Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Porous Nanocellulose/Polymer Composites: Influence of the Polymer Chemical Structure and Porosity.

The excellent emulsifying capacity of nanocellulose allows for the preparation of porous nanocellulose/polymer composites through the emulsion templating process. However, the effects of the polymer chemical structure and porosity on the material properties have not been extensively explored. Here, we discuss the effects of these two factors on the thermal and mechanical properties of the composites.

Estrogen Receptor β in the Lateral Septum Mediates Estrogen Regulation of Social Anxiety-like Behavior in Male Mice.

17β-estradiol (E2) regulates various forms of social behavior through the activation of two types of estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ. The lateral septum (LS) is thought to be one of the potential target sites of E2, but the role played by ERα and ERβ in this brain area remains largely unknown. In the present study, we first analyzed the distribution of ERα and ERβ with double fluorescent immunohistochemistry in a transgenic mouse line in which red fluorescent protein (RFP) signal has been a reliable marker of ERβ expression.

Predicting algal growth inhibition toxicity: three-step strategy using structural and physicochemical properties.

We propose a three-step strategy that uses structural and physicochemical properties of chemicals to predict their 72 h algal growth inhibition toxicities against Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. In Step 1, using a log D-based criterion and structural alerts, we produced an interspecies QSAR between algal and acute daphnid toxicities for initial screening of chemicals. In Step 2, we categorized chemicals according to the Verhaar scheme for aquatic toxicity, and we developed QSARs for toxicities of Class 1 (non-polar narcotic) and Class 2 (polar narcotic) chemicals by means of simple regression with a hydrophobicity descriptor and multiple regression with a hydrophobicity descriptor and a quantum chemical descriptor.

Interspecies quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) for eco-toxicity screening of chemicals: the role of physicochemical properties.

In addition to molecular structure profiles, descriptors based on physicochemical properties are useful for explaining the eco-toxicities of chemicals. In a previous study we reported that a criterion based on the difference between the partition coefficient (log POW) and distribution coefficient (log D) values of chemicals enabled us to identify aromatic amines and phenols for which interspecies relationships with strong correlations could be developed for fish-daphnid and algal-daphnid toxicities. The chemicals that met the log D-based criterion were expected to have similar toxicity mechanisms (related to membrane penetration).