Long-chain lipids are required for the innate immune recognition of trehalose diesters by macrophages

Going to any length? Trehalose diesters of various chain lengths have been synthesised in order to determine the effect of lipid length on innate immune recognition, as determined by NO and cytokine production by macrophages. In this work, we show that longer lipids (C(20) -C(26)) are required for macrophage activation, with C(22) giving optimal activity.     

Conversion of Synthesis Gas to Dimethylether Over Gold-based Catalysts

It is shown that Au?Czinc oxide?Calumina catalysts are suitable for the water?Cgas shift reaction and for methanol (MeOH) and DME synthesis, indicating their use in a direct single-stage process for converting syngas to a DME?+?methanol mixture. Temperatures above 340?°C were required in order to obtain reasonable catalytic activity. A 67?% DME selectivity was achieved at 380?°C with a low space velocity 0.75?dm³?h^?1?g^?1 and 50?bar. The lower CO conversions at the higher temperature of 460?°C was probably due to the MeOH equilibrium limitation in the range of temperatures 340 to 460?°C, but deactivation is observed as well, above 460?°C. Au/ZnO/??-Al₂O₃ is more stable than traditional copper-based catalysts, which are stable below about 300?°C, and then only in the absence of water. The gold composite catalyst was mainly selective toward DME, MeOH and CH₄, and to C₂ to C₅ hydrocarbons. An analysis of the main reactions involved indicates that only the methanol synthesis reaction reaches a near-equilibrium situation, with the other reactions being under kinetic control.     

Impact of polymers on the aggregation of wet-milled itraconazole particles and their dissolution from spray-dried nanocomposites

We explore the impact of various polymers and their molecular weight on the stabilization of wet-milled suspensions of itraconazole (ITZ), a poorly soluble drug, and its dissolution from spray-dried suspensions. To this end, ITZ suspensions with SSL, SL, and L grades of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) having molecular weights (MWs) of 40, 100, and 140?kg/mol, respectively, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC E3 with 10?kg/mol), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K30 with 50?kg/mol), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, surfactant), and HPC SL–SDS were wet media milled and spray-dried. Laser diffraction results show that 2.5% HPC SL–0.2% SDS led to the finest ITZ nanosuspension, whereas without SDS, only 4.5% HPC with SL/L grades ensured minimal aggregation. Rheological characterization reveals that aggregated suspensions exhibited pronounced pseudoplasticity, whereas stable suspensions exhibited near Newtonian behavior. Spray-drying yielded nanocomposites with 60–78% mean ITZ loading and acceptable content uniformity. Severe aggregation occurred during milling/drying when 4.5% polymers with MW?≤?50?kg/mol were used; their nanocomposites exhibited incomplete redispersion due to slow matrix erosion and released ITZ slowly during dissolution test. Overall, high drug-loaded, surfactant-free ITZ nanocomposites that exhibited immediate release (>80% dissolved in 20?min) were prepared via spray-drying of wet-milled ITZ with 4.5% HPC SL/L.     

On One Leg: Trehalose Monoesters Activate Macrophages in a Mincle‐Dependent Manner

The C₂₂ and C₂₆ trehalose monoesters, each containing a single acyl chain, were synthesised in good overall yields and found to activate macrophages in a Mincle‐dependent manner. The activities of the monoesters paralleled those of their diester counterparts, and both mono‐ and diesters could activate the immune response in the absence of priming. This is the first time that trehalose monoesters have been found to activate macrophages, and these studies thus provide an important framework for the rational design of other Mincle agonists.     

The influence of ethanol addition on a rich premixed benzene flame at low pressure

The aim of the study is to analyze the effect of ethanol in rich benzene flame, to observe the influence of this oxygenated species and to understand the kinetics of ethanol in the benzene combustion. Two premixed rich benzene/oxygen/argon (11.5% C₆H₆, 43.2% O₂, 45.3% Ar) and benzene/ethanol/oxygen/argon (10.7% C₆H₆, 2.1% C₂H₅OH, 43.2% O₂, 44.0% Ar) flat flames are stabilized at low pressure (45 mbar) on a burner with the same equivalence ratio of 2.0. Identification and monitoring of signal intensity profiles of species within the flames are carried out using molecular beam mass spectrometry (M.B.M.S.). The substitution of some C₆H₆ by C₂H₅OH is responsible for a reduction of the maximum concentrations of main intermediate species such as C₂H₂, C₄H₂, C₄H₄ and C₅H₆. The UCL mechanism is extended to heavier hydrocarbons, tested against these flames to check its validity and used to underline the effect of ethanol on soot precursors formation. It contains 1028 elementary reactions and 184 chemical species.     

TANZANIA: Developing Urban Residential Land

ABSTRACT: All land in Tanzania is nationalized and in theory is easy to acquire and develop for housing. However, the time lag between designation of an urban area for housing development and commencement of construction may take up to four years and up to ten years to complete. This paper describes the actors and steps involved in the process of planning, servicing, and transferring urban land and outlines the physical, aesthetic, social, political, and economic effects. Recommendations are offered for shortening the process and some management techniques are suggested.