Implication of scavenger receptors in the interactions between diesel exhaust particles and immature or mature dendritic cells

Background  

The exposure to pollutants such as diesel exhaust particles (DEP) is associated with an increased incidence of respiratory diseases. However, the mechanisms by which DEP have an effect on human health are not completely understood. In addition to their action on macrophages and airway epithelial cells, DEP also modulate the functions of dendritic cells (DC). These professional antigen-presenting cells are able to discriminate unmodified self from non-self thanks to pattern recognition receptors such as the Toll like Receptors (TLR) and Scavenger Receptors (SR). SR were originally identified by their ability to bind and internalize modified lipoproteins and microorganisms but also particles and TLR agonists. In this study, we assessed the implication of SR in the effects of DEP associated or not with TLR agonists on monocyte-derived DC (MDDC). For this, we studied the regulation of CD36, CXCL16, LOX-1, SR-A1 and SR-B1 expression on MDDC treated with DEP associated or not with TLR2, 3 and 4 ligands. Then, the capacity of SR ligands (dextran sulfate and maleylated-ovalbumin) to block the effects of DEP on the function of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated DC has been evaluated.     

Synthesis and characterization of high molecular weight poly(tert.butyl acrylate)

High molecular weight poly(tert. butyl acrylate) s have been synthesized anionically using a technique derived from that of Teyssié et al. It was established that under proper conditions the sites remained living, allowing proper control of the molecular weight and yielding samples with narrow molecular weight distributions.     

Direct Ni Electroless Metallization of Poly(etherimide) without Using Palladium as a Catalyst

ELECTROLESS METALLIZATION of insulatingmaterials is currently used in industry since severaldecades.In its most common applications it consists ina redox reaction between Ni(+2)or Cu(+2)ions and astrong reducer(respectively hypophosphite,H2PO2,forNi(+2)and formaldehyde,HCHO,for Cu(+2))bothcontained in the same solution.The reaction initiationis generally catalyzed by palladium,then the redoxreaction goes on thanks to the remarkable property ofNi and Cu in their metallic state to …     

Supplementation of the diet with the functional fiber PolyGlycoplex? is well tolerated by healthy subjects in a clinical trial

Background  

The relationship of dietary fiber to overall health is of great importance, as beneficial effects have been demonstrated with the use of fiber from diverse sources, some traditional, other novel. PolyGlycopleX^? (PGX^?) is a unique proprietary product composed of three water-soluble polysaccharides, that when processed using novel technology give rise to a final product – a soluble, highly viscous functional fiber.     

Improving the performance of retail stores subject to execution errors: coordination versus RFID technology

This paper analyzes a Newsvendor type inventory model in which a manufacturer sells a single product to a retailer store whose inventory is subject to errors stemming from execution problems. Hence, within the store, all of the products are not available on shelf for sales either because the replenishment of the shelf from the backroom is subject to execution errors that mainly result in products lost in the backroom or products misplaced on the other shelves of the store. We compare two situations: in the first situation, the two supply chain actors are aware of errors and optimize their ordering decisions by taking into account this issue. The second situation deals with the case where an advanced automatic identification system such as the Radio Frequency Identification technology is deployed in order to eliminate errors. Each situation is developed for three scenarios: in the centralized scenario, we consider a single decision-maker who is concerned with maximizing the entire supply chain’s profit; in the decentralized uncoordinated scenario, the retailer and the manufacturer act as different parties and do not cooperate. The third scenario is the decentralized coordinated scenario where we give conditions for coordinating the channel by designing a buyback contract. The authors would like to thank the editor, Prof. Dr. Hans-Otto Guenther, and two anonymous referees for their constructive comments to improve this article.     

Nouvelle classe de simulateurs permettant la caractérisation de dispositifs embarqués sur des structures de grandes dimensions

This paper presents the qualification of an iemn exploitation original system, intended to create a realistic electromagnetic environment on large structures (planes, missiles, land vehicles). It consists in a horizontal polarization transmission line simulator which is supplied by a high voltage generator. The transient currents, induced on the wires, are solved by using integral equations in the space-time domain. The electromagnetic fields evaluated inside the working volumes are determined in each point and at each time. We include numerous comparisons with the experiments carried out by the Centre d’études de Gramat.     

Application of the microbond technique: Characterization of carbon fiber-epoxy interfaces

Microbonding has been applied to measure the interfacial shear strength, τ, between single carbon fiber and microdroplets of epoxy resins. The effect of thermoset cure and resin modification on this initial parameter for composite performance have been studied. The interfacial shear strength for the host fiber/epoxy system (T-300/Epos 828) increased 3 fold from a B-stage to a fully cured material. The addition of a toughening agent called “Fortifier P” to the host resin system increased T by 40%. Residual thermal stresses were calculated and their contribution to mechanical adhesion were related to friction components.     

Synthesis of phosphonated styrenic copolymers and their chemical modifications

We report, for the first time, the synthesis of a phosphonated styrenic monomer dimethyl vinylbenzyl phosphonate (VBP) according to the methods described in the literature for its equivalent diethyl vinylbenzyl phosphonate, and also the monodealkylation of this monomer (VBP) to the monosalt in a neutral medium and to the corresponding monoacid via a sulfonic resin. Various statistical copolymers and statistical block copolymers of styrene and VBP were prepared with different molar percentages of these comonomers. The dealkylation of statistical copolymers was carried out in the same way as for VBP. The phosphonated statistical copolymers, prepared, were characterized by various analytical methods which show good agreement with their structures. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

IDENTIFIABILITY AND DISTINGUISHABILITY TESTING FOR LINEAR MODELS IN HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS

If several values of the parameters of a model are associated with the same behavior, then the model is not identifiable and there is no hope of estimating a unique best value for the parameter vector from experimental data. Similarly, if several models with different structures correspond to the same behavior, then these models are not distinguishable and there is no hope of selecting a structure that best corresponds to the experimental data. Two methods for testing linear models for identifiability and distinguish ability are recalled and applied to types of catenary compartmental models encountered for instance when studying the isobutane-isobutene-hydrogen system by transient isotopic tracing.     

Directional laser generation and detection of ultrasound with arrays of optical fibers

Some aspects of the generation and detection of ultrasound with laser beams are presented. The objective of the study is (1) to present some experimental results on the generation of ultrasound with an array of optical fibers, (2) to discuss the possibility of generating directional surface waves with acousto-optic scanning in a very narrow frequency band, thus increasing the signal-to-noise ratio, and (3) to discuss the feasibility of the directional detection of ultrasound by using an array of optical fibers as a receiver, also with the goal of increasing the signal-to-noise ratio.