Anti-MNDA (aa 33-61) polyclonal antibody

A semicrystalline polymer, isotactic poly(phenyl glycidyl ether) (i-PPGE) was used as a modifier for epoxy resin; 1,8-Diamino-p-methane (MNDA) and 4,4'-Diamino diphenyl sulfone (DDS) were used as curing agents. In the MNDA-cured resins, the dispersed phase were spherical particles with diameters in the range of 0.5-1.0 mum when the resin was blended with 5 phr i-PPGE. In the DDS-cured resins, the particle size distribution of the dispersed phase was much wider. The difference was traced back to the reactivity of the curing agent and the different regimes used for curing. Through dynamic mechanical analysis, it was found that in the MNDA-cured systems, i-PPGE had a lower crystallinity than in the DDS-cured system. In spite of the remarkable difference in the morphology and microstructure of the modified resins cured with these two curing agents, the toughening effects of i-PPGE were similar for these resins. The critical stress intensity factor (K-IC) was increased by 54% and 53%, respectively, for the resins cured by DDS and by MNDA, blending with 5 phr of the toughner. i-PPGE was comparable with the classical toughners carboxyl-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers in effectiveness of toughening the epoxy resin. An advantage of i-PPGE was that the modulus and the glass-transition temperature of the resin were less affected. However, this modifier caused the flexural strength to decrease somewhat. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Objectives: Environmental enteropathy (EE) is likely associated with growth retardation in children, but the association between EE and length velocity z-score (LVZ) has not been investigated. The objective of the study was to assess associations between fecal markers for intestinal inflammation and LVZ and whether these associations were influenced by micronutrient adequacy among 9 to 24 months old children in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Methods: Data was divided into 5 time slots (9-12, 12-15, 15-18, 18-21 and 21-24 months). Anthropometric measurement and dietary assessment (by 24 h recall) were performed monthly. Mean nutrient density adequacy (MNDA) was calculated based on nutrient density adequacy (NDA) of ten micronutrients (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, iron and zinc). Anti-1-antitrypsin (AAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neopterin (NEO) were measured in stool samples collected at the beginning of each time slot. An environmental enteropathy (EE) score was calculated based on all three fecal markers. Associations between AAT, MPO, NEO and EE score and LVZ were assessed by multiple linear regression analyses and Generalized Estimating Equations models. Results: Associations between fecal markers and EE score and LVZ were generally weak. EE score and MPO for 3-month- and MPO for 6-month growth periods were significantly associated with LVZ from 9 to 24 months. These associations were slightly modified by mean nutrient density adequacy. Conclusions: EE score and MPO were significantly associated with LVZ in 9 to 24 months old Nepali children. Further studies to establish the usefulness of AAT, MPO and NEO in assessing EE and growth retardation are warranted.