A new class of high‐performance resins of combined molecular structure of both traditional phenolics and benzoxazines has been developed. The monomers termed as methylol‐functional benzoxazines were synthesized through Mannich condensation reaction of methylol‐functional phenols and aromatic amines, including methylenedianiline (4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane) and oxydianiline (4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether), in the presence of paraformaldehyde. For comparison, other series of benzoxazine monomers were prepared from phenol, corresponding aromatic amines, and paraformaldehyde. The as‐synthesized monomers are characterized by their high purity as judged from ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectra. Differential scanning calorimetric thermograms of the novel monomers show two exothermic peaks associated with condensation reaction of methylol groups and ring‐opening …

The design phase is the most important phase in determining the green performance of building projects. The performance of the design team is crucial. The growing importance of sustainability globally necessitates the inclusion of green criteria in the design team selection process. Therefore, a competent design teams is required to have a range of attributes as the basis for design decisions. The propose of this study to identify current green design performance level of design teams of building projects and establish key design attributes influencing green design performance. To achieve mentioned aim a questionnaire survey was conducted to collect dada required. A sample of 274 respondents has been covered under the study, including architects and engineers practicing design and consultancy building sectors. Prior to analysis of data WINSTEPS software were used to determine validity and reliability of date. Descriptive analysis data includes quantitative and qualitative. In general, design team attributes were moderate (3.32). The general design team attributes were high such experience (3.81), communication (3.43) and leadership effectiveness (3.48). However, green attributes of design team were moderate such as green knowledge (2.98), green skills (3.13) and green initiatives (2.84). The result indicates that most design teams have inadequate knowledge and skills to produce high green design performance of building projects. Therefore, to overcome green design complexity, careful selecting design team members and more education and training courses on green building are required to deal with green design requirements.

The effect of austenitizing temperature and Cr, Mo and Mn addition on microstructure and mechanical

properties of V microalloyed medium carbon steel has been studied by means of metallography and mechanical

testing. The addition of Cr, Mn and Mo leads to a decrease in yield strength (YS) by approximate 100 MPa in

comparison to the base steel. It is assumed that Mn and Mo increase hardenability by promoting the formation

of bainitic sheaves (BS), i:e: by suppressing the formation of ferrite-pearlite and acicular ferrite (FP-AF). Cr

at the level used in this work is not that e®ective. Presence and packet size of bainitic sheaves decrease

the Charpy V-notch impact energy at 20 ±C (CVN20) in comparison to ferrite-pearlite and acicular ferrite

microstructures.

The aim of this work was to investigate whether the Malaysian current building projects are considered as “Green Designs”. To achieve this aim a questionnaire survey was conducted. A sample of 274 respondents is covered, which included architects and engineers in the building design and consultancy sectors. WINSTEPS software is used in Rasch modeling to determine the validity and reliability of the data. Descriptive data analysis (quantitative and qualitative) is done. The results reveal that design green building performance, in general, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality requirements are considered moderate. The majority of the designed buildings are with low utilization of recycled and reused materials. Moreover, high utilization of regional materials, low consideration to water efficiency requirements and environmental innovations are also moderate. Design team attributes are the key factors to improve green design performance. Client quality play major role to enhance design team attributes. Therefore, effective Design team attributes and client’s qualities may increase performance of the design green building performance in order to enhance building performance and reduce building impact on environment.

Activation of innate immunity is regulated by a variety of signaling molecules within

the immune cells. The present thesis was aimed to improve our understanding

innate signaling mechanism and their possible use as bio-indicators of exposure and

disease. The first part of the thesis deals with the involvement of TOM1L1 (Target

of Myb1 like 1) in innate immune signaling and regulation of inflammatory cytokines

in immune cells (study I and II). The initial event of T-cells activation depend

on the recruitment of Src family kinases Fyn and Lck, leading to interleukine-2 (IL-

2) production in T cells. Understanding the regulatory aspects of IL-2 induction in

T-cells is of importance as IL-2 is a key regulator for T-cell proliferation and survival.

Interaction screening indicated the ability of TOM1L1 protein to interact with

Fyn, and Lck, that is important for IL-2 production in Jurkat T-cells. TOM1L1

silencing decreased the levels of CD3/CD28 dependent induction of IL-2 in Jurkat

T-cells, and LPS dependent induction of TNF-α in THP-1. Furthermore, overexpression

of TOM1L1 in Jurkat T-cells causes an increase of STAT3 expression. This

was accompanied by an increase in the levels of IL-1β dependent induction of IL-6

and TNF-α in THP-1 cells. These results indicate that TOM1L11 participate in

regulation of innate immune response. The second part of the thesis deals with

development of innate immune signaling responses used as a diagnosis tools for

disease and exposure (study III and IV). Inflammatory diseases are associated with

innate immune reactions. In response to inflammation, the immune cells release

inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1-β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and CXCL8. These

cytokines are regulated by stress related kinases include MAP kinase proteins such

as ERK1-2, JNK, and MAPK p38, through activation of transcription factors AP-1,

ATF-2, and NF-AT. In a clinical study, it was observed that activated MAPK p38

has a potential role in the regulation of IL-10 expression in intermittent claudication.

However, expression of IL-10 and MAPK p38 was opposed in stable angina

group. Therefore, targeting MAPK p38 in inflammatory disease such as cardiovascular

diseases, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis might be useful in development of

treatment strategies. Innate immune reactions can also be used to monitor stress

related inflammatory responses following environmental exposure of immune cells.

Inflammatory responses of exposure were studied by in vitro exposure to waters

from sewage treatment works and recipient waters. The analysis shows that exposure

to inland waters can result in activated immune responses and that these responses

are both site dependent and vary over time.

Keywords: Innate immunity, TOM1L1, inflammatory responses.