How Modifying Third‐Party Information Affects Interpersonal Impressions and the Evaluation of Collaborative Online Media

Previous research has drawn upon warranting theory to help explain how viewers evaluate people and entities online. Extending previous research, this study assesses how the ability of a target to modify third‐party information affects perceptions of warranting value, and in turn, interpersonal impressions and the perceived legitimacy of online media that host evaluations. Additionally, this work explores how the perceived objectivity of a third‐party evaluator affects impressions in online settings. The results provide support for warranting theory and help clarify how impressions are formed in online environments when people have the ability to generate and modify content collectively. The theoretical implications this study has for warranting theory and future research directions are discussed.     

Polypropylene composites obtained from self‐reinforced hybrid fiber system

The purpose of the study was to obtain a composite material with the self‐reinforced structure, which processing provide increased mechanical properties. The composites used in presented work were prepared from the two types of fiber mixtures, both were based on polypropylene fibers, the difference was in used cellulose or wood flour filler. Composites were prepared using the hot compaction method. The presented research describes the effect of the composite composition and processing conditions. The results include the static tension measurements, tensile impact tests and thermal analysis, including: DSC and DMTA. The structure has been studies using the SEM observations. Results of presented studies confirm the self‐reinforcing effect in obtained hybrid composites. It provides in the comparison to the standard wood polymer composites to the higher level of material reinforcement with lower amount of natural filler. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43283.     

Conversion of Nuclear Waste to Molten Glass: Cold‐Cap Reactions in Crucible Tests

The feed‐to‐glass conversion, which comprises complex chemical reactions and phase transitions, occurs in the cold cap during nuclear waste vitrification. To investigate the conversion process, we analyzed heat‐treated samples of a simulated high‐level waste feed using X‐ray diffraction, electron probe microanalysis, leaching tests, and residual anion analysis. Feed dehydration, gas evolution, and borate phase formation occurred at temperatures below 700°C before the emerging glass‐forming melt was completely connected. Above 700°C, intermediate aluminosilicate phases and quartz particles gradually dissolved in the continuous borosilicate melt, which expanded with transient foam. Knowledge of the chemistry and physics of feed‐to‐glass conversion will help us control the conversion path by changing the melter feed makeup to maximize the glass production rate.     

Effect of carbon nanotube dispersion on the complex permittivity and absorption of nanocomposites in 2–18 GHz ranges

The effect of dispersion processes on complex permittivity and microwave absorption in 2?18 GHz ranges is presented for nanocomposites loaded with different amounts of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) ranging from 1 to 5 wt %. The ultrasonic sonication (US) method and the three‐roll mill (TRM) method were performed for the manufacturing of the CNT/epoxy absorbers with different dispersing levels. Microscopic observations revealed that the CNT agglomerates were reduced after the TRM process, and individual CNTs were uniformly dispersed in the epoxy resin. For the same weight content of CNT fillers, the percentage increase of between US and TRM samples varies from 35.5% to 101.7% while the corresponding increment of (dielectric loss) varies from 79.6% to 248.8%. A minimum reflection loss for the US sample with 2 wt % CNTs is only ?7.8 dB at 11.3 GHz while the corresponding TRM sample is greatly improved to reach ?37.4 dB at 7.76 GHz for the same matching thickness of 3 mm. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40963.     

Inflammation Regulates Haematopoietic Stem Cells and Their Niche

Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in the bone marrow and are supported by the specialised microenvironment, a niche to maintain HSC quiescence. To deal with haematopoietic equilibrium disrupted during inflammation, HSCs are activated from quiescence directly and indirectly to generate more mature immune cells, especially the myeloid lineage cells. In the process of proliferation and differentiation, HSCs gradually lose their self-renewal potential. The extensive inflammation might cause HSC exhaustion/senescence and malignant transformation. Here, we summarise the current understanding of how HSC functions are maintained, damaged, or exhausted during acute, prolonged, and pathological inflammatory conditions. We also highlight the inflammation-altered HSC niche and its impact on escalating the insults on HSCs.     

Broad Spectrum Anti-Bacterial Activity and Non-Selective Toxicity of Gum Arabic Silver Nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most commercialized nanomaterials and presumed to be biocompatible based on the biological effects of the bulk material. However, their physico-chemical properties differ significantly to the bulk materials and are associated with unique biological properties. The study investigated the antimicrobial and cytotoxicity effects of AgNPs synthesized using gum arabic (GA), sodium borohydride (NaBH₄), and their combination as reducing agents. The AgNPs were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The anti-bacterial activity was assessed using agar well diffusion and microdilution assays, and the cytotoxicity effects on Caco-2, HT-29 and KMST-6 cells using MTT assay. The GA-synthesized AgNPs (GA-AgNPs) demonstrated higher bactericidal activity against all bacteria, and non-selective cytotoxicity towards normal and cancer cells. AgNPs reduced by NaBH₄ (C-AgNPs) and the combination of GA and NaBH₄ (GAC-AgNPs) had insignificant anti-bacterial activity and cytotoxicity at ≥50 µg/mL. The study showed that despite the notion that AgNPs are safe and biocompatible, their toxicity cannot be overruled and that their toxicity can be channeled by using biocompatible polymers, thereby providing a therapeutic window at concentrations that are least harmful to mammalian cells but toxic to bacteria.     

Design and characterization of PNVCL-based nanofibers and evaluation of their potential applications as scaffolds for surface drug delivery of hydrophobic drugs

In this work, nanofiber scaffolds for surface drug delivery applications were obtained by electrospinning poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) and its blends with poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone). The process parameters to obtain smooth and beadless PNVCL fibers were optimized. The average fibers diameter was less than 1 μm, and it was determined by scanning electron microscopy analyses. Their affinity toward water was evaluated by measuring the contact angle with water. The ketoprofen release behavior from the fibers was analyzed using independent and model-dependent approaches. The low values of the release exponent (n < 0.5) obtained for 20 and 42 °C, indicating a Fickian diffusion mechanism for all formulations. Dissolution efficiencies (DEs) revealed the effect of polymer composition, methodology used in the electrospinning process, and temperature on the release rate of ketoprofen. PNVCL/poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone)-based nanofibers showed greater ability to control the in vitro release of ketoprofen, in view of reduced kinetic constant and DE, making this material promising system for controlling release of hydrophobic drugs. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48472.     

In situ compatibilization of a polyethylene,polypropylene, and polystyrene ternary blend through Friedel–Crafts alkylation

The Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction has been applied to reactively compatibilize a ternary blend of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). The reactions were carried out in an internal mixer using varying catalyst concentrations. The resulting compatibilizer was quantified after Soxhlet extraction. In addition, p-substitution due to the grafting of alkyl groups onto the PS benzene ring was identified via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The size of the PS domain in the reactive compositions is decreased by 80%. Moreover, the phase in which PS droplets were dispersed varied, that is, in the nonreactive blends they were found in the PP phase and in the reactive blends they shifted toward the HDPE phase. The effect of the compatibilizing agent was to improve the mechanical properties of the blend. Even with the lowest catalyst content, the properties of elongation-at-break, tensile strength, toughness, and elastic modulus showed improvements. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48295.     

Macrophage-Mediated Melanoma Reduction after HP-NAP Treatment in a Zebrafish Xenograft Model

The Helicobacter pylori Neutrophil Activating Protein (HP-NAP) is endowed with immunomodulatory properties that make it a potential candidate for anticancer therapeutic applications. By activating cytotoxic Th1 responses, HP-NAP inhibits the growth of bladder cancer and enhances the anti-tumor activity of oncolytic viruses in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and neuroendocrine tumors. The possibility that HP-NAP exerts its anti-tumor effect also by modulating the activity of innate immune cells has not yet been explored. Taking advantage of the zebrafish model, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of HP-NAP against metastatic human melanoma, limiting the observational window to 9 days post-fertilization, well before the maturation of the adaptive immunity. Human melanoma cells were xenotransplanted into zebrafish embryos and tracked in the presence or absence of HP-NAP. The behavior and phenotype of macrophages and the impact of their drug-induced depletion were analyzed exploiting macrophage-expressed transgenes. HP-NAP administration efficiently inhibited tumor growth and metastasis and this was accompanied by strong recruitment of macrophages with a pro-inflammatory profile at the tumor site. The depletion of macrophages almost completely abrogated the ability of HP-NAP to counteract tumor growth. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of activated macrophages in counteracting melanoma growth and support the notion that HP-NAP might become a new biological therapeutic agent for the treatment of metastatic melanomas.