Search Results
Abstract
The thermal behaviour of authentic honeys and sugar syrups (industrial and homemade) was investigated by DSC. To confirm the first previous results concerning the effect of adulteration on the thermal behaviour of authentic honeys, 30 honey samples (Robinia, Lavender, Chestnut and Fir) were analyzed by DSC and their T g were measured following a suited experimental protocol. The results indicated that this parameter was useful to characterize and to distinguish significantly these varieties between them. Applied to honey samples artificially adulterated with different industrial syrups, DSC showed a detection level of 5–10% depending on the type of syrup. An endothermic phenomenon occurring between 40–90°C during the heating was studied by TMDSC and a new thermal transition similar to a glass-transition was highlighted.
Abstract
Toenails and fingernails are routinely used to estimate selenium status in epidemiological studies; however, literature validating nail selenium concentration as a surrogate for critical organs is limited. In this study diets of intact male dogs were selenium supplemented at two physiological levels (3 and 6 μg/kg/day) in two different forms, selenomethionine and selenium-enriched bioformed yeast. The selenium-adequate basal diet consumed by the treatment and control groups during the 4-week run-in period and throughout the trial contained 0.3 ppm selenium. After 7 months the dogs in the two treatment groups and the control group were euthanized. Representative tissue samples from prostate, brain, liver, heart and skeletal muscle were collected, rinsed and frozen. Toenail clippings from multiple toes were also collected. Selenium was determined by neutron activation analysis using Se77m (half life = 17.4 s) at the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center. NIST SRM 1577, Bovine Liver was analyzed as a quality control. The analysts were blinded to control and treatment group assignments. As expected, tissue selenium levels increased proportionally with supplementation. A slightly greater increase in tissue selenium was observed for the purified selenomethionine compared to the bioformed yeast; however this trend was significant only for brain tissue. Toenail selenium concentrations and tissue selenium were highly correlated (p < 0.003) with Pearson coefficients of 0.759 (skeletal muscle), 0.745 (heart), 0.729 (brain), 0.723 (prostate), and 0.632 (liver). The toenail biologic monitor accurately assesses selenium status in skeletal muscle, heart, brain, prostate, and liver in the canine model.
Abstract
Spontaneous structural changes of a polymer that is its ageing due to thermal energy, radiation energy, chemical compounds and micro-organisms lasting at least several season cycles change the characteristics of polymer products. Changes of polymer characteristics found during ageing can be reversible or irreversible. The most substantial changes occur as the result of UV radiation. Tests of selected aliphatic diamides of terephthalic acid as stabilisers of low density polyethylene (LD-PE) used for the production of gardening films were performed. Accelerated ageing of films for a period of one year was done in the Xenotest Alpha type apparatus. Studies were made for 0.1 mm thick commercial films. Studies of selected mechanical properties of LD-PE films without stabilisers and of LD-PE sheeting containing an addition of one of the synthesised diamides of terephthalic acid or the standard Tinuvin 783 stabiliser were performed before and after the ageing process. To determine the effect of stabilisers on the ageing process of LD-PE films, thermogravimetric analysis was applied. This allowed us to determine the decomposition activation energy of the investigated films before and after the ageing process and the influence of stabilisers on the observed changes.
Abstract
Long head of the biceps (LHB) is an intra-articular tendon component of the shoulder joint. The function of this tendon is complex. First, it is an origin of flexion in upper limb, and second it plays role in joint stabilisation during shoulder movements. Histological type of tendon tissues is connective tissue. The mechanical behaviour of connective tissue is primarily determined by the composition and organisation of collagens. In tendons, type I collagen is the principal structural element of the extracellular matrix, which acts to transmit force between bones or bone and muscle. Owing to the special localisation of this tendon, the intra-articular mechanical forces affect it to a considerable extent. The LHB is known as a source of pain in pathologic states of the shoulder joint. The goal of this study was to establish the calorimetric standards of the LHB in different ages, and to observe the changes of thermal properties of collagen during lifetime. LHB samples were taken from 38 cadavers (between ages 0 and 90 years) without macroscopic sign of shoulder pathology. DSC analyses were performed with SETARAM Micro DSC-II. The thermal denaturation parameters varied between T m (°C): 57, ΔH (J/g): 0.26 (age: 0 year) and T m (°C): 62.92, ΔH (J/g): 1.28 (age: 90 years). The ageing of collagenous tendon tissue can be clearly followed in changes of thermal denaturation properties. The knowledge of the ageing of normal collagen provides a good basis to analyse further the LHB pathology.
.89 Kauzmann temperature T K /K d 136.01 147.64 a Determined without aging in DSC apparatus
Edible wheat gluten (WG) protein films
Preparation, thermal, mechanical and spectral properties
foodstuff and give a long shelf life. However, biopolymers, including WG films, suffer from aging. To limit aging, it is important to identify and understand the mechanisms and reasons for the time-dependent physical and chemical changes. Only a limited
work aims at evaluating the thermo-oxidative stability of methyl and ethyl soybean biodiesels as a function of oxygen exposition time, aging test temperature, and long-term storage. The oxidative processes were identified by means of absolute
Abstract
Thirteen brain regions were dissected from both hemispheres of fifteen ‘normal’ ageing subjects (8 females, 7 males) of mean age 79±7 years. Elemental compositions were determined by simultaneous application of particle induced X-ray emissions (PIXE) and Rutherford backscattering (RBS) analyses using a 2 MeV, 4nA proton beam scaned over 4 mm2 of the sample surface. Elemental concentrations were found to be dependent upon the brain region and hemisphere studied. Hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to group the brain regions according to the sample concentrations of eight elements. The resulting dendrogram is preseted and its clusters related to the sample compositions of grey and white matter.
Abstract
The uranium adsorption on activated carbon from dilute solutions was studied as a function of pH, uranium concentration and ageing time. Optimum conditions for quantitative adsorption of uranium from water solutions were determined: uranium concentration 2.5.10−4 g/l or less; adsorption must be carried out in fresh prepared solutions with ageing time not more than one hour; pH 7.5–8.5; time for achieving the adsorption equilibrium not less than 20 min. The instrumental neutron activation method was used for the uranium analysis.
Abstract
The use of isothermal microcalorimetry (MC) as a sensitive monitor for slow reactions is demonstrated in a number of examples. In Example 1 the spontaneous decomposition of a nitrate ester propellant is studied and the absolute degradation rate estimated. Example 2 illustrates how MC can be used for comparing the rate of oxidative ageing at different O2 concentrations. Synergetic effects between oxygen and moisture in accelerated ageing of nitrile rubber are evaluated from a so-called 4-point test in Example 3. The last example shows a simple MC technique for rapid determination of moisture permeability through a polymeric sealant.
