Selection of processing parameters for conversion coatings on high-strength aluminium alloys by cyclic voltammetry

A method of recording copper enrichment on AA2000 series alloys by means of cyclic voltammetry in borate buffer preceded by immersion of the samples in 0.6 M NaCl solution is extended to the assessment of various surface treatments like alkaline cleaning, desmutting, phosphating and also inorganic and organic corrosion inhibitors. Since the height of the peak determined from voltammograms results from Cu/Cu+ charge transfer taking place on Al–Cu surface a selection of adequate substances or technological parameters inhibiting this reaction may find an application in elaboration or modifying of surface technology. In this work the particular technological steps of the complex electrophosphating process of AA2017 were elaborated using results obtained from voltammetric transients. It was shown that a partial removal of Cu from the surface without affecting bulk content was the most effective de-smutting stage while inhibitors of Al/Cu corrosion were effective in the post-treatment stage.Розширено застосування методу дослідження збагачення міддю сплавів серії АА2000 за допомогою циклічної вольтамперометрії у боратному буфері після попереднього витримування зразків у 0,6 M розчині NaCl для оцінки різних поверхневих обробок, зокрема лужного очищення, освітлення, фосфатування, а також неорганічних та органічних інгібіторів корозії. Оскільки висота піка, визначена з вольтамперограм, є результатом перенесення заряду Cu/Cu+ на поверхні Al–Cu, вибір відповідних речовин чи технологічних параметрів, що інгібують цю реакцію, може знайти застосування у розробці або модифікації технологій поверхневої обробки. Розроблено конкретні технологічні кроки для комплексного електрофосфатування сплаву АА2017 з використанням результатів вивчення вольтамперометричних перехідних процесів. Показано, що часткове усунення Cu з поверхні, без впливу на її об’ємний вміст у сплаві, найефективніше на стадії освітлення, тоді як інгібітори корозії сплаву Al/Cu найкраще діють на стадії фінальної обробки.Расширено применение метода исследования обогащения медью сплавов серии АА2000 с помощью циклической вольтамперометрии в боратном буфере после предварительной выдержки образцов в 0,6 M растворе NaCl для оценки разных поверхностных обработок, в частности щелочной очистки, освещения, фосфатирования, а также неорганических и органических ингибиторов коррозии. Поскольку высота пика, определенная из вольтамперограмм, является результатом перенесения заряда Cu/Cu+ на поверхности Al–Cu, выбор соответствующих веществ или технологических параметров, ингибирующих эту реакцию, может найти применение в разработке или модификации технологий поверхностной обработки. Разработаны конкретные технологические шаги для комплексного электрофосфатирования сплава АА2017 с использованием результатов изучения вольтамперометрических переходных процессов. Показано, что частичное устранение Cu из поверхности, без влияния на ее объемное содержание в сплаве, наиболее эффективно на стадии освещения, тогда как ингибиторы коррозии сплава Al/Cu лучше всего действуют на стадии финальной обработки

Complement Inhibition as a Proposed Neuroprotective Strategy following Cardiac Arrest

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a devastating disease process with neurological injury accounting for a disproportionate amount of the morbidity and mortality following return of spontaneous circulation. A dearth of effective treatment strategies exists for global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (GCI/R) injury following successful resuscitation from OHCA. Emerging preclinical as well as recent human clinical evidence suggests that activation of the complement cascade plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of GCI/R injury following OHCA. In addition, it is well established that complement inhibition improves outcome in both global and focal models of brain ischemia. Due to the profound impact of GCI/R injury following OHCA, and the relative lack of effective neuroprotective strategies for this pathologic process, complement inhibition provides an exciting opportunity to augment existing treatments to improve patient outcomes. To this end, this paper will explore the pathophysiology of complement-mediated GCI/R injury following OHCA

Influence of PbX2 (X = F, Cl, Br) content and thermal treatment on structure and optical properties of lead borate glasses doped with rare earth ions

Oxyhalide lead borate glasses doped with rare earth ions have been studied before and after thermal treatment. The rare earths as optically active ions were limited to the Er3+ ions. Near-infrared luminescence due to the main 4I13/2–4I15/2 laser transition of Er3+ was registered. The introduction of PbX2 to the borate glass results in a reduction of spectral linewidth and an increase of luminescence lifetime of 4I13/2 state of Er3+ ions. The unusual large spectral linewidth for 4I13/2–4I15/2 transition of Er3+ in the oxide glass host was obtained, whereas the luminescence decay from 4I13/2 state is longer for a sample with PbF2 than PbCl2 and PbBr2. Heat treatment introduces transformation from a glass to transparent glass-ceramic (TGC). The coordination sphere around Er3+ ions is changed, giving important contribution to the luminescence characteristics. The spectroscopic consequence of this transformation is the increase of luminescence lifetime and the narrowing of spectral lines of Er3+

Carbon nanoparticles fabricated by infrared laser ablation of graphite and polycrystalline diamond targets

This paper presents the results of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) production by infrared laser ablation of a graphite or a polycrystalline diamond target, submerged in one of two solvents, water or isopropanol. The targets were irradiated using a SPI fibre laser with a wavelength of 1064nm being operated at different average powers. After laser-assisted synthesis of CNPs, the resulting colloids, i.e particles in a liquid medium, were examined using the analytical techniques of dynamic light scattering, UV-Vis, Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results show that the properties of CNPs strongly depend on processing conditions of the liquid phase-pulsed laser ablation (LP-PLA) process. In particular, the size of nanoparticles produced are affected by the processing parameters of the laser ablation. The results show that the laser processing of a graphite target in deionised water and in isopropanol produces carbon nanoparticles with properties that are beneficial for various biochemical and biomedical applications. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei

Telomerase activity and telomere length in primary and metastatic tumors from pediatric bone cancer patients

The presence of telomerase activity has been analyzed in almost all tumor types and tumor-derived cell lines. However, there are very few studies that focus on the presence of telomerase activity in bone tumors, and most of them report analysis on very few samples or bone-derived cell lines. The objective of this study was to analyze the telomere length and telomerase activity in primary tumors and metastatic lesions from pediatric osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma patients. The presence of telomerase activity was analyzed by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay, and the telomere length was measured by Southern blot. Results were related to survival and clinical outcome. Telomerase activity was detected in 85% of the bone tumor metastases (100% Ewing's sarcomas and 75% osteosarcomas) but only in 12% of the primary tumors (11.1% osteosarcomas and 12.5% Ewing's sarcomas). Bone tumor tissues with telomerase activity had mean telomere lengths 3 kb shorter than those with no detectable telomerase activity (p = 0.041). The presence of telomerase activity was associated with survival (p = 0.009), and longer event-free survival periods were found in patients who lacked telomerase activity compared with those who had detectable telomerase activity levels in their tumor tissues (p = 0.037). The presence of longer telomeres in primary pediatric bone tumors than in metastases could be indicative of alternative mechanisms of lengthening of telomeres for their telomere maintenance rather than telomerase activity. Nevertheless, the activation of telomerase seems to be a crucial step in the malignant progression and acquisition of invasive capability of bone tumors

The G-Quadruplex Ligand Telomestatin Impairs Binding of Topoisomerase IIIα to G-Quadruplex-Forming Oligonucleotides and Uncaps Telomeres in ALT Cells

In Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) cell lines, specific nuclear bodies called APBs (ALT-associated PML bodies) concentrate telomeric DNA, shelterin components and recombination factors associated with telomere recombination. Topoisomerase IIIα (Topo III) is an essential telomeric-associated factor in ALT cells. We show here that the binding of Topo III to telomeric G-overhang is modulated by G-quadruplex formation. Topo III binding to G-quadruplex-forming oligonucleotides was strongly inhibited by telomestatin, a potent and specific G-quadruplex ligand. In ALT cells, telomestatin treatment resulted in the depletion of the Topo III/BLM/TRF2 complex and the disruption of APBs and led to the segregation of PML, shelterin components and Topo III. Interestingly, a DNA damage response was observed at telomeres in telomestatin-treated cells. These data indicate the importance of G-quadruplex stabilization during telomere maintenance in ALT cells. The function of TRF2/Topo III/BLM in the resolution of replication intermediates at telomeres is discussed

Interhospital Transfer Before Thrombectomy Is Associated With Delayed Treatment and Worse Outcome in the STRATIS Registry (Systematic Evaluation of Patients Treated With Neurothrombectomy Devices for Acute Ischemic Stroke).

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is beneficial for patients with acute stroke suffering a large-vessel occlusion, although treatment efficacy is highly time-dependent. We hypothesized that interhospital transfer to endovascular-capable centers would result in treatment delays and worse clinical outcomes compared with direct presentation. METHODS: STRATIS (Systematic Evaluation of Patients Treated With Neurothrombectomy Devices for Acute Ischemic Stroke) was a prospective, multicenter, observational, single-arm study of real-world MT for acute stroke because of anterior-circulation large-vessel occlusion performed at 55 sites over 2 years, including 1000 patients with severe stroke and treated within 8 hours. Patients underwent MT with or without intravenous tissue plasminogen activator and were admitted to endovascular-capable centers via either interhospital transfer or direct presentation. The primary clinical outcome was functional independence (modified Rankin Score 0-2) at 90 days. We assessed (1) real-world time metrics of stroke care delivery, (2) outcome differences between direct and transfer patients undergoing MT, and (3) the potential impact of local hospital bypass. RESULTS: A total of 984 patients were analyzed. Median onset-to-revascularization time was 202.0 minutes for direct versus 311.5 minutes for transfer patients ( CONCLUSIONS: In this large, real-world study, interhospital transfer was associated with significant treatment delays and lower chance of good outcome. Strategies to facilitate more rapid identification of large-vessel occlusion and direct routing to endovascular-capable centers for patients with severe stroke may improve outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02239640

Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Therapeutic Benefits of Their Inhibition in Spinal Cord Injury

This review will focus on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors in the context of spinal cord injury (SCI). MMPs have a specific cellular and temporal pattern of expression in the injured spinal cord. Here we consider their diverse functions in the acutely injured cord and during wound healing. Excessive activity of MMPs, and in particular gelatinase B (MMP-9), in the acutely injured cord contributes to disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier, and the influx of leukocytes into the injured cord, as well as apoptosis. MMP-9 and MMP-2 regulate inflammation and neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury and may contribute to SCI-induced pain. Early pharmacologic inhibition of MMPs or the gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) results in an improvement in long-term neurological recovery and is associated with reduced glial scarring and neuropathic pain. During wound healing, gelatinase A (MMP-2) plays a critical role in limiting the formation of an inhibitory glial scar, and mice that are genetically deficient in this protease showed impaired recovery. Together, these findings illustrate complex, temporally distinct roles of MMPs in SCIs. As early gelatinase activity is detrimental, there is an emerging interest in developing gelatinase-targeted therapeutics that would be specifically tailored to the acute injured spinal cord. Thus, we focus this review on the development of selective gelatinase inhibitors