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Summary HIV associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is a major cause of HIV related morbidity and mortality. Pathogenesis involves direct infection of the glomerular and tubular epithelial cells leading to characteristic pathology. Recently, we have shown that HIV-1 Vpr causes hypertrophy, hyperploidy, and apoptosis. Here we report that Vpr activates the DNA damage response resulting in the observed renal phenotype. Renal sections from the HIVAN transgenic mouse model and human biopsies both show an abundant DNA damage response.

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Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are attractive structural materials due to their high specific strength/stiffness and excellent corrosion resistance. However, the lack of through-thickness reinforcement in laminated composites creates inherent susceptibility to fiber-matrix debonding, i.e., interlaminar delamination. This internal damage mode has proven difficult to detect and nearly impossible to repair via conventional methods, and therefore, remains a significant factor limiting the reliability of composite laminates in lightweight structures. Thus, novel approaches for mitigation (e.g., self-healing) of this incessant damage mode are of tremendous interest. Self-healing strategies involving sequestration of reactive liquids, i.e. microcapsule and microvascular systems, show promise for the extending service- life of laminated composites. However, limited heal cycles, long reaction times (hours/days), and variable stability of chemical agents under changing environmental conditions remain formidable research challenges. Intrinsic self- healing approaches that utilize reversible bonds in the host material circumvent many of these limitations and offer the potential for unlimited heal cycles. Here we detail the development of an intrinsic self-healing woven composite laminate based on thermally-induced dynamic bond re-association of 3D-printed polymer interlayers. In contrast to prior work, self-repair of the laminate occurs in situ and below the glass-transition temperature of the epoxy matrix, and maintains >85% of the elastic modulus during healing. This new platform has been deployed in both glass and carbon-fiber composites, demonstrating application versatility. Remarkably, up to 20 rapid (minute-scale) self-healing cycles have been achieved with healing efficiencies hovering 100% of the interlayer toughened (4-5x) composite laminate. This latest self-healing advancement exhibits unprecedented potential for perpetual in-service repair along with material multi-functionality (e.g., deicing ability) to meet modern application demands.

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Natural processes continuously degrade a material’s performance throughout its life cycle. An emerging class of synthetic self-healing polymers and composites possess property-retaining functions with the promise of longer lifetimes. But sustained in-service repair of structural fiber-reinforced composites remains unfulfilled due to material heterogeneity and thermodynamic barriers in commonly cross-linked polymer-matrix constituents. Overcoming these inherent challenges for mechanical self-recovery is vital to extend in-service operation and attain widespread adoption of such bioinspired structural materials. Here we transcend existing obstacles and report a fiber-composite capable of minute-scale and prolonged in situ healing — 100 cycles: an order of magnitude higher than prior studies. By 3D printing a mendable thermoplastic onto woven glass/carbon fiber reinforcement and co-laminating with electrically resistive heater interlayers, we achieve in situ thermal remending of internal delamination via dynamic bond re-association. Full fracture recovery occurs below the glass-transition temperature of the thermoset epoxy-matrix composite, thus preserving stiffness during and after repair. A discovery of chemically driven improvement in thermal remending of glass- over carbon-fiber composites is also revealed. The marked lifetime extension offered by this self-healing strategy mitigates costly maintenance, facilitates repair of difficult-to-access structures (e.g., wind-turbine blades), and reduces part replacement, thereby benefiting economy and environment.

Microwave absorbing materials for high-temperature harsh environments are highly desirable for aerodynamically heated parts and engine combustion induced hot spots of aircrafts. This study reports ceramic composites with excellent and stable high-temperature microwave absorption in air, which are made of polymer-derived SiOC reinforced with core–shell nanophase structure of ZrB2/ZrO2. The fabricated ceramic composites have a crystallized t-ZrO2 interface between ZrB2 and SiOC domains. The ceramic composites exhibit stable dielectric properties, which are relatively insensitive to temperature change from room temperature to 900 °C. The return loss exceeds − 10 dB, especially between 28 and 40 GHz, at the elevated temperatures. The stable high-temperature electromagnetic (EM) absorption properties are attributed to the stable dielectric and electrical properties induced by the core–shell nanophase structure of ZrB2/ZrO2. Crystallized t-ZrO2 serve as nanoscale dielectric interfaces between ZrB2 and SiOC, which are favorable for EM wave introduction for enhancing polarization loss and absorption. Existence of t-ZrO2 interface also changes the temperature-dependent DC conductivity of ZrB2/SiOC ceramic composites when compared to that of ZrB2 and SiOC alone. Experimental results from thermomechanical, jet flow, thermal shock, and water vapor tests demonstrate that the developed ceramic composites have high stability in harsh environments, and can be used as high-temperature wide-band microwave absorbing structural materials.

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