Two family outbreaks of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection

During autumn 1992, we observed two unrelated family outbreaks of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. Family A consisted of grandmother (aged 77 yrs), father (aged 41 yrs), mother (aged 38 yrs), daughter (aged 10 yrs), and two sons (aged 6 yrs and 3 months, respectively). The grandmother and daughter suffered from pneumonia, father from pharyngitis and bronchitis and the older son from mild bronchitis. No symptoms were recorded in the mother and younger son. Symptomatic subjects showed a fourfold increase in immunoglobulin G (IgG) titre for Chlamydia pneumoniae, determined by a microimmunofluorescence test with specific antigen (TW-183). Other serological studies against Mycoplasma pneumonia, Legionella pneumophila, influenza virus type A and B, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were negative. Sputum culture gave a positive result for Haemophilus influenzae, colony forming units (cfu) = 10(4).ml-1 in the grandmother. No serum positivity was recorded in the mother and younger son, who remained asymptomatic. All symptomatic patients were successfully treated with macrolides. Family B consisted of mother (aged 63 yrs) and daughter (aged 36 yrs). Both suffered from Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia. Diagnosis was made by means of serological microimmunofluorescence test, and direct identification using an indirect immunofluorescence test on pharyngeal swab. Sputum culture and other serological tests remained negative. Both patients were successfully treated with macrolides. These observations emphasize the relevance of Chlamydia pneumoniae in family cluster respiratory infections.     

3GPP LTE‐Assisted Wi‐Fi‐Direct: Trial Implementation of Live D2D Technology

This paper is a first‐hand summary on our comprehensive live trial of cellular‐assisted device‐to‐device (D2D) communications currently being ratified by the standards community for next‐generation mobile broadband networks. In our test implementation, we employ a full‐featured 3GPP LTE network deployment and augment it with all necessary support to provide real‐time D2D connectivity over emerging Wi‐Fi‐Direct (WFD) technology. As a result, our LTE‐assisted WFD D2D system enjoys the required flexibility while meeting the existing standards in every feasible detail. Further, this paper provides an account on the extensive measurement campaign conducted with our implementation. The resulting real‐world measurements from this campaign quantify the numerical effects of D2D functionality on the resultant system performance. Consequently, they shed light on the general applicability of LTE‐assisted WFD solutions and associated operational ranges.     

The relationship between the corrosion resistance and impurity content of aluminium oxide layers

In the last few years there has been an increased production and application of aluminium foil of under 20 μm thickness all over the world. Household foil is often stored in a wet environment, where the surface is only protected against corrosion by an aluminium oxide layer produced during manufacturing. In this study it has been shown that the aluminium-water vapour reaction is greatly affected by the composition and structure of the amorphous oxide layer on the surface and this depends on the composition of base metal and on the annealing of the foil. The incubation period of aluminium hydroxide nucleation is shortened and its growth rate accelerated by alkali and alkaline earth metal cations incorporated in the oxide layer. In particular the corrosion resistance is decreased by the presence of alkali (Li) and alkaline earth metal (Mg) cations in the oxide layers.     

Enhanced cytotoxicity with interleukin-1 alpha and 5-fluorouracil in HCT116 colon cancer cells

Recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha (rIL-1 alpha), at concentrations that were not growth-inhibitory when given alone (100-10,000 U/ml), enhanced the growth inhibition resulting from a 72-h fluorouracil (FUra) exposure in HCT116 colon cancer cells. Median-effect analysis of clonogenic assays indicated that rIL-1 alpha, given 24 h prior to and following a 24-h exposure to FUra, increased lethality in a more than additive fashion. rIL-1 alpha did not appear to significantly affect [3H]-FUra metabolism, total [3H]-FUra-RNA incorporation or RNA retention after drug removal, inhibition of thymidylate synthase, or thymidine triphosphate pool depletion. During continuous exposure to rIL-1 alpha, transient stimulation of RNA and DNA synthesis was observed at 72 h, with a return to normal by 96 h. A 24-h exposure to 10 microM FUra altered the elution profile of newly synthesized DNA as monitored by pH step alkaline elution. An accumulation of lower-MW single-stranded DNA species was noted with FUra compared to control, accompanied by a significantly decreased proportion of DNA retained on the polycarbonate filter: 10% retained vs. 32% for control (P = 0.01). A 48-h exposure to rIL-1 alpha alone did not affect the elution profile of nascent DNA species, nor did it enhance the effects of FUra. Although FUra did not appreciably affect pulse [3H]-uridine incorporation into RNA for the initial 8-24 h of FUra exposure, progressive inhibition of net RNA synthesis was observed thereafter. FUra prevented the stimulatory effect of rIL-1 alpha on RNA synthesis, and net RNA synthesis was significantly inhibited (by 64-79% after 72 and 96 h) with the combination compared to rIL-1 alpha alone. Continuous exposure to 10 microM thymidine did not rescue cells from the lethality of FUra alone or the combination of FUra plus rIL-1 alpha, suggesting that depletion of deoxythymidine triphosphate as a consequence of thymidylate synthase inhibition was not the most important component of FUra toxicity. In contrast, 1 mM uridine provided partial protection against the toxicity of FUra alone or with rIL-1 alpha. Although uridine did not affect FUra metabolism, it decreased FUra-RNA incorporation by 42-60%, presumably as a consequence of the 2-fold expansion of UTP pools. [125I]-rIL-1 alpha binding was nonspecific; with a 24-h exposure, however, internalized [125I]-rIL-1 alpha exceeded cell surface-bound material by 2-fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Expansion of core–shell PS/PMMA particles

Structured micrometric polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) particles were obtained by suspension polymerization and their expansion behavior was investigated using n‐pentane as blowing agent. The expanded particles presented two distinct microstructures with an outer region (PMMA‐rich shell) composed by cells of about 10 µm while the center of the particle (PS‐rich core) had much larger cells (50–100 μm). The core–shell particles did not expand at 100°C meaning that the PMMA shell hindered the expansion of the particles. Maximum expansion was dependent on the PMMA concentration and also on the heating temperature and the increase in the PMMA molar mass led to a delay in the onset of the process. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4521–4527, 2013     

Interaction of Cucurbit[7]uril with Oxime K027, Atropine,and Paraoxon: Risky or Advantageous Delivery System?

Antidotes against organophosphates often possess physicochemical properties that mitigate their passage across the blood–brain barrier. Cucurbit[7]urils may be successfully used as a drug delivery system for bisquaternary oximes and improve central nervous system targeting. The main aim of these studies was to elucidate the relationship between cucurbit[7]uril, oxime K027, atropine, and paraoxon to define potential risks or advantages of this delivery system in a complex in vivo system. For this reason, in silico (molecular docking combined with umbrella sampling simulation) and in vivo (UHPLC—pharmacokinetics, toxicokinetics; acetylcholinesterase reactivation and functional observatory battery) methods were used. Based on our results, cucurbit[7]urils affect multiple factors in organophosphates poisoning and its therapy by (i) scavenging paraoxon and preventing free fraction of this toxin from entering the brain, (ii) enhancing the availability of atropine in the central nervous system and by (iii) increasing oxime passage into the brain. In conclusion, using cucurbit[7]urils with oximes might positively impact the overall treatment effectiveness and the benefits can outweigh the potential risks.     

Application of Multivariate Analysis in Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool for the Evaluation of Waste Frying Oil Blends

Mid-infrared spectroscopy, in association with multivariate chemometric techniques, was employed for pattern recognition and the determination of the composition of waste frying oils (WFO); data are presented in terms of the percentage of soybean oil, palm oil and hydrogenated vegetable fat in frying oil blends. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed using spectral data (3,000–600 cm⁻¹) to discriminate between the samples containing 100% soybean oil, 100% palm oil, 100% hydrogenated vegetable fat groups and their blends. Additionally, the results indicated that partial least squares (PLS) models based on mid-infrared spectra were suitable as practical analytical methods for predicting the oil contents in WFO blends. PLS models were validated by a representative prediction set, and the root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) were 2.8, 4.7 and 5.5% for palm oil, soybean oil and hydrogenated vegetable fat, respectively. The proposed methodology can be very useful for the rapid and low cost determination of waste frying oil composition while also aiding in decisions regarding the management of oil pretreatment and production routes for biodiesel production.     

Ordinary Gasoline Emissions Induce a Toxic Response in Bronchial Cells Grown at Air-Liquid Interface

Gasoline engine emissions have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans and represent a significant health risk. In this study, we used MucilAir™, a three-dimensional (3D) model of the human airway, and BEAS-2B, cells originating from the human bronchial epithelium, grown at the air-liquid interface to assess the toxicity of ordinary gasoline exhaust produced by a direct injection spark ignition engine. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), production of mucin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and adenylate kinase (AK) activities were analyzed after one day and five days of exposure. The induction of double-stranded DNA breaks was measured by the detection of histone H2AX phosphorylation. Next-generation sequencing was used to analyze the modulation of expression of the relevant 370 genes. The exposure to gasoline emissions affected the integrity, as well as LDH and AK leakage in the 3D model, particularly after longer exposure periods. Mucin production was mostly decreased with the exception of longer BEAS-2B treatment, for which a significant increase was detected. DNA damage was detected after five days of exposure in the 3D model, but not in BEAS-2B cells. The expression of CYP1A1 and GSTA3 was modulated in MucilAir™ tissues after 5 days of treatment. In BEAS-2B cells, the expression of 39 mRNAs was affected after short exposure, most of them were upregulated. The five days of exposure modulated the expression of 11 genes in this cell line. In conclusion, the ordinary gasoline emissions induced a toxic response in MucilAir™. In BEAS-2B cells, the biological response was less pronounced, mostly limited to gene expression changes.     

Influence of the stoichiometry,microstructure, and metallization method on the dielectric properties of 0.94 Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06 BaTiO3

The morphotropic composition of the lead-free solid solution between Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ and BaTiO₃ (0.94 Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃-0.06 BaTiO₃ or NBT-6BT) is of particular interest for the next generation of high-temperature capacitors but remains plagued by the diversity of dielectric properties reported in the literature. In order to explain the apparent inconsistencies among the reported dielectric properties of NBT-6BT, we examine the influence of stoichiometry, phase separation, and metallization method. We show that the nominal stoichiometry has a crucial effect, since increasing the nominal Na/Bi ratio increases conductivity and dielectric losses (tan δ). It also increases the real part of the permittivity (ε’) and the frequency dispersion of both ε’ and tan δ, thereby altering the shape of the evolution with temperature of the dielectric properties. Moreover it increases the depolarization temperature (T_d) and decreases the temperature of maximum permittivity (T_m). Phase separation also occurs during the synthesis of NBT-6BT as Na evaporation leads to the formation of secondary Ba-containing phases. We report that these phases can have a positive impact on the dielectric properties: a moderate volume fraction (2.5 to 3.0%) and average grain surface (0.9 to 3.0 µm²) of these secondary Ba-containing phases increase the relative permittivity, decrease the dielectric losses, and increase the insulation resistance. We also show that the metallization method impacts the dielectric properties and therefore may contribute to the differences between various reports. The dielectric properties of NBT-6BT samples are measured during successive heating/cooling cycles and reveal that the permittivity value is lower during the first heating when silver paste, even cured, is used. These three components contribute to explaining the diversity of the reported dielectric properties of NBT-6BT.