Sulfur Diffusion Studies Imitating Recycled Ground-Rubber-Containing Compounds.

In-rubber properties of vulcanizates deteriorate in the presence of incorporated recycled ground rubber (GR). This behavior is partly explained by a possible diffusion of sulfur from the rubber matrix into the GR. Therefore, the sulfur concentration and, thus, the crosslink density in the matrix are reduced.

"Re-Think" Sulfur Curing.

Since Charles Goodyear discovered the method of sulfur curing Natural Rubber in 1839, many studies have been carried out to understand its mechanism. Currently, the broadly accepted mechanism includes an activated accelerator complex formed by Zinc oxide, stearic acid, accelerators and sulfur. Furthermore, it is also broadly accepted that the coupling of the sulfur to the polymer takes place in the allylic position to the double bond.

Ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae detected in England, 2015-24: an observational analysis.

Objectives: Since June 2022, there has been a rise in the number of ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae cases detected in England (n = 15), of which a third were XDR. We describe the demographic and clinical details of the recent cases and investigate the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of the isolates. For a comprehensive overview, we also reviewed 16 ceftriaxone-resistant cases previously identified in England since December 2015 and performed a global genomic comparison of all publicly available ceftriaxone-resistant N.

Mono-n-hexyl phthalate: exposure estimation and assessment of health risks based on levels found in human urine samples.

Mono-n-hexyl phthalate (MnHexP) is a primary metabolite of di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHexP) and other mixed side-chain phthalates that was recently detected in urine samples from adults and children in Germany. DnHexP is classified as toxic for reproduction category 1B in Annex VI of Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 and listed in Annex XIV of the European chemical legislation REACH; thereby, its use requires an authorisation. Health-based guidance values for DnHexP are lacking and a full-scale risk assessment has not been carried out under REACH.

Quantitative stakeholder-driven assessment of radiation protection issues via a PIANOFORTE online survey.

To enhance stakeholder engagement and foster the inclusion of interests of citizens in radiation protection research, a comprehensive online survey was developed within the framework of the European Partnership PIANOFORTE. This survey was performed in 2022 and presented an opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders to voice their opinions on research priorities in radiation protection for the foreseeable future. Simultaneously, it delved into pertinent issues surrounding general radiation protection.

Exploring the Impact of Bio-Based Plasticizers on the Curing Behavior and Material Properties of a Simplified Tire-Tread Compound.

The tire industry needs to become more sustainable to reduce pollution and fight climate change. Replacing fossil ingredients in a tire-tread compound with bio-based alternatives is an approach to create a more sustainable product. For instance, the plasticizer can be replaced, which is a petroleum-based ingredient used in relatively high amounts in the rubber.

Flash Pyrolysis of Waste Tires in an Entrained Flow Reactor-An Experimental Study.

In this study, a flash pyrolysis process is developed using an entrained flow reactor for recycling of waste tires. The flash pyrolysis system is tested for process stability and reproducibility of the products under similar operating conditions when operated continuously. The study is performed with two different feedstock materials, i.

Exploring the Impact of Reinforcing Filler Systems on Devulcanizate Composites.

Composites revolutionize material performance, fostering innovation and efficiency in diverse sectors. Elastomer-based polymeric composites are crucial for applications requiring superior mechanical strength and durability. Widely applied in automotives, aerospace, construction, and consumer goods, they excel under extreme conditions.

Analysis and modelling of profiles to understand fractionation processes for contaminations with polychlorinated biphenyls observed in fish.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) both continue to spread into the environment and to bioaccumulate from primary urban and industrial sources as well as from secondary sources such as soils and the oceans. Fractions of congeners in PCB mixtures, i.e.

Structural and chemical properties of NiO thin films: the role of oxygen vacancies in NiOOH formation in a HO atmosphere.

NiO films grown from 50 nm thick Ni on Si(111) were put in contact with oxygen and subsequently water vapor at elevated temperatures. Near ambient pressure (NAP)-XPS and -XAS reveal the formation of oxygen vacancies at elevated temperatures, followed by HO dissociation and saturation of the oxygen vacancies with chemisorbing OH. Through repeated heating and cooling, OH-saturated oxygen vacancies act as precursors for the formation of thermally stable NiOOH on the sample surface.

New Route of Tire Rubber Devulcanization Using Silanes.

The disposal of tires at the end of their lifespan results in societal and environmental issues. To tackle this, recycling and reuse are effective solutions. Among various recycling methods, devulcanization is considered to be a very sustainable option, as it involves the controlled breakdown of crosslinks while maintaining the polymer backbones.

Cardiovascular disease biomarkers derived from circulating cell-free DNA methylation.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a major cause of worldwide mortality. The syndrome occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is decreased or blocked, causing muscle tissues to die or malfunction. There are three main types of ACS: Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and unstable angina.

Molecular Layer Deposition of Polyurea on Silica Nanoparticles and Its Application in Dielectric Nanocomposites.

Polymer nanocomposites (NCs) offer outstanding potential for dielectric applications including insulation materials. The large interfacial area introduced by the nanoscale fillers plays a major role in improving the dielectric properties of NCs. Therefore, an effort to tailor the properties of these interfaces can lead to substantial improvement of the material's macroscopic dielectric response.

Disintegration of the NuRD Complex in Primary Human Muscle Stem Cells in Critical Illness Myopathy.

Critical illness myopathy (CIM) is an acquired, devastating, multifactorial muscle-wasting disease with incomplete recovery. The impact on hospital costs and permanent loss of quality of life is enormous. Incomplete recovery might imply that the function of muscle stem cells (MuSC) is impaired.

Mid-Holocene expansion of the Indian Ocean warm pool documented in coral Sr/Ca records from Kenya.

Proxy reconstructions suggest that mid-Holocene East African temperatures were warmer than today between 8 and 5 ka BP, but climate models cannot replicate this warming. Precessional forcing caused a shift of maximum insolation from boreal spring to fall in the mid-Holocene, which may have favored intense warming at the start of the warm season. Here, we use three Porites corals from Kenya that represent time windows from 6.

SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics revealed by wastewater sequencing analysis and deconvolution.

The use of RNA sequencing from wastewater samples is a valuable way for estimating infection dynamics and circulating lineages of SARS-CoV-2. This approach is independent from testing individuals and can therefore become the key tool to monitor this and potentially other viruses. However, it is equally important to develop easily accessible and scalable tools which can highlight critical changes in infection rates and dynamics over time across different locations given sequencing data from wastewater.

Back to the basics and fast forward to multiculturalism.

Objective: This article reviews and comments on the contributions to the special issue, Brief Alcohol Interventions for Young Adults: Strengthening Effects and Disentangling Mechanisms to Build Personalized Interventions for Widespread Uptake, and proposes next steps to strengthen effects and promote widespread uptake.

Method: The articles of the special issue were reviewed simultaneously through the lenses of addiction and multicultural sciences to provide further insight into subsequent research that may help to advance the field.

Results: The needs of early adults seem to have changed significantly in 30 years.

Filling the Gap with Long -Alkanes: Incorporation of C20 and C30 into Phospholipid Membranes.

Investigating how hydrophobic molecules mix with phospholipid bilayers and how they affect membrane properties is commonplace in biophysics. Despite this, a molecular-level empirical description of a membrane model as simple as a phospholipid bilayer with long linear hydrophobic chains incorporated is still missing. Here, we present an unprecedented molecular characterization of the incorporation of two long -alkanes, -eicosane (C20) and -triacontane (C30) with 20 and 30 carbons, respectively, in phosphatidylcholine (PC) bilayers using a combination of experimental techniques (H NMR, P NMR, H-C dipolar recoupling solid-state NMR, X-ray scattering, and cryogenic electron microscopy) and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

SUMOylation of the chromodomain factor MRG-1 in affects chromatin-regulatory dynamics.

Epigenetic mechanisms control chromatin accessibility and gene expression to ensure proper cell fate specification. Histone proteins are integral chromatin components, and their modification promotes gene expression regulation. Specific proteins recognize modified histones such as the chromodomain protein MRG-1.

Follow-up regimes for sick-listed employees: A comparison of nine north-western European countries.

The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the importance of social protection systems, including income security, when health problems arise. The aims of this study are to compare the follow-up regimes for sick-listed employees across nine European countries, and to conduct a qualitative assessment of the differences with respect to burden and responsibility sharing between the social protection system, employers and employees. The tendency highlighted is that countries with shorter employer periods of sick-pay typically have stricter follow-up responsibility for employers because, in practice, they become gatekeepers of the public sickness benefit scheme.

Prehospital Tourniquet Usage and Diabetes Mellitus Associated with Increased Incidence, Odds, and Risk of Acute Kidney Injury: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Tourniquets are the standard of care for civilian and military prehospital treatment of massive extremity hemorrhages. Over the past 17 years, multiple military studies have demonstrated rare complications related to tourniquet usage. These studies may not translate well to civilian populations due to differences in baseline health.