Study of improved resins for advanced supersonic technology composites. Part 1: Heteroaromatic polymers containing ether groups. Part 2: Curing chemistry of aromatic polymers and composite studies

Fourteen ether-containing, aromatic dianhydrides have been synthesized from N-phenyl-3 or 4-nitrophthalimide and various bisphenols. The process involves nucleophilic displacement of activated nitro groups with bisphenolate ions. Ether-containing dianhydrides were indefinitely stable in the presence of atmospheric moisture. One-step, high temperature solution polymerization of the ether-containing dianhydrides with m-phenylene diamine, 4,4'-oxydianiline and 1, 3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene afforded 42 polyetherimides. The polyetherimides were all soluble in m-cresol except two which were found to be crystalline. The glass transition temperatures of the polyetherimides ranged from 178 to 277 C. Soluble polybenzimidazopyrrolones containing ether groups were also prepared from the same ether-containing dianhydrides and aromatic tetraamines by one-step solution polymerization. Using low molecular weight polyetherimides, various thermoset resin systems were developed and tested as matrices for fiber-reinforced composites. The curing chemistry involving reaction of the phthalonitrile group and the o-diaminophenyl group was found to be generally applicable to crosslinking various aromatic polymers other than polyimides

RESISTÊNCIA MECÂNICA E À UMIDADE DE PAINÉIS AGLOMERADOS COM PARTÍCULAS DE MADEIRA DE DIFERENTES DIMENSÕES

Neste trabalho, foram confeccionadas e testadas chapas aglomeradas estruturais utilizando partículas de Pinus elliottii Engelm com dimensões nominais de 110, 75 e 40 mm de comprimento, 0,5 e 1,0 mm de espessura e 20 mm de largura. As partículas foram orientadas ao acaso em moldes sem-fundo com dimensões de 50 x 50 x 20 cm. Os colchões foram prensados a 1800C por 10 minutos até atingir espessura de 9,5 mm e densidade de, aproximadamente, 0,7 g/cm3. O adesivo utilizado foi 8% (em relação ao peso seco das partículas) de tanino-formaldeído. Foram analisadas as propriedades de flexão estática, ligação interna, resistência ao arrancamento de parafusos, dureza Janka, inchamento em espessura e absorção d’água para 2 e 24 horas de imersão. Todos os testes foram realizados segundo a norma americana ASTM D 1037 (1995). As propriedades de flexão estática (MOR e MOE) aumentaram com o aumento do comprimento e diminuição da espessura das partículas. Já o inchamento em espessura e a resistência ao arrancamento de parafusos aumentaram com o aumento da espessura das partículas

Resistência mecânica e à umidade de painéis aglomerados com partículas de madeira de diferentes dimensões.

Neste trabalho, foram confeccionadas e testadas chapas aglomeradas estruturais utilizando partículas de Pinus elliottii Engelm com dimensões nominais de 110, 75 e 40 mm de comprimento, 0,5 e 1,0 mm de espessura e 20 mm de largura. As partículas foram orientadas ao acaso em moldes sem-fundo com dimensões de 50 x 50 x 20 cm. Os colchões foram prensados a 1800C por 10 minutos até atingir espessura de 9,5 mm e densidade de, aproximadamente, 0,7 g/cm3. O adesivo utilizado foi 8% (em relação ao peso seco das partículas) de tanino-formaldeído.  Foram analisadas as propriedades de flexão estática, ligação interna, resistência ao arrancamento de parafusos, dureza Janka, inchamento em espessura e absorção d’água para 2 e 24 horas de imersão. Todos os testes foram realizados segundo a norma americana ASTM D 1037 (1995). As propriedades de flexão estática (MOR e MOE) aumentaram com o aumento do comprimento e diminuição da espessura das partículas. Já o inchamento em espessura e a resistência ao arrancamento de parafusos aumentaram com o aumento da espessura das partículas.Neste trabalho, foram confeccionadas e testadas chapas aglomeradas estruturais utilizando partículas de Pinus elliottii Engelm com dimensões nominais de 110, 75 e 40 mm de comprimento, 0,5 e 1,0 mm de espessura e 20 mm de largura. As partículas foram orientadas ao acaso em moldes sem-fundo com dimensões de 50 x 50 x 20 cm. Os colchões foram prensados a 1800C por 10 minutos até atingir espessura de 9,5 mm e densidade de, aproximadamente, 0,7 g/cm3. O adesivo utilizado foi 8% (em relação ao peso seco das partículas) de tanino-formaldeído. Foram analisadas as propriedades de flexão estática, ligação interna, resistência ao arrancamento de parafusos, dureza Janka, inchamento em espessura e absorção d'água para 2 e 24 horas de imersão. Todos os testes foram realizados segundo a norma americana ASTM D 1037 (1995). As propriedades de flexão estática (MOR e MOE) aumentaram com o aumento do comprimento e diminuição da espessura das partículas. Já o inchamento em espessura e a resistência ao arrancamento de parafusos aumentaram com o aumento da espessura das partículas

Clean Colorectum at Diagnostic Colonoscopy:Subsequent Detection of Extracolonic Malignancies by Plasma Protein Biomarkers?

Introduction: Most of the subjects undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy do not have neoplastic bowel lesions. Potentially, some of the symptoms may therefore be caused by extracolonic malignancy, and subjects with persisting symptoms may need subsequent examinations. Blood-based, cancer-associated biomarkers may aid in directing the examinations for other specific malignant diseases. Methods: EDTA plasma samples available from a previous prospective study of subjects undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy were used for analysis of 18 protein biomarkers. The study population of 3732 subjects included 400 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and 177 patients with extracolonic malignancies. Univariable analysis of the association of specific biomarkers and extracolonic cancers included those with 10 or more cases. Subsequently, reduced models of 4 or 6 biomarkers, respectively, were established by choosing those with the highest likelihood; age and sex were included as well. Results: Univariable analyses showed that CyFra21-1 had an area under curve (AUC) of 0.87 for lung cancers (n = 33), CA19-9 had an AUC of 0.85 for pancreatic cancer (n = 22), CA125 had an AUC of 0.95 for ovary cancer (n = 16), B2M had an AUC of 0.81 for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 12), and total prostate-specific antigen had an AUC of 0.99 for prostate cancer (n = 10). The multivariable analysis of 4 or 6 biomarkers plus age and sex as explanatory variables showed AUCs of 0.82 to 0.85 both for extracolonic cancers and CRC. The 4 biomarkers included in the model for detection of extracolonic cancers were CA125, hsCRP, CA19-9, and CyFra21-1; the 2 additional for the 6 biomarkers model were CEA and Galectin-3. Similarly, the 4 biomarkers included in the model for detection of CRC were CEA, CyFra21-1, Ferritin, and HE4; the two additional for the 6 biomarkers model were hsCRP and Pepsinogen 2. Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that it may be possible to detect subjects that have an increased risk of extracolonic cancer following a colonoscopy without findings of neoplastic lesions. Combinations of various protein biomarkers may direct subsequent examination after colonoscopy with clean colorectum. The results, although preliminary, may form the basis for additional research directed both for primary examinations of subjects with symptoms of malignancy and subsequent examinations after colonoscopy

Structure of a Classical MHC Class I Molecule That Binds “Non-Classical” Ligands

The chicken MHC YF1*7.1 X-ray structures reveal that this protein binds lipids and thus represents a "hybrid" class I complex with features of classical as well as non-classical MHC molecules

Surface Localization of Glucosylceramide during Cryptococcus neoformans Infection Allows Targeting as a Potential Antifungal

Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) is a significant human pathogen that, despite current treatments, continues to have a high morbidity rate especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The need for more tolerable and specific therapies has been clearly shown. In the search for novel drug targets, the gene for glucosylceramide synthase (GCS1) was deleted in Cn, resulting in a strain (Δgcs1) that does not produce glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and is avirulent in mouse models of infection. To understand the biology behind the connection between virulence and GlcCer, the production and localization of GlcCer must be characterized in conditions that are prohibitive to the growth of Δgcs1 (neutral pH and high CO2). These prohibitive conditions are physiologically similar to those found in the extracellular spaces of the lung during infection. Here, using immunofluorescence, we have shown that GlcCer localization to the cell surface is significantly increased during growth in these conditions and during infection. We further seek to exploit this localization by treatment with Cerezyme (Cz), a recombinant enzyme that metabolizes GlcCer, as a potential treatment for Cn. Cz treatment was found to reduce the amount of GlcCer in vitro, in cultures, and in Cn cells inhabiting the mouse lung. Treatment with Cz induced a membrane integrity defect in wild type Cn cells similar to Δgcs1. Cz treatment also reduced the in vitro growth of Cn in a dose and condition dependent manner. Finally, Cz treatment was shown to have a protective effect on survival in mice infected with Cn. Taken together, these studies have established the legitimacy of targeting the GlcCer and other related sphingolipid systems in the development of novel therapeutics

Stress-corrosion mechanisms in silicate glasses

The present review is intended to revisit the advances and debates in the comprehension of the mechanisms of subcritical crack propagation in silicate glasses almost a century after its initial developments. Glass has inspired the initial insights of Griffith into the origin of brittleness and the ensuing development of modern fracture mechanics. Yet, through the decades the real nature of the fundamental mechanisms of crack propagation in glass has escaped a clear comprehension which could gather general agreement on subtle problems such as the role of plasticity, the role of the glass composition, the environmental condition at the crack tip and its relation to the complex mechanisms of corrosion and leaching. The different processes are analysed here with a special focus on their relevant space and time scales in order to question their domain of action and their contribution in both the kinetic laws and the energetic aspects.Comment: Invited review article - 34 pages Accepted for publication in J. Phys. D: Appl. Phy

Cleavage of the urokinase receptor (uPAR) on oral cancer cells : regulation by transforming growth factor - beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and potential effects on migration and invasion

Background: Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) receptor (uPAR) is up-regulated at the invasive tumour front of human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), indicating a role for uPAR in tumour progression. We previously observed elevated expression of uPAR at the tumour-stroma interface in a mouse model for OSCC, which was associated with increased proteolytic activity. The tumour microenvironment regulated uPAR expression, as well as its glycosylation and cleavage. Both full-length- and cleaved uPAR (uPAR (II-III)) are involved in highly regulated processes such as cell signalling, proliferation, migration, stem cell mobilization and invasion. The aim of the current study was to analyse tumour associated factors and their effect on uPAR cleavage, and the potential implications for cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Methods: Mouse uPAR was stably overexpressed in the mouse OSCC cell line AT84. The ratio of full-length versus cleaved uPAR as analysed by Western blotting and its regulation was assessed by addition of different protease inhibitors and transforming growth factor - beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). The role of uPAR cleavage in cell proliferation and migration was analysed using real- time cell analysis and invasion was assessed using the myoma invasion model. Results: We found that when uPAR was overexpressed a proportion of the receptor was cleaved, thus the cells presented both full-length uPAR and uPAR (II-III). Cleavage was mainly performed by serine proteases and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in particular. When the OSCC cells were stimulated with TGF-beta 1, the production of the uPA inhibitor PAI-1 was increased, resulting in a reduction of uPAR cleavage. By inhibiting cleavage of uPAR, cell migration was reduced, and by inhibiting uPA activity, invasion was reduced. We could also show that medium containing soluble uPAR (suPAR), and cleaved soluble uPAR (suPAR (II-III)), induced migration in OSCC cells with low endogenous levels of uPAR. Conclusions: These results show that soluble factors in the tumour microenvironment, such as TGF-beta 1, PAI-1 and uPA, can influence the ratio of full length and uPAR (II-III) and thereby potentially effect cell migration and invasion. Resolving how uPAR cleavage is controlled is therefore vital for understanding how OSCC progresses and potentially provides new targets for therapy.Peer reviewe