Neutrophil Death in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Shedding More Light on Neutrophils as a Pathogenic Link to Chronic Inflammation

Neutrophils are an essential component of the innate immune response, but their prolonged activation can lead to chronic inflammation. Consequently, neutrophil homeostasis is tightly regulated through balance between granulopoiesis and clearance of dying cells. The bone marrow is both a site of neutrophil production and the place they return to and die. Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are clonal hematopoietic disorders characterized by the mutations in three types of molecular markers, with emphasis on Janus kinase 2 gene mutation (JAK2V617F). The MPN bone marrow stem cell niche is a site of chronic inflammation, with commonly increased cells of myeloid lineage, including neutrophils. The MPN neutrophils are characterized by the upregulation of JAK target genes. Additionally, MPN neutrophils display malignant nature, they are in a state of activation, and with deregulated apoptotic machinery. In other words, neutrophils deserve to be placed in the midst of major events in MPN. Our crucial interest in this review is better understanding of how neutrophils die in MPN mirrored by defects in apoptosis and to what possible extent they can contribute to MPN pathophysiology. We tend to expect that reduced neutrophil apoptosis will establish a pathogenic link to chronic inflammation in MPN.     

Studies on surface activity of petroleum sulfonates prepared from extracts of solvent refining

Petroleum sulfonates with the active substance content from 21 to 32.5 % wt were prepared from four extracts of solvent refining by phenol and N-methylpyrrolidone (oil side streams II and III) in laboratory conditions. Their average molecular weight, composition, and surface activity were evaluated using a rotating drop test. The sulfonated products were characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopy, and HPLC methods.     

Designing trust in the Internet services

Being a supersophisticated system, the Internet not only gives unquestionable benefits but also brings some problems. These problems are caused by the transparency of the network space for creators and its nontransparency for general users, who experience processing complexity, lack of privacy, and fear of making a mistake. Such problems give grounds for questioning whether users can trust Internet services. We analyze graphic design and public relations (PR) as tools used to generate trust in Internet services under both the circumstances of transparency and nontransparency of the Internet. Our analysis shows that visual, reputational, and contextual factors have crucial importance in generating trust in Internet services under the circumstances of transparency and nontransparency of the network space; graphic design and PR play a critical role. Interactive design develops network images that produce the initial impression and lay the foundation for users’ trust (or lack of trust) in network resources (the perceptual and emotional level). PR tools are used to complete the process of generating trust by turning the initial impression into such qualitative characteristics as goodwill and information transparency with regard to status and social context (the rational level). Such combined application of graphic design and PR tools leads to harmonization of the network environment and generates users’ trust in Internet services.     

Relationship between land use composition and PM<Subscript>10</Subscript> concentrations in Iskandar Malaysia

Air pollution has always been a concern with increasing urbanization and poor land use planning adding to the problem. This study sets out to investigate the relationship between land use composition of an area and its ambient concentration of 10-μm-or-less particulate matter (PM₁₀). For this study, Iskandar Malaysia has been chosen as the study area. To compensate for the limited number of air quality monitoring stations in the study area, Terra MODIS aerosol optical depth Level 2 products are used to assess PM₁₀ concentration spatially. Land use data were developed from LANDSAT images used together with the land use database from the local authority. Finally, the relationship between land use composition and concentrations of PM₁₀ in the study area are explained using contour ternary plots. The plots show how different compositions of three major urban land uses (residential, commercial, industrial) in an area results in different concentration levels of PM₁₀. Concentrations of PM₁₀ are evidently more affected by commercial land use, followed by industrial land use. Hence, responsible authorities in Iskandar Malaysia could control or reduce air pollution in an area by planning a better land use composition.     

Millimeter wave generation on nonlinear transmission lines

In recent years, nonlinear transmission lines (nltls) have successfully been used to generate ultrashort electrical pulses and transients from a sinusoidal input signal. In the frequency domain, this pulse compression results from the generation of a large number of harmonics with suitable phase relationships. In this paper, special examples of nltls are studied which are capable to produce millimeter wave signals at selected frequencies, here by second and third harmonic generation and nonlinear active wave propagation effects. Bi-modal transmission lines are particular discussed which provide the necessary dispersion for high conversion efficiencies.     

Penetrability of resins and polyethylene glycols in ammonia treated spruce wood

The penetrability of melamine formaldehyde resins (MF) and polyethylene glycols (PEGs) with different molecular weights in ammonia modified spruce sapwood was examined using microscopic techniques. We found a strong increase of the penetration depths of MF-resins and PEGs in wood soaked with ammonia. After ammonia evaporation the penetrability decreased to values lower than for untreated wood. Further, we found dependence between the penetration depths of MF resins respectively PEGs, their molecular weight, and the used solvents.