Organotypic human skin culture models constructed with senescent fibroblasts show hallmarks of skin aging.

Skin aging is driven by intrinsic and extrinsic factors impacting on skin functionality with progressive age. One factor of this multifaceted process is cellular senescence, as it has recently been identified to contribute to a declining tissue functionality in old age. In the skin, senescent cells have been found to markedly accumulate with age, and thus might impact directly on skin characteristics.

Carbon Microparticles from Organosolv Lignin as Filler for Conducting Poly(Lactic Acid).

Carbon microparticles were produced from organosolv lignin at 2000 °C under argon atmosphere following oxidative thermostabilisation at 250 °C. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, and electro-conductivity measurements revealed that the obtained particles were electrically conductive and were composed of large graphitic domains. Poly(lactic acid) filled with various amounts of lignin-derived microparticles showed higher tensile stiffness increasing with particle load, whereas strength and extensibility decreased.

Converse piezoelectric effect in cellulose I revealed by wide-angle X-ray diffraction.

The converse piezoelectric effect in cellulose I was studied by exposing thin pine wood slices to an electric field. Macroscopically, a strong extension of wood was observed in its transverse anatomical direction (grain angle 90 degrees), perpendicular to the direction of the electric field. The same effect, albeit to a lesser extent, was observed for specimens with a 45 degree grain angle, whereas no measurable dimensional change was observed for specimens with grain oriented parallel to the testing direction (0 degree grain angle).

Cellulose in never-dried gel oriented by an AC electric field.

Never-dried cellulose gel obtained by slow coagulation from LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solution was exposed to an alternating current electric field. Making use of the birefringence of oriented cellulose and by means of wide-angle X-ray scattering, it was demonstrated that preferred orientation of cellulose molecules parallel to the electric field lines is induced in the cellulose gel. The preferred orientation remained unchanged for several days after storage in water and persisted after drying of the cellulose gel.