Prednisone treatment restricts B lymphocyte differentiation into plasma cells in MRL/lpr mice, which may be correlated with the inhibition of IL-21 production and the restoration of the balance between Blimp-1 and Bcl-6.
The toughness of cycloaliphatic epoxy resin 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3 0 ,4 0 -epoxycyclohexane carboxylate (ERL-4221) has been improved by using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) treated by mixed acids. The MWCNT/ERL-4221 composites were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and their mechanical properties were investigated. A significant increase in the tensile strength of the composite from 31.9 to 55.9 MPa was obtained by adding only 0.05 wt % of MWCNTs. And a loading of 0.5 wt % MWCNTs resulted in an optimum tensile strength and cracking energy, 62.0 MPa and 490 N cm, respectively. Investigation on the morphology of fracture surface of the composites by field emission scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the crack pinning-front bowing and bridging mechanisms of toughening.
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