Manufacturing of polymer continuous nanofibers using a novel co-extrusion and multiplication technique

A novel co-extrusion and two-dimensional multiplication technique was developed for continuous production of nanofibers using melt-processable polymers. This solvent-free and environment-friendly fiber fabrication approach has significant advantages over existing solvent-based techniques such as electrospinning. The flexibility of the co-extrusion processing for nanofiber fabrication is demonstrated using three examples. Multicomponent extrudate strands of polycaprolactone (PCL)/polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyamide 6 (PA6)/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE)/polypropylene (PP) were fabricated for nanofiber production.     

Evaluation of high temperature polymers in nanolayered films and gradient refractive index (GRIN) lenses

A new polymer nanolayer gradient refractive index (GRIN) system with more robust thermal stability because of incorporation of a high glass transition temperature polyester, OKP4HT, was demonstrated. A combination of extruded nanolayered GRIN film systems, comprised of five unique polymer materials, were combined to produce laminate optics comprised of a large internal refractive index gradient distribution, n = 1.445 – 1.630, without degradation of optical transmissive properties. The optical performance of a series of varied magnitude GRIN lenses, ranging from Δn = 0 to 0.185, was evaluated. Increasing the lens refractive index range resulted in decreased optic sphericalaberrations that followed analytical predictions. An analytical approach was reported to correlate the polymer material upper service temperature (UST) to the onset of polymer material loss modulus as measured by DMTA. Thermo‐optical interferometry measurements of irreversible lens deformation confirmed the lenses UST at 125°C for the OKP4HT/PC system as compared to 75°C for a PMM/SAN17 system. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42741.     

Predicting long-term creep failure of bimodal polyethylene pipe from short-term fatigue tests

Short-term fatigue testing was used to predict long-term creep failure of a bimodal polyethylene (BMPE) pipe with superior creep resistance. The stepwise crack propagation was studied by increasing the R-ratio (defined as the ratio of the minimum to the maximum stress intensity factor in the fatigue loading cycle) at 50 °C from 0.1 approaching creep (R = 1). Crack growth rate (da/dt) was related to the maximum stress intensity factor K _I,max and R-ratio by a power law relationship \frac\textda\textdt = B^￠ K_\textI,max⁴ (1 + R) ^{- 8.5} {\frac{{{\text{d}}a}}{{{\text{d}}t}}} = B^{\prime } K_{{{\text{I}},\max }}^{4} (1 + R)^{ - 8.5} . The correlation in crack growth kinetics allowed for extrapolation to creep fracture from short-term fatigue testing. The temperature dependence of crack growth rate was contained in the prefactor B′. A change in slope of the Arrhenius plot of B′ at 67 °C indicated that at least two mechanisms contributed to crack propagation, each dominating in a different temperature region. This implied that a simple extrapolation to ambient temperature creep fracture from elevated temperature tests might not be reliable.     

Consequences of the photodynamic treatment of resting and activated peripheral T lymphocytes

Silencing of the cryptic mating-type loci HMR and HML requires the recognition of DNA sequence elements called silencers by the Sir1p, one of four proteins dedicated to the assembly of silenced chromatin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Sir1p is thought to recognize silencers indirectly through interactions with proteins that bind the silencer DNA directly, such as the origin recognition complex (ORC). Eight recessive alleles of SIR1 were discovered that encode mutant Sir1 proteins specifically defective in their ability to recognize the HMR-E silencer. The eight missense mutations all map within a 17-amino-acid segment of Sir1p, and this segment was also required for Sir1p's interaction with Orc1p. The mutant Sir1 proteins could function in silencing if tethered to a silencer directly through a heterologous DNA-binding domain. Thus the amino acids identified are required for Sir1 protein's recognition of the HMR-E silencer and interaction with Orc1p, but not for its ability to function in silencing per se. The approach used to find these mutations may be applicable to defining interaction surfaces on proteins involved in other processes that require the assembly of macromolecular complexes.     

Double mutant cycle analysis of aspartate 69, 97, and 103 to asparagine mutants in the m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor

Double mutant cycles provide a method for analyzing the effects of a mutation at a defined position in the protein structure on the properties of an amino acid at a second site. This approach was used to map potential interactions between aspartates 69, 97, and 103 in the m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor transmembrane helices 2 and 3. Receptors containing single and double aspartate to asparagine mutants were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and their effects on ligand binding, signal transduction, and thermal stability determined. Analysis of the double mutant cycles showed that the mutations had approximately additive effects on ligand binding, signal transduction, and thermal stability. Ligand binding and thermal inactivation results support the conclusion that aspartate-103 is the ligand amine counterion. Effector coupling properties of the mutant receptors showed that aspartate-103 was also required for signal transduction activity. The mutation of aspartate-69 to asparagine completely eliminated signal transduction by the agonists acetylcholine, carbachol, and pilocarpine but not oxotremorine M, which caused reduced but significant inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and stimulation of phospholipase C. In contrast, adenylyl cyclase stimulation by the asparagine-69 mutant was elicited only by acetylcholine and carbachol but not by oxotremorine M. The variation in agonist-dependent effector coupling properties provides evidence that the asparagine-69 mutant can exist in activated receptor states that are different from the wild-type m2 muscarinic receptor.     

Crystalloids vs. colloids in fluid resuscitation: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the effects of isotonic crystalloids compared with colloids in fluid resuscitation. DATA SOURCES: Computerized bibliographic search of published research and citation review of relevant articles. STUDY SELECTION: All randomized clinical trials of adult patients requiring fluid resuscitation comparing isotonic crystalloids vs. colloids were included. Pulmonary edema, mortality, and length of stay were evaluated. Independent review of 105 articles identified 17 relevant primary studies of 814 patients. Weighted c about article inclusion was high (0.76). DATA EXTRACTION: Data on population, interventions, outcomes, and methodologic quality of the studies were obtained by duplicate independent review with differences resolved by consensus. Weighted ic on the validity assessment was moderate (0.54). DATA SYNTHESIS: No difference was observed overall between crystalloid and colloid resuscitation with respect to mortality and pulmonary edema; however, the power of the aggregated data was insufficient to detect small but potentially clinically important differences. Subgroup analysis suggested a statistically significant difference in mortality in trauma in favor of crystalloid resuscitation (relative risk 0.39, 95% confidence intervals: 0.17 to 0.89). Several methodologic issues are noteworthy regarding the primary studies, including lack of blinding (except in three studies). The type, dose, and duration of fluid administration and outcomes measured were different across these trials. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there is no apparent difference in pulmonary edema, mortality, or length of stay between isotonic crystalloid and colloid resuscitation. Crystalloid resuscitation is associated with a lower mortality in trauma patients. Methodologic limitations preclude any evidence-based clinical recommendations. Larger well-designed randomized trials are needed to achieve sufficient power to detect potentially small differences in treatment effects if they truly exist.     

Evaluation of the Constrained Blister Test for Measuring Adhesion

The constrained blister test (CBT) was evaluated as a method for measuring adhesion using a model system, electrical tape bonded to polystyrene. Pressure is applied through a circular inlet hole in the substrate, causing the adhesive to “blister” up and peel radially away from the substrate. A glass constraint, placed some distance above the adhesive, limits deformation of the adhesive in the vertical direction and promotes radial peel. By operating at low spacer height (the distance of the constraint above the adhesive) and very low growth rates, the energy spent for deformation of the adhesive and viscoelastic dissipation is minimized. Blister radial growth was linear with time, and growth rate increased linearly with the second power of the energy input. An intrinsic, rate-independent adhesion energy was obtained by extrapolation to zero crack growth rate. The CBT was compared with two peel tests. The dependence of the growth rate on energy input was different, but the extrapolation to zero growth rate gave the same value of the intrinsic adhesion energy.     

Clinicopathologic features of dogs with hepatic microvascular dysplasia with and without portosystemic shunts: 42 cases (1991-1996)

A 14 year old girl with double outlet right ventricle, left isomerism, and complicated atrial anatomy had undergone corrective surgery with intra-atrial rerouting at 5 years of age. Cardiac catheterisation eight years after the surgery showed that she had two systemic venous baffle stenoses: between the hepatic vein and caval vein, and the caval vein and right atrium. Two Palmaz stents were successfully implanted percutaneously through a long sheath and a balloon catheter. The stenoses were relieved immediately and her symptoms quickly disappeared.     

Female x male interactions in Drosophila sperm competition

In several organisms, the success of a male's sperm in multiply inseminated females depends on the male's genotype. In Drosophila, the female also plays a role in determining which sperm are successful. Pairwise tests among six isogenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster were performed to determine whether there is a genotype-specific interaction in the success of sperm. The success of a particular male's sperm was found to depend on the genotype of the female with which he mates, providing evidence for an interaction with profound evolutionary consequences.