The new functional filler TiO2-SiO2/polyhedral oligomeric hybrid silsesquioxane as a potential modifier of polyethylene

The paper presents preliminary application studies of the innovative TiO2-SiO2/ POSS filler as a potential low-density polyethylene modifier. It was found that the addition of the filler increases the stiffness and hardness of the composite and slightly changes the intensity of its color.

Can an Investigation of a Single Gene be Effective in Differentiating Certain Features of the Bipolar Disorder Profile?

Bipolar disorder (BD) is amongst the most common heritable mental disorders, but the clarification of its genetic roots has proven to be very challenging. Many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified to be associated with BD. SNPs in the CACNA1C gene have emerged as the most significantly associated with the disease. The aim of the present study is to provide a concise description of SNP 1006737 variants identified by Real Time PCR and confirm sequencing analysis with the Sanger method in order to estimate the association with BD. The molecular method was tested on 47 Sardinian subjects of whom 23 were found to not be mutated, 1 was found to be a carrier of the homozygous A allele and 23 were found to be carriers of the heterozygous G allele. Moreover, the positive results of the preliminary application suggest that the development of the screener could be extended to the other 5 genetic variables identified as associated with BD.

Preliminary Study on Hand-cast Lightweight Concrete Block using Raw Rice Husk as Aggregate

Raw rice husk is an abundantly available waste material in Indonesia as one of rice producing countries. Due to rice husk is light in weight and convex in shape, this paper presents a preliminary application of raw rice husk as natural aggregate in order to make lightweight concrete blocks. Concrete specimens contained Portland Cement, filler, and raw rice husk, in which the mix proportion was in volumetric ratio, i.e 1.25 cement and 2.75 filler constantly, whereas dosage of rice husk varied from 8.5 to 10. The production of the concrete block was by mixing the ingredients together and then the mixture was casted and compacted on moulds by hand manually. Series laboratory experiments were accomplished to analyse the compressive strength and density. For this, four groups of mixes were prepared. The results have shown that the higher proportion of rice husk is the lower its compressive strength and the lighter its density. At proportion of 1,25 cement: 2,75 fillers: 8,5 raw rice husks, the compressive strength is 26.64 kg/cm2 and this satisfies the minimum standard (25 kg/cm2). Unfortunately, the density is 1,536.73 kg/m3 and it is higher than the maximum standard of 1,400 kg/m3. Thus, it is important to research further by making and testing some improved specimens with more cement, more rice husk, and less filler to fulfil strength and density.