21 research outputs found
A three-dimensional view of structural changes caused by deactivation of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts
Since its commercial introduction three-quarters of a century ago, fluid catalytic cracking has been one of the most important conversion processes in the petroleum industry. In this process, porous composites composed of zeolite and clay crack the heavy fractions in crude oil into transportation fuel and petrochemical feedstocks. Yet, over time the catalytic activity of these composite particles decreases. Here, we report on ptychographic tomography, diffraction, and fluorescence tomography, as well as electron microscopy measurements, which elucidate the structural changes that lead to catalyst deactivation. In combination, these measurements reveal zeolite amorphization and distinct structural changes on the particle exterior as the driving forces behind catalyst deactivation. Amorphization of zeolites, in particular, close to the particle exterior, results in a reduction of catalytic capacity. A concretion of the outermost particle layer into a dense amorphous silica–alumina shell further reduces the mass transport to the active sites within the composite
Proteomic characterization of HIV-modulated membrane receptors, kinases and signaling proteins involved in novel angiogenic pathways
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), hemangioma, and other angioproliferative diseases are highly prevalent in HIV-infected individuals. While KS is etiologically linked to the human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) infection, HIV-patients without HHV-8 and those infected with unrelated viruses also develop angiopathies. Further, HIV-Tat can activate protein-tyrosine-kinase (PTK-activity) of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor involved in stimulating angiogenic processes. However, Tat by itself or HHV8-genes alone cannot induce angiogenesis <it>in vivo </it>unless specific proteins/enzymes are produced synchronously by different cell-types. We therefore tested a hypothesis that <it>chronic </it>HIV-<it>replication in non-endothelial cells </it>may produce novel factors that provoke angiogenic pathways.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Genome-wide proteins from HIV-infected and uninfected T-lymphocytes were tested by subtractive proteomics analyses at various stages of virus and cell growth <it>in vitro </it>over a period of two years. Several thousand differentially regulated proteins were identified by mass spectrometry (MS) and >200 proteins were confirmed in multiple gels. Each protein was scrutinized extensively by protein-interaction-pathways, bioinformatics, and statistical analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By functional categorization, 31 proteins were identified to be associated with various signaling events involved in angiogenesis. 88% proteins were located in the plasma membrane or extracellular matrix and >90% were found to be essential for regeneration, neovascularization and angiogenic processes during embryonic development.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Chronic HIV-infection of T-cells produces membrane receptor-PTKs, serine-threonine kinases, growth factors, adhesion molecules and many diffusible signaling proteins that have not been previously reported in HIV-infected cells. Each protein has been associated with endothelial cell-growth, morphogenesis, sprouting, microvessel-formation and other biological processes involved in angiogenesis (p = 10<sup>-4 </sup>to 10<sup>-12</sup>). Bioinformatics analyses suggest that overproduction of PTKs and other kinases in HIV-infected cells has <it>suppressed </it>VEGF/VEGFR-PTK expression and promoted <it>VEGFR-independent </it>pathways. This unique mechanism is similar to that observed in neovascularization and angiogenesis during embryogenesis. Validation of clinically relevant proteins by gene-silencing and translational studies <it>in vivo </it>would identify specific targets that can be used for early diagnosis of angiogenic disorders and future development of inhibitors of angiopathies. This is the first comprehensive study to demonstrate that HIV-infection alone, without any co-infection or treatment, can induce numerous "embryonic" proteins and kinases capable of generating novel <it>VEGF-independent </it>angiogenic pathways.</p
Graphite nanoplatelets/polymer nanocomposites: thermomechanical, dielectric, and functional behavior
Antiatherogenic effect of Pistacia lentiscus via GSH restoration and downregulation of CD36 rnRNA expression
Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia (Anacardiaceae) grows almost exclusively on
Chios Island, Greece, and gives a resinous exudate resin used for
culinary purposes by Mediterranean people. We investigated the molecular
mechanisms through which total polar extract of the resin inhibits
oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) cytotoxic effect on peripheral
blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). Cells exposed to oxLDL underwent
apoptosis and necrosis, dependent on the duration of exposure. When
culturing cells with oxLDL and the polar extract concurrently, we
observed inhibition of both the phenomena. Because under oxidative
stress the pro-oxidant systems outbalance the antioxidant, potentially
producing oxidative damage and ultimately leading to cell death, we
measured the levels of intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH).
Additionally, we measured CD36 expression, a class B scavenger receptor,
on CID14-positive cells, as CD36 has been identified as the oxLDL
receptor in macrophages and may play a pivotal role in atherosclerotic
foam cell formation. oxLDL decreased GSH levels and upregulated CD36
expression. P. lentiscus extract restored GSH levels and downregulated
CD36 expression, even at the mRNA level. In order to find out the
biologically drastic constituents of the resin’s polar extract,
fractions derived from RP-HPLC analysis were examined for their
antioxidant effect on oxidatively stressed PBMC. The triterpenoid
fraction revealed remarkable increase in intracellular GSH. We suggest
GSH restoration and downregulation of CD36 mRNA expression as the
pathways via which P. lentiscus triterpenes exert
antioxidant/antiatherogenic effect. Additionally, our results provide
strong evidence of the resin’s antiatherogenic effect; therefore it is
credited with beneficial health aspects. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
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