Focal adhesion kinase upregulated by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor but not by interleukin-3 in differentiating myeloid cells

The involvement of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in myeloid differentiation was investigated in primary murine bone marrow (BM) cells. In unstimulated BM, FAK mRNA was detected in myeloid and lymphoid cells, but not in erythroid precursors. When the BM cells were incubated with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or interleukin-3 (IL-3), FAK expression showed a remarkable difference depending on the cytokine. Although FAK was upregulated in the cells stimulated by GM-CSF (GM-treated cells), the kinase was barely detectable in the cells cultured with IL-3 (IL-3-treated cells). Morphology and flow cytometry analysis showed GM-CSF promoted the growth and differentiation of monocyte/macrophage lineage stronger than IL-3. In addition, motility of the cytokine-differentiated cells showed an overt distinction between the cultures, which was closely correlated with FAK expression. After 7 days of stimulation, GM-treated cells showed active migration and chemoattractant-induced morphologic polarization. In contrast, IL-3-treated cells showed minimal migration and polarization. These results suggest an important role of GM-CSF in the terminal differentiation of monocytes/macrophages, and possible involvement of FAK in functional maturity of this lineage.     

Mixing effects of metal hydrides on equilibrium behavior and reaction kinetics

Mixing effects of hydriding alloys on equilibrium and kinetic properties are studied, and experimental results are presented for the binary mixtures of LaNi₅/TiMn_1.5, MmNi₅/TiMn_1.5, MmNi_4.8Al_0.2/TiMn_1.5, and LaNi₅/Ti_0.8Zr_0.2Cr_0.8Mn_1.2 under isothermal conditions of 30–60°C with 10° intervals. Major known advantages of mixing are to give desirable P-T-C properties, to enhance reaction rate, and to increase the available temperature and pressure ranges. The authors' objective is to provide a method of designing a particular pair of hydride mixtures with increased hydride composition ranges for transferring hydrogen fairly quickly, increasing availability, improving unit performance, and increasing operational flexibility for a given application.     

MR imaging of intramuscular hemangiomas

Magnetic resonance images of eight surgically confirmed intramuscular hemangiomas were correlated with the pathologic findings. T1- and T2-weighted images were obtained in all cases; STIR images were also obtained in six cases, and fat-suppressed enhanced images in seven cases. All eight hemangiomas showed markedly high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Linear and round low-signal-intensity components within hemangiomas corresponded to fibrous tissues, high flow vessels and phleboliths. Fat-suppressed enhanced images were superior to images without fat suppression in defining the extent of lesions. STIR images were useful in defining the extent of hemangiomas with infiltration into surrounding tissues. MRI is useful for distinguishing intramuscular hemangiomas from other soft tissue tumors and also supplies valuable information about the extent of the lesions.     

Kinetics of the reaction between MgNi alloys and H2

The kinetics of the hydriding and dehydriding reaction of Mg₂Ni and Mg-10 wt % Ni was investigated. The reaction rate at various hydride compositions was measured by the pressure change in a constant volume. In the case of Mg₂Ni, at the beginning of the reaction the amount of absorbed/desorbed hydrogen can be expressed by n = k(p₀ – p_eq) (n_s – n₀), where n is the ratio of H to Mg in the solid, p₀ and p_eq are the initial hydrogen pressure of the system and the equilibrium pressure, and n₀ and n_s are the values of n at the start of the reaction and a constant around 2, respectively. After a transient period of approximately 1 min, a diffusion-controlled stage took place as dn/dt = k′(p - p_eq)/t, where p is the pressure at time t. In the case of Mg-10 wt % Ni, throughout a run the absorption/desorption rate was expressed by dn/dt = k″ (p - p_eq)^1.25.     

Parathyroid hormone activation of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1alpha-hydroxylase gene promoter

PURPOSE: Bone scintigrams of patients with increasing serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) after radical prostatectomy are only rarely positive. We identify clinical parameters that would improve our ability to select patients for this imaging study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed all bone scintigrams done at our institution between 1991 and 1996 in patients with persistently increasing serum PSA after radical prostatectomy. What prompted the clinician to obtain the bone scintigram was trigger PSA (tPSA). The rate of increase in PSA to tPSA was measured by tPSA/time from radical prostatectomy (slope 1) and tPSA/time from last undetectable PSA (slope 2). These parameters were evaluated together with standard clinicopathological data in univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the ability to predict the bone scintigram result. RESULTS: In univariate analysis tPSA (p = 0.003), slope 1 (p = 0.005) and slope 2 (p = 0.004) were useful in predicting the bone scintigram result but pathological stage, Gleason score, preoperative PSA and time to recurrence were not. In multivariate analysis the single most useful parameter in predicting the bone scintigram result was tPSA (p = 0.01). Based on a logistic regression model the probability of a positive bone scintigram was less than 5% until tPSA increased to 40 to 45 ng./ml. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with increasing serum PSA after radical prostatectomy current serum PSA is the best predictor of the bone scintigram result. Furthermore, there is limited usefulness of bone scintigraphy until PSA increases above 30 to 40 ng./ml.     

Sol‐gel process of alkyltriethoxysilane in latex for alkylated silica formation in natural rubber

Sol‐gel process of alkyltriethoxysilanes that was dispersed in natural rubber latex was used to generate alkylated silica particles inside the rubber matrix. Three types of alkyltriethoxysilanes were chosen, i.e., vinyltriethoxysilane (VTOS), ethyltriethoxysilane (ETOS), and i‐butyltriethoxysilane (BTOS), as they differed in the type of one substituent group. Together with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), a typical precursor for silica formation, all silanes were studied for their conversion to silica and subsequent reinforcement capabilities in sulfur‐vulcanized rubber. The in situ generated silicas were fine and well dispersed in the rubber matrix, as analyzed by SEM and TEM. Solid‐state ²⁹Si‐NMR technique was used to confirm the presence of alkyl substituents on the silica particles buried inside the rubber matrix. Tensile and tear properties of the in situ silica‐filled NR vulcanizates were higher than those of the vulcanizate prepared by conventional mixed method. Among the three alkyltriethoxysilanes used, only VTOS, when used as a mixture with TEOS, did not cause a reduction in silica formation. The resulting vinylated silica tended to enhance the tensile modulus and resistant to tear of the rubber vulcanizates. Cure characteristic and swelling behavior in toluene of the silica‐containing vulcanizates were also investigated. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Bemessung von Stützmauern aus Stahlbeton nach Eurocode

Design of Concrete Retaining Structures basing on Eurocode Standards Design of retaining structures bases on current concrete and geotechnical design standards. At this time the basis of the Austrian state of the art is changing from a national system to the System of European standards (EUROCODES). This contribution shows the actual situation of the Austrian standardisation and the use of the Eurocode 2 (EN 1992‐x) and the Eurocode 7 (EN 1997‐1) for designing of concrete retaining structures. For this the essential design approaches and there standardised regulations are shown.