EFFECT OF POROUS STRUCTURE ON SOUND ABSORPTION OF CELLULAR CONCRETE

the compositions of gas and foam concrete with improved acoustic characteristics were developed. The optimal form of porosity, which contributes to the absorption of sound waves, both in the range of audible frequencies and at infrasonic and ultrasonic frequencies, is revealed. The mathematical model for designing sound-absorbing concrete was improved, taking into account both the porosity of the composite and the influence of the porous aggregate. The laws of synthesis of aerated concrete and foam concrete are established, which consist in optimizing the processes of structure formation due to the use of a polymineral cement-ash binder and blowing agent. The composition of the composite intensifies the process of hydration of the system, which leads to the synthesis of a polymineral heterodisperse matrix with an open porosity of more than 60%. Peculiarities of the influence of the “Portland cement – aluminosilicate – complex of modifiers” system on the rheology of the concrete mixture was identified, which can significantly reduce shear stress and create easily formed cellular concrete mixtures. The increased activity and granulometry of aluminosilicates predetermine an increase in the number of contacts and mechanical adhesion between particles during compaction, strengthening the frame of inter-pore septa. The mechanism of the influence of the composition of the concrete mixture on the microstructure of the composite is established. The presence of refined aluminosilicates and a complex of additives in the system along with cement contribute to the synthesis of the matrix with open porosity, thereby increasing the sound absorption coefficient.

Activation of Piezo1 sensitizes cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis through mitochondrial outer membrane permeability

TRAIL specifically induces apoptosis in cancer cells without affecting healthy cells. However, TRAIL’s cancer cytotoxicity was insufficient in clinical trials. Circulatory-shear stress is known to sensitize cancer cells to TRAIL. In this study, we examine the mechanism of this TRAIL sensitization with the goal of translating it to static conditions. GsMTx-4, a Piezo1 inhibitor, was found to reduce shear stress-related TRAIL sensitization, implicating Piezo1 activation as a potential TRAIL-sensitizer. The Piezo1 agonist Yoda1 recreated shear stress-induced TRAIL sensitization under static conditions. A significant increase in apoptosis occurred when PC3, COLO 205, or MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with Yoda1 and TRAIL in combination, but not in Bax-deficient DU145 cells. Calpastatin inhibited apoptosis in Yoda1-TRAIL treated cells, indicating that calpain activation is necessary for apoptosis by Yoda1 and TRAIL. Yoda1 and TRAIL treated PC3 cells showed increased mitochondrial outer membrane permeability (MOMP), mitochondrial depolarization, and activated Bax. This implies that Piezo1 activation sensitizes cancer cells to TRAIL through a calcium influx that activates calpains. The Calpains then induce MOMP by enhancing Bax activation. From these experiments a computational model was developed to simulate apoptosis for cells treated with TRAIL and increased calcium. The computational model elucidated the proapoptotic or antiapoptotic roles of Bax, Bcl-2, XIAP, and other proteins important in the mitochondrial-apoptotic signaling pathway.

Histological verification of atherosclerosis due to bends and bifurcations in carotid arteries predicted by hemodynamic model

Background Tortuosity and bifurcations in carotid arteries alter the blood flow, causing atherosclerosis. Objectives The aim of the present study is to analyze the effect of variant vascular anatomy in the cervical region on development of atherosclerosis by microanatomical examination. Methods The effect of blood flow at anomalous bends and bifurcations was observed in right carotid arteries of a seventy year old female cadaver. Fifteen histological slides were prepared from the carotid arteries and interpreted to verify predictions of atherosclerosis. Results The model predicts atherosclerosis at bends, bifurcations and large aperture arteries. Microanatomical examination revealed presence of atherosclerosis of varying thickness at the bends and bifurcation in the right carotid arteries, as predicted. Atherosclerosis was also detected in the straight part of the wider common carotid artery. No atherosclerosis was observed in the contralateral carotid arteries. The variant carotid vascular anatomy consisting of bends, bifurcations and wider arteries revealed that the shear stress and velocity of blood flow are reduced at these anomalous sites. Conclusions Anatomical anomalies such as bends and branching in the carotid arteries alter the irrigation pattern and generate biomechanical forces that cause turbulent flow and reduce shear stress/blood flow velocity. Decreased shear stress and velocity causes development of atherosclerosis. Histological slides established the presence of atherosclerosis at bends and bifurcations and in wider arteries.

Physically Realizable Three-Dimensional Bone Prosthesis Design With Interpolated Microstructures

We present a new approach to designing three-dimensional, physically realizable porous femoral implants with spatially varying microstructures and effective material properties. We optimize over a simplified design domain to reduce shear stress at the bone-prosthetic interface with a constraint on the bone resorption measured using strain energy. This combination of objective and constraint aims to reduce implant failure and allows a detailed study of the implant designs obtained with a range of microstructure sets and parameters. The microstructure sets are either specified directly or constructed using shape interpolation between a finite number of microstructures optimized for multifunctional characteristics. We demonstrate that designs using varying microstructures outperform designs with a homogeneous microstructure for this femoral implant problem. Further, the choice of microstructure set has an impact on the objective values achieved and on the optimized implant designs. A proof-of-concept metal prototype fabricated via selective laser melting (SLM) demonstrates the manufacturability of designs obtained with our approach.