SUL-151 Decreases Airway Neutrophilia as a Prophylactic and Therapeutic Treatment in Mice after Cigarette Smoke Exposure

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by cigarette smoke (CS) is featured by oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Due to the poor efficacy of standard glucocorticoid therapy, new treatments are required. Here, we investigated whether the novel compound SUL-151 with mitoprotective properties can be used as a prophylactic and therapeutic treatment in a murine CS-induced inflammation model. SUL-151 (4 mg/kg), budesonide (500 μg/kg), or vehicle were administered via oropharyngeal instillation in this prophylactic and therapeutic treatment setting. The number of immune cells was determined in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Oxidative stress response, mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and mitophagy-related proteins were measured in lung homogenates. SUL-151 significantly decreased more than 70% and 50% of CS-induced neutrophils in BALF after prophylactic and therapeutic administration, while budesonide showed no significant reduction in neutrophils. Moreover, SUL-151 prevented the CS-induced decrease in ATP and mitochondrial mtDNA and an increase in putative protein kinase 1 expression in the lung homogenates. The concentration of SUL-151 was significantly correlated with malondialdehyde level and radical scavenging activity in the lungs. SUL-151 inhibited the increased pulmonary inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in this CS-induced inflammation model, which implied that SUL-151 might be a promising candidate for COPD treatment.     

Softening and melting mechanisms of polyamides interfering with sliding stability under adhesive conditions

The thermal stability of polymers is a main issue when used as friction elements under dry sliding. Cast polyamide grades processed with either natrium or magnesium catalysors are slid on a small-scale and a large-scale test configuration to reveal the effect of softening or degradation on the sliding stability and to investigate possibilities for extrapolation of friction and wear rates between both testing scales. The combination of softening and afterwards transition into the glassy state is detrimental for the sliding stability of natrium catalysed polyamides, characterised by heavy noise during sliding. A transfer film formed under continuous softening also provides high friction. Melting during initial sliding is necessary for stabilisation in both friction and wear, and eventual softening of a molten film near the end of the test then not deteriorates the sliding stability. Softening of magnesium catalysed polyamides is favourable for the formation of a coherent transfer film resulting in more stable sliding than natrium catalysed polyamides. The differences in softening mechanisms of both polyamide grades is correlated to structural changes investigated by thermal analysis and Raman spectroscopy: the γ crystalline structure prevails in magnesium catalysed samples and the α crystalline structure is predominant in natrium catalysed samples. For internal oil lubricated polyamides, a time dependent degradation of the polyamide bulk deteriorates the supply of internal oil lubricant to the sliding interface, resulting in high friction and wear under overload conditions. As the degradation mechanisms during sliding are strongly correlated to the test set-up, extrapolation is only possible for friction in a limited application range, while wear rates cannot be extrapolated.     

LDA Measurements on a Turbulent Gas/Liquid/Fibre Suspension

Detailed continuous phase flow measurements (mean and RMS velocities) by Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) of a turbulent gas/fibre/liquid suspension in a rotary shear tester have been performed with simultaneous torque measurements. The model system comprises a refractive‐index matched suspension in the 4‐12% wt. range with gas contents up to 15% vol. The two transition points, found by Andersson and Rasmuson (2000), were detected also with gas present and appear at higher impeller speeds with increasing gas and fibre concentrations. Plotting RMS and mean velocities versus impeller speed and power input, it is found that both decrease with increasing gas and fibre contents.     

An architecture modeling framework for probabilistic prediction

In the design phase of business and IT system development, it is desirable to predict the properties of the system-to-be. A number of formalisms to assess qualities such as performance, reliability and security have therefore previously been proposed. However, existing prediction systems do not allow the modeler to express uncertainty with respect to the design of the considered system. Yet, in contemporary business, the high rate of change in the environment leads to uncertainties about present and future characteristics of the system, so significant that ignoring them becomes problematic. In this paper, we propose a formalism, the Predictive, Probabilistic Architecture Modeling Framework (P²AMF), capable of advanced and probabilistically sound reasoning about business and IT architecture models, given in the form of Unified Modeling Language class and object diagrams. The proposed formalism is based on the Object Constraint Language (OCL). To OCL, P²AMF adds a probabilistic inference mechanism. The paper introduces P²AMF, describes its use for system property prediction and assessment and proposes an algorithm for probabilistic inference.     

Tribological behavior of pure and graphite‐filled polyimides under atmospheric conditions

As the use of common engineering plastics in tribological systems is limited to low sliding velocities and low loads because of creep and insufficient temperature resistance, there is increasing interest in application of high‐performance polymers such as polyimides, characterized by their ability to maintain favorable mechanical properties up to their melting point. However, for practical design, tribotesting remains necessary for determination of the material's performance under a given contact situation. In this article, two commercially available polyimides are tested at relatively high sliding velocities and contact pressures under atmospheric conditions of temperature and humidity. A consistent overview of tendencies in friction and wear for pure polyimides as a function of applied normal loads and sliding velocities is given. Addition of 15% by weight graphite powder as internal solid lubricant strongly influences friction and wear. Its behavior is compared with pure polyimide grades and differences are discussed in relation with experimental measured bulk‐temperatures. A linear temperature law is derived as a function of pv‐levels and a steady‐state condition is found at different temperature levels, in accordance with thermal conductivity of the polymer bulks. In case of graphite additives, a steady state in temperature coincides with the regime condition of wear rate.     

伊朗轻质原油减渣馏分油水界面张力的研究

The vacuum residual from Iranian Light crude oil are separated into a series of 16 narrow fractions according to the molecular weight by the supercritical fluid extraction and fractional (SFEF) technology. The chemical element and the UV spectrum of each fraction are analyzed. The effects of several factors on the interfacial tension are investigated, which are the fraction concentration in oil phase, the ratio of oil component, the salts dissolved in the water phase and the pH value. The interfacial tension decreases rapidly as the concentration of the residual fraction in the oil increases, showing a higher interfacial activity of the fraction. The interfacial tension changes, as the amount of absorption or the state of the fractions in the interface changes resulting from different ratios of oil, different kinds or concentrations of salts in water, and different pH values. It is concluded that the intrfacial tension changes regularly, corresponding to the regular molecular parameters of the vacuum residual fractions.     

Near Wall Studies of Pulp Suspension Flow Using LDA

A detailed study of the flow behaviour in the near wall region of pulp suspensions up to 4.7% have been performed using Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) in pipe flow. Axial mean velocity profiles show a distinct plug flow and an increase of the plug region as the flow rate decreases and fibre concentration increases. An attempt is made to relate the LDA data‐rate to fibre concentration, which indicates a dilution region at 1‐2 mm from the wall that is larger than the annulus region. The dilution region increases with increasing flow rate, decreasing concentration and when using longer pulp fibres.     

Furfural Oxidation with Hydrogen Peroxide Over ZSM-5 Based Micro-Mesoporous Aluminosilicates

Micro-mesoporous aluminosilicates based on ZSM-5 zeolite, obtained by a dual template method, as well as in the presence of a dual-functional template (i.e. a Gemini-type surfactant), were tested in the oxidation of furfural with hydrogen peroxide. Even substantial changes in acidity and porosity of the catalysts result in minor variations of selectivity towards the desired products. Application of the synthesized zeolite-based materials in the oxidation of furfural with hydrogen peroxide leads to formation of 2(5H)-furanone (yield up to 28.5%) and succinic acid (up to 19.5%) as the main C4 reaction products. The kinetic model developed previously to treat the results for oxidation of furfural over sulfated zirconia was able to describe the data also for micro-mesoporous aluminosilicates.

Graphical Abstract