Phthalocyanine Tetraamine Epoxy-Curing Agents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fohlen, G. M.; Achar, B. N.; Parker, J. A.

1986-01-01

Tough fire- and chemical-resistant epoxies produced by using metalphthalocyanine tetraamines (MPT's) of copper, cobalt, or nickel as curing agents. Synthesis of MPT's commercially realizable and gives pure compounds with almost 90-percent yield. Synthesis applicable for metals with atomic radii of about 1.35 angstroms, including Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Fe, Pt, Al, and V. Possible to use metal phthalocyanines to cure epoxy resins in homogeneous reaction.

Component Release and Mechanical Properties of Endodontic Sealers following Incorporation of Antimicrobial Agents.

PubMed

Gjorgievska, Elizabeta S; Nicholson, John W; Coleman, Nichola J; Booth, Samantha; Dimkov, Aleksandar; Hurt, Andrew

2017-01-01

Root canal sealers with antimicrobial activity are highly beneficial; therefore, their antimicrobial properties could be improved by incorporation of antimicrobial agents. In the present study, the release of the quaternary ammonium compounds from endodontic sealers admixed with either benzalkonium chloride (BC) or cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) at loadings of 2% wt was monitored. The effect of these additives on the compressive strengths and their release from the sealers was determined after 1 and 4 weeks. All of the materials studied were found to be capable of releasing antimicrobial additive in useful quantities. The release of CPC occurred to a statistically significant greater extent than BC for all materials. The addition of both BC and CPC generally decreased the compressive strength of all the endodontic sealers, with the exception of CPC in AH Plus, where the compressive strength was significantly increased. This suggests that, for these endodontic sealers, the antimicrobial additives alter the setting chemistry. AH Plus is an epoxy-based material cured with an amine, and in this case the increase in compressive strength with CPC is attributed to an enhanced cure reaction with this system. In all other cases, the additive inhibited the cure reaction to a greater or lesser extent.

Use of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexane diamine as a curing agent for epoxy resins

DOEpatents

Rinde, J.A.; Newey, H.A.

1981-02-24

Primary diamines are disclosed of the formula shown in a diagram wherein R is a straight chain saturated hydrocarbon of 2 to 4 carbons, a disubstituted benzene ring, or disubstituted dibenzomethane for use as a curing agent for epoxy resins. These curing agents can be used to form epoxy resin mixtures useful in filament winding and pre-impregnated fiber molding and in formulating film adhesives, powder coatings and molding powders. The epoxy mixtures form for such uses as room temperature non-reacting, intermediate stable state which has a latent cross-linking capability.

Use of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexane diamine as a curing agent for epoxy resins

DOEpatents

Rinde, James A. [Livermore, CA; Newey, Herbert A. [Lafayette, CA

1981-02-24

Primary diamines of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is a straight chain saturated hydrocarbon of 2 to 4 carbons, a disubstituted benzene ring, or disubstituted dibenzo methane for use as a curing agent for epoxy resins. These curing agents can be used to form epoxy resin mixtures useful in filament winding and pre-impregnated fiber molding and in formulating film adhesives, powder coatings and molding powders. The epoxy mixtures form for such uses as room temperature non-reacting, intermediate stable state which has a latent cross-linking capability.

Release of Self-Healing Agents in a Material: What Happens Next?

PubMed

Lee, Min Wook; Yoon, Sam S; Yarin, Alexander L

2017-05-24

A microfluidic chip-like setup consisting of a vascular system of microchannels alternatingly filled with either a resin monomer or a curing agent is used to study the intrinsic physical healing mechanism in self-healing materials. It is observed that, as a prenotched crack propagates across the chip, the resin and curing agent are released from the damaged channels. Subsequently, both the resin and the curing agent wet the surrounding polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix and spread over the crack banks until the two blobs come in contact, mix, and polymerize through an organometallic cross-linking reaction. Moreover, the polymerized domains form a system of pillars, which span the crack banks on the opposite side. This "stitching" phenomenon prevents further propagation of the crack.

Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites and Methods of Making Same Without the Use of Oven or Autoclave

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnell, Thomas J. (Inventor); Rauscher, Michael D. (Inventor); Stienecker, Rick D. (Inventor); Nickerson, David M. (Inventor); Tong, Tat H. (Inventor)

2016-01-01

Method embodiments for producing a fiber-reinforced epoxy composite comprise providing a mold defining a shape for a composite, applying a fiber reinforcement over the mold, covering the mold and fiber reinforcement thereon in a vacuum enclosure, performing a vacuum on the vacuum enclosure to produce a pressure gradient, insulating at least a portion of the vacuum enclosure with thermal insulation, infusing the fiber reinforcement with a reactive mixture of uncured epoxy resin and curing agent under vacuum conditions, wherein the reactive mixture of uncured epoxy resin and curing agent generates exothermic heat, and producing the fiber-reinforced epoxy composite having a glass transition temperature of at least about 100.degree. C. by curing the fiber reinforcement infused with the reactive mixture of uncured epoxy resin and curing agent by utilizing the exothermically generated heat, wherein the curing is conducted inside the thermally insulated vacuum enclosure without utilization of an external heat source or an external radiation source.

Comparing the shear bond strength of direct and indirect composite inlays in relation to different surface conditioning and curing techniques

PubMed Central

Zorba, Yahya Orcun; Ilday, Nurcan Ozakar; Bayındır, Yusuf Ziya; Demirbuga, Sezer

2013-01-01

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that different surface conditioning (etch and rinse and self-etch) and curing techniques (light cure/dual cure) had no effect on the shear bond strength of direct and indirect composite inlays. Materials and Methods: A total of 112 extracted human molar teeth were horizontally sectioned and randomly divided into two groups according to restoration technique (direct and indirect restorations). Each group was further subdivided into seven subgroups (n = 8) according to bonding agent (etch and rinse adhesives Scotchbond multi-purpose plus, All-Bond 3, Adper Single Bond and Prime Bond NT; and self-etch adhesives Clearfil Liner Bond, Futurabond DC and G bond). Indirect composites were cemented to dentin surfaces using dual-curing luting cement. Shear bond strength of specimens was tested using a Universal Testing Machine. Two samples from each subgroup were evaluated under Scanning electron microscopy to see the failing modes. Data was analyzed using independent sample t-tests and Tukey's tests. Results: Surface conditioning and curing of bonding agents were all found to have significant effects on shear bond strength (P < 0.05) of both direct and indirect composite inlays. With direct restoration, etch and rinse systems and dual-cured bonding agents yielded higher bond strengths than indirect restoration, self-etch systems and light-cured bonding agents. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicated that direct restoration to be a more reliable method than indirect restoration. Although etch and rinse bonding systems showed higher shear bond strength to dentin than self-etch systems, both systems can be safely used for the adhesion of direct as well as indirect restorations. PMID:24932118

Comparing the shear bond strength of direct and indirect composite inlays in relation to different surface conditioning and curing techniques.

PubMed

Zorba, Yahya Orcun; Ilday, Nurcan Ozakar; Bayındır, Yusuf Ziya; Demirbuga, Sezer

2013-10-01

The aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that different surface conditioning (etch and rinse and self-etch) and curing techniques (light cure/dual cure) had no effect on the shear bond strength of direct and indirect composite inlays. A total of 112 extracted human molar teeth were horizontally sectioned and randomly divided into two groups according to restoration technique (direct and indirect restorations). Each group was further subdivided into seven subgroups (n = 8) according to bonding agent (etch and rinse adhesives Scotchbond multi-purpose plus, All-Bond 3, Adper Single Bond and Prime Bond NT; and self-etch adhesives Clearfil Liner Bond, Futurabond DC and G bond). Indirect composites were cemented to dentin surfaces using dual-curing luting cement. Shear bond strength of specimens was tested using a Universal Testing Machine. Two samples from each subgroup were evaluated under Scanning electron microscopy to see the failing modes. Data was analyzed using independent sample t-tests and Tukey's tests. Surface conditioning and curing of bonding agents were all found to have significant effects on shear bond strength (P < 0.05) of both direct and indirect composite inlays. With direct restoration, etch and rinse systems and dual-cured bonding agents yielded higher bond strengths than indirect restoration, self-etch systems and light-cured bonding agents. The results of the present study indicated that direct restoration to be a more reliable method than indirect restoration. Although etch and rinse bonding systems showed higher shear bond strength to dentin than self-etch systems, both systems can be safely used for the adhesion of direct as well as indirect restorations.

Chemical analysis of DC745 Materials: DEV Lot 1 reinvestigation; barcodes P053387, P053388, and P053389

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dirmyer, Matthew R.

This report serves as a follow up to our initial development lot 1 chemical analysis report (LA-UR-16-21970). The purpose of that report was to determine whether or not certain combinations of resin lots and curing agent lots resulted in chemical differences in the final material. One finding of that report suggested that pad P053389 was different from the three other pads analyzed. This report consists of chemical analysis of P053387, P053388, and a reinvestigation of P053389 all of which came from the potentially suspect combination of resin and curing agents lot. The goal of this report is to determine whethermore » the observations relating to P053389 were isolated to that particular pad or systemic to that combination of resin and curing agent lot. The following suite of analyses were performed on the pads: Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The overall conclusions of the study are that pads P053387 and P053388 behave more consistently with the pads of other resin lot and curing agent lot combinations and that the chemical observations made regarding pad P053389 are isolated to that pad and not representative of an issue with that resin lot and curing agent lot combination.« less

Metal (2) 4,4',4",4'" phthalocyanine tetraamines as curing agents for epoxy resins

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Achar, B. N.; Fohlen, G. M.; Parker, J. A. (Inventor)

1985-01-01

Metal, preferably divalent copper, cobalt or nickel, phthalocyanine tetraamines are used as curing agents for epoxides. The resulting copolymers have high thermal and chemical resistance and are homogeneous. They are useful as binders for laminates, e.g., graphite cloth laminate.

Short communication: pre- and co-curing effect of adhesives on shear bond strengths of composite resins to primary enamel and dentine: an in vitro study.

PubMed

Viswanathan, R; Shashibhushan, K K; Subba Reddy, V V

2011-12-01

To evaluate and compare shear bond strengths of composite resins to primary enamel and dentine when the adhesives are pre-cured (light cured before the application of the resin) or co-cured (adhesive and the resin light cured together). Buccal surfaces of 80 caries-free primary molars were wet ground to create bonding surfaces on enamel and dentine and specimens mounted on acrylic blocks. Two bonding agents (Prime and Bond NT® and Xeno III®) were applied to either enamel or dentine as per manufacturer's instructions. In 40 specimens, the bonding agent was light cured immediately after the application (pre-cured). The other 40 specimens were not light cured until the composite resin application (co-cured). Resin composite cylinders were made incrementally using acrylic moulds over the adhesives and light cured. Specimens were stored in deionised water for 24 hours at room temperature. Shear bond strength was measured using an Instron universal testing machine (in MPa) and was analysed with Student's unpaired t test. Light curing the adhesive separately produced significantly higher bond strengths to primary dentine than co-curing (p<0.001). At the same time light curing the adhesive separately did not produce significantly different bond strengths to primary enamel (p>0.05). Curing sequence had no significant effect on shear bond strength of adhesives on the primary enamel. Pre-curing adhesives before curing composite resins produced greater shear bond strength to primary dentine.

Component Release and Mechanical Properties of Endodontic Sealers following Incorporation of Antimicrobial Agents

PubMed Central

Nicholson, John W.; Coleman, Nichola J.; Booth, Samantha; Dimkov, Aleksandar

2017-01-01

Root canal sealers with antimicrobial activity are highly beneficial; therefore, their antimicrobial properties could be improved by incorporation of antimicrobial agents. In the present study, the release of the quaternary ammonium compounds from endodontic sealers admixed with either benzalkonium chloride (BC) or cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) at loadings of 2% wt was monitored. The effect of these additives on the compressive strengths and their release from the sealers was determined after 1 and 4 weeks. All of the materials studied were found to be capable of releasing antimicrobial additive in useful quantities. The release of CPC occurred to a statistically significant greater extent than BC for all materials. The addition of both BC and CPC generally decreased the compressive strength of all the endodontic sealers, with the exception of CPC in AH Plus, where the compressive strength was significantly increased. This suggests that, for these endodontic sealers, the antimicrobial additives alter the setting chemistry. AH Plus is an epoxy-based material cured with an amine, and in this case the increase in compressive strength with CPC is attributed to an enhanced cure reaction with this system. In all other cases, the additive inhibited the cure reaction to a greater or lesser extent. PMID:28620615

Increasing Fire Safety of Epoxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kourtides, D. A.; Mikroyannidis, J. A.

1985-01-01

Epoxy with increased resistance to fire made by reacting any of three commercial epoxide monomers with curing agent consisting of mixture of isomers called "DCEPD". Curing agent incorporates phosphorus and chlorine directly into crosslinking part of polymer. DCEPD produced by nitrating precursor phosphonylmethyl benzene, then reducing resulting isomeric mixture of dinitro compounds.

Composition and method for encapsulating photovoltaic devices

DOEpatents

Pern, Fu-Jann

2000-01-01

A composition and method for encapsulating a photovoltaic device which minimizes discoloration of the encapsulant. The composition includes an ethylene-vinyl acetate encapsulant, a curing agent, an optional ultraviolet light stabilizer, and/or an optional antioxidant. The curing agent is preferably 1,1-di-(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane; the ultraviolet light stabilizer is bis-(N-octyloxy-tetramethyl) piperidinyl sebacate and the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of tris (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, tetrakis methylene (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate) methane, octadecyl 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate, and 2,2'-ethylidene bis(4,6-di-t-butylphenyl) fluorophosponite. The composition is applied to a solar cell then cured. The cured product contains a minimal concentration of curing-generated chromophores and resists UV-induced degradation.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Yuzhan; Zhang, Yuehong; Rios, Orlando

In this study, a liquid crystalline epoxy network (LCEN) with exchangeable disulfide bonds is synthesized by polymerizing a biphenyl-based epoxy monomer with an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid curing agent containing a disulfide bond. The effect of disulfide bonds on curing behavior and liquid crystalline (LC) phase formation of the LCEN is investigated. The presence of the disulfide bonds results in an increase in the reaction rate, leading to a reduction in liquid crystallinity of the LCEN. In order to promote LC phase formation and stabilize the self-assembled LC domains, a similar aliphatic dicarboxylic acid without the disulfide bond is used asmore » a co-curing agent to reduce the amount of exchangeable disulfide bonds in the system. After optimizing the molar ratio of the two curing agents, the resulting LCEN exhibits improved reprocessability and recyclability because of the disulfide exchange reactions, while preserving LC properties, such as the reversible LC phase transition and macroscopic LC orientation, for shape memory applications.« less

Exploratory study on the effects of novel diamine curing agents and isocyanate precursors on the properties of new epoxy and urethane adhesives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glasgow, D. G.

1976-01-01

The effects of novel aromatic diamine structures on the adhesive properties of epoxy and polyurethane adhesives were studied. Aromatic diamines based on benzophenone and diphenyl-methane isomers were evaluated as curing agents for epoxy resins and benzophenone and diphenyl-methane based diamine isomers were evaluated as curing agents for polyurethane adhesives. Polyurethane adhesives were prepared based on m, m prime-diisocyanato-diphenyl-methane and m, m prime-diisocyanato-benzophenone. The m, m prime-diisocayanato-diphenyl-methane based adhesive had properties comparable to state-of-the-art adhesives. The m, m prime-diisocyanato-benzophenone based adhesive was extremely reactive.

Rapid Prototyping of Composite Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Colton, Jonathan S.

1998-01-01

This progress report for the project Rapid Production of Composite Structures covers the period from July 14, 1997 to June 30, 1998. It will present a short overview of the project, followed by the results to date and plans for the future. The goal of this research is to provide a minimum 100x reduction in the time required to produce arbitrary, laminated products without the need for a separate mold or an autoclave. It will accomplish this by developing the science underlying the rapid production of composite structures, specifically those of carbon fiber-epoxy materials. This scientific understanding will be reduced to practice in a demonstration device that will produce a part on the order of 12" by 12" by 6". Work in the past year has focussed on developing an understanding of the materials issues and of the machine design issues. Our initial goal was to use UV cureable resins to accomplish full cure on the machine. Therefore, we have centered our materials work around whether or not UV cureable resins will work. Currently, the answer seems to be that they will not work, because UV light cannot penetrate the carbon fibers, and because no "shadow" curing seems to occur. As a result, non-UV cureable resins are being investigated. This has resulted in a change in the machine design focus. We are now looking into a "dip and place" machine design, whereby a prepreg layer would have one side coated with a curing agent, and then would be placed onto the previous layer. This would lead to cure at the interface, but not to the top of the layer. The formulation of the resins to accomplish this task at room or slightly elevated temperatures is being investigated, as is the machine design needed to apply the curing agent and then cure or partially cure the part. A final, out-of-autoclave, post-cure may be needed with this strategy, as final cure on the machine may not be possible, as it was for the initial UV cure strategy. The remainder of this report details the progress in the materials and machine design areas. Materials Development The material system must be designed to fulfill the following requirements: to reduce the time and labor requirements of typical cure cycles; to reduce the thermal stresses developed during conventional heat curing; and to develop a structure that the build sequence requires. In order to accomplish these goals, there have been parallel tracks of investigation. One area has tested photopolymerizable (ultraviolet (UV) curable) materials and combinations of these materials with standard heat curing resins. The second area has investigated resins that cure rapidly at room or low heat temperatures. The main goal of these investigations has been to identify a system that will rapidly set or cure at room temperature during a tape lay-up process and hold its structure during a post-cure cycle.

What Will It Take to Cure HIV?

PubMed

Ananworanich, Jintanat

2015-01-01

Investigational strategies to attempt HIV cure or remission include very early initiation of antiretroviral therapy to limit the latent HIV reservoir and preinfection vaccination. In the setting of viral suppression, strategies include reactivation of latently infected cells (eg, through "shock" therapy with histone deacetylase inhibitors or other agents); use of broadly neutralizing antibodies, therapeutic vaccines, immunotoxins, or other immune-based therapies to kill latently infected cells; and gene editing to induce target cell resistance (eg, by eliminating the CC chemokine receptor 5 [CCR5] coreceptor). Improved ability to detect and quantify very low levels of virus is needed. This article summarizes a presentation by Jintanat Ananworanich, MD, PhD, at the IAS-USA continuing education program held in New York, New York, in October 2014.

Adhesion strength of norbornene-based self-healing agents to an amine-cured epoxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Guang Chun; Lee, Jong Keun; Kessler, Michael R.; Yoon, Sungho

2009-07-01

Self-healing is triggered by crack propagation through embedded microcapsules in an epoxy matrix, which then release the liquid healing agent into the crack plane. Subsequent exposure of the healing agent to the chemical catalyst initiates ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and bonding of the crack faces. In order to improve self-healing functionality, it is necessary to enhance adhesion of polymerized healing agent within the crack to the matrix resin. In this study, shear bond strength between different norbornene-based healing agents and an amine-cured epoxy resin was evaluated using the single lap shear test method (ASTM D3163, modified). The healing agents tested include endodicyclopentadiene (endo-DCPD), 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) and DCPD/ENB blends. 5-Norbornene-2-methanol (NBM) was used as an adhesion promoter, containing hydroxyl groups to form hydrogen bonds with the amine-cured epoxy. A custom synthesized norbornene-based crosslinking agent was also added to improve adhesion for ENB by increasing the crosslinking density of the adhesive after ROMP. The healing agents were polymerized with varying loadings of the 1st generation Grubbs' catalyst at different reaction times and temperatures.

Liquid crystalline epoxy networks with exchangeable disulfide bonds

DOE PAGES

Li, Yuzhan; Zhang, Yuehong; Rios, Orlando; ...

2017-06-09

In this study, a liquid crystalline epoxy network (LCEN) with exchangeable disulfide bonds is synthesized by polymerizing a biphenyl-based epoxy monomer with an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid curing agent containing a disulfide bond. The effect of disulfide bonds on curing behavior and liquid crystalline (LC) phase formation of the LCEN is investigated. The presence of the disulfide bonds results in an increase in the reaction rate, leading to a reduction in liquid crystallinity of the LCEN. In order to promote LC phase formation and stabilize the self-assembled LC domains, a similar aliphatic dicarboxylic acid without the disulfide bond is used asmore » a co-curing agent to reduce the amount of exchangeable disulfide bonds in the system. After optimizing the molar ratio of the two curing agents, the resulting LCEN exhibits improved reprocessability and recyclability because of the disulfide exchange reactions, while preserving LC properties, such as the reversible LC phase transition and macroscopic LC orientation, for shape memory applications.« less

Exploratory study on the effects of novel diamine curing agents and isocyanate precursors on the properties on new epoxy and urethane adhesives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glasgow, D. G.; Garthwait, C.

1977-01-01

Aromatic diamines based on diphenyl sulfone and benzophenone were studied as epoxy adhesive curing agents. Previously found differences in adhesive strengths for meta vs para orientation were not found in these series. The use of aluminum and alumina as fillers in a m,m prime-methylene dianiline-cured epoxy adhesive was not found to be beneficial to adhesive strength. Alumina filled adhesives had much lower strength than unfilled adhesives. The unfilled m,m prime-methylene dianiline-based epoxy adhesive had excellent resistance to moisture relative to a p,p prime-methylene dianiline-based adhesive and maintained good strengths up to 250 F. A glass fiber composite based on a m,m prime-methylene dianiline-cured epoxy appeared to be equivalent to the p,p prime-methylene dianiline-cured epoxy as judged by short beam shear tests.

Influence of triallyl cyanurate as co-agent on gamma irradiation cured high density polyethylene/reclaimed tire rubber blend

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mali, Manoj N.; Arakh, Amar A.; Dubey, K. A.; Mhaske, S. T.

2017-02-01

Utilization of waste from tire industry as reclaimed tire rubber (RTR) by formation of blends with high density polyethylene (HDPE) is great area to be focused. Enhancement of properties by the addition of triallyl cyanurate (TAC) as a co-agent with 1%, 3% and 5% to blend of HDPE 50 wt% and RTR 50 wt% in presence of gamma irradiation curing were investigated. Specifically, mechanical and thermal properties were studied as a function of amount of TAC and gamma irradiation dose in range of 50-200 kGy. The resultant blends were evaluated for the values of impact strength, gel content, thermal stability, tensile properties, rheological properties and morphological properties with increasing irradiation dosage and TAC loading. The mechanical properties tensile strength, hardness, impact strength of blend containing 3% of TAC were substantially increased with increasing irradiation dosage up to 150 KGy. Rheological analysis has shown increase in viscosity with increase in TAC loading up to 3% and 150 KGy irradiation dosages. 3% loading of TAC lead to better set of properties with150 KGy gamma irradiation dosage.

Development of phosphorylated adhesives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bilow, N.; Giants, T. W.; Jenkins, R. K.; Campbell, P. L.

1983-01-01

The synthesis of epoxy prepolymers containing phosphorus was carried out in such a manner as to provide adhesives containing at least 5 percent of this element. The purpose of this was to impart fire retardant properties to the adhesive. The two epoxy derivatives, bis(4-glycidyl-oxyphenyl)phenylphosphine oxide and bis(4-glycidyl-2-methoxyphenyl)phenylphosphonate, and a curing agent, bis(3-aminophenyl)methylphosphine oxide, were used in conjunction with one another and along with conventional epoxy resins and curing agents to bond Tedlar and Polyphenylethersulfone films to Kerimid-glass syntactic foam-filled honeycomb structures. Elevated temperatures are required to cure the epoxy resins with the phosphorus-contaning diamine; however, when Tedlar is being bonded, lower curing temperatures must be used to avoid shrinkage and the concomitant formation of surface defects. Thus, the phosphorus-containing aromatic amine curing agent cannot be used alone, although it is possible to use it in conjunction with an aliphatic amine which would allow lower cure temperatures to be used. The experimental epoxy resins have not provided adhesive bonds quite as strong as those provided by Epon 828 when compared in peel tests, but the differences are not very significant. It should be noted, if optimum properties are to be realized. In any case the fire retardant characteristics of the neat resin systems obtained are quite pronounced, since in most cases the self-extinguishing properties are evident almost instantly when specimens are removed from a flame.

Bisimide amine cured epoxy /IME/ resins and composites. II - Ten-degree off-axis tensile and shear properties of Celion 6000/IME composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scola, D. A.

1982-01-01

Bisimide amines (BIAs), which are presently used as curing agents in a state-of-the-art epoxy resin, are oligomeric and polymeric mixtures. A series of composites consisting of the novel BIA-cured epoxy resin reinforced with Celion 6000 graphite fibers were fabricated and evaluated, and the ten-degree, off-axis uniaxial tensile and shear properties of these composites were determined. The use of the intralaminar shear strain-to-failure was used in the calculation of resin shear strain-to-failure. Study results indicate that several of these novel composite systems exhibit shear strain properties that are superior to those of the control composite system of the present experiments, which employed a sulfone curing agent.

Microleakage of light-cured resin and resin-modified glass-ionomer dentin bonding agents applied with co-cure vs pre-cure technique.

PubMed

Tulunoglu, O; Uçtaşh, M; Alaçam, A; Omürlü, H

2000-01-01

This in vitro study evaluated the effect of dentin bonding agents in reducing microleakage after three months in Class V restorations restored with Z100 resin composite. Materials tested were three types of resin-based dentin bonding agents: a multi-step (Scotchbond Multi-Purpose); a one-step (Scotchbond One-Step); a self-etching, self-priming (Clearfil Liner Bond) and a resin-modified glass ionomer (GC Fuji Bond LC). Class V cavity preparations with occlusal margins in enamel and gingival margins in cementum were prepared both on labial and lingual surfaces of extracted premolar teeth. Restorations (two per tooth) were distributed randomly into nine test groups (n = 10) consisting of the various DBAs applied with co-cure and pre-cure techniques, and no dentin bonding as a negative control group. Samples were stored in saline for three months, thermocycled, stained with silver nitrate, then sectioned through the middle of the preparation to facilitate the removal of the composite resin restoration. For groups treated with the pre-cure technique, the differences between the enamel leakage values of SBMP-control, CFLB-control and SB1S-control subgroups were significant (p < 0.05). For enamel leakage values of groups treated with the co-cure technique, the differences between the SBMP-control, SB1S-control, CFLB-control and Fuji LC-control subgroups were significant (p < 0.05). For cementum leakage values of groups treated with pre-cure technique, the difference between the CFLB-control and the Fuji, SBMP and SB1S groups was significant (p < 0.05). No significant differences could be detected between the cementum leakage values of groups treated with the co-cure technique (p > 0.05). The differences between the values obtained with application of CFLB with the pre-cure and co-cure techniques at the cementum margins were found to be statistically significant (p = 0.02). No statistically significant differences could be detected between the pre-cure and co-cure values of the other test materials. Generally for every group, cementum microleakage values were greater than enamel microleakage values (p < 0.05). The use of Scotchbond Multi-Purpose, Scotchbond One-Step and Fuji Bond LC with the co-cure technique to decrease the application time did not cause any significant increase in microleakage. Only pre-curing using Clearfil Liner Bond provided better microleakage properties than the other pre-cured adhesives.

Stress Relaxation in Epoxy Thermosets via a Ferrocene-Based Amine Curing Agent

DOE PAGES

Jones, Brad H.; Wheeler, David R.; Black, Hayden T.; ...

2017-06-29

Physical stress relaxation in rubbery, thermoset polymers is limited by cross-links, which impede segmental motion and restrict relaxation to network defects, such as chain ends. In parallel, the cure shrinkage associated with thermoset polymerizations leads to the development of internal residual stress that cannot be effectively relaxed. Recent strategies have reduced or eliminated such cure stress in thermoset polymers largely by exploiting chemical relaxation processes, wherein temporary cross-links or otherwise transient bonds are incorporated into the polymer network. In this paper, we explore an alternative approach, wherein physical relaxation is enhanced by the incorporation of organometallic sandwich moieties into themore » backbone of the polymer network. A standard epoxy resin is cured with a diamine derivative of ferrocene and compared to conventional diamine curing agents. The ferrocene-based thermoset is clearly distinguished from the conventional materials by reduced cure stress with increasing cure temperature as well as unique stress relaxation behavior above its glass transition in the fully cured state. The relaxation experiments exhibit features characteristic of a physical relaxation process. Furthermore, the cure stress is observed to vanish precipitously upon deliberate introduction of network defects through an increasing imbalance of epoxy and amine functional groups. Finally, we postulate that these beneficial properties arise from fluxional motion of the cyclopentadienyl ligands on the polymer backbone.« less

Stress Relaxation in Epoxy Thermosets via a Ferrocene-Based Amine Curing Agent

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jones, Brad H.; Wheeler, David R.; Black, Hayden T.

Physical stress relaxation in rubbery, thermoset polymers is limited by cross-links, which impede segmental motion and restrict relaxation to network defects, such as chain ends. In parallel, the cure shrinkage associated with thermoset polymerizations leads to the development of internal residual stress that cannot be effectively relaxed. Recent strategies have reduced or eliminated such cure stress in thermoset polymers largely by exploiting chemical relaxation processes, wherein temporary cross-links or otherwise transient bonds are incorporated into the polymer network. In this paper, we explore an alternative approach, wherein physical relaxation is enhanced by the incorporation of organometallic sandwich moieties into themore » backbone of the polymer network. A standard epoxy resin is cured with a diamine derivative of ferrocene and compared to conventional diamine curing agents. The ferrocene-based thermoset is clearly distinguished from the conventional materials by reduced cure stress with increasing cure temperature as well as unique stress relaxation behavior above its glass transition in the fully cured state. The relaxation experiments exhibit features characteristic of a physical relaxation process. Furthermore, the cure stress is observed to vanish precipitously upon deliberate introduction of network defects through an increasing imbalance of epoxy and amine functional groups. Finally, we postulate that these beneficial properties arise from fluxional motion of the cyclopentadienyl ligands on the polymer backbone.« less

Preparation of hyperbranched poly (amidoamine)-grafted graphene nanolayers as a composite and curing agent for epoxy resin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gholipour-Mahmoudalilou, Meysam; Roghani-Mamaqani, Hossein; Azimi, Reza; Abdollahi, Amin

2018-01-01

Thermal properties of epoxy resin were improved by preparation of a curing agent of poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer-grafted graphene oxide (GO). Hyperbranched PAMAM-modified GO (GD) was prepared by a divergent dendrimer synthesis methodology. Modification of GO with (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), Michael addition of methacrylic acid, and amidation reaction with ethylenediamine results in the curing agent of GD. Then, epoxy resin was cured in the presence of different amounts of GD and the final products were compared with ethylenediamine-cured epoxy resin (E) in their thermal degradation temperature and char contents. Functionalization of GO with APTES and hyperbranched dendrimer formation at the surface of GO were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results. TGA results showed that the weight loss associated with chemical moieties in GONH2, GOMA, and GD is estimated to be 10.1, 12.2, and 14.1%, respectively. Covalent attachment of dendrimer at the surface of GO increases its thermal stability. TGA also showed that decomposition temperature and char content are higher for composites compared with E. Scanning and transmission electron microscopies show that flat and smooth graphene nanolayers are wrinkled in GO and re-stacking and flattening of nanolayers is observed in GD.

Ultrasonic Mixing of Epoxy Curing Agents.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-05-01

Li~fl , • 4 Future generation aircraft need higher performance polymer matrices to fully achieve the weight savings possible with composite materials...ref. 1). New resins are being formulated in an effort to understand basic polymer behav- ior and to develop improved resins (refs. 2, 3 and 4). Some... polymer /curing agent combinations that could be useful, cannot be mixed properly using conven- tional methods because of the high melting temperature

Epoxy matrix with triaromatic mesogenic unit in dielectric spectroscopy observation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Włodarska, Magdalena; Mossety-Leszczak, Beata; Bąk, Grzegorz W.; Kisiel, Maciej; Dłużniewski, Maciej; Okrasa, Lidia

2018-04-01

This paper describes the dielectric response of a selected liquid crystal epoxy monomer (plain and in curing systems) in a wide range of frequency and temperature. The dielectric spectroscopy, thanks to its sensitivity, is a very good tool for studying phase transitions, reaction progress, or material properties. This sensitivity is important in the case of liquid crystal epoxy resins, where properties of the final network depend on the choice of monomers, curing agents, curing conditions and post-curing treatment, or applying an external electric or magnetic field during the reaction. In most of the obtained cured products, the collected dielectric data show two relaxation processes. The α-process is related to a structural reorientation; it can usually be linked with the glass transition and the mechanical properties of the material. The β-process can be identified as a molecular motion process, probably associated with the carboxyl groups in the mesogen. A transient Maxwell-Wagner relaxation observed in one of the compositions after the initial curing is removed by post-curing treatment at elevated temperatures. Post-curing is therefore necessary for obtaining uniformly cured products in those cases. In the investigated systems, the choice of a curing agent can change the glass transition temperature by at least 70 °C. The obtained results are in a good agreement with an earlier study employing other techniques. Finally, we assess the influence of the direction of mesogen alignment on the dielectric properties of one selected system, where a global order was induced by applying an external magnetic field in the course of curing.

Impact of bleaching agents on water sorption and solubility of resin luting cements.

PubMed

Torabi Ardakani, Mahshid; Atashkar, Berivan; Bagheri, Rafat; Burrow, Michael F

2017-08-01

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of distilled water and home and office bleaching agents on the sorption and solubility of resin luting cements. A total of 18 disc-shaped specimens were prepared from each of four resin cements: G-CEM LinkAce, Panavia F, Rely X Unicem, and seT. Specimens were cured according to the manufacturers' instructions and randomly divided into three groups of six, where they were treated with either an office or home bleaching agent or immersed in distilled water (control). Water sorption and solubility were measured by weighing the specimens before and after immersion and desiccation. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test. There was a significant, positive correlation between sorption and solubility. Two-way anova showed significant differences among all resin cements tested for either sorption or solubility. Water sorption and solubility of all cements were affected significantly by office bleaching, and even more by home bleaching agents. Sorption and solubility behavior of the studied cements were highly correlated and significantly affected by applying either office or home bleaching agents; seT showed the highest sorption and solubility, whereas Rely X Unicem revealed the lowest. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Effectiveness and safety of nitrofurantoin in outpatient male veterans.

PubMed

Ingalsbe, Michelle L; Wojciechowski, Amy L; Smith, Kelly A; Mergenhagen, Kari A

2015-08-01

The aim of the study was to assess both the safety and the effectiveness of nitrofurantoin in male veterans treated for urinary tract infections (UTIs) with varying degrees of renal impairment in the outpatient setting. Nitrofurantoin is an important oral option for treating UTIs given increasing resistance to commonly used agents. Nitrofurantoin is currently contraindicated in patients with a creatinine clearance (CrCl) of < 60 ml/min, but the reason for this threshold has not been well documented. Data were collected through a retrospective chart review from January 2004 to July 2013 of men who had received nitrofurantoin. Bivariate analyses followed by multivariate analyses were performed between patients experiencing clinical cure and those who did not, to determine factors significantly impacting effectiveness. The Gram stain of the organism causing the UTI and CrCl were significant factors impacting effectiveness. For every 1 ml/min increase in CrCl, the odds of clinical cure increased by 1.3%. Patients with Gram-negative UTIs predictably had 80% cure rates with CrCl around 60 ml/min. Patients with Gram-positive UTIs required higher CrCl, nearing 100 ml/min, to establish an 80% cure rate. Adverse effects did not vary with CrCl. The odds of clinical cure varied with CrCl and with the type of organism causing the UTI, while adverse events did not differ based on renal function. A minimum CrCl of 60 ml/min is suggested for men to achieve an 80% cure rate for UTIs with the most common urinary pathogens.

ASTM D395 Short-Term Compression Set of Solid (Non-Porous) Siloxanes: SE 1700, Sylgard 184, and "New" M9787

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Small, Ward; Pearson, Mark A.; Jensen, Wayne A.

2015-09-13

Compression set of solid (non-porous) Dow Corning SE 1700, Sylgard 184, and “new” M9787 siloxane elastomers was measured according to ASTM D395 Method B. Specimens of SE 1700 were made using (1) the manufacturer’s suggested cure of 150°C for 30 min and (2) an extended cure of 60°C for 6 h and 150°C for 1 h followed by a post-cure under nitrogen purge at 125°C for 12 h. Four specimens of each material were aged at 25-27% compressive strain at 70°C under nitrogen purge for 70 h. Final thickness of each specimen was measured after a 30-min cooling/relaxation period, andmore » compression set relative to deflection was calculated. The average compression set relative to deflection was 6.0% for SE 1700 made using the extended cure and post-cure, 11.3% for SE 1700 made using the manufacturer’s suggested cure, 12.1% for Sylgard 184, and 1.9% for M9787. The extended cure and post-cure reduced the amount of compression set in SE 1700.« less

Thermal processing of EVA encapsulants and effects of formulation additives

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pern, F.J.; Glick, S.H.

1996-05-01

The authors investigated the in-situ processing temperatures and effects of various formulation additives on the formation of ultraviolet (UV) excitable chromophores, in the thermal lamination and curing of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulants. A programmable, microprocessor-controlled, double-bag vacuum laminator was used to study two commercial as formulated EVA films, A9918P and 15295P, and solution-cast films of Elvaxrm (EVX) impregnated with various curing agents and antioxidants. The results show that the actual measured temperatures of EVA lagged significantly behind the programmed profiles for the heating elements and were affected by the total thermal mass loaded inside the laminator chamber. The antioxidant Naugardmore » P{trademark}, used in the two commercial EVA formulations, greatly enhances the formation of UV-excitable, short chromophores upon curing, whereas other tested antioxidants show little effect. A new curing agent chosen specifically for the EVA formulation modification produces little or no effect on chromophore formation, no bubbling problems in the glass/EVX/glass laminates, and a gel content of {approximately}80% when cured at programmed 155{degrees}C for 4 min. Also demonstrated is the greater discoloring effect with higher concentrations of curing-generated chromophores.« less

Thermal processing of EVA encapsulants and effects of formulation additives

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pern, F.J.; Glick, S.H.

1996-09-01

The authors investigated the in-situ processing temperatures and effects of various formulation additives on the formation of ultraviolet (UV) excitable chromophores in the thermal lamination and curing of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulants. A programmable, microprocessor-controlled, double-bag vacuum laminator was used to study two commercial as-formulated EVA films. A9918P and 15295P, and solution-cast films of Elvax{trademark} (EVX) impregnated with various curing agents and antioxidants. The results show that the actual measured temperatures of EVA lagged significantly behind the programmed profiles for the heating elements and were affected by the total thermal mass loaded inside the laminator chamber. The antioxidant Naugard P{trademark},more » used in the two commercial EVA formulations, greatly enhances the formation of UV-excitable, short chromophores upon curing, whereas other tested antioxidants show little effect. A new curing agent chosen specifically for the EVA formulation modification produces little or no effect on chromophore formation, no bubbling problems in the glass/EVX/glass laminates, and a gel content of {approximately}80% when cured at programmed 155 C for 4 min. Also demonstrated is the greater discoloring effect with higher concentrations of curing-generated chromophores.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pern, F.J.; Glick, S.H.; Czanderna, A.W.

Results from extensive studies of the commercial ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) formulations show that the UV absorber and curing-generated UV-excitable, {alpha},{beta}-unsaturated carbonyl chromophores facilitate the EVA discoloration, which is further enhanced by curing-generated acetic acid and probably residual peroxide curing agent also. Formation and concentration of the UV-excitable chromophores are substantially promoted by the antioxidant, Naugard P. The discoloration rate is greater under higher UV light intensity and temperatures. Heating in the dark at elevated temperatures (e.g., 85&hthinsp;{degree}C) in the air for {approximately}200 days only results in light yellowing. The discoloration reactions compete with photobleaching reactions, which destroy curing-generated chromophoresmore » and result in non-discoloring of EVA. By using better performance stabilizers to minimize the curing-generated UV-excitable chromophores, a new fast curing agent, and no UV absorber, the NREL-developed EVA formulations show a superior photothermal stability against browning to the commercial counterparts. Alternatively, the discoloration rate of the commercial EVA pottants can be considerably reduced by using UV-filtering glass superstrates that largely inhibit the UV-induced photooxidation reactions, or completely eliminated by using air-permeable polymer superstrate films that enable photobleaching reactions. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}« less

Effect of different photoinitiators and reducing agents on cure efficiency and color stability of resin-based composites using different LED wavelengths.

PubMed

de Oliveira, Dayane Carvalho Ramos Salles; Rocha, Mateus Garcia; Gatti, Alexandre; Correr, Americo Bortolazzo; Ferracane, Jack Liborio; Sinhoret, Mario Alexandre Coelho

2015-12-01

To evaluate the effect of photoinitiators and reducing agents on cure efficiency and color stability of resin-based composites using different LED wavelengths. Model resin-based composites were associated with diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide (TPO), phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide (BAPO) or camphorquinone (CQ) associated with 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), ethyl 4-(dimethyamino) benzoate (EDMAB) or 4-(N,N-dimethylamino) phenethyl alcohol (DMPOH). A narrow (Smartlite, Dentisply) and a broad spectrum (Bluephase G2, Ivoclar Vivadent) LEDs were used for photo-activation (20 J/cm(2)). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to evaluate the cure efficiency for each composite, and CIELab parameters to evaluated color stability (ΔE00) after aging. The UV-vis absorption spectrophotometric analysis of each photoinitiator and reducing agent was determined. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test for multiple comparisons (α=0.05). Higher cure efficiency was found for type-I photoinitiators photo-activated with a broad spectrum light, and for CQ-systems with a narrow band spectrum light, except when combined with an aliphatic amine (DMAEMA). Also, when combined with aromatic amines (EDMAB and DMPOH), similar cure efficiency with both wavelength LEDs was found. TPO had no cure efficiency when light-cured exclusively with a blue narrowband spectrum. CQ-systems presented higher color stability than type-I photoinitiators, especially when combined with DMPOH. After aging, CQ-based composites became more yellow and BAPO and TPO lighter and less yellow. However, CQ-systems presented higher color stability than type-I photoinitiators, as BAPO- and TPO-, despite their higher cure efficiency when photo-activated with corresponding wavelength range. Color matching is initially important, but color change over time will be one of the major reasons for replacing esthetic restorations; despite the less yellowing of these alternative photoinitiators, camphorquinone presented higher color stability. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The curing agent sodium nitrite, used in the production of fermented sausages, is less inhibiting to the bacteriocin-producing meat starter culture Lactobacillus curvatus LTH 1174 under anaerobic conditions.

PubMed

Verluyten, Jurgen; Messens, Winy; De Vuyst, Luc

2003-07-01

Curvacin A is a listericidal bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus curvatus LTH 1174, a strain isolated from fermented sausage. The response of this strain to an added curing agent (sodium nitrite) in terms of cell growth and bacteriocin production was investigated in vitro by laboratory fermentations with modified MRS broth. The strain was highly sensitive to nitrite; even a concentration of 10 ppm of curing agent inhibited its growth and both volumetric and specific bacteriocin production. A meat simulation medium containing 5 ppm of sodium nitrite was tested to investigate the influence of the gas phase on the growth and bacteriocin production of L. curvatus LTH 1174. Aerating the culture during growth had no effect on biomass formation, but the oxidative stress caused a higher level of specific bacteriocin production and led to a metabolic shift toward acetic acid production. Anaerobic conditions, on the other hand, led to an increased biomass concentration and less growth inhibition. Also, higher maximum volumetric bacteriocin activities and a higher level of specific bacteriocin production were obtained in the presence of sodium nitrite than in fermentations under aerobic conditions or standard conditions of air supply. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of the curing agent is at least partially masked under anaerobic conditions.

The Curing Agent Sodium Nitrite, Used in the Production of Fermented Sausages, Is Less Inhibiting to the Bacteriocin-Producing Meat Starter Culture Lactobacillus curvatus LTH 1174 under Anaerobic Conditions

PubMed Central

Verluyten, Jurgen; Messens, Winy; De Vuyst, Luc

2003-01-01

Curvacin A is a listericidal bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus curvatus LTH 1174, a strain isolated from fermented sausage. The response of this strain to an added curing agent (sodium nitrite) in terms of cell growth and bacteriocin production was investigated in vitro by laboratory fermentations with modified MRS broth. The strain was highly sensitive to nitrite; even a concentration of 10 ppm of curing agent inhibited its growth and both volumetric and specific bacteriocin production. A meat simulation medium containing 5 ppm of sodium nitrite was tested to investigate the influence of the gas phase on the growth and bacteriocin production of L. curvatus LTH 1174. Aerating the culture during growth had no effect on biomass formation, but the oxidative stress caused a higher level of specific bacteriocin production and led to a metabolic shift toward acetic acid production. Anaerobic conditions, on the other hand, led to an increased biomass concentration and less growth inhibition. Also, higher maximum volumetric bacteriocin activities and a higher level of specific bacteriocin production were obtained in the presence of sodium nitrite than in fermentations under aerobic conditions or standard conditions of air supply. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of the curing agent is at least partially masked under anaerobic conditions. PMID:12839751

Spotlight on olaparib in the treatment of BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer: design, development and place in therapy.

PubMed

Lorusso, Domenica; Tripodi, Elisa; Maltese, Giuseppa; Lepori, Stefano; Sabatucci, Ilaria; Bogani, Giorgio; Raspagliesi, Francesco

2018-01-01

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women worldwide and the first cause of death among gynecological malignancies. Most of the patients present recurrent disease and unfortunately cannot be cured. The unsatisfactory results obtained with salvage chemotherapy have elicited investigators to search for novel biological agents capable of achieving a better control of the disease. In the setting of homologous recombination deficiency, the DNA errors that occur cannot be accurately repaired, and the treatment with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition results in definitive cell death in a process called synthetic lethality. As a result of two positive clinical trials, Olaparib was approved in 2014 by U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency as the first-in-class PARP inhibitor. Olaparib is effective and well tolerated in homologous recombination deficient patients. Several studies with Olaparib have been conducted in the recurrent setting either as maintenance in platinum-responsive patients or as a single agent. Ongoing trials are focused on the use of olaparib as maintenance in the first-line ovarian cancer setting alone or in combination with antiangiogenic agents. Future perspectives will probably investigate the association of olaparib with novel agents as check-point inhibitors and PI3K-AKT inhibitors. The PARP inhibitor era is just at the beginning.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sanchez, R.O.; Archer, W.E.

This paper describes the use of Formula 456, an aliphatic amine cured epoxy for impregnating coils and high voltage transformers. Sandia has evaluated a number of MDA-free epoxy encapsulants which relied on either anhydride or other aromatic amine curing agents. The use of aliphatic amine curing agents was more recently evaluated and has resulted in the definition of Formula 456 resin. Methylene dianiline (MDA) has been used for more than 20 years as the curing agent for various epoxy formulations throughout the Department of Energy and much of industry. Sandia National Laboratories began the process of replacing MDA with othermore » formulations because of regulations imposed by OSHA on the use of MDA. OSHA has regulated MDA because it is a suspect carcinogen. Typically the elimination of OSHA-regulated materials provides a rare opportunity to qualify new formulations in a range of demanding applications. It was important to take full advantage of that opportunity, although the associated materials qualification effort was costly. Small high voltage transformers are one of those demanding applications. The successful implementation of the new formulation for high reliability transformers will be described. The test results that demonstrate the parts are qualified for use in DOE weapon systems will be presented.« less

An insight of traditional plasmid curing in Vibrio species

PubMed Central

Letchumanan, Vengadesh; Chan, Kok-Gan; Lee, Learn-Han

2015-01-01

As the causative agent of foodborne related illness, Vibrio species causes a huge impact on the public health and management. Vibrio species is often associated with seafood as the latter plays a role as a vehicle to transmit bacterial infections. Hence, antibiotics are used not to promote growth but rather to prevent and treat bacterial infections. The extensive use of antibiotics in the aquaculture industry and environment has led to the emerging of antibiotic resistant strains. This phenomenon has triggered an alarming public health concern due to the increase number of pathogenic Vibrio strains that are resistant to clinically used antibiotics and is found in the environment. Antibiotic resistance and the genes location in the strains can be detected through plasmid curing assay. The results derived from plasmid curing assay is fast, cost effective, sufficient in providing insights, and influence the antibiotic management policies in the aquaculture industry. This presentation aims in discussing and providing insights on various curing agents in Vibrio species. To our best of knowledge, this is a first review written discussing on plasmid curing in Vibrio species. PMID:26347714

Sodium nitrite: the "cure" for nitric oxide insufficiency.

PubMed

Parthasarathy, Deepa K; Bryan, Nathan S

2012-11-01

This process of "curing" food is a long practice that dates back thousands of years long before refrigeration or food safety regulations. Today food safety and mass manufacturing are dependent upon safe and effective means to cure and preserve foods including meats. Nitrite remains the most effective curing agent to prevent food spoilage and bacterial contamination. Despite decades of rigorous research on its safety and efficacy as a curing agent, it is still regarded by many as a toxic undesirable food additive. However, research within the biomedical science community has revealed enormous therapeutic benefits of nitrite that is currently being developed as novel therapies for conditions associated with nitric oxide (NO) insufficiency. Much of the same biochemistry that has been understood for decades in the meat industry has been rediscovered in human physiology. This review will highlight the fundamental biochemistry of nitrite in human physiology and highlight the risk benefit evaluation surrounding nitrite in food and meat products. Foods or diets enriched with nitrite can have profound positive health benefits. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exploratory Study on the Effects of Novel Diamine Curing Agents and Isocyanate Precursors on the Properties of New Epoxy and Urethane Adhesives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glasgow, D. Gerald; Garthwait, Clayborn

1977-01-01

This report covers the results of investigations directed toward studying the effects of novel aromatic diamine structures on epoxy adhesive properties and includes work done under a modification to the original contract. Three aromatic diamines based on diphenylsulfone and benzophenone were studied as epoxy adhesive curing agents. Previously found differences in adhesive strengths for meta vs para orientation were not found in these series. The use of aluminum and alumina as fillers in a m,m'-methylene dianiline-cured epoxy adhesive was not found to be beneficial to adhesive strength. Alumina filled adhesives had much lower strength than unfilled adhesives. The unfilled m,m'-methylene dianiline-based epoxy adhesive had excellent resistance to moisture relative to a p,p'-methylene dianiline-based adhesive and maintained good strengths up to 250 F. A glass fiber composite based on a m,m'-methylene dianiline-cured epoxy appeared to be equivalent to the p,p'-methylene dianiline-cured epoxy as judged by short beam shear tests.

Landscape review of current HIV 'kick and kill' cure research - some kicking, not enough killing.

PubMed

Thorlund, Kristian; Horwitz, Marc S; Fife, Brian T; Lester, Richard; Cameron, D William

2017-08-29

Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients is life-long because it only suppresses de novo infections. Recent efforts to eliminate HIV have tested the ability of a number of agents to reactivate ('Kick') the well-known latent reservoir. This approach is rooted in the assumption that once these cells are reactivated the host's immune system itself will eliminate ('Kill') the virus. While many agents have been shown to reactivate large quantities of the latent reservoir, the impact on the size of the latent reservoir has been negligible. This suggests that the immune system is not sufficient to eliminate reactivated reservoirs. Thus, there is a need for more emphasis on 'kill' strategies in HIV cure research, and how these might work in combination with current or future kick strategies. We conducted a landscape review of HIV 'cure' clinical trials using 'kick and kill' approaches. We identified and reviewed current available clinical trial results in human participants as well as ongoing and planned clinical trials. We dichotomized trials by whether they did not include or include a 'kill' agent. We extracted potential reasons why the 'kill' is missing from current 'kick and kill' strategies. We subsequently summarized and reviewed current 'kill' strategies have entered the phase of clinical trial testing in human participants and highlighted those with the greatest promise. The identified 'kick' trials only showed promise on surrogate measures activating latent T-cells, but did not show any positive effects on clinical 'cure' measures. Of the 'kill' agents currently being tested in clinical trials, early results have shown small but meaningful proportions of participants remaining off ART for several months with broadly neutralizing antibodies, as well as agents for regulating immune cell responses. A similar result was also recently observed in a trial combining a conventional 'kick' with a vaccine immune booster ('kill'). While an understanding of the efficacy of each individual component is crucial, no single 'kick' or 'kill' agent is likely to be a fully effective cure. Rather, the solution is likely found in a combination of multiple 'kick and kill' interventions.

In situ Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticle Embedded Free Standing Multifunctional PDMS Films.

PubMed

Goyal, Anubha; Kumar, Ashavani; Patra, Prabir K; Mahendra, Shaily; Tabatabaei, Salomeh; Alvarez, Pedro J J; John, George; Ajayan, Pulickel M

2009-07-01

We demonstrate a simple one-step method for synthesizing noble metal nanoparticle embedded free standing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite films. The process involves preparing a homogenous mixture of metal salt (silver, gold and platinum), silicone elastomer and the curing agent (hardener) followed by curing. During the curing process, the hardener crosslinks the elastomer and simultaneously reduces the metal salt to form nanoparticles. This in situ method avoids the use of any external reducing agent/stabilizing agent and leads to a uniform distribution of nanoparticles in the PDMS matrix. The films were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The nanoparticle-PDMS films have a higher Young's modulus than pure PDMS films and also show enhanced antibacterial properties. The metal nanoparticle-PDMS films could be used for a number of applications such as for catalysis, optical and biomedical devices and gas separation membranes. Copyright © 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The stability of new transparent polymeric materials: The epoxy trimethoxyboroxine system. Part 1: The preparation, characterization and curing of epoxy resins and their copolymers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pearce, E.; Lin, S. C.

1981-01-01

The effects of resin composition, curing conditions fillers, and flame retardant additives on the flammability of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) as measured by the oxygen index is examined. The oxygen index of DGEBA cured with various curing agents was between 0.198 to 0.238. Fillers and flame retardant additives can increase the oxygen index dependent on the material and the amount used. Changes in the basic cured resin properties can be anticipated with the addition of noncompatible additives. High flame resistant epoxy resins with good stability and mechanical properties are investigated.

The effects of light curing units and environmental temperatures on C 000000000000 000000000000 000000000000 111111111111 000000000000 111111111111 000000000000 000000000000 000000000000 C conversion of commercial and experimental bonding agents.

PubMed

Jafarzadeh-Kashi, Tahereh Sadat; Erfan, Mohmmad; Kalbasi, Salmeh; Ghadiri, Malihe; Rakhshan, Vahid

2014-10-01

Polymerization of bonding agents (BA) is a critical factor in determining the success of bonded restorations. We aimed to assess the effects of two light curing units and two temperatures on the extent of polymerization (EP) of a commercial BA and an experimental BA. Forty BA specimens were randomly divided into 8 subgroups of n = 5 to compare the polymerization of two BAs (experimental/Scotchbond) based on the variables: temperature (23/37 °C) and light-curing unit (quartz-tungsten-halogen/light-emitting diode). The EP (%) was measured using differential scanning calorimetry, and analyzed using the t-test, two- and three-way analyses of variance (ANOVA), and the Bonferroni test (α = 0.05). There were significant differences between the EP results between the two BAs (P = 0.012) and due to the different temperatures (P = 0.001), but not between the different light-curing units (P = 0.548). The interaction between BA and temperature was significant (P < 0.001). The other interactions were nonsignificant. The two light-curing units had similar effects on the EP. The EP values were better when curing was performed at human body temperature.

Influence of light-curing sources on polymerization reaction kinetics of a restorative system.

PubMed

D'Alpino, Paulo H P; Svizero, Nádia R; Pereira, José C; Rueggeberg, Frederick A; Carvalho, Ricardo M; Pashley, David H

2007-02-01

To determine the effect of using a variety of commercial light-curing units on polymerization of a dentin-bonding agent (Adper Single Bond) and of a resin composite (Filtek Z250). Infrared (IR) spectra were obtained kinetically at one scan/second at 2 cm(-1) resolution for a period of 5 minutes and were analyzed for: maximum conversion rate (%/s), time into exposure when maximum rate occurred (seconds), conversion at maximum rate (%), and total conversion (%) at 300 seconds by comparison of aliphatic-to-aromatic absorption IR peak ratios, before and after polymerization. Light units used were: QTH 540 mW/cm2 (XL3000); LED 750 mW/cm2 (Elipar FreeLight 2); PAC 2,130 mW/cm2 (ARC II). Exposure followed manufacturers' recommendations: dentin bonding agent for 10 seconds, RC for 20 seconds (QTH), and 10 seconds (LED and PAC). Polymerization kinetics was evaluated at the bottom surface (2.5 mm thick) for the resin composite and as a thin film for the dentin bonding agent on the diamond surface of an attenuated total reflectance accessory in the IR spectrometer. Values (n = 5) were compared using ANOVA and Tukey's pairwise post-hoc test: pre-set alpha 0.05. PAC produced the highest total conversion and conversion rate for the resin composite (P < 0.05). Total conversion was lower for dentin bonding adhesive using PAC than with LED or QTH (P < 0.05). LED provided the highest proportion of conversion at the maximum rate with respect to conversion at 300 seconds for both materials. QTH demonstrated the lowest maximum rate value that occurred at a longer time into exposure (P < 0.05). Polymerization kinetic parameters varied greatly between the restorative materials as well as among light-curing unit types when compared to values observed when using a QTH light as control.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Doll, D.C.; Ringenberg, Q.S.; Yarbro, J.W.

Although cancer during pregnancy is infrequent, its management is difficult for patients, their families, and their physicians. When termination of the pregnancy is unacceptable, decisions regarding the use of irradiation and chemotherapy are complicated by the well-known high risks of abortion and fetal malformation. This risk is concentrated in the first trimester and varies with the choice of chemotherapeutic agents or combinations of agents. There is only minimal evidence of increased risk of malformation or abortion in the second or third trimester. Recent progress in cancer therapy has made cure a reasonable goal, and for some malignant neoplasms, cure ismore » still possible even when initial therapy is modified or delayed. When cure is a reasonable goal, curative therapy should not be compromised by modification or delay. When treatment for cure or significant palliation is not possible, however, the goal should shift to protection of the fetus from damage by the injudicious use of teratogenic cancer therapy. This report will review the available data that may assist in these difficult decisions. 114 references.« less

Complete cure of persistent virus infections by antiviral siRNAs.

PubMed

Saulnier, Aure; Pelletier, Isabelle; Labadie, Karine; Colbère-Garapin, Florence

2006-01-01

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have been developed as antiviral agents for mammalian cells. The capacity of specific siRNAs to prevent virus infections has been demonstrated, and there is evidence that these new antiviral agents could have a partial therapeutic effect a few days after infection. We investigated the possibility of curing a persistent infection, several months after becoming established, using an in vitro model of persistent poliovirus (PV) infection in HEp-2 cells. Despite high virus titers and the presence of PV mutants, repeated treatment with a mixture of two siRNAs targeting both noncoding and coding regions, one of them in a highly conserved region, resulted in the complete cure of the majority of persistently infected cultures. No escape mutants emerged in treated cultures. The antiviral effect of specific siRNAs, consistent with a mechanism of RNA interference, correlated with a decrease in the amount of viral RNA, until its complete disappearance, resulting in cultures cured of virions and viral RNA.

Transarterial onyx embolization of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas: long-term follow-up.

PubMed

Chandra, R V; Leslie-Mazwi, T M; Mehta, B P; Yoo, A J; Rabinov, J D; Pryor, J C; Hirsch, J A; Nogueira, R G

2014-09-01

Endovascular therapy with liquid embolic agents is a common treatment strategy for cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas. This study evaluated the long-term effectiveness of transarterial Onyx as the single embolic agent for curative embolization of noncavernous cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas. We performed a retrospective review of 40 consecutive patients with 41 cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas treated between March 2006 and June 2012 by using transarterial Onyx embolization with intent to cure. The mean age was 57 years; one-third presented with intracranial hemorrhage. Most (85%) had cortical venous drainage. Once angiographic cure was achieved, long-term treatment effectiveness was assessed with DSA and clinical follow-up. Forty-nine embolization sessions were performed; 85% of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas were treated in a single session. The immediate angiographic cure rate was 95%. The permanent neurologic complication rate was 2% (mild facial palsy). Thirty-five of the 38 patients with initial cure underwent short-term follow-up DSA (median, 4 months). The short-term recurrence rate was only 6% (2/35). All patients with occlusion at short-term DSA undergoing long-term DSA (median, 28 months) had durable occlusion. No patient with long-term clinical follow-up (total, 117 patient-years; median, 45 months) experienced hemorrhage. Transarterial embolization with Onyx as the single embolic agent results in durable long-term cure of noncavernous cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas. Recurrence rates are low on short-term follow-up, and all patients with angiographic occlusion on short-term DSA follow-up have experienced a durable long-term cure. Thus, angiographic cure should be defined at short-term follow-up angiography instead of at the end of the final embolization session. Finally, long-term DSA follow-up may not be necessary if occlusion is demonstrated on short-term angiographic follow-up. © 2014 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

Epoxy Pipelining Composition and Method of Manufacture.

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-12-14

exemplary curing agent blend was prepared by reacting azelaic acid 3 (nonanedioic acid ), hexanoic acid , triethylene tetramine 4 (NH 2CH2CH2NHCH2CH2NHCH2CH...2NH2; TETA) and benzyl alcohol. The exemplary 5 curing agent blend was prepared as follows: 6 (a) Azelaic acid (solid; 90.9 gm.; 0.483 moles; C 9H 16 0...heated to 230 ’C over 10 - 20 11 minutes in a silicone oil bath. As the azelaic acid melted into a liquid, the 12 reaction mixture was stirred using a

Trowelable ablative coating composition and method of use

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Headrick, Stephen E. (Inventor); Hill, Roger L. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

A trowelable ablative coating composition is disclosed. The composition comprises an epoxy resin, an amide curing agent, glass microspheres and ground cork. A method for protecting a substrate is also disclosed. The method comprises applying the trowelable ablative coating discussed above to a substrate and curing the coating composition.

Trowelable ablative coating composition and method of use

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Headrick, Stephen E. (Inventor); Hill, Roger L. (Inventor)

1988-01-01

A trowelable ablative coating composition is disclosed. The composition comprises an epoxy resin, an amide curing agent, glass microspheres and ground cork. A method for protecting a substrate is also disclosed. The method comprises applying the trowelable ablative coating discussed above to a substrate and curing the coating composition.

Measurement of the degree of cure in epoxies with ultrasonic velocity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winfree, W. P.; Parker, F. R.

1986-01-01

The use of ultrasonic longitudinal velocity values to measure the degree of cure (defined for an epoxide system as the concentration of epoxide/amine bonds divided by the initial epoxide concentration) in epoxy resins is investigated. The experimental setup used to measure the changes in longitudinal velocity with time is described, together with the technique used to calculate the degree of cure from the acoustic data, using the principle of additive module. Measurements were done with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin cured with an amine adduct agent. Good qualitative agreement was shown between the time dependence of the acoustically measured degree of cure and the predicted rate of reaction.

Effects of Amine and Anhydride Curing Agents on the VARTM Matrix Processing Properties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grimsley, Brian W.; Hubert, Pascal; Song, Xiaolan; Cano, Roberto J.; Loos, Alfred C.; Pipes, R. Byron

2002-01-01

To ensure successful application of composite structure for aerospace vehicles, it is necessary to develop material systems that meet a variety of requirements. The industry has recently developed a number of low-viscosity epoxy resins to meet the processing requirements associated with vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) of aerospace components. The curing kinetics and viscosity of two of these resins, an amine-cured epoxy system, Applied Poleramic, Inc. VR-56-4 1, and an anhydride-cured epoxy system, A.T.A.R.D. Laboratories SI-ZG-5A, have been characterized for application in the VARTM process. Simulations were carried out using the process model, COMPRO, to examine heat transfer, curing kinetics and viscosity for different panel thicknesses and cure cycles. Results of these simulations indicate that the two resins have significantly different curing behaviors and flow characteristics.

A Systems Approach to Depaint Chemistry

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-02-01

continuous colored film by curing through solvent evaporation, oxidation, catylization or other means. – Vehicle: Film former, binder, resin or polymer...impart large changes in properties. – Suspending agents – Driers – Anti-Skinning Agents – Wetting Agents – Anti- Foaming Agents – Coalescing Agents ...volatile stripper inside the coating. Paint Release Agent Coating Removal Mechanism Zone1: PRA Layer Zone2: PRA Initial Permeation into coating system Epoxy

Cancer microenvironment, inflammation and cancer stem cells: A hypothesis for a paradigm change and new targets in cancer control

PubMed Central

Blaylock, Russell L.

2015-01-01

Since President Nixon officially declared a war on cancer with the National Cancer Act, billions of dollars have been spent on research in hopes of finding a cure for cancer. Recent reviews have pointed out that over the ensuing 42 years, cancer death rates have barely changed for the major cancers. Recently, several researchers have questioned the prevailing cancer paradigm based on recent discoveries concerning the mechanism of carcinogenesis and the origins of cancer. Over the past decade we have learned a great deal concerning both of these central issues. Cell signaling has taken center stage, particularly as regards the links between chronic inflammation and cancer development. It is now evident that the common factor among a great number of carcinogenic agents is activation of genes controlling inflammation cell-signaling pathways and that these signals control all aspects of the cancer process. Of these pathways, the most important and common to all cancers is the NFκB and STAT3 pathways. The second discovery of critical importance is that mutated stem cells appear to be in charge of the cancer process. Most chemotherapy agents and radiotherapy kill daughter cells of the cancer stem cell, many of which are not tumorigenic themselves. Most cancer stem cells are completely resistant to conventional treatments, which explain dormancy and the poor cure rate with metastatic tumors. A growing number of studies are finding that several polyphenol extracts can kill cancer stem cells as well as daughter cells and can enhance the effectiveness and safety of conventional treatments. These new discoveries provide the clinician with a whole new set of targets for cancer control and cure. PMID:26097771

Prevent and cure disuse bone loss

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jee, Webster S. S.

1994-01-01

Anabolic agents like parathyroid hormone and postagladin E-like substances were studied in dogs and rats to determine their effectiveness in the prevention and cure of bone loss due to immobilization. It was determined that postagladin E2 administration prevented immobilization while at the same time it added extra bone in a dose responsive manner. Although bone mass returns, poor trabecular architecture remains after normal ambulation recovery from immobilization. Disuse related bone loss and poor trabecular architecture were cured by post-immobilization postagladin E2 treatment.

Geopolymer lightweight bricks manufactured from fly ash and foaming agent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim, Wan Mastura Wan; Hussin, Kamarudin; Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri; Kadir, Aeslina Abdul

2017-04-01

This paper deals with the development of lightweight geopolymer bricks by using foaming agent and fly ash. The mix parameters analysed through a laboratory experiment with fix ratio of sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide solution mass ratio 2.5, fly ash/alkaline activator solution mass ratio 2.0, foaming agent/paste mass ratio 1:2 and molarity of sodium hydroxide solution used was 12M. Different curing temperature (Room Temperature, 60, 80) and foaming agent/water mass ratio (1:10 and 1:20) were studied. Compressive strength, density analysis, and water absorption has been investigated. The results show that the foamed geopolymer bricks with a lower foam/water mass ratio (1:10)and high curing temperature (80°C) leading to a better properties. Mixtures with a low density of around 1420 kg/m3 and a compressive strength of around 10 MPa were achieved.

Study on Synthesis of Thoreau-modified 3, 5-Dimethyl-Thioltoluenediamine Used as Epoxy Resin Curing Agent and Its Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Yongli; Xiao, Wenzheng

2017-06-01

A novel curing agent Thoreau modified 3, 5-Dimethyl-thioltoluenediamine was synthesized and its molecular structure was characterized by FTIR and DSC. The curing kinetics of a high toughness and low volume shrinkage ratio epoxy system (modified DMTDA/DGEBA) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under noni so thermal conditions. The data were fitted to an order model and autocatalytic model respectively. The results indicate that in order model deviates significantly from experimental data. Malik’s method was used to prove that the curing kinetics of the system concerned follow single-step autocatalytic model, and a “single-point model-free” approach was employed to calculate meaningful kinetic parameters. The DSC curves derived from autocatalytic model gave satisfactory agreement with that of experiment in the range 5K/min∼25K/min. As the heating rate increased, the predicted DSC curves deviated from experimental curves, and the total exothermic enthalpy declined owing to the transition of competition relationship between kinetics control and diffusion control.

Which therapeutic strategy will achieve a cure for HIV-1?

PubMed

Cillo, Anthony R; Mellors, John W

2016-06-01

Strategies to achieve a cure for HIV-1 infection can be broadly classified into three categories: eradication cure (elimination of all viral reservoirs), functional cure (immune control without reservoir eradication), or a hybrid cure (reservoir reduction with improved immune control). The many HIV-1 cure strategies being investigated include modification of host cells to resist HIV-1, engineered T cells to eliminate HIV-infected cells, broadly HIV-1 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, and therapeutic vaccination, but the 'kick and kill' strategy to expose latent HIV-1 with latency reversing agents (LRAs) and kill the exposed cells through immune effector functions is currently the most actively pursued. It is unknown, however, whether LRAs can deplete viral reservoirs in vivo or whether current LRAs are sufficiently safe for clinical use. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Evaluation of several types of curing and protective materials for concrete : final report on part I : laboratory and outdoor exposure studies preliminary to field trials.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1970-01-01

Concern for improving the durability of concrete has focused renewed attention on all aspects of concrete technology. Numerous proprietary products which are claimed to improve durability have been marketed as protective coatings, curing agents or co...

The use of fluoroepoxy compounds as adhesives to bond fluoroplastics without any surface treatment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Sheng Yen

1988-01-01

The use of fluoroepoxy compounds as adhesives to bond fluoroplastics was investigated. Fluoroepoxy compounds with a F-content higher than 46 percent were able to bond a highly fluorinated plastic such as Teflon PTFE (76 percent F) to give a respectable bond strength without any surface treatment. The advantage of the fluoroepoxy adhesive vanished when applied to a less fluorinated plastic such as Tefzel which contains 55 percent fluorine. Among the curing agents explored, octafluorooctamethylenediamine showed its potential as a cocuring agent for improving both the viscosity of the compound and the flexibility of the cured product.

The effect of bleaching agents on the microhardness of dental aesthetic restorative materials.

PubMed

Türker, S B; Biskin, T

2002-07-01

This study investigated the effects of three home bleaching agents on the microhardness of various dental aesthetic restorative materials. The restorative materials were: feldspatic porcelain, microfilled composite resin and light-cured modified glass-ionomer cement and the bleaching agents Nite-White (16% carbamide peroxide), Opalescence (10% carbamide peroxide and carbapol jel) and Rembrandt (10% carbamide peroxide jel). A total of 90 restorative material samples were prepared 1 cm diameter and 6 mm thick and kept in distilled water for 24 h before commencing bleaching which was carried out for 8 h day-1 for 4 weeks. Microhardness measurements were then made using a Tukon tester. Statistically significant differences with respect to unbleached controls were found only for the feldspatic porcelain and microfilled composite resins (P <0.05) for Nite-White and Opalescence. All the bleaching agents decreased the microhardness of the porcelain and increased that of the light cured modified glass-ionomer cement. For the composite resin, whereas Nite-White increased its microhardness, the other bleaching agents decreased it. There were no significant differences between the bleaching agents for any of the restorative materials.

Effect of etch-and-rinse and self-etching adhesive systems on hardness uniformity of resin cements after glass fiber post cementation

PubMed Central

Grande da Cruz, Fernanda Zander; Grande, Christiana Zander; Roderjan, Douglas Augusto; Galvão Arrais, César Augusto; Bührer Samra, Adriana Postiglione; Calixto, Abraham Lincoln

2012-01-01

Objective To evaluate the effects of etch-and-rinse and self-etching adhesive systems on Vickers hardness (VHN) uniformity of dual-cured resin cements after fiber post cementation. Methods: Fifty glass fiber posts were cemented into bovine roots using the following cementing systems: Prime&Bond 2.1 Dual Cure and Enforce with light-activation (PBDC-LCEN); Prime&Bond 2.1 and Enforce with light-activation (PB-CLEN); Prime&Bond 2.1 Dual Cure and Enforce without light exposure (PBDC-SCEN); ED Primer and Panavia 21 (ED-SCPN); and Clearfil SE Bond and Panavia 21 (CF-SCPN). The roots were stored in distilled water for 72 h and transversely sectioned into thirds (coronal, medium, and apical). The VHN values of the resin cement layers were measured close to the post and to the dentin wall on the transversely sectioned flat surfaces. The results were analyzed by three-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post-hoc test (pre-set alpha of 5%). Results: Most resin cements presented higher VHN values near the post than near the dentin wall. The ED-SCPN group showed the highest VHN values regardless of the root third, while the self-cured group PBDC-SCEN exhibited the lowest values. The resin cements from the light-activated groups PBDC-LCEN and PB-LCEN showed lower VHN values at the apical third than at the coronal third. The VHN values were not influenced by the root third in self-cured groups PBDC-SCEN, ED-SCPN, and ED-SCPN. Conclusion: Depending on the product, bonding agents might promote changes in hardness uniformity of resin cements after post cementation. PMID:22904652

Host Methyltransferases and Demethylases: Potential New Epigenetic Targets for HIV Cure Strategies and Beyond.

PubMed

Boehm, Daniela; Ott, Melanie

2017-11-01

A successful HIV cure strategy may require reversing HIV latency to purge hidden viral reservoirs or enhancing HIV latency to permanently silence HIV transcription. Epigenetic modifying agents show promise as antilatency therapeutics in vitro and ex vivo, but also affect other steps in the viral life cycle. In this review, we summarize what we know about cellular DNA and protein methyltransferases (PMTs) as well as demethylases involved in HIV infection. We describe the biology and function of DNA methyltransferases, and their controversial role in HIV infection. We further explain the biology of PMTs and their effects on lysine and arginine methylation of histone and nonhistone proteins. We end with a focus on protein demethylases, their unique modes of action and their emerging influence on HIV infection. An outlook on the use of methylation-modifying agents in investigational HIV cure strategies is provided.

Development of toughened epoxy polymers for high performance composite and ablative applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, V. R.

1982-01-01

A survey of current procedures for the assessment of state of cure in epoxy polymers and for the evaluation of polymer toughness as related to nature of the crosslinking agent was made to facilitate a cause-effect study of the chemical modification of epoxy polymers. Various conformations of sample morphology were examined to identify testing variables and to establish optimum conditions for the selected physical test methods. Dynamic viscoelasticity testing was examined in conjunction with chemical analyses to allow observation of the extent of the curing reaction with size of the crosslinking agent the primary variable. Specifically the aims of the project were twofold: (1) to consider the experimental variables associated with development of "extent of cure" analysis, and (2) to assess methodology of fracture energy determination and to prescribe a meaningful and reproducible procedure. The following is separated into two categories for ease of presentation.

Effect of curing agents on the oxidative and nitrosative damage to meat proteins during processing of fermented sausages.

PubMed

Villaverde, A; Morcuende, D; Estévez, M

2014-07-01

The effect of increasing concentrations of curing agents, ascorbate (0, 250, and 500 ppm), and nitrite (0, 75, and 150 ppm), on the oxidative and nitrosative damage to proteins during processing of fermented sausages was studied. The potential influence of these reactions on color and texture of the fermented sausages was also addressed. Nitrite had a pro-oxidant effect on tryptophan depletion and promoted the formation of protein carbonyls and Schiff bases. The nitration degree in the fermented sausages was also dependent on nitrite concentration. On the other hand, ascorbate acted as an efficient inhibitor of the oxidative and nitrosative damage to meat proteins. As expected, nitrite clearly favored the formation of the cured red color and ascorbate acted as an enhancer of color formation. Nitrite content was positively correlated with hardness. The chemistry behind the action of nitrite and ascorbate on muscle proteins during meat fermentation is thoroughly discussed. The results suggest that ascorbate (500 ppm) may be required to compensate the pro-oxidant impact of nitrite on meat proteins. This study provides insight on the action of curing agents on meat proteins during processing of fermented sausages. This chemistry background provides understanding of the potential influence of the oxidative and nitrosative damage to proteins on the quality of processed muscle foods. The study provides novel information on the impact of the combination of nitrite and ascorbate on the chemical deterioration of proteins and the influence on particular quality traits of fermented sausages. These data may be of interest for the design of cured muscle foods of enhanced quality. © 2014 Institute of Food Technologists®

Influence of ceramic thickness and type on micromechanical properties of light-cured adhesive bonding agents.

PubMed

Öztürk, Elif; Bolay, Sükran; Hickel, Reinhard; Ilie, Nicoleta

2014-10-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the micromechanical properties of different adhesive bonding agents when polymerized through ceramics. Sixty sound extracted human third molars were selected and the crowns were sectioned perpendicular to the long axis in order to obtain dentin slices to be bonded with one of the following adhesives: Syntac/Heliobond (Ivoclar-Vivadent) or Adper-Scotchbond-1XT (3M-ESPE). The adhesives were cured by using a LED-unit (Bluephase®, Ivoclar Vivadent) with three different curing times (10 s, 20 s and 30 s) under two ceramics (IPS-e.max-Press, Ivoclar-Vivadent; IPS-Empress®CAD, Ivoclar-Vivadent) of different thicknesses (0 mm, 0.75 mm, 2 mm). Thirty groups were included, each containing 60 measurements. Micromechanical properties (Hardness, HV; indentation modulus, E; and creep, Cr) of the adhesives were measured with an automatic microhardness indenter (Fisherscope H100C, Germany). Data were statistically analyzed by using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test, as well as a multivariate analysis to test the influence of the study parameters (SPSS 18.0). Significant differences were observed between the micromechanical properties of the adhesives (p < 0.05). The ceramic type showed the highest effect on HV (Partial-eta squared (η(2)) = 0.109) of the tested adhesives, while E (η(2) = 0.275) and Cr (η(2) = 0.194) were stronger influenced by the adhesive type. Ceramic thickness showed no effect on the E and Cr of the adhesives. The adhesive bonding agents used in this study performed well by curing through different thicknesses of ceramics. The micromechanical properties of the adhesives were determined by the adhesive type and were less influenced by ceramic type and curing time.

Solidifying process and flame retardancy of epoxy resin cured with boron-containing phenolic resin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Peng; Shi, Yan; Liu, Yuansen; Liu, Yuan; Wang, Qi

2018-01-01

For the sake of improving the charring performance and flame retardancy of epoxy resin (EP), boron-containing phenolic resin (BPR) instead of a conventional curing agent, linear phenolic resin (LPR) was employed to cure EP. Of several possible chemical structures for BPR, the existence of benzyl hydroxy groups in BPR chains has been confirmed using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The resonance of these groups may reasonably explain the higher curing reactivity of BPR-cured EP than that of LPR-cured EP. Thermogravimetric analysis, observation of the morphologies of the char residues and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic were performed to characterize the charring process. Due to the presence of B2O3 produced on the char surface from decomposition of phenyl borates and the facile high self-crosslinking reaction of BPR, a more continuous and stronger char barrier was formed for BPR-cured EP compared to that for the LPR-cured EP system. Therefore the former exhibited much better flame retardancy. In addition, BPR-cured EP also displayed better dynamic mechanical properties, than those observed for LPR-cured EP. It is not subject to the significant lowering the glass transition temperature of the polymer which accompanies curing with LPR. This suggests that BPR cured resin may meet the requirement for utilization at high temperature.

High performance UV and thermal cure hybrid epoxy adhesive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, C. F.; Iwasaki, S.; Kanari, M.; Li, B.; Wang, C.; Lu, D. Q.

2017-06-01

New type one component UV and thermal curable hybrid epoxy adhesive was successfully developed. The hybrid epoxy adhesive is complete initiator free composition. Neither photo-initiator nor thermal initiator is contained. The hybrid adhesive is mainly composed of special designed liquid bismaleimide, partially acrylated epoxy resin, acrylic monomer, epoxy resin and latent curing agent. Its UV light and thermal cure behavior was studied by FT-IR spectroscopy and FT-Raman spectroscopy. Adhesive samples cured at UV only, thermal only and UV + thermal cure conditions were investigated. By calculated conversion rate of double bond in both acrylic component and maleimide compound, satisfactory light curability of the hybrid epoxy adhesive was confirmed quantitatively. The investigation results also showed that its UV cure components, acrylic and bismalimide, possess good thermal curability too. The initiator free hybrid epoxy adhesive showed satisfactory UV curability, good thermal curability and high adhesion performance.

Investigations on N-nitrosopyrrolidine in dry-cured bacon.

PubMed

Fiddler, W; Pensabene, J W; Gates, R A; Foster, J M; Smith, W J

1989-01-01

Dry-cured or "country-style" bacon is a low volume specialty product typically made by small producers whose production practices vary widely. These practices include the direct application of dry-cure formulations containing varying concentrations of salt, sugar, flavoring agents, sodium nitrite, and sometimes sodium nitrate, and the use of lengthy curing and processing times. Because of the possibility of generating higher levels of N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) after frying in this product type compared with pump-cured bacon, an investigation was carried out on dry-cured bacon obtained from cooperating state or federally inspected establishments. Three different samples from each of the 16 plants were analyzed. Only one sample from each of 2 different producers exceeded the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) action level of 17 ppb NPYR, indicating that the majority of samples tested were in compliance. A significant correlation (P less than 0.01) was found between residual NaNO2 prior to frying and NPYR after frying. The elimination of added nitrate in the dry-cure formulations is recommended.

Improved ceramic slip casting technique. [application to aircraft model fabrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buck, Gregory M. (Inventor); Vasquez, Peter (Inventor)

1993-01-01

A primary concern in modern fluid dynamics research is the experimental verification of computational aerothermodynamic codes. This research requires high precision and detail in the test model employed. Ceramic materials are used for these models because of their low heat conductivity and their survivability at high temperatures. To fabricate such models, slip casting techniques were developed to provide net-form, precision casting capability for high-purity ceramic materials in aqueous solutions. In previous slip casting techniques, block, or flask molds made of plaster-of-paris were used to draw liquid from the slip material. Upon setting, parts were removed from the flask mold and cured in a kiln at high temperatures. Casting detail was usually limited with this technique -- detailed parts were frequently damaged upon separation from the flask mold, as the molded parts are extremely delicate in the uncured state, and the flask mold is inflexible. Ceramic surfaces were also marred by 'parting lines' caused by mold separation. This adversely affected the aerodynamic surface quality of the model as well. (Parting lines are invariably necessary on or near the leading edges of wings, nosetips, and fins for mold separation. These areas are also critical for flow boundary layer control.) Parting agents used in the casting process also affected surface quality. These agents eventually soaked into the mold, the model, or flaked off when releasing the case model. Different materials were tried, such as oils, paraffin, and even an algae. The algae released best, but some of it remained on the model and imparted an uneven texture and discoloration on the model surface when cured. According to the present invention, a wax pattern for a shell mold is provided, and an aqueous mixture of a calcium sulfate-bonded investment material is applied as a coating to the wax pattern. The coated wax pattern is then dried, followed by curing to vaporize the wax pattern and leave a shell mold of the calcium sulfate-bonded investment material. The shell mold is cooled to room temperature, and a ceramic slip is poured therein. After a ceramic shell of desired thickness has set up in the shell mold, excess ceramic slip is poured out. While still wet, the shell mold is peeled from the ceramic shell to expose any delicate or detailed parts, after which the ceramic shell is cured to provide a complete, detailed, precision ceramic article without parting lines.

Cure models for the analysis of time-to-event data in cancer studies.

PubMed

Jia, Xiaoyu; Sima, Camelia S; Brennan, Murray F; Panageas, Katherine S

2013-11-01

In settings when it is biologically plausible that some patients are cured after definitive treatment, cure models present an alternative to conventional survival analysis. Cure models can inform on the group of patients cured, by estimating the probability of cure, and identifying factors that influence it; while simultaneously focusing on time to recurrence and associated factors for the remaining patients. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of granular porous media on the composting of swine manure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Ku-Yong; Kim, Hyun-Woo; Han, Sun-Kee

2008-11-15

This study investigated the feasibility of a bulking agent of granular porous media (GPM) for the composting of swine manure. Two lab-scale composting reactors were operated to evaluate the general performances and maturity parameters using GPM made of wastes from the Portland cement manufacturing processes as an alternative bulking agent. The overall volatile solid (VS) removal was 38.5% (dry basis). During the experiments, moisture content ranged between 41% and 53%, ensuring feasibility of microbial activity in composting. Cured compost showed proper maturity and low phytotoxicity, despite the slight decreases of CO{sub 2} production and VS removal at the second batchmore » operation. Various physico-chemical parameters of the cured compost met the regulatory standards reported elsewhere. The pH, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, ammonia nitrogen and soluble organic carbon (SOC) of the cured compost were significantly correlated to the germination index (GI) using the seeds of Chinese cabbage and lettuce, indicating the progressive biodegradation of phytotoxins as well as organic matter. Consequently, the results obtained in this study demonstrate that GPM could contribute to the environmentally friendly and economical composting of problematic swine manure as a recyclable bulking agent.« less

Single dose treatment of gonococcal urethritis with augmentin in Ibadan.

PubMed

Osoba, A O; Oyelese, A O; Ashiru, J O; Ekweozor, C C; Ochei, J

1985-01-01

Augmentin, a new orally absorbed broadspectrum antibacterial agent comprising of amoxycillin trihydrate and potassium clavulanate, was investigated in the treatment of gonococcal urethritis in Ibadan, Nigeria, where penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) constitute about 80% of the circulating strains of gonococci. Two different formulations of the agent were employed in the study. The first formulation consisting of 3.0 g amoxycillin and 125 mg clavulanic acid, achieved a cure rate of 75% (i.e. eighteen out of twenty-four patients) among PPNG infections, but 100% cure rate among nine patients with non-PPNG infections. The second formulation consisting of 3.0 g amoxycillin and 250 mg clavulanic acid, had a cure rate of 86% (i.e. fifty-seven out of sixty-six patients) among PPNG infections, and 91% (i.e. ten out of eleven patients) among non-PPNG infections. Clavulanic acid appears to potentiate and enhance the activity of amoxycillin against the beta-lactamase produced by the gonococci. Augmentin seems to be a good and acceptable agent for the treatment of gonococcal infections, in this environment and further studies on its efficacy are therefore justified, such as the simultaneous administration of probenecid.

Study on epoxy resin modified by polyether ionic liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, X. C.; Guo, L. Y.; Deng, L. L.; Wu, H.

2017-06-01

Chloride 1-carboxyl polyether-3-methyl imidazole ionic liquid (PIIL) was synthesized. Then blended with epoxy resin(EP) to prepare the composite materials of PIIL/EP, which cured with aniline curing agent. The structure and curing performance of PIIL/EP were determined by FT-IR and DSC. The effects of the content of PIIL on strength of EP were studied. The results show that the PIIL was the target product. The strength was improved significantly with increase of the PIIL content. The obvious rubber elasticity of PIIL/EP after cured was showed when the content of PIIL accounts for 40% and the impact strength was up to 15.95kJ/m2.

Evaluation of experimental epoxy monomers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hodges, W. T.; St.clair, T. L.; Pratt, J. R.; Ficklin, R.

1985-01-01

Future generation aircraft need higher performance polymer matrices to fully achieve the weight savings possible with composite materials. New resins are being formulated in an effort to understand basic polymer behavior and to develop improved resins. Some polymer/curing agent combinations that could be useful are difficult to process. In the area of epoxies, a major problem is that some components have physical properties which make them difficult to utilize as matrix resins. A previous study showed that the use of ultrasonic energy can be advantageous in the mixing of curing agents into a standard epoxy resin, such as MY 720 (Ciba-Geigy designation). This work is expanded to include three novel epoxides.

The Feasibility and Functional Performance of Ternary Borate-Filled Hydrophilic Bone Cements: Targeting Therapeutic Release Thresholds for Strontium

PubMed Central

MacDonald, Kathleen; Price, Richard B.; Boyd, Daniel

2017-01-01

We examine the feasibility and functionality of hydrophilic modifications to a borate glass reinforced resin composite; with the objective of meeting and maintaining therapeutic thresholds for Sr release over time, as a potential method of incorporating antiosteoporotic therapy into a vertebroplasty material. Fifteen composites were formulated with the hydrophilic agent hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate (HEMA, 15, 22.5, 30, 37.5 or 45 wt% of resin phase) and filled with a borate glass (55, 60 or 65 wt% of total cement) with known Sr release characteristics. Cements were examined with respect to degree of cure, water sorption, Sr release, and biaxial flexural strength over 60 days of incubation in phosphate buffered saline. While water sorption and glass degradation increased with increasing HEMA content, Sr release peaked with the 30% HEMA compositions, scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging confirmed the surface precipitation of a Sr phosphate compound. Biaxial flexural strengths ranged between 16 and 44 MPa, decreasing with increased HEMA content. Degree of cure increased with HEMA content (42 to 81%), while no significant effect was seen on setting times (209 to 263 s). High HEMA content may provide a method of increasing monomer conversion without effect on setting reaction, providing sustained mechanical strength over 60 days. PMID:28708123

The Feasibility and Functional Performance of Ternary Borate-Filled Hydrophilic Bone Cements: Targeting Therapeutic Release Thresholds for Strontium.

PubMed

MacDonald, Kathleen; Price, Richard B; Boyd, Daniel

2017-07-14

We examine the feasibility and functionality of hydrophilic modifications to a borate glass reinforced resin composite; with the objective of meeting and maintaining therapeutic thresholds for Sr release over time, as a potential method of incorporating antiosteoporotic therapy into a vertebroplasty material. Fifteen composites were formulated with the hydrophilic agent hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate (HEMA, 15, 22.5, 30, 37.5 or 45 wt% of resin phase) and filled with a borate glass (55, 60 or 65 wt% of total cement) with known Sr release characteristics. Cements were examined with respect to degree of cure, water sorption, Sr release, and biaxial flexural strength over 60 days of incubation in phosphate buffered saline. While water sorption and glass degradation increased with increasing HEMA content, Sr release peaked with the 30% HEMA compositions, scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging confirmed the surface precipitation of a Sr phosphate compound. Biaxial flexural strengths ranged between 16 and 44 MPa, decreasing with increased HEMA content. Degree of cure increased with HEMA content (42 to 81%), while no significant effect was seen on setting times (209 to 263 s). High HEMA content may provide a method of increasing monomer conversion without effect on setting reaction, providing sustained mechanical strength over 60 days.

Effects of Nano-Aluminum Nitride on the Performance of an Ultrahigh-Temperature Inorganic Phosphate Adhesive Cured at Room Temperature

PubMed Central

Ma, Chengkun; Chen, Hailong; Wang, Chao; Zhang, Jifeng; Qi, Hui; Zhou, Limin

2017-01-01

Based on the optimal proportion of resin and curing agent, an ultrahigh-temperature inorganic phosphate adhesive was prepared with aluminum dihydric phosphate, aluminium oxide (α-Al2O3), etc. and cured at room temperature (RT). Then, nano-aluminum nitride (nano-AlN), nano-Cupric oxide (nano-CuO), and nano-titanium oxide (nano-TiO2) were added into the adhesive. Differential scanning calorimetry was conducted using the inorganic phosphate adhesive to analyze the phosphate reactions during heat treatment, and it was found that 15 wt % nano-AlN could clearly decrease the curing temperature. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the microphenomenon of the modified adhesive at ultrahigh-temperature. The differential thermal analysis of the inorganic phosphate adhesive showed that the weight loss was approximately 6.5 wt % when the mass ratio of resin to curing agent was 1:1.5. An X-ray diffraction analysis of the adhesive with 10% nano-AlN showed that the phase structure changed from AlPO4(11-0500) to the more stable AlPO4(10-0423) structure after heat treatment. The shear strength of the adhesive containing 10% nano-AlN reached 7.3 MPa at RT due to the addition of nano-AlN, which promoted the formation of phosphate and increased the Al3+. PMID:29099812

Management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients with poor-risk features: current status and future perspectives.

PubMed

Santoni, Matteo; De Tursi, Michele; Felici, Alessandra; Lo Re, Giovanni; Ricotta, Riccardo; Ruggeri, Enzo Maria; Sabbatini, Roberto; Santini, Daniele; Vaccaro, Vanja; Milella, Michele

2013-06-01

With seven agents approved for renal cell carcinoma within the past few years, there has undoubtedly been progress in treating this disease. However, patients with poor-risk features remain a challenging and difficult-to-treat population, with the mTOR inhibitor, temsirolimus, the only agent approved in the first-line setting. Phase III trial data are still lacking VEGF-pathway inhibitors in patients with poor prognostic features. Poor-risk patients need to be considered as a heterogeneous population. Further understanding of biomarkers can lead to a better selection of patients who may benefit the most from treatment and improvements in prognosis. The presence of poor Karnofsky scores and liver or CNS disease may affect the outcome of these patients much more than other identified factors. This consideration may provide the rationale to further stratify poor-risk patients further subgroups destined to receive either cure or palliation.

Reply to Commentary: "Are HIV-Infected Candidates for Participation in Risky Cure-Related Studies Otherwise Healthy?"

PubMed

Dubé, Karine; Sylla, Laurie; Dee, Lynda

2018-02-01

We respond to Eyal et al.'s commentary focusing on how people living with HIV participating in HIV cure-related studies are defined. We argue that the types of participants enrolled in research cannot be dissociated from the study interventions, the types of anticipated risks, and the background standard of care. As the field of HIV cure research advances, more nuance and granularity will be needed to define research criteria and acceptable risk/benefit ratios for cure study participants, as well as specific tiered protocol designs that serve to protect various participant populations from untoward risks, especially in very early phase research with interventions known to have potentially serious toxicities. We highlight key lessons from the ACTIVATE study involving a latency-reversing agent, Panobinostat, for HIV cure study design involving "otherwise healthy volunteers".

Dual and self-curing potential of self-adhesive resin cements as thin films.

PubMed

Moraes, R R; Boscato, N; Jardim, P S; Schneider, L F J

2011-01-01

In this study, the dual- and self-curing potential of self-adhesive resin cements (SARCs) as thin, clinically-relevant cement films was investigated. The SARCs tested were: BisCem (BSC; Bisco), Maxcem Elite (MXE; Kerr), RelyX Unicem clicker (UNI; 3M ESPE), seT capsule (SET; SDI), and SmartCem 2 (SC2; Dentsply Caulk). The conventional cement RelyX ARC (3M ESPE) was tested as a reference. The degree of conversion (DC) as a function of time was evaluated by real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) device. The cements were either photoactivated for 40 seconds (dual-cure mode) or not photoactivated (self-cure mode). The cement film thickness was 50 ± 10 μm. The DC (%) was evaluated 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes after placing the cement on the ATR cell. Data for DC as a function of time were analyzed by two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). DC values at 30 minutes for the self- and dual-cure modes were submitted to one-way ANOVA. Post hoc comparisons were performed using the Student-Newman-Keuls test (p<0.05). The rate and the extent of conversion were lower for the SARCs compared with the conventional cement. Means ± standard deviations (SD) for the dual-cure mode at 30 minutes were: 75 ± 5 (ARC)a, 73 ± 8 (SET)a, 61 ± 4 (MXE)b, 51 ± 9 (BSC)c, 51 ± 4 (UNI)c, and 48 ± 3 (SC2)c, while in the self-cure mode means and SD were 62 ± 6 (ARC)a, 54 ± 3 (MXE)b, 40 ± 6 (SC2)c, 35 ± 2 (UNI)c, 35 ± 3 (SET)c, and 11 ± 3 (BSC)d. The DC for the dual-cure mode was generally higher than the self-cure, irrespective of the time. Discrepancies in DC between the dual- and self-cure modes from 11% to 79% were observed. In conclusion, SARCs may present slower rate of polymerization and lower final DC than conventional resin cements, in either the dual- or self-cure mode.

Unique applications of fluoroepoxy materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Sheng Yen

1991-01-01

The following subject areas are covered: (1) fluoroepoxy and curing agents; (2) an excellent moisture vapor barrier coating; (3) as adhesives to bond Teflon without any surface treatment; (4) a new method to make thermosetting fluoropolymer foam; and (5) as a new antifoaming agent for epoxy material manufacturing and processing.

Finding a cure for HIV: will it ever be achievable?

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has led to a major reduction in HIV-related mortality and morbidity. However, HIV still cannot be cured. With the absence of an effective prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine, increasing numbers of infected people, emerging new toxicities secondary to cART and the need for life-long treatment, there is now a real urgency to find a cure for HIV. There are currently multiple barriers to curing HIV. The most significant barrier is the establishment of a latent or "silent" infection in resting CD4+ T cells. In latent HIV infection, the virus is able to integrate into the host cell genome, but does not proceed to active replication. As a consequence, antiviral agents, as well as the immune system, are unable to eliminate these long-lived, latently infected cells. Reactivation of latently infected resting CD4+ T cells can then re-establish infection once cART is stopped. Other significant barriers to cure include residual viral replication in patients receiving cART, even when the virus is not detectable by conventional assays. In addition, HIV can be sequestered in anatomical reservoirs, such as the brain, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract. Achieving either a functional cure (long-term control of HIV in the absence of cART) or a sterilizing cure (elimination of all HIV-infected cells) remains a major challenge. Several studies have now demonstrated that treatment intensification appears to have little impact on latent reservoirs. Some potential and promising approaches that may reduce the latent reservoir include very early initiation of cART and the use of agents that could potentially reverse latent infection. Agents that reverse latent infection will promote viral production; however, simultaneous administration of cART will prevent subsequent rounds of viral replication. Such drugs as histone deacetylase inhibitors, currently used and licensed for the treatment of some cancers, or activating latently infected resting cells with cytokines, such as IL-7 or prostratin, show promising results in reversing latency in vitro when used either alone or in combination. In order to move forward toward clinical trials that target eradication, there needs to be careful consideration of the risks and benefits of these approaches, agreement on the most informative endpoints for eradication studies and greater engagement of the infected community. PMID:21255462

Bond strength of a pit-and-fissure sealant associated to etch-and-rinse and self-etching adhesive systems to saliva-contaminated enamel: individual vs. simultaneous light curing.

PubMed

Gomes-Silva, Jaciara Miranda; Torres, Carolina Paes; Contente, Marta Maria Martins Giamatei; Oliveira, Maria Angélica Hueb de Menezes; Palma-Dibb, Regina Guenka; Borsatto, Maria Cristina

2008-01-01

This study evaluated in vitro the shear bond strength (SBS) of a resin-based pit-and-fissure sealant [Fluroshield (F), Dentsply/Caulk] associated with either an etch-and-rinse [Adper Single Bond 2 (SB), 3M/ESPE] or a self-etching adhesive system [Clearfil S3 Bond (S3), Kuraray Co., Ltd.] to saliva-contaminated enamel, comparing two curing protocols: individual light curing of the adhesive system and the sealant or simultaneous curing of both materials. Mesial and distal enamel surfaces from 45 sound third molars were randomly assigned to 6 groups (n=15), according to the bonding technique: I - F was applied to 37% phosphoric acid etched enamel. The other groups were contaminated with fresh human saliva (0.01 mL; 10 s) after acid etching: II - SB and F were light cured separately; III - SB and F were light cured together; IV - S3 and F were light cured separately; V - S3 and F were light cured simultaneously; VI - F was applied to saliva-contaminated, acid-etched enamel without an intermediate bonding agent layer. SBS was tested to failure in a universal testing machine at 0.5 mm/min. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Fisher's test (alpha=0.05).The debonded specimens were examined with a stereomicroscope to assess the failure modes. Three representative specimens from each group were observed under scanning electron microscopy for a qualitative analysis. Mean SBS in MPa were: I-12.28 (+/-4.29); II-8.57 (+/-3.19); III-7.97 (+/-2.16); IV-12.56 (+/-3.11); V-11.45 (+/-3.77); and VI-7.47 (+/-1.99). In conclusion, individual or simultaneous curing of the intermediate bonding agent layer and the resin sealant did not seem to affect bond strength to saliva-contaminated enamel. S3/F presented significantly higher SBS than the that of the groups treated with SB etch-and-rinse adhesive system and similar SBS to that of the control group, in which the sealant was applied under ideal dry, noncontaminated conditions.

Silica-alumina trihydrate filled epoxy castings resistant to arced SF.sub.6

DOEpatents

Chenoweth, Terrence E.; Yeoman, Frederick A.

1978-01-01

A cured, insulating, casting composition, having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion of below about 38 .times. 10.sup.-6 in./in./.degree. C and being resistant to arced sulfur hexafluoride gas, in contact with a metal surface in a sulfur hexafluoride gas environment, is made from hydantoin epoxy resin, anhydride curing agent and a filler combination of fused silica and alumina trihydrate.

The Artificial Eye: A Focal Plane Detector/Read-Out IC Imaging Array Fabrication on Interior Spherical Surfaces

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-08-07

photolithography. A curing agent and PDMS prepolymer were thoroughly mixed at a 1:7 weight ratio, followed by degassing for lh to remove all air bubbles and to...ensure complete mixing. The prepolymer was then poured onto the Si master and cured at 100°C for lh to form a stamp with duplicated patterns from the

Impregnating magnetic components with MDA free epoxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanchez, R. O.; Domeier, L.; Gunewardena, S.

1995-08-01

This paper describes the use of 'Formula 456' an aliphatic amine cured epoxy for impregnating coils. Methylene dianiline (MDA) has been used for more than 20 years as the curing agent for various epoxy formulations throughout the Department of Energy. Sandia National Laboratories began the process of replacing MDA with other formulations because of regulations imposed by OSHA on the use of MDA.

Transparent ceramics and methods of preparation thereof

DOEpatents

Hollingsworth, Joel P.; Kuntz, Joshua D.; Seeley, Zachary M.; Soules, Thomas F.

2012-12-25

A method for forming a transparent ceramic preform in one embodiment includes forming a suspension of oxide particles in a solvent, wherein the suspension includes a dispersant, with the proviso that the suspension does not include a gelling agent; and uniformly curing the suspension for forming a preform of gelled suspension. A method according to another embodiment includes creating a mixture of inorganic particles, a solvent and a dispersant, the inorganic particles having a mean diameter of less than about 2000 nm; agitating the mixture; adding the mixture to a mold; and curing the mixture in the mold for gelling the mixture, with the proviso that no gelling agent is added to the mixture.

Encapsulant materials and associated devices

DOEpatents

Kempe, Michael D [Littleton, CO; Thapa, Prem [Lima, OH

2011-03-08

Compositions suitable for use as encapsulants are described. The inventive compositions include a high molecular weight polymeric material, a curing agent, an inorganic compound, and a coupling agent. Optional elements include adhesion promoting agents, colorants, antioxidants, and UV absorbers. The compositions have desirable diffusivity properties, making them suitable for use in devices in which a substantial blocking of moisture ingress is desired, such as photovoltaic (PV) modules.

Encapsulant materials and associated devices

DOEpatents

Kempe, Michael D [Littleton, CO; Thapa, Prem [Lima, OH

2012-05-22

Compositions suitable for use as encapsulants are described. The inventive compositions include a high molecular weight polymeric material, a curing agent, an inorganic compound, and a coupling agent. Optional elements include adhesion promoting agents, colorants, antioxidants, and UV absorbers. The compositions have desirable diffusivity properties, making them suitable for use in devices in which a substantial blocking of moisture ingress is desired, such as photovoltaic (PV) modules.

Graphene oxide versus graphene for optimisation of PMMA bone cement for orthopaedic applications.

PubMed

Paz, E; Forriol, F; Del Real, J C; Dunne, N

2017-08-01

Graphene (G) and graphene oxide (GO) nano-sized powders with loadings ranging from 0.1 to 1.0wt% were investigated as reinforced agents for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cements. The mechanical properties (i.e. bend strength, bend modulus, compression strength, fracture toughness and fatigue performance) and the thermal properties (i.e. maximum temperature, setting time, curing heat and residual monomer) of the resultant nanocomposites were characterised. The mechanical performance of G-PMMA and GO-PMMA bone cements has been improved at low loadings (≤0.25wt%), especially the fracture toughness and fatigue performance. These improvements were attributed to the fact that the G and GO induced deviations in the crack fronts and hampered crack propagation. The high functionalisation of GO compared with G resulted in greater enhancements because it facilitated the creation of a stronger interfacial adhesion between the GO and PMMA. The use of loadings ≥0.25wt% showed a detriment in the mechanical performance as consequence of the formation of agglomerates as well as to an increase in the porosity. The increase in the residual monomer and the decrease in the curing heat, observed with the increase in the level of G and GO added, suggests that such materials retard and inhibit the curing reaction at high levels of loading by interfering in the radical reaction. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental study on the foundation of soft soil solidification formula based on the Design - Expert software search

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Chaojun; Li, Dahua; Zhang, xian; Zhou, Dongqing; Zhang, Baoliang

2017-08-01

Xuan city + 1100 kv search for converter station in Anhui province, in the process of foundation treatment, there is a cloth with a large number of lacustrine soft soil can not reach the need of engineering construction, so we want to cure the soft soil. By combining ratio of blast furnace slag (GGBS), gypsum, exciting agent CaO as a main curing agent for combination of reinforcing soft soil, the indoor unconfined compressive strength test, the influence factors on blast furnace slag, exciting agent and dosage of gypsum as impact factors, response value is 7 d and 28 d unconfined compressive strength of solidified soil, the experimental method is the Box - Behnken. The results show that the 7 d gypsum and the interaction of the blast furnace slag is obvious; 28 d exciting agent and gypsum interaction is obvious. By the analysis plaster, CaO, GGBSIn 7 d optimal proportion is 3.71%, 3.62%, 12.18%, the actual strength of the solidified soil age 1479.33 kPa; 28 d optimal proportion was 4.08%, 4.50%, 11.6%, the actual strength of the solidified soil age 2936.78 kPa. In the soil and the water curing effect of GGBS solidified soil, thereby GGBS this is a kind of new solidification material that can be used as the engineering foundation treatment of soft soil stabilizer has a certain value.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jones, Brad Howard; Alam, Todd M.; Black, Hayden T

This report catalogues the results of a project exploring the incorporation of organometallic compounds into thermosetting polymers as a means to reduce their residual stress. Various syntheses of polymerizable ferro cene derivatives were attempted with mixed success. Ultimately, a diamine derivative of ferrocene was used as a curing agen t for a commercial epoxy resin, where it was found to give similar cure kinetics and mechanical properties in comparison to conventional curing agents. T he ferrocen e - based material is uniquely able to relax stress above the glass transition, leading to reduced cure stress. We propose that this behaviormore » arises from the fluxional capacity of ferrocene. In support of this notion, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicates a substantial increase in chain flexibility in the ferrocene - containing network. Although t he utilization of fluxionality is a novel approach to stress management in epoxy thermosets, it is anticipated to have greater impact in radical - cured ther mosets and linear polymers.« less

WATER STABILITY OF FILLED ELASTOMERS,

DTIC Science & Technology

ELECTRICAL INSULATION, *BUTYL RUBBER , ELASTOMERS, STABILITY, STABILITY, HYDROLYSIS, CURING AGENTS, ADDITIVES, WATER, ABSORPTION, THICKNESS, ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE, LEAKAGE(ELECTRICAL), DIFFUSION, TALC, ELECTRIC CABLES.

Long-term follow-up of bulking agents for stress urinary incontinence in older patients.

PubMed

Plotti, Francesco; Montera, Roberto; Terranova, Corrado; Luvero, Daniela; Marrocco, Francesca; Miranda, Andrea; Gatti, Alessandra; De Cicco Nardone, Carlo; Angioli, Roberto; Scaletta, Giuseppe

2018-06-01

Implantation of bulking agents represents a noninvasive procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in all patients where a more invasive procedure may increase perioperative risks. The primary aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy over time of bulking agent implantation. As secondary aims, we evaluated long-term (patients' subjective) satisfaction rate, rate of de novo urinary symptoms, and the impact of urinary incontinence on the quality of life. All patients who underwent implantation of bulking agents between 1999 and 2013 at Campus Bio-Medico of Rome were retrospectively considered eligible for this study. Patients were interviewed using two standardized questionnaires: International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form and Patient Global Impression of Improvement. Cure rate, improvement rate, failure rate, and the onset of new symptoms were also investigated through specific questions. The original group of patients was then divided into two subgroups according to follow-up time (group A: shorter than median follow-up; group B: longer than median follow-up). Sixty-three patients were enrolled. Mean follow-up was 8.3 ± 3.5 years with a range of 3.5 to 18 years. Fifteen (24%) cured patients (cure rate), 12 (19%) improved patients (improvement rate), 36 (57%) failed treatment (failure rate). We reported an overall success rate of 43%. No differences were reported among groups in terms of overall success rate (42% vs 44% for group A and group B, respectively). Bulking agent implantation is an effective treatment for people with intrinsic sphincter deficiency (type III SUI) and it is a valid alternative to more invasive surgeries in older patients. Moreover, it shows an overall success rate (43%) that remains high even after many years.

The hepatitis C genotype 1 paradox: cost per treatment is increasing, but cost per cure is decreasing.

PubMed

Shafran, Stephen D

2015-01-01

Significant attention has been focused on the perceived increase in the cost of antiviral treatment for hepatitis C genotype 1 infection since the approval of the first direct-acting antiviral agents in 2011. Using Canadian list prices, the present analysis points out a paradox: while the cost per antiviral regimen is increasing, the cost per cure is decreasing, especially with interferon-free therapy. In a publicly funded health care system, the lowest cost per cure is a more valuable measure of value for public money than the cost per regimen.

Participation in HIV cure-related research: a scoping review of the proxy literature and implications for future research.

PubMed

Dubé, Karine; Ramirez, Catalina; Handibode, Jessica; Taylor, Jeffrey; Skinner, Asheley; Greene, Sandra; Tucker, Joseph D

2015-10-01

To identify the main types of HIV cure-related strategies and examine possible risks (and benefits) associated with participating in HIV cure-related research studies. We undertook a scoping review to first map out the landscape of HIV cure-related research and then examined the risks and potential benefits associated with participating in HIV cure research. Given the early stage of many HIV cure-related studies, we used proxy literatures from non-cure HIV research and cancer research in order to anticipate possible motivators and deterrents of participation in HIV cure-related studies. We discussed four main categories of HIV cure-related research: (1) early antiretroviral treatment (ART); (2) latency-reversing agents (LRAs); (3) therapeutic vaccinations and immune-based therapies (IBT); and (4) stem-cell transplantation and gene therapy. At this juncture, these categories of HIV cure-related research have substantial individual risks and negligible individual and clinical benefits. Non-cure HIV research (including HIV prevention and treatment) and cancer research have empirical similarities (and differences) to HIV cure research and may provide an opportunity to anticipate ethical and logistical challenges associated with HIV cure-related research participation and decision-making. Learning from the cancer field, a strong foundation of patient-participant and clinician-researcher trust will need to be established to facilitate recruitment of participants into HIV cure-related studies. Further empirical social science and ethics research will be necessary to inform clinical HIV cure-related research. The study of participation in HIV cure-related research can gain insights from proxy fields by incorporating study elements to clearly explain motivators and deterrents to participation and to inform the implementation of HIV cure-related studies. Study-specific contexts from the reviewed literature further demonstrate the importance of various types of research to assess factors affecting participation in HIV cure-related research, including adequate formative and ethics research.

Optimal cure cycle design of a resin-fiber composite laminate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hou, Jean W.; Sheen, Jeenson

1987-01-01

A unified computed aided design method was studied for the cure cycle design that incorporates an optimal design technique with the analytical model of a composite cure process. The preliminary results of using this proposed method for optimal cure cycle design are reported and discussed. The cure process of interest is the compression molding of a polyester which is described by a diffusion reaction system. The finite element method is employed to convert the initial boundary value problem into a set of first order differential equations which are solved simultaneously by the DE program. The equations for thermal design sensitivities are derived by using the direct differentiation method and are solved by the DE program. A recursive quadratic programming algorithm with an active set strategy called a linearization method is used to optimally design the cure cycle, subjected to the given design performance requirements. The difficulty of casting the cure cycle design process into a proper mathematical form is recognized. Various optimal design problems are formulated to address theses aspects. The optimal solutions of these formulations are compared and discussed.

Agent-Based Models and Optimal Control in Biology: A Discrete Approach

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

different parts of the human body to cure diseases such as hypertension, cancer, or heart disease. And we need to control microbes for the efficient...antelope herd interacts with an aggregated prey agent such as cheetahs or lions, the size of each may expand or contract accordingly). Of course, such

Characterization of cure kinetics and physical properties of a high performance, glass fiber-reinforced epoxy prepreg and a novel fluorine-modified, amine-cured commercial epoxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilyeu, Bryan

Kinetic equation parameters for the curing reaction of a commercial glass fiber reinforced high performance epoxy prepreg composed of the tetrafunctional epoxy tetraglycidyl 4,4-diaminodiphenyl methane (TGDDM), the tetrafunctional amine curing agent 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) and an ionic initiator/accelerator, are determined by various thermal analysis techniques and the results compared. The reaction is monitored by heat generated determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and by high speed DSC when the reaction rate is high. The changes in physical properties indicating increasing conversion are followed by shifts in glass transition temperature determined by DSC, temperature-modulated DSC (TMDSC), step scan DSC and high speed DSC, thermomechanical (TMA) and dynamic mechanical (DMA) analysis and thermally stimulated depolarization (TSD). Changes in viscosity, also indicative of degree of conversion, are monitored by DMA. Thermal stability as a function of degree of cure is monitored by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The parameters of the general kinetic equations, including activation energy and rate constant, are explained and used to compare results of various techniques. The utilities of the kinetic descriptions are demonstrated in the construction of a useful time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagram and a continuous heating transformation (CHT) diagram for rapid determination of processing parameters in the processing of prepregs. Shrinkage due to both resin consolidation and fiber rearrangement is measured as the linear expansion of the piston on a quartz dilatometry cell using TMA. The shrinkage of prepregs was determined to depend on the curing temperature, pressure applied and the fiber orientation. Chemical modification of an epoxy was done by mixing a fluorinated aromatic amine (aniline) with a standard aliphatic amine as a curing agent for a commercial Diglycidylether of Bisphenol-A (DGEBA) epoxy. The resulting cured network was tested for wear resistance using tribological techniques. Of the six anilines, 3-fluoroaniline and 4-fluoroaniline were determined to have lower wear than the unmodified epoxy, while the others showed much higher wear rates.

Aqueous vinylidene fluoride polymer coating composition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bartoszek, Edward J. (Inventor); Christofas, Alkis (Inventor)

1978-01-01

A water-based coating composition which may be air dried to form durable, fire resistant coatings includes dispersed vinylidene fluoride polymer particles, emulsified liquid epoxy resin and a dissolved emulsifying agent for said epoxy resin which agent is also capable of rapidly curing the epoxy resin upon removal of the water from the composition.

Modeling the curing process of thermosetting resin matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loos, A. C.

1986-01-01

A model is presented for simulating the curing process of a thermosetting resin matrix composite. The model relates the cure temperature, the cure pressure, and the properties of the prepreg to the thermal, chemical, and rheological processes occurring in the composite during cure. The results calculated with the computer code developed on the basis of the model were compared with the experimental data obtained from autoclave-curved composite laminates. Good agreement between the two sets of results was obtained.

A New Epoxy-Based Layered Silicate Nanocomposite Using a Hyperbranched Polymer: Study of the Curing Reaction and Nanostructure Development.

PubMed

Cortés, Pilar; Fraga, Iria; Calventus, Yolanda; Román, Frida; Hutchinson, John M; Ferrando, Francesc

2014-03-04

Polymer layered silicate (PLS) nanocomposites have been prepared with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) epoxy resin as the matrix and organically modified montmorillonite (MMT) as the clay nanofiller. Resin-clay mixtures with different clay contents (zero, two, five and 10 wt%) were cured, both isothermally and non-isothermally, using a poly(ethyleneimine) hyperbranched polymer (HBP), the cure kinetics being monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The nanostructure of the cured nanocomposites was characterized by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their mechanical properties were determined by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and impact testing. The results are compared with an earlier study of the structure and properties of the same DGEBA-MMT system cured with a polyoxypropylene diamine, Jeffamine. There are very few examples of the use of HBP as a curing agent in epoxy PLS nanocomposites; here, it is found to enhance significantly the degree of exfoliation of these nanocomposites compared with those cured with Jeffamine, with a corresponding enhancement in the impact energy for nanocomposites with the low clay content of 2 wt%. These changes are attributed to the different cure kinetics with the HBP, in which the intra-gallery homopolymerization reaction is accelerated, such that it occurs before the bulk cross-linking reaction.

Apparatus and method for measuring the expansion properties of a cement composition

DOEpatents

Spangle, Lloyd B.

1983-01-01

An apparatus is disclosed which is useful for measuring the expansion properties of semi-solid materials which expand to a solid phase, upon curing, such as cement compositions. The apparatus includes a sleeve, preferably cylindrical, which has a vertical slit on one side, to allow the sleeve to expand. Mounted on the outside of the sleeve are several sets of pins, consisting of two pins each. The two pins in each set are located on opposite sides of the slit. In the test procedure, the sleeve is filled with wet cement, which is then cured to a solid. As the cement cures it causes the sleeve to expand. The actual expansion of the sleeve represents an expansion factor for the cement. This factor is calculated by measuring the distance across the pins of each set, when the sleeve is empty, and again after the cured cement expands the sleeve.

Curing Effects on Interfacial Adhesion between Recycled Carbon Fiber and Epoxy Resin Heated by Microwave Irradiation

PubMed Central

Shimamoto, Daisuke; Hotta, Yuji

2018-01-01

The interfacial adhesion of recycled carbon fiber (CF) reinforced epoxy composite heated by microwave (MW) irradiation were investigated by changing the curing state of the epoxy resin. The recycled CF was recovered from the composite, which was prepared by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding, by thermal degradation at 500 or 600 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the heating at 600 °C caused rough damage to the CF surface, whereas recycled CF recovered at 500 °C have few defects. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between recycled CF and epoxy resin was measured by a single-fiber fragmentation test. The test specimen was heated by MW after mixing the epoxy resin with a curing agent or pre-curing, in order to investigate the curing effects on the matrix resin. The IFSSs of the MW-irradiated samples were significantly varied by the curing state of the epoxy resin and the surface condition of recycled CF, resulting that they were 99.5 to 131.7% of oven heated samples Furthermore, rheological measurements showed that the viscosity and shrinking behaviors of epoxy resin were affected based on the curing state of epoxy resin before MW irradiation. PMID:29587422

Curing Effects on Interfacial Adhesion between Recycled Carbon Fiber and Epoxy Resin Heated by Microwave Irradiation.

PubMed

Tominaga, Yuichi; Shimamoto, Daisuke; Hotta, Yuji

2018-03-26

The interfacial adhesion of recycled carbon fiber (CF) reinforced epoxy composite heated by microwave (MW) irradiation were investigated by changing the curing state of the epoxy resin. The recycled CF was recovered from the composite, which was prepared by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding, by thermal degradation at 500 or 600 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the heating at 600 °C caused rough damage to the CF surface, whereas recycled CF recovered at 500 °C have few defects. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between recycled CF and epoxy resin was measured by a single-fiber fragmentation test. The test specimen was heated by MW after mixing the epoxy resin with a curing agent or pre-curing, in order to investigate the curing effects on the matrix resin. The IFSSs of the MW-irradiated samples were significantly varied by the curing state of the epoxy resin and the surface condition of recycled CF, resulting that they were 99.5 to 131.7% of oven heated samples Furthermore, rheological measurements showed that the viscosity and shrinking behaviors of epoxy resin were affected based on the curing state of epoxy resin before MW irradiation.

Enhanced inhibition of Aspergillus niger on sedge (Lepironia articulata) treated with heat-cured lime oil.

PubMed

Matan, N; Matan, N; Ketsa, S

2013-08-01

This study aimed to examine heat curing effect (30-100°C) on antifungal activities of lime oil and its components (limonene, p-cymene, β-pinene and α-pinene) at concentrations ranging from 100 to 300 μl ml(-1) against Aspergillus niger in microbiological medium and to optimize heat curing of lime oil for efficient mould control on sedge (Lepironia articulata). Broth dilution method was employed to determine lime oil minimum inhibitory concentration, which was at 90 μl ml(-1) with heat curing at 70°C. Limonene, a main component of lime oil, was an agent responsible for temperature dependencies of lime oil activities observed. Response surface methodology was used to construct the mathematical model describing a time period of zero mould growth on sedge as functions of heat curing temperature and lime oil concentration. Heat curing of 90 μl ml(-1) lime oil at 70°C extended a period of zero mould growth on sedge to 18 weeks under moist conditions. Heat curing at 70°C best enhanced antifungal activity of lime oil against A. niger both in medium and on sedge. Heat curing of lime oil has potential to be used to enhance the antifungal safety of sedge products. © 2013 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jones, Brad H.; Wheeler, David R.; Black, Hayden T.

Physical stress relaxation in rubbery, thermoset polymers is limited by cross-links, which impede segmental motion and restrict relaxation to network defects, such as chain ends. In parallel, the cure shrinkage associated with thermoset polymerizations leads to the development of internal residual stress that cannot be effectively relaxed. Recent strategies have reduced or eliminated such cure stress in thermoset polymers largely by exploiting chemical relaxation processes, wherein temporary cross-links or otherwise transient bonds are incorporated into the polymer network. In this paper, we explore an alternative approach, wherein physical relaxation is enhanced by the incorporation of organometallic sandwich moieties into themore » backbone of the polymer network. A standard epoxy resin is cured with a diamine derivative of ferrocene and compared to conventional diamine curing agents. The ferrocene-based thermoset is clearly distinguished from the conventional materials by reduced cure stress with increasing cure temperature as well as unique stress relaxation behavior above its glass transition in the fully cured state. The relaxation experiments exhibit features characteristic of a physical relaxation process. Furthermore, the cure stress is observed to vanish precipitously upon deliberate introduction of network defects through an increasing imbalance of epoxy and amine functional groups. Finally, we postulate that these beneficial properties arise from fluxional motion of the cyclopentadienyl ligands on the polymer backbone.« less

Direct anti-HCV agents

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xingquan

2015-01-01

Unlike human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a curable disease. Current direct antiviral agent (DAA) targets are focused on HCV NS3/4A protein (protease), NS5B protein (polymerase) and NS5A protein. The first generation of DAAs includes boceprevir and telaprevir, which are protease inhibitors and were approved for clinical use in 2011. The cure rate for genotype 1 patients increased from 45% to 70% when boceprevir or telaprevir was added to standard PEG-IFN/ribavirin. More effective and less toxic second generation DAAs supplanted these drugs by 2013. The second generation of DAAs includes sofosbuvir (Sovaldi), simeprevir (Olysio), and fixed combination medicines Harvoni and Viekira Pak. These drugs increase cure rates to over 90% without the need for interferon and effectively treat all HCV genotypes. With these drugs the “cure HCV” goal has become a reality. Concerns remain about drug resistance mutations and the high cost of these drugs. The investigation of new HCV drugs is progressing rapidly; fixed dose combination medicines in phase III clinical trials include Viekirax, asunaprevir+daclatasvir+beclabuvir, grazoprevir+elbasvir and others. PMID:26904396

The Synthesis and Characterization of Tetrakis [(p - amino phenoxy) methyl] methane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Yongli; Zou, Qian

2017-06-01

In order to solve the shortcomings of the cured epoxy resin poor toughness, this paper proceeded from the structural design of curing agent to synthesize a special curing agent tetrakis [(p-aminophenoxy) methyl] methane which containing both Benzene ring and amino group. A Symmetric compound of tetrakis [(p - acetamidophenoxy) methyl] methane was prepared by using simple and easy to get pentaerythritoltetratosylate and acetaminophen for raw materials, after Williamson etherification reaction intermediates for synthesis of a symmetrical structure of the compound tetrakis [(p-acetamido phenoxy) methyl] methane, then hydrolysed under acidic conditions it can be tetrakis [(p-amino phenoxy) methyl] methane. The influence of reaction time, reaction temperature and reactant ratio to production yield of tetrakis [(p - acetamidophenoxy) methyl] methane was studied by orthogonal experiment of three factors and three levels, and get the optimal process parameters: the reaction time: 16 h, the reaction temperature: 170 °C, reactant ratio, 1:5. The Structure of tetrakis [(p - acetamidophenoxy) methyl] methane and tetrakis [(p-amino phenoxy) methyl] methane were characterized by infrared and 1H-NMR.

Exploratory Development of Corrosion Inhibiting Primers

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-07-01

Phenolic Hardener From previous studies, phenol formaldehyde resins of the novolac (two-step) type have given superior properties when used to cure epoxy...novolacs and three resole (one-step) type phenol- formaldehyde resins which also perform as epoxide curing agents. First, Model #1, as de;crihed in Section...results. Varcum 4326 resin was chosen at this stage for further use with the model systems. It is a low molecular weight phenol- formaldehyde resin used

Easy Debonding of Ceramic Brackets Bonded with a Light-Cured Orthodontic Adhesive Containing Microcapsules with a CO2 Laser.

PubMed

Arima, Shiori; Namura, Yasuhiro; Tamura, Takahiko; Shimizu, Noriyoshi

2018-03-01

An easy debonding method for ceramic brackets using a light-cured Bis-GMA resin containing heat-expandable microcapsules and CO 2 laser was investigated. Ceramic brackets are used frequently in orthodontic treatment because of their desirable esthetic properties. However, the application of heavy force to ceramic brackets in debonding can fracture the tooth enamel and ceramic brackets, causing tooth pain. In total, 60 freshly extracted bovine permanent mandibular incisors were divided randomly into 10 groups of 6 specimens each, corresponding to the number of variables tested. Ceramic brackets were bonded to bovine permanent mandibular incisors using an orthodontic bonding agent containing heat-expandable microcapsules at different levels (0-30 wt%) and resin composite paste, and cured by a curing device. The bond strengths were measured before and after CO 2 laser irradiation, and the temperature increase in the pulp chamber in fresh human first premolars was also evaluated. With CO 2 laser irradiation for 5 sec to the bracket, the bond strength in the 25% microcapsule group decreased significantly, to ∼0.17-fold, compared with that of the no-laser group (p < 0.05). The maximum temperature increase in the pulp chamber was 5.3°C with laser irradiation, which was less than the level that induces pulp damage. From these results, it seems likely that the combined use of a light-cured orthodontic bonding agent containing microcapsules and a CO 2 laser is a simple debonding system for ceramic brackets, with less debonding time and enamel damage.

Microtomography of elastomers for tire manufacture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dunsmuir, John H.; Dias, A. J.; Peiffer, D. G.; Kolb, R.; Jones, G.

1999-09-01

X-ray microtomography is used to image the internal structure of carbon black filled isobutylene-p-methylstyrene-p- bromomethylstyrene (PIB-PMS/BrPMS or ExxProTM) curing bladders before and after use-to-failure in the manufacture of automobile tires. Curing bladders operate under extreme conditions with extended mechanical cycling at high temperatures. Manufacturers typically do not run the bladders until failure but rather a pull policy is established which emphasizes the distribution of cyclic lifetimes. We examine the bladder elastomer structure at a resolution of about 10 microns with the objective of reducing the variability in performance. Using both edge crossing and absorption contrast we identify several types of heterogeneity including voids, foreign inclusions, and the distribution of curative agent from which we infer the uniformity of the cure. The results indicate several potential failure mechanisms. The small number of voids and foreign inclusions are mechanical defects that can initiate cracking. More widespread through the polymer matrix are small regions of polymer devoid of curative agent as shown by absorption edge imaging. These regions may be uncured polymer with poor mechanical and thermal properties that may lead to early failure. After several cure cycles the uncured regions are no longer present in the bladder tread area but they remain near the bead. At high cycles an approximately 500 micrometer thick zinc rich cap develops where the bladder contacts the inner tread area of the tire. This zinc rich cap may cause over-curing of the polymer resulting in crack initiation at the surface of the bladder that contacts the tire.

Tensile strength of glass fiber posts submitted to different surface treatments.

PubMed

Faria, Maria Isabel A; Gomes, Érica Alves; Messias, Danielle Cristine; Silva Filho, João Manoel; Souza Filho, Celso Bernardo; Paulino, Silvana Maria

2013-01-01

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the tensile strength of glass fiber posts submitted to different surface treatments. Forty-eight maxillary canines had their crowns sectioned and root canals endodontically treated. The roots were embedded in acrylic resin and distributed into 3 groups according to the surface treatment: Group I: the posts were treated with silane agent for 30 s and adhesive; Group II: the posts were cleaned with alcohol before treatment with silane agent and adhesive; Group III: the posts were submitted to conditioning with 37% phosphoric acid for 30 s before treatment with silane agent and adhesive. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups for adhesive polymerization or not before insertion into the canal: A - adhesive was not light cured and B - adhesive was light cured. All posts were cemented with Panavia F and the samples were subjected to tensile strength test in a universal testing machine at crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. There was statistically significant difference (p<0.01) only between group GIII-B and groups GI-A and GI-B. No significant difference was found among the other groups (p>0.05). It was concluded that the products used for cleaning the posts influenced the retention regardless of adhesive light curing.

NITRILE ELASTOMER-NYLON LAMINATES INCLUDING BARRIER FILMS.

DTIC Science & Technology

ADHESIVES, *NYLON, *NITRILE RUBBER , LAMINATES, LAMINATES, FILMS, TEXTILES, RUBBER COATINGS, BUTADIENES, ACRYLONITRILE POLYMERS, BONDING, ADHESION... DEGRADATION , MOISTUREPROOFING, PHENOLIC PLASTICS, HALOGENATED HYDROCARBONS, ISOCYANATES, CURING AGENTS, ELASTOMERS.

Dynamics of polymerization induced phase separation in reactive polymer blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jaehyung

Mechanisms and dynamics of phase decomposition following polymerization induced phase separation (PIPS) of reactive polymer blends have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The phenomenon of PIPS is a non-equilibrium and non-linear dynamic process. The mechanism of PIPS has been thought to be a nucleation and growth (NG) type originally, however, newer results indicate spinodal decomposition (SD). In PIPS, the coexistence curve generally passes through the reaction temperature at off-critical compositions, thus phase separation has to be initiated first in the metastable region where nucleation occurs. When the system farther drifts from the metastable to unstable region, the NG structure transforms to the SD bicontinuous morphology. The crossover behavior of PIPS may be called nucleation initiated spinodal decomposition (NISD). The formation of newer domains between the existing ones is responsible for the early stage of PIPS. Since PIPS is non- equilibrium kinetic process, it would not be surprising to discern either or both structures. The phase separation dynamics of DGEBA/CTBN mixtures having various kinds of curing agents from low reactivity to high reactivity and various amount of curing agents were examined at various reaction temperatures. The phase separation behavior was monitored by a quantity of scattered light intensity experimentally and by a quantity of collective structure factor numerically. Prior to the study of phase separation dynamics, a preliminary investigation on the isothermal cure behavior of the mixtures were executed in order to determine reaction kinetics parameters. The cure behavior followed the overall second order reaction kinetics. Next, based on the knowledge obtained from the phase separation dynamics study of DGEBA/CTBN mixtures, the phase separation dynamics of various composition of DGEBA/R45EPI mixtures having MDA as a curing agent were investigated. The phase separation behavior was quite dependent upon the composition variation. R45EPI itself can react with itself or with DGEBA without curing, therefore three-component system was considered in this mixture. For the numerical studies of this three- component mixture, a system that is composed of a reactive component-1 that is miscible with its growing molecules and another reactive component-2 that is not miscible with its growing molecules was considered with crosslinking reaction kinetics of the each component.

Sertaconazole nitrate cream 2% for the treatment of tinea pedis.

PubMed

Ribotsky, Bret M

2009-05-01

Tinea pedis, both in its acute and chronic phase, is a common skin condition that often is overlooked but can lead to onychomycosis and acute bacterial cellulitis if left untreated. Therefore, aggressive treatment with a topical antifungal agent is warranted. Sertaconazole nitrate cream 2% is a newer imidazole agent that possesses both fungicidal and fungistatic properties to eradicate existing infections. In addition to antifungal properties, it exhibits anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects. Controlled clinical trials have confirmed its safety, tolerability, and efficacy in participants with tinea pedis. We report 2 patients with chronic tinea pedis of many years' duration and demonstrate the usefulness of sertaconazole nitrate cream 2% in the clinical setting. Tinea pedis was confirmed by results of a potassium hydroxide preparation. Both patients experienced marked improvement by the second week of twice-daily treatment with sertaconazole nitrate cream 2%. Clinical cure was achieved in both patients. These findings suggest that sertaconazole nitrate cream 2% is an effective option for the treatment of tinea pedis.

Tafenoquine: a promising new antimalarial agent.

PubMed

Crockett, Maryanne; Kain, Kevin C

2007-05-01

Malaria remains an important cause of global morbidity and mortality. As antimalarial drug resistance escalates, new safe and effective medications are necessary to prevent and treat malarial infection. Tafenoquine is an 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial that is presently under development. It has a long half-life of approximately 14 days and is generally safe and well tolerated, although it cannot be used in pregnant women and individuals who are deficient in the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. In well-designed studies, tafenoquine was highly effective in both the radical cure of relapsing malaria and causal prophylaxis of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum infections with protective efficacies of > or = 90%. Given its causal activity and safety profile, tafenoquine represents a potentially exciting alternative to standard agents for the prevention and radical cure of malaria.

Thermal Expansion Measurements of Polymer Matrix Composites and Syntactics

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-04-01

828 (Shell Chemical) epoxy combined with 50.0 PBW EPON® V-40 polyamide curing agent (Shell Chemical) and Owens Corning (E-780) polyester combined 1...with 24 oz. woven roving with an Owens Corning 463 finish. " A 3 x 1, S-2 glass with 27 oz. woven roving with an Owens Corning 933 finish, nominally...wet polyester resin ( Owens Corning E-780) and subsequently processing the composites using the standard vacuum bag cure cycle for this polyester

Intrinsic Flame-Retardant and Thermally Stable Epoxy Endowed by a Highly Efficient, Multifunctional Curing Agent

PubMed Central

Dong, Chunlei; Wirasaputra, Alvianto; Luo, Qinqin; Liu, Shumei; Yuan, Yanchao; Zhao, Jianqing; Fu, Yi

2016-01-01

It is difficult to realize flame retardancy of epoxy without suffering much detriment in thermal stability. To solve the problem, a super-efficient phosphorus-nitrogen-containing reactive-type flame retardant, 10-(hydroxy(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl)-5,10-dihydrophenophosphazinine-10-oxide (HB-DPPA) is synthesized and characterized. When it is used as a co-curing agent of 4,4′-methylenedianiline (DDM) for curing diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), the cured epoxy achieves UL-94 V-0 rating with the limiting oxygen index of 29.3%. In this case, the phosphorus content in the system is exceptionally low (0.18 wt %). To the best of our knowledge, it currently has the highest efficiency among similar epoxy systems. Such excellent flame retardancy originates from the exclusive chemical structure of the phenophosphazine moiety, in which the phosphorus element is stabilized by the two adjacent aromatic rings. The action in the condensed phase is enhanced and followed by pressurization of the pyrolytic gases that induces the blowing-out effect during combustion. The cone calorimeter result reveals the formation of a unique intumescent char structure with five discernible layers. Owing to the super-efficient flame retardancy and the rigid molecular structure of HB-DPPA, the flame-retardant epoxy acquires high thermal stability and its initial decomposition temperature only decreases by 4.6 °C as compared with the unmodified one. PMID:28774127

The Effect of Simplified Bonding Agents on the Bond Strength to Dentin of Self-Activated Dual-Cure Resin Cements

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-26

versions of the self-etch adhesives on the market are one-step systems where the acidified primer and adhesive monomer are mixed together and placed in a...Figure 3 - Adhesive Classification B. Effects of Simplification at the Microscopic level Using restorative systems with simplified...bonding failures when self-cured “build-up” composites were bonded with simplified adhesive systems (Swift, 1999). They were alerted to potential

Safe Deactivation of Energetic Materials and Use of By-products as Epoxy Curing Agents

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-11-01

National Laboratory has developed a lab- scale synthesis to convert TNT to higher value products such as TATB. 3.2 Firing Range Clean-Up Due to...1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 TCD1 , of Nitrogen Nitric Oxide Nitrous oxide ammonia Water Figure 1. Reactant Products for the Reaction of...SAND2001-3344 Unlimited Release Printed November 2001 Safe Deactivation of Energetic Materials and Use of By- products as Epoxy Curing

Method for epoxy foam production using a liquid anhydride

DOEpatents

Celina, Mathias [Albuquerque, NM

2012-06-05

An epoxy resin mixture with at least one epoxy resin of between approximately 50 wt % and 100 wt %, an anhydride cure agent of between approximately 0 wt % and approximately 50 wt %, a tert-butoxycarbonyl anhydride foaming agent of between proximately 0.1-20 wt %, a surfactant and an imidazole or similar catalyst of less than approximately 2 wt %, where the resin mixture is formed from at least one epoxy resin with a 1-10 wt % tert-butoxycarbonyl anhydride compound and an imidazole catalyst at a temperature sufficient to keep the resin in a suitable viscosity range, the resin mixture reacting to form a foaming resin which in the presence of an epoxy curative can then be cured at a temperature greater than 50.degree. C. to form an epoxy foam.

Flame Retardant Epoxy Resins

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, C. M.; Smith, J. G., Jr.; Connell, J. W.; Hergenrother, P. M.; Lyon, R. E.

2004-01-01

As part of a program to develop fire resistant exterior composite structures for future subsonic commercial aircraft, flame retardant epoxy resins are under investigation. Epoxies and their curing agents (aromatic diamines) containing phosphorus were synthesized and used to prepare epoxy formulations. Phosphorus was incorporated within the backbone of the epoxy resin and not used as an additive. The resulting cured epoxies were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, propane torch test, elemental analysis and microscale combustion calorimetry. Several formulations showed excellent flame retardation with phosphorous contents as low as 1.5% by weight. The fracture toughness of plaques of several cured formulations was determined on single-edge notched bend specimens. The chemistry and properties of these new epoxy formulations are discussed.

Biomarkers for Uranium Risk Assessment for the Development of the CURE (Concerted Uranium Research in Europe) Molecular Epidemiological Protocol.

PubMed

Guéguen, Yann; Roy, Laurence; Hornhardt, Sabine; Badie, Christophe; Hall, Janet; Baatout, Sarah; Pernot, Eileen; Tomasek, Ladislav; Laurent, Olivier; Ebrahimian, Teni; Ibanez, Chrystelle; Grison, Stephane; Kabacik, Sylwia; Laurier, Dominique; Gomolka, Maria

2017-01-01

Despite substantial experimental and epidemiological research, there is limited knowledge of the uranium-induce health effects after chronic low-dose exposures in humans. Biological markers can objectively characterize pathological processes or environmental responses to uranium and confounding agents. The integration of such biological markers into a molecular epidemiological study would be a useful approach to improve and refine estimations of uranium-induced health risks. To initiate such a study, Concerted Uranium Research in Europe (CURE) was established, and involves biologists, epidemiologists and dosimetrists. The aims of the biological work package of CURE were: 1. To identify biomarkers and biological specimens relevant to uranium exposure; 2. To define standard operating procedures (SOPs); and 3. To set up a common protocol (logistic, questionnaire, ethical aspects) to perform a large-scale molecular epidemiologic study in uranium-exposed cohorts. An intensive literature review was performed and led to the identification of biomarkers related to: 1. retention organs (lungs, kidneys and bone); 2. other systems/organs with suspected effects (cardiovascular system, central nervous system and lympho-hematopoietic system); 3. target molecules (DNA damage, genomic instability); and 4. high-throughput methods for the identification of new biomarkers. To obtain high-quality biological materials, SOPs were established for the sampling and storage of different biospecimens. A questionnaire was developed to assess potential confounding factors. The proposed strategy can be adapted to other internal exposures and should improve the characterization of the biological and health effects that are relevant for risk assessment.

A Randomized, Double-blind, Vehicle-controlled Trial of Luliconazole Cream 1% in the Treatment of Interdigital Tinea Pedis

PubMed Central

Vlahovic, Tracey C.; Gold, Michael H.; Parish, Lawrence Charles; Korotzer, Andrew

2014-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of luliconazole cream 1% applied once daily for 14 days in patients with interdigital tinea pedis. Design: Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, vehicle-controlled study. Setting: Private dermatology clinics and clinical research centers in the United States and Central America. Participants: Three hundred twenty-two male and female patients ≥12 years of age diagnosed with interdigital tinea pedis. Measurements: Complete clearance (i.e., clinical and mycological cure), effective treatment, and fungal culture and susceptibility. Results: At study Day 42, complete clearance was obtained by a larger percentage (14.0% [15/107] vs. 2.8% [3/107]; p<0.001) of patients treated with luliconazole cream 1% compared with vehicle. Also at Day 42, more luliconazole-treated patients compared with vehicle-treated patients obtained effective treatment (32.7% vs. 15.0%), clinical cure (15.0% vs. 3.7%), and mycologic cure (56.1% vs. 27.1%). Erythema, scaling, and pruritus scores were lower for the luliconazole cream 1% group compared with vehicle on Day 14, Day 28, and Day 42. For all species and the same isolates, the MIC50/90 for luliconazole cream 1% was 6- to 12-fold lower than for other agents tested. No patients discontinued treatment because of a treatment-emergent adverse event. Conclusion: Luliconazole cream 1% was safe and well-tolerated and demonstrated significantly greater efficacy than vehicle cream in patients with interdigital tinea pedis. PMID:25371767

A Durable Airfield Marking System.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-06-01

Resin is Mixed with the Black Curing Agent to Form the Epoxy Adhesive ..... ........... 17 14 The Gray Adhesive (White Resin Mixed with Black Curing...rubber 100 0 Polyester (peroxide-catalyzed) 100 0 Urethane 100 0 Epoxy polyamide 100 0 Acrylic latex (TT-P-1952) 100 0 Thermoplastic Tapes Type 1 100 0...suzmarrizes cost data co1parisons for traffic marking tapes, CAS tiles, fluorocarbon composites (Teflon ),and acrylic latex paint TT-P-1952. 8 -p °’. TABLE 2

Alternative Causes of Wide-Spread, Low Concentration Perchlorate Impacts to Groundwater

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-05-05

to as water gels, contain AN in aqueous solution. To aid water resistance and handling, they are thickened and gelled with a gum , such as guar gum ...enamels Curing/Drying Agent Photography Flash powder / oxidizing agent Oxygen generators Burn Rate Modifier Road flares Oxidizing agent...fuse, stars, black powder , a launch tube, main fuse and a lift charge, as shown in Figure 3-1. The break or breaks house the stars in cardboard

Heat transfer properties and thermal cure of glass-ionomer dental cements.

PubMed

Gavic, Lidia; Gorseta, Kristina; Glavina, Domagoj; Czarnecka, Beata; Nicholson, John W

2015-10-01

Under clinical conditions, conventional glass-ionomer dental cements can be cured by application of heat from dental cure lamps, which causes acceleration in the setting. In order for this to be successful, such heat must be able to spread sufficiently through the cement to enhance cure, but not transmit heat so effectively that the underlying dental pulp of the tooth is damaged. The current study was aimed at measuring heat transfer properties of modern restorative glass-ionomers to determine the extent to which they meet these twin requirements. Three commercial glass ionomer cements (Ionofil Molar, Ketac Molar and Equia™ Fill) were used in association with three different light emitting diode cure lamps designed for clinical use. In addition, for each cement, one set of specimens was allowed to cure without application of a lamp. Temperature changes were measured at three different depths (2, 3 and 4 mm) after cure times of 20, 40 and 60 s. The difference among the tested groups was evaluated by ANOVA (P < 0.05) and post hoc Newman-Keuls test. All brands of glass-ionomer showed a small inherent setting exotherm in the absence of heat irradiation, but much greater temperature increases when exposed to the cure lamp. However, temperature rises did not exceed 12.9 °C. Application of the cure lamp led to the establishment of a temperature gradient throughout each specimen. Differences were typically significant (P < 0.05) and did not reflect the nominal power of the lamps, because those lamps have variable cooling systems, and are designed to optimize light output, not heating effect. Because the thermal conductivity of glass-ionomers is low, temperature rises at 4 mm depths were much lower than at 2 mm. At no time did the temperature rise sufficiently to cause concern about potential damage to the pulp.

A New Epoxy-Based Layered Silicate Nanocomposite Using a Hyperbranched Polymer: Study of the Curing Reaction and Nanostructure Development

PubMed Central

Cortés, Pilar; Fraga, Iria; Calventus, Yolanda; Román, Frida; Hutchinson, John M.; Ferrando, Francesc

2014-01-01

Polymer layered silicate (PLS) nanocomposites have been prepared with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) epoxy resin as the matrix and organically modified montmorillonite (MMT) as the clay nanofiller. Resin-clay mixtures with different clay contents (zero, two, five and 10 wt%) were cured, both isothermally andnon-isothermally, using a poly(ethyleneimine) hyperbranched polymer (HBP), the cure kinetics being monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The nanostructure of the cured nanocomposites was characterized by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their mechanical properties were determined by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and impact testing. The results are compared with an earlier study of the structure and properties of the same DGEBA-MMT system cured with a polyoxypropylene diamine, Jeffamine. There are very few examples of the use of HBP as a curing agent in epoxy PLS nanocomposites; here, it is found to enhance significantly the degree of exfoliation of these nanocomposites compared with those cured with Jeffamine, with a corresponding enhancement in the impact energy for nanocomposites with the low clay content of 2 wt%. These changes are attributed to the different cure kinetics with the HBP, in which the intra-gallery homopolymerization reaction is accelerated, such that it occurs before the bulk cross-linking reaction. PMID:28788542

Dispersion stability in carbon nanotube modified polymers and its effect on the fracture toughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirjalili, Vahid; Yourdkhani, Mostafa; Hubert, Pascal

2012-08-01

In this paper, the dispersion stability of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) mixed with an epoxy resin is studied. An instrumented optical microscope with a hot stage was used to study the evolution of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersion during the cure of the resin. A new image processing approach is then introduced to quantify dispersion and identify the source of dispersion degradation during the cure. The results showed that the reduction of the resin viscosity at temperatures greater than 100 °C caused an irreversible re-agglomeration of the CNTs in the matrix. It was shown that the fine-tuning of the ratio and type of curing agent as well as the curing temperature directly affect the dispersion stability of MWNTs in the epoxy polymer. The dispersion quality was then directly correlated to the fracture toughness of the modified resin and a maximum of 20% improvement was achieved.

21 CFR 133.102 - Asiago fresh and asiago soft cheese.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... § 133.5 (a), (b), and (d). It is cured for not less than 60 days. (b) Milk which may be pasteurized or clarified or both, and which may be warmed, is subjected to the action of harmless lactic-acid producing... artificial coloring is not used. (d) Safe and suitable antimycotic agent(s), the cumulative levels of which...

21 CFR 133.102 - Asiago fresh and asiago soft cheese.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... § 133.5 (a), (b), and (d). It is cured for not less than 60 days. (b) Milk which may be pasteurized or clarified or both, and which may be warmed, is subjected to the action of harmless lactic-acid producing... artificial coloring is not used. (d) Safe and suitable antimycotic agent(s), the cumulative levels of which...

21 CFR 133.102 - Asiago fresh and asiago soft cheese.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... § 133.5 (a), (b), and (d). It is cured for not less than 60 days. (b) Milk which may be pasteurized or clarified or both, and which may be warmed, is subjected to the action of harmless lactic-acid producing... artificial coloring is not used. (d) Safe and suitable antimycotic agent(s), the cumulative levels of which...

Epoxy Nanocomposites Containing Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8.

PubMed

Liu, Cong; Mullins, Michael; Hawkins, Spencer; Kotaki, Masaya; Sue, Hung-Jue

2018-01-10

Zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) is utilized as a functional filler and a curing agent in the preparation of epoxy nanocomposites. The imidazole group on the surface of the ZIF-8 initiates epoxy curing, resulting in covalent bonding between the ZIF-8 crystals and epoxy matrix. A substantial reduction in dielectric constant and increase in tensile modulus were observed. The implication of the present study for utilization of metal-organic framework to improve physical and mechanical properties of polymeric matrixes is discussed.

Process for impregnating a concrete or cement body with a polymeric material

DOEpatents

Mattus, A.J.; Spence, R.D.

1988-05-04

A process for impregnating cementitious solids with polymeric materials by blending polymeric materials in a grout, allowing the grout to cure, and contacting the resulting solidified grout containing the polymeric materials with an organic mixture containing a monomer, a cross-linking agent and a catalyst. The mixture dissolves the polymerized particles and forms a channel for distributing the monomer throughout the network formed by the polymeric particles. The organic components are then cured to form a substantially water-impermeable mass.

Process for impregnating a concrete or cement body with a polymeric material

DOEpatents

Mattus, Alfred J.; Spence, Roger D.

1989-01-01

A process for impregnating cementitious solids with polymeric materials by blending polymeric materials in a grout, allowing the grout to cure, and contacting the resulting solidified grout containing the polymeric materials with an organic mixture containing a monomer, a cross-linking agent and a catalyst. The mixture dissolves the polymerized particles and forms a channel for distributing the monomer throughout the network formed by the polymeric particles. The organic components are then cured to form a substantially water-impermeable mass.

Influence of fluorescent dye on physical-mechanical properties of luting cements for confocal microscopy analysis.

PubMed

Oliveira, Dayane; Prieto, Lúcia; Araújo, Cíntia; Coppini, Erick; Pereira, Gisele; Paulillo, Luís

2014-12-01

To evaluate the influence of a fluorescent dye (rhodamine B) on the physical and mechanical properties of three different luting cements: a conventional adhesive luting cement (RelyX ARC, 3M/ESPE), a self-adhesive luting cement (RelyX U-200, 3M/ESPE), and a self-etching and self-adhesive luting cement (SeT PP, SDI). The cements were mixed with 0.03 wt% rhodamine B, formed into bar-shaped specimens (n = 10), and light cured using an LED curing unit (Radii, SDI) with a radiant exposure of 32 J/cm(2) . The Knoop hardness (KHN), flexural strength (FS), and Young's modulus (YM) analyses were evaluated after storage for 24 h. Outcomes were subjected to two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (P = 0.05) for multiple comparisons. No significant differences in FS or YM were observed among the tested groups (P ≥ 0.05); the addition of rhodamine B increased the hardness of the luting cements tested. The addition of a fluorescent agent at 0.03 wt% concentration does not negatively affect the physical-mechanical properties of the luting cement polymerization behavior. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Results of a regional survey on the treatment of rhizomelic pseudopolyarthritis and temporal arteritis. Apropos of 242 cases treated by various modalities with synthetic antimalarials, corticoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents].

PubMed

David-Chaussé, J; Dehais, J; Leman, A

1983-01-01

The authors report the results of a retrospective therapeutic survey concerning 176 cases of rhizomelic pseudopolyarthritis (RPP) and 66 cases of temporal arteritis (TA). Of 128 cases of RPP treated initially by synthetic anti-malarials (SAM) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAI), 66 were followed up until cure which was obtained after a mean of 23 months and 3 subsequently received brief steroid therapy. 45 cases of RPP were treated initially with corticosteroids. They were generally associated with SAM which enabled early weaning of the steroids, towards the 8 th month, or at least reducing the dose. Cure was obtained within 24 months. Three patients were treated by NSAI and gold therapy. After cure, 5 cases of recurrence and 1 case of TA were observed. 40 cases of TA were initially treated with SAM and NSAI. Twenty cures were obtained within a mean of 28 months. 4 patients later received brief corticosteroid therapy because of an extension of the signs, including two cases of ocular manifestations with a resolving course. Of 25 cases of TA initially treated with steroids, 20 received SAM in combination, or in relay which enabled either steroids, weaning towards the 14th month or a reduction in the dose of steroids. Cure was obtained in an average of 35 months. One case of impaired visual acuity occurred during corticosteroid treatment. Immunosuppressants were used in one patient. No cases of recurrence were observed. Iatrogenic complications with SAM were rare, generally benign and reversible, in contrast to those associated with corticosteroid therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Development of polyimide foams with blowing agents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gagliani, John (Inventor); Sorathia, Usman A. K. (Inventor); Lee, Raymond (Inventor)

1985-01-01

A method of preparing a polyimide foam which includes the steps of: preparing, foaming, and curing a precursor containing at least one alkyl ester of 3,3'4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid; a meta- or para-substituted aromatic diamine; a heterocyclic diamine; an aliphatic diamine; and a solid blowing agent. The blowing agent is added to said precursor in a concentration which is sufficient to effect at least one of the following attributes of the foam: cell size, proportion of open cells, cell density, and indentation load deflection.

Comparative investigation of thermal and mechanical properties of cross-linked epoxy polymers with different curing agents by molecular dynamics simulation.

PubMed

Jeyranpour, F; Alahyarizadeh, Gh; Arab, B

2015-11-01

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to predict the thermal and mechanical properties of the cross-linked epoxy system composed of DGEBA resin and the curing agent TETA. To investigate the effects of curing agents, a comprehensive and comparative study was also performed on the thermal and mechanical properties of DGEBA/TETA and DGEBA/DETDA epoxy systems such as density, glass transition temperature (Tg), coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and elastic properties of different cross-linking densities and different temperatures. The results indicated that the glass transition temperature of DGEBA/TETA system calculated through density-temperature data, ∼ 385-395 °K, for the epoxy system with the cross-linking density of 62.5% has a better agreement with the experimental value (Tg, ∼ 400 °K) in comparison to the value calculated through the variation of cell volume in terms of temperature, 430-440 °K. They also indicated that CTE related parameters and elastic properties including Young, Bulk, and shear's moduli, and Poisson's ratio have a relative agreement with the experimental results. Comparison between the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy systems of DGEBA/TETA and DGEBA/DETDA showed that the DGEBA/DETDA has a higher Tg in all cross linking densities than that of DGEBA/TETA, while higher mechanical properties was observed in the case of DGEBA/TETA in almost all cross linking densities. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Using AFM Force Curves to Explore Properties of Elastomers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferguson, Megan A.; Kozlowski, Joseph J.

2013-01-01

polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers. Force curves are used to quantify the stiffness of elastomers prepared with different base-to-curing agent ratios. Trends in observed spring constants of the…

Implications of prioritizing HIV cure: new momentum to overcome old challenges in HIV.

PubMed

Tucker, Joseph D; Gilbertson, Adam; Lo, Ying-Ru; Vitória, Marco

2016-03-03

Curing HIV is a new strategic priority for several major AIDS organizations. In step with this new priority, HIV cure research and related programs are advancing in low, middle, and high-income country settings. This HIV cure momentum may influence existing HIV programs and research priorities. Despite the early stage of ongoing HIV cure efforts, these changes have directly influenced HIV research funding priorities, pilot programs, and HIV messaging. The building momentum to cure HIV infection may synergize with strategic priorities to better identify adults and infants with very early HIV infection. Although HIV cure represents a new goal, many existing programs and research techniques can be repurposed towards an HIV cure. HIV messages focused on engaging communities towards an HIV cure need to be careful to promote ARV adherence and retention within the HIV continuum of care. An increased emphasis within the AIDS field on finding an HIV cure has several important implications. Strengthening connections between HIV cure research and other areas of HIV research may help to catalyze research and facilitate implementation in the future.

Flammability of Epoxy Resins Containing Phosphorus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hergenrother, P. M.; Thompson, C. M.; Smith, J. G.; Connell, J. W.; Hinkley, J. A.

2005-01-01

As part of a program to develop fire-resistant exterior composite structures for future subsonic commercial and general aviation aircraft, flame-retardant epoxy resins are under investigation. Epoxies and their curing agents (aromatic diamines) containing phosphorus were synthesized and used to prepare epoxy formulations. Phosphorus was incorporated within the backbone of the epoxy resin and not used as an additive. The resulting cured neat epoxy formulations were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, propane torch test, elemental analysis, microscale combustion calorimetry, and fire calorimetry. Several formulations showed excellent flame retardation with phosphorous contents as low as 1.5% by weight. The fracture toughness and compressive strength of several cured formulations showed no detrimental effect due to phosphorus content. The chemistry and properties of these new epoxy formulations are discussed.

Transparent ceramics and methods of preparation thereof

DOEpatents

Hollingsworth, Joel P [Oakland, CA; Kuntz, Joshua D [Livermore, CA; Seeley, Zachary M [Pullman, WA; Soules, Thomas F [Livermore, CA

2011-10-18

According to one embodiment, a method for forming a transparent ceramic preform includes forming a suspension of oxide particles in a solvent, adding the suspension to a mold of a desired shape, and uniformly curing the suspension in the mold for forming a preform. The suspension includes a dispersant but does not include a gelling agent. In another embodiment, a method includes creating a mixture without a gelling agent, the mixture including: inorganic particles, a solvent, and a dispersant. The inorganic particles have a mean diameter of less than about 2000 nm. The method also includes agitating the mixture, adding the mixture to a mold, and curing the mixture in the mold at a temperature of less than about 80.degree. C. for forming a preform. Other methods for forming a transparent ceramic preform are also described according to several embodiments.

Aging Studies of VCE Dismantlement Returns

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Letant, S; Alviso, C; Pearson, M

2011-10-17

VCE is an ethylene/vinyl acetate/vinyl alcohol terpolymer binder for filled elastomers which is designed to accept high filler loadings. Filled elastomer parts consist of the binder (VCE), a curing agent (Hylene MP, diphenol-4-4{prime}-methylenebis(phenylcarbamate)), a processing aid (LS, lithium stearate), and filler particles (typically 70% fraction by weight). The curing of the filled elastomer parts occurs from the heat-activated reaction between the hydroxyl groups of VCE with the Hylene MP curing agent, resulting in a cross-linked network. The final vinyl acetate content is typically between 34.9 and 37.9%, while the vinyl alcohol content is typically between 1.27 and 1.78%. Surveillance datamore » for this material is both scarce and scattered, complicating the assessment of any aging trends in systems. In addition, most of the initial surveillance efforts focused on mechanical properties such as hardness and tensile strength, and chemical information is therefore lacking. Material characterization and aging studies had been performed on previous formulations of the VCE material but the Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) starting copolymer is no longer commercially available. New formulations with replacement EVA materials are currently being established and will require characterization as well as updated aging models.« less

Increased incidence of liver cancer after successful DAA treatment of chronic hepatitis C: Fact or fiction?

PubMed

Alberti, Alfredo; Piovesan, Sara

2017-06-01

Therapy of hepatitis C has been revolutionized by Direct Antiviral Agents. These drugs are safe and efficacious in all infected patients, including those with advanced, or decompensated cirrhosis, and are currently largely used in such cases in clinical practice worldwide. It was therefore cause of great concern the publication of two reports suggesting that treatment with DAAs could increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients, particularly in those receiving antiviral therapy after having been cured for an HCC. These reports have generated a great and controversial debate and have been followed by a series of other publications not confirming such increased risk. This article summarizes published studies assessing the relation between DAA therapy and HCC in two different clinical setting: HCC recurrence in patients with an history of cured HCC and "de novo" HCC occurrence in patients without previous HCC. Rates of HCC recurrence after DAAs were extremely variable in different studies, reflecting great heterogeneity of this clinical setting. Data on "de novo" HCC incidence were more homogeneous and suggest that treatment with DAAs is not modifying the risk of developing HCC in the first 6-12 months. The possibility that treatment with DAAs may favour tumour growth and spread in individual patients with active HCC foci is suggested by some observations but remains unproven. There is clearly a need for prospective studies designed to better define these issues. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The evaluation of dentinal tubule occlusion by desensitizing agents: a real-time measurement of dentinal fluid flow rate and scanning electron microscopy.

PubMed

Kim, S Y; Kim, E J; Kim, D S; Lee, I B

2013-01-01

The aims of this study were to examine changes in dentinal fluid flow (DFF) during the application of a desensitizing agent and to compare the permeability reduction levels among different types of desensitizing agents. A cervical cavity was prepared for the exposure of cervical dentin on an extracted human premolar connected to a subnanoliter fluid flow measuring device under 20 cm of water pressure. The cavity was acid-etched with 32% phosphoric acid to make dentin highly permeable. The different types of desensitizing agents that were applied on the cavity were Seal&Protect as the light-curing adhesive type, SuperSeal and BisBlock as oxalate types, Gluma Desensitizer as the protein-precipitation type, and Bi-Fluoride 12 as the fluoride type. DFF was measured from the time before the application of the desensitizing agent throughout the application procedure to five minutes after the application. The characteristics of dentinal tubule occlusion of each desensitizing agent were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The DFF rate after each desensitizing agent application was significantly reduced when compared to the initial DFF rate before application for all of the desensitizing agents (p<0.05). Seal&Protect showed a greater reduction in the DFF rate when compared to Gluma Desensitizer and Bi-Fluoride 12 (p<0.05). SuperSeal and BisBlock exhibited a greater reduction in DFF rate when compared to Bi-Fluoride 12 (p<0.05). The dentin hypersensitivity treatment effects of the employed desensitizing agents in this study were confirmed through real-time measurements of DFF changes. The light-curing adhesive and oxalate types showed greater reduction in the DFF rate than did the protein-precipitation and fluoride types.

Biocontrol of Listeria monocytogenes in a meat model using a combination of a bacteriocinogenic strain with curing additives.

PubMed

Orihuel, Alejandra; Bonacina, Julieta; Vildoza, María José; Bru, Elena; Vignolo, Graciela; Saavedra, Lucila; Fadda, Silvina

2018-05-01

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of meat curing agents on the bioprotective activity of the bacteriocinogenic strain, Enterococcus (E.) mundtii CRL35 against Listeria (L.) monocytogenes during meat fermentation. The ability of E. mundtii CRL35 to grow, acidify and produce bacteriocin in situ was assayed in a meat model system in the presence of curing additives (CA). E. mundtii CRL35 showed optimal growth and acidification rates in the presence of CA. More importantly, the highest bacteriocin titer was achieved in the presence of these food agents. In addition, the CA produced a statistical significant enhancement of the enterocin CRL35 activity. This positive effect was demonstrated in vitro in a meat based culture medium, by time-kill kinetics and finally by using a beaker sausage model with a challenge experiment with the pathogenic L. monocytogenes FBUNT strain. E. mundtii CRL35 was found to be a promising strain of use as a safety adjunct culture in meat industry and a novel functional supplement for sausage fermentation, ensuring hygiene and quality of the final product. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Calcium and α-tocopherol suppress cured-meat promotion of chemically induced colon carcinogenesis in rats and reduce associated biomarkers in human volunteers123

PubMed Central

Martin, Océane CB; Santarelli, Raphaelle L; Taché, Sylviane; Naud, Nathalie; Guéraud, Françoise; Audebert, Marc; Dupuy, Jacques; Meunier, Nathalie; Attaix, Didier; Vendeuvre, Jean-Luc; Mirvish, Sidney S; Kuhnle, Gunter CG; Cano, Noel; Corpet, Denis E

2013-01-01

Background: Processed meat intake has been associated with increased colorectal cancer risk. We have shown that cured meat promotes carcinogen-induced preneoplastic lesions and increases specific biomarkers in the colon of rats. Objectives: We investigated whether cured meat modulates biomarkers of cancer risk in human volunteers and whether specific agents can suppress cured meat–induced preneoplastic lesions in rats and associated biomarkers in rats and humans. Design: Six additives (calcium carbonate, inulin, rutin, carnosol, α-tocopherol, and trisodium pyrophosphate) were added to cured meat given to groups of rats for 14 d, and fecal biomarkers were measured. On the basis of these results, calcium and tocopherol were kept for the following additional experiments: cured meat, with or without calcium or tocopherol, was given to dimethylhydrazine-initiated rats (47% meat diet for 100 d) and to human volunteers in a crossover study (180 g/d for 4 d). Rat colons were scored for mucin-depleted foci, putative precancer lesions. Biomarkers of nitrosation, lipoperoxidation, and cytotoxicity were measured in the urine and feces of rats and volunteers. Results: Cured meat increased nitroso compounds and lipoperoxidation in human stools (both P < 0.05). Calcium normalized both biomarkers in rats and human feces, whereas tocopherol only decreased nitro compounds in rats and lipoperoxidation in feces of volunteers (all P < 0.05). Last, calcium and tocopherol reduced the number of mucin-depleted foci per colon in rats compared with nonsupplemented cured meat (P = 0.01). Conclusion: Data suggest that the addition of calcium carbonate to the diet or α-tocopherol to cured meat may reduce colorectal cancer risk associated with cured-meat intake. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00994526. PMID:24025632

Survival of selected foodborne pathogens on dry cured pork loins.

PubMed

Morales-Partera, Ángela M; Cardoso-Toset, Fernando; Jurado-Martos, Francisco; Astorga, Rafael J; Huerta, Belén; Luque, Inmaculada; Tarradas, Carmen; Gómez-Laguna, Jaime

2017-10-03

The safety of ready-to-eat products such as cured pork loins must be guaranteed by the food industry. In the present study, the efficacy of the dry curing process of pork loins obtained from free-range pigs in the reduction of three of the most important foodborne pathogens is analysed. A total of 28 pork loin segments, with an average weight of 0.57±0.12kg, were divided into four groups with three being inoculated by immersion with 7logCFU/ml of either Salmonella Typhimurium, Campylobacter coli or Listeria innocua and the last one inoculated by immersion with sterile medium (control group). The loin segments were treated with a seasoning mixture of curing agents and spices, packed in a synthetic sausage casing and cured for 64days. Microbiological analysis, pH and water activity (a w ) were assessed at four stages. The values of pH and a w decreased with curing time as expected. S. Typhimurium and C. coli dropped significantly (3.28 and 2.14 log units, respectively), but limited reduction of L. innocua (0.84 log unit) was observed along the curing process. In our study, three factors were considered critical: the initial concentration of the bacteria, the progressive reduction of pH and the reduction of a w values. Our results encourage performing periodic analysis at different stages of the manufacturing of dry cured pork loins to ensure the absence of the three evaluated foodborne pathogens. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal expansion of an epoxy-glass microsphere composite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Price, H. L.; Burks, H. D.

1977-01-01

The thermal expansion of a composite of epoxy (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) and solid glass microspheres was investigated. The microspheres had surfaces which were either untreated or treated with a silicone release agent, an epoxy coupling agent, or a general purpose silane coupling agent. Both room temperature (about 300 K) and elevated temperature (about 475 K) cures were used for the epoxy. Two microsphere size ranges were used, about 50 microns, which is applicable in filled moldings, and about 125 microns, which is applicable as bond line spacers. The thermal expansion of the composites was measured from 300 to 350 K or from 300 to 500 K, depending on the epoxy cure temperature. Measurements were made on composites containing up to .6 volume fraction microspheres. Two predictive models, which required only the values of thermal expansion of the polymer and glass and their specific gravities, were tested against the experimental data. A finite element analysis was made of the thermal strain of a composite cell containing a single microsphere surrounded by a finite-thickness interface.

Thermo-cured glass ionomer cements in restorative dentistry.

PubMed

Gorseta, Kristina; Glavina, Domagoj

2017-01-01

Numerous positive properties of glass ionomer cements including biocompatibility, bioactivity, releasing of fluoride and good adhesion to hard dental tissue even under wet conditions and easy of handling are reasons for their wide use in paediatric and restorative dentistry. Their biggest drawbacks are the weaker mechanical properties. An important step forward in improving GIC's features is thermo-curing with the dental polymerization unit during setting of the material. Due to their slow setting characteristics the GIC is vulnerable to early exposure to moisture. After thermo curing, cements retain all the benefits of GIC with developed better mechanical properties, improved marginal adaptation, increased microhardness and shear bond strength. Adding external energy through thermocuring or ultrasound during the setting of conventional GIC is crucial to achieve faster and better initial mechanical properties. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Self-protected nitrate reducing culture for intrinsic repair of concrete cracks.

PubMed

Erşan, Yusuf Ç; Gruyaert, Elke; Louis, Ghislain; Lors, Christine; De Belie, Nele; Boon, Nico

2015-01-01

Attentive monitoring and regular repair of concrete cracks are necessary to avoid further durability problems. As an alternative to current maintenance methods, intrinsic repair systems which enable self-healing of cracks have been investigated. Exploiting microbial induced CaCO3 precipitation (MICP) using (protected) axenic cultures is one of the proposed methods. Yet, only a few of the suggested healing agents were economically feasible for in situ application. This study presents a [Formula: see text] reducing self-protected enrichment culture as a self-healing additive for concrete. Concrete admixtures Ca(NO3)2 and Ca(HCOO)2 were used as nutrients. The enrichment culture, grown as granules (0.5-2 mm) consisting of 70% biomass and 30% inorganic salts were added into mortar without any additional protection. Upon 28 days curing, mortar specimens were subjected to direct tensile load and multiple cracks (0.1-0.6 mm) were achieved. Cracked specimens were immersed in water for 28 days and effective crack closure up to 0.5 mm crack width was achieved through calcite precipitation. Microbial activity during crack healing was monitored through weekly NOx analysis which revealed that 92 ± 2% of the available [Formula: see text] was consumed. Another set of specimens were cracked after 6 months curing, thus the effect of curing time on healing efficiency was investigated, and mineral formation at the inner crack surfaces was observed, resulting in 70% less capillary water absorption compared to healed control specimens. In conclusion, enriched mixed denitrifying cultures structured in self-protecting granules are very promising strategies to enhance microbial self-healing.

Self-protected nitrate reducing culture for intrinsic repair of concrete cracks

PubMed Central

Erşan, Yusuf Ç.; Gruyaert, Elke; Louis, Ghislain; Lors, Christine; De Belie, Nele; Boon, Nico

2015-01-01

Attentive monitoring and regular repair of concrete cracks are necessary to avoid further durability problems. As an alternative to current maintenance methods, intrinsic repair systems which enable self-healing of cracks have been investigated. Exploiting microbial induced CaCO3 precipitation (MICP) using (protected) axenic cultures is one of the proposed methods. Yet, only a few of the suggested healing agents were economically feasible for in situ application. This study presents a NO3− reducing self-protected enrichment culture as a self-healing additive for concrete. Concrete admixtures Ca(NO3)2 and Ca(HCOO)2 were used as nutrients. The enrichment culture, grown as granules (0.5–2 mm) consisting of 70% biomass and 30% inorganic salts were added into mortar without any additional protection. Upon 28 days curing, mortar specimens were subjected to direct tensile load and multiple cracks (0.1–0.6 mm) were achieved. Cracked specimens were immersed in water for 28 days and effective crack closure up to 0.5 mm crack width was achieved through calcite precipitation. Microbial activity during crack healing was monitored through weekly NOx analysis which revealed that 92 ± 2% of the available NO3− was consumed. Another set of specimens were cracked after 6 months curing, thus the effect of curing time on healing efficiency was investigated, and mineral formation at the inner crack surfaces was observed, resulting in 70% less capillary water absorption compared to healed control specimens. In conclusion, enriched mixed denitrifying cultures structured in self-protecting granules are very promising strategies to enhance microbial self-healing. PMID:26583015

Toughened epoxy resin system and a method thereof

DOEpatents

Janke, C.J.; Dorsey, G.F.; Havens, S.J.; Lopata, V.J.

1998-03-10

Mixtures of epoxy resins with cationic initiators are curable under high energy ionizing radiation such as electron beam radiation, X-ray radiation, and gamma radiation. The composition of this process consists of an epoxy resin, a cationic initiator such as a diaryliodonium or triarylsulfonium salt of specific anions, and a toughening agent such as a thermoplastic, hydroxy-containing thermoplastic oligomer, epoxy-containing thermoplastic oligomer, reactive flexibilizer, rubber, elastomer, or mixture thereof. Cured compositions have high glass transition temperatures, good mechanical properties, and good toughness. These properties are comparable to those of similar thermally cured epoxies.

Toughened epoxy resin system and a method thereof

DOEpatents

Janke, Christopher J.; Dorsey, George F.; Havens, Stephen J.; Lopata, Vincent J.

1998-01-01

Mixtures of epoxy resins with cationic initiators are curable under high energy ionizing radiation such as electron beam radiation, X-ray radiation, and gamma radiation. The composition of this process consists of an epoxy resin, a cationic initiator such as a diaryliodonium or triarylsulfonium salt of specific anions, and a toughening agent such as a thermoplastic, hydroxy-containing thermoplastic oligomer, epoxy-containing thermoplastic oligomer, reactive flexibilizer, rubber, elastomer, or mixture thereof. Cured compositions have high glass transition temperatures, good mechanical properties, and good toughness. These properties are comparable to those of similar thermally cured epoxies.

Halogen and LED light curing of composite: temperature increase and Knoop hardness.

PubMed

Schneider, L F; Consani, S; Correr-Sobrinho, L; Correr, A B; Sinhoreti, M A

2006-03-01

This study assessed the Knoop hardness and temperature increase provided by three light curing units when using (1) the manufacturers' recommended times of photo-activation and (2) standardizing total energy density. One halogen--XL2500 (3M/ESPE)--and two light-emitting diode (LED) curing units--Freelight (3M/ESPE) and Ultrablue IS (DMC)--were used. A type-K thermocouple registered the temperature change produced by the composite photo-activation in a mold. Twenty-four hours after the photo-activation procedures, the composite specimens were submitted to a hardness test. Both temperature increase and hardness data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's test (5% significance). Using the first set of photo-activation conditions, the halogen unit produced a statistically higher temperature increase than did both LED units, and the Freelight LED resulted in a lower hardness than did the other curing units. When applying the second set of photo-activation conditions, the two LED units produced statistically greater temperature increase than did the halogen unit, whereas there were no statistical differences in hardness among the curing units.

The influence of particle size and curing conditions on testing mineral trioxide aggregate cement.

PubMed

Ha, William Nguyen; Kahler, Bill; Walsh, Laurence James

2016-12-01

Objectives: To assess the effects on curing conditions (dry versus submerged curing) and particle size on the compressive strength (CS) and flexural strength (FS) of set MTA cement. Materials and methods: Two different Portland cements were created, P1 and P2, with P1 < P2 in particle size. These were then used to create two experimental MTA products, M1 and M2, with M1 < M2 in particle size. Particle size analysis was performed according to ISO 13320. The particle size at the 90th percentile (i.e. the larger particles) was P1: 15.2 μm, P2: 29.1 μm, M1: 16.5 μm, and M2: 37.1 μm. M2 was cured exposed to air, or submerged in fluids of pH 5.0, 7.2 (PBS), or 7.5 for 1 week. CS and FS of the set cement were determined using a modified ISO 9917-1 and ISO 4049 methods, respectively. P1, P2, M1 and M2 were cured in PBS at physiological pH (7.2) and likewise tested for CS and FS. Results: Curing under dry conditions gave a significantly lower CS than when cured in PBS. There was a trend for lower FS for dry versus wet curing. However, this did not reach statistical significance. Cements with smaller particle sizes showed greater CS and FS at 1 day than those with larger particle sizes. However, this advantage was lost over the following 1-3 weeks. Conclusions : Experiments that test the properties of MTA should cure the MTA under wet conditions and at physiological pH.

The influence of particle size and curing conditions on testing mineral trioxide aggregate cement

PubMed Central

Ha, William Nguyen; Kahler, Bill; Walsh, Laurence James

2016-01-01

Abstract Objectives: To assess the effects on curing conditions (dry versus submerged curing) and particle size on the compressive strength (CS) and flexural strength (FS) of set MTA cement. Materials and methods: Two different Portland cements were created, P1 and P2, with P1 < P2 in particle size. These were then used to create two experimental MTA products, M1 and M2, with M1 < M2 in particle size. Particle size analysis was performed according to ISO 13320. The particle size at the 90th percentile (i.e. the larger particles) was P1: 15.2 μm, P2: 29.1 μm, M1: 16.5 μm, and M2: 37.1 μm. M2 was cured exposed to air, or submerged in fluids of pH 5.0, 7.2 (PBS), or 7.5 for 1 week. CS and FS of the set cement were determined using a modified ISO 9917-1 and ISO 4049 methods, respectively. P1, P2, M1 and M2 were cured in PBS at physiological pH (7.2) and likewise tested for CS and FS. Results: Curing under dry conditions gave a significantly lower CS than when cured in PBS. There was a trend for lower FS for dry versus wet curing. However, this did not reach statistical significance. Cements with smaller particle sizes showed greater CS and FS at 1 day than those with larger particle sizes. However, this advantage was lost over the following 1–3 weeks. Conclusions: Experiments that test the properties of MTA should cure the MTA under wet conditions and at physiological pH. PMID:28642923

Influence of light-curing mode on the cytotoxicity of resin-based surface sealants.

PubMed

Wegehaupt, Florian J; Tauböck, Tobias T; Attin, Thomas; Belibasakis, Georgios N

2014-05-06

Surface sealants have been successfully used in the prevention of erosive tooth wear. However, when multiple tooth surfaces should be sealed, the light-curing procedure is very time-consuming. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether reduced light-curing time (while maintaining similar energy density) has an influence on resin-based surface sealant cytotoxicity. Bovine dentine discs were treated as follows: group 1: untreated, groups 2-5: Seal&Protect and groups 6-9: experimental sealer. Groups 2 and 6 were light-cured (VALO LED light-curing device) for 40 s (1000 mW/cm2), groups 3 and 7 for 10 s (1000 mW/cm2), groups 4 and 8 for 7 s (1400 mW/cm2) and groups 5 and 9 for 3 s (3200 mW/cm2). Later, materials were extracted in culture medium for 24 h, and released lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity as a measure of cytotoxicity was determined photometrically after cells (dental pulp cells and gingival fibroblasts) were exposed to the extracts for 24 h. Three independent experiments, for both sample preparation and cytotoxicity testing, were performed. Overall, lowest cytotoxicity was observed for the unsealed control group. No significant influence of light-curing settings on the cytotoxicity was observed (p = 0.537 and 0.838 for pulp cells and gingival fibroblasts, respectively). No significant difference in the cytotoxicity of the two sealants was observed after light-curing with same light-curing settings (group 2 vs. 6, 3 vs. 7, 4 vs. 8 and 5 vs. 9: p > 0.05, respectively). Shortening the light-curing time, while maintaining constant energy density, resulted in no higher cytotoxicity of the investigated sealants.

Highly flexible transparent self-healing composite based on electrospun core-shell nanofibers produced by coaxial electrospinning for anti-corrosion and electrical insulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Seongpil; Liou, Minho; Song, Kyo Yong; Jo, Hong Seok; Lee, Min Wook; Al-Deyab, Salem S.; Yarin, Alexander L.; Yoon, Sam S.

2015-10-01

Coaxial electrospinning was used to fabricate two types of core-shell fibers: the first type with liquid resin monomer in the core and polyacrylonitrile in the shell, and the second type with liquid curing agent in the core and polyacrylonitrile in the shell. These two types of core-shell fibers were mutually entangled and embedded into two flexible transparent matrices thus forming transparent flexible self-healing composite materials. Such materials could be formed before only using emulsion electrospinning, rather than coaxial electrospinning. The self-healing properties of such materials are associated with release of healing agents (resin monomer and cure) from nanofiber cores in damaged locations with the subsequent polymerization reaction filing the micro-crack with polydimethylsiloxane. Transparency of these materials is measured and the anti-corrosive protection provided by them is demonstrated in electrochemical experiments.

Tinea and Onychomycosis.

PubMed

Rosen, Theodore

2016-06-01

Onychomycosis and tinea pedis are common fungal infections affecting the nails and feet, respectively. Two newly approved topical agents for onychomycosis are efinaconazole and tavaborole, both of which have demonstrated respectable cure rates in clinical studies. For tinea pedis, naftifine 2% and luliconazole 1% are new agents, both administered for relatively short courses, that may foster greater adherence Semin Cutan Med Surg 35(supp6):S110-S113. 2016 published by Frontline Medical Communications.

[Sclerotherapy of idiopatic hydrocele with polidocanol: a study about 190 cases].

PubMed

Sallami, Sataa; Binous, Mohamed Yassine; Ben Rhouma, Sami; Chelif, Mohamed; Hmidi, Mohamed; Nouira, Yasssine; Ben Rais, Nawfel; Horchani, Ali

2011-05-01

To evaluate the efficacy and side-effects of Polidocanol used as sclerosing agent for testicular hydrocele. One hundred and ninety men, with a median age of 55,9 years (40-89), treated for idiopatic hydrocele were assessed. After puncture and aspiration, the empty sac was instilled with 3% Polidocanol. We recorded recurrence, complications and associated pain on a visual analogue scale. With a median follow-up of 19 months, The cure rate of hydroceles after one sclerotherapy session was 62,1%, and the overall cure rate using the procedure was 82,6%. Re-instillation was done for recurrences in 41% of patients. Polidocanol therapy was almost pain-free. A low rate of complications was observed. Polidocanol is a useful sclerosing agent for treating testicular hydrocele. Due to its ease of administration, low frequency of complications, high rate of effectiveness, and excellent tolerability; we recommend sclerotherapy with polidocanol as the primary treatment for hydroceles.

Management of Aspergillus osteomyelitis: report of failure of liposomal amphotericin B and response to voriconazole in an immunocompetent host and literature review.

PubMed

Stratov, I; Korman, T M; Johnson, P D R

2003-05-01

Presented here is a case of Aspergillus osteomyelitis in an immunocompetent patient that progressed despite surgery and prolonged treatment with liposomal amphotericin B; the report is followed by a review of the literature. The review of this case and 41 similar cases found an overall cure rate of 69%. The importance of surgery when amphotericin B is used as first-line therapy is indicated by a 14% cure rate when amphotericin B is used alone compared to 75% when combined with surgery. When therapy is failing or surgery is contraindicated, dose escalation using a lipid formulation was not effective. On review, the addition of another agent, in particular 5-fluorocytosine, appears to be more beneficial. The patient reported here responded rapidly to voriconazole, a promising new antifungal agent for Aspergillus infections.

Aminophenoxycyclotriphosphazene cured epoxy resins and the composites, laminates, adhesives and structures thereof

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, Devendra (Inventor); Fohlen, George M. (Inventor); Parker, John A. (Inventor)

1977-01-01

Aminophenoxy cyclotriphosphazenes such as hexakis (4-aminophenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene and tris (4-aminophenoxy)-tris phenoxy cyclotriphosphazene are used as curing agents for epoxy resins. These 1,2-epoxy resins are selected from di- or polyepoxide containing organic moieties of the formula (CH2-CHO-CH2) m-W-R-W- (CH2CH-CH2O)m where R is diphenyl dimethylmethane, diphenylmethane; W is a nitrogen or oxygen atom; and m is 1 when W is oxygen and 2 when W is nitrogen. The resins are cured thermally in stages at between about 110 to 135 C for between about 1 and 10 min, then at between about 175 to 185 C for between 0.5 to 10 hr and post cured at between about 215 and 235 C for between 0.1 and 2 hr. These resins are useful for making fire resistant elevated temperature stable composites, laminates, molded parts, and adhesives and structures, usually for aircraft secondary structures and for spacecraft construction.

Effects of adding red wine on the physicochemical properties and sensory characteristics of uncured frankfurter-type sausage.

PubMed

Feng, Xi; Sebranek, Joseph G; Lee, Hyun Yong; Ahn, Dong Uk

2016-11-01

The aim of this work was to evaluate the quality and sensory characteristics of RTE frankfurter-type sausage cured with celery juice powder and including red wine. Four frankfurter treatments including a conventionally cured treatment without red wine (control) and three treatments cured with pre-converted vegetable juice powder and 0%, 5% or 10% (v/w) red wine were prepared. Results showed that adding 5% red wine increased the a*-value, and the textural resilience, cohesiveness and springiness of the frankfurters, as well as decreased lipid/protein oxidation of the final products. Added wine also introduced new volatiles (alcohol and ester compounds) to the frankfurters. The principal component (PC) analysis showed that the pre-converted vegetable juice powder achieved the same effects as the conventional curing agents for typical frankfurter properties. However, the addition of excess amounts of red wine (10%) to the meat batter decreased the pH of meat batter and accelerated lipid oxidation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and properties of a bio-based epoxy resin with high epoxy value and low viscosity.

PubMed

Ma, Songqi; Liu, Xiaoqing; Fan, Libo; Jiang, Yanhua; Cao, Lijun; Tang, Zhaobin; Zhu, Jin

2014-02-01

A bio-based epoxy resin (denoted TEIA) with high epoxy value (1.16) and low viscosity (0.92 Pa s, 258C) was synthesized from itaconic acid and its chemical structure was confirmed by 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Its curing reaction with poly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether) (D230) and methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA) was investigated. For comparison, the commonly used diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) was also cured with the same curing agents. The results demonstrated that TEIA showed higher curing reactivity towards D230/MHHPA and lower viscosity compared with DGEBA, resulting in the better processability. Owing to its high epoxy value and unique structure, comparable or better glass transition temperature as well as mechanical properties could be obtained for the TEIA-based network relative to the DGEBA-based network. The results indicated that itaconic acid is a promising renewable feedstock for the synthesis of bio-based epoxy resin with high performance.

Nanotechnology approaches to eradicating HIV reservoirs.

PubMed

Cao, Shijie; Woodrow, Kim A

2018-06-04

The advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has transformed HIV-1 infection into a controllable chronic disease, but these therapies are incapable of eradicating the virus to bring about an HIV cure. Multiple strategies have been proposed and investigated to eradicate latent viral reservoirs from various biological sanctuaries. However, due to the complexity of HIV infection and latency maintenance, a single drug is unlikely to eliminate all HIV reservoirs and novel strategies may be needed to achieve better efficacy while limiting systemic toxicity. In this review, we describe HIV latency in cellular and anatomical reservoirs, and present an overview of current strategies for HIV cure with a focus on their challenges for clinical translation. We also provide a summary of nanotechnology solutions that have been used to address challenges in HIV cure by delivering physicochemically diverse agents for combination therapy or targeting HIV reservoir sites. We also review nanocarrier-based gene delivery and immunotherapy used in cancer treatment but may have potential applications in HIV cure. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Structure-Stability Relationships of Polymers Based on Thermogravimetric Analysis Data. Part 1. Polyaliphatics, Polyalicyclics, Spiro Polymers and Phenylene-R-Polymers

DTIC Science & Technology

1974-12-01

Polymerization 13 9. Polymers with Bridged Ring Systems 14 10. Spiro Polymers 14 11. Polyphenylene s 16 12. Phenol - Formaldehyde Resins 17 13. Polyphenylene... Formaldehyde Resins A wide variety of phenol- formaldehyde resins , cured with various curing agents, has been evaluated. The Tdec’s (N 2 ), which...415 0 570 415 540C 2- 410 0 -CHI - 0- c-Ci.f-CCH = 1-eC.- 390 540 0 (Phenol- Formaldehyde Resins ) -CVH- (aliph.) 390 / F_ 535 0 - CHL" (epoxy

Concordance measure and discriminatory accuracy in transformation cure models.

PubMed

Zhang, Yilong; Shao, Yongzhao

2018-01-01

Many populations of early-stage cancer patients have non-negligible latent cure fractions that can be modeled using transformation cure models. However, there is a lack of statistical metrics to evaluate prognostic utility of biomarkers in this context due to the challenges associated with unknown cure status and heavy censorship. In this article, we develop general concordance measures as evaluation metrics for the discriminatory accuracy of transformation cure models including the so-called promotion time cure models and mixture cure models. We introduce explicit formulas for the consistent estimates of the concordance measures, and show that their asymptotically normal distributions do not depend on the unknown censoring distribution. The estimates work for both parametric and semiparametric transformation models as well as transformation cure models. Numerical feasibility of the estimates and their robustness to the censoring distributions are illustrated via simulation studies and demonstrated using a melanoma data set. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Graphite-reinforced bone cement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knoell, A. C.

1976-01-01

Chopped graphite fibers added to surgical bone cement form bonding agent with mechanical properties closely matched to those of bone. Curing reaction produces less heat, resulting in reduced traumatization of body tissues. Stiffness is increased without affecting flexural strength.

Compression set in gas-blown condensation-cured polysiloxane elastomers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Patel, Mogon; Chinn, Sarah; Maxwell, Robert S.

2010-12-01

Accelerated thermal ageing studies on foamed condensation cured polysiloxane materials have been performed in support of life assessment and material replacement programmes. Two different types of filled hydrogen-blown and condensation cured polysiloxane foams were tested; commercial (RTV S5370), and an in-house formulated polysiloxane elastomer (Silfoam). Compression set properties were investigated using Thermomechanical (TMA) studies and compared against two separate longer term ageing trials carried out in air and in dry inert gas atmospheres using compression jigs. Isotherms measured from these studies were assessed using time-temperature (T/t) superposition. Acceleration factors were determined and fitted to Arrhenius kinetics. For both materials, themore » thermo-mechanical results were found to closely follow the longer term accelerated ageing trials. Comparison of the accelerated ageing data in dry nitrogen atmospheres against field trial results showed the accelerated ageing trends over predict, however the comparison is difficult as the field data suffer from significant component to component variability. Of the long term ageing trials reported here, those carried out in air deviate more significantly from field trials data compared to those carried out in dry nitrogen atmospheres. For field return samples, there is evidence for residual post-curing reactions influencing mechanical performance, which would accelerate compression set. Multiple quantum-NMR studies suggest that compression set is not associated with significant changes in net crosslink density, but that some degree of network rearrangement has occurred due to viscoelastic relaxation as well as bond breaking and forming processes, with possible post-curing reactions at early times.« less

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation as curative therapy for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: increasingly successful application to older patients

PubMed Central

Fenske, Timothy S.; Hamadani, Mehdi; Cohen, Jonathon B.; Costa, Luciano J.; Kahl, Brad; Evens, Andrew M.; Hamlin, Paul A.; Lazarus, Hillard M.; Petersdorf, Effie; Bredeson, Christopher

2016-01-01

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) constitutes a collection of lymphoproliferative disorders with widely varying biologic, histologic and clinical features. For the B-cell NHLs, great progress has been made due to the addition of monoclonal antibodies and, more recently, other novel agents such as B-cell receptor signaling inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, and proteasome inhibitors. Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) offers the promise of cure or prolonged remission in some NHL patients. For some patients, however, auto-HCT may never be a viable option, while in others their disease may progress despite auto-HCT. In those settings, allogeneic HCT (allo-HCT) offers the potential for cure. Over the past 10–15 years, considerable progress has been made in the implementation of allo-HCT, such that this approach now is a highly effective therapy for patients up to (and even beyond) age 75. Recent advances in conventional lymphoma therapy, peri-transplant supportive care, patient selection, and donor selection (including the use of alternative hematopoietic cell donors), has allowed broader application of allo-HCT to NHL patients. As a result, an ever-increasing number of NHL patients over age 60–65 years stand to benefit from allo-HCT. In this review, we present data in support of the use of allo-HCT for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. These histologies account for a large majority of allo-HCT performed for patients over 60 in the U.S. Where possible, we highlight available data in older patients. This body of literature strongly supports the concept that allo-HCT should be offered to fit patients well beyond age 65 and, accordingly, that this treatment should therefore be covered by their insurance carriers. PMID:27131863

Current Management of Gallbladder Carcinoma

PubMed Central

Hong, Theodore S.; Hezel, Aram F.; Kooby, David A.

2010-01-01

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) represents the most common and aggressive type among the biliary tree cancers (BTCs). Complete surgical resection offers the only chance for cure; however, only 10% of patients with GBC present with early-stage disease and are considered surgical candidates. Among those patients who do undergo “curative” resection, recurrence rates are high. There are no established adjuvant treatments in this setting. Patients with unresectable or metastatic GBC have a poor prognosis. There has been a paucity of randomized phase III data in this field. A recent report demonstrated longer overall survival with gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin than with gemcitabine alone in patients with advanced or metastatic BTCs. Molecularly targeted agents are under development. In this review, we attempt to discuss the current status and key issues involved in the management of GBC. PMID:20147507

Reversal of Latency as Part of a Cure for HIV-1.

PubMed

Rasmussen, Thomas Aagaard; Tolstrup, Martin; Søgaard, Ole Schmeltz

2016-02-01

Here, the use of pharmacological agents to reverse HIV-1 latency will be explored as a therapeutic strategy towards a cure. However, while clinical trials of latency-reversing agents LRAs) have demonstrated their ability to increase production of latent HIV-1, such interventions have not had an effect on the size of the latent HIV-1 reservoir. Plausible explanations for this include insufficient host immune responses against virus-expressing cells, the presence of escape mutations in archived virus, or an insufficient scale of latency reversal. Importantly, these early studies of LRAs were primarily designed to investigate their ability to perturb the state of HIV-1 latency; using the absence of an impact on the size of the HIV-1 reservoir to discard their potential inclusion in curative strategies would be erroneous and premature. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development and evaluation of epoxidized soybean oil-based polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juangvanich, Nuanpen

Epoxidized Soybean Oil (ESO) based polymers were developed using diamine curing agents and BF3:NH2C2H5 as catalyst. Reactions involved the curing process were explored and monitored by DSC and IR analysis. Amine-epoxy addition reactions governed the main curing reaction at the temperature range of 60--235°C, and the supplementary reactions at higher temperatures were either homopolymerization or etherification reaction. In the aliphatic curing reactions, the epoxy-rich system favored the supplementary reactions at high temperature, however, ESO cured with 1,6 hexanediamine (HDA) always produced the high temperature reaction products, due to some side reactions and the high volatile nature. The curing reaction with aromatic diamines produced inherent rigidity to the cured ESO network, which decreased the high temperature reactions. The system cured with a short aromatic diamine, 1,4-phenyldiamine (PDA), produced a small extent of high temperature reaction, as well. It was believed that the long length diamine with wide separation of the two amines underwent an intermolecular cross-linking reaction, and derived better properties than the shorter diamine. A post-cure process was used to improve the final polymer properties by increasing the temperature after the initial curing reaction was quenched due to gelation. Extending the time of post-curing did not significantly improve properties of the final ESO polymers. Exposing the cured samples at 180°C for longer than 12 hours decreased the properties of the cured material, due to thermal strain generating in the network structure. To increase time efficiency, short heat cycles were performed by post-curing right after gelation, and the cured ESO polymer had tensile strength of 32 MPa, modulus 750 MPa and toughness 1.3 MPa. With the introduction of EPON 828, the mechanical properties of a new ESO polymer improved; having strength above 40 MPa, modulus great than 1,000 MPa, and Tg higher than 40°C. Finally, a rice hull particleboard was developed using the cured ESO resin as adhesive, and the board had strength comparable to the National Bureau of Standards minimum requirement for particleboard. A 35 wt % of ESO resin imparted the highest strength for the rice hull board, with a value of 15.5 MPa.

Usefulness of Photodynamic Therapy in the Management of Onychomycosis.

PubMed

Robres, P; Aspiroz, C; Rezusta, A; Gilaberte, Y

2015-12-01

Onychomycosis, or fungal infection of the nails, is one of the most prevalent fungal diseases in the general population. Treatment is of limited effectiveness, tedious, and must be administered for long periods. Furthermore, systemic antifungal agents are associated with adverse effects. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) may prove to be a viable alternative in the treatment of superficial skin infections, including onychomycosis. We review articles relating to the usefulness of PDT in onychomycosis in both in vitro and in vivo settings and discuss the potential and limitations of various photosensitizing agents. In vivo, methylene blue and 5-aminolevulinic acid have led to cure rates in 80% and 43% of cases, respectively, at 12 months. Finally, based on data in the literature and our own experience, we propose a protocol of 3 PDT sessions, separated by an interval of 1 or 2 weeks, using methyl aminolevulinate 16% as a photosensitizing agent and red light (λ=630 nm, 37 J.cm(-2)). Each session is preceded by the topical application of urea 40% over several days. Clinical trials are needed to optimize PDT protocols and to identify those patients who will benefit most from this treatment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and AEDV. All rights reserved.

Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Call to Action for Surgeons

PubMed Central

Duane, Therese M.; Catena, Fausto; Tessier, Jeffrey M.; Coccolini, Federico; Kao, Lillian S.; De Simone, Belinda; Labricciosa, Francesco M.; May, Addison K.; Ansaloni, Luca; Mazuski, John E.

2016-01-01

Abstract Despite current antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) being advocated by infectious disease specialists and discussed by national and international policy makers, ASPs coverage remains limited to only certain hospitals as well as specific service lines within hospitals. The ASPs incorporate a variety of strategies to optimize antimicrobial agent use in the hospital, yet the exact set of interventions essential to ASP success remains unknown. Promotion of ASPs across clinical practice is crucial to their success to ensure standardization of antimicrobial agent use within an institution. To effectively accomplish this standardization, providers who actively engage in antimicrobial agent prescribing should participate in the establishment and support of these programs. Hence, surgeons need to play a major role in these collaborations. Surgeons must be aware that judicious antibiotic utilization is an integral part of any stewardship program and necessary to maximize clinical cure and minimize emergence of antimicrobial resistance. The battle against antibiotic resistance should be fought by all healthcare professionals. If surgeons around the world participate in this global fight and demonstrate awareness of the major problem of antimicrobial resistance, they will be pivotal leaders. If surgeons fail to actively engage and use antibiotics judiciously, they will find themselves deprived of the autonomy to treat their patients. PMID:27828764

Effects of Grapefruit Seed Extract on Oxidative Stability and Quality Properties of Cured Chicken Breast.

PubMed

Kang, Su-Tae; Son, Hee-Kyoung; Lee, Hyun-Joo; Choi, Jung-Seok; Choi, Yang-Il; Lee, Jae-Joon

2017-01-01

This study investigated the antioxidative and functional effects of a curing agent containing grapefruit seed extract (GSE) on the quality and storage characteristics of chicken breast. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents of GSE were 45.06 mg/g and 36.06 mg/g, respectively. The IC 50 value of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydroxyl scavenging of GSE was 333.33 μg/mL. The chicken breast comprised six groups: no-treatment (N), 0.2% ascorbic acid + 70 ppm sodium nitrite (C), 0.05% GSE (G0.05), 0.1% GSE (G0.1), 0.3% GSE (G0.3), and 0.5% GSE (G0.5). The pH and cooking loss of cured chicken breast decreased with increasing GSE levels, and the water holding capacity increased with increasing GSE levels. The hardness and chewiness of GSE-treated chicken breast were higher than those of N and C. Hunter's L and a color values increased significantly after GSE addition. Moreover, 0.1% GSE (G0.1) increased the flavor and total acceptability scores. The 2-thiobarbituric acid and volatile basic nitrogen values of the 0.5% GSE group decreased significantly compared with those of C group. Total microbial counts of GSE-treated chicken breast were higher than those of C, but that lower than those of N. Adding GSE to chicken breast delayed lipid peroxidation and had antimicrobial effects during cold storage. GSE improved shelf life and palatability; therefore, it could be used as a natural antioxidant and functional curing agent ingredient in meat products.

Effects of Grapefruit Seed Extract on Oxidative Stability and Quality Properties of Cured Chicken Breast

PubMed Central

Lee, Hyun-Joo; Choi, Jung-Seok; Choi, Yang-Il

2017-01-01

This study investigated the antioxidative and functional effects of a curing agent containing grapefruit seed extract (GSE) on the quality and storage characteristics of chicken breast. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents of GSE were 45.06 mg/g and 36.06 mg/g, respectively. The IC50 value of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydroxyl scavenging of GSE was 333.33 μg/mL. The chicken breast comprised six groups: no-treatment (N), 0.2% ascorbic acid + 70 ppm sodium nitrite (C), 0.05% GSE (G0.05), 0.1% GSE (G0.1), 0.3% GSE (G0.3), and 0.5% GSE (G0.5). The pH and cooking loss of cured chicken breast decreased with increasing GSE levels, and the water holding capacity increased with increasing GSE levels. The hardness and chewiness of GSE-treated chicken breast were higher than those of N and C. Hunter's L and a color values increased significantly after GSE addition. Moreover, 0.1% GSE (G0.1) increased the flavor and total acceptability scores. The 2-thiobarbituric acid and volatile basic nitrogen values of the 0.5% GSE group decreased significantly compared with those of C group. Total microbial counts of GSE-treated chicken breast were higher than those of C, but that lower than those of N. Adding GSE to chicken breast delayed lipid peroxidation and had antimicrobial effects during cold storage. GSE improved shelf life and palatability; therefore, it could be used as a natural antioxidant and functional curing agent ingredient in meat products. PMID:28747829

Sofalcone, a mucoprotective agent, increases the cure rate of Helicobacter pylori infection when combined with rabeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin

PubMed Central

Isomoto, Hajime; Furusu, Hisashi; Ohnita, Ken; Wen, Chun-Yang; Inoue, Kenichiro; Kohno, Shigeru

2005-01-01

AIM: The mucoprotective agents, sofalcone and polaprezinc have anti-Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) activities. We determined the therapeutic effects of sofalcone and polaprezinc when combined with rabeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin for Helicobacter pylori infection. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-five consecutive outpatients with peptic ulcer and H pylori infection were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups and medicated for 7 d. Group A: triple therapy with rabeprazole (10 mg twice daily), clarithromycin (200 mg twice daily) and amoxicillin (750 mg twice daily). Group B: sofalcone (100 mg thrice daily) plus the triple therapy. Group C: polaprezinc (150 mg twice daily) plus the triple therapy. Eradication was considered successful if 13C-urea breath test was negative at least 4 wk after cessation of eradication regimens or successive famotidine in the cases of active peptic ulcer. RESULTS: On intention-to-treat basis, H pylori cure was achieved in 43 of 55 (78.2%) patients, 47 of 54 (87.0%) and 45 of 56 (80.4%) for the groups A, B and C respectively. Using per protocol analysis, the eradication rates were 81.1% (43/53), 94.0% (47/50) and 84.9% (45/53) respectively. There was a significant difference in the cure rates between group A and B. Adverse events occurred in 10, 12 and 11 patients, from groups A, B and C respectively, but the events were generally mild. CONCLUSION: The addition of sofalcone, but not polaprezinc, significantly increased the cure rate of H pylori infection when combined with the rabeprazole-amoxicillin-clarithromycin regimen. PMID:15786539

Structure Property Relationships of Biobased Epoxy Resins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maiorana, Anthony Surraht

The thesis is about the synthesis, characterization, development, and application of epoxy resins derived from sustainable feedstocks such as lingo-cellulose, plant oils, and other non-food feedstocks. The thesis can be divided into two main topics 1) the synthesis and structure property relationship investigation of new biobased epoxy resin families and 2) mixing epoxy resins with reactive diluents, nanoparticles, toughening agents, and understanding co-curing reactions, filler/matrix interactions, and cured epoxy resin thermomechanical, viscoelastic, and dielectric properties. The thesis seeks to bridge the gap between new epoxy resin development, application for composites and advanced materials, processing and manufacturing, and end of life of thermoset polymers. The structures of uncured epoxy resins are characterized through traditional small molecule techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance, high resolution mass spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy. The structure of epoxy resin monomers are further understood through the process of curing the resins and cured resins' properties through rheology, chemorheology, dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile testing, fracture toughness, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and notched izod impact testing. It was found that diphenolate esters are viable alternatives to bisphenol A and that the structure of the ester side chain can have signifi-cant effects on monomer viscosity. The structure of the cured diphenolate based epoxy resins also influence glass transition temperature and dielectric properties. Incorporation of reactive diluents and flexible resins can lower viscosity, extend gel time, and enable processing of high filler content composites and increase fracture toughness. Incorpora-tion of high elastic modulus nanoparticles such as graphene can provide increases in physical properties such as elastic modulus and fracture toughness. The synthesis of epoxy resins with aliphatic esters in the main chain of the polymer allow for chemical recycling under alkaline conditions and changing the hydrophobicity and access of main chain esters influences the rate of polymer degradation. The thesis further provides strategies and concepts that will allow for future researchers to rapidly understand how to manipulate epoxy resins for specific end uses and supplements current understanding of epoxy curing agents, accelerators, and interactions with fillers.

Thermodynamic and mechanical properties of epoxy resin DGEBF crosslinked with DETDA by molecular dynamics.

PubMed

Tack, Jeremy L; Ford, David M

2008-06-01

Fully atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to predict the properties of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F (DGEBF) crosslinked with curing agent diethyltoluenediamine (DETDA). This polymer is a commercially important epoxy resin and a candidate for applications in nanocomposites. The calculated properties were density and bulk modulus (at near-ambient pressure and temperature) and glass transition temperature (at near-ambient pressure). The molecular topology, degree of curing, and MD force-field were investigated as variables. The models were created by densely packing pre-constructed oligomers of different composition and connectivity into a periodic simulation box. For high degrees of curing (greater than 90%), the density was found to be insensitive to the molecular topology and precise value of degree of curing. Of the two force-fields that were investigated, cff91 and COMPASS, the latter clearly gave more accurate values for the density as compared to experiment. In fact, the density predicted by COMPASS was within 6% of reported experimental values for the highly crosslinked polymer. The predictions of both force-fields for glass transition temperature were within the range of reported experimental values, with the predictions of cff91 being more consistent with a highly cured resin.

Is aspiration and sclerotherapy treatment for hydroceles in the aging male an evidence-based treatment?

PubMed

Taylor, W St J; Cobley, J; Mahmalji, W

2018-01-16

Symptomatic hydroceles are commonly treated with surgical repair. They are associated with sexual dysfunction in the aging male. Patients who are not fit for surgery often undergo aspiration and sclerotherapy of the hydrocele. There is a range of sclerosing agents used in the literature. I performed a literature search to assess whether one sclerosant was better than the others. STDS is the sclerosing agent with the best cure rate after a single injection and low side effect rates. The cure rates of sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STDS) after a single aspiration and injection were 76%. After multiple treatments 94% achieved a cure. Patient satisfaction rates at mean 40 months were 95%. Complication rates were generally low and much lower than surgical repair. Aspiration and sclerotherapy have a role in treating symptomatic hydroceles. This literature review shows that this is over and above its current use in the UK, where it is used for patients unfit for general anaesthetic. If the patients are carefully selected for this procedure, they can have a good outcome and avoid the higher complication rate and longer recovery rates of surgical repair. Patients should be counselled about aspiration and sclerotherapy as part of the informed consent process.

Bridge decks : mitigation of cracking and increased durability.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-06-01

The application of pre-soaked lightweight aggregates (LWA) as an internal curing agent in concrete to reduce the cracking due to drying shrinkage is thoroughly studied in this report. It is determined that although LWA can significantly reduce autoge...

Bridge Decks: Mitigation of Cracking and Increased Durability.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-06-01

The application of pre-soaked lightweight aggregates (LWA) as an internal curing agent in concrete to reduce the cracking due to drying shrinkage is thoroughly studied in this report. It is determined that although LWA can significantly reduce autoge...

LAND AND SEA RESTORATION

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Technical product bulletin: this bioremediation agent (nutrient additive) for oil spill cleanups can be used on water, soil, or hard surfaces. It will not damage cured asphalt if used as an absorbent for spills. Apply at 1 part to 3 parts hydrocarbon.

Effects of tributylborane-activated adhesive and two silane agents on bonding computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) resin composite.

PubMed

Shinohara, Ayano; Taira, Yohsuke; Sawase, Takashi

2017-10-01

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an experimental adhesive agent [methyl methacrylate-tributylborane liquid (MT)] and two adhesive agents containing silane on the bonding between a resin composite block of a computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system and a light-curing resin composite veneering material. The surfaces of CAD/CAM resin composite specimens were ground with silicon-carbide paper, treated with phosphoric acid, and then primed with either one of the two silane agents [Scotchbond Universal Adhesive (SC) and GC Ceramic Primer II (GC)], no adhesive control (Cont), or one of three combinations (MT/SC, MT/GC, and MT/Cont). A light-curing resin composite was veneered on the primed CAD/CAM resin composite surface. The veneered specimens were subjected to thermocycling between 4 and 60 °C for 10,000 cycles, and the shear bond strengths were determined. All data were analyzed using analysis of variance and a post hoc Tukey-Kramer HSD test (α = 0.05, n = 8). MT/SC (38.7 MPa) exhibited the highest mean bond strengths, followed by MT/GC (30.4 MPa), SC (27.9 MPa), and MT/Cont (25.7 MPa), while Cont (12.9 MPa) and GC (12.3 MPa) resulted in the lowest bond strengths. The use of MT in conjunction with a silane agent significantly improved the bond strength. Surface treatment with appropriate adhesive agents was confirmed as a prerequisite for veneering CAD/CAM resin composite restorations.

Adhesion of Candida albicans to Vanillin Incorporated Self-Curing Orthodontic PMMA Resin.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zam, K.; Sawaengkit, P.; Thaweboon, S.; Thaweboon, B.

2018-02-01

It has been observed that there is an increase in Candida carriers during the treatment with orthodontic removable appliance. Vanillin is flavouring agent, which is known to have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vanillin incorporated PMMA on adhesion of Candida albicans. A total of 36 orthodontic self-curing PMMA resin samples were fabricated. The samples were divided into 3 groups depending on percentage of vanillin incorporated (0.1%, 0.5% and PMMA without vanillin as control). PMMA samples were coated with saliva. The adhesion assay was performed with C. albicans (ATCC 10231). The adherent yeast cells were stained with crystal violet and counted under microscope by random selection of 3 fields at 10X magnification. The statistical analyses performed by Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney non-parametric test. It was found that the PMMA resin samples with vanillin incorporation significantly reduced the adhesion of C. albicans as compared to the control group. This study indicates that vanillin incorporated resin can impede the adhesion of C. albicans to about 45 - 56 %. With further testing and development, vanillin can be employed as an antifungal agent to prevent adhesion of C. albicans to orthodontic self-curing PMMA resin.

Chemoviscosity modeling for thermosetting resins - I

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hou, T. H.

1984-01-01

A new analytical model for chemoviscosity variation during cure of thermosetting resins was developed. This model is derived by modifying the widely used WLF (Williams-Landel-Ferry) Theory in polymer rheology. Major assumptions involved are that the rate of reaction is diffusion controlled and is linearly inversely proportional to the viscosity of the medium over the entire cure cycle. The resultant first order nonlinear differential equation is solved numerically, and the model predictions compare favorably with experimental data of EPON 828/Agent U obtained on a Rheometrics System 4 Rheometer. The model describes chemoviscosity up to a range of six orders of magnitude under isothermal curing conditions. The extremely non-linear chemoviscosity profile for a dynamic heating cure cycle is predicted as well. The model is also shown to predict changes of glass transition temperature for the thermosetting resin during cure. The physical significance of this prediction is unclear at the present time, however, and further research is required. From the chemoviscosity simulation point of view, the technique of establishing an analytical model as described here is easily applied to any thermosetting resin. The model thus obtained is used in real-time process controls for fabricating composite materials.

Combined method for simultaneously dewatering and reconstituting finely divided carbonaceous material

DOEpatents

Wen, Wu-Wey; Deurbrouck, Albert W.

1990-01-01

A finely-divided carbonaceous material is dewatered and reconstituted in a combined process by adding a binding agent directly into slurry of finely divided material and dewatering the material to form a cake or consolidated piece which can be hardened by drying at ambient or elevated temperatures. Alternatively, the binder often in the form of a crusting agent is sprayed onto the surface of a moist cake prior to curing.

Microwave-Assisted Curing of Silicon Carbide-Reinforced Epoxy Composites: Role of Dielectric Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pal, Ranu; Akhtar, M. J.; Kar, Kamal K.

2018-05-01

In this work, the dielectric properties of epoxy-based composites are significantly improved with the help of the silicon carbide (SiC) filler at an operating frequency of 2.45 GHz to make them ideal candidates for microwave curing. The improvement is due to enhancement of the interfacial polarization because of the presence of the SiC filler. The dielectric properties are measured using the microwave cavity perturbation method. The cavity structure is simulated using the COMSOL@Multiphysics software to verify the measured data in terms of the resonant frequency. Finally, all the SiC-based composites including the neat epoxy resin are heated in the 2.45 GHz microwave oven at 300 W for 20 min. The thermal and mechanical properties of all the cured composites are measured, and the data are compared with their room temperature pre-cured counterparts. The dielectric properties of composite samples using SiC as a reinforcing agent in the epoxy are found to be substantially improved compared with those of the pure epoxy sample, which actually leads to better curing of these composite using the 2.45 GHz microwave system.

Autogenous accelerated curing of concrete cylinders. Part IV, Moisture relationships.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1971-01-01

Eighteen different concrete mixtures were proportioned to investigate the influence of cement types (II and III), water cement ratios (0.4, 0.5, and 0.6), and admixtures (accelerator, retarder, and air entraining agent) on the moisture changes during...

Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program | Office of Cancer Genomics

Cancer.gov

The Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) seeks to improve the lives of cancer patients by finding better treatments, control mechanisms, and cures for cancer. CTEP funds a national program of cancer research, sponsoring clinical trials to evaluate new anti-cancer agents.

Structural and electronic properties of carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy resins.

PubMed

Suggs, Kelvin; Wang, Xiao-Qian

2010-03-01

Nanocomposites of cured epoxy resin reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes exhibit a plethora of interesting behaviors at the molecular level. We have employed a combination of force-field-based molecular mechanics and first-principles calculations to study the corresponding binding and charge-transfer behavior. The simulation study of various nanotube species and curing agent configurations provides insight into the optimal structures in lieu of interfacial stability. An analysis of charge distributions of the epoxy functionalized semiconducting and metallic tubes reveals distinct level hybridizations. The implications of these results for understanding dispersion mechanism and future nano reinforced composite developments are discussed.

Meat mixture detection in Iberian pork sausages.

PubMed

Ortiz-Somovilla, V; España-España, F; De Pedro-Sanz, E J; Gaitán-Jurado, A J

2005-11-01

Five homogenized meat mixture treatments of Iberian (I) and/or Standard (S) pork were set up. Each treatment was analyzed by NIRS as a fresh product (N=75) and as dry-cured sausage (N=75). Spectra acquisition was carried out using DA 7000 equipment (Perten Instruments), obtaining a total of 750 spectra. Several absorption peaks and bands were selected as the most representative for homogenized dry-cured and fresh sausages. Discriminant analysis and mixture prediction equations were carried out based on the spectral data gathered. The best results using discriminant models were for fresh products, with 98.3% (calibration) and 60% (validation) correct classification. For dry-cured sausages 91.7% (calibration) and 80% (validation) of the samples were correctly classified. Models developed using mixture prediction equations showed SECV=4.7, r(2)=0.98 (calibration) and 73.3% of validation set were correctly classified for the fresh product. These values for dry-cured sausages were SECV=5.9, r(2)=0.99 (calibration) and 93.3% correctly classified for validation.

Treatment Options for Paediatric Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL): Current Standard and beyond.

PubMed

Prokoph, Nina; Larose, Hugo; Lim, Megan S; Burke, G A Amos; Turner, Suzanne D

2018-03-30

Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)-positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), remains one of the most curable cancers in the paediatric setting; multi-agent chemotherapy cures approximately 65-90% of patients. Over the last two decades, major efforts have focused on improving the survival rate by intensification of combination chemotherapy regimens and employing stem cell transplantation for chemotherapy-resistant patients. More recently, several new and 'renewed' agents have offered the opportunity for a change in the paradigm for the management of both chemo-sensitive and chemo-resistant forms of ALCL. The development of ALK inhibitors following the identification of the EML4-ALK fusion gene in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) has opened new possibilities for ALK-positive ALCL. The uniform expression of CD30 on the cell surface of ALCL has given the opportunity for anti-CD30 antibody therapy. The re-evaluation of vinblastine, which has shown remarkable activity as a single agent even in the face of relapsed disease, has led to the consideration of a revised approach to frontline therapy. The advent of immune therapies such as checkpoint inhibition has provided another option for the treatment of ALCL. In fact, the number of potential new agents now presents a real challenge to the clinical community that must prioritise those thought to offer the most promise for the future. In this review, we will focus on the current status of paediatric ALCL therapy, explore how new and 'renewed' agents are re-shaping the therapeutic landscape for ALCL, and identify the strategies being employed in the next generation of clinical trials.

Influence of power density on the setting behaviour of light-cured glass-ionomer cements monitored by ultrasound measurements.

PubMed

Tonegawa, Motoka; Yasuda, Genta; Chikako, Takubo; Tamura, Yukie; Yoshida, Takeshi; Kurokawa, Hiroyasu; Miyazaki, Masashi

2009-07-01

To monitor the influence of the power density of the curing unit on the setting behaviour of light-cured glass-ionomer cements (LCGICs) using ultrasound measurements. The ultrasound equipment comprised a pulser-receiver, transducers and an oscilloscope. The LCGICs used were Fuji II LC, Fuji II LC EM and Fuji Filling LC. The cements were mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions and then inserted into a transparent mould. The specimens were placed on the sample stage and cured with power densities of 0 (no irradiation), 200 or 600 mW/cm(2). The transit time through the cement disk was divided by the specimen thickness and then the longitudinal ultrasound velocity (V) within the material was obtained. Analysis of variance and Tukey's Honestly Significantly Different test were used to compare the V values between the set cements. When the LCGICs were light-irradiated, each curve displayed an initial plateau at approximately 1500 m/s and then rapidly increased to a second plateau at approximately 2600 m/s. The rate of increase of V was retarded when the cements were light-irradiated with a power density of 200 mW/cm(2) than with a power density of 600 mW/cm(2). Although sonic echoes were detected from the beginning of the measurements, the rates of increase of the sonic velocity were relatively slow when the cement was not light-irradiated. The ultrasound device monitored the setting processes of LCGICs accurately based on the longitudinal V. The polymerization behaviour of LCGICs was shown to be affected by the power density of the curing unit.

Unexpected cure from cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a patient treated with N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (miglustat) for Gaucher disease.

PubMed

Machaczka, M; Klimkowska, M; Hägglund, H

2012-06-01

Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (CLV) is a necrotizing inflammation of the small vessels in the dermis. We report the case of a Swedish man with an untreated N370S/L444P Gaucher disease who developed CLV at the age of 79 years. The patient has been treated for CLV with topical and oral corticosteroids, moisturizing agents, and periodically with antibiotics for 3 years without improvement. Administration of miglustat (N-butyldeoxynojirimycin; Zavesca®) because of progress of Gaucher disease resulted in a prompt and durable cure of the CLV.

Corrosion Protection of Phenolic-Epoxy/Tetraglycidyl Metaxylediamine Composite Coatings in a Temperature-Controlled Borax Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Wenhua; Wang, Zhenyu; Han, En-Hou; Liu, Chunbo

2017-12-01

The failure behavior for two kinds of phenolic-epoxy/tetraglycidyl metaxylediamine composite coatings in 60 °C borax aqueous solution was evaluated using electrochemical methods (EIS) combined with scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscope, water immersion test, and Raman spectrum. The main focus was on the effect of curing agent on the corrosion protection of coatings. Results revealed that the coating cured by phenolic modified aromatic amine possessed more compact cross-linked structure, better wet adhesion, lower water absorption (0.064 mg h-1 cm-2) and its impedance values was closed to 108 Ω cm2 after immersion for 576 h, while the coating cured by modified aromatic ring aliphatic amine was lower than 105 Ω cm2. The corrosion mechanism of the two coatings is discussed.

Curing system for high voltage cross linked cables

DOEpatents

Bahder, George; Katz, Carlos; Bopp, Louis A.

1978-01-01

This invention makes extruded, vulcanized, high voltage cables insulated with thermosetting compounds at much higher rates of production and with superior insulation of reduced thickness and with reduced cavities or voids in the insulation. As the cable comes from an extruder, it passes into a curing chamber with a heat booster that quickly raises the insulation to a temperature at which it is cured much more quickly than with steam heating of the prior art. A high temperature liquid in contact with the insulation maintains the high temperature; and because of the greater curing heat, the cable can travel through the curing chamber at a faster rate and into a cooling tube where it contacts with a cooling liquid under high pressure. The insulation compound is treated to reduce the size of cavities; and the high pressure maintained by the curing and cooling mediums prevent expansion of cavities before the insulation is set.

Cure fraction model with random effects for regional variation in cancer survival.

PubMed

Seppä, Karri; Hakulinen, Timo; Kim, Hyon-Jung; Läärä, Esa

2010-11-30

Assessing regional differences in the survival of cancer patients is important but difficult when separate regions are small or sparsely populated. In this paper, we apply a mixture cure fraction model with random effects to cause-specific survival data of female breast cancer patients collected by the population-based Finnish Cancer Registry. Two sets of random effects were used to capture the regional variation in the cure fraction and in the survival of the non-cured patients, respectively. This hierarchical model was implemented in a Bayesian framework using a Metropolis-within-Gibbs algorithm. To avoid poor mixing of the Markov chain, when the variance of either set of random effects was close to zero, posterior simulations were based on a parameter-expanded model with tailor-made proposal distributions in Metropolis steps. The random effects allowed the fitting of the cure fraction model to the sparse regional data and the estimation of the regional variation in 10-year cause-specific breast cancer survival with a parsimonious number of parameters. Before 1986, the capital of Finland clearly stood out from the rest, but since then all the 21 hospital districts have achieved approximately the same level of survival. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A thermo-chemo-mechanically coupled constitutive model for curing of glassy polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sain, Trisha; Loeffel, Kaspar; Chester, Shawn

2018-07-01

Curing of a polymer is the process through which a polymer liquid transitions into a solid polymer, capable of bearing mechanical loads. The curing process is a coupled thermo-chemo-mechanical conversion process which requires a thorough understanding of the system behavior to predict the cure dependent mechanical behavior of the solid polymer. In this paper, a thermodynamically consistent, frame indifferent, thermo-chemo-mechanically coupled continuum level constitutive framework is proposed for thermally cured glassy polymers. The constitutive framework considers the thermodynamics of chemical reactions, as well as the material behavior for a glassy polymer. A stress-free intermediate configuration is introduced within a finite deformation setting to capture the formation of the network in a stress-free configuration. This work considers a definition for the degree of cure based on the chemistry of the curing reactions. A simplified version of the proposed model has been numerically implemented, and simulations are used to understand the capabilities of the model and framework.

Past, Current, and Future Developments of Therapeutic Agents for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

PubMed

Pei, Yameng; Wang, Chunting; Yan, S Frank; Liu, Gang

2017-08-10

For decades, treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been relying on interferon (IFN)-based therapies and nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs) that selectively target the viral polymerase reverse transcriptase (RT) domain and thereby disrupt HBV viral DNA synthesis. We have summarized here the key steps in the HBV viral life cycle, which could potentially be targeted by novel anti-HBV therapeutics. A wide range of next-generation direct antiviral agents (DAAs) with distinct mechanisms of actions are discussed, including entry inhibitors, transcription inhibitors, nucleoside/nucleotide analogues, inhibitors of viral ribonuclease H (RNase H), modulators of viral capsid assembly, inhibitors of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) secretion, RNA interference (RNAi) gene silencers, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and natural products. Compounds that exert their antiviral activities mainly through host factors and immunomodulation, such as host targeting agents (HTAs), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, are also discussed. In this Perspective, we hope to provide an overview, albeit by no means being comprehensive, for the recent development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic HBV infection, which not only are able to sustainably suppress viral DNA but also aim to achieve functional cure warranted by HBsAg loss and ultimately lead to virus eradication and cure of hepatitis B.

Development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of Penicillium nordicum in dry-cured meat products.

PubMed

Ferrara, M; Perrone, G; Gallo, A; Epifani, F; Visconti, A; Susca, A

2015-06-02

The need of powerful diagnostic tools for rapid, simple, and cost-effective detection of food-borne fungi has become very important in the area of food safety. Currently, several isothermal nucleic acid amplification methods have been developed as an alternative to PCR-based analyses. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is one of these innovative methods; it requires neither gel electrophoresis to separate and visualize the products nor expensive laboratory equipment and it has been applied already for detection of pathogenic organisms. In the current study, we developed a LAMP assay for the specific detection of Penicillium nordicum, the major causative agent of ochratoxin A contamination in protein-rich food, especially dry-cured meat products. The assay was based on targeting otapksPN gene, a key gene in the biosynthesis of ochratoxin A (OTA) in P. nordicum. Amplification of DNA during the reaction was detected directly in-tube by color transition of hydroxynaphthol blue from violet to sky blue, visible to the naked eye, avoiding further post amplification analyses. Only DNAs isolated from several P. nordicum strains led to positive results and no amplification was observed from non-target OTA and non OTA-producing strains. The assay was able to detect down to 100 fg of purified targeted genomic DNA or 10(2) conidia/reaction within 60 min. The LAMP assay for detection and identification of P. nordicum was combined with a rapid DNA extraction method set up on serially diluted conidia, providing an alternative rapid, specific and sensitive DNA-based method suitable for application directly "on-site", notably in key steps of dry-cured meat production. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel self-healing materials chemistries for targeted applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, Gerald O.

Self-healing materials of the type developed by White and co-workers [1] were designed to autonomically heal themselves when damaged, thereby extending the lifetime of various applications in which such material systems are employed. The system was based on urea-formaldehyde microcapsules containing dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and Grubbs' catalyst particles embedded together in an epoxy matrix. When a crack propagates through the material, it ruptures the microcapsules, releasing DCPD into the crack plane, where it comes in contact and reacts with the catalyst to initiate a ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), bonding the crack and restoring structural continuity. The present work builds on this concept in several ways. Firstly, it expands the scope and versatility of the ROMP self-healing chemistry by incorporation into epoxy vinyl ester matrices. Major technical challenges in this application include protection of the catalyst from deactivation by aggressive curing agents, and optimization of the concentration of healing agents in the matrix. Secondly, new ruthenium catalysts are evaluated for application in ROMP-based self-healing materials. The use of alternative derivatives of Grubbs' catalyst gave rise to self-healing systems with improved healing efficiencies and thermal properties. Evaluation of the stability of these new catalysts to primary amine curing agents used in the curing of common epoxy matrices also led to the discovery and characterization of new ruthenium catalysts which exhibited ROMP initiation kinetics superior to those of first and second generation Grubbs' catalysts. Finally, free radical polymerization was evaluated for application in the development of bio-compatible self-healing materials. [1] White, S. R.; Sottos, N. R.; Geubelle, P. R.; Moore, J. S.; Kessler, M. R.; Sriram, S. R.; Brown, E. N.; Viswanathan, S. Nature 2001, 409, 794.

Injectable biomaterials for minimally invasive orthopedic treatments.

PubMed

Jayabalan, M; Shalumon, K T; Mitha, M K

2009-06-01

Biodegradable and injectable hydroxy terminated-poly propylene fumarate (HT-PPF) bone cement was developed. The injectable formulation consisting HT-PPF and comonomer, n-vinyl pyrrolidone, calcium phosphate filler, free radical catalyst, accelerator and radiopaque agent sets rapidly to hard mass with low exothermic temperature. The candidate bone cement attains mechanical strength more than the required compressive strength of 5 MPa and compressive modulus 50 MPa. The candidate bone cement resin elicits cell adhesion and cytoplasmic spreading of osteoblast cells. The cured bone cement does not induce intracutaneous irritation and skin sensitization. The candidate bone cement is tissue compatible without eliciting any adverse tissue reactions. The candidate bone cement is osteoconductive and inductive and allow osteointegration and bone remodeling. HT-PPF bone cement is candidate bone cement for minimally invasive radiological procedures for the treatment of bone diseases and spinal compression fractures.

A clinical trial of Empress II porcelain inlays luted to vital teeth with a dual-curing adhesive system and a self-curing resin cement.

PubMed

Fabianelli, Andrea; Goracci, Cecilia; Bertelli, Egidio; Davidson, Carel L; Ferrari, Marco

2006-12-01

The aim of the study was to clinically evaluate Empress II inlays cemented with a dual-curing bonding agent and a self-curing luting system. Forty patients were selected to receive one Empress II inlay. Empress II is a heat-pressed glass ceramic containing lithium disilicate and lithium orthophosphate crystals, purported to provide higher stress resistance and improved strength. The restorations were placed between March and May 2000. Recalls were performed after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. At the 3-year recall, 7 patients were lost to follow-up. Inlays were evaluated for postoperative sensitivity, marginal integrity, marginal leakage, color stability, surface staining, retention, and surface crazing (microcracks). At the 3-year recall, all the restorations were in place and only one showed postoperative sensitivity (at the first recall, 1 week after placement). Only 3 inlays showed slight marginal staining, and 4 inlays showed gaps, with little surface staining or microcracks. No inlay debonded or fractured during theobservation period. All the evaluated inlays were in place and acceptable.

Current Management of Chronic Hepatitis B and C in Chronic Kidney Disease.

PubMed

Mikolajczyk, Adam E; Aronsohn, Andrew I

2015-09-01

The landscape of therapeutic options for hepatitis B and C has changed drastically over the course of 2 decades. There are now novel, effective, well-tolerated, oral antiviral agents being used to successfully control chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infections and cure chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infections. However, patients with CKD were rarely included in the Phase II and III randomized trials for these medications. This paucity of data and the high prevalence of comorbidities associated with CKD pose distinct challenges to physicians treating chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in the setting of kidney insufficiency/failure. Thus, this review will attempt to summarize the current data regarding novel antiviral therapies for HBV and HCV in the CKD population. Copyright © 2015 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Brief History of Syphilis

PubMed Central

Tampa, M; Sarbu, I; Matei, C; Benea, V; Georgescu, SR

2014-01-01

Abstract Before the discovery of Treponema pallidum as the etiologic agent, the origins of syphilis have been the subject of several debates. Diverse therapeutic agents were employed in an attempt to cure the disease. Examining the milestones in the history of syphilis, the present article reviews the existing theories that tried to explain the origins of the disease, the approach in art, the cultural and the evolution of the treatments from the empiric means to the discovery of penicillin. PMID:24653750

Imide modified epoxy matrix resins

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scola, D. A.; Pater, R. H.

1981-01-01

High char yield epoxy using novel bisimide amines (BIA's) as curing agents with a state of the art epoxy resin was developed. Stoichiometric quantities of the epoxy resin and the BIA's were studied to determine the cure cycle required for preparation of resin specimens. The bisimide cured epoxies were designated IME's (imide modified epoxy). The physical, thermal and mechanical properties of these novel resins were determined. The levels of moisture absorption exhibited by the bisimide amine cured expoxies (IME's) were considerably lower than the state of the art epoxies. The strain-to-failure of the control resin system was improved 25% by replacement of DDS with 6F-DDS. Each BIA containing resin exhibited twice the char yield of the control resin MY 720/DDS. Graphite fiber reinforced control (C) and IME resins were fabricated and characterized. Two of the composite systems showed superior properties compared to the other Celion 6000/IME composite systems and state of the art graphite epoxy systems. The two systems exhibited excellent wet shear and flexural strengths and moduli at 300 and 350 F.

The impact of high hydrostatic pressure on the functionality and consumer acceptability of reduced sodium naturally cured wieners.

PubMed

Pietrasik, Z; Gaudette, N J; Johnston, S P

2017-07-01

The effects of high pressure processing (HPP; 600MPa for 3min at 8°C) on the quality and shelf life of reduced sodium naturally-cured wieners was studied. HPP did not negatively impact processing characteristics and assisted in extending shelf life of all wiener treatments up to a 12week storage period. At week 8, HPP wieners received higher acceptability scores, indicating HPP can effectively extend the sensory quality of products, including sodium reduced formulations containing natural forms of nitrite. Substitution of 50% NaCl with modified KCl had negative effect on textural characteristics of conventionally cured wieners but not those processed with celery powder as a source of nitrite. Celery powder favorably affected hydration of textural properties of wieners, and consumer acceptability of juiciness and texture was higher compared to nitrite. Sodium reduction, independent of curing agent, negatively impacted flavor acceptability, while only nitrite containing reduced sodium wieners scored significantly lower than both regular salt wieners for texture, juiciness and saltiness. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Laboratory Disinfecting Agents on Dimensional Stability of Three Commercially Available Heat-Cured Denture Acrylic Resins in India: An In-Vitro Study

PubMed Central

Jujare, Ravikanth Haridas; Varghese, Rana Kalappattil; Singh, Vishwa Deepak; Gaurav, Amit

2016-01-01

Introduction Dental professionals are exposed to a wide variety of microorganisms which calls for use of effective infection control procedures in the dental office and laboratories that can prevent cross-contamination that could extend to dentists, dental office staff, dental technicians as well as patients. This concern has led to a renewed interest in denture sterilization and disinfection. Heat polymerized dentures exhibit dimensional change during disinfection procedure. Aim The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of different types of widely used laboratory disinfecting agents on the dimensional stability of heat-cured denture acrylic resins and to compare the dimensional stability of three commercially available heat-cured denture acrylic resins in India. Materials and Methods Twelve specimens of uniform dimension each of three different brands namely Stellon, Trevalon and Acralyn-H were prepared using circular metal disc. Chemical disinfectants namely 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde, 1% povidone-iodine, 0.5% sodium hypochlorite and water as control group were used. Diameter of each specimen was measured before immersion and after immersion with time interval of 1 hour and 12 hours. The data was evaluated statistically using one way analysis of variance. Results All the specimens in three disinfectants and in water exhibited very small amount of linear expansion. Among three disinfectants, specimens in 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde exhibited least(0.005mm) and water showed highest (0.009mm) amount of dimensional change. Among resins, Trevalon showed least (0.067mm) and Acralyn-H exhibited highest (0.110mm) amount of dimensional change. Conclusion Although, all the specimens of three different brands of heat-cured denture acrylic resins exhibited increase in linear dimensional change in all the disinfectants and water, they were found to be statistically insignificant. PMID:27134996

Evaluation of Two Ionic Liquid-Based Epoxies from the MISSE-8 (Materials International Space Station Experiment-8) Sample Carrier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rabenberg, Ellen; Kaukler, William; Grugel, Richard

2015-01-01

Two sets of epoxy mixtures, both containing the same ionic liquid (IL) based resin but utilizing two different curing agents, were evaluated after spending more than two years of continual space exposure outside of the International Space Station on the MISSE-8 sample rack. During this period the samples, positioned on nadir side, also experienced some 12,500 thermal cycles between approximately -40?C and +40 C. Initial examination showed some color change, a miniscule weight variance, and no cracks or de-bonding from the sample substrate. Microscopic examination of the surface reveled some slight deformities and pitting. These observations, and others, are discussed in view of the ground-based control samples. Finally, the impetus of this study in terms of space applications is presented.

Involvement of the immune response in the cure of metastatic murine CT-26 colon carcinoma by low electric field-enhanced chemotherapy.

PubMed

Plotnikov, Alexander; Tichler, Thomas; Korenstein, Rafi; Keisari, Yona

2005-12-10

Low electric field cancer treatment-enhanced chemotherapy (LEFCT-EC) is a new treatment modality that combines chemotherapeutic agents and low electric field stimulation. LEFCT-EC was found to destroy malignant mouse tumors and cause massive death of tumor cells. This may enable the immune system cells to efficiently recognize and eliminate tumor cells at the primary tumor site and at metastatic foci. Mice with 15 mm diameter intracutaneous colon carcinomas (CT-26) were injected with BCNU (35 mg/kg), and 2 min later the tumors were exposed to low electric fields (intensity 40 V/cm, pulse duration 180 micros, frequency 500 Hz) for 12 min (LEFCT-EC). We found that treatment with LEFCT-EC achieved complete cure of 93% of the animals. In comparison, electric fields alone (13% cure), chemotherapy alone (0%), surgery (15%) or a combination of surgery and bis-chloroethyl-nitrosurea, carmustine (BCNU; 84%) treatments resulted in lower cure rates. After treatment and cure with LEFCT-EC, 50% of the cured mice developed resistance to a tumor challenge (surgery + BCNU only 15%). Furthermore, splenocytes from cured animals protected naive animals from a tumorigenic dose of tumor cells. Separation of spleen cells into lymphocyte subpopulations indicated a major role for CD4 and CD8 T cells in this protection. FACS analysis revealed restoration of normal splenocyte subpopulation proportions impaired by cytotoxic chemotherapy. Our results suggest that LEFCT-EC can directly destroy primary tumors and facilitate the destruction of metastatic disease by enforcement of antitumor immune responses. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc

An eco-friendly method for short term preservation of skins/hides using Semecarpus anacardium nut extract.

PubMed

Iyappan, Kuttalam; Ponrasu, Thangavel; Sangeethapriya, Vilvanathan; Gayathri, Vinaya Subramani; Suguna, Lonchin

2013-09-01

Preservation or curing of hides and skins is performed as the primary step of leather processing. Common salt is employed as the conventional agent for curing purpose. Use of salt enhances the pollution load of tannery effluent which becomes highly contaminated with increased total dissolved solids and chlorides. To overcome this hurdle, researchers are in constant search of alternative preservation techniques which are either totally void of salt or use only a meager amount of salt. In the present study, we had explored the possibility of using Semecarpus anacardium nut extract as an alternative to salt for the curing process by assessing different parameters like hair slip, putrefaction odor, volatile nitrogen content, moisture content, bacterial count, and shrinkage temperature in comparison to the salt curing method. The antibacterial property of the plant extract was also investigated. The results obtained substantiated that the nut extract of S. anacardium effectively could preserve the skins for more than a month, by its antibacterial activity along with the dehydrating property of acetone.

[Spatial distribution of sulfur dioxide around a tobacco bulk-curing workshop cluster].

PubMed

He, Fan; Wang, Mei; Wang, Tao; Sun, Jian-Feng; Huang, Wu-Xing; Tian, Bin-Qiang; Gong, Chang-Rong

2014-03-01

In order to manifest lower energy consumption and less labor employment, and provide the theoretical basis for constructing environmentally friendly modem tobacco agriculture, this paper analyzed gas composition of the chimney from a bulk-curing barn and the dispersion of sulfur dioxide (SO2) around the workshop cluster using ecom-J2KN flue gas analyzer and air sampler. During curing, the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and SO2 in the chimney were both highest at 38 degrees C, while the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) was highest at 42 degrees C. The emission concentration of SO2 from the chimney was 1327.60-2218.40 mg x m(-3). Average SO2 emission would decrease by 49.7% through adding 4.0% of a sulfur-fixed agent. The highest concentrations of SO2 in the surface soil appeared at the yellowing stage. SO2 concentration in horizontal direction localized at 43-80 m exceeded 0.5 mg x m(-3). The highest concentration of SO2 (0.57 mg x m(-3)) was observed at 50 m. At 50 m in the downstream wind direction of the workshop cluster, SO2 concentration in vertical direction localized at 0.9-1.8 m exceeded 0.5 mg x m(-3), and the highest concentration of SO2 in vertical direction was 0.65 mg x m(-3) at 1.6 m. During curing, the average concentration of SO2 was decreased by 0.43 mg x m(-3) by using the sulfur-fixed agent. The polluted boundary was localized at 120 m in the downstream wind direction of the workshop cluster.

The Management of Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Past, Present, and Future.

PubMed

Richardson, S E; McNamara, C

2011-01-01

The management of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL) is a success story of modern multi-agent haemato-oncology. Prior to the middle of the twentieth century CHL was fatal in the majority of cases. Introduction of single agent radiotherapy (RT) demonstrated for the first time that these patients could be cured. Developments in chemotherapy including the mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisolone (MOPP) and Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD) regimens have resulted in cure rates of over 80%. Even in relapse, CHL patients can be salvaged with high dose chemotherapy and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Challenges remain, however, in finding new strategies to manage the small number of patients who continue to relapse or progress. In addition, the young age of many Hodgkin's patients forces difficult decisions in balancing the benefit of early disease control against the survival disadvantage of late toxicity. In this article we aim to summarise past trials, define the current standard of care and appraise future developments in the management of CHL.

Vulcanization characteristics and dynamic mechanical behavior of natural rubber reinforced with silane modified silica.

PubMed

Chonkaew, Wunpen; Minghvanish, Withawat; Kungliean, Ulchulee; Rochanawipart, Nutthaya; Brostow, Witold

2011-03-01

Two silane coupling agents were used for hydrolysis-condensation reaction modification of nanosilica surfaces. The surface characteristics were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The vulcanization kinetics of natural rubber (NR) + silica composites was studied and compared to behavior of the neat NR using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the dynamic scan mode. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was performed to evaluate the effects of the surface modification. Activation energy E(a) values for the reaction are obtained. The presence of silica, modified or otherwise, inhibits the vulcanization reaction of NR. The neat silica containing system has the lowest cure rate index and the highest activation energy for the vulcanization reaction. The coupling agent with longer chains causes more swelling and moves the glass transition temperature T(g) downwards. Below the glass transition region, silica causes a lowering of the dynamic storage modulus G', a result of hindering the cure reaction. Above the glass transition, silica-again modified or otherwise-provides the expected reinforcement effect.

Curing behavior and reaction kinetics of binder resins for 3D-printing investigated by dielectric analysis (DEA)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Möginger, B.; Kehret, L.; Hausnerova, B.; Steinhaus, J.

2016-05-01

3D-Printing is an efficient method in the field of additive manufacturing. In order to optimize the properties of manufactured parts it is essential to adapt the curing behavior of the resin systems with respect to the requirements. Thus, effects of resin composition, e.g. due to different additives such as thickener and curing agents, on the curing behavior have to be known. As the resin transfers from a liquid to a solid glass the time dependent ion viscosity was measured using DEA with flat IDEX sensors. This allows for a sensitive measurement of resin changes as the ion viscosity changes two to four decades. The investigated resin systems are based on the monomers styrene and HEMA. To account for the effects of copolymerization in the calculation of the reaction kinetics it was assumed that the reaction can be considered as a homo-polymerization having a reaction order n≠1. Then the measured ion viscosity curves are fitted with the solution of the reactions kinetics - the time dependent degree of conversion (DC-function) - for times exceeding the initiation phase representing the primary curing. The measured ion viscosity curves can nicely be fitted with the DC-function and the determined fit parameters distinguish distinctly between the investigated resin compositions.

Methyl methacrylate as a healing agent for self-healing cementitious materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van Tittelboom, K.; Adesanya, K.; Dubruel, P.; Van Puyvelde, P.; De Belie, N.

2011-12-01

Different types of healing agents have already been tested on their efficiency for use in self-healing cementitious materials. Generally, commercial healing agents are used while their properties are adjusted for manual crack repair and not for autonomous crack healing. Consequently, the amount of regain in properties due to self-healing of cracks is limited. In this research, a methyl methacrylate (MMA)-based healing agent was developed specifically for use in self-healing cementitious materials. Various parameters were optimized including the viscosity, curing time, strength, etc. After the desired properties were obtained, the healing agent was encapsulated and screened for its self-healing efficiency. The decrease in water permeability due to autonomous crack healing using MMA as a healing agent was similar to the results obtained for manually healed cracks. First results seem promising: however, further research needs to be undertaken in order to obtain an optimal healing agent ready for use in practice.

Curing APL through PML/RARA degradation by As2O3.

PubMed

Lallemand-Breitenbach, Valerie; Zhu, Jun; Chen, Zhu; de Thé, Hugues

2012-01-01

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a hematological malignancy driven by the PML/RARA oncogene. The prognosis for patients with APL was revolutionized by two treatments: retinoic acid (RA) and As(2)O(3) (arsenic trioxide). These were both shown a posteriori to target PML/RARA, explaining their exquisite specificity for APL. Arsenic, as a single agent, cures up to 70% of patients, whereas APL patients treated with the combination of RA and As(2)O(3) reach a stunning 90% cure rate. Recent physiopathological models highlight the key role of RA- and As(2)O(3)-triggered PML/RARA degradation, and the molecular mechanisms underlying As(2)O(3)-induced PML/RARA degradation have been recently clarified. As discussed below, arsenic binding, oxidation, sumoylation on PML nuclear bodies, and RNF4-mediated ubiquitination all contribute to the As(2)O(3)-triggered catabolism of PML/RARA. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Low electric field enhanced chemotherapy can cure mice with CT-26 colon carcinoma and induce anti-tumour immunity

PubMed Central

PLOTNIKOV, A; FISHMAN, D; TICHLER, T; KORENSTEIN, R; KEISARI, Y

2004-01-01

Low electric field cancer treatment − enhanced chemotherapy (LEFCT-EC) is a new anticancer treatment which utilizes a combination of chemotherapeutic agents and a low electric field. We investigated the antitumour effectiveness of this technique in a model of murine colon carcinoma (CT-26). The low electric field was applied to ∼65 mm3 intracutaneous tumours after intratumoral injection of 5FU, bleomycin or BCNU. We observed significant tumour size reduction and a prolongation of survival time. The complete cure of a significant fraction of animals treated by LEFCT-EC with 5FU (33%), bleomycin (51%) or BCNU (83%) was observed. Mice cured by LEFCT-EC developed resistance to a tumour challenge and their splenocytes had antitumour activity in vivo. Our results suggest that LEFCT-EC is an effective method for treatment of solid tumours. PMID:15544616

Low electric field enhanced chemotherapy can cure mice with CT-26 colon carcinoma and induce anti-tumour immunity.

PubMed

Plotnikov, A; Fishman, D; Tichler, T; Korenstein, R; Keisari, Y

2004-12-01

Low electric field cancer treatment-enhanced chemotherapy (LEFCT-EC) is a new anticancer treatment which utilizes a combination of chemotherapeutic agents and a low electric field. We investigated the antitumour effectiveness of this technique in a model of murine colon carcinoma (CT-26). The low electric field was applied to approximately 65 mm3 intracutaneous tumours after intratumoral injection of 5FU, bleomycin or BCNU. We observed significant tumour size reduction and a prolongation of survival time. The complete cure of a significant fraction of animals treated by LEFCT-EC with 5FU (33%), bleomycin (51%) or BCNU (83%) was observed. Mice cured by LEFCT-EC developed resistance to a tumour challenge and their splenocytes had antitumour activity in vivo. Our results suggest that LEFCT-EC is an effective method for treatment of solid tumours.

Metal-Filled Adhesives Amenable To X-Ray Inspection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hermansen, Ralph D.; Sutherland, Thomas H.; Predmore, Roamer

1994-01-01

Adhesive joints between metal parts made amenable to nondestructive radiographic inspection by incorporating radiopaque fillers that increase x-ray contrasts of joints. Adhesives can be epoxies, urethanes, acrylics, phenolics, or silicones, with appropriate curing agents and with such modifiers as polysulfides, polyamides, or butadiene rubbers.

Epoxy resin synthesis using low molecular weight lignin separated from various lignocellulosic materials.

PubMed

Asada, Chikako; Basnet, Sunita; Otsuka, Masaya; Sasaki, Chizuru; Nakamura, Yoshitoshi

2015-03-01

A low molecular weight lignin from various lignocellulosic materials was used for the synthesis of bio-based epoxy resins. The lignin extracted with methanol from steam-exploded samples (steaming time of 5 min at steam pressure of 3.5 MPa) from different biomasses (i.e., cedar, eucalyptus, and bamboo) were functionalized by the reaction with epichlorohydrin, catalyzed by a water-soluble phase transfer catalyst tetramethylammonium chloride, which was further reacted with 30 wt% aqueous NaOH for ring closure using methyl ethyl ketone as a solvent. The glycidylated products of the lignin with good yields were cured to epoxy polymer networks with bio-based curing agents i.e., lignin itself and a commercial curing agent TD2131. Relatively good thermal properties of the bio-based epoxy network was obtained and thermal decomposition temperature at 5% weight loss (Td5) of cedar-derived epoxy resin was higher than that derived from eucalyptus and bamboo. The bio-based resin satisfies the stability requirement of epoxy resin applicable for electric circuit boards. The methanol-insoluble residues were enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce glucose. This study indicated that the biomass-derived methanol-soluble lignin may be a promising candidate to be used as a substitute for petroleum-based epoxy resin derived from bisphenol A, while insoluble residues may be processed to give a bioethanol precursor i.e., glucose. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Adhesive Bonding of Lithium Disilicate Ceramic Material with Duel Cured Resin Luting Agents

PubMed Central

Gundawar, Sham M.; Radke, Usha M.

2015-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this vitro study was to comparatively evaluate the adhesive bonding of dual cured resin luting agents with lithium disilicate ceramic material. Materials and Methods: Porcelain laminate veneers were prepared with lithium disilicate ceramic material i.e. IPS Empress II( E-Max Press). These laminates were bonded with RelyX ARC, Panavia F 2.0, Variolink II, Duolink and Nexus NX3.The porcelain laminates were etched with 9.6% hydrofluoric acid (Pulpdent Corporation) for one minute, washed for 15 sec with three way syringe and dried for 15 sec with air syringe. The silane (Ultradent) was applied with the help of applicator tip in a single coat and kept undisturbed for one minute. The prepared surfaces of the premolars were treated with 37% phosphoric acid (Prime dent) for 15 sec, thoroughly rinsed and dried as per manufactures instructions. The shear bond test was carried out on all samples with the Universal testing machine (Instron U.S.A.) The scanning electron microscopic study was performed at the fractured interface of representative samples from each group of luting agents. Result: In this study, the highest value of shear bond strength was obtained for NEXUS NX3 and the lowest for VARIOLINK II. Conclusion: The difference in bond strength can be interpreted as the difference in fracture resistance of luting agents, to which shearing load was applied during the shear bond strength test. It is inferred from this study that the composition of the luting agent determines the adhesive characteristics in addition to surface treatment and bonding surface area. PMID:25859514

Modeling HCV cure after an ultra-short duration of therapy with direct acting agents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goyal, Ashish; Lurie, Yoav; Meissner, Eric G.

In cases of sustained-virological response (SVR or cure) after an ultra-short duration (≤ 27 days) of direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-based therapy, despite HCV being detected at end of treatment (EOT), have been reported. Established HCV mathematical models that predict the treatment duration required to achieve cure do not take into account the possibility that the infectivity of virus produced during treatment might be reduced. The aim of this study was to develop a new mathematical model that considers the fundamental and critical concept that HCV RNA in serum represents both infectious virus (V i) and non-infectious virus (V ni) in ordermore » to explain the observation of cure with ultrashort DAA therapy. Established HCV models were compared to the new mathematical model to retrospectively explain cure in 2 patients who achieved cure after 24 or 27 days of paritaprevir, ombitasvir, dasabuvir, ritonavir and ribavirin or sofosbuvir plus ribavirin, respectively. Fitting established models with measured longitudinal HCV viral loads indicated that in both cases, cure would not have been expected without an additional 3–6 weeks of therapy after the actual EOT. In contrast, the new model fits the observed outcome by considering that in addition to blocking V i and V ni production (ε~0.998), these DAA + ribavirin treatments further enhanced the ratio of V ni to V i, thus increasing the log (V ni/V i) from 1 at pretreatment to 6 by EOT, which led to <1 infectious-virus particle in the extracellular body fluid (i.e., cure) prior to EOT. This new model can explain cure after short duration of DAA + ribavirin therapy by suggesting that a minimum 6-fold increase of log (V ni/V i) results from drug-induced enhancement of the V ni/V i.« less

Modeling HCV cure after an ultra-short duration of therapy with direct acting agents

DOE PAGES

Goyal, Ashish; Lurie, Yoav; Meissner, Eric G.; ...

2017-06-30

In cases of sustained-virological response (SVR or cure) after an ultra-short duration (≤ 27 days) of direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-based therapy, despite HCV being detected at end of treatment (EOT), have been reported. Established HCV mathematical models that predict the treatment duration required to achieve cure do not take into account the possibility that the infectivity of virus produced during treatment might be reduced. The aim of this study was to develop a new mathematical model that considers the fundamental and critical concept that HCV RNA in serum represents both infectious virus (V i) and non-infectious virus (V ni) in ordermore » to explain the observation of cure with ultrashort DAA therapy. Established HCV models were compared to the new mathematical model to retrospectively explain cure in 2 patients who achieved cure after 24 or 27 days of paritaprevir, ombitasvir, dasabuvir, ritonavir and ribavirin or sofosbuvir plus ribavirin, respectively. Fitting established models with measured longitudinal HCV viral loads indicated that in both cases, cure would not have been expected without an additional 3–6 weeks of therapy after the actual EOT. In contrast, the new model fits the observed outcome by considering that in addition to blocking V i and V ni production (ε~0.998), these DAA + ribavirin treatments further enhanced the ratio of V ni to V i, thus increasing the log (V ni/V i) from 1 at pretreatment to 6 by EOT, which led to <1 infectious-virus particle in the extracellular body fluid (i.e., cure) prior to EOT. This new model can explain cure after short duration of DAA + ribavirin therapy by suggesting that a minimum 6-fold increase of log (V ni/V i) results from drug-induced enhancement of the V ni/V i.« less

The Clinical Utilisation of Respiratory Elastance Software (CURE Soft): a bedside software for real-time respiratory mechanics monitoring and mechanical ventilation management.

PubMed

Szlavecz, Akos; Chiew, Yeong Shiong; Redmond, Daniel; Beatson, Alex; Glassenbury, Daniel; Corbett, Simon; Major, Vincent; Pretty, Christopher; Shaw, Geoffrey M; Benyo, Balazs; Desaive, Thomas; Chase, J Geoffrey

2014-09-30

Real-time patient respiratory mechanics estimation can be used to guide mechanical ventilation settings, particularly, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). This work presents a software, Clinical Utilisation of Respiratory Elastance (CURE Soft), using a time-varying respiratory elastance model to offer this ability to aid in mechanical ventilation treatment. CURE Soft is a desktop application developed in JAVA. It has two modes of operation, 1) Online real-time monitoring decision support and, 2) Offline for user education purposes, auditing, or reviewing patient care. The CURE Soft has been tested in mechanically ventilated patients with respiratory failure. The clinical protocol, software testing and use of the data were approved by the New Zealand Southern Regional Ethics Committee. Using CURE Soft, patient's respiratory mechanics response to treatment and clinical protocol were monitored. Results showed that the patient's respiratory elastance (Stiffness) changed with the use of muscle relaxants, and responded differently to ventilator settings. This information can be used to guide mechanical ventilation therapy and titrate optimal ventilator PEEP. CURE Soft enables real-time calculation of model-based respiratory mechanics for mechanically ventilated patients. Results showed that the system is able to provide detailed, previously unavailable information on patient-specific respiratory mechanics and response to therapy in real-time. The additional insight available to clinicians provides the potential for improved decision-making, and thus improved patient care and outcomes.

Towards an HIV cure based on targeted killing of infected cells: different approaches against acute versus chronic infection.

PubMed

Dey, Barna; Berger, Edward A

2015-05-01

Current regimens of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) offer effective control of HIV infection, with maintenance of immune health and near-normal life expectancy. What will it take to progress beyond the status quo, whereby infectious virus can be eradicated (a 'sterilizing cure') or fully controlled without the need for ongoing cART (a 'functional cure')? On the basis of therapeutic advances in the cancer field, we propose that targeted cytotoxic therapy to kill HIV-infected cells represents a logical complement to cART for achieving an HIV cure. This concept is based on the fact that cART effectively blocks replication of the virus, but does not eliminate cells that are already infected; targeted cytotoxic therapy would contribute precisely this missing component. We suggest that different modalities are suited for curing primary acute versus established chronic infection. For acute infection, relatively short-acting potent agents such as recombinant immunotoxins might prove sufficient for HIV eradication, whereas for chronic infection, a long-lasting (lifelong?) modality is required to maintain full virus control, as might be achieved with genetically modified autologous T cells. We present perspectives for complementing cART with targeted cytotoxic therapy, whereby HIV infection is either eradicated or fully controlled, thereby eliminating the need for lifelong cART.

Morphology and viscoelastic properties of sealing materials based on EPDM rubber.

PubMed

Milić, J; Aroguz, A; Budinski-Simendić, J; Radicević, R; Prendzov, S

2008-12-01

In this applicative study, the ratio of active and inactive filler loadings was the prime factor for determining the dynamic-mechanical behaviour of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubbers. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the structure of reinforced dense and microcellular elastomeric materials. The effects of filler and blowing agent content on the morphology of composites were investigated. Microcellular samples cured in salt bath show smaller cells and uniform cell size compared with samples cured in hot air. Dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis showed appreciable changes in the viscoelastic properties by increasing active filler content, which could enable tailoring the material properties to suit sealing applications.

The Synergy of Double Cross-linking Agents on the Properties of Styrene Butadiene Rubber Foams

PubMed Central

Shao, Liang; Ji, Zhan-You; Ma, Jian-Zhong; Xue, Chao-Hua; Ma, Zhong-Lei; Zhang, Jing

2016-01-01

Sulfur (S) cross-linking styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) foams show high shrinkage due to the cure reversion, leading to reduced yield and increased processing cost. In this paper, double cross-linking system by S and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) was used to decrease the shrinkage of SBR foams. Most importantly, the synergy of double cross-linking agents was reported for the first time to our knowledge. The cell size and its distribution of SBR foams were investigated by FESEM images, which show the effect of DCP content on the cell structure of the SBR foams. The relationships between shrinkage and crystalline of SBR foams were analyzed by the synergy of double cross-linking agents, which were demonstrated by FTIR, Raman spectra, XRD, DSC and TGA. When the DCP content was 0.6 phr, the SBR foams exhibit excellent physical and mechanical properties such as low density (0.223 g/cm3), reduced shrinkage (2.25%) and compression set (10.96%), as well as elevated elongation at break (1.78 × 103%) and tear strength (54.63 N/mm). The results show that these properties are related to the double cross-linking system of SBR foams. Moreover, the double cross-linking SBR foams present high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties compared with the S cross-linking SBR foams. PMID:27841307

The Synergy of Double Cross-linking Agents on the Properties of Styrene Butadiene Rubber Foams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Liang; Ji, Zhan-You; Ma, Jian-Zhong; Xue, Chao-Hua; Ma, Zhong-Lei; Zhang, Jing

2016-11-01

Sulfur (S) cross-linking styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) foams show high shrinkage due to the cure reversion, leading to reduced yield and increased processing cost. In this paper, double cross-linking system by S and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) was used to decrease the shrinkage of SBR foams. Most importantly, the synergy of double cross-linking agents was reported for the first time to our knowledge. The cell size and its distribution of SBR foams were investigated by FESEM images, which show the effect of DCP content on the cell structure of the SBR foams. The relationships between shrinkage and crystalline of SBR foams were analyzed by the synergy of double cross-linking agents, which were demonstrated by FTIR, Raman spectra, XRD, DSC and TGA. When the DCP content was 0.6 phr, the SBR foams exhibit excellent physical and mechanical properties such as low density (0.223 g/cm3), reduced shrinkage (2.25%) and compression set (10.96%), as well as elevated elongation at break (1.78 × 103%) and tear strength (54.63 N/mm). The results show that these properties are related to the double cross-linking system of SBR foams. Moreover, the double cross-linking SBR foams present high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties compared with the S cross-linking SBR foams.

Sclerotherapy of hydroceles with polidocanol.

PubMed

Fuse, H; Sakamoto, M; Fujishiro, Y; Katayama, T

1994-01-01

Fifteen patients with hydroceles of the testis or spermatic cord were treated by aspiration and injection of the sclerosant solution polidocanol. The cure rate of hydroceles after one sclerotherapy session was 73%, and the overall cure rate using the procedure was 87%. No patient experienced pain during or after the procedure, which was conducted without anaesthesia. No complications were observed. It is concluded that sclerotherapy of hydroceles with polidocanol may be a useful alternative to open operation, due to its ease of administration, low frequency of complications, and high rate of effectiveness, and that this agent is preferable to certain other drugs in that it causes no pain during or after the injection.

Finding new cures for neurological disorders: a possible fringe benefit of biodefense research?

PubMed

Jett, David A

2010-03-17

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports research about and the development of better therapies for treating exposure to toxic chemicals that could be used in a terrorist attack or released during an industrial accident. A review of recent research published by NIH investigators working in this field indicates that scientific advances in this area also have implications for reducing the burden of other neurological diseases and disorders. Some key examples discussed include studies on the development of therapeutic drugs to treat seizures and the neuropathology caused by chemical nerve agents, which may help find better cures for epilepsy, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Use of the Word "Cure" in the Oncology Literature.

PubMed

Prasad, Vinay

2015-08-01

"Cure" is an important word in oncology but its use in the published literature has not been examined. I investigated all oncology articles using cure in the title field and published in 2012. The definition of cure was examined, specifically whether or not authors use the word to connote some surviving subset of patients who go on to experience outcomes similar to age-matched, normal controls-a definition favored by researchers and employed in survival function analyses. All articles published between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012, with the word cure in the title field were retrieved from Thompson Reuters' Web of Science. After exclusions, articles were read in full to examine what definitions of cure was used. Additionally, for each situation (type of cancer, stage/grade) where the word cure was used, a literature search was performed to ascertain whether there existed documented cases of cure. Twenty-nine oncology articles used the word cure in their title in 2012. Nearly half, 14 (48%) of 29, used the term in situations (cancer type, stage/grade) currently considered incurable. Approximately one-third (34.5%) of the articles used the word consistent with the definition that, after a set period of time, some surviving subset of patients experience survival similar to normal controls. There is heterogeneity in the use of the word cure in the literature. © The Author(s) 2014.

Methods for analysis of the occurrence of abscess in patients with pancreatitis.

PubMed

Roca-Antonio, J; Escudero, L E; Gener, J; Oller, B; Rodríguez, N; Muñoz, A

1997-01-01

Standard survival analysis methods are useful for data involving censored cases when cures do not generally occur. If the object is to study, for instance, the development of a complication in the progress of an infectious disease, some people may be cured before complications develop. In this article, we provide methods for the analysis of data when cures do occur. An example is a study of prognostic factors for pancreatic abscess in patients with pancreatitis, some of whom leave the risk set because the pancreatitis clears. We present methods for estimating the survival curves and comparing hazard function for two objectives: (1) the occurrence of an abscess, irrespective of whether the patients are cured or not, and (2) the occurrence of an abscess for patients who, at that stage, have not been cured. We illustrate the applications of the methods using a sample of 50 patients with severe pancreatitis. To study the occurrence of an abscess, regardless of whether the patients are cured or not, we show that the appropriate strategy is to assign to the cured patients an infinite time to the appearance of an abscess. If the cured were considered censored at the moment the pancreatitis cleared, this would result in an overestimation of the hazard of presenting an abscess. On the other hand, if the objective is to compare the occurrence of abscess according to an exposure for patients who have not been cured, one needs to censor the cured patients at the time they are cured. For the analysis of survival data in the context of infectious diseases when cure is possible, it is important to use a censoring strategy that is pertinent to the specific aims of the study. Considering cures as censored at the time of cure is not always appropriate.

Multiple imputation of missing covariates for the Cox proportional hazards cure model

PubMed Central

Beesley, Lauren J; Bartlett, Jonathan W; Wolf, Gregory T; Taylor, Jeremy M G

2016-01-01

We explore several approaches for imputing partially observed covariates when the outcome of interest is a censored event time and when there is an underlying subset of the population that will never experience the event of interest. We call these subjects “cured,” and we consider the case where the data are modeled using a Cox proportional hazards (CPH) mixture cure model. We study covariate imputation approaches using fully conditional specification (FCS). We derive the exact conditional distribution and suggest a sampling scheme for imputing partially observed covariates in the CPH cure model setting. We also propose several approximations to the exact distribution that are simpler and more convenient to use for imputation. A simulation study demonstrates that the proposed imputation approaches outperform existing imputation approaches for survival data without a cure fraction in terms of bias in estimating CPH cure model parameters. We apply our multiple imputation techniques to a study of patients with head and neck cancer. PMID:27439726

Cytotoxicity of four categories of dental cements.

PubMed

Schmid-Schwap, Martina; Franz, Alexander; König, Franz; Bristela, Margit; Lucas, Trevor; Piehslinger, Eva; Watts, David C; Schedle, Andreas

2009-03-01

Assessment of dental material biocompatibility is gaining increasing importance for both patients and dentists. Dental cements may be in contact with oral soft tissues for prolonged periods of time and play an important role in prosthetic rehabilitation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate eight dental cements using a standardized L929-fibroblast cell culture test. For each material, fresh specimens (added to the cultures immediately after preparation) and specimens preincubated for 7 days in cell culture medium were prepared according to the manufacturers' recommendations. After exposure to test specimens, cell numbers were compared to glass controls. The main outcome was a two-sided 95% confidence interval for the mean value of the standardized cell number for each substance investigated. Fresh specimens of all tested cements showed significant cytotoxicity, which diminished after 7 days preincubation. Cytotoxicity of fresh adhesive and self-adhesive resin cements was lower when specimens were dual-cured compared to self-cured. A rank order of cytotoxicity was established based on mean values: Nexus 2 (dual-cured) showed least cytotoxicity, followed by Variolink II (dual-cured), Nexus 2 (self-cured), Harvard, RelyxUnicem (dual-cured), Panavia 21, Fujicem, Durelon, Variolink II (self-cured), RelyxUnicem (self-cured), Maxcem (dual-cured) and Maxcem (self-cured). When bondings were added to Nexus 2 or Variolink II specimens, a slight increase in cytotoxicity was observed. Adhesive resin cements showed less cytotoxicity than self-adhesive and chemically setting cements. Bonding only slightly influenced cytotoxicity of the adhesive resin cements. Dual-cured specimens of adhesive and self-adhesive resin cements showed significantly less toxicity than self-cured specimens.

Effect of surface treatments on the flexural properties and adhesion of glass fiber-reinforced composite post to self-adhesive luting agent and radicular dentin.

PubMed

Elnaghy, Amr M; Elsaka, Shaymaa E

2016-01-01

This study evaluated the effect of different surface treatments on the flexural properties and adhesion of glass fiber post to self-adhesive luting agent and radicular dentin. Seventy-five single-rooted human teeth were prepared to receive a glass fiber post (Reblida). The posts were divided into five groups according to the surface treatment: Gr C (control; no treatment), Gr S (silanization for 60 s), Gr AP (airborne-particle abrasion), Gr HF (etching with 9 % hydrofluoric acid for 1 min), and Gr M10 (etching with CH2Cl2 for 10 min). Dual-cure self-adhesive luting agent (Rely X Unicem) was applied to each group for testing the adhesion using micropush-out test. Failure types were examined with stereomicroscope and surface morphology of the posts was characterized using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Flexural properties of posts were assessed using a three-point bending test. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. Statistical significance was set at the 0.05 probability level. Groups treated with M10 showed significantly higher bond strength than those obtained with other surface treatments (P < 0.05). In general, improvements in bond strength (MPa) were found in the following order: M10 > C > S > AP > HF. Most failure modes were adhesive type of failures between dentin and luting agent (48.2%). SEM analysis revealed that the fiber post surfaces were modified after surface treatments. The surface treatments did not compromise the flexural properties of fiber posts. Application of M10 to the fiber post surfaces enhanced the adhesion to self-adhesive luting agent and radicular dentin.

Bond Potential of Lithium Disilicate to Heat-Cured Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-01

system eliminates the need for flasking, boil-out, and long processing times. Instead, the base is light-cured while the teeth are placed with a VLC set...component of previous studies causing failure can be challenged . The stronger ceramic may be durable enough to more accurately measure the bond strength

Evaluation of Flexural Strength of Polymethyl Methacrylate modified with Silver Colloidal Nanoparticles subjected to Two Different Curing Cycles: An in vitro Study.

PubMed

Munikamaiah, Ranganath L; Jain, Saket K; Pal, Kapil S; Gaikwad, Ajay

2018-03-01

Silver colloidal nanoparticles have been incorporated into acrylic resins to induce antimicrobial properties. However, as additives, they can influence the mechanical properties of the final product. Mechanical properties are also dependent on different curing cycles. The aim of this study was to evaluate flexural strength of a denture base resin incorporated with different concentrations of silver colloidal nanoparticles subjected to two different curing cycles. Lucitone 199 denture base resin was used into which silver colloidal nanoparticles were incorporated at 0.5 and 5% by polymer mass. Specimens devoid of nanoparticles were used as controls. A total of 60 specimens were fabricated and divided into two groups. Each group was divided into three subgroups consisting of 10 specimens each. The specimens were fabricated according to American Dental Association (ADA) specification No. 12 and tested for flexural strength using universal testing machine. Silver colloidal nanoparticle incorporation at 0.5% concentration increased the mean flexural strength in both curing cycles by 7.5 and 4.4%, respectively, when compared with the control group. The study suggested that the mean flexural strength value of 0.5% silver colloidal nanoparticles in denture base resin was above the value of the control group both in short and long curing cycles, which makes it clinically suitable as a denture base material. However, at 5% concentration, the statistically significant amount of decrease in flexural strength compared with the value of control group both in short and long curing cycles gives it a questionable prognosis. The specimens incorporated with the antimicrobial agent 0.5% silver colloidal nanoparticles and processed by long curing cycles showed significant increase in its flexural strength compared with the control group, which makes it clinically suitable as a denture base material.

Psychopharmacology of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Selective Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mohiuddin, Sarah; Ghaziuddin, Mohammad

2013-01-01

While there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, psychopharmacologic agents are often used with behavioral and educational approaches to treat its comorbid symptoms of hyperactivity, irritability, and aggression. Studies suggest that at least 50% of persons with autism spectrum disorder receive psychotropic medications during their life span.…

Shape-memory effect of nanocomposites based on liquid-crystalline elastomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marotta, A.; Lama, G. C.; Gentile, G.; Cerruti, P.; Carfagna, C.; Ambrogi, V.

2016-05-01

In this work, nanocomposites based on liquid crystalline (LC) elastomers were prepared and characterized in their shape memory properties. For the synthesis of materials, p-bis(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-α-methylstilbene (DOMS) was used as mesogenic epoxy monomer, sebacic acid (SA) as curing agent and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and graphene oxide (GO) as fillers. First, an effective compatibilization methodology was set up to improve the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the carbonaceous nanofillers, thus obtaining homogeneous distribution and dispersion of the nanofillers within the polymer phase. Then, the obtained nanocomposite films were characterized in their morphological and thermal properties. In particular, the effect of the addition of the nanofillers on liquid crystalline behavior, as well as on shape-memory properties of the realized materials was investigated. It was found that both fillers were able to enhance the thermomechanical response of the LC elastomers, making them good candidates as shape memory materials.

Screening and cervical cancer cure: population based cohort study

PubMed Central

Andersson, Therese M-L; Lambert, Paul C; Kemetli, Levent; Silfverdal, Lena; Strander, Björn; Ryd, Walter; Dillner, Joakim; Törnberg, Sven; Sparén, Pär

2012-01-01

Objective To determine whether detection of invasive cervical cancer by screening results in better prognosis or merely increases the lead time until death. Design Nationwide population based cohort study. Setting Sweden. Participants All 1230 women with cervical cancer diagnosed during 1999-2001 in Sweden prospectively followed up for an average of 8.5 years. Main outcome measures Cure proportions and five year relative survival ratios, stratified by screening history, mode of detection, age, histopathological type, and FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage. Results In the screening ages, the cure proportion for women with screen detected invasive cancer was 92% (95% confidence interval 75% to 98%) and for symptomatic women was 66% (62% to 70%), a statistically significant difference in cure of 26% (16% to 36%). Among symptomatic women, the cure proportion was significantly higher for those who had been screened according to recommendations (interval cancers) than among those overdue for screening: difference in cure 14% (95% confidence interval 6% to 23%). Cure proportions were similar for all histopathological types except small cell carcinomas and were closely related to FIGO stage. A significantly higher cure proportion for screen detected cancers remained after adjustment for stage at diagnosis (difference 15%, 7% to 22%). Conclusions Screening is associated with improved cure of cervical cancer. Confounding cannot be ruled out, but the effect was not attributable to lead time bias and was larger than what is reflected by down-staging. Evaluations of screening programmes should consider the assessment of cure proportions. PMID:22381677

Study on compressive strength of self compacting mortar cubes under normal & electric oven curing methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasanna Venkatesh, G. J.; Vivek, S. S.; Dhinakaran, G.

2017-07-01

In the majority of civil engineering applications, the basic building blocks were the masonry units. Those masonry units were developed as a monolithic structure by plastering process with the help of binding agents namely mud, lime, cement and their combinations. In recent advancements, the mortar study plays an important role in crack repairs, structural rehabilitation, retrofitting, pointing and plastering operations. The rheology of mortar includes flowable, passing and filling properties which were analogous with the behaviour of self compacting concrete. In self compacting (SC) mortar cubes, the cement was replaced by mineral admixtures namely silica fume (SF) from 5% to 20% (with an increment of 5%), metakaolin (MK) from 10% to 30% (with an increment of 10%) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) from 25% to 75% (with an increment of 25%). The ratio between cement and fine aggregate was kept constant as 1: 2 for all normal and self compacting mortar mixes. The accelerated curing namely electric oven curing with the differential temperature of 128°C for the period of 4 hours was adopted. It was found that the compressive strength obtained from the normal and electric oven method of curing was higher for self compacting mortar cubes than normal mortar cube. The cement replacement by 15% SF, 20% MK and 25%GGBS obtained higher strength under both curing conditions.

Collective antibiotic treatment of trachoma

PubMed Central

Reinhards, J.; Weber, A.; Maxwell-Lyons, F.

1959-01-01

By the early 1950's, it was clear from numerous independent reports that certain of the broad-spectrum antibiotics were effective against the agent of trachoma. It seemed, however, that treatment had to be continued over long periods to effect a cure of the average case. With the assistance of WHO, comparative trials on a scale hitherto unprecedented in the disease—involving more than 9000 schoolchildren with active trachoma—have been conducted in Morocco since 1953 in order to assess the value of local treatment of trachoma with chlortetracycline and to develop simple and economic methods of treatment, for which there was a pressing need. Local application of 1% chlortetracycline ointment two or three times daily for 60 days gave almost 80% cures under reasonably favourable conditions and nearly 100% cures after re-treatment of cases not cured by the first course. Equally good results followed intermittent short-term treatment over longer periods. Relapse and reinfection rates were low. Collective mass treatment with antibiotics is clearly a valuable method of trachoma control. The use of intermittent treatment allows for a great economy both in antibiotics and in staff and other campaign expenses and makes possible the wide expansion of mass treatment programmes. PMID:14437176

Flexural properties of denture base polymers reinforced with a glass cloth-urethane polymer composite.

PubMed

Kanie, Takahito; Arikawa, Hiroyuki; Fujii, Koichi; Ban, Seiji

2004-10-01

A newly designed light-cured reinforcement made from urethanemethacrylate oligomer and woven glass cloth has orthotropic anisotropy. This is produced for incorporation into the outermost position under the greatest tension in denture base resins. In this study, the flexural properties of self-, heat-, and light-curing reinforced resins were determined. The silanized glass cloth was soaked in urethanemethacrylate oligomer containing camphorquinone and 2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate. It was sandwiched between two pieces of polyethylene film and pressed to form a reinforcement sheet 0.3 mm in thickness, which was light-cured and prepared using four different surface conditions: with or without the polyethylene film and with or without a bonding agent. The reinforcement sheet was fixed in a fluorocarbon resin mold 3 mm in thickness, which was filled with self-, heat-, or light-curing resin and cured. The cured laminated plate was cut for flexural testing (40 x 7 x 3 mm3). A three-point flexural test was carried out at a crosshead speed of 2 mm/min and a span length of 30 mm. In this study, the glass fiber content was measured at percentages by weight because it was not possible to determine accurately the volume of the various polymers. The baseline flexural strengths of the self-, heat-, and light-curing resins were 76.2, 68.6, and 55.6 MPa, respectively, and these values were increased to 271.7, 216.4, and 266.5 MPa by the reinforcement sheet. The baseline flexural moduli of self-, heat-, and light-curing resins were 2.0, 2.4, and 2.1 GPa, respectively. These values were increased to 7.2, 5.1, and 6.6 GPa by the reinforcement sheet. SEM photographs revealed good impregnation of the glass fiber within the polymer matrix. The differences in the flexural strengths and flexural moduli of the control and reinforced specimens were significant (p < 0.01).

Alignment Jigs For Bonding End Fittings To Truss Members

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sword, Lee F.

1996-01-01

Set of alignment jigs hold fittings during adhesive bonding of fittings to ends of truss members. For each member, jigs hold two end fittings collinear while member allowed to move slightly, within dimensional tolerances, during injection and curing of adhesive. Once adhesive cured, fittings remain collinear even though member not necessarily perfectly straight between them.

Monitoring the Cure State of Thermosetting Resins by Ultrasound.

PubMed

Lionetto, Francesca; Maffezzoli, Alfonso

2013-09-05

The propagation of low intensity ultrasound in a curing resin, acting as a high frequency oscillatory excitation, has been recently proposed as an ultrasonic dynamic mechanical analysis (UDMA) for cure monitoring. The technique measures sound velocity and attenuation, which are very sensitive to changes in the viscoelastic characteristics of the curing resin, since the velocity is related to the resin storage modulus and density, while the attenuation is related to the energy dissipation and scattering in the curing resin. The paper reviews the results obtained by the authors' research group in the last decade by means of in-house made ultrasonic set-ups for both contact and air-coupled ultrasonic experiments. The basics of the ultrasonic wave propagation in polymers and examples of measurements of the time-evolution of ultrasonic longitudinal modulus and chemical conversion of different thermosetting resins are presented. The effect of temperature on the cure kinetics, the comparison with rheological, low frequency dynamic mechanical and calorimetric results, and the correlation between ultrasonic modulus and crosslinking density will be also discussed. The paper highlights the reliability of ultrasonic wave propagation for monitoring the physical changes taking place during curing and the potential for online monitoring during polymer and polymer matrix composite processing.

Monitoring the Cure State of Thermosetting Resins by Ultrasound

PubMed Central

Lionetto, Francesca; Maffezzoli, Alfonso

2013-01-01

The propagation of low intensity ultrasound in a curing resin, acting as a high frequency oscillatory excitation, has been recently proposed as an ultrasonic dynamic mechanical analysis (UDMA) for cure monitoring. The technique measures sound velocity and attenuation, which are very sensitive to changes in the viscoelastic characteristics of the curing resin, since the velocity is related to the resin storage modulus and density, while the attenuation is related to the energy dissipation and scattering in the curing resin. The paper reviews the results obtained by the authors’ research group in the last decade by means of in-house made ultrasonic set-ups for both contact and air-coupled ultrasonic experiments. The basics of the ultrasonic wave propagation in polymers and examples of measurements of the time-evolution of ultrasonic longitudinal modulus and chemical conversion of different thermosetting resins are presented. The effect of temperature on the cure kinetics, the comparison with rheological, low frequency dynamic mechanical and calorimetric results, and the correlation between ultrasonic modulus and crosslinking density will be also discussed. The paper highlights the reliability of ultrasonic wave propagation for monitoring the physical changes taking place during curing and the potential for online monitoring during polymer and polymer matrix composite processing. PMID:28788306

A study of the possible effect of a thermal post cure on the mechanical properties of the 404 carbon-phenolic ring of the space shuttle solid rocket motor nozzle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Giardini, A. A.

1986-01-01

Erratic pockets of erosion have occurred on the inner perimeter of the 404 rocket nozzle ring during liftoff firing. It is thought that it may be caused by pockets of volatile matter entrapped during manufacture. A thermal post cure was suggested as a possible means of outgassing such pockets, if they in fact do exist. To confirm an outgassing during a post cure and to establish a working upper temperature limit, thermal gravimetric and differential calorimetric analyses were made on a number of samples from two 404 rings supplied by the manufacturer. Continuous weight loss was observed over the temperature range explored (750 F) indicating outgassing, and a strong exothermic reaction occurs beginning about 390 F. Thus, an upper post cure temperature of 350 F is recommended. To determine the possible effect of a post cure on physical properties, the following tests will be made on matched sets of cured and post cured material: x-radiography (internal structure), linear dimensions, weight, porosity, cross ply thermal expansion, drop and double notch shear strengths, and tensional strength in the ply direction.

Influence of Different Types of Resin Luting Agents on Color Stability of Ceramic Laminate Veneers Subjected to Accelerated Artificial Aging.

PubMed

Silami, Francisca Daniele Jardilino; Tonani, Rafaella; Alandia-Román, Carla Cecilia; Pires-de-Souza, Fernanda de Carvalho Panzeri

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of accelerated aging (AAA) on the color stability of resin cements for bonding ceramic laminate veneers of different thicknesses. The occlusal surfaces of 80 healthy human molars were flattened. Ceramic laminate veneers (IPS e-max Ceram) of two thicknesses (0.5 and 1.0 mm) were bonded with three types of luting agents: light-cured, conventional dual and self-adhesive dual cement. Teeth without restorations and cement samples (0.5 mm) were used as control. After initial color evaluations, the samples were subjected to AAA for 580 h. After this, new color readouts were made, and the color stability (ΔE) and luminosity (ΔL) data were analyzed. The greatest color changes (p<0.05) occurred when 0.5 mm veneers were fixed with light-cured cement and the lowest when 1.0 mm veneers were fixed with conventional dual cement. There was no influence of the restoration thickness when the self-adhesive dual cement was used. When veneers were compared with the control groups, it was verified that the cement samples presented the greatest alterations (p<0.05) in comparison with both substrates and restored teeth. Therefore, it was concluded that the thickness of the restoration influences color and luminosity changes for conventional dual and light-cured cements. The changes in self-adhesive cement do not depend on restoration thickness.

Travelers with cutaneous leishmaniasis cured without systemic therapy.

PubMed

Morizot, G; Kendjo, E; Mouri, O; Thellier, M; Pérignon, A; Foulet, F; Cordoliani, F; Bourrat, E; Laffitte, E; Alcaraz, I; Bodak, N; Ravel, C; Vray, M; Grogl, M; Mazier, D; Caumes, E; Lachaud, L; Buffet, P A

2013-08-01

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a disfiguring but not life-threatening disease. Because antileishmanial drugs are potentially toxic, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends simple wound care or local therapy as first-line treatment, followed or replaced by systemic therapy if local therapy fails or cannot be performed. To determine the feasibility and impact of the recommended approach, we analyzed the results of a centralized referral treatment program in 135 patients with parasitologically proven CL. Infections involved 10 Leishmania species and were contracted in 29 different countries. Eighty-four of 135 patients (62%) were initially treated without systemic therapy. Of 109 patients with evaluable charts, 23 of 25 (92%) treated with simple wound care and 37 of 47 (79%) treated with local antileishmanial therapy were cured by days 42-60. In 37 patients with large or complex lesions, or preexisting morbidities, or who had not been cured with local therapy, the cure rate with systemic antileishmanial agents was 60%. Systemic adverse events were observed in 15 patients, all receiving systemic therapy. In this population of CL patients displaying variable degrees of complexity and severity, almost two-thirds of patients could be initially managed without systemic therapy. Of these, 60 were cured before day 60. The WHO-recommended stepwise approach favoring initial local therapy therefore resulted in at least 44% of all patients being cured without exposure to the risk of systemic adverse events. Efforts are needed to further simplify local therapy of CL and to improve the management of patients with complex lesions and/or preexisting comorbidities.

Vertical misfit of laser-sintered and vacuum-cast implant-supported crown copings luted with definitive and temporary luting agents.

PubMed

Castillo-de-Oyagüe, Raquel; Sánchez-Turrión, Andrés; López-Lozano, José-Francisco; Albaladejo, Alberto; Torres-Lagares, Daniel; Montero, Javier; Suárez-García, Maria-Jesús

2012-07-01

This study aimed to evaluate the vertical discrepancy of implant-supported crown structures constructed with vacuum-casting and Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technologies, and luted with different cement types. Crown copings were fabricated using: (1) direct metal laser sintered Co-Cr (LS); (2) vacuum-cast Co-Cr (CC); and (3) vacuum-cast Ti (CT). Frameworks were luted onto machined implant abutments under constant seating pressure. Each alloy group was randomly divided into 5 subgroups (n = 10 each) according to the cement system utilized: Subgroup 1 (KC) used resin-modified glass-ionomer Ketac Cem Plus; Subgroup 2 (PF) used Panavia F 2.0 dual-cure resin cement; Subgroup 3 (RXU) used RelyX Unicem 2 Automix self-adhesive dual-cure resin cement; Subgroup 4 (PIC) used acrylic/urethane-based temporary Premier Implant Cement; and Subgroup 5 (DT) used acrylic/urethane-based temporary DentoTemp cement. Vertical misfit was measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls tests were run to investigate the effect of alloy/fabrication technique, and cement type on vertical misfit. The statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. The alloy/manufacturing technique and the luting cement affected the vertical discrepancy (p < 0.001). For each cement type, LS samples exhibited the best fit (p < 0.01) whereas CC and CT frames were statistically similar. Within each alloy group, PF and RXU provided comparably greater discrepancies than KC, PIC, and DT, which showed no differences. Laser sintering may be an alternative to vacuum-casting of base metals to obtain passive-fitting implant-supported crown copings. The best marginal adaptation corresponded to laser sintered structures luted with glass-ionomer KC, or temporary PIC or DT cements. The highest discrepancies were recorded for Co-Cr and Ti cast frameworks bonded with PF or RXU resinous agents. All groups were within the clinically acceptable misfit range.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation as Curative Therapy for Patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Increasingly Successful Application to Older Patients.

PubMed

Fenske, Timothy S; Hamadani, Mehdi; Cohen, Jonathon B; Costa, Luciano J; Kahl, Brad S; Evens, Andrew M; Hamlin, Paul A; Lazarus, Hillard M; Petersdorf, Effie; Bredeson, Christopher

2016-09-01

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) constitutes a collection of lymphoproliferative disorders with widely varying biological, histological, and clinical features. For the B cell NHLs, great progress has been made due to the addition of monoclonal antibodies and, more recently, other novel agents including B cell receptor signaling inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, and proteasome inhibitors. Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) offers the promise of cure or prolonged remission in some NHL patients. For some patients, however, auto-HCT may never be a viable option, whereas in others, the disease may progress despite auto-HCT. In those settings, allogeneic HCT (allo-HCT) offers the potential for cure. Over the past 10 to 15 years, considerable progress has been made in the implementation of allo-HCT, such that this approach now is a highly effective therapy for patients up to (and even beyond) age 75 years. Recent advances in conventional lymphoma therapy, peritransplantation supportive care, patient selection, and donor selection (including the use of alternative hematopoietic cell donors), has allowed broader application of allo-HCT to patients with NHL. As a result, an ever-increasing number of NHL patients over age 60 to 65 years stand to benefit from allo-HCT. In this review, we present data in support of the use of allo-HCT for patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. These histologies account for a large majority of allo-HCTs performed for patients over age 60 in the United States. Where possible, we highlight available data in older patients. This body of literature strongly supports the concept that allo-HCT should be offered to fit patients well beyond age 65 and, accordingly, that this treatment should be covered by their insurance carriers. Copyright © 2016 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

21 CFR 181.34 - Sodium nitrite and potassium nitrite.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Sodium nitrite and potassium nitrite. 181.34...-Sanctioned Food Ingredients § 181.34 Sodium nitrite and potassium nitrite. Sodium nitrite and potassium... fixatives and preservative agents, with or without sodium or potassium nitrate, in the curing of red meat...

21 CFR 181.34 - Sodium nitrite and potassium nitrite.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Sodium nitrite and potassium nitrite. 181.34...-Sanctioned Food Ingredients § 181.34 Sodium nitrite and potassium nitrite. Sodium nitrite and potassium... fixatives and preservative agents, with or without sodium or potassium nitrate, in the curing of red meat...

Revisiting the differentiation paradigm in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

PubMed

Ablain, Julien; de The, Hugues

2011-06-02

As the result of intense clinical and basic research, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has progressively evolved from a deadly to a curable disease. Historically, efforts aimed at understanding the molecular bases for therapy response have repeatedly illuminated APL pathogenesis. The classic model attributes this therapeutic success to the transcriptional reactivation elicited by retinoic acid and the resulting overcoming of the differentiation block characteristic of APL blasts. However, in clinical practice, retinoic acid by itself only rarely yields prolonged remissions, even though it induces massive differentiation. In contrast, as a single agent, arsenic trioxide neither directly activates transcription nor triggers terminal differentiation ex vivo, but cures many patients. Here we review the evidence from recent ex vivo and in vivo studies that allow a reassessment of the role of differentiation in APL cure. We discuss alternative models in which PML-RARA degradation and the subsequent loss of APL cell self-renewal play central roles. Rather than therapy aimed at inducing differentiation, targeting cancer cell self-renewal may represent a more effective goal, achievable by a broader range of therapeutic agents.

Bayesian transformation cure frailty models with multivariate failure time data.

PubMed

Yin, Guosheng

2008-12-10

We propose a class of transformation cure frailty models to accommodate a survival fraction in multivariate failure time data. Established through a general power transformation, this family of cure frailty models includes the proportional hazards and the proportional odds modeling structures as two special cases. Within the Bayesian paradigm, we obtain the joint posterior distribution and the corresponding full conditional distributions of the model parameters for the implementation of Gibbs sampling. Model selection is based on the conditional predictive ordinate statistic and deviance information criterion. As an illustration, we apply the proposed method to a real data set from dentistry.

Survey of Chemical Compounds Tested In Vitro against Rumen Protozoa for Possible Control of Bloat

PubMed Central

Willard, F. L.; Kodras, Rudolph

1967-01-01

Over 170 chemical agents were screened for antiprotozoal action in bovine ruminal fluid. Compounds were tested at 0.1 and 0.05% concentrations. Tested compounds included inorganic compounds, antibiotics, biocides, neuromuscular agents, arsenicals, plant and animal hormones, antimalarials, surface-active agents, anthelmintics, and many others. The most active compounds were cupric sulfate, nickel sulfate, nitrofurazone, hydrogen peroxide, dodecyl sodium sulfate, pelargonic acid, iodoacetic acid, 1-diethylaminoethylamino-4-methylthiaxanthrone, sodium arsanilate, sodium arsenate, bismuth glycolyl arsanilate, 1-β-hydroxyethyl-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole, and p-nitroaniline. Copper ion was not particularly effective against entodinia; nickel ion had no effect on holotrichs. Hydrogen peroxide and iodoacetic acid were effective at a concentration of 0.005%. Anionic surface-active agents were very effective, especially long-chain sulfates and phosphates. These antiprotozoal agents warrant further in vivo studies for possible use in treating or curing bloat in ruminants. PMID:6077407

Survey of chemical compounds tested in vitro against rumen protozoa for possible control of bloat.

PubMed

Willard, F L; Kodras, R

1967-09-01

Over 170 chemical agents were screened for antiprotozoal action in bovine ruminal fluid. Compounds were tested at 0.1 and 0.05% concentrations. Tested compounds included inorganic compounds, antibiotics, biocides, neuromuscular agents, arsenicals, plant and animal hormones, antimalarials, surface-active agents, anthelmintics, and many others. The most active compounds were cupric sulfate, nickel sulfate, nitrofurazone, hydrogen peroxide, dodecyl sodium sulfate, pelargonic acid, iodoacetic acid, 1-diethylaminoethylamino-4-methylthiaxanthrone, sodium arsanilate, sodium arsenate, bismuth glycolyl arsanilate, 1-beta-hydroxyethyl-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole, and p-nitroaniline. Copper ion was not particularly effective against entodinia; nickel ion had no effect on holotrichs. Hydrogen peroxide and iodoacetic acid were effective at a concentration of 0.005%. Anionic surface-active agents were very effective, especially long-chain sulfates and phosphates. These antiprotozoal agents warrant further in vivo studies for possible use in treating or curing bloat in ruminants.

Curing mechanism of flexible aqueous polymeric coatings.

PubMed

Irfan, Muhammad; Ahmed, Abid Riaz; Kolter, Karl; Bodmeier, Roland; Dashevskiy, Andriy

2017-06-01

The objective of this study was to explain curing phenomena for pellets coated with a flexible polymeric coating based on poly(vinyl acetate) (Kollicoat® SR 30D) with regard to the effect of starter cores, thickness of drug layer, adhesion of coating to drug-layered-cores as well as coating properties. In addition, appropriate approaches to eliminate the curing effect were identified. Sugar or MCC cores were layered with the model drugs carbamazepine, theophylline, propranolol HCl, tramadol HCl and metoprolol HCl using HPMC (5 or 25% w/w, based on drug) as a binder. Drug-layered pellets were coated with Kollicoat® SR 30D in a fluidized bed coater using TEC (10% w/w) as plasticizer and talc (35-100% w/w) as anti-tacking agent. Drug release, pellet properties (morphology, water uptake-weight loss and osmolality) and adhesion of the coating to the drug layer were investigated as a function of curing at 60°C or 60°C/75% RH for 24h. The film formation of the aqueous dispersion of Kollicoat® SR 30D was complete, and therefore, a strong curing effect (decrease in drug release) at elevated temperature and humidity (60°C/75% RH) could not be explained by the well-known hydroplasticization and the further gradual coalescence of the colloidal polymer particles. According to the provided mechanistic explanation, the observed curing effect was associated with (1) high flexibility of coating, (2) adhesion between coating and drug layer, (3) water retaining properties of the drug layer, and (4) osmotically active cores. Unwanted curing effects could be minimized/eliminated by the addition of talc or/and pore-forming water soluble polymers in the coating, increasing binder amount or applying an intermediate coating, by increasing the thickness of drug layer or using non-osmotic cores. A new insight into curing phenomena mainly associated with the adhesion between drug layer and coating was provided. Appropriate approaches to avoid unwanted curing effect were identified. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nonequilibrium material effects on the behavior of polymeric composite matrices and their related composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilkes, G. L.

1982-01-01

The effects of physical aging on the material properties of some linear and network macromolecular glasses are discussed. The free volume concept is used to describe this behavior. The effect of physical aging on properties of some uniaxial graphite/fiber epoxy resin composites is investigated using stress relaxation in both tensile and flexural modes. The matrix polymers used were resins both of which are based on a 4,4-methylenedianiline derivative of epichlorohydrin with diamino diphenyl sulfone (DDS) as the curing agent. The matrix resin, as used in the practical application in composites, not fully cured and the glass transition of the network was dependent on the curing schedule. The physical aging of the bulk crosslinked epoxy was found to depend on the annealing temperature, and the T sub g of the resin. The physical aging of the composite, monitored by the stress relaxation method, was found to be dependent on the testing direction.

Determination of thermophysical characteristics of vulcanizable rubber products by the mathematical modeling method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tikhomirov, S. G.; Pyatakov, Y. V.; Karmanova, O. V.; Maslov, A. A.

2018-03-01

The studies of the vulcanization kinetics of elastomers were carried out using a Truck tyre tread rubber compound. The formal kinetic scheme of vulcanization of rubbers sulfur-accelerator curing system was used which generalizes the set of reactions occurring in the curing process. A mathematical model is developed for determining the thermal parameters vulcanizable mixture comprising algorithms for solving direct and inverse problems for system of equations of heat conduction and kinetics of the curing process. The performance of the model is confirmed by the results of numerical experiments on model examples.

Fabrication of low density ceramic material

DOEpatents

Meek, T.T.; Blake, R.D.; Sheinberg, H.

1985-01-01

A precursor mixture and a method of making a low-density ceramic structural material are disclosed. The precursor mixture includes hollow microballoons, typically made of glass, together with a cementing agent capable of being cured by microwave irradiation. A preferred cementing agent is liquid hydrated potassium silicate, which is mixed with the glass microballoons to form a slurry. Upon irradiation the potassium silicate is dehydrated to form a solid porous matrix in which the microballoons are evenly distributed. Ground glass or other filling agents may be included in the slurry to enhance the properties of the final product. Low-density structural ceramics having densities on the order of 0.1 to 0.3 are obtained.

21 CFR 172.160 - Potassium nitrate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Potassium nitrate. 172.160 Section 172.160 Food... ADDITIVES PERMITTED FOR DIRECT ADDITION TO FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION Food Preservatives § 172.160 Potassium nitrate. The food additive potassium nitrate may be safely used as a curing agent in the processing of cod...

Synthesis of a Novel Phosphorus-Containing Flame Retardant Curing Agent and Its Application in Epoxy Resins.

PubMed

Zhang, Hongkun; Xu, Miaojun; Li, Bin

2016-03-01

A novel phosphorus-containing compound diphenyl-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-phosphine oxide defined as DPDHPPO was synthesized and used as flame retardant and curing agent for epoxy resins (EP). The chemical structure was well characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, 1H, 13C and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance. The flame retardant properties, combusting performances and thermal degradation behaviors of the cured epoxy resins were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning tests (UL-94), cone calorimeter and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) tests. The morphologies and chemical compositions of char residues for cured epoxy resins were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The water resistant properties were evaluated by putting the samples into distilled water at 70 degrees C for 168 h. The results revealed that the EP/40 wt% DPDHPPO/60 wt% PDA thermosets successfully passed UL-94 V-0 flammability rating and the LOI value was as high as 31.9%. The cone tests results revealed that the incorporation of DPDHPPO efficiently reduced the combustion parameters of epoxy resins thermosets, such as heat release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR) and so on. The TGA results indicated that the introduction of DPDHPPO promoted epoxy resins matrix decomposed ahead of time compared with that of pure EP and led to a higher char yield and thermal stability at high temperature. The morphological structures and analysis of XPS of char residues revealed that DPDHPPO benefited to the formation of a sufficient, compact and homogeneous char layer with rich flame retardant elements on the epoxy resins materials surface during combustion. After water resistance tests, EP/40 wt% DPDHPPO/60 wt% PDA thermosets still remained excellent flame retardancy, the moisture absorption of epoxy resins thermosets decreased with the increase of DPDHPPO contents in the thermosets due to the existing of P-C bonds and the rigid aromatic hydrophobic structure.

Effects of three silane primers and five adhesive agents on the bond strength of composite material for a computer-aided design and manufacturing system.

PubMed

Shinohara, Ayano; Taira, Yohsuke; Sakihara, Michino; Sawase, Takashi

2018-01-01

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of combinations of silane primers and adhesive agents on the bond strength of a composite block for a computer-aided design and manufacturing system. Material and Methods Three silane primers [Clearfil Ceramic Primer (CP), Super-Bond PZ Primer (PZ), and GC Ceramic Primer II (GP)] were used in conjunction with five adhesive agents [G-Premio Bond (P-Bond), Repair Adhe Adhesive (R-Adhesive), Super-Bond D-Liner Dual (SB-Dual), Super-Bond C&B (SB-Self), and SB-Dual without tributylborane derivative (SB-Light)]. The surface of a composite block (Gradia Block) was ground with silicon carbide paper. After treatment with a silane primer, a adhesive agent was applied to each testing specimen. The specimens were then bonded with a light-curing resin composite. After 24 h, the shear bond strength values were determined and compared using a post hoc test (α=0.05, n=8/group). We also prepared control specimens without primer (No primer) and/or without adhesive agent (No adhesive). Results PZ/SB-Dual and GP/SB-Dual presented the highest bond strength, followed by GP/P-Bond, CP/SB-Dual, CP/R-Adhesive, No primer/SB-Dual, GP/R-Adhesive, CP/P-Bond, No primer/R-Adhesive, PZ/R-Adhesive, CP/SB-Self, PZ/P-Bond, PZ/SB-Self, and GP/SB-Self in descending order of bond strength. No primer/P-Bond, No primer/SB-Self, and all specimens in the SB-Light and No adhesive groups presented the lowest bond strengths. Conclusion A dual-curing adhesive agent (SB-Dual) containing a tributylborane derivative in combination with a silane primer (GP or PZ) presents a greater bond strength between the composite block and the repairing resin composite than the comparators used in the study.

Effects of three silane primers and five adhesive agents on the bond strength of composite material for a computer-aided design and manufacturing system

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of combinations of silane primers and adhesive agents on the bond strength of a composite block for a computer-aided design and manufacturing system. Material and Methods Three silane primers [Clearfil Ceramic Primer (CP), Super-Bond PZ Primer (PZ), and GC Ceramic Primer II (GP)] were used in conjunction with five adhesive agents [G-Premio Bond (P-Bond), Repair Adhe Adhesive (R-Adhesive), Super-Bond D-Liner Dual (SB-Dual), Super-Bond C&B (SB-Self), and SB-Dual without tributylborane derivative (SB-Light)]. The surface of a composite block (Gradia Block) was ground with silicon carbide paper. After treatment with a silane primer, a adhesive agent was applied to each testing specimen. The specimens were then bonded with a light-curing resin composite. After 24 h, the shear bond strength values were determined and compared using a post hoc test (α=0.05, n=8/group). We also prepared control specimens without primer (No primer) and/or without adhesive agent (No adhesive). Results PZ/SB-Dual and GP/SB-Dual presented the highest bond strength, followed by GP/P-Bond, CP/SB-Dual, CP/R-Adhesive, No primer/SB-Dual, GP/R-Adhesive, CP/P-Bond, No primer/R-Adhesive, PZ/R-Adhesive, CP/SB-Self, PZ/P-Bond, PZ/SB-Self, and GP/SB-Self in descending order of bond strength. No primer/P-Bond, No primer/SB-Self, and all specimens in the SB-Light and No adhesive groups presented the lowest bond strengths. Conclusion A dual-curing adhesive agent (SB-Dual) containing a tributylborane derivative in combination with a silane primer (GP or PZ) presents a greater bond strength between the composite block and the repairing resin composite than the comparators used in the study. PMID:29742254

Application of Toxic Chinese Medicine in Chinese Pharmacopoeia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Hui; Feng, Yu; Mao, Mingsan

2018-01-01

Objective: Explore the application characteristics of proprietary Chinese medicine prescriptions containing toxic herbs in pharmacopoeia. Methods: In this paper, according to the clinical application of pharmacopoeia proprietary Chinese medicine is divided into table agent, Qushu agent, diarrhea agent, heat agent, Wen Li agent, cough and asthma agents, resuscitation agent, Gutian agent, Fuzheng agent, Anshen agent, hemostatic agent, The traditional Chinese medicine prescription and the clinical application of the Chinese herbal medicine containing the toxic Chinese medicine were analyzed and sorted out., Summed up the compatibility of toxic herbs and application characteristics. Results: Toxic Chinese herbal medicine in the cure of traditional Chinese medicine to play a long-standing role, through the overall thinking, dialectical thinking, and thinking of toxic Chinese medicine in the analysis of Chinese medicine that [2], toxic Chinese medicine in the application of proprietary Chinese medicine can not lack. Conclusion: Pharmacopoeia included proprietary Chinese medicine not only in the clinical treatment of good, but also the application of its toxic traditional Chinese medicine and its understanding of the enrichment of the toxic characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine and treatment-related disease pathology between the points of contact for patients with clinical applications Based on and theoretical guidance of Chinese medicine [3].

Accelerated aging effects on surface hardness and roughness of lingual retainer adhesives.

PubMed

Ramoglu, Sabri Ilhan; Usumez, Serdar; Buyukyilmaz, Tamer

2008-01-01

To test the null hypothesis that accelerated aging has no effect on the surface microhardness and roughness of two light-cured lingual retainer adhesives. Ten samples of light-cured materials, Transbond Lingual Retainer (3M Unitek) and Light Cure Retainer (Reliance) were cured with a halogen light for 40 seconds. Vickers hardness and surface roughness were measured before and after accelerated aging of 300 hours in a weathering tester. Differences between mean values were analyzed for statistical significance using a t-test. The level of statistical significance was set at P < .05. The mean Vickers hardness of Transbond Lingual Retainer was 62.8 +/- 3.5 and 79.6 +/- 4.9 before and after aging, respectively. The mean Vickers hardness of Light Cure Retainer was 40.3 +/- 2.6 and 58.3 +/- 4.3 before and after aging, respectively. Differences in both groups were statistically significant (P < .001). Following aging, mean surface roughness was changed from 0.039 microm to 0.121 microm and from 0.021 microm to 0.031 microm for Transbond Lingual Retainer and Light Cure Retainer, respectively. The roughening of Transbond Lingual Retainer with aging was statistically significant (P < .05), while the change in the surface roughness of Light Cure Retainer was not (P > .05). Accelerated aging significantly increased the surface microhardness of both light-cured retainer adhesives tested. It also significantly increased the surface roughness of the Transbond Lingual Retainer.

Antibiotic stability over six weeks in aqueous solution at body temperature with and without heat treatment that mimics the curing of bone cement

PubMed Central

Samara, E.; Decosterd, L. A.; Richards, R. G.; Gautier, E.; Wahl, P.

2017-01-01

Objectives Thermal stability is a key property in determining the suitability of an antibiotic agent for local application in the treatment of orthopaedic infections. Despite the fact that long-term therapy is a stated goal of novel local delivery carriers, data describing thermal stability over a long period are scarce, and studies that avoid interference from specific carrier materials are absent from the orthopaedic literature. Methods In this study, a total of 38 frequently used antibiotic agents were maintained at 37°C in saline solution, and degradation and antibacterial activity assessed over six weeks. The impact of an initial supplementary heat exposure mimicking exothermically curing bone cement was also tested as this material is commonly used as a local delivery vehicle. Antibiotic degradation was assessed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, or by immunoassays, as appropriate. Antibacterial activity over time was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay. Results The heat exposure mimicking curing bone cement had minimal effect on stability for most antibiotics, except for gentamicin which experienced approximately 25% degradation as measured by immunoassay. Beta-lactam antibiotics were found to degrade quite rapidly at 37°C regardless of whether there was an initial heat exposure. Excellent long-term stability was observed for aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, tetracyclines and quinolones under both conditions. Conclusions This study provides a valuable dataset for orthopaedic surgeons considering local application of antibiotics, and for material scientists looking to develop next-generation controlled or extended-release antibiotic carriers. Cite this article: E. Samara, T. F. Moriarty, L. A. Decosterd, R. G. Richards, E. Gautier, P. Wahl. Antibiotic stability over six weeks in aqueous solution at body temperature with and without heat treatment that mimics the curing of bone cement. Bone Joint J 2017;6:296–306. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.65.BJR-2017-0276.R1. PMID:28515059

Clay Stabilization Using the Ash of Mount Sinabung in Terms of the Value of California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hastuty, I. P.; Roesyanto, R.; Napitupulu, S. M. A.

2018-02-01

Most areas in Indonesia consist of clay soils with high plasticity so that to meet technical requirements the soil needs improvement, which is known as soil stabilization.There are three ways of soil stabilization process, i.e. mechanical, physical and chemical. In this study, chemical stabilization was performed, that was by adding stabilizing agents to the soil. The stabilizing agent used was the ash of Mount Sinabung. Since 2010 until now, Sinabung Mountain is still experiencing eruption that produces a lot of volcanic ash and it inconveniences the environment. So, it is expected that this research will be able to optimize the utilization of Sinabung ash. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the addition of Mount Sinabung ash to CBR (California Bearing Ratio) value, to determine the effect of the curing time of one day and fourteen days mixture on the CBR value, and to find the mixed content with effective curing time to produce the largest CBR value. Based on this study, the soil type CL (Clay - Low Plasticity) was obtained, based on the classification of USCS (Unified Soil Classification System) and categorized as A-6 (6) based on the classification of AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials) with the most effective mixed stabilizer material which was the variation of 10% Mount Sinabung ash with fourteen days of curing time. The CBR value resulted from the mixture of 10% Sinabung ash that was cured within fourteen days was 8.95%. By the increase of the content of the Sinabung ash, the CBR value always improved to the level of 10%, Sinabung ash then decreased and became constant at the mixture of higher volcanic ash mixture but remained above the CBR value of the original soil.

Listeria monocytogenes Strains Selected on Ciprofloxacin or the Disinfectant Benzalkonium Chloride Exhibit Reduced Susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, Benzalkonium Chloride, and Other Toxic Compounds▿

PubMed Central

Rakic-Martinez, Mira; Drevets, Douglas A.; Dutta, Vikrant; Katic, Vera; Kathariou, Sophia

2011-01-01

Listeria monocytogenes is a leading agent for severe food-borne illness and death in the United States and other nations. Even though drug resistance has not yet threatened therapeutic interventions for listeriosis, selective pressure associated with exposure to antibiotics and disinfectants may result in reduced susceptibility to these agents. In this study, selection of several L. monocytogenes strains on either ciprofloxacin (2 μg/ml) or the quaternary ammonium disinfectant benzalkonium chloride (BC; 10 μg/ml) led to derivatives with increased MICs not only to these agents but also to several other toxic compounds, including gentamicin, the dye ethidium bromide, and the chemotherapeutic drug tetraphenylphosphonium chloride. The spectrum of compounds to which these derivatives exhibited reduced susceptibility was the same regardless of whether they were selected on ciprofloxacin or on BC. Inclusion of strains harboring the large plasmid pLM80 revealed that MICs to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin did not differ between the parental and plasmid-cured strains. However, ciprofloxacin-selected derivatives of pLM80-harboring strains had higher MICs than those derived from the plasmid-cured strains. Susceptibility to the antimicrobials was partially restored in the presence of the potent efflux inhibitor reserpine. Taken together, these data suggest that mutations in efflux systems are responsible for the multidrug resistance phenotype of strains selected on ciprofloxacin or BC. PMID:22003016

Fly Ash-based Geopolymer Lightweight Concrete Using Foaming Agent

PubMed Central

Al Bakri Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa; Hussin, Kamarudin; Bnhussain, Mohamed; Ismail, Khairul Nizar; Yahya, Zarina; Razak, Rafiza Abdul

2012-01-01

In this paper, we report the results of our investigation on the possibility of producing foam concrete by using a geopolymer system. Class C fly ash was mixed with an alkaline activator solution (a mixture of sodium silicate and NaOH), and foam was added to the geopolymeric mixture to produce lightweight concrete. The NaOH solution was prepared by dilute NaOH pellets with distilled water. The reactives were mixed to produce a homogeneous mixture, which was placed into a 50 mm mold and cured at two different curing temperatures (60 °C and room temperature), for 24 hours. After the curing process, the strengths of the samples were tested on days 1, 7, and 28. The water absorption, porosity, chemical composition, microstructure, XRD and FTIR analyses were studied. The results showed that the sample which was cured at 60 °C (LW2) produced the maximum compressive strength for all tests, (11.03 MPa, 17.59 MPa, and 18.19 MPa) for days 1, 7, and 28, respectively. Also, the water absorption and porosity of LW2 were reduced by 6.78% and 1.22% after 28 days, respectively. The SEM showed that the LW2 sample had a denser matrix than LW1. This was because LW2 was heat cured, which caused the geopolymerization rate to increase, producing a denser matrix. However for LW1, microcracks were present on the surface, which reduced the compressive strength and increased water absorption and porosity. PMID:22837687

Fly ash-based geopolymer lightweight concrete using foaming agent.

PubMed

Al Bakri Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa; Hussin, Kamarudin; Bnhussain, Mohamed; Ismail, Khairul Nizar; Yahya, Zarina; Razak, Rafiza Abdul

2012-01-01

In this paper, we report the results of our investigation on the possibility of producing foam concrete by using a geopolymer system. Class C fly ash was mixed with an alkaline activator solution (a mixture of sodium silicate and NaOH), and foam was added to the geopolymeric mixture to produce lightweight concrete. The NaOH solution was prepared by dilute NaOH pellets with distilled water. The reactives were mixed to produce a homogeneous mixture, which was placed into a 50 mm mold and cured at two different curing temperatures (60 °C and room temperature), for 24 hours. After the curing process, the strengths of the samples were tested on days 1, 7, and 28. The water absorption, porosity, chemical composition, microstructure, XRD and FTIR analyses were studied. The results showed that the sample which was cured at 60 °C (LW2) produced the maximum compressive strength for all tests, (11.03 MPa, 17.59 MPa, and 18.19 MPa) for days 1, 7, and 28, respectively. Also, the water absorption and porosity of LW2 were reduced by 6.78% and 1.22% after 28 days, respectively. The SEM showed that the LW2 sample had a denser matrix than LW1. This was because LW2 was heat cured, which caused the geopolymerization rate to increase, producing a denser matrix. However for LW1, microcracks were present on the surface, which reduced the compressive strength and increased water absorption and porosity.

Influence of curing time, overlay material and thickness on three light-curing composites used for luting indirect composite restorations.

PubMed

D'Arcangelo, Camillo; De Angelis, Francesco; Vadini, Mirco; Carluccio, Fabio; Vitalone, Laura Merla; D'Amario, Maurizio

2012-08-01

To assess the microhardness of three resin composites employed in the adhesive luting of indirect composite restorations and examine the influence of the overlay material and thickness as well as the curing time on polymerization rate. Three commercially available resin composites were selected: Enamel Plus HRI (Micerium) (ENA), Saremco ELS (Saremco Dental) (SAR), Esthet-X HD (Dentsply/DeTrey) (EST-X). Post-polymerized cylinders of 6 different thicknesses were produced and used as overlays: 2 mm, 3 mm, 3.5 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, and 6 mm. Two-mm-thick disks were produced and employed as underlays. A standardized amount of composite paste was placed between the underlay and the overlay surfaces which were maintained at a fixed distance of 0.5 mm. Light curing of the luting composite layer was performed through the overlays for 40, 80, or 120 s. For each specimen, the composite to be cured, the cured overlay, and the underlay were made out of the same batch of resin composite. All specimens were assigned to three experimental groups on the basis of the resin composite used, and to subgroups on the basis of the overlay thickness and the curing time, resulting in 54 experimental subgroups (n = 5). Forty-five additional specimens, 15 for each material under investigation, were produced and subjected to 40, 80, or 120 s of light curing using a microscope glass as an overlay; they were assigned to 9 control subgroups (n = 5). Three Vicker's hardness (VH) indentations were performed on each specimen. Means and standard deviations were calculated. Data were statistically analyzed using 3-way ANOVA. Within the same material, VH values lower than 55% of control were not considered acceptable. The used material, the overlay thickness, and the curing time significantly influenced VH values. In the ENA group, acceptable hardness values were achieved with 3.5-mm or thinner overlays after 120 or 80 s curing time (VH 41.75 and 39.32, respectively), and with 2-mm overlays after 40 s (VH 54.13). In the SAR group, acceptable hardness values were only achieved with 2-mm-thick overlays after 120 or 80 s curing time (VH 39.81 and 29.78, respectively). In the EST-X group, acceptable hardness values were only achieved with 3-mm or thinner overlays, after 120 or 80 s curing time (VH 36.20 and 36.03, respectively). Curing time, restoration thickness, and overlay material significantly influenced the microhardness of the tested resin composites employed as luting agents. The clinician should carefully keep these factors under control.

Randomized noninferiority field trial evaluating cephapirin sodium for treatment of nonsevere clinical mastitis.

PubMed

Tomazi, T; Lopes, T A F; Masson, V; Swinkels, J M; Santos, M V

2018-05-16

The general objective of this study was to evaluate whether cephapirin sodium is noninferior compared with a positive control broad-spectrum product formulated with a combination of antimicrobials for intramammary treatment of nonsevere clinical mastitis. In addition, we compared the efficacy of treatments on the cure risks of pathogen groups (gram-positive, gram-negative, and cultures with no growth) based on culture results. A total of 346 cows distributed in 31 commercial dairy herds were selected to participate in the study, although only 236 met the criteria for evaluation of microbiological cure. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most isolated gram-positive pathogens in pretreatment milk samples, whereas the most common gram-negative bacterium was Escherichia coli. Cows attending the postadmission criteria were treated with 4 intramammary infusions (12 h apart) of one of the following antimicrobials: 300 mg of cephapirin sodium + 20 mg of prednisolone (CS), or the positive control treatment formulated with a combination of antimicrobials (200 mg of tetracycline + 250 mg of neomycin + 28 mg of bacitracin + 10 mg of prednisolone; TNB). Noninferiority analysis and mixed regression models (overall and considering the pathogen groups) were performed for the following outcomes: bacteriological cure (absence of the causative pathogens in cultures performed in milk samples collected at 14 and 21 ± 3 d after enrollment), pathogen cure (absence of any pathogen on both follow-up samples), clinical cure (absence of clinical sign in the milk and mammary gland at 48 h after the last antimicrobial infusion), extended clinical cure (normal milk and normal gland on the second posttreatment sample collection (d 21), and linear score of somatic cell count cure [linear score of somatic cell count recovery (≤4.0) on d 21 ± 3 after enrollment]. No significant differences were observed between treatments regarding any of the evaluated outcomes in both regression models (overall and considering the pathogen groups). Noninferiority of CS relative to TNB was inconclusive for bacteriological cure (CS = 0.68; TNB = 0.73) and clinical cure (CS = 0.88; TNB = 0.94), as the confidence intervals crossed the pre-stated margin of noninferiority (Δ = -0.15). Cephapirin sodium was noninferior compared with TNB for pathogen cure (CS = 0.36; TNB = 0.35), extended clinical cure (CS = 0.93; TNB = 0.92), and linear score of somatic cell count cure (CS = 0.29; TNB = 0.28). In conclusion, the use of intramammary CS for treatment of nonsevere clinical mastitis has similar efficacy as a treatment regimen with a combination of antimicrobial agents (tetracycline + neomycin + bacitracin), although noninferiority analysis showed inconclusive results for bacteriological and clinical cures. Copyright © 2018 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

21 CFR 189.280 - 4,4′-Methylenebis (2-chloro-analine).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... natural products and has been used as a polyurethane curing agent and as a component of food packaging... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false 4,4â²-Methylenebis (2-chloro-analine). 189.280 Section 189.280 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES...

Mechanical Properties of Unsaturated Polyester / Montmorillonite Composites

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-11-01

Montmorillonite Composites DISTRIBUTION: Approved for public release, distribution unlimited This paper is part of the following report: TITLE: Nanophase and...Mechanical Properties of Unsaturated Polyester / Montmorillonite Composites A. Baran Inceoglu and Ulku Yilmazer Middle East Technical University, Chemical...analysed the nature of the curing agent on structure. Kornmann, Berglund and Giannelis [8] studied nanocomposites based on montmorillonite modified

Thermoset epoxy polymers from renewable resources

DOEpatents

East, Anthony [Madison, NJ; Jaffe, Michael [Maplewood, NJ; Zhang, Yi [Harrison, NJ; Catalani, Luiz H [Carapicuiba, BR

2009-11-17

Novel thermoset epoxy polymers using the bisglycidyl ethers of anhydrosugars, such as isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide, are disclosed. The bisglycidyl ethers are useful as substitutes for bisphenol A in the manufacture of thermoset epoxy ethers. The anhydrosugars are derived from renewable sources and the bisglycidyl ethers are not xenoestrogenic and the thermoset curing agents are likewise derived form renewable resources.

Flexible moldable conductive current-limiting materials

DOEpatents

Shea, John Joseph; Djordjevic, Miomir B.; Hanna, William Kingston

2002-01-01

A current limiting PTC device (10) has two electrodes (14) with a thin film of electric conducting polymer material (20) disposed between the electrodes, the polymer material (20) having superior flexibility and short circuit performance, where the polymer material contains short chain aliphatic diepoxide, conductive filler particles, curing agent, and, preferably, a minor amount of bisphenol A epoxy resin.

Halogen-free benzoxazine based curable compositions for high TG applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tietze, Roger; Nguyen, Yen-Loan

The present invention provides a halogen-free curable composition including a benzoxazine monomer, at least one epoxy resin, a catalyst, a toughening agent and a solvent. The halogen-free curable composition is especially suited for use in automobile and aerospace applications since the composition, upon curing, produces a composite having a high glass transition temperature.

Halogen free benzoxazine based curable compositions for high T.sub.g applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tietze, Roger; Nguyen, Yen-Loan

A method for forming a halogen-free curable composition containing a benzoxazine monomer, at least one epoxy resin, a catalyst, a toughening agent and a solvent. The halogen-free curable composition is especially suited for use in automobile and aerospace applications since the composition, upon curing, produces a composite having a high glass transition temperature.

Porosity Formation and Microleakage of Composite Resins Using the Snowplow Technique

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-04

on a proximal surface of mounted 3rd molar tooth samples. A bonding agent (Optibond FL, Kerr) was placed and light cured (Bluephase 16i, Ivoclar...Page Figure 1 Tooth preparation........................................................................ 20 Figure 2 Skyscan...al., 2010). Combined with dental adhesives, composites provide esthetically conservative restorations due to their ability to bond to tooth structure

Determining the influence of fibre post light transmission on polymerization depth and viscoelastic behaviour of dual-cured resin cement.

PubMed

Dogar, A; Altintas, S C; Kavlak, S; Guner, A

2012-12-01

To evaluate the effect of quartz-fibre posts on the depth of polymerization of a dual-cure resin cement using Raman spectroscopy and to determine the physical properties of the polymerized cement using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). Twenty-five fibre and 25 CrNi posts were used to evaluate depth of polymerization. Posts were cemented with dual-cure resin into root canals formed from silicone moulds, without using bonding or etching agents. After polymerization, resin layers on each sample were removed using a curette and cut into three equal parts (apical, middle and coronal). All resin specimens for every third were gathered and crushed. Resin powder samples were analysed using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis and Raman spectroscopy for each third. The numerical data revealed that the thermal transitions of the materials took place at higher temperatures from the apical to the coronal sections in both groups. C=C double bond intensity was lower in fibre post-resin cement samples when compared to their intensity in metal post-resin cement samples. Dual-cured resin cements had more rigid properties and better polymerization for fibre posts when compared with metal posts. Polymerization quantity was affected by position in the canal. © 2012 International Endodontic Journal.

Health Problems of Epoxy Resins and Amine-curing Agents

PubMed Central

Bourne, L. B.; Milner, F. J. M.; Alberman, K. B.

1959-01-01

Epoxy resins were first introduced about 10 years ago. Toxic effects, particularly dermatitis, have been frequently described. An investigation into the possible causes of pathological sequelae following the use of epoxy resin/amine mixtures has been undertaken. The cause of most cases of dermatitis and sensitization appears to be uncombined amine which is present in recent mixtures and persists in hardened resin for long periods. The results of experiments with two of the most commonly used resin/amine mixtures confirm this. Cold-cured resins are more dangerous and remain so even when hardened. A simple theory is suggested for the mechanism of the reaction between epoxy resins, amines, and biological systems. This theory leads logically to the handling precautions outlined. Images PMID:13651551

Epidemiology and therapies for metastatic sarcoma

PubMed Central

Amankwah, Ernest K; Conley, Anthony P; Reed, Damon R

2013-01-01

Sarcomas are cancers arising from the mesenchymal layer that affect children, adolescents, young adults, and adults. Although most sarcomas are localized, many display a remarkable predilection for metastasis to the lungs, liver, bones, subcutaneous tissue, and lymph nodes. Additionally, many sarcoma patients presenting initially with localized disease may relapse at metastatic sites. While localized sarcomas can often be cured through surgery and often radiation, controversies exist over optimal management of patients with metastatic sarcoma. Combinations of chemotherapy are the most effective in many settings, and many promising new agents are under active investigation or are being explored in preclinical models. Metastatic sarcomas are excellent candidates for novel approaches with additional agents as they have demonstrated chemosensitivity and affect a portion of the population that is motivated toward curative therapy. In this paper, we provide an overview on the common sarcomas of childhood (rhabdomyosarcoma), adolescence, and young adults (osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor) and older adults (leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, and undifferentiated high grade sarcoma) in terms of the epidemiology, current therapy, promising therapeutic directions and outcome with a focus on metastatic disease. Potential advances in terms of promising therapy and biologic insights may lead to more effective and safer therapies; however, more clinical trials and research are needed for patients with metastatic sarcoma. PMID:23700373

Invitro Evaluation of Fluoride Release from Hydroxyapatite Reinforced Glass Ionomer with or without Protective Coating.

PubMed

Tiwari, Shilpi; Nandlal, Bhojraj

2016-04-01

Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) is well known for its fluoride releasing property but has its own drawbacks of poor mechanical properties, sensitivity to initial desiccation and moisture contamination. To overcome these, search led to the reinforcement of hydroxyapatite and application of surface coating agent but their effect on fluoride release is still not clear. To evaluate and compare the release of fluoride from Hydroxyapatite Reinforced Glass Ionomer (HA-GIC) with and without protective coating. Specimens were prepared as follows- Eight percent by weight conventional glass ionomer was replaced by hydroxyapatite powder (HA) and an indigenous product was prepared (HA-GIC). This powder was mixed with liquid of conventional GIC and allowed to set, then G coat plus coating agent was applied in surface coated group and light cured. Fluoride release of the sample was measured every 24 hrs for seven days and weekly from 7(th) to 21(st) day using combination ion selective electrode. Mean values clearly reveal a significant decrease in the fluoride release from day 1 to day 21 for both the groups. Results of repeated measure ANOVA revealed statistically significant difference between two groups (p <0.001). Coating the hydroxyapatite reinforced glass ionomer will allow for slow and steady release of fluoride for a long period of time into oral environment.

Incidence, risk factors and treatment outcomes of extravasation of cytotoxic agents in an outpatient chemotherapy clinic.

PubMed

Sakaida, Emiko; Sekine, Ikuo; Iwasawa, Shunichiro; Kurimoto, Ryota; Uehara, Takashi; Ooka, Yoshihiko; Akanuma, Naoki; Tada, Yuji; Imai, Chiaki; Oku, Tomoko; Takiguchi, Yuichi

2014-02-01

Extravasation, the accidental leakage of an anticancer agent from a vessel into the surrounding tissues, can lead to irreversible local injuries and severe disability. Despite its considerable clinical importance, evidence-based information on extravasation in chemotherapy is lacking. This study characterized the clinical features of extravasation and identified issues to be resolved in current cancer chemotherapy performed in outpatient settings. We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of patients who received chemotherapy and sustained extravasation in our Outpatient Chemotherapy Clinic from April 2007 to August 2012. Chemotherapy administration and extravasation management procedures were standardized using the in-house chemotherapy guideline. Among 43 557 patients who received chemotherapy, 35 (0.08%) experienced extravasation. The duration between the start of infusion and extravasation was >2 h in 28 (80.0%) patients. The severity of extravasation was Grades 1, 2 and 3 in 28, 2 and 5 patients, respectively-three of whom were associated with port trouble. The contributing factor for extravasation was walking in 11 (31.4%) patients. All extravasations were cured without surgical intervention by management according to our guidelines. The incidence of extravasation is as low as 0.08%, using our in-house chemotherapy guideline. Extravasation from implanted ports tends to be severe.

Soy flour dispersibility and performance as wood adhesive

Treesearch

Charles R. Frihart; Holly Satori

2013-01-01

Soy flour adhesives using polyamidoamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resin as the curing agent are being used commercially to make bonded wood products. The original studies on the soy-PAE adhesives used purified soy protein isolate, but the much lower cost soy flour is now used commercially. We examined the performance of commercially available soy flours that have their...

Influence of soy type on wood bonding performance

Treesearch

Charles R. Frihart

2011-01-01

Proteins were the main wood bonding adhesives for centuries, but they were displaced by fossil fuel-based adhesives in the 20th century because synthetic adhesives offered better water resistance, ease of use, and lower cost. Recently, studies using a polyamidoamine– epichlorohydrin (PAE) curing agent have led to soybean-based adhesives that are...

Dataset of producing and curing concrete using domestic treated wastewater

PubMed Central

Asadollahfardi, Gholamreza; Delnavaz, Mohammad; Rashnoiee, Vahid; Fazeli, Alireza; Gonabadi, Navid

2015-01-01

We tested the setting time of cement, slump and compressive and tensile strength of 54 triplicate cubic samples and 9 cylindrical samples of concrete with and without a Super plasticizer admixture. We produced concrete samples made with drinking water and treated domestic wastewater containing 300, 400 kg/m3 of cement before chlorination and then cured concrete samples made with drinking water and treated wastewater. Second, concrete samples made with 350 kg/m3 of cement with a Superplasticizer admixture made with drinking water and treated wastewater and then cured with treated wastewater. The compressive strength of all the concrete samples made with treated wastewater had a high coefficient of determination with the control concrete samples. A 28-day tensile strength of all the samples was 96–100% of the tensile strength of the control samples and the setting time was reduced by 30 min which was consistent with a ASTMC191 standard. All samples produced and cured with treated waste water did not have a significant effect on water absorption, slump and surface electrical resistivity tests. However, compressive strength at 21 days of concrete samples using 300 kg/m3 of cement in rapid freezing and thawing conditions was about 11% lower than concrete samples made with drinking water. PMID:26862577

Dataset of producing and curing concrete using domestic treated wastewater.

PubMed

Asadollahfardi, Gholamreza; Delnavaz, Mohammad; Rashnoiee, Vahid; Fazeli, Alireza; Gonabadi, Navid

2016-03-01

We tested the setting time of cement, slump and compressive and tensile strength of 54 triplicate cubic samples and 9 cylindrical samples of concrete with and without a Super plasticizer admixture. We produced concrete samples made with drinking water and treated domestic wastewater containing 300, 400 kg/m(3) of cement before chlorination and then cured concrete samples made with drinking water and treated wastewater. Second, concrete samples made with 350 kg/m(3) of cement with a Superplasticizer admixture made with drinking water and treated wastewater and then cured with treated wastewater. The compressive strength of all the concrete samples made with treated wastewater had a high coefficient of determination with the control concrete samples. A 28-day tensile strength of all the samples was 96-100% of the tensile strength of the control samples and the setting time was reduced by 30 min which was consistent with a ASTMC191 standard. All samples produced and cured with treated waste water did not have a significant effect on water absorption, slump and surface electrical resistivity tests. However, compressive strength at 21 days of concrete samples using 300 kg/m(3) of cement in rapid freezing and thawing conditions was about 11% lower than concrete samples made with drinking water.

PDSM characterization for fabrication of free-space OXC optical components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Argueta, Victor; Fitzpatrick, Brianna

2017-11-01

In 2007 Dr Khine et al published a paper where they presented a technique using thermoplastics and PDMS to create microfluidic patterns1. Their technique involves printing a pattern in a polystyrene sheet using a laser printer. Once the pattern is transfer the polystyrene sheets they are heated to reduce their size. By printing the same pattern of the plastic sheets before heating, it is possible to control the height up to 80 μm and the width as thin as 65 μm1, 2. This technique is attractive to be used in optical fabrication due to its versatility, low cost and fast prototyping. However, in order to fabricate optical systems, we will need to control the refractive index of PDMS to allow design of basic optical components like waveguides, beam splitter, or diffuse reflectors; or more complex structures like interferometers, optical microfluidic lab-on-chip, micro-lens arrays. Several techniques exist to control the refractive index for PDMS either by controlling the curing temperature, the ratio between the base and curing agent, or by curing using UV light3-5. In this paper, we present the changes on refractive index by changing the curing temperature for different base/reaction agent ratios. We then apply these results to fabricate an optical component for a free-space optical cross-connect (OXC). Optical cross-connects are an important network element for constructing the next generation of optical networks, where provisioning (reconfiguration), scalability, and fast restoration will be needed6-8. The main attraction of all-optical switching is that it enables routing of optical data signals without the need for conversion to electrical signals, and therefore, is independent of data rate and data protocols. We have proposed previously9, 11 a new approach for an OXC. Our architecture is a free-space 3-D while still using digital MEMS. Our system is based on the optical White cell12, which consists of three spherical mirrors among which light can circulate. In Section II, we will briefly mention the basic characteristics of the binary White cell OXC configuration. Section III we will introduce the changes induced on curing PDMS, our SDD design and its fabrication for two different beam displacements. Finally, in Section IV, we will present the summary and conclusions of our work.

Biaxial Flexural Strength of High-Viscosity Glass-Ionomer Cements Heat-Cured with an LED Lamp during Setting

PubMed Central

Fabián Molina, Gustavo; Cabral, Ricardo Juan; Mazzola, Ignacio; Brain Lascano, Laura; Frencken, Jo E.

2013-01-01

Adding heat to glass ionomers during setting might improve mechanical properties. The aim was to compare the biaxial flexural strength (BFS) between and within four glass ionomers, by time of exposure to a high-intensity LED light-curing unit. Materials and methods. Samples of Fuji 9 Gold Label, Ketac Molar Easymix, ChemFil Rock, and the EQUIA system were divided into three treatment groups (n = 30): without heating (Group 1), heated with LED lamp of 1400 mW/cm2 for 30 s while setting (Group 2), and heated with LED lamp of 1400 mW/cm2 for 60 s while setting (Group 3). Samples were stored for 48 hours in distilled water at 37°C until tested. BFS was tested, using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data were analyzed, using ANOVA test with the Bonferroni correction (α = 0.05). Heating the glass-ionomer cements with an LED curing light of 1400 mW/cm2 during setting for 30 s increased the BFS value of all GICs. No statistically significant difference in mean BFS scores was found between the EQUIA system and ChemFil Rock at 30 s and 60 s. The mean BFS value was statistically significantly higher for the EQUIA system and ChemFil Rock than for Fuji 9 Gold Label and Ketac Molar Easymix at all exposure times. PMID:23841095

Biaxial flexural strength of high-viscosity glass-ionomer cements heat-cured with an LED lamp during setting.

PubMed

Fabián Molina, Gustavo; Cabral, Ricardo Juan; Mazzola, Ignacio; Brain Lascano, Laura; Frencken, Jo E

2013-01-01

Adding heat to glass ionomers during setting might improve mechanical properties. The aim was to compare the biaxial flexural strength (BFS) between and within four glass ionomers, by time of exposure to a high-intensity LED light-curing unit. Materials and methods. Samples of Fuji 9 Gold Label, Ketac Molar Easymix, ChemFil Rock, and the EQUIA system were divided into three treatment groups (n = 30): without heating (Group 1), heated with LED lamp of 1400 mW/cm(2) for 30 s while setting (Group 2), and heated with LED lamp of 1400 mW/cm(2) for 60 s while setting (Group 3). Samples were stored for 48 hours in distilled water at 37°C until tested. BFS was tested, using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data were analyzed, using ANOVA test with the Bonferroni correction (α = 0.05). Heating the glass-ionomer cements with an LED curing light of 1400 mW/cm(2) during setting for 30 s increased the BFS value of all GICs. No statistically significant difference in mean BFS scores was found between the EQUIA system and ChemFil Rock at 30 s and 60 s. The mean BFS value was statistically significantly higher for the EQUIA system and ChemFil Rock than for Fuji 9 Gold Label and Ketac Molar Easymix at all exposure times.

Effect of Processing Variables on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Microporous Carbon Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, M.; Dacek, R. F.

1996-01-01

Microporous carbon materials with different pore and strut sizes have been fabricated by the pyrolysis of furfuryl alcohol resin, triethylene glycol, and p-toluene sulfonic acid mixtures. The resulting materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and density measurements. The room temperature flexural strength and modulus of these materials decreases with increasing amount of acid curing agent.

Phenomenological modelling of self-healing polymers based on integrated healing agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mergheim, Julia; Steinmann, Paul

2013-09-01

The present contribution introduces a phenomenological model for self-healing polymers. Self-healing polymers are a promising class of materials which mimic nature by their capability to autonomously heal micro-cracks. This self-healing is accomplished by the integration of microcapsules containing a healing agent and a dispersed catalyst into the matrix material. Propagating microcracks may then break the capsules which releases the healing agent into the microcracks where it polymerizes with the catalyst, closes the crack and 'heals' the material. The present modelling approach treats these processes at the macroscopic scale, the microscopic details of crack propagation and healing are thus described by means of continuous damage and healing variables. The formulation of the healing model accounts for the fact that healing is directly associated with the curing process of healing agent and catalyst. The model is implemented and its capabilities are studied by means of numerical examples.

Host-Targeting Agents to Prevent and Cure Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

PubMed

Zeisel, Mirjam B; Crouchet, Emilie; Baumert, Thomas F; Schuster, Catherine

2015-11-02

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which are leading indications of liver transplantation (LT). To date, there is no vaccine to prevent HCV infection and LT is invariably followed by infection of the liver graft. Within the past years, direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have had a major impact on the management of chronic hepatitis C, which has become a curable disease in the majority of DAA-treated patients. In contrast to DAAs that target viral proteins, host-targeting agents (HTAs) interfere with cellular factors involved in the viral life cycle. By acting through a complementary mechanism of action and by exhibiting a generally higher barrier to resistance, HTAs offer a prospective option to prevent and treat viral resistance. Indeed, given their complementary mechanism of action, HTAs and DAAs can act in a synergistic manner to reduce viral loads. This review summarizes the different classes of HTAs against HCV infection that are in preclinical or clinical development and highlights their potential to prevent HCV infection, e.g., following LT, and to tailor combination treatments to cure chronic HCV infection.

Method for vacuum pressing electrochemical cell components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andrews, Craig C. (Inventor); Murphy, Oliver J. (Inventor)

2004-01-01

Assembling electrochemical cell components using a bonding agent comprising aligning components of the electrochemical cell, applying a bonding agent between the components to bond the components together, placing the components within a container that is essentially a pliable bag, and drawing a vacuum within the bag, wherein the bag conforms to the shape of the components from the pressure outside the bag, thereby holding the components securely in place. The vacuum is passively maintained until the adhesive has cured and the components are securely bonded. The bonding agent used to bond the components of the electrochemical cell may be distributed to the bonding surface from distribution channels in the components. To prevent contamination with bonding agent, some areas may be treated to produce regions of preferred adhesive distribution and protected regions. Treatments may include polishing, etching, coating and providing protective grooves between the bonding surfaces and the protected regions.

Major contributions towards finding a cure for cancer through chemotherapy: a historical review.

PubMed

Masood, Imran; Kiani, Maria H; Ahmad, Mahmood; Masood, Muhammed I; Sadaquat, Hadia

2016-01-01

The history of cancer chemotherapy is as old as cancer itself. With the increase in the complexities of cancer and the development of resistance towards existing anticancer agents, increased attention is now being paid to the advancement of chemotherapy. Some chemotherapeutic agents were discovered by accident or trial-and-error methods while others were found to be useful for neoplasia when they were being evaluated for some other purpose. Broadly, these agents have been classified as alkylating agents, antimetabolites, platinum compounds, antitumor antibiotics and natural products. Hormones and compounds interfering with hormone metabolism are widely used in cancer treatment, besides monoclonal antibodies and small molecules targeting angiogenesis. In this review an attempt is made to discuss the major breakthroughs that have shaped the course of cancer chemotherapy, helping to decrease the mortality as well as lessen the suffering of patients.

Treatment of head louse infestation with 4% dimeticone lotion: randomised controlled equivalence trial

PubMed Central

Burgess, Ian F; Brown, Christine M; Lee, Peter N

2005-01-01

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 4% dimeticone lotion for treatment of head louse infestation. Design Randomised controlled equivalence trial. Setting Community, with home visits. Participants 214 young people aged 4 to 18 years and 39 adults with active head louse infestation. Interventions Two applications seven days apart of either 4.0% dimeticone lotion, applied for eight hours or overnight, or 0.5% phenothrin liquid, applied for 12 hours or overnight. Outcome measures Cure of infestation (no evidence of head lice after second treatment) or reinfestation after cure. Results Cure or reinfestation after cure occurred in 89 of 127 (70%) participants treated with dimeticone and 94 of 125 (75%) treated with phenothrin (difference -5%, 95% confidence interval -16% to 6%). Per protocol analysis showed that 84 of 121 (69%) participants were cured with dimeticone and 90 of 116 (78%) were cured with phenothrin. Irritant reactions occurred significantly less with dimeticone (3/127, 2%) than with phenothrin (11/125, 9%; difference -6%, -12% to -1%). Per protocol this was 3 of 121 (3%) participants treated with dimeticone and 10 of 116 (9%) treated with phenothrin (difference -6%, -12% to -0.3%). Conclusion Dimeticone lotion cures head louse infestation. Dimeticone seems less irritant than existing treatments and has a physical action on lice that should not be affected by resistance to neurotoxic insecticides. PMID:15951310

Preparation of Shrinkage Compensating Concrete with HCSA Expansive Agent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Changcheng; Jia, Fujia

2017-10-01

Shrinkage compensating concrete (SCC) has become one of the best effective methods of preventing and reducing concrete cracking. SCC is prepared by HCSA high performance expansive agent for concrete which restrained expansion rate is optimized by 0.057%. Slump, compressive strength, restrained expansion rate and cracking resistance test were carried out on SCC. The results show that the initial slump of fresh SCC was about 220mm-230mm, while slump after 2 hours was 180mm-200mm. The restrained expansion rate of SCC increased with the mixing amount of expansive agent. After cured in water for 14 days, the restrained expansion rate of C35 and C40 SCC were 0.020%-0.032%. With the dosage of expansive agent increasing, restrained expansion rate of SCC increased, maximum compressive stress and cracking stress improved, cracking temperature fell, thus cracking resistance got effectively improvement.

Reducing Urban Violence: A Contrast of Public Health and Criminal Justice Approaches.

PubMed

Cerdá, Magdalena; Tracy, Melissa; Keyes, Katherine M

2018-01-01

Cities are investing millions in Cure Violence, a public health approach to reduce urban violence by targeting at-risk youth and redirecting conflict to nonviolent responses. The impact of such a program compared with criminal justice responses is unknown because experiments directly comparing criminal justice and public health approaches to violence prevention are infeasible with observational data. We simulated experiments to test the influence of two interventions on violence: (1) Cure Violence and (2) directed police patrol in violence hot spots. We used an agent-based model to simulate a 5% sample of the New York City (NYC) adult population, with agents placed on a grid representing the land area of NYC, with neighborhood size and population density proportional to land area and population density in each community district. Agent behaviors were governed by parameters drawn from city data sources and published estimates. Under no intervention, 3.87% (95% CI, 3.84, 3.90) of agents were victimized per year. Implementing the violence interrupter intervention for 10 years decreased victimization by 13% (to 3.35% [3.32, 3.39]). Implementing hot-spots policing and doubling the police force for 10 years reduced annual victimization by about 11% (to 3.46% [3.42, 3.49]). Increasing the police force by 40% combined with implementing the violence interrupter intervention for 10 years decreased violence by 19% (to 3.13% [3.09, 3.16]). Combined investment in a public health, community-based approach to violence prevention and a criminal justice approach focused on deterrence can achieve more to reduce population-level rates of urban violence than either can in isolation. See video abstract at, http://links.lww.com/EDE/B298.

The use of high pressure processing to enhance the quality and shelf life of reduced sodium naturally cured restructured cooked hams.

PubMed

Pietrasik, Z; Gaudette, N J; Johnston, S P

2016-06-01

The combined effect of partial salt replacement with modified potassium chloride and high pressure processing (600 MPa for 3 min at 8°C) on the quality and shelf life of naturally-cured restructured hams was investigated over a 12 week storage period. Instrumental, microbiological and consumer acceptability testing was performed. A partial salt substitution with modified potassium chloride adversely affected textural and water binding characteristics of hams and led to a decrease in the consumer acceptance compared to regular salt hams. Celery powder used as a curing agent had beneficial effects on water holding and moisture retention and improved bind of restructured hams; however the consumer acceptability of flavor and aftertaste received significantly lower scores compared to nitrite. No significant differences in all consumer acceptability parameters resulted for hams subjected to HPP compared to non-HPP for all storage periods indicating that HPP can effectively extend shelf-life of restructured ham without compromising eating quality. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Design, Development, and Testing of Advanced Bridge Structures

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-23

experiment used a reduced EEW resin (215) with Hycar CTBN 1872 being added with the curing agent, rather than the resin . The result was a very... resins are mainly phenolics , carbon monoxide and water. Thermal decomposition products should therefore be treated as potentially hazardous substances...26 2.3.5 Chemical Surface Modification ............................................. 26 2.3.5.1 Resin Impregnation of a Swelled

Water-Base Coatings

DTIC Science & Technology

1974-11-01

reacted with hydroxypropyl methacrylate and 1-butanol modifier in butyl acrylate -isobutyl methacrylate reactive diluent mixture using dibutyltin dilaurate...disadvantages are: 1. only a few commercial systems (e. g., acrylic resins ) are available; 2. after application, the polymer must somehow be insolubilized...a bisphenol in the presence of an emulsifier and a water-miscible solvent (9); 2. emulsification of an epoxy resin -amine curing agent mixture , e.g

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents and young adults.

PubMed

Burke, Patrick W; Douer, Dan

2014-01-01

The cure rate of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children is 80%, compared to less than half in adults. A major proportion of this cure rate drop occurs in adolescents and young adults (AYAs). The age range defining this population varies between studies, biological characteristics are different from both younger children and older adults, and AYAs are treated either by pediatric or adult oncologists, who often apply different treatment approaches to the same ALL patient population. The outcome of AYAs aged 15-21 years treated by more contemporary pediatric protocols is similar to that of younger children but is inferior when using adult regimens. This motivated studying AYA patients, including those above the age of 21 years, with pediatric or 'pediatrics-inspired' regimens that intensified nonmyelosuppressive drugs such as vincristine, steroids and asparaginase, with very promising preliminary results. Discovering new mutations in AYA ALL will help stratify patients into risk subgroups and identify targets for novel agents. This, together with fine-tuning pediatric chemotherapy principles will hopefully finally decrease the cure rate gap between children and AYAs - and even older adults. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Swelling of Superabsorbent Poly(Sodium-Acrylate Acrylamide) Hydrogels and Influence of Chemical Structure on Internally Cured Mortar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krafcik, Matthew J.; Erk, Kendra A.

Superabsorbent hydrogel particles show promise as internal curing agents for high performance concrete (HPC). These gels can absorb and release large volumes of water and offer a solution to the problem of self-dessication in HPC. However, the gels are sensitive to ions naturally present in concrete. This research connects swelling behavior with gel-ion interactions to optimize hydrogel performance for internal curing, reducing the chance of early-age cracking and increasing the durability of HPC. Four different hydrogels of poly(sodium-acrylate acrylamide) are synthesized and characterized with swelling tests in different salt solutions. Depending on solution pH, ionic character, and gel composition, diffrerent swelling behaviors are observed. As weight percent of acrylic acid increases, gels demonstrate higher swelling ratios in reverse osmosis water, but showed substantially decreased swelling when aqueous cations are present. Additionally, in multivalent cation solutions, overshoot peaks are present, whereby the gels have a peak swelling ratio but then deswell. Multivalent cations interact with deprotonated carboxylic acid groups, constricting the gel and expelling water. Mortar containing hydrogels showed reduced autogenous shrinkage and increased relative humidity.

Laboratory and clinical assessment of ketoconazole in deep-seated mycoses.

PubMed

Drouhet, E; Dupont, B

1983-01-24

Forty-eight cases of deep mycoses were studied and treated with ketoconazole, each with in vitro evaluation of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the causative fungi, in vivo pharmacokinetic, clinical, and mycologic evaluations, several months to two years after the treatment was stopped. Excellent results were obtained in six cases of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, with restoration of immunologic disturbances; 23 cases of systemic candidiasis, including new aspects of heroin addicts with cutaneous, ocular, or osteoarticular manifestations; eight cases of histoplasmosis, five due to Histoplasma capsulatum and three to Histoplasma duboisii, with cure in seven and remission in one; one case of African blastomycosis (Blastomyces dermatitidis); three cases of mycetoma, two due to Monosporium apiospermum, one due to a dematiacious fungus; three cases of entomophthoromycosis with cure; one case of fungal arthritis, due to new hyphomycete similar to M. apiospermum, pathogenic for laboratory animals; one case of Drechslera longirostrata causing vertebral arthritis, following a fungal endocarditis and cured by combination of ketoconazole with amphotericin B, each agent alone being ineffective; and other deep mycoses.

Factors that affect the EVA encapsulant discoloration rate upon accelerated exposure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pern, F.J.

1994-12-31

Several factors that may affect the net discoloration rate of the ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer encapsulants used in crystalline-Si photovoltaic (c-Si PV) modules upon accelerated exposure have been investigated by employing UV-visible spectrophotometry, spectrocolorimetry, and fluorescence analysis. A number of laminated films, including the two typical EVA formulations, A9918 and 15295, were studied. The results indicate that the rate of EVA discoloration is affected by the (1) curing agent and curing conditions; (2) presence and concentration of curing-generated, UV-excitable chromophores; (3) UV light intensity; (4) loss rate of the UV absorber, Cyasorb UV 531; (5) lamination; (6) film thickness; andmore » (7) photobleaching rate due to the diffusion of air into the laminated films. In general, the loss rate of the UV absorber and the rate of discoloration from light yellow to brown follow a sigmoidal pattern. A reasonable correlation for net changes in transmittance at 420 nm, yellowness index, and fluorescence peak area (or intensity) ratio is obtained as the extent of EVA discoloration progressed.« less

Utopic ideas of cure and joint exploration in psychoanalytic supervision.

PubMed

Werbart, Andrzej

2007-12-01

The idea of the decisive and complete cure is deeply rooted in our unconscious and in the sacral roots of symbolic healing. Double sets of private theories of cure can frequently be found among patients in psychoanalysis and their analysts. The utopian cure involves a profound transformation of the personality by way of deep regression. The idea of an attainable and more limited cure includes new ways of managing old problems. The actual ongoing treatment is then seen as the 'next-best solution'. The utopian fantasy of creating 'the new person' by means of 'proper' psychoanalysis or analytic training has far-reaching consequences for psychoanalytic education and supervision. Our awareness of the inevitable temptation in the 'utopian state of mind' can help us to trace and focus on utopic elements in the supervisory process. Exploration of utopic ideas of all the three parties involved can itself be a fruitful and stimulating way of working in supervision. An important aim of psychoanalytic supervision is to promote a distinct state of mind that can counterbalance utopic ideas and counteract the phenomenon of a 'false analytic self'.

Delayed photo-activation and addition of thio-urethane: Impact on polymerization kinetics and stress of dual-cured resin cements.

PubMed

Faria-E-Silva, André L; Pfeifer, Carmem S

2017-10-01

1) to determine the moment during the redox polymerization reaction of dual cure cements at which to photo-activate the material in order to reduce the polymerization stress, and 2) to evaluate possible synergistic effects between adding chain transfer agents and delayed photo-activation. The two pastes of an experimental dual-cure material were mixed, and the polymerization kinetics of the redox phase was followed. The moment when the material reached its maximum rate of redox polymerization (MRRP) of cement was determined. The degree of conversion (DC) and maximum rates of polymerization (Rp max ) were assessed for materials where: the photoactivation immediately followed material mixing, at MRRP, 1min before and 1min after MRRP. Thio-urethane (TU) additives were synthesized and added to the cement (20% wt), which was then cured under the same conditions. The polymerization kinetics was evaluated for both cements photo-activated immediately or at MRRP, followed by measurements of polymerization stress, flexural strength (FS) and elastic modulus (EM). Knoop hardness was measured before and after ethanol storage. Photo-activating the cement at or after MRRP reduced the Rp max and the polymerization stress. Addition of TU promoted additional and more significant reduction, while not affecting the Rp max . Greater hardness loss was observed for cements with TU, but the final hardness was similar for all experimental conditions. Addition of TU slightly reduced the EM and did not affect the FS. Delayed photo-activation and addition of TU significantly reduce the polymerization stress of dual-cured cements. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of the presence of the curing agent sodium nitrite, used in the production of fermented sausages, on bacteriocin production by Weissella paramesenteroides DX grown in meat simulation medium.

PubMed

Papagianni, M; Sergelidis, D

2013-06-10

Weissellin A is a listericidal bacteriocin produced by the sausage-isolated strain of Weissella paramesenteroides DX. The response of the strain to various concentrations of the added curing agent NaNO2 (0.0025, 0.005 and 0.01g/L) was evaluated in bioreactor fermentations using a meat simulation medium. The presence of nitrite suppressed bacteriocin production - the effect being more pronounced with increasing concentrations. Weissellin A was produced as a growth-associated metabolite in the absence of nitrite or its presence in the low concentration of 0.005g/L under aerobic conditions. The suppressive effect of nitrite was apparent under conditions supporting increased specific production rates, e.g. 50% and 100% dissolved oxygen tension, but no effect was observed under anaerobic conditions. As the latter prevail in the microenvironment of fermented meat products, the absence of any influence of nitrite on bacteriocin production is an important finding that enlightens the role of this species of lactic acid bacteria in its common substrates. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Setting Performance Standards for a Cost-Effective Human Immunodeficiency Virus Cure Strategy in South Africa

PubMed Central

Paltiel, A. David; Zheng, Amy; Weinstein, Milton C.; Gaynes, Melanie R.; Wood, Robin; Freedberg, Kenneth A.; Sax, Paul E.

2017-01-01

Abstract Background. Reports of a single case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) eradication suggest that elimination of HIV from individuals is possible. Anticipating both increased research funding and the development of effective, durable cure technologies, we describe the circumstances under which a cure might improve survival and be cost-effective in South Africa. Methods. We adapted a simulation model comparing a hypothetical cure strategy (“Cure”) to the standard of care, lifetime antiretroviral therapy (“LifetimeART”) among adherent South Africans (58% female; mean age 33.8 years; mean CD4 257/µL; virologic suppression ≥1 year). We portrayed cure as a single intervention, producing sustained viral eradication without ART. We considered both a plausible, more imminently achievable “Baseline Scenario” and a more aspirational “Optimistic Scenario”. Inputs (Baseline/Optimistic) included the following: 50%/75% efficacy; 0.6%/0.0% fatal toxicity; 0.37%/0.085% monthly relapse over 5 years (0.185%/0.0425% per month thereafter); and $2000/$500 cost. These inputs were varied extensively in sensitivity analysis. Results. At baseline, Cure was “dominated,” yielding lower discounted life expectancy (19.31 life-years [LY] vs 19.37 LY) and greater discounted lifetime costs ($13 800 vs $13 700) than LifetimeART. Under optimistic assumptions, Cure was “cost-saving,” producing greater survival (19.91 LY) and lower lifetime costs ($11 000) than LifetimeART. Findings were highly sensitive to data assumptions, leaving little middle ground where a tradeoff existed between improved survival and higher costs. Conclusions. Only under the most favorable performance assumptions will an HIV cure strategy prove clinically and economically justifiable in South Africa. The scientific pursuit of a cure should not undermine continued expansions of access to proven, effective, and cost-effective ART. PMID:28680903

ROMP-based thermosetting polymers from modified castor oil with various cross-linking agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Rui

Polymers derived from bio-renewable resources are finding an increase in global demand. In addition, polymers with distinctive functionalities are required in certain advanced fields, such as aerospace and civil engineering. In an attempt to meet both these needs, the goal of this work aims to develop a range of bio-based thermosetting matrix polymers for potential applications in multifunctional composites. Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), which recently has been explored as a powerful method in polymer chemistry, was employed as a unique pathway to polymerize agricultural oil-based reactants. Specifically, a novel norbornyl-functionalized castor oil alcohol (NCA) was investigated to polymerize different cross-linking agents using ROMP. The effects of incorporating dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and a norbornene-based crosslinker (CL) were systematically evaluated with respect to curing behavior and thermal mechanical properties of the polymers. Isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to investigate the conversion during cure. Dynamic DSC scans at multiple heating rates revealed conversion-dependent activation energy by Ozawa-Flynn-Wall analysis. The glass transition temperature, storage modulus, and loss modulus for NCA/DCPD and NCA/CL copolymers with different cross-linking agent loading were compared using dynamic mechanical analysis. Cross-link density was examined to explain the very different dynamic mechanical behavior. Mechanical stress-strain curves were developed through tensile test, and thermal stability of the cross-linked polymers was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis to further investigate the structure-property relationships in these systems.

Application of a Non-Mixture Cure Rate Model for Analyzing Survival of Patients with Breast Cancer.

PubMed

Baghestani, Ahmad Reza; Moghaddam, Sahar Saeedi; Majd, Hamid Alavi; Akbari, Mohammad Esmaeil; Nafissi, Nahid; Gohari, Kimiya

2015-01-01

As a result of significant progress made in treatment of many types of cancers during the last few decades, there have been an increased number of patients who do not experience mortality. We refer to these observations as cure or immune and models for survival data which include cure fraction are known as cure rate models or long-term survival models. In this study we used the data collected from 438 female patients with breast cancer registered in the Cancer Research Center in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The patients had been diagnosed from 1992 to 2012 and were followed up until October 2014. We had to exclude some because of incomplete information. Phone calls were made to confirm whether the patients were still alive or not. Deaths due to breast cancer were regarded as failure. To identify clinical, pathological, and biological characteristics of patients that might have had an effect on survival of the patients we used a non-mixture cure rate model; in addition, a Weibull distribution was proposed for the survival time. Analyses were performed using STATA version 14. The significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05. A total of 75 patients (17.1%) died due to breast cancer during the study, up to the last follow-up. Numbers of metastatic lymph nodes and histologic grade were significant factors. The cure fraction was estimated to be 58%. When a cure fraction is not available, the analysis will be changed to standard approaches of survival analysis; however when the data indicate that the cure fraction is available, we suggest analysis of survival data via cure models.

Clinical observation in 86 cases of acne vulgaris treated with Compound Oldenlandis Mixture.

PubMed

Liu, Wali; Shen, Dong; Song, Ping; Xu, Xian

2003-12-01

86 cases of acne vulgaris were treated with Fu Fang She She Cao He Ji ([symbol: see text] Compound Oldenlandis Mixture), with the other 34 cases treated with Dang Gui Ku Shen Wan ([symbol: see text] Pills Prepared from Chinese Angelica and Flavescent Sophora Root) as the controls, to observe the therapeutic effect of the former. The results showed that the cure plus markedly effective rate was 73.26% in the treatment group, and 47.06% in the control group, with a significant difference in the cure plus markedly effective rate between the two groups (P < 0.01), and also in the total effective rate between the two groups significant (P < 0.05). It may be concluded that the Compound Oldenlandis Mixture is a better agent for the illness.

Accepting the Invitation to Open Innovation in Malaria Drug Discovery: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Investigation on the Structure-Activity Relationships of Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamides as Antimalarial Agents.

PubMed

Pieroni, Marco; Azzali, Elisa; Basilico, Nicoletta; Parapini, Silvia; Zolkiewski, Michal; Beato, Claudia; Annunziato, Giannamaria; Bruno, Agostino; Vacondio, Federica; Costantino, Gabriele

2017-03-09

Malaria eradication is a global health priority, but current therapies are not always suitable for providing a radical cure. Artemisinin has paved the way for the current malaria treatment, the so-called Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT). However, with the detection of resistance to ACT, innovative compounds active against multiple parasite species and at multiple life stages are needed. GlaxoSmithKline has recently disclosed the results of a phenotypic screening of an internal library, publishing a collection of 400 antimalarial chemotypes, termed the "Malaria Box". After analysis of the data set, we have carried out a medicinal chemistry campaign in order to define the structure-activity relationships for one of the released compounds, which embodies a benzothiophene-2-carboxamide core. Thirty-five compounds were prepared, and a description of the structural features responsible for the in vitro activity against different strains of P. falciparum, the toxicity, and the metabolic stability is herein reported.

Prospective cohort study of fever incidence and risk in elderly persons living at home

PubMed Central

Yokobayashi, Kenichi; Matsushima, Masato; Watanabe, Takamasa; Fujinuma, Yasuki; Tazuma, Susumu

2014-01-01

Objective To determine the incidence of fever among elderly persons under home medical management, diagnosis at fever onset and outcomes from a practical standpoint. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting 5 clinics in residential areas of Tokyo that process an average of 50–200 outpatients/day. Participants Patients (n=419) aged ≥65 years who received home medical management from the five clinics between 1 October 2009 and 30 September 2010. Main outcome measures Fever (≥37.5°C or ≥1.5°C above usual body temperature), diagnosis at onset and outcomes (cure at home, hospitalisation and death). Results The incidence of fever was 2.5/1000 patient-days (95% CI 2.2 to 2.8). Fever occurred at least once (229 fever events) among one-third of the participants during the study period. Fever was more likely to arise in the wheelchair users or bedridden than in ambulatory individuals (HR 1.9 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.8; p<0.01); in patients with moderate-to-severe rather than those with none-to-mild cognitive impairment (HR, 1.7 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.6, p=0.01); and in those whose care-need levels were ≥3 rather than ≤2 (HR, 4.5 (95% CI 2.9 to 7.0; p<0.01). The causes of fever were pneumonia/bronchitis (n=103), skin and soft tissue infection (n=26), urinary tract infection (n=22) and the common cold (n=13). Fever was cured in 67% and 23% of patients at home and in hospital, respectively, and 5% of patients each died at home and in hospital. Antimicrobial agents treated 153 (67%) events in the home medical care setting. Conclusions Fever was more likely to occur in those requiring higher care levels and the main cause of fever was pneumonia/bronchitis. Healthcare providers should consider the conditions of elderly residents with lower objective functional status. PMID:25009132

Effect of light energy density on conversion degree and hardness of dual-cured resin cement.

PubMed

Komori, Paula Carolina de Paiva; de Paula, Andréia Bolzan; Martin, Airton Abrāo; Tango, Rubens Nisie; Sinhoreti, Mario Alexandre Coelho; Correr-Sobrinho, Lourenço

2010-01-01

This study evaluated the effect of different light energy densities on conversion degree (CD) and Knoop hardness number (KHN) of RelyX ARC (RLX) resin cement. After manipulation according to the manufacturer's instructions, RLX was inserted into a rubber mold (0.8 mm x 5 mm) and covered with a Mylar strip. The tip of the light-curing unit (LCU) was positioned in contact with the Mylar surface. Quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH) and light-emitting diode (LED) LCUs with light densities of 10, 20 and 30 J/cm2 were used to light-cure the specimens. After light curing, the specimens were stored dry in lightproof containers at 37 degrees C. After 24 hours, the CD was analyzed by FT-Raman and, after an additional 24-hours, samples were submitted to Knoop hardness testing. The data of the CD (%) and KHN were submitted to two-way ANOVA and the Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05). QTH and LED were effective light curing units. For QTH, there were no differences among the light energy densities for CD or KHN. For LED, there was a significant reduction in CD with the light energy density set at 10 J/cm2. KHN was not influenced by the light-curing unit and by its light energy density.

A novel injectable borate bioactive glass cement for local delivery of vancomycin to cure osteomyelitis and regenerate bone.

PubMed

Cui, Xu; Zhao, Cunju; Gu, Yifei; Li, Le; Wang, Hui; Huang, Wenhai; Zhou, Nai; Wang, Deping; Zhu, Yi; Xu, Jun; Luo, Shihua; Zhang, Changqing; Rahaman, Mohamed N

2014-03-01

Osteomyelitis (bone infection) is often difficult to cure. The commonly-used treatment of surgical debridement to remove the infected bone combined with prolonged systemic and local antibiotic treatment has limitations. In the present study, an injectable borate bioactive glass cement was developed as a carrier for the antibiotic vancomycin, characterized in vitro, and evaluated for its capacity to cure osteomyelitis in a rabbit tibial model. The cement (initial setting time = 5.8 ± 0.6 min; compressive strength = 25.6 ± 0.3 MPa) released vancomycin over ~25 days in phosphate-buffered saline, during which time the borate glass converted to hydroxyapatite (HA). When implanted in rabbit tibial defects infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-induced osteomyelitis, the vancomycin-loaded cement converted to HA and supported new bone formation in the defects within 8 weeks. Osteomyelitis was cured in 87 % of the defects implanted with the vancomycin-loaded borate glass cement, compared to 71 % for the defects implanted with vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate cement. The injectable borate bioactive glass cement developed in this study is a promising treatment for curing osteomyelitis and for regenerating bone in the defects following cure of the infection.

Temperature rise during polymerization of different cavity liners and composite resins

PubMed Central

Karatas, Ozcan; Turel, Verda; Bayindir, Yusuf Ziya

2015-01-01

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thermal insulating properties of different light curing cavity liners and composite resins during light emitting diode (LED) curing. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four dentin discs, 1 mm thick and 8 mm in diameter, were prepared. Specimens were divided into four groups. Calcium hydroxide (Ca[OH]2), resin-modified glass ionomer cement, flowable composite and adhesive systems were applied to dentin discs according to the manufacturers’ instructions. The rise in temperature during polymerization with a LED curing unit (LCU) was measured using a K-type thermocouple connected to a data logger. Subsequently, all specimens were randomly divided into one of two groups. A silorane-based composite resin and a methacrylate-based composite resin were applied to the specimens. Temperature rise during polymerization of composite resins with LCU were then measured again. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey analyses. Results: There were significant differences in temperature rise among the liners, adhesives, and composite resins (P < 0.05). Silorane-based composite resin exhibited significantly greater temperature rises than methacrylate-based resin (P < 0.05). The smallest temperature rises were observed in Ca(OH)2 specimens. Conclusion: Thermal insulating properties of different restorative materials are important factors in pulp health. Bonding agents alone are not sufficient to protect pulp from thermal stimuli throughout curing. PMID:26751112

Visible Light-Cured Glycol Chitosan Hydrogel Containing a Beta-Cyclodextrin-Curcumin Inclusion Complex Improves Wound Healing In Vivo.

PubMed

Yoon, Sun-Jung; Hyun, Hoon; Lee, Deok-Won; Yang, Dae Hyeok

2017-09-10

Scarless wound healing is ideal for patients suffering from soft tissue defects. In this study, we prepared a novel wet dressing (β-CD-ic-CUR/GC) based on the visible light-cured glycol chitosan (GC) hydrogel and inclusion complex between beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and curcumin (CUR). We also evaluated its efficacy in the acceleration of wound healing as compared to that of CUR-loaded GC (CUR/GC). The conjugation of glycidyl methacrylate (GM) to GC for photo-curing was confirmed by ¹H-NMR measurement, and the photo-cured GC hydrogel was characterized by the analyses of rheology, swelling ratio, SEM and degradation rate. After visible light irradiation, the surface/cross-sectional morphologies and storage (G')/loss (G'') moduli revealed the formation of hydrogel with interconnected porosity. The dressing β-CD-ic-CUR/GC exhibited a controlled release of 90% CUR in a sustained manner for 30 days. On the other hand, CUR/GC showed CUR release of 16%. β-CD acted as an excipient in improving the water-solubility of CUR and affected the release behavior of CUR. The in vivo animal tests including measurement of the remaining unhealed wound area and histological analyses showed that β-CD-ic-CUR/GC may have potential as a wet dressing agent to enhance soft tissue recovery in open fractures.

Cure frailty models for survival data: application to recurrences for breast cancer and to hospital readmissions for colorectal cancer.

PubMed

Rondeau, Virginie; Schaffner, Emmanuel; Corbière, Fabien; Gonzalez, Juan R; Mathoulin-Pélissier, Simone

2013-06-01

Owing to the natural evolution of a disease, several events often arise after a first treatment for the same subject. For example, patients with a primary invasive breast cancer and treated with breast conserving surgery may experience breast cancer recurrences, metastases or death. A certain proportion of subjects in the population who are not expected to experience the events of interest are considered to be 'cured' or non-susceptible. To model correlated failure time data incorporating a surviving fraction, we compare several forms of cure rate frailty models. In the first model already proposed non-susceptible patients are those who are not expected to experience the event of interest over a sufficiently long period of time. The other proposed models account for the possibility of cure after each event. We illustrate the cure frailty models with two data sets. First to analyse time-dependent prognostic factors associated with breast cancer recurrences, metastases, new primary malignancy and death. Second to analyse successive rehospitalizations of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Estimates were obtained by maximization of likelihood using SAS proc NLMIXED for a piecewise constant hazards model. As opposed to the simple frailty model, the proposed methods demonstrate great potential in modelling multivariate survival data with long-term survivors ('cured' individuals).

In-vitro Study on Temperature Changes in the Pulp Chamber Due to Thermo-Cure Glass Ionomer Cements

PubMed Central

van Duinen, Raimond NB; Shahid, Saroash; Hill, Robert

2016-01-01

The application of the Glass Ionomer Cements in clinical dentistry is recommended due to properties such as fluoride release, chemical adhesion to tooth, negligible setting shrinkage, and coefficient of thermal expansion close to tooth, low creep, and good color stability. However, the cement is vulnerable to early exposure to moisture due to slow setting characteristics. The uses of external energy such as ultrasound and radiant heat (Thermo-curing) have been reported to provide acceleration of the setting chemistry and enhance physical properties. Aim: The aim of this in vitro study was to analyze temperature changes in the pulpal chamber when using radiant heat to accelerate the setting of GICs. Material and Methods:The encapsulated GIC Equia Forte was used for this study. The temperature changes in the pulp were measured using thermocouple in the cavities which were 2,6 and 4,7mm deep with and without filling. Results:The results showed that a temperature rise (ΔT) in the pulp chamber was 3,7°C. ΔT for the 2.6mm and 4.7mm deep cavity and without placing any restoration the temperature was 4,2°C and 2,6°C respectively. After the restoration has been placed, the ΔT range in the pulp chamber was lower ranging from 1.9°C to 2.4°C. Conclusion: It could be concluded that Thermo-curing of the GIC during the setting is safe for the pulp and can be recommended in clinical practice. PMID:28275275

Activities of fosfomycin, tigecycline, colistin, and gentamicin against extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in a foreign-body infection model.

PubMed

Corvec, Stéphane; Furustrand Tafin, Ulrika; Betrisey, Bertrand; Borens, Olivier; Trampuz, Andrej

2013-03-01

Limited antimicrobial agents are available for the treatment of implant-associated infections caused by fluoroquinolone-resistant Gram-negative bacilli. We compared the activities of fosfomycin, tigecycline, colistin, and gentamicin (alone and in combination) against a CTX-M15-producing strain of Escherichia coli (Bj HDE-1) in vitro and in a foreign-body infection model. The MIC and the minimal bactericidal concentration in logarithmic phase (MBC(log)) and stationary phase (MBC(stat)) were 0.12, 0.12, and 8 μg/ml for fosfomycin, 0.25, 32, and 32 μg/ml for tigecycline, 0.25, 0.5, and 2 μg/ml for colistin, and 2, 8, and 16 μg/ml for gentamicin, respectively. In time-kill studies, colistin showed concentration-dependent activity, but regrowth occurred after 24 h. Fosfomycin demonstrated rapid bactericidal activity at the MIC, and no regrowth occurred. Synergistic activity between fosfomycin and colistin in vitro was observed, with no detectable bacterial counts after 6 h. In animal studies, fosfomycin reduced planktonic counts by 4 log(10) CFU/ml, whereas in combination with colistin, tigecycline, or gentamicin, it reduced counts by >6 log(10) CFU/ml. Fosfomycin was the only single agent which was able to eradicate E. coli biofilms (cure rate, 17% of implanted, infected cages). In combination, colistin plus tigecycline (50%) and fosfomycin plus gentamicin (42%) cured significantly more infected cages than colistin plus gentamicin (33%) or fosfomycin plus tigecycline (25%) (P < 0.05). The combination of fosfomycin plus colistin showed the highest cure rate (67%), which was significantly better than that of fosfomycin alone (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the combination of fosfomycin plus colistin is a promising treatment option for implant-associated infections caused by fluoroquinolone-resistant Gram-negative bacilli.

The management of systemic lupus erythematosus: Facts and controversies.

PubMed

Elbirt, Daniel; Sthoeger, Dalia; Asher, Ilan; Sthoeger, Zev Moshe

2010-01-01

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystem disease of unknown etiology in which dysregulation of the innate and adaptive immune systems has a major effect in the pathogenesis of the disease. The treatment should be tailored for each patient according to how the disease manifests itself. Although there is no cure for systemic lupus erythematosus, the current treatment, using anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and immunosuppressive agents, is fairly effective, but serious adverse events are possible. New biologic agents that target various components of the immune system recently have been developed for the treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Novel bifunctional anthracycline and nitrosourea chemotherapy for human bladder cancer: analysis in a preclinical survival model.

PubMed

Glaves, D; Murray, M K; Raghavan, D

1996-08-01

A hybrid drug [N-2-chloroethylnitrosoureidodaunorubicin (AD312)] that combines structural and functional features of both anthracyclines and nitrosoureas was evaluated in a preclinical survival model of human bladder cancer. To measure the therapeutic activity of AD312, UCRU-BL13 transitional cell carcinoma cells were grown as xenografts in nude mice, and tumor growth rates were compared after i.v. administration of the drug at three dose levels. AD312 treatment at 45 and 60 mg/kg achieved 7-10-fold inhibition of tumor growth and increased host survival by 156 and 249%, respectively. Doses of 60 mg/kg showed optimal therapeutic efficacy, with sustained tumor growth inhibition, an over 2-fold increase in life span, and 40% of mice tumor free ("cured") at 120 days. Tumors were unresponsive to maximum tolerated doses of doxorubicin, a standard anthracycline used as a single agent and in combination therapies for bladder cancer. 1,3-Bis-[2-chloroethyl]-1-nitrosourea was used as a control for the apparently enhanced response of human tumors in murine hosts to nitrosoureas. 1, 3-Bis-[2-chloroethyl]-1-nitrosourea administered in three injections of 20 mg/kg did not cure mice but temporarily inhibited tumor growth by 70% and prolonged survival by 55%; its activity in this model suggests that it may be included in the repertoire of alkylating agents currently used for treatment of bladder cancers. AD312 showed increased antitumor activity with less toxicity than doxorubicin, and its bifunctional properties provide the opportunity for simultaneous treatment of individual cancer cells with two cytotoxic modalities as well as treatment of heterogeneous populations typical of bladder cancers. This novel cytotoxic drug cured doxorubicin-refractory disease and should be investigated for the clinical management of bladder cancer.

Degradable Networks Containing Silyl Ether Bonds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bassampour, Zahra S.

Degradable networks possess applications in many fields such as medical implants, electrical devices, industrial coatings, adhesives, and aerospace. Silyl ether bonds are reactive functionalities capable of degrading under physiological condition without significantly affecting the pH of the surrounding environment. This dissertation focuses on preparative methods of degradable networks utilizing silyl ether functionalities. Epoxy polymers are broadly utilized in many different applications. Despite the broad utilization of epoxy polymer thermosets in long-term applications, these thermosets are not very popular candidates in short-term applications. This unpopularity is mostly due to the fact that epoxy networks are non-degradable systems, which results in their recycling being very costly and environmentally unfriendly. In the first and second part of this dissertation, the synthesis of various amine and thiol curing agents containing hydrolyzable silyl ether bonds is described. Using these curing agents, thermosetting epoxy polymers with degradable properties were prepared. The degradation behavior and thermal properties of the cured networks were studied. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in the industrialized world. The high prevalence of AMD and the complications and shortcomings of available treatment options give rise to a great need for the development of novel types of biodegradable implants to provide sustainable drug release. The third part of this dissertation describes the utilization of hydrolyzable silyl ether bonds in the synthesis of novel implants capable of reserving and releasing a drug in a controlled manner in order to treat AMD. Base- catalyzed thiol-Michael reactions were exploited to prepare a series of biodegradable cross- linked networks. The networks were characterized by FTIR, TGA, and DMA. The effect of monomer structure on degradation, release behavior, and thermal properties was investigated.

Information spread in networks: Games, optimal control, and stabilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khanafer, Ali

This thesis focuses on designing efficient mechanisms for controlling information spread in networks. We consider two models for information spread. The first one is the well-known distributed averaging dynamics. The second model is a nonlinear one that describes virus spread in computer and biological networks. We seek to design optimal, robust, and stabilizing controllers under practical constraints. For distributed averaging networks, we study the interaction between a network designer and an adversary. We consider two types of attacks on the network. In Attack-I, the adversary strategically disconnects a set of links to prevent the nodes from reaching consensus. Meanwhile, the network designer assists the nodes in reaching consensus by changing the weights of a limited number of links in the network. We formulate two problems to describe this competition where the order in which the players act is reversed in the two problems. Although the canonical equations provided by the Pontryagin's Maximum Principle (MP) seem to be intractable, we provide an alternative characterization for the optimal strategies that makes connection to potential theory. Further, we provide a sufficient condition for the existence of a saddle-point equilibrium (SPE) for the underlying zero-sum game. In Attack-II, the designer and the adversary are both capable of altering the measurements of all nodes in the network by injecting global signals. We impose two constraints on both players: a power constraint and an energy constraint. We assume that the available energy to each player is not sufficient to operate at maximum power throughout the horizon of the game. We show the existence of an SPE and derive the optimal strategies in closed form for this attack scenario. As an alternative to the "network designer vs. adversary" framework, we investigate the possibility of stabilizing unknown network diffusion processes using a distributed mechanism, where the uncertainty is due to an attack on the network. To this end, we propose a distributed version of the classical logic-based supervisory control scheme. Given a network of agents whose dynamics contain unknown parameters, the distributed supervisory control scheme is used to assist the agents to converge to a certain set-point without requiring them to have explicit knowledge of that set-point. Unlike the classical supervisory control scheme where a centralized supervisor makes switching decisions among the candidate controllers, in our scheme, each agent is equipped with a local supervisor that switches among the available controllers. The switching decisions made at a certain agent depend only on the information from its neighboring agents. We provide sufficient conditions for stabilization and apply our framework to the distributed averaging problem in the presence of large modeling uncertainty. For infected networks, we study the stability properties of a susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) diffusion model, so-called the n-intertwined Markov model, over arbitrary network topologies. Similar to the majority of infection spread dynamics, this model exhibits a threshold phenomenon. When the curing rates in the network are high, the all-healthy state is the unique equilibrium over the network. Otherwise, an endemic equilibrium state emerges, where some infection remains within the network. Using notions from positive systems theory, we provide conditions for the global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium points in both cases over strongly and weakly connected directed networks based on the value of the basic reproduction number, a fundamental quantity in the study of epidemics. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the n-intertwined Markov model can be viewed as a best-response dynamical system of a concave game among the nodes. This characterization allows us to cast new infection spread dynamics; additionally, we provide a sufficient condition, for the global convergence to the all-healthy state, that can be checked in a distributed fashion. Moreover, we investigate the problem of stabilizing the network when the curing rates of a limited number of nodes can be controlled. In particular, we characterize the number of controllers required for a class of undirected graphs. We also design optimal controllers capable of minimizing the total infection in the network at minimum cost. Finally, we outline a set of open problems in the area of information spread control.

Cotton textiles modified with citric acid as efficient anti-bacterial agent for prevention of nosocomial infections

PubMed Central

Bischof Vukušić, Sandra; Flinčec Grgac, Sandra; Budimir, Ana; Kalenić, Smilja

2011-01-01

Aim To study the antimicrobial activity of citric acid (CA) and sodium hypophosphite monohydrate (SHP) against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and to determine the influence of conventional and microwave thermal treatments on the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatment of cotton textiles. Method Textile material was impregnated with CA and SHP solution and thermally treated by either conventional or microwave drying/curing treatment. Antibacterial effectiveness was tested according to the ISO 20743:2009 standard, using absorption method. The surfaces were morphologically observed by scanning electron microscopy, while physical characteristics were determined by wrinkle recovery angles method (DIN 53 891), tensile strength (DIN 53 837), and whiteness degree method (AATCC 110-2000). Results Cotton fabric treated with CA and SHP showed significant antibacterial activity against MRSA (6.38 log10 treated by conventional drying and 6.46 log10 treated by microwave drying before washing, and 6.90 log10 and 7.86 log10, respectively, after 1 cycle of home domestic laundering washing [HDLW]). Antibacterial activity was also remarkable against S. aureus (4.25 log10 by conventional drying, 4.58 log10 by microwave drying) and against P. aeruginosa (1.93 log10 by conventional and 4.66 log10 by microwave drying). Antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa was higher in samples subjected to microwave drying/curing than in those subjected to conventional drying/curing. As expected, antibacterial activity was reduced after 10 HDLW cycles but the compound was still effective. The surface of the untreated cotton polymer was smooth, while minor erosion stripes appeared on the surfaces treated with antimicrobial agent, and long and deep stripes were found on the surface of the washed sample. Conclusion CA can be used both for the disposable (non-durable) materials (gowns, masks, and cuffs for blood pressure measurement) and the materials that require durability to laundering. The current protocols and initiatives in infection control could be improved by the use of antimicrobial agents applied on cotton carbohydrate polymer. PMID:21328723

O-Ring Installation for Underwater Components and Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-04-15

cure is effected and the heat source removed. AGING -- To undergo changes in physical properties with age or lapse of time. AIR CHECKS -- Surface...the use of heat and pressure, resulting in greatly increased strength and elasticity of rubber -like materials. VULCANIZING AGENT -- A material that...Cross Section Dia -- Diameter EP, EPM, EPDM -- Ethylene-Propylene Rubber F or ’F -- Degrees Fahrenheit FED -- Federal Specification FPM -- Fluorocarbon

Creating a palliative and end-of-life program in a cure-oriented pediatric setting: the zig-zag method.

PubMed

Harper, Joann; Hinds, Pamela S; Baker, Justin N; Hicks, Judy; Spunt, Sheri L; Razzouk, Bassem I

2007-01-01

Children living with and dying of advanced-stage cancer suffer physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Relief of their suffering requires comprehensive, compassionate palliative and end-of-life (EoL) care.However, an EoL care program might appear inconsistent with the mission of a pediatric oncology research center committed to seeking cures. Here the authors describe the methods used to achieve full institutional commitment to their EoL care program and those used to build the program's philosophical, research, and educational foundations after they received approval. The authors convened 10 focus groups to solicit staff perceptions of the hospital's current palliative and EoL care. They also completed baseline medical record reviews of 145 patient records to identify key EoL characteristics. The authors then crafted a vision statement and a strategic plan, implemented new research protocols,and established publication and funding trajectories. They conclude that establishing a state-of-the-art palliative and EoL program in a cure-oriented pediatric setting is achievable via consensus building and recruitment of diverse institutional resources.

Silane coupling agent for attaching fusion-bonded epoxy to steel.

PubMed

Tchoquessi Diodjo, Madeleine R; Belec, Lénaïk; Aragon, Emmanuel; Joliff, Yoann; Lanarde, Lise; Perrin, François-Xavier

2013-07-24

We describe the possibility of using γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (γ-APS) to increase the durability of epoxy powder coating/steel joints. The curing temperature of epoxy powder coatings is frequently above 200 °C, which is seen so far as a major limitation for the use of the heat-sensitive aminosilane coupling agent. Despite this limitation, we demonstrate that aminosilane is a competitive alternative to traditional chromate conversion to enhance the durability of epoxy powder coatings/steel joints. Fourier-transform reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (FT-RAIRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to identify the silane deposition conditions that influence the adhesion of epoxy powder coatings on steel. We show that AFM analysis provides highly sensitive measurements of mechanical property development and, as such, the degree of condensation of the silane. The joint durability in water at 60 °C was lower when the pH of the γ-APS solution was controlled at 4.6 using formic acid, rather than that at natural pH (10.6). At the curing temperature of 220 °C, oxidation of the carbon adjacent to the amine headgroup of γ-APS gives amide species by a pseudofirst-order kinetics. However, a few amino functionalities remain to react with oxirane groups of epoxy resin and, thus, strengthen the epoxy/silane interphase. The formation of ammonium formate in the acidic silane inhibits the reaction between silane and epoxy, which consequently decreases the epoxy/silane interphase cohesion. We find that the nanoroughness of silane deposits increases with the cure temperature which is beneficial to the wet stability of the epoxy/steel joints, due to increased mechanical interlocking.

Results and analysis of saltstone cores taken from saltstone disposal unit cell 2A

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reigel, M. M.; Hill, K. A.

2016-03-01

As part of an ongoing Performance Assessment (PA) Maintenance Plan, Savannah River Remediation (SRR) has developed a sampling and analyses strategy to facilitate the comparison of field-emplaced samples (i.e., saltstone placed and cured in a Saltstone Disposal Unit (SDU)) with samples prepared and cured in the laboratory. The primary objectives of the Sampling and Analyses Plan (SAP) are; (1) to demonstrate a correlation between the measured properties of laboratory-prepared, simulant samples (termed Sample Set 3), and the field-emplaced saltstone samples (termed Sample Set 9), and (2) to validate property values assumed for the Saltstone Disposal Facility (SDF) PA modeling. Themore » analysis and property data for Sample Set 9 (i.e. six core samples extracted from SDU Cell 2A (SDU2A)) are documented in this report, and where applicable, the results are compared to the results for Sample Set 3. Relevant properties to demonstrate the aforementioned objectives include bulk density, porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC), and radionuclide leaching behavior.« less

The influence of alkalinity of portland cement on the absorption characteristics of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) for use in internally cured concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tabares Tamayo, Juan D.

The concrete industry increasingly emphasizes advances in novel materials that promote construction of more resilient infrastructure. Due to its potential to improve concrete durability, internal curing (IC) of concrete by means of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) has been identified as one of the most promising technologies of the 21st century. The addition of superabsorbent polymers into a cementitious system promotes further hydration of cement by providing internal moisture during the hardening and strength development periods, and thus limits self-desiccation, shrinkage, and cracking. This thesis presents the work performed on the series of cement pastes with varying alkalinity of their pore solutions to provide a better understanding of: (1) the influence of the chemistry of the pore solution (i.e. its level of alkalinity and the type of ionic species present) on the absorption capacity of SAP, and (2) the effectiveness of SAP with different absorption capacities as an internal curing agent. This research work was divided into three stages: (a) materials characterization, (b) measurement of absorption capacity of SAP in synthetic pore solutions, and (c) evaluation of the internal curing effectiveness of SAP. During the first stage (Materials Characterization), pore solutions were extracted from the fresh (5 minutes old) cement pastes prepared using cements with three different levels of alkalinity. The pH values of the extracted solutions were determined (using the pH meter) and their chemical analysis was performed by means of titration (concentration of hydroxyl), ion chromatography (sulfates and chlorides), atomic absorption (AA) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP) (sodium, potassium and calcium). The commercial SAP adopted for this study was used with "as-supplied" gradation and with the finer gradation obtained by grinding the original polymer in the 6850 Cryomilling Freezer/Mill. The physical properties of these SAP's, such as the shape and size of the particles, were determined by optical microscopy combined with image analysis. The second stage, the absorption capacity of SAP's, involved determination of the swelling behavior and the absorption capacity of polymers exposed to artificial pore solutions with different levels of alkalinity. The swelling behavior was followed using the optical microscope while the absorption capacity was characterized using the tea bag method. It was found that changes in the chemical compositions of the pore solutions influence the adsorption kinetics and result in different absorption isotherms. In the third stage, the internal curing effects of inclusion of SAP in cement pastes were evaluated. Mixture proportions of pastes used in this stage of the study were selected based on the absorption capacity of the SAP determined in stage two. The testing of the pastes involved determination of their set times, heat of hydration, and autogenous shrinkage.

Looking back and to the future: Are we improving 'cure' in non-small cell lung cancer?

PubMed

Walder, David; O'Brien, Mary

2017-04-01

In surgical series, cancer-free survival at 5 years is often referred to as a cure. In recent years, attempts to improve cure rates in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have focussed on earlier diagnosis through cost-effective screening programs. Systemic therapies have historically added only a small benefit to overall survival in both the adjuvant and palliative setting. However, in the last two decades, the development of new treatment options has added incremental improvements in NSCLC survival rates. Patients with a targetable sensitising mutation including epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangements have significantly better prognosis, and many will survive beyond 5 years. Immunotherapy is an effective treatment in selected patients with NSCLC and is set to cause another leap in 5 year survival rates. Although these patients are not free from disease, survival at 5 years may become the more important end-point as NSCLC becomes seen as a chronic oncological disease. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity of an experimental resin-based pulp capping material containing the quaternary ammonium salt and Portland cement.

PubMed

Yang, Y W; Yu, F; Zhang, H C; Dong, Y; Qiu, Y N; Jiao, Y; Xing, X D; Tian, M; Huang, L; Chen, J H

2018-01-01

To evaluate in vitro the physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity and calcium phosphate nucleation of an experimental light-curable pulp capping material composed of a resin with antibacterial monomer (MAE-DB) and Portland cement (PC). The experimental material was prepared by mixing PC with a resin containing MAE-DB at a 2 : 1 ratio. Cured pure resin containing MAE-DB served as control resin. ProRoot MTA and Dycal served as commercial controls. The depth of cure, degree of monomer conversion, water absorption and solubility of dry samples, calcium release, alkalinizing activity, calcium phosphate nucleation and the cytotoxicity of materials were evaluated. Statistical analysis was carried out using anova followed by Tukey's HSD test (equal variance assumed) or Tamhane test (equal variance not assumed) and independent-samples t-tests. The experimental material had a cure depth of 1.19 mm, and the mean degree of monomer conversion was 70.93% immediately post-cure and 88.75% at 24 h post-cure. The water absorption of the experimental material was between those of MTA and Dycal, and its solubility was significantly less (P < 0.05) than that of Dycal and higher than that of MTA. The experimental material exhibited continuous calcium release and an alkalinizing power between those of MTA and Dycal throughout the test period. Freshly set experimental material, control resin and all 24-h set materials had acceptable cytotoxicity. The experimental material, MTA and Dycal all exhibited the formation of apatite precipitates after immersion in phosphate-buffered saline. The experimental material possessed adequate physicochemical properties, low cytotoxicity and good calcium phosphate nucleation. © 2017 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Advanced composite aileron for L-1011 transport aircraft: Aileron manufacture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunning, E. G.; Cobbs, W. L.; Legg, R. L.

1981-01-01

The fabrication activities of the Advanced Composite Aileron (ACA) program are discussed. These activities included detail fabrication, manufacturing development, assembly, repair and quality assurance. Five ship sets of ailerons were manufactured. The detail fabrication effort of ribs, spar and covers was accomplished on male tools to a common cure cycle. Graphite epoxy tape and fabric and syntactic epoxy materials were utilized in the fabrication. The ribs and spar were net cured and required no post cure trim. Material inconsistencies resulted in manufacturing development of the front spar during the production effort. The assembly effort was accomplished in subassembly and assembly fixtures. The manual drilling system utilized a dagger type drill in a hydraulic feed control hand drill. Coupon testing for each detail was done.

Photoinitiation chemistry affects light transmission and degree of conversion of curing experimental dental resin composites.

PubMed

Ogunyinka, A; Palin, W M; Shortall, A C; Marquis, P M

2007-07-01

The effect of photoinitiator and co-initiator chemistry on the setting reaction and degree of conversion of dental resin-based composites (RBCs) has rarely been determined explicitly. This work examines the effect of type and concentration of photoinitiator and co-initiator on the rate of change of light transmission throughout polymerisation and degree of conversion of model RBC formulations. Bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether dimethacrylate (bis-GMA) and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) (6:4 molar ratio) resins filled with silanized glass filler (74wt.%) and containing various photoinitiators (camphorquinone; CQ, 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione; PPD, benzil; BZ), co-initiator types (N,N-dimethyl-p-amino benzoic acid ethyl ester; DABE, N,N-cyanoethyl methylaniline; CEMA, N,N-diethanol-p-toluidine; DEPT) and concentration (0.0-0.3% DABE) were polymerised using a halogen or LED light curing-unit (LCU) for 10, 20 and 40s. The setting reaction was monitored in real-time by measuring the light transmittance through the curing specimen and bulk degree of conversion (DC) evaluated using Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. Specimens containing CQ and PPD cured with the halogen LCU did not have a significant effect on DC or changes in light transmission, although a significant increase in DC was observed for CQ compared with PPD specimens cured with the LED LCU. DABE and CEMA were more effective co-initiators than DEPT. Although DC was not limited by co-initiator concentration, the absence of a co-initiator resulted in marked differences in light transmission and decreased DC throughout 40s irradiation with each LCU type. The spectral range emitted from different types of LCU and absorption characteristics of the photoinitiator chemistry of light-activated resin-based composites play a critical role in the efficiency of polymerisation.

Biologically Targeted Therapeutics in Pediatric Brain Tumors

PubMed Central

Nageswara Rao, Amulya A.; Scafidi, Joseph; Wells, Elizabeth M.; Packer, Roger J.

2013-01-01

Pediatric brain tumors are often difficult to cure and involve significant morbidity when treated with traditional treatment modalities, including neurosurgery, conventional chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. During the past two decades, a clearer understanding of tumorigenesis, molecular growth pathways, and immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of cancer has opened up promising avenues for therapy. Pediatric clinical trials with novel biologic agents are underway to treat various pediatric brain tumors, including high and low grade gliomas and embryonal tumors. As the therapeutic potential of these agents undergoes evaluation, their toxicity profiles are also becoming better understood. These agents have potentially better central nervous system penetration and lower toxicity profiles compared with conventional chemotherapy. In infants and younger children, biologic agents may prove to be of equal or greater efficacy compared with traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and may reduce the deleterious side effects of traditional therapeutics on the developing brain. Molecular pathways implicated in pediatric brain tumors, agents that target these pathways, and current clinical trials are reviewed. Associated neurologic toxicities will be discussed subsequently. Considerable work is needed to establish the efficacy of these agents alone and in combination, but pediatric neurologists should be aware of these agents and their rationale. PMID:22490764

Biologically targeted therapeutics in pediatric brain tumors.

PubMed

Nageswara Rao, Amulya A; Scafidi, Joseph; Wells, Elizabeth M; Packer, Roger J

2012-04-01

Pediatric brain tumors are often difficult to cure and involve significant morbidity when treated with traditional treatment modalities, including neurosurgery, conventional chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. During the past two decades, a clearer understanding of tumorigenesis, molecular growth pathways, and immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of cancer has opened up promising avenues for therapy. Pediatric clinical trials with novel biologic agents are underway to treat various pediatric brain tumors, including high and low grade gliomas and embryonal tumors. As the therapeutic potential of these agents undergoes evaluation, their toxicity profiles are also becoming better understood. These agents have potentially better central nervous system penetration and lower toxicity profiles compared with conventional chemotherapy. In infants and younger children, biologic agents may prove to be of equal or greater efficacy compared with traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and may reduce the deleterious side effects of traditional therapeutics on the developing brain. Molecular pathways implicated in pediatric brain tumors, agents that target these pathways, and current clinical trials are reviewed. Associated neurologic toxicities will be discussed subsequently. Considerable work is needed to establish the efficacy of these agents alone and in combination, but pediatric neurologists should be aware of these agents and their rationale. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Vertical misfit of laser-sintered and vacuum-cast implant-supported crown copings luted with definitive and temporary luting agents

PubMed Central

Sánchez-Turrión, Andrés; López-Lozano, José F.; Albaladejo, Alberto; Torres-Lagares, Daniel; Montero, Javier; Suárez-García, Maria J.

2012-01-01

Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the vertical discrepancy of implant-supported crown structures constructed with vacuum-casting and Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technologies, and luted with different cement types. Study Design. Crown copings were fabricated using: (1) direct metal laser sintered Co-Cr (LS); (2) vacuum-cast Co-Cr (CC); and (3) vacuum-cast Ti (CT). Frameworks were luted onto machined implant abutments under constant seating pressure. Each alloy group was randomly divided into 5 subgroups (n = 10 each) according to the cement system utilized: Subgroup 1 (KC) used resin-modified glass-ionomer Ketac Cem Plus; Subgroup 2 (PF) used Panavia F 2.0 dual-cure resin cement; Subgroup 3 (RXU) used RelyX Unicem 2 Automix self-adhesive dual-cure resin cement; Subgroup 4 (PIC) used acrylic/urethane-based temporary Premier Implant Cement; and Subgroup 5 (DT) used acrylic/urethane-based temporary DentoTemp cement. Vertical misfit was measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls tests were run to investigate the effect of alloy/fabrication technique, and cement type on vertical misfit. The statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results. The alloy/manufacturing technique and the luting cement affected the vertical discrepancy (p < 0.001). For each cement type, LS samples exhibited the best fit (p < 0.01) whereas CC and CT frames were statistically similar. Within each alloy group, PF and RXU provided comparably greater discrepancies than KC, PIC, and DT, which showed no differences. Conclusions. Laser sintering may be an alternative to vacuum-casting of base metals to obtain passive-fitting implant-supported crown copings. The best marginal adaptation corresponded to laser sintered structures luted with glass-ionomer KC, or temporary PIC or DT cements. The highest discrepancies were recorded for Co-Cr and Ti cast frameworks bonded with PF or RXU resinous agents. All groups were within the clinically acceptable misfit range. Key words:Dental alloy, laser sintering, implant-supported prostheses, vertical discrepancy, vertical misfit. PMID:22322524

Effect of reduced exposure times on the cytotoxicity of resin luting cements cured by high-power led

PubMed Central

ERGUN, Gulfem; EGILMEZ, Ferhan; YILMAZ, Sukran

2011-01-01

Objective Applications of resin luting agents and high-power light-emitting diodes (LED) light-curing units (LCUs) have increased considerably over the last few years. However, it is not clear whether the effect of reduced exposure time on cytotoxicity of such products have adequate biocompatibility to meet clinical success. This study aimed at assessing the effect of reduced curing time of five resin luting cements (RLCs) polymerized by high-power LED curing unit on the viability of a cell of L-929 fibroblast cells. Material and Methods Disc-shaped samples were prepared in polytetrafluoroethylene moulds with cylindrical cavities. The samples were irradiated from the top through the ceramic discs and acetate strips using LED LCU for 20 s (50% of the manufacturer's recommended exposure time) and 40 s (100% exposure time). After curing, the samples were transferred into a culture medium for 24 h. The eluates were obtained and pipetted onto L-929 fibroblast cultures (3x104 per well) and incubated for evaluating after 24 h. Measurements were performed by dimethylthiazol diphenyltetrazolium assay. Statistical significance was determined by two-way ANOVA and two independent samples were compared by t-test. Results Results showed that eluates of most of the materials polymerized for 20 s (except Rely X Unicem and Illusion) reduced to a higher extent cell viability compared to samples of the same materials polymerized for 40 s. Illusion exhibited the least cytotoxicity for 20 s exposure time compared to the control (culture without samples) followed by Rely X Unicem and Rely X ARC (90.81%, 88.90%, and 83.11%, respectively). For Rely X ARC, Duolink and Lute-It 40 s exposure time was better (t=-1.262 p=0,276; t=-9.399 p=0.001; and t=-20.418 p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that reduction of curing time significantly enhances the cytotoxicity of the studied resin cement materials, therefore compromising their clinical performance. PMID:21625748

Optimal management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma: current status.

PubMed

Escudier, Bernard; Albiges, Laurence; Sonpavde, Guru

2013-04-01

The armamentarium for the systemic therapy of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has undergone dramatic changes over the past 6 years. While high-dose interleukin (IL)-2 remains an option for highly selected good and intermediate risk patients with clear-cell histology because of durable complete responses in a small fraction of patients, cytokine-based therapy including interferon (IFN) has been supplanted by vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors. Treatment decision is initially based on prognostication of the disease. As metastatic RCC (mRCC) is commonly an indolent disease, a period of observation should always been considered. For good and intermediate risk disease, pazopanib, sunitinib or the combination of bevacizumab plus IFN are considered. Notably, recent data suggest non-inferiority for the efficacy of pazopanib compared to sunitinib coupled with a better toxicity profile. A novel VEGF receptor inhibitor, tivozanib, is expected to be approved based on improvement in PFS when compared to sorafenib in the first-line setting. The use of temsirolimus for poor risk disease is supported by a phase III trial dedicated to this group of patients. The role of cytoreductive nephrectomy in the context of VEGF and mTOR inhibitors is being studied in randomized trials. Selected patients with solitary or oligometastatic disease may be eligible for metastatectomy. Following first-line VEGF inhibitors, second-line therapy with everolimus and axitinib have demonstrated benefits in progression-free survival (PFS). One phase III trial comparing sorafenib and temsirolimus in the post-sunitinib setting showed no difference in PFS, the primary endpoint, but did show a superior overall survival for sorafenib. Sorafenib, pazopanib and axitinib have all demonstrated clinical benefit following cytokines. Therapy following first-line mTOR inhibitors remains undefined, although VEGF inhibitors have demonstrated activity in this setting. Optimal sequencing of agents and individualized therapy based on biomarkers is undergoing investigation. Today, the choice of therapy is based on patient and physician decision, which is a function of comorbidities, toxicity profiles and costs. Clinical trials evaluating novel agents and combinations should be preferred when available since agents in the current therapeutic arsenal have not yielded cures despite extending median survival to greater than 2 years. One noteworthy new class of agents that has yielded durable responses is programmed death (PD)-1 inhibitors, which target a T-lymphocyte checkpoint and are heralding a resurgence of immunotherapy. Finally, optimal therapy for non-clear cell RCC remains to be delineated, although sunitinib, everolimus and other VEGFR-TKI or mTOR inhibitors have all demonstrated modest benefit.

Potential of yeasts isolated from dry-cured ham to control ochratoxin A production in meat models.

PubMed

Peromingo, Belén; Núñez, Félix; Rodríguez, Alicia; Alía, Alberto; Andrade, María J

2018-03-02

The environmental conditions reached during the ripening of dry-cured meat products favour the proliferation of moulds on their surface. Some of these moulds are hazardous to consumers because of their ability to produce ochratoxin A (OTA). Biocontrol using Debaryomyces hansenii could be a suitable strategy to prevent the growth of ochratoxigenic moulds and OTA accumulation in dry-cured meat products. The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of two strains of D. hansenii to control the growth and OTA production of Penicillium verrucosum in a meat model under water activities (a w ) values commonly reached during the dry-cured meat product ripening. The presence of D. hansenii strains triggered a lengthening of the lag phase and a decrease of the growth rate of P. verrucosum in meat-based media at 0.97 and 0.92 a w . Both D. hansenii strains significantly reduced OTA production (between 85.16 and 92.63%) by P. verrucosum in the meat-based medium at 0.92 a w . Neither absorption nor detoxification of OTA by D. hansenii strains seems to be involved. However, a repression of the expression of the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (otanpsPN) gene linked to the OTA biosynthetic pathway was observed in the presence of D. hansenii. To confirm the protective role of D. hansenii strains, they were inoculated together with P. verrucosum Pv45 in dry-fermented sausage and dry-cured ham slices. Although P. verrucosum Pv45 counts were not affected by the presence of D. hansenii in both meat matrices, a reduction of OTA amount was observed. Therefore, the effect of D. hansenii strains on OTA accumulation should be attributed to a reduction at transcriptional level. Consequently, native D. hansenii can be useful as biocontrol agent in dry-cured meat products for preventing the hazard associated with the presence of OTA. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A meta-analysis of metronidazole and vancomycin for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection, stratified by disease severity.

PubMed

Di, Xiuzhen; Bai, Nan; Zhang, Xin; Liu, Bin; Ni, Wentao; Wang, Jin; Wang, Kai; Liang, Beibei; Liu, Youning; Wang, Rui

2015-01-01

The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of metronidazole and vancomycin for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection, especially to investigate which agent was superior for treating either mild or severe C. difficile infection. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies identified in Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Four randomized controlled trials and two cohort studies involving 1218 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Metronidazole was inferior to vancomycin for treating C. difficile infection in terms of both initial clinical cure rates (risk ratio, RR=0.91, 95% confidence interval, CI=0.84-0.98, p=0.02) and sustained cure rates (RR=0.88, 95% CI=0.82-0.96, p=0.003). For mild C. difficile infection, the efficacy of metronidazole and vancomycin resulted in similar clinical cure rates (RR=0.94, 95% CI=0.84-1.04, p=0.21) and sustained cure rates (RR=0.93, 95% CI=0.83-1.05, p=0.26). For severe C. difficile infection the efficacy of vancomycin was superior to metronidazole in terms of clinical cure rates (RR=0.81, 95% CI=0.69-0.95, p=0.009), whereas sustained cure rates were similar (RR=0.86, 95% CI=0.72-1.02, p=0.08). Regarding microbiological cure metronidazole therapy was as effective as vancomycin therapy (RR=0.88, 95% CI=0.64-1.21, p=0.43). Recurrence rates with metronidazole and vancomycin for both mild C. difficile infection (RR=0.95, 95% CI=0.56-1.60, p=0.85) and severe C. difficile infection (RR=1.27, 95% CI=0.85-1.91, p=0.25) were not different. Likewise, no difference in all-cause mortality was found as well (RR=0.87, 95% CI=0.56-1.35, p=0.53). In conclusion, vancomycin provides improved initial clinical and sustained cure rates in patients with C. difficile infection compared with metronidazole, especially in patients with severe C. difficile infection. In view of these data, vancomycin may be considered first line therapy for severe C. difficile infection. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Sclerotherapy of idiopathic hydroceles and epididymal cysts: a historical comparison trial of 5% phenol versus tetracycline.

PubMed

East, J M; DuQuesnay, D

2007-12-01

Operating time for idiopathic hydroceles and epididymal cysts is scarce as these conditions compete with an increasing caseload of more consequential surgical disease. Therapy is often relegated to repeated aspiration. Sclerotherapy appears to be effective in a majority of published trials, but comparative effectiveness, efficacy and safety of most agents, including phenol versus tetracycline, has not been established A deliberate strategy of re-treatment until cure is not universally practised, with surgery still being offered after single-treatment failures. Two trials, the first consisting of 53 scrotal cysts treated with 5% phenol-in-water and the second, 42 cysts treated with tetracycline, are compared for effectiveness, efficacy and safety of sclerotherapy per se and of re-treatment. Intention-to-treat analysis yields similar cure rates (no re-accumulation three months after last injection) for phenol and tetracycline (83% and 81% respectively, p = 0.8). Per-protocol analysis also yields similar cure rates (100% and 97% respectively, p = 0.26) and mean number of injections to cure (1.34 and 1.12 respectively, p = 0.069), with range 1-4 and 1-3 respectively. Severe pain following tetracycline injection required administration of pre-injection cord block. Other complications occurred equally (25% and 25.7% respectively, p = 0.94) and were trivial except for one case of chronic haematocele treated by orchiectomy in the tetracycline group. Phenol (5%) and tetracycline are equally efficacious sclerosants for idiopathic scrotal cysts, achieving almost 100% cure with re-treatment and matching the efficacy of surgery. Concern about post-treatment fertility applies equally to surgery and demands informed consent for both modalities.

Invitro Evaluation of Fluoride Release from Hydroxyapatite Reinforced Glass Ionomer with or without Protective Coating

PubMed Central

Nandlal, Bhojraj

2016-01-01

Introduction Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) is well known for its fluoride releasing property but has its own drawbacks of poor mechanical properties, sensitivity to initial desiccation and moisture contamination. To overcome these, search led to the reinforcement of hydroxyapatite and application of surface coating agent but their effect on fluoride release is still not clear. Aim To evaluate and compare the release of fluoride from Hydroxyapatite Reinforced Glass Ionomer (HA-GIC) with and without protective coating. Materials and Methods Specimens were prepared as follows- Eight percent by weight conventional glass ionomer was replaced by hydroxyapatite powder (HA) and an indigenous product was prepared (HA-GIC). This powder was mixed with liquid of conventional GIC and allowed to set, then G coat plus coating agent was applied in surface coated group and light cured. Fluoride release of the sample was measured every 24 hrs for seven days and weekly from 7th to 21st day using combination ion selective electrode. Results Mean values clearly reveal a significant decrease in the fluoride release from day 1 to day 21 for both the groups. Results of repeated measure ANOVA revealed statistically significant difference between two groups (p <0.001). Conclusion Coating the hydroxyapatite reinforced glass ionomer will allow for slow and steady release of fluoride for a long period of time into oral environment. PMID:27190957

The Role of Monitoring Gentamicin Levels in Patients with Gram-Negative Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis

PubMed Central

Tang, Wen; Cho, Yeoungjee; Hawley, Carmel M.; Badve, Sunil V.; Johnson, David W.

2014-01-01

♦ Background: There is limited available evidence regarding the role of monitoring serum gentamicin concentrations in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients receiving this antimicrobial agent in gram-negative PD-associated peritonitis. ♦ Methods: Using data collected in all patients receiving PD at a single center who experienced a gram-negative peritonitis episode between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2011, we investigated the relationship between measured serum gentamicin levels on day 2 following initial empiric antibiotic therapy and subsequent clinical outcomes of confirmed gram-negative peritonitis. ♦ Results: Serum gentamicin levels were performed on day 2 in 51 (77%) of 66 first gram-negative peritonitis episodes. Average serum gentamicin levels on day 2 were 1.83 ± 0.84 mg/L with levels exceeding 2 mg/L in 22 (43%) cases. The overall cure rate was 64%. No cases of ototoxicity were observed. Day-2 gentamicin levels were not significantly different between patients who did and did not have a complication or cure. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, failure to cure peritonitis was not associated with either day-2 gentamicin level (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25 - 3.73) or continuation of gentamicin therapy beyond day 2 (OR 0.28, 0.02 - 3.56). The only exception was polymicrobial peritonitis, where day-2 gentamicin levels were significantly higher in episodes that were cured (2.06 ± 0.41 vs 1.29 ± 0.71, p = 0.01). In 17 (26%) patients receiving extended gentamicin therapy, day-5 gentamicin levels were not significantly related to peritonitis cure. ♦ Conclusion: Day-2 gentamicin levels did not predict gentamicin-related harm or efficacy during short-course gentamicin therapy for gram-negative PD-related peritonitis, except in cases of polymicrobial peritonitis, where higher levels were associated with cure. PMID:24385334

Effectiveness of syndromic management for male patients with urethral discharge symptoms in Amazonas, Brazil.

PubMed

Menezes Filho, Jonas Rodrigues de; Sardinha, José Carlos Gomes; Galbán, Enrique; Saraceni, Valéria; Talhari, Carolina

2017-01-01

Urethral discharge syndrome (UDS) is characterized by the presence of purulent or mucopurulent urethral discharge.The main etiological agents of this syndrome are Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. To evaluate the effectiveness of the syndromic management to resolve symptoms in male urethral discharge syndrome cases in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Retrospective cohort of male cases of urethral discharge syndrome observed at a clinic for sexually transmitted disease (STD) in 2013. Epidemiological and clinical data, as well as the results of urethral swabs, bacterioscopy, hybrid capture for C.trachomatis, wet-mount examination, and culture for N.gonorrhoeae, were obtained through medical chart reviews. Of the 800 urethral discharge syndrome cases observed at the STD clinic, 785 (98.1%) presented only urethral discharge syndrome, 633 (79.1%) returned for follow-up, 579 (91.5%) were considered clinically cured on the first visit, 41(6.5 %) were considered cured on the second visit, and 13(2.0%) did not reach clinical cure after two appointments. Regarding the etiological diagnosis, 42.7% of the patients presented a microbiological diagnosis of N.gonorrhoeae, 39.3% of non-gonococcal and non-chlamydia urethritis, 10.7% of C.trachomatis and 7.3% of co-infection with chlamydia and gonococcus. The odds of being considered cured in the first visit were greater in those who were unmarried, with greater schooling, and with an etiological diagnosis of gonorrhea. The diagnosis of non-gonococcal urethritis reduced the chance of cure in the first visit. A study conducted at a single center of STD treatment. Syndromic management of male urethral discharge syndrome performed in accordance with the Brazilian Ministry of Health STD guidelines was effective in resolving symptoms in the studied population. More studies with microbiological outcomes are needed to ensure the maintenance of the syndromic management.

Foam, Foam-resin composite and method of making a foam-resin composite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

MacArthur, Doug E. (Inventor); Cranston, John A. (Inventor)

1995-01-01

This invention relates to a foam, a foam-resin composite and a method of making foam-resin composites. The foam set forth in this invention comprises a urethane modified polyisocyanurate derived from an aromatic amino polyol and a polyether polyol. In addition to the polyisocyanurate foam, the composite of this invention further contains a resin layer, wherein the resin may be epoxy, bismaleimide, or phenolic resin. Such resins generally require cure or post-cure temperatures of at least 350.degree. F.

Overview and recent advances in the treatment of neuroblastoma.

PubMed

Whittle, Sarah B; Smith, Valeria; Doherty, Erin; Zhao, Sibo; McCarty, Scott; Zage, Peter E

2017-04-01

Children with neuroblastoma have widely divergent outcomes, ranging from cure in >90% of patients with low risk disease to <50% for those with high risk disease. Recent research has shed light on the biology of neuroblastoma, allowing for more accurate risk stratification and treatment reduction in many cases, although newer treatment strategies for children with high-risk and relapsed neuroblastoma are needed to improve outcomes. Areas covered: Neuroblastoma epidemiology, diagnosis, risk stratification, and recent advances in treatment of both newly diagnosed and relapsed neuroblastoma. Expert commentary: The identification of newer tumor targets and of novel cell-mediated immunotherapy agents may lead to novel therapeutic approaches, and clinical trials for regimens designed to target individual genetic aberrations in tumors are underway. A combination of therapeutic modalities will likely be required to improve survival and cure rates for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.

Classification of dry-cured hams according to the maturation time using near infrared spectra and artificial neural networks.

PubMed

Prevolnik, M; Andronikov, D; Žlender, B; Font-i-Furnols, M; Novič, M; Škorjanc, D; Čandek-Potokar, M

2014-01-01

An attempt to classify dry-cured hams according to the maturation time on the basis of near infrared (NIR) spectra was studied. The study comprised 128 samples of biceps femoris (BF) muscle from dry-cured hams matured for 10 (n=32), 12 (n=32), 14 (n=32) or 16 months (n=32). Samples were minced and scanned in the wavelength range from 400 to 2500 nm using spectrometer NIR System model 6500 (Silver Spring, MD, USA). Spectral data were used for i) splitting of samples into the training and test set using 2D Kohonen artificial neural networks (ANN) and for ii) construction of classification models using counter-propagation ANN (CP-ANN). Different models were tested, and the one selected was based on the lowest percentage of misclassified test samples (external validation). Overall correctness of the classification was 79.7%, which demonstrates practical relevance of using NIR spectroscopy and ANN for dry-cured ham processing control. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nutraceuticals in prevention of cataract - An evidence based approach.

PubMed

Kaur, Amandeep; Gupta, Vikas; Christopher, Ajay Francis; Malik, Manzoor Ahmad; Bansal, Parveen

2017-01-01

Cataract is a principal cause of blindness in the world and is characterized by clouding of eye's natural lens. Surgery is the major therapeutic step taken to cure cataract; however, it is having its own limitations and complications such as iris prolapse, raised IOP, infection, cystoid macular edema and posterior capsular opacification (PCO). So world is looking toward more robust and natural ways to prevent cataract. One of the important factors that can play a role in prevention of any and many diseases is diet of the people. The inclusion of certain naturally occurring food and nutraceuticals is coming up as a best alternative for curing cataract because of their presumed safety, potential nutritional and therapeutic effects. Some nutraceuticals can act as an anticataract agent through some or the other molecular mechanism if consumed by normal population deliberately or inadvertently.

A multivariate cure model for left-censored and right-censored data with application to colorectal cancer screening patterns.

PubMed

Hagar, Yolanda C; Harvey, Danielle J; Beckett, Laurel A

2016-08-30

We develop a multivariate cure survival model to estimate lifetime patterns of colorectal cancer screening. Screening data cover long periods of time, with sparse observations for each person. Some events may occur before the study begins or after the study ends, so the data are both left-censored and right-censored, and some individuals are never screened (the 'cured' population). We propose a multivariate parametric cure model that can be used with left-censored and right-censored data. Our model allows for the estimation of the time to screening as well as the average number of times individuals will be screened. We calculate likelihood functions based on the observations for each subject using a distribution that accounts for within-subject correlation and estimate parameters using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. We apply our methods to the estimation of lifetime colorectal cancer screening behavior in the SEER-Medicare data set. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Multifunctional curing agents and their use in improving strength of composites containing carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix

DOEpatents

Vautard, Frederic; Ozcan, Soydan

2017-04-11

A functionalized carbon fiber having covalently bound on its surface a sizing agent containing epoxy groups, at least some of which are engaged in covalent bonds with crosslinking molecules, wherein each of said crosslinking molecules possesses at least two epoxy-reactive groups and at least one free functional group reactive with functional groups of a polymer matrix in which the carbon fiber is to be incorporated, wherein at least a portion of said crosslinking molecules are engaged, via at least two of their epoxy-reactive groups, in crosslinking bonds between at least two epoxy groups of the sizing agent. Composites comprised of these functionalized carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix are also described. Methods for producing the functionalized carbon fibers and composites thereof are also described.

Nitrosamines in bacon: a case study of balancing risks.

PubMed Central

McCutcheon, J W

1984-01-01

Nitrite has been used for centuries to preserve, color, and flavor meat. Today, about 10 billion pounds of cured meat products are produced annually, accounting for some one-tenth of the American food supply. Regulators became concerned about the safety of using nitrite in the early 1960s when studies showed the presence of carcinogenic nitrosamines in cured meat products. In the early 1970s, a study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology implicated nitrite itself as a carcinogen. As studies have raised concern over the safety of nitrite, regulators have had to weigh the potential risk from cancer against nitrite's proven role in protecting consumers from deadly food poisoning bacteria. Today there is little scientific support for the theory that nitrite is a direct carcinogen. To deal with the nitrosamine problem, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lowered the permissible amount of nitrite in cured meats to that level considered necessary for botulism protection. Regulators, however, found it necessary to take additional steps with bacon because nitrosamines were found consistently in fried bacon samples. In addition to lowering the amount of nitrite that could be added to "pumped bacon" (cured by injecting liquid curing agents in the pork belly), USDA required the addition of nitrosamine inhibitors and began an intensive monitoring program in processing plants to ensure that fried bacon did not contain confirmable nitrosamines. The cooperative effort between Government and industry resulted in the virtual elimination of confirmable nitrosamines in pumped bacon by 1980. USDA is continuing its efforts to reduce nitrite in meats wherever possible. It is involved in active research programs in the Federal Government, academia, and industry. PMID:6431483

Smoking, occupational exposure to rubber, and lung cancer.

PubMed Central

Zhang, Z F; Yu, S Z; Li, W X; Choi, B C

1989-01-01

A cohort of 1624 employees (957 men, 667 women) in a rubber factory in Shanghai have been followed up since 1972 and their 12 year mortality experience is presented. The relative risk of lung cancer for smokers was 8.5 for men and 11.4 for women and for rubber workers exposed to curing agents or talc powder 3.2 for men and 4.6 for women. PMID:2920138

A comprehensive multi-institutional study of empiric therapy with flomoxef in surgical infections of the digestive organs. The Kyushu Research Group for Surgical Infection.

PubMed

Shimada, M; Takenaka, K; Sugimachi, K

1994-08-01

The effect of flomoxef as empiric therapy for surgical infections of the digestive organs was analyzed in 103 patients, most of whom (94.2%) had intra-abdominal infections. Surgical procedures were performed on 73 patients contemporaneously with the flomoxef therapy. Flomoxef is an oxacephem and has a potent and broad bactericidal spectrum against aerobes and anaerobes. It provokes fewer adverse reactions than latamoxef such as vitamin K deficiency and platelet dysfunction. Flomoxef was administered intravenously at a dose 1-4g/day for more than 3 days without any other antimicrobial agent. The clinical response was classified into 3 groups; cured, improved and failed, and both the cured and improved responses were defined as satisfactory. A satisfactory response was obtained in 99 patients (96.1%). Regarding bacteriological response, the overall eradication rate was 81.3%. Adverse reactions including abnormal laboratory data occurred in only two patients. One had abdominal pain, and the other had a mild elevation of transaminases, and both were mild and easily reversible. Therefore, flomoxef is considered to have the potential of becoming one of the most effective agents in empiric therapy for surgical infections of the digestive organs.

Proviral Latency, Persistent Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, and the Development of Latency Reversing Agents

PubMed Central

Archin, Nancie M.

2017-01-01

Abstract Quiescent proviral genomes that persist during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) can fuel rebound viremia after ART interruption and is a central obstacle to the cure of HIV infection. The induction of quiescent provirus is the goal of a new class of potential therapeutics, latency reversing agents (LRAs). The discovery, development, and testing of HIV LRAs is a key part of current efforts to develop latency reversal and viral clearance strategies to eradicate established HIV infection. The development of LRAs is burdened by many uncertainties that make drug discovery difficult. The biology of HIV latency is complex and incompletely understood. Potential targets for LRAs are host factors, and the potential toxicities of host-directed therapies in individuals that are otherwise clinically stable may be unacceptable. Assays to measure latency reversal and assess the effectiveness of potential therapeutics are complex and incompletely validated. Despite these obstacles, novel LRAs are under development and beginning to enter combination testing with viral clearance strategies. It is hoped that the steady advances in the development of LRAs now being paired with emerging immunotherapeutics to clear persistently infected cells will soon allow measurable clinical advances toward an HIV cure. PMID:28520964

Fusarium species causing eumycetoma: Report of two cases and comprehensive review of the literature.

PubMed

Al-Hatmi, Abdullah M S; Bonifaz, Alexandro; Tirado-Sánchez, Andrés; Meis, Jacques F; de Hoog, G Sybren; Ahmed, Sarah A

2017-03-01

Recently, mycetoma was added to the World Health Organization's list of neglected tropical disease priorities. Fusarium as a genus has been reported to cause eumycetoma, but little is known about the species involved in this infection and their identification. In this study, molecular tools were applied to identify Fusarium agents from human eumycetoma cases. The partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) gene was used as diagnostic parameter. Two additional cases of eumycetoma, due to F. keratoplasticum and F. pseudensiforme, respectively, are presented. A systematic literature review was performed to assess general features, identification, treatment and outcome of eumycetoma infections due to Fusarium species. Of the 20 reviewed patients, the majority (75%) were male. Most agents belonged to the F. solani species complex, ie F. keratoplasticum, F. pseudensiforme, and an undescribed lineage of F. solani. In addition, F. thapsinum, a member of Fusarium fujikuroi species complex was encountered. The main antifungal drugs used were itraconazole, ketoconazole and amphotericin B, but cure rates were low (15%). Partial response or relapse was observed in some cases, and a case ended in amputation. Clinical management of eumycetoma due to Fusarium is complex and combination therapy might be required to increase cure rates. © 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Furfural-based polymers for the sealing of reactor vessels dumped in the Arctic Kara Sea

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

HEISER,J.H.; COWGILL,M.G.; SIVINTSEV,Y.V.

1996-10-07

Between 1965 and 1988, 16 naval reactor vessels were dumped in the Arctic Kara Sea. Six of the vessels contained spent nuclear fuel that had been damaged during accidents. In addition, a container holding {approximately} 60% of the damaged fuel from the No. 2 reactor of the atomic icebreaker Lenin was dumped in 1967. Before dumping, the vessels were filled with a solidification agent, Conservant F, in order to prevent direct contact between the seawater and the fuel and other activated components, thereby reducing the potential for release of radionuclides into the environment. The key ingredient in Conservant F ismore » furfural (furfuraldehyde). Other constituents vary, depending on specific property requirements, but include epoxy resin, mineral fillers, and hardening agents. In the liquid state (prior to polymerization) Conservant F is a low viscosity, homogeneous resin blend that provides long work times (6--9 hours). In the cured state, Conservant F provides resistance to water and radiation, has high adhesion properties, and results in minimal gas evolution. This paper discusses the properties of Conservant F in both its cured and uncured states and the potential performance of the waste packages containing spent nuclear fuel in the Arctic Kara Sea.« less

Comparative evaluation of microleakage of various retrograde filling materials: An in vitro study.

PubMed

Galhotra, Virat; Sofat, Anjali; Pandit, Inder K; Gambhir, Ramandeep Singh; Srivastava, Nikhil; Gugnani, Neeraj

2013-07-01

The present study is envisaged to evaluate and compare the microleakage of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with commonly used retrograde filling materials, like light-cured composite with dentin-bonding agents, light-cured glass ionomer cement (LC GIC) and resin-modified zinc oxide eugenol. Ninety freshly extracted non-carious single-rooted human anterior teeth were used in the study. They were randomly divided into four experimental groups and two control groups of 15 each. Following the biomechanical preparation, all teeth were obturated and then the apices of the obturated teeth were resected by removing 3 mm of each apex at 90° to the long axis of the tooth with a straight fissure bur in a high-speed air-rotor handpiece with water coolant. A 3-mm-deep root end cavity was prepared and the root end fillings were placed as per the manufacturer's instructions and according to the groups divided. The samples were then immersed in 1% methylene blue at room temperature for 72 h, 96 h and 1 week and the dye penetration was measured. All the four materials used in the study showed some microleakage throughout the experimental period. The sealing ability in terms of microleakage can be summarized as: MTA > Composite resin with dentin bonding agent > LC GIC > Resin modified zinc oxide eugenol.

Novel priming and crosslinking systems for use with isocyanatomethacrylate dental adhesives.

PubMed

Chappelow, C C; Power, M D; Bowles, C Q; Miller, R G; Pinzino, C S; Eick, J D

2000-11-01

(a) to design, formulate and evaluate prototype primers and a crosslinking agent for use with isocyanatomethacrylate-based comonomer adhesives and (b) to establish correlations between bond strength and solubility parameter differences between the adhesives and etched dentin, and the permeability coefficients of the adhesives. Equimolar mixtures of 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) and a methacrylate comonomer were formulated with tri-n-butyl borane oxide (TBBO) as the free radical initiator to have cure times of 6-10 min. Shear bond strengths to dentin were determined for each adhesive mixture (n = 7) using standard testing protocols. Shear bond strengths for the three systems were also determined after application of "reactive primers" to the dentin surface. The "reactive primers" contained 10-20 parts by weight of the respective comonomer mixture and 3.5 parts by weight TBBO in acetone. Solubility parameters difference values (delta delta) and permeability coefficients (P) were approximated for each adhesive system and correlated with shear bond strength values. Additionally, a crosslinking agent was prepared by bulk reaction of an equimolar mixture containing IEM and a methacrylate comonomer. The effects of crosslinker addition on: (a) the setting time of IEM; and (b) the setting times and initiator requirements of selected IEM/comonomer mixtures were determined. Shear bond strength values (MPa): IEM/HEMA 13.6 +/- 2.0 (no primer), 20.1 +/- 2.0 (with primer); IEM/HETMA 9.3 +/- 3.3 (no primer), 20.8 +/- 8.1 (with primer); IEM/AAEMA 13.6 +/- 1.9 (no primer), 17.3 +/- 3.2 (with primer). Also, approximated permeability coefficients showed a significant correlation (r = +0.867, p < 0.001) with shear bond strength values. Crosslinker addition studies with IEM/4-META: (a) at 5-9 mol% reduced the setting time of IEM polymerization by 79%; and (b) at 6 mol% reduced initiator level requirements 60-70% to achieve a comparable setting time, and decreased setting times by ca. 75% for a given initiator level with selected IEM/methacrylate adhesive systems. The shear bond strengths of isocyanatomethacrylate-based dental adhesives can be enhanced by using reactive primers; their setting times and initiator requirements can be improved using a dimethacrylate crosslinker. Approximated permeability coefficients may be useful as indicators of bonding performance for dentin adhesive systems.

Oligosilylarylnitrile: The Thermoresistant Thermosetting Resin with High Comprehensive Properties.

PubMed

Wang, Mingcun; Ning, Yi

2018-04-11

One of the highest thermoresistant thermosetting resins ever studied so far, oligosilylarylnitrile resin, was investigated first in this study. Oligosilylarylnitrile was synthesized by lithium-reduced Wurtz-Fittig condensation reaction, and the prepared viscous resin exhibited moderate rheological behaviors while heated purely or together with 20% polysilazane as a cross-linking agent. The thermal curing temperatures were found by differential scanning calorimetry at 268 °C (pure) and 158 °C (with the polysilazane cross-linking agent), which is comparably close to that of polysilylarylacetylene resin (normally at 220-250 °C) but much lower than those of polyimide and phthalonitrile resins (normally >300 °C), indicating the admirable material processability of oligosilylnitrile. The cured oligosilylarylnitrile resins have extremely high thermal resistance, indicated by the results of thermogravimetric analysis (the mass residue at 800 °C is >90% under N 2 ) and dynamic mechanical analysis (the glass-transition temperature is >420 °C). The mechanical property of the oligosilylarylnitrile-matrixed silica-cloth reinforced laminate is comparably close to those of polyimide and phthalonitrile but much higher than that of polysilylarylacetylene, indicating the enviable thermal and mechanical properties of oligosilylnitrile. Thus, among the high-temperature resins ever studied so far, the oligosilylarylnitrile resin was found to have the almost best comprehensive characteristics of processability and properties.

Studies on polyurethane adhesives and surface modification of hydrophobic substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishnamoorthy, Jayaraman

This thesis work deals with (a) Curing of reactive, hot-melt polyurethane adhesives and (b) Adsorption studies using different interactions. Research on polyurethanes involves characterization of polyurethane prepolymers and a novel mechanism to cure isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymer by a "trigger" mechanism. Curing of isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymers has been shown to be influenced by morphology and environmental conditions such as temperature and relative humidity. Although the initial composition, final morphology and curing kinetics are known, information regarding the intermediate prepolymer mixture is yet to be established. Polyurethane prepolymers prepared by the reaction of diisocyanates with the primary hydroxyls of polyester diol (PHMA) and secondary hydroxyls of polyether diol (PPG) were characterized. The morphology and crystallization kinetics of a polyurethane prepolymer was compared with a blend of PPG prepolymer (the product obtained by the reaction of PPG with diisocyanate) and a PHMA prepolymer (the product obtained by the reaction of PHMA with diisocyanate) to study the effect of copolymer formed in the polyurethane prepolymer on the above-mentioned properties. Although the morphology of the polyurethane prepolymer is determined in the first few minutes of application, the chemical curing of isocyanate-terminated prepolymer occurs over hours to days. In the literature, different techniques are described to follow the curing kinetics. But there is no established technique to control the curing of polyurethane prepolymer. To make the curing process independent of environmental factors, a novel approach using a trigger mechanism was designed and implemented by using ammonium salts as curing agents. Ammonium salts that are stable at room temperature but decompose on heating to yield active hydrogen-containing compounds, NH3 and H2O, were used as 'Trojan horses' to cure the prepolymer chemically. Research on adsorption studies involved making functionalized, thickness-controlled, wettability-controlled multilayers on hydrophobic substrates and the adsorption of carboxylic acid-terminated poly(styrene-b-isoprene) on alumina/silica substrates. Poly(vinyl alcohol) has been shown to adsorb onto hydrophobic surfaces irreversibly due to hydrophobic interactions. This thin semicrystalline coating is chemically modified using acid chlorides, butyl isocyanate and butanal to form thicker and hydrophobic coatings. The products of the modification reactions allow adsorption of a subsequent layer of poly(vinyl alcohol) that could subsequently be hydrophobized. This 2-step (adsorption/chemical modification) allows layer-by-layer deposition to prepare coatings with thickness, chemical structure and wettability control on any hydrophobic surface. Research on adsorption characteristics of carboxylic acid-terminated poly(styrene-b-isoprene) involved syntheses of block copolymers with the functional group present at specific ends. Comparative adsorption studies for carboxylic acid-terminated and hydrogen-terminated block copolymers was carried out on alumina and silica substrates.

Bio-based Polymer Foam from Soyoil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonnaillie, Laetitia M.; Wool, Richard P.

2006-03-01

The growing bio-based polymeric foam industry is presently lead by plant oil-based polyols for polyurethanes and starch foams. We developed a new resilient, thermosetting foam system with a bio-based content higher than 80%. The acrylated epoxidized soybean oil and its fatty acid monomers is foamed with pressurized carbon dioxide and cured with free-radical initiators. The foam structure and pore dynamics are highly dependent on the temperature, viscosity and extent of reaction. Low-temperature cure hinds the destructive pore coalescence and the application of a controlled vacuum results in foams with lower densities ˜ 0.1 g/cc, but larger cells. We analyze the physics of foam formation and stability, as well as the structure and mechanical properties of the cured foam using rigidity percolation theory. The parameters studied include temperature, vacuum applied, and cross-link density. Additives bring additional improvements: nucleating agents and surfactants help produce foams with a high concentration of small cells and low bulk density. Hard and soft thermosetting foams with a bio content superior to 80% are successfully produced and tested. Potential applications include foam-core composites for hurricane-resistant housing, structural reinforcement for windmill blades, and tissue scaffolds.

Influence of native plasmids to fitness of Pantoea vagans strain C9-1

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Pantoea vagans strain C9-1 is a biological control agent for fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora. We cured C9-1 of two of its three plasmids: pPag2, pPag3, and both pPag2 and pPag3, tested phenotypes of the derivatives, and evaluated blossom colonization in the field. pPag2 (166 kb) encodes for ...

Development of modified poly(perfluoropropyleneoxide) urethane systems for use in liquid oxygen and in enriched 100 percent oxygen atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrison, E. S.

1973-01-01

This program consisted of two separate though related phases. The initial phase was directed toward improving the mechanical and adhesive properties of the very highly fluorinated-polyurethane resin system derived from the hydroxyl-terminated polyperfluoropropylene oxide and 6-chloro-2,4,5-trifluoro-m-phenylene diisocyanate. Various new curing agents for this system were investigated, with the goal of providing a more thermally stable crosslink (cure) mechanism to provide wider applicability and fuller utilization of the outstanding oxygen resistance of the PFPO system. Complete resistance to liquid- and gaseous-oxygen impact at presures as high as 1035 N/sq cm were attained with the use of the PFPO resin castings. The second corollary phase was directed toward investigating the feasibility and optimization of the allophanate cured, urethane extended polymer derived from hydroxyl-terminated polyperfluoropropyleneoxide and 6-chloro-2,4,5-trifluoro-m-phenylene diisocyanate, as the adhesive system for use in a weld-bond configuration for liquid oxygen tankage. The synthesis and application procedures of the adhesive system to insure liquid oxygen compatibility (under 10 kg-m loading), and the development of procedures and techniques to provide high quality weld-bonded joint configurations were studied.

Self-regenerating and hybrid irreversible/reversible PDMS microfluidic devices.

PubMed

Shiroma, Letícia S; Piazzetta, Maria H O; Duarte-Junior, Gerson F; Coltro, Wendell K T; Carrilho, Emanuel; Gobbi, Angelo L; Lima, Renato S

2016-05-16

This paper outlines a straightforward, fast, and low-cost method to fabricate polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chips. Termed sandwich bonding (SWB), this method requires only a laboratory oven. Initially, SWB relies on the reversible bonding of a coverslip over PDMS channels. The coverslip is smaller than the substrate, leaving a border around the substrate exposed. Subsequently, a liquid composed of PDMS monomers and a curing agent is poured onto the structure. Finally, the cover is cured. We focused on PDMS/glass chips because of their key advantages in microfluidics. Despite its simplicity, this method created high-performance microfluidic channels. Such structures featured self-regeneration after leakages and hybrid irreversible/reversible behavior. The reversible nature was achieved by removing the cover of PDMS with acetone. Thus, the PDMS substrate and glass coverslip could be detached for reuse. These abilities are essential in the stages of research and development. Additionally, SWB avoids the use of surface oxidation, half-cured PDMS as an adhesive, and surface chemical modification. As a consequence, SWB allows surface modifications before the bonding, a long time for alignment, the enclosure of sub-micron channels, and the prototyping of hybrid devices. Here, the technique was successfully applied to bond PDMS to Au and Al.

Self-regenerating and hybrid irreversible/reversible PDMS microfluidic devices

PubMed Central

Shiroma, Letícia S.; Piazzetta, Maria H. O.; Duarte-Junior, Gerson F.; Coltro, Wendell K. T.; Carrilho, Emanuel; Gobbi, Angelo L.; Lima, Renato S.

2016-01-01

This paper outlines a straightforward, fast, and low-cost method to fabricate polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chips. Termed sandwich bonding (SWB), this method requires only a laboratory oven. Initially, SWB relies on the reversible bonding of a coverslip over PDMS channels. The coverslip is smaller than the substrate, leaving a border around the substrate exposed. Subsequently, a liquid composed of PDMS monomers and a curing agent is poured onto the structure. Finally, the cover is cured. We focused on PDMS/glass chips because of their key advantages in microfluidics. Despite its simplicity, this method created high-performance microfluidic channels. Such structures featured self-regeneration after leakages and hybrid irreversible/reversible behavior. The reversible nature was achieved by removing the cover of PDMS with acetone. Thus, the PDMS substrate and glass coverslip could be detached for reuse. These abilities are essential in the stages of research and development. Additionally, SWB avoids the use of surface oxidation, half-cured PDMS as an adhesive, and surface chemical modification. As a consequence, SWB allows surface modifications before the bonding, a long time for alignment, the enclosure of sub-micron channels, and the prototyping of hybrid devices. Here, the technique was successfully applied to bond PDMS to Au and Al. PMID:27181918

The effect of air thinning on dentin adhesive bond strength.

PubMed

Hilton, T J; Schwartz, R S

1995-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine if air thinning three dentin adhesives would affect bond strength to dentin. Ninety human molars were mounted in acrylic and the occlusal surfaces ground to expose a flat dentin surface. Thirty teeth were randomly assigned to one of the following dentin bonding agent/composite combinations: A) Universal Bond 3/TPH (Caulk), B) All-Bond 2/Bis-Fil-P (Bisco), and C) Scotchbond Multi-Purpose/Z-100 (3m). The primers were applied following the manufacturers' instructions. The adhesives were applied by two methods. A thin layer of adhesive was applied with a brush to 15 specimens in each group and light cured. Adhesive was brushed on to the remaining 15 teeth in the group, air thinned for 3 seconds, and then polymerized. The appropriate composite was applied in 2 mm increments and light cured utilizing a 5 mm-in-diameter split Teflon mold. Following 3 months of water storage, all groups were shear tested to failure on an Instron Universal Testing Machine. Bond strength was significantly higher in all groups when the dentin bonding agent was painted on without being air thinned. Scotchbond Multi-Purpose had significantly higher bond strength than All-Bond 2, which had significantly higher bond strength than Universal Bond 3.

Low gloss UV-cured coatings for aircraft

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bowman, Mark; Muschar, Harry

A method of applying a low gloss coating to a substrate such as the exterior surface of an aircraft is disclosed. The coating composition comprising a polyene, a polythiol, a flatting agent and a coloring pigment is applied to the substrate and given a first dosage of UV radiation followed by a second dosage in which the second dosage is greater than the first resulting in an ultralow gloss coating.

Treatment of Giardiasis

PubMed Central

Gardner, Timothy B.; Hill, David R.

2001-01-01

Giardia lamblia is both the most common intestinal parasite in the United States and a frequent cause of diarrheal illness throughout the world. In spite of its recognition as an important human pathogen, there have been relatively few agents used in therapy. This paper discusses each class of drugs used in treatment, along with their mechanism of action, in vitro and clinical efficacy, and side effects and contraindications. Recommendations are made for the preferred treatment in different clinical situations. The greatest clinical experience is with the nitroimidazole drugs, i.e., metronidazole, tinidazole, and ornidazole, which are highly effective. A 5- to 7-day course of metronidazole can be expected to cure over 90% of individuals, and a single dose of tinidazole or ornidazole will cure a similar number. Quinacrine, which is no longer produced in the United States, has excellent efficacy but may be poorly tolerated, especially in children. Furazolidone is an effective alternative but must be administered four times a day for 7 to 10 days. Paromomycin may be used during early pregnancy, because it is not systematically absorbed, but it is not always effective. Patients who have resistant infection can usually be cured by a prolonged course of treatment with a combination of a nitroimidazole with quinacrine. PMID:11148005

Application of long-circulating liposomes to cancer photodynamic therapy.

PubMed

Oku, N; Saito, N; Namba, Y; Tsukada, H; Dolphin, D; Okada, S

1997-06-01

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a cancer treatment is notable for its quite low side effects in comparison with those of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the accumulation of porphyrin derivatives used in PDT into tumor tissues is rather low. Since long-circulating liposomes are known to accumulate passively into tumor tissues, we liposomalized a porphyrin derivative, benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (BPD-MA), and used these liposomes to investigate the usefulness of PDT for tumor-bearing mice. BPD-MA was liposomalized into glucuronate-modified liposomes, which are known to be long-circulating. These liposomes were injected i.v. into Balb/c mice bearing Meth A sarcoma, and tumor regression and survival time were monitored after irradiation with laser light. Tumor regression and complete curing of tumor (80% cure rate by the treatment with 6 mg/kg BPD-MA) were observed when long circulating liposomalized BPD-MA was injected and laser-irradiated. In contrast, only a 20% cure rate was obtained when the animals were treated with BPD-MA solution or BPD-MA entrapped in conventional liposomes. These results suggest that a long-circulating liposomal formulation of photo-sensitive agents is useful for PDT.

Bone Marrow Transplantation for Peripheral T-Cell Non-Hodgkins' Lymphoma in First Remission.

PubMed

Sharma, Manish; Pro, Barbara

2015-07-01

Opinion statement: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are rare and heterogeneous diseases that carry, with the exception of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a poor prognosis when treated with conventional chemotherapy. Historically, PTCL was treated like aggressive B-cell lymphomas, and to date cyclophosphamide, prednisone, vincristine, and doxorubicin (CHOP) remains the most commonly used regimen, despite disappointing results. Given the poor outcomes of PTCL patients, a number of studies have investigated the role of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT/ASCT) in the upfront setting, with different results. However, there are no prospective randomized trials, and the clinical benefit appears to be restricted to patients who achieve an objective response after induction chemotherapy. Nevertheless, with the exception of low-risk ALK+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma, in light of the available data, HDT/ASCT for consolidation should be recommended for patients deemed eligible. The results of phase II trials showed that allogeneic stem cell transplantation can cure some relapsed/refractory patients, and few studies have evaluated this strategy in the frontline setting. With the availability of recently approved new drugs as well as new targeted agents under investigation, a number of ongoing studies are testing novel combinations aiming to improve rate and durability of responses to induction chemotherapy.

Effect of addition of Ag nano powder on mechanical properties of epoxy/polyaminoamide adduct coatings filled with conducting polymer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Samad, Ubair Abdus; Center of excellence for research in engineering materials; Khan, Rawaiz

In this study the effect of Ag Nano powder on mechanical properties of epoxy coatings filled with optimized ratio of conducting polymers (Polyaniline and Polyppyrole) was evaluated. Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether epoxy resin (DGEBA) along with polyaminoamide adduct (ARADUR 3282-1 BD) is used as curing agent under optimized stoichiometry values. Curing is performed at room temperature with different percentages of Nano filler. Glass and steel panels were used as coating substrate. Bird applicator was used to coat the samples in order to obtain thin film with wet film thickness (WFT) of about 70-90 µm. The samples were kept in dust freemore » environment for about 7 days at room temperature for complete curing. The coated steel panels were used to evaluate the mechanical properties of coating such as hardness, scratch and impact tests whereas coated glass panels were used for measuring pendulum hardness of the coatings. To check the dispersion and morphology of Nano filler in epoxy matrix scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used in addition Nano indentation was also performed to observe the effect of Nano filler on modulus of elasticity and hardness at Nano scale.« less

Effect of addition of Ag nano powder on mechanical properties of epoxy/polyaminoamide adduct coatings filled with conducting polymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samad, Ubair Abdus; Khan, Rawaiz; Alam, Mohammad Asif; Al-Othman, Othman Y.; Al-Zahrani, Saeed M.

2015-05-01

In this study the effect of Ag Nano powder on mechanical properties of epoxy coatings filled with optimized ratio of conducting polymers (Polyaniline and Polyppyrole) was evaluated. Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether epoxy resin (DGEBA) along with polyaminoamide adduct (ARADUR 3282-1 BD) is used as curing agent under optimized stoichiometry values. Curing is performed at room temperature with different percentages of Nano filler. Glass and steel panels were used as coating substrate. Bird applicator was used to coat the samples in order to obtain thin film with wet film thickness (WFT) of about 70-90 µm. The samples were kept in dust free environment for about 7 days at room temperature for complete curing. The coated steel panels were used to evaluate the mechanical properties of coating such as hardness, scratch and impact tests whereas coated glass panels were used for measuring pendulum hardness of the coatings. To check the dispersion and morphology of Nano filler in epoxy matrix scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used in addition Nano indentation was also performed to observe the effect of Nano filler on modulus of elasticity and hardness at Nano scale.

Nondestructive observation of teeth post core-space using optical coherence tomography: comparison with microcomputed tomography and live images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minamino, Takuya; Mine, Atsushi; Matsumoto, Mariko; Sugawa, Yoshihiko; Kabetani, Tomoshige; Higashi, Mami; Kawaguchi, Asuka; Ohmi, Masato; Awazu, Kunio; Yatani, Hirofumi

2015-10-01

No previous reports have observed inside the root canal using both optical coherence tomography (OCT) and x-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT) for the same sample. The purpose of this study was to clarify both OCT and μCT image properties from observations of the same root canal after resin core build-up treatment. As OCT allows real-time observation of samples, gap formation may be able to be shown in real time. A dual-cure, one-step, self-etch adhesive system bonding agent, and dual-cure resin composite core material were used in root canals in accordance with instructions from the manufacturer. The resulting OCT images were superior for identifying gap formation at the interface, while μCT images were better to grasp the tooth form. Continuous tomographic images from real-time OCT observation allowed successful construction of a video of the resin core build-up procedure. After 10 to 12 s of light curing, a gap with a clear new signal occurred at the root-core material interface, proceeding from the coronal side (6 mm from the cemento-enamel junction) to the apical side of the root.

Assessment of Heat Hazard during the Polymerization of Selected Light-Sensitive Dental Materials.

PubMed

Janeczek, Maciej; Herman, Katarzyna; Fita, Katarzyna; Dudek, Krzysztof; Kowalczyk-Zając, Małgorzata; Czajczyńska-Waszkiewicz, Agnieszka; Piesiak-Pańczyszyn, Dagmara; Kosior, Piotr; Dobrzyński, Maciej

2016-01-01

Introduction. Polymerization of light-cured dental materials used for restoration of hard tooth tissue may lead to an increase in temperature that may have negative consequence for pulp vitality. Aim. The aim of this study was to determine maximum temperatures reached during the polymerization of selected dental materials, as well as the time that is needed for samples of sizes similar to those used in clinical practice to reach these temperatures. Materials and Methods. The study involved four composite restorative materials, one lining material and a dentine bonding agent. The polymerization was conducted with the use of a diode light-curing unit. The measurements of the external surface temperature of the samples were carried out using the Thermovision®550 thermal camera. Results. The examined materials significantly differed in terms of the maximum temperatures values they reached, as well as the time required for reaching the temperatures. A statistically significant positive correlation of the maximum temperature and the sample weight was observed. Conclusions. In clinical practice, it is crucial to bear in mind the risk of thermal damage involved in the application of light-cured materials. It can be reduced by using thin increments of composite materials.

Posaconazole treatment for Apophysomyces elegans rhino-orbital zygomycosis following trauma for a male with well-controlled diabetes.

PubMed

Ferguson, T D; Schniederjan, S D; Dionne-Odom, J; Brandt, M E; Rinaldi, M G; Nolte, F S; Langston, A; Zimmer, S M

2007-05-01

We report a case of rhino-orbital zygomycosis in a 43-year-old male with well-controlled diabetes mellitus. The patient initially received liposomal amphotericin B, but the infection continued to progress, so posaconazole treatment was begun and eventually led to the cure of his infection. The causative agent was identified as Apophysomyces elegans, an emerging cause of zygomycosis in immunocompetent hosts.

Sage Gene Expression Profiles Characterizing Cure

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-10-01

achieved in haematological malignancies. In addition, tumour cell lines showed a log-linear dose re- sponse when exposed to alkylating agents [26,27...direct carcinogen, N-methyl nitrosourea (NMU) and an indirect carcinogen, 7,12- dimethylbenzanthracene each depend upon the estrous cycle phase at the...a single dose of N-methyl-N- nitrosourea . Cancer Res 45: 3042–3047, 1995 8. Nagasawa H, Yanai R, Taniguchi H: Importance of mammary gland DNA synthesis

FR Performance of New Fire-off on PET/CO blend fabrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atakan, R.; Çelebi, E.; Ozcan, G.; Soydan, N.; Sarac, A. S.

2017-10-01

This paper represents the investigation on flame retardancy performance and durability of polyester/cotton (P/C) fabrics treated with a novel halogen/formaldehyde free, P-N synergetic FR finishing agent called New Fire-off. 100 % Cotton, 100 % Polyester and three different blend P/C fabrics were chosen in this study. Fabric samples were treated with New Fire-off through pad-dry-cure process. Flammability and thermal properties of the treated samples with New Fire-off were tested according to relevant ISO standard and procedures. The obtained results showed that this new finishing formulation is a good char-forming agent. However, further studies are required to achieve washing durability for the P/C blends.

A cross-sectional study of patient and provider perception of "cure" as a goal of cancer surgery.

PubMed

Winner, Megan; Wilson, Ana; Yahanda, Alexander; Kim, Yuhree; Pawlik, Timothy M

2016-11-01

Patients with advanced cancer often misperceive the purpose and likely effectiveness of cancer treatments. The aim of this study was to characterize patient and provider perceptions in the setting of surgery for potentially curable cancer. One hundred and six patient-surgeon dyads were surveyed about their expectations for upcoming surgery. Items scored using a Likert scale were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Patients and surgeons reported excellent communication and shared decision-making. Patients more often than surgeons perceived that surgery was "Likely" or "Very Likely" to cure their cancer (86.0% vs. 72.0%, P = 0.011), extend their lives (94.0% vs. 82.0%, P = 0.007), and relieve cancer-related symptoms (65.0% vs. 35.0%, P < 0.001). Patients less often felt that surgery would be associated with complications (33.0% vs. 48.0%, P = 0.016). Over half (53.9%) of patients believed that they were more likely to experience surgical cancer cure compared with someone else with the same diagnosis while 70.8% of surgeons declared a patient's relative chances of surgical cure "the same." Patients with resectable lung and gastrointestinal cancers have more optimistic perceptions about the outcomes of an upcoming surgery than their surgeons, even in a setting of good communication and shared decision-making. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:677-683. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Disintegration of visible light-cured composite resins caused by long-term water immersion].

PubMed

Hino, T; Arai, K

1989-05-01

The purpose of this study is to clarify a cause of disintegration of composite resins by long-term immersion in distilled water. Three kinds of visible light-cured composite resins (Heliosit, Plurafil Super and Visio Dispers) and one conventional composite resin (Clearfil F II) were prepared as the specimens with a 20 mm diameter and 1 mm thickness. These specimens were immersed in distilled water at 37 +/- 1 degree C for 3 years. These specimens were analysed and observed by a comprehensive multi analyzer and scanning electron microscope. The other hand residues in distilled water were analysed by infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers. The surface layer of all four composite resins showed signs of disintegration. The composite resins with abundant dissolved substances had disintegrated markedly, and such disintegration occurred deep inside the specimens. In IR and 1H-NMR spectra of dissolved substances, two visible light-cured composite resins (Heliosit and Plurafil Super) could be detected unreacted monomers, but one visible light-cured composite resin (Visio Dispers) and one conventional composite resin (Clearfil F II) could not be detected them. In 1H-NMR spectra of dissolved substances of all four composite resins, new signals not composed originally were observed. The progress of disintegration were demonstrated clearly. The dissolved substances were shown as the disintegrated substance between resin matrixs and silane coupling agents. It is suggested that the disintegration of composite resins by long-term water immersion is derived from hydrolysis.

Wetting and Coalescence of Drops of Self-Healing Agents on Electrospun Nanofiber Mats.

PubMed

An, Seongpil; Kim, Yong Il; Lee, Min Wook; Yarin, Alexander L; Yoon, Sam S

2017-10-10

Here we study experimentally the behavior of liquid healing agents released in vascular core-shell nanofiber mats used in self-healing engineered materials. It is shown that wettability-driven spreading of liquid drops is accompanied by the imbibition into the nanofiber matrix, and its laws deviate from those known for spreading on an intact surface. We also explore coalescence of the released drops on nanofiber mats, in particular, coalescence of drops of resin monomer and cure important for self-healing. The coalescence process is also affected by the imbibition into the pores of an underlying nanofiber mat. A theoretical model is developed to account for the imbibition effect on drop coalescence.

Shear bond strength of orthodontic color-change adhesives with different light-curing times

PubMed Central

Bayani, Shahin; Ghassemi, Amirreza; Manafi, Safa; Delavarian, Mohadeseh

2015-01-01

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of light-curing time on the shear bond strength (SBS) of two orthodontic color-change adhesives (CCAs). Materials and Methods: A total of 72 extracted premolars were randomly assigned into 6 groups of 12 teeth each. Subsequent to primer application, a metal bracket was bonded to the buccal surface using an orthodontic adhesive. Two CCAs (Greengloo and Transbond Plus) were tested and one conventional light-cured adhesive (Resilience) served as control. For each adhesive, the specimens were light-cured for two different times of 20 and 40 s. All the specimens underwent mechanical testing using a universal testing machine to measure the SBS. Adhesive remnant index (ARI) was used to assess the remnant adhesive material on the tooth surface. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. The significance level for all statistical tests was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The SBSs of the tested groups were in the range of 14.05-31.25 MPa. Greengloo adhesive showed the highest SBS values when light-cured for 40 s, and Transbond Plus adhesive showed the lowest values when light-cured for 20 s. ARI scores of Transbond Plus adhesive were significantly higher than those of controls, while other differences in ARI values were not significant. Conclusion: Within the limitations of his study, decreasing the light-curing time from 40 to 20 s decreased the SBS of the tested adhesives; however, this decline in SBS was statistically significant only in Transbond Plus adhesive PMID:26005468

Efinaconazole Topical Solution, 10%: Efficacy in Patients with Onychomycosis and Coexisting Tinea Pedis.

PubMed

Markinson, Bryan C; Caldwell, Bryan D

2015-04-13

We sought to evaluate the efficacy of efinaconazole topical solution, 10%, in patients with onychomycosis and coexisting tinea pedis. We analyzed 1,655 patients, aged 18 to 70 years, randomized (3:1) to receive efinaconazole topical solution, 10%, or vehicle from two identical multicenter, double-blind, vehicle-controlled 48-week studies evaluating safety and efficacy. The primary end point was complete cure rate (0% clinical involvement of the target toenail and negative potassium hydroxide examination and fungal culture findings) at week 52. Three groups were compared: patients with onychomycosis and coexisting interdigital tinea pedis on-study (treated or left untreated) and those with no coexisting tinea pedis. Treatment with efinaconazole topical solution, 10%, was significantly more effective than vehicle use irrespective of the coexistence of tinea pedis or its treatment. Overall, 352 patients with onychomycosis (21.3%) had coexisting interdigital tinea pedis at baseline, with 215 of these patients (61.1%) receiving investigator-approved topical antifungal agents for their tinea pedis in addition to their randomized onychomycosis treatment. At week 52, efinaconazole complete cure rates of 29.4% were reported in patients with onychomycosis when coexisting tinea pedis was treated compared with 16.1% when coexisting tinea pedis was not treated. Both cure rates were significant compared with vehicle (P = .003 and .045, respectively), and in the latter subgroup, no patients treated with vehicle achieved a complete cure. Treatment of coexisting tinea pedis in patients with onychomycosis enhances the efficacy of once-daily topical treatment with efinaconazole topical solution, 10%.

Efinaconazole Topical Solution, 10% Efficacy in Patients with Onychomycosis and Coexisting Tinea Pedis.

PubMed

Markinson, Bryan; Caldwell, Bryan

2015-09-01

We sought to evaluate the efficacy of efinaconazole topical solution, 10%, in patients with onychomycosis and coexisting tinea pedis. We analyzed 1,655 patients, aged 18 to 70 years, randomized (3:1) to receive efinaconazole topical solution, 10%, or vehicle from two identical multicenter, double-blind, vehicle-controlled 48-week studies evaluating safety and efficacy. The primary end point was complete cure rate (0% clinical involvement of the target toenail and negative potassium hydroxide examination and fungal culture findings) at week 52. Three groups were compared: patients with onychomycosis and coexisting interdigital tinea pedis on-study (treated or left untreated) and those with no coexisting tinea pedis. Treatment with efinaconazole topical solution, 10%, was significantly more effective than vehicle use irrespective of the coexistence of tinea pedis or its treatment. Overall, 352 patients with onychomycosis (21.3%) had coexisting interdigital tinea pedis, with 215 of these patients (61.1%) receiving investigator-approved topical antifungal agents for their tinea pedis in addition to their randomized onychomycosis treatment. At week 52, efinaconazole complete cure rates of 29.4% were reported in patients with onychomycosis when coexisting tinea pedis was treated compared with 16.1% when coexisting tinea pedis was not treated. Both cure rates were significant compared with vehicle (P = .003 and .045, respectively), and in the latter subgroup, no patients treated with vehicle achieved a complete cure. Treatment of coexisting tinea pedis in patients with onychomycosis enhances the efficacy of once-daily topical treatment with efinaconazole topical solution, 10%.

Will novel agents for ALL finally change the natural history?

PubMed

Douer, Dan

2014-01-01

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cure rates have markedly improved over the past years to approximately 85%, but remain at 40%-50% in adults. Redefining current adult chemotherapy regimens is likely to improve the natural course of the disease, but new agents are needed. Immunotherapy approaches for pre-B ALL are in the forefront of research on novel agents; in particular, advances are being made in manipulating autologous T cells either by infusion of a bifunctional antibody (eg, blinatumomab) or by ex vivo genetic modification of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). The natural course of Philadelphia positive ALL has already improved by targeting ABL/BCR1. Other mutated genes are being discovered and novel small molecules that target their products are being studied in clinical trials. Finally, ALL is a heterogeneous disease and novel agents are likely to impact the natural course of smaller populations of biologically defined ALL subtypes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Randomized clinical trial comparing ceftiofur hydrochloride with a positive control protocol for intramammary treatment of nonsevere clinical mastitis in dairy cows.

PubMed

Cortinhas, Cristina Simões; Tomazi, Tiago; Zoni, Mário Sérgio Ferreira; Moro, Elio; Veiga Dos Santos, Marcos

2016-07-01

The objective of this study was to compare ceftiofur hydrochloride with a positive control protocol for intramammary treatment of nonsevere clinical mastitis in dairy cows. A total of 264 clinical mastitis cases on 11 commercial dairy farms were treated with intramammary infusions, once a day for 4 d using 1 of 2 treatments: (1) ceftiofur hydrochloride 125mg; or (2) control: tetracycline 200mg + neomycin 250mg + bacitracin 28mg + prednisolone 10mg. Streptococcus agalactiae was the most frequently isolated gram-positive pathogen from clinical mastitis, followed by Staphylococcus aureus. Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli were the most isolated gram-negative bacteria from clinical mastitis. No significant differences were observed between treatments regarding the overall clinical cure, bacteriological cure, and new infection. No effect of treatment regimen was observed when the bacterial group (gram-positive vs. gram-negative) was evaluated. The overall clinical cure was 0.79 for ceftiofur-treated cows and 0.74 for control-treated cows, whereas the overall bacteriological cure was 0.79 for ceftiofur-treated cows and 0.76 for control-treated cows. Furthermore, the new intramammary infection was 0.10 for cows treated with ceftiofur and 0.11 for cows treated with control. In conclusion, the use of intramammary ceftiofur hydrochloride for treatment of nonsevere clinical mastitis has similar efficacy as a treatment regimen with a combination of antimicrobial agents (tetracycline + neomycin + bacitracin). Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The IK1/Kir2.1 channel agonist zacopride prevents and cures acute ischemic arrhythmias in the rat

PubMed Central

Zhai, Xu-Wen; Zhang, Li; Guo, Yun-Fei; Yang, Ying; Wang, Dong-Ming; Zhang, Yan; Li, Pan; Niu, Yi-Fan; Feng, Qi-Long; Wu, Bo-Wei; Cao, Ji-Min; Liu, Qing-Hua

2017-01-01

Arrhythmogenesis in acute myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with depolarization of resting membraine potential (RMP) and decrease of inward rectifier potassium current (IK1) in cardiomyocytes. However, clinical anti-arrhythmic agents that primarily act on RMP by enhancing the IK1 channel are not currently available. We hypothesized that zacopride, a selective and moderate agonist of the IK1/Kir2.1 channels, prevents and cures acute ischemic arrhythmias. To test this viewpoint, adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to MI by ligating the left main coronary artery. The antiarrhythmic effects of zacopride (i.v. infusion) were observed in the settings of pre-treatment (zacopride given 3 min prior to coronary occlusion), post-treatment (zacopride given 3 min after coronary occlusion) and therapeutic treatment (zacopride given 30 s after the onset of the first sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF) post MI). In all the three treatment modes, zacopride (15 μg/kg) inhibited MI-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias, as shown by significant decreases in the premature ventricular contraction (PVC) and the duration and incidence of VT or VF. In Langendorff perfused rat hearts, the antiarrhythmic effect of 1 μmol/L zacopride were reversed by 1 μmol/L BaCl2, a blocker of IK1 channel. Patch clamp results in freshly isolated rat ventricular myocytes indicated that zacopride activated the IK1 channel and thereby reversed hypoxia-induced RMP depolarization and action potential duration (APD) prolongation. In addition, zacopride (1 μmol/L) suppressed hypoxia- or isoproterenol- induced delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs). In Kir2.x transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, zacopride activated the Kir2.1 homomeric channel but not the Kir2.2 or Kir2.3 channels. These results support our hypothesis that moderately enhancing IK1/Kir2.1 currents as by zacopride rescues ischemia- and hypoxia- induced RMP depolarization, and thereby prevents and cures acute ischemic arrhythmias. This study brings a new viewpoint to antiarrhythmic theories and provides a promising target for the treatment of acute ischemic arrhythmias. PMID:28542320

Assessment of curing behavior of light-activated dental composites using intensity correlation based multiple reference optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Dsouza, Roshan; Subhash, Hrebesh; Neuhaus, Kai; Kantamneni, Ramakrishna; McNamara, Paul M; Hogan, Josh; Wilson, Carol; Leahy, Martin

2016-01-01

Monitoring the curing kinetics of light-activated resin is a key area of research. These resins are used in restorative applications and particularly in dental applications. They can undergo volumetric shrinkage due to poor control of the depth dependent curing process, modulated by the intensity and duration of the curing light source. This often results in the formation of marginal gaps, causing pain and damage to the restoration site. In this study, we demonstrate the capabilities of a correlation method applied using a multiple references optical coherence tomography (MR-OCT) architecture to monitor the curing of the resin. A MR-OCT system is used in this study to monitor the curing of the resin. The system operates at the center wavelength of 1310 nm with an A-scan rate of 1200 A-scans per second. The axial and lateral resolution of the system is ∼13 μm and ∼27 μm. The method to determine the intensity correlation between adjacent B-frames is based on the Pearson correlation coefficient for a region of interest. Calculating the correlation coefficient for multiple B-frames related to the first B-frame at regular spaced time points, shows for a noncured resin a reduction of the correlation coefficient over time due to Brownian motion. The time constant of the reduction of the correlation value is a measure for the progress of the polymerization during LED light irradiation of the resin. The proposed approach is potentially a low-cost, powerful and unique optical imaging modality for measuring the curing behavior of dental resin and other resins, coatings, and adhesives in medical and industrial applications. To demonstrate the proposed method to monitor the curing process, a light-activated resin composite from GRADIA DIRECT ANTERIOR (GC Corporation, Japan) is studied. The curing time of resin was measured and monitored as a function of depth. The correlation coefficient method is highly sensitive to Brownian motion. The process of curing results in a change in intensity as measured by the MR-OCT signal and hence can be monitored using this method. These results show that MR-OCT has the potential to measure the curing time and monitor the curing process as a function of depth. Moreover, MR-OCT as a product has potential to be compact, low-cost and to fit into a smartphone. Using such a device for monitoring the curing of the resin will be suitable for dentists in stationary and mobile clinical settings. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Mechanical and Permeability Characteristics of Latex-Modified Pre-Packed Pavement Repair Concrete as a Function of the Rapid-Set Binder Content

PubMed Central

Han, Jae-Woong; Jeon, Ji-Hong; Park, Chan-Gi

2015-01-01

We evaluated the strength and durability characteristics of latex-polymer-modified, pre-packed pavement repair concrete (LMPPRC) with a rapid-set binder. The rapid-set binder was a mixture of rapid-set cement and silica sand, where the fluidity was controlled using a latex polymer. The resulting mix exhibited a compressive strength of ≥21 MPa and a flexural strength of ≥3.5 MPa after 4 h of curing (i.e., the traffic opening term for emergency repairs of pavement). The ratio of latex polymer to rapid-set binder material was varied through 0.40, 0.33, 0.29, and 0.25. Mechanical characterization revealed that the mechanical performance, permeability, and impact resistance increased as the ratio of latex polymer to rapid-set binder decreased. The mixture exhibited a compressive strength of ≥21 MPa after 4 h when the ratio of latex polymer to rapid-set binder material was ≤0.29. The mixture exhibited a flexural strength of ≥3.5 MPa after 4 h when the ratio of latex polymer to rapid-set binder material was ≤0.33. The permeability resistance to chloride ions satisfied 2000 C after 7 days of curing for all ratios. The ratio of latex polymer to rapid-set binder material that satisfied all conditions for emergency pavement repair was ≤0.29. PMID:28793596

Mechanical and Permeability Characteristics of Latex-Modified Pre-Packed Pavement Repair Concrete as a Function of the Rapid-Set Binder Content.

PubMed

Han, Jae-Woong; Jeon, Ji-Hong; Park, Chan-Gi

2015-10-01

We evaluated the strength and durability characteristics of latex-polymer-modified, pre-packed pavement repair concrete (LMPPRC) with a rapid-set binder. The rapid-set binder was a mixture of rapid-set cement and silica sand, where the fluidity was controlled using a latex polymer. The resulting mix exhibited a compressive strength of ¥21 MPa and a flexural strength of ¥3.5 MPa after 4 h of curing (i.e., the traffic opening term for emergency repairs of pavement). The ratio of latex polymer to rapid-set binder material was varied through 0.40, 0.33, 0.29, and 0.25. Mechanical characterization revealed that the mechanical performance, permeability, and impact resistance increased as the ratio of latex polymer to rapid-set binder decreased. The mixture exhibited a compressive strength of ¥21 MPa after 4 h when the ratio of latex polymer to rapid-set binder material was ¤0.29. The mixture exhibited a flexural strength of ¥3.5 MPa after 4 h when the ratio of latex polymer to rapid-set binder material was ¤0.33. The permeability resistance to chloride ions satisfied 2000 C after 7 days of curing for all ratios. The ratio of latex polymer to rapid-set binder material that satisfied all conditions for emergency pavement repair was ¤0.29.

Crosslinked bicontinuous biobased PLA/NR blends via dynamic vulcanization using different curing systems.

PubMed

Yuan, Daosheng; Chen, Kunling; Xu, Chuanhui; Chen, Zhonghua; Chen, Yukun

2014-11-26

In this study, blends of entirely biosourced polymers, namely polylactide (PLA) and natural rubber (NR), were prepared through dynamic vulcanization using dicumyl peroxide (DCP), sulphur (S) and phenolic resin (2402) as curing agents, respectively. The crosslinked NR phase was found to be a continuous structure in all the prepared blends. The molecular weight changes of PLA were studied by gel permeation chromatography. Interfacial compatibilization between PLA and NR was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The thermal properties of blends were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis instrument. It was found that the molecular weight of PLA and interfacial compatibilizaion between PLA and NR showed a significant influence on the mechanical and thermal properties of blends. The PLA/NR blend (60/40 w/w) by DCP-induced dynamic vulcanization owned the finest mechanical properties and thermal stability. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Controlled Shape Memory Behavior of a Smectic Main-Chain Liquid Crystalline Elastomer

DOE PAGES

Li, Yuzhan; Pruitt, Cole; Rios, Orlando; ...

2015-04-10

Here, we describe how a smectic main-chain liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE), with controlled shape memory behavior, is synthesized by polymerizing a biphenyl-based epoxy monomer with an aliphatic carboxylic acid curing agent. Microstructures of the LCEs, including their liquid crystallinity and cross-linking density, are modified by adjusting the stoichiometric ratio of the reactants to tailor the thermomechanical properties and shape memory behavior of the material. Thermal and liquid crystalline properties of the LCEs, characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis, and structural analysis, performed using small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering, show that liquid crystallinity, cross-linking density, and network rigiditymore » are strongly affected by the stoichiometry of the curing reaction. With appropriate structural modifications it is possible to tune the thermal, dynamic mechanical, and thermomechanical properties as well as the shape memory and thermal degradation behavior of LCEs.« less

Controlled Shape Memory Behavior of a Smectic Main-Chain Liquid Crystalline Elastomer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Yuzhan; Pruitt, Cole; Rios, Orlando

Here, we describe how a smectic main-chain liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE), with controlled shape memory behavior, is synthesized by polymerizing a biphenyl-based epoxy monomer with an aliphatic carboxylic acid curing agent. Microstructures of the LCEs, including their liquid crystallinity and cross-linking density, are modified by adjusting the stoichiometric ratio of the reactants to tailor the thermomechanical properties and shape memory behavior of the material. Thermal and liquid crystalline properties of the LCEs, characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis, and structural analysis, performed using small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering, show that liquid crystallinity, cross-linking density, and network rigiditymore » are strongly affected by the stoichiometry of the curing reaction. With appropriate structural modifications it is possible to tune the thermal, dynamic mechanical, and thermomechanical properties as well as the shape memory and thermal degradation behavior of LCEs.« less

Polymeric foams from cross-linkable poly-N-ary lenebenzimidazoles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrison, E. S.; Delano, C. B.; Riccitello, S. R. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

Foamed cross-linked poly-N-arylenebinzimidazoles are prepared by mixing an organic tetraamine and an ortho substituted aromatic dicarboxylic acid anhydride in the presence of a blowing agent, and then heating the prepolymer to a temperature sufficient to complete polymerization and foaming of the reactants. In another embodiment of the process, the reactants are heated to form a prepolymer. The prepolymer is then cured at higher temperatures to complete foaming and polymerization.

Treatment of high-latency microcapsules containing an aluminium complex with an epoxy-functionalised trialkoxysilane.

PubMed

Kamiya, Kazunobu; Suzuki, Noboru

2016-12-01

Some aluminium complexes are excellent catalysts of cationic polymerisation and are used for low-temperature and fast-curing adhesive, used in electronic part mounting. Microencapsulation is a suitable technique for getting high latency of the catalysts and long shelf life of the adhesives. For the higher latency in a cycloaliphatic epoxy compound, the microcapsule surface which retained small amount of aluminium complex was coated with epoxy polymer and the effect was examined. From the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic results, the surface was recognised to be sufficiently coated and the differential scanning calorimetric analyses showed that the coating did not significantly affect the low-temperature and fast-curing properties of adhesive. After storing the mixture of cycloaliphatic epoxy compound, coated microcapsules, triphenylsilanol and silane coupling agent for 48 h at room temperature, the increase in viscosity was only 0.01 Pa s, resulting in the excellent shelf life.

Carcinogenic agents in snuff.

PubMed

Hoffmann, D; Harley, N H; Fisenne, I; Adams, J D; Brunnemann, K D

1986-03-01

The oral use of snuff has been associated with an increased-risk for cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx. The five most popular U.S. snuff brands were analyzed for alkaloids, volatile and tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA), benzo[a]pyrene (CAS: 50-32-8), and polonium-210. The carcinogenic TSNA in the five snuff brands ranged from 9,600 to 289,000 ppb. These concentrations exceed the nitrosamine concentrations of other consumer products by at least 2 orders of magnitude. Polonium amounted to 0.16-1.22 pCi/g dry snuff. Trace amounts of benzo[a]pyrene (0.1-63 ppb) were indicative of contamination of the tobacco with thermal degradation products, probably due to fire curing or flue curing. The findings from this study, the biologic activity of snuff in animal models, and the epidemiologic studies on snuff use and oral cancer strongly suggest the need for reduction of carcinogens and especially of nitrosamines and polonium-210 in snuff.

Basic investigation of the laminated alginate impression technique: Setting time, permanent deformation, elastic deformation, consistency, and tensile bond strength tests.

PubMed

Kitamura, Aya; Kawai, Yasuhiko

2015-01-01

Laminated alginate impression for edentulous is simple and time efficient compared to border molding technique. The purpose of this study was to examine clinical applicability of the laminated alginate impression, by measuring the effects of different Water/Powder (W/P) and mixing methods, and different bonding methods in the secondary impression of alginate impression. Three W/P: manufacturer-designated mixing water amount (standard), 1.5-fold (1.5×) and 1.75-fold (1.75×) water amount were mixed by manual and automatic mixing methods. Initial and complete setting time, permanent and elastic deformation, and consistency of the secondary impression were investigated (n=10). Additionally, tensile bond strength between the primary and secondary impression were measured in the following surface treatment; air blow only (A), surface baking (B), and alginate impression material bonding agent (ALGI-BOND: AB) (n=12). Initial setting times significantly shortened with automatic mixing for all W/P (p<0.05). The permanent deformation decreased and elastic deformation increased as high W/P, regardless of the mixing method. Elastic deformation significantly reduced in 1.5× and 1.75× with automatic mixing (p<0.05). All of these properties resulted within JIS standards. For all W/P, AB showed a significantly high bonding strength as compared to A and B (p<0.01). The increase of mixing water, 1.5× and 1.75×, resulted within JIS standards in setting time, suggesting its applicability in clinical setting. The use of automatic mixing device decreased elastic strain and shortening of the curing time. For the secondary impression application of adhesives on the primary impression gives secure adhesion. Copyright © 2014 Japan Prosthodontic Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multivariate curve resolution using a combination of mid-infrared and near-infrared spectra for the analysis of isothermal epoxy curing reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamasaki, Hideki; Morita, Shigeaki

2018-05-01

Multivariate curve resolution (MCR) was applied to a hetero-spectrally combined dataset consisting of mid-infrared (MIR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectra collected during the isothermal curing reaction of an epoxy resin. An epoxy monomer, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), and a hardening agent, 4,4‧-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM), were used for the reaction. The fundamental modes of the Nsbnd H and Osbnd H stretches were highly overlapped in the MIR region, while their first overtones could be independently identified in the NIR region. The concentration profiles obtained by MCR using the hetero-spectral combination showed good agreement with the results of calculations based on the Beer-Lambert law and the mass balance. The band assignments and absorption sites estimated by the analysis also showed good agreement with the results using two-dimensional (2D) hetero-correlation spectroscopy.

Multivariate curve resolution using a combination of mid-infrared and near-infrared spectra for the analysis of isothermal epoxy curing reaction.

PubMed

Yamasaki, Hideki; Morita, Shigeaki

2018-05-15

Multivariate curve resolution (MCR) was applied to a hetero-spectrally combined dataset consisting of mid-infrared (MIR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectra collected during the isothermal curing reaction of an epoxy resin. An epoxy monomer, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), and a hardening agent, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM), were used for the reaction. The fundamental modes of the NH and OH stretches were highly overlapped in the MIR region, while their first overtones could be independently identified in the NIR region. The concentration profiles obtained by MCR using the hetero-spectral combination showed good agreement with the results of calculations based on the Beer-Lambert law and the mass balance. The band assignments and absorption sites estimated by the analysis also showed good agreement with the results using two-dimensional (2D) hetero-correlation spectroscopy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

RNA Viruses that Cause Hemorrhagic, Encephalitic, and Febrile Disease

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-01-01

doses to levels that are subopti- effective dose (ED,0) values for Rift Valley mal for cures in other bunyavirus mouse Fever ( RVF ) virus (ED,, = 80 g...serum protein and AST Etiologic Agent (SGOT) identified in the placebo group by logistic regression], utilizing a stepwise lo- RVF , an old-world...treatment of H FRS in this study. Treatment reduced mortality RVF , distributed throughout sub-Saharan and improved several important aspects of Africa

The science of direct-acting antiviral and host-targeted agent therapy.

PubMed

Pawlotsky, Jean-Michel

2012-01-01

Direct-acting antiviral drugs targeting two major steps of the HCV life cycle, polyprotein processing and replication, and cyclophilin inhibitors, that target a host cell protein required to interact with the replication complex, have reached clinical development. In order to achieve a sustained virological response, that is, a cure of the HCV infection, it is necessary to shut down virus production, to maintain viral inhibition throughout treatment and to induce a significant, slower second-phase decline in HCV RNA levels that leads to definitive clearance of infected cells. Recent findings suggest that the interferon era is coming to an end in hepatitis C therapy and HCV infection can be cured by all-oral interferon-free treatment regimens within 12 to 24 weeks. Further results are awaited that will allow the establishment of an ideal first-line all-oral, interferon-free treatment regimen for patients with chronic HCV infection.

Electrostatic powder spraying process for the fabrication of stable superhydrophobic surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Guotuan; Tian, Yuping; Li, Zhantie; Lu, Dongfang

2011-03-01

Nano-sized Al2O3 particles were modified by heptadecafluorodecyl trimethoxysilane and 2,3-epoxy propoxy propyl trimethoxysilicane to make it both hydrophobic and reactive. The reactive nano-particles were mixed with polyester resin containing curing agents and electrostatic sprayed on stainless steel substrates to obtain stable superhydrophobic coatings after curing. The water contact angle (WCA) on the hybrid coating is influenced by the content of Al2O3 particles in the coating. As the Al2O3 concentration in the coating was increased from 0% to 8%, WCA increased from 68° to 165°. Surface topography of the coatings was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nano-particles covered on the coating surface formed continuous film with greatly enhanced roughness, which was found to be responsible for the superhydrophobicity. The method is simple and cost effective and can be used for preparing self-cleaning superhydrophobic coating on large areas.

Pharmacogenetics in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

PubMed Central

Cheok, Meyling H.; Pottier, Nicolas; Kager, Leo

2009-01-01

Progress in the treatment of acute leukemia in children has been remarkable, from a disease being lethal four decades ago to current cure rates exceeding 80%. This exemplary progress is largely due to the optimization of existing treatment modalities rather than the discovery of new antileukemic agents. However, despite these high cure rates, the annual number of children whose leukemia relapses after their initial therapy remains greater than that of new cases of most types of childhood cancers. The aim of pharmacogenetics is to develop strategies to personalize treatment and tailor therapy to individual patients, with the goal of optimizing efficacy and safety through better understanding of human genome variability and its influence on drug response. In this review, we summarize recent pharmacogenomic studies related to the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These studies illustrate the promise of pharmacogenomics to further advance the treatment of human cancers, with childhood leukemia serving as a paradigm. PMID:19100367

Modeling dental composite shrinkage by digital image correlation and finite element methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Terry Yuan-Fang; Huang, Pin-Sheng; Chuang, Shu-Fen

2014-10-01

Dental composites are light-curable resin-based materials with an inherent defect of polymerization shrinkage which may cause tooth deflection and debonding of restorations. This study aimed to combine digital image correlation (DIC) and finite element analysis (FEA) to model the shrinkage behaviors under different light curing regimens. Extracted human molars were prepared with proximal cavities for composite restorations, and then divided into three groups to receive different light curing protocols: regular intensity, low intensity, and step-curing consisting of low and high intensities. For each tooth, the composite fillings were consecutively placed under both unbonded and bonded conditions. At first, the shrinkage of the unbonded restorations was analyzed by DIC and adopted as the setting of FEA. The simulated shrinkage behaviors obtained from FEA were further validated by the measurements in the bonded cases. The results showed that different light curing regimens affected the shrinkage in unbonded restorations, with regular intensity showing the greatest shrinkage strain on the top surface. The shrinkage centers in the bonded cases were located closer to the cavity floor than those in the unbonded cases, and were less affected by curing regimens. The FEA results showed that the stress was modulated by the accumulated light energy density, while step-curing may alleviate the tensile stress along the cavity walls. In this study, DIC provides a complete description of the polymerization shrinkage behaviors of dental composites, which may facilitate the stress analysis in the numerical investigation.

Dosimetric measurements of an n-butyl cyanoacrylate embolization material for arteriovenous malformations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Labby, Zacariah E., E-mail: zelabby@humonc.wisc.edu; Chaudhary, Neeraj; Gemmete, Joseph J.

2015-04-15

Purpose: The therapeutic regimen for cranial arteriovenous malformations often involves both stereotactic radiosurgery and endovascular embolization. Embolization agents may contain tantalum or other contrast agents to assist the neurointerventionalists, leading to concerns regarding the dosimetric effects of these agents. This study investigated dosimetric properties of n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) plus lipiodol with and without tantalum powder. Methods: The embolization agents were provided cured from the manufacturer with and without added tantalum. Attenuation measurements were made for the samples and compared to the attenuation of a solid water substitute using a 6 MV photon beam. Effective linear attenuation coefficients (ELAC) were derivedmore » from attenuation measurements made using a portal imager and derived sample thickness maps projected in an identical geometry. Probable dosimetric errors for calculations in which the embolized regions are overridden with the properties of water were calculated using the ELAC values. Interface effects were investigated using a parallel plate ion chamber placed at set distances below fixed samples. Finally, Hounsfield units (HU) were measured using a stereotactic radiosurgery CT protocol, and more appropriate HU values were derived from the ELAC results and the CT scanner’s HU calibration curve. Results: The ELAC was 0.0516 ± 0.0063 cm{sup −1} and 0.0580 ± 0.0091 cm{sup −1} for n-BCA without and with tantalum, respectively, compared to 0.0487 ± 0.0009 cm{sup −1} for the water substitute. Dose calculations with the embolized region set to be water equivalent in the treatment planning system would result in errors of −0.29% and −0.93% per cm thickness of n-BCA without and with tantalum, respectively. Interface effects compared to water were small in magnitude and limited in distance for both embolization materials. CT values at 120 kVp were 2082 and 2358 HU for n-BCA without and with tantalum, respectively; dosimetrically appropriate HU values were estimated to be 79 and 199 HU, respectively. Conclusions: The dosimetric properties of the embolization agents are very close to those of water for a 6 MV beam. Therefore, treating the entire intracranial space as uniform in composition will result in less than 1% dosimetric error for n-BCA emboli smaller than 3.4 cm without added tantalum and n-BCA emboli smaller than 1.1 cm with added tantalum. Furthermore, when effective embolization can be achieved by the neurointerventionalist using n-BCA without tantalum, the dosimetric impact of overriding material properties will be lessened. However, due to the high attenuation of embolization agents with and without added tantalum for diagnostic energies, artifacts may occur that necessitate additional imaging to accurately identify the spatial extent of the region to be treated.« less

Flexural Strength of Polymethyl Methacrylate Repaired with Fiberglass.

PubMed

Golbidi, Fariba; Pozveh, Maryam Amini

2017-07-01

The purpose of this experimental study was to discover a method to increase the strength of repaired polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) samples. In this experimental study, 40 specimens with the dimensions of 65×10×2.5mm 3 were fabricated using heat-curing acrylic resin. Sixteen specimens were repaired with fiberglass and self-curing PMMA, while 16 samples were repaired with self-curing PMMA. Eight specimens were left intact as the control group. Afterwards, the flexural strengths of the repaired and intact specimens were measured by three-point bending test in a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's HSD and LSD tests. The level of significance was set at P<0.05. The mean flexural strength of the samples repaired with fiberglass was higher than that of the other repaired samples. However, the difference was statistically significant only with respect to the Meliodent group (P=0.008). Impregnated fiberglass could be used in the repair of denture bases to improve the flexural strength. In terms of the fracture site, it can be concluded that the lower flexural strength of the auto-polymerizing acryl compared to that of the heat-curing type was the main reason for the occurrence of fractures, rather than the weak bond between heat-curing and auto-polymerizing acrylic resins.

Formation of zinc protoporphyrin IX in Parma-like ham without nitrate or nitrite.

PubMed

Wakamatsu, Jun-ichi; Uemura, Juichi; Odagiri, Hiroko; Okui, Jun; Hayashi, Nobutaka; Hioki, Shoji; Nishimura, Takanori; Hattori, Akihito

2009-04-01

Zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZPP) is a characteristic red pigment in meat products that are manufactured without the addition of a curing agent such as nitrate or nitrite. To examine the effects of impurities such as mineral components in sea salt on the formation of ZPP, we manufactured Parmatype dry-cured hams that were salted with refined salt or sea salt and examined the involvement of oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in the formation of ZPP. The content of ZPP was increased drastically after 40 weeks. Microscopic observation showed strong fluorescence caused by ZPP muscle fiber after 40 weeks. Conversely, heme content varied considerably during processing. ORP increased during processing. However, there was no obvious difference between ham salted with refined salt and that salted with sea salt. Therefore, it was concluded that impurities in sea salt were not involved in the formation of ZPP.

Data related to the experimental design for powder bed binder jetting additive manufacturing of silicone.

PubMed

Liravi, Farzad; Vlasea, Mihaela

2018-06-01

The data included in this article provides additional supporting information on our recent publication (Liravi et al., 2018 [1]) on a novel hybrid additive manufacturing (AM) method for fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) structures from silicone powder. A design of experiments (DoE) study has been carried out to optimize the geometrical fidelity of AM-made parts. This manuscript includes the details of a multi-level factorial DOE and the response optimization results. The variation in the temperature of powder-bed when exposed to heat is plotted as well. Furthermore, the effect of blending ratio of two parts of silicone binder on its curing speed was investigated by conducting DSC tests on a silicone binder with 100:2 precursor to curing agent ratio. The hardness of parts fabricated with non-optimum printing conditions are included and compared.

Comparison of 10 Hemostatic Dressings in a Groin Puncture Model in Swine

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

attended or remote surgical theaters as well as for first aid bandaging in extreme sport.Methods to suppress massive external hemorrhage should be provided...Products Newport, O Instaclot (IC) Emergency Medical Devices Loxa WoundStat (WS) TraumaCure, Inc. Bethesda, Md Solid (flexible) agents Alpha Bandage ...referred to throughout are listed in Table I. The hemostatic products and the standard compressed gauze bandage (SD; H&H compressed gauze, H&H

Posaconazole Treatment for Apophysomyces elegans Rhino-Orbital Zygomycosis following Trauma for a Male with Well-Controlled Diabetes▿

PubMed Central

Ferguson, T. D.; Schniederjan, S. D.; Dionne-Odom, J.; Brandt, M. E.; Rinaldi, M. G.; Nolte, F. S.; Langston, A.; Zimmer, S. M.

2007-01-01

We report a case of rhino-orbital zygomycosis in a 43-year-old male with well-controlled diabetes mellitus. The patient initially received liposomal amphotericin B, but the infection continued to progress, so posaconazole treatment was begun and eventually led to the cure of his infection. The causative agent was identified as Apophysomyces elegans, an emerging cause of zygomycosis in immunocompetent hosts. PMID:17344359

The microbiome and HIV persistence: implications for viral remission and cure.

PubMed

Koay, Wei Li A; Siems, Lilly V; Persaud, Deborah

2018-01-01

This article discusses the interaction between HIV infection, the gut microbiome, inflammation and immune activation, and HIV reservoirs, along with interventions to target the microbiome and their implications for HIV remission and cure. Most studies show that HIV-infected adults have a gut microbiome associated with decreased bacterial richness and diversity, and associated systemic inflammation and immune activation. A unique set of individuals, elite controllers, who spontaneously control HIV replication, have a similar microbiome to HIV-uninfected individuals. Conversely, exposure to maternal HIV in infants was shown to alter the gut microbiome, even in infants who escaped perinatal infection. Emerging research highlights the importance of the metabolomics and metaproteomics of the gut microbiome, which may have relevance for HIV remission and cure. Together, these studies illustrate the complexity of the relationship between HIV infection, the gut microbiome, and its systemic effects. Understanding the association of HIV with the microbiome, metabolome, and metaproteome may lead to novel therapies to decrease inflammation and immune activation, and impact HIV reservoir size and vaccine responses. Further research in this area is important to inform HIV remission and cure treatments.

Degree of conversion and bond strength of resin-cements to feldspathic ceramic using different curing modes.

PubMed

Novais, Veridiana Resende; Raposo, Luís Henrique Araújo; Miranda, Rafael Resende de; Lopes, Camila de Carvalho Almança; Simamoto, Paulo Cézar; Soares, Carlos José

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess the performance of resin cements when different curing modes are used, by evaluating the degree of conversion and bond strength to a ceramic substrate. Three resin cements were evaluated, two dual-cured (Variolink II and RelyX ARC) and one light-cured (Variolink Veneer). The dual-cured resin cements were tested by using the dual activation mode (base and catalyst) and light-activation mode (base paste only). For degree of conversion (DC) (n=5), a 1.0 mm thick feldspathic ceramic disc was placed over the resin cement specimens and the set was light activated with a QTH unit. After 24 h storage, the DC was measured with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). For microshear bond strength testing, five feldspathic ceramic discs were submitted to surface treatment, and three cylindrical resin cement specimens were bonded to each ceramic surface according to the experimental groups. After 24 h, microshear bond testing was performed at 0.5 mm/min crosshead speed until the failure. Data were submitted to one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test (p<0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for classifying the failure modes. Higher DC and bond strength values were shown by the resin cements cured by using the dual activation mode. The Variolink II group presented higher DC and bond strength values when using light-activation only when compared with the Variolink Veneer group. The base paste of dual-cured resin cements in light-activation mode can be used for bonding translucent ceramic restorations of up to or less than 1.0 mm thick.

Neural Network Burst Pressure Prediction in Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hill, Eric v. K.; Dion, Seth-Andrew T.; Karl, Justin O.; Spivey, Nicholas S.; Walker, James L., II

2007-01-01

Acoustic emission data were collected during the hydroburst testing of eleven 15 inch diameter filament wound composite overwrapped pressure vessels. A neural network burst pressure prediction was generated from the resulting AE amplitude data. The bottles shared commonality of graphite fiber, epoxy resin, and cure time. Individual bottles varied by cure mode (rotisserie versus static oven curing), types of inflicted damage, temperature of the pressurant, and pressurization scheme. Three categorical variables were selected to represent undamaged bottles, impact damaged bottles, and bottles with lacerated hoop fibers. This categorization along with the removal of the AE data from the disbonding noise between the aluminum liner and the composite overwrap allowed the prediction of burst pressures in all three sets of bottles using a single backpropagation neural network. Here the worst case error was 3.38 percent.

Dasabuvir (ABT333) for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype I: a new face of cure, an expert review.

PubMed

Mantry, Parvez S; Pathak, Lakshmikant

2016-01-01

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects nearly 1.3% of US population and around 2% of people worldwide. It is associated with serious complication of Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular carcinoma leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Until now the only treatment option for this serious disease was interferon based therapy which had poor tolerance and at best SVR (Sustained virological response) in only 50% of cases. With the introduction of other direct - acting antiviral agents the treatment of HCV has been revolutionized with significantly high rates of cure. Among novel Direct acting antivirals are non-nucleoside inhibitor NS5B which is highly effective in treatment of HCV genotype 1 a and 1b including those with compensated cirrhosis achieving high cure rates with SVR more than 97 % in pooled analysis from six different phase 3 trials. This review will discuss the DAA - Dasabuvir, a non - nucleoside NS5B inhibitor, its mechanism of action, efficacy, safety & tolerance, and drug resistance. Dasabuvir is approved by FDA in combination with other DAA agents called as the 3D(Viekira Pak) in various interferon free regimens achieving high cure rates (SVR >95%) with low adverse effects. In Europe, it is approved by European medicines agency for use in combination with Ombitasvir, Paritaprevir, and ritonavir with or without ribavirin. The drug is used in treatment naive as well as previously treated patient with high success rates. It is also approved in patients with compensated cirrhosis, patients with HIV co-infection and liver transplant recipients which were in the past were excluded from treatment with interferon based therapy. Dasabuvir is extensively evaluated in large clinical trials and shown excellent SVR among HCV genotype1 patient population in combination with other oral DAAs, with good safety profile and tolerance. Its drawback is its genotype restriction, need for ribavirin (RBV) for 1a genotype, low resistance barrier and high cost. It is well tolerated with less than 1 % of patients permanently discontinuing treatment and 2% of patient experiencing a serious adverse reaction. It is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to ritonavir (e.g. Steven - Johnson syndrome) and strong inducers of CYP3A and CYP2CB.

ROS mediated malignancy cure performance of morphological, optical, and electrically tuned Sn doped CeO2 nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbas, Fazal; Iqbal, Javed; Maqbool, Qaisar; Jan, Tariq; Ullah, Muhammad Obaid; Nawaz, Bushra; Nazar, Mudassar; Naqvi, M. S. Hussain; Ahmad, Ishaq

2017-09-01

To grapple with cancer, implementation of differentially cytotoxic nanomedicines have gained prime attention of the researchers across the globe. Now, ceria (CeO2) at nanoscale has emerged as a cut out therapeutic agent for malignancy treatment. Keeping this in view, we have fabricated SnxCe1-xO2 nanostructures by facile, eco-friendly, and biocompatible hydrothermal method. Structural examinations via XRD and FT-IR spectroscopy have revealed single phase cubic-fluorite morphology while SEM analysis has depicted particle size ranging 30-50nm for pristine and doped nanostructures. UV-Vis spectroscopy investigation explored that Sn doping significantly tuned the band gap (eV) energies of SnxCe1-xO2 nanostructures which set up the base for tremendous cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generations involved in cancer cells' death. To observe cytotoxicity, synthesized nanostructures were found selectively more toxic to neuroblastoma cell lines as compared to HEK-293 healthy cells. This study anticipates that SnxCe1-xO2 nanostructures, in future, might be used as nanomedicine for safer cancer therapy.

Pyocyanin as anti-tyrosinase and anti tinea corporis: A novel treatment study.

PubMed

El-Zawawy, Nessma A; Ali, Sameh S

2016-11-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of pyocyanin pigment as a novel compound active against tyrosinase with its depigmentation efficiency for combating Trichophyton rubrum which could be a major causative agent of tinea corporis. Fifty swabs of fungal tinea corporis infections were collected and identified. Five MDRPA isolates were tested for their levels of pyocyanin production. The purified extracted pyocyanin was characterized by UV spectrum and FT-IR analysis. Pyocyanin activity against tyrosinase was determined by dopachrome micro-plate. In addition, the antidermatophytic activity of pyocyanin against T. rubrum was detected by radial growth technique. In vivo novel trial was conducted to evaluate the efficiency and safety of pyocyanin as an alternative natural therapeutic compound against T. rubrum causing tinea corporis. Purified pyocyanin showed highly significant inhibitory activity against tyrosinase and T. rubrum. In vivo topical treatments with pyocyanin ointment revealed the efficiency of pyocyanin (MIC 2000 μg/ml) to cure tinea corporis compared to fluconazole, which showed a partial curing at a higher concentration (MIC 3500 μg/ml) after two weeks of treatment. In addition, the results revealed complete healing and disappear of hyperpigmentation by testing the safety of pyocyanin ointment and its histopathological efficiency in the skin treatment without any significant toxic effect. Pyocyanin pigment could be a promising anti-tyrosinase and a new active compound against T. rubrum, which could be a major causative agent of tinea corporis. In fact, if pyocyanin secondary metabolite is going to be used in practical medication, it will support the continuous demand of novel antimycotic natural agents against troublesome fungal infections. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Brief History of Melanoma: From Mummies to Mutations

PubMed Central

Rebecca, Vito W.; Sondak, Vernon K.; Smalley, Keiran S. M.

2012-01-01

The recent years have seen melanoma research undergo a renaissance. What was once viewed, at least in the metastatic setting, as an intractable and untreatable disease is now revealing its molecular weaknesses. 2011 was a landmark year for melanoma therapy with two new agents, the anti-CTLA4 antibody ipilimumab and the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib, shown to confer a survival benefit in randomized phase III clinical trials. Forgotten in the recent flurry of interest that has accompanied the development of these drugs, melanoma is in fact an ancient disease that has long frustrated attempts at therapeutic intervention. In this article we trace the history of melanoma; from the earliest known cases of melanoma in pre-Colombian South America, through the explorations of the Victorian anatomists right up to the molecular biology revolution of the 20th century that allowed for the identification of the key driving events required for melanomagenesis. We further outline how observations about melanoma heterogeneity, first made over 190 years ago, continue to drive our efforts to reduce melanoma to the level of chronic, manageable disease and ultimately cure it entirely. PMID:22395415

Evolution of Immiscibly Blended Functionalized Polymers with Respect to Cure Parameters and Formulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heller, Nicholas Walter Medicus

Powder coatings are becoming ubiquitous in the coating marketplace due to the absence of solvents in their formulation, but they have yet to see implementation in low-reflectance outdoor applications. This demand could be met by utilizing polymer blends formulated with low loadings of matting agents and pigments. The goal of this research is a thorough characterization of prototype low-reflectance coatings through several analytical techniques. Prototypical thermoset blends consist of functionalized polyurethanes rendered immiscible by differences in polar and hydrogen bonding characteristics, resulting in a surface roughened by droplet domains. Analysis of both pigmented and control clear films was performed. This research project had three primary aims: (1) determine the composition of the resin components of the polymer blend; (2) to monitor the evolution of domains before and during curing of clear polymer blends; (3) to monitor the evolution of these domains when pigments are added to these blends. The clear films enabled unhindered analysis by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy on the binder. However, these domains provided no spectroscopic signatures despite their observation by optical microscopy. This necessitated the development of a new procedure for cross-section preparation that leaves no contamination from polishing media, which enabled Raman mapping of the morphology via an introduced marker peak from styrene monomer. The clears were analyzed as a powder and as films that were quenched at various cure-times using FTIR, Raman, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermomechanical methods to construct a model of coating evolution based on cure parameters and polymer dynamics. Domains were observed in the powder, and underwent varying rates of coarsening as the cure progressed. TEM, scanning electron microscopy and thermomechanical methods were also used on pigmented systems at different states of the cure, including in powder form. TEM analysis additionally revealed the encapsulation of pigment particles by the domains, which helped explain the interaction between phase separation and pigment materials. The knowledge gained from fundamental characterization could be used to enable future generations of durable powder coatings with dead matte finishes.

Mechanisms of Resistance in Multiple Myeloma.

PubMed

Papadas, Athanasios; Asimakopoulos, Fotis

2017-03-18

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematopoietic cancer that is characterized by malignant plasma cell infiltration of the bone marrow and/or extramedullary sites. Multi-modality approaches including "novel agents," traditional chemotherapy, and/or stem cell transplantation are used in MM therapy. Drug resistance, however, ultimately develops and the disease remains incurable for the vast majority of patients. In this chapter, we review both tumor cell-autonomous and non-autonomous (microenvironment-dependent) mechanisms of drug resistance. MM provides an attractive paradigm highlighting a number of current concepts and challenges in oncology. Firstly, identification of MM cancer stem cells and their unique drug resistance attributes may provide rational avenues towards MM eradication and cure. Secondly, the oligoclonal evolution of MM and alternation of "clonal tides" upon therapy challenge our current understanding of treatment responses. Thirdly, the success of MM "novel agents" provides exemplary evidence for the impact of therapies that target the immune and non-immune microenvironment. Fourthly, the rapid pace of drug approvals for MM creates an impetus for development of precision medicine strategies and biomarkers that promote efficacy and mitigate toxicity and cost. While routine cure of the disease remains the ultimate and yet unattainable prize, MM advances in the last 10-15 years have provided an astounding paradigm for the treatment of blood cancers in the modern era and have radically transformed patient outcomes.

Comparative efficacy of continuous and pulse dose terbinafine regimes in toenail dermatophytosis: A randomized double-blind trial.

PubMed

Yadav, Pravesh; Singal, Archana; Pandhi, Deepika; Das, Shukla

2015-01-01

Dermatophytes are the most frequently implicated agents in toenail onychomycosis and oral terbinafine has shown the best cure rates in this condition. The pharmacokinetics of terbinafine favors its efficacy in pulse dosing. To compare the efficacy of terbinafine in continuous and pulse dosing schedules in the treatment of toenail dermatophytosis. Seventy-six patients of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and culture positive dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis were randomly allocated to two treatment groups receiving either continuous terbinafine 250 mg daily for 12 weeks or 3 pulses of terbinafine (each of 500 mg daily for a week) repeated every 4 weeks. Patients were followed up at 4, 8 and 12 weeks during treatment and post-treatment at 24 weeks. At each visit, a KOH mount and culture were performed. In each patient, improvement in a target nail was assessed using a clinical score; total scores for all nails and global assessments by physician and patient were also recorded. Mycological, clinical and complete cure rates, clinical effectivity and treatment failure rates were then compared. The declines in target nail and total scores from baseline were significant at each follow-up visit in both the treatment groups. However, the inter-group difference was statistically insignificant. The same was true for global assessment indices, clinical effectivity as well as clinical, mycological, and complete cure rates. The short follow-up in our study may have led to lower cure rates being recorded. Terbinafine in pulse dosing is as effective as continuous dosing in the treatment of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis.

Combined Treatment of Heterocyclic Analogues and Benznidazole upon Trypanosoma cruzi In Vivo

PubMed Central

Batista, Denise da Gama Jaén; Batista, Marcos Meuser; de Oliveira, Gabriel Melo; Britto, Constança Carvalho; Rodrigues, Ana Carolina Mondaine; Stephens, Chad E.; Boykin, David W.; Soeiro, Maria de Nazaré Correia

2011-01-01

Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in Latin America but no vaccines or safe chemotherapeutic agents are available. Combined therapy is envisioned as an ideal approach since it may enhance efficacy by acting upon different cellular targets, may reduce toxicity and minimize the risk of drug resistance. Therefore, we investigated the activity of benznidazole (Bz) in combination with the diamidine prodrug DB289 and in combination with the arylimidamide DB766 upon T. cruzi infection in vivo. The oral treatment of T.cruzi-infected mice with DB289 and Benznidazole (Bz) alone reduced the number of circulating parasites compared with untreated mice by about 70% and 90%, respectively. However, the combination of these two compounds decreased the parasitemia by 99% and protected against animal mortality by 100%, but without providing a parasitological cure. When Bz (p.o) was combined with DB766 (via ip route), at least a 99.5% decrease in parasitemia levels was observed. DB766+Bz also provided 100% protection against mice mortality while Bz alone provided about 87% protection. This combined therapy also reduced the tissular lesions induced by T. cruzi infection: Bz alone reduced GPT and CK plasma levels by about 12% and 78% compared to untreated mice group, the combination of Bz with DB766 resulted in a reduction of GPT and CK plasma levels of 56% and 91%. Cure assessment through hemocultive and PCR approaches showed that Bz did not provide a parasitological cure, however, DB766 alone or associated with Bz cured ≥13% of surviving animals. PMID:21814568

I. INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING MEDICINES AND MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS.

PubMed

Lockhart, Kristi L; Keil, Frank C

2018-06-01

We live in an increasingly pharmacological and medical world, where children and adults frequently encounter alleged treatments for an enormous range of illnesses. How do we come to understand what heals and why? Here, 15 studies explore how 1,414 children (ages 5-11) and 882 adults construe the efficacies of different kinds of cures. Developmental patterns in folk physics, psychology, and biology lead to predictions about which expectations about cures will remain relatively constant across development and which will change. With respect to stability, we find that even young school children (ages 5-7) distinguish between physical and psychological disorders and the treatments most effective for each. In contrast, young children reason differently about temporal properties associated with cures. They often judge that dramatic departures from prescribed schedules will continue to be effective. Young children are also less likely than older ages to differentiate between the treatment needs of acute versus chronic disorders. Young children see medicines as agent-like entities that migrate only to afflicted regions while having "cure-all" properties, views that help explain their difficulties grasping side effects. They also differ from older children and adults by judging pain and effort as reducing, instead of enhancing, a treatment's power. Finally, across all studies, optimism about treatment efficacy declines with age. Taken together, these studies show major developmental changes in how children envision the ways medicines work in the body. Moreover, these findings link to broader patterns in cognitive development and have implications for how medicines should be explained to children. © 2018 The Society for Research in Child Development, Inc.

Evaluation of degree of conversion and the effect of thermal aging on the color stability of resin cements and flowable composite.

PubMed

Prieto, Lúcia Trazzi; Pimenta de Araújo, Cíntia Tereza; Araujo Pierote, Josué Junior; Salles de Oliveira, Dayane Carvalho Ramos; Coppini, Erick Kamiya; Sartini Paulillo, Luís Alexandre Maffei

2018-01-01

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the color stability and degree of conversion (DC) of dual-cure and light-cure cements and flowable composites after thermal aging. A total of 50 human incisors were prepared and divided into six groups ( n = 10). Veneers were fabricated using IPS Empress Direct composite resin were bonded with three types of luting agents: Light-cured, conventional dual, and flowable composite according to the manufacturer's instructions. The groups were as follows: Filtek Z350XT Flow/Single Bond 2, RelyX ARC/Single Bond 2, RelyX Veneer/Single Bond 2, Tetric N-Flow/Tetric N-Bond, and Variolink II/Tetric N-Bond. Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage L*, a* and b* color coordinates were measured 24 h after cementation procedure with a color spectrophotometer and reevaluated after 10,000 thermal cycles. To evaluate the DC 50 specimens ( n = 10) of each resin material were obtained and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to evaluate the absorption spectra. Statistical analysis was performed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). No statistically significant differences in ΔE* occurred after aging. The greatest change in lightness occurred in the Variolink II resin cement. Changes in red-green hue were very small for the same cement and largest in the Tetric N-Flow flowable resin composite, while the greatest change in blue-yellow hue was a yellowing of the RelyX ARC luting cement. RelyX ARC exhibited the highest DC, and there were no statistically significant differences in DC among the other cements. Resin-based luting agent might affect the final of ceramic veneer restorations. The thermal aging affected the final color of the evaluated materials, and these were regarded as clinically unacceptable (ΔE >3.3).

Advanced Coatings from Natural-Based Polymers for Metals

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-07-01

Polyimide Interfaces," J. surfaces using a simple dipping-withdrawing coating Vac. Sci. Technol., 3,1390 (1985).converted into the solid layers by heat...Tang, C.H., "Interface Reaction During Metalliza- more, the Al metal in the substrate favorably interacted tion of Cured Polyimide : An XPS Study," 1...property together with its biocompatability was the reason why CS is widely used in biomedical applications, for example, a bacteriostatic agent, a

Impact of a novel phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant curing agent on the properties of epoxy resin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xiaoli; Liang, Bing

2017-12-01

A phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant curing agent diethyl phosphonic p-Phenylenediamine diamide (DEPPPD) was synthesized. The chemical structure of the obtained compound was identified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR), and mass spectroscopies. A series of t hermosetting systems were prepared by conventional epoxy resins (E-44) and DEPPPD. The effects of DEPPPD on flame retardancy, thermal degradation behavior, mechanical properties and the morphologies of char residues of EP/DEPPPD thermosets were investigated. The results demonstrated that when the phosphorus content of 2.88 wt%, EP-3 successfully passed UL-94 V-0 flammability rating, the LOI value was as high as 31.1%, the impact strength and tensile strength of it was 6.50 KJ m-2 and 48.21 MPa, the adhesive strength could reach 14.61 MPa, respectively. The TGA results indicated that the introduction of DEPPPD promoted EP matrix decomposed at a lower temperature, the rate of the thermal decomposition also decreased compared with EP-0. The residual char ratio of 800 °C was increased whether in nitrogen or in the air. The morphological structures of char residue were more compact and homogeneous which could prevent the heat transmission and diffusion, limit the production of combustible gases and reduced the heat release rate.

Onychomycosis Diagnosis and Management: Perspectives from a Joint Dermatology-Podiatry Roundtable.

PubMed

Scher, Richard K; Tosti, Antonella; Joseph, Warren S; Vlahovic, Tracey C; Plasencia, Jesse; Markinson, Bryan C; Pariser, David M

2015-09-01

Onychomycosis prevalence is expected to rise as the population ages and the prevalence of diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and other significant risk factors rise. Until recently, treatment options were limited due to safety concerns with oral antifungals and low efficacy with available topical agents. Efinaconzole and tavaborole were approved by the FDA in 2014 for onychomycosis treatment and provide additional effective topical treatment options for patients with mild-to-moderate disease. Dermatologists and podiatrists both regularly treat onychomycosis, yet there are striking differences between specialties in approach to diagnosis and treatment. In order to explore these differences a joint dermatology-podiatry roundtable of onychomycosis experts was convened. Although it has little effect on mycologic cure, debridement may be a valuable adjunct to oral or topical antifungal therapy, especially in patients with greater symptom burden. However, few dermatologists incorporate debridement into their treatment plans and referral to podiatry may be appropriate for some of these patients. Furthermore, podiatrists may be better equipped to manage patients with concurrent diabetes or peripheral vascular disease and elderly patients who are unable to maintain proper foot hygiene. Once cure is achieved, lifestyle and hygiene practices, maintenance/prophylactic onychomycosis treatment, and proactive tinea pedis treatment in patients and family members may help to maintain patients' cured status.

Structural wood panels with improved fire resistance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sawko, P. M. (Inventor)

1980-01-01

Structural wood paneling or other molded wood compositions consisting of finely divided wood chips, flour, or strands are bound together and hot pressed with a modified novolac resin which is the cured product of a prepolymer made from an aralkyl ether or halide with a phenol and a hardening agent such as hexamethylene tetramine. The fire resistance of these articles is further improved by incorporating in the binder certain inorganic fillers, especially a mixture of ammonium oxalate and ammonium phosphate.

Effect of Oyster Shell Calcium Powder on the Quality of Restructured Pork Ham.

PubMed

Choi, Jung-Seok; Lee, Hyun-Jin; Jin, Sang-Keun; Lee, Hyun-Joo; Choi, Yang-Il

2014-01-01

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of oyster shell calcium powder (OSCP) as a substitute for phosphates in curing agent, on the quality of restructured pork ham. Restructured pork ham was processed under six treatment conditions: T1 (no additives), T2 (0.3% sodium tripolyphosphate), T3 (1.5% NaCl+0.5% whey protein), T4 (1.5% NaCl+0.5% whey protein+0.15% OSCP), T5 (1.5% NaCl+0.5% whey protein+0.3% OSCP), and T6 (1.5% NaCl+0.5% whey protein+0.5% OSCP). Addition of OSCP significantly increased the ash content and pH of restructured pork ham (p<0.05), but did not affect the cooking loss and water holding capacity values of restructured pork ham. Addition of OSCP had no effect on Hunter a and b surface color values of restructured pork ham, but did decrease the Hunter L surface color value (p<0.05). The addition of 0.5% OSCP showed significantly higher chewiness and springiness values of restructured pork ham, compared with the addition of phosphates (p<0.05). In conclusion, the addition of OSCP combined with low NaCl and 0.5% whey protein can be considered a viable substitute for phosphates in the curing agent, when processing restructured pork ham.

The photodynamic therapy on Streptococcus mutans biofilms using erythrosine and dental halogen curing unit

PubMed Central

Lee, Young-Ho; Park, Ho-Won; Lee, Ju-Hyun; Seo, Hyun-Woo; Lee, Si-Young

2012-01-01

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT), using erythrosine as a photosensitizing agent and a dental halogen curing unit as a light source, on Streptococcus mutans in a biofilm phase. The S. mutans biofilms were formed in a 24-well cell culture cluster. Test groups consisted of biofilms divided into four groups: group 1: no photosensitizer or light irradiation treatment (control group); group 2: photosensitizer treatment alone; group 3: light irradiation alone; group 4: photosensitizer treatment and light irradiation. After treatments, the numbers of colony-forming unit (CFU) were counted and samples were examined by confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy (CLSM). Only group 4 (combined treatment) resulted in significant increases in cell death, with rates of 75% and 55% after 8 h of incubation, and 74% and 42% at 12 h, for biofilms formed in brain–heart infusion (BHI) broth supplemented with 0% or 0.1% sucrose, respectively. Therefore, PDT of S. mutans biofilms using a combination of erythrosine and a dental halogen curing unit, both widely used in dental clinics, resulted in a significant increase in cell death. The PDT effects are decreased in biofilms that form in the presence of sucrose. PMID:23222991

[Multidrug resistant tuberculosis among health personnel in Côte d'Ivoire].

PubMed

Bakayoko, A S; Ahui, B J M; Nguessan, R; Kone, A; Kone, Z; Daix, A T; Badoum, G; Adou, G; Kouakou, O A; Kouakou, J; Coulibaly, G; Domoua, K; Aka-Danguy, E

2016-04-01

Multidrug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB) of health workers raises the question of hospital-borne transmission of infection. We report 4 cases of MDR-TB confirmed at the health workers over a period of 8 years (January, 2005 to December 2012), in the 2 services of pulmonology from Abidjan to Côte d'Ivoire). It was about young grown-up patients (aged between 28 and 39 years), all HIV negatives, in a no-win situation of antituberculosis treatment (3 patients/4). The most concerned staffs were the male nurses (2/4). Two agents worked in general hospital and the only one in a pulmonology department at the time of the diagnosis. The tuberculosis was of lung seat with bilateral radiographic hurt (3/4) and multiples excavations (4/4). The case index, when it was identified (2/2), was a family case. Among 3 agents who benefited from a second line treatment, 1 died further to an extensive drug resistance and 2 are declared to be cured. The fourth died before the beginning of the treatment. These cases of cure were in touch with a premature care. Multidrug resistant tuberculosis at the health workers could have a negative impact on the antituberculosis fight imposing rigorous measures of infection control and better implication of the occupational medicine. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Synergistic effect of nano calcium carbonate (NCC)/carbon black (CB) on the cure characteristics and physico-mechanical properties of NR/SBR blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mamauod, Siti Nur Liyana; Romli, Ahmad Zafir; Rizuan, Mohd Ismail Rifdi

2017-09-01

This research was carried out as to develop hybrid filler reinforced into the blend of natural rubber (NR) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). The NR/SBR blend was reinforced using carbon black (CB) and nano calcium carbonate (NCC). The NCC content varied from 2-10 phr which was incorporated into the NR/SBR blend filled with fixed 50 phr of CB. The main aim of this project was to study the synergistic effect of NCC and CB reinforced NR/SBR blends towards the curing characteristics using cure rheometer, the viscosity of uncured NR/SBR compounds, physical and mechanical property blends. From the results obtained, the optimum ratio of blending was identified at 4 phr of NCC loading. Tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus and hardness increased progressively with increasing the NCC loading from 0 phr up to a maximum value at 4 phr. This increment occurs due to consolidation of the network structure of the polymer chains with the increasing NCC content. Up to the optimum amount of NCC, the tendency for NCC particles to form aggregate was very high and hence reduces the properties of rubber blends. It proved that NCC acts as a co-reinforcing agent for CB to improve the performance in the NR/SBR blends.

[Antibiotics in the critically ill].

PubMed

Kolak, Radmila R

2010-01-01

Antibiotics are one the most common therapies administered in the intensive care unit setting. This review outlines the strategy for optimal use of antimicrobial agents in the critically ill. In severely ill patients, empirical antimicrobial therapy should be used when a suspected infection may impair the outcome. It is necessary to collect microbiological documentation before initiating empirical antimicrobial therapy. In addition to antimicrobial therapy, it is recommended to control a focus of infection and to modify factors that promote microbial growth or impair the host's antimicrobial defence. A judicious choice of antimicrobial therapy should be based on the host characteristics, the site of injection, the local ecology, and the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of antibiotics. This means treating empirically with broad-spectrum antimicrobials as soon as possible and narrowing the spectrum once the organism is identified (de-escalation), and limiting duration of therapy to the minimum effective period. Despite theoretical advantages, a combined antibiotic therapy is nor more effective than a mono-therapy in curing infections in most clinical trials involving intensive care patients. Nevertheless, textbooks and guidelines recommend a combination for specific pathogens and for infections commonly caused by these pathogens. Avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use and optimizing the administration of antimicrobial agents will improve patient outcomes while minimizing risks for the development of bacterial resistance. It is important to note that each intensive care unit should have a program in place which monitors antibiotic utilisation and its effectiveness. Only in this way can the impact of interventions aimed at improving antibiotic use be evaluated at the local level.

Quick-setting concrete and a method for making quick-setting concrete

DOEpatents

Wagh, A.S.; Singh, D.; Pullockaran, J.D.; Knox, L.

1997-04-29

A method for producing quick setting concrete is provided comprising mixing a concrete dry mixture with carbonate solution to create a slurry, and allowing the slurry to cure. The invention also provides for a quick setting concrete having a predetermined proportion of CaCO{sub 3} of between 5 and 23 weight percent of the entire concrete mixture, and whereby the concrete has a compression strength of approximately 4,000 pounds per square inch (psi) within 24 hours after pouring. 2 figs.

Quick-setting concrete and a method for making quick-setting concrete

DOEpatents

Wagh, Arun S.; Singh, Dileep; Pullockaran, Jose D.; Knox, Lerry

1997-01-01

A method for producing quick setting concrete is provided comprising hydrng a concrete dry mixture with carbonate solution to create a slurry, and allowing the slurry to cure. The invention also provides for a quick setting concrete having a predetermined proportion of CaCO.sub.3 of between 5 and 23 weight percent of the entire concrete mixture, and whereby the concrete has a compression strength of approximately 4,000 pounds per square inch (psi) within 24 hours after pouring.

[Effect of amount of silane coupling agent on flexural strength of dental composite resins reinforced with aluminium borate whisker].

PubMed

Zhu, Ming-yi; Zhang, Xiu-yin

2015-06-01

To evaluate the effect of amount of silane coupling agent on flexural strength of dental composite resins reinforced with aluminium borate whisker (ABW). ABW was surface-treated with 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% silan coupling agent (γ-MPS), and mixed with resin matrix to synthesize 5 groups of composite resins. After heat-cured at 120 degrees centigrade for 1 h, specimens were tested in three-point flexure to measure strength according to ISO-4049. One specimen was selected randomly from each group and observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The data was analyzed with SAS 9.2 software package. The flexural strength (117.93±11.9 Mpa) of the group treated with 2% silane coupling agent was the highest, and significantly different from that of the other 4 groups (α=0.01). The amount of silane coupling agent has impact on the flexural strength of dental composite resins reinforced with whiskers; The flexual strength will be reduced whenever the amount is higher or lower than the threshold. Supported by Research Fund of Science and Technology Committee of Shanghai Municipality (08DZ2271100).

Optimal management of renal cell carcinoma in the elderly: a review

PubMed Central

Quivy, Amandine; Daste, Amaury; Harbaoui, Asma; Duc, Sophie; Bernhard, Jean-Christophe; Gross-Goupil, Marine; Ravaud, Alain

2013-01-01

Both the aging population and the incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are growing, making the question of tumor management in the elderly a real challenge. Doctors should be aware of the importance of assessing this specific subpopulation. An aggressive therapeutic approach may be balanced by the benefit of the treatment — care or cure — and the life expectancy and willingness of the patient. The treatment for local disease can be surgery (radical or partial nephrectomy) or ablative therapies (radiofrequency, cryotherapy). Even if in most cases surgery is safe, complications such as alteration of renal function may occur, especially in the elderly, with physiological renal impairment at baseline. More recently, another option has been developed as an alternative: active surveillance. In the past decade, new drugs have been approved in the metastatic setting. All the phase 3 trials have included patients without a limit on age. Nevertheless, data concerning the elderly are still poor and concern only a very selective subpopulation. The toxicity profile of targeted agents may interfere with pre-existent comorbidities. Furthermore, the metabolism of several agents via cytochrome P450 can cause drug interaction. The importance of quality of life is a major factor with regard to management of therapy. Finally, to date, there is no recommendation of systematic a priori dose reduction in the elderly. In this review we describe the various possibilities of treatment for localized RCC or metastatic RCC in an aging population. PMID:23626463

Solventless visible light-curable coating: I. Critical formulation and processing parameters.

PubMed

Bose, Sagarika; Bogner, Robin H

2010-06-30

Film coating is generally accomplished by spraying polymers dissolved in solvents onto a cascading bed of tablets. The limitations associated with the use of solvents (both aqueous and organic) can be overcome by the use of solventless coating technologies. In this proposed solventless photocurable film coating system, each layer of coating onto the pellets (non-pareil beads) was formed using liquid photocurable monomer, powdered pore-forming agents, photosensitizers and photoinitiators in a mini-coating pan and later cured by visible light. Yield, coating efficiency, variation in color, diameter and roundness were determined for each batch to evaluate process efficiency and coating quality. It was found that the ratio (S/L ratio) of the amount of solid (S) pore-forming agent to volume of liquid (L) monomer, particle size and type of the pore-forming agent, concentration of initiator, and total exposure (light intensity x exposure time) of light were critical formulation and processing parameters for the process. Using lactose as a pore-forming agent, an optimum ratio of pore-forming agent to photocurable polymer was 1.8-3.0 to achieve good process efficiency and uniformity. The ratio was sensitive to particle size and type of pore-forming agent. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effect of ultra-violet light curing on the molecular structure and fracture properties of an ultra low-k material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Ryan Scott

As the gate density increases in microelectronic devices, the interconnect delay or RC response also increases and has become the limiting delay to faster devices. In order to decrease the RC time delay, a new metallization scheme has been chosen by the semiconductor industry. Copper has replaced aluminum as the metal lines and new low-k dielectric materials are being developed to replace silicon dioxide. A promising low-k material is porous organosilicate glass or p-OSG. The p-OSG film is a hybrid material where the silicon dioxide backbone is terminated with methyl or hydrogen, reducing the dielectric constant and creating mechanically weak films that are prone to fracture. A few methods of improving the mechanical properties of p-OSG films have been attempted-- exposing the film to hydrogen plasma, electron beam curing, and ultra-violet light curing. Hydrogen plasma and electron-beam curing suffer from a lack of specificity and can cause charging damage to the gates. Therefore, ultra-violet light curing (UV curing) is preferable. The effect of UV curing on an ultra-low-k, k~2.5, p-OSG film is studied in this dissertation. Changes in the molecular structure were measured with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The evolution of the molecular structure with UV curing was correlated with material and fracture properties. The material properties were film shrinkage, densification, and an increase in dielectric constant. From the changes in molecular structure and material properties, a set of condensation reactions with UV light are predicted. The connectivity of the film increases with the condensation reactions and, therefore, the fracture toughness should also increase. The effect of UV curing on the critical and sub-critical fracture toughness was also studied. The critical fracture toughness was measured at four different mode-mixes-- zero, 15°, 32°, and 42°. It was found that the critical fracture toughness increases with UV exposure for all mode mixes. The sub-critical fracture toughness was measured in Mode I and found to be insensitive to UV cure. A simple reaction rate model is used to explain the difference in critical and sub-critical fracture toughness.

Nano-Composites: Relationships Between Nano-Structure and Mechanical Properties: Phase II

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-01-01

was pre-reacted with the DEGBA resin to give a 40 wt.% CTBN -epoxy adduct: ‘Albipox 1000’ from Hanse Chemie, Geesthacht, Germany. The curing agent was...not lead to a decrease in the modulus of the composite. Nor does it lead to a significant increase in the viscosity of the epoxy resin , which would...preclude the use of low-cost manufacturing routes, such as a vacuum-assisted resin -transfer moulding (VARTM) process. Keywords Epoxy

Phosphonitrilic Fluoroelastomer Coated Fabrics for Collapsible Fuel Storage Tanks

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-07-01

Coated F,,brics .*.... *• .. ...... ..... •---*..,- *... 97 36. Stabilizer Masterbatch Formulations R21960 and -601. 58 37- Banbury "BR" Mixes of P®FO...minutes total mix time. The mix is then dumped. Curing agent is then added to the masterbatch banded on a mill. Ambient temperature mills were generally...maximum flow. 0 minutes-load polymer. speed: slow (77 rpm) 2 minutes-add fillers 7 minutes-add stabilizer masterbatch 15 minutevk-dunip mix To obtain as

Cancer survivors' understanding of the cause and cure of their illness: Religious and secular appraisals.

PubMed

Carney, Lauren M; Park, Crystal L

2018-02-28

Little is known about survivors' understanding of the cause of their cancer and of their recovery, nor how these ways of understanding relate to their well-being. No study has examined both secular and religious appraisals of the same event. The current study aimed to examine both religious (God) and secular (self) appraisals of both the cause (attributions) and course/cure of cancer in relation to multiple aspects of adjustment. Data were obtained from a sample of cancer survivors at Time 1 (n = 250) and 1 year later (Time 2, n = 167). Cancer survivors endorsed higher appraisals relating to course/cure of their cancer than those relating to cause, and they endorsed both secular and religious appraisals. Appraisals of the cause and course/cure of cancer were differentially related to adjustment, such that self-attributions of cause and God-attributions of cause were related to negative aspects of adjustment (eg, negative affect and pessimism), while appraisals of self and God's control over the course/cure were related to positive aspects of adjustment (eg, perceived positive life and health changes since cancer). Religiosity did not moderate most of relationships between religious appraisals and adjustment outcomes. Secular and religious appraisals of cancer are not mutually exclusive, and religious appraisals are associated with adjustment regardless of survivors' religiosity. Appraisals relating to cause and course/cure have differential relationships with well-being. Addressing cancer survivors' appraisals-religious or nonreligious-in a therapeutic setting may be beneficial regardless of their reported religiosity. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[Application of basic research to development of diagnostics and therapeutic agents against inflammatory diseases].

PubMed

Izuhara, Kenji; Ohta, Shoichiro; Arima, Kazuhiko; Suzuki, Shoichi; Inamitsu, Masako; Yamamoto, Ken-ichi

2013-10-01

Biomarkers are generally important for the treatment of patients from the points of diagnosis of disease, assessment of cure, assessment of prognosis such as metastasis or recurrence, prevention of disease, and prediction of drug efficacy. Currently it is well accepted that allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis are not single diseases, but syndromes encompassing different diseases entities. Therefore, it is important to cluster allergic disease patients to assess prognosis or the choice of therapeutic drugs, and useful biomarkers are required for these purposes. Periostin, an extracellular matrix protein, has recently emerged as a biomarker useful for clustering asthma patients. We further found that periostin plays an important role in allergic inflammation and based on this finding we are now developing therapeutic agents targeting periostin against allergic diseases. Since periostin is involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases in addition to allergic diseases, such diagnostics and therapeutic agents can be applied to many inflammatory diseases. In this article, we describe the history of periostin research and our application of basic research to the development of diagnostics and therapeutic agents against inflammatory diseases.

Effectiveness, safety and clinical outcomes of direct-acting antiviral therapy in HCV genotype 1 infection: Results from a Spanish real-world cohort.

PubMed

Calleja, Jose Luis; Crespo, Javier; Rincón, Diego; Ruiz-Antorán, Belén; Fernandez, Inmaculada; Perelló, Christie; Gea, Francisco; Lens, Sabela; García-Samaniego, Javier; Sacristán, Begoña; García-Eliz, María; Llerena, Susana; Pascasio, Juan Manuel; Turnes, Juan; Torras, Xavier; Morillas, Rosa Maria; Llaneras, Jordi; Serra, Miguel A; Diago, Moises; Rodriguez, Conrado Fernández; Ampuero, Javier; Jorquera, Francisco; Simon, Miguel A; Arenas, Juan; Navascues, Carmen Alvarez; Bañares, Rafael; Muñoz, Raquel; Albillos, Agustin; Mariño, Zoe

2017-06-01

Clinical trials evaluating second-generation direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have shown excellent rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) and good safety profiles in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of two oral DAA combination regimens, ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir (OMV/PTV/r+DSV) and ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF), in a real-world clinical practice. Data from HCV genotype 1 patients treated with either OMV/PTV/r+DSV±ribavirin (RBV) (n=1567) or LDV/SOF±RBV (n=1758) in 35 centers across Spain between April 1, 2015 and February 28, 2016 were recorded in a large national database. Demographic, clinical and virological data were analyzed. Details of serious adverse events (SAEs) were recorded. The two cohorts were not matched with respect to baseline characteristics and could not be compared directly. The SVR12 rate was 96.8% with OMV/PTVr/DSV±RBV and 95.8% with LDV/SOF±RBV. No significant differences were observed in SVR according to HCV subgenotype (p=0.321 [OMV/PTV/r+DSV±RBV] and p=0.174 [LDV/SOF]) or degree of fibrosis (c0.548 [OMV/PTV/r/DSV±RBV] and p=0.085 [LDV/SOF]). Only baseline albumin level was significantly associated with failure to achieve SVR (p<0.05) on multivariate analysis. Rates of SAEs and SAE-associated treatment discontinuation were 5.4% and 1.7%, in the OMV/PTV/r+DSV subcohort and 5.5% and 1.5% in the LDV/SOF subcohort, respectively. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurred in 30% of patients with a complete response to therapy for previous HCC. Incident HCC was reported in 0.93%. In this large cohort of patients managed in the real-world setting in Spain, OMV/PTV/r+DSV and LDV/SOF achieved high rates of SVR12, comparable to those observed in randomized controlled trials, with similarly good safety profiles. In clinical trials, second-generation direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have been shown to cure over 90% of patients chronically infected with the genotype 1 hepatitis C virus and have been better tolerated than previous treatment regimens. However, patients enrolled in clinical trials do not reflect the real patient population encountered in routine practice. The current study, which includes almost 4,000 patients, demonstrates comparable rates of cure with two increasingly used DAA combinations as those observed in the clinical trial environment, confirming that clinical trial findings with DAAs translate into the real-world setting, where patient populations are more diverse and complex. Copyright © 2017 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Properties of ambient cured blended alkali activated cement concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talha Junaid, M.

2017-11-01

This paper presents results of the development and strength properties of ambient-cured alkali activated geopolymer concrete (GPC). The study looks at the strength properties, such as compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and elastic modulus of such concretes and its dependency on various parameters. The parameters studied in this work are the type and proportions of pre-cursor materials, type of activator and their respective ratios and the curing time. Two types of pre-cursor material; low calcium fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) were activated using different proportions of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide solutions. The results indicate that ambient cured geopolymer concrete can be manufactured to match strength properties of ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPC). The strength properties of GPC are dependent on the type and ratio of activator and the proportion of GGBFS used. Increasing the percentage of GGBFS increased the compressive and tensile strengths, while reducing the setting time of the mix. The effect of GGBFS on strength was more pronounced in mixes that contained sodium silicate as activator solution. Unlike OPC, ambient-cured GPC containing sodium silicate gain most of their strength in the first 7 days and there is no change in strength thereafter. However, GPC mixes not containing sodium silicate only achieve a fraction of their strength at 7 days and extended curing is required for such concretes to gain full strength. The results also indicate that the elastic modulus values of GPC mixes without sodium silicate are comparable to OPC while mixes with sodium silicate have elastic modulus values much lower than ordinary concrete.

The effect of carbon black (CB) loading on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of virgin acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (Nbrv)/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (Nbrr) blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Husnan, M. A.; Ismail, H.; Shuib, R. K.

2018-02-01

Recently, the interest of polymer industry researchers have grown rapidly on the use of specific techniques which can reduce cost and utilize rubber waste into the processing form. The increasing of cognizance in environmental matters and the desire to sustain the resources had fortified the practice of recycling waste materials. In this work, the effect of carbon black loading on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of virgin acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRv/NBRr) blends were studied. Cure time (t90), scorch time (tS2) and swelling percentage decreased but minimum torque (ML) and maximum torque (MH) increased with increasing carbon black (CB) loading in the blends. Increasing CB loading also increased tensile strength, tensile modulus (M100), hardness and compression set but decreased elongation at break (Eb) of NBRv/NBRr blends.

Effect of ceramic thickness and shade on mechanical properties of a resin luting agent.

PubMed

Passos, Sheila Pestana; Kimpara, Estevão Tomomitsu; Bottino, Marco Antonio; Rizkalla, Amin S; Santos, Gildo Coelho

2014-08-01

This study aimed to investigate the influence of ceramic thickness and shade on the Knoop hardness and dynamic elastic modulus of a dual-cured resin cement. Six ceramic shades (Bleaching, A1, A2, A3, A3.5, B3) and two ceramic thicknesses (1 mm, 3 mm) were evaluated. Disk specimens (diameter: 7 mm; thickness: 2 mm) of the resin cement were light cured under a ceramic block. Light-cured specimens without the ceramic block at distances of 1 and 3 mm were also produced. The Knoop hardness number (KHN), density, and dynamic Young's moduli were determined. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA and a Tukey B rank order test (p = 0.05). The bleaching 1-mm-thick group exhibited significantly higher dynamic Young's modulus. Lower dynamic Young's moduli were observed for the 3-mm-thick ceramic groups compared to bleaching 3-mm-thick group, and no difference was found among the other 3-mm groups. For the KHN, when A3.5 3-mm-thick was used, the KHN was significantly lower than bleaching and A1 1-mm-thick ceramic; however, no difference was exhibited between the thicknesses of the same shade. The dual-cured resin cement studied irradiated through the 1-mm-thick ceramic with the lightest shade (bleaching ceramic) exhibited a better elastic modulus, and there was no effect in KHN of the resin cement when light cured under different ceramic shades and thicknesses (1 and 3 mm), except when the A3.5 3-mm-thick ceramic was used. Variolink II irradiated through ceramic with the lowest chroma exhibited the highest elastic modulus; therefore, the light activation method might not be the same for all clinical situations. © 2014 by the American College of Prosthodontists.

Studies on in vitro biostability and blood compatibility of polyurethane potting compound based on aromatic polymeric MDI for extracorporeal devices.

PubMed

Hridya, V K; Jayabalan, M

2009-12-01

Polyurethane potting compound based on aromatic isocyanurate of polymeric MDI, poly propylene glycol (PPG400) and trimethylol propane (TMP) has significant favourable properties, good pot life and setting characteristics. The cured potting compound of this formulation has appreciable thermal stability and mechanical properties. In vitro biostability of cured potting compound has been found to be excellent without any significant degradation in simulated physiological media and chemical environment. Studies on blood-material interaction and cytotoxicity reveal in vitro blood compatibility and compatibility with cells of this potting compound.

Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the UK: surveillance and management.

PubMed

Ison, Catherine A; Alexander, Sarah

2011-10-01

Successful antimicrobial therapy is fundamental to the public health control of gonorrhea, in the absence of a protective immune response. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent, has presented a constant challenge for the provision of such therapy as it has demonstrated the ability to become resistant to successive highly active agents chosen for first-line treatment. Acquisition of plasmids from other bacteria and long-term use of a single agent has selected both single step high-level and low-level resistance due to multiple mutations. While therapeutic failure of the current recommended agents cefixime and ceftriaxone begins to emerge, choice of alternative therapies is limited. Guidelines for therapy will be dependent on surveillance programs but individual patient management will require a viable organism to detect emerging resistance. Advances in molecular detection, while advantageous for the diagnosis of gonorrhea, fail to provide a viable organism, posing even greater challenges for the definition of treatment failure, and appropriate end points for test of cure. Innovative and collaborative approaches will be essential to maintain gonorrhea as a treatable infection.

Influence of carbon nanotubes on the properties of epoxy based composites reinforced with a semicrystalline thermoplastic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Díez-Pascual, A.; Shuttleworth, P.; Gónzalez-Castillo, E.; Marco, C.; Gómez-Fatou, M.; Ellis, G.

2014-08-01

Novel ternary nanocomposites based on a thermoset (TS) system composed of triglycidyl p-aminophenol (TGAP) epoxy resin and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) curing agent incorporating 5 wt% of a semicrystalline thermoplastic (TP), an ethylene/1-octene copolymer, and 0.5 or 1.0 wt% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been prepared via physical blending and curing. The influence of the TP and the MWCNTs on the curing process, morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the hybrid nanocomposites has been analyzed. Different morphologies evolved depending on the CNT content: the material with 0.5 wt% MWCNTs showed a matrix-dispersed droplet-like morphology with well-dispersed nanofiller that selectively located at the TS/TP interphase, while that with 1.0 wt% MWCNTs exhibited coarse dendritic TP areas containing agglomerated MWCNTs. Although the cure reaction was accelerated in its early stage by the nanofillers, curing occurred at a lower rate since these obstructed chain crosslinking. The nanocomposite with lower nanotube content displayed two crystallization peaks at lower temperature than that of pure TP, while a single peak appearing at similar temperature to that of TP was observed for the blend with higher nanotube loading. The highest thermal stability was found for TS/TP (5.0 wt%)/MWCNTs (0.5 wt%), due to a synergistic barrier effect of both TP and the nanofiller. Moreover, this nanocomposite displayed the best mechanical properties, with an optimal combination of stiffness, strength and toughness. However, poorer performance was found for TS/TP (5.0 wt%)/MWCNTs (1.0 wt%) due to the less effective reinforcement of the agglomerated nanotubes and the coalescence of the TP particles into large areas. Therefore, finely tuned morphologies and properties can be obtained by adjusting the nanotube content in the TS/TP blends, leading to high-performance hybrid nanocomposites suitable for structural and high-temperature applications.

Method for forming a glove attachment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dawn, Frederic S. (Inventor); Guy, Walter W. (Inventor); Kosmo, Joseph (Inventor); Drennan, Arthur P. (Inventor); Tschirch, Richard P. (Inventor)

1995-01-01

An attachment principally for the palm of an astronaut glove to enhance the gripping area of the palm without detracting from the flexibility and utility of the glove is presented. The attachment is a composite construction formed from a layer of silicone rubber having an outer surface with a friction configuration and another layer of silicone rubber in which a Nomex Aramid mesh fabric is embedded prior to curing. The method of construction involves the use of a mold with a friction configuration surface. A first layer of silicone rubber or sealant is disposed in the mold and allowed to set for an hour. A second layer of silicone rubber or sealant is layered over the first layer and leveled. A Nomex Aramid mesh fabric is embedded into the second layer and the composite is permitted to cure. When cured, a configured area of the composite construction is glued or stitched to the palm area of the glove.

Suspected postpartum endometritis: a controlled clinical trial of single-agent antibiotic therapy with Amox-CA (Augmentin) vs. ampicillin-metronidazole +/- aminoglycoside.

PubMed

Fernandez, H; Claquin, C; Guibert, M; Papiernik, E

1990-01-01

Endometritis is the commonest postpartum complication and is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity, if not mortality. The object of the present clinical trial was to assess the efficiency of single-agent therapy with Amox-CA (Augmentin) (formulation which includes a beta-lactamase inhibitor), against standard treatment which necessarily combines two or three antibiotics depending on the clinical severity of the case. 101 patients were evaluated in this comparative prospective randomized study. The mild forms were defined by a temperature between 37.9 and 38.4 degrees C and the severe forms by a temperature of more than 38.5 degrees C (which alone required treatment with three antibiotics). The time until the return of apyrexia and the clinical cure rate, as well as duration of treatment, were identical in both groups. Tolerance was good: no side effect requiring discontinuation of treatment occurred. In the population value, the use of a single-agent therapy with amoxycillin/clavulanic acid is not significantly different from a double or triple-agent regimen, and the convenience is increase.

Effectiveness of syndromic management for male patients with urethral discharge symptoms in Amazonas, Brazil*

PubMed Central

de Menezes Filho, Jonas Rodrigues; Sardinha, José Carlos Gomes; Galbán, Enrique; Saraceni, Valéria; Talhari, Carolina

2017-01-01

Background Urethral discharge syndrome (UDS) is characterized by the presence of purulent or mucopurulent urethral discharge.The main etiological agents of this syndrome are Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of the syndromic management to resolve symptoms in male urethral discharge syndrome cases in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Methods Retrospective cohort of male cases of urethral discharge syndrome observed at a clinic for sexually transmitted disease (STD) in 2013. Epidemiological and clinical data, as well as the results of urethral swabs, bacterioscopy, hybrid capture for C.trachomatis, wet-mount examination, and culture for N.gonorrhoeae, were obtained through medical chart reviews. Results Of the 800 urethral discharge syndrome cases observed at the STD clinic, 785 (98.1%) presented only urethral discharge syndrome, 633 (79.1%) returned for follow-up, 579 (91.5%) were considered clinically cured on the first visit, 41(6.5 %) were considered cured on the second visit, and 13(2.0%) did not reach clinical cure after two appointments. Regarding the etiological diagnosis, 42.7% of the patients presented a microbiological diagnosis of N.gonorrhoeae, 39.3% of non-gonococcal and non-chlamydia urethritis, 10.7% of C.trachomatis and 7.3% of co-infection with chlamydia and gonococcus. The odds of being considered cured in the first visit were greater in those who were unmarried, with greater schooling, and with an etiological diagnosis of gonorrhea. The diagnosis of non-gonococcal urethritis reduced the chance of cure in the first visit. Study limitation A study conducted at a single center of STD treatment. Conclusion Syndromic management of male urethral discharge syndrome performed in accordance with the Brazilian Ministry of Health STD guidelines was effective in resolving symptoms in the studied population. More studies with microbiological outcomes are needed to ensure the maintenance of the syndromic management. PMID:29364432

Enhanced electrical conductivity and piezoresistive sensing in multi-wall carbon nanotubes/polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposites via the construction of a self-segregated structure.

PubMed

Wang, Ming; Zhang, Kai; Dai, Xin-Xin; Li, Yin; Guo, Jiang; Liu, Hu; Li, Gen-Hui; Tan, Yan-Jun; Zeng, Jian-Bing; Guo, Zhanhu

2017-08-10

Formation of highly conductive networks is essential for achieving flexible conductive polymer composites (CPCs) with high force sensitivity and high electrical conductivity. In this study, self-segregated structures were constructed in polydimethylsiloxane/multi-wall carbon nanotube (PDMS/MWCNT) nanocomposites, which then exhibited high piezoresistive sensitivity and low percolation threshold without sacrificing their mechanical properties. First, PDMS was cured and pulverized into 40-60 mesh-sized particles (with the size range of 250-425 μm) as an optimum self-segregated phase to improve the subsequent electrical conductivity. Then, the uncured PDMS/MWCNT base together with the curing agent was mixed with the abovementioned PDMS particles, serving as the segregated phase. Finally, the mixture was cured again to form the PDMS/MWCNT nanocomposites with self-segregated structures. The morphological evaluation indicated that MWCNTs were located in the second cured three-dimensional (3D) continuous PDMS phase, resulting in an ultralow percolation threshold of 0.003 vol% MWCNTs. The nanocomposites with self-segregated structures with 0.2 vol% MWCNTs achieved a high electrical conductivity of 0.003 S m -1 , whereas only 4.87 × 10 -10 S m -1 was achieved for the conventional samples with 0.2 vol% MWCNTs. The gauge factor GF of the self-segregated samples was 7.4-fold that of the conventional samples at 30% compression strain. Furthermore, the self-segregated samples also showed higher compression modulus and strength as compared to the conventional samples. These enhanced properties were attributed to the construction of 3D self-segregated structures, concentrated distribution of MWCNTs, and strong interfacial interaction between the segregated phase and the continuous phase with chemical bonds formed during the second curing process. These self-segregated structures provide a new insight into the fabrication of elastomers with high electrical conductivity and piezoresistive sensitivity for flexible force-sensitive materials.

'A necessary evil that does not "really" cure disease': The domestication of biomedicine by Dutch holistic general practitioners.

PubMed

Raaphorst, Nadine; Houtman, Dick

2016-05-01

Against the background of studies about the domestication of complementary and alternative medicine into biomedical settings, this article studies how biomedicine is integrated into holistic settings. Data from 19 in-depth interviews with Dutch holistic general practitioners who combine complementary and alternative medicine with conventional treatments demonstrate that they do not believe that conventional biomedicine 'really' cures patients. They feel that it merely suppresses the physical symptoms of a disease, leaving the more fundamental and non-physical causes intact. As a consequence, they use conventional biomedicine for strictly practical and instrumental reasons. This is the case in life-threatening or acute situations, understood as non-physical causes of disease having been left untreated with complementary and alternative medicine for too long. More mundane reasons for its use are the need to take patients' demands for biomedical treatment seriously or to obey authoritative rules, regulations and protocols. The integration of biomedicine into complementary and alternative medicine, then, follows the same logic of domestication of complementary and alternative medicine into biomedicine: it is made subordinate to the prevailing model of health and illness and treated as a practical add-on that does not 'really' cure people. © The Author(s) 2015.

Flexural Strength of Polymethyl Methacrylate Repaired with Fiberglass

PubMed Central

Golbidi, Fariba

2017-01-01

Objectives: The purpose of this experimental study was to discover a method to increase the strength of repaired polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) samples. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 specimens with the dimensions of 65×10×2.5mm3 were fabricated using heat-curing acrylic resin. Sixteen specimens were repaired with fiberglass and self-curing PMMA, while 16 samples were repaired with self-curing PMMA. Eight specimens were left intact as the control group. Afterwards, the flexural strengths of the repaired and intact specimens were measured by three-point bending test in a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s HSD and LSD tests. The level of significance was set at P<0.05. Results: The mean flexural strength of the samples repaired with fiberglass was higher than that of the other repaired samples. However, the difference was statistically significant only with respect to the Meliodent group (P=0.008). Conclusions: Impregnated fiberglass could be used in the repair of denture bases to improve the flexural strength. In terms of the fracture site, it can be concluded that the lower flexural strength of the auto-polymerizing acryl compared to that of the heat-curing type was the main reason for the occurrence of fractures, rather than the weak bond between heat-curing and auto-polymerizing acrylic resins. PMID:29285033

Large-scale development of SSR markers in tobacco and construction of a linkage map in flue-cured tobacco

PubMed Central

Tong, Zhijun; Xiao, Bingguang; Jiao, Fangchan; Fang, Dunhuang; Zeng, Jianmin; Wu, Xingfu; Chen, Xuejun; Yang, Jiankang; Li, Yongping

2016-01-01

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), particularly flue-cured tobacco, is one of the most economically important nonfood crops and is also an important model system in plant biotechnology. Despite its importance, only limited molecular marker resources are available for genome analysis, genetic mapping, and breeding. Simple sequence repeats (SSR) are one of the most widely-used molecular markers, having significant advantages including that they are generally co-dominant, easy to use, abundant in eukaryotic organisms, and produce highly reproducible results. In this study, based on the genome sequence data of flue-cured tobacco (K326), we developed a total of 13,645 mostly novel SSR markers, which were working in a set of eighteen tobacco varieties of four different types. A mapping population of 213 backcross (BC1) individuals, which were derived from an intra-type cross between two flue-cured tobacco varieties, Y3 and K326, was selected for mapping. Based on the newly developed SSR markers as well as published SSR markers, we constructed a genetic map consisting of 626 SSR loci distributed across 24 linkage groups and covering a total length of 1120.45 cM with an average distance of 1.79 cM between adjacent markers, which is the highest density map of flue-cured tobacco till date. PMID:27436948

Butyl rubber O-ring seals: Revision of test procedures for stockpile materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Domeier, L.A.; Wagter, K.R.

1996-12-01

Extensive testing showed little correlation between test slab and O-ring performance. New procedures, comparable to those used with the traditional test slabs, were defined for hardness, compression set, and tensile property testing on sacrificial O-ring specimens. Changes in target performance values were made as needed and were, in one case, tightened to reflect the O-ring performance data. An additional study was carried out on O-ring and slab performance vs cure cycle and showed little sensitivity of material performance to large changes in curing time. Aging and spectra of certain materials indicated that two sets of test slabs from current vendormore » were accidently made from EPDM rather than butyl rubber. Random testing found no O-rings made from EPDM. As a result, and additional spectroscope test will be added to the product acceptance procedures to verify the type of rubber compound used.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Creed, K.E. Jr.

The cause of degradation in the glass transition temperature (T/sub G/) of a partially crystallized polymer was investigated. Sample epoxy resin filled capacitors were cured at 90/sup 0/C for 24 hours, then stored at room atmospheric conditions. These showed typical degradation in T/sub G/ after storage for one month. One set of epoxy resin castings was stored at room atmosphere and another set was stored in a dry box at 0% relative humidity and 27/sup 0/C. The samples at room atmospheric conditions showed typical degradation in T/sub G/, while the T/sub G/ for those stored in the dry box increased.more » Further tests were then made on epoxy resin castings at various curing temperatures and times at both room atmosphere and 0% humidity. Resulting data indicated that absorption of moisture during storage was the predominant cause of T/sub G/ degradation, with stress relaxation another, though smaller, contributing factor.« less

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Physical Properties of Provisional Crowns during Polymerization: An in Vitro Study

PubMed Central

Mei, May L.; So, Sam Y. C.; Li, Hao; Chu, Chun-Hung

2015-01-01

This study concerned the effect of heat treatment during setting on the physical properties of four resin-based provisional restorative materials: Duralay (polymethyl methacrylate), Trim II (polyethyl methacrylate), Luxatemp (bis-acrylic composite), and Protemp 4 (bis-acrylic composite). Specimens were prepared at 23, 37, or 60 °C for evaluation of flexural strength, surface roughness, color change and marginal discrepancy. Flexural strength was determined by a three-point bending test. Surface profile was studied using atomic force microscopy. Color change was evaluated by comparing the color of the materials before and after placement in coffee. A travelling microscope helped prepare standardized crowns for assessment of marginal discrepancy. Flexural strength of all tested materials cured at 23 °C or 37 °C did not significantly change. The surface roughness and marginal discrepancy of the materials increased at 60 °C curing temperature. Marginal discrepancies, color stability, and other physical properties of materials cured at 23 °C or 37 °C did not significantly change. Flexural strength of certain provisional materials cured at 60 °C increased, but there was also an increase in surface roughness and marginal discrepancy. PMID:28788031

Reflective Silvered Polyimide Films Via In Situ Thermal Reduction Silver (I) Complexes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Southward, Robin E. (Inventor); Thompson, David W. (Inventor); St.Clair, Anne K. (Inventor); Stoakley, Diane M. (Inventor)

2000-01-01

Self-metallizing. flexible polyimide films with highly reflective surfaces are prepared by an in situ self-metallization procedure involving thermally initiated reduction of polymer-soluble silver(I) complexes. Polyamic acid solutions are doped with silver(I) acetate and solubilizing agents. Thermally curing the silver(I) doped resins leads to flexible. metallized films which have reflectivities as high as 100%. abrasion-resistant surfaces. thermal stability and, in some cases, electrical conductivity, rendering them useful for space applications.

Nationwide experience of treatment with protease inhibitors in chronic hepatitis C patients in Denmark: identification of viral resistance mutations.

PubMed

Sølund, Christina; Krarup, Henrik; Ramirez, Santseharay; Thielsen, Peter; Røge, Birgit T; Lunding, Suzanne; Barfod, Toke S; Madsen, Lone G; Tarp, Britta; Christensen, Peer B; Gerstoft, Jan; Laursen, Alex L; Bukh, Jens; Weis, Nina

2014-01-01

The first standard of care in treatment of chronic HCV genotype 1 infection involving directly acting antivirals was protease inhibitors telaprevir or boceprevir combined with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin (triple therapy). Phase III studies include highly selected patients. Thus, treatment response and development of viral resistance during triple therapy in a routine clinical setting needs to be determined. The aims of this study were to investigate treatment outcome and identify sequence variations after triple therapy in patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection in a routine clinical setting. 80 patients, who initiated and completed triple therapy in Denmark between May 2011 and November 2012, were included. Demographic data and treatment response were obtained from the Danish Database for Hepatitis B and C. Direct sequencing and clonal analysis of the RT-PCR amplified NS3 protease were performed in patients without cure following triple therapy. 38 (47%) of the patients achieved cure, 15 (19%) discontinued treatment due to adverse events and remained infected, and 27 (34%) experienced relapse or treatment failure of whom 15 of 21 analyzed patients had well-described protease inhibitor resistance variants detected. Most frequently detected protease variants were V36M and/or R155K, and V36M, in patients with genotype 1a and 1b infection, respectively. The cure rate after triple therapy in a routine clinical setting was 47%, which is substantially lower than in clinical trials. Resistance variants towards protease inhibitors were seen in 71% of patients failing therapy indicating that resistance could have an important role in treatment response.

Does a simple syringe applicator enhance bone cement set up time in knee arthroplasty?

PubMed Central

Sodhi, Nipun; Dalton, Sarah E.; Khlopas, Anton; Sultan, Assem A.; Curtis, Gannon L.; Harb, Matthew A.; Naziri, Qais; Barrington, John W.; Mont, Michael A.

2017-01-01

Background The time required for polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement curing or hardening can be modified by a number of variables including the mixing technique, and the temperature and pressure at which the process is taking place. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate two different methods of PMMA application in terms of set up time. Specifically, we (I) compared the PMMA set up time of cement that remained in the mixing bowl to cement that was placed in a syringe and (II) extrapolated the associated annual cost difference on the national and individual surgeon levels. Methods The cement set up time was measured for a total of 146 consecutive patients who underwent either unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (n=136) or patellofemoral arthroplasty (n=10) between January 2016 and April 2017. One pack of PMMA powder and monomer were mixed, placed in a 300 mL small plastic bowl, and mixed with a tongue depressor. Then, 50 mL of the mixed PMMA was placed in a sterile 60 mL syringe with the tip cut to a 6-mm opening, and the syringe was used to apply the cement to the bone and the prosthesis surface. The remaining unused cement in the syringe (syringe group) and the remaining unused cement in the plastic bowl (bowl group) were removed and formed into a two separate 2 cm diameter cubes that were allowed to cure at room temperature on a sterile set of osteotomes. The two cubes of cement were timed for complete PMMA curing. A two-tailed student’s t-test was used to compare the curing time for the two groups. Annual cost differences were calculated on the national and individual surgeon level. The total number of daily cases performed and the operative time savings using the syringe applicator was used to find daily and annual cost savings. Results The mean time for the cement to set up in the bowl group was 16.8±2.1 minutes, and the mean time for cement set up in the syringe group was 15.1±1.7 minutes. Compared to the bowl group cement set up time, the syringe group set up time was significantly lower (P<0.0001). An estimated 350,000 cemented knee arthroplasties are performed each year in the United States. With 1.7 minutes saved per case, 595,000 operating room minutes per year could be saved, resulting in a nearly $71,000,000 national and $110,000 individual surgeon annual cost savings. Conclusions The results of the present study demonstrated that the utilization of a simple, inexpensive syringe applicator enhanced the cement set up time by over one and a half minutes. This may be a result of the pressure differences in the syringe applicator. In addition to the control of and precision of where the cement is placed, the syringe applicator could provide an important potential time advantage to the arthroplasty surgeon. PMID:29299472

[Evidence of pharmacotherapy in COPD--key findings from recently-conducted randomized clinical studies].

PubMed

Shimizu, Kaoruko; Nishimura, Masaharu

2011-10-01

The primary aim of pharmachotherapy in COPD is improvement of exertional dyspnea and quality of life through its bronchodilator effects. However, there is emerging evidence that pharmacotherapy may reduce exacerbations, alleviate annual decline of pulmonary function, and even favorably affect mortality, thus changing natural history of COPD. The large-scaled randomized clinical trials, such as TORCH, UPLIFT, have revealed that combination of long acting beta2 agonist (LABA) and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), LABA/ICS, and/or tiotropium alone may have such effects. In addition, carbocisteine, which is a mucolytic and anti-oxidant agent, has been shown to reduce exacerbations in COPD. Future directions on pharmacotherapy are personalized medicine based on phenotyping of the disease and development of new agents which may cure airway inflammation in COPD.

Edge-Selectively Functionalized Graphene-Like Platelets as a Co-curing Agent and a Nanoscale Additive to Epoxy Resin

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-12

21 For mass production , the Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is...analyzer. The field emission scanning electron microscope ( FE -SEM) used in this work was a NanoSem 230 (FEI, USA). High-resolution transmission...WAXD) powder patterns were recorded with a Rigaku RU-200 diffractometer using Ni-filtered Cu K radiation (40 kV, 100 mA,  = 0.15418 nm). Dynamic