Despite extensive investigations, an effective treatment for sepsis remains elusive and a better understanding of the inflammatory response to infection is required to identify potential new targets for therapy. In this study we have used RNAi technology to show, for the first time, that the inducible lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 2 (LPCAT2) plays a key role in macrophage inflammatory gene expression in response to stimulation with bacterial ligands. Using siRNA- or shRNA-mediated knockdown, we demonstrate that, in contrast to the constitutive LPCAT1, LPCAT2 is required for macrophage cytokine gene expression and release in response to TLR4 and TLR2 ligand stimulation but not for TLR-independent stimuli. In addition, cells transfe

Pharmaceutical-instigated pollution is a major concern, especially in relation to aquatic environments and drugs such as meropenem antibiotics. Adsorbents, such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes, offer potential as means of removing polluting meropenem antibiotics and other similar compounds from water. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in this capacity, various experimental parameters, including contact time, initial concentration, pH, temperature and the dose of adsorbent have been investigated. The Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherm models have been used. The data obtained using a modified Langmuir model have been consistent with the experimental ones; the best pH value has been obtained to have the

Functionalized-multi wall carbon nanotubes (F-MWCNTs) and functionalized-single wall carbon nanotubes (F-SWCNTs) were well enhanced using CoO Nanoparticles. The sensor device consisted of a film of sensitive material (F-MWCNTs/CoONPs) and (F-SWCNTs/CoO NPs) deposited by drop- casting on an n-type porous silicon substrate. The two sensors perform high sensitivity to NO₂ gas at room temperatures. The analysis indicated that the (F-MWCNTs/CoONPs) have a better performance than (F-SWCNTs/CoONPs). The F-SWCNTs/CoONPs gas sensor shows high sensitivity (19.1 %) at RT with response time 17 sec, while F-MWCNTs/CoONPs gas sensor show better sensitivity (39 %) at RT with response time 13 sec. The device shows a very reproducible sensor p

This study investigates the surgical and thermal effects on oral soft tissues produced by CO2 laser emitting at 10.6 micrometers with three different fluences 490.79, 1226.99 and 1840.4 J/cm2. These effects are specifically; incision depth, incision width and the tissue damage width and depth. The results showed that increasing the fluence and /or the number of beam passes increase the average depths of ablation. Moreover, increasing the fluence and the number of beam passes increase the adjacent tissue damage in width and depth. Surgeons using CO2 laser should avoid multiple pulses of the laser beam over the same area, to avoid unintentional tissue damage.

The aim of this research is to calculate mass transfer coefficient, k_d, during cathodic protection of low carbon steel in neutral seawater (3.5% W/V NaCl in distilled water with pH = 7). Two types of cathodic protection were used:

First: Sacrificial anode cathodic protection (SACP) were a pipeline of steel carrying seawater  using zinc as a sacrificial anode and with variable temperatures ranged (0 – 45^oC) and volumetric flow rate ranged (5 – 900 lit/hr). It was found that the k_d increases with increasing temperature and volumetric flow rate of seawater, where k_d ranged (0.24×10^-6 – 41.6×10^-6 m/s).

Second: Impressed current cathodic pr

Phenylthiourea  (PHTU),was  tested  as  inhibitor for  the  corrosion  of  low  carbon  steel  in different  HCI  acid concentration by mass loss ,and polarization measurements .it was found that (PHTU) is a good inhibitor for the corrosion of low carbon steel in 1,3,and 5N HCI solution ,and its inhibition efficiency (0) increases with its concentration and attains approximately 97% at l g/I .polarization curves indicate that (PHTU) acts as an anodic type inhibitor .the inhibitor was adsorbed on the low carbon steel surface according to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Results show that the rate of corrosion of low carbon steel increased with increasing temperature o

Furfural is a toxic aromatic aldehyde that can cause a severe environmental problem especially the wastewater drown from petroleum refinery units. In the present work, a useless by-product from local furniture manufacturing industry; sawdust was used as raw material for the preparation of activated carbon which is chemically activated with phosphoric acid. The effect of adsorption variables which include initial pH of solution (2-9), agitation speed (50-250) rpm, agitation time (15-120) min, initial concentration of furfural (50-250) ppm, and amount of adsorbent material (0.5-2.5) g for the three adsorbents used (prepared activated carbon, commercial activated carbon and raw sawdust) were investigated in a batch process

Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) were widely used in strengthening reinforced concrete members
in the last few years, these fibers consist mainly of high strength fibers which increase the member capacity in addition to changing the mode of failure of the reinforced concrete beams. Experimental and theoretical investigations were carried to find the behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened by CFRP in shear and bending. The experimental work included testing of 12 beams divided into 4 groups; each group contains 3 beams. The following parameters were taken into consideration: - Concrete crushing strength. - CFRP strengthening location (shear strengthening and both shear and flexure strengthening). Reinforced beams were

Provides the style of benchmarking the best possible use whenevaluating the performance and evaluation, as well as improved performance,due to its consistency with the principles of good evaluation of theperformance, an extension of the completion of several functions of the timeand cost less, thereby increasing the efficiency of the management of theinstitutions, especially institutions, the media, as it became public the future ofthe message sender to the same time Zaorosaúl new media is challenging thetraditional media of what distinguishes this new interactive media and mass ledto this transition . However, the media Aljdidhoosaúl traditional mediacontinue to coexist and reinforce each Menhmaalakhr, for his wealth offreedom of opin