Rheological behavior of neat and carbon fiber-reinforced poly(ether ketone ketone) for extrusion deposition additive manufacturing

To develop new materials for extrusion additive manufacturing (AM) systems, a fundamental understanding of rheological properties is essential to correlate the effect of processing on material structure and its properties. In this work, the rheological properties of five different grades of neat and carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced poly(ether ketone ketone) are reported. Rheological properties are essential to understand the effect of reinforcing fibers and AM process parameters such as time, temperature, environment, and shear rate on flow behavior during processing. Small-amplitude oscillatory shear tests and steady shear tests indicated neat grades to exhibit less increase in viscosity over time when processed in air than the CF-filled grades. The filled grades showed greater shear thinning and lower sensitivity to temperature. Overall, this rheological analysis provides a broad framework for determining appropriate processing conditions for extrusion deposition AM of such high-temperature polymer systems.     

Study of the Photocrosslinking of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Terpolymer Under UV Irradiation

The photocrosslinking of thick samples of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene–ethylene propylene diene monomer (ENB-EPDM) under air at room temperature was investigated. First, a model study was carried out on low-molecular weight oligomers: squalene, 1,2-polybutadiene, and 1,4-polybutadiene. Several crosslinking agents (meth(acrylics), bismaleimide, and thiol) combined with various photoinitiators were tested to improve the reactivity of these oligomers under UV irradiation. Gel contents, crosslinking densities, viscosities, and viscoelastic properties were measured in order to characterize the extent of crosslinking. Acrylate-based crosslinking agents appeared to be the most reactive species and these results were then applied to a low-molecular weight EPDM. Several photoinitiators were tested and benzophenone turned out to be the most efficient photoinitiator when combined with trimethylolpropane triacrylate. Finally, a commercial EPDM was subsequently photocrosslinked and high gel content and crosslinking density were obtained after only 2 min of irradiation. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:95–103, 2020. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Neurotropic RNA Virus Modulation of Immune Responses within the Central Nervous System

The central nervous system (CNS) necessitates intricately coordinated immune responses to prevent neurological disease. However, the emergence of viruses capable of entering the CNS and infecting neurons threatens this delicate balance. Our CNS is protected from foreign invaders and excess solutes by a semipermeable barrier of endothelial cells called the blood–brain barrier. Thereby, viruses have implemented several strategies to bypass this protective layer and modulate immune responses within the CNS. In this review, we outline these immune regulatory mechanisms and provide perspectives on future questions in this rapidly expanding field.     

APOB CRISPR-Cas9 Engineering in Hypobetalipoproteinemia: A Promising Tool for Functional Studies of Novel Variants

Hypobetalipoproteinemia is characterized by LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apoB) plasma levels below the fifth percentile for age and sex. Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) is mostly caused by premature termination codons in the APOB gene, a condition associated with fatty liver and steatohepatitis. Nevertheless, many families with a FHBL phenotype carry APOB missense variants of uncertain significance (VUS). We here aimed to develop a proof-of-principle experiment to assess the pathogenicity of VUS using the genome editing of human liver cells. We identified a novel heterozygous APOB-VUS (p.Leu351Arg), in a FHBL family. We generated APOB knock-out (KO) and APOB-p.Leu351Arg knock-in Huh7 cells using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and studied the APOB expression, synthesis and secretion by digital droplet PCR and ELISA quantification. The APOB expression was decreased by 70% in the heterozygous APOB-KO cells and almost abolished in the homozygous-KO cells, with a consistent decrease in apoB production and secretion. The APOB-p.Leu351Arg homozygous cells presented with a 40% decreased APOB expression and undetectable apoB levels in cellular extracts and supernatant. Thus, the p.Leu351Arg affected the apoB secretion, which led us to classify this new variant as likely pathogenic and to set up a hepatic follow-up in this family. Therefore, the functional assessment of APOB-missense variants, using gene-editing technologies, will lead to improvements in the molecular diagnosis of FHBL and the personalized follow-up of these patients.     

Multi-level Modeling of Silica–Template Interactions During Initial Stages of Zeolite Synthesis

Zeolite synthesis is driven by structure-directing agents, such as tetrapropyl ammonium ions (TPA⁺) for Silicalite-1 and ZSM-5. However, the guiding role of these organic templates in the complex assembly to highly ordered frameworks remains unclear, limiting the prospects for advanced material synthesis. In this work, both static ab initio and dynamic classical modeling techniques are employed to provide insight into the interactions between TPA⁺ and Silicalite-1 precursors. We find that as soon as the typical straight 10-ring channel of Silicalite-1 or ZSM-5 is formed from smaller oligomers, the TPA⁺ template is partially squeezed out of the resulting cavity. Partial retention of the template in the cavity is, however, indispensable to prevent collapse of the channel and subsequent hydrolysis.

Infrared study of nitrogen monoxide adsorption on palladium ion-exchanged ZSM-5 catalysts

The adsorption of NO at room temperature on a H-ZSM-5 catalyst exchanged with Pd(NH₃) ₄ ²⁺ complex and activated in oxygen at 773 K has been examined by FTIR spectroscopy. After the oxidizing treatment, the Pd tetrammine complex decomposed into Pd(II) ions and/or Pd(II) hydroxyl complexes dispersed in the zeolite channels. The subsequent adsorption of NO at room temperature led to the reduction of Pd(II) to Pd(I) entities, resulting in the formation and adsorption of NO₂ on H-ZSM-5. The Pd(I) entities were shown to adsorb NO and form mononitrosyl complexes dispersed in the zeolite porosity and characterized by a single infrared absorption band at 1881 cm^–1. The Pd(I) mononitrosyl complex was shown to reversibly coordinate water and NO₂ molecules. The resulting nitrosyl complex was characterized by a single NO vibration band at 1836 cm^–1.     

Trends in chemical engineering education: Process, product and sustainable chemical engineering challenges

Teaching chemical engineering has always been faced with a dilemma: either keep in touch with industry needs or incorporate new scientific concepts into the curriculum. In this paper, a short historical analysis of the evolution of chemical engineering teaching is presented and the recent trends of the two previous facets (industry and science) are briefly reviewed. The process vs product engineering concept is proposed as one of the means to achieve a better alignment between the curriculum and industry needs. A chemical engineering teaching framework, based in part on a product and a process oriented component, which has been in place in our department 5 years ago, is described and discussed. The concept of sustainable chemistry, including process and product considerations, which can be seen as the next frontier in chemical engineering education, is finally analysed from the education point of view.     

Relative abundance,age structure,and body size in mudpuppy populations in southwestern Ontario

Little is known of mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) population structure and ecology; some populations in the Great Lakes are thought to be in decline. Mudpuppies are the obligate hosts for the mudpuppy mussel (Simpsonaias ambigua), a species that is endangered in Canada and in many Great Lakes states. We surveyed mudpuppies from the Sydenham River, the only known Canadian locality of the mudpuppy mussel, in order to generate information on relative density, deformity rates and population age/size structure and used this information to compare them to known mudpuppy populations from Great Lakes sites in the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and Long Point in Lake Erie. Deformity rates were elevated at some sites in the Sydenham River. The relative density of mudpuppies in the Sydenham River was lower than that of other Great Lakes sites and their age was skewed towards younger individuals. Although at lower densities than at other Great Lakes sites, the mudpuppy population in the Sydenham River appears stable and is showing signs of recruitment which bodes well for the future of the mudpuppy mussel population of the river.     

Micro-RNA and Proteomic Profiles of Plasma-Derived Exosomes from Irradiated Mice Reveal Molecular Changes Preventing Apoptosis in Neonatal Cerebellum

Cell communication via exosomes is capable of influencing cell fate in stress situations such as exposure to ionizing radiation. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that exosomes might play a role in out-of-target radiation effects by carrying molecular signaling mediators of radiation damage, as well as opposite protective functions resulting in resistance to radiotherapy. However, a global understanding of exosomes and their radiation-induced regulation, especially within the context of an intact mammalian organism, has been lacking. In this in vivo study, we demonstrate that, compared to sham-irradiated (SI) mice, a distinct pattern of proteins and miRNAs is found packaged into circulating plasma exosomes after whole-body and partial-body irradiation (WBI and PBI) with 2 Gy X-rays. A high number of deregulated proteins (59% of WBI and 67% of PBI) was found in the exosomes of irradiated mice. In total, 57 and 13 miRNAs were deregulated in WBI and PBI groups, respectively, suggesting that the miRNA cargo is influenced by the tissue volume exposed to radiation. In addition, five miRNAs (miR-99b-3p, miR-200a-3p, miR-200a, miR-182-5p, miR-182) were commonly overexpressed in the exosomes from the WBI and PBI groups. In this study, particular emphasis was also given to the determination of the in vivo effect of exosome transfer by intracranial injection in the highly radiosensitive neonatal cerebellum at postnatal day 3. In accordance with a major overall anti-apoptotic function of the commonly deregulated miRNAs, here, we report that exosomes from the plasma of irradiated mice, especially in the case of WBI, prevent radiation-induced apoptosis, thus holding promise for exosome-based future therapeutic applications against radiation injury.