Effect of BiO Particle Size on the Radiation-Shielding Performance of Free-Lead Epoxide Materials against Ionizing Radiation.

In this work, we studied the effect of bismuth oxide particle size and its attenuation capacity as a filler additive in epoxy resins. Six samples were prepared according to the amount of microparticles and nanoparticles in the sample and were coded as ERB-1, ERB-2, ERB-3, ERB-4, ERB-5, and ERB-6. One of the composite epoxies contained BiO microparticles at a 50:50 ratio (ERB-6) and was chosen as the control composite, and the number of microparticles (MPs) was gradually decreased and replaced by nanoparticles (NPs) to produce epoxy-containing BiO nanoparticles at a 50:50 ratio (ERB-1).

Understanding the Effect of Introducing Micro- and Nanoparticle Bismuth Oxide (BiO) on the Gamma Ray Shielding Performance of Novel Concrete.

The aim of this study is to investigate the radiation shielding properties of novel concrete samples with bulk BiO and BiO nanoparticles (BiO NP) incorporated into its composition. The mass attenuation coefficient of the concrete samples without BiO and with 5 and 7 wt% bulk BiO were experimentally determined and were compared against values obtained using the XCOM and Geant4 simulations. Both methods greatly agree with the experimental values.

Cosmogenic beryllium-7 in soil, rainwater and selected plant species to evaluate the vegetal interception of atmospheric fine particulate matter.

Beryllium-7 is a radionuclide produced in the upper atmosphere by cosmic-ray spallation with ions of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. It is one of radionuclides that can be used to trace the fine particulate matter of 2.5-µm diameter (PM) and smaller.

ACE2 activation by xanthenone prevents leptin-induced increases in blood pressure and proteinuria during pregnancy in Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study investigates the effect of ACE2 activation on leptin-induced changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), proteinuria, endothelial activation and ACE2 expression during pregnancy in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pregnant rats were given subcutaneous injection of either saline, or leptin, or leptin plus xanthenone (ACE2 activator), or xanthenone (XTN) alone. SBP, serum ACE, ACE2, endothelin-1, E-selectin and ICAM-1 levels were estimated; also their gene expressions were determined in the kidney and aorta respectively.

Leptin increases blood pressure and markers of endothelial activation during pregnancy in rats.

Raised leptin levels have been reported in the placentae and serum of women with elevated blood pressure and proteinuria during pregnancy. The role of leptin in this however remains unknown. This study investigates the effect of leptin administration on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and proteinuria and serum markers of endothelial activation during pregnancy in Sprague Dawley rats.