Glutathione redox status in some tissues and the intestinal parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala) from barbel (Barbus barbus) (pisces) from the Danube river

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Preconcentration method for trace metals in natural waters using 4-morpholine dithiocarbamate

The optimum conditions were found for the preconcentration of trace metals in natural waters and model samples with standard metals concentrations by using 4-morpholinedithiocarbamate. The formed complexes were extracted with chloroform. Different methods for recovering the metals from the organic solvent were studied and compared before AAS metal analysis. The developed preconcentration method was successfully applied to the determination of trace metals concentrations in water samples from the Barje lake (Leskovac, Yugoslavia)

Maternal plasma proteome profiling of biomarkers and pathogenic mechanisms of early-onset and late-onset preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in pregnancy without a cure. There are two phenotypes of preeclampsia, early-onset (EOPE) and late-onset (LOPE) with poorly defined pathogenic differences. This study aimed to facilitate better understanding of the mechanisms of pathophysiology of EOPE and LOPE, and identify specific biomarkers or therapeutic targets. In this study, we conducted an untargeted, label-free quantitative proteomic analyses of plasma samples from pregnant women with EOPE (n = 17) and LOPE (n = 11), and age, BMI-matched normotensive controls (n = 18). Targeted proteomics approach was also employed to validate a subset of proteins (n = 17). In total, there were 26 and 20 differentially abundant proteins between EOPE or LOPE, and normotensive controls, respectively. A series of angiogenic and inflammatory proteins, including insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 (IGFBP4; EOPE: FDR = 0.0030 and LOPE: FDR = 0.00396) and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H2-4 (ITIH2-4), were significantly altered in abundance in both phenotypes. Through validation we confirmed that ITIH2 was perturbed only in LOPE (p = 0.005) whereas ITIH3 and ITIH4 were perturbed in both phenotypes (p < 0.05). Overall, lipid metabolism/transport proteins associated with atherosclerosis were highly abundant in LOPE, however, ECM proteins had a more pronounced role in EOPE. The complement cascade and binding and uptake of ligands by scavenger receptors, pathways, were associated with both EOPE and LOPE

Glycolyzed products from PET waste and their application in synthesis of polyurethane dispersions

Soft drinks poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottles were depolymerized by glycolysis with different molar ratio of glycol, such as propylene glycol (PG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG 400), in the presence of a zinc acetate catalyst. These glycolyzed products were characterized by hydroxyl value (HV) determinations. The obtained glycolyzed products were reacted with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), as potential ionic center for water dispersibility, and mixed with ethylene diamine (EDA) as extender chain to prepare polyurethane dispersions. The PET glycolyzed products and polyurethane formation were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The molecular masses distribution of oligoester polyol and polyurethane dispersions were determined by using gel permeation chromatography (G PC). The effect of different PET/glycol molar ratio, on the physico-mechanical properties, such as hardness, adhesion test and gloss of polyurethane films were investigated. Thermal properties were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was observed that initial degradation temperatures were at about 200 degrees C, with two-or three degradation steps. The influence of different molar ratio PET/glycol on DTG curves showed stages that were not noticeable in the appropriate weight loss curves. Polyurethane dispersions which lower molar ratio of PET/glycol in glycolyzed products showed lower thermal stability due to the presence of a greater amount of aromaticity in polyester backbone led to materials with higher film hardness. The values for the film adherence and gloss were confirmed their excellent properties for potential application for coatings in civil engineering, metal or polymer industry. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Iranian Existing Steel Buildings: State of the Practice; Part 1: Non-Engineered Practices

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