Search

Wood plastic composites (WPC) were made from polypropylene (PP), impact copolymer (ICP) and wood flour (WF) by varying the WF content from 10 to 40% with PP grafted maleic anhydride as a coupling agent. The effect of varying WF content was studied on rheological, thermal, mechanical properties and dynamic mechanical properties. Experimental small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) data was compared with the Einstein–Batchelor and empirical Krieger–Dougherty relations. Significant dependence of mechanical and rheological properties on WF content was observed. Young’s modulus, flexural modulus and dynamic shear viscosity increased with WF content. Results of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed increase in storage modulus with WF content. Three millimeter thick compression molded composites sheets were thermoformed using axisymmetric molds with two draw depths. Sag observed visually during thermoforming decreased with increasing WF content. Components made from the composites showed close to uniform thickness distribution as compared to those from ICP.

This research deals with harmonization of groundwater and the energy nexus in the state of Haryana, in the arid Trans-Gangetic plain (India), which is faced with ecologically unsustainable groundwater abstractions with significantly higher energy footprints in food production. Detailed analysis, based on secondary data from reliable sources, established that water and energy-intensive cropping system and the highly energy inefficient 0.75 million pumpsets deployed for water extraction—both facilitated by public policies—were responsible for the emerging situation. An ecologically compatible cropping pattern, which envisages reallocation of crop areas, accompanied by water and energy smart agro-hydro-technologies (zero tillage, laser land levelling, and micro-irrigation etc), reducing irrigation requirement by 9.88 billion cubic meters (BCM), and thereby eliminating the need for groundwater over draft, has been designed. Implementation of the recommended technologies reduces cost of production, enhances land productivity, and increases farmers’ income by 15–20%. Based on the results of pilot studies under ‘Agriculture Demand Side Management’ program, which had indicated scope for increasing pumping efficiencies from the existing level of 35 to 50%, introduction of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) labelled pumpsets is advocated. The suggested intervention could afford a saving of 3465 million kWh of energy, annually. In addition, these interventions would also yield a reduction of the order of 5243 million kg CO2e in GHGs, thereby harmonizing the water–energy–food nexus. Faster adaption of desired technologies by the farmers would require a relook at water, energy, and crop pricing policies.

Cytokine‐induced killer (CIK) cells are ex vivo, expanded T cells with proven anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. However, their functional properties with the exception of their cancer cell‐killing activity are largely unclear. Here, we show that CIK T cells recognize dendritic cells (DC), and although mature DC (mDC) induce CIK T cells to produce IFN‐γ, immature DC (iDC) are killed selectively by them. Moreover, CIK T cell activation by mDC and their destruction of iDC are independent of the TCR. The cytotoxicity of CIK T cells to iDC is perforin‐dependent. Our data have revealed an important regulatory role of CIK cells.

In the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for multiple sclerosis (MS), autoreactive T cells must be activated and clonally expand in the lymphoid organs, and then migrate into the central nervous system (CNS) where they undergo further activation. It is unclear whether the autoreactive T cells further expand in the CNS and if so, what interactions are required for this process. We have demonstrated previously that expression by the host cells of the heat-stable antigen (CD24), which was recently identified as a genetic modifier for MS, is essential for their susceptibility to EAE. Here we show that CD24 is essential for local clonal expansion and persistence of T cells after their migration into the CNS, and that expression of CD24 on either hematopoietic cells or nonhematopoietic antigen-presenting cells in the recipient is sufficient to confer susceptibility to EAE.

The Asp-Pro sequence of the cyclic peptide Ac-HN-Tyr-Cys*-Asp-Pro-Cys*-OH (1) could be replaced with the achiral dipeptide mimetic l-(2-aminoethyl)cyclpentylcarboxylic acid with retention of potent inhibition of the VCAM–VLA-4 interaction.

Selective substitution of a sulfur atom by carbon in a highly potent 13-membered cyclic disulfide was accomplished by intramolecular displacement of a bromide. The potency of the resulting thioethers in the VCAM/VLA-4 assay was dependant on ring size and the position of the sulfur atom.

For Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

For Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.