Experimental Characterization of the Mechanical Properties of Filter Media in Solid-Liquid Filtration Processes.

Nonwoven filter media are used in many industrial applications due to their high filtration efficiency and great variety of compositions and structures which can be produced by different processes. During filter operation in the separation process, the fluid flow exerts forces on the filter medium which leads to its deformation, and in extreme cases damage. In order to design or select a reliable filter medium for a given application, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical properties of the nonwoven material.

Progressive and controlled development of mouse dendritic cells from Flt3+CD11b+ progenitors in vitro.

Dendritic cells (DC) represent key regulators of the immune system, yet their development from hemopoietic precursors is poorly defined. In this study, we describe an in vitro system for amplification of a Flt3(+)CD11b(+) progenitor from mouse bone marrow with specific cytokines. Such progenitor cells develop into both CD11b(+) and CD11b(-) DC, and CD8alpha(+) and CD8alpha(-) DC in vivo.

Transcriptional profiling identifies Id2 function in dendritic cell development.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells with a pivotal role in antigen-specific immune responses. Here, we found that the helix-loop-helix transcription factor Id2 is up-regulated during DC development in vitro and crucial for the development of distinct DC subsets in vivo. Id2-/- mice lack Langerhans cells (LCs), the cutaneous contingent of DCs, and the splenic CD8alpha+ DC subset is markedly reduced.

Gas phase structure of O-nitrobis(trifluoromethyl)hydroxylamine, (CF3)2NONO2: an extremely long O-N bond.

The gas phase structure of O-nitrobis(trifluoromethyl)hydroxylamine, (CF(3))(2)NONO(2), has been determined with gas electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations (HF, MP2, and B3LYP with 6-31G basis sets). The calculations predict a structure with C(s) overall symmetry, a planar NONO(2) skeleton, and the NO(2) group oriented anti with respect to the CNC plane. The electron diffraction intensities are reproduced very well with such a model.