Relationship between Trace Elements and Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and their Tissue Inhibitors in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

Supplementary Information The online version contains supplemen- tary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03431-z.Funding Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada / CBUA. This study was supported by Zinc-Net “The Biology of Zinc”—COST action TD 1304 and the bilateral scientific coopera- tion between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Portugal -451–03-01765/2014–09/20. Héctor Vázquez-Lorente is under a FPU fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education with grant refer- ence FPU18/03655.Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) constitutes around 5% of all thyroid cancers. Trace elements assessment has emerged as a useful strategy in the diagnostics of MTC combined with Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinases (TIMPs) analysis. The aim of this study was to compare the presence and content of trace elements (i.e., Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), and Manganese (Mn)) in MTC with respect to control samples and their potential relationship with markers of MTC in tissues. The study included 26 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy, due to the diagnosis of MTC and 17 patients as control. We combined tumour pathology and staging, immunohistochemical analysis of calcitonin, MMPs, and TIMPs, with analytical biochemistry using Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the levels of trace elements. No differences by MTC type for MMPs and their TIPMs, although strong TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 immunohistochemical expression of MTC were unveiled. Additionally, Zn, Fe, and Mn tended to be decreased, and Cu to be increased in samples presenting MTC with respect to controls. Moreover, Zn was the unique trace element which seemed to be correlated with MMPs and TIMPs. Trace elements such as Zn, Fe, and Mn are decreased in tissues affected by MTC. In addition, Zn may be the trace element which saves more relationship with the proportion and intensity of MMPs, being considered altogether useful biomarkers of MTC. We therefore suggest the analysis of novel and traditional markers of MTC as a novel approach in this pathology.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUAZinc-Net “The Biology of Zinc”—COST action TD 1304Bilateral scientific coopera- tion between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Portugal -451–03-01765/2014–09/20FPU fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education with grant refer- ence FPU18/0365

Dynamic mechanical analysis of particulate dental composites

Typically, dental composites are used in different configurations and situations. When a cavity forms at the occlusal surface of a posterior tooth, a class I and class II filling is used, depending on the extent and nature of the cavity formed. These fillings have to be designed to resist mechanical abrasion and occlusal stress during chewing, bruxing and other tooth functions. Class IV fillings are also designed to resist biting stress. In these applications composites with high filler loading with filler particles of size \u3e0.6μm are used. These composites are typically known as minifill or midifill composites. When more than one particle size range is used, they are also refereed to as hybrid composites. When the restorations are prepared on interior tooth surfaces not subject to direct application of occlusal or biting stresses (e.g., class III and class V fillings), the composites are designed with less emphasis on the abrasion resistance and mechanical properties of the composites. Typically, microfill composites with limited filler loading of colloidal silica (of 0.4p.m size) is used for such applications. It has been reported in recent years that these fillings must be designed to flex with tooth function and hence should possess lower modulus of elasticity. The posterior restorations, on the other hand, must be sufficiently stiff to resist masticatory stresses. For these reasons, dynamic mechanical properties of minifill/midifill and microfill composites need elucidation. The dynamic mechanical response is best studied under flexural mode of dynamic deformation. Among the properties considered important for composite resins are viscoelastic properties such as storage modulus (E\u27), loss modulus (E ) damping, glass transition, etc. In this study dynamic mechanical analysis using flexural mode of deformation in the temperature range of -50 to 180°C has been used to characterize the viscoelastic properties of four composites at 37°C with visible light cure. The results indicate that hybrid composites have higher viscoelastic properties than the microfill system. The resin is characterized by higher storage modulus mode and loss modulus across the entire range of temperature investigated. The results indicate that the filler loading and cross linking effects may be responsible for the variation of viscoelastic properties as a function of different variables (e.g. filler loading, particle size)

VETA-I x ray test analysis

This interim report presents some definitive results from our analysis of the VETA-I x-ray testing data. It also provides a description of the hardware and software used in the conduct of the VETA-I x-ray test program performed at the MSFC x-ray Calibration Facility (XRCF). These test results also serve to supply data and information to include in the TRW final report required by DPD 692, DR XC04. To provide an authoritative compendium of results, we have taken nine papers as published in the SPIE Symposium, 'Grazing Incidence X-ray/EUV Optics for Astronomy and Projection Lithography' and have reproduced them as the content of this report

Imide modified epoxy matrix resins

High char yield epoxy using novel bisimide amines (BIA's) as curing agents with a state of the art epoxy resin was developed. Stoichiometric quantities of the epoxy resin and the BIA's were studied to determine the cure cycle required for preparation of resin specimens. The bisimide cured epoxies were designated IME's (imide modified epoxy). The physical, thermal and mechanical properties of these novel resins were determined. The levels of moisture absorption exhibited by the bisimide amine cured expoxies (IME's) were considerably lower than the state of the art epoxies. The strain-to-failure of the control resin system was improved 25% by replacement of DDS with 6F-DDS. Each BIA containing resin exhibited twice the char yield of the control resin MY 720/DDS. Graphite fiber reinforced control (C) and IME resins were fabricated and characterized. Two of the composite systems showed superior properties compared to the other Celion 6000/IME composite systems and state of the art graphite epoxy systems. The two systems exhibited excellent wet shear and flexural strengths and moduli at 300 and 350 F

Methylotrophic methanogenesis and potential methylated substrates in marine sediment

Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon and a potent greenhouse gas that plays important roles in atmospheric chemistry, the global carbon cycle, and the formation of gas hydrates in marine sediment. Microbial production of methane is the terminal step during the degradation of organic matter. It is generally thought that methane is predominantly produced from hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis, while methylotrophic methanogenesis and its relative importance for methane production in marine sediments remain largely unconstrained. The main objective of this study is to constrain potential methylated substrates and methylotrophic methanogenic activities, and further evaluate the importance of methylotrophic methanogenesis in marine sediment. As the lack of knowledge on in situ concentrations of methylated compounds impedes our understanding on their quantitative contribution to methane production, the first step was to determine the concentrations and carbon isotopic composition of methylated compounds using newly-developed methods. Quantitative or isotopic analysis of methanol, trimethylamine (TMA) and dimethylsulfide (DMS) in marine sediment and pore waters were achieved using gas chromatographic approaches in combination with a range of pretreatment techniques. Using these protocols, the concentrations and distributions of methylated compounds were determined in a variety of marine sediments from Aarhus Bay in Denmark, Orca Basin in the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf of Lions in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. To further constrain the importance of methylotrophic methanogenesis, two case studies combining the newly-developed methods as well as various biogeochemical analyses were performed in hypersaline sediment and estuarine sediment. In hypersaline sediment of Orca Basin, multiple lines of evidences from abundances of methanogenic substrates, carbon isotope systematics between methane and substrates, thermodynamic calculations, stable isotope tracer and radiotracer experiments as well as gene and lipid biomarkers collectively confirmed that methylotrophic methanogenesis was the dominant methanogenic pathway in Orca Basin sediments. Furthermore, the distribution of methanogenic substrates, activity and diversity were characterized to quantitatively estimate the relative importance of different methanogenic pathways in estuarine sediment of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. The results showed that both methylotrophic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis contributed to the formation of methane in the sulfate reduction zone, with methylotrophic methanogenesis accounting for 13%-74% of the total methane production. In the sulfate-depleted sediments, hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis dominated methanogenic pathway (67%-97%), whereas acetoclastic methanogenesis contributed up to 31% of methane production in organic-rich sediment. In contrast, the contribution of methylotrophic methanogenesis to the total methanogenic activity was negligible in the methanogenic zone (< 1%). Collectively, new constraints from methylated compounds and the metabolic activities improve our quantitative understanding on methylotrophic methanogenesis in different marine sediment settings. The findings in this thesis provide more comprehensive insights into the relative importance of methylotrophic methanogenesis in marine sediment

Secondary aerosol formation from atmospheric reactions of aliphatic amines

Although aliphatic amines have been detected in both urban and rural atmospheric aerosols, little is known about the chemistry leading to particle formation or the potential aerosol yields from reactions of gas-phase amines. We present here the first systematic study of aerosol formation from the atmospheric reactions of amines. Based on laboratory chamber experiments and theoretical calculations, we evaluate aerosol formation from reaction of OH, ozone, and nitric acid with trimethylamine, methylamine, triethylamine, diethylamine, ethylamine, and ethanolamine. Entropies of formation for alkylammonium nitrate salts are estimated by molecular dynamics calculations enabling us to estimate equilibrium constants for the reactions of amines with nitric acid. Though subject to significant uncertainty, the calculated dissociation equilibrium constant for diethylammonium nitrate is found to be sufficiently small to allow for its atmospheric formation, even in the presence of ammonia which competes for available nitric acid. Experimental chamber studies indicate that the dissociation equilibrium constant for triethylammonium nitrate is of the same order of magnitude as that for ammonium nitrate. All amines studied form aerosol when photooxidized in the presence of NOx with the majority of the aerosol mass present at the peak of aerosol growth consisting of aminium (R3NH+) nitrate salts, which repartition back to the gas phase as the parent amine is consumed. Only the two tertiary amines studied, trimethylamine and triethylamine, are found to form significant non-salt organic aerosol when oxidized by OH or ozone; calculated organic mass yields for the experiments conducted are similar for ozonolysis (15% and 5% respectively) and photooxidation (23% and 8% respectively). The non-salt organic aerosol formed appears to be more stable than the nitrate salts and does not quickly repartition back to the gas phase

Environmentally stable polymers and coatings for space application: CH-5, supplement 10

High molecular weight, randomly coupled poly(imide siloxane) soluble block copolymers were synthesized from bis(amino propyl) polydimethylsiloxane equilibrates of various molecular weights, aromatic metalinked diamines, and 3,3'-4,4'-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA). Two synthetic procedures were successfully used to synthesize the poly(amic acid siloxane) intermediates. For both synthetic procedures, a cosolvent system was employed to achieve complete solvation of all components throughout the polymerization. Physical property characterization is continuing

Analysis of Chemical Contaminants in Food

How many times have we thought with concern about the possible contamination of food? Pollution, agricultural treatments, technological treatments, and packaging are the best-known human sources of toxic substances as food contaminants. The present book contains 11 original research papers representing various approaches of identifying and measuring toxic residues in food materials. The analytical determination of food contaminants is an indispensable tool in characterizing the adverse effects and unexpected toxicity related to food intake. No risk assessment would be possible without data from the analysis of food contaminants. This Special Issue is an interesting overview of recent methods and is highly representative of a broad worldwide outline, collecting authors from ten different countries and four continents. Very different toxics are described, from volatile organic compounds to heavy metals and from highly polar chemicals to classical organic contaminants. A wide range of analytical techniques are portrayed, including sample preparation and clean-up methodologies, classical chromatographic and hyphenated spectroscopies, and the latest high-resolution mass spectrometry applications. The presented works consider a varied selection of foods: the studied matrices are meat, fishery products, fruits, and miscellaneous beverages

One man electrochemical air revitalization system

An integrated water vapor electrolysis (WVE) hydrogen depolarized CO2 concentrator (HDC) system sized for one man support over a wide range of inlet air conditions was designed, fabricated, and tested. Data obtained during 110 days of testing verified that this system can provide the necessary oxygen, CO2 removal, and partial humidity control to support one man (without exceeding a cabin partial pressure of 3.0 mmHg for CO2 and while maintaining a 20% oxygen level), when operated at a WVE current of 50 amperes and an HDC current of 18 amperes. An evaluation to determine the physical properties of tetramethylammonium bicarbonate (TMAC) and hydroxide was made. This provides the necessary electrolyte information for designing an HDC cell using TMAC