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The optimization of flame retardancy and thermal conductivity in epoxy resin (EP), utilized in critical applications such as mechanical components and electronics packaging, is a significant challenge. This study introduces a novel, ultrasound-assisted self-assembly technique to create a dual-functional filler consisting of carbon nanotubes and ammonium polyphosphate (CNTs@APP). This method, leveraging dynamic ligand interactions and strategic solvent selection, allows for precise control over the assembly and distribution of CNTs on APP surfaces, distinguishing it from conventional blending approaches. The integration of 7.5 wt.% CNTs@APP10 into EP nanocomposites results in substantial improvements in flame retardancy, as evidenced by a limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 31.8% and achievement of the UL-94 V-0 rating. Additionally, critical fire hazard indicators, including total heat release (THR), total smoke release (TSR), and the peak intensity of CO yield (PCOY), are significantly reduced by 45.9% to 77.5%. This method also leads to a remarkable 3.6-fold increase in char yield, demonstrating its game-changing potential over traditional blending techniques. Moreover, despite minimal CNTs addition, thermal conductivity is notably enhanced, showing a 53% increase. This study introduces a novel approach in the development of multifunctional EP nanocomposites, offering potential for wide range of applications.

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Crystallinity and flame retardancy are two key properties for poly(lactic acid)(PLA) in applications. In this paper, a quaternary phosphonium salt poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) and a phosphamide (POFA) were prepared. The PIL, POFA and their blend were used to regulate the flame retardancy and crystallization behaviors of PLA using the limiting oxygen index, UL-94 vertical burning, and thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry etc. The results showed that a synergistic effect exists between PIL and POFA on flame retardancy. When 6 wt% PIL/POFA (2/1) was added into PLA, its LOI value is 28.0 vol%, and achieves the UL-94 V-0 rating while the PLA composites containing 6 wt% PIL or POFA just achieve the UL-94 V2. The PIL/POFA improves the flame retardancy of PLA by melting-away mode. In addition, the crystallization rate of PLA containing PIL/POFA is faster than that of PLA/PIL and PLA/POFA. The degradation of PLA induced by PIL/POFA produces some small molecular oligomers, which enhances the molecular chain mobility and rearrangement, thus contributes to better flame retardancy and faster crystallization.

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Two kinds of phosphoramide derivatives containing one (POFA) or two (BPOFA) phosphoramide bonds were synthesized using diphenylphosphinic chloride, phenylphosphonic dichloride and furfurylamine, respectively. The flame retardancy, thermal degradation and crystallization behaviors of polylactic acid (PLA)/POFA and PLA/BPOFA blends were investigated using the limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 vertical burning tests, cone calorimeter tests, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. A small amount of 1.0 wt% BPOFA increases the LOI of PLA from 20.4 vol% to 28.0 vol% and achieves the UL-94 V0 rating, while 7.0 wt% POFA is needed to achieve the UL-94 V0 rating indicating that the PLA/BPOFA has better flame retardancy than that of PLA/POFA. Both POFA and BPOFA decrease the amount of flammable gaseous compounds and play positive roles in transesterification of PLA. More importantly, BPOFA is easier to catalyze the degradation of PLA and improve UL-94 rating by melting-away mode. Moreover, the BPOFA accelerates the crystallization rate and thus improves the crystallinity of PLA, while POFA does not show a positive effect on crystallization behaviors of PLA.

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SCOPE: Se-methylselenocysteine (SMC) is a major selenocompound in selenium (Se)-enriched plants. Se is vital for proper brain function, and Se-deficient is considered to be related with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The potential of SMC in intervening cognitive deficits and neuropathology of triple transgenic AD (3 × Tg-AD) mice is evaluated for the first time. METHODS AND RESULTS: AD mice are treated with SMC (0.75 mg kg-1 BW per day) in their drinking water for 10 months. Results reveal that SMC 1) reduces oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation; 2) modulates the distribution and levels of several metal ions; 3) decreases amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) generation by inhibiting the expression of its precursor protein APP and ß-secretase (BACE1); and 4) attenuates tau hyperphosphorylation and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) formation via promoting protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, thereby preserving synaptic proteins and neuron activities and finally improving spatial learning and memory deficits in AD model mice. The authors suggest that the inhibitory effect of SMC on MEK/ERK activation may play a critical role in intervening AD progression. CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal that SMC is powerful in ameliorating AD-related neuropathology and cognitive deficits via modulating oxidative stress, metal homeostasis, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation.

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Many studies have shown that imbalance of mineral metabolism may play an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. It was recently reported that selenium could reverse memory deficits in AD mouse model. We carried out multi-time-point ionome analysis to investigate the interactions among 15 elements in the brain by using a triple-transgenic mouse model of AD with/without high-dose sodium selenate supplementation. Except selenium, the majority of significantly changed elements showed a reduced level after 6-month selenate supplementation, especially iron whose levels were completely reversed to normal state at almost all examined time points. We then built the elemental correlation network for each time point. Significant and specific elemental correlations and correlation changes were identified, implying a highly complex and dynamic crosstalk between selenium and other elements during long-term supplementation with selenate. Finally, we measured the activities of two important anti-oxidative selenoenzymes, glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, and found that they were remarkably increased in the cerebrum of selenate-treated mice, suggesting that selenoenzyme-mediated protection against oxidative stress might also be involved in the therapeutic effect of selenate in AD. Overall, this study should contribute to our understanding of the mechanism related to the potential use of selenate in AD treatment.

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An analytical method for selenium species of selenate (SeVI), selenite (SeIV), selenomethionine (SeMet), selenocystine (SeCys2 ) and selenoethionine (SeEt) was established using high performance liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). A Hamilton PRP X-100 reversed-phase anion exchange column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) with a 5 mmol/L citric acid buffer solution (pH 4.5, adjusted with 20% (v/ v) ammonia) as mobile phase was used for separation, and ICP-MS was used for detection. The five species were completely separated within 21 min. All the linear correlation coefficients of the five selenium species were greater than 0.999 5, and the detection limits of SeVI, SeIV, SeMet, SeCys2, SeEt were 0.4, 0.4, 5.6, 0.9 and 1.2 microg/L, respectively. The extraction procedure was studied for fresh mushroom and pork samples. For water-soluble selenium compounds, citric acid was a good extraction solution, and the recoveries were around 100% for inorganic selenium and in the range of 85.0% - 95.3% for SeMet; but worse for SeCys2 and SeEt. As for the proteinase K, the recoveries of SeCys2 and SeEt were raised to the range of 79.9% -91.5%. The method has the advantages of simple operation and good accuracy, and can be used for the quantitative determination of the five selenium species in food.

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OBJECTIVE: To study the levels of SARS-associated coronavirus IgG antibody of SARS patients, people who closely contacted SARS patients and normal subjects in Gansu province. METHODS: The levels of SARS-associated coronavirus IgG antibody were measured by ELISA. The material included acute and (or) recovery period sera of 9 SARS patients, sera from 1,109 doctors and nurses closely contacted with SARS patients, laboratory workers, personnel for disease control and prevention, persons who contacted SARS patients, and sera from 978 normal subjects. RESULTS: SARS coronavirus IgG antibody was detected positive in 6 of the 9 patients, it was still positive in the sera twelve months after recovery; 1 of the closely contacted persons and 3 normal subjects were found positive. CONCLUSION: The positive rate of SARS coronavirus IgG antibody of patients was consistent with the clinical diagnosis. The low positive rate of the persons who closely contacted SARS patients and normal subjects suggests that SARS probably had no subclinical infection.

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Poly(acryldinitrophenylamidrazone-dinitroacrylphenylhydrazine) chelating fiber was synthesized from polyacrylonitrile fiber and used for enrichment and separation for traces of Au(III), Ru(III), In(III), Bi(III), Zr(IV), V(V), Ga(III) and Ti(IV) ions from solution samples. The acidity, rate, re-use, capacity and interference on the adsorption of ions on the chelating fiber as well as the conditions of desorption of these ions from the chelating fiber were investigated by means of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The results show that 10-100 ngml(-1) of Au(III), Ru(III), In(III), Bi(III), Zr(IV), V(V), Ga(III) and Ti(IV) ions can be quantitatively enriched by the chelating fiber at a 2 mlmin(-1) of flow rate in the range pH 4-5, and desorbed quantitatively with 20 ml of 5 M HCl for In(III), Bi(III), Zr(IV), V(V), Ga(III), Ti(IV) and 20 ml of 4 M HCl+2% CS(NH(2))(2) solution for Au(III), Ru(III) (with recovery>95%). 50- to 500- fold excesses of Fe(III), Al(III), Mg(II), Mn(II), Ca(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) ions cause little interference in the concentration and determination of analyzed ions. When the fiber was reused for 8 times, the recoveries of the above ions enriched by the fiber were still over 87%. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for the enrichment and determination of 10 ngml(-1) Au, Ru, In, Bi, Ga and 1 ngml(-1) Zr, V, Ti were lower than 3.0%. The results obtained for these ions in real solution samples by this method were basically in agreement with the given values with average errors of less than 6.3%. FT-IR spectra show that existence of NNCNHNH, OCNHNH and NO(2) functional groups are verified in chelating fiber, and Au(III) or Ru(III) is mainly combined with nitrogen (or oxygen) of the groups to form a chelate complex.