Extraction of aqueous gold sols with styrene/2-vinylpyridine block copolymers in toluene

Polymers containing small noble-metal particles are of interest for catalysis and in the generation of optically tunable composites. The currently used process results in materials which are often difficult to process. A method is presented here for the direct transfer of small gold particles from an aqueous sol into a non-aqueous polymer solution (e.g. a block copolymer, see Figure) facilitating the formation of films

Addressing Childhood Obesity in Early Head Start Population in Philadelphia through Early Intervention and Food Buying Clubs

Aims: To implement a food buying club model to increase access to fresh and healthy foods for families whose children (ages 2-5) participate in Early Head Start and the Maternity Care Coalition. Compare four potential food distributors: Philadelphia SHARE, Asociacion Puertorriquenos in Marcha (APM), The Common Market, and JETRO to find the organization that can best implement a feasible food buying club run through Early Head Start to fit the families needs.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/cwicposters/1022/thumbnail.jp

Stabilization of colloidal palladium particles by a block copolymer of polystyrene and a block containing amide sidegroups

A block copolymer of polystyrene and poly(tert-butylmethacrylate) was prepared by anionic polymerization. The ester groups of the poly(tert-butylmethacrylate) were hydrolyzed, after wich the remaining carboxyl groups were reacted with pyrrolidine. The resulting block copolymer with amide sidegroups was used for stabilization of a palladium colloid in toluene

Pollen reveals the diet and environment of an extinct Pleistocene giant deer from the Netherlands

Pollen analysis of five teeth (two premolars, three molars) from a single maxilla of a giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus) found in Pleistocene deposits in The Netherlands reflects the diet and the landscape of the specimen that lived in eastern Doggerland. Apiaceae (among which Anthriscus sylvestris, Heracleum and Hydrocotyle), Asteraceae (among which Anthemis-type, Senecio-type and Cichorioideae), Filipendula, Poaceae and Symphytum were among the ingested plants. The landscape had dense, species-rich tall-herb vegetation and an open tree layer of Alnus and Betula, whereas thermophilous tree taxa were absent. Climate was probably cool-temperate, semi-dry, sub-continental. A radiocarbon date of the maxilla is beyond the 14C detection limit. We conclude that our giant deer most likely lived during the early Eemian or during an early Weichselian interstadial.</p

Local expression of tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1:immunoglobulin G can induce salivary gland dysfunction in a murine model of Sjögren's syndrome

Tumor necrosis factor is a pleiotropic cytokine with potent immune regulatory functions. Although tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have demonstrated great utility in treating other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, there are conflicting results in Sjögren's syndrome. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a locally expressed tumor necrosis factor inhibitor on the salivary gland function and histopathology in an animal model of Sjögren's syndrome. Using in vivo adeno associated viral gene transfer, we have stably expressed soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1-Fc fusion protein locally in the salivary glands in the Non Obese Diabetic model of Sjögren's syndrome. Pilocarpine stimulated saliva flow was measured to address the salivary gland function and salivary glands were analyzed for focus score and cytokine profiles. Additionally, cytokines and autoantibody levels were measured in plasma. Local expression of tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1:immunoglobulin G fusion protein resulted in decreased saliva flow over time. While no change in lymphocytic infiltrates or autoantibody levels was detected, statistically significant increased levels of tumor growth factor-beta1 and decreased levels of interleukin-5, interleukin-12p70 and interleukin -17 were detected in the salivary glands. In contrast, plasma levels showed significantly decreased levels of tumor growth factor-beta1 and increased levels of interleukin-4, interferon-gamma, interleukin-10 and interleukin-12p70. Our findings suggest that expression of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in the salivary gland can have a negative effect on salivary gland function and that other cytokines should be explored as points for therapeutic intervention in Sjögren's syndrom

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Improve Salivary Function and Reduce Lymphocytic Infiltrates in Mice with Sjögren's-Like Disease

Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice develop Sjögren's-like disease (SS-like) with loss of saliva flow and increased lymphocytic infiltrates in salivary glands (SGs). There are recent reports using multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) as a therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory capabilities. This paper proposed a combined immuno- and cell-based therapy consisting of: A) an injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) to eradicate autoreactive T lymphocytes, and B) transplantations of MSCs to reselect lymphocytes. The objective of this was to test the effectiveness of CD45(-)/TER119(-) cells (MSCs) in re-establishing salivary function and in reducing the number of lymphocytic infiltrates (foci) in SGs. The second objective was to study if the mechanisms underlying a decrease in inflammation (focus score) was due to CFA, MSCs, or CFA+MSCs combined.Donor MSCs were isolated from bones of male transgenic eGFP mice. Eight week-old female NOD mice received one of the following treatments: insulin, CFA, MSC, or CFA+MSC (combined therapy). Mice were followed for 14 weeks post-therapy. CD45(-)/TER119(-) cells demonstrated characteristics of MSCs as they were positive for Sca-1, CD106, CD105, CD73, CD29, CD44, negative for CD45, TER119, CD11b, had high number of CFU-F, and differentiated into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes. Both MSC and MSC+CFA groups prevented loss of saliva flow and reduced lymphocytic infiltrations in SGs. Moreover, the influx of T and B cells decreased in all foci in MSC and MSC+CFA groups, while the frequency of Foxp3(+) (T(reg)) cell was increased. MSC-therapy alone reduced inflammation (TNF-α, TGF-β), but the combination of MSC+CFA reduced inflammation and increased the regenerative potential of SGs (FGF-2, EGF).The combined use of MSC+CFA was effective in both preventing saliva secretion loss and reducing lymphocytic influx in salivary glands