Micromechanical Properties of Injection-Molded Starch–Wood Particle Composites

The micromechanical properties of injection molded starch–wood particle composites were investigated as a function of particle content and humidity conditions. The composite materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. The microhardness of the composites was shown to increase notably with the concentration of the wood particles. In addition,creep behavior under the indenter and temperature dependence were evaluated in terms of the independent contribution of the starch matrix and the wood microparticles to the hardness value. The influence of drying time on the density and weight uptake of the injection-molded composites was highlighted. The results revealed the role of the mechanism of water evaporation, showing that the dependence of water uptake and temperature was greater for the starch–wood composites than for the pure starch sample. Experiments performed during the drying process at 70°C indicated that the wood in the starch composites did not prevent water loss from the samples.Peer reviewe

Prolonged poststimulation inhibition of bladder activity induced by tibial nerve stimulation in cats

Inhibition of bladder activity by tibial nerve stimulation was investigated in α-chloralose-anesthetized cats with an intact spinal cord. Short-duration (3–5 min) tibial nerve stimulation at both low (5 Hz) and high (30 Hz) frequencies applied repeatedly during rhythmic isovolumetric bladder contractions was effective in inhibiting reflex bladder activity. Both frequencies of stimulation were also effective in inducing inhibition that persisted after the termination of the stimulation. The poststimulation inhibitory effect induced by the short-duration stimulation significantly increased bladder capacity to 181.6 ± 24.36% of the control capacity measured before applying the stimulation. Thirty-minute continuous stimulation induced prolonged poststimulation inhibition of bladder activity, which lasted for more than 2 h and significantly increased bladder capacity to 161.1 ± 2.9% of the control capacity. During the poststimulation periods, 5-Hz stimulation applied during the cystometrogram elicited a further increase (∼30% on average) in bladder capacity, but 30-Hz stimulation was ineffective. These results in cats support the clinical observation that tibial nerve neuromodulation induces a long-lasting poststimulation inhibitory effect that is useful in treating overactive bladder symptoms