Green TPUs from Prepolymer Mixtures Designed by Controlling the Chemical Structure of Flexible Segments

This study concerns green thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) obtained by controlling the chemical structure of flexible segments. Two types of bio-based polyether polyols—poly(trimethylene glycol)s—with average molecular weights ca. 1000 and 2700 Da were used (PO3G1000 and PO3G2700, respectively). TPUs were prepared via a two-step method. Hard segments consisted of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanates and the bio-based 1,4-butanodiol (used as a chain extender and used to control the [NCO]/[OH] molar ratio). The impacts of the structure of flexible segments, the amount of each type of prepolymer, and the [NCO]/[OH] molar ratio on the chemical structure and selected properties of the TPUs were verified. By regulating the number of flexible segments of a given type, different selected properties of TPU materials were obtained. Thermal analysis confirmed the high thermal stability of the prepared materials and revealed that TPUs based on a higher amount of prepolymer synthesized from PO3G2700 have a tendency for cold crystallization. An increase in the amount of PO3G1000 at the flexible segments caused an increase in the tensile strength and decrease in the elongation at break. Melt flow index results demonstrated that the increase in the amount of prepolymer based on PO3G1000 resulted in TPUs favorable in terms of machining.     

Acoustics and rheological studies of aqueous ethylene glycol blend copper oxide nanofluids

Experimental investigations have been performed to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles by conventional chemical precipitation method and nanofluids were prepared by two-step method using CuO nanoparticles in different proportions of ethylene glycol–water mixtures (EG–water). Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscope (SEM), particle size, and zeta potential analysis have been studied to characterize both solid and fluid samples for their sizes, shapes, stability, and arrangement. Besides, acoustics and rheological properties such as ultrasonic velocity, density, and viscosity have been measured for all fluid samples at three different temperatures. Interpretations of all these parameters have been made on the basis of particle stability and dispersion capacity of nanoparticles in different proportions of base fluids. The variation of dynamic viscosity with shear rate shows the nanofluids to be behaved like non-Newtonian fluids at very less shear rate but shows Newtonian behavior as the shear rate increases.     

Tks5 Regulates Synaptic Podosome Formation and Stabilization of the Postsynaptic Machinery at the Neuromuscular Junction

Currently, the etiology of many neuromuscular disorders remains unknown. Many of them are characterized by aberrations in the maturation of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) postsynaptic machinery. Unfortunately, the molecular factors involved in this process are still largely unknown, which poses a great challenge for identifying potential therapeutic targets. Here, we identified Tks5 as a novel interactor of αdystrobrevin-1, which is a crucial component of the NMJ postsynaptic machinery. Tks5 has been previously shown in cancer cells to be an important regulator of actin-rich structures known as invadosomes. However, a role of this scaffold protein at a synapse has never been studied. We show that Tks5 is crucial for remodeling of the NMJ postsynaptic machinery by regulating the organization of structures similar to the invadosomes, known as synaptic podosomes. Additionally, it is involved in the maintenance of the integrity of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters and regulation of their turnover. Lastly, our data indicate that these Tks5 functions may be mediated by its involvement in recruitment of actin filaments to the postsynaptic machinery. Collectively, we show for the first time that the Tks5 protein is involved in regulation of the postsynaptic machinery.     

Conjugation with Phospholipids as a Modification Increasing Anticancer Activity of Phenolic Acids in Metastatic Melanoma—In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Phenolic acids possess many beneficial biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Unfortunately, their low bioavailability restricts their potential medical uses, as it limits the concentration of phenolic acids achievable in the organism. The conjugation with phospholipids constitutes one of the most effective strategies to enhance compounds bioavailability in biological systems. In the present study, the conjugates of anisic (ANISA) and veratric acid (VA) with phosphatidylcholine (PC) were investigated. Since both ANISA and VA are inhibitors of tyrosinase, a melanocyte enzyme, the expression of which increases during tumorigenesis, anticancer potential of the conjugates was tested in several metastatic melanoma cell lines. The conjugates proved to be antiproliferative, apoptosis-inducing and cell-cycle-affecting agents, selective for cancerous cells and not affecting normal fibroblasts. The conjugates substituted by ANISA and VA, respectively, at both the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of PC, appeared the most promising, since they were effective against the vast majority of metastatic melanoma cell lines. Additionally, the conjugation of phenolic acids to PC increased their antioxidant activity. Molecular modeling was employed for the first time to estimate the features of the investigated conjugates relevant to their anticancer properties and membrane permeation. Again, the conjugates substituted by phenolic acid at both the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of PC seemed to be presumably most bioavailable.     

The Obscure Effect of Tribulus terrestris Saponins Plus Inulin on Liver Morphology,Liver Fatty Acids,Plasma Glucose,and Lipid Profile in SD Rats with and without Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a predictor of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). There are data suggesting that Tribulus terrestris (TT) saponins act as antidiabetic agents and protect against NAFLD. The effect of saponins may be increased by fermentable fibers such as inulin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of TT saponins and TT saponins plus inulin on the plasma lipid profile and liver fatty acids of rats with induced diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM). The study was performed on 36 male Sprague–Dawley rats divided into two main groups: control and diabetic. Animals of the diabetic (DM) group were fed a high-fat diet and injected with streptozotocin (low doses). Animals of the control group (nDM) were on a regular diet and were injected with buffer. After the injections, the animals were split into subgroups: three non-diabetic (nDM): (i) control (c-C); (ii) saponin-treated rats (C-Sap); (iii) rats treated with saponins + inulin (C-Sap + IN), and three diabetic subgroups (DM): (iv) control (c-DM); (v) saponin-treated rats (DM-Sap); (vi) rats treated with saponins + inulin (DM-Sap + IN). Liver fatty acids were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography, and plasma glucose and lipids were measured. The study showed significant changes in liver morphology, liver fatty acids, plasma lipid profile, and plasma glucose. In summary, supplementation with TT saponins or saponins with inulin for one month decreased the level of steatosis in rats with induced type 2 diabetes. Moreover, there were favorable effects on the plasma lipid profile in the rats. However, additional supplementation with inulin had a negative effect on liver morphology (with a microvesicular type of steatosis) in the non-diabetes group. Moreover, supplementation with inulin had a negative effect on plasma glucose in both diabetic and non-diabetic rats. These data show that a diet enriched with fermentable fibers reveals different effects in different organisms, and not all sources and forms of fiber are beneficial to health.     

The age of cows as a factor shaping the antioxidant level during a nutritional experiment with fish oil and linseed supplementation for increasing the antioxidant value of milk

BACKGROUND: So far, in research studies, the age of cows has not been considered as a factor that may influence the changes in the content of milk ingredients with antioxidant properties modified by the feed supplementation. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of supplementation on the content of ingredients having antioxidant properties and to determine the influence of the age of cows taking part in the experiment on these changes. The experiment was conducted using 20 Polish Holstein Friesian cows, 10 primiparous and 10 multiparous. The combined supplementation of fish oil and linseed constituted the experimental factor. RESULTS: The milk of primiparous cows after 21 days of supplementation was characterised by a higher content of C18:1 trans ‐11, C18:2 cis ‐9, trans ‐11, α‐retinol, α‐tocopherol and β‐lactoglobulin compared to the milk of multiparous cows, in which a higher level of lactoferrin, C20:5 and β‐carotene was recorded. In both groups an increase in the total antioxidant status was noted (a higher level in the milk of primiparous cows). CONCLUSIONS: Modification of the diet of cows with fish oil and linseed significantly influenced antioxidant properties of their milk; however, the response of multiparous and primaparous cows was noticeably different to the supplement introduced. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Development of Real-time PCR Assays for the Detection of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">pin</Emphasis> II Terminator (t<Emphasis Type="Italic">pin</Emphasis>II) Used in GM Constructs and Its Donor Organism,Potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis>)

Two singleplex TaqMan methods were developed for the detection of potato targets: one for the detection of the tpinII terminator, which is an emerging terminator used in GM constructs, and one for the detection of the endogenous StLS gene of potato. Performance criteria such as specificity and sensitivity were successfully tested for the two methods, taking into account the recommendations of international guidelines. The presence of the StLS target was checked in 16 potato cultivars. The StLS target is present at low copy number and can be used for quantitation purposes, as demonstrated on transgenic potatoes in this paper. The StLS target is an excellent candidate to replace the presently recommended endogenous target based on the UGP gene, which shows several disadvantages due to its high copy number and lack of specificity. The research also indicates that DNA can easily be extracted from different parts of potato tubers with a classical cetyltrimethylammonium bromide method.     

Electrodeposition of CdS from acidic aqueous thiosulfate solution—Invesitigation of the mechanism by electrochemical quartz microbalance technique

Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance was used to study mechanism of cathodic electrodeposition of CdS from acidic aqueous solutions containing 0.01 M Cd(ClO₄)₂ and 0.1 M Na₂S₂O₃ as a source of sulfur. Experiments were performed by means of cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic method. A comparison of gravimetric and current responses at pH 3 and 4 allowed for determination of the potential range in which side reactions of reduction of SO₃²⁻ and H⁺ ions compete most strongly with formation of CdS. The film thickness was determined by means of two methods: from AFM profiles and EQCM measurements.     

The role of electrical current mode in calcium carbonate deposition on conductive carbon nanofiber–epoxy coating

Calcium carbonate is one of the most common scaling minerals. In this paper we have used different electrical current modes (direct current [DC], pulsed DC, and alternating current [AC]) to control the amount, morphology, and distribution of calcium carbonate deposit on electroconductive epoxy/carbon nanofiber (CNF) coating. The effect of different current modes on surface scaling was visualized using scanning electron microscopy. It has been shown that both AC and DC anodic polarization limited scale deposition on epoxy/CNF coated surfaces, although the mechanisms of scale inhibition during AC and DC polarization were different. DC polarization of the coating at +2 V resulted in the smallest scale buildup without leading to coating degradation, while DC polarization at potentials as high as +5 V caused the coating to degrade. Interestingly, application of pulsed DC with high pulse frequency (50 Hz) inhibited the degradation. The type of current applied affected also the morphology of the precipitate at the cathode. The results presented in this work show, for the first time, how different modes of electrical current applied to electroconductive composite coatings can be used to control the morphology and distribution of calcium carbonate scale, and how the organic coating degradation at high polarization potentials can be avoided.     

Molecular Characterisation of Uterine Endometrial Proteins during Early Stages of Pregnancy in Pigs by MALDI TOF/TOF

The molecular mechanism underlying embryonic implantation is vital to understand the correct communications between endometrium and developing conceptus during early stages of pregnancy. This study’s objective was to determine molecular changes in the uterine endometrial proteome during the preimplantation and peri-implantation between 9 days (9D), 12 days (12D), and 16 days (16D) of pregnant Polish Large White (PLW) gilts. 2DE-MALDI-TOF/TOF and ClueGO^TM approaches were employed to analyse the biological networks and molecular changes in porcine endometrial proteome during maternal recognition of pregnancy. A total of sixteen differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified using 2-DE gels and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Comparison between 9D and 12D of pregnancy identified APOA1, CAPZB, LDHB, CCT5, ANXA4, CFB, TTR upregulated DEPs, and ANXA5, SMS downregulated DEPs. Comparison between 9D and 16D of pregnancy identified HP, APOA1, ACTB, CCT5, ANXA4, CFB upregulated DEPs and ANXA5, SMS, LDHB, ACTR3, HP, ENO3, OAT downregulated DEPs. However, a comparison between 12D and 16D of pregnancy identified HP, ACTB upregulated DEPs, and CRYM, ANXA4, ANXA5, CAPZB, LDHB, ACTR3, CCT5, ENO3, OAT, TTR down-regulated DEPs. Outcomes of this study revealed key proteins and their interactions with metabolic pathways involved in the recognition and establishment of early pregnancy in PLW gilts.