Job stressors and the pursuit of sport activities: A day-level perspective.

This article addresses the relation between day-specific experiences of job stressors and the pursuit of off-job activities. Following the limited-resources model of self-regulation, the authors proposed that job stressors and long working hours are negatively related to pursuit of sport activities after work because, after stressful days, employees have no resources left for initiating and persisting in effortful behaviors such as sport. Routines for off-job activities were hypothesized to be positively related to the pursuit of sport activities after work. Seventy-eight police employees completed a daily survey over 5 working days and indicated that they perceive sport to be highly useful for recovery. Random coefficient modeling showed that job stressors (particularly situational constraints) encountered on a specific day were negatively related to self-regulatory resources and to the amount of time spent on sport activities after work, whereas the relation with low-effort activities was positive. Thus, after a stressful day when an effective recovery activity such as sport is highly needed, persons tend to engage less in such an activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Polymerelektrolytmembranen für Hoch‐ und Niedertemperatur‐Brennstoffzellen aus strahlungsinduzierter Pfropfcopolymerisation

Radiation‐induced graft copolymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate with hydroxyethyl acrylate, acrylic acid or glycidyl methacrylate on ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) films allow for tailor‐made synthesis of membranes for high and low temperature fuel cell applications. According to the operating temperatures proton conductivity may be achieved via doping with phosphoric acid or a two‐step sulfonation of the functional monomers. Fuel cell tests provide power densities and internal resistances, which indicate that the membranes are suitable for high and low temperature fuel cells.     

Aerosol Process for the In Situ Coating of Nanoparticles with a Polymer Shell

This article presents a novel method to encapsulate gas-borne nanoparticles with a polymeric shell. This method implies heterogeneous condensation of monomer vapor around the surface of nanoparticles as nuclei and polymerization is then subsequently started by addition of NH₃ as aerosol initiator. Ag and SiO₂ nanoparticles were generated as inorganic core by spark discharge and nebulization, respectively, and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was used as organic monomer. The effect of several parameters, including vapor pressure of monomer and properties of inorganic core such as morphology, material, particle size, and production method on the thickness of polymeric shell and morphology of resulting nanocomposites has been investigated. The particle size distribution and morphology of the resulting core-shell nanoparticles have been studied via scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Finally, the coating efficiency was determined by aerosol photoemission (APE) and the results show that monomer and polymer coating efficiency are 99% and 60%, respectively.

Copyright 2014 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Doxycycline Decreases Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Aorta of ApoE-⁄- and Ovariectomized Mice with Correlation to Reduced MMP-2 Activity

Atherogenic events promote changes in vessel walls, with alteration of the redox state, and increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Thus, this study aims to evaluate aortic remodeling, MMP activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels after treatment with doxycycline in ApoE^-⁄- and ovariectomized mice (OVX). Female ApoE^-⁄--knockout mice (5 weeks) were submitted to ovariectomy surgery to induce experimental menopause. They then received chow enriched with 1% cholesterol to induce hypercholesterolemia. The animals were divided into two experimental groups: ApoE^-⁄-/OVX vehicle and ApoE^-⁄-/OVX doxycycline (30 mg/kg) administered by gavage once a day for 28 days (15th to the 18th week of life). Blood samples were collected to measure total cholesterol and fractions. The aorta was used for morphometry and to measure the activity and expression of MMP-2 and ROS levels. The ApoE^-⁄-/OVX doxycycline group showed no change in total and fraction cholesterol levels. However, there was a reduction in ROS levels, MMP-2 expression, and activity that correlated with a decrease in atherosclerotic lesions relative to the ApoE^-⁄-/OVX vehicle (p > 0.05). Therefore, we conclude that doxycycline in ApoE^-⁄-/OVX animals promotes a reduction in atherosclerotic lesions by reducing ROS and MMP-2 activity and expression.     

Metabolic Syndrome: Updates on Pathophysiology and Management in 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) forms a cluster of metabolic dysregulations including insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, central obesity, and hypertension. The pathogenesis of MetS encompasses multiple genetic and acquired entities that fall under the umbrella of insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation. If left untreated, MetS is significantly associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Given that CVDs constitute by far the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, it has become essential to investigate the role played by MetS in this context to reduce the heavy burden of the disease. As such, and while MetS relatively constitutes a novel clinical entity, the extent of research about the disease has been exponentially growing in the past few decades. However, many aspects of this clinical entity are still not completely understood, and many questions remain unanswered to date. In this review, we provide a historical background and highlight the epidemiology of MetS. We also discuss the current and latest knowledge about the histopathology and pathophysiology of the disease. Finally, we summarize the most recent updates about the management and the prevention of this clinical syndrome.     

Zur Existenzfähigkeit von 2-Imino-2H-1,3-thiazinen

On the Existence of 2-Imino-2H-1,3-thiazines The title compounds 2 are readily liberated from the 2-amino-1,3-thiazinium salts 1 by treatment with bases. Their stability depends sensitively on the substituents at the imino-N. The imino-N substituted 2a – i are isolable as well-defined coloured substances. Reaction of the 2 as well 1 with nucleophilic agents affords pyrimidine-2-thiones ( 4 , 9 – 11 , 16 – 18 ). In these ring transformations a nucleophilic addition at ring position 6 as primary reaction step is preferred. The imino-N unsubstituted representatives display a more complicated behaviour; the highly enhanced reactivity prevents or handicaps, respectively, any isolation. As exemplified in the base-induced ring-transformation of 1 m to the pyrimidine derivative 19 , these 2 are able to react as nucleophiles too, and versatile intermolecular self-reactions are increasingly favoured.