Volume fraction of fibres (A), aspect ratio of fibres (B) and fibres orientation (C) are considered as control factors in the determination of hardness strength, hardness strength of plantain fiber reinforced polyester composites (PFR P). These properties were determined for plantain empty fruit bunch (PEFB) and plantain pseudo stem (PPS). Hardness tests were conducted on the replicated samples...

cotton fibres were subjected to cleaning process and then characterized for maturity. decrystallisation and swelling processes with caustic soda, ethanol, propan-2-ol and trichloroethene on the native fibres were carried out. the effects of these on the strength and moisture regain were investigated. the activation energies of the dyeings were also analysed with durazol scarlet red 4 bas. the r...

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, Mad cow disease) is generally considered to be caused by recycling animal by-products as ingredient in animal, especially ruminant, feed. Feed bans were enforced to minimize the risk on infections, and monitoring programs are effectuated for controlling the ban. The only official detection method is visual (microscopic) examination of the presence of prima...

AIMS To establish a simple model of conjunctival wound healing in the mouse eye. METHODS 4 week old BABL/c mouse eyes were studied over a 14 day period. Surgical procedure under general anaesthesia involved a blunt dissection of the conjunctiva performed by injection of 25 microliters of PBS via a 27 gauge needle into one eye, while the contralateral eye was used as control. Mice were assesse...

Traumatic avulsions of ligament or tendon insertions rarely occur at the actual interface with bone, which suggests that this attachment is strong or otherwise protected from injury by the structure of the insertion complex. In this study we describe the terminal extent of quadriceps tendon fibres where they insert into the patellae of adult rabbits, humans, dogs and sheep. Specimens were exami...

In vivo administration or in vitro application of dopamine or of dopamine receptor agonists induce vasodilatation in the cerebral, coronary, renal and mesenteric vascular beds and cause hypotension. Moreover, dopamine stimulates cardiac contractility and induces diuresis and natriuresis. Peripheral (cardiovascular and renal) dopamine receptors belong to the D1-like and D2-like receptor superfam...

In the final stage of fasting, skeletal muscle mass and protein content drastically decrease when the maintenance of efficient locomotor activity becomes crucial for animals to reactivate feeding behaviour and survive a very long period of starvation. As mitochondrial metabolism represents the main physiological link between the endogenous energy store and animal performance, the aim of this st...

The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying sarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle mass and strength, are not fully understood. It has been proposed that a reduced level of calcium ion-supply to contractile muscle proteins via excitation-contraction uncoupling leads to the muscle weakness associated with aging. The basic process of excitation-contraction uncoupling is a result of a ...