67 research outputs found
Synthesis and characterization of hybrid organic-inorganic materials based on sulphonated polyamideimide and silica
The preparation of hybrid organic–inorganic
membrane materials based on a sulphonated polyamideimide
resin and silica filler has been studied. The method
allows the sol–gel process to proceed in the presence of a
high molecular weight polyamideimide, resulting in well
dispersed silica nanoparticles (<50 nm) within the polymer
matrix with chemical bonding between the organic and
inorganic phases. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) was used as
the silica precursor and the organosilicate networks were
bonded to the polymer matrix via a coupling agent
aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTrEOS). The structure and
properties of these hybrid materials were characterized via a
range of techniques including FTIR, TGA, DSC, SEM and
contact angle analysis. It was found that the compatibility
between organic and inorganic phases has been greatly
enhanced by the incorporation of APTrEOS. The thermal
stability and hydrophilic properties of hybrid materials have
also been significantly improved
Effects of ecosystem protection on scallop populations within a community-led temperate marine reserve
This study investigated the effects of a newly established, fully protected marine reserve on benthic habitats and two commercially valuable species of scallop in Lamlash Bay, Isle of Arran, United Kingdom. Annual dive surveys from 2010 to 2013 showed the abundance of juvenile scallops to be significantly greater within the marine reserve than outside. Generalised linear models revealed this trend to be significantly related to the greater presence of macroalgae and hydroids growing within the boundaries of the reserve. These results suggest that structurally complex habitats growing within the reserve have substantially increased spat settlement and/or survival. The density of adult king scallops declined threefold with increasing distance from the boundaries of the reserve, indicating possible evidence of spillover or reduced fishing effort directly outside and around the marine reserve. However, there was no difference in the mean density of adult scallops between the reserve and outside. Finally, the mean age, size, and reproductive and exploitable biomass of king scallops were all significantly greater within the reserve. In contrast to king scallops, the population dynamics of queen scallops (Aequipecten opercularis) fluctuated randomly over the survey period and showed little difference between the reserve and outside. Overall, this study is consistent with the hypothesis that marine reserves can encourage the recovery of seafloor habitats, which, in turn, can benefit populations of commercially exploited species, emphasising the importance of marine reserves in the ecosystem-based management of fisheries
The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Improving metabolic health in obese male mice via diet and exercise restores embryo development and fetal growth
Paternal obesity is now clearly associated with or causal of impaired embryo and fetal development and reduced pregnancy rates in humans and rodents. This appears to be a result of reduced blastocyst potential. Whether these adverse embryo and fetal outcomes can be ameliorated by interventions to reduce paternal obesity has not been established. Here, male mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity were used, to determine if early embryo and fetal development is improved by interventions of diet (CD) and/or exercise to reduce adiposity and improve metabolism. Exercise and to a lesser extent CD in obese males improved embryo development rates, with increased cell to cell contacts in the compacting embryo measured by E-cadherin in exercise interventions and subsequently, increased blastocyst trophectoderm (TE), inner cell mass (ICM) and epiblast cell numbers. Implantation rates and fetal development from resulting blastocysts were also improved by exercise in obese males. Additionally, all interventions to obese males increased fetal weight, with CD alone and exercise alone, also increasing fetal crown-rump length. Measures of embryo and fetal development correlated with paternal measures of glycaemia, insulin action and serum lipids regardless of paternal adiposity or intervention, suggesting a link between paternal metabolic health and subsequent embryo and fetal development. This is the first study to show that improvements to metabolic health of obese males through diet and exercise can improve embryo and fetal development, suggesting such interventions are likely to improve offspring health.Nicole O. McPherson, Hassan W. Bakos, Julie A. Owens, Brian P. Setchell, Michelle Lan
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Linear atrophoderma of Moulin
We present a 40-year-old woman with asymptomatic, linear, hyperpigmented atrophic plaques in a Blaschkoid distribution on the right back and right upper extremity that is consistent with a diagnosis of linear atrophoderma of Moulin. Clinical lesions developed with a biphasic pattern in late adolescence and in adulthood. The pathogenesis of this acquired, progressive Blaschkolinear dermatosis may hold insight into the pathogenesis of this rare dermatologic condition, as well as other dermotoses, which include those resulting from post-zygotic genetic mosaicism
Recommended from our members
Linear atrophoderma of Moulin
We present a 40-year-old woman with asymptomatic, linear, hyperpigmented atrophic plaques in a Blaschkoid distribution on the right back and right upper extremity that is consistent with a diagnosis of linear atrophoderma of Moulin. Clinical lesions developed with a biphasic pattern in late adolescence and in adulthood. The pathogenesis of this acquired, progressive Blaschkolinear dermatosis may hold insight into the pathogenesis of this rare dermatologic condition, as well as other dermotoses, which include those resulting from post-zygotic genetic mosaicism
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