj

2009-01-01

Gas diffusion from an encapsulated microbubble is modeled using an explicit linear relation for gas permeation through the encapsulation. Both the cases of single gas (air) and multiple gases (perfluorocarbon inside the bubble and air dissolved in surrounding liquid) are considered. An analytical expression for the dissolution time for an encapsulated air bubble is obtained; it showed that for small permeability the dissolution time increases linearly with decreasing permeability. A perfluorocarbon-filled contrast microbubble such as Definity was predicted to experience a transient growth due to air infusion before it dissolves in conformity with previous experimental findings. The growth phase occurs only for bubbles with a critical value of initial partial mole fraction of perfluorocarbon relative to air. With empirically obtained property values, the dissolution time of a 2.5 micron diameter (same as that of Definity) lipid coated octafluoropropane bubble with surface tension 25 mN/m predicts a lifetime of 42 minutes in an air saturated medium. The properties such as shell permeability, surface tension, relative mole fraction of octafluoropropane are varied to investigate their effects on the time scales of bubble growth and dissolution including their asymptotic scalings where appropriate. The dissolution dynamics scales with permeability, in that when the time is nondimensioanlized with permeability, curves for different permeabilities collapse on a single curve. Investigation of bubbles filled with other gases (non-octafluoropropane perfluorocarbon and sulfur hexafluoride) indicates longer dissolution time due to lower solubility and lower diffusivity for larger gas molecules. For such micron size encapsulated bubbles, lifetime of hours is possible only at extremely low surface tension (<1mN/m) or at extreme oversaturation. PMID:19616160

A 3D Model for Gas Transfer, Storage and Resulting Displacement in a Permeable Volcanic Edifice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collinson, Amy; Neuberg, Jurgen

2014-05-01

The total volume of gas in a magma, dissolved and subsequently exsolved, greatly influences the degree of explosiveness of a volcanic system. There is a marked contrast between the behaviour of a volcano in an open system compared to one which is closed. Whilst gas release is evident from surface gas emission measurements, gas storage is also thought to play an important role, as evidenced by large gas emissions after some large dome collapse events, suggesting gas may be stored in large volumes at shallow depths within the dome and edifice. Consequently, it is essential to understand degassing, to appreciate how much gas may be stored and where, and under what conditions it may be transferred or emitted to the atmosphere. We use previous experimental data on permeabilities to create 3D numerical models to investigate gas transport and storage in a permeable volcanic edifice. We combine the continuity equation, Darcy's law and the ideal gas law to derive a partial differential equation which is solved using a finite element method to obtain the gas pressure. The associated pressure gradient is then used within Darcy's law to calculate the gas velocity. In addition, we use the momentum equation to investigate how the presence of gas and variations in permeability influence the rate and degree of deformation in the volcanic edifice. Hence this provides two important surface constraints: gas emissions and surface displacement. Geometries are created to simulate the topography of actual volcanoes and the pressure and permeabilities incorporated into the model as boundary and domain conditions, respectively. This method is applied to investigate a variety of volcanological phenomena affecting gas, for example regions of high permeability due to fractures, or low permeability due to sealing.

Permeability Evolution of Propped Artificial Fractures in Green River Shale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiang; Feng, Zijun; Han, Gang; Elsworth, Derek; Marone, Chris; Saffer, Demian; Cheon, Dae-Sung

2017-06-01

This paper compares the evolution of permeability with effective stress in propped fractures in shale for native CH4 compared with that for sorbing CO2, slightly sorbing N2 and non-sorbing He. We examine the response for laboratory experiments on artificial propped fractures in Green River Shale to explore mechanisms of proppant embedment and fracture diagenesis. Split cylindrical specimens sandwich a proppant bead-pack at a constant confining stress of 20 MPa and with varied pore pressure. Permeability and sorption characteristics are measured with the pulse transient method. To explore the effect of swelling and embedment on fracture surface geometry, we measure the evolution of conductivity characteristics for different proppant geometries (single layer vs. multilayer), gas saturation and specimen variation in order to simulate both production and enhanced gas recovery. The resulting morphology of embedment is measured by white light interferometry and characterized via surface roughness parameter of mean, maximum and root-mean-square amplitudes. For both strongly (CO2, CH4) and slightly adsorptive gases (N2), the permeability first decreases with an increase in gas pressure due to swelling before effective stress effects dominate above the Langmuir pressure threshold. CO2 with its highest adsorption affinity produces the lowest permeability among these three gas permeants. Monolayer propped specimens show maximum swelling and lowered k/k 0 ratio and increased embedment recorded in the surface roughness relative to the multilayered specimens. Permeabilities measured for both injection and depletion cycles generally overlap and are repeatable with little hysteresis. This suggests the dominant role of reversible swelling over irreversible embedment. Gas permeant composition and related swelling have an important effect on the permeability evolution of shales.

Estimation of the minimum permeability coefficient in rats for perfusion-limited tissue distribution in whole-body physiologically-based pharmacokinetics.

PubMed

Jeong, Yoo-Seong; Yim, Chang-Soon; Ryu, Heon-Min; Noh, Chi-Kyoung; Song, Yoo-Kyung; Chung, Suk-Jae

2017-06-01

The objective of the current study was to determine the minimum permeability coefficient, P, needed for perfusion-limited distribution in PBPK. Two expanded kinetic models, containing both permeability and perfusion terms for the rate of tissue distribution, were considered: The resulting equations could be simplified to perfusion-limited distribution depending on tissue permeability. Integration plot analyses were carried out with theophylline in 11 typical tissues to determine their apparent distributional clearances and the model-dependent permeabilities of the tissues. Effective surface areas were calculated for 11 tissues from the tissue permeabilities of theophylline and its PAMPA P. Tissue permeabilities of other drugs were then estimated from their PAMPA P and the effective surface area of the tissues. The differences between the observed and predicted concentrations, as expressed by the sum of squared log differences with the present models were at least comparable to or less than the values obtained using the traditional perfusion-limited distribution model for 24 compounds with diverse PAMPA P values. These observations suggest that the use of a combination of the proposed models, PAMPA P and the effective surface area can be used to reasonably predict the pharmacokinetics of 22 out of 24 model compounds, and is potentially applicable to calculating the kinetics for other drugs. Assuming that the fractional distribution parameter of 80% of the perfusion rate is a reasonable threshold for perfusion-limited distribution in PBPK, our theoretical prediction indicates that the pharmacokinetics of drugs having an apparent PAMPA P of 1×10 -6 cm/s or more will follow the traditional perfusion-limited distribution in PBPK for major tissues in the body. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Permeabilizing biofilms

DOEpatents

Soukos, Nikolaos S [Revere, MA; Lee, Shun [Arlington, VA; Doukas, Apostolos G [Belmont, MA

2008-02-19

Methods for permeabilizing biofilms using stress waves are described. The methods involve applying one or more stress waves to a biofilm, e.g., on a surface of a device or food item, or on a tissue surface in a patient, and then inducing stress waves to create transient increases in the permeability of the biofilm. The increased permeability facilitates delivery of compounds, such as antimicrobial or therapeutic agents into and through the biofilm.

Tritium permeation through austenitic stainless steel with chemically densified coating as a tritium permeation barrier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terai, Takayuki; Yoneoka, Toshiaki; Tanaka, Hirohisa; Kawamura, Hiroshi; Nakamichi, Masaru; Miyajima, Kiyoshi

1994-09-01

Chemically densified coating formed on the surface of austenitic stainless steel (SUS 316) was examined for compatibility with molten lithium-lead eutectic alloy (Li17Pb83) and tritium permeability. The chemically densified coating (CDC) consisting of SiO 2 particles and a Cr 2O 3 matrix with a thickness of 60 μm was unstable in contact with the molten alloy as predicted from a thermodynamic calculation at 600°C, and it was degraded in several days. In an in-pile experiment, specimens with the coating on the front surface or the rear surface were immersed in Li17Pb83 molten alloy, and their tritium permeabilities were measured. The permeability of the former was reduced to {1}/{10} of the ideal value in the diffusion-limited case, while that of the latter was less than {1}/{100} of the diffusion-limited value even in a pure H 2 atmosphere. It is concluded that CDC is quite effective to reduce tritium permeability in the condition of not contacting molten Li17Pb83 alloy.

[Morphometrical analyze of the middle cerebral artery system at the 13-15 weeks fetuses].

PubMed

Macovei, Georgeta Nataşa; Varlam, H; St Antohe, D

2002-01-01

Tele-encephalization process is accompanied by the appearance and progressive complication of the middle cerebral artery system. The aim of our study is to analyze the morphometrical parameters of the middle cerebral artery branches in the beginning of the edification of its system. We used 162 cerebral hemispheres from 88 fetuses aged of 13-15 weeks. Middle cerebral artery system was injected with a gelatin-China ink mixture and images recorded by means of a Zeiss surgical microscope. Parameters evaluation (length, proximal and distal diameters, external surface, volume, angles of bifurcation) was realized with KS-300 program. At this early age middle cerebral artery system has only 4-5 generations of branches usually resulting from acute angle bifurcations.

Effect of perfusate hematocrit on urea permeability-surface area in isolated dog lung

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Parker, R.E.; Roselli, R.J.; Haselton, F.R.

1986-10-01

Seven dog lower left lung lobes were statically inflated and perfused at a constant rate for each lobe with a perfusate in which the hematocrit was altered over a wide range. The permeability-surface area of urea was calculated from multiple indicator dilution curves using two separate injectates for each hematocrit level. One injectate contained only /sup 125/I-albumin as the vascular reference tracer and the other contained both /sup 51/Cr-erythrocytes and /sup 125/I-albumin as the vascular reference tracers; both contained (/sup 14/C)urea as the permeating tracer. The results strongly indicate that the phenomenon of erythrocyte trapping of urea does not affectmore » the calculation of urea permeability-surface area product provided the appropriate albumin-erythrocyte composite reference tracer is utilized in its calculation.« less

Measurement of the permeability, perfusion, and histogram characteristics in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with extended Tofts linear model.

PubMed

Yin, Ping; Xiong, Hua; Liu, Yi; Sah, Shambhu K; Zeng, Chun; Wang, Jingjie; Li, Yongmei; Hong, Nan

2018-01-01

To investigate the application value of using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) with extended Tofts linear model for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and its correlation with expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores and disease duration. Thirty patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DCE-MRI with a 3.0 Tesla MR scanner. An extended Tofts linear model was used to quantitatively measure MR imaging biomarkers. The histogram parameters and correlation among imaging biomarkers, EDSS scores, and disease duration were also analyzed. The MR imaging biomarkers volume transfer constant (K trans ), volume of the extravascular extracellular space per unit volume of tissue (Ve), fractional plasma volume (V p ), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and cerebral blood volume (CBV) of contrast-enhancing (CE) lesions were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of nonenhancing (NE) lesions and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) regions. The skewness of Ve value in CE lesions was more close to normal distribution. There was no significant correlation among the biomarkers with the EDSS scores and disease duration (P > 0.05). Our study demonstrates that the DCE-MRI with the extended Tofts linear model can measure the permeability and perfusion characteristic in MS lesions and in NAWM regions. The K trans , Ve, Vp, CBF, and CBV of CE lesions were significantly higher than that of NE lesions. The skewness of Ve value in CE lesions was more close to normal distribution, indicating that the histogram can be helpful to distinguish the pathology of MS lesions.

Baclofen mediates neuroprotection on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells through the regulation of autophagy under chronic cerebral hypoperfusion

PubMed Central

Liu, Li; Li, Chang-jun; Lu, Yun; Zong, Xian-gang; Luo, Chao; Sun, Jun; Guo, Lian-jun

2015-01-01

GABA receptors play an important role in ischemic brain injury. Studies have indicated that autophagy is closely related to neurodegenerative diseases. However, during chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, the changes of autophagy in the hippocampal CA1 area, the correlation between GABA receptors and autophagy, and their influences on hippocampal neuronal apoptosis have not been well established. Here, we found that chronic cerebral hypoperfusion resulted in rat hippocampal atrophy, neuronal apoptosis, enhancement and redistribution of autophagy, down-regulation of Bcl-2/Bax ratio, elevation of cleaved caspase-3 levels, reduction of surface expression of GABAA receptor α1 subunit and an increase in surface and mitochondrial expression of connexin 43 (CX43) and CX36. Chronic administration of GABAB receptors agonist baclofen significantly alleviated neuronal damage. Meanwhile, baclofen could up-regulate the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and increase the activation of Akt, GSK-3β and ERK which suppressed cytodestructive autophagy. The study also provided evidence that baclofen could attenuate the decrease in surface expression of GABAA receptor α1 subunit, and down-regulate surface and mitochondrial expression of CX43 and CX36, which might enhance protective autophagy. The current findings suggested that, under chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, the effects of GABAB receptors activation on autophagy regulation could reverse neuronal damage. PMID:26412641

Pyroelectricity as a possible mechanism for cell membrane permeabilization.

PubMed

García-Sánchez, Tomás; Muscat, Adeline; Leray, Isabelle; Mir, Lluis M

2018-02-01

The effects of pyroelectricity on cell membrane permeability had never been explored. Pyroelectricity consists in the generation of an electric field in the surface of some materials when a change in temperature is produced. In the present study, tourmaline microparticles, which are known to display pyroelectrical properties, were subjected to different changes in temperature upon exposure to cells in order to induce an electric field at their surface. Then, the changes in the permeability of the cell membrane to a cytotoxic agent (bleomycin) were assessed by a cloning efficacy test. An increase in the permeability of the cell membrane was only detected when tourmaline was subjected to a change in temperature. This suggests that the apparition of an induced pyroelectrical electric field on the material could actually be involved in the observed enhancement of the cell membrane permeability as a result of cell electropermeabilization. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the use of partition coefficients and molecular surface properties as predictors of drug absorption: a provisional biopharmaceutical classification of the list of national essential medicines of Pakistan

PubMed Central

Shawahna, R.; Rahman, NU.

2011-01-01

Background and the purpose of the study Partition coefficients (log D and log P) and molecular surface area (PSA) are potential predictors of the intestinal permeability of drugs. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate and compare these intestinal permeability indicators. Methods Aqueous solubility data were obtained from literature or calculated using ACD/Labs and ALOGPS. Permeability data were predicted based on log P, log D at pH 6.0 (log D6.0), and PSA. Results Metoprolol's log P, log D6.0, and a PSA of <65 Å correctly predicted 55.9%, 50.8% and 54.2% of permeability classes, respectively. Labetalol's log P, log D6.0 and PSA correctly predicted 54.2%, 64.4% and 61% of permeability classes, respectively. Log D6.0 correlated well (81%) with Caco-2 permeability (Papp). Of the list of national essential medicines, 135 orally administered drugs were classified into biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS). Of these, 57 (42.2%), 28 (20.7%), 44 (32.6%), and 6 (4.4%) were class I, II, III and IV respectively. Conclusion Log D6.0 showed better prediction capability than log P. Metoprolol as permeability internal standard was more conservative than labetalol. PMID:22615645

Heavy Cigarette Smokers in a Chinese Population Display a Compromised Permeability Barrier

PubMed Central

Xin, Shujun; Ye, Li; Lv, Chengzhi; Elias, Peter M.

2016-01-01

Cigarette smoking is associated with various cutaneous disorders with defective permeability. Yet, whether cigarette smoking influences epidermal permeability barrier function is largely unknown. Here, we measured skin biophysical properties, including permeability barrier homeostasis, stratum corneum (SC) integrity, SC hydration, skin surface pH, and skin melanin/erythema index, in cigarette smokers. A total of 99 male volunteers were enrolled in this study. Smokers were categorized as light-to-moderate (<20 cigarettes/day) or heavy smokers (≥20 cigarettes/day). An MPA5 was used to measure SC hydration and skin melanin/erythema index on the dorsal hand, forehead, and cheek. Basal transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and barrier recovery rates were assessed on the forearm. A Skin-pH-Meter pH900 was used to measure skin surface pH. Our results showed that heavy cigarette smokers exhibited delayed barrier recovery after acute abrogation (1.02% ± 13.06 versus 16.48% ± 6.07), and barrier recovery rates correlated negatively with the number of daily cigarettes consumption (p = 0.0087). Changes in biophysical parameters in cigarette smokers varied with body sites. In conclusion, heavy cigarette smokers display compromised permeability barrier homeostasis, which could contribute, in part, to the increased prevalence of certain cutaneous disorders characterized by defective permeability. Thus, improving epidermal permeability barrier should be considered for heavy cigarette smokers. PMID:27437403

In vitro dentin permeability after application of Gluma® desensitizer as aqueous solution or aqueous fumed silica dispersion

PubMed Central

ISHIHATA, Hiroshi; FINGER, Werner J.; KANEHIRA, Masafumi; SHIMAUCHI, Hidetoshi; KOMATSU, Masashi

2011-01-01

Objectives To assess and to compare the effects of Gluma® Desensitizer (GDL) with an experimental glutaraldehyde and HEMA containing fumed silica dispersion (GDG) on dentin permeability using a chemiluminous tracer penetration test. Material and Methods Twenty disc-shaped dentin specimens were dissected from extracted human third molars. The dentin specimens were mounted in a split chamber device for determination of permeability under liquid pressure using a photochemical method. Ten specimens were randomly selected and allocated to the evaluation groups Gluma® Desensitizer as aqueous solution and glutaraldehyde/HEMA as fumed silica dispersion, respectively. Dentin disc permeability was determined at two pressure levels after removal of smear with EDTA, after albumin soaking, and after application of the desensitizing agents. Two desensitizer-treated and rinsed specimens of each group were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for surface remnants. Results Comparatively large standard deviations of the mean EDTA reference and albumin soaked samples permeability values reflected the differences of the dentin substrates. The mean chemiluminescence values of specimen treated with GDL and GDG, respectively, were significantly reduced after topical application of the desensitizing agents on albumin-soaked dentin. The effects of GDL and GDG on permeability were not significantly different. Treated specimens showed no surface remnants after rinsing. Conclusions The experimental desensitizer gel formulation reduced dentin permeability as effectively as the original Gluma® Desensitizer solution. PMID:21552716

Biophysical Model of Ion Transport across Human Respiratory Epithelia Allows Quantification of Ion Permeabilities

PubMed Central

Garcia, Guilherme J.M.; Boucher, Richard C.; Elston, Timothy C.

2013-01-01

Lung health and normal mucus clearance depend on adequate hydration of airway surfaces. Because transepithelial osmotic gradients drive water flows, sufficient hydration of the airway surface liquid depends on a balance between ion secretion and absorption by respiratory epithelia. In vitro experiments using cultures of primary human nasal epithelia and human bronchial epithelia have established many of the biophysical processes involved in airway surface liquid homeostasis. Most experimental studies, however, have focused on the apical membrane, despite the fact that ion transport across respiratory epithelia involves both cellular and paracellular pathways. In fact, the ion permeabilities of the basolateral membrane and paracellular pathway remain largely unknown. Here we use a biophysical model for water and ion transport to quantify ion permeabilities of all pathways (apical, basolateral, paracellular) in human nasal epithelia cultures using experimental (Ussing Chamber and microelectrode) data reported in the literature. We derive analytical formulas for the steady-state short-circuit current and membrane potential, which are for polarized epithelia the equivalent of the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation for single isolated cells. These relations allow parameter estimation to be performed efficiently. By providing a method to quantify all the ion permeabilities of respiratory epithelia, the model may aid us in understanding the physiology that regulates normal airway surface hydration. PMID:23442922

Endotoxemia induces lung-brain coupling and multi-organ injury following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.

PubMed

Mai, Nguyen; Prifti, Landa; Rininger, Aric; Bazarian, Hannah; Halterman, Marc W

2017-11-01

Post-ischemic neurodegeneration remains the principal cause of mortality following cardiac resuscitation. Recent studies have implicated gastrointestinal ischemia in the sepsis-like response associated with the post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). However, the extent to which the resulting low-grade endotoxemia present in up to 86% of resuscitated patients affects cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury has not been investigated. Here we report that a single injection of low-dose lipopolysaccharide (50μg/kg, IP) delivered after global cerebral ischemia (GCI) induces blood-brain barrier permeability, microglial activation, cortical injury, and functional decline in vivo, compared to ischemia alone. And while GCI was sufficient to induce neutrophil (PMN) activation and recruitment to the post-ischemic CNS, minimal endotoxemia exhibited synergistic effects on markers of systemic inflammation including PMN priming, lung damage, and PMN burden within the lung and other non-ischemic organs including the kidney and liver. Our findings predict that acute interventions geared towards blocking the effects of serologically occult endotoxemia in survivors of cardiac arrest will limit delayed neurodegeneration, multi-organ dysfunction and potentially other features of PCAS. This work also introduces lung-brain coupling as a novel therapeutic target with broad effects on innate immune priming and post-ischemic neurodegeneration following cardiac arrest and related cerebrovascular conditions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In vitro model of cerebral ischemia by using brain microvascular endothelial cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells.

PubMed

Kokubu, Yasuhiro; Yamaguchi, Tomoko; Kawabata, Kenji

2017-04-29

Brain-derived microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), which play a central role in blood brain barrier (BBB), can be used for the evaluation of drug transport into the brain. Although human BMEC cell lines have already been reported, they lack original properties such as barrier integrity. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can be used for various applications such as regenerative therapy, drug screening, and pathological study. In the recent study, an induction method of BMECs from PSCs has been established, making it possible to more precisely study the in vitro human BBB function. Here, using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived BMECs, we examined the effects of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and OGD/reoxygenation (OGD/R) on BBB permeability. OGD disrupted the barrier function, and the dysfunction was rapidly restored by re-supply of the oxygen and glucose. Interestingly, TNF-α, which is known to be secreted from astrocytes and microglia in the cerebral ischemia, prevented the restoration of OGD-induced barrier dysfunction in an apoptosis-independent manner. Thus, we could establish the in vitro BBB disease model that mimics the cerebral ischemia by using iPS cell-derived BMECs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Physiological and biochemical principles underlying volume-targeted therapy--the "Lund concept".

PubMed

Nordström, Carl-Henrik

2005-01-01

The optimal therapy of sustained increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) remains controversial. The volume-targeted therapy ("Lund concept") discussed in this article focuses on the physiological volume regulation of the intracranial compartments. The balance between effective transcapillary hydrostatic and osmotic pressures constitutes the driving force for transcapillary fluid exchange. The low permeability for sodium and chloride combined with the high crystalloid osmotic pressure (approximately 5700 mmHg) on both sides of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) counteracts fluid exchange across the intact BBB. Additionally, variations in systemic blood pressure generally are not transmitted to these capillaries because cerebral intracapillary hydrostatic pressure (and blood flow) is physio-logically tightly autoregulated. Under pathophysiological conditions, the BBB may be partially disrupted. Transcapillary water exchange is then determined by the differences in hydrostatic and colloid osmotic pressure between the intra- and extracapillary compartments. Pressure autoregulation of cerebral blood flow is likely to be impaired in these conditions. A high cerebral perfusion pressure accordingly increases intracapillary hydrostatic pressure and leads to increased intracerebral water content and an increase in ICP. The volume-targeted "Lund concept" has been evaluated in experimental and clinical studies to examine the physiological and biochemical (utilizing intracerebral microdialysis) effects, and the clinical experiences have been favorable.

Inhibition of Cathepsin B Alleviates Secondary Degeneration in Ipsilateral Thalamus After Focal Cerebral Infarction in Adult Rats.

PubMed

Zuo, Xialin; Hou, Qinghua; Jin, Jizi; Zhan, Lixuan; Li, Xinyu; Sun, Weiwen; Lin, Kunqin; Xu, En

2016-09-01

Secondary degeneration in areas beyond ischemic foci can inhibit poststroke recovery. The cysteine protease Cathepsin B (CathB) regulates cell death and intracellular protein catabolism. To investigate the roles of CathB in the development of secondary degeneration in the ventroposterior nucleus (VPN) of the ipsilateral thalamus after focal cerebral infarction, infarct volumes, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, and Western blotting analyses were conducted in a distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) stroke model in adult rats. We observed marked neuron loss and gliosis in the ipsilateral thalamus after dMCAO, and the expression of CathB and cleaved caspase-3 in the VPN was significantly upregulated; glial cells were the major source of CathB. Although it had no effect on infarct volume, delayed intracerebroventricular treatment with the membrane-permeable CathB inhibitor CA-074Me suppressed the expression of CathB and cleaved caspase-3 in ipsilateral VPN and accordingly alleviated the secondary degeneration. These data indicate that CathB mediates a novel mechanism of secondary degeneration in the VPN of the ipsilateral thalamus after focal cortical infarction and suggest that CathB might be a therapeutic target for the prevention of secondary degeneration in patients after stroke. © 2016 American Association of Neuropathologists, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pediatric oral formulation of dendrimer-N-acetyl-l-cysteine conjugates for the treatment of neuroinflammation.

PubMed

Yellepeddi, Venkata K; Mohammadpour, Raziye; Kambhampati, Siva P; Sayre, Casey; Mishra, Manoj K; Kannan, Rangaramanujam M; Ghandehari, Hamidreza

2018-04-20

N-Acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) commonly used as an antidote in acetaminophen poisoning has shown promise in the treatment of neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy (CP). However, NAC suffers from drawbacks such as poor oral bioavailability and suboptimal blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability limiting its clinical success. It was previously demonstrated that intravenous administration of dendrimer-NAC (D-NAC) conjugates have shown significant promise in the targeted treatment of neuroinflammation, in multiple preclinical models. Development of an oral formulation of D-NAC may open new administrative routes for this compound. Here, we report the gastrointestinal stability, in vitro transepithelial permeability, and in vivo oral absorption and pharmacokinetics in rats of a pediatric formulation of D-NAC containing Capmul MCM (glycerol monocaprylate) as a penetration enhancer. D-NAC was stable for 6 h in all five simulated gastrointestinal fluids with no signs of chemical degradation. The apparent permeability (P app ) of D-NAC increased 9-fold in the formulation containing Capmul. The area under the curve [AUC] 0-∞ of D-NAC with Capmul increased by 47% when compared to D-NAC alone. These results indicate that an oral pediatric formulation containing D-NAC and Capmul can be an effective option for the treatment of neuroinflammation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Oligoclonal bands and periventricular lesions in multiple sclerosis will not increase blood-brain barrier permeability.

PubMed

Akaishi, Tetsuya; Takahashi, Toshiyuki; Nakashima, Ichiro

2018-04-15

To elucidate the etiology and clinical significance of periventricular lesions (PVLs) and oligoclonal bands (OB) in multiple sclerosis (MS). We enrolled a total of 97 MS patients (67 OB-positive and 30 OB-negative) who were negative both for anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) autoantibody and anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody. In these patients, comprehensive data including clinical, laboratory, and MRI were collected to investigate the significance of OB and PVLs. Within the MS patients, OB-positivity and the number of PVLs were associated each other. Both of OB-positivity and PVLs did not affect clinical severity or relapse rate, though the patients with ≥3 PVLs showed faster cerebral atrophy than those with <3 PVLs. The patients with OB or ≥3 PVLs showed lower values of quotient of albumin (QAlb), a biomarker of blood-brain barrier (BBB)-permeability and possibly reflects the ongoing disease activity, and lower protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The causal relationship between the decreased QAlb and OB or ≥3 PVLs was not determined. OB and PVLs were associated each other, but they did not affect the clinical course or increased the BBB-permeability within MS patients. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Computerized mappings of the cerebral cortex: a multiresolution flattening method and a surface-based coordinate system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drury, H. A.; Van Essen, D. C.; Anderson, C. H.; Lee, C. W.; Coogan, T. A.; Lewis, J. W.

1996-01-01

We present a new method for generating two-dimensional maps of the cerebral cortex. Our computerized, two-stage flattening method takes as its input any well-defined representation of a surface within the three-dimensional cortex. The first stage rapidly converts this surface to a topologically correct two-dimensional map, without regard for the amount of distortion introduced. The second stage reduces distortions using a multiresolution strategy that makes gross shape changes on a coarsely sampled map and further shape refinements on progressively finer resolution maps. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by creating flat maps of the entire cerebral cortex in the macaque monkey and by displaying various types of experimental data on such maps. We also introduce a surface-based coordinate system that has advantages over conventional stereotaxic coordinates and is relevant to studies of cortical organization in humans as well as non-human primates. Together, these methods provide an improved basis for quantitative studies of individual variability in cortical organization.

Preparation of Low fouling Polyethersulfone Membranes by Simultaneously Phase Separation and Redox Polymerization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roihatin, A.; Susanto, H.

2017-05-01

This paper presents preparation of low fouling PES membranes by non solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) coupled with redox polymerization. The membrane characterization included water permeability, morphology structure (by SEM) and surface chemistry (by FTIR). Water permeability measurements showed thatthe membranes have water permeability within the range 10-50 L/h.m2.bar. Addition of PEG dan PEGMA intopolymer solution increased water permeability, whereas blending redox initiator and crosslinker, MBAA in polymer solution decreased water permeability. Surface morfology of membranes by SEM showed that unmodified PES membrane had smaller pore size than PEG or PEGMA modified PES membranes. Furthermore, PES-PEG or PES-PEGMA membranes modified by blending with redox initiator and MBAA as crosslinker showed smaller pore size than unmodified membrane. FTIR analysis showed that all membranes have typical spectraof PES polymer; however no additional peak was observed forthe membranes prepared with addition of PEG/PEGMA, initiator redox and also crosslinker. The addition of PEG/PEGMA, redox initiator and crosslinker resulted in membranes with high rejection and an acceptable flux as well as more stable due to relatively high fouling resistance.

Danshen diversity defeating dementia.

PubMed

Hügel, Helmut M; Jackson, Neale

2014-02-01

Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen) is widely used for the clinical treatment of cerebral ischemia and cardiovascular diseases. Its diverse molecular makeup of simple and poly hydroxycinnamic acids and diterpenoid quinones are also associated with its beneficial health effects such as improved cognitive deficits in mice, protection of neuronal cells, prevention of amyloid fibril formation and preformed amyloid fibril disaggregation related to Alzheimer's disease. Whilst the in vitro studies have therapeutic promise, the anti-dementia effect/impact of danshen however depends on its absorbed constituents and pharmacokinetic properties. Both the water and lipid danshen fractions have been shown to have low oral bioavailability and at physiological pH, the polyphenolic carboxylate anions are not brain permeable. To tap into the many neuroprotective and other biological benefits of danshen, the key challenge resides in developing danshen nanopharmaceuticals, semi-synthetic pro-drug forms of its constituents to improve its biocompatability, that is, absorption, circulation in bloodstream and optimization of BBB permeability. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Neurovascular unit impairment in early Alzheimer's disease measured with magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

van de Haar, Harm J; Jansen, Jacobus F A; van Osch, Matthias J P; van Buchem, Mark A; Muller, Majon; Wong, Sau May; Hofman, Paul A M; Burgmans, Saartje; Verhey, Frans R J; Backes, Walter H

2016-09-01

The neurovascular unit, which protects neuronal cells and supplies them with essential molecules, plays an important role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The aim of this study was to noninvasively investigate 2 linked functional elements of the neurovascular unit, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and cerebral blood flow (CBF), in patients with early AD and healthy controls. Therefore, both dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging were applied to measure BBB permeability and CBF, respectively. The patients with early AD showed significantly lower CBF and local blood volume in the gray matter, compared with controls. In the patients, we also found that a reduction in CBF is correlated with an increase in leakage rate. This finding supports the hypothesis that neurovascular damage, and in particular impairment of the neurovascular unit constitutes the pathophysiological link between CBF reduction and BBB impairment in AD. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The algorithmic details of polynomials application in the problems of heat and mass transfer control on the hypersonic aircraft permeable surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilchenko, G. G.; Bilchenko, N. G.

2018-03-01

The hypersonic aircraft permeable surfaces heat and mass transfer effective control mathematical modeling problems are considered. The analysis of the control (the blowing) constructive and gasdynamical restrictions is carried out for the porous and perforated surfaces. The functions classes allowing realize the controls taking into account the arising types of restrictions are suggested. Estimates of the computational complexity of the W. G. Horner scheme application in the case of using the C. Hermite interpolation polynomial are given.

Influence of thickness and permeability of endothelial surface layer on transmission of shear stress in capillaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, SongPeng; Zhang, XiangJun; Tian, Yu; Meng, YongGang; Lipowsky, Herbert

2015-07-01

The molecular coating on the surface of microvascular endothelium has been identified as a barrier to transvascular exchange of solutes. With a thickness of hundreds of nanometers, this endothelial surface layer (ESL) has been treated as a porous domain within which fluid shear stresses are dissipated and transmitted to the solid matrix to initiate mechanotransduction events. The present study aims to examine the effects of the ESL thickness and permeability on the transmission of shear stress throughout the ESL. Our results indicate that fluid shear stresses rapidly decrease to insignificant levels within a thin transition layer near the outer boundary of the ESL with a thickness on the order of ten nanometers. The thickness of the transition zone between free fluid and the porous layer was found to be proportional to the square root of the Darcy permeability. As the permeability is reduced ten-fold, the interfacial fluid and solid matrix shear stress gradients increase exponentially two-fold. While the interfacial fluid shear stress is positively related to the ESL thickness, the transmitted matrix stress is reduced by about 50% as the ESL thickness is decreased from 500 to 100 nm, which may occur under pathological conditions. Thus, thickness and permeability of the ESL are two main factors that determine flow features and the apportionment of shear stresses between the fluid and solid phases of the ESL. These results may shed light on the mechanisms of force transmission through the ESL and the pathological events caused by alterations in thickness and permeability of the ESL.

Externally pressurized porous cylinder for multiple surface aerosol generation and method of generation

DOEpatents

Apel, Charles T.; Layman, Lawrence R.; Gallimore, David L.

1988-01-01

A nebulizer for generating aerosol having small droplet sizes and high efficiency at low sample introduction rates. The nebulizer has a cylindrical gas permeable active surface. A sleeve is disposed around the cylinder and gas is provided from the sleeve to the interior of the cylinder formed by the active surface. In operation, a liquid is provided to the inside of the gas permeable surface. The gas contacts the wetted surface and forms small bubbles which burst to form an aerosol. Those bubbles which are large are carried by momentum to another part of the cylinder where they are renebulized. This process continues until the entire sample is nebulized into aerosol sized droplets.

Performance and cost effectiveness of permeable friction course (PFC) pavements.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-02-01

In this project, the research team evaluated the performance of Permeable Friction Courses (PFC) over time and compared it against other types of wearing surface pavement layers. Several pavement sections including Asphalt Rubber (AR) PFCs, Performan...

Permeability of acetic acid across gel and liquid-crystalline lipid bilayers conforms to free-surface-area theory.

PubMed Central

Xiang, T X; Anderson, B D

1997-01-01

Solubility-diffusion theory, which treats the lipid bilayer membrane as a bulk lipid solvent into which permeants must partition and diffuse across, fails to account for the effects of lipid bilayer chain order on the permeability coefficient of any given permeant. This study addresses the scaling factor that must be applied to predictions from solubility-diffusion theory to correct for chain ordering. The effects of bilayer chemical composition, temperature, and phase structure on the permeability coefficient (Pm) of acetic acid were investigated in large unilamellar vesicles by a combined method of NMR line broadening and dynamic light scattering. Permeability values were obtained in distearoylphosphatidylcholine, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine, and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine bilayers, and their mixtures with cholesterol, at various temperatures both above and below the gel-->liquid-crystalline phase transition temperatures (Tm). A new scaling factor, the permeability decrement f, is introduced to account for the decrease in permeability coefficient from that predicted by solubility-diffusion theory owing to chain ordering in lipid bilayers. Values of f were obtained by division of the observed Pm by the permeability coefficient predicted from a bulk solubility-diffusion model. In liquid-crystalline phases, a strong correlation (r = 0.94) between f and the normalized surface density sigma was obtained: in f = 5.3 - 10.6 sigma. Activation energies (Ea) for the permeability of acetic acid decreased with decreasing phospholipid chain length and correlated with the sensitivity of chain ordering to temperature, [symbol: see text] sigma/[symbol: see text](1/T), as chain length was varied. Pm values decreased abruptly at temperatures below the main phase transition temperatures in pure dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers (30-60-fold) and below the pretransition in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers (8-fold), and the linear relationship between in f and sigma established for liquid-crystalline bilayers was no longer followed. However, in both gel and liquid-crystalline phases in f was found to exhibit an inverse correlation with free surface area (in f = -0.31 - 29.1/af, where af is the average free area (in square angstroms) per lipid molecule). Thus, the lipid bilayer permeability of acetic acid can be predicted from the relevant chain-packing properties in the bilayer (free surface area), regardless of whether chain ordering is varied by changes in temperature, lipid chain length, cholesterol concentration, or bilayer phase structure, provided that temperature effects on permeant dehydration and diffusion and the chain-length effects on bilayer barrier thickness are properly taken into account. PMID:8994607

Factors Determining the Oxygen Permeability of Biological Membranes: Oxygen Transport Across Eye Lens Fiber-Cell Plasma Membranes.

PubMed

Subczynski, Witold Karol; Widomska, Justyna; Mainali, Laxman

2017-01-01

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-label oximetry allows the oxygen permeability coefficient to be evaluated across homogeneous lipid bilayer membranes and, in some cases, across coexisting membrane domains without their physical separation. The most pronounced effect on oxygen permeability is observed for cholesterol, which additionally induces the formation of membrane domains. In intact biological membranes, integral proteins induce the formation of boundary and trapped lipid domains with a low oxygen permeability. The effective oxygen permeability coefficient across the intact biological membrane is affected not only by the oxygen permeability coefficients evaluated for each lipid domain but also by the surface area occupied by these domains in the membrane. All these factors observed in fiber cell plasma membranes of clear human eye lenses are reviewed here.

Aneurysm permeability following coil embolization: packing density and coil distribution

PubMed Central

Chueh, Ju-Yu; Vedantham, Srinivasan; Wakhloo, Ajay K; Carniato, Sarena L; Puri, Ajit S; Bzura, Conrad; Coffin, Spencer; Bogdanov, Alexei A; Gounis, Matthew J

2015-01-01

Background Rates of durable aneurysm occlusion following coil embolization vary widely, and a better understanding of coil mass mechanics is desired. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of packing density and coil uniformity on aneurysm permeability. Methods Aneurysm models were coiled using either Guglielmi detachable coils or Target coils. The permeability was assessed by taking the ratio of microspheres passing through the coil mass to those in the working fluid. Aneurysms containing coil masses were sectioned for image analysis to determine surface area fraction and coil uniformity. Results All aneurysms were coiled to a packing density of at least 27%. Packing density, surface area fraction of the dome and neck, and uniformity of the dome were significantly correlated (p<0.05). Hence, multivariate principal components-based partial least squares regression models were used to predict permeability. Similar loading vectors were obtained for packing and uniformity measures. Coil mass permeability was modeled better with the inclusion of packing and uniformity measures of the dome (r2=0.73) than with packing density alone (r2=0.45). The analysis indicates the importance of including a uniformity measure for coil distribution in the dome along with packing measures. Conclusions A densely packed aneurysm with a high degree of coil mass uniformity will reduce permeability. PMID:25031179

Permeability Evolution of Slowly Slipping Faults in Shale Reservoirs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Wei; Reece, Julia S.; Gensterblum, Yves; Zoback, Mark D.

2017-11-01

Slow slip on preexisting faults during hydraulic fracturing is a process that significantly influences shale gas production in extremely low permeability "shale" (unconventional) reservoirs. We experimentally examined the impacts of mineralogy, surface roughness, and effective stress on permeability evolution of slowly slipping faults in Eagle Ford shale samples. Our results show that fault permeability decreases with slip at higher effective stress but increases with slip at lower effective stress. The permeabilities of saw cut faults fully recover after cycling effective stress from 2.5 to 17.5 to 2.5 MPa and increase with slip at constant effective stress due to asperity damage and dilation associated with slip. However, the permeabilities of natural faults only partially recover after cycling effective stress returns to 2.5 MPa and decrease with slip due to produced gouge blocking fluid flow pathways. Our results suggest that slowly slipping faults have the potential to enhance reservoir stimulation in extremely low permeability reservoirs.

Analytical Expressions for Thermo-Osmotic Permeability of Clays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonçalvès, J.; Ji Yu, C.; Matray, J.-M.; Tremosa, J.

2018-01-01

In this study, a new formulation for the thermo-osmotic permeability of natural pore solutions containing monovalent and divalent cations is proposed. The mathematical formulation proposed here is based on the theoretical framework supporting thermo-osmosis which relies on water structure alteration in the pore space of surface-charged materials caused by solid-fluid electrochemical interactions. The ionic content balancing the surface charge of clay minerals causes a disruption in the hydrogen bond network when more structured water is present at the clay surface. Analytical expressions based on our heuristic model are proposed and compared to the available data for NaCl solutions. It is shown that the introduction of divalent cations reduces the thermo-osmotic permeability by one third compared to the monovalent case. The analytical expressions provided here can be used to advantage for safety calculations in deep underground nuclear waste repositories.

The Generation of Barriers to Melt Ascent in the Martian Lithosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schools, Joe W.; Montési, Laurent G. J.

2018-01-01

Planetary mantles can be regarded as an aggregate of two phases: a solid, porous matrix and a liquid melt. Melt travels rapidly upward through the matrix due to its buoyancy. When this melt enters the colder lithosphere, it begins to crystallize. If crystallization happens at a high rate, the newly formed crystals can clog the pore space, reducing its permeability to essentially zero. This zone of zero permeability is the permeability barrier. We use the MELTS family of thermodynamic calculators to determine melt compositions and the crystallization sequence of ascending melt throughout Martian history and simulate the formation of permeability barriers. At lower strain rates (10-17-10-15 s-1) permeability barriers form deep in the lithosphere, possibly contributing to the formation of localized volcanic edifices on the Martian surface once fracturing or thermal erosion enables melt to traverse the lithosphere. Higher strain rates (10-13 s-1) yield shallower permeability barriers, perhaps producing extensive lava flows. Permeability barrier formation is investigated using an anhydrous mantle source or mantle sources that include up to 1,000 ppm H2O. Introducing even small amounts of water (25 ppm H2O) reduces mantle viscosity in a manner similar to increasing the strain rate and results in a shallower barrier than in the anhydrous case. Large amounts of water (1,000 ppm H2O) yield very shallow weak barriers or no barriers at all. The depth of the permeability barrier has evolved through time, likely resulting in a progression in the style of surface volcanism from widespread flows to massive, singular volcanoes.

The permeability of endplate channels to monovalent and divalent metal cations

PubMed Central

1980-01-01

The relative permeability of endplate channels to monovalent and divalent metal ions was determined from reversal potentials. Thallium is the most permeant ion with a permeability ratio relative to Na+ of 2.5. The selectivity among alkali metals is weak with a sequence, Cs+ greater than Rb+ greater than K+ greater than Na+ greater than Li+, and permeability ratios of 1.4, 1.3, 1.1, 1.0, and 0.9. The selectivity among divalent ions is also weak, with a sequence for alkaline earths of Mg++ greater than Ca++ greater than Ba++ greater than Sr++. The transition metal ions Mn++, Co++, Ni++, Zn++, and Cd++ are also permeant. Permeability ratios for divalent ions decreased as the concentration of divalent ion was increased in a manner consistent with the negative surface potential theory of Lewis (1979 J. Physiol. (Lond.). 286: 417--445). With 20 mM XCl2 and 85.5 mM glucosamine.HCl in the external solution, the apparent permeability ratios for the alkaline earth cations (X++) are in the range 0.18--0.25. Alkali metal ions see the endplate channel as a water-filled, neutral pore without high-field-strength sites inside. Their permeability sequence is the same as their aqueous mobility sequence. Divalent ions, however, have a permeability sequence almost opposite from their mobility sequence and must experience some interaction with groups in the channel. In addition, the concentrations of monovalent and divalent ions are increased near the channel mouth by a weak negative surface potential. PMID:6247423

Numerical studies on the performance of an aerosol respirator with faceseal leakage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaripov, S. K.; Mukhametzanov, I. T.; Grinshpun, S. A.

2016-11-01

We studied the efficiency of a facepiece filtering respirator (FFR) in presence of a measurable faceseal leakage using the previously developed model of a spherical sampler with porous layer. In our earlier study, the model was validated for a specific filter permeability value. In this follow-up study, we investigated the effect of permeability on the overall respirator performance accounting for the faceseal leakage. The Total Inward Leakage (TIL) was calculated as a function of the leakage-to-filter surface ratio and the particle diameter. A good correlation was found between the theoretical and experimental TIL values. The TIL value was shown to increase and the effect of particle size on TIL to decrease as the leakage-to- filter surface ratio grows. The model confirmed that within the most penetrating particle size range (∼50 nm) and at relatively low leakage-to-filter surface ratios, an FFR performs better (TIL is lower) when the filter has a lower permeability which should be anticipated as long as the flow through the filter represents the dominant particle penetration pathway. An increase in leak size causes the TIL to rise; furthermore, under certain leakage-to-filter surface ratios, TIL for ultrafine particles becomes essentially independent on the filter properties due to a greater contribution of the aerosol flow through the faceseal leakage. In contrast to the ultrafine fraction, the larger particles (e.g., 800 nm) entering a typical high- or medium-quality respirator filter are almost fully collected by the filter medium regardless of its permeability; at the same time, the fraction penetrated through the leakage appears to be permeability- dependent: higher permeability generally results in a lower pressure drop through the filter which increases the air flow through the filter at the expense of the leakage flow. The latter reduces the leakage effect thus improving the overall respiratory protection level. The findings of this study provide valuable information for developing new respirators with a predictable actual workplace protection factor.

Biologically Inspired mm-size Gliding UAV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weihs, Daniel; Zussman, Eyal; Yarin, Alexander

2002-11-01

We present a first design of an unmanned aerial vehicle whose aerodynamic loads are carried by comb-like permeable surfaces. This concept was based on observation and analysis of the flight capabilities of the Thrip family of insects, whose have wings of this form and various plant seeds which use this concept to form an aerodynamic decelerator. This concept is only practical for at low Reynolds numbers, as the viscous trace of bodies moving in fluid becomes thicker as Re becomes smaller. When Re<1, a cylinder moving in fluid can drag along fluid up to several cylinder diameters. This drag effect can be used to produce a comb structure, where the ratio of comb rod to inter-rod distance can be up to 0.1 without significant throughflow, i.e. the comb is equivalent to a continuous surface. To demonstrate this principle, we have built artificial ``dandelion seeds", i.e. stable aerodynamic decelerators (parachutes) made of permeable light mats of submicron diameter nanofibers. We produced the nanofiber matrices (mats) by electrospinning of polymer solutions, obtaining fibers of 200-400 nm diameter. These fibers were then deposited on frames that serve to define the aerodynamic surfaces, thus producing the mat, with controllable density. For stability, the aerodynamic surfaces had positive dihedral ( inverted umbrella) forms with the fuselage hanging below. When dropped, the platforms fell freely through the air, apex down, reaching terminal velocity very quickly. By comparing the sink rate of the permeable structures with equivalent decelerators with continuous (Saran-wrap) surfaces we show that the permeable surfaces are equivalent to continuous surfaces, with significant weight savings, as long as the local Reynolds number is o(1).

Blocking NMDA receptors delays death in rats with acute liver failure by dual protective mechanisms in kidney and brain.

PubMed

Cauli, Omar; González-Usano, Alba; Cabrera-Pastor, Andrea; Gimenez-Garzó, Carla; López-Larrubia, Pilar; Ruiz-Sauri, Amparo; Hernández-Rabaza, Vicente; Duszczyk, Malgorzata; Malek, Michal; Lazarewicz, Jerzy W; Carratalá, Arturo; Urios, Amparo; Miguel, Alfonso; Torregrosa, Isidro; Carda, Carmen; Montoliu, Carmina; Felipo, Vicente

2014-06-01

Treatment of patients with acute liver failure (ALF) is unsatisfactory and mortality remains unacceptably high. Blocking NMDA receptors delays or prevents death of rats with ALF. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Clarifying these mechanisms will help to design more efficient treatments to increase patient's survival. The aim of this work was to shed light on the mechanisms by which blocking NMDA receptors delays rat's death in ALF. ALF was induced by galactosamine injection. NMDA receptors were blocked by continuous MK-801 administration. Edema and cerebral blood flow were assessed by magnetic resonance. The time course of ammonia levels in brain, muscle, blood, and urine; of glutamine, lactate, and water content in brain; of glomerular filtration rate and kidney damage; and of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and intracranial pressure was assessed. ALF reduces kidney glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as reflected by reduced inulin clearance. GFR reduction is due to both reduced renal perfusion and kidney tubular damage as reflected by increased Kim-1 in urine and histological analysis. Blocking NMDA receptors delays kidney damage, allowing transient increased GFR and ammonia elimination which delays hyperammonemia and associated changes in brain. Blocking NMDA receptors does not prevent cerebral edema or blood-brain barrier permeability but reduces or prevents changes in cerebral blood flow and brain lactate. The data show that dual protective effects of MK-801 in kidney and brain delay cerebral alterations, HE, intracranial pressure increase and death. NMDA receptors antagonists may increase survival of patients with ALF by providing additional time for liver transplantation or regeneration.

THE ROLE OF WATER IN PROTOPLASMIC PERMEABILITY AND IN ANTAGONISM

PubMed Central

Osterhout, W. J. V.

1956-01-01

The behavior of the cell depends to a large extent on the permeability of the outer non-aqueous surface layer of the protoplasm. This layer is immiscible with water but may be quite permeable to it. It seems possible that a reversible increase or decrease in permeability may be due to a corresponding increase or decrease in the water content of the non-aqueous surface layer. Irreversible increase in permeability need not be due primarily to increase in the water content of the surface layer but may be caused chiefly by changes in the protoplasm on which the surface layer rests. It may include desiccation, precipitation, and other alterations. An artificial cell is described in which the outer protoplasmic surface layer is represented by a layer of guaiacol on one side of which is a solution of KOH + KCl representing the external medium and on the other side is a solution of CO2 representing the protoplasm. The K+ unites with guaiacol and diffuses across to the artificial protoplasm where its concentration becomes higher than in the external solution. The guaiacol molecule thus acts as a carrier molecule which transports K+ from the external medium across the protoplasmic surface. The outer part of the protoplasm may contain relatively few potassium ions so that the outwardly directed potential at the outer protoplasmic surface may be small but the inner part of the protoplasm may contain more potassium ions. This may happen when potassium enters in combination with carrier molecules which do not completely dissociate until they reach the vacuole. Injury and recovery from injury may be studied by measuring the movements of water into and out of the cell. Metabolism by producing CO2 and other acids may lower the pH and cause local shrinkage of the protoplasm which may lead to protoplasmic motion. Antagonism between Na+ and Ca++ appears to be due to the fact that in solutions of NaCl the surface layer takes up an excessive amount of water and this may be prevented by the addition of suitable amounts of CaCl2. In Nitella the outer non-aqueous surface layer may be rendered irreversibly permeable by sharply bending the cell without permanent damage to the inner non-aqueous surface layer surrounding the vacuole. The formation of contractile vacuoles may be imitated in non-living systems. An extract of the sperm of the marine worm Nereis which contains a highly surface-active substance can cause the egg to divide. It seems possible that this substance may affect the surface layer of the egg and cause it to take up water. A surface-active substance has been found in all the seminal fluids examined including those of trout, rooster, bull, and man. Duponol which is highly surface-active causes the protoplasm of Spirogyra to take up water and finally dissolve but it can be restored to the gel state by treatment with Lugol solution (KI + I). The transition from gel to sol and back again can be repeated many times in succession. The behavior of water in the surface layer of the protoplasm presents important problems which deserve careful examination. PMID:13346047

Induced epidermal permeability modulates resistance and susceptibility of wheat seedlings to herbivory by Hessian fly larvae

PubMed Central

Williams, Christie E.; Nemacheck, Jill A.; Shukle, John T.; Subramanyam, Subhashree; Saltzmann, Kurt D.; Shukle, Richard H.

2011-01-01

Salivary secretions of neonate Hessian fly larvae initiate a two-way exchange of molecules with their wheat host. Changes in properties of the leaf surface allow larval effectors to enter the plant where they trigger plant processes leading to resistance and delivery of defence molecules, or susceptibility and delivery of nutrients. To increase understanding of the host plant's response, the timing and characteristics of the induced epidermal permeability were investigated. Resistant plant permeability was transient and limited in area, persisting just long enough to deliver defence molecules before gene expression and permeability reverted to pre-infestation levels. The abundance of transcripts for GDSL-motif lipase/hydrolase, thought to contribute to cuticle reorganization and increased permeability, followed the same temporal profile as permeability in resistant plants. In contrast, susceptible plants continued to increase in permeability over time until the entire crown of the plant became a nutrient sink. Permeability increased with higher infestation levels in susceptible but not in resistant plants. The ramifications of induced plant permeability on Hessian fly populations are discussed. PMID:21659664

Hydrogen separation membrane on a porous substrate

DOEpatents

Song, Sun-Ju [Orland Park, IL; Lee, Tae H [Naperville, IL; Chen, Ling [Woodridge, IL; Dorris, Stephen E [LaGrange Park, IL; Balachandran, Uthamalingam [Hinsdale, IL

2011-06-14

A hydrogen permeable membrane is disclosed. The membrane is prepared by forming a mixture of metal oxide powder and ceramic oxide powder and a pore former into an article. The article is dried at elevated temperatures and then sintered in a reducing atmosphere to provide a dense hydrogen permeable portion near the surface of the sintered mixture. The dense hydrogen permeable portion has a higher initial concentration of metal than the remainder of the sintered mixture and is present in the range of from about 20 to about 80 percent by volume of the dense hydrogen permeable portion.

Surface resistivity test evaluation as an indicator of the chloride permeability of concrete.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-12-01

Many agencies have adopted the standard tests for electrical : indication of concretes ability to resist chloride ion penetration : (AASHTO T 277 and ASTM C1202), commonly known as the rapid : chloride permeability test (RCPT), in their specificat...

Characterization of permeability of pavement bases in Missouri Department of Transportation's System

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-02-01

The results of field (in-situ) and laboratory permeability testing showed MoDOT's predominant pavement base "Type 5" (and the upper "working" surface of the 2-foot rock fill alternative) has hydraulic conductivities that are several orders of magnitu...

Surface resistivity as an alternative for rapid chloride permeability test of hardened concrete.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-03-01

Kansas experiences harsh winters that require frequent use of de-icing salts, making it critical to the long-term : durability of concrete structures that the permeability is kept under control. Under current KDOT specification, the : Rapid Chloride ...

Effect of the addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles on the magnetic properties of Fe soft magnetic composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Yuandong; Nie, Junwu; Zhang, Wenjun; Ma, Jian; Bao, Chongxi; Cao, Yang

2016-02-01

We investigated the effect of the addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles on the permeability and core loss of Fe soft magnetic composites coated with silicone. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis revealed that the surface layer of the powder particles consisted of a thin insulating Al2O3 layer with uniform surface coverage. The permeability and core loss of the composite with the Al2O3 addition annealed at 650 °C were excellent. The results indicated that the Al2O3 nanoparticle addition increases the permeability stablility with changing frequency and decreases the core loss over a wide range of frequencies.

Liquid-permeable electrode

DOEpatents

Folser, George R.

1980-01-01

Electrodes for use in an electrolytic cell, which are liquid-permeable and have low electrical resistance and high internal surface area are provided of a rigid, porous, carbonaceous matrix having activated carbon uniformly embedded throughout. The activated carbon may be catalyzed with platinum for improved electron transfer between electrode and electrolyte. Activated carbon is mixed with a powdered thermosetting phenolic resin and compacted to the desired shape in a heated mold to melt the resin and form the green electrode. The compact is then heated to a pyrolyzing temperature to carbonize and volatilize the resin, forming a rigid, porous structure. The permeable structure and high internal surface area are useful in electrolytic cells where it is necessary to continuously remove the products of the electrochemical reaction.

Graded changes in enamel component volumes resulted from a short tooth bleaching procedure.

PubMed

Ferreira, Artemisa Fernanda Moura; Perez, Flávia Maria de Moraes Ramos; Limeira Júnior, Francisco de Assis; de Moura, Mirella de Fátima Liberato; de Sousa, Frederico Barbosa

2016-05-01

To test the hypothesis that changes in enamel component volumes (mineral, organic, and water volumes, and permeability) are graded from outer to inner enamel after a short bleaching procedure. Extracted unerupted human third molars had half of their crowns bleached (single bleaching session, 3 × 15 min), and tooth shade changes in bleached parts were analyzed with a spectrophotometer. Ground sections were prepared, component volumes and permeability were quantified at histological points located at varying distances from the enamel surface (n=10 points/location), representing conditions before and after bleaching. Tooth shade changes were significant (p<0.001; 95% CI=-1/-8; power=99%), and most of the enamel layer was unaffected after bleaching, except at the outer layers. Multiple analysis of covariances revealed that most of the variance of the change in enamel composition after bleaching was explained by the combination of the set of types of component volume (in decreasing order of relevance: mineral loss, organic gain, water gain, and decrease in permeability) with the set of distances from the enamel surface (graded from the enamel surface inward) (canonical R(2)=0.97; p<0.0001; power>99%). Changes in enamel composition after a short bleaching procedure followed a gradient within component volumes (mineral loss>organic gain>water gain>decrease in permeability) and decreased from the enamel surface inward. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biophysical model of ion transport across human respiratory epithelia allows quantification of ion permeabilities.

PubMed

Garcia, Guilherme J M; Boucher, Richard C; Elston, Timothy C

2013-02-05

Lung health and normal mucus clearance depend on adequate hydration of airway surfaces. Because transepithelial osmotic gradients drive water flows, sufficient hydration of the airway surface liquid depends on a balance between ion secretion and absorption by respiratory epithelia. In vitro experiments using cultures of primary human nasal epithelia and human bronchial epithelia have established many of the biophysical processes involved in airway surface liquid homeostasis. Most experimental studies, however, have focused on the apical membrane, despite the fact that ion transport across respiratory epithelia involves both cellular and paracellular pathways. In fact, the ion permeabilities of the basolateral membrane and paracellular pathway remain largely unknown. Here we use a biophysical model for water and ion transport to quantify ion permeabilities of all pathways (apical, basolateral, paracellular) in human nasal epithelia cultures using experimental (Ussing Chamber and microelectrode) data reported in the literature. We derive analytical formulas for the steady-state short-circuit current and membrane potential, which are for polarized epithelia the equivalent of the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation for single isolated cells. These relations allow parameter estimation to be performed efficiently. By providing a method to quantify all the ion permeabilities of respiratory epithelia, the model may aid us in understanding the physiology that regulates normal airway surface hydration. Copyright © 2013 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The influence of open fracture anisotropy on CO2 movement within geological storage complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bond, C. E.; Wightman, R.; Ringrose, P. S.

2012-12-01

Carbon mitigation through the geological storage of carbon dioxide is dependent on the ability of geological formations to store CO2 trapping it within a geological storage complex. Secure long-term containment needs to be demonstrated, due to both political and social drivers, meaning that this containment must be verifiable over periods of 100-105 years. The effectiveness of sub-surface geological storage systems is dependent on trapping CO2 within a volume of rock and is reliant on the integrity of the surrounding rocks, including their chemical and physical properties, to inhibit migration to the surface. Oil and gas reservoir production data, and field evidence show that fracture networks have the potential to act as focused pathways for fluid movement. Fracture networks can allow large volumes of fluid to migrate to the surface within the time scales of interest. In this paper we demonstrate the importance of predicting the effects of fracture networks in storage, using a case study from the In Salah CO2 storage site, and show how the fracture permeability is closely controlled by the stress regime that determines the open fracture network. Our workflow combines well data of imaged fractures, with a discrete fracture network (DFN) model of tectonically induced fractures, within the horizon of interest. The modelled and observed fractures have been compared and combined with present day stress data to predict the open fracture network and its implications for anisotropic movement of CO2 in the sub-surface. The created fracture network model has been used to calculate the 2D permeability tensor for the reservoir for two scenarios: 1) a model in which all fractures are permeable, based on the whole DFN model and 2) those fractures determined to be in dilatational failure under the present day stress regime, a sub-set of the DFN. The resulting permeability anisotropy tensors show distinct anisotropies for the predicted CO2 movement within the reservoir. These predictions have been compared with InSAR imagery of surface uplift, used as an indicator of fluid pressure and movement in the sub-surface, around the CO2 injection wells. The analysis shows that the permeability tensor with the greatest anisotropy, that for the DFN sub-set of open fractures, matches well with the anisotropy in surface uplift imaged by InSAR. We demonstrate that predicting fracture networks alone does not predict fluid movement in the sub-surface, and that fracture permeability is closely controlled by the stress regime that determines the open fracture network. Our results show that a workflow of fracture network prediction combined with present day stress analysis can be used to successfully predict CO2 movement in the sub-surface at an active injection site.

Externally pressurized porous cylinder for multiple surface aerosol generation and method of generation

DOEpatents

Apel, C.T.; Layman, L.R.; Gallimore, D.L.

1988-05-10

A nebulizer is described for generating aerosol having small droplet sizes and high efficiency at low sample introduction rates. The nebulizer has a cylindrical gas permeable active surface. A sleeve is disposed around the cylinder and gas is provided from the sleeve to the interior of the cylinder formed by the active surface. In operation, a liquid is provided to the inside of the gas permeable surface. The gas contacts the wetted surface and forms small bubbles which burst to form an aerosol. Those bubbles which are large are carried by momentum to another part of the cylinder where they are renebulized. This process continues until the entire sample is nebulized into aerosol sized droplets. 2 figs.

Lung microvascular transport properties measured by multiple indicator dilution methods in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome. A comparison between patients reversing respiratory failure and those failing to reverse

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harris, T.R.; Bernard, G.R.; Brigham, K.L.

1990-02-01

We conducted indicator dilution studies on the lungs of patients in the early phases of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to test the hypothesis that capillary permeability was increased in patients with respiratory failure. Indicator dilution studies were performed using 51Cr-erythrocytes, 125I-albumin, 14C-urea, and 3H-water as tracers. The injectate was infused as a bolus into a central venous line. Peripheral arterial blood was collected and counted for radioactivity. Mathematical analysis of the indicator curves yielded cardiac output, measures of the product of capillary permeability and surface area for urea (PS and D1/2S), the intravascular lung volume (Vv), and the extravascularmore » lung water volume (Ve). Permeability was separated from surface area by normalizing PS and D1/2S to Vv. Patients could be divided into 16 in whom blood gas determinations and radiologic criteria for ARDS were reversed and 23 in whom they were not. We examined indicator dilution and other measures of lung function in the two groups to determine whether significant differences in microvascular function existed. PS and PS/Vv were significantly higher in the nonreversal patients. Ve was above normal, but not different between groups. Linear regression analysis showed significant correlations for all of the following in the nonreversal group: Ve and all measures of permeability, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and the inverse of permeability-surface area measures and AaDO2 and PVR. Only measures of Ve and PS correlated in the reversal group. These results support the hypothesis that capillary permeability is increased in patients with early ARDS and continuing respiratory failure.« less

Are Geotehrmal Reservoirs Stressed Out?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davatzes, N. C.; Laboso, R. C.; Layland-Bachmann, C. E.; Feigl, K. L.; Foxall, W.; Tabrez, A. R.; Mellors, R. J.; Templeton, D. C.; Akerley, J.

2017-12-01

Crustal permeability can be strongly influenced by developing connected networks of open fractures. However, the detailed evolution of a fracture network, its extent, and the persistence of fracture porosity are difficult to analyze. Even in fault-hosted geothermal systems, where heat is brought to the surface from depth along a fault, hydrothermal flow is heterogeneously distributed. This is presumably due to variations in fracture density, connectivity, and attitude, as well as variations in fracture permeability caused by sealing of fractures by precipitated cements or compaction. At the Brady Geothermal field in Nevada, we test the relationship between the modeled local stress state perturbed by dislocations representing fault slip or volume changes in the geothermal reservoir inferred from surface deformation measured by InSAR and the location of successful geothermal wells, hydrothermal activity, and seismicity. We postulate that permeability is favored in volumes that experience positive Coulomb stress changes and reduced compression, which together promote high densities of dilatant fractures. Conversely, permeability can be inhibited in locations where Coulomb stress is reduced, compression promotes compaction, or where the faults are poorly oriented in the stress field and consequently slip infrequently. Over geologic time scales spanning the development of the fault system, these local stress states are strongly influenced by the geometry of the fault network relative to the remote stress driving slip. At shorter time scales, changes in fluid pressure within the fracture network constituting the reservoir cause elastic dilations and contractions. We integrate: (1) direct observations of stress state and fractures in boreholes and the mapped geometry of the fault network; (2) evidence of permeability from surface hydrothermal features, production/injection wells and surface deformations related to pumping history; and (3) seismicity to test the correlation between the reservoir geometry and models of the local stress state.

Design/Construction of a Permeable Pavement Demonstration Site at the Edison Environmental Center (EEC)

EPA Science Inventory

This project will provide a scientifically defensible estimate of the performance of the three permeable surfaces: porous concrete, porous asphalt, and interlocking concrete pavers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can provide the results to municipalities enabling...

Generating enhanced site topography data to improve permeable pavement performance assessment methods - presentation

EPA Science Inventory

Permeable pavement surfaces are infiltration based stormwater control measures (SCM) commonly applied in parking lots to decrease impervious area and reduce runoff volume. Many are not optimally designed however, as little attention is given to draining a large enough contributin...

Surface resistivity as an alternative for rapid chloride permeability test of hardened concrete : [technical summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-03-01

Kansas experiences harsh winters that require frequent use of de-icing salts, making it : critical to the long-term durability of concrete structures that the permeability is kept : under control. Under current KDOT specification, the Rapid Chloride ...

Medical diagnosis imaging systems: image and signal processing applications aided by fuzzy logic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hata, Yutaka

2010-04-01

First, we describe an automated procedure for segmenting an MR image of a human brain based on fuzzy logic for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. The intensity thresholds for segmenting the whole brain of a subject are automatically determined by finding the peaks of the intensity histogram. After these thresholds are evaluated in a region growing, the whole brain can be identified. Next, we describe a procedure for decomposing the obtained whole brain into the left and right cerebral hemispheres, the cerebellum and the brain stem. Our method then identified the whole brain, the left cerebral hemisphere, the right cerebral hemisphere, the cerebellum and the brain stem. Secondly, we describe a transskull sonography system that can visualize the shape of the skull and brain surface from any point to examine skull fracture and some brain diseases. We employ fuzzy signal processing to determine the skull and brain surface. The phantom model, the animal model with soft tissue, the animal model with brain tissue, and a human subjects' forehead is applied in our system. The all shapes of the skin surface, skull surface, skull bottom, and brain tissue surface are successfully determined.

Functional and structural mapping of human cerebral cortex: Solutions are in the surfaces

PubMed Central

Van Essen, David C.; Drury, Heather A.; Joshi, Sarang; Miller, Michael I.

1998-01-01

The human cerebral cortex is notorious for the depth and irregularity of its convolutions and for its variability from one individual to the next. These complexities of cortical geography have been a chronic impediment to studies of functional specialization in the cortex. In this report, we discuss ways to compensate for the convolutions by using a combination of strategies whose common denominator involves explicit reconstructions of the cortical surface. Surface-based visualization involves reconstructing cortical surfaces and displaying them, along with associated experimental data, in various complementary formats (including three-dimensional native configurations, two-dimensional slices, extensively smoothed surfaces, ellipsoidal representations, and cortical flat maps). Generating these representations for the cortex of the Visible Man leads to a surface-based atlas that has important advantages over conventional stereotaxic atlases as a substrate for displaying and analyzing large amounts of experimental data. We illustrate this by showing the relationship between functionally specialized regions and topographically organized areas in human visual cortex. Surface-based warping allows data to be mapped from individual hemispheres to a surface-based atlas while respecting surface topology, improving registration of identifiable landmarks, and minimizing unwanted distortions. Surface-based warping also can aid in comparisons between species, which we illustrate by warping a macaque flat map to match the shape of a human flat map. Collectively, these approaches will allow more refined analyses of commonalities as well as individual differences in the functional organization of primate cerebral cortex. PMID:9448242

Functional and structural mapping of human cerebral cortex: solutions are in the surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Van Essen, D. C.; Drury, H. A.; Joshi, S.; Miller, M. I.

1998-01-01

The human cerebral cortex is notorious for the depth and irregularity of its convolutions and for its variability from one individual to the next. These complexities of cortical geography have been a chronic impediment to studies of functional specialization in the cortex. In this report, we discuss ways to compensate for the convolutions by using a combination of strategies whose common denominator involves explicit reconstructions of the cortical surface. Surface-based visualization involves reconstructing cortical surfaces and displaying them, along with associated experimental data, in various complementary formats (including three-dimensional native configurations, two-dimensional slices, extensively smoothed surfaces, ellipsoidal representations, and cortical flat maps). Generating these representations for the cortex of the Visible Man leads to a surface-based atlas that has important advantages over conventional stereotaxic atlases as a substrate for displaying and analyzing large amounts of experimental data. We illustrate this by showing the relationship between functionally specialized regions and topographically organized areas in human visual cortex. Surface-based warping allows data to be mapped from individual hemispheres to a surface-based atlas while respecting surface topology, improving registration of identifiable landmarks, and minimizing unwanted distortions. Surface-based warping also can aid in comparisons between species, which we illustrate by warping a macaque flat map to match the shape of a human flat map. Collectively, these approaches will allow more refined analyses of commonalities as well as individual differences in the functional organization of primate cerebral cortex.

Environmental response nanosilica for reducing the pressure of water injection in ultra-low permeability reservoirs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Peisong; Niu, Liyong; Li, Xiaohong; Zhang, Zhijun

2017-12-01

The super-hydrophobic silica nanoparticles are applied to alter the wettability of rock surface from water-wet to oil-wet. The aim of this is to reduce injection pressure so as to enhance water injection efficiency in low permeability reservoirs. Therefore, a new type of environmentally responsive nanosilica (denote as ERS) is modified with organic compound containing hydrophobic groups and "pinning" groups by covalent bond and then covered with a layer of hydrophilic organic compound by chemical adsorption to achieve excellent water dispersibility. Resultant ERS is homogeneously dispersed in water with a size of about 4-8 nm like a micro-emulsion system and can be easily injected into the macro or nano channels of ultra-low permeability reservoirs. The hydrophobic nanosilica core can be released from the aqueous delivery system owing to its strong dependence on the environmental variation from normal condition to injection wells (such as pH and salinity). Then the exposed silica nanoparticles form a thin layer on the surface of narrow pore throat, leading to the wettability from water-wet to oil-wet. More importantly, the two rock cores with different permeability were surface treated with ERS dispersion with a concentration of 2 g/L, exhibit great reduce of water injection pressure by 57.4 and 39.6%, respectively, which shows great potential for exploitation of crude oil from ultra-low permeability reservoirs during water flooding. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Response of Quiescent Cerebral Cortical Astrocytes to Nanofibrillar Scaffold Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayres, Virginia; Mujdat Tiryaki, Volkan; Xie, Kan; Ahmed, Ijaz; Shreiber, David I.

2013-03-01

We present results of an investigation to examine the hypothesis that the extracellular environment can trigger specific signaling cascades with morphological consequences. Differences in the morphological responses of quiescent cerebral cortical astrocytes cultured on the nanofibrillar matrices versus poly-L-lysine functionalized glass and Aclar, and unfunctionalized Aclar surfaces were demonstrated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and phalloidin staining of F-actin. The differences and similarities of the morphological responses were consistent with differences and similarities of the surface polarity and surface roughness of the four surfaces investigated in this work, characterized using contact angle and AFM measurements. The three-dimensional capability of AFM was also used to identify differences in cell spreading. An initial quantitative immunolabeling study further identified significant differences in the activation of the Rho GTPases: Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA, which are upstream regulators of the observed morphological responses: filopodia, lamellipodia, and stress fiber formation. The results support the hypothesis that the extracellular environment can trigger preferential activation of members of the Rho GTPase family with demonstrable morphological consequences for cerebral cortical astrocytes. The support of NSF PHY-095776 is acknowledged.

Inferring Firn Permeability from Pneumatic Testing: A Case Study on the Greenland Ice Sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sommers, Aleah N.; Rajaram, Harihar; Weber, Eliezer P.; MacFerrin, Michael J.; Colgan, William T.; Stevens, C. Max

2017-03-01

Across the accumulation zone of the Greenland ice sheet, summer temperatures can be sufficiently warm to cause widespread melting, as was the case in July 2012 when the entire ice sheet experienced a brief episode of enhanced surface ablation. The resulting meltwater percolates into the firn and refreezes, to create ice lenses and layers within the firn column. This is an important process to consider when estimating the surface mass balance of the ice sheet. The rate of meltwater percolation depends on the permeability of the firn, a property that is not well constrained in the presence of refrozen ice layers and lenses. We present a novel, inexpensive method for measuring in-situ firn permeability using pneumatic testing, a well-established technique used in environmental engineering and hydrology. To illustrate the capabilities of this method, we estimate both horizontal and vertical permeability from pilot tests at six sites on the Greenland ice sheet: KAN-U, DYE-2, EKT, NASA-SE, Saddle, and EastGRIP. These sites cover a range of conditions from mostly dry firn (EastGRIP), to firn with several ice layers and lenses from refrozen meltwater (Saddle, NASA-SE, EKT), to firn with extensive ice layers (DYE-2 and KAN-U). The estimated permeability in firn without refrozen ice layers at EastGRIP agrees well with the range previously reported using an air permeameter to measure permeability through firn core samples at Summit, Greenland. At sites with ice lenses or layers, we find high degrees of anisotropy, with vertical permeability much lower than horizontal permeability. Pneumatic testing is a promising and low-cost technique for measuring firn permeability, particularly as meltwater production increases in the accumulation zone and ice layers and lenses from refrozen melt layers become more prevalent. In these initial proof-of-concept tests, the estimated permeabilities represent effective permeability at the meter scale. With appropriately higher vacuum pressures and more detailed monitoring, effective permeabilities over a larger scale may be quantified reliably, and multiple measurements during a season and across multiple years could improve understanding of the evolving firn structure and permeability. The technique is also suitable for broad application in Antarctica and other glaciers and ice caps.

Improving the Hydro-stratigraphic Model of the Oxnard Forebay, Ventura County, California, using Transient Electromagnetic Surveying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quady, Maura Colleen

2013-01-01

To characterize the hydro-stratigraphy of an area, drilling and well logs provide high resolution electrical resistivity data, albeit for limited areas (points). The expense of drilling indirectly leads to sparse data and it is necessary to assume lateral homogeneity between wells when creating stratigraphic maps. Unfortunately, this assumption may not apply to areas in complex depositional and tectonically active settings. The goal of this study is to fill in data gaps between wells in a groundwater basin in order to better characterize the hydro-stratigraphy under existing and potential sites for managed aquifer recharge. Basins in the southern California study area have been used for decades to recharge surface water to an upper aquifer system; this work also addresses whether the local hydro-stratigraphy favors surface infiltration as a means to recharge water to the lower aquifer system. Here, soundings of transient electromagnetism (TEM), a surface geophysical method, are correlated with nearby down-hole resistivity and lithology well logs for grain size interpretations of the subsurface in unsaturated conditions. Grain size is used as a proxy for permeability (hydraulic conductivity), with resistivity contrasts highlighting variations in the media, which would affect groundwater flow in both vertical and horizontal directions. Results suggest a nearly horizontal, extensive, low permeability layer exists in the area and only a few noted locations are favorable for surface -to-lower aquifer system recharge. Furthermore, zones of higher permeability deeper than the upper aquifer system are discontinuous and isolated among lower permeability zones. However, the TEM profiles show areas where lower permeability zones are thin, and where alternatives to surface percolation methods could be explored. In addition, the survey adds information about the transition between the upper and lower aquifer systems, and adds detail to the topography of the base of freshwater. Finally, this work effectively decreases the interpolation distance between data points of wellbores, and when viewed in sequence the TEM profiles present a 3D depiction of basin hydro-stratigraphy.

Endothelial glycocalyx: permeability barrier and mechanosensor.

PubMed

Curry, F E; Adamson, R H

2012-04-01

Endothelial cells are covered with a polysaccharide rich layer more than 400 nm thick, mechanical properties of which limit access of circulating plasma components to endothelial cell membranes. The barrier properties of this endothelial surface layer are deduced from the rate of tracer penetration into the layer and the mechanics of red and white cell movement through capillary microvessels. This review compares the mechanosensor and permeability properties of an inner layer (100-150 nm, close to the endothelial membrane) characterized as a quasi-periodic structure which accounts for key aspects of transvascular exchange and vascular permeability with those of the whole endothelial surface layers. We conclude that many of the barrier properties of the whole surface layer are not representative of the primary fiber matrix forming the molecular filter determining transvascular exchange. The differences between the properties of the whole layer and the inner glycocalyx structures likely reflect dynamic aspects of the endothelial surface layer including tracer binding to specific components, synthesis and degradation of key components, activation of signaling pathways in the endothelial cells when components of the surface layer are lost or degraded, and the spatial distribution of adhesion proteins in microdomains of the endothelial cell membrane.

Effect of interactions between Co(2+) and surface goethite layer on the performance of α-FeOOH coated hollow fiber ceramic ultrafiltration membranes.

PubMed

Zhu, Zhiwen; Zhu, Li; Li, Jianrong; Tang, Jianfeng; Li, Gang; Hsieh, Yi-Kong; Wang, TsingHai; Wang, Chu-Fang

2016-03-15

The consideration of water energy nexus inspires the environmental engineering community to pursue a more sustainable strategy in the wastewater treatment. One potential response would be to enhance the performance of the low-pressure driven filtration system. To reach this objective, it is essential to have a better understanding regarding the surface interaction between the target substance and the surface of membrane. In this study, the hollow fiber ceramic membranes were coated with a goethite layer in order to enhance the Co(2+) rejection. Experimental results indicate that higher Co(2+) rejections are always accompanied with the significant reduction in the permeability. Based on the consideration of electroviscous effect, the surface interactions including the induced changes in viscosity, pore radius and Donnan effect in the goethite layer are likely responsible for the pH dependent behaviors in the rejection and permeability. These results could be valuable references to develop the filtration system with high rejection along with acceptable degree of permeability in the future. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nrf2 activator ameliorates hemorrhagic transformation in focal cerebral ischemia under warfarin anticoagulation.

PubMed

Imai, Takahiko; Takagi, Toshinori; Kitashoji, Akira; Yamauchi, Keita; Shimazawa, Masamitsu; Hara, Hideaki

2016-05-01

Oxidative stress has been reported to be a main cause of neuronal cell death in ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an important factor involved in anti-oxidative responses. We previously reported that bardoxolone methyl (BARD), an Nrf2 activator, prevented damage induced by IRI. In this study, we investigated the effect of BARD on hemorrhagic transformation in the context of blood brain barrier (BBB) protection. Mice received pre-treatment with warfarin (4.0 mg/kg, p.o.). IRI was subsequently induced 18 h after the warfarin administration by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 6 h. BARD (0.06, 0.2, 0.6 or 2.0 mg/kg) or saline was injected intravenously immediately after reperfusion. The infarct volume, neurological score, intracranial hemorrhage volume, and BBB permeability were evaluated 24 h after MCAO. The survival rate and behavioral functional recovery were evaluated for 7 days following IRI. Furthermore, the effects of BARD on BBB components were investigated by western blotting and immunostaining analysis. BARD suppressed warfarin-mediated increases in the intracranial hemorrhage volume without affecting the infarct volume. BBB permeability was also suppressed by administration of BARD. Western blotting showed that BARD increased expression of BBB components such as endothelial cells, pericytes, and tight junction proteins. Furthermore, immunostaining showed that BARD induced localization of Nrf2 to endothelial cells and pericytes. BARD suppressed the exacerbation hemorrhage caused by warfarin pretreatment and ameliorated BBB disruption by protecting endothelial cells, pericytes, and tight junction protein expressions. These results indicate that Nrf2 activators may be an effective therapy against hemorrhagic transformation caused by anticoagulant drugs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Homocysteine alters cerebral microvascular integrity and causes remodeling by antagonizing GABA-A receptor*

PubMed Central

Lominadze, David; Tyagi, Neetu; Sen, Utpal; Ovechkin, Alexander; Tyagi, Suresh C.

2012-01-01

High levels of homocysteine (Hcy), known as hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), are associated with cerebrovascular diseases, such as vascualr dementia, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. The -amino butyric acid (GABA) is a inhibitory neurotransmitter and a ligand of GABA-A receptor. By inhibiting excitatory response it may decrease complications associated with vascular dementia and stroke. Hcy specifically competes with the GABA-A receptors and acts as an excitotoxic neurotransmitter. Previously we have shown that Hcy increases levels of NADPH oxidase and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and decreases levels of thioredoxin and peroxiredoxin by antagonizing the GABA-A receptor. Hcy treatment leads to activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cerebral circualtion by inducing redox stress and ROS. The hypothesis is that Hcy induces MMPs and suppresses tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs), in part, by inhibiting the GABA-A receptor. This leads to degradation of the matrix and disruption of the blood brain barrier. The brain cortex of transgenic mouse model of HHcy (cystathionine -synthase, CBS −/+) and GABA-A receptor null mice treated with and without muscimol (GABA-A receptor agonist) was analysed. The mRNA levels were measured by Q-RT-PCR. Levels of MMP-2, -9, -13, and TIMP-1, -2, -3, and -4 were evaluated by in situ labeling and PCR-gene arrays. Pial venular permeability to fluorescence-labeled albumin was assessed with intravital fluorescence microscopy. We found that Hcy increases metalloproteinase activity and decreases TIMP-4 by antagonizing the GABA-A receptor. The results demonstrate a novel mechanism in which brain microvascular permeability changes during HHcy and vascular dementias, and have therapeutic ramifications for microvascular disease in Alzheimer's patients. PMID:22886392

Sirtuin 5 as a novel target to blunt blood-brain barrier damage induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

PubMed

Diaz-Cañestro, Candela; Merlini, Mario; Bonetti, Nicole R; Liberale, Luca; Wüst, Patricia; Briand-Schumacher, Sylvie; Klohs, Jan; Costantino, Sara; Miranda, Melroy; Schoedon-Geiser, Gabriele; Kullak-Ublick, Gerd A; Akhmedov, Alexander; Paneni, Francesco; Beer, Jürg H; Lüscher, Thomas F; Camici, Giovanni G

2018-06-01

In acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, impaired blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity is associated with hemorrhagic transformation and worsened outcome. Yet, the mechanisms underlying these relationships are poorly understood and consequently therapeutic strategies are lacking. This study sought to determine whether SIRT5 contributes to BBB damage following I/R brain injury. SIRT5 knockout (SIRT5 -/- ) and wild type (WT) mice underwent transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion (tMCAO) followed by 48h of reperfusion. Genetic deletion of SIRT5 decreased infarct size, improved neurological function and blunted systemic inflammation following stroke. Similar effects were also achieved by in vivo SIRT5 silencing. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed decreased BBB leakage and degradation of the tight junction protein occludin in SIRT5 -/- mice exposed to tMCAO as compared to WT. In primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMVECs) exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), SIRT5 silencing decreased endothelial permeability and upregulated occludin and claudin-5; this effect was prevented by the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin. Lastly, SIRT5 gene expression was increased in peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) of AIS patients at 6h after onset of stroke compared to sex- and age-matched healthy controls. SIRT5 is upregulated in PBMCs of AIS patients and in the MCA of WT mice exposed to tMCAO; SIRT5 mediates I/R-induced brain damage by increasing BBB permeability through degradation of occludin. This effect was reproduced in HBMVECs exposed to H/R, mediated by the PI3K/Akt pathway. Our findings shed new light on the mechanisms of I/R-dependent brain damage and suggest SIRT5 as a novel therapeutic target. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electroacupuncture: a new approach to open the blood-brain barrier in rats recovering from middle cerebral artery occlusion.

PubMed

Zhang, Jiangsong; Lin, Xianming; Zhou, Hui; Chen, Yuanyuan; Xiao, Shuangkai; Jiao, Junyue; Zhao, Yibin; Di, Zhong

2018-06-14

To examine for an opening effect on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in intact rats and rats with experimental ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) during the recovery period after various electroacupuncture (EA) treatments with different time courses, and to determine whether there is a time-dependent effect. An additional objective was to determine whether this method could induce the penetration of nerve growth factor (NGF) through the BBB. A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was first established. We chose different stimulation time courses and observed the effects of EA treatment (100 Hz frequency; 2 mA intensity) at GV20 and GV26 on the BBB in rats recovering from MCAO 3 weeks after modelling. The rats were injected with 2% Evans blue (EB) saline. The brain water content was measured using a wet/dry weighing method. The degree of penetration of EB was detected using spectrophotometry and laser confocal microscopy. The rats were then injected with NGF, and the concentration of NGF in the brain tissues was measured using ELISA. The increase in the BBB permeability was most notable following the 8 min EA stimulation (P<0.05), which may be advantageous for the targeted delivery of drugs (such as NGF) into the brain. Additionally, this effect did not appear to cause brain oedema (P>0.05) in healthy or MCAO rats. EA treatment for a certain stimulation time at GV20 and GV26 in MCAO rats can increase BBB permeability. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Effect of the Anti-depressant Sertraline, the Novel Anti-seizure Drug Vinpocetine and Several Conventional Antiepileptic Drugs on the Epileptiform EEG Activity Induced by 4-Aminopyridine.

PubMed

Sitges, Maria; Aldana, Blanca Irene; Reed, Ronald Charles

2016-06-01

Seizures are accompanied by an exacerbated activation of cerebral ion channels. 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) is a pro-convulsive agent which mechanism of action involves activation of Na(+) and Ca(2+) channels, and several antiepileptic drugs control seizures by reducing these channels permeability. The antidepressant, sertraline, and the anti-seizure drug vinpocetine are effective inhibitors of cerebral presynaptic Na(+) channels. Here the effectiveness of these compounds to prevent the epileptiform EEG activity induced by 4-AP was compared with the effectiveness of seven conventional antiepileptic drugs. For this purpose, EEG recordings before and at three intervals within the next 30 min following 4-AP (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) were taken in anesthetized animals; and the EEG-highest peak amplitude values (HPAV) calculated. In control animals, the marked increase in the EEG-HPAV observed near 20 min following 4-AP reached its maximum at 30 min. Results show that this epileptiform EEG activity induced by 4-AP is prevented by sertraline and vinpocetine at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg, and by carbamazepine, phenytoin, lamotrigine and oxcarbazepine at a higher dose (25 mg/kg). In contrast, topiramate (25 mg/kg), valproate (100 mg/kg) and levetiracetam (100 mg/kg) failed to prevent the epileptiform EEG activity induced by 4-AP. It is concluded that 4-AP is a useful tool to elicit the mechanism of action of anti-seizure drugs at clinical meaningful doses. The particular efficacy of sertraline and vinpocetine to prevent seizures induced by 4-AP is explained by their high effectiveness to reduce brain presynaptic Na(+) and Ca(2+) channels permeability.

Mesenchymal stem cells attenuate blood-brain barrier leakage after cerebral ischemia in mice.

PubMed

Cheng, Zhuo; Wang, Liping; Qu, Meijie; Liang, Huaibin; Li, Wanlu; Li, Yongfang; Deng, Lidong; Zhang, Zhijun; Yang, Guo-Yuan

2018-05-03

Ischemic stroke induced matrixmetallo-proteinase-9 (MMP-9) upregulation, which increased blood-brain barrier permeability. Studies demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cell therapy protected blood-brain barrier disruption from several cerebrovascular diseases. However, the underlying mechanism was largely unknown. We therefore hypothesized that mesenchymal stem cells reduced blood-brain barrier destruction by inhibiting matrixmetallo-proteinase-9 and it was related to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Adult ICR male mice (n = 118) underwent 90-min middle cerebral artery occlusion and received 2 × 10 5 mesenchymal stem cell transplantation. Neurobehavioral outcome, infarct volume, and blood-brain barrier permeability were measured after ischemia. The relationship between myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and ICAM-1 release was further determined. We found that intracranial injection of mesenchymal stem cells reduced infarct volume and improved behavioral function in experimental stroke models (p < 0.05). IgG leakage, tight junction protein loss, and inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α reduced in mesenchymal stem cell-treated mice compared to the control group following ischemia (p < 0.05). After transplantation, MMP-9 was decreased in protein and activity levels as compared with controls (p < 0.05). Furthermore, myeloperoxidase-positive cells and myeloperoxidase activity were decreased in mesenchymal stem cell-treated mice (p < 0.05). The results showed that mesenchymal stem cell therapy attenuated blood-brain barrier disruption in mice after ischemia. Mesenchymal stem cells attenuated the upward trend of MMP-9 and potentially via downregulating ICAM-1 in endothelial cells. Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway may influence MMP-9 expression of neutrophils and resident cells, and ICAM-1 acted as a key factor in the paracrine actions of mesenchymal stem cell.

Ang-(1-7) exerts protective role in blood-brain barrier damage by the balance of TIMP-1/MMP-9.

PubMed

Wu, Jitao; Zhao, Duo; Wu, Shuang; Wang, Dan

2015-02-05

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) ranks as the top three health risks, specially cerebral ischemia characterized with the damage of blood-brain barrier (BBB). The angiotensin Ang-(1-7) was proven to have a protective effect on cerebrovascular diseases. However, its role on blood-brain barrier and the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, Ang-(1-7) significantly relieved damage of ischemia reperfusion injury on blood-brain barrier in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) rats. Furthermore, its treatment attenuated BBB permeability and brain edema. Similarly, Ang-(1-7) also decreased the barrier permeability of brain endothelial cell line RBE4. Further analysis showed that Ang-(1-7) could effectively restore tight junction protein (claudin-5 and zonula occludens ZO-1) expression levels both in IRI-rats and hypoxia-induced RBE4 cells. Furthermore, Ang-(1-7) stimulation down-regulated hypoxia-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels, whose silencing with (matrix metalloproteinase-9 hemopexin domain) MMP9-PEX inhibitor significantly increased the expression of claudin-5 and ZO-1. Further mechanism analysis demonstrated that Ang-(1-7) might junction protein levels by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1)-MMP9 pathway, because Ang-(1-7) enhanced TIMP1 expression, whose silencing obviously attenuated the inhibitor effect of Ang-(1-7) on MMP-9 levels and decreased Ang-(1-7)-triggered increase in claudin-5 and ZO-1. Together, this study demonstrated a protective role of Ang-(1-7) in IRI-induced blood-brain barrier damage by TIMP1-MMP9-regulated tight junction protein expression. Accordingly, Ang-(1-7) may become a promising therapeutic agent against IRI and its complications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Electrophysiological markers of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity in healthy subjects].

PubMed

Fokin, V F; Ponomareva, N V; Kuntsevich, G I

2013-01-01

to determine electrophysiological markers of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (BFV). transcranial Doppler registration of middle cerebral artery BFV and direct current (DC) potentials recording from surface of head were performed in 30 healthy volunteers. Analysis of correlation between the BFV and DC potentials was used. significant correlation between BFV and DC potential characteristics was observed. The highest correlation was found between BFV in middle cerebral artery and the difference of DC potentials between central and temporal areas of head (r = 0,55; p = 0,003). These areas coincide with the location of middle cerebral artery and the correlation observed may be connected with streaming potential generated by the blood flow in middle cerebral artery. If electrode placement did not coincide with blood current, DC potentials and BFV were not correlated. it is assumed that electrical field created BFV in middle cerebral artery may contribute to the generation of DC potentials registered from the head.

Gill area, permeability and Na+ ,K+ -ATPase activity as a function of size and salinity in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus.

PubMed

Li, Tiandao; Roer, Robert; Vana, Matthew; Pate, Susan; Check, Jennifer

2006-03-01

Juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, extensively utilize oligohaline and freshwater regions of the estuary. With a presumptively larger surface-area-to-body weight ratio, juvenile crabs could experience osmo- and ionoregulatory costs well in excess of that of adults. To test this hypothesis, crabs ranging over three orders of magnitude in body weight were acclimated to either sea water (1,000 mOsm) or dilute sea water (150 mOsm), and gill surface area, water and sodium permeabilities (calculated from the passive efflux of 3H2O and 22Na+), gill Na+, K+ -ATPase activity and expression were measured. Juveniles had a relatively larger gill surface area; weight-specific gill surface area decreased with body weight. Weight-specific water and sodium fluxes also decreased with weight, but not to the same extent as gill surface area; thus juveniles were able to decrease gill permeability slightly more than adults upon acclimation to dilute media. Crabs < 5 g in body weight had markedly higher activities of gill Na+ ,K+ -ATPase than crabs > 5 g in both posterior and anterior gills. Acclimation to dilute medium induced increased expression of Na+, K+ -ATPase and enzyme activity, but the increase was not as great in juveniles as in larger crabs. The increased weight-specific surface area for water gain and salt loss for small crabs in dilute media presents a challenge that is incompletely compensated by reduced permeability and increased affinity of gill Na+, K+ -ATPase for Na+. Juveniles maintain osmotic and ionic homeostasis by the expression and utilization of extremely high levels of gill Na+, K+ -ATPase, in posterior, as well as in anterior, gills. Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The effect of different surface materials on runoff quality in permeable pavement systems.

PubMed

Li, Haiyan; Li, Zhifei; Zhang, Xiaoran; Li, Zhuorong; Liu, Dongqing; Li, Tanghu; Zhang, Ziyang

2017-09-01

To investigate the effect of different permeable pavement surface materials on the removal of pollutants from urban storm-runoff, six commonly surface materials (porous asphalt, porous concrete, cement brick, ceramic brick, sand base brick, and shale brick) were selected in this study and the research was carried out by column experiments. Except the concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH 4 -N), nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 -N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in the influent and effluent that were measured, the removal mechanism of pollutants was discussed further. The results indicate that the surface materials influence the removal efficiency of pollutants greatly and have different effects on certain pollutant. Furthermore, the physical interception and adsorption would be the main mechanism for the removal of pollutants from runoff. For example, for all surface materials, the average removal efficiency of TSS is nearly about 90.0% because of physical interception. Due to the amount of iron oxide, the removal efficiency of COD, NO 3 -N, and TN of shale brick was 88.2, 35.1, and 17.5%, respectively. NH 4 -N and TN can be easily removed by porous asphalt due to the high content of organic matter. By lacking of useful adsorption sites, all the surface materials had little effect on the removal of TP from runoff. This research could offer useful guidelines for the better design of permeable pavement system and promote the insight into the removal mechanism of pollutants in permeable pavement system. Graphical abstract Different types of materials for the different types of pollutants in the runoff purification capacity were significantly different, overall, shale brick and porous asphalt Shale bricks and porous asphalt have a better purification effect according to the six kinds of materials.

Water Quality Performance of Three Side-by-Side Permeable Pavement Surface Materials: Three Year Update

EPA Science Inventory

Communities are increasingly installing structural low impact development (LID) practices to mange stormwater and reduce pollutant loads associated with stormwater runoff. Permeable pavement is a LID practice that has limited research on working-scale, side-by-side performance o...

Urban permeable pavement system design based on “sponge city” concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, M. M.; Zhu, J. W.; Gao, W. F.; Xu, D. P.; Zhao, M.

2017-08-01

Based on the “sponge city” concept, to implement the goal of building a city within the city to solve the sponge waterlogging, rational utilization of water resources, reduce water pollution this paper, combined with the city planning level in China, establishes the design system of city road flooding from the macro, medium and micro level, explore the design method of city water permeable pavement system, and has a practical significance the lower flood risk water ecological problems. On the macro level, we established an urban pavement sponge system under the regional ecological pattern by “spot permeable open space - low impact developing rain water road system - catchment area and catchment wetland”. On a medium level, this paper proposed the permeable suitability of pavement and the planning control indicators when combined with urban functional districts to conduct permeable pavement roads plans and controls. On micro level, the paper studied sponge technology design of permeable pavement from road structure, surface material, and other aspects aimed at the pavement permeability requirements.

Evolution of energy metabolism. Proton permeability of the inner membrane of liver mitochondria is greater in a mammal than in a reptile.

PubMed Central

Brand, M D; Couture, P; Else, P L; Withers, K W; Hulbert, A J

1991-01-01

Standard metabolic rate is 7-fold greater in the rat (a typical mammal) than in the bearded dragon, Amphibolurus vitticeps (a reptile with the same body mass and temperature). Rat hepatocytes respire 4-fold faster than do hepatocytes from the lizard. The inner membrane of isolated rat liver mitochondrial has a proton permeability that is 4-5-fold greater than the proton permeability of the lizard liver mitochondrial membrane per mg of mitochondrial protein. The greater permeability of rat mitochondria is not caused by differences in the surface area of the mitochondrial inner membrane, but differences in the fatty acid composition of the mitochondrial phospholipids may be involved in the permeability differences. Greater proton permeability of the mitochondrial inner membrane may contribute to the greater standard metabolic rate of mammals. PMID:1850242

Oxygen therapy reduces secondary hemorrhage after thrombolysis in thromboembolic cerebral ischemia.

PubMed

Sun, Li; Zhou, Wei; Mueller, Christian; Sommer, Clemens; Heiland, Sabine; Bauer, Alexander T; Marti, Hugo H; Veltkamp, Roland

2010-09-01

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) protect the brain parenchyma and the cerebral microcirculation against ischemia. We studied their effect on secondary hemorrhage after thrombolysis in two thromboembolic middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) (tMCAO) models. Beginning 60 minutes after tMCAO with either thrombin-induced thromboemboli (TT) or calcium-induced thromboemboli (CT), spontaneously hypertensive rats (n=96) breathed either air, 100% O(2) (NBO), or 100% O(2) at 3 bar (HBO) for 1 hour. Immediately thereafter, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA, 9 mg/kg) was injected. Although significant reperfusion was observed after thrombolysis in TT-tMCAO, vascular occlusion persisted in CT-tMCAO. In TT-tMCAO, NBO and HBO significantly reduced diffusion-weighted imaging-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion volume and postischemic blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability on postcontrast T1-weighted images. NBO and, significantly more potently, HBO reduced macroscopic hemorrhage on T2* MRI and on corresponding postmortem cryosections. Oxygen therapy lowered hemoglobin content and attenuated activation of matrix metalloproteinases in the ischemic hemisphere. In contrast, NBO and HBO failed to reduce infarct size in CT but both decreased BBB damage and microscopic hemorrhagic transformation. Only HBO reduced hemoglobin extravasation in the ischemic hemisphere. In conclusion, NBO and HBO decrease infarct size after thromboembolic ischemia only if recanalization is successful. As NBO and HBO also reduce postthrombolytic intracerebral hemorrhage, combining the two with thrombolysis seems promising.

Free-Radical Scavenger Edaravone Treatment Confers Neuroprotection Against Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats

PubMed Central

Wang, Guo-Hua; Li, Yong-Cai; Li, Xia; Shi, Hong; Gao, Yan-Qin; Vosler, Peter S.

2011-01-01

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of neurological disability in young adults. Edaravone, a novel synthetic small-molecule free-radical scavenger, has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect in both animal models of cerebral ischemia and stroke patients; however, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In this report, we investigated the potential mechanisms of edaravone treatment in a rat model of TBI. TBI was induced in the right cerebral cortex of male adult rats using Feeney's weight-drop method. Edaravone (0.75, 1.5, or 3 mg/kg) or vehicle (normal saline) was intravenously administered at 2 and 12 h after TBI. Edaravone treatment significantly decreased hippocampal CA3 neuron loss, reduced oxidative stress, and decreased neuronal programmed cell death compared to vehicle treatment. The protective effects of edaravone treatment were also related to the pathology of TBI on non-neuronal cells, as edaravone decreased astrocyte and glial activation. Lastly, edaravone treatment significantly reduced the presence of inflammatory cytokines, cerebral edema, blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and, importantly, neurological deficits following TBI. Our results suggest that edaravone exerts a neuroprotective effect in the rat model of TBI. The likely mechanism is via inhibiting oxidative stress, leading to a decreased inflammatory response and glial activation, and thereby reducing neuronal death and improving neurological function. PMID:21732763

MRI measurement of angiogenesis and the therapeutic effect of acute marrow stromal cell administration on traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Li, Lian; Chopp, Michael; Ding, Guang Liang; Qu, Chang Sheng; Li, Qing Jiang; Lu, Mei; Wang, Shiyang; Nejad-Davarani, Siamak P; Mahmood, Asim; Jiang, Quan

2012-11-01

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the present study was undertaken to investigate the therapeutic effect of acute administration of human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to measure the temporal profile of angiogenesis after the injury with or without cell intervention. Male Wistar rats (300 to 350 g, n=18) subjected to controlled cortical impact TBI were intravenously injected with 1 mL of saline (n=9) or hMSCs in suspension (n=9, 3 × 10(6) hMSCs) 6 hours after TBI. In-vivo MRI acquisitions of T2-weighted imaging, cerebral blood flow (CBF), three-dimensional (3D) gradient echo imaging, and blood-to-brain transfer constant (Ki) of contrast agent were performed on all animals 2 days after injury and weekly for 6 weeks. Sensorimotor function and spatial learning were evaluated. Volumetric changes in the trauma-induced brain lesion and the lateral ventricles were tracked and quantified using T2 maps, and hemodynamic alteration and blood-brain barrier permeability were monitored by CBF and Ki, respectively. Our data show that transplantation of hMSCs 6 hours after TBI leads to reduced cerebral atrophy, early and enhanced cerebral tissue perfusion and improved functional outcome compared with controls. The hMSC treatment increases angiogenesis in the injured brain, which may promote neurologic recovery after TBI.

Functional specializations in human cerebral cortex analyzed using the Visible Man surface-based atlas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drury, H. A.; Van Essen, D. C.

1997-01-01

We used surface-based representations to analyze functional specializations in the human cerebral cortex. A computerized reconstruction of the cortical surface of the Visible Man digital atlas was generated and transformed to the Talairach coordinate system. This surface was also flattened and used to establish a surface-based coordinate system that respects the topology of the cortical sheet. The linkage between two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations allows the locations of published neuroimaging activation foci to be stereotaxically projected onto the Visible Man cortical flat map. An analysis of two activation studies related to the hearing and reading of music and of words illustrates how this approach permits the systematic estimation of the degree of functional segregation and of potential functional overlap for different aspects of sensory processing.

Insulin differentially affects the distribution kinetics of amyloid beta 40 and 42 in plasma and brain.

PubMed

Swaminathan, Suresh Kumar; Ahlschwede, Kristen M; Sarma, Vidur; Curran, Geoffry L; Omtri, Rajesh S; Decklever, Teresa; Lowe, Val J; Poduslo, Joseph F; Kandimalla, Karunya K

2018-05-01

Impaired brain clearance of amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ) 40 and 42 across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is believed to be one of the pathways responsible for Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Hyperinsulinemia prevalent in type II diabetes was shown to damage cerebral vasculature and increase Aβ accumulation in AD brain. However, there is no clarity on how aberrations in peripheral insulin levels affect Aβ accumulation in the brain. This study describes, for the first time, an intricate relation between plasma insulin and Aβ transport at the BBB. Upon peripheral insulin administration in wild-type mice: the plasma clearance of Aβ40 increased, but Aβ42 clearance reduced; the plasma-to-brain influx of Aβ40 increased, and that of Aβ42 reduced; and the clearance of intracerebrally injected Aβ40 decreased, whereas Aβ42 clearance increased. In hCMEC/D3 monolayers (in vitro BBB model) exposed to insulin, the luminal uptake and luminal-to-abluminal permeability of Aβ40 increased and that of Aβ42 reduced; the abluminal-to-luminal permeability of Aβ40 decreased, whereas Aβ42 permeability increased. Moreover, Aβ cellular trafficking machinery was altered. In summary, Aβ40 and Aβ42 demonstrated distinct distribution kinetics in plasma and brain compartments, and insulin differentially modulated their distribution. Cerebrovascular disease and metabolic disorders may disrupt this intricate homeostasis and aggravate AD pathology.

Rivaroxaban does not influence hemorrhagic transformation in a diabetes ischemic stroke and endovascular thrombectomy model.

PubMed

Liu, Feng-Di; Zhao, Rong; Feng, Xiao-Yan; Shi, Yan-Hui; Wu, Yi-Lan; Shen, Xiao-Lei; Li, Ge-Fei; Liu, Yi-Sheng; Zhao, Ying; He, Xin-Wei; Yin, Jia-Wen; Zhuang, Mei-Ting; Zhao, Bing-Qiao; Liu, Jian-Ren

2018-05-09

Managing endovascular thrombectomy (ET) in diabetic ischemic stroke (IS) with novel anticoagulants is challenging due to putative risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. The study evaluates increased hemorrhagic transformation (HT) risk in Rivaroxaban-treated diabetic rats post ET. Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin. After 4-weeks, rats were pretreated orally with 30 mg/kg Rivaroxaban/saline; prothrombin time was monitored. IS and ET was induced after 1 h, by thread-induced transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) that mimicked mechanical ET for proximal MCA occlusion at 60 min. After 24 h reperfusion, infarct volumes, HT, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, tight junction at peri-ischemic lesion and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity was measured. Diabetic rats seemed to exhibit increased infarct volume and HT at 24 h after ET than normal rats. Infarct volumes and functional outcomes did not differ between Rivaroxaban and diabetic control groups. A significant increase in HT volumes and BBB permeability under Rivaroxaban treatment was not detected. Compared to diabetic control group, neither the occludin expression was remarkably lower in the Rivaroxaban group nor the MMP-9 activity was higher. Together, Rivaroxaban does not increase HT after ET in diabetic rats with proximal MCA occlusion, since Rivaroxaban has fewer effects on post-ischemic BBB permeability.

Protective effects of angiopoietin-like 4 on the blood-brain barrier in acute ischemic stroke treated with thrombolysis in mice.

PubMed

Zhang, Bin; Xu, Xiaofeng; Chu, Xiuli; Yu, Xiaoyang; Zhao, Yuwu

2017-04-03

Given the risk of blood-brain barrier damage (BBB) caused by ischemic and tissue plasminogen activator thrombolysis, the preservation of vascular integrity is important. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), a protein secreted in hypoxia, is involved in the regulation of vascular permeability. We hypothesized that Angptl4 might exert a protective effect in thrombolysis through stabilizing blood-brain barrier and inhibit hyper-permeability. We investigated the role of Angptl4 in stroke using a transient focal cerebral ischemia mouse model. The treated mice were administered Angptl4 1h after the ischemic event upon reperfusion. Our results showed that Angptl4 combined with thrombolysis greatly reduced the infarct volume and consequent neurological deficit. Western blot analyses and gelatin zymography revealed that Angptl4 protected the integrity of the endothelium damaged by thrombolysis. Angptl4 inhibited the up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the vascular endothelium after stroke, which was suppressed by counteracting VEGFR signaling and diminishing downstream Src signaling, and led to the increased stability of junctions and improved endothelial cell barrier integrity. These findings demonstrated that Angptl4 protects the permeability of the BBB damaged by ischemic and thrombolysis. Suggested that Angptl4 might be a promising target molecule in therapies for vasoprotection after thrombolysis treatment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal method for fabricating a hydrogen separation membrane on a porous substrate

DOEpatents

Song, Sun-Ju [Orland Park, IL; Lee, Tae H [Naperville, IL; Chen, Ling [Woodridge, IL; Dorris, Stephen E [LaGrange Park, IL; Balachandran, Uthamalingam [Hinsdale, IL

2009-10-20

A thermal method of making a hydrogen permeable composition is disclosed. A mixture of metal oxide powder and ceramic oxide powder and optionally a pore former is formed and pressed to form an article. The article is dried at elevated temperatures and then sintered in a reducing atmosphere to provide a dense hydrogen permeable portion near the surface of the sintered mixture. The dense hydrogen permeable portion has a higher initial concentration of metal than the remainder of the sintered mixture and is present in the range of from about 20 to about 80 percent by volume of the dense hydrogen permeable portion.

Alpha-Tocopherol Reduces Brain Edema and Protects Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity following Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats.

PubMed

Haghnejad Azar, Adel; Oryan, Shahrbanoo; Bohlooli, Shahab; Panahpour, Hamdollah

2017-01-01

This study was conducted to examine the neuroprotective effects of α-tocopherol against edema formation and disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) following transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Ninety-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 major groups (n = 32 in each), namely the sham, and control and α-tocopherol-treated (30 mg/kg) ischemic groups. Transient focal cerebral ischemia (90 min) was induced by occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery. At the end of the 24-hour reperfusion period, the animals were randomly selected and used for 4 investigations (n = 8) in each of the 3 main groups: (a) assessment of neurological score and measurement of infarct size, (b) detection of brain edema formation by the wet/dry method, (c) evaluation of BBB permeability using the Evans blue (EB) extravasation technique, and (d) assessment of the malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations using high-performance liquid chromatography methods. Induction of cerebral ischemia in the control group produced extensive brain edema (brain water content 83.8 ± 0.11%) and EB leakage into brain parenchyma (14.58 ± 1.29 µg/g) in conjunction with reduced GSH and elevated MDA levels (5.86 ± 0.31 mmol/mg and 63.57 ± 5.42 nmol/mg, respectively). Treatment with α-tocopherol significantly lowered brain edema formation and reduced EB leakage compared with the control group (p < 0.001, 80.1 ± 0.32% and 6.66 ± 0.87 µg/g, respectively). Meanwhile, treatment with α-tocopherol retained tissue GSH levels and led to a lower MDA level (p < 0.01, 10.17 ± 0.83 mmol/mg, and p < 0.001, 26.84 ± 4.79 nmol/mg, respectively). Treatment with α-tocopherol reduced ischemic edema formation and produced protective effects on BBB function following ischemic stroke occurrence. This effect could be through increasing antioxidant activity. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Dual recognition unit strategy improves the specificity of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) aptamer biosensor for cerebral ATP assay.

PubMed

Yu, Ping; He, Xiulan; Zhang, Li; Mao, Lanqun

2015-01-20

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) aptamer has been widely used as a recognition unit for biosensor development; however, its relatively poor specificity toward ATP against adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP) essentially limits the application of the biosensors in real systems, especially in the complex cerebral system. In this study, for the first time, we demonstrate a dual recognition unit strategy (DRUS) to construct a highly selective and sensitive ATP biosensor by combining the recognition ability of aptamer toward A nucleobase and of polyimidazolium toward phosphate. The biosensors are constructed by first confining the polyimidazolium onto a gold surface by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP), and then the aptamer onto electrode surface by electrostatic self-assembly to form dual-recognition-unit-functionalized electrodes. The constructed biosensor based on DRUS not only shows an ultrahigh sensitivity toward ATP with a detection limit down to the subattomole level but also an ultrahigh selectivity toward ATP without interference from ADP and AMP. The constructed biosensor is used for selective and sensitive sensing of the extracellular ATP in the cerebral system by combining in vivo microdialysis and can be used as a promising neurotechnology to probing cerebral ATP concentration.

Enhanced contractility of intraparenchymal arterioles after global cerebral ischaemia in rat - new insights into the development of delayed cerebral hypoperfusion.

PubMed

Spray, S; Johansson, S E; Radziwon-Balicka, A; Haanes, K A; Warfvinge, K; Povlsen, G K; Kelly, P A T; Edvinsson, L

2017-08-01

Delayed cerebral hypoperfusion is a secondary complication found in the days after transient global cerebral ischaemia that worsens the ischaemic damage inflicted by the initial transient episode of global cerebral ischaemia. A recent study demonstrated increased cerebral vasoconstriction in the large arteries on the brain surface (pial arteries) after global cerebral ischaemia. However, smaller arterioles inside the brain (parenchymal arterioles) are equally important in the regulation of cerebral blood flow and yet their pathophysiology after global cerebral ischaemia is largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether increased contractility occurs in the intraparenchymal arterioles. Global cerebral ischaemia was induced in male Wistar rats by bilateral common carotid occlusion for 15 min combined with hypovolaemia. Regional cerebral blood flow was determined by quantitative autoradiography. Intraparenchymal arterioles were isolated and pressurized, and concentration-response curves to endothelin-1 with and without the endothelin B receptor-selective antagonist BQ788 was generated. Endothelin B receptor expression was investigated by quantitative flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. We observed increased endothelin-1-mediated contractility of parenchymal arterioles correlating with reduced cerebral blood flow of the cortex, hippocampus and caudate nucleus 48 h after global cerebral ischaemia. The increased endothelin-1-mediated contractility was abolished by BQ788, and the vascular smooth muscle cell-specific expression of endothelin B receptors was significantly increased after global cerebral ischaemia. Increased endothelin-1-mediated contractility and expression of endothelin B receptors in the intraparenchymal vasculature contributes to the development of delayed cerebral hypoperfusion after global cerebral ischaemia in combination with vascular changes of the pial vasculature. © 2016 Scandinavian Physiological Society. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Transepithelial and endothelial transport of poly (amidoamine) dendrimers.

PubMed

Kitchens, Kelly M; El-Sayed, Mohamed E H; Ghandehari, Hamidreza

2005-12-14

This article summarizes our efforts to evaluate the potential of poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers as carriers for oral drug delivery. Specifically, the permeability of a series of cationic PAMAM-NH2 (G0-G4) dendrimers across Caco-2 cell monolayers was evaluated as a function of dendrimer generation, concentration, and incubation time. The influence of dendrimer surface charge on the integrity, paracellular permeability, and viability of Caco-2 cell monolayers was monitored by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), 14C-mannitol permeability, and leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme, respectively. Microvascular extravasation of PAMAM-NH2 dendrimers in relation to their size, molecular weight, and molecular geometry is also discussed. Results of these studies show that transepithelial transport and microvascular extravasation of PAMAM dendrimers are dependent on their structural features including molecular size, molecular geometry, and surface chemistry. These results suggest that by optimizing the size and surface charge of PAMAM dendrimers, it is possible to develop oral delivery systems based on these carriers for targeted drug delivery.

Textural constraints on effusive silicic volcanism - Beyond the permeable foam model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fink, Jonathan H.; Anderson, Steven W.; Manley, Curtis R.

1992-01-01

The paper reports textural observations and presents isotopic evidence from active and recent silicic lava flows which show that at least some vesiculation occurs during surface advance of extrusions, after magma has reached the earth's surface. This view is in contrast to the widely promoted 'permeable foam' model, which states that all volatiles escape during ascent of the magma, and that all dense glassy material in lava flows forms from the collapse of pumiceous lava, i.e., that silicic lavas emerge as highly inflated foam flows. The permeable foam model also implies the unlikely requirement that explosive-to-effusive transitions be associated with an increase in the eruption rate. A more comprehensive model for the emplacement of silicic extrusions that allows for early gas loss during ascent, as well as late-stage vesiculation, is presented. The way in which the redistribution of volatiles during surface flow can increase explosive hazards from silicic lavas days, weeks, or months after the lava emerges from the event is discussed.

Assessment of radicular dentin permeability after irradiation with CO2 laser and endodontic irrigation treatments with thermal imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Heajin; Lee, Robert C.; Chan, Kenneth H.; Fried, Daniel

2017-02-01

Previous studies have demonstrated that the permeability changes due to the surface modification of dentin can be quantified via thermal imaging during dehydration. The CO2 laser has been shown to remove the smear layer and disinfect root canals. Moreover, thermal modification via CO2 laser irradiation can be used to convert dentin into a highly mineralized enamel-like mineral. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the radicular dentin surface modification after CO2 laser irradiation by measuring the permeability with thermal imaging. Human molar specimens (n=12) were sectioned into 4 axial walls of the pulp chamber and treated with either 10% NaClO for 1 minute, 5% EDTA for 1 minute, CO2 laser or none. The CO2 laser was operated at 9.4 μm with a pulse duration of 26 μs, pulse repetition rate of 300 Hz and a fluence of 13 J/cm2. The samples were dehydrated using an air spray for 60 seconds and imaged using a thermal camera. The resulting surface morphological changes were assessed using 3D digital microscopy. The images from digital microscopy confirmed melting of the mineral phase of dentin. The area enclosed by the time-temperature curve during dehydration, ▵Q, measured with thermal imaging increased significantly with treatments with EDTA and the CO2 laser (P<0.05). These results indicate that the surface modification due to CO2 laser treatment increases permeability of radicular dentin.

The impacts of effective stress and CO 2 sorption on the matrix permeability of shale reservoir rocks [The impacts of CO 2 sorption and effective stress on the matrix permeability of shale reservoir rocks

DOE PAGES

Wu, Wei; Zoback, Mark D.; Kohli, Arjun H.

2017-05-02

We assess the impacts of effective stress and CO 2 sorption on the bedding-parallel matrix permeability of the Utica shale through pressure pulse-decay experiments. We first measure permeability using argon at relatively high (14.6 MPa) and low (2.8 MPa) effective stresses to assess both pressure dependence and recoverability. We subsequently measure permeability using supercritical CO 2 and again using argon to assess changes due to CO 2 sorption. We find that injection of both argon and supercritical CO 2 reduces matrix permeability in distinct fashion. Samples with permeability higher than 10 –20 m 2 experience a large permeability reduction aftermore » treatment with argon, but a minor change after treatment with supercritical CO 2. However, samples with permeability lower than this threshold undergo a slight change after treatment with argon, but a dramatic reduction after treatment with supercritical CO 2. These results indicate that effective stress plays an important role in the evolution of relatively permeable facies, while CO 2 sorption dominates the change of ultra-low permeability facies. The permeability reduction due to CO 2 sorption varies inversely with initial permeability, which suggests that increased surface area from hydraulic stimulation with CO 2 may be counteracted by sorption effects in ultra-low permeability facies. As a result, we develop a conceptual model to explain how CO 2 sorption induces porosity reduction and volumetric expansion to constrict fluid flow pathways in shale reservoir rocks.« less

The impacts of effective stress and CO 2 sorption on the matrix permeability of shale reservoir rocks [The impacts of CO 2 sorption and effective stress on the matrix permeability of shale reservoir rocks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Wei; Zoback, Mark D.; Kohli, Arjun H.

We assess the impacts of effective stress and CO 2 sorption on the bedding-parallel matrix permeability of the Utica shale through pressure pulse-decay experiments. We first measure permeability using argon at relatively high (14.6 MPa) and low (2.8 MPa) effective stresses to assess both pressure dependence and recoverability. We subsequently measure permeability using supercritical CO 2 and again using argon to assess changes due to CO 2 sorption. We find that injection of both argon and supercritical CO 2 reduces matrix permeability in distinct fashion. Samples with permeability higher than 10 –20 m 2 experience a large permeability reduction aftermore » treatment with argon, but a minor change after treatment with supercritical CO 2. However, samples with permeability lower than this threshold undergo a slight change after treatment with argon, but a dramatic reduction after treatment with supercritical CO 2. These results indicate that effective stress plays an important role in the evolution of relatively permeable facies, while CO 2 sorption dominates the change of ultra-low permeability facies. The permeability reduction due to CO 2 sorption varies inversely with initial permeability, which suggests that increased surface area from hydraulic stimulation with CO 2 may be counteracted by sorption effects in ultra-low permeability facies. As a result, we develop a conceptual model to explain how CO 2 sorption induces porosity reduction and volumetric expansion to constrict fluid flow pathways in shale reservoir rocks.« less

Right cerebral hemisphere specialization for quiet and perturbed body balance control: Evidence from unilateral stroke.

PubMed

Fernandes, Corina Aparecida; Coelho, Daniel Boari; Martinelli, Alessandra Rezende; Teixeira, Luis Augusto

2018-02-01

Our aim in this investigation was to assess the relative importance of each cerebral hemisphere in quiet and perturbed balance, based on uni-hemispheric lesions by stroke. We tested the hypothesis of right cerebral hemisphere specialization for balance control. Groups of damage either to the right (RHD, n=9) or the left (LHD, n=7) cerebral hemisphere were compared across tasks requiring quiet balance or body balance recovery following a mechanical perturbation, comparing them to age-matched nondisabled individuals (controls, n=24). They were evaluated in conditions of full and occluded vision. In Experiment 1, the groups were compared in the task of quiet standing on (A) rigid and (B) malleable surfaces, having as outcome measures center of pressure (CoP) amplitude and velocity sway. In Experiment 2, we evaluated the recovery of body balance following a perturbation inducing forward body oscillation, having as outcome measures CoP displacement, peak hip and ankle rotations and muscular activation of both legs. Results from Experiment 1 showed higher values of CoP sway velocity for RHD in comparison to LHD and controls in the anteroposterior (rigid surface) and mediolateral (malleable surface) directions, while LHD had lower balance stability than the controls only in the mediolateral direction when supported on the rigid surface. In Experiment 2 results showed that RHD led to increased values in comparison to LHD and controls for anteroposterior CoP displacement and velocity, time to CoP direction reversion, hip rotation, and magnitude of muscular activation in the paretic leg, while LHD was found to differ in comparison to controls in magnitude of muscular activation of the paretic leg and amplitude of mediolateral sway only. These results suggest that damage to the right as compared to the left cerebral hemisphere by stroke leads to poorer postural responses both in quiet and perturbed balance. That effect was not altered by manipulation of sensory information. Our findings suggest that the right cerebral hemisphere plays a more prominent role in efferent processes responsible for balance control. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measurement of the oxygen mass transfer through the air-water interface.

PubMed

Mölder, Erik; Mashirin, Alelxei; Tenno, Toomas

2005-01-01

Gas mass transfer through the liquid-gas interface has enormous importance in various natural and industrial processes. Surfactants or insoluble compounds adsorbed onto an interface will inhibit the gas mass transfer through the liquid-gas surface. This study presents a technique for measuring the oxygen mass transfer through the air-water interface. Experimental data obtained with the measuring device were incorporated into a novel mathematical model, which allowed one to calculate diffusion conduction of liquid surface layer and oxygen mass transfer coefficient in the liquid surface layer. A special measurement cell was constructed. The most important part of the measurement cell is a chamber containing the electrochemical oxygen sensor inside it. Gas exchange between the volume of the chamber and the external environment takes place only through the investigated surface layer. Investigated liquid was deoxygenated, which triggers the oxygen mass transfer from the chamber through the liquid-air interface into the liquid phase. The decrease of oxygen concentration in the cell during time was measured. By using this data it is possible to calculate diffusional parameters of the water surface layer. Diffusion conduction of oxygen through the air-water surface layer of selected wastewaters was measured. The diffusion conduction of different wastewaters was about 3 to 6 times less than in the unpolluted water surface. It was observed that the dilution of wastewater does not have a significant impact on the oxygen diffusion conduction through the wastewater surface layer. This fact can be explained with the presence of the compounds with high surface activity in the wastewater. Surfactants achieved a maximum adsorption and, accordingly, the maximum decrease of oxygen permeability already at a very low concentration of surfactants in the solution. Oxygen mass transfer coefficient of the surface layer of the water is found to be Ds/ls = 0.13 x 10(-3) x cm/s. A simple technique for measuring oxygen diffusion parameters through the air-water solution surface has been developed. Derived equations enable the calculation of diffusion parameters of the surface layer at current conditions. These values of the parameters permit one to compare the resistances of the gas-liquid interface to oxygen mass transfer in the case of adsorption of different substances on the surface layer. This simple technique may be used for a determination of oxygen permeability of different water-solution surface layers. It enables one to measure the resistance to the oxygen permeability of all inflowing wastewater surface layers in the wastewater treatment plant, and to initiate a preliminary cleaning of this wastewater if required. Similarly, we can measure oxygen permeability of natural waterbodies. Especially in the case of pollution, it is important to know to what extent the oxygen permeability of the water surface layer has been decreased. Based on the tehnique presented in this research, fieldwork equipment will be developed.

Effect of activation of the Ca(2+)-permeable acid-sensing ion channel 1a on focal cerebral ischemia in diabetic rats.

PubMed

Wang, Jie; Wen, Chun-Yan; Cui, Cui-Cui; Xing, Ying

2015-01-01

We investigated the role of acid-sensing ion channel Ia (ASIC1a) expression and changes in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]) in focal cerebral ischemia after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in a rat model of diabetes mellitus (DM). Male Wistar rats (n = 108) were divided into three groups: the MCAO, DM + MCAO, and DM + MCAO + fasudil groups (n = 36 each). Samples were obtained 1, 3, 6, and 24 h after ischemia induction (n = 9). Rats in the DM + MCAO + fasudil group were treated with 1 mg/kg fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, by caudal vein injection 30 min after MCAO was performed. ASIC1a expression gradually increased with time in the MCAO and DM + MCAO groups (0.71 ± 0.10 nM, 0.80 ± 0.11 nM, 0.86 ± 0.08 nM, 0.93 ± 0.09 nM; 0.86 ± 0.11 nM, 1.05 ± 0.51 nM, 2.42 ± 0.08 nM, 2.78 ± 0.04 nM; pairwise comparisons at each time point, P < 0.05), and was higher in the DM + MCAO than the MCAO group (P < 0.05). [Ca(2+)] gradually increased in the DM + MCAO group (106.32 ± 18.6 nM, 137.84 ± 14.32 nM, 151.94 ± 18.38 nM, 183.61 ± 7.96 nM, P < 0.05). ASIC1a expression and calcium currents were reduced in the DM + MCAO + fasudil group. The overload of intracellular [Ca(2+)] caused by ASIC1a activation could be one mechanism for the aggravation of focal cerebral ischemia in diabetes.

Effect of activation of the Ca2+-permeable acid-sensing ion channel 1a on focal cerebral ischemia in diabetic rats

PubMed Central

Wang, Jie; Wen, Chun-Yan; Cui, Cui-Cui; Xing, Ying

2015-01-01

We investigated the role of acid-sensing ion channel Ia (ASIC1a) expression and changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]) in focal cerebral ischemia after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in a rat model of diabetes mellitus (DM). Male Wistar rats (n = 108) were divided into three groups: the MCAO, DM + MCAO, and DM + MCAO + fasudil groups (n = 36 each). Samples were obtained 1, 3, 6, and 24 h after ischemia induction (n = 9). Rats in the DM + MCAO + fasudil group were treated with 1 mg/kg fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, by caudal vein injection 30 min after MCAO was performed. ASIC1a expression gradually increased with time in the MCAO and DM + MCAO groups (0.71 ± 0.10 nM, 0.80 ± 0.11 nM, 0.86 ± 0.08 nM, 0.93 ± 0.09 nM; 0.86 ± 0.11 nM, 1.05 ± 0.51 nM, 2.42 ± 0.08 nM, 2.78 ± 0.04 nM; pairwise comparisons at each time point, P < 0.05), and was higher in the DM + MCAO than the MCAO group (P < 0.05). [Ca2+] gradually increased in the DM + MCAO group (106.32 ± 18.6 nM, 137.84 ± 14.32 nM, 151.94 ± 18.38 nM, 183.61 ± 7.96 nM, P < 0.05). ASIC1a expression and calcium currents were reduced in the DM + MCAO + fasudil group. The overload of intracellular [Ca2+] caused by ASIC1a activation could be one mechanism for the aggravation of focal cerebral ischemia in diabetes. PMID:26722526

Direct stimulation of angiotensin II type 2 receptor initiated after stroke ameliorates ischemic brain damage.

PubMed

Min, Li-Juan; Mogi, Masaki; Tsukuda, Kana; Jing, Fei; Ohshima, Kousei; Nakaoka, Hirotomo; Kan-No, Harumi; Wang, Xiao-Li; Chisaka, Toshiyuki; Bai, Hui-Yu; Iwanami, Jun; Horiuchi, Masatsugu

2014-08-01

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability; however, meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of blood pressure-lowering drugs in acute stroke has shown no definite evidence of a beneficial effect on functional outcome. Accumulating evidence suggests that angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade with angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor stimulation could contribute to protection against ischemic brain damage. We examined the possibility that direct AT2 receptor stimulation by compound 21 (C21) initiated even after stroke can prevent ischemic brain damage. Stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, and the area of cerebral infarction was measured by magnetic resonant imaging. C21 (10 µg/kg/day) treatment was initiated immediately after MCA occlusion by intraperitoneal injection followed by treatment with C21 once daily. We observed that ischemic area was enlarged in a time dependent fashion and decreased on day 5 after MCA occlusion. Treatment with C21 initiated after MCA occlusion significantly reduced the ischemic area, with improvement of neurological deficit in a time-dependent manner without affecting blood pressure. The decrease of cerebral blood flow after MCA occlusion was also ameliorated by C21 treatment. Moreover, treatment with C21 significantly attenuated superoxide anion production and expression of proinflammatory cytokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and tumor necrosis factor α. Interestingly, C21 administration significantly decreased blood-brain barrier permeability and cerebral edema on the ischemic side. These results provide new evidence that direct AT2 receptor stimulation with C21 is a novel therapeutic approach to prevent ischemic brain damage after acute stroke. © American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd 2014. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Predicting mineral precipitation in fractures: The influence of local heterogeneity on the feedback between precipitation and permeability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, T.; Detwiler, R. L.

2016-12-01

Long-term subsurface energy production and contaminant storage strategies often rely on induced-mineralization to control the transport of dissolved ions. In low-permeability rocks, precipitation is most likely to occur in fractures that act as leakage pathways for fluids that are in chemical disequilibrium with the formation minerals. These fractures are commonly idealized as parallel-plate channels with uniform surface mineralogy, and as a result, our predictions often suggest that precipitation leads to fast permeability reduction. However, natural fractures contain both heterogeneous mineralogy and three-dimensional surface roughness, and our understanding of how precipitation affects local permeability in these environments is limited. To examine the impacts of local heterogeneity on the feedback between mineral precipitation and permeability, we performed two long-term experiments in transparent analog fractures: (i) uniform-aperture and (ii) variable-aperture. We controlled the initial heterogeneous surface mineralogy in both experiments by seeding the bottom borosilicate fracture surfaces with randomly distributed clusters of CaCO3 crystals. Continuous flow ISCO pumps injected a well-mixed CaCl2-NaHCO3 solution, log(ΩCaCO3) = 1.44, into the fracture at 0.5 ml/min and transmitted-light techniques provided high-resolution (83 x 83 µm), direct measurements of aperture and fluid transport across the fracture. In experiment (i), precipitation decreased local aperture at discrete CaCO3 reaction sites near the fracture inlet, but transport variations across the fracture remained relatively small due to the initial lack of aperture heterogeneity. In contrast, the feedback between precipitation and aperture in experiment (ii) focused flow into large-aperture, preferential flow paths that contained significantly less CaCO3 area than the fracture scale average. Precipitation-induced aperture reduction in (ii) reduced dissolved ion transport into small-aperture regions of the fracture that were abundant with CaCO3 and led to a 72% decrease in measured precipitation rate. These results suggest that incorporating the effects of local heterogeneity may dramatically improve our ability to predict precipitation-induced permeability alterations in fractured rocks.

MRI measurements of Blood-Brain Barrier function in dementia: A review of recent studies.

PubMed

Raja, Rajikha; Rosenberg, Gary A; Caprihan, Arvind

2018-05-15

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) separates the systemic circulation and the brain, regulating transport of most molecules to protect the brain microenvironment. Multiple structural and functional components preserve the integrity of the BBB. Several imaging modalities are available to study disruption of the BBB. However, the subtle changes in BBB leakage that occurs in vascular cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease have been less well studied. Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is the most widely adopted non-invasive imaging technique for evaluating BBB breakdown. It is used as a significant marker for a wide variety of diseases with large permeability leaks, such as brain tumors and multiple sclerosis, to more subtle disruption in chronic vascular disease and dementia. DCE-MRI analysis of BBB includes both model-free parameters and quantitative parameters using pharmacokinetic modelling. We review MRI studies of BBB breakdown in dementia. The challenges in measuring subtle BBB changes and the state of the art techniques are initially examined. Subsequently, a systematic review comparing methodologies from recent in-vivo MRI studies is presented. Various factors related to subtle BBB permeability measurement such as DCE-MRI acquisition parameters, arterial input assessment, T 1 mapping and data analysis methods are reviewed with the focus on finding the optimal technique. Finally, the reported BBB permeability values in dementia are compared across different studies and across various brain regions. We conclude that reliable measurement of low-level BBB permeability across sites remains a difficult problem and a standardization of the methodology for both data acquisition and quantitative analysis is required. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Cerebral Ischemia'. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anti–IL-6 neutralizing antibody modulates blood-brain barrier function in the ovine fetus

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jiyong; Sadowska, Grazyna B.; Chen, Xiaodi; Park, Seon Yeong; Kim, Jeong-Eun; Bodge, Courtney A.; Cummings, Erin; Lim, Yow-Pin; Makeyev, Oleksandr; Besio, Walter G.; Gaitanis, John; Banks, William A.; Stonestreet, Barbara S.

2015-01-01

Impaired blood-brain barrier function represents an important component of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the perinatal period. Proinflammatory cytokines could contribute to ischemia-related blood-brain barrier dysfunction. IL-6 increases vascular endothelial cell monolayer permeability in vitro. However, contributions of IL-6 to blood-brain barrier abnormalities have not been examined in the immature brain in vivo. We generated pharmacologic quantities of ovine-specific neutralizing anti-IL-6 mAbs and systemically infused mAbs into fetal sheep at 126 days of gestation after exposure to brain ischemia. Anti–IL-6 mAbs were measured by ELISA in fetal plasma, cerebral cortex, and cerebrospinal fluid, blood-brain barrier permeability was quantified using the blood-to-brain transfer constant in brain regions, and IL-6, tight junction proteins, and plasmalemma vesicle protein (PLVAP) were detected by Western immunoblot. Anti–IL-6 mAb infusions resulted in increases in mAb (P < 0.05) in plasma, brain parenchyma, and cerebrospinal fluid and decreases in brain IL-6 protein. Twenty-four hours after ischemia, anti–IL-6 mAb infusions attenuated ischemia-related increases in blood-brain barrier permeability and modulated tight junction and PLVAP protein expression in fetal brain. We conclude that inhibiting the effects of IL-6 protein with systemic infusions of neutralizing antibodies attenuates ischemia-related increases in blood-brain barrier permeability by inhibiting IL-6 and modulates tight junction proteins after ischemia.—Zhang, J., Sadowska, G. B., Chen, X., Park, S. Y., Kim, J.-E., Bodge, C. A., Cummings, E., Lim, Y.-P., Makeyev, O., Besio, W. G., Gaitanis, J., Banks, W. A., Stonestreet, B. S. Anti–IL-6 neutralizing antibody modulates blood-brain barrier function in the ovine fetus. PMID:25609424

High-permeability region size on perfusion CT predicts hemorrhagic transformation after intravenous thrombolysis in stroke

PubMed Central

Puig, Josep; Blasco, Gerard; Daunis-i-Estadella, Pepus; van Eendendburg, Cecile; Carrillo-García, María; Aboud, Carlos; Hernández-Pérez, María; Serena, Joaquín; Biarnés, Carles; Nael, Kambiz; Liebeskind, David S.; Thomalla, Götz; Menon, Bijoy K.; Demchuk, Andrew; Wintermark, Max; Pedraza, Salvador

2017-01-01

Objective Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability has been proposed as a predictor of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration; however, the reliability of perfusion computed tomography (PCT) permeability imaging for predicting HT is uncertain. We aimed to determine the performance of high-permeability region size on PCT (HPrs-PCT) in predicting HT after intravenous tPA administration in patients with acute stroke. Methods We performed a multimodal CT protocol (non-contrast CT, PCT, CT angiography) to prospectively study patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion treated with tPA within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. HT was graded at 24 hours using the European-Australasian Acute Stroke Study II criteria. ROC curves selected optimal volume threshold, and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified predictors of HT. Results The study included 156 patients (50% male, median age 75.5 years). Thirty-seven (23,7%) developed HT [12 (7,7%), parenchymal hematoma type 2 (PH-2)]. At admission, patients with HT had lower platelet values, higher NIHSS scores, increased ischemic lesion volumes, larger HPrs-PCT, and poorer collateral status. The negative predictive value of HPrs-PCT at a threshold of 7mL/100g/min was 0.84 for HT and 0.93 for PH-2. The multiple regression analysis selected HPrs-PCT at 7mL/100g/min combined with platelets and baseline NIHSS score as the best model for predicting HT (AUC 0.77). HPrs-PCT at 7mL/100g/min was the only independent predictor of PH-2 (OR 1, AUC 0.68, p = 0.045). Conclusions HPrs-PCT can help predict HT after tPA, and is particularly useful in identifying patients at low risk of developing HT. PMID:29182658

The effects of monobromobimane on neuronal cell death in the hippocampus after transient global cerebral ischemia in rats.

PubMed

Abe, Tsutomu; Takagi, Norio; Nakano, Midori; Takeo, Satoshi

2004-03-11

Calcium accumulation and free radical formation in the mitochondria are suggested to result in opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore that may be an initial step in neuronal cell death. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether monobromobimane (MBM) was a possible protective agent against neuronal cell death after transient global ischemia and the swelling of isolated hippocampal mitochondria. Infusion of MBM (1 or 3 microg) to cerebral ventricles 30 min before ischemia attenuated the expression of TUNEL-labeled cells and neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region at 72 h of reperfusion dose-dependently. Treatment with MBM inhibited an increase in caspase-3-like activity at 48 h of reperfusion in the hippocampus. MBM (30-300 microM) also inhibited an enhanced swelling rate induced by Ca2+ and phenylarsineoxide in the isolated hippocampal mitochondria. These results suggest that in vivo treatment with MBM may protect against neuronal cell death through inhibition of the mitochondrial swelling and caspase-3-dependent apoptotic pathway.

Brain vascular heterogeneity: implications for disease pathogenesis and design of in vitro blood-brain barrier models.

PubMed

Noumbissi, Midrelle E; Galasso, Bianca; Stins, Monique F

2018-04-23

The vertebrate blood-brain barrier (BBB) is composed of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (CEC). The BBB acts as a semi-permeable cellular interface that tightly regulates bidirectional molecular transport between blood and the brain parenchyma in order to maintain cerebral homeostasis. The CEC phenotype is regulated by a variety of factors, including cells in its immediate environment and within functional neurovascular units. The cellular composition of the brain parenchyma surrounding the CEC varies between different brain regions; this difference is clearly visible in grey versus white matter. In this review, we discuss evidence for the existence of brain vascular heterogeneity, focusing on differences between the vessels of the grey and white matter. The region-specific differences in the vasculature of the brain are reflective of specific functions of those particular brain areas. This BBB-endothelial heterogeneity may have implications for the course of pathogenesis of cerebrovascular diseases and neurological disorders involving vascular activation and dysfunction. This heterogeneity should be taken into account when developing BBB-neuro-disease models representative of specific brain areas.

Numerical Simulation of Multiphase Flow in Nanoporous Organic Matter With Application to Coal and Gas Shale Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Wenhui; Yao, Jun; Ma, Jingsheng; Sun, Hai; Li, Yang; Yang, Yongfei; Zhang, Lei

2018-02-01

Fluid flow in nanoscale organic pores is known to be affected by fluid transport mechanisms and properties within confined pore space. The flow of gas and water shows notably different characteristics compared with conventional continuum modeling approach. A pore network flow model is developed and implemented in this work. A 3-D organic pore network model is constructed from 3-D image that is reconstructed from 2-D shale SEM image of organic-rich sample. The 3-D pore network model is assumed to be gas-wet and to contain initially gas-filled pores only, and the flow model is concerned with drainage process. Gas flow considers a full range of gas transport mechanisms, including viscous flow, Knudsen diffusion, surface diffusion, ad/desorption, and gas PVT and viscosity using a modified van der Waals' EoS and a correlation for natural gas, respectively. The influences of slip length, contact angle, and gas adsorption layer on water flow are considered. Surface tension considers the pore size and temperature effects. Invasion percolation is applied to calculate gas-water relative permeability. The results indicate that the influences of pore pressure and temperature on water phase relative permeabilities are negligible while gas phase relative permeabilities are relatively larger in higher temperatures and lower pore pressures. Gas phase relative permeability increases while water phase relative permeability decreases with the shrinkage of pore size. This can be attributed to the fact that gas adsorption layer decreases the effective flow area of the water phase and surface diffusion capacity for adsorbed gas is enhanced in small pore size.

Uncertainty quantification for evaluating the impacts of fracture zone on pressure build-up and ground surface uplift during geological CO₂ sequestration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bao, Jie; Hou, Zhangshuan; Fang, Yilin

2015-06-01

A series of numerical test cases reflecting broad and realistic ranges of geological formation and preexisting fault properties was developed to systematically evaluate the impacts of preexisting faults on pressure buildup and ground surface uplift during CO₂ injection. Numerical test cases were conducted using a coupled hydro-geomechanical simulator, eSTOMP (extreme-scale Subsurface Transport over Multiple Phases). For efficient sensitivity analysis and reliable construction of a reduced-order model, a quasi-Monte Carlo sampling method was applied to effectively sample a high-dimensional input parameter space to explore uncertainties associated with hydrologic, geologic, and geomechanical properties. The uncertainty quantification results show that the impacts onmore » geomechanical response from the pre-existing faults mainly depend on reservoir and fault permeability. When the fault permeability is two to three orders of magnitude smaller than the reservoir permeability, the fault can be considered as an impermeable block that resists fluid transport in the reservoir, which causes pressure increase near the fault. When the fault permeability is close to the reservoir permeability, or higher than 10⁻¹⁵ m² in this study, the fault can be considered as a conduit that penetrates the caprock, connecting the fluid flow between the reservoir and the upper rock.« less

The ring-shaped thermal field of Stefanos crater, Nisyros Island: a conceptual model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pantaleo, M.; Walter, T. R.

2014-04-01

Fumarole fields related to hydrothermal processes release the heat of the underground through permeable pathways. Thermal changes, therefore, are likely to depend also on the size and permeability variation of these pathways. There may be different explanations for the observed permeability changes, such as fault control, lithology, weathering/alteration, heterogeneous sediment accumulation/erosion and physical changes of the fluids (e.g., temperature and viscosity). A common difficulty, however, in surface temperature field studies at active volcanoes is that the parameters controlling the ascending routes of fluids are poorly constrained in general. Here we analyze the crater of Stefanos, Nisyros (Greece), and highlight complexities in the spatial pattern of the fumarole field related to permeability conditions. We combine high-resolution infrared mosaics and grain-size analysis of soils, aiming to elaborate parameters controlling the appearance of the fumarole field. We find a ring-shaped thermal field located within the explosion crater, which we interpret to reflect near-surface contrasts of the soil granulometry and volcanotectonic history at depth. We develop a conceptual model of how the ring-shaped thermal field formed at the Stefanos crater and similarly at other volcanic edifices, highlighting the importance of local permeability contrast that may increase or decrease the thermal fluid flux.

Aneurysm permeability following coil embolization: packing density and coil distribution.

PubMed

Chueh, Ju-Yu; Vedantham, Srinivasan; Wakhloo, Ajay K; Carniato, Sarena L; Puri, Ajit S; Bzura, Conrad; Coffin, Spencer; Bogdanov, Alexei A; Gounis, Matthew J

2015-09-01

Rates of durable aneurysm occlusion following coil embolization vary widely, and a better understanding of coil mass mechanics is desired. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of packing density and coil uniformity on aneurysm permeability. Aneurysm models were coiled using either Guglielmi detachable coils or Target coils. The permeability was assessed by taking the ratio of microspheres passing through the coil mass to those in the working fluid. Aneurysms containing coil masses were sectioned for image analysis to determine surface area fraction and coil uniformity. All aneurysms were coiled to a packing density of at least 27%. Packing density, surface area fraction of the dome and neck, and uniformity of the dome were significantly correlated (p<0.05). Hence, multivariate principal components-based partial least squares regression models were used to predict permeability. Similar loading vectors were obtained for packing and uniformity measures. Coil mass permeability was modeled better with the inclusion of packing and uniformity measures of the dome (r(2)=0.73) than with packing density alone (r(2)=0.45). The analysis indicates the importance of including a uniformity measure for coil distribution in the dome along with packing measures. A densely packed aneurysm with a high degree of coil mass uniformity will reduce permeability. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Mapping the Fluid Pathways and Permeability Barriers of a Large Gas Hydrate Reservoir

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campbell, A.; Zhang, Y. L.; Sun, L. F.; Saleh, R.; Pun, W.; Bellefleur, G.; Milkereit, B.

2012-12-01

An understanding of the relationship between the physical properties of gas hydrate saturated sedimentary basins aids in the detection, exploration and monitoring one of the world's upcoming energy resources. A large gas hydrate reservoir is located in the MacKenzie Delta of the Canadian Arctic and geophysical logs from the Mallik test site are available for the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) between depths of approximately 850 m to 1100 m. The geophysical data sets from two neighboring boreholes at the Mallik test site are analyzed. Commonly used porosity logs, as well as nuclear magnetic resonance, compressional and Stoneley wave velocity dispersion logs are used to map zones of elevated and severely reduced porosity and permeability respectively. The lateral continuity of horizontal permeability barriers can be further understood with the aid of surface seismic modeling studies. In this integrated study, the behavior of compressional and Stoneley wave velocity dispersion and surface seismic modeling studies are used to identify the fluid pathways and permeability barriers of the gas hydrate reservoir. The results are compared with known nuclear magnetic resonance-derived permeability values. The aim of investigating this heterogeneous medium is to map the fluid pathways and the associated permeability barriers throughout the gas hydrate stability zone. This provides a framework for an understanding of the long-term dissociation of gas hydrates along vertical and horizontal pathways, and will improve the knowledge pertaining to the production of such a promising energy source.

Folding, But Not Surface Area Expansion, Is Associated with Cellular Morphological Maturation in the Fetal Cerebral Cortex

PubMed Central

Studholme, Colin; Frias, Antonio E.

2017-01-01

Altered macroscopic anatomical characteristics of the cerebral cortex have been identified in individuals affected by various neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the cellular developmental mechanisms that give rise to these abnormalities are not understood. Previously, advances in image reconstruction of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have made possible high-resolution in utero measurements of water diffusion anisotropy in the fetal brain. Here, diffusion anisotropy within the developing fetal cerebral cortex is longitudinally characterized in the rhesus macaque, focusing on gestation day (G85) through G135 of the 165 d term. Additionally, for subsets of animals characterized at G90 and G135, immunohistochemical staining was performed, and 3D structure tensor analyses were used to identify the cellular processes that most closely parallel changes in water diffusion anisotropy with cerebral cortical maturation. Strong correlations were found between maturation of dendritic arbors on the cellular level and the loss of diffusion anisotropy with cortical development. In turn, diffusion anisotropy changes were strongly associated both regionally and temporally with cortical folding. Notably, the regional and temporal dependence of diffusion anisotropy and folding were distinct from the patterns observed for cerebral cortical surface area expansion. These findings strengthen the link proposed in previous studies between cellular-level changes in dendrite morphology and noninvasive diffusion MRI measurements of the developing cerebral cortex and support the possibility that, in gyroencephalic species, structural differentiation within the cortex is coupled to the formation of gyri and sulci. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Abnormal brain morphology has been found in populations with neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the mechanisms linking cellular level and macroscopic maturation are poorly understood, even in normal brains. This study contributes new understanding to this subject using serial in utero MRI measurements of rhesus macaque fetuses, from which macroscopic and cellular information can be derived. We found that morphological differentiation of dendrites was strongly associated both regionally and temporally with folding of the cerebral cortex. Interestingly, parallel associations were not observed with cortical surface area expansion. These findings support the possibility that perturbed morphological differentiation of cells within the cortex may underlie abnormal macroscopic characteristics of individuals affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. PMID:28069920

Characterization of Solute Transport in Subsurface Using Permeable Pavement and Artificial Precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

HAN, K.; Hong, U.; Yeum, Y.; Yoon, J.; Lee, J.; Song, K.; Kwon, S.; Kim, Y.

2016-12-01

Permeable block as low impact development (LID) management can reduce storm water runoff, improve surface water quality and increase groundwater recharge. Recently, in Korea, application of the permeable block has growing trend for urban planning. However, few studies have evaluated how infiltrated rainfall through permeable block affect groundwater quality. Therefore, we conducted monitoring and evaluating of contaminants transport from permeable block surface to aquifer at LID installed three test-bed site. Pollutant materials as total nitrogen (T-N), nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), total phosphorus (T-P), phosphate (PO42-), total organic carbon (TOC), sodium (Na+) and bromide (Br-) such as nonreactive tracer were sprinkled under permeable block and sprayed artificial precipitation of 100 mm/hr intensity during a 4 hours by rainfall simulator. All the test-bed area is 2 m x 2 m and monitoring wells were drilled a maximum depth of 10 m. Test-bed 1,2 and 3 groundwater level was approximately 1.9 m, 3.6 m and 4.6 m below ground surface, respectively. Test-bed 1 and 2, time to maximum concentration of Br- as tracer were 0.15 day and 1.71 day after simulated rainfall. In the test-bed 1, average normalized concentration (C* = Cmonitoring/C0, C0 is mass of sprinkled pollutant divide by sprayed water volume) of Br-, T-N, NO3-, NH4+, T-P, PO42-, TOC and Na+ were observed 0.26, 0.08, 0.14, N.D(not detected), 0.05, 0.05, 0.13 and 0.11, respectively. C* of tracer and other solutes on test-bed 2 were 0.52, 0.15, 0.25, N.D, 0.02, 0.02, 0.16 and 0.15, respectively. These phenomena that distinctions between C* of Br-and other solutes indicate to occur retardation by physical/chemical and biological process while pollutant containing water permeate from unsaturated soil to saturated aquifer. However, at the test-bed 3 distinct concentration of all solutes were not detected until 40 days. In this study evaluated the effects of groundwater quality by rainfall leachate from permeable block. Infiltration rate of solutes were measured NO3- > TOC > Na+ >>> PO42- > NH4+. Especially, these results suggested that organic N and T-P (PO42-) need not consideration for groundwater quality at permeable LID system.

Wave propagation in and around negative-dielectric-constant discharge plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakai, Osamu; Iwai, Akinori; Omura, Yoshiharu; Iio, Satoshi; Naito, Teruki

2018-03-01

The modes of wave propagation in media with a negative dielectric constant are not simple, unlike those for electromagnetic waves in media with a positive dielectric constant (where modes propagate inside the media with positive phase velocity since the refractive index is usually positive). Instead, they depend on the permeability sign, either positive or negative, and exhibit completely different features. In this report, we investigated a wave confined on the surface of a negative-dielectric-constant and a positive-permeability plasma medium for which the refractive index is imaginary. The propagation mode is similar to surface plasmon polaritons on the metal containing free electrons, but its frequency band is different due to the significant spatial gradient of the dielectric constant and a different pressure term. We also studied a wave with a negative dielectric constant and negative permeability, where the refractive index is negative. This wave can propagate inside the media, but its phase velocity is negative. It also shares similar qualities with waves in plasmonic devices with negative permeability in the photon range.

Effect of water on hydrogen permeability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hulligan, David; Tomazic, William A.

1987-01-01

Doping of hydrogen with CO and CO2 was developed to reduce hydrogen permeation in Stirling engines by forming a low permeability oxide coating on the inner surface of the heater head tubes. Although doping worked well, under certain circumstances the protective oxide could be chemically reduced by the hydrogen in the engine. Some oxygen is required in the hydrogen to prevent reduction. Eventually, all the oxygen in the hydrogen gas - whatever its source - shows up as water. This is the result of hydrogen reducing the CO, CO2, or the protective inner surface oxides. This water can condense in the engine system under the right conditions. If the concentration of water vapor is reduced to a low enough level, the hydrogen can chemically reduce the oxide coating, resulting in an increase in permeability. This work was done to define the minimum water content required to avoid this reduction in the oxide coating. The results of this testing show that a minimum of approximately 750 ppm water is required to prevent an increase in permeability of CG-27, a high temperature metal alloy selected for Stirling engine heater tubes.

Composite starch-based coatings applied to strawberries (Fragaria ananassa).

PubMed

García, M A; Martino, M N; Zaritzky, N E

2001-08-01

Starch-based coatings were used to the extend storage life of strawberries (Fragaria ananassa) stored at 0 degree C and 84.8% relative humidity. Effects of coating formulation (including starch type, plasticizer, lipid and antimicrobial agent) were analysed with respect to fruit quality. Plasticizer addition was necessary for film and coating integrity to avoid pores and cracks. Plasticizer presence reduced weight losses and maintained surface colour of fruits. Amylomaize coatings showed lower water vapour and gas permeabilities and decreased weight losses for longer periods than corn starch ones. Coatings with sorbitol showed lower permeabilities than glycerol ones. Coatings with antimicrobial agents decreased microbial counts, extending storage life of coated fruits by 10 to 14 days in comparison to the control. The addition of 2 g/l sunflower oil to the formulations decreased the water vapour permeability of starch-based films, maintained the surface colour of coated fruits and controlled effectively fruit weight losses during storage. Lipid addition minimized the effects of starch and plasticizer types. Composite starch-based coatings showed selective gas permeability (CO2 higher than O2) which helps to delay senescence of fruits.

Brain blood flow and blood pressure during hypoxia in the epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum, a hypoxia-tolerant elasmobranch.

PubMed

Söderström, V; Renshaw, G M; Nilsson, G E

1999-04-01

The key to surviving hypoxia is to protect the brain from energy depletion. The epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) is an elasmobranch able to resist energy depletion and to survive hypoxia. Using epi-illumination microscopy in vivo to observe cerebral blood flow velocity on the brain surface, we show that cerebral blood flow in the epaulette shark is unaffected by 2 h of severe hypoxia (0.35 mg O2 l-1 in the respiratory water, 24 C). Thus, the epaulette shark differs from other hypoxia- and anoxia-tolerant species studied: there is no adenosine-mediated increase in cerebral blood flow such as that occurring in freshwater turtles and cyprinid fish. However, blood pressure showed a 50 % decrease in the epaulette shark during hypoxia, indicating that a compensatory cerebral vasodilatation occurs to maintain cerebral blood flow. We observed an increase in cerebral blood flow velocity when superfusing the normoxic brain with adenosine (making sharks the oldest vertebrate group in which this mechanism has been found). The adenosine-induced increase in cerebral blood flow velocity was reduced by the adenosine receptor antagonist aminophylline. Aminophylline had no effect upon the maintenance of cerebral blood flow during hypoxia, however, indicating that adenosine is not involved in maintaining cerebral blood flow in the epaulette shark during hypoxic hypotension.

Heat and mass transfer in MHD free convection from a moving permeable vertical surface by a perturbation technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdelkhalek, M. M.

2009-05-01

Numerical results are presented for heat and mass transfer effect on hydromagnetic flow of a moving permeable vertical surface. An analysis is performed to study the momentum, heat and mass transfer characteristics of MHD natural convection flow over a moving permeable surface. The surface is maintained at linear temperature and concentration variations. The non-linear coupled boundary layer equations were transformed and the resulting ordinary differential equations were solved by perturbation technique [Aziz A, Na TY. Perturbation methods in heat transfer. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 1984. p. 1-184; Kennet Cramer R, Shih-I Pai. Magneto fluid dynamics for engineers and applied physicists 1973;166-7]. The solution is found to be dependent on several governing parameter, including the magnetic field strength parameter, Prandtl number, Schmidt number, buoyancy ratio and suction/blowing parameter, a parametric study of all the governing parameters is carried out and representative results are illustrated to reveal a typical tendency of the solutions. Numerical results for the dimensionless velocity profiles, the temperature profiles, the concentration profiles, the local friction coefficient and the local Nusselt number are presented for various combinations of parameters.

Neutralizing anti-interleukin-1β antibodies modulate fetal blood-brain barrier function after ischemia.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaodi; Sadowska, Grazyna B; Zhang, Jiyong; Kim, Jeong-Eun; Cummings, Erin E; Bodge, Courtney A; Lim, Yow-Pin; Makeyev, Oleksandr; Besio, Walter G; Gaitanis, John; Threlkeld, Steven W; Banks, William A; Stonestreet, Barbara S

2015-01-01

We have previously shown that increases in blood-brain barrier permeability represent an important component of ischemia-reperfusion related brain injury in the fetus. Pro-inflammatory cytokines could contribute to these abnormalities in blood-brain barrier function. We have generated pharmacological quantities of mouse anti-ovine interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody and shown that this antibody has very high sensitivity and specificity for interleukin-1β protein. This antibody also neutralizes the effects of interleukin-1β protein in vitro. In the current study, we hypothesized that the neutralizing anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody attenuates ischemia-reperfusion related fetal blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Instrumented ovine fetuses at 127 days of gestation were studied after 30 min of carotid occlusion and 24h of reperfusion. Groups were sham operated placebo-control- (n=5), ischemia-placebo- (n=6), ischemia-anti-IL-1β antibody- (n=7), and sham-control antibody- (n=2) treated animals. Systemic infusions of placebo (0.154M NaCl) or anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody (5.1±0.6 mg/kg) were given intravenously to the same sham or ischemic group of fetuses at 15 min and 4h after ischemia. Concentrations of interleukin-1β protein and anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody were measured by ELISA in fetal plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and parietal cerebral cortex. Blood-brain barrier permeability was quantified using the blood-to-brain transfer constant (Ki) with α-aminoisobutyric acid in multiple brain regions. Interleukin-1β protein was also measured in parietal cerebral cortices and tight junction proteins in multiple brain regions by Western immunoblot. Cerebral cortical interleukin-1β protein increased (P<0.001) after ischemia-reperfusion. After anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody infusions, plasma anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody was elevated (P<0.001), brain anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody levels were higher (P<0.03), and interleukin-1β protein concentrations (P<0.03) and protein expressions (P<0.001) were lower in the monoclonal antibody-treated group than in placebo-treated-ischemia-reperfusion group. Monoclonal antibody infusions attenuated ischemia-reperfusion-related increases in Ki across the brain regions (P<0.04), and Ki showed an inverse linear correlation (r= -0.65, P<0.02) with anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody concentrations in the parietal cortex, but had little effect on tight junction protein expression. We conclude that systemic anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody infusions after ischemia result in brain anti-interleukin-1β antibody uptake, and attenuate ischemia-reperfusion-related interleukin-1β protein up-regulation and increases in blood-brain barrier permeability across brain regions in the fetus. The pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1β, contributes to impaired blood-brain barrier function after ischemia in the fetus. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The influence of slip velocity and temperature on permeability during and after high-velocity fault slip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanikawa, W.; Mukoyoshi, H.; Tadai, O.; Hirose, T.; Lin, W.

2011-12-01

Fluid transport properties in fault zones play an important role in dynamic processes during large earthquakes. If the permeability in a fault zone is low, high pore-fluid pressures caused by thermal pressurization (Sibson, 1973) or shear-induced compaction (Blanpied et al., 1992) can lead to an apparent reduction of fault strength. Changes in porosity and permeability of fault rocks within a fault zone during earthquakes and the subsequent progressive recovery of these properties may have a large influence on earthquake recurrence (Sleep and Blanpied, 1992). A rotary shear apparatus was used to investigate changes of fluid transport properties in a fault zone by real-time measurement of gas flow rates during and after shearing of hollow sandstone and granite cylinders at various slip rates. Our apparatus measures permeability parallel to the slip plane in both the slip zone and wall rocks. In all cases, permeability decreased rapidly with an increase of friction, but recovered soon after slip, reaching a steady state within several tens of minutes. The rate of reduction of permeability increased with increasing slip velocity. Permeability did not recover to pre-slip levels after low-velocity tests but recovered to exceed them after high-velocity tests. Frictional heating of gases at the slip surface increased gas viscosity, which increased gas flow rate to produce an apparent permeability increase. The irreversible permeability changes of the low-velocity tests were caused by gouge formation due to wearing and smoothing of the slip surface. The increase of permeability after high-velocity tests was caused by mesoscale fracturing in response to rapid temperature rise. Changes of pore fluid viscosity contributed more to changes of flow rate than did permeability changes caused by shear deformation, although test results from different rocks and pore fluids might be different. References Blanpied, M.L., Lockner, D.A., Byerlee, J.D., 1992. An earthquake mechanism based on rapid sealing of faults. Nature 358, 574-576 Sibson, R.H., 1973. Interactions between temperature and pore fluid pressure during earthquake faulting: A mechanism for partial or total stress relief. Nature 243, 66-68. Sleep, N.H., Blanpied, M.L., 1992. Creep, compaction and the weak rheology of major faults. Nature 359, 687-692.

QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION AND IMPROVED RECOVERY: APPLICATION TO HEAVY OIL SANDS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

James W. Castle; Fred J. Molz; Ronald W. Falta

2002-10-30

Improved prediction of interwell reservoir heterogeneity has the potential to increase productivity and to reduce recovery cost for California's heavy oil sands, which contain approximately 2.3 billion barrels of remaining reserves in the Temblor Formation and in other formations of the San Joaquin Valley. This investigation involves application of advanced analytical property-distribution methods conditioned to continuous outcrop control for improved reservoir characterization and simulation, particularly in heavy oil sands. The investigation was performed in collaboration with Chevron Production Company U.S.A. as an industrial partner, and incorporates data from the Temblor Formation in Chevron's West Coalinga Field. Observations of lateral variabilitymore » and vertical sequences observed in Temblor Formation outcrops has led to a better understanding of reservoir geology in West Coalinga Field. Based on the characteristics of stratigraphic bounding surfaces in the outcrops, these surfaces were identified in the subsurface using cores and logs. The bounding surfaces were mapped and then used as reference horizons in the reservoir modeling. Facies groups and facies tracts were recognized from outcrops and cores of the Temblor Formation and were applied to defining the stratigraphic framework and facies architecture for building 3D geological models. The following facies tracts were recognized: incised valley, estuarine, tide- to wave-dominated shoreline, diatomite, and subtidal. A new minipermeameter probe, which has important advantages over previous methods of measuring outcrop permeability, was developed during this project. The device, which measures permeability at the distal end of a small drillhole, avoids surface weathering effects and provides a superior seal compared with previous methods for measuring outcrop permeability. The new probe was used successfully for obtaining a high-quality permeability data set from an outcrop in southern Utah. Results obtained from analyzing the fractal structure of permeability data collected from the southern Utah outcrop and from core permeability data provided by Chevron from West Coalinga Field were used in distributing permeability values in 3D reservoir models. Spectral analyses and the Double Trace Moment method (Lavallee et al., 1991) were used to analyze the scaling and multifractality of permeability data from cores from West Coalinga Field. T2VOC, which is a numerical flow simulator capable of modeling multiphase, multi-component, nonisothermal flow, was used to model steam injection and oil production for a portion of section 36D in West Coalinga Field. The layer structure and permeability distributions of different models, including facies group, facies tract, and fractal permeability models, were incorporated into the numerical flow simulator. The injection and production histories of wells in the study area were modeled, including shutdowns and the occasional conversion of production wells to steam injection wells. The framework provided by facies groups provides a more realistic representation of the reservoir conditions than facies tracts, which is revealed by a comparison of the history-matching for the oil production. Permeability distributions obtained using the fractal results predict the high degree of heterogeneity within the reservoir sands of West Coalinga Field. The modeling results indicate that predictions of oil production are strongly influenced by the geologic framework and by the boundary conditions. The permeability data collected from the southern Utah outcrop, support a new concept for representing natural heterogeneity, which is called the fractal/facies concept. This hypothesis is one of the few potentially simplifying concepts to emerge from recent studies of geological heterogeneity. Further investigation of this concept should be done to more fully apply fractal analysis to reservoir modeling and simulation. Additional outcrop permeability data sets and further analysis of the data from distinct facies will be needed in order to fully develop this new concept.« less

Hydrothermal activity and subsoil complexity: implication for degassing processes at Solfatara crater, Campi Flegrei caldera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montanaro, Cristian; Mayer, Klaus; Isaia, Roberto; Gresse, Marceau; Scheu, Bettina; Yilmaz, Tim I.; Vandemeulebrouck, Jean; Ricci, Tullio; Dingwell, Donald B.

2017-12-01

The Solfatara area and its fumaroles are the main surface expression of the vigorous hydrothermal activity within the active Campi Flegrei caldera system. At depth, a range of volcanic and structural processes dictate the actual state of the hydrothermal system below the crater. The presence of a large variety of volcanic products at shallow depth (including pyroclastic fallout ash beds, pyroclastic density current deposits, breccias, and lavas), and the existence of a maar-related fault system appears to exert major controls on the degassing and alteration behavior. Adding further to the complexity of this environment, variations in permeability and porosity, due to subsoil lithology and alteration effects, may further influence fluid flow towards the surface. Here, we report results from a field campaign conducted in July 2015 that was designed to characterize the in situ physical (temperature, humidity) and mechanical (permeability, strength, stiffness) properties of the Solfatara crater subsoil. The survey also included a mapping of the surficial hydrothermal features and their distributions. Finally, laboratory measurements (porosity, granulometry) of selected samples were performed. Our results enable the discrimination of four main subsoils around the crater: (1) the Fangaia domain located in a topographic low in the southwestern sector, (2) the silica flat domain on the western altered side, (3) the new crust domain in the central area, and (4) the crusted hummocks domain that dominates the north, east, and south parts. These domains are surrounded by encrusted areas, reworked material, and vegetated soil. The distribution of these heterogeneous subsoils suggests that their formation is mostly related to (i) the presence of the Fangaia domain within the crater and (ii) a system of ring faults bordering it. The subsoils show an alternation between very high and very low permeabilities, a fact which seems to affect both the temperature distribution and surficial degassing. A large range of surface temperatures (from 25 up to 95 °C) has been measured across these surfaces, with the hottest spot corresponding to the mud pools, the area of new crust formation, and the crusted hummocks. In the subsoil, the distribution of temperature is more complex and controlled by the presence of coarser, and more permeable, sandy/pebbly levels. These act as preferential pathways for hot hydrothermal fluid circulation. In contrast, low permeability, fine-grained levels act as thermal insulators that remain relatively cold and hinder fluid escape to the surface. Hot gases reach the surface predominantly along (vertical) fractures. When this occurs, mound-like structures can be formed by a cracking and healing process associated with significant degassing. It is anticipated that the results presented here may contribute to an improved understanding of the hazard potential associated with the ongoing hydrothermal activity within the Solfatara crater. At this site the permeability of the near-surface environment and its changes in space and time can affect the spatial and temporal distribution of gas and heat emission. Particularly, in areas where reduction in permeability occurs, it can produce pore pressure augmentation that may result in explosive events.

Effect and Stability of Poly(Amido Amine)-Induced Biomineralization on Dentinal Tubule Occlusion

PubMed Central

Gao, Yuan; Liang, Kunneng; Li, Jianshu; Yuan, He; Liu, Hongling; Duan, Xiaolei; Li, Jiyao

2017-01-01

In recent years, scientists have developed various biomaterials to remineralize human teeth to treat dentine hypersensitivity. Poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimers have become a research focus in this field. It has been demonstrated that PAMAM is able to create precipitates both on the surface of and within the dentinal tubules, however, there is little information about its effect on reducing dentine permeability in vitro. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effectiveness and stability of the fourth generation amine-terminated PAMAM on dentinal tubule occlusion, especially on dentine permeability. Sodium fluoride (NaF), which has been widely used as a desensitizing agent, is regarded as positive control. Demineralized sensitive dentine samples were coated with PAMAM or sodium fluoride solutions and soaked in artificial saliva (AS) at 37 °C for different periods. Four weeks later, samples in each group were then equally split into two subgroups for testing using a brushing challenge and an acid challenge. Dentine permeability of each specimen was measured before and after each challenge using a fluid filtration system. Dentine morphology and surface deposits were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and analyzed with Image-Pro Plus software. Data were evaluated through multifactorial ANOVA with repeated measures and pair-wise comparisons at a level of 5%. The results showed that PAMAM and NaF significantly reduced dentine permeability to 25.1% and 20.7%. Both of them created precipitates on dentine surfaces after AS immersion for 28 days. PAMAM-induced biomineralization not only on dentine surfaces, but also deeper in dentinal tubules, significantly reduced dentine permeability. Moreover, PAMAM-induced biomineralization elicited excellent stable occlusion effects after acid challenge. In conclusion, PAMAM demonstrated a strong ability to resist acid and showed great potential to be used in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity in future. PMID:28772744

Modelling of hydrothermal fluid flow and structural architecture in an extensional basin, Ngakuru Graben, Taupo Rift, New Zealand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kissling, W. M.; Villamor, P.; Ellis, S. M.; Rae, A.

2018-05-01

Present-day geothermal activity on the margins of the Ngakuru graben and evidence of fossil hydrothermal activity in the central graben suggest that a graben-wide system of permeable intersecting faults acts as the principal conduit for fluid flow to the surface. We have developed numerical models of fluid and heat flow in a regional-scale 2-D cross-section of the Ngakuru Graben. The models incorporate simplified representations of two 'end-member' fault architectures (one symmetric at depth, the other highly asymmetric) which are consistent with the surface locations and dips of the Ngakuru graben faults. The models are used to explore controls on buoyancy-driven convective fluid flow which could explain the differences between the past and present hydrothermal systems associated with these faults. The models show that the surface flows from the faults are strongly controlled by the fault permeability, the fault system architecture and the location of the heat source with respect to the faults in the graben. In particular, fault intersections at depth allow exchange of fluid between faults, and the location of the heat source on the footwall of normal faults can facilitate upflow along those faults. These controls give rise to two distinct fluid flow regimes in the fault network. The first, a regular flow regime, is characterised by a nearly unchanging pattern of fluid flow vectors within the fault network as the fault permeability evolves. In the second, complex flow regime, the surface flows depend strongly on fault permeability, and can fluctuate in an erratic manner. The direction of flow within faults can reverse in both regimes as fault permeability changes. Both flow regimes provide insights into the differences between the present-day and fossil geothermal systems in the Ngakuru graben. Hydrothermal upflow along the Paeroa fault seems to have occurred, possibly continuously, for tens of thousands of years, while upflow in other faults in the graben has switched on and off during the same period. An asymmetric graben architecture with the Paeroa being the major boundary fault will facilitate the predominant upflow along this fault. Upflow on the axial faults is more difficult to explain with this modelling. It occurs most easily with an asymmetric graben architecture and heat sources close to the graben axis (which could be associated with remnant heat from recent eruptions from Okataina Volcanic Centre). Temporal changes in upflow can also be associated with acceleration and deceleration of fault activity if this is considered a proxy for fault permeability. Other explanations for temporal variations in hydrothermal activity not explored here are different permeability on different faults, and different permeability along fault strike.

Permeability and Microstructure of Suspension Plasma-Sprayed YSZ Electrolytes for SOFCs on Various Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marr, Michael; Kesler, Olivera

2012-12-01

Yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte coatings for solid oxide fuel cells were deposited by suspension plasma spraying using a range of spray conditions and a variety of substrates, including finely structured porous stainless steel disks and cathode layers on stainless steel supports. Electrolyte permeability values and trends were found to be highly dependent on which substrate was used. The most gas-tight electrolyte coatings were those deposited directly on the porous metal disks. With this substrate, permeability was reduced by increasing the torch power and reducing the stand-off distance to produce dense coating microstructures. On the substrates with cathodes, electrolyte permeability was reduced by increasing the stand-off distance, which reduced the formation of segmentation cracks and regions of aligned and concentrated porosity. The formation mechanisms of the various permeability-related coating features are discussed and strategies for reducing permeability are presented. The dependences of electrolyte deposition efficiency and surface roughness on process conditions and substrate properties are also presented.

Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Controllable Electrical Conductivity and Water Adhesion.

PubMed

Ye, Lijun; Guan, Jipeng; Li, Zhixiang; Zhao, Jingxin; Ye, Cuicui; You, Jichun; Li, Yongjin

2017-02-14

A facile and versatile strategy for fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces with controllable electrical conductivity and water adhesion is reported. "Vine-on-fence"-structured and cerebral cortex-like superhydrophobic surfaces are constructed by filtering a suspension of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), using polyoxymethylene nonwovens as the filter paper. The nonwovens with micro- and nanoporous two-tier structures act as the skeleton, introducing a microscale structure. The MWCNTs act as nanoscale structures, creating hierarchical surface roughness. The surface topography and the electrical conductivity of the superhydrophobic surfaces are controlled by varying the MWCNT loading. The vine-on-fence-structured surfaces exhibit "sticky" superhydrophobicity with high water adhesion. The cerebral cortex-like surfaces exhibit self-cleaning properties with low water adhesion. The as-prepared superhydrophobic surfaces are chemically resistant to acidic and alkaline environments of pH 2-12. They therefore have potential in applications such as droplet-based microreactors and thin-film microextraction. These findings aid our understanding of the role that surface topography plays in the design and fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces with different water-adhesion properties.

Influence of the electromagnetic parameters on the surface wave attenuation in thin absorbing layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yinrui; Li, Dongmeng; Wang, Xian; Nie, Yan; Gong, Rongzhou

2018-05-01

This paper describes the relationships between the surface wave attenuation properties and the electromagnetic parameters of radar absorbing materials (RAMs). In order to conveniently obtain the attenuation constant of TM surface waves over a wide frequency range, the simplified dispersion equations in thin absorbing materials were firstly deduced. The validity of the proposed method was proved by comparing with the classical dispersion equations. Subsequently, the attenuation constants were calculated separately for the absorbing layers with hypothetical relative permittivity and permeability. It is found that the surface wave attenuation properties can be strongly tuned by the permeability of RAM. Meanwhile, the permittivity should be appropriate so as to maintain high cutoff frequency. The present work provides specific methods and designs to improve the attenuation performances of radar absorbing materials.

Is trabecular bone permeability governed by molecular ordering-induced fluid viscosity gain? Arguments from re-evaluation of experimental data in the framework of homogenization theory.

PubMed

Abdalrahman, T; Scheiner, S; Hellmich, C

2015-01-21

It is generally agreed on that trabecular bone permeability, a physiologically important quantity, is governed by the material׳s (vascular or intertrabecular) porosity as well as by the viscosity of the pore-filling fluids. Still, there is less agreement on how these two key factors govern bone permeability. In order to shed more light onto this somewhat open issue, we here develop a random homogenization scheme for upscaling Poiseuille flow in the vascular porosity, up to Darcy-type permeability of the overall porous medium "trabecular bone". The underlying representative volume element of the macroscopic bone material contains two types of phases: a spherical, impermeable extracellular bone matrix phase interacts with interpenetrating cylindrical pore channel phases that are oriented in all different space directions. This type of interaction is modeled by means of a self-consistent homogenization scheme. While the permeability of the bone matrix equals to zero, the permeability of the pore phase is found through expressing the classical Hagen-Poiseuille law for laminar flow in the format of a "micro-Darcy law". The upscaling scheme contains pore size and porosity as geometrical input variables; however, they can be related to each other, based on well-known relations between porosity and specific bone surface. As two key results, validated through comprehensive experimental data, it appears (i) that the famous Kozeny-Carman constant (which relates bone permeability to the cube of the porosity, the square of the specific surface, as well as to the bone fluid viscosity) needs to be replaced by an again porosity-dependent rational function, and (ii) that the overall bone permeability is strongly affected by the pore fluid viscosity, which, in case of polarized fluids, is strongly increased due to the presence of electrically charged pore walls. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhanced water transport and salt rejection through hydrophobic zeolite pores.

PubMed

Humplik, Thomas; Lee, Jongho; O'Hern, Sean; Laoui, Tahar; Karnik, Rohit; Wang, Evelyn N

2017-12-15

The potential of improvements to reverse osmosis (RO) desalination by incorporating porous nanostructured materials such as zeolites into the selective layer in the membrane has spurred substantial research efforts over the past decade. However, because of the lack of methods to probe transport across these materials, it is still unclear which pore size or internal surface chemistry is optimal for maximizing permeability and salt rejection. We developed a platform to measure the transport of water and salt across a single layer of zeolite crystals, elucidating the effects of internal wettability on water and salt transport through the ≈5.5 Å pores of MFI zeolites. MFI zeolites with a more hydrophobic (i.e., less attractive) internal surface chemistry facilitated an approximately order of magnitude increase in water permeability compared to more hydrophilic MFI zeolites, while simultaneously fully rejecting both potassium and chlorine ions. However, our results also demonstrated approximately two orders of magnitude lower permeability compared to molecular simulations. This decreased performance suggests that additional transport resistances (such as surface barriers, pore collapse or blockages due to contamination) may be limiting the performance of experimental nanostructured membranes. Nevertheless, the inclusion of hydrophobic sub-nanometer pores into the active layer of RO membranes should improve both the water permeability and salt rejection of future RO membranes (Fasano et al 2016 Nat. Commun. 7 12762).

Enhanced water transport and salt rejection through hydrophobic zeolite pores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Humplik, Thomas; Lee, Jongho; O'Hern, Sean; Laoui, Tahar; Karnik, Rohit; Wang, Evelyn N.

2017-12-01

The potential of improvements to reverse osmosis (RO) desalination by incorporating porous nanostructured materials such as zeolites into the selective layer in the membrane has spurred substantial research efforts over the past decade. However, because of the lack of methods to probe transport across these materials, it is still unclear which pore size or internal surface chemistry is optimal for maximizing permeability and salt rejection. We developed a platform to measure the transport of water and salt across a single layer of zeolite crystals, elucidating the effects of internal wettability on water and salt transport through the ≈5.5 Å pores of MFI zeolites. MFI zeolites with a more hydrophobic (i.e., less attractive) internal surface chemistry facilitated an approximately order of magnitude increase in water permeability compared to more hydrophilic MFI zeolites, while simultaneously fully rejecting both potassium and chlorine ions. However, our results also demonstrated approximately two orders of magnitude lower permeability compared to molecular simulations. This decreased performance suggests that additional transport resistances (such as surface barriers, pore collapse or blockages due to contamination) may be limiting the performance of experimental nanostructured membranes. Nevertheless, the inclusion of hydrophobic sub-nanometer pores into the active layer of RO membranes should improve both the water permeability and salt rejection of future RO membranes (Fasano et al 2016 Nat. Commun. 7 12762).

Relationship between Kinematics, F2 Slope and Speech Intelligibility in Dysarthria Due to Cerebral Palsy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rong, Panying; Loucks, Torrey; Kim, Heejin; Hasegawa-Johnson, Mark

2012-01-01

A multimodal approach combining acoustics, intelligibility ratings, articulography and surface electromyography was used to examine the characteristics of dysarthria due to cerebral palsy (CP). CV syllables were studied by obtaining the slope of F2 transition during the diphthong, tongue-jaw kinematics during the release of the onset consonant,…

A New Presentation and Exploration of Human Cerebral Vasculature Correlated with Surface and Sectional Neuroanatomy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nowinski, Wieslaw L.; Thirunavuukarasuu, Arumugam; Volkau, Ihar; Marchenko, Yevgen; Aminah, Bivi; Gelas, Arnaud; Huang, Su; Lee, Looi Chow; Liu, Jimin; Ng, Ting Ting; Nowinska, Natalia G.; Qian, Guoyu Yu; Puspitasari, Fiftarina; Runge, Val M.

2009-01-01

The increasing complexity of human body models enabled by advances in diagnostic imaging, computing, and growing knowledge calls for the development of a new generation of systems for intelligent exploration of these models. Here, we introduce a novel paradigm for the exploration of digital body models illustrating cerebral vasculature. It enables…

Bathing Techniques for Children Who Have Cerebral Palsy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunaway, Avtar; Klein, Marsha Dunn

Helpful techniques are offered for making bathtime easier, safer, and more fun for children who have cerebral palsy. Safety in the bathtub is stressed, both for the child who needs protection from slippery surfaces and extreme water temperature, and for the caregiver who must lift and carry the child without causing injury to the lower back.…

A Survey of Parents of Children with Cortical or Cerebral Visual Impairment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackel, Bernadette; Wilson, Michelle; Hartmann, Elizabeth

2010-01-01

Cortical or cerebral visual impairment (CVI) can result when the visual pathways and visual processing areas of the brain have been damaged. Children with CVI may have difficulty finding an object among other objects, viewing in the distance, orienting themselves in space, going from grass to pavement or other changes in surface, and copying…

Modeling of Permeability Structure Using Pore Pressure and Borehole Strain Monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kano, Y.; Ito, H.

2011-12-01

Hydraulic or transport property, especially permeability, of the rock affect the behavior of the fault during earthquake rupture and also interseismic period. The methods to determine permeability underground are hydraulic test utilizing borehole and packer or core measurement in laboratory. Another way to know the permeability around a borehole is to examine responses of pore pressure to natural loading such as barometric pressure change at surface or earth tides. Using response to natural deformation is conventional method for water resource research. The scale of measurement is different among in-situ hydraulic test, response method, and core measurement. It is not clear that the relationship between permeability values form each method for an inhomogeneous medium such as a fault zone. Supposing the measurement of the response to natural loading, we made a model calculation of permeability structure around a fault zone. The model is 2 dimensional and constructed with vertical high-permeability layer in uniform low-permeability zone. We assume the upper and lower boundaries are drained and no-flow condition. We calculated the flow and deformation of the model for step and cyclic loading by numerically solving a two-dimensional diffusion equation. The model calculation shows that the width of the high-permeability zone and contrast of the permeability between high- and low- permeability zones control the contribution of the low-permeability zone. We made a calculation with combinations of permeability and fault width to evaluate the sensitivity of the parameters to in-situ measurement of permeability. We applied the model calculation to the field results of in-situ packer test, and natural response of water level and strain monitoring carried out in the Kamioka mine. The model calculation shows that knowledge of permeability in host rock is also important to obtain permeability of fault zone itself. The model calculations help to design long-term pore pressure monitoring, in-situ hydraulic test, and core measurement using drill holes to better understand fault zone hydraulic properties.

Diffusion of macromolecules through sclera.

PubMed

Miao, Heng; Wu, Bi-Dong; Tao, Yong; Li, Xiao-Xin

2013-02-01

To quantify the in vitro permeability coefficient over different topographical locations of porcine sclera to macromolecules with different molecular weight. Fresh equatorial and posterior superotemporal porcine sclera was mounted in a two-chamber diffusion apparatus, and its permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated dextrans ranging in molecular weight from 40 kDa to 150 kDa was determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry. The sclera was processed as frozen sections and viewed with a fluorescence microscope. The thickness of the area and the thickness that macromolecules enriched in the surface of sclera were measured. The permeability coefficient (Pc) of porcine sclera to macromolecules was significantly higher (40 kDa, p = 0.028; 70 kDa, p = 0.033; 150 kDa, p = 0.007) in equatorial region than posterior, which could be attributed to the significant difference of thickness (p < 0.001, Kruskal-Wallis) between them. Moreover, linear regression indicated a significant negative relationship (40 kDa, p < 0.001; 70 kDa, p = 0.015; 150 kDa, p < 0.001) between scleral permeability coefficient and thickness. Also, Pc declined significantly with increasing molecular weight (MW, p < 0.001, Kruskal-Wallis). The area that the macromolecules enriched in the scleral surface was thicker for those with larger MW (p < 0.001, Kruskal-Wallis). The maximum MW and size for equatorial and posterior superotemporal scleral tissue were 185.01 KDa and 180.42 KDa, 9.92 nm and 9.67 nm, respectively. The permeability coefficient of porcine sclera has a significant negative relationship with scleral thickness and MW of macromolecules. Larger macromolecules are more likely to accumulate in scleral surface. The difference between topographical locations may have pharmacokinetic implications when considering transscleral diffusion of macromolecules. © 2012 The Authors. Acta Ophthalmologica © 2012 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation.

Biomechanical bases of rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davlet'yarova, K. V.; Korshunov, S. D.; Kapilevich, L. V.

2015-11-01

Biomechanical analysis and the study results of children's with cerebral palsy (CP) muscles bioelectrical activity while walking on a flat surface are represented. Increased flexion in the hip and shoulder joints and extension in the elbow joint in children with cerebral palsy were observed, with the movement of the lower limbs had less smooth character in comparison with the control group. Herewith, the oscillation amplitude was significantly increased, and the frequency in the m. gastrocnemius and m. lateralis was decreased. It was shown, that the dynamic stereotype of walking in children with cerebral palsy was characterized by excessive involvement of m. gastrocnemius and m.latissimus dorsi in locomotion. Thus, resulting biomechanical and bioelectrical parameters of walking should be considered in the rehabilitation programs development.

Co-fabrication of chitosan and epoxy photoresist to form microwell arrays with permeable hydrogel bottoms

PubMed Central

Ornoff, Douglas M.; Wang, Yuli; Proctor, Angela; Shah, Akash S.; Allbritton, Nancy L.

2015-01-01

Microfabrication technology offers the potential to create biological platforms with customizable patterns and surface chemistries, allowing precise control over the biochemical microenvironment to which a cell or group of cells is exposed. However, most microfabricated platforms grow cells on impermeable surfaces. This report describes the co-fabrication of a micropatterned epoxy photoresist film with a chitosan film to create a freestanding array of permeable, hydrogel-bottomed microwells. These films possess optical properties ideal for microscopy applications, and the chitosan layers are semi-permeable with a molecular exclusion of 9.9 ± 2.1 kDa. By seeding cells into the microwells, overlaying inert mineral oil, and supplying media via the bottom surface, this hybrid film permits cells to be physically isolated from one another but maintained in culture for at least 4 days. Arrays co-fabricated using these materials reduce both large-molecular-weight biochemical crosstalk between cells and mixing of different clonal populations, and will enable high-throughput studies of cellular heterogeneity with increased ability to customize dynamic interrogations compared to materials in currently available technologies. PMID:26447557

Permeability studies on 3D Ni foam/graphene composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Zhuxian; Chen, Hongmei; Wang, Nannan; Xia, Yongde; Zhu, Yanqiu

2017-09-01

This study investigates the permeability of new 3D Ni foam/graphene composites (Ni foam covered with graphene) using compressed air, Ar and N2 as the probe gases. The results show that the introduction of graphene on the surface of Ni foam via in situ chemical vapour deposition is not detrimental to the permeability of the composites; on the contrary, in some cases it improves permeability. A modified Ergun-type correlation has been proposed, which represents very well the permeability of the Ni foam/graphene composites, especially at flow rates higher than 0.3 m s-1. Further studies show that graphene also helps to improve the thermal conductivity of the composite. These results suggest that the graphene involvement will make the Ni foam/graphene composite a good candidate for potential applications such as filters or heat exchangers suitable for working under harsh conditions such as at high temperatures, in corrosive environments, etc.

Effects of carbohydrate/protein ratio on the microstructure and the barrier and sorption properties of wheat starch-whey protein blend edible films.

PubMed

Basiak, Ewelina; Lenart, Andrzej; Debeaufort, Frédéric

2017-02-01

Starch and whey protein isolate and their mixtures were used for making edible films. Moisture sorption isotherms, water vapour permeability, sorption of aroma compounds, microstructure, water contact angle and surface properties were investigated. With increasing protein content, the microstructure changes became more homogeneous. The water vapour permeability increases with both the humidity gradient and the starch content. For all films, the hygroscopicity increases with starch content. Surface properties change according to the starch/whey protein ratio and are mainly related to the polar component of the surface tension. Films composed of 80% starch and 20% whey proteins have more hydrophobic surfaces than the other films due to specific interactions. The effect of carbohydrate/protein ratio significantly influences the microstructure, the surface wettability and the barrier properties of wheat starch-whey protein blend films. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Tubular hydrogen permeable metal foil membrane and method of fabrication

DOEpatents

Paglieri, Stephen N.; Birdsell, Stephen A.; Barbero, Robert S.; Snow, Ronny C.; Smith, Frank M.

2006-04-04

A tubular hydrogen permeable metal membrane and fabrication process comprises obtaining a metal alloy foil having two surfaces, coating the surfaces with a metal or metal alloy catalytic layer to produce a hydrogen permeable metal membrane, sizing the membrane into a sheet with two long edges, wrapping the membrane around an elongated expandable rod with the two long edges aligned and overlapping to facilitate welding of the two together, placing the foil wrapped rod into a surrounding fixture housing with the two aligned and overlapping foil edges accessible through an elongated aperture in the surrounding fixture housing, expanding the elongated expandable rod within the surrounding fixture housing to tighten the foil about the expanded rod, welding the two long overlapping foil edges to one another generating a tubular membrane, and removing the tubular membrane from within the surrounding fixture housing and the expandable rod from with the tubular membrane.

Monitoring probe for groundwater flow

DOEpatents

Looney, Brian B.; Ballard, Sanford

1994-01-01

A monitoring probe for detecting groundwater migration. The monitor features a cylinder made of a permeable membrane carrying an array of electrical conductivity sensors on its outer surface. The cylinder is filled with a fluid that has a conductivity different than the groundwater. The probe is placed in the ground at an area of interest to be monitored. The fluid, typically saltwater, diffuses through the permeable membrane into the groundwater. The flow of groundwater passing around the permeable membrane walls of the cylinder carries the conductive fluid in the same general direction and distorts the conductivity field measured by the sensors. The degree of distortion from top to bottom and around the probe is precisely related to the vertical and horizontal flow rates, respectively. The electrical conductivities measured by the sensors about the outer surface of the probe are analyzed to determine the rate and direction of the groundwater flow.

Monitoring probe for groundwater flow

DOEpatents

Looney, B.B.; Ballard, S.

1994-08-23

A monitoring probe for detecting groundwater migration is disclosed. The monitor features a cylinder made of a permeable membrane carrying an array of electrical conductivity sensors on its outer surface. The cylinder is filled with a fluid that has a conductivity different than the groundwater. The probe is placed in the ground at an area of interest to be monitored. The fluid, typically saltwater, diffuses through the permeable membrane into the groundwater. The flow of groundwater passing around the permeable membrane walls of the cylinder carries the conductive fluid in the same general direction and distorts the conductivity field measured by the sensors. The degree of distortion from top to bottom and around the probe is precisely related to the vertical and horizontal flow rates, respectively. The electrical conductivities measured by the sensors about the outer surface of the probe are analyzed to determine the rate and direction of the groundwater flow. 4 figs.

Neurologic Manifestations of Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Cirrhosis.

PubMed

Sureka, Binit; Bansal, Kalpana; Patidar, Yashwant; Rajesh, S; Mukund, Amar; Arora, Ankur

2015-01-01

The normal functioning of brain is intimately as well as intricately interrelated with normal functioning of the liver. Liver plays a critical role of not only providing vital nutrients to the brain but also of detoxifying the splanchnic blood. Compromised liver function leads to insufficient detoxification thus allowing neurotoxins (such as ammonia, manganese, and other chemicals) to enter the cerebral circulation. In addition, portosystemic shunts, which are common accompaniments of advanced liver disease, facilitate free passage of neurotoxins into the cerebral circulation. The problem is compounded further by additional variables such as gastrointestinal tract bleeding, malnutrition, and concurrent renal failure, which are often associated with liver cirrhosis. Neurologic damage in chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis seems to be multifactorial primarily attributable to the following: brain accumulation of ammonia, manganese, and lactate; altered permeability of the blood-brain barrier; recruitment of monocytes after microglial activation; and neuroinflammation, that is, direct effects of circulating systemic proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor, IL-1β, and IL-6. Radiologist should be aware of the conundrum of neurologic complications that can be encountered in liver disease, which include hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocerebral degeneration, hepatic myelopathy, cirrhosis-related parkinsonism, cerebral infections, hemorrhage, and osmotic demyelination. In addition, neurologic complications can be exclusive to certain disorders, for example, Wilson disease, alcoholism (Wernicke encephalopathy, alcoholic cerebellar degeneration, Marchiafava-Bignami disease, etc). Radiologist should be aware of their varied clinical presentation and radiological appearances as the diagnosis is not always straightforward. Copyright © 2015 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of Incretin-Based Therapies on Neuro-Cardiovascular Dynamic Changes Induced by High Fat Diet in Rats.

PubMed

Marques-Neto, Silvio Rodrigues; Castiglione, Raquel Carvalho; Pontes, Aiza; Oliveira, Dahienne Ferreira; Ferraz, Emanuelle Baptista; Nascimento, José Hamilton Matheus; Bouskela, Eliete

2016-01-01

Obesity promotes cardiac and cerebral microcirculatory dysfunction that could be improved by incretin-based therapies. However, the effects of this class of compounds on neuro-cardiovascular system damage induced by high fat diet remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of incretin-based therapies on neuro-cardiovascular dysfunction induced by high fat diet in Wistar rats. We have evaluated fasting glucose levels and insulin resistance, heart rate variability quantified on time and frequency domains, cerebral microcirculation by intravital microscopy, mean arterial blood pressure, ventricular function and mitochondrial swelling. High fat diet worsened biometric and metabolic parameters and promoted deleterious effects on autonomic, myocardial and haemodynamic parameters, decreased capillary diameters and increased functional capillary density in the brain. Biometric and metabolic parameters were better improved by glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) compared with dipeptdyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. On the other hand, both GLP-1 agonist and DPP-4 inhibitor reversed the deleterious effects of high fat diet on autonomic, myocardial, haemodynamic and cerebral microvascular parameters. GLP-1 agonist and DPP-4 inhibitor therapy also increased mitochondrial permeability transition pore resistance in brain and heart tissues of rats subjected to high fat diet. Incretin-based therapies improve deleterious cardiovascular effects induced by high fat diet and may have important contributions on the interplay between neuro-cardiovascular dynamic controls through mitochondrial dysfunction associated to metabolic disorders.

Overexpression of caveolin-1 attenuates brain edema by inhibiting tight junction degradation.

PubMed

Choi, Kang-Ho; Kim, Hyung-Seok; Park, Man-Seok; Lee, Eun-Bin; Lee, Jung-Kil; Kim, Joon-Tae; Kim, Ja-Hae; Lee, Min-Cheol; Lee, Hong-Joon; Cho, Ki-Hyun

2016-10-18

Cerebral edema from the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) after cerebral ischemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality as well as a common event in patients with stroke. Caveolins (Cavs) are thought to regulate BBB functions. Here, we report for the first time that Cav-1 overexpression (OE) decreased brain edema from BBB disruption following ischemic insult. Edema volumes and Cav-1 expression levels were measured following photothrombosis and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Endothelial cells that were transduced with a Cav-1 lentiviral expression vector were transplanted into rats. BBB permeability was quantified with Evans blue extravasation. Edema volume was determined from measures of the extravasation area, brain water content, and average fluorescence intensity after Cy5.5 injections. Tight junction (TJ) protein expression was measured with immunoblotting. Cav-1 expression levels and vasogenic brain edema correlated strongly after ischemic insult. Cav-1 expression and BBB disruption peaked 3 d after the MCAO. In addition, intravenous administration of endothelial cells expressing Cav-1 effectively increased the Cav-1 levels 3 d after the MCAO ischemic insult. Importantly, Cav-1 OE ameliorated the vasogenic edema by inhibiting the degradation of TJ protein expression in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. These results suggested that Cav-1 OE protected the integrity of the BBB mainly by preventing the degradation of TJ proteins in rats. These findings need to be confirmed in a clinical setting in human subjects.

Alterations of the Blood-Brain Barrier and Regional Perfusion in Tumor Development: MRI Insights from a Rat C6 Glioma Model.

PubMed

Huhndorf, Monika; Moussavi, Amir; Kramann, Nadine; Will, Olga; Hattermann, Kirsten; Stadelmann, Christine; Jansen, Olav; Boretius, Susann

2016-01-01

Angiogenesis and anti-angiogenetic medications play an important role in progression and therapy of glioblastoma. In this context, in vivo characterization of the blood-brain-barrier and tumor vascularization may be important for individual prognosis and therapy optimization. We analyzed perfusion and capillary permeability of C6-gliomas in rats at different stages of tumor-growth by contrast enhanced MRI and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI at 7 Tesla. The analyses included maps of relative cerebral blood volume (CBV) and signal recovery derived from DSC data over a time period of up to 35 days after tumor cell injections. In all rats tumor progression was accompanied by temporal and spatial changes in CBV and capillary permeability. A leakage of the blood-brain barrier (slow contrast enhancement) was observed as soon as the tumor became detectable on T2-weighted images. Interestingly, areas of strong capillary permeability (fast signal enhancement) were predominantly localized in the center of the tumor. In contrast, the tumor rim was dominated by an increased CBV and showed the highest vessel density compared to the tumor center and the contralateral hemisphere as confirmed by histology. Substantial regional differences in the tumor highlight the importance of parameter maps in contrast or in addition to region-of-interest analyses. The data vividly illustrate how MRI including contrast-enhanced and DSC-MRI may contribute to a better understanding of tumor development.

Differential permissivity of human cerebrovascular endothelial cells to enterovirus infection and specificities of serotype EV-A71 in crossing an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier.

PubMed

Volle, Romain; Archimbaud, Christine; Couraud, Pierre-Olivier; Romero, Ignacio A; Weksler, Babette; Mirand, Audrey; Pereira, Bruno; Henquell, Cécile; Peigue-Lafeuille, Hélène; Bailly, Jean-Luc

2015-07-01

Human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3 cell line) form a steady polarized barrier when cultured in vitro on a permeable membrane. Their susceptibility to enterovirus (EV) strains was analysed to investigate how these viruses may cross the blood-brain barrier. A sample of 88 virus strains was selected on phylogenetic features amongst 43 epidemiologically relevant types of the four EV species A-D. The EV-A71 genome was replicated at substantial rates, whilst the infectious virus was released at extremely low but sustained rates at both barrier sides for at least 4 days. EV-A71 antigens were detected in a limited number of cells. The properties of the endothelial barrier (structure and permeability) remained intact throughout infection. The chronic EV-A71 infection was in sharp contrast to the productive infection of cytolytic EVs (e.g. echoviruses E-6 and E-30). The hCMEC/D3 barriers infected with the latter EVs exhibited elevated proportions of apoptotic and necrotic cells, which resulted in major injuries to the endothelial barriers with a dramatic increase of paracellular permeability and virus crossing to the abluminal side. The following intracellular rearrangements were also seen: early destruction of the actin cytoskeleton, remodelling of intracellular membranes and reorganization of the mitochondrion network in a small cluster near the perinuclear space.

Quantitative MRI reveals the elderly ischemic brain is susceptible to increased early blood–brain barrier permeability following tissue plasminogen activator related to claudin 5 and occludin disassembly

PubMed Central

Kaur, Jaspreet; Tuor, Ursula I; Zhao, Zonghang; Barber, Philip A

2011-01-01

Great uncertainty exists as to whether aging enhances the detrimental effects of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) on vascular integrity of the ischemic brain. We hypothesized that tPA treatment would augment ischemic injury by causing increased blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown as determined by quantitative serial T1 and T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the transfer constant for gadolinium-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) from blood to brain in aged (18 to 20 months) compared with young (3 to 4 months) Wistar rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion, mediated through the acute disassembly of claudin 5 and occludin. Increased T2 values over the first hour of postreperfusion were independently augmented following treatment with tPA (P<0.001) and aging (P<0.01), supporting a synergistic effect of tPA on the aged ischemic brain. Blood–brain barrier permeability for Gd-DTPA (KGd) was substantial following reperfusion in all animal groups and was exacerbated by tPA treatment in the elderly rat (P<0.001). The frequency of hematoma formation was proportionately increased in the elderly ischemic brain (P<0.05). Both tPA and age independently increased claudin 5 and occludin phosphorylation during ischemia. Early BBB permeability detected by quantitative MRI following ischemic stroke is enhanced by increased age and tPA and is related to claudin 5 and occludin phosphorylation. PMID:21610723

Moisture permeability of the total surface bearing prosthetic socket with a silicone liner: is it superior to the patella-tendon bearing prosthetic socket?

PubMed

Hachisuka, K; Matsushima, Y; Ohmine, S; Shitama, H; Shinkoda, K

2001-09-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the moisture permeability properties of materials used for total surface bearing (TSB) socket with a silicone liner, a combination of Silicone Suction Socket or Icelandic Roll-On Silicone Socket (ICEROSS) and an acrylic plastic sheet (Degaplast), patella-tendon bearing (PTB) socket, a combination of Pe-Lite and Degaplast, and wooden socket made of poplar. Moisture permeability of the socket materials was measured as the diminution of water in a container after 12 hours in a climatic chamber. Eight containers with their open, top side were uncovered (no material) or sealed with one of the socket materials; the experiment was repeated four times. One-way analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni's test was applied to examine the differences in moisture permeability. Moisture permeability levels were as follows: no material, 85.9 +/- 1.3 g; poplar, 4.3 +/- 0.4 g; Silicone Suction Socket, 1.1 +/- 0.2 g; ICEROSS, 1.0 +/- 0.2 g; Pe-Lite, 0.8 +/- 0.1 g; 3S + Degaplast, 0.8 +/- 0.1 g; ICEROSS + Degaplast, 0.8 +/- 0.2 g; and Pe-Lite + Degaplast, 0.8 +/- 0.1 g. There were significant differences between the uncovered container and the others, and between poplar and the others (P < 0.05). We concluded that the TSB socket with a silicone liner is not superior to the PTB socket with regard to moisture permeability, and that it is necessary to develop a new prosthetic socket that allows heat release and drainage of sweat.

A peptide inhibitor of the urokinase/urokinase receptor system inhibits alteration of the blood-retinal barrier in diabetes.

PubMed

Navaratna, Deepti; Menicucci, Gina; Maestas, Joann; Srinivasan, Ramprasad; McGuire, Paul; Das, Arup

2008-09-01

One of the major complications of diabetes is the alteration of the blood-retinal barrier, leading to retinal edema and consequent vision loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)/uPA receptor (uPAR) system in the regulation of retinal vascular permeability. Biochemical, molecular, and histological techniques were used to examine the role of uPA and uPAR in the regulation of retinal vascular permeability in diabetic rats and cultured retinal endothelial cells. The increased retinal vascular permeability in diabetic rats was associated with a decrease in vascular endothelial (VE) -cadherin expression in retinal vessels. Treatment with the uPA/uPAR-inhibiting peptide (A6) was shown to reduce diabetes-induced permeability and the loss of VE-cadherin. The increased permeability of cultured cells in response to advanced glycation end products (AGEs) was significantly inhibited with A6. Treatment of endothelial cells with specific matrix metalloproteinases or AGEs resulted in loss of VE-cadherin from the cell surface, which could be inhibited by A6. uPA/uPAR physically interacts with AGEs/receptor for advanced glycation end products on the cell surface and regulates its activity. uPA and its receptor uPAR play important roles in the alteration of the blood-retinal barrier through proteolytic degradation of VE-cadherin. The ability of A6 to block retinal vascular permeability in diabetes suggests a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Skin cooling maintains cerebral blood flow velocity and orthostatic tolerance during tilting in heated humans

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, Thad E.; Cui, Jian; Zhang, Rong; Witkowski, Sarah; Crandall, Craig G.

2002-01-01

Orthostatic tolerance is reduced in the heat-stressed human. The purpose of this project was to identify whether skin-surface cooling improves orthostatic tolerance. Nine subjects were exposed to 10 min of 60 degrees head-up tilting in each of four conditions: normothermia (NT-tilt), heat stress (HT-tilt), normothermia plus skin-surface cooling 1 min before and throughout tilting (NT-tilt(cool)), and heat stress plus skin-surface cooling 1 min before and throughout tilting (HT-tilt(cool)). Heating and cooling were accomplished by perfusing 46 and 15 degrees C water, respectively, though a tube-lined suit worn by each subject. During HT-tilt, four of nine subjects developed presyncopal symptoms resulting in the termination of the tilt test. In contrast, no subject experienced presyncopal symptoms during NT-tilt, NT-tilt(cool), or HT-tilt(cool). During the HT-tilt procedure, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) decreased. However, during HT-tilt(cool), MAP, total peripheral resistance, and CBFV were significantly greater relative to HT-tilt (all P < 0.01). No differences were observed in calculated cerebral vascular resistance between the four conditions. These data suggest that skin-surface cooling prevents the fall in CBFV during upright tilting and improves orthostatic tolerance, presumably via maintenance of MAP. Hence, skin-surface cooling may be a potent countermeasure to protect against orthostatic intolerance observed in heat-stressed humans.

The permeability evolution of tuffisites and outgassing from dense rhyolitic magma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heap, M. J.; Tuffen, H.; Wadsworth, F. B.; Reuschlé, T.; Castro, J. M.; Schipper, C. I.

2017-12-01

Recent observations of rhyolitic lava effusion from eruptions in Chile indicate that simultaneous pyroclastic venting facilitates outgassing. Venting from conduit-plugging lava domes is pulsatory and occurs through shallow fracture networks that deliver pyroclastic debris and exsolved gases to the surface. However, these fractures become blocked as the particulate fracture infill sinters viscously, thus drastically reducing permeability. Tuffisites, fossilized debris-filled fractures of this venting process, are abundant in pyroclastic material ejected during hybrid explosive-effusive activity. Dense tuffisite-hosting obsidian bombs ejected from Volcán Chaitén (Chile) in 2008 afford an opportunity to better understand the permeability evolution of tuffisites within low-permeability conduit plugs, wherein gas mobility is reliant upon fracture pathways. We use laboratory measurements of the permeability and porosity of tuffisites that preserve different degrees of sintering, combined with a grainsize-based sintering model and constraints on pressure-time paths from H2O diffusion, to place first-order constraints on tuffisite permeability evolution. Inferred timescales of sintering-driven tuffisite compaction and permeability loss, spanning minutes to hours, coincide with observed vent pulsations during hybrid rhyolitic activity and, more broadly, timescales of pressurization accompanying silicic lava dome extrusion. We therefore conclude that sintering exerts a first-order control on fracture-assisted outgassing from low-permeability, conduit-plugging silicic magma.

Decision trees to characterise the roles of permeability and solubility on the prediction of oral absorption.

PubMed

Newby, Danielle; Freitas, Alex A; Ghafourian, Taravat

2015-01-27

Oral absorption of compounds depends on many physiological, physiochemical and formulation factors. Two important properties that govern oral absorption are in vitro permeability and solubility, which are commonly used as indicators of human intestinal absorption. Despite this, the nature and exact characteristics of the relationship between these parameters are not well understood. In this study a large dataset of human intestinal absorption was collated along with in vitro permeability, aqueous solubility, melting point, and maximum dose for the same compounds. The dataset allowed a permeability threshold to be established objectively to predict high or low intestinal absorption. Using this permeability threshold, classification decision trees incorporating a solubility-related parameter such as experimental or predicted solubility, or the melting point based absorption potential (MPbAP), along with structural molecular descriptors were developed and validated to predict oral absorption class. The decision trees were able to determine the individual roles of permeability and solubility in oral absorption process. Poorly permeable compounds with high solubility show low intestinal absorption, whereas poorly water soluble compounds with high or low permeability may have high intestinal absorption provided that they have certain molecular characteristics such as a small polar surface or specific topology. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Cocrystals of Hydrochlorothiazide: Solubility and Diffusion/Permeability Enhancements through Drug-Coformer Interactions.

PubMed

Sanphui, Palash; Devi, V Kusum; Clara, Deepa; Malviya, Nidhi; Ganguly, Somnath; Desiraju, Gautam R

2015-05-04

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) is a diuretic and a BCS class IV drug with low solubility and low permeability, exhibiting poor oral absorption. The present study attempts to improve the physicochemical properties of the drug using a crystal engineering approach with cocrystals. Such multicomponent crystals of HCT with nicotinic acid (NIC), nicotinamide (NCT), 4-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), succinamide (SAM), and resorcinol (RES) were prepared using liquid-assisted grinding, and their solubilities in pH 7.4 buffer were evaluated. Diffusion and membrane permeability were studied using a Franz diffusion cell. Except for the SAM and NIC cocrystals, all other binary systems exhibited improved solubility. All of the cocrystals showed improved diffusion/membrane permeability compared to that of HCT with the exception of the SAM cocrystal. When the solubility was high, as in the case of PABA, NCT, and RES cocrystals, the flux/permeability dropped slightly. This is in agreement with the expected interplay between solubility and permeability. Improved solubility/permeability is attributed to new drug-coformer interactions. Cocrystals of SAM, however, showed poor solubility and flux. This cocrystal contains a primary sulfonamide dimer synthon similar to that of HCT polymorphs, which may be a reason for its unusual behavior. Hirshfeld surface analysis was carried out in all cases to determine whether a correlation exists between cocrystal permeability and drug-coformer interactions.

Hydrogeology, water quality, and water-supply potential of the Lower Floridan Aquifer, coastal Georgia, 1999-2002

USGS Publications Warehouse

Falls, W. Fred; Harrelson, Larry G.; Conlon, Kevin J.; Petkewich, Matthew D.

2005-01-01

The hydrogeology and water quality of the upper permeable and Fernandina permeable zones of the Lower Floridan aquifer were studied at seven sites in the 24-county study area encompassed by the Georgia Coastal Sound Science Initiative. Although substantially less than the Upper Floridan aquifer in coastal Georgia, transmissivities for the Lower Floridan aquifer are in the same range as other water-supply aquifers in Georgia and South Carolina and could meet the needs of public drinking-water supply. Water of the upper permeable zone of the Lower Floridan aquifer exceeds the Federal secondary drinking-water standards for sulfate and total dissolved solids at most coastal Georgia sites and the Federal secondary drinking-water standard for chloride at the Shellman Bluff site. The top of the Lower Floridan aquifer correlates within 50 feet of the previously reported top, except at the St Simons Island site where the top is more than 80 feet higher. Based on the hydrogeologic characteristics, the seven sites are divided into the northern sites at Shellman Bluff, Richmond Hill, Pembroke, and Pineora; and southern sites at St Marys, Brunswick, and St Simons Island. At the northern sites, the Lower Floridan aquifer does not include the Fernandina permeable zone, is thinner than the overlying Upper Floridan aquifer, and consists of only strata of the middle Eocene Avon Park Formation. Transmissivities in the Lower Floridan aquifer are 8,300 feet squared per day at Richmond Hill and 6,000 feet squared per day at Shellman Bluff, generally one tenth the transmissivity of the Upper Floridan aquifer at these sites. At the southern sites, the upper permeable zone of the Lower Floridan aquifer is thicker than the Upper Floridan aquifer and consists of porous limestone and dolomite interbedded with nonporous strata of the middle Eocene Avon Park and early Eocene Oldsmar Formations. Transmissivities for the upper permeable zone of the Lower Floridan aquifer are 500 feet squared per day at the St Simons Island site and 13,000 feet squared per day at the St Marys site. The Lower Floridan aquifer at the Brunswick and St Marys sites includes the Fernandina permeable zone, which consists of saltwater-bearing dolomite. Hydrographs of Coastal Sound Science Initiative wells and other nearby wells open to the Upper Floridan aquifer, and the upper permeable and Fernandina permeable zones of the Lower Floridan aquifer have similar trends. Water levels in wells open to the Upper and Lower Floridan aquifers are below land surface at the northern sites and the St Simons Island site, and above land surface at the Brunswick and St Marys sites, as of January 1, 2004. Freshwater is present in the Lower Floridan aquifer at Pineora, Pembroke, and St Marys, and from 1,259 to 1,648 feet below land surface at Brunswick. Slightly saline water is present in the Lower Floridan aquifer at Richmond Hill, Shellman Bluff, St Simons Island, and from 1,679 to 1,970 feet below land surface in well 34H495 at Brunswick. The upper permeable zone of the Lower Floridan aquifer contains bicarbonate water at the Pembroke site, sulfate-bicarbonate water at the Brunswick site, and sulfate water at the St Simons Island, Shellman Bluff, St Marys, and Richmond Hill sites. The bicarbonate, sulfate-bicarbonate, and sulfate waters are saturated relative to calcite and dolomite, and undersaturated with gypsum and anhydrite. The Fernandina permeable zone in well 34H495 includes moderately saline water, very saline water, and brine. The Fernandina permeable zone of the Lower Floridan aquifer beneath downtown Brunswick contains chloride water that is slightly undersaturated to saturated with gypsum and anhydrite. Concentrations of total dissolved solids, sulfate, and chloride exceeded the Federal secondary drinking-water standards. The chloride-contaminated plumes beneath downtown Brunswick would require at least a 12- to 20-percent contribution of very saline water from the Fernandi

Nonlinear surface waves at ferrite-metamaterial waveguide structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hissi, Nour El Houda; Mokhtari, Bouchra; Eddeqaqi, Noureddine Cherkaoui; Shabat, Mohammed Musa; Atangana, Jacques

2016-09-01

A new ferrite slab made of a metamaterial (MTM), surrounded by a nonlinear cover cladding and a ferrite substrate, was shown to support unusual types of electromagnetic surface waves. We impose the boundary conditions to derive the dispersion relation and others necessary to formulate the proposed structure. We analyse the dispersion properties of the nonlinear surface waves and we calculate the associated propagation index and the film-cover interface nonlinearity. In the calculation, several sets of the permeability of the MTM are considered. Results show that the waves behaviour depends on the values of the permeability of the MTM, the thickness of the waveguide and the film-cover interface nonlinearity. It is also shown that the use of the singular solutions to the electric field equation allows to identify several new properties of surface waves which do not exist in conventional waveguide.

Numerical Simulation of Abandoned Gob Methane Drainage through Surface Vertical Wells

PubMed Central

Hu, Guozhong

2015-01-01

The influence of the ventilation system on the abandoned gob weakens, so the gas seepage characteristics in the abandoned gob are significantly different from those in a normal mining gob. In connection with this, this study physically simulated the movement of overlying rock strata. A spatial distribution function for gob permeability was derived. A numerical model using FLUENT for abandoned gob methane drainage through surface wells was established, and the derived spatial distribution function for gob permeability was imported into the numerical model. The control range of surface wells, flow patterns and distribution rules for static pressure in the abandoned gob under different well locations were determined using the calculated results from the numerical model. PMID:25955438

In vivo cerebral blood flow autoregulation studies using rheoencephalography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bodo, M.; Pearce, F.; Garcia, A.; Van Albert, S.; Settle, T.; Szebeni, J.; Baranyi, L.; Hartings, J.; Armonda, R.

2010-04-01

Acute management of patients with traumatic brain/blast injury is a challenge. To minimize secondary injury and improve outcome, it is critical to detect neurological deterioration early, when it is potentially reversible. One potential monitoring method is cerebral electrical impedance (rheoencephalography-REG) because of its non-invasiveness and good time resolution. Reported here are the results of cerebral blood flow (CBF) manipulations comparing electroencephalogram (EEG) with REG (both intra-cerebral) and measuring with surface and skull REG electrodes. Our hypothesis was that REG would reflect spreading depression and CBF autoregulation. Animal experiments were performed using one rat (four trials with intracerebral electrodes), monkeys (n=8, with surface electrodes) and pigs (n = 24 pigs with skull electrodes; 57 trials, 19 types of liposomes). Challenges included intracranial pressure (ICP) elevation, liposome infusion, and hemorrhage. Data were stored on a PC and evaluated off line. CBF autoregulation was evaluated both by visual inspection and by a Matlab script. These studies confirmed that REG reflects CBF autoregulation and that REG is useful for detecting spreading depression (SD), vasospasm and the lower limit of CBF autoregulation. These findings have clinical relevance for use in noninvasive neuro-monitoring in the neurosurgery intensive care and during transportation of patients with brain injury.

Cenomanian-Turonian aquifer of central Israel, its development and possible use as a storage reservoir

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schneider, Robert

1964-01-01

The Cenomanian-Turonian formations constitute a highly permeable dolomite and limestone aquifer in central Israel. The aquifer is on the west limb of an anticlinorium that trends north-northeast. In places it may be as much as 800 meters thick, but in the report area, largely the foothills of the Judean-Ephraim Mountains where the water development is most intensive, its thickness is generally considerably less. In some places the aquifer occurs at or near the land surface, or it is covered by sandy and gravelly coastal-plain deposits. However, in a large part of the area, it is overlain by as much as 400 meters of relatively impermeable strata, and it is probably underlain by less permeable Lower Cretaceous strata. In general the aquifer water is under artesian pressure. The porosity of the aquifer is characterized mainly by solution channels and cavities produced by jointing and faulting. In addition to the generally high permeability of the aquifer, some regions, which probably coincide with ancient drainage patterns and (or) fault zones, have exceptionally high permeabilities. The source of most of the water in the aquifer is believed to be rain that falls on the foothills area. The westward movement of ground water from the mountainous outcrop areas appears to be impeded by a zone of low permeability which is related to structural and stratigraphic conditions along the western side of the mountains. Gradients of the piezometric surface are small, and the net direction of water movement is westward and northwestward under natural conditions. Locally, however, the flow pattern may be in other directions owing to spatial variations in permeability in the aquifer, the location of natural discharge outlets, and the relation of the aquifer to adjacent geologic formations. There probably is also a large vertical component of flow. Pumping has modified the flow pattern by producing several irregularly shaped shallow depressions in the piezometric surface although, to date, no unwatering of the aquifer has occurred. In the central part of the area, pumping has induced some infiltration from overlying coastal-plain formations. Injecting and storing surplus water seasonally in the aquifer should be feasible at almost any place. However, the movement and recovery of the injected water probably could be controlled most easily if the water were injected where depressions have been formed in the piezometric surface.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chace, D.A.; Roberts, R.M.; Palmer, J.B.

WIPP Salado Hydrology Program Data Report {number_sign}3 presents hydrologic data collected during permeability testing, coupled permeability and hydrofracture testing, and gas-threshold-pressure testing of the Salado Formation performed from November 1991 through October 1995. Fluid-pressure monitoring data representing August 1989 through May 1995 are also included. The report presents data from the drilling and testing of three boreholes associated with the permeability testing program, nine boreholes associated with the coupled permeability and hydrofracture testing program, and three boreholes associated with the gas-threshold-pressure testing program. The purpose of the permeability testing program was to provide data with which to interpret the disturbedmore » and undisturbed permeability and pore pressure characteristics of the different Salado Formation lithologies. The purpose of the coupled permeability and hydrofracture testing program was to provide data with which to characterize the occurrence, propagation, and direction of pressure induced fractures in the Salado Formation lithologies, especially MB139. The purpose of the gas-threshold-pressure testing program was to provide data with which to characterize the conditions under which pressurized gas displaces fluid in the brine-saturated Salado Formation lithologies. All of the holes were drilled from the WIPP underground facility 655 m below ground surface in the Salado Formation.« less

Research on the performance of sand-based environmental-friendly water permeable bricks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Runze; Mandula; Chai, Jinyi

2018-02-01

This paper examines the effects of the amount of admixture, the water cement ratio, the aggregate grading, and the cement aggregate ratio on the mechanical service properties and of porous concrete pavement bricks including strength, water permeability, frost resistance, and wear resistance. The admixture can enhance the performance of water permeable brick, and optimize the design mix. Experiments are conducted to determine the optimal mixing ratios which are given as; (1) the admixture (self-developed) within the content of 5% of the cement quality; (2) water-cement ratio equal to 0.34; (3) cement-aggregate ratio equal to 0.25; (4) fine aggregate of 70% (particle size 0.6-2.36mm); and coarse aggregate of 30% (particle size: 2.36-4.75mm). The experimental results that the sand-based permeable concrete pavement brick has a strength of 35.6MPa and that the water permeability coefficient is equal to 3.5×10-2cm/s. In addition, it was found that the concrete water permeable brick has good frost resistance and surface wear resistance, and that the its production costs are much lower than the similar sand-based water permeable bricks in China.

Analysis of Instrumentation Selection and Placement to Monitor the Hydrologic Performance of Permeable Pavement Systems and Bioinfiltration Areas at the Edison Environmental Center in New Jersey

EPA Science Inventory

In 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency constructed a 0.4-ha (1-ac) parking lot surfaced with three different permeable pavement types (interlocking concrete pavers, porous concrete, and porous asphalt) and six bioinfiltration areas with three different drainage area to...

Transport of surface engineered polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers across IPEC-J2 cell monolayers.

PubMed

Pisal, Dipak S; Yellepeddi, Venkata K; Kumar, Ajay; Palakurthi, Srinath

2008-11-01

The aim of our study was to prepare arginine-and ornithine-conjugated Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers and study their permeability across IPEC-J2 cell monolayers, a new intestinal cell line model for drug absorption studies. Arginine and ornithine were conjugated to the amine terminals of the PAMAM(G4) dendrimers by Fmoc synthesis. The apical-to-basolateral (AB) and basolateral-to-apical (BA) apparent permeability coefficients (P(app)) for the PAMAM dendrimers increased by conjugating the dendrimers with both of these polyamines. The enhancement in permeability was dependent on the dendrimer concentration and duration of incubation. Correlation between monolayer permeability and the decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) with the PAMAM dendrimers and the polyamine-conjugated dendrimers suggests that paracellular transport is one of the mechanisms of transport across the epithelial cells. Cytotoxicity of these surface-modified dendrimers was evaluated in IPEC-J2 cells by MTT (methylthiazoletetrazolium) assay. Arginine-conjugated dendrimers were insignificantly more toxic than PAMAM dendrimer as well as ornithine-conjugated dendrimers. Though investigations on the possible involvement of other transport mechanisms are in progress, results of the present study suggest the potential of dendrimer-polyamine conjugates as the carriers for antigen/drug delivery through the oral mucosa.

Method for preparing a sodium/sulfur cell

DOEpatents

Weiner, Steven A.

1978-01-01

A method for preparing a sodium/sulfur cell comprising (A) inserting a solid sodium slug, adapted to be connected to an external circuit, into the anodic reaction zone of a cell subassembly maintained within an inert atmosphere, said cell subassembly comprising a cell container and a tubular cation-permeable barrier disposed within said container such that a first reaction zone is located within cation-permeable barrier and a second reaction zone is located between the outer surface of said cation-permeable barrier and the inner surface of said container, one of said reaction zones being said anodic reaction zone and the other of said reaction zone being a cathodic reaction zone containing a precast composite cathodic reactant comprising a sulfur impregnated porous conductive material connected to said cation permeable barrier and adapted to be connected to said external circuit; and (B) providing closure means for said subassembly and sealing the same to said subassembly at a temperature less than about 100.degree. C. The method of the invention overcomes deficiencies of the prior art methods by allowing preparation of a sodium/sulfur cell without the use of molten reactants and the fill spouts which are required when the cell is filled with molten reactants.

Iron-based soft magnetic composites with Mn-Zn ferrite nanoparticles coating obtained by sol-gel method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Shen; Sun, Aizhi; Xu, Wenhuan; Zhang, Qian; Zhai, Fuqiang; Logan, Philip; Volinsky, Alex A.

2012-11-01

This paper focuses on iron-based soft magnetic composites which were synthesized by utilizing Mn-Zn ferrite nanoparticles to coat iron powder. The nanocrystalline iron powders, with an average particle diameter of 20 nm, were obtained via the sol-gel method. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and distribution maps show that the iron particle surface is covered with a thin layer of Mn-Zn ferrites. Mn-Zn ferrite uniformly coated the surface of the powder particles, resulting in a reduced imaginary permeability, increased electrical resistivity and a higher operating frequency of the synthesized magnets. Mn-Zn ferrite coated samples have higher permeability and lower magnetic loss when compared with the non-magnetic epoxy resin coated compacts. The real part of permeability increases by 33.5% when compared with the epoxy resin coated samples at 10 kHz. The effects of heat treatment temperature on crystalline phase formation and on the magnetic properties of the Mn-Zn ferrite were investigated via X-ray diffraction and a vibrating sample magnetometer. Ferrites decomposed to FeO and MnO after annealing above 400 °C in nitrogen; thus it is the optimum annealing temperature to attain the desired permeability.

Geologic controls on movement of produced-water releases at US geological survey research Site A, Skiatook lake, Osage county, Oklahoma

USGS Publications Warehouse

Otton, J.K.; Zielinski, R.A.; Smith, B.D.; Abbott, M.M.

2007-01-01

Highly saline produced water was released from multiple sources during oil field operations from 1913 to 1973 at the USGS research Site A on Skiatook Lake in northeastern Oklahoma. Two pits, designed to hold produced water and oil, were major sources for release of these fluids at the site. Produced water spills from these and other features moved downslope following topography and downdip by percolating through permeable eolian sand and colluvium, underlying permeable sandstone, and, to a lesser extent, through shales and mudstones. Saline water penetrated progressively deeper units as it moved through the gently dipping bedrock to the north and NW. A large eroded salt scar north of the pits coincides with underlying fine-grained rocks that have retained substantial concentrations of salt, causing slow revegetation. Where not eroded, thick eolian sand or permeable sandstone bedrock is near the surface, and vegetation has been little affected or has reestablished itself after the introduced salt was flushed by precipitation. The extent of salt-contaminated bedrock extends well beyond existing surface salt scars. These results indicate that one of the legacies of surface salt spills can be a volume of subsurface salinization larger than the visible surface disturbance. ?? 2007.

Urban land use: Remote sensing of ground-basin permeability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tinney, L. R.; Jensen, J. R.; Estes, J. E.

1975-01-01

A remote sensing analysis of the amount and type of permeable and impermeable surfaces overlying an urban recharge basin is discussed. An effective methodology for accurately generating this data as input to a safe yield study is detailed and compared to more conventional alternative approaches. The amount of area inventoried, approximately 10 sq. miles, should provide a reliable base against which automatic pattern recognition algorithms, currently under investigation for this task, can be evaluated. If successful, such approaches can significantly reduce the time and effort involved in obtaining permeability data, an important aspect of urban hydrology dynamics.

Deuterium permeation behaviors in tungsten implanted with nitrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Chuan-hui; Wang, Dongping; Jin, Wei; Lou, Yuanfu; Wang, Wei; Ye, Xiaoqiu; Chen, Chang-an; Liu, Kezhao; Xu, Haiyan; Wang, Xiaoying; Kleyn, Aart W.

2018-07-01

Surface modification of tungsten due to the cooling species nitrogen seeded in the divertor region, i.e., by nitrogen ion implantation or re-deposition, is considered to affect the permeation behavior of H isotopes. This work focuses on the effect of nitrogen ion implantation into tungsten (W-N) on the deuterium gas-driven permeation behavior. For comparison, both permeation in tungsten implanted with W ion (W-W) and without implantation (pristine W) are studied. These three samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS). The SEM results revealed that the W-W sample has various voids on the surface, and the W-N sample has a rough surface with pretty fine microstructures. These are different from the pristine W sample with a smooth and compact surface. The XRD patterns show the disappearance of crystallinity on both W-W and W-N sample surfaces. It indicates that the ion implantation process results in an almost complete conversion from crystalline to amorphous in the sample surfaces. The sputter-depth profiling XPS spectra show that the implanted nitrogen prefers to form a 140 nm thick tungsten nitride layer. In permeation experiments, it was found that the D permeability is temperature dependent. Interestingly, the W-N sample presented a lower D permeability than the W-W sample, but higher than the pristine W sample. Such behavior implies that tungsten nitride acts as a permeation barrier, while defects created by ions implantation can promote permeability. The possible permeation mechanism correlated with sample surface composition and microstructure is consequently discussed in this work.

Numerical Simulations for Landing Gear Noise Generation and Radiation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, Philip J.; Long, Lyle N.

2002-01-01

Aerodynamic noise from a landing gear in a uniform flow is computed using the Ffowcs Williams -Hawkings (FW-H) equation. The time accurate flow data on the surface is obtained using a finite volume flow solver on an unstructured and. The Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation is solved using surface integrals over the landing gear surface and over a permeable surface away from the landing gear. Two geometric configurations are tested in order to assess the impact of two lateral struts on the sound level and directivity in the far-field. Predictions from the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings code are compared with direct calculations by the flow solver at several observer locations inside the computational domain. The permeable Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings surface predictions match those of the flow solver in the near-field. Far-field noise calculations coincide for both integration surfaces. The increase in drag observed between the two landing gear configurations is reflected in the sound pressure level and directivity mainly in the streamwise direction.

Absence of bundle structure in the neocortex of the reeler mouse at the embryonic stage. Studies by scanning electron microscopic fractography.

PubMed

Mikoshiba, K; Nishimura, Y; Tsukada, Y

The reeler mutant mouse is characterized by a derangement of the cerebral cortical structure due to abnormalities during the migration step at the embryonic stage. We have analyzed both the control and reeler cerebral cortex by means of scanning electron microscopic fractography. In the control cerebral cortex, the bundle formation was composed of fine fibers on which the migrating neuroblasts were attached perpendicular to the pial surface, whereas no bundle formation was observed in the reeler; instead, there was a fine meshwork of fibers surrounding the neuroblasts. The possible role of bundle formation in the normal cerebral cortex and the correlation between the inability of cells to migrate and the absence of bundle formation in the reeler is discussed.

Permeability, porosity, and mineral surface area changes in basalt cores induced by reactive transport of CO2-rich brine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luhmann, Andrew J.; Tutolo, Benjamin M.; Bagley, Brian C.; Mildner, David F. R.; Seyfried, William E.; Saar, Martin O.

2017-03-01

Four reactive flow-through laboratory experiments (two each at 0.1 mL/min and 0.01 mL/min flow rates) at 150°C and 150 bar (15 MPa) are conducted on intact basalt cores to assess changes in porosity, permeability, and surface area caused by CO2-rich fluid-rock interaction. Permeability decreases slightly during the lower flow rate experiments and increases during the higher flow rate experiments. At the higher flow rate, core permeability increases by more than one order of magnitude in one experiment and less than a factor of two in the other due to differences in preexisting flow path structure. X-ray computed tomography (XRCT) scans of pre- and post-experiment cores identify both mineral dissolution and secondary mineralization, with a net decrease in XRCT porosity of ˜0.7%-0.8% for the larger pores in all four cores. (Ultra) small-angle neutron scattering ((U)SANS) data sets indicate an increase in both (U)SANS porosity and specific surface area (SSA) over the ˜1 nm to 10 µm scale range in post-experiment basalt samples, with differences due to flow rate and reaction time. Net porosity increases from summing porosity changes from XRCT and (U)SANS analyses are consistent with core mass decreases. (U)SANS data suggest an overall preservation of the pore structure with no change in mineral surface roughness from reaction, and the pore structure is unique in comparison to previously published basalt analyses. Together, these data sets illustrate changes in physical parameters that arise due to fluid-basalt interaction in relatively low pH environments with elevated CO2 concentration, with significant implications for flow, transport, and reaction through geologic formations.

The durability of phosphoric acid promoted bioglass-dentin interaction layer.

PubMed

Bakry, A S; Takahashi, H; Otsuki, M; Tagami, J

2013-04-01

Phosphoric acid-Bioglass 45S5 paste can create an interaction layer formed of calcium-phosphate crystals on the dentin surface. In this study, the efficiency of decreasing the dentin permeability exerted by the interaction layer formed between bioglass and dentin was compared to a resin-containing oxalate desensitizing agent (MS Coat One) and a resin-free oxalate desensitizing agent (Super Seal). Dentin permeability was measured before/after a brushing abrasion challenge, followed by examining the top and the fractured dentin surfaces with a field emission scanning electron microscope. Moreover, the chemical nature of the compounds formed on top of the dentin surface was examined using the field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDS), and the crystalline structures of the dentinal surfaces were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that application of 45S5 bioglass paste to dentin was able to occlude patent dentinal tubule orifices with a layer of calcium-phosphate crystals, while the oxalate containing agents were able to form small crystals which were found in dentinal tubule orifices and scattered along the superficial parts of the dentinal tubule lumen. The brushing-abrasion challenge significantly increased the permeability of dentin treated by Super Seal and MS Coat One, while these challenges had no significant effect on the dentin permeability of specimens treated with 45S5 bioglass paste. The new technique provided better durability than two products available on the market. Moreover, our previous research showed the biocompatibility of using this technique on dental pulp cells, suggesting that this technique can aid in treating dentin hypersensitivity cases. Copyright © 2012 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of fracture surface roughness and shear displacement on geometrical and hydraulic properties of three-dimensional crossed rock fracture models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Na; Liu, Richeng; Jiang, Yujing; Li, Bo; Yu, Liyuan

2018-03-01

While shear-flow behavior through fractured media has been so far studied at single fracture scale, a numerical analysis of the shear effect on the hydraulic response of 3D crossed fracture model is presented. The analysis was based on a series of crossed fracture models, in which the effects of fracture surface roughness and shear displacement were considered. The rough fracture surfaces were generated using the modified successive random additions (SRA) algorithm. The shear displacement was applied on one fracture, and at the same time another fracture shifted along with the upper and lower surfaces of the sheared fracture. The simulation results reveal the development and variation of preferential flow paths through the model during the shear, accompanied by the change of the flow rate ratios between two flow planes at the outlet boundary. The average contact area accounts for approximately 5-27% of the fracture planes during shear, but the actual calculated flow area is about 38-55% of the fracture planes, which is much smaller than the noncontact area. The equivalent permeability will either increase or decrease as shear displacement increases from 0 to 4 mm, depending on the aperture distribution of intersection part between two fractures. When the shear displacement continuously increases by up to 20 mm, the equivalent permeability increases sharply first, and then keeps increasing with a lower gradient. The equivalent permeability of rough fractured model is about 26-80% of that calculated from the parallel plate model, and the equivalent permeability in the direction perpendicular to shear direction is approximately 1.31-3.67 times larger than that in the direction parallel to shear direction. These results can provide a fundamental understanding of fluid flow through crossed fracture model under shear.

Epidermal Permeability Barrier Recovery Is Delayed in Vitiligo-Involved Sites

PubMed Central

Liu, J.; Man, W.Y.; Lv, C.Z.; Song, S.P.; Shi, Y.J.; Elias, P.M.; Man, M.Q.

2010-01-01

Background/Objectives Prior studies have demonstrated that both the skin surface pH and epidermal permeability barrier function vary with skin pigmentation types. Although melanin deficiency is the main feature of vitiligo, alterations in cutaneous biophysical properties in vitiligo have not yet been well defined. In the present study, stratum corneum (SC) hydration, the skin surface pH and epidermal permeability barrier function in vitiligo were evaluated. Methods A total of 30 volunteers with vitiligo comprising 19 males and 11 females aged 13–51 years (mean age: 27.91 ± 2.06 years) were enrolled in this study. The skin surface pH, SC hydration, melanin/erythema index and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured by respective probes connected to a Courage-Khazaka MPA5. SC integrity was determined by measuring the TEWL following each D-Squame application. The barrier recovery rate was assessed at 5 h following barrier disruption by repeated tape stripping. Results In addition to SC hydration, both melanin and erythema index were significantly lower in vitiligo lesions than in contralateral, nonlesional sites, while no difference in skin surface pH between vitiligo-involved and uninvolved areas was observed. In addition, neither the basal TEWL nor SC integrity in the involved areas differed significantly from that in the uninvolved areas. However, barrier recovery in vitiligo-involved sites was significantly delayed in comparison with uninvolved sites (40.83 ± 5.39% vs. 58.30 ± 4.71%; t = 2.441; p < 0.02). Conclusion Barrier recovery following tape stripping of the SC is delayed in vitiligo. Therefore, improvement in epidermal permeability barrier function may be an important unrecognized factor to be considered in treating patients with vitiligo. PMID:20185976

GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION POTENTIAL FROM STORMWATER INFILTRATION

EPA Science Inventory

Prior to urbanization, ground water recharge resulted from infiltration of precipitation through pervious surfaces, including grasslands and woods. This infiltration water was relatively uncontaminated. With urbanization, the permeable soil surface area through which recharge by...

A pathophysiological role of TRPV1 in ischemic injury after transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miyanohara, Jun; Shirakawa, Hisashi, E-mail: shirakaw@pharm.kyoto-u.ac.jp; Sanpei, Kazuaki

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a non-selective cation channel with high Ca{sup 2+} permeability, which functions as a polymodal nociceptor activated by heat, protons and several vanilloids, including capsaicin and anandamide. Although TRPV1 channels are widely distributed in the mammalian brain, their pathophysiological roles in the brain remain to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated whether TRPV1 is involved in cerebral ischemic injury using a middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion model in wild-type (WT) and TRPV1-knockout (KO) mice. For transient ischemia, the left MCA of C57BL/6 mice was occluded for 60 min and reperfused at 1 and 2more » days after ischemia. We found that neurological and motor deficits, and infarct volumes in TRPV1-KO mice were lower than those of WT mice. Consistent with these results, intracerebroventricular injection of a TRPV1 antagonist, capsazepine (20 nmol), 30 min before the onset of ischemia attenuated neurological and motor deficits and improved infarct size without influencing cerebral blood flow in the occluded MCA territory. The protective effect of capsazepine on ischemic brain damage was not observed in TRPV1-KO mice. WT and TRPV1-KO mice did not show any differences with respect to the increased number of Iba1-positive microglia/macrophages, GFAP-positive astrocytes, and Gr1-positive neutrophils at 1 and 2 days after cerebral ischemia. Taken together, we conclude that brain TRPV1 channels are activated by ischemic stroke and cause neurological and motor deficits and infarction after brain ischemia. - Highlights: • We investigated whether TRPV1 is involved in transient ischemic brain damage in mice. • Neurological deficits and infarct volumes were lower in TRPV1-KO mice than in WT mice. • Injection of a TRPV1 antagonist, capsazepine, attenuated neurological deficits and improved infarct size. • No differences in astrocytic or microglial activation were observed between WT and TRPV1-KO mice.« less

Anesthesia-Induced Hypothermia Attenuates Early-Phase Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption but Not Infarct Volume following Cerebral Ischemia.

PubMed

Liu, Yu-Cheng; Lee, Yu-Da; Wang, Hwai-Lee; Liao, Kate Hsiurong; Chen, Kuen-Bao; Poon, Kin-Shing; Pan, Yu-Ling; Lai, Ted Weita

2017-01-01

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption is thought to facilitate the development of cerebral infarction after a stroke. In a typical stroke model (such as the one used in this study), the early phase of BBB disruption reaches a peak 6 h post-ischemia and largely recovers after 8-24 h, whereas the late phase of BBB disruption begins 48-58 h post-ischemia. Because cerebral infarct develops within 24 h after the onset of ischemia, and several therapeutic agents have been shown to reduce the infarct volume when administered at 6 h post-ischemia, we hypothesized that attenuating BBB disruption at its peak (6 h post-ischemia) can also decrease the infarct volume measured at 24 h. We used a mouse stroke model obtained by combining 120 min of distal middle cerebral arterial occlusion (dMCAo) with ipsilateral common carotid arterial occlusion (CCAo). This model produced the most reliable BBB disruption and cerebral infarction compared to other models characterized by a shorter duration of ischemia or obtained with dMCAO or CCAo alone. The BBB permeability was measured by quantifying Evans blue dye (EBD) extravasation, as this tracer has been shown to be more sensitive for the detection of early-phase BBB disruption compared to other intravascular tracers that are more appropriate for detecting late-phase BBB disruption. We showed that a 1 h-long treatment with isoflurane-anesthesia induced marked hypothermia and attenuated the peak of BBB disruption when administered 6 h after the onset of dMCAo/CCAo-induced ischemia. We also demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of isoflurane was hypothermia-dependent because the same treatment had no effect on ischemic BBB disruption when the mouse body temperature was maintained at 37°C. Importantly, inhibiting the peak of BBB disruption by hypothermia had no effect on the volume of brain infarct 24 h post-ischemia. In conclusion, inhibiting the peak of BBB disruption is not an effective neuroprotective strategy, especially in comparison to the inhibitors of the neuronal death signaling cascade; these, in fact, can attenuate the infarct volume measured at 24 h post-ischemia when administered at 6 h in our same stroke model.

hiPSC-derived neural stem cells from patients with schizophrenia induce an impaired angiogenesis.

PubMed

Casas, Bárbara S; Vitória, Gabriela; do Costa, Marcelo N; Madeiro da Costa, Rodrigo; Trindade, Pablo; Maciel, Renata; Navarrete, Nelson; Rehen, Stevens K; Palma, Verónica

2018-02-22

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by cerebral connectivity impairment and loss of gray matter. It was described in adult schizophrenia patients (SZP) that concentration of VEGFA, a master angiogenic factor, is decreased. Recent evidence suggests cerebral hypoperfusion related to a dysfunctional Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) in SZP. Since neurogenesis and blood-vessel formation occur in a coincident and coordinated fashion, a defect in neurovascular development could result in increased vascular permeability and, therefore, in poor functionality of the SZP's neurons. Here, we characterized the conditioned media (CM) of human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSC)-derived Neural Stem Cells of SZP (SZP NSC) versus healthy subjects (Ctrl NSC), and its impact on angiogenesis. Our results reveal that SZP NSC have an imbalance in the secretion and expression of several angiogenic factors, among them non-canonical neuro-angiogenic guidance factors. SZP NSC migrated less and their CM was less effective in inducing migration and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Since SZP originates during embryonic brain development, our findings suggest a defective crosstalk between NSC and endothelial cells (EC) during the formation of the neuro-angiogenic niche.

Systematization and description of the internal carotid arteries and their main ramifications at the brain base in turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans).

PubMed

Voll, Juliana; Campos, Rui

2016-08-01

Thirty turtle brains (Trachemys scripta elegans) were injected with latex to systematize and describe the internal carotid arteries and their main ramifications at the brain base. The internal carotid arteries had one intercarotid anastomosis. At the level of the tuber cinereum, the internal carotid artery bifurcated into its terminal branches, the rostral and the caudal branches. The rostral branch emitted the rostral choroid artery, the orbital artery, and a series of middle cerebral arteries. After giving off the last middle cerebral artery, the rostral branch continued as the rostral cerebral artery in the cerebral longitudinal fissure, and had one anastomosis with its contralateral homologous artery, the rostral communicating artery, making the first rostral closure of the cerebral arterial circle. Next, the rostral cerebral arteries anastomosed forming a rostral interhemispheric artery, making the second rostral closure of the cerebral arterial circle. The internal carotid artery, after emitting its rostral branch, continued caudally as the caudal branch. The caudal branch ran caudally along the ventral surface of the mesencephalic tegmentum, emitted the caudal cerebral artery and the mesencephalic artery, and continued caudomedially while progressively narrowing, and anastomosed with its contralateral homologous artery, forming the basilar artery. The narrower portion also emitted the trigeminal artery. The anastomosis of the caudal branches closed the cerebral arterial circle caudally. The internal carotid arteries exclusively supplied the cerebral arterial circle of the turtle. Anat Rec, 299:1090-1098, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sleep Restriction Impairs Blood–Brain Barrier Function

PubMed Central

He, Junyun; Hsuchou, Hung; He, Yi; Kastin, Abba J.; Wang, Yuping

2014-01-01

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a large regulatory and exchange interface between the brain and peripheral circulation. We propose that changes of the BBB contribute to many pathophysiological processes in the brain of subjects with chronic sleep restriction (CSR). To achieve CSR that mimics a common pattern of human sleep loss, we quantified a new procedure of sleep disruption in mice by a week of consecutive sleep recording. We then tested the hypothesis that CSR compromises microvascular function. CSR not only diminished endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase, endothelin1, and glucose transporter expression in cerebral microvessels of the BBB, but it also decreased 2-deoxy-glucose uptake by the brain. The expression of several tight junction proteins also was decreased, whereas the level of cyclooxygenase-2 increased. This coincided with an increase of paracellular permeability of the BBB to the small tracers sodium fluorescein and biotin. CSR for 6 d was sufficient to impair BBB structure and function, although the increase of paracellular permeability returned to baseline after 24 h of recovery sleep. This merits attention not only in neuroscience research but also in public health policy and clinical practice. PMID:25355222

Sleep restriction impairs blood-brain barrier function.

PubMed

He, Junyun; Hsuchou, Hung; He, Yi; Kastin, Abba J; Wang, Yuping; Pan, Weihong

2014-10-29

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a large regulatory and exchange interface between the brain and peripheral circulation. We propose that changes of the BBB contribute to many pathophysiological processes in the brain of subjects with chronic sleep restriction (CSR). To achieve CSR that mimics a common pattern of human sleep loss, we quantified a new procedure of sleep disruption in mice by a week of consecutive sleep recording. We then tested the hypothesis that CSR compromises microvascular function. CSR not only diminished endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase, endothelin1, and glucose transporter expression in cerebral microvessels of the BBB, but it also decreased 2-deoxy-glucose uptake by the brain. The expression of several tight junction proteins also was decreased, whereas the level of cyclooxygenase-2 increased. This coincided with an increase of paracellular permeability of the BBB to the small tracers sodium fluorescein and biotin. CSR for 6 d was sufficient to impair BBB structure and function, although the increase of paracellular permeability returned to baseline after 24 h of recovery sleep. This merits attention not only in neuroscience research but also in public health policy and clinical practice. Copyright © 2014 the authors 0270-6474/14/3414697-10$15.00/0.

Interaction of fibrinogen and muramidase-released protein promotes the development of Streptococcus suis meningitis

PubMed Central

Wang, Junping; Kong, Decong; Zhang, Shengwei; Jiang, Hua; Zheng, Yuling; Zang, Yating; Hao, Huaijie; Jiang, Yongqiang

2015-01-01

Muramidase-released protein (MRP) is as an important virulence marker of Streptococcus suis (S. suis) serotype 2. Our previous works have shown that MRP can bind human fibrinogen (hFg); however, the function of this interaction in S. suis meningitis is not known. In this study, we found that the deletion of mrp significantly impairs the hFg-mediated adherence and traversal ability of S. suis across human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3). Measurement of the permeability to Lucifer yellow in vitro and Evans blue extravasation in vivo show that the MRP-hFg interaction significantly increases the permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In the mouse meningitis model, wild type S. suis caused higher bacterial loads in the brain and more severe histopathological signs of meningitis than the mrp mutant at day 3 post-infection. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence observations reveal that the MRP-hFg interaction can destroy the cell adherens junction protein p120-catenin of hCMEC/D3. These results indicate that the MRP-hFg interaction is important in the development of S. suis meningitis. PMID:26441928

Matrix metalloproteinase 9-induced increase in intestinal epithelial tight junction permeability contributes to the severity of experimental DSS colitis

PubMed Central

Nighot, Prashant; Al-Sadi, Rana; Guo, Shuhong; Watterson, D. Martin; Ma, Thomas

2015-01-01

Recent studies have implicated a pathogenic role for matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP-9) in inflammatory bowel disease. Although loss of epithelial barrier function has been shown to be a key pathogenic factor for the development of intestinal inflammation, the role of MMP-9 in intestinal barrier function remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of MMP-9 in intestinal barrier function and intestinal inflammation. Wild-type (WT) and MMP-9−/− mice were subjected to experimental dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colitis by administration of 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. The mouse colonic permeability was measured in vivo by recycling perfusion of the entire colon using fluorescently labeled dextran. The DSS-induced increase in the colonic permeability was accompanied by an increase in intestinal epithelial cell MMP-9 expression in WT mice. The DSS-induced increase in intestinal permeability and the severity of DSS colitis was found to be attenuated in MMP-9−/− mice. The colonic protein expression of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and phospho-MLC was found to be significantly increased after DSS administration in WT mice but not in MMP-9−/− mice. The DSS-induced increase in colonic permeability and colonic inflammation was attenuated in MLCK−/− mice and MLCK inhibitor ML-7-treated WT mice. The DSS-induced increase in colonic surface epithelial cell MLCK mRNA was abolished in MMP-9−/− mice. Lastly, increased MMP-9 protein expression was detected within the colonic surface epithelial cells in ulcerative colitis cases. These data suggest a role of MMP-9 in modulation of colonic epithelial permeability and inflammation via MLCK. PMID:26514773

Influence of the spatial distribution of cementation on the permeability and mechanical attributes of sedimentary and fault rocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mozley, P.; Yoon, H.; Williams, R. T.; Goodwin, L. B.

2015-12-01

The spatial distribution of pore-filling authigenic minerals (cements) is highly variable and controlled in large part by the mineralogy of the cements and host sediment grains. Two end-member distributions of cements that commonly occur in sedimentary material are: (1) concretionary, in which precipitation occurred in specific zones throughout the sediment, with intervening areas largely uncemented; and (2) grain-rimming, in which precipitation occurred on grain-surfaces relatively uniformly throughout the rock. Concretions form in rocks in which sediment grains have a different composition from the cement, whereas rim cements form in those that have the same composition. Both the mechanical attributes and permeability of a given volume of rock are affected to a much greater extent by grain rimming cements, which have a significant impact on properties at even low abundances. Concretionary cements have little impact on bulk properties until relatively large volumes have precipitated (~80% cemented) and concretions begin to link up. Precipitation of cement in fault zones also impacts both mechanical and hydrologic properties. Cementation will stiffen and strengthen unlithified sediment, thereby controlling the locus of fracturing in protolith or damage zones. Where fracture networks form in fault damage zones, they are initially high permeability elements. However, progressive cementation greatly diminishes fracture permeability, resulting in cyclical permeability variation linked to fault slip. To quantitatively describe the interactions of groundwater flow, permeability, and patterns and abundance of cements, we use pore-scale modeling of coupled fluid flow, reactive transport, and heterogeneous mineral-surface reactions. By exploring the effects of varying distributions of porosity and mineralogy, which impact patterns of cementation, we provide mechanistic explanations of the interactions of coupled processes under various flow and chemistry conditions.

Relationship between pore geometric characteristics and SIP/NMR parameters observed for mudstones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, J.; Slater, L. D.; Keating, K.; Parker, B. L.; Robinson, T.

2017-12-01

The reliable estimation of permeability remains one of the most challenging problems in hydrogeological characterization. Cost effective, non-invasive geophysical methods such as spectral induced polarization (SIP) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) offer an alternative to traditional sampling methods as they are sensitive to the mineral surfaces and pore spaces that control permeability. We performed extensive physical characterization, SIP and NMR geophysical measurements on fractured rock cores extracted from a mudstone site in an effort to compare 1) the pore size characterization determined from traditional and geophysical methods and 2) the performance of permeability models based on these methods. We focus on two physical characterizations that are well-correlated with hydraulic properties: the pore volume normalized surface area (Spor) and an interconnected pore diameter (Λ). We find the SIP polarization magnitude and relaxation time are better correlated with Spor than Λ, the best correlation of these SIP measures for our sample dataset was found with Spor divided by the electrical formation factor (F). NMR parameters are, similarly, better correlated with Spor than Λ. We implement previously proposed mechanistic and empirical permeability models using SIP and NMR parameters. A sandstone-calibrated SIP model using a polarization magnitude does not perform well while a SIP model using a mean relaxation time performs better in part by more sufficiently accounting for the effects of fluid chemistry. A sandstone-calibrated NMR permeability model using an average measure of the relaxation time does not perform well, presumably due to small pore sizes which are either not connected or contain water of limited mobility. An NMR model based on the laboratory determined portions of the bound versus mobile portions of the relaxation distribution performed reasonably well. While limitations exist, there are many opportunities to use geophysical data to predict permeability in mudstone formations.

New insights into the hydrostratigraphy of the High Plains aquifer from three-dimensional visualizations based on well records

USGS Publications Warehouse

Macfarlane, P.A.

2009-01-01

Regional aquifers in thick sequences of continentally derived heterolithic deposits, such as the High Plains of the North American Great Plains, are difficult to characterize hydrostratigraphically because of their framework complexity and the lack of high-quality subsurface information from drill cores and geophysical logs. However, using a database of carefully evaluated drillers' and sample logs and commercially available visualization software, it is possible to qualitatively characterize these complex frameworks based on the concept of relative permeability. Relative permeability is the permeable fraction of a deposit expressed as a percentage of its total thickness. In this methodology, uncemented coarse and fine sediments are arbitrarily set at relative permeabilities of 100% and 0%, respectively, with allowances made for log entries containing descriptions of mixed lithologies, heterolithic strata, and cementation. To better understand the arrangement of high- and low-permeability domains within the High Plains aquifer, a pilot study was undertaken in southwest Kansas to create three-dimensional visualizations of relative permeability using a database of >3000 logs. Aggregate relative permeability ranges up to 99% with a mean of 51%. Laterally traceable, thick domains of >80% relative permeability embedded within a lower relative permeability matrix strongly suggest that preferred pathways for lateral and vertical water transmission exist within the aquifer. Similarly, domains with relative permeabilities of <45% are traceable laterally over appreciable distances in the sub-surface and probably act as leaky confining layers. This study shows that the aquifer does not consist solely of local, randomly distributed, hydrostratigraphic units, as suggested by previous studies. ?? 2009 Geological Society of America.

Platelet activating factor induces transient blood-brain barrier opening to facilitate edaravone penetration into the brain.

PubMed

Fang, Weirong; Zhang, Rui; Sha, Lan; Lv, Peng; Shang, Erxin; Han, Dan; Wei, Jie; Geng, Xiaohan; Yang, Qichuan; Li, Yunman

2014-03-01

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) greatly limits the efficacy of many neuroprotective drugs' delivery to the brain, so improving drug penetration through the BBB has been an important focus of research. Here we report that platelet activating factor (PAF) transiently opened BBB and facilitated neuroprotectant edaravone penetration into the brain. Intravenous infusion with PAF induced a transient BBB opening in rats, reflected by increased Evans blue leakage and mild edema formation, which ceased within 6 h. Furthermore, rat regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) declined acutely during PAF infusion, but recovered slowly. More importantly, this transient BBB opening significantly increased the penetration of edaravone into the brain, evidenced by increased edaravone concentrations in tissue interstitial fluid collected by microdialysis and analyzed by Ultra-performance liquid chromatograph combined with a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS). Similarly, incubation of rat brain microvessel endothelial cells monolayer with 1 μM PAF for 1 h significantly increased monolayer permeability to (125)I-albumin, which recovered 1 h after PAF elimination. However, PAF incubation with rat brain microvessel endothelial cells for 1 h did not cause detectable cytotoxicity, and did not regulate intercellular adhesion molecule-1, matrix-metalloproteinase-9 and P-glycoprotein expression. In conclusion, PAF could induce transient and reversible BBB opening through abrupt rCBF decline, which significantly improved edaravone penetration into the brain. Platelet activating factor (PAF) transiently induces BBB dysfunction and increases BBB permeability, which may be due to vessel contraction and a temporary decline of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) triggered by PAF. More importantly, the PAF induced transient BBB opening facilitates neuroprotectant edaravone penetration into brain. The results of this study may provide a new approach to improve drug delivery into the brain. © 2013 International Society for Neurochemistry.

Effects of Levetiracetam, Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Valproate, Lamotrigine, Oxcarbazepine, Topiramate, Vinpocetine and Sertraline on Presynaptic Hippocampal Na(+) and Ca(2+) Channels Permeability.

PubMed

Sitges, María; Chiu, Luz María; Reed, Ronald C

2016-04-01

Ion channels are targets of various antiepileptic drugs. In cerebral presynaptic nerve endings Na(+) and Ca(2+) channels are particularly abundant, as they control neurotransmitter release, including the release of glutamate (Glu), the most concentrated excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter in the brain. Several pre-synaptic channels are implicated in the mechanism of action of the pro-convulsive agent, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). In the present study the effects of levetiracetam and other established and newer (vinpocetine) anti-epileptic drugs, as well as of the anti-depressant, sertraline on the increase in Ca(2+) induced by 4-AP in hippocampal isolated nerve endings were investigated. Also the effects of some of the anti-seizure drugs on the selective increase in Ca(2+) induced by high K(+), or on the selective increase in Na(+) induced by veratridine were tested. Sertraline and vinpocetine effectively inhibited the rise in Ca(2+) induced by 4-AP, which was dependent on the out-in Na(+) gradient and tetrodotoxin sensitive. Carbamazepine, phenytoin, lamotrigine and oxcarbazepine inhibited the rise in Ca(2+) induced by 4-AP too, but at higher concentrations than sertraline and vinpocetine, whereas levetiracetam, valproic acid and topiramate did not. The three latter antiepileptic drugs also failed in modifying other responses mediated by the activation of brain presynaptic Na(+) or Ca(2+) channels, including Glu release. This indicates that levetiracetam, valproic acid and topiramate mechanisms of action are unrelated with a decrease in presynaptic Na(+) or Ca(2+) channels permeability. It is concluded that depolarized cerebral isolated nerve endings represent a useful tool to unmask potential antiepileptic drugs targeting presynaptic Na(+) and/or Ca(2+) channels in the brain; such as vinpocetine or the anti-depressant sertraline, which high effectiveness to control seizures in the animal in vivo has been demonstrated.

The anti-seizure drugs vinpocetine and carbamazepine, but not valproic acid, reduce inflammatory IL-1β and TNF-α expression in rat hippocampus.

PubMed

Gómez, Carlos D; Buijs, Rudolf M; Sitges, María

2014-09-01

In the present study, the effects of the two classical anti-epileptic drugs, carbamazepine and valproic acid, and the non-classical anti-seizure drug vinpocetine were investigated on the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus of rats by PCR or western blot after the administration of one or seven doses. Next, the effects of the anti-seizure drugs were investigated on the rise in cytokine expression induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) inoculation in vivo. To validate our methods, the changes induced by the pro-convulsive agents 4-aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole and pilocarpine were also tested. Finally, the effect of the anti-seizure drugs on seizures and on the concomitant rise in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression induced by 4-aminopyridine was explored. Results show that vinpocetine and carbamazepine reduced the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α from basal conditions, and the increase in both pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS. In contrast, valproic acid failed to reduce both the expression of the cytokines from basal conditions and the rise in IL-1β and TNF-α expression induced by LPS. Tonic-clonic seizures induced either by 4-aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole or pilocarpine increased the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α markedly. 4-aminopyridine-induced changes were reduced by all the tested anti-seizure drugs, although valproic acid was less effective. We conclude that the anti-seizure drugs, vinpocetine and carbamazepine, whose mechanisms of action involve a decrease in ion channels permeability, also reduce cerebral inflammation. The mechanism of action of anti-seizure drugs like vinpocetine and carbamazepine involves a decrease in Na(+) channels permeability. We here propose that this mechanism of action also involves a decrease in cerebral inflammation. © 2014 International Society for Neurochemistry.

Feasibility of Using Bevacizumab With Radiation Therapy and Temozolomide in Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Glioma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Narayana, Ashwatha; Golfinos, John G.; Fischer, Ingeborg

2008-10-01

Introduction: Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has shown promise in the treatment of patients with recurrent high-grade glioma. The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of using bevacizumab with chemoradiation in the primary management of high-grade glioma. Methods and Materials: Fifteen patients with high-grade glioma were treated with involved field radiation therapy to a dose of 59.4 Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction with bevacizumab 10 mg/kg on Days 14 and 28 and temozolomide 75 mg/m{sup 2}. Subsequently, bevacizumab 10 mg/kg was continued every 2 weeks with temozolomide 150 mg/m{sup 2} for 12 months.more » Changes in relative cerebral blood volume, perfusion-permeability index, and tumor volume measurement were measured to assess the therapeutic response. Immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated VEGF receptor 2 (pVEGFR2) was performed. Results: Thirteen patients (86.6%) completed the planned bevacizumab and chemoradiation therapy. Four Grade III/IV nonhematologic toxicities were seen. Radiographic responses were noted in 13 of 14 assessable patients (92.8%). The pVEGFR2 staining was seen in 7 of 8 patients (87.5%) at the time of initial diagnosis. Six patients have experienced relapse, 3 at the primary site and 3 as diffuse disease. One patient showed loss of pVEGFR2 expression at relapse. One-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 59.3% and 86.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Use of antiangiogenic therapy with radiation and temozolomide in the primary management of high-grade glioma is feasible. Perfusion imaging with relative cerebral blood volume, perfusion-permeability index, and pVEGFR2 expression may be used as a potential predictor of therapeutic response. Toxicities and patterns of relapse need to be monitored closely.« less

Numerical analysis of the impact of permeability on trailing-edge noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koh, Seong Ryong; Meinke, Matthias; Schröder, Wolfgang

2018-05-01

The impact of porous surfaces on the near-wall turbulent structures and the generated trailing-edge noise is analyzed for several trailing-edge shapes of finite thickness using a high resolution large-eddy simulation (LES)/computational aeroacoustics (CAA) method. The porous surface of the trailing edge is defined by the porosity and the viscous permeability determined by the solution of a turbulent flat plate boundary layer at a Reynolds number 1280 based on the displacement thickness in the inflow cross section. The volume-averaged approach for the homogeneous porous medium shows that the porous impedance scales linearly with the porosity and exponentially with the mean structure size of a porous medium. The drag induced by the porous surface changes the friction velocity and the permeability Reynolds number ReK which determines the porous impedance Rs scaled by ReK-2/3. The trailing-edge noise is analyzed for three solid and three porous trailing edges. The effect of a finite span is investigated by the spanwise correlation model based on the measured coherence distribution. The acoustic prediction shows a good agreement with measurements of the broadband spectrum and the strong tone generated by a finite trailing-edge thickness. The pressure gradient inside the porous media is redistributed by the Darcy drag defined by the viscous permeability and the porosity. The mean pressure increases in the upstream direction inside the porous medium such that the flow acceleration involved in the acoustic generation is reduced inside the porous medium. The noise reduction by a porous medium reaches 11 dB for the trailing-edge shape which possesses a sharp corner for the solid surface. The porous surface applied to a semi-circular trailing edge achieves a 4 dB noise reduction. The directivity pattern for individual components of the acoustic spectrum shows that the massive noise reduction is determined at the tone. Enhanced wave diffraction by the thick flat plate changes the directivity pattern in the high frequency range.

Cracks in the palisade cuticle of soybean seed coats correlate with their permeability to water.

PubMed

Ma, Fengshan; Cholewa, Ewa; Mohamed, Tasneem; Peterson, Carol A; Gijzen, Mark

2004-08-01

Soybean (Glycine max) is among the many legumes that are well known for 'hardseededness'. This feature can be beneficial for long-term seed survival, but is undesirable for the food processing industry. There is substantial disagreement concerning the mechanisms and related structures that control the permeability properties of soybean seed coats. In this work, the structural component that controls water entry into the seed is identified. Six soybean cultivars were tested for their seed coat permeabilities to water. To identify the structural feature(s) that may contribute to the determination of these permeabilities, fluorescent tracer dyes, and light and electron microscopic techniques were used. The cultivar 'Tachanagaha' has the most permeable seed coat, 'OX 951' the least permeable seed coat, and the permeabilities of the rest ('Harovinton', 'Williams', 'Clark L 67-3469', and 'Harosoy 63') are intermediate. All seeds have surface deposits, depressions, a light line, and a cuticle about 0.2 microm thick overlaying the palisade layer. In permeable cultivars the cuticle tends to break, whereas in impermeable seeds of 'OX 951' it remains intact. In the case of permeable seed coats, the majority of the cracks are from 1 to 5 micro m wide and from 20 to 200 micro m long, and occur more frequently on the dorsal side than in other regions of the seed coat, a position that correlates with the site of initial water uptake. The cuticle of the palisade layer is the key factor that determines the permeability property of a soybean seed coat. The cuticle of a permeable seed coat is mechanically weak and develops small cracks through which water can pass. The cuticle of an impermeable seed coat is mechanically strong and does not crack under normal circumstances.

Numerical simulation of the free surface and water inflow of a slope, considering the nonlinear flow properties of gravel layers: a case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Bin; Yang, Tianhong; Xu, Zenghe; Liu, Honglei; Shi, Wenhao; Yang, Xin

2018-02-01

Groundwater is an important factor of slope stability, and 90% of slope failures are related to the influence of groundwater. In the past, free surface calculations and the prediction of water inflow were based on Darcy's law. However, Darcy's law for steady fluid flow is a special case of non-Darcy flow, and many types of non-Darcy flows occur in practical engineering applications. In this paper, based on the experimental results of laboratory water seepage tests, the seepage state of each soil layer in the open-pit slope of the Yanshan Iron Mine, China, were determined, and the seepage parameters were obtained. The seepage behaviour in the silt layer, fine sand layer, silty clay layer and gravelly clay layer followed the traditional Darcy law, while the gravel layers showed clear nonlinear characteristics. The permeability increases exponentially and the non-Darcy coefficient decreases exponentially with an increase in porosity, and the relation among the permeability, the porosity and the non-Darcy coefficient is investigated. A coupled mathematical model is established for two flow fields, on the basis of Darcy flow in the low-permeability layers and Forchheimer flow in the high-permeability layers. In addition, the effect of the seepage in the slope on the transition from Darcy flow to Forchheimer flow was considered. Then, a numerical simulation was conducted by using finite-element software (FELAC 2.2). The results indicate that the free surface calculated by the Darcy-Forchheimer model is in good agreement with the in situ measurements; however, there is an evident deviation of the simulation results from the measured data when the Darcy model is used. Through a parameter sensitivity analysis of the gravel layers, it can be found that the height of the overflow point and the water inflow calculated by the Darcy-Forchheimer model are consistently less than those of the Darcy model, and the discrepancy between these two models increases as the permeability increases. The necessity of adopting the Darcy-Forchheimer model was explained. The Darcy-Forchheimer model would be applicable in slope engineering applications with highly permeable rock.

Numerical simulation of the free surface and water inflow of a slope, considering the nonlinear flow properties of gravel layers: a case study.

PubMed

Yang, Bin; Yang, Tianhong; Xu, Zenghe; Liu, Honglei; Shi, Wenhao; Yang, Xin

2018-02-01

Groundwater is an important factor of slope stability, and 90% of slope failures are related to the influence of groundwater. In the past, free surface calculations and the prediction of water inflow were based on Darcy's law. However, Darcy's law for steady fluid flow is a special case of non-Darcy flow, and many types of non-Darcy flows occur in practical engineering applications. In this paper, based on the experimental results of laboratory water seepage tests, the seepage state of each soil layer in the open-pit slope of the Yanshan Iron Mine, China, were determined, and the seepage parameters were obtained. The seepage behaviour in the silt layer, fine sand layer, silty clay layer and gravelly clay layer followed the traditional Darcy law, while the gravel layers showed clear nonlinear characteristics. The permeability increases exponentially and the non-Darcy coefficient decreases exponentially with an increase in porosity, and the relation among the permeability, the porosity and the non-Darcy coefficient is investigated. A coupled mathematical model is established for two flow fields, on the basis of Darcy flow in the low-permeability layers and Forchheimer flow in the high-permeability layers. In addition, the effect of the seepage in the slope on the transition from Darcy flow to Forchheimer flow was considered. Then, a numerical simulation was conducted by using finite-element software (FELAC 2.2). The results indicate that the free surface calculated by the Darcy-Forchheimer model is in good agreement with the in situ measurements; however, there is an evident deviation of the simulation results from the measured data when the Darcy model is used. Through a parameter sensitivity analysis of the gravel layers, it can be found that the height of the overflow point and the water inflow calculated by the Darcy-Forchheimer model are consistently less than those of the Darcy model, and the discrepancy between these two models increases as the permeability increases. The necessity of adopting the Darcy-Forchheimer model was explained. The Darcy-Forchheimer model would be applicable in slope engineering applications with highly permeable rock.

Numerical simulation of the free surface and water inflow of a slope, considering the nonlinear flow properties of gravel layers: a case study

PubMed Central

Yang, Bin; Xu, Zenghe; Liu, Honglei; Shi, Wenhao; Yang, Xin

2018-01-01

Groundwater is an important factor of slope stability, and 90% of slope failures are related to the influence of groundwater. In the past, free surface calculations and the prediction of water inflow were based on Darcy's law. However, Darcy's law for steady fluid flow is a special case of non-Darcy flow, and many types of non-Darcy flows occur in practical engineering applications. In this paper, based on the experimental results of laboratory water seepage tests, the seepage state of each soil layer in the open-pit slope of the Yanshan Iron Mine, China, were determined, and the seepage parameters were obtained. The seepage behaviour in the silt layer, fine sand layer, silty clay layer and gravelly clay layer followed the traditional Darcy law, while the gravel layers showed clear nonlinear characteristics. The permeability increases exponentially and the non-Darcy coefficient decreases exponentially with an increase in porosity, and the relation among the permeability, the porosity and the non-Darcy coefficient is investigated. A coupled mathematical model is established for two flow fields, on the basis of Darcy flow in the low-permeability layers and Forchheimer flow in the high-permeability layers. In addition, the effect of the seepage in the slope on the transition from Darcy flow to Forchheimer flow was considered. Then, a numerical simulation was conducted by using finite-element software (FELAC 2.2). The results indicate that the free surface calculated by the Darcy–Forchheimer model is in good agreement with the in situ measurements; however, there is an evident deviation of the simulation results from the measured data when the Darcy model is used. Through a parameter sensitivity analysis of the gravel layers, it can be found that the height of the overflow point and the water inflow calculated by the Darcy–Forchheimer model are consistently less than those of the Darcy model, and the discrepancy between these two models increases as the permeability increases. The necessity of adopting the Darcy–Forchheimer model was explained. The Darcy–Forchheimer model would be applicable in slope engineering applications with highly permeable rock. PMID:29515904

An allometric scaling relationship in the brain of preterm infants

PubMed Central

Paul, Rachel A; Smyser, Christopher D; Rogers, Cynthia E; English, Ian; Wallendorf, Michael; Alexopoulos, Dimitrios; Meyer, Erin J; Van Essen, David C; Neil, Jeffrey J; Inder, Terrie E

2014-01-01

Allometry has been used to demonstrate a power–law scaling relationship in the brain of premature born infants. Forty-nine preterm infants underwent neonatal MRI scans and neurodevelopmental testing at age 2. Measures of cortical surface area and total cerebral volume demonstrated a power–law scaling relationship (α = 1.27). No associations were identified between these measures and investigated clinical variables. Term equivalent cortical surface area and total cerebral volume measures and scaling exponents were not related to outcome. These findings confirm a previously reported allometric scaling relationship in the preterm brain, and suggest that scaling is not a sensitive indicator of aberrant cortical maturation. PMID:25540808

Effect of oxide films on hydrogen permeability of candidate Stirling heater head tube alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schuon, S R; Misencik, J A

1981-01-01

High pressure hydrogen has been selected as the working fluid for the developmental automotive Stirling engine. Containment of the working fluid during operation of the engine at high temperatures and at high hydrogen gas pressures is essential for the acceptance of the Stirling engine as an alternative to the internal combustion engine. Most commercial alloys are extremely permeable to pure hydrogen at high temperatures. A program was undertaken at NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) to reduce hydrogen permeability in the Stirling engine heater head tubes by doping the hydrogen working fluid with CO or CO/sub 2/. Small additions of thesemore » gases were shown to form an oxide on the inside tube wall and thus reduce hydrogen permeability. A study of the effects of dopant concentration, alloy composition, and effects of surface oxides on hydrogen permeability in candidate heater head tube alloys is summarized. Results showed that hydrogen permeability was similar for iron-base alloys (N-155, A286, IN800, 19-9DL, and Nitronic 40), cobalt-base alloys (HS-188) and nickel-base alloys (IN718). In general, the permeability of the alloys decreased with increasing concentration of CO or CO/sub 2/ dopant, with increasing oxide thickness, and decreasing oxide porosity. At high levels of dopants, highly permeable liquid oxides formed on those alloys with greater than 50% Fe content. Furthermore, highly reactive minor alloying elements (Ti, Al, Nb, and La) had a strong influence on reducing hydrogen permeability.« less

Improved permeability of acyclovir: optimization of mucoadhesive liposomes using the phospholipid vesicle-based permeation assay.

PubMed

Naderkhani, Elenaz; Erber, Astrid; Škalko-Basnet, Nataša; Flaten, Gøril Eide

2014-02-01

The antiviral drug acyclovir (ACV) suffers from poor solubility both in lipophilic and hydrophilic environment, leading to low and highly variable bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, this study aimed at designing mucoadhesive ACV-containing liposomes to improve its permeability. Liposomes were prepared from egg phosphatidylcholine (E-PC) and E-PC/egg phosphatidylglycerol (E-PC/E-PG) and their surfaces coated with Carbopol. All liposomal formulations were fully characterized and for the first time the phospholipid vesicle-based permeation assay (PVPA) was used for testing in vitro permeability of drug from mucoadhesive liposome formulations. The negatively charged E-PC/E-PG liposomes could encapsulate more ACV than neutral E-PC liposomes. Coating with Carbopol increased the entrapment in the neutral E-PC liposomes. The incorporation of ACV into liposomes exhibited significant increase in its in vitro permeability, compared with its aqueous solution. The neutral E-PC liposomal formulations exhibited higher ACV permeability values compared with charged E-PC/E-PG formulations. Coating with Carbopol significantly enhanced the permeability from the E-PC/E-PG liposomes, as well as sonicated E-PC liposomes, which showed the highest permeability of all tested formulations. The increased permeability was according to the formulations' mucoadhesive properties. This indicates that the PVPA is suitable to distinguish between permeability of ACV from different mucoadhesive liposome formulations developed for various routes of administration. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

Composites of ionic liquid and amine-modified SAPO 34 improve CO2 separation of CO2-selective polymer membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Leiqing; Cheng, Jun; Li, Yannan; Liu, Jianzhong; Zhang, Li; Zhou, Junhu; Cen, Kefa

2017-07-01

Mixed matrix membranes with ionic liquids and molecular sieve particles had high CO2 permeabilities, but CO2 separation from small gas molecules such as H2 was dissatisfied because of bad interfacial interaction between ionic liquid and molecular sieve particles. To solve that, amine groups were introduced to modify surface of molecular sieve particles before loading with ionic liquid. SAPO 34 was adopted as the original filler, and four mixed matrix membranes with different fillers were prepared on the outer surface of ceramic hollow fibers. Both surface voids and hard agglomerations disappeared, and the surface became smooth after SAPO 34 was modified by amine groups and ionic liquid [P66614][2-Op]. Mixed matrix membranes with composites of amine-modified SAPO 34 and ionic liquid exhibited excellent CO2 permeability (408.9 Barrers) and CO2/H2 selectivity (22.1).

Limitations of the permeability-limited compartment model in estimating vascular permeability and interstitial volume fraction in DCE-MRI.

PubMed

Carreira, Guido Correia; Gemeinhardt, Ole; Gorenflo, Rudolf; Beyersdorff, Dirk; Franiel, Tobias; Plendl, Johanna; Lüdemann, Lutz

2011-06-01

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging commonly uses compartment models to estimate tissue parameters in general and perfusion parameters in particular. Compartment models assume a homogeneous distribution of the injected tracer throughout the compartment volume. Since tracer distribution within a compartment cannot be assessed, the parameters obtained by means of a compartment model might differ from the actual physical values. This work systematically examines the widely used permeability-surface-limited one-compartment model to determine the reliability of the parameters obtained by comparing them with their actual values. A computer simulation was used to model spatial tracer distribution within the interstitial volume using diffusion of contrast agent in tissue. Vascular parameters were varied as well as tissue parameters. The vascular parameters used were capillary radius (4 and 12 μm), capillary permeability (from 0.03 to 3.3 μm/s) and intercapillary distances from 30 to 300 μm. The tissue parameters used were tortuosity (λ), porosity (α) and interstitial volume fraction (v(e)). Our results suggest that the permeability-surface-limited compartment model generally underestimates capillary permeability for capillaries with a radius of 4 μm by factors from ≈0.03 for α=0.04, to ≈ 0.1 for α=0.2, to ≈ 0.5 for α=1.0. An overestimation of actual capillary permeability for capillaries with a radius of 12 μm by a factor of ≥1.3 was found for α=1.0, while α=0.2 yielded an underestimation by a factor of ≈0.3 and α=0.04 by a factor of ≈ 0.03. The interstitial volume fraction, v(e), obtained by the compartment model differed with increasing intercapillary distances and for low vessel permeability, whereas v(e) was found to be estimated approximately accurately for P=0.3 μm/s and P=3.3 μm/s for vessel distances <100 μm. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Maintenance measures for preservation and recovery of permeable pavement surface infiltration rate--The effects of street sweeping, vacuum cleaning, high pressure washing, and milling.

PubMed

Winston, Ryan J; Al-Rubaei, Ahmed M; Blecken, Godecke T; Viklander, Maria; Hunt, William F

2016-03-15

The surface infiltration rates (SIR) of permeable pavements decline with time as sediment and debris clog pore spaces. Effective maintenance techniques are needed to ensure the hydraulic functionality and water quality benefits of this stormwater control. Eight different small-scale and full-scale maintenance techniques aimed at recovering pavement permeability were evaluated at ten different permeable pavement sites in the USA and Sweden. Maintenance techniques included manual removal of the upper 2 cm of fill material, mechanical street sweeping, regenerative-air street sweeping, vacuum street sweeping, hand-held vacuuming, high pressure washing, and milling of porous asphalt. The removal of the upper 2 cm of clogging material did not significantly improve the SIR of concrete grid paves (CGP) and permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP) due to the inclusion of fines in the joint and bedding stone during construction, suggesting routine maintenance cannot overcome improper construction. For porous asphalt maintenance, industrial hand-held vacuum cleaning, pressure washing, and milling were increasingly successful at recovering the SIR. Milling to a depth of 2.5 cm nearly restored the SIR for a 21-year old porous asphalt pavement to like-new conditions. For PICP, street sweepers employing suction were shown to be preferable to mechanical sweepers; additionally, maintenance efforts may become more intensive over time to maintain a threshold SIR, as maintenance was not 100% effective at removing clogging material. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Encapsulated proppants

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aines, Roger D.; Bourcier, William L.; Duoss, Eric B.

2018-01-30

A capsule for carrying a proppant for emplaced in a formation containing formation fluid by a hydraulic fracture operation using a fracturing fluid. The capsule includes a capsule body. The capsule body includes a proppant. There is a surface layer on the capsule body that is permeable to the formation fluid or the fracturing fluid or is permeable to both the formation fluid and the fracturing fluid. The proppant material is dry cement that interacts with the formation fluid or the fracturing fluid or both the formation fluid and the fracturing fluid that migrate through the surface layer and ismore » taken up by the dry cement causing the dry cement to harden.« less

Surface nano-structure of polyamide 6 film by hydrothermal treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiaosong; Wang, Zhiliang; Liang, Songmiao; Jin, Yan; Lotz, Bernard; Yang, Shuguang

2018-06-01

Polyamide 6 (PA 6) melts and dissolves in super-heated water when T > 160 °C. Commercial PA 6 films were treated in super-heated water at 140 °C < T < 160 °C, i.e. below melting. Morphology, thermal behavior, mechanical properties, oxygen permeability and transparency of the film before and after hydrothermal treatment are investigated. After hydrothermal treatment, the melting temperature, crystallinity, elongation at break and toughness increase, whereas the strength decreases. The transparency and oxygen permeability decrease slightly. More interestingly, the hydrothermal treatment generates on the film surface a nano-structured layer 100 nm thick, which greatly improves adhesion and printing performance.

Encapsulated proppants

DOEpatents

Aines, Roger D.; Bourcier, William L.; Duoss, Eric B.; Roberts, Jeffery James; Spadaccini, Christopher M.; Stolaroff, Joshuah K.

2018-01-09

A capsule for carrying a proppant for emplaced in a formation containing formation fluid by a hydraulic fracture operation using a fracturing fluid. The capsule includes a capsule body. The capsule body includes a proppant. There is a surface layer on the capsule body that is permeable to the formation fluid or the fracturing fluid or is permeable to both the formation fluid and the fracturing fluid. The proppant material is dry cement that interacts with the formation fluid or the fracturing fluid or both the formation fluid and the fracturing fluid that migrate through the surface layer and is taken up by the dry cement causing the dry cement to harden.

Bladder surface glycosaminoglycans is a human epithelial permeability barrier.

PubMed

Lilly, J D; Parsons, C L

1990-12-01

Transitional epithelium of the bladder has been known to be impermeable. The data reported herein suggest the principal barrier to permeability may be glycosaminoglycans (GAG) of the surface of the bladder. We examined the ability of surface GAG to prevent a small molecule, urea, from moving across the epithelium in humans. It appears that GAG provide a physical barrier which prevents small molecules from reaching the underlying tight junctions and cell membranes and, hence, are a major permeability barrier. Normal volunteers (27) had 100 milliliters of a 200 grams per liter urea solution placed into their bladders for 45 minutes. Net flow of urea from the bladder lumen was 5.1 per cent. Volunteers who were capable of completing the study (19) had protamine sulfate (5 milligrams per milliliter) instilled in the bladder for 15 minutes, then removed and a second urea study done. Urea loss was significantly higher at 22 per cent (p less than 0.02). A solution of heparin (2,000 units per milliliter) was instilled for 15 minutes followed by a third urea study and urea loss was reversed to 9 per cent. All volunteers experienced significant urinary urgency and discomfort after protamine treatment which were reduced by heparin.

Permeability and kinetic coefficients for mesoscale BCF surface step dynamics: Discrete two-dimensional deposition-diffusion equation analysis

DOE PAGES

Zhao, Renjie; Evans, James W.; Oliveira, Tiago J.

2016-04-08

Here, a discrete version of deposition-diffusion equations appropriate for description of step flow on a vicinal surface is analyzed for a two-dimensional grid of adsorption sites representing the stepped surface and explicitly incorporating kinks along the step edges. Model energetics and kinetics appropriately account for binding of adatoms at steps and kinks, distinct terrace and edge diffusion rates, and possible additional barriers for attachment to steps. Analysis of adatom attachment fluxes as well as limiting values of adatom densities at step edges for nonuniform deposition scenarios allows determination of both permeability and kinetic coefficients. Behavior of these quantities is assessedmore » as a function of key system parameters including kink density, step attachment barriers, and the step edge diffusion rate.« less

Permeability and kinetic coefficients for mesoscale BCF surface step dynamics: Discrete two-dimensional deposition-diffusion equation analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Renjie; Evans, James W.; Oliveira, Tiago J.

Here, a discrete version of deposition-diffusion equations appropriate for description of step flow on a vicinal surface is analyzed for a two-dimensional grid of adsorption sites representing the stepped surface and explicitly incorporating kinks along the step edges. Model energetics and kinetics appropriately account for binding of adatoms at steps and kinks, distinct terrace and edge diffusion rates, and possible additional barriers for attachment to steps. Analysis of adatom attachment fluxes as well as limiting values of adatom densities at step edges for nonuniform deposition scenarios allows determination of both permeability and kinetic coefficients. Behavior of these quantities is assessedmore » as a function of key system parameters including kink density, step attachment barriers, and the step edge diffusion rate.« less

A poroelastic finite element model of the bone-cartilage unit to determine the effects of changes in permeability with osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Stender, Michael E; Regueiro, Richard A; Ferguson, Virginia L

2017-02-01

The changes experienced in synovial joints with osteoarthritis involve coupled chemical, biological, and mechanical processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of increasing permeability in articular cartilage (AC), calcified cartilage (CC), subchondral cortical bone (SCB), and subchondral trabecular bone (STB) as observed with osteoarthritis. Two poroelastic finite element models were developed using a depth-dependent anisotropic model of AC with strain-dependent permeability and poroelastic models of calcified tissues (CC, SCB, and STB). The first model simulated a bone-cartilage unit (BCU) in uniaxial unconfined compression, while the second model simulated spherical indentation of the AC surface. Results indicate that the permeability of AC is the primary determinant of the BCU's poromechanical response while the permeability of calcified tissues exerts no appreciable effect on the force-indentation response of the BCU. In spherical indentation simulations with osteoarthritic permeability properties, fluid velocities were larger in magnitude and distributed over a smaller area compared to normal tissues. In vivo, this phenomenon would likely lead to chondrocyte death, tissue remodeling, alterations in joint lubrication, and the progression of osteoarthritis. For osteoarthritic and normal tissue permeability values, fluid flow was predicted to occur across the osteochondral interface. These results help elucidate the consequences of increases in the permeability of the BCU that occur with osteoarthritis. Furthermore, this study may guide future treatments to counteract osteoarthritis.

Permeability Evolution With Shearing of Simulated Faults in Unconventional Shale Reservoirs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, W.; Gensterblum, Y.; Reece, J. S.; Zoback, M. D.

2016-12-01

Horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing can lead to fault reactivation, a process thought to influence production from extremely low-permeability unconventional reservoir. A fundamental understanding of permeability changes with shear could be helpful for optimizing reservoir stimulation strategies. We examined the effects of confining pressure and frictional sliding on fault permeability in Eagle Ford shale samples. We performed shear-flow experiments in a triaxial apparatus on four shale samples: (1) clay-rich sample with sawcut fault, (2) calcite-rich sample with sawcut fault, (3) clay-rich sample with natural fault, and (4) calcite-rich sample with natural fault. We used pressure pulse-decay and steady-state flow techniques to measure fault permeability. Initial pore and confining pressures are set to 2.5 MPa and 5.0 MPa, respectively. To investigate the influence of confining pressure on fault permeability, we incrementally raised and lowered the confining pressure and measure permeability at different effective stresses. To examine the effect of frictional sliding on fault permeability, we slide the samples four times at a constant shear displacement rate of 0.043 mm/min for 10 minutes each and measure fault permeability before and after frictional sliding. We used a 3D Laser Scanner to image fault surface topography before and after the experiment. Our results show that frictional sliding can enhance fault permeability at low confining pressures (e.g., ≥5.0 MPa) and reduce fault permeability at high confining pressures (e.g., ≥7.5 MPa). The permeability of sawcut faults almost fully recovers when confining pressure returns to the initial value, and increases with sliding due to asperity damage and subsequent dilation at low confining pressures. In contrast, the permeability of natural faults does not fully recover. It initially increases with sliding, but then decreases with further sliding most likely due to fault gouge blocking fluid pathways.

Contribution of thermal infrared images on the understanding of the subsurface/atmosphere exchanges on Earth.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez, Teodolina; Antoine, Raphaël; Baratoux, David; Rabinowicz, Michel

2017-04-01

High temporal resolution of space-based thermal infrared images (METEOSAT, MODIS) and the development of field thermal cameras have permitted the development of thermal remote sensing in Earth Sciences. Thermal images are influenced by many factors such as atmosphere, solar radiation, topography and physico-chemical properties of the surface. However, considering these limitations, we have discovered that thermal images can be used in order to better understand subsurface hydrology. In order to reduce as much as possible the impact of these perturbing factors, our approach combine 1) field observations and 2) numerical modelling of surface/subsurface thermal processes. Thermal images of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano (Réunion Island), acquired by hand, show that the Formica Leo inactive scoria cone and some fractures close to the Bory-Dolomieu caldera are always warmer, inducing a thermal difference with the surrounding of at least 5°C and a Self-Potential anomaly [1, 2]. Topography cannot explain this thermal behaviour, but Piton de la Fournaise is known as highly permeable. This fact allows the development of an air convection within the whole permeable structure volcanic edifice [2]. Cold air enters the base of the volcano, and exits warmer upslope, as the air is warmed by the geothermal flow [1,2]. Then, we have decided to understand the interaction between subsurface hydrogeological flows and the humidity in the atmosphere. In the Lake Chad basin, regions on both sides of Lake Chad present a different thermal behaviour during the diurnal cycle and between seasons [3]. We propose that this thermal behaviour can only be explained by lateral variations of the surface permeability that directly impact the process of evaporation/condensation cycle. These studies bring new highlights on the understanding of the exchanges between subsurface and the atmosphere, as the presence of a very permeable media and/or variations of the surface permeability may enhance or not the evaporation/condensation cycle. [1] Antoine et al. (2009). J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 183(3-4), 228-1140. [2] Antoine et al. (2017). Geothermics, 65, 81-98. [3] Lopez et al. (2016). Surv. Geophys., 37 (2), 471-502.

Stereochemistry Balances Cell Permeability and Solubility in the Naturally Derived Phepropeptin Cyclic Peptides.

PubMed

Schwochert, Joshua; Lao, Yongtong; Pye, Cameron R; Naylor, Matthew R; Desai, Prashant V; Gonzalez Valcarcel, Isabel C; Barrett, Jaclyn A; Sawada, Geri; Blanco, Maria-Jesus; Lokey, R Scott

2016-08-11

Cyclic peptide (CP) natural products provide useful model systems for mapping "beyond-Rule-of-5" (bRo5) space. We identified the phepropeptins as natural product CPs with potential cell permeability. Synthesis of the phepropeptins and epimeric analogues revealed much more rapid cellular permeability for the natural stereochemical pattern. Despite being more cell permeable, the natural compounds exhibited similar aqueous solubility as the corresponding epimers, a phenomenon explained by solvent-dependent conformational flexibility among the natural compounds. When analyzing the polarity of the solution structures we found that neither the number of hydrogen bonds nor the total polar surface area accurately represents the solvation energies of the high and low dielectric conformations. This work adds to a growing number of natural CPs whose solvent-dependent conformational behavior allows for a balance between aqueous solubility and cell permeability, highlighting structural flexibility as an important consideration in the design of molecules in bRo5 chemical space.

Iron abundance and magnetic permeability of the moon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parkin, C. W.; Daily, W. D.; Dyal, P.

1974-01-01

A set of simultaneous data from the Apollo 12 lunar surface magnetometer and the Explorer 35 Ames magnetometer are used to construct a whole-moon hysteresis curve, from which a new value of global lunar permeability is determined to be mu = 1.012 + or - 0.006. The corresponding global induced dipole moment is 2.1 x 10 to the 18th power gauss-cucm for typical inducing fields of .1000 gauss in the lunar environment. From the permeability measurement, lunar free iron abundance is determined to be 2.5 + or - 2.0 wt. %. Total iron abundance is calculated for two assumed compositional models of the lunar interior: a free iron/orthopyroxene lunar composition and a free iron/olivine composition. The overall lunar total iron abundance is determined to be 9.0 + or - 4.7 wt. %. Other lunar models with a small iron core and with a shallow iron-rich layer are discussed in light of the measured global permeability. Effects on permeability and iron content calculations due to a possible lunar ionosphere are also considered.

Stormwater infiltration and surface runoff pollution reduction performance of permeable pavement layers.

PubMed

Niu, Zhi-Guang; Lv, Zhi-Wei; Zhang, Ying; Cui, Zhen-Zhen

2016-02-01

In this paper, the laboratory-scale permeable pavement layers, including a surface permeable brick layer, coarse sand bedding layers (thicknesses = 2, 3.5, and 5 cm), and single-graded gravel sub-base layers (thicknesses = 15, 20, 25, and 30 cm), were built to evaluate stormwater infiltration and surface runoff pollution reduction performance. And, the infiltration rate (I) and concentrations of suspended solids (SS), total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen, and total nitrogen (TN) were measured under the simulated rainfall intensity of 72.4 mm/h over duration of 60 min. The results indicate that the thickness factor primarily influences the infiltration rate and pollutant removal rate. The highest steady infiltration rate was for surface brick layer 51.0 mm/h, for 5-cm sand bedding layer 32.3 mm/h, and for 30-cm gravel sub-base layer 42.3 mm/h, respectively. The SS average removal rate was relative higher (79.8 ∼ 98.6 %) for all layers due to the interception and filtration. The average removal rates of TP and COD were for surface layer 71.2 and 24.1 %, for 5-cm bedding layer 54.8 and 9.0 %, and for 20-cm sub-base layer 72.2 and 26.1 %. Ammonia nitrogen and TN cannot steadily be removed by layers according to the experiment results. The optimal thickness of bedding sands was 5 cm, and that of sub-base gravels was 20 ∼ 30 cm.

Respiratory strategy is a major determinant of [3H]water and [14C]chlorpyrifos uptake in aquatic insects

USGS Publications Warehouse

Buchwalter, D.B.; Jenkins, J.J.; Curtis, L.R.

2002-01-01

Despite the extensive use of aquatic insects to evaluate freshwater ecosystem health, little is known about the underlying factors that result in sensitivity differences between taxa. Organismal characteristics (respiratory strategy and body size) were used to explore the rates of [3H]H2O and [14)C]chlorpyrifos accumulation in aquatic insects. Ten aquatic insect taxa, including ephemeropteran, trichopteran, dipteran, hemipteran, and coleopteran species, were exposed to [14C]chlorpyrifos (240 ng??L-1) and [3H]H2O for up to 12 h. Because exchange epithelial surfaces on the)integument are permeable to water, [3H]H2O was used as a quantitative surrogate for exposed cellular surface area.) [14C]Chlorpyrifos uptake rates were highly correlated with water permeability in all 10 taxa tested and largely covaried with body size and respiratory strategy. Rates were highest among smaller organisms on a per-weight basis and in taxa with relatively large external cellular surfaces such as gills. Air-breathing taxa were significantly less permeable to both [3)HH20 and [14C)C]chlorpyrifos. A method for labeling exposed epithelial surfaces with a fluorescent dye was developed. This technique allowed discrimination between exchange epithelium and barrier tissue on the integument. Fluorescent dye distributions on the body surface provided a rapid method for estimating exposed epithelium consistent with [3H]H2O and [14)C]chlorpyrifos accumulation.

Analyzing and Modelling the Corrosion Behavior of Ni/Al2O3, Ni/SiC, Ni/ZrO2 and Ni/Graphene Nanocomposite Coatings

PubMed Central

Saeed, Adil; Braun, Wolfgang; Bajwa, Rizwan; Rafique, Saqib

2017-01-01

A study has been presented on the effects of intrinsic mechanical parameters, such as surface stress, surface elastic modulus, surface porosity, permeability and grain size on the corrosion failure of nanocomposite coatings. A set of mechano-electrochemical equations was developed by combining the popular Butler–Volmer and Duhem expressions to analyze the direct influence of mechanical parameters on the electrochemical reactions in nanocomposite coatings. Nanocomposite coatings of Ni with Al2O3, SiC, ZrO2 and Graphene nanoparticles were studied as examples. The predictions showed that the corrosion rate of the nanocoatings increased with increasing grain size due to increase in surface stress, surface porosity and permeability of nanocoatings. A detailed experimental study was performed in which the nanocomposite coatings were subjected to an accelerated corrosion testing. The experimental results helped to develop and validate the equations by qualitative comparison between the experimental and predicted results showing good agreement between the two. PMID:29068395

Effective pressure law for permeability of E-bei sandstones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, M.; Bernabé, Y.; Xiao, W.-I.; Chen, Z.-Y.; Liu, Z.-Q.

2009-07-01

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effective pressure law for permeability of tight sandstone rocks from the E-bei gas reservoir, China. The permeability k of five core samples was measured while cycling the confining pressure pc and fluid pressure pf. The permeability data were analyzed using the response-surface method, a statistical model-building approach yielding a representation of k in (pc, pf) space that can be used to determine the effective pressure law, i.e., peff = pc - κpf. The results show that the coefficient κ of the effective pressure law for permeability varies with confining pressure and fluid pressure as well as with the loading or unloading cycles (i.e., hysteresis effect). Moreover, κ took very small values in some of the samples, even possibly lower than the value of porosity, in contradiction with a well-accepted theoretical model. We also reanalyzed a previously published permeability data set on fissured crystalline rocks and found again that the κ varies with pc but did not observe κ values lower than 0.4, a value much larger than porosity. Analysis of the dependence of permeability on effective pressure suggests that the occurrence of low κ values may be linked to the high-pressure sensitivity of E-bei sandstones.

Potentially exploitable supercritical geothermal resources in the ductile crust

USGS Publications Warehouse

Watanabe, Noriaki; Numakura, Tatsuya; Sakaguchi, Kiyotoshi; Saishu, Hanae; Okamoto, Atsushi; Ingebritsen, Steven E.; Tsuchiya, Noriyoshi

2017-01-01

The hypothesis that the brittle–ductile transition (BDT) drastically reduces permeability implies that potentially exploitable geothermal resources (permeability >10−16 m2) consisting of supercritical water could occur only in rocks with unusually high transition temperatures such as basalt. However, tensile fracturing is possible even in ductile rocks, and some permeability–depth relations proposed for the continental crust show no drastic permeability reduction at the BDT. Here we present experimental results suggesting that the BDT is not the first-order control on rock permeability, and that potentially exploitable resources may occur in rocks with much lower BDT temperatures, such as the granitic rocks that comprise the bulk of the continental crust. We find that permeability behaviour for fractured granite samples at 350–500 °C under effective confining stress is characterized by a transition from a weakly stress-dependent and reversible behaviour to a strongly stress-dependent and irreversible behaviour at a specific, temperature-dependent effective confining stress level. This transition is induced by onset of plastic normal deformation of the fracture surface (elastic–plastic transition) and, importantly, causes no ‘jump’ in the permeability. Empirical equations for this permeability behaviour suggest that potentially exploitable resources exceeding 450 °C may form at depths of 2–6 km even in the nominally ductile crust.

Simulation of gas flow in micro-porous media with the regularized lattice Boltzmann method

DOE PAGES

Wang, Junjian; Kang, Qinjun; Wang, Yuzhu; ...

2017-06-01

One primary challenge for prediction of gas flow in the unconventional gas reservoir at the pore-scale such as shale and tight gas reservoirs is the geometric complexity of the micro-porous media. In this paper, a regularized multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann (LB) model is applied to analyze gas flow in 2-dimensional micro-porous medium reconstructed by quartet structure generation set (QSGS) on pore-scale. In this paper, the velocity distribution inside the porous structure is presented and analyzed, and the effects of the porosity and specific surface area on the rarefied gas flow and apparent permeability are examined and investigated. The simulation resultsmore » indicate that the gas exhibits different flow behaviours at various pressure conditions and the gas permeability is strongly related to the pressure. Finally, the increased porosity or the decreased specific surface area leads to the increase of the gas apparent permeability, and the gas flow is more sensitive to the pore morphological properties at low-pressure conditions.« less

Simulation of gas flow in micro-porous media with the regularized lattice Boltzmann method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Junjian; Kang, Qinjun; Wang, Yuzhu

One primary challenge for prediction of gas flow in the unconventional gas reservoir at the pore-scale such as shale and tight gas reservoirs is the geometric complexity of the micro-porous media. In this paper, a regularized multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann (LB) model is applied to analyze gas flow in 2-dimensional micro-porous medium reconstructed by quartet structure generation set (QSGS) on pore-scale. In this paper, the velocity distribution inside the porous structure is presented and analyzed, and the effects of the porosity and specific surface area on the rarefied gas flow and apparent permeability are examined and investigated. The simulation resultsmore » indicate that the gas exhibits different flow behaviours at various pressure conditions and the gas permeability is strongly related to the pressure. Finally, the increased porosity or the decreased specific surface area leads to the increase of the gas apparent permeability, and the gas flow is more sensitive to the pore morphological properties at low-pressure conditions.« less

Bacterial community diversity in a low-permeability oil reservoir and its potential for enhancing oil recovery.

PubMed

Xiao, Meng; Zhang, Zhong-Zhi; Wang, Jing-Xiu; Zhang, Guang-Qing; Luo, Yi-Jing; Song, Zhao-Zheng; Zhang, Ji-Yuan

2013-11-01

The diversity of indigenous bacterial community and the functional species in the water samples from three production wells of a low permeability oil reservoir was investigated by high-throughput sequencing technology. The potential of application of indigenous bacteria for enhancing oil recovery was evaluated by examination of the effect of bacterial stimulation on the formation water-oil-rock surface interactions and micromodel test. The results showed that production well 88-122 had the most diverse bacterial community and functional species. The broth of indigenous bacteria stimulated by an organic nutrient activator at aerobic condition changed the wettability of the rock surface from oil-wet to water-wet. Micromodel test results showed that flooding using stimulated indigenous bacteria following water flooding improved oil recovery by 6.9% and 7.7% in fractured and unfractured micromodels, respectively. Therefore, the zone of low permeability reservoir has a great potential for indigenous microbial enhanced oil recovery. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

30 CFR 785.19 - Surface coal mining and reclamation operations on areas or adjacent to areas including alluvial...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., rate and frequency of rainfall and runoff, surface roughness, slope and vegetative cover, infiltration... the function of storing water, such as permeability, infiltration, porosity, depth and direction of...

30 CFR 785.19 - Surface coal mining and reclamation operations on areas or adjacent to areas including alluvial...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., rate and frequency of rainfall and runoff, surface roughness, slope and vegetative cover, infiltration... the function of storing water, such as permeability, infiltration, porosity, depth and direction of...

30 CFR 785.19 - Surface coal mining and reclamation operations on areas or adjacent to areas including alluvial...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., rate and frequency of rainfall and runoff, surface roughness, slope and vegetative cover, infiltration... the function of storing water, such as permeability, infiltration, porosity, depth and direction of...

30 CFR 785.19 - Surface coal mining and reclamation operations on areas or adjacent to areas including alluvial...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., rate and frequency of rainfall and runoff, surface roughness, slope and vegetative cover, infiltration... the function of storing water, such as permeability, infiltration, porosity, depth and direction of...

30 CFR 785.19 - Surface coal mining and reclamation operations on areas or adjacent to areas including alluvial...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., rate and frequency of rainfall and runoff, surface roughness, slope and vegetative cover, infiltration... the function of storing water, such as permeability, infiltration, porosity, depth and direction of...

Measurements of diagnostic examination performance and correlation analysis using microvascular leakage, cerebral blood volume, and blood flow derived from 3T dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging in glial tumor grading.

PubMed

Server, Andrés; Graff, Bjørn A; Orheim, Tone E Døli; Schellhorn, Till; Josefsen, Roger; Gadmar, Øystein B; Nakstad, Per H

2011-06-01

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of microvascular leakage (MVL), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and blood flow (CBF) values derived from dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging (DSC-MR imaging) for grading of cerebral glial tumors, and to estimate the correlation between vascular permeability/perfusion parameters and tumor grades. A prospective study of 79 patients with cerebral glial tumors underwent DSC-MR imaging. Normalized relative CBV (rCBV) and relative CBF (rCBF) from tumoral (rCBVt and rCBFt), peri-enhancing region (rCBVe and rCBFe), and the value in the tumor divided by the value in the peri-enhancing region (rCBVt/e and rCBFt/e), as well as MVL, expressed as the leakage coefficient K(2) were calculated. Hemodynamic variables and tumor grades were analyzed statistically and with Pearson correlations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were also performed for each of the variables. The differences in rCBVt and the maximum MVL (MVL(max)) values were statistically significant among all tumor grades. Correlation analysis using Pearson was as follows: rCBVt and tumor grade, r = 0.774; rCBFt and tumor grade, r = 0.417; MVL(max) and tumor grade, r = 0.559; MVL(max) and rCBVt, r = 0.440; MVL(max) and rCBFt, r = 0.192; and rCBVt and rCBFt, r = 0.605. According to ROC analyses for distinguishing tumor grade, rCBVt showed the largest areas under ROC curve (AUC), except for grade III from IV. Both rCBVt and MVL(max) showed good discriminative power in distinguishing all tumor grades. rCBVt correlated strongly with tumor grade; the correlation between MVL(max) and tumor grade was moderate.

Neuroprotection of early and short-time applying berberine in the acute phase of cerebral ischemia: up-regulated pAkt, pGSK and pCREB, down-regulated NF-κB expression, ameliorated BBB permeability.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaolin; Zhang, Xiangjian; Wang, Chaohui; Li, Yanhua; Dong, Lipeng; Cui, Lili; Wang, Lina; Liu, Zongjie; Qiao, Huimin; Zhu, Chunhua; Xing, Yinxue; Cao, Xiaoyun; Ji, Ye; Zhao, Kang

2012-06-12

Berberine (BBR) has gained attention for its vast beneficial biological effects through immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis properties. Inflammatory and apoptosis damage play an important role in cerebral ischemic pathogenesis and may represent a target for treatment. The aim of this study was to explore BBR's effect in ischemic injury and the role of the Akt/GSK (glycogen synthase kinase) signaling cascade in mediating the anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammatory effects in the rat brain of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to pMCAO and randomly assigned into four groups: Sham (sham-operated) group, pMCAO (pMCAO+0.9% saline) group, BBR-L (pMCAO+BBR 10 mg/kg) and BBR-H (pMCAO+BBR 40 mg/kg) group. BBR was administered immediately after pMCAO and the neuroprotection was detected. Phospho-Akt (pAkt), phospho-glycogen synthase kinase 3-β (pGSK3β), phospho-cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and claudin-5 in ischemic cerebral cortex were detected by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Compared with pMCAO group, BBR dramatically lessened neurological deficits scores, brain water contents and infarct sizes, upregulated the expression of pAkt, pGSK3β, pCREB and claudin-5, and decreased the nuclear accumulation of NF-κB (P<0.05) in ischemic brain. The results showed that BBR reduced ischemic brain injury after pMACO, and this effect may be via the increasing the activation of Akt/GSK signaling and claudin-5, and decreasing NF-κB expression. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Exploring the role of MKK7 in excitotoxicity and cerebral ischemia: a novel pharmacological strategy against brain injury

PubMed Central

Vercelli, A; Biggi, S; Sclip, A; Repetto, I E; Cimini, S; Falleroni, F; Tomasi, S; Monti, R; Tonna, N; Morelli, F; Grande, V; Stravalaci, M; Biasini, E; Marin, O; Bianco, F; di Marino, D; Borsello, T

2015-01-01

Excitotoxicity following cerebral ischemia elicits a molecular cascade, which leads to neuronal death. c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) has a key role in excitotoxic cell death. We have previously shown that JNK inhibition by a specific cell-permeable peptide significantly reduces infarct size and neuronal death in an in vivo model of cerebral ischemia. However, systemic inhibition of JNK may have detrimental side effects, owing to blockade of its physiological function. Here we designed a new inhibitor peptide (growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45β (GADD45β-I)) targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MKK7), an upstream activator of JNK, which exclusively mediates JNK's pathological activation. GADD45β-I was engineered by optimizing the domain of the GADD45β, able to bind to MKK7, and by linking it to the TAT peptide sequence, to allow penetration of biological membranes. Our data clearly indicate that GADD45β-I significantly reduces neuronal death in excitotoxicity induced by either N-methyl-D-aspartate exposure or by oxygen–glucose deprivation in vitro. Moreover, GADD45β-I exerted neuroprotection in vivo in two models of ischemia, obtained by electrocoagulation and by thromboembolic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAo). Indeed, GADD45β-I reduced the infarct size when injected 30 min before the lesion in both models. The peptide was also effective when administrated 6 h after lesion, as demonstrated in the electrocoagulation model. The neuroprotective effect of GADD45β-I is long lasting; in fact, 1 week after MCAo the infarct volume was still reduced by 49%. Targeting MKK7 could represent a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ischemia and other pathologies involving MKK7/JNK activation. Moreover, this new inhibitor can be useful to further dissect the physiological and pathological role of the JNK pathway in the brain. PMID:26270349

Permeability Evolution of Fractured Anhydrite Caused by Chemical and Mechanical Alteration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Detwiler, R. L.; Elkhoury, J. E.; Ameli, P.

2011-12-01

Geologic carbon sequestration requires competent structural seals (caprock) to prevent leakage over decadal time scales. Injection of large volumes of CO2 perturbs the target formation from chemical and mechanical equilibrium leading to the possible creation or enhancement of leakage pathways. We investigate the potential for leakage pathways (fractures) to grow over time under reservoir conditions in a series of anhydrite (Ca2SO4) cores. To simulate a potential leakage event in the laboratory, we fractured and jacketed the cores, and placed them in a flow-through reactor vessel. A high-pressure syringe pump applied confining stresses ranging from 7 to 17 MPa and another syringe pump pushed water through the sample at a constant flow rate with pressure control at the outlet. Effluent was sampled periodically and analyzed for Ca2+ and SO42- using an ion chromatograph. Before and after each experiment, we characterized the surfaces of the fractures using a high-resolution optical profilometer and a scanning electron microscope. Careful alignment of the surfaces during optical profiling allowed reproduction of the fracture aperture before and after each experiment. We present results from several experiments each carried out under different conditions in similar fractured anhydrite cores. One involved a well-mated pre-existing fracture and results showed that the permeability of the fractured core was similar to the intact rock matrix (O(10-18 m2); chemical alteration of the core was largely limited to the inflow face of the core and the fracture surfaces remained largely unaltered. To enhance permeability during subsequent experiments, we imposed a small (380 μm) shear displacement between the fracture surfaces resulting in a four-order-of-magnitude increase in initial permeability. The first of these was run at a constant flow rate of 0.6 ml/min for a period of 7 days. The measured pressure gradient within the core increased slowly for a period of 4 days followed by a rapid increase in differential pressure corresponding to a two-order-of-magnitude decrease in permeability. During the experiment, the diameter of the core decreased by ~300 μm at the inlet and a skin of gypsum (Ca2SO42H2O) was created along the length of the fracture. Dissolution of anhydrite and transition to gypsum of additional anhydrite weakened the fracture surfaces leading to closure of the fracture with a corresponding reduction in aperture and permeability. Additional experiments explore the influence of flow at a lower flow rate, which, in the absence of a large confining stress, has been shown to lead to the development of dissolution channels or wormholes.

Dabigatran Etexilate Reduces Thrombin-Induced Inflammation and Thrombus Formation in Experimental Ischemic Stroke.

PubMed

Dittmeier, Melanie; Wassmuth, Kathrin; Schuhmann, Michael K; Kraft, Peter; Kleinschnitz, Christoph; Fluri, Felix

2016-01-01

Dabigatran etexilate (DE), a direct-acting, oral inhibitor of thrombin, significantly reduces the risk of stroke compared with traditional anticoagulants, without increasing the risk of major bleeding. However, studies on the fate of cerebral tissue after ischemic stroke in patients receiving DE are sparse and the role of dabigatran-mediated reduction of thrombin in this context has not yet been investigated. Here, we investigated whether pretreatment with DE reduces thrombin-mediated pro-inflammatory mechanisms and leakage of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) following ischemic stroke in rats. Male Wistar rats received DE (15 mg/kg) or a vehicle solution 1 hour before transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) for 90 minutes. Infarct volume, neurologic outcome and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) were determined after tMCAO. Thrombin generation was indirectly assessed by measuring thrombin/antithrombin III complex. Microvascular patency was evaluated histologically. Cytokine expression and immunoreactivity of cluster of differentiation (CD) 68 were examined to characterize inflammatory processes after pretreatment with DE. BBB integrity was examined by quantifying brain edema. Rats given DE revealed a significant reduction in infarct size without an increase in ICH and significant recovery of neurologic deficits compared to controls. Administration of DE decreased thrombin generation and thrombus formation, dampened the CD68-immunoreactivity and attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the cerebral parenchyma ipsilateral to the ischemic lesion. BBB permeability was unaltered following treatment with DE. In summary, prophylactic anticoagulation with DE improves stroke outcome by reducing thrombin-induced inflammation and thrombus formation without increasing the rate of ICH.

Regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by agmatine after transient global cerebral ischemia in rat brain.

PubMed

Mun, Chin Hee; Lee, Won Taek; Park, Kyung Ah; Lee, Jong Eun

2010-09-01

Nitric oxide (NO) production by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays a protective role in cerebral ischemia by maintaining vascular permeability, whereas NO derived from neuronal and inducible NOS is neurotoxic and can participate in neuronal damage occurring in ischemia. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are up-regulated by ischemic injury and degrade the basement membrane if brain vessels to promote cell death and tissue injury. We previously reported that agmatine, synthesized from L-arginine by arginine decarboxylase (ADC) which is expressed in endothelial cells, has shown a direct increased eNOS expression and decreased MMPs expression in bEnd3 cells. But, there are few reports about the regulation of eNOS by agmatine in ischemic animal model. In the present study, we examined the expression of eNOS and MMPs by agmatine treatment after transient global ischemia in vivo. Global ischemia was induced with four vessel occlusion (4-VO) and agmatine (100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally at the onset of reperfusion. The animals were euthanized at 6 and 24 hours after global ischemia and prepared for other analysis. Global ischemia led severe neuronal damage in the rat hippocampus and cerebral cortex, but agmatine treatment protected neurons from ischemic injury. Moreover, the level and expression of eNOS was increased by agmatine treatment, whereas inducible NOS (iNOS) and MMP-9 protein expressions were decreased in the brain. These results suggest that agmatine protects microvessels in the brain by activation eNOS as well as reduces extracellular matrix degradation during the early phase of ischemic insult.

Hyperglycaemia promotes human brain microvascular endothelial cell apoptosis via induction of protein kinase C-ßI and prooxidant enzyme NADPH oxidase.

PubMed

Shao, Beili; Bayraktutan, Ulvi

2014-01-01

Blood-brain barrier disruption represents a key feature in hyperglycaemia-aggravated cerebral damage after an ischaemic stroke. Although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown, activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is thought to play a critical role. This study examined whether apoptosis of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) might contribute to hyperglycaemia-evoked barrier damage and assessed the specific role of PKC in this phenomenon. Treatments with hyperglycaemia (25 mM) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, a protein kinase C activator, 100 nM) significantly increased NADPH oxidase activity, O2 (•-) generation, proapoptotic protein Bax expression, TUNEL-positive staining and caspase-3/7 activities. Pharmacological inhibition of NADPH oxidase, PKC-a, PKC-ß or PKC-ßI via their specific inhibitors and neutralisation of O2 (•-) by a cell-permeable superoxide dismutase mimetic, MnTBAP normalised all the aforementioned increases induced by hyperglycaemia. Suppression of these PKC isoforms also negated the stimulatory effects of hyperglycaemia on the protein expression of NADPH oxidase membrane-bound components, Nox2 and p22-phox which determine the overall enzymatic activity. Silencing of PKC-ßI gene through use of specific siRNAs abolished the effects of both hyperglycaemia and PMA on endothelial cell NADPH oxidase activity, O2 (•-) production and apoptosis and consequently improved the integrity and function of an in vitro model of human cerebral barrier comprising HBMEC, astrocytes and pericytes. Hyperglycaemia-mediated apoptosis of HBMEC contributes to cerebral barrier dysfunction and is modulated by sequential activations of PKC-ßI and NADPH oxidase.

Inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor growth in the brain. Suppression of endothelial cell turnover by penicillamine and the depletion of copper, an angiogenic cofactor.

PubMed Central

Brem, S. S.; Zagzag, D.; Tsanaclis, A. M.; Gately, S.; Elkouby, M. P.; Brien, S. E.

1990-01-01

Microvascular proliferation, a hallmark of malignant brain tumors, represents an attractive target of anticancer research, especially because of the quiescent nonproliferative endothelium of the normal brain. Cerebral neoplasms sequester copper, a trace metal that modulates angiogenesis. Using a rabbit brain tumor model, normocupremic animals developed large vascularized VX2 carcinomas. By contrast, small, circumscribed, relatively avascular tumors were found in the brains of rabbits copper-depleted by diet and penicillamine treatment (CDPT). The CDPT rabbits showed a significant decrease in serum copper, copper staining of tumor cell nuclei, microvascular density, the tumor volume, endothelial cell turnover, and an increase in the vascular permeability (breakdown of the blood-brain barrier), as well as peritumoral brain edema. In non-tumor-bearing animals, CDPT did not alter the vascular permeability or the brain water content. CDPT also inhibited the intracerebral growth of the 9L gliosarcoma in F-344 rats, with a similar increase of the peritumoral vascular permeability and the brain water content. CDPT failed to inhibit tumor growth and the vascularization of the VX2 carcinoma in the thigh muscle or the metastases to the lung, findings that may reflect regional differences in the responsiveness of the endothelium, the distribution of copper, or the activity of cuproenzymes. Metabolic and pharmacologic withdrawal of copper suppresses intracerebral tumor angiogenesis; angiosuppression is a novel biologic response modifier for the in situ control of tumor growth in the brain. Images Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 8 Figure 10 Figure 12 Figure 15 Figure 16 PMID:1700617

Adhesive permeability affects coupling of resin cements that utilise self-etching primers to dentine.

PubMed

Carvalho, R M; Pegoraro, T A; Tay, F R; Pegoraro, L F; Silva, N R F A; Pashley, D H

2004-01-01

To examine the effects of an experimental bonding technique that reduces the permeability of the adhesive layer on the coupling of resin cements to dentine. Extracted human third molars had their mid to deep dentin surface exposed flat by transversally sectioning the crowns. Resin composite overlays were constructed and cemented to the surfaces using either Panavia F (Kuraray) or Bistite II DC (Tokuyama) resin cements mediated by their respective one-step or two-step self-etch adhesives. Experimental groups were prepared in the same way, except that the additional layer of a low-viscosity bonding resin (LVBR, Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus, 3M ESPE) was placed on the bonded dentine surface before luting the overlays with the respective resin cements. The bonded assemblies were stored for 24 h in water at 37 degrees C and subsequently prepared for microtensile bond strength testing. Beams of approximately 0.8 mm(2) were tested in tension at 0.5 mm/min in a universal tester. Fractured surfaces were examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additional specimens were prepared and examined with TEM using a silver nitrate-staining technique. Two-way ANOVA showed significant interactions between materials and bonding protocols (p<0.05). When bonded according to manufacturer's directions, Panavia F produced bond strengths that were significantly lower than Bistite II DC (p<0.05). The placement of an additional layer of a LVBR improved significantly the bond strengths of Panavia F (p<0.05), but not of Bistite II DC (p>0.05). SEM observation of the fractured surfaces in Panavia F showed rosette-like features that were exclusive for specimens bonded according to manufacturer's directions. Such features corresponded well with the ultrastructure of the interfaces that showed more nanoleakage associated with the more permeable adhesive interface. The application of the additional layer of the LVBR reduced the amount of silver impregnation for both adhesives suggesting that reduced permeability of the adhesives resulted in improved coupling of the resin cements to dentin. Placement of an intermediate layer of a LVBR between the bonded dentine surface and the resin cements resulted in improved coupling of Panavia F to dentine.

The permeability of fault zones in the upper continental crust: statistical analysis from 460 datasets, updated depth-trends, and permeability contrasts between fault damage zones and protoliths.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scibek, J.; Gleeson, T. P.; Ingebritsen, S.; McKenzie, J. M.

2017-12-01

Fault zones are an important part of the hydraulic structure of the Earth's crust and influence a wide range of Earth processes and a large amount of test data has been collected over the years. We conducted a meta-analysis of global of fault zone permeabilities in the upper brittle continental crust, using about 10,000 published research items from a variety of geoscience and engineering disciplines. Using 460 datasets at 340 localities, the in-situ bulk permeabilities (>10's meters scale, including macro-fractures) and matrix permeabilities (drilled core samples or outcrop spot tests) are separated, analyzed, and compared. The values have log-normal distributions and we analyze the log-permeability values. In the fault damage zones of plutonic and metamorphic rocks the mean bulk permeability was 1x10-14m2, compared to matrix mean of 1x10-16m2. In sedimentary siliciclastic rocks the mean value was the same for bulk and matrix permeability (4x10-14m2). More useful insights were determined from the regression analysis of paired permeability data at all sites (fault damage zone vs. protolith). Much of the variation in fault permeability is explained by the permeability of protolith: in relatively weak volcaniclastic and clay-rich rocks up to 70 to 88% of the variation is explained, and only 20-30% in plutonic and metamorphic rocks. We propose a revision at shallow depths for previously published upper-bound curves for the "fault-damaged crust " and the geothermal-metamorphic rock assemblage outside of major fault zones. Although the bounding curves describe the "fault-damaged crust" permeability parameter space adequately, the only statistically significant permeability-depth trend is for plutonic and metamorphic rocks (50% of variation explained). We find a depth-dependent systematic variation of the permeability ratio (fault damage zone / protolith) from the in-situ bulk permeability global data. A moving average of the log-permeability ratio value is 2 to 2.5 (global mean is 2.2). Although the data is unevenly distributed with depth, the present evidence is that the permeability ratio is at a maximum at depths 1 to 2 kilometers, decreases with depth below 2km, and is also lower near the ground surface.

The effect of surface charge of glycerol monooleate-based nanoparticles on the round window membrane permeability and cochlear distribution.

PubMed

Liu, Hongzhuo; Chen, Shichao; Zhou, Yanyan; Che, Xin; Bao, Zhihong; Li, Sanming; Xu, Jinghua

2013-11-01

The aim of this study is to elucidate the impact of surface charge of glycerol monooleate-based nanoparticles (NPs) on the cellular uptake and its distribution in the cochlea. These NPs are modified using varied concentration of anionic or cationic lipid. Upon dilution, these lipid mixtures self-assemble to form a series of cubic NPs with various surface charges, but with similar particle size. Positively charged NPs exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicities against L929 cells proportional to the concentration of cationic lipid; whereas negatively charged NPs did not show obvious cytotoxic properties as compared to unmodified NPs. Meanwhile, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry results suggested that NPs with high positive surface charge were taken up more efficiently by L929 cells. The permeability of round window membrane (RWM) was high for highly positively charged NPs, which is likely due to their highly cellular uptake efficiency and consequently high concentration gradient between RWM and cochlear fluid. More importantly, 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) modified NPs greatly facilitated broadly distribution in cochlea, favoring the treatment of hearing loss of low frequencies. Taken together, these findings about charge-dependent of NPs on RWM permeability and cochlear distribution could serve as guideline in the rational design of NP for drug and gene delivery to inner ear.

The ring-shaped thermal field of Stefanos crater, Nisyros Island: a conceptual model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pantaleo, M.; Walter, T. R.

2013-11-01

Fumarole fields related to hydrothermal processes release the heat of the underground through permeable pathways. Thermal changes, therefore, are likely to depend also on the variation of these pathways. As these paths may affect or even control the temperature field at the surface, their understanding is relevant to applied and basic science alike. A common difficulty, however, in surface temperature field studies at active volcanoes is that the parameters controlling the ascending routes of fluids are poorly constrained in general. Here we analyze the crater of Stefanos, Nisyros (Greece), and highlight complexities in the spatial pattern of the fumarole field related to permeability conditions. There may be different explanations for the observed permeability changes, such as structural control, lithology, weathering, and heterogeneous sediment accumulation and erosion. We combine high resolution infrared mosaics and grain-size analysis of soils, aiming to elaborate parameters controlling the appearance of the fumarole field. We find a ring-shaped thermal field located within the explosion crater, which is dependent on contrasts of the soil granulometry and volcanotectonic history. We develop a conceptual model of how the ring-shaped thermal field has formed at the Stefanos crater and similarly at other volcanic edifices, highlighting the importance of local permeability contrast that may increase or decrease the thermal fluid flux.

Characterization of Particle Translocation through Mucin Hydrogels

PubMed Central

Lieleg, Oliver; Vladescu, Ioana; Ribbeck, Katharina

2010-01-01

Abstract Biological functional entities surround themselves with selective barriers that control the passage of certain classes of macromolecules while rejecting others. A prominent example of such a selective permeability barrier is given by mucus. Mucus is a biopolymer-based hydrogel that lines all wet epithelial surfaces of the human body. It regulates the uptake of nutrients from our gastrointestinal system, adjusts itself with the menstrual cycle to control the passage of sperm, and shields the underlying cells from pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. In the case of drug delivery, the mucus barrier needs to be overcome for successful medical treatment. Despite its importance for both physiology and medical applications, the underlying principles which regulate the permeability of mucus remain enigmatic. Here, we analyze the mobility of microscopic particles in reconstituted mucin hydrogels. We show that electrostatic interactions between diffusing particles and mucin polymers regulate the permeability properties of reconstituted mucin hydrogels. As a consequence, various parameters such as particle surface charge and mucin density, and buffer conditions such as pH and ionic strength, can modulate the microscopic barrier function of the mucin hydrogel. Our findings suggest that the permeability of a biopolymer-based hydrogel such as native mucus can be tuned to a wide range of settings in different compartments of our bodies. PMID:20441741

Hydrogen permeation characteristics of some Fe-Cr-Al alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van Deventer, E. H.; Maroni, V. A.

1983-01-01

Hydrogen permeation data are reported for two Fe-Cr-Al alloys, Type-405 SS (Cr 14-A1 0.2) and a member of the Fecralloy family of alloys (Cr 16-A1 5). The hydrogen permeability of each alloy (in a partially oxidized condition) was measured over a period of several weeks at randomly selected temperatures (between 150 and 850°C) and upstream H 2 pressures (between 2 and 1.5 × 10 4 Pa). The permeabilities showed considerable scatter with both time and temperature and were 10 2 to 10 3 times lower than those of pure iron, even in strongly reducing environments. The exponent, n, for the relationship between upstream H 2 pressure, P, and permeability, φ, ( φ ~ Pn) was closer to 0.7 than to the expected 0.5, indicating a process limited by surface effects (e.g., surface oxide films) as opposed to bulk material effects. Comparison of these results with prior permeation measurements on other Fe-Cr-Al alloys, on Fe-Cr alloys, and on pure iron shows that the presence of a few weight percent aluminum offers the best prospects for achieving low tritium permeabilities with martensitic and ferritic steels used in fusion-reactor first wall and blanket applications.

Evolution of Friction and Permeability in a Propped Fracture under Shear

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Fengshou; Fang, Yi; Elsworth, Derek

We explore the evolution of friction and permeability of a propped fracture under shear. We examine the effects of normal stress, proppant thickness, proppant size, and fracture wall texture on the frictional and transport response of proppant packs confined between planar fracture surfaces. The proppant-absent and proppant-filled fractures show different frictional strength. For fractures with proppants, the frictional response is mainly controlled by the normal stress and proppant thickness. The depth of shearing-concurrent striations on fracture surfaces suggests that the magnitude of proppant embedment is controlled by the applied normal stress. Under high normal stress, the reduced friction implies thatmore » shear slip is more likely to occur on propped fractures in deeper reservoirs. The increase in the number of proppant layers, from monolayer to triple layers, significantly increases the friction of the propped fracture due to the interlocking of the particles and jamming. Permeability of the propped fracture is mainly controlled by the magnitude of the normal stress, the proppant thickness, and the proppant grain size. Permeability of the propped fracture decreases during shearing due to proppant particle crushing and related clogging. Proppants are prone to crushing if the shear loading evolves concurrently with the normal loading.« less

Evolution of Friction and Permeability in a Propped Fracture under Shear

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Fengshou; Fang, Yi; Elsworth, Derek; ...

2017-12-04

We explore the evolution of friction and permeability of a propped fracture under shear. We examine the effects of normal stress, proppant thickness, proppant size, and fracture wall texture on the frictional and transport response of proppant packs confined between planar fracture surfaces. The proppant-absent and proppant-filled fractures show different frictional strength. For fractures with proppants, the frictional response is mainly controlled by the normal stress and proppant thickness. The depth of shearing-concurrent striations on fracture surfaces suggests that the magnitude of proppant embedment is controlled by the applied normal stress. Under high normal stress, the reduced friction implies thatmore » shear slip is more likely to occur on propped fractures in deeper reservoirs. The increase in the number of proppant layers, from monolayer to triple layers, significantly increases the friction of the propped fracture due to the interlocking of the particles and jamming. Permeability of the propped fracture is mainly controlled by the magnitude of the normal stress, the proppant thickness, and the proppant grain size. Permeability of the propped fracture decreases during shearing due to proppant particle crushing and related clogging. Proppants are prone to crushing if the shear loading evolves concurrently with the normal loading.« less

Modeling the Hydrologic Processes of a Permeable Pavement ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

A permeable pavement system can capture stormwater to reduce runoff volume and flow rate, improve onsite groundwater recharge, and enhance pollutant controls within the site. A new unit process model for evaluating the hydrologic performance of a permeable pavement system has been developed in this study. The developed model can continuously simulate infiltration through the permeable pavement surface, exfiltration from the storage to the surrounding in situ soils, and clogging impacts on infiltration/exfiltration capacity at the pavement surface and the bottom of the subsurface storage unit. The exfiltration modeling component simulates vertical and horizontal exfiltration independently based on Darcy’s formula with the Green-Ampt approximation. The developed model can be arranged with physically-based modeling parameters, such as hydraulic conductivity, Manning’s friction flow parameters, saturated and field capacity volumetric water contents, porosity, density, etc. The developed model was calibrated using high-frequency observed data. The modeled water depths are well matched with the observed values (R2 = 0.90). The modeling results show that horizontal exfiltration through the side walls of the subsurface storage unit is a prevailing factor in determining the hydrologic performance of the system, especially where the storage unit is developed in a long, narrow shape; or with a high risk of bottom compaction and clogging. This paper presents unit

Dual role of cerebral blood flow in regional brain temperature control in the healthy newborn infant.

PubMed

Iwata, Sachiko; Tachtsidis, Ilias; Takashima, Sachio; Matsuishi, Toyojiro; Robertson, Nicola J; Iwata, Osuke

2014-10-01

Small shifts in brain temperature after hypoxia-ischaemia affect cell viability. The main determinants of brain temperature are cerebral metabolism, which contributes to local heat production, and brain perfusion, which removes heat. However, few studies have addressed the effect of cerebral metabolism and perfusion on regional brain temperature in human neonates because of the lack of non-invasive cot-side monitors. This study aimed (i) to determine non-invasive monitoring tools of cerebral metabolism and perfusion by combining near-infrared spectroscopy and echocardiography, and (ii) to investigate the dependence of brain temperature on cerebral metabolism and perfusion in unsedated newborn infants. Thirty-two healthy newborn infants were recruited. They were studied with cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy, echocardiography, and a zero-heat flux tissue thermometer. A surrogate of cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured using superior vena cava flow adjusted for cerebral volume (rSVC flow). The tissue oxygenation index, fractional oxygen extraction (FOE), and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen relative to rSVC flow (CMRO₂ index) were also estimated. A greater rSVC flow was positively associated with higher brain temperatures, particularly for superficial structures. The CMRO₂ index and rSVC flow were positively coupled. However, brain temperature was independent of FOE and the CMRO₂ index. A cooler ambient temperature was associated with a greater temperature gradient between the scalp surface and the body core. Cerebral oxygen metabolism and perfusion were monitored in newborn infants without using tracers. In these healthy newborn infants, cerebral perfusion and ambient temperature were significant independent variables of brain temperature. CBF has primarily been associated with heat removal from the brain. However, our results suggest that CBF is likely to deliver heat specifically to the superficial brain. Further studies are required to assess the effect of cerebral metabolism and perfusion on regional brain temperature in low-cardiac output conditions, fever, and with therapeutic hypothermia. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

[Research of bornrol promote drugs through blood-brain barrier].

PubMed

Lv, Xuxiao; Sun, Mingjiang; Sun, Fengzhi

2012-04-01

Malignant tumor, epilepsy, dementia, cerebral ischemia and other brain diseases have very high rates of disability and mortality. Currently, many drugs are developed to treat such diseases and the effect is obviously. But they can not achieve the purpose to control these diseases because many of the drugs can not pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, the treatment is not good. Borneol as the represent of the aromatic resuscitation medicine, it has strong fat-soluble active ingredients, small molecular weight, volatile and through the BBB quickly. It can also promote other therapeutic drugs through the BBB. It has two-ways regulations on BBB permeability and the damage of brain tissue is small, this have important theoretical significances and application values.

Evaluating long-term patterns of decreasing groundwater discharge through a lake-bottom permeable reactive barrier.

PubMed

McCobb, Timothy D; Briggs, Martin A; LeBlanc, Denis R; Day-Lewis, Frederick D; Johnson, Carole D

2018-05-18

Identifying and quantifying groundwater exchange is critical when considering contaminant fate and transport at the groundwater/surface-water interface. In this paper, areally distributed temperature and point seepage measurements are used to efficiently assess spatial and temporal groundwater discharge patterns through a glacial-kettle lakebed area containing a zero-valent iron permeable reactive barrier (PRB). Concern was that the PRB was becoming less permeable with time owing to biogeochemical processes within the PRB. Patterns of groundwater discharge over an 8-year period were examined using fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing (FO-DTS) and snapshot-in-time point measurements of temperature. The resulting thermal maps show complex and uneven distributions of temperatures across the lakebed and highlight zones of rapid seepage near the shoreline and along the outer boundaries of the PRB. Repeated thermal mapping indicates an increase in lakebed temperatures over time at periods of similar stage and surface-water temperature. Flux rates in six seepage meters permanently installed on the lakebed in the PRB area decreased on average by 0.021 md -1 (or about 4.5 percent) annually between 2004 and 2015. Modeling of diurnal temperature signals from shallow vertical profiles yielded mean flux values ranging from 0.39 to 1.15 md -1 , with stronger fluxes generally related to colder lakebed temperatures. The combination of an increase in lakebed temperatures, declines in direct seepage, and observations of increased cementation of the lakebed surface provide in situ evidence that the permeability of the PRB is declining. The presence of temporally persistent rapid seepage zones is also discussed. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

A cross-site comparison of methods used for hydrogeologic characterization of the Galena-Platteville aquifer in Illinois and Wisconsin, with examples from selected Superfund sites

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kay, Robert T.; Mills, Patrick C.; Dunning, Charles P.; Yeskis, Douglas J.; Ursic, James R.; Vendl, Mark

2004-01-01

The effectiveness of 28 methods used to characterize the fractured Galena-Platteville aquifer at eight sites in northern Illinois and Wisconsin is evaluated. Analysis of government databases, previous investigations, topographic maps, aerial photographs, and outcrops was essential to understanding the hydrogeology in the area to be investigated. The effectiveness of surface-geophysical methods depended on site geology. Lithologic logging provided essential information for site characterization. Cores were used for stratigraphy and geotechnical analysis. Natural-gamma logging helped identify the effect of lithology on the location of secondary- permeability features. Caliper logging identified large secondary-permeability features. Neutron logs identified trends in matrix porosity. Acoustic-televiewer logs identified numerous secondary-permeability features and their orientation. Borehole-camera logs also identified a number of secondary-permeability features. Borehole ground-penetrating radar identified lithologic and secondary-permeability features. However, the accuracy and completeness of this method is uncertain. Single-point-resistance, density, and normal resistivity logs were of limited use. Water-level and water-quality data identified flow directions and indicated the horizontal and vertical distribution of aquifer permeability and the depth of the permeable features. Temperature, spontaneous potential, and fluid-resistivity logging identified few secondary-permeability features at some sites and several features at others. Flowmeter logging was the most effective geophysical method for characterizing secondary-permeability features. Aquifer tests provided insight into the permeability distribution, identified hydraulically interconnected features, the presence of heterogeneity and anisotropy, and determined effective porosity. Aquifer heterogeneity prevented calculation of accurate hydraulic properties from some tests. Different methods, such as flowmeter logging and slug testing, occasionally produced different interpretations. Aquifer characterization improved with an increase in the number of data points, the period of data collection, and the number of methods used.

Portable device and method for determining permeability characteristics of earth formations

DOEpatents

Shuck, Lowell Z.

1977-01-01

The invention is directed to a device which is used for determining permeability characteristics of earth formations at the surface thereof. The determination of the maximum permeability direction and the magnitude of permeability are achieved by employing a device comprising a housing having a central fluid-injection port surrounded by a plurality of spaced-apart fluid flow and pressure monitoring ports radially extending from the central injection port. With the housing resting on the earth formation in a relatively fluid-tight manner as provided by an elastomeric pad disposed therebetween, fluid is injected through the central port into the earth formation and into registry with the fluid-monitoring ports disposed about the injection port. The fluid-monitoring ports are selectively opened and the flow of the fluid through the various fluid ports is measured so as to provide a measurement of flow rates and pressure distribution about the center hole which is indicative on the earth formation permeability direction and magnitude. For example, the azimuthal direction of the fluid-monitoring ports in the direction through which the greatest amount of injected fluid flows as determined by the lowest pressure distribution corresponds to the direction of maximum permeability in the earth formation.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beckingham, Lauren E.; Peters, Catherine A.; Um, Wooyong

Although the impact of subsurface geochemical reactions on porosity is relatively well understood, changes in permeability remain difficult to estimate. In this work, pore-network modeling was used to predict permeability based on pore- and pore-throat size distributions determined from analysis of 2D scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of thin sections and 3D X-ray computed microtomography (CMT) data. The analyzed specimens were a Viking sandstone sample from the Alberta sedimentary basin and an experimental column of reacted Hanford sediments. For the column, a decrease in permeability due to mineral precipitation was estimated, but the permeability estimates were dependent on imaging techniquemore » and resolution. X-ray CT imaging has the advantage of reconstructing a 3D pore network while 2D SEM imaging can easily analyze sub-grain and intragranular variations in mineralogy. Pore network models informed by analyses of 2D and 3D images at comparable resolutions produced permeability esti- mates with relatively good agreement. Large discrepancies in predicted permeabilities resulted from small variations in image resolution. Images with resolutions 0.4 to 4 lm predicted permeabilities differ- ing by orders of magnitude. While lower-resolution scans can analyze larger specimens, small pore throats may be missed due to resolution limitations, which in turn overestimates permeability in a pore-network model in which pore-to-pore conductances are statistically assigned. Conversely, high-res- olution scans are capable of capturing small pore throats, but if they are not actually flow-conducting predicted permeabilities will be below expected values. In addition, permeability is underestimated due to misinterpreting surface-roughness features as small pore throats. Comparison of permeability pre- dictions with expected and measured permeability values showed that the largest discrepancies resulted from the highest resolution images and the best predictions of permeability will result from images between 2 and 4 lm resolution. To reduce permeability underestimation from analyses of high-resolu- tion images, a resolution threshold between 3 and 15 lm was found to be effective, but it is not known whether this range is applicable beyond the samples studied here.« less

Permeable Surface Corrections for Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings Integrals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lockard, David P.; Casper, Jay H.

2005-01-01

The acoustic prediction methodology discussed herein applies an acoustic analogy to calculate the sound generated by sources in an aerodynamic simulation. Sound is propagated from the computed flow field by integrating the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings equation on a suitable control surface. Previous research suggests that, for some applications, the integration surface must be placed away from the solid surface to incorporate source contributions from within the flow volume. As such, the fluid mechanisms in the input flow field that contribute to the far-field noise are accounted for by their mathematical projection as a distribution of source terms on a permeable surface. The passage of nonacoustic disturbances through such an integration surface can result in significant error in an acoustic calculation. A correction for the error is derived in the frequency domain using a frozen gust assumption. The correction is found to work reasonably well in several test cases where the error is a small fraction of the actual radiated noise. However, satisfactory agreement has not been obtained between noise predictions using the solution from a three-dimensional, detached-eddy simulation of flow over a cylinder.

Ground-water hydrology of the Willamette basin, Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Conlon, Terrence D.; Wozniak, Karl C.; Woodcock, Douglas; Herrera, Nora B.; Fisher, Bruce J.; Morgan, David S.; Lee, Karl K.; Hinkle, Stephen R.

2005-01-01

The Willamette Basin encompasses a drainage of 12,000 square miles and is home to approximately 70 percent of Oregon's population. Agriculture and population are concentrated in the lowland, a broad, relatively flat area between the Coast and Cascade Ranges. Annual rainfall is high, with about 80 percent of precipitation falling from October through March and less than 5 percent falling in July and August, the peak growing season. Population growth and an increase in cultivation of crops needing irrigation have produced a growing seasonal demand for water. Because many streams are administratively closed to new appropriations in summer, ground water is the most likely source for meeting future water demand. This report describes the current understanding of the regional ground-water flow system, and addresses the effects of ground-water development. This study defines seven regional hydrogeologic units in the Willamette Basin. The highly permeable High Cascade unit consists of young volcanic material found at the surface along the crest of the Cascade Range. Four sedimentary hydrogeologic units fill the lowland between the Cascade and Coast Ranges. Young, highly permeable coarse-grained sediments of the upper sedimentary unit have a limited extent in the floodplains of the major streams and in part of the Portland Basin. Extending over much of the lowland where the upper sedimentary unit does not occur, silts and clays of the Willamette silt unit act as a confining unit. The middle sedimentary unit, consisting of permeable coarse-grained material, occurs beneath the Willamette silt and upper sedimentary units and at the surface as terraces in the lowland. Beneath these units is the lower sedimentary unit, which consists of predominantly fine-grained sediments. In the northern part of the basin, lavas of the Columbia River basalt unit occur at the surface in uplands and beneath the basin-fill sedimentary units. The Columbia River basalt unit contains multiple productive water-bearing zones. A basement confining unit of older marine and volcanic rocks of low permeability underlies the basin and occurs at land surface in the Coast Range and western part of the Cascade Range. Most recharge in the basin is from infiltration of precipitation, and the spatial distribution of recharge mimics the distribution of precipitation, which increases with elevation. Basinwide annual mean recharge is estimated to be 22 inches. Rain and snowmelt easily recharge into the permeable High Cascade unit and discharge within the High Cascade area. Most recharge in the Coast Range and western part of the Cascade Range follows short flowpaths through the upper part of the low permeability material and discharges to streams within the mountains. Consequently, recharge in the Coast and Ranges is not available as lateral ground-water flow into the lowland, where most ground-water use occurs. Within the lowland, annual mean recharge is 16 inches and most recharge occurs from November to April, when rainfall is large and evapotranspiration is small. From May to October recharge is negligible because precipitation is small and evapotranspiration is large. Discharge of ground water is mainly to streams. Ground-water discharge is a relatively large component of flow in streams that drain the High Cascade unit and parts of the Portland Basin where permeable units are at the surface. In streams that do not head in the High Cascade area, streamflow is generally dominated by runoff of precipitation. Ground-water in the permeable units in the lowland discharges to the major streams where there is a good hydraulic connection between aquifers and streams. Ground-water discharge to smaller streams, which flow on the less permeable Willamette silt unit, is small and mostly from the Willamette silt unit. Most ground-water withdrawals occur within the lowland. Irrigation is the largest use of ground water, accounting for 240,000 acre feet of withdrawals, or 81 p

The effect of butylphthalide on the brain edema, blood-brain barrier of rats after focal cerebral infarction and the expression of Rho A.

PubMed

Hu, Jinyang; Wen, Qingping; Wu, Yue; Li, Baozhu; Gao, Peng

2014-06-01

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of butylphthalide on the brain edema, blood-brain barrier of rats of rats after focal cerebral infarction and the expression of Rho A. A total of 195 sprague-dawley male rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, and butylphthalide group (40 mg/kg, once a day, by gavage). The model was made by photochemical method. After surgery 3, 12, 24, 72, and 144 h, brain water content was done to see the effect of butylphthalide for the cerebral edema. Evans blue extravasation method was done to see the changes in blood-brain barrier immunohistochemistry, and Western blot was done to see the expression of Rho A around the infarction. Compared with the control group, the brain water content of model group and butylphthalide group rats was increased, the permeability of blood-brain barrier of model group and butylphthalide group rats was increased, and the Rho A protein of model group and butylphthalide group rats was increased. Compared with the model group, the brain water content of butylphthalide group rats was induced (73.67 ± 0.67 vs 74.14 ± 0.46; 74.89 ± 0.57 vs 75.61 ± 0.52; 77.49 ± 0.34 vs 79.33 ± 0.49; 76.31 ± 0.56 vs 78.01 ± 0.48; 72.36 ± 0.44 vs 73.12 ± 0.73; P < 0.05), the permeability of blood-brain barrier of butylphthalide group rats was induced (319.20 ± 8.11 vs 394.60 ± 6.19; 210.40 ± 9.56 vs 266.40 ± 7.99; 188.00 ± 9.22 vs 232.40 ± 7.89; 288.40 ± 7.86 vs 336.00 ± 6.71; 166.60 ± 6.23 vs 213.60 ± 13.79; P < 0.05), and the Rho A protein of butylphthalide group rats was decreased (western blot result: 1.2230 ± 0.0254 vs 1.3970 ± 0.0276; 1.5985 ± 0.0206 vs 2.0368 ± 0.0179; 1.4229 ± 0.0167 vs 1.7930 ± 0.0158;1.3126 ± 0.0236 vs 1.5471 ± 0.0158; P < 0.05). The butylphthalide could reduce the brain edema, protect the blood-brain barrier, and decrease the expression of Rho A around the infarction.

Unsteady Convection Flow and Heat Transfer over a Vertical Stretching Surface

PubMed Central

Cai, Wenli; Su, Ning; Liu, Xiangdong

2014-01-01

This paper investigates the effect of thermal radiation on unsteady convection flow and heat transfer over a vertical permeable stretching surface in porous medium, where the effects of temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity are also considered. By using a similarity transformation, the governing time-dependent boundary layer equations for momentum and thermal energy are first transformed into coupled, non-linear ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients. Numerical solutions to these equations subject to appropriate boundary conditions are obtained by the numerical shooting technique with fourth-fifth order Runge-Kutta scheme. Numerical results show that as viscosity variation parameter increases both the absolute value of the surface friction coefficient and the absolute value of the surface temperature gradient increase whereas the temperature decreases slightly. With the increase of viscosity variation parameter, the velocity decreases near the sheet surface but increases far away from the surface of the sheet in the boundary layer. The increase in permeability parameter leads to the decrease in both the temperature and the absolute value of the surface friction coefficient, and the increase in both the velocity and the absolute value of the surface temperature gradient. PMID:25264737

Unsteady convection flow and heat transfer over a vertical stretching surface.

PubMed

Cai, Wenli; Su, Ning; Liu, Xiangdong

2014-01-01

This paper investigates the effect of thermal radiation on unsteady convection flow and heat transfer over a vertical permeable stretching surface in porous medium, where the effects of temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity are also considered. By using a similarity transformation, the governing time-dependent boundary layer equations for momentum and thermal energy are first transformed into coupled, non-linear ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients. Numerical solutions to these equations subject to appropriate boundary conditions are obtained by the numerical shooting technique with fourth-fifth order Runge-Kutta scheme. Numerical results show that as viscosity variation parameter increases both the absolute value of the surface friction coefficient and the absolute value of the surface temperature gradient increase whereas the temperature decreases slightly. With the increase of viscosity variation parameter, the velocity decreases near the sheet surface but increases far away from the surface of the sheet in the boundary layer. The increase in permeability parameter leads to the decrease in both the temperature and the absolute value of the surface friction coefficient, and the increase in both the velocity and the absolute value of the surface temperature gradient.

Evaluation of Chemical Warfare Agent Wipe Sampling ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Report This investigation tested specific (CWAs), including sarin (GB), soman (GD), cyclosarin (GF), sulfur mustard (HD), and O-ethyl-S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioate (VX) on the non-ideal (e.g., porous and permeable) surfaces of drywall, vinyl tile, wood, laminate, and coated glass. Pesticides (diazinon and malathion) were used so that a comparison is possible with existing literature data (1). Experiments included testing with coupons having surface areas of 10 cm2 and 100 cm2. The 10-cm2 coupons were of a size that could easily be extracted in a 2 oz jar (to provide comparative data for CWA recoveries generated by direct extraction) and the 100-cm2 coupons better represented the area of a surface that might typically be sampled by wipe extraction. In addition, CWA, at a normalized surface concentration of 0.1 µg per cm2 surface area, were spiked on coupons of the tested surfaces. Wipes were wetted with either dichloromethane (DCM) or isopropanol (IPA) before sampling for CWA. Experimental parameters include multiple wipe types, porous/permeable surfaces, coupon surface area, solvent used to wet the wipe (i.e., wetting solvent), and the utility of VX-d14 as an extracted internal standard.

Fault rock mineralogy and fluid flow in the Coso Geothermal Field, CA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davatzes, N. C.; Hickman, S. H.

2005-12-01

The minerals that comprise fault rock, their grain shapes, and packing geometry are important controls on fault zone properties such as permeability, frictional strength, and slip behavior. In this study we examine the role of mineralogy and deformation microstructures on fluid flow in a fault-hosted, fracture-dominated geothermal system contained in granitic rocks in the Coso Geothermal Field, CA. Initial examination of the mineralogy and microstructure of fault rock obtained from core and surface outcrops reveals three fault rock types. (1) Fault rock consisting of kaolinite and amorphous silica that contains large connected pores, dilatant brittle fractures, and dissolution textures. (2) Fault rock consisting of foliated layers of chlorite and illite-smectite separated by slip surfaces. (3) Fault rock consisting of poorly sorted angular grains, characterized by large variations in grain packing (pore size), and crack-seal textures. These different fault rocks are respectively associated with a high permeability upper boiling zone for the geothermal system, a conductively heated "caprock" at moderate to shallow depth associated with low permeability, and a deeper convectively heated region associated with enhanced permeability. Outcrop and hand-sample scale mapping, XRD analysis, and SEM secondary electron images of fault gouge and slip surfaces at different stages of development (estimated shear strain) are used to investigate the processes responsible for the development and physical properties of these distinct fault rocks. In each type of fault rock, mineral dissolution and re-precipitation in conjunction with the amount and geometry of porosity changes induced by dilation or compaction are the key controls on fault rock development. In addition, at the contacts between slip surfaces, abrasion and resulting comminution appear to influence grain size, sorting, and packing. Macroscopically, we expect the frictional strength of these characteristic fault rocks to differ because the processes that accommodate deformation depend strongly on mineralogy. Frictional strength of quartz-dominated fault rocks in the near surface and in the reservoir should be greater (~0.6) than that in the clay-dominated cap rock (~0.2-0.4). Similarly, permeability should be much lower in foliated clay-rich fault rocks than in quartz-rich fault rocks as evidenced by larger, more connected pores imaged in quartz-rich gouge. Mineral stability is a function of loading, strain rate, temperature, and fluid flow conditions. Which minerals form, and the rates at which they grow is also a key element in determining variations in the magnitude and anisotropy of fault zone properties at Coso. Consequently, we suggest that the development of fault-zone properties depends on the feedback between deformation, resulting changes in permeability, and large-scale fluid flow and the leading to dissolution/precipitation of minerals in the fault rock and adjacent host rock. The implication for Coso is that chemical alteration of otherwise low-porosity crystalline rocks appears to determine the distribution and temporal evolution of permeability in the actively deforming fracture network at small to moderate scales as well as along major, reservoir-penetrating fault zones.

[Morphometric evaluation of the lateral fossa during the pre-gyrus period].

PubMed

Varlam, H; Macovei, G N; Antohe, D St

2002-09-01

During edification of neocortex, the lateral fossa is involved in the process of development of cerebral hemispheres. It changes its shape and, from a shallow depression at the end of the 3rd month, it becomes a triangular surface with marked borders. Finally, in the same time with the appearance of circumvolutions the opercles that limit it come closer and give rise to the lateral sulcus. The evolution of the lateral fossa can be analysed by linear and surface parameters. Morphometric and statistic analyse of these parameters, compared with those of the cerebral hemisphere, allowed us to establish some original criteria for appreciating the growth of the foetal brain.

Effect of particle size distribution on permeability in the randomly packed porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Markicevic, Bojan

2017-11-01

An answer of how porous medium heterogeneity influences the medium permeability is still inconclusive, where both increase and decrease in the permeability value are reported. A numerical procedure is used to generate a randomly packed porous material consisting of spherical particles. Six different particle size distributions are used including mono-, bi- and three-disperse particles, as well as uniform, normal and log-normal particle size distribution with the maximum to minimum particle size ratio ranging from three to eight for different distributions. In all six cases, the average particle size is kept the same. For all media generated, the stochastic homogeneity is checked from distribution of three coordinates of particle centers, where uniform distribution of x-, y- and z- positions is found. The medium surface area remains essentially constant except for bi-modal distribution in which medium area decreases, while no changes in the porosity are observed (around 0.36). The fluid flow is solved in such domain, and after checking for the pressure axial linearity, the permeability is calculated from the Darcy law. The permeability comparison reveals that the permeability of the mono-disperse medium is smallest, and the permeability of all poly-disperse samples is less than ten percent higher. For bi-modal particles, the permeability is for a quarter higher compared to the other media which can be explained by volumetric contribution of larger particles and larger passages for fluid flow to take place.

Structure of the lunar interior from magnetic field measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dyal, P.; Parkin, C. W.; Daily, W. D.

1976-01-01

A network of lunar surface and orbiting magnetometers was used to obtain measurements of electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability of the lunar interior. An exceptionally large solar transient event, when the moon was in a geomagnetic tail lobe, enabled the most accurate lunar electromagnetic sounding information to date to be obtained. A new analytical technique using a network of two surface magnetometers and a satellite magnetometer superimposes many time series measurements to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and uses both the amplitude and phase information of all three vector components of the magnetic field data. Size constraints on a hypothetical highly conducting lunar core are investigated with the aid of the permeability results.

Dependence of magnetic permeability on residual stresses in alloyed steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hristoforou, E.; Ktena, A.; Vourna, P.; Argiris, K.

2018-04-01

A method for the monitoring of residual stress distribution in steels has been developed based on non-destructive surface magnetic permeability measurements. In order to investigate the potential utilization of the magnetic method in evaluating residual stresses, the magnetic calibration curves of various ferromagnetic alloyed steels' grade (AISI 4140, TRIP and Duplex) were examined. X-Ray diffraction technique was used for determining surface residual stress values. The overall measurement results have shown that the residual stress determined by the magnetic method was in good agreement with the diffraction results. Further experimental investigations are required to validate the preliminary results and to verify the presence of a unique normalized magnetic stress calibration curve.

Influence of extracellular zinc on M1 microglial activation.

PubMed

Higashi, Youichirou; Aratake, Takaaki; Shimizu, Shogo; Shimizu, Takahiro; Nakamura, Kumiko; Tsuda, Masayuki; Yawata, Toshio; Ueba, Tetuya; Saito, Motoaki

2017-02-27

Extracellular zinc, which is released from hippocampal neurons in response to brain ischaemia, triggers morphological changes in microglia. Under ischaemic conditions, microglia exhibit two opposite activation states (M1 and M2 activation), which may be further regulated by the microenvironment. We examined the role of extracellular zinc on M1 activation of microglia. Pre-treatment of microglia with 30-60 μM ZnCl 2 resulted in dose-dependent increases in interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) secretion when M1 activation was induced by lipopolysaccharide administration. In contrast, the cell-permeable zinc chelator TPEN, the radical scavenger Trolox, and the P2X7 receptor antagonist A438079 suppressed the effects of zinc pre-treatment on microglia. Furthermore, endogenous zinc release was induced by cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion, resulting in increased expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, and the microglial M1 surface marker CD16/32, without hippocampal neuronal cell loss, in addition to impairments in object recognition memory. However, these effects were suppressed by the zinc chelator CaEDTA. These findings suggest that extracellular zinc may prime microglia to enhance production of pro-inflammatory cytokines via P2X7 receptor activation followed by reactive oxygen species generation in response to stimuli that trigger M1 activation, and that these inflammatory processes may result in deficits in object recognition memory.

On the attenuating effect of permeability on the low frequency sound of an airfoil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weidenfeld, M.; Manela, A.

2016-08-01

The effect of structure permeability on the far-field radiation of a thin airfoil is studied. Assuming low-Mach and high-Reynolds number flow, the near- and far-field descriptions are investigated at flapping-flight and unsteady flow conditions. Analysis is carried out using thin-airfoil theory and compact-body-based calculations for the hydrodynamic and acoustic fields, respectively. Airfoil porosity is modeled via Darcy's law, governed by prescribed distribution of surface intrinsic permeability. Discrete vortex model is applied to describe airfoil wake evolution. To assess the impact of penetrability, results are compared to counterpart predictions for the sound of an impermeable airfoil. Considering the finite-chord airfoil as "acoustically transparent", the leading-order contribution of surface porosity is obtained in terms of an acoustic dipole. It is shown that, at all flow conditions considered, porosity causes attenuation in outcome sound level. This is accompanied by a time-delay in the pressure signal, reflecting the mediating effect of permeability on the interaction of fluid flow with airfoil edge points. To the extent that thin-airfoil theory holds (requiring small normal-to-airfoil flow velocities), the results indicate on a decrease of ~ 10 percent and more in the total energy radiated by a permeable versus an impermeable airfoil. This amounts to a reduction in system sound pressure level of 3 dB and above at pitching flight conditions, where the sound-reducing effect of the seepage dipole pressure becomes dominant. The applicability of Darcy's law to model the effect of material porosity is discussed in light of existing literature.

FURTHER STUDIES ON THE KINETICS OF OSMOSIS IN LIVING CELLS

PubMed Central

Lucké, Balduin; Hartline, H. Keffer; McCutcheon, Morton

1931-01-01

Using unfertilized eggs of Arbacia punctulata as natural osmometers an attempt has been made to account for the course of swelling and shrinking of these cells in anisotonic solutions by means of the laws governing osmosis and diffusion. The method employed has been to compute permeability of the cell to water, as measured by the rate of volume change per unit of cell surface per unit of osmotic pressure outstanding between the cell and its medium. Permeability to water as here defined and as somewhat differently defined by Northrop is approximately constant during swelling and shrinking, at least for the first several minutes of these processes. Permeability is found to be independent of the osmotic pressure of the solution in which cells are swelling. Water is found to leave cells more readily than it enters, that is, permeability is greater during exosmosis than during endosmosis. PMID:19872594

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Larin, Kirill V; Ghosn, M G

The passive diffusion of drugs through the epithelial surfaces of an eye (the most widespread method for medical treatment of various diseases) is considered. The permeability of water and drugs through rabbit cornea was measured in the isolated cornea (separate from an eye) and in the whole cornea. The permeability coefficients of water and dexamethasone were estimated by the method of optical coherence tomography (OCT). Because multiple photon scattering introduces noise and distortions to the OCT signal, measurements were performed at depths up to 500 {mu}m where most likely single scattering of light occurs in cornea. It is shown thatmore » the permeability coefficients in the isolated and whole cornea strongly differ from each other. For example, the water permeability in the isolated and whole cornea is (7.09{+-}0.12)x10{sup -5} and (1.71{+-}0.51)x10{sup -5} cm s{sup -1}, respectively. (special issue devoted to multiple radiation scattering in random media)« less

Annealing effects on magnetic properties of silicone-coated iron-based soft magnetic composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Shen; Sun, Aizhi; Zhai, Fuqiang; Wang, Jin; Zhang, Qian; Xu, Wenhuan; Logan, Philip; Volinsky, Alex A.

2012-03-01

This paper focuses on novel iron-based soft magnetic composites synthesis utilizing high thermal stability silicone resin to coat iron powder. The effect of an annealing treatment on the magnetic properties of synthesized magnets was investigated. The coated silicone insulating layer was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Silicone uniformly coated the powder surface, resulting in a reduction of the imaginary part of the permeability, thereby increasing the electrical resistivity and the operating frequency of the synthesized magnets. The annealing treatment increased the initial permeability, the maximum permeability, and the magnetic induction, and decreased the coercivity. Annealing at 580 °C increased the maximum permeability by 72.5%. The result of annealing at 580 °C shows that the ferromagnetic resonance frequency increased from 2 kHz for conventional epoxy resin coated samples to 80 kHz for the silicone resin insulated composites.

Accumulation of intimal platelets in cerebral arteries following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in cats

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haining, J.L.; Clower, B.R.; Honma, Y.

From 2 hours to 23 days following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage, the accumulation of indium-111-labeled platelets on the intimal surface of the middle cerebral artery was studied in 23 cats. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was produced by transorbital rupture of the right middle cerebral artery. Of the 23 cats, 17 exhibited right middle cerebral artery/left middle cerebral artery radioactivity ratios of greater than 1.25. When these results were compared with those of 12 control cats, 0.001 less than p less than 0.005 (chi2 test). Thus, the results from the control and experimental groups are significantly different and indicate early (after 2 hours) preferentialmore » accumulation of intimal platelets in the ruptured right middle cerebral artery compared with the unruptured left middle cerebral artery and new platelet deposition continuing for up to 23 days. However, the experimental group did not reveal a clear pattern for platelet accumulation following subarachnoid hemorrhage. There was no simple correlation between the magnitude of the radioactivity ratios and the time after hemorrhage when the cats were killed although the ratios for 2 hours to 7 days seemed greater than those for 8 to 23 days. Assuming the pivotal role of platelets in the angiopathy of subarachnoid hemorrhage, the administration of antiplatelet agents as soon as possible following its occurrence may be of value.« less

Optical investigation of effective permeability of dilute magnetic dielectrics with magnetic field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Banerjee, Ananya, E-mail: banerjee.ananya2008@gmail.com; Sarkar, A.

The prime objective of this paper is to investigate the magnetic nature of dilute magnetic dielectrics (DMD) under variation of external magnetic field. The said variation is studied over developed nano-sized Gadolinium Oxide as a DMD system. The observed experimental field variation of the effective magnetic permeability is analyzed results of optical experiment. The experiment records the variation of Brewster angle of incident polarized LASER beam from the surface of developed DMD specimen with applied out of plane external magnetic field. The effective refractive index and hence relative magnetic permeability were estimated following electro-magnetic theory. The overall results obtained andmore » agreement between theory and experiment are good.« less

Autologous Fat Used for Facial Filling Can Lead to Massive Cerebral Infarction Through Middle Cerebral Artery or Facial Intracranial Branches.

PubMed

Wang, Xian; Wu, Min; Zhou, Xing; Liu, Hengdeng; Zhang, Yongchao; Wang, Haiping

2018-05-31

Autologous fat injection is a procedure aimed at eliminating grave defects in the skin surface by subcutaneous injection of the patient's fatty tissue. Fat embolism is a rare but severe complication of this procedure, especially cerebral infarction. It is first reported by Thaunat in 2004. were presented to the hospital with sudden unconsciousness and left limb weakness in 24 hours after facial fat injection. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed immediately after admission. Frontal temporoparietal decompressive craniectomy plus multiple treatments scheduled for patients. Pictures and videos were taken during follow-up. Figures are edited with Adobe Photograph CS6. Patients were diagnosed with extensive cerebral infarction of the right hemisphere through the middle cerebral artery or facial-intracranial branches. Routine cosmetic procedures of facial fat injections could cause devastating and even fatal complications to patients. The small volume of fat grafts can be inserted through the internal carotid artery or go through the communicating branches between the facial artery and the intracranial artery into the brain.

Establishing a rat model of spastic cerebral palsy by targeted ethanol injection

PubMed Central

Yu, Yadong; Li, Liang; Shao, Xinzhong; Tian, Fangtao; Sun, Qinglu

2013-01-01

Spastic cerebral palsy is generally considered to result from cerebral cortical or pyramidal tract damage. Here, we precisely targeted the left pyramidal tract of 2-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats placed on a stereotaxic instrument under intraperitoneal anesthesia. Based on the rat brain stereotaxic map, a 1-mm hole was made 10 mm posterior to bregma and 0.8 mm left of sagittal suture. A microsyringe was inserted perpendicularly to the surface of the brain to a depth of 9.7 mm, and 15 μL of ethanol was slowly injected to establish a rat model of spastic cerebral palsy. After modeling, the rats appeared to have necrotic voids in the pyramidal tract and exhibited typical signs and symptoms of flexion spasms that lasted for a long period of time. These findings indicate that this is an effective and easy method of establishing a rat model of spastic cerebral palsy with good re-producibility. Ethanol as a chemical ablation agent specifically and thoroughly damages the pyramidal tract, and therefore, the animals display flexion spasms, which are a typical symptom of the disease. PMID:25206647

A Film Depositional Model of Permeability for Mineral Reactions in Unsaturated Media.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Freedman, Vicky L.; Saripalli, Prasad; Bacon, Diana H.

2004-11-15

A new modeling approach based on the biofilm models of Taylor et al. (1990, Water Resources Research, 26, 2153-2159) has been developed for modeling changes in porosity and permeability in saturated porous media and implemented in an inorganic reactive transport code. Application of the film depositional models to mineral precipitation and dissolution reactions requires that calculations of mineral films be dynamically changing as a function of time dependent reaction processes. Since calculations of film thicknesses do not consider mineral density, results show that the film porosity model does not adequately describe volumetric changes in the porous medium. These effects canmore » be included in permeability calculations by coupling the film permeability models (Mualem and Childs and Collis-George) to a volumetric model that incorporates both mineral density and reactive surface area. Model simulations demonstrate that an important difference between the biofilm and mineral film models is in the translation of changes in mineral radii to changes in pore space. Including the effect of tortuosity on pore radii changes improves the performance of the Mualem permeability model for both precipitation and dissolution. Results from simulation of simultaneous dissolution and secondary mineral precipitation provides reasonable estimates of porosity and permeability. Moreover, a comparison of experimental and simulated data show that the model yields qualitatively reasonable results for permeability changes due to solid-aqueous phase reactions.« less

Permeability structure of a highly heterogeneous transgressive-marine complex: Tocito Sandstone, New Mexico

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lambert, M.L.; Cole, R.D.

1996-01-01

The Tocito Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale is an Upper Cretaceous shallow-marine sandstone and mudrock complex deposited along the western margin of the Western Interior seaway. The Tocito is a major hydrocarbon producer in the San Juan Basin (approximately 117 million barrels of oil and 79 billion cubic feet of gas). Because of reservoir heterogeneity, ultimate Tocito oil recovery factors are low, generally between 10 and 20 percent. To enhance understanding of permeability heterogeneity in the Tocito, we have undertaken a detailed surface and subsurface investigation. A total of 2,697 permeability measurements have been made using minipermeameters. Permeability variationmore » within the Tocito is controlled by two principal factors: lithofacies and burial/diagenetic history. Coarser grained and better sorted lithofacies have the highest permeability. The permeability values from outcrop and shallow subsurface cores are dramatically higher than those from deep subsurface cores. This is due to dissolution of grains and calcite cement, and decompaction that preferentially affected the outcrop and shallow subsurface. Correlation lengths for permeability values along horizontal transacts are typically less than 3 m, whereas those for vertical transacts are usually less than 0.6 m. These data suggest that small grid block sizes should be used during reservoir simulations if the investigator wishes to accurately capture the reservoir heterogeneity.« less

Permeability structure of a highly heterogeneous transgressive-marine complex: Tocito Sandstone, New Mexico

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lambert, M.L.; Cole, R.D.

1996-12-31

The Tocito Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale is an Upper Cretaceous shallow-marine sandstone and mudrock complex deposited along the western margin of the Western Interior seaway. The Tocito is a major hydrocarbon producer in the San Juan Basin (approximately 117 million barrels of oil and 79 billion cubic feet of gas). Because of reservoir heterogeneity, ultimate Tocito oil recovery factors are low, generally between 10 and 20 percent. To enhance understanding of permeability heterogeneity in the Tocito, we have undertaken a detailed surface and subsurface investigation. A total of 2,697 permeability measurements have been made using minipermeameters. Permeability variationmore » within the Tocito is controlled by two principal factors: lithofacies and burial/diagenetic history. Coarser grained and better sorted lithofacies have the highest permeability. The permeability values from outcrop and shallow subsurface cores are dramatically higher than those from deep subsurface cores. This is due to dissolution of grains and calcite cement, and decompaction that preferentially affected the outcrop and shallow subsurface. Correlation lengths for permeability values along horizontal transacts are typically less than 3 m, whereas those for vertical transacts are usually less than 0.6 m. These data suggest that small grid block sizes should be used during reservoir simulations if the investigator wishes to accurately capture the reservoir heterogeneity.« less

Development of an evaporation-optimized and water-permeable pavement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starke, P.; Göbel, P.; Coldewey, W. G.

2009-04-01

During recent decades, urban areas have been threatened more frequently by flood events. Furthermore, the potential for damage from these events has increased on average. The construction of houses, streets and parking lots has caused this trend by sealing the ground surface, i.e. these water-impermeable areas reduce the natural infiltration and evaporation-rates, and in some cases it is even completely stopped. The consequence is the so called "urban water cycle". Water from precipitation cannot be stored anywhere and so there is an immediate and very high surface run-off effect. Especially after intense rain events, canalisations and sewage-treatment plants are overloaded and this leads to higher costs for water treatment and to environmental damage. A practical solution to this problem is the use of water-permeable pavements. Here higher infiltration rates lead to a groundwater recharge that is greater than that of natural soils. The consequences from using these surfaces are already noticeable in many places through increasing groundwater levels. These increases cause damage to buildings. A second difference from a natural-soil water-balance is a lower evapotranspiration rate. Up to now the evaporation rates for water-permeable pavements has not been established accurately. The aim of the applied research project at the University of Muenster, which is sponsored by the DBU (The German Federal Environmental Foundation), is to gain knowledge of urban evaporation rates and of water-permeable surfaces, especially water-permeable pavements. Water-permeable pavements consist of the paving stone surface and the two sub-base layers below. Pre-investigations show that evaporation can be influenced by the complete sub-base. Therefore, the first step was to investigate which materials are used for sub-base construction. All in all, 27 materials were collected from throughout Germany and these materials were then tested (in terms of physical and hydraulic attributes) in the soil-mechanics laboratory of the University of Muenster. For their street construction useability, and having regard to evaporation, a selection of appropriate materials were built into a test field. The test field consisted of seven hexagonal areas each about 10 m2 large, which are placed in a honeycomb manner. The evaporation measurements are carried out with a WERNER tunnel-evaporation gauge (TUV) which is able to detect the actual evaporation rate. Its functional principle also allows a direct comparison between the middle reference area and one outer area of the test field. Every measuring period lasts one week and after that the TUV is moved to between the next outer area and the reference area. So the TUV rotates over the whole test field and every measuring area is covered by a measurement. In addition, a Hellman rain-gauge near the test field enables the measurement of a direct precipitation-evaporation ratio. Since the start of the measurements in July 2008, the first results collected showed that measureable differences in evaporation rates could be detected after a few measuring periods, i.e. the differences are up to 32% between the reference area and one outer area. In July 2009, the six outer measuring areas of the test field will be replaced and, based on the actual results collected, the sub-base layers will be replaced by an evaporation-optimized sub-base. The new outer measuring areas will only differ in terms of a different paving-stone surface. These paving stones are actually under developement and under laboratory testing (i.e. permeability, porosity, capillary water and evaporationrates), and so they will be evaporation-opimized. The open-air test in the test field is to assure and compare the evaporation rates. As a final result, the evaporation-optimized and water-permeable pavement and the knowledge of its exact drainage ratio will allow city planners or architects to build water-permeable streets with due regard to the respective area-specific conditions. This new developed pavement is an approximation to the water balance of a natural soil. In this way, the danger of flooding can be further reduced in urban areas.

Susceptibility of ground water to surface and shallow sources of contamination, Orange County, North Carolina

USGS Publications Warehouse

Terziotti, Silvia; Eimers, J.L.

1999-01-01

In 1998, the relative susceptibility of ground water in Orange County, North Carolina,to contamination from surface and shallow sources was evaluated. A geographic information system was used to build three county-wide layers--soil permeability, land use/land cover, and land-surface slope. The harmonic mean permeability of soil layers was used to estimate a location's capacity to transmit water through the soil. Values for each of these three factors were categorized and ranked from 1 to 10 according to relative potential for contamination. Each factor was weighted to reflect its relative potential contribution to ground-water contamination, then the factors were combined to create a relative susceptibility index. The relative susceptibility index was categorized to reflect lowest, low, moderate, high, and highest potential for ground-water contamination. The relative susceptibility index for about 12 percent of the area in Orange County was categorized as high or highest. The high and highest range areas have highly permeable soils, land cover or land-use activities that have a high contamination potential, and low to moderate slopes. Most of the county is within the moderate category of relative susceptibility to ground-water contamination. About 21 percent of the county is ranked as low or lowest relative susceptibility to ground-water contamination.

Permeability of a bubble assembly: From the very dry to the wet limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rouyer, Florence; Pitois, Olivier; Lorenceau, Elise; Louvet, Nicolas

2010-04-01

Bubble assemblies offer the remarkable property of adjusting their packing fraction over three orders of magnitude, thus providing an interesting system for the study of liquid flows through granular matter. Although significant work has been done in several fields of research, e.g., foams, porous media, and suspensions, a complete set of data over such a wide range of porosity ɛ is still lacking. In this paper, we measure the permeability of a bubbly system in the range 0.1<ɛ<0.8 and we connect these new data with a recently published set obtained for foams corresponding to ɛ <0.2 [E. Lorenceau et al., Eur. Phys. J. E 28, 293 (2009)]. Moreover, measurements performed with two different surfactants, the so-called "mobile" and "nonmobile" interfaces, allow us to determine the influence of the bubbles' surface mobility, which is proved to be a significant parameter up to ɛ ≈0.6, thus well above the bubbles packing fraction. Above ɛ ≈0.6, surface elasticity is fully mobilized over the bubbles' surface and the behavior of rigid spheres is observed for both solutions. We show that all the permeability values obtained for the bubble assembly with "nonmobile" interfaces are properly described with the Carman-Kozeny model.

Laminar flow drag reduction on soft porous media.

PubMed

Mirbod, Parisa; Wu, Zhenxing; Ahmadi, Goodarz

2017-12-08

While researches have focused on drag reduction of various coated surfaces such as superhydrophobic structures and polymer brushes, the insights tso understand the fundamental physics of the laminar skin friction coefficient and the related drag reduction due to the formation of finite velocity at porous surfaces is still relatively unknown. Herein, we quantitatively investigated the flow over a porous medium by developing a framework to model flow of a Newtonian fluid in a channel where the lower surface was replaced by various porous media. We showed that the flow drag reduction induced by the presence of the porous media depends on the values of the permeability parameter α = L/(MK) 1/2 and the height ratio δ = H/L, where L is the half thickness of the free flow region, H is the thickness and K is the permeability of the fiber layer, and M is the ratio of the fluid effective dynamic viscosity μ e in porous media to its dynamic viscosity μ. We also examined the velocity and shear stress profiles for flow over the permeable layer for the limiting cases of α → 0 and α → ∞. The model predictions were compared with the experimental data for specific porous media and good agreement was found.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheshire, Michael C.; Stack, Andrew G.; Carey, J. William

Mineral reactions during CO 2 sequestration will change the pore-size distribution and pore surface characteristics, complicating permeability and storage security predictions. In this study, we report a small/wide angle scattering study of wellbore cement that has been exposed to carbon dioxide for three decades. We have constructed detailed contour maps that describe local porosity distributions and the mineralogy of the sample and relate these quantities to the carbon dioxide reaction front on the cement. We find that the initial bimodal distribution of pores in the cement, 1–2 and 10–20 nm, is affected differently during the course of carbonation reactions. Initialmore » dissolution of cement phases occurs in the 10–20 nm pores and leads to the development of new pore spaces that are eventually sealed by CaCO 3 precipitation, leading to a loss of gel and capillary nanopores, smoother pore surfaces, and reduced porosity. This suggests that during extensive carbonation of wellbore cement, the cement becomes less permeable because of carbonate mineral precipitation within the pore space. Additionally, the loss of gel and capillary nanoporosities will reduce the reactivity of cement with CO 2 due to reactive surface area loss. Finally, this work demonstrates the importance of understanding not only changes in total porosity but also how the distribution of porosity evolves with reaction that affects permeability.« less

Synthesis and Transport Properties of Novel MOF/PIM-1/MOF Sandwich Membranes for Gas Separation

PubMed Central

Fuoco, Alessio; Khdhayyer, Muhanned R.; Attfield, Martin P.; Esposito, Elisa; Jansen, Johannes C.; Budd, Peter M.

2017-01-01

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were supported on polymer membrane substrates for the fabrication of composite polymer membranes based on unmodified and modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1). Layers of two different MOFs, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and Copper benzene tricarboxylate ((HKUST-1), were grown onto neat PIM-1, amide surface-modified PIM-1 and hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) -modified PIM-1. The surface-grown crystalline MOFs were characterized by a combination of several techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy to investigate the film morphology on the neat and modified PIM-1 membranes. The pure gas permeabilities of He, H2, O2, N2, CH4, CO2 were studied to understand the effect of the surface modification on the basic transport properties and evaluate the potential use of these membranes for industrially relevant gas separations. The pure gas transport was discussed in terms of permeability and selectivity, highlighting the effect of the MOF growth on the diffusion coefficients of the gas in the new composite polymer membranes. The results confirm that the growth of MOFs on polymer membranes can enhance the selectivity of the appropriately functionalized PIM-1, without a dramatic decrease of the permeability. PMID:28208658

Cracks in the Palisade Cuticle of Soybean Seed Coats Correlate with their Permeability to Water

PubMed Central

MA, FENGSHAN; CHOLEWA, EWA; MOHAMED, TASNEEM; PETERSON, CAROL A.; GIJZEN, MARK

2004-01-01

• Background and Aims Soybean (Glycine max) is among the many legumes that are well known for ‘hardseededness’. This feature can be beneficial for long-term seed survival, but is undesirable for the food processing industry. There is substantial disagreement concerning the mechanisms and related structures that control the permeability properties of soybean seed coats. In this work, the structural component that controls water entry into the seed is identified. • Methods Six soybean cultivars were tested for their seed coat permeabilities to water. To identify the structural feature(s) that may contribute to the determination of these permeabilities, fluorescent tracer dyes, and light and electron microscopic techniques were used. • Key Results The cultivar ‘Tachanagaha’ has the most permeable seed coat, ‘OX 951’ the least permeable seed coat, and the permeabilities of the rest (‘Harovinton’, ‘Williams’, ‘Clark L 67-3469’, and ‘Harosoy 63’) are intermediate. All seeds have surface deposits, depressions, a light line, and a cuticle about 0·2 µm thick overlaying the palisade layer. In permeable cultivars the cuticle tends to break, whereas in impermeable seeds of ‘OX 951’ it remains intact. In the case of permeable seed coats, the majority of the cracks are from 1 to 5 µm wide and from 20 to 200 µm long, and occur more frequently on the dorsal side than in other regions of the seed coat, a position that correlates with the site of initial water uptake. • Conclusions The cuticle of the palisade layer is the key factor that determines the permeability property of a soybean seed coat. The cuticle of a permeable seed coat is mechanically weak and develops small cracks through which water can pass. The cuticle of an impermeable seed coat is mechanically strong and does not crack under normal circumstances. PMID:15217785

Distribution of neurons in functional areas of the mouse cerebral cortex reveals quantitatively different cortical zones

PubMed Central

Herculano-Houzel, Suzana; Watson, Charles; Paxinos, George

2013-01-01

How are neurons distributed along the cortical surface and across functional areas? Here we use the isotropic fractionator (Herculano-Houzel and Lent, 2005) to analyze the distribution of neurons across the entire isocortex of the mouse, divided into 18 functional areas defined anatomically. We find that the number of neurons underneath a surface area (the N/A ratio) varies 4.5-fold across functional areas and neuronal density varies 3.2-fold. The face area of S1 contains the most neurons, followed by motor cortex and the primary visual cortex. Remarkably, while the distribution of neurons across functional areas does not accompany the distribution of surface area, it mirrors closely the distribution of cortical volumes—with the exception of the visual areas, which hold more neurons than expected for their volume. Across the non-visual cortex, the volume of individual functional areas is a shared linear function of their number of neurons, while in the visual areas, neuronal densities are much higher than in all other areas. In contrast, the 18 functional areas cluster into three different zones according to the relationship between the N/A ratio and cortical thickness and neuronal density: these three clusters can be called visual, sensory, and, possibly, associative. These findings are remarkably similar to those in the human cerebral cortex (Ribeiro et al., 2013) and suggest that, like the human cerebral cortex, the mouse cerebral cortex comprises two zones that differ in how neurons form the cortical volume, and three zones that differ in how neurons are distributed underneath the cortical surface, possibly in relation to local differences in connectivity through the white matter. Our results suggest that beyond the developmental divide into visual and non-visual cortex, functional areas initially share a common distribution of neurons along the parenchyma that become delimited into functional areas according to the pattern of connectivity established later. PMID:24155697

Field determination of vertical permeability to air in the unsaturated zone

USGS Publications Warehouse

Weeks, Edwin P.

1978-01-01

The vertical permeability to air of layered materials in the unsaturated zone may be determined from air pressure data obtained at depth during a period when air pressure is changing at land surface. Such data may be obtained by monitoring barometric pressure with a microbarograph or surveying altimeter and simultaneously measuring down-hole pneumatic head differences in specially constructed piezometers. These data, coupled with air-filled porosity data from other sources, may be compared with the results of electric-analog or numerical solution of the one-dimensional diffusion equation to make a trial-and-error determination of the air permeability for each layer. The permeabilities to air may in turn be converted to equivalent hydraulic conductivity values if the materials are well drained, are permeable enough that the Klinkenberg effect is small, and are structurally unaffected by wetting. The method offers potential advantages over present methods to evaluate sites for artificial recharge by spreading; to evaluate ground-water pollution hazards from feedlots, sanitary landfills , and land irrigated with sewage effluent; and to evaluate sites for temporary storage of gas in the unsaturated zone. (Woodard-USGS)