Mechanical recyclability of technical biopolymers: Potential and limits

The mechanical recyclability of the technical biopolymers polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polyhydroxy alkanoate blend (PHBV/PBAT) was evaluated by assessing the effect of repeated polymer processing (extrusion without further compounding with virgin material or additives) on the material structure and mechanical properties. Reprocessing-induced hydrolytic degradation was found to be the prevalent aging mechanism of the investigated biopolymer grades. However, susceptibility to hydrolysis, and thus maintenance of the performance characteristics, differed strongly between the biopolymer types. To that effect, PTT and CAB especially exhibit a high potential for mechanical recycling. By taking advantage of appropriate additivation, the mechanical recyclability of PBS and PHBV/PBAT is also assumed to be high.     

弹道明胶老化初级阶段的模型

用流变震荡模式研究了10 wt%浓度的弹道明胶在冷却和等温下的老化行为.对明胶从sol-gel点冷却到某个目标温度的过程,通过不同冷却速率的实验,建了一个弹性模量与温度的线性关系.不同温度下明胶的等温老化实验表明,弹性模量-时间曲线具有相似的形状.依据Normand提出的二级反应动力学模型,引入一个表征明胶老化行为的速率常数,构建了一个预测弹道明胶在老化初级阶段的弹性模量演化的模型.该模型中模量-温度关系在初始和无穷大时是直线,其他模量-温度线是近似直线,并交于sol-gel点.老化速率常数和过冷度之间符合Flory-Weaver方程.对弹性模量和老化时间进行归一化处理,可将不同温度下的老化曲线叠加成一条主曲线.     

Sulfur-Containing Vinyl Monomers. XV. Kinetic Study of Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Mercaptobenzothiazole and Its Copolymerization

A kinetic study of radical polymerization of vinyl mercaptobenzothiazole (VMBT) with α,α′-azobisisobutyonitrile (AIBN) at 60°C was carried out. The rate of polymerization (R_p) was found to be expressed by the rate equation: R_p = k[AIBN]^0.5 [VMBT]^1.0, indicating that the polymerization of this monomer proceeds via an ordinary radical mechanism. The apparent activation energy for overall polymerization was calculated to be 20.9 kcal/mole. Moreover, this monomer was copolymerized with methyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, phenyl vinyl sulfide, maleic anhydride, and fumaronitrile at 60°C. From the results obtained, the copolymerization parameters were determined and discussed.     

Effect of Aging on the Synthesis of Kaolin-Based Zeolite Y from Ahoko Nigeria Using a Novel Metakaolinization Technique

Zeolite Y was systematically synthesized from Ahoko Nigerian kaolin in a conventional hydrothermal system using novel metakaolinization technique. The effect of aging on the formation of zeolite phase was investigated during the course of the synthesis. A rapidly processed metakaolin at a temperature of 600°C and exposure time of 50 minutes, which is capable of reducing the energy and cost of producing it was used to study the synthesis of zeolite Y. It was found that aging conditions play a prominent role in the preparation of zeolite Y from Ahoko metakaolin. Aging played a significant role by increasing the crystallinity of the final product even though zeolite Y was obtain without aging. The outcome of zeolite Y synthesized from Ahoko kaolin in 9 hours at 100°C was different from most reports on the synthesis of zeolite Y from kaolin where longing time (72 hours) of crystallization are reported.     

Analysis of aging-related protein interactome and cross-network module comparisons across tissues provide new insights into aging

Delaying the human aging process and thus eliminating the risk factors for age-related diseases is one of the prime objectives. While various aging-associated genes and proteins have been characterized, which provide a significant understanding of the human aging process, a significant success in regulating aging is not achieved yet. Understanding how aging proteins interact with each other and also with other proteins could provide important insights into the underlying mechanisms governing the aging process. Therefore, in this work, information of gene expression was included to the static aging-related protein interactome to understand the network-based relationships among aging-related essential (AE) proteins, aging-related non-essential (ANE) proteins, and housekeeping-proteins that could regulate or influence aging. Comprehensive analyses provided various systems-level insights into the regulatory characteristics of aging; for example, (i) network-based correlation analysis predicted functional relationships among AE proteins and ANE proteins; (ii) network variability analysis predicted aging to affect different tissues in strikingly different ways by differentially regulating various regulatory interactions; (iii) cross-network comparisons identified two aging-related modules to be significantly conserved across most of the tissues. Overall, the findings obtained during this study could be helpful for researchers to delay, prevent, or even reverse various aspects of the aging.     

Morphological and ultrastructural examination of senescence in Morchella elata

In recent years, the artificial cultivation of Morchella mushrooms that belong to Elata Clade, including Morchella elata, has been developed rapidly in China. However, the prominent problem of spawn aging has been frustrating the morel farming. In this paper, aging in M. elata was achieved from 12 to 17 subcultures and lifespan of 1536–2256 h by successive subculturing. The lifespan can be roughly divided into juvenile phase and senescent phase with respect to the mycelia linear growth rate. After a certain period of rapid growth with almost constant rate at the juvenile phase, the isolate entered the senescent phase characterized by slow down of mycelia growth, producing pigments ahead of time and final death of the apical hyphae. The period of the senescent phase was definitely 240–288 h; while that of the juvenile phase was diverse relying on different isolates. Moreover, microscopic study showed that angles between the leading and primary hyphae increased constantly with aging. In senesced hyphal cells of M. elata, the typical characteristics of autophagy (enlargement of vacuoles and existence of organelles sequestrated lysosomes) and apoptosis (condensation of the cytoplasm and nuclear and plasmolysis) were observed. In addition, in the final stage of senescence, the apical hyphae collapsed with the plasma membrane and all the cellular organelles disrupted, indicated a necrotic mode of cell death. Taken together, these data revealed the involvement of autophagy, apoptosis and necrosis in senescence of M. elata. The characterization and molecular mechanism of autophagy, apoptosis and necrosis need further study and the systematic study of morel aging will be beneficial for the healthy development of morel farming.     

Structure and composition of arytenoid cartilage of the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) during maturation and aging

The aging process induces progressive and irreversible changes in the structural and functional organization of animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of aging on the structure and composition of the extracellular matrix of the arytenoid cartilage found in the larynx of male bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) kept in captivity for commercial purposes. Animals at 7, 180 and 1080 days post-metamorphosis (n = 10/age) were euthanized and the cartilage was removed and processed for structural and biochemical analysis. For the structural analyses, cartilage sections were stained with picrosirius, toluidine blue, Weigert’s resorcin-fuchsin and Von Kossa stain. The sections were also submitted to immunohistochemistry for detection of collagen types I and II. Other samples were processed for the ultrastructural and cytochemical analysis of proteoglycans. Histological sections were used to chondrocyte count. The number of positive stainings for proteoglycans was quantified by ultrastructural analysis. For quantification and analysis of glycosaminoglycans were used the dimethyl methylene blue and agarose gel electrophoresis methods. The chloramine T method was used for hydroxyproline quantification. At 7 days, basophilia was observed in the pericellular and territorial matrix, which decreased in the latter over the period studied. Collagen fibers were arranged perpendicular to the major axis of the cartilaginous plate and were thicker in older animals. Few calcification areas were observed at the periphery of the cartilage specimens in 1080-day-old animals. Type II collagen was present throughout the stroma at the different ages. Elastic fibers were found in the stroma and perichondrium and increased with age in the two regions. Proteoglycan staining significantly increased from 7 to 180 days and reduced at 1080 days. The amount of total glycosaminoglycans was higher in 180-day-old animals compared to the other ages, with marked presence of chondroitin- and dermatan-sulfate especially in this age. The content of hydroxyproline, which infers the total collagen concentration, was higher in 1080-day-old animals compared to the other ages. The results demonstrated the elastic nature of the arytenoid cartilage of L. catesbeianus and the occurrence of age-related changes in the structural organization and composition of the extracellular matrix. These changes may contribute to alter the function of the larynx in the animal during aging.     

高效液相色谱法鉴别黑色签字笔墨水字迹形成时间的研究

签字笔携带方便、书写流畅,现已成为常用的书写工具之一。在许多刑事及民事案件中,尤其在呈明显上升趋势的各类贪污、受贿案件中,经常会遇到由签字笔墨水形成的契约、合同、收据、借条等可疑文件中关于签字笔墨水字迹色痕的鉴定。对于字迹色痕形成时间的鉴定工作一直是困扰法庭