The effect of copper and protein on iron metabolism in rats fed a cereal diet

Weanling male white rats were fed a diet containing a commercially available breakfast cereal. In 28 days they developed a mild anemia coupled with an increased amount of iron in the liver. In parallel work, this same diet was supplemented in a factorial fashion with casein, iron, copper and zinc. The zinc had no effect. Copper supplementation increased the hemoglobin level. Casein decreased liver iron. The copper and casein, when fed together, produced results approaching normal control levels. Supplementation of the diet with additional iron did not increase the hemoglobin or hematocrit but it did further increase iron storage in the liver. It is suggested that cereal enrichment programs might do well to consider copper and protein rather than focus total attention on additional iron and zinc.     

Analysis of triclosan and 4n‐nonylphenol in Colombian reservoir water by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry

In this work were determined triclosan and 4n‐nonylphenol in water from a reservoir that is used to provide water to a purification plant in an important city in Colombia. The analytical methodology was validated using solid‐phase extraction and analysis by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The analysis by GC‐MS showed good linearity in the range of 0.05–5 μg/L for both compounds. Recoveries from 79 to 109% and standard deviations of 2.5–7.7 for low concentrations and from 3.8 to 9.6 (n = 5) for high concentrations were obtained for both compounds. In Colombia, this is the first time that these compounds have been analysed in water supplying of a drinking water treatment plant. The validated method was applied to the analysis of 27 samples collected in August 2010 in 11 locations from the reservoir and in the influent and effluent of the drinking water treatment plant. In total, seven samples were found to contain triclosan.     

The Topic of Contact Zone Problems in the Shaft and Hole Joint, Taking into Account Component Form Errors

In assemblies constructed from components manufactured with radial deviations, cross-section deviations and deviations being combination of both, there occur variable values of local stresses and displacements. Both the types of shape deviations and their values need to be taken into account in the designing process and play an important role during machine operation. They have a crucial effect on the value and scatter of maximum reduced von Mises stresses and contact stresses. Axisymmetric joints were examined, in which shafts in selected shape variants and in variable angular positions were associated with a non-deformable hole. The aspects of contact zone problems are presented using the example of numerical simulation of contact between an elliptical saddle-shaped shaft placed in a rigid, non-deformable hole in different angular positions. Occurrence of both variable relative stresses and contact stresses as well as shaft＇s axial shift and rotary movement resistance were demonstrated.     

Effect of polymer structure on the molecular dynamics and thermal behavior of poly(allyl acetoacetate) and copolymers

In this paper, dielectric and calorimetric studies of the small-molecule glass former allyl acetoacetate monomers as well as its newly synthetized homopolymer and copolymers with different styrene composition were performed in both the liquid and glassy states. The molecular dynamics studies by the broadband dielectric spectroscopy and the stochastic temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry enabled us to explore relaxation processes of examined materials in the wide frequency range. We found that the copolymers reveal two co-existing glass transitions characterized by the glass transition temperatures, which are very close to those of the corresponding homopolymers. These results suggest that the copolymers exhibited some sequences of acetoacetate units with a microphase-separated morphology in agreement with the value of reactivity ratio previously determined. We investigated effects of copolymerization compositions on the glass transition temperature, the isobaric fragility index, the dielectric and calorimetric intensity, and the dynamic heterogeneity on the glass transitions of the materials.     

Block architecture influence on the structure and mechanical performance of drawn polyurethane elastomers

Some natural biopolymers such as spider silk exhibit superb mechanical properties, characterised by their great toughness. Synthetic polyurethane (PU) copolymers also endow great toughness but lack silk's stiffness and strength. The aim of this work was to elucidate the role of segment block architectural features that influence PU stiffness and strength after cold drawing. For this purpose PUs with varied soft segment character, crystalline versus rubbery, as well as with different hard segment chemistries, 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate/1,4‐butanediol versus 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate/1,4‐butanediol, were synthesised by a two‐step polymerisation method. We found that the architecture of both block segments has a dramatic influence on drawn PU mechanical performance, in which PUs with crystallisable soft segments and crystalline hard segments are shown to have a greater impact on developing stiffer and stronger materials. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Experimental Results Regarding an Anthropomorphic Original Gripper with Two-Finger Tests during Grasping Objects with Varied Shapes

The paper presents theoretical and experimental results on an original anthropomorphic gripping concept. Compared to the existing anthropomorphic grippers, this gripper is very simple, yet it has the advantage of high performance in terms of gripping possibilities and a very low manufacturing cost. Source of inspiration was the human hand, which is able to catch objects by only using two fingers. The analyzed anthropomorphic gripper has two fingers, with two phalanxes each, and is based on a new mechanism with articulated bars. The kinematic analysis performed on the gripping mechanism reveals the optimal displacement in the translational coupling, which was experimentally validated. The gripping possibilities were increased by attaching clamping jaws to each phalanx. The clamping jaws have been attached by means of spherical couplings, thus offering the possibility to catch objects with any type of surface. By carrying out gripping tests with different objects, we underline the importance of a safe use of the two-fingered anthropomorphic grippers in different applications. Due to the innovative mechanical structure, the gripper can insure the minimal gripping conditions, whilst the complexity of the objects that can be gripped make it suitable for the use in robots.     

Antiwear Action of Mineral Lubricants Modified by Conventional and Uncoventional Additives

The authors of this paper investigated the influence of esters of rapeseed oil fatty acids on the lubricating properties of mineral lubricants containing chosen AW/EP additives. Methyl esters, ethylene glycol esters, and glycerol esters as well as some commercial AW/EP packages based on zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, S–P organic compounds, and sulphurized esters of fatty acids were tested. The tribological tests were carried out with the use of a four-ball machine. Antiwear (AW) properties of tested compositions were determined using their limiting load of wear (G_oz(40)). It appears that the AW action of esters of rapeseed oil fatty acids depends on their structure. The best AW action is shown by compositions of mineral oil lubricants containing AW/EP additives and methyl esters of rapeseed oil fatty acids. The SEM/EDS analysis of the scar surface layer indicated that the presence of these esters in lubricants causes a change in the interaction between AW/EP additives and the metal surface. These observations were confirmed by the XPS surface analysis.     

Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of a Laser Textured Thrust Bearing

In this article, a laser partially textured thrust bearing is theoretically and experimentally analyzed. An adiabatic model is developed in order to theoretically investigate the performances of the bearing. The bearing sample is partially textured both in radial and circumferential direction using the laser texturing process. The performance of the bearing (fluid film thickness and friction torque) is evaluated on a specially adapted test rig and the experimental results are compared with the theoretical model. A good agreement is found between the theoretical model and the experimental data. Also a comparison between a laser textured bearing and a bearing textured using the photolithographic method is presented.