Eigenschaften von binären mischungen aus polyethylenen hoher dichte mit ultrahoher und normaler molmasse

The study is on two component blends of high density polyethylenes, having normal and ultra-high molecular weight. The polyethylenes were homogenized by two routes: in powder state or by rolling in melt, then pressed at temperatures in the range from 140°C to 220°C. Comparative studies showed that the way of homogenizing of the components does practically not affect the main mechanical properties of the blends when pressed at temperatures ≥ 160°C. Of special interest are the characteristics of those systems where ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is the matrix component.     

Contaminants in sediments: remobilisation and demobilisation

In this study, the contaminated anoxic sediment of the Mulde reservoir (Saxony, Germany) was investigated. Several sediment cores were analysed for heavy metals and organic chemicals such as chlorobenzenes and DDTs. The comparison between anoxic and oxidised sediment cores showed the potential danger for heavy metal (Zn and Cd) remobilisation from sediment due to bioturbation or resuspension by flooding. Chemical sequential extraction was used to describe partitioning of heavy metals among different mineralogical components in the sediments. Results showed remobilisation of Zn and Cd from the sediments. The stable fraction (organic/sulfidic-bound) of Zn and Cd decreased from 10 to 3%, and from 35 to 5%, respectively. Simultaneously, the carbonate fraction increased from 3 to 12% for Cd and from 10 to 22% for Zn. Furthermore, the simulation of the diffusion of organic pollutants showed remobilisation of 1,4-dichlorobenzene. The results confirmed the necessity of sediment remediation in the reservoir. Capping seems to be a promising approach for a low-cost remediation.     

Polyethylene–polyethylene blends modified with an additive of isotactic polypropylene

The blends of very high molecular weight high-density polyethylene (VHMW–HDPE) or ultrahigh molecular weight high-denisity polyethylene (UHMW–HDPE) and low-density polyethylene with normal molecular weight (LDPE) in equal or prevailing concentrations of the first component have excellent mechanical properties but very high viscosity in a molten state. The present investigations are a continuation of the fact, established by us for the first time, that the addition of a third polymer, isotactic polypropylene (I-PP), at optimal low concentrations increases the melt flowability of these systems without considerable deterioration of their very good mechanical properties in the solid semicrystalline state. The comparison between the thermomechanical behavior and the sorption in organic media of the systems leads to the supposition that an uninterrupted physical network from the VHMW–HDPE has been formed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Modeling the sintering of powder parts

Powder Metallurgy and Metal Ceramics - The powder sintering process is modeled. A mathematical model and a system to control the temperature field in the sintering process are proposed....     

Effect of Cardiotonic Steroid Marinobufagenin on Vascular Remodeling and Cognitive Impairment in Young Dahl-S Rats

The hypertensive response in Dahl salt-sensitive (DSS) rats on a high-salt (HS) diet is accompanied by central arterial stiffening (CAS), a risk factor for dementia, and heightened levels of a prohypertensive and profibrotic factor, the endogenous Na/K-ATPase inhibitor marinobufagenin (MBG). We studied the effect of the in vivo administration of MBG or HS diet on blood pressure (BP), CAS, and behavioral function in young DSS rats and normotensive Sprague–Dawley rats (SD), the genetic background for DSS rats. Eight-week-old male SD and DSS rats were given an HS diet (8% NaCl, n = 18/group) or a low-salt diet (LS; 0.1% NaCl, n = 14–18/group) for 8 weeks or MBG (50 µg/kg/day, n = 15–18/group) administered via osmotic minipumps for 4 weeks in the presence of the LS diet. The MBG-treated groups received the LS diet. The systolic BP (SBP); the aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), a marker of CAS; MBG levels; spatial memory, measured by a water maze task; and tissue collection for the histochemical analysis were assessed at the end of the experiment. DSS-LS rats had higher SBP, higher aPWV, and poorer spatial memory than SD-LS rats. The administration of stressors HS and MBG increased aPWV, SBP, and aortic wall collagen abundance in both strains vs. their LS controls. In SD rats, HS or MBG administration did not affect heart parameters, as assessed by ECHO vs. the SD-LS control. In DSS rats, impaired whole-heart structure and function were observed after HS diet administration in DSS-HS vs. DSS-LS rats. MBG treatment did not affect the ECHO parameters in DSS-MBG vs. DSS-LS rats. The HS diet led to an increase in endogenous plasma and urine MBG levels in both SD and DSS groups. Thus, the prohypertensive and profibrotic effect of HS diet might be partially attributed to an increase in MBG. The prohypertensive and profibrotic functions of MBG were pronounced in both DSS and SD rats, although quantitative PCR revealed that different profiles of profibrotic genes in DSS and SD rats was activated after MBG or HS administration. Spatial memory was not affected by HS diet or MBG treatment in either SD or DSS rats. Impaired cognitive function was associated with higher BP, CAS, and cardiovascular remodeling in young DSS-LS rats, as compared to young SD-LS rats. MBG and HS had similar effects on the cardiovascular system and its function in DSS and SD rats, although the rate of change in SD rats was lower than in DSS rats. The absence of a cumulative effect of increased aPWV and BP on spatial memory can be explained by the cerebrovascular and brain plasticity in young rats, which help the animals to tolerate CAS elevated by HS and MBG and to counterbalance the profibrotic effect of heightened MBG.     

137Cesium-induced chromosome aberrations analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization: eight years follow up of the Goiania radiation accident victims

The radiation accident in focus here occurred in a section of Goiania (Brazil) where more than a hundred individuals were contaminated with 137Cesium on September 1987. In order to estimate the absorbed radiation doses, initial frequencies of dicentrics and rings were determined in 129 victims [A.T. Ramalho, PhD Thesis, Subsidios a tecnica de dosimetria citogenetica gerados a partir da analise de resultados obtidos com o acidente radiologico de Goiania, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1992]. We have followed some of these victims cytogenetically over the years seeking for parameters that could be used as basis for retrospective radiation dosimetry. Our data on translocation frequencies obtained by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) could be directly compared to the baseline frequencies of dicentrics available for those same victims. Our results provided valuable information on how precise these estimates are. The frequencies of translocations observed years after the radiation exposure were two to three times lower than the initial dicentrics frequencies, the differences being larger at higher doses (>1 Gy). The accuracy of such dose estimates might be increased by scoring sufficient amount of cells. However, factors such as the persistence of translocation carrying lymphocytes, translocation levels not proportional to chromosome size, and inter-individual variation reduce the precision of these estimates.     

Thin-layer chromatographic demonstration of the herbicide zenkor

Established were the thin-layer chromatography conditions for the demonstration of the herbicide Zenkor as a pure substance and a preparation. Comparative experiments were carried out applying Thomson and Stanley's thin-layer chromatography conditions and the authors' personal ones. Most adequate proved to be the following conditions: sorbent-Kieselgel 60F 254 (Merck); solvent -- chloroform: 1,4-dioxan (9:1); developer -- ultraviolet light (authors' technique). Essential with this method is the preliminary (prior to apply the pure substances on the thin-layer chromatographic plaque) moving of the plaque in the indicated mobile phase (authors' technique). Under these thin-layer chromatography conditions work is made feasible and the method is fast and simple, achieving high sensitivity -- 0.5 mug Zenkor.     

Frequencies and types of exchange aberrations induced by X-rays and neutrons in Chinese hamster splenocytes detected by FISH using chromosome-specific DNA libraries

PURPOSE: To estimate the frequencies of radiation- (low and high LET) induced chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster splenocytes by two-colour fluorescence in situ hybridization using DNA painting probes specific for chromosomes 2, 3, 8, X and Y and to determine (1) the ratio of radiation-induced translocations and dicentrics; (2) the spectrum of exchange aberrations induced by X-rays and neutrons; and (3) the relative involvement of the different chromosomes in the formation of aberrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolated splenocytes from the Chinese hamster were irradiated in vitro with different doses of 200 kV X-rays (0.75, 1.5, 3.0 Gy) and 1 MeV fast neutrons (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 Gy). Conventional analysis of chromosome aberrations was carried out in Giemsa-stained preparations. Chromosome aberrations involving chromosomes 2, 3, 8, X and Y were analysed in first division metaphases using two-colour FISH. RESULTS: The results indicate that when all types of translocations are taken into account both X-rays and neutrons induce more translocations than dicentrics, the ratio between the two types of exchanges being 1.4 and 1.8 respectively. The ratio of 'apparently simple' reciprocal translocations and reciprocal complete dicentrics was close to 1 for both types of radiation. The RBE of neutrons for induction of exchanges was found to be between 5 and 8. Neutron irradiation was more efficient at inducing insertions. Among the chromosomes studied, an increased involvement was observed for chromosome 8 in dicentrics and translocations than that expected on the basis of its chromosome length. The high content of interstitial telomeric sequences in chromosome 8 may be responsible for the observed sensitivity of this chromosome. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in this study indicate that: (1) more translocations are found than dicentrics; (2) heterogeneity exists among Chinese hamster chromosomes for involvement in radiation-induced exchanges; (3) the spectrum and distribution of exchange aberrations are different between X-rays and neutrons; and (4) the relative frequencies of insertions could be used as a 'fingerprint' for exposure to high LET radiation.     

Relative involvement of chromosome #21 in radiation induced exchange aberrations in lymphocytes of Down syndrome patients

The reaction of chemical carcinogens with DNA appears to be one of the earliest events in the initiation phase of cancer. These DNA reactions can be base- and position-specific, are affected by sequence context, and are repaired at different rates depending on whether or not they are on the transcribed or nontranscribed strand of DNA and which nucleotide sequence is modified. Thus, measurement of total genomic DNA reaction of carcinogens is only a crude first step in dissecting out which are the critical lesions for cancer initiation. On the other hand, we know that DNA adducts, which have been primarily characterised in experimental studies, appear to have similar structures in human DNA arising from occupational or environmental exposures. A number of different methods have been developed to detect and measure DNA adducts in man. These include physico-chemical methods such as mass spectrometry, 32P-postlabelling, fluorescence and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and biological methods such as immunoassay. All these methods have their strengths and weaknesses. Human studies, using 32P-postlabelling, demonstrate that this method can be used to examine the effect of potential chemoprotective agents on DNA adduct level. AMS has been used to measure DNA adducts in human tissue after patients have ingested trace quantities of the food mutagens 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, a heterocyclic amine formed during the cooking of meat and the naturally occurring mycotoxin, aflatoxin B1. These studies can assist in assessing the risks associated with low-level exposure to food genotoxins.