Effects of estrogen-induced hyperlipidemia on the erythrocyte membrane in chicks

The effects of estrogen-induced hyperlipidemia on plasma lipid peroxidation, fatty acid composition and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in chickens were studied. Young male chickens implanted with estrogen for three wk developed a marked hyperlipidemia. Plasma levels of triglyceride, cholesterol and phospholipid were elevated 68-, four- and 24-fold, respectively, over controls. There was also a two-fold increase in plasma lipid peroxidation measured by the thiobarbituric acid test. Vitamin E supplement (1,000 IU/kg diet) reduced the plasma lipid peroxidation to the control level, but had no effect on the plasma lipid content. Estrogen-induced hyperlipidemia resulted in changes in the fatty acid composition of membrane lipids of erythrocytes. The major changes were an increase in oleic acid from 10.0% to 14.2% and a decrease in linoleic acid from 31.3% to 26.0%. The erytrocytes with an altered membrane fatty acid composition were found to have an increased osmotic fragility. It was apparent that there was a direct correlation between the oleic acid content and the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes.     

Selective hydrogenation of soybean oil: IV. Fatty acid isomers formed with copper catalysts

Two samples of soybean oil hydrogenated with copper-containing catalysts at 170 and 200 C were analyzed for their natural and isomeric fatty acids. Methyl esters of the hydrogenated oils were separated into saturates, monoenes, dienes and trienes by countercurrent distribution between acetonitrile and pentane-hexane. Monoenes were further separated intocis- andtrans-isomers on a silver-saturated resin column. Double bond location in these fractions was determined by a microozonolysis-pyrolysis technique. The diene fraction was separated with an argentation countercurrent distribution method, and linoleate was identified by infrared, ozonolysis and alkaliisomerization data. The double bonds in thecis-monoenes were located in the 9-position almost exclusively. However, the double bonds in thetrans-monoene were quite scattered with 10- and 11-isomers predominating. About 86% to 92% of the dienes consisted of linoleate as measured by alkali isomerization. Other isomers identified as minor components includecis,trans andtrans, trans conjugated dienes and dienes whose double bonds are separated by more than one methylene group. No. Utiliz. Res. Dev. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Substrate-mediated interactions and intermolecular forces between molecules adsorbed on surfaces

Adsorbate interactions and reactions on metal surfaces have been investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy. The manners in which adsorbates perturb the surface electronic structure in their vicinity are discussed. The effects these perturbations have on other molecules are shown to be important in overlayer growth. Interactions of molecules with surface steps are addressed, and each molecule's electron affinity is shown to dictate its adsorption sites at step edges. Standing waves emanating from steps are demonstrated to effect transient molecular adsorption up to 40 A away from the step edge. Halobenzene derivatives are used to demonstrate how the surface is important in aligning reactive intermediates.     

Development of ceramic floor tile compositions based on quartzite and granite sludges

In the present work, industrial sludges derived from cutting and polishing natural stones (granite and quartzite) were characterised in terms of particles size distribution, chemical and mineralogical composition, and thermal behaviour and their potential to be incorporated as main components in red-clay-based stoneware tiles was evaluated. High levels (60–70 wt.%) of incorporation were attempted aiming at designing new formulations intended to be less expensive and possess better final properties (lower water absorption and higher flexural strength) in comparison to an industrial reference body used in the production of rustic tiles by extrusion, characterised 8–9% water absorption and a flexural strength of 17–18 MPa. Extruded rods of different formulations were produced and fired at 1100 °C, 1125 °C, 1150 °C and 1200 °C. The experimental results showed that all the new formulations performed better with the most significant improvements being obtained with incorporation of granite sludge. Flexural strength values more than triplicate and water absorption decreased by more than one order of magnitude in comparison to the reference paste. The new products fulfil the requirements of the ISO 13006 standard, group BIa (porcelain tiles).     

Erosion of sintered TiB2-cathodes during cathodic aluminium deposition from LiCl/AlCl3 melts

Using an aluminium dissolution/deposition electrolysis cell, TiB₂, TiB₂/TiC and TiC sintered specimens of different porosity were tested for erosion resistance on exposure to liquid electrodeposited aluminium at 700°C to determine whether cathodes coated with such materials can be applied in aluminium chloride electrolysis cells. Although not wetted by liquid aluminium, the TiC and the TiB₂/TiC composites were extensively eroded. The densest TiB₂ specimens showed the highest resistance against liquid aluminium. The erosion rate of TiB₂ specimens of different density after exposure to the test environment for over 200 h was almost identical and reached a value of 0.16 cm y^–1. The observed wear rates exceed the values predicted on the basis of published solubility data by a factor of approximately 10.     

The creep of kevlar-29 fibers

Single Kevlar-29 fibers have been subjected to creep loading over a temperature range of 23 to 400°C for which the applied load was 50 percent that of tensile strength at each temperature considered and also subjected to a range of loads at 23°C. It has been shown that strain expressed as a logarithmic function of time describes the experimental results obtained. Up to 70 percent of breaking load, a primary creep mechanism dominates and at higher loads a secondary creep process becomes increasingly important.     

Tensile strength of polyurethane exposed to nitrogen dioxide

Polyurethane prepared from tetramethylene glycol and diisocyanate was exposed in the form of films to small pressures of NO₂ and to NO₂ plus air. Tensile strength was measured as a function of exposure time and temperature with an apparatus especially constructed for the purpose of measuring mechanical properties in different environmental “atmospheres.”     

Preparation of Titanium Nitride/Alumina Laminate Composites

A preparation route for TiN/Al₂O₃ laminate composites has been described. A water-based process using Al₂O₃ and TiN slurries with solids contents of 40 and 35 vol%, respectively, was used to make TiN and Al₂O₃ tapes. The removal of the binder was monitored by weight-loss measurements in a thermogravimetry unit. Bodies composed of Al₂O₃ and TiN tapes were densified at temperatures of 1400° and 1500°C using the Spark Plasma Sintering^® (SPS) technique. Densities of >98% of the theoretical densities were approached. Crack-free and almost fully densified TiN/Al₂O₃ compacts were prepared by heating the burned-out green bodies to the final sintering temperature (1500°C) at a rate of 100°C/min, and with a holding time of 5–10 min, under a pressure of 75 MPa. The microstructures of the obtained compacts were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Grain sizes in the sintered Al₂O₃ and TiN compacts were similar to those of the precursor powders. Hardness and indentation fracture toughness were measured at room temperature, and the monolithic compacts as well as the laminate composites exhibited anisotropic mechanical behavior; i.e., the cracks propagated much more easily in a direction parallel to the laminas than perpendicular to them.