Metal matrix composite (MMC) technology can improve the service performance of matrix metals and alloys. Most magnesium alloy based MMCs are produced via a casting process, therefore the casting microstructures are of vital importance to their performance in service. The formation of microstructure during solidification of MMCs is mainly influenced by four factors: nucleation (or its absence) o...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a massive global health-care problem. Cell therapy offers a potential treatment for CKD. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the administration of a population of stem cells could be used to treat adriamycin (ADR)-induced glomerulopathy in rats, a form of CKD. We intravenously transplanted metanephric mesenchymal cells (MMCs) into rats treated with A...

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are among the very important engineering materials by which the combinations of various properties can be achieved. The MMCs have the great potential for use in automobile and aerospace industries for possessing high strength, stiffness and hardness. The reinforcement types used in the composites are continuous, discontinuous, short, whiskers and particles. The at...

Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production serves as a substitute for petroleum-based plastics. Enriching mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) with the capacity to store PHA is a key precursor for low-cost PHA production. This study investigated the impact of carbon types on enrichment outcomes. Three MMCs were separately fed by acetate sodium, glucose, and starch as an enriching carbon source,...

Resistance to chemotherapy is a major limitation of cancer treatments with several molecular mechanisms involved, in particular altered local drug metabolism and detoxification process. The role of drug metabolism and clearance system has not been satisfactorily investigated in Multiple Myeloma (MM), a malignant plasma cell cancer for which a majority of patients escapes treatment. The expressi...

Activation of the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) triggers cellular responses implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications; blockade of RAGE has been shown to inhibit the development of diabetic complications. To develop a screening system to identify novel disruptors of advanced glycation endproducts (AGE)-RAGE binding, we used an AGE-RAGE binding system in RAGE-...

Genetic estimates of effective population size (Ne) are an established means to develop informed conservation policies. Another key goal to pursue the conservation of endangered species is keeping the connectivity across fragmented environments, to which genetic inferences of gene flow and dispersal greatly contribute. Most current statistical tools for estimating such population demographic pa...

BACKGROUND The object of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for malignant melanomas through in vivo and in vitro processes. METHODS Photofrin (porfimer sodium) was evaluated through in vitro processes with human malignant melanoma cells (MMCs). The in vitro absorption and photosensitizing activity of Photofrin was examined in an MMC culture system....

We have investigated a series of high performance metal-matrix composites (MMCs), in order to improve mechanical and thermal properties such composites. To fabricate composites, we used spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. Using this processing, would minimize or avoid some risks damaging filler surfaces during processing. In article, also introduced are various kinds MMCs, metal/intermetallic...

Upon exposure to seawater, euryhaline teleosts need to imbibe and desalinate seawater to allow for intestinal ion and water absorption, as this is essential for maintaining osmotic homeostasis. Despite the potential benefits of increased mixing and transport of imbibed water for increasing the efficiency of absorptive processes, the effect of water salinity on intestinal motility in teleosts re...