No abstract

No abstract

An interesting gelation transition of fumed SiO2/PEG shear thickening fluid induced by elevating the temperature.

No abstract

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase is upregulated in a variety of tissues in obesity. It is still unclear as to whether NADPH oxidase upregulation in a specific tissue is part of a systemic response. Here we analyzed the expression pattern of NADPH oxidase in vascular, adipose, and kidney tissues in a rat model of diet-induced obesity. After weaning, rats were fed either a normal or high-fat diet for 12 weeks. The high-fat diet resulted in 20% increased body weight. In the aorta, Nox4 expression was increased by three-fold in obese rats. Upregulations of p22phox and p47phox in adipose, and Nox4, p22phox, and p47phox in kidney were observed in obesity. Marked increases in plasma leptin and insulin were observed, with more modest changes in adiponectin in obese rats. The average systolic blood pressure in the obese group was 11 mmHg higher than that of lean rats (P < 0.005). There was a significant correlation between blood pressure and aortic Nox4 expression (P < 0.01). In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, adiponectin reduced the expression of Nox4 in a protein kinase A-dependent manner. Our results suggest that upregulation of NADPH oxidase in multiple tissues during obesity appears to be a systemic response. At least in vitro, adiponectin may have a protective antioxidant role by suppressing vascular NADPH oxidase expression. The association between NADPH oxidase Nox4 expression in the vasculature and the elevated blood pressure in obesity requires further investigation.

Hydroxyl-functionalized poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) was synthesized by a zinc glutarate catalyst mediated terpolymerization of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), propylene oxide (PO), and 2-[[(2-nitrophenyl)methoxy]methyl]oxirane (monomer A). PPC with varying monomer A contents (0− 10.6 mol %) were obtained and could be transformed into hydroxylfunctionalized PPC by ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation without backbone degradation. The process of removing o-nitrobenzyl (ONB) protecting groups was monitored by UV−vis spectrometry to proceed within minutes. Thermal properties and contact angles of the functionalized PPCs were measured, showing the expected increase in hydrophilicity and glass transition temperature with increasing content of hydroxyl entities.

No abstract

No abstract