Investigation on thermal characteristics and desensitization mechanism of improved step ladder-structured nitrocellulose

Nitrocellulose,or cellulose nitrate,has received considerable interest due to its various applications,such as propellants,coating agents and gas generators.However,its high mechanical sensitivity caused many accidents during its storage and usage in ammunition.In this work,two kinds of insensitive step ladderstructured nitrocellulose(LNC)with different nitrogen contents were synthesized.The products were characterized by FT-IR,Raman,XRD,SEM,elemental analysis,TGA,DSC,accelerating rate calorimeter analysis(ARC),and drop weight test to study their molecular structure,thermal characteristics and desensitization performance.Compared with raw nitrocellulose,LNC has a sharper exothermic peak in the DSC and ARC curves.The H50values of the two kinds of LNC increased from 25.76 to 30.01 cm for low nitrogen content and from 18.02 to 21.84 cm for high nitrogen content,respectively.The results show that the ladder-structure of LNC which provides regular molecular arrangement and a soft buffer made with polyethylene glycol could affect the energy releasing process of LNC and reduce the sensitivity of LNC.Insensitive LNC provides an alternative to be used as a binder in insensitive propellants formulation.

Establishment and verification of theβ_(2)-AR desensitization asthma mice

Objective:To establish and verify aβ_(2)-AR desensitization asthma mice model.Methods:A total of 30 SPF male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into blank group,the common asthma group,andβ_(2)-AR desensitization asthma model group.Asthma model was established,and on this basis,the method of atom-izing inhalation and intraperitoneal injections of salbutamol was used to prepareβ_(2)-AR desensitization asthma model.After the last stimulation on the 21st day of modeling,the airway resistance of mice was measured.ELISA was used to detect the content of serum IgE;HE staining was used to observe the lung organization degree of infla-mmatory cell infiltration;Western blot method was used to detect theβ_(2)-AR content in lung tissue,RT-PCR was used to detect theβ_(2)-ARmRNA expressionin lung tissue.Results:Compared with the blank group,as acetyl choline(Mch)levels increased,groups of OVA induced airway resistance increases;but theβ_(2)-AR desensitization asthma model group increased airway resistance was more significant(P<0.05);compared with the blank group,IgE levels of common asthma group andβ_(2)-AR desensitization asthma model group elevated(P<0.01).The pathological histology observation found theβ_(2)-AR desensitization asthma airway inflammation infiltration in mice,the excessive mucus secretion and collagen deposition,and the pathological performance obviously increase compared with the common asthma group;β_(2)-AR content in the lung tissue ofβ_(2)-AR desensitization asthma model in mice,β_(2)-AR mRNA expression level in the blank group and common asthma model group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:Theβ_(2)-AR desensitization asthma mouse model was successfully established,and the buildingcycle was short.

A comparison of desensitization methods: Rituximab with/without plasmapheresis in ABO-incompatible living donor liver transplantation

Background: Plasmapheresis is a desensitization method used prior to ABO-incompatible(ABO-I) living donor liver transplantation. However, studies on its usefulness in the rituximab era are lacking.Methods: Fifty-six adult patients underwent ABO-I living donor liver transplantation between January2012 and October 2015. A single dose of rituximab(300 mg/m~2) was administered 2 weeks before surgery with plasmapheresis in all patients until February 2014(RP group, n = 26). Patients were administered rituximab only, without plasmapheresis between March 2014 and October 2015(RO group, n = 30).Results: The 6-, 12-and 18-month overall survival rates were 92.3%, 80.8% and 76.9% in the RP group and 96.6%, 85.4% and 85.4% in the RO group, respectively(P = 0.574). When the initial isoagglutinin titers < 16, neither group showed a rebound rise of isoagglutinin titers. For patients with initial isoagglutinin titers ≥ 16, the rebound rise of isoagglutinin titers was more prominent in the RP group. There was no difference in time-dependent changes in B cell subpopulations and ABO-I-related complications.Conclusions: Sufficient desensitization for ABO-I living donor liver transplantation can be achieved using rituximab alone. This desensitization strategy does not affect the isoagglutinin titers, ABO-I-related complications and patient survival.

Influence of an emulsifier on the pressure desensitization of emulsion explosives

The desensitization degree of emulsion explosives （EE） was calculated with the peak pressure of explosion shock waves tested in water. To an explosive, the less the desensitization degree, the better the compression resistance, so the compression resistance of an explosive can be compared and analyzed quantificationally with the desensitization degree. The influence of an emulsifier on the pressure desensitization of EE was studied, including the content and category of emulsifiers. Three kinds of emulsifiers （Span-80, compound emulsifier, and T-152） were used in the tests. The experimental results show that both the content and category of emulsifiers make a great effect on the pressure desensitization of EE. The desensitization degree of EE reduces with the emulsifier content being increased, but there is an optimal content of an emulsifier for the compression resistance of EE. While the content of Span-80 reaches 4wt%, the desensitization degree of EE becomes a minimal value, and augments somewhat if the emulsifier content is increased more. That is to say, the compression resistance of EE becomes the highest while the content of Span-80 is 4wt%, and the compression resistance will decline if the content of Span-80 is increased more. The compression resistance of the explosive emulsified by compound emulsifier is the highest among all the explosives, when the content of the whole components and manufacturing engineering are kept invariable.

A Multi-Agent Immunology Model for Security Computer

This paper presents a computer immunology model for computer security, whose main components are defined as idea of Multi Agent. It introduces the natural immune system on the principle, discusses the idea and characteristics of Multi Agent. It gives a system model, and describes the structure and function of each agent. Also, the communication method between agents is described.

Abstinence Following a Motivation-Skill-Desensitization-Mental Energy Intervention for Heroin Dependence: A Three-year Follow-up Result of a Randomized Controlled Trial

The high rate of relapse among heroin users remains a significant public concern in China. In the present study, we utilized a Motivation-Skill-Desensitization-Mental Energy (MSDE) intervention and evaluated its effects on abstinence and mental health. Eighty-nine male heroin users in a drug rehabilitation center were enrolled in the study. The participants in the MSDE intervention group (n=46) received MSDE intervention, which included motivational interviewing, coping skills training, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and mindfulness-based psychotherapy. The participants in the control group (h=43) received a series of lectures on skills training. A significant increase in Contemplation Ladder score (P<0.001) and decreases in scores on the Obsessive Compulsive Drug Use Scale (P<0.001), Beck Depression Inventory (P<0.001), and Aggression Questionnaire (P=O.O33) were found immediately after intervention. Compared to the control group, the MSDE intervention group reported significantly higher abstinence rates (P=0.027) and retention rates (P<0.001) at follow-up. Overall, the MSDE intervention, which uses a combined strategy for relapse prevention, could be a promising approach for preventing relapse among heroin users in China.

EFFECTS OF DESENSITIZATION AND REBOUND TO ADENOSINE ON ACTION POTENTIAL AND CONTRACTILITY IN ATRIAL CELLS IN GUINEA-PIGS

Objective To investigate the effects of desensitization and rebound to adenosine(Ado) on action potential duration(APD) and contractility in guinea-pig atrial cells. Methods Electrical activity was recorded using standard intracellular microelectrode technique and contractility was recorded using. We studied the effects of adenosine on the action potential and desensitization of contractility and rebound of contractility. Results The results showed that action potential duration were shortened by 1,10, 100μ mol·L -1Ado, the ratio of shortened APD was ( 9.58± 1.40)%,(13.80±2.26)%,(24.80±3.19)%, respectively. 1 μ mol·L -1Ado had no desensitization ( P >0.05), but the time of desensitization of 10μ mol·L -1 Ado and 100μ mol·L -1 Ado was 1 minute( P <0.05) and 5 minutes( P < 0.05), respectively. The desensitization of contractility of 10?μ mol·L -1 Ado was obvious in atrial cells, the decrease of contractility of 10?μ mol·L -1 Ado was obvious in atrial cells, the decrease of contractility was changed from (31.4± 16.04)%(2 minutes) to (50.60±15.87)% (4 minutes), compared with control. After washing out Ado, contractility was shown to rebound, the ratio of increase of contractility by 1,10,100 μ mol·L -1 Ado was (12.38±7.50)%,(19.00± 8.14)% and (27.60±13.44)%, respectively. Conclusion Ado can abbreviate APD in atrial cells. The desensitization of Ado on APD is characterized by concentration-dependent and time-dependent in atrial cells, and the desensitization of contractility of Ado is obvious and contractility was shown to rebound after washing out Ado.

DESENSITIZATION OF ACETYLCHOLINE ON THE INHIBITION EFFECTS OF BLOOD PRE SSURE IN ANESTHETIZED CANINE

Objective To investigate the desensitization of acetylcholine (ACh) on the inhibition effects of blood pressure (BP) in anesthe tized canine and build a model for studying desensitization in vivo. Methods Through changing the intervals (120, 100, 80, 60, 40, 20 seconds) of twice ACh administration (each was 15μg·kg -1,i.v.), the desensitization on the effect of systemic blood pressure of the first ACh in jection towards the subsequent ACh administration was observed. Results When ACh administration intervals were 40, 60, 80 , 100 seconds, the percentages of desensitization of ACh on systemic blood press ure were significantly increased (P<0.05). However, as the intervals were 20 and 120 seconds, the effects of twice ACh administration had no significant dif ference (P>0.05). Conclusion The results indicated that ACh contents in blo od might influence the action of next ACh administration. To some extent, the hi gher the concentration of ACh in blood, the bigger the ratio of desensitization of exogenous ACh is. In addition, this method of twice drug administration could be used as a model of studying desensitization in vivo.

Desensitization of G-protein-coupled receptors induces vascular hypocontractility in response to norepinephrine in the mesenteric arteries of cirrhotic patients and rats

BACKGROUND: The increased β-arrestin-2 and its combination with G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) lead to GPCRs desensitization. The latter may be responsible for decreased contractile reactivity in the mesenteric arteries of cirrhotic patients and rats. The present study is to investigate the machinery changes of α-adrenergic receptors and G proteins and their roles in the contractility of mesenteric arteries of cirrhotic patients and animal models. METHODS: Patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis B and cirrhotic rats induced by CCl 4 were studied. Mesenteric artery contractility in response to norepinephrine was determined by a vessel perfusion system. The contractile effect of G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 (GRK-2) inhibitor on the mesenteric artery was evaluated. The protein expression of the α 1 adrenergic receptor, G proteins, β-arrestin-2, GRK-2 as well as the activity of Rho associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase-1 (ROCK-1) were measured by Western blot. In addition, the interaction of α 1 adrenergic receptor with β-arrestin-2 was assessed by co-immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: The portal vein pressure of cirrhotic patients and rats was significantly higher than that of controls. The doseresponse curve to norepinephrine in mesenteric arteriole was shifted to the right, and EC 50 was significantly increased in cirrhotic patients and rats. There were no significant differences in the expressions of the α 1 adrenergic receptor and G proteins in the cirrhotic group compared with the controls. However, the protein expressions of GRK-2 and β-arrestin-2 were significantly elevated in cirrhotic patients and rats compared with those of the controls. The interaction of the α 1 adrenergic receptor and β-arrestin-2 was significantly aggravated. This interaction was significantly reversed by GRK-2 inhibitor. Both the protein expression and activity of ROCK-1 were significantly decreased in the mesenteric artery in patients with cirrhosis compared with those of the controls, and this phenomenon was not shown in the cirrhotic rats. Norepinephrine significantly increased the activity of ROCK-1 in normal rats but not in cirrhotic ones. Norepinephrine significantly increased ROCK-1 activity in cirrhotic rats when GRK-2 inhibitor was used. CONCLUSIONS: β-arrestin-2 expression and its interaction with GPCRs are significantly upregulated in the mesenteric arteries in patients and rats with cirrhosis. These upregulations result in GPCR desensitization, G-protein dysfunction and ROCK inhibition. These may explain the decreased contractility of the mesenteric artery in response to vasoconstrictors.

Progresses in Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medical Research on Reproductive Immunology

Reproductive immunology is a crossed subject of reproductive biology and immunobiology. Great progresses have been achieved in the subject along with the deep development in life science. Modern reproductive immunology includes immunological regulation of fertility, materno-fetal immuno-regu-lation, and neuro-reproductive endocrino-immune network. With the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) applied to reproductive immunology it has been greatly enriched in research contents and depth. The present review is to introduce the recent progresses in research of integrated medicine on reproductive immunology.

Increasing access to kidney transplantation for sensitized recipient through three-way kidney paired donation with desensitization: The first Indian report

The combination of kidney paired donation(KPD) with desensitization represents a promising method of increasing the rate of living donor kidney transplantation(LDKT) in immunologically challenging patients. Patients who are difficult to match and desensitize due to strong donor specific antibody are may be transplanted by a combination of desensitization and KPD protocol with more immunologically favorable donor. We present our experience of combination of desensitization protocol with three-way KPD which contributed to successful LDKT in highly sensitized end stage renal disease patient. All recipients were discharged with normal and stable allograft function at 24 mo follow up. We believe that this is first report from India where three-way KPD exchange was performed with the combination of KPD and desensitization. The combination of desensitization protocol with KPD improves access and outcomes of LDKT.

Old game, new players: Linking classical theories to new trends in transplant immunology

The evolutionary emergence of an efficient immune system has a fundamental role in our survival against pathogenic attacks. Nevertheless, this same protective mechanism may also establish a negative consequence in the setting of disorders such as autoimmunity and transplant rejection. In light of the latter, although research has long uncovered main concepts of allogeneic recognition, immune rejection is still the main obstacle to long-term graft survival. Therefore, in order to define effective therapies that prolong graft viability, it is essential that we understand the underlying mediators and mechanisms that participate in transplant rejection. This multifaceted process is characterized by diverse cellular and humoral participants with innate and adaptive functions that can determine the type of rejection or promote graft acceptance. Although a number of mediators of graft recognition have been described in traditional immunology, recent studies indicate that defining rigid roles for certain immune cells and factors may be more complicated than originally conceived. Current research has also targeted specific cells and drugs that regulate immune activation and induce tolerance. This review will give a broad view of the most recent understanding of the allogeneic inflammatory/tolerogenic response and current insights into cellular and drug therapies that modulate immune activation that may prove to be useful in the induction of tolerance in the clinical setting.

Mechanism of charged interface of stargazin EX1 on AMPAR opening and desensitization

OBJECTIVE AMPA-subtype iono⁃tropic glutamate receptors(iGluRs)mediate fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the mammali⁃an central nervous system(CNS).It plays the key role in many central nerves disorder such as epilepsy,depression and schizophrenia.Star⁃gazin(STZ,also named TARP-γ2),as the first TARPs found in CNS,potentiates AMPAR activity by attenuating deactivation and desensitization,enhancing recovery from desensitization,and facilitating agonist affinity and efficacy.However,it is still not fully understanding howγ-2 modu⁃late AMPAR gating.METHODS AND RESULTS The desensitization for different mutation of AMPAR andγ-2 was compared.It was shown that the electric attraction was involved in the interaction of AMPAR andγ-2.In addition,the interaction of KGK motif in ligand binding domain and pre-M1 chain of AMPAR and EX1 ofγ-2 modulate AMPAR opening and desensitization.Substitution of these charged residues had sur⁃prisingly effects on AMPAR desensitization kinet⁃ics.CONCLUSION The electric attraction has two impacts on the channels gating process the first destablizing the receptor closed state and enabling the channel opening,the second pro⁃moting the channels entering desensitization state upon the channel opening.

Acknowledgments to reviewers of World Journal of Immunology

Many reviewers have contributed their expertise and time to the peer review,a critical process to ensure the quality of World Journal of Immunology.The editors and authors of the articles submitted to the journal are grateful to the following reviewers for evaluating the articles(including those published in this issue and those rejected for this issue)during the last editing time period.Azzam

International Conference on Immunology 2007

Shanghai,China July 12-15,2007 The conference will provide a forum to bring together immunologists and scientists from around the world in related fields to review the latest progress and development,to exchange their experience,progress

Effect of desensitization treatment for highly sensitized uremic patients before kidney transplantation

Objective To explore the feasibility and efficacy of desensitization protocol for highly sensitized renal transplant patients ( HSP ) . Methods Thirty - five HSPs ( HLA class - I panel reactive antibody 2〉50 % ) , including 27 patients with a positive T and/or B cell cy-

Exercise immunology:Future directions

Several decades of research in the area of exercise immunology have shown that the immune system is highly responsive to acute and chronic exercise training.Moderate exercise bouts enhance immunosurveillance and when repeated over time mediate multiple health benefits.Most of the studies prior to 2010 relied on a few targeted outcomes related to immune function.During the past decade,technologic advances have created opportunities for a multi-omics and systems biology approach to exercise immunology.This article provides an overview of metabolomics,lipidomics,and proteomics as they pertain to exercise immunology,with a focus on immunometabolism.This review also summarizes how the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota can be influenced by exercise,with applications to human health and immunity.Exercise-induced improvements in immune function may play a critical role in countering immunosenescence and the development of chronic diseases,and emerging omics technologies will more clearly define the underlying mechanisms.This review summarizes what is currently known regarding a multi-omics approach to exercise immunology and provides future directions for investigators.

The sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax as a marine model species in immunology:Insights from basic and applied research

This review summarizes the current knowledge on immune defence activities of the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax by reporting the consistent amount of work done on this economically-important species.A draft genome sequence is available for this species,together with whole transcriptomes from lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues.Available full-length coding sequences of many immunoregulatory and immune-related genes allow for targeted quantitative PCR analysis,nowadays needed for-omics data verification,ex vivo and in vitro.The first anti-T cells monoclonal antibody teleost-wise was obtained in sea bass,followed by several monoclonal and polyclonal markers of lymphocyte populations,namely T cells(pan-T,CD3ε,TcRγ,CD45),and B cells(IgM,IgT,IgD).The combined use of molecular and biochemical tools enabled investigations on innate and acquired immune responses of sea bass in unstimulated/stimulated fish,along the development and under variable environmental conditions and food regimes.An overview of sea bass viral and bacterial pathogens and available vaccines against these microorganisms is also provided.The knowledge accumulated in the past 25 years validates the European sea bass as a reference marine model in the field of fish immunology.

Systems Immunology Enabled Immune Engineering

The immune checkpoint blockade has revolutionized cancer treatment.However,not all cancer types are susceptible to this therapy.Even in melanoma,one of the best scenario,about half of the patients do not respond to immune checkpoint blockade.Since CD8+T cell is the main driving force behind cancer elimination,then having a complete and competent T cell repertoire to cover all possible cancer antigens expressed by cancer cells should be a determining factor to the success of this therapy.Conversely,if there are'holes'in patients’T cell repertoire and/or'weak spots'manifested as functional dysregulation or exhaustion on T cells specific to a set of cancer antigens that dominantly expressed by cancer cells,cancer immune escape is inevitable.However,these two types of cancer immune escape might need different treatment strategies:the first group with'holes'in the T cell repertoire,whether the'holes'are taking on a form of missing T cells to cover these cancer antigens or missing high-affinity TCRs that are known to be more sensitive to antigen stimulation,would be benefited from TCR re-directed adoptive cell transfer(ACT)therapy;the other group with T cell repertoire'weak spots'would be benefited from immune checkpoint blockade alone or in combination with additional stimulatory factors such as cytokines and peptide vaccine.In the past decade,we have developed several tools to profile the T cell repertoire from T cell receptor diversity to T cell receptor affinity to high-throughput linking antigen specificity to single T cell receptor sequences in large scale.In this talk,I will first introduce these tools and then give examples on how we use them to answer some of the fundamental questions in systems immunology with a focus on cancer immunology,which in turn help us design new therapeutics immune engineering.