Extended hard-sphere model for the viscosity of dense fluids

An extended hard-sphere model is reported that may be applied to correlate and predict the viscosity of gases, liquids and supercritical fluids. The method is based on the hard-sphere model of Dymond and Assael and uses their roughness factors and molar core volumes to relate reduced viscosity to a universal function of reduced volume. The extended model behaves correctly in the limit of low densities and offers improved accuracy at high densities. The new universal reference function was determined from a large database of experimental viscosities for alkanes extending up to reduced densities of 0.84. It has been tested by correlating the viscosity of two high-viscosity liquids not used in the development of the universal function and has shown to perform satisfactorily up to reduced densities of approximately 0.9

Viscosities and densities of binary mixtures of hexadecane with dissolved methane or carbon dioxide at temperatures from (298 to 473) K and at pressures up to 120 MPa

We report measurements of the viscosity and density of two binary mixtures comprising hexadecane with dissolved carbon dioxide or methane over the temperature range from (298.15 to 473.15) K and at pressures up to 120 MPa. The measurements were conducted at various mole fractions x of the light component as follows: x = (0, 0.0690, 0.5877, and 0.7270) for xCO2 + (1 – x)C16H34 and x = (0, 0.1013, 0.2021, 0.2976, and 0.3979) for xCH4 + (1 – x)C16H34. The viscosity and density measurements were carried out simultaneously using a bespoke vibrating-wire apparatus with a suspended sinker. With respect to the first mixture, the apparatus was operated in a relative mode and was calibrated in octane whereas, for the second mixture, the apparatus was operated in an absolute mode. To facilitate this mode of operation, the diameter of the centerless-ground tungsten wire was measured with a laser micrometer, and the mass and volume of the sinker were measured independently by hydrostatic weighing. In either mode of operation, the expanded relative uncertainties at 95% confidence were 2% for viscosity and 0.3% for density. The results were correlated using simple relations that express both density and viscosity as functions of temperature and pressure. For both pure hexadecane and each individual mixture, the results have been correlated using the modified Tait equation for density, and the Tait–Andrade equation for viscosity; both correlations described our data almost to within their estimated uncertainties. In an attempt to model the viscosity of the binary mixtures as a function of temperature, density, and composition, we have applied the extended-hard-sphere model using several mixing rules for the characteristic molar core volume. The most favorable mixing rule was found to be one based on a mole-fraction-weighted sum of the pure component molar core volumes raised to a power γ which was treated as an adjustable parameter. In this case, deviations of the experimental viscosities from the model were within ±25%

Novel antiproliferative chimeric compounds with marked histone deacetylase inhibitory activity

Given our interest in finding potential antitumor agents and in view of the multifactorial mechanistic nature of cancer, in the present work, taking advantage of the multifunctional ligands approach, new chimeric molecules were designed and synthesized by combining in single chemical entities structural features of SAHA, targeting histone deacetylases (HDACs), with substituted stilbene or terphenyl derivatives previously obtained by us and endowed with antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity. The new chimeric derivatives were characterized with respect to their cytotoxic activity and their effects on cell cycle progression on different tumor cell lines, as well as their HDACs inhibition. Among the other, trans -6 showed the most interesting biological profile, as it exhibited a strong pro-apoptotic activity in tumor cell lines in comparison with both of its parent compounds and a marked HDAC inhibition

Establishment of potassium reference values using Bayesian models in grapevines

Critical levels (CL) of available potassium (K) in soils and leaves and maximum technical efficiency (MTE) doses are relevant information to define the best K fertilization strategies. The aim of this study was to determine reference values of K in leaves and soil, using Bayesian analysis, in order to maximize grape yield and must quality of ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Pinot Noir’ grown in a subtropical climate. The vines were subjected to applications of 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg K2O ha−1 year−1. The CL and MTE doses of K, in leaves and soils, were determined using Bayesian hierarchical models. The range of probability of the occurrence of CL in leaves was 15.8 to 18.9 g K kg−1 in ‘Chardonnay’ and 16.8 to 19.1 g K kg−1 in ‘Pinot Noir’ at flowering. Moreover, the range was 15.3 to 18.1 g K kg−1 in ‘Chardonnay’ and 16.1 to 18.2 g K kg−1 in ‘Pinot Noir’ at veraison. In the soil, the CL of available K for ‘Chardonnay’ was 27.4 mg K kg−1 and for ‘Pinot Noir’ it was 23.2 mg K kg−1. The increase of K in leaves and soil increased the TSS, while the TTA decreased in both cultivars after sufficiency rate. The MTE was estimated in ‘Pinot Noir’. The proposition of CL and/or MTE doses of K can help increase the efficiency of K fertilization in vineyards

Effectiveness of benralizumab in severe eosinophilic asthma: Distinct sub-phenotypes of response identified by cluster analysis.

Background: Benralizumab is effective in severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA), but suboptimal responses are observed in some patients. Although several factors have been associated with benralizumab response, no cluster analysis has yet been undertaken to identify different responsiveness sub-phenotypes. Objective: To identify SEA sub-phenotypes with differential responsiveness to benralizumab. Methods: One hundred and five patients diagnosed with SEA who had completed 6 months of benralizumab treatment were included in a hierarchical cluster analysis based on a set of clinical variables that can be easily collected in routine practice (age, age at disease onset, disease length, allergen sensitization status, blood eosinophil count, IgE levels, FEV1% predicted, nasal polyposis, bronchiectasis). Results: Four clusters were identified: Clusters 2 and 3 included patients with high levels of both IgE and eosinophils (type-2 biomarkers high), whereas Clusters 1 and 4 included patients with only one type-2 biomarker at a high level: IgE in Cluster 1 and eosinophils in Cluster 4. Clusters 2 and 3 (both type-2 biomarkers high) showed the highest response rate to benralizumab in terms of elimination of exacerbations (79% and 80% respectively) compared to Clusters 1 and 4 (52% and 60% respectively). When super-response (the absence of exacerbation without oral corticosteroid use) was assessed, Cluster 2, including patients with more preserved lung function than the other clusters, but comparable exacerbation rate, oral corticosteroid use and symptom severity, was the most responsive cluster (87.5% of patients). Conclusions: Our cluster analysis identified benralizumab differential response sub-phenotypes in SEA, with the potential of improving disease treatment and precision management

A Rapid FACS-Based Strategy to Isolate Human Gene Knockin and Knockout Clones

Gene targeting protocols for mammalian cells remain inefficient and labor intensive. Here we describe FASTarget, a rapid, fluorescent cell sorting based strategy to isolate rare gene targeting events in human somatic cells. A fluorescent protein is used as a means for direct selection of targeted clones obviating the need for selection and outgrowth of drug resistant clones. Importantly, the use of a promoter-less, ATG-less construct greatly facilitates the recovery of correctly targeted cells. Using this method we report successful gene targeting in up to 94% of recovered human somatic cell clones. We create functional EYFP-tagged knockin clones in both transformed and non-transformed human somatic cell lines providing a valuable tool for mammalian cell biology. We further demonstrate the use of this technology to create gene knockouts. Using this generally applicable strategy we can recover gene targeted clones within approximately one month from DNA construct delivery to obtaining targeted monoclonal cell lines

Nitrogen fertilization affects yield and fruit quality in pear.

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How do cardiologists select patients for dual antiplatelet therapy continuation beyond 1 year after a myocardial infarction? Insights from the EYESHOT Post-MI Study

Background: Current guidelines suggest to consider dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) continuation for longer than 12 months in selected patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Hypothesis: We sought to assess the criteria used by cardiologists in daily practice to select patients with a history of MI eligible for DAPT continuation beyond 1 year. Methods: We analyzed data from the EYESHOT Post-MI, a prospective, observational, nationwide study aimed to evaluate the management of patients presenting to cardiologists 1 to 3 years from the last MI event. Results: Out of the 1633 post-MI patients enrolled in the study between March and December 2017, 557 (34.1%) were on DAPT at the time of enrolment, and 450 (27.6%) were prescribed DAPT after cardiologist assessment. At multivariate analyses, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with multiple stents and the presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) resulted as independent predictors of DAPT continuation, while atrial fibrillation was the only independent predictor of DAPT interruption for patients both at the second and the third year from MI at enrolment and the time of discharge/end of the visit. Conclusions: Risk scores recommended by current guidelines for guiding decisions on DAPT duration are underused and misused in clinical practice. A PCI with multiple stents and a history of PAD resulted as the clinical variables more frequently associated with DAPT continuation beyond 1 year from the index MI