Determinants of emotional problems and mood disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and severity of emotional problems among Polish women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and seek factors which increase the risk of their occurrence. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 82 women (aged 18–48), who were diagnosed with PCOS based on the Rotterdam criteria. During hospitalization, the patients completed a number of questionnaires, providing their sociodemographic data and information concerning the inconvenience of disease-associated symptoms. The question­naires included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory (MSEI). Data obtained during medical examinations (blood tests, transvaginal ultrasound, height and body mass measurements) were analyzed. Results: Out of 82 women, the results detected risk for depression in 42 (51.22%), mild depressive disorders in 32, moderate disorders in 8, and severe disorder in 2 patients. No statistically significant correlation between BDI or state anxiety and the level of the analyzed hormones, insulin resistance, or infertility treatment, was found. General self-esteem, trait anxi­ety, and marital status were associated with the occurrence of depression symptoms. BMI was associated with the level of state anxiety during hospitalization. Conclusions: Women with PCOS are at risk for mood and anxiety disorders. Disease-related somatic factors are not directly associated with the risk for disorder occurrence. However, severity of depression symptoms has been shown to be influenced by permanent psychological characteristics of the studied women, i.e. self-esteem, trait anxiety, and life situation (marital status). Therefore, it is recommended to include interviews about patient life situation and screening questionnaires for assessing depression into the diagnostic procedures in PCOS patients. Patients should be referred for a psychological or psychiatric consultation, if needed

Thermal properties comparison of hybrid CF/FF and BF/FF cyanate ester-based composites

[EN] Insights within thermal expansion, conductivity, and decomposition dependencies with temperature on symmetrical and unsymmetrical layered carbon (CF) or basalt (BF) fabrics in combination with flax fibers (FF) were approached. Driven by commercial application and environmental concerns, the paper draws attention on a modified formula of cyanate ester with a common epoxy resin under an optimized ratio of 70:30 (vol%) as well as on the hybrid reinforcements stacking sequences. Synergetic effects were debated in terms of the CF and BF stacking sequences and corresponding volume fraction followed by comparisons with values predicted by the deployment of hybrid mixtures rules (RoHM/iRoHM). CF hybrid architectures revealed enhanced effective thermophysical properties over their BF counterparts and both over the FF-reinforced polymer composite considered as a reference. Thermal conductivities spread between 0.116 and 0.299 W m-1 K-1 from room temperature up to 250 C on all hybrid specimens, giving rise to an insulator character. Concerning the coefficient of thermal expansion, CF hybrid architectures disclosed values of 1.236 10-6 K-1 and 3.102 10-6 K-1 compared with BF affine exhibiting 4.794 10-6 K-1 and 6.245 10-6 K-1, respectively, with an increase in their volume fraction.The corresponding author gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of German Academic Exchange Service-DAAD that enabled and supported the internship with Fraunhofer Research Institution for Polymeric Materials and Composites-PYCO, Germany. Many thanks go to Dr. Christian Dreyer and Dr. Maciej Gwiazda for the resin formula and access to the composite manufacturing technology.Motoc, DL.; Ferrándiz Bou, S.; Balart, R. (2018). Thermal properties comparison of hybrid CF/FF and BF/FF cyanate ester-based composites. 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Study of the properties of thermoset materials derived from epoxidized soybean oil and protein fillers. J Am Oil Chem Soc. 2013;90(3):449–57.Pil L, Bensadoun F, Pariset J, Verpoest I. Why are designers fascinated by flax and hemp fibre composites? Compos A Appl Sci Manuf. 2016;83:193–205.Wooster TJ, Abrol S, Hey JM, MacFarlane DR. Thermal, mechanical, and conductivity properties of cyanate ester composites. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf. 2004;35(1):75–82.Mallarino S, Chailan JF, Vernet JL. Glass fibre sizing effect on dynamic mechanical properties of cyanate ester composites I. Single frequency investigations. Eur Polym J. 2005;41(8):1804–11.Sothje D, Dreyer C, Bauer M, editors. Advanced possibilities in thermoset recycling. In: The 3rd international conference on thermosets. 2013; Berlin, Germany.Yuan L, Huang S, Gu A, Liang G, Chen F, Hu Y, et al. A cyanate ester/microcapsule system with low cure temperature and self-healing capacity. Compos Sci Technol. 2013;87:111–7.Czigány T. 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Expansion of Nature Conservation Areas: Problems with Natura 2000 Implementation in Poland?

In spite of widespread support from most member countries’ societies for European Union policy, including support for the sustainable development idea, in many EU countries the levels of acceptance of new environmental protection programmes have been and, in particular in new member states, still are considerably low. The experience of the countries which were the first to implement union directives show that they cannot be effectively applied without widespread public participation. The goal of this study was, using the example of Poland, to assess public acceptance of the expansion of nature conservation in the context of sustainable development principles and to discover whether existing nature governance should be modified when establishing new protected areas. The increase in protected areas in Poland has become a hotbed of numerous conflicts. In spite of the generally favourable attitudes to nature which Polish people generally have, Natura 2000 is perceived as an unnecessary additional conservation tool. Both local authorities and communities residing in the Natura areas think that the programme is a hindrance, rather than a help in the economic development of municipalities or regions, as was initially supposed. This lack of acceptance results from many factors, mainly social, historic and economic. The implications of these findings for current approach to the nature governance in Poland are discussed

Antioxidants used in production of rubber elements. Part II. Current trends with special interest in polymeric antioxidants and antioxidants synthesized using biobased substances

Powszechnie wykorzystywane w przemyśle gumowym przeciwutleniacze są substancjami otrzymywanymi ze źródeł pochodzenia petrochemicznego i wykazują działanie toksyczne względem człowieka i środowiska naturalnego. Projektowanie nowoczesnych przeciwutleniaczy powinno zatem skupiać się na zminimalizowaniu wad obecnie stosowanych przeciwutleniaczy. Przedstawiona praca obejmuje przegląd literatury z lat 2000–2017 w zakresie nowoczesnych przeciwutleniaczy ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem polimerycznych przeciwutleniaczy petrochemicznych oraz przeciwutleniaczy pochodzenia naturalnego (lub zsyntezowanych z użyciem substancji pochodzenia naturalnego).Commonly used in the rubber industry antioxidants are substances derived from petrochemical resources and possess toxicity for human and environment. Designing of novel antioxidants should be connected with the elimination of disadvantages of currently used antioxidants. Presented work contains literature review from 2000 to 2017 in the area of modern antioxidants with the special focus on the polymeric petrochemical antioxidants and bio-based antioxidants (or synthesized using bio-based substances)

Kinetyka degradacji termicznej poli(bursztynianu propylenu) zsyntetyzowanego z monomerów pochodzenia naturalnego

Linear bio-based polyester polyols were prepared with the use of succinic acid and 1,3-propanediol (both with natural origin). Tetraisopropyl orthotitanate (TPT) was used as a catalyst. In order to determine the effect of various synthesis temperature conditions on the thermal degradation kinetics, nine sequences of temperature conditions were used during two-step polycondensation reaction. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted with the use of DSC-TG/QMS method (differential scanning calorimetry-coupled with thermogravimetry and quadrupole mass spectrometry). The results indicated high thermal stability of the obtained materials. They undergo a one-step thermal decomposition with the temperature of maximum rate of weight loss at ca. 405 °C. Moreover, the thermal degradation kinetics was determined with the use of Ozawa, Flynn and Wall as well as Kissinger methods. The highest thermal degradation activation energy was equal to 196.4 kJ/mol.Liniowe bio-poliole poliestrowe syntetyzowano z wykorzystaniem substratów pochodzenia naturalnego: kwasu bursztynowego oraz 1,3-propanodiolu. W charakterze katalizatora stosowano ortotytanian tetraizopropylu (TPT). W celu określenia wpływu temperatury syntezy na kinetykę degradacji termicznej, podczas dwuetapowej reakcji polikondensacji zastosowano różne warunki temperaturowe w dziewięciu sekwencjach. Analizę termograwimetryczną prowadzono za pomocą metody różnicowej kalorymetrii skaningowej sprzężonej z termograwimetrią i kwadrupolową spektrometrią masową(DSC-TG/QMS). Wyniki badań potwierdziły dużą stabilność termiczną materiałów oraz jednoetapowość procesu rozkładu temperaturowego z temperaturą maksymalnego rozkładu wynoszącą ok. 405 °C. Określono też kinetykę degradacji termicznej metodami Ozawy, Flynna i Walla oraz Kissingera. Największa wartość energii aktywacji degradacji termicznej wyniosła 196,4 kJ/mol

The influence of chemical structure on mechanical and thermomechanical properties of cast biopolyurethane elastomers

Przedmiotem niniejszej pracy są elastomery biopoliuretanowe otrzymywane metodą dwuetapową, tzw. prepolimerową, z wykorzystaniem surowców bio-pochodnych. Zbadano wpływ różnych małocząsteczkowych przedłużaczy łańcucha prepolimerowego: 1,2-biopropanodiolu oraz 1,3-biopropanodiolu na strukturę chemiczną i właściwości mechaniczne (warunki statyczne i dynamiczne) elastomerów biopoliuretanowych. Ponadto, wykorzystano również inny surowiec pochodzenia naturalnego – hydroksylowany olej sojowy (użyty jako składnik mieszaniny poliolowej). Za pomocą techniki FTIR-ATR stwierdzono zmiany w strukturze chemicznej wynikające ze zróżnicowania struktury chemicznej bioglikoli. Wyniki badań wytrzymałości na rozciąganie wskazują na korzyść z zastosowania bioglikoli zawierających w strukturze dwie równocenne pierwszorzędowe grupy hydroksylowe. Na podstawie badań analizy dynamiczno-mechanicznej (DMA) stwierdzono zmiany modułu zachowawczego (E′) i stratności (E″) oraz współczynnika stratności (tan δ).The aim of the work was to obtain biopolyurethane elastomers from two bio-based components such as 1,2-biopropanediol or 1,3-biopropanediol (glycols) and hydroxylated soybean oil (as a mixture with commercial polyol). The influence of bio-based components on the chemical structure of elastomer and mechanical and thermo-mechanical elastomer properties (at static and dynamic conditions) were investigated. Based on FTIR-ATR results the changes in the chemical structure have been noticed, what is related to the diversified chemical structure of bioglycols and oil polyol, too. The results of static tensile tests show the benefits from using of bioglycol with two primary hydroxyl groups. Also the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results indicated changes in the storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E″) and damping factor (tan δ) values