Comparison of Aging Resistance and Antimicrobial Properties of Ethylene–Norbornene Copolymer and Poly(Lactic Acid) Impregnated with Phytochemicals Embodied in Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)

The effects of plant-based extracts on the solar aging and antimicrobial properties of impregnated ethylene–norbornene (EN) copolymer and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were investigated. In this study, the impregnation yield of polyolefin, lacking in active centers capable of phytochemical bonding, and polyester, abundant in active sides, was measured. Moreover, two different extracts plentiful in phytochemicals—thyme (TE) and clove (CE)—were employed in the solvent-based impregnation process. The effect of thymol and eugenol, the two main compounds embodied in the extracts, was studied as well. Interestingly, oxidation induction times (OIT) for the impregnation of EN with thyme and clove extracts were established to be, respectively, 27.7 and 39.02 min, which are higher than for thymol (18.4 min) and eugenol (21.1 min). Therefore, an aging experiment, mimicking the full spectrum of sunlight, was carried out to investigate the resistance to common radiation of materials impregnated with antioxidative substances. As expected, the experiment revealed that the natural extracts increased the shelf-life of the polymer matrix by inhibiting the degradation processes. The aging resistance was assessed based on detected changes in the materials’ behavior and structure that were examined with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, color quantification, tensile tests, and hardness investigation. Such broad results of solar aging regarding materials impregnated with thyme and clove extracts have not been reported to date. Moreover, CE was found to be the most effective modifying agent for enabling material with antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli to be obtained.     

Mathematical modelling of adult hippocampal neurogenesis: effects of altered stem cell dynamics on cell counts and bromodeoxyuridine-labelled cells

In the adult hippocampus, neurogenesis—the process of generating mature granule cells from adult neural stem cells—occurs throughout the entire lifetime. In order to investigate the involved regulatory mechanisms, knockout (KO) experiments, which modify the dynamic behaviour of this process, were conducted in the past. Evaluating these KOs is a non-trivial task owing to the complicated nature of the hippocampal neurogenic niche. In this study, we model neurogenesis as a multicompartmental system of ordinary differential equations based on experimental data. To analyse the results of KO experiments, we investigate how changes of cell properties, reflected by model parameters, influence the dynamics of cell counts and of the experimentally observed counts of cells labelled by the cell division marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). We find that changing cell proliferation rates or the fraction of self-renewal, reflecting the balance between symmetric and asymmetric cell divisions, may result in multiple time phases in the response of the system, such as an initial increase in cell counts followed by a decrease. Furthermore, these phases may be qualitatively different in cells at different differentiation stages and even between mitotically labelled cells and all cells existing in the system.     

Herpes simplex virus-2 transmission probability estimates based on quantity of viral shedding

Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 is periodically shed in the human genital tract, most often asymptomatically, and most sexual transmissions occur during asymptomatic shedding. It would be helpful to identify a genital viral load threshold necessary for transmission, as clinical interventions that maintain viral quantity below this level would be of high utility. However, because viral expansion, decay and re-expansion kinetics are extremely rapid during shedding episodes, it is impossible to directly measure genital viral load at the time of sexual activity. We developed a mathematical model based on reproducing shedding patterns in transmitting partners, and median number of sex acts prior to transmission in discordant couples, to estimate infectivity of single viral particles in the negative partner''s genital tract. We then inferred probability estimates for transmission at different levels of genital tract viral load in the transmitting partner. We predict that transmission is unlikely at viral loads less than 10⁴ HSV DNA copies. Moreover, most transmissions occur during prolonged episodes with high viral copy numbers. Many shedding episodes that result in transmission do not reach the threshold of clinical detection, because the ulcer remains very small, highlighting one reason why HSV-2 spreads so effectively within populations.     

General IF-sets with triangular norms and their applications to group decision making

A concept of general IF-sets, i.e. “intuitionistic” fuzzy sets according to Atanassov, with triangular norm-based hesitation degrees is introduced and developed. That concept is used to construct flexible algorithms of group decision making which involve relative scalar cardinalities defined by means of generalized sigma counts of fuzzy sets. Two cases of group decisions, based on individual or social fuzzy preference relations, are considered.     

Hole Expansion of Dual‐phase and Complex‐phase AHS Steels ‐ Effect of Edge Conditions

Hole expansion is one of the most important properties describing the formability of steel sheets, especially those used in automotive industry. In order to determine and emphasize the influence of hole edge conditions and hole surface quality on the results of standardized hole expansion tests, different hole preparation methods such as hole punching, hole drilling and wire cutting were applied to the industrially produced dual–phase and complex–phase steel grades DP800 and CP800. Results of hole expansion testing were discussed with respect to the impact of deformation introduced into the material during the hole preparation and to the material microstructure and mechanical properties. The damage characteristics of every method as well as the fracture surfaces were investigated in detail via light optical microscopy (LOM) as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of microstructure combined with microhardness measurements were used for the interpretation of the results and are correlated with the mechanical properties and the formability characteristics of the investigated steel grades.     

Applied relaxation: an experimental analogue study of therapist vs. computer administration

This experimental analog component study compared two ways of administrating relaxation, either via a computer or by a therapist. The second phase of applied relaxation was used, which is called “release-only relaxation”. Sixty participants from a student population were randomized to one of three groups: computer-administered relaxation, therapist-administered relaxation, or a control group in which participants surfed on the Internet. Outcome was measures using psychophysiological responses and self-report. Objective psychophysiological data and results on the subjective visual analogue scale suggest that there was no difference between the two forms of administration. Both experimental groups became significantly more relaxed than the control group that surfed on the Internet. Practical applications and future directions are discussed.     

The solvent extraction of nickel from acidic solutions using synergistic mixtures containing pyridinecarboxylate esters. Part 2: Systems based on alkylsalicylic acids

The synergistic solvent extraction of nickel and cobalt by pyridinecarboxylate esters (2-, 3- or 4-C₅H₄N.CO.OR) in admixture with 3-bromo- or 3-nitro-derivatives of 5-alkylsalicylic acids was studied. Nickel is extracted more strongly than cobalt in all cases and, for systems containing a given pyridinecarboxylate, the pH₅₀ values (pH values for 50% extraction) of both metals decrease in the order: alkylsalicylic acid > bromo-derivative > nitro-derivative. For systems containing a given salicylic acid, the separation between the pH₅₀ values for nickel and cobalt was found to increase in the order: pyridine 2-ester < 4-ester ≈ 3-ester. The extractability of divalent base metals from sulphate solutions by mixtures of isodecyl 3- or 4-pyridinecarboxylate and 3-bromo- or 3-nitro-5-nonylsalicylic acid in Shellsol K decreases through the series: Cu > Ni > Co ≈ Zn > Ca > Mg. In single-stage batch extraction experiments with a simulated leach liquor containing Ni 2·2, Cu 0·5, Ca 0·4 and Mg 5·0 g dm⁻³ (and smaller amounts of other base metals), adjustment of the equilibrium pH value to between 3·3 and 4·0 with magnesium oxide gave extractions of nickel and copper of 97–100%, with co-extractions of calcium and magnesium of <0·5 and <0·1%, respectively. Amongst the metals present in lower concentrations, manganese (2–5%) and lead (5–10%) were extracted only slightly whereas cobalt (40–80%), zinc (15–65%) and iron (100%) were more strongly extracted.