On the relation between azeotropic behavior and minimum / maximum flash point occurrences in binary mixtures of flammable compounds

The flash point temperature and the boiling temperature of a mixture are related by the fact that both can be modeled based on vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) of each component. It has been suggested in the literature that there might exist a concomitance between azeotropic behavior and minimum/maximum flash point temperature for binary mixtures. In order to verify this statement, we derive new temperature dependent functions that relate the conditions valid for azeotropic behavior and those valid for minimum/maximum flash point behavior. Analysis of experimental data and predicted results allowed us to propose a heuristic to forecast extremum flash point based on the sole knowledge of azeotropic data and boiling and flash point temperatures differences. Extremum flash point might occur when both components are flammable and when the gap between the flash point temperatures of individual components (ΔT_fp) is of the same order or smaller than the boiling temperature gap (ΔT_b). Hence, we contribute to the assessment of the fire and explosion hazards in binary mixtures eventually presenting a minimum flash point behavio

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Classification for ternary flash point mixtures diagrams regarding miscible flammable compounds

Flash point is a major indicator on the study of fire and explosion hazards of liquid mixtures. Mixtures presenting a minimum flash point behavior are particularly dangerous. It has been shown before that minimum/maximum flash point mixtures could be related with azeotropic behavior under some conditions. Since the 70's a classification of ternary azeotropic mixtures has been developed based on the topological properties of residue curve maps arising from the simple evaporation equilibrium model. In this paper we show that such a general classification also exists for flash point diagram of miscible flammable compound ternary mixtures and that it could help anticipate fire and explosion hazard in ternary mixtures. The demonstration is based on the construction of an auxiliary theoretical system under equilibrium equivalent to a non-equilibrium flash point system

Bioprinting of three-dimensional dentin-pulp complex with local differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells

Numerous approaches have been introduced to regenerate artificial dental tissues. However, conventional approaches are limited when producing a construct with three-dimensional patient-specific shapes and compositions of heterogeneous dental tissue. In this research, bioprinting technology was applied to produce a three-dimensional dentin-pulp complex with patient-specific shapes by inducing localized differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells within a single structure. A fibrin-based bio-ink was designed for bioprinting with the human dental pulp stem cells. The effects of fibrinogen concentration within the bio-ink were investigated in terms of printability, human dental pulp stem cell compatibility, and differentiation. The results show that micro-patterns with human dental pulp stem cells could be achieved with more than 88% viability. Its odontogenic differentiation was also regulated according to the fibrinogen concentration. Based on these results, a dentin-pulp complex having patient-specific shape was produced by co-printing the human dental pulp stem cell-laden bio-inks with polycaprolactone, which is a bio-thermoplastic used for producing the overall shape. After culturing with differentiation medium for 15 days, localized differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells in the outer region of the three-dimensional cellular construct was successfully achieved with localized mineralization. This result demonstrates the possibility to produce patient-specific composite tissues for tooth tissue engineering using three-dimensional bioprinting technology

DsRed gene expression by doxycycline in porcine fibroblasts and cloned embryos using transposon

To develop a transgenic pig, introduction of foreign genes into fibroblasts is required. In this study, Piggybac transposition was used to produce tetracycline dependent gene expressing cloned embryos. Red fluorescence proteins (DsRed) combined with tetracycline promoter flanked transposon sequences were transfected into fetal fibroblasts, and the transfected cells were used as the donor for somatic cell nuclear transfer. Induction of DsRed expression was successfully controlled by doxycycline treatment in donor fibroblasts and early stage embryos. In conclusion, this study suggested that Piggybac transposition could deliver genes into cells or embryos for developing transgenic pig.Keywords: Miniature pigs, transfection, Piggybac, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), RFPAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(21), pp. 3188-319

The Protein Kinase C Inhibitor Aeb071 (Sotrastaurin) Modulates Migration and Superoxide Anion Production by Human Neutrophils In Vitro

We examined the effect of the protein kinase C-selective inhibitor AEB071 (sotrastaurin) on neutrophil functions in vitro. Pre-incubation with AEB071 at concentrations similar to those reached during in vivo therapy significantly reduced cell capacity to migrate toward three different chemo-attractants and to produce superoxide anions (O2) in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or to iV-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). AEB071 also significantly inhibited the O−2 "overproduction induced by fMLP in neutrophils primed with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) or granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). This inhibition was not linked to fMLP-receptor down-regulation since the drug had no effect on either fMLP-receptors or fMLP-induced CD11b membrane expression. When the activity of AEB071 was compared to that of the conventional protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Gö6850 (which, like sotrastaurin, inhibits classical and novel PKC isoforms), Gö6976 (an inhibitor of α and β PKC isoforms) and rottlerin (a prevailing δ PKC isoform inhibitor), AEB071 at an equimolar concentration of 3 μM (close to the maximum drug concentration reached in patients treated with AEB071) caused significantly more inhibition on both chemotactic response and superoxide production. These in vitro findings suggest that neutrophils may offer a cellular target for AEB071 activity in vivo

Dairy fats and cardiovascular disease: do we really need to be concerned?

peer-reviewedCardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain a major cause of death and morbidity globally and diet plays a crucial role in the disease prevention and pathology. The negative perception of dairy fats stems from the effort to reduce dietary saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake due to their association with increased cholesterol levels upon consumption and the increased risk of CVD development. Institutions that set dietary guidelines have approached dairy products with negative bias and used poor scientific data in the past. As a result, the consumption of dairy products was considered detrimental to our cardiovascular health. In western societies, dietary trends indicate that generally there is a reduction of full-fat dairy product consumption and increased low-fat dairy consumption. However, recent research and meta-analyses have demonstrated the benefits of full-fat dairy consumption, based on higher bioavailability of high-value nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties. In this review, the relationship between dairy consumption, cardiometabolic risk factors and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases are discussed. Functional dairy foods and the health implications of dairy alternatives are also considered. In general, evidence suggests that milk has a neutral effect on cardiovascular outcomes but fermented dairy products, such as yoghurt, kefir and cheese may have a positive or neutral effect. Particular focus is placed on the effects of the lipid content on cardiovascular health

Cholesterol Granuloma of the Tympanic Membrane Presenting as a Blue Eardrum

Intramembranous tympanic membrane cholesterol granuloma (CG) occurs infrequently. Here, the authors report a case of CG in the tympanic membrane presenting as a blue eardrum in the right ear. In addition, a pinhole perforation noted in the anterosuperior area revealed a brown discharge. High-resolution temporal bone CT showed a bulging mass shadow in the middle ear and a soft tissue dense lesion that filled both the epitympanum and mastoid cavity. Tympanomastoidectomy was performed under general anesthesia. New bone formation was confirmed in the mastoid antrum and epitympanum, and the epitympanum was blocked by new bone. The tympanic membrane revealed a round, brownish mass with a glistening surface and a severely thickened pars tensa. We herein report this case and review pertinent medical literature

Uniform regularity for the Navier-Stokes equation with Navier boundary condition

We prove that there exists an interval of time which is uniform in the vanishing viscosity limit and for which the Navier-Stokes equation with Navier boundary condition has a strong solution. This solution is uniformly bounded in a conormal Sobolev space and has only one normal derivative bounded in $L^\infty$. This allows to get the vanishing viscosity limit to the incompressible Euler system from a strong compactness argument

Deletion of the epidermal growth factor receptor in renal proximal tubule epithelial cells delays recovery from acute kidney injury

To determine the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation in renal functional and structural recovery from acute kidney injury (AKI), we generated mice with a specific EGFR deletion in the renal proximal tubule (EGFRptKO). Ischemia–reperfusion injury markedly activated EGFR in control littermate mice; however, this was inhibited in either the knockout or wild-type mice given erlotinib, a specific EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine increased to a comparable level in EGFRptKO and control mice 24 h after reperfusion, but the subsequent rate of renal function recovery was markedly slowed in the knockout mice. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, both the knockout and the inhibitor-treated mice had a similar degree of histologic renal injury as control mice, but at day 6 there was minimal evidence of injury in the control mice while both EGFRptKO and erlotinib-treated mice still had persistent proximal tubule dilation, epithelial simplification, and cast formation. Additionally, renal cell proliferation was delayed due to decreased ERK and Akt signaling. Thus, our studies provide both genetic and pharmacologic evidence that proximal tubule EGFR activation plays an important role in the recovery phase after acute kidney injury