Poly(methylphenylphosphazene)–Graft–Poly(methyl Methacrylate) Copolymers Via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to graft poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, onto poly(methylphenylphosphazene), [(Me)(Ph)PN] _n , PMPP. A two-step process was used to convert a portion of the methyl substituents on [(Me)(Ph)PN] _n to –CH₂C(CH₃)₂OH groups and then to bromoalkyl groups, –CH₂C(CH₃)₂OC(=O)C(CH₃)₂Br, the latter of which served as initiation sites for ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of CuCl/bipyridine. Variations in the length of the grafted chains were investigated and the graft copolymers were compared to the parent polymer and blends of similar composition. The new bromoalkyl derivatives of [(Me)(Ph)PN] _n and the PMPP–graft–PMMA copolymers were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We dedicate this paper to Professor Harry R. Allcock for consistently maintaining the highest standards in his creative, pioneering work in inorganic rings and polymers.     

SHORT AND LONG TERM FLUX DECLINE ANALYSIS IN ULTRAFILTRATION

Flux decline during stirred UF over a long time of operation can be classified into short and long time domains. In the short time, the decline in flux is basically osmotic pressure limited and this decline is extremely rapid. The limiting flux for the osmotic pressure controlled domain is obtained by successive substitution technique. This technique includes the variations of properties with concentrations. A modified Sherwood number correlation for determining the mass transfer coefficient is proposed for laminar flow in a stirred cell. The long term flux decline can be modeled semi-empirically by a two parameter model. One of these, the steady state polarized layer resistance, can be correlated to the operating conditions while the other constant of the model is found to be a characteristic of the solute only. The simplistic model developed here to account the flux decline during UF may be useful to the process engineers for design purposes.     

Inhibition of pancreatic cancer growth by the dietary isoprenoids farnesol and geraniol

Fruits and vegetables have protective effects against many human cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Isoprenoids are one class of phytochemicals which have antitumor activity, but little is known about their effects on cancer of the pancreas. We tested the hypothesis that isoprenoids would inhibit the growth of pancreatic tumor cells. Significant (60–90%) inhibition of the anchorage-independent growth of human MIA PaCa2 pancreatic tumor cells was attained with 25 μM farnesol, 25 μM geranylgeraniol, 100 μM perillyl amine, 100 μM geraniol, or 300 μM perillyl alcohol. We then tested the relative in vivo antitumor activities of dietary farnesol, geraniol, and perilyl alcohol against transplanted PC-1 hamster pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Syrian Golden hamsters fed geraniol or farnesol at 20 g/kg diet exhibited complete inhibition of PC-1 pancreatic tumor growth. Both farnesol and geraniol were more potent than perillyl alcohol, which inhibited tumor growth by 50% at 40 g/kg diet. Neither body weights nor plasma cholesterol levels of animals consuming isoprenoid diets were significantly different from those of pair-fed controls. Thus, farnesol, geraniol, and perillyl alcohol suppress pancreatic tumor growth without significantly affecting blood cholesterol levels. These dietary isoprenoids warrant further investigation for pancreatic cancer prevention and treatment.     

Hydrophobic Recovery of Plasma-Treated Polydimethylsiloxane

Plasma treatment of silicone surfaces is a useful, environmentally-sound method of increasing wettability to improve adhesion. A thin, wettable silica-like layer is produced with various plasma gases such as argon, helium, oxygen and nitrogen. However, in each case the surfaces gradually recover their hydrophobicity. The silica-like layer is brittle and microcracking is evident at more severe levels of plasma treatment. The onset of cracking is a function of plasma gas, RF power, pressure and treatment time. Scanning electron microscopy has been used to characterize the cracks.

The hydrophobic recovery has been monitored by water contact angle changes. It occurs with both cracked and uncracked treated surfaces. There is an initial jump in hydrophobicity at the onset of cracking. Thereafter, the recovery of both cracked and uncracked surfaces broadly parallels each other with virtually complete recovery of original hydrophobicity within one week. These effects can be accounted for by rapid surface diffusion of low molecular weight material out of fresh cracks followed by slower bulk diffusion through the polymer matrix. Significant differences in recovery rates are also evident between different plasma gases.     

Comparison of measured and self-reported anthropometric information among firefighters: implications and applications

This study evaluated the accuracy of self-reported body weight and height compared to measured values among firefighters and identified factors associated with reporting error. A total of 863 male and 88 female firefighters in four US regions participated in the study. The results showed that both men and women underestimated their body weight ( ? 0.4 ± 4.1, ? 1.1 ± 3.6 kg) and overestimated their height (29 ± 18 , 17 ± 16 mm). Women underestimated more than men on weight (p = 0.022) and men overestimated more than women on height (p < 0.001). Reporting errors on weight were increased with overweight status (p < 0.001) and were disproportionate among subgroups. About 27% men and 24% women had reporting errors on weight greater than ± 2.2 kg, and 59% men and 28% women had reporting errors on height greater than 25 mm.

Practitioner Summary: This study along with literature revealed that the self-reported approach is not a sustainable option for anthropometric surveys, even for gathering data from physically active professional groups, such as firefighters, who presumably are knowledgeable of their body dimensions. Self-reported anthropometric information is undependable in important population subgroups.     

Cerebral arterial inflow assessment with F-FDG PET: Methodology and feasibility

Positron emission tomography (PET) with ¹⁸fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) is increasingly used in neurology. The measurement of cerebral arterial inflow (QA) using ¹⁸F-FDG complements the information provided by standard brain PET imaging. Here, injections were performed after the beginning of dynamic acquisitions and the time to arrival (t0) of activity in the gantry's field of view was computed. We performed a phantom study using a branched tube (internal diameter: 4 mm) and a ¹⁸F-FDG solution injected at 240 mL/min. Data processing consisted of (i) reconstruction of the first 3 s after t0, (ii) vascular signal enhancement and (iii) clustering. This method was then applied in four subjects. We measured the volumes of the tubes or vascular trees and calculated the corresponding flows. In the phantom, the flow was calculated to be 244.2 mL/min. In each subject, our QA value was compared with that obtained by quantitative cine-phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging; the mean QA value of 581.4 ± 217.5 mL/min calculated with ¹⁸F-FDG PET was consistent with the mean value of 593.3 ± 205.8 mL/min calculated with quantitative cine-phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging. Our ¹⁸F-FDG PET method constitutes a novel, fully automatic means of measuring QA.     

Modeling topic control to detect influence in conversations using nonparametric topic models

Identifying influential speakers in multi-party conversations has been the focus of research in communication, sociology, and psychology for decades. It has been long acknowledged qualitatively that controlling the topic of a conversation is a sign of influence. To capture who introduces new topics in conversations, we introduce SITS—Speaker Identity for Topic Segmentation—a nonparametric hierarchical Bayesian model that is capable of discovering (1) the topics used in a set of conversations, (2) how these topics are shared across conversations, (3) when these topics change during conversations, and (4) a speaker-specific measure of “topic control”. We validate the model via evaluations using multiple datasets, including work meetings, online discussions, and political debates. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of SITS in both intrinsic and extrinsic evaluations.     

Poly(acrylic acid)–Poly(ethylene oxide) Comb Polymer Effects on BaTiO3 Nanoparticle Suspension Stability

We have studied the effects of poly(acrylic acid)–poly(ethylene oxide) (PAA–PEO) comb polymers on the stability of aqueous BaTiO₃ nanoparticle suspensions over a wide pH range in the presence and absence of mono- and divalent salt species. The comb polymer architecture consists of charge-neutral PEO teeth attached at random intervals along an ionizable PAA backbone. Potentiometric titrations, light scattering, and turbidity measurements were conducted on pure PAA and PAA–PEO solutions to assess their degree of ionization, radius of hydration, and stability. Adsorption isotherm and rheological measurements were conducted on BaTiO₃ nanoparticle suspensions to determine the effectiveness of both PAA and PAA–PEO dispersants. Our observations indicate that the presence of PEO teeth effectively shield the underlying PAA backbone from ion interactions, e.g., counterion-screening or ion-bridging effects, thereby allowing PAA–PEO dispersants to impart stability to BaTiO₃ nanoparticle suspensions over a wide range of pH, ionic strength, and ion valency conditions where pure PAA fails.     

One year soy protein supplementation has positive effects on bone formation markers but not bone density in postmenopausal women

Background  

Although soy protein and its isoflavones have been reported to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in peri- and post-menopausal women, most of these studies are of short duration (i.e. six months). The objective of this study was to examine if one year consumption of soy-containing foods (providing 25 g protein and 60 mg isoflavones) exerts beneficial effects on bone in postmenopausal women.     

Dilute turbulent gas-solid flow in risers with particle-particle interactions

Earlier work of Sinclair and Jackson that treats the laminar flow of gas-solid suspensions is extended to model dilute turbulent flow. The random particle motion, often exceeding the turbulent flucutations in the gas, is obtained using a model based on the kinetic theory of granular materials. A two-equation low Reynolds number turbulence model is modified to account for the presence of the dilute particle phase. Comparisons of the model predictions with available experimental data for the mean and fluctuating velocity profiles for both phases indicate that the resulting theory captures many of the flow features observed in the pneumatic transport of large particles. THe model predictions did not manifest an exterme sensitivity to the degree of inelasticity in the particle-particle collisions for the range of solid loading ratios investigated.