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This study aims to investigate the potential of pumpkin seed oil (PSO) and zinc to attenuate oxidative stress and neuroinflammation caused by chronic mild stress (CMS) in the cerebral cortex of male rats.

The rats were submitted to stress for six weeks and then the behavior of the rats was tested by forced swimming test (FST) and novel cage test. The treated groups were given venlafaxine (20 mg/kg), pumpkin seed oil (40 mg/kg) and zinc (4 mg/kg). The cortex homogenate was used for the detection of the oxidative stress parameters, the concentration of neurotransmitters, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β), Na+/K+-ATPase activity, and the expression of histamine N-methyltransferase (Hnmt) and tyrosine hydroxylase (Th).

CMS causes a significant increase in immobility time in the FST and a significant decrease in the number of rearing in the novel cage test. CMS group showed a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, levels of cortisol, TNF-α, IL-1β, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde. CMS caused a significant decrease in the concentrations of serotonin, GABA, norepinephrine, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. CMS caused a marked reduction in the expression of Hnmt and Th in the cortex. PSO and zinc attenuated the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity, oxidative parameters and neuroinflammation induced by the CMS, and this was reflected by the elevation of the concentration of neurotransmitters and reduction of cortisol and ALT, in addition to the behavior normalization. PSO and zinc attenuated the CMS by improving the antioxidant milieu and anti-inflammatory status of the cerebral cortex.

There are no studies on the effect of pumpkin seed oil on depression

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of alkali treatment on adhesion of industrial thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU)/polyester woven fabric inter-ply hybrid composites.

Inter-ply hybrid composites were exposed to varying concentration of sodium hydroxide at different temperature and time and their mechanical properties including differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscope, tensile and peeling strength evaluated to determine optimal treatment parameters.

Modified polyester fabrics treated with alkali had higher tensile and peeling strengths. Accordingly, alkali treatment roughened the surface of polyester fabric, decreasing warp and weft densities, thus increasing fiber surface energy. The fabric had the highest peeling strength of 3.23 N/mm at treatment of 25% concentration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Short-term exposure to ultraviolet had little effect on interfacial adhesion of alkali-treated conveyor belt.

Polyester fabric, applied in reinforcing industrial conveyor belts, is never degreased, roughened, sensitized or activated. In this paper, one-step treatment of polyester fabric was performed to increase its adhesion with polyester inter-ply hybrid composites, providing a reference for practical industrial application.

The method developed in this research is simple and provides a solution to improving the interfacial adhesion of TPU/polyester conveyor belt.

The novel alkali treatment technology has many applications in the interfacial performance of composite materials.