Rabbit Annulus Fibrosus Cell Apoptosis Induced by Mechanical Overload via a Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway

In order to investigate the apoptotic pathway of rabbit annulus fibrosus(AF) cells induced by mechanical overload,an experimental air-pressure model was established in this study to pressurize the rabbit AF cells in vitro.Cells were randomly divided into five groups in which the cells were exposed to a continuous pressure of 1.1 MPa for different lengths of time(0,5,12,24 and 36 h).The cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry;the alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence spectrophotometer;the activities of caspase-8 and 9 were determined by spectrophotometry.The results showed that after the cells were subjected to the pressure for 24 or 36 h,the cell proliferation was inhibited;the ratio of cell apoptosis was increased;the mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased;the activity of caspase-9 was enhanced;no activity changes were observed in caspase-8.The results suggested that treatment with a pressure of 1.1 MPa for more than 24 h can lead to the proliferation inhibition and the apoptosis of rabbit AF cells in vitro,and the mitochondrial-dependent pathway is implicated in the pressure-induced AF cell apoptosis.

Existence of Multiple solutions for semilinear elliptic equations in the annulus

The existence of radial solutions of Δu ＋ λg（｜x｜）f（u） = 0 in annuli with Dirichlet（Dirichlet/Neumann） boundary conditions is investigated.It is proved that the problems have at least two positive radial solutions on any annulus if f is superlinear at 0 and sublinear at ∞.

Numerical Simulation of Double Diffusive Mixed Convection in a Horizontal Annulus with Finned Inner Cylinder

The present work relates to a numerical investigation of double diffusive mixed convection around a horizontal annulus with a finned inner cylinder.The solutal and thermal buoyancy forces are sustained by maintaining the inner and outer cylinders at uniform temperatures and concentrations.Buoyancy effects are also considered,with the Boussinesq approximation.The forced convection effect is induced by the outer cylinder rotating with an angular velocity(ω)in an anti-clockwise direction.The studies are made for various combinations of dimensionless numbers;buoyancy ratio number(N),Lewis number(Le),Richardson number(Ri)and Grashof number(Gr).The isotherms,isoconcentrations and streamlines as well as both average and local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers were studied.A finite volume scheme is adopted to solve the transport equations for continuity,momentum,energy and mass transfer.The results indicate that the use of fins on the inner cylinder with outer cylinder rotation,significantly improves the heat and mass transfer in the annulus.

The effect of the fibre orientation of electrospun scaffolds on the matrix production of rabbit annulus fibrosus-derived stem cells

Annulus fibrosus （AF） tissue engineering has recently received increasing attention as a treatment for intervertebral disc 0VD） degeneration; however, such engineering remains challenging because of the remarkable complexity of AF tissue. In order to engineer a functional AF replacement, the fabrication of cell-scaffold constructs that mimic the cellular, biochemical and structural features of native AF tissue is critical. In this study, we fabricated aligned fibroua polyurethane scaffolds using an electrospinning technique and used them for culturing AF-derived-stem/progenitor cells （AFSCs）. Random fibrous scaffolds, also prepared via electrospinningy were used as a control. We compared the morphology, proliferation, gene expression and matrix production of AFSCs on aligned scaffolds and random scaffolds. There was no apparent difference in the attachment or proliferation of cells cultured on aligned scaffolds and random scaffolds. However, compared to cells on random scaffolds, the AFSCs on aligned scaffolds were more elongated and better aligned, and they exhibited higher gene expression and matrix production of coUagen-I and aggrecan. The gene expression and protein production of coUagen-II did not appear to differ between the two groups. Together, these findings indicate that aligned fibrous scaffolds may provide a favourable microenvironment for the differentiation of AFSCs into cells similar to outer AF cells, which predominantly produce collagen-I matrix.

A Heterologous Fibrin Glue Enhances the Closure Effect of Surgical Suture on the Repair of Annulus Fibrous Defect in a Sheep Model

Improving the closure effect of surgical suture for repair of annulus fibrosus defects remains an unsolved problem.A new type of porcine fibrin glue was reported for the repair of annulus fibrous defects in sheep models in this study.Continuous axial loading test showed that this glue could effectively improve the closure effect of surgical suture for annulus fibrous defect.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine confirmed that,compared with nonfibrin glue treated intervertebral discs,it contributed to preservation of the nucleus pulposus and maintained the physiological hydration of the intervertebral discs.Moreover,histomorphology evaluation showed that the porcine fibrin glue could partially reverse degeneration of the injured intervertebral discs.Taken together,porcine fibrin glue can effectively enhance the closure effect of surgical suture on annulus fibrosus,improve the repair effect and slow down the degeneration of the intervertebral disc,and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for degenerative intervertebral disc disease.

Optimal selection of annulus radius ratio to enhance heat transfer with minimum entropy generation in developing laminar forced convection of water-Al2O3 nanofluid flow

Heat transfer and entropy generation of developing laminar forced convection flow of water-Al_2O_3 nanofluid in a concentric annulus with constant heat flux on the walls is investigated numerically. In order to determine entropy generation of fully developed flow, two approaches are employed and it is shown that only one of these methods can provide appropriate results for flow inside annuli. The effects of concentration of nanoparticles, Reynolds number and thermal boundaries on heat transfer enhancement and entropy generation of developing laminar flow inside annuli with different radius ratios and same cross sectional areas are studied. The results show that radius ratio is a very important decision parameter of an annular heat exchanger such that in each Re, there is an optimum radius ratio to maximize Nu and minimize entropy generation. Moreover, the effect of nanoparticles concentration on heat transfer enhancement and minimizing entropy generation is stronger at higher Reynolds.

Novel Annulus-shaped Flexure Pivot in Rotation Application and Dimensionless Design

Large-deflection flexure pivot is widely used in high precision rotation application, but there are less flexure configurations and simple and convenient design methods, This paper presents a novel large-deflection curved-compliant annulus-shaped flexure pivot composed of six curved beam flexure elements. It can offer more than lO^angular stroke theoretically. Firstly, main-motion pseudo-rigid-body method is introduced to establish the flexure pivot model. Although pseudo-rigid-body method can be used to analyze the large-deformation flexure pivot performance, the method is definitely a laborious and difficult task for designing this novel flexure pivot. In order to simply the designing process, dimension-design graphs based on the parametric models and finite element analysis is presented. Using the dimension-design method as a tool, the designers can determine the optimal geometry rapidly, based on the stiffness and rotation demands of an annulus-shaped flexure pivot. Finally, dimension-design graph examples are given whose primary design aims to achieve a rotation stroke of annulus-shaped flexure pivot. The finite element analysis results show that the relative designing error between anticipative rotation stroke and graph design result is less than 4%. The dimensionless method used in designing annulus-shaped flexure pivot can reduce design process in both time and complexity. The novel annulus-shaped flexure pivot and dimension-design method are helpful supplement to configuration and design method of large-deflection flexure pivot.

Influence factors on stress corrosion cracking of P 110 tubing steel under CO2 injection well annulus environment

Stress corrosion cracking(SCC) behavior of P110 tubing steel in simulated CO_2 injection well annulus environments was investigated through three-point bent tests, potentiodynamic polarization and EIS measurements. The results demonstrate that SCC of P110 tubing steel could occur in acidulous simulated environment, and the sensitivity of SCC increases with the decrease of pH, as well as increase of sulfide concentration and total environmental pressure. Both anodic dissolution and hydrogen embrittlement make contributions to the SCC. Adequate concentration of corrosion inhibitor can inhibit the occurrence of SCC on account of the inhibition of localized anodic dissolution and cathodic hydrogen evolution.

Heat transport of hybrid nanomaterial in an annulus with quadratic Boussinesq approximation

The convective heat transfer of hybrid nanoliquids within a concentric annulus has wide engineering applications such as chemical industries, solar collectors, gas turbines, heat exchangers, nuclear reactors, and electronic component cooling due to their high heat transport rate. Hence, in this study, the characteristics of the heat transport mechanism in an annulus filled with the Ag-MgO/H_2O hybrid nanoliquid under the influence of quadratic thermal radiation and quadratic convection are analyzed. The nonuniform heat source/sink and induced magnetic field mechanisms are used to govern the basic equations concerning the transport of the composite nanoliquid. The dependency of the Nusselt number on the effective parameters(thermal radiation, nonlinear convection,and temperature-dependent heat source/sink parameter) is examined through sensitivity analyses based on the response surface methodology(RSM) and the face-centered central composite design(CCD). The heat transport of the composite nanoliquid for the spacerelated heat source/sink is observed to be higher than that for the temperature-related heat source/sink. The mechanisms of quadratic convection and quadratic thermal radiation are favorable for the momentum of the nanoliquid. The heat transport rate is more sensitive towards quadratic thermal radiation.

Acoustic focusing through two layer annuluses in air

We report an acoustic focusing lens composed of two-layer annuluses made of metal cylinders in air. We find that the cylindrical waves can be focused into a perfect point without diffraction in the centre of the annuluses, which arises from the Mie-resonance modes in the annuluses. The focusing frequencies are related to the size of the inner annulus, and the focusing effect can be applied to the annuluses with different shapes and incident positions. Interesting applications of the focusing lens in the acoustic beam splitter and directional transmitter with energy enhancement are further discussed.

Thermoelastic vibrations in a thin elliptic annulus plate with elastic supports

In this study, integral operational methods are used to investigate the thermally induced transverse vibration of a thin elliptic annulus plate with elastic supports at both radial boundaries.The axisymmetric temperature distribution is determined by the heat conduction differential equation and its corresponding boundary conditions by employing a unified integral transform technique by use of Mathieu functions and modified Mathieu functions. The solution of thermally induced vibration of the plate with both ends encased with elastic supports is obtained by employing an integral transform for double Laplace differential equation. The thermal moment is derived on the basis of temperature distribution, and its stresses are obtained based on resultant bending moments per unit width. The numerical calculations of the distributions of the transient temperature and its associated stress distributions are shown in the figures.

Thermoelastic analysis of functionally graded annulus with arbitrary gradient

A thermoelastic problem of a circular annulus made of functionally graded materials with an arbitrary gradient is investigated. Different from previous works, our analysis neither requires a special form of the gradient of material properties nor demands partitioning the entire structure into a multilayered homogeneous structure. Instead, we propose a new method for solving the thermoelastic problem of a functionally graded circular annulus by transforming it to a Fredholm integral equation. The distribution of thermal stresses and radial displacement can be obtained by solving the resulting equation. Illustrative examples are given to show the effects of varying gradients on the thermal stresses and radial displacement for given temperature changes at the inner and outer surfaces. The results indicate that the thermal stresses can be relaxed for specified gradients, which is beneficial to design an inhomogeneous annulus to maintain structural integrity.

A Sufficient Condition for the Genus of an Annulus Sum of Two 3-manifolds to Be Non-degenerate

Let Mi be a compact orientable 3-manifold, and Ai a non-separating incompressible annulus on a component of δMi, say Fi, i = 1, 2. Let h ： A1 → A2 be a homeomorphism, and M→M1 ∪h M2, the annulus sum of Mi and M2 along A1 and A2. Suppose that Mi has a Heegaard splitting Vi ∪Si Wi with distance d（Si） ≥ 2g（Mi） ＋ 2g（F3-i） ＋ 1, i = 1, 2. Then g（M） = g（M1） ＋ g（M2）, and the minimal Heegaard splitting of M is unique, which is the natural Heegaard splitting of M induced from Vi∪S1 Wi and V2 ∪S2 W2.

Transient Natural Convection in an Annulus with Thermal Radiation

The interaction of transient fully developed natural convection flow with thermal radiation inside a vertical annulus is analyzed both analytically and numerically. The Rosseland approximation is used to describe the radiative heat flux in the energy equation. The mathematical model capturing the present physical situation is highly non-linear due to the presence of radiation effect. The solution of transient model is obtained by implicit finite difference method. To check accuracy of the numerical solution, steady state solution for energy and momentum equations are derived analytically using perturbation series method. Skin-friction and Nusselt number at the outer surface of inner cylinder as well as inner surface of the outer cylinder are obtained. Selected sets of graphical results illustrating the effects of various controlling parameters involved in the problem on flow formation are discussed.

Multi Modality Imaging for Cardiac Masses Can Avoid Unnecessary Surgical Intervention: A Case Report of Caseous Calcification of Mitral Annulus

Mitral Annular Calcification (MAC) is a degenerative process involving the fibrous ring of the mitral valve. Caseous Calcification of Mitral Annulus (CCMA) is a rare variant of MAC. This condition is benign and usually needs no treatment. This is a case report of a 67-year-old woman with non-specific symptoms in whom a cardiac tumor was suspected by transthoracic Echocardiography. The use of multi-modality imaging strategy with transesophageal Echocardiography and cardiac MR scanning revealed however the diagnosis of CCMA and spared the patient an unnecessary operation.

Annulus and Disk Complex Is Contractible and Quasi-convex

The annulus and disk complex is defined and researched. Especially, we prove that this complex is contractible and quasi-convex in the curve complex.

Settling behavior of spherical particles in eccentric annulus filled with viscous inelastic fluid

Hole cleaning is a complex process as there are many variables affecting cuttings removal(e.g.drilling fluid type,density,flow rate and rheological properties,cuttings size,drill pipe rotation speed).With the increasing number of drilling small diameter wells(e.g.coiled tubing drilling applications,ultra-deep wells drilled for exploitations of unconventional oil and gas resources),the wall resistance of the micro annulus also emerges as one of the most critical factors affecting the cuttings accumulation in wellbore.The eccentricity of drill pipes commonly observed during the drilling process of ultra-deep well and coiled tubing well makes the wall resistance effect on the cuttings transport even more prominent.Understanding the wall resistance effect on the particle settling behavior in eccentric annuli is,therefore,crucial for hydraulic design of efficient cuttings transport operations in these wells.In this study,a total of 196 sets of particle settling experiments were carried out to investigate the particle settling behavior in eccentric annuli filled with power-law fluids.The test matrix included the eccentricity ranges of 0-0.80,the dimensionless diameter ranges of 0.13-0.75 and the particle Reynolds number ranges of 0.09-32.34.A high-speed camera was used to record the particle settling process and determine the influences of the eccentricity,the dimensionless diameter,the fluid rheological properties,and the solid particle characteristics on the wall factor and the particle settling velocity.The functional relationship among the dimensionless diameter,the particle Reynolds number,and the wall factor was determined by using the method of controlling variables.An eccentric annulus wall factor model with average relative error of 5.16%was established.Moreover,by introducing Archimedes number,an explicit model of particle settling velocity in the eccentric annulus with average relative error of 10.17%was established.A sample calculation of particle settling velocity was provided to show the application of the explicit model.Results of this study can be used as a guideline by field engineers to improve hydraulic design of cuttings transport operations in concentric and eccentric annuli.

Prosthetic Ring Endocarditis with Shrunken Mitral Annulus Late After Undersized Mitral Annuloplasty

We report a case of supra-annular mitral valve replacement for a patient with prosthetic ring endocarditis that developed late after undergoing undersized mitral annuloplasty (UMAP). A 58-year-old man had undergone left ventriculoplasty and UMAP with a 26-mm semi-rigid full ring for dilated cardiomyopathy and functional mitral regurgitation. The mitral valve had progressively stenosed and he developed prosthetic ring endocarditis 5 years after the operation. In the surgery, there were brownish fresh vegetations around the anterior mitral leaflet and the prosthetic ring. The mitral annulus was very small, even after removal of the infected ring prosthesis and debridement of the infected tissues. We implanted a 22-mm mechanical prosthesis in the supra-annular position using everting mattress sutures to prevent the valve leaflets from getting stuck by the thickened subannular tissue. Herein, we discuss the surgical procedures for a shrunken mitral annulus.

The Discovery of Deep High-Resistivity Block and Inadequately Consolidated Magma Chambers in Gaoligongshan Oblique Collisional Orogen and its Tectonic Implications

Objective The Gaoligongshan oblique collisional orogen is located in the southern section of the Hengduan Mountains, and belongs to one of the main Late Yanshanian-Himalayan oblique collisional orogens in the Sanjiang area. Many researchers have studied the geology, geochemistry and geophysics of this region, and many research achievements have been obtained from deep geophysical exploration of the region, especially using the magnetotelluric （MT） sounding technique. However,