The present study was designed to examine the effects of EFA deficiency (EFAD) on biochemical, functional, and structural
aspects of the kidney in growing and adult rats fed a normal or EFAD diet for 9 wk after weaning. Food and fluid intake (FI),
urine volume, and Na+ and K+ excretions were measured weekly from weeks 4 to 8 by placing the rats in individual metabolic cages for 24 h. At week 9,
Li+ and a 5% water load, respectively, were administered at 14 and 1.5 h prior to glomerular and proximal tubular function studies,
as assessed by 3-h creatinine (CCr) and Li+ (CLi+) clearances. Hematocrit and urine volume; serum and urine [Cr], [Li+], [Na+], and [K+]; and renal FA distribution were also measured. Data [corrected to 100 g/body weight (bw) and presented as means ±SEM] were
significant, at P<-0.05. Despite a similar ingestion of solids from weeks 4 to 7 (weeks 7 to 10 of life), the rats on the EFAD diet showed
a decreased body weight from week 5. From weeks 4 to 8, Fl and urine volume were similar for both groups, but the Fl increased
at week 6 in the EFAD group; 24-h Na+ and K+ excretions were similar at all weeks, except for an increase in the EFAD group for both ions at week 7. In the EFAD group,
CCr and CLi+ decreased by 27 and 56.3%, respectively (385.7±33.4 vs. 280±21.1, and 21.0±2.1 vs. 9.2±1.1 μL/min/100 g; n=9 vs. 10), the latter result suggesting increased proximal reabsorption. The 3-h Na+ and K+ excretions were similar, but the Li+ decreased (0.78±0.06×10−2 vs. 0.32±0.03×10−2 μeq/min/100 g) in the EFAD group, giving additional support to the suggestion. Renal structure was normal and similar for
both groups, but the EFAD group showed a more prominent proximal tubule brush border, together with heavier periodic acid-Schiff
staining in all specimens from weeks 5 to 9. In the EFAD group, FA of the n−9 and n−7 series were higher, but most of the
n−6 series were lower as a percentage of total lipids in the medulla and cortex. Medullary levels of 20∶4n−6 were maintained,
22∶4n−6 declined twice, arachidonic acid was maintained, and 20∶5n−3 was lower. The EFAD diet affected glomerular function,
proximal tubular structure and function, and FA distribution in the rat kidney. 相似文献
α-alumina (α-Al2O3, corundum) fibers exhibit high thermal and chemical stability, as well as good mechanical properties, even at high temperatures. Such characteristics make them good candidates for use in composites. Nevertheless, very few methods of producing α-Al2O3 fibers are available. In the present work, we describe a method that uses aluminum pieces deposited on SiO2 powder, in an argon atmosphere, at temperatures in the range 1300°–1600°C. The α-Al2O3 fibers are obtained via vapor-liquid-solid deposition. The novel addition of nickel and cobalt (or their oxides) allows the use of temperatures >1500°C, resulting in improved fiber production. We demonstrate that the metals do not contaminate the fibers produced in this way. Finally, we also estimate the tensile strength of the Al2O3 fibers produced through this method. 相似文献
Abstract. Since the seminal paper by Dickey and Fuller in 1979, unit‐root tests have conditioned the standard approaches to analysing time series with strong serial dependence in mean behaviour, the focus being placed on the detection of eventual unit roots in an autoregressive model fitted to the series. In this paper, we propose a completely different method to test for the type of long‐wave patterns observed not only in unit‐root time series but also in series following more complex data‐generating mechanisms. To this end, our testing device analyses the unit‐root persistence exhibited by the data while imposing very few constraints on the generating mechanism. We call our device the range unit‐root (RUR) test since it is constructed from the running ranges of the series from which we derive its limit distribution. These nonparametric statistics endow the test with a number of desirable properties, the invariance to monotonic transformations of the series and the robustness to the presence of important parameter shifts. Moreover, the RUR test outperforms the power of standard unit‐root tests on near‐unit‐root stationary time series; it is invariant with respect to the innovations distribution and asymptotically immune to noise. An extension of the RUR test, called the forward–backward range unit‐root (FB‐RUR) improves the check in the presence of additive outliers. Finally, we illustrate the performances of both range tests and their discrepancies with the Dickey–Fuller unit‐root test on exchange rate series. 相似文献
The present study investigated the fabrication and characterization of bio-based sustainable films composed of a terrestrial plant raw material, namely Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) cladodes powder (CP) and a marine seaweed derivative, namely agar (A). The effect of glycerol concentration on the properties of the casted films was evaluated at four different contents, namely 30, 40, 50 and 60 wt%. The films present UV-blocking properties, as well as moderate mechanical performance, thermal stability, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). The results point to an increase in thickness, elongation at break, moisture content, water solubility, and WVTR with increasing glycerol content. On the contrary, Young's modulus, tensile strength, and water contact angle decreased as glycerol concentration increased. The best combination is obtained for the film with 30% glycerol, based on an intermediate compromise between physical, mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. All these outcomes express the potentiality of the powder obtained from grinding the OFI cladodes as raw material to produce low-cost films for the development of sustainable packaging materials. 相似文献
The “River Disease” (RD), a disorder impacting honeybee colonies located close to waterways with abundant riparian vegetation (including Sebastiania schottiana, Euphorbiaceae), kills newly hatched larvae. Forager bees from RD-affected colonies collect honeydew excretions from Epormenis cestri (Hemiptera: Flatidae), a planthopper feeding on trees of S. schottiana. First-instar honeybee larvae fed with this honeydew died. Thus, we postulated that the nectars of RD-affected colonies had a natural toxin coming from either E. cestri or S. schottiana. An untargeted metabolomics characterization of fresh nectars extracts from colonies with and without RD allowed to pinpoint xanthoxylin as one of the chemicals present in higher amounts in nectar from RD-affected colonies than in nectars from healthy colonies. Besides, xanthoxylin was also found in the aerial parts of S. schottiana and the honeydew excreted by E. cestri feeding on this tree. A larva feeding assay where xanthoxylin-enriched diets were offered to 1st instar larvae showed that larvae died in the same proportion as larvae did when offered enriched diets with nectars from RD-colonies. These findings demonstrate that a xenobiotic can mimic the RD syndrome in honeybee larvae and provide evidence of an interspecific flow of xanthoxylin among three trophic levels. Further, our results give information that can be considered when implementing measures to control this honeybee disease.
In this study, CrxTi1–2xNbxO2 (0 x 0.5) rutile solid solutions have been synthesized from gels built from hydrolysis-condensation of Cr (III) acetylacetonate, NbCl5 and Ti (IV) isopropoxide mixture (polymeric gel). Characterization of these solid solutions was carried out by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible and infrared spectroscopy, differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis and CIELAB (Commission Internationale del'Eclairage L*a*b*) parameter measurements. The results obtained by the polymeric gel method were compared with those obtained by traditional ceramic synthesis. This comparison reveals some differences with regard to synthesis temperatures and reaction mechanisms. The formation of CrxTi1–2xNbxO2 (0 x 0.5) rutile solid solutions by the ceramic method requires temperatures of about 1200°C and soaking times of several days. These solid solutions are synthesized at 1000°C in 24 h by the polymeric gel method. In ceramic synthesis, the CrNbO4 compound with rutile structure appears as an intermediate compound in the formation of rutile solid solutions. In polymeric gel synthesis, however, the CrNbO4 rutile compound was not detected in the samples. 相似文献
Gels in a CaO-SiO2 (2080 wt%) system were prepared in a heterogeneous phase. The following phase-transfer catalysts were tested: 18-Crown-6, 15-Crown-5 and tetrabutylammonium hydrogenosulphate. The influences of the polarity of two non-classical solvents (toluene and dichloromethane) were also studied. The degrees of polymerization and of oxide contents were analysed by infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Finally, the morphology and structure of the dry and fired gels were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). 相似文献
Controlling the outer surface of nanometric metal–organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) and further understanding the in vivo effect of the coated material are crucial for the convenient biomedical applications of MOFs. However, in most studies, the surface modification protocol is often associated with significant toxicity and/or lack of selectivity. As an alternative, how the highly selective and general grafting GraftFast method leads, through a green and simple process, to the successful attachment of multifunctional biopolymers (polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hyaluronic acid) on the external surface of nanoMOFs is reported. In particular, effectively PEGylated iron trimesate MIL‐100(Fe) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit suitable grafting stability and superior chemical and colloidal stability in different biofluids, while conserving full porosity and allowing the adsorption of bioactive molecules (cosmetic and antitumor agents). Furthermore, the nature of the MOF–PEG interaction is deeply investigated using high‐resolution soft X‐ray spectroscopy. Finally, a cell penetration study using the radio‐labeled antitumor agent gemcitabine monophosphate (3H‐GMP)‐loaded MIL‐100(Fe)@PEG NPs shows reduced macrophage phagocytosis, confirming a significant in vitro PEG furtiveness. 相似文献