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Stem cell factor (SCF) is a cytokine that regulates hematopoiesis and other biological processes. While clinical treatments using SCF would be highly beneficial, these have been limited by toxicity related to mast cell activation. Transmembrane SCF (tmSCF) has differential activity from soluble SCF and has not been explored as a therapeutic agent. We created novel therapeutics using tmSCF embedded in proteoliposomes or lipid nanodiscs. Mouse models of anaphylaxis and ischemia revealed the tmSCF-based therapies did not activate mast cells and improved the revascularization in the ischemic hind limb. Proteoliposomal tmSCF preferentially acted on endothelial cells to induce angiogenesis while tmSCF nanodiscs had greater activity in inducing stem cell mobilization and recruitment to the site of injury. The type of lipid nanocarrier used altered the relative cellular uptake pathways and signaling in a cell type dependent manner. Overall, we found that tmSCF-based therapies can provide therapeutic benefits without off target effects.

The effects of the anterior ankle-foot orthosis on stroke patients' functional walking ability and fall efficacy were significant. Patients who were of younger age or with low walking ability or both were more suitable for using the anterior ankle-foot orthosis.

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Background: Dengue is one of the most important vector-borne human viral diseases globally. The kinetic changes of hematological parameters of dengue in adult Taiwanese patients have seldomly been systematically investigated and characterized. Methodology/Principal Findings: Serial laboratory data of 1,015 adult patients who were diagnosed with dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) and 3 (DENV3) infections in southern Taiwan were retrospectively examined. Prominent parameters were verified with specimens from a 2015 dengue outbreak. Higher absolute monocyte counts on day 5 in severe patients than mild fever subjects after the onset of fever was seen. The absolute number of monocytes was significantly greater in those with DENV2 than DENV3 infections in spite of subtle differences in laboratory tests. Platelet counts were lowest and activated partial thromboplastin time was highest on day 5 in patients with severe conditions. In addition, sudden downward platelet counts corresponding to a transient surge of monocytes on day 4 onward was observed. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from acute dengue patients and experimental investigations revealed that phagocytic effects of innate immune cells contribute to thrombocytopenia in dengue patients. Conclusion: Innate phagocytic cells play an essential role in low platelet counts in adult patients with dengue virus infections.

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a b s t r a c tIn this paper the natural frequencies and the associated mode shapes of in-plane free vibration of a single-crystal silicon ring are analyzed. It is found that the Si(1 1 1) ring is two-dimensionally isotropic in the (1 1 1) plane for elastic constants but three-dimensionally anisotropic, while the Si(1 0 0) ring is fully anisotropic. Hamilton's principle is used to derive the equations of vibration, which is a set of partial differential equations with coefficients being periodic in polar variable. Expressing the radial and tangential displacements in sinusoidal form with non-predetermined amplitudes, and through the integration with respect to the circumferential variable, the original governing equations in partial differential form can be converted into the amplitude equations in ordinary differential form. The exact expressions for frequencies and mode shapes are obtained. It is found that for Si(1 0 0) rings the frequencies of a pair of modes, which are equal for an isotropic ring, split due to the anisotropic effect only for the second in-plane vibration mode. The phenomena of frequency splitting and degenerate modes can be proved either based on the conservation of averaged mechanical energy or by the concept of crystallographic symmetry groups. When the single-crystal silicon is replaced by the polycrystalline silicon, which is isotropic in elastic constants, the derived equations for frequencies correctly predict the vanishing of the phenomenon of frequency splitting.