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Nowadays, the most applied insulation material in the building sector is the expanded polystyrene. Different types of expanded polystyrene are used but more widely used is the graphite added type. Our research focuses on the analysis of heat conductivity and sorption properties of expanded polystyrene as these two are the most important physical properties from energy saving point of view. In this paper, the variation of heat transfer coefficient of an insulated wall is analysed in function of humidity content of insulation material. Brick and concrete walls with 0.4 m thickness were chosen for substrate and 0.1 m expanded polystyrene (30, 100, 150, 200 and the so-called grey expanded polystyrene) materials were applied as insulating layers. The investigations of sorption behaviour of the materials are important from the point of view of fundamental research and building technology as well. Sorption data taken from our previous measurements results were used for predicting the change of the overall heat transfer coefficients of different wall structures constituted this way. Practical application: The present technical note is based on our previous measurement results. Water can cause undesirable changes in the building structures and introduced in this article. During the fixing procedure of the additional insulating of a given building bad weather conditions (high relative humidity and/or low external temperature) can dominate. These phenomena can be imagined for building new houses. By the ‘in-building’ of the moisture into the wall structure, numerous and measurable change can happen in the U-value of the building envelope. The presented changes are estimations only, but can be used and can also help for planning and executing the insulating process.

Stability constants of the complexes formed between the natural trihydroxamic acids desferrioxamine B (DFB) and desferricoprogen (DFC) with Nd(III), Gd(III) and Yb(III) ions were determined using pH-potentiometry. The equilibrium in these systems can be described by models containing mononuclear protonated (Ln(HL), Ln(H2L) and Ln(H3L)), deprotonated (LnL) and ternary hydroxo Ln(H-1L) complexes, but for both ligands dinuclear complexes of low stability were also detected. The stability constants for the Ln(HDFB)(+) complexes are 11.95 (Nd(III)), 13.16 (Gd(III)) and 14.67 (Yb(III)), while these values of the Ln(DFC) complexes are considerably higher (14.42 (Nd(III)), 15.14 (Gd(III)) and 16.49 (Yb(III))). The stability constants of the complexes of DFB and DFC are much lower than those of the Ln(L)3 complexes formed with some aromatic hydroxamic acids indicating that the relatively long spacer between the hydroxamic acid moieties in DFB and DFC is unfavorable for Ln(III) complexation. The relaxometric study conducted for the Gd(HDFB)(+) species revealed an interesting pH dependence of the relaxivity associated with a large hydration number (bishydrated complex) and fast water exchange (kex=(29.9±0.4)×10(6)s(-1)), which would be favorable for CA use. However the dissociation of Gd(HDFB)(+) is fairly fast (

T helper lymphocytes become polarized upon antigen and cytokine stimuli received after their maturation in the thymus. Since the balance of Th1 and Th2 responses is critical in healthy and pathological immune responses, understanding the molecular base of T cell polarization still remained an important question. Using our Th0/Th1/Th2 hybridoma model system, we performed a comparative study on polarized Th1 and Th2 cells in terms of their membrane raft expression/composition, their TCR mediated activation signaling, and sensitivity to activation-induced cell death (AICD) using flow and image cytometric methods. We show here that the TCR stimulation induced more intense and sustained Ca2+-response in Th1 cells compared to Th2 ones correlates well with a shorter nuclear residence time of the Ca2+-dependent NFAT transcription factor in Th2 cells. In addition, NFAT translocation directly depended on lipid raft integrity/membrane cholesterol level. Expression pattern of raftophilic accessory proteins (CD4, CD59, and CD48) and lipids (GM1, cholesterol) were also different in the Th1 and Th2 hybridomas, similarly to differentiated spleen Th cells. The activation-induced, remarkably clustered and polarized membrane distribution of TCR/CD3 complex in Th1, but not in Th2 cells, together with an increased raft localization of Kv1.3 ion channels regulating the Ca2+-response, are consistent with the above properties of NFAT. Finally, the polarized Th cells, especially Th1, were more sensitive to AICD than their unpolarized Th0 precursor. These results suggest that the membrane microdomain organization—Ca2+-signaling—NFAT activation axis is an important determinant of polarized Th cell effector function and fate. © 2012 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry

Protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms have crucial roles in cutaneous signaling. Interestingly, we lack information about their involvement in human sebaceous gland biology. Therefore, in this current study, we investigated the functions of the PKC system in human immortalized SZ95 sebocytes. Using molecular biological approaches, imaging, and functional assays, we report that SZ95 sebocytes express the conventional cPKCα; the novel nPKCδ, ε, and η; and the atypical aPKCζ. Activation of the PKC system by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulated lipid synthesis (a hallmark of differentiation) and resulted in translocation and then downregulation of cPKCα and nPKCδ. In good accord with these findings, the effect of PMA was effectively abrogated by inhibitors and short interfering RNA-mediated “silencing” of cPKCα and nPKCδ. Of further importance, molecular or pharmacological inhibition of nPKCδ also prevented the lipogenic and apoptosis-promoting action of arachidonic acid. Finally, we also found that “knockdown” of the endogenous aPKCζ activity markedly increased basal lipid synthesis and apoptosis, suggesting its constitutive activity in suppressing these processes. Collectively, our findings strongly argue for the fact that certain PKCs have pivotal, isoform-specific, differential, and antagonistic roles in the regulation of human sebaceous gland–derived sebocyte biology.

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Multigram-scale syntheses of three 6-deoxy-6-sulfonatomethyl a-glucosides were accomplished viareactions of the corresponding primary triflate derivatives with the lithiated ethyl methanesulfonate.Chemoselective glycosylation reactions of different 6-C-sulfonatomethyl glucoside donors were studied.The sulfonic acid-containing building blocks were utilised in a novel [2+3] block synthesis of a trisulfonicacid isoster of the anticoagulant pentasaccharide idraparinux

Thio-linked mono- and bivalent mimetics of ?(2?3) and ?(2?6)-linked sialosides were prepared by photoinduced hydrothiolation of alkenes and alkynes with the 2-mercapto sialic acid. Thiosialylation of 6-O-allyl or 3-O-allyl substituted galactose derivatives has been carried out by the thiol-ene click reaction. Double thiosialylation has also been achieved via thiol-yne chemistry using propargylated galactose derivatives as the alkyne components and the peracetylated 2-mercapto sialic acid as the thiol

We report here the synthesis, in vitro and in vivo investigation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)active nanoparticles, which target folate receptor overexpressing tumor cells. Self-assembled nanoparticleswith a hydrodynamic size of 50?200 nm were prepared from poly

We report the synthesis, in vitro and in vivo investigation of folate-targeted, biocompatible, biodegradableself-assembled nanoparticles radiolabelled with 99mTc, as potential new SPECT or SPECT/CT imagingagent.Nanoparticles with hydrodynamic size in the range of 75?200 nm were prepared by self-assembly ofchitosan and folated poly

The transcriptional basis of sebocyte differentiation and lipid-producing mechanisms is mostly unclear. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR?), a lipid activated transcription factor, has been implicated in lipid metabolism of various cell types. Here, we show that PPAR?? is differentially expressed in normal and pathological human sebocytes, and appears to have roles in their differentiation process. These were demonstrated in laser microdissected normal human sebaceous glands (SG) and SZ95 cells (immortalized sebocyte cell line) utilizing RT-qPCR, immunhistochemistry, for lipid analyses quantitative fluorimetry and mass spectrometry based analytical approaches. We have observed that PPAR? and its target genes, ADRP and PGAR, are expressed in and associated with the differentiation levels of sebocytes. Also, PPAR? is present in normal and hyperplastic SG, whereas its expression levels gradually decrease in cases obtained from SG adenoma and SG carcinoma cells, reflecting a maturation-linked expression pattern. Furthermore, in SZ95 sebocytes, natural lipids including arachidonic acid and arachidonic acid derivate keto-metabolites (e.g. 5-KETE, 12-KETE) appear to regulate PPAR? signaling pathways, which in turn modulate phospholipid biosynthesis and induce neutral lipid synthesis. Collectively, our findings highlight the importance of novel endogenous ligand-activated PPAR? signaling in human sebocyte biology and suggest that PPAR? might be a candidate target for the clinical management of SG disorders

open access - http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/13/40

Rheological blood parameters of neonates are different form those of adults. Many authors have studied changes in blood rheology in neonates in different clinical disorders. To-date, no one set the normal values for blood rheological parameters in healthy neonates. The aim of this study is to set the norm for rheological blood parameters in healthy newborns and to describe the changes in those parameters in common clinical disorders that affect the newborns. We recruited all the neonates born to mothers experiencing un eventful pregnancies, blood was taken from the umbilical cord right after the delivery. In this time period we recruited 4985 neonate. From this huge database we were able to set the standards for blood rheology in neonates, namely plasma viscosity of 1.06 ? 0.072 mPa, erythrocyte aggregation at stasis of 2.41 ? 2.74 s-1 and erythrocyte aggregation under low shear forces of 8.51 ? 6.38 s-1. These values changed significantly in some diseased neonates. This is the largest study investigating normal rheological parameters and deviations from the norm in common clinical disorders occurring in this early stage of life

In this study the emergence of rotavirus A genotype G12 in children

The removal of ferric ions from aqueous solutions by a nanoparticle-enhanced ultrafiltration techniquewas investigated. Biodegradable poly-gamma-glutamic acid (c-PGA), a linear biopolymer, and itscross-linked nanoparticles were used to complex the metal ions by forming nanosized spherical particleswith more or less deformability. These polymer?metal ion particles were then removed by membraneseparation. Two ultrafiltration techniques were studied with the aim of developing a nanoparticleenhancedseparation process for the efficient removal of ferric ions from model solutions. The influenceof parameters such as the feed c-PGA and Fe3+ concentrations, their proportions and the extent of crosslinkingof c-PGA were studied. It was observed that c-PGA could bind and remove ferric ions to producewater with low Fe3+ concentration. These studies show that optimal nano-membrane separation technologycan be performed, depending on the environment and quality of treatable water by the combinationof the filtration parameters and type of membrane techniques shown here

Given a planar curve s(t), the locus of those points from which the curve can be seen under a fixed angle is called isoptic curve of s(t).Isoptics are well-known and widely studied, especially for some classical curves such as e.g. conics (Loria, 1911). They can theoretically be computed for a large class of parametric curves by the help of their support functions or by direct computation based on the definition, but unfortunately these computations are extremely complicated even for simple curves.Our purpose is to describe the isoptics of those curves which are still frequently used in geometric modeling ? the Bézier curves. It turns out that for low degree Bézier curves the direct computation is possible, but already for degree 4 or 5 the formulas are getting too complicated even for computer algebra systems. Thus we provide a new way to solve the problem, proving some geometric relations of the curve and their isoptics, and computing the isoptics as the envelope of envelopes of families of isoptic circles over the chords of the curve

Background and methods: The association between nutritional status, antioxidant human paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity and low grade inflammation in hemodialized (HD) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine PON1 paraoxonase and lactonase activities, ADMA, adiponectin and leptin concentrations, and to clarify the relationship between paraoxonase activity and a set of cardiovascular risk factors in malnourished, normal weight and obese HD patients; 114 HD patients with end-stage renal failure were enrolled. Results: Leptin levels were significantly higher and PON1 paraoxonase activities were significantly lower in obese patients compared to the other groups. Plasma adiponectin concentration was significantly lower in obese subjects compared to malnourished patients. Paraoxonase activity was negatively correlated with CRP level in HD and malnourished patients. Furthermore, we found significant inverse correlation between paraoxonase activity and BMI in the whole patient group. In multiple regression analysis, PON1 lactonase activity, CRP level and leptin concentration proved to be independent predictors of paraoxonase activity.Conclusion: Despite the previous findings of reverse epidemiology for the mortality rate of HD patients, further studies are needed to clarify the effects of nutritional state on atherosclerosis in obese and malnourished patients with end-stage renal failure

Pályázati azonosító:- OTKA K101591- Baross Gábor projekt #EA_SPIN_06-DIABDIAG- Research Fund Management and Research Exploitation KMA 0149/3.0 projekt- Bioincubator House projekt

We investigate the problem of closing the detection loophole in multipartite Bell tests, and show that the required detection efficiencies can be significantly lowered compared to the bipartite case. In particular, we present Bell tests based on n-qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states, which can tolerate efficiencies as low as 38% for a reasonable number of parties and measurements. Even in the presence of a significant amount of noise, efficiencies below 50% can be tolerated, which is encouraging given recent experimental progress. Finally, we give strong evidence that, for a sufficiently large number of parties and measurements, arbitrarily small efficiencies can be tolerated, even in the presence of an arbitrary large amount of noise

Growing number of clinical and experimental data reflect to the gender differences of hemorheological parameters.However, little is known about the potential hemorheological effect of gonadectomy and consequent changes in sex hormoneconcentration. Adult, same-aged male and female rats were involved in the study. In control male and female group no surgicalintervention was performed. In gonadectomized (GoE) male and female groups bilateral orchidectomy or ovariectomy werecompleted. Body weight measurement and blood sampling were carried out in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd postoperative months.The GoE females had significant bodyweight augmentation and their plasma estrogen concentration decreased by 40?45%by the 1st postoperative month, while in males the testosterone level was not detectable after gonadectomy. Leukocyte andplatelet counts moderately increased in GoE males. Elongation index values of erythrocytes slightly decreased in both gendersafter gonadectomy, showing converging values. Erythrocyte aggregation index values of GoE females significantly raised bythe 2nd month. It can be concluded that gonadectomy in rats resulted in alteration (dominantly impairment) of blood microrheologicalparameters, by different manner in males and females. Supposedly decrease in estrogen can cause more expressedhemorheological changes than the cessation of testosterone

In this article we consider certain kinds of metrics and relative entropies onsets of density operators acting on a finite-dimensional complex Hilbertspace. The metrics are the ones induced by the von Neumann?Schattenp-norms. We describe the general form of 'a priori' nonsurjective isometriesof the space of all density operators with respect to those distances. In thesecond part of this article we study mappings preserving entropicquantities. We determine the structure of 'a priori' nonsurjective maps onthe set of all density operators which leave a certain measure of relativeentropy invariant and also characterize the surjective maps on the set of allinvertible density operators with similar invariance properties

The main aim of the present paper is to draw the attention of the readers of this special issue to the modeling issues of sensor networks. The novelty of this investigation is the introduction of servers vacation combined with priority customers for finite-source retrial queues and its application to wireless sensor networks. In this paper we analyze a priority finite-source retrial queue with repeated vacations. Two types of priority customers are defined, customers with priority 1 (P1) go directly to an ordinary FIFO queue. However, if customers with priority 2 (P2) find the server in busy or unavailable state go to the orbit. These customers stay in the orbit and retry their request until find the server in idle and available state. We assume that P1 customers have non-preemptive priority over P2 customers. The server starts with a listening period and if no customer arrive during this period it will enter in the vacation mode. When the vacation period is terminated, then the node wakes up. If there is a P1 customer in the queue the server begin to serve it, and when there is no any P1 customer, the node will remain awake for exponentially distributed time period. If that period expires without arrivals the node will enter in the next sleeping period. All random variables involved in model construction are supposed to be independent and exponentially distributed ones. Our main interest is to give the main steady-state performance measures of the system computed by the help of the MOSEL tool. Several Figures illustrate the effect of input parameters on the mean response time.