Effect of binder on performance of intumescent coatings

This study investigates the role of the polymeric binder on the properties and performance of an intumescent coating. Waterborne resins of different types (vinylic, acrylic, and styrene-acrylic) were incorporated in an intumescent paint formulation, and characterized extensively in terms of thermal degradation behavior, intumescence thickness, and thermal insulation. Thermal microscopy images of charred foam development provided further information on the particular performance of each type of coating upon heating. The best foam expansion and heat protection results were obtained with the vinyl binders. Rheological measurements showed a complex evolution of the viscoelastic characteristics of the materials with temperature. As an example, the vinyl binders unexpectedly hardened significantly after thermal degradation. The values of storage moduli obtained at the onset of foam blowing (melamine decomposition) were used to explain different intumescence expansion behaviors.Funding for this work was provided by FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (Project PTDC/EQU-EQU/65300/2006), and by FEDER/QREN (project RHED) in the - framework of Programa Operacional Factor de Competitividade-COMPETE. Joana Pimenta thanks FCT for PhD Grant SFRH/BDE/33431/2008

Genome-wide study of association and interaction with maternal cytomegalovirus infection suggests new schizophrenia loci.

Genetic and environmental components as well as their interaction contribute to the risk of schizophrenia, making it highly relevant to include environmental factors in genetic studies of schizophrenia. This study comprises genome-wide association (GWA) and follow-up analyses of all individuals born in Denmark since 1981 and diagnosed with schizophrenia as well as controls from the same birth cohort. Furthermore, we present the first genome-wide interaction survey of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and maternal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The GWA analysis included 888 cases and 882 controls, and the follow-up investigation of the top GWA results was performed in independent Danish (1396 cases and 1803 controls) and German-Dutch (1169 cases, 3714 controls) samples. The SNPs most strongly associated in the single-marker analysis of the combined Danish samples were rs4757144 in ARNTL (P=3.78 × 10(-6)) and rs8057927 in CDH13 (P=1.39 × 10(-5)). Both genes have previously been linked to schizophrenia or other psychiatric disorders. The strongest associated SNP in the combined analysis, including Danish and German-Dutch samples, was rs12922317 in RUNDC2A (P=9.04 × 10(-7)). A region-based analysis summarizing independent signals in segments of 100 kb identified a new region-based genome-wide significant locus overlapping the gene ZEB1 (P=7.0 × 10(-7)). This signal was replicated in the follow-up analysis (P=2.3 × 10(-2)). Significant interaction with maternal CMV infection was found for rs7902091 (P(SNP × CMV)=7.3 × 10(-7)) in CTNNA3, a gene not previously implicated in schizophrenia, stressing the importance of including environmental factors in genetic studies

Therapies used in prostate cancer patients by European urologists: data on indication with a focus on expectations, perceived barriers and guideline compliance related to the use of bisphosphonates.

Item does not contain fulltextIntroduction: The aim of our survey was to evaluate the usage and indications of various metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) therapies, and to identify barriers to usage of bisphosphonates (BPs). Materials and Methods: Between March and June 2009, an internet-based survey was performed among board-certified urologists of the EAU who treated >/=10 patients with metastatic PCa annually. Results: Questionnaires completed by 200 urologists from 12 European countries including 27,442 PCa patients were used for analyses. On average, 22% of the patients presented in stage IV, 15% had bone metastases and 10% received BPs. In most countries, BPs were used to the same extent in hormone-naive and castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). A total of 23% of urologists prescribed chemotherapy in patients with hormone-sensitive PCa, and 55% of the urologists did not administer androgen deprivation maintenance therapy in patients with CRPC. Conclusions: BPs were frequently used in PCa with bone metastases, although current guidelines recommend their use only in CRPC. Standardized multidisciplinary educational programs should be developed in order to prevent non-indicated early chemotherapy in hormone-sensitive patients and to stimulate maintenance of androgen deprivation therapy in CRPC patients. Also, programs facilitating home infusions for patients who need intravenous BPs are needed in specific countries to optimize treatment of CRPC