Synthesis and characterization of epoxidized styrene–butadiene rubber/silicon dioxide hybrid materials

Hybrid materials were synthesized from epoxidized (68, 43, or 14%) styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) and the hydrolysis product of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in situ under ultrasonic irradiation. The products were characterized with thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis), stress–strain tests, scanning electron microscopy (including energy‐dispersive spectrometry), and swelling in tetrahydrofuran and water. The most transparent were those prepared from SBR with the highest degree of epoxidation, whereas those obtained from less epoxidized SBR and with larger amounts of TEOS showed distinct phases that could be considered two hybrid phases (one rich in TEOS and another rich in SBR). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 798–803, 2004     

The Impact of [C16Pyr][Amp] on the Aggressiveness in Breast and Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

Breast (BrCa) and prostate (PCa) cancers are the most common malignancies in women and men, respectively. The available therapeutic options for these tumors are still not curative and have severe side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more effective antineoplastic agents. Herein, BrCa, PCa, and benign cell lines were treated with two ionic liquids and two quinoxalines and functional experiments were performed—namely cell viability, apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and colony formation assays. At the molecular level, an array of gene expressions encompassing several molecular pathways were used to explore the impact of treatment on gene expression. Although both quinoxalines and the ionic liquid [C2OHMIM][Amp] did not show any effect on the BrCa and PCa cell lines, [C16Pyr][Amp] significantly decreased cell viability and colony formation ability, while it increased the apoptosis levels of all cell lines. Importantly, [C16Pyr][Amp] was found to be more selective for cancer cells and less toxic than cisplatin. At the molecular level, this ionic liquid was also associated with reduced expression levels of CPT2, LDHA, MCM2, and SKP2, in both BrCa and PCa cell lines. Hence, [C16Pyr][Amp] was shown to be a promising anticancer therapeutic agent for BrCa and PCa cell lines.     

The Role of Cytoskeleton Revealed by Quartz Crystal Microbalance and Digital Holographic Microscopy

The connection between cytoskeleton alterations and diseases is well known and has stimulated research on cell mechanics, aiming to develop reliable biomarkers. In this study, we present results on rheological, adhesion, and morphological properties of primary rat cardiac fibroblasts, the cytoskeleton of which was altered by treatment with cytochalasin D (Cyt-D) and nocodazole (Noc), respectively. We used two complementary techniques: quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and digital holographic microscopy (DHM). Qualitative data on cell viscoelasticity and adhesion changes at the cell–substrate near-interface layer were obtained with QCM, while DHM allowed the measurement of morphological changes due to the cytoskeletal alterations. A rapid effect of Cyt-D was observed, leading to a reduction in cell viscosity, loss of adhesion, and cell rounding, often followed by detachment from the surface. Noc treatment, instead, induced slower but continuous variations in the rheological behavior for four hours of treatment. The higher vibrational energy dissipation reflected the cell’s ability to maintain a stable attachment to the substrate, while a cytoskeletal rearrangement occurs. In fact, along with the complete disaggregation of microtubules at prolonged drug exposure, a compensatory effect of actin polymerization emerged, with increased stress fiber formation.     

Flexible Multibody Systems Models Using Composite Materials Components

The use of a multibody methodology to describe the large motion of complex systems that experience structural deformations enables to represent the complete system motion, the relative kinematics between the components involved, the deformation of the structural members and the inertia coupling between the large rigid body motion and the system elastodynamics. In this work, the flexible multibody dynamics formulations of complex models are extended to include elastic components made of composite materials, which may be laminated and anisotropic. The deformation of any structural member must be elastic and linear, when described in a coordinate frame fixed to one or more material points of its domain, regardless of the complexity of its geometry. To achieve the proposed flexible multibody formulation, a finite element model for each flexible body is used. For the beam composite material elements, the sections properties are found using an asymptotic procedure that involves a two-dimensional finite element analysis of their cross-section. The equations of motion of the flexible multibody system are solved using an augmented Lagrangian formulation and the accelerations and velocities are integrated in time using a multi-step multi-order integration algorithm based on the Gear method.     

Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Films Based on Hydroxylated Soybean Oils

Hybrid organic–inorganic films were prepared using four different hydroxylated soybean oils (HSO) or epoxidized soybean oil as organic precursor and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as inorganic precursor in a mass ratio of HSO:TEOS of 90:10. The films were macroscopically homogeneous and were characterized by swelling and extraction in solvent, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) including energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), adhesion and hardness. Their properties varied as a function of the number of OH groups present in the HSO. The best hybrid system was HSOF198/TEOS, with an OH value of 198 mg of KOH/g, which presents lower swelling coefficient, very good adhesion on aluminium surface and good hardness.     

加州Cerveteca Venice餐厅

所在地的背景项目位于玫瑰大道523号,原本是个住宅楼(地上部分),坐落在低矮的商业区和住宅混合区之间。这个混合建筑目前正处在当代住宅结构的复苏和适应新的商业发展的复杂阶段。原来的邻座建筑是一家美容院,现已被改造成这间餐厅的一部分室外空间和存储空间。隔壁是威尼斯海滩葡萄酒店,由同一个老板经营。客户OscarHermosillo是当地人,经营企业,致     

A matching-to-sample feedback technique for training self-control of tinnitus.

Treated 30 individuals (aged 24–82 yrs) with subjective tinnitus aurium with a matching-to-sample feedback procedure. Ss' tinnitus sounds were reproduced audiometrically on all characteristics and were presented to them in the noninvolved ear or in both ears when the tinnitus was binaural. This experimental sound was then reduced in 5-db steps within sessions, and Ss had the task of concentrating on reducing the loudness of their tinnitus until a match was achieved between it and the experimental sound at each new db level. Results show a significant difference in db levels from baseline to final training session. Nearly all Ss demonstrated a marked reduction in tinnitus loudness, with several eliminating it completely. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reflex conditioning in a spinal man.

A 40-yr-old man with a completely transected spinal cord and a spastic neurogenic bladder was conditioned to void upon the presentation of an external stimulus. A classical conditioning paradigm was employed in which strong abdominal shock (UCS) was paired with an initially neutral mild electrical stimulation of the thigh (CS). After the pairing trials, a reliable conditioned response of urination was elicited by the CS alone. The conditioned response did not extinguish over time, and the procedure left the bladder with clinically safe residual amounts of urine. Practical implications of the conditioning technique for the treatment of spastic neurogenic bladder conditions in spinally injured patients are discussed, as is the theoretical significance of conditioning at the reflex level in the absence of cortical involvement. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)