Magnesium lignosulfonate and kraft lignin were activated by different oxidizing agents for use in phenolic resin composites used for the production of abrasive components. The physicochemical properties of the oxidized materials were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis (DMTA) and inverse gas chro...

The synergistic effect of nucleating agents and plasticizers on the thermal and mechanical performance of PLA nanocomposites was investigated with the objective of increasing the crystallinity and balancing the stiffness and toughness of PLA mechanical properties. Calcium carbonate, halloysite nanotubes, talc and LAK (sulfates) were compared with each other as heterogeneous nucleating agents. B...

Marine mammals are increasingly threatened in their habitat by various anthropogenic impacts. This is particularly evident prey abundance. Understanding the dietary strategies of marine mammal populations can help predict implications for future health status and essential conservation. In this study we provide a striking example new proxy pinnipeds to document diets using dental record. novel ...

DifI'..tial scanning calorimetry (~ and dynamic ~-,!jCaJ thermal analysis (DMTA) were used to characterize the morphology of eolv81t cast hydroXYPl'Opyl ceUuloee (Hpc) films. DSC r-.lta windicative of a aemicryltaUine mat«ial with a melt at 220°C and a ,tran8itioo at 19°C (T1). althoucb an 8dditiCXlal _t wu MIumted by a baseline inftectioo at about ~C (Tt). Cc pcx1din, relaxatiMS wfound by DMTA...

A protocol was developed to measure the glass transition temperature (Tg) of brown rice kernels using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). In order to accommodate the sample requirements of the dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer and prevent moisture loss during experiments, kernels were first wrapped with a thin layer of parafilm and then a thin layer of aluminum foil. The wrapped kerne...

Cougars (Puma concolor) are one of only two large cats in North America to have survived the Late Pleistocene extinction (LPE), yet the specific key(s) to their relative success remains unknown. Here, we compare the dental microwear textures of Pleistocene cougars with sympatric felids from the La Brea Tar Pits in southern California that went extinct at the LPE (Panthera atrox and Smilodon fat...

The polyketide DIF-1 induces Dictyostelium amoebae to form stalk cells in culture. To better define its role in normal development, we examined the phenotype of a mutant blocking the first step of DIF-1 synthesis, which lacks both DIF-1 and its biosynthetic intermediate, dM-DIF-1 (des-methyl-DIF-1). Slugs of this polyketide synthase mutant (stlB(-)) are long and thin and rapidly break up, leavi...

Biomaterials based on polyelectrolyte complexation are an innovative concept of coatings and packaging production to be applied in a wide range of food products. The aim of this study was to obtain and characterize a sodium alginate–chitosan complex material with variable degree of polyion interactions by complexation of oppositely charged polysaccharides. In order to characterize polyelectroly...

The effect that polymer molecular weight has on the dispersion of relatively polar montmorillonite (MMT) in nonpolar, unmodified high density polyethylene (HDPE) was examined. Polymer layered silicate (PLS) nanocomposites were prepared via melt compounding in a single screw extruder using three unmodified HDPE matrices of differing molecular weight and organically modified MMT (organoclay) in c...

The presented research focused on improving the mechanical properties of PLA-based composites reinforced with buckwheat husks (BH) particles. work was carried out in two stages. Firstly, blend prepared addition polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and thermoplastic starch (TPS), manufactured by injection molding technique, then selected materials were BH filler, samples using fused deposit...