Study of Thermal Effect on the Mechanical Properties of Nylon 610 Nanocomposites with Graphite Flakes That Have Undergone Supercritical Water Treatment at Different Temperatures.

This study investigates the thermal effect of supercritical water treatment at different temperatures (150, 175, 200 °C) and semi-vacuum state (-0.08 MPa) on graphite flakes which are then incorporated into nylon 610. The treatment is deemed to increase the surface activity of nanofillers through the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups.

Fabrication and Conductivity of Graphite Nanosheet/Nylon 610 Nanocomposites Using Graphite Nanosheets Treated with Supercritical Water at Different Temperatures.

In this study, water at high temperatures (150, 175, 200 °C) and in a vacuum state (-0.1 MPa) was applied to graphite nanosheets to enhance surface activity to promote the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups through supercritical water treatment. Nylon 610 nanocomposites (with treated or untreated nanosheets as nanofillers) were then synthesized using interfacial polymerization.

Superior Interaction of Electron Beam Irradiation with Carbon Nanotubes Added Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite System.

This work was conducted to investigate the effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) on the mechanical-physico properties of the electron beam irradiated polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) blends. The increasing of CNT amount up to 1.5 part per hundred resin (phr) has gradually improved tensile strength and Young's modulus of PVOH/CNT nanocomposites due to effective interlocking effect of CNT particles in PVOH matrix, as evident in SEM observation.

A Review on the Synthesis, Properties, and Utilities of Functionalized Carbon Nanoparticles for Polymer Nanocomposites.

Carbon can form different allotropes due to its tetravalency. Different forms of carbon such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibers, graphene, fullerenes, and carbon black can be used as nanofillers in order to enhance the properties of polymer nanocomposites. These carbon nanomaterials are of interest in nanocomposites research and other applications due to their excellent properties, such as high Young's Modulus, tensile strength, electrical conductivity, and specific surface area.

Viscoelastic Properties and Thermal Stability of Nanohydroxyapatite Reinforced Poly-Lactic Acid for Load Bearing Applications.

We studied the reinforcing effects of treated and untreated nanohydroxyapatite (NHA) on poly-lactic acid (PLA). The NHA surface was treated with three different types of chemicals; 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES), sodium -dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyethylenimine (PEI). The nanocomposite samples were prepared using melt mixing techniques by blending 5 wt% untreated NHA and 5 wt% surface-treated NHA (mNHA).

Thermal and Structural Analysis of Epoxidized Jatropha Oil and Alkaline Treated Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Poly(Lactic Acid) Biocomposites.

New environmentally friendly plasticized poly(lactic acid) (PLA) kenaf biocomposites were obtained through a melt blending process from a combination of epoxidized jatropha oil, a type of nonedible vegetable oil material, and renewable plasticizer. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the incorporation of epoxidized jatropha oil (EJO) as a plasticizer and alkaline treatment of kenaf fiber on the thermal properties of PLA/Kenaf/EJO biocomposites. Kenaf fiber was treated with 6% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution for 4 h.

Cigarette smoking blocks the benefit from reduced weight gain for insulin action by shifting lipids deposition to muscle.

Cigarette smoking (CS) is known to reduce body weight and this often masks its real effect on insulin action. The present study tested the hypothesis that CS can divert lipid deposition to muscles to offset the supposed benefit of reduced body weight gain on insulin signalling in this major site for glucose tolerance (or insulin action). The study was conducted in mice exposed to chronic CS followed by either a chow (CH) diet or a high-fat (HF) diet.

[Effect of hemoglobin N Baltimore on HbA1c measurement in six methods].

The presence of hemoglobin variants can adversely affect the accuracy of some HbA1c methods depending on the variant. We examine the analytical interference from a rare Hb variant (Hb N Baltimore) with six different HbA1c methods using various method principles: two immunoassays methods (Tina-quant HbA1c Gen et DCA Vantage), three high-performance liquid chromatography methods (G8 HPLC, Variant II Turbo A1c 2.0 et Variant II Dual kit), and one capillary-electrophoresis method (Capillarys Hb A1c kit).

[Antipsychotic induced rhabdomyolysis].

We report the case of a 40-year-old patient followed for post-traumatic stress disorder. A re-evaluation of its pharmacological treatment with the introduction of mirtazapine (30 mg/day) was associated with a rhabdomyolysis (CK> 20,000 IU/L at day 3). The diagnosis of mirtazapine induced rhabdomyolysis was made.

Severe rhabdomyolysis induced by quetiapine and mirtazapine in a French military soldier.

Rhabdomyolysis is a potential complication of psychotropic drugs use and may potentially lead to life-threatening complications, such as an acute renal failure. We describe the case of a 40-year-old military soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder was admitted for an adaptation of his treatment. Mirtazapine was introduced and quetiapine increased.

E-beam sterilizable thermoplastics elastomers for healthcare devices: Mechanical, morphology, and in vivo studies.

The effect of electron beam radiation on ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer/polypropylene blends is studied as an attempt to develop radiation sterilizable polypropylene/ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer blends suitable for medical devices. The polypropylene/ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer blends with mixing ratios of 80/20, 50/50, 20/80 were prepared in an internal mixer at 165°C and a rotor speed of 50 rpm/min followed by compression molding. The blends and the individual components were radiated using 3.

The role of de novo protein synthesis and SIRT1 in ER stress-induced Atf4 and Chop mRNA expression in mammalian cells.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many common human diseases. Integral to the UPR and an important determinant in cell fate is the expression of the pro-apoptotic transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). This is promoted by activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) whose expression is rapidly up-regulated in response to ER stress through an eIF2α phosphorylation-dependent increase in protein synthesis.

Enhancements in crystallinity, thermal stability, tensile modulus and strength of sisal fibres and their PP composites induced by the synergistic effects of alkali and high intensity ultrasound (HIU) treatments.

In this investigation, sisal fibres were treated with the combination of alkali and high intensity ultrasound (HIU) and their effects on the morphology, thermal properties of fibres and mechanical properties of their reinforced PP composites were studied. FTIR and FE-SEM results confirmed the removal of amorphous materials such as hemicellulose, lignin and other waxy materials after the combined treatments of alkali and ultrasound. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed an increase in the crystallinity of sisal fibres with an increase in the concentration of alkali.

Effect of nanofillers on the physico-mechanical properties of load bearing bone implants.

Bones are nanocomposites consisting of a collagenous fibre network, embedded with calcium phosphates mainly hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocrystallites. As bones are subjected to continuous loading and unloading process every day, they often tend to become prone to fatigue and breakdown. Therefore, this review addresses the use of nanocomposites particularly polymers reinforced with nanoceramics that can be used as load bearing bone implants.