The Effect of Temperature, Moisture Content and Latex Particle Size on Latex Coating Gloss

This thesis involved the study of the effects on gloss of moisture, temperature, and particle size of styrene butadiene bound pigmented coatings. Variables investigated were substrate absorbancy, latex particle size, moisture content and calendar stack temperature. Substrate absorbancy was varied by comparing an unsized 70 g/m 2 paper base sheet to a polymer drafting film (mylar). Latex particle size was varied by method of emulsion manufacture so that each was uniform and monodispersed. Moisture content was varied by allowing the sheets to come to equilibrium in a room where the humidity was changed. The temperature of the calendar stack was changed with an electric heating coil. An Ircon infrared temperature recorder was used to monitor the stack temperature. It was found that an increase in calendar stack temperature increased coating gloss for all cases studied. The statistical analysis of data obtained in this study showed moisture content significantly interacted with temperature such that coating gloss could be adversely affected at the lower temperatures studied. For the higher temperatures studied, increases in moisture content always led to increases in coating gloss. Coating opacity was found to decrease with increasing temperature and/or increasing moisture content. It is recommended that since this study showed temperature and moisture content. It is recommended that since this study showed temperature and moisture content significantly interacted to effect the development of styrene-butadiene bound pigmented coating gloss, that further studies similar in scope to this one be conducted on other binders used in the coating industry

ISO-1 Binding to the Tautomerase Active Site of MIF Inhibits Its Pro-inflammatory Activity and Increases Survival in Severe Sepsis

MIF is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis, arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. Antibodies against MIF are effective in experimental models of inflammation, and there is interest in strategies to inhibit its deleterious cytokine activities. Here we identify a mechanism of inhibiting MIF pro-inflammatory activities by targeting MIF tautomerase activity. We designed small molecules to inhibit this tautomerase activity; a lead molecule, "ISO-1 ((S,R)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazole acetic acid methyl ester)," significantly inhibits the cytokine activity in vitro. Moreover, ISO-1 inhibits tumor necrosis factor release from macrophages isolated from LPStreated wild type mice but has no effect on cytokine release from MIFdeficient macrophages. The therapeutic importance of the MIF inhibition by ISO-1 is demonstrated by the significant protection from sepsis, induced by cecal ligation and puncture in a clinically relevant time frame. These results identify ISO-1 as the first small molecule inhibitor of MIF proinflammatory activities with therapeutic implications and indicate the potential of the MIF active site as a novel target for therapeutic interventions in human sepsis

Cortical Thickness Adaptive Response to Mechanical Loading Depends on Periosteal Position and Varies Linearly With Loading Magnitude

The aim of the current study was to quantify the local effect of mechanical loading on cortical bone formation response at the periosteal surface using previously obtained μCT data from a mouse tibia mechanical loading study. A novel image analysis algorithm was developed to quantify local cortical thickness changes (ΔCt.Th) along the periosteal surface due to different peak loads (0N ≤ F ≤ 12N) applied to right-neurectomised mature female C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, beam analysis was performed to analyse the local strain distribution including regions of tensile, compressive, and low strain magnitudes. Student’s paired t-test showed that ΔCt.Th in the proximal (25%), proximal/middle (37%), and middle (50%) cross-sections (along the z-axis of tibia) is strongly associated with the peak applied loads. These changes are significant in a majority of periosteal positions, in particular those experiencing high compressive or tensile strains. No association between F and ΔCt.Th was found in regions around the neutral axis. For the most distal cross-section (75%), the association of loading magnitude and ΔCt.Th was not as pronounced as the more proximal cross-sections. Also, bone formation responses along the periosteum did not occur in regions of highest compressive and tensile strains predicted by beam theory. This could be due to complex experimental loading conditions which were not explicitly accounted for in the mechanical analysis. Our results show that the bone formation response depends on the load magnitude and the periosteal position. Bone resorption due to the neurectomy of the loaded tibia occurs throughout the entire cross-sectional region for all investigated cortical sections 25, 37, 50, and 75%. For peak applied loads higher than 4 N, compressive and tensile regions show bone formation; however, regions around the neutral axis show constant resorption. The 50% cross-section showed the most regular ΔCt.Th response with increased loading when compared to 25 and 37% cross-sections. Relative thickness gains of approximately 70, 60, and 55% were observed for F = 12 N in the 25, 37, and 50% cross-sections. ΔCt.Th at selected points of the periosteum follow a linear response with increased peak load; no lazy zone was observed at these positions

Indications for thyroid FNA and pre-FNA requirements: A synopsis of the National Cancer Institute Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration State of the Science Conference

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored the NCI Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) State of the Science Conference on October 22–23, 2007 in Bethesda, MD. The 2-day meeting was accompanied by a permanent informational website and several on-line discussions between May 1 and December 15, 2007 ( http://thyroidfna.cancer.gov ). This document summarizes the indications for performing an FNA of a nodule discovered by physical examination or an imaging study; the indications for using ultrasound versus palpation for guidance when performing a thyroid FNA; the issues surrounding informed consent for thyroid FNA; and the information required on a requisition form that accompanies a thyroid FNA specimen. ( http://thyroidfna.cancer.gov/pages/info/agenda/ ) Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008;36:390–399. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/58658/1/20827_ftp.pd

Development of a biomarker mortality risk model in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background: There is a compelling unmet medical need for biomarker-based models to risk-stratify patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Effective stratification would optimize participant selection for clinical trial enrollment by focusing on those most likely to benefit from new interventions. Our objective was to develop a prognostic, biomarker-based model for predicting mortality in adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Methods: This is a secondary analysis using a cohort of 252 mechanically ventilated subjects with the diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Survival to day 7 with both day 0 (first day of presentation) and day 7 sample availability was required. Blood was collected for biomarker measurements at first presentation to the intensive care unit and on the seventh day. Biomarkers included cytokine-chemokines, dual-functioning cytozymes, and vascular injury markers. Logistic regression, latent class analysis, and classification and regression tree analysis were used to identify the plasma biomarkers most predictive of 28-day ARDS mortality. Results: From eight biologically relevant biomarker candidates, six demonstrated an enhanced capacity to predict mortality at day 0. Latent-class analysis identified two biomarker-based phenotypes. Phenotype A exhibited significantly higher plasma levels of angiopoietin-2, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, interleukin-8, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, interleukin-6, and extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (eNAMPT) compared to phenotype B. Mortality at 28 days was significantly higher for phenotype A compared to phenotype B (32% vs 19%, p = 0.04). Conclusions: An adult biomarker-based risk model reliably identifies ARDS subjects at risk of death within 28 days of hospitalization.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]