Microstructural foundations of the strength and resilience of LLDPE artificial turf yarn

The production of linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) yarns for artificial turf is an advanced extrusion process, which relies heavily on the polymer's semicrystalline structure and inherent strengthening mechanisms to obtain the tailored mechanical properties so typical for turf yarns: a combination of strength and resilience. This review aims to bring together all relevant aspects in the structure–materials–processing interaction triangle which is so strongly in evidence in this application, by first summarizing the specific structural origins of the properties of the semicrystalline LLDPE and then discussing how structure evolves during the different steps of the production process, to eventually come to the final product properties of the yarn. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44080.     

Antioxidant activity and antimicrobial properties of phenolic extracts from acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC) fruit

The antioxidant activity and antimicrobial property of phenolic extracts from acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC) fruit were assessed. The contribution of ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds in the total antioxidant capacity of the extracts was also evaluated. The extracts showed high total phenolic values and possessed high antioxidant activity as expressed by 2,2′‐diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays (ORAC). The ascorbic acid content ranged from 405 to 1744 mg/100 g of fruit on a fresh weight basis. The antioxidant capacity of the phenolic fractions was in the following order: anthocyanins<phenolic acids<flavonoids. The phenolic fractions contributed 7.1–36.5% of the antioxidant activity expressed by ORAC, whereas the contribution of ascorbic accounted for 18–39% of the total activity. Selected extracts from the flavonoids fraction showed some activity against Staphylococcus aureus.     

Intralymphocyte free magnesium and plasma triglycerides

To evaluate the relative effect of hypertension and plasma triglycerides on intralymphocyte magnesium we measured ionized intralymphocyte magnesium (Mg(i)) concentration by means of a fluorimetric method based on the dye Furaptra in 4 groups of subjects: 18 normotensive normotriglyceridemic controls (NTNC), 9 hypertriglyceridemic normotensive patients (HTN), 8 hypertriglyceridemic essential hypertensive patients (HTEH), 17 normotriglyceridemic essential hypertensive patients (NTEH). Hypercholesterolemic, diabetic patients and alcoholics were excluded from the study. Mg(i) was found to be statistically reduced (ANOVA test F=10.41, P=0.0001) in both HTN and HTEH (M+/- SD, HTN: 0.235 +/- 0.01, HTEH: 0.236 +/- 0.01 mmol/l) as compared to both NTNC and NTEH (M +/- SD, NTNC: 0.294 +/- 0.008, NTEH: 0.297 +/- 0.009 mmol/l). A statistically significant negative correlation was found in the population as a whole between Mg(i) and plasma triglycerides (n=52, R= -541, P=0.00004). Our data suggest that hypertriglyceridemia per se and possibly the so-called plurimetabolic syndrome is characterized by low intralymphocyte free magnesium.     

PN acquisition for DS/SS using a preloop parallel binary search phase estimator and a closed-loop selective search subsystem

An acquisition method of long pseudo-noise (PN) sequences in direct-sequence spread spectrum (DS/SS) systems is presented. The concurrent cross correlation of locally generated auxiliary signals with the incoming PN sequence produces binary search estimates leading to an initial approximation of the input signal's PN offset. The PN receiver then uses a closed-loop subsystem to determine the true offset of the incoming PN signal. New phase estimates are generated from successive corrections of likely errors in the binary search. The acquisition scheme's average acquisition time and its variance are analytically determined. Simulation results show that the proposed acquisition scheme is faster than the conventional serial receiver. A hybrid serial/parallel PN acquisition receiver is used for comparing the acquisition performance given similar hardware complexity. The hybrid receiver used the same number of parallel correlators as used in the proposed receiver's input phase estimator. Simulation results show that the proposed system provides an improved performance under normal operating conditions.     

A new way of access into the internal jugular vein

This paper describes a new technique for the canulation of the internal jugular vein. A transsection of the neck at the level of C4 (upper border of the thyroid cartilage) (Figure 1) shows the relative position of the internal jugular vein, the carotid artery and the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The internal jugular vein at this level is more superficial than is usually imagined. A cutaneous point of entry placed at the level of the thyroid cartilage on the medial border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle would be directly above, at the zenith of the carotid artery. From that point, moving a needle externally hugging the posterior aspect of the muscle will make it possible to reach the vein while actually moving away from the carotid artery.     

Brain serotonin (5-HT) neuroendocrine function in patients taking cholesterol-lowering drugs

Brain serotonin (5-HT) neuroendocrine function, plasma tryptophan, and platelet 5-HT content were examined in 20 patients treated in a lipid clinic for hypercholesterolaemia with combined drug and diet therapy and in 20 healthy matched controls. Treatment had produced a substantial decrease in total cholesterol concentrations in the patients, but they still had higher cholesterol and triglyceride levels than control subjects. The patients were somewhat more depressed than controls but did not differ from them in degree of hostility, free or total plasma tryptophan, or prolactin response to 30 mg of d-fenfluramine. This study does not reveal evidence of abnormal brain 5-HT neuroendocrine function in hypercholesterolaemic patients receiving cholesterol-lowering medications and diet.     

Intralymphocyte free magnesium in a group of subjects with essential hypertension

Despite the importance of magnesium in essential hypertension, few data are available on the ionized intracellular concentration of this ion. We therefore studied intralymphocyte free intracellular magnesium (Mgi) in 32 untreated essential hypertensive subjects and 27 normotensive control subjects by means of a fluorimetric technique based on the use of the new magnesium-sensitive dye furaptra. We also measured intralymphocyte ionized calcium (Cai) with fura 2. No statistically significant differences were found in Mgi in hypertensive compared with normotensive subjects (essential hypertensive, 0.291 +/- 0.053 mmol/L; normotensive, 0.293 +/- 0.043 [mean +/- SD]). A statistically significant inverse correlation was established between Mgi and plasma triglycerides in essential hypertensive subjects (r = -.521, P = .002). The hypertensive group was arbitrarily divided into two subgroups according to plasma triglyceride levels (> 2 [n = 10] or < 2 mmol/L [n = 22]), and Mgi proved to be significantly lower in the subgroup with high plasma triglyceride levels compared with either the subgroup with normal triglycerides (P = .009; 95% confidence interval, 0.013-0.088) or the normotensive control group as a whole (P = .03; 95% confidence interval, 0.003-0.069) (high-triglyceride hypertensive subgroup, Mgi = 0.256 +/- 0.045 mmol/L; normal-triglyceride hypertensive subgroup, Mgi = 0.307 +/- 0.049). No statistically significant differences were found in Cai in hypertensive compared with normotensive subjects (hypertensive, 53 +/- 12 nmol/L; normotensive, 54 +/- 14). We did not find statistically significant correlations between Cai and plasma triglycerides, nor did we find any differences in Cai between the subgroup of hypertensive subjects with high plasma triglyceride levels and either the subgroup of hypertensive subjects with normal triglycerides or the normotensive control group as a whole. The discrepancies between our results in lymphocytes and data relating to either erythrocytes or platelets emphasize the need for caution before the results are extrapolated from one tissue to the other. The decreased Mgi levels in the subgroup of high-triglyceride hypertensive subjects may suggest a role for magnesium in plurimetabolic syndrome.     

Relationship between the Processing,Structure, and Properties of Microfibrillar Composites

The relationship between processing, morphology, and properties of polymeric materials has been the subject of numerous studies of academic and industrial research. Finding an answer to this question might result in guidelines on how to design polymeric materials. Microfibrillar composites (MFCs) are an interesting class of polymer–polymer composites. The advantage of the MFC concept lies in developing in situ microfibrils by which a perfect homogeneous distribution of the reinforcement in the matrix can be achieved. Their potentially excellent mechanical properties are strongly dependent on the aspect ratio of the fibrils, which is developed through a three-stage production process: melt blending, fibrillation, and isotropization. During melt blending, the polymers undergo different morphological changes, such as a breakup and coalescence of the droplets, which play a crucial role in defining the microstructure. During processing, various parameters may affect the morphology of the MFCs, which must be taken into account. Besides the processing parameters, the microstructure of the composite is dependent on the composition ratio of the blend and viscosity of the components, as well as the dispersion and distribution of the microfibrils. The objective here is to outline this importance and bring together an overview of the processing–structure–property relationship for MFCs.     

Long-term weekly treatment of colorectal metastatic cancer with fluorouracil and leucovorin: results of a multicentric prospective trial of fluorouracil dosage optimization by pharmacokinetic monitoring in 152 patients

PURPOSE: A relationship between fluorouracil (5-FU) dose and response has been previously shown in advanced colorectal cancer. In a previous study with 5-FU stepwise dose escalation in a weekly regimen, and pharmacokinetic monitoring, we defined a therapeutic range for 5-FU plasma levels: 2,000 to 3,000 microg/L (area under the concentration-time curve at 0 to 8 hours [AUC0-8], 16 to 24 mg x h/L). The current study investigated 5-FU therapeutic intensification with individual dose adjustment in a multicentric phase II prospective trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Weekly high-dose 5-FU was administered by 8-hour infusion with 400 mg/m2 leucovorin. The initial dose of 5-FU (1,300 mg/m2) was adapted weekly according to 5-FU plasma levels, to reach the therapeutic range previously determined. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients entered the study from December 1991 to December 1994: 117 patients with measurable metastatic disease and 35 with assessable disease. Toxicity was mainly diarrhea (39%, with 5% grade 3) and hand-foot syndrome (30%, with 2% grade 3). Among 117 patients with measurable disease, 18 had a complete response (CR), 48 a partial response (PR), 35 a minor response (MR) and stable disease (SD), and 16 progressive disease (PD). Median overall survival time was 19 months. The 5-FU therapeutic plasma range was rapidly reached with a variable 5-FU dose in the patient population: mean, 1,803 +/- 386 mg/m2/wk (range, 950 to 3,396). Thirteen patients were immediately in the toxic zone, whereas 51 required a > or = 50% dose increase. CONCLUSION: Individual 5-FU dose adjustment with pharmacokinetic monitoring provided a high survival rate and percentage of responses, with good tolerance.