Development of cashew nut shell lignin-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene 3D printed core and industrial hemp/aluminized glass fiber epoxy biocomposite for morphing wing and unmanned aerial vehicle applications.

The aim of this study was to develop a lightweight epoxy based biocomposite for morphing wing and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. The proposed composite was developed using a 3D printed high stiffness lignin-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) core and industrial hemp with aluminized glass fiber epoxy skin. The ABS was reinforced using lignin macromolecule derived from cashew nut shells via twin screw extruder and the core was printed using an industrial grade 3D printer. Furthermore, the composites were prepared by compression moulding with an ABS-lignin core and hemp/aluminized GF surface and characterized according to respective American society of testing and materials (ASTM) standards. The findings indicate that the addition of 30 vol% Al-glass and hemp fiber with lignin strengthened ABS core improved the mechanical properties. The composite material designated as "E2" exhibits the maximum mechanical properties, providing tensile strength, flexural strength, Izod impact, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and compression values of, 136 MPa, 168 MPa, 4.82 kJ/m2, 21 MPa, and 155 MPa respectively. The maximal energy absorbed by composite designation "E2," during drop load impact test is 20.6 J. Similarly, the composite designation "E2"gives fatigue life cycles of 33,709, 25,781 and 19,633 for 50 %, 70 % and 90 % of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and 32.5 (K1c) MPa⋅m and 0.76 (G1c) MJ/m2 in fracture toughness and energy release rate respectively.

Mechanical, thermal, viscoelastic and hydrophobicity behavior of complex grape stalk lignin and bamboo fiber reinforced polyester composite.

This work aims to investigate the degradation stability of bamboo fiber-reinforced polyester composite toughened with complex lignin biopolymer derived from the waste grape stalks. The properties like mechanical, wear, thermal, DMA, and hydrophobic were studied after the addition of lignin and analyzed how the lignin addition influenced these properties. Prior to composite making the fiber and lignin was treated with silane. According to the results obtained incorporating 40 vol% of bamboo fiber into the polyester resin, the mechanical and wear properties enhanced. Further, the composite containing 2.0 vol% of lignin has maximum tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and ILSS. Similarly, the composite designation having 4 vol% lignin revealed the improved wear loss stability of 0.007 mm3/Nm (sp. wear rate). The highest degradation temperature reported for composite designation UBL4 it was 520 °C, with a relatively lesser weight loss of 19 %. Likewise, the highest storage modulus was about 4.5 GPa, and the lowest loss factor was up to 0.3 for the composite designation UBL4. The contact angle investigation revealed that all composite designations are not fall below 70°, indicating their hydrophobic stability. These composites with enhanced stability against load, heat and water could be utilized in the industrial, automotive and defense sectors where high performance outcomes are required.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Pongamia pinnata leaves in rats.

In the present study, the anti-inflammatory activity of 70% ethanolic extract of Pongamia pinnata leaves (PLE) in acute, subacute and chronic models of inflammation was assessed in rats. Per os (p.o.) administration of PLE (300, 1000 mg/kg) exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute (carrageenin, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and prostaglandin E2-induced hind paw edema), subacute (kaolin-carrageenin and formaldehyde-induced hind paw edema) and chronic (cotton pellet granuloma) models of inflammation. PLE did not show any sign of toxicity and mortality up to a dose level of 10.125 g/kg, p.o. in mice. Both acute as well as chronic administration of PLE (100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) did not produce any gastric lesion in rats. These results indicate that PLE possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity without ulcerogenic activity suggesting its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent for use in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

Effect of pinacidil on the contractile response of cyclophosphamide-treated rat vas deferens.

Effect of pinacidil, a K+ channel opener, was studied on contractility of cyclophosphamide-treated rat vas deferens. The mean IC50 value of pinacidil against 1 mmol barium chloride induced rhythmic contractions and 40 mmol potassium chloride induced tonic contractions was significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) increased in the cyclophosphamide treated group as compared to the control. The mean EC50 value of norepinephrine (NE) in the presence of pinacidil (10(-6) mol) was significantly (P < 0.001) increased in the cyclophosphamide treated group. These findings indicate that the responsiveness of rat vas deferens smooth muscle to pinacidil is reduced following cyclophosphamide treatment.

Evaluation of the activity of receptor-operated Ca2+ channels in rat portal vein in induced hyperthyroidism.

The activity of receptor-operated Ca2+ channels (ROCCs) was studied in rat portal vein in L-thyroxine-induced experimental hyperthyroidism. The following parameters were evaluated: 1. NE-stimulated 45Ca influx. 2. CaCl2-induced contractile responses in Ca2+ free NE-stimulated tissues to calculate EC50 value of CaCl2. The NE (10(-6)mol) stimulated 45Ca influx and the mean EC50 value of CaCl2 did not differ significantly in portal veins isolated from hyperthyroid rats as compared to those of euthyroid control rats. The study revealed no significant change in the functional status of ROCCs in experimental hyperthyroidism.

Central modulation of formalin-induced acute peripheral inflammation & pain by some putative amino acid neurotransmitters in rats.

Possible central modulation of acute peripheral inflammation by putative amino acid neurotransmitters was investigated in rats by adopting formalin induced pedal inflammation as an experimental model. Out of five amino acids (GABA, glycine, DL-alanine, L-glutamic acid and L-aspartic acid) tested, intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of GABA and L-aspartic acid produced significant alteration in acute inflammation. GABA showed a significant attenuation of paw oedema and nociception whereas, L-aspartic acid produced significant increase in oedema volume along with marked hyperalgesia. In conclusion, the study confirms that CNS is capable of modulating peripheral inflammation.