Microgravity Modifies the Phenotype of Fibroblast and Promotes Remodeling of the Fibroblast–Keratinocyte Interaction in a 3D Co-Culture Model

Microgravity impairs tissue organization and critical pathways involved in the cell–microenvironment interplay, where fibroblasts have a critical role. We exposed dermal fibroblasts to simulated microgravity by means of a Random Positioning Machine (RPM), a device that reproduces conditions of weightlessness. Molecular and structural changes were analyzed and compared to control samples growing in a normal gravity field. Simulated microgravity impairs fibroblast conversion into myofibroblast and inhibits their migratory properties. Consequently, the normal interplay between fibroblasts and keratinocytes were remarkably altered in 3D co-culture experiments, giving rise to several ultra-structural abnormalities. Such phenotypic changes are associated with down-regulation of α-SMA that translocate in the nucleoplasm, altogether with the concomitant modification of the actin-vinculin apparatus. Noticeably, the stress associated with weightlessness induced oxidative damage, which seemed to concur with such modifications. These findings disclose new opportunities to establish antioxidant strategies that counteract the microgravity-induced disruptive effects on fibroblasts and tissue organization.     

5G-V2X: standardization,architecture, use cases,network-slicing,and edge-computing

Wireless Networks - Vehicular communication is one of the critical technologies in intelligent transportation system to provide connectivity between vehicles, road side units, and pedestrians....     

Effects of lupin oil on carp lipids during chilling 1. Changes in lipid class composition

The effect of lupin (Lupinus termis) oil on the muscle lipids of carp (Cyprinus carpio) during chilling was studied. During chilling, total lipids decreased whereas triglycerides remained almost constant. Neither the behavior of total lipids nor that of triglycerides during chilling was affected by the composition of the dietary lipids. The proportions of ?free”? fatty acids increased and the proportions of phospholipids decreased during chilling. These changes were markedly affected by the composition of the diet.     

Dielectric properties of new fully conjugated 2H‐ and metal‐pyrazinoporphyrazine network polymers

2,7‐Di‐tert‐butylpyrene was oxidized to 2,7‐di‐tert‐butylpyrene‐4,5,9,10‐tetraone. The latter through condensation reaction with vicinal diamine such as diaminomaleodinitrile afforded heterocyclic monomer, 2,7‐di‐tert‐butyl pyrene[4,5][9,10]bis(2,3‐pyrazine‐5,6‐dinitrile), which was cyclotetramerized to the corresponding 2H‐ and metal‐pyrazinoporphyrazine‐based network polymers (2H‐PyzPz and M‐PyzPz, M = Co, Ni, Zn, or Cu). Elemental analytical results, Infrared, and NMR spectral data of the new prepared molecules are consistent with their assigned formulations. Molecular masses and metal contents of the synthesized polymers proved to be of high molecular masses, which confirm the efficiency of tetramerization polymerization and complexation reactions. Dielectric permittivity, ε′, loss tangent, tan δ, and ac conductivity, σac(ω), of 2H‐PyzPz and M‐PyzPz films were studied as a function of temperature and frequency. It was found that dielectric permittivity, ε′, decreases with the increase of frequency and increases with the increase in temperature. Ac conductivity, σac(ω), is found to vary as Bωs and the frequency exponent, s, is less than unity around room temperature indicating a dominant hopping process. On the other hand, σac(T) of all samples is thermally activated with low activation energies. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011.     

Characterization of gamma irradiated concentrated aqueous solutions of chitosan/sodium alginate blends and their drug uptake‐release characters

Blends films based on different ratios of concentrated aqueous solutions of chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (AG) in the presence of 1% of glutaraldehyde, as a cross‐linking agent for chitosan, were prepared by solution casting and then exposed to gamma irradiation. The formed blends were characterized by IR spectroscopic analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The uptake‐release properties of CS/AG blends, taking ketoprofen as an example for drug, were also investigated. DSC thermograms of CS/AG blends revealed good miscibility was sustained between CS and AG. The water uptake and gel content of CS/AG blends was found to decrease by increasing the ratio of AG in the initial solution. The IR spectra indicated the formation of cross‐linking and hydrogen bonding, while the TGA study showed that the CS/AG blends displayed higher thermal stability than pure CS polymer. Based on Fick's law, it was demonstrated that the main parameters affecting the release of ketoprofen drug from the CS/AG blend hydrogels were composition and pH. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

γ‐radiation‐induced preparation of polyamidoxime resins and their adsorption of methyl violet

Poly(acrylic acid–amidoxime) [P(AA–AO)] and poly(maleic acid–amidoxime) [P(MA–AO)] resins were prepared by the γ‐radiation‐induced copolymerization of acrylonitrile with acrylic acid and maleic acid, respectively. The obtained resins were amidoximated by reaction with hydroxylamine. The prepared resins were used for the removal of methyl violet (MV) dye from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption studies were made by the measurement of the effects of pH, the amount of adsorbent, the contact time, and the adsorbate concentration. The adsorption isotherm of MV onto P(AA–AO) and P(MA–AO) was determined at 25°C with initial MV dye concentrations of 10–70 mg/L. The equilibrium data were analyzed with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The equilibrium process was described well by the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacities of 398.4 and 396.8 mg/L for P(AA–AO) and P(MA–AO), respectively. The kinetics of adsorption of MV onto P(AA–AO) and P(MA–AO) are discussed. The pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model described the adsorption of MV onto P(AA–AO) and P(MA–AO) very well. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Influence of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on the Performance of Poly(Azomethine-Ether) Composite Materials

The present work is aimed to fabricate a new set of composite materials containing conducting poly(azomethine-ether) reinforced with single-walled carbon nanotubes in the form of single-walled carbon nanotube/poly(azomethine-ether)_1–5 for excellent enhanced thermal as well as conducting behavior of poly(azomethine-ether). Single-walled carbon nanotubes of variable loading have been embedded into conducting poly(azomethine-ether) using in situ polymerization technique. Before attempting the polymerization, 1,3-thiazole established poly(azomethine-ether) and its conformable monomers have been prepared and their chemical structures have been correlated by spectral analyses. Furthermore, η_inh and M_w values for poly(azomethine-ether) were found 0.89?dL?g^?1 and 39723.6, respectively. The fabricated single-walled carbon nanotube/poly(azomethine-ether)_1–5 composites were specified and characterized by wide-angle X-ray diffraction patterns, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal behavior, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy characterization techniques. A perfect indicative response for this composite material was estimated by Fourier transform infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction as well. Both techniques displayed all intensive characteristic peaks regarding single-walled carbon nanotubes and poly(azomethine-ether) in the spectra or diffraction pattern for single-walled carbon nanotube/poly(azomethine-ether)_1–5. The role of single-walled carbon nanotubes on the performance of poly(azomethine-ether) was considerably examined. Single-walled carbon nanotube/poly(azomethine-ether)_1–5 showed relatively higher thermal stability. Single-walled carbon nanotube/poly(azomethine-ether)₁ displayed the lowest final composite degradation temperature value (552°C), whereas single-walled carbon nanotube/poly(azomethine-ether)₅ displayed the highest value (621°C). T₁₀ and T₂₅ values showed a gradual temperature increased while single-walled carbon nanotubes increased. Single-walled carbon nanotube/poly(azomethine-ether)₁ showed the lowest thermal stability and single-walled carbon nanotube/poly(azomethine-ether)₅ showed the highest thermal stability between all fabricated products. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy images showed a prominent increase in single-walled carbon nanotubes diameters (40–60?nm). The conductivity values were significantly increased while single-walled carbon nanotubes content was increased and reached to the semiconductors. ε′ values were also increased in both single-walled carbon nanotube/poly(azomethine-ether)_4,5 which have higher single-walled carbon nanotubes content.     

Microstructure and phase composition of cordierite-based co-clinker

The aim of this work is to study the effect of phase composition and microstructure of cordierite-based co-clinkers on the electrical properties and coefficient of thermal expansion of cordierite briquettes. To achieve this aim talc and kaolinite samples were collected from quarries in the Egyptian desert. The samples are characterized using XRD, XRF, polarized light, cathodoluminescence and SEM microscopy attached with EDAX, in addition to X-ray micro-computed tomography (3D- µXCT). The electrical properties and coefficient of thermal expansion of the cordierite briquettes are determined using HiTESTER instrument and automatic Netzsch DIL402 PC dilatometer, respectively.Five talc-based batches were shaped and fired in the temperature range 1000–1350 °C for 2 h. The microstructural and physical characteristics of the resulted cordierite-based co-clinkers depend mainly on the viscosity of the liquid phase developed during firing. The microchemistry of the cordierite briquettes confirms their enrichment of both cordierite and ferroan-cordierite crystallized directly from locally developed melts. The dielectric constant and loss factor values for cordierite briquettes allow their possible use as insulator components in electronic applications.     

Sol-Gel Preparation and Spectroscopic Properties of Modified Sodium Silicate /Tartrazine Dye Nanocomposite

Silicon - Thin film nanocomposites of sodium silicate (80 SiO2 –20 Na2O)/ tartrazine dye (E102) prepared using sol gel process in acidic system. The change in the physicochemical properties...     

Thermodynamic investigation of thermoresponsive xanthan‐poly (N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels

Polysaccharide‐based hydrogels, such as xanthan maleate/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) interpenetrated polymer networks, are thermostimulable materials of interest for the controlled release of biologically active components due to conformation changes at the low critical‐solution temperature (LCST) PNIPAAm phase transition. The phase transition of these interpenetrated polymer network hydrogels, where PNIPAAm is in a ‘confined’ environment, was examined by high resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance and differential scanning calorimetry. High resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy allows the accurate determination of LCST and an evaluation of the corresponding thermodynamic data. More particularly, the evolution of these data as a function of the composition of the hydrogel, and of the external parameters such as pH and ionic strength, was considered. LCST shows a minimal value with increasing xanthan content. Moreover, it was possible to calculate, as a function of temperature, the fraction of NIPAAm which remains uncollapsed. The data obtained for pure PNIPAAm hydrogels are in good agreement with recently published results. The phase transition of PNIPAAm in a diphasic hydrogel is broader when PNIPAAm is ‘confined’ within an interpenetrated polymer network than in a pure PNIPAAm crosslinked network. The widening of the transition with increasing xanthan content indicates a reduction of the PNIPAAm interchain aggregation in a network structure. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry