IL-4 and IL-13 Promote Proliferation of Mammary Epithelial Cells through STAT6 and IRS-1

T helper (Th)2 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 control immune function by acting on leukocytes. They also regulate multiple responses in non-hematopoietic cells. During pregnancy, IL-4 and IL-13 facilitate alveologenesis of mammary glands. This particular morphogenesis generates alveoli from existing ducts and requires substantial cell proliferation. Using 3D cultures of primary mouse mammary epithelial cells, we demonstrate that IL-4 and IL-13 promote cell proliferation, leading to enlargement of mammary acini with partially filled lumens. The mitogenic effects of IL-4 and IL-13 are mediated by STAT6 as inhibition of STAT6 suppresses cell proliferation and improves lumen formation. In addition, IL-4 and IL-13 stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). Prolonged treatment with these cytokines leads to increased IRS-1 abundance, which, in turn, amplifies IL-4- and IL-13-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Through signaling crosstalk between IL-4/IL-13 and insulin, a hormone routinely included in mammary cultures, IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation is further enhanced. Lowering IRS-1 expression reduces cell proliferation, suggesting that IRS-1 is involved in IL-4- and IL-13-stimulated cell proliferation. Thus, a Th2-dominant cytokine milieu during pregnancy confers mammary gland development by promoting cell proliferation.     

Application of monosaccharides derivatives in colloidal processing of aluminum oxide

Obtaining highly loaded, time-stable and relatively low viscosity suspensions approaches colloidal processing to be very convenient and effective route of shaping of nanopowders. In order to obtain well dispersed, homogenous ceramic slurries, certain additives are given. Saccharides, particularly monosaccharides, as well as their derivatives, were found to be a group of effectively working processing agents in case of alumina, which has been used as a solid phase of highly loaded nanosuspensions. This class of chemical compounds can be described by a series of advantages – they are non-toxic, water-soluble, inexpensive, etc. In this paper suspensions of nano- and submicro-alumina powders with addition of d-fructose, 1-O-methyl-d-fructose, d-glucose and 3-O-acrylic-d-glucose have been studied in terms of their rheological properties, moreover the properties of as-received green bodies have been presented.     

Elucidating the role of AlO6‐octahedra in aluminum silicophosphate glasses through topological constraint theory

The local structures of sodium aluminum silicophosphate glasses containing unique AlO₆‐octahedra were characterized through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and modeled by topological constraint theory (TCT). Subsequent calculation results of the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) and Vickers hardness (H_v) obtained using TCT were verified by the experimental data, which provided us evidence of the glass former role of the AlO₆‐octahedra and their behavior in the aluminum‐containing glass systems. The glass‐forming behavior of the AlO₆‐octahedra was identified by their displacement of SiO₆‐octahedra based on their corresponding NMR spectrum. The structure featured a constant total amount of AlO₆ and SiO₆‐octahedra (AlO₆‐octahedra increased whereas SiO₆‐octahedra decreased) with an increasing aluminum content, which was caused by the mutual replacement between them. The glass former role of the AlO₆‐octahedra was further supported by the theoretical computation of T_g and H_v through application of TCT. Specifically, the model of the aluminum‐containing glasses reported here is an extension of the conventional TCT that only incorporates the constraints of the glass formers.     

Fabrication of highly ordered pore array in anodic aluminum oxide

Highly ordered pore array in anodic aluminum oxide was fabricated by anodizing pure aluminum. The order of a pore array was affected by anodizing voltage, electrolyte temperature, and first anodizing time. A regular pore array with mean diameter of 24 nm and interpore distance of 109 nm could be formed by two-step anodization at 40 V., oxalic acid concentration of 0.3 M and electrolyte temperature of 15 ‡C. The measured interpore distance showed linearity with anodizing voltage. The diameter of pores was adjusted by pore widening treatment in a 5 wt% phosphoric acid solution at 30 ‡C after two step anodization. The mechanism of self-arrangement of pores could be explained by the repulsive interaction between the pore walls.     

STAT3过度表达和激活对骨髓间充质干细胞瘤样转化的作用

目的探讨在体外模拟的肿瘤微环境中,骨髓间充质干细胞(Mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)中STAT3的过度表达和激活对其恶性转变的影响。方法通过MSCs分别与C6胶质瘤及星型胶质细胞间接共培养,模拟MSCs生长的肿瘤微环境,实验设实验组、阳性和阴性及空白对照组,MTT法检测各组细胞的增殖情况;RT-QPCR检测各组细胞中STAT3、CyclinD1及BCL-xl基因mRNA的表达水平;Western blot检测各组细胞中STAT3、P-STAT3、CyclinD及BCL-xl的蛋白表达水平;病理HE染色检测各组细胞注入裸鼠皮下成瘤情况。结果实验组MSCs生长接触抑制明显减弱,增殖活性增高;实验组STAT3、CyclinD1及BCL-xl基因mRNA的表达水平均明显高于阴性对照组和空白对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),与阳性对照组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);实验组STAT3、P-STAT3、CyclinD1及BCL-xl的蛋白表达水平明显高于阴性对照组和空白对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),与阳性对照组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);HE染色结果显示,实验组与阳性对照组细胞深染,聚集明显,排列不规则,细胞核大深染,瘤内有大量新生血管增生,可见组织坏死。结论 STAT3及P-STAT3的过度表达和激活,可能是造成MSCs在肿瘤微环中恶性转变的重要原因之一。     

铝阳极化染黑工艺中的故障处理

1　前言　　某电镀厂新增铝阳极化染黑工艺生产线 ,出现不少质量问题。如工件颜色有深有浅 ,有黑中显青 ,有黑中显红 ,有黑中留白 ,有灰黑混一等等。经细细辨别 ,笔者很快找出了故障起因并提出了解决方法。现将其整理如下 ,有误之处请广大同行批评指正。2　故障原因分析及解决方法2 1　颜色黑中显青　　通常是由如下 4种原因引起的 :　　①阳极氧化溶液温度过低　　②阳极氧化时间过短　　③电压过低　　④染色溶液ｐＨ值接近中性　　经分析 ,该厂所出现的质量问题是由于阳极氧化溶液温度过低而没有相应地延长阳极化时间和提高电压而引起的…     

氧化铝管道化溶出系统结疤清洗研究

氧化铝生产过程结疤，特别是高温溶出段形成的结疤坚硬致密，成份复杂，通过使用研制的一种高效的清洗剂，采用合理的清洗工艺和监控手段可有效去除反应中及管道内结疤．对氧化铝生产企业提高产能和经济效益有重要意义。     

Ellipsometric measurements of the barrier layer in composite aluminum oxide films

The composite oxide film (hydrous + anodic) formed on aluminum foil was chemically stripped to remove only the outer hydrous layer. Ellipsometry of the remaining barrier film showed it to be thinner and have a higher refractive index than conventional anodic barrier films grown to the same voltage. Reanodization to improve film stability gave a further increase in refractive index which indicated that the barrier film had contained some voids. The barrier film is almost entirely crystalline γ-Al₂O₃ and the higher field strength compared with conventional amorphous anodic films on aluminum is believed to be a characteristic of the denser oxide.     

Friction-chemical activation of polycrystalline aluminum and zirconium oxides in water dispersions

Conclusions We established the feasibility of friction-chemical implantation of phosphate ions in the surface layers of crystals of corundum and zirconia, with the formation of phosphoruscontaining compounds, initiating bonding properties in the suspensions.A study was made of the influence of the form of friction-chemical activation of the material on the degree of bonding of the implantor solution during preparation of the suspension with thixotropic type of flow.The combination, in time, of mechanical activation and chemical reaction makes it possible to obtain castings with bending strengths of 14 N/mm for Al₂O₃, and 5.5 N/mm for ZrO₂. The strength of such castings is markedly increased, both with increase in the concentration of implantor ions in the dispersant, and also during storage of the suspensions for 10 days.Implantation of phosphate ions in the surface layers of alumina and zirconia is identified by IR-spectroscopy, petrographic and x-ray analyses, and also indirectly by acid-base titration.Translated from Ogneupory, No. 6, pp. 7–11, June, 1991.     

Formation of metal oxide nanoparticles in combustion of titanium and aluminum droplets

A study was performed of the formation of metal oxide nanoparticles during combustion of aluminum and titanium drops which moved in air at a velocity of up to 3 m/sec. The source of the burning particles was a pyrotechnic mixture which contained an oxidizer, a binder, and metal particles of size 4–350 μm. Transmission electron microscopic studies showed that the combustion products were 1–10 μm aggregates of fractal structure consisting of primary particles (spherules) of Al₂O₃/TiO₂ 5–150 nm in diameter. The Brownian diffusion of the aggregates and their motion in electric and gravitational fields were observed using videomicroscopic recording. The charge distribution of TiO₂ aggregates and the equivalent radius of Brownian mobility were determined. In Al combustion, the zone of nanoparticle formation is separated from the particle surface by a distance approximately equal to the particle radius, and in Ti combustion, this zone is located directly near the surface. Coagulation of the oxide aerosol in the track of a burning particle leads to aerogelation with the formation of huge aggregates. Analytical expressions for approximate calculation of the parameters of the oxide particles and zones of their formation are proposed. __________ Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 33–47, November–December, 2006.     

Investigation of phase transformations in mixtures of aluminum oxide and copper oxides

Conclusions We studied the behavior of aluminum oxide when heated with copper oxides in an apparatus for simultaneous high-temperature recording of the electrical resistance, X-ray patterns, and thermograms of solids.We established the temperature ranges for existence of the compounds CuAl₂O₄ and CuAlO₂ under given conditions.We have explained the causes of the thermal effects and changes in resistance that occur during heatint of mixtures of aluminum oxide and copper oxides.Translated from Ogneupory, No.4, pp. 48–49, April, 1968.     

Photoluminescence emission of nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide films prepared in phosphoric acid

The photoluminescence emission of nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide films formed in phosphoric acid is studied in order to explore their defect-based subband electronic structure. Different excitation wavelengths are used to identify most of the details of the subband states. The films are produced under different anodizing conditions to optimize their emission in the visible range. Scanning electron microscopy investigations confirm pore formation in the produced layers. Gaussian analysis of the emission data indicates that subband states change with anodizing parameters, and various point defects can be formed both in the bulk and on the surface of these nanoporous layers during anodizing.     

Fabrication of diameter-modulated and ultrathin porous nanowires in anodic aluminum oxide templates

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes with modulated pore diameter were synthesized by pulse anodization in 0.3 M sulfuric acid at 1 °C. For AAO growth, a typical combination of alternating mild anodizing (MA) and hard anodizing (HA) pulses with applied potential pulses of 25 V and 35 V was applied. The control of the duration of HA pulses will provide an interesting way to tune the shape of pores and the structure of AAO channels. It was found that a non-uniform length of HA segments in cross section of AAO is usually observed when the HA pulse duration is shorter than 1.2 s. The pulse anodization performed with longer HA pulses leads to the formation of AAO templates with periodically modulated pore diameter and nearly uniform length of segments. Various diameter-modulated metallic nanowires (Au, Ag, Ni and Ag–Au) were fabricated by electrodeposition in the pores of anodic alumina membranes. A typical average nanowire diameter was about 30 nm and 48 nm for MA and HA nanowire segments, respectively. After a successful dealloying silver from Ag–Au nanowires, porous ultrathin Au nanowires were obtained.     

多孔氧化铝模板法制备取向碳纳米管阵列的研究进展

利用化学气相沉积技术在多孔氧化铝模板上可以制备取向碳纳米管阵列。通过调节阳极氧化参数可以改变模板的孔结构,进而可控制碳纳米管在孔道中生长的形貌。用这种方法制备的碳纳米管的直径、长度和密度可以选择性控制,这将有利于研究碳纳米管的性质和它在电化学及其他领域的应用。介绍了多孔氧化铝模板的形成原理以及碳纳米管在多孔氧化铝模板上的生长机理,讨论了阳极氧化条件、催化剂和气相沉积温度对碳纳米管特性的影响,并指出了这种技术中一些需深入研究的问题。     

Simulation of the vapor explosion of tin and aluminum oxide fragments in water

The vapor explosion process involves an explosive phase change from a thin liquid film into a vapor with a dramatic change in material properties across a high-pressure shock wave. The energy released during the explosion process can reach a level of chemical explosions associated with detonating high explosives. Because no fuel-air chemical reaction is needed for initiating a vapor explosion, the process can be considered as a green reaction that generates zero pollutants. However, the phase change that accompanies a thousand-fold increase in the vapor volume during the rapid film evaporation is a natural consequence of a sudden change in density across the phase front; this feature closely resembles the process of blast wave generation. The high-pressure vapor produced without a chemical reaction expands as a spherical wave at a uniform velocity predicted through the Rankine-Hugoniot shock conditions. In this paper, a new methodology based on a simple shock wave and a phase field theory is proposed to formulate the vapor explosion process.     

The complexometric determination of aluminum oxide in glass containing oxides of rare earths

Glass and Ceramics -