6,864 research outputs found
RIC-HSCT for MF/SS
No full textAdvanced-stage mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome (MF/SS) have a poor prognosis. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), particularly using a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen, is a promising treatment for advanced-stage MF/SS. We performed RIC-HSCT in nine patients with advanced MF/SS. With a median follow-up period of 954days after HSCT, the estimated 3-year overall survival was 85.7% (95% confidence interval, 33.4-97.9%) with no non-relapse mortality. Five patients relapsed after RIC-HSCT; however, in four patients whose relapse was detected only from the skin, persistent complete response was achieved in one patient, and the disease was manageable in other three patients by the tapering of immunosuppressants and donor lymphocyte infusion, suggesting that graft-versus-lymphoma effect and "down-staging" effect from advanced stage to early stage by HSCT improve the prognosis of advanced-stage MF/SS. These results suggest that RIC-HSCT is an effective treatment for advanced MF/SS
Hiding in plain sight: an epitope-based strategy for a subunit malaria vaccine
No full textRecent data suggest that approaches to developing a subunit blood-stage malaria vaccine may be misdirected. While antigenic polymorphism is recognized as a challenge, efforts to counter this have primarily involved enhancing the quantity and quality of antibody with potent adjuvants, identifying conserved target proteins, or combining multiple antigens to broaden the immune response. However, paradoxically, evidence has emerged that narrowing, rather than broadening, the immune response may be required to obtain an immune response protective against multiple Plasmodium strains. Non-immunodominant, conserved epitopes are crucial. The evidence comes from studying the immune response to red cell surface-expressed antigens but should also be applicable to merozoite surface antigens. Strategies to define the targets of these highly focused immune responses are provided.No Full Tex
A Study into the Tradeoffs Between TDM / MF-SCPC and TDM / MF-TDMA Transport Options to Support IP-Based Multimedia Applications Under Different Load Conditions Within a Point-to-Multipoint Satellite Network
No full textThis thesis provides the reader with an overview of the many elements that are involved in geosynchronous satellite point-to-multipoint Internet Protocol (IP)-based multimedia communications design and also takes a deep dive into the analysis of a real-life scenario, using the TDM / MF-SCPC and TDM / MF-TDMA media access techniques.
This thesis starts with a discussion of satellite network topologies utilized within point-to-multipoint satellite communications followed by an overview of the satellite communications channel. A discussion on the intelligent and proper selection of modulation and coding follows. Descriptions and characteristics of the satellite access technologies chosen to be analyzed are next followed by a detailed description of Forward Error Correction (FEC) techniques and a discussion on network-wide tradeoffs so selecting different options.
The thesis then presents the results of a real-life scenario, investigating both TDM / MF-SCPC and TDM / MF-TDMA media access technique options, pointing out the tradeoffs brought to the forefront earlier in the study. The major takeaway is that there does not exist a one-size-fits-all solution that works for each and every scenario.Master of Scienc
Contagious success
No full textAbout one third of the 50 million deaths that occur each year are caused by infectious diseases, making pathogenic organisms the world's number one killer. In Australia, our contribution to infectious diseases research has been disproportionate to our small size. Early work of Joseph Bancroft, Howard Florey, Macfarlane Burnet, Neil Hamilton-Fairley, Frank Fenner and Ralph Doherty, to name but a few, has inspired following Australian generations to continue the noble quest to understand the pathogenesis of these diseases.No Full Tex
Carbon nanotube/MF composites
No full textA new generation of composites, frequently referred to as nanocomposites, are making research and engineering impact worldwide. Particularly, the incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNT) into polymers is attractive, due to the generally good processability of polymers and the unprecedented properties of nanotubes. Stiffness and strength enhancement, favourable processing characteristics as well as increased functionality are being imparted to a growing range of polymers, by filling them with carbon nanotubes. Some of the so-far studies have focused on coating polymers filled with CNT. However, melamine-formaldehyde (MF), an important coating polymer, has not been studied as a matrix for CNT composites.In this work, MF filled with single-wall (SWNT) and filled with multi-wall nanotubes (MWNT), is studied. Low amounts of nanotubes are used. Alpha-cellulose is added to MF in order to improve the processing conditions, and to enhance the performance in the solid state. Thus a ternary CNT/cellulose/MF composite is prepared and analysed MWNT are carboxilized, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to characterise the carboxilation. Next, the functionalised nanotubes are dispersed in MF aqueous solution. An anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) surfactant is used to assist the dispersion. Viscosity of the dispersion is measured. A manufacturing technique developed by us earlier for carbonaceous micro fillers in MF is adapted. A dispersion is deposited on alpha-cellulose papers, impregnated papers are stacked and hot-pressed to form a solid nanocomposite.Electron and light microscopy is used to observe the composite solid state morphology and dispersion in the liquid-phase. Solid state mechanical properties are measured and analysed
Carbon nanotube/MF composites
No full textA new generation of composites, frequently referred to as nanocomposites, are making research and engineering impact worldwide. Particularly, the incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNT) into polymers is attractive, due to the generally good processability of polymers and the unprecedented properties of nanotubes. Stiffness and strength enhancement, favourable processing characteristics as well as increased functionality are being imparted to a growing range of polymers, by filling them with carbon nanotubes. Some of the so-far studies have focused on coating polymers filled with CNT. However, melamine-formaldehyde (MF), an important coating polymer, has not been studied as a matrix for CNT composites.
In this work, MF filled with single-wall (SWNT) and filled with multi-wall nanotubes (MWNT), is studied. Low amounts of nanotubes are used. Alpha-cellulose is added to MF in order to improve the processing conditions, and to enhance the performance in the solid state. Thus a ternary CNT/cellulose/MF composite is prepared and analysed
MWNT are carboxilized, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to characterise the carboxilation. Next, the functionalised nanotubes are dispersed in MF aqueous solution. An anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) surfactant is used to assist the dispersion. Viscosity of the dispersion is measured. A manufacturing technique developed by us earlier for carbonaceous micro fillers in MF is adapted. A dispersion is deposited on alpha-cellulose papers, impregnated papers are stacked and hot-pressed to form a solid nanocomposite.
Electron and light microscopy is used to observe the composite solid state morphology and dispersion in the liquid-phase.
Solid state mechanical properties are measured and analysed
Malaria Vaccines: Progress to Date
No full textMalaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Despite significant declines in malaria-attributable morbidity and mortality over the last two decades, it remains a major public health burden in many countries. This underscores the critical need for improved strategies to prevent, treat and control malaria if we are to ultimately progress towards the eradication of this disease. Ideally, this will include the development and deployment of a highly effective malaria vaccine that is able to induce long-lasting protective immunity. There are many malaria vaccine candidates in development, with more than a dozen of these in clinical development. RTS,S/AS01 (also known as Mosquirix) is the most advanced malaria vaccine and was shown to have modest efficacy against clinical malaria in phase III trials in 5- to 17-month-old infants. Following pilot implementation trials, the World Health Organisation has recommended it for use in Africa in young children who are most at risk of infection with P. falciparum, the deadliest of the human malaria parasites. It is well recognised that more effective malaria vaccines are needed. In this review, we discuss malaria vaccine candidates that have progressed into clinical evaluation and highlight the most advanced candidates: Sanaria's irradiated sporozoite vaccine (PfSPZ Vaccine), the chemoattenuated sporozoite vaccine (PfSPZ-CVac), RTS,S/AS01 and the novel malaria vaccine candidate, R21, which displayed promising, high-level efficacy in a recent small phase IIb trial in Africa.Full Tex
Ultimate limit state of MF-FRP beams
No full textUsually, FRP materials are adhesively bonded to the structural substrate. An innovative technique application is based on the use of mechanical fastening (MF-FRP) by means of steel anchors to attach FRP laminates with enhanced bearing strength to concrete substrate. The benefit of MF-FRP, compared to adhesive bonding for FRP flexural strengthening is due to speed of installation using unskilled labor, minimal or absent surface preparation under any meteorological condition and immediate use of the strengthened structures. Some of the potential shortcomings are: brittle failure modes for members strengthened with the MF-FRP without a proper design; possible concrete damage during the drilling and dense internal reinforcement of the members that could limit the installation. Laboratory testing and a number of field applications have shown the effectiveness of such method. In this paper an analytical model is discussed for reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened by using MF-FRP strips. The model accounts for equilibrium, compatibility and constitutive relationships of materials, in particular, it accounts explicitly for the slip between the surface of the substrate and the FRP strip due to the behavior of fasteners. The proposed flexural model, coupled with an appropriate computation algorithm, is able to predict the fundamentals of flexural behavior of RC members strengthened with MF-FRP strips in terms of ultimate limit state. A comparison between the analytical predictions and the experimental results has been performed to validate the proposed model. The comparison shows a good agreement between the analytical predictions and the experimental results
Preparation of mono-sized epoxy/MF microcapsulesin the appearance of polyvinyl alcohol as co-emulsifier
No full textFor epoxy microcapsules embedded in concrete as mechanic-triggered self-healing adhesive, globular shape with uniform size is the basic requirement to ensure the solid shell broken and the liquid core released at a designed stress. In this paper, monodispersed melamine\u96formaldehyde (MF) resin-walled epoxy E-51 microcapsules were successfully fabricated in an in situ polycondensation process, in which a certain amount of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution was added as coemulsifier to control the microcapsules\u92 shape and size. Detail investigation shows, with the cooperation of PVA, the microcapsule morphologies and size distribution were ease to be adjusted by the parameters such as emulsifying agents, agitation rate, pH value and acidification time
Serviceability Limit State of MF-FRP Beams
No full textReinforced concrete (RC) structural members are usually strengthened with epoxy bonded
pre-cured FRP strips. An innovative strengthening technique application is based on the use of
FRP strips, with enhanced bearing strength, attached to concrete substrate by using
mechanical fasteners (MF-FRP) in place of epoxy adhesive. The MF-FRP method is a viable
technique for strengthening concrete members, particularly where speed of installation and
immediacy of use are imperative. Laboratory testing and a number of field applications have
shown the effectiveness of such method. An analytical model is discussed for RC beams
strengthening using MF-FRP strips. The model accounts for equilibrium, compatibility and
constitutive relationships of materials, in particular, it accounts explicitly for the slip between
the concrete substrate and the FRP strip due to the behavior of fasteners. The proposed
flexural model, coupled with an appropriate computation algorithm, is able to predict the
fundamentals of flexural behavior of RC members strengthened with MF-FRP strips in terms
of serviceability limit state, such as load vs. deflection curves, strain profiles and curvatures.
A comparison between the analytical predictions and the experimental results has been
performed to validate the proposed model. The comparison shows a good agreement between
the analytical predictions and the experimental results
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