Achieving Large Dielectric Property Improvement in Poly(ethylene vinyl acetate)/Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites by Tailoring Phase Morphology

In this work, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were melt compounded with a poly­(ethylene vinyl acetate)/thermoplastic polyurethane (EVA/TPU) blend to prepare EVA/TPU/MWCNT blend nanocomposites. The effects of the blend morphology and selective localization of MWCNTs on the dielectric properties including dielectric constant and loss were systematically investigated. The results show that when the blend exhibits sea–island morphology accompanying MWCNT selective localization in island droplets, the dielectric constant was increased to 1200@100 Hz with addition of 5 wt % MWCNTs; in addition, the growth of dielectric loss is suppressed and the values of dielectric loss always remain around 1 with varying the loading of MWCNTs. Furthermore, based on the investigations of rheological percolation testing, morphological observation, and selective localization, the microcapacitor model was evoked to explain the underlying mechanism for the improvement of the dielectric constant for the blend with sea–island morphology

Anti-CD25 mAb administration reduced CD4⁺ T cells in mouse liver, not in blood or spleen.

<p>After one hour reperfusion, fleshly obtained hepatic nonparenchymal cells were isolated from PC61 or control IgG administrated C57Bl/6 mice. (A) Representative flow cytometry results from anti-CD3 and anti-CD4 stained hepatic nonparenchymal cells. (B) Total cells were gated on the 7-AAD⁻CD45⁺ before the FACS analysis, CD4⁺ (CD3⁺/CD4⁺), CD8⁺ (CD3⁺/CD8⁺) T cells, NK (CD3^–/NK1.1⁺), NK T(CD3⁺/NK1.1⁺) cells, B cells (B220⁺/CD19⁺), neutrophils (GR-1⁺/CD11b⁺), Kupffer cells (F4/80^low/CD11b⁺), or dendritic cells (F4/80^high/CD11b⁺) were compared in each group. Data are mean values±SE; n = 5 per group. (***p<0.001).</p

The number of Tregs did not change significantly when anti-CD25 mAb were administered shortly before IR insult.

<p>After 1 hour or 12 hours of reperfusion, total hepatic nonparenchymal cells and spleen cells were isolated and gated on 7-AAD⁻CD45⁺ before the analysis. Tregs were identified as CD4⁺/FoxP3⁺. Data are mean values±SE; n = 6 per group. (n.s. P>0.05 **P<0.01, ***P<0.001).</p

Anti-CD25 mAb pretreatment mitigated intrahepatic inflammatory milieu.

<p>(A) TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-6 mRNA expression among sham, PC61, and I/R group after hepatic ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion. Samples were analyzed by RT-PCR. Data are expressed as means±SE; n = 6 per group. (B) Splenocytes were labeled with 5 mM 5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate, succinimidyl ester and co-cultured with samples’ protein in 5% CO₂ at 37°C. After 72 hours proliferation was assessed by flow Cytometry. (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***P<0.001).</p

Detection of CD4⁺ T cell activation by up-regulation of CD25.

<p>After partial ischemia and 0, 1, 6, 12 hours reperfusion, CD4⁺ T cells were gated, and the proportion of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells were quantitated by FACS.</p

Anti-CD25 mAb pretreatment preserved liver function after hepatic IR.

<p>(A) Hematoxylin and eosin staining of liver right lobe harvested at 6 hours post reperfusion (40×, 200× original magnification). Sections are representative of 6 independent mice per group. (B) Scoring of the ischemic liver sections according to the Suzuki’s criteria. (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001).</p

Anti-CD25 mAb pretreatment decreased CD4⁺ T cells proliferation and deposition.

<p>Immunofluorescence analyses of Sham, PC61, and IgG livers one hour following sham or partial hepatic ischemia-reperfusion surgeries. CD4 was stained red and the number of CD4⁺ T cells per High Power Field was figured up and quantitative analyzed.</p

C–H Bond Functionalization of Benzoxazoles with Chromium(0) Fischer Carbene Complexes

An efficient C–H bond functionalization of benzoxazoles with chromium(0) Fischer carbene complexes under catalyst-free conditions has been developed. A series of benzoxazoles and chromium(0) carbene complexes are compatible with the reaction. This transformation provides an alternative way for C–H bond alkylation of benzoxazoles. In the reaction mechanism the elimination of the Cr­(CO)₅ fragment seems more favored than the elimination of an alkoxy group, which is in sharp contrast to the previous reports on the reaction of organolithium reagents with chromium(0) Fischer carbene complexes

Coordination-Triggered Hierarchical Folate/Zinc Supramolecular Hydrogels Leading to Printable Biomaterials

Printable hydrogels desired in bioengineering have extremely high demands on biocompatibility and mechanic strength, which can hardly be achieved in conventional hydrogels made with biopolymers. Here, we show that on employment of the strategy of coordination-triggered hierarchical self-assembly of naturally occurring small-molecule folic acid, supramolecular hydrogels with robust mechanical elastic modulus comparable to synthetic double-network polymer gels can be made at concentrations below 1%. A sequence of hierarchical steps are involved in the formation of this extraordinary hydrogel: petrin rings on folate form tetramers through hydrogen bonding, tetramers stack into nanofibers by π–π stacking, and zinc ions cross-link the nanofibers into larger-scale fibrils and further cross-link the fibril network to gel water. These supramolecular qualities endow the hydrogel with shear-thinning and instant healing ability, which makes the robust gel injectable and printable into various three-dimensional structures. Owing to the excellent biocompatibility, the gel can support cells three-dimensionally and can be used as an ideal carrier for imaging agent (Gd³⁺), as well as chemodrugs. In combination with its easy formation and abundant sources, this newly discovered metallo-folate supramolecular hydrogel is promising in various bioengineering technological applications

Functional associations between the SNPs and the phenotypes.

<p>The figure depicted the biological functional associations between four SNPs and different traits of MetS. <i>KCNQ1</i> (potassium voltage-gated channel KQT-like subfamily, member 1) is a gene encoding the poreforming subunit of a voltage-gated K+ channel (KvLQT1) that plays a key role for the repolarization of the cardiac action potential as well as water and salt transport in the beta cells. T allele variant might inhibit the KV-channels in beta cells and enhance glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, which leads to an increased risk of diabetes. <i>ACE</i> gene encoding the angiotensin (Ang) and transform Ang I into Ang II, and the activation of Ang IImight increase the storage of TG by influencing the glycolysis process and lead to the adipocyte hypertrophy. C allele variant of the <i>INSIG2</i> gene was involved in the reversed cholesterol transport by an interaction with sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), which are transcription factors that activate the synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids in the liver and other organs. In addition, A to C transition at nucleotide 1298 (A1298C, rs1801131) of the coding sequence in gene <i>MTHFR</i>, have been shown to be the most frequent genetic causes for mild hyperhomocysteinemia, and a high plasma concentration of homocysteine may predispose to atherosclerosis by injuring the vascular endothelium, which might result in hypertension.</p