Novel siloxane based polyurethane nanocomposites

A series of novel thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) nanocomposites based on α,ω–dihydroxy ethoxy propyl poly(dimethylsiloxane) (EOPDMS), 1,4-butanediol (BD) and 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) was synthesized by in situ two-step polyaddition reaction in solution using modified clay (Cloisite 30B). The clay percentage in the nanocomposites was 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10 wt% in relation to the polymers. The aim of this study was to improve some properties of TPUs by the addition of clay nanoparticles. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized using FTIR, AFM and DSC analyses. The influence of nanoparticles dispersion on the morphology and thermal properties of TPUs was investigated

Study on preparation and properties of novel functionalized polyester copolymers based on siloxanes

Novel functionalized macroporous copolymers were synthesized by reaction of the pendant epoxy groups of poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-co-poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)s with 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) and α,ω-diamino propyl poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). It was found that the optimal conditions for the synthesis of functionalized copolymers were: reaction temperature of 80 o C, reaction time of 10 h and a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone/toluene (1/3 v/v) as the solvent. The effects of the type of siloxanes and concentration of glycidyl methacrylate on the structure and properties of functionalized copolymers were investigated by solid-state 13C and 29Si NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The structure of functionalized copolymers was confirmed by solid-state NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The DSC results showed that the glass transition temperatures of copolymers were in the range from 63 to 65 o C and they slightly depend on the copolymer composition exclusively. The thermal stability was better for copolymers functionalized with TMDS in comparison with PDMS based copolymers. Thermal degradation of the synthesized copolymers starts between 276 and 290 o C. The TG curves of all copolymers display two stages of degradation at 308-368 o C (stage 1) and 395-430 o C (stage 2) which are associated with the ester and siloxane bonds. The results indicated that the thermal stability depends on the type of siloxanes and copolymer composition. The surface and crosssection morphology was investigated by SEM and the porous copolymer beads were confirmed by SEM analysis. SEM studies with energy dispersive X-ray mapping revealed that siloxanes migrate to the surface of samples due to their low surface energy. By varying the structure of siloxanes and copolymer composition, functionalized copolymers can be designed and synthesized with diverse physical properties for different purposes

Evaluation of Effectiveness of a Novel Multicomponent Mycotoxins Detoxification Agent in the Presence of AFB1 and T-2 Toxin on Broiler Chicks

This experimental study was conducted to determine the ability of a novel mycotoxins detoxification agent (MR) at a concentration of 0.2% to reduce the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) or T-2 toxin, alone or in combination, and to examine its effect on performance, pathohistological changes (PH) and the residue of these toxins in the tissues of broiler chicks. A total of 96 broiler chicks were divided into eight equal groups: group C, which served as control (without any additives); group MR, which received the novel detoxification agent (supplemented with 0.2%); group E-I (0.1 mg AFB1/kg of diet); group E-II (0.1 mg AFB1/kg of diet + MR 0.2%); group E-III (0.5 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet); group E-IV (0.5 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet + 0.2% MR); group E-V (combination of 0.1 mg AFB1/kg, 0.5 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet); and group E-VI (combination of 0.1 mg AFB1/kg, 0.5 mg T-2 toxin + 0.2% MR). Results indicate that feeds containing AFB1 and T-2 toxin, alone or in combination, adversely affected the health and performance of poultry. However, the addition of MR to diets containing AFB1 and T-2 toxin singly and in combination exerted a positive effect on body weight, feed intake, weight gain, feed efficiency and microscopic lesions in visceral organs. Residual concentration of AFB1 in liver samples was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased when chicks were fed diets supplemented with 0.2% of MR

Efficacy of a Modified Clinoptilolite Based Adsorbent in Reducing Detrimental Effects of Ochratoxin A in Laying Hens

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of modified clinoptilolite (Minazel Plus(®), MZ) as a mycotoxin adsorbent for preventing the negative the effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) on performance, pathohistological changes, and OTA residue in the eggs of laying hens. Methods: Forty eight (n = 48) laying hens (27 weeks old) were equally divided into six groups and depending on the type of addition were allocated to the following experimental treatments for 7 weeks: E-I group-1 mg/kg OTA; E-II group 0.25 mg/kg OTA; E-III group 1 mg/kg OTA + 0.2% of MZ; E-IV group 0.25 mg/kg OTA + 0.2% of MZ; MZ group supplemented with 0.2% of the adsorbent; and control (K, without feed additive). Results: Overall, the addition of 0.2% MZ to laying hen feed mitigated the harmful effects of OTA on target organs and reduced the presence of OTA residue in eggs. The groups that received 0.2% of MZ achieved better production results in terms of body weight, number of eggs, and feed consumption, compared to the other treatments. Conclusions: The current findings confirm the efficacy of MZ in preventing performance losses in laying hens exposed to OTA, as well as for improving the welfare and health of food producing animals

Association of pentraxin-3, galectin-3 and matrix metalloproteinase-9/TIMP-1 with cardiovascular risk in renal disease patients

Inflammation, apoptosis and extracellular remodeling play significant roles in cardiovascular disease (CVD) underlying the major causes of mortality in renal patients. In 19 pre-dialysis patients, 21 dialysis patients and 20 control subjects, the concentrations of pentraxin-3, galectin-3, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were determined by ELISA. CVD risk was calculated according to the Framingham risk score algorithm. Pentraxin-3 was increased in renal patients compared to healthy controls (p lt 0.001). In contrast, galectin-3 was reduced in hemodialysis patients compared to pre-dialysis patients and controls (p lt 0.001). In addition, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were elevated in renal patients compared to controls (p lt 0.01 and p lt 0.001, respectively). Logistic regression analyses disclosed associations of galectin-3, MMP-9, pentraxin-3 and glomerular filtration with calculated CVD risk score. Combined testing of pentraxin-3, galectin-3, MMP-9 and glomerular filtration rate can discriminate renal patients with high and low risk of a coronary event

Living off the land : Terrestrial-based diet and dairying in the farming communities of the Neolithic Balkans

The application of biomolecular techniques to archaeological materials from the Balkans is providing valuable new information on the prehistory of the region. This is especially relevant for the study of the neolithisation process in SE Europe, which gradually affected the rest of the continent. Here, to answer questions regarding diet and subsistence practices in early farming societies in the central Balkans, we combine organic residue analyses of archaeological pottery, taxonomic and isotopic study of domestic animal remains and biomolecular analyses of human dental calculus. The results from the analyses of the lipid residues from pottery suggest that milk was processed in ceramic vessels. Dairy products were shown to be part of the subsistence strategies of the earliest Neolithic communities in the region but were of varying importance in different areas of the Balkan. Conversely, milk proteins were not detected within the dental calculus. The molecular and isotopic identification of meat, dairy, plants and beeswax in the pottery lipids also provided insights into the diversity of diet in these early Neolithic communities, mainly based on terrestrial resources. We also present the first compound-specific radiocarbon dates for the region, obtained directly from absorbed organic residues extracted from pottery, identified as dairy lipids

Evaluation of Effectiveness of a Novel Multicomponent Mycotoxins Detoxification Agent in the Presence of AFB1 and T-2 Toxin on Broiler Chicks

This experimental study was conducted to determine the ability of a novel mycotoxins detoxification agent (MR) at a concentration of 0.2% to reduce the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) or T-2 toxin, alone or in combination, and to examine its effect on performance, pathohistological changes (PH) and the residue of these toxins in the tissues of broiler chicks. A total of 96 broiler chicks were divided into eight equal groups: group C, which served as control (without any additives); group MR, which received the novel detoxification agent (supplemented with 0.2%); group E-I (0.1 mg AFB1/kg of diet); group E-II (0.1 mg AFB1/kg of diet + MR 0.2%); group E-III (0.5 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet); group E-IV (0.5 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet + 0.2% MR); group E-V (combination of 0.1 mg AFB1/kg, 0.5 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet); and group E-VI (combination of 0.1 mg AFB1/kg, 0.5 mg T-2 toxin + 0.2% MR). Results indicate that feeds containing AFB1 and T-2 toxin, alone or in combination, adversely affected the health and performance of poultry. However, the addition of MR to diets containing AFB1 and T-2 toxin singly and in combination exerted a positive effect on body weight, feed intake, weight gain, feed efficiency and microscopic lesions in visceral organs. Residual concentration of AFB1 in liver samples was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) decreased when chicks were fed diets supplemented with 0.2% of MR