Isocyanurate transformation induced healing of isocyanurate–oxazolidone polymers

Isocyanurate–oxazolidone (ISOX) polymers have been reported as a novel, intrinsically self‐healable thermoset, and their healing mechanism under the effect of nucleophiles, such as tertiary amines and pyridines during polymerization, is thoroughly investigated in this study. This work provides evidence that the healing behavior of the polymers results part from the transformation of isocyanurate to oxazolidone on the fracture surfaces of the ISOX polymers at elevated temperatures. The isocyanurate transformation is characterized by chemical composition of the ISOX polymers before and after a predetermined healing procedure, through a combination characterization of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. From the chemical composition of the ISOX polymers, an increased oxazolidone fraction is observed after the healing event, which verifies the hypothesized healing mechanism. By correlating the change in oxazolidone fraction in the polymers during the healing event, with the corresponding healing performance of the polymers, healing efficiencies of the polymers are shown to be inversely proportional to the ratio of oxazolidone to isocyanurate in the polymers. The transformation to oxazolidone is also shown to be dependent on two variables, nucleophilicity of the polymerization catalyst and duration of the postcure. The isocyanate and epoxide polymerization mechanism in the presence of nucleophiles is also investigated to explain the effect of the catalyst nucleophilicity on the chemical composition as well as the healing performance of the ISOX polymers. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 137, 48698.Isocyanurate‐to‐oxazolidone transformation within the polymers for healing.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154270/1/app48695-sup-0001-FigureS1.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154270/2/app48698_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154270/3/app48698.pd

Differential elasticity in lineage segregation of embryonic stem cells

The question of what guides lineage segregation is central to development, where cellular differentiation leads to segregated cell populations destined for specialized functions. Here, using optical tweezers measurements of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), we reveal a mechanical mechanism based on differential elasticity in the second lineage segregation of the embryonic inner cell mass into epiblast (EPI) cells - that will develop into the fetus - and primitive endoderm (PrE) - which will form extraembryonic structures such as the yolk sac. Remarkably, we find that these mechanical differences already occur during priming and not just after a cell has committed to differentiation. Specifically, we show that the mESCs are highly elastic compared to any other reported cell type and that the PrE cells are significantly more elastic than EPI-primed cells. Using a model of two cell types differing only in elasticity we show that differential elasticity alone can lead to segregation between cell types, suggesting that the mechanical attributes of the cells contribute to the segregation process. Our findings present differential elasticity as a previously unknown mechanical contributor to the lineage segregation during the embryo morphogenesis

Hernie obturatrice étranglée: à propos de deux cas

La hernie obturatrice (HO) est rare. Elle est à l'origine de 0,2 à 1,6% des occlusions mécaniques de l'intestin grêle avec un taux de mortalité etmorbidité après chirurgie est respectivement de 35 et 18%. Nous rapportons le cas de deux patientes chez qui le diagnostic de HO étranglée est établie dans le cadre du bilan d'une occlusion. La HO est une entité dont le diagnostic préopératoire est difficile en raison de la faible spécificité clinique. L'examen tomodensitométrique semble être une aide majeure au diagnostic  étiologique. Mais une fois le diagnostic d'occlusion posé, une intervention en urgence permettra d'en préciser l'étiologie et d'en réaliser le traitement. Tout retard thérapeutique majore la mortalité et la morbidité

Ka-Band Site Characterization of the NASA Near Earth Network in Svalbard, Norway

Critical to NASA s rapid migration toward Ka-Band is the comprehensive characterization of the communication channels at NASA's ground sites to determine the effects of the atmosphere on signal propagation and the network's ability to support various classes of users in different orbits. Accordingly, NASA has initiated a number of studies involving the ground sites of its Near Earth and Deep Space Networks. Recently, NASA concluded a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Norwegian Space Centre of the Kingdom of Norway and began a joint site characterization study to determine the atmospheric effects on Ka-Band links at the Svalbard Satellite Station in Norway, which remains a critical component of NASA s Near Earth Communication Network (NEN). System planning and design for Ka-band links at the Svalbard site cannot be optimally achieved unless measured attenuation statistics (e.g. cumulative distribution functions (CDF)) are obtained. In general, the CDF will determine the necessary system margin and overall system availability due to the atmospheric effects. To statistically characterize the attenuation statistics at the Svalbard site, NASA has constructed a ground-based monitoring station consisting of a multi-channel total power radiometer (25.5 - 26.5 GHz) and a weather monitoring station to continuously measure (at 1 second intervals) attenuation and excess noise (brightness temperature). These instruments have been tested in a laboratory environment as well as in an analogous outdoor climate (i.e. winter in Northeast Ohio), and the station was deployed in Svalbard, Norway in May 2011. The measurement campaign is planned to last a minimum of 3 years but not exceeding a maximum of 5 years

Expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 Glucose Transporters in Endometrial and Breast Cancers

Cancer cells have accelerated metabolism and high glucose requirements. The up-regulation of specific glucose transporters may represent a key mechanism by which malignant cells may achieve increased glucose uptake to support the high rate of glycolysis. In present study we analyzed the mRNA and protein expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 glucose transporters by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) and Western blotting technique in 76 cases of endometrial carcinoma and 70 cases of breast carcinoma. SLC2A1 and SLCA2A3 mRNAs expression was found, respectively in 100% and 97.4% samples of endometrial cancers and only in 50% and 40% samples of breast cancers. In endometrial cancers GLUT1 and GLUT3 protein expression was identified in 67.1% and 30.3% of cases. Analogously, in breast cancers in 48.7% and 21% of samples, respectively. The results showed that both endometrial and breast poorly differentiated tumors (grade 2 and 3) had significantly higher GLUT1 and GLUT3 expression than well-differentiated tumors (grade 1). Statistically significant association was found between SLCA2A3 mRNA expression and estrogen and progesterone receptors status in breast cancers. GLUT1 has been reported to be involved in the uptake of glucose by endometrial and breast carcinoma cells earlier and the present study determined that GLUT3 expression is also involved. GLUT1 and GLUT3 seem to be important markers in endometrial and breast tumors differentiation

Relation of 24-hour urinary caffeine and caffeine metabolite excretions with self-reported consumption of coffee and other caffeinated beverages in the general population.

Caffeine intake is generally estimated by self-reported consumption, but it remains unclear how well self-report associates with metabolite urinary excretion. We investigated the associations of self-reported consumption of caffeinated drinks with urinary excretion of caffeine and its major metabolites in an adult population. We used data from the population-based Swiss Kidney Project on Genes in Hypertension (SKIPOGH) study. Consumption of caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee and other caffeinated beverages was assessed by self-administered questionnaire. Quantification of caffeine, paraxanthine, theobromine and theophylline was performed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in 24-h urine. Association of reported consumption of caffeinated drinks with urinary caffeine derived metabolites was determined by quantile regression. We then explored the association between urinary metabolite excretion and dichotomized weekly consumption frequency of caffeinated coffee, with Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis. In the present analysis, we included 598 individuals (52% women, mean age =46 ± 17 years). Self-reported caffeinated coffee intake was positively associated with 24-h urinary excretions of paraxanthine, theophylline and caffeine (p < 0.001), whereas reported intakes of decaffeinated coffee and other caffeinated beverages showed no association. In ROC analysis, optimal discrimination between individuals consuming less than one caffeinated coffee/week, vs. at least one coffee, was obtained for 24-h urinary paraxanthine (Area Under Curve (AUC) = 0.868, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [0.830;0.906]), with slightly lower performance for theophylline and caffeine, whereas theobromine did not allow any discrimination. Our results suggest that reported consumption of caffeinated coffee is positively associated with 24-h urinary excretion of caffeine, paraxanthine, and theophylline, and may be used as a marker of caffeine intake for epidemiological studies