Nanotechnology in construction and demolition: What we know, what we don’t

Self-cleaning windows, very high strength concrete and thin, super-efficient insulation are just three examples of new building materials promised by nanotechnology, which manipulates matter at the atomic level. But for all their purported benefits, little is known about the risks posed by very small, engineered particles and fibres. Some long and very thin strands might act like asbestos if they are inhaled, for instance. To begin addressing this knowledge gap, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) sponsored a research team at Loughborough University, led by Professor Alistair Gibb and Dr Wendy Jones, to investigate where these materials are used, how widespread this use is, what the potential risks are and how workers in construction and demolition might manage them. The executive summary of that report, released in January, is reproduced here with IOSH’s permission

نقش بمبزين در سيری پيش از جذب

پس از صرف غذا و پيش از آنکه مواد غذايی هضم و جذب شوند، دريافت غذا بسرعت وقفه می يابد و انسان احساس سيری می کند. اين موضوع نشان می دهد که اطلاعات مربوط به اعصاب حسی يا مواد هورمونی مترشحه از بخش های فوقانی لوله گوارش موجب سيری پيش از جذب می شود. بعضي نوروترانسميترها و مواد هورمونی به عنوان عوامل فرضی سيری شناخته شده اند که يکی از آنها بمبزين است. بمبزين اعمال يک نوروترانسميتر را در تشکيلات عصبی لوله گوارش پستانداران Bombesin تقليد می کند. بمبزين به کار رفته در بطن های جانبی مغز با فعال کردن سوبستراهای عصبی پاراونتريکولار موجب وقفه دريافت غذا و هيپوانسولينمی می گردد. با تزريق داخل صفاتی بمبزين نه تنها ميزان دريافت غذا کاهش (Gastrin Releasing) GBP می يابد بلکه فاصله بين غذا نيز افزايش می يابد. بعلاوه بمبزين و سبب آزاد شدن هورمونهايی در روده می شوند که اين مواد خود بعنوان عوامل بروز سيری Peptide عمل می کنن

Sub-surface and bulk creep behaviour of polyurethane/clay nanocomposites

A series of exfoliated and intercalated polyurethane organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization of polyol/organoclay mixture, chain extender and diisocyanate. The creep behaviour of subsurface and bulk of the polyurethane coatings was investigated by nanoindentation technique and uniaxial conventional creep testing method, respectively. The results showed that the creep resistance of the nanocomposites was significantly improved by incorporation of organoclay. The enhancement of creep resistance was dependent on clay content as well as organoclay structure (exfoliation or intercalation) in the polymer matrix. With 1wt% organoclay, the creep resistance increased by about 50% for the intercalated organoclay and 6% for the exfoliated organoclay systems, respectively, compared to the pristine polyurethane. Viscoelastic model was employed to investigate the effect of organoclay loadings on the creep performance of the polyurethane. Results showed the model was in good agreement with the experimental data. Incorporation of clay leads to an increase in elastic deformation especially in exfoliated polyurethane nanocomposites and induces a higher initial displacement at the early stage of creep

Does Fish Oil Have an Anti-Obesity Effect in Overweight/Obese Adults? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

<div><p>Context</p><p>Accumulating evidence has suggested favorable effects of fish oil on weight loss in animal experiments; however, findings remain inconsistent in humans.</p><p>Objects</p><p>The meta-analysis was performed to investigate the influence of fish oil on some parameters of body composition in overweight/obese adults.</p><p>Design</p><p>Human randomized, placebo-controlled trials were identified by a systematic search of Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, web of science and reference lists of related reviews and articles. The random-effects model was used to estimate the calculated results.</p><p>Results</p><p>In total, 21 studies with 30 study arms were included in this analysis. Calculated results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that fish oil had no effect on reducing body weight (overall SMD = -0.07, 95% CI -0.21 to 0.07, <i>P</i> = 0.31) and BMI (overall SMD = -0.09, 95% CI -0.22 to 0.03, <i>P</i> = 0.14) whether alone or combined with life modification intervention in overweight/obese subjects. However, waist circumference was significantly reduced (SMD = -0.23, 95% CI -0.40 to -0.06, <i>P</i> = 0.008) in those with fish oil supplementation combined with life modification intervention. Waist hip ratio (WHR) was significantly reduced (overall SMD = -0.52 95% CI -0.76 to -0.27, <i>P</i> < 0.0005) in fish oil supplemented individuals with or without combination life modification intervention.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Current evidence cannot support an exact anti-obesity role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in overweight/obese subjects. However, these subjects may benefit from reducing abdominal fat with fish oil supplementation especially when combined with life modification intervention. Further large-scale and long-term clinical trials are needed to gain definite conclusions.</p></div

Morphological phenotypes characterizations of the three progeny lines and their parents.

<p>(A) The rice height of five lines. (B) The third internode length of five lines. (C) The cell length of third internode in five lines. (D) The cell number of third internode in five lines. Asterisks indicate a significant difference (P< 0.01) between progeny line and their parents through t-test.</p

Subgroup estimation of the effects of fish oil on BMI changes.

<p>Subgroup estimation of the effects of fish oil on BMI changes.</p

Overview and characteristics of included studies.

<p>NR, not reported; PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome; T2DM, type 2 diabetes; Met S, metabolic syndrome; Wt, body weight; BMI, body mass index; WHR, waist hip ratio; WC, waist circumference.</p><p>General health, overall health status apart from overweight/obese.</p><p>The study by Thorsdottir et al had a fish oil capsules group (1.5 g/d EPA + DHA) and fatty fish diet group (3g/d EPA+DHA).</p><p>The study by Crochemore et al was given fish oil capsules with 0.54 or 0.9 g/d EPA +DHA.</p><p>The study by Sjoberg et al was given fish oil capsules with 0.64, 1.28, or 1.92g/d EPA +DHA.</p><p>The study by Moore et al compared 4.5g/week EPA+DHA plus rapeseed oil with 0.7g/week EPA+DHA plus rapeseed oil; 4.5g/week EPA+DHA plus sunflower oil with 0.7g/week EPA+DHA plus sunflower oil.</p><p>The studies by Mori, Hill, and Munro et al included comparisons with participants underwent fish oil alone or combined with weight loss program.</p><p>Overview and characteristics of included studies.</p

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in three progeny lines.

<p>A and B stand for <i>O</i>. <i>sativa</i> and <i>O</i>. <i>longistaminata</i>, respectively.</p