An autosomal dominant distal form of spinal muscular atrophy mainly affecting the upper limbs with a mean age of onset of 17 years has been identified in a large Bulgarian family. Linkage of the above family to the spinal muscular atrophy type I, II and III locus on chromosome 5 has been excluded. In an attempt to map this disease gene we have analysed individuals of this family, with more than 140 microsatellite polymorphic markers of the human genome. A maximum lod score of 5.99 at theta = 0.007 has been obtained with locus D7S795. We have thus mapped the gene for this hereditary form of distal spinal muscular atrophy to chromosome 7p.

International audienceA comprehensive analysis of electrical, electromagnetic (EM), mechanical, and thermal properties of epoxy resin composites filled with 0.25-2.0wt. % of carbon additives characterized by high surface area, both nano-sized, like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon black (CBH), and micro-sized exfoliated graphite (EG), was performed. We found that the physical properties of both CNTs- and CBH-based epoxy resin composites increased all together with filler content and even more clearly for CBH than for CNTs. In the case of EG-based composites, good correlation between properties and filler amount was observed for concentrations below 1.5 wt. %. We conclude that CBH and, to a lower extent, EG could replace expensive CNTs for producing effective EM materials in microwave and low-frequency ranges, which are, in addition, mechanically and thermally stable

This research is devoted to the fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) based n-type thermoelectric composites with innovative hybrid bismuth selenide-multiwalled carbon nanotube (Bi2Se3-MWCNT) fillers for application in flexible thermoelectric devices. Hybrid fillers were synthesized by direct deposition of Bi2Se3 on multiwalled carbon nanotubes using a physical vapor deposition method, thus ensuring direct electrical contact between the carbon nanotubes and Bi2Se3. The Seebeck coefficient of prepared PVOH/Bi2Se3-MWCNT composites was found to be comparable with that for the Bi2Se3 thin films, reaching −100 µV·K−1 for the composite with 30 wt.% filler, and fluctuations of the resistance of these composites did not exceed 1% during 100 repetitive bending cycles down to 10 mm radius, indicating the good mechanical durability of these composites and proving their high potential for application in flexible thermoelectrics. In addition, other properties of the fabricated composites that are important for the use of polymer-based materials such as thermal stability, storage modulus and linear coefficient of thermal expansion were found to be improved in comparison with the neat PVOH.

Oat and spelt husks (OH and SH, respectively) lignocellulosic biomass derived fillers have been compared with commercial wood flour (WF) in respects to their morphology, chemical composition, bulk density, aspect ratio, and thermal stability. OH and SH have been obtained by both mechanical milling and steam explosion auto‐hydrolysis treatment at various processing conditions. Reinforcement efficiency of OH and SH derived lignocellulosic biomass fillers on the flexural properties of maleic acid‐grafted polypropylene (PPgMA) compatibilized polypropylene (PP) composites is compared with that of WF. The compatibilized PP composites have been manufactured by melt compounding. Flexural test specimens of the compatibilized PP composites have been manufactured by injection molding. It has been demonstrated that both the husks derived lignocellulose fillers can be used to improve flexural modulus and maximal flexural strength of PP, although its modifying effect is somewhat smaller in comparison to WF reinforcement, most probably due to higher cellulose content of the latter. Husks derived lignocellulose filler‐reinforced PP composites, however, demonstrate increased flexibility in comparison to WF‐filled systems. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:2467–2473, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers

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