Protein Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens of Rats Exposed to Developmental Vitamin D Deficiency

Introduction: Developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency is a candidate risk factor for schizophrenia. Animal models have confirmed that DVD deficiency is associated with a range of altered genomic, proteomic, structural and behavioural outcomes in the rat. Because the nucleus accumbens has been implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders, in the current study we examined protein expression in this region in adult rats exposed to DVD deficienc

Particulate Fillers in Thermoplastics

The characteristics of particulate filled thermoplastics are determined by four factors: component properties, composition, structure and interfacial interactions. The most important filler characteristics are particle size, size distribution, specific surface area and particle shape, while the main matrix property is stiffness. Segregation, aggregation and the orientation of anisotropic particles determine structure. Interfacial interactions lead to the formation of a stiff interphase considerably influencing properties. Interactions are changed by surface modification, which must be always system specific and selected according to its goal. Under the effect of external load inhomogeneous stress distribution develops around heterogeneities, which initiate local micromechanical deformation processes determining the macroscopic properties of the composites

Electron beam irradiation of low-density polyethylene filled with metal hydroxides for wire and cable applications

The effects of electron beam irradiation for crosslinking of polymers used for wire and cable insulations are still being researched. In this research, the influence of electron beam irradiation on the different blends of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) filled with aluminum trihydrate and magnesium hydroxide (ATH, MH) were studied. It was revealed by melt flow index, tensile strength, and elongation at break tests that addition of MH to LDPE increases the adhesion forces inside polymer matrices more efficient than similar ATH/LDPE compounds. Field emission scanning electron microscopy test showed that MH is platy in structure and more homogenous mixed than ATH with LDPE. The results on thermogravimetric analysis and limiting oxygen index tests revealed that the thermal stability and incombustibility properties of MH blends are more efficient than similar ATH blends. Meanwhile, it was observed by smoke density test that MH blends produce the lowest smoke density compared with virgin LDPE and similar ATH blends. It was also observed that increasing irradiation by electron beam had impressive affections on the density, gel content, and mechanical properties for all the polymeric samples in this study

Odporność zarodników na warunki technologiczne procesu wytłaczania stopu polimeru

With the increasing demand for functionalised textile materials, industry is focusing on research that will add novel properties to textiles. Bioactive compounds and their benefits have been and are still considered as a possible source of unique functionalities to be explored. However, incorporating bioactive compounds into textiles and their resistance to textile process parameters has not yet been studied. In this study, we developed a system to study the resistance of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens spores against melt extrusion process parameters, like temperature (21, 200, 250, 300 °C), pressure (0.1, 0.6 and 1.0 MPa) and residence time (0, 1 and 10 minutes). The spores were successfully embedded in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) films and fibres through melt extrusion. Afterwards the survival rate of the spores was determined after extrusion and the data was used to develop a quadratic equation that relates the survival rate to the spore concentration.Wraz ze wzrostem zainteresowania funkcjonalizacją tekstyliów, przemysł skupia swoją uwagę na badaniach, dzięki którym można nadać nowe właściwości tekstyliom. Bioaktywności produktów jest jednym z czynników, które mają bardzo duże znaczenie. Jednakże możliwości wprowadzania substancji bioaktywnych do stosowanych materiałów włókienniczych nie są dostatecznie poznane. W pracy przedstawiono badania pozwalające na określenie odporności zarodników Bacillus amyloliquefaciens na warunki procesu wytłaczania stopów polimerów. Badania prowadzono przy temperaturach 21, 200, 250, 300 °C, ciśnieniach 0.1, 0.6 and 1.0 MPa oraz czasie oddziaływania 1 i 10 minut. Zarodniki wprowadzono do stopu PET i wytłaczano w postaci folii i włókien. Określono zależności przeżycia zarodników w zależności od ich stężenia w stopie polimerów