Adolescent social isolation influences cognitive function in adult rats

Adolescence is a critical period for neurodevelopment. Evidence from animal studies suggests that isolated rearing can exert negative effects on behavioral and brain development. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of adolescent social isolation on latent inhibition and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in the forebrain of adult rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into adolescent isolation （isolated housing, 38-51 days of age） and social groups. Latent inhibition was tested at adulthood. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were measured in the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Adolescent social isolation impaired latent inhibition and increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in the medial prefrontal cortex of young adult rats. These data suggest that adolescent social isolation has a profound effect on cognitive function and neurotrophin levels in adult rats and may be used as an animal model of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Cobalt recovery and microspherical cobalt tetroxide preparation from ammonia leaching solution of spent lithium-ion batteries

A process for recovering Co and preparing microspherical Co_(3)O_(4)through NH_(3)distillation and phase transformation from ammoniacal solution was investigated.As the basis of thermodynamics,the solubility of Co at different NH_(3)and CO_(3)^(2-)concentrations was studied,and then the effects of different NH_(3)distillation conditions on Co recovery rate were discussed.Over 94%Co and 96%NH_(3)were recovered through NH_(3)distillation,and the cobalt was precipitated in form of cobalt carbonate ammonium compound salt.Through the analysis of the formation mechanism of the precursor,the precipitation process of cobalt could be divided into two stages,and the cobalt precipitation rate was significantly accelerated in the second stage.In phase transformation,the effect of temperature on the roasted product was investigated.The microspherical Co_(3)O_(4)with a microporous structure was prepared at 300°C,and Co_(3)O_(4)with a mesoporous structure and high-spin state was obtained at 750°C.

Direct synthesis of single-phase α-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers from waste nitrate solution

Single-phaseα-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers were directly synthesized from waste Ca(NO3)2 solution using a hydrothermal method,and HNO3 was synchronously regenerated.The effects of reaction temperature and Ca^2+concentration on the phase composition and morphology of products were determined by X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy.On the basis of the experimental results,the formation diagram ofα-CaSO4·0.5H2O was plotted within the range of 5–35 g·L^-1 Ca^2+and 115°C–150°C.In addition,the conditions of the direct synthesis ofα-CaSO4·0.5H2O were determined.Well-crystallized,single-phaseα-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers with high aspect ratios(length,1785μm;diameter,10.63μm;aspect ratio,168)and HNO3(70.25 g·L^-1)were obtained at the optimal conditions of 25 g·L^-1 Ca^2+and 125°C.

Effects of Cooling Rate and Component on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg–Zn–Y Alloys

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg–6Zn–1Y and Mg–6Zn–3Y（wt%） alloys under different cooling rates were investigated. The results show that the second dendrite arm spacing（SDAS） of Mg–6Zn–1Y and Mg–6Zn–3Y is reduced by 32 and 30% with increasing cooling rates（Rc） from 10.2 to 23 K/s, which can be predicted using a empirical model of SDAS=68 R 0：45：45cand SDAS=73 R 0c, respectively. The compressive strength of both alloys increases with increasing the cooling rate, which is attributed to the increase of volume fraction（Vf） of secondary phases under high cooling rate. The interaction of the cooling rate and component with SDAS has been theoretically analyzed using interdependence theory.