Nidia FERRAROTTI¹, Rosario MUSACCO-SEBIO², Christian SAPORITO-MAGRIÑÁ², Juan Manuel ACOSTA², Marisa REPETTO^{2 *}

BIOCELL, Vol.40, No.1, pp. 19-22, 2016, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2016.40.019

Abstract The objective of this work was to study the in vivo time course of biochemical processes of oxidative damage in the brain of Sprague-Dawley rats that received an acute overload of the redox active metals iron (Fe) and copper (Cu), and the redox inactive cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni). Oxidative stress indicators (phospholipid and protein oxidation), glutathione (GSH), antioxidant enzymes and NADPH oxidase activities, and the plasma inflammatory cytokine (IL-6) were measured. The results showed that in brain oxidative mechanisms for both sets of metal are different, however in both cases are irreversible. The mechanism… More >

Jimena P. CABILLA, Sonia A. RONCHETTI, Beatriz H. DUVILANSKI^*

BIOCELL, Vol.40, No.1, pp. 15-18, 2016, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2016.40.015

Abstract Environmental contamination with some metalloids and heavy metals (M/HM) raises concern due to well known adverse effects on health. Among these pollutants, chromium VI (Cr VI), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) are frequently present as a result of natural sources or due to industrial activities. They are able to easily enter the organism and negatively affect many organs and systems. In vivo (exposure to Cr VI, Cd or As through drinking water) and in vitro experiments (primary pituitary cell cultures) were performed in male Wistar rats to address their actions on hypothalamus-pituitary axis. All the… More >

Juanita BUSTAMANTE^1,*, Analía CZERNICZYNIEC², Silvia LORES-ARNAIZ²

BIOCELL, Vol.40, No.1, pp. 11-14, 2016, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2016.40.011

Abstract The suppressive effects of ketamine on intracellular calcium has been reported in a variety of cells although the mechanisms involved are not well understood. The aim of this work was to evaluate the ketamine effect on the mitochondrial Ca²⁺ accumulation and the cellular Ca²⁺ mobilization using FLUO4-AM and flow cytometry. The results showed that mitochondria from ketamine injected animals presented a lower ability to retain calcium at concentrations higher than 20 μM, as compared with controls (saline injected animals). In addition, ketamine showed a significant decreased KCl-induced intracellular calcium concentration. KCl increased calcium influx through More >

María P BENAVIDES¹, Susana M GALLEGO¹, Facundo RAMOS ARTUSO², Mariana CHECOVICH³, Andrea GALATRO^*

BIOCELL, Vol.40, No.1, pp. 1-6, 2016, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2016.40.001

Abstract Plants are exposed to environmental stress, in natural and agricultural conditions.Nitric oxide (NO), a small gaseous molecule which plays important roles in plants, has been involved in many physiological processes, and emerged as an important endogenous signaling molecule in the adaptation of plants to biotic and abiotic stress. NO is produced from a variety of enzymatic and non enzymatic sources, which are not yet fully understood. Also, NO and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) can produce posttranslational modifications affecting protein function. Nitrate reductase, a key enzyme in the nitrogen metabolism, is a proposed source of NO More >

M.N.D. Cherief¹, M. Elmeguenni¹, M. Benguediab¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.51, No.3, pp. 187-201, 2016, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2016.051.187

Abstract Impact behavior of polymers has received considerable attention in recent years, and much work based on fracture mechanic approaches has been carried out. In this paper, fracture behavior in large deformation of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) materials was investigated through experimental impact testing on single edge notched specimen (SENB) and by using theoretical and analytical fracture criteria concepts. Moreover, a review of the main fracture criteria is given in order to characterize the toughness of this polymer in the both cases (static and dynamic). The fractured specimens obtained from the Charpy impact test were More >

Mingzhe Jiang¹, S. Nicole DeMass¹, D. Ross Economy², Thomas Shackleton¹, Christopher L. Kitchens^1*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 377-387, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634131

Abstract Spin coating was used to cast a uniform film of cellulose nanocrystals with low surface roughness and variable thickness as a function of operational parameters that include rotational speed and dispense suspension concentration. The film thickness was controllable from 40 nm up to 1 μm with surface roughness an order of magnitude less than blade-coating methods. The degree of radial orientation was qualitatively assessed and shown to be variable with processing parameters. Under specific processing conditions, the formation of striation patterns was observed and associated with film drying instability. The striation patterns are periodic in… More >

Mehdi Tajvidi^1*, Douglas J. Gardner², Douglas W. Bousfield³

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 365-376, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634103

Abstract A novel application of cellulose nanomaterials, particularly cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) as a binder in conventional and novel laminate and particulate composite systems is discussed. Using cellulose nanomaterials as a reinforcing agent in conventional polymer composites faces several difficulties: 1) there are no easy ways to dry the CNF and maintain nanoscale dimensions, 2) there are compatibility issues related to cellulose-polymer bonding, and 3) there are issues related to obtaining a good distribution and redispersion of nanoscale materials inside a polymer matrix. An alternative strategy is applications in which cellulose nanomaterials can be used in the… More >

Jithin Joy^1,2,3, Cintil Jose³, Srirama B. Varanasi⁴, Lovely Mathew P.^2,3, Sabu Thomas², Srikanth Pilla^1,5*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 351-364, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634128

Abstract Isora nanofibers (INF) were produced by a combined thermal-chemical-mechanical method from Helicteres isora plant. The resulting fibers were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, which showed a network-like structure with a length of 600 nm, width of 50 nm and an aspect ratio of 12. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that chemical treatments progressively removed noncellulosic constituents. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that crystallinity increased with successive chemical treatments. Using the synthesized isora nanofibers, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)-based biodegradable nanocomposites were prepared. The nanocomposites were processed using a Brabender twin-screw compounder and an injection… More >

Jose Luis Orellana, Michael Mauhar, Christopher L. Kitchens^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 340-350, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634126

Abstract Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used biodegradable polymers due to the ability to synthesize it economically at industrial scale and its favorable properties for many consumer products. However, the rigid nature of PLA is not desirable for specific applications, requiring the incorporation of effective bioderived additives in order to enhance the PLA toughness and broaden applications. In this work, PLA was modified by graft polymerization of polyacrylic acid (PLA-g-PAA) to increase the hydrophilicity to promote compatibilization of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) or high molecular polyethylene glycol (PEG). CNCs were found to act More >

Craig Clemons

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.5, pp. 327-339, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634112

Abstract Continuous fibers are commonly manufactured for a wide variety of uses such as filters, textiles, and composites. For example, most fibrous reinforcements (e.g., carbon fiber, glass fiber) for advanced composites are continuous fibers or yarns, fabrics, and preforms made from them. This allows broad flexibility in design and manufacturing approaches by controlling fiber orientation and architecture. However, there has been growing interest in preparing continuous fibers from biobased materials such as plants. Of particular recent interest are nanocelluloses, which are projected to be less expensive than many other nanomaterials and have the potential to be… More >