NIP [BSA]

We demonstrate the successful synthesis of a novel crosslinkable polyaryletherketone, SCBI-PAEK-6F, which has pendant benzimidazole groups as a tunable content. With the strategic incorporation of benzimidazole groups, the SCBI-PAEK-6F membranes prepared by non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method became crosslinkable. Then the solvent-resistance of ultrafiltration membranes was improved through cross-linking. The structures and performances of the membranes, along with the effects of the post cross-linking, had been systematically investigated. The solvent-resistance test confirmed that the membrane stability in representative polar aprotic solvents had been pronouncedly enhanced after cross-linking. Cross-linked membranes had high gel contents of about 80% after soaking in the solvents for 7 days. Pore size and porosity analysis had shown that the mean pore size and porosity of SCBI-PAEK-6F membranes became larger after the cross-linking process. Meanwhile, the cross-linked membranes showed the improved ultrafiltration performance, the cross-linked membranes had pure water flux which is 50% bigger than the pristine membranes. In addition, all membranes showed superior bovine serum albumin rejection (over 98%), but the antifouling property of membranes became a little worse after the cross-linking process.

Background Rodents are considered to contribute strongly to the risk of tick-borne diseases by feeding Ixodes ricinus larvae and by acting as amplifying hosts for pathogens. Here, we tested to what extent these two processes depend on rodent density, and for which pathogen species rodents synergistically contribute to the local disease risk, i.e. the density of infected nymphs (DIN). Methods In a natural woodland, we manipulated rodent densities in plots of 2500 m(2) by either supplementing a critical food source (acorns) or by removing rodents during two years. Untreated plots were used as controls. Collected nymphs and rodent ear biopsies were tested for the presence of seven tick-borne microorganisms. Linear models were used to capture associations between rodents, nymphs, and pathogens. Results Investigation of data from all plots, irrespective of the treatment, revealed a strong positive association between rodent density and nymphal density, nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) with Borrelia afzelii and Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and hence DIN's of these pathogens in the following year. The NIP, but not the DIN, of the bird-associated Borrelia garinii, decreased with increasing rodent density. The NIPs of Borrelia miyamotoi and Rickettsia helvetica were independent of rodent density, and increasing rodent density moderately increased the DINs. In addition, NIPs of Babesia microti and Spiroplasma ixodetis decreased with increasing rodent density, which had a non-linear association with DINs of these microorganisms. Conclusions A positive density dependence for all rodent- and tick-associated tick-borne pathogens was found, despite the observation that some of them decreased in prevalence. The effects on the DINs were variable among microorganisms, more than likely due to contrasts in their biology (including transmission modes, host specificity and transmission efficiency). The strongest associations were found in rodent-associated pathogens that most heavily rely on horizontal transmission. Our results draw attention to the importance of considering transmission mode of a pathogen while developing preventative measures to successfully reduce the burden of disease.